The Ultimate Passive Paradigm [LitRPG Adventure, Epic Progression]

"Right about damn time," Nathan said with a smile.

Vincent helped his junior brother stand upright. The wounds on Nathan's body were severe, but not enough to completely incapacitate him.

"You Physical Cultivators really are monsters," Vincent said, his face showing contempt.

"How do you know I'm here?" Nathan asked, his voice hoarse as he tried to expel the small amounts of fat that had infiltrated his nose and throat. "That was quick."

Hearing this, Vincent's mouth stretched to his ears as he looked toward the two figures writhing on the ground. He raised his hand, and vines sprouted from beneath the earth, binding the two before them into cocoons. Their muffled groans disappeared in an instant. But with his enhanced hearing, Nathan could still make out their weak cries.

"Did you think I was careless enough to play around to that extent?" Vincent said. "My performance had a purpose. Do you remember the floating flower petals?"

Recalling the memorable and magnificent singing and dancing performance, Nathan couldn't help but swallow hard.

"Plants and flowers are my strength," Vincent said, turning around with a bright expression. "Anything botanical can become an unexpected ally. Those seemingly harmless flower petals were actually how I established control over anyone who inhaled them. Except for a few cautious individuals, I succeeded with most people. Especially that bastard—he was so obsessed with Iris that he wanted to smell even a hint of her scent from such a distance."

Nathan frowned and asked, "So I'm also a victim?"

"But are you my enemy?" Vincent asked casually.

This didn't make Nathan feel any better. Vincent's skill might be recognized by the system as non-harmful and wouldn't trigger [Poison Processing]. He was currently under his control whether he wanted to be or not.

"Don't give me that look." Vincent shrugged. "Without them, I wouldn't have been able to find you. This place is quite far from Cascade Gardens. I had to rely on scattered clues to survey the area. Speaking of which, I have praise for you. You knew how to break the barrier to expose your location and help me pinpoint you precisely. I must say, even though I was fully prepared, I still wouldn't have found Big Ben. The barrier here is truly high quality."

"So you knew I was going to follow Big Ben?" Nathan asked.

"Yeah," Vincent nodded, walking closer to the two prisoners they had captured. "It was one of the possibilities. I also spread information about you coming here to encourage them."

Vincent paid no attention to the fact that Nathan was clenching his fists tighter, continuing, "Let's go. We still need to extract information from these two."

The two gathered several containers from the area to take back for further research. At first glance, they contained sand with golden glints inside—nutrient-rich soil for the tree in Emberwood village. It was also the raw material for the new opium drug, Zetsy.

Both returned near Cascade Gardens with the two wooden cocoons following them. Vincent landed on a mountainside behind the town's performance steps. A secret path between the trees revealed itself with each of Vincent's steps. Wherever he went, trees and bushes would automatically part, rustling as if welcoming their master home.

Nathan followed behind, observing everything, unable to suppress his admiration for his senior brother. The path seemed to disappear when he looked back, impossible to remember. Only now did he understand this was also some kind of formation, combined with the influence of mist and flower fragrances to enhance its effectiveness. A stranger coming here without the correct direction would either get lost or be immediately attacked by the spiritually-aware plants.

He stopped when Vincent stood before a stone wall. Above, he could see the illuminating lights of the Steaming Pearl hotel.

After a moment, a deep rumbling sound arose as stone ground against stone, revealing a pitch-black entrance.

Vincent led him through a dimly lit passage to a damp underground chamber. The place was empty, with only a few crackling sounds coming from somewhere. Nathan thought it was no different from Darkan's cultivation chamber. It might have once been such a place until Vincent no longer resided here and went to Verdant Spire Sect.

As they both stepped inside, the wall in front of them opened with a sound that made Nathan jump—a rotating door revealed itself. Iris and Seraphina appeared, still in their dancing costumes and masks.

"You're back already?" Seraphina approached and asked.

"Easy job," Vincent replied. "Nathan had already done everything by the time I arrived."

"Really?" Seraphina dragged out the word more than necessary, looking at Nathan with suspicion.

"Seraphina!" Vincent narrowed his eyes and spoke quietly.

The girl shuddered and bowed her head in apology to Nathan.

Nathan didn't understand what was happening before his eyes, his mind working rapidly.

Don't tell me...

Iris, in her flowing red dress, approached and took the cocoon containing the woman with the butterfly mask.

"Extract everything?" she asked Vincent.

Vincent nodded. "Although I suspect she won't have any useful information. But I'll leave it to you ladies."

"Let's go, Iris!" Seraphina said cheerfully.

"Don't command me!" Iris bristled but still complied, disappearing behind the wall.

Left alone, Nathan stared intently at his senior brother.

"You're..." he stammered. "Who are you?"

Vincent pushed Big Ben's cocoon forward. The wooden fibers separated and recombined automatically to form a bed. Chains were created to lock the wrists and ankles. At the same time, small needles were formed, piercing into the victim's blood vessels. Streams of mana were drained to power the bed's functions.

"Surprised, Nathan?" Vincent turned around and said, lifting his chin a notch. "Did you think I charmed my way into this? That I'm some kind of playboy? Controlled by lust?"

Nathan didn't answer, which was tantamount to tacit agreement. His initial impression had indeed been like that. Vincent was nothing more or less than a charming and attractive poet, loved by everyone for his appearance and talent. Clearly, everything he had thought was seriously wrong.

"I was chosen to be Alaric's direct disciple not only because my Aspect matches his and carries a uniqueness no one else has," Vincent said. "But because of my work capability, my experience. Someone ready to take action."

With several clicking sounds, Vincent erected the bed restraining Big Ben. The prisoner had now passed out under the influence of the piercing branches. Vincent didn't stop but increased the draining intensity.

"Every flower, every smile, every satisfied customer," Vincent said coldly, as if everything meant nothing to him. "All me! I make it work. People at Cascade Gardens treat me like royalty. Because to them, I practically am. Nathan, I built this place for me. My company. My kingdom. My empire. All works for me and will always."

Nathan couldn't suppress his trembling admiration. Vincent appeared only a few years older than him, but as a Tier 3, Nathan guessed his senior brother had to be at least 35 or 40 years old. Even so, achieving this great feat was no easy matter. If he hadn't seen the precision and magnificence of Cascade Gardens, he would have underestimated his senior brother somewhat. The problem was that he had walked on this ground, met the people here, understood how it operated. Everything required investment and accuracy down to every detail. Not just in resources but in understanding human psychology. The leader absolutely had to possess a vision that few people had to accomplish this. Doing all this while maintaining superior cultivation levels. Even though Big Ben was at the same Tier 3 level, despite falling for an ambush, he was still defeated very quickly by Vincent's hands.

"Speechless, aren't you?" Vincent smiled and said. "Alaric was once like that too. No one believed someone still as young as me could achieve this level. But circumstances force a person to mature, you understand?"

Nathan really just wanted to say he didn't understand. The vastness of Cascade Gardens overwhelmed him. He figured even someone as resourceful as Zeryn would have to admire Vincent's achievements. The more time passed, the less he doubted Alaric's choice. Though Vincent appeared somewhat hedonistic on the surface, it was clear that deep inside was someone who could be relied upon. Someone a sect could trust.

"I hope that woman will reveal things instead of having to question this fat man," Vincent said, returning to the current issue.

"Don't tell me you're also controlling her," Nathan asked suspiciously.

"More or less." Vincent stroked his chin. Seeing Nathan's face contorting, he continued, "Addicts are the easiest to control. They've already lost themselves. And opium isn't the only thing that can be addictive. You know that. Cascade Gardens provides many ways to make a person fall."

Nathan's facial muscles lost even more control. He truly couldn't believe what was happening.

"You must have just been admiring me as someone worthy of respect, and now it's the opposite, right?" Vincent tilted his head and asked.

"You'd use everyone for your cause," Nathan said.

"I wouldn't be too concerned about using someone like Rosa," Vincent said. "She knew what she was getting into and still did it. My lovely boys and girls are just being utilized."

"What about me then?" Nathan raised his head and asked, his tone heavy. "Do you mind using me?"

"Oh, you're still on that?" Vincent laughed. "I thought you were done being upset?"

"Tell me," Nathan demanded.

"What do you want me to say? You're already being used, aren't you? Without any hesitation from me."

"I could've been killed," Nathan barked. "And you think you're noble?"

"But you're not killed, are you?"

"That's not the reason that justifies what you did."

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Vincent exhaled in frustration. He approached Nathan, his eyes flashing with threat.

"What did you expect me to tell you about what I wanted to do? If so, could you have acted out the proper confusion, fear, and shock? Do you think Big Ben found you just because of some trivial information? Don't be so naive!"

Nathan stepped back, swallowing hard. His face was clearly a joke because Vincent had to curve his mouth up mockingly.

"Spirit vision can do more than you think," Vincent said. "You've practiced but not enough. A Tier 3 or Tier 4 can tear through it immediately and see your anxiety, your emotional wavelengths. That's exactly what Big Ben relied on to take the risk of capturing you. He's not an idiot to act based on a few pieces of data."

Nathan stood stunned, unable to say a word in response. He had been very careful, yet in others' eyes, he was no different from a thin curtain that could be easily seen through.

"You used to be very hard to read," Vincent explained. "It must have been when you still had that bloodline. Your emotions were shielded by your ancestors, helping you advance with fewer obstacles. That girl Zahra is the same way. Only Zeryn truly controls his spiritual wavelengths well. Nathan, you're exposing yourself for everyone to see. If I had told you my plan, would you have been confident enough to hide it from affecting your mental world? Could you have convinced Big Ben to act? Lured him into revealing secrets? Or conversely, let him know I was behind manipulating everything?"

Indeed, everything had happened very quickly for Nathan. Not just because of the urgent nature of this mission, but because of his own haste. The guilt over the victims at Emberwood made him restless, unable to calculate his moves clearly.

"You know what your problem is, Nathan?" Vincent's face showed no change, as if proving his own control. "You're being a pussy! That's what you are!"

Nathan felt like he'd been punched in the stomach, all air leaving his body. His throat was suffocating more than when he was at Maelivar.

"You're afraid to kill." Vincent pointed out. "And for that, you don't want to make decisions for others."

"What do you mean?" Nathan asked back.

"Darkan and Alaric must have had to restrain themselves from criticizing you." Vincent laughed. "That's why they sent me with you. Because I have nothing to hold back. They might think it's because Emberwood was your first mission outside the sect, with no one to guide or support you. The mission was indeed difficult, but it had many other solutions if you were willing to take action, Nathan! They're afraid of breaking you further after the unfortunate event at Maelivar. I don't blame you for that incident. But I won't be gentle or lenient because of it."

Nathan wanted to find somewhere to sit down to process everything. Unfortunately, this place, like Darkan's basement, had nowhere to rest. He wouldn't want to collapse from being reprimanded.

He endured.

He gradually understood why his heart had been constantly turbulent these past days, unable to find peace. He had always questioned his actions at Emberwood, and his mind had implemented defense mechanisms, pushing him away from the dark abyss, avoiding the answers he brought upon himself.

"Completing difficult missions is what distinguishes an ordinary disciple from a competent one," Vincent said. "And you're only as good as Gideon or Qingfeng. Once you're at that level, you've tagged yourself as 'disposable,' Nathan! All because you're not willing to kill anyone. The people at Emberwood died, but not by your hand. That's how you can console yourself. But looking back, it was because of you!"

"I did my best," Nathan weakly protested.

"Your best to achieve the worst result? Ridiculous! Gideon or Qingfeng failing doesn't mean you can compare yourself to them for self-comfort. You're better, so your standards are higher, understand? You must grasp this to make decisions for others."

"Like you did to me? Forcing me into life-or-death situations?"

"Yes, Nathan! Yes!" Vincent spread his arms wide. "Do you think you have the luxury of free will? I thought you would understand this most of all. Our fates are all being controlled by others. The decisions we think are ours are all products of manipulation by those above us. And I am the same! I haven't escaped this endless cycle either."

Nathan heard a slight fluctuation in Vincent's words. Besides his senior brother's anger, there was also some brokenness. He suddenly understood.

"Are you unlucky?" Vincent injected even more sarcasm into his voice. "Yes! I won't argue. Thrown into a strange world, then stripped of your bloodline, and before you could catch your breath, you were entangled in this mess. But Nathan, you're not that special. Others are suffering just like you. Including your friend Zeryn. I won't pry enough to reveal details to you. We all suffer from Fortune Flow to some degree. Like a rubber band, you either recoil at fate with unstoppable force, or you snap. Broken. Useless."

Vincent placed his hand on his chest, summoning the black branch that could produce nora.

"This is the item Big Ben was looking for, isn't it?"

Nathan nodded, remembering that he had indeed been asked to get such a thing instead of being suspected about his bloodline.

"This is what people call Fortune." Vincent laughed bitterly. "More and more extreme situations will happen to you as time goes on. They're meant to forge you like a sword that needs to be heated in fire and hammered until it's sharpest. You must understand to get through what's coming. A narrow path forward. So that when you look back, you'll have harnessed the power those trials created. You turned misfortune to fortune. That's the meaning of Fortune Flow."

Vincent made the tree disappear, placing his hands behind his back, looking at Nathan.

"So you must make decisions for others. Even if it stains your hands with blood. That day, instead of contacting higher authorities, you could have controlled everything yourself. You were the strongest person there. But what good is being the strongest when you let them commit evil right before your eyes? The demon hadn't awakened yet—you could have detained the entire village, imprisoned them, or sent them far from Emberwood. Kill the village head. Preemptive strike. Yet you were afraid of the poison taking effect? For what? If they couldn't provide nourishment for that demon, they would have violated their doctrine, their lifetime goal. They won't commit useless deaths. The poison was just a distraction, a threat to you. A revelation you can decipher if you think hard enough. And as you saw, that disgusting centipede incarnation was the true contract for inescapable death. Before that, you could have done many better things."

"But the orders from above were like that," Nathan mumbled. "The protocol."

"Fuck protocol," Vincent roared, his sleeves flailing. The air around him seemed compressed. "They only want benefits for themselves, delaying in solving immediate dangers. And Nathan, why are you angry at me for making decisions for you when you let those incompetent disciples do it for you when it wasn't necessary?"

A thunderbolt struck Nathan's head, leaving him dazed. His approach had turned back to bite his own logic. In the Emberwood situation, he had let the Tier 3s give orders and followed them. From one perspective, it was no different from Vincent using him right now. The difference was one side led to disaster, the other caught prisoners to extract information.

"Doubting yourself now?" Vincent raised his eyebrows. "You're stronger, and you can make decisions for others now. Because you know better. And that's the way to power. Make enough decisions and you'll become the controller, not controlled. There will come a day when you'll have to make even more difficult decisions. It will cost a few lives of those who stand in your way to send a message. But the results will justify you. The casualties at Emberwood would have been significantly reduced because of you. More precisely, all those children could have been saved. Let the fanatical and insane adults rot. But what you did was let others take responsibility for you, pushing important choices of serious problems onto others. A coward!"

The more Nathan thought, the more he saw his mistakes. He could no longer refute anything. His body deflated, drained of vitality. The mental exhaustion he had always avoided finally found him. The next stage of grief was rising. He just wanted to lie down, gnaw on his mistakes, and become a different person.

"I hope you understand this, Nathan." Vincent turned back to Big Ben. "It's not just to help you save others, but to save yourself. Necessary deaths are better than everyone lying in graves."

Silence fell between the two. The heat from before gradually cooled, but warmth still burned on Nathan's face and in his heart.

"I don't want to be harsh," Vincent said, his voice lowering, losing the sharpness from before. "I know I'm using hindsight to judge and blame you. Your panic then was understandable. But someone had to open your eyes and make you acknowledge your mistakes. I hope you understand."

Nathan believed his senior brother had seen his weary nod through spirit vision. He simultaneously felt burdened and as if a great weight had been lifted.

The contradiction within him had to be set aside when Big Ben regained consciousness. The mask covering his face slipped down, clattering on the floor, revealing a bizarre face. It was all excess skin, sagging into wrinkled folds layered upon each other. His eyes were obscured by bags of skin that no longer had fat to keep them taut. This skin condition was even worse at his neck. Fold upon fold seemed to choke off his breathing. The rest of his body parts were fortunately hidden beneath clothes that had now become loose and baggy.

"Big Ben, oh Big Ben." Vincent shook his head. "Why did you have to go this far? I've let you run free enough, haven't I? Are you really that obsessed with Iris?"

Big Ben struggled to lift his head so his eyes could see the opponent before him.

"So my guess was right," Big Ben said weakly, wheezing. "The Garden Prince is indeed the master of this entire place. Yet no one believed me."

"How did you figure it out? Tell me." Vincent feigned surprise.

"Because I understand Iris." Big Ben seemed to be smiling contemptuously, though his covered lips made it impossible to be certain. "The way she moves, that coquettish yet firm manner. Those sharp, defiant eyes. She wouldn't submit to someone who's only good with words. She's a wild beast that needs taming. And whoever can do that is equivalent to the master of this place."

"Your thinking is strange indeed." Vincent crossed his arms and laughed. "But you're wrong about one thing. Iris belongs to herself. She doesn't need anyone to tame her because it's impossible and doesn't exist. She simply chose to develop feelings for me."

Big Ben laughed violently, or perhaps screamed uncontrollably. Layers of skin flapped up and down, spittle flying everywhere.

"All that romantic nonsense," Big Ben sneered. "You expect me to believe that? Let her under me and I'll prove to you that taming is better than your cheap sentiment."

Vincent's face fell. His hands clenched into claws. The needles from the tree inside the drug dealer's body twisted, making him curl up.

When everything stopped, Big Ben was still laughing. Nathan believed he was feeling pleasure from his heavy breathing.

"What's wrong? Why did you stop?" the prisoner panted. "Don't expect me to reveal anything to you."

"Everyone says that until they truly experience ultimate pain," Vincent said wearily.

The small black tree was taken out again, hovering between the two sides.

"You..." Big Ben stammered.

"Do you know what this does?" Vincent interrupted. "Have your superiors revealed anything about it?"

There was no answer, so Vincent continued, "Let me tell you. The nora produced by this tree has the effect of bringing you close to what you desire. Infatuation, lust, dreams. You name it. It makes you immerse yourself in it, not wanting to escape. So it's a test for the spirit. If you overcome it, that's good. If not... I suppose I don't need to explain, do I?"

Nathan squinted at Vincent's explanation. He had inhaled this into his body but hadn't felt any of these sensations. Could it be because the black hole had destroyed the side effects? But with this effect, he finally saw why Alaric let his direct disciple keep the mysterious tree.

Vincent pointed out a finger. A peach blossom formed. Then a black seed drifted from the tree into the flower's pistil. It floated leisurely toward Big Ben, who showed no expression beneath his sagging skin.

"Have a taste," Vincent said.

Big Ben tried to resist, but the surrounding wood fibers began draining his energy, forcing him to lift his nose. The peach blossom was right under. He inhaled. The pollen flew in.

At first, Big Ben felt nothing. But then groaning sounds arose. His body began convulsing. From the folds of overlapping skin, saliva dripped down.

Right then, Vincent pulled his finger back. Big Ben immediately stiffened, his whole body going limp. He frantically struggled, blood spurting from his wrists as the wooden spikes cut in. Yet he still reached forward, screaming.

"Give me more! More!"

"Now, be good," Vincent teased, conjuring another flower in his hand. "I believe Zetsy can't provide you with this level of intoxication."

Big Ben turned his head to one side, then lay straight with determination.

"I don't need it!"

"Oh, as you wish!" Vincent smiled.

The peach blossom carrying nora floated over again. Big Ben was forced to inhale the pollen. Another convulsion like before occurred.

"What are you doing to him?" Nathan asked curiously. "What is he seeing?"

"Beat me." Vincent shrugged. "He might be running naked after Iris. Or lying in wealth and fame. Or seeing Iris submit to him again. Worse would be other beauties all being present. And no one can refuse because of his power and authority. Or simply reliving some past he could fix. Everything is very real."

"That's oddly specific," Nathan said.

Vincent gave his junior brother a meaningful look.

After that, Vincent's devilish senior brother seemed to always know exactly when to withdraw the drug injected into Big Ben's body. Each time like this, the emaciated man would demand more. Only through willpower could he refuse. But gradually, this defense weakened second by second. Replacing the angry roars and dissatisfaction were the silences of waiting. When Vincent delayed too long, he would go mad, causing his hands and feet to be cut by the wooden chains binding him to the bed. In just a short time, the entire chamber reeked of blood.

The physical and mental torture continued until dawn.

"Please," Big Ben mumbled. "Let me have it. At least once."

"You know what you need to do," Vincent said indifferently.

"I can't," Big Ben burst out. "I fucking can't. They will know and I will die."

"You'll die either way," Vincent said with tenderness. "But you can choose how you will go. In ecstasy or in pain."

Nathan shuddered at everything. The madness emanating from his senior brother was a darkness he felt unprepared to witness and accept. Was this Darkan's intention? His master must have known this aspect of Vincent. Placing him beside someone mentally unstable—was it to show him this world was full of chaos?

Before his eyes, Big Ben trembled violently, mumbling incomprehensible things. He lifted his head, stretching his neck forward.

"Give me," Big Ben whispered. "And I'll tell you."

"At your service," Vincent replied.

A flower petal floated right under Big Ben's nose. He decisively inhaled. Nathan heard a sigh of relief beneath the sagging layers of skin.

Big Ben tilted his head back, the fat covering his mouth lifted by mana. He opened his mouth.

"M....r...."

Big Ben's stammered words were cut short by an explosion inside his head.