Ch118 - Shameless Old Man

Su Hansheng hadn’t had nightmares for a long time.

For some reason, tonight felt like being haunted—his consciousness was clear, but his body wouldn’t move, as if someone had sat beside him.

A strange, eerie scent filled the air, like a withered branch grown in Infinite Hell.

A thought crossed Su Hansheng’s mind.

It wasn’t Chongjue.

Even if Chongjue were in Infinite Hell, covered in blood, he couldn’t hide that unique aura. This person’s scent was bitter and harsh.

But it also felt strangely familiar.

Su Hansheng couldn’t open his eyes, only able to feel someone sitting beside him, reaching out a cool hand to gently stroke his cheek.

The touch was fleeting, as if afraid to disturb him.

Su Hansheng mumbled something, struggling desperately to move.

Suddenly, he seemed to lift a hand and grasp something soft and warm.

Dazed, he opened his eyes to bright daylight. A tall figure stood beside him, looking down.

The person seemed about to stroke his cheek, but when his finger was caught, he stiffened slightly. A clear, resigned voice echoed in Su Hansheng’s ear.

“Child, did you come into this world just to suffer?”

Su Hansheng stared at him, dazed.

For a moment, he seemed like a baby in a cradle, seeing only a small corner of the world, with various people leaning over him, gazing with endless hope and expectation.

Drowsy, someone lifted him from the cradle, gently holding him and humming a strange lullaby.

“Black magpie, sleep peacefully, don’t fear the flames driving you away.”

Then a fire broke out.

A tall man stood against the light, motionless by the cradle for a long time, before slowly reaching his steady hand toward Su Hansheng’s neck.

He gradually tightened his grip, choking the child, watching as the little hands reaching for a hug were silenced, unable to cry out.

Beside him, a flowerpot, carved with countless talismans by the man’s own hands, held a tiny sapling basking lazily in the sun.

As the child’s breath was taken, the companion tree suddenly began to tremble, its roots slowly turning yellow.

The sapling, just sprouted, unaware of the storms and downpours to come, naively stretched its tender shoots toward the sunlight.

But the Phoenix Bone destined him to a life of hardship and suffering, never a peaceful end.

Suddenly.

The man abruptly let go, staring at the child curled up in the brocade, tears streaming down his face.

Su Hansheng suddenly opened his eyes, gasping as if his breath had truly been taken, clutching his neck and struggling to breathe, his ears ringing.

After a while, he gradually regained awareness, realizing he was leaning in Chongjue’s arms, the warm hand gently stroking his trembling back.

“It’s okay, don’t be afraid,” Chongjue said, soothing him like a child. “I’m here.”

Su Hansheng’s heartbeat seemed to sync with the pounding in his ears. He gasped for breath, then suddenly threw his arms around Chongjue, burying his face in his chest. His voice was hoarse. “I dreamed about my father…”

Chongjue was startled.

This was the first time Su Hansheng had genuinely called Su Xuanlin “father.”

Chongjue softened his voice. “What did you dream about?”

“I don’t remember much from my childhood, but I always remember, when I was still in the cradle, he tried to strangle me.”

Chongjue’s hand, which had been patting Su Hansheng’s back, froze.

lU KLJAITJN iUggTB dIT AmTLd SifP IQA SfiTITLB fJdf VIfJNMUT’A GYfdITA, PUPgYQJN, “wUd Jfm, W’P Jfd AUiT LJpPfiT…”

EgvfOx pCMJ PngP tCwgJ, TM Cwgr gOt OwgCrj TdppMkgPfOx, Ud ygOTnwOx ngt wmWwkPwt PM pwwr pdCfMdT gOt CwTwOPpdr PMbgCt Ud GdgOrfO, YdP nw tftO’P.

…sI vJkSH tIwtI EaI HIIr tJbbJL YbJh EaI HbIGh.

“zw EaI NIGbt iIYJbI GwH GYEIb NJkb iQbEa, EaI LJbSH LGt Qw vaGJt. TaI bIEkbw JY EaI tGvbIH JijIvEt GYEIb ELJ EaJktGwH NIGbt tQVwGSIH EJ EaI TabII nIGSht EaGE EaI sIGAIw-nIGvaQwV TJLIb LJkSH vJSSGrtI GVGQw, LaQva Qt LaN EaI tGvbIH JijIvEt LIbI wIIHIH EJ VkGbH QE,” KaJwVjkI tGQH. “z HJw’E BwJL LaGE NJkb YGEaIb LGt EaQwBQwV, ikE aI LJkSHw’E aGAI BQSSIH NJk JkE JY aGEbIH.”

Su Hansheng didn’t respond. After a while, he covered his head, groaning, “My head hurts.”

Chongjue’s fingers, warm as jade, gently pressed Su Hansheng’s forehead.

“Should I rub it for you?”

Su Hansheng shook his head. “Can you sing a lullaby?”

Chongjue was taken aback.

He’d lived for thousands of years and knew many things, but singing lullabies to soothe someone to sleep was something he didn’t know.

Su Hansheng didn’t wait for an answer. He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep again.

This time, he slept dreamlessly.

The sorrow from yesterday’s dream seemed like a fleeting illusion. The next morning, Su Hansheng was lively and cheerful, happily heading out to the Wendao Festival.

Although the Wendao Festival secret realm was temporarily closed, the ritual offerings and market were still going on, bustling with activity.

Chongjue didn’t accompany him and would be away for three days.

Su Hansheng wasn’t clingy. He kissed Chongjue and hummed a tune as he went to the market outside the festival.

The market was lively, but when Su Hansheng arrived, he noticed something big was happening on the mountain street. A crowd was gathered, chattering excitedly.

He quickly pushed his way in, spotting Yuan Qian in the middle. “What’s going on? What happened?”

As soon as Su Hansheng arrived, everyone greeted him.

“Young Master Yuanxiao, have you eaten?”

“Senior Brother Yuanxiao, want some yuanxiao?”

“Yuanxiao…”

Yuanxiao, yuanxiao.

Su Hansheng: “…”

Su Hansheng almost wanted to explode, splattering the black sesame filling from the yuanxiao all over their faces!

He rolled his eyes. “What’s going on?”

Yuan Qian answered, “It’s not a big deal. We heard the Wendao Festival might not happen, so we’re discussing what to do.”

“The Wendao Festival not happening is the ten academies’ problem,” Su Hansheng said, puzzled. “No matter how hard we students who haven’t graduated discuss it, it won’t help.”

Yuan Qian smiled. “Not so, not so, Young Master Yuanxiao. You don’t know…”

Su Hansheng bared his teeth and stepped on the tip of Yuan Qian’s snake tail.

“Ow! Hiss!” Yuan Qian quickly changed his tone. “Wise and mighty Young Master Su, you don’t know that there were records of the Wendao Festival not happening before. That year, the students lost a chance to earn points from the trial, so they protested to their teachers. In the end, the academy added an outdoor trial.”

Su Hansheng became interested. “Outdoor? Where can we go?”

Ordinarily, only fourth-year students who were about to graduate could go on outdoor trials with their teachers.

Yuan Qian grinned, showing his venomous fangs. “Who cares where? As long as we can leave Magpie Ridge and play.”

Su Hansheng said, “Oh,” and seeing there was a chance, joined in their excited chatter.

The news that the Wendao Festival secret realm couldn’t be opened spread across the ten academies’ notice boards on the first night of the ritual offerings.

Chongjue wasn’t around, so Su Hansheng didn’t bother returning to the Buddha Hall. After sunset, he drank and ate… yuanxiao with his classmates from Shangshan Study Hall.

Su Hansheng angrily bit through two yuanxiao. He didn’t like the skin, only slurping the black sesame filling, his teeth turning black. He grumbled, “Why hasn’t there been any news yet? If it drags on for a few more days, the holiday will be over.”

Yuan Qian lazily said, “The heads of the ten academies need to discuss it properly. Be patient.”

So they waited, all night.

Su Hansheng stayed at Wu Baili’s quarters and slept. When he woke up, the notice board announced the outdoor trial.

—He didn’t stay at Yuan Qian’s quarters because it was too creepy and gave him nightmares. Wu Baili’s room was clean and comfortable.

Su Hansheng rubbed his eyes and looked at the destination for the trial. It was Old Talisman Ridge.

“Hey!” Su Hansheng kicked the bed where Wu Baili was sleeping like a coffin board. “Baili! We’re going to Old Talisman Ridge for the trial!”

Wu Baili opened his eyes, frowning slightly. “What’s good about Old Talisman Ridge for a trial?”

Su Hansheng had never been to Old Talisman Ridge and was thrilled. “Who cares? Even though the Heaven-Reaching Tower has issues, this trial location… well, the Kunyu map says it’s a hundred thousand miles away. If the ten academies say it’s safe, it must be.”

Young Master Yuanxiao had probably embarrassed himself too many times, so as soon as Wu Baili saw him so proud, he knew something was wrong.

Sure enough, all the students from Shangshan Study Hall packed their bags and followed Chief Enforcer Chu Fenghan to the trial. Su Hansheng also carried a small cloth bag, excitedly trailing behind.

But before they even left the academy gate, Chu Fenghan stopped him. “Young Master, you can’t go.”

Su Hansheng was stunned. “Huh?”

Chu Fenghan was just following orders and didn’t know what excuse to give. Seeing Su Hansheng was dumbfounded, he pursed his lips and lied, “You have too many negative points. You can’t go on this trial.”

Su Hansheng panicked. “But if I don’t go on this trial, I won’t be able to clear my negative points!”

Chu Fenghan: “…”

Chu Fenghan had strict orders. No matter how illogical Su Hansheng’s arguments were, he remained firm and didn’t let him join the group.

Su Hansheng glared as his classmates boarded the spirit boat, each one leaning over the railing and waving at him.

“Young Master Yuanxiao, left all alone in the academy, remember to eat yuanxiao!”

Su Hansheng: “…”

He really wanted to knock the boat down and break all their front teeth!

Once the group left, the vast Wendao Academy was empty.

Su Hansheng, gloomy, headed back to his quarters. He saw Jin Yiyuan leaning against a tree by the academy gate, his eyes fixed on the spirit boat as it disappeared into the clouds.

Su Hansheng looked at him, puzzled. Why did this young master, who never seemed to cultivate, keep coming to Wendao Academy every day?

Just for a Dao Companion—and one he couldn’t even dual cultivate with? Was it really worth it?

Jin Yiyuan finally turned his gaze back, smiled, and walked toward Su Hansheng, getting straight to the point.

“Young Master, do you want to go to Old Talisman Ridge for the trial?”

Su Hansheng nodded. “Yes.”

Chongjue had gone to the Heaven-Reaching Tower at Old Talisman Ridge. Although it was far from the trial site, there was a chance he might run into him.

That was why he was so eager to go.

Jin Yiyuan’s lips curled. “Then I could…”

Before Jin Yiyuan could finish revealing his ulterior motives, Su Hansheng frowned. “But I can’t afford to lose any more points. Sneaking out of the academy will get me punished.”

Jin Yiyuan’s eyelid twitched, silently cursing.

This kid was used to doing whatever he wanted. Every time Jin Yiyuan came to Wendao Academy to see Chu Fenghan, the young master was always being punished in the Disciplinary Hall. Why was he suddenly worried about points now?

Jin Yiyuan tried to tempt him. “Don’t you want to go play with your classmates?”

Su Hansheng wasn’t fooled. “If I really get caught and punished, will you plead for me in front of Senior Chu?”

Jin Yiyuan was speechless.

Su Hansheng flicked his sleeve and said coldly, “Senior Jin, it seems you haven’t made any progress with Senior Chu after all these years. Maybe you’re just not bold enough.”

Jin Yiyuan, who had thought this brat knew nothing about love, was suddenly impressed by his bold, battle-hardened attitude.

—Whether it was from being rejected by Chu Fenghan so many times or genuinely intimidated, he wasn’t sure.

“So, Young Master, what should I do?”

Su Hansheng generously shared his wisdom. “Be bolder, be shameless, openly declare your love. Know the peacock? Yes, just like that. Follow that example.”

After all, that was exactly how he had won over Chongjue—bold enough to pursue his uncle without hesitation.

Jin Yiyuan understood, his expression solemn as he rode the wind to chase after the spirit boat.

Su Hansheng turned to leave, but after a few steps, he suddenly thought of a crucial point.

The reason he could be so shameless and still win over the aloof Chongjue was simply because Chongjue didn’t whip people for every little thing.

Chu Fenghan…

Hmm.

Afraid of getting beaten, Su Hansheng quickly ran off.

Just as he returned to the Buddha Hall, Chongjue’s spirit messenger, shaped like a black magpie, flew over and screeched in his ear.

Su Hansheng lazily lay on the meditation mat and crushed the magpie.

Chongjue’s ethereal figure slowly appeared.

“Xiaoxiao, where are you now?”

Su Hansheng lazily turned the spirit messenger. “In the Buddha Hall. What’s up?”

Chongjue’s gaze shifted, looking a bit unnatural.

Su Hansheng frowned and immediately sat up. “Do you think I’d sneak onto the spirit boat and run off to Old Talisman Ridge?”

Chongjue, unable to hide it, admitted, “Yes.”

Su Hansheng almost laughed in anger. “I didn’t plan to, but now that you’ve reminded me, maybe I should try.”

Chongjue: “…”

Chongjue silently sighed. “I was wrong to suspect you.”

Su Hansheng said coldly, “Do you want to make it up to me by giving yourself to me? I might consider forgiving you and reluctantly agree to dual cultivate with you.”

Chongjue: “…”

Chongjue’s face stiffened for a moment, then he nearly fled, trying to shut off the spirit messenger.

Su Hansheng, still putting on a show, looked at him, confused.

…Then he heard a heart-wrenching roar in his ear. “Wen Jingyu, how dare you say such lewd things to a junior! You bastard! Don’t go into the Heaven-Reaching Tower—I’ll kill you here and now for my dead sister!”

Zou Chi’s voice could also be heard faintly. “Ah, ah! Chongjue, how can you be so shameless?”

Chongjue: “…”

Su Hansheng: “…”

***

**