Ch18 - A Double Standard

It was evident that Qin Jun was well versed in the Xingdou sword style he was assigned. It wasn’t that he practiced day and night, he was just naturally gifted. Jiang Yinghe could not be more pleased after being shown once, but he had to pretend to be stern and critique his routine. Although he made some minor suggestions like stepping with firmer strides, he was in actuality as proud as a peach.

When he first came to the cultivation world everything was new and surprising to him. There was very little that could move him now a thousand years later. It was only recently that he discovered how satisfying teaching others could be.

It was a bit like playing a simulation game. The more they improved, the more accomplished he felt.

But the matter of finding a suitable sword for Chang Ye has troubled him for quite some time.

Jiang Yinghe flipped through another scroll detailing a number of weapons with nothing to show for his efforts. Chang Ye was still young, so there was a limit on how much weight he could lift. Heavy longswords were completely out of the question. If he had a choice, then a saber would be ideal.

Just as he was contemplating commissioning a custom blade for his youngest, a series of light knocks could be heard from the doors of his residence. Jiang Yinghe put down the scroll in his hands to see the sweet smile blossoming across his little disciple’s face as he ran over.

“Shizun,” Change Ye leaned in closer, wrapping himself around a slender arm to take a whiff of the cold fragrance that surrounded him. “I heard that Li-shixiong stayed over last night. Didn’t you say that we had to sleep alone from now on? Even someone my age can do it, so how can Shixiong need Shizun to stay with him?”

Chang Ye complained in a wronged voice while peering over at Jiang Yinghe with those bright eyes. He was like a child throwing a tantrum. “If I can’t sleep with Shizun then Li-Shixiong shouldn’t be able to either.”

This was the first time Jiang Yinghe had learned of this. He thought the other had retired soon after he fell asleep reconditioning his meridians.

“He didn’t leave?”

“Yeah!” Chang Ye nodded very seriously. “My Emerald Spring courtyard is right across from Li-shixiong’s Winter Storm residence. I kept watch all night!”

Jiang Yinghe was amused by his antics and knocked the top of his little disciple’s head playfully. “Why did you look at that all night? There’s no need to be so stingy among martial siblings. Your Shixiong was just not feeling well yesterday.”

Although it was called Qing Jing Peak, it was actually more of a mountain range. The White Jade Crane residence was in the center, with caves of varying sizes surrounding it refashioned into rooms. Each one was personally named by Jiang Yinghe when he made this place his home.

Due to the fact that he kept only a few servants and his three disciples around, there were many empty rooms available on Qing Jing Peak.

Chang Ye rubbed where his head had been hit while mumbling in his childish voice. “If he didn’t feel well yesterday then how’s he fighting with Qin Jun at the Typhoon Cliffs right now? What a load of bull….”

Jiang Yinghe did not think to enhance his hearing so he was unable to hear what he said clearly. He asked, “What did you say?”

“Li-shixiong and Qin-shixiong went out to spar.” Chang Ye replied obediently. “I trained for a while until I remembered Shizun only wants to sleep with Shixiong and forgot all about Ye-er, so I came here.”

He said it as if he felt fully justified by his words, like he couldn’t see anything wrong with someone his age being so attached to Jiang Yinghe.

It just so happened that Jiang Yinghe’s impression of him was a green and vulnerable child he rescued from being imprisoned in ice. Being somewhat dependent on authority figures after such a traumatic event was natural.

“How can I ever forget about you?” Jiang Yinghe comforted him before questioning, “But why do I feel like I’ve raised you into a spoiled young miss? I must have overindulged you.”

While he was reflecting on his approach to education, the young voice of a stranger rang out from outside.

“Disciple Lu Cheng greets Xianjun. I come bearing a summons from the Sect Master.”

Jiang Yinghe invited him in once he heard that the sect master sent him.

A man dressed in the green robes of a disciple stepped into the room, placing a black scroll on the jade table. He saluted and said, “The Sect Master writes to inform you that this matter concerns the place that Xianjun and Yan Zhenren once went to cleanse of miasma.”

Jiang Yinghe slightly inclined his head and watched as the messenger left. The pinched expression of his little disciple completely escaped his notice.

Chang Ye only reached up to weakly adjust his mask when the disciple departed the manor. Only then did the urge to defend his territory slowly fade. He couldn’t help but come near Jiang Yinghe. He knew that he had overreacted just now.

He only needed to fend off those two scheming bastards, so why did he feel like his tail had been stepped on when ordinary Peng Lai disciples came near Jiang Yinghe? Chang Ye snuck another glance at his Shizun’s elegant appearance, unable to identify the emotions he felt at that moment.

He suddenly thought of the two he killed back at He Huan sect, of their crude and vulgar words. Every time Chang Ye witnessed his Shizun’s honour being besmirched, he felt a strong urge to kill the one responsible.

He drew closer and let that cold fragrance calm him.

Did he develop a taste for immortal cultivation after his imprisonment?

Chang Ye was only able to draw one conclusion from his frazzled mind. He wasn’t interested in Jiang Yinghe’s cultivation but rather….

Chang Ye stood there unmoving. His mind was becoming consumed by an indescribable feeling. He was no longer aware of his Shizun looking over the scroll. It was only when that feeling reached a plateau that he heard Jiang Yinghe’s soft and clear voice.

“Yun province was just beginning to recover, but now ghost cultivators and the undead are gathering there again. We should be cautious.”

Chang Ye came back from his thoughts. He blinked and nodded. “En.”

“Go back to practice some more. This time I will be taking you all… En? Why are your ears so red?”

Chang Ye quickly hid his ears in his hands. He didn’t even realize how hot they were himself. Stunned, he spluttered an excuse. “Shizun’s room is too warm.”

Warm? Jiang Yinghe swept his gaze questioningly over his surroundings.

The White Jade Crane residence, with its jade walls, continued to stubbornly exude a pleasantly cool aura after being praised as ‘warm’.

—-

The summons was not only about the situation in Yun city but also contained information on how Peng Lai and the other sects would work together to purify the miasma. This was too complex to be explained via sound array, which is why Zhou Zhengping sent a summons over.

The elders of Peng Lai were currently in the middle of an actual face-to-face meeting, which was rare for them.

The Peng Lai Sect Master Zhou Zhengping, Chang Ning Zhenren Yan Caiwei, Qing Yan Zhenren Yun Buxiu and Jiang Yinghe, who had the highest cultivation of them all, were all present.

Zhou Zhengping set down his whisk and began to explain the situation. “The Ghost Festival will undoubtedly bring harm to the civilians there. The other righteous sects are also working on this alongside us.”

Yun Buxiu was a straight-forward person, so he asked right away. “What’s going on with that Yun province? It’s not the most polluted place on the southern continent, so why is it always troubled by ghosts?”

Zhou Zhengping had already considered this question for several days to no avail. He sighed, “I don’t know, but we can’t stand aside and do nothing. The monks of Lan Ruo temple might know more. You can ask Zhi Jing Chanshi the next time you see him.”

His last sentence was directed at Jiang Yinghe ,who was the most steadfast of his younger martial siblings.

Jiang Yinghe nodded, “Peng Lai disciples may have the guidance of elders and the support of their companions, but they are like a flower grown in a greenhouse compared to the wanton ghost cultivators. I believe that this would be a good opportunity…”

The other three had alarm bells going off inside their heads before he even finished speaking.

“Jiang-shidi,” The purple-clad Yan Caiwei nervously swallowed, “Are you saying….that you want to take your disciples along?”

Jiang Yinghe replied sincerely, “Any other willing disciples are also welcome to come and help eradicate evil from the world.”

Yan Caiwei thought about those disciples of his and frowned in consternation. “It’s not technically against the rules, but…”

Jiang Yinghe raised an eyebrow. He was somewhat displeased. “If Shijie has something against them then please share it with me.”

Yun Buxiu from beside him wanted to say something but couldn’t. He looked at Zhou Zhengping, who also couldn’t. The two of them looked to Yan Caiwei.

Yan Caiwei sighed, “I was only thinking that although Chang Ye would probably be fine, if Li Huanhan and Qin Jun showed up they might be mistaken for the enemy and attacked, which would end badly for everyone.”

Jiang Yinghe: “…”

“Especially Qin Jun. He was corrupted by countless ghosts when he was younger and miasma continues to surround him even now. Perhaps even his nascent soul contains impurities.” Yan Caiwei looked up with a sorrowful expression, “With a temperament like that….Um….”

She didn’t know how to continue. Yun Buxiu helped her out with a gloomy look in his eyes.

“….If he gets provoked he’ll probably kill more people than the ghosts will.”

Jiang Yinghe: “….It can’t be that bad.”

How can the Jun-er that was sensitive enough to remind him to take care of a valuable tea set be as terrifying as they described? He was just more resourceful and opinionated than most.

Jiang Yinghe’s voice lacked confidence. He saw the others all turn to stare at him for some reason. His little Yun-shidi seemed to sense that something wasn’t right. He stewed on his words for a moment. “It’s because your disciples treat you differently. Those guys are…they’re basically famous in Peng Lai for having double standards!”

Jiang Yinghe looked at him completely lost. “…..Double standards?”

Author’s Corner

Cold Jade Wall: Why’d you humiliate me by saying I was hot?! I’m the material with the highest compatibility with the crane foundation!

Chang Ye: Sssh. Please do me a favour and pretend. It was my heart that was boiling.