Ch100 - Deployment

The candle flame flickered back and forth in the breeze that entered the house as if it’d gutter out in an instant. That little bit of fish meat was enough to disrupt Mu He’s entire body. His spiritual power rampaged through his organs while the three lotuses released a protective aura in his divine sense at the same time. For a while, Mu He’s body formed a vortex of light, fury, and chaos. But he sat there unmoving, as quiet as a corpse.

He stared at Xie Zhiwei and said, “Whatever..shizun says, disciple… cough…will believe…”

Even if it’s the fact that you want to kill me.

In a trance, he seemed to return to a certain day before his rebirth. That day, he had been sick while drinking down mouthful after mouthful of soup fed by Cheng Daoxiu. Then he never recovered. He used to think that was the most unbearable darkness in his life. As long as he could struggle and live on, there was still hope. He took the shizun he met after rebirth as this hope, but never thought the man would die from poison less than two months after they met.

What a twisted fate.

Later, he even planned to accompany shizun in the afterlife, but shizun unexpectedly came back to life. And now, after trying to please him in every possible way, shizun wanted to kill him… Just like that venomous woman, he personally fed something fatal past his lips.

Why?

He died miserably in his previous life, but that gang of villains got away with it, taking everything from him to live a splendid life. After rebirth, he relentlessly took revenge until they all died, leaving him with a life worse than death. Mu He looked as far as he could at the figure flying above the clouds like a bamboo leaf that would never land by his side.

“In Dog’s…bowl…saw shrimp shells… You must have put them there…because you couldn’t eat…in the future, never touch…you have to…”

The man who had warned him before death was also the one who wanted to take his life at this moment. Mu He suddenly stopped resisting and allowed the flame-like sensations to turn his insides upside down. In an instant, a stream of blood spurted from his lips.

The next second, he was wrapped in an embrace.

Xie Zhiwei’s expression sank like water. “Why didn’t you use spiritual energy to shield your body?”

Mu He stared at him without blinking as blood dripped from his lips. Xie Zhiwei felt guilty and looked again, “Actually, Master…”

Mu He suddenly grabbed a corner of his robes, his fingers bloodstained. Horrific images cropped up in Xie Zhiwei’s head. His distant thoughts were of Bai Yu and Bai Jianzhu’s deaths, while his immediate ones were of Chu Zhishi injured in prison. With a gasp, he broke free and stepped back sharply. But he’d forgotten the table full of delicacies behind him, which fell off the table with a clatter, shattering the cups and plates. Mu He was sent slumping back in his seat, left in a pile of trash and broken fragments like a broken stalk of grass.

Xie Zhiwei staggered and stumbled towards the doors, his palms full of sweat. Actually, he had foreseen various consequences after deciding on this action, but saving people was urgent. The hero was different from the past, so it was impossible for a tiny bit of fish to take his life.

That was why he had only fed him one mouthful.

Who expected the protagonist to give up on treating himself?! He was about to step out the door when he couldn’t help turning back towards the dead-faced Mu He. “Don’t give up,” he said.

Mu He’s heart seized, but by the time he looked up, the man at the door was gone. The floor was a mess and the ice carp meat scattered in the wreckage was still steaming. Mu He spat out another mouthful of blood before coughing twice and abruptly pursing his lips. The motion looked extra stiff with his face like ashes.

“Cough…don’t…give…up?” His gaze turned from lax to dark as his spiritual power began to move again. The various strands of energy repelled each other before they were forcibly melded together.

“Someone, come.” A moment later, Mu He ordered in a hoarse voice. “Summon Faceless here, quickly.”

—

“As Shizi ordered, everything in the prisons has already been deployed.”

“You’ve worked hard, Faceless,” Mu He leaned against the bed with his eyes closed and face pale. “It’s getting late, go rest.”

Faceless remained bowing. “The irons chains are still with this subordinate. Dare I ask Shizi, do you need this subordinate to…”

“No need.”

“But…” Faceless started, then stopped.

“If you have any questions, ask directly.”

Faceless said, “The king already knows the uninvited guest is surnamed Xie.”

There was no ripple on Mu He’s face. “What did Royal Father say?”

“The king had instructions to kill on sight, regardless of the truth.”

“Kill on sight?”

Faceless bowed even lower. “Yes.”

Silence descended upon the chambers. The candle flames flickered five to six times before Mu He laughed lightly and opened his eyes. “This is what Royal Father ordered you to do. What’s the point of telling me?”

Faceless’s heart leaped in his chest. “Shizi, calm your anger. This subordinate knows the origins of that lofty figure and yourself. The king’s orders are greater than heaven…I don’t know what Shizi thinks of this?”

“Me?” Mu He shut his eyes again, his expression indifference. “I want to shut the doors and recuperate for the next three days, so I can’t bother with too many things.”

His words were very cryptic, but Faceless understood.

I’ll give you all three days’ time without interfering. If you can’t capture him by then, it’ll be a different story.

—

Xie Zhiwei headed directly for Chu Zhishi and Tantai Meng’s cell. Because time was tight, he didn’t hide his presence and alerted all the guards. Thanks to the bright lights, word soon spread among them that an intruder had breached the king’s manor. All of a sudden, chains and nets were flying across the skies as every expert in the residence went to block his way.

But they failed.

Xie Zhiwei only breathed a sigh of relief when he entered the cell and saw the boundary field of white light had vanished without a trace. The hero’s only weak point was his fish and shrimp allergy. He used to spit on Gallant Outlaw for adding unnecessary angst to already angsty settings, but now it was simply sending him charcoal in snow. Afraid to slack dff, he saw Tantai Meng and Chu Zhishi both tied up and asleep and expected they’d been tormented severely during the day.

He used Qingping Sword to cut through their chains, took out two sacks he’d stolen from handymen along the way, and stuffed them into the bags before tying them tightly and carrying them on his back.

Sounds of shouting and fighting came from outside.

Two live people weren’t enough to slow Xie Zhiwei down. He was just about to fly off on his sword, when his heart fluttered and he took several steps to the side. In a flash, iron chains entwined with white light descended from the skies to surround him. In front of the crowd stood Faceless, who pointed at him and said, “Xie zhenren, we meet again.”

Xie Zhiwei hooked up his lips. “Indeed, you’re really unlucky.” If all of your opponents are too strong to beat, you’ll start doubting life ah, youngster.

“Please be bound!” Faceless didn’t waste words as the chains whistled towards Xie Zhiwei. The men behind him lunged as well, as if it’d be a simple matter to capture him. Xie Zhiwei didn’t seem to see them as he turned to get on the sword, holding the sacks on his shoulders firmly while tossing his sleeves.

In a second, Faceless’s eyes widened as the meridians of his body seemed to rust over. He couldn’t move another step or even open his mouth to make a sound. Behind him the crowd began to huff and puff. They’d been tossed underfoot by Xie Zhiwei’s flick, like a violent surge of clouds that instantly froze in place.

Xie Zhiwei left them in the dust.

The daoist clan’s restriction spell was incredible. Even if it can’t stop the hero, can’t it stop the likes of you lot?

This time Xie Zhiwei didn’t immediately flee the capital. The most dangerous place was also the safest place, so he found an unremarkable location to settle down until the furor passed. When Mu He was less angry, he’d go back to the sect, or else last time’s tragedy would replay itself again.

And this time, include him in it.

Xie Zhiwei carefully shook out the two people in the burlap bags, but felt it’d be too cold to leave them sleeping on the floor. He first moved the heavily injured Chu Zhishi onto a bed. But before he could touch him, Chu Zhishi went, “Aish” and raised a hand to rub his eye.

Xie Zhiwei said hastily, “Youngest junior brother, you’ve finally woken up…huh?”

Weird. Wasn’t the hand Cheese used to rub his eye just then in a bamboo splint before?

Xie Zhiwei poked at his arm. The bones were intact, the skin wasn’t red or swollen. Shocked, he cried, “Wasn’t your arm broken?”

Chu Zhishi grunted. “What are you talking about, your arm can be the broken one…tch, why is my face kinda itchy?” After rubbing his eyes, he started scratching his face. His voice was youthful as a teenager’s.

Xie Zhiwei’s heart hung over his chest. That’s not right. When did Cheese get a shota voice…crap. Gritting his teeth, he tugged at Chu Zhishi’s chin before the skin mask on his face ripped in half.

“Owowow—what are you doing?!” the stranger exclaimed in pain, suddenly awake. When he looked up and saw himself in the mirror, the drooping skin off his face made him scream. “Mother, ah—!” He shrank back, shuddering.

It was a while before he recovered his senses and began to touch his face. Exhaling in relief, he tore off the rest of the mask. “What the hell is this?”

Xie Zhiwei was floored as his head spun in circles. A while later, he muttered, “They were secretly switched out…”

He never expected the hero to pull this trick. The melon-eating crowds of the king’s manor had blocked him temporarily, but that gave enough time for the manor to switch Cheese and Mengmeng out for two other prisoners instead.

Doesn’t this mean Cheese and Mengmeng are in even more danger than before?

At this time, the man who took off Chu Zhishi’s mask looked at Xie Zhiwei and cried, “Xie zhenren!”

Xie Zhiwei gave a start and grew bewildered. “You know me?”

“Of course I do!” the teen nodded. “I’m Maozi ah, we met at your coffin before!”

Xie Zhiwei sucked in a breath.

Crap, what a coincidence. These two fell into Mu He’s hands too? Just how many innocents has the King of Nine Provinces captured, ah pooh.

Wait, so the maid who went to investigate the prisoners and said two men were captured…meant these two?

Fine, now I know why Mu He’s so convinced I like him.

To stay on Earth for Mu He’s sake after he clearly ascended…the excuse he made up to trick the two grave robbers was completely passed on to Mu He!

Maozi shook his head. “Where’s Old Du? He was clearly with me, but why did the prisons change to this? Why did Xie zhenren descend from the heavens again?”

The “Tantai Meng” on the ground suddenly moved before a low male voice came from “her”mouth. “Your grandma, why did I wake up before I ate the chicken drumstick.”

Maozi gave a start before he found it hilarious. “Old Du, why do you look like this hahahaha!”

Old Du was uncomfortable and fumbled a bit before taking out two bulging cotton balls from his chest. Shocked, he cried, “Why did I turn into a woman?”

Before him was the mirror, so he stared at it and chuckled. “And she’s quite beautiful, too.”

Maozi only tsked. “Stop admiring yourself. It’s just a face mask with your coarse old face underneath.”

Old Du scrunched his eyebrows. “Come now, lil bro Maozi, let this old mother give you a smooch.”

“Stop fooling around,” Maozi cast a careful glance towards Xie Zhiwei. “Xie zhenren is here.”

“Xie zhenren?” Old Du turned and sucked in a deep breath. “It really is Xie zhenren. I understand, Xie zhenren must have disguised and rescued us. What a kind heart, as expected of an ascended immortal!”

Xie Zhiwei silently turned away.

Which stupid immortal wants to save you? Give me back my Cheese and Mengmeng…

—

Translator’s Note: Annnd we’ve hit the big 100! To celebrate (and take a break from story drama) I’m releasing subtitles for Arc 2 of the Too Bad Master Died Early fanvid on YT! Again, I’m leaving it unlisted but you can find it easily in my playlist. Enjoy!

Too Bad Master Died Early – Arc 2 Fanvid (Ch. 50-68)

The Chinese commenters: