Ch10 - Provocation

“Shizun…” Mu He cried tragically. Then his eyes flickered before he collapsed on the ground. No matter how much Dog meowed, he didn’t wake up.

He’s faking again. I’ll give him second place for best actor here. Out loud Xie Zhiwei said, “Martial nephew, you’re both from the same sect. Why insist on do or die?”

Bai Yu didn’t back down. “What could you do if I killed him anyway?”

“Then don’t blame martial uncle for what happens next,” Xie Zhiwei sighed.

“You’re going to fight me?” Bai Yu’s steps stalled in surprise. Xie Zhiwei had always been absolutely grateful to the Bai Clan. Regardless of the man’s actual status within the sect, Bai Yu had always treated him as a slightly higher-ranked servant.

Cheng Daoxiu sensed that things had gotten out of hand and tugged at Bai Yu. “Senior brother, calm down. It’ll be bad if the sect leader hears of this.”

But Bai Yu was fearless. Xie Zhiwei was a gentleman who treated everyone with tolerance and magnanimity. Before him and his father he was as squishy as a persimmon and never said anything about them to outsiders.

Xie Zhiwei only complained that the original host was too damn soft. He’d spoiled the Bai son and father rotten with his complacent ways.

Bai Yu broke free of Cheng Daoxiu and stepped forward. “This is between me and him. Don’t get involved.”

So speaking, he slashed at Xie Zhiwei. The movement was fast and fierce, sending up loose stones in a strong gust of wind that flattered the grass underfoot. Xie Zhiwei’s brows creased as he sensed the obvious killing intent within the strike.

This brat’s seeking death. Do you have any idea who we are? I’m the strongest now, and he’ll be strongest in the future. You can’t afford to offend either one of us.

He assumed a battle stance without changing expression, unmoving like a mountain. Even the air around him was as still as water, a clear contrast to Bai Yu’s turbulent aura.

Cheng Daoxiu sucked in a startled breath. She knew that Bai Yu had an awful personality despite being a rare top talent among the disciples. Last year he had managed to fight Heavenly Sun City’s Chu Zhishi for a full four hours in a match. Even Xia Zhiqi acknowledged his strength.

His current attack would take Chu Zhishi’s full power to block, yet Xie Zhiwei didn’t even bother to dodge…

At some point in time Chu Zhishi himself had silently joined the back of the crowd, balanced on a bamboo branch as he focused on the scene below. He knew his second senior brother had profound cultivation ever since he unsheathed the Qingping Sword in his youth. But that was years ago when he was still young. Though he really wanted to see his current skills, Xie Zhiwei never fought with anyone. Today he was taking advantage of Bai Yu’s provocation to witness it at last.

When the violent sword strike slashed his way, Xie Zhiwei casually flicked his sleeves. Like waves hitting the shore, the advancing sword qi dissipated without a trace. Then Xie Zhiwei spread open his palm and the airborne rocks and pebbles froze as if cradled in place. Slowly, they began to drift to the ground like falling leaves without leaving a sound. The grass straightened up as well and everything looked as if nothing had happened at all.

When Mu He pretended to faint, he had left his eyes open a crack to see what was going on. The view shocked him so much he almost dropped his act. Meanwhile, Bai Yu blanched. This was his proudest move and a favorite preemptive strike. Even if it didn’t kill his opponents, it was enough to stop them in their tracks. But this time a single sleeve flick was enough to cancel the attack. Even the stones he elevated were put right back into their places on the ground.

It was downright divine!

The group of disciples had been watching with bated breath and was now struck dumb. Xie Zhiwei took a tiny step forward and Bai Yu involuntarily backed away. But he couldn’t retreat in front of so many people. There was even Chu Zhishi here, a man he had to exceed someday. If he lost momentum to this “squishy persimmon,” there’d be no controlling him in the future. He braced himself and stood firm.

Cheng Daoxiu was the first to recover and fell on her knees. “Second Martial Uncle, please spare senior brother! He didn’t mean to offend you on purpose!” She had long committed herself to Bai Yu in hopes of being the future wife of a city lord or even sect leader. If anything happened to him, she would lose big. The others joined her on their knees, but their voices were much smaller. Xie Zhiwei’s cultivation base was terrifying, but Bai Yu was too vicious. A few of them actually wanted to see him suffer for once.

Bai Yu glared at Cheng Daoxiu before looking coldly at Xie Zhiwei. “If you dare to harm a hair on my head, my father won’t let the matter go.”

“Unruly bastard,” Chu Zhishi cursed under his breath before tapping off his bamboo branch. He landed next to Xie Zhiwei and retorted, “If the sect leader hears how you’ve disrespected your elders, he won’t let this go either.”

Hearing Bai Yu bring up Bai Jianzhu, Mu He considered a second before “regaining consciousness.” He struggled for breath while asking, “What happened? …shizun shouldn’t offend Martial Uncle Bai because of me. Both shizun and Martial Uncle Bai are superb cultivators who shouldn’t condescend to fight for your disciples’ sakes.”

Chu Zhishi couldn’t help but laugh at the comment. “Second senior brother, your disciple needs to deepen his understanding of the sect.”

What do you know?  He only says that because he knows it all too well. It’s clear he wants to mock Bai Jianzhu and Bai Yu, but now he dragged me into it too.

The worst part was…he had to play along.

“Do not show disrespect,” Xie Zhiwei censured.

Mu He obediently shut up while cradling Dog, looking every inch the victim.

Bai Yu was dissatisfied with Bai Jianzhu as well. His father had terrible innate talent and was practically a laughingstock of the cultivation world, making it impossible for Bai Yu to inherit the sect leader position naturally. There was no precedent for restoring a bloodline to the seat of leadership after its decline, making Bai Yu angry every time he thought of it. Now that Mu He had thoughtlessly reminded everyone, his face flushed between red and white.

At last, he managed to say, “We’re leaving.”

“Wait,” Xie Zhiwei replied.

Bai Yu’s expression darkened. “What do you want?”

I want to beat you up.

Once again, the System rang in Xie Zhiwei’s ear. “Warning, Xie Zhiwei cannot bully the weak or start quarrels.”

You damn System, can’t I just think about it? I can teach my juniors a lesson at least, right?

System didn’t reply. Sensing a loophole, Xie Zhiwei realized he could passively counterattack even if he couldn’t physically harm. It was also possible to “persuade” people without violence, after all.

He put on a gentle tone and said, “Martial Nephew Bai, you injured your fellow disciple today and disrespected your elders. If this isn’t redressed, it’ll only hurt you in the long run. Thus, martial uncle can only act in your best interests.”

The goody-two-shoes is finally losing his temper? Chu Zhishi was amused. “Senior brother, you’re going to punish him?”

Xie Zhiwei nodded. “With standing.”

Frustrated by the “squishy persimmon,” Bai Yu only laughed. “You think I’ll listen to you?”

“If that’s the case…” Xie Zhiwei looked both troubled and helpless. “Then let’s do it this way.”

Before Bai Yu could react, Xie Zhiwei flicked his sleeves at him again. Then he couldn’t move at all. All six major acupoints on his body had been sealed, making it impossible for him to channel spiritual energy or expand his meridians. There was no way for him to fight back against the other. Even if Xie Zhiwei decided to kill him right here and now, it wouldn’t take much effort.

More frightening was the fact that anyone could act against him while he was frozen in place. Bai Yu panicked and demanded, “Xie Zhiwei! Release me quickly, you ungrateful little snit!”

Xie Zhiwei seemed struck by those words as he shut his eyes in pain. “Reflect on yourself for the next shichen. I too, will go to shizun’s tomb to offer my apologies.”

Chu Zhishi couldn’t stand it anymore and tapped Bai Yu’s mute acupoint to shut him up. “The older you are, the more unruly you act. Just stay standing.”

Meanwhile, Chu Zhishi’s disciples had finally caught up with their baskets of bamboo shoots. Their eyes almost fell out of their sockets at this scene. Chu Zhishi rapped his knuckles against the leader’s head.

“What are you spacing out for? Hurry and deliver these. Those with no baskets stay here and watch over Bai Yu until one shichen passes.”

Although it was only early spring, the sun was still strong around noontime. Cheng Daoxiu wept as she pleaded, “Please spare senior brother, Second Martial Uncle. How could he stand for an entire shichen?”

Chu Zhishi had long grown sick of Bai Yu. But because the latter never bothered him and Xie Zhiwei never fought back, he didn’t get a chance to act until today. Now he replied, “The other disciples all get punished for one shichen for their mistakes. It’s of no consequence for someone at his level.”

Of course he didn’t mention the fact that Bai Yu’s spiritual power and meridians had all been sealed. Right now he was no different from an ordinary mortal and had no defense against the searing sunlight. Soon enough, his face was turning red as sweat dripped down his brow. But because he couldn’t speak, Bai Yu could only seethe in silence.

Xie Zhiwei ignored Bai Yu’s glare to thank Chu Zhishi, who waved a hand. “This should’ve been done ages ago. Senior brother shouldn’t be scorned by certain unworthy disciples.” He paused, then grinned. “Senior brother’s cultivation is so extraordinary. When will you exchange pointers with me?”

Before Xie Zhiwei could decline, Mu He suddenly struggled to his feet and then crumpled back down. When he saw Xie Zhiwei looking his way, he all but buried his face in Dog out of shame. “Shizun…disciple lost face for you again.”

You were the one who made a mountain out of a molehill in the first place! And yet you still have the shame to look contrite!

Xie Zhiwei consoled, “You’ve suffered today as well. Master will go treat your injuries now.” He moved to help the boy up, then summoned his sword to fly off with Mu He and Dog in each hand.

Behind him Chu Zhishi could only sigh. “Second Senior Brother is nothing when he stays still, but absolutely remarkable when he makes but a single move.”

Xie Zhiwei basked in these words even though he didn’t look back. That’s right, there’s a method to playing low-key. The deadliest acts make themselves invisible.

Bai Yu and Bai Jianzhu would probably lay low for a while until his poison acted up. But since that was still far ahead, Xie Zhiwei could only work hard at being a “nanny” now. The various daoist novices were only good as basic helpers, so Xie Zhiwei threw himself into the front lines.

He was used to bumps and scrapes during filming and learned how to bandage as a result. Still, it was oppressive treating a face he disliked from his previous life, to say nothing of hugging his thigh.

Mu He stole a peek at his master while he worked. Closeup, Xie Zhiwei’s expression was mild yet focused, looking outstanding with his handsome features. Shizun was exceptionally soft with his motions so he wouldn’t suffer or ache.

I knew it. Shizun is as gentle and kind as he looks. More importantly, he treats me well.

If Xie Zhiwei could read Mu He’s mind now, he would say the guy was overthinking it. I’m just afraid you’ll find me for payback after you blacken if I hurt you now…

Soon enough, Mu He’s face was bandaged up like a zongzi until only his eyes were showing. Xie Zhiwei sighed. I wouldn’t be able to beat up a handsome little face like his, but those people showed no mercy. They did…

…a beautiful job!

—

Translator’s Note: That’s all the releases for my first day on the job, folks! Consider this an early celebration gift. Once the novel gets formally announced on CG Discord, you can get notified for new releases with the @MDE role! I’ll have the next installment for you on Tuesday. 😘