After he finished, Chu Zhishi asked, âDid second senior brother tell him to do that?â
âThings happened so suddenly that I was pushed away by him before the blastâŚhow could I have told him?â Xie Zhiwei was surprised. He lowered his head to think and came to an understanding.
Mu He was smart to begin with and had excellent insights into his surroundings. He could respond quickly according to subtle changes in the environment. He only got up to little tricks in front of his master, which hid his bright points. To outsiders he was a demon, but to Xie Zhiwei he was just a big kid who was too shrewd!
Chu Zhishi had been the closest one to him and Mu He at the time. He thought Chu Zhishiâs hand was shaking from fatigue because his sword was too heavy, but Mu He could keenly perceive the unusual qi and even connect it to a mastermind behind the scenesâChu Zhishi was no fool either, so the mastermind would definitely try to silence him.
But he refused to let him have his way.
Mu He made a decision in a flash. Whether out of goodwill or intentionally, his actions saved both himself and Chu Zhishi.
Chu Zhishi glanced at Xie Zhiwei and shook his head. âGood one second, bad the next. First heâs yelling that heâll kill me, and now heâs doing random acts of kindness. I donât understand that disciple of yours, heâs so capricious. Youâre the only one who can manage him now and then.â
How can a straight man understand the schemes of a gay one. Xie Zhiwei grinned at him carelessly. In hindsight, each step was pretty thrilling. He had been the one to rescue Chu Zhishi the first time while Mu He was still sick. How could the youth swallow his anger? Mu He was extremely insecure. He thought that Xie Zhiwei would never like anyone, which meant he was liable to abandon him at any time for other feelings. The affections between master and disciple, fellow sect members, or pure compassion could all be supplanted by something else.
That was why he was so anxious to strike at Chu Zhishi and even regarded the daoist sect as a thorn in his side. But now that he felt secure, things were naturally different. Xie Zhiwei sighed. Perhaps his three days and three nights of no resistance or rebuke in the illusionary realm had given Mu He the wrong message, especially when he treated him with kind words of consolation instead. He originally wanted to find an opportunity to explain himself, but who expected that later onâŚ
Yan Zhifei asked, âZhiwei, since the origins of the explosions came from Zhishiâs arm and it was Yin Cangshan who treated him, could it beâŚâ
Xie Zhiwei and Chu Zhishi both nodded at the same time while Xia Zhiqiâs eyes widened. Xie Zhiwei shut his eyes. âThat day in front of Mahavira Hall, Yin Cangshan was bent on slandering my disciple. He also threatened the safety of the daoist sect so I couldnât clear things up. Otherwise, I would never have allowed him to take away my disciple.â
Xia Zhiqi said, âNo wonder second senior brother acted so impulsively. But you didnât fight him despite your cultivation base. Are you sayingâŚâ
Xie Zhiwei lowered his gaze. âI have no chance of winning against him.â
There were sharp intakes of breath.
Chu Zhishi was stunned. âSecond senior brother, what are you joking about? How could something like him compare to you? Heâs actually on par with you? Did he practice some crooked way or side path to quickly improve?â
Xie Zhiwei was serious as he said, âItâs not some quick way to success, but itâs not much different, either.â
Silence filled the room. Du Sheng sat on the side, plucking his Buddha beads from beginning to end without a word as he thought. Abruptly, Xie Zhiweiâs gaze rested on him. âGreat Master Du Sheng is the one with highest seniority here, so I expect you know more about the demon realm beyond this world than this surnamed Xie.â
Du Sheng set down his prayer beads with a sigh. âThis poor monk has only heard of it from my masterâs generation. There were rumors being spread as well, but no documentation. I thought it was just a legend, but I didnât expectâŚit was actually true.â
The five people shut up in the room discussed secretly until the truth was revealed in the length it took to eat a meal.
Du Shengâs remarks on the hostile qi of the demon realm was very credible. The daoist and Buddhist sects had realized the seriousness of the situation and were not taking any chances with Yin Cangshan. If he was a decent man, he wouldnât have chosen to blow up the Buddhist sect. He could even laugh and talk even when surrounded by their dead and wounded. Furthermore, letting him deal with Mu He was to prevent unsealing the demon realm. Now that he already held the secrets to that realm in his hands, he was a more dangerous figure than Mu He.
At the very least, Xie Zhiwei had persuaded the daoist sect to stop treating Mu He as an enemy. But the Yin Estate was involved with the imperial clan. The liveliness of the cultivation world had never touched mundane matters. If they really wanted to intervene, it would cause fluctuations around the world and implicate the entire cultivation community.
Yan Zhifei didnât immediately respond to Xie Zhiweiâs plea for help. The daoist sect was only a major figure in the cultivation world and had no right to speak for others. UnlessâŚ
Yan Zhifei glanced at Du Sheng, who avoided his gaze and looked down to continue counting his Buddha beads. Xie Zhiwei quietly shook his head. Words werenât enough to stir the two great sects into attacking Yin Estate, but time was already running out. Still, even if plans were finalized now, Mu He was trapped by a spell formation. It would be very embarrassing if they brought a group to surround the place without being able to do a thing.
Xie Zhiwei thought back and forth before deciding to invite Tantai Meng back first. Du Sheng could persuade this grandaunt in her place. But just as he mentioned her to him, Du Sheng nodded in understanding. âThis poor monk guessed that the child must have followed Xie zhenren out again. She used to respect Xie zhenren greatly and even wandered with you while Xie zhenren was still in disguise. I expect itâs all fate.â
Dammit, why is this old monk so sharp! Xie Zhiwei only chuckled internally. What a long stretch for fated. Shoving your disciple onto others and making them look after her meals is just taking advantage of someone, okay?
But he remained amiable on the surface. âI hope that Great Master Du Sheng can help me convince Miss Tantai to lend out Golden Lotus to save my disciple.â
Du Shengâs smile froze briefly before he gave a light cough. âThis matter still needs her to come backâŚand see what she thinks.â
Xie Zhiwei agreed with a smile even as his heart fumed. You were so eloquent when you sent her to mooch off me, but why are you stuttering when it comes to borrowing Golden Lotus now? You said it yourself. If your disciple agrees to lend it out, see who gets face-slapped by then!
Although he was full of complaints, Xie Zhiwei was still uncertain when he went back to the cave. Even his steps grew cautious and hesitant. Tantai Meng noticed the first thing he did was to remove the boundary field and asked expressionlessly, âXie zhenren doesnât want Golden Lotus anymore?â
Xie Zhiwei faced the cave entrance and made a gesture of invitation. âGolden Lotus is needed to rescue my disciple. But this has no conflict with sending Miss back.â
Tantai Meng processed the words and rose to leave the cave, Then she stopped, wrapped the fox fur cloak tightly around herself, and looked back at the darkness. âItâs very warm inside the caveâŚâ
âGo back,â Xie Zhiwei said gently. âThe Buddhist sect added new charcoal, itâll be much warmer than here.â
Tantai Mengâs gaze flickered slightly before she suddenly said, âXie zhenren, when I sneaked into the rear gardens of the King of Nine Provincesâ estate, Shizi Mu He was already suffering from an illness. He must have needed Golden Lotus urgently at that time, or else he wouldnât have used every means to force me to hand it over.â
Xie Zhiwei thought she was still upset over Mu Heâs actions and nodded. âIt was my disciple who didnât know any better and kept hurting Miss. Iâll take his place toââ
âXie zhenren has no need to repeat these things,â Tantai Meng was probably numb to his speech by now and simply cut him off. âI need to say something right now.â
âWhat is it?â
âShizi Mu He once told me something else in the prisons. He said he wouldnât allow anyone or anything to take his place in Xie zhenrenâs heart. I questioned it at the time, thinking that Xie zhenren didnât have those feelings for him.â Tantai Meng looked quietly at Xie Zhiwei. âIs that right, Xie zhenren?â
This time, Xie Zhiwei had no choice but to enter a staredown with her. A long time passed before he looked away. âWhy is Miss asking this?â
Tantai Mengâs lips quirked up at the corners before she went on, âNothing much. Itâs just that Shizi Mu He treated me even more harshly after hearing those wordsâŚwhen he was finally exhausted enough to stop, he said that he wouldnât hesitate to throw everything aside if Xie zhenren was willing to shed a single tear for him after he died.â
Although Tantai Meng only sketched a brief impression of their conversation, Xie Zhiwei could well imagine how crazy and obstinate Mu He must have acted at that time. Even after being fed ice carp, he didnât resist the allergic reaction and simply used his life to test Xie Zhiweiâs attitude. He, Xie Zhiwei, was able to get Mu He to give up his obsession after a few words of explanation in the illusionary realm, which spurred Mu He to escort Cheese and Mengmeng out of the estate and sowed the seeds for trouble later.
A while later, Xie Zhiwei only replied with âOhâ and couldnât say anything else.
âI canât hand over Golden Lotus casually. I had to be clear about Xie zhenrenâs views on Shizi Mu He first. NowâŚâ Tantai Meng suddenly revealed a relieved look as she looked at the white landscape before them. âI know.â
Xie Zhiwei was dumbfounded.
He prided himself on understanding womenâs hearts and previously dealt with Tantai Meng with ease. But now Mengmeng had suddenly become so profound and mysterious? What did she mean by her words? What did her handing over Golden Lotus have to do with how he, Xie Zhiwei, saw Mu He?
And also, what does she know? She knows what?
Xie Zhiwei couldnât help touching his cheek. Did I fail to control the emotions on my face?
But looking at Mengmeng now, it seems things were taking a turn for the better. Tantai Meng strode forward with Xie Zhiwei following to ask, âHas Miss changed your views on my disciple now?â
Tantai Mengâs restrained her expressions. âNot towards him, but Iâve changed my views on Xie zhenren.â
Xie Zhiweiâs heart leaped in his chest. Thereâs an 80 percent change sheâs categorized me from straight to bent.
Tantai Meng didnât look at him and simply spoke to herself. âItâs just that Golden Lotus, I canâtâŚâ
Xie Zhiwei wrinkled his brows as he sensed her refusal yet again before his face blanched and he dragged the girl behind him.
Against the white, snow-capped mountains, a few thin strands of dark red light had suddenly appeared to circle around them slowly like a thread stabbing through a needle.
â
Translatorâs Note: Next chapter is a whopping 6678 words in the raws! Get ready for plenty of action and plot twists, itâs one of my favs >: )