Ch20 - Evil deeds

After playing hardball, Ming Kong took pains to soften up and politely showed them to their seats.

Xie Zhiwei asked, “Dare I ask how the young master from last night is doing?” He almost forgot that the pure-hearted Xie Zhiwei would never just care about one girl. He might as well ask about the snot-nosed brat even if it was annoying!

Ming Kong took a tray of tea things from a disciple and personally offered him a cup of tea. “You must be referring to Immeasurable Manor’s young manor lord, Lu Zhanyun (陆占云). He’s fine, he only caught a chill. Now he’s recuperating in our rooms.”

Mu He stood smiling on the sidelines as he committed the name to memory and mentally crossed it out.

Xie Zhiwei expressed his thanks and accepted the tea. “Manor Lord Lu loves his son and must have pampered him while growing up. It would be hard for him to make the long journey home.”

Ming Kong laughed. “Precisely. Currently I have him recovering in this hall. When Great Master Du Sheng (渡生大师) arrives today, I shall personally accompany everyone at night to welcome the guests.”

Great Master Du Sheng was one of the three Great Sages (大圣僧) of the Zen Buddhist Aureate Sect (金光禅宗).

Shen You and Ming Kong actually invited him too? Looks like we’ll do more than just chatting at this hangout.

Mu He’s expression didn’t change as he quietly sipped his tea. The three of them tacitly avoided details of last night’s encounter and exchanged a few more pleasantries. At last, Xie Zhiwei rose and bid his farewell. “Since that’s the case, it’s not appropriate for this poor daoist to disturb Elder’s many tasks. I shall see you again at night.”

“Please,” Ming Kong smiled and invited them out.

Xie Zhiwei simply turned to leave, but he was hardly ten steps out of the hall when he felt a pair of eyes staring at him. Once again, a chill stole upon him from Ming Kong’s direction.

Did Ming Kong and Shen You discover something? Are they plotting to silence us permanently?

If that’s the case, there was no need to call over Immeasurable Manor and Aureate Sect as well…whatever. All of these people are background actors, so they’re either dead or soy sauce characters. I’d rather see how the hero increases his cultivation after this.

Mu He had strong spiritual power and naturally sensed Ming Kong’s eyes as well. He didn’t have to act profound like Xie Zhiwei and simply turned around, blinking naively. Ming Kong was openly staring at Xie Zhiwei in thought. He didn’t avert his gaze when caught, but simply met Mu He’s eyes with a long, drawn-out smile. Mu He feigned fright before ducking his head and dashing after Xie Zhiwei.

Looks like tonight’s banquet should be pretty interesting.

—

Xie Zhiwei hid in his rooms and continued to write calligraphy while enjoying it more by the second. Gallant Outlaw pinged him three to four times, but Xie Zhiwei closed all the incoming prompts. In the end, the author stopped trying.

It wasn’t until he copied out the entire Diamond Sutra that he set down his brush to look outside. It was almost time. He stood up and pushed open the door to see Mu He just preparing to go inside. The boy looked taken aback.

This youngster must have ran off to scope the area again.

Xie Zhiwei feigned ignorance. “Master was preparing to call you, but you’re already out.”

Mu He hastily laughed. “Exactly. Disciple was about to remind shizun of the time too.” He suddenly started jogging down the corridor. “Shizun, disciple will help lead the way.”

Xie Zhiwei nodded with a smile. “Thank you for your hard work.” What’s he plotting.

The two had barely emerged from the bamboo grove when Mu He stepped on an unfamiliar path. Rather, it was more like a trail leading through a copse of slanting trees that revealed glimpses of an open space beyond. There was no paving or leveling on the road.

The hero never does useless things. He must have reasons for leading me here.

Gradually, he could hear someone whispering in the woods. Mu He stopped and gave Xie Zhiwei a suspicious look. “Shizun,” he murmured, “Why are people gossiping here?”

Xie Zhiwei made a shushing motion and listened carefully.

He heard a voice say, “And now what? Junior Sister Yang was bitten to death by a wolf out of the blue. I can’t stand it anymore, I have to leave this hellhole.”

The other replied, “You’re right. This rundown sect might have no future, but it doesn’t mean we have to pay with our lives…but even if we leave we need to wait. The guards will be stricter with important guests on the mountain.”

“I’m afraid those two traitors are colluding against them again. In the end we might be implicated too.”

“This…then let’s just leave tomorrow.”

Ashen Cloud Sword Sect had been reduced to this? Even its own disciples were panicking and running away?

Compare it with Yujing Sect. Even the slightly more established families clamored to send their children in to become disciples. It seemed like things were falling apart with Shen You’s deteriorating prestige.

If they knew this would happen, why kill Nie Ting? A guy like him could give the sect disciples free meals for at least a few more decades.

Speaking of which, had Mu He led him here to eavesdrop on purpose?

Wait, something’s wrong!

Xie Zhiwei finally sensed a stagnant, sinister qi in the air that was eerily similar to Ming Kong. At the same time, the gossiping disciples covered their mouths and stared into the forest, their faces white as if they’d seen a ghost.

The next second, a thin silhouette walked out with his head bowed. His steps were exceptionally light and completely soundless. The two disciples wanted to flee, but didn’t dare move an inch. The newcomer stopped three steps away to look at the pair, but there was no warmth in his eyes. Xie Zhiwei saw that he was wearing light green robes and looked clean and neat. Rather than coming from the depths of the woods, he was more like a scholar who’d taken a stroll through the gardens. He held a sword in slender fingers with well-proportioned bones, though his hand looked better suited to hold a brush.

It was impossible to give off such a scholarly air without soaking oneself in books and ink for years. But despite this clear, lofty image, his face was expressionless as he advanced step by step.

Unsmiling, proficient in composition and verse… Xie Zhiwei suddenly recalled a certain person.

The two disciples were shaking like chaff as they fell to their knees. “Sect…Shen…disciple knows my wrongs!”

“Sect Leader Shen, spare us!”

It really was Shen You. He actually left closed door cultivation?

According to the disciples on the mountain, it had been a year since they saw their sect leader in person. For these two disciples to get caught gossiping, one had to wonder if they incurred bad luck from eight lives. Speaking of which, they were about the same age as the Lu brat last night—seventeen to eighteen years old. It was a little pitiful seeing them begging for mercy on their knees.

The System mentioned that Shen You was kindhearted by nature. Although Xie Zhiwei had his doubts, the System had yet to remind him to rescue anyone yet. Perhaps Shen You wouldn’t bear to do anything to the children.

Meanwhile, Mu He’s breathing quickened. Black Lotus was releasing massive amounts of hostile qi in his consciousness that cut through his insides like knives. Sweat broke out on his forehead in sheer agony as he began to spasm out of control. Xie Zhiwei quickly went to support him. Looks like Nie Ting’s getting worked up after sensing his enemy.

But no, the hero can’t act before we figure out Shen You’s bottom line.

Xie Zhiwei pulled Mu He into his arms and restricted his movements, then placed his palm on his forehead. Warm spiritual energy channeled into the boy and dissipated the fierce qi bit by bit. Mu He was still conscious, his eyes opened wide. His ear seemed to be plastered against Xie Zhiwei’s chest, sensing a trace of warmth from the body and even hearing Xie Zhiwei’s heartbeat.

Perhaps pain was affecting his senses, but even this close, Xie Zhiwei’s heartbeat sounded very far away.

Xie Zhiwei sighed softly. Still too tender. His face is flushed just from this much pain.

In the future, the hero would get stabbed with a knife by a girl. But he’d still play the gentle saint and tell her, “I’m not hurt, but isn’t your hand tired?”

When will you man up, hero? I get tired worrying about you when you can’t even mess with Shen You right now. And that son of a b*tch Nie Ting, what’s he doing dragging you down? Isn’t he supposed to be some awesome power-up?

The two disciples, on the other hand, relaxed slightly when Shen You stopped before them and lowered his sword. Without a word, he stood there staring blankly into space, making him look spooky. While everyone was puzzling over his intentions, he slowly turned back.

The pair exchanged looks and quickly kowtowed. “Our thanks to the sect leader for your kindness!”

Shen You is really generous, Xie Zhiwei mused. Even the original Xie Zhiwei would have serious words to say if he heard disciples bad-mouthing the sect. This guy didn’t so much as fart…so how did Nie Ting provoke him in the end to make him murderous?

Mu He greedily inhaled the bamboo fragrance of Xie Zhiwei’s robes while staring with unblinking eyes at Shen You. He too was confused, because Nie Ting had suddenly quieted down and told him, “He’s changed.”

The two disciples paid their respects and prepared to slip away.

The change was sudden.

Shen You straightened up and raised his hand. Like a silver serpent, his sword flew towards the two disciples’ throats. Before the duo could react, a gargled breath came from their mouths as they fell backwards with open eyes.

The streak of silver light returned to Shen You’s fingers. If it wasn’t for two drops of blood that dripped down from his blade, it would have seemed that nothing had happened at all. Xie Zhiwei sucked in a breath. By the time he looked back at the disciples, they were already lying on the ground with blood pouring from a slender cut at their throats.

Two more drops of blood landed on Shen You’s robes, looking particularly conspicuous in the sunset. He didn’t even glance at them. Xie Zhiwei silently spat curses in his head.

I thought Shen You liked cleanliness, but he doesn’t even care about those tiny bloodstains. I thought he was kindhearted enough to let those children go, but it was all an act. What a clean cut. It was lighter than swatting a fly.

Shen You dragged his blood-specked sword after him while heading deeper into the woods. He looked even more ghostly than Ming Kong.

It’s true what they say. One who acts like a wolf becomes a wolf ere long.

Xie Zhiwei breathed a sigh of relief once the man disappeared, heart palpitating. He dared not look at the corpses on the ground again. Although these were only characters in a book, it was still too realistic! It’s like a test of humanity from a horror movie, all right?!

Red-faced, Mu He blinked at him. “Shizun? Disciple…”

At the same time, Xie Zhiwei felt something itchy on his palm and fingers, like a tiny comb was brushing them. He looked down and gave a start! Sh*t, I covered up the hero’s eyes?!

Did he start protecting him like a girl because of all his idol baggage? This was a man who would murder as easily as he ate, slept, and fooled around with girls in the future. There was no need for such coddling!

Then the System dinged and announced in his head, “Xie Zhiwei would not stand by and watch someone die. You have acted OOCly and are thus deducted one Presence Point.”