Ch39 - A chance encounter

Mild gore warning ahead. Nothing too graphic but there is a dismemberment mention.

The news came while Xie Zhiwei and Mu He were eating the same bland lunch of tofu, leafy vegetables, and coarse rice. Instead of yesterday’s listlessness, Mu He quite enjoyed his meal. Xie Zhiwei was picking at his veggies but perked up at the tidbit and asked (on purpose), “Cheng Daoxiu, that name sounds a bit familiar.”

Mu He’s hands shook as he picked up a piece of tofu but he answered, “Disciple doesn’t know her either. Since they’re searching so anxiously, she’s probably one of Martial Uncle Bai’s favorites.”

In the previous timeline…she was pretty favored. For a girl with the skill to kill the hero, she earned a place for her name in the novel. Looks like the protagonist’s mentality upgraded again. He drugged the female who killed him with aphrodisiacs and tossed her in a wild boar cave, but still managed to say lightly that he didn’t know her. This episode originally occurred before Mu He went to Ashen Cloud Sword Sect, so it could be counted as pulling the plot back on track.

Contrary to his true feelings, Xie Zhiwei remarked, “I hope they find her soon.” Heheh, the hero’s never failed when he makes a move.

Mu He’s cheeks bulged as he chewed his food, but he vaguely comforted Xie Zhiwei, “With shizun’s blessings, they definitely will.”

Xie Zhiwei smiled, lowered his head, and continued to poke at his food. He doesn’t forget to act cute even when he eats. What’s with those puffy cheeks and blinking eyes? If this bro didn’t know the plot, who would’ve guessed you’re a deviant beast that tortures others?

Cheng Daoxiu was indeed found quickly at the furthest point from Summit City: the dense forests on the outskirts of Earthly Moon City, where vipers, insects, tigers, and leopards roamed. Naturally, the wild boars were even fiercer. The original novel described the scene like this:

When the crowd heard the cries, they dug past the bushes that hid the entrance to a cave. Abruptly, dozens of black boars rushed out, leaving them horrified. A few disciples unrelated to the search began to chase after the creatures, but Bai Yu’s face abruptly blanched. The others followed his gaze before they too, paled at the sight.

The sunlight shone past the cave entrance to illuminate the muddy ground. A person was lying there, her body riddled with scars and wounds. The limbs were missing and she no longer looked human. Still, it was obvious at a glance that she was female, because she was naked and her lower body was covered in blood.

The more experienced among the search party immediately guessed that something unbearably cruel and tragic had happened. As the crowd pointed and stared, the younger disciples all covered their eyes and stood aside. Only Bai Yu was left staring at the female’s face, whose features he would recognize even if they turned to ash.

Here was the the girl who had shared his bed for countless nights: Cheng Daoxiu.

Mu He stood quietly at the very rear of the group. He didn’t step forward to look. There was no need for that now.

He heard Bai Yu say, slowly, “Junior Sister Cheng is already dead. Seal up the cave.”

All of the disciples with him knew his reasons. His woman had been defiled by wild boars. Even if she wasn’t dead, she had to die. Mu He silently added bricks and blocks to the cave entrance while glancing occasionally at the gloomy-faced Bai Yu. A cold smirk rose to his lips.

He would take it slow, because he had plenty of time.

—

When Xie Zhiwei recalled the original text, he almost dry-heaved. Fortunately, he held back but still lost his appetite. He rose to his feet to get some fresh air.

Outside, Dog was fishing in the pond, his two front paws scrabbling wildly in the water. He gnawed on a fish as soon as he caught one, leaving the fur on his bottom half all stuck together while the top remained fluffy. It looked like he was wearing a short-sleeved fur jacket.

Xie Zhiwei looked at him with derision. You were once royalty, but now you act more and more like a pleb.

The bamboo grove swayed before Chu Zhishi landed from the air like a breeze.

Why’s this fellow back again? And right around lunchtime too?

Xie Zhiwei smiled and asked, “Youngest junior brother, have you eaten yet?” He intended to be polite and yielding, but looked back to see Mu He had already set down his bowl and chopsticks to clear the table in an instant.

Chu Zhishi didn’t care and waved a hand. “I think I’ll wait and eat my prawns when I go back.” He then scooted forward and said, “A few of my disciples caught a basket of them down in the river. They’re all fat and steaming with spices right now. Does second senior brother want to go try some? Isn’t it bland eating vegetarian dishes all the time?”

Xie Zhiwei mentally held back tears as he said, “No need, this senior brother is used to it.”

It’s just some shrimp. When I reach five Presence Points, I can have whatever I want!

“Those with no wants or desires are indestructible,” Chu Zhishi quoted after his failure with some emotion. “Few are such men in this world, but I think senior brother counts as one of them.”

Mu He reached the waterside and seemed to be petting Dog’s head, but he was actually listening in. Hearing this, he fell into thought.

Those with no wants or desires are indestructible.

What that surnamed Chu said made sense. Perhaps shizun’s might and calm originated from his indifferent character. What would it be like if shizun had something he wanted in this world?

…and what if what he wants, turns out to be me?

He had to become the world’s strongest faster to earn the right for shizun to rely on him!

Xie Zhiwei laughed lightly and said, perfectly in-character, “Youngest junior brother is exaggerating.”

“You’re being modest again,” Chu Zhishi habitually pulled over a stone stool and sat down with twinkling eyes. “Second senior brother, Senior Sister Xia got into a disagreement with that guy from Pill Furnace City. They’re about to fight in front of the city.”

Xie Zhiwei suppressed his surge of schadenfreude and asked, “What’s going on?”

“Isn’t it all because that surnamed Cheng girl died outside Earthly Moon City? I heard her death was…cough, in any case, Senior Sister Xia couldn’t stand it. Since Senior Brother Bai is still sick, this will probably make him even angrier.”

“Junior Brother Bai is sick?”

“Isn’t that so? The second day second senior brother went to Ashen Cloud Mountain, he got a high fever and fell in a trance. He only got better after lying down a couple days.”

Xie Zhiwei thought back and figured Bai Jianzhu’s illness had nothing to do with him since he already left the sect…but what a coincidence.

Chu Zhishi leaned over even closer and added, “He’s always resenting second senior brother in his heart. If not for the fact that you were out, his son would probably have words to say against you.”

Right! The very night he arrived at Ashen Cloud Mountain, the hero had snuck out and then met the black wolf, causing poor Yang Zhuer’s death. Looks like he went down the mountain so he could sneak back to the daoist sect to torment Bai Jianzhu.

But to act then of all times—was the hero trying to protect my reputation? He’s that sweet?

Xie Zhiwei cast a furtive look at Mu He, who was cuddling Dog beneath the eaves. The water on the cat’s body was all over his clothes, but he didn’t care. His eyes were curved into a smile and the upward lilt of his eyelashes made his expression sweet, as if he was holding a girl in his arms instead. Xie Zhiwei only hated iron for not becoming steel. I don’t need it, and neither does Dog! Can’t you leave your sweet side for your girls?! If you smiled at Qiu Chongyun like that, she’d definitely fall into your bed!

Xie Zhiwei looked back and shook his head to Chu Zhishi’s probing. “Don’t bring up such unhappy matters, youngest junior brother. It’s best if everyone’s all right. With the Buddhist-Daoist Conference on the horizon, you’ll be busy working hard.”

Chu Zhishi knew he was changing the subject and didn’t push. Sighing, he said, “No need to wait for that. Great Master Du Sheng of the Zen Buddhists has already set out and will arrive soon. I’ll need to spend time taking care of him.”

The twelve towers of their sect were in charge of administrative duties and didn’t have the right to accompany someone like Du Sheng. Yan Zhifei was the sect’s big boss and couldn’t lower himself to the task either. Since Chu Zhishi was the organizer of the next Buddhist-Daoist Conference, he had to take responsibility. Moreover, Du Sheng wasn’t coming alone.

—

As expected, Du Sheng arrived with full fanfare. Since this was the Buddhist-Daoist Conference, he couldn’t lose face for his own sect and brought all the people he could to speak and share scriptures. As his crowd trundled up the mountain, a carriage with its curtains shut tight brought up the rear. It looked like it was hiding some shy maiden who couldn’t be shown to the world.

That’s what Chu Zhishi commented in private, causing a few disciples to laugh and earning a glare from Yan Zhifei. Only Xie Zhiwei remained calm in his superior knowledge of the truth.

No, Mu He knows the truth too.

Xie Zhiwei used the excuse of “young people should expand their horizons” to drag Mu He into standing at the front of the crowds. Currently, he had his back to Xie Zhiwei and was very quiet without any fluctuations in aura. When Du Sheng passed by with a glance, he simply bowed in greeting. But Xie Zhiwei noticed that Mu He’s hands had been clenched into fists the entire time.

You’re about to get back everything that belongs to you. Don’t be careless, youngster!

Admittedly, the hero really did grow some brains after his rebirth. Bai Yu and Bai Jianzhu were either ailing mentally or physically and stood with their heads bowed on the sidelines. They were worlds apart from how they persecuted the hero in the last timeline. It seemed the plot was still on track despite the accidents with the hero’s harem. That, at least, left Xie Zhiwei more at ease.

A saying went that spring made people sleepy, autumn made them tired, and summer made them snooze. Without any urgent tasks from the System, Xie Zhiwei went back to Suihan Lodge and fell asleep. When he woke up, it was to the sight of stars, the sound of cicadas, and the realization that the hero had disappeared. Using the willow he wound around the teen’s wrist, he quickly pinpointed his location: the residence that the daoist sect had arranged for Du Sheng.

So he’s really gone to find his father. Seems pretty rushed, ah.

In the original novel, the father-son reunion was rather flat. After witnessing his father calling Bai Yu “son” in the first life, Mu He had been hugged instead in the rebirth timeline. Although he cried piteously on the surface, his heart was unmoved. He only wondered how his mother ever met such an unreliable man.

But the original story was supposed to be a stallion novel of a blackening protagonist anyways, so anything too melodramatic would only lose fans. The otakus weren’t into such drama and neither was Xie Zhiwei, yet he had no choice but to participate. The old father-son reunion took place at the Buddhist-Daoist Conference and now the scene had arrived slightly ahead of schedule.

One thing to note was that Qiu Chongyun’s debut was originally during the Buddhist-Daoist Conference too. She had appeared in a flash red robes among the crowd, lurking around to probe the state of the current cultivation world to better prepare for a later attack. Because of this, she discovered that Qiu Zhaoshui was Mu He’s mother.

The current plot kept tripping up, but wouldn’t skip the most important parts. Cheng Daoxiu’s death was proof of those stringent rules. In order to prevent another tragic end of a harem member, he had to act as bodyguard and escort.

Mu He’s father was living in a carefully selected residence in the cleanest, furthest corner of sect grounds. It was surrounded by concealed shadow guards known for their astute senses. To avoid alerting them, Xie Zhiwei got off his sword and silently landed in a rooftop corner to hide amongst its dense branches and leaves.

But he’d hardly stepped off when he sensed another person on the roof. That figure was also a high-level master who had suppressed their presence. Still, it was obvious that she was a woman by her lingering scent of powder and rouge even though she’d washed her face. Xie Zhiwei’s heart lurched even as a suppressed voice reached his ears.

“So this daoist likes nujia this much? You even remember to stand next to nujia when eavesdropping on others.”

The words were airy and soft in the evening as Qiu Chongyun flipped over like a snake twisting its waist, her night-traveling clothes blending into the darkness. She reached out a hand to undo her face veil and gave him a charming smile beneath the moonlight.

Damn. I knew the plot was tight-paced, but this is too tight all right?!

Out of courtesy, Xie Zhiwei wanted to greet her, but realized after bowing his head that he was stepping on her sleeve.

Noticing this, Qiu Chongyun’s eyes glimmered before her smile turned ambiguous. “Daoist, you are so naughty.”

This…your mother, this is awkward, ah.

—

Translator’s Note: This might’ve been obvious since the last story arc, but it’s important to remember that both Xie Zhiwei and Gallant Outlaw treat the characters and plot as part of a fictional story. Gallant Outlaw is an author seeing his novel brought to life, while Xie Zhiwei is just an actor doing his job in a role. Neither of them treats the book characters as real people, which is why they’re so quick to dismiss its tragedies/horrors as “just part of the plot.” And also why Xie Zhiwei can do snarky commentary at any time, any place!