Ch44 - Making the appointment

Mu He was frightened too. With the shrimp in his mouth, the fishy flavor spread until he almost choked. In this life he hadn’t mentioned he was allergic to fish and shrimp, so Xie Zhiwei couldn’t show his panic. Before Mu He could struggle, he pulled out the shrimp and looked remorseful. “Blame Master for being careless. It’s so hot, you better take it away and eat it slowly by yourself.”

Mu He relaxed and took the shrimp while his lips moved slightly. “Yes, shizun.”

Chu Zhishi was picking at snail meat from the side when he complained, “Why is second senior brother nitpicking over details? If you don’t get over here, I’m going to eat everything.”

He interjected so loudly it was obvious he was at odds with Mu He. Xie Zhiwei felt a headache coming on. Today the hero was especially stubborn and Chu Zhishi was throwing out barbs. Just what was wrong with them? He was about to check Mu He’s reaction when the teen suddenly covered his mouth and turned to leave.

Head in a fog, Xie Zhiwei turned to Chu Zhishi and said, “If you’re happy, then just eat them.” Then he ran to catch up with Mu He and took his hand. “What’s wrong?”

It was too late for Mu He to avoid him, so his slightly red and swollen lips were exposed to Xie Zhiwei’s eyes. Xie Zhiwei gave a start—No way, the hero’s that sensitive? The shrimp only touched his lips and it’s already swelling up?

Mu He had tender white skin which made the hue of his lips especially bright. It looked like he’d just been given a rough kiss. Seeing Xie Zhiwei’s stunned expression, he was about to reveal his allergy when a finger suddenly landed on his lips. Xie Zhiwei was pressing on them as lightly as a feather. Mu He’s lips felt hot while Xie Zhiwei’s finger was cool, but the contact seemed to make it burn even more. Even his brain exploded and turned dizzy. He had no idea how much Xie Zhiwei was complaining in his heart.

I almost killed the hero ah! I gave him an allergic reaction, please don’t hold a grudge ahhh! I’ll double his compensation in the next two days, all right? I won’t avoid him anymore!

Xie Zhiwei withdrew his finger with apprehension and said with some pain, “Disciple, you…”

Unexpectedly, he didn’t get to finish before Mu He covered his lips and dashed into the forest. Xie Zhiwei almost blew up right then and there.

No way! He’s really gonna nurse a grudge? Hey, I didn’t do it on purpose!

…fine, even if he really hates me, can he get revenge a couple days later? I seriously need to reconsider Gallant Outlaw’s suggestion!

Although he couldn’t stop censuring himself, Xie Zhiwei still felt it was odd for the hero to begrudge him for such a small thing. He couldn’t figure out if he felt disappointed or chilled by the revelation. He was debating whether to chase after Mu He when Chu Zhishi walked over and waved a piece of white fish in front of his eyes. “Senior brother, you’re really not eating, ah?”

Xie Zhiwei forced his lips into a smile. “Eat, I’ll eat right now.”

He sat back beneath the shade of the tree and started munching absentmindedly on the shrimp in his hand.

Chu Zhishi just sighed. “You really have gotten addicted to inedia. You’re clearly eating shrimp, but you might as well look like you’re eating paper.”

Xie Zhiwei finally recovered his wits and processed the flavor of shrimp in his mouth. He almost cried. Damn, too delicious! This is my first time eating meat since I transmigrated, who can understand my feelings…

Chu Zhishi didn’t stop munching on snails and had soon amassed a small mound of their shells by his feet. He liked to gossip while he ate, so said with great relish, “Right, senior brother, Du Sheng even mentioned you to me. He said his two senior brothers were full of praise, and that it’d be great if you could copy the second half of the Diamond Sutra and give it to them too.”

Xie Zhiwei suddenly remembered this loose end. He had given Du Sheng the first half of the sutra for the sake of getting closer to Du Sheng and facilitating the hero’s journey to meet his father. But the hero had met his father so smoothly that he forgot all about the matter of the Diamond Sutra. He’d long lost track of where he put the second half he finished writing back at Ashen Cloud Mountain.

“Oh, I’ll give it to him when I meet him at the Buddhist-Daoist Conference.”

Chu Zhishi tore another piece of baked fish for Xie Zhiwei. “That old monk Du Sheng looks like a high-level ascetic, but he loves getting bargains. If senior brother gives him the Diamond Sutra now, who knows what you’ll end up copying for him in the future. The conference is in three days, so I suggest you hide yourself and get someone else to deliver it to him instead.”

Xie Zhiwei was about to feed himself fish when he gave a start. “The Buddhist-Daoist Conference is in three days?”

“Yes, ah. Second senior brother can’t remember this even though you spend all your days hiding away?”

The things on my mind are way more important than your whatever conference, old bro ah!

Xie Zhiwei placed the fish back on the grill and turned stern. “I don’t have to show myself at the conference, you said it yourself.”

“That’s right. Our daoist sect has stature as well. You can just show up at the finale and leave the rest to me and eldest senior brother—” Before Chu Zhishi could finish, Xie Zhiwei had already rose to walk away.

“Take your time eating.”

“Eh?” Chu Zhishi quickly called after him, “You’re really gonna hide that day, ah? As expected of second senior brother, you hate the limelight.”

Xie Zhiwei waved a hand and entered the bamboo grove without a word. Of course I have to hide. The meeting time set by Qiu Chongyun is on the same day! He had just reached the courtyard of Suihan Lodge when Mu He emerged from the rooms with a bamboo wastepaper basket. Seeing him approach, the boy’s footsteps paused as he bowed his head.

“Shizun…”

Xie Zhiwei was too busy to wonder if he still held a grudge. He pulled him into the house and waved his sleeves to seal the door and windows. Mu He looked at his swaying robes before placing the bamboo basket behind him. Putting on a confused expression, he asked, “Shizun, is there something important you have to tell disciple?”

Xie Zhiwei nodded and said softly, “The Buddhist-Daoist Conference is three days away, but we have a prior engagement with Miss Qiu. We’ll need to go to Flying Flowers Township first before rushing back to the sect.”

He was afraid Mu He would misunderstand, so hastened to explain, “Although the Buddhist-Daoist Conference is very important, Miss Qiu arranged to speak with us about the survival of the righteous sects. We cannot miss it.”

Mu He’s throat bobbed before he bowed his head. “Disciple will act as shizun instructs.”

“Good,” Xie Zhiwei was relieved. Only then did he remember Mu He’s allergy and noted his lips didn’t seem as swollen anymore. But his cheeks were a little red. “Disciple, your face…”

Mu He immediately stepped back and hid the bamboo basket behind him even further. “Disciple was cleaning the house but the weather was too hot, so…” he spotted Xie Zhiwei’s questioning look at the item behind him and said, “These are wastepapers and miscellaneous things I swept out, disciple was going to burn them.”

As he spoke, he circled around Xie Zhiwei and made a beeline for the door. Xie Zhiwei was even more puzzled. Working while he’s sick? The hero is way too diligent, right? But his words were still respectful as always despite sounding vague. Forget it. As long as he doesn’t hold a grudge, he can do whatever makes him happy…

—

Mu He ran to an abandoned corner behind one of the houses and quickly started a fire. There he tossed the various things in the bamboo basket. Among the trash were a few crumpled balls of paper stained with sticky white liquid.

—

Xie Zhiwei intended to finish copying the second half of the Diamond Sutra, but his recent moods were too volatile to calm down and complete the task even with the System’s help. The reason was this: he feared wolves in the front, tigers in the back, and the protagonist in the middle. Xie Zhiwei hoped that the hero would leave the daoist sect without rebelling after the Buddhist-Daoist Conference. This way he could show off when the Demonic Sect invaded later without worrying about stealing anyone’s thunder.

It’d be best if Qiu Chongyun could give them some intel on the Demonic Sect. Then he could hide his talents before showcasing them at the best part for an even more stunning finish. No lighting, no makeup, but I’ll still blind the crowd.

However, reality was far from the ideal.

In order to set off the handsome hero, Xie Zhiwei endured the pain of wearing his shabbiest daoist robes, whose crow gray hue had been so washed out it now looked like ash. He even found Yan Zhifei to get a brand new white daoist robe for Mu He—his ultimate form after blackening was to wear spotless white robes that looked untouched by the mortal realm. Qiu Chongyun would definitely like it when she saw him.

He also didn’t forget to search Suihan Lodge one last time before leaving in a huff. The original Xie Zhiwei was really too poor. His pillow and bed were both completely clean and empty. Even the few coins in his brush pot were only enough to afford two bowls of knife-cut noodles.

Forget about soaking with girls, I can’t even afford to soak a tea bag.

Xie Zhiwei gave up. At worst, he’d rely on the hero’s face for a meal. Maybe he’d even get full access to the show once Qiu Chongyun took a fancy to the protagonist.

—

Flying Flowers Township was the nearest mundane world location to Yujing Sect. It wasn’t very large, but everyone passed through it on their way to the daoist sect. Every auspicious day, people on pilgrimage bought incense here, making it a local industry known far and wide. It was a very lively place.

Xie Zhiwei chose to walk through the less busy areas. He looked at the white-robed figure weaving his way through the crowds ahead and shook his head. Too damned lively, too carefree. He can’t compare with his later self at all.

At the end of the original novel, the hero was dashing whenever he wielded a sword. However, he remained quiet as water the rest of the time and even carried a hint of melancholy. Even if he was simmering with rage, he could still remain calm. Naturally, these were all surface appearances. since his heart was anything but light. But that was enough if it could attract girls and deter opponents.

Stopping before the stone bridge of their appointment, Mu He suddenly turned back and pointed at a small stall beneath the bridge with shining eyes. “Shizun, look!”

Xie Zhiwei’s lips hooked into a grin as he walked over. What kind of idiot placed their sugar figurine stall here of all places, ah?

“You want one?” he asked.

Mu He nodded as his eyes focused on the biggest candy in the stand: a lobster.

Xie Zhiwei probed him on purpose. “You didn’t want the real thing a few days ago, but now you want this fake?”

Mu He’s face stiffened. In the end, he never ate the shrimp that Xie Zhiwei gave him, but afraid of disappointing his master and his good intentions, he quickly said, “I ate it, I ate it. It was delicious, but youngest martial uncle seemed to be in a bad mood that day, so disciple didn’t want to stick around and harass him.”

Xie Zhiwei felt his words had hidden meaning. The hero not only wanted to hide his allergy, but even took a knife to verbally stab Chu Zhishi? How did Chu Zhishi offend you, youngster?

Xie Zhiwei grasped the bamboo stand and slowly took off the big candy lobster. The owner couldn’t help reminding him, “Daoist, one copper coin.”

Xie Zhiwei took out the handful of coins in his money bag and felt his heart dripping blood. He had never wanted for money in his last life. Now he was experiencing the hardships of the common people for the first time.

Mu He regretted his clumsy lie. How could he hide anything past Xie Zhiwei? But it was precisely because he was so concerned about the other that he fumbled and messed up. In the end, he bit his lip and said hesitantly, “Shizun, the reason disciple doesn’t eat shrimp is because—”

“A sugar figurine, ah. Nujia wants one too,” a charming female voice interjected.

Mu He’s expression instantly closed up, while Xie Zhiwei glanced up and nodded. “This maiden has come so early.”

“Right, ah. Nujia is so on time, this sugar figurine…” Qiu Chongyun smiled sweetly before she gave a flick with her tapered, jade-like fingers. The sugar figurine skewers resting on the bamboo rack all twirled in response.

Today she was dressed in ordinary, rough blue robes with a simple wooden hairpin to tie up her hair. Such plain clothes didn’t detract from her style, but highlighted her delicate beauty. A single, pitiful little blink was enough to make her irresistible to any man.

But Xie Zhiwei’s heart changed from dripping blood to outright bleeding. The hero has no money so it’s fine if I get him a sugar figurine. Don’t you have any shame as an old lady?!

Smiling slightly, he pulled Mu He to the side and whispered in his ear, “Master will give you money, you can buy it for her.”

Even this simple action was enough to send a jolt of electricity through Mu He’s body from his earlobe.

To avoid suspicion, Xie Zhiwei stuffed the copper coins into Mu He’s hands before dropping his gaze to play the big-tailed wolf. Qiu Chongyun only stared at Xie Zhiwei with a smile. Nobody noticed the momentary flush on Mu He’s ears.

Looks like shizun is intentionally avoiding Qiu Chongyun. But it’s hard for him to do so in public without being pointed out. Still, shizun seems to have gotten even closer to me in the past two days. That’s great!

After the stall owner accepted the money with thanks, Qiu Chongyun finally looked at Mu He with eyes full of affection. “Not bad, nephew. You’ve given me face.”

Seeing her pretty looks, the stall owner couldn’t help remarking, “Miss, your eyesight isn’t bad either. I spent the most time today making that rabbit in your hands. Isn’t it very lifelike and cute?”

Qiu Chongyun covered her mouth to laugh, her words full of flavor. “Exactly so. Nujia loves it dearly.” As she spoke, she lifted the rabbit and crunched its head into her mouth to gobble it up. “So sweet, ah,” she said with a grin.

The stall owner was flush with embarrassment. Xie Zhiwei laughed dryly and tried to smooth things over. “Does this maiden like it very much?”

“I do like it, ah. Otherwise, why would I eat it?”

All right…there’s nothing wrong with that logic.

Mu He silently tasted the lobster in his hand. Indeed, it was very sweet. He had never touched any fish or shrimp since young because they were fatal for him. When his mother was still alive, she used to make lobsters out of sugar or flour to quench his cravings…and now, there was shizun too.

Qiu Chongyun licked her lips in satisfaction. The rabbit on her bamboo skewer was long gone. The sugar figurine seller couldn’t stop shooting looked between her and Xie Zhiwei, who pretended not to notice while screaming internally.

A daoist meets a beautiful young woman on the street who can’t stop calling herself “this slave” (nujia)…even if you try your best, it can’t help looking a touch ambiguous.

Qiu Chongyun tossed her skewer aside and suddenly grew sad. “Daoist, last time you said nujia might not marry for a lifetime after reading my fortune. Because of that, nujia languished without food or drink in sorrow for days.”

The stall owner buried his head to restock his wares, but the interest on his face grew even keener.

“Is…is that so,” Xie Zhiwei said stiffly. Crap, big sis that’s enough already. Please stop hooking up with me!

“Isn’t it? You said unless nujia found a daoist…” Qiu Chongyun deliberately slowed down to emphasize her words. “Right, you said that unless nujia finds a daoist like yo—”

“That’s right,” Xie Zhiwei sternly interrupted. “Unless you find someone like this poor daoist’s disciple, you won’t be happy or content.”