Ch76 - Mutual recognition

The scene…was once again awkward.

Mu He looked like he’d lost his soul. Xie Zhiwei silently mused, If I say I’m just an innocent passerby, will you believe me?

He never thought that he’d been exposed (and so awfully too) after evading 81 trials. A hand grabbed him by the neck before Chu Zhishi yelled in his ear, “How could you turn into second senior brother’s appearance, what kind of illusion…no wait, you’re also holding Qingping Sword, this…”

After blanking out for a while, Chu Zhishi snatched his sleeve and stammered, “Second senior brother, it couldn’t be, it’s actually you?!” He kept rambling but Xie Zhiwei didn’t hear a word, bracing himself to face Mu He head-on. For a moment, countless excuses flashed through his brain.

—Laozi is Chi Yan. I just happen to look exactly like Xie Zhiwei, surprised?

—Disciple ah, Master actually has two identities. I’m Xie Zhiwei during the day and Chi Yan at night, unexpected huh?

—Who am I, where am I? That friend in the distance, why is the bamboo above your head so green?

But all of these excuses were built on the premise that he didn’t admit he was Xie Zhiwei. With the Qingping Sword in his hands, an empty coffin, and two tomb robbers who may or may not have leaked the truth outside, the lies were too paper-thin to cover the fires that would burst into flame one day.

Sooner or later, he would have to face this identity. The longer he dragged things out, the more he’d look like a hypocrite trying to force the issue. Xie Zhiwei gave a long sigh and extricated his sleeve from Chu Zhishi’s grip. Then he ripped the tattered cloak off his body to reveal the rich brocade robes underneath.

This image is at least a little less embarrassing.

But…

The petrified Mu He suddenly said softly, “So it’s like that…no wonder you looked familiar back then.”

Xie Zhiwei was rendered mute.

Chu Zhishi examined his robes before his face changed. He strode forward to grip him even tighter and exclaimed, “Second senior brother, were you that masked man at the Buddhist sect? I don’t know how you came back from the dead, but why did you change your looks and refuse to recognize me? And how did you end up wearing Chi Yan’s clothes?”

Under Chu Zhishi’s endless blabbing, Mu He’s eyes rested cautiously on Xie Zhiwei’s face as if any sharper gaze would shatter the image before him. His throat was a bit raw as he asked, “Are you really…shizun?”

Xie Zhiwei nodded. “Yes.”

Mu He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again. The next moment, he appeared in front of Xie Zhiwei in a flash and dragged him into the air. The light of White Lotus surrounded them both, keeping them so close that Xie Zhiwei could raise a hand to rest Qingping Sword against Mu He’s throat. Of course, he wouldn’t do that.

Although he appeared calm on the surface, Xie Zhiwei’s back was soaked in sweat. Judging from the hero’s loss of self-control and how quickly he’d pursued him, the protagonist wasn’t going to let him off easy. Otherwise, why would he be holding him so tightly? This was a hundred times tighter than the past when they went swordflying together.

Why did I give all my relics to the hero back then? Xie Zhiwei thought. Red Lotus was even stolen away ahead of time. When the hero finds out I have nothing useful on me and tricked him so bitterly, he’ll probably stuff me back into the coffin without hesitation.

The System suddenly sounded a piercing alert in his head, nearly startling him into a concussion. Left behind on the ground, Chu Zhishi was still too shocked to recover his wits. He looked up and shouted, “Second senior brother!”

Distracted by the System alert, Xie Zhiwei managed to say with difficulty, “Don’t spread this around.”

Chu Zhishi stepped forward and tossed Thunderstrike into the air, preparing to give chase. But he didn’t even get to step on the sword when he saw Red Lotus unfurling into view behind Mu He’s body. As the petals expanded, a gap visible to the naked eye opened up in the sky. Chu Zhishi could only watch as Mu He took Xie Zhiwei through the hole, which closed up and returned the sky to normal as if nothing had happened at all.

The sound of air waves soon reached the scene as Yan Zhifei and Xia Zhiqi landed in the grove. “Where’s Mu He?” Yan Zhifei asked in a solemn voice.

Chu Zhishi was still dazed as he said woodenly, “He left.”

“What are you spacing out for?” Xia Zhiqi creased her brows. “Just then, Qiu Chongyun said she’d come to tell you a secret, but she disappeared after leaving Pill Furnace City. The sect leader and I found it suspicious, so we rushed back and discovered that second senior brother’s coffin was empty. Those Demonic Sect members couldn’t say anything either and we’ve already locked them up for questioning. Did you end up meeting Qiu Chongyun?”

“Right ah, second senior brother’s coffin must be empty. That means he really didn’t…no, he told me not to spread it around,” Chu Zhishi laughed to himself and patted his chest, causing Yan Zhifei and Xia Zhiqi to exchange looks.

But suddenly Chu Zhishi’s expression chilled before he flew up on his sword. “That brat’s a beast wearing a human mask. No, I have to rescue him!”

—

“Congratulations. You have reclaimed your identity as Xie Zhiwei and the storyline has returned to the main plot. Your current Presence Points are four stars. Please adhere strictly to the code of conduct and reach five stars soon. Wishing you happiness~”

Happiness your butt. Does the main plot even exist in this story anymore? I thought it was Gallant Outlaw panicking to remind me not to OOC or something.

What a joke. Would a film emperor make such a rookie mistake?

Xie Zhiwei was speechless as he looked at the grayed-out symbol next to Gallant Outlaw’s name. Most likely the guy was still asleep, so he simply left him a message before hanging up on the System: Got caught by the protagonist. Do you still have any spiritual spring water left over?

And then he couldn’t help but grunt feeling a weight pressing down against his chest, making it hard to breathe.

What’s so heavy?

Xie Zhiwei strained to lift his head and almost lost his souls at the sight. In front of him was a face he couldn’t avoid—because Mu He was lying completely on top of him, grabbing him octopus-style like that year over the river. But as soon as Xie Zhiwei grunted, he released him and asked anxiously, “Shizun, did disciple hurt you?”

Xie Zhiwei observed their current positions and couldn’t help thinking of an unofficial caption: Bed Scene #1.

…heheh. At a time like this, I should be more focused.

But why did the hero throw me on the bed right after capturing me? How am I supposed to focus in this situation?

Xie Zhiwei cleared his throat and said, “Can you get up first?” He was currently walking on thin ice where a single mistake might be fatal. How was he supposed to act on a bed?

“All right,” Mu He said, but his expression was very reluctant. One hand clasped Xie Zhiwei’s wrist tightly and refused to let go.

Xie Zhiwei’s heart seized as he thought back to the fragmented memories in the Blood River Lake. The hero had used this same hand to clutch at him after he died…

Four years later, Mu He’s eyes seemed covered with a layer of mist, making it impossible to see his true feelings. But now his pupils were shining with light, completely exposing the joy and surprise in his heart. It was as if the teenager from four years ago had returned once more. Xie Zhiwei examined him quietly even as he mumbled in his heart.

Sure enough, the hero’s based on He Zheng’s original looks. His innocent expression has been fully fleshed out. Sadly, this bro is an acting expert too, so it’s no use on me. He smoothed out the wrinkles of his clothes and looked around the furnishings of the room. Forcing himself to stay calm, he remarked, “This is my second time here, but it still looks familiar.”

Mu He nodded and tightened his grip. “Disciple couldn’t sleep easy for years and always missed Suihan Lodge when I tossed and turned…but without fulfilling the task shizun entrusted to me, I had no face to enter Summit City. I could only order people to build this compound and transplant thorny bamboo, seeking comfort from it instead.”

Xie Zhiwei felt that the current situation could be summed up in sixteen words: Life is a play and relies on acting. When masters exchange moves, each one is fatal.

Mu He dropped his voice. “And now that shizun is well, disciple is truly…very happy.”

Happy?

Right. Since I’m still alive you can still squeeze benefits out of me. Nothing wrong with that logic.

The more sincere the hero acted towards him now, the more ruthless he’d be later. He couldn’t drop his guard. Xie Zhiwei also replied earnestly, “You’ve worked hard…getting revenge for me. Many thanks.”

Mu He was startled. “Why is shizun speaking so formally to this disciple?” He fell silent before his eyes dimmed. “Disciple doesn’t dare ask what kind of miracle happened to shizun four years ago, but why did shizun avoid disciple back at the Buddhist sect? And Chi Yan…”

Xie Zhiwei didn’t speak, but that was because he didn’t know what to say.

It’s nothing, Master was just afraid you’d kill me?

Haha, he wouldn’t act so wimpy. Even if he was a coward, he couldn’t be one while in the role of Xie Zhiwei!

Mu He seemed to recall something and suddenly pulled Xie Zhiwei into his arms. “Disciple finally understands why Chi Yan did something strange in Blood River Lake. It was shizun, wasn’t it? Shizun went to save this disciple, didn’t you? That memory from Ascension City wasn’t this disciple’s, but shizun’s, right?”

Xie Zhiwei felt metaphorical black lines slide down his face as he was spontaneously hugged once again.

What, afraid that Black and White Lotus can’t lock up your master so you’re using your body as well? You’re really overestimating your Master’s abilities.

Mu He saw the person in his arms had his eyelids lowered and thin lips tightly pursed. He began to panic and gripped him by the shoulders. “Why isn’t shizun saying anything? Shizun, don’t be like th—”

An icy-cold object fell between them and forced them apart. Mu He looked down in surprise and saw the Qingping Sword that Xie Zhiwei had caught in his hands. Currently, it was shining with sword light and emanated a slight chill. He looked back at Xie Zhiwei in a trance, but soon regained clarity. His mouth tugged before he muttered, “I knew it, it’s just another fake…”

Fake?

Xie Zhiwei sneered in his heart. That’s right. Are you finally going to tear off your mask and say I lied to you? Sorry I wasted four years of your feelings.

…I hope Gallant Outlaw’s spiritual spring is still good to use for a few more years.

Xie Zhiwei metaphorically smashed the jar to cut to the chase. “You know very well that your Master is poor. Keep this Qingping Sword safe, I really can’t give you anything else. You…take care.”

—

Translator’s Note: First rule of shizun transmigration: it’s too late to tell your disciple goodbye after he gets sticky and clings to you.