Chapter 048 Senior Brother – “From this point on, the benefits of the disciples of Shattered Star Peak are no different from those of other peaks!” (13/19)
That day, Shi Jingge discovered yet another wonderful aspect of the cultivation world.
No matter how vibrant and eventful your nightlife might be, when you opened your eyes the next morning, you’d still feel cheerful. There was no discomfort whatsoever.
And even if there were some discomfort, the Peiyuan Pill could fix it perfectly.
In short, the cultivation world was just great. It just made it easy for certain people to take advantage of the situation.
“Senior Brother.” Wen Xusheng leaned in. “I heard you’re looking for a teacher?”
Shi Jingge gave him a half-smile. “Who told you that?”
Wen Xusheng: “……”
In the blink of an eye, Wen Xusheng came up with a quick retort, “I see you’ve made so many alchemy furnaces. You must be planning to distribute them to others and teach them alchemy, right?” After a pause, Wen Xusheng quickly added, “If I’m wrong, just pretend I never said anything, okay?”
…That was close.
Then, Wen Xusheng saw Shi Jingge staring at him in astonishment.
Wen Xusheng blinked, a bit confused, and heard Shi Jingge say slowly, “…Your hair?”
Wen Xusheng instinctively ran a hand through his hair. Looking down, he saw that it had actually turned black again!
“I thought you liked silver,” Wen Xusheng said, tugging at his hair. “I can turn it into other colors too—blue, purple, red!”
Shi Jingge pressed down on Wen Xusheng’s hand before he could demonstrate, saying, “Black is fine.”
After all, Wen Xusheng looked much better this way.
Wen Xusheng gave a noncommittal reply, letting out a slight sigh of relief inwardly. At least he’d managed to brush it off.
But the very next second, Shi Jingge added, “What else have you heard? Spill it all.”
Wen Xusheng: “……”
Is it too late to slide on my knees now? QAQ
However, Wen Xusheng quickly put his special skill of sheer persistence to use, forcing the situation back on track.
Perhaps because Wen Xusheng had been cut off from the world for so long, he’d truly lost all sense of shame. His skill at playing the fool was smoother than the three-tailed cat’s, his act of playing the victim was in a league of its own, and his ability to seize opportunities was nothing short of amazing. He always managed to make the right choice at exactly the right moment.
That night, Wen Xusheng had a dream. Cultivators rarely dreamed; in all his years, this was the only time Wen Xusheng had ever dreamt.
In the dream, there was him, and another person. He couldn’t actually make out that person’s face—only their eyes were clear—but he was absolutely certain: that person was his Dao companion.
They both appeared to be quite young, standing in a cave dwelling surrounded by lush flowers and plants, the air filled with a sweet fragrance.
He held his Dao companion’s hand. His expression was somber, yet his eyes were exceptionally gentle.
“Don’t be afraid, Xiaoge. I’m here. I’ll be with you, no matter where. No matter which world we’re in, I’ll arrive first and wait for you to appear. I’m here. I’ll always be here.”
As the man’s deep, resonant voice echoed, the image began to shatter bit by bit, finally dissolving into starlight and vanishing completely.
Wen Xusheng awoke with a start.
He looked down at his partner beside him, his expression softening bit by bit. The loneliness that had drifted through the centuries was finally filled the moment he saw Shi Jingge.
The moment he laid eyes on Shi Jingge, Wen Xusheng knew that the person he had been waiting for had finally arrived.
Yet his partner did not seem happy.
Shi Jingge’s eyes were cold and his expression stern. Though a faint smile would flicker when he stroked the three-tailed cat, anyone with eyes could tell that a heavy burden weighed upon his heart.
It was a burden so great that even he could barely bear it.
That was why he always tried to make his partner happy.
Whether it was acting silly, causing a ruckus, or throwing a tantrum, as long as it could bring a smile to his partner’s face, why not?
He had lived for so many years just to finally meet his partner; all that so-called pride and dignity didn’t amount to even one-tenth of one percent of his love for him.
He truly, truly loved Xiao Ge so much.
Perhaps Wen Xusheng’s gaze was too piercing, for Shi Jingge also woke up. He rubbed his eyes and asked, with a touch of childishness, “What are you looking at? Did I give you permission to look?”
There was a hint of spoiled defiance in his tone.
Wen Xusheng suddenly felt a surge of pride. See? His partner treated him differently. His partner would never treat anyone else this way!
Wen Xusheng lowered his head and kissed Shi Jingge’s lips. As their lips and tongue entwined, he declared with absolute conviction, “I like you. Because I like you, I want to see you every single moment. I really, really like you.”
Getting up early in the morning just to be ridiculous. Shi Jingge was incredibly grateful to be in the cultivation world.
However, over the next few days, he still didn’t give Wen Xusheng the time of day and even kicked him out of bed.
Wen Xusheng tried everything—pouting, acting like a spoiled child, and rolling around on the floor—but he just couldn’t win back his partner’s heart. Spotting the three-tailed cat still lying on the little wooden bed his partner had made for it a few days earlier, he naturally chased the cat away.
Three-tailed cat: “……”
What’s this?
The three-tailed cat immediately started fighting with Wen Xusheng.
In terms of strength, the three-tailed cat wasn’t even one percent of Wen Xusheng’s match, but since Wen Xusheng wasn’t really trying to fight it, he didn’t fight back at all. After being scratched until his skin was torn to shreds, he ran pitifully to Shi Jingge’s side and said, looking wronged, “It hurts.”
Even though Shi Jingge knew Wen Xusheng had injured himself on purpose, his heart still softened.
Wen Xusheng finally climbed back onto the bed.
The three-tailed cat returned to its own bed, suppressing the urge to roll its eyes, feeling like nothing more than a tool cat.
It was one thing for other cats to act cute and play the fool, but it had to serve as a tool for its two owners’ romantic antics. It really was pitiful.
Just as it turned its head, it saw Shi Jingge feeding Wen Xusheng a Peiyuan Pill. The three-tailed cat realized it hadn’t received its own yet, so it happily went to ask Shi Jingge for one.
Shi Jingge glanced at it, slipped two Peiyuan Pills into Wen Xusheng’s mouth, then put the bottle away.
Three-tailed cat: “Meow?”
What about mine?
“None for you.” Shi Jingge’s tone was flat.
Three-tailed cat: “!!!”
“You hit my partner, and now you’re asking me for a Nourishing Pill? Isn’t that a bit much?” Shi Jingge raised an eyebrow, patted the three-tailed cat on the head, and walked away.
Three-tailed cat: “……”
The three-tailed cat silently turned to look at Wen Xusheng. After all, it had helped this unlucky owner put on quite a show—the owner couldn’t be so ungrateful!
Wen Xusheng quickly swallowed the Peiyuan Pills and spread his hands innocently at the three-tailed cat.
Sigh, his Dao companion really did favor him a bit more.
After a few seconds of silence, the three-tailed cat went wild. Only this time, Wen Xusheng wasn’t going to indulge it.
Watching the man and the cat fight, Shi Jingge couldn’t help but curve the corners of his lips.
Two fools.
Shi Jingge had been in seclusion for twenty days, preparing nearly everything he needed, before finally returning to Suixing Peak.
But before leaving, he met his partner’s particularly resentful gaze. It was of no use, however. Shi Jingge waved his hand and walked away with a carefree air.
Wen Xusheng let out a long sigh and stood guard at the cave residence until Shi Jingge’s figure had completely disappeared from view. Only then did he withdraw his gaze.
The three-tailed cat tilted its head and meowed twice, signaling to Wen Xusheng that he could go after him.
“He wouldn’t let me go with him. If I just went after him like that, wouldn’t I just make him angry?” Wen Xusheng ruffled the three-tailed cat’s head. “A little kitty without a partner is just so heartbreaking.
The three-tailed cat stared blankly for a moment before realizing Wen Xusheng was calling it stupid, and immediately flew into a rage.
So what if he has a partner!!
With its three tails, it was loved by all and made flowers bloom wherever it went; it just hadn’t found a kindred spirit yet. It certainly wasn’t unloved!!
After a twenty-day absence, the disciples of Shuixing Peak were overjoyed to see Shi Jingge again.
Shi Jingge glanced at them, pointed to a disciple, and said in a flat tone, “Gather all the disciples. I have an announcement to make.”
“Yes, Senior Brother.” The disciple Shi Jingge had called out couldn’t hide his excitement; even as he walked away, he radiated joy, as if he wanted to celebrate for three days and three nights.
In truth, even if this disciple hadn’t been sent to notify them, the disciples of Shuixing Peak would have trickled in one after another anyway. The Senior Brother, who had been in seclusion for twenty days, had finally emerged—who wouldn’t want to see him?
Shi Jingge turned and walked toward the alchemy chamber, only to find the remaining disciples of Shuixing Peak trailing behind him, their eyes burning with admiration.
Shi Jingge’s initial impulse to shoo them away gradually faded.
He went to the alchemy chamber first, then lined up the furnaces he had prepared earlier in a row. “One for each of you.”
The disciples behind him were stunned!
Next, Shi Jingge produced a spatial cabinet, stowed the extra furnaces inside, and then took out numerous low-grade spiritual herbs, flowers, and fruits, sorting them by category and arranging them neatly within the cabinet.
The disciples could hardly believe their eyes; some even pinched the palms of their hands. Only after feeling the pain did they dare to believe that what they saw was real!
And that wasn’t all.
Shi Jingge then produced several hundred bottles of Peiyuan Pills, filling two layers of the cabinet. He followed that by taking out various other low-grade elixirs, which filled another layer. Finally, he placed the prepared Snow Spirit Pills, Wood Spirit Pills, Fire Spirit Pills, Thunder Spirit Pills, and Earth Spirit Pills on the topmost layer, stuffing the cabinet to the brim with elixirs!
They all had the same potency, corresponding respectively to Water Spirit Roots, Wood Spirit Roots, Fire Spirit Roots, Thunder Spirit Roots, and Earth Spirit Roots. Since all disciples of Shuixing Peak possessed one of these five Spirit Roots, Shi Jingge had prepared only them.
The disciples of Shuixing Peak nearly fainted on the spot.
Was this really something they were allowed to see?!
Shi Jingge called out to Ji Qiulan, “Hold out your hand.”
Ji Qiulan looked a bit bewildered, but obediently held it out.
Shi Jingge drew a drop of her blood and dripped it onto the spatial cabinet. “From now on, this is under your care.”
Ji Qiulan’s eyes widened; she never imagined that the Senior Brother would entrust such a responsibility to her!
“Everything here can be exchanged for spirit stones. Price them at half the market rate; you may refer to the prices on other peaks. Once set, submit them to me for review.”
“Of course, in addition to spirit stones, contribution points may also be used. The Shuixing Peak Mission Hall will reopen. The value of contribution points may also be referenced from other peaks; once determined, these must also be submitted to me for review. Can you handle this?”
Even if she couldn’t, she had to make it work. With Senior Brother placing such trust in her, she absolutely would not let him down!
Ji Qiulan was so moved she was trembling slightly. She shouted, “I can!”
Only then did Shi Jingge nod and turn to head for the Forging Hall.
Once they arrived at the Forging Hall, the same procedure began again. The disciples of Shuixing Peak felt as though they didn’t have enough eyes to take it all in!
This time, the person Shi Jingge called out was He Yongming.
He Yongming hadn’t expected it to be him; his fingers were trembling as he reached out.
“Thank you, Senior Brother, for trusting me,” He Yongming said hoarsely. “I promise I will never betray your trust!”
Shi Jingge nodded slightly. “Mm.”
He Yongming nearly burst into tears right then and there!
Afterward, Shi Jingge went to the Mission Hall. Once all the disciples of Shuixing Peak had gathered, he formally announced that the Mission Hall of Shuixing Peak was reopening.
Not only that, but he also arranged alchemy and artifact forging classes for the disciples. Alchemy classes would be held on the 5th, 15th, and 25th of each month, while artifact forging classes would be held on the 8th, 18th, and 28th. Participation was optional.
From this point on, the benefits disciples of Shuixing Peak had were no different from those of the other peaks!
For them, everything that happened that day felt nothing short of a dream come true.
News of Shuixing Peak’s developments soon reached Lingyue Peak as well.
The senior disciple of Lingyue Peak clenched his teeth. His face darkened as he said, “So what? It’s been twenty days, and he still hasn’t undergone the tribulation. As long as he hasn’t entered the Golden Core Realm, I’ve won! As long as he doesn’t become a Golden Core Immortal, his position lacks legitimacy. He’s just a temporary Peak Master. I look down on him. So what?”
“But,” Lingyue Peak’s Second Senior Brother whispered, “we only agreed that if he succeeded, we’d do this or that. We never said what would happen if he failed…”
Lingyue Peak’s First Senior Brother: “……”
Heaven has forsaken him!
Author’s Note:
Lingyue Peak’s Second Senior Brother: I regret it, but I won’t say so QAQ
Lingyue Peak’s Senior First Brother: Thanks to First Senior Brother for taking the heat and saving my skin
My apologies, life happened.
Edit: Krone
Proofread: Choux_choux
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