Chapter 105 – This Tragic Cultivation Genius – “Elders, please forgive me.” (02/06)
“Enough,” Yun Xuefeng said, turning away. “I have no time to spare. Come with me to find the Sect Master; you are to remain at my side. Should you ever harbor evil intentions in the future, I will slay you.”
“Grand Elder,” Xie Chenyang exclaimed urgently, “I know you’re about to go into seclusion. I won’t intrude on your daily routine. Just let me follow you! It was the Sect Master’s son who pushed me; I’m still afraid.”
Yun Xuefeng: “No need to say more.”
[This is going to be a challenge.]
You Huang: “Take care.”
[He’ll definitely feel sorry for me.]
The night was long, and the full moon hung high in the sky.
In the moonlight, Yun Xuefeng’s white robes gleamed like snow. He summoned his soul-bound sword and leaped onto it, his dark eyes cold and otherworldly. “Let’s go.”
“Wait.”
“Do you have something else to say?”
Xie Chenyang’s lips curled slightly. “I’m filled with demonic energy; I’m bound to startle the disciples at the Sect. Grand Elder, would you mind giving me a ride?”
Yun Xuefeng: “Can’t you suppress your demonic energy?”
Xie Chenyang replied innocently, “I’ve only been cultivating the demonic path for a short time, and I’m self-taught. I don’t know how to suppress it. Just standing here, people can tell I’m a demonic cultivator, let alone when I actually use my energy.
Yun Xuefeng: “Get on.”
Xie Chenyang happily stepped behind him. As they rose into the air, Xie Chenyang reached out and wrapped his arms around Yun Xuefeng’s waist.
Yun Xuefeng’s fingertips twitched.
Xie Chenyang reacted quickly, pulling his hands back and grabbing hold of his clothes instead. “Please don’t be angry, Grand Elder. I’ve been trapped alone at the bottom of the cliff for so long; I’m not quite adjusted yet.”
Yun Xuefeng: “…It’s fine.”
In just a few breaths, they arrived at the main peak where the Sect Master resided.
After landing, Xie Chenyang praised, “You’re so fast.”
Yun Xuefeng: “Stop chattering.”
Sect Master Ji Hong sensed the demonic energy and immediately flew out. Upon seeing Yun Xuefeng, he bowed respectfully. “Great-Uncle.”
Yun Xuefeng: “Mm.”
Xie Chenyang stepped out from behind Yun Xuefeng. “Disciple greets Master.”
Ji Hong furrowed his brow. “Xiangyang? Why are you shrouded in demonic energy? How dare you abandon the Dao to cultivate demonic arts…!”
“Master,” Xie Chenyang interrupted him, “do you truly not know? On the night of my tribulation, Senior Brother Ji Ran took me to the Demon-Suppressing Cliff, claiming it was suitable for the trial. Then, taking advantage of my trust in him, he pushed me off the cliff.”
“Nonsense!” Ji Hong’s face darkened.
“Whether it’s nonsense or not, wouldn’t Master know if he summoned him to confront him? ” Xie Chenyang smiled wryly. “I recall you have a magical artifact, Master, capable of discerning the truth of one’s words. If a lie is spoken, the liar suffers excruciating pain that gnaws at the bones and pierces the heart.”
Ji Hong: “Qi Xiangyang!”
“I know you’d be reluctant to do so, Master, but please summon that artifact and use it on me.”
[Right now, I am Qi Xiangyang, aren’t I?]
You Huang: “Yes, the kind even the Way of Heaven acknowledges.”
The moment Xie Chenyang spoke, Ji Hong, who knew his disciple’s temperament as well as his own son’s, couldn’t help but guess the truth. His face darkened. “Qi Xiangyang, you…”
Xie Chenyang tilted his head. “Grand Elder~ I told you the Sect Master would definitely favor his son! I was even willing to risk my life to test the artifact, yet he wouldn’t dare bring out the artifact to summon Ji Ran. What does that tell you? He’s covering for his son.”
Yun Xuefeng: “Ji Hong.”
Ji Hong looked troubled. “Great-Uncle, Ran’er has accepted a training mission and is currently away from the sect…”
Xie Chenyang interjected, “Then summon him back! Surely the Grand Elder isn’t going to wait for him.”
Ji Hong: “The place he’s gone to is very far away…”
“How many days will it take him to return?”
With a cultivator’s speed, even from the far north, one could make it back in ten days.
Ji Hong gritted his teeth. “Seven days.”
“Then seven days it is.” Xie Chenyang tilted his head toward Yun Xuefeng. “Grand Elder, may I accompany you during these seven days? I’m worried…” He shot a glance at Ji Hong.
Ji Hong’s expression darkened.
Worried about what? Worried I’ll silence him? Hah! I never expected a disciple who’s always been so obedient and well-behaved to become so despicable!
Yun Xuefeng summoned his sword and stepped onto it. “Get on.”
Xie Chenyang happily stood behind him.
Yun Xuefeng: “Seven days.”
“Yes, Great-Uncle.”
Yun Xuefeng’s seclusion site was on Pingxu Peak, right next to Zhenmo Cliff.
The former Sect Master had arranged his cave residence to be very comfortable so he could recuperate properly.
Not only were there hot springs, but even the bed for resting was made of warm jade.
“Rest here. Do not go inside and disturb me.”
“Does the Grand Elder not sleep?”
“It is unnecessary.”
“But sleep helps one recuperate,” Xie Chenyang said gently. “Even if sleep is no longer needed with the Grand Elder’s cultivation, it’s still better than nothing~”
“It is unnecessary.”
“Could it be… that the Grand Elder… despises me?”
Yun Xuefeng looked at him. “Why would I despise you?”
“Do you despise me for practicing demonic arts?” Xie Chenyang sat on the warm jade bed. “Otherwise, why won’t you sleep with me?”
“Did the sect not teach you proper etiquette?”
“The rules don’t say a disciple is forbidden from sharing a bed with the Supreme Elder.”
“Nonsense.” Yun Xuefeng turned and walked toward the inner chambers.
Xie Chenyang clutched his chest and groaned softly. Yun Xuefeng turned back.
Xie Chenyang’s face twisted in pain. “The… The demonic energy inside me is surging wildly in my dantian. It seems… It seems—ugh!”
Yun Xuefeng: “You’re clutching your chest.”
“It’s all the same—my whole body aches,” Xie Chenyang said weakly. “I beg the Grand Elder to have mercy on this disciple and help… help me.”
Yun Xuefeng: “……”
He walked to the bedside. “You practice demonic arts while my body is filled with spiritual energy. How can I help you?”
You Huang: “……” One dared to act, and one dared to believe.
A bead of cold sweat broke out on Xie Chenyang’s forehead. “Oh no, oh no… My spiritual essence seems to have… been damaged. It must be an aftereffect of the demonic energy forcibly invading me when I failed to survive the lightning tribulation earlier…”
Yun Xuefeng: “I only slay demons; I know nothing of them. I’ll go find–”
“No…” Xie Chenyang grabbed his hand, gasping lightly twice. “My spiritual core is about to explode. You… use your divine sense to probe it for me, and help repair… my damaged spiritual core…”
Yun Xuefeng: “You won’t be able to withstand it…”
“I can!” Xie Chenyang replied with unwavering certainty, then feigned agony, “Grand Elder, save me~ Ah.”
Although he had never been to the Cultivation Realm, having traversed so many worlds, his spiritual perception far surpassed that of his original host.
With a new soul, his spiritual perception was naturally different.
“Grand Elder!”
“Then I’ll give it a try.”
You Huang muttered a curse under his breath and slipped away.
When Yun Xuefeng extended his divine sense and made contact with Xie Chenyang’s primordial soul, both of them shuddered.
Yun Xuefeng sensed that his primordial soul was unharmed and was about to withdraw when Xie Chenyang grabbed his hand, wrapping his soul around it to hold him back.
Worried that forcing his way out might injure Xie Chenyang’s primordial spirit, Yun Xuefeng furrowed his brow and remained still. “You…”
“It feels so familiar…”
“…” It was familiar. Yun Xuefeng was also puzzled. He had never met this disciple before. Why did his primordial spirit feel so familiar?
Taking advantage of his distraction, Xie Chenyang grew bold.
Yun Xuefeng clasped his hand in a firm grip. “Stop!”
But stopping was impossible.
Qi Xiangyang’s memories contained no teachings on dual cultivation, yet Xie Chenyang had mastered it without a teacher.
Dawn broke.
With a single palm strike, Yun Xuefeng sent Xie Chenyang crashing onto the jade bed. “How dare you!”
Yun Xuefeng had devoted himself entirely to sword cultivation and the Dao.
Apart from cultivation, his life consisted of battling demons and monsters. He had never entertained thoughts of seeking a cultivation partner, so naturally, he knew nothing of the path of dual cultivation.
After a night like that, how could he remain ignorant?
Xie Chenyang placed one hand on the bed, leaned against it, and licked his lips. “Please do not blame this disciple, Grand Elder… I could not help myself.”
Yun Xuefeng’s expression was icy cold.
“Don’t be angry. It was merely a spiritual exchange.” Xie Chenyang chuckled. “I didn’t… actually offend you.”
Yun Xuefen paused for a moment to steady his inner turmoil, then turned and left. “If this happens again, you will be expelled from the sect.”
Xie Chenyang sat up on the bed: [Ha, look. Even when he’s angry, he holds back his power. It’s not even a scratch.]
[But his spiritual sense really feels somewhat familiar. Could it be that we’ve been lovers for many lifetimes, and I’ve grown familiar with his soul?]
You Huang didn’t answer, so Xie Chenyang assumed he’d gone into the spatial realm and hadn’t returned yet. He didn’t ask any further.
Later, Xie Chenyang tried to go inside to find Yun Xuefeng, but was blocked by the restriction.
Yun Xuefeng’s restriction was set to last seven days. When he emerged seven days later, a shadow of gloom had settled over his usually impassive eyes, making them look as if they were shrouded in mist.
You Huang saw it immediately. “He’s developed a heart demon.”
[What?!]
You Huang: “He’s developed a heart demon.”
Xie Chenyang’s expression darkened: [He’s about to ascend. How could he still develop a heart demon?]
“His Dao heart has wavered.”
Yun Xuefeng walked toward the exit. “Follow me.”
Xie Chenyang stepped forward and grabbed his arm. “You’ve developed a heart demon?”
Yun Xuefeng lowered his gaze. “It’s nothing. I’ll handle it myself.”
“Let’s deal with your matter first.”
Xie Chenyang followed him toward the main peak.
[Dad, can he really handle it?]
You Huang: “At his current level, dealing with a newly formed inner demon shouldn’t be difficult.”
You Huang: “……” But his inner demon is most likely you, you fool.
——– Main Peak. ———
Ji Hong and Ji Ran had already been waiting there. Also present were the peak masters of each peak, along with their direct disciples.
Qi Xiangyang’s senior brothers and sisters were there as well.
[Such a grand display—has Ji Hong come up with a plan?]
You Huang: “Take a guess.”
[Ha, I forgot you can’t help me, Dad.]
“Junior Brother Yang, have you actually turned to the Demonic Path?!”
“It seems so. Look at that aura of darkness…”
The disciples whispered among themselves.
Yun Xuefeng turned to Ji Hong.
Ji Hong bowed. “Greetings, Great-Uncle.”
“Greetings, Grand Elder (Great-Uncle)!”
Yun Xuefeng: “Let’s begin.”
As soon as Xie Chenyang took a step forward, Ji Hong spoke up, “My sixth disciple, Qi Xiangyang, had been missing for a long time. Upon his return, he had fallen into demonic cultivation and even accused my son of ruining him. Now, to prove my son’s innocence, I shall bring forth my magical artifact, the Soul-Questioning Whip.”
Xie Chenyang raised an eyebrow.
Ji Hong: “Ran’er, come up.”
Xie Chenyang said with a smile, “Isn’t it supposed to be used on me?”
Ji Hong shot him a sidelong glance. “You’ve already become a demon cultivator; who knows what underhanded tricks you might have up your sleeve. Since you’re accusing Ran’er, let’s ask him and let him prove his innocence.”
“Alright then.”
Ji Ran stepped into the center of the crowd. Ji Hong produced the Soul-Probing Whip, thrusting it directly into Ji Ran’s body to entangle his spiritual essence.
“Ji Ran, I ask you: Qi Xiangyang claims he turned to demonic cultivation because of you. Is that true?”
Ji Ran cast a dark, shadowed glance at Xie Chenyang and replied, “No.”
Xie Chenyang chuckled lightly. “Master… Oh, Sect Leader, you’re being deliberately evasive. Why not just ask him directly: Did he attack me while I was undergoing my tribulation, knocking me off the Demon-Suppressing Cliff?”
Ji Hong paused. “Ji Ran, did you attack Qi Xiangyang while he was undergoing his tribulation and knock him off the Demon-Suppressing Cliff?”
Ji Ran smiled. “No.”
Xie Chenyang narrowed his eyes slightly.
[Something’s fishy.]
—————-
Author’s Note: Ahem, love you all, muah~
Edit: Krone
Proofread: Choux_choux
