Chapter 33
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Translator: transcendentwings
Editor: teaff
CW
In the middle of the night when the banquet ended, Xu Xingzhi returned to the Eastern Hall and changed from his banquet attire that was enveloped in the aroma of wine back into casual robes. He procured a writing case containing writing media and brushes and brought it with him to the side hall, lit an oil lamp, and began to copy scriptures.
However, since he drank too much that night and there was no charcoal brazier in the side hall, the chill quickly invaded his body. On top of this, transcription was the most grueling on the mind. In less than a quarter of an hour, the tipsy Xu Xingzhi felt as if a thousand jun hung at the end of the brush in his hand. With the mixture of the cold and the hypnotic effect of alcohol, even if one pinched themself numerous times, it was still of no help.
Soon after, he fell asleep at the table.
After an unknown amount of time passed, there was a knock on the door to the side hall: “Shixiong, it’s me. May I enter?”
The intoxication from the alcohol was very persistent, coupled with the fact that Xu Xingzhi had two consecutive battles today, he slept very deeply and naturally would not respond to the knock.
Since knocking on the door failed, Jiu Zhideng, who was standing outside, pursed his lips: “Shixiong, excuse my presumptuousness.”
He brought a charcoal brazier with him when he entered and used the tip of his foot to hook the edge of the door to close it. He swept his gaze around a few times before locking in on the fast asleep Xu Xingzhi.
Seeing this scene Jiu Zhideng didn’t think much about it. He placed the charcoal basin down and flipped over the scripture that Xu Xingzhi had only copied the opening lines of to take a look, then he picked up the bamboo slips and slipped them into his lapel.
There was a small cot dedicated for people to rest in the side hall. Jiu Zhideng knelt by the bed, folded his sleeves up to tidy it up, then retrieved a thick quilt before returning to the desk and respectfully informed the deeply asleep Xu Xingzhi: “Shixiong, please excuse my offense.”
Immediately after, he used a hand to support the back of Xu Xingzhi’s head, and the other was looped under Xu Xingzhi’s knees as he picked him up in his arms.
Xu Xingzhi slept until he shivered, then he was picked up by someone in their arms. Feeling the warmth, he instinctively snuggled closer into Jiu Zhideng’s embrace and pressed his forehead into his arms.
Even with layers of clothing separating them, Jiu Zhideng could still feel the bone-piercing chill emanating from Xu Xingzhi’s skin. Recalling the reason why Shixiong became this way, he unconsciously made his voice as light as possible: “Shixiong, are you cold?”
Xu Xingzhi shook his head: “Not cold.”
Although he said so, the palms of his hands and the soles of his feet were still icy. Jiu Zhideng laid him out on the cot and just when he was about to tuck him in with the quilt, Xu Xingzhi turned his body over, making his loose robes roll up a little with his movements and reveal an expanse of white at the back of his waist.
Clearly it was just an insignificant place, but catching a glimpse of it still made the tip of Jiu Zhideng’s ears thoroughly red. He frantically shifted his eyes in a panic and tried to straighten out the other’s clothing.
However, as soon as his hand came in contact, it was held down by Xu Xingzhi instantly.
Xu Xingzhi murmured vaguely: “. . . Don’t touch, my waist hurts.”
After accompanying Xu Xingzhi for so many years, Jiu Zhideng was aware that he had injured nearly every spot on his body. His waist was no exception.
Today, he fought twice, overextended himself, then sat and drank for quite a while, so his waist probably couldn’t bear it anymore.
Then, as Jiu Zhideng stared at that sliver of white, his mind couldn’t help but deviate from the right track.
His Adam’s apple undulated slightly with tension and the expression on his face gradually morphed from tranquility to one with a turbulent undercurrent.
Moments later, he half-knelt and harshly gathered Xu Xingzhi into his arms, his emotions so stirred up that all of his organs felt like they were burning.
That touch of seductive white made him forget his manners as he chanted: “Shixiong, Shixiong. . .”
The sore spot on Xu Xingzhi’s waist was tugged on, causing him to murmur in a low voice: “Wu. . .”
The sound nearly drove Jiu Zhideng insane, making him tighten his arms more and more as if he jumped off a cliff with a long rope that was being wrenched back and forth between uncontrollable indulgence and a line of reason.
Soon, he aimed and bit at those lips that were slightly parted and huffing out the aroma of wine in an ignorant manner.
Xu Xingzhi hissed. He suffered some pain in his sleep, but was so weary that he couldn’t open his eyes at all. He could only push the shoulders of the person before him subconsciously: “. . . Chongguang, don’t fuss. Shixiong is sleepy. . .”
Jiu Zhideng was abruptly startled awake. He broke free from his disturbed mind and intoxicated emotions, alighting from the cot in shame. He caressed his lips that were filled with the scent of wine in a dazed manner, then hurriedly pulled up the quilt for Xu Xingzhi, put out the light with a wave of his sleeve, and ran out of the side hall.
As soon as he exited the hall and before he could settle his emotions, Jiu Zhideng heard a cold and sardonic inquiry from beside him: “Jiu Zhideng-shixiong?”
Ale Itlvfcu kjr meggfcais lc jc lgglajyif rajaf, rb ktfc tf ktlqqfv tlr tfjv jgbecv revvfcis, la kjr Zfcu Jtbcuuejcu ktb kjr rajgaifv lcab ajxlcu j rafq yjmx.
When he came back to his senses, Meng Chongguang mocked: “Shixiong, what’s the matter la? For your face to be so flushed, did you drink too much wine and become intoxicated?”
Ktf wbwfca tf tfjgv atf kbgv “klcf”, Ale Itlvfcu ofia jr lo tlr wbeat kjr bnfgoibklcu klat lar jgbwj jcv tlr tfjga yfja ilxf j vgew lc gfrqbcrf. Lf cb ibcufg mjgfv jybea ylmxfglcu klat Zfcu Jtbcuuejcu jcv pera rtba tlw j ogbras ibbx yfobgf aegclcu jgbecv jcv vfqjgalcu rkloais.
Meng Chongguang immediately entered the hall the moment he left.
Xu Xingzhi was sound asleep, completely unaware of Meng Chongguang’s terrifyingly glacial eyes when he was turned over and his swollen lips came into view.
. . . The smell of that person was everywhere. In the hall, in the room, on Shixiong’s body, even his lips were all stained by that person.
Meng Chongguang leaned in close to Xu Xingzhi’s ear and muttered, his hauntingly deep and horrifying gaze was completely different from those of the past, as if they were two entirely different people: “. . . Why did you let others touch you ne, Shixiong. I’m displeased, you need to be punished.”
Shortly after, the hall overflowed with the light scent of plants.
When Xu Xingzhi smelled it for the first time, his brow was slightly knitted as if he sensed that the fragrance didn’t carry kind intentions, but it was everywhere, thus Xu Xingzhi couldn’t help breathed it in.
Meng Chongguang wasn’t in a hurry to climb onto the cot. After letting the light scent of verdure wrap Xu Xingzhi within, he grabbed a new set of bamboo slips and copied scriptures under the moonlight.
After a little less than an hour.
Xu Xingzhi felt as if he plunged into a lost sea and was floating in a hazy white space. He tossed and turned incessantly on the cot, panting constantly. His neck arched backwards and his breaths were full of hard to bear suffering and undecipherable pleasure.
Meng Chongguang was quite proud of himself at first, mimicking Xu Xingzhi’s handwriting while humming a little tune, but as time passed, he finally understood what it meant to trap oneself in one's own cocoon.
. . . He became so fidgety that he couldn’t sit still. It disturbed the flow of his writing, even his lips turned pale from holding back.
Meng Chengguang forced himself to finish the transcription, then promptly threw himself at the cot, lifted an edge of the quilt and burrowed underneath.
Xu Xingzhi didn’t know what dream he had, but he was tossed around until he groaned constantly. His clothes were damp, but at least his body was warm, some places were even frighteningly scalding.
Meng Chongguang drilled his head out of the quilt and looped his arm around Xu Xingzhi’s waist while layers of vines climbed along the foot of the cot, connecting Meng Chongguang and Xu Xingzhi’s ankles together. A few thin vines even slipped into Xu Xingzhi’s loose trouser legs along the way.
Not long after, Xu Xingzhi’s panting suddenly increased: “Don’t. . . En~”
Meng Chongguang rested on Xu Xingzhi’s shoulder, his eyes were slightly hooded, a smile hung at the corner of his lips and he murmured to himself contently: “Shixiong, you’re so naughty to seduce me like this.”
Xu Xingzhi was sweating profusely when he woke up the next day. He was so preoccupied with his thoughts that when he sat up, he almost rolled off the cot.
. . . Last night really was a chain of strange dreams.
At first, Xu Xingzhi dreamed that he was restrained to a chair, his eyes blindfolded, his legs lifted up and separated by an unknown soft object in such a way that he was unable to struggle. A soft monster with multiple limbs wound around him, teasing him until he was about to curse quite a few times, yet was still unable to extricate himself. Slowly he lost his strength and could only let it be.
Xu Xingzhi only felt like he was a book and was rifled through from beginning to end, no matter where the person’s fingertips went, it felt like they were flirting with him.
The second dream was even more preposterous. He went to a pond to bathe, but halfway through, the whole clear pond transformed into the page turner and swallowed him whole. In the vivid, thorough darkness, his right foot cramped three separate times and pulsed with pain even now.
Xu Xingzhi came back to his senses, noticing that there was a bulging lump buried next to him in the quilt. He stretched out his hand to lift the quilt and a pair of bare arms pulled it back up again, and even uttered an aggrieved “hum” as if to blame Xu Xingzhi for disturbing his peaceful rest.
Xu Xingzhi finally knew who was inside and couldn’t stop chuckling. He patted the furry head that remained hidden in the quilt, refusing to show his face then straightened out his clothes. Getting out of bed, he approached the desk only to find a fully replicated volume of The Miraculous Scripture of the Northern Emperor in Subduing Demons, Gods, and Curses as told by the Respected Founding Heavenly Master resting on its surface. The ink had already dried and the handwriting was indistinguishable from Xu Xingzhi’s own.
Holding the bamboo slip, the corner of his lips just lifted into a smile when he heard a noise at the door.
Xu Xingzhi raised his eyes and saw that it was Jiu Zhideng standing by the door of the hall.
He seemed to have something to say, but before he could speak, Xu Xingzhi raised his finger to signal him to keep his voice down so as to not interrupt Meng Chongguang’s slumber.
He pulled on an outer robe, slipped into his shoes, and then shut the door after him as he exited before asking: “Are you looking for me for something?”
The bamboo slips that Meng Chongguang wrote were still in his hand.
Jiu Zhideng was dressed in an extra layer of clothing. With a stern face, his hands were cupped behind his back, while his eyes fixed on the bamboo slips, his voice sounded a little off: “Shixiong finished reproducing the scriptures last night?”
Xu Xingzhi waved his hand: “How is this my work? I was so lethargic last night and fell asleep very early on. Instead, I must’ve tired out Chongguang as he had to help me into bed, taking care of me so attentively, and then even finishing copying the scriptures for me. He’s fast asleep now, so let the two of us keep our voices down so we don’t disturb him. . . Xiao-Deng, you came so early in the morning to look for me, is something the matter?”
Jiu Zhideng put his hands behind his back, the alienation and indifference between his brow the same as always: “I have a match today against a Qingliang Valley disciple. I would like to entreat Shixiong to give me some pointers on swordsmanship.”
Xu Xingzhi agreed easily and rubbed his head in passing: “Sure. Wait for me at the training grounds for a while. I’ll wash up. . . cough, come find you after a change of clothes.”
Jiu Zhideng nodded and watched Xu Xingzhi return to the side hall before he finally took out the incomplete bamboo slip that Xu Xingzhi had originally started on last night.
Only now, the bamboo slips had been completed.
Though, it seemed that there was no need to hand it over anymore.
Jiu Zhideng slipped the bamboo slips back into his lapel, turned around, and left.
Xu Xingzhi returned into the hall and just as he gingerly closed the door, he heard an abrupt question from behind: “. . . Who was Shixiong conversing with?”
Xu Xingzhi was startled, but when he turned around and saw Meng Chongguang standing barefoot on the ground, staring straight at him, he frowned and picked up the child, who didn’t know how to judge the severity of matters, and tossed him back onto the cot: “Stepping on the floor without wearing socks, you’re really bold. Whose fault would it be if you caught a cold and got sick? The responsibility will only fall on me to take care of you.”
Meng Chongguang was unrepentant: “Who was Shixiong speaking to?”
Xu Xingzhi: “Xiao-Deng. He wanted me to guide his swordsmanship.”
Meng Chongguang hugged the quilt tightly and grumbled, quite unconvinced: “I also want Shixiong to instruct me.”
“You?” Xu Xingzhi nearly burst into laughter, “You really are in need of some teachings, otherwise, it’ll be like last time when you were beaten down the stage in less than two moves. Such a sorry display.”
“Shixiong is making fun of me!”
“No, I’m not.” Xu Xingzhi stroked Meng Chongguang’s shaved hair, coaxing him, “Shixiong feels distressed for you.”
Meng Chongguang fecklessly blushed at his touch, hummed comfortably, and ceased making a ruckus.
After placating the enraged kitten Chongguang, Xu Xingzhi proceeded to turn around and retrieve a change of clothes.
. . . Especially a change of underwear.
Unexpectedly, when he was about to leave, Meng Chongguang latched onto him from behind and made a bold and forceful request: “I want a kiss!”
Xu Xingzhi snorted: “What kind of bad habit is this? Let me ask how old are you now? You’re about to become even taller than me. . .”
Meng Chongguang didn’t say anything, just raised his head and looked at him pitifully, the little milk kitten-like gaze paired with the faint dark blue circles under his eyes instantly softened Xu Xingzhi’s heart.
After all, it was this little guy who served him personally last night and completed his task for him, so what’s the harm in indulging him?
Thinking like this, Xu Xingzhi gave him a peck on the forehead.
Meng Chongguang was picky and acted spoiled: “Not sweet enough!”
Xu Xingzhi flushed slightly and slapped him on the back of his head: “Stop making a fuss! Put on your clothes properly! Always sleeping naked, not afraid of catching a chill.”
Meng Chongguang’s eyelids fluttered deliberately: “This way holding Shixiong will be much warmer ya, does Shixiong dislike it?”
. . . Xu Xingzhi fled in defeat.
If he hears any words or phrases related to “hug” right now, he’ll feel weak in the legs. What’s more, Meng Chongguang’s expression when he said this, half-joking and half-serious, actually made Xu Xingzhi feel itchy in his heart.
However, the Heavenly Ranking competition, an event of the utmost importance, was placed right before him, even if Xu Xingzhi felt antsy in his heart, once he stepped into the arena, his mind would simmer down.
In this round, his opponent was Zhou Xian. The two of them were already old opponents. When they met in the arena, there wasn’t much tension undulating in the air between them, instead it was rather relaxed as if they were at an afternoon tea session.
Zhou Xian greeted him: “Xu-shixiong, you seem pretty refreshed today.”
Xu Xingzhi also noticed this in the mirror when he was washing up today. Recalling the strange dream he had last night with the entangled, lingering feelings of an unwillingness to part, he felt that it was very mystical.
Could it be the legendary harvesting yin to nourish yang?
. . . But why was it that Xu Xingzhi felt that he was the one who had been harvested.
Zhou Xian drew her short spear from her waist and retrieved the long spear from behind, spun both in a circle before gripping them at the ready in her hands: “In the match against me today, is Xu-shixiong still only going to use a mere folded fan?”
Xu Xingzhi reigned in his thoughts: “Guess?”
Zhou Xian grinned: “To be honest with Xu-shixiong, I secretly participated in the gambles yesterday and laid down some spirit stones I had personally saved up. I bet that you would still fight with only the folded fan.”
Xu Xingzhi stroked the fan and sighed deeply: “How could I be willing to let Xiao-Xian’er lose?”
After stating that, he leaned over, holding the fan in one hand, and bowed towards Zhou Xian: “. . . Please ba.”
Zhou Xian’s spear skills were superb. The spear shot forth like a dragon, the momentum was dense, like the winds with lightning, yet she still had the delicate and meticulous mind of a woman, making her transitions between attacking and defending invulnerable.
Many people would rather draw Qu Chi than Zhou Xian. The reasoning was this: fighting with Zhou Xian required a lot of patience, physical strength, and endurance, otherwise they would only end up completely collapsing under her drawn out assault.
But Xu Xingzhi only needed less than ten moves to achieve victory.
He didn’t compete with Zhou Xian head-on at all. After neutralizing Zhou Xian’s first wave of attacks with minimalistic effort, he then turned to a corner of the ring, swept his sleeves outwards and all the spiritual power he possessed swelled up!
Zhou Xian was proficient in spear arts, and her level of spiritual energy wasn’t low, but she was still unable to resist such a surging sea of spiritual power which forced her to stumble back a dozen steps, pushing her directly off the stage!
When she was about to fall onto the ground, an eight trigrams jadeite array rushed over from afar, supporting Zhou Xian from the waist, while Xu Xingzhi leapt off the platform personally, grasped Zhou Xian’s cuff, and sent her to the ground smoothly, her two feet floating steadily to the ground.
One of the rules of the Heavenly Ranking competition was that whoever touched the ground beyond the arena first would lose, thus Zhou Xian lost without any suspense.
A few lords spectating from a high place were also taken aback when they sensed the strength of this wave of spiritual power.
Fuyao-jun of Qingliang Valley applauded: “Although Xu Xingzhi acted recklessly, the head disciple of Fengling Mountain is indeed a well-deserved title for him.”
Qingjing-jun looked at Xu Xingzhi down below, he responded, perfectly calm: “En. And you can’t say that he’s reckless, just that he has a youthful spirit.”
On the other side, Mingzhao–jun of Danyang Peak also commented: “This child’s demeanor reminds me of Qingjing-jun in the past.”
Qingjing-jun didn’t hesitate to praise further: “Better than me.”
While all the lords were speaking highly of Xu Xingzhi to Qingjing-jun, Guangfu-jun furrowed his brow, his concern couldn’t be hidden in his expression.
After sending Zhou Xian to the ground, Xu Xingzhi let go of her hand and smiled: “Xiao-Xian’er, you let me win.”
At first, Zhou Xian was surprised by the abundance of spiritual power in Xu Xingzhi’s body, but after mulling it over carefully, she found her answer.
Only through painstaking cultivation could such results be achieved in the righteous path of the immortal sects. Xu Xingzhi could only have relied on himself to progress from a common civilian from the city to where he was today.
The author has something to say:
Zhou Xian laughed lightly: “Xu-shixiong, it was my skill that was inferior.”
“It was I, who didn’t want to delay for too long.” Xu Xingzhi countered, “I have a hunch that my next round will be against Qu Chi. It’s not advantageous for me to have this battle drag out for too long. Xiao-Xian’er don’t blame me, en?”
Zhou Xian naturally thought that this was a teasing remark from Xu Xingzhi after he triumphed against her and didn’t take it to heart.
However when Xu Xingzhi rifled through the lottery cylinder only to draw a bamboo stick with the two words “Qu Chi” on it, not only Zhou Xian, but all the disciples who participated in the Heavenly Ranking competition were boiling over with excitement.
Author’s Chapter Summary:
Copying scriptures, strange dreams, lottery cylinder
The translator has something to say: methinks that there is a conspiracy about these match-ups. . . Or it’s just that our author-dada was too lazy to write about filler battles XD
The editor has something to say: It… didn’t register with me Meng Chongguang was sleeping naked this entire time???
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
Translator: transcendentwings
Editor: teaff
CW
In the middle of the night when the banquet ended, Xu Xingzhi returned to the Eastern Hall and changed from his banquet attire that was enveloped in the aroma of wine back into casual robes. He procured a writing case containing writing media and brushes and brought it with him to the side hall, lit an oil lamp, and began to copy scriptures.
However, since he drank too much that night and there was no charcoal brazier in the side hall, the chill quickly invaded his body. On top of this, transcription was the most grueling on the mind. In less than a quarter of an hour, the tipsy Xu Xingzhi felt as if a thousand jun hung at the end of the brush in his hand. With the mixture of the cold and the hypnotic effect of alcohol, even if one pinched themself numerous times, it was still of no help.
Soon after, he fell asleep at the table.
After an unknown amount of time passed, there was a knock on the door to the side hall: “Shixiong, it’s me. May I enter?”
The intoxication from the alcohol was very persistent, coupled with the fact that Xu Xingzhi had two consecutive battles today, he slept very deeply and naturally would not respond to the knock.
Since knocking on the door failed, Jiu Zhideng, who was standing outside, pursed his lips: “Shixiong, excuse my presumptuousness.”
He brought a charcoal brazier with him when he entered and used the tip of his foot to hook the edge of the door to close it. He swept his gaze around a few times before locking in on the fast asleep Xu Xingzhi.
Seeing this scene Jiu Zhideng didn’t think much about it. He placed the charcoal basin down and flipped over the scripture that Xu Xingzhi had only copied the opening lines of to take a look, then he picked up the bamboo slips and slipped them into his lapel.
There was a small cot dedicated for people to rest in the side hall. Jiu Zhideng knelt by the bed, folded his sleeves up to tidy it up, then retrieved a thick quilt before returning to the desk and respectfully informed the deeply asleep Xu Xingzhi: “Shixiong, please excuse my offense.”
Immediately after, he used a hand to support the back of Xu Xingzhi’s head, and the other was looped under Xu Xingzhi’s knees as he picked him up in his arms.
Xu Xingzhi slept until he shivered, then he was picked up by someone in their arms. Feeling the warmth, he instinctively snuggled closer into Jiu Zhideng’s embrace and pressed his forehead into his arms.
Even with layers of clothing separating them, Jiu Zhideng could still feel the bone-piercing chill emanating from Xu Xingzhi’s skin. Recalling the reason why Shixiong became this way, he unconsciously made his voice as light as possible: “Shixiong, are you cold?”
Xu Xingzhi shook his head: “Not cold.”
Although he said so, the palms of his hands and the soles of his feet were still icy. Jiu Zhideng laid him out on the cot and just when he was about to tuck him in with the quilt, Xu Xingzhi turned his body over, making his loose robes roll up a little with his movements and reveal an expanse of white at the back of his waist.
Clearly it was just an insignificant place, but catching a glimpse of it still made the tip of Jiu Zhideng’s ears thoroughly red. He frantically shifted his eyes in a panic and tried to straighten out the other’s clothing.
However, as soon as his hand came in contact, it was held down by Xu Xingzhi instantly.
Xu Xingzhi murmured vaguely: “. . . Don’t touch, my waist hurts.”
After accompanying Xu Xingzhi for so many years, Jiu Zhideng was aware that he had injured nearly every spot on his body. His waist was no exception.
Today, he fought twice, overextended himself, then sat and drank for quite a while, so his waist probably couldn’t bear it anymore.
Then, as Jiu Zhideng stared at that sliver of white, his mind couldn’t help but deviate from the right track.
His Adam’s apple undulated slightly with tension and the expression on his face gradually morphed from tranquility to one with a turbulent undercurrent.
Moments later, he half-knelt and harshly gathered Xu Xingzhi into his arms, his emotions so stirred up that all of his organs felt like they were burning.
That touch of seductive white made him forget his manners as he chanted: “Shixiong, Shixiong. . .”
The sore spot on Xu Xingzhi’s waist was tugged on, causing him to murmur in a low voice: “Wu. . .”
The sound nearly drove Jiu Zhideng insane, making him tighten his arms more and more as if he jumped off a cliff with a long rope that was being wrenched back and forth between uncontrollable indulgence and a line of reason.
Soon, he aimed and bit at those lips that were slightly parted and huffing out the aroma of wine in an ignorant manner.
Xu Xingzhi hissed. He suffered some pain in his sleep, but was so weary that he couldn’t open his eyes at all. He could only push the shoulders of the person before him subconsciously: “. . . Chongguang, don’t fuss. Shixiong is sleepy. . .”
Jiu Zhideng was abruptly startled awake. He broke free from his disturbed mind and intoxicated emotions, alighting from the cot in shame. He caressed his lips that were filled with the scent of wine in a dazed manner, then hurriedly pulled up the quilt for Xu Xingzhi, put out the light with a wave of his sleeve, and ran out of the side hall.
As soon as he exited the hall and before he could settle his emotions, Jiu Zhideng heard a cold and sardonic inquiry from beside him: “Jiu Zhideng-shixiong?”
Ale Itlvfcu kjr meggfcais lc jc lgglajyif rajaf, rb ktfc tf ktlqqfv tlr tfjv jgbecv revvfcis, la kjr Zfcu Jtbcuuejcu ktb kjr rajgaifv lcab ajxlcu j rafq yjmx.
When he came back to his senses, Meng Chongguang mocked: “Shixiong, what’s the matter la? For your face to be so flushed, did you drink too much wine and become intoxicated?”
Ktf wbwfca tf tfjgv atf kbgv “klcf”, Ale Itlvfcu ofia jr lo tlr wbeat kjr bnfgoibklcu klat lar jgbwj jcv tlr tfjga yfja ilxf j vgew lc gfrqbcrf. Lf cb ibcufg mjgfv jybea ylmxfglcu klat Zfcu Jtbcuuejcu jcv pera rtba tlw j ogbras ibbx yfobgf aegclcu jgbecv jcv vfqjgalcu rkloais.
Meng Chongguang immediately entered the hall the moment he left.
Xu Xingzhi was sound asleep, completely unaware of Meng Chongguang’s terrifyingly glacial eyes when he was turned over and his swollen lips came into view.
. . . The smell of that person was everywhere. In the hall, in the room, on Shixiong’s body, even his lips were all stained by that person.
Meng Chongguang leaned in close to Xu Xingzhi’s ear and muttered, his hauntingly deep and horrifying gaze was completely different from those of the past, as if they were two entirely different people: “. . . Why did you let others touch you ne, Shixiong. I’m displeased, you need to be punished.”
Shortly after, the hall overflowed with the light scent of plants.
When Xu Xingzhi smelled it for the first time, his brow was slightly knitted as if he sensed that the fragrance didn’t carry kind intentions, but it was everywhere, thus Xu Xingzhi couldn’t help breathed it in.
Meng Chongguang wasn’t in a hurry to climb onto the cot. After letting the light scent of verdure wrap Xu Xingzhi within, he grabbed a new set of bamboo slips and copied scriptures under the moonlight.
After a little less than an hour.
Xu Xingzhi felt as if he plunged into a lost sea and was floating in a hazy white space. He tossed and turned incessantly on the cot, panting constantly. His neck arched backwards and his breaths were full of hard to bear suffering and undecipherable pleasure.
Meng Chongguang was quite proud of himself at first, mimicking Xu Xingzhi’s handwriting while humming a little tune, but as time passed, he finally understood what it meant to trap oneself in one's own cocoon.
. . . He became so fidgety that he couldn’t sit still. It disturbed the flow of his writing, even his lips turned pale from holding back.
Meng Chengguang forced himself to finish the transcription, then promptly threw himself at the cot, lifted an edge of the quilt and burrowed underneath.
Xu Xingzhi didn’t know what dream he had, but he was tossed around until he groaned constantly. His clothes were damp, but at least his body was warm, some places were even frighteningly scalding.
Meng Chongguang drilled his head out of the quilt and looped his arm around Xu Xingzhi’s waist while layers of vines climbed along the foot of the cot, connecting Meng Chongguang and Xu Xingzhi’s ankles together. A few thin vines even slipped into Xu Xingzhi’s loose trouser legs along the way.
Not long after, Xu Xingzhi’s panting suddenly increased: “Don’t. . . En~”
Meng Chongguang rested on Xu Xingzhi’s shoulder, his eyes were slightly hooded, a smile hung at the corner of his lips and he murmured to himself contently: “Shixiong, you’re so naughty to seduce me like this.”
Xu Xingzhi was sweating profusely when he woke up the next day. He was so preoccupied with his thoughts that when he sat up, he almost rolled off the cot.
. . . Last night really was a chain of strange dreams.
At first, Xu Xingzhi dreamed that he was restrained to a chair, his eyes blindfolded, his legs lifted up and separated by an unknown soft object in such a way that he was unable to struggle. A soft monster with multiple limbs wound around him, teasing him until he was about to curse quite a few times, yet was still unable to extricate himself. Slowly he lost his strength and could only let it be.
Xu Xingzhi only felt like he was a book and was rifled through from beginning to end, no matter where the person’s fingertips went, it felt like they were flirting with him.
The second dream was even more preposterous. He went to a pond to bathe, but halfway through, the whole clear pond transformed into the page turner and swallowed him whole. In the vivid, thorough darkness, his right foot cramped three separate times and pulsed with pain even now.
Xu Xingzhi came back to his senses, noticing that there was a bulging lump buried next to him in the quilt. He stretched out his hand to lift the quilt and a pair of bare arms pulled it back up again, and even uttered an aggrieved “hum” as if to blame Xu Xingzhi for disturbing his peaceful rest.
Xu Xingzhi finally knew who was inside and couldn’t stop chuckling. He patted the furry head that remained hidden in the quilt, refusing to show his face then straightened out his clothes. Getting out of bed, he approached the desk only to find a fully replicated volume of The Miraculous Scripture of the Northern Emperor in Subduing Demons, Gods, and Curses as told by the Respected Founding Heavenly Master resting on its surface. The ink had already dried and the handwriting was indistinguishable from Xu Xingzhi’s own.
Holding the bamboo slip, the corner of his lips just lifted into a smile when he heard a noise at the door.
Xu Xingzhi raised his eyes and saw that it was Jiu Zhideng standing by the door of the hall.
He seemed to have something to say, but before he could speak, Xu Xingzhi raised his finger to signal him to keep his voice down so as to not interrupt Meng Chongguang’s slumber.
He pulled on an outer robe, slipped into his shoes, and then shut the door after him as he exited before asking: “Are you looking for me for something?”
The bamboo slips that Meng Chongguang wrote were still in his hand.
Jiu Zhideng was dressed in an extra layer of clothing. With a stern face, his hands were cupped behind his back, while his eyes fixed on the bamboo slips, his voice sounded a little off: “Shixiong finished reproducing the scriptures last night?”
Xu Xingzhi waved his hand: “How is this my work? I was so lethargic last night and fell asleep very early on. Instead, I must’ve tired out Chongguang as he had to help me into bed, taking care of me so attentively, and then even finishing copying the scriptures for me. He’s fast asleep now, so let the two of us keep our voices down so we don’t disturb him. . . Xiao-Deng, you came so early in the morning to look for me, is something the matter?”
Jiu Zhideng put his hands behind his back, the alienation and indifference between his brow the same as always: “I have a match today against a Qingliang Valley disciple. I would like to entreat Shixiong to give me some pointers on swordsmanship.”
Xu Xingzhi agreed easily and rubbed his head in passing: “Sure. Wait for me at the training grounds for a while. I’ll wash up. . . cough, come find you after a change of clothes.”
Jiu Zhideng nodded and watched Xu Xingzhi return to the side hall before he finally took out the incomplete bamboo slip that Xu Xingzhi had originally started on last night.
Only now, the bamboo slips had been completed.
Though, it seemed that there was no need to hand it over anymore.
Jiu Zhideng slipped the bamboo slips back into his lapel, turned around, and left.
Xu Xingzhi returned into the hall and just as he gingerly closed the door, he heard an abrupt question from behind: “. . . Who was Shixiong conversing with?”
Xu Xingzhi was startled, but when he turned around and saw Meng Chongguang standing barefoot on the ground, staring straight at him, he frowned and picked up the child, who didn’t know how to judge the severity of matters, and tossed him back onto the cot: “Stepping on the floor without wearing socks, you’re really bold. Whose fault would it be if you caught a cold and got sick? The responsibility will only fall on me to take care of you.”
Meng Chongguang was unrepentant: “Who was Shixiong speaking to?”
Xu Xingzhi: “Xiao-Deng. He wanted me to guide his swordsmanship.”
Meng Chongguang hugged the quilt tightly and grumbled, quite unconvinced: “I also want Shixiong to instruct me.”
“You?” Xu Xingzhi nearly burst into laughter, “You really are in need of some teachings, otherwise, it’ll be like last time when you were beaten down the stage in less than two moves. Such a sorry display.”
“Shixiong is making fun of me!”
“No, I’m not.” Xu Xingzhi stroked Meng Chongguang’s shaved hair, coaxing him, “Shixiong feels distressed for you.”
Meng Chongguang fecklessly blushed at his touch, hummed comfortably, and ceased making a ruckus.
After placating the enraged kitten Chongguang, Xu Xingzhi proceeded to turn around and retrieve a change of clothes.
. . . Especially a change of underwear.
Unexpectedly, when he was about to leave, Meng Chongguang latched onto him from behind and made a bold and forceful request: “I want a kiss!”
Xu Xingzhi snorted: “What kind of bad habit is this? Let me ask how old are you now? You’re about to become even taller than me. . .”
Meng Chongguang didn’t say anything, just raised his head and looked at him pitifully, the little milk kitten-like gaze paired with the faint dark blue circles under his eyes instantly softened Xu Xingzhi’s heart.
After all, it was this little guy who served him personally last night and completed his task for him, so what’s the harm in indulging him?
Thinking like this, Xu Xingzhi gave him a peck on the forehead.
Meng Chongguang was picky and acted spoiled: “Not sweet enough!”
Xu Xingzhi flushed slightly and slapped him on the back of his head: “Stop making a fuss! Put on your clothes properly! Always sleeping naked, not afraid of catching a chill.”
Meng Chongguang’s eyelids fluttered deliberately: “This way holding Shixiong will be much warmer ya, does Shixiong dislike it?”
. . . Xu Xingzhi fled in defeat.
If he hears any words or phrases related to “hug” right now, he’ll feel weak in the legs. What’s more, Meng Chongguang’s expression when he said this, half-joking and half-serious, actually made Xu Xingzhi feel itchy in his heart.
However, the Heavenly Ranking competition, an event of the utmost importance, was placed right before him, even if Xu Xingzhi felt antsy in his heart, once he stepped into the arena, his mind would simmer down.
In this round, his opponent was Zhou Xian. The two of them were already old opponents. When they met in the arena, there wasn’t much tension undulating in the air between them, instead it was rather relaxed as if they were at an afternoon tea session.
Zhou Xian greeted him: “Xu-shixiong, you seem pretty refreshed today.”
Xu Xingzhi also noticed this in the mirror when he was washing up today. Recalling the strange dream he had last night with the entangled, lingering feelings of an unwillingness to part, he felt that it was very mystical.
Could it be the legendary harvesting yin to nourish yang?
. . . But why was it that Xu Xingzhi felt that he was the one who had been harvested.
Zhou Xian drew her short spear from her waist and retrieved the long spear from behind, spun both in a circle before gripping them at the ready in her hands: “In the match against me today, is Xu-shixiong still only going to use a mere folded fan?”
Xu Xingzhi reigned in his thoughts: “Guess?”
Zhou Xian grinned: “To be honest with Xu-shixiong, I secretly participated in the gambles yesterday and laid down some spirit stones I had personally saved up. I bet that you would still fight with only the folded fan.”
Xu Xingzhi stroked the fan and sighed deeply: “How could I be willing to let Xiao-Xian’er lose?”
After stating that, he leaned over, holding the fan in one hand, and bowed towards Zhou Xian: “. . . Please ba.”
Zhou Xian’s spear skills were superb. The spear shot forth like a dragon, the momentum was dense, like the winds with lightning, yet she still had the delicate and meticulous mind of a woman, making her transitions between attacking and defending invulnerable.
Many people would rather draw Qu Chi than Zhou Xian. The reasoning was this: fighting with Zhou Xian required a lot of patience, physical strength, and endurance, otherwise they would only end up completely collapsing under her drawn out assault.
But Xu Xingzhi only needed less than ten moves to achieve victory.
He didn’t compete with Zhou Xian head-on at all. After neutralizing Zhou Xian’s first wave of attacks with minimalistic effort, he then turned to a corner of the ring, swept his sleeves outwards and all the spiritual power he possessed swelled up!
Zhou Xian was proficient in spear arts, and her level of spiritual energy wasn’t low, but she was still unable to resist such a surging sea of spiritual power which forced her to stumble back a dozen steps, pushing her directly off the stage!
When she was about to fall onto the ground, an eight trigrams jadeite array rushed over from afar, supporting Zhou Xian from the waist, while Xu Xingzhi leapt off the platform personally, grasped Zhou Xian’s cuff, and sent her to the ground smoothly, her two feet floating steadily to the ground.
One of the rules of the Heavenly Ranking competition was that whoever touched the ground beyond the arena first would lose, thus Zhou Xian lost without any suspense.
A few lords spectating from a high place were also taken aback when they sensed the strength of this wave of spiritual power.
Fuyao-jun of Qingliang Valley applauded: “Although Xu Xingzhi acted recklessly, the head disciple of Fengling Mountain is indeed a well-deserved title for him.”
Qingjing-jun looked at Xu Xingzhi down below, he responded, perfectly calm: “En. And you can’t say that he’s reckless, just that he has a youthful spirit.”
On the other side, Mingzhao–jun of Danyang Peak also commented: “This child’s demeanor reminds me of Qingjing-jun in the past.”
Qingjing-jun didn’t hesitate to praise further: “Better than me.”
While all the lords were speaking highly of Xu Xingzhi to Qingjing-jun, Guangfu-jun furrowed his brow, his concern couldn’t be hidden in his expression.
After sending Zhou Xian to the ground, Xu Xingzhi let go of her hand and smiled: “Xiao-Xian’er, you let me win.”
At first, Zhou Xian was surprised by the abundance of spiritual power in Xu Xingzhi’s body, but after mulling it over carefully, she found her answer.
Only through painstaking cultivation could such results be achieved in the righteous path of the immortal sects. Xu Xingzhi could only have relied on himself to progress from a common civilian from the city to where he was today.
The author has something to say:
Zhou Xian laughed lightly: “Xu-shixiong, it was my skill that was inferior.”
“It was I, who didn’t want to delay for too long.” Xu Xingzhi countered, “I have a hunch that my next round will be against Qu Chi. It’s not advantageous for me to have this battle drag out for too long. Xiao-Xian’er don’t blame me, en?”
Zhou Xian naturally thought that this was a teasing remark from Xu Xingzhi after he triumphed against her and didn’t take it to heart.
However when Xu Xingzhi rifled through the lottery cylinder only to draw a bamboo stick with the two words “Qu Chi” on it, not only Zhou Xian, but all the disciples who participated in the Heavenly Ranking competition were boiling over with excitement.
Author’s Chapter Summary:
Copying scriptures, strange dreams, lottery cylinder
The translator has something to say: methinks that there is a conspiracy about these match-ups. . . Or it’s just that our author-dada was too lazy to write about filler battles XD
The editor has something to say: It… didn’t register with me Meng Chongguang was sleeping naked this entire time???
Translator: transcendentwingsEditor: teaffCWIn the middle of the night when the banquet ended, Xu Xingzhi returned to the Eastern Hall and changed from his banquet attire that was enveloped in the aroma of wine back into casual robes. He procured a writing case containing writing media and brushes and brought it with him to the side hall, lit an oil lamp, and began to copy scriptures.However, since he drank too much that night and there was no charcoal brazier in the side hall, the chill quickly invaded his body. On top of this, transcription was the most grueling on the mind. In less than a quarter of an hour, the tipsy Xu Xingzhi felt as ifa thousandjunhung at the end of the brush in his hand. With the mixture of the cold and the hypnotic effect of alcohol, even if one pinched themself numerous times, it was still of no help.Soon after, he fell asleep at the table.After an unknown amount of time passed, there was a knock on the door to the side hall: Shixiong, it's me. May I enter?The intoxication from the alcohol was very persistent, coupled with the fact that Xu Xingzhi had two consecutive battles today, he slept very deeply and naturally would not respond to the knock.Since knocking on the door failed, Jiu Zhideng, who was standing outside, pursed his lips: Shixiong,excuse my presumptuousness.He brought a charcoal brazier with him when he entered and used the tip of his foot to hook the edge of the door to close it. He swept his gaze around a few times before locking in on the fast asleep Xu Xingzhi.Seeing this scene Jiu Zhideng didn't think much about it. He placed the charcoal basin down and flipped over the scripture that Xu Xingzhi had only copied the opening lines of to take a look, then he picked up the bamboo slips and slipped them into his lapel.There was a small cot dedicated for people to rest in the side hall. Jiu Zhideng knelt by the bed, folded his sleeves up to tidy it up, then retrieved a thick quilt before returning to the desk and respectfully informed the deeply asleep Xu Xingzhi: Shixiong,please excuse my offense.Immediately after, he used a hand to support the back of Xu Xingzhi's head, and the other was looped under Xu Xingzhi's knees as he picked him up in his arms.Xu Xingzhi slept until he shivered, then he was picked up by someone in their arms. Feeling the warmth, he instinctively snuggled closer into Jiu Zhideng's embrace and pressed his forehead into his arms.Even with layers of clothing separating them, Jiu Zhideng could still feel the bone-piercing chill emanating from Xu Xingzhi's skin. Recalling the reason whyShixiongbecame this way, he unconsciously made his voice as light as possible: Shixiong, are you cold?Xu Xingzhi shook his head: Not cold.Although he said so, the palms of his hands and the soles of his feet were still icy. Jiu Zhideng laid him out on the cot and just when he was about to tuck him in with the quilt, Xu Xingzhi turned his body over, making his loose robes roll up a little with his movements and reveal an expanse of white at the back of his waist.Clearly it was just an insignificant place, but catching a glimpse of it still made the tip of Jiu Zhideng's ears thoroughly red. He frantically shifted his eyes in a panic and tried to straighten out the other's clothing.However, as soon as his hand came in contact, it was held down by Xu Xingzhi instantly.Xu Xingzhi murmured vaguely: . . . Don't touch, my waist hurts.After accompanying Xu Xingzhi for so many years, Jiu Zhideng was aware that he had injured nearly every spot on his body. His waist was no exception.Today, he fought twice, overextended himself, then sat and drank for quite a while, so his waist probably couldn't bear it anymore.Then, as Jiu Zhideng stared at that sliver of white, his mind couldn't help but deviate from the right track.His Adam's apple undulated slightly with tension and the expression on his face gradually morphed from tranquility to one with a turbulent undercurrent.Moments later, he half-knelt and harshly gathered Xu Xingzhi into his arms, his emotions so stirred up that all of his organs felt like they were burning.That touch of seductive white made him forget his manners as he chanted: Shixiong,Shixiong. . .The sore spot on Xu Xingzhi's waist was tugged on, causing him to murmur in a low voice: Wu. . .The sound nearly drove Jiu Zhideng insane, making him tighten his arms more and more as if he jumped off a cliff with a long rope that was being wrenched back and forth between uncontrollable indulgence and a line of reason.Soon, he aimed and bit at those lips that were slightly parted and huffing out the aroma of wine in an ignorant manner.Xu Xingzhi hissed. He suffered some pain in his sleep, but was so weary that he couldn't open his eyes at all. He could only push the shoulders of the person before him subconsciously: . . . Chongguang, don't fuss.Shixiongis sleepy. . .Jiu Zhideng was abruptly startled awake. He broke free from his disturbed mind and intoxicated emotions, alighting from the cot in shame. He caressed his lips that were filled with the scent of wine in a dazed manner, then hurriedly pulled up the quilt for Xu Xingzhi, put out the light with a wave of his sleeve, and ran out of the side hall.As soon as he exited the hall and before he could settle his emotions, Jiu Zhideng heard a cold and sardonic inquiry from beside him: Jiu Zhideng-shixiong?Ale Itlvfcu kjr meggfcais lc jc lgglajyif rajaf, rb ktfc tf ktlqqfv tlr tfjv jgbecv revvfcis, la kjr Zfcu Jtbcuuejcu ktb kjr rajgaifv lcab ajxlcu j rafq yjmx.When he came back to his senses, Meng Chongguang mocked: Shixiong, what's the matterla? For your face to be so flushed, did you drink too much wine and become intoxicated?Ktf wbwfca tf tfjgv atf kbgv klcf, Ale Itlvfcu ofia jr lo tlr wbeat kjr bnfgoibklcu klat lar jgbwj jcv tlr tfjga yfja ilxf j vgew lc gfrqbcrf. Lf cb ibcufg mjgfv jybea ylmxfglcu klat Zfcu Jtbcuuejcu jcv pera rtba tlw j ogbras ibbx yfobgf aegclcu jgbecv jcv vfqjgalcu rkloais.Meng Chongguang immediately entered the hall the moment he left.Xu Xingzhi was sound asleep, completely unaware of Meng Chongguang's terrifyingly glacial eyes when he was turned over and his swollen lips came into view.. . . The smell of that person was everywhere. In the hall, in the room, onShixiong's body, even his lips were all stained by that person.Meng Chongguang leaned in close to Xu Xingzhi's ear and muttered, his hauntingly deep and horrifying gaze was completely different from those of the past, as if they were two entirely different people: . . . Why did you let others touch youne,Shixiong. I'm displeased, you need to be punished.Shortly after, the hall overflowed with the light scent of plants.When Xu Xingzhi smelled it for the first time, his brow was slightly knitted as if he sensed that the fragrance didn't carry kind intentions, but it was everywhere, thus Xu Xingzhi couldn't help breathed it in.Meng Chongguang wasn't in a hurry to climb onto the cot. After letting the light scent of verdure wrap Xu Xingzhi within, he grabbed a new set of bamboo slips and copied scriptures under the moonlight.After a little less than an hour.Xu Xingzhi felt as if he plunged into a lost sea and was floating in a hazy white space. He tossed and turned incessantly on the cot, panting constantly. His neck arched backwards and his breaths were full of hard to bear suffering and undecipherable pleasure.Meng Chongguang was quite proud of himself at first, mimicking Xu Xingzhi's handwriting while humming a little tune, but as time passed, he finally understood what it meant totrap oneself in one's own cocoon.. . . He became so fidgety that he couldn't sit still. It disturbed the flow of his writing, even his lips turned pale from holding back.Meng Chengguang forced himself to finish the transcription, then promptly threw himself at the cot, lifted an edge of the quilt and burrowed underneath.Xu Xingzhi didn't know what dream he had, but he was tossed around until he groaned constantly. His clothes were damp, but at least his body was warm, some places were even frighteningly scalding.Meng Chongguang drilled his head out of the quilt and looped his arm around Xu Xingzhi's waist while layers of vines climbed along the foot of the cot, connecting Meng Chongguang and Xu Xingzhi's ankles together. A few thin vines even slipped into Xu Xingzhi's loose trouser legs along the way.Not long after, Xu Xingzhi's panting suddenly increased: Don't. . .En~Meng Chongguang rested on Xu Xingzhi's shoulder, his eyes were slightly hooded, a smile hung at the corner of his lips and he murmured to himself contently: Shixiong, you're so naughty to seduce me like this.Xu Xingzhi was sweating profusely when he woke up the next day. He was so preoccupied with his thoughts that when he sat up, he almost rolled off the cot.. . . Last night really was a chain of strange dreams.At first, Xu Xingzhi dreamed that he was restrained to a chair, his eyes blindfolded, his legs lifted up and separated by an unknown soft object in such a way that he was unable to struggle. A soft monster with multiple limbs wound around him, teasing him until he was about to curse quite a few times, yet was still unable to extricate himself. Slowly he lost his strength and could only let it be.Xu Xingzhi only felt like he was a book and was rifled through from beginning to end, no matter where the person's fingertips went, it felt like they were flirting with him.The second dream was even more preposterous. He went to a pond to bathe, but halfway through, the whole clear pond transformed into the page turner and swallowed him whole. In the vivid, thorough darkness, his right foot cramped three separate times and pulsed with pain even now.Xu Xingzhi came back to his senses, noticing that there was a bulging lump buried next to him in the quilt. He stretched out his hand to lift the quilt and a pair of bare arms pulled it back up again, and even uttered an aggrieved hum as if to blame Xu Xingzhi for disturbing his peaceful rest.Xu Xingzhi finally knew who was inside and couldn't stop chuckling. He patted the furry head that remained hidden in the quilt, refusing to show his face then straightened out his clothes. Getting out of bed, he approached the desk only to find a fully replicated volume ofThe Miraculous Scripture of the Northern Emperor in Subduing Demons, Gods, and Curses as told by the Respected Founding Heavenly Masterresting on its surface. The ink had already dried and the handwriting was indistinguishable from Xu Xingzhi's own.Holding the bamboo slip, the corner of his lips just lifted into a smile when he heard a noise at the door.Xu Xingzhi raised his eyes and saw that it was Jiu Zhideng standing by the door of the hall.He seemed to have something to say, but before he could speak, Xu Xingzhi raised his finger to signal him to keep his voice down so as to not interrupt Meng Chongguang's slumber.He pulled on an outer robe, slipped into his shoes, and then shut the door after him as he exited before asking: Are you looking for me for something?The bamboo slips that Meng Chongguang wrote were still in his hand.Jiu Zhideng was dressed in an extra layer of clothing. With a stern face, his hands were cupped behind his back, while his eyes fixed on the bamboo slips, his voice sounded a little off: Shixiongfinished reproducing the scriptures last night?Xu Xingzhi waved his hand: How is this my work? I was so lethargic last night and fell asleep very early on. Instead, I must've tired out Chongguang as he had to help me into bed, taking care of me so attentively, and then even finishing copying the scriptures for me. He's fast asleep now, so let the two of us keep our voices down so we don't disturb him. . .Xiao-Deng, you came so early in the morning to look for me, is something the matter?Jiu Zhideng put his hands behind his back, the alienation and indifference between his brow the same as always: I have a match today against a Qingliang Valley disciple. I would like to entreatShixiongto give me some pointers on swordsmanship.Xu Xingzhi agreed easily and rubbed his head in passing: Sure. Wait for me at the training grounds for a while. I'll wash up. . .cough, come find you after a change of clothes.Jiu Zhideng nodded and watched Xu Xingzhi return to the side hall before he finally took out the incomplete bamboo slip that Xu Xingzhi had originally started on last night.Only now, the bamboo slips had been completed.Though, it seemed that there was no need to hand it over anymore.Jiu Zhideng slipped the bamboo slips back into his lapel, turned around, and left.Xu Xingzhi returned into the hall and just as he gingerly closed the door, he heard an abrupt question from behind: . . . Who wasShixiongconversing with?Xu Xingzhi was startled, but when he turned around and saw Meng Chongguang standing barefoot on the ground, staring straight at him, he frowned and picked up the child, who didn't know how to judge the severity of matters, and tossed him back onto the cot: Stepping on the floor without wearing socks, you're really bold. Whose fault would it be if you caught a cold and got sick? The responsibility will only fall on me to take care of you.Meng Chongguang was unrepentant: Who wasShixiongspeaking to?Xu Xingzhi: Xiao-Deng. He wanted me to guide his swordsmanship.Meng Chongguang hugged the quilt tightly and grumbled, quite unconvinced: I also wantShixiongto instruct me.You? Xu Xingzhi nearly burst into laughter, You really are in need of some teachings, otherwise, it'll be like last time when you were beaten down the stage in less than two moves. Such a sorry display.Shixiongis making fun of me!No, I'm not. Xu Xingzhi stroked Meng Chongguang's shaved hair, coaxing him, Shixiongfeels distressed for you.Meng Chongguang fecklessly blushed at his touch, hummed comfortably, and ceased making a ruckus.After placating the enraged kitten Chongguang, Xu Xingzhi proceeded to turn around and retrieve a change of clothes.. . . Especially a change of underwear.Unexpectedly, when he was about to leave, Meng Chongguang latched onto him from behind and made a bold and forceful request: I want a kiss!Xu Xingzhi snorted: What kind of bad habit is this? Let me ask how old are you now? You're about to become even taller than me. . .Meng Chongguang didn't say anything, just raised his head and looked at him pitifully, the little milk kitten-like gaze paired with the faint dark blue circles under his eyes instantly softened Xu Xingzhi's heart.After all, it was this little guy who served him personally last night and completed his task for him, so what's the harm in indulging him?Thinking like this, Xu Xingzhi gave him a peck on the forehead.Meng Chongguang was picky and acted spoiled: Not sweet enough!Xu Xingzhi flushed slightly and slapped him on the back of his head: Stop making a fuss! Put on your clothes properly! Always sleeping naked, not afraid of catching a chill.Meng Chongguang's eyelids fluttered deliberately: This way holdingShixiongwill be much warmerya, doesShixiongdislike it?. . . Xu Xingzhi fled in defeat.If he hears any words or phrases related to hug right now, he'll feel weak in the legs. What's more, Meng Chongguang's expression when he said this, half-joking and half-serious, actually made Xu Xingzhi feel itchy in his heart.However, the Heavenly Ranking competition, an event of the utmost importance, was placed right before him, even if Xu Xingzhi felt antsy in his heart, once he stepped into the arena, his mind would simmer down.In this round, his opponent was Zhou Xian. The two of them were already old opponents. When they met in the arena, there wasn't much tension undulating in the air between them, instead it was rather relaxed as if they were at an afternoon tea session.Zhou Xian greeted him: Xu-shixiong, you seem pretty refreshed today.Xu Xingzhi also noticed this in the mirror when he was washing up today. Recalling the strange dream he had last night with the entangled, lingering feelings of an unwillingness to part, he felt that it was very mystical.Could it be the legendaryharvesting yin to nourish yang?. . . But why was it that Xu Xingzhi felt that he was the one who had been harvested.Zhou Xian drew her short spear from her waist and retrieved the long spear from behind, spun both in a circle before gripping them at the ready in her hands: In the match against me today, is Xu-shixiongstill only going to use a mere folded fan?Xu Xingzhi reigned in his thoughts: Guess?Zhou Xian grinned: To be honest with Xu-shixiong, I secretly participated in the gambles yesterday and laid down some spirit stones I had personally saved up. I bet that you would still fight with only the folded fan.Xu Xingzhi stroked the fan and sighed deeply: How could I be willing to letXiao-Xian'erlose?After stating that, he leaned over, holding the fan in one hand, and bowed towards Zhou Xian: . . . Pleaseba.Zhou Xian's spear skills were superb. The spear shot forth like a dragon, the momentum was dense, like the winds with lightning, yet she still had the delicate and meticulous mind of a woman, making her transitions between attacking and defending invulnerable.Many people would rather draw Qu Chi than Zhou Xian. The reasoning was this: fighting with Zhou Xian required a lot of patience, physical strength, and endurance, otherwise they would only end up completely collapsing under her drawn out assault.But Xu Xingzhi only needed less than ten moves to achieve victory.He didn't compete with Zhou Xian head-on at all. After neutralizing Zhou Xian's first wave of attacks with minimalistic effort, he then turned to a corner of the ring, swept his sleeves outwards and all the spiritual power he possessed swelled up!Zhou Xian was proficient in spear arts, and her level of spiritual energy wasn't low, but she was still unable to resist such a surging sea of spiritual power which forced her to stumble back a dozen steps, pushing her directly off the stage!When she was about to fall onto the ground, an eight trigrams jadeite array rushed over from afar, supporting Zhou Xian from the waist, while Xu Xingzhi leapt off the platform personally, grasped Zhou Xian's cuff, and sent her to the ground smoothly, her two feet floating steadily to the ground.One of the rules of the Heavenly Ranking competition was that whoever touched the ground beyond the arena first would lose, thus Zhou Xian lost without any suspense.A few lords spectating from a high place were also taken aback when they sensed the strength of this wave of spiritual power.Fuyao-junof Qingliang Valley applauded: Although Xu Xingzhi acted recklessly, the head disciple of Fengling Mountain is indeed a well-deserved title for him.Qingjing-junlooked at Xu Xingzhi down below, he responded, perfectly calm: En. And you can't say that he's reckless, just that he has a youthful spirit.On the other side,Mingzhaojunof Danyang Peak also commented: This child's demeanor reminds me of Qingjing-junin the past.Qingjing-jundidn't hesitate to praise further: Better than me.While all the lords were speaking highly of Xu Xingzhi to Qingjing-jun, Guangfu-junfurrowed his brow, his concern couldn't be hidden in his expression.After sending Zhou Xian to the ground, Xu Xingzhi let go of her hand and smiled: Xiao-Xian'er, you let me win.At first, Zhou Xian was surprised by the abundance of spiritual power in Xu Xingzhi's body, but after mulling it over carefully, she found her answer.Only through painstaking cultivation could such results be achieved in the righteous path of the immortal sects. Xu Xingzhi could only have relied on himself to progress from a common civilian from the city to where he was today.The author has something to say:Zhou Xian laughed lightly: Xu-shixiong, it was my skill that was inferior.It was I, who didn't want to delay for too long. Xu Xingzhi countered, I have a hunch that my next round will be against Qu Chi. It's not advantageous for me to have this battle drag out for too long.Xiao-Xian'erdon't blame me,en?Zhou Xian naturally thought that this was a teasing remark from Xu Xingzhi after he triumphed against her and didn't take it to heart.However when Xu Xingzhi rifled through the lottery cylinder only to draw a bamboo stick with the two words Qu Chi on it, not only Zhou Xian, but all the disciples who participated in the Heavenly Ranking competition were boiling over with excitement.Author's Chapter Summary:Copying scriptures, strange dreams, lottery cylinderThe translator has something to say: methinks that there is a conspiracy about these match-ups. . . Or it's just that our author-dadawas too lazy to write about filler battles XDThe editor has something to say: It didn't register with me Meng Chongguang was sleeping naked this entire time???
