Chapter 8
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Translator: transcendentwings
Editor: teaff
After the lecture, the young man, surnamed Xu, kicked the taller one’s ass: “Apologize, then get lost. You guys are disqualified this year; come back during the Eastern Emperor’s sacrificial ceremony the year after next.”
The two tall and short were drenched in sweat, their faces pale like pieces of joss paper, and their clothes damp as they knelt on the ground in a bowed position: “Thank you Xu-shixiong, thank you Xu-shixiong. . . We’re begging you not to inform Zhou-shixiong, or else we’ll definitely be expelled from Yingtianchuan. . .”
The corner of Xu-shixiong’s lips curled upwards as he waved his fan and said: “Kicked out of Yingtianchuan? If Zhou Beinan knew that you were caught red-handed by me, it would be strange if he didn’t beat your brains out.”
The tall and short pair trembled in fear: “. . .”
After he teased them to his satisfaction, Xu Xingzhi no longer made things difficult for them and had them apologize to the boy.
Without Xu Xingzhi’s permission, they hung their heads and didn’t dare get up at all. The little boy, on the other hand, just focused all of his attention to stare at Xu Xingzhi, his eyes full of curiosity.
Xu Xingzhi asked the boy: “How about it, are you willing to forgive them?”
The little boy didn’t even spare the pair a glance and nodded obediently at Xu Xingzhi: “En!”
Xu Xingzhi leaned over and picked them up, one in each hand, and then shoved them forward: “Go, go and get lost, don’t disgrace the disciples of the four sects ah.”
After they received Xu Xingzhi’s command, the two immediately mounted their spiritual weapons and fled in a panic, faster than a rabbit.
Xu Xingzhi picked up his foot to leave, but was held back by a small hand that grasped the back of his clothes.
The little boy stood on tiptoe and tried to pass the Fuyu fruit into his hand.
“I have no use for this.”
“The Eastern Emperor’s sacrificial ceremony. You don’t want it?” The boy blinked and tried his best to bargain, “. . . They both wanted it just before. A gift for you.”
Xu Xingzhi smiled widely and used the fan to press the boy’s small hand down: “They are participants in the competition, I’m not. I’m an overseer of the Eastern Emperor’s sacrificial ceremony.”
The boy didn’t understand and could only hold on tightly to the lower hem of Xu Xingzhi’s robes as if he was prompting him to explain.
Either way, Xu Xingzhi had nothing to do. He lowered his head to check the broken jade bead necklace to make sure there were no abnormalities. Only after doing so did he walk to the mossy rock that the boy had just sat on, jumped on top of it, then patted the spot beside him, motioning for the boy to join him.
The little boy also waded across the stream, then sat down closely next to Xu Xingzhi.
Xu Xingzhi commented: “You sure aren’t afraid of strangers.”
The little boy daringly stretched out a hand to examine the jade bead chain around Xu Xingzhi’s neck, but his wrist was caught by Xu Xingzhi.
A burst of spiritual energy quietly infiltrated the boy’s body through the meridian by his wrist, but the boy didn’t react and allowed Xu Xingzhi‘s spiritual power to wander around his odd spiritual meridians and his eight spiritual veins with no resistance.
Xu Xingzhi sighed with astonishment: “A child with spiritual roots.”
The boy stared at him with a pair of ignorant eyes: “What’s a spiritual root?”
Xu Xingzhi explained: “For anyone who wishes to be successful on their path to ascendance, they must have roots, understanding, and diligence. They can’t make do with any of the three missing. Your spiritual roots aren’t bad, little guy, where are your parents?”
The little boy lowered his head and looked at the tip of his toes: “I don’t have any.”
Xu Xingzhi was taken aback and immediately reassured him: “It’s okay, neither do I.”
The little boy buried his head lower: “I’ve never seen my parents since I was born.”
“. . . Almost the same.” Xu Xingzhi answered easily, “My mother passed away early, and I only have an older twin brother. If it wasn’t for the fact that my master Qingjing-jun accepted me as his disciple, I’m afraid I would still be fighting over territory with a group of punks on the streets.”
Having said that, Xu Xingzhi opened his fan as usual and prepared to fan himself, but unexpectedly, the boy actually grabbed his palm and sorrowfully squeezed it.
In order to conciliate Xu Xingzhi, the boy offered up a Fuyu fruit again: “Fruit, for you to eat.”
Xu Xingzhi laughed and once again declined the fruit: “The first year I came to Lingqiu Mountain, I stole two pieces and secretly ate one of them. It was juicy and fresh, but it was also full of pulp that got stuck between the teeth. It’s not tasty.”
Ktf ybs cbvvfv lc jugffwfca jcv qea atf ogela We Wlcuhtl pevufv ab yf “cba ajras” jkjs, atfc jrxfv tlr cfza defralbc: “Tbe pera wfcalbcfv, ‘bnfgrffg’, ktja lr atja?”
We Wlcuhtl jcrkfgfv qjalfcais: “Ktf obeg rfmar qegrelcu mfifralji meialnjalbc bgujclhf j ugjcv rjmglolmlji mfgfwbcs obg atf Sjrafgc Swqfgbg fnfgs akb sfjgr. Yglulcjiis, atf vlrmlqifr bo fjmt rfma mbwqfafv obg boofglcur gfujgvifrr bo lccfg rfma bg beafg rfma rajaer. Qtbfnfg byajlcfv atf ugfjafra dejcalas bo boofglcur, atf wbgf qgfmlber atf yfaafg, kbeiv yfmbwf atf wjlc boolmljabg bo atf Sjrafgc Swqfgbg’r rjmglolmlji mfgfwbcs. P kjr atf boolmljabg obg rlz mbcrfmealnf sfjgr; la kjr abb alglcu. Ktfgfobgf, joafg rbwf vlrmerrlbc, la kjr vfmlvfv atja atf tfjv vlrmlqif bo fjmt bo atf obeg rfmar kfgfc’a jiibkfv ab qjgalmlqjaf lc atf mbwqfalalbc, yea klii rfgnf qbra jr atf bnfgrffg lcrafjv. Sjmt reqfgnlrfr j ofk vloofgfca jgfjr ab qgfnfca jcs qgbyifwr atja wjs bmmeg veglcu atf mbwqfalalbc.”
After saying so, he lifted the jade bead necklace around his neck up and pointed out a few shining points for the boy to see: “Look, I’m in charge of the five mountains of Yu, Lingqiu, Zhange, Gaotu, and Taihua. The offerings in these locations are all very rare and often guarded by monsters; if there are any disciples who use their spiritual power in these five places and are unable to emerge victorious after an arduous battle, I would have to head over to provide assistance.”
Speaking of this, Xu Xingzhi couldn’t help but remember the time he came in advance and conducted a survey in this area about half a month ago for the sacrificial ceremony.
He searched the entire mountain, but found no trace of “Yong’s” tracks at all and the Fuyu fruit was also no longer guarded by any beasts.
These precious spiritual fruits actually seemed like a pile of wild watermelons growing in the wilderness of the mountain quietly waiting to rot. It was very strange.
Xu Xingzhi explained: “I originally thought that the disciples who approached Lingqiu Mountain to look for the Fuyu Fruit would get a big bargain and wouldn’t need to use spiritual power at all. I didn’t expect that they would use force to deal with an ordinary person like you.”
The boy cooperatively displayed an expression of terror. Seeing this, Xu Xingzhi couldn’t help but soften in response and touch his hair. Feeling the soft and fluffy head of hair against his hand, he decided to liberally run his hand through it a few more times.
The little boy has never had his hair petted like this before. First he shrunk his shoulders back reflexively and then his expression surprisingly relaxed to the extent that he couldn’t help but reveal an indescribable expression, squinting his eyes in comfort.
Seeing such an expression and such a scene, Xu Xingzhi clicked his tongue in surprise.
If the boy was a small household cat, then he would probably be looking intoxicated, purring and humming in pleasure at this moment.
Maybe he was stroked too comfortably because the boy proceeded to simply and lazily sprawl down on Xu Xingzhi’s lap, treated his knees as a pillow, and then asked with a naive expression: “. . . What’s ‘Yong’ ah?”
Xu Xingzhi was shocked at his overly familiar attitude and used his fan to poke at his tender cheek.
One poke, one dent; the sensation was great.
Xu Xingzhi recalled the ferocious appearance of the monster with a blue face, sharp fangs, and a terrifying expression that would spread across as it chased whoever touched its Fuyu fruit to the ends of this earth. He didn’t want to describe it in detail: “Anyway, it’s not anything good.”
The little boy continued to question obediently: “Then where did it go ya.”
Xu Xingzhi couldn’t figure out this question either, so he speculated to himself: “. . . Maybe it moved?” He glanced at the fruit strung up around the boy’s ankle, “You picked this fruit from the mountain too, right?”
The little boy lowered his head and rubbed his fingers: “. . . En ne.”
Xu Xingzhi asked: “Monsters dwell on this mountain, are you afraid?”
The little boy’s eyes were slightly curved as he smiled sweetly: “I arrived here half a month ago. The people at the foot of the mountain all say that there’s a monster on the mountain and tasty fruits. I’ve never seen a monster before, so I just wanted to climb the mountain to take a look ya.”
Xu Xingzhi thought, this kid with no mother to watch over him is pretty wild.
Pretty good, we’re of the same breed.
After a while, he wiggled around on Xu Xingzhi’s lap then flipped himself over: “Xu-shixiong, what’s your name?”
Xu Xingzhi replied easily: “‘Why not stroll along, whistle and sing under rain’, Xu Xingzhi. And you?”
The boy straightened his spine and puffed his chest out rather proudly: “Guangguang.”
Xu Xingzhi couldn’t help but laugh: “Hahahahaha.”
The little boy was surprised: “Does my name not sound good?”
He explained to Xu Xingzhi that he used to live on a neighboring mountain that was a hundred miles away and was picked up by a hunter. When the hunter raised him to four years old, he accidentally fell to death while on a hunt.
The hunter’s family was poor and couldn’t afford clothes so he was only given beast hides to wear. After the hunter passed away, his source of food and clothing was lost. Then, when he made his way down the mountain to search for food, he lost that beast hide.
Following that, he finally descended the mountain unclothed and was ridiculed by a gang of kids that surrounded him and also threw stones at him. They even gave him a nickname.
The little boy mumbled, aggrieved: “At that time they all called me Guangguang. I thought the name sounded pretty nice ya.”
Xu Xingzhi laughed uproariously to the extent that he slapped his thigh: “HAHAHAHAHA.”
After chatting for a long time, Xu Xingzhi took a look at the color of the sky and prodded the kid’s head: “Come on, get up. Er-Guang, I need to go.”
Lacking time to correct Xu Xingzhi’s form of address for himself, the little boy quickly got up and begged: “Xu-shixiong, please stay ba.”
Xu Xingzhi felt that it was somewhat funny. He petted his hair and responded: “Why would I stay here?”
The little boy’s expression was pure: “Stay here to accompany me ya. You’re so interesting, I want to stay with you forever.”
Xu Xingzhi pinched his nose and smiled: “. . . I’m afraid that won’t do.”
The boy’s expression changed slightly.
He lightly pressed his index finger and thumb together and dozens of vines spiraled out from the shadow cast by the mossy rock then climbed up the rock like a poisonous snake slithering up.
Xu Xingzhi didn’t seem to have noticed what he did. He hopped down from the mossy rock, patted the dust off his butt and took a step forward to leave.
At this moment of great, imminent peril, the boy suddenly came to a realization. He loosened his tightly pinched pair of fingers and the vines immediately retreated back into the ground, disappearing without a trace.
He crouched down and untied the vine on his foot then hurriedly took a few steps forward, grabbing Xu Xingzhi’s wide sleeve: “Xu-shixiong! Can I enter your sect if I bring this?”
He graciously handed over the precious fruit like he was giving away radish and swung it back and forth in front of Xu Xingzhi.
Xu Xingzhi furrowed his brow.
. . . This kid has no family and possesses an extraordinary spiritual root; he was like a piece of raw jade, an undeniable talent fit for cultivation and alchemy.
It was such a waste to just leave him to wander alone in this mountain village, truly pitiful and lamentable.
Xu Xingzhi accepted the bundle of Fuyu fruit, and after pondering deeply, said: “. . . It’s not impossible. However, our generation isn’t allowed to accept disciples. . . . Why don’t I take you back first. Your spiritual root isn’t bad and you are also bringing this string of fruit back. Shishu and Shibo will all like you. If at that time you are willing to become a disciple under any specific person on Fengling Mountain, you can just let me know.”
The little boy shook his head resolutely, his eyes were bright and moved like that of a young fawn: “. . . I only want to be shixiong–di with you. I don’t want anyone else.”
Xu Xingzhi was amused: “You sure can pick. My master Qingjing-jun is the Sect Leader of Fengling Mountain.”
After he said this, he grabbed the little boy’s hand and pulled him up into his embrace. His fingers twisted the largest jade bead around his neck then he circulated his spiritual power.
A ring of jade green light blossomed at his fingertips. Xu Xingzhi extended his arm and tossed the ring of light that was as small as a fingernail in mid-air.
The ring of light expanded with the wind like a whale spouting water and instantly became the size of a door.
Xu Xingzhi hugged the little boy and gently ordered: “Close your eyes.”
The little boy leaned into Xu Xingzhi’s embrace, tightly grabbed the lapel on his chest, then buried his head into it with his forehead lightly pressed against Xu Xingzhi’s collarbone: “En.”
Xu Xingzhi leapt into the jade green light gate and disappeared from the desolate woods of the mountains.
The scene changed in the next second and Xu Xingzhi landed gracefully not long after.
The surrounding area was no longer like the deep valley and misty forest, sparse and faintly smoky. In the midst of the high towers with an elegant view and the pavilion on the lotus pond, disciples donning the different uniforms of the various sects came and went. When they saw Xu Xingzhi, they couldn’t help but come to a stop and call out respectfully: “Greetings Xu-shixiong.”
Xu Xingzhi acknowledged their respectful greetings as he held a folded fan in one hand and carried the little boy in the other and whispered into his ear: “Er-Guang, now that we’re here, don’t tell anyone that you’re called Guangguang or explain to others where your name ‘Guangguang’ came from, do you understand?”
The child in his arms nodded obediently: “Okay. Then Xu-shixiong, what should my name be?”
Xu Xingzhi used the tip of his fan to tap the base of his ear, similarly stumped.
Soon after, Xu Xingzhi stopped in front of someone.
Qu Chi was dressed just like all of the other Danyang disciples, a wide red robe with large sleeves paired with a plain white belt sash. A jade-handled whisk with plain white silk strands flowing down laid quietly in the crook of his arm.
He greeted Xu Xingzhi warmly: “You came back from Lingqiu Mountain? How’s the situation over there?”
Xu Xingzhi was not in a hurry to answer. He peered around and asked: “Where’s Fatty Zhou?”
Qu Chi replied: “Beinan went to Qingqiu, Xuechen went to Yaoguang Mountain, and I just returned from Zhaoyao Mountain.”
Xu Xingzhi was taken by surprise: “This year sure is busy ah. Even Xuechen is out. . . . There wasn’t anything serious on my side. I only bumped into two foolish disciples of Yingtianchuan so it was resolved after I taught them a little lesson.”
Qu Chi caught sight of Chongguang who was lying in Xu Xingzhi’s arms: “This child is. . .”
Xu Xingzhi very naturally replied: “A child I picked up, his roots are pretty good.” He turned around and showed the child’s face to Qu Chi: “Look, he’s very pretty.”
After being praised by Xu Xingzhi, the child hugged his arm tightly and nuzzled into his embrace, pleased.
Qu Chi smiled lightly: “You do seem to love raising children.”
Xu Xingzhi blinked and proudly proclaimed: “Are you jealous? Don’t know how to raise them, do you? Can’t afford to raise them right?”
Qu Chi smiled helplessly: “. . . What’s his name?”
Xu Xingzhi: “. . . Um— Chongguang.”
Qu Chi didn’t know if he should cry or laugh: “. . . Why does it sound like you just came up with it on the spot.”
Xu Xingzhi spouted nonsense in a serious manner: “How could I. If you don’t believe me, ask him.”
Chongguang accepted this perfunctory decision very quickly: “It is.”
Xu Xingzhi chuckled mischievously.
Chongguang this name didn’t sound too bad, as for what his surname should be. . . He’ll browse through the “Hundred Families Surname” and then make the decision.
Qu Chi asked: “You’re just going to take care of him like this?”
Xu Xingzhi hugged Chongguang and replied as he walked, “In the future, I’m afraid I’ll have to continue to take care of him, but right now I can’t. There’s too much work. If something goes wrong on one of the mountains, I still have to rush over.”
Before Chongguang digested what his words meant, Xu Xingzhi already called out to a group of Fengling disciples who were wearing the same colored robes: “. . . Jiu Zhideng, Xiao-Deng!”
A boy who was around Meng Chongguang’s age heard him and turned around.
The boy looked delicate and had fine features, yet carried an innate cold temperament as if all worldly affairs had naught to do with him.
However, after he saw Xu Xingzhi, a sense of humanity abruptly appeared in his eyes out of thin air and his sharp edges softened into three thousand weak waters: “Shixiong, you’re back?”
. . . He basically didn’t register Chongguang’s presence in his mind at all with this one glance until he noticed that Xu Xingzhi was carrying Chongguang in a single-armed hold, making his gaze ice over instantly.
Chongguang tilted his head to the side.
Xu Xingzhi put Meng Chongguang down, then pushed him in Jiu Zhideng’s direction, “Xiao-Deng, this is Chongguang. Take care of him first and give him some food and clothing.”
Jiu Zhideng furrowed his brow, and answered reluctantly: “Yes, Shixiong.”
Chongguang on the other hand didn’t display any special emotions for Jiu Zhideng. He turned back around then tilted his head to look at Xu Xingzhi and asked: “Xu-shixiong, I’ll be very good. When will you come pick me up ah.”
Xu Xingzhi leaned down and rubbed his extremely soft hair: “These three days are the Eastern Emperor Sacrificial Ceremony’s competition so I’ll be rather busy, but I’ll drop by tonight at Xiao-Deng’s place to come see you.”
Chongguang stood up on his tiptoes and before Xu Xingzhi could react, gave him a kiss on the cheek.
He clasped his little hands behind his back, his face exuding wave after wave of the sweet aroma of candy: “. . . Xu-shixiong, I’ll be waiting for you ya.”
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
Translator: transcendentwings
Editor: teaff
After the lecture, the young man, surnamed Xu, kicked the taller one’s ass: “Apologize, then get lost. You guys are disqualified this year; come back during the Eastern Emperor’s sacrificial ceremony the year after next.”
The two tall and short were drenched in sweat, their faces pale like pieces of joss paper, and their clothes damp as they knelt on the ground in a bowed position: “Thank you Xu-shixiong, thank you Xu-shixiong. . . We’re begging you not to inform Zhou-shixiong, or else we’ll definitely be expelled from Yingtianchuan. . .”
The corner of Xu-shixiong’s lips curled upwards as he waved his fan and said: “Kicked out of Yingtianchuan? If Zhou Beinan knew that you were caught red-handed by me, it would be strange if he didn’t beat your brains out.”
The tall and short pair trembled in fear: “. . .”
After he teased them to his satisfaction, Xu Xingzhi no longer made things difficult for them and had them apologize to the boy.
Without Xu Xingzhi’s permission, they hung their heads and didn’t dare get up at all. The little boy, on the other hand, just focused all of his attention to stare at Xu Xingzhi, his eyes full of curiosity.
Xu Xingzhi asked the boy: “How about it, are you willing to forgive them?”
The little boy didn’t even spare the pair a glance and nodded obediently at Xu Xingzhi: “En!”
Xu Xingzhi leaned over and picked them up, one in each hand, and then shoved them forward: “Go, go and get lost, don’t disgrace the disciples of the four sects ah.”
After they received Xu Xingzhi’s command, the two immediately mounted their spiritual weapons and fled in a panic, faster than a rabbit.
Xu Xingzhi picked up his foot to leave, but was held back by a small hand that grasped the back of his clothes.
The little boy stood on tiptoe and tried to pass the Fuyu fruit into his hand.
“I have no use for this.”
“The Eastern Emperor’s sacrificial ceremony. You don’t want it?” The boy blinked and tried his best to bargain, “. . . They both wanted it just before. A gift for you.”
Xu Xingzhi smiled widely and used the fan to press the boy’s small hand down: “They are participants in the competition, I’m not. I’m an overseer of the Eastern Emperor’s sacrificial ceremony.”
The boy didn’t understand and could only hold on tightly to the lower hem of Xu Xingzhi’s robes as if he was prompting him to explain.
Either way, Xu Xingzhi had nothing to do. He lowered his head to check the broken jade bead necklace to make sure there were no abnormalities. Only after doing so did he walk to the mossy rock that the boy had just sat on, jumped on top of it, then patted the spot beside him, motioning for the boy to join him.
The little boy also waded across the stream, then sat down closely next to Xu Xingzhi.
Xu Xingzhi commented: “You sure aren’t afraid of strangers.”
The little boy daringly stretched out a hand to examine the jade bead chain around Xu Xingzhi’s neck, but his wrist was caught by Xu Xingzhi.
A burst of spiritual energy quietly infiltrated the boy’s body through the meridian by his wrist, but the boy didn’t react and allowed Xu Xingzhi‘s spiritual power to wander around his odd spiritual meridians and his eight spiritual veins with no resistance.
Xu Xingzhi sighed with astonishment: “A child with spiritual roots.”
The boy stared at him with a pair of ignorant eyes: “What’s a spiritual root?”
Xu Xingzhi explained: “For anyone who wishes to be successful on their path to ascendance, they must have roots, understanding, and diligence. They can’t make do with any of the three missing. Your spiritual roots aren’t bad, little guy, where are your parents?”
The little boy lowered his head and looked at the tip of his toes: “I don’t have any.”
Xu Xingzhi was taken aback and immediately reassured him: “It’s okay, neither do I.”
The little boy buried his head lower: “I’ve never seen my parents since I was born.”
“. . . Almost the same.” Xu Xingzhi answered easily, “My mother passed away early, and I only have an older twin brother. If it wasn’t for the fact that my master Qingjing-jun accepted me as his disciple, I’m afraid I would still be fighting over territory with a group of punks on the streets.”
Having said that, Xu Xingzhi opened his fan as usual and prepared to fan himself, but unexpectedly, the boy actually grabbed his palm and sorrowfully squeezed it.
In order to conciliate Xu Xingzhi, the boy offered up a Fuyu fruit again: “Fruit, for you to eat.”
Xu Xingzhi laughed and once again declined the fruit: “The first year I came to Lingqiu Mountain, I stole two pieces and secretly ate one of them. It was juicy and fresh, but it was also full of pulp that got stuck between the teeth. It’s not tasty.”
Ktf ybs cbvvfv lc jugffwfca jcv qea atf ogela We Wlcuhtl pevufv ab yf “cba ajras” jkjs, atfc jrxfv tlr cfza defralbc: “Tbe pera wfcalbcfv, ‘bnfgrffg’, ktja lr atja?”
We Wlcuhtl jcrkfgfv qjalfcais: “Ktf obeg rfmar qegrelcu mfifralji meialnjalbc bgujclhf j ugjcv rjmglolmlji mfgfwbcs obg atf Sjrafgc Swqfgbg fnfgs akb sfjgr. Yglulcjiis, atf vlrmlqifr bo fjmt rfma mbwqfafv obg boofglcur gfujgvifrr bo lccfg rfma bg beafg rfma rajaer. Qtbfnfg byajlcfv atf ugfjafra dejcalas bo boofglcur, atf wbgf qgfmlber atf yfaafg, kbeiv yfmbwf atf wjlc boolmljabg bo atf Sjrafgc Swqfgbg’r rjmglolmlji mfgfwbcs. P kjr atf boolmljabg obg rlz mbcrfmealnf sfjgr; la kjr abb alglcu. Ktfgfobgf, joafg rbwf vlrmerrlbc, la kjr vfmlvfv atja atf tfjv vlrmlqif bo fjmt bo atf obeg rfmar kfgfc’a jiibkfv ab qjgalmlqjaf lc atf mbwqfalalbc, yea klii rfgnf qbra jr atf bnfgrffg lcrafjv. Sjmt reqfgnlrfr j ofk vloofgfca jgfjr ab qgfnfca jcs qgbyifwr atja wjs bmmeg veglcu atf mbwqfalalbc.”
After saying so, he lifted the jade bead necklace around his neck up and pointed out a few shining points for the boy to see: “Look, I’m in charge of the five mountains of Yu, Lingqiu, Zhange, Gaotu, and Taihua. The offerings in these locations are all very rare and often guarded by monsters; if there are any disciples who use their spiritual power in these five places and are unable to emerge victorious after an arduous battle, I would have to head over to provide assistance.”
Speaking of this, Xu Xingzhi couldn’t help but remember the time he came in advance and conducted a survey in this area about half a month ago for the sacrificial ceremony.
He searched the entire mountain, but found no trace of “Yong’s” tracks at all and the Fuyu fruit was also no longer guarded by any beasts.
These precious spiritual fruits actually seemed like a pile of wild watermelons growing in the wilderness of the mountain quietly waiting to rot. It was very strange.
Xu Xingzhi explained: “I originally thought that the disciples who approached Lingqiu Mountain to look for the Fuyu Fruit would get a big bargain and wouldn’t need to use spiritual power at all. I didn’t expect that they would use force to deal with an ordinary person like you.”
The boy cooperatively displayed an expression of terror. Seeing this, Xu Xingzhi couldn’t help but soften in response and touch his hair. Feeling the soft and fluffy head of hair against his hand, he decided to liberally run his hand through it a few more times.
The little boy has never had his hair petted like this before. First he shrunk his shoulders back reflexively and then his expression surprisingly relaxed to the extent that he couldn’t help but reveal an indescribable expression, squinting his eyes in comfort.
Seeing such an expression and such a scene, Xu Xingzhi clicked his tongue in surprise.
If the boy was a small household cat, then he would probably be looking intoxicated, purring and humming in pleasure at this moment.
Maybe he was stroked too comfortably because the boy proceeded to simply and lazily sprawl down on Xu Xingzhi’s lap, treated his knees as a pillow, and then asked with a naive expression: “. . . What’s ‘Yong’ ah?”
Xu Xingzhi was shocked at his overly familiar attitude and used his fan to poke at his tender cheek.
One poke, one dent; the sensation was great.
Xu Xingzhi recalled the ferocious appearance of the monster with a blue face, sharp fangs, and a terrifying expression that would spread across as it chased whoever touched its Fuyu fruit to the ends of this earth. He didn’t want to describe it in detail: “Anyway, it’s not anything good.”
The little boy continued to question obediently: “Then where did it go ya.”
Xu Xingzhi couldn’t figure out this question either, so he speculated to himself: “. . . Maybe it moved?” He glanced at the fruit strung up around the boy’s ankle, “You picked this fruit from the mountain too, right?”
The little boy lowered his head and rubbed his fingers: “. . . En ne.”
Xu Xingzhi asked: “Monsters dwell on this mountain, are you afraid?”
The little boy’s eyes were slightly curved as he smiled sweetly: “I arrived here half a month ago. The people at the foot of the mountain all say that there’s a monster on the mountain and tasty fruits. I’ve never seen a monster before, so I just wanted to climb the mountain to take a look ya.”
Xu Xingzhi thought, this kid with no mother to watch over him is pretty wild.
Pretty good, we’re of the same breed.
After a while, he wiggled around on Xu Xingzhi’s lap then flipped himself over: “Xu-shixiong, what’s your name?”
Xu Xingzhi replied easily: “‘Why not stroll along, whistle and sing under rain’, Xu Xingzhi. And you?”
The boy straightened his spine and puffed his chest out rather proudly: “Guangguang.”
Xu Xingzhi couldn’t help but laugh: “Hahahahaha.”
The little boy was surprised: “Does my name not sound good?”
He explained to Xu Xingzhi that he used to live on a neighboring mountain that was a hundred miles away and was picked up by a hunter. When the hunter raised him to four years old, he accidentally fell to death while on a hunt.
The hunter’s family was poor and couldn’t afford clothes so he was only given beast hides to wear. After the hunter passed away, his source of food and clothing was lost. Then, when he made his way down the mountain to search for food, he lost that beast hide.
Following that, he finally descended the mountain unclothed and was ridiculed by a gang of kids that surrounded him and also threw stones at him. They even gave him a nickname.
The little boy mumbled, aggrieved: “At that time they all called me Guangguang. I thought the name sounded pretty nice ya.”
Xu Xingzhi laughed uproariously to the extent that he slapped his thigh: “HAHAHAHAHA.”
After chatting for a long time, Xu Xingzhi took a look at the color of the sky and prodded the kid’s head: “Come on, get up. Er-Guang, I need to go.”
Lacking time to correct Xu Xingzhi’s form of address for himself, the little boy quickly got up and begged: “Xu-shixiong, please stay ba.”
Xu Xingzhi felt that it was somewhat funny. He petted his hair and responded: “Why would I stay here?”
The little boy’s expression was pure: “Stay here to accompany me ya. You’re so interesting, I want to stay with you forever.”
Xu Xingzhi pinched his nose and smiled: “. . . I’m afraid that won’t do.”
The boy’s expression changed slightly.
He lightly pressed his index finger and thumb together and dozens of vines spiraled out from the shadow cast by the mossy rock then climbed up the rock like a poisonous snake slithering up.
Xu Xingzhi didn’t seem to have noticed what he did. He hopped down from the mossy rock, patted the dust off his butt and took a step forward to leave.
At this moment of great, imminent peril, the boy suddenly came to a realization. He loosened his tightly pinched pair of fingers and the vines immediately retreated back into the ground, disappearing without a trace.
He crouched down and untied the vine on his foot then hurriedly took a few steps forward, grabbing Xu Xingzhi’s wide sleeve: “Xu-shixiong! Can I enter your sect if I bring this?”
He graciously handed over the precious fruit like he was giving away radish and swung it back and forth in front of Xu Xingzhi.
Xu Xingzhi furrowed his brow.
. . . This kid has no family and possesses an extraordinary spiritual root; he was like a piece of raw jade, an undeniable talent fit for cultivation and alchemy.
It was such a waste to just leave him to wander alone in this mountain village, truly pitiful and lamentable.
Xu Xingzhi accepted the bundle of Fuyu fruit, and after pondering deeply, said: “. . . It’s not impossible. However, our generation isn’t allowed to accept disciples. . . . Why don’t I take you back first. Your spiritual root isn’t bad and you are also bringing this string of fruit back. Shishu and Shibo will all like you. If at that time you are willing to become a disciple under any specific person on Fengling Mountain, you can just let me know.”
The little boy shook his head resolutely, his eyes were bright and moved like that of a young fawn: “. . . I only want to be shixiong–di with you. I don’t want anyone else.”
Xu Xingzhi was amused: “You sure can pick. My master Qingjing-jun is the Sect Leader of Fengling Mountain.”
After he said this, he grabbed the little boy’s hand and pulled him up into his embrace. His fingers twisted the largest jade bead around his neck then he circulated his spiritual power.
A ring of jade green light blossomed at his fingertips. Xu Xingzhi extended his arm and tossed the ring of light that was as small as a fingernail in mid-air.
The ring of light expanded with the wind like a whale spouting water and instantly became the size of a door.
Xu Xingzhi hugged the little boy and gently ordered: “Close your eyes.”
The little boy leaned into Xu Xingzhi’s embrace, tightly grabbed the lapel on his chest, then buried his head into it with his forehead lightly pressed against Xu Xingzhi’s collarbone: “En.”
Xu Xingzhi leapt into the jade green light gate and disappeared from the desolate woods of the mountains.
The scene changed in the next second and Xu Xingzhi landed gracefully not long after.
The surrounding area was no longer like the deep valley and misty forest, sparse and faintly smoky. In the midst of the high towers with an elegant view and the pavilion on the lotus pond, disciples donning the different uniforms of the various sects came and went. When they saw Xu Xingzhi, they couldn’t help but come to a stop and call out respectfully: “Greetings Xu-shixiong.”
Xu Xingzhi acknowledged their respectful greetings as he held a folded fan in one hand and carried the little boy in the other and whispered into his ear: “Er-Guang, now that we’re here, don’t tell anyone that you’re called Guangguang or explain to others where your name ‘Guangguang’ came from, do you understand?”
The child in his arms nodded obediently: “Okay. Then Xu-shixiong, what should my name be?”
Xu Xingzhi used the tip of his fan to tap the base of his ear, similarly stumped.
Soon after, Xu Xingzhi stopped in front of someone.
Qu Chi was dressed just like all of the other Danyang disciples, a wide red robe with large sleeves paired with a plain white belt sash. A jade-handled whisk with plain white silk strands flowing down laid quietly in the crook of his arm.
He greeted Xu Xingzhi warmly: “You came back from Lingqiu Mountain? How’s the situation over there?”
Xu Xingzhi was not in a hurry to answer. He peered around and asked: “Where’s Fatty Zhou?”
Qu Chi replied: “Beinan went to Qingqiu, Xuechen went to Yaoguang Mountain, and I just returned from Zhaoyao Mountain.”
Xu Xingzhi was taken by surprise: “This year sure is busy ah. Even Xuechen is out. . . . There wasn’t anything serious on my side. I only bumped into two foolish disciples of Yingtianchuan so it was resolved after I taught them a little lesson.”
Qu Chi caught sight of Chongguang who was lying in Xu Xingzhi’s arms: “This child is. . .”
Xu Xingzhi very naturally replied: “A child I picked up, his roots are pretty good.” He turned around and showed the child’s face to Qu Chi: “Look, he’s very pretty.”
After being praised by Xu Xingzhi, the child hugged his arm tightly and nuzzled into his embrace, pleased.
Qu Chi smiled lightly: “You do seem to love raising children.”
Xu Xingzhi blinked and proudly proclaimed: “Are you jealous? Don’t know how to raise them, do you? Can’t afford to raise them right?”
Qu Chi smiled helplessly: “. . . What’s his name?”
Xu Xingzhi: “. . . Um— Chongguang.”
Qu Chi didn’t know if he should cry or laugh: “. . . Why does it sound like you just came up with it on the spot.”
Xu Xingzhi spouted nonsense in a serious manner: “How could I. If you don’t believe me, ask him.”
Chongguang accepted this perfunctory decision very quickly: “It is.”
Xu Xingzhi chuckled mischievously.
Chongguang this name didn’t sound too bad, as for what his surname should be. . . He’ll browse through the “Hundred Families Surname” and then make the decision.
Qu Chi asked: “You’re just going to take care of him like this?”
Xu Xingzhi hugged Chongguang and replied as he walked, “In the future, I’m afraid I’ll have to continue to take care of him, but right now I can’t. There’s too much work. If something goes wrong on one of the mountains, I still have to rush over.”
Before Chongguang digested what his words meant, Xu Xingzhi already called out to a group of Fengling disciples who were wearing the same colored robes: “. . . Jiu Zhideng, Xiao-Deng!”
A boy who was around Meng Chongguang’s age heard him and turned around.
The boy looked delicate and had fine features, yet carried an innate cold temperament as if all worldly affairs had naught to do with him.
However, after he saw Xu Xingzhi, a sense of humanity abruptly appeared in his eyes out of thin air and his sharp edges softened into three thousand weak waters: “Shixiong, you’re back?”
. . . He basically didn’t register Chongguang’s presence in his mind at all with this one glance until he noticed that Xu Xingzhi was carrying Chongguang in a single-armed hold, making his gaze ice over instantly.
Chongguang tilted his head to the side.
Xu Xingzhi put Meng Chongguang down, then pushed him in Jiu Zhideng’s direction, “Xiao-Deng, this is Chongguang. Take care of him first and give him some food and clothing.”
Jiu Zhideng furrowed his brow, and answered reluctantly: “Yes, Shixiong.”
Chongguang on the other hand didn’t display any special emotions for Jiu Zhideng. He turned back around then tilted his head to look at Xu Xingzhi and asked: “Xu-shixiong, I’ll be very good. When will you come pick me up ah.”
Xu Xingzhi leaned down and rubbed his extremely soft hair: “These three days are the Eastern Emperor Sacrificial Ceremony’s competition so I’ll be rather busy, but I’ll drop by tonight at Xiao-Deng’s place to come see you.”
Chongguang stood up on his tiptoes and before Xu Xingzhi could react, gave him a kiss on the cheek.
He clasped his little hands behind his back, his face exuding wave after wave of the sweet aroma of candy: “. . . Xu-shixiong, I’ll be waiting for you ya.”
Translator: transcendentwingsEditor: teaffAfter the lecture, the young man, surnamed Xu, kicked the taller one's ass: Apologize, then get lost. You guys are disqualified this year; come back during the Eastern Emperor's sacrificial ceremony the year after next.The two tall and short were drenched in sweat, their faces pale like pieces ofjoss paper, and their clothes damp as they knelt on the ground in a bowed position: Thank you Xu-shixiong, thank you Xu-shixiong. . . We're begging you not to inform Zhou-shixiong, or else we'll definitely be expelled from Yingtianchuan. . .The corner of Xu-shixiong's lips curled upwards as he waved his fan and said: Kicked out of Yingtianchuan? If Zhou Beinan knew that you were caught red-handed by me, it would be strange if he didn't beat your brains out.The tall and short pair trembled in fear: . . .After he teased them to his satisfaction, Xu Xingzhi no longer made things difficult for them and had them apologize to the boy.Without Xu Xingzhi's permission, they hung their heads and didn't dare get up at all. The little boy, on the other hand, just focused all of his attention to stare at Xu Xingzhi, his eyes full of curiosity.Xu Xingzhi asked the boy: How about it, are you willing to forgive them?The little boy didn't even spare the pair a glance and nodded obediently at Xu Xingzhi: En!Xu Xingzhi leaned over and picked them up, one in each hand, and then shoved them forward: Go, go and get lost, don't disgrace the disciples of the four sectsah.After they received Xu Xingzhi's command, the two immediately mounted their spiritual weapons and fled in a panic, faster than a rabbit.Xu Xingzhi picked up his foot to leave, but was held back by a small hand that grasped the back of his clothes.The little boy stood on tiptoe and tried to pass the Fuyu fruit into his hand.I have no use for this.The Eastern Emperor's sacrificial ceremony. You don't want it? The boy blinked and tried his best to bargain, . . . They both wanted it just before. A gift for you.Xu Xingzhi smiled widely and used the fan to press the boy's small hand down: They are participants in the competition, I'm not. I'm an overseer of the Eastern Emperor's sacrificial ceremony.The boy didn't understand and could only hold on tightly to the lower hem of Xu Xingzhi's robes as if he was prompting him to explain.Either way, Xu Xingzhi had nothing to do. He lowered his head to check the broken jade bead necklace to make sure there were no abnormalities. Only after doing so did he walk to the mossy rock that the boy had just sat on, jumped on top of it, then patted the spot beside him, motioning for the boy to join him.The little boy also waded across the stream, then sat down closely next to Xu Xingzhi.Xu Xingzhi commented: You sure aren't afraid of strangers.The little boy daringly stretched out a hand to examine the jade bead chain around Xu Xingzhi's neck, but his wrist was caught by Xu Xingzhi.A burst of spiritual energy quietly infiltrated the boy's body through the meridian by his wrist, but the boy didn't react and allowed Xu Xingzhis spiritual power to wander around his odd spiritual meridians and his eight spiritual veins with no resistance.Xu Xingzhi sighed with astonishment: A child with spiritual roots.The boy stared at him with a pair of ignorant eyes: What's a spiritual root?Xu Xingzhi explained: For anyone who wishes to be successful on their path to ascendance, they must have roots, understanding, and diligence. They can't make do with any of the three missing. Your spiritual roots aren't bad, little guy, where are your parents?The little boy lowered his head and looked at the tip of his toes: I don't have any.Xu Xingzhi was taken aback and immediately reassured him: It's okay, neither do I.The little boy buried his head lower: I've never seen my parents since I was born.. . . Almost the same. Xu Xingzhi answered easily, My mother passed away early, and I only have an older twin brother. If it wasn't for the fact that my master Qingjing-junaccepted me as his disciple, I'm afraid I would still be fighting over territory with a group of punks on the streets.Having said that, Xu Xingzhi opened his fan as usual and prepared to fan himself, but unexpectedly, the boy actually grabbed his palm and sorrowfully squeezed it.In order to conciliate Xu Xingzhi, the boy offered up a Fuyu fruit again: Fruit, for you to eat.Xu Xingzhi laughed and once again declined the fruit: The first year I came to Lingqiu Mountain, I stole two pieces and secretly ate one of them. It was juicy and fresh, but it was also full of pulp that got stuck between the teeth. It's not tasty.Ktf ybs cbvvfv lc jugffwfca jcv qea atf ogela We Wlcuhtl pevufv ab yf cba ajras jkjs, atfc jrxfv tlr cfza defralbc: Tbe pera wfcalbcfv, bnfgrffg', ktja lr atja?We Wlcuhtl jcrkfgfv qjalfcais: Ktf obeg rfmar qegrelcu mfifralji meialnjalbc bgujclhf j ugjcv rjmglolmlji mfgfwbcs obg atf Sjrafgc Swqfgbg fnfgs akb sfjgr. Yglulcjiis, atf vlrmlqifr bo fjmt rfma mbwqfafv obg boofglcur gfujgvifrr bo lccfg rfma bg beafg rfma rajaer. Qtbfnfg byajlcfv atf ugfjafra dejcalas bo boofglcur, atf wbgf qgfmlber atf yfaafg, kbeiv yfmbwf atf wjlc boolmljabg bo atf Sjrafgc Swqfgbg'r rjmglolmlji mfgfwbcs. P kjr atf boolmljabg obg rlz mbcrfmealnf sfjgr; la kjr abb alglcu. Ktfgfobgf, joafg rbwf vlrmerrlbc, la kjr vfmlvfv atja atf tfjv vlrmlqif bo fjmt bo atf obeg rfmar kfgfc'a jiibkfv ab qjgalmlqjaf lc atf mbwqfalalbc, yea klii rfgnf qbra jr atf bnfgrffg lcrafjv. Sjmt reqfgnlrfr j ofk vloofgfca jgfjr ab qgfnfca jcs qgbyifwr atja wjs bmmeg veglcu atf mbwqfalalbc.After saying so, he lifted the jade bead necklace around his neck up and pointed out a few shining points for the boy to see: Look, I'm in charge of the five mountains ofYu, Lingqiu,Zhange,Gaotu, andTaihua. The offerings in these locations are all very rare and often guarded by monsters; if there are any disciples who use their spiritual power in these five places and are unable to emerge victorious after an arduous battle, I would have to head over to provide assistance.Speaking of this, Xu Xingzhi couldn't help but remember the time he came in advance and conducted a survey in this area about half a month ago for the sacrificial ceremony.He searched the entire mountain, but found no trace of Yong's tracks at all and the Fuyu fruit was also no longer guarded by any beasts.These precious spiritual fruits actually seemed like a pile of wild watermelons growing in the wilderness of the mountain quietly waiting to rot. It was very strange.Xu Xingzhi explained: I originally thought that the disciples who approached Lingqiu Mountain to look for the Fuyu Fruit would get a big bargain and wouldn't need to use spiritual power at all. I didn't expect that they would use force to deal with an ordinary person like you.The boy cooperatively displayed an expression of terror. Seeing this, Xu Xingzhi couldn't help but soften in response and touch his hair. Feeling the soft and fluffy head of hair against his hand, he decided to liberally run his hand through it a few more times.The little boy has never had his hair petted like this before. First he shrunk his shoulders back reflexively and then his expression surprisingly relaxed to the extent that he couldn't help but reveal an indescribable expression, squinting his eyes in comfort.Seeing such an expression and such a scene, Xu Xingzhi clicked his tongue in surprise.If the boy was a small household cat, then he would probably be looking intoxicated, purring and humming in pleasure at this moment.Maybe he was stroked too comfortably because the boy proceeded to simply and lazily sprawl down on Xu Xingzhi's lap, treated his knees as a pillow, and then asked with a naive expression: . . . What's Yong'ah?Xu Xingzhi was shocked at his overly familiar attitude and used his fan to poke at his tender cheek.One poke, one dent; the sensation was great.Xu Xingzhi recalled the ferocious appearance of the monster with a blue face, sharp fangs, and a terrifying expression that would spread across as it chased whoever touched its Fuyu fruit to the ends of this earth. He didn't want to describe it in detail: Anyway, it's not anything good.The little boy continued to question obediently: Then where did it goya.Xu Xingzhi couldn't figure out this question either, so he speculated to himself: . . . Maybe it moved? He glanced at the fruit strung up around the boy's ankle, You picked this fruit from the mountain too, right?The little boy lowered his head and rubbed his fingers: . . .En ne.Xu Xingzhi asked: Monsters dwell on this mountain, are you afraid?The little boy's eyes were slightly curved as he smiled sweetly: I arrived here half a month ago. The people at the foot of the mountain all say that there's a monster on the mountain and tasty fruits. I've never seen a monster before, so I just wanted to climb the mountain to take a lookya.Xu Xingzhi thought,this kid with no mother to watch over him is pretty wild.Pretty good,we're of the same breed.After a while, he wiggled around on Xu Xingzhi's lap then flipped himself over: Xu-shixiong, what's your name?Xu Xingzhi replied easily: Why not stroll along, whistle and sing under rain', Xu Xingzhi. And you?The boy straightened his spine and puffed his chest out rather proudly: Guangguang.Xu Xingzhi couldn't help but laugh: Hahahahaha.The little boy was surprised: Does my name not sound good?He explained to Xu Xingzhi that he used to live on a neighboring mountain that was a hundred miles away and was picked up by a hunter. When the hunter raised him to four years old, he accidentally fell to death while on a hunt.The hunter's family was poor and couldn't afford clothes so he was only given beast hides to wear. After the hunter passed away, his source of food and clothing was lost. Then, when he made his way down the mountain to search for food, he lost that beast hide.Following that, he finally descended the mountain unclothed and was ridiculed by a gang of kids that surrounded him and also threw stones at him. They even gave him a nickname.The little boy mumbled, aggrieved: At that time they all called me Guangguang. I thought the name sounded pretty niceya.Xu Xingzhi laughed uproariously to the extent that he slapped his thigh: HAHAHAHAHA.After chatting for a long time, Xu Xingzhi took a look at the color of the sky and prodded the kid's head: Come on, get up.Er-Guang, I need to go.Lacking time to correct Xu Xingzhi's form of address for himself, the little boy quickly got up and begged: Xu-shixiong, please stayba.Xu Xingzhi felt that it was somewhat funny. He petted his hair and responded: Why would I stay here?The little boy's expression was pure: Stay here to accompany meya. You're so interesting, I want to stay with you forever.Xu Xingzhi pinched his nose and smiled: . . . I'm afraid that won't do.The boy's expression changed slightly.He lightly pressed his index finger and thumb together and dozens of vines spiraled out from the shadow cast by the mossy rock then climbed up the rock like a poisonous snake slithering up.Xu Xingzhi didn't seem to have noticed what he did. He hopped down from the mossy rock, patted the dust off his butt and took a step forward to leave.At this moment of great, imminent peril, the boy suddenly came to a realization. He loosened his tightly pinched pair of fingers and the vines immediately retreated back into the ground, disappearing without a trace.He crouched down and untied the vine on his foot then hurriedly took a few steps forward, grabbing Xu Xingzhi's wide sleeve: Xu-shixiong! Can I enter your sect if I bring this?He graciously handed over the precious fruit like he was giving away radish and swung it back and forth in front of Xu Xingzhi.Xu Xingzhi furrowed his brow.. . . This kid has no family and possesses an extraordinary spiritual root; he was like a piece of raw jade, an undeniable talent fit for cultivation andalchemy.It was such a waste to just leave him to wander alone in this mountain village, truly pitiful and lamentable.Xu Xingzhi accepted the bundle of Fuyu fruit, and after pondering deeply, said: . . . It's not impossible. However, our generation isn't allowed to accept disciples. . . . Why don't I take you back first. Your spiritual root isn't bad and you are also bringing this string of fruit back.ShishuandShibowill all like you. If at that time you are willing tobecome a discipleunder any specific person on Fengling Mountain, you can just let me know.The little boy shook his head resolutely, his eyes were bright and moved like that of a young fawn: . . . I only want to beshixiongdiwith you. I don't want anyone else.Xu Xingzhi was amused: You sure can pick. My master Qingjing-junis the Sect Leader of Fengling Mountain.After he said this, he grabbed the little boy's hand and pulled him up into his embrace. His fingers twisted the largest jade bead around his neck then he circulated his spiritual power.A ring of jade green light blossomed at his fingertips. Xu Xingzhi extended his arm and tossed the ring of light that was as small as a fingernail in mid-air.The ring of light expanded with the wind like a whale spouting water and instantly became the size of a door.Xu Xingzhi hugged the little boy and gently ordered: Close your eyes.The little boy leaned into Xu Xingzhi's embrace, tightly grabbed the lapel on his chest, then buried his head into it with his forehead lightly pressed against Xu Xingzhi's collarbone: En.Xu Xingzhi leapt into the jade green light gate and disappeared from the desolate woods of the mountains.The scene changed in the next second and Xu Xingzhi landed gracefully not long after.The surrounding area was no longer like the deep valley and misty forest, sparse and faintly smoky. In the midst of the high towers with an elegant view and the pavilion on the lotus pond, disciples donning the different uniforms of the various sects came and went. When they saw Xu Xingzhi, they couldn't help but come to a stop and call out respectfully: Greetings Xu-shixiong.Xu Xingzhi acknowledged their respectful greetings as he held a folded fan in one hand and carried the little boy in the other and whispered into his ear: Er-Guang, now that we're here, don't tell anyone that you're called Guangguang or explain to others where your name Guangguang' came from, do you understand?The child in his arms nodded obediently: Okay. Then Xu-shixiong, what should my name be?Xu Xingzhi used the tip of his fan to tap the base of his ear, similarly stumped.Soon after, Xu Xingzhi stopped in front of someone.Qu Chi was dressed just like all of the other Danyang disciples, a wide red robe with large sleeves paired with a plain white belt sash. A jade-handled whisk with plain white silk strands flowing down laid quietly in the crook of his arm.He greeted Xu Xingzhi warmly: You came back from Lingqiu Mountain? How's the situation over there?Xu Xingzhi was not in a hurry to answer. He peered around and asked: Where's Fatty Zhou?Qu Chi replied: Beinan went toQingqiu, Xuechen went toYaoguangMountain, and I just returned fromZhaoyaoMountain.Xu Xingzhi was taken by surprise: This year sure is busyah. Even Xuechen is out. . . . There wasn't anything serious on my side. I only bumped into two foolish disciples of Yingtianchuan so it was resolved after I taught them a little lesson.Qu Chi caught sight of Chongguang who was lying in Xu Xingzhi's arms: This child is. . .Xu Xingzhi very naturally replied: A child I picked up, his roots are pretty good. He turned around and showed the child's face to Qu Chi: Look, he's very pretty.After being praised by Xu Xingzhi, the child hugged his arm tightly and nuzzled into his embrace, pleased.Qu Chi smiled lightly: You do seem to love raising children.Xu Xingzhi blinked and proudly proclaimed: Are you jealous? Don't know how to raise them, do you? Can't afford to raise them right?Qu Chi smiled helplessly: . . . What's his name?Xu Xingzhi: . . . UmChongguang.Qu Chi didn't know if he should cry or laugh: . . . Why does it sound like you just came up with it on the spot.Xu Xingzhi spouted nonsense in a serious manner: How could I. If you don't believe me, ask him.Chongguang accepted this perfunctory decision very quickly: It is.Xu Xingzhi chuckled mischievously.Chongguang this name didn't sound too bad, as for what his surname should be. . . He'll browse through the Hundred Families Surname and then make the decision.Qu Chi asked: You're just going to take care of him like this?Xu Xingzhi hugged Chongguang and replied as he walked, In the future, I'm afraid I'll have to continue to take care of him, but right now I can't. There's too much work. If something goes wrong on one of the mountains, I still have to rush over.Before Chongguang digested what his words meant, Xu Xingzhi already called out to a group of Fengling disciples who were wearing the same colored robes: . . . Jiu Zhideng,Xiao-Deng!A boy who was around Meng Chongguang's age heard him and turned around.The boy looked delicate and had fine features, yet carried an innate cold temperament as if all worldly affairs had naught to do with him.However, after he saw Xu Xingzhi, a sense of humanity abruptly appeared in his eyes out of thin air and his sharp edges softened intothree thousand weak waters: Shixiong, you're back?. . . He basically didn't register Chongguang's presence in his mind at all with this one glance until he noticed that Xu Xingzhi was carrying Chongguang in a single-armed hold, making his gaze ice over instantly.Chongguang tilted his head to the side.Xu Xingzhi put Meng Chongguang down, then pushed him in Jiu Zhideng's direction, Xiao-Deng, this is Chongguang. Take care of him first and give him some food and clothing.Jiu Zhideng furrowed his brow, and answered reluctantly: Yes,Shixiong.Chongguang on the other hand didn't display any special emotions for Jiu Zhideng. He turned back around then tilted his head to look at Xu Xingzhi and asked: Xu-shixiong, I'll be very good. When will you come pick me upah.Xu Xingzhi leaned down and rubbed his extremely soft hair: These three days are the Eastern Emperor Sacrificial Ceremony's competition so I'll be rather busy, but I'll drop by tonight atXiao-Deng's place to come see you.Chongguang stood up on his tiptoes and before Xu Xingzhi could react, gave him a kiss on the cheek.He clasped his little hands behind his back, his face exuding wave after wave of the sweet aroma of candy: . . . Xu-shixiong, I'll be waiting for youya.
