Chapter 23#
Annoying#
Zhuoyu’s courtyard was empty—so quiet that the drop of a needle could be heard. The moment he stepped inside, Feng Xianyu couldn’t help but shiver.
He glanced around; sure enough, he saw no trace of the spirit beasts that normally appeared in other dwellings.
Because Qingdu Mountain’s management was lax, many beasts that had not yet developed spiritual intelligence would occasionally run out from the back mountain to play in the other buildings. The disciples of Qingdu Mountain were used to it, and after class they would exchange stories with their peers. Even in Feng Xianyu’s own courtyard, he had seen many squirrels, foxes, and the like. He would even leave some nuts under the eaves so the squirrels wouldn’t go away empty-handed.
In his memory, only Zhuoyu’s courtyard had never been visited by spirit beasts, as if they all tacitly knew they weren’t welcome here.
Zhuoyu walked quickly without looking back. While Feng Xianyu was sizing up his residence, he had already silently turned into the house, leaving Feng Xianyu with a snow-white, aloof back.
Silence reigned. Feng Xianyu’s eyes darted around, but he relaxed his pace, clasped his hands behind his back, and sauntered slowly to the door.
—Sure enough, the door wasn’t shut tight; a crack remained.
Feng Xianyu’s smile deepened. Zhuoyu, you really are hiding your true depths, he thought. He stopped just outside the door, squinting one eye while keeping the other open, and peered through the crack.
If he hadn’t looked, it would have been fine. But when he did, he got a huge shock.
With a rustle, a white robe fell to the floor without warning—Zhuoyu was actually changing clothes!
Before he could really see anything clearly, Feng Xianyu whipped around in alarm, covering his face in fright.
Since when did Zhuoyu have the bad habit of changing clothes the moment he returned to his room?!
The rustling sound of fabric lingered in Feng Xianyu’s ears. After a long while, his heart was still pounding. He began to comfort himself: It’s nothing, really; there’s nothing forbidden to see. It’s just that it happened so suddenly—I wasn’t prepared mentally. Especially since he’s always been so meticulous, a sword cultivator senior whose robes barely have a wrinkle!
As he was thinking this, he suddenly heard Zhuoyu’s calm voice: “If you’re not coming in, then leave.”
Feng Xianyu hesitated and first glanced out of the corner of his eye.
By now, Zhuoyu had already changed. He had put on a silver-white outer robe and was sitting upright at the table, brewing tea, as if nothing had happened. On the table was also Meng Zi’an’s qiankun pouch. Only then did Feng Xianyu relax, turn fully around, put on a smiling face, and gently push the door open with his shoulder. Chuckling, he called out:
“Senior Brother.”
Zhuoyu, holding the boiling hot engraved copper kettle, gave an almost imperceptible raise of his brow at the sound.
The movement was so slight that Feng Xianyu didn’t notice at all; his attention was fixed on the qiankun pouch on the table. Without waiting for Zhuoyu to invite him, he shamelessly sat down on the other side of the table and made small talk: “I rarely come to Senior Brother’s room. It truly is—”
“Truly what?” Zhuoyu asked blandly.
The room had no ornaments, no vessels. A few books on the shelves, some tea utensils, a simple and neat bed—everything was utterly plain, with not a speck of dust.
The complimentary words he had prepared stuck in his throat. Feng Xianyu almost bit his tongue. He changed tactics and said sincerely, “Returning to simplicity!”
Zhuoyu made no comment on this description.
Feng Xianyu felt he really had no talent for making conversation with Zhuoyu. He racked his brains for a long time, then finally had a flash of inspiration. Looking directly into Zhuoyu’s eyes, he asked with great concern, “Has Senior Brother’s realm stabilized? I left too quickly back then. When I came to my senses, I was full of regret—I’ve been really worried.”
“You’re asking about the injury?” Zhuoyu asked flatly. “Didn’t you just see? I have no wounds on my body.”
Feng Xianyu’s smile froze. “…I didn’t see anything.”
Zhuoyu looked up at him, his tone utterly indifferent. “Want to look?”
“…” Feng Xianyu took a deep breath and forced a smile. “Maybe not.”
Zhuoyu lowered his eyes. “Very well.”
Feng Xianyu felt that this conversation had crashed and burned, but Zhuoyu’s expression and tone confused him—he couldn’t tell whether the crash was his fault or Zhuoyu’s. He continued to rack his brains, but then a cup of hot tea appeared beside his hand, poured by Zhuoyu. He instinctively picked it up and brought it to his lips.
The taste was extremely light—barely more than water with a hint of tea.
Feng Xianyu liked stronger flavors. He only took a few sips and was about to set it down when suddenly his hand was empty.
Feng Xianyu was stunned for a moment, watching as Zhuoyu took the tea cup from his hand without ceremony, poured all the tea into the waste bowl, and slapped the cup back onto the table with a clack.
What strange hobby is this?
Wasn’t this tea offered by Zhuoyu himself?
Feng Xianyu was dumbfounded. Before he could figure it out, he saw Zhuoyu’s hand reaching for the qiankun pouch!
Feng Xianyu reacted quickly. No matter what, he pressed down on Zhuoyu’s hand at lightning speed and forced a smile. “Senior Brother, please give this thing to me.”
“Why?” Zhuoyu asked, showing no sign of backing down. He stared fixedly at Feng Xianyu, clearly demanding a detailed explanation. Remembering the shopkeeper’s enthusiastic tone when handing over the goods, Feng Xianyu’s scalp tingled. He made a snap decision: “No reason.”
Then he softened his voice: “There’s nothing in it anyway.”
Zhuoyu was unmoved. “Then we’ll hand it over to Elder Xu and Master for disposal.”
“No!” Feng Xianyu grew anxious, almost standing up. Half his body rose above the table as he reached for the qiankun pouch. Just as he was about to touch the tassel, Zhuoyu’s other hand pressed down on him.
Zhuoyu was still seated, while Feng Xianyu looked down at him from above. Each held one of the other’s hands, neither willing to give way.
After a stalemate, Zhuoyu suddenly summoned Lingzhao. The moment the icy sword appeared, Feng Xianyu’s eyes went wide. He blurted out, “Zhuoyu, you’re cheating!”
Feng Xianyu swore he saw a fleeting, subtle smile at the corner of Zhuoyu’s lips.
If you show no mercy, don’t blame me for being unrighteous. In a burst of anger, Feng Xianyu shouted, “Qiqi!”
Qiqi materialized at the call, using its bow body to brace against Lingzhao. The sword’s blade slid out of its sheath by three inches. The spiritual energy from both sides collided violently, and the overflow swept outward in a ring, instantly billowing the curtains inside the room and leaving marks on the pillars.
When the city gate catches fire, the fish in the moat suffer. The blast even tore apart Meng Zi’an’s low-level qiankun pouch!
With a clatter,
a large book chest and all the odds and ends Meng Zi’an had stored inside—leftover sugar-coated hawthorns, flatbreads, secretly hidden wine, messy handwritten drafts—came tumbling out without any obstruction, landing right in front of Feng Xianyu and Zhuoyu.
The book chest itself broke, and the books inside flowed out like water.
Feng Xianyu’s eyelids twitched violently. His gaze immediately locked onto one particular book. As his attention wavered, Zhuoyu seized the opportunity to break free. He leaped over to the chest and accurately picked up the book Feng Xianyu had targeted.
Feng Xianyu was too late to stop him. In desperation, he reached out with a claw-like hand!
Zhuoyu agilely sidestepped, but Feng Xianyu’s target wasn’t that book—it was Qiqi. Once he got it, he quickly drew the bow and nocked an arrow. A spirit arrow flew out in an instant.
The whole process took only a blink, but the book in Zhuoyu’s hand was already engulfed in spirit fire.
His heart’s trouble removed, Feng Xianyu’s heart settled back into his chest. He wiped his reddened eyes, his brows rising with delight as he laughed. “Now, Senior Brother, you can take these to Elder Xu and Master.”
With that, he didn’t bother with the door. He flipped out through the nearest window.
Zhuoyu remained where he was, holding the burning book, his expression still calm. But in just two breaths, Feng Xianyu’s head popped back in through the window. His snow-white fingers rested on the sill as he chuckled, “Don’t be upset, Senior Brother. I’ll definitely pay for whatever I broke!”
Then he really did take his leave, patting himself on the back and walking off in high spirits. A light, frivolous tune he hummed drifted faintly on the breeze.
Like an annoying gust of wind.
Just as the flames were about to lick his fingertips, Zhuoyu lowered his eyes and let go. The book’s ashes fluttered down with the wind.
Feng Xianyu, whistling his little tune, returned to his own courtyard.
Just as he was about to enter, a thought struck him: Actually, my courtyard is pretty close to Zhuoyu’s. Why not plant a tall tree in the yard? Then I can climb up and see what Zhuoyu is doing anytime. Wouldn’t that be fun? The moment he thought of mischief, he was full of energy. He immediately dashed off a letter to Feng Qianqiu.
In no time, Feng Qianqiu replied coldly: “Planting a tree for no reason? What new whim is this? No.”
Feng Xianyu pouted and flopped onto the bed.
He recalled what he had overheard through the little flying insect earlier. At that time, the shopkeeper had packed all the books on the list into the chest. Since Xiang and Meng had bought a lot, the shopkeeper, probably thinking they would become loyal customers in the future, had smilingly stuffed an extra book into Meng Zi’an’s hands and drawled, “As the saying goes, ‘One side’s water and soil nurture one side’s people; live on the mountain, eat from the mountain; live by the water, eat from the water’—”
Xiang Wan was terrified of the shopkeeper’s “sayings” and immediately interrupted him: “What’s this?”
“This is a recent new book. I’ve observed it coldly, and I think it has great prospects. It’s bound to be popular. You two have excellent taste, so you’re sure to like it. I’m giving this one to you for free, don’t worry!” The shopkeeper said mysteriously. “The nearest immortal sect to us is Qingdu Mountain. You know Qingdu Mountain, right?”
Hearing this, Feng Xianyu already sensed great trouble.
But Meng Zi’an still hadn’t caught on: “I know it. So what?”
“The Qingdu Mountain Sect Leader’s only son, Feng Xianyu! Do you know him?” The shopkeeper started rubbing his hands excitedly. “And the Sect Leader’s disciple, Zhuoyu!”
Feng Xianyu’s vision went dark. So this was the “one side’s water and soil nurture one side’s people” and “live on the mountain, eat from the mountain; live by the water, eat from the water.”
Xiang and Meng were dumbfounded. The shopkeeper continued enthusiastically: “These two are master-brothers! And they’re both famous beauties far and wide! That’s not all—they even both have the character ‘jade’ in their names, and they grew up together! What do you call this? What do you call this?”
The shopkeeper grew more and more excited, clapping his hands loudly.
Meng Zi’an’s hand trembled: “Wh-what?”
“Young masters, you really lack an eye for discovery.” The shopkeeper sighed with emotion, his eyes shining. He declared with emphasis, “This is called a fateful bond!!! It’s absolutely worth writing about!!!”
Like a thunderclap in the clear sky, Feng Xianyu was instantly reduced to ashes. Then rage welled up: Spreading rumors with real names! Have you no shame?!
Xiang Wan’s hand waved like a rattle-drum: “No, no, no, no, no!”
Shopkeeper: “Yes, yes, yes, absolutely!”
Meng Zi’an: “Really no, really no!”
Shopkeeper: “Really yes, really yes! Why are you two being so modest!”
The shopkeeper just thought they were being shy. Xiang and Meng couldn’t defend themselves; they were forced to accept the book shoved into their chests and then ushered out of the shop. The shopkeeper was still waving behind them, calling out: “This is the first volume! More will come out later! If you think it’s good, be sure to come back and support it!”
Holding the book as if it were scorching charcoal, Meng Zi’an was on the verge of tears: “If we take this back to the mountain, will we be split in half by the Sect Leader and Senior Brother?”
“Not just that,” Xiang Wan said somberly. “Probably drawn and quartered…”