Chapter 13#
Chapter 13#
The city was as bustling as ever. Xue Jingci chased the aura alone toward the west, sensing that the other party’s movement technique was eerie and looked like the path of demonic cultivation.
The person was extremely sharp and decisive. Realizing a high-level cultivator was chasing them, they actually triggered a fire-burning talisman on their body, and in an instant, their whole person turned to ash and vanished.
This matter was bizarre. Xue Jingci immediately returned to the city inn to find Zhou Zimo.
Hearing about the demonic cultivator consuming themselves in fire, Zhou Zimo’s expression turned grave.
“Do not interfere in this matter further. After I return to the sect and report it, someone will naturally be sent to handle it.”
Just at this moment, the others also returned to the inn. Seeing all the disciples back safely, Zhou Zimo’s expression softened slightly, and she said, “Midnight is approaching. Follow me back to the Upper Realm.”
Only after hearing this did Xue Jingci remember that he hadn’t said goodbye to A-Pei. But time was tight; if he missed midnight, he would have to wait another day to return to the sect.
The demons were already eliminated, so the group didn’t need to bother hiding their tracks anymore and flew away directly on their swords.
As they passed over Luocheng, it happened to be the time when Kongming lanterns were slowly rising from the city. Lantern light filled the sky, and the faint cries of children could be heard from below: “There are immortals!”
The others instinctively looked down, only to see lanterns swaying on the moat, looking like countless twinkling stars.
Xue Jingci also looked toward the moat, wondering if A-Pei was still there.
Forget it. If there is fate, we will meet again.
While passing through the Heaven’s Gate Array, Xue Jingci still did not block his five senses, but this time he didn’t hear any voices.
By the time they returned to the Upper Realm, it was close to the Mao hour. The celestial light was bright, and snowflakes were falling rustlingly—a scene completely different from the lower realm.
Seeing that everyone was tired, Zhou Zimo released a spirit boat to carry them across the sky above the sea of clouds.
“So the mortal realm looks like this. Not only are there rivers and seas, but also so many people.”
Yin Xinyao recalled the scenes of last night, feeling as if she had had a dream.
“Yeah, our sect is considered a large one with many cultivators. But after going to the lantern festival yesterday, I finally know what ‘crowded’ means.”
Zhou Zimo also lamented: “Among mortals, those who can cultivate are one in a thousand, and those who can ascend are even fewer. But precisely because there are many people, there is no lack of brilliant talents among them.”
Having said that, she seemed to remember something and asked: “Did you gain anything from this trip to eliminate demons?”
The disciples spoke one after another, all feeling they had gained a lot.
Song Jue hesitated for a moment and said, “Elder Zhou, I feel this mission was a bit too easy.”
Although digging through a fox den made one a mess, compared to other missions of the same level, it could be said there was no danger at all.
“It’s good that you noticed this.”
Zhou Zimo looked at Xue Jingci: “While you were resting at the inn, I went to the mortuary. I found that some of the corpses did not meet the demon race’s requirements for the sacrificial array. It seems someone found nameless corpses from elsewhere and disguised them as the work of the demon race, dismembering them to intentionally blow this matter up so the Upper Realm would know.”
Everyone was in an uproar, not expecting someone to be so bold.
A look of appreciation appeared in Zhou Zimo’s eyes: “This person’s intent wasn’t bad, but their methods were too cruel. But if not for them acting this way, once that array was completely finished, I’m afraid far more than a hundred people would have died.”
Hearing this, everyone went silent.
In the past, they had always considered descending to eliminate demons as a high-level mission; only now did they feel that it was a disaster capable of making rivers of blood flow for mortals.
The flying boat sped along, and in less than an hour, it entered the Lingxu Sect’s territory and slowly stopped at the mountain gate.
When boarding the boat, Yin Xinyao had deliberately chosen to sit near Xue Jingci, and looking at his profile throughout the journey was exceptionally pleasing to the eye.
She wanted to say a few words to this junior brother who was as cold as snow, but unfortunately, Xue Jingci radiated an aura that kept strangers at a distance, so she had to give up.
To her surprise, as they were about to get off the boat, Xue Jingci actually took the initiative to look toward her.
Xue Jingci stared at Yin Xinyao, his nose twitching slightly.
All along the way, he could always smell a strange fragrance from her body, which seemed to have a special attraction for demon beasts.
He thought for a moment and decided to give a warning. He leaned closer and said, “Senior Sister, do you know that you smell very fragrant?”
Yin Xinyao’s pupils shook violently.
She had originally felt some goodwill toward this person, but now she suddenly remembered the rumors about him harassing female cultivators in the lower realm.
After a moment of being dazed, she immediately took three steps back and got off the boat from the other side without looking back.
Xue Jingci didn’t understand her thoughts. Seeing this, he didn’t say more. He took the System to the place where missions were accepted and finally got the passage tablet he had been longing for. Then, hearing the good news of Xie Zheng ending his seclusion, he immediately rushed toward the inner sect without stopping.
Xue Jingci had already found out the exact location of Xie Zheng’s residence. As soon as he entered the inner sect territory, he headed straight for it.
To his surprise, he was stopped by the duty disciple at the door.
Only then did he learn that Xie Zheng held a transcendent position in the sect and was very busy. He had to wait for someone to pass a message before a time could be arranged for a meeting.
Having waited so many years, he wasn’t in a hurry for this moment. He looked at the duty disciple and said, “Please pass a message: outer sect disciple Xue Jingci seeks to see Xie Zheng.”
The disciple was not old but wore the clothes of an inner sect disciple; presumably, his aptitude was extraordinary.
The young disciple sized up Xue Jingci and asked, “What important matter do you have?”
Xue Jingci was stuck. It was perfectly natural for a master to look for his disciple, but he could no longer call himself Xie Zheng’s master.
While in silence, someone else came to find Xie Zheng, saying the array in the sect’s Sutra Pavilion was old and needed repair.
Hearing this, the young disciple immediately went to pass the word, and before long, that person was called inside.
Seeing Xue Jingci still waiting blankly to the side, the young disciple frowned: “I’m asking you, what important matter do you have?”
Xue Jingci lowered his eyes and said, “I have no important matter; I just want to see him.”
Hearing this, an indescribable look appeared on the young disciple’s face, and he said, “Senior Brother Xie not only has to deal with many sect matters every day but also has to cultivate. If you don’t have an important matter, I won’t help you pass the word.”
Having said that, he ignored Xue Jingci.
To his surprise, after that, Xue Jingci came to the door every day at the appointed time to beg him to pass the word, saying he only needed to see Xie Zheng once, say one sentence, and then he would leave.
Xue Jingci had a cold aura and an otherworldly appearance; at first glance, he truly didn’t look like someone who would make trouble without reason.
The young disciple refused him several times until he finally caught Xie Zheng at a moment of leisure. Feeling soft-hearted, he agreed to help pass the word.
Xue Jingci said his thanks and waited at the door holding the System, murmuring, “Soon I can continue the mission.”
After an unknown amount of time, Xue Jingci finally saw the young disciple come out and hurried forward, wanting to follow him inside.
But he was stopped again.
“You cannot enter.”
The young disciple’s face was cold: “Senior Brother Xie told you not to come looking for him again.”
Xue Jingci stood silently in place until the System hugged his cold hand with its paws; only then did he come to his senses.
“Host, let’s leave first,” the System urged softly.
Xue Jingci was dazed for a moment and then nodded in agreement.
Over these years, he had traveled an unknown number of roads, finally going from the mortal realm to the Upper Realm, and then to the number one sect, the Lingxu Sect.
Then from the outer sect, he had walked step by step to the inner sect.
He always felt that no matter how long the road was, as long as he kept walking, he would eventually get there.
But now, he and Xie Zheng were only separated by a wall, yet there seemed to be no way forward.
Xue Jingci returned to the outer sect, and as soon as he entered, he was stopped by someone.
“I have something to do for the next few days. Take my shift on duty at noon.”
Xue Jingci looked up at him. It was a long time before he remembered who this person was. He said faintly, “No.”
After saying that, he turned and left.
The person was accompanied by new disciples. Having lost face in public, he said harshly, “How dare he show me his temper. See if I don’t teach him a good lesson later.”
The person and the cat soon returned to the outer sect. The System looked at the eatery and asked, “Does the host want to eat something?”
Xue Jingci shook his head.
When night came, the System saw that Xue Jingci was not meditating and cultivating but had gone out alone, and its heart grew more worried.
Something is wrong with the host!
It quickly jumped out the window to chase after him. Only after jumping did it realize it could have used the door, thinking to itself that it had been led astray by that brat.
When it jumped to the ground, the System looked around and saw not a single person. It suddenly started meowing in anxiety.
“I’m here.”
A clear, cold voice came from above. The System looked up and saw the host holding his sword, sitting on the roof.
“Host.”
The System jumped nimbly onto the eaves, its footsteps on the tiles making a faint sound.
The roof was originally dilapidated, but after being repaired by the host, it was now perfectly steady no matter how one stepped on it.
The System knew that Xue Jingci was always reliable in his actions; no matter how difficult a mission, he would find a way to complete it and would never stop.
But now Xie Zheng was avoiding him, yet the host hadn’t taken further action.
The System sighed in its heart, moved closer to the host, and urged, “Host, you originally had little interaction with others. After coming here, you put all your heart into being with Xie Zheng. Aside from him, you haven’t truly integrated anywhere or truly bonded with anyone. So you might not know…”
Sincerity doesn’t necessarily bring sincerity in return.
Xue Jingci knew what it was saying and shook his head: “I have also bonded with someone with sincerity before.”
The System was momentarily stunned.
It had checked the host’s files and knew he was originally born in a chaotic, end-of-Dharma era.
That world valued power above all; it was chaotic and disordered, and killing was the only way to survive. Precisely because of this, a person like the host, who lacked emotion but was powerful, was born.
Yet the host actually said that in such a world, someone had bonded with him with sincerity?
The System asked curiously, “Who was that person?”
“Granny.”
Xue Jingci picked up the System and spoke about his past to someone for the first time.
He was born in a large tribe of the end-of-Dharma world. At birth, he possessed the devouring ability of a Taotie beast, and the first to be devoured was the mother who gave birth to him.
This ominous child was abandoned in the wilderness by his clansmen.
Xue Jingci couldn’t remember clearly how he grew up.
When he was hungry, he would eat things. Anything touched by his hands would turn to ash and become energy that returned to his body.
Many people called him a monster and wanted to kill him, but they were all devoured by him one by one.
Until one day, he devoured too much and couldn’t even maintain human form. He could only curl up in a cave, waiting for the power inside him to explode.
The expected death did not come; he was picked up by someone.
It was an elderly granny. Her name was unknown; only her surname, Xue, was known. Because she was proficient in medicine, she held a high status in the tribe.
She healed Xue Jingci’s injuries, taught him to read and write, and taught him how to be a person.
When Xue Jingci finally learned to speak, Granny gave him a mirror.
For the first time, he saw himself in the mirror—he was clean, with neither gruesome flesh hanging from him nor scars cracked open by exploding power.
Granny held his hand to touch the mirror.
Her movements were gentle, and the person in the mirror was just as gentle.
“From now on, this will be your name.”
Xue Jingci raised his hand, the dazed look in his eyes vanishing and gradually returning to his usual calm.
“Granny said as long as I am good to others, others will be good to me. Only people who want to kill me can be eaten.”
A lava-like light flowed on his arm, and flames surged from his fingertips.
In this world, he was best to Xie Zheng.
Xue Jingci always remembered Granny’s words and believed Xie Zheng would also be good to him.
Seeing his mood improve, the System was joyful but couldn’t help but say weakly, “Host, you cannot eat people in this world.”
Xue Jingci nodded and answered seriously, “I’ll try my best not to.”
He clenched his fingers, the flames leaping from his palm died out, and the texture of his skin returned to normal.
After the conversation that night, Xue Jingci once again stepped into the inner sect.
Learning that Xie Zheng had gone to another sect for a meeting, Xue Jingci stayed at the mountain gate to wait for him.
He was stubborn by nature and waited for two days and nights. The young disciple who had previously passed the message for him happened to pass by and was surprised to see him like this.
He hadn’t expected Xue Jingci to be so persistent as to choose to wait at the mountain gate.
The Lingxu Sect was at a high altitude and was covered in snow year-round. It was bone-chillingly cold, and the noon sun was scorching. The young disciple watched Xue Jingci quietly; from the snow on his hem, he knew how long this man had been waiting.
After thinking for a bit, the young disciple couldn’t help but go up to urge him: “There will be heavy snow tonight. If you keep waiting like this, your body won’t be able to take it.”
Having said that, he handed the umbrella in his hand to Xue Jingci.
Xue Jingci said his thanks but had no intention of leaving. Seeing him so stubborn, the young disciple could only leave helplessly.
After night fell, it indeed began to snow again.
Xue Jingci could still endure it, but the System was shivering with cold.
He thought for a moment, then simply squatted down, held the kitten in his arms, and held the umbrella over their heads.
Until the first light of dawn, a thick layer of fresh snow had accumulated on the umbrella.
Footsteps came from a distance. Xue Jingci tilted the umbrella slightly and finally saw that figure from his memory.
He propped himself up by his knees and stood up with force, shaking off the snow on the umbrella as if he had only just arrived a moment ago.
The celestial light was like water, not yet very bright, falling faintly on the mountain road, making everything hard to see clearly.
But Xue Jingci knew Xie Zheng saw him.
But soon, that sharp, sword-like gaze swept away hurriedly, as if he had seen an annoying stumbling block.
Xie Zheng walked straight forward, with no intention of stopping at all.
Xue Jingci chased after him and shouted, “Xie Zheng!”
The crowd was in a commotion. Xie Zheng’s steps finally stopped, and he looked at Xue Jingci with a cold expression.
Xue Jingci chased after him. As if afraid he wouldn’t have time to listen, he spoke much faster than usual: “I’ve been looking for you for a long time. Why are you ignoring me?”
Xie Zheng looked up at him: “Do you have business with me?”
Xue Jingci was momentarily stunned; he hadn’t expected Xie Zheng to react this way.
He remembered there was a group of inner sect disciples behind Xie Zheng, and he naturally found a reason for him in his heart, saying softly, “I know your status is different now, and many things are beyond your control in front of everyone.”
“But I have many things I want to say to you. Can we find a quiet place?”
Disgust appeared in Xie Zheng’s eyes, and he said in a voice that everyone could hear: “You and I are just chance acquaintances. There’s nothing to say.”
Xue Jingci’s usually indifferent shell seemed to be smashed open, and he widened his eyes at him as if he were seeing this person for the first time.
A faint sourness and sharp pain came from his heart—this feeling was extremely familiar, just like the day Granny died.
Xue Jingci didn’t understand what this feeling represented.
He took a step forward, wanting to grab Xie Zheng’s hand, but was avoided by Xie Zheng and caught nothing.
His fingertips had long been turned red by the cold. Xue Jingci retracted his hand slowly and looked up at him: “Xie Zheng, do you truly not want to see me?”
Xie Zheng withdrew his hand and lightly brushed his sleeve, but didn’t speak.
A disciple on the side could already not hold back and came forward to scold: “It’s you again, pestering relentlessly these few years. Do you not understand human speech! Senior Brother Xie, there’s no need to pay attention to this madman.”
In the past, Xie Zheng would not have tolerated others’ wild and insolent words toward Xue Jingci, but he did not blame that disciple. He only asked distantly, “Do you have anything else?”
Xue Jingci was silent for a moment and then shook his head.
He reached out and untied the storage bag at his waist: “Your things are still with me.”
What was in this storage bag was what Xue Jingci had brought from the house in Yucheng before his tribulation; it was all things Xie Zheng had used.
Thinking Xie Zheng might still have use for them in the future, he had been carefully looking after them until now.
Xue Jingci pulled out a jade pendant from his robes and handed it to Xie Zheng along with the storage bag.
“In that case, I’ll return everything to you.”
Xie Zheng, however, casually tossed the storage bag to the disciple beside him and said nonchalantly, “Useless things. Throw them all away.”
He was always arrogant. The disciples behind him were used to it; one directly stretched his hand over the cliff edge and let go.
The storage bag fell, without a single sound, completely dissolving in the sea of clouds.
Only then was Xue Jingci certain of Xie Zheng’s thoughts—he truly did not want to have anything to do with him anymore.
So he bent his waist and, in his capacity as an outer sect disciple, performed a farewell bow to Xie Zheng, then turned and walked down the mountain holding the umbrella.
Xie Zheng didn’t move, just watched Xue Jingci’s back silently.
A strong wind blew, swirling the remaining snow on the ground, while new snow still fell rustlingly, soon swallowing that thin back.
The young disciple noticed a touch of red in his clenched fingertips—it seemed to be the jade pendant left by that person—and asked: “Senior Brother Xie, should this jade pendant also…”
Xie Zheng didn’t answer and didn’t look at him again, heading toward the mountain peak.
The mountain road of Shangqing Peak was rugged and narrow, only wide enough for one person to walk alone.
Thus, as Xue Jingci walked along, he didn’t encounter anyone else; there was only the sound of wind and snow whistling past his ears.
This familiar sound reminded him of ten years ago.
That was also on a snowy day. He held an umbrella over Xie Zheng’s head and asked him if he wanted to go with him.
At that time, the person’s figure was destitute, but his gaze was pure and resilient, and he staggered along with him to that simple house on his broken leg.
Now he was in fine clothes and out of reach, but he was going in the opposite direction, toward a completely different path.
Xie Zheng went up, toward that cold and lonely mountain peak. Xue Jingci followed the road down, back to that quiet and deserted small courtyard at the foot of the mountain.
The golden glow of the morning sun spilled over the churning sea of clouds.
Snowflakes fell surgingly like goose-feather rain, soon burying the two lines of footprints—up and down—vanishing without a trace, as if no one had ever come.