Chapter 28 [VIP]

Sunlight streamed in from outside the courtyard, and the branches of the hibiscus tree stretched out freely in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. The wind and waves that swept past the mythical beast passed through the branches and slapped against the windowsill.

Jiang Zhuochen's brows furrowed deeply in his sleep, his lips pressed tightly together. After a sudden, inexplicable heart palpitation, he struggled to wake up, half-supporting himself and panting heavily.

The dizziness hadn't subsided. He touched his heart, his mind a complete blank, unconsciously murmuring the words "Master."

Senior Brother Shen Hezhou noticed the commotion and quickly pushed open the door to help him sit up, anxiously asking, "Junior Brother, how are you? Are you feeling unwell?"

Jiang Zhuochen grasped Shen Hezhou's hand, his voice hoarse from long sleep, and asked weakly, "Where is Master?"

Jiang Zhuochen did not expect his senior brother to answer. For some reason, a thought that made his heart tremble flashed through his mind for a moment—his master had already been destroyed by heavenly punishment for him, and this was just his dying struggle to not believe the truth.

Jiang Zhuochen's fingers trembled nervously. Seeing this, Shen Hezhou patted his back gently, soothing him: "Master took the punishment for you and is currently in seclusion in the back mountain. Before he left, Master asked me to take good care of you. Just stay in the outer mountain and recover from your injuries."

Unexpectedly, upon hearing the news that Xu Xing was still alive, Jiang Zhuochen shoved Shen Hezhou away. The force was so great that Shen Hezhou was caught off guard, and before he could hold on, Jiang Zhuochen had run quite a distance.

He stood up with a headache and hurried after him, otherwise if something happened to this little rascal, he would be finished when his master came out of seclusion.

Jiang Zhuochen's injuries hadn't healed yet, and he stumbled and staggered towards the back mountain, holding his breath. His frail little body made his fellow disciples tremble with fear, and they dared not confront him directly, for fear of making things worse. With no other choice, they could only retreat step by step amidst his reckless charge, carefully protecting him until they reached the back mountain.

The back mountain, brimming with spiritual energy and resembling a fairyland, was shrouded in a faint, shimmering barrier of light. It was set up by the master, and few in the world could break through it.

Jiang Zhuochen pursed his lips, and amidst the panic of his fellow disciples shaking their heads in disbelief, he raised his hand, ready to force his way in.

Xu Chang'an: "No, no, no, junior brother, listen to me!"

Linghe: "You can't go that way, my little darling! Are you out of your mind?!"

Mo Xiangli: "Senior brother! Eldest brother, please save them!"

Jiang Zhuochen was unyielding, but to his surprise, his hand passed through the barrier automatically as soon as he placed it on it. So he stepped in without hesitation, leaving his fellow disciples standing there dumbfounded.

Crossing the Unperturbed Lake, they arrived at the Cold Pool Secret Realm, where frost flowers instantly covered their shoulders. Jiang Zhuochen dared not breathe loudly and quietly walked inside. Upon seeing the hazy figure surrounded by celestial energy inside the cave, his nose tingled, and the coldness clinging to his eyelashes melted away with the scalding moisture, making him feel as if he were crying out in grievance.

He sat down next to his master with a pout, hugged his knees, tilted his head, and stared at him longingly without making a sound to disturb him.

After sitting inside for an unknown amount of time, when Jiang Zhuochen's body was covered in frost due to weakness and lack of spiritual energy to protect him, a soft sigh came from the void and was etched into his heart.

Just as he was about to make a move, he felt a push and fell into Xu Xing's arms. The other person held him gently, his cool but strong hand patting his back lightly.

Jiang Zhuochen blinked mechanically, and before his consciousness returned, he called out, "Master."

Then she hugged him tightly and said in a hoarse voice, "You've come out of seclusion?"

Xu Xing warmed Jiang Zhuochen's body with his spiritual power. After seeing that the other's complexion had improved, he said gently, "There's a poor little thing sitting next to you. If you don't hurry up and get out of seclusion, I'm afraid you'll upset him again."

After listening, Jiang Zhuochen became anxious and peeked out from Xu Xing's arms. "Did I disturb you? Is your injury healed?"

He was still worried, and after a moment of internal struggle, he gritted his teeth and said, "How about we go into seclusion again?"

"It's alright." Seeing the other's anxious and reluctant expression, Xu Xing tightened his embrace, comforting him, "I was only going to be out of seclusion in the next few days anyway. On the contrary, why didn't you rest properly in the mountains?"

"I had a dream. In the dream, my master died to save me." Jiang Zhuochen lowered his eyes, his voice dejected. "I'm just a little scared."

Xu Xing's lips curved into a subtle smile, like a crimson lotus blooming in the snow, captivating all who beheld it. "I will always protect you, don't be afraid."

Jiang Zhuochen smiled and rested his chin on Xu Xing's shoulder, curling up into the other's arms and closing his eyes in peace.

Back at the mountain, Xu Xing put him on the bed and treated the minor wound on his foot. "Next time you run around without shoes, I'll punish you by making you stay on the bed and not get up."

Jiang Zhuochen's eyes narrowed into crescent shapes with pleasure. Other senior brothers were either punished by copying books or by being confined, so why was he forbidden from getting out of bed for disobeying the master's orders?

Once his heart was at ease, Jiang Zhuochen became much lazier. He crossed his legs and slowly moved closer to Xu Xing, pitifully saying, "Master, my head hurts so much, please rub it for me."

Xu Xingyi placed his cold, icy fingertips on his temples. "Don't go out for the next few days, and get some rest."

"Will Master stay with me?"

"Um."

"You have to stay with me every single moment," Jiang Zhuochen emphasized, the strange feeling lingering and persistent. "The kind where you can see me the moment you open your eyes."

"You..." Xu Xing's indulgent tone was tinged with helplessness, "You're so old, why do you still need someone to watch over you?"

Jiang Zhuochen pulled Xu Xing's hand down, used his arm as a pillow, and stared at him. "Is Master trying to lie to me? Will you disappear when I wake up from my nap?"

"I'm not lying to you." That stubborn, pouting look softened Xu Xing's heart, and he placed his hand over Jiang Zhuochen's eyes. "I'll still be here when you wake up."

The calm, gentle tone enveloped his heart like water, bringing him peace. Jiang Zhuochen turned and embraced Xu Xing's waist, falling into a deep sleep.

When I woke up again, it was already dark. The panic of being all alone next to me dispelled my remaining sleepiness, and then I heard low-pitched conversations outside.

Jiang Zhuochen turned his head blankly and saw that the food was still warm on the table. He breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly ran outside.

The two men looked up at the sound. Xu Xing's expression remained unchanged as he gestured behind him, "Let's eat first."

Xu Chang'an tilted his head to the side, away from Xu Xing, and at the same time, half of his miserable face was visible to Jiang Zhuochen. He silently uttered two words: "Help!"

Jiang Zhuochen understood immediately; he was probably caught by his master for slacking off in cultivation again. He squeezed between the two, blocking Xu Xing's view. "Master, please have dinner with me."

Without giving Xu Xing a chance to speak, she pulled him up with both hands. "Master's words don't count. You clearly said you would see it as soon as you opened your eyes."

He gestured to Xu Chang'an, then nudged Xu Xing and led him into the inner room. "If you don't have dinner with me soon, I'm going to get angry."

Xu Xing, a cultivator of such high level, had long since abstained from grains. However, after Jiang Zhuochen arrived, because he himself was often hungry, he couldn't stand seeing others not eating. He especially liked to bring Xu Xing, this high-and-mighty flower, down to earth, even if it was just to eat a couple of bites.

After eating and drinking his fill, he stayed on Xu Xing's bed and refused to leave. However, this happened every few days, so Xu Xing just went along with it.

The night was deep, and the candlelight on the table flickered slightly, carrying the faint scent of cedar.

Jiang Zhuochen leaned against the headboard watching Xu Xing undress. He then used his hands and feet to remove his own outer garments. Just as he was about to lift the covers and fall asleep, a gentle hand, illuminated by candlelight, reached out to him.

Xu Xing placed two fingers on Jiang Zhuochen's wrist, then tapped his forehead.

Jiang Zhuochen immediately felt completely refreshed, his whole body lightening considerably. He swayed, "I'm all better?"

"Your Qi and blood are deficient; you should rest and recuperate."

Jiang Zhuochen slumped down and reluctantly agreed.

A cool, subtle scent mingled with a calming fragrance. Jiang Zhuochen yawned and leaned closer to Xu Xing after he sat down on the bed.

The fear I felt when I woke up this morning quietly dissipated in the familiar warmth of her body, and even the calming incense was ineffective in stimulating my restless mind.

He kept his eyes open, comforting himself that it was a side effect of the dream being too real. After sticking to Xu Xing all day, he had almost forgotten what happened in the dream.

Suddenly, darkness enveloped my vision, and the scent of cedarwood intensified.

"Be good."

Jiang Zhuochen smiled to herself, obediently closed her eyes, and snuggled into Xu Xing's arms to adjust to a more comfortable sleeping position.

The next morning, Xu Xing was going to the council hall to discuss matters within the valley with the elders.

As dawn broke outside, Jiang Zhuochen glanced at his master, who was quietly waiting for him by the bedside. The grand ambition he had made yesterday to stay by the other's side at all times was completely extinguished by the cold air.

He pulled the blanket over his head, leaving only his fingers resting on the edge. "Go, Master. I'll come find you when I wake up."

Xu Xing smiled and helped him pull the blanket down, smoothing his disheveled hair. "Remember to call me if you need anything."

"Hmm..." Jiang Zhuochen hummed sleepily, and immediately turned over and went back to sleep after Xu Xing left.

Xu Chang'an waited outside the bedroom all morning but Jiang Zhuochen didn't come out. Bored, he paced around the courtyard. Could it be that this little rascal didn't spend the night here?

Just as he was afraid that his master would return and punish him again because he remembered the lecture he had been interrupted from the night before, there was finally a sound at the door.

Xu Chang'an abandoned his attempt to move away, strode forward, and gave the other person a big hug. "Oh, my little junior brother, you really saved my life last night."

Jiang Zhuochen was startled. Realizing what was happening, he grabbed Xu Chang'an by the ear and pulled him away. "Eleventh Senior Brother, you're always so indecent. Don't you ever think about why Master punishes you and not others?"

Xu Chang'an begged for mercy: "Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch, junior brother, let go! What did I do wrong? I was just worried about you so much these days that I couldn't eat or sleep and had no interest in studying. Master doesn't understand people at all."

"How come the other senior brothers can not only share the burden of tasks, but also keep up with their cultivation?" Jiang Zhuochen put down his hand. "Don't use me as an excuse."

"Hehe." Xu Chang'an nudged him with his shoulder, "Are you feeling better? Your senior brother will treat you to some good food and drinks."

Jiang Zhuochen patted his stomach, his appetite suddenly whetted. After hesitating for a while, he regretfully gave up. "No, I'll eat with my master."

"It's alright," Xu Chang'an comforted him. "Master has already come out of seclusion, and you've recovered well. There's nothing serious happening now. If you want to eat, just call your senior brother, and I'll take you anywhere in the world."

"Thank you, senior brother!"

Xu Chang'an waved to him cheerfully, sighed, and left.

Being young has its advantages; a newborn calf is not afraid of a tiger. Not only does he dare to openly occupy his master's immortal bed, but he can also act spoiled and cling to others to play with him. Most importantly, Xu Chang'an felt envious; this junior brother was even more lazy in his cultivation than he was, yet he had never seen his master punish him.

If he weren't decades older, he would definitely try this trick to see if it would work.

A note from the author:

Our little ones in Guangdong need to be careful during the typhoon!