Chapter 61 Cultivating with Me

Xu Cangyu put away all the miscellaneous items in his Qiankun bag, except for the little crane, which he held in his palm and played with. It was such a pity that such an exquisite little thing was an inanimate object.

Having seen and played with it enough, just as he was about to put it back in the bag, the little crane suddenly flew up and circled around Xu Cangyu.

"So you're not an inanimate object after all."

Xu Zangyu could not hide his excitement. He reached out and caught the little crane, which obediently landed. This tacit understanding ignited Xu Zangyu's expectations. He couldn't wait to ask, "Do you know who I am? I am your master, right? Can you speak?"

He asked a series of questions, but Xiao He just tilted her head to look at him and then spun around in his palm.

"Well, I didn't expect it to be such a silly little thing. It's not intelligent and probably has no idea what I'm talking about."

Xu Zangyu was disappointed again.

I poked the little crane, and to my surprise, the little thing flew away. However, it was quickly stopped by the formation outside, but the little crane still didn't give up and stubbornly kept crashing into it.

Fearing that the thing would damage him, Xu Cangyu caught it and brought it back.

"Don't run around, you can't break through this formation outside."

The little crane fluttered restlessly in his palm, very agitated. Xu Cangyu could only comfort it, "Wait, I'll think of a way to get you out."

If a little thing can't be tamed, let it go. At least it won't have to live a miserable life like him.

*

Lu Ming disappeared for a day, and reappeared precisely the next day.

Holding his daily bowl of bitter medicine, Xu Cangyu was completely absorbed in his work, not touching the bowl, but staring at his empty hands.

Lu Ming: "Junior brother, eating too many sweets is not good for you."

Xu Cangyu handed the empty food box to him. "With my immortal cultivation body, how could I die from eating sweets? Senior brother, if you don't want to buy me pastries every day and find it troublesome, just tell me. I still have some money that I can ask other senior brothers for help."

"Why are you looking for other senior brothers?" Lu Ming's voice was sharp, as if he had been stung. Realizing that he had lost his temper, he calmed down. "It's just a trip. How could a senior brother not have such patience? I was busy with sect affairs this morning and forgot to buy it for you."

"Take your medicine properly, I'll be right back."

Lu Ming carried the empty food box to Huifangzhai, but there were more people than usual today. He stood outside, squeezed by the crowd, when the food box in his hand suddenly moved. A flash of inspiration passed by, and he just tried to capture it with his spiritual power when he was pushed forward by the crowd. When he looked again, the trace of that thing had long since disappeared in the vast sea of ​​people.

He checked the still empty food box in his hand, wondering if he was being overly cautious, to the point of seeing threats everywhere.

Perhaps I misread it.

Normally, he would never be so sensitive, but he couldn't help feeling nervous when faced with what he was about to do.

Whether he steals Xu Zangyu's spiritual power or not, Xu Zangyu cannot retain his Nascent Soul cultivation. Only if he takes back that spiritual power can Xu Zangyu save his life.

Even if Xu Zangyu regains his memory in the future and harbors resentment and hatred, it was Lu Ming who saved his life.

Without him, Xu Zangyu would have died long ago.

Lu Ming didn't consider himself to have any moral bottom line, so he didn't feel much psychological burden doing this. He was just a little regretful that Xu Cangyu hadn't given up his heart willingly. Therefore, he needed some underhanded means to squeeze in.

The feeling of stealing is never as satisfying as the thrill of conquest.

*

The boy, dressed in green, disappeared into the flower bushes, idly fiddling with the flowers and plants. Crimson sap seeped into his fingers, making his long fingertips look as if they were coated with poison. Unfortunately, his hands were broken and sharp, unable to generate earth-shattering power, and could only fiddle with the fragile flowers and plants under his hands.

Xu Zangyu had been wandering around for half a day, but in the end he still returned to the same place. He secretly memorized every step Lu Ming had taken and tried to trace it again, but each time he was blocked by the winding flower bushes.

Damn this formation, it can only be broken with spiritual power?

The flowers behind him rustled, and Lu Ming exclaimed, "Junior brother?"

Withered branches and fallen flowers trampled all over the ground, Lu Ming asked with a smile, "Did these flowers offend Junior Brother?"

"I just wanted to go out and take a look, but I ended up wandering around here for ages." He stepped over the flowers without a trace of pity. "Even if my fellow disciples don't like me, are they going to kill me? What kind of coward am I, hiding here like a turtle?"

“...Junior brother.” Lu Ming looked at him helplessly, “You’re always so willful. You forget the hardships you suffered in the past. I’m not trying to restrain you, but your body can’t take any more damage.”

He put his arm around Xu Cangyu's shoulder and said, "I have found a way to save you. Before long, you can go wherever you want, Junior Brother."

"Really?" Xu Zangyu asked hesitantly, "What method?"

Lu Ming lowered the deep look in his eyes, "I am practicing a technique to calm the turmoil of spiritual energy. As long as my junior brother does not reject me, I can infuse my spiritual energy into him to heal him."

"That sounds interesting." Xu Cangyu took the food box from his hand, felt the bottom compartment, and found that the little crane inside was gone. This little thing can't understand human speech, but it's fast at running away.

"Senior brother, may I learn the techniques you are practicing?"

Lu Ming moved closer, his hand sliding to Xu Cangyu's waist. "As long as Junior Brother is willing, Senior Brother will do it."

Xu Cangyu turned his head away and walked out of the flower bushes, his expression not good. "What exactly is the cultivation technique that Senior Brother mentioned?"

His waist was locked from behind, and he heard Lu Ming utter two words.

"Dual cultivation".

"We are mutually attracted, and even if we were to consummate our relationship, it should have been a natural progression."

Xu Cangyu wanted to laugh, but couldn't even keep up the act. "If this is the only method, then it's fine not to understand it. I've only heard of the way of Yin and Yang in the world, but there is no way to attain the Dao through the union of two Yangs. Senior Brother, you must be mistaken. I only have respect for you, Senior Brother. If I were to ruin your Dao because of this, I would rather die."

Lu Ming's smile crumbled little by little. He thought Xu Cangyu was a womanizer who had been through many love affairs, but he didn't expect him to be such a stubborn and inflexible rock.

Men and women are nothing more than external shells, and the practice of dual cultivation is not limited to men and women.

Xu Zangyu wasn't afraid of death, so why would she be afraid of sleeping with a man?

"division--"

"Stop talking, I'm definitely not going down that crooked and evil path."

Lu Ming was furious at what he said, and his temper flared up instantly. He pulled the other person into his arms and said, "Whether you can do it or not, your senior brother will teach you."

He held a snow-white pill between his fingertips, emitting a faint, sweet fragrance. He hadn't originally wanted to use this hallucinogenic poison, but in the end, he had to.

Xu Zangyu is too stubborn; you can't pry him open without using some tricks.

Xu Zangyu has never been wrong in judging people; Lu Ming is no good, after pretending for so long, he finally stopped.

"Junior brother, listen to me, it's for your own good."

Even with his chin pinched until it turned red, Xu Zangyu still refused to loosen his grip. "...Who am I?"

Lu Ming: "It's not important. What's important is that you remember, I'm your only senior brother."

The pill was stuffed into Xu Zangyu's mouth. It was coated with sugar, and after it melted, the bitter taste immediately dissipated, making him want to vomit.

A barrage of sword energy attacked from behind, scattering red petals everywhere. A heavy killing intent surged towards Lu Ming's back. Lu Ming snapped out of his shock and drew his sword to defend, but the opponent's sword energy was simply too strong. Even though he was prepared, he was forced back a great distance.

What sent chills down his spine was that he seemed to have seen this kind of sword energy somewhere before.

The food box had long been split in two, and the delicate pastries had crumbled into powder. Only he still had the last intact piece in his hand.

Surrounded by chaotic sword energy, Xu Cangyu, who had no spiritual power, could only stand still. However, the sword energy that passed by him vanished in an instant.

Xu Cangyu didn't know who was causing trouble in the Qiushui Sect, but he was glad that this accident allowed him to take the opportunity to spit out the pill in his mouth.

"My junior brother, when did you become a member of the Autumn Water Sect?"

The voice was cold and distant, like ice held in your hand on a winter's day, yet Xu Cangyu couldn't help but turn around.

The sword-wielding youth, dressed in a plain robe, with sharp eyebrows and handsome eyes, was like a snow-covered mountain, melting away in the cold wind and upon contact with water.

The snowflakes drifted down and melted softly; they were indeed warm, even a little hot.

Xu Zangyu caught the boy's burning tears on the back of his hand.

"...I knew you wouldn't die."

Almost every word was hoarse, and though he tried his best to control himself, he couldn't stop the tears from welling up in his eyes. A small crane with flapping wings appeared behind him, flew half a circle, and landed on his shoulder. Xu Cangyu suddenly realized who had summoned the boy.

"Senior brother is late, but I will never lose you again."

He reached out, his movements extremely slow and careful, as if tentatively brushing aside the messy strands of hair on Xu Zangyu's forehead. Only after he had finished did he belatedly withdraw his hand.

The sword tip flipped, and the young man looked at the person behind him. A cold look reappeared in his eyes, and a storm was brewing beneath the surface. No longer suppressed, his killing intent swept towards Lu Ming.

The swordplay was instantaneous, swift as the wind, yet Xu Zangyu unexpectedly witnessed the entire duel between the two masters.

The young man's swordsmanship was conventional and powerful, but it became increasingly extreme as he progressed. Lu Ming was almost completely overwhelmed and had no chance to fight back. Lu Ming would eventually lose; it was just a matter of how long he could last.

"The Autumn Water Sect is indeed only capable of doing shameful things. They are despicable and vile, and they crave the empty reputation of saving people and helping others."

Lu Ming swallowed the blood that welled up in his throat and gritted his teeth, saying, "Something shameful? And what about you, Xiao Mingxin? Are your feelings for him open and aboveboard? You should have heard him, right? He said he doesn't like men,"

Xiao Mingxin's expression changed as expected, looking as embarrassed as if his tail had been stepped on.

They talk about being upright and honorable, but what they really think is exactly the same thing. If Lu Ming can't have it, no one else can either.

Lu Ming estimated the time; his master should have been alerted by now. But Xiao Mingxin suddenly took out a teleportation scroll, and in the blink of an eye, the three of them arrived at a wasteland.

It was only then that he felt a strong sense of crisis.

"Do you still want to kill me to cover it up? I have already sent a message to my master. Even if you kill me, my master will know that it was you who did it."

Xiao Mingxin's killing intent hadn't diminished; he still pierced Lu Ming's shoulder with his sword. Before he could deliver a final blow, Lu Ming's wrist was grabbed. Seeing the person behind him, Lu Ming couldn't help but feel a faint glimmer of hope.

Perhaps, Xu Zangyu did have a subtle concern for him.

But what he heard was an extremely bland statement.

"Don't ruin yourself for someone like that."

Lu Ming's body was covered in sword wounds, some deep and some shallow. Although his foundation wasn't destroyed, it would be enough for him to recuperate for a while. His hopes were shattered completely. He shouldn't have had such delusions. Xu Cangyu would speak up for him; he should have hated him.

Xu Zangyu didn't want this young man to take such a risk for him. The Qiushui Sect had a deep foundation and would definitely protect its disciple Lu Ming. Even if Lu Ming was wrong, the sect wouldn't allow him to be easily killed by others.

Xiao Mingxin saw the worry in his eyes, which helped her regain her composure from her anger. She wiped the blood off her sword, sheathed it, and unconsciously softened her voice.

"Alright, junior brother, let's go home."

"etc."

Lu Ming forced himself to get up, took out a whole pastry wrapped in a handkerchief from his pocket, and opened his mouth in an almost pleading tone, hoping that Xu Cangyu would be moved in the slightest.

"I've brought back the snacks you wanted."

Xu Zangyu glanced at it but showed no sign of being moved. "Using these desserts as a trick to coax people, but I have never said that I like sweets."

"Stop trying to move yourself. Keep this for yourself."

Xu Zangyu didn't linger or turn back. Lu Ming watched helplessly as the two figures walked further and further away, the sweet pastries he was holding were crushed to pieces.

What is stolen is always stolen.

Xu Zangyu never belonged to him from beginning to end.

Lu Ming gave a pathetic sneer, his eyes filled with malice. What was Tianyi Sect anyway? One of its disciples had already gone mad, and who could guarantee that the other wouldn't suffer any mishaps in the future? As long as Lu Ming climbed high enough, sooner or later Tianyi Sect would be trampled under his feet.

He will avenge the humiliation he has suffered today, bit by bit.

Clutching his injured shoulder, Lu Ming stumbled back, only to be met by a clumsy, lame lunatic who rammed into him. Lu Ming gasped in pain and kicked him, yelling, "Do you want to die?"

The madman raised his head, looked at Lu Ming, and suddenly became clear-headed. "It's you. You're from the Qiushui Sect. Jishengtang is your business. You're the ones who sold me fake medicine. My life savings are all gone. When I confronted you, I even had my leg broken."

"You owe me money, you owe me my leg."

As he shouted, several people immediately gathered around, pointing and gesturing at Lu Ming.

Lu Ming glanced at them and saw that they were all at the Foundation Establishment stage, and didn't take them seriously at all.

The group looked at him mockingly: "You got retaliated against for selling fake medicine at the Autumn Water Sect, huh? Tsk tsk... you must be seriously injured."

"You're unlucky enough to run into your creditor today. Don't even think about leaving alive until you pay the compensation."

Lu Ming laughed in anger, his heart surging with killing intent. "You bunch of trash?"

If he can't touch Xiao Mingxin, surely he can handle a few good-for-nothings. If he couldn't get a piece of flesh out of Xiao Mingxin today, he'll use these few blind fools as a sacrifice.

Just as he drew his sword, the space rippled, and a pale, lifeless face appeared beside him—a person Lu Ming knew all too well.

"You're sending me this message because you have news about my junior brother?"

The group looked ashamed. "No, no, Mr. Zhou, we don't want your money to find someone for us. Can you help us get revenge? The Qiushui Sect is really bullying us."

There are so many injustices in the world, and there's nowhere to turn. We're so busy ferrying away wronged souls and collecting evil spirits that we don't have the energy to care about the affairs of the living.

Zhou Hui did not want to get involved in personal grudges and disputes, but the name Qiushui Sect caught his attention.

He looked at the man, who was covered in wounds and exuded murderous intent, with some surprise. It turned out to be Lu Ming from the Qiushui Sect.

"The injuries on your body...were inflicted by people from the Tianyi Sect?"

The sword marks were observed using a technique from the Tianyi Sect.

"It's none of your business." With no way to get out of the way, Lu Ming knew he couldn't vent his anger today and had no desire to talk to anyone.

"Do you think you can leave?" Zhou Hui called out to him.

Lu Ming felt a chill. "What do you mean?"

"My foundation was damaged because of the fake medicine incident of Qiushui Sect, and I recuperated for five years. You're not going to just let this matter go, are you? You put forward a scapegoat who got whipped ten times, but I'm not stupid. I've collected my debt to Xu Zangyu, but I haven't collected my debt to Zhou Hui yet."

Several small paper figures were swung out of his hand, each holding a sword, and under his control, they surrounded Zhou Hui. Zhou Hui was already seriously injured and could hardly cope with his evil moves.

"If you dare to kill me, the Autumn Water Sect will not let you off."

Zhou Hui sneered indifferently, "Kill you? Hmph, death is such a simple thing, it's the struggle to survive that's real torment. The genius disciple of the Autumn Water Sect probably has never tasted the bitterness of being a cripple."

"You dare—"

Several swords pierced through his dantian, shattering his golden core beyond recognition, and the spiritual energy in his palms also suddenly dissipated.

Lu Ming knelt on the ground like a madman, shouting, "How dare you ruin my talent! Why didn't you kill me?"

Becoming a cripple is even more painful than Lu Ming dying. Without cultivation, how can he climb the ranks and get everything he wants? Without cultivation, he would have died in the trials long ago, just like his younger brother who died young.

Without his cultivation, he would become a useless person whom everyone could bully.

Lu Ming could no longer hear the taunts around him until that familiar voice appeared, his last savior.

Lu Ming crawled on his knees to Chen Shu, "Master, there's still hope for my dantian, right?"

Chen Shu examined the spiritual energy, his expression grave. He fed the erratic Lu Ming a pill, saying, "Save your own life. Xu Cangyu is indeed a jinx. I should have stopped you from bringing him back long ago."

Lu Ming was almost driven mad. His dantian was truly ruined, and even his master couldn't help him. No one could save him.

He drew his sword to commit suicide, but was stopped by Chen Shu's magic: "Lu Ming, don't do such a shameful thing."

Qiu Shui Zong couldn't bear the embarrassment of his disciple committing suicide; he couldn't even bring himself to die.