Chapter 56 Immortal Venerable Hanwei Emerges from Seclusion (Including Bonus Chapters) After Dual Cultivation, You...
A suffocating, deathly silence filled the air.
Xiao Bumian stared intently into Mingjian's eyes, trying to catch a trace of panic or evasion.
After a long while, Mingjian blinked gently.
Still somewhat shaken, after confirming he hadn't misheard, his voice trembled as he stammered, "I..."
Xiao Bumian suddenly smiled. His eyes shimmered, like a pool of shattered stars. He stretched out his slender, white fingertips and gently rubbed the corner of Mingjian's slightly reddened eyes, tilting his head with a hint of curiosity.
"Or... do you want to pretend you don't know?" His tone was soft, yet carried a hint of danger. "Lying isn't a good idea."
Mingjian: "..."
Okay, now that things have come to this point, if he keeps pretending to be stupid, he'll really become a fool.
However, he pretended not to recognize Xiao Bumian before, because at that time this yandere had been trying to kill him, so he had to be careful. Otherwise, he would probably be a dead soul under Xiao Bumian's sword by now.
But the situation is different now. Xiao Bumian doesn't seem to want to kill him, and even seems to like him quite a bit, so there's no harm in admitting it.
After weighing the pros and cons, and seeing that there was no point in going down this path anyway, he still honestly admitted, "I know."
Xiao Bumian laughed, his tone tinged with amusement. His eyes sparkled as he pressed, "Hmm... when did you recognize me?"
He was genuinely curious. How could Mingjian have recognized him so easily when they first met, given that he had revealed his true form?
Perhaps Ji Sui is not completely dead yet. A scourge can live for a thousand years. He himself has lived for so long, so Ji Sui will only live even longer.
But Ji Sui was probably seriously injured that time, which forced him to lie low for hundreds of years. Now that his injuries have healed a bit, he is probably itching to make a move again.
Mingjian is most likely one of their people. The reason he can recognize him is perhaps because Ji Sui once showed Ming a portrait of him as a child. After all, since setting foot on the immortal mountain, he has never shown his true face to anyone again.
Xiao Bumian was not worried about whether Mingjian had made a deal with Ji Sui.
Because Mingjian loved him, and in that bizarre dream, Mingjian even died protecting him.
Thinking of this, Xiao Bumian's lips unconsciously curled up.
It's alright. As long as Mingjian is willing to be honest, he won't blame him.
No matter what they use to coerce Mingjian into making a deal, he will always ensure that Mingjian lives a good life.
Mingjian fell silent.
What was he supposed to say?
Should he just say, "Because an unidentified orb of light in my brain that claims to be a system told me that"? Would Xiao Bumian think he'd gone astray in his cultivation and damaged his brain? Would Xiao Bumian believe such a bizarre thing?
Fine, Mingjian steeled himself, thinking that since things had come to this, he might as well say it. As for whether Xiao Bumian believed him or not, that was beyond his control.
He took a deep breath and said, "Oh, you know—beep beep—"
Xiao Bumian: "...?"
He frowned slightly, a clear look of doubt in his eyes.
Mingjian: "...?"
He was stunned. What was going on?
Just then, a cold, mechanical voice exploded in his mind without any emotion: [Warning! Warning! The host must not mention any information about the system's existence to the target, otherwise, he will be immediately punished by heavenly lightning!]
Upon hearing this, Mingjian's last bit of reckless courage was instantly extinguished, replaced by a raging fire of anger.
What if you want to kill the system?
Xiao Bumian looked down at him, puzzled, and asked, "What do I know?"
Mingjian, still unwilling to give up, gritted his teeth and tried again, "You know it's—beep—"
Once again, the sound was forcibly muted.
Before he could even finish speaking, Mingjian suddenly felt a sharp pain in his head, as if something had exploded. The intense pain made his vision go black, and a metallic taste instantly rose in his throat.
The system's anxious voice rang out: [Host! Do not attempt to defy the rules of Heaven again! You will be instantly annihilated!]
The sudden, excruciating pain that almost tore his soul apart finally brought Mingjian to his senses.
Mingjian forced back the blood that welled up in his throat, and met Xiao Bumian's eyes, which were wet with doubt, feeling incredibly frustrated.
He paused for a while before struggling to reorganize his thoughts, and after thinking for a moment, he mumbled, "Not long ago, just recently, the place you brought me to is the cave of Immortal Venerable Hanwei. I'm not stupid. I've been feeding you fish for years!"
Upon hearing this, the smile in Xiao Bumian's eyes gradually faded.
He couldn't understand why.
It's obvious why Mingjian is unwilling to tell the truth.
Did Ji Sui treat him better than he treated him?
Xiao Bumian's long eyelashes drooped slightly, making it impossible to see his expression.
Seeing that he no longer pressed for answers and remained silent, Ming waited anxiously for a while, carefully sensing the surroundings to make sure there was no murderous aura, before quietly letting out a sigh of relief.
They probably managed to fool them.
Although the process was somewhat brutal.
This damn broken system!
He asked cautiously, "So, what should I call you from now on? Immortal Venerable?"
Xiao Bumian was taken aback, then chuckled and said, "Whatever you like, you can call me Xie Hanwei."
Hmm, he was wondering how Mingjian would address him if he and Mingjian got married.
However, these thoughts only flashed through his mind. He didn't mind at all; Mingjian could call him however he wanted.
Mingjian nodded.
Calling him "Immortal Venerable" feels really strange; I'll stick to calling him Xie Hanwei from now on.
Speaking of this, Mingjian suddenly became curious. He leaned closer to Xiao Bumian, their breaths almost mingling, and asked, "Why is your surname Xie?"
If he remembered correctly, Xiao Bumian should have taken his mother's surname, Xiao, and Gu Weishen's surname, Gu. So, was the character "Xie" taken from his father?
For some inexplicable reason, Mingjian suddenly remembered that Xie Linzhao also had the surname Xie.
He wondered if Xiao Bumian's father was Xie Wuwang.
Mingjian was startled by his idea.
Xiao Bumian's eyes were deep and he looked at him silently for a moment before saying, "Well, I was seriously injured when I was young. The woman who saved me happened to be surnamed Xie, so I took her surname."
Upon hearing this, Mingjian's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, settled back down.
Thankfully, it wasn't.
But Mingjian wasn't so sure. He wondered, if his master could deduce Xiao Bumian's exceptional talent even when he was still in Xiao Yun's womb, and Xiao Yun was merely human, then how powerful and terrifying must Xiao Bumian's father's bloodline and strength have been to give birth to a half-demon?
They should have continued asking, but Mingjian didn't.
He didn't know if it was because of the fusion of their souls during their dual cultivation just now, but at this moment he felt an inexplicable sense of closeness to Xiao Bumian, and could even vaguely catch fragments of Xiao Bumian's emotions that remained deep in his mind.
A sense of world-weariness, listlessness, and despondency weighed heavily on him.
This feels like it's gone a bit too far.
All he wanted was to finish the task, get the reward, and then, as his master had instructed, live a good life.
Although in Xiao Bumian's fragmented memories, his master's image did not seem entirely positive, in Mingjian's own memories, his master treated him extremely well.
Before leaving, his master solemnly handed him the waist token of Jianming Immortal Mountain, paving the way for his future.
Despite her own selfish desires, she still refused to believe that the fragments of memory contained within were the whole truth.
At worst, he can just treat Xiao Bumian a little better in the future.
Mingjian said "Oh" and got off the bed. The surging spiritual energy flowing through his body made him feel novel and excited. He couldn't help but summon the spiritual root in his palm and look at it again and again. After taking a few steps, he couldn't help but open his palm again. He couldn't get enough of looking at the lustrous luster.
Xiao Bumian lay back on the bed, his eyes still glistening with the faint moisture from his earlier laughter. Looking at him like this, the corners of his lips curved up again: "It's just the third level of Foundation Establishment. If you cultivate with me, you'll only break through faster."
Mingjian: "..."
After a long while, he turned his head and glanced at Xiao Bumian, then said quietly, "Don't seduce me."
Xiao Bumian burst out laughing.
"Ha ha ha ha--"
Ming Jian forced a smile, but it didn't reach his eyes.
Xiao Bumian has probably gone mad.
He suddenly remembered that Gu Zhi had said he needed to see him a few days ago. At the time, he was preoccupied with the matter of cleansing his spiritual roots, so he casually made an appointment to meet again in a few days. He originally thought that the marrow cleansing would take at most a day, but who could have imagined that this ordeal would last for seven days and seven nights.
Mingjian hurriedly took out the Spirit Mirror.
Sure enough, the mirror surface flashed with spiritual light, and news of Gu Zhi surged out like a tidal wave, almost overwhelming his divine sense.
【？】
[Mingjian, where are you?]
[You promised to come find me at the outer disciples' courtyard in three days? Where are you?]
If you don't come out soon, I'm going to take all the pills and spirit stones hidden in your disciple's courtyard.
[Damn it! Where did you go?]
I originally wanted to ask Xie Hanwei, but I asked all the disciples in the academy, and there wasn't a single outer disciple named Xie Hanwei.
[...]
Mingjian was completely dumbfounded when he saw the dense messages.
Seeing him standing there in a daze, Xiao Bumian tilted her head and asked, "What are you thinking about?"
Ming's smile was forced, and he said weakly, "I'm wondering what the chances are of me being killed by Gu Zhi."
"Why would he kill you?" Xiao Bumian didn't quite understand.
Moreover, Mingjian's mood did not seem to be filled with fear.
Why wasn't he afraid when that guy named Gu Zhi wanted to kill him?
Mingjian remained silent.
Ever since he saw Xiao Bumian's childhood memories, the image of Xiao Bumian as a bloodthirsty and ruthless killer in his mind had crumbled. This person probably doesn't understand what a joke is or what the truth is.
Mingjian patiently explained to Xiao Bumian, using gestures and analogies, what constituted a joke and what constituted an exaggeration.
After a long while, Xiao Bumian finally nodded slowly, a hint of understanding flashing in his eyes, "Oh, I understand."
Ming felt a strange sense of emotion, and even a sense of relief that the child was teachable.
He thought to himself that if he could gradually teach Xiao Bumian to understand these ordinary human relationships, perhaps his obsessive and gloomy morbidity would also fade away, and he might be able to get on the right path in the future instead of indulging in the world-destroying demonic path.
Xiao Bumian tilted his head, a very subtle curve appearing at the corner of his lips, his tone soft to an almost eerie degree, "So, you still want to go out, is that right?"
Is this the key point?
Isn't the point that he was just joking and that Gu Zhi wouldn't kill him at all? Why is Xiao Bumian always so observant?
"Are you going out to find Gu Zhi?" Xiao Bumian asked again, his voice soft.
Ming hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "Yes, he had something to ask me before, we made an appointment."
"Why do you have to go?" Xiao Bumian's eyelashes drooped, casting a small shadow. "You just finished cultivating with me, shouldn't you stay by my side?"
“…” Mingjian’s ears burned instantly. He didn’t know where Xiao Bumian had heard this nonsense from, and he didn’t know how this person could say such things without changing his expression.
Although... although it is true that he slept with Xiao Bumian,
But wasn't that because Xiao Bumian tore his white bun first?
He stubbornly replied, "I think we both need some space to cool off; it's better for both of us." He then secretly prepared a whole host of rebuttals, waiting for Xiao Bumian to continue her nagging.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Bumian remained silent for a moment, then sighed with some regret, "Alright then."
His promise was so readily accepted that Mingjian was momentarily speechless, his prepared words stuck in his throat.
Mingjian bent down to pick up the moon-white robe beside the bed, hurriedly put it on, and tentatively asked, "Then... I'm really leaving?"
Xiao Bumian's tone was flat, revealing no emotion, as if he truly didn't care at all, "Okay, you can go."
This reaction inexplicably made Mingjian feel a little guilty.
Was he going too far? It seems that there is no rule that cultivators must stay together after dual cultivation, but Xiao Bumian is a half-demon. Could it be that the demon race has this custom?
The two remained silent, each lost in their own thoughts.
Not long after, Mingjian pushed open the door and left.
A gentle breeze was blowing outside, and sunlight streamed in through the window, illuminating the fine dust particles floating in the air.
The smile in Xiao Bumian's eyes completely vanished, disappearing without a trace.
His gaze fell on the long-neglected medicinal herb on the table.
Mingjian never saw it from beginning to end.
He sat alone on the edge of the couch, a strange and subtle feeling of bitterness quietly spreading from his heart. It wasn't sharp, but it slowly wrapped around him like vines, making it hard to breathe.
Xiao Bumian carefully savored this unfamiliar emotion. It wasn't anger, nor murderous intent, nor the clear and violent impulses of the past. It was softer, more viscous, carrying a silent, gnawing sensation that made him inexplicably restless and uneasy.
In the empty room, he pursed his lips very lightly.
So annoying.
How annoying.
—
"Mingjian, where have you been these past few days?" Gu Zhi held his sword, his ponytail swaying slightly as he tilted his head. His sky-blue inner disciple robes made him look even more spirited.
Within Sword Bright Immortal Mountain, the boundaries between disciples are clearly defined. The blue of the sky and the white of the moon are like an invisible chasm.
Therefore, when Mingjian and Guzhi stood side by side, they immediately attracted many curious glances.
"That looks like Mingjian, right? How come he's with Senior Brother Gu from Guiyi Peak?"
"Senior Brother Gu? Could it be Gu Zhi?"
"It's him."
"Isn't it said that Senior Brother Gu has a strange temper and especially looks down on disciples with low cultivation? He's clearly just a piece of trash at the sixth level of Qi Refining, so why does Senior Brother Gu treat him differently?"
Gu Zhi suddenly glanced at them, his indifferent gaze sweeping over the whispering disciples.
Those people immediately fell silent as if they had been choked, and hurriedly lowered their heads and walked away.
Mingjian didn't feel anything, mainly because he was already at the third level of Foundation Establishment, which was similar to the cultivation level of inner disciples like Gu Zhi. So no matter what they said, they couldn't cause Mingjian any harm.
Mingjian yawned and said lazily, "I went to my cultivation cave and accidentally entered a state of deep meditation. When I woke up, I realized that so much time had passed. Sorry, Guzhi."
This situation is not uncommon among cultivators in the cultivation world when they are too focused on their cultivation. Gu Zhi had experienced it once before, and a month had passed since he left the outside world. Hearing this, he nodded understandingly and reluctantly said, "Alright."
He circled Mingjian twice, keenly sensing the difference in his aura, and raised an eyebrow to ask, "What is your cultivation level now?"
Mingjian never intended to hide his talents.
On the one hand, his next breakthrough is far off, and he needs to remove the remaining miscellaneous spiritual roots, which will take an unknown number of years.
On the other hand, if one's cultivation level is comparable to that of an inner disciple, the chances of entering the inner sect are naturally greater. Once inside the inner sect, one can have their own private cave dwelling and no longer have to squeeze into the noisy courtyard with the outer disciples.
This would also save him from subconsciously thinking about going to Xiao Bumian's place to sleep.
He calmly opened his palm, and a surge of spiritual energy flowed out. A translucent, light green spiritual root slowly solidified, hovering in his palm and emanating the stable aura of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Gu Zhi was still holding his sword, casually looking around, but when he saw the solid and lustrous spiritual root in Mingjian's palm, his pupils suddenly shrank, and the nonchalant expression on his face was instantly replaced by shock.
"What have you been doing these past few days?!" he blurted out, his voice filled with disbelief. "How did you suddenly break through to the third level of Foundation Establishment?!"
Mingjian sighed silently in his heart.
See? Gu Zhi's reaction is normal. Only a monster like Xiao Bumian would complain that he's breaking through realms too slowly.
He flicked his wrist, retracted his spiritual root, chuckled mysteriously, turned his head and lowered his voice, and began to fabricate a story, "An opportunity I encountered in the merman ruins."
For things that can't be explained, always attribute them to chance; that's always the right thing to do.
Could he possibly claim that he obtained it through dual cultivation with the legendary, aloof, and celibate Immortal Venerable Hanwei?
If he were to say those words aloud, he probably wouldn't have taken two steps before being hacked to pieces by Xiao Bumian's fanatical worshippers at Jianming Immortal Mountain.
Oh, the first one to draw his sword might just be the ancient branch right in front of us.
As expected, Gu Zhi nodded upon hearing this, though there was still some surprise and doubt in his eyes, accepting this most universal reason in the cultivation world, "So that's how it is."
"That's perfect." He changed the subject and grabbed Mingjian's wrist. "I came to find you because my master said he wants to take you as an inner disciple. He'll probably be even happier if he sees that your cultivation has reached the third level of Foundation Establishment."
Seeing that Ming didn't immediately agree, he stared at Gu Zhi for a couple of seconds, then suddenly asked very sincerely, "Guiyi Peak...do you have any private rooms?"
Guzhi: "?"
His face showed utter confusion: "What is a private room?"
Mingjian: "..."
That damn system is ruining him! It keeps chanting strange and unusual words into his consciousness, causing them to slip out unintentionally.
He had to rephrase his question, "I mean, can each disciple of Guiyi Peak have their own private cave dwelling?"
“Oh, you mean this?” Furuichi said confidently, “Of course there is.”
Mingjian was relieved: "That's good."
He wasn't picky; entering the inner sect was already part of his plan, but he hadn't expected it to happen so quickly. For a moment, he even felt a little smug.
He followed Gu Zhi towards Guiyi Peak, but before they had gone far, a sword light streaked across the sky with considerable force. Ming Jian and Gu Zhi were a bit too far apart, so they made way for the person.
Unexpectedly, the man stopped not far from them and jumped off his sword.
Mingjian looked around and realized that the people who had come were Shi Lian and Xie Linzhao.
Mingjian blinked gently.
Gu Zhi frowned, a bad premonition suddenly rising in his heart. He subconsciously stepped forward, shielding Ming Jian tightly behind him, his tone filled with obvious wariness.
"Shi Lian? This is the road to Guiyi Peak. What are you doing here?"
Shi Lian, dressed in a green robe with a jade hairpin in his hair, exuded a gentle and refined air. Xie Linzhao, standing beside him, was still surrounded by a faint, almost imperceptible demonic aura. His face was expressionless, and his eyes were indifferent, as if his patience had long since run out.
Shi Lian's lips curved into a gentle smile. She completely ignored the ancient branch blocking her path, turning her gaze to Ming Jian behind her. Her voice was clear and earnest.
"Junior Brother, we were very grateful to you for your help in the Merfolk Ruins last time. My father and I discussed your situation in detail, and we both believe that a cultivator's ability cannot be judged solely by their cultivation level. My father intends to take you on as his last disciple. I wonder if you would be willing?"
Guzhi: "..."
He knew it!
The people from Tingyun Peak usually look down on Guiyi Peak the most. Relying on being the direct descendants of the sect leader and having abundant cultivation resources, they openly and secretly steal many of the disciples that Guiyi Peak had its eye on.
It's one thing on ordinary days, but this time they actually dared to lay their hands on Akemi? Koji was furious and could barely contain her temper.
He narrowed his eyes and said, "No, Guiyi Peak spoke to Mingjian first."
Shi Lian, however, was unwilling to give in. This was the first time his father had ever asked to take on a disciple, and he himself greatly admired Mingjian's keen intuition displayed in the merman ruins. He felt that if Mingjian could accompany him on his future travels down the mountain, it would surely be twice as effective.
Although he felt somewhat apologetic to Furuie, at this moment, Akira's own wishes were clearly more important.
He maintained his smile, but his tone left no room for doubt, "Senior Brother Gu, that may be true, but in the end, it will probably be up to Junior Brother to decide."
As soon as he finished speaking, three pairs of eyes focused on Mingjian.
Mingjian: "..."
Wait, when did he become so sought after? This sudden favor left him somewhat at a loss.
Ming smiled awkwardly and said, "Wait... let me think."
Gu Zhi held the sword, gave a soft snort, and although somewhat unwilling, still said, "Hmph, then you'd better think about it quickly."
He didn't say much, knowing full well that the cultivation resources at Tingyun Peak were indeed superior to those at Guiyi Peak. If Mingjian chose Tingyun Peak to advance to a higher level, he could understand.
At this moment, Mingjian's mind was in complete chaos.
No, it should be the system giving instructions.
[Host, you absolutely must choose Tingyun Peak. Do you remember what I said? You will become the disciple of Sect Leader Shi Yan. To make it easier to advance through the storyline later, choosing Tingyun Peak is clearly the more suitable option for you.]
[There are several important plot points here, host, don't hesitate, just agree to Shi Lian's request.]
Just then, a pure white beam of light suddenly shot into the sky from the direction of Evernight Mountain not far away.
The beam of light was imposing, containing an indescribable chilling sword intent and pressure, as if it would push aside the surrounding mountains.
Immediately afterwards, a deep and ancient bell rang out, resounding through the sky and echoing clearly in every corner of Jianming Immortal Mountain.
The air froze instantly, and all whispers vanished.
After a brief silence, someone gasped in shock, their voice distorted with utter astonishment:
"It's the Mountain of Never Night! It's the direction of the Mountain of Never Night! Immortal Venerable Hanwei... it's Immortal Venerable Hanwei who has emerged from seclusion!"
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