Chapter 28
During the days that Chu Xianyue used him as a guinea pig to test new dishes, he wanted to transform into "Xie Jingze" every day: "Even if I, Xie Wen, starve to death, die outside, or jump off this building, I will not eat a single thing from you, Chu Xianyue!"
Xie Wen opened her eyes wide, and saw thick smoke billowing from the opposite building, a horrific sight that filled her with despair. If Chu Xianyue had truly done all this for her sake, then she was truly guilty.
There's a saying that goes: the way to a woman's heart is through her stomach. But nobody's telling you to force-feed her! Hey!
Xie Wenzhen didn't back down at all. Sitting on the open-air pavilion, looking at the food that was being served, Xie Wenzhen looked up at Chu Xianyue and said, "I'll confess. What do you want? I'll confess, okay?"
Chu Xianyue said casually, "No."
As Chu Xianyue spoke, he calmly went back into the house, brought out a bowl and chopsticks, and served Xie Wen a bowl of rice, placing it lightly on the table with a thud. Then, without paying any attention to Xie Wen, he began to eat slowly and deliberately.
To be honest, Chu Xianyue's cooking wasn't really a biological weapon. Xie Wen exaggerated a bit, but he wasn't wrong at all! This bastard learned how to fry eggs, and since then, he's been eating fry eggs for every meal for almost a week!
Xie Wen stared at Chu Xianyue with a complicated expression, and scoffed. She'd practically eaten egg yolks; he'd probably devoured the chicken's entire lineage. Didn't he get tired of it at all?
Xie Wen's eyes darted around. Yun Yan had accepted a commission from the foot of the mountain a few days ago to exorcise evil spirits. He should be back soon. If Yun Yan knew that his incomparably good master could cook, he would probably be moved to tears, taking it as an imperial favor, and then eat it all.
Xie Wen, biting her chopsticks, propped her head up and sized up Chu Xianyue. Chu Xianyue finally paid attention to her, giving Xie Wen a look, "What's wrong?"
Xie Wen smiled and said, "Junior Brother should be back soon. Of course, we should invite him over to try your cooking, Master."
Chu Xianyue couldn't help but think that Xie Wen had ill intentions and was probably up to some trick again. Chu Xianyue paused for a moment, then said calmly, "Whatever."
A sly smile appeared on Xie Wen's lips. She used the telepathic technique she had learned a few days ago to send a message to Yun Yan, "Junior brother, Fei Ying Pavilion. Master is looking for you."
Xie Wen has finally figured out a trick to control Yun Yan. Although Yun Yan seems difficult to deal with, all he needs to do is bring up Chu Xianyue. Now, Xie Wen is quite adept at this kind of "borrowing power" tactic, and it works flawlessly every time.
When Yun Yan arrived, she was deeply moved to learn that her master had personally prepared a meal to welcome her back, and her eyes sparkled as she looked at Chu Xianyue.
Xie Wen watched with great interest as Yun Yan sat down, picked up a golden but shriveled egg with his chopsticks, and put it into his mouth. The next second, Yun Yan's expression changed slightly. In a short moment, his fair face flashed with a mixture of red and blue, but he quickly suppressed it and put on a smile again, trying his best to make himself look less abnormal.
Fake.
Chu Xianyue, a man with such keen insight into people's hearts, could tell at a glance that Yun Yan's feigned composure was anything but natural. Chu Xianyue didn't expose her, not even giving her a glance, and continued as before.
Xie Wen: What a heartless Yue. She deliberately let Yun Yan eat more.
However, there were only so many dishes to begin with, and if Yun Yan ate them all, Xie Wen wouldn't have any left to eat. Hehe.
In the end, Yun Yan ate most of it. He forced a smile, but his stomach was churning.
Xie Wen inwardly gloated while simultaneously despising Chu Xianyue's heartlessness. He probably couldn't eat it himself either. It was just a pity for Yun Yan. Tsk tsk.
After they had finished eating, Chu Xianyue said seriously, "Xie Wen, you've been here for a while now. You've learned enough magic to barely pass the tests. In a few days, you'll come down the mountain with me and enter the world."
Xie Wen was slightly taken aback. Come to think of it, she hadn't actually gone down the mountain yet. Disciples of major sects, once their cultivation reached a certain level, were required to descend the mountain to answer petitions from the people, punish the wicked, and eliminate demons to protect the righteous path.
Xie Wen was quite willing. After studying on the mountain for so long, it was time for him to put his skills to practical use. The thought of descending the mountain and slaughtering all evil spirits, leaving none alive, suddenly made Xie Wen's blood boil!
Yun Yan, who had never descended the mountain with Chu Xianyue before, exclaimed, "!?"
Yun Yan hesitated, as if he wanted to speak but then stopped. Although he had just returned from the mountain a few days ago, he hadn't gone down with his master. This was completely different!
Before Yun Yan could even speak, Chu Xianyue had already sensed her thoughts and casually asked, "Yun Yan, would you like to come with us?"
Yun Yan couldn't be happier! He nodded repeatedly, and only after his excitement subsided did he remember to ask, "Master, why are you suddenly going down the mountain to enter the mortal world as well?"
In Yun Yan's memory, Chu Xianyue rarely went down the mountain. He was a core member of the Tianyan Sword Sect, and the entrance to the Netherworld behind Feiying Pavilion still needed him to guard it.
And so, day after day, he repaired the crack in the barrier. But the crack seemed like a bottomless pit, impossible to completely fill. It outlasted several generations of the Chu family.
It's likely that Chu Xianyue will end up like this. He'll spend the rest of his life guarding this entrance. And his descendants will probably face the same fate. The Chu family bloodline has always possessed extraordinary talent for cultivation; every member of the Chu family has always been an outstanding individual. With great power comes great responsibility; they must guard the barrier, and only they can do it.
Only them.
People gave the immortal who guarded the barrier at the entrance to the underworld a beautiful name, "Xian Shu" (仙曙), meaning the dawn of the celestial and mortal realms. While bringing him endless praise and respect, he was also the culprit who trapped a person.
If given the choice, who would want to be confined to this small space for their entire life?
If he wants to leave, who can stop him?
It's all driven by a sense of responsibility and mission.
Chu Xianyue's descent from the mountain this time is definitely not as simple as just returning to the world as it appears. Xie Wen thought that after what happened at Xiaojing Lake not long ago, another aspect of this trip down the mountain was also related to investigating the Mei family tragedy.
Their endless deductions and speculations from this hilltop might not be as helpful as going there themselves. Although it happened more than a decade ago, asking around might still yield some clues.
However, Yun Yan didn't think of this immediately. He was so excited about being able to go down the mountain with his master that he calmed down a lot during this time. Xie Wen also benefited from this and finally stopped bothering her every day to have a competition.
Xie Wen was about to experience his first time—his first time descending the mountain. Hearing that he would be slaying demons and evil spirits, he felt an irresistible urge, as if he were about to go to the battlefield to kill Japanese soldiers.
In the days that followed, she practiced her sword and spear even more diligently, imagining herself as a general about to go to battle, and was extremely excited.
Chu Xianyue couldn't help but laugh when he saw Xie Wen's expression. What was he even doing?
He took a rare moment of leisure and came to the bamboo forest where Xie Wen practiced her sword, watching her practice with great interest. The bamboo forest, which blocked out the sky, was swept away layer by layer by Xie Wen's sword energy, swirling and rising into the sky. Xie Wen held the Yao Fang sword, and her moves were without rules or mental techniques, all coming from her own heart.
Chu Xianyue abandoned his composure and leaned casually against the bamboo, arms crossed, somewhat resembling Xie Wen's usual lazy demeanor. He said in a low voice, "Xie Wen, can't I just give you my seat?"
Because Xie Wen suddenly became so motivated, Chu Xianyue could not think of any other reason besides that she was trying to "seize power and usurp the throne".
Xie Wen smiled and said, "If I really take it, you won't be happy."
Chu Xianyue looked at Xie Wen with the eyes of someone looking at a rebellious disciple, "Alright, let's give it a try. He hasn't made any progress these days."
As Chu Xianyue spoke, a long sword pierced the sky, and a figure in blue instantly appeared beside Xie Wen. Xie Wen dodged and blocked with his sword. The two swords clashed, and the clanging sound echoed through the bamboo forest.
Immediately afterwards, Chu Xianyue changed his sword moves. His cyan figure was so fast that it seemed to merge with the bamboo forest. If Xie Wen didn't have some skill, he really wouldn't be able to tell where the person was or where the sword was.
Xie Wen has trained for so long; he's not just doing this for nothing.
She quickly adjusted her breathing, not using her eyes to see, but using her heart to feel the sword intent and sword energy.
She changed her moves and swordsmanship. Although Chu Xianyue had taught Xie Wen these techniques, Xie Wen's memories of the original owner's learning and knowledge were completely disrupted. She relied solely on instinct; every move and stance came from her heart and instinct, so there were no fixed rules or sword techniques. Chu Xianyue had no idea what her next move would be or where her next sword would appear.
However, for Chu Xianyue, these were merely child's play. Don't forget, if Xie Wen was considered talented in swordsmanship, then Chu Xianyue was a genius. A genius in swordsmanship. He too could create new moves effortlessly, and his attacks stemmed solely from his own will, unconstrained by any fixed sword techniques.
Thus, the two of them wielded their swords with great enjoyment.
I don't understand your swordsmanship techniques, and you don't know where my next strike will come from. The two of them exchanged blows, and under the powerful sword energy of the two, the vast expanse of lush green bamboo forest on Yu Mountain was swept by howling winds, bringing rain and swirling green bamboo leaves. Large clumps of green bamboo leaves flew up and down, forming a huge green bamboo leaf cloud above Yu Mountain, swirling and dancing in the air, rippling across the sky and the ground.
Only a few disciples noticed the unusual color above Yushan Mountain, and at first, no one paid any attention. Until the bamboo leaves in that bamboo grove were about to be completely stripped bare, Fang Jue, the eldest disciple in charge of the grove, was on the verge of death. He rushed over in a panic, intending to drag the person who maliciously damaged the bamboo grove to the Discipline Department for a severe dressing-down.
Upon arriving at the location, amidst the majestic sword energy and gusts of wind in the bamboo forest, the master and apprentice, while facing off with their swords, glanced at him and asked: "What do you want?"
The disciple quickly retreated, saying, "It's nothing, it's nothing." It turned out that Immortal Venerable Qingheng was sparring with Senior Sister Xie Wen. Then it's alright.
Finally, as dusk fell, the crimson sun dyed the entire bamboo forest red. Amidst the swirling bamboo leaves, Chu Xianyue had nearly finished training with Xie Wen and unleashed his final strike. He slashed the Nine Heavens Sword into the sky, and Xie Wen parried with his own sword. Chu Xianyue closed in, pinning Xie Wen against a bamboo stalk. The sword pressed down with a moderate pressure, but Xie Wen gritted his teeth and held on tightly, inch by inch. He was relentlessly pressed down by the man in front of him, and the poor bamboo behind him bent under the weight, inch by inch, bending, bending.
The sword pressed down slowly, and the sound of the bamboo bending under its weight was crisp and clear.
Xie Wen's waist was bent under the weight of the bamboo, eventually contorting into an odd posture. The person before him, with a hint of amusement in their eyes, watched Xie Wen's predicament with amusement. They had trained with Xie Wen for so long, and his morale had certainly risen considerably, but wasn't it time to recognize his own limitations?
Chu Xianyue was quite happy to hear her admit defeat and beg for mercy.
Unexpectedly, Xie Wen took advantage of Chu Xianyue's unpreparedness, dodged, and in an instant, Yao Fang Sword appeared at Chu Xianyue's neck.
Chu Xianyue raised his sword to block, his smile deepening. He sheathed his sword, causing the bamboo leaves behind him to flutter and dance in the wind. "Not bad."
Would this be considered the highest praise from Chu Xianyue?
How rare it is to hear the word "not bad" from Chu Xianyue's mouth. That means it's actually very good! Xie Wen was in a good mood. He turned the Yaofang Sword into a fan, twirled the fan with his index finger, and moved closer to Chu Xianyue. Under the setting sun, the two walked side by side, returning home together.
Xie Wen, cracking a joke in a flippant tone, said, "Hey, you know..."
Chu Xianyue: "..."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
