Chapter 32 Old Friend's Village What did he call you, Brother Jiang Yu? ...
"Jiang Yu, don't go too far. No matter what, I am Jiu Xu's senior brother. Don't threaten me with a sword all the time. Do you think I'm easily scared?"
Upon hearing this, Lian Quesheng chuckled again, laughing so hard he couldn't stand up. He stretched out his hands to the west window, gesturing for help, "Good disciple, pull me up."
West Window: ...
If he wasn't mistaken, the more he heard "good disciple," the more awkward it sounded. Where did Lian Quesheng learn this strange, sarcastic tone? Could it be that Young Master Shen had imparted his experience to him?
"Elder Lian, don't take it so seriously. I've already said I'm just practicing with the sword. Is that wrong? Many of Shen Wuke's disciples are waiting for me to guide them in swordsmanship. Now, practicing for a while in front of Elder Lian, you can benefit from it too, can't you?"
Lian Quesheng silently gave Jiang Yu a thumbs up from behind; Jiang Yu was indeed very good at speaking.
"Elder Lian is getting old and doesn't have much talent. He should find a master to guide him. It's a pity that True Man Wenling ascended early, and even his junior brother Jiu Xu has ascended. Elder Lian can't find someone to guide him anymore. I'm a kind-hearted person and originally wanted to help the elder, but I've been too busy lately. Otherwise, I would have considered taking Elder Lian as my disciple and teaching him a few moves."
Jiang Yu sat leisurely in the chair, even pushing a cup of tea on the table to Shen Jiuxu, "I got up too early and didn't sleep well last night. Have a cup of tea to wake up."
Lian Feng's face turned as black as charcoal, and he said angrily, "Even when Shen Jiuxu was here, the matter of Shen Wuke was discussed by the sect leader and elders. This kid has just arrived, what does he know about the rules? I am making a decision for him now, I am teaching him."
"Besides, the matter of the old friend's manor is already difficult to handle. Letting a greenhorn like him go there, aren't you afraid of ruining the reputation of Shen Wuke?" After saying that, he glared fiercely at Chu Jue, who had brought up the matter.
Chu Jue knew that this was a matter for other sects, and although he was the sect leader of one of the three major sects, he could not forcibly interfere.
But Lian Quesheng, that unreliable apprentice, only knows how to cause trouble for him all day long. He insists on having him sit in charge, claiming that "my two friends have no parents and no master by their side. It's so pitiful that they are being bullied."
He stood at the back watching Jiang Yu and Shen Qinggui. Although he had only met Shen Qinggui once, his courage and ability to marry Jiang Yu in front of everyone yesterday were not to be underestimated.
In addition, given how similar he looks to Sect Leader Shen, and considering that Chu Jue has been the sect leader for many years and has managed to cultivate a disciple like Lian Quesheng, he is certainly no ordinary person. His cunning is probably more numerous than the holes in a lotus pod.
He had already seen through the truth. Lian Quesheng seemed to point to someone casually, but in reality, he had probably carefully selected someone and planned it out in advance.
So this matter is none of his concern.
"Elder Lian, what you said makes some sense. However, although I am happy to help others, I am also the kind of person who dislikes arguing the most."
Jiang Yu smiled and said, "The matter of the old friend's manor is so troublesome, and so many disciples have fallen into trouble. I suppose relying solely on Elder Lian's cultivation level will probably be a waste of effort."
“Dianxing, I remember when we made the coffin for Jiuxu, there was a batch of wood left over. If Elder Lian really wants to go, why don’t we give it to him first?”
"We might be able to use it in a couple of days."
Shen Qinggui listened from the side, and couldn't help but laugh. He added, "How about we prepare two? I remember Elder Lian has a brother, and they have a deep bond."
Lian Quesheng laughed so hard he almost rolled on the ground. Hearing his brotherly affection, Lian Feng suddenly realized that the person he had been searching for all day was probably in Shen Qinggui's hands.
After Lian Gu was taken away by Shen Qinggui, he was casually handed over to Li Ye and the others, who were told to find a place to hide him. As a result, he was sent to Chunfeng Pavilion.
Jiang Yu was unaware of this matter. The two brothers rarely appeared together, so he didn't take it to heart. But now, judging from Shen Jiuxu's tone, he realized that this person was utterly wicked.
Everyone in the hall stared expectantly at Lian Feng.
"I was overthinking it. With a young talent like Young Master Shen and Young Master Jiang by his side, dealing with this little matter at Old Friend Manor will be a piece of cake," Lian Feng said, swallowing his anger.
Go ahead, it would be best if you died there, then he'd be spared trouble.
He agreed to everything, and the others who were relying on their seniority quieted down. In the end, it was decided that Jiang Yu and Shen Qinggui would go together.
Just as it was time to set off, Lian Quesheng rushed over in a panic, not forgetting to bring Xichuang and Ye Zishan along, saying, "I want to go too. I finally managed to convince my master to let me train with you guys."
Actually, he wanted to learn the techniques of finding a Daoist partner from Shen Jiuxu. Before, when it was Shen Jiuxu, he and Jiang Yu had known each other for several years. Although he didn't know exactly when they got together, they didn't get married after knowing each other for only a few days like they did now.
This is too fast. There must be some special trick involved. Considering his and Xichuang's future, Lian Quesheng thought it over and over and finally decided to follow them and learn properly.
Shen Qinggui remained expressionless. Lian Quesheng was satisfied, but what if he was a little dissatisfied?
It was supposed to be just the two of them, Jiang Yu, but suddenly a whole bunch of people showed up. If they were halfway there, Jiang Yu would have to find a secluded spot to hug and kiss him, otherwise, if she turned around, she'd see a bunch of wide-eyed heads.
His disdain was so obvious that even Quesheng knew his problem, so he could only pull out his trump card and say generously, "I'll cover all your accommodations and food along the way."
No one spoke; everyone was satisfied now.
Once outside the territory of Shenwuke, the cliffs and precipices lessened considerably, and shimmering lakes were everywhere. Since swords could not be used in crowded areas, Lian Quesheng chartered a painted boat. The boat, with its vermilion sides and yellow glazed tile roof, was resplendent in gold and jade.
Jiang Yu sat at the stern, pondering the matter of his old friend's manor. Shen Qinggui had been pulled away by Lian Quesheng at some point, acting mysteriously and even deliberately avoiding Jiang Yu.
In the end, they're just asking about things from storybooks!
Jiang Yu was already familiar with their routine. When he and Shen Jiuxu had just gotten married, Lian Quesheng was out of touch with the news, or rather, he lacked any sense of propriety.
He and Shen Jiuxu never hid from each other in front of Lian Quesheng; they always hugged and kissed normally. Unfortunately, the man just couldn't tell.
It's not entirely Jiang Yu and Shen Jiuxu's fault for being so unkind. Later, he even suspected that Lian Quesheng might have an eye problem, so he took the initiative to find a doctor to examine him. However, the doctor only said that cultivators are generally healthy and have no ailments.
Therefore, it can only be said that Lian Quesheng is too stupid.
"Young Master Jiang."
West Window brought over a plate of pastries. "These are from a shop near Starry Sky Palace. They're not available around here, so Master specially invited someone to make them. Try them, they taste great."
Thank you.
This was the first time he had ever heard Xi Chuang call Lian Quesheng "Master." The fact that his unreliable friend was being addressed as "Master" by the person he liked made Jiang Yu feel as if he had opened the door to a new world. He hesitated to speak, feeling strange about everything.
"Young Master Jiang—"
Xi Chuang noticed his unusual behavior and waved his hand in front of him. "What's wrong? Did you not like the pastries?"
"Hmm...hmm, delicious. It looks expensive." Jiang Yu snapped out of his reverie, his eyes darting around. After all, if the junior in front of him knew what he was thinking, where would he put his face?
"What is Young Master Jiang thinking about? He seems distracted." Xi Chuang was very understanding, much better than his master. He reached out and pulled over a stool, sitting down and pretending to listen attentively.
The disciples of Star Palace always wore flamboyant attire: pale yellow, narrow-sleeved, round-necked robes paired with a black belt, from which hung a round jade pendant that jingled as they walked. It was often said that even if a Star Palace disciple ran out of money on the road, they could sell this jade pendant and get over a thousand taels of silver.
Jiang Yu was almost dazzled and hesitated before asking, "How did you and Lian... how did you meet?"
Jiang Yu remembered that his friend had once boasted that he was still young and would take on a disciple and train him properly when he was old and gray, so that the disciple could inherit his mantle.
Xi Chuang smiled, looking very quiet and shy. He didn't seem like Lian Quesheng's apprentice at all. Jiang Yu always felt that Lian Quesheng had forced him to become his apprentice.
"I took the initiative to become his disciple."
Xi Chuang slowly recounted, "My master is my savior. Without him, I would not be who I am today. When I was only four or five years old, my family was poor, so they left me alone on the mountain. I was starving for several days. Later, my master found me by chance, gave me a lot of money, and sent me to the Lian family to be raised. Otherwise, I would have died long ago."
"You two have known each other for so long?"
Jiang Yu had never heard Lian Quesheng mention this before. He thought that Lian Quesheng had only taken on this disciple in the last two years. But something felt even stranger. His savior had become his master?
Lian Quesheng seems a bit shameless.
“My master’s mother always took care of me. I called him my elder brother for many years. Later, he went to Xingchenque and was rarely home. So I thought I would stay by his side to take care of him. By a twist of fate, I became his disciple.”
Jiang Yu: ...?
This relationship is really complicated. He underestimated Lian Quesheng. Jiang Yu pursed his lips and remained silent. This was just like an experience from a storybook. Moreover, he felt that the look in Xi Chuang's eyes when he talked about Lian Quesheng was obviously different.
Is this really a proper master-disciple relationship?
“I’ve heard my master mention you and Sect Leader Shen before, but we haven’t been able to meet. Now that I’ve met Young Master Jiang, I realize you two are really good friends. On behalf of Madam Lian, I thank Young Master Jiang. My master is away from home all year round, and his personality is unruly. It’s all thanks to you all for always being there for him and for tolerating him.”
When Xi Chuang spoke these words, his face was full of gentleness, which made Jiang Yu feel even more uneasy. Was this really something his disciple would say? He tentatively asked, "You... do you like Lian Quesheng?"
The two remained silent for a long time before Xichuang stood up, bowed, and said, "These were originally unsavory thoughts, but I didn't expect Young Master Jiang to see through them. Please keep it a secret for me. Someone like my master is not meant for me."
You two are acting like you're crazy!
Jiang Yu was speechless, but still agreed. Just then, Lian Quesheng pulled Shen Jiuxu over, looking smug, and said, "I knew it. Someone as smart as me can easily read those storybooks."
"I can tell whether someone likes me or not just by looking at them standing in front of me."
Lian Quesheng scoffed at the mountain of storybooks, completely oblivious to Jiang Yu's gaze, which held a mixture of disdain and pity.
However, Jiang Yu quickly came to terms with it. With him and Shen Jiuxu around, and the master and disciple being mutually in love, there shouldn't be any problems; it was just a matter of time.
And so, the group of people, each with their own ulterior motives, arrived at the old friend's village. It was a desolate place, with empty houses everywhere and rows of withered chives growing in the mud fenced-off areas.
"How come there's no one here?"
Lian Quesheng randomly found a house at the entrance of the village, went in and knocked on the door. Sure enough, there was no sound for a long time. The village was surrounded by towering trees, but they did not see a single bird.
"Are mountain demons that powerful?"
Jiang Yu looked around. There were still some traces of life left here. It was clear that there had been many villagers before, and there were even a few footprints left on the muddy path in front of the house.
“Dianxing told me before that after the disciples of the Jiuxu Sect arrived at Guren Village, they didn’t see any mountain demons at all. During those nights, they kept watch in the forest and only heard the wind rustling through the leaves. Then their eyes were blinded and they couldn’t see anything clearly.”
"Waaaaah—"
The firewood pile suddenly went out. The night was already chilly, and with a gust of wind, the disciples all wrapped themselves tighter in their clothes. They couldn't see the moon that night, only large patches of dark clouds. They were staying in a cave, thinking that if it rained, they could take shelter there.
"Are there really mountain demons? The cultivation levels of plant spirits are usually very low, and they can't do anything harmful. Several people have died in the village one after another, and I don't think it was them who did it."
The younger disciple asked Qingfeng beside him, "When I was in the library, the books I found all said that most mountain demons are gentle in nature, rely on the moonlight at night to cultivate, and do not harm people."
Qingfeng was someone Shen Jiuxu had specially chosen to guard the hall, just like Dianxing. However, since the mission was simple this time and the disciples sent to Guren Village were all newly recruited, he was asked to come along and give some pointers.
"Plants and trees have spirits. I have only read one very old book, which was given to me by Sect Master Shen. It records that there is a divine tree in the world. Its fragrance is so strong that it can make evil spirits retreat. It can also purify the mind and enlighten the spirit. Its branches and leaves can revive the dead and heal the bones. It is a pity that no one has found it to this day."
Qingfeng noticed their interest and told them about what was recorded in the ancient book, "I even asked the sect leader at the time if this divine tree really existed."
"Then, senior brother, what did the sect leader say?"
“This tree does exist in the world, and perhaps a destined person will encounter it!” Qingfeng said, seeing that the fire that the young disciples had managed to light was blown out by the wind again. He stood up and set up a barrier in front of the cave before rekindling the flames.
The wind howled outside, followed by the pitter-patter of rain. "We're safe now. If you're tired, go to sleep. I'll stay here and keep watch. No matter what kind of monster it is, we'll make it show its true form tonight."
Several disciples nodded, and suddenly they saw a green sword light. The barrier set up by Qingfeng was broken, and a gale swept in with large raindrops, making it impossible for them to see anything.
But when it dawned the next day, they saw Qingfeng lying on the ground, surrounded by blood.
"Is there any sound of fighting?"
After hearing Jiang Yu's words, Lian Quesheng felt that there were many loopholes in his statement. "After a burst of sword light, nothing was left. Is that mountain demon really that powerful? Could it kill your eldest disciple in the hall with a single sword without making a sound?"
“I’ve seen Qingfeng’s body. There were no wounds on his body. I don’t know where the blood came from. Several other households in the village were in the same condition. But if that’s the case, then what was the source of that sword light?” Jiang Yu couldn’t figure it out either, unless those people had misread it.
"Could it be that it's not sword light, but will-o'-the-wisp?"
Xi Chuang asked, and Lian Quesheng thought it was somewhat possible, "Why don't we go to the cave and stay for the night? I don't believe that the mountain demon's swordsmanship is faster than Jiang Yu's. Even a starved camel is bigger than a horse."
"I'll go."
Shen Qinggui suddenly spoke up, "If you stay in the village, you can be more cautious if you split up."
“That makes sense.” Lian Quesheng nodded. “Then I’ll stay in the house with a few disciples. Jiang Yu, you should stay in the village too, so your hand won’t hurt again in the middle of the night, and it won’t be convenient for you to be outside.”
"You change your expression pretty quickly."
Jiang Yu said irritably, "Qinggui and I will go to the cave together. You two can stay in the village so that you can look after each other."
"Okay, okay, I knew you two couldn't be apart for a day."
Before they came out, the young disciples drew a map for Jiang Yu to take with him, so they quickly found the cave where Qingfeng had set up a barrier. The bloodstains inside were still on the stone walls, which had turned slightly black and emitted an extremely foul smell.
Unburnt firewood lay scattered on the ground. Shen Qinggui went out and picked up a few more pieces. The red glowing flames cast clear shadows of the two people on the ground.
There was no sound outside. This place, devoid of any sign of life, was like a painting hanging on the wall. Jiang Yu leaned on Shen Jiuxu's shoulder and told him the interesting things she had heard today. "The relationship between Little Bird and West Window is so complicated."
"What if they really get married in the future? Should he call me brother, master, or husband?" Jiang Yu's smooth long hair floated on the back of Shen Qinggui's neck, moving gently and making him feel itchy.
"You seem quite interested in this."
Shen Qinggui looked into his bright eyes and casually touched Jiang Yu's hair. "They're married now, so whatever they call them won't be wrong. After all, Lian Quesheng will probably only get married once, and there won't be any new or old flames."
Jiang Yu felt that he was subtly criticizing him.
A sour smell permeated the entire cave. Some people remained sitting upright, seemingly unconcerned about certain things, as if their earlier words were just casual remarks.
"Why are you so petty? Jiuxu used to be very generous and never cared about these trivial matters."
Jiang Yu deliberately stretched out her hand in front of him and counted on her fingers one by one, "For example, only I remember that the first time he kissed me was on Qixi Festival. Xiao Niao insisted on dragging a few of us out for drinks, and in the end, Jiu Xu was drunk by him."
Shen Qinggui frowned slightly, not wanting to listen to him, but the awkwardness in his heart prevented him from interrupting Jiang Yu, which only proved that he was being too petty.
"Lian Quesheng kept insisting on going to release lanterns, so I took Jiuxu back to the inn. He was completely drunk, and he wouldn't let go of me, saying something like—"
"I feel terrible."
Jiang Yu saw that he had drunk too much, and his whole body looked as if he had been smeared with rouge from head to toe. The floral fragrance on his body was even stronger, and it even stained his clothes, making him look just like animals in the mountains and forests marking their territory.
"Don't drink so much next time." Jiang Yu helped him up, but the man kept snuggling into his arms like a cat, rubbing his head against him. "Brother Jiang Yu, take me home."
This was the name Shen Jiuxu used when they first met. Later, when they got to know each other better, he stopped using it often and always called him Jiang Yu, only saying it once or twice when he was not fully conscious.
What did he call you, Brother Jiang Yu?
The phrase suddenly popped into Shen Qinggui's mind, and the image flashed by in an instant before he shouted it out. Jiang Yu stared at him in shock, looking a little embarrassed, but still mustered up his courage and said, "Since you've already called me that, could you... call me Master again?"
To be honest, after listening to Xichuang's story, he was genuinely a little envious of Lian Quesheng.
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Author's Note: Mentioning that book, it feels like Shen Jiuxu is carrying around an autobiography and trying to sell it everywhere, doesn't it? [doge]
This update feels a little strange. I've only updated one chapter so far. How about we move the updates after midnight on Sunday to the afternoon, and keep the Monday update at midnight? That would restore normalcy. I hope you guys don't find it annoying that I'm posting one chapter after another.
Let me tell you a funny story. Even though Lian Quesheng spent so much time with Jiang Yu and Shen Jiuxu, he still didn't realize they were dating. His eyes must be playing tricks on him, haha. But actually, the author felt the same way. It makes me laugh just thinking about it; it's all from my own experience. In junior high, I had two friends. In our final year, the teacher assigned seats, and one of them sat to my left and the other to my right—a boy and a girl, haha. I was stuck between them for two weeks, and I had no idea they were dating! [Chin resting on chin][Chin resting on chin][Chin resting on chin] I was even thinking how good they were, walking to and from school together. Looking back now, I realize how stupid I was. Even after they broke up, I only found out from another friend. She said everyone in the class knew, except for me—I was completely oblivious! [Cracking face]
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