Chapter 50, Master of Two-in-One, We're Cannon Fodder...
"Do you know which direction they went?" Xiao Ming asked anxiously.
Lu Ming generously pointed in a direction, "It might not be too late to catch up now."
The two rushed over, and Chu Yang sighed but ultimately did not stop them.
As Xu Zangyu walked, he noticed Wen Qianchu grabbing his hand and quickening his pace. Listening carefully, he heard someone calling him.
"Master, is someone calling me?"
“You misheard.” Wen Qianchu said firmly. In a few instants, Xu Cangyu had already returned to the mountain gate.
Qin Zhang came over happily and asked innocently, "Junior Brother Xu, can you give me the yang energy you promised?"
Wen Qianchu's expression turned cold. "You want to give him yang energy? How? Like you gave it to your master? You didn't listen to a word I said before."
Xu Zangyu was in a real bind; he couldn't very well just admit that he had lied to Qin Zhang.
After hesitating for a moment, he said, "Senior Brother Qin seems to need it... I just want to give him a bit of yang energy. Will he be able to recover like Senior Brother Zhou?"
"He's already dead, what need does he have for yang energy? He's just greedy."
Wen Qianchu glared coldly at Qin Zhang, making him as timid as a quail, not daring to raise his head. "Instead of focusing on cultivation, you're always up to crooked ideas. I think you don't even want to be a ghost anymore and just want to disappear as soon as possible."
"Master, I was confused. Junior Brother Xu, please take it as a joke. I will never ask you for yang energy again."
Qin Zhang felt wronged. It wasn't just him who wanted yang energy, and besides, Junior Brother Xu had already agreed. Why was Master angry?
Looking at Qin Zhang, Xu Cangyu suddenly remembered something, "Master, why are some of the senior brothers in Wumen like Senior Brother Qin, who are paper figures?"
“It seems you already knew that some of your senior brothers weren’t human,” Wen Qianchu nodded, looking at Xu Cangyu’s calm expression. “You’re quite bold. I thought you’d be so scared you wouldn’t be able to sleep at night.”
Xu Zangyu smiled bitterly. What else could he do? He still had to eat and sleep.
Wen Qianchu walked to the jade table and sat down. "The same way Qin Zhang got his cook."
Xu Cangyu's eyes flickered as he poured Wen Qianchu a cup of tea. "Master, it's better to have one more disciple than one less. Since you've already accepted Qin Zhang, why not accept her as well?"
Xu Zangyu quickly brought up Qi Wanyan, saying, "It's not really appropriate for a grown man like me to always be with a young lady."
Wen Qianchu said in surprise, "I thought you appointed her as a ghost general to recruit her for your own use."
"No way."
“Since you have this intention, it’s fine to take her as a disciple of Wumen.” Wen Qianchu agreed readily, and then said to Qi Wanyan, “You should familiarize yourself with the sect environment first, and then you can study with him when Zhou Hui comes back.”
Before Qi Wanyan could even react, everything had been arranged perfectly. The immortal sect was as far away from her as the clouds, yet she had entered so easily.
She was stunned for a long time before she said, "Thank you, Master."
After a long pause, he said to Xu Zangyu, "Thank you, Senior Brother."
Qi Wanyan was taken to a place to stay, and Xu Zangyu was also taken to a new place.
"I heard you broke the windowsill of the old room?"
"It is a bit stuffy," Xu Zangyu said hesitantly, "but it's still habitable for now."
“It’s normal if you don’t like it,” Wen Qianchu said without any blame. “That place was originally a prison for locking souls.”
"...Hmm?" No wonder, it looks like a paper house.
"From now on, you will live in my side hall."
Xu Cangyu wanted to say no need to trouble himself, but as soon as he stepped into Wen Qianchu's residence, he felt the chill melt away and spring flowers bloom, as if it were a completely different world from the biting winter outside.
Flowers bloom alongside flowing water, pavilions and towers stand before them.
It is grand and elegant, yet refined, resembling a long-lost palace scene from poetry and painting.
The words of refusal remained unspoken.
"How is your injury healing?"
Slightly cool fingers touched my back, feeling several crisscrossing scars through my clothes. They had already scabbed over and were just beginning to grow tender flesh.
The gentle touch caused an unbearable itch, and Xu Zangyu flinched away from the fingers, only to have his hand grabbed just as he was about to scratch.
"It's normal to feel itchy these days. I'll find some herbs and use them for a medicated bath, and your back won't have any scars."
Xu Zangyu went to his new residence, but he couldn't get used to the palace-like place for a while. Even the couch was as soft as a cloud, and he became drowsy after sitting for only a short while.
As expected, the warm room fosters laziness; all he wants to do now is lie down and do nothing.
I was half asleep when someone woke me up.
"Junior Brother Xu, Junior Sister Wanyan has cooked a meal and asked me to call you to eat."
Xu Cangyu perked up and opened his sleepy eyes. "Junior Sister Wanyan is a famous chef. We can't miss her cooking."
He was pulled over by Qin Zhang, and the people at the table were already seated and waiting for him to come over.
"Junior brother, sit here with me."
"I also have an empty seat here."
The group jostled around, and Qin Zhang said with a smile, "Don't push, Junior Brother Xu is sitting next to me anyway."
He had just sat down next to Qin Zhang when Qi Wanyan squeezed in from the right and said to the senior brothers who were still making a fuss, "Those who don't want to eat properly can leave now."
The group immediately became obedient.
Xu Zangyu couldn't help but praise after just one bite: "I knew taking you back to Wumen was the right thing to do."
The other senior brothers also praised it highly after tasting it: "Junior Brother Xu, where did you find this chef? He's amazing!"
He took a sip of wine and said, "Junior Sister Wanyan is quite an extraordinary person. She infiltrated the enemy's family with her culinary skills and poisoned them without ever seeing them with weapons."
The table was quiet.
Qin Zhang: "...Junior brother, are you finally going to annihilate us and leave us with nowhere to go?"
Xu Zangyu laughed silently: "I'm not that ruthless, am I?"
Qi Wanyan said bluntly, "If you're afraid of dying, don't eat it."
The others joked, "Qin Zhang, you're already a dead man, what are you afraid of?"
"Stop talking, punish yourself with three drinks."
The group of people at the table were laughing and joking, and they all got completely drunk.
Xu Zangyu was leaning to one side, his eyes glazed over.
Qi Wanyan looked at him and suddenly said, "I thought you were like those lecherous men with ill intentions, but it turns out you're such a kind person."
"...Huh? I thought I was always terrible." He was half-drunk and half-awake, and his speech was not clear.
"How could this be..."
Qi Wanyan sighed, "I misjudged Wei Chi, and I misjudged you too. It seems I'm really not good at judging people. Perhaps, if I had believed my sister's words, Wei Chi wouldn't have died."
Xu Zangyu suddenly asked, "Then do you regret it?"
Qi Wanyan lowered her gaze: "What's the use of regret? What's done is done, and flowing water will never turn back."
After a long while, she seemed to hear a barely audible murmur: "So that's how it is."
"What's wrong with you?" Qi Wanyan felt that Xu Cangyu seemed a little off.
"It's nothing, I just suddenly remembered some people and some past events."
Xu Zangyu suppressed the inexplicable bitterness welling up in his heart and said with a smile.
He reached into the Qiankun bag at his waist, and a small crane was placed in his palm. He infused it with spiritual power, and it flew up, circling him a few times before flying away.
"Come back, and don't run around."
The little crane was puzzled. It flapped its wings and landed back in his palm, tilting its head to look at him.
"What's this?"
“Thousand-mile Crane, if my junior brother ever encounters difficulties, you can have it summon me.”
Every word was vivid in his mind. Yet Xu Cangyu dared not let it fly away.
Qi Wanyan: "What is this?"
Xu Zangyu: "It's just a means of communication."
Who are you thinking about?
Xu Zangyu remained silent for a long time, then drank a few more cups: "...probably."
Qin Zhang, drunk, tugged at his sleeve, "Going to Wumen is no worse than Tianyi Sect. Although we have fewer disciples, no one has ever ostracized anyone. Junior brothers and sisters, don't worry. If anyone bullies you, tell me, and I... uh, I'll have Master beat him up for you."
Xu Zangyu was pulled to the side by him and asked with a smile, "Master is so enthusiastic?"
Qin Zhang let out another hiccup: "Anyway, he has nothing better to do."
The two burst into laughter, while Qi Wanyan, the only one still conscious, was exasperated and explained to the person behind her:
"Master, they are drunk, that's why they are talking nonsense."
"It's nothing."
With a dark expression, Wen Qianchu pulled Xu Cangyu off Qin Zhang and then instructed Qi Wanyan, "I'll take him back first. As for the others, don't worry about them."
Qi Wanyan looked outside and saw that the snow was still falling, so she silently mourned for the others. After Wen Qianchu left, out of conscience, she covered the four-cornered pavilion with curtains.
Xu Zangyu was half asleep when the snowflakes falling on her face made her shiver. She turned her head and snuggled into a warm embrace.
The snow was falling heavier and heavier, covering the boots and burying the road.
Wen Qianchu snapped her fingers, and the snowflakes in the sky hovered in mid-air until they finally fell softly after she stepped into her residence.
Upon entering the warm pavilion from the icy snow, Xu Cangyu ruthlessly abandoned his embrace, rolling away as soon as he got off the bed.
Wen Qianchu, whose heart was usually unflappable, was angered by him. She smiled bitterly and flicked his forehead, but halfway through her hand, the paper crane next to her pecked the back of his hand hard.
“The messenger has actually protected its master.”
Wen Qianchu pinched its wings, but the little thing resisted even more fiercely, so he had no choice but to let go. "If you hurt yourself, don't tell him that I bullied you."
The paper crane nodded frantically, as if determined to complain, circled once in the air, and then suddenly flew away.
Wen Qianchu sensed the disturbance and used magic to stop it: "Who are you trying to find?"
He placed the crane beside Xu Cangyu's bed and said, "I'm going to meet the guests who have come from afar."
Xiao Mingxin used the most ferocious sword technique of his life, but his attack missed its target.
There was nothing in front of him, yet he clearly felt the call of the Thousand-Mile Crane; Xu Cangyu must be here.
After several unsuccessful attempts, he was overwhelmed by a powerful pressure when he tried to channel his spiritual energy again.
"Who do we have here? It turns out to be a disciple of the Tianyi Sect. Go to Wumen is not your Tianyi Sect, and we will not tolerate your insolence."
Xiao Mingxin sheathed his sword. "Sect Leader Wen, please forgive me. I just want to see him. The Sect Leader also has something to say to him."
Wen Qianchu said sarcastically, "He is no longer a disciple of your Tianyi Sect, so there is no need for him to see you. Since you have abandoned him, there is absolutely no reason for you to take him back."
"If you want to know how he is doing, rest assured, my disciple is certainly doing well. You can take these words back to Sect Leader Chu."
"I have no intention of disturbing you. I only hope that my junior brother is well." He took out a medicine bottle from his pocket. "This is medicine for whip wounds. It relieves pain and removes scars. Could you please ask Sect Leader Wen to give it to him?"
“There’s no shortage of miracle cures even if you have no other way to go,” Wen Qianchu retorted without holding back. “If you’re only after these things, please leave.”
Xiao Mingxin pleaded again, "I only want to see him once."
The voice above was even colder: "Of all the things in this world that you can't have, you should let go when it's time to let go."
One day after the dream, Xu Cangyu emerged from the warm pavilion. Zhou Hui had already returned to the mountain gate and was surrounded by people asking him all sorts of questions.
"Zhou Hui, what did you do with Master Chu, the Qiushui Sect disciple you captured from Tianyi Sect?"
"Master Chu did as his master instructed, and he lashed the victim ten times, not a single lash was spared."
"That's gratifying! They've slandered Junior Brother Xu!" The crowd wished they could witness it firsthand and continued to press, "That person survived ten lashes?"
"He fainted after being lashed three times, but fortunately, his master gave him medicine to wake him up, so Sect Leader Chu continued to punish him with the remaining seven lashes. After the punishment, his cultivation was completely destroyed, and he was barely clinging to life."
The group burst out laughing: "Master is too mean."
"Fortunately, my junior brother didn't get ten lashes."
As he spoke, Zhou Hui noticed a silent figure not far away, standing under a snow pine tree, draped in a plain white fox fur coat, almost blending into the snow. His fair cheeks still bore the blush of drunkenness, and that rare bright color from the mountain gate melted away the desolate landscape around him.
“Junior brother, I was just about to tell you this news. I went to your place but couldn’t find you. It turns out you moved here with Master.”
Xu Zangyu hesitated for a moment before asking, "Was the trip successful?"
"With Master's help, there will naturally be no problem."
"Did they mention me?"
It was mentioned, of course, that Sect Leader Chu had indirectly asked for people, but they could take what they wanted and not take what they didn't want—there's no such thing as a free lunch.
Zhou Hui saw the cautious expectation in his eyes and, not wanting him to be held back by old flames any longer, thought to himself before speaking:
"No."
Xu Zangyu chuckled awkwardly, concealing the dejection in his eyes: "I suppose the Tianyi Sect is too busy to bother with such a trivial matter."
Zhou Hui patted him on the shoulder: "Junior brother, don't worry about it. Going to Wumen is no worse than Tianyi Sect."
“What Senior Brother Zhou said is true. Those who have abandoned me cannot be retained. Although I am somewhat sentimental, I am not so heartbroken as to be so dramatic as to want to die.” Xu Cangyu smiled in response. “Wherever I, Xu Cangyu, cannot get along, even if I leave the mountain gate, I can find a good new job.”
Zhou Hui quickly stopped him, saying, "Junior brother, don't say that. Master will be too upset to hear it."
Qin Zhang also came over nervously and asked, "Junior brother, are you really going to find another job?"
Qi Wan said, "I've slept all day, but I'm still not sober."
Xu Zangyu's imposing manner was once again thwarted, and he could only beg for mercy: "I was just making an analogy, I'm not really trying to run away."
*
Winter has passed and spring has arrived. The snow has melted, and the fragrance of peach blossoms in March is carried indoors by the spring breeze, dispelling the medicinal smell in the room.
Emerging from the water, her smooth back was marked with only three barely visible light pink streaks. Light brown water droplets slid down her sleek spine, so striking that even the fluttering peach petals lingered.
Wiping away the water droplets and petals from her body, Xu Cangyu changed into a light spring dress and went out to walk towards the purple figure under the peach tree.
"How is the recovery going?"
"Thanks to Master's medicine, no scars were left."
"In that case, get ready and come with me to rid the world of this calamity."
Wen Qianchu looked up at the sky, and Xu Cangyu followed his gaze and found that the place where the sun rises in the east was shrouded in heavy black clouds, like an evil dragon coiled up and pressing the sun under its claws.
"When disaster strikes, chaos will surely follow."
Wen Qianchu's expression was solemn, and Xu Zangyu knew that this matter was not to be underestimated; even a powerful figure like Wen Qianchu might find it troublesome.
"Should we inform our senior brothers to go together?"
"No need, you can come with me."
Xu Zangyu was taken aback for a moment, thinking to himself that the expert was indeed confident, and that he might be able to benefit from going with him.
At the same time, Chu Yang of Tianyi Sect noticed the sudden change in the situation and immediately summoned the Third Elder, ordering him to "quickly gather the disciples and go to eliminate the disaster."
The cultivation world had been peaceful for hundreds of years, but suddenly an omen of an evil dragon devouring the sun appeared, bringing disaster. Chu Yang was uneasy and ordered the Third Elder to lead a group of people there. Chu Shu and Xiao Mingxin, who had been depressed for several months, were also captured.
Xu Cangyu arrived at his destination in a hurry and remained stunned for a long time.
It's Yu'an Village!
According to the plot, this is where the protagonist's destiny lies.
Thinking of his tragic end as cannon fodder in the story, Xu Zangyu's smugness vanished, and he felt a vague unease.
“I heard you are from Yu’an Village. This trip is just the right time to rid your homeland of troubles.”
Xu Cangyu hesitated, "...Master, maybe we should just forget about it."
No matter how strong Wen Qianchu is, she is not the protagonist. Who knows what might happen along the way that could help the protagonist become stronger?
Who will have a good ending if they compete with the protagonist for opportunities?
Moreover, Xu Zangyu had already guessed what was inside: those demonic insects that devour spiritual energy and flesh. Just one of them had already caused him great suffering last time, let alone the possibility that this time he might be facing not just one, but a whole brood.
Just thinking about it makes my scalp tingle.
"Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you."
Wen Qianchu led him by the hand toward the foot of Black Mountain, and Xu Zangyu could only smile bitterly.
You Fengchun leaned against a tree, idly flicking the little fox's forehead with his finger. The little fox got angry and bit him, but he pinched its mouth and scolded it.
"You heartless bastard, if it weren't for the fact that he likes you, why would I bother to save you?"
He only went on a long trip, and Xu Zangyu was lost, leaving him all alone and lonely.
The little fox struggled, then suddenly stopped, its eyes wide, its tail wagging incessantly. You Fengchun looked at the newcomer and finally smiled.
Today is indeed lively, with both sect leaders who rarely appear in public making their presence felt. This opportunity is likely to be quite significant.
As Xu Zangyu was walking, a snow-white ball of fluff suddenly flew into his arms and nuzzled against him.
"Little fox?"
"Just call him an idiot."
You Fengchun emerged from behind the tree, blocking Wen Qianchu's path, and looked at Xu Cangyu with deep affection: "It feels like years have passed since we last met. Brother, you are so heartless to leave without even a letter."
Wen Qianchu frowned at the mention of "brother," feeling a growing sense of disgust towards the foxy young man before her.
"We have important business to attend to here. If you wish to reminisce, please do so another time."
Where did that deadpan face come from? Is it bothering him to say a few words?
You Fengchun's smile turned cold as he revealed the eight tails behind him. "I'm sorry, I'm here because of this trouble. You've already reached the Nascent Soul stage, and you only need one more opportunity to ascend to the Ghost Immortal realm, but whether that opportunity is yours is another matter."
Xu Zangyu was speechless for a long time after hearing this.
Ghost fairy?
Wen Qianchu is a ghost? He's actually not human!
It's his fault for treating the original owner as the protagonist, skipping over most of the other characters' stories, to the point that the important characters in the story were completely unknown at crucial moments.
Well, now everyone else is a big shot, and he's just cannon fodder.
Xu Zangyu took a firm step back, not wanting to cause trouble, but Wen Qianchu pulled him back again. When he saw You Fengchun's expression, he immediately understood: "Fox cultivators cultivate nine tails to become immortals. Since you have the same goal, then let's rely on our own abilities."
The two started fighting as they were talking.
Xu Zangyu stood aside, not surprised at all. The protagonist's opportunity was not so easy to snatch. Their fight between the snipe and the clam only benefited others in the end.
Chu Shu and Xiao Mingxin saw him but did not approach him. It was best not to involve Xu Zangyu in this dangerous situation.
The two sneaked into the cave, proceeding cautiously. Xu Cangyu watched the commotion when he suddenly felt someone push him. Looking down, he saw a large, fluffy tail.
You Fengchun looked at Wen Qianchu with a sarcastic smile: "No one can take away his opportunity."
Xu Zangyu only had time to throw the little fox out before he was thrown into the cave. Instantly, rocks rolled down, completely blocking the cave entrance.
The swear words that were on the tip of his tongue were swallowed back down after a long time.
That damned fox! He's always so eager to help when he shouldn't be. Even if there's a tremendous opportunity, is it something he can actually seize?
"Junior brother." Xiao Mingxin walked over, a thousand words hidden in his heart, but he stopped himself when he reached the tip of his tongue. After a long while, he finally managed to say, "Don't be afraid, senior brother will go ahead of you."
Chu Shu, who followed along, gripped the gilded fan in her hand tightly, almost unable to withstand the strain.
“It’s been almost a year since you went to the Ascetic Cliff, do you know that? Even if you have grievances in your heart, are you going to include me in that too?” Chu Shu gritted her teeth, staring at Xu Cangyu until he lowered his head again. “A year has passed, and not even a single letter. Are you really going to sever ties with us!”
"You haven't even sent me a single letter, so what right do you have to question me!"
Chu Shu was taken aback by his shout, feeling aggrieved. "You think I didn't look for it? Who knows where that godforsaken place, Wumen, is hiding?"
"Chu Shu," Xiao Mingxin warned Chu Shu to calm down.
"It's already a miracle that Sect Master Wen didn't mistreat him." He walked ahead, sword in hand. "The cave is filled with malevolent energy; we must be extremely careful."
Chu Shu knew this wasn't the time to talk about this. She waited until Xu Cangyu followed behind Xiao Mingxin before moving on. The two of them stood in front of and behind, protecting the person in the middle, their eyes wary of their surroundings.
Outside the cave, just as the group was about to break open the collapsed entrance, they discovered that a black crawling insect had emerged from the crack in the rock. The spiritual energy they had unleashed was quickly devoured by this creature.
The Third Elder's expression instantly turned solemn, and even Wen Qianchu's face darkened. He questioned the culprit, You Fengchun, "What exactly are you up to!"
You Fengchun simply said, "His things must be taken back by him personally."
The Third Elder dared not use brute force to open the cave entrance, for if he did not control his strength well, it might even cause a mountain collapse and endanger the people inside.
Everyone looked worried and at a loss when suddenly a water mirror appeared in the sky, and the three people in the cave floated on the mirror.
“Master, we are alright,” Xiao Mingxin said.
The Third Elder breathed a sigh of relief and instructed, "Be careful in everything. If the situation changes, survival is the priority."
Xiao Mingxin agreed and turned his attention back to the cave.
Xu Zangyu remembered that there used to be a stone door in front of the cave with a seal carved on it, but now the seal is so corroded that the original pattern is no longer visible, and it is obviously no longer able to hold back what is inside.
“The seal is maintained by the operation of spiritual energy, but this thing even devours spiritual energy. Sooner or later it will be unable to be suppressed, and we can only eliminate it one by one.” He walked to the stone door and took a deep breath. “It seems that this door must be opened.”
He reached out towards the stone door, and with the help of Xiao Mingxin and Chu Shu, the group finally pushed open the heavy door.
The first thing that caught Xu Cangyu's eye was the dazzling golden light, which almost hurt his eyes, and he almost thought he had fallen into an illusion.
Towering stone pillars, entwined with golden dragons, and piles of gold bars on the ground stretching to the horizon like a flowing river of gold, all the way to the distant Golden Mountain. The underground palace, which should have been dark, was resplendent in gold under the illumination of the luminous pearl.
It must have taken countless generations to accumulate such immense wealth.
Outside the cave, someone couldn't help but hiss, but Wen Qianchu's eyes were deep and his thoughts were wandering.
Xu Zangyu followed Huang Jinhe to the foot of the Golden Mountain. He was speechless for a long time and dared not approach the Golden Mountain. He was afraid that the Golden Mountain, piled up with copper coins, would collapse and crush him to death.
"This should be an imperial mausoleum."
Chu Shu observed the surrounding layout and walked to the Azure Dragon position. Sure enough, he found a coffin carved with a black dragon. "A thousand years ago, the last emperor of the human world died. After that, the cultivation world flourished. Could this be that emperor's coffin?"
The coffin had been opened, and Chu Shu had just stuck half his body out when several insects jumped out. He waved his fan to swat them away, but the insects rolled into round balls and were completely unharmed.
"This demonic insect can only be killed with fire."
Xu Zangyu reminded him that as soon as Chu Shu ignited his spiritual fire, the thing suddenly ran away and disappeared into the nearby golden mountain.
"What the hell is that thing? It's so clever!"
-----------------------
Author's Note: I received a call from home yesterday and couldn't sleep all night. Nine out of ten times they asked about money, not actually, but every single thing they talked about revolved around it, which really bothered me. On one hand, they want me to help them escape poverty, on the other hand, they want me to get married and have many children, and they've been subtly hinting that I should get rid of my cat [angry].
They keep saying they're suffering because of me, but I'm thinking, I haven't spent much money on them. I only received a little over 900 yuan from them in half a year of university. [Cracks]
(Unconsciously, I've rambled on for so long, just scroll past.) Today's update is a draft from my backlog.
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