This afternoon’s autumn weather was clear and refreshing, the warm and gentle sunlight sprinkled across Jingxin Palace’s rear court.
Qiu Yutong lay lazily on a bamboo chair, sunbathing while absent-mindedly stroking the tortoiseshell in his hand.
In this period of time, the cold poison in his body flared up twice, but they were both mild, he was able to get past those by covering up with a thick blanket.
Previously, Prince Jin gave him some medicine and said it was the antidote for winter, being able to suppress the poison for three months. Apparently, even after taking the antidote, it was unable to completely suppress the cold poison; in order to completely resolve the “Ice Jade Bloodworm”, it was necessary to remove the gu from the body.
However, Qiu Yutong was not very worried.
Tomorrow, San-shixiong* was arriving. Once he returned to North Snow City with this San-shixiong, with Zhangmen-shixiong’s remarkable abilities and wide network, he would definitely be able to resolve this trivial cold poison.
[T/N: San = 3 so this is just his Third Senior Disciple Brother which I TL’d as Third Shixiong before.]
At worst, they could directly go to North Sea Sword Sect and find the master of the Ice Jade Bloodworm, “Sword and Poison Double Cultivator”, Gui Wuya.
Even though Noth Sea Sword Sect’s prestige was overflowing nowadays, but surely, Gui Wuya needed to still give North Snow City this bit of face.
Thinking of Gui Wuya, Qiu Yutong once again lifted up the tortoiseshell, and carefully analysed it under the sun.
What exactly was this?
For the past few years, Gui Wuya’s prestige was at an all-time high. It’s likely that the supreme position of the representative of the cultivation world, “The Chief of the Immortal Alliance” would fall from the hands of the South Sky’s temple leader, Master Wu Chen, into Gui Wuya’s.
Gui Wuya was extremely arrogant. For him to attach such importance to this item, it was surely extraordinary.
But the tortoiseshell in Qiu Yutong’s hands seemed to just be an ordinary spiritual tortoiseshell. Besides the intricate and thin veined patterns on it, and the simple and crude vermillion bird image, there was nothing special about it.
“Hei!”
Qiu Yutong was frightened, “Liu Bitao, what are you doing?!”
Liu Bitao came forward from behind him and proudly said, “Scared?”
Qiu Yutong inwardly rolled his eyes, simply too lazy to pay attention to him.
Qiu Yutong hesitated, before awkwardly saying, “That day in Pure Frosted Jade Courtyard, I heard His Majesty say that he could spare you, so I pushed the blame onto you… Xue Rong, you’d better not be angry.”
Qiu Yutong helplessly shook his head, “I’m not angry.”
Liu Bitao was immediately joyful, “I knew it, my family’s Xue Rong is the best! Right, I heard that His Majesty treats you well, not only allowing you to move into Jingxin Palace, but also allowing you to grind ink in the study room. That is extreme favour! These days are pretty good right?”
“…” Qiu Yutong didn’t know how to reply and casually made a noise of assent. “It’s still okay.”
“This is the tortoiseshell from the stomach of the dead body at the bottom of the well?” Liu Bitao glimpsed the shell in his hands and couldn’t help lifting a slender brow, “I remember that you mentioned that this was what Prince Jin wanted? Prince Jin and you, you two…”
He hesitated and bent down beside Qiu Yutong’s ear, lowering his voice, “Xue Rong, I’m not being nosy, but you should break it off with that Prince Jin. His Majesty likes you so much, if he finds out, it would be disastrous.”
Qiu Yutong didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Before he could think of what to say, a violent and choking came from behind, “Cough cough cough!”
The two of them turned around and Zhang Defu stood there, coughing while giving Qiu Yutong a meaningful look.
Lu Xiao stood behind Zhang Defu with an indifferent expression.
Liu Bitao was frightened stiff and didn’t know if Lu Xiao heard him. He knelt with sn audible thump, “Your, Your Majesty!”
Qiu Yutong also stood up and said hesitatingly, “Your Majesty.”
Lu Xiao didn’t pay them any attention and passed through the courtyard.
Zhang Defu stamped his foot, “Young Master Xue Rong, you, you!”
This old eunuch hated iron for not becoming steel and glared directly into Qiu Yutong’s eyes before chasing after Lu Xiao.
Liu Bitao was frightened and doubtful, “His Majesty probably didn’t hear my words right? He likes you so much that if he heard it, I reckon that our heads will roll.”
Qiu Yutong blinked, “Eh, probably didn’t hear it.”
He was also unsure. The distance was very short just now and it looked like Zhang Defu heard it, so Lu Xiao probably heard it too, but this youngster didn’t have a reaction, with his usual cold and indifferent look.
These days, Qiu Yutong had also vague heard some gossip regarding himself and Lu Xiao.
Most of the gossip was more… erotic.
Actually, unlike the extremely strange erotic gossip, Lu Xiao was extremely indifferent towards him. He had never overstepped hid boundaries and occasionally spoke a few words to him and was uncaring of his reply, treating him like a… a tree.
Qiu Yutong had once assumed that he had a clear understanding of Lu Xiao, but now he realised that he actually didn’t really know this little disciple. He didn’t even know why Lu Xiao was living so unhappily and why Lu Xiao hated him.
Forget it, don’t care so much about these things. In any case, San-shixiong was coming tomorrow. He could follow San-shixiong back to North Snow City and come back to Daning Palace to talk to Lu Xiao after the poison is cured and he had recovered his cultivation.
……
Qiu Yutong absent-mindedly ground the ink, occasionally stealing a glance at the large doors.
Lu Xiao glanced at him, “Why are you so distracted*?”
[T/N: Raws actually state where is your spirit going? Which I found awkward to just directly translate so I put the meaning instead.]
Qiu Yutong looked down and discovered that the ink was overflowing, running across the desk.
He awkwardly wiped the table and said listlessly, “I heard that North Snow City’s Immortal Master Sang is coming to Daning Palace today? I’m curious about how immortals look.”
Lu Xiao indifferently stated, “Merely a pair of eyes and a mouth, nothing special.”
Qiu Yutong was silent for a moment and seemed somewhat speechless.
He uncertainly thought, Lu Xiao seemed to have… seen Sang Lingxi before? That’s right, seven to eight years ago, Sang Lingxi had come to the mortal world to find him. At that time, Lu Xiao was about fifteen to sixteen.
But since Lu Xiao had seen Sang Lingxi before, he actually could say the words “merely a pair of eyes and a mouth, nothing special”?
You need to know that Sang Lingxi was a famous male beauty in the cultivation world.
It was a pity that this beauty was a womaniser and caused quite a bit of trouble for North Snow City.
For example, thirty years ago, he had started an illicit relationship with a female powerhouse then abandoned her. In the end, this powerhouse went to the sect but didn’t find Sang Lingxi’s Cuibing Mountain, rather she smashed Er-shixiong’s* Aoxue Mountain to bits, finally leaving after venting her anger.
[T/N: Er = 2 so this is Second Senior Disciple Brother which I TL’d as Second Shixiong.]
After Er-shixiong returned, he was angered half to death and chased Sang Lingxi around with his spiritual sword, chasing him until they reached Qiu Yutong’s Feilai Mountain.
Sang Lingxi was proficient in many forms of cultivation and could be considered an expert in the cultivation world, but in swordsmanship, he was slightly inferior to Er-shixiong. Luckily, his skin was thick enough, doing his utmost to hide behind Qiu Yutong, continuously shouting, “Murderer, murderer! Xiao Shidi*, save me!
When you were little, San-shixiong helped make a puppet for you before! You’d better not be ungrateful!”
[T/N: Just means youngest shidi.]
Er-shixiong sternly said, “Xiao Shidi, move!”
Qiu Yutong, “…”
Heart so tired.
In the end, Zhangmen-shixiong rushed over and punished Sang Lingxi to meditate for three years on Wenjian Cliff. Only then did peace return.
……
Qiu Yutong was currently reminiscing when, with a loud clatter, the large palace doors suddenly opened. A gale screamed into the hall and blew a piece of snow-white paper inside.
“This Sang has arrived late, begging Your Majesty’s forgiveness.” A clear yet familiar voice distantly travelled past the doors.
Qiu Yutong suddenly looked up.
Lu Xiao unhurriedly lifted his eyelids, coldly looking at the newcomer.
A white-clothed young man walked lightly into Jingxin Palace.
This man was exceedingly handsome, a pair of beautiful bright peach-blossom eyes, on his waist hung a dark green spiritual sword, which was even more famous. North Snow City’s Cuibing Mountain’s master, Sang Lingxi’s personal sword —— “Green Mist*”
[T/N: Actual raws state green mist over water but that’s kinda long.]
Qiu Yutong nearly blurted out “San-shixiong” but forcibly held back. He hesitated slightly before burying his head deeply, doing his best to grind the ink.
It wasn’t that he was running away at the last minute, but admitting that he had become a male pet in front of Lu Xiao and San-shixiong… this, this was too difficult!
If it was only San-shixiong on the scene, he could pull down his face*, brace himself to admit it, but in front of his little disciple… he, he really couldn’t do it!
[T/N: Basically f his dignity.]
Also, he had acted in front of Lu Xiao for so long… Qiu Yutong looked down and thought with all his might. Inwardly, he wanted to cry but had no tears, feeling extremely regretful.
If, he could speak with San-shixiong alone that would be great.
Sang Lingxi didn’t pay attention to the male pet grinding ink with his head lowered. His pair of beautiful peach-blossom eyes stared at Lu Xiao and suddenly smiled, “It’s been many years since we met and Your Majesty has grown so big.”
Lu Xiao’s lips twitched expressionlessly, “How does Immortal Master Sang have so much free time to visit Daning Palace?”
Sang Lingxi smiled, “North Snow City and the Lu Family has always had a good relationship. My Xiao Shidi and Your Majesty even have a master-disciple relationship… What, does Your Majesty not welcome this Sang?”
“We did not mean that,” Lu Xiao said indifferently. “It’s just that North Snow City is tens of thousands of miles away, so with Immortal Master Sang suddenly honouring Us with your presence, We were merely puzzled. That’s right, are Immortal Master Xie and Immortal Master Bai well?”
“Thanking Your Majesty’s concern, the two shixiongs are well,” Sang Lingxi smiled and said, “Zhangmen-shixiong is currently in seclusion and let’s not mention Er-shixiong that untalkative calabash.* Only Xiao Shidi was fun to rile up; it’s a pity his aptitude was too high, character simple and ascended a long time ago… Ai, this Sang is very bored so decided to take in a disciple to play with.”
[T/N: Literally Calabash without a mouth. Refers to someone who is not good at talking/quiet.]
Qiu Yutong bent his head and ground the ink, his heart so gloomy he wanted to cry. He not only didn’t ascend, but he was also servilely serving Lu Xiao this evil disciple!
Lu Xiao was silent for a moment before he suddenly said, “Immortal Master Sang, could you answer a question of Ours?”
Sang Lingxi straightforwardly said, “Please ask, Your Majesty.”
“Cultivators who come to the mortal world for experience, what exactly is their reason?” Lu Xiao stared closely into the other’s eyes and slowly asked.
Sang Lingxi was stunned and probably didn’t expect that Lu Xiao would ask this question.
He hesitated for a moment before replying, “Entering the mortal world for experience is naturally to perfect their mental state and ascend.”
Lu Xiao said with extreme difficulty, “Just that.”
“If not?” Sang Lingxi suspiciously frowned, “What does Your Majesty think the reason is?”
Lu Xiao didn’t reply.
It was unknown why but this ruthless monarch who killed without blinking an eye looked beside himself, to the point of almost being almost pitiful.
After a long, long time did he shut his eyes, finally slowly opening his mouth. His originally deep and pleasant voice had now become hoarse and tired, “That’s right. Actually, these past few years, We also… thought so. Immortal Master Sang, please head back. The Lu Family now doesn’t have a suitable disciple.”
Sang Lingxi was somewhat astonished and couldn’t help raising his brows, “Is Your Majesty certain?”
Qiu Yutong was also extremely surprised.
Chen dynasty’s people revered the immortals, almost all vassal royalty and aristocrats, and even the royal Lu family, all wished that their children could enter the best sect, like the North Sea Sword Sect or the South Sky Temple or even North Snow City. An Incident like Lu Xiao directly rejecting North Snow City’s invitation was practically unheard of.
Lu Xiao said indifferently, “We are certain.”
Sang Lingxi stared at him for a while before saying, “This Sang will be in the capital for a while. If Your Majesty regrets later, come find me before the Lantern Festival at Juanlian alley’s Young Lady Xiang Xue’s place.”
“Let’s talk later, We are very busy.”
“That’s fine,” Sang Lingxi also seemed to feel snubbed. He whistled softly and a beautiful and serene sword glare flashed, “Green Mist” had left its sheathe; he was about to leave on his sword.
Qiu Yutong was anxious and shouted, “San…”
Sang Lingxi’s steps stopped and incredulously widened his eyes, crying out involuntarily, “Xiao Shidi?!”
Lu Xiao couldn’t help but frown, “What did you say?”
“No, you’re not… You’re just a mortal without even breaking through your spiritual meridians.” Sang Lingxi shook his head and laughed self-deprecatingly. “It was this Sang who saw wrong, please do not take offence.”
Qiu Yutong anxiously looked at Sang Lingxi yet hesitatingly glanced at Lu Xiao and forced the phrase “San-shixiong” back down. Luckily “San” and “Sang” sounded similar and vaguely said, “Immortal Master Sang, be well.*”
[T/N: If any of you guys are wondering, the raws for Immortal Master Sang starts with Sang followed by the title, so calling “San” would then make sense for it to sound similar.]
Forget it, since San-shixiong is going to be in the capital for a while, so even if they don’t meet today, he could sneak out to Juanlian alley to find him.
Sang Lingxi sized Qiu Yutong up then saw the extremely unsightly visage of Lu Xiao before saying in understanding, “So it’s like this.”
He twisted his lips in thought then left on his sword.
