“Wu…” Qiu Yutong dazedly opened his eyes, and suddenly jumped in fright, “Xiao-er?!”
Lu Xiao’s pair of phoenix eyes were extremely close, staring at him unblinkingly.
“Shizun,” he suddenly came back to himself and anxiously looked down.
“Why are you so close, scared me to death,” Qiu Yutong regained his senses and petted his chest, letting out his breath.
“Shizun flipped over last night and accidentally fell down,” Lu Xiao pursed his lips and without batting an eye, he retrieved the arm on the other’s waist.
“I fell?” Only then did Qiu Yutong realise he was not lying on the tiny bed, but on the pile of rice straw on the ground. His entire body was huddling in Lu Xiao’s embrace; his ice-cold feet were sticking tightly to his little disciple’s warm thighs, his posture was extremely indecent.
“…” His quickly pulled his legs back, trying to explain his embarrassing conduct, “Eh, I’m muddled in my sleep.”
He really didn’t do it on purpose. It’s just that this body was originally extremely delicate. After being poisoned, he was even more afraid of the cold, always unconsciously getting closer to the heat source. Lu Xiao didn’t like getting close to anyone and even unwillingly slept with him on the bed. This youngster wasn’t angry right?
“Ai, what disciple, as expected, he was cuter when he was younger. When there was thunder, he would grab his pillow and burrow in his blanket, calling out “shizun” with damp eyes. Completely different from the troublesome now.
“En, I understand. Shizun didn’t rest well on the boat so naturally he slept deeply last night.” Lu Xiao wasn’t angry. Instead, he was extremely understanding, finding an excuse for Qiu Yutong. He even helped him fix his messy inner robes. “Shizun, we should get up. We can go to the manor to take a look later.”
“Oh.”
…
It was a bright and sunny day, with a spring breeze and cloudless skies. A creek burbled in the middle of Linglu Valley, small deers were prancing, the place looking full of vitality.
Walking into the depths of Linglu Valley, a continuous row of white walls and black-roofed houses could be seen, looking plain yet elegant. This was the main residence of the Medicinal Monarch Manor.
At this moment, the entirety of the manor was covered in red silk lanterns, and large red “Happiness”* were also pasted on the windows, full of joy.
[T/N: For those who are unaware, “喜”, this is the word they paste.]
“Shizun, it’s nearing the wedding banquet, looks like this Godly Doctor Xu’s mood should be not bad.”
“If only it were so,” Qiu Yutong sighed.
They followed the winding corridors, walking towards the inside of the manor. The road was extremely quiet and secluded, not meeting anyone.
Suddenly, the soft sound of chattering could be heard. Qiu Yutong paused in his steps, “Xiao-er, there seem to be people”
Beside the corridor was a small palm-sized flower garden. Within the fake mountain in the flower garden, there seemed to be slave girls chatting.
“Elder Sister Yun,* this flower is so hard to sew. I’ve already pricked my finger a few times,” a young and tender voice complained. “I really envy the soon-to-be mistress of the manor. According to rumours, she’s worse than us, an orphan. How can she become the mistress of the manor?”
[T/N: For those who don’t know, elder sister is used to address older females who you are close to, not necessarily biological sisters. ]
“Zhu-er*, don’t talk drivel. Be careful of people hearing. When Eldest Master was picking herbs on the cliff that day, he fell off accidentally and broke his leg. If he wasn’t picked up by Lady Duan, he might not have survived. Also, Lady Duan is gentle, kind and quite pretty. It is only natural that Eldest Master likes her.
[T/N: Here, -er is a suffix for endearment, not part of the name.]
“However, I feel that Lady Duan, a person staying at the bottom of the cliff, sounds dubious…” The slave girl mumbled.
The older slave girl gently rebuffed, “Dubious? I heard from Auntie Chen that the parents of this Lady Duan, were a couple that eloped, and were scared of being found by their families, which was why they built a cottage below the cliff, giving birth to Lady Duan. It is Lady Duan who is pitiful, her parents having passed much much earlier, leaving her alone. It’s fortunate that good people have good karma; she saved Eldest Master’s life, and Eldest Master also likes her. This could be said to be a marriage predestined by fate.
“Elder Sister Yun, does Eldest master really like this Lady Duan?”
“Think about it, Eldest Young Master’s temperament is reclusive. He couldn’t bear to wrong this Lady Duan and specially asked Second Master to help plan the wedding banquet, and invited many almighty cultivators; this is Lady Duan’s face.”
“Ai, that’d true. But I always feel, Lady Duan, she…”
“Aiyah, my Zhu-er, stop overthinking. Right, do you know, who Second Master invited on behalf of Eldest Master when arranging the wedding banquet?”
“I heard that the leaders of North Snow City, North Sea Sword Sect, South Mountain Temple were invited. Right, There is also Yuqin Palace’s Mistress… Elder Sister Yun, do you think these cultivators will come?”
“Of course. I heard Chief Steward Zhang say that the almost impossible to find “Blood Prison Secret Realm”, will be open soon. These almighty cultivators will enter the secret realm, and will need to prepare a few life-saving panaceas; won’t they come to our Medicine Monarch Manor?”
“En, en, Elder Sister Yun is right,” the younger slave girl lowered her voice, “It’s said that the guest from North Snow City is Cuibing Peak Master, Sang Lingxi? I heard that he’s quite handsome, xixixi.”
“You’re smitten. I previously helped Chief Steward Zhang arrange the responses to the wedding invites. On North Snow City’s side, besides Cuibing Peak Master Sang Lingxi, Aoxue Peak Master Bai Hanyuan will also come.
“Wa, from this name*, it’s immediately known that he is an arrogant and cold handsome man. I know, Elder Sister Yun likes this kind of ice-cold type, right?”
[T/N: His name Bai Hanyuan (白寒渊), means “white”, “cold” and “pool” respectively.]
The older slave girl angrily said, “Shut up*, look at how I’m going to deal with you, such a nonsense-spouting hussy!”
[T/N: She doesn’t actually say “Shut up”, rather it’s more along the lines of F— you/any other curse words.]
“Aiyah, Elder Sister Yun is angry, hahahahaha, don’t I’m ticklish…”
“Hmph hmph, do you still dare to spout nonsense?”
“Save me, save me…”
The slave girls talked, apparently romping around.
In the corridor, Qiu Yutong and Lu Xiao heard them making noise. Lu Xiao said softly, “So your Er-Shixiong is also coming?”
“En, I also want him to come.” Qiu Yutong was quite pleasantly surprised. “Er-Shixiong is a person who usually does not like joining in festivities.”
His Er-Shixiong, Bai Hanyuan, had a naturally ice-cold face. San-Shixiong usually said that even sticks couldn’t beat his face. However, he was an extremely good person and his swordsmanship was also good, only his face scared people.
After the slave girls were noisy for a while, they then continued to gossip.
“Ai, I heard that North Sea Sword Sect is especially despotic, having enmity with North Snow City, Yuqin Palace and South Mountain Temple. Elder Sister Yun, you don’t think they’ll start fighting during the banquet right?”
“Of course now. Those enmity and complaints are all hundreds of years in the past, who still cares? They are all peaceful and won’t just fight anyone they see”
“En, that’s right,” the younger slave girl softly hummed a folksong, “Southern Sky, Northern Sea, under North Snow City, Yuqin breaks… Yuqin breaks, unable to chase, who is the former immortal senior now?”*
[T/N: This is the folksong mentioned on a previous chapter. I cleaned the translation up a bit so it should be more coherent. Take note that the lines are all supposed to rhyme.]
“What are you singing?!” A person quickly walked into the flower garden and shouted sternly.
The slave girls jumped in fright and quickly knelt down, “Second Master!”
Xu Dongqing frowned tightly, “I’ve said this before, it is forbidden to sing such senseless folk songs in the manor, forbidden to gossip behind people’s backs about North Snow City’s matters! Is Daoist Immortal City Master Xie someone you can gossip about?!”
Qiu Yutong heard this in the corridor and inwardly found this ridiculous. Previously, when eating at Zuixian building during the Lantern Festival, he had already felt that this Second Master of the Medicine Monarch Manor, was most likely Zhangmen-Shixiong’s top worshipper. Looks like it was true.
The younger slave girl shook with fear and said, “This slave does not dare to anymore.”
“Forget it this time, but no mercy next time.” Xu Dongqing let out a “hmph” and looked up at the corridor towards Qiu Yutong and Lu Xiao. He couldn’t help but be stunned, “… It’s you two?”
Qiu Yutong walked over and smiled, “It’s me.”
Lu Xiao also nodded slightly, “Second Master, hello.”
Xu Dongqing was both surprised and pleased, as he moved forward to grasp both their arms. “Young Master Tong, Young Master Xiao, why are you here? After our separation at the capital, I constantly missed you both.”
“Second Master, it’s like this,” Qiu Yutong hestated for a moment, “Actually, I have some matters to ask from Eldest Master, and also offer my congratulations at the same time.”
“You’re looking for my older brother,” Xu Dongqing nodded in understanding. “Is your body feeling uncomfortable anywhere?”
“My situation is a little complicated, unable to be explained clearly in a short amount of time.”
“My brother can cure any illness, it’s just…” Xu Dongqing shook his head, “His temper is a little strange. When treating an illness, he needs to check if it’s fated. Young Master Tong, if you have a referral that would be good.”
“Eh, it’s Nort Snow City’s Cuibing Peak Master Sang Lingxi who referred me,” Qiu Yutong hesitated but still shifted San-Shixiong over; leaning against a large tree was really refreshing.
Xu Dongqing widened his eyes, “You know North Snow City’s people? What did you tell me previously at Zuixian building?”
Qiu Yutong coughed lightly, “This, is there a need for a public proclamation?”
Xu Dongqing nodded, “That’s true. City Master Xie has always been low-key. Of course he wouldn’t like people mentioning them behind their backs.”
This Xu Dongqing had always been forthright and friendly. After hearing that these two knew people from North Snow City, he started to enthusiastically move them along, “Move, move, move, since you have Cuibing Peak Master Sang Lingxi’s referral, I’ll take you to elder brother now!”
Medicinal Monarch Manor took up around 1000 mu*. As the three of them walked, they saw white walls and black roofs everywhere and a dense bamboo forest, altogether extremely elegant.
[T/N: A unit of measurement for area, 1000 mu = around 66700000 square meters.]
Not even a moment later, Xu Dongqing brought the two of them into a small courtyard and stopped in front of a study room.
“My elder brother does not like to meet strangers,” Xu Dongqing lowered his voice and spoke. “At this time, he’s usually in the study room studying medical books. I’ll go in first to speak to him. The two of you can wait in the courtyard first.”
Qiu Yutong nodded, “Then we’ll have to bother Second Master.”
After Xu Dongqing went in, Lu Xiao was faintly displeased. “This Eldest Master has such arrogance.”
Qiu Yutong pacified, “We are seeking medical treatment. Moreover, they have the ability, waiting is expected.”
“En, Shizun is right.”
As the two of them discussed quietly, there was a sudden clatter from the room!!! The loud noise seemed like something had been smashed on the ground.
“Elder Brother!!” This was Xu Dongqing’s voice.
A hoarse voice snarled, “Xu Dongqing, I think you need a spanking! You brought your pack of scoundrel friends to the manor again! You even expect me to help treat the illness of these scoundrels!”
“Elder Brother, Young Master Tong is someone I met while watching lanterns in the capital. We even saved a few children, I know his personality…”
“Lanterns, lanterns, just from the name I know it’s not a good thing, it’s basically the same as those pleasure houses, and pleasure boats! The capital is full of both good and bad, what do you know!”
Xu Dongqing restrained himself. “Young Master Tong said that he was referred by North Snow City’s Cuibing Peak Master, Sang Lingxi! After a few days, Peak Master Sang will be coming to the manor to offer congratulations, we can’t provoke Peak Master Sang’s friend right!”
“North Snow City’s Sang Lingxi?” Xu Qiushi* said peculiarly, “Don’t talk about that womaniser Young Master Sang Lingxi, even if it was Aoxue Peak Master Bai Hanyuan, or their hypocritical Zhangmen-Shixiong Xie Wanting, I won’t treat!”
[T/N: The author wrote Xu Dongqing but I think it’s a typo.]
Lu Xiao lowered his voice< “Looks like this Eldest Master seems to dislike your Zhangmen-Shixiong.”
Qiu Yutong scratched his head and was slightly embarrassed, “Eh, this…”
Xu Qiushi roared a few more words and Xu Dongqing didn’t dare to reply.
After a moment, Xu Dongqing said, extremely carefully, “But, North Snow City’s Peak Master who has ascended, Qiu Yutong, did he save Elder Brother before?”
“Qiu Yutong is Qiu Yutong, North Snow City is North Snow City! Besides, everyone said that Qiu Yutong has ascended. From what I see, perhaps Xie Wanting envied his little shidi and killed him!”
“Cough cough cough!” Qiu Yutong nearly choked to death on his saliva.
Sorry, he had really ascended.
The house instantly became silent. It seemed the people inside heard him coughing. After that, a tall skinny man walked out from the study room. “I will not treat your illness, leave!”
This person was naturally the Master of the Medicine Monarch Manor, Godly Doctor Xu, Xu Qiushi.
He looked around 30 with a tall and thin body, with a pair of extremely white dead fish eyes. On the left side of his face was a large cyan birthmark. His features were extremely ferocious. At this moment, glared fiercely at Qiu Yutong, looking extremely frightening.
Qiu Yutong looked at him and really did not know what to say. Xu Qiushi was suddenly struck dumb.
“Peak Master Qiu?!”
Qiu Yuong immediately reacted. Xu Qiushi had seen him before.
Around ten years ago, this Godly Doctor Xu had overestimated his own abilities and went to the cave of a thousand-year demon snake to steal snake eggs. In the end, he had nearly been eaten. Fortunately, Qiu Yutong happened to pass by and casually saved his life. However, they only met this once and he didn’t expect that Xu Qiushi would still remember him.
Xu Qiushi stared at him for a moment before shaking his head, “Not right, not right, your bones are only twenty years old, how can you be him?”
He walked down the stairs and walked around Qiu Yutong a few times, extremely rudely, then suddenly said, “Just now my younger brother said that Sang Lingxi referred you here? What’s your relationship with Sang Lingxi?”
“This…” Qiu Yutong was slightly hesitant.
Say they’re friends but his body’s cultivation was too shallow, and he was also quite young, let’s say he’s Sang Lingxi’s disciple. He’ll unwillingly allow Sang Lingxi to control him for life.
He thought for a while and said with difficulty, “I am Peak Master Sang’s… shizhi*.”
[T/N: Shizhi means disciple-nephew, aka since Sang Lingxi is Qiu Yutong’s disciple-brother, any disciples/children Qiu Yutong has will be Sang Lingxi’s disciple-nephews.]
Even though he would be short for life, at least it wasn’t a direct disciple and master relationship so he could forcefully accept it.
Xu Qiushi stood fixedly in front of him, and suddenly leaned forward, until he was extremely close, examining his Qiu Yutong’s eyebrows intently and mumbled, “You’re Sang Lingxi’s shizhi?”
Lu Xiao frowned in annoyance, “What are you looking at?”
Xu Qiushi completely ignored Lu Xiao, and stared at Qiu Yutong with his pair of dead fish eyes, “Your looks, and you’re Sang Lingxi’s shizhi…”
Qiu Yutong felt his hair stand on end as he was stared at, and suddenly thought of something. He quickly pulled out the thing inside the bundle of cloth behind him. “A meagre gift, asking Eldest Master to kindly accept.”
“Oh,” Xu Qiushi acknowledged with a sound and casually shook open the “exceptional sword manual”, his eyes suddenly intent.
He cried out involuntarily, “This is… This is Qiu Yutong’s 《Inverted Plum Seven Swords》! This, this handwriting, I will never mistake it! Absolutely not!”
Qiu Yutong smiled, “Eldest Master has a good eye. This is a lone swords manual, written by Qiu Yutong himself.”
Xu Qiushi stared unwaveringly at that incomparably priceless “lone swords manual” and suddenly looked up. He looked at Qiu Yutong as if he had realised something, “You’re Qiu Yutong’s son?!”
Qiu Yutong’s smile froze.
“But, he has a Dao companion*… oh, I understand, you’re his illegitimate son?”
[T/N: It’s more like a question rather than a statement.]
“Cough cough!” Lu Xiao choked down a laugh and stole a peek at Qiu Yutong. His expression was extremely strange, looking like he wanted to laugh, yet didn’t dare to.
“…” Qiu Yutong expressionlessly became quiet before he forced himself to explain, “No, Qiu Yutong has no illegitimate children. Really, I promise.”
Lu Xiao strove to endure it for a moment, and silently turned his head to the side, his shoulders trembling slightly.
Qiu Yutong hid his hand in his sleeve and, without batting an eyelid, ruthlessly pinched Lu Xiao’s arm. This evil disciple, daring to laugh at him!
The author has something to say:
Qiuqiu: “I really don’t have an illegitimate child!”
T/N: The ending structure of the dialogue is pretty weird, but I think the gist of it is there. Not too sure if the author had a lot of typos or something lol
