Chapter 160 - System vs. System (10): Try the sword, gift the moon, a lifetime teacher and disciple
Translator: kiribold
editor: sarah
Chi Xiaochi was slightly surprised by this unexpected event. He quickly and carefully calculated the various pros and cons in his heart.
…In the original book, Wen Yujing’s name was only mentioned.
His origin and whether he was good or evil were unknown.
According to the plot’s development, at this time, he was either a wandering immortal or living in seclusion. Why would he suddenly attend the meeting?
Unless he also wanted to get in on the sword in the stone?
…probably not.
From today onwards, any swordsman who had some worldly knowledge will know that the sword in the stone has been pulled out by a disciple of Jingxu Peak, even pa.s.sing the Mingtang.
The champion of the sword was the future master of Jingxu Peak. In this scenario, if anyone wanted to take the sword privately, it would defy the first ancestor and disrespect the thousand-year-old tradition.
This kind of stupid thing, even a person with a nominally developed brain, wouldn’t do it.
Chi Xiaochi duly revealed a confused look while he was calculating.
The 17-year-old boy, who wasn’t deeply involved in the world, may not know the exalted position of the sword in the stone in the hearts of sword cultivators, so it was reasonable for him to be indifferent about it.
But it would be too fake to say that he was completely unmoved.
He knelt down on one knee, holding back his “nervousness,” and trying to “shrug off” their good intentions. “Reporting to Chiyun-Jun, this junior doesn’t dare take the liberty, nor does he dare to disturb the little Shishu, Yan-da…Shifu was a great benefactor to me, I should repay…”
Chi Yunzi waved his hand and interrupted him.
He wanted to say that if Yan Jinhua became your Shifu, apart from him gaining an undeserved and meaningless t.i.tle, it wouldn’t have any benefits for you.
Can he teach you how to practice your sword or grant you secret manuals?
If he doesn’t take you to visit the brothel, it would be considered a sense of decency!
But if he said this, it would slap Yan Jinhua in the face and be tantamount to hitting his own mouth.
Just as he was in a dilemma, Chi Yunzi heard a gentle laugh coming from his side.
Wen Yujing lightly tapped his lips with his flute and said frankly, “Shixiong, I like him.”
When he spoke, he didn’t look at Chi Yunzi but focused on Duan Shujue, kneeling below. His words carried a bit of a nasal sound, so gentle that it was a bit coy.
Chi Xiaochi’s heart moved.
…this person’s rhetorical skill wasn’t bad.
Wen Yujing’s seemingly roguish “I like him” was actually putting all the responsibility on himself.
He likes him, so Chi Yunzi had a reason to bestow a disciple to him.
He likes him, so Yan Jinhua, a generation below him, had to part with him.
He likes him, so he was also promising to treat Duan Shujue very well to give him peace of mind.
This not only gave Chi Yunzi a step but a slide.
Little shidi Wen Yujing was the youngest among his generation and had always lived far away from people, never asking for anything, and was born with a self-isolating temperament. He didn’t even have a disciple to serve with him. It was rare for him to take the initiative to ask for someone like this. Chi Yunzi, eager to give away Duan Shujue, a slightly hot potato, had no reason to refuse. “Alright, Duan Shujue, no need to continue discussing. From today onwards, your Shifu is Wen Yujing. Your name will be recorded on the registry another day, so when the time comes, I will send someone to deliver it to you.”
Like this, Chi Xiaochi went home with Wen Yujing while holding the sword in the stone.
He originally wanted to go back to Yuguang Pool to pack some things, which would incidentally nauseate Yan Jinhua again in private. But Wen Yujing said lightly, “I have everything there,” so Chi Xiaochi temporarily restrained himself and first intended to explore the environment.
Chi Xiaochi was in no hurry.
Yan Jinhua was his mission, but wasn’t Duan Shujue also Yan Jinhua’s mission?
Even if he didn’t go back, Yan Jinhua would take the initiative to stick to him.
So he walked away with peace of mind, even wearing Yan Jinhua’s thick outer robe.
Jingxu Peak had a total of sixteen peaks, and Wen Yujing lived alone on one peak, which was called Huishou Peak.
There were many rules in Jingxu Mountain. One of them was that if you weren’t a Peak Master or a high-ranking disciple unless there were special circ.u.mstances, you must get off your sword when entering the mountain. The princ.i.p.al was roughly equivalent to high school, where students weren’t allowed to ride bicycles, but teachers could drive through the school gate.
Wen Yujing didn’t use his sword either and strolled with Chi Xiaochi under the moon.
Wen Yujing was in front, and Chi Xiaochi followed behind him. Neither of them were talkative people, and they didn’t communicate frequently, but the atmosphere was very soothing and serene, so they didn’t feel any awkwardness.
Wen Yujing walked slowly, gracefully, and without sound.
He held a handful of green fireflies as a light, playing his flute as he led the way.
Chi Xiaochi thought this was probably the romanticism of ancient people.
He wasn’t very familiar with this road, and Wen Yujing had always lived alone on Huishou Peak. The masonry of the mountain road was inevitably damaged by the loss of bricks and stones, making it difficult to walk.
Chi Xiaochi simply stepped on Wen Yujing’s footprints to avoid any missteps.
They went straight to the top of the mountain.
On the top of the mountain, a crescent moon emerged behind fluffy snow-white clouds. Many stars lined the night, but it was difficult to hide the bright moonlight.
Chi Xiaochi couldn’t help but exclaim his praise upon seeing this beautiful scene.
Wen Yujing asked him, “Is the moon beautiful?”
Chi Xiaochi was suddenly distracted, thinking of the star that 061 “picked” for him that time and thinking of the ring he was still wearing on his pinkie finger. He felt like his finger was scorching hot.
He put away the unnecessary thought of “picking the moon” and asked, “Shifu, are we here to admire the moon?”
Wen Yujing heard his words and raised his hand with his palm spread toward the moon. After a short while, the pale silver moonlight solidified on his palm in the shape of a key.
He smiled faintly and replied, “No, let’s go home.”
Chi Xiaochi’s eyes flashed, and the world suddenly shifted.
The originally luscious mountain top was suddenly flat and wide. A simple and tranquil palace stretched out, surrounded by flowers and trees. A mirror-like flat lake was akin to an emerald belt surrounding the palace, enclosing it in the middle of the lake on a heart-shaped island.
Only the moon was still that moon.
When Chi Xiaochi first arrived, he naturally had to understand the rules here first.
In fact, he didn’t even know Wen Yujing’s purpose for bringing him here.
He bowed his hands courteously. “Shifu, do you need me to do anything?”
“Yes.” Wen Yujing put his jade flute back on his waist, turned around, and ordered gently, “Draw your sword.”
Chi Xiaochi was stunned.
“Draw the sword in the stone. Defeat me within 50 moves.” Wen Yujing took the umbrella off his back. “Or I will defeat you.”
The tip of the umbrella in his hand shook and transformed into a soft turquoise sword. The sword’s hilt was the handle of the umbrella, which was engraved with a half-hollowed-out double carp figure.
Wen Yujing held the sword in his right hand with his left hand behind his back, watching him.
Chi Xiaochi knew that this was a necessary initiation trial, so he didn’t think much about it. He took off his outer robe and pulled out the sword in the stone.
The water sword was intangible, and when it pointed directly to the ground, a section fell on the ground, gurgling and flowing but not wetting the floor.
The soft sword struck first. A slight buzzing sound split the air and went straight for his face. Chi Xiaochi wiped the blade with one finger and crossed the sword to flick down the tip of the attacking sword. Then he used his wrist strength to counter the provocation, avoiding its edge and going straight towards the middle.
As if the soft sword was alive, it rebounded immediately after being pushed away. Wen Yujing used his sword one-handed, turning side to side to avoid the blade. Wen Yujing dodged a blow but his sword came out like a whip. A thin silver thread of light pa.s.sed by and cut off a piece of the cloth around Duan Shujue’s shoulders.
Previously, Duan Shujue practiced Jingxu swordsmanship, and when he pulled out the sword in the stone, he heard the secret sword technique taught by the merman ancestor. But he only heard it once and hadn’t started to learn it yet, so the exchange between them was the most common quick sword path in Jingxu swordsmanship.
The momentum of the swords was like a swift rain, and silver light flashed between them. Thirty moves pa.s.sed in the blink of an eye. Duan Shujue in Chi Xiaochi’s body was ignited with sword intent. He took the right opportunity, considered the strength of his wrist, and aimed sideways!
Wen Yujing was good at using soft swords, and the sword’s power was treacherous and unpredictable, but if Duan Shujue wanted to face the sword head-on, he was afraid that he would fail.
Duan Shujue’s calculations were precise. He guaranteed that Wen Yujing would never be able to stop this sword strike in terms of angle and force.
As expected, Wen Yujing didn’t block him.
He waved his hand and raised his sword. His soft sword rolled over the body of the sword in the stone. It wrapped around the blade of the water sword several times, locking the body of the sword in the stone in one fell swoop!
Duan Shujue was stunned. Before he had time to react, he saw Wen Yujing let go of his right hand and switched to his left hand. He grabbed the hilt of his Pisces sword that was still floating in the air and walked behind Duan Shujue in an instant.
The soft sword was stretched into a bow shape, and the thin blade was half wrapped around Duan Shujue’s neck.
…Duan Shujue lost.
Even with his swordsmanship from his previous life coupled with the thousand-year-old sword intent, Duan Shujue, who Yan Jinhua had discreetly imprisoned in Yuguang Pool for many years, was still inexperienced against opponents.
He blinked and said sincerely, “Shifu’s swordsmanship is first cla.s.s, this disciple is ashamed.”
Wen Yujing smiled good-naturedly, and turned his hand to collect his sword.
The soft sword was like a measuring tape, rustlingly rolling away from the sword in the stone. When it bounced off, the blade inadvertently swept across the blooming night violets, and the snow-white honeysuckle flowers suddenly fluttered like a dance.
Wen Yujing reverted the soft sword to the appearance of a blue carp umbrella and held it above his head to block the rain of flowers.
“Given time, there will be progress.” He instructed Duan Shujue in a few words. “The thousand-year sword intent is only the groundwork of others. How to use it is your ability.”
Not to mention Duan Shujue, even Chi Xiaochi was unavoidably moved by his temperament.
He said, “Yes, Shifu, this disciple understands.”
When he raised his hand to salute, he suddenly stopped.
In the fierce battle just now, both of them suffered losses. Wen Yujing broke a piece of his lapel, while Chi Xiaochi had his top two b.u.t.tons cut off. When he moved, the previously torn shoulder garment lost its binding and slipped off his shoulders, exposing half of it.
Chi Xiaochi looked at his exposed shoulder. “…”
He felt as if something was wrong.
He suspected that his new Shifu was doing it on purpose.
He even had a reasonable suspicion that if it were a hundred moves, Wen Yujing would be able to remove his belt.
But looking at Wen Yujing’s immortal gentlemanly face, Chi Xiaochi wondered if he was too petty.
He stopped overthinking, gathered his thoughts, and said, “Shifu, Duan Shujue will practice seriously in the future.”
“Mn.” Wen Yujing turned the umbrella on his back. “Practice the sword with me for six hours daily and medidate for six hours to understand the Dao and cultivate the mind. I will take you out to travel from time to time to see more of the world. In addition to these, you have to take care of my diet and daily life.”
Chi Xiaochi thought it was nothing. “Yes.”
If you want to worship a Shifu, you must serve your Shifu. This was common sense.
However, Wen Yujing looked at him steadily. “I said, it is to take care of my diet and daily life.”
Hearing his emphasis, Chi Xiaochi had a slight doubt, “Shifu?”
Wen Yujing asked, “Do you know why Chi Yunzi shixiong was willing to let me take you?”
The book didn’t mention this part, but since Wen Yujing had already pointed it out to this extent, how could Chi Xiaochi not think of that possibility?
The young man holding the umbrella and flute faced him and said frankly, “I am the incarnation of a century-old spiritual beast. It was Shifu who brought me back to the mountains when he went out and raised me carefully before I was given the chance to take human form. Shixiong handed you over to me, naturally because he believed that I have a way to control you.”
After saying that, he smiled again. “What a coincidence. We are both mortal but alien, and deserve to be teacher and disciple in this life.”
Chi Xiaochi was enlightened.
In this way, everything made sense.
If Wen Yujing was also a kind of spiritual beast like a merman, then it was no wonder that he spent his days in the dark, hidden behind the scenes and free from the world.
And Chi Yunzi was a.s.sured first because he was excellent in swordsmanship and could suppress the current Duan Shujue. Secondly, he was a spiritual beast and knew how to deal with mermaids.
After explaining the matter clearly, Wen Yujing waved his hand lightly, “Go bathe, I’ll go to my room to rest. After an hour, come to my room to bathe and groom me.”
The so-called “bathing and grooming” was probably to scrub the body of the spiritual beast.
Chi Xiaochi nodded in response. After Wen Yujing turned around and entered his room, Chi Xiaochi removed his clothes and shoes, turned into a merman, and leaped in.
If the Yuguang Pool he lived in was ordinarily renovated with one bedroom, one living room, one kitchen, one bathroom, and a balcony, he now lived in a three-story villa with a small garden and a parking lot.
The spiritual energy in the water was more abundant than in Yuguang Pool, and it was a cold spring that the merman loved. The area of water was enough for him to float for 100-meters. There were also some koi and turtles in the spring. They weren’t timid, and when they saw the merman, they curiously came around to look.
He swam for a while, submerging half of his face in the icy water, comfortably enjoying his new home while looking up at the sky.
The crescent moon was bright and clear that it made the heart grow fonder when looking at it.
061 said, “Do you like this moon?”
Chi Xiaochi said, “…can’t pick it, I can’t pick it.”
061 laughed. “Wasn’t it already given to you?”
Only then did Chi Xiaochi realize that the place he was in the water was precisely where the moon casts its shadow.
At the moment, he was lying in the center of the moon in the water.
Chi Xiaochi spat out a bunch of bubbles. “Liu-laoshi, you’ve given me a lot of gifts…”
061 understood what he meant and smiled. “Don’t misunderstand, I only discovered it. This is the best place to enjoy the moon, so this moon should be considered a gift from Wen Yujing.”
…To put it bluntly, he, Wen Yujing, gave Chi Xiaochi something, and I, 061, had nothing to do with it.
Chi Xiaochi was slightly relieved. After confirming the time, he cleaned his body and climbed ash.o.r.e.
Because there was no replacement disciple uniform, he could only wear the broken one for the time being.
He knocked on Wen Yujing’s door, but there was no answer.
Thinking that Wen Yujing had probably already transformed by this time, Chi Xiaochi raised his voice to call out to his Shifu. He knocked twice more, indicating that he was going in before he pushed the door and entered.
No one in the house responded.
There was a copper plate on the table, on which there was a rhinoceros horn comb, a white velvet towel not much bigger than an adult’s palm, a small nail clipper, and a small bowl of warm goat milk.
Chi Xiaochi: “…”
…Why does the stuff in here look so weird.
His suspicions were confirmed again when he saw Wen Yujing’s real body.
A small milk cat about palm-size was lying on the inner bed, licking his soft and clean front palm gracefully.
Chi Xiaochi: …Excuse me.
He didn’t go in immediately but stood in the doorway with a look on his face.
061 felt that something was wrong with his expression, so he asked, “What’s wrong?” Does he not like cats?
Chi Xiaochi: “…What does he mean by this?”
061: “Huh?”
“He’s a cat and has a pool of fish.” Chi Xiaochi said, “What’s the difference between this and a weasel running a chicken farm? Liu-laoshi, tell me, he brought me back, isn’t he storing cat food?”
061: “…”
What a miscalculation.
He only considered that a cat would be softer and more comfortable to hold and hug. It would be more healing and suitable for Chi Xiaochi.
…If he started over now, was it too late to become a golden retriever?
Sarah: Too late, Liu-laoshi XD Maybe he’s used to feline characters after the last world haha
Kiribold:Keep this image in your head when you think of Liu-Shifu