A Home Visit From Esteemed Senior BrotherThe 29th day of the twelfth lunar month. Heavy snow.
Snow white clothing, a lasting fragrance.
The youth’s bearing was tall and straight. With an elegant appearance, he wore a smile as he waited respectfully.
The two female disciples guarding the main hall bashfully came up to meet him with rosy cheeks: 『Esteemed senior brother once again comes bearing gifts. What did you bring our master this year?』
The more courageous one tugged his sleeve: 『Is it hidden here?』
Wen RenMu smiled faintly and drew away: 『Junior sisters, please spare me.』
Every lunar new years eve people were appointed to head out and deliver a humble gift from the peak master. w.a.n.g Yue peak and Ba Zhan peak were handled personally while the remaining peaks were a.s.signed to others.
Within the Xun Yang sixteen peaks, w.a.n.g Yue, Huang Hua, and Xi Zhu peaks only accepted female disciples. Once they saw him, the disciples from Huang Hua and Xi Zhu peak could only bashfully hide or gather together and gaze at him and giggle.
On the other hand, the disciples from w.a.n.g Yue peak were somewhat bolder.
Wen RenMu took out a small jade box: 『This is a three-hundred-year-old returning wild gra.s.s. It’s beneficial for cultivation. I ask that you junior sisters pa.s.s this on to senior uncle.』
The bolder one with charming eyes said with a trace of anger: 『And if we do not choose to pa.s.s this on, what will you do?』
Wen RenMu glanced at her: 『……what would you have me do?』
The bolder disciple flushed red. The mood had become somewhat ambiguous. The more timid one didn’t dare say a word as she bit her lip.
Wen RenMu coughed and said firmly: 『I still several peaks that I need to visit. I’ll have to trouble both junior sisters.』
On saying this, his body clothed in white rose into the air as he nodded at them with a smile. Just before leaving, he unconsciously looked around. He hadn’t seen a trace of that person in violet. A trace of melancholy sprang up unbidden.
Arriving at Ba Zhan peak, he saw a grandly magnificent main hall. Compared to Yu Rong peak it was even more imposing. It really was Qing Xu sword sect’s wealthiest branch.
He greeted a few disciples in front of the main hall: 『Have the three senior brothers awoken at all?』
The leader smiled and said: 『Many thanks for esteemed senior brother’s concern. They have all awoken……however master has already headed down the mountain.』
Wen RenMu awkwardly responded: 『……Mu ZhiQiu fooled my Tian Heng peak. We also are……』
Mu ZhiQiu was Tian Heng peak’s ninth ranking disciple. Wen RenMu had usually depended on him as an a.s.sistant and he had been very popular. These dozen attacks did not allow Tian Heng peak to lift its head.
And then thinking of Jun YanZhi, he felt somewhat stifled……
That person promptly smiled and said: 『Mu ZhiQiu deliberately misled everyone. It’s natural there was no trace. We cannot blame esteemed senior brother for this matter. In addition, this matter was a little strange……』
Wen RenMu raised an eyebrow: 『A little strange? In what way?』
That person somewhat regretting blurting this out and drew Wen RenMu aside, quietly saying: 『My senior brothers said that once they were drained of their spiritual energy and their cultivations destroyed, they were discarded and thrown into Mu ZhiQiu’s ice cave where they then lost consciousness. However when they were discovered, they were lying in the boundary of Yu Rong peak and Hong Xiu peak……』
Wen RenMu looked at him: 『You’re saying……』
『Why would Mu ZhiQiu move their bodies to where they could be discovered?』
『……It really is a little strange.』
Don’t tell me someone moved the bodies?
『This is only something I thought was a little strange. Esteemed senior brother don’t think too much of it……』The man laughed.
Wen RenMu recovered his composure and hurriedly said: 『What you said makes sense. Why haven’t you reported this to your master?』
『……Those three senior brothers were not wandering the mountains late at night for a good matter. Once master heard of this he became very angry and we did not dare say more.』
Wen RenMu smiled: 『Every family has its problems.』
『Yes, exactly as you say……』
Leaving Ba Zhan peak, Wen RenMu was somewhat absent-minded.
Jun YanZhi had gone on night patrol and had by chance run into Mu ZhiQiu. Also by chance, he hit a vital part while defending himself in a rush, thus killing the other person……this matter was also a coincidence……
He then remembered what Yang DongYe had said. He had pierced Jun YanZhi with a needle dipped in black ink snake’s poison, which should only have caused itching, certainly nothing fatal, yet Jun YanZhi’s injury had suddenly become serious and he had begun to vomit blood?
This Jun YanZhi apparently was not simple……
Or was he overthinking things?
The last few months, Tian Heng and Hui Shi had continued to experience friction. For the first time in his life, Wen RenMu began to truly look at them. This year he unexpectedly did not want to prepare a gift for Hui Shi peak. However, the matter of Mu ZhiQiu’s actions was truly in the wrong and there were still things that needed to be done otherwise they would come off as petty……
To deliver the gift himself, was his face thick enough?
At last, he arrived at Hui Shi peak’s main hall. Wen RenMu raised his head to look around and saw no one within sight of the giant building. He took out a jade box from his bosom.
The main halls on other peaks had someone on guard, only this Hui Shi peak was absolutely empty. It held a pressing aura of poverty, how shameful……
He stroked the small jade box as he thought, then flew towards Jun YanZhi’s dwelling.
Since he was already here, then what harm was there in taking an opportunity to meet with him?
He flew into the mountain for a long time and finally saw a youth sitting in a vegetable garden hugging a large tortoise as he fed him cabbage. Hearing someone fly overhead, the youth raised his head and gazed at him, his delicate and pretty face seemed somewhat astonished.
This newly arrived youth had together with Jun YanZhi solved the matter regarding Mu ZhiQiu……he seemed to be surnamed Lu?
Wen RenMu quickly dropped down and lowered his gaze to the young man saying: 『Junior brother Lu.』
Wen Jing slowly stood up: 『Esteemed senior brother.』
Wen RenMu was not enemies with Hui Shi peak. Why had he come? To knock down a building? Provocation? Make a demonstration? This aloof and remote feeling……
『……I was wishing to visit junior brother Jun. I was wondering what the way to his residence is?』
Wen Jing hesitated and held the large tortoise as he said: 『……I’ll take you there. Follow me.』
『Thank you.』
Flying alongside, Wen RenMu looked down at the tortoise and asked: 『How old is that tortoise?』
The tortoise gazed at Wen RenMu while lying motionless against Wen Jing’s chest.
『……I don’t know.』
『It seems to have a high enough age, has it not yet gained spiritual awareness?』
Wen Jing silently touched the head of the tortoise: 『……this is senior brother Jun’s spirit beast.』It belongs to him, I only feed it that’s all.
Wen RenMu casually said: 『……junior brother Jun hasn’t tried to find someone to look at it? It’s already fully grown but hasn’t opened its spiritual awareness. With that kind of dazed appearance, how could it help him cultivate or fight?』
Wen Jing was somewhat unhappy at heart: 『This tortoise’s dazed look is cute–also not all demonic beasts have to be useful in some way.』
The python, for example, still had a poor att.i.tude and often flashed its fangs, but it would still ardently stick itself on him……
Wen RenMu frowned slightly.
In Tian Heng peak, no one dared to speak to him in this manner.
They arrived in front of a stone building to see the s.p.a.ce before the front door swept completely clean of snow. A few pines by the doorway had branches layered with snow and a small spring flowed nearby.
From within the house came the voice of a man: 『Why did you come today? You’re not going to the vegetable garden?』
As he spoke, a very pale young man in his early twenties arrived at the door. He wore black garments and had a dark grey belt tied around his waist. His collar was carelessly left slightly open and exposed a glimpse of his physique, giving off a trace of bewitching beauty.
Wen Jing stared at him with a faintly dazed expression.
Jun YanZhi raised his head to see two people. His brows creased. He calmly pulled his collar closed and the air of bewitching beauty faded away. Once again he returned to his aloof and elegant temperament of an ordinary immortal.
Wen RenMu felt just then that something in that moment had shifted out of his grasp. His eyebrows drew together, feeling out of sorts and said politely: 『Junior brother Jun, how are you feeling?』
Jun YanZhi smiled faintly: 『Much better……esteemed senior brother has come to pay a personal visit. I am ashamed at heart, please come inside.』He said as he moved aside.
Wen RenMu smiled and stepped into the room and looked around.
At the doorway, Jun YanZhi looked at Wen Jing and asked: 『Will you be returning to the vegetable garden?』
『I have to. I’m not done yet.』
『Go on.』
Wen Jing looked at Wen RenMu within the house and extended to fingers, his face looked very fierce.
This was a secret signal Gui XinBi had taught him: Did he want to have second senior brother come over?
If second senior brother showed up, with this kind of reckless person it would become a scene of mortal enemies.
Jun YanZhi shook his head: 『You go ahead.』
Wen Jing held the large tortoise and turned to go. Jun YanZhi bowed his head and asked: 『……will you return once you’re done?』
His voice was soft and Wen Jing’s cultivation was too low to hear as he quickly walked away.
Jun YanZhi’s lips pursed together in a straight line.
He closed the door, faced the man dressed in white within, and said warmly: 『Esteemed senior brother, please sit down.』
Wen RenMu silently looked at him. The room was simply arranged, clean and neat, with several spirit gra.s.ses by the window, a bookcase holding a vase, and a few books……it was quite shabby……
Jun YanZhi steeped some tea: 『White orchid tea. It’s somewhat bitter, I hope esteemed senior brother can bear with it.』
Wen RenMu raised the teacup and immediately choked on a bitter mouthful, saying: 『……tolerable.』 But then put down the teacup and didn’t drink anymore.
He took out a small jade box: 『This is wild returning gra.s.s. It’s beneficial for cultivation. I ask you to give this to your eldest senior brother.』
『Very well.』Jun YanZhi received the small jade box and sat down; 『Esteemed senior brother, today’s visit, was there anything else you wanted?』
Wen RenMu hesitated, then said: 『Indeed, there was just one other thing I don’t understand that I was hoping junior brother Jun could enlighten me on.』
『Esteemed senior brother, please ask.』
『According to what the disciples of Ba Zhan peak said, they were drained of their spiritual energy and their cultivation was completely crippled. They were then placed underground into the snow cave and there they lost consciousness. However, when they were later discovered, they were found in the boundary between Yu Rong and Hong Xiu peaks. How do you think that came about?』
Jun YanZhi paused.
Not batting an eye he said: 『Does esteemed senior brother have an idea?』
Wen RenMu looked at him: 『From your explanation, could someone already have known about Mu Zhi Qiu’s activities?』
Jun YanZhi indifferently glanced at him.
This Wen RenMu was suspecting him.
Although he had already known what was going on, he had chosen not to meddle in other people’s business. Those three people being found and then attracting the patrols of the Qing Xu sword sect had done him more harm than good.
Perhaps someone in the shadows using him to do their dirty work?
Jun YanZhi clenched his teeth slightly.
He had not considered this. Could it be he had been caught up in someone’s plan?
Wen RenMu said: 『Junior brother Jun?』
Jun YanZhi hesitated and said: 『Perhaps someone found out about Mu ZhiQiu’s devil cultivating but didn’t dare confront him. Therefore they recovered the bodies in hopes that someone else could settle the issue?』
Wen RenMu nodded slightly: 『Who could this person be?』
『Within Qing Xu sword sect those disciples that are timid, fearful, or are bullied by others are countless in number. It would be hard to predict.』
『……What junior brother Jun says is reasonable. However, for everyone involved to a.s.semble on the 18th day of the twelfth lunar month, I feel that it was an enormous coincidence, almost like……it was all planned.』
『This……is a curious coincidence.』
Wen RenMu thought for a long time, then stood up and said: 『Today’s chat with junior brother Jun was very beneficial. I am somewhat in a hurry. Perhaps we’ll continue this another day.』
Jun YanZhi smiled faintly: 『I’ll accompany you anytime.』
At last seeing off Wen RenMu, Jun YanZhi looked out the window at the weather coming from behind the mountain and began to slowly take off his clothes.
Author’s Notes: None
Translator’s Notes:
1. So the story is using lunar timekeeping. Lunar months and such. So although I want to say December… it’s not really that. This means that the start of the month is always the new moon, which is why it was always really dark when Wen Jing would go out on night patrol.
2. So 聞人 (Wen Ren) is all over the place in this chapter. I’m guessing it’s a term of address similar to 大人 (Da Ren) maybe. It means famous person/well-known person. But I can’t figure out how to leave it in without sounding super awkward. So I’m using the synonym esteemed in its place.
I made the mistake of reading ahead by two chapters and my motivation to translate immediately withered away since it feels like I’m reading the same thing over again. Woops.
o(╥﹏╥)o
I also added a glossary/character list. Every other comment was asking for it. Ha ha. It’s one of the links at the top. Not sure where it shows up on mobile though. It kind of contains mild spoilers but only up to this chapter, so if you’re reading this, you’re already caught up so no big deal.