Ch26 - Oh, it was a great performance

“Stolen?” Startled, Feng Ci couldn’t help but raise his voice: “How can that be?!”

Pei QianYue was completely hidden in the darkness, his expression indiscernible.  It didn’t seem like he really wanted to talk about this. When he spoke again, his voice sounded somewhat self-deprecating: “I’m sorry. I didn’t take care of it well for Master.” 

“How’s this related to you?” Feng Ci was exasperated: “I didn’t leave you on LingWu Mountain so you can guard the door.”

Back then, Feng Ci separated his soul from his body on LingWu Mountain. The body that remained naturally fell into a coma. Other than being unable to rot and decay, it was no different than a corpse.

 

It actually really wasn’t very strange that someone would come and steal his body.

Because in the cultivation world, there have indeed been cases of master cultivators, who had their corpses stolen before. 

Upon reaching a certain level of cultivation, even when the master cultivator dies, the cultivation they achieve will linger within their physical body. In this kind of body, the flesh, organs, bones, and even hair are all considered extremely precious items.

 

And the most commonly seen usage was being refined into a puppet by some evil cultivators or having the body possessed by some spirit.

In order to prevent this kind of thing from happening back then, Feng Ci had set up layers and layers of restrictions and protection arrays on LingWu Mountain, not permitting anyone to step foot there.

But who would have imagined, this kind of thing still occurred.

 

Instantly, many questions appeared in Feng Ci’s head. He thought briefly and asked: “The person who stole the body, did you exchange blows with him?”

Pei QianYue fell silent for a while again and then nodded his head softly.

“Even you couldn’t defeat him?”

 

Feng Ci had no doubt that with Pei QianYue’s temperament, he wouldn’t have watched wide-eyed while someone stole his body; he definitely would have tried his best to stop them. 

At that time, Pei QianYue had been cultivating for nearly 3000 years. Who could it have been? To not only break through LingWu Mountain’s magic arrays, but also be someone that not even Pei QianYue could handle.

Wait, 300 years ago……

Feng Ci suddenly realized: “In other words, the reason you left LingWu Mountain and came to LangFeng City was because my corpse had been stolen? You established the Immortal Alliance because you wanted to utilize the cultivation world’s strength to help recover my physical body, right?”

Pei QianYue: “Yes.” 

Feng Ci: “But no luck?”

“No.” Pei QianYue’s voice sounded somewhat weary: “For 300 years. I have searched practically everywhere in the Central Plains.”

But nothing at all.

That body seemed to have evaporated from the face of the world, never to appear again. 

Having thought of something unknown, Pei QianYue suddenly tightly clenched the hand that he had placed on the table. Even the tips of his finger trembled slightly. A faint red light flashed between his brows.

Feng Ci noticed the fluctuating emotions of the person next to him and hastily reached out to pat the back of his hand: “What are you randomly thinking about, relax.”

 

That red light faded fleetingly. Pei QianYue lowered his head slightly.

His eyes were clearly covered by a blindfold, but Feng Ci still felt an invisible gaze falling down, landing precisely on the hand that he had covered over the back of Pei QianYue’s hand. 

Feng Ci withdrew his hand nonchalantly, cleared his throat, and said soothingly: “If the physical body is lost, then it’s lost. We can just find it again. Now that you and I have joined forces, what’s there to be afraid of?”

Pei QianYue seemed to have enjoyed this statement very much. His brows relaxed and he replied softly: “Okay.”

Pei QianYue’s smile was very beautiful, just like a burst of warm breeze, blowing over melting frost and snow.

Feng Ci was caught off guard by this smile. After dazing off for a moment, he finally continued to say: “Furthermore, it’s no big deal even if we can’t find it. It’s just a physical body, no need to be too concerned with it.” 

There were two reasons why Feng Ci wanted to recover his physical body. One was that he’s still not very used to the body of this youth. The 2nd was that the cultivation of this youth’s body was too low; he couldn’t exert his full strength.

If the catastrophe predicted by the Heaven Principles really arrives, he’s not certain if his current body can handle it.

However, now there’s a third reason.

—He definitely didn’t want his physical body to be stolen and randomly used by someone. 

Other than these, whether or not he could return to his original body, wasn’t actually that important to Feng Ci.

It was only a physical shell to house the soul, that’s all.

But Pei QianYue didn’t seem to like these words; his finally alleviated expression darkened again. Feng Ci noticed and hastily said: “However, being able to recover my original body is naturally best. It makes doing things much more convenient.”

“En.” Pei QianYue said cryptically: “Indeed.” 

Feng Ci: “?”

Why did Pei QianYue’s words always seem to hold some other, deeper meaning?

Feng Ci didn’t continue examining this. Although Xiao Hei has been behaving obediently in front of him lately, in actuality, his temperament was still very hard to fathom.

Who knows what he’s thinking about right now. 

Feng Ci decided to return to the main topic: “Do you have any clues regarding my physical body right now?”

Pei QianYue shook his head: “No.”

 

Feng Ci: “Then it seems we can only put this matter aside for now.”

Pei QianYue could hear the implication beneath his words and asked: “Master, you still have other plans right now?” 

We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.

Feng Ci said: “Do you know of any place called Hanshan Temple?”

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Lf vlvc’a ajix jybea atf mbcafcar bo tlr vgfjw; tbkfnfg, Ufl HljcTef jirb vlvc’a lcdelgf. 

Pei QianYue raised his hand and waved. Rows of gold words appeared in the air.

It was the list of cultivation sects that Pei QianYue showed him under the Banyan roots.

Feng Ci didn’t read the words carefully at that time. Now that he was searching carefully this time, he finally noticed that Hanshan Temple was indeed on this list.

However…… 

“This Hanshan Temple is listed pretty far back?” Feng Ci asked.

According to Pei QianYue’s explanation, all of the cultivation sects destroyed so far had been attacked following the order of this list of names.

Since Feng Ci’s return, the 12th placed TianXuan Sect, the 13th placed QingYang Sect, the 14th placed WuChang Sect, the 15th placed Endless Valley, have all been exterminated in succession. There was no error in the sequence.

But this Hanshan Temple was listed #23. 

Feng Ci, astonished: “Could it be that the front—”

“No.” As if knowing what Feng Ci wanted to say, Pei QianYue explained ahead: “I’ve already dispatched people to secretly watch over everyone on this list. In the last few days, there have not been news of any attacks on sects.”

Feng Ci: “Then why……”

Pei QianYue said: “In the past few months, the people of the cultivation world have been anxious and alarmed. Especially recently, more and more cultivation sects have capitulated to the Immortal Alliance or dismissed their disciples.” 

“If we eliminate the names of the sects that have willingly joined the Immortal Alliance or dismissed their disciples from this list—”

Pei QianYue waved his hand again. The names on the list dimmed one by one.

 

Among the remaining cultivation sects, the first one on the list was……

Feng Ci said solemnly: “Hanshan Temple.” 

“Right.” Pei QianYue said: “Hanshan Temple is probably the next target of the mystery murderer.”

Hanshan Temple was an ancient Buddhist Temple from the previous dynasty. The Buddhist monks of the Temple mainly cultivated the path of Buddhism.

The Abbot of Hanshan Temple was the Great Master Hui Kong, a once respected, first generation scholar of the cultivation world. However, Great Master Hui Kong was devoted to Buddhism and did not want to get involved in disputes of the cultivation world. Therefore, when the Immortal Alliance was established, he refused to join and chose to live in seclusion in Hanshan Temple, never to set foot again in the mundane world.

Feng Ci listened to Pei QianYue’s introduction, not saying anything. 

If the Hanshan Temple in his dream was the same exact place as the Hanshan Temple on this list, then this matter might be even more complicated than he imagined.

Feng Ci lowered his head, his eyes falling on his palm.

He seemed to still remember how inside the dream, he had strangled that little monk’s neck, and also the sensation of the little monk’s spirit energy pouring completely into him. It was so realistic, and also very…… terrifying.

Feng Ci asked: “How’s Hanshan Temple right now?” 

Pei QianYue said: “Everything is the same as usual.”

The scouts that he dispatched reported news of these sects everyday. At least currently, Hanshan Temple has not encountered any disasters.

Feng Ci let out a breath of relief: “That’s good.”

It proved that the dream he had yesterday night was indeed only a premonition. 

Nothing has happened yet. There was still time.

Feng Ci said: “I’m taking a visit there personally.”

Pei QianYue still didn’t ask why. He only nodded: “Okay, I’ll come with you.”

Feng Ci opened his mouth, still slightly disapproving of Pei QianYue’s conduct of throwing aside a bunch of mess unconcerned. However, after interacting with Pei QianYue for such a long time, he already understood thoroughly how obstinate this person was. Persuasion was definitely not going to be effective. 

Being obstinate was one thing. Others couldn’t even protest, otherwise, he’d get angry.

As soon as he gets angry, the inner demon will flare up again.

 

Feng Ci sighed silently in his heart.

If he wants to go, then let him go. His own family’s baby, other than doting on him, what else can he do? 

However, Feng Ci considered himself much more conscientious than Pei QianYue.

Since he knew that Hanshan Temple was fine for the time being, before leaving, he automatically assisted in sorting out the affairs within the sect. A small number of urgent and important tasks that required the approval of the City Master, he threw directly at Pei QianYue, forcing him to make a decision on the spot to save Xiao Que from panicking under pressure again later on from not knowing how to deal with them.

This part of the affairs took the entire afternoon to deal with.

By the time the two people left LinXian Terrace, the skies were almost dark. 

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The distant horizons were covered in endless red clouds. The kaleidoscope of the sunset’s radiance reflected on the snowy mountain peaks, a breathtakingly beautiful sight for the eyes.

After this entire day of sitting, Feng Ci’s back and waist were sore and aching. As soon as he walked out the door, he stretched and yawned: “It was truly wise of me to leave the cultivation world back then. Sorting out this annoying mess is more tiring than fighting with demons(魔).”

Pei QianYue walked out following behind him: “Does Master want to head back and take a rest? I have met Great Master Hui Kong once before. I can go to Hanshan Temple alone.”

“No need.” Feng Ci waved his hand: “We’ll go together. That way we can look after each other, and plus……” 

He had a very important issue that he had to verify personally.

Feng Ci didn’t explain much. The two people walked down LinXian Terrace. After the rebel army of the Immortal Alliance was captured, LangFeng City’s Aerial Prohibition Array was restored. Even Feng Ci and Pei QianYue had to wait until they left the mountain gates to fly on their swords.

However, the two people just descended LinXian Terrace when a disciple found their way over.

“City Master, the Sect Leader of LingXiao Gates has arrived. He’s currently requesting an audience with you at the gates.” 

Feng Ci, surprised: “So quickly?”

He heard that the Sect Leader of LingXiao Gates, Xuan YangZi, has been in secluded cultivation for many months. All of the internal sect affairs were handed over to be managed by his Shidi. Not to mention, Pei QianYue’s maneuver here basically resembled a HongMen Banquet. Thus, Feng Ci originally thought the LingXiao Sect Leader wouldn’t be so quick to arrive.

During the day, Pei QianYue just sent news of Cheng Chao’s death over there. According to the distance, to rush over here so quickly, the Sect Leader would have needed to set off immediately after receiving the news.

The messenger disciple was still kneeling in front of the two people. Pei QianYue, however, was not in a hurry to answer. He turned his head towards Feng Ci. 

Waiting for him to make the decision.

Feng Ci said: “Let’s see him first then.”

 

Seeing the LingXiao Sect Leader wouldn’t take too much time.

Not even going to the Main Hall, Pei QianYue directly summoned Xuan YangZi to the entrance plaza for an audience. 

Evening classes just happened to be over for LangFeng City at this moment. Many disciples, Elders, and even Wen HuaiYu, who didn’t have the chance to leave yet, were still hanging around the entrance plaza.

When Xuan YangZi set foot on LangFeng City’s entrance plaza, someone had just carried over Elder Cheng Chao’s corpse.

It’s said that the three revered masters of LingXiao Gates were martial brothers who had grown up together. Although these three brothers had completely different personalities, they’ve maintained a good relationship over the years. Yet without even looking at the corpse, this old man in Daoist robes walked straight ahead and knelt down in front of Pei QianYue with a sound thud.

“—Xuan YangZi disciplined them poorly. Please forgive me, City Master!” 

Feng Ci blinked, not expecting him to react like this.

Amongst the leaders of the Six Sects, Xuan YangZi should be the oldest besides Pei QianYue. He had a head of silver hair, bound in a hair crown. There was a horsetail whisk in his hand. On his aged complexion, it’s possible to see the charisma of his younger days.

Standing in the front with one hand behind his back, Pei QianYue said coolly: “Cheng Chao almost took this Venerable One’s life yet the Sect Leader wants to flip the page with just a simple ‘disciplined poorly’?”

“Also these 21 elite disciples from your sect…..” 

The 21 LingXiao Gates disciples were escorted over.

Most of the cultivators that besieged LangFeng City had surrendered willingly. They have already been returned to their individual sects by Wen HuaiYu.

Only LingXiao Gates, he didn’t dare to touch without permission.

Those LingXiao disciples all looked haggard and weary. When they saw Xuan YangZi, they looked like they had seen their savior. 

“Shizun! Shizun, save me!”

“Shibo, we know we’re wrong, Shibo!”

“Please save us!”

…… 

Pei QianYue gave a soft ‘ah’: “So your own direct disciples are actually here too.”

Xuan YangZi: “……Yes.”

 

“But they all want to kill this Venerable One.” Pei QianYue said: “Xuan YangZi, are these the good apprentices you’ve taught?”

“LingXiao Gates definitely has not betrayed you, City Master!” Xuan YangZi said vigorously, displaying a righteous and awe-inspiring spirit: “This incident was completely Cheng Chao’s reckless impudence, taking advantage of my seclusion to privately lead the disciples down the mountain!” 

“Oh?” Pei QianYue turned towards the restrained disciples on the side: “Is that so?”

That group of LingXiao disciples replied hastily: “Yes. Elder Cheng Chao was the one who coerced us. This disciple definitely never betrayed the City Master, nor the Immortal Alliance!”

“Shut up!” Xuan YangZi shouted loudly.

He bent down and slammed his forehead hard on the ground: “The deed was done. Xuan YangZi doesn’t ask for the City Master’s forgiveness. I only wish the City Master can give me a chance to atone for my crimes and punish this group of treacherous rebels personally.” 

Feng Ci’s eyebrow twitched; he vaguely had a feeling.

Pei QianYue said: “Okay.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Xuan YangZi stood up abruptly. There was blood on his forehead from the kowtow, but he seemed completely unaware of it. Turning around swiftly, he waved the horsetail whisk in his hand. It became hundreds and thousands of silver wires and flew outwards.

With a flash of silver, a person’s head rolled to the ground. Fresh blood sprayed everywhere. 

The LingXiao disciple that stood at the very front of  the group, was beheaded forcibly by him just like this.

Feng Ci frowned.

If he remembered correctly, this person just called Xuan YangZi— Shizun.

“Da-Shixiong!” 

“Shizun, spare me!”

“Shibo, spare me, I’ll never do it again!”

……

The LingXiao disciples instantly fell into chaos, but Xuan YangZi didn’t give them any chance to breathe. The horsetail whisk in his hand seemed to transform into sharp blades. Every time he waved it, someone’s head fell to the ground. 

Xuan YangZi’s robes were painted with splatters of fresh blood. After the last head rolled to the ground, he lowered the horsetail whisk in his hand. The flowing crimson red accumulated into a puddle next to his feet.

21 human heads, 21 lives. In that brief moment, they all died in his hands.

 

He turned his head, his gaze finally landing on Cheng Chao’s corpse.

This empty area was already covered in blood. Dripping with blood, Xuan YangZi walked over there, step by step. A golden talisman condensed in the palm of his left hand, which he slapped ruthlessly onto the corpse— 

Boom—

The bloodstained corpse instantly shattered into pieces.

Bones crushed into dust.

Covered in blood, Xuan YangZi knelt down where Cheng Chao’s body lay originally. A splatter of fresh blood that he had acquired unknowingly slid down the side of his face. He raised his head slightly, eyes so heavy not even the light could penetrate. 

“Now, is the City Master satisfied?” Xuan YangZi said quietly, voice low and hoarse.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

Under the absolute silence, only Pei QianYue could be heard applauding quietly.

“Impressive, Xuan YangZi. This Venerable One has truly gained a whole new level of respect for you.” Pei QianYue praised and then turned to Wen HuaiYu: “Sect Leader Wen, did you see that? Now this is what’s called expressing one’s loyalty.” 

Wen HuaiYu’s face was extremely unsightly. He shifted his gaze slightly and did not reply.

Pei QianYue didn’t mind and said calmly: “Sect Leader Xuan YangZi, you can get up. Since the treacherous rebels are dead, this Venerable One believes that this matter has nothing to do with you. LingXiao Gates will no longer be implicated.”

Xuan YangZi gave a deep bow to Pei QianYue: “…… Thank you, City Master.”

Seeing what they wanted to see, Pei QianYue and Feng Ci still had things to do, so they stopped dawdling. According to the original plan, Xuan YangZi was given the Blood Oath Parasite to consume and then dismissed. 

It was clear to see that when Xuan YangZi ingested the Blood Oath Parasite, he also didn’t show any hesitation.

Feng Ci still felt amazed thinking about this afterwards: “He’s a bit too brutal.”

To prove his loyalty to Pei QianYue, he had personally killed 21 elite disciples of his own sect, and then even crushed the body of the Shidi, that he had grown up with, into dust. Just how vicious did one’s heart have to be for this.

Feng Ci lamented the entire way and made a conclusion: “Sure enough, there’s not one normal person in this cultivation world.” 

Hearing these words, Pei QianYue only chuckled quietly.

As they conversed, they left LangFeng City by sword and this time, Feng Ci finally managed to hitchhike successfully on his Xiao Hei’s flying sword.

 

His current stature was short and small. Standing in the back , there was a strong wind and it was unsteady. Therefore, he agreed to Pei QianYue’s suggestion— to stand in the front with Pei QianYue’s arms around him. The majestic and dignified Grandmaster QianQiu openly and frankly leaned into the embrace of his family’s hatchling, slacking off and being lazy, completely not finding anything wrong with how they were right now.

Feng Ci asked: “However, do you really think Xuan YangZi can be trusted?” 

“Xuan YangZi only did it to save LingXiao Gates.” Pei QianYue said: “As for whether or not he truly has intentions to rebel, I don’t know yet.”

Feng Ci, surprised: “You don’t know either?”

Pei QianYue: “The spy that I sent to LingXiao Gates only managed to find out that Cheng Chao has always intended to rebel, but this Sect Leader of LingXiao Gates has never revealed any flaws.”

“…… He’s probably even more difficult to deal with than Wen HuaiYu.” 

Feng Ci approved of these words a lot: “From what I can see of his personality, if he really went crazy, it really won’t be something a normal person can handle.”

LangFeng City, QingJing School, LingXiao Gates. The leaders of these three sects were one crazier than the next. In comparison, Feng Ci actually felt like his own family’s little black snake had the least symptoms here.

“However, if it’s really just a performance, then Xuan YangZi’s acting skills are quite impressive.” Feng Ci wrapped himself in Pei QianYue’s robes to block the wind and said pensively: “Much better than mine.”

Pei QianYue lowered his head slightly and asked calmly: “You acted before?” 

Feng Ci: “……”

Right in the heart!!!

Even though he was recognized on his second time alone with Pei QianYue, it’s not like he was even doing his best to disguise himself at that time alright?

As if sensing Feng Ci’s displeasure, Pei QianYue corrected himself emotionlessly: “Oh, it was a great performance.” 

“Much better than Xuan YangZi.”

“Master is truly amazing.”

Feng Ci: “…………………”

The author has something to say: 

Feng Ci: You’re about to kneel three days and three nights, warning! You’re about to be thrown off the flying sword, warning!

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