Sheng Jiao and Yu Tuishan nearly demolished Hongchen Shijun Tower.
Yu Tuishan’s divided spirit formed from Tianyan spiritual power was only Spirit Transformation realm—his entire Tianyan was almost shattered by Sheng Jiao’s “Worthy of Heaven’s Way.”
All of Central State feared Sheng Jiao’s merciless nature and his “Worthy of Heaven’s Way” xiangwen that was nearly Great Ascension stage. Otherwise, Yu Tuishan and Wen Gubai wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to scheme and make Xi Jianlan take the blame.
Wen Gubai, transformed into a swallow, watched coldly from the sidelines.
Sheng Jiao was the most accomplished student among the Zhuxing Zhai members Wen Gubai had taught. He was always calm and upright, never showing favoritism—even killing his own clan members if they were guilty.
Yet this cold-faced, cold-hearted killer lost his rationality and came to kill just because Xi Jue’s heart-binding ribbon was severed.
If Xi Jue took the blame, he might not die miserably, but if he and Yu Tuishan fell into Sheng Jiao’s hands, there would be no escape.
The swallow flapped its wings and flew away.
Yu Tuishan was beaten until he nearly exploded with rage. He wanted to escape but was forcibly trapped by the Tianyan pearls.
“Sheng Blockhead!” Yu Tuishan held his mask and cursed: “I haven’t even seen the courtesan’s face—what’s the logic in you catching me to beat up?! Does the Xiezhi Sect Master also fail to distinguish right from wrong like this? Huh?!”
Sheng Jiao remained unmoved, Winter Snow sword full of grim malice.
Yu Tuishan’s divided spirit was nearly scattered, yet he still held his about-to-shatter mask, seemingly afraid of Sheng Jiao seeing his face.
Just then, the heart-binding ribbon on Sheng Jiao’s little finger, which had clearly been severed, suddenly reacted.
Sheng Jiao was stunned.
In that moment of distraction, Yu Tuishan suddenly transformed into golden smoke and instantly slipped away through the gaps between the Tianyan pearls.
Sheng Jiao didn’t pursue with his dark expression.
At this point, he finally understood he’d been schemed against by Xi Jianlan again.
The heart-binding ribbon was motionless—Xi Jianlan was stopped somewhere.
Sheng Jiao expressionlessly flashed away following the heart-binding ribbon’s direction.
Even with the heart-binding ribbon tied to Xi Jianlan, he still had the ability to cause trouble and scheme. He needed to keep him under constant watch.
Sheng Jiao was calculating something in his mind, but before reaching “Youdan,” the heart-binding ribbon that had just reconnected suddenly lost its response.
This time it wasn’t severed, but seemed like someone had concealed Xi Jianlan’s aura.
—Even those two Tianyan pearls couldn’t sense it.
Sheng Jiao’s expression completely darkened.
Every one of Xi Jianlan’s dreams seemed to carry a faint osmanthus fragrance.
Only Sheng Jiao’s quarters in Tianyan Academy’s Zhuxing Zhai had several towering osmanthus trees that bloomed colorfully each autumn, their fragrance drifting far.
“Sheng Jiao? Gege?”
Little Xi Jue climbed up an osmanthus tree, poking his head toward the half-open window and calling softly.
During Zhuxing Zhai’s first secret realm expedition, Sheng Jiao had been severely injured because of him. If Wen Gubai hadn’t arrived in time, both might have perished in Yu Er’s mouth.
Xi Jue wasn’t seriously hurt—just choked on some water—but Feng Yu always felt his uncoordinated limbs probably had some serious problem and forcibly made him rest in bed for half a day.
It wasn’t until nightfall when Feng Yu left that Xi Jue jumped up, hastily threw on an outer robe, and ran to Sheng Jiao’s quarters.
Sheng Jiao’s door was tightly shut, refusing visitors.
—Though even if his door was wide open, no one would come see him.
Xi Jue felt guilty and didn’t dare barge in directly, only calling softly from outside like summoning a soul.
“Gege? Sheng Jiao gege?”
Soon, the half-open window suddenly opened, signaling “stop shouting, come in.”
Xi Jue immediately jumped down from the osmanthus tree, casually picking an osmanthus branch and grinning as he pushed the door open.
Sheng Jiao sat cross-legged on the bed with closed eyes, the Tianyan pearls on his wrist slowly rotating with lightning patterns hissing like snakes flicking their tongues.
“Ge, gege…” Xi Jue hid the osmanthus branch behind his waist, strolling over and sitting on Sheng Jiao’s bed without treating himself as an outsider. “Are you feeling better?”
Sheng Jiao didn’t acknowledge him.
Xi Jue wasn’t discouraged, pulling out the osmanthus branch from behind his waist with a “swoosh” and presenting it to Sheng Jiao, eagerly flattering: “Gege, I picked osmanthus to apologize!”
Sheng Jiao opened his cold, empty eyes and looked at him coldly.
Xi Jue seized the opportunity to flash him an ingratiating smile.
Sheng Jiao looked down at the osmanthus branch covered in dewdrops, remaining silent for a long time before reaching out to take it.
Who knew what this little liar was thinking—picking osmanthus from Sheng Jiao’s own courtyard to give to Sheng Jiao.
“Thank you for today, gege.” Xi Jue beamed with joy. “I have no way to repay your life-saving grace, so I… I’ll warm your bed for you.”
Without waiting for Sheng Jiao’s agreement, he kicked off his shoes and happily climbed onto Sheng Jiao’s bed, shaking out the quilt and burrowing in like a silkworm cocoon, only his little head poking out.
Sheng Jiao’s eyes coldly watched him.
It was already late autumn. Xi Jue had fallen into water three times in just a few days, his frail body full of cold. When sleeping alone, his feet remained ice-cold until morning. Though he claimed to warm Sheng Jiao’s bed, he actually had ulterior motives.
Once Xi Jue made a mistake, he became extremely obedient, dutifully “warming” the bed while chattering nonstop, annoyingly talkative.
“It’s so late—aren’t you going to sleep?
“We have morning class tomorrow, and the headmaster said he’d quiz us. Have you memorized everything?
“Why aren’t you talking… *snore*.”
In just a few sentences, Xi Jue fell asleep and began snoring happily.
Sheng Jiao: “……”
Little Xi Jue was restless in his sleep. Though he wrapped himself in the quilt like a ball, he began punching and kicking in bed as he slept, even kicking off the covers.
Sheng Jiao had originally been sitting cross-legged in the center of the bed, but ended up being punched and kicked off it, sitting on the footstool with a dark expression.
This wasn’t someone coming to repay a life-saving debt—this was clearly someone coming to vent personal grievances.
Xi Jianlan didn’t remember his heroic deed of kicking the young Sect Master off the bed that night. In his daze, his hand moved randomly, vaguely hearing the sound of metal clashing.
The dream spun wildly.
Xi Jue was tall and slender, sitting grinning on the bed in Sheng Jiao’s small courtyard at the Sheng family estate, tilting his head slightly: “Wuzhuo, what a good name. If you haven’t chosen a courtesy name yet, use mine.”
In the evening sunset, Sheng Jiao watched him against the light, his voice indifferent: “Father will choose a courtesy name for me.”
Xi Jue glared at him: “…But I like this one. What meaningful name could that scumbag father of yours come up with? I’m better than him.”
Sheng Jiao remained silent.
“Then call me father,” Xi Jue said. “I’ll reluctantly be your father once and give you a courtesy name.”
Sheng Jiao: “…………”
Xi Jue wore warm yellow robes wrapped around his slender frame, lazily leaning against the carved bed post, sitting on the bed edge swinging his feet, humming: “Sheng Wuzhuo, Sheng Wuzhuo.”
Sheng Wuzhuo.
The youth who hadn’t yet come of age still had some childishness in his features—red lips, white teeth, black hair, and snow-white skin. When he smiled, he was like melting sunlight in the setting sun.
Xi Jue kept calling “Sheng Wuzhuo,” trying to make Sheng Jiao get used to it and quickly adopt this name.
Suddenly, Sheng Jiao stepped forward, supporting his chin and gently pressing their lips together.
Xi Jue’s eyes widened in shock.
The heavy bed curtains were lifted by the hooks, and startled Xi Jue instinctively leaned back, the hooks colliding with crisp sounds.
A strange tingling sensation spread across his lips, instantly overwhelming young Xi Jue’s mind, leaving him dazed and unable to resist. He even instinctively reached out to grab Sheng Jiao’s collar to steady himself from falling backward.
The young people clumsily experienced their first taste of love.
Xi Jue’s distinct fingers gripped the bed curtains, making the hooks collide with jingling sounds that echoed throughout the large room.
The sounds continued until dawn.
The backlash from “Abandoned Immortal Bone” was too intense. Xi Jianlan’s meridians were dried up like parched earth. He spent the whole night dreaming of jingling sounds, breaking out in layer after layer of cold sweat. When he struggled to wake up, he could still hear the sound of hooks colliding in his ears.
Xi Jianlan was drowsy and tired, covering his ears not wanting to hear those crisp sounds that made his waist go weak.
But when he moved, the sounds became louder and more real.
As if right before his eyes.
Xi Jianlan opened his eyes with difficulty and looked toward the sound, only to see thin chains bound around both his wrists. Probably to prevent him from hurting himself while struggling, soft cloth was padded inside against his wrists.
Xi Jianlan: “???”
Xi Jianlan’s hair was disheveled as he looked around in confusion.
Layers of snow silk curtains fluttered gently in the wind, priceless Youchen incense wafted upward, ancient paintings and white porcelain spiritual artifacts—everything was elegant and luxurious.
Xi Jianlan sniffed and found only the sweet, distant fragrance of Youchen incense around him, no “Abandoned Immortal Bone.”
It was dark outside the window, with a perpetual candle lit on the table—it seemed to be deep night.
Xi Jianlan frowned and summoned “Endless Period.”
The black cat appeared instantly. Seeing Xi Jianlan’s condition, it was startled: “Did you encounter enemies again?”
Xi Jianlan casually instructed: “Go see what this place is.”
As he spoke, he brought his wrist to his mouth and gently bit the black iron chain with his teeth, seemingly trying to bite through it.
The black cat quickly stopped him: “Aren’t you afraid of chipping your teeth?”
As soon as it finished speaking, a trace of blood seeped from Xi Jianlan’s lips and teeth, falling on the hard black iron with faint hissing sounds, actually corroding a hole straight through the chain.
The black cat: “……”
You can use poison like this too?!
The black cat was completely convinced, meowing once before running down to scout the enemy situation.
The chains meant nothing to Xi Jianlan—he broke free in no time. However, these chains didn’t seem intended to trap him to death, but rather to prevent him from hurting himself while struggling during the “Abandoned Immortal Bone” backlash.
Xi Jianlan leaned against the headboard, breathing in the calming Youchen incense while patiently waiting for the black cat to return.
Soon, the black cat swept over like a black shadow, saying in terror: “This is Evil Qi Road!”
Xi Jianlan was stunned, instinctively saying: “Impossible.”
Evil Qi Road was tens of thousands of li from the Southern Territory. Even by riverboat, it would take at least three or four days. How could he return to the Northern Territory in just half a day?
Xi Jianlan left the luxurious quarters with a dark expression. Below the corridor was the familiar long street of Evil Qi Road.
Xi Jianlan: “……”
Oh no.
But when he looked carefully, he discovered the long street was just an illusion like a mirage. When people hurried past, that area would distort like rising heat for a moment before returning to normal.
Xi Jianlan gently touched his little finger, feeling the heart-binding ribbon still there, and knew he was still in Nine Heavens City.
Just as he was about to explore around, conversation came from around the corridor corner.
“Isn’t ‘Yinhua Rao’ very useful for reshaping bodies? Why is Lord Yu getting involved in this mess and offending the Medicine Sect and Feng family?”
“Don’t understand… maybe Lord Yu simply wanted to taste ‘Yinhua Rao’?”
“Mm, very possible, very reasonable.”
Xi Jianlan: “……”
Xi Jianlan frowned. Youdan usually only cultivated one ‘Yinhua Rao’ per year—had Yu Tuishan bought it?
Xi Jianlan touched the back of his neck and crept to the corner like a cat, quickly glancing at the people conversing.
They were indeed from Evil Qi Road, their bodies full of “Abandoned Immortal Bone” spiritual power.
The black cat whispered: “How do we get out?”
Below was a mirage leading who knows where, and the corridor outside the room went in circles with no path downstairs.
Xi Jianlan raised an eyebrow: “Why leave?”
Seeing his expression, the black cat’s lips twitched: “You… what bad idea are you plotting now?”
Xi Jianlan said: “Hehe.”
…Then the black cat watched helplessly as Xi Jianlan transformed into the appearance and attire of an Evil Qi Road person, skillfully turning the corner and approaching with a cold face: “Why are you slacking off here?! How dare you privately gossip about Lord Yu—do you still want your heads?!”
The few people had been guilty about privately discussing Yu Tuishan. Being suddenly scolded, they didn’t dare look at Xi Jianlan’s face and bowed in apology, covered in cold sweat.
“Great, great lord, spare us!”
“We’ll never dare again.”
Xi Jianlan scolded: “Disperse quickly.”
Everyone hurriedly nodded in agreement.
The black cat… the black cat watched in stunned amazement, shocked every time by Xi Jianlan’s boldness and shamelessness.
How did he dare?
Xi Jianlan was particularly daring, even actively pointing at one person and saying: “You, if you have no urgent matters, go clean up the pastry dishes Lord Yu used.”
That person was flattered and honored, nodding in agreement and happily heading to Lord Yu’s quarters.
Xi Jianlan quietly followed behind him, smoothly finding Yu Tuishan’s room.
The black cat: “……”
The black cat was amazed, sincerely exclaiming: “Meow meow!”
Xi Jianlan: “……”
Xi Jianlan always felt this cat had learned even profanity from staying with him, saying quietly: “Don’t use foul language. Cats only need to be pitiful and cute—don’t learn unnecessary things. Come meow for me to hear.”
The black cat meowed once and said irritably: “Since ancient times, you’re the first person who could make a poisonous substance’s spiritual consciousness transform into a cat, Xi Jianlan—just how much do you like cats?”
Xi Jianlan ignored it.
After that person finished cleaning Yu Tuishan’s table and left, Xi Jianlan’s slender figure moved like a ghost, silently entering Yu Tuishan’s room.
Yu Tuishan’s room smelled of pastries, with two snow-white robes stained with sauce and a skull mask hanging there, probably not yet cleaned.
The table was piled with books with jade bookmarks, and several paintings hung on the walls. Looking carefully, Xi Jianlan saw the paintings depicted piles of pastries.
Xi Jianlan: “……”
A starving ghost reincarnated.
Xi Jianlan efficiently searched various places for boxes and chests.
The black cat asked in surprise: “What are you looking for?”
“‘Yinhua Rao.'” Xi Jianlan rummaged around like a thief, saying casually: “Lezheng Jiu and Feng Yu wasted their effort—couldn’t even buy a single herb. Still need me to personally take action.”
The black cat: “……?”
Personally take action… meaning steal, right?
Just as Xi Jianlan had nearly turned the entire room upside down, a faint sound came from the carved wooden window.
“Click.”
Xi Jianlan turned to look.
Reflected in the candlelight, the carved wooden window was silently pushed open, and two dark figures suddenly darted in.
One was full of dark energy, the other wore black clothes with a hood, sneaking around.
—It was Feng Yu and Lezheng Jiu.
Xi Jianlan still held a box in his hand, staring at them expressionlessly.
The three: “…………”
Feng Yu nearly cried out: “Ajue, what are you doing here?!”
Xi Jianlan’s face turned green: “I want to ask you the same thing. Zhuxing Zhai’s Jiusi Courtyard teaches the way of gentlemen—you two sneaking around, climbing walls and breaking in, is this gentlemanly conduct?!”
Feng Yu: “……”
Lezheng Jiu: “……”
Lezheng Jiu lowered his voice, saying coldly: “May I ask Young Master Xi, what are you doing right now?”
“I’m different from you.” Xi Jianlan spoke righteously. “I was invited in—I didn’t climb walls.”
The two: “……”
So stealing things was reasonable and justified?
Xi Jianlan said: “You really came to steal ‘Yinhua Rao’?”
“Get lost, am I the type to steal just because I’m not as wealthy?” Feng Yu said irritably. “Who told him to offer more spirit stones? Spending lavishly like he has more money than brains—I even suspect that person took some crooked path…”
Lezheng Jiu really couldn’t stand Feng Yu’s rambling and coldly interrupted: “Yu Tuishan has problems.”
Xi Jianlan was stunned: “Where?”
“Spiritual power.” Lezheng Jiu said. “He can control Tianyan.”
Xi Jianlan was confused: “I can too… I could also control Tianyan spiritual power six years ago.”
Lezheng Jiu frowned and corrected: “Not spiritual power—Tianyan itself!”
Though Yu Tuishan’s cultivation wasn’t powerful, he inexplicably gave people a bone-chilling, hair-raising feeling.
As if all Tianyan in the thirteen provinces could be controlled by him.
Xi Jianlan was surprised and about to ask more when he heard light, slow footsteps from the outer room.
Someone was coming!
Feng Yu was shocked: “Didn’t he go eat sweet and sour mandarin fish again?! How did he come back so fast?”
Xi Jianlan: “……”
Just how much did he love sweet and sour mandarin fish?
He’d already ruined several sets of clothes eating it and still continued?
The three held their breath as an unfamiliar voice came from the outer room.
“Lord Yu, Youdan has delivered your ‘Yinhua Rao.'”
Xi Jianlan breathed a sigh of relief.
But Feng Yu and Lezheng Jiu were on high alert, pulling him toward the window to escape, urging: “Let’s go! That’s Yu Tuishan’s lackey, called Yu Hu or something! Very sinister—let’s go quickly.”
Xi Jianlan’s eyes turned, and he suddenly turned around, casually wrapping himself in Yu Tuishan’s sauce-stained white robe, putting the skull mask on his face, his black hair silently turning snow white.
Feng Yu and Lezheng Jiu were stunned.
Xi Jianlan calmly imitated Yu Tuishan’s voice: “Mm, come in.”
Feng Yu and Lezheng Jiu: “!!!”
The two almost rushed forward to drag him away, but it was too late. Xi Jianlan raised his finger to his lips with a soft “shh,” pushing them behind the screen.
“Don’t speak.”
The two: “?”
How could this person’s audacity be so enormous?
The audaciously bold Xi Jianlan lazily sat in Yu Tuishan’s chair, randomly flipping through a book, looking natural and composed, completely unaware of what panic meant.
Soon, Yu Hu entered carrying a small box.
This person was tall and slender, wearing half a skull mask that only revealed half a handsome face. The aura emanating from his entire body was cold and stern, making people shudder.
Yu Hu walked slowly forward, his gaze falling on Xi Jianlan. His cold pupils were like melting frost and snow, and his icy face actually showed a gentle smile.
“Sir.”
Xi Jianlan raised his chin lightly: “Hmm, put it there.”
Yu Hu respectfully acknowledged, placed the small box down, then cast a cold gaze toward behind the screen.
Xi Jianlan casually picked up the small box and opened it—inside was indeed “Yinhua Rao,” a spirit herb that looked very much like dragon beard candy. No wonder Yu Tuishan wanted to buy it to try.
Seeing Yu Hu’s cold gaze at the screen, Xi Jianlan knowingly asked: “What? Is there more?”
Yu Hu came back to his senses, seeing Xi Jianlan so calm, didn’t ask further.
“Nothing more, Yu Hu takes his leave.”
“Hmm.”
Yu Hu stepped back a few steps and slowly left.
Only after the door was closed did Feng Yu and Lezheng Jiu come out from behind the screen, quietly watching him.
Xi Jianlan shook the small box, grinning mischievously like a little fox: “See, I’m not stealing.”
Feng Yu, Lezheng Jiu: “…………”
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(advanced chapters available on kofi)
Sam Williams On TYMIMA Chapter 152