WBICDPH Chapter 85

Chapter 85 — Resting on Stones, Sleeping by the Stream

“You’re going into seclusion?!”

Mo Yuzi and Liu Xun spoke at the same time, nearly dropping their jaws in shock.

Early that morning, Lin Jin had gathered the two of them together. They thought he had some important announcement to make. As it turned out, it really was a bombshell.

“Yes.”

Lin Jin nodded.

“After a year of study and the year-end assessment, I’ve realized that I still have many shortcomings. I want to thoroughly understand the fundamentals of the runic techniques and quietly improve my cultivation. I also want to prepare for the Hundred Schools Sword Trial five years from now.”

“So that’s what you’re thinking about—the Hundred Schools Sword Trial?”

Liu Xun waved her round fan, pondering for a moment before saying:

“That event only happens once every nine years. You’re only nineteen this year—you’ll have plenty of opportunities in the future. There’s no need to rush to complete this time. If you wait a few more years until Xiao Yunkong and that young lady from the Piaomiao Pavilion are gone, wouldn’t it be much easier for us to take first place? Why rush into it now and let those two monsters suppress you?”

Lin Jin smiled helplessly.

He wasn’t actually trying to compete for fame. It was just that in five years, a major plot event that couldn’t be avoided would occur during the Sword Trial. Although they didn’t have to follow the original story exactly, knowing what might happen in advance could help them prepare for unexpected situations.

So he had to improve himself before that time came. If he couldn’t change the storyline or make a major impact, then at the very least, he wanted to contribute something—to protect even one more person if possible.

“Ah, so what if he doesn’t get first place? Let the kid go out and see the world a bit. Sparring with Xiao Yunkong and that young lady will bring him some valuable experience.”

Mo Yuzi acted as the usual peacemaker and tried to persuade Liu Xun.

“The Hundred Schools Sword Trial is a competition among the direct disciples of the elders from each sect. There’s no beast-taming category, so I’ll just accept that. But what about you? You’ve watched the excitement for so many years—don’t you want to show off your discipline for once?”

Those words struck right at Liu Xun’s heart.

She waved her fan thoughtfully for a moment and nodded.

“That’s true. So, kid, how long do you plan to stay in seclusion?”

Lin Jin held up five fingers.

“Five years.”

Hearing that number, Liu Xun nearly smacked him across the room with her fan.

Still, although the time was a bit long, the boy clearly had his own plans. Liu Xun couldn’t object too much, so she let him go ahead with it.

She asked San Zongyu for a cultivation chamber. Before Lin Jin left, she practically emptied her entire library and stuffed all the books into his storage ring, repeatedly reminding him to read and fully comprehend every single one.

Compared to her, Mo Yuzi behaved like a doting grandfather spoiling his grandson. Instead of giving Lin Jin study materials, he caught all the red silk pheasants in his courtyard and roasted them. He even exchanged spirit stones with Hua Nanzhi for gold and silver, went down to the mortal world, and bought an enormous pile of pastries and food, stuffing all of it into Lin Jin’s storage ring as well.

Carrying the overflowing love of his two masters, Lin Jin locked the door to his small courtyard. Before leaving, he entrusted Qiuqiu to Mo Yuzi’s care.

He placed the little creature on the courtyard wall and gently rubbed its small head.

“Alright, go find Master. If you get hungry, just steal some of his food. I’ll be in seclusion this time. If you come with me, you’ll just be bored. Stay outside—you can run around and have fun. Be good, okay? Don’t forget who I am by the time I come back. I’d be heartbroken.”

Qiuqiu rolled its eyes at his nagging and ignored him.

Lin Jin couldn’t help smiling. He rubbed the soft fur on its head again and then bent down to kiss the little creature lightly.

“I’m going now.”

After Lin Jin turned away, Xiao Lanqi scratched the spot he had touched with his paw in disgust.

Annoying. Absolutely annoying!

Did this lord ever permit you to touch me?!

Xiao Lanqi watched the slender figure in green slowly disappear into the distance.

Fine. Not even turning your head once, huh?

Xiao Lanqi lifted his chin and turned away.

Go ahead and leave if you want!

When you come back, I’ll bite you to death!

Lin Jin didn’t hear the vicious thoughts in the little pup’s mind. In truth, he wanted to turn around—but he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to leave if he did. He was worried he might scoop the puppy up and take it with him.

But he would be gone for five years, not five days. Rather than trapping the puppy in a cave with him for five boring years, it was better to let it stay outside where it could sleep and roam freely.

Afraid he might change his mind, Lin Jin slapped a Cloud-Riding Talisman onto himself and headed straight for the secluded cultivation chambers in the back mountain.

The seclusion chambers were located in the farthest corner of the mountain. Clouds and mist drifted around the area, and the spiritual energy was so rich that one deep breath made the mind feel refreshed.

Although they were called “pavilions,” they were really just caves slightly larger than the meditation cliffs. Lin Jin followed the instructions on his token until he found his assigned chamber. After entering, he activated the token and turned it into a one-way protective barrier, sealing the cave.

No one outside could open it. The barrier could only be removed if he himself ended his seclusion from inside.

After the barrier formed, Lin Jin carefully checked everything before finally examining the place where he would spend the next five years.

The cave was fairly spacious. Several ever-burning spirit lamps illuminated the walls. In the center was a soft mat large enough for one person to lie on, and deeper inside, there was a small natural spring.

Lin Jin tested the water—it was a spiritual spring.

Satisfied, he sat cross-legged on the mat.

Han Ao still refused to accept that this world was real, but he had taken Lin Jin’s advice and decided not to follow the original protagonist’s path. Instead, he would simply live as an ordinary direct disciple while waiting for a chance to return home.

But could they truly return home? Would they ever find a way back?

Lin Jin didn’t know.

But now, this world held things he treasured—things he wanted to protect.

Even if one day he had to leave, he would protect this place with everything he had until the very end.

Ming Zhutiān. Xiao Lancheng. Piaomiao Pavilion…

Lin Jin took a deep breath.

See you in five years.

Dripping Spring

“So I hear the kid has gone into seclusion and won’t return for five years. Is the Young Lord bored now?”

Zhe Yu poured Xiao Lanqi a cup of wine as usual, teasing him casually.

“Hmph.” Xiao Lanqi scoffed.

“So what if he left? Why would that make me bored? Stay gone as long as he likes—what does it have to do with me? It’s quieter without him anyway!”

Zhe Yu smiled and nodded, but after a pause, his expression grew more serious.

“I heard that when you went to the mortal world this time, you encountered the Twelve Guards of Mingzhu again?”

“Mm.” Xiao Lanqi’s expression darkened.

“That kid must have told you already. That woman, Han Xiao, is vicious. She actually sacrificed one of her subordinates’ souls just to activate the Asura Blood Prison and try to trap me.”

“That’s normal. Your elder brother hates you deeply. It’s unlikely he’d give you any chance to survive. Of course, he’ll strike as ruthlessly as possible.”

Zhe Yu paused before continuing.

“Liu Xun was complaining to me a few days ago. She said the kid almost sacrificed his own soul to the Asura Seal. Acting like that is a bit too reckless.”

Xiao Lanqi nearly rolled his eyes when he heard that. Just as he was about to agree, he suddenly remembered something Lin Jin had said to him during his bath that day.

He said he had been lonely since childhood, that no one liked him, so he always felt his life wasn’t worth much and wanted to die in place of others who suffered tragedies.

And he had also said…

“By the way, Zhe Yu,” Xiao Lanqi suddenly spoke.

“Yes?”

“If someone says they don’t belong to this world—that they came from another world—what would that mean?”

Xiao Lanqi couldn’t understand the strange things Lin Jin and Han Ao talked about, but it seemed clear that they came from the same place.

That day at the meditation cliff, he saw a boy named Han crying while hugging Lin Jin. The two of them were saying all sorts of strange things—something about going home.

Did Lin Jin also want to go home?

Where exactly was his home? What was another world? How far away was it? Was it farther than the distance from Yanyu Mountain to Ghost-Crying Cliff?

“Another world? I’m not sure,” Zhe Yu said. “But the ancient texts mention that when someone achieves enlightenment and ascends, they exist on an entirely different level from us. Perhaps the place where gods reside is similar to what you mean by ‘another world.’”

“…Even you don’t know?”

Xiao Lanqi fell silent for a moment.

So that meant the boy’s home must be even farther away than the distance between Yanyu Mountain and Ghost-Crying Cliff.

But didn’t he say he hated that place? He said he had no family there, no money, and even owed people debts. No one even celebrated his birthday.

What was the point of returning to such a place?

For some reason, Xiao Lanqi felt irritated. He drained the cup of wine Zhe Yu had poured and decided not to think about it for now.

He stood up from his chair.

“I’m not wasting any more time here. I’m heading back to Mingzhutian.”

“Mingzhutian? What for?” Zhe Yu raised an eyebrow.

“Revenge, of course. Xiao Lancheng ordered that woman, Han Xiao, to ambush me twice. Am I not allowed to retaliate?”

“Forget it for now,” Zhe Yu advised.

“It’s not the right time. You should calm down. I suspect that for a long while, Xiao Lancheng won’t make any moves against you.”

“?” Xiao Lanqi looked surprised.

“Why?”

“Because they seem to be preparing for something far more important than killing you. If my guess is correct, it has something to do with the Hundred Schools Sword Trial five years from now.”

“…The Hundred Schools Sword Trial?”

Xiao Lanqi frowned.

He didn’t know much about human cultivators’ events, but he suddenly remembered that Lin Jin and Han Ao had also mentioned something about a storyline and a sword trial.

Those two were strange—they always seemed to know things that would happen in the future. Could this be another case of that?

“Besides,” Zhe Yu continued, “Xiao Lancheng isn’t impulsive. After Han Xiao failed twice, he must realize that dealing with you won’t be easy. With a larger plan ahead, he won’t waste more time and effort on you.”

“Isn’t that perfect?” Xiao Lanqi lifted his chin.

“If they’re planning something big, I’ll go stir up some trouble.”

“No. This time, we mustn’t interfere. We need Xiao Lancheng’s plan to proceed smoothly.”

“And why is that?”

Xiao Lanqi genuinely couldn’t understand what Zhe Yu was thinking.

Zhe Yu smiled slightly.

“Because this plan likely isn’t just Mingzhutian’s doing. By following Xiao Lancheng’s actions, we may be able to pull out a thorn that has been buried among the human race for many years. If that thorn remains, the wound will never truly heal. No matter how many times you cause chaos in Mingzhutian, it would only treat the symptoms, not the root.”

Xiao Lanqi thought that made some sense—but then he suddenly realized something.

“You bastard,” he said. “In just a few sentences, you’ve turned me into one of ‘you humans.’ As if I’d go trouble Xiao Lancheng for your sake. I’d only be doing it to vent my anger. Whether your pathetic human race removes that thorn or not has nothing to do with me.”

“Oh?”

Zhe Yu noticed their young lord seemed a little sharper than usual. For once, he couldn’t easily trick him.

So he changed the subject.

“You seem quite energetic. Has your injury healed?”

“Mostly,” Xiao Lanqi said dismissively. “Overturning Mingzhutian wouldn’t be a problem.”

“Then your cultivation must have surpassed the kid’s by now. You should be able to break the beast-taming contract on your own. Haven’t you been waiting for that day?”

Zhe Yu looked at him with a deepening smile.

“I…”

Xiao Lanqi’s expression stiffened slightly before he awkwardly looked away.

“I forgot. I’ll break it when I remember. Do I need you to remind me? Isn’t that dead man in seclusion? Five years in seclusion—he’d better make some progress. Don’t you humans say you fatten a pig before slaughtering it? When he comes out, I’ll break the contract and bite him to death immediately, then eat him as my furnace. Why are you so impatient? You want a bite too?”

“Not really.”

Zhe Yu laughed.

“So you truly mean that, Young Lord?”

Xiao Lanqi didn’t meet his eyes.

He folded his arms and stared at the dripping water of the spring before snorting.

“Of course.”