WBICDPH Chapter 86

Chapter 86: Five Years in the Blink of an Eye

Inside the seclusion pavilion, spiritual energy surged violently. The ripples formed as heaven and earth’s energy stirred were so strong they almost set the white mist outside the pavilion swirling.

The clouds rolled through the mountains as vast, invisible spiritual energy gradually gathered into form, rushing eagerly into the cave.

Inside, the ever-burning spirit lamps on the cave walls had been lit for a full five years. In the dim glow, the silhouette of a young man could be seen, along with the hem of his blue-green robes.

Cultivators were different from ordinary people. Their appearances did not age with time. Most cultivators chose to preserve their looks when they established their foundation, allowing them to remain youthful and ethereal for hundreds or even thousands of years afterward.

But when Lin Jin first arrived in this world, the body he inhabited was only eighteen. He hadn’t even fully grown yet and still looked like an immature kid. Lin Jin had no desire to remain a kid forever, so he never used the appearance-preserving technique. Only three years ago, when this body finally reached twenty-one and grew from a boy into a young man, did Lin Jin cast the technique and freeze his appearance at that age.

At first glance, he didn’t look much different from when he was eighteen or nineteen. His features had simply matured a bit, and the youthful awkwardness had faded from his face.

But none of that mattered.

What Lin Jin cared about most was one thing—

He had grown taller. At least five centimeters taller!

Of course, that wasn’t the only thing he gained during these five years.

Other cultivators entered seclusion to break through realms and increase their cultivation. But Lin Jin’s Jade-Bearing Sacred Body spared him from that step.

He entered seclusion for a single word—

Insight.

The Seven Killing Ghost Nether Formation used by the demon puppet master had forced Lin Jin to break out of his usual way of thinking and gave him new understanding and ideas about formations.

The ancient texts Liu Xun gave him also deepened his understanding of the mysteries of runes. Before entering seclusion, although he had memorized the drawing methods of most runes, his comprehension of them was shallow. At best, he could occasionally succeed in drawing a Yellow-rank talisman by luck. When facing the Shura Blood Prison before, he had barely managed to draw several Profound-rank formation-breaking talismans with the same-rank Shanhai Brush. Though he succeeded, the backlash he suffered was significant.

After that experience, Lin Jin realized how insufficient his strength truly was. If he didn’t want to feel that helplessness and despair again in the future, he had to learn and apply as much knowledge as he possibly could.

So for several years, Lin Jin painstakingly dismantled and studied every mystery he knew. With a calm mindset, he used the simplest method to sense the power and subtlety within runes. He studied them, contemplated them, and immersed himself in the countless worlds contained within each stroke.

To completely understand something, the clumsiest yet most effective method is to become it yourself.

Spiritual energy from heaven and earth poured endlessly into the small cave. It flowed obediently into the Shanhai Brush, then through Lin Jin’s hand, transformed into an exquisite rune.

“Within a single speck of dust lie three thousand worlds;
Within half an instant pass eighty thousand springs.”

A brilliant light shone in Lin Jin’s deep black eyes. His brush moved without the slightest pause. The moment he finished the final stroke and lifted the brush, the rune erupted in golden light, and an invisible wave of energy spread for dozens of miles.

“The mysteries of all things are endless, forever renewing.”

Lin Jin closed his eyes slightly and murmured.

At the same time, plants within a hundred miles of the seclusion pavilion seemed to receive some kind of nourishment. They began growing at nearly a hundred times their normal speed.

Outside the cultivation grounds, grass quickly grew past a young girl’s knees. An apple seed spat into the soil by a passing child a few days earlier suddenly sprouted and grew, becoming a slender young tree in the blink of an eye.

The fusion of the mysteries of Growth and Flowing Time had reached the Profound Rank.

Success.

Lin Jin slowly exhaled. Before the rapid growth of the plants could cause panic, he raised his hand and dispersed the remaining rune.

The momentum faded. The rune dissolved.

Lin Jin felt incredibly relaxed. He stood up from the ground and stretched comfortably.

Five years had passed.

Great mastery achieved!

Time to leave seclusion.

Lin Jin tidied up the small cave he had lived in for five years and cast a cleansing spell on himself. Only then did he ceremoniously remove the barrier of his seclusion formation, officially transforming from a cave-dwelling hermit back into a refined young cultivator.

He first returned the token for the seclusion pavilion, then eagerly ran back to his small courtyard.

He had assumed that after five years away, the courtyard would be covered in dust. The weeds would probably be tall, and the vegetables in the garden likely long dead.

But to his surprise, there wasn’t a single weed in the yard. The vegetables in the garden were thriving batch after batch.

More importantly, when he returned, the courtyard—expected to be empty and quiet—was full of people.

Liu Xun, Mo Yuzi, Han Ao, and Hua Nanzhi were all gathered around the small table in his courtyard, facing several roasted chickens on the table. Sitting proudly beside them was a small puppy.

In front of Mo Yuzi sat an extra bowl. Apparently, he had torn off all the chicken legs from the roasted chickens and was currently shredding the meat piece by piece, his hands greasy.

“Master! Ah Han! Miss! I’m back!”

Lin Jin jumped over the threshold and opened his arms wide toward the four of them.

The four people at the table froze for a moment before turning to look at him. Mo Yuzi was the first to react.

The old man leapt straight out of his chair. His slightly bow-legged little legs moved surprisingly fast as he dashed over and gave Lin Jin a huge bear hug, smearing greasy roasted-chicken oil all over his clothes.

“Waaah, my dear little disciple! You’re finally back! Though it ruins the mood, I must tell you—this puppy of yours is way too troublesome and impossible to serve! He won’t eat raw food, won’t eat burnt food, and won’t eat anything too salty or too bland. Even when the taste is barely acceptable, someone has to plate it nicely before he’ll deign to eat it. And roasted chicken? He’ll only eat the drumsticks! Is this a puppy? This is my lord and master!”

“Seriously? The kid just got back and you’re already complaining?”

Liu Xun walked over, gently waving her round fan. She glanced at Lin Jin.

“You spent five years in seclusion—were you actually studying or just reading novels and sleeping? Good timing. Come back to Dongli with me this afternoon. I’ll test you and see what progress you made after locking yourself away for five years.”

Mo Yuzi immediately protested.

“And you’re any better? Who greets a child who has just come home by testing his studies? Aren’t you even going to ask whether he’s hungry or cold?”

Liu Xun rolled her eyes.

“He was in the seclusion pavilion, not freezing in the far northern wastelands. Yanyu Mountain has spring weather all year round—how cold could it get? Why would I bother asking such nonsense?”

“You—”

Fine. He had just stepped through the door, and the exam had already arrived.

Liu Xun was still as strict as ever, practically inhuman toward her disciples, while Mo Yuzi spoiled them shamelessly. The two of them started bickering the moment they got together.

The familiar dynamic made Lin Jin feel strangely warm.

While the two masters argued, Han Ao and Hua Nanzhi wandered over. One of them wanted to hug his buddy, but hesitated after seeing the greasy handprints on his clothes. The other crossed her arms, still looking just as arrogant and sarcastic as before.

“Well, well, who’s this? Isn’t this the hardest-working senior brother of Dongli Sect? Finished secretly working hard? Still remember to come back? You haven’t forgotten who I am, have you?”

Lin Jin looked them both over.

Han Ao hadn’t changed much. He still looked like the same simple, slightly clueless young man. Seeing him like that oddly reassured Lin Jin.

Hua Nanzhi had grown a little taller, but she hadn’t matured much. She was still the same arrogant young lady who looked down on everyone.

Everything was exactly as he remembered.

Realizing that, Lin Jin suddenly relaxed.

He turned to his two masters and brought up the real matter.

“Master, I calculated that the Hundred Sects Sword Trial should be coming up soon. Did I make it back in time?”

“I was just thinking that if you didn’t show up soon, I’d have to drag you out of the seclusion pavilion myself. Luckily, your timing’s perfect.”

Liu Xun tapped Lin Jin’s head with her fan.

“I called Han and Nanzhi here today for this reason. A few days ago, their masters, San Zongyu and Xiao Yunkong, took on a tricky case together. Once they finish dealing with it, they’ll head straight from the incident site to the location of the Sword Trial—the Piao Miao Pavilion. So they entrusted these two little brats to Old Fish and me. The two of us will take the three of you there together.”

Originally, Liu Xun had planned to call the two youngsters to Dongli, say a few words, and leave. But Mo Yuzi insisted that Lin Jin hadn’t been around and that everyone hadn’t had a lively gathering in a long time, so he insisted on roasting chickens so they could talk while eating. As a result, Lin Jin happened to return right in the middle of it.

After briefly explaining the Sword Trial’s procedures and precautions to the three of them—and reminding Lin Jin that he had to go take an exam with her that afternoon—Liu Xun left.

Han Ao and Hua Nanzhi also had things to prepare. But the truth was that Lin Jin’s cooking had spoiled their tastes. After trying Mo Yuzi’s overly salty roasted chicken, they simply couldn’t stomach it, so they made up an excuse and slipped away.

Meanwhile, Mo Yuzi shoved Lin Jin toward the small table.

There were enough roasted chickens for four people waiting for him to finish. Besides them, there was also a small puppy sitting proudly with its back turned toward him.

Seeing this, Lin Jin felt a faint pang in his chest.

Could it be… that puppies really don’t remember things?

He had been gone for five years. When he finally came back, his master and friends all gathered around him, asking questions and greeting him.

Only this heartless little puppy hadn’t even looked at him.

Did he really forget him?

Lin Jin cautiously walked closer and raised his hand to pat the puppy’s head, but the little creature dodged with perfect precision.

So Lin Jin simply picked him up and turned him to face him.

The puppy still had that cool-yet-adorable expression. Looking at him made Lin Jin’s heart soften.

“Don’t recognize me anymore?”

Naturally, the puppy didn’t answer. He only stared at him with a pair of bright teal eyes, looking fiercely angry.

Seeing that expression, Lin Jin suddenly laughed.

Oh—it wasn’t that he didn’t recognize him.

He was just angry.

“Master, thank you for taking care of him all this time. Did he cause you much trouble?”

Lin Jin held the puppy in his arms and asked Mo Yuzi.

Mo Yuzi waved a hand and continued tearing chicken leg meat.

“No trouble at all. Your puppy’s very smart. Aside from being picky about food, he practically takes care of himself. I barely see him once every ten days or half a month. He runs off to play on his own most of the time.”

“Oh? Really?”

Lin Jin rubbed the puppy’s head and asked like he was coaxing a child.

“Where have you been playing?”

Xiao Lanqi shook off Lin Jin’s dirty hand and snorted heavily.

Where else could he go? In this lousy place, the only one he could really visit was Zhe Yu. That guy talked nonstop and loved poking at people, and Xiao Lanqi often got annoyed with him.

But if he didn’t go see Zhe Yu, he had no one to talk to. When he got bored, he would go to the back mountain to scare the woolly beasts. Most of the time, though, he wandered around the seclusion pavilion.

He didn’t have any special reason.

He just wanted to keep an eye on his food, in case the stubborn fool dug himself into a hole or went into cultivation deviation and blew himself up.

Even with the contract mark connecting them, Xiao Lanqi couldn’t enter the seclusion barrier. Each time, he could only wander outside and peek through it.

He had even snuck out of the sect once and gone into the mortal world.

Mainly because Lin Jin was too good at cooking. Braised pork, fried meatballs, roasted ribs—he made them in endless varieties. When Xiao Lanqi didn’t want to eat, the guy insisted on stuffing food into his mouth. But now that he wanted to eat, the guy had locked himself in a cave and couldn’t be called out or ordered around.

How infuriating!

So Xiao Lanqi went to restaurants in the mortal world to look around.

But none of them had the dishes Lin Jin made. Sweet-and-sour ribs, pork-belly chicken soup, braised pork—none of it. Even when something similar existed, it tasted nowhere near as good.

After returning empty-handed, Xiao Lanqi often got angry with himself. Sometimes he’d run to Lin Jin’s seclusion barrier and bare his teeth at it in frustration.

Of course, that didn’t help.

So he waited.

He waited for that damned green-skinned turtle to come out so he could bite him to death.

And look—hadn’t he finally gotten his chance?

But what Xiao Lanqi couldn’t accept was that when Lin Jin came back, the first thing he did wasn’t look for him.

All those humans stood around the door chatting for ages and completely ignored him.

No one even remembered he existed.

Xiao Lanqi didn’t care.

Who?

Who is Lin Jin?

Never heard of him!

And that unfamiliar, heartless, green-skinned turtle even dared try to touch his noble head?

Who do you think you are? Did I permit you?!

Xiao Lanqi pouted and refused to stay in Lin Jin’s arms. Clawing at his clothes, he climbed up onto Lin Jin’s shoulder like he used to.

After settling there, Xiao Lanqi raised an eyebrow in surprise.

Was it just his imagination?

This kid seemed a little taller.

Not bad. But compared to me, you’re still just a little dwarf.

Lin Jin stood still obediently, letting the puppy rest on his shoulder.

Seeing the familiar gesture filled Lin Jin with a strange warmth.

Smiling unconsciously, he raised his hand in front of the puppy, hoping to relive one of their old memories.

“Qiuqiu, give me your paw.”

“…”

Xiao Lanqi instantly felt a burst of nameless anger.

Give you my paw? Are you still thinking about that stupid game?

He bit down on Lin Jin’s fingertip.

The action looked fierce, but both of them knew he barely used any force.

Holding Lin Jin’s finger between his teeth, Xiao Lanqi pressed lightly, letting his sharp teeth tap against the pad of the finger.

His eyes narrowed as he put on a vicious expression.

Five years without even showing your face. Anyone would think you died in that cave.

You ungrateful, shameless green turtle, short little ghost, pale corpse!

I’ll bite you to death!