Bu Wei

“No, I picked them up on the road,” Ning Buwei said with a wooden face.

Jiang Yizheng and Feng Zizhang were eighteen and twenty-four respectively. In his eyes, they were at most about the same age as Ning Xiu would be when he learned to talk and walk later. Although they forcibly recognized him as father, their karma had already been entangled quite a bit.

Chu Jun said, “Miss Jiang’s meridians are extraordinarily wide, and little friend Feng’s luck is exceptional.”

One with great strength, one with incredible luck. Ning Buwei commented without any courtesy, “Thank you for the compliments.”

Chu Jun nodded slightly and looked at him upon hearing this.

Coincidentally, Ning Buwei was smirking lazily, raising his eyelids. Their gazes unexpectedly met.

Chu Jun had a cold temperament, looking at everyone with natural detachment. This undeniable coldness usually overshadowed his excessive beauty, making people instinctively afraid to approach him at first sight. A flower on a high cliff, not to be desecrated.

But now this untouchable flower had his sleeves rolled up, exposing his arms, with something that looked like rice paste at the corner of his mouth.

Ning Buwei always tasted the temperature when feeding his son rice paste, so he understood perfectly. He unconsciously licked his canine tooth and pointed to his own mouth corner, indicating that the other should wipe off the rice paste residue.

Chu Jun found this gesture strangely familiar.

Earlier when he went to Wujin Square, he saw a male cultivator make this gesture to a female cultivator beside him, and then that female cultivator… kissed him.

The martial uncle’s expression instantly became somewhat peculiar, his gaze growing colder.

This evil cultivator must truly be tired of living.

Seeing him freeze there, Ning Buwei clicked his tongue and used his thumb to wipe away the rice paste residue from the corner of his mouth.

The great demon only realized what outrageous thing he had done after wiping the corner of the other’s mouth, his expression stiffening.

Chu Jun only felt a slight coolness at the corner of his mouth. He instinctively grabbed the vital point on the other’s wrist, then quickly saw the residue and released his hand as if nothing had happened.

Their exchanged glances suddenly parted.

Ning Xiu, wearing soft little clothes, noticed that both his father and Bai Bai mother were looking down at him. He immediately grinned, “Ah~Ah~”

Father~ Mother~

After three days of not seeing him, Ning Buwei did miss his son a little bit.

He coughed lightly and grabbed Ning Xiu’s little clothes, lifting him up with one hand and shaking him.

Chu Jun, fearing the child might feel uncomfortable being constrained, had deliberately bought clothes a bit larger. When Ning Buwei shook him like this, it looked as if the child might fall out.

Chu Jun reached out to hold the child, giving Ning Buwei a cold look.

Ning Buwei: “……”

If the child’s “mother” knew about the son nearly being drowned at birth, or him dangling the child and threatening to sink him in the river… Ning Buwei felt this Chu would fight him.

Delicate.

A real man should be raised tough.

But as he stared at the other’s cold gaze, not only did he not argue, he even guiltily averted his eyes.

His brain must have been kicked by a donkey just now, to impulsively wipe someone else’s residue.

“Ya~Ah~” Ning Xiu squirmed in Chu Jun’s arms, reaching out his little arms to Ning Buwei for a hug.

Father~ Hug~

This time, Ning Buwei obediently reached out to hug his son, making a face at him.

“Yiya~” Ning Xiu was amused and laughed.

At this point, Chu Jun finally had time to use a cleaning spell, washing away all the water stains and rice paste on his body, even his hair becoming clean and fresh.

Ning Buwei raised his eyelids to glance at him, feeling that he must have been moved by lust earlier.

He had lived for over five hundred years and considered himself to have seen many beautiful people, but this was the first time he had seen someone so graceful and transcendent, like an exiled immortal. Just wiping the corner of someone’s mouth was very normal—

Normal my foot.

Ning Buwei licked his canine tooth hard, stuffed his son into the other’s arms, and said expressionlessly, “I have some business to attend to, I’ll take my leave first.”

Without waiting for the other to speak, he strode out of the cave.

Outside the cave, the lake was vast and clear. Sunlight fell on the water’s surface, a cool breeze blew, and dancing light leapt like gold, a beautiful sight indeed.

The spiritual energy condensing in mist around him was continuously being absorbed into his sea of consciousness. Ning Buwei sat cross-legged on a large rock in a bamboo grove, several small stones spinning rapidly in his hand before he quickly scattered them.

He looked down at the divination pattern:

Great fortune. 

Thriving descendants. 

Marital harmony.

Ning Buwei’s already expressionless face instantly became even more lifeless.

His cultivation was now low and his precious knife damaged, which could be said to be extremely unlucky; the Ning family, except for him and Ning Xiu, was now all dead, which could be said to have dwindling descendants; he had practiced the Path of Ruthlessness for five hundred years, which could be said to be all alone—

Not a single one matched up.

Ning Buwei carelessly wiped away the divination pattern and picked up a stone to skip across the lake surface.

He knew that the old men invited by Wanxuan Academy were all unreliable, never accurate even once.

—

“This year, Wanxuan Academy’s disciple selection coincides with our sect’s grand selection, so there will definitely be much fewer spots for inner disciples,” Chu Xin slapped his forehead hard with the book he was holding. “I heard the main peak actually recruited a disciple with the Luotian Spirit Body, and our peak has already recruited five disciples with top-grade aptitude—the sect’s grand selection has barely even started!!”

Cangshu Peak was extremely steep, and peculiarly, the Peak Master didn’t allow anyone to fly over the peak on swords. But not allowing sword flight meant that disciples were often late for their major classes on Cangshu Peak, suffering greatly. The peak’s disciples were often inexplicably beaten up by disciples from other peaks, so in anger, they built winding flying bridges between the steep cliffs. These flying bridges meandered between the mountains, surrounded by swirling clouds and mist, creating quite a poetic scene.

“Can’t be helped, it’s once every hundred years. I heard from senior brothers that the grand selection a hundred years ago was even more lively,” Chu Zhi yawned. “I was originally planning to work hard this time, hoping to be chosen by an elder from Wanxuan Academy to stay for a few years, but now it seems even less likely.”

“Wanxuan Academy is in Louzhou of the Northwest Qian Prefecture, with Kuizhou next to it being entirely the Jiting Sect, all Buddhist cultivators. And between Qian Prefecture and the Zhongzhou are swamps and wastelands, the teleportation arrays often malfunction,” Chu Xin shrugged. “I don’t want to go suffer.”

Chu Zhi nudged his shoulder, “But Senior brother, those who can enter Wanxuan Academy are all top disciples from various sects, clans, and families, especially female cultivators.”

Chu Xin dismissed this disdainfully, “Hah, I’ve long decided to cultivate the Path of Ruthlessness in the future, cutting off all emotions and love.”

“Even those on the Path of Ruthlessness find Dao companions,” Chu Zhi retorted.

“Then why don’t you look at how many of those who found Dao companions on the Path of Ruthlessness had good endings?” Chu Xin snorted, putting his arm around his neck and using the book to knock on his head. “Stop thinking about romance!”

As the two were horsing around on the path, a beautiful and cold female cultivator in flowing white robes came around the corner of the flying bridge in front of the mountain peak. Chu Xin and Chu Zhi’s playful voices instantly quieted as they moved to the side and bowed to her, “Senior Sister Shen.”

Shen Xi stopped and returned their greeting, “Junior Brother Chu Xin, Junior Brother Chu Zhi.”

Chu Zhi smiled and asked, “Where are you heading, Senior Sister Shen?”

Shen Xi’s eyes reddened, but she held back her tears and forced a smile, “My brother Shen Ze has gotten into some trouble. The Shangong Department asked me to go check on him.”

Chu Xin stepped aside on the flying bridge and said, “Then please hurry, Senior Sister.”

Shen Xi nodded and left with hurried steps.

Chu Zhi made a face at Chu Xin and whispered, “It’s Shen Ze again.”

That Shen Ze had mediocre aptitude but was arrogant and overbearing. Relying on his sister Shen Xi being the closed-door disciple of the main peak’s sect leader, he had secured a managerial position in the Shangong Department. He was always causing trouble, and every time it was either Shen Shijie or their senior brother who had to clean up after him. Both Chu Zhi and Chu Xin had poor impressions of him.

“But it’s rare to see Senior Sister Shen cry,” Chu Zhi said. “The last time was when Eldest Senior Brother—”

Suddenly mentioning this, Chu Xin and Chu Zhi fell silent. Chu Xin warned in a low voice, “Don’t mention the Eldest Senior Brother in front of Master.”

Chu Zhi rubbed his nose, “Mm, I know.”

Their Eldest Senior Brother Chu Li was the best of their generation. At a young age, he had already reached the peak of the Golden Core stage and was about to break through to the Nascent Soul stage. However, a year ago, Chu Li had volunteered to go with the sect elders to Xingluo Cliff to eradicate the demon Ning Buwei. His soul lamp was extinguished, and he perished before reaching a hundred years old. Their master, Chu Wu, devastated by the loss of his beloved disciple, had his hair turn white overnight, instantly aging.

Chu Li’s fiancée, Shen Xi, had also been grief-stricken for a long time. Since then, she had secluded herself, and this was the first time they had seen her since Eldest Senior Brother’s demise.

“If Eldest Senior Brother were still here, he would definitely be the one chosen to go to Wanxuan Academy this time. Those others wouldn’t even have a chance,” Chu Zhi said through gritted teeth. “That damned demon Ning Buwei will eventually be torn to pieces.”

Chu Xin also looked gloomy, “These past few days, Master has been going to the main peak’s grand hall for discussions every day. It seems to be related to that demon. His mood hasn’t been good lately.”

Although Chu Xin and Chu Zhi were young and mischievous, they truly respected and loved their master and eldest senior brother. Unfortunately, they were of low status and couldn’t be of much help.

“Senior Brother, aren’t you going back to the disciples’ dormitory?” At the end of the flying bridge, Chu Zhi noticed that Chu Xin’s sword-riding stance was different from his own and asked curiously.

“My friends were selected, I’m going to see them,” Chu Xin remembered the messages from Feng Zizhang and Jiang Yizheng, and his mood instantly brightened. “I’ll go back later! Help me tell the dormitory elder in charge!”

Chu Zhi made a face, “Alright, alright. They were just selected as menial workers, look how happy you are. Anyone who didn’t know would think they were chosen as inner disciples by the main peak.”

“I’m just happy,” Chu Xin said with a smile, punching his shoulder. “I’m off.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he flew away on his sword, disappearing from sight.

At the foot of Yijian Peak.

Feng Zizhang leaned against the cave entrance, sunbathing and counting days on his fingers, “How many days has our father been in seclusion?”

“Seven days, I think,” Jiang Yizheng sat cross-legged on the other side, wiping her precious sword with a cloth. Even though it was almost blunt, she still cherished it. “This is the first time I’ve seen him go into seclusion. I used to think he didn’t need to cultivate and relied solely on coughing up blood.”

Inside the cave, that white-robed shell stood motionless in front of the entrance where Ning Buwei was.

Jiang Yizheng peeked into the cave and said to Feng Zizhang, “But haven’t you felt that our father has been a bit strange lately?”

Feng Zizhang also peeked into the cave quietly and said, “Hasn’t our father always been strange?”

“…No, you don’t understand.” Jiang Yizheng narrowed her eyes and whispered, “He seemed a bit flustered before going into seclusion.”

“Flustered?”

“Well, or maybe embarrassed and angry.”

“Huh?”

“Hmm, that’s not quite right either. Anyway, I’m sure he’s avoiding someone,” Jiang Yizheng said confidently.

“Jiang Yizheng! Feng Zizhang!”

Someone suddenly called their names from behind with a strong voice. The two almost instinctively drew their swords.

Chu Xin, looking at the two long swords just a finger’s width from his nose, swallowed hard, “Is this… some kind of unique welcoming ceremony?”

Jiang Yizheng and Feng Zizhang immediately put away their swords.

“No, we were just startled,” Feng Zizhang sighed in relief.

After the incident with Shen Ze, he and Xiao Jiang seemed to have become easily frightened, always jumpy. Especially Xiao Jiang – he often heard her unable to sleep at night, going out to practice swordsmanship.

“Eh? Where’s Senior?” Chu Xin looked into the cave but only saw that faceless person from last time, and quickly withdrew his head.

“Senior is in seclusion,” Jiang Yizheng said. “Zizhang and I are keeping watch outside for him.”

“Ah, I was planning to take you to see the sect’s grand selection at the main peak,” Chu Xin said with some regret. “I heard there were suddenly three Heavenly Spirit Bodies, all wanting to become the sect leader’s disciples.”

“Heavenly Spirit Body.” Jiang Yizheng hugged her sword and recalled, “Wasn’t Elder Qingyan from the Hehuan Sect, whom we met in Linjiang City, a Heavenly Spirit Body?”

“Yes, and now three have come to the main peak at once,” Chu Xin said. “But speaking of Linjiang City, I heard there was an earthquake there.”

“An earthquake in Linjiang City?” A cold, deep voice suddenly interjected into their conversation.

“Senior, you’re out of seclusion!” Feng Zizhang exclaimed with joy.

Jiang Yizheng ran over and circled around him, only relaxing after confirming he wasn’t missing any limbs.

“Senior,” Chu Xin said after paying his respects, “Yes, I heard it from my master and the others. The Chongzheng Alliance had already arranged for search and rescue, but with little effect. There have been frequent earthquakes these past few days, and half the city has sunk into the ground.”

It was her hometown of eighteen years after all, so Jiang Yizheng looked worried, “What about the people in the city?”

“Most of the city’s population died. Even those rescued won’t last long,” Chu Xin looked puzzled. “They say the corpses rot instantly, as if… they had been dead for several months already.”

Jiang Yizheng and Feng Zizhang were both stunned.

“How could this be?” Jiang Yizheng was confused. “Previously, the Rejuvenation Array clearly—”

Feng Zizhang inconspicuously tugged at her sleeve.

Jiang Yizheng abruptly closed her mouth and looked cautiously at Ning Buwei, startled by his unsightly expression.

Earlier, when Ning Buwei and Wen Heshen fought at Duanchang Cliff, although they arrived late, they had heard the gist of it and knew that Ning Buwei was quite wary of the Rejuvenation Array.

However, Chu Xin was unaware of this and continued obliviously. “Many people are discussing it, saying these people were destined to die anyway, sooner or later. Some say that the demon vine’s cultivation wasn’t enough, that the Rejuvenation Array wasn’t properly executed. If Young Master Xingyuan had been the one to set up the formation and cast the spell at that time, perhaps—”

“Then he would have died a few years earlier,” Ning Buwei interrupted coldly. “What has the Chongzheng Alliance been doing lately?”

Chu Xin, treating it as casual conversation, squeezed onto the same rock at the cave entrance with Feng Zizhang to sunbathe, quite eager to talk, “Senior, you’ve asked the right person. My master is an elder of the Chongzheng Alliance—”

“They’re looking for the great demon Ning Buwei.”