After Zhuozhi finished speaking, before Chu Jun could act, this trace of dharma image suddenly dissipated.
Only then did the entire heart demon realm fully manifest.
On the antique shelf lay a broken long sword, its tassel swaying slightly in the wind blowing in from the window.
Across from him, Hao Zheng looked much younger than now, his beard not yet grown so long, smiling as he stared at him, “If you want to enter my Fuluo Secret Realm, you must teach at Wanxuan Academy for a year, otherwise there’s no way.”
“Fine,” Chu Jun nodded.
Hao Zheng asked in surprise, “Aren’t you the one who hates teaching children the most? Why did you agree so readily this time?”
Chu Jun then asked, “Is there a young disciple named Ning Chengfeng in your academy?”
Hao Zheng immediately revealed a pained expression, “Yes, in Danyang Courtyard, very unruly.”
Chu Jun nodded, “I’ll teach that courtyard.”
Hao Zheng said helplessly, “Danyang Courtyard is full of young masters, golden nuggets from various major sects and noble families. Even losing a hair is a big deal. Are you sure you want to teach this group of ancestors?”
Chu Jun neither agreed nor disagreed.
Hao Zheng asked puzzledly, “Ning Chengfeng is the young master of the Ning family, very precious. Why have you suddenly set your sights on him?”
Chu Jun’s expression was indifferent, “I have a fate tribulation that will fall on him.”
Hao Zheng’s face changed, “fate tribulation?”
A cultivator’s fate tribulation was either life or death. Some cultivators had so much virtue that they were favored by heavenly principles, and might not even encounter a single fate tribulation until ascension. Others had troubled fates, born with countless fate tribulations to overcome. Moreover, these tribulations resulted in more deaths than survivals. Unless one had great luck, they would mostly perish.
With slightly better luck, the tribulation would fall on oneself. Then as long as one could eliminate the obsession or heart demon within, the tribulation could be broken. With worse luck, it would fall on someone related to oneself, mostly enemies or those with grudges, which would be much more troublesome.
Chu Jun had practiced the Way of Bloodshed for many years without encountering a fate tribulation. Who knew that when he calculated his first fate tribulation, it would be related to an infant he saved more than ten years ago.
“Have you figured out how to break it?” Hao Zheng frowned.
Breaking a fate tribulation was divided into “breaking through life” and “breaking through death”. The former involved finding this person and thoroughly clearing the karmic ties. Breaking through death meant killing the person to end it once and for all, only bearing some more blood debts, with slightly larger lightning during tribulation crossing.
The vast majority of cultivators would choose to break through death when encountering a fate tribulation – clean and neat, ending life and concluding karma.
“Haven’t figured it out yet,” Chu Jun answered very honestly.
Although he had saved this child’s life, it wasn’t a special case for him. If there truly was no solution, he wouldn’t mind “breaking through death” – he had killed countless people, and didn’t mind one more.
Hao Zheng understood his temperament, knew he was cold and indifferent by nature, but didn’t dare persuade much. He could only say tactfully, “Ning Chengfeng’s brother is Ning Xingyuan, who treats him like a precious treasure. Although this young master is arrogant, he’s also very lovable. You might as well observe for some more days before making a decision.”
Chu Jun agreed, but first went to the Fuluo Secret Realm.
Sixteen years ago, his Dao heart was completely destroyed. Even though he entered the Dark Realm to reshape his Dao heart of bloodshed, he still couldn’t proceed for a long time. He could only find another way. After checking ancient texts, he found that the Fuluo flower could reshape one’s Dao heart, so he came to try.
The Fuluo Secret Realm was at the bottom of the sea. He disliked the damp smell of seawater, and his mood was a bit low. As a result, as soon as he entered, he saw a red-robed youth with only Golden Core stage cultivation surrounded by a pack of tailless wolves, about to be devoured.
Saving people was very troublesome and had deep karmic consequences. He was preparing to pass by expressionlessly, but then glimpsed the name on the youth’s waist token. His footsteps paused.
He went down and pulled the person up, contemplating whether to resolve this fate tribulation now.
The youth before him still had childish features, but his facial structure was beginning to show. His parents were both good-looking, so naturally he wasn’t far off. A pair of bright black eyes stared straight at him, clear and pure.
“Return the cub,” Chu Jun said coldly.
The youth he was holding by the collar immediately hugged the little wolf cub tightly, very unwilling, “It insisted on following me to be my contract beast!”
Chu Jun wanted to throw him back down, but remembering Hao Zheng’s advice, he remained silent for a moment before saying, “Tailless wolves don’t recognize masters. They can’t be contract beasts.”
The youth looked a bit aggrieved, and also as if he was coaxing him, “Then I’ll just keep it.”
Chu Jun felt extremely uncomfortable and said sternly, “Its parents are still alive. Why separate them from their flesh and blood?”
The youth reluctantly returned the little wolf, his face taut with unhappiness. However, after landing, he still formally gave a deep bow, “This junior is Ning Chengfeng, disciple of Wanxuan Academy. Thank you, senior, for saving my life.”
Chu Jun didn’t want to get too involved with him and turned to leave. Who knew the youth would follow, lively and noisy, seemingly asking questions non-stop.
“May I ask senior’s name?”
“Jun as in handsome?”
“Tsk, of course I’m skipping class…”
“I won’t report you for sneaking in either. What was that move you just used?”
“Can you teach me? I’ll take you as my master!”
“How is this perfunctory? You saved me. A life-saving grace has the deepest karmic ties.”
“What are you looking for in the Fuluo Secret Realm? Do you need my help?”
“What does it look like? Describe it to me in detail, maybe I’ll know!”
Chu Jun had a headache listening to him. The killing intent and bloody aura on him was strong, everyone else avoided him, rarely did anyone come close, let alone be so noisy and fearless. Yet the other party was completely oblivious, asking questions incessantly.
At first, he answered patiently, but later became impatient. Before the youth could react, he sent him back to Wanxuan Academy and transmitted a message to Hao Zheng. “Keep a close eye on Ning Chengfeng.”
Hao Zheng was already worried that he might kill Ning Chengfeng in a moment of impatience. Now seeing they had met in the Fuluo Secret Realm, he was even more frightened. Naturally, Ning Chengfeng wouldn’t escape a scolding upon his return.
Chu Jun searched for half a day but found nothing, so he returned to Wanxuan Academy’s library to look at that ancient text again. Who knew that in the time it took to send a message to Wushi Sect, the book he had placed on the shelf was now in someone else’s hands.
The youth stood before the bookshelf, head lowered, looking at the book in his hands. His ponytail fell loosely around his neck, the jade hair tie accidentally caught on his ear, his red robe burning brightly under the lamplight.
He walked behind the other party, but this young master was completely unaware. He reached out and took back the book. Ning Chengfeng suddenly looked up, his eyes widening in shock, “Why are you here?”
Seeing his expression, Chu Jun inexplicably found it amusing and said, “You should be copying books in the Self-Reflection Pavilion now.”
The young master indeed bristled, glaring at him angrily, “That’s none of your business!”
Chu Jun calmly closed the book, “Starting tomorrow, I will be teaching you swordsmanship.”
As expected, Ning Chengfeng looked even angrier and eventually started to physically confront him.
Chu Jun effortlessly pinned him to the ground, his hand on the youth’s warm neck. With just a little more force, he could easily kill him, and no longer need to worry about the fate tribulation.
He applied slightly more pressure, causing Ning Chengfeng to let out a muffled groan of pain. Back when he had expanded his meridians and reshaped his bones, he was also extremely afraid of pain, whimpering like a sick kitten.
Chu Jun’s hand shifted, lifting him up.
The youth sat cross-legged on the ground, puffing with anger, his eyes slightly red from pain. He glared at Chu Jun furiously, but without any intimidation, even looking a bit pitiful.
Chu Jun said, “Don’t cry.”
He knew how to kill people, but not how to comfort children.
“I’m not! You’re only teaching us tomorrow! You can’t boss me around today!” Ning Chengfeng’s eyes grew redder, as if angry from embarrassment. “Chu Jun, just you wait!”
Chu Jun looked at him helplessly, unable to understand why he repeatedly couldn’t bring himself to harm the youth.
He thought he had angered the young master, but the next morning when he opened his door, he found it blocked by a pile of miscellaneous items.
Talismans, pills, spirit plants, magical treasures, magical robes…there was even a steaming bun.
He pulled a note from the paper box holding the bun. It had a few large characters scrawled in a flamboyant style: Repaying your life-saving kindness.
All these items together weren’t worth half a piece of his redwood.
Chu Jun put these things away, not quite understanding the young master’s thinking.
On the first day of class, Ning Chengfeng publicly caused a disturbance and disrupted order. He was kicked out.
On the second day of class, Ning Chengfeng tried to remove the mask from his face. He was kicked out.
On the third day of class, Ning Chengfeng drew funny faces on the sword manual he was copying. He was kicked out.
On the fourth day of class…
Chu Jun realized for the first time that someone could be this mischievous. Others avoided him like the plague, wishing to stay at least ten feet away. With just one look, he could frighten people pale.
Not only was Ning Chengfeng unafraid, he actively sought him out.
On this rest day, he had just opened the door when he saw Ning Chengfeng leaning on the window, waving at him with a smile, “Good morning, Head Teacher Chu.”
The sun was just rising, the morning breeze gentle. This smile was even three times brighter than the sunlight.
Chu Jun, however, only felt a headache coming on. Clearly, Ning Chengfeng was up to no good again. He glanced at him, “It’s a rest day today.”
“I know it’s a rest day. That’s why I came.” Ning Chengfeng propped his hands on the windowsill and nimbly flipped inside. He acted completely at home, like a proud cat inspecting its territory. “Tsk tsk, Head Teacher Chu, your room is really quite plain and unremarkable.”
Chu Jun was about to throw him out when he saw Ning Chengfeng directly sprawl across the table by the bed, letting out a long yawn. “I’m not in a good mood today, so let’s call a truce for now.”
Chu Jun: “…………”
He wouldn’t stoop to the level of a child over such childish play-pretend remarks—though they were indeed quite annoying at times.
This troublemaker raised his head again after lying there for a while, “Did you find the Fuluo flower?”
“No,” Chu Jun closed the window, but doing so seemed rather suspicious, as if preparing to silence someone. Recently, due to Ning Chengfeng’s constant provocations, Hao Zheng had been on edge, fearing he might lose patience and kill this little ancestor to break the fate tribulation.
Chu Jun thought for a moment, then opened the window again.
“I knew you wouldn’t find it,” Ning Buwei yawned again.
Chu Jun noticed the faint dark circles under his eyes and asked, “What were you up to last night?”
Ning Chengfeng mumbled, “Arguing…”
He grumbled there discontentedly, probably having had some conflict with his two friends again. Usually, it wouldn’t take half a day before the three were as close as thieves again. This time it must have been a serious quarrel, forcing him to seek refuge in his room.
Ning Chengfeng pulled the blanket from the couch and wrapped himself in it, rolling into a cocoon, “Head Teacher Chu, let me borrow your couch for a nap.”
Before Chu Jun could refuse, he had closed his eyes and fallen asleep.
Chu Jun: “…………”
The morning breeze was cool. He reached out to close the window tightly, then walked to the couch, looking down at the sleeping Ning Chengfeng.
