Yu Xinghe ran away crying.
The side courtyard had only three rooms. Xiwu was staying at Mu Zhe's place, leaving Mu Zhe homeless. Shen Gurong felt a pang of guilt and had Mu Zhe move to a newly built side room in the main courtyard of Fanjiang Residence.
Mu Zhe stood there stunned for a long time before silently starting to move his things.
Shen Gurong led Xiwu back to the room and said, "Someone from Bai Shang Mountain is already helping you prepare your accommodations. You'll be able to move in in a few days..."
Xiwu looked at him blankly, seemingly still not quite understanding.
After speaking, Shen Gurong turned to look at her, noticing her blank expression. "Hmm? What's wrong?"
Xiwu hesitated for a long time before stammering, "Immortal Lord, we've only met once. Why are you helping me like this?"
Shen Gurong thought for a moment and said truthfully, "You look very much like an old friend of mine."
Xiwu was stunned, thinking, just because of this, he'd open his heart to a stranger?
Liren Peak is notoriously difficult to enter. If it were only because of her face, Shen Gurong taking her in as an outer disciple or a junior disciple would already be more than generous. She never imagined that Shen Gurong would actually take her under Nan Yangjun's tutelage.
Xiwu remained silent for a long time. Just as Shen Gurong finished his instructions and was about to leave, she suddenly spoke.
"Immortal Lord."
Shen Gurong was taken aback, then turned and smiled, "Didn't I tell you to call me Senior Brother..."
Before he could finish, Xiwu's small body knelt on the ground.
Shen Gurong was startled and hurriedly tried to help her up: "What's wrong...?"
Xiwu kowtowed heavily, her face expressionless, and said, "Xiwu has failed the Immortal Lord's mercy."
Shen Gurong's fingers trembled, and he looked at her in confusion.
Xiwu's face turned deathly pale, and she prostrated herself on the ground again, murmuring, "Someone wants me to harm the Holy Lord."
Shen Gurong was stunned. He looked down at the trembling girl on the ground, and after a long while, he gently bent down and stroked Xiwu's head.
Xiwu stiffened, slowly raising her head to look at him. Her previously blank face was now covered in tears.
Shen Gurong reached out to wipe away her tears, and said calmly, "If you wanted to harm me, why did you say it?"
Xiwu looked up at him, and upon hearing his gentle words, large tears streamed down her face, instantly soaking it.
“Because I didn’t want to…” Xiwu choked out, “The Immortal Lord is the best person to me in this world.”
Shen Gurong was still patiently wiping away her tears. Hearing this, he thought, are these small favors considered the best treatment? What kind of life did she live before?
Shen Feng Xue is of noble status and has reached the pinnacle of cultivation. Those who have tried to assassinate him over the years have all met with bad ends. The people of Fenglu City couldn’t possibly not know that sending a child near Shen Feng Xue is practically suicide.
Shen Gurong sighed softly, gently wiping her face with his sleeve, and asked, “Who wants to harm me? Feng Yun?”
Xiwu shook her head, “I don’t know. He seems to be a ghost cultivator. He sneaked into my dream at night, only telling me to come to Liren Peak to see you, so he could assassinate you. If I didn’t agree, I couldn’t leave the dream.”
The scene in the dream must have been extremely terrifying. As Xiwu spoke, her thin body trembled again.
“Is there anyone else who knows about this?”
Xiwu shook her head.
"Alright." Shen Gurong patted her head and helped her up. "This matter ends here. From now on, you are the junior aunt of Liren Peak. You don't need to concern yourself with other matters."
Xiwu looked at him blankly: "Immortal Lord, you...aren't you going to send me away?"
Actually, what she wanted to ask was, "Aren't you going to kill me?"
Shen Gurong smiled and said, "I won't go back on my promise."
Xiwu was still uneasy.
Shen Gurong patted her head gently and said, "If he enters your dream again, you should pretend to agree, and then tell me, okay?"
Xiwu nodded quickly: "Yes."
Shen Gurong said a few more words to her to reassure her before turning to leave.
As soon as he left the room, he saw Wen Liubing, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, standing in the corridor, his sword already drawn.
Shen Gurong glanced at him and said, "Put it back."
Wen Liubing said coldly, "But she wants to kill you."
Shen Gurong was surprisingly unguarded around Xiwu—she wouldn't kill a child who was so grateful for even a little kindness from her.
"If you wanted to assassinate someone, would you only send a defenseless child? This whole thing is strange. There's no need to rush. It's just a child; even if she had the intention, she wouldn't be able to harm me."
Wen Liubing frowned.
"The twenty-third year of Yongping, the Burial Mound..." Shen Gurong murmured, his thoughts racing. "These are the words on the Water Ghost Bamboo Slip. He's far away in Dongting, yet he's under the command of the demonic cultivator at the Burial Mound on Liren Peak. That demonic cultivator can probably meet people through dreams."
Wen Liubing sheathed his sword: "Master thinks she was also sent here by that demonic cultivator at the Burial Mound?"
Shen Gurong had written storybooks; his imagination and ability to connect plots were extremely rich. His assumptions were incredibly bold. After all, all of Shen Feng Xue's tragedies in that book stemmed from that demonic cultivator at the Burial Mound, suggesting the two were sworn enemies.
Shen Gurong nodded, saying without a hint of guilt, "Most likely."
After all, in this world, only he knew the general direction.
Wen Liubing immediately became serious and said, "Sanshui understands. I will keep a close eye on her. If there are any fluctuations in the spiritual energy of a ghost cultivator, I will inform Master."
Shen Gurong: "Hmm. By the way, she will be your martial aunt from now on."
Wen Liubing: "..."
Wen Liubing hesitated for a moment, but unlike Mu Zhe and Yu Xinghe, he wasn't unable to accept it. In his heart, he could accept everything his master said unconditionally.
"Yes."
Shen Gurong gave him an appreciative look before turning to leave.
Fanjiang Residence had been renovated to be exactly the same as before. When Shen Gurong returned, Mu Zhe had already moved his things to the side room and was currently practicing his sword in the courtyard.
Mu Zhe was a sword-wielding prodigy. Initially, Xi Guxing held a grudge against Mu Zhe because of Li Suo's injury, but later discovered the boy's exceptional talent for swordsmanship. Over time, he lost his prejudice against him and even began to teach him diligently.
Mu Zhe's swordsmanship was taught to him personally by Xi Guxing; each move was sharp and fierce, and even amidst the falling blossoms, his swordplay seemed to carry wisps of frost and snow.
The young man's brows were cold and stern, his blue robes fluttering with fallen petals, his figure as graceful as the moon and the setting sun, like a delicate painting.
Shen Gurong's thoughts were in turmoil. He was still considering whether to have Xi Guxing take him to the Burial Mound to see the legendary demonic cultivator who supposedly had a deep-seated hatred for Shen Feng Xue, but the thought was immediately suppressed by a strange force.
It was the lingering subconscious influence of Shen Feng Xue that prevented him from approaching that demonic cultivator.
Shen Gurong had a headache; being controlled by others' emotions was unpleasant. Just as he was inexplicably agitated, he returned to Fanjiang Residence and saw Mu Zhe's swordplay. For some reason, his chaotic heart suddenly calmed down.
He didn't disturb Mu Zhe, leisurely sitting on a stone bench nearby, chin in hand, lazily watching the young man practice his swordplay.
A moment later, Mu Zhe flicked his sleeve and swung his sword, the sharp sound slicing through the air sending fallen leaves and petals swirling and tumbling up in a flurry.
When Mu Zhe sheathed his sword, his feet were covered in layers of frost.
Shen Gurong: Good! Reward!
Mu Zhe: "..."
Only then did Mu Zhe notice Shen Gurong beside him. He quickly tucked his sword behind his back: "When did Master arrive?"
Shen Gurong sat lazily, hand supporting his chin, his bright red sleeves billowing and bunching at his elbows, revealing his snow-white forearms—for some reason, he always felt easily relaxed in Mu Zhe's presence.
Shen Gurong said calmly, "I've been here quite a while—your swordsmanship is quite good; Xi Guxing has taught you very well."
Mu Zhe: "Master, you flatter me."
Shen Gurong noticed the blue silk ribbon embroidered with the characters "Chanwei" tied around his arm and asked, "When does the Chanwei Tournament begin?"
Mu Zhe replied, "In three days."
Shen Gurong smiled and asked, "Are you confident of winning?"
Mu Zhe was already considered one of the best of his generation; barring any unforeseen circumstances, he was almost certainly the champion.
Mu Zhe was very humble, nodding slightly, and said, "Mu Zhe will do his best."
Shen Gurong thought for a moment; at the private school, the teacher always set up small prizes as rewards for the monthly tests.
Because the items were different each time, Shen Gurong liked some and disliked others. Whenever he encountered something he liked, he would put in all his effort to win it and was determined to get that reward. However, if he encountered something he didn't like, he would lose interest and would fall asleep on the table after a short test.
Shen Gurong, feeling a pain in his neck from tilting his head back to speak, pulled Mu Zhe's arm and made him sit opposite him. Looking at Mu Zhe earnestly, he said, "If you win first place, your master can grant you something."
Mu Zhe, after sitting down, was somewhat taken aback by this. "Something?"
"Yes," Shen Gurong said, "Anything you want."
Mu Zhe stared at Shen Gurong's beautiful face for a long time before saying, "Anything?"
Shen Gurong: "Of course."
Mu Zhe pursed his lips slightly and whispered, "Yes, Mu Zhe will definitely win first place."
Shen Gurong was immediately gratified, feeling that his teacher's method of offering a prize was truly effective. Just moments ago, Mu Zhe had cautiously said "I'll do my best," but upon hearing about the prize, he immediately changed his tune.
Shen Gurong grew increasingly fond of Mu Zhe, glancing at the worn-out sword in Mu Zhe's hand. "Hmm?" he murmured. "You don't have your own natal sword yet?"
Mu Zhe examined the slightly chipped sword before him, replying, "Yes, there's a Sword Pavilion in Fuxian City. The Sect Leader said he'd take me there before the Chanwei Assembly to find a natal sword, but he seems to have forgotten."
Shen Gurong raised an eyebrow slightly. "Then shall I go with you?"
Mu Zhe remained calm, nodding. "Then I'll trouble you, Master."
Knowing his special status prevented him from descending the mountain in his true form, Shen Gurong returned to his room. He separated a wisp of his spirit, transforming it into a human form, and used his spiritual power to transform his clothes into a sky-blue bamboo-patterned robe. His long hair was tied high with a red ribbon, giving him a serene and elegant appearance.
When he emerged, Mu Zhe, who had been waiting in the courtyard, was momentarily stunned, then quickly lowered his head, unable to look any longer.
Shen Gurong continued, "By the way, should we bring Xinghe too?"
Mu Zhe paused for a moment before replying, "Xinghe hasn't formed his core yet, so he doesn't need his natal sword."
Shen Gurong thought for a moment, "That's true."
Anyway, Yu Xinghe might not even make it into the final ten of the Chanwei Tournament this time.
Shen Gurong didn't pay him any attention and, with Mu Zhe... or rather, with Mu Zhe leading him, they quietly descended the mountain without alerting anyone.
As they descended the mountain steps, Shen Gurong asked him, "What kind of sword do you want?"
Mu Zhe thought for a moment before replying, "Like Lin Xia Chun."
"Lin Xia Chun?" Shen Gurong rummaged through his memories, startled. "Lin Xia Chun is a deadly sword."
Mu Zhe, watching Shen Gurong's footing carefully to prevent him from slipping, said, "Yes, a deadly sword can easily turn on its master, but if it can be tamed, it can destroy an army with a single strike."
Shen Gurong looked at his disciple's gentle face and thought: This child's temperament is just like Xi Guxing's. Isn't he afraid of being unable to tame it and being turned against him?
Mu Zhe hesitated for a moment before adding, "Master can wield Lin Xia Chun, the number one deadliest sword. As Master's disciple, Mu Zhe cannot disgrace Master."
Shen Gurong was stunned for a moment, then suddenly felt a sense of relief.
No one dislikes flattery, and Mu Zhe seemed to have a knack for knowing exactly what Shen Gurong ate and liked, saying whatever pleased him, making Shen Gurong beam with delight.
'So sweet,' Shen Gurong thought to himself. 'How much honey has this child eaten? I'll reward him with a sugar figurine later.'
Mu Zhe: "..."
Mu Zhe instinctively wanted to say that he wasn't a child anymore and didn't eat sugar figurines, but seeing the joy on his master's face, he swallowed his words.
Upon arriving in Fuxian City, Mu Zhe assumed Shen Gurong would go to the Sword Pavilion first, but to his surprise, the first thing he did upon entering the city was to search for sugar figurine stalls.
Mu Zhe was taken aback, but seeing his excitement, he didn't say anything and helped him find a sugar figurine stall.
This time, Shen Gurong didn't get lost. He simply followed the scent of sugar, pulling Mu Zhe through the crowd of children to the sugar figurine stall.
Having agreed on the design with the old man making sugar figurines, while waiting for them to come out, the children watching the sugar figurines looked at him curiously. A chubby little boy, a bit bolder, tilted his head and asked, "Are you a celestial lord?"
Shen Gurong, always able to mingle with children in Huitang City, didn't find the question offensive. He squinted and said, "Do you think I am?"
"Your clothes look like it," one child said.
A little girl with pigtails whispered, "But can a celestial lord go blind?"
The children, innocent and uninhibited, chattered and pointed at Shen Gurong's eyes.
“But the Immortal Lord seems to be able to see.”
“Then why does he wear a white cloth? Our blind neighbor wears a white cloth because he says his eyes are ugly.”
“But the Immortal Lord’s eyes seem very beautiful.”
“Why do you always contradict me?”
The little girl, who had been repeatedly saying “But the Immortal Lord… ah,” said pitifully, “I… I didn’t! I just think the Immortal Lord is very beautiful, he couldn’t possibly be blind… Waaah.”
As she spoke, she felt the gaze of the boy next to the Immortal Lord growing colder and colder, and she dared not say the rest of her words.
Mu Zhe’s expression grew increasingly stern, unable to tolerate such open discussion about his master’s eyes.
He used his gaze to silence the chattering children, fearing that his master would be hurt by these words. Just as he was about to comfort him, he heard Shen Gurong say, “Guess.”
Just then, an old man handed a sugar figurine to Shen Gurong.
Shen Gurong, holding the wooden stick, smiled and said, "Whoever can guess whether the Immortal Lord is practically blind, this sugar figurine will go to him."
The children immediately erupted in excitement.
Mu Zhe: "..."
That candy...isn't it mine?
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