Mu Zhe withdrew his gaze and began to listen to his master's words.
Beating.
A quarter of an hour later, Shen Gurong's legs were aching from standing, yet Mu Zhe was still beating him.
He turned his head and exchanged a glance with Wen Liubing, then said calmly, "What do you think of your junior brother?"
Wen Liubing knew his master had always liked this child, so he tentatively said, "Not bad?"
Shen Gurong glanced at him: "Beating him like this, and you call it not bad?"
Seeing the shift in the tone, Wen Liubing immediately said, "No good, dragging it out, tedious and inefficient, even more tiring than running overtime in the morning classes."
Shen Gurong: "..."
What kind of words are these?
Shen Gurong asked again, "Then do you think he might win the Chanwei Conference this time?"
Wen Liubing was overthinking things again. He said seriously, "I am responsible for the order of the Chanwei Conference. If Master wants him to win, Sanshui can release the floodwaters like Yu the Great."
Shen Gurong: "..."
Ten years apart, his eldest disciple's brain seems to have gotten even less sharp.
Shen Gurong said coolly, "Are you trying to make everyone in the Three Realms question the fairness of my Liren Peak?"
Wen Sanshui was shocked: "Our Liren Peak actually has fairness?"
Shen Gurong: "..."
Shen Gurong almost kicked him without regard for his image, but took a deep breath and barely managed to hold back.
Wen Liubing then said, "Honestly, if the Sect Leader saw his swordsmanship, he'd definitely throw him into Lotus Lake to be used as a scapegoat by Senior Uncle Jiuxiao."
Shen Gurong had the same feeling. He had seen Mu Zhe use his sword once before when he emerged from seclusion; the swordplay was fierce and powerful, brimming with killing intent, and possessed the same cold ruthlessness as Xi Guxing.
But now, Mu Zhe on the stage, seemingly performing a sword dance, looked increasingly strange.
Wen Liubing thought for a long time before finally coming up with a vivid description.
"He looks like a peacock spreading its tail feathers right now," he asked Shen Gurong doubtfully. "Master, don't you think he looks like he's flaunting his love to some female cultivator?"
Shen Gurong: "..."
Mu Zhe, who had been distracted by Shen Gurong's comments on the stage: "..."
Mu Zhe slipped, nearly falling off the stage. He used the tip of his Jiu Xi Sword to flick it against a crevice in the rock, barely managing to steady himself. His robes swirled as he landed on the stage. After regaining his footing, his face turned green, and he gave Wen Liubing a disrespectful glare.
Shen Gurong noticed: "Oh, he's enraged."
Mu Zhe: "..."
The disciple from Xianyun City was the only one who could exchange blows with Mu Zhe for so long; the people below the stage assumed he was extremely powerful and cheered for him.
"Knock that kid down! Quickly!"
"I've disliked him for a long time!"
Shen Gurong also shouted: "What a spineless coward! Has he never seen a female cultivator before? Are you possessed by Yu Xinghe?"
Mu Zhe: "..."
Mu Zhe felt insulted and, with a swift sword strike, swept away the Xianyun City disciple who was still smugly trying to knock him down.
Everyone: "..."
Mu Zhe sheathed his sword and nodded slightly: "Thank you for your guidance."
Having said that, ignoring everyone's stunned expressions, he stepped onto the wooden stakes of the dueling platform and gracefully landed on the ground.
He quickly took a few steps and bowed: "Master, Senior Brother."
The word "Senior Brother" was practically spat out between clenched teeth.
Shen Gurong stared at him with a strange expression.
Mu Zhe felt uncomfortable under his gaze and lowered his eyes to avoid it.
Shen Gurong: Hmm, why does it feel like he's hiding something?
Mu Zhe: "..."
Wen Liubing, however, didn't understand the concept of tact and directly asked him: "Junior Brother, have you taken a fancy to a female cultivator from some sect? That sword dance was practically screaming 'Look at me! Look at me!'"
Mu Zhe's face flushed red: "I...I didn't!"
Shen Gurong was even more certain; he was definitely hiding something. Mu Zhe was speechless.
Shen Gurong sighed: "A man grows up and leaves home."
With that, he took Wen Liubing and continued on to find Xi Guxing, leaving Mu Zhe alone behind, unable to speak.
Changying Mountain, Council Hall.
Xi Guxing had finally gotten rid of the persistent Feng Yun and was now suffering from a terrible headache. Hearing footsteps outside, he said impatiently, "Didn't I tell you not to bother me?!"
Shen Gurong stepped forward and nodded slightly: "Senior Brother, it's me."
Xi Guxing glanced at him, a sinister smile appearing on his face. He grabbed the sword beside him and said coldly, "Perfect timing. Let me give you a beating."
Shen Gurong: "..."
Senior Brother, please calm down. Senior Brother, have mercy.
Xi Guxing scoffed, "Pathetic."
Shen Gurong, too lazy to argue with him, walked to the side, straightened his robes, sat down, propped his chin on his hand, and said calmly, "The disciples of Fenglu City died tragically on Liren Peak. No ordinary person would let it go so easily. What did you promise Feng Yun?"
Xi Guxing's head ached at the mention of this: "I promised a favor to my sixth junior brother."
Shen Gurong's hand, which was propping up his cheek, almost twisted: "What?"
Can you just promise favors to anyone?
Xi Guxing's head throbbed: "The Three Realms have made my sixth junior brother's medical skills sound miraculous, saying he can revive the dead and heal the wounded, that there's no one in the world he can't save. But he's also eccentric and never treats people properly."
Lin Shuhe of the Lin Guan Medical Clinic in Xianyun City is an extremely legendary figure in the Three Realms. Putting aside his medical skills, his foul temper alone would place him at the top of the list of eccentric characters in Fenglu City.
Shen Gurong: "No, I want to ask, who compiled this list?"
Xi Guxing glared at him: "None of your business."
Shen Gurong fell silent.
Lin Shuhe rarely treated people, but when he did, his skills were miraculous. Even cultivators who had gone mad could be brought back to the right path by him. Over time, countless people were eager to witness Lin Shuhe's medical skills.
Shen Gurong remained silent for a long time before trying to speak: "So, you used his treatment slot as a favor?"
Xi Guxing nodded.
Shen Gurong looked at him as if he were scum.
Xi Guxing immediately became angry: "He agreed! I'm not like you, who just put an exorbitant amount of spirit stones on his tab without even asking."
Shen Gurong, who seemed even more like scum, fell silent.
The two looked at each other.
After a moment of silence, Shen Gurong said softly, "I finally understand why Sixth Senior Brother didn't return to Liren Peak."
Xi Guxing: "..."
"Shut up!"
The matter ended there, but Shen Gurong later heard that when his Sixth Senior Brother, Lin Shuhe, heard about this, he was so enraged that he vomited blood and cursed Xi Guxing for three days and three nights.
Two days later, the Chanwei Assembly.
The morning bell at Liren Peak rang a quarter of an hour earlier than usual. When Mu Zhe came to call Shen Gurong, he was sitting on the bed, wrapped in a blanket, lost in thought, his clothes disheveled, his long hair a mess from sleep, several strands sticking up from the crown.
Mu Zhe knocked on the door: "Master, I'm coming in."
Shen Gurong, his mind still foggy, nodded slowly: "Oh."
He continued to stare blankly.
Mu Zhe walked in carrying the clothes that Su Xiyan had brought. He glanced at Shen Gurong, who looked like he was still half asleep, but his expression remained unchanged as he suppressed a laugh.
He placed his clothes on the edge of the bed, hooked the bed curtains onto the gold hooks, and opened the carved wooden window. Only then did Shen Gurong begin to come to his senses.
Mu Zhe brought in water and heard his master begin his daily routine of waking himself up.
This time, "he" was no longer the attentive servant who often woke him, but the teacher who punished him by making him copy books every day.
"Young Master Shen, have you finished copying your book? Aren't you getting up?"
"I don't want to get up. Don't get up."
"If you don't get up, you'll be punished by copying twenty more times."
"Teacher, are you a demon?"
Shen Gurong was startled by the imagined punishment of copying, and became completely awake.
His voice was extremely soft; you couldn't hear it unless you were right next to him. You could only hear him muttering to himself, but you couldn't understand what he was saying.
But Mu Zhe, who could hear his inner thoughts, heard it all clearly and almost burst out laughing.
Once conscious, Shen Gurong reverted to his aloof and arrogant demeanor. Assuming Mu Zhe hadn't heard, he calmly rose to change his clothes.
Mu Zhe withdrew.
He waited at the door for a long time, watching as people began to make their way to Changying Mountain from Fanjiang Residence.
The morning bell tolled twice more before Shen Gurong's feignedly calm voice came from inside Fanjiang Residence: "Mu Zhe, come in."
Mu Zhe, bewildered, pushed open the door and saw his master wearing the blue robe he had given him, the sash tied haphazardly, his face filled with utter despair.
Mu Zhe: "..."
Shen Gurong thought expressionlessly: Although this robe looks easy to wear, I know I'm not wearing it correctly.
Mu Zhe: "?"
The robes worn at the Chanwei Assembly were all custom-made by Su Xiyan in Fuxian City. Since Shen Gurong was sensitive to the cold, the robes were layered upon layered, incredibly cumbersome. By the end, Shen Gurong was probably fed up and even broke one of the sashes with sheer force.
Seeing Shen Gurong still secretly pulling down the annoying sash, Mu Zhe sighed silently and said, "If Master doesn't mind, let me help you change."
Shen Gurong: Not at all!
Shen Gurong thought for a moment expressionlessly, as if deep in thought, before reluctantly saying, "Come on."
Mu Zhe lowered his head to maintain his composure, then quickly raised his head, calmly stepping forward to help his master undress.
Mu Zhe first removed the haphazardly draped layers of clothing, tidied Shen Gurong's inner garments, and then began to properly layer the robes onto him. Shen Gurong was extremely obedient, raising his hand and tilting his head as instructed.
Perhaps finding it too boring, Shen Gurong asked, "Today is the Chanwei Assembly. Are you confident?"
Mu Zhe draped his outermost robe, a wide-sleeved one with a sky-blue bamboo pattern, over his shoulders and was fastening his waist belt. Hearing this, he paused, then said, "I'm confident."
Shen Gurong opened his arms to make it easier for him to fasten the waist belt, casually saying, "I noticed that some of the disciples attending the Chanwei Assembly seem to have extremely high cultivation levels."
Mu Zhe: "Yes, that's right."
"Then you dare to be so confident?"
Mu Zhe nodded again: "Yes."
Shen Gurong had no choice but to ask no more questions.
Even with so many layers of clothing, Shen Gurong's waist remained extremely slender, as if he could be easily grasped with one hand. Mu Zhe suppressed the urge to reach out and carefully fastened the waist belt, then found a piece of jade and put it on.
Shen Gurong asked again, "Oh right, is Xiwu up yet?"
Mu Zhe, who was tying his hair with a hair crown, replied, "Yes, she's up. I just saw Xinghe take her to Changying Mountain."
Shen Gurong nodded, then belatedly realized the jade crown was heavy and frowned, "Can I not wear it?"
Mu Zhe said, "Martial Uncle said this Chanwei Assembly is the face of Liren Peak, and Master must go in full regalia."
Shen Gurong frowned.
Every year at the end of the year, there's a sacrificial ceremony in Huitang City. In the freezing cold, Shen Gurong would wear formal attire to the ancestral hall to worship his ancestors, and every time he returned, his back, waist, and legs would ache terribly.
Unexpectedly, in the book, he had to force himself to be dignified for a whole day.
Shen Gurong didn't want to go, but he had no choice.
Mu Zhe finished tying his hair with the crown, then nodded and took a half-step back, saying, "All done."
Shen Gurong thought: My scalp feels a little tight.
Mu Zhe: "..."
That's because you rarely wear your jade crown.
Shen Gurong followed Mu Zhe out of Fanjiang Residence.
Changying Mountain was already bustling with people. Shen Gurong had never seen Liren Peak so lively before, and he found it quite novel.
However, his aura was too terrifying. Coupled with his white hair, green robes, and ice-silk covering his eyes, all the disciples of the Three Realms had been warned beforehand that this person dressed like Shen Feng Xue, the Holy Lord, and that they must not act rashly. Therefore, upon Shen Gurong's arrival, the previously chattering crowd instantly fell into a deathly silence.
Shen Gurong: "..."
Everyone was terrified, bowing their heads to him, not daring to utter a word.
Shen Gurong thought: What's there to be afraid of? I don't eat people.
Mu Zhe thought, Your aura is more terrifying than eating people.
The Chanwei Tournament setup was complete. The six arenas originally reserved for the Liren Peak disciples had been merged into one, with stone pillars forming a circle around the platform, and intricate runes faintly visible on the bluestone slabs.
Not far from the arena, countless disciples sat on high stone seats, chattering amongst themselves. Each had a different colored jade headband tied around their forehead. Shen Gurong carefully observed: those with yellow jade headbands were from Liren Peak, while those from Fenglu City were from blue.
To distinguish the factions, Liren Peak, Fenglu City, Xianyun City, and the other sects were all positioned far apart, separated by a transparent barrier, presumably to prevent verbal altercations between the spectators during the matches.
This happened every year at the Chanwei Tournament. Both the competitors and the spectators were arrogant and boastful youths, all pampered and unwilling to submit to each other. Sometimes, during the matches on the arena, trivial matters would escalate into arguments among the spectators—ranging from insults to physical fights. Over time, the stands became clearly divided, preventing any chaotic fighting that could easily escalate.
Shen Gurong was like a silencing device; wherever he went, absolute silence descended.
He paid no heed, glancing at the trembling disciples before ascending the steps to a small pavilion near the arena.
On the second floor of the pavilion, Xi Guxing and the others were already there.
Shen Gurong led Mu Zhe over, glancing around to find that the large pavilion was also filled with the city lords and elders of other sects, now seated on prayer mats, the wine on their small tables nearly empty, indicating they had been there for some time.
Shen Gurong coughed lightly, showing no stage fright. He stepped forward and said calmly, "Senior Brother, Sect Leader."
Xi Guxing was somewhat displeased with his lateness, but refrained from saying much in front of so many people. He simply said, "Let's go inside."
Shen Feng Xue was known throughout the Three Realms for his love of quiet. Even at an event like the Chanwei Assembly, he disdained sharing a room with others.
Shen Gurong didn't ask any questions. He nodded slightly to the surrounding crowd, then, leading Mu Zhe, lifted the beaded curtain and slowly walked inside.
Is this what they call private tutoring? Shen Gurong wondered as he walked.
Mu Zhe remained silent, thinking: Perhaps his master isn't particularly fond of quiet either.
The view from the inner room was even better. Shen Gurong gathered his robes and sat on the mat by the window. He gently pushed open the carved wooden window, and with a glance, he saw the entire competition arena.
Mu Zhe poured wine for him, and Shen Gurong, smelling the aroma, quickly leaned closer to sniff.
"Pear blossom wine?"
Mu Zhe shook his head: "The sect leader said you can't drink too much wine, and told me to mix some pear blossom honey."
Shen Gurong frowned: "If you can't drink, don't bring wine. What kind of wine is it if you mix it with pear blossom honey?"
Mu Zhe paused, unsure whether to continue pouring.
Shen Gurong continued: "Mix it with peach blossom honey."
Mu Zhe: "..."
Mu Zhe reluctantly put down the wine pot, sighing silently, but still said gently: "Then I'll go get it now."
Seeing that he really intended to indulge him, Shen Gurong quickly stopped him: "No need, I'm not planning to drink anymore—what about you, aren't you going to the arena to prepare?"
Mu Zhe shook his head: "My draw is late, it'll probably be my turn around around noon."
Shen Gurong nodded.
Just then, a cheer suddenly came from the arena outside. The Chanwei Tournament has begun.
Perhaps fearing the younger generation might be too reserved, Xi Guxing and the others didn't go to the dueling platform, instead sending their peer Wen Liubing to open the competition.
Wen Liubing gracefully ascended the platform, and below, men and women alike cheered wildly.
"Lord Sanshui!"
"Wen Liubing!"
"Lord Zhuxie!"
Shen Gurong was initially confused, but soon realized that although his eldest disciple wasn't very bright, he was still the excessively revered Zhuxie Commander.
Wen Liubing was a decisive person. On the dueling platform, without uttering a single unnecessary word, he directly announced, "The Chanwei Tournament begins."
"First match: Yu Xinghe of Liren Peak versus Miao Qingfeng of Xianyun City."
Having said this, he ignored the cheers from below and turned to gracefully descend the platform.
Soon, Yu Xinghe, dressed in golden robes, with two yellow jade headbands between his brows and a golden sword in his hand, stepped onto the stage joyfully, his eyes crinkling as he asked, "Who is Miao Qingfeng?"
His entrance nearly blinded those around him with his dazzling golden attire.
Shen Gurong was also momentarily stunned, saying, "Is he planning to blind his opponent to win?"
Shen Feng Xue's eyes were already injured, and the glare from Yu Xinghe's sword had quickly caused his eyes to redden and tear up.
Mu Zhe frowned, saying, "Master, I apologize for the intrusion."
Shen Gurong was still wondering what he was about to intrude on when he saw Mu Zhe lean in, gently lifting a corner of his icy robe and wiping away the tears from his eyes with his soft fingertips.
Shen Gurong… For some reason, Shen Gurong's face suddenly felt hot. He slightly turned his head to avoid Mu Zhe's hand, mumbling, "It's nothing."
Mu Zhe then withdrew. Just then, a surprised cry rang out from the dueling platform.
Shen Gurong looked down and saw a graceful young woman, sword in hand, descending like a celestial maiden to the platform.
Miao Qingfeng, cold as ice and possessing breathtaking beauty, nodded slightly and said, "Please enlighten me."
Yu Xinghe: "..."
Yu Xinghe was stunned.
Shen Gurong recalled what Yu Xinghe had said a few days ago:
"If I were to draw lots and encounter them, I would definitely admit defeat immediately. Beauty will kill me."
Shen Gurong: "..."
I don't know if beauty can kill you, but if you dare to admit defeat without fighting, Master will definitely kill you.
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