The Immortal Lord and the Demon Venerable Are Both My Vests - Chapter 31

Early the next morning, Xu Rong was still in a dazed and drowsy state when he was dragged out of his soft cotton quilt by his collar.

He groggily opened his eyes, and before he could see what was in front of him clearly, his body felt light and cool. By the time he fully regained consciousness, he was already among the clouds.

White clouds drifted beneath his feet, and a gentle breeze brushed against his face.

Xu Rong was dumbfounded.

“…Master, where are we going?”

“The Treasure Artifact Pavilion. My disciple was bullied by someone. Since I can’t bully the weak with my strength, yet I can’t just stand by and watch either, I have to find a way to help you get revenge, right?”

“……”

“Moved? Actually, you don’t need to be. It’s only natural for a master to help their disciple.”

“No, what I wanted to say was… Could you please let go of my collar?” Xu Rong’s fair and handsome face flushed bright red as he clutched at his collar with both hands, desperately trying to avoid being strangled to death by his dear master.

Shen Muxuan had brought him up into the sky by grabbing his collar. The weight of a young man was far from light.

Shen Muxuan coughed lightly, seemingly having never noticed until reminded, and only then released his fingers. With a casual gesture, soft clouds nearby drifted over and gently cushioned themselves beneath Xu Rong’s feet.

Soft and fluffy, like the finest cotton, making one want to sit down and sink their entire body into it.

Having been a cultivator for a hundred years in his previous life, Xu Rong naturally wouldn’t be shocked by such a technique. However, now…

Thinking of the many things that had happened recently, he made up his mind and squeezed his eyes hard. Deliberately lowering his head, his eyes reddened.

His sudden silence naturally drew Shen Muxuan’s attention, who then noticed his disciple’s reddened eyes and of course had to ask why.

Xu Rong seized the opportunity to begin his performance. “I apologize, Master, but—but this disciple truly cannot hold it in anymore… Ever since Father Emperor suddenly passed away overnight, our family fell into ruin, and I was hunted down and nearly died several times. I only managed to make it to this sect by clinging to my last breath… For a moment I couldn’t help but be reminded of items from home by this thing. Overcome by these feelings, my heart truly aches unbearably…”

While lamenting, he deliberately mentioned ‘suddenly passed away overnight,’ ‘hunted down several times,’ and ‘overcome by these feelings,’ in order to make Shen Muxuan suspect that his family’s destruction wasn’t as simple as it appeared on the surface, and that the other party hadn’t stopped and could come to kill him again at any time.

Besides seeking the protection of the Mahayana stage Tianji Daojun, he could also win the other party’s sympathy—no matter how you calculated it, this wasn’t a losing proposition.

Shen Muxuan thought for a moment.

“Then you’ll have to work hard, disciple.” He sighed. “With such powerful enemies still hiding in the shadows, if you don’t apply yourself, avenging your family will remain a distant dream.”

Xu Rong: “……”

What the hell kind of nonsense are you spouting? Is this what a master should say?!

Shouldn’t you immediately pat my head and tell me ‘Don’t be afraid, you have Master backing you up’ or ‘Who has such audacity to dare harm this lord’s disciple? Just watch as this lord chops up their entire family for you!’???

He was momentarily speechless, not knowing what to say. Even the few tears he’d managed to squeeze out dried up from the oncoming wind because his eyes were open too wide.

Shen Muxuan continued, “Although this goal is very difficult to achieve, since disciple wants to become a sword cultivator, you shouldn’t lack even this much confidence.”

Xu Rong was stunned. “When did I ever say I wanted to become a sword cultivator?”

Shen Muxuan: “But you were always staring at your Senior Martial Sister Chang’an before. Wasn’t that admiration? Now that you mention it, Xiao Chang’an’s situation is somewhat similar to yours. Using her as your goal is quite good.”

I was wondering why this woman has changed so much in this lifetime too!

Speaking of this topic made Xu Rong’s chest tight with frustration. The changes from being reborn were simply too great. If it weren’t for the fact that everyone was still the same people and major events hadn’t deviated, he would seriously doubt whether he’d actually been reborn.

Xu Rong couldn’t help but defend himself. “This disciple merely respects Senior Martial Sister! I know my own capabilities best—this disciple isn’t suited to be a sword cultivator.”

He didn’t forget his current ‘respectful and devoted to Master’ persona. “Moreover… this disciple wants to walk the same Dao as Master!”

His words were emphatic, his gaze sincere.

In reality, the moment these words left his mouth, Xu Rong inwardly cried out in dismay.

The ‘Dao’ was something one only began to comprehend at least at the Spirit Transformation stage—how could he, someone at the Qi Refining stage, explain how he knew about it?!

Fortunately, Shen Muxuan seemed not to notice his slip of the tongue. His expression remained normal as he exchanged a few words, then steadily delivered him to the front of the Treasure Artifact Pavilion.

“Choose well!” The other party waved at him with a smile, then turned and departed on the wind.

Yin Lang ran into Li Baisu, who had graced him with her presence, in front of Tianji Peak.

The Enforcement Elder’s elegant brows were tightly furrowed, her face full of hesitation. From time to time she would step forward then quickly pull back, muttering something under her breath.

“What brings Martial Aunt Li to this humble place?”

The voice appeared behind her without warning, startling Li Baisu into gripping the long silk ribbon in her palm. She steadied herself, slowly turned around, and slightly raised her chin. “When did Martial Nephew leave? How is there not a single sound when you return? You scared me to death.”

Something’s not right.

Although her attitude was still haughty, based on Yin Lang’s years of experience dealing with her, whenever Grand Elder Li’s choice of words became polite, it meant she was feeling guilty.

Yin Lang recalled her recent interactions with Li Baisu—nothing more than the few incidents of competing for disciples.

But logically speaking, the one who initially said he wouldn’t take disciples then went back on his word was Shen Muxuan. Li Baisu was the unfortunate victim who had her disciple stolen. For the sake of giving the Sect Master an explanation in the Tianji Peak incident, she had no choice but to concede. No matter how you looked at it, there was no reason for her to feel guilty.

Li Baisu thought of her purpose for coming and forced herself to maintain her haughty appearance. “What, won’t Martial Nephew even invite Martial Aunt to sit inside?”

Even more suspicious.

Yin Lang remained impassive. “Martial Aunt, please.”

Before Li Baisu could find fault, Yin Lang raised his hand and snapped his fingers. Spiritual qi fell like nourishing rain upon the earth. Large swathes of green sprouted from Tianji Peak—the seeds Xu Rong had painstakingly planted day and night instantly broke through the soil, completing the process from birth to full bloom in an instant.

The view was filled with crimson petals. Li Baisu glanced at him in surprise but still managed to hold back the critical words that almost escaped her lips.

Shen Muxuan actually stopped planting bamboo and switched to red spider lilies? Isn’t he afraid of being taught a lesson when Feng Jiangcheng comes out of seclusion?

The two sat down.

Li Baisu hesitated for a long while, then chose what she thought was an opening that wouldn’t reveal anything unusual yet was reasonable. “It’s been a long time since you and Qilan have seen each other, hasn’t it?”

Hua Qilan and Shen Muxuan had a history back in the day. Both parties had feelings for each other, yet they were forcibly separated by that madman Feng Jiangcheng without rhyme or reason. Hua Qilan wept endlessly at Qingnang Peak, while when Shen Muxuan next appeared before others, he seemed perfectly normal, yet his lack of any unusual behavior was itself the greatest abnormality.

Li Baisu firmly believed that something unknown to others must have happened between Shen Muxuan and Feng Jiangcheng, leading to his drastically changed attitude toward Hua Qilan. She believed that feelings didn’t disappear so easily—even without the deep love of years past, Hua Qilan must still be special to Shen Muxuan.

“Since when did you start caring about the younger generation’s romantic issues?” Shen Muxuan’s smile wasn’t quite a smile. Though it was clearly a very normal teasing tone, Li Baisu inexplicably felt a chill down her spine.

She had a flash of inspiration and recovered some of her usual imposing manner. “Qilan came to complain to me the other day, saying you treated her as if she were invisible and coldly addressed her as ‘Martial Niece’?”

“According to seniority, Hua Qilan is indeed my martial niece.” Shen Muxuan only felt this blame came inexplicably and had to explain. “At that time I had accepted a mission from the Jihe Alliance. Thinking of fellow cultivators who died miserably at the hands of demonic cultivators made me unhappy. Hua Qilan suddenly jumped out with a face full of resentment without speaking properly—where would I have the time to chat idly with her?”

He was quite puzzled. “Martial Aunt, Martial Nephew knows you cherish your disciples, but surely there’s no such unreasonable argument? Don’t tell me you came here today just to force me to apologize to Hua Qilan?”

His expression of ‘are you stupid or am I stupid’ left Li Baisu choked with nowhere for her frustration to go.

She knew it… she just knew it! Neither of these martial brothers were easy to deal with!

Li Baisu forced out an ‘amiable’ smile. “Martial Nephew, what are you saying? You know Qilan is my favorite grand-disciple. Today I’m just casually asking on her behalf. How could I possibly disturb your recuperation over such a small matter?”

She didn’t dare delay any longer, afraid that if she brought up any other topic she’d be shut down again. She simply asked, “The day Daozhu came out of seclusion, you were the first person from the sect to meet with him alone. Martial Aunt is somewhat of a direct disciple in Daozhu’s lineage—caring about Grand Master’s physical condition shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

After speaking, she stared intently at Shen Muxuan’s expression, trying to find a flaw in his eyes.

Hearing the words ‘Daozhu,’ the hand that the Snow-Robed Daojun had casually placed on the stone table trembled unnaturally. The movement was very slight, yet it couldn’t escape the eyes of someone at the Tribulation stage.

Hua Feiying really didn’t lie!

Li Baisu was secretly alarmed. She marveled at Shen Muxuan’s superb acting skills and admired his formidable endurance.

However, comparing his reactions to the two questions, she could confirm that Shen Muxuan truly didn’t know he had been the unlucky one to suffer disaster in Hua Qilan’s place.

Now the problem was much easier to solve.

After that momentary loss of control, Shen Muxuan quickly adjusted his state. Propping his face with one hand, he said with a smile, “What could be wrong with Daozhu’s body? He’s a Dao Integration semi-immortal, the great power who anchors our Immortal Sect. Martial Aunt Li, this is worry causing confusion.”

Li Baisu neither confirmed nor denied. “I suppose so.”

She had assumed from the start that Shen Muxuan had been harmed and had his blood taken. No matter how he explained or disguised it, in her eyes it was all futile concealment.

Li Baisu gazed at this poor child with pitying eyes, thinking that considering he’d blocked a disaster for Hua Qilan, she should try to rein in her volatile temper around him in the future.

Li Baisu continued to probe indirectly about Shen Muxuan’s physical condition, using this to estimate Yuan Daozhu’s demand for special blood, and thereby judge whether Hua Qilan would be in danger.

However, the more she listened, the more uncertain she felt. Especially seeing Shen Muxuan’s pale lips and fatigued expression, a terrifying scene even formed in her mind of Hua Qilan being captured for bloodletting the very next second, scaring herself quite thoroughly.

A streak of light suddenly flew from the distant horizon. Shen Muxuan gave Li Baisu a brief indication, reached out to catch it, and traced his finger across to open it.

Xu Rong’s panicked and flustered voice came through. “Master, save me! Peak Master Jin wants to kill me——Ah!”

The background carried quite a bit of noise, with an adult male’s voice mixed in, though it wasn’t very clear. “Little brat… provoke this old… you’re done for…”

Both Shen Muxuan and Li Baisu’s expressions changed simultaneously.

Jin Yue? Hearing this familiar voice, Li Baisu was first confused, then immediately met Shen Muxuan’s icy gaze.

He tapped lightly on the stone table and said slowly, “Li Baisu, what is the meaning of this?”