Jian Zhen had a brief moment of daze.
The person beside Fu Changhuan spoke: “You little junior disciple, why are you spacing out even at such a good time?”
Jian Zhen came back to his senses. He lowered his head slightly and said, “Thank you… Senior Brother, thank you, Grandmaster Ancestor.”
Fu Changhuan’s brows were cold and indifferent. He nodded lightly and said, “Come with me.”
Under the gazes of the disciples in the plaza, Jian Zhen hurriedly followed.
The disciple behind Fu Changhuan patted Jian Zhen’s shoulder and comforted him: “Senior Brother cultivates the Heartless Dao. His temperament has always been like this. I’ve been at Spirit Mountain for so long and have never seen him smile!”
Never smiled?
Jian Zhen fell into brief contemplation.
The Immortal Venerable in his memories was always calm and detached like wind and clouds, and when facing him, there would always be a gentle smile, warm like the bright moon in the sky, as if without edges. And he remembered that back at Spirit Mountain, the Immortal Venerable had said that what he cultivated was not the Heartless Dao.
Why…
The Immortal Venerable from tens of millions of years ago cultivated the Heartless Dao?
The two people, one in front and one behind, arrived at the Chengfeng Platform at the mountain peak.
Fu Changhuan stopped and turned back, asking, “Can you ride a sword?”
Jian Zhen stopped and gently shook his head.
Fu Changhuan extended his hand toward him. “Come here.”
Jian Zhen handed his hand over. Fu Changhuan’s hand was very cold, like a piece of jade without temperature. Just as he slightly lost focus, a voice came from above his head: “Stand properly.”
The next second.
A sword flew over from afar out of thin air. Fu Changhuan lightly leapt up with Jian Zhen and stepped onto the sword, rising into the air.
Jian Zhen let out a soft exclamation and subconsciously hugged Fu Changhuan’s waist tightly. He watched the scene below slowly become smaller, leaning his whole body against Fu Changhuan while staring around at the surrounding scenery without blinking.
Fu Changhuan’s voice fell: “You really aren’t afraid.”
Jian Zhen came back to his senses and subconsciously said, “Afraid of what?”
Fu Changhuan lowered his gaze and met Jian Zhen’s eyes, eyes full of dependence, clean and pure. In those eyes was written complete reliance and trust in him. Clearly, this was their first time meeting. When others saw him, they were either filled with awe or admiration. Only Jian Zhen was not.
As if they already had a deep bond.
As if he was someone Jian Zhen could rely on and trust.
Fu Changhuan said, “Have you seen me before?”
Jian Zhen was somewhat surprised by the Immortal Venerable’s sharpness. He was not good at lying. After hesitating for a moment, he could only nod.
Fu Changhuan asked, “Where?”
Jian Zhen looked at him and said, “You don’t remember.”
Fu Changhuan raised his brows slightly. He had cultivated for a hundred years. Whether mortals or most people in the world, under his Heartless Dao, almost all became passing clouds and smoke, not worth mentioning. He indeed would not remember too many people who were not worth remembering. If he had met this child somewhere, it was possible, but he truly had no impression.
Thinking of this.
Fu Changhuan said, “In the future, I will remember you.”
Jian Zhen smiled softly. He said, “Mm, that’s enough.”
While the two were talking, Fu Changhuan’s sword had already reached the highest peak of Spirit Mountain. Here, immortal grasses and green plants were lush and thriving, flowers and birds flourished, spiritual energy was abundant, and it was extremely beautiful, very different from the snow-covered peaks in the future.
Fu Changhuan said, “Grandmaster Ancestor is inside.”
Jian Zhen stepped forward but stopped again, somewhat hesitant.
Fu Changhuan: “What’s wrong?”
Jian Zhen pursed his lips. He was only an outsider soul. He was truly afraid that a god like Grandmaster Ancestor would see through him at a glance. If he was struck until his soul scattered and dispersed, he would be completely finished.
The little grass panicked.
Jian Zhen felt unsure. He tugged at Fu Changhuan’s sleeve and said, “Senior Brother… I’m scared.”
All the disciples of Spirit Mountain knew that Senior Brother had a cleanliness obsession. He never let people touch him. If his clothes got dirty, he would always change them immediately and become annoyed.
Fu Changhuan glanced at his sleeve, then met Jian Zhen’s somewhat uneasy eyes. After a moment of silence, he said, “Grandmaster Ancestor is kind. He won’t make things difficult for you.”
Jian Zhen: “Oh.”
Seeing him lower his head like a little puppy with drooping ears, Fu Changhuan subconsciously said, “I’ll go in with you.”
Jian Zhen’s eyes lit up instantly.
Fu Changhuan stepped forward. He walked over stone slabs, passed through flower bushes, and finally stopped at an open space. He raised his hand and said, “Grandmaster Ancestor, this disciple has brought the person back and has come to report.”
Faintly behind the flowers was a tall figure wearing green brocade clothes trimmed with gold.
Grandmaster Ancestor’s voice sounded: “Oh? You personally brought him back to report?”
Fu Changhuan lowered his head and said, “Yes.”
Grandmaster Ancestor smiled lightly. Under the afternoon sunlight, the smile was long and pleased. He said, “No wonder I calculated that I would have a master-disciple fate with him. So that’s how it is, so that’s how it is.”
Fu Changhuan raised his head slightly in confusion. Grandmaster Ancestor looked toward the tree shade in the afternoon, toward the disciple standing beneath the vine trellis, cold yet stubborn, unchanged for a hundred years.
Grandmaster Ancestor said, “You go back first. Let him come over.”
Fu Changhuan nodded. “Yes.”
Jian Zhen was called over from behind. He stepped into the garden, walking on the scattered silver of afternoon sunlight. After seeing Grandmaster Ancestor’s back, he paused, then saluted and said, “Greetings, Grandmaster Ancestor.”
Grandmaster Ancestor did not turn around, but Jian Zhen felt as if a gaze fell on him and did not disperse for a long time.
Just when Jian Zhen was nervous and thought he had been seen through,
Grandmaster Ancestor seemed to sigh softly. It was relief, yet also as if it was expected. He said, “Child, you and I are fated to have a master-disciple bond. Let me ask you, are you willing to enter under my sect?”
Jian Zhen hesitated for a moment.
Grandmaster Ancestor smiled and said, “I will only teach you Dao techniques. I will not interfere with your other matters.”
Jian Zhen’s heart skipped a beat. He knelt down and said, “Thank you, Grandmaster Ancestor.”
A gust of breeze blew past and helped him up.
Grandmaster Ancestor said, “There’s no need to thank me. I teach you because you and I are fated to meet. Since I have helped you like this, how do you know that in time, you won’t help me?”
Jian Zhen asked curiously, “I can help Grandmaster Ancestor too?”
This was the only god in the world, and he himself was just a little blade of grass, could he really help him?
Come to think of it.
The purpose of his return to the past was to stop Ye Jisheng from stepping into the Immortal Clan’s conspiracy. It would be more accurate to say he came to cause trouble.
Grandmaster Ancestor smiled lightly. He said, “Everything in this world is possible. Never underestimate others, and never underestimate yourself. Even gods have things they cannot accomplish.”
Jian Zhen lowered his head and said, “Yes.”
Grandmaster Ancestor said, “You just arrived at the mountain today. Let your senior brother take you to the sleeping hall. If there’s anything you lack, just say it.”
Jian Zhen said, “Thank you, Grandmaster Ancestor.”
After saying this and looking up again, the person who had originally been standing beneath the vines had actually disappeared. Jian Zhen found it a bit strange but didn’t think too much about it. After all, sometimes gods really do act mysteriously.
Leaving along the vine path, Jian Zhen saw Fu Changhuan waiting not far away.
Fu Changhuan wore snow-colored robes. Hearing movement, he glanced back. His gaze was cold and indifferent. He said, “Let’s go.”
Jian Zhen: “…Okay.”
Fu Changhuan said, “You are Grandmaster Ancestor’s disciple. You can choose your own residence and hall on Spirit Mountain’s high peaks. Where do you want to live?”
How would Jian Zhen dare live on the mountain? He hadn’t forgotten, he came to find Ye Jisheng. If he lived on Spirit Mountain every day, then what? He quickly said, “No need, no need. I’ll just live down the mountain, closer to the other disciples.”
Fu Changhuan glanced at him from the side, with a faint trace of scrutiny.
Jian Zhen felt guilty. He subconsciously acted cute toward the Immortal Venerable, giving a silly smile and saying, “Because I’ve only just established my foundation. I want to cultivate like the other disciples. Once I’ve achieved something, then I’ll go study under Grandmaster Ancestor properly.”
Fu Changhuan was silent for a moment before saying, “That works.”
Jian Zhen let out a breath of relief.
Fu Changhuan then said, “The disciples’ residences down the mountain are already full. No spot was reserved for you. Go stay in the residence I lived in down the mountain when I was young.”
Jian Zhen asked, “Where is it?”
With a sword-hand seal, Fu Changhuan summoned a flying sword. In almost the blink of an eye, the two of them arrived at a pavilion halfway up the mountain. In fact, the scenery from tens of millions of years ago was very different from now. Even while walking along the path, Jian Zhen still held onto a final bit of hope in his heart, until Fu Changhuan finally stopped in front of a courtyard and said, “We’re here.”
Jian Zhen looked up and saw the familiar courtyard gate.
Pushing the door open, there was a small tree in the courtyard, swaying in the wind. Not far away, the house door was tightly shut. Fu Changhuan waved his hand and opened it, saying, “No one has lived here for a hundred years. I will send disciples later to clean it.”
Jian Zhen said, “Thank you, Senior Brother.”
Seeing Jian Zhen staring at the courtyard with a complicated expression, Fu Changhuan said, “What, is there something wrong with this courtyard?”
Jian Zhen quickly snapped back to his senses. He quickly shook his head, smiled, and said, “I just think this courtyard feels very familiar. Isn’t it a bit wasteful for just me to live here alone?”
Fu Changhuan said expressionlessly, “You are my junior brother and also Grandmaster Ancestor’s disciple. If the residence is not refined, it’s not just your reputation that’s lost.”
Jian Zhen: “…Oh.”
The Immortal Venerable really did cultivate the Heartless Dao. Completely different from tens of millions of years later.
Fu Changhuan said, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll leave.”
Jian Zhen nodded. When Fu Changhuan was about to leave, he called out to stop him again: “Right…”
Fu Changhuan thought he had something else to trouble him with, so he turned around and said, “What is it?”
“Nothing.” Jian Zhen said, “When I was close to you just now, I felt your hands were a bit cold. It’s gotten cold recently. Senior Brother, remember to wear more clothes. When you go back, drink more hot tea. If you soak poria in it, it’ll be even better.”
The Immortal Venerable used to always have cold hands and feet too. Back then, he always liked to drink tea in the hall. That tea had poria added to it, which was very good for treating cold hands and feet.
Fu Changhuan paused for a moment, then nodded lightly.
Jian Zhen smiled and said, “Then Senior Brother, take care on your way.”
Only then did Fu Changhuan leave.
Jian Zhen wandered around the courtyard by himself for a while. Actually, the house wasn’t very dirty, just had a bit of dust. He could clean it himself. But not long after, someone came knocking on the courtyard door.
The visitor was the person who had followed behind Fu Changhuan earlier today.
Wearing a blue disciple uniform, he looked young yet upright. He said, “Is Senior Brother Jian here?”
Jian Zhen came out and said, “That’s me.”
“I am Ling Can, a disciple of the Tianji Pavilion.” He said, “Senior Brother instructed that your courtyard here needs cleaning. I’ve arranged for a few cleaning disciples to come help.”
Ling Can.
Jian Zhen widened his eyes in surprise. Looking at the young and righteous-looking youth in front of him, he couldn’t match him with the peak master figure from tens of millions of years later.
Ling Can was confused. “What’s wrong?”
Jian Zhen shook his head and said, “Thank you for the kindness. It’s just that my courtyard isn’t very big. Everyone is a newly entered disciple. I can clean it myself. No need to trouble other disciples to do it.”
Ling Can quickly said, “It’s just a small matter. Besides, these cleaning disciples don’t really count as disciples of our Immortal Clan. This was originally their job. Don’t worry.”
Jian Zhen was a little confused. What did he mean by, not really Immortal Clan disciples?
Wasn’t Spirit Mountain the place where the Immortal Clan cultivated? How were cleaning disciples not disciples?
After Ling Can left, Jian Zhen still started cleaning the small courtyard himself.
First, he moved some decorations, wooden chairs, and tables outside to air in the sun, then took the blankets out to sun them too. He liked warm, cozy places.
Just as he was busy.
A voice came from outside: “We were sent by Senior Brother Ling to do cleaning. Is this the place?”
Jian Zhen said, “Yes.”
Turning around, he saw that the disciples entering were wearing gray cloth shirts. The disciple uniforms on their bodies were clearly much rougher. About five or six people walked in. Originally, Jian Zhen had been busy cleaning and hadn’t paid attention, but suddenly, his gaze stopped on one person.
That was a figure that wasn’t very tall. Among the group of cleaning disciples, he was even somewhat thin and weak. But his side profile was like a mountain, like jade, something Jian Zhen would never mistake no matter how long passed. He wore gray clothing, yet it still couldn’t hide his outstanding appearance. Even though thin and weak, his back was still straight, his temperament otherworldly.
Jian Zhen subconsciously said, “You…”
All the cleaning disciples turned to look at him.
But Jian Zhen only walked a few steps to the person he wanted to see. He raised his head and met those familiar red eyes. Only, compared to the eyes from tens of millions of years later that always held a faint smile, these eyes were full of vigilance, wariness, and distance.
Thousands of words surged into his heart.
Jian Zhen opened his mouth but didn’t know how to speak. His eyelashes trembled slightly before he said gently, “You… what’s your name?”
After a moment of silence, the person in front of him spoke, his voice carrying a youthful tone yet hoarse and low: “Wusheng.”
Jian Zhen was stunned. “What?”
The other cleaning disciples laughed and said, “His name is just Wusheng, Wusheng as in ‘no sound.’”
Everyone seemed to have heard something funny and laughed along.
Jian Zhen did not laugh.
Because the person in front of him looked at him silently. Those red eyes were like the cleanest amber. When he noticed Jian Zhen looking at him, he lowered his head and avoided Jian Zhen’s gaze.
Jian Zhen’s heart suddenly tightened. He wanted to pull him, wanted to talk to him, but there were too many people in the courtyard.
The other cleaning disciples all got busy.
Jian Zhen also stayed in the courtyard, but his heart was no longer in the work. His gaze uncontrollably circled around Ye Jisheng’s thin back. Although the person from tens of millions of years ago didn’t look exactly the same as now, he still couldn’t help looking toward Ye Jisheng. This was him from tens of millions of years ago, not the Demon God, but also the king of the Demon Clan.
This was the one.
The one from tens of millions of years ago that even Ye Jisheng himself did not remember.
An afternoon passed quickly.
The hall wasn’t very large. It was soon cleaned. The other disciples all said goodbye to Jian Zhen. Jian Zhen said, “Thank you all for your help. I don’t have anything to repay you with. Please accept these.”
The original body had brought some spirit stones up the mountain.
Jian Zhen distributed the spirit stones among the cleaning disciples and said, “Thank you, everyone.”
The cleaning disciples were all somewhat flattered. Perhaps because such good things rarely happened, they gratefully accepted them. Jian Zhen looked at Ye Jisheng, but to his disappointment, Ye Jisheng kept his eyes lowered and did not look at him.
Jian Zhen felt somewhat disappointed.
He had grown used to always being watched by Ye Jisheng. Suddenly becoming like this, the sense of loss was not something that could be calmed quickly.
Forget it. Take it slowly.
Being able to find him now was already a good start.
Just as he was thinking this, Ling Can came over from outside. He asked, “Senior Brother Jian, did they clean well? Did anyone slack off?”
Jian Zhen quickly said, “They were all good. Senior Brother Ling, I want to ask, where are these disciples from?”
“You’re asking about that.” Ling Can explained, “They are all cleaning servants specially recruited by our Spirit Mountain. But Spirit Mountain is a place for cultivation. Even if we recruit servants, we can’t take ordinary ones. Some of these disciples are slaves from the Demon Clan. These Demon Clan people have very low status. Being able to come to our Spirit Mountain as cleaning disciples is already extremely lucky.”
As Jian Zhen listened, he fell silent inside.
Tens of millions of years later, anyone who talked about the Demon Clan did so with extreme fear and caution. But tens of millions of years ago, the Demon Clan were the lowest-status slaves…
Even though he had been mentally prepared, it still felt complicated.
Jian Zhen asked, “Senior Brother Ling, where do these disciples usually live? Do they cultivate together with us?”
Ling Can smiled a little and said, “Grandmaster Ancestor is kind. Of course he allows the cleaning disciples to listen to lessons. When there’s no work, sometimes arrangements are made for them to listen.”
But most of the time, the cleaning disciples were working.
Jian Zhen nodded and said, “Do they live with us?”
Ling Can found it a bit strange why Jian Zhen was curious about this, but just assumed it was his first day at Spirit Mountain and he was curious about everything, so he explained, “Of course not. They live at North Peak. It’s different from the South Peak where the other disciples live.”
Jian Zhen remembered that when he was flying on the sword, he had seen the layout here. South Peak was full of pavilions and towers, while North Peak was on the shady side, full of run-down small houses.
So the lives of the cleaning disciples really were this hard.
Jian Zhen steadied himself and said to Ling Can, “Thank you, Senior Brother Ling. I understand.”
Ling Can smiled and said, “Alright. Senior Brother Jian, you don’t have to be polite. You are Grandmaster Ancestor’s disciple, which means you are senior brother to all of us. We are all one family. No need to be polite.”
Spirit Mountain was a place that cared greatly about seniority. Even though Jian Zhen was just a new disciple, just the title of Grandmaster Ancestor’s disciple already surpassed most disciples.
Jian Zhen said gratefully, “Thank you.”
Only then did Ling Can leave.
After he left, Jian Zhen tidied up the courtyard a bit. Too many things had happened today. He needed to sort them out properly. Sitting at the stone table in the courtyard, just as he was thinking, he suddenly heard distant, muffled thunder.
Jian Zhen raised his head and saw lightning streak across the sky. This was a signal that a rainstorm was coming. The wind swept fallen leaves across the courtyard, making people feel faintly uneasy.
“Boom!”
When the second flash of lightning fell, Jian Zhen could no longer sit still and stood up.
Quickly weaving through the small paths, he ran toward North Peak. The fierce wind swept around him. Many disciples ran toward the halls, but he ran in the opposite direction. Any thoughts of long-term planning or taking things slowly were thrown behind him. The desire to see Ye Jisheng grew stronger and stronger.
Another bolt of lightning streaked across the sky.
Jian Zhen’s steps stopped. Looking at the terrace not far away, a group of cleaning disciples were gathered together, hoarsely fighting. And within the crowd was a familiar back figure tangled up fighting with others. Wounds had appeared on his face, accompanied by the angry curses of many people:
“Quick, quick, hand it over.”
“You must have been thrilled today when that Immortal Clan disciple talked to you.”
“How is your luck so good, brat?”
“Stop dreaming. With those ominous red eyes, he won’t even spare you another glance!”
Countless insults and fists fell down.
Jian Zhen’s mind went blank. By the time he reacted, he had already run over and shouted angrily, “What are you doing?”
Everyone snapped back to their senses. Seeing the disciple uniform he was wearing, they were afraid of being remembered and getting into trouble, so they scattered all at once and ran off, leaving only Jian Zhen standing on the terrace, panting. Dark clouds rolled across the sky, wind sweeping through, and raindrops began to fall, one drop after another, soaking the ground.
The person on the ground had clothes stained with mud. His thin body curled up, protecting his head, this was the instinctive posture of someone who was often bullied to protect himself. His arm had swollen, and he was in an extremely miserable state.
Ye Jisheng.
This was Ye Jisheng.
Jian Zhen remembered that the Demon God loved pomp and status the most. His clothes were always clean and noble. He was always high above. He was always powerful, never bending even a little.
But the person in the mud in front of him was completely different from the person in his memory.
Jian Zhen crouched down, not caring that he himself was getting soaked in the rain. He urgently asked, “How are you? Are you okay? Where are you hurt? Let me see the injuries…”
Ye Jisheng slowly lowered his arms. He kept his head down. Rainwater dripped along his black hair, sticking to his cheeks, making it impossible to see his expression clearly. He slowly shook his head, saying nothing, ignoring all the injuries on his body. When he slowly stood up, his body swayed slightly, and he stepped forward to leave.
Jian Zhen felt a little worried and could only change the question: “Why did they hit you?”
Originally, he thought he wouldn’t answer.
But after being silent for a long time, Ye Jisheng said, “Because they wanted spirit stones.”
Jian Zhen remembered, he had given each of them spirit stones before. He just hadn’t expected them to be this greedy. Feeling both guilty and helpless, he said, “They snatched your spirit stone?”
Ye Jisheng raised his head slightly. He opened his hand. The wound on the back of his hand had already had the blood washed away by the rain. He said, “It’s here.”
Jian Zhen was stunned.
But what he noticed wasn’t the spirit stone. It was the large and small scars and calluses covering Ye Jisheng’s hand. Even though he was only a teenage boy, his hands no longer looked human, and it was unknown how much suffering he had endured.
Jian Zhen couldn’t help his nose stinging. He said, “Why are you so foolish? It’s just one spirit stone. You held out for so long, wasn’t that just getting beaten for nothing? You could have just given it to them.”
Who would have known, Ye Jisheng’s voice was low, almost drowned out by the rain: “I didn’t want to give it to them.”
The rain poured down in sheets.
Jian Zhen asked, “Why?”
Was there something difficult to say?
The thin boy was covered in misery, yet still tightly gripping the spirit stone in his hand. He said, “Because you gave it to me.”
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