Chapter 35: The Spirit Fish Enters the Dream (5)
The mountain gate of the Yusheng Sect stood on a barren mountain, flanked by sparse shrubs, making it look awkward and unattractive.
The mountain gate was adorned with numerous red and green gemstones, looking like gilded decorations. Yan Yi, who liked flashy and sparkling things, paused at the entrance and looked at the hideous gate, which even dazzled his eyes.
Bai Chunsheng, busy with his own frustrations, was mortified and angry, barely noticing Yan Yi’s reaction.
He dragged Yan Yi along behind Han Congzhou, thinking that he would definitely set some rules with the irritating Yan Jingqiu in the future.
If Yan Yi continued to behave this way…
Bai Chunsheng gritted his teeth, thinking that he would make Yan Jingqiu pay for this!
Bai Chunsheng, with his head down, didn’t notice that their hands were still intertwined.
Yan Yi, walking slowly and looking as if he was putting on airs, was being dragged along by Bai Chunsheng.
The Yusheng Sect occupied most of this mining vein, which might be a fire spirit mine. The air was filled with the smell of sulfur. After a while, it became anything but refreshing.
The mines was not suitable for growing spiritual plants. Fortunately, the Yusheng Sect had exchanged some of its spiritual ore for fertile land, which they had transplanted onto the bare rocky mountain. On their way over, Bai Chunsheng had seen some of the sect’s workers carrying water buckets to water the seedlings.
It seemed that both Bai Chunsheng and Yan Yi were only at the Foundation Establishment stage, not even at the Core Formation level. The higher-ups were focused on the demons at Fuyu Mountain and didn’t care much about the small fry, so the three of them only went to the Sect’s Council Hall.
Han Congzhou was somewhat interested in staying on as an outer sect deacon of the Yusheng Sect. Bai Chunsheng took the opportunity to make the same request.
The Foundation Establishment cultivator at the council did not make things difficult and was happy to stamp the documents upon hearing the request.
The position of an outer sect deacon sounded like a coveted job, but in reality, it was quite the opposite. It involved a lot of work, little pay, and was far from the center of power. The position was only considered by inner sect disciples nearing retirement, and it was a coveted chance for many scattered cultivators who were eager to grab at any opportunity.
Moreover, the recent news of demons appearing at Fuyu Mountain suggested a trend towards chaos in the world.
These scattered cultivators were rushing to be cannon fodder, and they couldn’t be happier.
Bai Chunsheng received the appointment letter and the token for the cave residence, which was supposed to be for two people.
However, Yan Yi, when he should have been quiet, was obnoxiously talking and showing off.
Just as Bai Chunsheng was about to happily take the token, Yan Yi pointed at him and said to the council’s Foundation Establishment cultivator, “One cave residence is enough.”
Yan Yi confidently said, “I’m too far from him; he will be scared.”
The council cultivator, who was engrossed in recording with an inked brush on a jade slip, initially did not lift his head and said, “This is against the rules, and where would you find Foundation Establishment cultivators sticking together like this…”
He looked up at Bai Chunsheng, then turned to glance at Yan Yi.
Bai Chunsheng noticed that the cultivator’s expression grew increasingly silent as he met Yan Yi’s gaze.
Perhaps Yan Yi’s eyes, sharp and determined behind his mask, were too intense. After a few seconds, the cultivator relented. He took back one of the cave residence tokens that had already been given to Bai Chunsheng and nonchalantly remarked, “You two really have a close relationship.”
As expected from scattered cultivators, they were straightforward. Benefits given away were quickly taken back.
Bai Chunsheng: “…” While the statement was true, he indeed felt like a fox pretending to be a tiger in front of the real tiger, afraid to move a step away from Yan Yi.
However, it seemed to make him appear very timid. To save face, Bai Chunsheng stubbornly said, “What do you mean I’ll be scared if I’m too far from you?”
Yan Yi honestly said, “Never mind, I’m feeling quite shy right now.”
Bai Chunsheng: “?”
Han Congzhou covered her mouth and laughed, nearly smearing her lip gloss on her hand.
“Yan Yi, are you trying to make me angry?”
Bai Chunsheng incredulously retorted, feeling as if he had punched a soft cotton pillow, which cheerfully responded, ‘Hit me harder, and I’ll bounce back as a bedspread later, thanks!’
Yan Yi, as with several times before, didn’t quite understand why Bai Chunsheng was angry again.
He reassured, “Alright, alright, you’re right.”
Bai Chunsheng: “…”
It only took two sentences from Yan Yi for Bai Chunsheng to go from defiant to resigned.
Taking a deep breath, Bai Chunsheng decided to retreat from where he had fallen.
He held the two thin appointment letters and the cave residence token as if they were fragile parts of himself, bowed his head, and walked out of the council hall.
Han Congzhou’s assigned cave residence was on another peak of the mountain range. She smiled, bidding farewell to both Yan Yi and Bai Chunsheng.
Yan Yi walked out of the council hall and found Bai Chunsheng, who was fuming with his hands stuffed in his pockets.
Bai Chunsheng shot Yan Yi a glare, holding the cave residence token and following the arrow on it. Their cave residence was quite a distance away, and Bai Chunsheng estimated they might have to cross a small hill. But neither of them used any spell or flying technique; they simply walked silently on the bare mountain.
The scenery was not very pleasing and carried a touch of solitary, decisive loneliness.
This was exactly how Bai Chunsheng felt at this moment.
He sighed deeply, thinking about the Starview Pavilion, his grandmother Bai Jianghan, and the lurking Bo Yan.
He glanced at Yan Yi, who seemed a bit foolish, perhaps due to memory loss, and then remembered Yan Yi’s almost unmatched swordsmanship talent.
Bai Chunsheng couldn’t help but think to himself that every advantage comes with a drawback.
If Yan Yi hadn’t been so foolish, how could he have believed Bai Chunsheng’s earlier clumsy lies? Well, smart people shouldn’t argue with fools.
After comforting himself with this thought, Bai Chunsheng sighed wearily. The situation was beyond his control, and he had to accept it for now.
If one day the tides turn…
No, Bai Chunsheng decided he wouldn’t wait for that.
Yan Yi’s lack of embarrassment wasn’t due to thick skin. Bai Chunsheng considered the situation from another perspective and realized he couldn’t bring himself to say such embarrassing things in such a scenario.
Hearing Bai Chunsheng’s sigh, Yan Yi thought he was still feeling shy about the previous matter. He had discovered one of his Dao companion’s traits—this little duck had pride ingrained in his bones and wouldn’t allow himself to do anything that might seem odd to others.
Yan Yi asked, “Do you care about what others think of you?”
Bai Chunsheng immediately replied, “Of course!”
Wasn’t his earlier hatred for Yan Yi due to everyone saying he was inferior to Yan Yi?
Bai Chunsheng was well aware of his own flaws—he was proud, vain, and liked everyone to praise him. No one could do anything about it.
Bai Chunsheng retorted without politeness, “Don’t you care?!”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Bai Chunsheng knew he had asked the wrong question. It was clear that Yan Yi didn’t care.
Sure enough, Yan Yi shook his head.
But Yan Yi took off the terrifying yet amusing mask he was wearing and winked at Bai Chunsheng.
Yan Yi honestly admitted, “However, I care about how you see me.”
Huge shoutout to @_nyanmaru_ on Discord for commissioning this! The chapter will be posted regularly, show your support for Ciacia at Kofi.
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