Chapter 15: Legitimate And Justified
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The person released his grip and stepped back to a polite distance.
The momentary palpitation vanished without a trace, leaving Meng Xueli feeling lost and despondent. He intercepted the aggressive disciple and said, “I’m fine, but I apologize for my rudeness. What’s your name? Have we met before?”
“Xiao Tingyun. Perhaps we have seen each other at the Hall of Legal Principles,” the person replied with a faint smile, his pale face showing a hint of amusement. “Elder Meng.”
Meng Xueli suddenly blushed. It seemed that this ordinary title carried an indescribable sense of irony at this moment.
An elder with a special status wandering the library late at night, bewildered by an outer disciple, and being subjected to the most cliché pickup line of “Have we met before?”
He had just embarrassed himself for no reason.
“It’s you.” Meng Xueli’s expression changed slightly, and his attitude became colder. “If you want to read, read properly. Don’t lurk in the shadows and scare people. Although the Hall of Legal Principles is taking a break tomorrow, morning reading must not be neglected. Go back early and rest, don’t oversleep and miss the morning.”
Xiao Tingyun bowed respectfully, showing no fault in his manners. “Elder’s guidance is noted.”
But Meng Xueli felt like he was smiling.
“Xiaohuai, let’s go.” Meng Xueli straightened his back and raised his head slightly, with the disciple following behind him, casting a wary glance at Xiao Tingyun.
Back at Changchun Peak, Meng Xueli sat by the pond, absentmindedly feeding the fish.
The night breeze was gentle, and the ripples of the pond reflected on his face.
He was certain that when the group of junior disciples was chatting, he hadn’t sensed anyone else around, which was why Xiao Tingyun startled him.
How could a junior disciple, only seventeen or eighteen years old and just starting to cultivate his qi, have such advanced stealth techniques?
When he first saw him, his heart surged. Could it be that he cultivated some kind of seductive skill? If so, that skill was truly powerful!
Ji Xiao had recently passed away, and now, shortly after, Han Shan had another sword genius. Was it really just a coincidence?
Many doubts intertwined in Meng Xueli’s mind as he fell into contemplation.
The first possibility was that Xiao Tingyun was a spy, infiltrating the Han Shan Sword Sect with malicious intent and ulterior motives. The second possibility was that he was part of Han Shan’s orchestrated plan, meant to demonstrate that there was a successor to Ji Xiao and that Han Shan’s future would shine brightly once again.
The final possibility was that tonight was simply an accident, and his mind was playing tricks on him. Xiao Tingyun was just a physically weak and pitiful young man.
With so few clues at hand, it was difficult to reach a conclusion. Meng Xueli could only continue to interact with Xiao Tingyun and observe his actions quietly. Annoyingly, Meng Xueli thought, Xiao Tingyun was even slightly taller than him. It was just unfair that he was so thin and tall.
……
Ji Xiao had originally not intended to reveal himself.
Seeing Meng Xueli’s mischievous expression, he knew those disciples were in trouble. Fearing that the young disciples would cause trouble, he had to come out to intervene.
Ji Xiao’s return to Han Shan was a risky move to seek victory.
Sometimes, hiding in the shadows and exerting great effort to conceal one’s whereabouts could not escape the tight net of heaven and earth. Other times, the bigger the commotion, the more attention it attracted, and the safer it became.
During the previous incident when his divine body was destroyed, the enemy acted covertly while he was in the open. Now, he was in the shadows, setting up traps for those who sought to kill him, and sooner or later, they would reveal their traces.
To be able to tamper with things in the “outer realm” and set up such a killing scheme required the perfect timing, favorable circumstances, and skilled individuals. The other party must have been extremely patient, highly skilled in cultivation, and remarkably accurate in understanding celestial phenomena.
The more people knew about the matter of his soul transference and rebirth, the more likely it was that traces would be revealed, even with the utmost caution. Ji Xiao also didn’t want to involve others, risking the innocent.
Seeing that the sect was peaceful and Meng Xueli was still living on Changchun Peak, carefree and even making new friends, he felt reassured.
Building Changchun Peak back then had indeed required some effort.
To reverse the timing, a massive formation with constant temperature throughout the seasons was designed by the master of Tianhu Vast Realm. The spirit stones maintaining the operation of the formation came from Ji Xiao’s private treasury, supplemented by the current number one divine weapon, “Endless Sky.”
Sect Leader Jian Wei Zhenren was the first to object: “What is the background of the person you brought back?”
Ji Xiao pondered for a moment. “A homeless child who can’t withstand the cold.” He wanted a small stove.
The other peak masters believed Ji Xiao had been misled.
“If you have worldly desires for him and want to use him as a cauldron, you can keep him in your cave. Going to such lengths will tarnish your reputation.”
“The ‘Eternal Spring Formation’ sounds like folly and debauchery.”
“If he can’t withstand the cold, just arrange a residence for him at the foot of the mountain. Visit him in your spare time. There are plenty of ways.”
Ji Xiao shook his head. “He’s not a cauldron. He just wants to follow me.” His cave was too small, and the young one would surely feel restricted.
The five peak masters of Han Shan showed suspicion.
Ji Xiao didn’t care what others thought, but he didn’t want Meng Xueli to be misunderstood as a favored one.
So he asked Meng Xueli, “Are you willing to sign a joint contract with me?”
Meng Xueli didn’t hesitate and nodded generously, “Sure, whatever you say.”
When he begged Ji Xiao for help, he had offered to sign a spiritual beast contract, so how could he haggle now that his life had been saved?
However, he later found that this joint contract was rather pointless. They didn’t have a master-servant relationship, so Ji Xiao couldn’t control him through the contract. Instead, it seemed like he was taking advantage of Ji Xiao after their fortunes became linked.
Unable to understand fully, Meng Xueli had to ask Ji Xiao why.
Ji Xiao simply said, “It’s the right thing to do.”
Meng Xueli nodded as if he understood, realizing how complicated it was to be human. As a ferret, he still had a long way to go.
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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