Chapter 28: You Must Work Hard
Ji Xiao steadied himself and grasped Meng Xueli’s hand as he was patting his back. “The climate of Changchun Peak is warm and humid. In less than a month, this cough will naturally go away.”
He gave a helpless smile. “You just said that when no one else is around, there’s no need for us to follow formalities as master and disciple. We should act like before. Don’t… don’t treat me like a child.”
Ji Xiao thought to himself, ever since the ceremony in the main hall, had Meng Xueli misunderstood something? Though this closeness was kind, it made him feel somewhat uneasy.
Meng Xueli withdrew his hand, patting Ji Xiao’s hand as he did so. “Alright, alright. Tingyun has indeed grown up.”
But Meng Xueli thought, it was wise to remind him. Ji Xiao’s true identity was sensitive, and it was crucial no one discovered anything suspicious. If Ji Xiao’s death had indeed been caused by something shady, wouldn’t those hidden enemies attempt to eliminate his son as well? I must protect Xiao Tingyun.
Even on Han Shan, he couldn’t be careless. After the sparring at the Sword Training Platform, he knew Han Shan wasn’t as unified as it appeared.
“Ah, here you two are, having tea!” Just then, Yu Qishu came running over from afar, poured himself a cup of water, and gulped it down. “Changchun Peak is truly magnificent and grand, worthy of the Sword Sovereign’s creation!”
He put an arm around Ji Xiao’s shoulder. “When you came last time, did you get lost?”
Ji Xiao shook his head with resignation.
“Senior Brother Yu, slow down!” The young disciple following him hurried over and addressed Meng Xueli. “Elder Meng, where will these two senior brothers be staying? I’ll go prepare their rooms.”
Meng Xueli thought for a moment. His courtyard was spacious, with three gates leading in and out. Beyond the courtyard, pavilions and buildings were scattered like stars among the mountains and streams. Since there were no strict rules in the sect, it would be better to let the two choose wherever they liked, as long as they didn’t select the quiet room where Ji Xiao used to meditate.
Meng Xueli smiled. “No need to rush with the preparations, Xiaohuai. Sit down and have a cup of tea.”
The young disciple sat down, holding his teacup with both hands and sipping it nervously.
The disciple selection exam had taken a long time, and the sky was gradually darkening. Meng Xueli looked at the three people gathered around him, then at the peach blossom grove in the twilight, and said with emotion:
“According to mortal traditions, tonight is New Year’s Eve, an auspicious day. Here on Changchun Peak, we are gathered like a family. I hope that in the future, we can always be like this, safe and content, together for a long time to come.”
Hearing this, Yu Qishu was reminded of celebrating New Year’s Eve at home, and he felt a similar nostalgia. “It’s fate that brought us together from distant places. I came all the way from Egret City; I never imagined this day would come. It feels like a dream. I should write a letter to tell my mother…” Then he sighed in frustration, “Why am I saying all this when we’re not even drinking?”
Meng Xueli laughed. “I don’t hold my liquor well, so let’s drink tea instead. Who cares if anyone laughs?”
Meng Xueli turned to Ji Xiao and winked. “Senior Brother of Changchun Peak, don’t go laughing at your juniors and master now.”
Ji Xiao was momentarily surprised, then imitated Meng Xueli with a playful tone. “You hope for peace and contentment, to be together for a long time. But are you truly going to abandon me and Junior Brother to go compete in Hanhai Secret Realm, Master?”
Meng Xueli lowered his head to refill his tea and said lightly, “I have to go, no matter what.”
Ji Xiao thought it over and replied, “Then go have fun. I’ll go with you.”
Meng Xueli burst out laughing, “How long have you even been cultivating? Stay home and focus on your training; no need to join me in all this excitement.”
“Ha ha ha!” Yu Qishu laughed so hard he nearly fell over. “Senior brother, Master just has a low tolerance for alcohol, but you seem drunk without even drinking!”
Ji Xiao smiled quietly without responding.
Yu Qishu patted Meng Xueli’s shoulder in a brotherly way and asked, “Why do you have to go? Other people might not get it, but I do! It’s because of your lifelong bond with the Sword Sovereign. For the sake of his famed Boundless Sky Sword, even if it ends up in someone else’s hands, you want to give it one last try. Otherwise, you’ll never be at peace, right?”
Meng Xueli glared at him. “Why should it end up in someone else’s hands? I’m even the leader of the ‘Pro-Ji Party,’ so winning a little competition for the secret realm shouldn’t be too hard!”
Yu Qishu laughed until he cried.
Meng Xueli thought to himself that, since he’d dragged his friends onto the ‘pirate ship’ of Changchun Peak, he’d have to take responsibility for their cultivation journey. He couldn’t promise that they would achieve sainthood or godhood, but he would certainly try his best to teach them, holding nothing back.
“Calm down, little junior brother,” Meng Xueli continued, “Tomorrow morning at the first watch, come to the viewing platform on the mountain peak. Master will teach you your first lesson!”
“Ha ha ha, sounds good! We’ll meet tomorrow morning at the platform to watch the sunrise over the sea of clouds on Changchun Peak!” Yu Qishu said, laughing.
Ji Xiao turned to the young disciple and said, “They’re drunk. You’ve worked hard all day, so head back and get some rest.”
Liu Xiaohuai gave a respectful bow and took his leave, barely able to contain his laughter as he covered his mouth along the way.
Meng Xueli then added, “Tingyun doesn’t need to get up early; we teach according to each person’s needs. You can come at the time of the morning watch. I’ll take you to a special place!”
Since Xiao Tingyun was Ji Xiao’s child and Ji Xiao’s treasure, Meng Xueli felt he had every right to access these things as he pleased.
Everyone in the cultivation world knew that the Sword Sovereign’s inheritance was rich and ample, and Meng Xueli had practically lucked out. However, Meng Xueli himself truly didn’t know the full extent of Ji Xiao’s resources. He still maintained the habits he’d developed in his demon days and had no real concept of relying on external treasures.
It was time to go take a look, Meng Xueli thought. Even if he didn’t need them, he could leave them for the kids.
“Tingyun, make sure you work hard,” Meng Xueli said.
Ji Xiao looked completely bewildered.
Author’s note:
Que Xianming: Great King, why don’t you flip back to Chapter 3?
Meng Xueli: Huh?
Que Xianming: You said yourself, “The great treasure Ji Xiao left behind—that’s me, isn’t it?”
Meng Xueli: …Stupid author, stupid story.
Huge shoutout to @_nyanmaru_ on Discord for commissioning this! The chapter will be posted regularly, show your support for Ciacia at Kofi.
