Chapter 3: Invisible
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The members of Zhu Xie were terrified but dared not refuse: “It is our inability to handle matters. Sage, please punish us.”
Shen Gurong’s eyes were as cold as frost, and his imposing manner remained undiminished. The crowd was silent, not daring to say a word.
Fortunately, Shen Gurong did not share the same insight as these juniors. After a moment, he said in a cold voice, “This will not set a precedent. Quickly burn the talismans and ensure there are no mistakes.”
Zhu Xie hurriedly replied, “Yes!”
Seeing Shen Gurong close his eyes wearily, Zhu Xie dared not linger. After respectful farewells, they scattered to various places to post talismans that could suppress the Epidemic Demon.
After the outsiders left, Shen Gurong silently breathed a sigh of relief.
He thought to himself, “That was really frightening!”
Shen Fengxue’s memories were in disarray, and Shen Gurong spent a long time searching in that fragmented memory. It was fortunate that he narrowly found the correct method of manifestation through the split seconds, and appeared in time.
If he had been a moment later, the situation would have been awkward.
Moreover, pretending to be aloof was much more difficult than when he was caught drawing sensual paintings by his mother. Fortunately, Shen Fengxue’s reputation could hold them in check.
At that moment, someone gently tugged at the hem of his robe.
Shen Gurong lowered his eyes slightly and saw that Yu Xinghe was cautiously pulling at his clothes. In the gaze of Yu Xinghe looking up at him, it seemed as if there were truly stars falling.
“Master.”
Shen Gurong remained silent, thinking that while the actions of the antagonist in the books were extremely detestable for betraying and annihilating their master and sect, the current young antagonist was very well-behaved. No one could imagine that he would stir up chaos in the Three Realms and create a bloody storm in the future.
Yu Xinghe was deeply respectful towards his master, who appeared like a savior. His little face was full of joy, but due to the fear in his heart, he didn’t dare to overstep. He held onto the edge of Shen Gurong’s robe, only daring to pull a tiny bit.
The careful expression resembled Shen Gurong’s own younger sister. Unable to resist the impulse, Shen Gurong lifted his hand, intending to pat the boy’s head.
However, as soon as he raised his hand, Mu Zhe, who had been silent for a while, suddenly grabbed Yu Xinghe’s hand and pulled it back, making him evade Shen Gurong’s “claws.”
Yu Xinghe looked somewhat bewildered.
Mu Zhe, like a little grown-up, pulled Yu Xinghe to kneel down and kowtow, his voice sounding childish yet somewhat indifferent, “Thank you for saving us, Master.”
The young protagonist’s body language screamed: “aloof.”
Shen Gurong withdrew his hand, wondering what on earth the master had done to make such a young child fear him so much.
The disciples around them were also extremely fearful, even after the outsiders left, they remained kneeling on the ground, not daring to lift their heads.
To avoid revealing any clues, Shen Gurong maintained a high and mighty demeanor, disappearing into thin air without saying a word.
As the mist dispersed, only a lotus flower remained quietly lying on the sandy ground.
Once Shen Gurong left, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Li Suo coughed a few times, walked over with his fan, and patted Yu Xinghe’s head, saying softly, “Little rascal, I just asked you to find the Sect Leader or anyone formidable on our mountain. How did you end up bringing the Sage here?”
Yu Xinghe replied, “But Master is the most formidable on our mountain, and Fanjiang Residence is the closest.”
Li Suo: “…”
Though his reasoning was sound, he still deserved a scolding.
Li Suo tapped Yu Xinghe’s head with the fan, admonishing him, “Next time, you can’t be so reckless. The Sage is busy and shouldn’t come down the mountain for such trivial matters.”
Yu Xinghe looked a bit aggrieved as he held his head, but he obediently acknowledged.
Li Suo continued, “Did you not find the Sect Leader?”
“I heard Sect Leader went to Xianyun City personally to seek medicine and hasn’t returned for three days.”
Li Suo vaguely nodded, casually patting Yu Xinghe’s rounded head before strolling away.
Yu Xinghe, with a sore head from the tapping, pouted and lowered his head, letting Mu Zhe massage it.
Mu Zhe reluctantly rubbed his head and noticed a red mark on his forehead. Frowning, he asked, “What happened?”
Yu Xinghe touched it and winced, tears welling up in his eyes. “It’s the white chicken beside Master…”
“That’s a white crane,” Mu Zhe corrected, his brows furrowed. “Did it peck you?”
Yu Xinghe, feeling wronged, nodded.
Mu Zhe paused, a touch of irritation in his voice as he sounded somewhat like a little adult, “Don’t go find him next time.”
Yu Xinghe looked bewildered. “Find who? Master?”
“Yes.”
Yu Xinghe: “But he is our Master.”
Mu Zhe lowered his gaze to the lotus in Yu Xinghe’s arms, unsure what crossed his mind. Suddenly, he raised his hand, snatched the lotus, and threw it into the muddy ground.
Yu Xinghe was startled and quickly crouched down to pick up the lotus.
Mu Zhe observed with a cold gaze. In his view, although Shen Gurong was present from the beginning, he chose to intervene only when the situation became difficult to control, presenting an air of moral superiority.
The lotus in the mud seemed better off than him.
Yu Xinghe picked up the flower, patted it, and, sensing Mu Zhe’s lingering displeasure, whispered, “Mu Zhe, this time, you were saved because Master arrived just in time…”
Mu Zhe glanced at him with a cold expression, not responding.
Mu Zhe glanced at him and asked, “What did you call me?”
Yu Xinghe reluctantly replied, “Senior, Senior Brother.”
Although Yu Xinghe was a few months older than Mu Zhe, due to entering the sect later, he had to address Mu Zhe as Senior Brother, a fact that always irked him.
Mu Zhe raised his hand and patted the back of Yu Xinghe’s head. Yu Xinghe staggered forward, grumbling a bit, but didn’t say anything more.
Since the cinnabar had not been procured yet, Li Suo dared not bring Mu Zhe and Yu Xinghe to the city for entertainment. Instead, he instructed a junior to take the two kids back to the mountain.
In the nearby town, flames slowly flickered in various corners, but they quickly dissipated into the air.
Li Suo closed the fan and observed the fleeting flames in the sky. He spoke softly, “The talismans to expel the plague have burned out, and the plague is no longer in the city. Let’s go buy cinnabar first.”
The others agreed.
Not long after Li Suo and the group left, a black mist mixed with red threads rose from the ground. It lingered in place for a few circles before slowly crawling towards the steps of Liren Peak.
In an instant, it vanished without a trace, unnoticed by anyone.
***
On Liren Peak.
Everything seemed to spin as Shen Gourong opened his feathery eyelashes, finding himself back under the Bodhi tree.
In the lotus pond, a white crane was pecking its feathers. Suddenly, the sound of footsteps approached, and Shen Gourong raised his eyes to see a figure in a black robe swiftly walking towards him. The hem of the robe fluttered in the wind, and the imposing aura was cold and intimidating.
Shen Gourong blinked his eyes lightly, quickly searching through his memories. Finally, he found information about this person.
[Xi Guxing, the Sect Leader of Liren Peak, and a Senior Brother of Shen Fengxue. They had a widely known conflict due to the succession of the Sect Leader position.]
Shen Gourong only managed to grasp this much information before Xi Guxing arrived.
Since both of them were vying for the position of the Sect Leader of Liren Peak, their relationship was undoubtedly severe, and caution was needed. With these thoughts in mind, Shen Gourong prepared himself as Xi Guxing approached in a few breaths.
Xi Guxing’s expression was icy, and he sat down without any courtesy. Shen Gourong instinctively moved away from him, only to find that Xi Guxing had seated himself in a way that pressed down a strand of his hair.
Seemingly blind to this, Xi Guxing spoke coldly, “Do you not know how to write the word ‘death’? You, bearing severe injuries, dare to divide your divine puppet and come down from the mountain?”
Shen Gourong was momentarily stunned. Severe injuries? The original host still had injuries on his body? So, the discomfort and inability to rise earlier were not due to sitting for too long, causing numbness in the legs, but rather because of the injuries on his body?
Shen Gourong couldn’t afford to reveal his confusion. He simply pursed his lips, tilted his head slightly, as if reluctant to engage in conversation with Xi Guxing.
Xi Guxing furrowed his sword-like eyebrows, “You are only half a step away from becoming a Saint[2]. If you stay in seclusion for a few more years, you will surely ascend to sainthood and break free from the cycle of reincarnation. Why don’t you heed my advice, given that you are so close to the final step?”
Shen Gourong thought, hold on a moment, let me review my memories again before we can have a normal conversation.
Despite speaking so much, Xi Guxing found Shen Gourong still silent. Suppressing his anger, he threw a sandalwood box onto Shen Gourong’s trailing robe.
“This is a spirit pill sent by someone from Xianyun City. If you don’t want your hundred years of cultivation to be ruined, take it as soon as possible.”
Shen Gourong’s fingers were long and slender. He gently picked up the sandalwood box, opened it with a slight flick of his finger, and, with a hidden mechanism, the box opened with a soft click, revealing a misty-looking spirit pill inside. It was obviously not an ordinary item.
Shen Gourong instinctively responded, “It must be very expensive.”
As soon as he said it, he regretted it. He was used to being extravagant in his speech, and changing his identity for a moment made it difficult for him to adjust immediately.
Fortunately, Xi Guxing just glanced at him and sneered, “Xianyun City owes so much external debt to Liren Peak. This small amount won’t make a difference.”
Shen Gourong thought, “…”Even such a big mountain sect has external debts?
Shen Gourong was initially worried that this former enemy would poison him, but his instinct, linked to this body, vaguely told him that while Xi Guxing was not on good terms with him, he wouldn’t resort to such lowly means as poisoning.
Feeling a slight soreness and discomfort in his meridians, and being accustomed to a luxurious lifestyle, he never made himself suffer. He directly pinched the spirit pill and swallowed it in one gulp.
The spirit pill turned into a cool white mist upon entering his mouth, flowing through his throat and spreading into his limbs and bones. In just an instant, the meridians that seemed on the verge of bursting into pain were soothed by a gentle spring breeze, and the pain disappeared abruptly.
Seeing that his complexion improved significantly, Xi Guxing said, “Your backlash injury won’t completely heal in a short time. During this period, focus on recuperating and refrain from using spiritual power recklessly.”
Shen Gourong nodded.
Seeing him unusually obedient, Xi Guxing’s cold expression softened slightly. He snorted and added, “During this period of recovery, send Yu Xinghe and Mu Zhe to Changying Mountain. So they won’t bother you.”
Hearing the names of the protagonist and the little antagonist, Shen Gourong became interested and wanted to indirectly find out why these two kids were so afraid of him.
Shen Gourong deliberately spoke vaguely, “They agreed?”
Xi Guxing looked at him strangely, “They will naturally agree.”
Shen Gourong frowned.
Xi Guxing fell for it, “You can’t blame others for this. You can only blame yourself for meddling in unnecessary matters.”
Shen Gourong: “…”
Xi Guxing’s expression was filled with annoyance and coldness. He seemed to have a natural resting displeased face, finding fault with everyone, and every word he spoke had a sharp edge.
“Yu Xinghe’s spiritual roots are not bad. With a little guidance and the Crown Tying Pill, advancing to the Dao is a matter of course. As for that Mu Zhe, he is just a mortal. Throughout history, there have been few mortals who entered the Dao. Even if you give him plenty of spiritual medicine, it will be difficult for him to enter the Dao.”
Shen Gourong frowned again.
Xi Guxing looked at Shen Gourong with disdain. “You focus on Mu Zhe and ignore Yu Xinghe. I can understand if you are blind, but Mu Zhe is just a six-year-old child. You let him casually take pills, and even forcefully took him to the top of Winter Mountain for closed-door cultivation. Do you think this is something a reasonable person would do?”
Shen Gourong: “…”
Oh, giving pills casually and taking such a young child to closed-door cultivation…
No wonder those two little rascals are so afraid of him.
Perhaps Mu Zhe is not just afraid, but probably harbors resentment.
I wonder if Yu Xinghe also developed rebellious tendencies because of Shen Fengxue’s favoritism.
Shen Gourong pondered.
Seeing him lost in thought, Xi Guxing raised an eyebrow slightly. “Do you know how the disciples on Liren Peak are discussing you now?”
Shen Gourong recalled the group of disciples below who seemed so afraid of him and suddenly didn’t want to know.
Xi Guxing didn’t give him the chance to evade, and he seemed quite pleased to see him being scolded. With a slight smirk, he continued, “They all say that Sage Shen appears righteous but is actually ruthless and cruel. They accuse you of using ruthless means to abuse young children. They also claim that all your disciples, from the juniors to the elders, have left Liren Peak, driven away by your harsh treatment.”
Shen Gourong: “…”
This blame has solidly landed on Shen Gourong’s back.
Shen Gourong tried to defend himself, “I… I didn’t.”
“I naturally know you didn’t,” Xi Guxing looked at him as if he were an idiot. “When you took in Mu Zhe, you forcefully summoned all the senior and junior disciples back to Liren Peak for his apprentice ceremony. You even snatched a bunch of rare treasures from us for him. It seems you care a lot about him.”
Shen Gourong, upon hearing this, silently breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that Shen Fengxue was not as despicable as the rumors suggested. Thankfully, there was some redemption.
However, Xi Guxing added, “But…”
Shen Gourong’s heart sank.
“But” in front of all the previous words meant that the crucial point was coming.
As expected, Xi Guxing continued, “Feeding him medicine, pulling a child into seclusion – these sinful actions. Even a person with clear eyes can see that you are doing it for Mu Zhe’s good. However, last month, when Mu Zhe came out of Fanjiang Residence, he was covered in blood, nearly losing half his life. He had a high fever for three days before recovering…”
Shen Gourong: “…”
Shen Gourong felt a moment of dizziness and desperately pinched his thigh, barely managing to regain his composure.
It’s hopeless. I can only wait for death now.
Xi Guxing continued, “Since then, your malicious rumors have spread like wildfire. I wanted to defend you many times, but it’s impossible. I’ve advised you many times – trying to speed up the process is harmful and of no benefit. When you were young and lazy, your master gathered various elixirs for you. But you’re different from Mu Zhe. Following your method, he, being a mere mortal, will sooner or later be killed by you.”
Shen Gourong weakly took a few breaths, thinking that it was fortunate he had taken the elixir earlier; otherwise, with this talk, he might have fainted.
With this knowledge, the cold attitude of Mu Zhe towards him made more sense. Perhaps Mu Zhe hated him so much that, in the story, he deliberately let Shen Fengxue die and even contributed to it.
Shen Gourong remained silent, his brows tightly furrowed.
Xi Guxing seemed to sense his discomfort and changed the subject, “I came to find you today for another important matter—there’s an anomaly at the Boundary Spirit Stele. It seems that a ghost cultivator has entered Liren Peak.”
Shen Gourong, still preoccupied with thoughts of Mu Zhe, absentmindedly responded, “Ghost cultivator?”
Xi Guxing continued, “Ghost cultivators often attempt body possession. If a ghost cultivator has secretly entered Liren Peak, the Boundary Spirit Stele is likely already compromised.”
Shen Gourong, now focusing on the present situation, began to shiver at the thought of ghosts. He forgot about Mu Zhe’s matters. “Ghost…? The Boundary Spirit Stele?”
“Um.” Xi Guxing continued, “The Boundary Spirit Stele was arranged by the Second Senior Sister. She is traveling outside and will probably return in about three years.”
He tapped his fingers on the table, “Apart from Li Suo being at the Golden Core stage, others on the Liren Peak are not much of a threat. In the coming days, I will take Li Suo to find that ghost cultivator. You stay at Fanjiang Residence and don’t cause trouble by going out. If your injuries flare up again, use the jade token to find me.”
In Shen Gurong’s understanding, tales of ghosts and spirits were all baseless, but despite knowing that, he was still easily frightened by such supernatural stories. He wouldn’t dare to step out after hearing even a single piece of strange folklore; he would stay indoors all night. However, in this world, ghost cultivators were indeed real. Even if Xi Guxing didn’t mention it, Shen Gurong would never voluntarily venture outside—he wouldn’t have the strength to run if he encountered a ghost cultivator.
Shen Gurong replied, “Yes, Sect Leader.” Xi Guxing’s face turned somewhat green, “Who are you cursing?”
Shen Gurong：“……”
A brief memory flashed through Shen Gurong’s mind.
“At the martial arena of Liren Peak, surrounded by ruins, a young-looking Shen Fengxue had a cold expression. His wide sleeves hung down as he pointed his sword at Xi Guxing’s heart, saying indifferently, ‘You’ve lost again.’
Xi Guxing, with traces of blood at the corner of his lips, replied coldly, ‘Five rounds, three victories. Let’s go again!’
Shen Fengxue said, ‘Master agreed to settle it in one round. Comparing three rounds with you was already an exception, Senior Brother, don’t take advantage of the situation.’
Xi Guxing glared at him.
Shen Fengxue sheathed his long sword, stood tall and straight, hands gripping the hilt, the tip of the sword hanging down. With a respectful salute, he said, ‘Sect Leader.’
Xi Guxing angrily exclaimed, “Shen Fengxue!”]
Shen Gurong fell silent once again. It turns out these two fought fiercely over who shouldn’t be the sect leader, and Xi Guxing only became the sect leader after losing the battle.
No wonder he resents being addressed as “Sect Leader” by Shen Gurong.
Without much explanation, Xi Guxing tossed him a sachet before leaving. Shen Gurong opened it to find not incense but a bunch of bright red goji berries.
Perplexed, Shen Gurong looked at him for an explanation.
Xi Guxing sneered, “These are spiritual berries, good for nourishing the liver and improving vision.”
With that, he left with a swish of his sleeves.
Shen Gurong: “…………”
Did he indirectly mock me for being frail and having poor eyesight?
He casually put away the sachet, glanced around, and noticed the white crane, capable of transforming into a human, was not by the lotus pond. Standing up, silver hair cascading over his green robe, he surveyed the ground, passing over the vivid red lotus flowers.
Shen Gurong looked at the reflection on the water’s surface, contemplating. Shen Fengxue indeed possessed a captivating appearance, with his azure attire, white hair, and an air of indifference that seemed to detach him from worldly concerns. He appeared like a handful of flying snow descending into the clear lake.
The face he saw in the reflection bore a striking resemblance to Shen Gurong’s own. Being someone who enjoyed admiring himself in the mirror, Shen Gurong couldn’t help but be pleased with the sight. The only detail that felt a bit off was the frosty gauze covering the eyes.
The frosty gauze, like white chiffon, covered his eyes without affecting his vision. However, it felt peculiar. Shen Gurong furrowed his brows slightly, lifted his hand, and removed the icy veil.
As soon as the gauze was taken off, a thick fog seemed to envelop Shen Gurong’s vision, making his surroundings blurry and indistinct.
Shen Gurong paused, then quickly placed the gauze back over his eyes. Through the thin frosty fabric, everything around him became clear again.
Shen Gurong muttered, “…So, Shen Fengxue is actually partially blind. This frosty gauze isn’t for show; it’s a magical tool that aids his vision.”
With a sigh, Shen Gurong covered his eyes once more with the gauze. In the meantime, he absentmindedly opened the sachet given to him by Xi Guxing and chewed a few spiritual berries. He had to admit that Xi Guxing was right; he did need to improve his vision.
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Glossary:
[2]: Shen Fengxue is in the Mahayana stage currently and his cultivation is only half a step to Immortal Ascension.
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