Ch98 - Bone-Eroding Fluff

Su Hansheng scoffed and swore an oath.

His alcohol tolerance had greatly improved. He could absolutely never get drunk and embarrass himself again.

The group descended the mountain with great momentum and headed to the Long Night Tower in the marketplace.

All premier luxury taverns in the various marketplaces scattered throughout the realms were called the Long Night Tower. Even before evening, it was packed with people and bustling with activity.

Su Hansheng produced the special marketplace jade token Ying Zhijin had given him—no need to wait in line or squeeze through the lobby. He went straight to the private room on the top floor, pushed open the carved windows, and could see the entire marketplace street below.

Yuan Qian looked at the spacious room, marveling: “Our senior sister is truly loaded.”

Su Hansheng had the attendant bring several jars of fine wine and ordered a table of food, intending to showcase his improved alcohol tolerance.

Qifu Zhao quickly pulled the wine jars toward himself, lest Su Hansheng get tipsy and end up drunk as a mud puddle again.

“Young Lord, drink less. You were so hungover last time you didn’t wake until afternoon the next day. Elder Xie warned that tomorrow morning you must be up early for the coming-of-age ceremony preparations. If something goes wrong…”

Wu Baili also said: “Your coming-of-age ceremony happens only once. Many elders will attend. If you’re drunk, you’ll disgrace Mount Sumeru’s reputation.”

“Okay, okay,” Su Hansheng casually agreed, tapping an empty cup against the table. “Just a tiny bit then.”

Unable to resist him, Qifu Zhao poured a little.

Su Hansheng accepted it like a treasure and sipped contentedly with squinted eyes.

For the past few years, he couldn’t drink well—even dipping chopsticks in wine made him sputter. Now one cup wouldn’t make him too drunk.

“For Xiaoxiao’s coming-of-age ceremony, it seems elders from various sects will attend,” Yuan Qian said with a slight grimace. “I heard Hanshan Academy will also send representatives. If you ask me, since none of you show interest in betrothal, you shouldn’t have sent them invitations.”

Su Hansheng took a sip, looking very satisfied, and tilted his head lazily: “Who cares who comes? Elder Xie has his own judgment.”

Qifu Zhao secretly added some water to the wine jar and poured Su Hansheng a bit more, speaking gently: “Has Young Lord decided on a courtesy name yet?”

Yuan Qian said: “Rumor has it the World-Honored One chose one long ago.”

Su Hansheng frowned unhappily: “I won’t use the one he chose. It’s terrible.”

Yuan Qian laughed: “So you want to choose your own?”

“Choose what?” Su Hansheng said very casually. “Everyone’s already gotten used to calling me that anyway. I’ll just use Xiaoxiao as my courtesy name.”

The three of them: “…”

That’s far too casual.

Wu Baili said softly: “A few years later when the World-Honored One emerges from seclusion and learns you used that courtesy name, you don’t think he’ll scold you?”

“Let him scold me to death then!” Su Hansheng got angry, slapping the table so hard the ceramic bowl in front of him tilted. “That’s what I’m using!”

Su Hansheng was the youngest among them and prone to throwing tantrums. Yuan Qian and the others had to indulge him, following along: “Alright, alright, Xiaoxiao as the courtesy name is perfect, absolutely perfect.”

Qifu Zhao furrowed his brow: “Young Lord… you’re not getting drunk, are you?”

Su Hansheng glared at him: “I’ve had less than one cup.”

Wu Baili sipped his wine leisurely: “No rush. The sign he’s getting drunk is when he starts hugging people and shouting ‘Uncle.’ We’re not there yet.”

Su Hansheng: “…”

Su Hansheng didn’t dare drink anymore.

What happened at the Wendao Festival last year had spread throughout the three realms. Everyone knew Mount Sumeru’s young lord got drunk and cried out “Uncle” to everyone, sparking speculation about whether it was deep uncle-nephew affection or a forbidden romance.

qaIw Zk sGwtaIwV tJiIbIH kr, aQt aIGH LGt tEQSS rJkwHQwV LaIw iJEa DQwV WaQjQw GwH Xk dGwgQGw VGAI aQh G vJhiQwIH iIGEQwV. zY DQwV WaQjQw aGHw’E vJhI EJ bItvkI aQh, aI’H rbJiGiSN aGAI aGH EJ SQI HJLw YJb GwJEaIb HGN.

XfOgrrj, IfOx onfDfO kgJw dW bfPn g TMrdPfMO—ngZfOx ZgCfMdT JgCvwPWrgkw rMkgPfMOT TWCwgt WCMWgxgOtg PngP Ud ygOTnwOx gOt lMdOP UdJwCd’T EMCrt-yMOMCwt QOw bwCw WdCwrj dOkrw gOt OwWnwb, krMTw fO pgJfrfgr YMOtT. snw TkgOtgr PwJWMCgCfrj TdYTftwt.

xkE rbQAGEISN, hGwN tEQSS LaQtrIbIH iIaQwH EaIQb iGvBt.

“zE hktE iI G YJbiQHHIw bJhGwvI! oEaIbLQtI, LaN HQH EaI rkiSQv JrQwQJw taQYE tJ MkQvBSN? TaI SGHN vIbEGQwSN aISrIH vSIGw kr EaI hItt!”

Cultivators throughout the three realms found cultivation tedious and loved hearing secrets of prominent sects. Moreover, one was the Immortal Lord’s son and the other the lofty World-Honored One of Mount Sumeru, with a generational gap.

Who didn’t love watching the drama of a forbidden, improper romance?

Su Hansheng didn’t fear people’s private gossip. He only feared Ying Zhijin and Xu Nanxian’s combined attacks.

He didn’t dare act out of line now. He reluctantly set down the wine and switched to a tea cup, gulping it down instead.

Only then did the others relax.

Qifu Zhao had already graduated from Wendao Academy and came specifically to Mount Sumeru to attend Su Hansheng’s coming-of-age ceremony. He casually set down the wine jar and instructed Yuan Qian and Wu Baili.

“The three realms have had quite a few demon beasts appearing these past years. Those were all suppressed beneath the Heaven-Reaching Tower’s barrier for thousands of years. Their sudden large-scale appearance signals major events ahead. After the coming-of-age ceremony, when you return to the academy, be careful.”

When discussing serious matters, they generally didn’t include Su Hansheng—after all, he appeared obedient but was full of rebellion. Any little thing could blow up into a catastrophe if he got involved.

Wu Baili furrowed his brow: “What did you encounter during your graduation trial this year?”

Qifu Zhao spoke concisely: “Bone-Eroding Trees.”

“Again with Bone-Eroding Trees?”

Qifu Zhao nodded: “Yes. Fortunately that Bone-Eroding Tree’s cultivation level wasn’t too high, so we barely managed to win. But that fluff is incredibly difficult to defend against—one touch and flesh erodes instantly.”

Su Hansheng raised his chopsticks happily: “Senior Brother told me about this before. I know.”

Everyone looked at him.

“Really,” Su Hansheng said confidently. “The Bone-Eroding Tree is still a tree after all. I studied it a bit. Next time you hunt them during trials, just follow me. My companion tree’s roots can now spread several dozen li. Even if the Bone-Eroding Tree disguises itself as an ordinary tree, I can find it in an instant.”

Wu Baili said skeptically: “Last time we followed you on the Wendao Festival trial, we almost got eaten alive by a spider.”

Su Hansheng: “…”

Yuan Qian, supporting his chin, said: “And the time before that, during the secret realm trial, you also led the way. We nearly fell into a ten-thousand-zhang abyss together.”

Su Hansheng: “…”

Su Hansheng got flustered and angry: “Those were mistakes! You’re bringing up old grievances?!”

Qifu Zhao quickly tried to placate him: “It’s fine, it’s fine. Young Lord is still young—making a few mistakes doesn’t matter.”

Under the table, Su Hansheng kicked at Yuan Qian and Wu Baili, nearly toppling the table.

Just then, the sound of a large bell echoed from below the marketplace—ding ding—resonating through the entire long street.

Boasting of their wealth, the marketplace had deliberately dug a long river below to simulate surging tides, creating a spectacular scene of waves crashing on shore every half hour.

Watching the tide on mid-autumn was a tradition. The group finally stopped their “internal conflict” and excitedly went out to watch.

The tide was still in the distance, still a while away.

Qifu Zhao stood to the side and glanced at Su Hansheng on the other end, thinking for a moment before asking Yuan Qian quietly: “What courtesy name did the World-Honored One give Young Lord?”

Yuan Qian was eating mooncake and mumbled: “Yuanqiu.”

Qifu Zhao thought about it: “That’s quite a good courtesy name. Does Young Lord really dislike it, or was he just speaking out of anger?”

“He really dislikes it,” Yuan Qian said. Seeing Qifu Zhao didn’t believe him, he stuffed the last piece of cake into his mouth, haphazardly brushed mooncake crumbs off his claws, and said, “Just wait, I’ll prove it to you.”

Qifu Zhao looked at him skeptically.

Yuan Qian poked his head over the railing and said with a grin: “Xiaoxiao, Yuanqiu is actually a pretty good courtesy name. Why don’t you like it?”

Su Hansheng was stroking the talismans on his fingers—over three years, he’d self-taught countless talismans and had already carved some with extremely strong destructive power into his fingertips. He only lacked engraving his ring finger to complete them all.

Upon hearing this, he immediately grew angry: “A good name my foot! After people at Shangshan Study Hall heard this courtesy name, they’ve all been calling me Yuanxiao behind my back, and every time my birthday comes around they send me Yuanxiao to eat! I’ll die before using this courtesy name!”

Qifu Zhao: “…”

Yuan Qian shrugged: “See?”

Qifu Zhao nearly burst out laughing.

Soon enough, the tide arrived, bringing a strong wind mixed with muddy water that whipped their long hair backward.

But as the wind grew stronger, Qifu Zhao’s brow furrowed slightly. He sensed something was wrong.

There seemed to be something mixed in the wind?

Qifu Zhao had always been cautious. When he spread his divine sense, he finally sharply caught what was in the wind.

Snow-white fluff?

Qifu Zhao’s pupils trembled. He immediately said urgently: “Return to the room! That’s Bone-Eroding Tree fluff!”

Yuan Qian and Wu Baili were startled. Without time to think, they immediately pulled Su Hansheng back into the private room and quickly sealed the windows.

Wu Baili pulled out a longbow made from divine tree vines, his brow furrowed deeply: “You’re certain?”

Qifu Zhao said: “I saw that fluff during the trial. It’s definitely from the Bone-Eroding Tree…”

The moment he finished speaking, a heart-wrenching scream suddenly erupted from the bustling marketplace outside.

The fluff had reached the marketplace.

Yuan Qian was startled and quickly pulled out a barrier formation to block the doors and windows.

Qifu Zhao said: “Barriers are useless. The marketplace itself had barriers, and the fluff blew through anyway.”

Qifu Zhao made a decisive decision: “You stay here and protect Young Lord. Baili and I will find the Bone-Eroding Tree!”

Unless they cut down the Bone-Eroding Tree, the fluff would never stop.

Many cultivators throughout the three realms had been reduced to piles of white bone by the fluff.

Yuan Qian grabbed him: “Just the two of you?!”

Su Hansheng said unhappily: “Protect whom? Who needs protecting? Explain clearly.”

“The marketplace should send people soon, and we’re at the foot of Mount Sumeru. Elder Xie won’t ignore this,” Wu Baili ignored Su Hansheng, quickly instructing instead. “Remember, don’t go outside.”

With that, he and Qifu Zhao pushed open the door and left.

Yuan Qian, listening to the screams around them, furrowed his brow tightly, but deeply aware of how dangerous the Bone-Eroding Tree was, could only listen helplessly.

Su Hansheng’s hand, resting on the couch, trembled slightly as spiritual energy poured out of his control. With a sound like “zhzzz,” it hastily cultivated clusters of phoenix flower branches, trapping his hand within them.

Yuan Qian, belatedly realizing, turned back: “Xiaoxiao?”

Su Hansheng furrowed his brow. He’d drunk a bit and his head was already dizzy. His spiritual energy was leaking uncontrollably everywhere—an aftereffect from when he’d forcibly broken through to Golden Core back then.

He knew the Bone-Eroding Tree’s power. If he didn’t block that tide-driven wind, the entire street would suffer heavy casualties.

Today was the full mid-autumn moon, a day for reunion.

Screams continued echoing in his ears. Su Hansheng stood up unsteadily and slightly raised his hand, summoning his companion tree quietly: “Go.”

His companion tree instantly climbed out through the window lattice. Outside, a deafening sound erupted, as if countless things were breaking through the earth’s surface.

Boom boom boom!

After the earth-shaking noise stopped, Su Hansheng looked visibly drained, as if his life force had been sucked away.

Yuan Qian caught him, seeing all his spiritual energy was gone, and said in shock: “You… what did you do?!”

The moment he spoke, cracks suddenly appeared on Su Hansheng’s fingertips like erosion, bleeding profusely with grotesque scars.

Yuan Qian was startled and glanced toward the window.

The window lattice was sealed tightly—no fluff could have gotten through.

“It’s… it’s nothing,” Su Hansheng said weakly.

Su Hansheng stuffed some spirit pills into his mouth and quickly walked to the window, pushing it open. He drew out a longbow, narrowed his eyes, and shot an arrow without even looking.

Yuan Qian rushed over, about to shield him with his body, but found no Bone-Eroding Tree fluff in midair.

Instead, on the distant shore, countless towering trees suddenly sprouted from the ground, their canopies thick with phoenix flower branches, blocking all the fluff outside.

—It was Su Hansheng’s companion tree.

Only then did Yuan Qian realize where the injuries on Su Hansheng’s hands came from.

Su Hansheng usually appeared carefree and reckless, but at critical moments his actions were far more mature than theirs. There was a subtle madness in his willingness to risk his life that sometimes frightened Yuan Qian.

After shooting the arrow, Su Hansheng didn’t even look where the spirit arrow went—his aim was terrible anyway.

The crowds on the long street below hadn’t completely evacuated, but grotesque blood scars were already appearing on Su Hansheng’s face, eroded by the fluff.

Yuan Qian, left behind to protect Su Hansheng, was now pacing anxiously, completely unsure how to help.

Su Hansheng spoke quietly: “…Don’t mind him. Find it.”

Yuan Qian thought he was speaking to him, but turning his head, he saw Su Hansheng giving orders to a cluster of flowering branches with newly sprouted green leaves on his shoulder: “Don’t let anyone break through… tsk, no matter their status, just don’t let them enter. You just find where the Bone-Eroding Tree’s root system is.”

The companion tree trembled slightly, its leaves rustling softly like a whispered conversation.

Su Hansheng suddenly froze: “…Chanting?”

At the same moment, the string of crystal Buddhist beads adorning his delicate wrist suddenly moved. These beads, which no amount of handling could warm, suddenly radiated heat, leaving faint red marks on the fair skin of his inner wrist.

The companion tree rustled and moved.

Its root tendrils rapidly extended across the ground, as if catching sight of a man in pure white robes beyond the tide.

Blood slid down Su Hansheng’s face like tears, creating a sickly, beautiful pallor. He tilted his head, speaking in confusion:

“Chongjue?”

***

##