Ch13 - The sidestory begins

Translator’s Note: To celebrate MDE’s official release announcement on CG Discord I’m releasing a bonus chapter today! (Also because I wanna check if the role pings are working all right.) Thank you to all the commenters, campers, thank-you pings, emote spammers, and shows of support so far, you’ve been lovely.

It only took an instant before those fish stopped moving and died. The clear pond water was now turbid and gave off a fresh stink. Chu Zhishi sucked in a cold breath and glanced at Xie Zhiwei. “Senior brother, fourth senior brother gave you these pills?”

Xie Zhiwei looked fixedly at the blood spots dotting the corpses of the goldfish, his face awash with grief.  This was really a little too much. In his spare time he liked to tease the fish with bamboo stalks, or watch them fight over fish food. Dog enjoyed scrabbling at the water too. The pond was their sole source of amusement in this boring bamboo forest.

You can do as you like, but those goldfish were innocent!

Chu Zhishi had a rare moment of gravity. “Your disciple slipped up and dropped the pills into the pond. If he had eaten them, I’m afraid that…”

Mu He seemed to just recover his senses as he cried out in shock. When Chu Zhishi looked at him, he muffled his mouth and shut up, standing straight despite his subtle shuddering.

Xie Zhiwei said nothing as he laughed inwardly. Slipped up? It was definitely intentional.

Despite the severity of the situation, both master and disciple remained silent. Chu Zhishi exhaled and shook his head. “It’s really as they say: ‘like master, like disciple.'”

Xie Zhiwei sighed and went to pat Mu He’s head a couple times.

“Senior brother, what do you plan to do next?” Chu Zhishi asked.

Xie Zhiwei’s mouth twitched before he stepped back and continued wiping down his sword. Mu He carefully examined his expression and saw that he looked calm as ever, but a faint trace of grief flickered in those eyes. He took a deep breath and approached him. “Shizun, disciple didn’t see a thing just then.”

Xie Zhiwei’s movements faltered before he met the boy’s gaze with a complicated look. He’s the hero all right. So perceptive. He was well aware of the original host’s temperament and knew that it was better to watch and see. Instead of complaining at the first sign of injustice, it was better to let others call it out first. Then it’d be a crowd-sourced effort.

The original novel’s hero had done just that. By exposing Bai Jianzhu and Bai Yu’s misdeeds to the world, he won the hearts of the entire daoist sect before everyone slaughtered their way through the gates in the name of justice.

Xie Zhiwei smiled at Mu He and said gently, “Master is gratified to have a disciple like you.”

Mu He grinned bashfully, his eyes incomparably clear. “It’s disciple’s greatest fortune in this lifetime to be accepted as master’s student.” Take a look, irrelevant person. I’m shizun’s sole disciple and the only one who can interpret his likes and dislikes. I have the skills to get my revenge, vent master’s anger, and maintain his moods!

Chu Zhishi was astonished by the duo absorbed in their own little world. In the end he shook his sleeves and said, “Forget it, forget it. Whatever makes you two happy. I’m only here to look after your pet, so why should I care so much?”

“You’ve worked hard,” Xie Zhiwei replied and added in a pleading tone, “Junior brother saw nothing either, right?”

“You…” Chu Zhishi resented that iron couldn’t become steel, but couldn’t refuse outright. Eventually he nodded with a grunt and sighed. “As expected of second senior brother.” Then he picked up Dog and left on his sword.

Xie Zhiwei was wearing a helpless, tangled expression when he heard these words, but privately rejoiced. See, see? Not only did I avoid OOC, even the novel’s side character is sighing with emotion for me.

The recent plotlines were rich and tested his acting skills. It had been some time since he checked his Presence Points, so Xie Zhiwei connected to the System. The sight of three full stars nearly gave him a shock.

No wonder I can make all those expressions without the System blaring warnings. But that makes sense. I did so many tasks related to the hero, it increased his favorability towards me.

If he successfully cleared the Shen You plotline and resolved the Black Lotus’ spirit’s grudge, he could help the hero grab Ashen Cloud Sword Sect’s White Lotus too. At that time it might be even possible to reach a full five stars of Presence Points.

Then I could do whatever I want. Even foul language would only enrich my characterization, not collapse it. Just thinking of it made Xie Zhiwei giddy.

Mu He said, “Shizun please wait, disciple will go get the luggage.”

There was no need for stopovers on the road so they didn’t need to take much. Only money and a few sets of clothes were enough. Then again, the original Xie Zhiwei was so poor he didn’t have anything else to bring…

Xie Zhiwei didn’t stop Mu He despite the boy’s injuries. A little task like this was trifling and he still needed to maintain his image as a shizun instead of spoiling his disciple.

Mu He limped into the rooms before murmuring under his breath, “Many thanks to Senior.”

Black Lotus appeared in his consciousness before Nie Ting started to speak. “That wasn’t a bad idea. Bai Jianzhu might not have tampered with those pills, but there’s no guarantee he won’t hurt you next time. It’s a helpful reminder for Xie Zhiwei. Heheh, he got so sad just over a few fish.”

“Shizun has a kind heart,” Mu He muttered back.

“Never mind,” Nie Ting said, “You’re lucky to have someone like him protecting you. Don’t dawdle, hurry to Ashen Cloud Sword Sect.”

—

Before Xie Zhiwei transmigrated, he once answered an interview question:

“Male god Xie, if you had a choice, would you transmigrate to the past?”

“Definitely not. Traveling anywhere would be a big problem.”

Why didn’t he think of traveling to a past where cultivation existed? And becoming a master-level character?

Ashen Cloud Sword Sect was located on the summit of Ashen Cloud Mountain, a few thousand li away from Yujing Sect. Xie Zhiwei selected the high-speed sword travel option from the system menu before shutting his eyes and standing still.

Without exception, he was severely swordsick again.

Because Mu He was injured, he stood behind Xie Zhiwei this time and held on firmly to one of his master’s sleeves. With his excellent innate talent and Nie Ting’s secret pointers, he had already reached the cultivation level of a normal disciple in a few days. Even his leg injury had recovered 80% overnight. He had no problems standing steady on the sword, but still clung tightly to Xie Zhiwei’s back.

Today Xie Zhiwei was wearing a less worn crow gray robe that had been washed very clean. It still carried the fragrance of Suihan Lodge’s bamboo leaves. Mu He couldn’t resist sniffing lightly and thought that the style of immortals was probably like this. Then he felt weird. He accepted the fact that he respected and trusted Xie Zhiwei, but he didn’t have to cling to him like a cat, right?

That was a disturbing comparison.

He recalled a memory of his mother huffing angrily as she left the stage, removing makeup while muttering to herself, “Those hateful men, always throwing themselves forward like a cat seeing meat.”

While Mu He was still spacing out, Xie Zhiwei reminded him, “Stand firm, disciple. We’re about to land.”

“All right, shizun,” Mu He recovered quickly.

He realized that he thought of his mother every time he had feelings for his master. Xie Zhiwei had appeared out of nowhere to treat him well, so maybe Mu He’s oddities came from relying on him subconsciously.

But this kind of dependence didn’t seem bad at all.

—

Xie Zhiwei showed off his invitation at the mountain gates before taking Mu He to the official sect hall with a heavy heart. First, he was still swordsick. Secondly, he suddenly remembered that all this traveling had cost the hero his chance to meet more love interests.

The protagonist was all-powerful, but he had one weakness: a fish and shrimp allergy. Since it was a weak point, the hero didn’t reveal it lightly. Moreover, the sect advocated practicing inedia and never served much fish or meat.

This wasn’t a big deal until the hero became a victim of food poisoning in the original novel. Because he was a naive little fool in his past life, the first thing Mu He did was tell Bai Yu all about his food allergy. When Bai Yu decided to get rid of him, he had Cheng Daoxiu secretly add processed fish broth into Mu He’s chicken soup. By then the hero was already bedridden from a combination of abuse and shock after learning of his mother’s death.

There was no need for actual poison. Cheng Daoxiu simply fed him spoonful after spoonful of soup. By the time the protagonist realized something was wrong, he had already lost the strength to cry out. Bai Yu entered the room at this moment and Cheng Daoxiu expressed her fear at hurting another person. She wept prettily and asked for comfort, so a satisfied Bai Yu did so in both words and deeds. The two of them started making out on the hero’s desk and spilled the rest of the chicken soup all over the floor. The hero witnessed it all as his struggles weakened. His eyes were still open in resentment when he died.

After the protagonist’s rebirth, he was poisoned again. This time he hid the secret of the jade pendant, but Bai Yu was still jealous of his looks and wanted to eliminate him. Mu He decided to leave such an unlucky place and purposely revealed his food allergy. Bai Yu didn’t hesitate to use it against him, but Mu He simply poured out the chicken soup in secret and feigned unconsciousness. A stroke of luck had him gaining Tantai Meng’s favor so after Bai Yu’s vigilance relaxed, she helped Mu He escape Pill Furnace City. On the way they passed through the thorn bamboo forest and recovered the second half of Xie Zhiwei’s secret manual before she sent him down the mountain.

While heading to his destination, Mu He also captured the hearts of a female divine doctor, a high-class lady, and a female disciple of Ashen Cloud Sword Sect. Naturally, he struggled and stumbled during his trip over land and water, but a girl was always by his side. Now Xie Zhiwei shielded him from bullies in Yujing Sect and they flew by sword to Ashen Cloud…which meant the hero would have to manually meet those maidens later.

Although Gallant Outlaw hadn’t elaborated on the storyline at Ashen Cloud Sword Sect, he did mention that the female disciple patrolling its peaks was a girl named Yang Zhuer (杨珠儿). Since she fell in love with the hero at first sight, she agreed to be his inside agent so Mu He could successfully avenge Nie Ting. As an important character to the plot, Xie Zhiwei felt that he could still salvage her for the hero.

Looks like this time the protagonist has two goals: revenge and romance.

The well-mannered Mu He had no idea what Xie Zhiwei was planning as he followed behind with his crutch.

Xie Zhiwei entered the hall wearing a slight smile. Hero, you have to man up. Master is doing no end of fretting for your sake…

Yet the sect leader’s seat was empty when they arrived. Only a figure in gray robes sat on a chair on the side. He slowly rose to his feet at the sight of Xie Zhiwei and greeted, “Xie zhenren, long have I admired you.”

Before them stood a handsome man with a magnificent figure, but his hawkish nose and scheming eyes detracted from his looks. He was Ming Kong (溟空), the head elder of Ashen Cloud Sword Sect and Sect Leader Shen You’s right-hand man.

Xie Zhiwei nodded and said, “This must be Elder Ming Kong.” The murderer is missing but the accomplice is here. What does that mean?

Ming Kong studied Xie Zhiwei for a while before he smiled. “Xie zhenren lives in seclusion and yet knows my name. It is truly an honor.”

“Elder Ming Kong is too modest,” Xie Zhiwei maintained his manners while sneaking a peek at Mu He’s reaction.

The latter stood on the side with lowered eyes, his tightly pursed lips giving the impression of a docile boy. But Xie Zhiwei knew that Mu He was trying to suppress the surging hostility from Nie Ting’s spirit trapped within the Black Lotus.