Ch19 - Clues

Nie Ting hit the nail on the head.

Mu He immediately understood all the abnormalities of tonight. Why Nie Ting had told him to keep away from the female disciples. Why he later told him to keep away from Xie Zhiwei.

He actually felt that way about shizun?

As Mu He reviewed his thoughts, he found that it was true. Whenever he recalled those dainty girls, he only thought of Cheng Daoxiu and felt tasteless. But when he remembered shizun’s collarbones, even covered by crow gray daoist robes, he felt enthralled. Mu He’s body grew hot and cold by degrees before he finally admitted, “I’ll probably never like women again.”

“All because of that biddy Cheng Daoxiu?” Nie Ting asked.

“Mhm.”

“Cultivators aren’t supposed to lust after the female form, so it’s good you won’t be distracted, but…” Nie Ting paused before saying in a strange tone, “You actually like the male form.”

“I…” It was a shocking conclusion that Mu He wanted to refute at once. Still, when he thought of shizun as the “male form,” he had to bow his head and admit it.

Nie Ting remained quiet in Black Lotus.

After a while, Mu He finally explained, “Just ‘male form’ is too vague. I only feel this way about shizun.”

“You…” Nie Ting wanted to rebuke, but didn’t know where to begin. The two of them were currently working together, but Mu He’s private affairs had nothing to do with him. Finally he grumbled, “At first I was hoping for someone with high innate talent to avenge me. I never expected you to do things by halves.”

“Senior,” Mu He said seriously, “Even if I like shizun, I won’t put off your revenge. What’s more, I want to stand at the top of this world.” Only then could he protect his master.

Some more time passed before Nie Ting grudgingly accepted reality. He got straight to the point. “Like I have any choice with our spiritual contract in place. Forget it. You’ve already raised Shen You and Ming Kong’s suspicions today, so watch yourself tomorrow.”

Originally Mu He had snuck out while Xie Zhiwei was resting so he could use Black Lotus to sneak back to Yujing Sect. When he returned to Ashen Cloud Sword Sect, he ran into a female disciple with a wolf at the base of the mountain. They only spoke briefly before the docile beast’s eyes glowed red and broke into a frenzy to pounce at him.

Everything after that happened as Xie Zhiwei witnessed.

Mu He asked, “How did Senior deduce that was the work of Ming Kong and Shen You?”

Nie Ting spoke slowly. “Ashen Cloud Sword Sect was originally an offshoot of the demonic sects, which is why it possesses an evil treasure like Black Lotus. They also inherited a secret technique from the demonic sect called the Heart Sway Arts (御心术). Rumors say this technique can mess with people’s minds or worse—completely destroy their souls.”

“Rumors say? I guess Senior doesn’t know much about this Heart Sway Arts?”

“Exactly. The technique defies heavenly principles, so the founding sect master sealed it away ages ago. But a villain like Shen You could’ve dug it up from somewhere else. Although it’s only speculation, it’s my best explanation for what happened tonight.”

Mu He thought it over and nodded. “True. I’ve never heard of demonic magic like this before, so I’ll be careful tomorrow.”

“You don’t need to worry about Yujing Sect for now. What you did today is enough to make Bai Jianzhu suffer. If Xie Zhiwei starts getting suspicious, wouldn’t you lose big for the sake of small gains?”

“Naturally,” Mu He narrowed his eyes. “I’ll take my time to collect my debts.”

Nie Ting was still uneasy. “And your thoughts… What kind of person is Xie Zhiwei? If he senses your feelings, it’ll be more serious than having your evil deeds exposed.”

Mu He’s heart lurched before he sighed. Although Nie Ting was telling the truth, he still couldn’t help his thoughts. Master might have looked serious in the bath, but his wet hair and damp clothes presented a different side of him than usual.

He couldn’t believe he got a peep.

Xie Zhiwei had always been respectable and lowkey, so he rarely entertained any visitors. Of his four sect siblings in Yujing Sect, Yan Zhifei was strict and by the books, Xia Zhiqi was female, and Bai Jianzhu a villain his master tried to avoid. The last, Chu Zhishi, might be the only one shameless enough to come knocking at his door, but Xie Zhiwei only doted on him slightly. They didn’t seem particularly close.

In summary, Mu He realized he might be the only person in the world who’d ever seen his master in the bath. He had no idea whether he’d ever get another chance. But he would make sure no one else did while he was around. His nose began itching again when he thought about “that kind” of shizun.

Inside Black Lotus, Nie Ting rested a weary hand against his forehead. “We still have to take revenge. Watch yourself, don’t lose so much blood.”

—

The next morning, Xie Zhiwei left his room in high spirits at the same time Mu He emerged from his room. It was pleasant weather with the mountain mist drifting in the air, making his disciple’s fair-skinned face look tender and delicate. Of course, that meant the dark circles beneath his eyes were obvious as well.

Xie Zhiwei smiled and nodded at him in greeting. The hero really has a ferocious temper. He couldn’t sleep all night just because some shrimp called him a “bastard”?

The brat really has to find his own happiness in the future.

The perceptive Mu He went to fetch some water so Xie Zhiwei could wash his face, then found time to study him anew. He seemed to gain a whole new understanding of the man, his heart stirring the longer he stared. Although the effects of black wolf blood had worn off, he still felt restless and had to restrain himself from blushing.

Xie Zhiwei only assumed the hero was fighting a guilty conscience from secretly plotting against someone again.

After the duo ate breakfast, two disciples arrived to say that Ming Kong was inviting them to the official hall.

What was inevitable would always arrive.

There was a murder right after master and disciple arrived at Ashen Cloud Mountain. There was no guarantee that they weren’t witnessed last night. Even if Shen You and Ming Kong only went through the motions, they had to come up with some sort of explanation. Leaving aside Mu He, even Xie Zhiwei would naturally blame themselves for last night’s incident.

Xie Zhiwei’s mood was bright as he entered the main hall and got straight to the point. “Elder Ming Kong must have summoned this surnamed Xie because of last night’s events?”

Ming Kong was still sitting on the sidelines. His expression looked ugly, and he didn’t get up when the duo arrived. “The black wolves of my mountain are scarce in number, yet a kind man like Xie zhenren still moved to kill the beast.”

Hearing the villain’s accusations, Mu He had to speak up. “No, that black wolf lost control and started attacking, so shizun acted to save me.” He played up his childishness in front of Ming Kong, the better to lower his guard.

“You cannot be rude,” Xie Zhiwei reprimanded in a low voice and then stepped forward. “Elder Ming Kong, it was this poor daoist who acted rashly…although I killed the black wolf, I couldn’t save that female disciple of your sect. I am truly ashamed.”

Ming Kong slowly rose to his feet with a questioning look. “I can understand Xie zhenren’s actions in the light of saving human lives. But why did your disciple sneak into the mountains at night? When the black wolf saw a stranger, it turned maniac and led to this tragedy.”

Mu He knew the other party was picking a fight. The events last night were likely to probe his depths. However, he wasn’t nervous beyond the fear of discrediting his master, so he said, “I was—”

Xie Zhiwei raised a hand to silence him, looking at Ming Kong. “This poor daoist’s disciple only entered the sect recently and has yet to settle his heart. He wanted to eat a sugar figurine on the trip here but this poor daoist refused. After we arrived at the sect, he was sullen so I allowed him to go down the mountain while it was still light out.”

“Is that the case?” Ming Kong looked at Mu He. “How’s the view at the bottom of the mountain?”

Mu He mumbled, “Disciple is stupid and got lost before I even reached the base…” Actually, this was a very weak excuse. Ming Kong was on guard and likely suspected him, but he spoke vaguely on purpose to see his master’s reaction.

Would shizun be disappointed or sad to hear him lie?

Xie Zhiwei was unaware of Mu He’s little schemes and simply smoothed things out for the sake of protecting the protagonist. “He was like this when he first entered the sect. This child’s cultivation levels are shallow; it wasn’t easy for him to wander about after dark, either.” He had to believe in the hero unconditionally. Who told Mu He to be the book’s biggest boss?

Mu He felt his heart being flooded in sunshine. Shizun is a man of integrity, but he’s willing to patch up my lies and even call me a child when I’m nearly sixteen years old.

As it turned out, he was just a little kid in his shizun’s eyes.

Wonderful. No wonder shizun dotes on me so much. And I thought he had ulterior motives from the start.

But…he didn’t want to be a child. He had to grow up quickly so he could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with shizun!

“As expected of Xie zhenren, to be so understanding towards your disciple,” Ming Kong’s gloomy face suddenly broke into a small smile. He waved a hand dismissively. “Since a life was lost last night, Ming Kong followed orders to ask for details. I had no other intentions, so I hope zhenren doesn’t blame me.”

Followed orders?

So Shen Yun really is controlling everything from the shadows? Does he think he can solve everything without even showing up?

Xie Zhiwei’s voice was soft. “It’s no matter. As for looking after disciples, your sect is no less compassionate. Sect Leader Shen is still in closed door cultivation, yet he remembers to order Elder Ming Kong to inquire about the female disciple’s death last night. This poor daoist is impressed.”

The words were more or less sarcastic, but Xie Zhiwei’s tone was so pleasantly humble that it sounded like a compliment.

Ming Kong replied, “Heaven and Earth themselves can bear witness to my sect master’s efforts. Ming Kong shall forward Xie zhenren’s praise on your behalf.”

Xie Zhiwei smiled softly. You have no shame.

The most important person in this book is standing right behind me. Even he gets embarrassed when I praise him, but here you are heaping gold onto that murderer Shen You’s face!

Just wait ’til the hero kills Shen You and sleeps with all your female disciples. See how smug you are then.

Ming Kong beckoned to a disciple and said, “Call a few of your martial brothers to send Yang Zhuer back to her hometown for burial.”

“Who?” Xie Zhiwei was startled.

Mu He kindly repeated Ming Kong’s words. “Shizun, Elder Ming Kong said she was Yang Zhuer.”

Ming Kong gave Xie Zhiwei a searching look. “Last night, Young Lord Lu accidentally shot dead our female disciple Yang Zhuer. What now, does Xie zhenren know her?”

It was a while before Xie Zhiwei bowed his head and sighed. “This poor daoist is simply sorry that she died so young.”

…I need to talk to Gallant Outlaw.

What kind of @#$^! plotline is this?

Sure, the heroine got swept away. But now this random dead NPC turns out to be an important member of the hero’s harem!

Mu He observed Xie Zhiwei’s suddenly downcast mood in alarm. Was shizun thinking to accept another innately talented female disciple last night?

Good thing she died.

At the same time he was relieved, Mu He began to have doubts. Why is shizun always interested in female disciples?

No, it has to be a mistake. Shizun is kind so he’s sad when anyone dies. But just in case, I won’t let any females  approach him in the future.

—

Translator’s Note: (sets up an altar to leave offerings for Yang Zhuer) All right guys, you know what to do. We’ll take flowers, coins, and anything else you can think of to ease her journey to the afterlife. C’mon, show a sister some sympathy!