Ch21 - Dinner banquet

Before Xie Zhiwei could react, his furrowed brows smoothed out of their own accord.

System, you traitor?! I thought you’d accuse me of being an interfering busybody if I got involved and violated the original host’s lowkey style!

His fury surged to the skies, but there was no physical indication of his displeasure with only two Presence Points.

Seizing this chance, Gallant Outlaw broke through the chat window and cried, “Idol, quickly pick up! It’s urgent! Urgent! URGENT!”

Xie Zhiwei sneered inwardly. Sh*tty settings, sh*tty plot, sh*tty System. I could’ve worked hard but you screwed me over. Like I’ll listen to you now. How could they deduct my Presence Points after all that work…

He hung up without mercy and resolved to complete the storyline by himself. Well, Yang Zhuer’s dead so the plot’s already off the rails by now. If I let it go like a runaway horse, maybe we’ll even snatch a girl by chance for the hero along the way.

Speaking of which, will they send a couple of cute female disciples to accompany us at tonight’s dinner? But Xie Zhiwei quickly extinguished such fancies. With Shen You’s sudden reappearance, tonight was likely to be a Feast at Swan Goose Gate. Better keep the girls away so they don’t end up dead.

He grumpily removed his hand to reveal Mu He’s long, thick eyelashes. The sight of them made him a little jealous, but as the warm-hearted teacher he could only brace himself and ask, “Frightened?”

At first Mu He wanted to nod so shizun would care for him. But on second thought, he shook his head. “Naturally not. In the future, disciple has to protect shizun. No matter if it’s Shen You or anyone else, they can’t hurt you.”

He stood up from Xie Zhiwei’s embrace just as the pain in his head vanished, making his sentence quite meaningful.

“Oh?” Xie Zhiwei’s lips curved up in a smile. “Then Master hopes that day will come soon.”

Hero, you said it yourself. True or not, I’ll remember it. And don’t forget to spare Summit City when you avenge yourself against Yujing Sect in the future.

—

Shen You’s reception banquet was quite sincere, being held right outside the main hall. Although it was a full moon night, a thin layer of clouds obscured the skies. Willow branches swayed in the dark, resembling dancing demons.

Yet Shen You didn’t show up.

There weren’t many guests, but all those present were established members of their respective sects. Xie Zhiwei could only recognize one—no, two people. One was that brat from Immeasurable Manor, Lu Zhanyun. He was sitting proudly in his seat and occasionally sneezed, glaring at Xie Zhiwei each time.

Xie Zhiwei remained indifferent. We don’t deal with dregs who catch colds from a mere chill.

Then there was the other. When a monk dressed in a deep gold cassock approached the table, Xie Zhiwei rose to pay his respects. “Great Master Du Sheng.”

Du Sheng cupped his palms in a heshi and returned the bow. “Amitabha, Xie zhenren actually still recognizes this poor monk.”

Are you joking? You’re the only one who’s bald AND you’re wearing gold. Even an idiot would know who you are!

Xie Zhiwei smiled lightly. “What is Great Master saying? Hasn’t Great Master recognized this surnamed Xie as well?”

“We met in passing many years ago at the Buddhist-Daoist Conference, but Xie zhenren scarcely showed his face afterwards. It is a rare thing indeed to see you again today.”

“That is very true,” Xie Zhiwei replied perfunctorily and turned to call Mu He. “Disciple, come meet Great Master Du Sheng.”

Mu He lowered his brows and did as he was told. “Greetings to the Great Master.”

Du Sheng was quite surprised to see that Xie Zhiwei had taken a student. He took a brief glance at Mu He before praising, “As expected of Xie zhenren’s high-level disciple. His qualifications are superb. In time he should be able to…” Abruptly he stopped and carefully examined Mu He’s face.

Xie Zhiwei knew why he was so stunned, but still played along. “May I ask the Great Master what will happen in the future with my disciple’s qualifications?”

Mu He didn’t know what to expect beyond suspecting that the monk had guessed his rebirth and grew conflicted. The Black Lotus and vengeful soul in his consciousness would be revealed to the world eventually. If shizun finds out, would he…

Maybe I should kill this monk first!

—

As expected of a high-level monk, Du Sheng’s expression returned to normal in an instant. “With diligent practice, he shall have a boundless future,” Du Sheng replied. “Dare I ask Xie zhenren if you will be present at the upcoming Buddhist-Daoist Conference?”

“This surnamed Xie is untalented. But now that I have taken over Summit City, it is inevitable that I will have to participate with my disciple.”

Hearing this, Du Sheng calmed down. “That’s good. This monk shall speak with you again then.” He stopped looking at Mu He and nodded at Xie Zhiwei before gliding to his seat.

Xie Zhiwei sat back down just as Mu He blurted out, “Shizun, is that the famous Great Master Du Sheng?”

“Correct.” When Xie Zhiwei saw Mu He’s thoughtful glance at the monk, he guessed the boy was plotting murder again. But no matter what, he had to be stopped this time.

Though it was true Du Sheng grew suspicious at the first sight of Mu He, it wasn’t because he discovered Mu He’s secret rebirth. Rather, this involved Mu He’s birth origins. The current imperial family favored Daoism over Buddhism, but there was one pivotal king who greatly admired Zen Buddhism. Because of this, Daoism did not completely suppress Buddhism. This noble often went in and out of Aureate Sect and had a deep friendship with Du Sheng, who was more open-minded than his two older, colder brothers.

That king was none other than Mu He’s biological father. According to the original novel, Mu He looked about eight parts similar to him. A few days ago Mu He’s father had just gone to the Buddhist sect but lost his spiritual pet while passing a daoist sect. He was rushing to pay his respects to Buddha and didn’t stop for a careful search, nor did he want to lower himself to beg the daoist sect for help. Later on, he would take advantage of the Buddhist-Daoist Conference to join in the hubbub and seek his pet again. In any case, this spiritual pet was born with special abilities and perfectly capable of scrounging a living in the mountains. Maybe the hardships would even wear down its arrogance for once.

That’s right, the missing spiritual pet was none other than “Dog.”

In the original novel, Dog was only a MacGuffin that was used once and forgotten. It didn’t even have a name. All Xie Zhiwei knew was that it was the royal family’s snow civet beast. Apparently it was a guardian of the dynasty, but due to low reproduction rates only one was left. It still had an awful temper and bit anything it caught.

The previous snow civets all respected the royal line, but this one spurned them all. It even dared to bite the emperor when held in his arms. Strangling the beast to death might have been better, but this was a first-class endangered animal who shone prestige on the throne. The emperor couldn’t do much about it, so he left it with his brother (Mu He’s father) to raise. At any rate, the man was idle enough for such pastimes.

Before his rebirth, Mu He had never met Du Sheng. When his father went to the Buddhist-Daoist Conference, Mu He was still sick in bed. Thus, Bai Yu caught the snow civet and offered it to the king while “pretending” to drop Mu He’s stolen jade token. In front of everyone, he acted out a dogblooded drama of a father and son reunion. Even Bai Jianzhu broke into tears and claimed that Bai Yu wasn’t his biological son, only a child he’d picked up.

Though Mu He had the token to begin with, he was buried beneath the whims of fate and chance. Moreover, he was frequently bullied and rarely appeared at large gatherings, so few people remembered his looks. Even if they knew the truth in their hearts, they wouldn’t dare offend the Bai duo and kept their mouths shut.

Since the snow civet was a beast who bit anyone it saw, Mu He’s father felt no suspicions about Bai Yu’s bloodline when the teen’s hands were gnawed bloody by the beast. With that, Bai Yu’s status changed from the pride of Yujing Sect and its Summit City city lord to the imperial prince with a limitless future. Afraid of Mu He stirring things up, he ensured the teen’s death the very next day. Still, Mu He’s soul lingered long enough on Earth to witness his father holding his mother’s jade pendant and petting his murderer on the head as his “son.” One could imagine how much he hated the sight, and how black his heart became.

The first part of the book was nothing but suffering and bitterness that made people curse. The second half was full of revenge scenes and awesomely cool payback chapters. Now that Mu He had shown up openly at the feast and accidentally met Du Sheng, the monk would certainly inform his father. The king himself would have a reason to visit the daoist sect and track down his snow civet along with his child.

Looks like the hero’s cool scenes are coming up later.

But seriously, can’t we fast forward Ashen Cloud Sword Sect’s storyline?!

Compared to the hero changing his fate from a salted fish, this kind of suspense plot wasn’t attractive enough for readers, ah. Of course, Xie Zhiwei’s face didn’t show a trace of impatience. He followed the original character settings and didn’t socialize much, reducing his presence as much as possible. He drank a little wine here and there and didn’t listen to Ming Kong closely until everyone started moving towards Lu Zhanyun, Du Sheng included. Peering at the crowd, he saw the brat was currently bragging about his own qin-playing skills and all the experts he’d learned from.

“As expected of Immeasurable Manor, it’s indeed elegant.”

Lu Zhanyun was puffed up with pride. “Of course. Our family has studied the qin for generations. My aunt was a first-class player.”

Ming Kong remarked, “There isn’t anyone who hasn’t heard of your aunt’s qin-playing skills. I expect your cousin Bai Yu is also skilled in music?”

Lu Zhanyun grew smug. “Correct. However, my cousin’s unparalleled cultivation skills are more well-known than his qin-playing.”

Originally, Shen You had invited Lu Zhanyun’s father to the conference. Unexpectedly, his father ate some newly concocted pills by Bai Jianzhu and had an awful upset stomach, so this brat volunteered to take his place. Nobody could stop him. But now it looked like he could show off his filial piety to death.

In the original novel, Nie Ting’s rage had managed to blow up the entire Ashen Cloud Sword Sect before it dissipated. There were no survivors. The hero had left the mountain alone with a sword at dawn, never looking back to see the explosion that blasted high into the skies.

—

Ming Kong saw Xie Zhiwei sitting lonely in a corner with only that sullen little disciple to accompany him, and called him over. “Xie zhenren is a well-read man. I expect you’ve had accomplishments in music as well?”

Your mother, so nosy, Xie Zhiwei cursed but smiled back. “Elder Ming Kong might not know, but this surnamed Xie is tone-deaf.” The original host was an honest man. Pretending would only be OOC, so he might as well tell the truth. What if the original Xie Zhiwei really turned out to have no music skills like himself?

Ming Kong naturally disbelieved him. “Xie zhenren is truly modest.”

Lu Zhanyun snorted before he snickered. “I expect Xie zhenren did nothing but cultivate after he was picked up by the daoist sect. He wouldn’t have had a chance to touch such subjects.”

—

Translator’s Note:  So I’m curious, guys. Whadd’ya think Gallant Outlaw wanted to say in his call?

Also been working on a little something for the lolz. I forgot how long it takes to find and piece clips together for these things…