Ch32 - Clearing debts

“Where do you feel sick?” Xie Zhiwei asked.

Mu He only shook his head lightly and closed his eyes. It was unclear what he was thinking, but he was obviously in a poor mood. Xie Zhiwei couldn’t help but complain. Why is he tired? Creating the illusion should have mainly consumed Ming Kong’s spiritual energy.

Oh right, Nie Ting’s in his head. He probably went crazy after seeing how Shen You was ruined step by step.

That really would be hard to bear.

But it still had to be a hundred times better than Ming Kong, who was soaked in sweat that drenched his clothes and lying on the ground like a dead man. When Xie Zhiwei thought he was a goner, his forehead creased before he finally managed to open his eyes.

Spent, he said, “Just what kind of person is your disciple.”

Xie Zhiwei was currently channeling spiritual energy into Mu He with one hand and straightened up at the words. “Someone who came to seek justice for Sect Leader Shen.”

Shen You remained standing quietly in place. He had no spiritual power now, so the cool night wind that blew back and forth had chilled his complexion to white. The marks against his collarbone and shoulders stood out even more vivid in comparison.

Ming Kong seemed to use all his strength to turn around and look at him. “Xie zhenren, I expect you’ve all seen what happened in the past.” Even at the end of his rope, with his true face revealed, his gaze on Shen You was the same.

Still so much like a…beast.

“That’s right,” Xie Zhiwei sighed.

Ming Kong slowly shifted on the ground until he found strength to stand up, but soon fell down again. He was only three steps away from Shen You yet could only look and not touch.

“Sect Leader Shen’s good intentions ignited a blaze that killed Sect Master Nie, thus causing the flourishing Ashen Cloud Sword Sect to wither and decay. He himself was tormented beyond recognition by you,” Xie Zhiwei slowly furrowed his brows and lost all gentleness in his tone. “Doesn’t your conscience hurt after repaying kindness with resentment?”

Seeing those memories was like eating a fly he couldn’t spit out. It was extremely uncomfortable. Combined with his pity for Shen You’s foolish life, his emotions leaked into his lines until he was all but rebuking Ming Kong by the end.

Xie Zhiwei gave a start. Laozi can express myself freely again?

In his arms, Mu He subconsciously shrank. Shizun has never been so stern with his words. Looks like he’s really angry this time.

Sure enough…shizun can’t accept those kinds of feelings either, right?

Xie Zhiwei didn’t notice Mu He’s movements as he went to check the System. When he saw he’d gotten back his three Presence Points, his mood instantly brightened. Then he saw multiple chat windows flashing at him—looked like Gallant Outlaw was definitely panicking by now.

Xie Zhiwei felt that they had to finish the revenge plot first. Even if the storyline was unreliable, at least it gave him a lot of presence. Let me finish the scene and then I’ll settle accounts with this old gay.

“Conscience?” Ming Kong pronounced stiffly as if it was his first time using the word. “Xie zhenren can certainly talk without walking the walk. Don’t say such things to me if you haven’t had your hands trampled while picking up alms.”

He spoke with a straight face as if Xie Zhiwei was spewing nonsense. Xie Zhiwei only mentally rolled his eyes. Fine fine, so you’re justified just because you were poor once. It’s impossible to speak sense to people with different values.

But you shouldn’t blacken at all without a protagonist halo, big bro.

In the end Ming Kong still couldn’t reach Shen You, so he used the last of his strength to move his finger. Like a puppet on strings, Shen You began to walk to his side. Because Ming Kong’s spiritual power had been exhausted, he walked very slowly, even swaying like a cripple. It was a comical sight. Still, Ming Kong was fully satisfied and looked nothing but gentle as his brow smoothed out.

“No matter what you outsiders say, meeting Lanxiu was the greatest blessing of my life.” That look of infatuation made it seem like Shen You wasn’t a person, but a mirage floating towards him in a desert.

Yet just as his fingers brushed Shen You’s robes, a cloud of black qi appeared and halted his steps. Without control, Shen You started falling, but the black qi quickly condensed into a human form to catch him. Ming Kong was closest to the black cloud and thus first to see the person’s face, which filled his expression with dread.

“You’re Nie…Nie….Nie…”

The rage and death qi followed Nie Ting out of Mu He’s consciousness, alleviating the teen’s suffering at last. Strength returned to his body, but he still remained leaning against Xie Zhiwei and even nestled closer.

Despite this, Xie Zhiwei’s heartbeat still sounded very far away.

Mu He listened greedily, but it didn’t improve his low spirits. He had witnessed every moment of Shen You’s fall and even examined each detail of Ming Kong’s movements, silently wondering what it’d be like to try that on shizun one day. But Shen You’s ultimate fate made him understand that such things couldn’t be forced. Moreover, Xie Zhiwei’s censure of Ming Kong was like a tub of ice water that utterly chilled his heart.

Xie Zhiwei was too absorbed with Nie Ting to pay Mu He any attention. You’re already a ghost, do you still have to show off?

Ming Kong stammed “Nie” for ages but still couldn’t finish saying the name. Nie Ting’s face was grim before he turned to stomp on him.

“Lanxiu had eight lives’ worth of misfortune to meet the likes of you.”

Ming Kong still looked flabbergasted by the time he was kicked aside like a rag. He was already near the end of his life, but still expended energy to move Shen You. Nie Ting’s kick cost him half of the life he had left. His face was wan and when he opened his mouth, he spat out huge amounts of blood before making any noise.

Seeing that he was going to take a while, Xie Zhiwei asked Mu He, “Are you feeling better?”

Mu He’s consciousness regained its calm as the wind blew dry most of his sweat. He didn’t look as pained as before and silently stood up from Xie Zhiwei’s chest before moving half a step away. “Thank you for caring, shizun, disciple is already fine.”

This only left Xie Zhiwei baffled. His disciple was still playing the part of a good and obedient student, but why did he feel so detached? Had he offended the boy by being unintentionally negligent? Was he mad that Xie Zhiwei had stolen the scene just then?

Very possible! After all, they were still missing White Lotus from Ashen Cloud Sword Sect.

I was so absorbed in acting just then he probably misunderstood and thought I had other intentions, like stealing his items.  Xie Zhiwei decided to regain the hero’s trust with his sincerity.

Meanwhile, Nie Ting was all too preoccupied. He was a wandering ghost given physical form after borrowing Xie Zhiwei’s strong spiritual power. But this solid form was sporadic at best. He could kick Ming Kong fine, but now was slowly turning transcendent again, which meant Shen You was gradually slipping out of his arms.

Nie Ting hastily gathered together his spiritual energy to regain solid form to hold him steady. But this was so intermittent that Shen You would sway to the side from time to time. Whenever Nie Ting fixed this, it took a lot of effort and looked rather clumsy thanks to his tall frame. He kept calling “Lanxiu” and “junior brother” in turns, but Shen You’s eyes remained pools of stagnant water, lifeless and dark.

“You…you actually weren’t…” Ming Kong had finally stopped spitting up blood to gasp out half a sentence. Abruptly, he grew astonished as if realizing something, then got the strength from who knows where to crawl up and stumble towards Nie Ting. Both Xie Zhiwei and Ming Kong were stunned by the sight.

He was frightened to death of Nie Ting just then, but now he’s starting a ruckus?

Nie Ting had his head bowed while tugging at Shen You, so he didn’t react in time before Ming Kong appeared at his side and pulled the person towards himself. It just so happened that Nie Ting had turned transient again so he couldn’t grab him back. Looking up, he saw Ming Kong sitting back on the ground with Shen You in his arms.

His rage exploded. “You have the gall!”

Ming Kong laughed unrestrainedly, reaching out to ruffle the pieces of peach blossoms in Shen You’s hair. He looked up and met Nie Ting’s fury head-on. “Sect Leader Nie only speaks the truth. If I didn’t have gall, would there be a day like this today?”

Nie Ting’s face darkened as he rushed to snatch Shen You. But Ming Kong only showed a strange expression. The next second, Nie Ting stopped with seething eyes.

“Bastard! How dare you…let him go!”

Xie Zhiwei saw that Ming Kong had placed two fingers over Shen You’s windpipe with enough force to show the veins on his hands. If he pressed any harder, he could crush Shen You’s neck. Xie Zhiwei couldn’t stand still either, but he was worried the hero would be suspicious if he stole the scene again. Instead, he shook his head to express his displeasure.

Ming Kong looked very pleased with himself and even regarded Nie Ting with contempt. “Just because I called you sect leader you think this is three years ago? Surnamed Nie, what don’t I dare? Could a leftover soul like you dictate what I do?” He demonstrated while touching Shen You’s face, his other still on the man’s neck.

“Lanxiu is mine from head to toe, including his life. If you want him to die, then come.”

Nie Ting stared at the hand desecrating Shen You’s face with enough fury to kill a man, but his tone suddenly calmed down. “Let go of my junior brother.”

Ming Kong gazed at Shen You with nothing but tenderness as he replied, word for word, “Not even if I die.”

But right then and there, his hand shook as if electrocuted before he threw Shen You to the ground. Eyes wide, he saw a lotus shape appear on Shen You’s forehead. Different from Mu He’s, this one was pure white. Shen You’s body began to glow with a silver light like a layer of phosphorus, illuminating the ground and fallen peach blossoms three steps around him. It also became a barrier that isolated him from the outside world. Ming Kong tried to touch him but failed, fingers stinging as soon as they met the shield.

There was no joy on Nie Ting’s face, Instead, his expression sank until it was tinged with hints of grief. Shen You was left lying in a ring of of calm, shimmering light without any movement. If not for his tirelessly open eyes, one might think he was dreaming.

Xie Zhiwei sighed and closed his eyes with some regrets. Mu He’s expression was complex as he stared at Xie Zhiwei’s back, only to grow even more complicated over time.

Ming Kong carefully cataloged the item. “Why is…White Lotus with Lanxiu?”

Nie Ting ignored him and floated to Shen You, his hands clenched tightly. It still didn’t stop his shaking shoulders. Xie Zhiwei opened his eyes, saw the scene, and sighed again. “Sect Leader Nie was strict with Sect Leader Shen that year because he learned the end of his life was near and wanted to hand over leadership to him. Thus, he transferred White Lotus to Sect Master Shen’s consciousness a long time ago. It’s only a pity that later…”

“Later Lanxiu became all mine,” Ming Kong continued with confidence, “and everything he owned became mine too.”

Xie Zhiwei felt a little sorry for him. “How long will you continue to deceive yourself and others?”

Ming Kong sneered and turned away. “I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

“You understand completely, or else why would you invite this surnamed Xie and the others to the banquet?”

—

Translator’s Note: There’s a relevant bit of author commentary in the Chinese comments section that I thought I’d translate below. TL;DR, some reader was wondering if Shen You x Ming Kong was the secondary CP (couple pairing) for the novel and the author said no while clarifying:

So there you have it, the author is teaching our hero life lessons too! Good for Mu He, honestly.