Ch34 - Evil consequences

Ming Kong’s cries weren’t loud, but so ghastly they didn’t sound human anymore. Xie Zhiwei couldn’t even see him in the tangle of black mist. He could only make out a shape thrashing within the mass, its movements growing weaker as its cries grew lower.

Nie Ting turned a deaf ear and remained squatting in front of Shen You, cradling his forehead in a daze like a floating stone.

Ming Kong managed to stutter out, “Xie zhenren, I…have one last secret…I want to tell you…”

Xie Zhiwei froze. “Huh? Me?” Is this a last will and testament? But we’re not even related. No inheritance should come my way, bro.

“Shizun, be careful of a trap,”  Mu He said worriedly.

Xie Zhiwei thought as much and nodded. He decided to keep observing the situation, but Ming Kong still persistently pled, “A man only speaks good words…before his death, Xie zhenren…I heard you were kind-hearted…will you not even fulfill a dying man’s wish?”

That depends on what kind of dying man you are, okay? You were almost bullied and starved to death until Shen You saved you, and what happened to him?

Xie Zhiwei remained unmoved.

“I didn’t expect Xie zhenren…is nothing like…what the legends say…all in vain…”

Xie Zhiwei had a bad premonition after hearing his words. The next instant, the long-silent System spoke up.

“Friendly reminder, Xie Zhiwei does not have a heart of stone. Please adjust appropriately to prevent OOC.”

Stunned by the metallic, cold tones, Xie Zhiwei privately thought the Heroic Author Spirit System should be renamed into the Drama Queen System instead. If you’re so great, then you do it!

“I’m worried about complicating things with more problems. Xie Zhiwei’s not an idiot, so wouldn’t he lose IQ points if he fell for a trap?” Xie Zhiwei said.

The System fell silent, probably calculating the reasonability of his statement. Xie Zhiwei didn’t want to wait and asked, “How much more until we clear this sidestory?”

“The Ashen Cloud Sword Sect story is already 98% complete,” System replied promptly, “After reaching 100%, your Presence Points will reach four stars. Please work hard, yo.”

Xie Zhiwei immediately closed the window—not because of the System’s mechanical “Please work hard, yo,” but because he saw even more flashing chat windows popping up. There were only a few dozen before, but now it was closer to a couple hundred.

Xie Zhiwei didn’t feel guilty at all. In fact, his heart was completely unmoved. Currently, progressing through most of the plot felt like a “I already took off my pants, hurry up and XXX” kind of situation. He had entered with high hopes, thinking that even if this wasn’t The Carnal Prayer Mat it’d at least be The Plum in the Golden Vase. Instead the official plot turned into the likes of Brokeback Mountain. To be able to write this kind of story, Gallant Outlaw had to be gay, and one with heavy tastes at that.

But complaints aside, Xie Zhiwei still exhaled helplessly after shutting off the System and said to Mu He, “Disciple, stop for a bit.”

They were almost at the end. Ming Kong was only struggling pointlessly, so it was safer to listen to the System.

See what he tries now.

Mu He agreed and obediently dispersed the black fog, which circled around Ming Kong like a prison.

“Womanly kindness,” Nie Ting muttered with his back to them.

It was obvious who he was referring to, but Xie Zhiwei didn’t like him enough to care about his opinions. He turned to Ming Kong and asked, “What else do you have to say?”

Ming Kong finally got his wish but ignored Xie Zhiwei to look at Shen You lying on the ground first. Then he did something with his fingers. Like a live man, Shen You actually crawled up from the ground, though his face was still stiff. He was covered in flower petals and soon fell towards the ground again.

Nie Ting was stunned. “Junior brother?” Then he recovered his wits and glared at Ming Kong. “What is this scum trying now!?” He moved to stand in front of Shen You, blocking him behind his body.

Mu He didn’t speak, but his face was tinged with pity. Xie Zhiwei was only dumbfounded at Ming Kong. You’re almost dead but still using spiritual energy to control a corpse. Wow, the power of “love” is indeed great.

Of course, this was probably “love” in Ming Kong’s eyes. His face was completely bloodless as if he’d been sucked dry.

“Lanxiu…” His lips had to move a few times before slurring out the name. Then he clasped his hands together with all his strength, causing blood to gush out of his mouth and nose. As the liquid dripped down his neck, Shen You suddenly opened his eyes and curved the corners of his lips into a tiny arc.

Although it wasn’t obvious, Xie Zhiwei recognized it as one of Shen You’s natural expressions in the memory.

Of course, he’d seen it multiple times in the illusion: after knocking out the bully’s teeth, watching the flourishing orchids bloom, getting lost in a good book. During these times, Shen You would inadvertently show this micro-expression. Such a subtle smile was much more different than the grins Ming Kong forced him to wear. This was something natural that belonged to Shen You alone.

Even Nie Ting was struck by the sight.

While everyone was still reeling, Ming Kong did something even more extraordinary. He somehow found the strength to break out of the black mist and throw himself in front of Xie Zhiwei. Mu He’s face flashed with killing intent before the black fog gave chase and dragged Ming Kong away. Soon enough, he was engulfed in darkness and fell completely silent.

Shen You returned to lying on the ground. With the puppeteer dead, there was no more spiritual power to control his actions. His eyes shut and he became an ordinary corpse. By the time the black mist dispersed, Ming Kong’s body had completely disappeared. Only the scorched black remnants of something like sand was left to stream into the orchid field and fuse with the dirt.

Mu He had no time to appreciate the power of his new abilities. Just then he had let Ming Kong escape in a moment of carelessness and the man seemed to have whispered something in his shizun’s ear. He didn’t hear clearly, but judging from his master’s shocked expression, it might have really been some big secret.

Quietly, he asked, “What did this person…tell shizun?”

Xie Zhiwei stared at the ashes in the orchids for a long time before he recovered his senses. “He said, ‘Save him.'”

His expression still looked stunned.

It might be a long, long time before Xie Zhiwei forgot the sob-filled plea of Ming Kong before his death.

Mu He harbored some sadness about Ming Kong’s demise but most of him still felt disgusted, though he hadn’t had time to process why. He looked indifferently at the burnt ashes before he put on an overwhelmed face. “Disciple thought he was going to hurt shizun, so I acted in haste and…may shizun punish this disciple.”

Sh*t. How did I get shocked by Ming Kong’s crocodile tears? Shen You was so miserable while he sat in power at Ashen Cloud Sword Sect all these years. Even if he was just hugging a corpse, Ming Kong did get his wish in one way. What’s there to pity?

He even tossed out a completely impossible request before he died. If the original Xie Zhiwei was here, he might ache for a bit, but who told him to be the replacement? Glancing at the System progress bar, he saw they had reached 99%. Now all they had to do was clean up the loose ends and pass this quickly.

Xie Zhiwei adjusted his expression with effort and resheathed the half-drawn Qingping Sword in his hands. “Under those circumstances, even shizun would assume he had bad intentions, much less you. Master should be thanking you instead.”

Mu He’s eyes shone with joy at Xie Zhiwei’s sincerity as he bowed his head. “Disciple doesn’t dare.”

He stood in place and didn’t move closer to Xie Zhiwei like usual. The latter was surprised. How can the hero still be so detached after I gave him all those performance opportunities? He even got White Lotus.

…maybe the child matured after this sidestory.

But he should at least have a reason for growing up, right?

Xie Zhiwei couldn’t figure it out. By the time he realized something was weird, he immediately roared in his heart, Why do I feel like his father, ah?! His face looks like He Zheng’s! I’d strangle to death a son who looked like that!!!!

Keeping his distance was fine. After all, the hero was destined to be blackened, so it was better to be a stranger than a person who offended him accidentally and was revenged on as a result. In other words, rather than embracing each other, it was better to forget each other in the jianghu. He should uphold this principle from now on. With his Presence Points so high, he was fine as long as he didn’t stray from the plot.

Thus decided, Xie Zhiwei stepped back and glanced at Nie Ting still spacing out over Shen You. “Sect Leader Nie, everything’s over now. You…”

“Please help me bury him.” Nie Ting turned back, his body now translucent thanks to almost exhausting Xie Zhiwei’s supply of spiritual energy. Still, his face was unusually calm and free of his previous hostility or resentment. “And then tell the rest that he died three years ago. This was just a double that Ming Kong found to replace him.”

Mu He was still lost in his thoughts, so he looked up to see Xie Zhiwei already one step further away. His heart ached at the sight. Has shizun become afraid of such things happening after witnessing Ming Kong’s past?

True, someone with high character like his master would try to avoid blemishes as much as possible. Otherwise, why would he give me Black Lotus without hesitation when it’s a treasure that everyone wants?

What should he do in the future to be close to shizun like before?

—

Xie Zhiwei had no idea that Mu He would take his questions to the next level, being busy talking with Nie Ting. “Naturally so. But Sect Leader Nie, your spiritual energy is almost gone. Shall this poor daoist give you some more?”

Nie Ting waved a hand. “No need. With my vengeance fulfilled, I have no more regrets. Besides, I cleared my junior brother’s name, so this trip was worthwhile.” He turned to Mu He next. “Youngster, both Black Lotus and White Lotus will be yours from now on. You can do the things you want to do.”

Mu He bowed in gratitude. “Many thanks to Senior.”

From now on there would be no one in his consciousness to show him the way, but he wasn’t lonely. He wouldn’t need guidance in the future when he could just follow wherever those crow gray robes led.

Xie Zhiwei couldn’t help but urge, “Does Sect Leader Nie have any words to say to Sect Leader Shen?” You’re gonna leave just like that? Where’s the fabled “’til death do us part?” This isn’t gripping at all!

Despite Nie Ting’s fading features, he could still make out the man staring at him as if he was crazy. “What else is there to say, he’s already dead.”

Well sh*t, this arrogant ghost isn’t cooperating at all. But since he’s so proud, he wouldn’t express his regrets in front of outsiders even if it killed him.

Xie Zhiwei only said sardonically, “True enough…may you meet each other in a different world.”

“…we’ll see,” Nie Ting was like a drop of ink soaking in water, growing fainter and fainter until he began to dissipate. “You know the principle. A melon forced off the vine won’t be sweet…take care.”

Mu He nodded mutely. Afraid of raising Xie Zhiwei’s suspicions, he didn’t speak. Xie Zhiwei was only left in the dark. A melon forced off the vine? He probably left those words for the hero.

Does the hero have a melon he fancies? Ah pooh, he has a girl he likes?

Heheh, not bad. Even I don’t know, and I’m his master.

Mu He waited for a while, but there was no movement. He tried, “Senior?”

Where Nie Ting once stood, there were only orchids and Shen You’s ice-cold corpse.

“Sect Leader Nie is already gone.” Someone gently patted his shoulder. When Mu He looked up, Xie Zhiwei had already dropped his hand to walk away. The light in Mu He’s eyes dimmed once more before he heard Xie Zhiwei’s resolute voice.

“You still have your Master.”

—

Translator’s Note: Did you know? Lanxiu has the character for orchid 兰 (lan) in his name while Nie Ting has a character that means thunder 霆 (ting). Both of them, along with Ming Kong and the Ashen Cloud Sword Sect storyline, are referenced in the lyrics of the Too Bad Master Died Early fan song “Zhiwei.”