Ch4 - Accepting a disciple

Translator’s Note: For extra ambience while reading this chapter, I recommend listening to “Congress at Xian Yang” (咸陽朝請) when Xie Zhiwei meets the other members of his sect. It’s quite grand!

Heroine or not, that wasn’t important anymore. This concerned a human life, ah. Although…these were both characters in a book. Did their lives count as human?

Xie Zhiwei endured his nausea with difficulty as he maneuvered the sword back onshore. For the sake of preserving his image, he forced himself to stand up straight and asked, “What happened?”

As long as he was under the System’s restrictions, it was impossible for him to look angry. Even his tone only sounded slightly indifferent.

But Mu He’s mouth twitched as he muttered, “Zhenren blames me, right? …that girl just then didn’t want to come, so I tugged at her and accidentally… I cost zhenren a high-level disciple, may zhenren punish me…”

Xie Zhiwei was at a loss for words. Why would I punish you? That’s your woman. Whatever makes you happy is fine! Anyways, why are you acting like a bullied daughter-in-law? Did you forget you’re the protagonist, bro?

With the heroine’s fate a question mark, the future scenes in the book…sh*t, where am I supposed to find him another heroine?

Mu He was still chattering nonstop. “Zhenren can punish me however he wants, but please don’t chase me away…” he looked up with shining eyes, though Xie Zhiwei couldn’t tell whether they were tears or water droplets. They made his gaze so clear that Xie Zhiwei’s heart jolted faintly.

He looks too much like He Zheng like this. All he does is make pathetic faces to cheat his female fans. Youngster, I hate it when fresh young meat like you play others for fools. You think you’re all that?

…hold up, I can furrow my eyebrows!

Clicking on the system menu showed Xie Zhiwei now had one full sparkling star. Without missing a beat, the system announced, “You have unlocked the furrowing eyebrow function. May you enjoy its use.”

Does “maintaining contact” with the hero include physical touch too? In the midst of his doubts, Mu He’s pupils flashed before the boy keeled sideways. But his hands were still tightly gripping onto Xie Zhiwei’s daoist robes.

He fainted? Xie Zhiwei was so angry he grew amused. Even if I lost consciousness, he never would. He has Black Lotus and its sealed spirit fortifying his strength. The hero’s spiritual power was absolutely impregnable. He even used it to interfere with Bai Jianzhu’s dreams later in the story, tormenting him with his victims every night.

You’re pretending again, aren’t you fellow? See how I deal with…

…forget it, forget it. Act as you like if it makes you happy.

Xie Zhiwei immediately settled into his role. Who told the other to be the protagonist? He had to yield to him or face the consequences. Besides, there were more important matters at stake so he couldn’t delay.

—

BGM cue lol

At long last, Xie Zhiwei finished climbing One Step Cliff before the end of the grand gathering. He wasn’t alone, but cradled an unconscious youth in his arms. The boy was so soaked that even half of Xie Zhiwei’s daoist robes was now damp. By now the gathering had progressed halfway and most of the unrelated disciples had left the grounds. Only a few thousand sect members with status within Yujing were left on the expansive clifftop.

As soon as he appeared, all eyes looked over before their owners grew shocked. Xie Zhiwei leisurely walked towards the tallest row of seats while wearing a small smile. “Apologies, I arrived late.”

The figure sitting in the center creased his brows tightly. “Zhiwei, what happened to you? Who is this boy?”

Because they had just finished demonstrations with the new disciples, everyone was still holding their magic weapons in their hands. This man had a pure snow white sword whose hilt was inlaid with black jade in the shape of the eight trigrams. Xie Zhiwei recognized it as the Taisu Sword (太素剑) in the original novel, the token of Yujing’s sect leader. Then he has to be none other than the boss of the sect, Yan Zhifei.

Xie Zhiwei bowed and said, “Sect Leader Senior Brother, this…may you mete punishment for my tardiness.” There was no way to make up for what happened. Besides, Xie Zhiwei wasn’t the type to vie or argue, so let things take their course…

Your mother, this brat’s actually still pretending to be unconscious. I’ve about had it with him!

Yan Zhifei’s brows creased even tighter. By his side, someone immediately spoke up to smooth things over. “I expect this mischievous youth lost his footing and fell in the water. Second senior brother must be late because he rescued him. This junior brother has always admired his kind heart.”

Who’s sticking their nose in now? It was a figure dressed in black robes and a white hair crown. Next to him stood a chilly-faced youth dressed in identical clothes. The book had mentioned that the previous Bai elder had only recently passed away, so his son and grandson had to wear mourning clothes.

They must be that pair of curs, Bai Jianzhu and Bai Yu. They really are smiling tigers with honeyed words. Although their acting’s not bad, the world’s my oyster with the script in my hands.

Xie Zhiwei merely replied, “Fourth junior brother’s praise is misplaced.”

An “indifferent” aura like this shouldn’t be wrong. The original Xie Zhiwei might have lacked screentime, but his lofty style and abstinence from worldly affairs probably made him dislike petty types like Bai Jianzhu. Still, because he didn’t vie with the world, he wouldn’t reveal his obvious distaste.

As expected, Bai Jianzhu smiled as usual and instructed two disciples, “Hurry and help him, then find some pills to treat this youth.”

Yan Zhifei’s attitude thawed slightly. “Have a seat.”

With so many eyes on them, Mu He didn’t want to stick out too soon and let go of Xie Zhiwen’s robes to be carried away. Meanwhile, Xie Zhiwei thanked Yan Zhifei just as someone else pointed at an empty seat next to him with a daoist whisk. “Second senior brother, if you please.”

Xie Zhiwei smoothly sat down. “Many thanks to youngest junior brother.”

Only one person was oddball enough to wield a whisk in his left hand and an épée in his right: Chu Zhishi (楚知是), the city lord of Heavenly Sun City (乾阳城). He oversaw all martial arts cultivators in the sect. Because his name sounded like zhi shi (芝士), or cheese, that became his unofficial nickname among the fanbase.

Of the five city lords, he was the only one who got a happy ending. Not because he was handsome, but because he went to hug the protagonist’s thigh later on in the story. When Mu He rose in power, he became the man’s inside agent within the sect. He was an upright person on good terms with Xie Zhiwei, so he sought vengeance after learning of his death. It was also him who opened the gates for Mu He when the latter slaughtered his way back to the sect.

The poker-faced female daoist by his side had to be none other than Earthly Moon City’s (坤月城) city lord Xia Zhiqi (夏知绮), also known as the heroine Tantai Meng’s master. Xia Zhiqi had accidentally overhead a conversation between the Bai father and son and was silenced as a result. She fled back to Earthly Moon City with serious injuries in time to tell Tantai Meng to clean up the sect in the future before desperately sending her away. Her death was considered a noble one, though the reason the Bai pair killed her so quickly was because she was aloof and hard to control.

Truly, one’s personality determines one’s fate…

Xie Zhiwei sighed quietly, then looked at Mu He lying on the side like a corpse. He suddenly wanted to smoke a cigarette. Besides him, who else knew that everyone except two people here were destined to cannon fodder deaths?! And now even the heroine Tantai Meng was gone. If Xia Zhiqi was attacked again, she wouldn’t even have anyone to report her findings to before she died. That was too tragic.

Because of his sigh, he didn’t control his expression. Xia Zhiqi looked over coldly and asked, “What is it, second senior brother?”

Xie Zhiwei quickly made up an excuse. “We’ve always had few female disciples in our sect. How were things this year?”

Xia Zhiqi broke eye contact. “Second senior brother doesn’t need to care about such things.”

But Yan Zhifei protested, “Zhiqi, how could you talk to your second brother like that?”

How do I deal with this? Xie Zhiwei wondered. If I say it’s fine, it’ll be slapping Yan Zhifei in the face. If I side with Yan Zhifei, I’ll offend Xiao Zhiqi. In the end, he simply settled for a faint smile and said nothing at all. Immediately the atmosphere returned to normal.

Chu Zhishi scooted over and muttered under his breath, “Earthly Moon City didn’t collect many impressive talents this time, so she’s in a bad mood.”

Not many impressive talents? As expected, Tantai Meng’s signed off from the plot. Xie Zhiwei maintained his slight smile and remained mute.

Your mother, a “slight smile” is an imposter’s best weapon!

Yan Zhifei raised a hand to gesture for everyone to sit before the grand gathering continued. They had already finished accepting new disciples, so now it was time to discuss matters of city and tower lords. Feeling stares on him, Xie Zhiwei looked over with a jolt. The two Bai fellows were practically threatening him with their glares. Bai Yu looked especially fierce. Come on, I’m still your martial uncle. You haven’t looked me in the eye once since I arrived. Fine fine, be smug all you want. Your death in the book was the worst.

Before Xie Zhiwei could put on another slight smile, Yan Zhifei called for him. He quickly looked back and said, “Sect Leader Senior Brother.”

“Zhiwei,” Zhifei began, “You said you had matters to discuss with me but came late today. What was it?”

In the original book, Xie Zhiwei hadn’t even shown up to the gathering, but found Yan Zhifei separately to discuss his plans for seclusion. Now that he’d shifted the plot with his transmigration, it was no wonder the Bai duo were shooting daggers his way.

Xie Zhiwei replied, “I’ve gotten quite a few spring bamboo shoots from my bamboo forest. I was wondering whether my sect siblings wanted any delivered.” Bai Jianzhu, glare all you want. Let’s see if I can anger you to death.

Yan Zhifei began to furrow his brows again. “How could you bring up such matters in this kind of setting?”

“I’ve misspoken,” Xie Zhiwei bowed apologetically.

“Mm,” Yan Zhifei paused, then went on, “You can give them away if you like.”

Chu Zhishi quickly murmured, “Second senior brother, don’t forget to give me some too…” he instantly sat up straight when Yan Zhifei cleared his throat.

“Summit City’s (造极城) city lord position has been empty for many years,” Yan Zhifei continued. “After further thought, I’ve decided to let Zhiwei take up the mantle.”

At those words, Xie Zhiwei felt the glares of the Bai duo intensify. Inwardly sneering, he rose and solemnly declared, “Since Sect Leader Senior Brother has entrusted me with such a monumental task, Zhiwei shall do my utmost to fulfill my duties.”

Eh? It doesn’t feel like Bai Jianzhu’s staring at me anymore. Did he get tired, or is he plotting something else?  In the midst of his doubts, he realized that besides the Bai duo, everyone else was regarding him in shock too.

The next instant, Yan Zhifei sprang up from his seat. “As expected of Zhiwei, you didn’t disappoint me.”

Chu Zhishi was excited as well. “I knew second senior brother couldn’t bear to see the sect lose our number one status. This is great!”

Something’s off here. Yes, Xie Zhiwei is powerful, but he’s not worth this much outcry.

But it sounded about right… Not long after Xie Zhiwei died, the demon sect attacked the daoist sect. Although their losses weren’t terrible, Yan Zhifei was injured, giving the Bai duo an opportunity to off him for good. After successive losses of high level experts, the sect had no choice but to decline. Xie Zhiwei felt that Yujing Sect deserved to change its screenplay this time no matter what the hero did.

Yan Zhifei pondered, “But you came too late today. We’ve already finished selecting disciples. As the Summit City’s master, I’m afraid having no one by your side is…”

Xie Zhiwei finally remembered the protagonist lying on the sidelines and walked towards him in front of all eyes. Next to Mu He were some Pill Furnace City disciples busy feeding him pills and water by turns. Xie Zhiwei pointed at Mu He and declared, “From this day forward, this boy will be my disciple.”

The Bixu zhenren Xie Zhiwei had remained aloof from affairs and avoided accepting disciples all his life, but today he was making an exception for this teenager? All eyes landed on Mu He’s body. He remained calm and continued to feign unconsciousness. After eating the pills, he was taking his time to swallow down water.

Chu Zhishi was skeptical. “Second senior brother, this boy has an ashen complexion and weak body. Besides his slightly graceful brows, I can’t see anything worthwhile about him.”

Old Cheese bro, those are dangerous thoughts. You had no problem hugging the protagonist’s thigh in the original novel. But since you’re giving him up to me, don’t think about trying again.

Xie Zhiwei sagaciously replied, “I’ve already made up my mind. He will not only study as my student, but as my closed door disciple.”

Pandemonium broke out atop One Step Cliff. Even Mu He’s placid face twitched in reaction before he choked on his water and started coughing.