Ch6 - Poisoned

Xie Zhiwei was thoroughly pleased. No wonder the system hadn’t stopped him from making an unhappy expression just then. Mu He only felt that Xie Zhiwei and Bai Jianzhu weren’t as harmonious as they looked. But they were sect siblings after all. If he ever caused a row with the Bai duo, Xie Zhiwei might end up siding with them instead.

At this thought, he tugged at his shirt and said, “Disciple was wrong. But Senior Brother Bai looks hard to get along with. What if I set him off by accident?”

Xie Zhiwei felt that this was a problem. The hero was cruel and vicious after his rebirth and even had a venegful spirit to help him. In the original novel, the reborn Mu He was still Bai Jianzhu’s disciple, so Bai Jianzhu took the blame for every problem that fell his way. Not only was Bai Jianzhu scolded by Yan Zhifei for not teaching stringently enough, he was also being tormented by Mu He in secret and at his wits’ end trying to find the source of his woes. If the hero acted lawlessly, took someone’s life, and pinned it on his head…would Gallant Outlaw forgive him if Xie Zhiwei was utterly ruined?

He had to stabilize the boy ahead of time. An idea popped into his head and Xie Zhiwei said pleasantly, “If your thoughts are clean and your conscience clear, who would make things difficult for you? Martial Nephew Bai might be temperamental, but he’s also open to reason. No need to fret.”

Between the lines, Mu He could sense that Xie Zhiwei wanted him to be a good person without assuming the worst of others. He had done that in his past life and look where it led him? He didn’t trust anyone now. Furthermore, there were two possible reasons why Xie Zhiwei was speaking up for Bai Yu. One, Xie Zhiwei was pure by nature, just like his past self; two, Xie Zhiwei wasn’t as upright as he looked and had private dealings with the Bai father and son. Mu He looked at his master’s retreating back and felt his heart chill.

I hope I’m not disappointed.

Xie Zhiwei stopped walking and suddenly turned around. Mu He hastily rearranged his expression. Was my staring too obvious? Is he on guard?

But Xie Zhiwei only said lightly, “Don’t worry.”

Mu He’s entire body froze as he tried in vain to read Xie Zhiwei’s expression. With his back to the setting sun, the hues of twilight rested on his master’s shoulders. The ordinary crow gray daoist robes he wore billowed about him, its hems catching on the bamboo and leaves until dewdrops left faint marks on the fabric. The sword in his hands emitted an ordinary glow that didn’t hurt the eyes. Instead, it radiated gentle warmth like a spring day, and the jade stone inset into its hilt was broken up in four pieces to resemble a segmented lotus leaf.

The world-famous Qingping Sword (青萍剑) was a status symbol that also served as Xie Zhiwei’s identifying token. Like its owner, it was serene and still, but its appearance was irresistible.

The undisguised concern in Xie Zhiwei’s eyes made Mu He’s thoughts wander briefly.

—A person so removed from the mortal realms actually cares about me.

Although Xie Zhiwei was showing Mu He an intimate smile, he couldn’t help but wonder why the kid was still spacing out. Is he fighting back the urge to kill his enemies on sight? Bro, calm down. You can do whatever you want after you leave the sect. Please don’t dump anything on me.

Ignoring the goosebumps rising on his skin, Xie Zhiwei added, “If anyone tries to bully you, don’t be afraid. Remember that you still have your master.” Sh*t, I actually spouted such sappy crap at He Zheng’s face. Someone save me…

Mu He only stared at him for a long time without saying a word. Abruptly, a roar filled his head as his insides turned ice cold. Startled, he bowed while suppressing his emotions. “Many thanks to shizun. Disciple will take your words to heart and avoid disgracing shizun.”

Tsk tsk, as expected of the hero. He understood my message between the lines so fast.

“Mm, master believes it,” Having gotten his desired outcome, a relieved Xie Zhiwei continued to lead the way into the grove.

Behind him, Mu He said, “Shizun, Martial Uncle Bai must have matters to discuss if he’s waiting for you. Disciple will stay behind instead of accompanying you.”

Xie Zhiwei’s steps stilled. “Do you need to hide out here when Suihan Lodge is so massive?”

Suihan Lodge (岁寒居) was the name of Xie Zhiwei’s dwelling. Although it couldn’t be compared to the larger city dwellings, it included at least a few dozen buildings on its grounds.

Mu He scratched his head with a bashful smile. “Disciple spotted an injured rabbit outside the forest. It’s really sorry-looking, so I want to save him.” His eyes were clear and sincere.

Xie Zhiwei didn’t need to turn around to know he was playing pathetic again. Inwardly smirking, he replied tenderly, “Then come back early. Don’t get lost.” Rescuing an injured rabbit? You want me to lend you a pair of wings so you can fly? He’s acting like some angelic white lotus.

Even if he looked like one, he had a black heart!

I’ll bet…you’ll find a fat rabbit to eat, then lie and said you saw the wrong thing, heh.

Mu He stood respectfully until Xie Zhiwei faded into the distance before concealing himself in the most secluded section of the bamboo woods. In a low voice, he called out, “Senior.”

A man’s voice resonated in his head. “What, touched?”

After a pause, Mu He said, “Shizun, he…doesn’t seem like a villain.”

“Then you tell me what villains are supposed to look like. Did Bai Jianzhu look like one? Or Cheng Daoxiu?”

Mu He fell silent again. The voice in his head began to mock him. “Did you forget how you died in your last life? How those people trod you underfoot and cursed you? How they humiliated your mother and stole everything that was yours?”

“I haven’t,” Mu He narrowed his eyes.

“I hope that’s the case,” the voice was full of loathing. “Shen You was more virtuous than Xie Zhiwei, but didn’t he also turn out to be scum lower than pigs or dogs? Xie Zhiwei probably gave you the Black Lotus because he couldn’t be bothered to keep it. Everyone knows it’s one of the world’s foremost treasures. Remember what you promised me. You only have two months.”

Mu He’s hands formed into fists. “I’ve never forgotten about Senior’s revenge.”

“That’s for the best. I can help you with the little things here and there, but you need to work hard too. Don’t be so biased towards what you hear. Xie Zhiwei’s certainly something claiming he’ll finish that manual within a year.”

“Senior?” Mu He was lost.

“He’s a man of hidden depths. After cultivating for hundreds of years, he only starts writing scriptures now? Was he wasting his time beforehand?”

Mu He immediately connected the dots. “Senior is saying that shizun should already have completed his task?”

“You’ve at least got brains. Xie Zhiwei deliberately hid that fact from others today. You have to find a chance to learn something from him. Even a little is worth it.”

“I’ll remember, Senior.”

—

“Second senior brother, we agreed to have you yield Summit City’s city lord position to Yu-er. Why did you go back on your word?”

There were only three people in the room, so Bai Jianzhu had finally stopped with his fake smiles. Bai Yu had his back to his father, his haughty face all but saying, “This is your fault, you wronged me.”

Xie Zhiwei wondered just what kind of shenanigans Bai Jianzhu had going on with the original Xie Zhiwei. The original novel only mentioned his death from Mu He’s perspective, who declared during his revenge spree, “Today we’ll also demand payment for Xie zhenren’s blood debt!” In fact, one of Mu He’s most frequent flashbacks was the figure in crow gray daoist robes standing in the bamboo forest. Even the sh*tty web drama that wanted to cast him pictured him wearing the daoist robes and doing swordplay in the forest before smiling slightly. There was to be a long shot and a closeup so the one-minute clip could loop later in the protagonist’s memories.

He didn’t even have any speaking lines!

Who would care about the grievances of a character like that, ah!

Forget about asking Gallant Outlaw, I’ll dig out the details myself.

Sighing rather helplessly, Xie Zhiwei fixed his gaze on Bai Jianzhu. “Fourth Junior Brother, I was also forced against my will.”

“Forced against your will?” Bai Jianzhu shook his sleeves and scoffed. “You used to just call me ‘junior brother’, but now it’s ‘fourth junior brother?’ As expected, you’re distancing me on purpose. Forging injustice and forgetting ties of gratitude!”

Xie Zhiwei’s face fell. “How could you say that?”

“You’re asking me?” Bai Jianzhu was so furious he laughed. “Who was it that found you and took you back to the sect in the past? Who taught you the Way with care, and asked you to help me for the rest of your life?”

Xie Zhiwei was stuck. The original novel said nothing about this. Was it you, Old Bai?

That didn’t make sense. The original Xie Zhiwei was even a few decades older than Bai Jianzhu. However, after cultivating for so long, his body was half-immortal and didn’t show his age at all.

Bai Yu turned around with an arrogant look. “Father, what’s the use of telling him all that? After all, he doesn’t share our surname. How could he take grandfather’s efforts to heart?”

Xie Zhiwei finally realized they meant the previous sect leader, Bai Jianzhu’s father. Yujing Sect’s original founders were from the Bai Clan, with successive generations of sect leaders hailing from the Bai family’s direct descendents. However, Bai Jianzhu’s innate talent was so terrible that he needed to rely on cultivated pills to obtain a half-immortal body. The previous sect leader had enough foresight to prepare Xie Zhiwei to inherit his mantle, but Xie Zhiwei was too placid to shoulder the post.

Tragically, this sect leader only taught two disciples in his entire lifetime. His son Bai Jianzhu had the will but not the ability, while his beloved disciple Xie Zhiwei had the ability but not the will. He had no choice but to choose Yan Zhifei, who was skilled in both departments, to take up the leadership position. Time proved that he’d made the correct choice.

But he too must have known his only son Bai Jianzhu was an unwieldy and restless sort. Nobody would bother with him if he caused trouble later. Many of his instructions before death were for Xie Zhiwei to assist Bai Jianzhu as much as he could. Later on, Xie Zhiwei helped so much he even gave up his life. A person’s talent could arouse the envy of others. Even if one never fought or coveted, he couldn’t guarantee that others wouldn’t take advantage of him.

Xie Zhiwei thought about the original host’s typical reaction and closed his eyes as if in pain. “I know I’m letting junior brother down, but I have my own troubles.”

Bai Jianzhu only ridiculed him. “What could trouble an aloof immortal like you?”

Are you telling me to mind my status by emphasizing “immortal?” Thanks, ah.

Xie Zhiwei blinked a few times. “I can’t say.”

Bai Jianzhu was indignant. “What a good excuse. Are you so happy to watch my Bai Clan decline? You personally saw Yu-er grow up. Will you be content to see someone of his talents reduced to fiddling with pill furnaces for the rest of his life?”

“Hmph,” Bai Yu harrumphed in agreement.

Xie Zhiwei said, “I…” It’s the original Xie Zhiwei who saw him grow up. A “Xie Zhiwei” like me would’ve strangled him to death ages ago.

Bai Jianzhu felt like he’d ran into a dodder flower. No matter how he pushed, there was no reaction. Fury rising, he was about to grab Xie Zhiwei by the collar when Bai Yu pulled him back. “Enough, father. Summit City will be mine sooner or later.”

Shocked, Bai Jianzhu cried, “Yu-er?”

Though Xie Zhiwei knew what was up, his face was nothing but sincere praise. “Martial nephew has extraordinary innate talent. You will definitely cultivate to unparalleled heights in the future. Then I shall offer up the city lord position with my own two hands.”

Bai Yu was suspicious and glared at him, but then gave Bai Jianzhu a knowing look. “Father, you forgot?”

Bai Jianzhu suddenly understood. “You mean to say…”

Then the two of them stared at Xie Zhiwei as if he was already a dead man. Xie Zhiwei feigned ignorance and looked back questioningly.

You mean you’ve already poisoned me, right? The kind without a cure, even.

You can gloat all you want in the original novel, but just wait for your face-slapping later.

—I don’t produce antidote, but I‘m a porter of the System.

—

Translator’s Note: Locked chapters began after this one! Every week, I see people asking us how to find the password after joining CG’s Discord, so here’s a quick Visual Guide to CG Passwords I made on imgur. (Remember: join the Discord first!)