Ch8 - Spiritual Pet

For the sake of scrying intelligence on the enemy, Xie Zhiwei woke up early the next day. But Mu He was up even earlier and helping the young daoist novices dig up bamboo shoots from the forest. The dew was heavy this time of day and the novices hadn’t picked much, yet Mu He’s bamboo basket was almost completely full. After suffering from famine, fainting, and falling in water, he was still as lively as dragons and tigers.

@$%^$$# hero, how’d you do it?!

Xie Zhiwei wanted to get up early and put on an act of sword practicing so he could greet the hero with a “Did you sleep well?” after he woke up. That would definitely leave an impression of a strong yet loving master. Of course, he wasn’t planning to follow the plot and die so Mu He could mourn him. But if the hero could remember how much he cared, then he wouldn’t antagonize Xie Zhiwei after further blackening. After all, by the end of the book Mu He was killing anyone who resisted him. Tantai Meng couldn’t take it and even left him because of it. Who knew if he’d bother to acknowledge Xie Zhiwei or anyone else by then?

At the sight of Xie Zhiwei, Mu He immediately straightened up and said, “Shizun, morning.”

Two drops of sweat streamed down from his forehead. Against his fair skin, they glimmered like crystals and didn’t look greasy at all. He was more like a little white flower lifting its face above the grass, tenderly graced with dew.

It wouldn’t fit to ask after his sleep now, so Xie Zhiwei thought it over and changed his expression to creased brows. “Who told you to do this?”

Mu He was stunned by his stern face and thought he’d displeased Xie Zhiwei by touching the bamboo shoots. He hadn’t been welcome in Pill Furnace City either and was constantly scolded for being a disgrace when he tried to cultivate pills. These bamboo shoots were meant to be gifted to Ascension City. Did Xie Zhiwei think he was too lowly or ignorant to harvest them?

Darkness rose in Mu He’s heart as he lowered his eyes and hid his emotions. “Disciple only wanted to help out these daoist novices.” As he spoke, the wind picked up and fluttered the hem of the crow gray daoist robe in his sights.

Xie Zhiwei stepped closer. “Did I accept you as a disciple just to dig up bamboo shoots?”

“Shizun…” Mu He looked up.

Xie Zhiwei had no smile on his face. “How many shichen  did you sleep last night?”

“Three…” Mu He saw Xie Zhiwei’s brows knit further after his reply and trailed off, his voice petering out like a mosquito’s.

The few novices had long exchanged glances and moved deeper into the forest, leaving them alone. The awkwardness stretched on until Mu He caved in first. “Shizun, disciple knows my wrongs…”

“Where were you wrong?”

“Disciple…disciple should be cultivating hard on the mountain instead of getting distracted by miscellaneous tasks…”

Xie Zhiwei sighed before his expression softened. “I know it’s hard to be sensible, but your body’s still recovering. If you exhaust yourself and damage your spiritual roots, wouldn’t it be wasting my efforts to teach you?”

Mu He’s heart warmed. “Disciple won’t dare to try again.” So shizun doesn’t scorn me. He just doesn’t want me to get tired. Shizun really is different from those Bai Clan scum!

“Starting tonight, you have to sleep for at least four shichen. Will you remember that?”

“What shizun says, this disciple will always remember!” Mu He kowtowed again.

Xie Zhiwei nodded in satisfaction despite his disdain. Youngster, I know black lotuses like you have a wealth of acting skills. Your face says one thing with your thanks and virtues, but your heart might not…hehe.

After all, in the book Mu He had served tea, poured water, and massaged shoulders and calves for Bai Jianzhu during the day, but gave him dreams worse than death at night.

“What’s going on here?” a voice drifted in from above the grove. “He already took you as his master yesterday, but now he’s kowtowing again?”

Cheese bro, I only mentioned the bamboo shoots yesterday and here you are first thing in the morning. Can you not be such an obvious foodie!

Xie Zhiwei only smiled without lifting his head. “Youngest junior brother, you’re so early.”

Chu Zhishi landed and put away his sword, his movements smooth as water as he raised a hand in greeting. “Morning, second senior brother.”

He never forgets to act cool wherever he goes, Xie Zhiwei observed before asking, “I’m only instructing my disciple. What brought junior brother here today?”

“As if I need to say it? Doesn’t senior brother understand me best?” Chu Zhishi walked past him and saw the basket of bamboo shoots by Mu He. “These shoots aren’t bad,” he complimented.

Mu He saw that Chu Zhishi was quite close to Xie Zhiwei and his finger twitched. He was surprised by the reaction, but figured after some thought that the overpowering presence of the two men were affecting his lowly, no-name self.

His heart was probably unhappy about his inferiority.

Chu Zhishi levitated a bamboo shoot into his hand before layers of skin peeled off the plant. By the time the glossy white insides were exposed, he was turning the shoot round in his fingers. Grinning, he remarked, “If it’s a crime to be on time, won’t I get punished by our Sect Leader Senior Brother everyday?”

There were no ripples in Mu He’s heart as he smiled respectfully. “This disciple is dull and dares not vie with martial uncle.”

Xie Zhiwei’s heart was unaffected as well, his voice warm. “Don’t joke. Would you dare to say these words in front of Sect Leader Senior Brother?”

“I don’t, I don’t,” Chu Zhishi was used to acting casual in front of Xie Zhiwei. He pointed at the basket in Mu He’s lap and said, “Senior brother, this basket of shoots isn’t bad. How about…”

“Martial uncle has good eyes. Disciple personally picked this basket of shoots for shizun,” Mu He interrupted without a flutter, looking nothing but docile.

Chu Zhishi had been a master himself for years, but this was the first time a junior had cut him off. He couldn’t help creasing his brows. “You little squirt…”

Xie Zhiwei claimed the basket first. “Junior brother can’t take this one.”

Chu Zhishi blinked. “Why? Senior brother, you always let me have anything.”

Motherf***, Cheese bro, can you stop swaggering in front of the hero? Where’d your thigh-hugging skills from the original novel go?!

Ignoring Mu He’s complicated look, Xie Zhiwei explained sincerely, “You can tell a person’s spiritual roots and strength by the method and marks they used to harvest bamboo shoots. I want this basket so I can study how to instruct my disciple in the future.”

He was just making stuff up, but Chu Zhishi half-believed him on account of his reputation within the sect. “You can do that?”

Mu He was about to exclaim “Master is wise and brilliant” when he noticed Xie Zhiwei giving him a look. “Disciple, take Dog out for a walk.”

Chu Zhishi was intrigued. “Second senior brother took in a spiritual pet? A dog?”

Xie Zhiwei only smiled without denial, eyes following Mu He into the house. Chu Zhishi did the same before shaking his head. “I really don’t understand why you picked him when there were all those other disciples.”

Because he’s the protagonist, you stupid schmoe, Xie Zhiwei thought privately.

Mu He’s back profile was thin and long. In two years he would grow into adulthood and radiate an imposing aura just by standing still. He would charm countless girls and women in their dreams, bear the weight of the entire cultivation world, and scatter the souls of anyone he targeted.

Xie Zhiwei’s gaze didn’t flinch. “He’s a peerless talent without equal in all of history.”

Chu Zhishi soon saw Mu He carry out a bundle of white fur, innocently jogging along like any normal boy. He couldn’t even sense much spiritual aura around the youth and remained doubtful. “What makes you say that?”

Once again, Xie Zhiwei privately expressed contempt. Because that’s what the original novel says, you stupid schmoe.

By now Mu He had returned to stand in his original spot. When Chu Zhishi saw that Xie Zhiwei just smiled without a word, he sighed. “Senior brother is always inscrutable. Even if it takes a lifetime, I won’t be able to reach your height of cultivation.” After a pause, he added, “Forget it. Let me see martial nephew’s dog, don’t let me down again.”

Xie Zhiwei continued to smile without a word. Mu He was silently laughing as well when handing the “dog” over.

Dog had been playing around half the night and was quite unhappy after Mu He woke him up and carried him off. He now cried out in protest.

“That sounds like…” Chu Zhishi looked down at the animal in his arms. “This isn’t…”

Dog lost his temper and bit Chu Zhishi on the wrist. He jolted and tried to shake free. “This is clearly a cat, one that bites people too!”

Dog held on tight even as his body swung back and forth in the air. Mu He saw Xie Zhiwei’s straight face and bit back a smile. “To answer martial uncle, he really is a cat.”

“But, but why did you two say he was a dog?”

Mu He replied, “Martial uncle, he really is Dog.”

Chu Zhishi’s eyes widened as he studied the “dog” in detail. Then he asked Xie Zhiwei, “Second senior brother, this has to be a cat right?!”

Xie Zhiwei grinned and nodded.

Chu Zhishi huffed. “I was just saying, how could it be a dog.”

Xie Zhiwei only maintained his smile with another nod. “Correct, he’s also Dog. Some things you can’t judge by appearances alone.” You also have to look at their names.

Chu Zhishi understood multiple different meanings from his words. “Then that means…could it be…this cat is, no this dog, he…how could this be…”

Xie Zhiwei silently chortled. It’s enough that I have a disciple pretending to act cute and innocent. You’re here flaunting your coolness as well. You really think Xie Zhiwei’s nothing but a mild-mannered pushover?

“Disciple, take Dog down the mountain for a walk. Do this daily, no slacking.”

A startled Mu He couldn’t figure out the reasoning behind this strange order, but reacted immediately, “Disciple obeys.” Then he took the culprit off Chu Zhishi’s hands and carried him away.

Chu Zhishi had long stopped comprehending Xie Zhiwei’s words, but his second senior brother had always been a man of hidden depths. Nothing about him happened by chance. He couldn’t help asking, “Senior brother, is there any deeper meaning to this?”

Chu Zhishi loved to study and dig up answers. Anything he didn’t understand he would probe to the end, which was one reason for his superb cultivation base.

Xie Zhiwei refused to elaborate. “I naturally have my reasons.” When he saw Chu Zhishi about to throw a fit, he changed the subject. “Junior brother couldn’t have just come for the bamboo shoots, right?”

Chu Zhishi knew Xie Zhiwei as a man who stood by his words. He would definitely deliver the bamboo shoots as promised, plus Chu Zhishi was a city lord himself. There were tens of thousands of people under his command, so he had no need to run over here in person in the morning for his share. That would be a strong blow to his image.

“I can’t hide a thing from senior brother,” Chu Zhishi put aside the mess just now and reined in his expression. “I just heard that Sect Leader Senior Brother wants you to go to Ashen Cloud Sword Sect for the annual conference this year.”

Hearing “Ashen Cloud Sword Sect” made Xie Zhiwei’s eyes light up. Keywords shone in his brain: Shen You, White Lotus, the specter in the Black Lotus.

That was to say, he could start this story arc now.