CH 22

It was an unknown feeling, light and itchy, that quietly spread to his heart. Yi Ning’s lashes quivered, and he said quietly, “You’re late. Be more careful next time.”

If he were just a little later, he might have already been taken away. 

From above his head came a light chuckle. There was still a faint murderous aura surrounding his body, and Yan Xuan’s arm around his waist tightened slightly.

“Got it..” Yan Xuan pursed his lips, purposely plastering himself close to Yi Ning’s ear in front of Gong Xiuxian, like they were exchanging whispered secrets.

Gong Xiuxian’s eyes turned red as he pulled out his sword, pointing it at Yan Xuan and saying, “You demonic beast! Get away from my Shizun!”

The aura around his body exploded, appearing like an entirely different person from just now. Gong Xiuxian had initially thought that Yan Xuan was the demonic cultivator who had died, but unexpectedly, he was still alive, and even dared to parade around in front of him, acting like that to his Shizun… 

How dare he! Shizun had never allowed him to touch him. Other than hugs, they had never been anywhere near as intimate.

Yan Xuan looked at him unaffectedly, the more enraged Gong Xiuxian got, the happier and the more satisfied he was. Even the words Mu Xiaoyun said to him just now became insignificant.

“Your Shizun?” Yan Xuan smiled maliciously, then looked at Yi Ning and said, “Tell him, are you his or mine?”

Gan’er scurried back with her little legs and finally caught up to Yan Xuan. The first thing she saw was her Venerable Lord grabbing onto Immortal Master Yi Ning, their posture like that of someone being threatened and the person doing the threatening.

She had thought the two of them were arguing again, so she hurriedly ran up to try and defuse the situation, only to hear Immortal Master Yi Ning say lightly, “Yours.”

His voice was natural and sure, and Gong Xiuxian felt as if a basin of bone-piercingly cold ice water had been upended over his head, soaking him through and causing him to tremble.

Gan’er saw Immortal Master Yi Ning turn his face away, his fingers pinching the wrist of the hand the Venerable Lord had by his side. It was hard to tell how much strength was put into that pinch, but the Venerable Lord’s wrist trembled slightly.

It must be very painful… Gan’er thought quietly. 

“Shizun…” Bitterness filled Gong Xiuxian. He didn’t know what he should say, only that his heart was on the verge of ripping itself to shreds.

If it was like before, he would just treat it as his Shizun acting petulantly. However, now that he witnessed them exchanging such affectionate words right in front of him, Gong Xiuxian found that he couldn’t endure it, and couldn’t listen any further.

Like he was begging him, he threw his sword to the side and walked slowly towards Yi Ning. “Shizun, I know that I was wrong. Can you please not throw me away?”

These few days, Yi Ning’s image filled his mind day in and day out. 

Shizun brought him up the mountain, and told him that from that day onwards, Mount Yunqing would be his home.

Shizun patiently taught the illiterate him the meaning of the words in cryptic texts.

Shizun taught him the sword, taught him how to protect himself, and never let him suffer any bullying.

From young, Shizun doted on him, and Gong Xiuxian had never done anything to go against Yi Ning. It was just this one time, yet Yi Ning was so enraged, he even left and found somebody else. 

“Vtlhec, vb sbe ralii gfwfwyfg ktja kf rjlv lc atf qjra? Ktja kf kbeiv jrmfcv abufatfg? Qtja mjc atlr vfwbclm meialnjabg vb obg sbe? Lf klii bcis joofma sbeg jrmfcrlbc.” Eluta yfobgf Xbcu Wlezljc gfjmtfv Tl Rlcu, tf revvfcis gfagfjafv j rafq. C vfwbclm rjyfg qlfgmfv atgbeut atf rqba ktfgf tf kjr pera rajcvlcu.

The expression of the saber’s owner was frigid, tinged with a trace of fury. Even Yi Ning could feel the iciness radiating off Yan Xuan’s body.

Yi Ning sensed that his emotions weren’t stable, and asked him softly, “What’s wrong?” He didn’t bother acknowledging Gong Xiuxian’s words just now. Now, he didn’t feel like ascension was all that important; it wasn’t too bad to stay in the mortal realm to protect these common folk.

Yet Yan Xuan took it to heart. 

He looked coldly at Gong Xiuxian, then recalled Yinzhen and replied, “Nothing.”

If not for Yi Ning still in his arms, Yan Xuan really might not have been able to control his murderous intent.

Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps resounded, and two sword cultivators rushed in.

“Shixiong! Something’s happened at the sect!” The moment one of the sword cultivators saw Yi Ning, he yelled out emotionally, and was held back from rushing forward by the person beside him. 

The moment that person saw Yan Xuan who was beside Yi Ning, he said coldly, “Shixiong, why are you with a demonic cultivator?”

Yi Ning’s expression momentarily froze, and he gestured for Yi Ning to let go of him, his ears stained faintly red, and said, “Le’an, Zilang, why are you two here?”

These two were both his shidi under the same master. They grew up together, and although they weren’t close, they were at least familiar with each other.

Thinking about how they had seen him in Yan Xuan’s embrace just now, Yi Ning felt his face grow hot. 

Xu Le’an’s eyes widened in shock. He remembered hearing that Yi Ning and his disciple’s relationship wasn’t simple, and at the time he already felt that it was hard to believe. Unexpectedly, Yi Ning was so gutsy as to get together with a demonic cultivator.

Without waiting for them to ask, Gong Xiuxian turned and bowed respectfully towards them. “My greetings to the two Shishu. There is nothing between Shizun and that demonic cultivator, he is only still angry with me. I ask Shishu to not inform the Sect Leader of this matter.”

In one sentence, he painted his version of the story and “helped” Yi Ning absolve himself of any guilt.

Did he think he did something good that was deserving of praise? Yi Ning closed his eyes, and the sword in his hand started humming softly. 

Mu Zilang’s gaze darted between them suspiciously but he ultimately still addressed Yi Ning and said, “Shixiong, as Mingguang Sect’s Immortal Master, it should not be up to your Shidi to remind you what you should and should not do.”

“That’s right. Furthermore, now that Mingguang Sect needs you, Shixiong can’t continue playing around.”

What they were saying, Yi Ning naturally understood. However, if Yan Xuan hadn’t been there on that day his cultivation was sealed, he might have been locked up on Mount Yunqing for his whole life without anyone the wiser.

Within a sect, from times immemorial, relationships were distant. As people seeking personal ascension, how could they care about the matters of others? 

“Yan Xuan, you can go. The Thirst Hex will resolve itself in 49 days.” Yi Ning sighed softly. Within this short period of time, Yan Xuan had already done more than enough for him, he couldn’t force Yan Xuan to do anything more.

Furthermore, he was grateful that Yan Xuan didn’t pursue the issue of him sealing him and even helped him to suppress the poison.

Now that he had to go back, he needed to explain what Gong Xiuxian did to the Sect Leader, and expel Gong Xiuxian as his disciple. From today onwards, whoever wanted him could have him, Yi Ning would never take him back.

Yi Ning had just taken a step when he heard Yan Xuan’s voice ring out indifferently from behind him. 

“Are you really stupid or just pretending?”

“Think carefully. Once you leave, the next time we meet, I won’t treat you like I do now anymore.”

Hearing his words, Yi Ning paused, turning his head back to look at him, his eyes flashing with some confusion. He didn’t understand the meaning behind Yan Xuan’s words, but faintly, he felt as if Yan Xuan’s attitude this time was different from the past.

Yi Ning wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Yan Xuan. 

“Fine, scram then.”

Yan Xuan called back his saber, then coldly looked at Gan’er who was acting reluctant to part from Yi Ning. “Gan’er, we’re leaving.”

The demonic fog billowed, wrapping up the black-clothed demonic cultivator and the little girl in his grasp. Very quickly, they vanished without a trace.

It was a little sad. Yi Ning could feel a sour, uncomfortable feeling in his heart, yet he didn’t know what he did wrong. Nobody had ever told him how to interact with a friend, and he could only clumsily do what he thought was right. 

After he renounced this vile disciple and expelled him, then settled the issues at the sect, he would look for Yan Xuan to explain everything clearly.

“Shixiong, who’s that demonic cultivator?” Only after seeing that the demonic cultivator had left did Xu Le’an dare to come forward. That person’s cultivation was so high, and the way he spoke was so frightening, he definitely wasn’t any ordinary demonic cultivator.

Yi Ning suddenly had no mood to chat with them and brushed past the topic, asking, “What happened at the sect?”

Seeing him bring up the topic, Xu Le’an hurriedly explained, “Shixiong, the elders specifically asked us to bring you back to the sect. The Sect Leader’s gone missing!” 

Instantly, Yi Ning froze on the spot, his voice growing anxious, “How is that possible? Isn’t the Sect Leader in seclusion?”

At the side, Mu Zilang said unpleasantly, “Isn’t it because you ran here to exterminate evil, leaving the Sect Tournament without anyone to host it, that we had no other choice but to ask the Sect Leader to exit seclusion. In the end…”

In the end, without waiting for Yi Ning to return, the Sect Leader had disappeared.

After returning to Mingguang Sect, Yi Ning returned to his position of an elder after a long absence. As the seventh elder, his title was basically just for show. Ordinarily, Yi Ning shut himself up on Mount Yunqing to tirelessly cultivate, and other than for major events, he wouldn’t preside over sect affairs. 

Before him, a row of unfamiliar faces were watching him curiously and expectantly, leaving Yi Ning feeling uncomfortable and out of place. Furthermore, Gong Xiuxian was following him closely, watching Yi Ning at all times.

Within the sect, the fact that he didn’t have his cultivation was only known to Gong Xiuxian and Liu Rugeng.

It was really one wave after another without rest.

Yi Ning rubbed his temples, listening to the other elders debating the whereabouts of the Sect Leader. 

Some guessed that the Sect Leader went travelling to break past his bottleneck, others thought that the Sect Leader had already ascended. However, Yi Ning felt that, no matter what, the Sect Leader wouldn’t leave without bidding him goodbye.

From young, the Sect Leader had loved him dearly, to the point where his fellow disciples like Mu Zilang resented Yi Ning. Now that they had grown up, Mu Zilang had become a little more restrained.

“Immortal Master Yi Ning, what do you think?”

All of a sudden, someone addressed Yi Ning. He was stunned, then heard the other repeat himself, “The Sect Tournament’s matters can only be left to you.” 

Naturally, now that he came back, he should handle these things. Yi Ning nodded, then heard that person continue, “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen the Immortal Master, I never imagined that the disciple you took in has already grown so big. Now, I’m afraid that I won’t necessarily be able to win in a fight against that child. He truly possesses heaven-gifted talent.”

Yi Ning pursed his lips tightly and didn’t respond to her words, simply standing up and saying, “Since there is nothing else, I shall be leaving to select participants for the Sect Tournament. Farewell.”

That person’s expression was a little awkward, but everyone present was familiar with Yi Ning’s personality, and so it wasn’t appropriate for them to say anything further.

Only Gong Xiuxian silently got up, following behind Yi Ning. Sensing his movements, Yi Ning suddenly halted his footsteps, turning back to address him, “Don’t follow me.” 

The other’s face was filled with reluctance, like he had been deeply hurt by Yi Ning’s words. He hesitated, deliberating, but ultimately did not take another step.

Truly good at pretending.

As he was leaving the hall, Yi Ning heard someone comforting Gong Xiuxian, telling him that Yi Ning’s personality had been like this since he was young.

Right, he indeed did not have a likeable personality. Yi Ning inhaled deeply, his heart feeling incredibly irritated. 

Whatever, there were more important, pressing matters. He should first select the participants for the Sect Tournament.

Although Gong Xiuxian was the strongest disciple of his generation, since Yi Ning had already expelled him from the sect, he was naturally not someone belonging to Mingguang Sect, so he wouldn’t let Gong Xiuxian take the stage as his disciple.

As he deliberated, a pair of hands suddenly dropped down from the tree Yi Ning passed by, and suddenly dragged him into the tree.

Yi Ning’s pupils constricted and he made a move to pull out his sword, only to be stopped in his tracks when he saw clearly who the other person was. 

“Don’t even think about getting rid of me. Not in this lifetime!” Yan Xuan’s gaze was dark and gloomy, his tone icy-cold. He fiercely grabbed onto his collar and pulled him into his embrace.

No excuses, this chapter was just late.