Chapter 100 – Long Time, No See

  “This immortal cave would normally be reserved for a personal Disciple of my master. That it has been given to you should tell you how highly the Sect values you, Junior Brother Jun De.” Bai Xuelian said softly as her eyes swept across the courtyard.

  Jun De blinked in surprise as he took in his surroundings. He had thought the courtyard and residence were beautiful, but hadn’t realized how significant it was.

  Personal Disciples were special within the Tranquil Mountain Sect. Unlike Outer or Inner Sect Disciples, they could inherit all the techniques and skills of their masters and were afforded special treatment.

  Jun De’s eyes moved from the carved array patterns on the ground and walls to the large pond filled with fish that shimmered gold in the evening sunlight.

  “Your master?” Jun De asked curiously. Bai Xuelian had mentioned her master several times, but hadn’t used their name. It was obvious that her master was someone important from her talent and the respectful way even the Inner Sect Elder treated her.

  Bai Xuelian’s cold expression softened as her pride shone through when she discussed her master.

  “Lu Qingchen, the Sect Master of the Tranquil Mountain Sect. I am his youngest personal Disciple. There are others, each of them strong and supremely talented. They are all in the Foundation Establishment or Core Formation stages, but you will likely meet them in the future.”

  Jun De inclined his head politely in response to her statement. He had thought her master important, but he hadn’t known it was the Sect Master himself!

  ‘Luckily, I didn’t say anything stupid!’ Jun De thought as he was reminded of Zhao Wuxian. Even though Jun De didn’t like him, he winced internally at the thought of the young man earning the ire of the Sect Master’s Personal Disciple.

  ‘Zhao Wuxian is going to be in for a hard time!’

  “To be under the Sect Master’s guidance is no small honour. It’s no wonder the Sect holds you in such high regard as well, Senior Sister Bai.” Jun De replied respectfully.

  Bai Xuelian’s gaze lingered on him for a moment longer than usual, and he could spot the faintest trace of something unreadable flickering in her eyes.

  “Truth be told, Junior Brother Jun De, I expected my Master to accept you as well. Many of us in the Inner Sect are shocked that you have not been selected by an Elder. Even Vice Sect Master Mu…” Bai Xuelian’s voice trailed off as she realized that she had said too much, and a faint blush appeared on her cheeks.

  “It’s alright, Senior Sister. It’s like I told you before, I’m not particularly talented in cultivation. I’m content with what I have.” Jun De said honestly, and Bai Xuelian’s eyes widened slightly at the statement.

  She had thought that Jun De was just trying to prevent his loss during the entrance ceremony by saying that he wasn’t talented enough to fight her. But having Jun De repeat it once more in private just reinforced the humble image of her junior brother in her mind.

  Bai Xuelian’s cold demeanour retreated slightly as she turned and walked toward the entrance to the courtyard.

  “Rest well, Junior Brother. You will need time to recover from today. The Inner Sect is not as peaceful as the Outer. Everything here is a competition, and others will be watching for any sign of weakness. You must be careful.” Bai Xuelian warned, and Jun De bowed his head and clasped his hands.

  “Thank you for the advice, Senior Sister Bai.”

  With those words, she left. Her blue robes trimmed in silver trailed softly across the spotless courtyard stones as she disappeared through the open gate and into the last light of the fading sun.

  Jun De was left standing alone in his new home. The air was thick with spiritual energy and vitality, so dense that it almost seemed to hum against his skin. For the first time since he had left his old home in the Outer Sect, Jun De allowed himself to relax as he sat down on his new wooden chair and let the spiritual energy of the courtyard soak into his weary body.

  Now that the last echo of Bai Xuelian’s footsteps faded into the distance, and he was out of sight from everyone in the Sect, Jun De let the mask he always wore to protect himself and hide his true emotions slip.

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  He was reminded, over and over again, that this world wasn’t the same as Earth. This was a place where there were demonic cultivators hunting and abducting people, and even his fellow Sect members had ulterior motives.

  ‘I hope Zhao Wuxian gets what’s coming to him.’ Jun De thought, recalling how even the seemingly simple minded brute had tried to trap him into a hopeless situation.

  The strength that Jun De held onto before others dissolved the moment he was truly alone. His back hunched slightly, and his face twisted under the weight of his fatigue. Small wrinkles creased at the corners of his eyes as his skin lost some of its colour, paling until it resembled bleached parchment.

  Every single breath he took came in a shallow rasp, and his ribs screamed in protest at every inhalation. Blood still lingered at the edge of his lips, and he could taste it in his mouth. Jun De pressed his hand against his side and closed his eyes to steady himself.

  “Why can’t anything ever be simple?” Jun De said aloud ruefully, shaking his head and wincing as pain lanced through his neck from the effort.

  “I try to start a harem, and it nearly gets me killed multiple times. I get stronger in order to survive the Outer Sect, and it just makes me enter the Inner Sect, which is even worse!” Jun De muttered.

  “Never again! No more adventures, no more building a Harem or getting involved with things that shouldn’t concern me! I’m just going to stay here, safe and sound, and relax.” Jun De promised, and it felt as if his body agreed with him.

  The pain retreated a bit, and Jun De took it as a sign that rest and relaxation were exactly what he needed.

  There was a soft knock that suddenly echoed against the wooden gate of his new courtyard. The sound startled Jun De from his quiet struggle to remain upright in his chair. His eyes widened a fraction from surprise as he hadn’t expected anyone to visit him so soon after arriving in the Inner Sect.

  Before he could compose himself or hide his condition, a familiar figure slipped inside his courtyard.

  Vice Sect Master Mu Yanyu stepped into the courtyard with the grace of flowing water. Her gaze immediately locked onto him, and her normally tranquil and slightly cold expression shifted at once as concern flashed across her face as she saw Jun De sitting unsteady, with his face and skin pale.

  “Jun De.” Mu Yanyu started, her voice tight, before she crossed the courtyard as if teleporting the distance in the blink of an eye.

  Jun De straightened as best he could as he saw her approach, and he forced a smile that looked more like a grimace.

  “Elder Mu! I’m fine, you don’t need to worry about me.” Jun De protested, but Mu Yanyu ignored his words.

  With surprising firmness, she caught his wrist before he could pull away. Her eyes narrowed as she pushed her Qi into him. The cool, refined current of her cultivation flooded through his meridians, and her eyes narrowed as she assessed his condition.

  “Your meridians are ragged from overexertion, your Dantian is dangerously empty of Qi, and your lack of rest is hindering the efficacy of the medicinal pills you have taken. You are exhausted, and the pills will be unable to do their work unless you allow your body to recover.”

  Mu Yanyu explained, her voice flat and slightly irritated.

  “You have behaved foolishly, challenging a stronger Inner Sect Disciple in order to gain an elevated status. I expected better from you, Jun De. You are far too important to allow yourself to be drawn into such a situation.”

  For a heartbeat, Mu Yanyu’s expression remained severe with the weight of an Elder scolding a reckless Disciple. Then, after a moment, she realized what she had said and became aware that she was still holding his wrist in her hands while her body was nearly pressed against his.

  Releasing his wrist, Mu Yanyu smoothly stepped back from him while a blush rose on her cheeks and she tucked her hands into the sleeves of her robes.

  “You will be fine with rest.” Mu Yanyu said more quietly this time, her tone filled with gentleness and fondness that couldn’t be removed no matter how much time she spent in secluded meditation.

  Jun De let out a long, weary breath and dipped his head slightly.

  “Thank you, Elder Mu.” Jun De leaned back further into the curved chair behind him, and his body almost melted into its embrace.

  “Would you care to sit? I have some tea in my storage ring.” Jun De offered, but before he could finish, Mu Yanyu raised her hand in a small, graceful motion.

  “No need.” She said firmly. With a flick of her wrist, a delicate porcelain set appeared on the table between them, along with an assortment of snacks and treats.

  Steam rose from the cups as she moved with practiced motions, and Jun De idly wondered if there was any other Qi Condensation Cultivator in the world that had been served tea by a Core Formation Expert.

  Jun De watched her for a moment longer before speaking again. Maybe it was the fatigue or the calm atmosphere of the courtyard, but he found himself more relaxed than ever around Mu Yanyu.

  ‘Or maybe it’s the time we spent in Dual Cultivation.’ Jun De thought to himself, regretting the fact that he couldn’t remember any of the details of the experience.

  “It’s good to see you again, after all the time I spent alone in the Ninefold Refinement Array. For my punishment.” Jun De spoke, and his tone had an edge to it as he recalled his six-month confinement in the array.

  Mu Yanyu’s hand stilled briefly over the teapot, and she misunderstood Jun De’s statement. To her ears, it sounded as though he were blaming her for the experience. Not because he didn’t want to train hard in the array, it was common knowledge that Jun De was a cultivation fanatic, but because she had used her position and influence to give him special treatment.

  She knew better than anyone that the humble and kind Jun De didn’t want to receive benefits that he hadn’t earned.

  Mu Yanyu placed the teapot down carefully onto the table.

  “You may feel that it was undeserved, Jun De. But the Sect Master agreed with sending you to the array.” She explained.

  Again, she misunderstood, thinking that Jun De would be mollified with knowing that she hadn’t abused her position to get Jun De access to the Array.

  But all Jun De heard was that even the Sect Master had been in on his punishment.

  ‘I can’t trust anyone in this place!!’