Chapter 117 – A Lighthearted Exchange
Jun De caught sight of another familiar figure standing near the railing of the flying ship, the robes tugging at their blue Outer Sect Disciple robes. For a moment, Jun De thought he was wrong and had mistaken a stranger for Ren Qiu, but when the young man turned toward him, Jun De confirmed that it was his friend.
The young man’s back was straight, his bearing composed and serious, and his aura burned fiercely and firmly at the 5th Stage of Qi Condensation.
“Ren Qiu!” Jun De called out.
Ren Qiu nodded his head in greeting, while his eyes were more severe than Jun De remembered. The pampered arrogance of a young master who had once relied on his family’s prestige and his own talent was gone, and in its place was someone whom Jun De hardly recognized.
Ren Qiu was steady and tempered, with a serious expression that lacked any trace of smugness, pride, or good-natured humour.
Even Lin Yue gasped as she saw him, and her hand rose to cover her mouth.
“That’s really Ren Qiu?” She whispered to Jun De, with her eyes wide. Jun De nodded in reply before speaking to Ren Qiu.
“It’s been a long time. I didn’t expect to see you here. You’ve been in secluded training since the last time I saw you.”
Ren Qiu’s expression hardened as he remembered his grandfather’s birthday celebration and the events that had occurred there.
“I’ve come to test myself against the spirit beasts in the Secret Realm. I’ve reached a bottleneck and need to temper my strength. I couldn't care less about the accolades or achieving a place in the Inner Sect.”
Ren Qiu paused, and for the briefest instant, a flash of raw emotion broke through the calm mask he wore. Fury, pain and hatred all appeared across his face before settling into something even colder than before.
“I must get stronger so I can find my brother. And when I do, I’ll put him down like the rabid dog he is.” Ren Qiu continued, and his hand clenched into fists at his sides.
The words hung in the air, heavy and merciless. Jun De’s eyebrows drew together as his surprise deepened. He knew that Ren Qiu desired to right the wrongs his brother and grandfather had committed and regain the honour of his Clan, but the resolve he showed now was almost frightening in its intensity.
Even Zhao Wuxian had gone quiet from a few paces away as he sensed the dangerous edge in Ren Qiu’s intent.
‘He’s changed so much.’ Jun De thought, recalling how he and Ren Qiu had spent time together in Tranquil City, enjoying food and wine while swapping stories.
Sympathy stirred in Jun De’s heart as he recognized how Ren Qiu’s hatred and his newfound determination had come from real suffering. What his brother had done had left a wound on Ren Qiu that couldn’t be healed until he faced him.
‘I already have enough going on with Shen Weifeng’s bet against the Zhang Clan. The last thing I need is to be dragged into Ren Qiu’s hunt for vengeance.’ Jun De thought grimly.
Jun De shifted his weight on his heels, almost unconsciously, as if he were searching for a way out of this conversation and the situation that was developing.
Exhaling softly, Jun De turned to look at Shen Ruolan and smiled gently.
Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!
“Ruolan, how about we go eat something and play a few rounds of ‘Go’ after?” Jun De said, deliberately changing the subject and giving himself a way out from both Ren Qiu and Zhao Wuxian, who were both acting so out of character that Jun De didn’t want to have anything to do with either of them.
Shen Ruolan’s expression brightened immediately, and she gave a quick nod as relief flickered in her eyes at the break from the suddenly heavy atmosphere.
“I’d like that!” She said ecstatically.
Lin Yue, who was still clinging to Jun De’s other arm, smiled as well.
“If you are playing ‘Go’, I would like to join you. It’s been a while since I have seen Senior Brother Jun De play. Sister Ruolan has even been tutoring me in ‘Go!’”
Jun De chuckled, and the tension in his chest eased as the three of them said goodbye to both Zhao Wuxian and Ren Qiu before moving together toward the interior of the ship. They breathed a sigh of relief as they left the sharpness of Ren Qiu’s killing intent and the booming presence of Zhao Wuxian.
They arrived at the room that had been set aside for Jun De, and they were soon seated at a low table with platters of food and cups of wine brought from Tranquil City, stored in Shen Ruolan’s storage ring so that they were still fresh and warm.
Jun De and Shen Ruolan played while they snacked, and Lin Yue laughed as she poured another cup of wine for Jun De and watched Shen Ruolan leaning over the ‘Go’ board with a serious expression on her face.
“You are playing too aggressively.” Jun De remarked as he set his stone down with a gentle click that cut straight across Shen Roulan’s line, separating several of her stones from the rest.
“My grandfather says that if you hesitate, you’ll lose the flow.” Shen Ruolan said while pouting. She hated to lose, and it seemed that rather than catching up to Jun De’s skills over the past year, she had regressed slightly.
“Senior Brother shouldn’t bully Sister Ruolan.” Lin Yue said, and her laughter grew a little brighter.
“I haven’t lost yet.” Shen Ruolan replied. She placed her next stone with delicate precision, countering Jun De’s move in a way that made him raise an eyebrow in surprise.
“Clever!” Jun De exclaimed happily. He had loved playing ‘Go’ in University on Earth, and finding someone as talented as Shen Ruolan in his new life was delightful.
The lighthearted contest carried on, punctuated by playful jabs at each other, smiles and laughter, and the tension from earlier was completely forgotten.
But as the sun set and the large windows in the room revealed the night sky, the atmosphere slowly began to shift. Shen Ruolan set her teacup down on the table, and her expression was thoughtful.
“Jun De, it’s getting late. Sister Yue must be getting tired. She should return to her room to rest while I help you clean up.” There was something more implied in her tone, and Jun De nearly dropped his own teacup.
Lin Yue stiffened, then gave her friend a tight-lipped smile.
“What about you, Sister Ruolan? It wouldn’t be appropriate to leave the mess to you, not when you are clearly so tired from your game. I think you should leave first, while I stay behind to tidy the dishes and assist Senior Brother.”
Lin Yu’s eyes flicked toward Jun De, and he was again startled by what he saw in them. They reminded him of a predator whose prey was cornered, and she was about to move in for the kill.
Jun De sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose with his hand.
‘Caught in the middle again.’
“Both of you should go rest. It has been a long day, and we still have many more to come before we reach the Secret Realm. I’ll see you both in the morning.”
Their smiles vanished at once, replaced by matching frowns. Rather than argue with Jun De, they stared daggers at each other as they collected the dishes and moved toward the door. When they left the room, Jun De could hear their voices from outside.
“You were in the way! You had your time with him, but he’s my husband!”
“I’m in the way!? You’re the one always clinging to him! And he isn’t your husband, so it’s not as though you have any claim to him!”
The door finally closed with a soft click, and the wards activated to block any sound from entering. Jun De shook his head, caught between amusement and exasperation at the two, when he heard a soft knock at the door.
“Which one of them is trying to sneak back here?” Jun De said as he rose and slid the door open.
Instead of seeing Lin Yue or Shen Ruolan, Elder Mu Yanyu stood in the lantern-lit corridor with her hands behind her back. Her blue robes trimmed in gold shimmered faintly, and her expression carried the calm authority of the Vice Sect Master, rather than the gentleness he had come to expect from her.
Her sudden appearance, combined with the seriousness of her presence, made him straighten instinctively, before bowing.
“Disciple Jun De greet Elder Mu. What can I do for you at this late hour?” Jun De asked.
“I have something to discuss with you, Jun De.” Mu Yanyu replied, and her tone left no room for hesitation or denial. He immediately stepped aside and gestured for her to enter. The moment she crossed the threshold to his room, the space seemed to grow smaller from the weight of her presence.
