Chapter 14: It Would Be Great If He Could Sleep with Shizun Again Before Leaving

“Has Hengxue Mountain been using this much flour recently?”

Zhongli Yun looked at the list reported by the dining hall and frowned. Originally, he would not have noticed such minor details, but because he had been watching Liu Xishi some days ago, he now paid special attention to the dining hall’s comings and goings.

The dining hall manager said, “It was requested by the Sect Master’s side. Apparently, it is to prepare travel rations for his disciple.”

“…”

Zhongli Yun stood up and shaded his eyes with his palm as he looked into the distance. He saw smoke curling up from Hengxue Mountain. It was neither morning nor noon, so they were not preparing a proper meal. They were making travel rations.

“A child travels a thousand li, and his mother worries.”

Zhongli Yun sighed, then comfortably leaned back against his chair and continued reading the accounts.

In the future, they might as well send fabric directly to Hengxue Mountain. Judging by this, Wen Tingshu was about to learn how to make clothes too.

“Head, Eldest Miss Xie requests an audience.”

“Invite her in.”

Xie Ru came to find Zhongli Yun in order to fight for a training opportunity for her nephew, Xie Jing. That boy’s cultivation had stubbornly failed to reach the Golden Core stage. She figured his life had been too comfortable, and he needed to seek a sudden change.

Such a small request—how could Zhongli Yun not agree?

“All right. Let him set off with the main group tomorrow.”

After all, Xie Jing was Xie Shouzhuo’s only son. The Xie family head was strict with him on ordinary days, but deep down, he doted on him terribly. Even when Xie Jing went out for training, he was afraid something would happen to him.

Xie Ru could only ask in detail about the training route and safety measures so the family head could be at ease.

Zhongli Yun looked at the worry in Xie Ru’s eyes and smiled, switching to a casual tone. “Xie Jing is your Xie family’s only seedling. But Meng Baixu, who is going with him this time, is also our Hengxue Sect’s only seedling. Would the Sect Master let anything happen to them?”

Xie Ru gave an awkward smile. “The Sect Master’s disciple has outstanding talent. Xie Jing cannot compare. Being able to travel with him this time is Xie Jing’s good fortune.”

Before Xie Tongchen died, the Xie family and the Hengxue Sect could still be considered to stand side by side. Now, they could no longer be mentioned in the same breath. In the future, it would be even more so… Just look, even the quality of their only seedlings was different.

The greater the family business, the more each generation could not afford to slack.

Xie Ru asked, “Where did Sect Master Wen find such a good disciple?”

Zhongli Yun had nothing to reveal. “He stood out at the recruitment assembly and was recognized by the Sect Master’s discerning eyes, that’s all.”

Xie Ru said, “I only asked too much. We have disturbed the Hengxue Sect for two days, and it is time for us to return. I came today to say farewell. Head Zhongli, until we meet again. This is a small token of the Xie family’s regard. Please accept it.”

Zhongli Yun naturally did not accept. “The Sect Master and Senior Xie were as close as brothers. The Hengxue Sect and the Xie family walk the righteous path together, in an alliance like the sun and moon. Eldest Miss Xie, doing this makes us seem like outsiders.”

***

Meng Baixu received the latest training list and nudged Shizun’s back with his arm. “Why is Xie Jing on here?”

Wen Tingshu said, “Most likely, Xie Shouzhuo wants him to go out and train.”

Meng Baixu’s eyes turned.

Fine. When the time came, this sect leader would make sure Xie Jing did nothing and let him make the trip for nothing.

Wait. Why was Situ Nanchun on this list too?

Situ Nanchun was the eldest disciple of the First Peak’s peak master. He could be called one of the founding disciples of the Hengxue Sect. He had received guidance from Wen Tingshu. Before Meng Baixu came, Situ Nanchun had been the true Da-shixiong in name and fact.

Situ Nanchun was at the Tribulation Crossing stage, with profound cultivation. These past few months, he had been outside carrying out missions and had not yet met Meng Baixu, but he was already on Meng Baixu’s assassination list.

For no other reason than that Situ Nanchun had led teams to clear seven of the Fuguang Sect’s secret realms. He succeeded with ease every time. Truly hateful.

Not a single person on this list was pleasing to the eye.

After Meng Baixu became pregnant, his temper grew very big. He thought this must be what it meant for the father to become noble through the child. So he ordered arrogantly, “I don’t want to travel with Situ Nanchun. Remove him. I want to be team leader.”

Wen Tingshu said, “No.”

Meng Baixu was so angry his stomach hurt. “Why?”

Wen Tingshu patiently said, “This trip will pass through Yongzhou City. The city lord also has the surname Situ and is a descendant of Situ Nanchun’s elder brother. With him there, things will be more convenient for you.”

The mortal realm lay between two cultivation realms, and Yongzhou City happened to be the necessary passageway between them. Cultivators could ride swords and fly in the cultivation world, but in the mortal realm, they could only rely on carriages and horses. The journey would take time, which was why the training lasted as long as three months.

Meng Baixu wanted to enter Yongzhou City. He liked to meddle in things and could easily attract retaliation. Wen Tingshu had called Situ Nanchun back because this was the most complete plan he could think of.

From the old-fashioned man’s tone, Meng Baixu knew there was no room for discussion. Was Situ Nanchun that impressive? Their Fuguang Sect also had many hidden agents in the mortal realm.

Meng Baixu said faintly, “Shizun, why didn’t you accept Situ Nanchun as your disciple?”

Wen Tingshu said decisively, “I did not want to.”

That was more like it. But Situ Nanchun had received Shizun’s guidance. The demonic sect leader had no capacity for tolerance, so his dislike doubled.

“I also want one hundred and eighty baskets of dumplings.”

Meng Baixu raised the stakes, making an outrageous demand.

Wen Tingshu said, “There isn’t enough time. Can you buy them on the road?”

Meng Baixu knew there was not enough time.

He had supervised Wen Tingshu making wheat foods for two days. Wen Tingshu truly did not need to eat or sleep and still had endless strength. During this time, Meng Baixu had already raised the amount twice.

Many mortal masters who made wheat foods had broad shoulders and round waists because only then did they have the strength to knead dough. He had not expected Wen Tingshu to look like… no, Shizun had abs when undressed too.

Meng Baixu reached out and fiercely pinched a small piece of dough.

Last time, he had not even managed to touch Shizun’s muscles. He had only hugged Shizun tightly and cried.

“Dumplings can be bought on the road, but books cannot be read on the road.”

Meng Baixu pulled a forbidden book out from his robes with a swish. “Shizun, before I leave, teach me this.”

Once he left, he would not come back. If he could sleep with Shizun again before leaving, that would be great.

The first time was unfamiliar, the second time would be familiar. This time, he definitely would not uselessly keep crying.

Do it again and wipe away the previous shame. Yes, exactly.

Wen Tingshu closed his eyes. Both his hands were covered in sticky lumps of dough. With heavy force, he grabbed at the dough in the kneading vat.

“Lanshe, there are some things Shifu cannot teach. You can only comprehend them yourself.”

Meng Baixu said, “For me, it is learning. For Shizun, it is review. Why not do it?”

Wen Tingshu’s expression changed slightly. “Review?”

Meng Baixu said, “Yes. Shizun has already learned it, so practicing it is reviewing the old to learn the new.”

Wen Tingshu’s expression eased. “Lanshe, there are always some roads one must walk alone. Just like when you go out for training, Shifu cannot accompany you.”

Meng Baixu frowned and looked Wen Tingshu up and down as he changed the subject. He looked like a graceful jade tree in the wind, cold and dignified, but in truth, he was cowardly and avoiding desire.

Relying on the fact that Shizun’s hands were both kneading dough and he had no free hand to stop him, Meng Baixu suddenly hugged him from behind and touched him.

With one move, he touched both the hard thing and his abs.

He had guessed right!

Shizun had tasted marrow and knew the flavor, and wanted to sleep with him, but because of the master-disciple relationship, he restrained himself and observed propriety.

Wen Tingshu said, “Lanshe!”

Meng Baixu only dared touch once before letting go. After being scolded, he was so frightened that he hid his hands behind his back, rubbing his burning palm against his lower back.

Wen Tingshu looked at his disciple, who was both bold and guilty, and was helpless.

“Read the Hengxue Sect’s master-disciple rules again.”

Meng Baixu let go and cursed in his heart, “Cowardly old-fashioned man.”

Hmph. He still wanted to be master and disciple with him. This sect leader would soon betray the sect.

When he turned back into an evil great demon, bringing along a little demon, Shizun’s expression would look even better than it did now.

He cleared his throat. “Fine, fine. I won’t learn.”

Wen Tingshu’s voice carried sternness. “When you are out training, you are not allowed to treat others like this.”

Meng Baixu said, “I know!”

Did he really know?

Wen Tingshu still wanted to advise him about a few more things, but he lacked the words and could only endure again and again.

Meng Baixu, however, had many things to advise Shizun about.

“Shizun, when I’m not on Hengxue Mountain, remember to cook for yourself every day.”

The conversation returned to the proper path. Wen Tingshu’s heart warmed. As he rolled the dough flat, he replied, “Mn.”

Meng Baixu said, “Remember to feed the blue oxen I gave you. No matter what happens, you’re not allowed to throw them away.”

Wen Tingshu said, “They were given by you. How could I throw them away?”

Meng Baixu looked at Wen Tingshu seriously. “Also, during these three months when I’m not by your side, don’t overuse your spiritual power. If an enemy comes looking for you, hide by yourself first and wait for me to come back and avenge you. A gentleman’s revenge is never too late even after ten years. If you want to break through to another realm, also wait for me to come back and protect you.”

The fetus in his belly would initially absorb his spiritual power. Only after three months, once the fetal state stabilized, would it begin absorbing spiritual power from the other father.

At that time, if Wen Tingshu happened to overuse spiritual power or was at a breakthrough stage, combined with the sudden loss of spiritual power, it could harm his body.

Wen Tingshu listened to his disciple’s serious, methodical instructions, as if Wen Tingshu were truly an elderly person unable to care for himself. He laughed softly. “All right. Shifu has remembered everything.”

Was he not the same? Meng Baixu was only going on a long journey, yet Wen Tingshu was as worried as if a three-year-old child were carrying gold through a crowded market.

Meng Baixu was still worried. Wen Tingshu had been the number one person in the cultivation world for too long. His ears were filled with flattering voices, so he inevitably became proud and self-confident. Would he take the instructions of a little Golden Core disciple like Meng Baixu to heart?

No. He had to copy them out. One copy would be pasted in the kitchen, one at Shizun’s bedside, and one at his own bedside, so Wen Tingshu could see them everywhere.

Thinking this, Meng Baixu ran to Wen Tingshu’s study, sat down calmly, picked up a brush, and with flicks of his wrist, copied those words exactly.

He did not have Shizun’s fine handwriting. After all, he was only twenty. In the past, he had too many things to learn, and not much time had been allocated to calligraphy. The words he wrote were not crooked, but they were different sizes.

In the signature, the two characters “Lanshe” had one tiny character and one enormous character.

It was all because the character “she” was too complicated.

Why did Wen Tingshu give him such a difficult courtesy name?

Meng Baixu remembered something else. When he first became a disciple, Wen Tingshu had verbally said he would teach him calligraphy. But later, because Meng Baixu had to attend school, leaving early and returning late every day, when he came back to Hengxue Mountain, he did not want to study anymore. So the matter had been left unsettled.

Three months had passed too quickly. So quickly that he had not yet learned from Shizun how to write a proper, small “Lanshe.”

Meng Baixu took another sheet of white paper and seized the time to practice.

The Fuguang Sect was full of illiterate people. In the future, no one would call him by his courtesy name anymore.

He wrote in the study for one shichen. The sky was almost dark, yet the characters he wrote were still one big and one small.

It was all Wen Tingshu’s fault for not teaching him hand over hand.

It would be great if Shizun could split into two: one to steam buns, and one to teach him calligraphy.

Meng Baixu’s little face wrinkled. Then he switched to writing Wen Tingshu’s name. These three characters were much more balanced, and the result was still passable. He immediately beamed.

“Lanshe.”

Shizun called him from afar.

“Coming!”

Meng Baixu put down the brush. Another pot of fresh meat buns had come out, and Shizun was calling him to put them into his qiankun pouch.

That night, the Hengxue Sect’s Sect Master did not sleep or rest, making flatbreads.

Meng Baixu was chased back to sleep, but he also tossed and turned in bed like a flatbread.

It was all Qi Feng-shidi’s brother and sister-in-law’s fault for giving him the inspiration to have a prodigal child too early.

It was also this sect leader’s fault for being clever and quick-witted, succeeding in his plan all at once.

Now, he had to run.

The next morning, Meng Baixu got up and put the last basket of buns from the kitchen into his qiankun pouch, then glanced at Shizun.

Wen Tingshu had not slept for three days, yet there was no trace of fatigue on him.

He wondered whether making buns was more tiring, or sleeping with him was more tiring.

The training team had a total of thirty people. They were fully prepared and ready to set off. The team leader, Situ Nanchun, had also rushed back through the night to continue this extremely simple mission.

The training had been arranged after the visitation period so they could also escort some cultivators’ relatives home along the way.

Wen Tingshu could only send Meng Baixu to the snow line.

“Go.”

He did not need to ask if Meng Baixu had brought everything, because aside from himself and the blue oxen, there was practically nothing left on Hengxue Mountain.

Meng Baixu walked down a few steps, then could not help turning back to look at Shizun standing high above. He quickly ran back a few steps.

“Shizun, you really can’t come with me?”

Wen Tingshu said, “I cannot, Lanshe.”

Meng Baixu asked, “Can’t the secret realms just not be cleared?”

Wen Tingshu said, “They cannot.”

Meng Baixu felt extremely wronged. “Then can’t you at least send me to the mountain gate?”

Wen Tingshu glanced downward and slightly nodded in greeting. “Situ Nanchun has arrived. He will escort you in my place.”

He did not plan to tell Meng Baixu the secret that he was standing in place of the heavenly pillar, lest Meng Baixu worry. He was also afraid of Meng Baixu’s impatient temperament, that he would go find the Fuguang Sect to negotiate.

Back then, Brother Xie had learned of the broken heavenly pillar of Hengxue Mountain and said he wanted to find Meng Fuguang to talk, wanting to persuade Meng Fuguang to cooperate, wanting to reform the demon.

In the end, who knew what happened between the two? They died together.

Thus, Wen Tingshu’s stance had to be clearing secret realms, not cooperating with the Fuguang Sect.

He would not tell Meng Baixu, nor would he let Meng Baixu take over his responsibility in the future. Meng Baixu only needed to be happy.

In the future, once all the secret realms were cleared, he could accompany Meng Baixu wherever he wanted to go.

For now, he could only wrong Lanshe.

***

Situ Nanchun saw the legendary “Da-shixiong” for the first time.

It was said that this “Da-shixiong” was beautiful, gentle, pleasant, and kind-hearted… In short, Situ Nanchun, the former Da-shixiong, paled in comparison. His fellow disciples had switched to a new Da-shixiong without hesitation.

Seeing him was better than hearing a hundred rumors. It was just that Da-shixiong’s expression could not be considered kind.

Situ Nanchun said, “If we move faster, we can make the round trip in a month and a half.”

The sect had given them three months because it hoped they would walk slowly along the way, observe all living beings, and gain insights. As the saying went, reading ten thousand books could not compare to traveling ten thousand li. But if Da-shixiong was eager to return, they could hurry along.

Meng Baixu hugged his sword and thought: this sect leader cannot explain things clearly to you righteous path people who still intend to come back.

“Let’s set off.”

In the cultivation world, they could ride swords. Meng Baixu stepped onto Fengxing Sword and flew ahead alone, disdaining to associate with the righteous path.

After a while, someone caught up from behind. He turned his head and saw it was Xie Jing.

Beneath Xie Jing’s feet was Xie Tongchen’s bonded sword. Back then, the Xie family had found it at the place where Xie Tongchen and Meng Fuguang fought and brought it back to the Xie family. This time, Eldest Aunt Xie had brought it over to give Xie Jing for self-defense.

Xie Jing deliberately flew half a body length ahead of Meng Baixu and showed off. “This is my eldest uncle’s Qingshuang Sword. What do you think? It’s better than yours, right?”

Meng Baixu narrowed his eyes.

Xie Tongchen’s sword. Maybe it was precisely the sword that killed his father.

He immediately changed direction. Fengxing Sword’s tip pointed straight at Qingshuang Sword’s blade as he secretly poured spiritual power into it.

Bang—

Electric light scattered everywhere, and arcs of light were like rainbows. Fengxing Sword etched a twisted dent into Qingshuang Sword’s blade.

Qingshuang Sword could still barely hold on, but Xie Jing standing on top of it was already swaying.

“Ahhhh—”

Xie Jing’s body tilted, and he fell down.

Seeing that things were going badly, Situ Nanchun flew forward on his sword and caught Xie Jing, then placed him back onto Qingshuang Sword like putting down a little chick.

Meng Baixu withdrew his hand and stood steadily on Fengxing Sword.

Hmph. If not for the fact that he was pregnant, today he definitely would have broken Xie Tongchen’s bonded sword in two.

Situ Nanchun finally understood the meaningful look Head Zhongli had given him before departure. He asked, “What happened?”

Meng Baixu said, “Xie Jing said he wanted to compare which was stronger, Fengxing Sword or Qingshuang Sword.”

Xie Jing stood there, still shaken: “…”

They rode their swords a thousand li in only a brief moment. Before sunset, they arrived at the intersection between the cultivation world and the mortal world: outside the gates of Yongzhou City.

Before landing, Situ Nanchun instructed, “The mortal world has its own order. Everyone must act cautiously and must not conflict with others, except when acting heroically for justice.”

“Everyone, rest outside the city gate and buy some food. I will go negotiate with the gate guards.”

Yongzhou City was the liveliest place under heaven. Cultivators and mortals crowded together. It was the best place for business between both sides. Outside the city gate, there was a row of tea stops, relay stations, and small stalls.

The task of escorting relatives ended here. Everyone parted ways, and the remaining cultivators were divided into three small teams to rest separately.

This time, Xie Jing had brought plenty of gold and silver. With one glance, he saw the most lively eatery filled with worldly smoke and fire, and excitedly said, “I’ll treat shixiong and shidi to roasted lamb legs!”

“Brother Xie is generous. It’s been so long since I ate this.”

“Da-shixiong, come join us!”

“No. I have no appetite.”

Meng Baixu waved his hand and found a long bench. He sat on one end and took a bun from his qiankun pouch to gnaw on.

The bun that had still been warm in the morning was already cold now.

Xie Jing ordered roasted lamb legs and rice wine. Seeing Meng Baixu gnawing a bun alone, he frowned. Did Sect Master Wen not give Meng Baixu traveling money?

“Hey, do you want me to lend you money? Ow.”

A golden hidden weapon flew straight at him. Xie Jing reacted quickly and caught it, discovering it was a gold leaf flown over from Meng Baixu.

Meng Baixu raised a brow at him. “I’m lending it to you. No need to repay.”

Trying to lend money to this sect leader? Are you richer than me?

“…”

He had money but would not eat freshly roasted lamb legs, instead gnawing on a cold bun. Xie Jing said angrily, “Is your Da-shixiong sick in the head?”

The other cultivators looked at each other. One person said seriously, “Da-shixiong fills his stomach with dry rations to remain alert to the surrounding situation at all times.”

If he were like them, each person holding lamb legs with both hands and eating happily, then which hand would he use to draw his sword when the time came?

Xie Jing shut up.

Fine, fine, fine. None of you understand Meng Baixu’s true face.

Meng Baixu was currently thinking about what timing would be best to betray the sect and achieve twice the result with half the effort, when a gentle question suddenly came by his ear.

“This young gongzi, would you like to eat freshly wrapped dumplings?”

Meng Baixu turned his head and saw that the bench he sat on actually belonged to a dumpling stall. The owner was tall and ordinary-looking. The instant he lifted the steamer lid, white steam surged upward. When his face blurred, there was faintly a shadow of Shizun.

Meng Baixu stepped forward like an arrow, grabbed his wrist, and examined him. There was no spiritual power at all. He was just an extremely ordinary stall vendor.

“What filling?”

The man said, “Shrimp and fresh meat.”

Meng Baixu said, “Not tasty.”

The man was silent for a moment. “What filling do you want to eat?”

Meng Baixu said, “Pickled cabbage and glass noodles.”

The man fell silent again, seeming never to have heard of pickled cabbage and glass noodles being wrapped inside dumplings.

“You don’t have it, do you? My buns do.”

Meng Baixu showed him his pickled cabbage and glass noodle bun, then glanced at the man’s dumplings.

“The pleats are so ugly. They can’t compare to my Shizun’s at all.”

The man looked at his own hands and began to doubt his life a little.

Meng Baixu continued gnawing on his bun. After deliberately looking for trouble, he happily crossed one leg over the other.

“Then do you want me to heat up your bun?” the man asked again. There were no other customers in his eyes, only Meng Baixu.

Seeing that he truly wanted to earn his money, Meng Baixu magnanimously tossed the bun into the steamer. “Fine. Ten wen for one reheating.”

He had done another good deed today. What he wanted to give birth to should not need repeating, right?