Chapter 45: Here, You Can Pet It.

Wu Ge, who was completely ignored, grew even darker in the face. He was about to speak again when someone walked past behind him and positioned themselves between him and Feng Xixing. Wu Ge’s expression was ugly. He gritted his teeth and said to that person, “Move! Don’t you see…”

Lin Chuyun turned slightly and cast him a cool, indifferent glance.

Wu Ge’s face changed drastically, and he hurriedly bowed in salute. “Greetings, Immortal Lord Lin.”

He inwardly groaned in misery. Why would Lin Chuyun appear at the Disciple Grand Competition? Surely, everything he’d just said hadn’t been heard by Lin Chuyun?

Lin Chuyun had not only heard, he deliberately asked, “What was that you were saying about pills?”

Cold sweat broke out on Wu Ge’s back. He wouldn’t dare say another word. Not to mention that this pill business was purely his baseless speculation, without a shred of evidence. Even if Feng Xixing really had consumed pills, he wouldn’t dare to continue his mockery.

The entire Sect knew that Lin Chuyun’s Nascent Soul stage had been forcibly reached with pills. If he mocked Feng Xixing in front of Lin Chuyun, wouldn’t he be thoroughly offending Immortal Lord Lin?!

Unfortunately for him, he didn’t know that the moment he opened his mouth to mock Feng Xixing, he had already offended Lin Chuyun.

“This disciple… was merely congratulating Junior Brother Feng on his powerful spirit energy and his smooth passage through the first round,” Wu Ge gritted out.

Lin Chuyun looked him up and down, causing him to break out in a nervous sweat, before withdrawing his gaze and turning to his little disciple, who had been waiting for a long time. “Is there anything else?”

Feng Xixing smiled and shook his head, understanding Lin Chuyun’s meaning. He proactively stepped forward to lead the way.

Behind him, Wu Ge had just breathed a sigh of relief when he felt a sudden chill on his neck. He subconsciously reached up and touched his neck, feeling a faint, fine, prickling pain.

Looking again, a wound had appeared on his neck at some unknown moment, silently seeping threads of blood.

Wu Ge’s face went pale, and his gaze towards Feng Xixing was filled with terror.

Lin Chuyun followed Feng Xixing outward, but halfway, he heard a burst of exclamations coming from a nearby stone platform. Lin Chuyun looked over with a hint of curiosity and heard the people near that platform discussing something.

“Bai Linghan”, “Golden Core Late Stage”, “Yan Sha”

Lin Chuyun frowned slightly. After exchanging a glance with Feng Xixing, he proactively walked towards that platform. Although Feng Xixing didn’t care what was happening, he obediently followed along.

When they reached the vicinity of the platform, Lin Chuyun’s brow furrowed deeply.

The two fighting on the platform were Bai Linghan and Yan Sha. The entire platform was scarred with marks from spirit power. The two were still fighting, but Yan Sha actually seemed to be faintly at a disadvantage.

The issue lay in their cultivation levels. Yan Sha was at the Early Golden Core Stage, perhaps in three or four more days he’d reach the Middle Golden Core Stage, but Bai Linghan…

Lin Chuyun narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze toward Bai Linghan carrying a hint of solemnity.

A month ago, in the Thunder Echo Grotto, Bai Linghan had only been at the Early Golden Core Stage. Now, the aura he exuded faintly indicated the Golden Core Late Stage. Given another month, he would likely break through his core and form his nascent soul.

How could a normal cultivator train this fast? Or, because he had disrupted the normal plot, was the story now undergoing changes he was unaware of?

On the stage, another attack by Yan Sha was deflected by Bai Linghan. At the same time, Yan Sha’s right leg was entangled in a Water Flow from Bai Linghan, and he was slammed heavily onto the stone surface.

“Hiss—” Yan Sha’s Scimitar twisted, severing the water flow. He took the chance to retreat two steps back, looking at Bai Linghan with extreme vigilance.

Bai Linghan was very satisfied with this look. He even displayed rare forbearance towards Yan Sha. “Senior Brother Yan, Linghan does not wish to harm you. Why don’t you, Senior Brother…”

“You are really very noisy.” Yan Sha was thoroughly annoyed by Bai Linghan. Wasn’t a martial contest just me hitting you and you hitting me? Whoever beats the other is the winner. Why did this person always start spouting useless nonsense mid-fight?

Things like ‘Junior Brother Feng trained so fast on his own, yet was unwilling to help me out a bit’—isn’t cultivation only effective through one’s own effort? Others can’t cultivate for you.

Things like ‘Immortal Lord Lin causing a scene at Spirit Fire Peak is showing them disrespect’—that was clearly Steward Liu going too far. Immortal Lord Lin couldn’t stand it anymore and stood up for Junior Brother Feng.

Things like ‘Although I’m very unwilling to hurt Senior Brother Yan, I must win this match’—it’s just a fight. He and Junior Brother Feng fight often; is there any need for so many excuses?

If it weren’t for Yan Sha’s principle of always persisting in a match to the very end and not easily admitting defeat, he would want to just give up now.

Bai Linghan’s face darkened, but he quickly recovered his smile. However, his attacks against Yan Sha now clearly carried a cold fierceness. Yan Sha dodged swiftly, retaliating with a blast of a Fire Fist.

Below the stage, Lin Chuyun’s presence was gradually noticed by the surrounding people. Looking at Bai Linghan on the stage, then at Feng Xixing nearby, the disciples’ eyes couldn’t help but reveal a gossiping glint.

Feng Xixing also saw those looks. Although he didn’t understand what these people were thinking, he subconsciously drew closer to Lin Chuyun’s direction, even deliberately taking hold of Lin Chuyun’s sleeve.

Lin Chuyun’s mind was completely occupied with pondering the plot changes, utterly unaware of his little disciple’s small actions behind him.

Although Yan Sha tried very hard to find an opportunity, the gap in cultivation between him and Bai Linghan was too large. After holding on for half an hour, he was knocked off the platform by Bai Linghan.

“Bai Linghan is victorious.”

Although the match’s outcome had been anticipated, everyone still couldn’t help but be somewhat surprised when it actually happened.

While Yan Sha was not the Eldest Senior Brother of Spirit Fire Peak, he could arguably be called the most talented one on that peak. Apart from Feng Xixing on Spirit Cloud Peak, no one who entered the Sect at the same time as him could beat him.

But now, he had lost to Bai Linghan, who had entered the Sect two years later than him.

Bai Linghan deliberately stood on the stage for a while longer, enjoying the looks of amazement from the surrounding crowd, before descending. He looked at Yan Sha with a worried expression. “Is Senior Brother Yan alright? Linghan’s strikes were a bit heavy just now. I didn’t hurt Senior Brother Yan, did I?”

Yan Sha thought he was genuinely worried and comforted him kindly, “It’s fine. It didn’t hurt as much as that time Junior Brother Feng beat me.”

What Bai Linghan hated most right now was others saying he was inferior to Feng Xixing. Hearing this, he wished he could throw Yan Sha back onto the platform and beat him up severely.

“Th-That’s… good,” he gritted out, enunciating each word.

“Hey, look, look, Immortal Lord Lin is here…” Someone in the crowd let out a low cry, which was then submerged amidst the people.

Bai Linghan was startled upon hearing this. He raised his head and looked to his side, and sure enough, he saw Lin Chuyun standing by the platform’s edge, his gaze just landing over here as well. He sneered inwardly. As expected, as long as he became powerful, those people would regret abandoning him.

Thinking this, Bai Linghan couldn’t help but wear a somewhat smug expression, waiting for Lin Chuyun to come over and ingratiate himself.

Lin Chuyun walked over. Seeing Bai Linghan looking up at the sky with his head tilted back, he was a bit puzzled about what he was looking at. But Lin Chuyun didn’t dare ask too many questions. What if he spoke to Bai Linghan and his little disciple misunderstood again?

Thinking of this, he silently switched places with Feng Xixing, putting even more distance between himself and Bai Linghan. Only then did he look to the other side, at Yan Sha. “Are you alright?”

The moment Yan Sha saw Lin Chuyun, he instantly stood ramrod straight, his voice becoming docile. “Fine, fine, completely fine.”

Bai Linghan off to the side: “…”

Why hadn’t he struck harder just now? He should have beaten Yan Sha so badly he couldn’t even get up!

Seeing Yan Sha’s expression of utter fear and unease, Lin Chuyun finally couldn’t help but ask quietly, “Why are you so afraid of this lord?”

Yan Sha’s expression stiffened. He realized Lin Chuyun was genuinely asking this question. Seeing this, he secretly felt a surge of joy and was just about to make up a random excuse to gloss over it when Feng Xixing’s gaze drifted over.

“…Because I spoke badly about you, Immortal Lord, back in the Thunder Echo Grotto.” Yan Sha’s words were almost mumbled. Had Lin Chuyun’s hearing not been excellent, he probably wouldn’t have understood what he said.

Lin Chuyun was slightly startled, then suddenly recalled that something like that had indeed happened. But truthfully, he had long since forgotten about it. Lin Chuyun shook his head helplessly and casually reached out to ruffle Yan Sha’s hair. Unlike his little disciple’s, Yan Sha’s hair was slightly bristly to the touch.

“Does this lord seem so petty?”

Yan Sha shrank his neck. I don’t know if you’re petty or not, but Junior Brother Feng certainly is. If you don’t take your hand back soon, my head probably won’t be safe.

Thankfully, Lin Chuyun withdrew his hand before Feng Xixing could erupt.

Yan Sha, having successfully kept his head, didn’t dare linger here a moment longer. He made up a random excuse and slipped away quietly. Seeing him run off so fast, Lin Chuyun was reassured and left with his little disciple.

Bai Linghan, who had been waiting with his head held high for Lin Chuyun to ingratiate himself, stood there stiffly. He watched Lin Chuyun’s back as he walked further and further away, without even a single glance back at him.

Bai Linghan’s face burned with humiliation. He felt as if everyone around him was laughing at him. In his heart, his hatred for Lin Chuyun instantly surpassed that for Feng Xixing.

Although Feng Xixing had a bad attitude toward him, he had always been that way. But Lin Chuyun—who had previously liked him so much, who had treated him so well—was now so cold toward him.

The more Bai Linghan thought about it, the more he couldn’t suppress the hatred in his heart. A layer of crimson gradually surfaced in his pupils. It was just that no one around him noticed, so no one saw.

…

Back on Spirit Cloud Peak, the Illusory Form Pill’s duration expired. Lin Chuyun transformed back into the little black cat on the bed, stretched lazily, and lay down right in the spot where he had been sleeping before.

His tail flicked casually behind him as the whole cat curled into a ball, ready to sleep again.

Seeing this, Feng Xixing had to give up the methods he’d prepared to curry favor with his Shizun. He softened his movements and also sat down on the bed. The little black ball of fluff fell asleep quickly, but after a short while, it began to shift restlessly.

At first, Feng Xixing thought the little black ball was just turning over, so he quickly reached out to protect it, afraid the little black cat might accidentally fall off the bed. But as soon as he reached out, the little black ball settled down.

Feng Xixing waited for a long time. Seeing that the little black cat showed no intention of rolling again, he slowly withdrew his hand. But shortly after he took his hand back, the little black cat started to stir again.

This time, Feng Xixing realized something was off. He hesitantly raised his hand to block the space in front of the little black ball, shielding the sunlight falling near the cat’s pupils. The little black ball immediately quieted down once more.

Feng Xixing chuckled wryly and helplessly played with the little tail a couple of times, but he no longer had any intention to continue cultivating. He just held his hand there like that, shielding the little black cat’s head in a shadow, while also being careful not to block the sunlight falling on its belly.

It was rather similar to when he first started practicing with the sword.

Feng Xixing spaced out slightly. Back then, he also had to hold his arm out horizontally for hours without moving. It was just that he did it to become stronger then, but now, he was doing it for…

The sunlight shifted downward with the passing time, and Feng Xixing adjusted his hand’s height accordingly.

The little black cat was sleeping soundly, its tiny belly rising and falling with each breath. Feng Xixing’s gaze fell on the fur of its abdomen. He hesitated for a long time before finally, carefully, reaching out and gently brushing his fingertips across its belly fur.

It was soft and, warmed by the sun, felt especially cozy.

Feng Xixing couldn’t help rubbing his fingertips together. Just as he was about to reach out and touch it again, he was stopped by the little tail.

The little tail, feeling aggrieved and unhappy, wrapped around his fingertip, as if complaining that he disliked it. Feng Xixing had to withdraw his hand and seriously, earnestly comfort the little tail.

Lin Chuyun’s nap this time only lasted less than two hours. Upon waking, he habitually stood up to stretch but felt his head bump against something. He looked up in confusion and saw his little disciple smiling faintly at him, his palm held a short distance above his head.

Was little disciple… wanting to pet his head?

The little black cat hesitated for a moment, but then proactively raised its head and gently rubbed against Feng Xixing’s palm.

“Meow.”

Here, you can pet it.