Chapter 20 Part 1

After Lidong, Xiang City saw several bouts of rain in a row.

The weather gradually turned cool, and the Divine Temple on Fragrant Ze Mountain welcomed its second Nine-Nines Cold Days.

Wenren Sheng wore a small thin velvet cloak and obediently sat before the long desk in the quiet room, warming his books. The white fur at the collar squeezed against the edges of his cheeks, nearly blocking half his little face.

He softly recited his studies while secretly glancing several times at Yi Jinxiang, who lay sideways nearby with her eyes closed in repose.

Perhaps because she was a snake demon, she made no breathing sounds while dozing—like a motionless statue.

Wenren Sheng observed for quite a while before confirming she was truly asleep.

“Great.”

Wenren Sheng softly cheered to himself, then closed his book and carefully reached for his small bundle.

He planned to leave a bit earlier today.

He had thought to catch the clan leader before seclusion and properly discuss these years’ matters, but since they parted that day, Wenren Sheng spent every day in the Scripture Pavilion from dawn until dusk, with no spare time at all.

Tomorrow, he headed to the back mountain for seclusion.

This seclusion would take a full five years, and at the clan leader’s age, it was uncertain if he would still be around when Wenren Sheng emerged!

Thus, he had to see him today.

But on his first time skipping class, Wenren Sheng felt very nervous. Though he moved as lightly as possible, he still accidentally knocked the bundle off the desk. The contents inside clattered to the floor.

He startled and hurriedly crouched to pick them up, all the while watching Yi Jinxiang.

Fortunately, she seemed deeply asleep and wasn’t woken.

Wenren Sheng breathed a sigh of relief, tucked Cangyu True Monarch’s Clay Figurine back into the bundle, then stood and slowly headed for the door.

Sorry, Master.

Near the door, Wenren Sheng silently apologized in his heart.

Just let him end class a little early today.

With that thought, Wenren Sheng drew a deep breath, lifted his foot, and stepped over the threshold—

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Before his escaping little steps could get out, Wenren Sheng felt a slippery sensation reach from behind. A snake tail slipped through his bundle strap and hoisted him into midair.

Oh no! Caught!

Wenren Sheng flailed wildly in the air.

“Master, I have something super super super important! Can you let me go today? Please!”

Yi Jinxiang lazily propped her cheek. Her snake tail hooked, tossing Wenren Sheng back before the long desk.

“I didn’t say you couldn’t go. Sit there first.”

Wenren Sheng rolled back to the desk with a thud. He pouted, rubbed his sore butt, and said resentfully, “Fine, but hurry up.”

Yi Jinxiang said nothing. She retracted her snake tail, shapeshifted back to human form, rested her wrists on the desk as she rose, and stood before it, looking down at Wenren Sheng.

“Tomorrow’s your birthday?”

Wenren Sheng looked up at Yi Jinxiang and nodded dazedly.

She hummed, expressionless as she drew a long sandalwood box from her sleeve and offered it to him.

“I had extra snake scales and made something harmless. Take it into seclusion—it can protect you if needed.”

She fanned her face casually and said, “Don’t say it was from me. And… happy birthday.”

Without waiting for his reply, she went “bang” in a puff of white mist and vanished from the Scripture Pavilion.

Wenren Sheng blinked at the now-empty Scripture Pavilion.

“Ah…”

“Th-thank you, Master!”

Only then did he carefully slide open the wooden box’s lid, revealing the item within.

A bladeless dagger.

Its bright silver guard bore cloud engravings that gleamed with scale-like luster. The blade’s spine curved smoothly and beautifully like a scorpion’s tail hook, radiating gorgeous menace.

“Wow…”

Wenren Sheng’s mouth gaped round, his eyes lighting up.

So pretty.

He quickly lifted the dagger from the box, admired it for a good while, then tucked it at his waist beneath the cloak.

“After finding the clan leader, I’ll ask the Mountain God how to use this weapon,” Wenren Sheng muttered to himself. “Okay, time to head out.”

He shouldered his bundle and bolted from the Scripture Pavilion toward the Divine Temple gate.

He raced to the cliff at the mountain entrance before screeching to a halt.

Clutching the broken bridge’s ropes, he peered down worriedly.

Done for—he had left in too much haste and forgotten to ask Yi Jinxiang to carry him across.

The Mountain God was likely still handling business down the mountain. How was he supposed to cross alone?

The Divine Temple sat near Fragrant Ze Mountain’s peak. The canyon below was bottomless; one slip and he’d be in the Underworld reporting to the King of Hell.

“Um…” Wenren Sheng pursed his lips and whispered, “Only one way, then…”

He glanced around, confirmed no one nearby, removed his bundle, and set it carefully in the snow.

Then he clasped his hands and softly chanted:

“Shapeshift.”

White spiritual flow swirled around Wenren Sheng—like a treasure lotus slowly closing to swallow him whole.

Moments later, a “whoosh” of cold wind swept through, scattering the spiritual flow. The fur-collared child had vanished, transformed into a little gray wolf.

Wenren Sheng shook his wolf ears, flinging snow from his head.

Since the Mountain God adopted him, he’d kept the Transformation Technique up for over a year to hide his demon nature.

Shifting back to little wolf form felt strange again.

Wenren Sheng examined his paws and muttered, “Doesn’t feel like I’ve grown much…”

Demons should grow several times faster than humans—a year ought to bulk up his wolf body plenty.

Was it his incomplete spirit root?

Wenren Sheng pawed at his wolf ear while lying on the ground.

“Can’t figure it out…”

Whatever. Seclusion started tomorrow anyway.

Yi Jinxiang said with his current enlightenment, he just needed to nap during seclusion. Upon waking, his heavenly spiritual root would return.

Easy as pie?

Wenren Sheng snickered to himself.

If he emerged early, he could become a jianghu great hero sooner—maybe even surpass the Mountain God someday.

His glee faded as he recalled today’s errand. He schooled his face and peered over the cliff again.

A pebble tumbled down, vanishing into the thick mid-mountain mist without an echo.

“Not high at all…” Wenren Sheng coaxed himself softly.

Wolf form gave him confidence; he could leap this in one bound.

Wenren Sheng pawed snow with his forepaws, bit his bundle strap, crouched, and pounced toward the opposite cliff.

Splash!

“Hey!”

Snow sprayed on landing, and Wenren Sheng slipped right into it. His paws skidded like greased.

He curled protectively around the bundle with all four paws, balled into fur, and tumbled down the slope several rolls until smacking a tree trunk.

“Ow, that hurts!”

He released his fangs, shifted back to human form, whimpered, and clutched his head.

“Bumped my head…”

“Ouch, does it hurt bad?”

“Of course,” Wenren Sheng blurted, rolling on the spot clutching his head twice.

So unlucky…!

He hadn’t aimed this way at all. Good no one saw, or it’d ruin him—Great Hero Wenren Sheng infamous before shaking the jianghu.

Wait… who spoke?

Wenren Sheng belatedly recognized the familiar voice.

He looked up in alarm and spotted the Mountain God’s face.

He Mu leaned against that tree, arms crossed, smirking at Wenren Sheng as if he’d waited awhile.

“Mountain God?!” Wenren Sheng’s heart lurched. He sprang up. “Wh-when did you get here?”

“Me…” He Mu propped his chin thoughtfully. “About an hour ago, standing here enjoying the cool breeze, waiting for school to let out.”

Wenren Sheng’s heart pounded harder. He ignored the winter “cool breeze” oddity, fixated on his demon form moments ago.

An hour ago?

He’d been waiting the whole time?

Did he see the shift? If yes, he wouldn’t look so amused. But he’d just shifted back—if He Mu had been here…

“Th-then,” Wenren Sheng stammered, “Did you see…?”

“Hm?” He Mu’s eyes crinkled teasingly. “See what?”

“My jump just now,” Wenren Sheng said.

He Mu tilted his head. “Special? Four legs maybe?”

“I only have two legs!” Wenren Sheng shot back. “It was super handsome—I wanted you to see. If not… whatever!”

“Shame,” He Mu spread his hands regretfully. “I was napping. Missed it.”

He missed the handsome leap, saw only a tumbling gray furball tree-smashing.

“Good,” Wenren Sheng relaxed, patted his chest, and grinned anew. “Gonna find the clan leader now. Coming, Mountain God?”

He Mu paused.

He leaned close to study Wenren Sheng, then sniffed his neck. “Why do you smell like snake scales?”

Snake scales?

Wenren Sheng sniffed himself—yes, a rouge-like scent.

Lightbulb. He parted his cloak, drew the dagger from his waist, and cupped it proudly.

“This?” He offered it to He Mu, beaming. “From Master.”

“Wenqu Star?” He Mu teased. “Gave you scales? She likes you plenty.”

Wenren Sheng chin-up proud: “Of course. Smartest student she’s taught.”

He tucked the dagger away securely, skipped forward, grabbed He Mu’s hand, and shook it wheedlingly.

“Going to tell the clan leader about my seclusion.”

Wenren Sheng gazed up at He Mu obliquely.

“Um… If Mountain God won’t come down with me, I’ll walk slow alone. Okay?”

Road was long—three hours on foot by his estimate.

Dark by then; clan leader vanished.

So don’t agree, Mountain God!

Squeezing He Mu’s palm to hint refusal, Wenren Sheng hoped.

He Mu knew the kid through and through—got it instantly.

But played dumb.

“Walk down alone?” He Mu patted his head coaxingly. “So good?”

Wenren Sheng nodded. “Yeah, but super far. Haven’t gone solo forever—might get lost, take ages to return.”

He Mu stroked his chin. “Sounds challenging… hero stuff…”

He clapped grinning. “Fine, permission granted for one solo descent. Stay safe, Shengsheng.”

Wha?!

Not the point!

Wenren Sheng fumed at He Mu. Too short to jump-bite his face silly.

On purpose?!

“No hero time now!” Wenren Sheng pounced hugging. “Take me down quick to the clan leader!”

He Mu feigned dawning. “Oh, that? Thought—”

“Mountain God shut up! Super annoying!”

Wenren Sheng sulked the whole way down, carried by He Mu.

After a full year at the Divine Temple with the Mountain God, he still didn’t get his thoughts at all!

Wenren Sheng almost thought he was deliberately speaking this way to make him cry.

“Ah, there’s no one in the world who would be this bad.”

Wenren Sheng sadly wiped away his tears and ultimately decided to believe that the Mountain God was a kind and good god.

He Mu, who was at the side, took out a divining compass and injected a strand of spiritual power similar to Wenren Jing’s into it.

In an instant, the divining compass spread an Acquired Bagua Array across the ground, extending all the way to the outskirts of Xiang City. The needle on the compass in He Mu’s hand trembled slightly as it searched for Wenren Jing’s location.

When a demon mixed in among humans, its aura became easier to track. The divining compass quickly locked onto Wenren Jing’s position.

“This is…” He Mu frowned. “Return to One Sword Sect?”

“Sword Sect?” Wenren Sheng tilted his head. “Didn’t the Mountain God say it had already disbanded? What is the clan leader doing there?”