Chapter 48: Du Xian Sect 6 Part 1

“Xun Ji, I hate you. No matter which world you go to in the future, or what protagonist you meet, you must firmly remember…”

—who was speaking?

“I hate you, forever hate you.”

—So familiar. It was this voice that endlessly called his name when aggrieved, repeatedly told him she liked him when emotions ran deep, always obeyed him obediently… yet at the moment of parting, she said she hated him.

What did it mean exactly? As his consciousness floated and sank, Xun Ji thought hazily. Qingming had also said she hated Fan Tian to him, but why, when he was in Qingming’s body, did he feel no hatred at all?

Did Qingming really hate Fan Tian?

“Do you really hate me… Lu Zhou?” Xun Ji murmured aloud, feeling something warm approaching beside him.

He reached out and hugged it. The chest was solid, the waist slender and strong, a great figure.

It should be Fan Tian. Every time he woke up as Qingming, it was in Fan Tian’s embrace. And Fan Tian’s hands and feet were always restless, either touching or kissing, sometimes both.

Xun Ji compromised and moved his mouth closer, easily touching the other’s warm lips without much effort.

Fine, a kiss was just a kiss. After all, whether it was Fan Tian and Qingming, or him and Lu Yun Ting, they were all experienced. A few kisses were nothing.

The other clearly froze for a moment, lips stiff and not opening, yet not avoiding either.

Was Fan Tian this reserved? Xun Ji wondered. This reaction seemed more like Lu Yun Ting. But Lu Yun Ting, if kissed, should have pushed him away immediately, not possibly…

His eyes opened, meeting a stern and serious handsome face.

Nothing was impossible—this was freaking Lu Yun Ting! Lu Yun Ting with Lu Yun Ting’s face!

Xun Ji pushed him away at once and looked him up and down. “Lu Yun Ting, are you possessed?”

Lu Yun Ting’s expression remained calm as he wiped his mouth, straightened his disheveled collar, and said gravely, “Junior Sister Su, we’ve already exited the illusion. Remember to correct the bad habits you picked up in the Fan Tian Illusion.”

Oh, how bold, biting back like that. Xun Ji sneered inwardly, just about to teach this insolent brat a lesson when he heard Lu Yun Ting continue:

“Junior Sister Su, who is Lu Zhou?”

Xun Ji: “…”

“What is Senior Brother talking about? Yanran doesn’t understand.” He lifted his pink skirt hem and twirled around once. “Senior Brother Lu, is this the Snake Woman Temple? How did we end up here?”

Lu Yun Ting stared at her for a moment, then lowered his gaze and replied, “It’s the Snake Woman Temple. The illusion dissipated, and we ended up here. I suspect the item we’re seeking is right in this place.”

“Senior Brother means the Buddha Heart Stone?” Xun Ji feigned realization. “Could it be that the Buddha Heart Relic discarded by Qingming is the Buddha Heart Stone?”

“Highly possible.” Lu Yun Ting pondered. “But I’ve searched every inch of this Snake Woman Temple ruin and found no trace of the Buddha Heart Stone. Exactly where…”

“Boom!”

A massive rumble suddenly erupted from beneath the Snake Woman Temple, followed by the ground shaking violently. Stone bricks collapsed, cracking open a deep cavern. A bizarre figure flew out in a sorry state from the hole, accompanied by a youth’s terrified screams.

“Aaah, save me! Little Tun, slow down! My head’s gonna fly off!”

A massive Gold Devouring Toad carrying the youth crashed heavily onto the ground. The youth tumbled off from the sudden stop, covered in dirt and grime, disheveled. Still, Xun Ji vaguely recognized him from his bright yellow attire—the one who had greeted him at the secret realm entrance.

“You’re… the Heguang Sect’s Li, Li something?”

“Li Hanzhao!” The yellow-clad youth lit up with joy. “You’re Du Xian Sect’s little junior sister! And Du Xian Sect’s Yunting Lord!”

“I’m Su Yanran.” The pink-clad girl asked crisply, “How did you burrow out from underground?”

Better not asked—Li Hanzhao’s face changed at the question. “My spirit beast, the Gold Devouring Toad, sensed treasure here, so I came searching. Who knew I wouldn’t find the treasure but got chased by a crazy monk instead? Luckily, my Little Tun can burrow through earth and brought me all the way dodging that fiend’s pursuit. Not sure where that Evil Star is now…”

“Shh!” Lu Yun Ting raised a hand to silence him. “Something’s coming.”

Li Hanzhao’s scalp tightened. He grabbed the nearby pink-skirted girl and ducked behind a massive overturned boulder. With a wave of his hand, the huge Gold Devouring Toad turned into golden light and flew back into his Spirit Beast Bag.

In front of the Snake Woman Temple, from the hole the Gold Devouring Toad had burst out of, a tall, burly monk slowly climbed out. He scanned around, not seeing the person and toad he had been chasing, so he turned his gaze to the only living thing in front of him.

Surprise flashed in Lu Yun Ting and Xun Ji’s eyes simultaneously—this monk was Fan Tian!

Lu Yun Ting frowned. “Fan Tian, didn’t you already…”

“Clang!”

Fan Tian showed no intention of listening. His expression was wooden, but his strike swift and ruthless. He lifted a nearby boulder and hurled it at Lu Yun Ting.

Lu Yun Ting’s figure was nimble, leaping into the air to dodge the blow. His long sword rang out as it unsheathed, clashing with the renewed assault from Fan Tian.

“Fan Tian isn’t already dead? Could this be another illusion?” Xun Ji murmured lowly, observing the two fighters closely.

“This crazy monk is Fan Tian? The secret realm’s owner, Fan Tian?” Li Hanzhao exclaimed in horror. “Yanran Fairy, can Yunting Lord handle him alone? Should we go help?”

Though he spoke of helping, his movements hesitated clearly—he had been terrified by Fan Tian earlier.

Xun Ji waved him off. “Don’t steal the protagonist’s spotlight.”

“What?”

“Ahem, I mean, Senior Brother Lu is amazing. Don’t go adding to the chaos.” Xun Ji schooled his face sternly. “Do you look down on Du Xian Sect’s strength?”

“Of course not.” Li Hanzhao waved his hands repeatedly. “Yunting Lord is exceptionally talented, famous at a young age. His Zhenliu Sword dazzles brilliantly. We all admire him—how dare we underestimate.”

His tone held unmistakable envy. “A boat drifting on water is called Zhenliu. Though we’re Artifact Cultivators in Heguang Sect, who among cultivators wouldn’t dream of having their own lifebound sword like Sword Cultivators?”

“…What did you just say?”

“Uh, dreaming of having their own lifebound sword?” Li Hanzhao turned to look at him. “Yanran Fairy, what’s wrong?”

“Not that…” A shadow flickered in Xun Ji’s eyes. “A boat drifting on water is called Zhenliu. That’s the origin of his sword’s name?”

“Yeah.” Li Hanzhao looked puzzled. “Is there a problem?”

Zhenliu Sword. Lu Yun Ting. Lu Zhou.

Was he overthinking it?

“Right, Yanran Fairy, you mentioned the illusion earlier. Did you enter the Fan Tian Illusion?”

Xun Ji nodded. “Senior Brother Lu and I broke out of the Fan Tian Illusion and arrived here.”

“You actually broke out of the Fan Tian Illusion!” Li Hanzhao’s eyes widened in shock, stammering, “Y-you and Yunting Lord, are you two… that kind of relationship?”