Chapter 39: The Cat Tail or the Little Shizun: Which Is Cuter? Part 1

Now that they had obtained the Demon Beast Cultivation Method from Feng Wu, Gu Jingshan had no reason to linger. However, just as he left Spirit Cloud Peak, he saw Feng Wu waiting to one side.

He still looked furious, glaring at him through gritted teeth.

Gu Jingshan sighed inwardly. His expression, however, was quite calm as he walked up to Feng Wu. Feng Wu had already put away his whip and didn’t seem intent on fighting again.

“What the hell is going on with that bastard Lin Chuyun?!” The moment Feng Wu thought about the cultivation method he’d given away, his heart ached dully.

Demon Beast Cultivation Methods were ranked. In his flustered anger, he had grabbed one randomly, but it was the high-tier method he’d originally intended for the little cat demon. But then again… the little cat demon was Lin Chuyun. So he hadn’t given it to the wrong recipient…?

Like hell!!!

That bastard Lin Chuyun only deserved a low-tier method!

So furious he didn’t control his volume, two disciples passing by nearby were startled, looking over fearfully, only to be scared off by Feng Wu’s angry glare.

Gu Jingshan rubbed his forehead with a slight headache. “Come with me.”

Feng Wu was still fuming and couldn’t possibly listen to him. He opened his mouth to refuse, but a look from Gu Jingshan shut him down.

Don’t think Feng Wu dared to hop on Gu Jingshan’s head, or even attack him – that was only because Gu Jingshan had a good temper. If Gu Jingshan was truly angered, he’d have to tuck in his tail feathers and behave like a good bird.

Not daring to object further, Feng Wu obediently followed Gu Jingshan to Spirit Stone Peak. After dismissing the surrounding disciples, Gu Jingshan had Feng Wu sit at the stone table in the courtyard while he poured him a cup of Calming Tea.

Feng Wu pouted but obediently took it and downed it in one gulp.

“Lin Chuyun’s background is somewhat peculiar,” Gu Jingshan said, not bothering to stop Feng Wu’s heavy drinking. He picked up his own cup and took a shallow sip.

Feng Wu rolled his eyes. He wanted to be angry, but the Calming Tea suppressed his temper. “This King knows that! Isn’t he a human cultivator? How did he suddenly become a demon beast?”

He recalled encountering Lin Chuyun in the Back Mountain. He was clearly an underage cat demon, the Demon Qi on him quite obvious. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so certain it was a little cat demon.

Gu Jingshan also didn’t know the reason. He just shook his head and reminded Feng Wu, “This matter cannot be spread outside.”

If any of Lin Chuyun’s enemies learned of this, they might seize the opportunity to kill him.

Just thinking he might have to protect Lin Chuyun made Feng Wu even more annoyed, but his innate instinct to protect little demon beasts kept surging up.

He poured himself another cup of Calming Tea and drained it, then abruptly stood. “Fine, fine, This King understands. As long as he doesn’t bother This King, This King naturally won’t bother with him.”

Saying this, he didn’t want to listen to any more lecturing from Gu Jingshan. With a flash of red light, he transformed into the little red bird and vanished into the air.

Leaving Gu Jingshan alone. After finishing the last cup of Calming Tea, he stood and went to the Forbidden Area.

Only the Sect Leader knew the entrance to Star Point Sect’s Forbidden Area. Gu Jingshan only learned of its existence when he was appointed Acting Sect Leader.

The entrance was sealed by restrictions set by successive generations of Sect Leaders, integrated with the sect’s grand protective formation. Gu Jingshan placed his right hand on the restriction and injected a thread of spirit power. After a long moment, a light flashed across the restriction, revealing an opening large enough for one person.

Gu Jingshan withdrew his hand. As he entered, the scene before him suddenly transformed.

The light of the entire world dimmed. A subtle chill pervaded the air. The distant mountains seemed shrouded in mist, colored a layer of gray.

Walking further in, a small path appeared. On either side of the path were scattered, different burial mounds. Each mound had a carved stone marker. Some looked new, but most were already shadowed by the passage of years.

This was the resting place of Star Point Sect.

Gu Jingshan’s heart grew heavy. He subconsciously lightened his steps, afraid of disturbing the rest of the deceased, even though he knew most of these were cenotaphs.

After passing this section, the environment grew increasingly desolate. Apart from Gu Jingshan’s footsteps, there was absolutely no sound from any other living creature.

Finally, at the very end, Gu Jingshan stopped before a closed stone door.

“Shizun.” He bent down and performed a respectful salute. “Jingshan requests an audience.”

It was quiet within the stone door. Just as Gu Jingshan thought he would again leave empty-handed, he heard a very faint rustle of robes.

His fingertips tightened slightly. Gu Jingshan involuntarily took a step forward, his tone carrying a rare urgency. “Shizun?”

“…What is it?” Fang Tianyuan’s voice finally sounded from within.

Gu Jingshan hadn’t heard his Shizun’s voice for a long time. Ever since Shizun went into Life-or-Death Seclusion, he worried every day. Hearing his Shizun’s response now, his heart settled considerably.

“Shizun, that bottle of pills you left behind – Disciple has given it to Junior Brother Lin,” Gu Jingshan said.

Inside the stone door, Fang Tianyuan stared into the void, thinking for a long moment before recalling what his first disciple was referring to. “Oh… that bottle of Illusory Form Pills? What is Little Six’s true form?”

His tone was as if he had known Lin Chuyun’s identity all along.

Gu Jingshan paused, hesitant for a moment. “A… little black cat.”

“Cat…?” Fang Tianyuan’s voice held a hint of amusement, but he didn’t pursue this topic. “Is there anything else?”

There were many things Gu Jingshan wanted to ask, but he understood his Shizun wouldn’t tell him many things. Like… why his Shizun, who originally cultivated casually, suddenly decided to enter Life-or-Death Seclusion.

In the end, he only asked one question. “Shizun, is Junior Brother Lin truly a demon beast?”

“Naturally.” A sigh came from inside. “…Don’t overthink Little Six’s background. Since he has already become a disciple under This Venerable, he will only ever be your Sixth Junior Brother.”

Gu Jingshan responded quietly.

After a long silence, Fang Tianyuan’s voice came again.

“Jingshan, it seems your teacher has never told you this: taking you as a disciple was the most correct thing your teacher ever did.”

Gu Jingshan’s pupils constricted slightly, not understanding why his Shizun would suddenly say this. He suppressed the unease in his heart and replied earnestly, “Being able to take Shizun as my master is Jingshan’s fortune of three lifetimes.”

“Forget it,” Fang Tianyuan chuckled softly. “You may go back now.”

The voice from within gradually faded. Gu Jingshan stood in place for a long time before turning and leaving.

…

On the other side, master and disciple looked at the devastated Spirit Cloud Peak and remained silent for a long moment.

One could say that aside from the bamboo hut behind them, almost nothing remained. The nearby Bamboo Grove had been burned away by a single mouthful of Feng Wu’s fire. The small courtyard around the hut was gone. The fresh spring not far away was filled with earth.

Even the small stone table Lin Chuyun had used as a perch was blasted away!

Lin Chuyun swished his tail angrily, but there was nothing he could do. He couldn’t make those two pay spirit stones. All he could do was have his little disciple carry him back into the bamboo hut. Following the principle of out of sight, out of mind, he began seriously studying the Demon Beast Cultivation Method in his hands.

Seeing this, Feng Xixing didn’t disturb him, but quietly went outside.

The first thing he did was reinforce the restriction on the door. However, unlike the previous one, this new restriction wouldn’t prevent Lin Chuyun from leaving. It just still barred others from entering the bamboo hut without permission.

Especially Bai Linghan.

After setting the restriction, Feng Xixing tidied up the surrounding mess before discreetly leaving Spirit Cloud Peak.

Spirit Water Peak was at the center of Star Point Sect, considered the third largest peak after Spirit Stone Peak and Spirit Fire Peak.

Feng Xixing had originally planned to investigate Bai Linghan directly but spotted the Steward from Spirit Stone Peak on the way. He frowned slightly and hid behind a tree, avoiding the disciple’s gaze.

Only after the Spirit Stone Peak Steward left did Feng Xixing come out. Judging by the direction, that Steward had clearly come from Spirit Water Peak. Recalling Gu Jingshan’s suspicion of Bai Linghan, Feng Xixing raised an eyebrow.

Since Gu Jingshan had already begun investigating Bai Linghan, the matter of the Devil Luring Stone probably wouldn’t stay hidden much longer. He just wondered if Bai Linghan could enter the devil path before Gu Jingshan discovered him.

Thinking this, Feng Xixing decided to lend this Junior Brother Bai a hand.

A nearly imperceptible thread of Devil Qi silently spread along Feng Xixing’s shadow. In just a moment, Feng Xixing felt that thread of Devil Qi being pulled by something, about to lose his control over it.

The corner of his lips curled up slightly. He relaxed his control over the Devil Qi slightly and felt it quickly absorbed by something.

And at that exact moment, inside his room, Bai Linghan, who was healing himself, saw the black stone before him suddenly brighten. His healing speed accelerated.

His eyes lit up. His trust in the black stone deepened, completely unaware that a faint hint of crimson had unknowingly appeared in his own eyes.

Having given Bai Linghan a nudge towards the Devil Path, Feng Xixing returned to Spirit Cloud Peak.

He pushed open the bamboo hut’s door. As his gaze swept towards the bed, his steps paused slightly.

On the bed, the tiny Lin Chuyun was asleep, the cultivation method hugged in his arms, his tail casually draped over the edge. Perhaps finding the sunlight too dazzling, Lin Chuyun had specifically positioned his head to lie in the shadows.

The sound of Feng Xixing opening the door didn’t disturb him. Only the little tail seemed to realize Feng Xixing was back, obediently flicking its tip in greeting.

Lightening his steps, Feng Xixing walked to the bedside. He bent down and gently toyed with the little tail, and his wrist was soon wrapped around again.

Lin Chuyun hadn’t actually been sleeping that deeply. Feeling the tingly sensation on his tail tip, he opened his eyes slightly and saw his little disciple smiling, gently playing with his tail tip.

He suddenly felt a bit jealous of his own cat tail. Thinking about it carefully, it really did seem like his little disciple liked his tail more.

Could it be that he wasn’t even as cute as his own cat tail?!

Perhaps muddled by sleep, a sudden impulse arose in Lin Chuyun. He reached out, gathered his tail into his arms, and refused to let Feng Xixing touch it. Caught off guard, the little tail wriggled pitifully, then drooped listlessly.

Feng Xixing didn’t know how he’d offended Lin Chuyun. When he tried to soothe the little tail, he was glared back at by an indignant Lin Chuyun.

“Disciple, your teacher wants to ask you something,” Lin Chuyun said, hugging his tail and staring at Feng Xixing very seriously.

Infected by his attitude, Feng Xixing also became more solemn. “Shizun, please ask.”

“Is your teacher’s cat tail very cute?” Lin Chuyun asked.

Feng Xixing nodded blankly. “Naturally, it’s very cute.”

Lin Chuyun pursed his lips and stared at him. “And what about your teacher?”

Only then did Feng Xixing realize what Lin Chuyun was actually angry about. He couldn’t help but clear his throat, suppressing the smile at the corner of his lips. “Naturally, Shizun is cuter.”

Especially Shizun with the cat tail – the cutest.

Lin Chuyun was fairly satisfied with this answer. His expression wasn’t as angry as before. He even had the mood to fiddle with his tail, examining it seriously.

His little disciple was right; his tail was quite cute.

Though not as cute as he himself was, of course.

Lin Chuyun’s mood came quickly and went just as fast. Feng Xixing, on the other hand, was still stunned.

What he’d said just now, when Lin Chuyun asked him, had come entirely from the heart. He hadn’t had any intention of deceiving Lin Chuyun.

So… did he really think Lin Chuyun was cute?

After a while, Lin Chuyun slowly came back to his senses, his ears flushing with embarrassment at his own childish behavior. He cleared his throat, pretending nothing had happened, and released his tail. Just as he was about to speak, he saw his tail dart over and wrap around his little disciple’s wrist again.

It looked very eager to change owners.