After Accidentally Entering the Forbidden Land and Forming a Bond with the Grandmaster - Chapter 2

Chu Lanci: “Immortal, I cannot swim.”

Xie Zhuo: “What else are you unable to do?”

Chu Lanci answered honestly, “If it involves cultivation, I cannot do any of it.” He was just a humble flower farmer, a perfectly ordinary mortal.

Xie Zhuo did not reply. Instead, he suddenly reached out and tapped the air toward Chu Lanci’s neck.

Caught off guard by the gesture, Chu Lanci took a small step back and asked, “What is this?”

Xie Zhuo: “A Water-Repelling Spell. Just hold your breath.” As soon as he finished speaking, he leaped into the cold pool. His black robes flashed briefly amidst the ethereal blue light of the water before vanishing, leaving not even a ripple behind.

Chu Lanci hurriedly shouted, “What did you say? I did not hear you clearly!” But by then, even Xie Zhuo’s shadow had disappeared. Seeing this, Chu Lanci scrambled to follow him.

Upon entering the cold pool, he sank straight down. He did not dare open his mouth, fearing the water would pour in, but eventually, he could not hold it any longer, and water seeped between his lips and teeth. The expected choking did not happen; he guessed it was because of the spot Xie Zhuo had tapped. However, he still could not breathe normally, so he had no choice but to keep holding his breath.

In the end, he still choked on the water several times.

Surrounded by deep blue pool water, he had no idea where he was or which way he was heading. Just as he was continuously falling, a large hand grabbed him by the waist and hauled his entire body upward.

With one effortless lift, the two of them broke the surface of the water.

Chu Lanci collapsed onto the ground, coughing violently. His face was flushed bright red, and even his fingertips were trembling. However, he felt no pain. Soon, a warm force pressed against his back, helping him recover instantly.

Once he had caught his breath, Xie Zhuo said in a heavy voice, “Did I not tell you to hold your breath?”

Chu Lanci said slowly, “I am sorry. I did not hear you clearly, and I did not know if I should open my mouth. Immortal, do you mean I should hold one breath and then enter the water, keeping my mouth closed? Or can I open it because of the Water-Repelling Spell?”

Actually, he was not stupid; he was simply slow to react. He needed time to comprehend and required others to explain things in detail.

Xie Zhuo remained silent. Looking at Chu Lanci’s flushed face and the corners of his eyes, which were moist from the redness, he looked utterly pitiful. Xie Zhuo suppressed his impatience and explained, “Since it is a Water-Repelling Spell, there is naturally no need to fear the water. When I told you to hold your breath, I meant for you to be more at ease.”

In other words, Chu Lanci had just choked himself.

“I see,” Chu Lanci gave an embarrassed smile.

Xie Zhuo said no more, scanning their surroundings. As expected, there was another world beneath the cold pool, though it was not exactly a pleasant place. They had simply moved from a place of extreme cold to one of extreme heat.

Despite moving around, they were still within the Restricted Area.

The seal binding him was a secret technique cast by several Great Powers. He had already broken the core of it, but he still needed a bit of time to completely undo the seal. He looked up at Chu Lanci, who was still coughing softly. Because of the coughing, a faint layer of pink had surfaced on his fair skin. However, Xie Zhuo could not see him clearly yet; he could only see a pale, pinkish silhouette.

His frame was thin, nearly fragile. When Xie Zhuo had forced his way in earlier, it felt as though the man’s very spine might shatter.

After Chu Lanci finished coughing, he began to shiver uncontrollably, hugging himself. Seeing this, Xie Zhuo frowned slightly and casually started a campfire for him.

Seeing the fire, Chu Lanci gave Xie Zhuo a grateful look and even offered a handsome smile. But Xie Zhuo seemed not to notice, or perhaps he simply ignored it, as he silently built up the flames.

“This immortal is so calm,” Chu Lanci thought. “He is not mean, he answers every question, and he grants every request. He is a good person.”

Thinking this, Chu Lanci sat there with his chin resting on his legs, silently warming himself by the fire. The fire was very warm, and he felt quite comfortable. He wanted to be friends with Xie Zhuo. He even wanted to ask what the current situation was and how they had gone from a glacier to a place like a flaming mountain.

“What is your name, and why did you come to the Restricted Area?” After a long silence, Xie Zhuo finally asked the question on his mind.

Chu Lanci actually quite liked talking. The immortal was finally willing to chat!

“My name is Chu Lanci. I am from Tingfeng Village, and I am a schoolteacher.” He used a bit of a disguise here. He was actually a flower farmer, but in front of an immortal, “schoolteacher” sounded more cultured. Besides, he technically did serve as a private tutor of sorts.

Xie Zhuo frowned and asked, “Where is that?”

Chu Lanci answered patiently, “Right at the foot of Qianshan Mountain, near Yanlan Town.” Yanlan Town had a flower market and even sold various spirit beasts.

Xie Zhuo nodded, “That flower market.”

Mentioning the things from his hometown, Chu Lanci nodded eagerly, “Yes, that is the place. I go to the town to sell flowers. I mainly sell Night Orchids, and other spirit fruits or crops.”

Xie Zhuo interrupted him, asking, “Just tell me why you entered the Restricted Area.”

Chu Lanci answered honestly, “I came to the Restricted Area to deliver food. Actually, Deacon Cui told me there would be strange movements in the Restricted Area, but I did not listen.”

Xie Zhuo frowned slightly, “You said you are a schoolteacher, so why are you selling flowers and delivering food?”

Chu Lanci said softly, “I sell flower lanterns, too. Driven by the hardships of life.”

Xie Zhuo was silent. He thought for a moment and asked again, “How much do you remember of what happened in the Restricted Area?”

Chu Lanci answered obediently, mentioning things like the frost-like symbols and how cold he felt, but he did not mention those flirtatious, dream-like fragments. How could he have the face to say that? To say he was driven to the brink of death and back by Xie Zhuo? Just thinking about it was embarrassing.

After listening, Xie Zhuo gave him another deep look. “How does your body feel now?”

Chu Lanci replied, “Much better. As long as I am being held by you.”

Xie Zhuo remained silent.

Chu Lanci waved his hand and laughed, “Do not worry, Immortal, I will not make you hold me again. I am a man, after all, and I find it quite awkward too. Hahaha.” To cover his embarrassment, he forced a few laughs.

Xie Zhuo continued, “I will heal your injuries until we leave the Restricted Area.”

Chu Lanci was full of gratitude, “Thank you, Immortal.”

“My name is Xie Zhuo.”

“Very well.”

After resting for a while, Xie Zhuo stood up and led Chu Lanci to a rocky cliff. Below the cliff was a pool filled with boiling lava, bubbling and steaming. As soon as they approached, a scorching wave of heat hit them in the face.

Just as Chu Lanci was wondering how they would get across such heat, he saw Xie Zhuo’s Frost-Azure Sword suddenly unsheathe itself. The blade pointed toward the empty air.

In an instant, the winds and clouds changed color. The drifting clouds across the sky seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, pressing down layer upon layer, forcefully tearing a pale blue rift through the dark heavens. Chu Lanci was stunned. Was he borrowing the sky to use as a bridge? Steam and mist continuously billowed up, spreading across the entire bridge. Then, Xie Zhuo thrust his sword into the ground. With a loud rumble, the sword sank into the earth, and the sky followed, descending completely.

Xie Zhuo stepped onto the mist-shrouded bridge. After walking for a bit, he noticed Chu Lanci had not followed. He turned back and said, “What are you standing there for?”

Chu Lanci looked at the scalding lava below; naturally, he was afraid. Eventually, he plucked up his courage and followed. Once he stepped onto it, he found the bridge was quite stable, and his fear vanished.

By the time they reached the center, the scorching heat invaded Chu Lanci, and he nearly could not bear it. The further they went, the more difficult the walk became. Before they could cross, Xie Zhuo suddenly dropped to one knee, large beads of sweat rolling down his jaw. Out of a sense of traveling companionship, Chu Lanci naturally went to check on him. For now, Xie Zhuo was a decent enough companion.

To his surprise, as soon as he touched Xie Zhuo’s arm—or rather, before he even truly touched him—he was pulled over, falling entirely into Xie Zhuo’s embrace.

What was this for?

However, once his skin made contact with Xie Zhuo’s temperature, it felt incredibly comfortable. He looked up at Xie Zhuo and saw a strange look in his eyes, a feeling that was hard to describe.

Before he could think, Xie Zhuo had already flipped over and leaped off the bridge. Since he went down, Chu Lanci was naturally taken down with him. Hot winds and heat waves surged fiercely toward them.

Chu Lanci thought he was going to fall to his death, but when he opened his eyes, he found himself securely held in Xie Zhuo’s arms.

The two landed steadily. As soon as they hit the ground, he was pinned underneath Xie Zhuo. He tried to push the man off, but Xie Zhuo was truly too heavy; he was pinned and unable to move.

Later, he stopped pushing because he realized being pressed like this was actually quite comfortable. The cold Qi inside his body was being relieved by it. The two maintained this strange position, eye to eye, but not quite touching, neither willing to move any closer.

Until the cold poison in both their bodies flared up simultaneously, striking them both. They coincidentally thought of the same thing: perhaps the antidote was on the other person.

Finally unable to resist his body’s instinct, Xie Zhuo leaned down, and Chu Lanci closed his eyes at the same time.

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