After Accidentally Entering the Forbidden Land and Forming a Bond with the Grandmaster - Chapter 20

Because Chu Lanci kept staring at him, Xie Zhuo stopped and asked, “Why do you keep staring at me?”

“Master,” Chu Lanci said in a panic, “I was not thinking of anything.”

Xie Zhuo remained silent for a moment. “In other words, you were thinking of something just now.”

He was kissing him, yet the youth was lost in thought.

“What was it?”

Feeling as guilty as a thief, Chu Lanci shook his head quickly. It must be those colorful dreams again, making him have those feelings for his Master. He wondered what was wrong with him.

It was far too easy for Xie Zhuo to probe someone’s divine sense, especially Chu Lanci’s. However, he did not need to use magic; with a little persuasion, Chu Lanci spoke.

“Tell your Master about it.”

Chu Lanci lowered his head and asked timidly, “You are so big. Where are you going to enter from?”

Xie Zhuo was speechless. After all that, Chu Lanci was actually worried about that. “You do not need to worry about this.”

“Alright,” Chu Lanci replied.

After Xie Zhuo finished kissing him, he asked, “Will you go back by yourself, or should I send you?”

“I will go back by myself,” Chu Lanci said quickly. “I do not want to trouble Master.”

Xie Zhuo replied, “It is no trouble.”

Since he had publicly accepted him as a disciple, he had to give him some courage. It was better to escort him back to his residence to let everyone know exactly whose person Chu Lanci was. He was not their little junior brother; he was the cultivation partner of Xie Zhuo.

Chu Lanci felt a surge of warmth in his heart and could not help but hold Xie Zhuo’s arm. “Master, you are so good.”

Xie Zhuo looked down at his arm and gave a grunt of acknowledgment. Hearing such kind words so often, he almost started to believe them himself. It was quite interesting. Despite Chu Lanci’s soft and sweet nature, he was very good at flattery, and his words warmed Xie Zhuo’s heart.

He asked with a smile, “Has no one treated you this well before?”

Chu Lanci said, “Yes, the people in the village were very good to me. I was raised by the villagers. They treated me well, so I treat them well too.”

A meal here and a bowl of soup there counts as being treated well? This little disciple’s requirements were quite simple.

Xie Zhuo asked, “So you became a teacher in the village? Now that you have left, do they not have a teacher?”

Chu Lanci said, “I came up the mountain to learn skills. Once I have learned them, I can go back down to protect the village.”

“After we are married, it will not matter whether you learn or not,” Xie Zhuo said indifferently.

“Why?”

Xie Zhuo said casually, “Because in the future, you can just give my name.”

Chu Lanci felt excited just hearing this. He followed Xie Zhuo’s footsteps with a smile and grabbed his sleeve. Xie Zhuo looked down at him, and Chu Lanci looked back with a clear gaze, not feeling that he was doing anything wrong. Since they were getting married, he was very good at playing the part.

“Hmm?”

Xie Zhuo thought, “Fine.”

As the two stepped outside, Chu Lanci realized his senior brothers had long since disappeared. No wonder his Master was not nervous at all while they were playing inside.

The two walked down the stone stairs. Many cultivators working on both sides of the stairs looked at the scene in surprise. Everyone had different thoughts. Some believed Chu Lanci was being arrogant because of his favored status, daring to be so physically close to their Sect Leader in public. Others were so envious they were going mad, wishing they could be that close to their Master. Some simply watched for the sake of gossip.

In truth, Chu Lanci was not being arrogant. His motivation was simple; he was merely acting the part for his Master. Furthermore, they had just kissed, so should they not stay close? He had seen couples in the village act the same way. Was there a problem?

Xie Zhuo’s disciples also saw them. they were in a state where they wanted to look but did not dare. They feared their Master’s reprimand, yet they were curious about his affairs. This pair was truly unprecedented.

That Chu Lanci appeared gentle and polite on the surface, but he was actually so capable. After meeting the Master just once, he had convinced the Master to escort him back to his residence. Even though the two were to become cultivation partners, Chu Lanci did not seem to consider his own status. Was he truly fit to stand beside their Master?

Yet, Chu Lanci not only stood beside him but also publicly showed affection. Did he not feel inferior? How could he be so thick-skinned? It was shameless.

However, setting aside their status, position, and master-disciple relationship, the two were quite a good match in terms of appearance. Chu Lanci was tall and well-proportioned. Although he did not stand out significantly, he was as upright and elegant as a green bamboo. He had a beautiful face, fitting the image of a clean and fair scholar. In comparison, Xie Zhuo was extremely tall, with Chu Lanci only reaching his shoulder. His broad shoulders and narrow waist were sharply defined, and when his jawline tightened, even his shadow seemed to have an edge.

Most people would find it difficult to stand up to his beauty, but Chu Lanci could. The master and disciple walked back to Chu Lanci’s residence under the gaze of everyone. When they arrived, Chu Lanci did not try to make Xie Zhuo stay, respectfully seeing him off at the door.

After Xie Zhuo left, Chu Lanci kept himself busy. Because of the upcoming wedding, Wei Daoping had decorated his residence to look like a celestial palace. To be honest, Chu Lanci was not quite used to it. Nevertheless, he organized all the items given to him, planning to take them back to the village to distribute to the villagers and students.

They were all inexpensive items, such as protective talismans and spiritual herbs that granted longevity. These common herbs were worthless to cultivators but were very useful for mortals. For Chu Lanci, they were enough. He had never asked for much; he only sought stability and did not care about true ascension or becoming an immortal. Therefore, he felt this deal was very worthwhile and that he might have even come out ahead.

As for learning skills, he knew his own natural talent and realized he had to rely on luck. Even so, he would still do his best. While he was tidying up, he heard someone calling him. He went out to see that it was Cui Jin. A smile immediately appeared on his face. “Deacon Cui, why are you here?”

Cui Jin had an indescribable expression on his face. “Lanci, do you have time? Let’s talk.”

“Of course. Let’s go to the pavilion below the house,” Chu Lanci suggested, pointing. His current residence had several empty rooms, which felt too extravagant, so he planned to use them for storage.

Cui Jin said, “Let’s go to the old place, alright?” In the past, the two had always met on the cliff near the mountain gate.

“Okay,” Chu Lanci replied without thinking much.

Cui Jin, however, thought a great deal. Given Chu Lanci’s current status, it was no longer appropriate for them to meet in a conspicuous place.

The two took different paths and met at the cliff. No matter where one went in Qianshan, the scenery was as picturesque as a painting. Chu Lanci was in a good mood, and seeing the sea of clouds and mountain peaks made him even happier. “I was just about to look for you,” he said with a smile. Cui Jin was the only person he was familiar with in Qianshan besides Xie Zhuo. How could he not be happy to see an old friend?

Cui Jin was not in such a good mood. “Lanci, you told me that nothing happened when you delivered food to the forbidden grounds.”

At the mention of this, Chu Lanci felt very embarrassed. “I am sorry, Deacon Cui. I thought Master did not want to talk about it, so I did not mention it.”

“So what exactly is going on between you two? I heard the Sect Leader is very good to you and even wants to marry you.”

“Actually, it was me,” Chu Lanci said. “I was the one who wanted to marry the Sect Leader, and he agreed. He is very good to me. He brought me to Qianshan, took me as his disciple, and even brought me into the inner sect. He even said he would teach me to cultivate in the future.”

Cui Jin doubted his own ears. Who exactly wanted to marry whom? From what he had heard, it was clearly Xie Zhuo who wanted to marry Chu Lanci. Otherwise, why would he do so much? No one treated another person this well for no reason. If someone was this good to another, they were either after money or beauty. He feared his fellow countryman was being misled.

“Why do you want to marry the Sect Leader?”

Chu Lanci certainly would not mention those messy dreams. He stammered, “I wanted to become a bit stronger, so I mentioned it while I was drunk. Master agreed.”

Cui Jin sighed. “But do you know who he is? You are marrying him just like that? And do you even like men?”

Chu Lanci had always been confused about this question. In his dreams, he had been treated in such a way that he went from being uncomfortable to adapting, and now he actually quite enjoyed it. His body had adapted to the reality of being with a man. Therefore, he supposed he already liked men.

“I suppose I do. Hahaha,” Chu Lanci laughed awkwardly.

Cui Jin was stunned. This reaction was truly something. He knew his friend was slow to react, but he did not expect him to be this slow. His future seemed bleak.

Chu Lanci asked curiously, “You know about Master. Who is he?”

Cui Jin said, “Even if the Sect Leader is truly willing to marry you, there will be no result. He is Xie Zhuo.”

He was the most brilliant genius in the cultivation world for hundreds of years and was the undisputed number one person under heaven. This name had once echoed throughout the nine provinces, and countless cultivators looked up to him. Now, he was just one step away from ascension. Whether he married Chu Lanci or not, there was only one outcome: Xie Zhuo would ascend to the upper realm, leaving Chu Lanci alone in the cultivation world. Moreover, it was said that Xie Zhuo was arrogant and unpredictable.

“So, what did he do?” Chu Lanci asked again.

Cui Jin said, “A hundred years ago, he slaughtered thirty six cities, causing a famine in the mortal world for nearly thirty years. He was later judged by the three great immortal sects. One of the judges at the time was Xie Zhuo’s senior brother, Lord Xuantian, and the executioner was Master Kuji of the Buddhist Sect, who has already ascended.” He paused and lowered his voice further. “I heard that Lord Xuantian has been killed by Xie Zhuo. As for Lord Xuantian’s sect, it has already collapsed. The disciples have either died or scattered, with none spared.”

Chu Lanci listened blankly. These past events had nothing to do with the Xie Zhuo he knew. He asked dazed, “Then why did he agree to marry me?”

Cui Jin analyzed, “Is it not simple? He wants to use the marriage to announce his return to the world. On the day of the ceremony, his old and new enemies will surely gather. He simply wants to show off in front of them.” He wanted to tell the world that he, Xie Zhuo, was still as willful and unrestrained as ever, even marrying a mortal disciple. “Do you not mind that?”

Chu Lanci smiled. “I do not mind.”

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