After Accidentally Entering the Forbidden Land and Forming a Bond with the Grandmaster - Chapter 4

Chu Lanci was stunned when he saw the deer. He could hardly believe his eyes. “You… I cannot eat all of this,” he stammered.

Xie Zhuo replied calmly, “Eat slowly. I am not asking you to finish it all at once.”

Chu Lanci fell silent. He did not know why this immortal had suddenly hunted a deer for him, but he sensed it was an act of kindness. He decided it was best not to refuse the gesture. “How should I eat it?” he asked.

Xie Zhuo glanced at him. He estimated that the boy had not yet reached the stage of Inedia, meaning he still required mortal food. While Xie Zhuo would eventually need to use his true fire to refine a beast core for Chu Lanci to consume, the boy could eat the meat for now. “We shall roast it,” Xie Zhuo stated.

With a wave of his hand, he sliced the venison into several pieces and used his spiritual fire to roast one of them. He was quite skilled at this task, as he had performed it many times before. After a long while spent washing and seasoning the meat, he finally produced a finished piece. Xie Zhuo handed the steaming venison to Chu Lanci on a fresh green lotus leaf.

Chu Lanci took it, feeling moved. “Thank you. You are truly a good person, Great Immortal!”

Xie Zhuo looked at Chu Lanci, whose eyes were sparkling with gratitude. A good person? Was he truly a good person? After he finished cooking, Xie Zhuo sat to the side, cradling his sword as he gazed out at the pitch-black night beyond the cave.

Chu Lanci had not expected the food prepared by an immortal to be so delicious; it was so savory that he squinted his eyes in delight. By the time he finished his meal, night had fully fallen. He curled up on the straw bed Xie Zhuo had prepared, listening to the eerie sounds outside: the dull rumble of rolling magma, the roars of various demonic beasts, and inexplicable rustling noises that sounded like sharp claws scraping against rock walls or thick liquids slowly crawling.

It was terrifying. He desperately wanted to return to Tingfeng Village.

Although Chu Lanci enjoyed talking, it was obvious that Xie Zhuo did not. After finishing the work for dinner, Xie Zhuo sat at the cave entrance in silence. Chu Lanci wondered how long the man had been imprisoned here and why, but he figured that as a mere mortal, an immortal would likely disdain speaking to him about such matters. He remembered how he went to Qianshan every year to test his spiritual roots only to be rejected, and he recalled the way the cultivators mocked him during his failures.

However, as he prepared for bed, he still asked politely, “Immortal, would you like to come and sleep as well?”

Xie Zhuo was contemplating how to escape when he heard the question. He turned his head in disbelief, thinking the boy was quite bold. Yet, looking into Chu Lanci’s clear eyes, he realized the boy meant nothing more than simple sleep. “No,” he replied. He did not require sleep.

“Oh, then I shall sleep first,” Chu Lanci said.

Xie Zhuo did not respond. After a short while, he heard the sound of long, gentle breathing.

Xie Zhuo fell into a pensive silence. He had moved from a glacier to the bottom of this magma pit, trading one cage for another; the only difference was the presence of a companion. This forbidden prison had held him for a hundred years, yet in truth, no one could truly trap him. He remained here only because he was willing to stay. Now that the seal was broken, he decided he should go out and see the world. His Qingshuang sword, much like himself, had not seen action in a long time.

The breaking of the seal had not been entirely smooth. It happened because of the youth currently fast asleep. Because Chu Lanci had accidentally entered the forbidden land, he had absorbed the Frost Incantation that originally sealed Xie Zhuo. Ordinarily, a normal person could never withstand such a powerful forbidden technique, yet Chu Lanci had survived it. Furthermore, the boy had wandered into Xie Zhuo’s consciousness.

The Frost Incantation had overwhelmed both of their spirits, causing them to commit a mistake that lasted for forty-nine days. Since practicing the Path of Emotionless, Xie Zhuo had suppressed his desires for a very long time. He wondered if the Frost Incantation had somehow reawakened his “root of emotion.” Finding the sensation novel, Xie Zhuo moved his mind to suppress the feeling.

Chu Lanci had the most perfect sleep since entering the forbidden land, and his mood was excellent. When he woke the next day, the sun was shining outside the cave, and a piece of warm venison sat by his straw mat. He ate it gratefully, stood up quickly, and tidied his bedding before heading out to find Xie Zhuo.

Xie Zhuo was standing by the edge of the magma pool with his sword. Sensing movement, he turned to see a rejuvenated Chu Lanci. It seemed the boy had slept enough. They had passed their first night without the cold poison acting up.

Chu Lanci smiled at him. To be honest, while this immortal looked cold, his temperament was refined once he spoke. He possessed the noble air of a descendant from a prestigious family. Perhaps because he had been trapped for so long, his phoenix-like eyes held a trace of wildness and a hidden sharpness beneath his calm exterior.

“Immortal, what should we do next? If there is anything I can do, please tell me,” Chu Lanci asked.

Xie Zhuo replied, “You can collect all the stones here, one by one.”

Chu Lanci was puzzled. “Will that be useful?”

“It is useless. I used to do it when I was bored because I could not leave,” Xie Zhuo said.

Chu Lanci was speechless. How bored must he have been? “So, is there no hope at all?”

“Not currently. We must spend the winter here and wait for spring. We can leave when spring arrives,” Xie Zhuo explained. The forbidden land also experienced seasonal rotations. By spring, his magic would reach its peak. At that time, he would observe the flow of time and the alignment of the five elements to attempt a breakthrough. For now, the cold was too intense, and the Frost Incantation was too powerful for them to leave.

In other words, he and Chu Lanci would have to stay here for at least one winter. Chu Lanci felt helpless but did not fall into despair; at the very least, they were no longer trapped in the glacier. He pointed to the dense forest near the magma vent and asked, “Can we go there?”

“There are fierce beasts there. Why do you wish to go?”

“You said we have to spend the winter here, so I want to prepare some supplies,” Chu Lanci explained.

Xie Zhuo replied, “Go if you wish.”

The forest was currently covered in snow, and the fierce beasts were likely hibernating due to the cold. Xie Zhuo figured Chu Lanci would be safe. The magma river and the forest were part of an illusion created by the powerful masters who imprisoned him to keep him from being bored, though Xie Zhuo had previously shown no interest in them. To him, everything was the same. He took a celestial talisman from his spirit ring and handed it to the boy. “Call out if something happens.”

“Thank you, Immortal,” Chu Lanci nodded gratefully. Xie Zhuo did not bother to correct the title.

Chu Lanci took the talisman and walked slowly toward the forest. He felt very thankful for the venison Xie Zhuo had provided, so he intended to find some food of his own. He was a grown man with capable limbs and did not want to rely entirely on Xie Zhuo.

The snow was deep, but Chu Lanci’s steps were light. He listened carefully to his surroundings and observed the environment. He found this place much better than the ice cave, which had been nothing but cold and lonely. At least the magma here provided warmth. He noticed many strangely shaped stones that looked very special.

Chu Lanci thought about bringing these stones back to the children in his village; they would surely find them fascinating. He began picking them up and stuffing them into his sleeves until they were full, then he slowly carried the bag of stones back to the cave.

When he returned, he found Xie Zhuo was also there. “Oh? Immortal, you are here too,” Chu Lanci said.

Xie Zhuo saw him return so quickly, carrying a small bag. When he looked inside, he saw it was full of stones. “…What are you doing?”

“Picking up stones,” Chu Lanci replied. He smiled and held up a stone with a magma-like pattern for Xie Zhuo to see. “This one is very special and colorful. I want to bring it back for my children.”

“Your children?” Xie Zhuo frowned instinctively. “Are you married?”

“No, no! I mean my students. I told you that I am a teacher. I am not married yet.” His ears turned red at the mention of marriage.

Xie Zhuo realized they were only his students. He thought to himself that during their next dual cultivation session, he should probably erase that part of the boy’s memory. Furthermore, he realized that the energy Chu Lanci gained from the deer meat was being wasted on carrying heavy stones. “Stop picking up stones,” Xie Zhuo commanded.

“It is fine, I am not tired,” Chu Lanci insisted.

Xie Zhuo remained silent, looking frustrated.

“Well, I am heading back out then,” Chu Lanci said, turning to leave.

Xie Zhuo stood up with a frown. “I will go with you.”

Support After Accidentally Entering the Forbidden Land and Forming a Bond with the Grandmaster