After Accidentally Entering the Forbidden Land and Forming a Bond with the Grandmaster - Chapter 8

After hearing Xie Zhuo’s words, Chu Lanci replied, “Yes, alright.” Then, Chu Lanci performed an action that shocked even Xie Zhuo. He did not even bother sticking the talisman on; instead, he cast the spell directly and uttered the word, “Release.” As one might expect, the tree did not split; the ground did instead.

Xie Zhuo watched this in stunned silence. He was shocked, as it was his first time seeing someone misinterpret his teachings to such an extent. Among the disciples he had taken in, there were those who were rebellious and those with low innate talent, but none were like Chu Lanci, who was absurdly clumsy.

Chu Lanci even turned his head to ask, “Why didn’t it work?”

Xie Zhuo walked over, holding back a sigh, and explained patiently, “This is the Geng-Jin Evil-Slaying Talisman, which is suitable for gathering spiritual wood. What did I just say? I told you to stick it on the tree. Did you stick it on the tree?”

Chu Lanci looked pitiful. “But Master, I could not get it to stick.”

“If it would not stick, you just stuck it on the ground?”

Chu Lanci replied, “I thought they were about the same.”

Xie Zhuo laughed. “And you said you understood.”

Little fellow, you sure agree quickly.

“So now you do not understand?”

Xie Zhuo remained silent. It seemed the results for the top tier and the bottom tier were the same; both ended with “I understand.” One truly understood, while the other only thought he did.

Not bad, he is quite cute!

If Chu Lanci had asked just one more question, Xie Zhuo would have told him the key points of the spell.

“Every piece of spiritual wood has spiritual energy nodes. You must stick the talisman three inches from the center of the annual rings; that is where the chance of the talisman taking effect is highest.” As he spoke, he took a talisman from Chu Lanci’s hand, reached out, and pressed it onto a spot on the large tree.

Chu Lanci had a sudden realization. “So that is how it is.”

Xie Zhuo laughed again. “Oh, you understand again? Is that so?”

Chu Lanci was speechless, as he had been just about to say exactly that.

Xie Zhuo continued to explain, “So, where is the center of the rings? To be precise, it is what you mortals call the heart of the tree. The wood there is the hardest and is generally invisible to the naked eye. It is the hub where the spiritual energy of the entire tree flows. Your cultivation level is not high enough to find it yet, so we have to use another method: the Spirit-Revealing Talisman. Of course, if your cultivation reached my level, you naturally would not need it.”

Actually, he would not even need to reach his level; the Nascent Soul stage would suffice.

With that, he took out a stack of Spirit-Revealing Talismans and handed them to Chu Lanci.

Chu Lanci took them, realizing that after going in circles, there were many intricacies involved. Why did Master not just say it all at once? “Um,” he muttered, as he did not even dare say he knew how to do it now.

“Give it a try,” Xie Zhuo said.

Chu Lanci hurriedly agreed, watching Xie Zhuo as he attempted it.

Xie Zhuo said, “There should be no problems this time. Try it; if there is something you do not get, ask me again.”

Chu Lanci held the talismans obediently. “Okay.”

Despite saying that, Xie Zhuo felt that Chu Lanci was relatively slow. He decided he should probably keep an eye on him. He stood to the side, watching him cast the spell. Sure enough, just when he thought Chu Lanci would have no more issues, another one cropped up. The Spirit-Revealing Talisman had successfully located the center, and the wood-cutting talisman was placed three inches away, but the tree did not split normally. The effect was greatly diminished.

After finishing the spell, Chu Lanci once again turned back to look at Xie Zhuo with eyes that were clear yet foolish.

Xie Zhuo sighed softly and explained, “Your speed in applying the talisman is too slow, and your posture is wrong. Moving sluggishly like that, all the spiritual energy in the talisman leaks out. Give me your hand.”

Chu Lanci obediently reached out. Xie Zhuo grasped his hand, guiding him to quickly locate the position on the tree and then swiftly apply the talisman. His movements and actions were completely different from Chu Lanci’s. They were worlds apart.

Upon seeing this, Chu Lanci nodded repeatedly. “Oh, so that is how it is done. I know now! Master, this time I really know.”

Xie Zhuo asked back, “Do you really know?”

To be honest, he no longer believed him. This was the trick to cultivation: you think you understand, but in reality, you are more than a thousand miles off.

Chu Lanci felt embarrassed. “This time I really, truly know.”

Xie Zhuo replied, “Give it a try.”

Chu Lanci applied the talisman once on his own while Xie Zhuo watched from the side. Looking at the result, while it was still a vast distance away from his ideal, he saw that for now, Chu Lanci could only practice to this level.

Looking at Chu Lanci himself, he was already beaming with pride and was exceptionally satisfied.

Then again, people really were different. If his previous disciples had been at this level, they would have been scolded until they could not lift their heads. But with Chu Lanci, he had not lost his temper once. It was quite miraculous.

Chu Lanci said happily, “Master, I have got it. Now that the wood is cut, would Master like to make the table with me? It is very interesting. If Master does not know how, I can teach you.”

He could not let his Master teach him everything; he had a skill of his own too.

Xie Zhuo glanced at the semi-finished product. Do I look like I have nothing to do? Well, he actually was quite free.

“Fine, let’s do it.”

Once they started, Chu Lanci discovered that even without using magic, Xie Zhuo could do a better job than he could. There are just some people who are excellent at everything they do.

Chu Lanci could not help but praise him from the side. “Master, you seem to know how to do everything.”

Xie Zhuo lowered his eyes and remained silent, though internally, he quite enjoyed the praise.

“It is not that difficult.” It had been a long time since he had done things without magic, so he was a bit rusty, but he was clever and picked it up quickly.

The two joined forces, and the work proceeded successfully. However, just as the table was taking shape, Xie Zhuo’s hand was cut. He did not even flinch, not even bothering to use his divine sense, letting the blood flow freely.

He was in the middle of a creative flow and did not want to be disturbed. This was his personality; he liked to focus.

But Chu Lanci saw it and reminded him, “Master, you are bleeding.”

Xie Zhuo gave a grunt of acknowledgment with a frown and continued to work with utter self-forgetfulness, while blood slid down his fingertips.

Chu Lanci thought to himself: So Master has self-destructive tendencies, or perhaps a sort of quiet madness. Being locked up for nearly a hundred years, his mental state must be anything but normal.

The two were busy until dusk when, finally, a table was finished! Once Chu Lanci was done, he even carved a character at the end of the table. He looked up and asked Xie Zhuo, “Master, do you want to carve something?”

Xie Zhuo replied, “No need.” It was just a piece of furniture.

So, Chu Lanci just carved his own name.

They moved the table back into the cave, and Chu Lanci added, “If we put a pot of flowers on it, it will really feel like a home.” As he spoke, he looked up at Xie Zhuo with a smile.

Xie Zhuo could not see Chu Lanci’s expression clearly, but he could feel that he was in a good mood. It was the kind of spirit that finds joy even in hardship.

Is this the mental realm of mortals? It was truly admirable. He honestly could not stand being in a position of weakness, which is why he chose to fight desperately to become stronger when he rose up.

Moreover, was this little disciple thinking of living out his days here with him? He wondered if he wanted to start a family here and if they would need to have a child next.

But Xie Zhuo responded anyway, “Then you can try that tomorrow.”

“Will Master join me?”

Xie Zhuo replied, “I can.” It was a good way to pass the time. Perhaps if he had not sought immortality, he would have been a carpenter.

They ate at the table, though it was still just some vegetarian fruits. Xie Zhuo finally understood why Chu Lanci was so thin; he did not particularly like eating meat. And while Chu Lanci looked soft and compliant, he actually had his own bottom line. Xie Zhuo could not force him; in fact, he ended up being convinced by him instead.

After eating the fruit, Xie Zhuo was preparing to meditate when he saw Chu Lanci sitting by the crude bed, curled up and huddling. His whole body was pulled together, and he was trembling all over.

With a stir of his heart, Xie Zhuo walked over. Chu Lanci looked up, the corners of his eyes tearful, gazing at him pitifully. The cold affliction had flared up.

If it flared up for Chu Lanci, his own would not be far behind. Xie Zhuo placed a hand on Chu Lanci’s shoulder and, with a slight pull, hoisted him up and drew him close. “Cold?” he asked knowingly. It must have been going on for a while, but Chu Lanci had been enduring it.

He was quite the hider, just like a rabbit.

Chu Lanci’s voice trembled, “Yes, so cold, Master.”

Hearing that title, Xie Zhuo could not help but find it amusing. Master! What kind of master and disciple have this kind of relationship?

He lowered his head and asked, “Do you know what comes next?”

Chu Lanci’s eyes widened, looking a bit confused. He only knew that being held by Xie Zhuo was warm, and he only wanted to be held, letting that warmth spread through his entire body.

“What?”

Xie Zhuo did not bother explaining. He tapped Chu Lanci’s forehead lightly with his finger. A flash of white light appeared, and all of Chu Lanci’s lost memories came rushing back. Xie Zhuo found it quite interesting. He watched as Chu Lanci’s previously clear eyes were bit by bit tinged with shyness, fear, and a sense of lost helplessness.

“You are the one who made me lose those memories?”

“To be precise, it was not me, but the influence of the cold affliction. Besides, did you not say yourself that you planned to get married? Or would you rather keep these memories? Before we leave the forbidden grounds, we might have to spend our days like this.”

Chu Lanci gave a muffled “Yes.”

Xie Zhuo asked, “What does that mean?”

“There is no other way.” No wonder Xie Zhuo had asked those strange questions. So that was it. “When we are done, Master, please help me lose the memory again.”

A few flickers of irritation surged in Xie Zhuo’s chest. “What, do you not dare face it?”

Chu Lanci said softly, “A little.”

Xie Zhuo gave an indifferent grunt.

After saying that, neither of them moved. Chu Lanci was still enduring. Xie Zhuo did not know where this version of Chu Lanci had suddenly gotten such endurance. Becoming somewhat impatient, he casually said, “Let’s make this quick,” and pushed Chu Lanci down onto the bed.

Finally, the large bed he had prepared was put to use.

Perhaps because of the continuous Yin-Yang harmonization, the Frost-Cold Art did not flare up as violently. Compared to before, both maintained a sense of sober rationality.

Chu Lanci was still nervous and trembling, unable to relax the whole time. Xie Zhuo, however, felt a sense of urgency, perhaps from being suppressed for several days, and his kisses were somewhat fierce. Chu Lanci’s tension was forced to dissolve little by little in the face of those savage kisses. He endured the intensity of Xie Zhuo’s kiss, his emotions shifting from fear to an uncontrollable, forced surrender.

His expression became extremely vivid, as did his voice.

Xie Zhuo looked down and could faintly see a seductive look surfacing on this man’s face. It was unexpectedly beautiful beyond measure.

An unspeakable sense of satisfaction filled his entire body. He had actually managed to possess this man.

The clarity of his divine sense made this encounter suddenly become incredibly compatible, at least for Xie Zhuo. His own irritability was smoothed out bit by bit as he began to lose himself in it.

He had made the person cry again.

Xie Zhuo liked to be focused on everything he did, so naturally, he would not consider others. Even after the cold symptoms had dissipated, the intimacy did not stop.

It went on and on.

By the end, Chu Lanci could do nothing but cry, lacking even the strength to refuse.

When it was over, Chu Lanci fell into a faint sleep. He was exhausted.

Xie Zhuo, on the other hand, was in good spirits. He sat up and looked at the pitiful Chu Lanci on the bed. After getting dressed, he reached out his hand, intending to tap Chu Lanci’s forehead to erase his memory. But just as he was about to do it, he hesitated.

These were memories belonging to two people; why should he be the only one to bear them? While he was here savoring the aftertaste, had Chu Lanci not enjoyed it at all?

He turned the man over to look at his face. There were faint tear stains, and his cheeks were flushed. Alright, he probably had not enjoyed it much.

Whatever. He hesitated for a moment but ultimately helped Chu Lanci erase the memory anyway.

He even helped Chu Lanci put his clothes back on. While dressing him, he thought: Layer upon layer of clothing is useless anyway; I still end up stripping him bare.

Really, such a silly little disciple.

As he dressed him, Xie Zhuo suddenly laughed. It was a laugh that came out of nowhere, before he immediately returned to his serious expression.

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