Everyone Says I’m Cold and Aloof, But I Just Have Social Anxiety! - Chapter 14

Gu Qingzhi asked, knowing the answer full well: “So, you are determined to kill him no matter what?”

Yan Luochen nodded with absolute certainty, gritting his teeth as he spat out, “If I do not avenge this, I am not fit to be called a man.”

Gu Qingzhi looked at him, a trace of complex emotion quietly flickering in his eyes, yet he remained silent. Perhaps the person before him also needed a true friend, or a stable place to call home.

Yan Luochen added, “However, there is no longer a need for me to risk my life in a desperate struggle. Qingzhi has already avenged me, hasn’t he?”

Gu Qingzhi was silent for a moment before nodding. “Mhm. My father said that the Danxia Sect might have an antidote for the poison you were given.”

A flash of surprise and joy instantly crossed Yan Luochen’s eyes, but it faded just as quickly. “Would the Danxia Sect really give me an antidote so easily?”

Gu Qingzhi stood up, his hands behind his back, his posture tall and straight. “How will we know if we do not try?”

Yan Luochen stood up immediately after him, his gaze as steady as iron. “Alright. Then we shall try.”

At that moment, a gentle breeze brushed past, making the leaves of the Wutong tree rustle as if they were whispering.

“But before that, are you willing to join our Yuqing Immortal Sect and become a disciple under my father?” Gu Qingzhi asked.

“Yes!”

Yan Luochen nodded earnestly. The silhouettes of the two men appeared exceptionally resolute under the water-like moonlight.

After their conversation, Gu Qingzhi might not have noticed it himself, but in the dark, he no longer felt the same resistance to interacting with Yan Luochen as he did at the beginning. Unconsciously, he had begun to accept him.

The next morning, sunlight poured through the window into Gu Qingzhi’s room. After tidying his robes, he hurried out to meet his father, Gu Yuan.

Unexpectedly, the moment he opened the door, a flash of vibrant red lunged into his vision, sweeping past him as fast as the wind. This gave the socially anxious modern youth a violent start.

Having just woken up, he was still a bit dazed. Standing rooted to the spot, his first thought was actually wondering why a “Red-Robed Vengeful Spirit” was out and about at this hour…

A second later, he came to his senses. It was just that red-robed youth.

[He really does love wearing red, but it certainly suits him! Only a minority can truly pull off such a vibrant color.]

He stared expressionlessly at the person before him. Once the other had stopped moving, he asked testily, “What kind of fit are you throwing?”

Yan Luochen grinned, revealing a row of pearly white teeth. “Since I have no spiritual energy to use in my body, I’ve been learning mortal ‘Lightness Skills’! I just felt like practicing on a whim.”

Gu Qingzhi said flatly, “Fine. You continue. I am going out for a while.”

Yan Luochen asked hurriedly, “Eh? How long will you be?”

“Not long,” Gu Qingzhi responded.

After walking a few steps, he paused and looked back. With a light flick of his sleeve, two plates of exquisite pastries appeared out of thin air on the stone table.

“Is this breakfast for me?” Yan Luochen asked. Seeing the other not responding which was clearly a silent affirmation he quickly added, “Thanks!”

Gu Qingzhi arrived at the main hall where Gu Yuan was busy with sect affairs. He said respectfully, “Father, I have something to tell you.”

Gu Yuan put down the scroll in his hand and looked up with a gentle expression. “My son, speak freely.”

Gu Qingzhi took a deep breath inwardly and said, “Father, I wish to speak to you regarding Yan Luochen. I would like you to take him as your disciple.”

Upon hearing this, Gu Yuan nodded without the slightest hesitation and agreed readily: “What is so difficult about that? I agree.”

Gu Qingzhi was somewhat surprised; he hadn’t expected his father to agree so swiftly. But before he could react, Gu Yuan continued: “However, while I shall take him in, this Sect Master will not be bothered with the actual teaching. It is too much trouble. There are still many sect matters that require my attention. After he is accepted, all matters regarding his instruction will be handed over to you, his Senior Brother.”

Gu Qingzhi was momentarily stunned, but he soon understood his father’s intentions. He responded with a faint smile, “Do not worry, Father. I understand.”

Gu Yuan nodded with satisfaction and smiled. “That is for the best. I made this arrangement on purpose to give you a companion. You have always been a loner, my child; it is time you had someone close by your side.”

Gu Qingzhi replied, “Thank you, Father. I understand.”

Gu Yuan waved his hand. “Very well, you may go. I still have official business to attend to. Inform Yan Luochen that the apprenticeship ceremony will be held tomorrow.”

Gu Qingzhi clasped his hands and answered, “Yes.” He then turned to leave the hall, his mind already pondering how he should get along with that fire-red individual in the future. Since he now had a friend, he ought to learn how to be “close.”

Only…

What he did not know was that the “closeness” he was imagining now would be slightly different from the “closeness” of the future… but never mind that for now. He knew his personality was the polar opposite of the other’s. If he became a nuisance over time, would he end up solitary and alone once again?

Later, Gu Yuan gathered the members of the Yuqing Immortal Sect and announced his intention to take Yan Luochen as a disciple.

Upon receiving this news, even Xuan Ling, the Peak Master of Liuyun Peak who had not left his mountain in a long time, as well as He Lan-ci, the Master of Zhaoyang Peak, and Su Baizhi, the Master of Yaozhu Peak, all gathered together.

“Third Senior Brother, you are finally willing to step out of your Liuyun Peak? After all this time, I’m afraid you’ve forgotten you even have a Junior Sister!” Su Baizhi teased Xuan Ling with a beaming smile, her tone laced with a bit of playfulness.

Xuan Ling merely curled his lips into a faint smile. “Junior Sister, you exaggerate.”

As the three stood together, He Lan-ci couldn’t help but speak up: “Third Junior Brother, let the things of the past drift away with the wind…”

Xuan Ling’s expression remained indifferent as he replied, “What Big Senior Brother says is quite right.”

They were all fellow disciples under the same master as Gu Yuan. He Lan-ci was the eldest, Gu Yuan was second, Xuan Ling was third, and Su Baizhi was the youngest.

Upon seeing Xuan Ling, Gu Yuan’s expression became slightly unnatural. This subtle movement did not escape the sharp eyes of Gu Qingzhi, who stood nearby. He was filled with curiosity.

[Strange. Why does Father look like this when he sees Peak Master Xuan Ling? Is there some hidden secret I don’t know about?]

Hearing Gu Qingzhi’s inner thoughts, Yan Luochen silently made a note of it. After all, if it was something Gu Qingzhi cared about, it was important.

Gu Yuan stood up and said in a clear voice, “Everyone, the reason I have called you here today is that I, this Sect Master, wish to take a disciple by the name of Yan Luochen.”

The crowd broke into whispers, curious about who this Yan Luochen could be.

Following the usual protocol, they tested Yan Luochen’s spiritual roots. In an instant, five-colored light flared brilliantly. These were the Five Elements Roots—Wind, Water, Wood, Fire, and Earth which were exceptionally rare.

Seeing this, the crowd was shocked into silence.

Elder Xuan Ling couldn’t help but sigh in admiration. “Setting Jian Han aside, Second Senior Brother already had a son with extraordinary talent in Gu Qingzhi, and now he has taken another genius disciple in Yan Luochen. It is truly enviable.”

Gu Yuan hurriedly said with humility, “Not at all, Junior Brother overpraises them.”

On the side, He Lan-ci and Su Baizhi looked at each other and shared a smile, though it was a smile that carried a meaning Gu Qingzhi could not quite decipher.

Hearing this, Jian Han muttered inwardly: “What do you mean ‘setting me aside’? I may be over fifty, but I am still at the late stage of the Golden Core Realm.”

Indeed, achieving such a level at his age was considered the work of a favored son of heaven. However, Gu Qingzhi and Yan Luochen were simply too brilliant—geniuses among geniuses overshadowing almost all other talents.

One must know that the most superior spiritual roots were the Heavenly Single Root and the exceptionally rare Five Elements Root, followed by the Dual Roots. As it happened, these three types corresponded exactly to Gu Qingzhi, Yan Luochen, and Jian Han.

Following this, they tested Yan Luochen’s bone age. At only twenty years old, he had already reached the early stage of the Golden Core Realm, making him the same age as Gu Qingzhi.