The Aloof Master Is Secretly Kissed Every Night by the Paranoid Villain - Chapter 23

Lin Xiu ultimately scolded Wen Shiqing, but half a month later, he provided him with news regarding the thousand-year-old Penglai branch.

However, the information was not definitive.

He only mentioned that the Lord of Donglai City might know the secrets of Penglai Immortal Island, and suggested that he go and inquire. After all, the thousand-year-old Penglai branch was a legendary medicinal ingredient. According to ancient incomplete scrolls, it actually referred to a branch of the thousand-year-old Bodhi tree growing on Penglai Immortal Island.

Yet, Penglai Immortal Island had only appeared once in a thousand years. Since then, many immortals had gone to investigate its reported location, only to see an endless stretch of sea and thick, impenetrable fog. There was no sign of the island at all.

On the day Wen Shiqing decided to head to Donglai City, he had just flown out of the mountain gates when he saw Xie Yuan standing at the entrance waiting for him.

The youth was wearing the same cyan-colored inner-disciple robes as Xiao Heng, but the aura he gave off was vastly different.

Xiao Heng was handsome, sharp, and full of heroic spirit. Xie Yuan looked obedient and beautiful, but when close, he gave off a gloomy and chilling sensation.

“Master, judging by the direction, are you also heading to Donglai City?”

“What? Are you going to Donglai City as well?” Wen Shiqing felt a jolt in his heart, and he frowned immediately.

“Yes.” Xie Yuan revealed an obedient smile. “Disciple just accepted a mission to exorcise ghosts in Donglai City.”

Xie Yuan would never tell Wen Shiqing that he had overheard Wen Shiqing telling Xiao Xue about going to Donglai City. That was why he had gone to accept the sect mission for the same destination.

“So, Master, since we are going the same way, may I accompany you? I can serve you tea and pour water along the way. After all, this was the requirement you set for me initially. If I do not follow your demands, it would be a breach of our agreement. I hope Master will not refuse me.”

Wen Shiqing had not expected the words he said back at the Hehuan Palace to be used by Xie Yuan to corner him now. Furthermore, the system had warned him that he had been avoiding Xie Yuan for too long, and the main system was already becoming restless.

It seemed he could no longer hide.

He swallowed his refusal and nodded coldly. “If you want to come, be quick. If you fall too far behind, I will not wait for you.”

With that, he took off on his sword, though he deliberately slowed his pace to allow Xie Yuan to catch up.

Xie Yuan curled his lips slightly, activating the blood talisman at his pulse point. His ghost energy transformed into spiritual energy, and he controlled his sword to rise into the air, heading toward Wen Shiqing.

Xuan Qing remarked coldly in his consciousness, “If you keep using forbidden techniques like this, there will come a day when your body cannot take it anymore.”

Two years ago, Xie Yuan had learned a forbidden technique that allowed him to briefly transform ghost energy into spiritual energy, deceiving those around him. In reality, it was physically draining and caused a backlash.

However, in order to live up to the title of Wen Shiqing’s disciple and dispel the suspicions of the elders and disciples regarding his cultivation of the ghost path, he used this forbidden technique frequently to manifest his cultivation.

Yet, the cultivation displayed this way made it difficult for others to discern his true level. Even Wen Shiqing assumed he was at most in the Qi Refining Stage, unaware that he had actually reached the late stage of the Golden Core Stage.

“Whether I can take it or not is for me to decide,” Xie Yuan retorted dismissively. A moment later, he caught up and traveled side-by-side with Wen Shiqing. Although his face was pale, the smile at the corners of his eyes could not be contained as he said, “Master, I have caught up to you.”

Wen Shiqing’s gaze swept over his sword, and he pursed his lips. He was well aware that Xie Yuan cultivated the ghost path, so he found it strange that Xie Yuan could manifest ghost energy as spiritual energy. But he could not ask this question. Once he and Xie Yuan tore through this layer of pretense, everything that followed might spiral out of control.

“Caught up is caught up; no need for idle talk.”

“Understood.”

Xie Yuan moved slightly closer to Wen Shiqing without a trace and asked, “Why is Master heading to Donglai City?”

“To find a medicinal ingredient.”

“What kind of ingredient?”

“That is none of your concern.”

Of course, Wen Shiqing could not tell Xie Yuan that he was seeking the thousand-year-old Penglai branch specifically for him.

“Then, does it involve Senior Brother Xiao?”

Wen Shiqing was stunned. Why was Xiao Heng being brought up again?

Xie Yuan chuckled and guessed, “Senior Brother Xiao is about to reach the Soul Formation Stage and needs to prepare more life-saving pills to survive the lightning tribulation. Since the Lord of Donglai City is famous among the immortal sects for collecting medicinal herbs for generations, surely your trip to Donglai City has the purpose of seeking medicine for Senior Brother Xiao, right?”

Although Xie Yuan’s deduction was completely off the mark, Wen Shiqing did indeed need to see the Lord of Donglai City. He paused, then frowned and replied, “You do not need to know so much.”

“So that is it.” Xie Yuan lowered his eyes. Although he was smiling, the smile did not reach his eyes.

He thought to himself, if Wen Shiqing knew that his true cultivation was actually on par with Xiao Heng’s, reaching the late stage of the Golden Core Stage and ready to challenge the Soul Formation Stage, what would he do?

In terms of age, his achievements had long surpassed Xiao Heng’s, enough to rank at the top of all young disciples across the three sects, six schools, and twelve palaces. But even so, would Wen Shiqing congratulate him? Would he be proud of him?

Would he be like he is now, seeking medicine for his sake?

He was truly jealous of Xiao Heng. So jealous that he was going mad.

Wen Shiqing was unaware of Xie Yuan’s complex psychological changes.

He focused on flying his sword, and with Xie Yuan, it took them one day to reach Donglai City.

The moment they reached the sky above the city, Wen Shiqing noticed that something was wrong.

Thick, dark clouds shrouded Donglai City, and oppressive wails echoed from within the heavy clouds, as if vengeful spirits were demanding their lives.

“Such intense ghost energy,” Xuan Qing remarked in Xie Yuan’s consciousness. “It is on par with the back mountain of the Wentian Sect.”

“Indeed.” Xie Yuan’s expression darkened. “This is no longer a mission that can be handled by a single sect disciple.”

What he noticed, Wen Shiqing naturally noticed as well.

“Do not enter the city yet.”

Wen Shiqing stopped him and descended before the city gate. To his surprise, he saw Xiao Heng and several outstanding-looking disciples standing there.

“Master?! Junior Brother?! Why are you here too?” Xiao Heng waved at them, his expression surprised.

Standing beside him was a female cultivator of striking height and delicate features. She carried a heavy ancient zither on her back, but it did not make her look bulky; instead, it complemented her light blue gauze coat, highlighting her elegant temperament.

Her gaze fell upon Wen Shiqing and Xie Yuan, a flash of admiration crossing her eyes.

She bowed deeply. “Shen Huan of the Lanyin Sect pays her respects to Daoist Wen.”

[Host, she is the female protagonist of the novel. Because she sees that Xiao Heng has feelings for her, you treat her with distant politeness on the surface, while secretly detesting her and often getting jealous of Xiao Heng and her.]

Hearing the system’s reminder, Wen Shiqing sighed helplessly.

[Very well. I have to go wild with my acting again.]