The Immortal Venerable Used Me and Then Abandoned Me - Chapter 5

The blade was but a hair’s breadth from sinking into his flesh. Jian Zhu spared a chilly glance at the edge before parting his lips. “The guidance of destiny.”

As the pressure against his neck tightened, he added, “Plus a teleportation array.”

Huai Wang frowned, clearly unconvinced. Jian Zhu realized then that Huai Wang was likely unaware of the array’s existence.

Settling his expression, Jian Zhu looked toward the pool. “It’s right there at the falling spring. You didn’t know, Immortal Venerable?”

Huai Wang moved his sword away by a few inches. Jian Zhu sidestepped the blade and waded back into the pool, returning to the spot where he had first appeared.

The bone-chilling water submerged half his body. His hair and green robes fanned out across the surface, resembling a bowl of green lotuses floating in the center of the frozen pool.

Huai Wang spared him a glance and followed him into the water.

The falling spring was powerful, creating large splashes in the pool. Jian Zhu reached out to feel the stone wall behind the waterfall and swept his spiritual sense across the pool’s floor, but found no trace of a loosening barrier.

“The entirety of Cang Mountain is covered by my arrays. Trespassers shall be executed,” Huai Wang stated, standing behind him.

At this point, Jian Zhu wasn’t worried about Huai Wang’s lack of trust; rather, the fact that someone could silently set up an array leading into Cang Mountain was a deeply unsettling thought.

“It should be a one-way transmission,” Jian Zhu said, withdrawing his spiritual sense and turning to Huai Wang. “I didn’t trigger the arrays when I first entered Cang Mountain. It was only when I activated my spiritual power that you detected me.”

He met Huai Wang’s eyes. “Cang Mountain is not safe.”

Huai Wang stared back at him. The gravity in Jian Zhu’s eyes didn’t seem feigned. After a few seconds, Huai Wang’s tense aura relaxed, and he dispersed his sword intent. “What are your thoughts?”

“The array was placed in a hidden riverbed on Qianyuan Peak. It’s a desolate spot, which is why it hasn’t been discovered until now,” Jian Zhu said. “I can’t be certain if there are other talisman arrays leading to different parts of the sect.”

Huai Wang pondered for a moment. He stepped forward and pressed his hand against the stone wall behind the falling spring, probing carefully with his spiritual sense.

Standing one behind the other, the two were very close. Huai Wang’s wide sleeves brushed against Jian Zhu’s side, and water droplets splashed onto their faces.

Jian Zhu glanced sideways at Huai Wang. Crystalline droplets hung from the other man’s long lashes, and the bridge of his nose was straight and firm, like a mountain carved from jade. Jian Zhu dithered for a second, thinking that his journey of a thousand miles to chase this man was, perhaps, simply because he was a sucker for a pretty face.

His eyelashes lowered as Huai Wang looked over.

Their gazes locked, and Jian Zhu felt his heart begin to quicken.

Huai Wang spoke, “What are you looking at?”

Dazzled by the man’s beauty, Jian Zhu lost his wits. “The Immortal Venerable is very good-looking.”

Huai Wang’s expression instantly turned cold and stern. “Since you insist you are here seeking an old flame, then stop this nonsense.”

“…”

His clouded mind was abruptly doused awake.

Jian Zhu’s expression went numb: Thanks for the reminder. You’re the damn “old flame.” Huai Wang continued to stare him down with a frigid face.

After a long silence, Jian Zhu suddenly smiled. “The Immortal Venerable is right; I will certainly keep that in mind. After all, I am deeply devoted and utterly infatuated with my ex-husband.”

…

After searching for a while longer without finding any further clues, the two returned to the shore. Huai Wang’s robes were soaked through; with a slight flick of his sleeve, his spiritual power dried the moisture instantly.

Jian Zhu was still dragging around a set of soaking wet clothes. He was currently in the “Nascent Soul stage,” which theoretically didn’t include an automatic drying function.

Huai Wang ignored him and walked straight into the forest. Jian Zhu followed, dripping water with every step. After walking dozens of meters, he turned to look at Huai Wang’s stoic profile, remembering the coldness from moments ago.

He spoke up airily, “Does the Immortal Venerable have any spare clothes in his house?”

Huai Wang’s footsteps paused slightly. He was about to refuse but stopped himself. It wasn’t an overstepping request; he did indeed have some new, unworn clothes in his room.

“Follow me to—”

“Forget it.” Jian Zhu suddenly waved it off. “Clothes are too personal. It wouldn’t be right.”

Huai Wang went silent for a second and continued walking.

Jian Zhu watched him swallow his words back down, feeling a momentary flash of pure joy in that brief silence.

To dare to mess with Huai Wang like this, he might be the first person in the world to do so.

The ground was covered in a layer of snow, surrounded by tall trees. The two walked side-by-side through the forest, leaving two long trails of footprints in the slush.

The chill rose from beneath his feet, and Jian Zhu pulled his outer robe tighter.

Huai Wang glanced at him. The latter’s long hair was damp, with a few strands sticking to his pale cheeks and falling into his collar. Some people lose all color when they’re cold, but Jian Zhu was the opposite; his lips were a vivid red, looking particularly striking against the vast white landscape.

The wet clothes clung tightly to the curves of his body, even revealing a hint of skin beneath the inner garment. Droplets of water slid down from the tips of his hair, soaking into the green fabric on his shoulders.

Huai Wang’s brow twitched. He raised a hand and sent out a pulse of spiritual energy.

Jian Zhu felt a wave of warmth wash over him. By the time he realized what happened, Huai Wang had dried him from a distance.

He: “…”

After walking for about a mile, the exit to the forest came into view, and the faint cry of a crane could be heard.

“Is the Immortal Venerable’s residence just ahead?”

Huai Wang gave a short “Mhm.”

Jian Zhu tucked his hands into his sleeves and walked a few paces, a scene from a few days ago suddenly flashing through his mind. The visitor from afar above Luqi City, whom Huai Wang had personally greeted.

He pursed his lips and asked as if casually, “Is there anyone else in the courtyard?”

Huai Wang: “Why?”

Jian Zhu acted shy. “I’m a bit timid around strangers.”

Huai Wang frowned, seemingly wondering if his understanding of the word “timid” was flawed. He said, “There is no one else. I am the only one on the entirety of Cang Mountain.”

“No outsiders have ever visited?”

“No.” Huai Wang glanced at him. “You are the first to trespass.”

Jian Zhu ignored the emphasis on those last words, choosing not to quibble over the phrasing.

Not far outside the forest stood a courtyard. The layout was simple, with a sturdy green pine standing in the yard and a stone table beneath it.

A white crane, now back to its normal size, was preening its tail feathers. Its beady black eyes saw Huai Wang return and let out a long cry from its beak. Then it spotted Jian Zhu next to him; the cry cut off abruptly, and it flapped its wings to fly off to the side.

Jian Zhu: “Immortal Venerable, your bird isn’t very welcoming.”

Huai Wang said flatly, “It’s a bit timid around strangers.”

“…”

Once inside the gate, Huai Wang had Jian Zhu sit at the stone table, then went into the house to bring out paper and ink. “Do you remember what that talisman array looked like?”

Jian Zhu closed his eyes to recall for a moment, then picked up the brush to draw a rough sketch from memory. At the moment of teleportation, he had indeed seen a flash of a star map covered in complex runes, though the details were a bit blurry.

When he set the brush down, Huai Wang picked up the paper to examine it, his expression gradually turning somber.

Knowing his personality well, Jian Zhu guessed he had a lead. “Does the Immortal Venerable recognize this array?”

“I cannot be certain,” Huai Wang said. “But this belongs to the Yingzhou faction.”

Yingzhou, located in the East, was one of the five great celestial mountains.

The memory of the visitor to Lin Yuan Sect a few days ago, the white deer-drawn carriage coming from the East surfaced in Jian Zhu’s mind.

“Was the distinguished guest who visited the other day from Yingzhou?”

Huai Wang was surprised by his sharpness. “He was Master Xu Jing of the Ten Thousand Buddha Sect.”

Jian Zhu: “…”

He once again marveled at how ridiculous rumors could be.

With all the analyzable clues laid out, the rest couldn’t be unraveled in a single sitting. Jian Zhu and Huai Wang sat facing each other at the stone table for a while as the sun began to shift, the shadow of the green pine stretching out silently.

Jian Zhu stared at the shadow, dazed. “The shadow has grown long again.”

Huai Wang: “Half an hour has passed, after all.”

Jian Zhu was silent for a moment. “Is the trial… over?”

Huai Wang looked up. “…”

Jian Zhu stood up with a start, snapped his sleeves, and flew toward the foot of the mountain at top speed.

…

In the center of the front plaza, the Sect Leader and Elders were seated. The thirty or so disciples were in the field, and the final list of selected disciples had been confirmed.

Only one person was missing.

Master Wei Yi furrowed his brow, remaining silent. Hui Yu looked toward Qianyuan Peak, pacing back and forth. “The time is long past. No matter where he went, he has failed the trial!”

Wei Yi said, “At the very least, we must find him first.”

Hui Yu snorted coldly. “I told you he was suspicious. He likely took the opportunity to infiltrate elsewhere in the sect. We should capture him immediately.”

Before he could finish his sentence, a small wave of gasps suddenly erupted from the crowd. Everyone looked up to see a green silhouette flying in from the distance.

“He’s here, he’s here! He’s back!”

“Wait, why isn’t he coming from the direction of Qianyuan Peak?”

Jian Zhu landed in the center of the plaza. After steadying himself, he bowed to the Sect Leader and the Elders. “My apologies. I was delayed by some business.”

“Delayed by business?” Hui Yu didn’t buy it for a second. “You failed to complete the trial requirements and have already been disqualified. But before you leave, you must give us a clear explanation!”

Behind him, several Elders nodded in agreement.

Master Wei Yi maintained his neutrality. “Perhaps we should hear his explanation first before finalizing his trial results.”

In an instant, every eye in the square was fixed on Jian Zhu.

Jian Zhu: “…”

Stop looking, I haven’t finished making it up yet.

Ten seconds later, he spoke: “I got lost.”

Hui Yu was so infuriated that he lost his filter, his dignified Elder persona crumbling to the ground. “Do you take me for a total fool!?”

Wei Yi coughed lightly. “Hui Yu…”

A wave of skepticism also rose from the surroundings: Lost? What kind of ‘lost’ leads a person from one mountain peak to a completely different one?

“Is there really something wrong with him…”

“At least make up a plausible excuse. ‘I got lost’ is way too lazy.”

“Nobody can save him now. Sigh… what a waste of such a handsome face.”

Jiang Chaoyun was frantic. Ignoring everything else, he rushed out of the crowd and grabbed Jian Zhu. “My friend, stop talking nonsense! Just tell them the truth!”

Jian Zhu saw that he was truly anxious—so anxious he’d even stopped rhyming.

But he couldn’t tell the truth. Whether it was the array on Qianyuan Peak or the fact that he was just with Huai Wang, revealing it to the wrong person would surely alert the enemy.

Clank! The next moment, heavy Body-Binding Chains lashed around his limbs. Jian Zhu followed the chain to see the other end.

Hui Yu gripped the iron links tight. “If you won’t tell the truth, we have no choice but to lock you in the dungeon!”

Jian Zhu sighed. “I told you the truth and you didn’t believe me. You’re being very subjectively idealistic.”

Hui Yu: “…”

Jiang Chaoyun looked utterly despairing; his dear friend was truly a lost cause.

Not far away, Jiang Yin hid a look of schadenfreude. He felt a mix of jealousy and fear toward Jian Zhu; right now, he wanted nothing more than to see him kicked out of the sect or imprisoned forever.

The iron locks rattled with a clang-lang. Jian Zhu didn’t resist and let Elder Hui Yu drag him toward the dungeon.

Compared to the various gazes around him, his inner state was completely flat; he actually felt a bit sleepy.

Jiang Chaoyun retreated back into the group, unable to hide his dejection.

Jiang Yin, standing right next to him, sneered, “You thought rushing out there would turn the tide? How big of a deal does Jian Zhu think he is? He’s just a Nascent Soul cultivator—you think the sect is going to change the rules for him?”

Jiang Chaoyun gritted his teeth. “Do you dare say that to his face? Talking down on someone when they’re at their lowest. That’s exactly the kind of petty snob you are!”

Jiang Yin was triumphant. “So what? I’ve already been accepted by the Sect Leader. In this sect, what my Master says goes—”

CLANG. The iron chains suddenly vibrated.

Jiang Yin’s words cut off abruptly, and the disciples all around stopped their chatter.

To Hui Yu’s utter astonishment, a streak of light flashed across the sky, and a burst of spiritual power blasted the Body-Binding Chains off Jian Zhu.

The wind picked up, carrying a piercing chill, and sent Jian Zhu’s green robes snapping loudly.

Before anyone could regain their senses, a figure as sharp as a sword stood in the sky above. Huai Wang looked down upon the field.

“Cang Mountain shall keep him.”