The Immortal Venerable Used Me and Then Abandoned Me - Chapter 6

Jian Zhu was stunned; he hadn’t expected Huai Wang to actually show up.

He had figured that if he were dragged off to the dungeon, he’d simply have to sacrifice another heirloom to make an escape; or, perhaps, Huai Wang’s conscience would kick in and he’d privately ask the Sect Leader to release him.

Instead, Huai Wang arrived out in the open, bold as could be.

In the crowd, Jiang Chaoyun let out a cry of delight. “Friend Jian Zhu!”

Not only was his friend bailed out, but he was also being taken back to Cang Mountain by Immortal Venerable Huai Wang himself. Truly, the chosen one!

Jiang Chaoyun cut a side-eye toward Jiang Yin, channeling his lifetime’s worth of sarcasm: “Oh? ‘How big of a deal does he think he is to make the sect change the rules?’ ‘In this sect, the Sect Leader has the final say?'”

He raised his chin triumphantly. “Hah!”

Jiang Yin’s face flushed white and red in turns. His knuckles turned white as he gripped his sleeves, and his back trembled. He couldn’t wrap his head around it. On what grounds did an ordinary cultivator, who lied about his cultivation, defied an Elder, and vanished mid-trial, deserve to be favored by the greatest man in the world!

The entire assembly was in shock. Hui Yu stood frozen, a segment of iron chain still clutched in his hand, looking confusedly toward the Sect Leader. Master Wei Yi performed a salute toward Huai Wang above. “What is the meaning of this, Immortal Venerable?”

“Are we not conveniently short-handed?” Huai Wang glanced at Jian Zhu. “I’ve recruited him to watch the mountain and guard the courtyard.”

Jian Zhu: “…”

That reason sounds even more ridiculous than getting lost.

But since the one speaking was Huai Wang, the crowd thought: Never mind, then.

Hui Yu opened his mouth to argue further, but several Elders behind him pulled him back:

“If the Immortal Venerable is keeping him, there must be some deep meaning behind it…”

“This isn’t for us to meddle in.”

“In any case, with the Immortal Venerable watching him on Cang Mountain, he likely won’t be able to cause any trouble.”

Jian Zhu cast a meaningful glance at the Elders: Loudly gossiping right in front of me… a bit too blunt, don’t you think?

In the span of a few words, Huai Wang had already turned around. Seeing Jian Zhu still lingering to eavesdrop, he said in a low voice, “Are you not following?”

Jian Zhu flew up to join him. “Just savoring the local customs and hospitality of the sect.”

Before leaving, he turned and winked at Jiang Chaoyun: Talk later.

Jiang Chaoyun gave a somewhat clumsy wink back.

…

Layer upon layer of mountain peaks swept beneath their feet, and soft wisps of cloud drifted past. The wind blew a few strands of long hair across his face; Jian Zhu casually gathered them and re-tied them behind his head.

Huai Wang’s decision to take him in was likely out of moral responsibility; it didn’t necessarily mean Jian Zhu was special. However, the fact that Huai Wang was willing to bring him back to Cang Mountain was already the best possible outcome.

In life, one must dwell more on the positive side of things; otherwise, it’s all too easy to fall into a cultivation deviation.

Jian Zhu sat cross-legged in the void, pressing his palms together and uttering a soft “Amitabha.” His inner state was exceptionally peaceful.

Beside him, Huai Wang turned around and frowned. “You believe in Buddhism?”

Strictly speaking, the Lin Yuan Immortal Sect followed the Dao. Even the backs of the disciple uniforms were embroidered with the Taiji Yin-Yang fish.

Jian Zhu lowered his hands, projecting an air of all-encompassing tolerance. “I have always treated Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism with equal favor. I analyze specific problems as they arise and choose the best fit as the situation demands.”

Huai Wang had never seen a faith with such high liquidity. “Cultivation requires focus.”

Jian Zhu arched an eyebrow at him. “And what about you, Immortal Venerable? What is the Path you focus on?”

They had reached the boundary of Cang Mountain. Huai Wang raised his hand with a wave, a ripple of light flashed over Jian Zhu, and the two of them passed through the barrier without obstruction.

Huai Wang landed on the Crane-Greeting Platform, nearly blending into the snowy landscape. “It is none of your concern.”

Jian Zhu: “…”

One after the other, Jian Zhu followed Huai Wang past his courtyard and straight up the back mountain.

The back mountain was home to a forest of parasol trees. The thick trunks soared into the sky, covered in frost and snow—a vista of vast desolation.

Huai Wang walked ahead, his silhouette straight and upright. His silver robe fluttered with his gait, and sunlight filtered through the overhead branches of the ancient trees, casting dappled shadows.

Jian Zhu followed behind him. “Did the Immortal Venerable plant all these trees himself?”

Huai Wang’s footsteps paused slightly. “These parasol trees are unique to Cang Mountain. How did you know that?”

Jian Zhu replied nonchalantly, “I heard my old flame mention it. He said he’d bring me to see them if he had the chance.”

It took Huai Wang several seconds to realize that the “old flame” Jian Zhu referred to was his “cloud-romance” ex-husband. His expression remained unchanged. “Without my permission, no one can enter Cang Mountain.”

Jian Zhu smiled. “Even a peacock knows how to fan its tail. It’s not unheard of for someone to brag a little to their Daoist companion.”

Huai Wang said nothing more; he felt nothing toward matters of love and affection.

Beyond the forest and a bit further up the mountain, there was a patch of leveled ground with a wooden cabin in the center. The cabin was simpler than Huai Wang’s current courtyard, but it was sturdily built and did not look crude.

Huai Wang stopped at the stone steps before the clearing. “You will live here from now on.”

Jian Zhu stepped past him. “I thought you lived alone, Immortal Venerable. Why is there a spare house?”

“I moved after I started raising cranes.”

“I see.” Jian Zhu understood perfectly. “The improvement of one’s quality of life truly does begin with getting a pet.”

“…”

Creak— Jian Zhu pushed the door open. The scent of long-sealed dust wafted out, and a bit of debris fell from the gaps in the ceiling.

“Clean it yourself,” Huai Wang said before turning to leave.

Jian Zhu stood at the doorway, watching his receding figure—silver sleeves accented with gold, like a swift cloud vanishing into the forest.

With the disciple selection over, those eliminated left today, while the remainder joined the sect to officially begin their studies tomorrow.

Jian Zhu’s status was somewhat delicate. He was someone Huai Wang had personally kept, yet he hadn’t formally joined Huai Wang’s lineage.

In other words, he was a masterless wanderer.

Fortunately, classes within the sect weren’t divided by lineage but by cultivation level. Theoretically, Jian Zhu was at the Nascent Soul stage. Currently, the highest-ranking disciples in the sect were only at the Nascent Soul stage. Those in the same hall as him were the closed-door disciples of various peaks mostly at the Golden Core stage, with a few at the Nascent Soul stage.

To start his sect life studying with the top-tier disciples. Jian Zhu carefully savored his situation.

The next day, he changed into the inner disciple uniform and headed to the lecture hall.

The dark-green robe fit him well, the waist belt tightly cinched to outline a graceful silhouette. An outer wrap covered him, and a vermilion jade ornament hung at his hip, appearing and disappearing as he walked.

Jian Zhu rarely wore other colors. First, he was too lazy to pick styles; second, Huai Wang was silver and flashy every day, so green was easier on the eyes.

When he walked through the forest to the Crane-Greeting Platform, the silver-flashy Huai Wang was by the cliff, refining his sword intent.

As the sun rose in the east, bringing the primordial purple qi, the morning light cast a golden glow over Huai Wang’s sharp silhouette. His profile was like carved jade. A mountain-shaking sword intent stirred the clouds at the peak, then gathered in his palm like shifting sand.

The sword stilled; the wind died. Huai Wang looked at Jian Zhu. Perhaps because it was the first time he’d seen an inner disciple uniform on Cang Mountain, it took him a moment to process.

Jian Zhu walked over. “A fine sword, Immortal Venerable.”

The blade caught a sharp glint of light. Jian Zhu added: “…manship.”

Huai Wang withdrew his gaze. There were five or six paces between them. Neither spoke. One was used to the other’s presence, while the other simply didn’t care about anything—the silent atmosphere was surprisingly not awkward.

After ten seconds, Huai Wang glanced over. “Are you not leaving yet?”

The thin morning glow rose from the sea of clouds, casting a line of orange-red level with their eyes. Jian Zhu faced the horizon, his features bathed in warm colors.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Just taking a hit of Yang energy.”

Huai Wang began to wonder if he should have kept this person after all.

…

Before he could be tossed off Cang Mountain, Jian Zhu took the initiative to slip away.

At the front mountain academy, inner disciples were walking to class in groups of three or five. A few noticed him, stole several glances, then turned back to whisper among themselves.

Jian Zhu acted as though he noticed nothing and went straight to the lecture hall.

Inside, most of the disciples were already seated. When Jian Zhu stepped through the door, the room went silent for an instant as gazes crossed.

He picked a seat in the back row. Several people nearby sat bolt upright, refusing to look at him—clearly, yesterday’s rumors had spread overnight, and they wanted to keep their distance.

However, there were those who didn’t care for rumors. A few drifted over:

“Junior Brother Jian Zhu, you’re new here. If there’s anything you don’t understand, feel free to ask your Seniors.”

“I am Senior Sister Xu, under Master Dong Ying. Junior Brother, you truly are handsome. Would you consider a ‘second spring’? I can introduce someone to you~”

Jian Zhu tucked his hands into his sleeves. “Thank you, Seniors, but my ‘first spring’ hasn’t quite withered yet.”

Everyone: “…”

Senior Sister Xu looked at him with pity. “You truly are so devoted.”

After a few more words, it was time for class. A figure walked through the door, accompanied by a familiar, sharp reprimand: “Everyone back to your seats! Prepare for the lecture!”

Jian Zhu looked up through the gaps between the people crowded around his desk, meeting Elder Hui Yu’s dissatisfied gaze head-on.

The disciples instantly scattered like startled birds. Hui Yu shot him a glare and began the lecture.

Jian Zhu’s seat was diagonally across from the window. A short while into the lesson, two people walked past the window, peeked inside, and scurried away. A moment later, another disciple passed by with feigned nonchalance, turning their head to steal a glance at Jian Zhu.

Before the class was even halfway through, several waves of people had already loitered outside. Finally, Hui Yu reached his limit. He slammed his scrolls down with a heavy clatter. “Disciple Jian Zhu, go stand in the back!”

Jian Zhu tried to reason with him. “Being good-looking isn’t my fault.”

Suppressed snickers broke out all around. Fuming, Hui Yu raised his hand and slapped a barrier over the window, cutting off the view from outside observers.

By the end of the lesson, Hui Yu stormed off in a huff. He felt the most frustrating part was having nowhere to vent his anger. It wasn’t like he could tell Jian Zhu to show up with a different face next time.

As the disciples left in groups of two or three after class, Jian Zhu had just stood up when the previous senior brothers and sisters swarmed him again.

One senior brother patted him on the shoulder. “Junior Brother, your beauty has made you famous throughout the sect. Everyone is just curious and wants to see for themselves; it’ll pass after a while. Elder Hui Yu just has a big temper, but he’s actually a good person.”

Jian Zhu thought to himself that what made him “famous throughout the sect” probably wasn’t just his beauty.

It was also his brilliance.

He said, “I know.”

Seeing that he wasn’t bothered, Senior Sister Xu happily changed the subject. “By the way, what’s Cang Mountain like?”

The senior brother was also curious. “How are you and the Immortal Venerable getting along?”

Another person nearby chimed in, “Does the Immortal Venerable give you pointers on your cultivation?”

Jian Zhu replied, “It’s austere, we aren’t close, and we basically never see each other.”

Them: “…”

“Forget it,” said Senior Brother He, the one who first comforted him. “That’s only normal. Don’t be discouraged, don’t lose heart! We’re taking you to see a whole new world tonight!”

A slow question mark popped up over Jian Zhu’s head: ?

Senior Brother He grinned. “Put on some flashy clothes; we’re going down the mountain to have some fun.”

Jian Zhu was skeptical. “Are we allowed to leave the mountain without permission?”

Senior Brother He slung an arm boldly around his shoulder. “What’s there to fear? As long as we don’t get caught, it’s fine. Besides, there’s no one else on Cang Mountain. The Immortal Venerable is entirely focused on the Dao. He won’t care what you do!”

Two seconds later, Jian Zhu clapped his hands lightly. “That actually makes a lot of sense.”