There is Still Such A Good Thing? - Chapter 20

The Bamboo Forest.

The beast did not look like any single creature, yet its aura was so heavy it was terrifying.

With just one glance, Wu Lingchan’s messy braids seemed to stand on end. “Xuanxiang! Xuanxiang!”

Xuanxiang said, “What are you afraid of? It cannot move.”

Sure enough, the beast stared intently at Wu Lingchan for a long time. Its deep purple pupils dilated slightly, then it quickly closed its eyes in a languid manner, too lazy to bother with him.

Wu Lingchan let out a sigh of relief and walked past on tiptoes with small, hurried steps.

However, after circling halfway, he realized this towering predator was blocking the path to the main hall of Bihan Terrace completely. If he wanted to return, he would have to pass right by its side.

Wu Lingchan tried to fly across using two trails of ink.

“Pfft!”

He was swatted back by a palm-leaf-like bamboo frond.

There seemed to be an array sealing spiritual energy in the area; no wonder he was swatted down the moment he was teleported here.

Wu Lingchan found himself in a difficult spot. He tried to tiptoe along the edge of the dense bamboo forest, but as soon as he came within three feet of the beast, it suddenly opened its pupils, casting a warning glance at him.

Wu Lingchan was startled by the glare, but upon looking closer, he noticed wounds on the beast’s neck and paws where sharp blades had pierced its skin, and hideous blood was faintly visible on its pitch-black fur.

Oh my, it is so badly hurt and yet still so fierce?

Wu Lingchan was no longer afraid. He smiled and chirped at it, “Tsk, tsk, tsk!”

The beast: “…”

Xuanxiang: “…”

The beast let out a sharp puff of air, whipping up the bamboo leaves on the ground and smearing Wu Lingchan all over with them.

Those beast pupils had shrunk back into vertical slits, staring straight at Wu Lingchan, signaling for him to make that sound one more time.

Wu Lingchan: “…”

Wu Lingchan dared not make the sound again. He pointed his finger toward the distant path, attempting to communicate.

“I am just passing through. I will not get close to you.”

The beast kept watching him.

Wu Lingchan assumed it had understood. He ran past with a clink-clink sound. The beast was likely too severely injured to stop him, though its eyes remained fixed on him.

Wu Lingchan ran while looking back, vigilant that the beast might pounce.

Fortunately, the small path was within reach. Wu Kunkun felt a surge of joy, but before that joy could even reach his brow, he caught a glimpse of the beast suddenly propping itself up on its front claws and letting out a low, hoarse cry.

The sound was deep, evoking fear in his heart.

Wu Lingchan was startled and ran even faster. “Hahaha, you wanted to bite me? No chance! Pfft!”

Thud.

A transparent barrier appeared out of thin air at the entrance of the path. Wu Lingchan collided with it unexpectedly; he was lucky he did not crack his head open.

Wu Lingchan climbed up, rubbing his aching face. He clawed at the transparent barrier, and upon realizing that this barrier enveloped the entire bamboo forest and was impervious to his spiritual energy, he was completely dumbfounded.

Where is the door?

Wu Lingchan hurriedly asked, “Xuanxiang, can you shatter this array? I beg you.”

Xuanxiang said, “Chen She wants to kill you, and you turn around and say, ‘Xuanxiang, can you slap an expert of the Void Refinement stage to death with one palm? I beg you.'”

Wu Lingchan: “?”

Wu Lingchan did not understand Xuanxiang’s sarcasm. “Brother would never kill me.”

Xuanxiang sneered.

The beast, which had settled back down, heard this. Its tail, buried under the bamboo leaves, flicked gently. The nearly extinguished embers grew slightly brighter, and its deep purple pupils dilated, looking at him.

That gaze held a complexity almost like that of a human.

The array here could not be affected by spiritual energy, and Xuanxiang could not even take form, so how could he shatter the array?

Wu Kunkun had not expected that while trying to find his brother, he would end up trapped here instead. He looked up and sighed, “Does this mean I am calling to heaven with no response, and to earth with no answer?”

Xuanxiang said, “No, it is obvious this array was laid out from the inside to the outside.”

Wu Lingchan raised an eyebrow toward the beast.

Since it was so heavily injured and yet still actively laid out a barrier, it must be a beast that has gained wisdom. Was it recuperating here?

Does Brother know?

The priority was to get out of here.

Since it had wisdom, it must be able to communicate. Wu Lingchan cleared his throat and shook a small jade bottle to show it.

“I have a bottle of nectar here. I will do a good deed and heal your wounds, and you open the barrier to let me go, okay? If you agree, nod your head.”

The beast did not move.

Wu Lingchan tried, “Tsk!”

The beast suddenly opened its fangs, viciously acting as if it were going to eat him.

Wu Lingchan had a backup plan. He quickly reached into his collar and pulled out the Four-Nether Gold Bell. With a clink, he shook it. “Do you know what this is before you try to eat me?”

The beast froze.

His spiritual energy was suppressed, so the Four-Nether Gold Bell could not be forcefully activated, but the “Chen” character seal on it was enough to intimidate everyone in the Kunfu Ruins, beasts included.

Sure enough, the beast did not move.

Wu Lingchan hooked his slender fingers through the bell, making it clink-clink. For the first time, he experienced what it felt like to use another’s power to intimidate.

“This was gifted by Lord Chen. Do you know who Lord Chen is? Who is it? My brother. Lord Chen is burly and fierce, like a towering tree; he can knock seven or eight of you down with one punch. If you eat me, watch out for the consequences.”

The beast’s pupils shifted slightly, as if intimidated by the “burly, towering Lord Chen.” It cast a complicated glance at him and no longer tried to eat the noble Young Lord.

Wu Lingchan’s brow moved.

It’s working.

Wu Lingchan hung the Four-Nether Gold Bell on his chest and strolled over with the jade bottle.

The beast, perhaps intimidated by Lord Chen’s prestige, languidly closed its eyes, pretending he did not exist.

Wu Lingchan felt relieved.

As he got closer, the beast seemed uneasy. Its tail flicked gently, the heat of its embers scorching the pool of blood on the ground; the smell of blood was exceptionally strong.

Listening carefully, he could hear its breathing becoming weaker and weaker.

Perhaps it hadn’t been intimidated by Lord Chen’s name at all; it was purely because it was too heavily injured to bother arguing with Wu Lingchan.

Wu Lingchan was lost in thought. He did not skimp on the nectar, directly tiptoeing to sprinkle it onto the beast’s neck. The milky-white spiritual liquid instantly turned into mist, and the wounds healed rapidly.

“Feeling better?”

The beast did not even lift an eyelid.

Wu Lingchan circled around it again, and only after sprinkling five bottles of nectar were its wounds finally cured.

The beast was quite straightforward. With a flick of its tail, an invisible line tore open a fissure in the barrier.

Wu Lingchan finally regained his freedom. He ran over happily to take a look.

The door was only half a person’s height; to get out, he would have to bend down.

Wu Lingchan crouched there and turned back to glare at the beast. “I am the Young Lord, noble and exalted. Can’t you open the door a little wider?”

The beast ignored him, indicating no chance.

Wu Lingchan frowned. “Is it holding a grudge because I went ‘Tsk’ at it earlier?”

Xuanxiang was astonished. “You actually have this much self-awareness?”

Wu Lingchan: “…”

Wu Lingchan pouted and bent down to go through, but then he thought again: this beast laid out a barrier and secluded itself here to heal; it was as if it were in its own home. It must either be his brother’s mount or a contracted beast.

It must definitely know where Chen She’s place of seclusion was.

Wu Lingchan turned back and crawled into the barrier again. “Tsk! You know where my brother is…”

The beast’s healed wound, for some reason, had already been pulled into a terrifying blood-red line again. It seemed it hadn’t expected Wu Kunkun to make such a sudden return even through such a narrow door; it failed to guard the array for a moment.

The barrier instantly closed, bouncing Wu Lingchan back.

The beast’s pupils trembled.

Before Wu Lingchan could stand steady, a hoarse voice suddenly echoed in his ear.

“Don’t move!”

Wu Lingchan froze.

His sensitivity to danger was almost like that of an animal. As soon as that strange voice sounded, his body stopped in place.

Drip.

A blood line as thin as a hair appeared on Wu Lingchan’s snow-white neck, slowly seeping out dense dots of blood, gathering into a bead of blood, gradually accumulating a few drops of bright red blood at his collarbone.

A strand of hair on his shoulder was severed, seemingly slowed down countless times as it fell to the ground.

In the void, it felt as if a sharp blade were hovering at Wu Lingchan’s neck. If he had been a moment slower, he would have been decapitated on the spot.

Wu Lingchan, heedless as he was, was shocked. Trembling, he reached out and pinched the air where his neck had been cut.

Snap.

That was not a blade.

It was an invisible thread.

The beast, which had just healed, was back to being covered in wounds in the blink of an eye. Its pupils suddenly contracted, its claws shaking the ground, seemingly having destroyed something.

Threads spread throughout the surroundings, piercing its body, causing more blood to pour out.

Zing—

The thread Wu Lingchan held between his two fingers snapped. The suffocating danger that had surrounded him suddenly shattered, and the invisible wind rolled through the bamboo leaves as they fluttered chaotically.

In the emerald bamboo sea, a pair of deep purple pupils, as if brewing a storm, stared straight at Wu Lingchan’s neck.

Wu Lingchan relaxed suddenly, raising his hand to wipe away the few drops of blood on his neck, surprised. “Was this also its array?”

So the wounds on its body were also caused by the array?

Self-mutilation? Is it crazy?

Xuanxiang said coldly, “Something is strange, run!”

Wu Lingchan always listened to Xuanxiang when he was fleeing for his life; he rushed toward the exit without even looking back.

Because the array had been forced to stop, the half-person-high exit had gradually shrunk to the height of his knees.

Wu Lingchan was flexible enough to adapt. Without another word, he simply made the “Tsk” sound and crawled out. In the blink of an eye, half his body was already out of the barrier.

This beast was no pushover; it could even speak. The best course of action was to…

Just as he thought this, Wu Lingchan suddenly felt a snap.

Something like a rope wrapped around his ankle.

Wu Lingchan’s expression froze. “…Eh?”

Then, a massive force of tension came from his ankle. Wu Lingchan face-planted firmly onto the ground and was dragged back fiercely by his ankle.

Wu Lingchan: “…”

Wu Lingchan scratched at the ground with all his might, trying to grab a straw to save his life. “Xuanxiang! Xuanxiang! Xuanxiang! I am going to be eaten!”

“Hold onto the Four-Nether Gold Bell,” Xuanxiang urged, unable to use his spiritual energy. “No matter what, do not let go. If you encounter a fatal attack, the gold bell will automatically protect its master.”

Wu Lingchan was dragged along, his mouth full of bamboo leaves. He struggled and looked back.

Wrapping around his ankle was the beast’s tail.

The beast sat in the center of the bamboo forest, the green leaves swirling chaotically in the wind, revealing the dense array beneath it.

Its pupils stared fixedly at Wu Lingchan, covered in blood yet giving off a terrifying aura and a sense of bizarreness, carrying some kind of unbearable desire.

—It was hunger.

Wu Lingchan was slender; in the blink of an eye, he was dragged to the front by the tail.

He reacted quickly. He pushed his robes to his elbows, exposing his snow-white wrists, grabbed a handful of accessories scattered on the ground, and swung them out with all his might.

Bang.

One of the gold ornaments, which had several runes drawn on it, exploded the moment it touched the beast.

Wu Lingchan finally escaped and ran for his life.

But the next moment, the beast’s claws had pressed down on his head, pinning Wu Lingchan’s chest firmly into the pile of bamboo leaves.

The beast’s pupils were no longer clear; it roared at Wu Lingchan as if it had lost all its sanity.

Because of its overlooking position, its gaze was fixed on Wu Lingchan. Everything around seemed to be gray, save for the dazzling red wound on Wu Lingchan’s neck.

Blood.

Eat him.

The purest demonic bloodline, and a body so frail. In all of history, it had never encountered such prey; why let it go for nothing?

The fire of hunger burned in its gut like bone-deep rot; as long as it swallowed the prey’s bones and blood to appease its hunger, it could…

Wu Lingchan was still struggling while holding the Four-Nether Gold Bell.

The beast’s eyes became more and more vicious. It had already leaned down and stretched out its burning hot tongue, fiercely licking the nape of Wu Lingchan’s neck. Wu Lingchan nearly thought the beast was going to eat him from the head down.

The wound wasn’t deep, and the blood pooled at his collarbone was licked away.

In his daze, Wu Lingchan always felt this scene was somewhat familiar.

The beast was unsatisfied, and the next bite followed closely behind, bringing with it sharp fangs.

Seeing that he couldn’t escape, Wu Lingchan could only push against the beast’s claw with one hand while frantically shaking the Four-Nether Gold Bell with the other, attempting to summon Chen She.

“Brother!”

Clink.

The beast’s movements suddenly froze.

In a sea of gray, the blood pool on the ground shimmered with an eerie red, and as the bamboo leaves drifted down, ripples appeared, vaguely revealing the reflection of a woman.

She overlooked everything, smashing her long zither onto the ground; the strings zinged as they snapped. Her face was covered by a bamboo leaf, and her voice was cold.

“Are you human or beast? No matter how many times I teach you, you still cannot learn to control your sanity?”

The beast stared blankly at the illusory shadow.

The woman’s voice grew colder and sharper, almost piercing through the blood pool, killing it once more across decades of time and space.

“What is a beast? Being barbaric is a beast; being mindless is a beast. You cannot even control yourself; how are you different from those mindless things that only know how to struggle and bite?! A bit of desire can dominate you and make you act in such an ugly manner!”

“As low as dust!”

The beast slammed a claw into the blood pool, smashing the haunting memory into pieces.

Blood splattered, yet those flying blood droplets eerily reappeared in the image of countless women.

Sometimes she sternly scolded, “Why can’t you learn?! Can’t even pain teach you a lesson?! You are wild and untamable; you should just go die with him!”

Sometimes she gently pacified, “Haven’t you always wanted to hear the zither? Mother will play a tune.”

But mostly, she wept, holding white zither strings in her hands, sadly stroking something: “…Not tolerated by the world; why must you suffer such pain? When will you ever learn to be a proper human being?”

For just an instant, the blood droplets pattered down, the woman’s face shattered suddenly, turning into a haunting ghost that had lingered for decades, entangling it.

The surroundings were gradually enveloped in darkness and crimson.

Suddenly, “Brother…”

The blood splashed onto the ground and suddenly turned into leaves of Dan-maple.

In the vast wasteland, a maple leaf fell onto his back, as light as if a gust of wind could blow it away.

Chen She walked aimlessly, taking one heavy step after another.

Wu Kunkun lay on his back, clutching his neck, sleepy and wilting, yet still murmuring: “Brother… Father will come to save us, won’t he?”

Chen She did not speak.

Wu Kunkun barely gathered his spirits, rubbing his ears dependently, like a sleepy cat.

“…I am not a burden, I am accompanying Brother.”

Chen She stopped in his tracks.

Wu Kunkun’s voice grew smaller and smaller. The wind of the wasteland whistled, and the child’s tender voice almost dissipated in the wind.

“No matter what Brother is, I am with Brother… Brother, give the bell to me…”

Clink.

The beast’s vertical pupils moved, and its sanity returned bit by bit.

Under the dominance of instinct, the beast’s massive body seemed to know that it couldn’t get what it wanted, so it simply shrank its beast form by several times, licking its wounds with its tongue, hoping to get that sweet blood again.

Its fangs were sharp, trying countless times to bite into the neck where blood was flowing.

But the moment it opened its mouth, it stopped abruptly.

The wound on Wu Lingchan’s neck had been licked pale, his robes were in disarray, his face was full of tears, and he was in a state of unprecedented wretchedness, yet he was still desperately tilting his head to shake the gold bell.

…Waiting for his brother to come and save him.

At that moment, the awakened beast froze completely like a cold stone, even its breathing stopping.

Wu Lingchan shook until his hand was sore, but Chen She made no sound.

Just as he despaired, thinking he would truly suffer retribution this time, the beast that had been pressing heavily on him suddenly found its conscience and let him go with a thud.

Wu Lingchan: “Hmm?”

Did Brother come to save him?

The sound of shattering glass came from his ear. Before Wu Lingchan could react, he felt that tail, which had dragged him in, wrap around his waist again and gently send him out.

The moment he escaped the barrier, Xuanxiang suddenly took form and caught Wu Lingchan.

Having escaped the mouth of the beast, Wu Lingchan pressed against his racing heart in fear; the first thing he did upon escaping was to laugh.

“Hahaha, I almost forgot: how could a Child of Destiny die so easily at the mouth of a mere demonic beast? I was worrying unnecessarily.”

Xuanxiang: “…”

These words were too arrogant and conceited. Xuanxiang wanted to lecture him, but after thinking it over, he couldn’t refute it, so he had to swallow his anger and remain silent.

Wu Lingchan had a major scare and was still worrying about Chen She’s “Heart-Binding Contract.” He ran around the vast Bihan Terrace twice but couldn’t find anyone, so he had to return to the Danjiu Palace, unwillingly, under the urging of Xun Ye, who had run out of patience.

Although he returned to the Danjiu Palace empty-handed, just as he got back, Wen Juanzhi’s portrait scroll rattled.

A little figure popped its head out from the gap in the scroll, floating like a stick of incense and emitting black smoke.

“Young Lord Kunkun, there is an urgent matter, please return, please return.”

Wu Lingchan hurriedly unfolded the scroll. Wen Juanzhi’s ink portrait jumped up and yelled crookedly.

“Good evening, Young Lord.”

Wu Lingchan went straight to the point: “What is the urgent matter?”

Wen Juanzhi said concisely: “A new secret realm has opened in the Immortal Alliance, named Baicang. It must contain the ‘Autumn Funeral Origin’.”

Wu Lingchan was overjoyed: “The final ingredient is gathered; does this mean you can refine the elixir for me?”

“That is exactly so.”

Wu Lingchan was instantly invigorated. “Good, good, good! The Fourth Protector has done a great service!”

Wen Juanzhi: “Four… Fourth Protector? Is it me??”

“Write the news about the Baicang secret realm on the scroll and send it to me.” Wu Lingchan was extremely happy. “As soon as I get the medicine, I will go to the Wen family to find you.”

Wen Juanzhi hesitated: “Are you going to the Immortal Alliance alone? The secret realm is dangerous; killing for treasure is a common occurrence. It is better to travel with others.”

“I know, I know. Is there any herb you want? I can get it for you on the way.”

Wen Juanzhi was stunned. Even on the little figure with distorted features, one could see his tenderness: “No, no need. Take care, Young Lord, and come back safely.”

“Oh!”

Wu Lingchan closed the scroll, full of excitement, and prepared to pack his things to head to the Baicang secret realm in the Immortal Alliance.

Just as he was clink-clanking around, the door of the bedchamber was tapped lightly.

Wu Lingchan thought it was Qingyang and didn’t even look up: “Why knock if you have nothing to do? Just come in.”

The doorway was silent for a moment before someone pushed the door open.

Wu Lingchan glanced at it and ran over happily: “Brother!”

Chen She was unexpectedly dressed in black. His expression was no different from usual, still gentle and refined.

He asked calmly: “Where are you going?”

“Immortal Alliance, Baicang secret realm.” Wu Lingchan grabbed him and said excitedly, “Xun Ye was lying to me, Brother clearly wasn’t in seclusion. Someone who reports false military intelligence like that, Brother must punish them severely to establish your prestige… Hmm?”

Chen She suddenly reached out toward Wu Lingchan’s neck, his invisible gaze lingering on the pale, unhealed wound.

Wu Lingchan tilted his head, resting his cheek in Chen She’s palm, and looked at him curiously with wide eyes: “Brother?”

Chen She’s fingertips twitched, and he suddenly pulled his hand back.

He didn’t know if it was Wu Lingchan’s illusion, but yesterday, when Chen She heard him call him “Lord Chen,” his expression had seemed unusually cold.

But today, listening to him call him “Brother,” why did Chen She’s expression also look wrong?

Why is it wrong no matter what I call him?

Chen She made no other response, sitting on the bench and beckoning to him gently.

“Come.”

Wu Lingchan walked over curiously.

Chen She took out the medicated wine from his sleeve, held Wu Lingchan’s hand, and had him sit opposite him, their knees touching, while gently dabbing the medicine onto him.

Wu Lingchan originally wanted to use Xuanxiang’s ink to stop the bleeding, but the wound was only a thin line, and it would form a scab in one night, so he was too lazy to bother.

But for such a small wound, Chen She wiped it repeatedly, using half a bottle of medicated wine, until the wound gradually healed.

Not until that unsightly wound disappeared inch by inch did Chen She ask softly: “Do you hate it?”

Wu Lingchan was puzzled: “Who?”

“That fierce beast.”

Wu Lingchan did not understand: “Why should I hate it when I have nothing better to do? It didn’t even cause this wound.”

Chen She was silent for a long time, shook his head lightly, and asked him again.

“Kunkun, do you know what a half-demon is?”

Wu Lingchan frowned; he did not want to talk about this topic.

The last time he talked about this, it ended in unhappiness.

Chen She: “I won’t scold you this time.”

Only then did Wu Lingchan feel reassured and said lazily: “Oh. A half-demon, they are just people, they have the appearance of people and speak the words of people. They are the same as you and me. What is there to talk about?”

Hearing the last sentence, Chen She laughed: “Human skin is just their disguise. Essentially, they are still wild beasts, untamable, and they will reveal their beastly nature if they are not careful.”

Seeing Wu Lingchan’s look of disagreement, Chen She raised an eyebrow: “Isn’t that the case today?”

Wu Lingchan propped his chin up, tilting his head to look at Chen She, and said lazily: “If it had eaten me today, I would only hate it alone; I wouldn’t flip over the boat of all half-demons and hate every single one I see.”

Chen She’s eyelashes flickered.

“Besides, it didn’t hurt me.” Wu Lingchan said with reason, “It even wanted to save me when I was cut by the array. Although it lost its sanity afterward because it was attracted by the blood, it cleared its mind soon after. Doesn’t this just show that although it has a wild nature, it can control itself? It is so amazing! Many humans cannot successfully control their jealousy or malice even when they want to.”

Just like that Meng Ping, who shot him with an arrow.

So hateful!

Chen She did not seem to have expected him to say this. He was rarely speechless, but the self-loathing and coldness that had been on his face since he arrived seemed to have dissipated little by little.

Wu Lingchan had his own set of logic and would not be swayed by anyone.

Chen She laughed softly: “Aren’t you afraid that you will actually be eaten and lose your life?”

Wu Lingchan was stunned, and suddenly squinted at him.

Chen She raised an eyebrow: “What?”

Wu Lingchan seemed to have discovered something and said in a low voice: “I know.”

Chen She’s action of putting away the medicated wine paused.

Wu Lingchan accused him loudly: “Lord Chen was clearly watching from the sidelines today, even knowing the details so clearly, yet you watched it lick me until I was dirty and did not save me!”

Chen She: “…………”