Chapter 106: Nighttime Chat

NO ONE HAD EXPECTED Yan Wushi to suddenly appear. He’d uttered such dramatic words, everyone assumed he was about to duel Hulugu to the death. Instead, in the blink of an eye, he simply grabbed Shen Qiao and ran, even ignoring his disciple.

Xuandu Mountain’s “A Rainbow Stretches Across the Heavens” was unparalleled, but while Huanyue Sect’s qinggong wasn’t as famous, Yan Wushi vanished in an instant as soon as he started moving. Even Hulugu was left in his dust, never mind anyone else.

Of course, it was also possible that Hulugu had never anticipated meeting a martial grandmaster so shameless.

He was still injured, his blood roiling, meaning it was difficult for him to move rashly. Yan Wushi carried him for more than ten miles, but his steps remained as stable as if he were walking on flat ground, without any turbulence whatsoever. His face was relaxed, and the hint of a smile even hung on his lips. Clearly, he found this effortless.

Shen Qiao finally collected himself to try and speak. With difficulty, he swallowed down the glob of blood in his throat, then coughed twice. “Put me down…”

Yan Wushi was unperturbed. “What’s the hurry? I just left the mountain. If Hulugu catches up, wouldn’t my entire trip have been in vain?”

There was a beauty in his arms, so what was the harm in carrying him another few dozen miles?

It’s not that Yan Wushi had suddenly become an upright gentleman after meeting Shen Qiao, but more that he understood Shen Qiao’s personality well. This Daoist master could be coaxed but not cowed. If he tried to force him, he could forget about getting anywhere with him in this life, but he couldn’t rely only on coaxing either. This beautiful Daoist was purehearted, ascetic, and serenely detached. He never indulged in any worldly desires and had cultivated himself into keeping his distance from the secular world. But even the most steadfast of pampas grass would be powerless to move bedrock.11

However, Yan Wushi thought himself completely beyond the likes of dull bedrock. For if he wanted to, he could pluck even the stars from the heavens.

Shen Qiao was somewhat at a loss for words. “I thought you were going to fight Hulugu.”

Yan Wushi smiled. “If I fight him now, I fear that I’ll still come up a little short. Why should I waste energy on a poor outcome? If I am to fight, it must be when I’m confident I’ll win. My venerable self does not engage in meaningless actions like drawing water with a bamboo basket.”

He never shied away from telling the truth, but even this truth exuded Yan Wushi’s trademark egotism and imperiousness.

Shen Qiao didn’t reply. In truth, the last fight had sapped all his strength, and he’d suffered internal injuries. He was beyond exhausted. Before he could realize it, his eyes slid shut, and he fell into a deep slumber.

Yan Wushi looked down, a smile on his lips. He held the man to himself and walked steadily out of Qingcheng Town, heading northeast.

It’d been a long time since Shen Qiao had last slept properly, the way a normal person would.

That wasn’t to say that he didn’t need sleep. It was just that for martial artists, sleep was training, and training could also double as sleep—by circulating true qi through their bodies, they could cultivate and rest at the same time. Though Shen Qiao cared little for success or failure, he also understood the principle that being strong meant he wouldn’t be at the mercy of others. Ever since he’d reshaped his foundations, he’d been training diligently. When resting at night, he’d relax by meditating.

In his recent battle with Hulugu, he’d exhausted his internal energy, draining his heart and mind both. For the time being, his Dantian was completely empty. At night he’d usually spare a portion of his awareness to watch the outside world, but he couldn’t do it this time. The moment he closed his eyes, he lost all consciousness, entering a strange and surreal dream.

When he woke up, he was already lying on a bed. He turned his head and saw that it was dark outside the window—the only light came from the flickering flame of a few candles on the nightstand, illuminating the room in a faint glow.

Before Shen Qiao could frown and expel the memories of his dream, a teasing voice came from next to his ear. “Which wonderful dream did you have that you’re still savoring it after waking up?”

Only then did Shen Qiao realize something was wrong. The object he was leaning against was clearly not a pillow, but…

No matter how composed Shen Qiao was, a realization like this was still unsettling. He braced his arm against the bed, ready to get up, but Yan Wushi pushed his shoulders down. “You still have internal injuries, so you shouldn’t move about recklessly.”

There was indeed a faint pain in Shen Qiao’s chest, and his qi circulation was sluggish. But that didn’t mean he lacked even the strength to sit up. He insisted on propping up his torso and moving himself to the edge of the bed.

When he felt a solid surface against his back, he gave a sigh of relief. In the end, leaning against the bed gave him more peace of mind.

Yan Wushi observed him with great interest. “What kind of dream did you have? Your face is flushed like a peach blossom, and your eyes are so dewy.”

Shen Qiao was speechless.

Upon hearing this description, those who didn’t know better would think he’d had a wet dream.

Yan Wushi reached out to touch his face. “Your face is so warm,” he said. “It must have been a wet dream. Did you dream of my venerable self?”

The corners of Shen Qiao’s lips twitched. “No, I fear I must disappoint Sect Leader Yan. It was a dream where I fought many people. Even after waking up, I feel exhausted.”

He would never say that Yan Wushi was among the people he fought. Who knew what the other man would say?

However, he’d clearly underestimated how shameless this Huanyue Sect Leader was. Even without him giving an inch, Yan Wushi could still manage to say the most embarrassing things. “Fighting? Fighting where? Was it in bed?”

“If you continue to say such frivolous things,” Shen Qiao said angrily, “I won’t speak to you anymore!”

His A-Qiao was always threatening him, but he was so soft, it was completely ineffective as a deterrent. Yan Wushi laughed and said, “All right, I won’t say any more, really. Then you should say something instead. I’ll let you talk first!”

Shen Qiao composed himself and said, “How long was I asleep for?”

“That’s easy to answer,” said Yan Wushi. “An entire day and night.”

Shen Qiao was slightly surprised. He hadn’t expected to sleep so long. His injuries wouldn’t recover for a while, but after waking up, the pains of his body were greatly lessened. It seemed as though Yan Wushi had helped while he was asleep.

He cupped his hands. “Thank you very much, Sect Leader Yan. In the future, if Sect Leader Yan needs anything, as long as it isn’t criminal or inhumane, Shen Qiao will definitely do his utmost to help.”

Then he thought about how absurd and unreliable the other man’s words and actions tended to be, and how staggering his behavior at Bixia Sect had been. Feeling uneasy, he added, “It also can’t be anything too preposterous, or offensive to public sensibilities.”

Though Shen Qiao wasn’t the leader of the Xuandu Mountain Sect any longer, he was still one of the world’s top ten martial arts grandmasters. Combined with his moral character, a promise from him was worth more than a thousand gold.

Yan Wushi smiled but lightly declined the offer. “No need. I already collected my reward just now, so you need not be so courteous. Besides, with our relationship, you don’t need to behave like such a stranger with my venerable self.”

What relationship? Why don’t I know? Shen Qiao was dumbfounded. Yan Wushi must have spent these years cultivating the thickness of his face on top of his martial arts and sect administration.

Yan Wushi looked at him with a bright smile. “Is A-Qiao thirsty?”

Shen Qiao involuntarily replied, “I am not. Thank you, Sect Leader Yan, for your concern.”

“I thought so,” said Yan Wushi. “While you were sleeping, I already fed you some honey water.”

Shen Qiao had a bad feeling about this. “How did you feed me?”

Yan Wushi gave him a strange look. “By placing a cup against your mouth, of course. How else should I have fed you?” Before Shen Qiao could answer, an expression of dawning understanding appeared on his face. “Did you think I fed you mouth-to-mouth? A-Qiao, you used to be such an upright gentleman… When did you become so vulgar and indecent?”

Shen Qiao said nothing.

He’d already been rendered speechless by this man. Even with how well-mannered Daoist Master Shen was, he couldn’t help but roll his eyes.

Yan Wushi even consoled him. “It’s not your fault. I already told you that Hehuan Sect is full of bad people, and that’s why you shouldn’t mingle with that trash. Like those demonesses, Yuan Xiuxiu and Bai Rong; just stay away when you see them in the future. My A-Qiao is a pure and spirited beauty. How can I let them tarnish you?”

Not like the reputation of your Huanyue Sect is any better than that of Hehuan Sect.

Also, what do you mean, “my A-Qiao”? Who’s your A-Qiao?!

Shen Qiao furiously protested in his heart, but he knew he wasn’t Yan Wushi’s match in a verbal dispute. If he made one retort, Yan Wushi would have ten more waiting for him.

Before, he’d been injured and in a dazed slumber, so there wasn’t much he could do. But now that he was awake, Shen Qiao’s first thought was to worry about the people still on Qingcheng Mountain.

“I wonder how Sect Leader Zhao and the others are doing. I’ll go back tomorrow and check.”

Yan Wushi sneered. “Hulugu was targeting you. The moment you were gone, why would he pay any attention to the rest? As long as they didn’t rush to their own deaths themselves, that is. With how proud Hulugu is, there’s no way he’d go out of his way to kill those who are worthless in his eyes.”

Hulugu was conscious of his status as a grandmaster, so he considered murder and slaughter beneath himself. However, Duan Wenyang and the Hehuan Sect, who were trying to profit off disaster, weren’t as easy to get rid of. Still, that was within Chunyang Monastery’s territory, and Zhao Chiying and the others weren’t powerless children. If they couldn’t even defend themselves from that, there’d be no place for them in the jianghu anyway.

“Yu Shengyan is still on Qingcheng Mountain,” Shen Qiao reminded him.

Yan Wushi was even more direct: “If he can’t handle even this tiny amount of trouble, he’s not qualified to be my venerable self’s disciple!”

In Yan Wushi’s eyes, the incompetent would never be worthy of his attention. Counting decades into the past, there’d been one exception in Shen Qiao, but there was only one Shen Qiao. No one else deserved any extra concern from him, even if they were his disciples. He’d already taught his disciples his skills; if they needed his protection in everything, why bother wandering the jianghu? They might as well bash open their heads and die.

It was clear that Shen Qiao didn’t agree with this view of his. On a rational level, he agreed with Yan Wushi’s words, but while Zhao Chiying, Li Qingyu, and the others might be able to protect themselves, Fan Yuanbai and Zhou Yexue were far less skilled. If a fight really did break out, their masters might not be able to protect them in time, and they’d inevitably be injured.

Yan Wushi saw that Shen Qiao’s mind was wandering, so he reached out to pinch his cheek. “When can you change your bad habit of worrying about everyone in the world?” he scolded. “You’re injured. If you go back, you’ll only be a burden. And you still want to save people? Besides, an entire day and night has passed; even if there had been a fight, it’d have finished by now. What’s the point in going?”

Shen Qiao was caught off guard by the pinching and instinctively leaned back to avoid him. “Sect Leader Yan, please have some self-respect!”

Yan Wushi was all smiles. “A-Qiao is so unreasonable. I’ve already hugged, caressed, and fed you. What part of your body is left for my venerable self to touch? What’s wrong with letting me pinch you? I can see that you’re not like the boudoir girls who apply makeup and powder, but your cheeks are as smooth and delicate as theirs. If you dressed up as a woman, you’d surely be a first-class beauty.”

Shen Qiao was currently thinking about proper and serious matters, so he took Yan Wushi’s words as nonsense and let them flow in one ear and out the other. He frowned a little and said, “Sect Leader Yan was like a prophet when he said that Hulugu might still be alive. I had a hard time believing it then, but it really came true. Hulugu has once again appeared in the jianghu, while my shizun has already passed. Looking at the world now, no one is capable of defeating him. The Göktürks have grown close to Yuwen Yun, and Yuwen Yun has been conspiring with Hehuan Sect and the Buddhist discipline. The Sword Trial Conference came to an untimely demise and collapsed entirely, and Chunyang Monastery was met with a crisis. I fear that the peaceful days of the jianghu are no more.”

“Why are you worrying so much about others?” said Yan Wushi lazily, leaning on the bed. “Isn’t the decline of Chunyang Monastery a good opportunity for Xuandu Mountain to make its comeback? With your current strength, you could have flattened Yu Ai a while ago. Storming into Xuandu Mountain and taking back the sect leader’s position wouldn’t be difficult at all. Why do thankless work for others? If you want to do it, I will help you.”

Shen Qiao glanced at him, then finally, having endured it for so long, he couldn’t take it anymore. “If you want to talk, just talk,” he said helplessly. “Can you stop putting your hand on my thigh? It’s incredibly undignified.”

If not for his injuries and how he was sleeping against the wall, he would have long rolled off the bed.

Yan Wushi patted him twice and chuckled. “Oh, so this was actually your leg. I thought it was a cushion.”

He reached under the bedding and pulled out a cushion from next to Shen Qiao’s leg. Then he placed his hand on top and patted it some more.

So shameless, thought Shen Qiao.