SQLJBFDTW Chapter 11

Chapter 11 Lantern Festival (3): Are we not close?

Chao Jianxue tiptoed slightly, managing to grab a lantern hanging in mid-air. The lantern depicted two ducks, which appeared to swim as the lantern rotated, incredibly lifelike.

He said to Yu Wei, “Look at these two ducks, they’re quite plump.”

Yu Wei pursed his lips, remaining silent. After a moment, he said, “White eyebrows, green feathers, Senior Brother, those are mandarin ducks.”

Chao Jianxue spun the lantern again, cheerfully saying, “Mandarin ducks are ducks too.”

He was willing to come to the Qixi Lantern Festival, but it was just to join in the fun. Love and romance were never things Chao Jianxue was interested in.

But he hadn’t expected…

He teased, “Junior Brother Yu Wei, I thought you didn’t care about whether they were mandarin ducks or not—cough cough—”

He lowered his voice, imitating Yu Wei’s tone, “‘I naturally wouldn’t waste my energy on unimportant things.'”

This affected manner was particularly annoying.

Yu Wei looked at his side profile illuminated by the candlelight. Chao Jianxue was happily squinting, his long eyelashes fluttering non-stop, and the flush from the alcohol hadn’t faded from his face, like a rosy cloud, making his dark eyes also appear watery.

His breath caught for a moment, and for the first time in his life, he felt that the sharp eyesight he had cultivated through spiritual power was superfluous.

After Chao Jianxue finished laughing, he saw that Yu Wei’s expression was still as unchanged as an ice sculpture, making him feel embarrassed. He then snorted a few times, “You’re no fun at all.”

After a long while, Yu Wei slowly said, “I’m ashamed to be inferior.”

What was going on?

It was clearly a humble remark, but Chao Jianxue felt that it sounded a bit strange. His face didn’t show any sign of humility, and after thinking about it, he felt like Yu Wei was subtly mocking him.

After walking for a while, Yu Wei still maintained that pure and untainted face like a white lotus flower. Chao Jianxue was itching to pounce on him, rub and knead him, and thoroughly torment him.

However, the gaze he received was too sacred to be trifled with, so he reluctantly suppressed his restlessness. His arm was getting sore from holding the lantern, so he handed it to Yu Wei.

As expected, the candied hawthorn had been thrown away, and Yu Wei’s hands were empty, but he didn’t take the lantern.

He said to Chao Jianxue, “Senior Brother, do you know that carrying a lantern together at the Qixi Lantern Festival is something only people with a very close relationship do?”

Chao Jianxue raised an eyebrow, “What kind of rule is that? I just wanted you to help me carry it for a while, so I can take it back and make it a collection. Why are you being so fussy? Besides, you and I are close brothers, aren’t we close?”

Of course not, he thought to himself, giving himself a thumbs down.

He disgusted himself while trying to disgust Yu Wei.

What Yu Wei wanted to say about “very close relationship” wasn’t just that, but he couldn’t bring himself to say those two words. He thought Chao Jianxue should know.

Yu Wei reached out his hand with good temper, but Chao Jianxue immediately changed his mind, “Forget it, I’ll just hold it myself, I won’t trouble you.”

It was truly some strange talk about having a “very close relationship” that made him change his mind.

He took the lantern and walked a few steps faster, going up the long bridge alone first.

Yu Wei took a deep breath. His heart felt like it had been scratched by a cat, and he needed a “Heart-Clearing Incantation” to eliminate the itchiness.

Chao Jianxue was like a cat, teasing him from time to time, but withdrawing his claws when his heart wavered, and sweeping his palm with his tail as he left.

He was clearly an insignificant person originally, but because of a baseless guess, he had put himself in an embarrassing situation.

Floating lights formed a sea in the air above the long bridge. Chao Jianxue looked back, his flamboyance at its peak, “Junior Brother, aren’t you going to hurry up?”

Yu Wei, with that expressionless, saintly, and ethereal face, lifted his foot and walked up.

By the time they arrived at the Moon-Viewing Platform, the moon was already high in the sky. A person was sitting alone on the platform, playing the qin.

Chao Jianxue was stunned by the sight before him. The crescent moon was like a hook, taking up most of his view, and the wind in the pines sounded like the sea. The person’s sleeves moved with the music, ethereal.

He couldn’t help but slow down. The fatigue from the journey was smoothed out by the flowing music, and he also felt a sorrowful sadness.

Lord Mu Yuan was sitting next to the person, appreciating the moon. Hearing the footsteps, he turned his head, “You’ve arrived.”

Chao Jianxue strode forward, but he felt a timidity, a fear of being close to home as he approached.

“Father.”

Yu Wei followed behind him and saw clearly that the person playing the qin was Lord Qishan. He was very surprised to hear Chao Jianxue’s timid voice.

Qishan stopped playing, smiled at Chao Jianxue, “I heard that your soul’s incompleteness has been completely healed, so I came especially to see you.”

Yu Wei’s expression didn’t change, but he was surprised that this had happened.

No wonder Chao Jianxue had changed so much.

Chao Jianxue knew that Elder Lin had already told his teacher about this, so he licked his lips and said, “A blessing in disguise, haha.”

“Come closer.” Qishan beckoned him over, his fingers containing spiritual light, and pointed towards his brow.

Instantly, a stinging pain flashed like lightning through Chao Jianxue’s mind, but he only frowned and obediently didn’t move, and the stinging pain passed.

Qishan retracted his hand and nodded, “Good. Now you can be at ease.”

Mu Yuan smiled at his friend, “I thought Jianxue wouldn’t have any more progress on his path to immortality in this life, but now it’s different. As his father, shouldn’t you put in some effort?”

“I specialize in different arts. I can’t teach him. Jianxue has already become your disciple, so you should teach him!”

“Of course, I will teach him, but he showed off so much at the Grand Competition the other day, we must take precautions.”

Qishan knew his intention and laughed loudly, “I’ve already prepared it!”

With a “whoosh,” he poured out a pile of spiritual instruments from his spiritual pouch without blinking an eye. The spiritual light on the Moon-Viewing Platform instantly shone brightly, even overshadowing the moonlight.

Even Yu Wei, who didn’t usually show his emotions, widened his eyes and took a step back in astonishment.

Chao Jianxue stared at the sparkling spiritual light, bit his knuckles to prevent himself from making a sound as if he had never seen the world.

Dad is spending money again.

Qishan waved his hand, “They’re all small things I’ve collected over the past hundred years. I don’t need them, so I’ve prepared them all for you.”

Even Mu Yuan, as the leader of a mountain in the Wuwu Sect, would be lying if he said he wasn’t envious after seeing so many spiritual treasures. He shook his head, “Senior Brother, you really are raising Jianxue like a daughter.”

Qishan stroked Chao Jianxue’s head, “He’s my only child.”

His words sounded so much like a genuine father that Chao Jianxue’s throat tightened, his eyes welled up, and he couldn’t help but hug Qishan, “Thank you, Father.”

With such an adoptive father, if Chao Jianxue were the original owner, he would have been as tyrannical as a crab in the Wuwu Sect.

On the other side, Mu Yuan let the two of them enjoy their father-son affection and said kindly to Yu Wei, “I called you here because the headmaster divined that a celestial artifact will descend in Water Moon Valley in the coming days. When the secret realm opens, you can go and see if you have the opportunity. I will be in seclusion in a few days, so I’m telling you in advance.”

Yu Wei nodded, “It’s rumored that Water Moon Valley is the place where the True Immortal Fuheng ascended. Is the celestial artifact related to the True Immortal?”

Mu Yuan smiled, “That’s right. You’re familiar with books and have a good memory. I’m relieved to have you go. Just remember one thing, celestial artifacts are different from ordinary spiritual objects, and you can’t force them. You must rely on opportunity.”

“Will any teachers go with me?”

Mu Yuan shook his head, “Unfortunately, the Water Moon Valley secret realm has cultivation suppression, and those above the Nascent Soul stage cannot enter.”

Chao Jianxue had been eavesdropping the entire time. How could he miss out on a celestial artifact? He poked his head out, “Master, I want to go too…”

Mu Yuan objected, “The secret realm is fraught with danger. Don’t be ridiculous!”

Chao Jianxue knew he was as weak as a chicken, so he shrank his head back.

Qishan said, “With the spiritual treasures I gave him, he won’t die even if he’s at his worst. Whose cultivation doesn’t involve going through life and death?”

Mu Yuan scolded, “Senior Brother is really being reckless and irresponsible. With his current cultivation, wouldn’t he immediately turn to ashes if he fell down there?”

“There are many life-saving spiritual instruments!”

“Those magical instruments are external objects. How can we let him rely on magical instruments all the time? Besides, many magical instruments can only be used if they have sufficient spiritual power. When the secret realm opens, not only human cultivators but also demon cultivators will come to compete for a share, and there will be many variables.”

Chao Jianxue looked at his teacher, then at Qishan, and had the urge to say, “Mom and Dad, stop fighting.”

He understood. His cultivation wasn’t high enough, his spiritual power wasn’t strong enough, so he would just be cannon fodder.

And the Tianyao Sect, whom he had just offended, would definitely not be absent from this secret realm.

Chao Jianxue knew the principle of retreating in the face of difficulty. Recalling the real reason he came to Mu Yuan, he said, “Master, I want to learn the sword.”

Mu Yuan observed his mind at this moment. The spiritual power circulation was still smooth, so it could be put on the agenda.

“The Wuwu Nine Swords progress from easy to difficult. When you reach the late stage of Foundation Establishment, you can begin to learn them. Before that, you must not slack off on your morning and evening exercises every day, and you need to make up for the lessons you missed before. Have you thought it over?”

Chao Jianxue was a little disappointed. He thought he would be able to start immediately, but he didn’t expect to have to wait. However, he steadied his heart. If he wanted to cultivate, he had to face difficulties head-on, so he said decisively, “I’ve thought it over!”

Compared to before, Chao Jianxue could be said to have undergone a complete transformation. Mu Yuan felt relieved.

He looked at Qishan, who didn’t say anything but looked back at the sickle-like crescent moon. He raised his hand and swept it across, and the qin was stored back in his sleeve.

Mu Yuan said, “It’s almost three in the morning. Senior Brother, why not stay the night?”

Qishan laughed, “Alright! It’s been many years since you and I, brothers, drank together. Let’s drink until we’re drunk!”

Stepping out of the Moon-Viewing Platform, the lantern that had fallen on the stone steps was still there, its candlelight dim, reflecting the delicate grass and flower buds on the stone steps.

“What’s this?”

Chao Jianxue quickly said, “I got it at the lantern festival just now.”

Mu Yuan calculated with his fingers and suddenly realized, “So it’s the Qixi Festival again.”

He asked Qishan with amusement, “No wonder. I don’t know when it started, but Senior Brother always plays the qin on the moon on the Qixi Festival. Do you have someone you admire?”

Qishan “tsk”ed, “Mind your own business.”

“You and I weren’t born from the Path of Emotionlessness. After so many years without results, could it be that the falling flowers have intention but the flowing water is heartless?”

“Hehe.”

Chao Jianxue was very interested in this kind of gossip, but unfortunately, his master’s residence was on the high ground, so he had to leave with regret.

He was in a great mood, taking two steps at a time as he jumped down the stone steps. Unexpectedly, the night was deep and the dew was heavy, and the moss under his feet was slippery. He slipped and fell backward into Yu Wei’s arms.

Fortunately, his butt didn’t hit the ground, but when he came back to his senses, he made eye contact with Yu Wei’s downward-gazing face, which was very embarrassing.

What kind of clumsy, old-fashioned romance novel heroine fall was this?

“Senior Brother,” Yu Wei’s face was facing away from the moonlight, and a mischievous smile appeared in his eyes, “I told you, alcohol is not good for cultivation.”

Chao Jianxue suddenly felt his face heat up. He quickly adjusted his center of gravity and stood up. The duck lantern had also rolled down the stone steps, and the candlelight was dimming, gradually extinguishing.

The only source of light was the moonlight hanging above Yu Wei’s head.

“Ah,” Chao Jianxue sighed, “Bad luck.”

But Yu Wei made a good point. The power of the Windflower Dew was taking effect, and he really felt that the surrounding world was starting to spin, and his heart was beating especially hard.

The blush that had faded from his face resurfaced, making him look like a spring flower in the eyes of others. Afraid that he would roll down the mountain if he continued walking, he stepped into the flower bushes by the roadside and lay down with his arms spread out.

“I’m going to sleep here. You go back, don’t worry about me.”

He was just so naturally impulsive and acted as he pleased. Once he made up his mind, he wouldn’t be ashamed even if he was discovered tomorrow.

Hearing these words, Yu Wei paused in place, then turned and walked down the mountain.

The night wind rustled, and Chao Jianxue couldn’t help but cough.

Footsteps approached. Yu Wei returned and pulled him up from the ground.

Chao Jianxue frowned, “What are you doing?”

Yu Wei took a long stride, put his arm around his shoulder, and led him away, “If Senior Brother gets sick again, it will be my negligence.”

Chao Jianxue vaguely thought, that would be good.

“Hey, my duck lantern!” he shouted.

Yu Wei raised his hand, using telekinesis to grab the lantern. He held the lantern in one hand and led him with the other, his steps still light. Chao Jianxue was stunned.