SQLJBFDTW Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Kneeling Together, Kneeling to This World

Perhaps due to excessive consumption in the secret realm yesterday, his body felt like it had been hammered one hundred and eight times, even a slight movement was exhausting.

Chao Jianxue lowered his head to regulate his breathing when a cup of hot tea appeared before his eyes.

“Senior brother, have some,” Yu Wei said calmly.

Chao Jianxue was flattered, and after drinking the hot tea, the aches in his body eased somewhat.

Now that the secret realm was closed, they should return to the sect.

Chao Jianxue hid behind Yu Wei, walking along the familiar mountain path. Just as he was about to reach his Qingxue Abode and breathe a sigh of relief, Yu Wei stopped.

He glanced ahead and saw Lord Mu Yuan standing not far away, his expression unreadable.

Mu Yuan summoned them to Guan Yue Terrace to report.

He said kindly, “I and the Sect Leader already know about the Qianli Sword being stolen. Yu Wei, don’t take it to heart.”

Chao Jianxue stood in the corridor, listening to the master and disciple exchanging words inside, so loving and respectful. In contrast, he stood alone outside the door, feeling uneasy and a sense of loneliness.

Petals of flowers fell in Guan Yue Terrace, and clouds drifted with the wind. The jade ornaments at his waist jingled, making a light sound like clear spring water hitting stones.

Since returning, he had read the Qianli Mingxin Method. What it described was quite different from the Wuwu Sect’s teachings, but he had the inheritance of the Fuhang True Immortal, so cultivation was quite smooth.

Only one thing was different. The key to this method was that ordinary cultivation was fine, but when actually used, it burned one’s own spiritual power as fuel, catalyzing the release of even greater power.

In short, it meant harming oneself while harming the enemy, like damaging oneself by three hundred while harming the enemy by one thousand.

The Qianli Mingxin Method also contained martial intent. He transferred that martial intent to his armlet. The armlet was a golden ring, shining brightly, so he named it Ming Qianli.

As his cultivation improved, the golden ring Ming Qianli could also nurture his natal weapon spirit.

“Chao Jianxue, come in.”

He lowered his head and stepped into the room. His master’s residence was spotless, the floor so clean that it reflected his face.

Mu Yuan changed his gentle tone toward Yu Wei and said coldly, “I’ll give you a chance, answer truthfully. Where did you go?”

What an authoritative question, Chao Jianxue broke out in a cold sweat.

He thought Mu Yuan would be in seclusion for a long time, but who knew he would finish so quickly and catch him red-handed?

Chao Jianxue glanced at Mu Yuan. He seemed genuinely angry, his eyebrows raised like an angry Vajra. Yu Wei, standing by the side, looked like an attendant interrogating him, watching him with a calm gaze.

Throwing the initial intention of hiding to the wind, Chao Jianxue went all out: “I went to Water Moon Valley and entered the secret realm.”

“Nonsense!” Mu Yuan slammed the table.

Before Chao Jianxue could bend down, Yu Wei actually knelt down first: “Master, please calm your anger. I am also responsible for this matter.”

Mu Yuan: “Did you know from the beginning?”

Yu Wei lowered his eyes: “Yes.”

“Did you know he was going to his death?”

Chao Jianxue mumbled, “Didn’t I come back okay…”

“Kneel down!”

A ray of spiritual light struck, and Chao Jianxue’s knees weakened, and he knelt on the ground, shivering. He felt a surge of bitterness and injustice, thinking, wasn’t he allowed to go out and see the world?

If he hadn’t gone out, where would he have gotten the chance to obtain the Qianli Mingxin Method? How long would the days of being ridiculed by everyone in the sect continue? How long would he have to worry about someone coming to kill him? Did Mu Yuan ever understand his unwillingness?

As his eyes stung, Yu Wei crawled over and knelt beside him, saying, “Master, Senior Brother withstood the pressure of the secret realm. In the secret realm, if not for Senior Brother’s help, I would not have been able to break the Thousand Silk Array. If Senior Brother made a mistake, I am also at fault. I am willing to be punished!”

Chao Jianxue pursed his lips and said loudly, “It’s none of Yu Wei’s business, punish me, Master.”

He didn’t want to owe Yu Wei any favors.

Mu Yuan said coldly, “You two are protecting each other! Chao Jianxue, how did you become so bold? Aren’t you afraid of death?”

Chao Jianxue said, “I am afraid, but I am even more afraid of dying inexplicably. I just don’t want to wait, I don’t want to have my hope gradually worn away in waiting, and then suddenly be killed in my sleep one day!”

“Didn’t I promise to teach you gradually after you reach the late stage of Foundation Establishment?”

“But Master also said to wait until I reach the late stage of Foundation Establishment, I just wanted to go to the secret realm to take a look first. Junior Brother can go, why can’t I?”

“What is Yu Wei’s cultivation, and what is your cultivation?”

“I have a magic weapon given by my father, which can guarantee my survival.”

“Once was enough, this is the second time. You only think of borrowing external advantages. Your personality is so impatient, you love ease and hate work, which is contrary to the sect’s teachings!”

Chao Jianxue’s nose tingled, and tears fell from his eyes, unable to be controlled, dripping onto his knees, deepening the color of his clothes.

He felt embarrassed, criticizing himself for being so fragile, while trying to hide it. Yu Wei shouldn’t have seen him, right?

He swallowed the bitterness in his throat and said stubbornly, “What about external advantages? As long as I can use them, it’s my ability—”

Before he could say more, Yu Wei suddenly reached out and pressed his hand down.

He stared at Yu Wei with red, tearful eyes. Yu Wei gave him a look that said, “Don’t say anymore.”

A teardrop landed on the back of Yu Wei’s hand, he trembled, and retracted his hand as if burned.

“Are you saying that you want to rely on magic weapons to pass through realms in the future?”

“…I didn’t mean that… I am also working hard to cultivate…” Chao Jianxue softened his tone.

Mu Yuan flicked his sleeves: “You, both of you, go to the Jingxin Hall on the main peak and kneel in punishment for seven days, without food or sleep, only allowed to use your own spiritual power to support yourselves! After you survive these seven days, come and tell me that you are working hard to cultivate!”

Chao Jianxue wiped the tears from his face, thinking, kneeling is kneeling, just seven days, just close and open your eyes, repeat it seven times and it will be over.

Mu Yuan had already left in anger, and the two stood up. He awkwardly apologized to Yu Wei for being implicated.

“Senior Brother shouldn’t have spoken to Master like that, Master is just worried about your safety,” Yu Wei said.

Chao Jianxue: “I know. He is also worried that I tasted the sweetness of using magic weapons, and from then on, I won’t cultivate seriously and solidify my reputation as a useless person.”

Yu Wei’s gaze softened slightly: “Senior Brother actually understands.”

Chao Jianxue rolled his eyes: “Do you think I’m an idiot?”

The Jingxin Hall on the main peak was extremely tall. Looking up, the ceiling was painted with the scene of the Demon Subjugation War, with two groups of immortal clouds and demonic clouds. At that time, there were still many immortals, unlike now, where they were scattered.

Speaking of kneeling, they weren’t even given a cushion. The hard floor was carved with intricate immortal clouds, immortal cranes, and immortal flowers, chiseled powerfully. Kneeling on it would be unbearable for anyone with slightly delicate skin.

Chao Jianxue was that person with delicate skin.

After kneeling for a while, he asked Yu Wei how to regulate his Qi specifically so it would be easier.

They knelt in the inner room, while the outer room was where the inner disciples before Foundation Establishment had classes. During breaks, disciples would peek in.

Chao Jianxue found it annoying, so he lowered his head and didn’t look. Yu Wei also looked solemn, as if he wasn’t there to kneel in punishment but to cultivate his mind.

“Ah! Senior Brother Chao, Senior Brother Yu,”

Hearing a familiar voice, Chao Jianxue raised his head, his eyes lighting up: “Junior Brother Xie, you’re here too?”

Xie Bingyuan held a scroll in his arms. Seeing this scene, he asked in confusion, “What are you two senior brothers doing?”

Chao Jianxue said naturally, “We were punished to kneel by Master.”

“Senior Brother Yu too?”

Chao Jianxue: “What do you mean?” He thought Xie Bingyuan was a good kid.

Xie Bingyuan immediately changed his words: “How could Lord Mu Yuan do this…”

His eyes darted cleverly: “When Truezhen Senior Brother came back, he told us about Water Moon Valley. Could it be that the outer sect disciple was Senior Brother Chao?”

Chao Jianxue smiled at him softly: “Junior Brother is so smart! Shh, don’t spread this around.”

Xie Bingyuan nodded: “I naturally know that. Truezhen Senior Brother has been in a bad mood these past few days and has locked himself in his secluded cultivation cave because of the Water Moon Valley incident.”

Yu Wei said in surprise: “Senior Brother Li is so concerned?”

After another class, Xie Bingyuan came again and asked, “I’ll still be here for class tomorrow, is there anything you need me to bring, Senior Brother?”

Chao Jianxue’s eyes welled up with tears, from gratitude.

“Good junior brother, you’re so kind…”

But remembering his master’s words, he hardened his heart.

“Nothing is needed.”

Outside, the morning bell and evening drum sounded, and their shadows on the ground stretched and shortened, and finally, two rows of candles were lit in front of them, the candlelight flickering.

Chao Jianxue was drowsy. Every time he was about to fall asleep, he would hear Yu Wei call out “Senior Brother.”

The sound wasn’t loud, but it was as clear as a breeze, immediately pulling him out of his drowsiness.

Chao Jianxue looked at the candlelight in front of him, which gradually left an indelible shadow in his vision. He felt bad and asked, “Although I asked you to help me hide it, I didn’t ask you to bear the punishment with me, why did you?”

Yu Wei: “It has nothing to do with Senior Brother. It was wrong of me to help Senior Brother hide it, that is a fact.”

There was no need to be so impartial.

Chao Jianxue: “Why bother?”

Yu Wei’s voice was without joy or sorrow: “I have something to ask Senior Brother.”

“Ask away.”

“When did Senior Brother meet Fellow Daoist Hua Ze?”

Why was Hua Ze being mentioned? Chao Jianxue asked inexplicably, “Just that day at Fuxiang Pavilion, the day you met him.”

Yu Wei asked again, “Senior Brother… did you do anything with him?”

This was a blatant slander.

“Do what do what!” Chao Jianxue suddenly became anxious, “You also see me that way! I should say you went to fetch water with him, what ulterior motives do you have towards him!”

Yu Wei looked at him: “I didn’t.”

“Who knows if you did or didn’t! Anyway, I didn’t!”

“Why did he thank you? He asked me to tell you, thank you for letting him sleep soundly.”

Chao Jianxue slammed his thigh anxiously: “Misunderstanding misunderstanding! Why is it that the people of the Hehuan Sect speak in such a misleading way! It was I who gave him the room, that’s why he thanked me.”

“Oh?” Yu Wei raised his eyebrows, adding a bit of charm not usually seen in the candlelight, “I remember Senior Brother said that day that he didn’t have a room…”

Moreover, thinking about it, that day, one “Senior Brother Yu” after another, was also said by Chao Jianxue.

Chao Jianxue gave up and said, “Of course I wouldn’t be so headstrong as to enter the secret realm myself, I definitely had to find you to go together.”

Although it was normal and logical words, they had a different meaning in Yu Wei’s ears.

He bent his lips without a trace: “I didn’t expect Senior Brother to trust me so much.”

Chao Jianxue said again, “In short, don’t misunderstand, I didn’t!”

“I see.” Yu Wei nodded reservedly.

In the first few days, the spiritual energy in Chao Jianxue’s Dantian was still abundant. After getting through the drowsiness of the first night, he understood the essence of cultivating immortality while staying up late. His entire brain was extremely clear, and he even felt a little ethereal.

But after the fifth day, his spiritual power began to run erratically, sometimes going awry. Sometimes it would go left, sometimes it would go right, but it just wouldn’t go where it was supposed to.

Then he began to see stars, feeling hungry one moment and heavy-lidded the next.

The candles burned out in five days, and a disciple came again to replace them with a new batch.

Chao Jianxue felt that his legs were no longer his own, but seeing that Yu Wei’s expression was still the same, and he could even regulate his breathing and exercise normally.

He secretly took out the Qianli Mingxin in his Dantian and practiced it seriously, and his body regained some supporting strength.

“Junior Brother Yu! Junior Brother Yu!”

He opened his eyes. Following Xie Bingyuan, Li Truezhen also popped up to visit them.

To be precise, it was to visit Yu Wei.

Li Truezhen held Yu Wei’s hands, with teary eyes, “Junior Brother Yu, why were you punished to kneel? It makes Senior Brother feel so sorry for you…”

Chao Jianxue turned his eyes aside: “…”

That action, that expression, was like a shy little wife.

Did Truezhen Senior Brother go crazy from being in seclusion?

Yu Wei slowly pulled his hands out of his: “Thank you, Senior Brother Li, for your concern.”

He paused on the last two words, because Truezhen Senior Brother was holding on so hard, and it was difficult to pull them out.

“Junior Brother Yu is a dragon among men. This time he lost the Qianli Sword, but next time he will definitely have an even better immortal artifact!”

Chao Jianxue was shocked by these bootlicking remarks. Wasn’t this kind of flattering a little too obvious?

Yu Wei also twitched his eyelids and said, “Senior Brother Li, what’s wrong?”

Li Truezhen closed his eyes, looking heartbroken: “Nothing! I just had a dream while in seclusion and realized I missed too much, I’m very sad! This world is too crazy!”

Chao Jianxue raised his head sharply, staring at Li Truezhen without moving, not because of anything else, but because of the tone of the last sentence.

It was a particularly familiar tone, one that made people want to say the next sentence.

Unfortunately, Li Truezhen didn’t see him at all, and only said to Yu Wei, “If Junior Brother Yu needs anything, feel free to send me, no, send a message to me!”

Yu Wei: “Senior Brother is too kind, Senior Brother, please go back.”

“Wait!” Chao Jianxue stood up with a swipe.

Under Yu Wei’s puzzled gaze urging him to continue kneeling, Chao Jianxue said to Truezhen Senior Brother with a serious expression, “Let’s talk in private.”

The two walked to a corner of the corridor, where there was no one around, and Yu Wei shouldn’t be able to hear them.

Chao Jianxue stared at Li Truezhen’s eyes intently, thought for a long time, and finally chose the most foolproof code that had been popular for decades.

He said in a poetic tone, “Imperial Court Jade Liquor!”

Truezhen Senior Brother was stunned and replied, “One hundred and eighty cups!”

Chao Jianxue put his hands on his shoulders and shook him: “The price of the shirt is!”

Truezhen Senior Brother burst into tears: “Nine pounds and fifteen pence!”

“What’s going on!”

“Don’t you know? I don’t really know either. I only know the ending. Yu Wei is the protagonist of this world. In the future, he will ascend to immortality and slaughter the entire Xuanzhen Realm! In short, you have to hug his thigh, brother!”

After Chao Jianxue silently returned to the inner room, he knelt down, his body slightly petrified.

Yu Wei: “Senior Brother, what did you say to Senior Brother Li? Why does your face look so serious?”

Chao Jianxue chuckled: “Don’t talk.”