Chapter 48

In his own cave at the Zhenhuo Pavilion, Zhou Lu leaned against the cave wall, his face expressionless and motionless, with an invisible weariness enveloping him. Only when he was alone did he not appear to be the seemingly carefree little rascal.

“Bang, bang...”

The cave door was knocked on by an iron ring, startling Zhou Lu from his deep thoughts. With a puzzled look, he jumped up and ran to open the door. Outside, Xiaoluan was dressed in a simple, elegant makeup, looking as alluring as a midnight lotus, her curved, smiling eyes fixed on him without blinking.

Xiaoluan held two large wine gourds and a large package of food, from which came an enticing aroma.

“Goodies?”

Zhou Lu's face lit up as he snatched the food package, opening a corner and rummaging through it, seemingly more affectionate towards the food than to Xiaoluan. Finally, he found the roasted mountain badger thigh, which was sizzling with oil, and his face broke into a broad smile, his mouth watering.

Xiaoluan gave him a sidelong glance and walked into the cave on her own, placing the two wine gourds on the table. Even through the stoppers, the intoxicating aroma of the wine could be smelled.

Zhou Lu closed the cave door behind her, his eyes darting around, and with a forced smile, he asked in a low voice:

“Aren’t you supposed to not let me drink or eat meat? Didn’t you say that vegetarianism helps cultivate one’s nature, and that an alchemist needs a pure heart?”

This senior sister, as the guide for Zhou Lu’s alchemy, usually had strict requirements for him in this aspect. Zhou Lu didn’t know what was up with Xiaoluan today, bringing these things to tempt him.

Xiaoluan gave him another sidelong glance and said coldly, “Even if I don’t bring them, do you not sneak eat on your own?”

Zhou Lu shrank back, not daring to speak.

Xiaoluan sat down on a stone chair beside the table, extending her delicate hand to invite Zhou Lu to sit opposite her. Then, with her clear, star-like eyes, she stared at Zhou Lu without blinking, making him feel very uneasy.

“Zhou Lu, tell me, why did you volunteer for this scouting mission?”

Hearing Xiaoluan ask this, Zhou Lu nearly jumped up, exclaiming exaggeratedly:

“Isn’t it that damn Young Master Tie Mitao, who insisted I go...”

Xiaoluan continued to stare at Zhou Lu’s face. Halfway through his explanation, Zhou Lu was at a loss for words, realizing that Xiaoluan wouldn’t believe his lies. His face turned red, and he shrank back, smiling awkwardly, stopping his complaint:

“Alright, I wanted to go myself...”

“Why?” Xiaoluan pressed.

Looking into Xiaoluan’s concerned eyes, Zhou Lu shook his head and laughed, saying:

“I am a warrior of the wilderness with ideals and aspirations. I have great ambitions. I heard that real combat in life and death situations can best stimulate one’s cultivation potential. I am looking for opportunities to hone myself, to improve my strength in battles with the bandits.”

Zhou Lu thumped his chest loudly, his face full of determination:

“In the future, I will definitely become a top-tier hunter, a renowned warrior of the wilderness.” His chubby face immediately took on a mischievous, roguish smile as he looked into Xiaoluan’s eyes and asked:

“Do you believe me?”

“I believe you!”

Xiaoluan nodded.

Zhou Lu’s smile froze.

Xiaoluan continued to stare at the fat boy without blinking, then asked, “Is it because of Mengtian?”

This time, Zhou Lu was truly stunned, his mouth wide open, staring in surprise at his senior sister. His heart exposed, the fat boy no longer had the ease and detachment of his usual jesting and cursing; a rare trace of panic appeared on his face.

Guessing Zhou Lu’s thoughts, Xiaoluan smiled, a faint, inexplicable sadness in her smile. She opened the wine gourd with a “bang,” raised it high, and said loudly:

“Zhou Lu, this mission is extremely dangerous, and I can’t stop you from going. Today, I allow you to drink, as a farewell. May you return safely.”

Xiaoluan took several gulps of the strong wine, coughing hard as she was choked. The alcohol flushed her cheeks, making her eyes look even more alluring, causing Zhou Lu to stare in amazement.

Xiaoluan’s eyes were slightly red. Seeing that Zhou Lu was not moving, she glared at him, asking unhappily, “What are you looking at? Why aren’t you drinking? Are you not giving me face?”

Zhou Lu, who had never seen this gentle lady act this way, fumbled to pick up the other gourd, nodding hurriedly, “I’ll drink, I’ll drink...”

Zhou Lu took a large gulp from the gourd.

Xiaoluan laughed again, her eyes hazy, raising the gourd and shouting, “Zhou Lu, you saved my life twice, and I’ve never thanked you. Great kindness doesn’t need words. Today, this gourd of wine is to express my feelings.”

With a “gurgle,” she took another large gulp, her fair cheeks flushing even more.

The alcohol made Xiaoluan feel dizzy. She giggled, saying, “Zhou Lu, maybe you are right. Vegetarianism and abstinence don’t necessarily lead to a pure heart. Perhaps, occasional indulgence and spontaneity are more beneficial for mental cultivation. Today, I suddenly feel very relaxed.”

“Do you really think so?”

Zhou Lu was also happy, thinking he now had an excuse for his future indulgences.

Zhou Lu stuffed the roasted badger thigh into his mouth, chewing vigorously as if afraid someone would take it away, and raised the wine gourd, “Come, let’s drink.”

The two of them took turns, and after a few sips, half the gourd was empty. The difference was that Xiaoluan only drank, while Zhou Lu both ate and drank. Soon, the badger thigh was all in his stomach, and Zhou Lu’s mouth was dripping with oil.

Xiaoluan, watching the fat boy eating with a broad smile, felt her eyes well up again. She had come today to see Zhou Lu off, but the fat boy was only focused on the food and didn’t say a word. She asked with a hint of resentment, “Zhou Lu, you’re leaving early tomorrow. Is there nothing you want to say to me?”

“Nothing.”

Zhou Lu threw a bone on the table, saying indifferently, “What’s there to say? I’ll be back in a few days.”

Xiaoluan suddenly burst into tears, her shoulders shaking, crying bitterly.

Zhou Lu was at a loss, extending his oily hands to help her up but not daring to. He stood there, asking repeatedly, “Are you drunk? Are you drunk? You shouldn’t drink if you can’t handle it...”

Zhou Lu didn’t understand what was wrong with this senior sister today. Usually, he only saw drunk people suddenly cry and laugh.

After crying for a while, Xiaoluan felt a bit better and slowly raised her head, sighing, “Zhou Lu, I’m so tired...”

Zhou Lu’s body trembled, and he stopped joking, sitting down beside Xiaoluan obediently.

Xiaoluan took a deep breath, speaking to herself:

“You know, I was born into a family that everyone envies. Under my grandfather’s influence, everyone thinks I am a daughter of heaven. Our family controls a vast military empire. In the wilderness, besides our Tianyao Clan, at least seven other major and minor forces rely on our family’s military equipment to survive...”

Zhou Lu’s body trembled again, truly shocked.

He never imagined that the Second Elder Mo Xuanji’s influence was so vast, far exceeding his imagination, and not just limited to the Tianyao Clan. No wonder the First Elder, who controlled the entire Tianyao Clan’s military, was wary of the Second Elder.

Xiaoluan’s status was even more noble than Zhou Lu had imagined.

The alcohol made Xiaoluan look both haggard and tired. She leaned her head lightly on Zhou Lu’s shoulder, making his body stiff.

Xiaoluan said softly:

“But, who knows the immense pressure I bear? From a young age, I was required to achieve one impossible goal after another. Since I was old enough to understand, the pressure has almost suffocated me.”

“As the heir to the family, I must be extremely outstanding, showing talent far beyond others. When I finally achieved an almost impossible goal, another extremely difficult task would immediately be placed on my shoulders.”

“For years, I have followed the family’s plan step by step. I successfully achieved three-cluster fire control in my first test, started the tedious study of alchemy at eight, and completed the astonishing Xuanjin three-forging at sixteen. But the next step, my grandfather immediately arranged for me to study the profound array patterns. Everyone sees the shining halo around me, but who knows how tired I am?”

“Zhou Lu, I’m almost suffocating.”

Zhou Lu, hearing her soft voice, was almost entranced. He never imagined that this girl was so troubled.

Xiaoluan continued:

“I am actually just an ordinary girl. I long for a quiet valley free from disturbance, a strong shoulder to lean on, a chance to let go of all my burdens when I’m tired, and someone to share my burdens. But I have none of these...”

“Zhou Lu, when I was most tired and in danger, you suddenly appeared and saved me. Do you know how relieved I felt? I wanted to stay relaxed forever, but you are leaving again...”

Xiaoluan raised the wine gourd again, taking a large gulp, already seven-tenths drunk.

Zhou Lu felt a lump in his throat. He wanted to say he would be back soon, but he sensed that Xiaoluan’s words had a deeper meaning. He didn’t dare to analyze further.

Xiaoluan sat up straight, her eyes still red. After speaking so much, she clearly felt better.

She sighed again, saying softly:

“Zhou Lu, thank you for listening to me. I feel much better.”

“Uh!”

Zhou Lu nodded awkwardly.

Xiaoluan continued, “Zhou Lu, tell me about Mengtian.”

Zhou Lu almost dropped the wine gourd, shaking his head in panic, “What’s there to say about her?” He took a large gulp of wine.

Xiaoluan’s gentle gaze fixed on Zhou Lu, and he finally gave in, shaking his head with a few sips of wine: Damn, a girl can even reveal her heart, what do I have to be ashamed of?

He decided to speak.

Zhou Lu, a bit tipsy, began to recount his story from when he first met Mengtian, talking about the game of carrying the wife, the fights he had for Mengtian, the times he was beaten up and refused to explain to his grandfather, who punished him severely.

He then talked about how, no matter how much he did, Mengtian gradually stopped interacting with him. From then on, Mengtian’s beauty and talent became widely known in the clan, while he indulged in all sorts of mischief.

He also talked about the sacrificial ceremony where he summoned a war soul that made the entire clan laugh, and Mengtian, at his lowest point, publicly returned his token, breaking all previous vows, and from then on, they were just strangers in the wilderness...

Zhou Lu even told Xiaoluan about the loneliness and sadness he felt when he sat alone on the grassy slope, looking at the clouds.

Zhou Lu didn’t know what had come over him. Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe it was a long-suppressed heartache. He poured out all his hidden feelings to Xiaoluan.

Mengtian not only publicly humiliated him by saying he didn’t match her, but also severed a part of his life, making even the memory of the past a luxury.

Zhou Lu originally had no grand ideals, his main pursuits being vanity, lust, gluttony, and a quick temper. He never thought it was shameful to harbor resentment towards someone. When he mentioned the sacrificial ceremony and Mengtian, his lips trembled, still harboring resentment.

Xiaoluan, staring at Zhou Lu, suddenly asked softly, “They say the more you hate someone, the more you still think about them. After all this time, you still can’t let go of her, can you?”

Zhou Lu fell silent, feeling a sudden fear. He was questioning his own heart, wondering if it was really like that.

Xiaoluan’s body began to tremble, her face pale. Looking at the silent Zhou Lu, she raised the gourd again, taking a large gulp, her eyes hazy and almost manic, shouting, “Zhou Lu, Mengtian doesn’t want you, but I, Mo Xiaoluan, want you...”

Zhou Lu looked up in shock.

Xiaoluan shouted again:

“Zhou Lu, how about we become sworn siblings? The kind where neither can return the token?”

Zhou Lu was stunned.

Xiaoluan suddenly seemed very excited, throwing the gourd and standing up, looking at the bewildered Zhou Lu and asking, “What, are you so great because you saved me twice, and you think I’m not worthy to be your sworn sibling?”

Zhou Lu shook his head hurriedly, “How could that be.” This was too sudden, and he was unprepared.

Xiaoluan, seeing Zhou Lu’s immobility, scolded, “Or do you think I’m not as good as Mengtian and not worthy to be your family?”

Zhou Lu, hearing the mocking tone in Xiaoluan’s voice, shook his head awkwardly, “Not at all.”

Xiaoluan pressed, “Then, will you or won’t you become my sworn sibling?”

Zhou Lu felt something was off, but he couldn’t figure out Xiaoluan’s intentions. Finally, he nodded firmly, “Alright, if you don’t mind me being a fat boy, I won’t care if you’re a noble lady.”

They found some broken stones to use as incense, and Zhou Lu and Xiaoluan knelt down, bowing to the sky, then bowing to each other.

This grand ceremony in the wilderness symbolized that they were now sworn siblings, sharing both good and bad times.

They compared their ages, and Zhou Lu was two months older.

“Big Brother!”

Xiaoluan looked up, her lips tightly pressed, her expression complex. She gently rubbed her finger, slowly taking off the barbarian-patterned ring on her middle finger and offering it to Zhou Lu.

“Big Brother, this is my token of our sworn siblinghood. No matter what happens in the future, whether we are rich or poor, this token must never be returned.”

Zhou Lu, thinking of the purple gold lock Mengtian returned to him, felt a surge of emotion and almost became entranced. He subconsciously took the ring, stammering, “But, but I have nothing to offer as a token...”

Xiaoluan, tipsy, her face like a peach blossom, looked at Zhou Lu and asked, “You have nothing?” Zhou Lu nodded, and Xiaoluan huffed, “Then give me the tools you use to spy on girls bathing.”

Zhou Lu was almost in tears.

“What will I use if I give them to you?”

But Zhou Lu didn’t dare to say this. His face was red, and he stood there awkwardly, stammering for a long time before finally saying, “I didn’t know you had this hobby. Alright, I’ll give you the tools.”

Xiaoluan was almost about to explode, watching Zhou Lu take out a pile of strange and complex parts from a stone box in the corner. She snatched them, not even looking, and put them in her bag.

Zhou Lu looked disappointed.

Xiaoluan, biting her lip, stared at the fat boy for a long time before sighing, her eyes softening. She walked over, took Zhou Lu’s hand, and caressed the barbarian-patterned ring on his finger, saying:

“Brother, you don’t know what dangers you might face on this mission. This storage ring was prepared by my grandfather over many years. It can hold a space of three zhang in diameter and contains eleven top-grade weapons I collected from the family. Take it with you, and I hope it can save your life in danger.”

Zhou Lu was completely stunned, almost jumping up.

“A storage ring?”

Zhou Lu swallowed hard. So this was a storage ring?

Zhou Lu felt the ring on his finger was not a ring but a hot potato.

Such an item was almost priceless in the clan. Even the elders in the Elder Hall might not have one. For Xiaoluan, this ring was a unique treasure.

Zhou Lu never imagined that Xiaoluan would be so good to him. Even as sworn siblings, there was no need to give such a precious item. He felt a strong, unfamiliar emotion in his chest, making his nose tingle