Ch69 - Free of Dirt and Dust*

Translator: transcendentwings

CW/TW: some rated R descriptions of sex and violence

After a while, Yuan Ruzhou walked out of Xu Xingzhi’s palace.

Her eyes were reddish and looked as if in a daze, like she had been forcefully shaken awake after she just started dreaming. She appeared to be awake, yet the lure of dreams made her seem drowsy as if it wanted her to plummet into them once again.

She could detect that Xu Xingzhi had tried his best to express his rejection in the most tactful way.

But what good would that do?

When she returned toMiaofaHall where Guangfu-junlived, it just so happened that Guangfu-junstepped out of the main hall. When he saw her, he raised his voice to call out: “Ruzhou, come here for a second.”

Guangfu-junalways had strict requirements on a disciple’s appearance. Before entering the palace Yuan Ruzhou had already tidied herself up in front of three mirrors, making sure that the redness in the corners of her eyes as well as below them had disappeared before she dared to stride in boldly.

And Guangfu-juntruly didn’t catch a glimpse of any disarray. After giving her his instructions, he turned around and reentered the main hall.

Yuan Ruzhou adjusted her sleeves and was about to step forward when a handkerchief folded into a neat and tidy square was presented before her: “Yuan-shijie.”

Yuan Ruzhou looked up only to see Xu Pingsheng, who was tending to the flowers and plants outside the hall, holding an impeccable handkerchief out to her, nervously stating: “If one handkerchief isn’t enough, I still have more.”

She had worked so hard earlier and assumed that she had neatened her appearance well enough, who would’ve thought that someone would be able to see through her at a glance, she amusedly questioned: “. . . You know I cried?”

Xu Pingsheng: “I could tell.”

Thesethreewords were as heavy as lead on the tip of his tongue, in order to enounce these words clearly, he broke into a sweat.

Yuan Ruzhou accepted the handkerchief: “Many thanks.”

When he handed the handkerchief to Yuan Ruzhou, Xu Pingsheng touched the tips of her fingers.

The patch of skin she brushed against had been as cold as ice and snow, but soon, that very same place she came in contact with felt as if it had been licked by the flames of a prairie fire.

Xu Pingsheng felt so singed that he swiftly released his hand, then regretted it immediately afterwards.

Yuan Ruzhou somehow saw a shadow of Xu Xingzhi in his brow at that moment.

She quickly broke off her gaze, the rims of her eyes becoming somewhat sore again, however the expression on her face bore no hints.

Yuan Ruzhou clenched the handkerchief in her grip as she continued softly: “I’ll borrow it for now. When I get back, I’ll wash the handkerchief and then return it to youba.”

Xu Pingsheng wanted to answer that it would be fine if she kept it, yet the moment those words came to the tip of his tongue, they were reduced into a simple, neat word of “Sure”.

Watching as Yuan Ruzhou turned around to leave, Xu Pingsheng chased after her with a few steps: “Shijie, there is a poetry and wine tea party at the disciples’ hall tonight, you. . . will you come?”

The disciples’ hall faces a mountain stream and a plum grove. Every spring, when the plum blossoms were in full bloom, the disciples often held poetry and wine tea parties in the plum blossom grove beside the stream. They danced in the wind, sang and recited poems, living freely and happily.

Yuan Ruzhou just so happened to be searching for a place where she could sing and have fun, thus she nodded and agreed: “Okay, I will go.”

After finishing, she walked towards the main hall.

Xu Pingsheng stood in place, feeling sorry for the tears she shed for unknown reasons, but also shaking slightly because of the ambiguous touch just now.

When he started pruning the flower branches again, he never used the left hand that Yuan Ruzhou had just brushed against.

Xu Xingzhi was very busy because he had to deal with various matters related to the Heavenly Ranking competition, he even pushed off all the invitations to the poetry and wine tea party sent by the other disciples.

Even after he bustled about until sunset, he still didn’t receive a spiritual reply letter from Meng Chongguang.

FSEaJkVa Xk XQwVRaQ bGrQHSN tIwE GwJEaIb trQbQEkGS EbGwthQttQJw Gt Gw IgrSGwGEQJw GYEIb DkGw nkRaJk SIYE, EaItI EabII SIEEIbt tIwE YbJh iIYJbI EJ SGEIb Jw LIbI SQBI bJvBt tkwBIw QwEJ EaI tIG.

rA L YLAd iTAfid, jU jQJNeIQ ATJd LJfdITi AqQiQdULY YTddTi df dIT HTJNYQJN BQAGQqYTA mIf mTiT diLaTYQJN mQdI vTJN VIfJNNULJN.

Within the time for astick of incense, he received a reply: “Shixiong, Meng-shixionghas had a foul temper these past few days and is especially moody today, he was trashing things in his room, saying that he wanted to track down the lair of those undead monsters and swore not to return to Fengling for another ten days to half a month.”

Xk XQwVRaQ: “. . .”

nkwwQwV GLGN YbJh aJhI, LGt QE?

HQJT, MUAd mLQd.

EIT KTLaTJYp OLJsQJN GfPqTdQdQfJ mfUYB fJYp gT ITYB LgfUd SQaT BLpA YLdTi, mITJ dIT ifUJBA fSSQGQLYYp gTNQJ LJB dITiT mTiT STmTi dIQJNA NfQJN fJ, IT’YY ITLB df dIT GfY fS zLJ vfUJdLQJ df BiLN dILd AdUggfiJ YQddYT giLd mIf mLA dIifmQJN L dLJdiUP gLGs.

Despite having these thoughts, Xu Xingzhi didn’t feel any less turmoil internally. After soaking in the hot springs for half an hour in a low mood, he picked up his wine jug and planned to go to Qingzhu Hall to find hisShifufor a drink.

Who would’ve thought that he would bump into Guangfu-junoutside Qingzhu Palace so late at night.

The fragrance of bamboo invaded one’s clothing, the shadows of the pine trees were clearly outlined in the sky. Everything before them should have been a magnificent scene of spring, but Guangfu-junhad a gloomy look over his face as he loitered in front of the hall with his arms crossed.

There were no disciples around to guard the palace doors. Xu Xingzhi also caught the scent of a strange smell. Just as he was about to step forward to ask Guangfu-junwhat was going on, he heard a strange noise coming from the closed palace doors.

“En—Wu,wu~”

The sound was laced with an undercurrent of pain, but it was more of a shiver that couldn’t be helped and a joy that penetrated the bones, like the clouds and the moon blending together, like fish and water merging.

Although Xu Xingzhi had never experienced such mortal affairs, how could he not understand what it was?

Qingjing-jun’s voice was unique, warm and gentle, and the hum just now was really sultry.

However this sound simply made Guangfu-junwho was guarding the doors restless. Noticing that Xu Xingzhi had come, the color of his face drained before he waved his hands at the other a few times to signal him to leave quickly, then after considering it, he changed his mind and waved the other over.

Xu Xingzhi actually wanted to leave faster, but he couldn’t disobey Guangfu-jun. He had no choice but to bite the bullet and walk over: “Shishu. IsShifudrunk again?”

“Who knows?” Guangfu-junhad a dark look on his face and there were several sharp cracks on the edge of the bamboo slip he was clenching in his hand, “I came here to see yourShifuto discuss something important, but he. . .”

How could a strict and extremely self-disciplined person like Guangfu-junutter the words “masturbate” so easily? He struggled so much that his face turned blue: “You. . . You go in and take a look.”

Xu Xingzhi was troubled as he replied: “Shishu, evenyoudon’t dare to enter, would it be appropriate for you to drag me in as a safety cushion? Besides, on the off-chance that I seeShifu. . . like that, where wouldShifu’s dignity be in the futureah.”

Guangfu-junwas about to say something when he heard a higher pitched groan of pain coming from the sealed doors: “Ah. . .ah! Gentler, be a bit gentler!”

Guangfu-jun’s face flushed furiously and seemed as if he was even more riled up than the one behind the doors, hating that he couldn’t just knock himself out with the bamboo scroll in his hand to gain a peace of mind.

Unable to bear it any longer, he whipped around to pound on the door: “Shixiong!Shixiong! Open the door!”

However, Xu Xingzhi vaguely felt as if something was off: “Shishu, is there someone else in the room withShifu?”

Guangfu-jundidn’t even dare turn back to look, he just kept his crimson neck facing Xu Xingzhi: “How is that possible?Shixionghas always lived alone in Qingzhu Hall and there had only ever been two attendants, who were all dismissed by me already.”

Xu Xingzhi frowned for a moment, then stepped forward to give the main doors a shake, only to find that the door was sealed by spiritual energy.

He could only helplessly shrug and say: “Shishu, my cultivation is not as good asShifu, so I can’t go inah.”

After saying so, he knocked on the door: “Shifu,Shifu? Please lower your voice a little.”

The hall was silent for a moment, then after a while, there was the sound of the bed creaking and shaking with azhizhiyaya, and a silky and soft nasal hum continued without stopping.

Okay, the other must be seriously intoxicated.

Xu Xingzhi rested his palm against the door as he drew “Xianbi” from his waist, activating it with his spiritual power. “Xianbi” turned into a spiritual net with thousands of holes in the mesh. Spreading it out, he attached it to the outer wall of Qingzhu Palace and all the sounds that slipped out were swallowed up by this great spiritual net at once.

Xu Xingzhi bowed respectfully towards Guangfu-jun: “Shishu, please leave firstba. I will keep watch forShifuhere.”

After confirming that those mewling hums couldn’t be heard any longer, Guangfu-junrecovered some righteousness in his shame and scolded angrily: “Nonsense! It would be such an embarrassment if the disciples were to catch wind of this! Does he, this lord of Fengling Mountain, still want his dignity?!”

Xu Xingzhi comforted him: “What kind of ridiculous things can a drunk person not conjure up?Shifuisn’t acting like this out of his original intent,Shishudon’t be in a hurry to stoke your rage and hurt your body unnecessarily.”

Even so, some doubts vaguely emerged in Xu Xingzhi’s heart.

Ever since he began following Qingjing-jun, he had seen countless versions of his drunken state. He had also seen even drunker states, yet Qingjing-junnever showed any interest in such carnal desires. His body was akin to colored glaze, clear and pure inside and out, when had he ever indulged in such sensual matters?

Guangfu-jungripped the bamboo scroll in his hand tightly, muttering “disgraceful” a few times in mortification. With great difficulty, he swallowed his angry words and stalked away with a flushed face and crimson ears.

Xu Xingzhi sat down on the steps of Qingzhu Hall and acted as a guard.

Whether he returned to his own resting quarters now or later, he’d only be met with emptiness, it would be the same wherever he chose to stay.

Soon, rain began to fall, little by little, drop by drop.

The light drizzle was like a gentle trickle, the momentum wasn’t strong. Xu Xingzhi could even still capture singing and laughter in the direction of the disciples’ hall from a distance, recalling that the poetry and wine tea party was being held tonight in the plum blossom grove by the valley stream.

It seemed that the falling rain held no impediment to these disciples’ enjoyment of the beautiful scenery and revelry in merriment.

Just thinking about those young and carefree faces, graced Xu Xingzhi’s face with a smile.

People say that immortality could be sought through cultivation, but what would the use of immortality actually bene.

Xu Xingzhi sat on the steps and rested his head against the railing fashioned from young bamboo.

With the company of these people, it would be good to live a long life.

However, in the palace where all sounds were blocked, Qingjing-jun, who was lying on the divan, was not having an easy time.

The plain brocade sheets spread out on the divan were bitten tightly by him and a patch of wetness spread from his pale lips. After a while, he released his aching teeth and tossed and turned on the spacious cot. The bulge below throbbed incessantly and his lips parted and shut, letting a low hum escape.

A big and round tear leaked out from the slightly reddened corner of his eye, slowly winding down leaving a wet trail.

However from the beginning until the end, he never opened his eyes, only the spiritual veins in his body were still running regularly, occasionally glowing with a star-like radiance.

Floating in Qingjing-jun’s sea of consciousness, there should only exist one Nascent Soul, yet at this time, there were two small figures in the shape of the Nascent Soul, slowly getting entangled, twisting, gradually deepening, gingerly trembling.

The face of the person in the upper position was unclear, but it was vaguely discernible that a glaring wickedness was between the brows, and endless desire churned in the crow-blue eyes.

The person underneath had obviously lost all strength in the long-lasting intercourse, only letting that pair of hands caress his golden skin in fascination. There was a heat in the abdomen and the lips were burnt, it only felt as if every gap between the bones in the body was filled completely.

The spiritual root was the foundation of a cultivator and in the sea of consciousness during cultivation, every simple touch reaches straight into the marrow, let alone such an intimate coupling between spirit and flesh.

After hundreds of ups and downs, the one below became breathless, sweat beading into drops, laying on its side within the sea of consciousness, letting the pale golden waves wrap him up like a cocoon and sink into the sea of consciousness.

Pulling away from the sea of consciousness, the “Qingjing-jun” who was lying on the divan stood up in loungewear.

He brushed the sweat drops from his forehead and straightened to peer into a mirror. The face reflected in the mirror appeared ashamed, moisture gathering in the eyes, but it soon changed into an arrogant and evil expression.

“Qingjing-jun” tapped on the mirror with his fingertips and the mirror’s surface flickered like a pond of water being disturbed, ripples forming layer by layer.

After a moment, Liu Yunhe’s face appeared in the mirror.

When that face first appeared, Liu Yunhe couldn’t contain his excitement. He folded his hands at a flat angle and bowed in reverence: “Shifu!”

“Qingjing-jun” wove his hands into his hair on either side and lifted the cascading black hair away to reveal his smooth and clean forehead. A wicked smile that was so magnetic that it could easily make people melt spread across his face: “You’ve already switched to my elder brother, after being his disciple for so many years, would I, Sa Luo, still be qualified to be called ‘Shifu’ by you?”

Liu Yunhe was thousands of kilometers away from the person before him, but he was drenched in a cold sweat just from just a few words across the void and didn’t even dare raise his head: “This disciple doesn’t dare! The only person I have truly admired in my heart for many years isShifualone. . . This disciple originally thought to seize for the position of the leader of the demonic sects forShifu, who knew that Jiu Zhideng would seize the initiative. . .”

The man who called himself Sa Luo stretched out his hand to brace it against the mirror and said with a smirk: “. . . What leader of the demonic sects, I don’t care for that. . . . I’m aware of what you’re thinking. You’ve hidden a fragment of my soul for so many years. Half a year ago, you delivered me to Fengling Mountain in a wine jar and gave me this beautiful body, quite filialah.”

Sa Luo’s words made Liu Yunhe’s clothes become completely drenched.

The other was originally praising him, but Liu Yunhe knew very well what type of fickle and moody being the person opposite of him was.

Sa Luo possessed an exquisite voice, hoarse and sexy. No matter who he talked to, it sounded affectionate and doting. He could make people melt into agentle homeland akin to a mist, and yet often when the other lowers their guard, he could ruthlessly gouge out the other’s liver from their abdominal cavity even amidst chatter and laughter, put it in his mouth leisurely and slowly bite down on it, admiring the horrified and terrified expression on the other’s face all the while.

There is no need for any reason for what he does, and many of the things he does were mostly for the mere sake of “interest”.

Seeing that Liu Yunhe didn’t dare speak, Sa Luo chuckled lightly, placed a hand on the side of his neck and cracked it a few times.

Liu Yunhe changed the topic in a moment of haste: “Is this body easy to use?”

Sa Luo acknowledged it with satisfaction: “Easy to use, durable.”

Liu Yunhe’s expression changed: “Shifu,you. . .”

Sa Luo grinned sinisterly: “Relaxba, he isn’t aware that I reside in his body. After all, I had about the same level of spiritual power as him before I died, he. . .”

Having explained this, the gloom in Sa Luo’s eyes dissipated a little as he covered his lips to hide his shallow grin: “. . . This person is also quite muddled. He is not well-versed in societal matters and would never think outside of the box. Last time when I teased him and had sex with him in the wilderness for six days, he just thought that his discomfort was due to a hangover.”

There was an unspeakable intimacy and tenderness in Sa Luo’s words: “. . . How could it have been this little fool that killed me back thenne?”

After that murmur, Sa Luo sat on the ground, picking up a wine jar that only contained some residual liquid from the floor, he drank a few sips, swiped at his lips and continued with a smile: “Qingjing-jun, Yue Wuchen,limpid and free, absent of dust and bereft of stains.Ha?”

Liu Yunhe didn’t know how to respond for a moment, so he could only agree: “As long asShifucan use it to his satisfaction.”

According to his understanding of Sa Luo, Sa Luo’s appearance was a bit abnormal.

Although Sa Luo was often amorphous, he had never mentioned a person so frequently with every word and sentence not straying away from the other.

Not only this time, the few times that he had an exchange with Sa Luo before this, he was always like this, his speech full of Qingjing-jun.

Liu Yunhe recalled that before the other was stabbed to death by the fledgling Qingjing-junwith a sword, Sa Luo had always only been obsessed with demonic cultivation as well as his thirst for blood. In his eyes, all of the men and women in the world were all just moving slabs of flesh, thus he has never had a cultivation companion.

According to hisShifu’s personality, it may only be normal for him to manipulate an old enemy who killed him ten years ago in order to humiliate the other.

. . . But Liu Yunhe was somewhat worried whether hisShifuhad become addicted.

Sa Luo mumbled to himself: “. . . This guy is really interesting.”

Liu Yunhe endured it again and again, and then cautiously sounded out: “Shifu, our plan. . .”

“Isn’t it the day of the Heavenly Ranking Competition?” Sa Luo rolled his eyes lazily and affectionately, he was already intimately familiar with the maneuvering of Qingjing-jun’s body, “I know what to do.”

He sounded as if he had everything controlled in the palm of his hand.

The author has something to say:

Liu Yunhe finally breathed a sigh of relief: “That Xu Xingzhi. . .”

Sa Luo perfunctorily stated: “I hate him.”

After that, he slipped the ring that Qingjing-junwas wearing on his finger off and threw it into the wine jar that still contained some wine creating a little splash of wine: “I’ve already told you, I know what I need to do, I don’t need you to teach me.”

The translator has something to say: SL has an obviously morbid obsession with QJ-J and LYH kind of reminds me of Peter Pettigrew