Ch71 - Muddling Through

Translator: transcendentwings

Xu Xingzhi knew that it was difficult to hide it any longer, so he simply admitted it: “It was my fault that I didn’t report this matter to Shifu and Shishu in a timely manner.”

The whispers below abruptly started up, leaving Xu Xingzhi at a loss.

He vaguely felt something was wrong.

Guangfu-jun laughed coldly: “You are not even willing to report this matter? Xu Xingzhi, what else are you planning to hide from the sect?”

Xu Xingzhi was confused: “This was a private matter for this disciple and doesn’t cause others any harm, thus this disciple thought. . .”

“Private matter?” Guangfu-jun’s anger rose, “What a great private matter! Xu Xingzhi, you have been in the sect for several years. You act preposterous to the extreme, a fop that doesn’t listen to scolding, but how did Shixiong treat you!? You actually concealed your identity as a Ghostly cultivator and infiltrated Fengling! No wonder you go around preaching and bewitching the disciples saying things along the lines of immortal cultivators, demonic and ghostly practitioners are all the same. It turns out that it was the for the sake of paving a way to weasel your own way out!”

Every single one of these words was like a thorn to the heart, especially the phrase “ghostly cultivator”, which made Xu Xingzhi dumbfounded.

When the sound of chatter around him gradually grew louder, he stood up from the ring.

Guangfu-jun immediately raised his sword and pressed forward by a step: “Xu Xingzhi, what do you want to do?”

Xu Xingzhi frowned and raised his voice to reply: “This disciple knelt down just now and bowed down to Shifu, confessing guilt towards offending Shifu by the direct confrontation and hiding a back injury. However, faking it as a ghostly cultivator, deceiving the sect, such slander, this disciple will not kneel nor confess to!”

While everyone was in an uproar, “Qingjing-jun” slowly approached the high platform where the various lords were seated. Lifting his robe up, he turned around and took a seat.

A sudden gust of wind and rain swirled about and a corner of Xu Xingzhi’s plain robe stained with wet blood was curled up by the draft. There was alielienoise, like the sound of rising flames burning in a copper-iron furnace.

He slowly stroked his chin and looked down haughtily at the handsome young man standing in the drizzle with eyes as bright as the unforgiving stars.

Guangfu-jun shouted sternly: “Then how do you explain the ghost clan brand on your back?”

Xu Xingzhi was startled and reached for his back with a backhanded movement, but couldn’t determine anything concrete through touch alone. He could only glance at Zhou Beinan and the other three below the arena, shooting them an inquisitive glance.

Wen Xuechen nodded at him, indicating that Guangfu-jun was speaking the truth.

Guangfu-jun didn’t wait for him to parse that out clearly, when he continued to press him aggressively: “You haven’t taken off your clothes in public for many years, a fact that I’ve also been aware of. That time you met with a practitioner of the demonic sects in private, I punished you with thirty strikes from the Xuanwu club, at that time you would rather have your wounds adhere to your garments than to take them off, tell me, was that not the case?”

Xu Xingzhi couldn’t refute that: “. . . It was.”

“What’s your explanation?!”

Xu Xingzhi deliberated each word clearly: “Back then, when I accompanied three other disciples to head to Dawu Mountain at the Baima Peak area to capture the ghostly cultivator who were causing trouble, this disciple unluckily fell prey to a trap set up by the ghostly cultivator and was branded by a silver ring snake seal.”

This statement made Guangfu-jun laugh: “Then why didn’t you report it after you returned to the sect?”

Xu Xingzhi continued; “This matter was originally caused by this disciple’s carelessness, which led to bad consequences, this disciple thought that there was no need to alert the sect. . .”

At this point, the expression on Xu Xingzhi’s face changed abruptly, his voice petered off, and the hotheadedness that was being cooled down by the drizzle, froze into ice in an instant.

When it came to the silver ring snake seal incident, he had swallowed this bitter pill on his own prerogative to protectXiao-Deng from being punished by the sect.

With his position as the hostage prince from the demonic sects, he was already walking on thin ice within the immortal sects. He was watched everywhere he went, if he were to make only one wrong step, it may have invited cold looks and ridicule ten times or a hundred times more than others would have incurred, not to mention this incident led to the indirect cause of Xu Xingzhi’s injury. Guangfu-jun had always been lukewarm towardsXiao-Deng, but had always detested his demonic origins. If he had used this as an excuse to sendXiao-Deng back to the main sect, then it would be tantamount to shoving him into a fire pit.

In order to prevent this matter from being exposed, Xu Xingzhi never leaked this matter for so many years, nor did he take his clothes off in front of others this entire time.

Therefore, the only ones who knew about the injury on his back were Jiu Zhideng and Meng Chongguang.

Regardless of how this trumped up ghost clan mark on his back came to be, the person who could think of using this method to frame him must be someone who was aware of this secret. . .

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Yet at this moment, Guangfu-jun refused to believe a word of Xu Xingzhi’s defense: “If you were the child born of the union between the common people and a member of the ghostly clan, then your lineage of the ghostly bloodline also had the possibility of awakening at a later date!”

Xu Xingzhi reluctantly stretched out his right arm where fresh blood was flowing down, the bell on his wrist making a sharp and clear sound: “Then you can repeat the examination now and see if I possess the spiritual veins of a ghostly cultivator who had a delayed awakening?!”

“What kind of attitude is this? Such insolence!” Guangfu-jun scoffed angrily, “Now that you’ve formulated your nascent soul, you don’tharbor any respect for your Shufuanymore?!”

Xu Xingzhi gritted his teeth and squeezed out: “This disciple doesn’t dare.”

“Don’t dare?” Guangfu-jun straightened his sleeves, turning towards where Qingjing-jun was seated, “As far as I know, as long as a practitioner is at the Nascent Soul level or above, they possess the ability to create their own set of spiritual veins! Of everyone present, the only one who can glean whether there is something off about you is Shixiong. Shixiong had just wanted to take your life, is that not evidence enough?!”

Xu Xingzhi immediately turned to “Qingjing-jun” who was above: “. . . Shifu, the match just now was just to exchange pointers. Regarding whether Xingzhi is a ghostly cultivator, please, you must clear Xingzhi’s good name!”

At an actual moment when he needed the other to stand up for him and say something, “Qingjing-jun” remained silent instead, he didn’t speak, nor did he make a move. He just rubbed the embroidered relief patterns on the cuff of his sleeve, his lowered gaze displaying his usual countenance, only the pattern of his breathing seemed a bit slower than usual.

An anxious expression surfaced on Guangfu-jun’s face as he shot forward a few steps, suppressing his voice so that only the two of them would be able to hear it: “. . . Shixiong, let’s resolve this with haste ba!”

Qingjing-jun’s voice sounded a little unusual: “Xiyun. . . No, it isn’t. . .”

Xu Xingzhi knew that he had been plotted against with his only hope was in Qingjing-jun’s hands, he couldn’t help but raise his voice: “Shifu!”

Qingjing-jun clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles popped as if he were grappling with some sort of invisible monster.

Guangfu-jun was wholeheartedly preoccupied with the incident involving Xu Xingzhi and failed to pick up on Qingjing-jun’s peculiarity.

He lowered his voice to the lowest level and urged anxiously: “Better to be safe than sorry! . . . Even if Xu Xingzhi wasn’t a ghostly cultivator, even if he was framed by someone, since that individual could frame him in such a way, then it is highly likely that they also know that the divine artifact, the Shijie Book, is hidden on his person!”

Qingjing-jun froze.

“Shixiong, three of the four divine artifacts of this world were used by Ancestor Hongjun to create a barbaric realm where the various ancient monsters were imprisoned. The only artifact that is still present in this world is the Shijie Book!” Guangfu-jun tightened his grip on Qingjing-jun’s sleeve, his voice hurried, “He, Xu Xingzhi accidentally entered theTongtianPavilion where the treasures were hidden, and was recognized as the master of the Shijie Book where it melded into his body as the vessel, that counts as him being unlucky. I had forewarned at the time to kill him and retrieve the divine tome, butyoucouldn’t bear it and decided to accept him as a disciple only to keep the Shijie Book in Fengling. These years, I have watched him so strictly if only for the sake of Fengling, in order to prevent him from making mistakes and to prevent his identity from being revealed which would’ve exposed the divine artifact to outsiders! But now Xu Xingzhi’s spiritual power is becoming more and more powerful, difficult to control, his behavior is also becoming increasingly brash. It’s difficult to predict whether he will commit nefarious deeds in the future and fall to evil practices! Moreover, if the fact that he harbors the Shijie Book is known to others, rather than set him loose and fall into the hands of others, it would be better. . .”

Qingjing-jun’s ears could no longer pick up any sounds. He raised his head, cold sweat dotting his forehead, gazing at Guangfu-jun’s moving lips, watching helplessly as the other spat out five words.

“. . . Leave the mistake and adapt ba.”

Qingjing-jun gripped Guangfu-jun’s finger and twisted it with all his strength: “. . . No, he, he isn’t someone else, he’s Xingzhi ah.”

He took a few more breaths and said with discomfort: “Xiyun, there’s something wrong with me, I. . .”

Guangfu-jun knew that he wanted to feign illness and avoid this topic yet again, so he interrupted him sharply: “Shixiong!”

Xu Xingzhi lifted his robes and knelt down once more: “Shifu! Please restore this disciple’s innocence!”

Lu Yujiu was amongst the back row of the Qingliang Valley disciples. When he heard the three-way confrontation between Qingjing-jun, Guangfu-jun, and Xu-shixiong, he felt his back flare up with heat, becoming restless as hot sweat crawled down his back like small insects.

He no longer cared about etiquette and dignity, he struggled to push aside the Shixiongs lined up in front of him, advancing forward: “Shixiong, please give way, let me through!”

. . . He needs to tell Wen-shixiong that the ghostly brand on Xu-shixiong was fake, Xu-shixiong was framed!

A grand event turned into this, which really caught Zhou, Wen, and Qu, the three of them, off guard, it was all way beyond their wildest expectations.

Although Wen Xuechen felt that this matter was highly suspicious, he didn’t think that the situation would become so serious.

He frowned and stated with conviction: “Xingzhi can’t be a ghostly cultivator. There must be some sort of misunderstanding about this matter.”

Qu Chi nodded: “That is indeed the case, as long as the competition is halted and Xingzhi is taken back for questioning, the truth will reveal itself naturally.”

Zhou Beinan was not as at ease and calm as them, he really couldn’t stand it as he bit through gritted teeth: “This is f*cking ridiculolus!”

Zhou Xian was also a little uneasy: “Guangfu-jun has always not minced words with Xu-shixiong. It’s not surprising that he would become irascible and angry when such an incident occurred, but why do I feel that Qingjing-jun is somewhat abnormal today?”

Zhou Beinan paced around two steps, his eyes suddenly lighting up, then just as he was about to step forth, Wen Xuechen reacted swiftly and grabbed him nimbly, holding the other back: “Beinan, what are you trying to do?”

Zhou Beinan questioned: “What am I trying to do? It’s better than doing nothing!”

He shook Wen Xuechen off, strode forward a few steps, bent over and bowed, calling out loudly: “Qingjing-jun, Guangfu-jun! This matter is really suspicious, there must be someone plotting from the shadows in an attempt to frame him! Guangfu-jun, ifyoutruly suspect that Xingzhi’s bloodline is impure, there is no need to interrogate him, one just needs to ask him and that is enough!”

After that, he turned around and pointed at Xu Pingsheng, who was standing amongst the disciples: “Xu Pingsheng is Xu Xingzhi’s blood-related elder brother. If Xingzhi is descended from ghostly cultivators, wouldn’t it be more efficient to ask him than to ask Xingzhi?”

In an instant, all eyes were focused on Xu Pingsheng.

Xu Pingsheng didn’t expect to be pushed to the forefront by Zhou Beinan in public and his face flushed with heat for a moment, as if some deep, dark secret buried deep in his heart had been forcibly uncovered and cast away in broad daylight for everyone to spectate.

Yuan Ruzhou, who was standing beside him, looked at him in surprise.

All Fengling disciples who had been told by Xu Pingsheng “Xu-shixiong and I are not familiar with each other” were all staring at him in shock.

Even Guangfu-jun surveyed him from top to bottom, his gaze a mixture of disappointment, shame, with a hint of inexplicable unwillingness.

All this scrutiny disturbed Xu Pingsheng’s heartbeat, making Xu Pingsheng’s heart palpitate unbearingly.

Very quickly, this feeling of anxiety that was nearly gnawing at him torturously, turned into sharp resentment, reluctance and hatred.

He had already made himself as scarce as can be, so why must he be laid bare in public like so?

He had not once shared any amounts of Xu Xingzhi’s glory, so why must he come out to prove the other’s integrity when the other was in a tight spot?!

He loathed Zhou Beinan for pushing him to the forefront!

Qingjing-jun had always favored Xu Xingzhi, was it even possible that he would drive him away because of such an obvious case of framing?!

Multiple emotions gripped his heart, twisting it into a vicious and complicated mess, yet Zhou Beinan was still prompting him at this moment: “Xingzhi is your little brother, wouldn’t you know best in your heart whether he was a ghostly cultivator or not?!”

Hearing these words, Xu Pingsheng swiftly adjusted his expression, stepped out of the ranks with quick steps and knelt down properly and neatly.

He heard his own voice clearly state in indifference, a hint of malice, difficult to detect, under the serenity of still water: “Xu-shixiong and I are not familiar with each other, I am unaware as to why Zhou-gongzi would say such a thing.”

At this time, not to mention Zhou Beinan, even the expression on the wheelchair-bound Wen Xuechen’s face changed abruptly.

Zhou Beinan sputtered in disbelief: “Xu Pingsheng, in a situation such as this! You—”

Xu Pingsheng looked towards Zhou Beinan, a vengeful sneer on his lips: “No matter what kind of situation this is, Zhou-gongzi, you can’t force me to admit that I have a sibling relationship with Xu-shixiong due to your private friendship with Xu-shixiongba?”

Hearing this, Guangfu-jun breathed a sigh of relief.

Xu Xingzhi was a hidden danger as long as he lived and also possessed an out-of-touch temperament. He liked to associate with those of the more heretical paths and Guangfu-jun must consider things for the sake of the sect as a whole, as such, he had looked for opportunities to get rid of him at every turn.

Now, a ready-made and good reason to clean up the sect has been handed to him by someone else, Guangfu-jun had no reason not to seize this opportunity.

Then this ridiculous farce with Xu Pingsheng was so alarming that it really made him panic for a moment there.

If Xu Pingsheng publicly admitted that he was Xu Xingzhi’s blood-related elder brother and allowed him to examine his meridians, then he would have no excuse to continue placing the title of “ghostly cultivator spy” on Xu Xingzhi’s head and then there would be no justification for him to remove the Shijie Book from the body of this unruly and unconventional profligate.

He continued to press Qingjing-jun to make a decision as soon as possible: “. . . Shixiong!”

After a while, he saw the sweaty “Qingjing-jun” lift his head slightly, tilt his head to the side, an ear-piercing sound of bone coming from the side of his neck.

The thumb and index finger of his left hand were gently pressed together, the glow of spiritual energy budding there.

Seeing this, Guangfu-jun suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.

It seemed that his Shixiong had finally made up his mind to activate the spiritual tool that had been prepared to incapacitate Xu Xingzhi long ago.

Under the high platform, Xu Pingsheng had enough of Zhou Beinan’s unspeakable expression of annoyance, and even felt a tad elated and triumphant, so he naturally turned his gaze away, but with that his eyes unexpectedly met those of Xu Xingzhi, who was on the stage as a result.

Xu Xingzhi’s head was at an angle which allowed his two eyes to bore into him.

Xu Pingsheng had never seen such a look of defeat, loss, and confusion in Xu Xingzhi’s eyes before. It was as if the words he had just uttered transformed into sparks that burned the heart of the young man on stage into a furnace of ashes.

Xu Pingsheng felt as if his head was heavy all of a sudden, so weighted that he didn’t dare to lift it.

Xu Xingzhi really felt that everything was so ironic.

At this time, it was Zhou Beinan who took the initiative to speak up for him, while his real elder brother was trying his best to distance himself from him.

The moment his thoughts lingered on this, Xu Xingzhi noticed something strange about the hexagonal silver bell tied to his right hand: he hadn’t made any drastic movements, but the bell started ringing on its own.

Dinglingling,dinglingling.

After the silver bell chimed twice, it actually exploded without further notice!

Without any explanation, two strands of spiritual energy that took the form of a ribbon lurking in the bell directly penetrated into the veins of his wrist, crushing and shattering every phalanx of his right hand, and then flew up his right arm until they pierced into his right shoulder bone!

The severe pain of broken muscles and bones abruptly exploded in his body and everything before Xu Xinghzhi’s eyes went dark. Before he could exhale in pain, a mouthful of hot liquid gushed out, splattering onto the floor of the arena, speckling it like the stars in the night sky.

Very quickly, the tail of the spiritual energy that impaled his shoulder bone sprouted countless sharp barbs and yanked him to fly backwards until he was hung on the nearby white jade stone pillar by his arm!

Xu Xingzhi felt as if half of his body was so painful that it was about to shatter and when his back slammed into the stone pillar heavily, he finally couldn’t bear it any longer and screamed his throat raw as blood continued to pour out, instantly dyeing half of the stone pillar crimson.

Everyone present was stunned by this unforeseen change.

Yuan Ruzhou was in a stupor for a moment before she covered her mouth and cried sharply: “Shixiong!!!”

The author has something to say:

Although Guangfu-jun isn’t anything good for deciding to not right the issue and just go with the flow to make the best of it, but I wonder if there are anylittle cutieswho can understand his reaction in which he develops mixed feelings when hisShixiongwho breezily and yet accidentally in a spell of bad luck ends up with such afortuitous b*stardwhile also hating that he is unable to just obtain the relief that comes with being rid of this disaster magnet. . .

In addition, this is big brother’s great achievement of courting death

Author’s Chapter Summary:

Silver bell, lies, causing a big mistake

The translator has something to say:

This chapter was a mess of emotions, I hate GFJ for the way he handled this situation, I’m not saying it’s bad to be opportunistic, but I hate his indifference and his objective view and actions, he didn’t even stop to think how this would affect XXZ’s life as a whole to be denounced in public like this, how much weight his words carry due to the position he is in. I can understand where he is coming from, after all he is thinking of the sect, but to just push out a “problem” like this and pretend that it has no relation to him or his sect at all, to shirk all relationships is cruel. XPS as well. I can understand why he would react in such a way because he just didn’t think his actions would have any serious consequences given how coddled XXZ is by QJJ, but XXZ was after all, still family was he not?