Chapter 377: All Are Fine Young Men of the Mortal World
Late at night.
Thick clouds temporarily veiled the moonlight.
Xiao Ju hurried along the mountain path. She was cautious and uneasy, frequently looking around. The lantern she carried was a magical instrument, capable of scouting and giving alerts.
The trees on both sides of the path rustled in the breeze. In Xiao Ju’s ears, apart from the wind, there were only the sounds of her own footsteps and heartbeat.
The sound of the waterfall grew louder and began to drown out all other sounds.
Soon, a deep pool appeared before her eyes. Xiao Ju quickened her pace, doing her best not to linger by the water’s edge.
She arrived behind the waterfall and took the mountain path. The thunderous roar of the waterfall echoed in her ears, sounding especially deafening in the night.
Mist swirled through the air, and the moss and green vines on the rock face were wet and slippery.
The lantern’s glow cast flickering shadows on the stone walls.
Xiao Ju walked forward and saw the entrance to the Ten Thousand Demons Cave. Her heart lifted slightly.
But at once, she remembered the task entrusted to her by Lin Shanshan and felt an overwhelming sense of pressure.
She had already arrived at the cave entrance, but hesitated, pacing back and forth, not daring to enter.
At that moment, a voice rang out from within the cave. It was Linghu Jiu:
“Drunken slumber on stone bed, breeze gently warm,”
“Dreams in cave depths, hard to fathom.”
“Awake to moonlight on pine and cypress,”
“Footsteps nearing, I ask—who comes?”
Xiao Ju realized she had already been detected and had no choice but to muster her courage and state her identity.
Of course, Linghu Jiu knew that Xiao Ju was Lin Shanshan’s personal maid, and immediately invited her in.
Xiao Ju, still uneasy, stepped into the cave.
Inside, the cave was dimly lit. On the cave walls, mottled moss spread like the whispers of time and history.
She quickly saw the stone bed.
On it, reclined a slender cultivator.
He lay on his side in a casual pose, reeking of alcohol. Though his eyes were sleepy and half-lidded, he exuded a detached grace, as though worldly troubles had nothing to do with him.
It was Linghu Jiu.
He wore a faint smile and asked gently, “This late at night, you came specifically to find me in the cave. Is it that Little Junior Sister is asking for my help?”
Xiao Ju took a deep breath, bowed first, and then, gathering her courage, told Linghu Jiu of Lin Shanshan’s request.
Linghu Jiu: …
Xiao Ju watched him nervously.
Linghu Jiu furrowed his brow and sighed deeply. He stepped down from the stone bed, hands clasped behind his back, and began to pace within the cave.
In that moment, Xiao Ju suddenly felt that the transcendent and aloof aura of Linghu Jiu had been dragged down by the mundane world. He seemed tainted by mortal dust, his immortal air dissipated, replaced with something more human.
Xiao Ju’s heart filled with sympathy for the frowning and thoughtful Linghu Jiu.
She made up her mind—if Linghu Jiu so much as hinted at refusal, she would immediately turn and leave.
Though she was just a maid, even she felt this matter was too cruel and disheartening for Linghu Jiu.
Linghu Jiu paused, sighed faintly, and said, “I’ve been long secluded in this cave, unaware of what’s been happening outside.”
“This time, even if Little Junior Sister didn’t come to ask for my help, I should have acted anyway.”
“Xiao Ju, take my waist token and go to the Scripture Repository. Retrieve the Comprehension Diagrams of the Metal and Fire attributes. Give Ning Zhuo all the ones that are allowed for external disciples to view.”
“When you hand them over, tell him this—say that this senior was perhaps a bit too protective of his junior sister, and ask Young Master Ning Zhuo not to take offense.”
“Let these Comprehension Diagrams serve as Myriad Medicines Sect’s apology.”
Xiao Ju wore a puzzled look, not understanding why Linghu Jiu was saying such things.
Linghu Jiu smiled at her and waved his hand. “When you return, inform Little Junior Sister that she need not worry about any expense. As her Senior Brother, I will shoulder it all.”
“Set off early tomorrow. This task must be completed. Once done, report back to me first.”
“Yes. Xiao Ju understands.” Full of doubts, she took the waist token and returned to Origin Mountain.
After meeting Lin Shanshan, she relayed everything about Linghu Jiu’s reception in full to her mistress.
Lin Shanshan was briefly puzzled, then her frown eased as clarity dawned. “So that’s it.”
“Miss, what do you mean by that?” Xiao Ju couldn’t grasp the meaning of the riddle.
Lin Shanshan explained, “It should be that Senior Brother Lao De and the others stirred things up behind the scenes, creating public pressure against Young Master Ning Zhuo, prompting many cultivators to challenge him.”
“Senior Brother Linghu Jiu, realizing this, instructed you to do this as a way to apologize to Young Master Ning Zhuo.”
“What? Our dignified Myriad Medicines Sect apologizing to an outsider?” Xiao Ju was astonished and indignant, feeling it unjust for Linghu Jiu.
Lin Shanshan shook her head.
Having been raised from childhood with formal education, her perspective and awareness naturally differed from her maid’s.
“Senior Brother’s decision is the correct one.”
“External disciples are a hallmark of our sect and a central part of our cultivation strategy.”
“If this matter comes to light, the damage to Myriad Medicines Sect would be invisible yet enormous.”
“Since Senior Brother is willing to bear this expense, let him. As the Senior Brother of Myriad Medicines Sect, he ought to do so.”
Only then did Xiao Ju begin to understand.
The next morning, she set out early.
Using Linghu Jiu’s waist token, she spent a large amount of sect merit to obtain the Comprehension Diagrams of the Fire and Metal attributes.
After that, she took the diagrams and entered the Teleportation Array, arriving directly at Lesser Strife Peak.
She slightly concealed her appearance and dressed to appear unfamiliar. Then, she went straight to the cave residence where Ning Zhuo currently stayed and released a message bird, stating her identity and purpose.
Ning Zhuo, who was cultivating within the cave, received the message and immediately sent a voice transmission inviting Xiao Ju in.
As soon as she sat in the reception hall, she heard footsteps. Then, a young man stepped out from behind a screen and appeared before her.
Xiao Ju’s eyes lit up at the sight. Ning Zhuo wore a wide-sleeved robe, white as clouds.
His features were refined and handsome. His eyes, with their sharp black and white contrast, were as clear as lake water, radiating an honest brilliance.
He had a gentle smile, as warm and kind as the spring breeze, stirring instant goodwill.
“No wonder Miss is so fond of him, running all over the place and giving so much for him!” Xiao Ju sighed in her heart.
Before seeing Ning Zhuo in person, she couldn’t understand Lin Shanshan’s actions and felt indignant on behalf of Senior Brother Linghu Jiu.
But now, seeing Ning Zhuo herself, she deeply understood Lin Shanshan’s feelings.
“I thought, as the young master of a cultivation clan, his status should be on par with the young lady. Who would’ve expected such plain and simple attire?”
“So this is the type Miss likes!”
“In my opinion, Ning Zhuo and Linghu Jiu are equals in every way.”
In her heart, Xiao Ju silently compared the two.
To her, Linghu Jiu was like a fresh breeze—elegant and free, gentle and untamed. Ning Zhuo was like the light of morning—pure and clean, sincere and warm.
The white-robed youth was graceful and radiant, his expression as luminous as the full moon.
Clear breeze and bright moon both suited him—both were fine young men of the mortal world.
Xiao Ju stood up and bowed to Ning Zhuo. Her voice had grown much softer and more gentle.
Ning Zhuo smiled, seated himself at the host’s position, and gestured for Xiao Ju to sit as well.
Xiao Ju remained standing. “I am merely my lady’s maid. How could I dare sit as equals with Young Master Ning Zhuo?”
“This time, I’ve come to deliver treasures to you, Young Master!”
She took out all the Metal and Fire Comprehension Diagrams and handed them to Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo, surprised, asked, “Miss Lin has been put under confinement. How could she have borrowed so many Comprehension Diagrams for me?”
Previously, he had borrowed just three Wood Comprehension Diagrams, and even then, he had offered up his own Frost End and Proud Snow diagrams in return.
This offering was far more generous than before.
It made no sense that Lin Shanshan, now confined, would have even greater capability.
Xiao Ju smiled. “That is exactly what I came to explain to you.”
She then relayed the full story behind the Comprehension Diagrams and conveyed Linghu Jiu’s message of apology.
Ning Zhuo was astonished. “So this is how it is?”
“Then today’s challenges I’ve faced—turns out there were Myriad Medicines Sect disciples fanning the flames from behind.”
“So that’s the reason. Hahaha.”
Ning Zhuo pretended he had just learned this and let out a hearty laugh.
He stood up and pushed all the Comprehension Diagrams back into Xiao Ju’s hands. “Since that’s the case, I cannot accept these diagrams.”
Xiao Ju was greatly surprised. “This servant dares to ask, why not, Young Master?”
Ning Zhuo replied seriously, “Previously, I was fortunate to receive Miss Lin’s favor and great assistance, helping me, an outsider, integrate quickly into Myriad Medicines Sect and Lesser Strife Peak.”
“I have always remembered this kindness, engraved in my heart, never daring to forget. I’ve resolved that, should an opportunity arise, I will repay her one day.”
“How could I not know the immense effort Miss Lin made to help me?”
“Hearing that she is under confinement only worries me more. I’ve tried to visit Origin Mountain daily, but was turned away. I fear that none of my message birds ever reached her.”
Xiao Ju nodded. She was aware that Ning Zhuo had tried to visit daily, and that Lao De and others had intercepted every message.
Ning Zhuo said, “I once asked myself—if I had known in advance that Miss Lin would be confined because of helping me, would I still have accepted her help?”
“I would have.”
Xiao Ju let out a surprised sound. She had expected him to say no, but he answered without hesitation.
Ning Zhuo gazed into her eyes. “Because I understand, Miss Lin’s help came from the bottom of her heart!”
“That kind of sentiment, like the Mist Orchid I gave her, is a treasure of this world, something to be cherished.”
“Tell me, what kind of friendship lets people connect at first sight, and within such a short time, offer such profound support?”
“If I refuse Miss Lin’s help, I would be watching such a treasure slip away.”
“That would be a terrible waste.”
“She helps me now, and I will help her in the future. That is the symbol of friendship—the best way to honor such a mortal-world treasure!”
Xiao Ju was dumbfounded.
She had not expected Ning Zhuo to say such things.
Looking at the white-robed youth before her, as bright as the morning light, gazing into his clear eyes, she could feel his sincerity.
“So that’s how it is.” She was convinced.
And vaguely, she also understood why Ning Zhuo had refused the Comprehension Diagrams at this moment.
“But... just friendship?”