Having run into Mo Ran so suddenly, Xue Meng blinked. This was
the first time the two had come face-to-face since Mo Ran's detention.
When Mo Ran recalled how Xue Meng had defended him in front of
the crowd, he smiled at his cousin despite himself.
Xue Meng, however, was thoroughly shocked by this grin. "What?" he
said contemptuously, face full of disgust. "What are you looking at?! What
are you smiling about?! What's there to smile about?!"
"I'm greeting you?"
"Disgusting!"
Mo Ran blinked, stupefied.
This comeback had thoroughly killed Mo Ran's conversation starter.
Shi Mei hummed pensively for a moment but didn't push for further answers
either, instead turning to Xue Meng with a smile. "Young master, who's
annoyed you now?"
"Who else could it be? Who else could it be?! Depraved! Despicable!
Disgusting! Obscene!"
Mo Ran sighed. "That doesn't alliterate."
"Who cares?! You do it, then, if you're so great!"
"I'm not great, I'm uncultured," Mo Ran chuckled. "Come on, tell us.
Who pissed you off?"
"I bet it was Da-shixiong again," Shi Mei said with a smile.
"Goddamn Da-shixiong! Beast! Pervert! If he sleeps around so much,
how come he doesn't have an STD?! I'd happily give up ten fucking years of
my life to curse him with sores on his head and pus oozing from his feet—
may his nose and eyes rot off! Let's see who's still gonna think he's so hot
then! That despicable, shameless, obscene—"
Mo Ran blinked, stupefied once again.
Knowing that Xue Meng was about to sink into an endless cycle, Shi
Mei hastily stopped him and pointed back down the road. "Shh, look, those
lady cultivators who like Da-shixiong are here."
Xue Meng jumped with a squawk, a trace of trepidation flashing
across his perpetually prideful face. "Filthy degenerates," he swore under his
breath. Even so, he did indeed turn and bolt, tail between his legs like a stray
dog. In a last-ditch attempt to save his dignity, he snapped before leaving, "I
suddenly remembered I've got something to do, so I'm heading off now!"
Mo Ran watched him scamper out of sight. "Wow," he said, amazed.
"This Da-shixiong is really something, if he can scare Xue Meng that badly!"
Shi Mei held back a laugh. "It's been like this ever since Xue Meng
ran into him at a restaurant the other day and got into a scuffle. I guess he's
met his match."
"Amazing, amazing. I've gotta see him for myself sometime." Those
were the words that left Mo Ran's lips, but inwardly he already knew more
or less what was going on. If this "Da-shixiong" could make Xue Meng hide
like this, he was definitely the person Mo Ran was thinking of.
Now wasn't the time to enjoy the spectacle of Xue Meng, however.
Xue Zhengyong and the Xuanji Elder had arrived at the Dewsip Pavilion and
were softly discussing Eighteen's murder with the master of Peach Blossom
Springs, the Elder Immortal of the feathered tribe.
The Elder Immortal was practically divine. A glow of spiritual light
encircled and enveloped her body, and while she looked to be a young
woman of a fair, tender age, heavens knew how old she actually was.
She was explaining the case calmly to Xue Zhengyong when a personal
attendant walked in and reported in a low voice, "Elder Immortal, we've
brought them."
"Send them in."
Mo Ran followed Shi Mei into the warm pavilion and scanned the
area. The second he saw Xue Zhengyong fanning that infamous fan while
speaking to the others, he called out, "Uncle!"
"My child, my child." Xue Zhengyong looked over at the sound of Mo
Ran's voice. His eyes lit, and he hastened to beckon them over. "Come, sit
next to your uncle," he said, patting Mo Ran's shoulder.
"I didn't kill her…"
"Of course you didn't, of course not." Xue Zhengyong sighed again and
again. "I can't imagine how this misunderstanding came about. The Elder
Immortal told me everything, and I've come to help prove your innocence."
He sighed yet again. "Heavens have mercy, look how downtrodden you are."
He pulled Mo Ran over, and the Elder Immortal of the feathered tribe
didn't stop him, only watching them with impassive eyes.
Mo Ran also greeted the Xuanji Elder and swiftly sat down next to
Xue Zhengyong. However, it struck Mo Ran as odd that Xuanji didn't
immediately notice the absence of his own disciple, Xia Sini. Instead, he
nodded absently at Mo Ran.
It was ultimately the Elder Immortal of the feathered tribe who said,
"Eh? Where's the other child? The one named Xia."
"Ah, that's right." Only then did Xuanji seem to realize. "Where's…
my disciple?"
To Mo Ran's eyes, this was an obvious lack of care for Xia Sini, and
he was somewhat upset. "My shidi is still locked up. He asked me to greet
you on his behalf."
"Is that so." Xuanji nodded. "Why didn't he come?"
"He's cooking," Mo Ran replied curtly.
His answer was met with stunned silence.
Once Xue Zhengyong recovered from his bewilderment, he laughed.
"Is cooking more important than clearing his name?"
"What a headstrong child," Xuanji said, smiling. "I'll go check on him
once the meeting is over."
"No need. We're having dinner together after this," Mo Ran said.
"Interrogate me however you will, but let's get this over and done with."
Thus, Xue Zhengyong spoke, "Elder Immortal, let's continue our
earlier discussion. How about this: We have an elder in our sect who is
skilled in the art of refining pills.
17
Before I came, I asked him to create a
number of purity pills."
"Purity pills?" The Elder Immortal was slightly taken aback, and she
lightly tapped the corner of her lips with a dainty, crimson finger. "Are those
the sort that can make mortals speak absolute truth?"
"That's correct."
The Elder Immortal was rather surprised. "The materials required to
make these things are complex and difficult to refine, and even here in Peach
Blossom Springs, it would take at least half a month to produce such a pill.
I'm amazed to hear that Xianjun's sect has such a master of medicines. Why
didn't you bring him along?"
"He's antisocial and doesn't like traveling with others," Xue
Zhengyong replied. "The pills are currently being refined, and they can be
sent to Peach Blossom Springs by pigeon within ten days. When that time
comes, I invite the Elder Immortal to verify the effectiveness of the pills, then
have the young disciples take them. The truth will be revealed at that time."
The Elder Immortal contemplated this in silence for a moment, then
inclined her head. "This is acceptable."
Xue Zhengyong sighed a breath of relief and smiled. "Then if that's the
case, let me go bring my other disciple out of the prison cave right away."
"Hold it."
"What is it?"
"Until this affair is sorted out, both Mo Ran and Xia Sini remain under
suspicion," the Elder Immortal said. "Even with the sect leader's insurance,
this venerable one cannot let those two walk free."
At this, Xue Zhengyong snapped his fan shut with a smack. While a
smile lingered on his face, his gaze had grown colder. "Now that's a little
disingenuous, Elder Immortal."
The Elder Immortal of the feathered tribe raised her gaze and stared at
him with a pair of scarlet eyes. "Is Xue-zunzhu dissatisfied with this
venerable one's decision?"
"But of course. A guilty verdict has yet to be delivered to my sect's
disciples. Since the Elder Immortal has the guarantee of both myself and the
Xuanji Elder that we'll keep watch over them, what reason is there to keep
them detained?"
"It isn't truly detention," the Elder Immortal said coolly. "They aren't
mistreated, and their daily meals go uninterrupted. I've only restricted their
movements. That isn't unreasonable."
Xue Zhengyong was still smiling, but that smile remained cold. "Not
unreasonable? From what I hear, that prison cave never sees the light of the
sun or the moon. It's where you lock up criminals who've been proven guilty.
The Elder Immortal's choice to go and call it 'not unreasonable' is pure lip
service."
"Xue-zunzhu," a feathered tribe guard by the side said sternly. "Please
watch your tongue!"
"What, have I said something rude? I'm not humiliating or insulting
your Elder Immortal, and I've said nothing but the truth. Maybe my words
aren't courteous, but they're not unreasonable."
This response left the feathered tribe guard even more enraged. "You!"
A hand, pale as jade, reached out and stopped him. The Elder
Immortal raised her head and smiled coolly at Xue Zhengyong. "Rumor from
the mortal realm had it that Xue-zunzhu of Sisheng Peak was just a pretty
face, with strength to spare but rather short on wits—certainly not one for
wordplay. Now this venerable one sees that the rumors were rather
misleading, for Xue-zunzhu is in truth quite the well-reasoned individual."
Xue Zhengyong also flashed her a smile, but there was no more mirth
left in his eyes. "I'm but a vulgar man. Please don't mind me, Elder
Immortal."
The Elder Immortal of the feathered tribe grinned, raised her hand, and
picked a tangerine. She peeled it with great care before holding the peeled
fruit out to Xue Zhengyong. "Then why don't you and I both take a step back?
It will not be possible to grant your disciples the same freedoms as before,
but leaving them in prison certainly isn't appropriate either. This venerable
one will order Xia Sini's immediate release, and Mo Ran and Xia Sini will
hence be lodged in the Campsis Pavilion, which is a place for receiving
guests. The only concessions I require: that people be sent to watch them, and
that they be forbidden from taking even half a step out of the pavilion. Is this
agreeable?"
Xue Zhengyong was silent for a bit. Then he raised his hand. It
hovered in midair for a long moment, but eventually, he accepted the
tangerine.
Campsis Pavilion might have been accommodations meant for guests,
but Peach Blossom Springs didn't receive guests all that often. As such, the
interior of the pavilion had been neglected for a long time. Since the Elder
Immortal had permitted them to move in, Mo Ran decided to go over and
clean, then return to pick up Xia Sini once everything was tidy.
Xue Zhengyong and Xuanji still had things to discuss, so under the
watch of several members of the feathered tribe, Mo Ran and Shi Mei went
to Campsis Pavilion first.
Campsis Pavilion was situated in the northwest area of Peach Blossom
Springs. A veritable forest of flowers bloomed around it, making for a
brilliant, glowing haze lit by the setting sun.
"This is a good place. It won't be so bad to stay here," Mo Ran said
happily.
Shi Mei sighed. "How is this a good place? The two of you are
innocent. You didn't kill anybody, yet you've been accused of doing so. Too
bad Shizun couldn't come. If he had, then he could use Tianwen to interrogate
you, and there wouldn't be any use for purity pills in order to reveal the
truth."
"Ha ha, if only it were that straightforward. Tianwen is a holy weapon,
but while it has the ability to eke out the truth, its effectiveness is entirely
dependent on whether the user really intends to interrogate someone. Do you
think those birds would be willing to let my shizun interrogate me? Do you
think they'd believe him?"
"That's true…"
As the sun was about to set, Mo Ran set about tidying the house with
Shi Mei's assistance.
It certainly was strange. Only when Mo Ran finished cleaning the
pavilion and sat down to rest and drink tea did he realize that he didn't feel
any secret joy in being able to spend time alone with Shi Mei. Nor was he
having any flirtatious thoughts.
Mo Ran choked at the realization and almost spat out his tea.
Shi Mei jumped in surprise. "What's wrong?"
"N-nothing." Mo Ran waved his hands frantically, but internally he
was swearing.
Had he been training under Chu Wanning for so long that he'd also
turned into Liuxia Hui?
18
Behold: Campsis Pavilion, a desolate place with
not a soul around, where the peach blossoms swayed and two single men had
been left alone with only each other for company. At any point in the past,
Mo Ran absolutely would've taken the opportunity to get all lovey-dovey
with Shi Mei before actually getting down to business.
What was with him recently? Acting all pure and frigid, who even was
he anymore?
Mo Ran scratched his head.
Shi Mei blinked.
Eyes met eyes, and Mo Ran cracked a dopey smile, his dimples
precious and cute. "The peach blossoms outside are beautiful. I'll go pick a
branch for you to bring with you."
"Plants are sentient—just let them bloom properly on their branches,"
Shi Mei said.
"Mn… You're too right. Then—then I won't pick them!"
They sat there in silence, and Mo Ran dug through everything he could
find in his mind that could start a conversation. He soon realized that having
only been able to meet up infrequently as of late, they didn't have anything
worth talking about.
When he looked up, he realized that Shi Mei had a thin sheen of sweat
from helping him clean. Heart twinging in sympathy, he took out a
handkerchief from his robes and handed it to him. "For you to wipe
yourself."
Shi Mei lowered his lashes, glancing over, and when he saw that Mo
Ran was squeezing the handkerchief nervously, he could only smile. "Thank
you," he gently replied.
He then took the handkerchief and lightly dabbed his forehead. The
feel of the cloth was light and soft, as it had been sewn with the best of silk.
After Shi Mei used it, he said, "I'll take the handkerchief back and wash it
before I return it to you."
"Okey dokey," Mo Ran answered promptly. His receptiveness to
whatever Shi Mei wanted was practically ingrained by this point. "If you like
it, it's okay if you don't return it either."
Shi Mei laughed. "That wouldn't be right, look how well-made this
handkerchief is…" He opened it, smoothing out the creases to fold it again.
Yet as his slender, delicate fingers felt over the spread handkerchief, Shi Mei
paused, taken aback, and let out a soft sound of surprise.
"What is it?"
Shi Mei hesitated and looked up with a smile. "A-Ran really wants to
give me this handkerchief?"
"If you like it, then take it. What's mine is yours." Mo Ran was very
generous.
There was laughter in the depths of Shi Mei's gaze. "Borrowing
flowers from others to worship the Buddha. Aren't you afraid that Shizun
will find out and whip you?"
"Huh?" This time it was Mo Ran's turn to be taken aback. "What do
you mean by 'borrowing flowers to worship the Buddha'? What does Shizun
have to do with this?"
"Take a look yourself." Shi Mei's tone was a little unreadable. "Such
a large haitang blossom. When did Shizun give you his own handkerchief?"