PID Chapter 29.1

(4/5)

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Xiao Mo sat in place, silent for a long time.

 

The last person was him?

 

What about the original person? Were they just a random extra that could be easily replaced?

 

Xiao Mo’s hand tightened on the testing stone, the feeling of the stone digging into his palm bringing him back to his senses. Xiao Mo suddenly realized: Right, it’s not confirmed yet!

 

What if he couldn’t fabricate a fake spirit root? Although he was the most special Inner Demon, possessing a spirit form unbound by common sense, this wasn’t something that could be easily faked, right?

 

Xiao Mo put down the testing stone: “I’ll try, but I can’t guarantee success.”

 

Chu Jinglan nodded, placing his hand on the testing stone: “You can feel how its spiritual energy flows, and the fluctuations of the spirit root.”

 

If he was to impersonate a human, he’d have to appear in front of people. So Xiao Mo first wrapped himself in two layers of spiritual energy to materialize, intending to fabricate a spirit root in his materialized state. However, just as he appeared, the three children suddenly ran in, stumbling upon this scene.

 

Mo Zhi was scared out of his wits and shouted: “Ghost!!”

 

It turned out that Mo Zhi, with Yan Chun guiding his hand, had shakily written his own name. Excited, he grabbed the paper and rushed towards the hall, wanting to show Chu Jinglan. Yan Chun and Chu Xia couldn’t stop him and could only follow, panting. Unexpectedly, they encountered this startling scene at the door.

 

Yan Chun and Chu Xia, running slower, hadn’t seen clearly at first, but were startled by Mo Zhi’s shout, also getting a big fright.

 

Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan simultaneously turned their heads to look, Xiao Mo’s face coming into the children’s view. Seeing his appearance, the three frightened children stared with wide eyes.

 

This “ghost” looked quite similar to their master, but their expressions were completely different. The master was like frost, while the ghost wore a smile, his eyes seemingly containing peach blossoms, stunningly beautiful.

 

Xiao Mo pointed at them: “Children, don’t shout carelessly. I’m very much alive.”

 

Although he had died once before.

 

Mo Zhi had dropped his paper on the ground. He dumbly said “Ah,” not yet recovered, but his terrified expression had faded. He looked at Chu Jinglan, then at Xiao Mo, and said foolishly: “Is… is he alive?”

 

Yan Chun, noticing Chu Jinglan’s cold expression, quickly picked up the fallen paper and pulled Mo Zhi back: “Sorry, master. We shouldn’t have come over without permission. We’ve disturbed you.”

 

They had never encountered cultivators before and weren’t used to it. They thought the person in front of their master must also be a cultivator, and his sudden appearance might be some immortal technique. They had overreacted.

 

Seeing the three children’s eyes secretly glancing at him, Xiao Mo smiled and magnanimously forgave them on Chu Jinglan’s behalf: “It’s alright. It’s a good chance for me to get to know you. My name is Xiao Mo, I’m your master’s… hmm, brother.”

 

So that’s it. They did look like brothers. As for why they didn’t share the same surname, it wasn’t an issue at all. Look at Yan Chun and Chu Xia, siblings who now had different surnames.

 

Actually, except for the outgoing Mo Zhi, Yan Chun and Chu Xia were a bit afraid of Chu Jinglan, mainly because the master looked so cold. The two had been sensitive to people’s emotions since childhood, so they were a bit cautious.

 

But Xiao Mo gave a different impression. With a slight smile in his eyes and such good looks, he seemed very approachable.

 

Although they had similar faces, if one had to choose between Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan to nestle against, most people would probably shrink behind Xiao Mo.

 

Now that he knew it wasn’t a ghost, Mo Zhi had nothing to fear. Unable to read the atmosphere, he happily showed his writing to Chu Jinglan and Xiao Mo: “I can write my name now!”

 

Even though Yan Chun had guided his hand to write it, if he were to hold the brush himself, he definitely couldn’t write two complete characters.

 

Chu Jinglan remained silent, but Xiao Mo gave the child some encouragement: “Not bad, you’re improving.”

 

The testing stone under Chu Jinglan’s hand had already lit up with a pale silver-white light, accentuating his cold, handsome features: “He practices a special cultivation technique. If you see him disappear or suddenly appear in the future, don’t make a fuss.”

 

Mo Zhi grinned happily. Looking at Chu Jinglan and Xiao Mo, he suddenly asked: “Master and… young master, or sir? Which of you is the older brother and which is the younger?”

 

Xiao Mo: “That kind of thing isn’t really important.”

 

Chu Jinglan still didn’t speak, just giving Mo Zhi a cool glance.

 

Although Mo Zhi was naive about many social niceties, he had a wild animal-like instinct. When Chu Jinglan’s eyes swept over him, he inexplicably shuddered and blurted out with rare quick-wittedness: “Master must be the older brother!”

 

Xiao Mo originally thought it didn’t matter, but hearing this, his contrary nature secretly surfaced. He narrowed his eyes: “Why?”

 

Most boys around ten still have the fixed notion that “being an older brother is better than being a younger brother,” unable to understand that “calling someone brother” and “being called brother” each have their own merits.

 

Mo Zhi shook his clever yet foolish head: “Uh, it just feels more fitting.”

 

Xiao Mo laughed, amused and annoyed, and gave him a light flick on the forehead: “Alright, go play. We adults have important things to do.”

 

In a household full of youngsters, even the seventeen-year-old dared to call himself an adult.

 

Mo Zhi bounced out happily: “He just said I can go play!”

 

But Yan Chun grabbed his hand, acting like a little adult: “No, continue studying. You still can’t recognize all the characters at the beginning of the Three Character Classic.”

 

Mo Zhi wailed, trying to break free. He was a year older than Yan Chun and Chu Xia, and stronger from years of rough living. But with Yan Chun holding one hand and Chu Xia smilingly hugging his other arm saying “Study, study!”, he couldn’t shake them off. The two children dragged him back into the study.

 

One thing conquers another, Xiao Mo thought, amused as he turned his attention back to the table. Chu Jinglan’s fingers were on the testing stone, which was emitting a cold white light, indicating his mutated ice spirit root.

 

Different spirit roots show different colors. Xiao Mo placed his hand on the other side of the stone, feeling the flow of spiritual energy inside. But this wasn’t enough. After a moment, Xiao Mo placed his fingers on Chu Jinglan’s wrist.

 

The wrist is one of a cultivator’s vital points. Chu Jinglan’s fingers instinctively tensed for a moment, then he slowly adjusted his breathing and relaxed.

 

Xiao Mo’s fingertips had no temperature. To others, Chu Jinglan seemed like ice and frost, but his body was warm; while Xiao Mo, appearing vibrant and passionate, was truly like frost throughout, chillingly cold to the bone.

 

Xiao Mo was sensing the connection between the spirit root and the testing stone. His fingers on Chu Jinglan’s wrist would gently move, somewhat like a doctor taking a pulse, but not quite. Wherever his fingertips glided, they left a distinct cool sensation that lingered.

 

Chu Jinglan lowered his eyes to look at Xiao Mo’s porcelain-like fingertips, even whiter than his own skin. He asked: “Aren’t you cold?”

 

“Hmm? Not cold.” Xiao Mo’s fingertips rested on Chu Jinglan’s wrist. He could feel the human warmth, comfortably warm, but didn’t feel chilled by the spirit body’s coldness. After all, he had no flesh and blood to begin with, and had been this way since becoming an Inner Demon, so nothing felt uncomfortable.

 

Xiao Mo carefully sensed for a while, then withdrew his fingers: “Give me some time.”

 

Chu Jinglan lowered his sleeve, covering his wrist. The cool sensation remained clear, not unpleasant, but impossible to ignore. It was as if winter morning frost had kissed his wrist; more than coldness, it was the morning’s tranquility that first touched the heart.

 

Chu Jinglan took up his sword and went to the courtyard to practice slowly. Xiao Mo sat in the hall, holding the stone and starting to fabricate a fake spirit root.

 

His mind wandered to many things, occasionally glancing at Chu Jinglan practicing sword techniques, so he wasn’t fully focused, multitasking.

 

Sometimes thinking about the world’s plot, sometimes considering what kind of spirit root to create.

 

Among the five people, Chu Jinglan and Mo Zhi both had single spirit roots, which was eye-catching enough. He’d better be low-key, create a triple or quadruple spirit root to balance the sect’s apparent strength.

 

Spirit roots essentially embody the five elements in the human body, communicating with the world’s spiritual energy. The spirit root is like a special pipe, the dantian like a reservoir. Using Chu Jinglan as an example, his reservoir was currently leaking, unable to store anything, so no matter how good the pipe, it was useless.

 

Xiao Mo thought while casually forming invisible lines within his spirit body.

 

What colors would look good mixed together? He pondered carelessly, as if modeling, manipulating spiritual energy here and there. Though seemingly not putting much effort, before long, the testing stone in his hand lit up.

 

Xiao Mo stopped, looking at the red, blue, and brown lights, thinking lightly: Ah, it’s done.

 

Water, fire, and earth, a triple spirit root, ordinary and low-key.

 

Though successful, Xiao Mo showed no joy. Holding the testing stone, he drooped his eyes listlessly and suddenly asked the system a question: “System, are there any other transmigrators in this world besides me?”

 

The system didn’t care why the host suddenly asked this question, it just dutifully answered: “No.”

 

“According to you, there are eight cornerstone characters. So why does only Chu Jinglan need a transmigrator and system? What’s special about him?”

 

System: “After comprehensive evaluation of personal abilities, personality, and environmental influence data, the conclusion is that Chu Jinglan is the most dangerous among the important characters.”

 

Most dangerous? Xiao Mo’s fingers lightly touched the testing stone. How did someone who died without a trace in the original plot become the most dangerous?

 

Xiao Mo’s tone changed from indifferent to half-mocking: “He’s considered dangerous?”

 

The system, detecting Xiao Mo’s mood, became more cautious: “It means he’s the existence most likely to trigger bugs and destabilize the cornerstone, hence the assignment of a system and transmigrator.”

 

Xiao Mo held the testing stone, speaking unhurriedly but with an indescribable pressure beneath his calm demeanor: “Why do I feel like you’ve just changed a few words, giving me some pretentious literature, continuing to be cryptic?”

 

The system choked.

 

It said pitifully: “That’s just the analysis result. I’ve told you everything. Host, haven’t I been doing a good job since you transmigrated? Even when you want to slack off, I only suggest, never forcing you to do anything.”

 

“Well, you couldn’t stop me anyway. That’s what happens when your rules have loopholes to exploit.”

 

System: “Whimper.”

 

Xiao Mo sighed: “Forget it.”

 

Anyway, he would witness everything alongside Chu Jinglan from now on. Any doubts or confusion could be addressed step by step. Things would naturally unfold, and all thoughts would eventually surface. He wasn’t in a hurry.

 

Rather than obsessing over distant and vague matters, it was better to focus on the present, on the people and things within reach.

 

Xiao Mo walked to the window. In the vase beside it was a vibrantly blooming flower. He raised his hand and tossed the testing stone towards Chu Jinglan in the courtyard.

 

Chu Jinglan spun around, holding his sword horizontally to steadily catch the testing stone on the blade. Then he flicked it up, catching it in his hand, and looked up at Xiao Mo in the window.

 

Xiao Mo leaned on the windowsill, casually supporting his chin with one hand, while lazily waving at Chu Jinglan with the other: “It’s done.”

 

Faster than Chu Jinglan had expected.

 

Xiao Mo leaned against the window, facing the daylight, watching Chu Jinglan approach: “So what’s our sect called?”

 

Xiao Mo thought Chu Jinglan would need to think about it, but heard him answer without hesitation: “Du E[mfn]Crossing Adversity[/mfn].”

 

Xiao Mo raised an eyebrow. Though he didn’t know when Chu Jinglan had decided this, he considered it: “Not bad, just a bit heavy.”

 

But what in this world isn’t heavy? At least “crossing” offered some hope.

 

Chu Jinglan sheathed his sword: “Today we’ll register the sect. After returning, pack up. We’ll set out in two days.”

 

Xiao Mo: “You prepare the things, I’ll go call the children.”

 

As he spoke, Xiao Mo nimbly climbed out the window. Chu Jinglan looked at the wide-open main door, then at Xiao Mo poking his head through the study window, unsure if he was providing the children inside with a picturesque view or giving them a fright.

 

…Why does he always prefer windows?

 

*

 

The administrative office for registering sects mainly cared about collecting money. The management wasn’t strict; they didn’t care why you were creating a sect as long as they got paid.

 

Xiao Mo’s disguise didn’t fail. The clerk, seeing two single spirit roots in a row, had looked at them with curiosity and scrutiny, until Xiao Mo, the “triple spirit root,” appeared, and he withdrew his examining gaze.

 

The three children focused on something different. They stared wide-eyed as they saw the hundred taels of silver handed over. Xiao Mo took the chance to impress upon them: “See that? It’s super expensive. Later, to take you to the Middle Realm, we’ll need to pay spirit stones, equivalent to a hundred taels of gold per person.”

 

“Gold?!”

 

All three were stunned by the enormous sum. Mo Zhi’s mouth gaped wide enough to fit a duck egg, dizzied: “I’ve never seen so much money in my life!”

 

This was exactly the effect Xiao Mo wanted. He chuckled: “So remember Young Master Chu’s kindness, and help him more in the future.”

 

The three nodded hurriedly, like pecking chicks. Yan Chun said: “We’ll certainly remember the master’s and your kindness.”

 

Chu Xia echoed her brother, while Mo Zhi patted his chest: “In the future, your matters will be handled by young mas… I mean, by me!”

 

He had recently learned from Yan Chun not to call himself “young master” in front of Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan, and to mind his language.

 

Seeing them play along, Xiao Mo was amused. Whether they remembered him or not didn’t really matter. He ruffled Mo Zhi’s hair, and seeing Yan Chun and Chu Xia’s expectant yet restrained expressions, he reached out to pat their heads too, spreading the affection equally.

 

Chu Jinglan, having paid the silver and received the sect token and new disciple plaques, turned back to see four pairs of bright eyes staring at him unblinkingly.

 

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1 Kofi = 1 Extra Chapter