PID Chapter 41.2

Chu Jinglan took one dried flower from the package and placed it in his mouth. The sweet taste spread across his palate as he commented: “It’s alright.”

 

He didn’t seem inclined to eat more. Xiao Mo pulled back his hand and held the oil-paper package close to him—perfect for snacking along the way.

 

As Chu Jinglan savored the sweetness on his tongue, he realized something—

 

He wasn’t good at showing kindness to others, while Xiao Mo wasn’t used to receiving kindness from others.

 

Chu Jinglan often wondered whether certain gestures were necessary or appropriate for Xiao Mo; meanwhile, when Xiao Mo encountered even a small act of goodwill, his usual confidence would suddenly soften considerably. His sharp tongue would falter into awkward knots, and he’d deliberately put up a shell to hide his unease.

 

But that shell was paper-thin—poke it once and you’d find a curled-up Inner Demon underneath.

 

Compared to their earlier interactions filled with bickering and arguments, their current dynamic seemed peaceful on the surface but was still riddled with small uncertainties that left them fumbling at times.

 

It turned out that learning how to coexist long-term with someone specific was like crossing a river by feeling for stones—it required patience and adjustment.

 

For now, they could only take things step by step.

 

Beside him, Xiao Mo chewed on Licorice Blossoms while resisting the urge to glance toward Chu Jinglan’s position—but ultimately refrained from looking directly at him.

 

Xiao Mo couldn’t help but complain to the system: “Do you think he really doesn’t need this anymore, and that’s why he thought of giving it to me as a snack?”

 

The system replied cheerfully: “I don’t know! If you’re really curious, you could use mind-reading.”

 

Xiao Mo sighed: “No, that wouldn’t be right. Using mind-reading on him for something so trivial feels disrespectful to my partner.”

 

Xiao Mo wasn’t unaware of his own emotions.

 

When he had first confessed his true intentions to Chu Jinglan and decided to abandon the identity of an Inner Demon to simply be himself, Xiao Mo had prepared himself for the possibility of being treated as an enemy—coldly and with disdain. Yet he also understood that friendly cooperation and mutual trust between partners were ideal.

 

After all, no one enjoys being perpetually hated.

 

However, this dynamic of being inseparable and spending every waking moment together was entirely new to Xiao Mo. He didn’t know where the “line” was—what level of closeness was appropriate.

 

He could only test things out bit by bit.

 

After all, they still had many days and nights ahead of them. Surely, they’d eventually find the most suitable way to coexist… right?

 

Xiao Mo couldn’t help but think: Being human is so hard. If I were just a mindless Inner Demon who only caused trouble, life would be much simpler.

 

But as he savored the sweetness lingering on his tongue, he realized: Being human is still better. There are so many wonderful flavors in this world—it would be a shame not to experience them.

 

This was only their first trip out of fifteen round trips—hours of walking lay ahead. Xiao Mo ate slowly, savoring each bite, planning to make the entire packet of Licorice Blossoms last for the journey.

 

By the time they reached their tenth trip—thirty passes up and down—morning had turned into midday. The sun now shone high overhead. In the cultivation world, weather often depended on the region, and Guangdu Prefecture’s September temperatures still felt like midsummer. Cultivators at Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment stages couldn’t yet resist extreme temperatures; that required reaching Golden Core stage at minimum.

 

Xiao Mo conjured a small mist ball using pure spiritual energy—similar to what he had used earlier when wiping away Chu Xia’s tears. The mist ball carried a cleaning spell and floated around Chu Jinglan. Whenever Chu Jinglan sweated, it would swiftly circle him, ensuring he remained clean and refreshed.

 

To avoid drawing unnecessary attention from anyone who might overthink seeing black mist, Xiao Mo used pure white mist instead.

 

By their tenth trip, Chu Jinglan’s breathing had noticeably changed.

 

The mountain path leading to Yushan Sect was difficult to traverse—steep and uneven. On flat terrain, they might have saved some energy, but certain sections of the mountain steps were built like those of the Great Wall—large and demanding strides.

 

Stopping at one such step, Chu Jinglan unscrewed his water flask and took two sips.

 

The flask was something he had bought earlier in the village. While fasting pills prevented hunger, water loss happened quickly during such strenuous activity—hydration was essential.

 

Compared to Chu Jinglan’s exertion, Xiao Mo seemed like a breeze—light and effortless in his movements without any sign of fatigue. Even with Jing Lei’s contracted demonic beasts monitoring them, Xiao Mo’s appearance as an unperturbed Foundation Establishment cultivator held up perfectly.

 

Xiao Mo maintained a steady pace alongside Chu Jinglan throughout the journey. When Chu Jinglan stopped, Xiao Mo stopped as well: “Want to rest for a while?”

 

After drinking water and moistening his throat, Chu Jinglan shook his head: “Not yet.”

 

They continued walking.

 

By the fifteenth trip, Chu Jinglan paused midway to rest for a moment, while Xiao Mo had eaten about half of the Licorice Blossoms.

 

Although the cleaning spell helped keep sweat at bay, the physical toll was starting to show. Chu Jinglan’s flushed face betrayed the strain of their journey, even if his body remained clean and dry.

 

The most challenging part wasn’t just the physical exhaustion—it was the monotony. The repetitive back-and-forth, the increasingly heavy steps, and the gradual depletion of energy weighed not only on the body but also on the mind.

 

No matter how beautiful the mountain path’s scenery was, after so many trips, it had lost its charm.

 

Though Xiao Mo appeared completely at ease, even he had grown quieter after such a long trek. Still, having each other’s company made it bearable. Xiao Mo began to understand why Jing Lei had designed this grueling task—it was indeed a test of one’s willpower.

 

By the twentieth trip, the white mist ball circling Chu Jinglan had become a blur from its speed. Chu Jinglan’s breathing was heavy, and his face was flushed from heat. Even without sweat, he looked as though steam were rising off him.

 

Xiao Mo pressed his lips together and suggested: “Let’s rest again soon.”

 

Chu Jinglan nodded silently, conserving his energy and words to focus on regulating his breathing.

 

Technically, since they only needed to finish within the day, they could have spaced out their trips or waited until cooler evening temperatures. But doing so wouldn’t align with Jing Lei’s definition of “enduring hardship.”

 

Even when they stopped to rest, their breaks were brief. During one such pause, Chu Jinglan said: “After this, we won’t stop again.”

 

Momentum is key—whether in long-distance running or enduring grueling tasks. If you stop completely, it becomes much harder to summon the strength to continue. Slowing down is one thing; standing still is another entirely.

 

Xiao Mo responded with a simple “Mm.”

 

In the original story, readers loved seeing Chu Jinglan appear with an aura that dominated all others—his presence dazzling and awe-inspiring. Yet no one cared about every step he had taken to get there.

 

Even for a genius, the path must be walked step by step. The more one understands the journey he endured, the more one feels moved by his commanding presence when he finally stands before others.

 

It was all well-deserved.

 

On their final trip up the mountain, Chu Jinglan had already pushed past the stage of physical exhaustion and dizziness. Once he crossed that threshold, his leaden legs seemed to shed their burden as if freed from earthly constraints. Even without spiritual energy, his steps felt lighter. The dullness in his gaze cleared into sharp focus—but that didn’t mean his strength wasn’t depleted.

 

The water they had replenished in the village was completely gone now. His mouth tasted dry and faintly of blood. Suddenly, Chu Jinglan spoke: “Walk ahead of me.”

 

Xiao Mo turned his head slightly: Has he reached the point where he needs someone in front of him to lead?

 

When exhaustion reaches its peak during a grueling trek, having a visible figure or goal ahead can indeed help motivate and sustain one’s willpower.

 

Without overthinking it, Xiao Mo moved forward and walked three to five steps ahead of Chu Jinglan.

 

In truth, Chu Jinglan wasn’t so fatigued that he needed such motivation.

 

However, under the blazing sun earlier, he had experienced a fleeting moment of disorientation. Even Xiao Mo’s footsteps had sounded strange in his ears. When he turned his head to look at Xiao Mo then, all he saw were faint shadows—blurry and indistinct.

 

Now that his vision had cleared again, an inexplicable urge arose within him—a desire to see what Xiao Mo looked like walking ahead of him.

 

Perhaps it was indeed about having a figure to follow for support during this final stretch—or perhaps it was just an idle thought born in passing with no deeper meaning behind it.

 

Xiao Mo walked ahead for a while, but as they neared the mountain gate, Chu Jinglan caught up and moved to walk beside him again.

 

Together, apart, and then side by side once more.

 

The mountain gate loomed just ahead.

 

Chu Jinglan’s mind cleared, his thoughts sharp and focused. The long journey hadn’t been as unbearable as he had imagined.

 

Xiao Mo turned his head to smile at him, but his expression quickly shifted to surprise. He sent a hurried voice transmission: “Chu Jinglan, Jing Lei is here.”

 

Chu Jinglan paused for a moment before continuing up the steps. When they reached the gate, Jing Lei was indeed waiting for them.

 

He wasn’t alone—several disciples were peeking curiously from nearby, including Song Xuan.

 

As soon as the two stopped walking, Jing Lei didn’t bother with greetings. He raised the heavy sword in his hand and swung it down toward them without warning!

 

Chu Jinglan’s pupils contracted sharply. Instinctively, he pushed Xiao Mo aside and raised his own sword to block the attack.

 

There wasn’t time to fully draw his blade—he had to use both hands to brace the sheathed sword horizontally against the incoming strike. Jing Lei’s heavy sword felt as though it carried the weight of a thousand pounds. Chu Jinglan’s strength was already depleted from exhaustion, making this moment even more challenging. It was clear that Jing Lei had timed his arrival perfectly.

 

Though there was no killing intent in Jing Lei’s attack, the overwhelming pressure made it hard to breathe. Xiao Mo instinctively began forming a defensive hand seal but quickly remembered he was in spiritual form. Pressing his lips together, he slowly released his grip.

 

Under the crushing force of Jing Lei’s sword, Chu Jinglan found himself being pushed downward. Yet he bent his knees and adjusted his stance, refusing to let himself collapse onto the ground.

 

Faced with such immense pressure, Chu Jinglan not only held firm but actively countered. As soon as he found an opening during the clash of brute force, he suddenly shifted his weight and unsheathed his sword in a spinning motion—launching an offensive strike toward Jing Lei!

 

Advancing through retreat; retreating through advance.

 

Jing Lei’s gaze flickered slightly.

 

He dodged swiftly and stepped back toward the mountain gate before asking: “You’re Chu Jinglan?”

 

Chu Jinglan’s chest rose and fell rapidly as he suppressed his heavy breathing. He replied in a low voice: “Yes.”

 

“You’re the one whose dantian was destroyed—and now you want my method?”

 

Chu Jinglan answered calmly: “Yes.”

 

“Alright then—listen carefully.” Jing Lei planted his heavy sword firmly into the ground at his feet and rested a hand on its hilt. “I’m not interested in tormenting people unnecessarily. You wouldn’t want to stay at Yushan Sect for ten or even eight years anyway.”

 

He continued: “Starting today, you’ll have one chance per day to challenge me here at Yushan Sect. I’ll only use ten percent of my spiritual energy. The day you can last ten moves against me is the day I’ll tell you how to repair your dantian.”

 

“Do you dare accept my challenge?”

 

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1 Kofi = 1 Extra Chapter