PID Chapter 117

(1/5)

( ,,⩌’︿’⩌,,)

 

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Chu Jinglan’s concerns weren’t unfounded.

 

During the third century after separating from Xiao Mo—when he was over two hundred years old—time and endless waiting had worn him down. Pain gnawed at his spirit while darkness grew most intensely.

 

By three hundred years old, most of Chu Jinglan’s time was spent in emotional numbness or bouts of mental instability. He used cultivation as a way to endure it. But during his two-hundred-year-old phase, much of his time was spent in a chaotic haze—madness that could terrify anyone who witnessed it.

 

It was also during this period that the final battles of the human-demon war began. Malice and slaughter were at their peak, and Chu Jinglan’s two-hundred-year-old self had deliberately indulged in destruction—a wild frenzy that seemed almost eager for annihilation.

 

Xiao Mo had mentally prepared himself for this challenge—but it was clear that it would be incredibly difficult.

 

While Xiao Mo prepared to dive into Chu Jinglan’s sea of consciousness again, someone came to visit Chu Jinglan in the courtyard outside.

 

The visitor was Wang Yichen—one of the few people who knew their identities.

 

Wang Yichen hadn’t participated directly in escorting Fenxiu. However, Jinxiu Pavilion had sent manpower and provided numerous treasures and medicinal supplies for the mission. Wang Yichen himself had been handling other matters but had now come to Yaori Sect to attend the signing ceremony between humans and demons—and to deliver something to Chu Jinglan.

 

“Ninth-grade Concentration Pill,” Wang Yichen said, pushing a box toward Chu Jinglan. “It’s been nurtured for years—it’s finally ready to be used.”

 

The Concentration Pill was different from other medicinal pills. After being refined, it required a process called pill nurturing, which involved storing it in auspicious locations and supplementing it with rare and expensive herbs. The process was time-consuming and labor-intensive, making a high-quality finished product extremely rare.

 

Chu Jinglan inspected the pill’s quality and nodded. “What do you want in exchange?”

 

Wang Yichen waved his fan casually. “I’ve told you before—you’re my family’s benefactor. Just take it, no need to talk about exchanges.”

 

Years ago, Chu Jinglan had brought the Golden Thread Diagram out of the Nine Secret Treasure Tower, earning the gratitude of the entire Wang family. Wang Yichen himself had always sought to maintain a good relationship with Chu Jinglan. Naturally, if Chu Jinglan wanted something, they wouldn’t charge him for it.

 

However, Chu Jinglan retrieved a talisman from his storage device and handed it over. “The Concentration Pill is too valuable. This talisman can block three fatal attacks from a Great Perfection cultivator.”

 

The talisman was crafted by Chu Jinglan himself. Wang Yichen hesitated briefly before accepting it.

 

“I originally thought that even with the Concentration Pill, it would only treat the symptoms, not the root cause,” Wang Yichen said as he stored the talisman away. His gaze lingered on Chu Jinglan’s face before he smiled knowingly. “But now I see your heart illness is starting to heal—that’s good news.”

 

While the Concentration Pill could heal some injuries to spiritual consciousness, it couldn’t prevent further collapse of spiritual consciousness.

 

The concept of essence, energy, and spirit might sound mysterious, but its effects were visible in one’s appearance. Chu Jinglan’s state clearly showed signs of relaxation and ease—like warm sunlight softening snow on a mountain peak.

 

Chu Jinglan nodded silently.

 

Wang Yichen thought to himself that this might be a good time for some celebratory drinks. But since someone was waiting for Chu Jinglan inside his room, it didn’t seem appropriate. He stood up and bid farewell.

 

After Wang Yichen left, Chu Jinglan swallowed the pill. The medicinal effects needed time to be absorbed gradually. As he walked toward the door, his expression suddenly changed. He pushed the door open forcefully and strode into the room.

 

Xiao Mo had just returned from Chu Jinglan’s sea of consciousness, but unlike before, he looked visibly fatigued. Pressing his fingers against his brow, he noticed a light barrier in front of him—indicating that Chu Jinglan had arrived—and lowered his hand as if trying to act normal.

 

But there was no hiding anything from Chu Jinglan. After successfully retrieving another fragment of spiritual consciousness, Chu Jinglan knew exactly what had happened.

 

Xiao Mo had managed to retrieve a fragment from when Chu Jinglan was over two hundred years old, but in doing so, his own spiritual consciousness had almost been damaged due to the immense mental strain. It was clearly no easy task.

 

With a stern expression, Chu Jinglan brought a bottle of medicinal liquid to Xiao Mo’s lips. Xiao Mo obediently drank from his hand and blinked lightly: “I’m fine—just more tired than before.”

 

Chu Jinglan remained silent.

 

Seeing his concern, Xiao Mo thought for a moment before lying down properly and pulling up the blanket over himself. “Really—after some sleep, I’ll be fine.”

 

Chu Jinglan’s expression didn’t soften at all. He was still processing all the memories from the newly restored fragment of spiritual consciousness—his brows furrowed deeply and refused to relax.

 

Unable to bear seeing him like this, Xiao Mo reached out and gently smoothed out the crease between Chu Jinglan’s brows.

 

Chu Jinglan caught Xiao Mo’s hand and pressed it back under the blanket firmly: “Rest first.”

 

Although Xiao Mo felt exhausted physically and mentally, his mood remained lighthearted. There weren’t many fragments left buried deep within Chu Jinglan’s sea of consciousness—which meant that soon enough, Chu Jinglan’s spiritual consciousness would be fully healed. The bouts of uncontrollable behavior would no longer occur.

 

To Xiao Mo, even the dangerous moments earlier were still part of his Chu Jinglan—and nothing could scare him away from that reality.

 

Xiao Mo was generous and optimistic, but Chu Jinglan himself didn’t see things the same way.

 

Images of the earlier scene flashed through Chu Jinglan’s mind. If he had been holding something in his hand, he might have crushed it into powder by now.

 

As his spiritual consciousness fragments returned and merged with the pieces that had split off long ago, Chu Jinglan regained the feelings of his twenty-something-year-old self and reconciled with his hundred-year-old self. Now, only the fragments from when he was over two hundred years old remained.

 

Just thinking about that time made him feel a deep dislike for himself.

 

While pondering this, Chu Jinglan began channeling the medicinal effects of the Concentration Pill.

 

When Xiao Mo woke up, Chu Jinglan was still meditating. A unique spiritual aura surrounded him, faint brown in color—likely the energy of the pill.

 

Xiao Mo drank another bottle of spiritual liquid, fully restoring his own spiritual consciousness. Feeling refreshed and energized, he was ready to dive back into Chu Jinglan’s sea of consciousness.

 

However, since Chu Jinglan had likely taken medicine to heal his spiritual consciousness, Xiao Mo decided not to enter the depths of his sea of consciousness just yet. Not wanting to waste time, he began practicing his own techniques while waiting for Chu Jinglan to finish.

 

Xiao Mo pulled out a handwritten booklet. The music cultivation method he was using now was one he had developed himself—a technique perfectly suited to him. However, since there was room for further improvement, he continued refining it as he practiced.

 

Holding his flute horizontally, Xiao Mo began playing a soft melody. Water-blue spiritual energy swirled lightly around him as he played. Completely absorbed in his practice, Xiao Mo didn’t notice when Chu Jinglan finished channeling his spiritual energy and opened his eyes to quietly listen to him.

 

Because Xiao Mo was still refining the technique, his playing paused occasionally as he adjusted the flow of spiritual energy before continuing again. Even with these interruptions, the melody remained beautiful—hard to believe that this same person had once played music so hauntingly that it could silence entire mountain ranges.

 

Xiao Mo practiced intently for a long time. When he finally snapped out of his focus, he noticed that Chu Jinglan had already set food on the table.

 

Stretching slightly, Xiao Mo walked over and asked: “You’re awake? Did you take something for your spiritual consciousness earlier?”

 

“Mm,” Chu Jinglan replied and gestured for him to sit down and eat first. “The Concentration Pill—I used it to merge the remaining fragments together.”

 

Xiao Mo froze briefly before breaking into a wide grin: “That means there’s only one fragment left! Great—I’ll go retrieve it right away!”

 

Originally, Xiao Mo had thought there might not be enough time to fully heal Chu Jinglan’s spiritual consciousness before the Tianyuan Secret Realm opened. The fragments from when Chu Jinglan was over two hundred years old were particularly challenging. But now that only one fragment remained, Xiao Mo felt confident—he could restore Chu Jinglan’s spiritual consciousness completely!

 

However, Chu Jinglan handed him a pair of chopsticks instead and said calmly: “No rush—eat first.”

 

Even with delicious food laid out before him, Xiao Mo found himself unusually indifferent to its appeal. But seeing how determined Chu Jinglan was about prioritizing their meal, Xiao Mo couldn’t refuse his kindness. He accepted the chopsticks and took a closer look at the dishes on the table.

 

Having tasted Yaori Sect’s cooking before, Xiao Mo could now recognize their techniques and pick out dishes based on their preparation style. Everything Chu Jinglan had brought back was food Xiao Mo loved.

 

Since they had decided to eat first, Xiao Mo resolved not to let the meal go to waste by eating without savoring it—that would ruin the mood. He served both himself and Chu Jinglan some food and said with a smile: “Let’s treat this meal as an early celebration for your full recovery.”

 

Hearing this, Chu Jinglan poured wine into both their cups.

 

Understanding his gesture immediately, Xiao Mo picked up his cup and clinked it against Chu Jinglan’s with a crisp ding, raising their glasses in celebration.

 

The wine was quite strong, but Xiao Mo, needing to remain clear-headed for what lay ahead, only drank one cup. After finishing their meal, Xiao Mo set down his chopsticks, eager to proceed. “Alright, let’s do this.”

 

Chu Jinglan thought for a moment, then took out the East Clear Pearl he had been keeping close in his sleeve pouch and placed it in Xiao Mo’s hands. “Use the East Clear Pearl to protect your spiritual consciousness.”

 

The East Clear Pearl, which Xiao Mo had nurtured with water-aligned spiritual energy, now carried Chu Jinglan’s warmth as well. It felt warm to the touch. Xiao Mo suspended it in the air in front of him, drawing thin strands of its energy toward himself. This was going to be a tough battle—better to be prepared.

 

Xiao Mo descended into the depths of Chu Jinglan’s sea of consciousness and entered the realm of the final fragment.

 

…It was even more challenging than he had imagined.

 

Xiao Mo lay bound on a bed, silently contemplating his situation.

 

This was Du-E Sect. He was lying in a familiar room—the one Chu Jinglan had prepared for him. The only difference was that the room now glowed with the light of a powerful binding formation. His limbs were shackled with iron chains. The chains around his ankles were longer, allowing some movement, but his hands were suspended in the air with barely any room to move.

 

And standing before him was a version of Chu Xianzun from over two hundred years ago—completely unresponsive to reason. Compared to this fragment, the previous ones had been far easier to communicate with.

 

Xiao Mo struggled slightly against his restraints. “Chu Jinglan… mmph!”

 

Before he could finish speaking, Chu Xianzun pulled out a silk ribbon and tied it around Xiao Mo’s mouth, knotting it securely at the back of his head—silencing him completely.

 

Xiao Mo: “…”

 

Chu Xianzun: “I don’t trust you.”

 

So don’t speak. Whatever I want, I’ll take myself. Only what I hold in my hands is real.

 

Through the silk ribbon, Xianzun bit down on Xiao Mo’s lips—not a kiss but an actual bite. Meanwhile, his hands didn’t stop moving as they pressed against Xiao Mo’s waistband.

 

There was no gentleness in his movements—no trace of tenderness. Forget about anything like “softly undoing robes.” All Xiao Mo heard was the sharp tearing sound of fabric being ripped apart.

 

Instinctively, Xiao Mo’s legs tensed and curled slightly. The chains around his ankles clinked loudly as they moved. Chu Jinglan’s gaze darkened further with cold intensity: “Trying to escape?”

 

Xiao Mo sighed inwardly and shook his head since he couldn’t speak.

 

He wasn’t trying to escape—it was just… overwhelming. His body reacted instinctively to the situation; muscle spasms weren’t something he could control.

 

It seemed that with this fragment of spiritual consciousness, he’d have to wait until Chu Jinglan finished whatever it was he wanted to do before there would be any chance for proper communication.

 

I’ve never tried anything like this with the real Chu Jinglan, Xiao Mo thought wryly. But this version of Xianzun—clearly out of his mind—didn’t look like someone who knew how to be gentle. It probably wasn’t going to be pleasant.

 

He could already feel the sharp pain from where Chu Jinglan’s icy fingers gripped his waist tightly—there were likely already visible marks forming.

 

Chu Jinglan’s hands were cold as ice, making Xiao Mo’s body tense up instantly. The chains rattled as he reflexively pulled against them, his muffled groans caught in his throat due to the silk gag. All that remained was the increasingly unsteady rhythm of his breathing through flared nostrils. Trembling slightly, he closed his eyes—only for everything to suddenly stop.

 

With a loud “bang”, there was an explosive force that shattered all the chains binding him at once. Xiao Mo’s upper body fell forward abruptly—but instead of landing on the bedding below, he found himself falling backward into a pair of arms.

 

A familiar, warm embrace.

 

Xiao Mo: ?

 

He opened his eyes in confusion, only to see Chu Xianzun staring at him with wide, incredulous eyes. Moments later, a surge of icy anger erupted from him as he raised a palm to strike at the person behind Xiao Mo.

 

The person holding Xiao Mo didn’t dodge. Instead, they tightened their arm around him and raised their own palm to meet Chu Xianzun’s attack head-on.

 

Xiao Mo slowly turned his head and saw that the person holding him was… none other than Chu Jinglan.

 

What’s going on? Xiao Mo thought, bewildered. Wasn’t there supposed to be only one fragment left? How are there two Chu Jinglans here?

 

Wait—this Chu Jinglan’s aura… it was the real one!

 

Chu Jinglan had entered his own sea of consciousness.

 

The depths of Chu Jinglan’s sea of consciousness had been a terrifying graveyard due to the fragment filled with resentment and obsession. His conscious self normally couldn’t reach this place. But now, things were different. Xiao Mo had cleansed this area, turning the dead zone into a flowing spring. With Xiao Mo serving as a guide, Chu Jinglan had managed to enter as well.

 

Following his connection to Xiao Mo, Chu Jinglan arrived at this unfamiliar part of his sea of consciousness. It had taken him some time to get here, and if he had been any later…

 

He would’ve found Xiao Mo restrained—hands and feet bound, mouth gagged—with bruises all over his exposed skin beneath torn clothing.

 

Chu Xianzun was furious, and Chu Jinglan’s expression was equally dark and icy.

 

Chu Xianzun’s voice was cold: “You’re courting death.”

 

He didn’t care why this person looked exactly like him or shared his spiritual energy. All he knew was that this person had touched Xiao Mo—and for that, they deserved to die.

 

Chu Jinglan’s tone was even colder: “Leave.”

 

How dare a mere fragment of spiritual consciousness, tainted with resentment and obsession, act so brazenly?

 

The two clashed fiercely, their spiritual energies colliding violently. Yet despite the intensity of their battle, not a single trace of harm reached Xiao Mo, who stood close by.

 

Hurriedly, Xiao Mo tore off the silk ribbon gagging his mouth and shouted: “Wait! Both of you!”

 

Chu Jinglan noticed Xiao Mo’s condition out of the corner of his eye and set him down gently. He and Chu Xianzun simultaneously withdrew their power and stepped back.

 

Chu Jinglan said curtly: “Take it outside.”

 

Chu Xianzun glanced at Xiao Mo briefly before replying coldly: “Fine. I’ll kill you first.”

 

Author’s Note:

 

Mini Theater:

 

– Chu Xianzun: He’s mine.

 

– Chu Jinglan: No, he’s mine.

 

– Xiao Mo (with a sly smile): Stop arguing—you’re both mine.

 

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T/N: reminds me of Mo Ran from 2ha XD

1 Kofi = 1 Extra Chapter