PID Chapter 17

To be fair, although Chu Jinglan wasn’t particularly warm towards Su Baimo, to say he neglected him was nonsense. Whenever Su Baimo came to the Chu family, when did Chu Jinglan not meet him, and when did he not offer help?

 

Su Baimo crying to Chu Yusheng about being neglected? This was the first time Chu Jinglan had heard of such a thing.

 

The young master Bian gritted his teeth in anger: “What? Chu Jinglan bullied him and made him cry?!”

 

Su Baimo: “It’s not like that…”

 

Young Master Bian: “You’re still defending him!”

 

Xiao Mo listened with great interest, offering his commentary: “This young master Bian may have questionable comprehension skills, but he seems to genuinely like Su Baimo.”

 

After cursing Chu Jinglan, Young Master Bian glanced sideways at Chu Yusheng: “And what are you? You’re taking seriously the heartbroken ramblings he said while crying?”

 

Chu Yusheng sneered: “Then why don’t you say that his promise to marry you was just childish nonsense, also untrue?”

 

As the two seemed on the verge of conflict, Su Baimo quickly stepped between them: “Stop arguing, both of you!”

 

Both men turned their gazes sharply towards him. Su Baimo said sorrowfully: “I don’t want either of you to be upset, but I’m already Brother Jinglan’s fiancé…”

 

The young master Bian disregarded everything else. With his impulsive but passionate and straightforward nature, he declared resolutely: “If one day I have the ability to make you break off the engagement, will you return to my side?”

 

Su Baimo was shaken by his words. He wanted to say how it was impossible, that he wouldn’t leave Brother Jinglan… but Young Master Bian’s intense gaze forced the words back.

 

Su Baimo was confused and momentarily speechless.

 

Chu Yusheng laughed mockingly: “You think you can do that?”

 

Young Master Bian’s words had implicated the entire Chu family, and Chu Yusheng couldn’t ignore that.

 

Chu Jinglan waited for a while but didn’t hear Su Baimo’s answer. As Young Master Bian and Chu Yusheng started arguing again, Su Baimo had missed his chance to respond. Chu Jinglan turned and left without the three noticing he had been nearby.

 

Xiao Mo floated leisurely beside him: “Not going to watch till the end?”

 

“There’s no need,” Chu Jinglan said. “Su Baimo doesn’t like any of them.”

 

Xiao Mo chuckled: “Indeed. If Su Baimo truly wanted to pursue you, he would have firmly asserted his position as your fiancé, but he didn’t. If he liked the Bian boy, he should have answered, but he still didn’t. As for him and Chu Yusheng, it’s hard to say.”

 

Xiao Mo circled around him: “There’s another possibility. Perhaps he can’t bear to let go of any of them?”

 

Because of his own father’s philandering ways, Chu Jinglan had no fondness for fickle people. But Su Baimo didn’t seem to be like Chu Tianshi, who was infatuated with beauty and fell in love with every pretty face he saw.

 

Chu Jinglan frowned slightly.

 

Seeing his expression, Xiao Mo decided to stop there and said no more.

 

By evening, all the matches were completed, and qualifications were determined. In a month, the Mu Mountain Secret Realm would open, and these young disciples would be able to enter for training.

 

They were full of fighting spirit, unaware that what awaited them would be a nightmare they’d never forget.

 

As everyone prepared to return home, friends bid each other farewell. Naturally, Su Baimo would also seek out Chu Jinglan.

 

The outcome of that afternoon’s dramatic scene between the three was unknown, but both Chu Yusheng and Young Master Bian returned unscathed. Clearly, with the Mu Mountain Secret Realm approaching, they hadn’t come to blows.

 

Ah, what a pity.

 

This time, without waiting for Su Baimo to approach, Chu Jinglan surprisingly took the initiative to walk towards him.

 

Su Baimo’s eyes noticeably brightened.

 

Chu Jinglan said, “Hold out your hand, I have something for you.”

 

A gift! Su Baimo’s face flushed slightly as he restrained his excitement and gracefully extended his hand.

 

With a soft “plop,” Chu Jinglan placed a book in his hand.

 

Su Baimo: Hm?

 

He looked down: “The Classic of Moral Cultivation.”

 

Then came a second book, and a third. Translated into modern terms, their titles could be interpreted as “How to Be an Upright Person” and “Guide to Healthy Interpersonal Relationships with Proper Values.”

 

Su Baimo: ??

 

He looked up in confusion. Chu Jinglan said coolly, “You’re still young. Remember that the most important part of cultivation is refining one’s character. These books will help you avoid going astray.”

 

Thinking it might have been a gift, but ending up with more instruction instead, Su Baimo dejectedly hugged the books, “Oh, alright.”

 

After Su Baimo walked away cradling the books, Xiao Mo watched his forlorn back and said in a flat tone, “Oh, you think he might not become a scumbag like your father? Perhaps he’s just young and doesn’t know better, and there’s still hope?”

 

“Scumbag?” Chu Jinglan savored the word. Scum, dregs, trash – it was a concise yet precise description of Chu Tianshi.

 

The inner demon had quite a few strange but useful words.

 

This word was really fitting.

 

Chu Jinglan replied impassively, “Su Baimo may not necessarily become a scum… scumbag like Chu Tianshi.”

 

Calling his own father by name without blinking, Chu Jinglan continued, “Although it’s none of my business, the more people like Chu Tianshi in the world, the more heartbroken people there will be.”

 

Like his mother.

 

Xiao Mo gave him a sidelong glance: You say it’s none of your business, but do you know what you’ll do in the future?

 

You’ll go through fire and water for him.

 

It had been some time since Xiao Mo had thought about the foolish things Chu Jinglan would do in the future. Now that the conversation had come to this point, he couldn’t help but recall Chu Jinglan’s ending, which deserved a thousand-word rant of frustration.

 

Xiao Mo examined Chu Jinglan: Handsome as the moon, a jade-like youth, with unparalleled talent and ability.

 

In the end, for Su Baimo’s sake, he would die in a godforsaken place in the demon realm, without even anyone to collect his remains.

 

Xiao Mo suddenly felt a tightness in his chest, his frustration at wasted potential rising again.

 

He couldn’t help but glare at Chu Jinglan. Fortunately, Chu Jinglan couldn’t see him, otherwise he’d wonder what was wrong with the inner demon again.

 

Xiao Mo felt like hitting Chu Jinglan’s head, thinking that if there was water in it, it should be knocked out early to clear his mind. With this thought, he actually rushed towards Chu Jinglan.

 

But he didn’t hit his head.

 

Xiao Mo stopped abruptly on Chu Jinglan’s shoulder, finding the most comfortable position to settle down, his movements smooth and fluid.

 

When he realized how naturally he had done this, Xiao Mo’s entire misty form froze for a moment.

 

He had meant to pick a fight, how did it turn into finding a comfortable nest?

 

…Habits were terrifying things.

 

Xiao Mo settled down, frustrated and listless: Forget it, I’ve already made myself comfortable. It’s not like I could actually bump him anyway, so why bother?

 

Moreover, looking at the eager disciples around them, Xiao Mo realized that compared to the distant ending, there was something much closer at hand.

 

The Mu Mountain Secret Realm would open in a month, and at that time, Chu Jinglan would lose everything he had in his possession up until now.

 

*

 

In the days following the selection competition, Xiao Mo seemed distracted.

 

His progress in memorizing heart methods slowed down. The flute that had shown slight improvement now oscillated between murderous shrieks and pig-slaughtering squeals, never coalescing into proper music.

 

If he could play a proper melody, Chu Jinglan would be able to tell that the flutist was troubled and depressed. Unfortunately, Xiao Mo couldn’t play well, so Chu Jinglan simply thought it was purely unpleasant noise.

 

After finishing a tune, Chu Jinglan’s ears suffered, and the points increased rapidly.

 

Only the system knew that its host was in a bad mood. For instance, at this moment, instead of cultivating, the host was pacing restlessly in the small courtyard of his sea of consciousness, unable to calm down.

 

The system’s programming quivered; it was time to show some care!

 

“Host, is something troubling you?”

 

Xiao Mo stopped pacing.

 

He glanced at the sky in his sea of consciousness. There used to be only a crescent moon there, but now it was gradually becoming fuller, almost a full moon.

 

This represented the improvement in Chu Jinglan’s cultivation.

 

Xiao Mo’s cultivation level rose along with it. Once the moon became full, Chu Jinglan would be able to reach the Nascent Soul stage.

 

But Xiao Mo knew that the crescent moon wouldn’t be complete for now.

 

There were just over ten days left until the Mu Mountain Secret Realm opened.

 

Xiao Mo ground the tip of his foot into the grass. After a long while, he finally said to the system, “If, and I’m just saying if, I didn’t want Chu Jinglan to go to the Mu Mountain Secret Realm…”

 

The system: “Oh, oh, you still want to find a different place for him to be crippled, to make the plot more spicy, right? I can recommend some options!”

 

Xiao Mo’s foot stopped. He slowly straightened up. In the dark sea of consciousness, there was no wind. Today, he was dressed all in silver-white, standing under the moon, almost merging with it – broken yet stubborn.

 

He slowly spoke, “What if I said I wanted to try to prevent him from being crippled?”

 

Xiao Mo’s voice was devoid of emotion: “Would you stop me?”

 

Xiao Mo didn’t get an immediate answer. Silence thickly permeated the sea of consciousness, making it hard to breathe.

 

After a moment, the system sighed.

 

“No.”

 

“Because you can’t succeed.”

 

Xiao Mo’s fingers twitched, his gaze turning cold in the moonlight.

 

“So you had such thoughts. Well, it’s understandable. Human emotions and thoughts are always changing, but I hope your rationality remains constant,” the system said in its usual tone. “I’ve reminded you before that crucial growth points absolutely cannot be changed. This is not false.”

 

“You can try to verbally influence Chu Jinglan to not go to the Mu Mountain Secret Realm, but the next moment, the world line might compensate by introducing a powerful expert who cripples him with a single palm strike. At that time, as an inner demon who can’t even materialize a human form outside, how would you prevent it?”

 

Xiao Mo dug his nails into his palm and closed his eyes briefly.

 

…Yes, he couldn’t prevent it.

 

He shouldn’t feel any psychological burden for someone he couldn’t save no matter what. Besides, Chu Jinglan would regain his cultivation later. This was just a trial he needed to overcome.

 

Xiao Mo and the system tried to convince himself: You don’t need to interfere.

 

You didn’t want to get involved in the first place, right?

 

Over the next two or three days, Xiao Mo resumed normal cultivation. The system believed this carefree host had surely come to terms with the situation and convinced himself.

 

An emotionally stable host was truly wonderful.

 

During this time, Dai Zisheng’s injuries gradually healed. Chu Jinglan only met him once more. Dai Zisheng said he had some matters to attend to and asked if he could borrow the small wooden cabin for a while longer. Chu Jinglan agreed.

 

As Chu Jinglan’s cultivation steadily increased, Xiao Mo’s power grew correspondingly, with visible benefits from the cultivation.

 

Today, while in the outside world, the round misty ball stirred. It first compressed and flattened, as if momentarily losing control of its shape.

 

Chu Jinglan, who was reading, paused and stared at the suddenly misshapen mist.

 

Then, from the edge of the sphere, a small, stubby… hand? emerged.

 

Indeed, it was a hand.

 

Soon after, legs appeared too. The round shape stretched into a small humanoid form, forming a round little head. The mist on top shifted, revealing a pair of small, dark grey eyes that blinked into existence.

 

A palm-sized, jet-black figurine had taken shape.

 

The small figure looked at Chu Jinglan, blinking again. Finally, Chu Jinglan could literally see eye-to-eye with the inner demon.

 

The inner demon raised its tiny hands, examining them, then hopped on its short legs. It exclaimed happily, “I’ve managed a human form, more or less!”

 

The little figure excitedly spun left and right, waving its small hands, adjusting to its new shell.

 

Chu Jinglan silently withdrew his hands into his sleeves, remaining still.

 

…Why did it look so pettable?

 

Get a grip, that’s the inner demon you’ll fight to the death with in the future.

 

Chu Jinglan reminded himself mentally, but couldn’t help glancing at the little figure again.

 

He might not have realized it himself, but his gaze didn’t look like one reserved for an enemy.

 

Xiao Mo covered the small figure with a layer of spiritual energy, using it as a medium to interact with physical objects. For instance, he could now stand firmly on the table instead of appearing to stand while actually floating as before.

 

If he removed the spiritual energy, he could become intangible again, easily passing through walls and doors.

 

Xiao Mo spun in place to adjust to his body, then confidently strode forward.

 

However, he overestimated both the stride length of his short legs and the walking ability of this small shell.

 

After just one step, he “plop” fell face-first onto the table surface.

 

Xiao Mo: “…”

 

Chu Jinglan: “…”

 

Chu Jinglan didn’t laugh. Really.

 

Xiao Mo immediately got up, somewhat incredulous. His bean-sized eyes were full of disbelief. He steadied himself, then tried to walk again. This time, he succeeded!

 

He successfully avoided falling on the table surface.

 

Instead, he fell right off the table.

 

As an inner demon, light as air, he could usually fly effortlessly. But at this moment, Xiao Mo seemed to forget how to fly and fell straight down.

 

It turned out he wasn’t the only one who forgot that the inner demon could fly.

 

Before Xiao Mo could even cry out in surprise, he fell into a warm palm.

 

Chu Jinglan had reached out to catch him.

 

Both Chu Jinglan, who extended his hand, and Xiao Mo, who was caught, froze simultaneously.

 

Xiao Mo lay face-down in Chu Jinglan’s palm. Embarrassment surged from his toes to his head. If he had been in his original form, his face would have been burning red.

 

Give him a crack, and he’d leave this planet immediately.

 

Ah, I’m dead!

 

Xiao Mo lay motionless, feigning death in despair.

 

Chu Jinglan stared at his instinctively outstretched hand in astonishment. When Xiao Mo fell, his body reacted faster than his mind, reaching out to catch him.

 

Why did I do that for an inner demon…

 

Chu Jinglan pressed his lips together, somewhat annoyed.

 

His gaze involuntarily fell on the small inner demon figure in his palm.

 

The inner demon’s hand twitched slightly, as if realizing something, then deliberately flattened out, motionless.

 

If I don’t move, nothing happened?

 

In the awkward silence, Xiao Mo, lying in Chu Jinglan’s palm, heard an almost imperceptible soft chuckle.

 

Xiao Mo sprang up, the pitch-black little figure almost turning red with embarrassment: “Are you laughing at me?!”

 

Chu Jinglan’s face remained expressionless: “No.”

 

“I just heard it!”

 

Chu Jinglan remained unmoved: “You misheard.”

 

The inner demon Xiao spoke ominously: “You’d better—”

 

[Ding, mental attack successful, +20!]

 

Xiao Mo: “…”

 

The dark cloud Xiao Mo was brewing suddenly dissipated, leaving him momentarily bewildered.

 

This counts too?

 

No, wait, thinking carefully, the system had initially said that causing emotional fluctuations in Chu Jinglan counted as a mental attack. So, positive ones work too?

 

…Well, when he first transmigrated, he only felt resistance towards this world and Chu Jinglan. The system could sense his dislike, and given his inner demon identity, when mental attacks were mentioned, both he and the system had only thought of negative emotions.

 

Then again, without time to adjust, it would have been impossible for a suddenly appearing inner demon to get along peacefully with Chu Jinglan from the start. Limited by his identity, and with both of them having their own sharp edges deep down, clashes were inevitable when they collided.

 

All that was in the past now.

 

Xiao Mo wouldn’t use harsh words to gain points anymore, but he also wouldn’t resort to mindless flattery.

 

Besides, Xiao Mo had caught Chu Jinglan red-handed: he had just laughed at him!

 

Xiao Mo: “You—”

 

“Young Master,” an attendant respectfully inquired at the door, “may we serve the meal now?”

 

Chu Jinglan suppressed the laughter in his throat and replied in a steady voice, “Mm.”

 

Xiao Mo temporarily swallowed his words.

 

He’d settle accounts after the meal.

 

As the servants laid out the dishes, Chu Jinglan paused at the final dessert.

 

The servant smiled, “This is from the Madam’s courtyard. I see Young Master has recognized it.”

 

Chu Jinglan’s gaze softened as he nodded.

 

It was a stack of osmanthus cakes, fragrant and snow-white soft.

 

Hearing it was from Wan Yu, Xiao Mo reflexively startled, then immediately moved to the plate to check for poison.

 

Chu Jinglan noticed his action, his eyes flickering before dismissing the servant.

 

This time, the osmanthus cakes were not poisoned. They were simply a mother’s gift to her son.

 

Xiao Mo sighed in relief.

 

Chu Jinglan reached out, ignoring other dishes to savor the osmanthus cakes first.

 

From Chu Jinglan’s perspective, today was a good day, filled with pleasant occurrences.

 

But amidst the osmanthus fragrance, Xiao Mo’s previously active thoughts gradually cooled.

 

Though Chu Jinglan could regain his lost cultivation, his mother would be gone forever.

 

Three days remained until the Mu Mountain Secret Realm opened.

 

Xiao Mo slowly retreated to the table’s edge, silently watching Chu Jinglan and the osmanthus cakes.

 

For the first time, the meal’s aroma failed to entice him.

 

Xiao Mo began playing his flute again.

 

The tiny demon figure had no mouth, so the flute sound was wrapped in black mist, still relying on the misty breath to produce sound.

 

Chu Jinglan could only hear discordant noise, unaware that the player’s emotions now infused the unpleasant melody.

 

The three days flew by to Xiao Mo’s wailing flute. Disciples from various families gathered as the Mu Mountain Secret Realm prepared to open.

 

 

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1 Kofi = 1 Extra Chapter