PID Chapter 22.2

In these past few days, he had actually made the decision to try to save Wan Yu, even though the system kept warning him against it.

Seeing Chu Jinglan lying there seemingly lifeless, Xiao Mo had to admit, he really couldn’t bear it anymore.

Time and again, why did Chu Jinglan have to be tortured like this? Did a person’s growth have to be so cruel?

But just as he had made up his mind, he hit a wall with Wan Yu’s storyline.

No matter how he calculated, it was a dead end.

Because Wan Yu herself had resolved to die.

Even if Chu Jinglan agreed to let him possess his body and kill the important characters in Wan Yu’s storyline, it wouldn’t change Wan Yu’s heart.

In his helplessness, Xiao Mo understood that what the system said was right.

So he didn’t want Chu Jinglan’s thanks. All he could do now was give Chu Jinglan some medicine and talk to him. What could he really save?

Xiao Mo closed his eyes tightly, trying hard not to think about Wan Yu for the moment. He spoke in a muffled voice: “What do you plan to do from now on?”

Chu Jinglan had no strength in his body, but he suddenly also wanted to talk, so he slowly began to tell Xiao Mo: “The Chu family cares about face. They won’t let me die of illness. Even if they reduce the medicine to once a day, they’ll still give some. And I- cough, I…”

He couldn’t get the next word out for a long time. After much difficulty, he slowly continued: “…Now that I’m crippled, no one will try to assassinate me anymore. Even Chu Yusheng would rather see me suffer alive, a fate worse than death. So for now, my life isn’t in immediate danger.”

He was also clear that certain people would surely blame him for not being able to save everyone, but even if they came to trouble him, they wouldn’t kill him in the main family for now.

Just listening made Xiao Mo’s heart ache again. He should have slapped Chu Yusheng a few more times earlier, no matter how much his hand hurt.

Chu Jinglan had long understood human nature, so he saw everything clearly. What he described matched the Chu family’s plans exactly.

“I’m useless now, so they don’t need to restrain my mother with restrictions anymore. Although it’s far from what I had planned, at least I can take her away now. I’ll figure out a way for her daily medicine.”

Wan Yu’s daily medicine was a huge expense, not something an ordinary family could afford. When Xiao Mo heard him mention his mother, his heart trembled with fear. He finally couldn’t help but turn around, his fingers pressing on the edge of the bed, his voice almost unstable: “What if she doesn’t want to leave with you?”

“Are you worried that her mind isn’t clear and she won’t come with me?” Chu Jinglan misunderstood, “That’s not a problem, I can take her away.”

Xiao Mo opened his mouth but couldn’t say anything, and slowly turned back around.

“We’ll go to Wei City first. As for me, of course no one wants to be a cripple forever. I’ll have to find a way. If all paths are exhausted and I still can’t be cured, we’ll talk about it then.”

Xiao Mo knew that as long as there was a chance, Chu Jinglan would spend his entire life seeking a way to restore his cultivation. He would never give up. That’s the kind of person he was.

Chu Jinglan slowly shifted his gaze to the inner demon who was facing away from him, seemingly still sulking. His voice, though characteristically calm as still water, was no longer like the cold spring water of winter, but just a pool of clear, mild water: “What will you do if I really can’t get better?”

Of course you will get better, Xiao Mo thought. There’s no possibility of you not getting better, so the assumption doesn’t hold.

“I don’t know,” Xiao Mo said. “You’re taking it one step at a time, so naturally, I’ll follow along and see what happens.”

Chu Jinglan realized that the inner demon might truly not care about the host’s shell, had never intended to seize it, and moreover… didn’t even care if he himself would disappear.

He was so open-minded, completely unlike a demon.

Fortunately, he had such a personality, so Chu Jinglan never saw pity or sighs in his eyes.

This was good.

He didn’t need any pity.

Xiao Mo looked at the sky: “Your body hasn’t recovered. You should rest more. Sleep helps the body recover.”

Chu Jinglan made a sound of agreement. He turned to his side and, before closing his eyes, said to Xiao Mo once more: “Sorry.”

Xiao Mo quickly pulled up his blanket to cover him: “Just sleep!”

Chu Jinglan stopped forcing himself and closed his eyes in the warmth of the quilt.

This sleep was much more peaceful than before.

The news of Chu Jinglan’s awakening was reported by the servants. The family head and elders only indifferently told people to pass on the message to rest well, completely avoiding his courtyard.

Chu Xiaoshi sent some medicine. The people from other families who were saved by Chu Jinglan also sent gifts out of courtesy, but all the good things were kept by the Chu family, only giving his courtyard some medicinal herbs as a token gesture.

Xiao Mo used the medicine he exchanged from the mall to sustain Chu Jinglan for two more days, stopping only when even the second-grade spirit medicines had little effect. His injuries still needed time to heal.

The system was sighing as the points were mostly spent on Chu Jinglan. The frugal host ended up using points to benefit someone else. Xiao Mo only said: “The points were earned from him in the first place. If they’re spent on him, so be it.”

When Xiao Mo saw that even the servants dared to privately withhold medicinal herbs, he took some and put them in a package. These were originally Chu Jinglan’s things, so Xiao Mo’s actions couldn’t even be considered stealing, just taking back what was rightfully his.

Three days later, Chu Jinglan could barely sit up but couldn’t walk. He was eager to regain his mobility to arrange his mother’s affairs. He sat in meditation, but his dantian was now like an hourglass. Even if he gathered spiritual energy from the surroundings, it couldn’t be retained. Instead, due to the stagnation in his meridians, it caused intense pain throughout his body.

It took twenty times or even more effort than before to achieve less than a tenth of the usual meditation effect, with minimal results.

But since there was an effect, even if just a little, Chu Jinglan was willing to persist.

Xiao Mo watched him break out in sweat all over and tried to cast a cleaning spell on him.

Fortunately, the inner demon had no restrictions on what he could do to the host body. It succeeded easily, and Chu Jinglan was restored to a dry and comfortable state. He was about to say something to Xiao Mo, but was immediately interrupted: “Don’t say thank you to me.”

Chu Jinglan closed his mouth and only looked at him.

Xiao Mo felt uncomfortable under his gaze and simply climbed out the window to the courtyard to get some air.

On the morning of the sixth day after Chu Jinglan woke up, two servants brought in clothes, preparing for going out. Both Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan frowned.

The servants’ words held no respect, and their eyes even showed mockery, as if waiting for a good show: “Young Master, the Su family has come to break off the engagement.”

Chu Jinglan saw through their expressions completely and only said coldly: “If they want to break it off, then let them. I understand.”

This was entirely within his expectations and didn’t cause the slightest ripple.

But the servants didn’t let him off: “But Young Master, today the Su family has officially come to break off the engagement. The family head said that you must be present no matter what. So he told us to help you change clothes to meet people in the front hall.”

Xiao Mo instantly gripped the flute in his hand tightly. The original story wouldn’t have written out all these scenes in detail. Regarding the broken engagement plot, Chu Jinglan had already appeared in the hall at the beginning. Only now did he realize that Chu Jinglan couldn’t even get out of bed and was being forced to go. It was clearly meant to humiliate him!

After the servant holding the clothes finished speaking, another servant pushed in a wheelchair: “Young Master, it’s getting late. Please hurry. If we delay, I’m afraid it will displease the family head and elders.”

Chu Jinglan stared at the wheelchair and suddenly smiled: “Alright.”

His smile didn’t reach his eyes, thin and mocking.

Xiao Mo’s eyes were about to show red light again: “They’re doing this on purpose.”

Chu Jinglan: “If they want to see, then let them see.”

See the pride of heaven fall into the mud, see the joke of a genius becoming a cripple. But his, Chu Jinglan’s, joke wasn’t so easy to watch.

Xiao Mo knew that Chu Jinglan would settle all these accounts with the Chu family later, but at this moment, Chu Jinglan was indeed isolated and helpless.

Xiao Mo: “I’ll go with you.”

Let him also see the faces of those people, see what kind of gazes Chu Jinglan would be drowned in.

Oh right, Su Baimo would also come.

Wanting to exchange a bout of tears for Chu Jinglan to remember him for a lifetime?

Xiao Mo’s fingers lightly stroked the bamboo flute, his eyes lowered, the dark red in his eyes light and thin—

How dare he?

Others couldn’t see Xiao Mo’s figure, so Chu Jinglan never spoke to him in front of people before, to avoid people thinking he was talking to thin air, either stupid or crazy.

But just now, he responded to Xiao Mo without avoiding the servants.

When Chu Jinglan said this, the servants thought he was talking to himself. The one helping him arrange his clothes unconsciously looked up and met Chu Jinglan’s pitch-black, frost-coated eyes, as deep as thousand-year-old snow, as dark as a ten-thousand-zhang abyss.

The servant felt as if he had suddenly fallen into an icy pool, his whole body turning cold, his teeth and fingers trembling violently. His hand shook, and he actually tied the belt wrong.

Just a moment ago, he was thinking that a crippled young master only had the ability to let everyone watch a good show, what kind of master, not even as good as a servant.

But Chu Jinglan’s one look could make him as silent as a cicada in winter.

Chu Jinglan’s pitch-black, deep eyes stared at him: “What, do I need to teach you how to tie it?”

The servant lowered his head in panic: “I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare…”

He quickly tidied up and wanted to help Chu Jinglan onto the wheelchair, but Chu Jinglan avoided the servant’s hand and struggled to move himself from the bed to the wheelchair bit by bit.

A pair of hands that others couldn’t see supported him, cold but steady and real.

It was Xiao Mo.

Chu Jinglan didn’t reject these hands. With Xiao Mo’s strength, he sat down in the wheelchair.

Xiao Mo accompanied him as they left the gloomy room.

The Chu family hall was particularly lively at this moment. The Su family had come to break off the engagement, and the Chu family’s head, elders, and several influential members were all present. Except for the second branch, which was Chu Jinglan’s parents, all the direct lineage members were present.

Chu Yusheng sat in the first chair among the younger generation, his gaze occasionally looking towards Su Baimo, his face showing uncontrollable anticipation.

This time, it wasn’t just about breaking off Chu Jinglan’s engagement; the family also intended to help him pursue Su Baimo.

Everyone really didn’t want to let go of Su Baimo’s Mandarin Duck Furnace physique.

Therefore, even though the Su family came to break off the engagement, the Chu family members were polite, and the scene was harmonious.

In this friendly atmosphere, the servant pushed Chu Jinglan’s wheelchair into the hall.

As soon as he appeared, everyone’s eyes immediately focused on him.

It’s unclear what the person who ordered the clothes was thinking, but today Chu Jinglan was wearing a crimson outfit. The bright red usually symbolizes joy and good fortune, but now it only made the sick person’s complexion appear even paler, as if he was shattered and barely pieced together into a jade skeleton.

Chu Jinglan looked good in anything, but wearing red on the day of breaking off an engagement, and the former genius appearing in a wheelchair, caused a flash of mockery in many people’s eyes.

Su Baimo’s face was full of sorrow, and he seemed about to come to Chu Jinglan’s side immediately, but was held back by the Su family members.

Chu Jinglan, being inconvenienced, didn’t even want to bother with perfunctory greetings. After entering, he didn’t speak, and the family head didn’t care to quibble. He went straight to the point: “Jinglan, your cultivation has greatly regressed, making it difficult for you to stand firm. It’s truly not good to hold back Young Master Su. Today, the Su family’s breaking off the engagement is understandable. The betrothal gifts will be returned, and the letter of annulment is here. You just need to write your name.”

Xiao Mo almost laughed out loud. What high-sounding words, considering the Su family’s interests, but what about Chu Jinglan?

Breaking off the engagement was fine, but they insisted on making the severely injured person appear before them. Besides wanting to completely humiliate Chu Jinglan’s last shred of dignity, Xiao Mo couldn’t think of any other reason.

The dark red light in his eyes surfaced again as he looked at each of these despicable people, clearly imprinting their faces in his mind.

The servant brought forth the brush, ink, and the letter of annulment. Since his appearance, Chu Jinglan hadn’t said a word. With a calm expression, he picked up the brush to write, showing no reluctance or hesitation.

However, he had little strength in his hand, so his strokes were light, but at least they didn’t tremble. He smoothly wrote the three characters “Chu Jinglan.”

Seeing that he didn’t make a fuss, the family head thought it was good that he knew his place, saving a lot of trouble.

Xiao Mo lowered his eyes to look at Chu Jinglan’s writing. It wasn’t as bold and powerful as before, but it was still sharp to the bone, exuding a fierce spirit, like pines and cypresses, unbent by wind and rain.

Someone in the hall laughed softly, saying in a voice they thought was low but everyone could hear: “Fortunately, he knows his place.”

Xiao Mo coldly raised his eyes to look at the speaker.

Several people around him joined in the snickering. Just as Xiao Mo’s gaze slightly moved, Chu Jinglan’s voice suddenly entered his ears.

[So noisy]

[Heh, human hearts are so fickle, nothing more than this]

[At least no one is bothering Mother]

At first, hearing the first two sentences, Xiao Mo didn’t think anything was amiss. But soon, Chu Jinglan’s voice continuously poured into his mind, at an unbelievably fast speed, one sentence after another, even overlapping. Rather than voices, they were more like thoughts, incoherent, coming in waves, quickly drowning him like a tide.

Xiao Mo was shocked to realize that Chu Jinglan hadn’t opened his mouth at all!

Inner thoughts, I’m hearing Chu Jinglan’s inner thoughts?

[Need to find a way to make the Chu family remove the restrictions on Mother]

All of Chu Jinglan’s inner thoughts were exposed in Xiao Mo’s mind, but Xiao Mo felt no joy, only panic. He frantically tried to stop it, and in his haste, Xiao Mo grabbed onto a point floating in his sea of consciousness. As if divinely inspired, he immediately pressed it like a button—

The voices that had nearly drowned his mind disappeared.

Xiao Mo slowly let out a sigh of relief.

Some might think that being able to hear others’ thoughts is a great ability, but when someone else’s chaotic thoughts pour into your mind without warning, it’s a wonder if you don’t go mad. The feeling is truly indescribable.

Fortunately, Xiao Mo could still control it, cutting off this one-sided connection.

“System,” Xiao Mo roughly knew where this originated from, “I can hear his thoughts because our cultivation levels are too far apart now?”

The system, knowing the host had been in a bad mood these past few days, had been quietly nestled away unless called upon. It immediately responded: “Yes, as long as you’re willing, Chu Jinglan’s thoughts can be open to you at all times, and he won’t be able to detect it, until his cultivation catches up.”

All the time is unnecessary, Xiao Mo had no intention of using this ability for now, but his mind worked quickly, extrapolating: “Then when Chu Jinglan’s cultivation surpasses mine, could he also eavesdrop on my thoughts?”

The system explained: “When the cultivation difference isn’t large, it’s very easy for the host body to be discovered if they try to eavesdrop on your thoughts.”

“Conversely, it’s more covert for the inner demon to hear the host’s thoughts, but when his cultivation and spiritual sense are stable, he can also cut off the mind-voice like you just did.”

Understood, it’s still the innate advantage of the inner demon. An inner demon’s abilities are specifically targeted at the host body. No wonder they’re called natural enemies. If these abilities worked on others too, Xiao Mo would have overthrown the Chu family long ago.

Chu Jinglan was unaware of the exchange between the inner demon and the system. He finished writing on the letter of annulment, put down the brush, and finally said his first words: “If there’s nothing else, I’ll return to my room.”

The family head frowned. Chu Jinglan hadn’t greeted the elders when he entered, and he had already been lenient once. Now he wanted to leave, with a cold face, as if he didn’t regard those seated above at all.

He was about to reprimand him, but Chu Yusheng cut in eagerly: “Cousin, don’t rush. We’re about to discuss my engagement to Baimo. As a member of the Chu family, you should listen to the union of the two families’ young masters.”

Chu Jinglan’s expression was weary, while Su Baimo, hearing this, was visibly upset. He suddenly shook off his family members’ hands and rushed to Chu Jinglan’s wheelchair, bursting into tears on cue.

Tears streaming down his face, he sobbed and choked.

“Brother Jinglan, I didn’t want this. I didn’t want to break off our engagement, but I have no say. They’re all forcing me to give you up!”

Su Baimo’s face was wet with clear tears, crying pitifully: “But, but I believe in you. I believe you can recover your cultivation. Brother Jinglan, I’ll wait for you, no matter how long it takes!”

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone’s expressions became varied and interesting. Chu Yusheng’s face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot. What did Su Baimo mean by saying this?

The Su family members, however, exchanged glances discreetly, inwardly praising Su Baimo for his cleverness.

They didn’t think much of Chu Yusheng’s cultivation at all and didn’t want this marriage alliance. With Su Baimo saying these words, even if the Chu family head brought up the engagement later, they could pretend to sympathize with their child and respect his choice, thereby rejecting Chu Yusheng.

As for waiting for Chu Jinglan? Whether to wait or not was still up to them to decide.

The Chu family’s Grand Elder spoke gravely: “Baimo, you’re still young. Don’t say such foolish things.”

The Su family members covered their faces: “Ah, the child has grown and has his own feelings. I’m moved by his loyalty. Our Baimo is so considerate.”

Both sides began their performance.

Although Chu Jinglan was the origin of everything today, he seemed detached from it all, as if far away in the clouds, looking down at this farce with lowered eyes.

Those around him who had once envied or hated him, today all transformed into lofty pity, mockery, sarcasm, and some eager spectators.

Every inch of his bones had become their after-dinner entertainment.

And then there was Su Baimo, the only one shedding tears.

For whom were his tears really falling?

For Chu Jinglan, or for Su Baimo himself?

Chu Jinglan looked towards Su Baimo’s face, but just as he raised his gaze, a figure suddenly stood in front of him, blocking his view.

Su Baimo was three steps away from him, while Xiao Mo stood in front of him.

Those nauseating gazes and whispers seemed to be blocked outside the deep pool by this willow-like figure. Like still, deep water cradling driftwood, he was that piece of driftwood being lifted and wrapped.

All the filthy, evil thoughts were sunk down by Xiao Mo, keeping Chu Jinglan undisturbed.

Chu Jinglan’s eyes moved involuntarily.

Since Wan Yu fell ill with madness and he lost his only protection as a child, Chu Jinglan had never thought anyone would stand in front of him.

He thought that no matter the wind, rain, frost, or snow, it was only natural for him to bear it alone.

He was already walking in the mire, and having lost his cultivation, the stinking fish and rotten shrimp who had long coveted his position seized the opportunity, piling on him overwhelmingly, wishing they could bury him on the spot, to rot in the mud.

But surprisingly, someone wanted to clear away the rotten mud for him.

The coldness at the corners of Chu Jinglan’s mouth froze at the end of winter, but in Xiao Mo’s silhouette, it seemed to melt into the faint warmth of early spring.

Su Baimo, with tear-filled eyes, saw his expression and stood there in disbelief.

…Did Chu Jinglan smile at him?

Xiao Mo was staring at Su Baimo’s every move, his face frosty. Seeing Su Baimo suddenly freeze, he frowned: Did he cry so much he became stupid?

No, that’s not it. It was more like he saw something.

Xiao Mo standing here could block Chu Jinglan from seeing Su Baimo, but it didn’t prevent Su Baimo from seeing Chu Jinglan. His dumbfounded look must have something to do with Chu Jinglan.

The original story had placed too much emphasis on this scene of tears. Xiao Mo’s heart skipped a beat, his lips tightening. He immediately turned back, fearing he might really be drenched in a bucket of melodrama.

As he turned back, he happened to meet Chu Jinglan’s gaze.

There was no Su Baimo in Chu Jinglan’s eyes, only an inner demon who recklessly stood in front of him.

Xiao Mo seemed to catch a hint of a gentle breeze in the corner of Chu Jinglan’s eye, but it was so faint it felt like an illusion.

He heard Chu Jinglan say: “Let’s go.”

What did Chu Yusheng or Su Baimo have to do with them?

Xiao Mo slowly looked at Chu Jinglan for a while, not missing any expression. But no matter how he searched, he couldn’t find any trace that could prove Su Baimo’s tears had touched Chu Jinglan’s heart.

If it couldn’t be proven, did it mean it didn’t exist?

This was the origin of Chu Jinglan’s emotional storyline that readers had found after scouring the original novel. Xiao Mo wasn’t entirely reassured. He glanced at Su Baimo with his peripheral vision, then focused on Chu Jinglan’s reaction.

Chu Jinglan didn’t know what Xiao Mo was doing, but he quietly waited for Xiao Mo’s response.

Su Baimo, because of Chu Jinglan’s fleeting smile earlier, felt his heart leap.

Chu Jinglan was the most handsome person he had ever seen, but he had always been like the moon over a high mountain, visible but unreachable. He had never smiled at him like that before. For that moment, it was as if an immortal had descended to the mortal world, within reach.

Su Baimo’s heart pounded like a drum. Was it because of me?

Not everything he said earlier was false. One thing was true: if Chu Jinglan could really recover his cultivation, he would be willing to continue with him.

The likes of Chu Yusheng couldn’t compare to even a finger of Chu Jinglan’s.

But he wouldn’t be foolish enough to only wait for Chu Jinglan.

Chu Jinglan couldn’t protect him now, so he had to find a place that could shelter him. What was wrong with that? Surely everyone could understand.

Su Baimo thought Chu Jinglan was showing goodwill towards him, and a secret joy rose in his heart. He couldn’t help but take another step forward, but at this distance, he noticed something inconsistent.

Chu Jinglan’s gaze didn’t seem to be on him.

But there was only him in front of Chu Jinglan, wasn’t there?

Xiao Mo saw Su Baimo’s approaching movement and his eyelid twitched. He stopped his analysis and immediately said to Chu Jinglan: “Alright, let’s go.”

He wouldn’t give Su Baimo a chance to get close.

Chu Jinglan, having received his response, turned the wheelchair towards the door himself. The servants hadn’t even reacted yet, while Xiao Mo stood behind him, gripping the handles and using his strength to help Chu Jinglan, pushing him forward.

In the hall, the Chu and Su families were secretly contending, and no one paid attention to Chu Jinglan’s departure. Only Su Baimo stood dazed for a moment, then hurriedly chased after him, calling out from behind: “Brother Jinglan!”

Chu Jinglan didn’t look back.

It was Xiao Mo who turned to glance back, seeing Su Baimo’s face full of bewilderment, tears still hanging on his cheeks, looking fragile and innocent.

Su Baimo wouldn’t understand that the path he chose would cause him to lose many important things.

Xiao Mo lifted his fingertips slightly, and a few wisps of black mist passed over Su Baimo, slipping into the hall and entwining around several members of the Chu family.

It wasn’t an attack, just a marker.

Xiao Mo smelled a pleasant scent on these people, a fragrance only inner demons could detect.

He couldn’t kill them for now, but he might as well make them useful somehow. He would “visit” these people later.

No need to tell Chu Jinglan about this.

A hidden blood-red rippled through Xiao Mo’s pupils as he turned leisurely. The man and the demon left the noise and clamor of the hall behind, departing unhurriedly.

T/N : Extra long chapter~ （´∇｀”）