PID Chapter 37.2

Here’s more ~
Kofi from Choco!

(1/5)

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Chu Jinglan poked at the fire with a stick and said: “You rest tonight—I’ll keep watch.”

 

Xiao Mo leaned against a tree lazily, almost blending into it completely. Hearing Chu Jinglan’s words, he bent his knees slightly and hugged his arms around them. Half of his face slowly buried itself into the crook of his elbow, hiding his fair and delicate chin while leaving only his silver mask exposed under the firelight’s warm orange glow.

 

Xiao Mo’s muffled voice came from within his arm: “I’ll sleep for the first half of the night—I don’t really need sleep anyway. A short rest is enough. Wake me for the second half—I’ll take over.”

 

Chu Jinglan replied simply: “Alright.”

 

When Chu Jinglan turned his head away, Xiao Mo had already closed his eyes—as if he had fallen asleep.

 

Because of his curled-up posture, with only a small part of his lower back leaning against the tree trunk, Xiao Mo hugged his knees tightly—a position that exuded a lack of security. Yet, stubbornly, he relied solely on himself for support, refusing to open up and let anyone into the protective shell he had built around himself.

 

Chu Jinglan’s hand paused as he poked at the fire. After a moment, he shifted closer to Xiao Mo.

 

The moon overhead gradually moved across the sky, signaling the arrival of the second half of the night. Yet Chu Jinglan didn’t wake Xiao Mo to switch shifts as planned.

 

Xiao Mo remained in his curled-up position without moving an inch. Nearby, Mo Zhi was sprawled on the ground in a carefree sleep, his blanket having been repeatedly pulled back over him by Chu Jinglan. The contrast between Mo Zhi’s carefree posture and Xiao Mo’s tightly guarded demeanor was striking.

 

After a while, Xiao Mo’s body finally swayed slightly.

 

Normally, such a small movement wouldn’t have mattered, but Chu Jinglan had already moved too close to him. Whether drawn by the scent of another human or simply by the instinct to seek warmth, Xiao Mo unconsciously leaned toward Chu Jinglan.

 

Still curled up, Xiao Mo rested against Chu Jinglan’s shoulder. His head shifted slightly in his sleep—not fully lifting but burrowing deeper into his own arm while inadvertently brushing against Chu Jinglan’s shoulder.

 

Chu Jinglan stiffened completely at this small movement, suddenly realizing that sitting closer might not have been the wisest decision.

 

[Ding! Mental attack successful, points +50!]

 

The notification sound stirred Xiao Mo awake from his hazy sleep. “…Hm?”

 

He mumbled groggily: “I didn’t sleepwalk and do anything weird to you, did I? How did this even…”

 

His voice was slurred and indistinct, growing quieter as he spoke. Chu Jinglan’s body remained tense as his low and raspy voice broke through the night: “…What?”

 

“Ah, nothing…”

 

Xiao Mo lazily opened his eyes and noticed he was leaning against Chu Jinglan. Without much reaction, he yawned softly in his drowsy state before naturally lifting himself off Chu Jinglan’s shoulder. Stretching out with languid grace, his arms and waist formed smooth and flexible lines.

 

“Mm… Seems like it’s past time already. Why didn’t you wake me?”

 

As the weight on his shoulder disappeared, Chu Jinglan’s tense body finally relaxed. He instinctively picked up another tree branch, as though needing something to hold onto to ease his discomfort.

 

He poked the branch into the fire and replied: “You seemed to be sleeping soundly.”

 

By now fully awake, Xiao Mo reached out and snatched the branch from Chu Jinglan’s hand: “I only need a short rest to recover my energy. Alright—go get some sleep now. You need to build a strong foundation for your body.”

 

Ever since they had taken Zi Jiao’s storage device from Xiao Qing Sect, Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan had carefully selected medicinal items from it to nourish Chu Jinglan’s body and meridians. Lately, Chu Jinglan had been taking medicine daily—so much so that he was practically becoming a walking medicine jar.

 

His body now carried a faint scent of bitter spiritual herbs—not unpleasant but with a woody undertone reminiscent of an ancient tree in a monastery. The aroma was calming and focused.

 

Building a solid foundation for his body was essential for repairing his dantian and reclaiming his cultivation.

 

Chu Jinglan firmly believed that he wouldn’t remain powerless forever. It wasn’t so much belief as it was sheer determination—an unwavering resolve that pushed him forward relentlessly, allowing no room for weakness or surrender.

 

Xiao Mo didn’t offer grand words of encouragement or solemn declarations. Instead, through casual conversations and subtle gestures in everyday moments, he conveyed an unspoken trust in Chu Jinglan’s ability to recover his cultivation.

 

It was like water nourishing silently—effortless yet profound. To Xiao Mo, Chu Jinglan regaining his cultivation wasn’t some insurmountable challenge—it was simply a natural outcome waiting to happen.

 

For Chu Jinglan, pity or sympathy wouldn’t stir any waves in his heart—he didn’t need them. Instead, it was Xiao Mo’s casual and relaxed attitude that gradually softened the rigidity in his heart.

 

With the branch taken away by Xiao Mo, Chu Jinglan flexed his fingers, leaned back against the tree trunk, faced the fire, and slowly closed his eyes.

 

Xiao Mo poked at the firewood while glancing at the panel visible only to him. The points displayed had already reached 1,500.

 

Not only had he earned back all the points he had spent on spiritual medicine earlier, but he had also accumulated much more.

 

Xiao Mo’s gaze swept over the items in the system’s store. With enough points now, he had originally planned to exchange them for a new flute—low-tier magical artifacts had limited capabilities and couldn’t be used forever.

 

But since Chu Jinglan had found a high-quality piece of jade and planned to craft a flute for him, Xiao Mo could save those points for something else.

 

For the first time since transmigrating into this world, Xiao Mo finally felt a sense of financial security. This is the confidence that savings bring to everyone.

 

Many excellent items in the store were still out of reach, but Xiao Mo decided to save his points. They would surely come in handy in the future.

 

As he thought about this, he suddenly felt as though someone was watching him. His sharp senses made him instinctively turn his head, his gaze piercing—but he only saw Chu Jinglan sleeping nearby.

 

Chu Jinglan leaned against the tree trunk with one knee bent and an arm resting on it—a posture that suggested he could get up at any moment.

 

His eyes were closed beneath his mask, his breathing steady—he was clearly asleep.

 

But there was no one else in that direction. Could someone be hiding in the shadows? Was their cultivation level too high for him to detect?

 

Xiao Mo summoned his trusty system to scan the area.

 

While Xiao Mo was skilled at concealing his aura, when it came to detection, the system was his best ally.

 

After scanning thoroughly, the system confirmed there were no abnormalities.

 

Xiao Mo withdrew his gaze and muttered to himself: Was it just an illusion?

 

—

 

As dawn broke and golden sunlight spilled across the land, fires within protective barriers gradually extinguished one by one. When the sun finally rose above the sea of clouds, its brilliance illuminated Lin’an Academy. A deep and ancient bell rang out from within its gates, breaking the morning’s tranquility with waves of sound that reverberated far and wide.

 

The stone steps outside and the forests below—whether human or bird or beast—all felt refreshed by its resonance. The lingering impurities of the night were swept away, leaving minds clear and spirits invigorated.

 

When the bell’s echoes faded into silence, Lin’an Academy’s mountain gate slowly opened. A group of disciples dressed in plain green robes stepped out in orderly rows. Their postures were upright like bamboo or pine trees—graceful yet firm—and their demeanor exuded a gentlemanly elegance as if carried by the wind.

 

Moments later, a man dressed simply emerged from within. He wore only an inner robe without an outer garment. His features were refined and composed; his eyes held restrained brilliance. He hadn’t even tied his hair—it hung loosely behind him like flowing ink.

 

On anyone else, such an appearance might have seemed unkempt or reckless. But on him, it felt effortlessly natural—his every movement harmonized seamlessly with heaven and earth.

 

The long robe flowed elegantly, embodying the natural harmony of Dao.

 

Spiritual energy carried his voice, spreading across a three-mile radius so that everyone could hear him clearly: “I am the headmaster of Lin’an Academy, Feng Qiexing.”

 

The disciples from sects competing with Lin’an Academy bowed to him in respect, while the rogue cultivators in the distance erupted into excitement.

 

“Feng Qiexing! A Divided Spirit peak cultivator is actually going to lecture in person? I thought it was just a rumor!”

 

“Damn it, I’m too far away to see him! Flying on swords is prohibited after the lectures begin, and this tree is too short—I want to catch a glimpse of the headmaster’s presence!”

 

Xiao Mo’s divine sense allowed him to “see” clearly. He commented to Chu Jinglan and the three children: “He seems like someone with the demeanor of a gentleman but who doesn’t strictly follow conventions.”

 

After all, even his attire wasn’t properly formal.

 

Feng Qiexing spoke aloud: “You have come seeking answers—it is Lin’an Academy’s fortune, and also the fortune of Dao in this world. As cultivators, we must establish our purpose within heaven and earth, walk the great path without regret, and remain true to ourselves—unashamed in our hearts.”

 

This opening statement differed from those of other righteous cultivators who typically began with themes of “justice” or “responsibility.” Instead, Feng Qiexing focused solely on one’s personal Dao path. Xiao Mo speculated that this might reflect Feng Qiexing’s personality—or perhaps it was because the audience was too diverse, and empty platitudes would be meaningless.

 

“This lecture will last ten days, focusing on Qi, Spirit, and Form,” Feng Qiexing said as he casually swept aside his robe and sat down on the high podium. “I will begin with ‘Qi’ as an introduction.”

 

Whether in modern times or here, it was customary for applause to follow an opening speech before moving on—it was an unspoken rule and considered polite. But Feng Qiexing didn’t care about such conventions. Just as people raised their hands to clap and their palms were about to meet, his voice floated out smoothly: “Qi is the breath of all living beings. It has no form yet possesses form…”

 

The clapping hands awkwardly lowered again. Xiao Mo couldn’t help but chuckle—he found this headmaster quite amusing. The original novel barely mentioned him; Xiao Mo had assumed he would be a dignified elder type but hadn’t expected him to be so laid-back.

 

Xiao Mo turned to share his thoughts but found that Chu Jinglan, Yan Chun, and Chu Xia were already sitting upright with full focus, listening intently.

 

Xiao Mo: Impressive—getting into study mode so quickly. I can’t fall behind either.

 

The self-discipline of a true overachiever.

 

Feng Qiexing’s lecture progressed from simple concepts to deeper insights. Those without cultivation could understand it, while those with cultivation could gain new realizations from it. The massive crowd outside Lin’an Academy gradually fell silent—there was no whispering or noise, only Feng Qiexing’s captivating voice drawing everyone in.

 

Even the sparrows perched on branches bobbed their heads as if they were learning alongside the audience.

 

When immersed in Dao studies, time always seems to pass quickly. Like a fleeting horse crossing one’s field of vision, hours slipped by unnoticed. By the time Feng Qiexing’s voice stopped, everyone slowly returned to their senses—only to realize it was already dusk.

 

Feng Qiexing calmly withdrew his energy and smiled lightly: “That will be all for today—we will continue tomorrow.”

 

Regardless of how far away they stood or whether they could see Feng Qiexing clearly, people from all around expressed their gratitude enthusiastically. The mountain forest and stone steps buzzed with activity again as Feng Qiexing departed gracefully, treating all praise as fleeting clouds.

 

Xiao Mo felt his divine sense had grown even steadier after listening. Turning his head, he noticed that Yan Chun and Chu Xia were still sitting upright with their eyes closed—and faint streams of energy were beginning to circulate around them.

 

Xiao Mo’s gaze shifted slightly: That’s a sign of Qi entering their bodies.

 

In stark contrast was Mo Zhi. As soon as Feng Qiexing finished speaking, Mo Zhi flopped onto the ground with his limbs sprawled out and a dazed expression on his face. His confusion seemed ready to spiral endlessly like a mosquito coil as he muttered miserably: “What… what kind of incomprehensible gibberish was that…?”

 

Couldn’t understand—completely couldn’t understand!

 

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1 Kofi = 1 Extra Chapter