PID Chapter 58

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♡〜٩( ˃▿˂ )۶〜♡

 

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Having just come out of the enclosed stone room, on the first night, the two didn’t choose to cultivate through the night.

 

After all, one’s spirit can’t always be tense without relaxation, or it’s not good for one’s mental state. Even cultivation maniacs need to follow basic principles.

 

Chu Jinglan practiced sword in the courtyard for a while. The sword light was sharp, but under his control, it didn’t harm any plants in the yard, quite different from when he used to send leaves flying and bamboo shattering in the Chu family’s bamboo grove sword platform.

 

Spiritual energy finally wrapped around the spirit sword, the sword intent harmonious, divine radiance gleaming.

 

Chu Jinglan had inherited the Moon Lord’s sword manual, but he didn’t only use his sword techniques. In swordsmanship, Chu Jinglan had his own insights. Some people can only learn one style in their entire life, but he never just memorized rigidly. For a long time, Chu Jinglan had been using many of his own moves.

 

Some moves were already very strong, but due to the difference in cultivation level, they weren’t enough to be recorded in history. But given time, when he reaches higher realms, Chu Jinglan’s swordsmanship will surely become known to all along with him.

 

Xiao Mo sat under the eaves playing the flute.

 

Xiao Mo could now play many musical scores. If nothing else, the system was excellent at collecting such information. But Xiao Mo still liked playing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” and Chu Jinglan’s half-finished tune the most, perhaps because these two had accompanied him from screeching to melodious tinkling, forming a deeper emotional connection.

 

After playing the half-tune, Xiao Mo thought for a moment, then brought out paper and brush from inside. He picked up the brush and started writing something on the paper.

 

Chu Jinglan had stopped practicing sword at some point. He put away his sword and walked over, casually asking: “What are you writing?”

 

Xiao Mo turned the paper to show him: “This tune isn’t finished, right? I wanted to try writing a couple of lines to continue it.”

 

Xiao Mo hummed two notes of the tune, then frowned: “But something’s not right, I can’t express the feeling I want.”

 

Being able to play the flute doesn’t mean one can write good music. Xiao Mo had only written a few notes before stopping. Chu Jinglan looked at it, took the brush, and added a few notes, completing a full line: “How about this?”

 

Xiao Mo softly hummed the modified tune, his eyes brightening: “That’s it! That’s the flavor. But here it still seems to be missing something—”

 

The tune Xiao Mo wrote was similar to his earlier flute practice, with notes pausing, not forming a complete line. With Chu Jinglan’s polish, it finally connected.

 

The two sat under the corridor. Chu Jinglan held the brush, pondering over the spot Xiao Mo pointed out. He wrote a few notes, choosing together with Xiao Mo. After a while, the two finally worked out a smooth line of melody.

 

Xiao Mo raised his flute, and the melodious notes flowed out, flying from the small eaves into the sky. Xiao Mo was very satisfied: “The feeling is finally right. You’re really good at composing music.”

 

Chu Jinglan: “Your basic tune was very good. We can think together and complete this song.”

 

Xiao Mo held up the paper with both hands, admiring it from different angles: “Alright, let’s think about it slowly, no need to rush.”

 

Qiuqiu had been let out after they returned and was perched on a tree by the wall. After Xiao Mo finished playing the flute, it chirped twice, very supportive: Beautiful!

 

The birds that were once startled awake at night by Xiao Mo’s flute weren’t so fortunate. Truly, same species, different fates.

 

The night was deep. The two didn’t plan to cultivate further and went inside to rest. They hadn’t actually slept for quite a while, replacing sleep entirely with cultivation and meditation. After a long time, at least for human cultivators, it was good to adjust with some sleep.

 

They lay on one bed, but with two pillows and two sets of bedding. Under the covers, they just chatted.

 

They had slept on the same bed before, but during the year in the stone room, they had cultivated on separate stone beds. Now, lying side by side felt both familiar and strange.

 

No matter how the inner demon covered himself, he was still cold. Chu Jinglan’s blanket corner wasn’t tucked in tightly. As Xiao Mo moved in his covers, a gap opened between the two sets of bedding, and he felt a bit of warm air come over from Chu Jinglan’s side.

 

But it was quickly blocked as the blanket fell back down.

 

Chu Jinglan had been lying quietly. When Xiao Mo shifted, he turned, allowing Xiao Mo to see his profile while lying down.

 

At nineteen, almost no trace of youthful immaturity remained on Chu Jinglan’s face. His features had become sharper, with a clear jawline and high, straight nose, as if carved from fine jade, extraordinarily handsome.

 

There was a mirror in the room, and Xiao Mo had seen his own original face in it during the day.

 

He had thought that after becoming an inner demon, his appearance might have stopped at seventeen, but in the mirror, he could still see subtle changes in his features.

 

Xiao Mo couldn’t quite describe the feeling, but overall his appearance had matured somewhat?

 

Xiao Mo was already good-looking. If he was originally like a willow in spring moonlight, that was a new moon just leaping onto the branches, with clear, bright radiance, distinct and pleasing. Now, he was more like an autumn moon reflected in water, breathtakingly beautiful in the rippling waves. One could lift a falling water droplet with a fingertip, but couldn’t touch that soul-stirring moon.

 

The moon in the water, autumn waves rising.

 

Xiao Mo didn’t know exactly how he appeared in others’ eyes.

 

Thinking of this, Xiao Mo couldn’t help but ask Chu Jinglan: “How do I look in your eyes now?”

 

Chu Jinglan, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened them and turned his head, meeting Xiao Mo’s gaze.

 

The two lay on the bed, neither too far nor too close. With their cheeks against soft pillows, it was already a very relaxed atmosphere. At this distance, it strangely seemed to bring their hearts even closer.

 

…So close.

 

Chu Jinglan slowly turned his neck back, shifting his gaze to the ceiling.

 

“At first glance, you might look about 30% like me.”

 

Xiao Mo: “How is it down to just 30%?”

 

“Probably due to our auras. Our energies have become increasingly different,” Chu Jinglan said in a steady voice. “And your eyes have become less and less similar to mine.”

 

He wasn’t referring to the shape, but to the look in their eyes.

 

Chu Jinglan’s eyes held frost and snow, while Xiao Mo’s concealed the mortal world. The light that shone through was vastly different; no one would mistake them for the same person.

 

Xiao Mo: “It’s better not to look alike. I am me, and you are you.”

 

Chu Jinglan: “Mm.”

 

Having gotten his answer, Xiao Mo felt the night chat could end. He simply faced Chu Jinglan and closed his eyes. After a while, Xiao Mo seemed to have fallen asleep. Only then did Chu Jinglan turn his gaze again, resting it lightly on Xiao Mo’s face.

 

When Xiao Mo smiled, he was as vibrant and beautiful as the red lotus on his brow. The blooming that fell into Chu Jinglan’s eyes was Xiao Mo; he wouldn’t think of his own face.

 

Indeed, it was better not to look alike.

 

Chu Jinglan’s gaze lingered for a moment before he slowly turned, also facing Xiao Mo, and closed his eyes to sleep.

 

*

 

The next day, as the morning light just began to shine through the window, both opened their eyes almost simultaneously, seeing each other up close.

 

Xiao Mo’s consciousness returned more slowly, his voice still carrying the haziness of not being fully awake: “…Morning.”

 

Chu Jinglan’s eyes held a faint light in the morning: “Morning.”

 

Previously, when reading poetic descriptions of mornings, he had only felt they were pretentious affectations. What was there to write about? But now, opening his eyes in the morning light, all the scenes came alive because of another person. Only then did he realize the words weren’t empty.

 

Even poetry and paintings fell short in expressing it.

 

Chu Jinglan felt that Xiao Mo’s position in his understanding had changed, but it was a strange and entirely new position, floating in his heart, not fully grounded. So much so that he himself couldn’t clearly say where Xiao Mo’s position actually was.

 

But it was certainly unusual.

 

Even though he was clearly an inner demon.

 

…Despite him clearly being an inner demon.

 

Xiao Mo got up, changed clothes with a thought, and handed Chu Jinglan’s clothes to him: “By the way, let’s go out today and buy you a few more outfits. Although there are magical robes in the Moon Lord’s storage device, those can be worn on the outside. We should still have several other clothes on hand.”

 

Xiao Mo: “I’ll help you choose.”

 

Chu Jinglan took the clothes from Xiao Mo’s hand: “Alright.”

 

In terms of fashion aesthetics, Xiao Mo had never made a mistake.

 

They went shopping for clothes in Lin’an City, and at the same time learned more news about the Cloud Platform Grand Competition.

 

The top ten in each realm could choose to join one of the five major powers’ sects in the upper realm for cultivation.

 

Xiao Mo: This is clearly a recruitment competition.

 

Moreover, looking at past winners’ lists, the majority were usually disciples from the five major powers’ own sects in the middle realm, with occasional rogue cultivators. For disciples already under the five major powers, this was a competition for guaranteed admission spots in their own sects, like thousands of troops crossing a single-log bridge. The intensity of the competition was imaginable.

 

But now there was an issue: according to the rules, since it was a reward for disciples, once a disciple chose a sect, the sect couldn’t reject them on the spot. The top ten demon race participants could also choose human cultivation sects.

 

Even if they could be rejected later, demons could still stay in human cultivation sects for a while.

 

Given the current tense relationship between human cultivators and demons, even if demons weren’t spies, they’d be treated as such.

 

Human cultivators certainly wouldn’t want to choose demon sects. If they did, they’d have to go to the demon realm. What if they were torn apart by the currently insane Demon Lord?

 

However, this wasn’t something Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan needed to worry about now. Xiao Mo asked Chu Jinglan: “Shall we choose the Yingyue Sect?”

 

The Yingyue Sect was already famous for sword cultivation, indeed the best choice. Chu Jinglan wanted to avenge his deep grudge, but early Nascent Soul stage wasn’t enough. He needed a better environment and resources to cultivate. Ideally, he would return to the lower realm after reaching Divided Spirit stage.

 

Because even if he’d be suppressed to Nascent Soul by the lower realm’s laws then, he’d still be at peak Nascent Soul, the strongest realm in the lower realm, able to fight several Nascent Soul elders of the Chu family.

 

But the Cloud Platform Grand Competition hadn’t even started, and Xiao Mo was already choosing sects for Chu Jinglan. Although Chu Jinglan was determined to succeed in the competition, he felt Xiao Mo had even more confidence than him.

 

“If nothing unexpected happens, we’ll choose the Yingyue Sect,” Chu Jinglan said. “Then you’ll—”

 

Xiao Mo: “Go with you as an attendant.”

 

Chu Jinglan’s fingers paused, and he looked up at him: “You’re not an attendant.”

 

“Of course not,” Xiao Mo smiled, “But to stay by your side in the Yingyue Sect, this identity is most suitable. It also prevents others from making an issue of it. After all, I can’t participate in the competition, so they won’t accept me as a disciple.”

 

It wasn’t suitable to be a disciple either.

 

In a sect full of sword cultivators, sparring was part of the curriculum. Xiao Mo couldn’t just dodge without counterattacking. If he did counterattack, he might accidentally use too much force and have it backfire on himself multiple times, causing unnecessary trouble.

 

Xiao Mo didn’t like pain, so there was no need for that.

 

“For us, identities are all disguises anyway. After we enter, you just need to show a good attitude towards me and let them know you see this ‘attendant’ as an important close friend.”

 

The phrase “show a good attitude towards me after we enter” sounded a bit strange, but it was indeed appropriate here. Chu Jinglan accepted this suggestion and looked into Xiao Mo’s eyes: “I’ll let them know.”

 

There was a hint of cherishing in his tone that only he understood.

 

Xiao Mo smiled brightly: “Good.”

 

“So we’ve added another relationship,” Xiao Mo blinked. “What should I call you this time?”

 

Chu Jinglan suddenly had a bad feeling.

 

Xiao Mo teasingly said: “Young master, master, or lord?”

 

Chu Jinglan: “…”

 

Chu Jinglan suspected Xiao Mo was getting revenge for those few “brother” calls from long, long ago.

 

When Yan Chun and the other two children called him “master,” it sounded very proper. But Xiao Mo’s smiling tone had no trace of respect, it was all playful, just meant to unsettle the host. Young Master Chu couldn’t bear it.

 

“…Just call me by my name.”

 

Xiao Mo pretended to be serious: “But that’s so disrespectful.”

 

Today, Chu Jinglan wasn’t choked by the demon’s words. He lifted his eyes and calmly retorted: “Isn’t that perfect to let outsiders know I value you and don’t treat you as an attendant?”

 

Xiao Mo was stunned for a moment, letting out a soft hiss. He muttered: “Has your verbal skill improved, or is it my imagination?”

 

Chu Jinglan: “You flatter me.”

 

It was just learning from the enemy to defeat the enemy.

 

Thus, when the three children rushed back to the house the next day, their clear voices calling “Master” and “Shixiong” sounded much more pleasant to the ear.

 

At least it was peaceful.

 

A year had passed, and the three children had changed more than them. They were at the age of growth spurts, each having shot up a bit, their faces also filling out somewhat. If they didn’t see them for three to five years, they might not even recognize them.

 

Xiao Mo patted each of their heads under their expectant gazes, feeling the reality of time’s flight: “You’ve grown up a bit.”

 

The residence immediately became lively. The three children had endless things to say, but they tacitly agreed to only report good news, not mentioning certain unpleasant things they encountered at the academy.

 

The three had good talents and were favored by the teachers, naturally causing envy among other disciples. Moreover, they were officially three unsupported rogue cultivators.

 

Chu Xia stood out the most, with very high talent in medicine. But no one wanted to offend a potentially excellent future medical cultivator, so even if people gossiped, it was behind her back. Chu Xia had the most comfortable life at the academy.

 

Yan Chun and Mo Zhi were different. One was favored by the dean, appearing gentle and easy to bully; the other was appreciated by Master Yi, with a personality too flamboyant for others’ liking.

 

Mo Zhi had a big fight with someone earlier, even involving Yan Chun. It started when a disciple who had friction with Mo Zhi angrily cursed him for having no parents and being unwanted.

 

Mo Zhi immediately jumped up and fought with him.

 

He didn’t mind being told he had no parents, it was true, but how could they say he was unwanted?

 

Yan Chun, Chu Xia, Master, and Shixiong Xiao – he already had these people around him. He was no longer an unwanted little beggar.

 

That incident actually took some effort to settle, including Yan Chun boldly asking the dean’s opinion with trembling hands under his sleeves, only then getting a guarantee that the other party’s elders wouldn’t seek revenge. Only then was the matter considered resolved.

 

They didn’t plan to talk about these unhappy things on a happy day.

 

After Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan heard most of what they said, Xiao Mo nodded: “Is there any other important thing you need to tell us?”

 

The three secretly exchanged glances, then shook their heads in unison.

 

Xiao Mo sighed.

 

He took out a letter in front of the three children.

 

“This arrived at the house yesterday, a message from Lin’an Academy,” Xiao Mo looked at them gently. “The dean said he’s returning to take a position in the upper realm and wanted to take you three to the upper realm’s academy, but you refused?”

 

The three were immediately stunned, their expressions becoming panicked. They hadn’t expected this matter to be exposed!

 

Xiao Mo’s voice was very gentle, only asking: “Why?”

 

Yan Chun pressed his lips together, and under Mo Zhi and Chu Xia’s panicked gazes, he steeled himself to reply: “We know we’re not smart enough, cultivating in the middle realm is already—”

 

Chu Jinglan calmly interrupted: “Tell the truth.”

 

Yan Chun’s eyes reddened, stammering and unable to continue. After a while, he lowered his head and said: “We’re afraid that if we go to the upper realm, it will be even harder to see Master and Shixiong.”

 

Although they had blood contracts, Chu Jinglan had never used them. Now, all in the middle realm, they only met once a year. If they went to the upper realm, when would they be able to meet?

 

The three children, though more mature than many their age, were still only nine or ten years old. Their dependence on Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan came from the heart; they couldn’t really think too complexly or long-term.

 

Chu Jinglan, calm as still water: “Going to the upper realm will improve your cultivation faster, making you more useful to me in the future.”

 

The three children’s eyes reddened even more.

 

If Master wanted them to go, they would certainly go, but they really didn’t want to part…

 

Xiao Mo nudged Chu Jinglan’s elbow with his flute: “Can’t you be a bit more gentle?”

 

Chu Jinglan picked up the teacup from the table: “I’m just telling the truth.”

 

Xiao Mo wanted to retract his evaluation of this person’s improved verbal skills.

 

Before the three children could really cry, Xiao Mo said: “Don’t be sad, this is a good opportunity. You should thank the dean later and accept. We’ll be going to the upper realm soon too, so we won’t be too far apart.”

 

The three children immediately held back their tears, overjoyed: “Really!?”

 

“Really. You know about the Cloud Platform Grand Competition, right?” Xiao Mo pointed at Chu Jinglan. “Your tough-talking but kind-hearted master will participate and will definitely win.”

 

Only he could describe Chu Jinglan as tough-talking but kind-hearted.

 

Having cultivated at Lin’an Academy, they of course knew about the Cloud Platform Grand Competition. And if Shixiong Xiao said they could win, they definitely would. In the three children’s eyes, even after seeing many important figures at the academy, Master and Shixiong were still the most impressive!

 

The three finally broke into smiles. Seeing that he had comforted them, Xiao Mo had something else to explain: “By the way, I need to tell you, your master and I aren’t actually blood brothers.”

 

Yan Chun and Chu Xia blinked, while Mo Zhi was surprised: “No blood relation? But some of your features really look quite similar!”

 

Yan Chun and Chu Xia also nodded: Even more similar than the two of them as dragon-phoenix twins.

 

But even if they weren’t blood brothers, the closeness in the children’s eyes wouldn’t change, so the other matter was more important: “In the future, when we’re outside, remember my name is Mo Lan. Don’t call me Shixiong Xiao anymore.”

 

Although they didn’t know why he was changing his name, Shixiong surely had his reasons. Yan Chun tentatively asked: “Then… Shixiong Mo?”

 

Xiao Mo: “Yes, call me that.”

 

It felt even more intimate than “Shixiong Xiao,” which was fine and they could adapt to it.

 

Xiao Mo: “Also, if you hear me calling him master too, don’t be surprised. That’s us—”

 

Chu Jinglan cut off his spell-casting: “Don’t call me that.”

 

Xiao Mo said leisurely: “If we really encounter that scenario, I’ll tell them first, just in case.”

 

Mo Zhi looked at Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan’s expressions, one smiling and one helpless, and thought he understood, his eyes shining with innocence: “Are you playing a game?”

 

Xiao Mo/Chu Jinglan: “…”

 

No, it’s not, how could it be!

 

The adults’ thoughts were a bit off, but children speak without guile. It wasn’t Mo Zhi’s problem, it was theirs.

 

Fortunately, Yan Chun said: “Master and Shixiong must be arranging identities for some plan, right?”

 

As expected of the steady one among the three. Xiao Mo said approvingly: “Yan Chun is right.”

 

Mo Zhi enviously said: “I’ll read more books too, and learn more beyond cultivation!”

 

Chu Jinglan: “Good, then copy two books today.”

 

Yan Chun: “Yes, yes, we can’t fall behind on our studies these days. I’ll copy too.”

 

Chu Xia immediately raised her hand: “I want to copy two medical books too!”

 

At such a young age, they already had the mindset of cultivation maniacs like Master and Shixiong. These children could be taught.

 

Mo Zhi, the least enthusiastic about intense studying in the group, instantly wailed: Is it too late to say I just spoke too quickly and take it back, wuwu?

 

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1 Kofi = 1 Extra Chapter