PID Chapter 70

(5/5) Extra Update!

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Having made their decision, Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan exchanged a glance and nodded to those below.

 

Jun Bushu sighed in relief. Dark circles hung under his eyes, clearly indicating his poor physical and mental state recently. The disciple who had tried to act tough despite lacking money stammered: “Senior brother…”

 

Jun Bushu frowned: “Enough.”

 

“Today I’m here to stop you, but if no one were watching over you, would you really throw away both your face and the Lingxiao Sect’s?”

 

When that disciple had impulsively run to the railing and shouted earlier, he hadn’t felt there was any problem, especially when Su Baimo came and held his sleeve. He had felt a sense of pride and self-satisfaction for standing up in front of his beautiful junior brother.

 

Now, being scolded by Jun Bushu, his face turned red. Adding the whispers from some people in the auction house reaching his ears, as his momentary righteousness faded, he realized he had truly done something stupid and felt utterly embarrassed.

 

The auctioneer was very quick-witted. Seeing the situation, she smiled brightly and began calling out the price again.

 

“250,000 medium-grade spirit stones, going once—”

 

She called twice, but this time no one else bid.

 

“600-year-old East Clear Pearl, 250,000 medium-grade spirit stones, sold!”

 

Although they had won the item they wanted, the auction wasn’t over yet. Xiao Mo and the others sat back in their box, waiting for the auction to end before meeting with Jun Bushu.

 

On the Lingxiao Sect’s side, the disciple who had spoken earlier also retreated into the room from the railing. He felt he had lost face in front of Su Baimo and was extremely embarrassed. However, Su Baimo comforted him gently: “Thank you, senior brother. I’m very grateful.”

 

The disciple instantly felt that Su Baimo was truly considerate and was deeply moved.

 

Jun Bushu glanced at the two, thinking something to himself, but didn’t say anything.

 

Su Baimo had come to the Lingxiao Sect with Dai Zisheng and Mu Jian. The Phantom Sword Sect had acquaintances in the Lingxiao Sect, who managed to arrange for Su Baimo to become a registered disciple, rather than entering as an attendant.

 

A registered disciple is one who is given a name and some time. If their cultivation progress meets the requirements, they can become a formal disciple.

 

Even if they don’t succeed, since registered disciples are known to be “connected,” selling a favor to an acquaintance means turning a blind eye and letting them stay. There aren’t many, so it doesn’t cost the sect much.

 

If a registered disciple is removed, it’s either because they’re too embarrassed to stay or their backer is no longer supporting them.

 

But with Dai Zisheng and Mu Jian in the Lingxiao Sect, Su Baimo’s position was very stable.

 

After coming to the Lingxiao Sect, one day Su Baimo felt a sense of guidance. Behind a rarely visited mountain peak in the sect, through a narrow stone crevice, he surprisingly found a rare Crossing Dan Grass.

 

The earlier one consumes Crossing Dan Grass, the better. If consumed before the Golden Core stage, it greatly enhances the sea of qi and golden core during core formation, with benefits extending to later Nascent Soul and Divided Spirit stages, as it improves the foundation.

 

Crossing Dan Grass is usually only found at auctions. Su Baimo didn’t know why it was in such a place. His heart pounding, almost ecstatic, he secretly consumed it without telling anyone.

 

Including Dai Zisheng.

 

He felt he was still very weak, contentedly enjoying the benefits Dai Zisheng provided, thinking he’d reciprocate once he became strong.

 

Would he really return the kindness to others when he became strong?

 

He couldn’t even say that to himself.

 

However, Su Baimo was still a bit far from core formation. After cultivating with the disciples for a while, he not only found it hard but also saw the larger gap between himself and others. Dissatisfied, Su Baimo wanted to use shortcuts to catch up again.

 

The disciple in the box was his tentative target. At peak Golden Core, easy to manipulate, just right to help him form his core.

 

While also entering the sect following someone, Xiao Mo’s life was much more comfortable than Su Baimo’s, even as an attendant.

 

With the law’s backlash on him, Xiao Mo couldn’t conveniently spar with others, so no disciple status suited him. Being Chu Jinglan’s personal attendant, without actually having to work hard, was quite pleasant.

 

This auction wasn’t a grand event, so it ended quickly. The auction house would hand over the items. Chu Jinglan bought the East Clear Pearl, Xi Tie also bought some materials, each with their gains.

 

Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan met Jun Bushu at the auction house entrance. Before Jun Bushu could speak, Su Baimo eagerly said: “Brother Jinglan, it’s been a while since we last met. I’ve been thinking of you since we parted last time.”

 

His gentle, affectionate tone immediately alerted the Lingxiao Sect’s Golden Core disciple beside him, who scrutinized Chu Jinglan with an inquiring gaze.

 

Jun Bushu recognized Yue Ming. Hearing Su Baimo’s address, he thought: Is this the new genius Chu Jinglan from the Yingyue Sect?

 

Jun Bushu pondered, then took the initiative: “Shall we find a restaurant and sit down to talk?”

 

Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan nodded.

 

As the group headed towards a restaurant, Su Baimo approached Chu Jinglan, acting familiar: “Brother Jinglan, how have you been lately?”

 

Yue Ming and Xi Tie, thinking they were old acquaintances, made way. Su Baimo gleefully walked to Chu Jinglan’s side. Xiao Mo walked on Chu Jinglan’s other side, feeling irritated just hearing Su Baimo’s voice.

 

He had finally gotten Chu Jinglan on a stable career path and couldn’t let it be ruined by melodrama.

 

However… this might also be a good opportunity to test.

 

Xiao Mo glanced sideways. Chu Jinglan’s expression was calm, his responses neither warm nor cold, very ordinary. He seemed completely unaffected by Su Baimo.

 

In the original story’s comments, people insisted that Chu Jinglan’s romantic development followed the “moved by tears” theory. But if Chu Jinglan had truly been moved then, how could he be so calm upon meeting again?

 

The plot had reached the upper realm, and Chu Jinglan hadn’t helped Su Baimo with anything yet, treating him completely like a stranger. At this point, Chu Jinglan shouldn’t possibly be moved by Su Baimo anymore, right?

 

As Xiao Mo was thinking, the Lingxiao Sect’s Golden Core disciple surprisingly squeezed between Chu Jinglan and Su Baimo, separating them despite Su Baimo’s surprised look.

 

He asked Su Baimo sourly: “Are you very close to him?”

 

Calling him brother and all!

 

Su Baimo’s surprise turned to recognition of an opportunity. With so many people around, he lowered his head, smiled shyly, and deliberately said: “Jinglan and I were childhood friends, and once engaged.”

 

The Golden Core disciple was shocked: “What?!”

 

Jun Bushu also looked over upon hearing this.

 

Yue Ming and Xi Tie curiously peeked too, and for some reason, they also secretly observed Xiao Mo’s reaction.

 

Perhaps they thought that originally, the little attendant was the closest person to Chu Jinglan, but suddenly a fiancé appeared out of nowhere.

 

And this fiancé seemed to have a harmonious relationship with Chu Jinglan?

 

Su Baimo glanced shyly towards Chu Jinglan a couple of times, his face slightly flushed. Anyone seeing this would think there was something between them.

 

Su Baimo thought secretly that not only could he get closer to Chu Jinglan again, but also provoke the Golden Core disciple. It was perfect.

 

Chu Jinglan’s brow furrowed slightly, about to speak, when Xiao Mo’s voice rang out, neither loud nor soft: “Why are you surprised, fellow cultivator? Since he said ‘once,’ it’s in the past tense. There’s no relationship now at all.”

 

Perhaps because the word “fiancé” was too shocking, the Lingxiao Sect disciple came to his senses at Xiao Mo’s words. Su Baimo pressed his lips together, showing a relieved smile: “Yes, but in the past, Brother Jinglan was very good to me. I remember it all.”

 

Xiao Mo also smiled: “He was good to you, but how were you to him?”

 

Su Baimo’s smile froze on his face.

 

“In the past, you made a deal, so he helped you quite a bit. That was what he promised, nothing to talk about. But you insist on saying you remember his kindness, yet what have you done? When he was crippled and left the Chu family penniless, walking out of Mu City, forget helping him, did you even go see him once? Is this how you remember his kindness?”

 

Su Baimo’s expression changed. He hadn’t expected Chu Jinglan to tell this person about such a miserable experience. He hurriedly defended himself: “When I heard the news, I did try to find Brother Jinglan, but I didn’t make it in time. Yes, I didn’t make it in time!”

 

Su Baimo wrung his hands and even stopped walking. Xiao Mo took a step forward, turned back to look at him, and laughed coldly.

 

When Chu Jinglan left the Chu family, the whole city was in an uproar. At that time, he and Chu Jinglan had intercepted Wan Yu’s body outside the city to bury her. During that long period, if Su Baimo truly wanted to help Chu Jinglan immediately, even a snail should have arrived by then.

 

Even if it was just preparing a package, giving some small items?

 

But he didn’t.

 

At that time, Su Baimo thought Chu Jinglan was crippled and of no use to him anymore, so how could he possibly help him?

 

Xiao Mo: “Didn’t make it in time? Do you even believe that yourself?”

 

“We’re not asking for your help, Su Baimo,” Xiao Mo said. “I just want to tell you, if you don’t have that intention, don’t pretend to have a good relationship with him. What’s the point?”

 

Hearing this, Yue Ming and Xi Tie had lost interest in watching the drama. They saw something in Xiao Mo’s attitude and words, and frowned at Su Baimo.

 

Indeed, approaching so familiarly upon meeting, making it seem like they had such a good relationship. When Chu Jinglan was crippled, it must have been his toughest time. If they were truly good friends, or even engaged with feelings, would they watch him leave penniless?

 

Su Baimo’s face alternated between red and white, almost speechless from Xiao Mo’s rebuke. The Lingxiao Sect’s Golden Core disciple couldn’t stand by and stepped in front of Su Baimo, shielding him behind himself in a protective stance: “Baimo said he didn’t make it in time. Perhaps you didn’t see his efforts. There might be a misunderstanding!”

 

The cold smile hadn’t faded from Xiao Mo’s lips, but this time, it was Chu Jinglan who spoke: “There’s no misunderstanding.”

 

Su Baimo trembled, looking at Chu Jinglan in disbelief.

 

“I don’t care about those things,” Chu Jinglan looked at Su Baimo and said coolly. “But our engagement was dissolved long ago. Please don’t use descriptions that can easily lead to misunderstandings to describe our relationship.”

 

Su Baimo had deliberately mentioned being a fiancé earlier, thinking that given Chu Jinglan’s personality, he wouldn’t care or notice his subtle intentions, so he dared to use suggestive descriptions.

 

He tried to salvage the situation, stammering and shaking his head: “I didn’t mean to, Brother Jinglan. I just said it casually, I didn’t think it would cause misunderstandings and such an argument. I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”

 

The Golden Core disciple, hearing Su Baimo’s voice almost on the verge of tears, became upset: “Don’t be too harsh.”

 

Xiao Mo raised an eyebrow: “Just saying two truths is being harsh?”

 

Yue Ming also folded his arms and spoke up for his own people: “We didn’t curse or use violence. Who’s being harsh? Be reasonable, will you?”

 

Speaking of reason, it did seem that way. The Golden Core disciple hesitated, but standing in front of Su Baimo, he certainly had to continue defending him. Just as he was about to speak, Jun Bushu said: “Enough.”

 

He had a massive headache, but fortunately, they were only a few steps away from the restaurant. He cupped his hands towards Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan: “You two, let’s talk on our side.”

 

Su Baimo stood behind the Golden Core disciple with his head down, fingers twisting tightly in his sleeves, no longer speaking. At the restaurant, they got a private room. Xiao Mo, Chu Jinglan, and Jun Bushu went to the inner room to talk, while the others waited outside.

 

After the sound barrier fell in the inner room, Jun Bushu sighed and went straight to the point without selling any suspense.

 

“You two may have heard of my reputation. If not, I’ll briefly introduce myself. I have some talent in divination and have never had a wrong prediction,” Jun Bushu said. “A few days ago, I divined that I have a love tribulation difficult to overcome, but there are benefactors who can help me resolve it.”

 

He raised his eyes to look at the two before him: “Upon meeting today, I knew you two were my benefactors.”

 

Love tribulation, Xiao Mo thought, does he mean Jun Bushu and Su Baimo?

 

Chu Jinglan, on the other hand, became alert. Why does his love tribulation have anything to do with us?

 

Love tribulations are nothing but infatuation, resentment, love, and hate, inescapably tied to the word “love.” Now that he had someone in his heart, Chu Jinglan became cautious.

 

Xiao Mo stroked the flute in his hand: “You want us to help you resolve this tribulation?”

 

Jun Bushu: “Yes, and you can make any requests of me in return.”

 

Being owed a favor by a divine calculator was a rare opportunity, but Chu Jinglan was very cautious: “We don’t even know what needs to be done, so how can we exchange?”

 

Jun Bushu nodded: “You make a good point. I can cast another divination to see how this tribulation should be resolved. Could you two provide me with some spiritual energy for the divination?”

 

Chu Jinglan: “Alright, but first swear an oath that this spiritual energy will only be used to divine how to resolve your love tribulation, and not for any other divination. Otherwise, may five thunderbolts strike you.”

 

Those who practice divination don’t dare to swear oaths casually. They already peek into heaven’s secrets, and even if it’s not a heavenly oath, breaking an ordinary oath would result in severe backlash.

 

Chu Jinglan wasn’t afraid of him divining about himself, but he couldn’t let him divine Xiao Mo’s identity.

 

Jun Bushu swiftly raised his hand to swear. Many people make such requests before divination, so it wasn’t surprising.

 

After swearing, Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan each provided a strand of spiritual energy. Jun Bushu added his own blood and spiritual energy, took out his natal treasure, a star-divining plate, and closed his eyes to begin the divination.

 

The star plate emitted faint light, now seeming covered by a layer of dark clouds. But as time passed, both the cloud layer and stars began to rotate.

 

Xiao Mo hadn’t encountered divination before and couldn’t understand it, but the orderly movement of the stars suggested the divination was going smoothly.

 

The stars on the plate connected into different patterns, corresponding to celestial positions and directions, slowly moving. However, suddenly, at one moment, the already connected star chart began to violently shake.

 

At the same time, Jun Bushu’s brows furrowed tightly, and thin sweat began to form on his forehead.

 

Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan exchanged a glance but didn’t dare to interrupt him rashly.

 

The shaking pattern on the star plate, after several struggles, seemed to finally give way, suddenly exploding and chaotically flashing rapidly. Huge dark clouds gathered, threatening to suppress the starlight. As the two forces battled, blood began to trickle from the corner of Jun Bushu’s lips, but he still refused to open his eyes, even increasing his spiritual energy input, unwilling to admit defeat.

 

Xiao Mo sensed something and quickly went to the window, pushing it open to look outside. He saw that the previously clear sky had somehow become overcast with dark clouds, with faint thunder rumbling within.

 

But this wasn’t because Jun Bushu had violated his oath and divined something extra. It seemed more like he had touched upon something he shouldn’t have, actually causing celestial anomalies.

 

Many cultivators also looked up to observe.

 

At a certain moment, Jun Bushu suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, and the star plate crashed onto the table. All the patterns on it disappeared, returning to calm. Outside the window, the dark clouds and thunder suddenly dispersed, sunlight shining down again as if nothing had happened.

 

Jun Bushu fell from his chair. He supported himself on the table, shakily getting up, gasping for breath. He quickly took out a pill and stuffed it into his mouth, his actions clearly very practiced, having done this many times before.

 

He cleaned up the blood, looking somewhat dazed, with lingering fear in his eyes. After recovering for a while, he finally looked at Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan.

 

The two were still waiting for his answer.

 

Jun Bushu swallowed the taste of blood in his throat and said with difficulty: “I didn’t expect my love tribulation to involve untouchable boundaries… But I did gain some insights.”

 

Jun Bushu let out a long breath: “You will help resolve my love tribulation while doing something else. What you’re going to do should be— no, will definitely be very difficult. If you two fail, my love tribulation can’t be overcome either.”

 

Xiao Mo pondered for a moment: “If we help you resolve it while doing something else, then the deal doesn’t stand. Will we definitely do that thing?”

 

“Yes, you will definitely do it,” Jun Bushu smiled bitterly. “I couldn’t divine exactly what you’ll do. Your fates are too heavy; I fear even risking my life wouldn’t let me see clearly.”

 

“But I sincerely hope you can succeed.” Jun Bushu bowed to them. “Although the deal doesn’t stand, my fate depends entirely on you two. If you need any help in the future, please feel free to ask.”

 

As he spoke, he took out a communication jade tablet. Chu Jinglan accepted the exchange of jade seals, but casually asked: “Who is your love tribulation centered on?”

 

Jun Bushu paused, and after a moment, sighed: “To be honest, you just met this person. It’s Su Baimo.”

 

Shortly after Su Baimo entered the sect, Jun Bushu met him and keenly sensed something was off. Diviners’ intuitions are usually very accurate. He immediately cast a divination and realized his love tribulation was centered on Su Baimo.

 

Jun Bushu found it incredible. These days, he had been secretly observing Su Baimo, but always felt… that he wasn’t the type of person he would like.

 

The reason he came out with Su Baimo and the others this time was also to observe more.

 

Chu Jinglan couldn’t help but ponder: Jun Bushu’s love tribulation is centered on Su Baimo, but he and Xiao Mo can help resolve it?

 

Indeed… Chu Jinglan’s peripheral vision swept over Xiao Mo’s face. He hadn’t missed the flash of “as expected” in Xiao Mo’s eyes the moment Jun Bushu gave his answer.

 

Although it was quickly concealed, if Chu Jinglan hadn’t been constantly attentive to him, he might have missed it.

 

Why did Xiao Mo show that expression?

 

Su Baimo, why is it Su Baimo again?

 

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1 Kofi = 1 Extra Chapter