PID Chapter 80

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⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝ꕤ*.ﾟ

 

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Chapter 80

 

The flying boat traveled for two days and was now close to the Wang family’s territory.

 

That morning, as Xiao Mo reached for his clothes, Chu Jinglan pulled out a new set from his storage device and handed it to him.

 

Currently, Xiao Mo’s undergarments were still ones he conjured himself for convenience, but his middle and outer robes were all real clothing now—especially the outer robes, which were both aesthetically pleasing and functional as magical garments. Without realizing it, all of Xiao Mo’s attire had been entirely taken care of by Chu Jinglan.

 

Chu Jinglan hadn’t overwhelmed him by giving him dozens of outfits at once. Instead, he had quietly integrated the clothes he prepared into Xiao Mo’s daily routine—subtle and seamless.

 

Today, Chu Jinglan chose a white round-collar inner robe paired with a pale gold outer robe adorned with golden embroidery depicting cranes and flowing clouds. He added a filigree belt at the waist and topped it off with a jade crown. He looked like a young master from the most exquisite noble family.

 

The golden-robed young master was enough to temporarily push thoughts of red-robed foxes and scholars out of Chu Jinglan’s mind.

 

However, when Xiao Mo had previously altered his appearance using his spiritual powers, his hairstyle had also followed templates provided by the system. While he could easily tie his hair with one of Chu Jinglan’s ribbons in a simple style, creating an elaborate bun with a proper hair crown was beyond his skill.

 

The memories from the early part of his previous life didn’t include such abilities either.

 

Still, Xiao Mo had at least seen how Chu Jinglan styled himself before. Sitting in front of the mirror, he decided to imitate what he’d seen and began fiddling with his hair.

 

In the mirror, Xiao Mo saw his true face. Over the past two years, not only had Chu Jinglan shed his youthful immaturity—Xiao Mo had as well.

 

If anyone could see Xiao Mo’s real appearance, they would find that he was in no way inferior to Chu Jinglan. While Chu Jinglan exuded an icy elegance like frost and snow incarnate, Xiao Mo carried an ethereal grace like autumn moonlight shining on pine branches—high above and breathtakingly beautiful. His red lotus mark between his brows added a fiery brilliance to his features, making him stunningly unparalleled.

 

Such beauty perfectly complemented the sharpness in his gaze.

 

Xiao Mo gathered half of his hair into a bun but spent quite some time struggling with it in front of the mirror. The result was loose and uneven. Just as he was about to undo it and try again with renewed determination, Chu Jinglan stepped up behind him.

 

“I’ll do it,” Chu Jinglan offered.

 

Xiao Mo thought for a moment before lowering his hands. “Alright.”

 

He decided to watch Chu Jinglan’s actions in the mirror and learn from him.

 

Chu Jinglan first dismantled Xiao Mo’s crooked bun. The ink-black strands flowed smoothly through his fingers as he worked. With lowered eyes, Chu Jinglan’s gaze unknowingly softened as he focused on styling Xiao Mo’s hair.

 

Chu Jinglan smoothed out Xiao Mo’s hair, his hands—usually firm and resolute when wielding a sword—now gentle and precise. With ease, he tamed the hair that Xiao Mo had struggled with, tying it into a neat bun. He even braided the remaining loose strands of hair, creating a style that appeared simple but was actually intricate and refined.

 

The final result was clear: it looked beautiful.

 

After finishing the braid, Chu Jinglan placed the jade crown on Xiao Mo’s head.

 

Xiao Mo admired himself in the mirror and asked, “It looks great. Did you also do something to the back of my hair?”

 

Chu Jinglan raised his hand and conjured an ice mirror behind Xiao Mo’s head. With mirrors reflecting both the front and back, Xiao Mo could see his appearance from all angles. Chu Jinglan had tied the ends of his hair with a thin ribbon and adorned it with a small white jade bead.

 

Xiao Mo’s eyes lit up. “You’re really skilled at this.”

 

Chu Jinglan withdrew his hands modestly and said, “I can help you braid your hair anytime.”

 

To his surprise, Xiao Mo waved him off. “No need.”

 

“I just realized—I might not be able to instantly conjure a real jade crown onto my head, but I can easily create a bun and then put the crown on top of it myself. That works too, doesn’t it? I was just being foolish earlier.”

 

Chu Jinglan: “…”

 

Still trying to make his case, Chu Jinglan added, “I can braid different styles for you—you can watch and learn.”

 

Xiao Mo thought about it for a moment before agreeing: “That works too. Let’s do it when we have more time—it would be too much trouble otherwise.”

 

Chu Jinglan glanced at the small jade bead swaying at the end of Xiao Mo’s braid and replied sincerely: “It’s not troublesome.”

 

He meant every word.

 

—

 

Once they were ready, they stepped outside. Qiuqiu hopped onto Xiao Mo’s shoulder. Its gray feathers had now molted, revealing primarily white plumage with faint hints of red at the tail. Over time, it would continue to molt until becoming a striking golden-red bird—a natural part of its growth as a Flowing Fire Phoenix.

 

Yue Ming was already on the deck of the flying boat as they approached their destination—the Wang family’s territory.

 

Much like the Cloud Peak Six Sects or alliances like the Immortal Alliance, Jinxiu Pavilion was composed of several influential families, each with its own domain. As the leading family within Jinxiu Pavilion, the Wang family naturally occupied an impressive territory.

 

Upon entering the Wang family’s domain, they had to disembark from their flying boat and pass through the mountain gate. Several sects and families from Yuzhou had already arrived, and Wang family disciples were stationed outside to receive guests. When Chu Jinglan, Yue Ming, and Xiao Mo revealed their identities and purpose as representatives of Yingyue Sect, they were promptly escorted inside.

 

The Wang family divided its territory into fifty estates. Upon entering through the main gate, they were greeted by beast-drawn chariots waiting for them. The chariots were crafted from high-quality black gold—luxurious and ornate—and both the beasts pulling them and their decorations were clearly expensive. From the very entrance onward, everything exuded wealth.

 

The disciple escorting them spoke politely: “Honored Daoists, please follow me. Yingyue Sect has been assigned accommodations at Pine Hill Estate within Jadeite Manor. You three are the earliest arrivals from Yingyue Sect—if you have any requests or find anything lacking in our hospitality, please let us know.”

 

The three boarded one of the chariots, which took off into the air. Whatever else might be said about the Wang family’s hospitality—it certainly carried an air of grandeur.

 

The chariot flew over the Wang family’s territory before landing at Pine Hill Estate within Jadeite Manor. Several large courtyards had been set aside specifically to host guests from Yingyue Sect. Upon learning about Chu Jinglan and Yue Ming’s seniority within their sect, the disciples showed great tact in arranging accommodations.

 

For instance, despite Chu Jinglan’s youth, his seniority demanded that he be given a private courtyard—a matter of proper etiquette for someone of his rank. Normally, if Xiao Mo were treated as an attendant or subordinate, he would have been assigned a separate room elsewhere. However, instead of making such arrangements outright, one disciple turned to Chu Jinglan and Xiao Mo and asked: “Would this shared courtyard suit both of you?”

 

Xiao Mo lightly rubbed his flute as he realized why the disciple had phrased it as “both of you.”

 

Let’s not forget—Jinxiu Pavilion’s business includes the trade of information. Clearly, the news that he and Chu Jinglan were Dao companions had already reached the ears of Jinxiu Pavilion’s people.

 

The disciples assigned to guide guests from various sects had undoubtedly done their homework. And with the name “Chu Jinglan” already well-known, the Wang family disciples treated them with utmost courtesy.

 

Xiao Mo thought to himself: This isn’t good. The news is spreading even faster than I expected.

 

The room they were shown to was spacious, with a bed large enough to fit four or five people, meditation cushions, and a soft couch for resting. There was nothing wrong with the accommodations. After receiving their approval, the disciple prepared to leave but said before departing: “Each courtyard has a small bell outside. Simply infuse it with spiritual energy, and an attendant will come up from the foot of the mountain. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll take my leave now.”

 

The Wang family’s attention to detail was evident everywhere—everything was luxurious yet tasteful. Sitting at the table in the room, Xiao Mo ran his fingers over his flute in silence.

 

Noticing that Xiao Mo seemed distracted, Chu Jinglan asked, “What’s on your mind?”

 

“I’m thinking about something,” Xiao Mo replied absentmindedly. “The news about us being Dao companions is spreading too quickly. I was considering whether we should remove the Dao companion mark, but now that even Jinxiu Pavilion knows about it, removing it might only lead to more rumors.”

 

Chu Jinglan paused for a moment and looked at Xiao Mo. “If you’re uncomfortable with it, feel free to remove it.”

 

Xiao Mo’s gaze focused as he looked up at Chu Jinglan. “But your reputation—”

 

“Rumors from the outside world are nothing but illusions,” Chu Jinglan said firmly, his tone resolute. “I’ve never cared about such things.”

 

Xiao Mo opened his mouth as if to say something but closed it again. It was true—Chu Jinglan genuinely didn’t care about such things. No one could provoke him with baseless gossip.

 

Chu Jinglan added, “As long as it’s your wish.”

 

The words seemed light yet carried weight. Xiao Mo felt as though an invisible string inside him had been plucked. His fingers brushed against his flute uneasily as he asked, “What do you think?”

 

After all, from Xiao Mo’s perspective, this whole situation impacted Chu Jinglan’s reputation far more than his own. As for himself, he didn’t even use his real name publicly—“Mo Lan” was just an alias.

 

Chu Jinglan glanced at Xiao Mo softly and remained silent for a moment before answering: “I think it’s fine. Heart demons have a strong sense of connection to their original bodies, but after forming the Dao companion mark, I can sense your location much more clearly… It’s convenient at times.”

 

That was true—for example, during their fight against demonic cultivators in Colorful Butterfly Town. When they needed to coordinate their actions seamlessly, using the Dao companion mark to sense each other had saved them a lot of time.

 

To them, the Dao companion mark functioned more like a tool. But now that Chu Jinglan’s reputation had risen significantly, they were no longer just two unknown cultivators wandering through the cultivation world. Xiao Mo wondered if perhaps it was time to reconsider…

 

Just as this thought crossed his mind, someone outside the courtyard suddenly amplified their voice with spiritual energy and called out loudly: “I’ve heard that Yingyue Sect’s Chu Jinglan has arrived! Is he staying here?”

 

Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan both paused their conversation, exchanged a glance, and nodded before stepping out of the courtyard together.

 

When the gate opened, they were greeted by a man standing outside with a silver spear strapped to his back. His sharp brows and bright eyes gave him an imposing presence. Arms crossed, he raised an eyebrow upon seeing Chu Jinglan and Xiao Mo emerge together.

 

“Chu Jinglan?” he asked.

 

Chu Jinglan didn’t respond, but Xiao Mo spoke first: “Since you’ve come knocking, shouldn’t you first introduce yourself?”

 

“Tian Ge Sect, Lie Ying,” the man replied.

 

Tian Ge Sect—one of the leading sects within the Immortal Alliance.

 

Hearing the voice, Yue Ming emerged from his own quarters. Lie Ying gave a casual cupped-fist salute before continuing: “I’m here just to confirm whether Daoist Chu truly has a Dao companion.”

 

Xiao Mo: ?

 

Chu Jinglan’s tone was cold. “What if I do? What if I don’t?”

 

Yue Ming had initially thought someone might be here to cause trouble, but this opening left him utterly baffled. Xiao Mo was equally curious about why Lie Ying would ask such a question. What came next, however, completely exceeded everyone’s expectations.

 

“If you do, then I can rest easy,” Lie Ying said, his silver spear gleaming in the sunlight. “The old geezers in my family have been scheming to arrange a marriage alliance between us, but I’m not interested. As long as you have a Dao companion, it’ll put an end to their plans.”

 

Not just Xiao Mo and Yue Ming—even Chu Jinglan was momentarily stunned. None of them had expected that to be the answer!

 

It took Xiao Mo some time to process this revelation: Of course! With Chu Jinglan’s rising fame, it’s no surprise that these kinds of troubles are starting to crop up.

 

Back in the Lower Realm, Chu Jinglan had already faced an arranged marriage with the Su family. Now that he was in the Yingyue Sect, with his talent and seniority, as long as the sect valued peace and wanted to keep him around, they wouldn’t force him into another marriage alliance. But that didn’t stop others from trying! A prodigy like Chu Jinglan would naturally attract countless suitors seeking alliances through marriage.

 

Even if he refused outright, dealing with these proposals one by one would still be a hassle. And who knew how many more might come knocking?

 

At that moment, another figure strolled leisurely up behind Lie Ying and spoke: “I’m also curious whether this rumor is true.”

 

All eyes turned toward the newcomer. This person looked at Chu Jinglan with clear admiration on their face. Yue Ming raised an eyebrow and asked: “Don’t tell me—you too?”

 

“Yes,” the newcomer nodded. “My elders have had similar thoughts.”

 

Xiao Mo was shocked: There are really this many people?!

 

Yue Ming waved dismissively: “Well then, those who need reassurance can rest assured, and those who need to give up can give up—Chu Jinglan already has a Dao companion! And let me tell you, he treasures them dearly!”

 

Lie Ying visibly relaxed at this and said cheerfully: “That’s great. I have no other business here—farewell.”

 

With that, he spun around and left in a whirlwind of energy. The second visitor, however, didn’t leave immediately; instead, they turned their gaze toward Xiao Mo.

 

Chu Jinglan’s aura clearly marked him as a Nascent Soul cultivator, while Xiao Mo’s displayed only Foundation Establishment level. Even though this newcomer had never met either of them before, it was easy enough to deduce who was who. They asked: “Is it this person by Daoist Chu’s side?”

 

At that moment, Chu Jinglan didn’t respond—because Xiao Mo had just mentioned possibly removing their Dao companion mark.

 

If Xiao Mo insisted on removing it, Chu Jinglan would agree.

 

Even if they removed it now, Chu Jinglan was confident that their bond would deepen over time and that they could form another Dao companion mark in the future if needed. He wasn’t in any rush.

 

For this reason, speaking about their relationship himself felt somewhat inappropriate at the moment.

 

As Chu Jinglan deliberated on how to respond, Xiao Mo spoke up instead.

 

“It’s me,” Xiao Mo said calmly.

 

Chu Jinglan’s gaze shifted slightly, and he turned his head to look at Xiao Mo.

 

Xiao Mo smiled faintly at the person in front of them but was simultaneously speaking to Chu Jinglan through voice transmission.

 

“I almost forgot about these kinds of troubles. Let’s deal with this together for now. I hadn’t considered these issues before, so as for the Dao companion mark… we’ll discuss it later.”

 

Chu Jinglan’s gaze softened as he replied through the transmission: “Alright.”

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1 Kofi = 1 Extra Chapter