PID Chapter 88

(5/5) Extra Update

 

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The trial left behind by the Wang family ancestor wasn’t designed for participants to fight to the death.

 

In Chu Jinglan’s trial, whirlpools occasionally appeared in the air, capable of transporting participants out of the trial. Among the ten participants, whoever remained inside until the end would be declared the winner.

 

However, anyone who poisoned another participant or caused them to lose more than half a bowl of blood would automatically fail and be sent out. The trial required combat skill but also restraint—it was a true test of ability.

 

The first opponent Chu Jinglan encountered came at him aggressively but quickly realized they couldn’t win against him. Resorting to desperate measures, they attempted to get themselves injured by deliberately crashing their arm into Chu Jinglan’s sword in hopes of disqualifying him.

 

Chu Jinglan responded with effortless precision—a slight flick of his wrist brought the hilt of his sword down onto their ribs. The inner demon perched on his shoulder could hear the distinct sound of two ribs breaking. Without hesitation, Chu Jinglan followed up with a swift kick—his long legs moving gracefully—and sent them flying out of the trial before they could even cry out in pain.

 

Watching Chu Jinglan fight was an experience in itself. His sharp sword strikes inspired awe and fear—his clean and efficient movements radiated power. His sword light and overwhelming intent could strike terror into weaker opponents while igniting battle fervor in stronger ones.

 

Chu Jinglan carried himself with confidence but without arrogance. Standing tall with his sword in hand, he exuded an air that gave Xiao Mo something others couldn’t feel—a sense of security.

 

As the combatants gathered and their attacks grew fiercer, the inner demon sitting on Chu Jinglan’s shoulder remained utterly unaffected—calm amidst chaos.

 

Perhaps too calm—the tiny figure swung its legs idly while Xiao Mo outside the trial unwrapped some snacks that Chu Jinglan had given him last night and continued munching on them.

 

In the cultivation world, preservation runes were far superior to refrigerators—a must-have for travel or home use without worrying about food spoiling.

 

Experiencing battles up close from a “decorative accessory” perspective was an incredibly novel experience—something most people couldn’t enjoy. Xiao Mo managed it effortlessly thanks to his powerful spiritual consciousness, allowing him to multitask like this.

 

While observing through both perspectives, Xiao Mo noticed Su Baimo emerging from another trial.

 

Whatever Su Baimo had experienced inside was unclear. Since advancing to Golden Core stage and expanding his qi sea while improving his aptitude, Lingxiao Sect had finally begun acknowledging him properly—granting him official disciple status at last.

 

Su Baimo still carried some luck, likely having come across something valuable earlier that improved his aptitude.

 

However, since the old Heaven’s Will had planted a seed of karma within him, once the old Heaven’s Will dissipated, Su Baimo’s great fortune would vanish entirely.

 

If Su Baimo hadn’t chosen to cooperate with the old Heaven’s Will previously, then even after its demise, he would still have retained his original luck and lived a better life than most in the cultivation world. But his greed knew no bounds—he wanted all the best things in the world. Having chosen his path, he should have understood the consequences that might come with it.

 

Xiao Mo popped a dried fruit into his mouth and chewed on its sweetness. He shifted his gaze away from Su Baimo but suddenly froze mid-bite as another thought crossed his mind.

 

“System,” Xiao Mo multitasked effortlessly, splitting part of his focus to converse with the system. “If the original story was meant to contrast Chu Jinglan and Su Baimo, then what’s the deal with the novel plot I read in the modern world?”

 

The system’s voice emerged: “Ah, that part requires me to explain because even if you recover all your memories, you wouldn’t know about this.”

 

Xiao Mo’s eyelid twitched—he had a bad feeling about this. He immediately activated the East Clear Pearl to ensure his spiritual consciousness remained stable before speaking: “Go ahead.”

 

Please don’t tell me there’s some ridiculous drama between Chu Jinglan and Su Baimo, Xiao Mo thought nervously.

 

The system explained: “When you entered the modern small world, the old Heaven’s Will attempted to prevent you from returning by adding a shell around the cultivation world. This affected the time differential—our original calculations for your return were incorrect. The cultivation world began progressing rapidly.”

 

Xiao Mo nodded slowly; this part was still acceptable.

 

“By the time you returned, this world had already reached the point where Chu Jinglan joined Yingyue Sect.”

 

Xiao Mo’s nod froze mid-motion, and he stiffened: “What?”

 

The system continued: “While I was regaining strength in the gaps between worlds, I could only observe from afar. I saw chaos energy transform into the new Heaven’s Will—but it was too weak and needed a protector. It sought out Chu Jinglan.”

 

Chu Jinglan regained his memories and chose to help it.

 

Xiao Mo crushed the dried fruit in his hand as his throat tightened painfully: “…He didn’t have to get involved.”

 

“No,” the system replied. “The old Heaven’s Will was quietly manipulating his fortune as well. In truth, he was also helping himself. However—”

 

At that time, Chu Jinglan asked: “Will Xiao Mo come back?”

 

No one knew. Chu Jinglan received no answer, but even without one, he had to keep moving forward.

 

As for helping Su Baimo? That was merely a way for Chu Jinglan to subtly reclaim some of the fortune that had been shifted by the old Heaven’s Will through karmic ties. Chu Jinglan had never liked Su Baimo—not ever.

 

“While you were gone,” the system concluded softly, “he walked through an entire lifetime alone.”

 

The hardships, the loneliness—there were countless inspirational or sentimental ways to describe it. But from all the words available, the system chose something simple yet powerful: “He tried very hard.”

 

He tried very hard.

 

Xiao Mo took a deep breath.

 

He had been by Chu Jinglan’s side, witnessing firsthand how he clawed his way up from despair. He had endured unimaginable pain and suffering, and even the inhuman torment of repairing his dantian. And in the modern novel Xiao Mo had read, Chu Jinglan’s actions while helping Su Baimo were beyond daring—he ventured into places no one else would dare to go. He worked for Su Baimo silently, yet his every move was breathtaking.

 

This was why no reader ever doubted Chu Jinglan’s deep emotions, even though he never voiced them.

 

It wasn’t because he’d been blinded by melodrama—it was simply another chapter in his journey of resilience.

 

But now that Xiao Mo had transmigrated into this world and met the seventeen-year-old Chu Jinglan again, it meant that during that solitary path, Chu Jinglan had once again met his death.

 

Xiao Mo couldn’t help but ask: “What’s going on with the new Heaven’s Will? I protected its birth, and Chu Jinglan became its guardian—how have we still not defeated the old Heaven’s Will?”

 

“There wasn’t enough time,” the system replied. Detecting Xiao Mo’s emotional peak, it added a side comment: “Host, are you feeling sorry for Chu Jinglan?”

 

“He shouldn’t have had to suffer so much—over and over again. Even if he can stand back up and keep moving forward—” Xiao Mo lowered his gaze to the crushed fruit in his palm. His chest ached as if it were shattering along with it. His voice, initially filled with emotion, gradually softened into something heavy and somber as it sank into a heart he wasn’t even sure he still possessed.

 

“Yes, I feel sorry for him.”

 

Xiao Mo placed the crushed fruit into his mouth and chewed slowly. Perhaps the pressure from his grip had ruined its texture because this time, amidst its usual sweetness, he tasted bitterness.

 

Chu Jinglan had planned everything meticulously. If Su Baimo aligned himself with Heaven’s Will to decide Chu Jinglan’s fate, then Su Baimo himself wouldn’t survive either.

 

No one knew what Chu Jinglan was thinking when he died—except for him.

 

He thought about many things but also very few. In the end, he thought of Xiao Mo.

 

Xiao Mo was the most vivid presence in Chu Jinglan’s otherwise sparse connections. Calling him a friend didn’t seem sufficient, but Chu Jinglan couldn’t figure out what term would best describe their relationship.

 

In truth, their time together hadn’t been that long. Xiao Mo was always busy. Each time they met, Chu Jinglan secretly wished Xiao Mo could stay a little longer.

 

If there were ever another chance to meet again… he would make sure to spend more time with Xiao Mo. Perhaps then he could figure out what word truly captured their bond.

 

Xiao Mo said that Chu Jinglan suffered greatly—but when Xiao Mo chose his identity in the modern world, he deliberately picked one with weak familial ties. He became someone unloved by either parent and avoided forming deep connections with others. Wasn’t that just another kind of suffering?

 

Finishing the slightly bitter fruit, Xiao Mo tightened his grip on Chu Jinglan’s collar through the tiny inner demon sitting on his shoulder within the secret realm.

 

Chu Jinglan defeated his final opponent and watched as a reward descended before him. However, instead of immediately collecting it, he noticed the pressure on his collar and asked the inner demon: “What’s wrong?”

 

Afraid that speaking might betray his emotions, Xiao Mo lowered his voice and pretended to be casual: “Oh, I saw the reward appear and got curious. Go check it out.”

 

Chu Jinglan accepted the box containing the reward. Inside was a rune stone carrying two powerful sword intents. No wonder all of his opponents had been sword cultivators—it seemed like the trial had grouped them together based on their affinity for swords.

 

The stone could be used both for comprehension and as protection—a valuable reward indeed. Chu Jinglan accepted it without hesitation.

 

The trial concluded, and Chu Jinglan exited the trial grounds unscathed, much to the satisfaction of the Divided Spirit cultivators observing him. The tiny inner demon on his shoulder disappeared, merging back into Xiao Mo’s body. As Chu Jinglan walked back to Xiao Mo’s side, Xiao Mo kept his eyes lowered, completely avoiding looking at him.

 

He was afraid that if he looked, the emotions churning in his eyes would spill out uncontrollably.

 

Or worse—if he looked at Chu Jinglan now, Xiao Mo might feel an overwhelming urge to give him a hug.

 

But that would undoubtedly leave Chu Jinglan feeling bewildered. After all, nothing significant had happened. Xiao Mo had even conjured a inner demon to accompany him during the trial. If he suddenly rushed forward to hug him now, it would only confuse him.

 

So he couldn’t do it—he couldn’t let Chu Jinglan see the sadness on his face.

 

Gripping his flute tightly, Xiao Mo forcibly suppressed the impulse to embrace him.

 

It wasn’t until Chu Jinglan stopped beside him that Xiao Mo finally spoke through voice transmission in his usual tone: “That was an impressive performance.”

 

Chu Jinglan didn’t suspect anything unusual and simply treated it as a casual conversation.

 

Xiao Mo couldn’t quite remember what he said next or what actions he took because everything felt like a hollow performance. It wasn’t until Chu Jinglan grabbed his wrist and said in surprise, “Mo Lan?” that Xiao Mo froze.

 

The sounds around him and the scene before him felt hazy. Some time had already passed, and Xiao Mo thought he had managed to compose himself well enough—his expression and gaze should no longer reveal any cracks. Only then did he turn his head and reply nonchalantly: “Hm? What is it?”

 

Chu Jinglan silently stared at him.

 

Following Chu Jinglan’s gaze, Xiao Mo realized that he was holding a dried fruit in his hand—a fruit with a hard shell that needed to be peeled. Yet somehow, without even looking at it, Xiao Mo had been about to put it directly into his mouth.

 

Xiao Mo fell silent as well.

 

Without saying a word, Chu Jinglan quietly took the shelled fruit from Xiao Mo’s fingers. With a simple twist of his hand, he peeled off the hard shell and placed the now-shelled fruit back into Xiao Mo’s palm.

 

Xiao Mo stared at the fruit in his hand, now stripped of its protective shell, and suddenly felt all the tension drain out of him.

 

“I… I actually encountered a small problem during my spiritual consciousness training just now,” Xiao Mo admitted softly.

 

Chu Jinglan’s expression tensed immediately. “Was it because you split off part of yourself for the inner demon? Is the East Clear Pearl not working?”

 

“No, no—it works perfectly! It’s very effective—it’s just… I’m just a little tired.”

 

Not wanting to worry him further, Xiao Mo hurriedly explained. But as he met Chu Jinglan’s gaze, the turbulence in his chest only grew worse. The defenses he had carefully constructed seemed on the verge of melting away under that gaze, leaving him utterly defenseless.

 

He hadn’t been like this before—he used to be able to maintain his facade effortlessly no matter what.

 

Clutching the fruit in his hand, Xiao Mo admitted defeat for the first time.

 

“I’m really just a bit tired,” he murmured. “Can I… hold your hand again? Just for a moment.”

 

Chu Jinglan extended his palm without hesitation. “Alright.”

 

Xiao Mo placed his hand in Chu Jinglan’s, and the warmth of his palm spread instantly. For a brief moment, Xiao Mo wondered if he might cry from the overwhelming sensation.

 

Thankfully, inner demons couldn’t shed tears.

 

Holding Chu Jinglan’s hand tightly, Xiao Mo used his other hand to place the peeled fruit Chu Jinglan had prepared into his mouth.

 

Meanwhile, Chu Jinglan’s free hand wasn’t idle. He picked up more shelled fruits from the food box nearby and skillfully peeled several at once, placing the cleaned fruit back into the box.

 

Xiao Mo didn’t rush to eat again; instead, he quietly watched Chu Jinglan’s movements bit by bit.

 

At some point, a new figure appeared near the trial entrance, prompting both Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan to glance up simultaneously.

 

It was Fenxiu.

 

His arrival drew brief attention from many in the area, so Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan’s gaze blended naturally with the others. However, the demon who had been with Fenxiu earlier was no longer by his side—he was now alone.

 

Xiao Mo withdrew his gaze and listened to the sound of fruit shells being crushed as he used voice transmission to speak to Chu Jinglan: “Chu Jinglan, if we manage to reach the ninth floor of this secret realm, use its time dilation to push yourself and break through to Divided Spirit stage. How about it?”

 

Chu Jinglan responded through voice transmission as well: “Are you worried about Fenxiu’s threat?”

 

After peeling another fruit effortlessly, Chu Jinglan added: “Alright. If I’m chosen for the ninth floor, I’ll double my efforts in cultivation.”

 

Xiao Mo smiled. “Good. I believe in you.”

 

He smiled as he spoke with Chu Jinglan but lowered his tone when addressing the system: “Since the cultivation world restarted without my knowledge, the old Heaven’s Will should have very little power left. If the new Heaven’s Will can’t win this time, that would be unacceptable.”

 

The system replied: “Correct. The new Heaven’s Will has been hiding and quietly accumulating strength. Based on calculated probabilities, its chances of winning are very high this time. Host, your task should also be much easier.”

 

“No matter how easy it is,” Xiao Mo said firmly, “I won’t let Chu Jinglan get dragged into it again.”

 

The words “I won’t” were spoken with unwavering determination—resolute and final.

 

He had already decided to part ways with Chu Jinglan. Once everything was over and settled, he would return to apologize.

 

Xiao Mo shifted his fingers slightly within their clasped hands as a fleeting thought passed through his hazy mind—Why have I never considered disappearing completely from Chu Jinglan’s life?

 

Of all the plans he had devised, every one involved temporarily stepping away or avoiding entangling Chu Jinglan further. But if he was already going so far, why hadn’t he thought of simply leaving for good? Why not make himself a fleeting presence in Chu Jinglan’s long life—a mere passerby?

 

For this version of Chu Jinglan without memories of their past life, Xiao Mo was just a friend who had once been an inner demon. Even if losing him caused pain initially, with a cultivator’s lifespan spanning thousands of years, Xiao Mo could fake his death and never return—letting time reduce him to nothing more than a speck of dust in Chu Jinglan’s memories.

 

I shouldn’t make Chu Jinglan wait for me, Xiao Mo thought bitterly. Why should he wait for someone who appeared suddenly only to disappear just as abruptly?

 

But as he contemplated how his actions would affect Chu Jinglan emotionally… wasn’t there another reason? A reason that belonged solely to him? Could it be that Xiao Mo himself couldn’t bear to leave?

 

Xiao Mo tightened his grip on Chu Jinglan’s hand.

 

The warmth in his palm reminded him of so many things—their first meeting when they bickered constantly; how Chu Jinglan endured Xiao Mo’s flute playing as it evolved from discordant noise into melody; how he trusted an inner demon enough to buy spiritual food for him; how he wanted to protect him; how he lit lamps for him in dark places; and how he extended a warm hand when Xiao Mo’s heart was shaken and unsettled.

 

This time, it wasn’t just Xiao Mo’s chest where the East Clear Pearl churned with emotion—his eyes began to sting, and even his sea of consciousness seemed to be boiling over.

 

Chu Jinglan was so good.

 

Even without the shared battles of their past life, he was still here, right by Xiao Mo’s side, in the closest place to him.

 

…It seems I—I mean, it’s not just “seems”—I do have selfishness. I can’t bear to let go.

 

So this is it—I can’t let go of Chu Jinglan.

 

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1 Kofi = 1 Extra Chapter