AVL Chapter 9

The Xi family was one of Central State’s prestigious families, with a flourishing clan and countless branch lines.

 

Back then, Xi Jianlan was the center of attention, only knowing pleasure. Wherever he went, a crowd surrounded him—how could he remember all the people from the Xi family branches clearly?

 

“…But he was also a member of my Xi family.” Xi Jianlan’s eyes were still red as he stubbornly said, “Doesn’t your Xiezhi Sect pride itself on justice? I’m clearly the victim, so why am I still being treated like a criminal with Binding Silk?”

 

Sheng Jiao said: “Tianyan pearl.”

 

“Just one Tianyan pearl determined my guilt.” Xi Jianlan gave up completely, spouting nonsense. “‘Worthy of Heavenly Dao’ is

 

Sheng Jiao’s Xiangwen—doesn’t that pearl just show ‘execute’ when he says ‘execute’? I’ll tell you the truth: if Sheng Jiao wasn’t lusting after my body, he would have already turned all 108 pearls to ‘execute’ in shame and anger to silence me!”

 

Sheng Jiao: “…”

 

Juan Xunfang: “…”

 

Shang Yuan said in surprise: “The Sect Master actually lusts… mmph.”

 

Juan Xunfang cast a silencing spell on her.

 

Sheng Jiao said expressionlessly: “Didn’t you say before that Sheng Jiao had… deep-rooted feelings for you?”

 

The last four words almost drifted out from between his teeth.

 

“Yes.” Xi Jianlan’s hands were still pulled by the Binding Silk, struggling to stand on his tiptoes as his slender body began to tremble, but he refused to lose face, spouting nonsense: “He unilaterally has deep-rooted feelings for me. I’ve already harshly rejected him. But Sect Master Sheng couldn’t have what he wanted, so love turned to hate. In his madness, he tried to defile my purity and destroy my body.”

 

Sheng Jiao: “…”

 

Juan Xunfang’s heart was like still water, his face numb as he said softly: “Sir, may I destroy his soul now?”

 

Sheng Jiao: “………..”

 

Xi Jianlan relied on that capture warrant requiring him “alive,” babbling on: “Heh, you might as well use your Xiezhi Sect’s harsh methods to scatter my soul. Then when Sheng Wuzhuo loses his beloved, his Ruthless Dao will surely break, he’ll fall into madness overnight and slaughter the Thirteen States!”

 

Juan Xunfang finally exploded, suddenly drawing his sword: “I’ll kill you!”

 

“Come on.” Xi Jianlan was fearless, a rare sharp look appearing in his eyes. “Do it. I’m right here waiting for you to kill me—if you have the guts.”

 

Juan Xunfang’s sword-gripping hand stiffened.

 

Xi Jianlan spun tall tales and was an absolute dandy scoundrel, which made Juan Xunfang almost forget…

 

This person had consistently ranked first at Tianyan Academy and, like Sheng Jiao, formed his nascent soul at seventeen, shocking the Thirteen States.

 

He was the twelfth person in all the Thirteen States to have a Spiritual level Xiangwen. Although no one knew what his Xiangwen actually was, his cultivation speed back then amazed countless people—truly monstrous.

 

When Juan Xunfang was young, he had heard of the “Young Immortal Lord of the Xi Family’s” reputation.

 

If not for the Xi family’s disaster six years ago, given Xi Jianlan’s talent, he would probably now be a great power no less than Sheng Jiao. Perhaps in a few decades, he could have achieved enlightenment and ascended to become an immortal lord envied by all.

 

…Now, he couldn’t even break free from a single Binding Silk.

 

Juan Xunfang was still stunned when Sheng Jiao glanced at him sideways.

 

Juan Xunfang shivered and reluctantly sheathed his sword.

 

Xi Jianlan was about to shout loudly again when Sheng Jiao finally lost patience and sealed him with another silencing spell.

 

The entire compartment fell quiet.

 

Xi Jianlan: “…”

 

The Binding Silk suddenly retracted, forcibly dragging Xi Jianlan to stumble a few steps and crash beside Sheng Jiao, reluctantly sitting down.

 

Having nearly been hung up and beaten earlier, his sickly pale slender wrist bore a red mark from the restraint. Xi Jianlan looked through the bamboo curtain gaps at the painting in the center while gently rubbing his wrist.

 

Probably touching a sore spot, he frowned and gently blew on the wound.

 

That was indeed a complete Xiangwen.

 

The aura emanated by Tianyan Xiangwen was different from ordinary spiritual roots. Xi Jianlan’s cultivation was ruined, so he couldn’t detect what level of Xiangwen it was, but even if it was Mysterious level, it would be enough to cause a huge uproar in the Thirteen States.

 

Xi Jianlan watched with a serious expression, thinking of something unknown, then opened his mouth toward Sheng Jiao beside him, but no sound came out.

 

He had to quickly make a series of hand signs, the Binding Silk clanking as his flying hands moved it.

 

[Can’t Xiezhi Sect forcibly requisition that painting? Do you really have to buy it with spirit stones?]

 

Sheng Jiao frowned: “Noisy.”

 

Xi Jianlan vigorously shook his hands, making the Binding Silk clank even louder.

 

Sheng Jiao said: “No need to buy it. Xiezhi Sect only wants to know who the seller is.”

 

A Mysterious level Xiangwen—even buying it wouldn’t yield any clues.

 

Xi Jianlan rapidly signed: “[What about my brother’s Xiangwen?! You’re not going to care about it?]

 

Only after finishing the hand signs did he suddenly realize: Wait, how does this person understand sign language?

 

Xi Jianlan knew sign language because his classmate Rang Chen at Tianyan Academy’s Zhuxing Zhai practiced silent meditation, and he had taught the others bits and pieces.

 

Ordinary people who weren’t deaf or mute shouldn’t understand sign language.

 

Xi Jianlan stared at him for a while, his heart suddenly jumping heavily.

 

‘Could this person… be Sheng Jiao?’

 

Once this thought arose, Xi Jianlan shuddered violently.

 

No, no way.

 

He immediately dismissed this terrifying idea.

 

If it were Sheng Jiao, he should have slit his throat with a sword upon first sight. Moreover, hearing him fabricate those nonexistent romantic stories all along the way, he would have been furious and struck him dead with Worthy of Heavenly Dao.

 

He shouldn’t be so calm.

 

Besides, Sheng Jiao was very easy to deceive, while this person was quite shrewd.

 

It couldn’t be Sheng Jiao.

 

Although thinking this way, Xi Jianlan still decided to find a chance to test him.

 

Today Guchangsi Temple probably wanted to use that painting as the finale. As the chime sounded, a master in kasaya finally appeared silently under the bodhi tree, pressing his palms together and bowing to the people around.

 

The auction of other spiritual objects began.

 

Xi Jianlan’s gaze remained fixed on that painting, plotting something unknown in his mind.

 

After a moment, the silencing spell was finally lifted.

 

If it were before, once he could speak he would definitely babble non-stop, but this time he was surprisingly obedient, not saying a single word.

 

Sheng Jiao glanced at him.

 

Xi Jianlan smiled at him, incredibly well-behaved.

 

Sheng Jiao looked down again, continuing to watch the painting.

 

Xi Jianlan lazily propped his chin and began staring intently at Sheng Jiao’s profile. Having just fake-cried, his eyes were like a deep pool rippling with light, extremely alluring.

 

Sheng Jiao remained unmoved, not even giving him a peripheral glance.

 

But Juan Xunfang couldn’t stand it and said in a low voice: “What are you looking at?”

 

Xi Jianlan smiled and leaned back, his back resting against the desk. Tilting his head slightly to meet

 

Juan Xunfang’s eyes, he smiled with curved lips: “Looking at how beautiful your sir is, like a flower.”

 

Juan Xunfang: “…”

 

Juan Xunfang looked at him expressionlessly, only regretting why he had been blind earlier and thought this person was pitiful.

 

Pitiful my ass!

 

“I heard Sect Master Sheng was in Wuyin City yesterday.” Xi Jianlan said with a smile, “You might not know, but I also live there. Sheng Jiao probably came to find me to rekindle our old romance.”

 

Juan Xunfang: “…You’re talking nonsense!”

 

“Little girl.” Xi Jianlan turned to the dazed Shang Yuan beside him, “Do you believe it?”

 

Shang Yuan believed it—she believed whatever anyone told her. She said in surprise: “Does the Sect Master really want to rekindle old romance with you?”

 

“Yes.” Xi Jianlan propped his elbow on the table, squinting and smiling continuously, “Otherwise, with such a major event as Xi Qingfeng’s Xiangwen painting appearing at Guchangsi Temple, why didn’t he come personally?”

 

Shang Yuan tilted her head, seriously pondering this complex question for her.

 

Xi Jianlan mentally “tsk”ed.

 

He had spouted a bunch of nonsense, but Shang Yuan and Juan Xunfang showed no abnormality, and even the person behind him didn’t glance over.

 

Could it really not be Sheng Jiao?

 

Just then, under the bodhi tree below, a young monk brought up an exquisite flower pot. A snow-white spiritual flower swayed continuously, emanating a strong fragrance.

 

It was actually a Yutan flower!

 

Xi Jianlan frowned.

 

Two Yutan flowers appearing in succession today was too strange.

 

Was someone else baiting him?

 

None of the people who came to Guchangsi Temple today truly wanted to buy anything. The Yutan flower wasn’t a spiritual medicine everyone needed, so when it was brought out, not a single person bid.

 

Xi Jianlan stared at that Yutan flower, unconsciously licking his pale lips.

 

At this moment, a familiar voice echoed throughout Guchangsi Temple.

 

“Fifty thousand spirit stones.”

 

Xi Jianlan’s eyes lit up.

 

Feng Yu’s voice!

 

Feng Yu was too lazy to compete with others and simply bid the maximum price directly.

 

A Yutan flower, even six years ago at its highest price, was only worth ten thousand spirit stones. Fifty thousand spirit stones was more than enough.

 

The watching cultivators looked at each other, not quite understanding why this Tan flower was so precious.

 

Xi Jianlan’s heart immediately settled.

 

Although Feng Yu had a bad temper, he was quite reliable at crucial moments.

 

Xi Jianlan gripped the railing with both hands, looking out through the bamboo curtain gaps to search for Feng Yu’s figure, his beautiful eyes full of anticipation and relief.

 

Sheng Jiao glanced at him.

 

Xi Jianlan suddenly thought of something, tilted his head and said to Sheng Jiao with a smile: “Sir.”

 

Sheng Jiao didn’t respond.

 

Every time Xi Jianlan deliberately softened his voice to call “Sir,” he was definitely up to mischief.

 

Sure enough, even though Sheng Jiao ignored him, Xi Jianlan could continue his one-man show.

 

“Sir, I want that flower. Could you buy it for me?”

 

Sheng Jiao was too lazy to pay attention to him.

 

Juan Xunfang frowned: “If you want that flower, why should… the sir buy it for you?”

 

“This is for your Sect Master Sheng’s own good.” Xi Jianlan said.

 

Juan Xunfang exploded: “What does it have to do with our Sect Master?!”

 

“You don’t understand.” Xi Jianlan began spouting nonsense again, “Your Sect Master is wise and mighty with overwhelming cultivation, so naturally he has vigorous energy and insatiable demands—if I’m really brought back to Xiezhi Sect, I’ll definitely be forcibly taken by Sect Master Sheng whose love has turned to hate, dragged to bed and forced to submit.”

 

The “insatiably demanding” Sect Master Sheng: “…”

 

Juan Xunfang: “…”

 

He instinctively wanted to seal this person’s mouth, but when he turned around and found Sheng Jiao actually listening with a cold face, his hand forming seals paused.

 

Xi Jianlan continued babbling: “—But with my broken body with severed meridians, I probably wouldn’t last even once before bleeding rivers and perishing beautifully. Then your Sect Master would definitely hold my corpse and cry bitterly, slaughtering all the Thirteen States to accompany me in death!”

 

Juan Xunfang’s trembling hand began constantly searching around his waist, probably looking for a knife.

 

Xi Jianlan finally reached his conclusion: “So, without a Yutan flower to extend my life, how can your Sect Master enjoy himself and achieve perfect harmony with me in body and soul?”

 

Shang Yuan was stunned speechless by this speech.

 

Juan Xunfang was trembling all over, mumbling: “Where’s my knife?”

 

Where’s my knife?!

 

If he didn’t chop this person down today, he’d be unworthy of the Sect Master’s cultivation!

 

Shang Yuan quickly stopped him, saying in terror: “Calm down! The Sect Master will slaughter all the Thirteen States for him!!”

 

Juan Xunfang roared like a vicious dog: “Why do you believe him again?! The Sect Master would never!”

 

Xi Jianlan sat back down with a grin, the black crane cloak contrasting with his sickly pale face like a dark lotus blooming under the bodhi tree, carrying an alluring mix of seduction and coldness when he smiled.

 

He smiled at Sheng Jiao: “So sir, for Sect Master Sheng…”

 

Before he could finish his prepared words, he saw Sheng Jiao, as if finally tired of hearing his nonsense, coldly transmit his voice.

 

“Sixty thousand.”

 

Feng Yu frowned.

 

Where did this sucker come from?

 

Juan Xunfang and Shang Yuan were both shocked.

 

Shang Yuan murmured: “First time seeing the sir so generous.”

 

Xi Jianlan was in awe of his wealth and boldness.

 

He finally confirmed it.

 

This person…

 

Absolutely could not be that stingy Sheng Jiao who only picked cheap jade stones when giving birthday gifts!

 

——————–

 

Author’s Note:

 

When Xi Jue is quiet, he’s definitely up to mischief.

 

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