C188 — Kill that Nine-Tailed Fox (24)

Jiang Yunji returned to the sect, and the moment he heard what had happened that afternoon, he immediately rushed toward the back mountain. But before he got far, the elder of Third Finger Peak called him over.

“Master,” Jiang Yunji asked anxiously, “Yu Qing fought with Senior Fu Jiuyin? Was he injured?”

The elder’s expression was grim, his tone harsh. “He is injured. He’s at the Sect Leader’s place recuperating. It may take months before he fully heals.”

“What? I need to see him.” Jiang Yunji turned to leave.

“Come back!” the elder barked. He pulled him back with a shout. “You can’t see him now anyway. The Sect Leader is in seclusion, personally treating him. It’ll be days before anyone is allowed in. Tell me first—what exactly is going on between Yu Qing and Xie Chen?”

Jiang Yunji recounted everything: how Shen Jue had asked Xie Chen to help him cultivate.

The elder’s expression grew even darker as he listened.

Xie Chen was already the most outstanding among the younger disciples of the sect, renowned across the cultivation world. Meanwhile, his own disciple remained little known. Even after the stroke of fortune in contracting with a dragon, Xie Chen had somehow been dragged into the matter, casting a shadow over their gain.

How could his dignity as master withstand that?

The only consolation was that, after much persuasion, Shen Jue had agreed to let the Sect Leader treat him personally.

“Yunji,” the elder said, shaking his head again and again, “although you and Yu Qing share a contract, it’s not rare these days for spirit beasts to abandon their partners for someone stronger. You need to show some skill of your own, understand? Or do you plan to spend your life pressed down by Xie Chen and First Finger Peak? Look at what happened today—Fu Jiuyin nearly tore your beast apart. What could we do? Nothing. The Sect Leader is obviously biased.”

Their treasured dragon had been mauled, yet the nine-tailed fox of First Finger Peak received no real punishment. At most, he was barred from Third Finger Peak for half a year. As for Xie Chen’s “confinement”? Laughable. Three months in seclusion was nothing more than an excuse for deeper cultivation.

It all came down to strength. If they were powerful enough, even the Sect Leader wouldn’t dare to be partial.

Jiang Yunji had already been brooding these past days. Hearing his master’s words now only made his face burn with humiliation and his chest swell with bitterness. Everything tasted sour and stifling.

Ten days later, Jiang Yunji finally saw Shen Jue again. The dragon was resting in the spiritual pool behind the Sect Leader’s main hall, asleep. When Jiang Yunji approached, he caught sight of the wounds still marring his companion’s body.

Many scales had yet to grow back, and the injury at his throat was especially severe.

“You needn’t worry too much,” the Sect Leader said, noticing Jiang Yunji’s expression. “His condition has improved greatly. In time, his scales will regrow.” He paused, then smiled gently. “Yunji, in a few months it will be time for the Immortal-Demon Tournament. I want you to lead the sect’s team.”

The Immortal-Demon Tournament, held once every five years, was a grand competition between righteous cultivators and demonic cultivators. Tianshui Sect had always won honor in this event. The team leader was always chosen from among the most outstanding disciples. Jiang Yunji had never imagined the role would fall to him.

He froze, barely able to stammer out, “Sect Leader, I… I lack experience. There are many senior brothers and sisters far more worthy.”

“Don’t belittle yourself,” the Sect Leader said. “This year, a new segment has been added—beast duels. I want you to bring Yu Qing. He may be young, but he has great drive. He’ll learn much from the tournament. I will also personally teach him some techniques during this time. You, too, must not slack off, understood?”

The Sect Leader ruffled his hair kindly. “Fu Jiuyin cannot be restrained, so you and Yu Qing must endure for now. But in time, I believe Yu Qing will surpass him. Don’t you agree?”

Jiang Yunji had still been wavering, but the Sect Leader’s last words made his chest burn.

He himself could endure slights, endure being looked down on—but Shen Jue could not.

The humiliation of having his scales torn off—this was a grudge he swore to help Shen Jue avenge openly, with dignity.

—

After returning, Jiang Yunji cultivated with even greater diligence. Each night, he would sit for a while by the spiritual pool. Since being injured, Shen Jue had spent most of his time asleep. Jiang Yunji didn’t dare disturb him; he only sat quietly by the water.

Sometimes, he would pick a few red lotuses and set them in the pool, hoping that when Shen Jue awoke and saw them, his mood might lift.

Until one late night, he unexpectedly caught Shen Jue awake—in half-dragon, half-human form—sitting by the pool, eating the red lotuses he had so carefully placed there.

Jiang Yunji: “…”

Ever since moving into the spirit pool, Shen Jue woke each time feeling hungry. But when no one was around, there was nothing to eat. His eyes had fallen on the floating lotuses, so he’d hooked one over with his tail, scooped it up with his hand, and popped it into his mouth.

“Don’t eat that!” Jiang Yunji rushed forward, wanting to snatch the flower away. But when he drew close, he froze.

Bathed in moonlight, Shen Jue’s face looked softer than usual, stripped of its normal coldness. His ink-black hair fell loose behind him, and his long lashes shaded eyes that, for once, were not so distant.

His lips were closed around half a lotus, while his hand still clutched another. Water droplets traced down his wrist, sparkling in the moonlight.

Shen Jue noticed Jiang Yunji and looked a little embarrassed. But, unable to think of what to say, he simply stuffed the remaining half of the lotus into his mouth. After finishing the flower, he guiltily put the other back into the water.

Still hungry. He wanted food.

He turned his head toward Jiang Yunji, about to speak—when he saw two streams of blood running from Jiang Yunji’s nose.

Shen Jue frowned immediately, changing into full human form as he stood up to approach. “Why are you bleeding? Did something go wrong in your cultivation?”

During qi deviation, it was common for blood to leak from the seven apertures.

But Jiang Yunji flinched back in a panic, hastily covering his nose with his sleeve. His voice was muffled: “I’m fine, it’s just… the weather’s too dry. Yes, too dry! I’ve been a little overheated lately. I’ll… I’ll go take a cooling pill. See you tomorrow!”

And with that, he bolted—forgetting even the sect’s rule against using spells so rashly inside the grounds.

So, of course, he soon ran straight into Senior Uncle Qingshan, who promptly punished him with gate-guard duty the next day.

Senior Uncle was an old hand at such matters. Seeing Jiang Yunji bent over with his sleeve at his nose, he gave a dry laugh. “Looks like you’ve reached the age to start looking for a Dao partner.”

Jiang Yunji froze. “I—I…”

“What I, what me? Just remember to guard the mountain gate tomorrow.” Senior Uncle had no intention of lecturing him on youthful troubles. With a flick of his sleeve, he left.

Only after he’d gone did Jiang Yunji lower his sleeve, staring at the half-dried bloodstain. His feelings were a tangled mess.

A Dao partner?

No cultivator had ever formed such a bond with a beast. Cultivators said beasts were too wild, beasts said cultivators lived too short—on every side, it seemed mismatched.

And even if he wanted it… would the other ever agree?

—

Shen Jue, meanwhile, watched Jiang Yunji leave. He felt puzzled—and, unexpectedly, a little disappointed.

He should have asked whether Jiang Yunji had any food with him. Even a fasting pill would do.

Now, his stomach growled loudly, craving anything at all—but he was stuck inside the spiritual pool, unable to leave.

His wounds had not yet fully healed; if he were to leave the spirit pool, there was a risk they would start bleeding again. Because of this, the Sect Leader of Tianshui Sect had repeatedly warned him, over and over, not to step out of the pool under any circumstances.

Shen Jue slipped back into the water. Hungry and with nothing else to eat, he retrieved the lotus he had just thrown back and ate it. But even after swallowing that one, he was still hungry.

Listlessly, he sank deeper into the water—until the sound of footsteps reached his ears.

The person seemed to be deliberately making noise, each step heavier than the last. Shen Jue’s eyes sharpened; he shifted into dragon form before rising up to the surface.

The newcomer wore scarlet robes, black hair framing vermilion lips, his exquisite and otherworldly features curved into the faintest of smiles. His fox-like eyes arched slightly.

“Little stinky dragon, your injuries haven’t healed yet, huh?”

This place was protected by the Sect Leader’s barrier; even Jiang Yunji needed a jade token to enter. But how could such a barrier stop the old monster Fu Jiuyin?

Shēn Jué fixed his gaze on Fu Jiuyin, not retreating. “What are you doing here?”

“Nothing much. Just came to check on you.”

Fu Jiuyin crouched by the pool, reaching out to trail his fingers through the water. “Tianshui Sect really is generous with you. This spirit pool is full of good stuff. With you being raised here, how come those little wounds of yours still haven’t healed?”

Twice now, he had mentioned Shen Jue’s injuries. Shēn Jué felt a flicker of unease but said nothing.

Fu Jiuyin sat down by the pool. His fox eyes swept over Shen Jue, then his lips curved into a smile. “Little stinky dragon, come here.”

“Why should I?” Shen Jue’s reply was cold.

Hearing that, Fu Jiuyin chuckled softly. “You’d better behave yourself while I’m still in the mood to be reasonable. Otherwise, I’ll just bully the young again with my seniority.” His voice dropped low on the last sentence, laced with mockery and scorn. “Besides, even if I really killed you, they wouldn’t dare do anything to me. You know that.”

After speaking, he lazily began counting down.

When he reached “three,” the young Azure Dragon, still far away, finally swam slowly toward him.

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