Chapter 102: Chapter 101: Life
Mu Tian actually managed to trick Ning Ruxue?
Zhu Ju looked surprised. His first reaction was disbelief, but then he saw Ning Ruxue’s tear-streaked, pitiful face.
’Looks like it’s true!’
You really can’t judge a book by its cover. The same Mu Tian who seemed to be wrapped around Ning Ruxue’s little finger every day was actually this cunning.
Or perhaps...
Someone was secretly guiding him.
"Senior Sister, you’ve come to the wrong person."
Though his mind was racing, Zhu Ju’s expression remained impassive. He shook his head and said:
"I spend all day in arduous Cultivation of the Earth Evil Mysterious Skill and have never refined any Iron Evil Stone. I use my stipend to cover my sect tasks, so how could I have any extra Iron Evil Stone to lend you?"
"However, Senior Sister, you could do as I do and use your stipend to cover them."
"Hah..." A bitter look crossed Ning Ruxue’s face.
"I trusted Mu Tian too much. Last month, I borrowed Spirit Crystals from him to buy Iron Evil Stone, and I took out another loan this month."
"Right now, my stipend isn’t even enough to pay him back. How am I supposed to cover my Sect tasks?"
"We’re all fellow disciples, how did it come to this?" Zhu Ju sighed softly.
"Why don’t you ask Brother Yan or the Ding Brothers to mediate? Fate brought us together to join this Immortal Sect. Repaying a few Spirit Crystals a month or two late shouldn’t be a big deal."
"If Mu Tian were willing, I’d even pay him back with double the interest." Ning Ruxue’s expression was grim.
"Unfortunately..."
"He’s adamant that I must pay him back by the end of this month."
"Several Outer Sect senior brothers witnessed the agreement. If I don’t pay... I... I’ll have to give myself to him!"
Hm?
Zhu Ju’s expression was odd.
Although Ning Ruxue looked pure, her skills in seducing men were extremely sophisticated. She was clearly someone who frequented pleasure quarters, yet unexpectedly, she was still a virgin.
’So...’
’All this time, she’s been taking benefits without letting anyone touch her. Isn’t that just teasing a fool?’
But Mu Tian’s methods were indeed impressive.
First luring with benefits, then coercing with threats—each step was linked to the last. It seemed Mu Tian really did have an expert backing him.
"Junior Brother Zhu." Seeing his odd expression, Ning Ruxue couldn’t help but look embarrassed.
"The Method I cultivate is rather special. If I lose my virginity before reaching the Innate realm, my foundation will be damaged."
"Actually..."
"My body doesn’t matter. I just need him to wait a few more years, and then I can give it to him, but Mu Tian refuses to wait no matter what."
’Only a fool would be willing to wait!’
Zhu Ju was speechless.
"I’m sorry."
He sighed and shook his head.
"There’s really nothing I can do to help."
"Junior Brother." Seeing him about to close the door, Ning Ruxue quickly reached out to stop him and said:
"I know you have profound attainments in the Earth Evil Mysterious Skill, and that you possess condensed, tangible Evil Qi."
"Just share a few wisps with me. Once I’ve dealt with my current trouble, I will reward you handsomely!"
’A handsome reward?’
’More like a reward that will come on the twelfth of never!’
CREAK...
The door groaned under the strain as they both pushed against it.
"Senior Sister."
Zhu Ju sighed and glanced up at the sky.
"The hour is late. It’s time to rest."
"Junior Brother, Junior Brother," Ning Ruxue said urgently.
"I have two Martial Arts legacies, both of which are Methods that lead directly to the Innate realm, as well as an Acquired Supreme Lightness Technique. Once mastered, a single leap can cover several dozen feet."
"As long as you give me the Evil Qi, I can teach all of these to you."
"Senior Sister." Zhu Ju shrugged.
"How do you think your Cultivation Techniques compare to the Earth Evil Mysterious Skill?"
"No matter how good an Acquired Method is, it can’t compare to a legacy from an Immortal Sect. Do you think anyone who has joined an Immortal Sect would waste time practicing an Acquired Martial Skill?"
Shen Youx didn’t use any Lightweight Body Technique, yet he could leap a hundred meters in a single bound. What Lightweight Skill could possibly compare to that?
Hearing this, Ning Ruxue’s expression stiffened.
"Rest well." While she was stunned, Zhu Ju forced the door shut.
"Junior Brother!"
Outside the door, Ning Ruxue pleaded pitifully:
"I still have some gold on me. Can I trade it for your Evil Qi?"
"..."
Staring at the tightly shut door before her, she stomped her foot fiercely.
"Senior Sister."
Just as she was losing hope, about to give up and turn away, a voice suddenly came from inside the room:
"Have you used the Calming Incense you have?"
"Calming Incense?" Ning Ruxue’s beautiful eyes shifted slightly.
"I haven’t."
"I can trade my condensed Evil Qi for that stick of Calming Incense in your possession," Zhu Ju said slowly.
"Three wisps of Evil Qi."
"Five wisps!"
"Three wisps!"
"Four wisps. I can’t go any lower."
"Three wisps."
Zhu Ju’s tone was unhurried.
"Senior Sister doesn’t have to make this trade."
"You..." Ning Ruxue clenched her jaw.
"You’re ruthless!"
"Deal."
"Oh, right." Zhu Ju added another sentence.
"I’m also somewhat interested in the Cultivation Technique you practice, Senior Sister. I wonder if I could take a look? I can add an extra wisp of Evil Qi."
’The Five Elements Palm and Demon Saber from the Qi Blood World were both Methods that could be comprehended through unorthodox means. Theoretically, the more Methods he understood, the more powerful these two Cultivation Techniques would become.’
’Acquired Martial Skills were also useful to him.’
?
Ning Ruxue’s beautiful eyes arched slightly.
"Of course."
*
*
*
"My dear brother Zhu Ju, do not worry. Your sister is well. The Blood Flood Dragon Bandits did not launch a frontal assault on Hejian Prefecture; instead, they headed west."
"Hearing that you have entered an Immortal Sect has brought your sister great joy."
"..."
"Your family’s handmaiden, Hex Yufu, is nimble-fingered and clever. She has earned Luu Pu’s trust and has now been made a shop Steward."
"Ma Xun is doing well. He is simple-minded and pure, and will soon begin Nurturing Inner Qi. I’ve had him gain some experience at the San Fen Hall so that he can look after your little nephew in the future."
The Bright Void Sect had not cut off contact with the mortal world.
Quite the contrary.
The post station at the foot of the mining mountain had daily messengers heading north of Ancient Northern Pass, so Zhu Ju had naturally gotten in touch with his sister and brother-in-law.
Thanks to the Immortal Sects opening their doors, Luu Pu had also joined the Profound Clarity Sect, but his letters were full of complaints.
He had originally thought they would join the same Immortal Sect so they could look out for each other. To that end, he had gone to great lengths to obtain an Immortal Sect Token, only for Zhu Ju to turn around and join the Bright Void Sect, wasting all his efforts.
To this, Zhu Ju could only offer a bitter smile.
If he had known what the Bright Void Sect was really like, he would have risked being discovered to join the Profound Clarity Sect instead.
However, although Luu Pu had joined an Immortal Sect and received its legacy teachings, he was still struggling in the mortal world and had not yet truly entered the Sect’s residence. According to him, one had to reach the Innate realm to be considered a true Entry Level disciple.
’That’s good, too.’
’He won’t have to be separated from Zhu Shuang and their child for the time being.’
But things weren’t as safe as Zhu Shuang’s letter suggested. The Blood Flood Dragon Bandits were on the path of a traversing flood dragon; to lead their horde in "leaping the dragon gate," they had to grow stronger with every battle, until they could finally break through a major city to help their chieftain achieve the Great Dao.
No one knew which major city the Blood Flood Dragon Bandits would choose for their final battle to leap the dragon gate, and Hejian Prefecture was not out of the question.
If it was...
It would be a massive battle!
After finishing the letter, Zhu Ju pondered for a long time before finally picking up a brush and ink.
"That you are well, Sister, brings your brother great relief."
"The Bright Void Sect is an Immortal Sect. Though it is located in the Ten Thousand Mountains, it is not a dangerous land shrouded in miasma. You need not worry, Sister."
"The air here is clear, and the sky and mountains are one color. The scenery is magnificent..."
After a long while, he sighed softly, waiting for the ink to dry before placing the letter in its envelope.
...
For the next period of time, Zhu Ju remained reclusive as usual, like an invisible man among the Outer Sect Disciples.
As for the conflict between Ning Ruxue and Mu Tian, it didn’t cause much of a stir.
Ning Ruxue had somehow borrowed Spirit Crystals from somewhere and actually paid off her entire debt to Mu Tian on the very last day.
After a huge argument, the two went their separate ways.
An infuriated Mu Tian went around asking who had helped Ning Ruxue with the Spirit Crystals, even questioning Zhu Ju himself.
Naturally, he didn’t admit to it.
Besides, the few wisps of Evil Qi Zhu Ju had given her were just a drop in the bucket compared to her total debt. The bulk of it must have come from someone else.
The mining mountain was vast.
Even with several thousand people entering the mountain, they were still unnoticeable.
Because of the surging Evil Qi in the mountains, most people found a stone house to live in within the residential area, but there were exceptions.
Some people would practice their Cultivation in abandoned mine shafts or caves in the mountains to avoid being disturbed.
The back of the mountain.
An abandoned mine shaft.
Zhu Ju sat cross-legged on a round, protruding boulder above the mine shaft, cultivating in silence.
He had been coming here for some time now. Recently, he didn’t even return at night, only showing his face in the residential area every few days to collect his food. It seemed he really intended to become an Ascetic.
His long-standing disguise was working. Ning Ruxue and the others had completely written him off as an Ascetic.
No one came to disturb him.
A few more days passed.
He was now completely familiar with the surrounding environment. It was finally time to go and properly explore the Magic World.
Zhu Ju would never forget that while his arduous Cultivation was one part of his success today, fortuitous encounters were the key.
And his fortuitous encounters were never in the Main World, but in other worlds.
