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The Valley Master, Ding Ruojian, managed to grab the Demoness just in time, preventing her bright red lips from stamping themselves on his face. He peeled her off his body and took a deep breath. The moment Qi Ruxue saw Ding Ruojian’s posture, she immediately took out two wads of cotton and stuffed them in her ears.
Zhuo Hua: ?
Ding Ruojian began to speak. “Master, you are being far too presumptuous! As the Master of Qingyu Tower, one of the seven great sects, how can you be so improper? You represent the image of Qingyu Tower, and Qingyu Tower is one of the seven great sects, so you should also pay attention to your conduct as BLABLA…”
Zhuo Hua: …
Qi Ruxue handed Zhuo Hua two wads of cotton. “The words he says in this state are all useless nonsense. It’s fine not to listen.” She pointed at Ding Ruojian’s hands, which were waving around as he spoke. “He only puts his hands behind his back when he’s talking about something important.” So, by carefully distinguishing, one could avoid having their ears poisoned.
Zhuo Hua silently accepted the cotton, looking strangely at the Demoness’s excited expression. Not only could she listen, she even nodded along, occasionally replying with a “Yes.”
“Master is fine as long as she’s facing a beautiful person. Other than that, no physical or mental attacks can harm her.”
Zhuo Hua stuffed the cotton into her ears. As expected of the Master of Qingyu Tower. She herself was still far too inexperienced!
********
Ziche Duanyuan returned to the courtyard with Pei Bufan. Pei Bufan immediately ran out, darting over to the side room to look for Gong Yi. Although Gong Yi was also a pitiful person, even if you stayed by the male lead’s side for a long time, the male lead would never spare you a glance. You weren’t his destined CP!1 Therefore, Pei Bufan felt no pressure at all kicking him out.
Ziche Duanyuan frowned. The moment he had opened the door to the magic artifact, Pei Bufan had impatiently run out. The suspicion in his heart turned to anger when he saw the direction he ran in. He had completely forgotten that there was an outsider living in his courtyard. He should have been dealt with long ago!
Ziche Duanyuan’s brows were tightly locked, and he pursed his lips as he quickly followed, wanting to know what Pei Bufan was looking for him for.
What was he going to do? As a black cat who couldn’t speak, what could he do besides scratch people? In any case, Ziche Duanyuan didn’t like Gong Yi; he had seen that long ago. He would take this opportunity to show his dislike for Gong Yi, and with the male lead’s personality, he would definitely kick the person out. With Gong Yi’s aptitude, as long as he stopped thinking about relying on others and being pressed2 and instead worked hard on his own, there would always be a way. In any case, it would be better than his own miserable situation!
But when Pei Bufan searched all over the room where Gong Yi lived, he couldn’t find a trace of him. Where had he gone?
Ziche Duanyuan, who had followed, also noticed this problem. Attendants who followed members of the great families to the sects were essentially sold into servitude. From head to toe, they belonged to their master. Let alone running around, even speaking a few extra words to others could make the master suspect them of betrayal and have them killed. But Gong Yi’s room had clearly been unoccupied for several days. Pei Bufan did a quick calculation in his head. It seemed that two days after the male lead had left, he had not returned.
‘What do I do?’ Pei Bufan asked anxiously. ‘Does this count as a successful expulsion?’
After a long silence, the system replied: [It does not. You must find him and have the male lead personally kick him out for it to count.]
‘So you’re saying This Lord has to go find him first?’
[Correct.]
‘Heh heh… System, give me a little arrow!’
[…He’s still in Sword Immortal Valley. Find him yourself!] The system couldn’t be bothered with Pei Bufan’s lazy attitude anymore.
Pei Bufan shivered. He’s actually in Sword Immortal Valley?
Ziche Duanyuan bent down and picked Pei Bufan up into his arms to make it easier to inspect the room. All the valuables in the room were gone. However, frequently used items like clothes and quilts were still there. Ziche Duanyuan searched top to bottom and roughly guessed what had happened. He had originally planned to ignore it, but when his eyes landed on the little black cat in his arms, his thoughts turned, and he took out a small jade tablet instead.
He should let Pei Bufan see Gong Yi’s true colors, to stop him from always thinking about him. So what if he had an above-average face? Was he better looking than him?
He activated the heart’s blood3 on the jade tablet. This was the contract Gong Yi had made when he insisted on coming with him. Crushing the tablet could take Gong Yi’s life, and he could activate it at any time to locate him.
The jade tablet turned into a beam of light and flew east. Ziche Duanyuan snorted coldly and followed it, holding Pei Bufan.
The jade tablet stopped in front of a palace on the third tier. Ziche Duanyuan raised an eyebrow, put the tablet away, and strode inside. With his token as the Sect Master’s direct disciple, he could freely enter most palaces. This was the Sword-Testing Pavilion, managed by an elder. As long as he didn’t enter the elder’s private territory, Ziche Duanyuan had the right to barge in without announcement.
Just as they stepped into the main hall, Ziche Duanyuan and Pei Bufan heard a familiar voice coming from the disciple’s living quarters in the back courtyard.
“Everything Yi’er said is true.” The voice was soft and pitiful, each sentence filled with infinite grievance. “At first, he took a liking to me and insisted on bringing me to this Middle Realm, but soon after, he abandoned me. I thought he was completely devoted to me, and that’s why Yi’er was willing to give up everything to follow him to this Sword Immortal Valley, willing to serve by his side as a servant. But in the end…” The voice broke into sobs.
Ziche Duanyuan was practically trembling with rage.
Pei Bufan cautiously glanced at Ziche Duanyuan, then slowly curled himself into a ball. I didn’t hear anything, I don’t know anything…
“Since he toyed with my affections and then abandoned me, why should I continue to throw my heart at him! Big Brother You! Please let Yi’er stay here! Yi’er is now willing to serve by Big Brother You’s side, I only wish to be far away from him, to never see him again…”
If one only looked at the general meaning of these words without paying attention to the details, they did conform to the facts. If one didn’t look at the details…
Who was he talking about, “toying with and abandoning”?! He had never intended to bring this person from the very beginning!! “Took a liking to”? Was he blind?! “Insisted on bringing”? If it weren’t for Pei Bufan’s pleading, he would have kicked him back to the Lower Realm to never see him again in this lifetime! Was he wronged to come here as a servant? If he felt so wronged, he shouldn’t have knelt and desperately begged to come!! If it weren’t for Pei Bufan! Would he have brought… Pei Bufan!!
Ziche Duanyuan pinched Pei Bufan’s butt, making him yelp in pain.
Pei Bufan: What kind of great enmity do you have with This Lord’s butt?! QAQ
Ziche Duanyuan had no patience to listen to the rest. He strode forward and said viciously, “What do you think you are?!”
Gong Yi, with his low cultivation, hadn’t noticed the male lead’s presence. When he saw him appear, his face turned deathly pale with fright.
“Took a liking to you?” Ziche Duanyuan looked him up and down and sneered. “Just a piece of goods who puts white powder on his face and acts like a woman when he talks and walks. Why would I take a liking to you? Am I blind? And you smell so strong…”
Pei Bufan: “Achoo!”
Ziche Duanyuan: …
The other man in the middle of being confessed to: …
Gong Yi: …
Pei Bufan flicked his tail. My nose was itchy, you can continue. He never knew the male lead’s mouth could be so venomous.
Ziche Duanyuan paused for a moment and continued, “A piece of trash raised at home as a cauldron.4 I only brought you here to be a servant to clean the litter box for my black cat. Just look at you.” The male lead looked Gong Yi up and down, then sneered again, making it clear he looked down on him.
Pei Bufan: What does this have to do with This Lord?! This Lord doesn’t need anyone to clean my litter box!! This Lord can find my own spot!!
After this speech, Gong Yi’s face had turned ashen, and he was trembling all over.
Tossing the jade tablet back to Gong Yi, Ziche Duanyuan continued, “Isn’t this what you wanted? I’m returning it to you.” He then said to the man who had been staring at him in surprise, “If you like this kind of person, fellow Daoist, you can take him directly.” Then he turned and left.
Gong Yi held the jade tablet in his hand, standing there in a daze.
The other man, however, seemed to awaken from a dream. He chased after Ziche Duanyuan, leaving Gong Yi behind.
“Fellow Daoist! Wait a moment!”
Ziche Duanyuan turned back, a look of impatience on his face.
“S-sorry,” the man said, rubbing his nose. “I have nothing to do with him. It’s just that a few days ago, he accidentally fell down below and I caught him. After that, he… hehe, I’m not very good at refusing people.”
Pei Bufan: I can see that. You’re quite the blockhead. No wonder Gong Yi latched onto him. To be able to live here, he must be a direct disciple of an elder. High status, easy to talk to, and easier to hook than the cold-faced male lead. It wasn’t strange for Gong Yi to switch to a new capture target.5
“I already have someone I like, hehe,” the man chuckled sheepishly. “What he said just now… uh, sorry about that.”
“It’s fine,” Ziche Duanyuan said indifferently.
“To be slandered like that and you’re still… fellow Daoist is truly broad-minded.” He chuckled.
Pei Bufan shivered when he heard this word. To describe the male lead, this was probably the most unsuitable word! The male lead was the prime example of someone who always took revenge! The reason he was letting Gong Yi go now was definitely just to create an image of himself as being tolerant and magnanimous. Just wait, Gong Yi dared to slander the male lead like that, he would absolutely not have a good end.
Pei Bufan closed his little eyes. He wasn’t getting involved.
“My name is Yuan Wangyou. I am Elder Xun Ming’s eldest disciple, currently at the Nascent Soul stage. You’re new here, right, fellow Daoist? You look unfamiliar. May I ask which master you study under?”
“Ziche Duanyuan, the Sect Master’s fourth disciple,” Ziche Duanyuan replied.
“Oh oh, then you can call me Martial Brother. I’ll call you Junior Martial Brother Ziche,” Yuan Wangyou said. “Is Junior Martial Brother Ziche here for the Disciple Acceptance Ceremony? The ceremony is tomorrow, so Junior Martial Brother can still look around today. By the way, this year’s new junior martial brothers and sisters have all arrived. I was just planning to go and meet them… hehe, why don’t we go together?”
Ziche Duanyuan thought for a moment and agreed. Those whom Yuan Wangyou would go to meet would be the direct disciples of the Sect Master and the elders. These were important connections to make.
********
Author’s Note:
[Little Theater Skit]
The night before leaving for Sword Immortal Valley, Ziche Duanyuan called Gong Yi over.
Ziche Duanyuan: (In a low voice) Once we get there, you will be a servant.
Gong Yi: (Nods, shoots a flirtatious wink)
Ziche Duanyuan: (Unmoved) You will be responsible for taking care of the little black cat’s daily life.
Gong Yi: (His expression stiffens)
Ziche Duanyuan: Remember to prepare warm fish meat every day. The fish meat must be mashed into a paste, and all the bones must be removed. It must be clean and delicious. If Bufan finds it even slightly unappetizing… (threatening glare)
Gong Yi: (His face is a little pale)
Ziche Duanyuan: The litter must be changed every day, whether he uses it or not. The litter must be soft and clean, so it doesn’t stick to his fur.
Gong Yi: (His eyes are glazed over)
Ziche Duanyuan: Fragile items must be hidden away. The floor must be cleaned at all times. Bufan’s paws are very tender and cannot be cut.
Gong Yi: (His expression is dazed)
Ziche Duanyuan: Have you remembered everything I’ve said?
Gong Yi: (Nods, looking enviously at the little black cat sleeping soundly on the bed)
********
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Reika’s Notes:
- Finally there is chapter that doesn’t have copious footnotes!
- This text was translated by Kotori Translates, and given to BC Novels to publish.
- I helped with the footnotes, formatting, grammar, etc., the usual stuff that is needed to post this on the website.
- Please let me know if there are any errors. Thanks for reading!
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- Couple/Character Pairing.
- 被人压 – Literally “to be pressed by someone” aka being dominated or, in BL slang, being the bottom.
- 心头血 presumably blood drawn from or near the heart, which contains a cultivator’s essence
- 炉鼎 – Literally “cauldron.” In cultivation, a derogatory term for someone used to boost another’s power, often through dual cultivation. Often the cauldron’s own life force and cultivation is drained in the process.
- Capture target is a term from dating sims and strategy games.