Chapter 46: Brother Xuan Ji, Please

Chapter 46 Brother Xuan Ji, I Beg You

Chi Yu didn't overthink it; he just found it odd. As he leaned against the Crown Prince's warm finger, he said, "Brother Xuan Ji, this is a dimple, not a hole—but I've always had it. Did you only just notice?"

Xie Xiyi paused, then replied, "Indeed, I only just noticed."

Chi Yu: "You—!"

He was utterly shocked. "Then every time you stared at me, were you just staring into space?"

At this, Chi Yu suddenly had a thought and instinctively asked, "You don't actually know what I look like, do you?"

Xie Xiyi said, "I know now."

Chi Yu immediately spotted the loophole and asked pointedly, "So you didn't know before?"

Xie Xiyi: "Mm."

Chi Yu: "..."

Chi Yu asked incredulously, "Why?"

Xie Xiyi calmly stated, "No particular reason. I didn't know what Xiao Qiu looked like either."

Chi Yu's pupils widened in shock: "..."

He couldn't help but lean back dramatically. "By that logic, you still don't know what Xiao Qiu looks like even now, do you?"

Xie Xiyi: "Mm."

Chi Yu's heart stirred slightly. "But you know what I look like now."

Xie Xiyi looked at him and changed the subject. "This mountain is teeming with venomous insects that can distort perception, even more powerfully than formations. I'll lead you out."

But Chi Yu tugged at his sleeve, pressing on, "Brother Xuan Ji, you still haven't answered me. This... is called a 'discriminating mind,' isn't it?"

Xie Xiyi looked at him with a hint of surprise. "You know about the 'discriminating mind'?"

Chi Yu chuckled. He possessed exceptionally beautiful, clear eyes—dark yet brilliant, like stars in the night sky, shining brightly. "Of course I know. I've studied these things."

"Once a person develops a discriminating mind, they become bound by troubles and the shackles of form. With troubles come the seven emotions and six desires, jealousy and hatred. Once hatred arises, it creates karmic consequences. To cultivate, one must not have a discriminating mind. Without it, one can treat everyone equally, without distinctions of status, wealth, or appearance. But it's easier said than done, because people are naturally drawn to beautiful things; it's human nature. So, this state is very difficult to achieve."

"Cultivation is essentially about restraining one's inherent human nature, because everyone has troubles and the seven emotions and six desires. In essence, all this can be summarized by a sage's words: 'The sage, without thought, becomes wild; the wild, restraining thought, becomes sage.'"

At this point, Chi Yu suddenly paused.

Brother Xuan Ji had developed a discriminating mind towards him—a special treatment that even Xiao Qiu hadn't received, but he had.

Chi Yu couldn't help but feel touched. "Brother Xuan Ji—"

Xie Xiyi seemed to know what he was about to say and cut him off. "Do you still want to enter the mountain?"

Chi Yu: "Yes!"

Chi Yu didn't press further. Some things were better left unsaid, understood implicitly.

He thought to himself, Brother Xuan Ji possessed profound cultivation and high spiritual awareness. His earlier claim about guiding him had indeed sounded rather baseless.

To achieve his goal, his relationship with Brother Xuan Ji needed to be intimate.

Emotional bonds held power. Relying solely on Buddhist teachings—Brother Xuan Ji was, after all, a future Bodhisattva, so he couldn't possibly surpass him in that aspect. Therefore, he had to take the shortcut of emotional connection.

Only a more intimate and inseparable bond could forge a true karmic connection, allowing him to become Brother Xuan Ji's "other shore."

As for the specific steps, Chi Yu didn't have a very clear concept.

But after he made such a grand vow, Brother Xuan Ji had developed a discriminating mind towards him—a silent, subtle response.

Although he had subtly implied that Chi Yu was delusional, Brother Xuan Ji's actions clearly showed his acknowledgment.

Chi Yu was happy, immensely happy. A foolish grin unconsciously spread across his face, which Xie Xiyi noticed, leading to another moment of speechless exasperation. Finally, unable to bear it, he asked, "What are you smiling about?"

Chi Yu smiled and said, "Nothing, Brother Xuan Ji. I'm just happy."

He didn't elaborate, but Xie Xiyi seemed to understand the source of his joy, averting his gaze.

Chi Yu's happiness somehow stirred a subtle, pure delight within Xie Xiyi as well.

Xie Xiyi suppressed the urge for his lips to curl upwards.

The two finally emerged from the deep forest and saw the cave.

There were guards outside the cave, but they were all ordinary mortals with no special abilities.

However, Chi Yu remained cautious. He added several more layers of concealment talismans before heading towards the cave. Yet, after only a few steps, Xie Xiyi stopped him.

"What's wrong?" Chi Yu asked in a hushed voice.

Xie Xiyi withdrew his arm and said, "Nothing."

Chi Yu looked at him doubtfully. Xie Xiyi noticed his gaze and raised an eyebrow slightly. "What? Afraid I'll trick you?"

Chi Yu said sheepishly, "Of course not! I wouldn't think that. Even if Brother Xuan Ji were to trick me, it would surely be for my own good, to temper me."

Xie Xiyi paused, then looked incredulous. "In your heart, am I truly that good?"

Seeing his expression, Chi Yu also looked incredulous. "...Isn't that the case?"

"..." Xie Xiyi pondered for a moment, then the corners of his lips curled slightly. "If you insist on thinking that way, there's nothing I can do."

Chi Yu: "..."

That's practically a classic scoundrel's line!

*Scratching head.jpg*

But why did it sound somewhat fondly indulgent?

As soon as that thought surfaced, Chi Yu got goosebumps. What nonsense!

He immediately dismissed the thought and continued walking, then turned back to ask, "Brother Xuan Ji, are you coming in with me?"

Xie Xiyi said indifferently, "Since we're already here, I'll accompany you."

*Since we're already here.jpg*

Chi Yu couldn't help but chuckle to himself.

Xie Xiyi caught sight of his incessant smiling and suddenly had second thoughts about accompanying him inside.

But since he had given his word, there was no taking it back, so he still accompanied Chi Yu inside.

As soon as they entered, a faint rustling sound emanated from within the cave, a noise made by insects. Chi Yu looked closely and could see many insects clinging to the cave ceiling, their red eyes fixed on them.

Xie Xiyi suddenly spoke, "They won't harm anyone."

Chi Yu asked, "Brother Xuan Ji, how do you know?"

Xie Xiyi replied, "I can see."

That was as good as no answer at all!

Wanting to engage him in conversation, Chi Yu thought for a moment and asked, "Brother Xuan Ji, weren't you a crown prince when you were in the mortal world? Did you have to learn a lot of things as a crown prince?"

Xie Xiyi was silent for a moment before answering, "Yes, a great deal."

"What kinds of things?"

Xie Xiyi countered, "Are you very idle?"

Chi Yu said frankly, "Brother Xuan Ji, I want to understand you better. Getting to know someone's heart begins with learning about their past."

Xie Xiyi retorted, "In that case, you go first."

Chi Yu: "..."

Chi Yu said with mock resentment, "Brother Xuan Ji, you're so cunning."

Although he hadn't managed to get the Crown Prince to open up, Chi Yu knew that his own honesty was a necessary first step. So he quickly adjusted his attitude and began, "Brother Xuan Ji, actually, my real name isn't Long Aotian. Long Aotian is just an identity I created for myself outside, someone I aspire to be in this world. My real name is..."

He paused and said, "My real name is Chi Yu. 'Chi' as in 'pool,' 'Yu' as in 'joyful.'"

As he spoke, he lifted his thin eyelids to glance at the Crown Prince. By revealing his true name, he was testing if the Crown Prince, valuing fairness, would naturally reciprocate.

It was a test for which he already knew the answer.

Xie Xiyi, unaware of Chi Yu's thoughts, wasn't surprised by his explanation—it was merely a dharma name. He commented objectively, "A good name, though 'Yu' sounds like 'fish.' 'Fish in a pond' isn't the most auspicious imagery."

Chi Yu laughed, "You can't say that. A name doesn't need to have grand imagery. My grandfather gave me this name. 'Yu'—he just hoped I'd be happy. Actually, happiness is a very profound emotion. It's easiest to feel as a child, but as you grow older, it becomes much harder to experience. For an elder to have such hopes for me is the most sincere and simple blessing—to live without disaster or hardship, content and happy."

As soon as he finished speaking, his tone suddenly rose several pitches, "Crap, so many tunnel mouths! Brother Xuan Ji, which way do we go?"

Xie Xiyi said evenly, "Do you need me to decide this for you too? I'm just here to accompany you."

Chi Yu: "I'll trade you one of my secrets."

Xie Xiyi chuckled, "I'm not curious."

Chi Yu reached out, grabbed his sleeve, and gently shook it, his voice softening, "Brother Xuan Ji, please, I'm begging you, help me out."

*Burly man acting cute.jpg*

Xie Xiyi: "..."

He stared at him, then asked in a low voice, "Who taught you that?"

Chi Yu opened his clear, innocent eyes and said with an innocent expression, "My younger siblings often do this to me—it's super adorable. But they're just kids, so it comes naturally. For someone my age, it's a bit of a stretch."

Xie Xiyi said nothing, remained silent for a moment, then reached out and pointed in a direction, "This way."

Chi Yu cheered, "Thank you, Brother Xuan Ji!"

He strode towards the direction Xie Xiyi had pointed, leaving Xie Xiyi behind—clearly using him and then discarding him.

Before Xie Xiyi could even register any reaction, he saw Chi Yu stop again at the tunnel entrance, turning back to look at him, "Brother Xuan Ji, hurry, keep up!"

Xie Xiyi paused for a moment, then stepped forward to catch up. When he reached Chi Yu's side, Chi Yu grabbed his sleeve again and said earnestly, "Actually, I also felt it might be this tunnel. I smelled a strong, rank insect odor here."

Xie Xiyi said, "The other tunnels also lead to poisonous insects. There's no difference in the smell."

Chi Yu: "...Oh."

Chi Yu thought for a moment and said, "In that case, if I were alone, I’d have to check every tunnel one by one."

Xie Xiyi: "...Since you have Blast Talismans, don’t you have Scouting Talismans?"

Hearing this, Chi Yu rummaged through his Spatial Ring, "I really don't. What kind of talisman is that?"

Xie Xiyi explained, "After use, it connects the five senses and can be used to scout paths."

Chi Yu: "Oh."

He admitted honestly, "I really didn't know. Brother Xuan Ji, you might not know this, but I actually don't have much common knowledge about the current cultivation world. Even Xiao Qiu knows more than I do."

Xie Xiyi glanced down at the Spatial Ring on Chi Yu's slender, pale finger.

Noticing his gaze, Chi Yu lifted his finger and said to Xie Xiyi, "This Spatial Ring isn't actually mine. I saved someone, and he gave it to me as a reward."

As he spoke, the corner of his lips lifted, revealing the dimple on his left cheek again, "Brother Xuan Ji, see, not everyone in the cultivation world is bad. He was pretty decent actually."

He thought for a moment and added, "If there's a chance, I'll introduce you two."

Xie Xiyi responded indifferently, "There won't be a chance."

He didn't like hearing about other people from Chi Yu's mouth.

Suddenly, he frowned slightly—another foolish thought.

Unaware of his thoughts, Chi Yu said gently, "Ah, there will be a chance. There will be in the future."

As they spoke, they reached the end of the tunnel. Under the flickering candlelight, a pitch-black demon was revealed, and the rank odor reached its peak.

Chi Yu couldn't help but pull Xie Xiyi's sleeve over to cover his own nose and mouth, mumbling, "Brother Xuan Ji, it reeks."

Xie Xiyi: "..."

He fought the urge to pull his sleeve back.

Author’s Note:

11: Am I letting him get away with too much? = =

Xiao Yu: Heh heh heh heh