Chapter 35

Chapter 35

Everyone was stunned, exchanging bewildered glances as if questioning, "Did I hear that right?"

Rong Yu cast a sidelong glance at Jiang Ziliu’s frozen expression, a sense of satisfaction finally settling within him.

If his suspicions were correct, the previous aphrodisiac incident had been entirely orchestrated by Jiang Ziliu to strip Lu Shitu of his qualification. And now, Jiang Ziliu had the audacity to ask him to facilitate his entry into the Kaiyang Realm?

Dream on!

The Sect Leader gently interjected, "Junior Brother, let’s not make a scene."

Rong Yu, unperturbed, replied, "Since Ling Xiao asked if it was permissible, I naturally have the right to choose whether to assent or refuse. And now, I refuse."

His logic was impeccable. At this moment, he was the sole conduit to the Qingyang Sword Venerable; the success or failure of the matter rested entirely on his word. If he chose not to cooperate, there was genuinely nothing anyone else could do.

He was, indeed, refusing.

The Sect Leader paused, a slight furrow appearing between his brows, and cast a look at Rong Yu.

Elder Lingxiao’s face flushed a deep crimson, his beard bristling and eyes glaring, yet he was powerless to act against Rong Yu, left only to seethe in silent fury. Jiang Ziliu’s earlier smug expression had congealed into a twisted, comical grimace, his mouth slightly agape as if he hadn't quite registered what had transpired.

Below, the disciples erupted into a cacophony of whispers.

"What’s gotten into Elder Taiqing??"

"No idea… but Elder Taiqing always has his reasons. Look at Senior Brother Lu—he was supposedly crippled, yet he excels in every trial."

"Yeah, I agree. So the Elder must have a good reason this time too."

"So, it seems Senior Brother Jiang… still won't be able to go after all…"

"Tsk tsk…"

Seeing Jiang Ziliu still rooted to the spot, resembling a ludicrous wooden post in the square, the Sect Leader found the sight quite unseemly. He waved a hand, and several young acolytes stepped forward to escort Jiang Ziliu away.

Only then did Jiang Ziliu finally grasp the situation. His face drained from pale to green, and he opened his mouth as if to protest.

The Sect Leader’s fingers subtly twitched, and Jiang Ziliu was abruptly silenced. He struggled in vain, his face gradually reddening, his mouth opening and closing without emitting a single sound.

Under the mixed gazes of the disciples—some sympathetic, some mocking, some disdainful—he was unceremoniously led away.

Having spoken his mind, Rong Yu felt a sense of relief. He then lost interest, lowering his head to resume his meal, completely oblivious to the subsequent events.

After the celebratory banquet concluded, Rong Yu and Rong Baichuan descended Taixu Peak side by side. Rong Yu inquired, "Senior Brother, I’ve been contemplating delving deeper into alchemy recently. I wonder if we could allocate a larger share of materials to Po Shan Peak?"

Rong Baichuan smiled and nodded in assent. "A-Yu wishes to practice alchemy? What a coincidence—just two days ago, I casually crafted a Mystic Crystal Furnace that can withstand heavenly fire without cracking. I’ll have someone deliver it to you later. Also, the alchemical fire I gave you earlier has likely dwindled by now; I’ll send you some more. And…"

Rong Yu, with a helpless sigh, interjected, "Then I thank you, Senior Brother. But there’s truly no need for such extravagance!"

Rong Baichuan seemed to recall something else and added, "By the way, regarding that Qiongzhi you inquired about earlier, I’ve already spoken with Qingxu. He said that after Qiongzhi undergoes special treatment and is burned, its scent, when combined with certain specific foods—like the Sui Fish Eyes we encountered before—can become a rather renowned… well… that type of medicine. So if…"

Upon hearing this, Rong Yu immediately understood and began coughing loudly, interjecting amidst his coughs, "Cough, cough… Senior Brother, I suddenly feel unwell. I’ll return to the peak first. Please send me the details later via message."

However, his interruption came a little too late. Lu Shitu seemed to have already overheard, and his gaze abruptly shifted towards Rong Yu.

Rong Yu panicked internally but maintained a composed exterior as he bid farewell to Rong Baichuan, then led Lu Shitu back.

He deliberately avoided making eye contact with Lu Shitu, fearing that Lu Shitu might connect the dots and ask, "What medicine was Uncle referring to just now?"

No, he truly couldn’t bring himself to reveal the truth of that night!

Moreover, how could he cruelly inform Lu Shitu that he hadn't been drugged with a sedative that night, but an aphrodisiac, and that the person he had pushed down wasn't his beloved, but a burly man—his own master!

Anyone would go insane hearing such a thing.

Yet, some matters clearly couldn’t be avoided simply by evasion. Lu Shitu suddenly halted, gently blocking Rong Yu’s path, and studied him with a serious expression. "Master," he began.

Rong Yu’s expression froze as Lu Shitu earnestly inquired, "Where exactly are you feeling unwell?"

Rong Yu: …

It took Rong Yu a moment to realize that Lu Shitu was referring to his earlier feigned coughs. He immediately breathed a sigh of relief and waved his hand. "It’s nothing. Perhaps I caught a slight chill earlier, but I’m perfectly fine now."

Lu Shitu’s expression finally relaxed. It seemed he hadn't noticed anything else, his sole concern being Rong Yu’s recent cough.

Only then did Rong Yu have the mental space to ponder Rong Baichuan’s words. He had been investigating the aphrodisiac that Lu Shitu had been given, always remembering the unusual pine scent Jiang Ziliu had emitted when he came to offer a toast that night. He had focused his investigation in that direction.

Indeed, the drugging incident had been entirely orchestrated by Jiang Ziliu. Moreover, the original text explicitly stated that Jiang Ziliu had long since inadvertently learned of You Weiwan’s true identity from the elders and the Sect Leader.

In other words, Jiang Ziliu had drugged Lu Shitu with the explicit intention of making him lose his qualification for the Kaiyang Realm, thereby allowing Jiang Ziliu to take his place.

Rong Yu also recalled the scene earlier on Taixu Peak, where Jiang Ziliu and Elder Lingxiao had conspired to pressure him. Although he had never taken Jiang Ziliu particularly seriously, intending to let him self-destruct, that didn't mean he would tolerate Jiang Ziliu dancing on his head.

First, he schemes against his disciple Lu Shitu, and now he wants to use him as a stepping stone to the Kaiyang Realm? Since when did such a convenient arrangement exist?

Thinking this, Rong Yu realized another point.

In the original text, it was Jiang Ziliu himself who was drugged with the aphrodisiac. The original text never mentioned the reason for the drugging, but now it seemed clear that Jiang Ziliu had drugged himself?

This would indeed align with Jiang Ziliu’s despicable character, but it was still somewhat peculiar.

If he had to speculate, the way the original text described this segment felt as though it were covering up for the true Jiang Ziliu in this world. The actual events of this world were far more detailed than the original text.

What exactly was going on?

Inside the Frostheart Pot, amidst peaks nearly as tall as a person, Rong Yu and Lu Shitu sat facing each other. In the few days since returning to the peak, Lu Shitu had already mastered the basic sword moves with Golden Wu's Unrestricted Night, cultivating familiarity and synergy. He was nearly ready to begin refining his lifebound sword.

At this moment, Golden Wu's Unrestricted Night lay across Lu Shitu’s knees. His eyes were closed as he carefully sensed the flow of spiritual energy around him, harmonizing with the sword.

Rong Yu observed his state and softly inquired, "How is it?"

Lu Shitu slowly opened his eyes. "Master, I am ready."

Rong Yu nodded and exhaled, seemingly a little nervous. He said, "Shitu, remove your garments."

Lu Shitu’s eyes widened slightly, and he froze in place.

Rong Yu earnestly recalled every detail related to the lifebound sword from the original text, meticulously analyzing every word in his mind to ensure nothing went wrong during the process.

He completely failed to notice Lu Shitu’s expression. When he looked up and saw Lu Shitu hadn’t moved, he asked puzzledly, "Shitu? Is there a problem?"

Lu Shitu stared blankly at Rong Yu, his face somewhat flushed. He also seemed confused, opening his mouth but unable to say anything, stammering, "M-Master…"

After a long moment of staring at each other, Rong Yu finally managed to figure out what was happening. "You…" Could it be that he’s grown older and feels embarrassed about baring his chest in front of his master?

Although they were both men and there was nothing to fuss about, it probably was indeed somewhat improper. Perhaps ancient people were even more particular about such things, considering it disrespectful. Lu Shitu had always treated him with respect, so his reluctance was understandable.

As he thought this, Rong Yu unconsciously studied his young disciple. His features were handsome, his jawline clean and sharp, his eyes clear and bright—handsome in a way that straddled the line between youth and adulthood. Even with his flushed cheeks, he didn’t appear childish but rather somewhat shy and proper, like a large dog willingly restrained by a collar.

Rong Yu couldn't help but recall the night when Lu Shitu was under the influence of the aphrodisiac. Back then, the arms that held him could no longer be considered youthful or weak. The distinct, scorching lines of muscles pressed against him felt as vivid as if he could still sense them clearly.

Even someone as thick-skinned as Rong Yu couldn't help but feel a hint of awkwardness.

But at this moment, while Lu Shitu could afford to be shy and embarrassed, Rong Yu couldn't—he needed to keep things moving smoothly. Maintaining a composed expression, Rong Yu suppressed the slight discomfort in his heart, raised his hand, and made a few sharp, decisive gestures in the air. With that, Lu Shitu's garments were removed one by one, from a distance.

Lu Shitu pressed his lips together, his face growing increasingly flushed, yet he remained obediently still, allowing Rong Yu to strip his upper body completely bare, revealing a fair and tautly muscled torso.

Rong Yu chanted silently in his mind: *This is just a radish, this is just a radish, this is just a radish.*

As he repeated the mantra, he gathered spiritual energy at his fingertips and reached out to press them against Lu Shitu's chest. The touch was warm and smooth—a young man's passionate heart always ran a little hotter. But perhaps the "radish" mantra truly worked, as Rong Yu no longer felt the earlier awkwardness and discomfort. With full concentration, he began to carefully execute the spell techniques he had just recalled.

Everything went smoothly at first—Lu Shitu's body offered no resistance whatsoever. Normally, the process of refining a lifebound sword should be carried out by the cultivator themselves, but since Lu Shitu lacked spiritual energy, Rong Yu had to assist him. Fortunately, Lu Shitu seemed to trust him wholeheartedly, which prevented any issues.

Rong Yu let out a sigh of relief and opened his eyes. It was then that he noticed a jade ring hanging over Lu Shitu's chest. Rong Yu froze for a moment, his fingertips continuing to channel spiritual energy without pause, his gaze fixed intently on the jade ring.

This is…

Author's Note:

Thank you all so much for your support. I will continue to work hard!