Chapter 12

Chapter 12

The next morning, the group got ready early. To speed up their journey, they decided to travel by sword flight. Qi Wuyu shrugged helplessly. "Any kind soul willing to give me a lift?"

Liu Nanzhou pulled him onto his own sword.

Qi Wuyu patted his shoulder approvingly. "Attaboy! Full speed ahead!"

They arrived at Golden Que Valley in the afternoon. Two disciples led them inside.

From a distance, Golden Que Valley shimmered with a golden light, truly living up to its name. The main hall was lavish and extravagant, adorned with intricate and flamboyant decorations. Everywhere they looked, it was dazzling to the point of being blinding. From the floor tiles to the roof beams, everything screamed one thing: money.

As the guiding disciple spoke with Ying Nianling, Qi Wuyu, hanging back, sighed in admiration. "So rich."

Liu Nanzhou offered a pointed critique. "Tacky."

Just then, Ying Nianling followed one of the disciples away. The other guide turned around. Qi Wuyu stepped slightly in front of Liu Nanzhou, shielding him, and smiled at the disciple.

The disciple seemed not to have heard Liu Nanzhou's comment. "The Valley Master has matters to discuss with Daoist Ying. Please follow me."

Qi Wuyu gave a slight nod. "Much obliged."

Zhu Jinchen led them to their accommodations while making introductions. Yao Shuning and Zhao Yi muttered to each other as they looked at the golden decorations along the path. Qi Wuyu casually chatted with Zhu Jinchen.

When they came to a fork in the path, Zhu Jinchen stopped. A poised and graceful female disciple approached. Zhu Jinchen asked, "Why are you alone? Where's Qiu Shui?"

The female disciple replied, "She said the competition is about to start, and she went to check the Illusion Mirror again, fearing any mishaps."

Zhu Jinchen nodded, then turned back to Qi Wuyu and the others to introduce her. "This is my junior sister, Luo Xia. For convenience in accommodation, the young lady should go with her."

Yao Shuning was taken aback. "Are we separating?"

Zhu Jinchen nodded. Yao Shuning glanced at Qi Wuyu with a questioning look. Qi Wuyu ruffled her hair. "It's fine, go ahead." He pointed to the jade pendant at Yao Shuning's waist. "Use the Spirit Language Jade to message me once you're settled."

Yao Shuning nodded. "Understood, Elder."

Luo Xia smiled gently. "Don't worry, miss. Come with me."

Seeing that Luo Xia was both beautiful and gentle, Yao Shuning felt reassured and skipped along happily after her.

Zhu Jinchen led them to a guest courtyard. "You may rest here. Please assign the rooms among yourselves. If you need anything, tug on the cord of the wind chime by the door. After the long journey, there is a hot spring not far behind the courtyard to soothe your aches."

Qi Wuyu said, "Thank you."

Zhu Jinchen bowed. "Feel free to roam and explore Golden Que Valley. I must go finalize the roster now, so I won't accompany you further. Please make yourselves at home."

"Go ahead, don't mind us," Qi Wuyu smiled at him.

After Zhu Jinchen left, Qi Wuyu let them choose their own rooms, and then everyone got settled.

Qi Wuyu went to soak in the hot spring first. The spring water was milky white and seemed to contain medicinal herbs for cleansing and rejuvenation. Qi Wuyu felt significantly refreshed and lighter. He leaned back against the stone wall, closed his eyes, and sighed in contentment.

Soon, someone else approached. Qi Wuyu didn't move, but after listening for a while, no one got in. He looked up and saw Liu Nanzhou turning to leave.

"Where are you going? Since you're here, why not have a soak?"

Liu Nanzhou turned around and saw Qi Wuyu's exposed collarbones and shoulders, his chest faintly visible through the rippling water.

For some reason, Liu Nanzhou felt his ears grow warm. When he was young, he'd occasionally take baths with Qi Wuyu, but they hadn't done so since growing up. He licked his lips, lowered his gaze, and said, "I forgot my robe. I'm going back to get it."

Qi Wuyu bought the excuse. "Oh, go ahead."

Liu Nanzhou left quickly. After soaking enough, Qi Wuyu changed into clean, dry clothes and returned.

The other three had long since disappeared to who-knows-where. Liu Nanzhou lived in the room next to his. After a while, Qi Wuyu felt peckish, so he went to knock on Liu Nanzhou's door to ask if he wanted to go eat together.

Liu Nanzhou followed him out, and the two went to the Cloud Dining Hall. The hall was enormous, offering a wide variety of dishes, catering to every palate.

Disciples from various sects sat in small groups, eating and talking. The two got their meals and chose a quiet spot to sit.

"Let me try their specialty."

Qi Wuyu eagerly picked up his chopsticks to taste the Jade Dew Lotus Shrimp, which had been raved about. "Delicious. I'll go get the recipe from the chef later."

Liu Nanzhou pursed his lips. "You better follow it to the letter. Don't get any ideas of your own."

Qi Wuyu protested. "What's wrong with that? That's called innovation, understand?"

"That's not innovation; that's culinary curiosity."

Qi Wuyu felt he simply didn't understand cooking.

Not far from them sat a table with two people wearing azure disciple robes. They were disciples from some other sect, whispering as they looked at Qi Wuyu.

A woman wearing a green hairpin asked, "Who is that white-haired man? He's so handsome. Why have I never seen him before?"

A square-faced man turned to glance at Qi Wuyu. "Judging by his attire, he seems to be from the Tianyao Sect. I heard from our master that there's an elder in the Tianyao Sect without spiritual power. It's probably him."

Li Siyu was surprised. "No spiritual power?" She propped her chin on her hand, looking at Qi Wuyu with regret. "What a pity, with such a handsome face."

Zheng Linghao looked at Qi Wuyu sourly and said disdainfully, "What's the use of being good-looking? He's just a pretty vase, nice to look at but empty."

Hearing this, Liu Nanzhou put down his chopsticks and was about to stand up. Qi Wuyu quickly pressed down on his wrist.

"Hey, hey, where are you going?"

Liu Nanzhou said with a dark expression, "To hit someone."

Qi Wuyu hurriedly moved from across the table to sit beside him and patted Liu Nanzhou's back. "Don't be angry. It's not worth it."

Liu Nanzhou glared at Zheng Linghao. Qi Wuyu handed him a cup of tea. "He was talking about me. Why do you act like he stepped on your tail?"

Liu Nanzhou angrily drank the tea in one gulp.

"What he said isn't wrong, am I not a vase? Isn't that just praising my good looks?"

Liu Nanzhou looked at him. "You're not."

Qi Wuyu said, "I'm not good-looking, or I'm not a vase?"

Liu Nanzhou pursed his lips. "You're not a vase."

Qi Wuyu smiled and ruffled his hair. "Alright."

At that moment, the jade pendant at Qi Wuyu's waist emitted a faint white light. Qi Wuyu took it off and placed it on the table. Yao Shuning's cheerful voice came from the Spirit Language Jade.

"Elder, I'm all settled in."

Qi Wuyu laughed. "It took you so long to tell me. Were you having so much fun you almost forgot you still have a sect?"

Qi Wuyu elbowed Liu Nanzhou. "Look, your senior sister is messaging us. Don't worry about that nonsense and say hello to your senior sister."

Liu Nanzhou said, "Senior sister."

Yao Shuning asked, "Is that Xiao Zhou? What's wrong?"

Qi Wuyu glanced at Liu Nanzhou. "He's sulking."

Yao Shuning was clearly worried. "What happened? Who bullied our Xiao Zhou?"

Qi Wuyu said, "It's nothing, no one bullied him." He asked, "How are things on your end?"

Yao Shuning replied, "Oh, it's great here. The courtyard is full of girls around my age, and a few of them are medicine cultivators like me. We've agreed to go to the hot springs together tonight."

Qi Wuyu felt reassured but still cautioned, "Be careful on your own. If anything happens, let us know."

Yao Shuning responded, "Yeah, I know."

"Alright, go have fun. Don't stay out too late."

"Okay, see you tomorrow, Elder."

The Spirit Language Jade's light faded. Qi Wuyu reattached it to his waist. Liu Nanzhou was still fuming. Qi Wuyu chuckled, "I'm not even angry, why are you? Let's go."

Just then, Zheng Linghao's snide voice drifted over again. "With no real skills, how did he become an elder? He probably got the position through some connections."

Li Siyu, noticing Liu Nanzhou looking their way, whispered a reminder, "Alright, keep your voice down."

Hearing this, Liu Nanzhou's brow furrowed instantly, anger flaring in his eyes. His hand had already gripped his sword hilt, but Qi Wuyu quickly pressed it down.

"Be good, don't stoop to their level."

Liu Nanzhou gritted his teeth. Seeing Qi Wuyu not angry at all, he said, bewildered, "He said that about you."

Qi Wuyu nodded lightly. "I know. I don't care."

He didn't care, but Liu Nanzhou did. Still seething, he reached out, took a peanut from the plate, and flicked it, hitting Zheng Linghao squarely on the wrist holding the water cup.

Zheng Linghao's hand jerked, spilling water all over himself. He exclaimed and stood up. "Who? Who the hell hit me?"

Liu Nanzhou stepped in front of Qi Wuyu. "Me."

Qi Wuyu was slightly taken aback, looking at the person shielding him. After so many years of being together day and night, he hadn't really noticed the changes in Liu Nanzhou by his side. He only knew the boy was growing taller and his cultivation was improving; everything else seemed largely unchanged.

Only now did Qi Wuyu realize that Liu Nanzhou had already grown almost as tall as him. The child who loved roasted sweet potatoes had quietly grown into an adult who could stand up for him, though still as stubborn as he was in childhood.

He felt a sudden surge of pride. He couldn't help but straighten his posture—look at the child I raised! Isn't he wonderful!

Zheng Linghao shouted angrily, "Are you crazy? Why did you hit me?"

Liu Nanzhou said, "For having a foul mouth."

Furious, Zheng Linghao gathered energy in his palm and raised his hand to strike Liu Nanzhou, but Li Siyu stopped him. "Enough, senior brother. You should go back and change your clothes first."

Zheng Linghao looked down at the wet stain on his chest, which was embarrassing, and pointed at Liu Nanzhou. "Hmph, just you wait!"

Recognizing their attire as that of Chaowu Tian's disciples, Qi Wuyu raised an eyebrow. "Fine, we'll wait." He tugged at Liu Nanzhou's wrist. "Let's go."

After leaving, Liu Nanzhou stayed quiet the whole time.

Seeing him sullen, Qi Wuyu laughed. Liu Nanzhou thought it was weird. "You're still laughing?"

Qi Wuyu said matter-of-factly, "Why shouldn't I laugh?" He ruffled Liu Nanzhou's hair. "The kid I raised turned out so well—now he's protecting his master!"

Liu Nanzhou couldn't understand his thinking. "Aren't you angry at all?"

Qi Wuyu said, "Why should I be angry?"

In the early years, many had mocked him, with even harsher words—calling him mediocre, incompetent, a failure, a good-for-nothing.

Being called a vase was actually quite mild. As for the rest... he did become an elder through connections, so what they said wasn't entirely wrong.

Liu Nanzhou asked, "Is there really no way for the Spiritual Core?"

Qi Wuyu withdrew his hand and patted Liu Nanzhou's back with a smile. "No, don't think about it."

Liu Nanzhou refused to believe it. He secretly clenched his fist, resolving in his heart to find a way to cure Qi Wuyu. This was actually part of the reason he had decided to leave the mountain.

The next day, Zhu Jinchen came to the courtyard to deliver a message.

Author's Note:

----------------------

Furious Zhou [Rainbow Fart]

Did you miss me after a day apart? [Shy]