Chapter 33: Hiding

Chapter 33: Hidden

Before the two could react, Shang Yunduo had already shot toward the cliff like an arrow.

"Senior!"

His exaggerated, fawning tone made Xiao Chi shudder, and he stared in shock at the senior brother he always remembered as taciturn.

Afraid that Pei Jie would discover his connection with Xiao Chi and the Taiyuan Sect, Shang Yunduo took the initiative to steer the conversation: "Senior, when did you arrive?"

Pei Jie: "Right when you were playing the hero saving the beauty."

Shang Yunduo was bewildered: "Huh?"

He subconsciously glanced over at Xiao Chi. His junior disciple had regular features—honest and reliable—not ugly, but rather neat and pleasant-looking. Still, he had nothing to do with "beauty," right?

And his expression right now was a bit foolish too.

Standing beside Su Ziyuan... truly a handsome man and a beautiful woman, but they have a tough road ahead.

He turned back in confusion and finished his question, "Why did you come in person?"

Pei Jie: "If I hadn't come, that thing would have ended up in someone else's pocket."

As he spoke, he kicked a pebble by his foot. The stone flew off and landed on a tree less than five meters away. The "tree" let out an "Ah!"

Everyone was startled. There was actually another troublemaker hiding on the cliff!

Shang Yunduo: "Ah! Denggelou!"

Lou Dengge, lying flat on the tree, rubbed his sore back and smiled apologetically: "Daoist Shang, it's Lou Dengge."

Of course, Shang Yunduo knew that, but ever since Lou Dengge had been disloyal and run off on his own last time, he only deserved to be called Denggelou now.

"Who's there?!"

The people below the cliff shouted angrily.

Especially the blue-robed cultivators who had already climbed halfway up amid the chaos, thinking they were the oriole behind the mantis, unaware that two hunters were above.

Lou Dengge felt utterly wronged and said helplessly: "It was I who first discovered this Bone-Replacing Vine while passing by on the cliff. While I was fighting the accompanying giant lizard, the fellow Daoists of the Taiyuan Sect heard me. Then that young lady and her group arrived, and in the scramble with the Taiyuan Sect, the fellow Daoists of Flying Stone Peak also arrived. After that came the fellow Daoists of Still Water Sect..."

Shang Yunduo: "???..."

Holy cow!

So that was the order?

No wonder the Taiyuan Sect had started fighting with Su Ziyuan's group first.

Xiao Chi was startled too, thinking to himself that it was no wonder the lizard had suddenly kicked down the stones—but he hadn't sensed anyone hiding nearby at all.

Close call. If someone had an old grudge against him and had been hiding there to ambush him, he would have been done for. He would have to be even more careful in the future.

The others also had mixed thoughts and varied expressions.

Lou Dengge: "Finally, this... this senior passed by and, seeing that everyone's personal grievances were not yet settled, figured you might have no time for this Bone-Replacing Vine, so he conveniently picked it."

Everyone: "..."

Yeah, right, "too busy"!

Shang Yunduo was dumbfounded. They were all snatching it, but the words could be twisted like this?

Lou Dengge had already been quietly observing Pei Jie. No matter how he looked, this person only had the cultivation of the Fourth Layer Qi Refining. But since Shang Yunduo called him "Senior," he must be a senior. He just didn't know for what reason he deliberately suppressed his cultivation. Unfortunately, naive Shang Yunduo had blurted it out.

But even if Shang Yunduo hadn't exposed him, Lou Dengge wouldn't have dared to underestimate him.

So many people present, including two Foundation Establishment cultivators—Lou Dengge had been lying here all day without anyone noticing. Yet Pei Jie spotted him the moment he arrived. Earlier, Pei Jie had only glanced his way before calmly picking the Bone-Replacing Vine. Lou Dengge had assumed Pei Jie hadn't noticed him, but it turned out he just couldn't be bothered.

Lou Dengge sighed inwardly, feeling bitter. This century-old Bone-Replacing Vine was a rare treasure, but it just wasn't meant to be his.

Outwardly, though, he cupped his hands humbly toward Pei Jie and the people below the cliff: "Treasures always go to those capable of obtaining them. From the moment the Taiyuan Sect's fellow Daoists killed the giant lizard, I had already given up on this Bone-Replacing Vine. I wanted to withdraw but feared being misunderstood by you all, so I didn't dare act rashly. Please rest assured, I have no intention of coveting it. I'll be on my way now."

With that, he nimbly climbed up the cliff, not daring to delay for a moment, without even glancing at where the Bone-Replacing Vine had grown, and fled as fast as he could.

Shang Yunduo was baffled. If he had already given up, why did he look like he was running for his life?

But unexpectedly, Su Ziyuan below glanced at Xiao Chi and surprisingly said: "Two senior brothers, until we meet again."

Then she flew back to her own clan members, shouted "Let's go!" and quickly departed.

The two Foundation Establishment cultivators from Flying Stone Peak exchanged telepathic whispers. Though their faces showed reluctance, they too gave up on the Bone-Replacing Vine and shouted "Don't go!" as they chased after Su Ziyuan's group.

Shang Yunduo: "???"

Not only him, but also the people from Taiyuan Sect and Still Water Sect couldn't wrap their heads around it. Some disciples of Flying Stone Peak were a step slow, hesitating before chasing after.

Just like that, they left?

Seeing that they were about to confront the Taiyuan Sect, Shang Yunduo immediately said: "Senior, let's go too!"

"Stop right there!" Someone from the Taiyuan Sect immediately shouted.

The disciple in charge, still deep in thought, was startled, and Shang Yunduo snapped: "Stop? No way! I just helped you people. How can you Taiyuan Sect disciples not tell right from wrong?"

Hearing this, Xiao Chi was stunned. "You Taiyuan Sect"? Who's "you people"?

Others weren't familiar with Shang Yunduo, so they didn't recognize him. But it was true that he had just helped Xiao Chi. Some felt embarrassed, while others were unconvinced, especially those who had killed the giant lizard or lost friends in this struggle. How could they let them leave with the Bone-Replacing Vine?

"Hand over the Bone-Replacing Vine!"

Shang Yunduo: "Like hell! You tell me to hand it over and I'll hand it over? You tell me to stop and I'll stop? Don't I have any face? No way! Senior, let's go!"

With that, he grabbed Pei Jie's hand and stepped onto his sword and took off.

Pei Jie: "?"

Xiao Chi: "???"

Shang Yunduo was at full speed. No matter how many times Xiao Chi sent him a voice transmission calling "Senior Brother," he pretended not to hear and fled without looking back.

What senior brother? The current Xiao Chi couldn't even put a scratch on Pei Jie. Three of them combined couldn't withstand a single strike from Pei Jie's sword. Why is he still shouting?

Pei Jie: "What are you running from?"

Shang Yunduo: "Senior, let's hurry. We don't want those two Foundation Establishment cultivators to get ahead of us. They were the ones who beat me earlier..."

Pei Jie: "Was that your friend?"

Shang Yunduo: “Uh...”

Pei Jie: “I’m not blind. Your sword is in his hands.”

Shang Yunduo: “...”

He sighed.

Pei Jie tried to shake off Shang Yunduo’s right hand, but Shang Yunduo grabbed his left hand with both hands, holding on tightly and refusing to let go, as if he were determined. “Senior, you have a grudge against the Taiyuan Sect, but Xiao Chi also saved my life. I understand you want revenge, but I can’t just stand by and watch you kill him.”

Pei Jie: “...”

Shang Yunduo: “Considering we’ve been through thick and thin together these past few days, can we talk about this? Please don’t kill him?”

Pei Jie looked down at Shang Yunduo’s tightening grip.

Shang Yunduo: “Look, he’s only at the Qi Refining stage, his cultivation is low, and young. The Taiyuan Sect is evil, ruthless, and despicable, but people can be good or bad in any sect. He’s just a minor Qi Refining cultivator—whatever grudge you have surely has nothing to do with him. As the saying goes, ‘One should be lenient whenever possible; sparing someone is better than building a seven-story pagoda’...”

Pei Jie: “...”

Shang Yunduo: “Killing the innocent corrupts your Dao heart, and exterminating everyone defies the will of heaven. Uh... ‘Don’t do evil just because it’s a small thing’...”

Pei Jie had heard enough. He pulled his hand free, conjured the carriage, and said, “Shut up. Get in.”

Shang Yunduo wailed, threw himself at Pei Jie, hugging his waist, and refused to let go. “Senior! Senior!”

Pei Jie ignored him, raised a hand, and smashed a spirit stone into the mountain below.

“Ouch!”

A familiar yelp of pain came from below.

Shang Yunduo froze.

Lou Dengge, rubbing his head miserably, cupped his hands and said, “Daoist Shang, Senior, Lou... Lou really didn’t mean to.”

Shang Yunduo: “...”

He slowly let go of Pei Jie, wanting to cover his face.

Pei Jie looked down at Lou Dengge. “Your technique is quite interesting.”

If Shang Yunduo hadn’t yelled, causing Lou Dengge to laugh despite himself and leak his aura, Pei Jie really wouldn’t have noticed.

Lou Dengge looked awkward, glancing between Pei Jie and Shang Yunduo, trying to make conversation. “Daoist Shang, it’s ‘saving one life is better than building a seven-story pagoda.’”

Shang Yunduo: “...”

He was just rambling, so what?

Embarrassed and angry, Shang Yunduo snapped, “What were you sneaking around there for?”

Lou Dengge said with feigned innocence, “Just now, two Foundation Establishment seniors from Flying Stone Peak passed by. It seemed they didn’t catch up with that girl who used the lightning sword. Little old me was afraid they’d come after me, so I had to hide, that’s all.”

Who would have thought that before he could even climb down from the tree, Shang Yunduo and Pei Jie showed up?

At first, he thought Shang Yunduo was Pei Jie’s junior, but it turned out they were that kind of relationship.

... He didn’t get it, but he respected it. He’d heard that some senior cultivators liked this kind of innocent, naive, and unworldly temperament.

Kind of like that elder in their sect who was obsessed with raising birds!

Suddenly, a whistling arrow shot up ahead, exploding in the air. The three of them looked toward where the flare dispersed.

The central mountain range.

Shang Yunduo: “Is it near the Floating Cloud Flower?”

Pei Jie looked away. “Mm. Let’s go.”

“Oh.” Shang Yunduo climbed into the carriage by himself. “Then let’s hurry over too!”

Pei Jie: “No rush.”

Shang Yunduo thought Pei Jie wanted to go back and pick a fight with the Taiyuan Sect disciples. The moment Pei Jie sat down, Shang Yunduo squeezed right next to him. Since he’d already been seen, he threw caution to the wind. He grabbed Pei Jie’s sleeve and shook it. “Senior...”

Pei Jie closed his eyes, raised a hand, and silenced Shang Yunduo with a gesture, finally getting some quiet. “I don’t kill those below Foundation Establishment.”

Shang Yunduo’s lips moved, but no sound came out. His eyes, however, clearly said, “You’re lying.”

He had personally seen Pei Jie kill Niu Chengdian and his gang. He was the one who burned the bodies.

Pei Jie added slowly, “Unless they court death.”

Shang Yunduo: “...”

Pei Jie: “Then I grant their wish.”

Shang Yunduo: “...”

Alright. If they met again, he would definitely stop Xiao Chi from getting himself killed.

Seeing Lou Dengge still respectfully bowing to their carriage from the mountainside, without any hint of urgency, Shang Yunduo nudged Pei Jie’s arm and hummed, “Senior, senior.”

Pei Jie lifted the spell. Shang Yunduo said, “Senior, why isn’t he in a hurry? He runs faster than me, and he’s already going after the Floating Cloud Flower. Why is he so slow? Something’s off.”

Pei Jie frowned. “You’re slower than him?”

Shang Yunduo coughed lightly. “I hate to admit it, but that’s an objective fact.”

Pei Jie remarked noncommittally, “So he’s the one who tricked you with the jade slips?”

Shang Yunduo: “... It’s not exactly a trick.”

It was a fair trade. Although he later found out that two of the four jade slips recorded things unrelated to the cultivation world, it was also his fault for not checking them first.

His past experiences made him too accustomed to taking things for granted.

As for Lou Dengge ditching him and running, that was also partly his own problem. They weren’t sect brothers, friends, or family. Trusting someone he’d only known for a day was foolish.

Once bitten, twice shy. He wouldn’t trust Lou Dengge so easily again, and he’d be more careful making friends in the future.

Pei Jie: “Want revenge?”

Shang Yunduo: “Huh?”

Was Pei Jie going to stand up for him?

It wasn’t a big deal. Losing fair and square and then tattling to his parents—he’d stopped doing that back in elementary school.

Just as Shang Yunduo was about to shake his head, Pei Jie said, "Go down and go after him."

Shang Yunduo: "Huh?!"

Author's note:

Yunduo: Senior, you weren't going to avenge me?

Pei Jie: Your business is yours to handle. Go on.

Daoist Lou: ...?