Ch38 - Did you get addicted to being a snake?

In Feng Ci’s memories, Pei QianYue very rarely slept in front of him.

After interacting for such a long time, Feng Ci once thought this person didn’t need any rest. This was because no matter what time it was, as long as Feng Ci was awake, Pei QianYue would definitely be awake as well. 

Feng Ci felt as if there was a tightly drawn string inside of Pei QianYue’s body, demanding him to keep an eye on Feng Ci at all times for him to feel at ease.

The only exception to this was after Pei QianYue got heavily injured on LinXian Terrace and then knelt for three days and three nights, when he couldn’t stop himself from transforming back to his original form and fell unconscious in front of Feng Ci.

That’s why it wasn’t wrong for Feng Ci to say that this person often evoked a sense of heartache.

Feng Ci didn’t continue to stand at the bow of the ferry, under the cold breeze. Instead, he turned to return to the cabin. He carefully lowered the screen curtains on both sides of the awning boat and sat down inside the cabin. 

The little snake on his wrist continued to sleep very soundly.

Feng Ci remembered when he first saved the little black snake, this little guy also wrapped itself around his wrist from morning to night. During its youth, the snake hatchling was very naughty. Just ignoring it slightly would cause it to throw a fit inside Feng Ci’s sleeve. However, Feng Ci only needed to stroke it a bit and it’d immediately be soothed to sleep.

Who would have thought, this habit still remained.

Feng Ci lowered his head and looked at the soundly asleep little snake on his wrist.

The young version of the little black snake was very cute. So small, the patterns on its scales hadn’t even grown out yet. Its entire body was pitch-black and shiny, soft and ice-cold to touch. Curled up, it was so tiny and so light, there’s practically no weight.

As Feng Ci looked, he reached out an idle hand to stroke the snake.

The soft body of the snake rose and fell faintly with its breathing. Its ice-cold breath puffed onto Feng Ci’s hand, making him feel a bit itchy.

His fingers slowly stroked down the snake’s body, until he touched the slender tip of the tail. 

The snake’s tail was extremely sensitive, especially the pointy tip which twitched slightly when touched. Feng Ci felt amused by this reaction and played with it delightfully and tirelessly.

Another reason why Pei QianYue had fallen asleep just now was probably because he had been sealed by Feng Ci, unable to perceive the outside world. Now that the restriction has been lifted, his senses gradually returned, and he no longer slept as deeply as before.

Thus, after being tormented by Feng Ci like this, he woke up.

As soon as its head moved, Feng Ci abruptly retracted his misbehaving hand and looked away nonchalantly like nothing happened. 

The little snake didn’t seem to have awoken fully from its sleep. It slowly lifted its head and dazed off in place for a good, long while.

Feng Ci coughed softly and gave a kind smile: “You’re awake?”

The little black snake crawled upwards following the path of Feng Ci’s fingers. Reaching the tip of his finger, it finally spoke: “I… fell asleep just now?”

“……En.” Feng Ci said: “You slept very soundly.” 

Pei QianYue didn’t answer. His tail moved subconsciously, perhaps still feeling a bit strange there.

Feng Ci hastily changed the topic: “We’ll probably reach Broken Sword Manor in the afternoon. You should change back.”

Pei QianYue still didn’t answer.

The little black snake quietly retracted its body and wrapped itself around Feng Ci’s wrist several times, curling up in a well-behaved manner. 

Feng Ci: “……”

Feng Ci didn’t know if he should laugh or cry: “What are you doing here? Did you get addicted to being a snake?”

The little black snake rested its head on Feng Ci’s wrist and actually answered with conviction: “Why not?”

Feng Ci: “When we reach Broken Sword Manor, are you still going to continue being a snake?” 

Pei QianYue still said the same words: “Why not?”

“……” Feng Ci fell silent for a moment and said: “Are you really not trying to be lazy here? Trying to get me to solve the issue myself?

Pei QianYue flicked his tail once and stopped answering.

Feng Ci felt like he must be predestined for a laborer’s life. Being ordered around everyday by the Heavenly Principles was already bad enough. Now he had finally gained a capable assistant like Pei QianYue by his side, yet this person didn’t seem to care about these things at all and only focused wholeheartedly on how to cuddle up to him. 

Not doing anything serious at all.

Feng Ci angrily poked the little black snake on the head.

Pei QianYue did as he promised. From the ferry ride to the entrance of Broken Sword Manor, he insisted on not transforming back into human form.

Feng Ci was too lazy to argue so he simply let him be. 

After disembarking from the ferry, there was a long stone staircase. The two sides of the stone steps were covered with dense vegetation. Looking upward, a giant mountain gate could be seen faintly above the hundreds of steps, as well as a roof’s ridges, which looked like a bird spreading its wings.

However, the dock where the ferry stopped was guarded by two young disciples in dark red.

With solemn and dignified expressions, they both carried large heavy swords behind their back.

Before Feng Ci even got off the boat, he heard those two young disciples say: “Uncle Li, how come you’re here? Didn’t the Manor Master instruct you to not come here anymore in the future?” 

The ferryman explained: “There’s a visitor from Gusu……”

“Visitor? But we—”

Feng Ci lifted the screen curtain and walked out of the awning boat.

We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.

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“My surname is Lu— Lu JingMing.” Feng Ci took out a command sigil from his pocket and handed it over: “I had a chance meeting with the Manor Master in Wanhai Bazaar. He was the one who permitted me to visit with this command sigil.”

One of the disciples accepted the sigil and examined it carefully: “This is indeed the Manor Master’s command sigil.”

He bowed to Feng Ci and greeted him respectfully: “Gongzi, please forgive us. This disciple will bring you into the manor.” 

However, despite having the command sigil, it was still not easy for Feng Ci to enter the Manor.

From the dock to Broken Sword Manor, this mere one hundred stony steps, Feng Ci already saw 3-4 different barriers, 5-6 prohibition seals, and many disciples guarding the mountain gate specifically and carefully inspecting everyone who were entering and exiting.

As an outsider, Feng Ci naturally couldn’t skip this custom.

He stood in front of the mountain gate and obediently allowed himself to be body searched. When he looked up, he saw the plaque that hung high above his head. 

The sign looked like it had some years to it, but the words ‘Broken Sword Manor’ were written boldly and powerfully, revealing the writer’s wild and unrestrained personality faintly in its penmanship.

Feng Ci asked curiously: “Who wrote the words on the plaque?”

The Broken Sword Manor used broadswords as their weapons. Their techniques were resolute and overbearing. However, the disciples of the sect didn’t actually acquire such characteristics through habit and practice.

Regardless of those two people guarding the docks or these disciples conducting the body searches in front of the mountain gate, they all treated people with courtesy. 

The disciple who was body searching Feng Ci explained, saying: “These words were written by our first generation Manor Master, Xiao Jue.”

Feng Ci then asked: “Why is it called Broken Sword Manor?”

When cultivation sects decide on their names, most have some kind of story or reason.

Either they’re like LangFeng City, which directly used the location of Kunlun’s LangFeng Peak as their name; or they’re like LingXiao Gates, which used the Daoist name of their first generation Sect Leader. If it’s neither of these two options, there’s always a very auspicious explanation. 

However, the name Broken Sword Manor…… it really didn’t sound very auspicious.

Sword cultivators viewed swords as their life. When their skills reach a certain height, the person and sword might even merge as one. If the sword is broken, the person will most likely die as well.

That disciple explained very patiently to Feng Ci: “Gongzi, you’re unaware. The first generation Manor Master had a steadfast and resolute personality, never bowing to force or oppression. When he first built Broken Sword Manor and established the sect, he once left behind a legendary maxim.”

Speaking here, the disciple raised his head and looked towards the plaque above his head: “—When you enter my Broken Sword Manor, your swords can break, but you cannot.” 

Feng Ci’s eyes shone with light.

That disciple said: “This is where Broken Sword Manor’s name came from.”

Feng Ci exclaimed in awe: “Such impressive words.”

That disciple only smiled without replying. 

In that instant, Feng Ci seemed to catch a flash of bereavement in his eyes.

But the disciple suppressed it very quickly and lifted Feng Ci’s sleeve.

“Ah—”

A little black snake shot out of Feng Ci’s sleeve and opened its mouth wide, as if ready to bite. Luckily that disciple knew martial arts and evaded quickly, which allowed him to avoid this disastrous fate. 

The little black snake’s tail was still wrapped around Feng Ci’s wrist, but its head was raised high as it spat out its bright red tongue with hisses.

Feng Ci: “……”

“This……This……”

That disciple seemed to have received quite the scare. Feng Ci sighed. Grabbing the little black snake by the head, he skillfully wrapped it around his wrist again and then gave that disciple a smile: “A little cutie I raised who’s not very obedient. Please forgive me, Daoist friend.” 

“So……so it’s like that.” That disciple calmed down slightly and said: “Sorry to let you see me in such an embarrassing state, Gongzi.”

“No no, he’s the one who’s undisciplined.” Feng Ci poked the little black snake on the head: “Apologize.”

The little black snake flicked its tail and retreated back into Feng Ci’s sleeve.

Feng Ci: “You—” 

“No matter.” That disciple didn’t particularly look like he wanted to continue dealing with the little black snake either and hastily said: “Gongzi, this little snake is rather intelligent and very…… very cute. Perhaps it thought I was being hostile just now. That’s why it suddenly attacked. No need to blame it.”

Feng Ci: “……”

No, he didn’t think you were being hostile. He’s the one hostile towards everyone that approached him.

After the body search was completed, the disciple that went inside the manor to report Feng Ci’s arrival has also returned. Feng Ci finally was able to enter the manor’s front gate. 

The person leading the way for him was the same disciple who had searched him just now.

Feng Ci chatted idly with him a bit more before finally learning that this was actually the head disciple of the current Manor Master. His name was Jin Yi.

Jin Yi brought Feng Ci inside the manor. The interior of this manor was extremely large. Although it wasn’t as rich and luxurious as QingJing Sect, it wasn’t too far behind. The only difference was that right now the inside of the manor was very heavily guarded. Sword-wielding disciples could be seen patrolling everywhere.

“That’s the Nine-Revolving Trap Array right?” Feng Ci recognized the nine stone pillars placed at the center of the front yard. 

Inside each of these nine pillars hid a different kind of concealed weapon, which were placed in special patterns. When activated, the pillars moved freely within the array as if they were alive and attacked intruders relentlessly.

Jin Yi was startled but he didn’t hide the truth: “Gongzi, you have a good eye.”

This trap was first invented by Feng Ci. Naturally he recognized it.

It’s just…… 

While this magic array seemed bizarre and ever-changing, in reality, it wasn’t very lethal and can only be used as a distraction to stall for time. Facing ordinary enemies, it wasn’t bad, but when encountering a strong enemy with extremely high cultivation level, it actually wasn’t very useful.

Not to mention, the enemy this time……

Feng Ci frowned slightly, but didn’t say anything.

Since Feng Ci possessed the Manor Master’s command sigil, he was the Manor Master’s invited guest. Therefore, Jin Yi led him directly to the courtyard in the back where the Manor Master managed affairs. 

As soon as they walked into the courtyard, the first thing that Feng Ci saw, however, was a youth.

The red-robed youth knelt in the middle of the courtyard, head bowed slightly and body trembling.

He has probably knelt here for a long time already. The clothes he was wearing and his hair were slightly damp, most likely from yesterday night’s rain.

Hearing footsteps approaching, he raised his head and revealed a pale-white and brittle face. 

It was the youth that Feng Ci had met in Wanhai Bazaar, the Manor Master’s little brother, Xiao ChengHuan.

“It’s you……” Xiao ChengHuan also recognized Feng Ci.

Feng Ci nodded his head towards him: “Young Master Xiao.”

Jin Yi walked forward directly and lifted his hands to cast a spell to clean Xiao ChengHuan’s clothes, as if wanting to help him dry his garments. 

“A-Yi.” Xiao ChengHuan called out to him and shook his head: “No need.”

Jin Yi: “Xiao-Shishu, but you……”

Xiao ChengHuan said: “I’m kneeling here to reflect on my wrongdoing. If you help me, how can this be called self-reflection?”

“But……” 

Xiao ChengHuan was still young. He seemed around the same age as Feng Ci’s current physical body. Jin Yi was actually somewhat older than him; however in terms of seniority, he still had to call him “Shishu”.

With his head lowered, Jin Yi looked at him for a moment and ultimately, shut his eyes and withdrew his hands.

He turned around and said to Feng Ci: “The manor master is inside right now. Gongzi—”

Before he finished speaking, someone suddenly opened the door. The young Manor Master walked outside. 

Xiao ChengXuan still wore the same red clothes, but for some unknown reason, Feng Ci felt like he mentally looked much more haggard than in Wanhai Bazaar.

Xiao ChengXuan skipped the pleasantries with Feng Ci and said directly: “Come with me, Lu-Gongzi.”

After he spoke, he immediately started walking out of the courtyard. However, Jin Yi spoke up: “Shizun, Xiao-Shishu he……”

Xiao ChengXuan halted in his steps. 

Jin Yi continued to say: “Xiao-Shishu’s health has never been good. If he continues to kneel like this, he might not be able to endure it. Shizun—”

“Did I tell him to kneel?” Xiao ChengXuan said coldly without even looking back: “He’s no longer part of my Broken Sword Manor. He’s the one who refuses to leave and insists on kneeling here. If you can’t bear seeing it, then kick him out.”

After he said these words, Xiao ChengHuan’s complexion turned even more ghastly white: “No, no! I don’t want to go. Elder brother, don’t kick me out!”

Xiao ChengXuan ignored him and walked out of the courtyard. 

Feng Ci looked back at the two people in the courtyard. Jin Yi had his head lowered in front of Xiao ChengHuan, as if quietly trying to persuade him. Feng Ci didn’t continue to watch. He followed Xiao ChengXuan and left the courtyard.

Back then, in Wanhai Bazaar, Xiao ChengXuan had promised that Feng Ci could pick out any magic treasure he wanted in their treasure storage house.

Although Feng Ci was using this as an excuse to come to Broken Sword Manor, he didn’t really take this promise seriously.

Most of these kinds of remarks were words of courtesy to suit the situation. If it were someone else, they’d most likely bring out a few non-essential magic items for him to select just to get things over with. Surprisingly, however, Xiao ChengXuan really did open the treasure storage house and let Feng Ci enter to pick and choose. 

“These……” Feng Ci stood outside of the treasure storage house and swept a glance over the entire room of magic weapons, items and precious treasures. He couldn’t resist swallowing pathetically: “I can pick anything from all this?”

“Yes.” Xiao ChengXuan said: “If you think the value does not match the Phantom Spirit Cauldron, Lu-Gongzi, you can pick two or three if you want.”

This was really too generous.

Magic items were usually separated by different grades; however, the value of items was not limited merely by their grades. 

After all, all items can be used.

However, spirit pills and magic herbs that can assist with cultivation, and magic weapons that can improve battle strength, were often of higher value than other useful items.

This concept was based on the practical value of the item.

The Phantom Spirit Cauldron was a magic weapon left behind after the great war between mortals and demons(魔). Although it was considered a high grade item, in terms of practical value, it’s actually not that high. This item was used as defense against enemies; however, it’s different from ordinary equipment because it was hard to control. 

Once the Phantom Spirit Cauldron traps someone inside, it’s impossible to release the prisoner again from the outside regardless of magic incantations or physical force. It can be considered a lethal killer.

During the war, this was an extremely useful item. However, now that the world has been peaceful and harmonious for so many years, who would still have mortal enemies that’s worth using this thing?

As a result, despite its high grade, it’s actually not as valuable as some of the other treasures inside the treasure storage house.

“Manor Master Xiao is so generous, I’m actually somewhat embarrassed now.” Feng Ci said with a smile. 

Xiao ChengXuan also smiled slightly and said nonchalantly: “It’s all worldly items, not worth mentioning. These treasures were accumulated by several generations of Manor Masters. They’re useless just laying around in the treasure storage house anyways, why not find them a fated person.”

Feng Ci: “Manor Master, if you want to be relieved of these treasures, Old Master Xue of Gusu just happens to be looking to acquire some magic items.”

Clearly not expecting Feng Ci to earnestly introduce business to him, Xiao ChengXuan was slightly stunned.

“However, most of the treasures in this room are extremely rare and precious in my opinion. Selling them like this is somewhat of a pity…… Not to mention……” Speaking here, Feng Ci paused briefly and said: “Manor Master will be needing a lot of these soon, no?” 

Xiao ChengXuan frowned: “What do you mean ‘needing’?”

Feng Ci: “Naturally, to defend against the enemy.”

The magic items inside this treasure storage house were no less inferior to the Immortal Alliance. If they were completely utilized, then adding Feng Ci’s assistance, defense was no issue.

Xiao ChengXuan’s expression changed completely: “You saw Broken Sword Manor’s announcement?” 

Feng Ci nodded: “En, you can say that.”

Xiao ChengXuan: “You came to Broken Sword Manor… not for any magic items?”

“Although this one does like to collect treasures and magic items, I have no interest in robbing others of their cherished valuables.” Feng Ci didn’t circumvent the issue and asked directly: “After Broken Sword Manor released the announcement, has anyone or any cultivation sects contacted you, willing to fight against the enemy with you?”

There was a moment of hesitation in Xiao ChengXuan’s expression. He didn’t answer. 

Feng Ci asked tentatively: “…… No one at all?”

Xiao ChengXuan sighed.

Feng Ci fell silent.

He had imagined that those willing to step forth wouldn’t be many, but he never thought that there’d be no one at all. These cultivators were even more timid than he had expected. 

Feng Ci patted Xiao ChengXuan’s shoulder and said comfortingly: “No matter. I can help you.”

Xiao ChengXuan looked towards him with an expression even more indescribable than before.

Feng Ci: “……”

Did he look that unreliable? 

Xiao ChengXuan didn’t say anything else. He only declined tactfully: “The Broken Sword Manor does not intend to implicate others. After Gongzi finishes selecting the magic items, it’s best if you leave as soon as possible.”

Feng Ci: “You—”

Xiao ChengXuan raised his hand: “Please.”

Exasperated, Feng Ci had no choice but to follow him to the treasure storage house. 

Actually, he couldn’t blame Xiao ChengXuan for not trusting him.

The physical body that Feng Ci occupied right now looked like a mere teenager who’s around the same age as Broken Sword Manor’s young master. Also, because his features were too delicate and pretty, his outer appearance looked even younger than his actual age.

No one would trust him that easily.

If Pei QianYue were beside him, it probably wouldn’t be like this. 

Although Feng Ci didn’t want to admit it, Pei QianYue’s face looked very reliable.

Feng Ci raised his hand. The plain white sleeve fell downward, revealing the little black snake around his wrist.

The little snake wasn’t even paying attention to what Feng Ci and Xiao ChengXuan were discussing. The snake had wrapped itself entirely around Feng Ci’s wrist, flicking its tail against Feng Ci’s wrist on and off idly. It exuded a sense of relaxation and contentment, very much enjoying the moment.

So comfortable that the serpent even felt somewhat drowsy. 

This sight made Feng Ci’s teeth itch.

He’s busy worrying about the cultivation world and even getting doubted by others now, yet this asshole bastard was over here living it up.

Who exactly is the Leader of the Immortal Alliance again???

Sensing Feng Ci raising his hand, the little black snake finally graced him with its noble presence and raised its head. 

It even tilted its head slightly.

“It’s nothing.” Feng Ci gave him a smile: “You can keep sleeping.”

His smile was very gentle and kind, but the little black snake couldn’t help but tremble uncontrollably.

For some unknown reason, it had a very ominous feeling. 

However, before it could respond, Feng Ci yanked his sleeve back down and put it away again.