Villainous Junior Chapter 29
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 29: Without Emotion
Meng Chen followed Zhongli Jing to Taixuan Sect.
As a newcomer to the world of cultivation from the mortal realm, he didn't understand anything and didn't know anyone. The senior brother Pei Yuze on Tianji Peak was a person who appeared warm but was cold at heart and difficult to approach. Meng Chen had no choice but to reluctantly seek help from his master whenever he encountered bottlenecks in his cultivation.
As time went on, Meng Chen slowly discovered that Zhongli Jing was not as aloof and cold as he had imagined. Although the other had already reached the pinnacle of the cultivation world, he was just a novice who didn't even understand Qi Refining. Every time he asked questions that were so foolish they would make people laugh, probably even a Foundation Establishment disciple wouldn't have the patience to answer him.
But Zhongli Jing always answered every question.
Although the man's voice and expression were always cold and emotionless, he would always explain in detail each of Meng Chen's doubts. If one explanation wasn't clear, he would explain twice, if twice wasn't enough, he would explain three times, until Meng Chen understood.
Meng Chen went from initially being nervous and cautious, as if treading on thin ice, to relaxing his guard. In the end, every time he ran towards Tianyin Pavilion where Zhongli Jing lived with his books in hand, his footsteps were as light as if he were about to fly.
After all, he was only a thirteen-year-old youth. Staying alone in his room all day, he would feel unbearably lonely. Although his master was always cold, at least he would talk to him, making him feel that on this boundless and desolate Tianji Peak, he was not alone.
He progressed very quickly and understood more and more. He finally learned that the path Zhongli Jing cultivated was different from ordinary cultivators—his master cultivated the Path of Ruthlessness.
The supreme forgets emotions, being impartial without emotion, unmoved by moods, undisturbed by feelings. Those who cultivate the Path of Ruthlessness cannot experience joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness.
After learning this, Meng Chen was somewhat happy at first. Since his master cultivated the Path of Ruthlessness, no matter how stupid he was, his master probably wouldn't drive him away out of disgust. But then he thought, is it really a good thing for a person to be unable to feel any joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness?
All joy, delight, warmth, and happiness would have nothing to do with oneself. Even pain and sorrow are part of life's journey, proof that a person has truly lived. If one couldn't experience anything, wouldn't life become meaningless?
Even if one cultivated the supreme great dao, but was still all alone without anyone to share it with, what meaning would there be?
Meng Chen knew that his thinking might be too narrow-minded. Things like happiness and sorrow probably didn't matter at all to his master. But he still quietly increased the time he spent with his master. Besides asking about his studies, he would run to Tianyin Pavilion for any reason, trying hard to find various opportunities to talk with him. He often pretended to accidentally leave things behind: sometimes a plate of snacks he found particularly delicious, sometimes a grasshopper toy he learned to weave from the mortal world, sometimes a small paper crane he folded casually, secretly hoping to let his master experience a bit of "human warmth".
Zhongli Jing perhaps didn't see them, or even if he saw them, he wouldn't pay attention to these childish trinkets. His attitude didn't change at all; he was always that emotionless, desireless, imperturbable Immortal Lord Zhongli.
Meng Chen felt a little disappointed, but he understood that everyone had their own path, and he couldn't easily change his master. Still, he tirelessly continued doing these little things, simply because he had understood from a young age the principle of returning kindness. If someone was good to him in one way, he had to be good to them in ten ways to feel at ease. Zhongli Jing had pulled him out of the mire, given him a place to belong, taught him to read, cultivate, and practice swordsmanship, transforming him from weak and bullied to independent and strong, fulfilling a dream he had desperately yearned for when struggling in the dust.
Zhongli Jing was his benefactor, and even more, his revered master - the person he had sworn very early on to repay for his entire life.
Later, when he was trapped in that cave, even though he was crippled and emaciated, he never thought of ending his life. Because he believed that even if everyone in Taixuan Sect doubted him, even if his brothers who were as close as his own flesh and blood betrayed him, his master would surely believe in his innocence.
One day, he finally managed to escape from that prison by chance. But fate seemed to always deliberately target him. The sky unexpectedly poured down a heavy rain, and because of his weak limbs, he only walked a few steps before stumbling and falling into the muddy rainwater.
A pair of spotless cloud boots appeared in his vision. Meng Chen's heart trembled, and he suddenly looked up. Before he could call out "Master", a cold sword tip was pressed against his throat.
The feeling of the sky falling was no more than this. In that instant, Meng Chen finally experienced complete collapse and despair.
"Master," his body trembled slightly from cold and pain, his tear-filled eyes staring intently at Zhongli Jing's indifferent face, "You don't believe me either?"
Zhongli Jing quietly gazed at him for a moment, his sword steadily resting on Meng Chen's pale neck.
"This has nothing to do with that," the Immortal Lord standing on the clouds said impassively. "It's just that Heaven's will cannot be defied."
In these few words, Meng Chen understood the truth.
Once one reached Zhongli Jing's level, they could communicate with the Heavenly Dao and glimpse important heavenly secrets on the path of cultivation. The secret Zhongli Jing had received was that one person would destroy his Path of Ruthlessness, burying hundreds of years of cultivation.
If others knew this news, they would probably try every means to stay away from that person destined by fate, preferably never meeting them in this life. But Zhongli Jing was different. His nature was tough and proud, he didn't believe his fate would be reversed because of another person, nor did he believe his unshakeable dao heart would waver because of a stranger. So he went against the flow, actively seeking out that person from the heavenly secret, and then on a snowy night, took in a child who was freezing to death by the roadside as his disciple.
It was originally a challenge to the Heavenly Dao, but who knew it would ultimately become a self-made trap.
When the Path of Ruthlessness showed signs of cracking, the proud and arrogant Immortal Lord finally had to admit that Heaven's will could not be defied.
But he couldn't give up his great dao for a disciple, so there was only one thing he could do—
Kill his disciple to attain enlightenment.
The great dao is inherently without emotion. If it was obstructed by a mere person, wouldn't his nearly thousand years of cultivation become a complete joke?
So, even though Zhongli Jing knew Meng Chen had been wronged, knew all the pain and torment he had endured had nothing to do with this matter.
He only knew that if he killed the person before him, there would be no one to obstruct his progress anymore.
As Meng Chen listened, he began to laugh, tears and rain mixing indistinguishably. "So, you saved me back then, just to kill me with your own hands, is that right?"
"Kill me, to complete your dao."
As expected of Immortal Lord Zhongli, revered by everyone in the immortal realm. How laughable that he had worried before that his master was always alone, and might feel lonely and desolate.
How laughable that he had always racked his brains trying to make his master happy, even if just a little bit.
But Immortal Lord Zhongli, the lofty Immortal Lord Zhongli who focused solely on the great dao, how could he need such things?
"No need for you to do it." Meng Chen grasped the blade before him, fresh blood flowing down the gleaming sword edge from his palm, dripping into the mud. "I'll do it myself."
"Master," he said at last, "I no longer owe you anything."
Ten years of care, ten years of teaching, ten years of kindness...
Repaying it with his life, from now on, they would have nothing to do with each other.
****
Due to the unexpected appearance of a peak God Transformation stage Taotie in the Taixuan Secret Realm, which nearly caused unanticipated large-scale casualties, the sect leader worried that other uncontrollable dangers might have emerged in the secret realm, so he temporarily suspended the exploration.
Although the disciples were somewhat disappointed, they understood that life was most precious. If they had encountered that God Transformation stage Taotie themselves, they probably would have been completely obliterated.
Speaking of which, it was fortunate that Immortal Lord Zhongli was able to appear at the critical moment to kill that Taotie, otherwise who knows how many disciples would have been lost.
With Immortal Lord Zhongli's return, all the disciples were excited, especially those who had newly joined in recent years. They all wanted to see what this venerated Immortal looked like. Unfortunately, after leaving the secret realm, the Immortal Lord returned directly to Tianji Peak. While the disciples were sighing with regret, they couldn't help but feel intense envy and jealousy towards the four personal disciples of Immortal Lord Zhongli on Tianji Peak.
At this moment, Meng Chen, the second disciple of Tianji Peak, was in Tianyin Pavilion where Zhongli Jing resided.
After saving him and killing that Taotie, Zhongli Jing had ordered him to follow to Tianyin Pavilion. Meng Chen silently followed behind him, quietly watching that familiar back.
When he was young and followed this back, he always felt it was tall and imposing, making him both admire and revere it, while feeling completely safe.
The young Meng Chen, not yet as composed as he was now, would often think happily to himself: Look, such a powerful Immortal is my master.
He will protect me, just like when I was very little, and my father protected me.
But after that rainy night, everything changed.
He couldn't say he hated him. After all, Zhongli Jing had indeed taught him for ten years, and if it weren't for Zhongli Jing, he would have died at thirteen.
But other feelings were gone too - admiration, reverence, affection... All attachments were completely severed with that sword strike. Now when he looked at Zhongli Jing, he was just a stranger with a familiar face.
The main door closed automatically. Tianyin Pavilion was cold and empty inside, with wisps of white smoke from the burning sandalwood in the incense burner quietly curling in the air.
Meng Chen stood still at the door, his eyes lowered, not saying a word.
Zhongli Jing noticed the person behind him had stopped following, paused, and turned back. He saw the young man standing at the door with his hands lowered, his long eyelashes gently drooping, hiding the emotions in his eyes. His whole being exuded an indescribable sense of detachment and... wariness.
Zhongli Jing looked at him for a while, then said, "Come here."
Meng Chen hesitated slightly, then stepped forward, still maintaining a distance from Zhongli Jing. He thought that given Zhongli Jing's personality, he would first examine his recent studies and cultivation, and was carefully considering how to respond. But then he saw Zhongli Jing wave his hand, placing two wine jugs on the table.
Meng Chen stared at the white porcelain jug carved with peach blossom patterns, momentarily lost in thought.
"Peach blossom wine from the mortal market," Zhongli Jing said, watching him, his voice cold and clear like an icy spring under moonlight. "I remember, you used to like it."
Meng Chen did indeed like this wine before.
One spring day years ago, he and his fellow disciples had skipped the boring sect history lesson and gone down the mountain together to participate in the "Hundred Flowers Festival". The inns along the street were selling peach blossom wine, with a sweet taste and a faint floral fragrance. The three of them had ordered several jugs of wine, sat by the window on the second floor of the inn, drinking and chatting while enjoying the flower market events through the window, feeling utterly carefree and happy.
They had stayed out until evening before returning. Meng Chen had hidden two bottles of peach blossom wine in his sleeve, intending to sneak back to Qixue Residence. But he unexpectedly saw a solitary figure sitting quietly in the pavilion by Tianji Cliff.
The white-robed Immortal Lord with his ink-black hair and silver crown, aloof and solitary, commanded awe with just his silhouette. But as Meng Chen watched that profile in the setting sun from afar, he felt a hint of sadness.
While he and his fellow disciples were happily playing outside, almost forgetting to return, his master was alone on this lofty and cold Tianji Peak, from sunrise to moonrise.
Every day, every year, it was like this.
A sudden strong sense of guilt welled up in his heart. Disregarding the possibility of being punished for going down the mountain without permission, he ran into the pavilion and placed the two bottles of peach blossom wine on the stone table with a "thud".
Zhongli Jing, who had been meditating, opened his eyes and looked at Meng Chen indifferently. Meng Chen boldly said, "Master, this is the wine I bought when I snuck down the mountain. It tastes great, would you like to try some?"
He had thought Zhongli Jing wouldn't pay attention to him, but to his surprise, after looking at the peach blossom wine, Zhongli Jing actually reached out and picked up a bottle.
Meng Chen was stunned, then overjoyed. He quickly used his lightness skill to fly back to the room and bring wine cups, personally pouring a cup for him. He watched expectantly as Zhongli Jing slowly drank, and asked, "Does it taste good?"
Zhongli Jing put down the wine cup. "It's passable."
Meng Chen knew that this evaluation from his master was already giving him face. His master, all-knowing and all-powerful, had surely been to countless amazing places in this vast world, tasted numerous exquisite immortal wines, how could he truly appreciate a cheap peach blossom wine from a mortal market? But Meng Chen was still overjoyed, and simply poured himself a cup and drank it down, boldly declaring, "Master, let's drink until we're drunk today!"
Meng Chen wasn't actually fond of drinking, but on this day he truly had the intention of drinking till intoxication - in fact, he wanted to see Zhongli Jing drunk once, to see if his eternally indifferent and cold master might show a slightly different expression when drunk.
The two bottles of peach blossom wine were quickly emptied. Meng Chen then ran to the storeroom to fetch a jar of Cloud Intoxication Immortal Wine, and grabbed two large bowls from the kitchen on the way. Zhongli Jing surprisingly went along with it, allowing him to mischievously pour a full large bowl of wine and hand it over with a grin.
Unfortunately, in the end, Meng Chen collapsed drunk on the stone table without seeing Zhongli Jing show any signs of intoxication.
"Miscalculation," he thought hazily as he lay on the table. Probably a Mahayana Realm venerable one wouldn't be affected by alcohol.
He had no recollection of what happened after that. He only remembered waking up lying properly in his own Qixue Residence, with a thin blanket neatly covering him.
For Meng Chen, this was already a lifetime ago. Even in this life, four or five years had passed. If no one had mentioned it, he would not have remembered. Yet unexpectedly, Zhongli Jing had brought back two jugs of peach blossom wine.
This was not at all like something Immortal Lord Zhongli would do.
If it were before, he would have been overjoyed, but now...
"This disciple was young and ignorant then, unrestrained and disrespectful, willful and indulgent in drink," Meng Chen said softly. "Now, I am no longer like that."
Zhongli Jing gazed at his face. "Now, you don't like it anymore?"
"Yes."
After a moment of silence, Meng Chen said, "Don't like it anymore."
