Villainous Junior Chapter 35
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 35: Flying Bird
When Meng Chen returned to Tianji Peak, he received a message from Zhongli Jing.
Although he was extremely reluctant, he had no choice but to go to Tianyin Pavilion.
Since his rebirth, he had been on guard against Zhongli Jing. Especially after experiencing the incident with Li Chen in Xianle City, which made him uncontrollably recall various events from his past life, he became increasingly cautious, with the tension in his mind stretched to the limit.
Zhongli Jing looked no different than usual, only calling him over to sit.
Two cups of tea were placed on the table, with steam rising and a clear fragrance with a hint of bitterness. Meng Chen sat down formally opposite Zhongli Jing and softly called out, "Master."
Zhongli Jing made a sound of acknowledgment and asked, "How was your trip to Xianle City?"
Xianle City was just a place for leisure and entertainment, what could have happened?
But Zhongli Jing was someone who only cared about cultivation, so Meng Chen wasn't surprised. He answered meticulously, "Xianle City is full of talented individuals. This trip allowed me to meet many great cultivators and also made me realize my own shallowness. In future cultivation, I will certainly put in more effort."
All of the above was nonsense. He had only gone out to fool around with Xue Lang, where could he have met any great cultivators?
Zhongli Jing made another soft sound of acknowledgment and asked, "Did you have fun?"
Meng Chen: "..."
This question really didn't seem like something Zhongli Jing would ask.
Just as he was on edge, suspecting there might be hidden meaning in Zhongli Jing's words, he heard the other say, "Although cultivation should not be neglected, you don't need to be confined to the sect all the time. If you have the chance, go out more often. It can also broaden your horizons."
Meng Chen's eyes revealed slight astonishment.
In his previous life, apart from teaching him cultivation and checking his progress, Zhongli Jing had almost never actively brought up other topics with him. He was the strictest master, only caring about his disciple's cultivation progress. Meng Chen had never imagined that the other would say something like "Don't always focus on cultivation, it's good to go out and have fun occasionally" to him. He became increasingly doubtful and uneasy, unable to understand the other's intentions. He could only follow along and say softly, "Yes."
Zhongli Jing gestured for him to extend his hand, carefully examined his pulse, and said, "Your meridians have somewhat recovered, but there are still a few hidden injuries. Continue using the medicinal bath formula I gave you." After saying this, he handed him several bottles of high-quality medicinal herbs.
Meng Chen couldn't refuse and had to accept them.
After this matter was settled, the two once again fell into a state where they had nothing to say. Meng Chen stared at the cup of clear tea in front of him, vaguely thinking that in the past, his interactions with Zhongli Jing were not like this at all.
Back then, it was usually Zhongli Jing who was silent, while he would chatter on endlessly. Especially every time he returned from a mission down the mountain, if he saw something new and interesting, no matter how big or small, he would always run to Tianyin Pavilion to talk about it. When he bought small trinkets from the mortal world, like tanghulu or osmanthus cakes, he would always bring a portion for Zhongli Jing.
Like the last time he went to Xianle City, when he first witnessed so many marvelous sights, he deeply regretted not being able to bring his master along. After returning, he ran to Tianyin Pavilion for three consecutive days to finish describing everything he had seen and heard. Later, when he recalled this, he felt somewhat embarrassed, thinking he had been too noisy. The fact that his master didn't chase him out midway was really giving him a lot of face.
But this time, after returning from Xianle City, even though many interesting things had happened, he didn't want to say a single word.
He just wanted to leave this place as soon as possible.
Zhongli Jing seemed to notice his absent-mindedness and after a moment said, "You may go."
Meng Chen immediately stood up, bowed, and left the room.
Leaving Tianyin Pavilion made him feel relaxed all over. He inadvertently recalled that for a while earlier, Zhongli Jing's gaze had been gently resting on his face, as if waiting for him to say something.
It was probably just his imagination.
Meng Chen shook his head self-mockingly and quickened his pace to leave.
****
In the following days, Meng Chen focused on his cultivation. Xue Lang, either deliberately avoiding him or for some other reason, hadn't appeared before him. Yin Chi hadn't shown up either. Pei Yuze, who had gone down the mountain some time ago, had returned.
He had been sent to the Five Elements Manor by the sect leader. The Five Elements Manor had been infiltrated by over a dozen charm demons, and a large number of disciples had been bewitched. The manor master was an old friend of the Taixuan Sect Leader, so the sect leader sent a group of disciples to assist in subduing the demons. Pei Yuze not only excelled in swordsmanship but was also a rare sound cultivator. He played a white jade flute with consummate skill, which could not only kill enemies with sound blades but also play the "Heart-Clearing Melody" to dispel demonic influences. Previously, on Meng Chen's recommendation, he had been sent to the Five Elements Manor to help the disciples clear their minds and subdue demons.
"While I was out there battling demons, Ah Chen was enjoying himself with Junior Brother Xue in Xianle City," Pei Yuze sighed. "The treatment is truly worlds apart."
"The capable bear more burdens," Meng Chen said coolly. "Senior Brother's expulsion of demons also brings glory to our sect."
"Is that so?" Pei Yuze smiled. "Ah Chen deliberately sent me away, probably worried that I might make another move against Junior Brother Xue."
He directly admitted to pushing Xue Lang off the cliff last time. Meng Chen raised his eyes, his gaze gradually turning cold.
"Back then, when I heard you personally invited a disciple to join Tianji Peak, I didn't think much of it, until I saw the orchid embroidered on the chest of his clothes," Pei Yuze said softly. "Ah Chen, I thought you would only sew clothes for me."
Come to think of it, Meng Chen's skill in mending these things was indeed initially for Pei Yuze's sake.
At that time, Yin Chi had not yet joined the sect, and it was when his relationship with Pei Yuze was gradually improving. Once, when they went down the mountain together to eliminate demons, at a critical moment, Pei Yuze protected Meng Chen behind him, and his own arm was bitten by a demon beast, leaving his sleeve in tatters.
Afterwards, Meng Chen felt very guilty. He visited Pei Yuze every day to check on his injuries, and secretly took away the torn clothes. He spent several days learning embroidery from the female disciples of Cuixia Peak, carefully mending the torn parts of the clothes stitch by stitch, then washed them clean and returned them to Pei Yuze.
Pei Yuze had long forgotten about these clothes. He usually disdained flawed or damaged things, but he had kept those mended clothes intact to this day, without a speck of dust on them.
"Not only that. In the Blood Demon incident, you were willing to take the lash yourself to plead for him. You went down the mountain with him, and when you returned, those marks were left on your body." Pei Yuze looked directly into Meng Chen's eyes, his pupils deep and dark. "That night, you slept in the same bed with him, didn't you?"
His tone was gentle, but the content was extremely sharp. Meng Chen, however, didn't seem to feel offended. Instead, he smiled slightly.
He said, "So what if I did?"
The smile disappeared from Pei Yuze's face. A heavy gloom rose in his black pupils. Suppressed beneath his calm exterior was hatred and madness enough to devour everything.
"You think I can't touch him because Master is here?" Pei Yuze said slowly. "Ah Chen. As long as you agree to let him leave this place and never see him again, I can spare his life."
"Senior Brother, you seem to have misunderstood two things," Meng Chen said.
"First, Xue Lang is not someone you can do with as you please. You couldn't kill him last time, and you won't be able to next time either."
"Second, you have no right to impose any restrictions on me. Who I meet and who I choose to be with has nothing—absolutely nothing—to do with you."
After saying this, he nodded politely yet distantly, and turned to leave without any lingering attachment. Pei Yuze watched that gradually receding figure and finally fully realized a fact.
The bird he had kept in his palm, carefully nurtured for so many years—
Had flown away.
