Villainous Junior Chapter 38
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 38: Volunteering for Battle
An hour later, the gu poison finally ceased its assault.
As the fever gradually subsided, Meng Chen's flushed skin returned to its cold pale color. He wearily closed his eyes, his jet-black eyelashes forming a thin line, quivering like butterfly wings exhausted after battling a storm.
Only then did Xue Lang breathe a sigh of relief. He flexed his frozen arms, picked up Meng Chen, and swiftly returned to Qixue Residence.
"Take a hot bath first," Xue Lang said to Meng Chen after filling the bath with hot water. "I'll be right outside. Call me if you need anything."
Meng Chen looked at the youth's ice water-dripping clothes and said, "Together."
"I still have some things left outside," Xue Lang replied gently. "You go first. I'll be back soon."
After Meng Chen went in, Xue Lang ran back to the Cold Sky Waterfall to retrieve the two food boxes he had left behind. The chicken soup had gone cold. He walked around with the bowl and discovered a small kitchen in Qixue Residence that was rarely used. He managed to start a fire and reheated the chicken soup.
When Meng Chen finished bathing and came out wearing clean outer robes, he smelled an enticing aroma that filled the entire residence. On the table sat an ice-blue patterned ceramic bowl filled with steaming, fragrant soup.
In his younger years, Meng Chen had been somewhat gluttonous, but in recent years his interest in mortal food had greatly diminished. However, now, perhaps because his body was so tired, the aroma smelled particularly tempting.
"Senior Sister Liu and the others made this Jingyun White-clawed Chicken. It's very nourishing. Come drink it quickly," Xue Lang carefully handed him the bowl. "It's a bit hot, so drink slowly."
Meng Chen took the chicken soup and had a sip. The soup was white and thick, with a fresh bamboo shoot fragrance. As the hot liquid went down, he felt much of his fatigue dissipate, and his entire stomach let out a contented sigh. He passed the bowl to Xue Lang and said, "Try some."
"This is for the meritorious disciples from today's exchange meet. I dare not drink it," Xue Lang smiled and pushed the bowl back, urging, "Drink more. It'll get cold again soon."
Unable to refuse, Meng Chen drank the entire bowl of soup sip by sip.
Xue Lang looked at the sickly pallor on his pale face, his heart aching as if being pricked by needles. He quickly opened the other food box and said nervously. "These are qingtuan I learned to make from Senior Sister Liu. Try them and see if they taste good."
He took out the plate, only to find that because they had been left for too long, the qingtuan had gone cold and their shape had sagged, looking quite unappetizing.
Xue Lang's expression showed disappointment. "Oh no, they've been left out too long... Forget it, better not eat them." He put the plate back in the food box and, seeing a stack of osmanthus cakes on the table, thought to offer them to Meng Chen to fill his stomach. But Meng Chen stopped his motion, reached into the food box to take a qingtuan, brought it to his lips and took a small bite, carefully tasting it before saying, "It's delicious."
Xue Lang: "...Really?"
Meng Chen took another bite. His tired brows and eyes relaxed slightly as he curved his lips and said, "Really. Can you make these for me in the future too?"
"Of course!" Xue Lang nodded vigorously. "As long as you want to eat them, I'll make them for you every day!"
After Meng Chen finished the qingtuan, he again urged Xue Lang to bathe. Only then did Xue Lang hurriedly enter the bathroom. He seemed uneasy about leaving Meng Chen alone and came out shortly after, his hair only hastily toweled, still emanating damp heat.
Meng Chen sat on the edge of the bed and, too lazy to use magic, took a clean cloth and gestured for Xue Lang to come over so he could help dry the youth's hair.
Xue Lang obediently sat in front of him, lowering his head to let Meng Chen work. After a moment of silence, a somewhat muffled voice came from under the cloth. "Was it Yin Chi?"
Meng Chen's hair-drying motion paused briefly, but he didn't speak.
Xue Lang took a deep breath and clenched his fists. "Where is he? I'll go find him."
The Silk Binding was the world's deadliest love gu. Even the divine doctors of Meihua Valley were helpless against it. To break the gu poison, they had to find Yin Chi.
Meng Chen recalled the unfamiliar scenes from his dream and shook his head. "I don't know. But he will come to find me on his own."
Regardless of what Yin Chi was doing, he was still a disciple of the Taixuan Sect and would have to show his face sooner or later.
However, Yin Chi would certainly not willingly hand over the method to break the gu.
As he was pondering this, Meng Chen suddenly felt his hand being gripped tightly.
The youth's hair was already half-dry, but because it had been rubbed with the cloth for too long, it was sticking up in all directions on top of his head, looking somewhat comical. However, he tightly grasped Meng Chen's hand, his expression particularly serious. "I want you to promise me one thing. If you encounter danger again, don't face it alone. Let me accompany you, alright?"
Even though I'm not that strong yet, even though I don't have the ability to completely protect you...
As long as I have a breath left in me, I will always stand in front of you.
Meng Chen gazed at the youth's almost pleading look and nodded gently, making the promise. "Alright."
Xue Lang breathed a sigh of relief and smiled softly. Then he urged Meng Chen to get into bed and sleep. He brought over the blanket, carefully tucked him in, and finally gently blew out the candle on the table.
The room darkened, with only a handful of silvery moonlight filtering in through the window. Half of Meng Chen's face was hidden under the blanket as he asked quietly in the darkness. "Are you going back now?"
"I'm not going back," Xue Lang said, sitting cross-legged on the floor beside the bed, hugging his sword. He turned back and smiled at Meng Chen, "Sleep. I'll keep watch over you."
Meng Chen shifted towards the inner side of the bed. "Come up."
Xue Lang was stunned and quickly shook his head. "No need, I'm fine here..."
"Come up," Meng Chen repeated. "The floor is cold. Hurry."
Xue Lang's Adam's apple bobbed, and his heartbeat began to accelerate uncontrollably.
The last time he had shared a bed with Meng Chen was in that Peach Blossom Spring illusion in Xianle City. At that time, he had foolishly thought the person was an illusion and had recklessly said many silly things, letting his feelings show. After realizing the truth, he had regretted it so much that he wanted to bang his head against a wall, thinking that the other would never allow him to get so close again in this lifetime.
His heart pounding like a drum, Xue Lang blushed as he took off his outer robe and carefully got into bed, slipping under the covers to lie beside Meng Chen. The bed was originally meant for one person, so it was a bit cramped with two. They could feel each other's body heat and breath.
Xue Lang inhaled the faint orchid grass scent coming from Meng Chen, so nervous that he didn't know where to put his hands. He was just wondering if he should say something when he looked down and saw that the young man had closed his eyes, his breathing even, his forehead lightly resting against Xue Lang's shoulder. He had already fallen asleep, completely defenseless.
—-
The next day, the exchange meet continued.
In the early morning light, with some time still left before the competition began, some disciples went to the arena early in groups of two or three to secure good spectating positions.
Xue Lang went to Xiushui Mountain to catch another chicken to make soup for Meng Chen.
When he woke up in the morning, Meng Chen was still asleep, curled up in the blankets and sleeping deeply, looking truly exhausted.
The Jingyun White-clawed Chicken had been very effective, but it was too rare. Xue Lang looked around but couldn't find a second one, so he had to settle for catching two black chickens as a substitute. Seeing that it was about time, he started walking back with the chickens.
"I thought Senior Brother Lu was already the top among the younger generation, but I didn't expect this Meng Chen to be even more formidable than him. His talent is truly exceptional."
Xue Lang's head perked up alertly as he saw two disciples from the Zenwu Manor walking in front of him. Qingfeng Cottage was nearby, and these two disciples were probably also heading to the arena.
The other person snorted derisively, his tone mocking. "You really think he's so powerful because of talent?"
The first person asked, confused. "What do you mean?"
"No matter how great one's talent is, how could it be possible to break through to the God Transformation Stage at just twenty-something years old? That's simply a fantasy!" the person said. "Have you forgotten who Meng Chen's master is? The renowned Immortal Lord Zhongli, a peak Mahayana Realm powerhouse! Moreover, their Taixuan Sect is really peculiar. That Tianji Peak has only a few residents and is usually isolated from the outside. If something unsavory were to happen up there, who would know?"
He chuckled lowly, his tone gradually becoming lewd and intimate, "Just look at that Meng Chen. He's clearly a grown man, yet he has such a face. If you ask me, his realm was definitely not cultivated by himself. He must have done something unspeakable with his master, 'absorbing' it from him..."
Before he could finish, something hard struck the back of his head. His vision went black for a moment, and he stumbled forward, nearly falling to the ground.
"Who!?" He turned back angrily, only to see two bound black chickens on the ground, stretching their necks and clucking wildly. A black-clad youth, who looked to be about seventeen or eighteen, stood not far away, staring at him with an icy expression.
"Taixuan Sect?" The Zenwu disciple pulled a chicken feather from the back of his head, fuming, "What's the meaning of this? Is this how your sect treats guests?"
"Our sect treats guests," Xue Lang said with a cold laugh. "Not brainless dogs who only know how to wag their tongues behind others' backs."
"You!" The Zenwu disciple's face contorted. Ignoring his companion's attempts to stop him, he walked towards Xue Lang and glared at him menacingly. "Boy, do you know who I am?"
"The only son of Elder Du of Zenwu Manor. Even Lu Yuanshan has to respectfully call me Senior Brother," Du Jin had already introduced himself before Xue Lang could speak. "Who do you think you are to dare raise your voice at me?"
Elder Du and the Zenwu Sect Leader were sworn brothers, holding an extraordinary position in the manor. Naturally, his son's treatment wasn't far behind. Although Du Jin's cultivation talent was average, he had been eating spirit-enhancing pills like candy since childhood. Now, at just over forty years old, he had already broken through to the Core Formation stage. Because of this, he often thought highly of himself, considering himself one of the outstanding young geniuses.
"Tsk, with such an insolent attitude, I thought you might be some formidable figure from Taixuan Sect. Turns out you're just a mere Foundation Establishment disciple," Du Jin said mockingly, looking down at Xue Lang with his slanted eyes. "Don't just talk big. Do you dare fight me?"
Xue Lang picked up the two black chickens from the ground and walked past Du Jin without a sideways glance. "I don't dare."
Du Jin was stunned for a moment, then burst into wild laughter. He deliberately raised his voice to tell his companion. "To think the great Taixuan Sect has such a coward! I've really broadened my horizons today!"
The other Zenwu disciple, looking at the black-clad youth's straight and steady back, couldn't help but have doubts in his heart.
That person's gaze and aura really didn't seem like "just a mere Foundation Establishment disciple"...
—
When Xue Lang returned to the arena, the spectator seats were already bustling with people. He knocked out the two black chickens and hid them behind a tree, then washed his hands clean before finding Meng Chen in the crowd and sitting down beside him.
"Why didn't you sleep longer?"
"I've already slept for a long time," Meng Chen asked, "Where did you go this morning?"
"Caught two chickens. I'll make you soup again at noon."
Meng Chen smiled softly and said okay, then added. "Do you want to go up and spar today? Many Zenwu Manor disciples are quite good at actual combat."
"Mm." Xue Lang nodded, "I've already found someone."
At this time, bursts of laughter kept erupting from the Zenwu Manor's seating area.
"Really? Taixuan Sect really has such an odd disciple?"
"Talking big and then running away, I've never seen such a coward!"
"If I were the Taixuan Sect Leader, I would have expelled this useless disciple long ago! It's a pity you don't know that boy's name, Senior Brother Du. Otherwise, we'd definitely spread the story around and let him lose face in his sect!"
"I think so too," Du Jin, surrounded by a group of Zenwu disciples, said leisurely as he crossed his legs. "That stinking brat better pray he doesn't run into me again. Otherwise, I'll definitely teach him a good lesson..."
As he was speaking, they saw a black-clad youth walk unhurriedly onto the arena stage. His black hair was tied high, his waist slim and legs long, his eyes like cold stars. He spoke clearly.
"Xue Lang of Taixuan Sect challenges Du Jin of Zenwu Manor."
I didn't dare to fight you in the back mountain because if I violated the sect's rules against private dueling again, it would worry that person.
So, I will defeat you fair and square on this arena stage.
