Villainous Junior Chapter 58
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 58: Smiling Coldly
There were mainly three reasons why Plum Blossom Valley was famous throughout the world: first, it produced exceptional doctors; second, its scenery was breathtakingly beautiful; and third, because of its master, Mei Xiaohan.
Mei Xiaohan was not only skilled in the art of medicine, but he was also a powerful expert at the Nascent Soul Stage. He was a rare genius in the cultivation world who excelled in both medicine and martial arts. The Mei family had only one heir per generation. After the unexpected death of the previous valley master, Mei Xiaohan succeeded to the position when he was not yet twenty-eight years old.
At such a young age, Mei Xiaohan had already attained status, fame, and power that most people couldn't achieve in a lifetime. He had every reason to be arrogant. However, he was a true gentleman - open-minded, bright, and pure. Unlike some eccentric miracle doctors who only treated patients according to their own preferences, he treated everyone equally, whether they were cultivators or ordinary people, nobles or beggars. He devoted himself wholeheartedly to all.
Meng Chen had heard about this Valley Master Mei when he was still in Taixuan Sect, and had always admired him. Now he finally had the chance to see him in person.
"Hide your demonic aura," Meng Chen said to the great demon beside him when they arrived. "We're here to ask for help. Be good when we're there, don't talk nonsense, and especially don't start fights over small disagreements. Got it?"
No matter how impartial Plum Blossom Valley was, demon cultivators were still not within their scope, let alone a great demon lord. If things went wrong, it would be troublesome to cause panic and hostility among the righteous path.
"I know," the man grumbled, concealing his aura and disguising himself as an ordinary person. "I'm very reliable, okay?"
Meng Chen's lips curled slightly as he walked towards Plum Blossom Valley with him. Every day, there was an endless stream of people seeking medical treatment and visitors to Plum Blossom Valley. They entered through different entrances according to their status, but all needed to prepare a visiting card in advance. Meng Chen took out the prepared visiting card and handed it to the young attendant at the entrance. The boy bowed slightly and received it with both hands. After looking at the card, he smiled and said to them, "Honored guests, please follow me."
Meng Chen and the Demon Venerable also expressed their thanks and followed the boy into Plum Blossom Valley. The scenery inside the valley was indeed extraordinary, with pavilions, terraces, towers, ponds, and waterside pavilions set among green pines and cypresses. There were also artificial mountains, strange rocks, flower beds, and bonsai dotted around. Looking at the scenery along the way, Meng Chen couldn't help but ask, "Why can't I see any plum blossoms?"
He had heard that Plum Blossom Valley was initially famous for its spectacular view of plum blossoms as fierce as fire.
"The snow sea of plum blossoms is further inside," the boy turned back and explained with a smile. "At first, the valley was indeed full of plum groves, but the Valley Master said that no matter how beautiful plum blossoms are, one would get tired of looking at them all day. Moreover, to keep so many plum blossoms alive, the temperature in the valley needed to be like winter all year round. Wearing cotton clothes and thick coats all day made people look like bears, which was unsightly. So later, the snow sea of plum blossoms was specially set aside, and the rest of the place was transformed into what it is now."
Just hearing the boy's description, Meng Chen could almost imagine what kind of person this Valley Master Mei was.
The boy led them to a quiet and elegant tower, invited them to take a seat and served tea, then went to inform the Valley Master. Soon after, two people walked over, one after the other.
The one walking in front was undoubtedly the master of Plum Blossom Valley, Mei Xiaohan. He wore a lake blue spring robe, was young and handsome, with bright eyes and a hint of a smile on his lips, making people feel cordial at first sight. The man behind him was tall and strong, dressed in black, with a cold and solemn face. Judging from his position, he should be Mei Xiaohan's subordinate, but his aura was not weak at all, even matching Mei Xiaohan's.
Meng Chen immediately stood up to greet them, cupping his hands, he said, "I've long heard of Valley Master Mei's great name. Now that I see you in person..."
Mei Xiaohan raised an eyebrow. "How is it?"
Meng Chen: "Your demeanor surpasses my imagination."
This was not an exaggeration. Having always heard about Valley Master Mei's miraculous medical skills and benevolence, Meng Chen had imagined him to be a proper, elegant, and meticulous gentleman. But after hearing the boy's description and now seeing the person himself, he realized that Mei Xiaohan was much more vivid and personable than he had imagined.
Mei Xiaohan smiled and returned the greeting. "You flatter me. I've also long heard of fellow cultivator Meng's great name. The youngest genius of God Transformation Realm in the world, and also one of the top-ranked figures in the beauty list. Now that I see you in person, your reputation is indeed well-deserved, I'm truly impressed!"
Although he mentioned the word "beauty," it didn't sound frivolous at all. His expression and tone were full of open and sincere praise. The two looked at each other, and although their personalities were different, they felt a sense of instant rapport. They both smiled knowingly.
"Let me introduce, this is Li Feng, my personal guard," Mei Xiaohan patted the chest of the man behind him. "He has a wooden personality and doesn't like to talk much. Please bear with him."
Li Feng nodded slightly at Meng Chen and the other person, which was his way of greeting. Meng Chen glanced at the Demon Venerable and said, "This is my friend. To be honest, we came here for his matter."
Meng Chen paused, then said earnestly, "Valley Master Mei, please believe that we have no ill intentions. We came sincerely seeking help."
Concealing their identity was to avoid attracting attention, but it was impossible to hide it from Mei Xiaohan. The Demon Venerable also understood Meng Chen's intention and stepped forward, releasing his concealed demonic aura.
Before Mei Xiaohan could react, Li Feng had already drawn his sword in an instant, stepping forward with a cold face to protect Mei Xiaohan behind him.
As the aura burst out, Meng Chen was surprised to discover that this silent Li Feng actually had a cultivation level of Refining Void Realm, seventh layer!
This was the youngest Refining Void Realm expert he had ever seen!
Similarly, Li Feng also sensed the Tribulation Crossing Realm demonic aura from the person in front of him. However, his face didn't show the slightest wavering. His body, standing in front of Mei Xiaohan, seemed rooted to the ground. It appeared that the enemy's cultivation level and identity didn't matter to him because regardless of the situation, he wouldn't step back.
"I have no ill intentions," said the Demon Venerable. "I think you also understand that if I wanted to attack, you couldn't stop me—"
Meng Chen expressionlessly kicked him from behind.
"...Of course, I have no intention of attacking at all," the Demon Venerable said. "In fact, I've lost my memory and don't remember many things. I heard that Valley Master Mei is very capable, so I came here specifically for help."
After a moment of tense atmosphere, Mei Xiaohan patted Li Feng's shoulder. Li Feng looked back at him, then sheathed his sword and returned to stand behind Mei Xiaohan.
"You really scared me," Mei Xiaohan exhaled. "Tribulation Crossing... Are you that great demon lord who recently appeared out of nowhere, causing a stir in the cultivation world, saying you want to trample the righteous path and make the demon realm rise again?"
Demon Venerable: "..."
"I'm not, I didn't," he said with a face full of frustration. "I never said such things."
During this time, he had been wholeheartedly focused on pursuing someone, where would he have time to cause trouble?
"Alright... I'll believe you for now," Mei Xiaohan frowned and said. "But, since ancient times, the righteous and evil have been opposed. You're also the lord of the demon realm. For me to help you... it might not be appropriate, right?"
Meng Chen understood the other party's concerns and was about to speak when the Demon Venerable already said, "If you're willing to help, I can promise you that as long as the immortal path doesn't initiate attacks against the demon realm, I will never actively start a war against the immortal path. At the same time, I will issue a ban to all demonic cultivators worldwide, prohibiting them from harming immortal cultivators and mortals without reason. Violators will be executed immediately."
Upon hearing this, everyone present was stunned.
Although there were also ill-intentioned people among immortal cultivators, it was undeniable that in conflicts between immortals and demons, the vast majority of troublemakers were demon cultivators. The demon realm hadn't had a Demon Venerable in power for nearly a thousand years, always in a state of leaderless chaos. Demonic cultivators were already unrestrained and unbridled, and without constraints, their actions became increasingly violent. Incidents of killing immortal cultivators and even harming mortals were common. Some particularly vicious ones would even refine young children and girls into secret medicines to enhance their own cultivation.
If someone could really stand up and restrain them, it would undoubtedly be a tremendous boon for the entire cultivation world!
Mei Xiaohan quickly weighed the options in his mind and stared intently at the man, asking, "Do you mean what you say?"
Without another word, the Demon Venerable immediately took an oath. This was a tradition in the cultivation world. Whether immortal cultivators or demonic cultivators, they all took oaths very seriously. Once sworn, they would never go back on their word.
"Deal!" Mei Xiaohan immediately said, "You just said your brain wasn't working well, right? Come, let me treat you!"
The Demon Venerable was furious. "It's amnesia, not that my brain isn't working well!"
"It's more or less the same..."
—
Treatment aside, it was still necessary to understand the cause of the illness first. Meng Chen briefly explained the matter of Xue Lang to Mei Xiaohan, including how he had guessed that Xue Lang and the Demon Venerable were the same person based on various clues.
After listening, Mei Xiaohan let out a soft sigh. Meng Chen's heart tightened slightly, thinking this situation would be difficult to handle. Then he heard the other say. "This is too romantic... an entire garden of Moon Frost flowers! I'm so envious, I want that too."
Meng Chen: "..."
He realized that this Valley Master Mei's ability to grasp key points was strikingly similar to a certain someone's.
Coincidentally, that certain someone looked smug and snorted twice proudly.
Li Feng glanced at Mei Xiaohan, then silently lowered his gaze again.
Fortunately, Mei Xiaohan quickly got to the point, saying, "According to your description, they are likely indeed one soul, but have been split due to unknown reasons. The memory loss is probably due to this as well. I have a method to repair souls, but I've never encountered such a case before. This would be the first time."
Meng Chen looked at him nervously. "So there's a chance of success, right?"
"I'll do my best," Mei Xiaohan said, then raised his eyebrows, "Of course, in all my years of practicing medicine, I've never failed. I believe this time will be no exception."
Meng Chen was emotionally moved. He stood up and bowed to Mei Xiaohan in gratitude. Mei Xiaohan quickly rose to support him, smiling. "No need for such formality. It's a doctor's duty. Besides, if this can bring stability to the cultivation world in the future, it would be a great achievement for me as well."
—
As formal treatment required complex preparations and gathering of precious medicinal materials, Mei Xiaohan first arranged for Meng Chen and the Demon Venerable to stay in the Plum Blossom Valley. The treatment would begin after thorough preparations were made.
After a few days of interaction, they became friends due to their compatible personalities. Mei Xiaohan didn't impose any restrictions on Meng Chen and the Demon Venerable, letting them roam wherever they liked.
So on this day, Meng Chen and the Demon Venerable went to the famous Plum Forest Snow Sea.
It covered an area of a hundred mu, with blooming red plum blossoms as far as the eye could see. Each tree stood proudly in the sea of snow, blossoming brilliantly and boldly, swaying in the cold wind and falling snow, emitting waves of fragrance.
"It's indeed nice," the Demon Venerable commented, then added, "But compared to the Moon Frost flowers I planted, it's still a tiny bit inferior."
The corners of Meng Chen's mouth twitched, but he said nothing.
The Demon Venerable, however, wouldn't stay quiet. After walking side by side with Meng Chen for a while, he bumped his shoulder and asked, "Hey, let me ask you. Between me and Xue Lang, who's better?"
Meng Chen inwardly sighed, thinking 'here we go again'.
Over the past few days, similar questions from the other had never stopped. "Who treats you better, me or Xue Lang?", "Who weighs more in your heart, Xue Lang or me?", "If Xue Lang and I both fell into water at the same time, who would you save?"... All sorts of comments, childish to an infuriating degree.
But Meng Chen understood his thoughts.
He was afraid.
He was afraid that he and Xue Lang were not the same person, and also afraid that they were. He feared that after the souls merged, the forgotten and neglected part would be him.
The Demon Venerable didn't wait for Meng Chen to speak, already giving his own answer. "Of course I'm better. How old is Xue Lang, not even twenty, right? A wet-behind-the-ears little brat, he hasn't even grown all his hair yet. How could he be as handsome and mature as me? His cultivation is also lacking, just a rookie. He had to call for outside help to protect you. I'm much more reliable than him..."
He kept mumbling to himself endlessly when a pair of cool hands reached out and gently cupped his cheeks.
His voice suddenly disappeared.
Meng Chen looked directly at him. The Plum Forest Snow Sea was cold, so the young man had put on a snow-white cloak when he came. The collar was lined with soft white fur, making his skin appear even more translucent and fair than snow. His black hair was like spilled ink, only his lips were as red as plum blossoms on snow.
He was like an immortal or spirit who had stepped out of a painting. When he gazed at you with focused eyes, no one could resist falling for him.
The man was lost in those clear eyes, his throat dry, unable to utter a word.
"There's no such thing as who's better," Meng Chen said. "Xue Lang can be childish sometimes, and so can you. Xue Lang is reliable when it matters, and so are you. In my heart, you are Xue Lang grown up. Some things have changed, but your essence will never change."
"You don't need to worry that after the souls merge, I'll forget you or deny you." Meng Chen reached out and gently embraced him. "I remember how you carried a hoe with mud on your face and planted flowers for me with your own hands. I remember how you gave me stars under the starry sky. I remember how you rescued me from the Ten Thousand Demon Cave, and how you coaxed me to take medicine with gentle words..."
"I remember how you loved me," Meng Chen's eyes grew warm as he whispered in the man's ear for the first time, clearly telling him, "So no matter what form you take, in my heart, you will always be the only person I love."
The man was silent for a while, wordlessly tightening his arms around him and burying his head in Meng Chen's neck.
After a long time, the man finally let go of him and turned his head away nonchalantly, his eyes slightly red.
Meng Chen didn't expose him. They walked side by side for a while longer when suddenly he smiled. "What a coincidence."
The Demon Venerable looked up and saw two figures in the distance. It was Mei Xiaohan and Li Feng.
Just as Meng Chen was wondering whether to go up and greet them, he saw Mei Xiaohan bend down to grab a large handful of snow, jump up and stuff it into Li Feng's collar. Li Feng didn't hurry or get angry, he silently took out the snowball from his collar, then held Mei Xiaohan's reddened cold hands and tucked them into his own bosom.
Mei Xiaohan said something with a smile, then stood on tiptoe and kissed Li Feng on the lips.
Meng Chen: "..."
He was about to pull the man beside him to change direction when Mei Xiaohan also noticed them and turned around with Li Feng. Their expressions were natural, as if they didn't care at all that their relationship had been discovered. Mei Xiaohan winked at Meng Chen from afar, then walked hand in hand with Li Feng in another direction.
The man beside him coughed and suddenly asked. "Are your hands cold?"
Meng Chen turned his head to look at him.
The Demon Venerable opened his palm, hinting very obviously. "I can warm them up for you too."
Amusement seeped into Meng Chen's eyes, but he said. "I'm not cold."
The Demon Venerable: "..."
"Then I'm cold," he persisted, reaching out his hand. "Warm me up."
Meng Chen took his hand and brought it to his lips, bending down to gently kiss the back of his hand. He looked up at him with a smile.
"Still cold?"
The man's hand was burning hot, his cheeks flushed red, and steam seemed to rise from his ears.
"...Not cold."