Watching the Mountain

Chapter 70: Chapter 64: Take This Golden Core for Self-Defense

Ye Shan never came back after hearing Xu Ran’s idea. Who knew where he’d run off to.

But this just made things miserable for Xu Ran. The moment Ye Shan left, his junior sister, the Witch Ye Qingxue, appeared.

She had heard that Ye Shan often visited Xu Ran, so she decided to wait for him here. She even promised to wait quietly and that she would absolutely not lay a hand on Xu Ran.

And she was true to her word. Every day after Xu Ran returned from the Scripture Pavilion, she would appear punctually at his Cave Mansion and just sit quietly to the side, doing nothing.

Even so, it still made Xu Ran’s heart pound with fear.

Ye Qingxue reminded Xu Ran of the ”yanderes” from his past life. With people like her, you could never predict their next move. One moment she might be smiling gently, and the next, a knife could appear in her hand.

The longer she remained quiet, the more panicked Xu Ran became.

A month passed like this, and then Ye Qingxue, who had been silent the entire time, finally spoke.

She looked at the Cultivation Technique manual in Xu Ran’s hands and asked with some curiosity, ”Weren’t you reading that Cultivation Technique a month ago? Why is it taking you so long?”

Hearing this, Xu Ran’s expression stiffened.

’Those words sound so familiar.’

After a moment of silence, he replied with a complicated tone, ”To be precise, I started reading it three months ago. Elder Pill-Digging Witch, don’t tell me you’re also going to say I’m learning too slowly?”

”You should just call me by my name. Senior Brother doesn’t like the Golden Cores I dug out for him.”

Ye Qingxue waved her hand, her voice tinged with disappointment. She then shook her head and said, ”What I mean is, if you’ve been studying a Cultivation Technique for this long and still haven’t reached the introductory level, it means it’s not suitable for you. You can just switch to another one. There’s no need to waste your time.”

”Er...” Xu Ran was a little taken aback, then let out a soft sigh. ’Although her words still implied my talent was poor, it sounded a million times better than what Ye Shan had said.’

He then replied with some embarrassment, ”Actually, it’s not just this Cultivation Technique. I learn all of them this slowly.”

Ye Qingxue studied him deeply for a moment. Then, with a dead-serious expression on her bewitching face, she said:

”I understand now. You’re probably not good at learning other people’s Cultivation Techniques. In that case, why insist on learning them? Why don’t you just create your own?”

Hearing this, Xu Ran completely lost his composure. He leaped up from his wooden chair and stared at Ye Qingxue, dumbfounded. ”Create my own Cultivation Technique?”

A puzzled look appeared on Ye Qingxue’s enchanting face, as if she couldn’t understand why he was so shocked.

She nodded very seriously and replied, ”Yes. I was the same way before. My cultivation progress was especially slow, and I couldn’t grasp the subtleties of many techniques. I fell too far behind Senior Brother Ye Shan. So later, I just stopped practicing those techniques and created my own.”

The corner of Xu Ran’s mouth twitched. He was utterly speechless. ’That’s like telling a mute person, ”Why do you always listen to other people sing? You can sing yourself, you know.”’

’The key was, she looked completely earnest and sincere, which meant she really thought that way. Sincerity is the most devastating weapon of all.’

He took a deep breath to calm himself, then waved his hand at Ye Qingxue and said:

”Elder Qingxue, thank you for your suggestion. I understand. I’ll help you contact Senior Brother Ye Shan right now and get him back here.”

As he spoke, he started muttering under his breath, ”You two old lovebirds are really too much. I know my talent is poor, I admit it, but can’t you stop picking on me? You’re surrounded by so many genius peers. Can’t you go bother them instead?”

He was really sick of this pair, Ye Shan and her. Being around these monstrous geniuses was too agitating. It was making his Dao Heart unstable.

But just as he took out the Communication Jade Talisman, a bashful little hmph came from behind him.

He heard the sound and turned around to see Ye Qingxue blushing beet red. She blinked at him and began to fidget, then asked:

”Y-You just said that Senior Brother Ye Shan and I... what did you call us?”

Seeing Ye Qingxue’s expression, Xu Ran quickly bit his tongue to snap himself out of it.

Ye Qingxue was already incredibly alluring, with an otherworldly figure, appearance, and aura. She usually carried herself like a wicked, enchanting empress looking down on all creation, making people afraid to even look at her directly.

Now, to suddenly see her with such a shy expression—the stark contrast instantly magnified her charm countless times over. An old story suddenly popped into his mind; he finally understood King Zhou from the myths and legends.

’Some women truly are demons!’

He bit his tongue again, breaking free from Ye Qingxue’s enchanting aura. He racked his brain for a moment, then replied with a sincere expression:

”An old married couple. Aren’t you?”

When Ye Qingxue heard this, her blush deepened. Her chest rose and fell, revealing her inner turmoil.

She lowered her head slightly and said in a small voice, ”B-But Senior Brother Ye Shan has been avoiding me... You know that.”

”Y-You shouldn’t say things like that. It’s not good for Senior Brother’s reputation. He’ll definitely be unhappy if he hears it.”

’It’s only bad for Ye Shan’s reputation?’

Xu Ran nodded thoughtfully. He suddenly felt that this Witch was actually quite naive. He knew exactly how to deal with someone like this.

He put on an innocent expression and said sincerely, ”But whenever I see you two, I just feel like you’re a natural-born couple. You’re a match made in heaven. The hardships you’re facing now are just a test from the heavens, something every fated couple must go through.”

”So it’s all bound to happen sooner or later. What’s wrong with me saying it now?”

”I’m just speaking my mind, there’s nothing wrong with that. Surely Senior Brother Ye Shan won’t kill me for it, will he?”

”Anyway, in my heart, you two are a married couple. Not Dao Companions, but a real, mortal couple. Elder Qingxue, you understand what I mean, right? If anyone has a problem with it, I’ll be the first to disagree. If anyone dares to stop Senior Brother Ye Shan from finding happiness, I’ll fight them to the death.”

Ye Qingxue covered her cheeks with her fair, delicate hands, then asked bashfully, ”D-Do you really think so?”

Xu Ran replied righteously, ”Of course.”

Ye Qingxue was stunned for a moment. She stared at him for a good while, and then her expression shifted slightly as if she’d thought of something. She said with a serious look:

”Your cultivation seems a little weak. If you were to fight someone to the death, you wouldn’t be able to win.”

As she spoke, she took out a Jade Box, much to Xu Ran’s confusion.

That Jade Box looked very familiar to Xu Ran.

She opened it, and sure enough, it was filled with multicolored Golden Cores.

She took out a Golden Core from the Jade Box, handed it to Xu Ran, and said, ”Take this. For self-defense.”

Xu Ran said in astonishment, ”Is this a Golden Core? Thank you for your kindness, Elder, but I’m only at the Foundation Establishment Stage.”

Ye Qingxue waved her hand and said, ”It’s fine. After Senior Brother rejected them last time, I refined these Golden Cores into Talisman Treasures. When you’re in danger, just throw this Golden Core out. It will explode with power roughly equivalent to sixty or seventy percent of a Golden Core Cultivator’s self-destruction.”

Hearing this, Xu Ran’s breath hitched. ’This is a truly strategic, life-saving Magical Treasure!’

”Thank you for your kindness, Elder Qingxue. In that case, it would be rude of me to refuse. I wish you and Senior Brother Ye Shan a swift passing of the heavens’ trial and a happy life together.”

Hearing this, Ye Qingxue’s delicate nose twitched. A look of smug satisfaction appeared on her face as she said, ”Oh, right. I remember you have a disciple, don’t you? Take another one for her self-defense. Since you’re going to protect my and Senior Brother Ye Shan’s happiness, I can’t let you be at a disadvantage.”

”Then, on behalf of my mischievous disciple, I thank you, Elder Qingxue! I believe that you and Senior Brother Ye Shan...”

*

*

*

The thought process of a love-struck yandere truly was different from an ordinary person’s. In the end, Xu Ran got three Golden Cores from Ye Qingxue, and she never came to his place again after that.

Ye Shan was also nowhere to be seen, and Little Xiyue still hadn’t returned.

This finally allowed Xu Ran’s life to return to some peace and quiet.

Until one day, while he was in the Scripture Pavilion, he heard someone call out, ”Senior Brother Xu.”

He turned his head and saw a young man with a delicate and pretty face. He had to look closely for a long time before he remembered that this was Wang Xiaohu, the one who had sought out Qing Xuan Master because his Thousand-year-old Blood Ginseng had been stolen.

”Senior Brother Xu, do you know when Elder Qing Xuan will be back?”

Hearing Wang Xiaohu’s question, Xu Ran was also taken aback for a moment. Thinking about it, it had been twenty or thirty years since Qing Xuan Master went into seclusion to break through to the Nascent Soul Stage. Yet, there was still no news at all. He had no idea what stage he was at.

Although breaking through from Golden Core to Nascent Soul took a relatively long time, twenty or thirty years seemed a bit excessive.

However, Xu Ran recalled Qing Xuan Master mentioning that his state of mind was flawed. Perhaps that was why it was taking so long.

Breaking through in seclusion was something that could not be disturbed, so Xu Ran couldn’t very well go and ask about it.

Faced with Wang Xiaohu’s expectant gaze, Xu Ran pondered for a moment before replying, ”Teacher Qing Xuan is currently in seclusion. I don’t know when he will come out.”

”I see.” Hearing Xu Ran’s answer, Wang Xiaohu lowered his head in disappointment.

”What’s wrong? Did you run into some trouble? Why don’t you tell me about it? I’ll see if I can help.”

Wang Xiaohu snapped his head up at these words, but then quickly lowered it again. He said in a dejected tone, ”Thank you for your kindness, Senior Brother. I haven’t run into any trouble. I was just asking.”

After saying that, he bid Xu Ran farewell and turned to leave.

Xu Ran watched his retreating back and thought for a moment, but ultimately decided not to chase after him and ask. He could tell Wang Xiaohu was troubled, but since the other party was unwilling to talk, he wouldn’t force it.

However, after seeing Wang Xiaohu, he couldn’t shake the worry he felt for Qing Xuan Master. He made up his mind that if there was still no news of Qing Xuan Master in a few years, he would go visit his home to see what was going on.

After parting ways with Wang Xiaohu, Xu Ran enjoyed another period of peace. Then, the perpetually calm Cultivation Realm was finally stirred by some news.

And the force that shattered this peace was somewhat unexpected for Xu Ran.

Because that force was none other than the Flame Sun Sect—the sect of Qin Yufeng, who everyone had avoided like the plague during the sect competition.

It was said that Ancestor Yanyang of the Flame Sun Sect, the Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator whose lifespan was running out, had a fortuitous encounter on the Evil Demon Battlefield. His cultivation broke through two consecutive layers, advancing from the Nascent Soul Middle Stage to the Nascent Soul Late Stage.

A few days ago, that same Ancestor Yanyang launched successive surprise attacks on three Nascent Soul Sects in Changqing County, forcefully seizing a large quantity of Gold Attribute Spiritual Objects from them.

Furthermore, when faced with the aggressive Ancestor Yanyang, those Nascent Soul Sects barely put up any resistance. Even sects that had the upper hand in both numbers and strength chose to yield, which was a jaw-dropping development for many.

Because of this bizarre situation, the news spread like wildfire throughout the Cultivation Realm of Changqing County. Many people discussed it animatedly, marveling at Ancestor Yanyang’s power while lamenting the weakness of the other sects.

When Xu Ran heard this news from the discussions among the disciples of Spirit Stream Peak, he was instantly alarmed.

’Gold Attribute Spiritual Objects?’

He remembered how Qin Yufeng had come to him before, saying he needed to cultivate High Grade Gold Attribute Spirit Fruit. A faint sense of unease crept into his heart.

’This Ancestor Yanyang isn’t going to come knocking on my door, is he?’