Chapter 40: This Venerable One Be Damned

The weapon contained in Changxiang Si was the same as Tianwen, or rather, a golden willow vine identical to Tianwen. From the pattern to the mechanisms, it was all the same.

To yearn unwittingly breaks the willow branch.

Chu Wanning looked uncertain. He handed the bunched-up willow vine to Mo Ran, then condensed light in his palm and summoned Tianwen. When the two were compared, it was like looking in a mirror. There were no differences.

No one expected such a thing to happen. Even Mo Ran couldn't believe his eyes – as someone who had been whipped thousands of times by Tianwen in his previous life, he would never have expected Jincheng Lake would actually give him an identical weapon.

What's going on here?

Everyone's eyes turned to Gouchen standing beside them.

Gouchen also looked very surprised. He said, "… In the human realm, there are actually two wood spirit essences?"

Xue Meng asked: "What does wood spirit essence mean?"

"Ah, that's right." Gouchen said, "There are five elements in this world, and you all know that. Everyone who cultivates a spiritual core will have one or two attributes. The most talented person in the human realm is the essence of that attribute, such as the Wushan Goddess, who is the earth spirit's essence. However, generally speaking, within a generation, only one essence of the same attribute can exist - and the wood spirit's essence is already in the human realm. I gave him the weapon of the first wood spirit many years ago."

As he spoke, his eyes fell on Chu Wanning.

"When I was casting the five top-level divine weapons, I originally intended to cast only one of each attribute. The other four pieces did not have any mistakes during the casting process except for the wood spirit divine weapon, which broke into two pieces in the furnace."

"I said it was heaven's will, so I made the two pieces of willow into two weapons. But I still thought that it was impossible for these two weapons to find their masters at the same time, so I gave one of them to Ji Baihua and let him make a brocade box, just in case any miscreants wanted to take it. But I didn't expect…"

Gouchen shook his head and was about to continue. Suddenly, the willow vine in Mo Ran's hand burst out into a string of colourful red flower bursts and fire. The flowing golden shine began to gradually transform and finally became a blazing red. The thoughts in Mo Ran's head were so muddled that he didn't even think when he exclaimed: "Ah! What the hell!"

Chu Wanning was going to stop him, but it was too late.

So Gouchen and Chu Wanning looked at Mo Ran with pity, and Mo Ran quickly knew why they would look at him like this. In fact, he had already thought about it himself:

The first time a divine weapon emitted a different colored glow, it meant that it had submitted to its master and wanted the master to give it a name.

Unfortunately, it was too late. On the silver handle of the willow vine, three strong and powerful characters slowly appeared —

Ah! Jiangui*.

*(T/N: 啊!见鬼)

Divine weapon "Ah! What the hell".

Mo Ran: "… … … … Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!"

Although Xue Meng and Shi Mei didn't know the rules of naming divine weapons, they saw the scene in front of them, and they all understood after a moment. Xue Meng held his stomach and laughed so hard that tears flowed out of his eyes: "Only you can make this kind of name appear, hahahaha. Good name, good name. Shizun has Tianwen, you have 'Ah! Jiangui', ahahahahahaha."

Now that Mo Ran had his divine weapon, Xue Meng and Shi Mei had also picked their favourite weapons - Xue Meng chose a long sword, and Shi Mei had a piccolo, but neither of their weapons ever emitted a different shine, apparently not yet tamed and refusing to submit to the two men's control.

But it doesn't really matter, they could always think of something.

So each of them was in a good mood. In the evening, a banquet was held on a spring night. Gouchen had never brought humans to Jincheng Lake, and he kindly invited them to stay for one night before leaving. This was the first time he had entertained mortals, and naturally, he did his best. On the table, the wine flowed freely, the wine and cheese were sweet yet bitter, the drums and music were full of joy, and the guests and host were all slightly drunk.

After the banquet was over, Gouchen ordered the attendants to take the guests to the room to arrange sleeping accommodations and to rest for the night.

The guest room was next to the Divine Weapon Treasury. When he saw the huge tree, Mo Ran thought of the "Jiangui" he had just gotten, so he couldn't help but summon the willow vine and take a closer look.

To yearn unwittingly breaks the willow branch.

What did the fox spirit Ji Baihua notice? Why did he say such a thing and what did he mean by saying this?

After all was said and done, the evening wine had been drunk, and with it, his thoughts were not so clear. He just thought it was very strange. If Changxiang Si didn't malfunction, then why did Chu Wanning unlock the box?

He certainly didn't like Chu Wanning. As for Chu Wanning being deeply in love with him… it was a big joke.

While thinking about it, he looked back at his shizun.

Unexpectedly, Chu Wanning was also looking at him. Their eyes met and Mo Ran felt a slight tremor in his heart as if he had been stabbed by something small and sharp, then it was flooded with something bittersweet. Before he could think, he had already smiled at Chu Wanning. But this feeling in his heart was fleeting, and he soon regretted it.

It was all so annoying. Why is it that sometimes when he saw him, he felt so calm and comfortable?

Chu Wanning described it as indifference, but the moment he saw Mo Ran summon Jiangui, he also called Tianwen.

He walked towards Mo Ran.

Jiangui didn't seem to be very good-tempered. Feeling the approach of another powerful wood spirit, it sparked and scattered scarlet flowers and fire. From time to time, a few bursts and splashes fall on Xue Meng. It had a feisty attitude.

On the other hand, Tianwen in Chu Wanning's hand seemed to sense a similar aura, but it had gotten used to living with Chu Wanning all this time. It had been well worn, so although it is also full of wariness, the golden light around it was not as restless as Jiangui. It gradually brightened and, seeing that its master hadn't stopped it, only then did it become unusually dazzling, as if it had made up its mind to let "Jiangui" see what a good weapon should be like, ready to fight with a steady attitude.

The two divine weapons were originally one.

Now, one is a fledgling, and the other has been through a hundred battles.

A handful of red light splashed all over, like an angry little boy, jumping up and down; A handful of golden light overflowed, like the most dignified master, reserved and proud.

Chu Wanning looked at the willow vine in his hand. He pondered for a while and looked through his slender eyelashes across the secret room to look at Jiangui. He said: "Mo Ran."

"Shizun?"

"Pick up your…" The name "Jiangui" seemed to be a bit shameful. Chu Wanning paused and said: "Pick up your willow vine and look at me."

Mo Ran's mind was full of mush and he couldn't pick one thought apart from another. He was at a loss for words. He pinched his brow and smiled bitterly: "Don't joke about it, Shizun. Give me a break."

"I'll give you three lashes."

"I've never used a willow vine before…"

"Ten lashes."

"But –"

Chu Wanning didn't talk anymore. A dazzling golden light slashed out with a wave of his hand! Mo Ran turned pale with fright. His fear of Tianwen ran deep in his bones. He immediately raised his hand and used Jiangui to block it. The two willow vines tore through the wind and snow in the air. They soared up, like two dragons in flight, the friction causing a string of gold and red sparks!

Although he hadn't learned how to use this special weapon, he had watched Chu Wanning's moves for a long time. Mo Ran was a talented person. Surprisingly, he was barely able to resist Chu Wanning's attack.

The two fought in the cold pool for dozens of rounds. Although Chu Wanning had moved into the water, Mo Ran responded excellently, and it was really beyond his expectations.

The gold of Tianwen and the red of Jiangui filled the sky amidst waves of water. The moves were gorgeous, and the shifting colours in the wind were brilliant. The lake was torn apart by the fierce vine light. Finally, gold and red were entwined as one, evenly matched, and it was difficult to separate them!

Chu Wanning's eyes showed admiration, but Mo Ran was already tired of sparing. He was exhausted and panting, so he didn't see the look in the other's eyes.

Chu Wanning said: "Tianwen, return."

The golden willow vine, which was still ruthless and rigid, suddenly softened as if the ice had turned into spring water. It scattered into spots of light, obediently melting back into Chu Wanning's palm.

Mo Ran still persisted with Jiangui, bursting with its blazing flames. He panted for a while before he simply sat on the snow, his expression full of grievances: "No more games. Shizun, you bully."

Chu Wanning: "… I said ten lashes."

Mo Ran roguishly yelled: "Ten lashes wasn't enough. You let me have a hundred lashes. Oh, my hand, my arm, it's going to break. Shi Mei, Shi Mei, rub it for me." He generally said a lot of words, accompanied by Xue Meng's ridicule and Shi Mei's persuasion.

Chu Wanning didn't say anymore, just glancing at them quietly.

He didn't know if it was an illusion but in the blue water of the cold water, the corners of Chu Wanning's mouth seemed slightly raised, and it seemed almost like a soft smile, but it was gone in the blink of an eye. He turned his head aimlessly and looked at the thousands of cords hanging from the large tree in the heart of the mansion with his head in his hands. He didn't know what to think.

It was night and Mo Ran sat in the guest room that belonged to him. The room was covered with fine, soft, pure white sand. the walls were painted blue and covered with a barrier, reflecting the sparkling light like seawater. The window was half open, and the pearl curtain hung gently in the evening breeze. A lamp made of night pearls was lit on the table, illuminating the room warmly and soothingly.

In the very center of the room was a large shell covered with soft satin. The satin was very delicate and soft. Mo Ran lay comfortably on the bed. He summoned Jiangui, holding it in his hand, unable to look away. But he was probably too tired to play with it for too long because he drifted off to sleep.

Jiangui pressed on his chest, pulsing with a faint red light as if it fell into a deep sleep with its master…

He didn't know how long he had slept, but when he woke up again, the first thing he felt was the cold, followed by a strong inexplicable pain on his wrist.

He gasped, covered his head, and sat up slowly. The return to consciousness made the unfamiliar pain on his wrist even more vivid. He was shocked to find that he had been cut on his wrist at some point, the blood had clotted into a hideous, bloody cocoon.

What happened?

– Where is this??!

Mo Ran's eyes widened.

Gradually coming to his senses, he found himself in a completely unfamiliar dark stone room. There was a small ventilation opening at the top of the stone room. The cold lake light squeezed in through this small opening, barely illuminating the narrow room, which was less than a foot wide. The green-gray stone walls were damp and sticky, with a thin sheen in the faint light.