Chapter 21

Shen Qingqiu was silent for a long time before throwing the metal plate to Ming Fan's chest, letting him take it. Ming Fan secretly peeked at Shizun's expression and found that it wasn't very good. He thought of that stinky brat Luo Binghe; after he went down the mountain, Shizun was picky about the food from the kitchens in every possible way. He hadn't eaten well these days, so Ming Fan asked: "Shizun, should this disciple prepare some snacks?"

Every day, Luo Binghe was taught seriously by the Dream Demon in his dreams and progressed amazingly quickly. He could have taken responsibility long ago; Shen Qingqiu often handed over some of Cang Qiong Mountain sect's trivial internal affairs for him to carry out. After he grew up a little more and went down the mountain to exterminate demons, the Peak Lord's support tasks were also thrown to him. It was to prevent him from loitering about at Shen Qingqiu's side every day. Though he was serviced very comfortably every day, he didn't know if this child had grown crooked or what, sticking to him a little too strongly... Shen Qingqiu would sometimes reflect on this, whether it was because he had doted on him a little too much. If this continued, when the time came, he would have no way to be ruthless and strike him down into the Endless Abyss.

Shen Qingqiu truly didn't have an appetite. He raised his hand: "No need. You can go down."

Ming Fan didn't dare say more and honestly left. In his heart, his face was full of tears. This brat Luo Binghe, in these years he had already become a dearly loved person in Shizun's heart. Other people had no way of letting Shizun drink even a mouthful of congee!

Of course, he hadn't considered the possibility that it was a problem regarding the cook.

After an indeterminable amount of time passed, there was the sound of footsteps approaching again.

Shen Qingqiu said: "Didn't I say it's not needed?"

A young man's voice carrying a hint of grievance said: "This disciple came running back from over thousands of li away. Shizun, are you going to refuse me without even seeing me once?"

This voice was elegant and clear without losing any of a youth's vitality. Hearing it, Shen Qingqiu almost overturned and tumbled onto the ground with his chair. He quickly turned back.

A seventeen-year-old teenager stood like pure jade, dressed in white robes. A hint of a smile lurked at the corners of his lips, his eyes sparkling at him.

Across his back, he carried a precious sword he received from Wan Jian Peak called "Zheng Yang" [1]. The immortal sword was manifested from Luo Binghe's qi and its body was filled with spiritual energy. This was a good, top-grade sword pulled out by Luo Binghe from the rock wall and attracted his fellow disciples' exclamations and praise. But compared to the sword that truly belonged to Luo Binghe, it wasn't in the same league at all.

Shen Qingqiu resettled himself, then smiled and said: "How come you've come back so fast this time?"

Luo Binghe sat beside him and steadily poured a cup of tea, then pushed it next to Shen Qingqiu's hand: "It wasn't some troublesome calamity. Also, missing Shizun urgently, I rode the horse back without stopping."

These words sounded very smooth. However, as the male protagonist, Luo Binghe must have some ability to make such smooth words come out with sincerity and skill. Regarding this, Shen Qingqiu... found it very useful!

Shen Qingqiu took up the cup of tea and drank a mouthful. He hadn't fully tasted the excellent snowy mountain tea [2]when he said: "The Immortal Alliance Conference is about to begin."

Luo Binghe already knew about this. He asked: "Do you need this disciple to pass to you a copy of the list of participating disciples from Qing Jing Peak for Shizun to see?"

These years, these things whether big or small, were all thrown by Shen Qingqiu to Luo Binghe to handle. Anyway, Luo Binghe right now was very cute, obedient and useful, carrying out tasks accurately and precisely. Shen Qingqiu really couldn't think of a reason why he must do them himself... before making the final decision, Luo Binghe always conscientiously asked Shen Qingqiu to look over them again and see if there was anything wrong. Shen Qingqiu always wanted to say, actually, you don't need to give it to me to check anymore, truly, your ability to work is stronger than mine by a lot!

Shen Qingqiu said: "It would be better to report straight to the sect head from now on."

Luo Binghe nodded his head. He still wanted to say something, but it suddenly gave birth to a kind of strange feeling.

Today's Shen Qingqiu seemed to pay special attention to him. He couldn't help smiling: "Shizun, why do you keep looking at me? Unless Shizun also misses this disciple after having gone down the mountain so many days?"

Shen Qingqiu coolly said: "Can't I look at what I raised?"

Luo Binghe laughingly said: "Naturally you're allowed to. Does Shizun find me pleasing to the eyes?"

Shen Qingqiu laughed hehe.

After a moment of silence, he sought for words, then asked: "Binghe."

Luo Binghe found that Shen Qingqiu was different from usual. He must have important words to say, so he said seriously: "Yes?"

Shen Qingqiu stared at him with both eyes and said: "Do you want to become strong? Strong enough to be peerless, to the point that no one under the heavens dares to fight you?"

Luo Binghe had an answer to this question since a long time ago.

He solemnly sat and without hesitation, directly replied: "Yes!"

Seeing him answer so decisively, Shen Qingqiu's heart let out a breath. With urgency in every word, he continued: "For example, if before that, you have to undergo a lot of painful torture, suffer countless hardships, your physical and mental state approaching collapse, would you still want to be a supremely strong person?"

Luo Binghe slowly said: "Towards painful bitterness and hardships, Binghe is fearless and only asks to be strong enough to protect his important people!"

Having received this answer, Shen Qingqiu's heart was finally able to stabilize.

Right. Luo Binghe, for the sake of your future of becoming a person holding a harem of three thousand jade-like flowers, you must become strong!

Although his heart still couldn't bear it, thinking of how this was necessary for the protagonist to experience – just like the process of a butterfly emerging from a cocoon – Shen Qingqiu prepared to readjust his mind and heart for the upcoming inhumane action.

After three days, according to the list, the disciples of Cang Qiong Mountain's Twelve Peaks went to the Conference.

This time the Immortal Alliance Conference was held in complex terrain rising into a thickly forested mountain range. It was called Jue Di Gorge. [3]

Those who had already made a name for themselves definitely wouldn't go and participate in the Immortal Alliance Conference again to compete with their juniors. There was no need to fight for scraps. Therefore, the Twelve Peak Lords and martial seniors wouldn't participate, but every head could choose at most ten disciples to participate. Since there were so many who had become immortals, the more the better. Hence once everyone was equipped and ready to set out, there were one hundred people who'd already come. So many flying swords would be too high-profile, so they still set out with carriages. It was a cultivation novel, yet they were riding in horse carriages all the time!

A great number of people chose to ride horses and looked valiant. But since Shen Qingqiu wasn't good at riding and didn't want to fall and break his neck, and secondly because he thought exposing his face to the wind and rain of the mountains wasn't leisurely enough, he drilled his way into the horse carriage with everybody watching.

Finding a seat inside the carriage was first come, first served. Once a fan was seen lifting up the door curtain and a person going in, someone said rudely: "A great big man like you, and you're coming in to steal my spot!"

This woman with the beautiful eyebrows and a full and high chest was indeed the Peak Lord of Xian Shu Peak, Qi Qingqi. [4]

In the original work, Qi Qingqi and Shen Qingqiu didn't have much friendly relations or deal with each other much. But these years, Shen Qingqiu would occasionally work with her and liked her frank, outspoken forcefulness. They got along pretty well. Shen Qingqiu used his paper fan to make a spot for her while he spoke with perfect composure: "I am a sick patient."

Qi Qingqi made some room for him but her mouth still didn't let him off: "You've been pampered and spoiled! The strength of a spoiled baby like you, how is it like a Core Formation immortal cultivator! If you wait awhile, is someone going to come along and serve you refreshments?"

Shen Qingqiu said: "Not wrong. You reminded me." The handle of the fan knocked on an arm of the horse carriage.

Soon after, the carriage's curtain was raised. Luo Binghe smiled and asked: "Shizun, refreshments, water, or is your waist sore?"

He was riding on a strong and tall horse. Just as spirited as the heavenly white horse, the teenager was handsome and extraordinary. Under the bright rays of the sun, he shone in people's eyes.

Shen Qingqiu said: "Your martial aunt Qi would like to eat refreshments."

Luo Binghe quickly took from his waist a package of delicately wrapped and exquisite refreshments, offering it. It seemed like he'd been long since prepared. He said: "Shizun, if there's anything else, please call for me." Only then did he let down the curtain.

Liu Qingge plied a riding crop as he rode his horse past, grunting out a strong hmph once.

Shen Qingqiu said: "Naturally." He lowered his head and opened the package, "Long Xu Su [5]. Not bad." He turned around and passed the refreshments to Qi Qingqi: "Want to eat?"

...Qi Qingqi had a hard time describing what she felt at this moment.

She felt that this feeling was probably indignation. How come such a good disciple who was both intimate and strong in spiritual power came from Shen Qingqiu's tutelage?

In fact, she just didn't know that there was a phrase to describe that kind of feeling. It was called 'a flash of blind dog eyes.'

Qi Qingqi didn't look at or eat the Long Xu Su from Shen Qingqiu. She was still struggling to the death, "Even Mingyan is riding a horse!"

As long as she could make Shen Qingqiu feel even a bit of shame, it was victory!

Shen Qingqiu didn't say anything and looked out. Sure enough, Liu Mingyan with her veiled face and carrying her 'Shui Se' sword [6] was sitting on a horse. With every breeze, her veil fluttered slightly and gave off the feeling of a floating immortal state.

This picture was too pleasing to the eyes and mind.

Shen Qingqiu couldn't help taking another look for a moment, then sighed: "Truly too beautiful to take in at once."

Qi Qingqi expressed a pei at his face. "Rest your desires to covet my disciple!"

These two sentences traveled into Luo Binghe's ears. His face turned dark at once.

But Shen Qingqiu completely didn't notice his expression at all. He just ate pastries while looking towards that side. His attitude was that of the sort of person who before the start of the movie, ate popcorn and drank Coke while waiting for the credits to end and the movie to officially start [7]. That was Liu Mingyan! The male protagonist and the female protagonist were in the same setting, how would it be possible that they wouldn't rub off some sparks with each other!

Seeing Shizun continuing to focus on Liu Mingyan without stopping, Luo Binghe's heart felt extremely stuffy.

'Too beautiful to take in at once?' Her face isn't even clearly revealed! No matter how beautiful, surely she can't be as good-looking as me?

Luo Binghe truly wasn't narcissistic. He was only very clear about his own looks. He was neither complacent nor hypocritically belittling himself.

Half a day had gone by and Shen Qingqiu still hadn't shown any intention of retracting his gaze. Luo Binghe truly couldn't take it anymore. He lightly cracked his whip and the white horse quickly trotted forward to walk alongside Liu Mingyan. Luo Binghe smiled slightly and greeted: "Martial Sister Liu."

Liu Mingyan was surprised for a moment, then nodded shallowly. She replied: "Martial Brother Luo."

Ohhh! Ohhh! It's started!

Shen Qingqiu really didn't think there would be a day that he would see with his own eyes this scene from the novel of the handsome man and beauty riding alongside each other. He was secretly excited.

Luo Binghe's gaze swept over and he saw that Shen Qingqiu not only hadn't shifted his gaze, but was even more actively fixing his gaze this way. With a face full of black lines [8], his heart increasingly stuffy and his teeth itching to grit together, he brightly laughed with Liu Mingyan while secretly making their horses walk increasingly faster without anyone knowing better. In the end, they were far away enough that Shen Qingqiu couldn't see them unless his entire upper body stuck out of the carriage. Only then did Shen Qingqiu let go and sit back.

Damn, how did he forget: the moments when the male and female protagonist were billing and cooing at each other, their love was never in the fashion of a lightbulb shedding light among the masses. =.=

—End Chapter 21���

[1] Zheng Yang (正陽) sword: Zheng meaning 'upright/righteous' and Yang is the same character used in yin-yang. Yang generally means positive/masculine energy or refers to the sun. Fits this sunshine cutie-pie Luo Binghe pretty well, huh?

[2] Snowy mountain tea: I assume this is a type of tea? Not one I've heard of though. Phrase used was "上好的雪山香茗."

[3] Jue Di Gorge (絕地谷): Meaning of the name is 'despairing/hopeless land gorge.' Ominous, huh? Can't believe MTL translated this as Jedi Valley. LOL.

[4] Qi Qingqi (齊清萋): Her name means something like 'clear luxury.'

[5] Long Xu Su (龍鬚酥): Literally 'Dragon Whisker Pastry.' It's a light, sweet pastry that's little like cotton candy but tons healthier. Sometimes you can wrap some crumbly nuts inside. Here's an image:

[6] 'Shui Se' (水色) sword: Literally 'water color' sword.

[7] …movie to officially start: In everywhere in the world except the US, movie credits roll first before the film actually begins.

[8] Face full of black lines: You've seen it in manga/manhua.