Chapter 46: This Venerable One Wakes Up

When he came to, Mo Ran discovered he was still inside the holy weapon arsenal.

He seemed to have been asleep for a long time, but when he opened his eyes, he found that not much time had passed, in fact, it might have been but only a blink of an eye.

He didn't know if it was because the spell was successfully broken, but when he woke up, he discovered he was lying on the ground without a single injury. That savage wound, that gory blood, they were all just a nightmare,

leaving not a trace on his body.

Mo Ran was both surprised and delighted in spite of himself, then he looked over to Shi Mei.  He didn't know when Shi Mei lost consciousness, but he was also free of any harm.

Could it be that after passing the Exalted Gouchen's test, not only did Gouchen break the illusion, he had also healed all the wounds they received within the illusion?

…...

Although now that he thought about it, Gouchen the Exalted didn't intend to harm them, so this was more appropriate for the initial objective of testing them.

Still, it just didn't feel real to Mo Ran, and he still felt like he barely escaped with his life.

Among the four of them, he was the first to wake.

Then, it was Shi Mei. Seeing Shi Mei's lashes slowly flutter open, Mo Ran was overjoyed and exclaimed eagerly, "Shi Mei! We're alright! Quite alright!

Quick, look at me!" Within Shi Mei's eyes was first a flash of confusion, then gradually they became more lucid, and he widened his eyes abruptly, "A-Ran?! You——"

Before he finished he was wrapped in a tight embrace by Mo Ran.

Shi Mei couldn't help but be taken aback, but still he gently patted his shoulder, "What's with you…..." "I'm sorry that I made you suffer so." Shi Mei was confused, "Well, it wasn't really anything, I just had a dream that's all." "But the hurt was still real!" Mo Ran exclaimed.

"...What hurt?" Shi Mei asked.

Just then, Xue Meng also woke up, and who knows what he dreamt of, but he yelled, "INSOLENT RUFFIAN! YOU DARE FEEL ME UP!" and he shot up.

Shi Mei saw that he was awake and walked over, "Young Master." "Huh…... Why is it you? Why are you here?" Xue Meng thought he was still in a dream.

Mo Ran was in a great mood, so his attitude towards Xue Meng was also very soft, and he smiled as he gave an account of the things that happened.

Only then did reality dawn on Xue Meng.

"So it was a dream…... And here I thought…..." In order to hide his awkwardness, Xue Meng cleared his throat, and suddenly discovered that the typically most powerful Chu Wanning was actually still asleep, not yet roused, and was astonished in spite of himself.

"How come Shizun hasn't woken yet?" They walked over and examined Chu Wanning's wounds. Since Chu Wanning was already injured before the illusion activated, and by the Exalted Gouchen's design, only injuries suffered within the illusion could be healed, Chu Wanning's shoulder was still soaked in large amounts of blood, a shocking sight to see.

Mo Ran sighed, "Let's wait a bit longer and see." It took about one incense stick's worth of time before Chu Wanning finally came to.

He slowly opened his phoenix eyes, and when he awoke, his eyes were empty and cold, like it had just snowed heavily in a thick blanket of white. It was a long time before his eyes moved, and his gaze fell on Mo Ran.

However, he seemed to be just like Xue Meng, and hadn't completely snapped out of the dream state in the moment. He gazed at Mo Ran, then slowly reached out, his voice cracking, "You…..." "Shizun." Mo Ran acknowledged.

Hearing Mo Ran call him thus, Chu Wanning's hand paused in mid air, and a trace of warmth finally seemed to appear on his pale face, and his eyes also brightened all of a sudden, "En…..." "Shizun!!" Xue Meng pushed Mo Ran aside and threw himself at Chu Wanning,

clutching his hand, "Are you alright? Are you feeling better? Shizun, you didn't wake for the longest time, I was going to die from worry!" When Chu Wanning saw Xue Meng, he was slightly bemused, then the thin layer of fog in his eyes gradually faded. When he took a closer look at Mo Ran,

he saw that while the other was also looking back, he was holding Shi Mei's hand tightly, having never let go for a second.

"..." Thus, Chu Wanning completely woke up, his expression cooling. Then, like a fish in a dried pond, it died thoroughly.

Shi Mei asked with concern, "Shizun, are you alright? Does your shoulder hurt?"

Chu Wanning replied tranquilly, "I'm fine. It doesn't hurt." With Xue Meng's assistance, he slowly stood up. Mo Ran was a little puzzled; Chu Wanning had hurt his shoulder, so why did he step so gingerly when he rose, like it was his feet that were injured?

Mo Ran thought Chu Wanning didn't know what had happened in the illusion earlier, and gave another brief account.

When Shi Mei heard the account the first time he already thought something wasn't right, and now that he listened again, he felt even more perplexed and said, unable to hold back, "A-Ran, you said I was the one who saved you?" "Yea." Shi Mei was quiet for a moment, then said slowly, "But I…... I've been dreaming the whole time earlier, I never woke up." Mo Ran was taken aback, then immediately laughed, "Stop joking around." "I'm not joking," Shi Mei said, "I dreamt…... I dreamt about my mom and dad, they were still alive. That dream was too real, I didn't think…... I didn't think I could leave them behind, I really——" He hadn't finished before they heard Chu Wanning say flatly, "That's nothing strange. Goucheng probably wiped your memory of rescuing others. Either way,

neither myself nor Xue Meng saved him, and since he said it was you who saved him, then it was you." Shi Mei: "..." "Otherwise, what? Did you think Gouchen has a way to swap people's souls?" Chu Wanning said coldly.

He hadn't wanted to suffer for nothing, and had originally wanted to tell Mo Ran the truth. He had also hoped Mo Ran would notice, that the person within the illusion wasn't Shi Mei, but he who had swapped hearts with Shi Mei.

However, Mo Ran's confession towards Shi Mei at the end, to Chu Wanning, really was much too embarrassing.

When he woke, he gazed at Mo Ran's bright black eyes. There was a moment where Chu Wanning thought, perhaps in Mo Ran's heart, he did care for him even just a little.

Such a humble expectation; it took a long time before such a weak and vulnerable thought dared peek out in secret.

But it was all in his head.

The blood he bled, the injuries he suffered, Mo Ran knew nothing of them,

and there was no need for him to know either.

Chu Wanning wasn't dumb. Even if Mo Ran didn't say anything, it was easy to see just how much he treasured that gentle and beautiful person. Why would Mo Ran ever look at him, standing in the corner like a doll piled with dust.

Yet when he heard Mo Ran say from his lips "I've always liked you", Chu Wanning still felt like he had lost completely, an utter miserable defeat.

That embrace within the illusion, to Mo Ran, it was a charity bestowed from Shi Mei.

But Mo Ran would never know, that that embrace, was him bestowing charity upon another pitiful soul.

Chu Wanning had never believed that Mo Ran would ever fall in love with him, so he did his best to suppress his feelings, never trying to force his hand,

never causing any disturbance, never touching him.

That reckless affection, those passionate, obsessive entanglements, only grew on the soil of youth. When he was young he had also hoped there might be someone who could stay by his side, clinking glasses beneath the moon, but he waited and waited, and still this person never showed. Later, time passed day by day, his name within the cultivation world climbed higher and higher, and everyone stopped short of admiration, spreading word that he was an unreasonable character.

It was as if he was hiding in a cocoon, and time was continuously spinning silk around him. At first he could still see some light from the outside seeping through the cocoon, but year after year, there was more and more silk and the cocoon grew thicker and thicker, so much so that he could no longer see the light. Within the cocoon was only himself, and darkness.

He didn't believe in love, he didn't believe in chance encounters, and he certainly didn't want to go chase after anything. If he arduously bit through the cocoon, covering himself with wounds, and came crawling out clumsily without anyone to wait for him on the other side, what would he do?

He might like Mo Ran, but this boy was too young, too far out of reach, and too fiery. Chu Wanning didn't want to get close, lest one day he would be burned to ashes by such a flame.

Thus, he had taken every path of retreat there was.

He didn't know what he had done wrong.

What had he done, that even such a small daydream should be drowned by storming frigid rain.

"Shizun, look over there, quick!" Xue Meng's sudden startled cry brought Chu Wanning's mind back, and his gaze followed the sound only to see that roaring molten metal was rolling once again in the smelting pool. The ancient tree spirit broke through the waters once more, surrounded by flames. However,

the tree spirit's eyes were rolled back, obviously in a state of senselessness. In its hands, it held that silver, shimmering sacred sword of Gouchen the Exalted.

"Run! Quickly!" Chu Wanning ordered.

No need to have him repeat himself; the disciples immediately all dashed towards the exit.

The manipulated tree spirit raised its head towards the sky and shrieked,

the iron chains all over his body rattling soundly, clinking and clanking. No one had spoken, but all four of them heard a voice in their ears at the same time.

"Stop them, not a single one shall escape." Xue Meng cried in dismay, "Someone's talking in my ears!" "Don't pay him any mind," Chu Wanning replied, "It's Zhaixin Liu's technique, Temptation of the Heart! Just focus on escaping!" Now that he said it, the others all remembered. When Zhaixin Liu was still conscious, he had told them once. The Temptation of the Heart technique used the greed and desire in one's heart as bait to compel people to slaughter one another.

Sure enough, that voice in Chu Wanning's ears hissed, "Chu Wanning,

aren't you tired?" "Esteemed Zongshi, Yuheng of the Night Sky. Such a character, but you could only sneakily love your own disciple in secret. You have given him much,

but he took it all for granted. He never had eyes for you, he only likes that gentle and beautiful little shi-ge. How pitiful."

Chu Wanning's face was steely dark. He ignored the noise in his ears completely and continued to run for the exit.

"Come to my side, take up this Ancestral Sword, kill Shi Mei, and no one will stand between the two of you. Come to my side, I can help you achieve your wish, have your beloved love only you. Come to my side…" Chu Wanning cried angrily, "What a wretch, get the hell out!" The others had obviously all heard the different terms that voice proposed,

and while their pace had slowed, they could still fight against the temptations.

The closer they got to the exit, the more Zhaixin Liu seemed to thrash in madness, and the hissing howls in their ears were practically becoming gnarled.

"THINK IT THROUGH! ONCE OUT OF THIS DOOR, THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER CHANCE!" The voices within everyone's ears were all different, shrieking sharply.

"CHU WANNING, CHU WANNING, WILL YOU REALLY BE ALONE FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE?" "MO WEIYU, ONLY I KNOW WHERE THE RESURRECTION PILL IS,

COME TO MY SIDE, LET ME TELL YOU——" "SHI MINGJING, I KNOW THE DESIRE IN THE DEEPEST RECESSES OF YOUR HEART, ONLY I CAN HELP YOU!" "XUE ZIMING, THE HOLY WEAPON YOU'VE SELECTED IS A FAKE!

THERE IS ONLY ONE WEAPON FORGED BY GOUCHEN THE EXALTED LEFT IN JINCHENG LAKE. COME BACK, AND THIS ANCESTRAL SWORD SHALL BELONG TO YOU! DIDN'T YOU WANT THE WEAPON OF THE GODS? DIDN'T YOU WANT TO BE THE DARLING OF THE HEAVENS?

WITHOUT A HOLY WEAPON YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO COMPETE WITH ANYONE ELSE! COME TO MY SIDE…" "XUE MENG!" Mo Ran suddenly discovered that his cousin who was running by his side had disappeared.

He whipped his head around and saw Xue Meng's steps were slowing until he finally stopped, looking back to gaze at that silvery blue sacred sword floating up and down in the smelting pool.

Mo Ran's heart lurched.

He knew just how obsessed Xue Meng was about holy weapons. When this bastard first found out the weapon he received was fake, he must've been quite depressed. Zhaixin Liu tempting him with the Ancestral Sword really was the best tactic.

"Xue Meng, don't believe him, don't go!" Shi Mei chimed in too, "Young Master, let's go, we're almost at the exit!" Looking lost, Xue Meng turned his head back and glanced at them while the echoing noises grew even more enchanting, "They're jealous of you, they don't want you to have a holy weapon. Think about Mo Weiyu; he has already won his weapon, of course he'd rather you have nothing. You two are brothers, but if you are not better, then the honored leader position of Sisheng Peak will naturally fall to him." Xue Meng muttered, "Shut up."

Before him, Mo Ran seemed to be anxiously yelling something at him, but he couldn't hear clearly at all, and could only hug his head and cry repeatedly,

"YOU SHUT YOUR MOUTH! SHUT UP!" "Xue Ziming, there are already no more weapons suitable for you at the holy weapon arsenal. If you miss out on the Ancestral Sword, you will only be able to submit yourself in servitude to Mo Weiyu in the future. When that time comes, he will be your master, you must kneel before him, obey his every command! Just think, if you kill him, none of that will happen! Fratricide is not uncommon throughout history, and he's only your cousin! What is there to hesitate? Come ——allow me to give you the sword…" "XUE MENG!" "YOUNG MASTER!!!" Xue Meng suddenly stopped struggling, and his eyes shot open, his pupils red.

"Come to my side…... You are the darling of the heavens…... you are worthy to lead an army of millions…..." Chu Wanning shouted sharply, "XUE MENG!" "Come…... Only when you've become the leader of Sisheng Peak will the lower cultivation world know peace…... think of those in suffering, think of all the injustice you all suffered…... Xue Ziming, let me help you…..." Unwittingly, Xue Meng had already come before the bubbling smelting pool,

and the spirit of Zhaixin Liu presented the Ancestral Sword of Gouchen the Exalted, the whites of its rolled eyes crawling with blood veins.

"Very good. Take this sword, and go stop them!" Xue Meng slowly raised his trembling hand, and took that silvery blue sacred sword.

"Kill them." "Kill Mo Weiyu." "Go… AAAAHHHHH!!!!!" Xue Meng pulled out the long sword abruptly, a splendid steel blossom in his hand. He swung backhanded and struck swiftly, the handsome visage of the darling of the heavens reflected brilliantly in the spiritual aura of the Ancestral Sword, and, illuminated by the shine of the blade, his eyes were clearer and brighter than ever before, and not at all inundated with bloodlust.

That strike wasn't directed at Mo Ran, but instead he lunged straight for the body of Zhaixin Liu, piercing through its abdomen!

Instantly, the earth trembled, and the ancient willow shook.

The spell was broken, and the inside of the holy weapon arsenal began to crack and collapse.

Xue Meng panted harshly; he had used everything he had to break free from the enchantment. He glared at Zhaixin Liu, his young face filled with youthful determination and innocence. In those shining eyes gleamed both pride and naivete.

The phoenix's chick wasn't only made of martial principles.

"Don't you befuddle me, and don't even think about harming anyone else."

Xue Meng panted as he finished speaking, and rapidly wrenched out the long sword!

In an instant, there was a burst of the astringent stench of blood from Zhaixin Liu, and as he slumped in death, his conscience returned to his body,

and the resentment energy within him were completely dispersed.

Clutching his chest, he arduously steadied his drooping body, lifted his face,

opened then closed his mouth, and while there was no voice, the shape of his lips were easy to interpret.

"Thank…... you… for…... stopping…... me…..." Zhaixin Liu's original body was a spirit of ancient times, matched in power with the Ancestral Sword, and when the two clashed, both sides suffered a grievous loss. The Ancestral Sword in Xue Meng's hand also lost its spiritual aura, dimming and wilting.

All at once, the tree spirit of a million years dissipated its form.

In an instant, millions of sparkles scattered into the waters, and like fireflies,

they danced and circled around them, fluttering and flowing, the golden shimmers bright, until finally they faded, never to be seen.

"Young master, come here, quick! This place is going to collapse!" Shi Mei called.

The earth was shaking, they couldn't stay for long.

Xue Meng looked back and gave the holy weapon arsenal one final look,

then with a clang, he tossed the destroyed Ancestral Sword, leaving it behind.

And behind him, bricks and shingles caved in like the crash of an avalanche.