Chapter 151: Chapter 141: The Troubled Junior Martial Uncle

The rain poured continuously for two days without pause.

During these two days, the most talked-about topic in the Daoist Sect was Chu Huaixu’s sword and body dual cultivation, and his finger-flicking rain on the arena.

This scene left an extremely deep impression on all the onlookers present.

Even within the Inner Sect, many senior and junior brothers and sisters were discussing it.

On that day, Liu Chengqi, the steward’s son, actually went to watch the match secretly, hiding among the crowd.

Strictly speaking, Chu Huaixu’s “Gibberish Eight Trigrams Palm” was still something he taught.

As a result, the opponent had already become a prodigy in the Outer Sect, relying solely on one move of Eight Desolates Roaming Dragon to remain invincible in the early rounds of the competition!

“And what about me? Still a useless cripple with a damaged Spiritual Embryo.”

Liu Chengqi was despondent, filled with envy.

He once wondered if, without the damage to his Spiritual Embryo, with his Upper Grade Spiritual Embryo talent, he too could have shone in this East Continent competition?

But alas, what ifs are meaningless.

Meanwhile, in a small courtyard on Medicine Mountain, Niu Yuanshan watched the continuous drizzle outside with complicated feelings.

“Chu Huaixu, to think he could reach such heights?” he never would have imagined.

Originally, he just hoped that the newcomer from the organization would perform well and make an impression before the high-ranking members of the Daoist Sect.

But just yesterday, even Ji Sikong, who was most favored initially in the Outer Sect, lost to him.

In an instant, he became a hot favorite to win, a true man of the hour!

Old Niu was so excited yesterday that he couldn’t sleep all night.

Some seemingly unrealistic, yet somewhat possible thoughts kept swirling in his mind.

“What if… Chu Huaixu wins the championship?”

The mere thought made him tremble with excitement!

In the Moon Country, the winner of the Western Continent grand competition is surely the Heir of Prince Rui.

“His strength is said to be overwhelmingly dominant within the same realm.”

Thus, if Chu Huaixu were to win, the so-called East and West Continent competition would culminate in a final confrontation between members from our Moon Country!

“If those fools from the East Continent knew the truth, who knows how they would react! Hahaha!”

The thought made his face flush red, his heart race, and his breath quicken.

In fact, even now, Niu Yuanshan could not understand how that former Pseudo Spiritual Embryo transformed overnight into the most striking prodigy of the Daoist Sect.

Ever since Chu Huaixu ascended the mountain, Old Niu, adhering to the third rule of the Precepts, didn’t know how many times he had slapped himself.

Now, he somewhat regretted it.

He knew very little about the current Chu Huaixu.

Since the East Continent competition began, he had been collecting all sorts of rumors about him.

The shocks Chu Huaixu brought him were fresh and unique with each round.

For some reason, he also felt a sense of pride.

In Old Niu’s heart, Chu Huaixu was always the most special, for he was a fellow traveler.

Both tasked with the mission as Moon Country spies, he truly regarded him as a junior in the family.

Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and he even began to consider whether to invite him to his home for a meal.

“Hmm, that child Shuangjiang could come along too.”

Though in the Cultivation Realm, the notion of ’marry a chicken, follow a chicken; marry a dog, follow a dog’ isn’t popular, it’s all about the man’s capability, isn’t it?

With proper handling, making one’s woman willingly defect for our use has been a glorious achievement accomplished by someone in the organization before!

As he was lost in such thoughts, a servant knocked on his door.

“What is it?” Niu Yuanshan asked upon opening the door.

“Lord Steward, today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and this is the Er Lang Wine from Chu Huaixu.” The servant said, holding two jars of fine wine.

“Where is he?”

“Back to the steward, he has already left, saying he wants to quietly prepare for the East Continent competition and didn’t want to disturb you.” The servant answered truthfully.

“Alright, give me the wine, you may go.” Old Niu took the wine jars.

Though not a valuable gift, he was still moved by this child’s thoughtfulness.

Old Niu had been undercover in the Daoist Sect for many years, diligently and earnestly, earning the nickname Ox, eventually working his way up to become a steward.

He had no family, no Daoist partner, and no offspring.

Even when Junior Sister Mo Qingmei, whom he had mutual feelings for, confessed to him, he cruelly rejected her.

Niu Yuanshan knew he had limited abilities and didn’t want to weigh her down.

During the holidays, he would indeed feel a bit sentimental and lonely.

Just like today, the Mid-Autumn Festival, the full moon hangs high, but what of it?

— A moon in a foreign land cannot compare to a single light in one’s hometown.

He was ultimately a spy, out of place here.

But today, these two jars of wine filled him with comforting nostalgia.

He felt somewhat reluctant to drink it.

…

…

In the Inner Sect, Junzi Temple.

Xu Ziqing finished circulating the Sword Nurturing Skill and slowly opened his eyes.

His schedule is now fully packed every day.

He has to practice the secret technique passed down by Junior Martial Uncle, cultivate the Sword Nurturing Skill, practice the Ice Skin Jade Bone Heart Method, and various techniques…

Every day is fulfilling, and he can feel his own strength gradually increasing.

Jiang Zhi sitting nearby glanced at him and said, “You seem a bit unsettled today.”

Feeling seen through, Xiaoxu was a bit nervous, but still dared to ask, “Junior Martial Uncle, may I leave the Inner Sect for a while today?”

“Oh? Why?” asked Junior Martial Uncle draped in a white robe.

“Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival.” Xu Ziqing replied.

“But as far as I know, you no longer have family.” Jiang Zhi stated, as blunt as ever.

Unexpectedly, Xu Ziqing looked up at him at this moment, his eyes full of seriousness, and replied:

“Junior Martial Uncle, I have family.”

Jiang Zhi and he exchanged glances for a moment, remaining silent.

After a while, he seemed to understand something.

“Alright, you can go, but you haven’t finished today’s tasks. You have only an hour,” he said.

“Yes! Thank you, Junior Martial Uncle!” The young man beamed with joy, immediately standing up with a light step.

“Wait, leave the sword here, don’t take it with you,” Jiang Zhi instructed.

Xu Ziqing didn’t overthink it and obediently complied.

Watching the boy disappear in a flash, Jiang Zhi also felt a little lost.

The sun was about to set, and the Mid-Autumn moon was about to rise.

He looked out the window and murmured to himself:

“Senior Brother, Senior Sister, it’s Mid-Autumn Festival again.”

As the youngest junior of the previous generation at Junzi Temple, his voice was desolate, his eyes calm.

After saying this sentence, he remained silent for a long time, then stood up.

“Alright, let’s go see that madman first, then gather with the juniors.”

Jiang Zhi walked into a secluded courtyard, opened the door, and said:

“Fifth Senior Brother, your junior has come to see you.”

…

…

On the other side, the Outer Sect, Medicine Mountain.

Chu Huaixu, in a rare move, personally cooked, letting Han Shuangjiang taste his culinary skills today.

But this lazy fellow only cooked one dish; he wouldn’t do more.

As the two were busy, Xu Ziqing hurriedly ran back.

Upon arriving home, he loudly called out, “Senior Brother! Senior Sister Han!”

“You’re back.” The two looked up, not saying much, just shared a simple smile.

Just a few minutes ago, they had been wondering if Xiaoxu could make it home.

Chu Huaixu naturally began assigning tasks to Xiaoxu, and the young man, as usual, was very conscientious, ready for work.

The sumptuous dishes were soon prepared, and the three sat down at the wooden table.

Chu Huaixu specifically opened a pot of wine, saying, “Today is Mid-Autumn, why not have a drink?”

To his surprise, Han Shuangjiang and Xu Ziqing didn’t refuse, evidently accustomed to drinking.

But it made sense; Sister Han, being groomed as a future courtesan at Hongxiu Restaurant, would naturally learn to drink; it’s an essential skill.

Xu Ziqing, a young swordsman from a reputed martial family, found drinking commonplace.

The three of them raised their glasses, clinked them, and drank in one go.

They could be said to have no parents, no close relatives left.

Yet today, they felt an inexplicable warmth, the joy of a family reunion.

Han Shuangjiang, without any relatives, had been sold by her parents from a young age, never experiencing familial warmth.

Chu Huaixu, a lonely transmigrator, even on Earth, was without family after his mother’s passing.

Xu Ziqing faced sudden changes at home, with no one to rely on, leaving him unmoored.

Perhaps, living life well was indeed better than anything else for the three of them.

The trio ate, drank, and chatted like this.

Unconsciously, they each indulged in the drink a bit too much.

Jiang Zhi only gave Xu Ziqing an hour of free time, so he consciously got up from the table early to wash the dishes.

Chu Huaixu and Han Shuangjiang remained at the table, drinking together.

The Big Ice Cube had a slight blush on her face, propping her cheek with one hand, her gaze had a hint of post-drink daze.

The cold aura instantly dissipated, making her beauty indescribable.

Today was the happiest day she had had in years.

She no longer felt such festivals and joy were for others only.

“I too have my own joy,” she thought to herself, raising her eyes slightly to glance at Chu Huaixu sitting opposite.

After washing the dishes, Xu Ziqing dried his wet hands and ran over, saying, “Senior Brother, Senior Sister Han, I have to go back now; I still have some tasks unfinished for today.”

“Alright, go on.” Chu Huaixu waved him off, making no effort to hold him back.

Xiaoxu looked back frequently, reluctant to leave.

With each glance back, he saw Chu Huaixu raising a hand, waving until the young boy’s figure disappeared into the night.

At the table, he looked at the girl sitting opposite, asking: “More to drink?”

Tonight’s drink was Spirit Wine, although not of high grade or expensive, it wasn’t like common good wine that cultivators could drink without getting drunk.

Chu Huaixu could see Han Shuangjiang was already slightly tipsy.

The Big Ice Cube now seemed to have melted a bit, her sitting posture slightly lazy.

In fact, under the table, her feet lifted occasionally, lightly tapping each other.

Rarely, she displayed a hint of girlish silliness, raising two fingers to denote a small distance, saying:

“Another…this much?”

But she quickly retracted her small hand.

“Isn’t that a bit too much?” Chu Huaixu replied with a laugh, pouring her some wine and filling his own glass too.

After sipping it, she looked up at the moon.

“The moon is really beautiful tonight,” Han Shuangjiang remarked, clearly in high spirits.

Chu Huaixu didn’t respond, just smiled while watching her.

Her peripheral vision caught him looking at her.

But the more he did so, the more she pretended to be engrossed in the moon.

“Do you need to look for so long, haven’t you seen enough?” Chu Huaixu asked with a chuckle.

“Have you seen enough?” Han Shuangjiang replied, slightly annoyed.

…

(PS: Second update, seeking monthly votes to climb the rankings at the start of the month!)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep