Supernanny Shen

Posted originally on the Archive of Our Own at http://archiveofourown.org/works/60063271.

Rating: Mature
Archive Warning: Graphic Depictions Of Violence
Categories: F/M, M/M
Fandoms: 人渣反派自救系统 - 墨香铜臭 | The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System
- Mòxiāng Tóngxiù, 穿书自救指南 | Scumbag System (Cartoon)
Relationships: Shen Jiu | Original Shen Qingqiu/Yue Qingyuan, Liu Qingge/Shen Jiu |
Original Shen Qingqiu, Original Luo Binghe/Shen Yuan | Shen Qingqiu,
Su Xiyan/Tianlang-jun
Characters: Shen Jiu | Original Shen Qingqiu, Yue Qingyuan, Liu Qingge, Original
Luo Binghe, Shen Yuan, Zhuzhi-lang
Additional Tags: Accidental Baby Acquisition, Threesome - M/M/M, Transmigrator Shen
Yuan | Shen Qingqiu, Disciple Shen Yuan | Shen Qingqiu, Rogue
Cultivator Shen Jiu | Original Shen Qingqiu, Pop Culture, Shen Yuan |
Shen Qingqiu is Like a Disney Princess, Baby Shen Yuan | Shen
Qingqiu, Father-Son Relationship, Shen Jiu | Original Shen Qingqiu is a
Parent I'd Like to Fuck, Shen Jiu | Original Shen Qingqiu Gets a Happy
Ending, Shen Jiu | Original Shen Qingqiu Gets a Hug, Shen Jiu | Original
Shen Qingqiu Gets a Family, Random fandom cameos, Time Travel Fix-
It, Reincarnation, Shen Jiu | Original Shen Qingqiu Gets Therapy,
Daycare, Childbirth, Grief/Mourning, revenge plotting, Characters
running away with the plot...
Language: English
Stats: Published: 2024-11-01 Updated: 2025-02-19 Words: 58,738 Chapters:
20/?
 Supernanny Shen
by Madyamisam

Summary

System update complete. Protocol: You can you up, no can no bb your life is online.
Character model: Shen Qingqiu of Proud Immortal Demon Way reassigned. New role
allocated as User’s Guide. Your life mission: Fostering. Your choice: Time of restart. Shen
Qingqiu glared at the strange screen with the words glinting in bright green lights. An arrow
pointing at the text flashed. Please select a time.

Aka where Shen Qingqiu died and is given a second chance by a mysterious entity called
System to start over with one added condition.
 Chapter 1

There wasn’t much of an expectation that Shen Qingqiu had when he died. The last thing he
remembered was him laughing and being silenced by an angry Heavenly demon lord. After
witnessing the remains of the man known as Yue Qingyuan thrown before him, the sword
Xuan Su completely shattered to tiny pieces just like its owner. Still bleeding from his
removed tongue, he made one final act to end his own existence and return to nothing.

What he hadn’t expected was to be back in a spiritual form staring at a strange blinking light,
a scroll of strange text and the disembodied monotonous voice of a woman talking to him.

[System online. New protocol installed. You can you up no can no BB your life. Selection:
Shen Qingqiu role reassigned.]

Shen Qingqiu blinked at the scene and a had a stream of thoughts regarding to this strange
afterlife. Like, why does this disembodied and monotonous female voice can somehow sound
so unusually peppy at the same time?

‘What is this?’ He thought and was startled by the blink as the voice answered him.

[You have been selected and reassigned as a User Guide, to help support the entrance of a
new user into navigating the world of Proud Immortal Demon Way. You have been given an
opportunity to return to your former life and alter choices that you had until the point of the
User’s arrival. After which you will have the role of guiding and supporting their assigned
goals.]

Why me? Who is this user?

[Your character system has been the most compatible with the user’s algorithms and
dialogue. Of all characters within this world, your IQ is the most comparable with the
exception of the Power source. User’s entry is pending and undergoing processing. You have
an opportunity to customize your life’s situation to best receive the User.]

If I were to refuse?

[Then your life situation will remain unaltered. Your memory will be reset to the time of the
beginning and repeat the same cycle of the original storyline. ]

So, I’ll simply relive my fate over and over without any change to the course.

[Correct.]

Alright, then what do I have to do?

[You have been given opportunity to alter any of your life decisions. You can start at any
point in you your timeline and you can maintain your memories. ]
Shen Qingqiu pondered at the thought. Restart at any point in my life? In his time as the
Immortal Peak Lord of Chang Qiong mountain, he had not made any allies and largely kept
to himself. In truth, he felt trapped no matter where he went whether it was the Qiu
household, Wu Yanzi the demonic cultivator that taught him all the wrong techniques and
even Cang Qiong. However if he had started at a certain point containing all the knowledge
of the basics that he had to painstakingly relearn as a disciple of Cang Qiong, he realised he
wouldn’t even have to go there. He could be free. Shen Qingqiu then knew at that point of
where to start.

Take me back to the time just before the Qiu household took me in. He remembered with
great resentment when that brat sold him out and he ended up staying in that accursed
household. Suddenly, he was small again and watching as the boy looked on ready to be run
over by the cart. That was when the Yue Qingyuan, no right now, it was just Qi Ge. Stupid,
reckless and impulsive Qi-ge and he was not the scholarly Peak Lord Shen Qingqiu but a
little slave boy called Shen Jiu.

Shen Jiu gritted his teeth as he watched familiar proceedings and at the point he acted. As if
on replay, he once again was wrangled after being found and predictably sold out by the brat.
Rather than struggling though like he did and getting beaten up even more, he instead
glanced over to Qi-ge who was looking on in horror. ‘Damn it. I still get myself in this same
situation despite myself.’ Shen Jiu felt some swift pain as he was kicked into the abdomen.

“Now, now. Careful of the face.” Drawled the familiar voice of that insufferable beast. There
stood Qiu Jianlao looming over him as he watched him some interest. A fan was in the man’s
hand as he tipped it under Shen Jiu’s chin so he could get a clearer look at him.

“Brother? What happened? Are you alright?” Shen Jiu froze as the the sight of the familiar
Qiu Haitang appeared. Kind, gentle and a trap, as it was her kindness that led Shen Jiu to
spare her, which ended up biting him in the ass. Qiu Haitang returned with vengeance and
hatred in her heart. He looked away from her as he did once before. Once again he was
coaxed and once again, Qiu Jianluo had the spark of the idea to buy the slave boy in order to
be groomed as the perfect husband.

Shen Jiu decided at this point to not fight like he did before and risk getting hurt, instead
opting to watch for Qi-ge. He spotted him in the distance with a worry and concern. ‘If you
did not want this to happen, you should’ve thought about things before acting like a hero.’
Shen Jiu thought bitterly but none the less kept it to himself.

After a few moments of being dragged around, he noticed the words and manuscripts that
were on the table. The first time, he had only known a few words so would not be able to
decipher them all on the complicated document but having full literacy currently, he realised
what a truly beastly character Qiu Jianluo was. Being the rich household, he held a lot of
clout but the words were actual plans to frame a rival of the business. It was a brilliant tactic
of which he recognised as it was drilled into him as well and it was several years in the
making before it would be enacted. He realised that had he not killed the household, the
likelihood of this plan would likely come to fruition and someone else’s life was going to be
ruined in the process.
“Boy? Can you read and write? You seem interested in those words.”

“I only know a few words… sir…” he said ducking his head away to avoid any more
suspicion before he was thrown the brush and some paper. Once again he was being tested
and he repeated his actions when he was younger just to ensure that the man did not know
that he could not only know how to read and write but he was a master tactician in his own
right.

Shen Jiu as a result of attempting to escape the first time had ended up being locked up and
he intended to repeat this just so that he could speak with Qi Ge.

The following few nights he was once again trapped and locked up in the shed. He could
choose to run away at this point but he sat and waited and predictably the person he was
expecting to see had appeared.

“Xiao Jiu…”

“Is it you? Qi ge?”

“I’m so sorry… I didn’t realise that he would… I didn’t think…”

“You never do.” Shen Jiu scolded. It was the same stupid thing.

“Are you hurt?”

“What do you think?” Shen Jiu had gone into a tirade of little lies to make Qi ge feel worse
than he is. His leg was a little bruised but he had made it out that he had broken his leg
before, but he did not want to be pitied any more. He needed to get his message across to the
stupid person that he would likely never see again.

“I’m going to go soon. I’m going to try to be a cultivator.”

“The one in Cang Qiong? I hear that’s the closest,” Shen Jiu replied. He wasn’t about to stop
the man to become the sect leader. He was capable enough for it after all. “It’ll take you a
while. ” He once said that he would go with him if he could but he wasn’t going to try to
offer that any longer. He didn’t want to involve Qi ge with him any more considering how it
had all ended for them both.

“I’ll come back for you. I promise.” And there it was, the promise that had bound Shen Jiu to
this unfortunate fate of various missed opportunities. The promise that made him wait at the
Qiu household to be abused until breaking point where he had lost control and killed the man
after trying to learn a bit of cultivation from the smatterings of advice from various rogue
cultivators that he sometimes came across. The most prominent was the scoundrel Wu Yanzi
whom he had once been under a brief tutelage and ultimately lost his own life by Shen Jiu’s
hand.

“Don’t bother… Just… forget about me.” Shen Jiu replied.

“I swear, I’ll come back for you. Trust me Xiao Jiu.”

“Just promise to not be reckless anymore.”

“Xiao Jiu,”

“Promise me that!” Shen Jiu yelled. “I won’t go with you even if you do come back.” He
said.

“What? But…”

“I’m sure you’ll do fine. Now, do me one favour.”

“Xiao Jiu… what’s wr-“

“It’s not a big thing here. Are you going to deny me that as well?”

“…alright…”

“Let me look at you…” Shen Jiu stretched as far as he could from the chains that bound him
and stared. The face of the boy was handsome and he knew that he was going to reach great
heights of his potential. It was a little on the grubby side but when cleaned up, Shen Jiu knew
that Yue Qi was going to be a good sect leader. Shen Jiu sighed. “Good luck, Qi ge. Just…
forget about all this once you make it there.”

“Didn’t you used to dream about leaving too? Why are you making it sound like that we
won’t see each other again? I will come back for you Xiao Jiu.” Shen Jiu huffed rolling his
eyes. It was typical that he would choose to be stubborn and never let go.

“Whatever...” Shen Jiu said but he wasn’t sure if this still upset him. “You should at least get
there before it’s too late.” Qi Ge still didn’t seem satisfied but Shen Jiu could care less now.
He had his own plans and changes.

“Alright…” Qi Ge replied. Shen Jiu waited for a long time after hearing the departing
footsteps. He checked the gap one more time to make sure that the older boy was gone.

“Goodbye… Qi ge.” He whispered to himself as he sat down to start on the basics of what he
remembered of cultivation. His mind feeling clear for the first time.
 Chapter 2

The following months that followed had been hard while trying to balance his time with
practicing his art while being beaten. One good thing that Shen Jiu could say about himself is
that he had a very good memory and he could remember every single detail of the manuals he
once read when he was at Qing Jing Peak. Remembering the theory was one thing but
practical applications was another especially in an environment that wasn’t really conducive
for cultivation.

Still he took his time by meditating whenever he could and practicing inedia so that he didn’t
have to waste his time with eating. Another aspect of having the memory of your previous
life was perspective. Shen Jiu was ruled by fear, a foolish and naïve hope and faith in another
person. He wasted his time and tried to fight everything he had learnt within the Qiu
household. As much as he loathed to admit he did find some benefit in living under the
tyranny of Qiu Jianlao, he realised that learning to read was one of those benefits.

Now, however he knew there wasn’t much to take from the place this time around since he
had no need to learn those rudimentary skills. It was frankly quite exhausting to pretend to be
his childish and naïve self, playing the fool for the disgusting beast of his soon to be former
master. Shen Jiu was contemplating of repeating some parts of his history and slitting this
man’s throat. Maybe he could do it without being found out like last time. He quickly
dismissed the thought as in a short period of weeks that he had been in the Qiu household, he
realised how pathetic the man was.

Perhaps it had been the benefit of time and a lot of self reflection to finally let go of the petty
grievances that he had against Qiu Jianlao. The man just wasn’t as frightening as he had first
thought when he was a child. With that conclusion, he opted to just simply leave because
there was just no point in staying here. There was certainly no point in hanging around that
Wu Yanzi either and ruin his second chance to actually cultivate properly as he had always
wanted. He had the right time, and the right technique.

He just needed the right place.

Solidifying qi had come very quickly to him and he felt he had quickly felt the formations of
his core. It was much earlier than before where he had struggled hard to form it when he
arrived at Cang Qiong mountain. His wounds healed faster every day, he didn’t have to feel
ashamed of himself for hiding in Qiu Haitang’s place. It didn’t stop the girl from
continuously trying to approach him though, who at this stage was quite infatuated.

“A-Jiu, come talk to me. Brother said that we’d be married some day. That’s what he told me
so you don’t have to be shy around me. We’re as good as family.” Qiu Haitang coaxed. Shen
Jiu on the other hand gauged her expression. She was as innocent as he remembered,
completely sheltered from the cruel ways of her brother. It was a sickening thought really,
that Qiu Jianlao would’ve wanted to covet her as his wife had she not been his sister. After
all, why waste a marriage on a mere slave? However, to attempt to explain it to the girl who
idolized her brother was just going to make things difficult, especially if he had plans to leave
the household completely.

“I want to be a cultivator.” He once said to Qiu Jianlao and was instantly beaten up and
mocked by him with scornful laughter at his dreams. Shen Jiu was wise enough this time
around to not speak of it. It hadn’t changed the fact he was beaten as the man simply found
other reasons to torture him with however .

“You behave and you may live a decent enough life under this household.” The man tapped
his face gently with the cane to make sure it avoided damaging the Shen Jiu’s face. It was one
of the features why the boy had been selected. That following night, Shen Jiu had gone into
one of his meditations and realized that he reached the familiar bottleneck before a
breakthrough.

Shen Jiu knew of a single place that would be suitable. The spiritual energy did not compare
with that of the Lingxi caves but for someone who is just starting out, it would be perfect. He
just needed an opportunity to get there. With careful obedience and not pushing his
boundaries. Shen Jiu also made good use of his more quiet moments with Qiu Haitang to see
if he could steer an opportunity for this.

“A-Jiu, I hear you’ve been progressing well with Brother’s tutelage. You’ve been working so
hard in your studies too. I was wondering if there’s something you want and I can get it for
you or ask brother to.” Shen Jiu found out that this was the opportunity that he needed.

“I have heard of the spring lake on the outskirts that’s said to have been a good place for
poetry. The Lao Shen lake.” Shen Jiu replied and Qiu Haitang hooked on to it.

“Oh! I’ve been there a few times. There’s also a temple and I hear cultivators like to frequent
there.” Qiu Haitang replied taking Shen Jiu’s hand which he made every effort to avoid
flinching. He needed her help to finally reach breakthrough to first stage in energy gathering
and also to finally be able to escape.

For some miracle his decision to bide his time had paid off and a convincing story from Qiu
Haitang, Qiu Jianlao agreed. It was unfortunately not that easy to have time to himself to be
able to gather up the spiritual energy in their stay so he set the second half of his plan in
action and that was to fall ill when he arrived at the lake. He had played with the idea of
circulating his qi to feign a fever that developed. With Haitang with him, Qiu Jianlao also had
to behave himself and avoid bullying him too much as well. There was even a doctor who
had been involved and recommended bed rest. To ensure that he was near the source of
spiritual energy, he had deliberately shaped the illness to take this into account. The doctor
didn’t have to be Mu Qingfeng but he hoped that he was decent enough to recognize that the
Feng Shui could help by situating closer to the location that Shen Jiu needed it to be.

“From the heat and nature of the fever, it is best for him to have rest within this part of the
area. The nature of his energy has been affected so it would be best for his spiritual health as
well to be nurtured in a spiritually rich place.” The doctor also happened to know a little
spiritual healing. So they moved to one of the inns that was by the lake and a small little
spring. Shen Jiu also was able to acquire a good few local herbs that helped with cultivating
that he had secretly squirrelled away to bring with him. Everything prepared he arrived at the
lake and then began to meditate when he finally had a moment alone. Qiu Haitang had
wanted to stay by his side but was convinced by her brother to spend time away so that he
could be left to sleep. To ensure that he didn’t go anywhere because Qiu Jianlao was a shrewd
man, a guard was stationed at his room. Even though he had not outwardly expressed any
indication of a desire for cultivation, the man made sure that he was kept under constant
watch or made sure that the boy didn’t try to escape. The man cruelly smirked.

“Drink up, you are ill after all so this should help you sleep. Such a weak body, perhaps a few
more beatings will harden it to anymore illness from now on.” Qiu Jianlao grabbed him by
his hair making Shen Jiu wince.

“I’m sorry.” Shen Jiu whimpered.

“Quiet, just drink. My sister is already disappointed that you are unable to spend time with
her like she wanted. I could almost swear that you planned for this to happen.”

“I didn’t… I swear.” Shen Jiu cried putting on a pathetic expression. It was humiliating but it
was necessary if it meant he would be left alone. Eventually, Qiu Jianlao tired of tormenting
opting to prefer to spend time with his sister. He made sure that Shen Jiu drank every drop of
the sleeping draught before he walked away with a flick of his sleeve.

Finally left alone, Shen Jiu breathed a sigh of relief and carefully used the qi he had to flush
the effects of the medicine out of him. He could finally start cultivating in earnest. He lay as
if obedient and drank the draught obediently that no one could complain. To everyone, he
was simply ill.

It went on for another month when one day, he broke through. Shen Jiu chuckled with glee.
His core was starting to form.

With his ability to start gathering spiritual energy confirmed, he felt confident he could access
his other abilities that he normally couldn’t access, he now just needed a sword so that he can
train properly with while in the wilderness. They were due to end their little trip to the Lao
Shen lake area and return back to the estate and he had miraculously recovered over time. It
was the last day and he was able to spend some time to explore the lake with Qiu Haitang and
a chaperone watching over him.

“Are you alright now, A-Jiu?” Qiu Haitang asked. Shen Jiu couldn’t feel any better. He had
successfully reached the first level of his core formation on his own at the right age of 13
years. If only his peers of his former life could see him now. All that time of struggling at the
awkward age of 20 to build a mediocre core that would never allow him to reach the top. He
felt giddy on how strong the energy in him felt. It was all he wanted and he achieved it on his
own. He didn’t need to be at Cang Qiong Mountain, he could roam and explore the world
now and learn as he goes and using the memories of his previous life to easily form the
connections he once had and without having some reputation to uphold. Not that he had a
good one towards the end of his life and at the hands of Luo Binghe.

That was another concern, if perhaps he had never met the beast, that meant he would never
had to deal with this political nonsense and be hunted then held up before all to see as a
social pariah and being made an example of. No, the less engagement he had with those of
his past life, the better.

The only thing he had to concern himself at present was his cultivation and the mysterious
task at the presence of the user. In truth, he had yet to hear any further word of the
disembodied voice of the strange female entity since he woke up again as his youthful self.
He knew from the beginning of the dubious nature of his rebirth but having experienced this
achievement, he didn’t care. Bring on this User, he will achieve as much as possible before
their arrival and finally live the life he had only ever dreamed of. A life that Qi-Ge had once
promised him.
 Chapter 3

He prepared to leave that very night. As kind as Qiu Haitang was, and he would forever be
grateful still, he knew he couldn’t stay and risk stunting his growth. At least, this parting was
going to be less painful on her part. She barely knew him and she still had her family, corrupt
and disgusting as her brother was, Shen Jiu knew that she looked up to Qiu Jianluo. The best
course of action was simply for him to leave, it’s not like she had much of an opportunity to
build any sort of affection for him to be too hurt with his absence anyway.

Speaking of the devil, the final night he had planned to leave. His soon to be former master
had paid a visit with a dark expression upon his face. He hadn’t been too pleased at all that he
had to play the doting prospective brother-in-law who cared for his health. Now that he was
better and therefore not having Qiu Haitang hanging over him constantly so he could
effectively hide behind her (he was still not proud in having to do that), Qiu Jianluo was
going to let loose the full extent of his sadistic tendencies.

“You certainly have the nerve to fall ill. How weak and pathetic you are. Well, after so much
time and money expended on you from the the doctor, it is high time to resume your duties,
‘dear’ brother-in-law.” Shen Jiu inwardly shuddered at the thought of what the man had
intended to do as he brought with him the cane and poured himself a cup of tea. “You are
nothing more than a pawn to me and a means to ensure that my little sister remains in the
family instead of some grubby merchant. Behave correctly, and you may live a decent life.”
After circling the cup with the lid of the tea, Qiu Jianluo smirked before throwing the hot
contents over Shen Jiu. It would’ve hurt a lot from the burning of hot tea had he not
cultivated and he Shen Jiu was reminded of his own reactions. Even though the tea he had
once poured over Luo Binghe had long since cooled, the reminder that he turned into the very
vile thing he hated was disconcerting. Not this time. He withstood it as calmly as possible
and endured the beating while letting Qiu Jianluo laugh at having his last bit of fun. He felt
his hair being yanked backwards. “Let me see the broken look on your face. Slave.”

“…an…” Shen Jiu murmured, neither giving way to the physical pain (which was practically
non-existent) nor to the anger that welled up inside him. Frankly, the rather disturbed look on
Qiu Jianluo’s face was more than satisfying enough. Even though Shen Jiu was kneeling and
Qiu Jianluo was standing with a hand gripping his hair, the latter couldn’t help but feel like
he was being looked down upon.

“What’s that?

“I said, I’m human.” Shen Jiu replied strangely calm. Instantly, Qiu Jianluo saw red. He had
figured that he had thoroughly beaten and broken the boy to nothing more than a doll to be
used at his family’s convenience already. Where did this sudden calm defiance come from?

“You… impudent little…” he frothed at the mouth as he spat at the boy’s deception. That was
when Shen Jiu struck the vital point. The man’s eyes widened as he was unable to move any
part of his body. “What? How did you? You’ve learned to cultivate?”
“That’s no longer your concern. I am no longer your concern.” Shen Jiu replied as he brushed
some invisible dirt from his robes. “You will not see me again and you will not look for me.
It wouldn’t end well for you if you do and that’s a final warning. Come after me and I'll be
sure to expose those plans against the Chu family for the whole world to see.”

“GU-!” Qiu Jianluo had meant to shout and call for aid to subdue his slave however his
mouth was fused shut. His eyes widened fearfully that this youngster had cultivated to the
extent that he could perform such abilities. The young boy walked away and slipped out of
the room, running towards the forested area. The first thing he did was to ensure he had
gotten rid of all the lofty expensive clothes and replaced them with some plain green and
white robes and a veiled hat and a small knife and pouches. The next port of call was to get a
sword but there was one luxury that he did intend to take with him and that was a fan. This,
he felt was the only possession that he would keep. It was a fairly simple one in comparison
to all the rest of the collection that Qiu Jianluo had.

Having also practiced inedia, he didn't really need to take food rations with him, he could use
his cultivation to just fish and forage if he needed to. He had long ago used the knowledge of
different plants to ensure general survival in the wilderness and mountains. The only
vulnerability he had was of course encountering any evil spirits or beasts along the way. He
hoped that he had managed to squirrel away enough funds to buy a simple enough sword to
defend himself with. It wasn’t spiritual weapon like Xiu Ya but he could make do for now.

When all was said and done, he felt incredibly liberated when he managed to run a far
enough of a distance to consider to have escaped the place and it was certainly a lot better
than him losing control of his qi and massacring them with fire. As long as he didn’t become
a public figure in a sect and remained hidden as a rogue cultivator, he wouldn’t need to deal
with any of them ever again. Breathing in the crisp air of the mountain, he sighed at this new
beginning and proudly happy at the pulsing ball of nebulous energy that had so much
potential to condense and grow. Nodding, he carried on and set about to wonder and explore.
 Chapter 4

Weeks turned into months and before he knew another two years had already passed of his
travels and making sure he was in places to help some poor villagers every now and then
with their troubles and be on his way. He would spend some nights gazing at the stars. At one
point he managed to build a small little hut in a secluded mountain and continued to cultivate
on his own. It was well and good to use the knowledge of Cang Qiong mountain to build his
core but he had to try to adapt and change so that people wouldn’t be suspicious of how an
outsider could possibly know of the methods of one of the most prominent and powerful
sects of the cultivation world. Shen Jiu read books and was able to find rare herbs and stones
from his travels to sell and make a little bit of money in order to access the brothels. Once
again he did not request for women, only information and a bit of room and board for the
night.

Consequently, the courtesans grew particularly fond of this odd, young and scholarly Daoist
priest but rumours inevitably started to spread. Shen Jiu wasn’t sure when people started
referring him as such but it didn’t matter to him and he had growing fondness that he had
picked up the moniker as Shen Daozheng. Shen Jiu played on a borrowed guqin one night
when he recognised a face that he thought he would never see. He clicked his tongue in
disappointment at his bad luck. The man was Wu Yanzi, his former teacher and one that had
lead him astray a life time ago.

The demonic cultivator had arrived and instantly, there was a deep tension and fear amongst
the courtesans as they were not keen on being this man’s company. Something bad always
happens when he was around many a time had resulted in the death of at least one of them
with every visit. One moment though was when Shen Jiu realised that he had called upon a
young girl who had just only come on board recently. Her beauty meant she shot up in the
ranks to being one of the most frequently called upon by the clients. Her name was Fan
Shengmei and she had been sold by her brother to pay off a debt.

“Now, now don’t be shy. If you behave, I might just let you live.” Wu Yanzi cackled but there
wasn’t much that even the Madam could do. The man was a cultivator after all. Shen Jiu bit
his lip but he was pretty sure that such a person was a wanted criminal in these parts, he just
needed to guide the right type of support to intervene on the situation. "Relax, you may even
enjoy it.”

Even though Shen Jiu was starting to build his core recently, he also knew a lot of tricks,
some of which came from said Wu Yanzi and he also knew how to best them. In the years he
had spent at Qing Jing Peak, scouring every tome and manuscript as well as those of the less
orthodox in nature. He formed a network of information over the time and studied the library
top to bottom. The little tricks that this charlatan were nothing to the likes of the demonic
cultivators in the eastern regions. He had even read up of one who could command hordes of
fierce corpses by playing a ghost flute. It was not that Shen Jiu had a nice nature, he knew
that he was cruel and had a petty mean streak, so it was definitely not that he felt compelled
to help the poor woman that was likely going to die at the lecherous hands of this disgusting
individual.
It was most certainly him holding a grudge for being misled, for being forced to go through
those atrocities of that past life. For making him waste his precious youth on petty tricks that
went no where and stunted his ability to cultivate properly. It was humiliating and he was
going to make this man pay for what he had done in his previous life. Taking a deep breath he
sat nonchalantly down ignoring the panicked expressions of the other patrons and courtesans
who could do little else except stand there cowering in the face of the cultivator. He slid a
hand over the guqin and began to play a piece of music and interlaced it with his own
spiritual energy. Ever so slight and quiet but it was enough to get a reaction on the third rate
demonic cultivator who’s nose started to bleed and he swayed drunkenly as if he swigged on
several jars of wine. Wu Yanzi swayed bemused at what was happening to him. He was
aware of an attack on him but as he continued to persist, the more Shen Jiu poured more of
his spiritual energy to disrupting Wu Yanzi. It was a little technique which did not require
much spiritual energy and very insidious if played correctly, like a near silent and distant
attack. He sniped again and with one particularly strong strum, he sent out a wave that
slammed Wu Yanzi against the wall.

To the basic onlooker, it looked like the an had simply gone mad and went to hit his head
against the wall. “WHO IS IT!?” he roared as he swung like a madman but Shen Jiu ignored
him only continuing to play the song quietly as if the rest of the world did not exist. Soon
enough Wu Yanzi had figured it out the origin and his eyes bulged like a suffocated fish at the
audacity that the boy had. He was lanky, still growing but there was a scholarly air and
immense spiritual power. Shen Jiu was already reaching the stage of mid-core formation
where he had struggled for years to get past the bottleneck. He only had a basic sword that he
had forged with little materials that he had scoured himself. It was not Xiu Ya of course but it
was his personal sword that he had made himself.

“You… Who are you?” the man spat, his face contorted as he spat out the vitriol. “Impudent
boy, do you know who you’re dealing with?”

“Of course, a monster and one that needs to be dealt with swiftly and with great conviction.”
Shen Jiu replied as he plucked at another string sending out another blast that sent the man
flying away through the doors of the brothel. This time it made him start coughing up blood
where the man was reduced to crawling. Another blast and he was being sent flying to crash
against the building opposite. The onlookers watched frightened and in awe at the youngster
who seemed to have the power of a great master. Shen Jiu knew all the places to explore and
he had an encyclopaedia of knowledge of rare herbs and some rudimentary knowledge of
medicines he picked up here and there in order to strengthen his own cultivation as well
tricks from other cultivators. He learned and adapted so that any semblance of Cang Qiong
Mountain Sect techniques were largely hidden and covered up that they would be
unrecognisable unless by the masters themselves. To the rest of the world, it just seemed like
he was a young prodigy of a rogue cultivator that might have been under the tutelage of a
reclusive immortal.

Shen Jiu decided that he wouldn’t stay the night after all after such an unpleasant experience
so he bowed towards the Madam.

“It seems I won’t be staying the night after all but keep the money.” Shen Jiu said. He never
carried much in terms of cash but he manage to acquire a qiankun pouch to store his rare
herbs that he could easily sell to an apothecary or another cultivator.

“That’s all well and good, young master but if you are gone that cretin will return. What if he
comes looking for you?” Shen Jiu wanted to roll his eyes. It was always typical of the
commoners to cower behind a protector and expect him to lay down his life as their shield.
The establishment was a sordid place in itself, he had no qualms or desire to protect this
place, however it would be a pain to lose a potential place that could easily seek out
information for him. So he drew up a pile of talismans and passed them to the madam.

“Have these plastered on the walls of the establishment. The spell I’ve used has also marked
him and can only be removed by myself. These talismans will act as a ward and barrier that
will repel him just as you saw earlier. I’ll return every now and then to check that it is still
there and renew their potency if needed.” Shen Jiu replied.

“Oh thank you, thank you so much. If there is anything that you need, we’ll provide it. I’ll
even offer a free night with my top beauty.” The Madam bowed, short of kissing his feet,
Shen Jiu shied away to avoid the obvious scam of leeching more money from him.

“Just a couple of nights of room and board should I pass by and of course if you hear any
information that you think may interest me.” The young courtesan Xiao Mei sidled up next to
him.

“What sort of information?” Shen Jiu pursed his lips at the request as he recalled the last
question asked the strange entity calling itself System.

What form will this ‘User’ be and how will I know who or what it is?

[System can confirm that User will be a male human and will begin life as an infant. Your
task is to raise him and assist in his character customisation until User encounters the Power
source. System will alert you when User’s account has been created and becomes active.
System will also alert you when contact with User has been made.]

Shen Jiu scowled perplexed at the alien nature of the voice and it’s vagueness but having
forfeited his life once already, he was determined that he was going to be more careful with
it. That is in the way to not let his temper get the better of him nor the urge to be petty. The
strange breathing exercises that the System had advised for him to do and providing strange
music and sounds of birdsong, rainfall and waterfalls in what it called the ‘Mental Wellbeing
service’. It seemed to help do him wonders with his patience.

This came as particularly useful when he realised he had no idea how to raise babies. After
all, it was meant to be a woman’s job but it seemed that one of the stipulations of the
System’s requirements was that he had to be in the direct care of the User. He never had to
be concerned about this his previous life as even the youngest of his disciples back then were
at least old enough to be able to toilet themselves. When he returned to begin his life anew,
this was an area that he had to learn more about.
[Do you wish to enrol in the newly installed Parenting and Childcare course? There is a
parent and baby yoga package included into the course, a family planning consultation and a
Red book app to track the User’s development and ensuring he reaches basic infant
milestones.]

Shen Qingqiu balked that seemed pile up on to him. Although it was worded as a choice, he
knew for a fact that it wasn’t. He knew his life revolved around the safety of this User and he
hated it but he also knew there wasn’t a choice. He pushed the button yes and he sifted
through the huge scroll of information as well as where it would be useful to further his own
knowledge of the matter. One of them had to be at the brothel apparently. Shen Jiu sighed in
resignation. Guess he had to return to some of his old haunts after all.

Shen Jiu allowed a small smile cross his lips.

“Any tips on rearing children would be a helpful start.” He replied. The courtesans eyes
widened at the strangeness of the request. Sure, the idea of pregnancy had been a constant
concern and so they had regular check ups with the healers and any terminations though
sometimes some of them kept the babies and they were then raised to be serving boys and
girls when they were able to walk. To have one of their customers want to learn more about it
was a bizarre thing especially for a task that belonged to a woman.

“Is Shen Daozhang interested in having a family?” Xiao Mei asked blushing.

“Someday. Not right now but I like to prepare.”

“Aiyo, you’re a strong young man already and the perfect age to start looking for a wife.
Alright, we can give you some tips the next time you come along.” The Madam assured.

“Then I shall continue my patronage. For now though, I must be on my way.”

“Farewell Shen Daozhang!” With that, infamous rogue prodigy cultivator ’Shen Daozhang’
put on his veiled hat once more and walked off into the night.
 Chapter 5

Shen Jiu sighed as he pulled out the last of the weeds. Why this place had so many spiritual
energy devouring plants in the area he never knew but if he wanted to avoid be drained dry
like a prune, everything had to be done by hand.

He found some sprouts of Fortifying Bamboo and started planting that around for his new
makeshift area in this clearing. It was a secluded place, a somewhat of a no man’s land
amongst the major sects territory because the surrounding areas had been desolate and not
worth of value however if you looked hard enough there were tiny little blind spots of
spiritual area reach with a lands of fertile fields.

He found this little hovel in his wandering travels and had only accidentally stumbled on it
while looking for Mottled Ginseng in the mountain regions to add for a increasing tea
collection.

Shen Jiu truly thought his luck had been changing when he found this place, it was quiet and
peaceful with a little hidden cave system just beyond the small field. The plot was small, not
one to plant a whole load of crops but the soil was rich with a spiritual energy as well as
nutrients. Perfect to bring and cultivate some of the more rarer herbs in his steadily growing
collection that would make the likes of Mu Qingfang gawp in amazement.

There were separate environments some within the cave and those outside with mixes of
shade and sun so that it was very possible for Shen Jiu to accommodate Yin and Yang based
plants. Within the cave itself there was a place he could also store and preserve some
artifacts, manuscripts and tomes. It was a museum of little treasures while up above he had
gathered enough bamboo for a hut very reminiscent of his Qing Jing Peak. If there was
actually one thing he liked about the place was that little space at the top of the mountatin
surrounded by a forest.

To make it even more secure, Shen Jiu had also been able to come up with a barrier that
ensured that it teleported uninvited people across so that they never knew they had passed
through it. It was ingenious in a way.

To pretty much everyone barring a very strong cultivator it was just a straight pathway
leading them out of the mountain and to the nearest river and civilisation. That was all that
most people really paid attention to really and if someone was in pursuit of you, it would
completely flummox them.

Shen Jiu sighed in satisfaction, it was the best place to train undisturbed and not having to
deal with people. No fighting over territory, it’s just his little space so that he could store
things away like a squirrel instead of being laden with carrying them everywhere.

Then when he was ready, he could jump back out to wander the world as he pleased once
more. Recently, due to obvious reasons, he had ensured to collect things in preparation for
development, educational materials, ink pots, a few toys and child sized musical instruments
for the day that the User would come.
He wasn’t sure what it was that made him attach such silly things but the frequent visits to
the brothels and dealing with the children put a strange perspective on things. Perhaps he
never thought about it in his youth as he was too busy focusing on surviving and other
children were just a burden.

Right now, there was no want for anything, he could study his cultivation. The information he
gathered had been useful and most of the other rogue cultivators had been… friendly? Shen
Jiu paused at the thought, it was such a foreign thing and he hadn’t really considered
attributing to anyone except for Qi Ge.

He guessed that he was probably working his way up towards the ranks towards Head
Disciple in Cang Qiong at the moment and suddenly, his earlier enthusiasm about his
gardening waned. It was time for him to start wandering around again.

The plants in question that he had would be able to survive as he had installed some watering
talismans that siphoned water from the nearby springs once a day to ensure that they were
hydrated. Barring any kind of infestation that managed to penetrate through, the plants should
be find on their own.

Donning his veiled hat, he stepped out of his little hovel and breathed in the fresh air of the
mountain. The remaining spiritual energy shrouding began to weaken the further he left and
he was surrounded by more oppressive land and mountainous rocks which every cultivator
worth their salt wouldn’t find any value in.

Eventually, he emerged towards the outskirts of the nearby forest of Bailu when he felt the
presence of another. He noticed the cultivator a long time ago and had paid attention that she
had been stationed there for a long time watching him at a distance, it seemed that now she
had decided that it was high time for her to intervene for whatever reason.

“If there is a reason you are spying on me, there is nothing of value on my person for you to
take.” He announced aloud. Eventually, the person emerged and as expected, he recognised
the golden robes of the Huan Hua Sect run by the Old Palace master.

He was another sort of character that he could not stand, in fact he was one of the worse
people that he had noticed in the cultivation world, worse than Wu Yanzi and even that little
beast of a disciple Luo Binghe. The Palace master had a way to rile people in a way that
turned every cultivator against you. His biggest accomplishment was his snake like
poisonous words that sent any self respecting cultivator from a paradigm of excellence and
virtue to a criminal that deserved a place in the infamous Water Prison.

As powerful as he was, Shen Jiu also noted the increasingly obsessive nature he had with one
particular disciple. Shen Jiu nevertheless bowed towards the scout. “This one’s name is
Shen.” He replied. He hadn’t bothered voicing his own name in the fear that he may be heard
by people that know about him. He simply gave his surname.

“I know all about you Daoist Shen as well as your sordid comings and goings of the region.”
The woman replied coldly, not like the voice of the system that he once met except this was
truly that of someone that had the moniker of cold. “My name is Su Xiyuan.” She bowed
back out of courtesy. Shen Jiu inwardly cursed. This was exactly the type of person he didn’t
really want to meet if it was to cause any trouble.

“Is there a reason that you have been following me, Lady Su?” he replied. “I don’t believe it
is a crime to go into brothels and it’s not like I have a reputation of a sect to besmirch. The
only thing I only ever have to answer to is my own conscience.” Shen Jiu replied.

“It’s not so much that, but it is more of your talents that I’m after.” Shen Jiu looked surprised,
since when did he have a talent for something? He did not participate in any major night
hunts or feats of such. He collected a few artefacts here and there and amassed a small
network of contacts and that was related in the rearing of the user that was looming.

“What sort of talent do you speak of exactly? I don’t believe I have any unless you count
playing a guqin at the courtesans and a bit of poetry.” He said as he pulled out his fan and
started fluttering it lazily against his face. It was habit that he had yet to break from his time
as Shen Qingqiu as it was properly ingrained in to him at the time but it worked in service to
help stave off the swirling amalgamation of emotions.

Why can’t people just leave me alone? What have I done? What is it anyone’s business of
what I do with myself and it’s not like I’m doing anything to hurt anybody? He absolutely
hated this feeling of being constantly belittled and stared down at with hatred.

In the past he might have a reason for hatred against him. He killed Qiu Haitang’s brother, he
failed to save Liu Qingge, so they all had reasons to hate him. He hated and was jealous of
Luo Binghe and that was returned 100 fold. He knew and accepted those kind of things but
he had not even done anything like that in this life.

“Well, that’s the type of talent that I’m actually searching for. I’m talking about your
seemingly all knowing knowledge and the fact that you have supposedly managed to
cultivate on your own. Or perhaps there is a master that this world does not know of that has
been tutoring you.” Su Xiyan said. “You are a rogue cultivator, I could care less what you do
and you haven’t harmed anyone that doesn’t already deserve it”

“So why?”

“I’m trying to enlist your help and potential knowledge that you possess. “ Shen Jiu frowned.

"For what?”

“A rare ingredient for a poison, I hear that Daoist Shen is quite well travelled even though he
is so young for his age.” Shen Jiu ears pricked at the thought of rare ingredients and things.

He was not a healer so he wouldn’t know the first thing to brew and how to make it but he
certainly knew how to find it and read up on it in his explorations. He even started writing up
his own botany and a bestiary of rare creatures that he encountered.

“What is it?”
“It’s a type of horn that could only be found on the Winged Flower Bat.” Shen Jiu balked at
the name. He recognised it and scoffed at whoever had come up with such a ridiculous name
but he nevertheless had some knowledge and information that he gathered from his travels.

It happened to be from an odd cultivator from the far east, in the Dongying region.
Something though he wasn’t sure why it was a Winged Flower Bat. Bats had wings, anyway
so it was a stupid name to give to a creature but he wondered if it was simply because of the
flower itself. Shen Jiu then grabbed one of his books from his Qiankun pouch and flipped to
the page where he had made an entry based on the descriptions of the rogue cultivator.

“This is what I’ve gathered of my knowledge. It’s not much but it may be of use to you.”

“Are you not interested in finding it with me?”

“What makes you think that I would go with you on a dangerous mission? What’s in it for
me? I’ve already passed you information in return for you to leave me alone.”

“It’s interesting that you have little awareness of the world around you despite how much you
know of what people are saying about you?”

“I’ve only been wondering around a few years and visiting brothels to sell a few herbs and
tonics. Hardly something to talk about.”

“Those aren’t just mere pieces of common grass. They are something that many cultivators
have spent years in finding it and for you to consistently ‘just come across’ them time and
time again. Just like now, I’ve actually been searching for information of this creature for
months. Lo and behold, I ask of you and you provided just what I needed.” Shen Jiu huffed.

He had accumulated a life time of painstaking research himself all of which he archived at
Qing Jing Peak, yet they all thought of him as this lazy person that refused to come down to
the mountain except to go to the brothels.

The one who was the most prolific in calling him out on that was that indomitable brute Liu
Qingge. So what if he used small tricks to get the upper hand, why waste his precious
spiritual energy when he had so little of it on big fights if he could get the fight ending faster
with a sneaky but effective move?

In his previous life, this kind of competitive mentality to prove the brute wrong had cost him
a lot of pain and multiple Qi deviations.

Somehow it took dying and being reincarnated into this second life that he had a different
route to his cultivation that was neither worse nor better than anyone else. It just suited him
and look how much it had done?

By his age before, he was barely able to string together any qi and was likely going to be
rejected through the Cang Qiong Mountain test had the Qing Jing Peak Master at the time not
seem to take a particular shine to him.
Shen Jiu gauged and tried to think of what other motive the Huan Hua head disciple was
thinking of for still hanging around. It threw him off quite a bit when he looked at her fully
for the first time and the uncanny resemblance of one beastly creature he had thought he
could forget so long ago.

He wondered if this was the kindly mother that Luo Binghe had talked about in his time but
he had not delved much into his disciple’s past himself opting to just beat him up because at
the time he thought there was a clear degree of arrogance. It seemed that it was simply a face
that he inherited from his mother. He snarled inwardly at the thought of helping the mother of
the one who once tortured and killed him.

“Well, I figure that this would be more than enough.”

“If there is something that Daoist Shen would like in return. I’m not one to be asking for
handouts. You’ve given me this information which is already a great help.”

“I don’t doubt that an esteemed cultivator of yours standing and strength has much to offer
but this one is just a humble wanderer who wishes to cultivate in his solitude. I have no
interest in what kind of political strife that involves complex poisons that the major sects are
having against each other.

“It’s not for cultivators but against demons.”

“What’s the difference?” Shen Jiu had no real qualms about demons however, he had to
show his loyalty towards the sect as it was Yue Qingyuan’s sect.

As much as he loathed to be there amongst the elitists and mindless brats like Liu Qingge, as
much as his relationship with his former friend had soured quite a bit over the years, he had
held onto that foolish loyalty of his and felt compelled to protect the place and more
importantly his territory.

When Luo Binghe had been found out to be of demon blood as well, all sorts of thoughts ran
through his mind but the biggest was the potential power that the boy would possess and how
to quash it less he became a threat.

In the end, his actions were moot as he had returned even stronger and conquered the three
realms whilst humiliating Shen Jiu in every possible conceivable way.

Luo Binghe even took away the one person that he needed to protect no matter the cost. It
was a bitter memory and Shen Jiu hated being reminded of it. Therefore he did not like Su
Xiyuan very much either.

“You make a good point.” Su Xiyuan said after a long pause. “This is a special request by the
Palace master.”

“I am even less inclined to be further involved because it’s from the Old Palace Master.
Please take the information and be on your way.”

“What are you actually doing at the brothels?”

“Indulging in the basic worldly affairs that every common and uncouth young man would.
What else?” Shen Jiu drawled. Su Xiyuan shook her head allowing a small smile grace her
lips.

“No, no. As you said, I have been spying on you for a while and I know for a fact that is not
what you are doing. Furthermore, your other actions outside of that are more telling after all.
Healers tend to come and go through the brothels as well you know, but that is not to say
their purpose is always to indulge in the wine and women.”

“So?”

“So… it’s clear that you are a lot kinder than you make yourself out to be.” Su Xiyan replied.
“And if I’m to follow the logic of your kindness, then the information that you've given me is
only a small fraction of what you actually know.” Shen Jiu rolled his eyes.

Of course, the woman was going to be astute to leave with just that. He was ready to start a
fight with the intention to try to escape and lay low when a rustle of bushes happened and a
small little figure emerged. Shen Jiu muttered all manner of curses to himself.

“Gege…” a little voice whimpered, looking pitiful and lost. The girl was no older than 5 and
clearly had only just woken up with the way her hair was in such a disarray. Shen Jiu had
figured that he should be able to at least match the prowess of the best disciple of the Huan
Hua Sect however he was suddenly at a clear disadvantage.

“The horn of the winged flower bat is only found in the Abyss. For you to be able to get
access to it you’d need a demon to get to it.” Shen Jiu relented. “How you do it is up to you,
now leave us alone.” Su Xiyuan offered a bow, her face remaining cool but there was a
degree of softness about her.

“You truly are kind Shen Daozhang. Sorry for troubling you, for now and in the future.” Su
Xiyuan said. Shen Jiu huffed at the woman’s audacity even as he picked up the little girl who
was now wide awake and in awe of the beautiful lady. When he was sure that she was gone,
he gave an exasperated scowl towards the little escapee.

“Zihua, what did I say about leaving the grove?”

“Only when you or A-Niang come for me.” The little girl mumbled looking abashed.

“Why did you want to come out in the first place?”

“I had bad dream.” Zihua said placing small hands on either side of Shen Jiu’s face. “And
then gege wasn’t there so I got scared something bad happened.” Shen Jiu sighed.

“You know I go out sometimes but I always come back within a few hours. You had the Da
Bai Golems there if you ever wanted to talk to me.”

“Oh…” the little girl looked sad. “Is gege mad?”

“No, just worried.”

“That pretty lady seems nice. Is she your friend?”

“Trust me, she’s not a friend.” Shen Jiu muttered tapping the little brat on the nose for trying
to be cheeky. Zihua giggled as Shen Jiu made his way back to the safety of the grove. “Let’s
go see to the others. Nap time should be over soon.”
 Chapter 6

Shen Jiu was met with a smattering of whines from children waking up and returning to their
day of play. He watched a few being chased by large and round creatures lumbering after
them. These were a creation of his to help with rounding up children. They served well as
both caretakers and guardians of the place while projecting a friendly demeanour. It was
inspired when the System had put him through that strange and random training and offered it
up as one of two rewards to choose from. The other alternative was this yellow tentacled
creature with a rather unnerving smile and beady eyes.

[Character skin downloaded.]

'What is this?'

[Guide has conceived new concept that is useful for the User’s development. Character skins
found are based on User’s preferences and general portrayal of friendliness. This model can
help facilitate your new role.]

The creature was mostly made of fabric and inflated with air similar to a sky lantern. There
were black dots acting as eyes with a single black line connected between the two.

'This is what the User will like?'

[Correct. Please keep working hard to create the best nurturing environment when User
arrives.]

Shen Jiu popped the little runaway down to allow her to join her peers. The rest of the
children were starting to run around and climb the play frames he and the golem constructed.

He wasn’t sure how or when he had started to acquire them or why they just seemed to flock
over from the local villages. It started off with taking in a few strays from the streets and
rehoming them in the local villages by teaching them some simple skills to be useful. Then
there were the those children that some of the courtesans decided to keep despite their best
interests. Perhaps they hoped that Shen Jiu would help them out of the place by educating
them.

At first, that annoyed him and he was becoming a little disgruntled with having tiny mini
humans running around and stopping him being able to concentrate. He had hit another
bottleneck that time and he was faced with that familiar frustration of being stuck and never
able to reach anywhere.

Then one day in his once again failed attempt to meditate while having children galloping
around like lunatics, he had an epiphany with the use of the golems.
They were rudimentary sentries at the time but if he was able to make them autonomous
enough to work on their own spiritual energy, he could inject a part of his own knowledge
into them. That way, the children had on hand teachers to show them basic etiquette without
taking too much of his time.

Over time he poured the gathered knowledge of what he himself had picked up from travels,
the System’s course and the brothels, then inputted them. This included literature,
mathematics, healing, music appreciation and poetry.

Having this assistant was very useful and once he established the little grove that was filled
with a spring of natural spiritual energy, the golem could act freely within the confines of the
area keeping it safe.

Even better was when he started making connections to his core, it not only alerted him of
suspicious individuals, but he was able to gather spiritual energy and passively cultivate.

Eventually this helped him push past that troublesome bottle neck. Shen Jiu was massively
excited about having achieved this. It meant he could keep cultivating, exploring and not be
tied down to places of seclusion, though there had been other problems arose from this.

He started feeling rather bored, possibly lonely, on his travels, having gotten so use to the
children hanging around him. So here he was now, wondering out every now and then for
short periods of time around the mountainous areas for a few hours.

It felt a little like Qing Jing peak in some respects except there were less expectations from
these commoners compared to disciples of a prestigious cultivation sect. They and their
parents could come and go as they pleased and always appreciated him parting his
knowledge. They accepted whatever he taught and he took what they were offering from
services, food, simple cloth and other small practical goods like brushes and paper.

It wasn’t anything to the quality of what he couldn’t already get himself from his earnings of
selling his medicinal herbs but coming from a background of having to beg for everything to
being gifted this readily was a nice change.

He wondered when it was that he was starting to think like this. Perhaps it was without the
pressures of survival. Was this what it really felt like to be strong? He still didn’t really feel
he was and even after reaching another milestone in his cultivation without much trouble, he
wondered if this string of good luck was going to end soon.

Shen Jiu shook his head and went to examine the barrier and the flaws of the little system he
had in place. As his golems were tied to the spiritual energy of the grove, their effect couldn’t
yet extend beyond the boundaries of its area so if a child leaves the grove, it was likely his
golem wouldn’t be able to come out after them. He would need to perhaps look into this in
case another incident happened again.

Soon enough though many of the parents from the local villages had turned up to pick up
their children plus some of the stray urchins that they decided to adopt and Shen Jiu was
alone in the grove once again.
Da Bai, the name that the System suggested for the golem, tottered around helping with the
domestic chores. Due to its rotund look, it was fairly clumsy looking in its gait, but amusing
to the children who loved to hug it. Shen Jiu had to admit, it was quite squidgy.

“Your spiritual energy is low. This indicates that you are sad. Do you require assistance?” Da
Bai asked.

“No, Da Bai. I just need some sleep.”

“Are you satisfied with your care?”

“Yes, Da Bai I am. Go power down. I’ll summon you again when you are needed.” Shen Jiu
replied. He was physically exhausted after the meeting with Su Xiyuan and he knew it wasn’t
going to be the last he saw of her.

—
Lo and behold, Su Xiyuan made several visits after their first meeting, or it may have been
that she never left the area in the first place.

He figured that she was there to pester him some more about that blasted ingredient and he
felt disgusted to mindlessly slaughter a rare and exotic creature just to create another weapon
to harm someone else. This was why he so wanted to stay away from the sects and their
politics, content to be in his little corner of the world free to cultivate and explore.

However, Su Xiyuan did nothing of the sort. More to the matter, she only watched him from
afar greeting him every now and then and making light conversation. About the weather,
about poetry and other nonsensical things that he never expected the cold woman to be
interested in.

Sometimes she would bring in some books of dubious content and letters, many of them he
was quite certain were not of her hand, nor her taste. He started to wonder who had such
flighty calligraphy and outlandish ideas. Most of them would make many of the girls at the
brothel titter and blush yet Su Xiyuan just… didn’t seem the type.

“Why are you bothering me with these?”

“You’re a scholar and teach poetry. I’m not familiar with it.”

“Why do you even want to know?”

“I… was just curious.” Shen Jiu sighed as the woman looked genuinely perplexed by it all.
Despite her outward shrewdness, she was surprisingly naïve to such things. He huffed in
amusement as he explained the prose and obviously she was still flummoxed by it all and he
was vaguely aware why. If he didn’t know better, he’d figure that she was a female version of
Liu Qingge in some ways, though to her credit, she was open to new experiences rather allow
herself to be wilfully ignorant of them.

Over time, he supposed they had created somewhat of a camaraderie as she would offer some
good advice on cultivation for his methods in exchange for his answers to her questions.
Above all, she was a good link to what was probably happening between the major sects. So,
he felt it was safe to ask her about things from that particular sect.

“What’s been happening in Cang Qiong mountain? "

“Well, I hear that they are organising another recruitment for disciples and the Head Disciple
of Qiong Jing will be picking his sword very soon.”

“The Head disciple is Yue Qi?”

“So, you aren’t a total recluse. Yes, I’ve met him once at a God Alliance conference last
year.” Su Xiyuan replied as she paused to polish her sword. “Why do you want to know? Are
you interested in that sect? Why not Huan Hua Sect instead? "

"I'm not interested in joining any sect. It’s just that I hear there is an extensive library at Qing
Jing Peak.” Shen Jiu replied. It was indeed common knowledge and having been a Peak Lord
himself, he read and memorised the majority of the texts there. Not that there was any use to
know of the theory if he hadn’t the spiritual aptitude to practice them back then.

Truthfully, if he had, then Cang Qiong might’ve held out a bit longer against the onslaught of
one Luo Binghe

Shen Jiu took a deep breath, he didn’t need to remind himself of that time. Things were
different, he now had knowledge and ability. He also did not need Cang Qiong to attain it.

“Do you want to go see it?”

“See what?”

“The sword selection process?”

“Why would I want to do that? I don’t know anybody there and isn’t it supposed to be a
private event amongst Cang Qiong mountain? Outsiders aren’t permitted”

“That’s why it’ll be interesting to infiltrate their defences.” Su Xiyuan replied. “I know you
are a very capable cultivator and that barrier that you’ve created in your little hide away, I
still haven’t figure it out yet. So I wondered how your abilities compare with that of the Peak
Lords there. Besides, aren’t friends supposed to encourage each other and have fun?”

“Your idea of fun is to break into another sect’s territory and disrupt their private ceremony?
Also, who’s your friend?” Shen Jiu huffed taking out his fan to flutter. When did such a cold
woman even managed to know the word? The fact that his ears felt warm was something he
was going to ignore.

“Oh? We’ve been chatting for a couple of months. Doesn’t that make us friends? Or at least
acquaintances.” Shen Jiu snapped his fan shut and smacked her on the head.

“You’re more like a nuisance.” Shen Jiu groused.

“The offer is still open.” Su Xiyuan replied.

That invitation lead to several sleepless nights, trying to go through his forms, his calligraphy
and anything to distract himself from his curiosity. Shen Jiu remained at his grotto, peacefully
and not thinking about Cang Qiong until eventually Cang Qiong appeared before him.

He decided to take the children on an outing towards one of the rivers for a wash because
they had decided to have fun burying themselves and reporting that this other rogue cultivator
taught them about it. 'It's what you do with radishes so if you did the same with children,
there would more of us to play with.'

How the idea of that came to being, he didn’t know, and he was inclined to kill the rogue
cultivator for making such a ridiculous suggestion if he should ever meet him. But, here he
was at the river with a dozen grubby toddlers and a bucket full of cleaning oils, when ‘he’
came along.

Of all the places to meet, he hadn’t really expected that the youth that will become the
infamous Baizan Peak Lord and was supposedly murdered by his martial brother, Liu Qingge
had wandered into the midst of this forested area.

The boy before his renaming under the banner of Qing was known as Liu Feng, an arrogant
youth from a reputable family of cultivators. He would a few years down the line get a baby
sister who became the wife of Cang Qiong's destroyer.

He is a fierce fighter that could beat nearly everyone in his wake, however he did not acquire
a brain that understands subtlety. Liu Qingge was the perfect example of brute strength and
simplicity and sneered at the tactics of Qing Jing Peak. He recognised strength and only
strength. The purpose of only climbing the heights of his cultivation through battle.

This was why the two of them were just like water and oil. They could never get along. To be
fair Shen Qingqiu never got along with anybody including the Sect leader always descending
into arguments after a few exchange of sentences. The very sight of each other raised their
hackles.

He wanted to avoid meeting anyone of Cang Qiong mountain again, but it so happened that
Liu Feng is preparing for a long night hunt. Probably for a rarely seen monster to kill. Shen
Jiu wracked through his brains of what kind of creature exists out here that would warrant
attention. His little grove was surrounded by a barren mountain and forest in which he had
only put in place a portal barrier to allow people access to pass through to the river on the
other side.

It was a good convenience for a lost traveller should they be lucky enough to come across it
and hence find the river leading them to civilisation but also a nuisance for anyone actively
looking for him. The exits were never the same place twice.

The children that were clean knew to run off to re-join the Da Bai back at the grove leaving
Shen Jiu to finish up with one of the youngest.
Xiao Dou, the little bean of a child blinked owlishly at the person standing above them. Shen
Jiu watched cautiously as the man appeared and stared and stared.

For a moment, Shen Jiu had a fleeting thought that perhaps Liu Feng kept his own memories
as Liu Qingge and recognised him. He was ready to draw out his sword in retaliation should
the youth target him but rationality kicked in the form of System alerting him that it was not
possible.

They hadn’t met yet in this life and he was dressed up a lot differently to how he is currently.
Before he had been dressed in dark robes of a rogue but the light coloured greens and whites
appeared delicate in comparison and well, also wet because his little charge had just jumped
back into the water with a big splash and drenched him at that moment.

“Excuse me,” the young man replied as he walked away in a relatively quick manner as if he
had just realised he had stumbled into a very private moment. Which it was, he was giving a
child a bath. The clothes he wore stuck to him like a second skin and becoming translucent.
Shen Jiu let out a breath when he realised that the Baizhan head disciple had gone and hoped
that that would be the last of it.

“Laoshi!” Xiao Dou squealed as he came out of the water.

“Come along.” Shen Jiu urged as he changed out of the robes and put on a dry set he had put
to one side. Having gotten used to the whims of children when it came to water, he always
carried with him spare clothes, plus his veiled hat. After dropping off the boy with his peers
to be cared for by Da Bai, he opted to go to the brothels for more scoping. The Madam
greeted him as per usual.

“Ah Shen Daozhang! How are you today? Would you like your usual spot and needs.”

“Naturally, anything of interest happening around here lately?”

“Oh the same old, same old clientele so business is well. Though I do hear that there are
some very handsome individuals wondering the local area. Seems there are rumours of a
creature appearing in the nearby forest. Seen only once every 100 years. I wonder if Shen
Daozhang knows anything about that?”

There was a young courtesan that was accompanying him this time and poured him a cup of
tea. Another on his other side played music. Shen Jiu tapped his fan against his chin as he
sifted through the vast logs he memorised in his library.

Characters flew past him as he pictured the revolving stars and reading the charts. He let out
a breath, time just seemed to have flew by as he realised that this was the year he started
picking up tricks from Yu Wangzi in his first life.

About a year before he left the Qiu household in this previous life. At the same time, there
was indeed a creature that would appear upon the waters edges of one of the reservoirs in the
mountains near the Grove.
A deer like creature, the Three Pronged Leaf Stag that had three tree branch like horns and
valuable fleshy leaves that could be used to brew a type of tea that helped strengthen one’s
elemental roots.

Of course, which of the 5 elements the leaves strengthened would be is a case of pot luck.
Even if you had managed to catch the stag and sliced off its horns, it might not have the
correct elemental leaf that match the successful individual.

Still, it didn’t stop intrepid cultivators to try for it anyway. They could always sell or trade it
for something else, so it would make sense for the cultivators from all around would start to
gather and of course some of them will be the Cang Qiong mountain sect.

Shen Jiu sighed as he started cataloguing a list of supplies to bring back to the Grove and
while away his time until the night hunt was over. Contrary to popular belief amongst the
damnable street urchins, (even Qi Ge had held this misconception), Shen Jiu didn’t really like
to fight and take things from others. When he did, it was purely for survival and to defend
what ever meagre means he had to stay alive and comfortable, whether it being food or at the
best spot for begging for it.

Now that he had the means for surviving and living comfortably, he much preferred to
explore and learn of the world around him.

Even in his previous life, his competitiveness with Liu Qingge was only to merely not show
the weakness of his low cultivation.

Once you did, stronger foes would never stop tormenting you, bullying you relentlessly until
you died. True, some of it may have been petty and his jealousy but there was logic in it to
which only the Qing Jing Peak master at the time seemed to understand.

Besides, even though the Three Pronged Stag was a rare creature to hunt and strengthen the
attached element of your golden core, Shen Jiu had plenty of other options at his disposal. It
took a little more time but the results were more reliable than gambling and risking your life
over something that may not even be of use to you.

Being a former tactitian of the Cang Qiong mountain, Shen Jiu thought it was best to stay
away and let the other cultivators fight amongst themselves over the stag. The clincher was
that it meant he wouldn’t have to bump into Liu Feng or anyone else from that Sect.
Especially Qi Ge. After all, Shen Jiu also had his concerns and needed to make preparations
for the User.

Decision made, Shen Jiu bought the supplies and headed back home. However, his string of
good luck since he made the decision to leave the Qiu household years earlier seemed to have
run out, for he had come face to face with the soon to be Baizhan Peak Lord as soon as he left
the brothel. What was worse was the future Sect leader was there as well.
 Chapter 7

Having his veiled hat was somewhat helpful when trying to keep his face from being seen by
the multitude of cultivators. It was pretty much like a mask or a status symbol where no one
really knew what he looked like and having the fact that having a veil once served Liu
Mingyan well enough, Shen Jiu would take advantage of that. Attention seemed to converge
on him as he exited the brothel and as he had predicted met with the usual rhetoric that
always existed.

“Is that him? How shameless for him to just come out of the place like that!”

“I bet he’s not even a Daoist priest. No self respecting practice of the Dao would really stay
there.”

“Well, that’s rogue cultivators for you. I wonder if he is here about that too. Maybe he's using
demonic techniques.”

“Don't say anything, you don’t want to give anything away for ruffians like him to take
advantage.” Shen Jiu scoffed. He was not interested in the petty squabbles of the sect and
their politics and was just about to make his own way and pointedly ignoring the Cang Qiong
Mountain disciples. To their credit, it seemed that they kept to themselves and did not
contribute to the gossip. It didn’t really stop the glaring as if he was something beneath them.
In his past life he would be grinding his teeth and having the urge to gouge out the eyes of the
cultivators that looked down on him.

Oh, he still wanted to do all that but the feelings were largely tempered by the fact that
anonymity was his best defence. He didn’t have to stress about schooling his face in
pretending to be the lofty scholar of Qing Jing Peak with a reputation. If he wanted he could
simply slip on a mask and blend in to the world as a local villager or hide in his little grove. It
wasn’t exactly the best existence but it was damn sight better than his last life.

“Watch where you’re going?” growled one of the Bai Zhan disciples. Shen Jiu huffed, as the
group had deliberately stepped to block his way, clearly wanting to start a fight with someone
and they wanted to target him for today.

“Disgusting ruffian. Bet your cultivation can’t even match an An Ding disciple.” They
sneered. It seemed Shen Jiu had been wrong that Cang Qiong Mountain disciples didn’t
engage with gossip. They just preferred to go directly and outright bully the target of the
gossip. Shen Jiu had kept largely to himself, trading items, herbs and books and aside from
the one time of dealing with one altercation with Wu Yanzi, he had not made any enemies.
What is with all this vitriol?

“Why hide your face like a coward?”

“Maybe he’s ugly and his ashamed of his debauchery. Should’ve been engaging with your
cultivation instead of your carnal desires.”
“Such double standards when you have disciples at the Xian Xu Peak that hide their faces
too. Are they perhaps just as ugly for you to make assumptions of Shen Daozhang?” Shen Jiu
sighed as he recognised the voice and tried to flinch at the thought of his last name being
mentioned lest Qi Ge happen to overhear.

“How dare you insult our fellow disciples! You looking for a fight?”

“Aiyah, none of you are qualified to even walk in our shadow. I dare say, the calibre at Bai
Zhan Peak is rather third rate judging from your overinflated egos. Can you not even read
auras? I can tell instantly that he’s cultivation is leagues way above brutes like you.” Perhaps
a long time ago, Shen Jiu would’ve preened at the praise that he was in fact better or rather at
least felt secure that the people he was being compared against weren’t enough of a threat to
harm him. He didn’t really feel that way anymore as he largely had kept to himself for the
last couple of years that the world of the cultivation were almost nothing more than a story.

It could be because he was once left on his own in the middle of a dark hole with nothing but
his thoughts and the infestation of disease start to invade his body through the open sores of
stumps but it was better than to engage with anyone particularly those that could hurt him.
Therefore, bringing attention to himself was the last thing on his mind but Su Xiyan just had
to drag him into it. It was almost as if the beast couldn’t leave him alone even though he
technically wasn’t even born yet.

“Strong? Then perhaps he won’t be afraid to a challenge?” Liu Feng announced as he stepped
forward. As head disciple of Bai Zhan Peak, he was in the run to be the next Peak Lord. Few
of the other disciples rarely challenged him these days because he had beaten them down by
force, his cultivation unrivalled. That was what angered Shen Jiu in his youth of his previous
life. A young man that had all the right privileges offered to him, the right aptitude, strong
and from a well off family of cultivators. It was sickening to hear him flaunt it without a
shred of humility or respect to others. “What are you so afraid of? Or perhaps the only
impressive thing about you is your ability to lie that you managed to trick the head disciple of
the Huan Hua Sect?” Shen Jiu scoffed, still wanting to just go home.

“Coward!”

“Scoundrel!”

“Hmph! Thought so. Weak.” Liu Feng muttered as Shen Jiu had had enough.

“Alright, get ready to take a strike.” Shen Jiu replied as he simply let the energy of his core
flare when he had always let it be hidden. Liu Feng gasped when he prepared to receive a
strike only to have the weight of what felt like the world crashing on to his shoulders. The
sudden spike of spiritual energy sent a wide shock wave from around where he stood pinning
him to the ground while his fellow peers flew in all sorts of directions. The buildings of the
brothel and other surrounding buildings began to crumble. If Shen Jiu wanted to exert any
more pressure, he could kill someone and he probably would have had it not been Yue Qi
shouting.

“That’s enough, Liu Shidi. Please stop, Young master Shen!”

“You, let me fight!” Liu Fengfu growled. Shen Jiu glared and in an instant the Baizhan Peal
Head disciple had been sent flying and crashing through a building, the dust settled and one
wall of the building had a Liu Feng shaped hole.

“Shixiong!”

“No way. That’s can’t be? What kind of tricks are you pulling you, you, you cheater!” Su
Xiyan huffed at the audacity of the Bai Zhan peak. There was no trick to it, it was simply
Shen Jiu unleashing pure spiritual energy that he had cultivated on his own.

“You can’t even stand up against to Shen Daozhang’s exerting pressure.” Su Xiyan snarked
chuckling as Liu Feng stumbled out through the hole of the brothel.

“Lies! This rogue cultivator must be using evil dirty tricks. Let’s get him!” His fellow
siblings cried. Shen Jiu huffed as he looked up towards the sky as if asking. ‘Why am I
surrounded by idiots?’ before side stepping gracefully as they attacked altogether. At some
point Shen Jiu opened his fan to wave it lazily when one of the Bai Zhan disciples tripped
over himself and ended up breaking his nose. When a droplet of blood landed and stained the
bamboo fan, Shen Jiu scowled and glared again. With a huff, he snapped his ruined fan shut
again and stomped his food like a petulant child. With an almighty rumble like thunder, the
ground gave way and all 20 Bai Zhan disciples lead by Liu Feng screamed.

“Liu Shidi!” Yue Qi called out as the dust started to settle. There were no signs of the Bai
Zhan Peak disciples at first. He set to draw his sword in defense to his fallen sect members
when he was able to see a glimpse of familiar elegant features before the veil of the hat fell to
cover the mysterious cultivators face once more.

“Xiao…” Yue Qi gasped but he was distracted by several groans below. He sighed as he saw
that all 20 of the Bai Zhan Peak disciples including Liu Feng had been buried up to their
necks, the ground having swallowed them up upon the command of the power of the Shen
Daozhang. It was going to take an age to dig them out and the embarrassment that was to
come was likely to spread far and wide but they were unharmed otherwise. Though it would
pale to the fact that the ever cold and expressionless Su Xiyan had burst into laughter.

Shen Jiu hurried away as fast as he could hoping to get to his little grotto. He had wanted to
hit himself several times over because his sensitive hearing had picked up what Yue Qi was
about to say then Su Xiyan’s laughter suddenly sent chills down his back.

“Damn it. Why do people I don’t want to see always seem to show up.” Shen Jiu muttered as
he charged past the familiar looking rock formations and river. Things had been going well.
He was just going to collect his books and his information and start compiling his notes for
the next few days while all those block headed youths blundered around on a wild goose
chase looking for a magic man-eating deer monster that appeared every 100 years.

“Shen Daozhang! Hang on a moment!” Shen Jiu growled at the trouble maker that was
doggedly following in the most frustrating manner. It was a definite reminder of other
unpleasant memories of a young boy who had all the eagerness to please. Su Xiyan wasn’t
exactly like that but the uncanny resemblance sent phantom aches on the limbs that he still
currently had. Having the woman nearby constantly made his stomach literally flip. “Wait,
Shen Daozhang!”

“Would you just go away!? Leave me alone!” he shouted sending a slash of air pressure her
way. It didn’t strike her but it stop the Huan Hua Palace disciple in her tracks. To be fair, he
had even considered killing her. Perhaps that would rid the likelihood of ever having to
encounter Luo Binghe but try as much as he wanted, he felt something stop him. Perhaps it
was the peaceful years, the moments of appreciation that he could feel safe and never have to
encounter the horrors and suffering he endured like he did in that wretched life. The strange
voice that had instructed him for his new role had given means to reflect. He had chosen to
fight in the previous life. In the end, he as well as the few people that mattered to him, had
been utterly destroyed. In this life, he had chosen to run and it was aggravating as the ensuing
panic of having met anyone from the past life could absolutely destroy all that he had worked
on. The fear of losing everything he worked for loomed over him all over again.

“What are you frightened about?” Su Xiyan asked. It wasn’t warm nor cold. “What are you
running from?” Shen Jiu took several deep breaths as he refused to meet eye contact with
such a face. Ever since she appeared, it had increased his vigilance, his meditations disrupted
by that face morphed into something cruel and twisted.

“Who else but the one that keeps following me?!?!” Shen Jiu all but screamed. “You want to
know about the Winged flower bat? It hunts around dusk and you need to kill it without
rupturing the poisonous sack and rendering the horn useless. Happy you got the information?
Now go away!” Rare beast be damned, he didn’t care as it got the persistent woman away
from him. He quickly slipped into the grotto knowing full well that she would no longer be
able to follow then hurried to his room. The quiet happiness to be indulging on his books and
writing his notes for his bestiary all but forgotten as he just curled up into the bed wrapping
the multitude of covers that he had acquired from the offerings from the local villagers. He
rubbed his face against the softer silk scarfs from the more wealthy patrons to keep him
gathered. Surrounded by the nest of silks, he closed his eyes and started to meditate or rather
he fell asleep from the exhaustion.
 Chapter 8

Shen Jiu didn't come out for several days and only tentatively sent out a tendril of his aura to
check the local area, or he got Da Bai to check for him. He specifically ordered that the
villagers not send their children towards the grotto when the cultivators started arriving in
their droves for the night hunt as it was safer for them to remain in their villagers rather than
risk traversing the land to get to his home.

The villagers and some of the women nodded in understanding and made their own
arrangements while also hoping to ensure that the children kept up with their studies while
they were at home or helped out in the farms. Naturally, the children complained, some even
cried that they were going to miss their Laoshi and Da Bai but there was nothing much the
villagers could do if they didn’t want to be caught in the cross fire of a night hunt for a
fearsome beast.

For the most part, it seemed that Su Xiyan had also kept her distance after his verbal lashing
at her, opting to forge ahead with the hunt herself and then to whatever side mission that her
master assigned her. He knew she acquired the information about the Winged Flower Bat

What he couldn’t fathom was why she kept returning to hound him day and night. It seemed
after he just threw the information at her she left shortly afterwards so he holed himself to
read and lounge about in his little hut which was shaped the one at Qing Jing Peak with the
added connection to his personal library.

After a few days he peeked out. Perhaps it was over and he could probably be up to taking a
walk around the barren mountains or some of the underground caves.

So far so good as he began to trek through, snapping a piece of bamboo to be used as a

walking stick. Perhaps he could see if the wildly grown Fire Chrysanthemums were in season
so he could bring back to dry up and turn into tea leaves ready for the upcoming winter
months.

It also happened to be that the place where he found them, seemed to be warmer than usual as
he trekked through he noticed pockets of steam coming from the ground.

Searching through with his spiritual energy he climbed a little way, the odd smell of rotten
eggs were in the air when he finally came across a small warm pool. It was an area that he
hadn’t explored before and it turned out to be on the other side of a rock face of his grotto. If
he was able to create a path through he would have another little personal space to not only
bathe but heal any injuries since the warm volcanic waters could help immensely with
soothing muscles. Instantly, since he found it, he was going to claim it as his own and started
writing more wards to expand the barrier around the grotto.

A few hours or so of chopping down foliage and punching a hole through the hill, he
managed to connect it to his herb garden.
Satisfied with his work so far he decided a good rest in this little warm pool was in order. He
sent a message to Da Bai to clear up some of the rubble that was in the garden and bring as
many talismans as he could that was in the grotto since the wards did not extend to the new
area yet.

Looking around, Shen Jiu figured it was secluded enough so he started to divest himself of
the muddy clothes and cleaned up using some of the spring water. Washed enough, he dipped
into the warm waters of the pool. Though the smell of rotten eggs was unpleasant, the waters
that he sunk into was blissful. He indulged in warm baths from the brothels and while nice,
the bubbling sensations coming from the ground did wonders for his aches and pains.
Sighing, he let his guard down and did not sense a presence nearby until the figure gasped.

Suddenly alert, he sent his sword to strike where he heard the noise. The figure dodged
narrowly.

“Stop! Stop! I’m sorry!” it was a familiar voice. One that sent Shen Jiu into a blind panic and
he wanted to duck his head beneath the waters of the spring. The steam that was coming from
the waters were enough to obscure the sight of Yue Qi.

No doubt, he was just as surprised that there was someone bathing in the waters in the middle
of nowhere. Shen Jiu turned his back and kept his face hidden. “These mountains were
suppose to be desolate, so I wasn’t expecting to find such an unusual spring let alone
someone living here. I’m really sorry to intrude.”

Shen Jiu didn’t say anything, merely listening towards the direction where Yue Qi’s voice
was, It was likely, the steam covered the majority of his body and face. If he didn’t say
anything he wouldn’t be recognised as anybody in particular.

“Um… are you perhaps a rogue cultivator? That control over your spiritual sword must
mean you are very skilled but I don’t recognise a particular style from any of the sects.” Shen
Jiu wanted to growl in exasperation at Yue Qi’s overly friendly nature sometimes.

“Mn…” Shen Jiu mumbled hoping that the slight change to the pitch of his voice could throw
him off from being recognised.

“Then perhaps you might know of another rogue cultivator, he’s quite famous lately. A young
prodigy that people know of as Shen Daozhang.” Shen Jiu wanted to cry. Why is he famous?
What has he exactly done except babysit local village children at the grotto, tend to his little
herb garden and sell some wares or information?

“Mm-mm…” Shen Jiu made a non-commital noise to implicate that he was unaware of this
person.

“Oh,” the disappointment was evident but Yue Qi was nothing but stubborn after all. “Well,
I’m really sorry for disturbing you however if you happen to bump into such a cultivator who
is known by that name during the hunt at all, can you let him know that Yu Qi, Head Disciple
of Qiong Ding peak of the Cang Ciong mountain sect wishes to apologise to him on my
martial siblings’ behalf for their behavoiur. It was uncalled for. Also… also I would like to
speak to him or more like ask him something.”
“Mm…” Shen Jiu nodded. The request was noted and the said party was already alerted but
there was no way that there was going to be a response to the request at all.

“Thank you, oh and I’m sorry but I never got your na-“

“Shixiong is there something wrong?” Yue Qi turned to stop his fellow disciples to come
closer. It was embarrassing enough to encroach on someone bathing, even ruder for him to
request something of the person. He just could not possibly let the others catch the cultivator
in this vulnerable state.

“Uh nothing here. Just keep going I’ll catch up with you!” Yue Qi called back then he sighed.
“I’m sorry to bother you again com-.” But he was apparently talking too thin air as the
cultivator in the spring had disappeared in the moment he turned his back to speak to his
martial siblings. “-rade…”

Shen Jiu sighed feeling his heart race from the heat of the waters. He and Yue Qi used to help
each other wash themselves in the river when they weren’t wondering the streets to beg for
food. Though he was pretty sure that he had no particularly distinguishing marks on his body.
It wouldn’t do to let the man examine his features.

It was at least 3 years since they last saw each other but he couldn’t rule out the possibility
that he could still be recognised. He knew that the man had already started suspecting him
based on his actions and behaviours, the way he stomped his foot, his mannerisms and habits
were a lot harder to change than his body.

Frustrated that the hunt was lasting as long as it did, he didn’t dare come back to the spring
just yet. He was going to just wait at the grotto a little longer and seal off the tunnel with
another ward that redirect the persons to another part of the mountain. He’ll incorporate the
spring with wards later when the coast was clear.

Another few days past and he was sure that the cultivators had pretty much given up on the
unsuccessful hunt. The Three Pronged Leaf Stag was an extremely elusive creature on top of
only turning up once every 100 years which is why Shen Jiu never bothered with it.

He heard snippets of conversation in passing as some cultivators passed the grotto but never
entering into it. It was funny as Shen Jiu watched them literally walk past before exiting
towards the river areas, never seeing or noticing his existence or of the Grotto but he was
aware of some rather private information being passed. He silently wondered if that was the
reason why he had become famous perhaps?

Nevertheless, it was probably time to be able to reopen the grotto so that the local village
children could return to play and their parents were happy that they were getting a free bit of
education out of it putting a little edge over other villages.

Some wanted to start pooling some funds together to see if they even consider sending their
children to try and take the exams or maybe try out to be cultivators themselves in the sects
when they are older.
If that was ever going to be the case, Shen Jiu was going to make it a point that the children
that he had initially educated to avoid talking about it so that the sects did not know about the
grotto from them.

Perhaps he could make them forget where it was or just make it difficult for the children to
access once they reach a certain age. Shen Jiu didn’t have to figure this out right away since
the little ones were still young but it might have to be a possibility one day if he did not want
to be involved with the major sects in any way.

“Laoshi? I finished writing.” One of the older boys Xiao Yu had just come up to him while he
was musing about the possible parting.

The boy was a bright lad and had a lot of potential to be a great scholar particularly in his
literature. Shen Jiu nodded and made some corrections but it was excellent considering his
age. “Can we go play with Da Bai now?” the other children also gathered with their writings
as well, not as well presented and most with a multitude of mistakes in their strokes but Shen
Jiu did not have the mind to make them work some more for today. He nodded and they
cheered happily before leaping onto Da Bai.

“Xiao Yu, you are in charge with helping Da Bai take care of the others while I go out for a
few hours.” Shen Jiu replied. The little boy was mature for his age and nodded with a happy
smile. A smile that was eerily like a young boy that he once knew.

Shen Jiu shuddered at the thought, why on earth he kept thinking about such a tyrant and a
beast? Xiao Yu was nothing like him, he knew that for sure but every little reminder just sent
him on edge that his little hole in the mountain was just going to disappear and be swallowed
up in darkness. He wouldn’t be able to move as he had no arms or legs and just waiting for
his tormenter to arrive.

He suddenly found it hard to breathe as he felt himself being transported back to that place.
Then with a sudden prick of pain, he realised he did indeed have hands and blinked a few
times. He wasn’t sure how long he had been in that state and the children looked frightened
and unsure what to do.

“Gege?” Shen Jiu took a few deep breaths before answering.

“I’m alright,” he whispered. He wasn’t but he had to be. He couldn’t show weakness in front
of people, even children. Especially children. He turned and walked away ignoring the
worried whispers behind him. They liked him and he took care of them but he could never be
close to them. It was probably best this way for when they grew older, there would not be any
emotions attached when they inevitably separated.

Shen Jiu headed out of the grotto when a familiar presence he thought he had gotten rid of
had returned. Su Xiyan stood off in the distance but did not approach him. It looked like after
seeing him, she seemed satisfied enough and was about to move on when he spoke up.

“What is it this time?”

“Nothing. I wanted to check that you were alright.” Su Xiyan answered. Her speech sounded
stiff. More so than when they first met and it almost seemed uncertain of herself.

“Well as you can see, I’m fine.”

“Alright…” Su Xiyan replied. It looked like that was that, but she never left. She stayed her
distance and it irritated Shen Jiu of this sudden feeling that she was wary of him. He had
shouted at in their last interaction.

“Well? If it’s nothing and I’m fine. Why aren’t you leaving?”

“I…” Su Xiyan wasn’t sure how to articulate her words. Shen Jiu huffed as he sat down on
the rock and decided to finally indulge on the woman’s whims. After having spoken with her,
she was blunt and cold but it was more for the fact that she was grossly out of touch of how
to act around others in the typical way that the girls at the brothel could.

Many people look down on the courtesans not realising the amount of intelligence each of
those women had to gauge their clientele and meet with their needs. The stories each of them
had and how they put you at ease to tell them of yours. How else do they keep their business
if they did not adapt to satisfy their clients, after all?

Su Xiyan being brought up as a child within the cultivation world where the only focus is on
their own power just could not fathom the complexity of the real world below their lofty
existence.

Shen Jiu tried to emulate that once and it had gotten him to trouble due to the painful naivety
that cultivators seemed to have about common folk. Though he supposed that to Su Xiyan’s
credit, she was obviously trying to learn about it.

“I think you were angry about something?” Su Xiyan asked. “And… I thought… as a
friend-”

“Friend?” She has mentioned such a word before and he scoffed at it. Thinking back on their
previous interactions, he found it strange of her her asking various questions and talks about
poetry, none of which she seemed all that interested but she listened nonetheless.

She was trying to reach out to him. He never thought of it that way before, merely an
annoyance at best. A person like him didn’t have ‘friends’. Even with the likes of Yue Qi…
was different. It was not what he would picture a friend would be.

“Isn’t… that what we are?” Su Xiyan asked. Shen Jiu was at a loss with this. The villagers
looked up to him and brought gifts and payment. In his previous life, literally everyone hated
him and even whatever he had with Yue Qingyuan was tumultuous at best. They always
ended up arguing.

Then Su Xiyan looked at him, it was a look that was both unnerving, like that of a lost puppy,
head cocked to one side. At first, his instinct was to throw another scathing remark,
something he had always been prone to do. In his past life, it came just as easy as breathing,
but right now he choked. After several moments, Shen Jiu sighed once again reminding
himself that things had to be change, so he took the risk.

“I suppose we are…” he said.

 Chapter 9

Shen Jiu went out to forage for some wild fruits with the children as a treat. He taught them
about the different types of plants to look out for as well as how to spot tracks for any
dangerous creatures and traps and the right herbs to use to make a basic panacea against
poisons.

If anyone had happened to come across them, they would describe the scene of a scholar,
young in appearance with deep green eyes but holding holding uncanny experience and
surrounded by ducklings.

“Laoshi! Laoshi! Is this the right one?” Xiao Yu called out holding a bunch of little black
berries. “Is it enough?”

“Mn, another handful from everyone and it should last us a few days. Leave some aside to set
as baits for the the traps.”

“Yes Laoshi!” There were mix of children from various walks of life from the local villages,
the Warm Red Pavilion and somehow he had managed to pick up some of the street urchins
from the larger cities, or rather, they just decided to follow him home.

He ensured that the parentless children had other places to go to such as an apprenticeship
with the blacksmith or a farm hand. Every one that came he made sure that they were adopted
out or at least provided with the skills to survive out in the wilderness.

He even taught them a bit of sleight of hand for on the streets though noted to avoid
encouraging stealing and pickpocketing as a career.

Da Bai as usual was in charge of keeping the place tidy while they were away on their trip
and Su Xiyan continued meeting up with him regularly to ask the most random of questions
to topics that he knew that she had no interest in.

---

“Why are you even asking about poetry every time you come to see me? You clearly do not
care for it.”

“I know, it’s just…”

“Who’s the demon you are trying to target?”

“W-what?” Su Xiyan spluttered while her cheeks went instantly red.

Shen Jiu having lived a lifetime already, came across all sorts of people. While he lived
mostly as a recluse after his escape from his much briefer stay at the Qiu household, he was
still quite aware of the world around him without having to actually be out and about to speak
to others.
He kept up with the connections of the Warm Red Pavilion brothel with a room to himself in
exchange for providing music and poetry lessons to the courtesans. There he could watch like
a silent owl and listen to relevant useful information. “What makes you think that? ”

“First of all, you wouldn't be stupid enough to ask me about a poison that I know all about to
use against me. Second, the poison that you asked about specifically works against demons.
Third, the way you ask about poetry and literature is the same way you gather information on
poisons instead of actually having an interest in it. I assume that the target of that poison is
the one with the interest in the poetry and you are trying to get close to them?"

“His name is Tianlang-jun and I'm not going to be looking for that poison anymore" She said
after a while.

“The Heavenly Demon?”

“Yes, he came to the Human Realm which is why I went to investigate to find out his motives
and I originally wanted to prepare a weapon against him if he was a threat.”

“And?”

“Nothing, he really was just interested in our literature, music and art and he kept asking me
constantly about stuff I don’t know anything about. I keep trying to redirect him but he keeps
following me around like some damn puppy” Su Xiyan hissed looking extremely put out. “I
was wondering maybe if you tal-,”

“No.” Shen Jiu snapped immediately almost revelling in the woman’s discomfort as he
opened and waved the fan against his face “If you haven’t noticed, my reputation is not
exactly the best anyway and having ‘being friends with a demon is just a call for getting the
cultivation world to smash my core to pieces.”

“But anyone can see that none of the techniques you’ve used are based on any unorthodox
teachings.”

Of course, Shen Jiu avoided using such tactics when out in public not that he wasn’t really
aware of them. He had after all been under the tutelage of one Wu Yanzi at one time and
while he had ensured to not incorporate them into his practice, he retained the knowledge for
it.

"I’m certain that he is not here with any ill intent. Actually, he’s more likely to be in danger
from the sects coming after him if they find out he exists and I need help to try to convince
him to go home.”

“I don’t want to. Why should I? What will you give me?” Shen Jiu sang in a teasing manner.
It was a little song that he had heard the children sometimes sing when they were teasing
each other. Su Xiyan huffed, eyes were wide with indignation.

“Oh come on.. Doesn’t our friendship mean anything to you?” She cried only to be met with
silence. “Fine, what do you want?”
Shen Jiu blinked a few times. He was very much a purveyor of knowledge and squirrelling
away every little bit of knowledge yet he had little to no information related to the goings on
of the Demon world. One thing that also struck him were the creatures of the Endless Abyss.

“Well, it would be interesting to find out more of the demon realm’s creatures especially how
to deal with them should they ever appear in our realm. Perhaps a trade. If he is willing part
with some knowledge of it. I could make a trade with some of my personal collection.”

“Will that be enough to send him home with?”

“Not likely. I doubt the books are the only thing he is interested in if he is simply here for
leisure.” Shen Jiu gave Su Xiyan a sideways glance in her direction while she was deep in
thought.

Shen Jiu sighed clearly aware that that beast of a disciple was definitely the son of his friend
and Tianlang-jun. He was already warned by the System that he could not interfere with
anything directly affecting Luo Binghe's life. This included his conception.

“Did you tell him about me?”

“Only that you were my source of information about what he wants to know. I didn’t drop
any names though, he seems to always brush things off when I give him your suggestions or
offer to get you two meet.”

'Yep… definitely not just here for the literature anymore.' Shen Jiu thought. Su Xiyan was
certainly getting in on over her head as when he recalled correctly from the limited
knowledge of that life, Tianlang jun had been sealed away and Su Xiyan had died in
disgrace.

He felt his stomach feel unsettled thinking about their fate. He didn’t need to get involved.
Especially when he knew how getting involved with people that meant something to him
inevitably ended up. Still, he hadn’t met Su Xiyan in his last life. She was already dead so
perhaps…

“Arrange a time and I’ll meet him and see if I can convince him.” Shen Jiu said. “For now,
you can help gather some more berries for the children.” Su Xiyan looked up in surprise from
her own troubled musings and gave a smile. It was eerily reminiscent of her future son
though unlike Luo Binghe, there was no malice in her eyes. The System suddenly gave out
alarm bells filled with red text.

[System Warning: You cannot alter events that directly affects the Power Source, any
attempts will result in resetting your character assignment]

'Quit panicking, I heard you the first time years ago. I' m not trying to prevent his conception,
or change his fate. Just hers. She doesn't have to actually die.]

[System Warning: The future event must occur. Su Xiyan must leave Power Source in the
Luo River after birth. Meeting with Power source is prohibited and result in reset.]
'Until the User changes it, right? '

[....]

'You said that only the User can change Luo Binghe's fate directly'

[...]

[Achievement unlocked. Designation Shen Jiu has received the title "You Magnificent
Bastard"]

Shen Jiu let out a breath he was holding. With the agreement made and Shen Jiu not exactly
sure if he had made the right choice, he started leading the children back to the Grotto and
sensed a shift in the air. While they were near the entrance, he noticed Yunru did not have her
buddy. Xiao Yu was missing.

“Laoshi, Xiao Yu told us to come back because I saw something scary. He said he will lead it
away. ”

“Follow the others and go back to Da Bai. Su jiejie will be will be with you shortly.” Shen Jiu
traced back where he last saw Xiao Yu.

Knowing the forested area well, he avoided the small traps that the children had made before
noticing a massive presence of two spiritual signatures.

Trying to keep himself unnoticed, he found the child clutching the fruit in his hands but he
was clearly hiding. He had directed the children to go ahead to the safety of the grotto while
he attempted to redirect the other presence away.

Xiao Yu, dutifully kept quiet the instant he saw Shen Jiu with a finger on his lips. Without a
fuss, he slowly climbed down and allowed himself to be carried in Shen Jiu's arms.

Putting a little qi towards his feet to ensure he was as silent as a cat when he walked. Shen Jiu
slipped through the long grass and kept low, when a loud crash was heard through the trees.
Xiao Yu squeaked in surprise prompting the young rogue cultivator to sprint away.

The instant he did he kept a hand on the child’s head, who tucked himself against his
shoulder as the sound of heavy galloping hooves crashed through the woods felling several
trees in its wake.

Cursing his luck, Shen Jiu saw the blueish green fur and two black horns peppered with
different coloured leaves. Two large fangs protruded from the snout as deep blood red eyes
blared down at them. Shen Jiu felt his heart sink as the beast as it gave chase.

How is it that after weeks of having not appeared and where all the cultivators had all but
given up that the blasted beast had to show up right now? The Three Pronged Leaf Stag had a
taste for human flesh, particularly young children.

With the entrance of the Grotto nearby, Shen Jiu sped ahead keeping Xiao Yu tucked against
him. The stag let out a hoarse roar and dipped its head as it charged hoping to gore them both
to death. Shen Jiu zigzagged and pulled out a talisman ready to fling out as a diversion.

Just as they were about to clash a bright light sliced through in front and stopping the massive
beast to a skidding halt. Unsure of whether to be grateful for the reprieve or frustrated of the
appearance of his former martial sibling, Shen Jiu ducked and rolled away from any flying
debris.

Liu Feng charged forward, just as the Stag made a swing of it's mighty head, the sharp horns
slashed a gash across his front spilling a lot of blood. Shen Jiu cupped Xiao Yu’s head to try
to block the sight of the grisly scene while frantically searching the area.

Finally, after what felt like forever, he uncovered a hole and the contours of an array
appeared. He lowered the boy down.

“Xiao Yu, go ahead and crawl through and you’ll find yourself with Da Bai and the others.”

“Laoshi, I’m scared.”

“It’ll be alright, nothing to be afraid of. I’ll take care of the monster.”

“But that gege…” Xiao Yu shuddered at the young cultivator twitching as he struggled to
fight off the stag.

“He’ll be fine, I’ll sort this out, now go.”

With the little boy out of the way, Shen Jiu could finally focus on the matter at hand. He
focused his qi and concentrated on some leaves unleashing a flurry of green that dazzled and
confused the stag with slicing cuts.

Overwhelmed by the attacks, the stag staggered backwards away from Liu Feng In another
movement, the leaves redirected some of them attached with guqin strings that wrapped
around the stag in a tightening thin but strong noose that dug into it’s neck. Liu Feng’s eyes
widened as Shen Jiu seemed to float like an immortal, the white robes fluttered in the wind.

“You’re… you’re a cultivator…” Liu Feng said airily, while holding the large gash down his
front that was barely holding his guts together.

“Hurry and strike the horns. I can’t hold it forever.” Shen Jiu snapped as he took a horse
stance to keep himself grounded while his hand gripped at the ends of the guqin strings.

Liu Feng seeing the created opportunity though, he didn’t waste it. Looking like he clearly
was on his last legs, he let out one roar before bringing down the sword that smashed through
the two horns. The three pronged leaf stag howled before dropping under it’s weight as the
black branch like horns flew off in two directions a few feet away. He went to strike again for
the killing blow when Shen Jiu stopped him.

“What are you doing?” Liu Feng rasped.

“You’ve disarmed it. It’s harmless now and it’s a rare creature.”
“It eats humans, it was about to eat that child.”

“The Three pronged Leaf Stag is a rare creature that takes 100 years to appear simply to shed
it’s horns and and to feed on yang energy. Children happened to have a lot of that energy.”

“Then what? Spare it so it can come out to kill in another 100 years?”

“It’s species have been hunted to extinction by cultivators years ago with this one likely to be
the last of it’s kind. To have the poor creature being chased around by hooligan cultivators
and fighting them off over horns that will naturally drop off given time. What an existence it
leads.” Shen Jiu scowled.

With a huff, the young rogue cultivator dug into his sleeve and pulled out what looked like a
couple of gold coloured berries, placing a single drop of blood on each where the guqin string
dug into his hands before kneeling next to the downed creature.

“These are West Gold Gingko berries from a far away land that I traded with a nobleman of
that region.” In fact, he had only acquired such berries recently from that nobleman when he
was at the brothel earlier where he traded some of his Desire Tea leaves for the man’s failing
libido. A common problem that the patrons of the Red Warm Pavillion had.

“I shall give you one now to replenish the energy that you need and plant the other. In 100
years time when you are hungry, the tree that grows from this seed will sustain you so you
will not ever need to venture out to hunt for humans again. Is that a fair deal?”

The stag groaned as the eyes seemed to appear watery and thankful. After chewing up the
berry, the wounds from the string quickly healed and the stag, now having two little stumps
where it’s glorious horns used to be. ‘Though I have to wonder where the ‘three’ came in.’
Shen Jiu thought as the creature shook itself free and nuzzled against his face, licking him
affectionately.

“Are you sure it won’t harm anyone?” Liu Feng asked.

“It can’t right now, you just chopped off it’s only weapons. Besides, this is what you came for
isn’t it?” Shen Jiu asked picking up the leafy branches and tossing them over to the future
Peak lord.

“Don’t you…? Are… you alright?” Liu Feng stared at the bloodied hand of the slender
youth.

“I’m fine. I have no need of the horns” Shen Jiu waved dismissively instead going deep in
thought about the odd naming choice. There were a multitude of ways of strengthening your
elements whether you just visited certain areas. Shen Jiu had no need of the ‘rare’ item
especially when he still had an ever increasing hoard of other rare treasures he started to
accumulate was taking up a lot of space in his cave. He needed to do a clear out fairly soon
not add more junk from an ancient magic deer.

In his previous lifetime, he had only read about the creature and had never encountered it in
person. Yet the resource that provided the explanation with no idea who the author was, just
failed to explain things.

The stag in question stepped backwards to bow it’s head in a sign of respect. The centre of
it’s forehead started to shift as something bulged out. A third horn, small round and purely
white started to grow outwards. The stag honked as if urging for Shen Jiu to take it. The horn
easily snapped off with a gentle pop then the stag nodded in satisfaction before turning to
gallop off to whatever home it had come from.

“Oh, so that’s what the three prongs was about…” Shen Jiu mused as he looked at the pearly
white piece of bone. It was sharp and pointy at one end and holding it gave a sense of calm to
his Qi. “I suppose this may be useful against qi deviations. I could add that that to my book”
He murmured as he examined the piece for a bit for his own observations.

It wasn’t until he heard the light thump of a body falling that he turned around to find Liu
Feng passed out on the ground. “Oi… don’t tell me you’re dying.”

He nudged the future Peak lord with his foot and felt something thump in his chest. It felt like
panic as he remembered those years ago in that last lifetime of the same man who lay lifeless
on the floor of a cave bleeding from every orifice.

Checking the wound, the gouge was deep and could probably instantly kill any mortal and
looked like a threat for even a cultivator of Liu Feng's calibre.

Grimacing, he noticed some entrails sticking out and threatening to fall out. He was also
bleeding out quite badly and rapidly losing colour.

Shen Jiu was not a healer and having only the basics of anatomy, he haphazardly stuffed the
bits of guts back into the wound and used his qi to cauterise any areas of blood loss.

With his hands shaking, Shen Jiu pushed several blood replenishment pills through the man’s
mouth and hoped for the best. His hand trembled as he checked Liu Feng’s pulse. It seemed
steady enough but he couldn’t exactly leave him in the middle of the forest and he was too far
from the inn.

Show him kindness and he will return it ten-fold.

Those had been the words that Yu Qingyuan once said to him to encourage him to get along
with others in that old life time. He knew he had attempted it before, twice even. Neither had
yielded any positive out of it. The first he was accused of attempted assassination and the
second he was unable to save the brute. He wasn’t sure that this time around was going to be
any different even as he dragged the dead weight towards the grotto.
 Chapter 10

The children knew better than to disturb him as he tended the man’s wounds. This had been
the first time that they had encountered an adult that wasn’t any of their parents and their
little hearts burned with curiosity.

Shen Jiu sighed as he watched from the corner of his eye several little heads peeking around
doorways and windows to try get a good look of what was going on, only for them to duck
down when he turned to face them.

“Seems like it’s time for you all to be going home. I’ll ready the array to transport you back
to your families.” Shen Jiu said after he took a break knowing Liu Feng was now stable.
There was a collective groan of disappointment.

“But what about the monster?” Xiao Yu asked while climbing onto Shen Jiu’s lap.

“It won’t bother us anymore”

“So it’s gone?”

“Yes, it’s gone.”

“Did the you and the pretty gege fight it off?”

“Yes we did and that is enough questions for today, I need to watch over him.” He pointedly
ignored the sniggers from the other children of him not denying that Liu Feng was in fact
quite pretty.

Liu Feng was also pretty annoying as he not only occupied the only bed that Shen Jiu had but
he laid in it for 3 days. Shen Jiu huffed as he poked and prodded, on the occasion probably
actually attempted to heal the wounds a little allowing the future Bai Zhan Peak Lord’s strong
core to finish off the rest of his recovery.

Shen Jiu wasn’t sure if the man did this on purpose but when he finally woke up, he just
stared at him like he had been struck dumb. Or at least dumber than Shen Jiu remembered
him to be.

The side long glances when he thought that Shen Jiu’s back was turned or the constant over
the top flinching even though Shen Jiu was just changing the bandages. The rogue cultivator
had a mind to bludgeon the stupid brat with his fan.

“You haven’t rested.” Liu Feng said. “You should tend to your own injuries.” Shen Jiu rolled
his eyes. Who’s the one occupying the bed for three days as the invalid and who probably had
his organs hanging out?’ he thought grumpily before applying another layer of ointment of
the faint scar where the attack from the Three Pronged Leaf Stag was. It wouldn’t be long
before that disappeared too.
“You should be healed enough to leave the room tomorrow and maybe meet up with your
martial siblings. I’ll get my due rest by then.” Shen Jiu had probably not noticed the slight
raise of the rug in his room and stumbled only to have his mid section being held by two lithe
but muscular limbs then a sharp pinch at the particular spot that froze his body.

With his own energy completely exhausted, he might as well be as weak as a kitten to the
onslaught of a cultivator’s attack. Even though injured Liu Feng, his spiritual power was still
a deal more than what Shen Jiu had at the moment.

‘You bastard!’ was what he wanted to say and was the last thing that was running through
Shen Jiu’s head before his own eyes closed of their own accord and he lay limp on the bed.

😍
[System update: Alliance formed with Designation Liu Feng. Achievement unlocked. Two
people one bed. Potential development: Romantic ]

Shen Jiu never heard the notification for he was fast asleep.

When he woke up, covered with the woollen blanket and he was alone. Shen Jiu groaned as
he rubbed the sore meridian spot that Liu Feng struck. “That asshole, I’ll really kill him this
time round.” He muttered to himself as he checked himself over. He was still in his clothes
but his hair had been loosened and fell to his shoulders. The simple ribbon and pin put to one
side.

“Good afternoon master,” Da Bai announced when he stepped out of the hut. “Did you sleep
well?”

“As well as can be expected when someone knocks me out.” He looked for the culprit who
happened to be in the middle of swinging his sword while a large group of little toddlers were
watching avidly at his movements.

He watched for a little while before Liu Feng’s movements started to look sloppy and he
seemed distracted, his face flushed and sweaty. Shen Jiu huffed, wondering if the man was
developing a fever and getting an infection. He hoped not, as he was expecting the man to be
leaving today if he was well enough to be swinging his practice sword around.

“Alright children, that’s enough watching the monkey prance around. It’s time for your
writing class. Da Bai is waiting for you.” There was a collective sigh but each of the little
fluffy ducklings toddled off obediently.

“Who are you calling a monkey?”

“Are you not? I couldn't tell from that wild flapping you call a form.” Shen Jiu placed a hand
over the other teen’s forehead then another over his own. He squinted as he tried to find out
why the Bai Zhan head disciple was squirming. “Are you still feverish? You look flushed.”

“I-I’m fine,” Liu Feng squeaked as he backed away several steps. Shen Jiu cocked an
eyebrow. Liu Feng had the audacity to grapple him and practically holding him down on the
bed all night but now he wasn’t allowed to touch his head just to see if he was not dying on
him?

“Well, if that’s the case. I guess you should be on your way. You’re from Cang Qiong Sect
aren’t you? Aren’t they worried about you missing for 3 days?” Shen Jiu turned away.

“I… yes… I’ll be going soon.” Liu Feng stuttered. Shen Jiu huffed when the brute just stood
there staring at him.

“Well? Go on then? Exit’s that way.” Shen Jiu pointed before he headed toward the hut where
the children were.

“Wait!” Liu Feng called as he stiffly walked towards Shen Jiu and the rogue cultivator was
greeted by a familiar branch peppered with black and bronze petals. “For you.”

“Aren’t you the one that hunted for that thing in the first place?”

“Payback. For saving me.” Liu Feng blurted out. Shen Jiu scoffed.

“I helped restrain it for you to land the blow.”

“Leaves are good for cultivation.”

“My spiritual affinity is to the wood element. The stag’s leaves here are fire and metal. I can’t
exactly progress my cultivation with this. What use would I have for this than a glorified
paperweight?”

“Then I will get you something else.”

“Aiyah, please don’t. I do not want to have to continue to have a constant invalid at my
house.”

“I will get stronger, so it won’t happen.”

“I don’t have much room here for treasures.” Shen Jiu said. I just want to be left alone and
not be bothered.

“Then… take this.” Liu Feng said. It was a small amulet. A familiar looking tag that Shen Jiu
often saw the disciples of Bai Zhan carry. “If you need a favour or help you can find me at
Cang Qiong Mountain.”

He wondered off and Shen Jiu considered just throwing the token away. After all, he was
never going to Cang Qiong mountain even at the most desperate of times. He huffed as the
Bai Zhan head disciple disappeared from view as he left the barrier and back to the world
outside Shen Jiu’s own safe built haven. Shen Jiu ended up keeping the amulet tucked in his
robes.

—
Things were starting to settle once more in the little home in the middle of nowhere that Shen
Jiu kept for himself with nothing but Da Bai and the children for company and he figured that
this was ample time for him to be able to step out into the world and gather a few supplies,
maybe visit his contacts and doing a bit of trade with some of his goods.

He gathered any old books and harvested some of the herbs he had been growing for the
market when he felt a new presence that was targeting him. Shen Jiu sighed, why couldn’t he
be just left alone the moment he stepped out? Attempts to get away was futile, the presence
was persistent and hard to shake off.

So if you can’t outrun then confront it and confront he did. The presence in question took the
form of a fairly tall muscular man with sparkling eyes of starlight and he could’ve sworn had
a hint of red to them. There was an exotic air about him as he was boring down at him as if
trying to burn a hole into the veil of his weimo and stare into his soul.

“Why are you following me?” Shen Jiu demanded readying himself for a fight. It was more
of a quick strike to stun and run tactic that has served him well in the past but it certainly did
not seem to phase the man who had managed to grab his wrist in a vice like grip.

“Hmm… what is it that she sees in you?” the man muttered perplexed and appeared to be…
pouting?

“Huh?” Shen Jiu tugged hard at his arm but the man wasn’t going to let go and he
immediately sensed it, the demonic energy pulsating. The man was a demon. A powerful one
at that and about to prepare for an all out fight. With a charge he struck with a force palm and
finally broke free.

“Oh? Impressive.” The demon grinned, flashing a fang. Shen Jiu growled.

“The point of setting a meeting was for both parties to be informed about it before hand, Su
Xiyan!” Su Xiyan appeared hurriedly in between them glaring at the demon. It was one of the
few times that Shen Jiu had seen her look rather flustered.

“Cut it out A-Tian!” she snapped and Tianlang-Jun looked clearly chastised and pouting as he
crouched down looking sorry for himself.

It reminded Shen Jiu of a scolded dog who had his tail tugged between his legs. After the
initial encounter, Su Xiyan made the big hulking man bow in penitence when the young
rogue cultivator eyed the road. A large horse drawn cart was trundling along with a large
amount of boxes teetering.

He looked at it in slow motion as he caught one of the boxes that had flown off much to the
panic of the driver. Shen Jiu turned, balancing the box perfectly but in the process had lost his
hat and found himself staring at small beady eyes. Had he not caught the box, it would
certainly have squashed the poor creature that was curled up on the grass.

“I’m so sorry, my boy. Is everyone alright?” Shen Jiu looked at the commoner man and his
wife who had a scowl on her face before slapping the man irritably on the arm in familiarity.
“Didn’t I tell you to secure the boxes properly? You could’ve hurt someone!”

“Aiyah, I’m so sorry.” The man grinned. He was a rather jovial and large man, a rounded face
with a neat stubble but beneath robes were obvious muscles of years working in the field. His
female companion was quite a beauty even with the aging lines appearing. She maintain a
certain grace befitting that of a noble lady despite the simple clothing she wore.

“Do not worry madam, no one is hurt.” Shen Jiu passed the box back to the couple, helped
secure it properly and added an extra talisman to fortify it. “Are you both new to the area?”

“Ah yes. I’m a book merchant and felt it a good idea to take my business here. At least before
my bones go all frail and brittle.” Shen Jiu was surprised as the man did not at all look like a
scholar.

“Books? What kind of books?” Tianlan-jun instantly brightened up. Shen Jiu could swear he
would be able to see a tail wagging ecstatically. Su Xiyan rolled her eyes and gave a pointed
look to Shen Jiu. ‘This is what I have to deal with’. Shen Jiu merely smirked indicating that
she brought it on herself in the first place.

“Oh all sorts, this is only a small selection.” The man putting on his best sales person face.
Shen Jiu was surprised though. The man did have some useful looking titles. He did note
there were a large amount of trash articles but it was to be somewhat expected for a
commoner’s collection. Despite this, he noted that the Heavenly Demon lapped it all up.

“This is most fortuitous, it’ll save me having to travel to the next town over to get books.”
Shen Jiu noted as he browsed through a book of local botany of the southern borders. “I do
not have much in money but would you be interested in a trade in wares. I have refined some
pills with me.”

“Oh my is young gongzi a cultivator? So young and handsome” the bookseller’s wife said
with a twinkle in her eye but it also looked wistful.

She was a person that was easy on the eye even with the wrinkles of time and most likely a
devastating beauty a few years ago but aside from age there seemed to be signs of illness and
frailty.

“Truth be told, we also came here because we heard that the air was better and my beloved to
recover.” Shen Jiu understood.

From looking at the contents in his peripheral, they had stocked some toys for young children
hanging out of one of the trunks and a small little shrine towards some kind of fertility
goddess. It seemed the couple had tried to bear children but had been unsuccessful.

Shen Jiu having prepared for the User’s existence had scoured for all sort of issues and
difficulty in conceiving and bringing a child to term was quite a common problem. He dug in
to his qiankun pouch and offered a trade.

“These are some blood rejuvination pills for physical recovery and these berries are infused
with yang energy.” Shen Jiu said pointing to them and the couple latched on.
“Ooh… thank you. Have anything you want from our selection, it’s may not be useful for
someone as learned as you but…”

“Actually, I do find use for this book.” Shen Jiu waved a book on journals from Western
cultivators.

“Ah! Certainly, certainly.” Shen Jiu slipped the book into his sleeves before placing the
pouch of pills onto the woman’s hands. He was stunned when he heard a massive alarm
ringing.

[Connection with User port established: Estimated uploading time 2 years… 23 years… 2
minutes… 269 years…]

‘Wait… did I just meet the parents of the User? And… what’s with these strange times?’
Shen Jiu looked on alarmed.

[System loading port has an unstable connection. Rerouting to stronger network. Updated:
Estimated uploading time 5 years.]

‘So 5 more years before the User is born?’

[Correct. Please continue to work hard in establishing optimal living conditions for User’s
entry.]

‘Greeeaattt…’

“This one’s name is Shen Jiu.” Shen Jiu announced. It was the first time he revealed his
name. He could feel Su Xiyan took a double take at that. “Might I inquire the names of
honorable sir and madam is?”

“What a coincidence, our family name is also Shen. This one is Shen Mao, this is my wife
Shen Li” Conversation descended to the couple talking openly about their life with them
settling at a tea house for drinks. Shen Jiu even offered to help support them to help set up
their new abode, while Tianlang-Jun looked completely immersed in the books they piled on
him.

It was only after bidding the Shen family farewell for the day that the two cultivators and
heavenly demon went about their own way. Su Xiyan had been very quiet throughout the
interaction with a complicated look on her face. Tianlang-jun was looking between the two
unsure what to do without upsetting the human woman he was so fond of.

“What is it? Spill it out.” Shen Jiu asked rolling his eyes.

“Is your real name really Shen Jiu…?”

“Yes…” he replied. “And?”

“You… I thought…” Su Xiyan looked away. “You only just met that couple and you gave
your name so freely and yet…”
“If it makes you feel better, I only decided to reveal my name because you were there.”

“What do you mean?”

“Who else will I find to help get the shovel if I end up having to kill someone for betraying
my trust?” Su Xiyan blinked several times and let a smile creep on her face. Tianlang-jun
who was someone that was unused to the intricacies of human interaction was ecstatic.

“Oh joyous, I didn’t have to kill you after all!” he crowed gathering the two of them into a
hug even though a few hours earlier he had just tried to kill Shen Jiu. “You have no idea how
scary Xiyan’s face was. I wasn’t sure what to do and Shen Jiu is also quite easy on the eye as
well.”

“It had nothing do with you in the first place. Why don’t you go back to your books?” Su
Xiyan muttered.

“But isn’t this like how the story goes? A misunderstanding that threatens to break apart and
then it is all resolved with you throwing against each other?" Both Shen Jiu and Su Xiyan’s
eyes bulged as they choked.

“Ew gross! He’s like a brother to me.”

“Are you insane? Why would I want to be anything like that with this brat?” the two of them
spoke up at the same time making Tianlang-jun laugh out loud but then he bleated.

“Ah! I forgot!”

“What?” Tianlang-jun hurried back to when Shen Jiu had started their encounter and he
started looking through the bushes. “Come on out now! Zhuzhu!” he called as he down on his
hands and feet and pushing the long blades of grass. Shen Jiu felt his world view shatter.

He fully expected, after reading the history and his own experience against the spawn that
came from this man’s loins that the infamous Tianlang-jun to be even worse.

It was so offensively false he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry as an uncomfortable lump
sat in his stomach at some of his own actions that may have led to Luo Binghe’s descent into
deplorable acts.

[Change in character alignment detected. New alignment set: Shen Jiu, Status: Neutral]

Shen Jiu wasn’t sure what to make of that with the sudden onslaught of messages since
encountering the User’s parents. He would need to keep a close eye on them.

Back to his attention towards the demon, he noticed movement in the grass and before he
knew it a familiar bit of clothing had crawled towards his feet.

“Ah! That child, it seems he wanted to repay you back for saving him being squashed by that
box of books.”
“This is?” Shen Jiu blinked as he took his weimao and stared at the little snake that looked up
at him as if he had just hung the moon and the stars.

“My nephew, Zhuzhi-lang. He’s not been able to cultivate to human form yet since he’s still
just a child. I was going to pass him some energy when he was a little older.”

“Child? How old is he?”

“Um… I would guess in human years, he’s about 5. ” Blinking, he stared at the tiny snake
and had an urge to poke a finger on the little thing’s snout.

Instead, he held out a hand encouraging the scaly noodle to slither up his arm. The coldness
was surprising but not unpleasant as the child demon ended up snug as a rug amidst the
layers of Shen Jiu’s clothes with nothing more than his head poking out through the folds, a
cute fork tongue flickering out. “He likes you.”

“Hmm… likewise.” Shen Jiu said. He could swear he could see the snake smile.
 Chapter 11

Aside from the awkward incident of being attacked, Shen Jiu argued that the coming days
were not bad in his opinion, especially after finishing the day with a nice dip into the hot
spring. It was agreed between him and Su Xiyan that they would accompany Tianlang-Jun
together so that he could learn more about humans since he had such a fondness for the
culture.

“Thanks and sorry about the misunderstanding.” Su Xiyan said. “Both of them.” Shen Jiu
nodded as the Huan Hua Palace disciple hurried off before Tianlang-Jun decided to make a
nuisance when she took her eyes off him.

The following days were working out to be just as Shen Jiu had predicted after his initial
perception of Tianlang-jun was thoroughly corrected.

The man was naïve and child like despite living how many years as a demon not so much
different from Su Xiyan herself. For all the power that this particular race of demons
possessed that could literally end the world as he knew it, Tianlang-jun just loved human
culture too much to want to harm any of it. As the few days wore on and from the months of
observation made by Su Xiyan, the Heavenly Demon was more like a spoiled dandy of a man
who just liked to indulge in art, poetry and literature. Since Shen Jiu happened to also be well
versed in the four arts the Heavenly demon started hounding him to drag him off to see some
kind of theatre along with Su Xiyan. In a matter of couple of days, the Heavenly Demon then
suddenly declared.

“Let’s be sworn brothers!”

“Sworn brothers?”

“Yes!”

“No.”

“Oh come on. Are we not kindred spirits? Both in aesthetic beauty and taste?”

“I barely know you and what little that I 'do' know is that your perception of beauty and taste
is neither aesthetic nor good. Why do we have to be sworn brothers?”

“Well, I suggested the possibility of taking you both as spouses but you both seemed averse
to the idea.” Tianlang-jun replied “Xiyan threatened to cut me into ribbons if I tried to insist
and well if given the choice as pretty as A-Jiu, I wouldn’t be-“

“Enough. You talk this over with Su Xiyan and leave me out of it.” Shen Jiu walked away as
uncomfortable thoughts began to crop up. The last person that he thought to view as family to
get as close to was currently going to be a sect leader and Tianlang-jun a future enemy of
such person. The Heavenly Demon certainly had the same reckless and overly optimistic vibe
of seeing the good in others but it is likely his wrath would be tenfold at being betrayed. He
just did not want to be caught in something like that. Huh… how ironic that the demons that
the fought for so many years had that kind of inclination about them? Looking back, at the
starlight eyes that seemed to quiver with unshed tears. The look that Tianlang-jun had was the
picture of pitiful. He could definitely see the traits that Luo Binghe had inherited from the
parents that he had never met.

“As for the sworn brotherhood. Let me think about it.” Apparently, those words might as well
have been a yes to Tianlang-jun’s ears. It hadn’t helped that another day or so later, he
announced it to the Shen couple who offered to be witnesses on the momentous occasion,
even going so far as preparing the tea. Shen Jiu was well aware of the effects of the Heavenly
demon’s blood so made the added condition that for it to happen that Tianglang-jun refrain
from it.

“Why? My blood gives you many healing benefits. Even save you from fatal wound.”

“It also gives you a huge advantage over me. Brotherhood is based on trust.”

“It prevents betrayal to me from those that ingest it.”

“And what’s stopping you from betraying me?”

“Oh… point taken. Alright so no use of my blood to treat you in anyway. But what if you are
fatally wounded. You humans are awfully frail after all.”

“That’s ‘if’ I’m wounded and ‘if’ I managed to sustain an injury that I can’t recover from by
myself, then death is my punishment.”

“Such an admirable quality. Then I agree to it, little brother.” Shen Jiu shuddered at the
thought that he has essentially made a pact with a demon. His reputation be damned for
eternity.

[System update: Alliance formed with Designation Tianlang-jun. Achievement unlocked.

Brothers at Arts. Potential Development: Baby Daddies]

Shen Jiu figured that after Tianlang-jun left to indulge in more of human culture, he felt a
slight longing and melancholy which didn’t seem to alleviate. Su Xiyan once again came by,
this time without the heavenly demon in tow and brought up the date of the sword selection
ceremony. Shen Jiu wasn’t sure what possessed him to agree to go in the end but they set off
to the mountain.

He had only thought to just watch from a relatively safe distance but when Su Xiyan led him
to a pathway, he realised that the whole universe had put him here to be the butt of it’s long
running joke. He had fallen down and gotten lost within the Hall of Swords.

Then he felt the familiar pull and whispering.

Here! Over here! It was a voice that Shen Jiu never thought that he would hear again, and the
feeling that pulled at him was like returning home. If there was one thing that Shen Jiu did
indeed miss from his previous life was that momentous feeling when he gripped the hilt that
fit against his palm like a fine glove. Pick me up! Shen Jiu stared almost in a trance. It could
hardly be called a coincidence that he happened to land there and of course the energy drew
him back like the inevitable red thread of fate. Dare he? He couldn’t now, he was not even a
disciple. His rational mind was instantly quashed as he took a page out of Yue Qi’s book and
recklessly grabbed the hilt of that infamous sword. At last

“Hello, Xiu Ya.” He whispered gliding two fingers against the beautiful finish of that proud
sword that fit with him so perfectly. The hollowness that Shen Jiu had been feeling alleviated
greatly.

“YOU! HOW DARE YOU!” and at that moment his heartfelt reunion with Xiu Ya was
ruined by another reunion that he didn’t particularly want to enjoy. He hadn’t really expected
to see Liu Qingge so soon. The teen had been relatively civil with him when he taking up
space in his one bedroom hut at the grove and was still named as Liu Feng at the time.
However on his hip hung the familiar tablet that signified his official status as the successor
of the Bai Zhan peak and thus given his new name ready to ascend to his role once his Shizun
retires.

Of course, Shen Jiu did not have his weimao at the time and he deliberately lowered his voice
to make himself sound older whenever he did. “Who says you can walk in and out of Cang
Qiong as you please?” Eying the newly acquired sword, the powerful aura of Cheng Luan
glinted menacingly ready for it’s first fight with it’s new partner. Xiu Ya trembled in
anticipation in his hand but Shen Jiu had not really intended to pick it up. Nor enter in the
domain intentionally. Instead of trying to explain, he ran ahead. “You won’t get away!” Shen
Jiu heard other voices as it seemed that for some reason everyone was getting a sword today.

He grimaced as he ducked and weaved, sometimes slashing a clearing with Xiu Ya. It seemed
frighteningly easy on how he was able to wield the sword like it had never parted from him.
Though he had only ever been in the place once before, Shen Jiu easily pin pointed the
nearest exit with his sharp memory. It was often a pain to be able to remember things so
clearly just from a single glance of the area but, he had to admit, that it came in handy once in
a while. Digging through his sleeves, he grabbed a talisman and flung it forcing it to explode
into a cloud of dust behind him while he hid. “Come back here, coward!” Liu Qingge yelled
but the voice was distant and Shen Jiu felt that he was going to get away with it.

Essentially, he knew that he had stolen something from Cang Qiong Mountain even though
technically it would always only belong to him. Swords were often in line with their owners,
a solid connection between the two. If the cultivator died, the sword would shatter. That was
the general rule. Obviously, the likes of Luo Binghe with his mixed heritage of demon and
human blood were the rare exceptions. Shen Jiu thought to simply rendezvous with Su Xiyan
and never step foot at Cang Qiong. Hopefully, since nobody except the Peak Lord of Wan
Jian Peak could recognise it and if he covered it up, he could carry on using Xiu Ya.

Before he could find the appropriate exit though and contact his friend and her weird demon
lover, he felt something incredibly oppressive and conflicting. The chaotic aura lashed at him
like a whip but it was wild rather than a targeted attack. One of the places he ducked into was
into the highest levels of the Sword domain. Erecting a barrier, he squinted through the light
and recognized a familiar figure in the distance trying to pull out a huge sword. Shen Jiu
gaped as Yue Qingyuan grunted and was in obvious pain as he was forcing his will upon the
sword. The energy clashed together and he could hear the faint cries of someone in the
distance.

“Qingyuan! Stop it, this instant! It’s too much! If this carry’s on you’ll-“ the words were
drowned out with the Qiong Ding Head disciple screaming. Shen Jiu gasped as if watching a
massive accident waiting to happen, he rushed forward but was blown back from a lash of
energy. That was coming from Xuan Su itself, like a wild animal it was about to tear Yue
Qingyuan apart. Feeling blood well up in his lungs from the attack that was enough to
disintegrate commoners into a pile of fleshy mush, Shen Jiu stubbornly swallowed it back
down, charging up all his Qi into a palm strike and strike down to help redirect and combat
the flow. Combined with the power of his Qi and Yue Qingyuan’s working together as one,
the massive beast of a sword of Xuan Su was tamed and pacified. Shen Jiu pulled away
instantly. Yue Qingyuan groaned in pain, his eyes were blood shot but he was for the most
part alright. He was uncharacteristically angry though.

“Why!? Why did you stop me?” Yue Qingyuan yelled ready to lash and punch Shen Jiu’s
lights out. Shen Jiu looked on in disbelief. The teen was about to die from what looked like a
Qi deviation. Was he going to just stand there and let it happen?

“Qingyuan!” the echo of the old Qiong Ding Sect Leader and Yue Qingyuan’s master was
heard. “I’m coming in!” Yue Qingyuan looked dazed but realised that standing before him
was the mysterious Shen Daozhang and Peak Lord Song Zhangzi had arrived with a look of
outrage. Shen Jiu shivered at the man’s presence as he knew that he wasn’t supposed to be
here and now he had just disrupted a sword ceremony and prevented Yue Qingyuan from
claiming his sword.

“Shizun.” Yue Qingyuan bitterly only to be knocked to the ground by his master.

“STUPID! FOOLISH BOY!” The sect leader roared. “Had this young man not stopped you,
what do you think would’ve happened? How many times have I told you that there was no
need to rush? If you carried on, your soul would’ve been fused to that sword spirit.” Both
Shen Jiu and Yue Qingyuan did a double take on what was just said. The Sect leader
concentrated, a hand hovering over the pommel of Xuan Su.

“I… I just needed to get back to find someone.”

“Well, whoever that person is will have to wait because you will be into seclusion for a
couple of months.”

“Shizun!”

“It would’ve been a year had your very life force been fused to the sword, but it seems that
with this gongzi’s help in subduing the sword you should be able to pick it up now.”

“I…” Yue Qingyuan’s eyes bulged in realization of what could’ve happened then quickly
bowed towards Shen Jiu. “Thank you Daozhang for saving me.”
“You know this gongzi?”

“Yes shizun, he-“ Shen Jiu didn’t hear any of that the conversations as the words echoed in
his mind. Fused to the sword spirit. Had he not been there, this very event was what
would’ve happened. That was why Yue Qingyuan never came for him then. He had never got
that answer from him no matter how many times he demanded it. It was just a simple sorry
from the man. It was pathetic. He couldn’t help but laugh as he felt that bubbling pit when the
flashes of the broken shards of Xuan Su flashed before his eyes.

“Shen Daozhang?” there was a worry but it felt distorted, it felt like he was afraid. He should
be, he was about to beat this stupid man into a pulp in fury at Yue Qingyuan, at himself for
waiting for such a hopeless person. This good person that only continued to think about
others and never about the consequences of his actions. The number of times that Shen Jiu
had bailed him out and he has never learned from it.

“…never listen…” Shen Jiu whispered before it all became too much. His blood boiled, his
head hurt and the he felt that blood he had swallowed earlier being brought back up. Blood
was notoriously hard to wash off so Shen Jiu had made it a habit to keep it down or not get
injured in the first place but this time he really couldn’t help it as emotions that he thought he
had left behind rose up in a storm. “YOU NEVER LISTEN! YOU NEVER LISTEN! HOW
MANY TIMES WERE YOU TOLD TO STOP BEING IMPULSIVE!? YOU WERE TOLD
THAT YOU DIDN’T NEED TO COME BACK! WHY DID YOU STILL HAVE TO
HURRY BACK FOR HUH!? WHY!? WHY!? WHY!?”

“I… Xiao Jiu” Yue Qingyuan utterance of that accursed name sent Shen Jiu over the edge.

“Gongzi, please calm yourself. I think this ordeal has caused some severe damage to yourself.
Let me summon one of our healer disciples.” Shen Jiu growled as he made a run for any
direction. “WAIT Gongzi!”

“Stop! Xiao Jiu! It is you isn’t it? Xiao Jiu?” Yue Qingyuan pleaded grabbed him by the
wrist.

“LET GO!” Shen Jiu roared as the weimao flew off and his face revealed just as Liu Qingge
was about to crash down on them both. He pulled back instantly, eyes wide and mouth gaping
like a ridiculous fish. Had Shen Jiu been in his usual calm state he would’ve thought it fairly
humorous but right now he felt like he was drowning.

“I knew it… Xiao Jiu… ”

“It’s you?” Liu Qingge whispered and Shen Jiu felt more blood spill out from his lips.

“XIAO JIU!”

“What’s going on?” the two Cang Qiong cultivators gathered around him as Shen Jiu finally
crumpled to the floor and holding his head screaming. A Qian Cao peak disciple had arrived
by this point, Shen Jiu didn’t know who, but he felt the course of a warm Qi examining his
rapidly deteriorating meridians.
“He’s going through a Qi deviation. Hold him still while I stabilize him.” Shen Jiu felt
several pinches and he knew nothing more.

[System update. Character history: Yue Qingyuan unlocked. Knowledge assimilated to

Designation: Shen Jiu’s character origin.]
 Chapter 12

He felt both hot and cold as disturbed dreams of streams of green lines started falling before
his eyes, like some kind of green symbols appearing against a black background. His throat
felt parched as his body spasmed. When he finally came to some semblance of normalcy, he
found himself in a room he never thought he would ever be in again. Lying on a bed with
familiar herbals smells of a Qian Cao peak recovery ward. His head pounded as his body
ached. It was literally a lifetime ago that he had a Qi deviation, so naturally, he would have
one at a critical point. In a way it wasn’t to be unexpected, he had only just gotten Xiu Ya and
before that had fully assimilated and broke through his latest bottleneck. With no time to
recover, he even had to pull that idiot Qi-ge out of his own deviation.

Shen Jiu winced as he heard the garbled noises of someone being very angry and many other
persons in the room while a hand held his firmly. It felt so warm and familiar while a cool
towel was pressed against his forehead. He remained quiet as if still asleep if only so that he
could perhaps find an opportunity to slip away.

“Oh that stupid boy. To think that my head disciple can be so reckless to push beyond his
capabilities, just to get that sword sooner before consolidating his own Qi first. Not only that,
he ends up dragging his friend into a Qi deviation.”

“His friend happens to be an outsider that had no business being there, you know?” This was
the Bai Zhan Peak Lord that was very much like Liu Qingge. A no nonsense black and white
character. “On top of that he stole one of the swords from the domain as well.”

“Be fair shidi, a sword chooses it’s owner more than anything.” Wu Zhangshu. The peak lord
from Wan Jian Peak replied.

“You’re one to talk considering your security is so shoddy that an outsider managed to get
pass its defences and a boy at that.”

“It just means the sword and he were truly compatible.”

“He’s an outsider.” The Bai Zhan Peak lord repeated becoming increasingly impatient.

“Well if it wasn’t for this outsider, my disciple could’ve had his entire cultivation irreparably
ruined or he could’ve died. I would like to think that warrants him earning that sword.” The
Sect leader voiced. It was an odd thing to have this man speak so favourably of him. It had
been Yue Qingyuan in the past that had literally begged that he be part of the sect before and
none of them approved with the exception of the Qing Jing Peak leader at the time.

“Shizun, this person. This person also saved me.” Shen Jiu heard Liu Qingge interrupted.
There was a pause but Shen Jiu was not in the mood to listen to the stilted retelling of how he
had haphazardly stitched the brute together after his last night hunt. There was a cross
between a gasp and sigh from the person holding his hand. Shen Jiu wanted to roll his eyes
and pull away from an obviously distressed Yue Qingyuan who never failed to be by his side
unless, of course, when his presence actually counted.
“Well, why not just put him through the tests for the next disciple selection event?” Wen
Zhangqing suggested the Peak lord of the Qian Cao Peak. The grip on Shen Jiu’s hand
tightened ever so slightly and he could feel what was obviously hope from Yue Qingyuan.
“Given his aptitude, he can easily qualify for any of the positions. Isn’t Zhangyu Shixiong
still without a head disciple? Perhaps he could go there.”

“Of course, a grand idea. That way, with Shen Jiu as a disciple, that resolves the problem of
his right to own that sword.”

“Are you jesting shixiong? There are rumours of this boy hanging around brothels and other
establishments. A rogue cultivator has no concerns of such for reputation but we can’t afford
to have something like that in the sect.”

“Aiyah, it is often the case that people also seek information there. If you weren’t so
bullheaded with just focusing on fighting you’d have realised those kind of things.” This was
a new voice, a woman. Probably the former peak lord of the Xian Shu peak.

“What do you think Zhangyu-shidi?” the Sect leader asked.

“No” replied Mo Zhangyu, the lofty Qing Jing Peak lord.

In his past life, the former tactician was as astute as any other, his only parting worries was
for Shen Jiu to let go of his past resentments in order to move forward. It was with the irony
that he purposely gave him the name of Qingqiu in order to try to foster that. Shen Jiu hadn’t
understood it at the time until the end of his own life and the final bit of wisdom his shizun
wanted him to realise.

Back then, Mo Zhangyu other than Yue Qingyuan was the only other person in Cang Qiong
that spoke up for him so in that way he respected the man to the point that he took on the
ridicule of his peers. In the end, the questionable youth with a practically ruined cultivation
had made it as Head disciple. To have him be rejected in this lifetime when his spiritual
aptitude was unhindered would’ve have been a blow to Shen Jiu if he still had those past
grudges to hold onto. Right now, he suspected that there was a deeper reason. He listened to
the collective gasp of everyone else including Yue Qingyuan right by his side.

“What? Why? Shen Jiu not only saved the lives of two Head disciples, that could easily
foster a strong relationship between our future peak lords, his cultivation at such a young age
is incredible.”

“That boy is a young prodigy that has managed to cultivate to the level of mid core formation
already on his own. You speak about how much that boy can give towards Cang Qiong
Mountain but what exactly does our Sect have to offer him that he couldn’t already achieve
on his own?”

“But the backing of a sect for a collective protection to support him should he encounter any
problems. After all, he went through a Qi deviation today. If he had been alone what do you
think would happen to him?”
“It is through the interaction of the world and it’s cruelty that heart demons form, which is
what caused Qi deviations to even occur. I’d wager that young Shen Gongzi had yet to have a
Qi deviation until meeting your Head disciple and suffering the shock that his friend from his
past almost died in front of his eyes.” The hand that had grasped his trembled and he started
to feel something wet fall. Shen Jiu heard his old shizun sigh as Yue Qingyuan’s hand
removed himself entirely and Shen Jiu could hear scrubbing probably the young man had
started to cry and was busy rubbing his eyes.

“That…” it had rendered the group speechless but Mo Zhangyu continued.

“Besides, if he had wanted to join a sect, he would’ve sought for us at least two years ago.”
Shen Jiu considered the man that used to be his shizun a genius. He already figured out that
Shen Jiu very much enjoyed his status as a rogue cultivator and had avoided being tied down
to a sect all this time for that reason. Freedom. Shen Jiu swallowed and felt a slender hand on
his chest. Shen Jiu guessed it looked like a doting pat before he ushered everyone to leave so
that he could rest.

“We shall reconvene when the boy’s woken up and make our judgement. We still need to find
out what he was doing there in the first place.” The Bai Zhan Peak lord barked, still clearly
voicing his dislike of the Shen Jiu’s existence. For his part, Shen Jiu continued to lay with his
eyes closed and listened for a while. The smell of healing herbs wafted in the room and the
pitter patter of feet of Qian Cao disciples passing by was soothing. Sometimes they came to
his bedside, checking his meridians. Eventually he grew tired of pretending to sleep and
slept.

When he next woke up, the room was empty with perhaps only one Qian Cao disciple flitting
in an out every now and then. When he was sure that they were not going to be bothering him
for the night he dug through the robes and noted the piece of paper with his shizun’s familiar
handwriting.

It was instructions on how to get out off the mountain without alerting the entire sect and the
time it will remain that way until they changed it. It was an extremely useful and thoughtful
gesture and it saved Shen Jiu having to navigate through it himself. There was also an added
note, that should there be a day that Cang Qiong can offer him something in return for being
a disciple they will meet the demand no matter how outrageous. Of course, there was a
hidden condition that was also implying specifically that he be a disciple at Qing Jing Peak.
Shen Jiu huffed at his shizun’s sneaky way of trying to gain his favour.

Back then he felt such unease but with a lifetime of memories that hopefully culminated into
some kind of wisdom, he realised how much Mo Zhangyu had been quite fond of him. Shen
Jiu sighed at the wave of nostalgia and let himself bask in the connection he had remade with
Xiu Ya.

Due to the damage he sustained from the Qi deviation, he wasn’t going to risk to try to
summon the sword. He needed to be at least somewhat of a distance before leaving the area
completely. Swiftly, manoeuvring around the pathways, he headed towards the hidden exit
and felt Xiu Ya hum through the connection as if worried that it was going to be left behind.
Feeling he was at a sufficient distance, Shen Jiu tentatively concentrated and beckoned for
the sword to come. For an age he waited as the slim blade was no doubt barrelling through
wherever it was currently being held at. When Shen Jiu felt it was close enough he held up
his hand instantly clasping the hilt, like it had never been a part from him. Shen Jiu took a
deep breath wondering if he should chance a sword flight straight to the grove since it no
doubt had alerted Cang Qiong of his escape. His options grounded to a halt as a familiar
figure stood in front of him.

Liu Qingge was as imposing as ever. Shen Jiu thought that he was trying to set him on fire by
just him staring at him with those coal eyes of his.

“Look, I never meant to be there…” Shen Jiu began. Truthfully, he wasn’t, he had only meant
to watch from a distance with Su Xiyan who, for some reason was conveniently missing all
this time. It was a flimsy excuse and he knew he was not likely going to be believed when
Liu Qingge spoke up first.

“Were you looking for me for help?” Liu Qingge asked. Shen Jiu’s jaw dropped looking
somewhat like a gasping fish that had been pulled out of it’s watery home. He had expected
anger, he expected a declaration for a fight for honour or something. He was most certainly
was not thinking about Liu Qingge offering help.

“Um…” Subconsciously, he had gripped onto a square something around his neck and
suddenly remembered that there had been a conversation of some sort of an agreement with
Liu Qingge. Shen Jiu slowly pulled the tablet from the fold of his robes only to hear the Bai
Zhan Head Disciple let out a breath. Shen Jiu had intended to speak the truth despite it being
the least believable but now it was also no better time to ask the young man for a favour. That
way he wouldn’t have to deal with him ever again. “I had intended to watch the ceremony
because I heard about it.”

“To see me?”

Definitely not Shen Jiu thought as he tried to wrangle a good explanation.

“Then it was to see him.” Liu Qingge concluded, he had a face that looked like he had
swallowed a needle. Shen Jiu was at a loss of what to say but his earlier outburst of distress
seemed to indicate it. “I only meant to ask if I could watch. I didn’t realize I was trespassing
and I certainly hadn’t intended to get a sword myself.” He said. He hadn’t. Really, he hadn’t
and he would sooner throw this blasted tablet rather than ask a favour. Everything was just a
mess now, and all Shen Jiu wanted to do was to go back to his little grotto.

“Xiao Jiu…”

Shen Jiu sighed as another obstacle turned up.

“If it’s the sword, I’ll leave it here.” Shen Jiu reasoned. Xiu Ya hummed in his hand
petulantly. It didn’t want to be parted after finding it’s destined partner.

“Xiao Jiu really doesn’t want to stay here?” Yue Qingyuan asked. “Wasn’t being a cultivator
here something you wanted before?”
“That was then, this is now. I’m doing well with myself. I told you that, remember?” Shen Jiu
just couldn’t really look at Qi Ge at the moment, not after finally finding out what the fool
had tried to hide from him all those years in his past life. If he had only known. Shen Jiu felt
his chest ache, a reminder of the Qi deviation he had. He was actually still quite delicate and
shouldn’t be moving around. So what if he knew? What would it have changed? Should he be
grateful that his Qi ge had nearly killed himself to try to keep his promise? Realizing this,
Shen Jiu felt more rotten than ever. That horrible sensation that he had played a part in
ruining Qi Ge back then. It hurt and his eyes burned hot and wet, which alarmed the two
boys. He quickly touched his face surprised for salty wet as he was brought back to the
current reality. Qi Ge was fine. He successfully retrieved his sword and had a bright future
ahead of him. Shen Jiu thought back to his decision that day that every changed from his
choice. To only rely on himself and never expect anything from others. He was doing fine, so
was Qi Ge. That should be the end of it.

“Xiao Jiu!? I’m so sorry. I just… back then… I said I would come back for you.”

“And I told you not to! Don’t you see, you almost got yourself killed and ruined your
cultivation to hurry to come back! I told you about being impulsive! Why can’t you just listen
to me for once in your life?”

“I’m sorry…”

“Sorry, sorry, sorry. Is that all you can say? What’s the worth of your words anyway?” Shen
Jiu wanted to snap at him as usual but with his eyes blurred again and became watery. To his
horror, his voice wobbled and he was trying to stifle a sob. When he and Yue Qi were
children on the streets, Shen Jiu was able to make use of tears, to weep enough to be seen as
pitiful but not an annoyance so people would dig deep into their purses. Why couldn’t he
control himself now all of a sudden? Worse still, his body felt sluggish and couldn’t react too
quickly after his Qi deviation. Strong arms enveloped around him, entrapping him. He
lamented that he still yet to have his next growth spurt as Yue Qingyuan is a full head taller
than him.

“I know my words aren’t worth anything but it’s all I can say, I know I don’t deserve this but
won’t you give this Qi Ge a chance to make it up to you? Let me take you back to your
home.” He said. Shen Jiu went to hit him but it only came out as a tap against his chest. He
was suddenly really tired and strongly reminded on how having a Qi deviation did a number
on him afterwards. His knees began to buckle. Before he was able to hit the floor, Yue
Qingyuan bent low and scooped an arm under his legs.

“I know the general whereabouts where he lives.” Liu Qingge said hopping on their newly
acquired swords and they took flight. Shen Jiu blinked blearily as he was being carried like a
young maiden. If he wasn’t so out of it, he would’ve been offended but the night air felt
rather nice. Being carried felt nice. The breeze hitting his face was cool but Yue Qingyuan’s
neck was really warm pulsing with life. Untroubled and not at all fused to a sword.

They flew in the general direction of the grotto and while Liu Qingge found the exact spot, he
was quite perplexed that he couldn’t get to it. Shen Jiu was gently jostled to try to pull down
the barrier but then he quickly fell back into a doze.
“So this is where Xiao Jiu lives now.” Yue Qingyuan says when Shen Jiu was awake once
more, this time on his familiar bed. The Head disciple looked around with the same
gentleness that Shen Jiu remembered. Shen Jiu noted the young Qiong Ding Head Disciple
stopped to stare at the the little row of trinkets that Shen Jiu had picked up. Many were little
toys and gifts that the village children made. Pointless and ugly looking but they were gifted
to him none the less. “I thought that you were still at the Qiu’s household. How did you get
away from them? And about the cultivation for that matter. Has there been any problems?”

“I learned by myself, found an opportunity and ran, taking the nearest carriage.” Shen Jiu
replied. It wasn’t a lie but he could tell that Yue Qingyuan wanted to know more. How would
anyone believe that an illiterate slave had somehow learned to cultivate on his own without a
master? Yue Qingyuan decided to leave it at that but there was evident worry that Shen Jiu
had gotten involved with unscrupulous people.

“Things have been tough in the region as a result of their influence but it looked like the local
village seems untouched by that strife. I’m guessing it’s because of your help.”

“Hardly, I simply watched over some children for a few hours.” Shen Jiu grumbled, wrapping
himself with his blanket so that he resembled a dumpling with only his eyes peeking out. It
was a childish act but it seemed to have brought much reassurance to Yue Qingyuan who’s
eyes softened at the sight.

“Laoshi! Laoshi!” squealed a number of tiny mini humans that almost sent Da Bai who was
carrying a tray of tea, flying.

“Oh. No.” Announced Dai Ba who in it’s attempt to avoid being knocked down inevitably
tripped. With a flip of a hand, the hot tea that was being spilled was blown away to avoid it
getting on the little brats that had knocked over Da Bai in the first place. All that remained
was the children giggling while the blanket cover fluttered a bit at the edges. There was an
awkward silence as the children’s faces went from happy to terrified.

“Insolence! Look at what could’ve happened? You would’ve burned yourselves for your
recklessness.” The children all looked sufficiently cowed and upset that they had made their
teacher mad.

“We’re sorry!”

“Copy the Rules of Propriety 10 times.” There were collective groans and pouts. “UPSIDE
DOWN!” the children significantly cowed all shuffled meekly to get ink and paper then
proceeded to go up onto handstands against the wall.

“Xiao Jiu… That seems to be a little excessive.”

“Would you rather I beat the ever living daylights out of them with a whip?” the children all
gasped and shook their heads but quickly started scribbling with their brushes as quickly as
possible.

“No, no! Of course not. I’m just… they’re only children.”

“And therefore the perfect age to learn of the consequences of their impulsive actions.
Something that Cang Qiong failed to teach you.” Shen Jiu grumbled. “Or maybe you’re just
stupid.”

“I guess I am.” Yue Qingyuan chuckled scratching his head as he sat closer to him.

“They won’t always have someone looking out for them and someone getting hurt is bound
to happen at some point, but if they can learn to spot it early and avoid most of it as much as
possible then… that’s good.”

“Yes, that’s very true.” Yue Qingyuan looked pensive and it unnerved Shen Jiu how close he
was. Looking sideways from his covers, he could see the profile of the man with a strong
jawline and round brown eyes. Though he was only a couple of years older than Shen Jiu, the
Head disciple had the makings of a leader of a Immortal Sect. Memories of his previous life
surfaced of the fate that the man faced. He couldn’t let Qi Ge get more involved in trying to
protect him.

“It’s getting late, you should go back.”

“Yes… I should” Yue Qingyuan whispered though making no effort whatsoever to get up.
Neither was Liu Qingge who was standing outside chopping wood for some reason. “Can I
visit again?”

“I’d rather you not.” Shen Jiu grumbled trying to ignore the crestfallen look on the other
man’s face. “But since you know how to get here, there’s nothing really stopping you
anyway. Just don’t make a habit out of it or it’ll disrupt your studies.” And there goes the
excited wagging of the proverbial tail as Yue Qingyuan literally lit up.

“Don’t worry Xiao Jiu, I’ll keep it discreet and will visit whenever I can.” Shen Jiu curled up
into a ball even more as the blanket tightened up so now even the eyes had disappeared as
well. The children who had been punished had already forgotten about writing rules and was
watching the two. If they were asked, they could swear that their grumpy but ultimately kind
Laoshi resembled a prickly hedgehog while the smiley Gege next to him was a curious
Panda.

[System update: Alliance formed with Designation Yue Qingyuan. Achievement unlocked:
Childhood sweethearts. Potential development: Unimaginably marital fluff. <3]
 Chapter 13

Shen Jiu had kept to himself for several weeks afterwards not bothering to even venture out.
He made good use of the warm waters of the hot spring to help with the recovery of his Qi
deviation. Idly, he stared at the little trinket he gotten from the Three Pronged Leaf Stag. He
could’ve used this and silently kicked himself for not keeping it on his person. Having said
that, he hadn’t expected that he was going to enter into a Qi deviation whilst he was there. It
seemed that the cruelty of fate had other plans. So, as a precaution, he opted to start carrying
that third horn with him everywhere.

It seemed immersing in a hot spring with it on, helped nurture and massage those damaged
meridians, restoring them as good as new. Shen Jiu felt giddy at his rapid recovery, especially
when his last lifetime was riddled with many Qi deviations that left him bedridden for a
month on, opposed to a mere few days now.

It seemed that Cang Qiong did not pursue him any further after the discovery that he escaped.
Yue Qingyuan was also serving his couple of months of his seclusion for his punishment but
asked a begrdging Liu Qingge to pass the message on to him that he would seek him out
when he was out.

Shen Jiu grumpily said it was not necessary but found himself checking the borders to see a
floating figure on his sword every now and then. At some point he noticed the children when
they were out playing also singing the same song over and over.

When a baby cries, when a woman sighs

Out he comes through the rain and through snow.
With a fluttering fan and a sword in hand
He’ll defend you, the children say so

Old Man Dao, how we love him so

In his little cave on the mountain across the sea.
Old man Dao he’s a grumpy soul
But he cares and he shows you the best that you can be

[System update: Character song added to Designation: Shen Jiu character origin]

Shen Jiu blinked, as his face started to redden and he felt a little flustered at the implications.
He tried to shut the children up but they just ran off to sing it elsewhere.

Sighing in resignation Shen Jiu decided to go to the brothels for information scouting and
tending to his gardens after acquiring some Cleansing Fire Clovers. Another rare herb
amongst a growing list of herbs in his grotto to use as a ward against demons particularly
Sowers. He just needed to make sure he had a little ditch to make a moat so he didn’t
accidentally set fire to the rest of his garden of herbs that he was cultivating.

Liu Qingge made regular appearances at his grotto often with scrapes and cuts and dumping
some beast or other as a “gift” of sorts and sometimes stayed around to receive treatment
from Shen Jiu’s garden.

“Honestly, shouldn’t you be going to Qian Cao Peak for healing? Aren’t they more equipped
in dealing with these kind of injuries than I am?” Shen Jiu grumbled as he applied some
healing salve on yet another gash on the Bai Shan Peak heir. Liu Qingge grumbled
something. “What’s that?”

“The medicines are bitter there.” Liu Qingge replied. Shen Jiu rolled his eyes at the obvious
attempt to divert his attention from the true reason.

All medicines were bitter, it was no different but Shen Jiu knew better than to question more.
It was just annoying that the brute was coming by constantly to use up his limited supplies
that he had to work hard to acquire rather than the huge resources available at Cang Qiong
Mountain. How was that fair?

And about the payments that Liu Qingge sometimes brought. While on the odd occasions he
brought something that he supposed he could exchange with an exotic ingredients trader, the
rest was largely useless for him.

“Take this.” Liu Qingge replied dumping a bag on his lap. Shen Jiu grimaced but opened the
bag regardless, inside was something furry, black and white and looking quite fat.

It was a Two Tailed Luck cat and a rather intriguing specimen that he could write a paper
about. The twin tails wagged lazily as soon as the cat was free from it’s confines. It looked a
little dishevelled though not worse for wear.

“Where did you get this?” Shen Jiu asked.

“Night hunt at one of the outer villages outside Shang Yu, it was found roaming around.
Villagers wanted it killed because it had two tails so I took it instead.”

“I see. Shame, it could’ve come to use to those villagers but ignorance tends to breed hate, I
suppose” Shen Jiu replied as the rotund creature seemed to take a liking to his lap and purred.
His fur was soft and silky to the touch despite being manhandled.

“Best for it to be here rather than causing trouble out there.. He is quite fat, probably having
fed on a lot of chickens” Liu Qingge said. “There’s also this.” Shen Jiu blinked at the wooden
design. It was fairly simple design with white painted spokes and frost covered trees on a
mountain design but pleasing to the eye.

“Well… thank you.” He said putting it in his sleeve, allowing a small smile grace his lips.
The smile turned into a frown though when he felt something suddenly very smelly, wet and
warm spill onto his lap.

“MRROOOOOWWWW” cried the Twin tailed Luck Cat. Ah… turns out 'she' wasn’t fat
after all. Shen Jiu grimaced as his clothes were completely ruined while Liu Qingge froze
like a statue, his eyes wide and face pale like marble.
[System update: Pet feature activated. Twin Tailed Luck Cat x7 acquired and added to
Designation: Shen Jiu’s starting zone. Skill upgraded: Medicine and animal handling. Title
earned: Cat Distribution System minion. Congratulations! Congratulations! Congratulations!
Good things must be said three times. Keep up the hard work.]

What is with this disembodied monotone voice that managed to sound gleeful at his
misfortune?

Yue Qingyuan turned up after his 2 months of seclusion ended and instantly flew over by the
time the kittens were starting to be weaned off from their mother. He fortunately helped to
rehome most of them.

One person that hadn’t visited though was the little trouble maker that had dragged him out to
the sword selection. He wondered where Su Xiyan had wondered off to. For that matter, the
so called sworn brother had also somehow disappeared off the face of the earth.

In his previous life, his awareness of these two names only came about as an afterthought
soon after joining the sect at a ripe old age of 20 and it was a story that was only told to him
by Yue Qingyuan as a story of him being a part of the sealing of the Heavenly Demon.

He had suspicions at the time and only really started to piece things together when he came
across a painting of the infamous Huan Hua Palace disciple and her uncanny likeness for Luo
Binghe. Still, since both the demonic father were sealed and with the mother dead, he never
felt it worth mentioning to the boy.

Shen Jiu wiped his hands after finishing with tending to his garden and plucking a few of the
red leaves of his Sapphire Sage to make himself some tea. He leaned back on his bamboo
easy chair and pondered his next endeavour.

Shen Jiu eventually did meet up with Su Xiyan and Tianlang Jun and while Tianlung jun was
as jovial as ever, he was a little on the dense side in noticing the changing inflections of
emotions on Su Xiyan. Not that Su Xiyan was any better when it come to expressing her
emotions.

“Something the matter?” Shen Jiu asked when Tianlang Jun was off once again marvelling at
the books and completely engrossed in the latest edition of novels provided by the Shen
family, who’s little book shop was now a popular haunt Shen Jiu came to without his
weimao.

Here, he was just a young lofty scholar that came by and found a good place to study. The
little tiny snake nephew that Tianlang Jun always had by his side would peel away from his
uncle and the little noodle will curl up next to Shen Jiu or on his lap instead. Shen Jiu in turn
made a small little hooded basket for Zhuzhilang to take a nap in if he wanted.

“Nothing is the matter.” Su Xiyan replied. She apologised profusely for leaving Shen Jiu out
on the lurch at the sword ceremony but Shen Jiu guessed there was a reason.
“I once read an interesting story. About an overbearing general who pressured his subordinate
as a spy with an intent to assassinate his opposition but only for that subordinate to strike a
deep “friendship” with his target.” Shen Jiu mused. Su Xiyan froze but Tianlang Jun was like
an excitable puppy begging for him to continue.

“Ah! I have heard such tales as well. I do have a few titles here but such a situation like that
always ended in tragedy. “ Shen Mao piped up from the counter.

He had long accepted the trio into his bookstore and always reserved a small corner no matter
if he got busy for their use.

In return, Shen Jiu would pay with money and some medicine and offering some basic health
care. It saved them time and resources to going to the local apothecary or doctor.

“Is there a way for them to turn the tide perhaps?” Tianlang Jun asked, tears filling his eyes.
As much as he liked the angst, he did prefer a good happy ending.

“Not many unfortunately but the few that I have read, it always seems to be under the
influence of external help. If I find such a book I’ll give it to you.” Shen Jiu replied as he
browsed a book about various types of poisons found on the borders between the demon and
mortal realm. Much of it he had to correct himself. Su Xiyan remained silent throughout the
entire exchange.

The trio plus the little baby noodle left the bookstore with Su Xiyan trailing behind them.
Tianlang Jun chatted awayto himself, to Shen Jiu and even to Zhuzhi-lang even though Shen
Jiu was well aware that the little infant demon was too young to understand any of his uncle's
interest.

Eventually, they started going their separate ways with Su Xiyan accompanying Shen Jiu
who had slipped his wei mao on.

Shen Jiu huffed as he watched the woman trail behind completely lost in thought then with
two fingers he prodded her in the forehead. “You do realise you get wrinkles on that forehead
of yours when you are worried about something?”

“A-Jiu…”

“I meant what I said. I’ll help, but you need to make a decision for yourself and the future.”
Shen Jiu replied. “Isn’t that what sworn siblings are meant to do?”

[System update. Developing alliances with Designation: Shen Jiu character origin. Su Xiyan
will remember what you said.]

“I’ll keep that in mind. A-Jiu… but for now, let’s keep our meetings to a minimum.” Su
Xiyan replied as she finally separated and headed towards Huan Hua Palace.

The next few years were seemingly uneventful for Shen Jiu as he mostly kept to himself in
his slowly growing grotto with regular visits from Liu Qingge and Yue Qingyuan each time
with some kind of gift or another.

Yue Qingyuan tend to be present him with small thoughtful things that he noticed Shen Jiu
seemed to like. Despite his lofty appearance, Shen Jiu’s tastes were simple. He had a
fondness for sweets such as tanghulu and tangyuan while Liu Qingge would often bring
samples of his night hunting exploits and vague descriptions of the beasts if they managed to
escape.

The couple of twin tailed kittens that he ended up keeping was curled up on his lap or his bed
on most days or lazily catching any vermin that might have attacked his garden of rare herbs.

All in all, he had a fairly comfortable few years and grew more tolerant with the Cang Qiong
Mountain disciples constant visits and he always had the Warm Red Pavillion or the Shen
family bookstore to escape to if he ever got tired of them.

It was really a far sight better than the years he spent with Wu Yanzi learning useless
techniques and forever crippling his own cultivation because of it. He hadn’t been sure if he
was even going to be accepted at Cang Qiong when he met with Yue Qingyuan at a much
older age than his current life and then being forever stuck at Mid Core formation.

Now, he had started advancing towards Nascent level, going far pass that stagr. Eventually,
he could start making a spiritual double to go spirit wandering. All on his own.

He didn’t need Cang Qiong Mountain at all and ironically, he learned to appreciate the
company of peak lords when he wasn’t a part of them.

Though he thought initially the constant visits would irritate him, he found himself tolerating,
perhaps enjoying Qi Ge and the Brute’s company.

In contrast, the meetings with his sworn siblings, Su Xiyan and Tianlung-jun were becoming
less frequent. Though he initially didn’t want to admit it to himself, he did miss being able to
discuss literature.

Yue Qingyuan had a tendency to just dote and Liu Qingge preferred to just do practical stuff
around the house. While the hut started to expand so he could include guest rooms, the two of
them often ended up in his room and sleeping in his bed.

They also were constantly drawing closer that he wondered if he would suffocate being
constantly sandwiched between them. Aside from the increasingly awkward moments that
required a number of dips in a replica of his Quiet Pool to cool down, they weren’t
unpleasant to be around.

One day though the two turned up at his grotto looking quite sullen. He was reading through
a manuscript about multi-layered arrays.

[System update. User uploaded: Estimated entry 11 months and 2 weeks]. The steady
countdown was to be expected but Shen Jiu felt distracted.

“What’s the matter with you two today?”

“Xiao Jiu, there's something you need to know.” Yue Qingyuan said reluctantly. Shen Jiu
remained impassive putting on a puzzled look.

“About what?”

“It’s completely outrageous.” Liu Qingge growled, his arms crossed.

“Xiao Jiu, have you by chance heard of the name Tianlang Jun?” Yue Qingyuan asked. He
looked almost afraid for even asking the question.

“The Heavenly Demon that rules the Southern borders of the Demon realm?” Shen Jiu
recited as if it was something out of a text. “I’ve read about it.” He wasn’t lying, he did
indeed read about the story of Tianlang jun in the library a life time ago. “So?”

“They… they were saying-” Yue Qingyuan was having difficulty voicing the words out as if
just saying made him feel dirty.

“They’re saying you’ve aligned yourself with the demons and are helping them plot an
invasion into the Human Realm.” Liu Qingge yelled spooking the cats as well as a few of the
children who were wondering why the pretty cultivators were so angry. Shen Jiu raised an
eyebrow as his own indication before he let out a huff.

“I wonder where did that rumour come from? The Old Palace Master from Huan Hua Sect
perhaps?” Shen jiu replied leaning back and reading his book once more.

It seemed it was time to set his own plan to motion for if they were going to try the same
trick as he remembered reading about, he had already mentally prepared the best way to
counter it. “But whatever, it’s not like I had a good reputation to begin with.”

“We know you’re innocent.” Of course he was innocent. In fact, the so called feared demon
was innocent as well, unless you counted the trash literature he liked to read, he was just
simply enjoying immersing himself in human culture.

His fondness for them was unfathomable that Shen Jiu wasn’t sure why. There were probably
more abhorrent humans he knew than good ones that he had come across in his two lifetimes.
“I just think that Xiao Jiu should perhaps just avoid going out too much. Let us handle the
situation. Once we prove you have nothing to do with the Demon Realm.”

“If that’s what you advise.” Shen Jiu replied waving a hand dismissively. “I’ll reduce my
visits to the Red Warm Pavillion.”

It just meant more time at the bookstore which is what he preferred anyway.

---

“A-Jiu! A-Jiu!” Shen Mao cried, looking quite flustered in the face. “S-something is
happening to A-Li. She’s been ill. Won’t you please look at her?” Shen Jiu feigned concern
and strode in looking at a green in the face Shen Li. “She fainted recently and when I tried
her to get some food down she felt nauseous.”
“Aiyoh… it’s nothing I’m telling you.”

“Oh please rest, my love. I knew I should have asked for A-Jiu to see you sooner.” Shen Jiu
sat by the woman’s bedside.

“Allow me to check your pulse, since I’m here anyway.” Shen Jiu replied. The slightly
elevated beats were just as he had suspected after being given ample warning from the
System and being more informed in his own studies. He nodded sagely.

“I detected two spiritual pulses within you. Congratulations you are with child.” The couple
stared at each other with shock. Several moments of silence had passed between them before
Shen Li finally spoke.

“I’m pregnant?” Shen Li asked leaning back rubbing her stomach.

“I’m pretty sure.” Shen Jiu replied. Truth be told he knew the difficulty of conceiving and
had it not been for the System’s otherworldly knowledge, he’d be sceptical of them ever
getting to have a child no matter how hard they had tried even if he laden them with all the
best pills he could think of to help it happen. “Is there something wrong?”

“No… it’s not that… it’s… I… I thought we’d be long past it and I had…” Shen Li
whispered as tears started to form. “We’re having a baby… Lao Gong…”

“We’re really having a baby?” Shen Mao had become a blubbering mess before hugging his
wife. A choked sob came out from the two of them. Shen Jiu smiled.

“Giving the age of conception, I suggest plenty of bedrest for the entirety of the pregnancy
for the wellbeing of both mother and child.”

“Oh but money is tight. You can’t manage the shop on your own.” Shen Li replied.

“Don’t you worry, my love. I won’t let you lift a finger if it means keeping you both safe and
healthy.” Shen Mao urged her to lie down. Shen Jiu having spent many a days over the last
few years near the couple could tell the genuine affection they felt for each other.

Often Shen Li bossed her husband around but the man always laughed it off. The man was
smitten and Shen Jiu wondered a little what that would be like. To live normally.

“If it would help assist. I have some contacts that I can call in as a favor to support you.”
Shen Jiu added. So they moved Shen Li to the grotto where Shen Jiu had in preparation of
this day built another hut with a nursery and he got in touch with the local healer that
supported the brothel he used to frequent.

---

Whilst in the middle of working on gathering and replanting some of the medicinal plants on
the nearby cliff side at the edges of the grotto and putting together a rocking chair for Shen
Li, whom he had to constantly convince to just rest up, Shen Jiu noted a message being sent
his way.
It was from Su Xiyan and it was a call for assistance. Calculating on his fingers the time,
Shen Jiu realised that it was time to put his plan to action.
 Chapter 14

The message came in the form of a scout dove as he found it circling just outside the area of
the grotto, unable to get past the powerful illusionary defence that Shen Jiu had put up.

The scout dove had given up flying and was perched on a branch nearby when Shen Jiu
noticed the note tied to its leg.

On top of that Yue Qingyuan arrived to speak to him later that day. “There’s going to be
something happen at the Bailu Mountains in two days time.”

“You want me to stay here while the rest of the cultivation sects gather there?”

“There’s rumours of a cultivator that has been colluding with Tianlang-jun and engaging with
unorthodox practises.” Shen Jiu couldn’t help but roll his eyes “So the sects are suspicious of
every rogue cultivator around. I just want you to be careful when you are out and about.” Yue
Qingyuan said.

“Do you suspect me of being the one colluding with this demons against the human world. ”
Shen Jiu asked narrowing his eyes.

It was to be expected for the cultivation world to cast suspicion on him.

Yue Qingyuan looked contemplative for once. It was a good quality for a future leader to be
shrewd, which he felt Yue Qingyuan wasn't in his past life.

“That’s not it at all, Xiao Jiu.” he said.

“Then what if I told you I have been in contact with such a demon? What are you going to do
about it? Turn me in? Have my cultivation stripped simply for associating with him?”

“No, I wouldn’t.” He replied with conviction. This surprised Shen Jiu and while Qi-ge
covered for him before, there was always that sense of disappointment about him. “Even if
you did, I know you have your reasons. Also, it’s just rumours. They say that Tianlang-jun is
planning an uprising to invade the Human Realm but… I’m not sure.”

“What evidence do they have for this?”

“They observed that he started appearing in the human realm to spy for weaknesses.”
Though he maintained his nonchalance, Shen Jiu internally scoffed at the thought of that
lovesick idiot to be spying on anything. If anything he was like a puppy dog that skipped here
there and everywhere then following Su Xiyan with reckless abandon with his tail wagging.

“Xiao Jiu…? ”

“As far as I'm aware there aren't any signs of an uprising from demons. I urge you to really
investigate things properly before just jumping to arms just on someone’s words.” Shen Jiu
fluttered a fan against his face. It was his habit he maintained through both life times.

“Right, of course.”

“Rather than demons, I would cast doubt on certain orthodox cultivators. I’d be careful of
those with a silver tongue that likes to spin wild tales because something is not going their
way.” Shen Jiu warned. “I've seen many of 'those' around lately.”

“Funny… the Qing Jing Peak Lord said the same thing.” Yue Qingyuan chuckled fondly.
Shen Jiu purred in satisfaction. He was assured that there was at least one competent peak
lord on that mountain. "Still, just stay low until this is over, because the other sects will not
necessarily listen even if its coming from Cang Qiong.

—
‘Stay low, huh? ’ Shen Jiu thought at how ironic that sounded coming from Yue Qingyuan as
he placed a hand over the array he had been working on, pulling on the energies of his core to
activate the illusion and the teleportation at the moment. He was met with a growl and a fist
towards his face that he caught with both hands.

“Shen-Xiong? What are you doing here?”

“Hazard a guess, dummy. Look around you.” Shen Jiu drawled.

Tianlang-jun looked around, eyes widened in recognition that he was in The Grotto rather
than being attacked by the entirety of the human cultivation world.

“Hopefully, if the illusion array is working. Everyone will be celebrating your apparent
defeat.”

“You knew about this ambush and about Xiyan. You knew she was sent to spy on me?”

“Yes.” Shen Jiu replied choosing to keep things honest. “That was her original intention in
approaching you, but surely you know how it is. You’ve read enough of those trash novels
about the consequences of tragic lovers who come from opposing sides." Shen Jiu began to
prune a few leaves off of a plant and put it into a pot to brew for a tea. This is why he always
wanted to stay out of the politics between demons and the Cultivation Sects but fate being
what it is, he didn't have much choice.
"Why didn’t you just tell me?”

“And rely on your atrocious acting skills to pull a convincing con in front of the entire
cultivation world?" Shen Jiu scoffed. "Don't make me laugh. Thanks to my illusion array they
all saw you subdued but to be sure, don't go gallavanting around like you use to. The pervert
thats been hounding you and xiyan's shadow is unfortunately the paranoid kind" The pervert
in question was of course Su Xiyan's Sect Leader and Shizun.

"Xiyan... didn't betray me, right? "

"She's the one who asked me to help you when she realised her shizun trapped her too. Now
pipe down and drink your tea, while I think." Shen Jiu poured the beverage into three cups
and shoved one over to his sworn brother. "Where's little Zhu?"

"He was injured by the cultivators. I managed to get him away before he was trapped with
me."

"Let's hope he can make his own way here or at least find a safe spot to hide and not try to
get back to you yet. I'll contact him once I've recovered enough of my spiritual energy." Shen
Jiu fanned himself as he took the second cup and drank from it.

"Is Xiyan well?"

"Pfft... I don't know, probably dying..." Shen Jiu scoffed while the Heavenly Demon looked
like he was about to cry.

Shen Jiu could feel himself roll his own eyes at the absurdity of the world cultivators painting
such a vicious picture of the Heavenly Demon. If only they could see him now and have their
world view completely shattered.

"I've not seen her since she first disclosed her pregnancy to us." Shen Jiu replied. Tianlang-
jun wanted to say more but was interrupted by another familiar face.

“A-Jiu, have you finished your work? Dinner is ready.” Shen Li called over as she entered.
"Oh A-Tian, I did not see you come in. I can set up another bowl, I've made enough to feed
an army."

"Li Jie, did I not tell you to go rest?" Shen Jiu scowled though it came out more of a nag and
ge offered her tea.

"Aiyah, it's fine. I was bored sitting around all day and I only made something simple. This is
nothing." The woman grinned, beaming at the two of them with the air of any happily content
mother to be, her stomach clearly bulging. Tianlang-Jun's eyes bulged at the woman before
looking between his sworn brother and the humble book merchant's wife.

"Wait... A-Jiu are you...? Did you-?" Shen Jiu glared before smacking the Heavenly demon
with his fan on the head.

"Will you get your demented mind out of the bog?" Shen Jiu growled, "Li Jie needs extra
care during her pregnancy so she stays here while Mao-ge works at the shop."

"Is she due soon?"

"Hn... it looks like their child and yours could be future play dates, if we can get Su Xiyan to
safety." Shen Jiu mused as he waved the fan across the face as he sat at the table spread of
food.

As an cultivator that managed to get to his Golden Core stage for a whikr, there was no need
to eat but actually having an adult for company rather than a bunch of children was somewhat
refreshing.

Tianlang Jun obviously didn't count as he was just a demonic man child whom Su Xiyan
tended to baby to a sickeningly sweet degree.

"Play dates eh?" Tianlang-jun grinned, the kind of grin that he tended to have when he was
reading a particularly sordid trash novel. Shen Jiu sneered in disgust and rolled his eyes.

"That is only if we can reach her in time and get her out of the Water Prison."

"The Water Prison? As in from the Huan Hua Palace?"

"Yes, let's finish our tea and I'll tell you the plan."

"The Water Prison... Hold on Xiyan. I'm coming to get you." Tianlang-jun growled as he
realised that the woman he adored was in such a place but also there was a malicious grin as
if he was ready to charge in demonic powers blazing. The System also chimed in.

[System update. Tianlang-jun will remember what you said. New title achieved: Comrades in
arms. New title achieved: 'Of course you realise, this means war' .]

Shen Jiu sighed. Playing the good guy was so much hard work and what was with this
message in the first place? What was there worth remembering about?

---

After dinner and running through the plan with Tianlang-jun, Shen Jiu returned to his study to
make preparations. At some point, he was brought out of his reverie with a gentle smell of
tea. Shen Mao appeared with a tray and broad smile.

"A-Li said you would be in here. I figured, I'd bring in this new tea that you might like to
try." Shen Jiu stared at the man who had a large grin on his face with eyes like half moon
slits.

"What's the real reason you wish to speak with me then?" Shen Mao chuckled awkwardly as
he settled the tea tray down.

"Truth be told A-Li is worried of her kid brother" If Shen Jiu had not lived his second life, he
would've scoffed at the idea of being called a child at 20 years however he had long passed
the grievances over age.

The Shen couple were worried and they had a right to be, so if they wanted to distance
themselves from him, it was understandable.

If it weren't for the fact that his fate intertwined with their child, he would've taken
precautions to not involve them at all. "You're about to do something dangerous, aren't you?"

"I am indeed about to undertake a perilous mission." Shen Jiu replied. "One I understand if
you don't want to get involved."

"Indeed, if you are doing something dangerous, then you must come to us."

"Excuse me?"

"Look at me Daozhang, do I look like a scholar to you?" Shen Mao did not in fact look much
of a scholar with his ruggard beard and rounded face.

"Though you're relatively well read, you have a stocky build, like an ox and probably more
suited to be a soldier or..."

"A farmer?"

"Um..."
"You're not wrong. I've gone above my station in life many times over. I attempted to be both
a scholar and a soldier and surprisingly managed to get far into both roles before I decided to
retire with barely any consequences." Shen Mao sighed. "A-Li and I, we both have been
unfilial to our families. Gone against their wishes and eloped together to sell books and rare
antiquities that I always managed to somehow acquire."

In the few years that Shen Jiu had visited his store, he never showed this vulnerability.
Always jovial and willing to help.

There were many times he was able to acquire a book that Shen Jiu wanted and he also gave
hum something Shen Jiu never had even with Qi ge. A sense of stability and peace.

"I figured it was karma, the price for all this good fortune was to be denied children of our
own. To not have a legacy and yet once again, I was met with good fortune once more. I
believe it had something to do with you."

Shen Jiu huffed at the man's incredible intuition for it was indeed the System that had
manipulated their meeting but was it not the same for himself? To be given such a second
chance and to live a life he has dreamed of. Aside from that one incident of a Qi deviation
helping Yue Qingyuan, he was unmet with no obstacles in his cultivation.

"Even if so, it's not worth courting danger with a baby on the way"

"No, no. I know it when I see it. I may be a commoner but I do have a sense for these things.
A-Li and I have had wonderful luck despite our sins. I am certain now that our good fortune
came about because of this. That was to meet with you and help you. A-Li and I have talked
about this too and we are prepared." Shen Jiu sighed, his heart touched by the man's resolve
and loyalty and yet the words unsettled him. Dread that Shen Jiu hadn't experienced in a long
time sunk at the pit of his stomach.

[System update: Meeting the User approaching in 1 month and 7 days. Wishing you good
luck.]

---

The plan was both simple and difficult since the Water prison was infamous for being
impenetrable with the only exception of a select few including the Palace Master himself
having ability to open the veil of water.

He was not sure if this method of entry was true anymore, as the spy who gave him that
information was now a prisoner there.
He still had to be cautious at least or try to be as his companion insisted on humming like an
idiot to himself and strolling casually into the premises like it was a jaunt down the
marketplace.

Shen Jiu himself was deliberately dressed in a higher ranking replica of the Huan Hua gowns
that he had Xiyan acquired for him as well as an ability to make uncanny life like looking
masks, which he learned to craft from a manual that he traded for from a fellow rogue
cultivator.

Meanwhile, Tianlang-jun was in his usual black attire albeit slightly more muted than his
garishly large fur lined robes and simply just hopping about like a puppy.

Shen Jiu held his breath as he tried the array having managed to extract the exact spiritual
signature of the Palace Master during the ‘war at Bailu Mountain.’

He hoped this technique was enough to trick the opening of the water veil. Taking out the
mask of an old looking man with a snow white beard, he turned to the shock of Tianlang-jun.

Had he not been privy to witness his transformation, he could’ve just been confronted with
the Palace Master himself.

“Put your mask on, do you want to explain to the disciples why the Demon Lord that they
thought has been sealed in Bailu suddenly appearing at Huan Hua Palace?”

“Right, right. My apologies, I’m just excited at how clever this scheme is. Humans are
fascinating.”

“They’re really are not. I’m just an exception.” Shen Jiu huffed.

“Oh of course, of course. You are the smartest of them all.” Tianlang-jun sidled up close to
his sworn brother, a huge grin plastered upon his face.

The full ensemble put together, the two of them picked up the pace and managed to slip by
several of the disciples who simply bowed at the presence of the ‘Palace Master’ and when
the ‘Palace Master’ said someone could pass through and for the disciples to not look, they
did as they were told.

Finally, they approached the veil of water that despite it’s seemingly innocuous appearance
was deadly and burned things to nothing.

The smell was also strong and acidic in nature and he feared that his disguise would start to
melt under it. If even a single drop landed then the illusion was immediately dispelled but as
the veil parted giving him view of the empty platform.
Shen Jiu paused as he prepared his escape in case of another trap. In this case, there was a
genuine panic that the prisoner had escaped.

“Xiyan?” a moment of vulnerability cracked in the otherwise cocky Demon Lord behind him.
Shen Jiu having observed the Palace Master’s mannerisms in his first round of life, he barked
out his orders keeping in mind of where Xiyan may have escaped to.

From what he could garner from his first life, it was an easy enough deduction as to figure
out what had happened

Su Xiyan escaped her masters clutches and sent her son away to escape to die defending him.
From the name alone, he knew it was going to be a river and the second clue was the name of
that river.

So, he ordered every platoon to be sent to every corners for a search deliberately keeping that
specific area to be searched by himself and Tianlang-jun. The disciples never questioned it
and did as they asked. Hopefully, he’ll have retrieved Su Xiyan before then.

They headed towards one the Luo River, noting the icy cold of the weather and the splatters
of blood. It seems that the wayward disciple was nearby.

“I must say, you really are resourceful to be able to escape your imprisonment. I’m afraid you
are too late to go warn your demon lover though.”

“I won’t go back to you.” Su Xiyan rasped. Her face was pale and clammy with sweat. “I’ve
tried to reason with you, Shizun but you are nothing more than a crazed mad man.”

“Am I? I suppose I am.” Shen Jiu smirked, satisfied that his disguise was that good that it
even fooled Huan Hua’s finest disciple.

“Xiyan!”

“A-Tian?” Su Xiyan stared in shock and confusion between the young demon lord that was
charging towards her and her master. There was also hope in her eyes. Had her master seen
sense but Shen Jiu had to dash that dream at least as he peeled off the wrinkled mask patted
his now smooth face.

“A-Jiu…” As if she were a puppet with her lines cut, her legs buckled and she fell into her
demon lover’s arm who swooped her into a bridal carry.

“Silly girl. You couldn’t have waited a little longer for us to pick you up.” Shen Jiu muttered.
“I… I’m sorry… but… they were about to cut his body out from me. S-Shizun made me
drink this poison that only hurt demons and those that contained demonic blood. I isolated it
with my own spiritual energy but if they had operated, they would realize that he was still
alive… I had to get out… I had to warn you.” Su Xiyan’s voice wobbled as tears filled her
eyes.

The river carrying her baby was quick and he had disappeared downstream ages ago.

“It’s alright, Xiyan. I’m here. We’ll figure out a way to meet up with my nephew. Right A-
Jiu?”

“Where’s the baby?” Shen Jiu asked. Noting that there was a lot more blood than usual. Su
Xiyan had figured to stuff her stomach with many clothes to give the illusion that the baby
was still inside her while her fellow cultivators gave chase and she could divert their attention
away.

Su Xiyan hiccuped, pointing at the river. Her finger trembling as tears fell from her eyes.
Strong, aloof Su Xiyan wept alarming Tianlang-jun who never fully understood the
sentiments of humans for their own offspring.

Despite her usual stance in life, Su Xiyan had become a mother and with it came all the
emotions experienced by any human.

“Please A-Jiu. Please help me find him. I didn’t know what to do. If they came looking for
us… It was the only thing I could think of to give him a chance. Thank you for helping A-
Tian but will you please help us one more time?” Shen Jiu sighed as he stared at a screen that
neither of his two friends could see.

[System Warning. You cannot change the trajectory of Luo Binghe’s main journey.]

'Stop annoying me with messages that I already know. '

“I’ll do what I can but I think it’s best for us to find a place to hide and try to cure you of that
poison you still have in your body.”

“Shen Jiu, please... ”

“He has some demonic heritage which technically makes him hardier than a regular baby and
not many will be thinking to look for an abandoned baby at this point. Wherever he is, he’ll
be faring better than you who is being hunted. Now both of you put these on.”
Shen Jiu unpacked two more masks, a male and a female and they both slipped on some
common wear clothes that Shen Jiu had packed into his qiankun pouch before leading them
both away towards the Grotto.

[System Update: Meeting User approaching in 14 days]

'14 days? Why suddenly so soon?' Shen Jiu questioned as the anxiety from Shen Mao's words
echoed back to him. Just barely three days before, when he had that conversation with Shen
Mao, it had been over a month now it was 14 days? What's with this erratic time change?
Shen Jiu's mind ran in circles until Tianlang-jun called him and he never got an answer from
the System.

"Shen-Xiong, Xiyan's not looking well."

"Please, let's find our son." Su Xiyan pleaded though the speech was slurred. Shen Jiu
ignored her as they continued to fly ahead.

—-

From the corners above a copse of leaves were two pairs of slit eyes staring intently at them
before the leaves rustled, the bodies unfurling from their perches, revealing themselves.

Twin tails waved lazily at them as the two Twin-tailed Luck cats greeted them at one of the
many entrances into the Grotto by leaping down to rub against their master’s legs. “It’s good
to see you both too. YanYan, Tufei.”

“Mrooowww….” Yawned Tufei as they two cats sauntered ahead as if escorting them back.

In the guest house, a woman in her 40’s was seated in a chair. Her belly round and full.
Though she was encumbered, there was a steady stride in her step, recognising the distraught
look up on Su Xiyan's face. Su Xiyan was staring at her rounded belly and an unconscious
hand gravitated to her own recently empty one.
 Chapter 15

Shen Jiu felt restless since the rescue mission, so he prepared the grove with as many
defensive and illusion arrays to make it a fortress and stocked up on food. In the mean time,
he also kept up the front of a simple scholar in the local area teaching the village children.
Then at night, sneaked into the Red Pavilion for further information. The sisters there were
efficient and clever, siphoning information from various travellers and cultivators that came
their way. Whatever they knew, they passed it over to Shen Jiu.

As expected, the Palace Master of Huan Hua Palace did not want the world to know that his
fortress had indeed been breached. So, he made up a story that Su Xiyan had been injured by
the demons and was in recovery only to be snatched away by Tianlung-jun's forces. He made
repeated demands to go to the Mountain and interrogate the Heavenly Demon, but was
subsequently blocked by the other Sects, the most notable was Cang Qiong Mountain.

The reason was on the basis that they did not want to risk damage to the seal they fought hard
to be placed and releasing the tyrant for one disciple. That was the official reason but Shen
Jiu suspected that this was because certain key members of the Cang Qiong simply did not
like the man. This, however didn't stop Huan Hua Palace from sending out their everyone in
their sect to raid and terrorise everyone in their search for their wayward Head Disciple.

So far, despite his seething hatred towards the sects that tried to trap him, Tianlang-Jun was
willing to lay low, if only because for Su Xiayan's sake. The woman in question had gone
into a dazed stupor laying in bed every day since she was found. Sometimes she would be
seen despondent with tears rolling down her face.

[System update: 11 days until meeting with the User. Warning: Your ally is afflicted with
Depression, this will need your attention.]

'Got it, got it.' Shen Jiu sighed as he made up a tea from his herbal garden. Over the years of
looking after children and supporting women at the Red Paviliion with their births and
learning about the process, he also noticed the signs of developing heart demons that
accompanied loss.

The strange terms the System gave him were unheard of in this world, but they became
useful in explaining things to the women in the villages and within the Red Pavillion. They
long accepted him and allowed him to assist with matters around childbirth. He remembered
helping one of the women that had a miscarriage, she developed similar symptoms that Su
Xiyan were showing.

He used to request for this particular courtesan often which was initially met with resistance
but then she started to get better over time. Eventually, she rose to the top and was one of the
most sought after courtesans despite no longer being 'pure'. She was prized for her intellect
and talents. Some of which was taught to her by Shen Jiu himself.

The signs were all there and it wasn't really a wonder as Su Xiyan, bereft of the child in such
a violent way. Even if it was the best she could do to protect him, she obviously still felt
guilty and there was steadily a darkness in her eyes, every time she saw Shen Li, lovingly
stroke her bulge. A deep seated sense of resentment and jealousy. Shen Jiu shuddered as it
was the same kind of face that was shared with her son, a lifetime ago.

Instinctively, he started keeping Shen Li and Su Xiyan separate from each other as much as
possible. He frequented the areas less occupied by the Huan Hua Palace, keeping his clothing
as plain robes and altering his face with his masks or make up that he learnt from the
courtesans. It helped that he made sure to keep his face and his identity as a veiled cultivator,
Shen Daozhang as two separate entities.

Only a select few people on Cang Qiong Mountain knew exactly who he was and they
appeared to be keeping a tight lip about him despite Huan Hua Palace's demands. The rest of
the cultivation world only knew of Shen Daozhang in a veiled weimao, his face obscured so
even the attempt at finding him through wanted portraits were pointless.

He didn't need to find the child Su Xiyan sent down the Luo River. He knew where his
outcome would be and that he was obviously going to live but it was going to be difficult to
prove that to Su Xiyan and Tianlang-jun. The idea that the baby would later conquer the
Three Realms and acquire an entire harem of 3000 wives was far too absurd for them to
believe.

The boy must've been adopted by someone to even acquire the name. He merely needed to
establish who it may be and guide the User to make those changes. He also couldn't draw too
much attention towards Cang Qiong Mountain disciples to cause a rift in the alliance. Though
he couldn't seek out Luo Binghe, he could at least search for one other individual of interest.

Turns out that he didn't need to look far, and he wondered if this had been the influence of the
System for his fortune that he found his target within a few days? Shen Jiu figured that
traversing the expanse of the Bai Lu forest which was under the control of Huan Hua Palace
was an intensely risky affair but it seemed that the little one had learned a number of lessons
to go to the places where the most dangerous was also the safest. Zhu-Zhilang was in a sorry
state, curled up in a catacomb of dappled sunlight. His scales had lost it's lustre and peeling in
parts. Several cuts and burns were also there too though with his Heavenly Blood heritage
and plenty of rest, he could recover on his own.

Shen Jiu noticed the oddity of the arrangement and immediately marked the place down for a
future forage. The Sun Dew Mushroom may come in handy for him one day.

The little snake reared it's head in a threat posture but he wasn't threatening at all. From his
weakened state, Shen Jiu could easily dash the snake demon against the rocks with a simple
wave of his fan. Instead, he knelt down revealing his face.

"It's alright. Your uncle is hiding at my place. I'll take you to him." To prove that he was
telling the truth, he asked for some item belonging to Tianlang-jun to show his nephew. The
tiny snake's eyes seemed to glisten, as if on the verge of tears before he made him smaller
then quickly slithered up Shen Jiu's arm, curling around it 3 times before bowing his head
several times in a snake kowtow. Shen Jiu in turn booped the noodle's snout. "Try to
remember this place Zhu-Zhi, we might have use of the things here." The little snake nodded,
taking stock of the surroundings before curling in further between the folds of the cultivator's
robes, seeking warmth and comfort that he hadn't had since his uncle's 'subjugation'.

[System update: 7 days till the User arrives.]

So far so good. Shen Jiu thought as he left, keeping his weimao on tight. Every was going to
plan and he was keeping everyone safe. Until it wasn't.

---

Yue Qingyuan and Liu Qingge both decided to turn up at his grotto.

"Xiao Jiu? Are you well? I know it's been a while since we visited." Yue Qingyuan said, the
same gentle smile on his face despite clearly looking fairly exhausted. It didn't stop him from
presenting him some rather tasteful looking brushes and writing supplies and an entire stall of
tanghulu. The seller he bought it from must've been ecstatic to sell all his wares early.
Frowning, he rolled his eyes as he got Da Bai to gather them together and store them and
maybe share out the sweets to the children. (making note to keep at least two for himself)

It seemed that Cang Qiong mountain was still quite restless after the battle against Tianlang-
jun. Though it was more because they were at constant loggerheads from an irate Huan Hua
Palace Master. Shen Jiu needed to think of something quickly to try to throw them off but the
proverbial noose was tightening.

"Now's not really a good time to visit, I did as you asked and kept myself in a low profile
from everyone and because of that I have a lot of errands piled on." Shen Jiu said.

"What do you need?" Liu Qingge demanded, shoving another bloodied back of some kind of
slaughtered creature towards Shen Jiu's direction. It smelled foul as he gingerly brought out a
spare qiankun bag to seal it in. He slapped an extra talisman to contain the contents odour
too.

"Nothing you can or will be willing to do." Shen Jiu replied nose up in the air.

"How do you know that I wouldn't be willing?" Liu Qingge blurted out.

"Oh? You don't mind sullying your righteous Cang Qiong Mountain reputation by going to
the Red Pavillion with me?" Shen Jiu asked. Liu Qingge looked thunderous as his face
instantly went red.

"You... shameless... why are you going over there for?"

"Xiao Jiu..."

"What? I'm not affiliated to any sects to ruin their reputation with." Shen Jiu replied. "Also,
it's bold of you both to assume that I go there just to sample the wares." Shen Jiu huffed
gently waving his fan against his face. A hand gently waving a signal as reptilian eyes
silently slithered through the brushes.
"Then what are you going over there for then?" the Bai Zhan Head disciple face was pink in
the ears.

"Laoshi.... do I have to go?" a child, a young girl around 10 years of age fumbled over just at
that moment.

"Of course, your mother is waiting for you." Shen JIu replied. Both Cang Qiong Mountain
disciples stared with blank faces and Shen Jiu simply rolled his eyes when the penny finally
dropped.

"But I want to finish making medicine."

"It will still be here when you come back tomorrow. You have chores to do for the madam.
You know this." Shen Jiu explained gently. The girl pouted but did as she was asked while
the two Cang Qiong Mountain disciples looked abashed at their assumptions.

"You were just teaching the children belonging to the courtesans at the Red Pavillion, right?"

"Hmph." Shen Jiu fluttered his fan against himself. He was obviously not pouting.

"We're sorry, we misunderstood." Yue Qingyuan said.

"It's not the first time it's happened," Shen Jiu replied.

"Let us make it up to you for doubting your integrity, at least."

"I don't need anything except to be left in peace to my work and certainly not surrounded by
dirty Cang Qiong Disciples. How long ago did the two of you wash? There's a hot spring
over you can use for a bath. You could use it."

"Hot spring?" Liu Qingge frowned asking while Yue Qingyuan seemed to freeze like a statue.

Shen Jiu pretended not to notice at first as he explained about the undercurrent of volcanic
activity beneath the surface of some springs. The scent was unpleasant of rotten eggs when
he first found it but he had rectified this with an herbal concoction mixed in with an array to
filter out the smell. It was very much like a perpetually warm bath and was helpful for the
aches and pains of cultivation and having some additional herbal soaks was quite relaxing
too.

"The soaks also help to stabilise your meridians making you more resilient to Qi deviations.
The golems I made help to keep it tidy as well as guard it from intruders

"I don't need it." Liu Qingge replied.

"Trust me, you do." Shen Jiu scrunched his nose at the stench of death clinging to the Bai
Zhan disciple. 'It might also help stabilise your qi better so you are less prone to deviating
and dying in the future' This went for both of them with Yue Qingyuan who narrowly escaped
a repeat of his mistake of having his life fused with his sword.
"Um... Xiao Jiu... just a question." Yue Qingyuan mumbled to him, becoming increasingly
flustered.

"Yes..." Shen Jiu answered immediately, rolling his eyes at the man who flushed even further
explaining the previous encounter. As for Liu Qingge, he was caught between wanting to run
away or stay and fight. Shen Jiu huffed in frustration.

"Call it an exchange for the... gifts." Shen Jiu nodded over to the sack that Liu Qingge had
given him by the door as well as Yue Qingyuan's trinkets on his desk. Both of the me in
question still stood there, both of them starting to go red as well as sending glances towards
each other. Shen Jiu rolled his eyes. "What is it now?"

"Well... W-Will you be joining later?" Liu Qingge blurted as if stuck between making a
challenge or a poor attempt at an invitation. Liu Qingge was glaring between Yue Qingyuan
and Shen Jiu. Yue Qingyuan coughed and spluttered at the man's boldness.

[System update: Side quest Event: Jacuzzi party, Let's go! has begun. Accept quest?]

'FUCK OFF!'

[.... System update: Side quest Event: Jacuzzi party, Let's go! has been declined. :(. ]

"I've got other things to do too." Shen Jiu replied. "You two can enjoy each other's company.

"Xiao Jiu!" Yue Qingyuan called back. "I mean... Thank you for your generous offer. If you
are busy I understand but-,"

"Yes, I said I am busy." Shen Jiu replied dully.

"If you need help to alleviate the work around here, just say so." Liu Qingge butted in. "Then
you can spare a sichen to relax in these 'hot springs' afterwards too when you come back."
Shen Jiu looked between the two and he could sense the tension between them and he
wondered if it was alright to leave them both alone or if he should kick them out after all.

"Um... speak with Da Bai, I'm sure he can share his tasks with you." Shen Jiu replied. He
hoped Da Bai could manage for two hours.

---

The trip to the Warm Red Pavillion and gathering information from the local cultivators went
by relatively smoothly and gathering the hand me downs from the local village for any items
they were willing to hand down that the children outgrew.

Returning home, things looked the same. He eyed the guest house to check everything was in
order with Shen Li inside. Touching the door, he entered being greeted by Shen Li who was
in her rocking chair and working on some embroidery.

"Goodness, that's a lot of things." she exclaimed both shocked as she shuffled up to try to
help him unload things as much as her state would allow her to. "Are you alright?"
"Don't worry about it." Shen Jiu mumbled as he eyed between outside and the wall at the
back of the room. He went to check outside and noted that both Cang Qiong disciples were
busy chopping wood outside with Da Bai outside tottering back and forth.

"A-Jiu..." Shen Jiu felt himself freeze up as Su Xiyan stood nearby. She was still pale but this
was the first time she spoke since the day she was found.

"Xiyan, go back to the backroom. Now's not a good time to be out and about."

"My baby... I need to find him..." Shen Jiu growled even as the System chimed the same
unhelpful trite information he heard before.

"Why are disciples from Cang Qiong Mountain here!?" Tianlang-jun growled with Shen Jiu
wanting to pull his hair out. The peaceful life he was building was scattering away into
nothing but a memory. Why did he even decide to let these people into his world or decide to
help them at all?

"You're supposed to be laying low!" Shen Jiu seethed as he blocked the doorway to prevent
them leaving the barrier he spent years making. He was even more furious when he felt a
snake like body coil around him and holding him down. "Tianlan-jun, just stay here. They are
Head Disciples of Cang Qiong Mountain, let me handle them. You can't afford to bring
attention to yourself in your position right now."

"Just disciples, I can take them out and send a message to those bastards for crossing me." the
Heavenly Demon charged out. Shen Jiu growled as he tried to struggle out of the Zhu Zhi
lang's grasp.

"MRROOOOWWW!!!" screeched Tufei and YanYan as they charged, fur raised and
smacking the noodle several times before he let go. Shen Li held onto Su Xiyan who was still
in too much of a weakened and dazed state to do anything even against a commoner.

"Go stop him, we'll be fine here!" Shen Li cried while the two Twin tailed cats circled around
the snake hissing and spitting.

By the time Shen Jiu had arrived there was already complete carnage. Da Bai had managed to
activate his red armour otherwise he would've popped and deflated.

"Stop destroying my garden!" Shen Jiu shouted stepping between them.

"This is Tianlang-jun!" Liu Qingge snarled Chen Luan drawn out. Yue Qingyuan also stood
defiant but kept his own hand against the hilt of Xuan Su. Even though he was not bound to
it, he was also still more careful with drawing it for it was more temperamental.

"Yes, I've gathered." Shen Jiu snarled back. Standing between the two sides just as the
System chimed in trying to focus on the situation without looking at either of their faces for
his supposed betrayal.

[System Update: Event: Let's get ready to rumble has begun! Good luck.]

Shen Jiu cursed at the peppy voice as he heard the typical angry rants of the two sides.
"Shen-xiong, I am fond of you and I don't want to hurt you, but these people, I will not
forgive."

"I don't know what he did to trick you in helping him you but he is a threat to everyone."

"Of all the people standing here right now, I'm the only one that hasn't been tricked. This
whole debacle was started because of one demented old man's lie and his perverted obsession
with his disciple." Shen Jiu roared back. A wave of pressure emmitted from him as he pushed
back against both sides about to clash. One hand grabbed Tianlang-jun's wrist while the other
placing pressure on both Yue Qingyuan and Liu Qingge. "NOW STOP DESTROYING MY
HOME"

The resulting blast sent both feuding parties flying leaving a massive crater with Shen Jiu
standing at the centre of it.

The short moment of silence broke from a slow clap.

"Well said, Shen Gongzi." The Qing Jing Peak, Mo Zhanyu was floating above them,
balanced elegantly on his sword and amused smile on his face. Shen Jiu's head swam as his
energy spent and everything went dark.
 Chapter 16
Chapter Notes

So yes, I stopped posting again but because this was all pre-written a while and now I'm
caught back into the write cycle of the finale of this arc to the lead up of meeting our
Millennial gremlin Shen Yuan. :3

Shen Jiu felt the roar of fires followed by angry mobs. He felt the heat of flames and the smell
of iron and his hands were sticky with blood. There was cold laughter as the pain of being
torn apart limb from limb, fingers digging into his eye and his tongue sliced off. The pain was
agonising as he was hung by chains and the acrid smell of a water filled his nose.

"Shen Qingqiu..." the voice of the person uttering that name was mocking, laced with disgust
and loathing as a shadowy figure stood over him while bodies littered before him. Bodies of
Su Xiyan, the Shens, the village children. The broken bodies of Liu Qingge propped up
against the wall after suffering a deadly Qi Deviation. The shattered remains of a sword and
an arrow riddled Yue Qingyuan. "You think you can escape me?" The shadowy figure
approached a single hand grasping a clothed object before tossing it in front of him. A
lifeless infant hand poked out from it.

Shen Jiu gasped seeing a clean, bamboo ceiling and the smell of fresh herbs and tea. He
looked around realising it was his room, face drenched with sweat. His body ached all over
and he was feeling cold and feverish. There were voices nearby that sounded like shouting
but it seemed to be muffled. Perhaps a silencing talisman was been put in place? Shen Jiu
checked on his body, limbs still in tact but just heavy.

"Another Qi deviation?" he mumbled to himself as he sat up staring at his trembling, still

intact, hands.

"Fortunately, no. Thanks to that interesting trinket around your neck stabilising the flow. You
just exhausted your spiritual energy." Shen Jiu froze at the voice.

Mo Zhangyu was examining the small white horn in between his fingers. "Oh, and don't
worry about the fight between Tianlang-jun and my martial nephews. The situation has been
thoroughly explained while you were unconscious." The man was serene and gentle as ever
but Shen Jiu was still terrified for the man had infiltrated his Grotto without a single alarm
triggered.

"H-how long have you known about this place?"

"Oh a little while." Mo Zhangyu replied before taking Shen Jiu's wrist. Shen Jiu shivered a
little from the small injection of energy checking him over before his 'not' master dipped a
clean towel into a bowl, squeezed it out and started wiping Shen Jiu's face. "I planned to have
earned your trust in order to gain access to this delightful place first, rather than breaking past
your wards but plans hardly ever pan out, do they?"

Shen Jiu sighed. The Qing Jing Peak was always astute as ever.

"Have you been keeping track of me since the sword ceremony?"

"Actually, I first heard about a young prodigy rogue cultivator 7 years ago. Apparently, self
taught, wandered around the poorer outer villages and a famous brothel, providing some
basic education to the local children." Mo Zhangyu's eyes crinkled at the edges when he
smiled and he started to prepare some tea, using his own qi to heat some water. "Naturally,
my interest piqued further when that same young prodigy came, pulled out a sword with a
strong spirit from Wan Jian Peak and navigated the Sword Hall as if it were his own home."

Shen Jiu shivered. Despite the man's seemingly laidback nature, the Qing Jing Peak Lord was
tenacious once he found something interesting. "So you know everything that I've done
here?"

"Not everything. I only admired how you diligently gathered materials to build a beautiful
sanctuary for those in need, formed and honoured a unique brotherhood and staged a daring
rescue mission."

"Is that a problem?"

"Not at all from anyone who doesn't have any ulterior motives." Mo Zhangyu smiled sadly.
"Unfortunately, such people are few and far between. Most prefer to listen to an uglier and
less noble story about you." Shen Jiu knew what he meant.

"Like a rogue cultivator teaming up with a demon and kidnapping women and children
practicing their unorthodox methods..." Shen Jiu rolled his eyes and Mo Zhangyu chuckled in
agreement. "So what's 'your' ulterior motive?"

"Ah! Astute and to the point. Very well, I shall answer in kind." Mo Zhangyu started to pour
some tea into two cups. "Before, I explained to my martial siblings that there nothing that
could be offered to you for joining our sect but this time, I believe there is. If you became a
disciple there might a means to protect your friends with the backing of the Sect."

"And risk sullying your righteous reputation being your Head Disciple?" Shen Jiu asked
feeling his stomach flip as a terrifying thought came to mind. "Why me? There are plenty of
potentials who climb the mountain with the hopes of being a part of the sect every year and
they are vying for that position. Why give it to a complete stranger?"

"I've personally not cared much for reputation nor this silly feud between cultivators and
demons. Unfortunately, most people don't share my views, not even my martial brothers. I
hope to gather more people that have a new mind set."

"And you think I have that?"

"I do." Shen Jiu shuddered and all he wanted to be alone with his thoughts. Mo Zhangyu is a
insightful man and was always able to see through the walls he put up in his last lifetime. It
was no point trying to hide his fears. "What is it that you are afraid of Shen-Gongzi?"

"I... can't say... I thank you for your high opinion of me, Peak Lord Mo." Shen Jiu mumbled
as he attempted to bow only to be stopped and eased back to against the bed. "But I want to
decline the offer"

"Alright. My offer still stands and Cang Qiong will assist. For now, get some more rest." Mo
Zhangyu sighed kindly. "You seemed distressed in your sleep earlier. Were you having a
nightmare?"

"Yes." Shen Jiu replied, gripping at the edges of the blanket. "I rather not think more about it
though. Thank you for your help."

"I didn't really do anything, just made a commentary. That Shen couple though, they are truly
formidable for commoners."

A smile grazed his 'not' master's face as the silencing talisman was removed and the muffled
shouting became clear as Shen Mao was busy berating the parties, each of them were
kneeling. Short of holding their ears, they were practically like how Shen Jiu used to
discipline the village children by putting them in a time out.

It was something that Shen Jiu had never seen the jovial man do before. The air of a general
projected as he walked up and down with his arms behind his back. Shen Li also sat silently,
behind her husband but the glare on her face made everyone tremble more than the man's
ranting.

"Worst still, you destroy your friend's place and involved my wife in your petty squabbles!"

"Enough, Lao gong. Can we check on A-Jiu. I'm worried about him and also Xiyan."

"Don't any of you dare get up until I say so." Shen Mao barked as the couple headed towards
the room. Mo Zhangyu bowed to them both respectfully and in an instant their scary personas
melted away to worried doting.

"A-Jiu, thank goodness you're awake. Are you alright?" Shen Li patted his face and was
alarmed at how clammy it was still.

"I'm fine, Li-jie, Mao-ge." Shen Jiu assured wondering now when he started referring to them
so intimately. Like a family but it felt overshadowed by a dread. The dread of that shadowy
figure and that familiar voice returning.

'I have a question System'

[Question log open: What would you like to ask?]

'Can the User completely change the trajectory of Luo Binghe's fate?'
[Question logged. Answer processing... Answer: The User can influence many changes to
Power Source's timeline, however key events can not be altered.]

'Does a key event include him becoming the disciple of Cang Qiong Mountain's Qing Jing
Peak Lord Shen Qingqiu?'

[Correct.]

Shen Jiu felt sick. What was it all for if things were going to be the same? He felt the space
enclose on him and he dreaded even asking for the next question but this was interrupted by
more fussing from several people. Yue Qingyuan was his usual self deprecating about his
inability to see the strain that Shen Jiu suffered while Liu Qingge remained silent and with a
steely gaze, always perpetually by his side standing guard. Tianlang-jun in turn was also in
tears at how much that Shen Jiu had done for him and promised to honour being his sworn
brother. Shen Jiu also suddenly felt something cold and wrapped around his arm. A scaly
hand pinched at the edges of his clothes and a handsome young face with bits of scales
peppering his skin and kowtowing.

"Daozhang... I'm sorry."

"This is?"

"Ah, you might not recognise him in this form, Shen-xiong. This is the first time that Zhuzhi-
lang has shown his human form to you." Shen Jiu had never really seen the boy's human form
before even though he was told that the boy always had the ability to, according to Tianlang-
jun.

"This one knows that he is ugly and have only ever selfishly taken on my other form because
you prefer it, but this form would be more useful to service you and to make up for this one's
actions." For whatever reason, this made Liu Qingge frazzled as he started sputtering out
words like 'shameless' and 'depraved'. Shen Jiu didn't really register the groups mothering
anymore as he became incredibly weary.

"I just want a bath and go back to sleep." Shen Jiu mumbled.

"That sounds like an excellent idea. I propose the use of the hot springs. The volcanic
properties also helps with rejuvenating spiritual energy if shared with others." The Peak
Lord's suggesting was met with several nods, while Yue Qingyuan and Liu Qingge sported
matching blushes while casting side glances at Shen Jiu.

[System: Side quest event: Jacuzzi Party! Let's go! Deluxe has begun. Accept quest?] Shen
Jiu himself simply gave a non-commital shrug, his eyes glued shut with the need to go back
to sleep.

[System: YOOOOO!!!! Side Quest: Jacuzzi Party, Let's go! Deluxe has been accepted. :D]

Shen Jiu half heartedly groaned even as he was being carried around like a living doll by Yue
Qingyuan or Liu Qingge. He mustered enough energy to let himself undress by himself
before shuffling over to the warming waters of his hot spring. He barely had a moments bit of
piece before he felt the presence of the two Head Disciples stop and stare at the water's edge.

"Well? Are you coming in or not? You both have better washed yourselves again after having
that tussle with Tian-Xiong."

"You're really sworn brothers with Tianlang-jun?" Liu Qingge asked as the two of them
moved into the warm waters.

"What of it?" Shen Jiu mumbled leaning back against the rocks and letting the spiritual
energy flow into him.

"He's a demon. A Heavenly Demon." Liu Qingge said.

"Again what of it? He hasn't done anything to me and he's a good source of information for
my bestiary. What better way to find out more about demons than asking a demon?" Shen Jiu
glared at him.

"I heard... that the Heavenly Demons have various techniques to control others." Yue
Qingyuan replied drawing a bit closer, his face conflicted with worry.

"His species are unique in that they control their blood to heal themselves and others they
impart their blood. They're practically immune from poisons, illness and fatal injuries. Such
an ability can also be used to manipulate or cause other physical reactions in others too,
including inducing intense pain or pleasure. It's nearly impossible to be rid of them once it
enters your body" Shen Jiu replied, his eyes were still closed but he could feel the
uncomfortable shift from the two bodies. "But I wouldn't know, he has kept fiercely to his
promise that he and his brethren not subject me to his blood when we made that oath to each
other."

"Really?" Yue Qingyuan asked looking relieved but Liu Qingge was still suspicious.

"What if he lied and gave it to you secretly?"

"And I said it's 'nearly' impossible to get rid of them." Shen Jiu growled. "Don't take me for
some naive idiot that I never figured out a way to do it if he ever decided to betray that and
no he's not smart enough to slip it to me since he prefers to moon over Xiyan." That finally
cowed the silly brute and Liu Qingge relaxed before focusing on pushing more of his
spiritual energy into the water.

"Why would you go so far as swearing brotherhood with him though? Befriending is one
thing but this a brotherhood. It is not to be taken likely."

"Well, we do share some interests in the arts and he considered courting me along with Su
Xiyan." This got the two other men riled up again.

"What!?" Liu Qingge growled while Yue Qingyuan worried his lip.

"I turned him down as I was not interested at all in his kind plus Xiyan clearly wanted a
monogamous relationship, which is why he suggested sworn brotherhood instead." The water
settled down once more. " The Shen family watched over us. Mao-ge and Li Jie acted as our
witness and Tian-Xiong listens to them."

"I see, I'm glad you have made some reliable friends." Yue Qingyuan replied quietly. More
reliable than me. Shen Jiu could feel the undertone in the man's voice while Liu Qingge
opted to just quietly pass his energy through the waters of the spring.

"They are reliable because they are simple and the things they give are small acts of
kindness." Shen Jiu murmured. "That's enough for me..."

"Xiao Jiu...." Yue Qingyuan whispered, a light flush of pink appeared on his cheeks which
Liu Qingge commented if the heat was too much, he could leave despite himself sporting a
redness in his face as he drew closer to Shen Jiu too.

Though he did feel some of spiritual energy restored, Shen Jiu felt bone weary and let himself
drift. Hopefully, he looked like he was meditating. In his daze, he felt something brush
against his thigh in the water, his hair being combed and his face being stroked with a flannel
or was it fingers? Maybe he heard Yue Qingyuan and Liu Qingge muttering something but he
was too out of it to pay attention to what they were saying, for none of it could shake him out
of his state. Not even the subsequent jostling of many bodies entering the warm waters could
disturb him.

Shen Jiu could just vaguely hear the sound of Liu Qingge snapping at the others while
suddenly being reprimanded by Mo Zhangyu for disrespecting elders. Shen Jiu opted to leave
before he really did fall asleep. Slowly, he heaved himself out of the water, just as the pool
started getting rowdy with the addition of Mo Zhangyu, Tianlang-jun, Zhuzhilang and Shen
Mao.

Butt naked and dripping, he patted around looking for his under robe, slipping it on before
shuffling away back to his room and proceeding to flop on his bed.

[System: 10 days until meeting with User.]

This was the last thing he heard before his mind sunk into darkness.

---

He was once again plagued with strange dreams though none were terrifying but Shen Jiu
could swear he could hear arguing as he wondered onto his feet, shambling on the floor as
someone shook his shoulder.

"... help me... you'll help me right? Please... I need to find him...."

"... easy on him my love, he's exhausted..." Shen Jiu felt a little irritable at the strange dream
for harrassing him. Couldn't he get some peace? All he wanted was to cultivate in his small
corner of the universe and yet there were still all these expectations and people wanting to
trap him, keeping him a prisoner to their whims even in his dreams.
"...When a baby cries, when a woman sighs.... isn't that what your moniker is? Old Man
Dao!? "

"That's not me!" Shen Jiu growled drunkenly before curling into his multitude of blankets.
"D'you think I actually fucking care about those brats? It was a means to an end. All of it."
He finally stopped dreaming.

By the time he was fully awake again, the system chimed in an update.

[System: 7 days to meeting with User.]

"What?" Shen Jiu sprang up realising he spent three days incapacitated. In alarm, he checked
his surroundings and he was still in his room, his under clothes had been changed at least
once and he didn't stink too much, so someone must've been keeping him clean while he was
unconscious.

He only caught the ends of the conversation but it was enough to spur him to swing his legs
awake and slide open the doors, startling the three occupants.

"What's going on?" Shen Jiu asked looking between Shen Li, Tianlang-jun and Zhuzhi-
Lang.

"Aiyah, you're awake Shen-xiong? Peak Lord Mo said that you'll still need at least another
day or two of rest. Don't stress yourself. I'll handle it."

"Go on and rest A-Jiu..." Shen Li said patting his face.

"Li-Jie... what happened?" Shen Jiu said it slowly as she looked the most troubled of the
three.

"Xiyan left the safety of the Grotto the day before. She managed to figure out how to leave
without raising the alarms, so Mao-ge and the Daozhang from Cang Qiong all agreed to form
a search party for her while you slept.

"She's likely heading towards the Luo river since that where she left the baby adrift." Shen
Jiu whispered. "I should be fine but we need to go. Everyone will be out hunting, looking for
blood."

"Then let's go, my blood can be useful to help any injured." Shen Jiu raised an eyebrow that
the Heavenly Demon just two days before was about to go to war with Cang Qiong.

"First put on the mask, we still need to keep up the appearances that you are still trapped on
Bai Lu Mountain. Zhuzhi-lang, stay here and protect Shen Li." The snake demon bowed.

"As you wish."

The sense of foreboding wouldn't leave him even with the reassurances of Tianlang-jun's
abilities. Upon him getting ready, he felt a tug on his sleeve. Shen Li's face reflected how
Shen Jiu felt as she took a few breaths rubbing her round belly in reassurance for the baby
that was yet to be born.
"Please be careful A-Jiu..." she whispered. "Please look out for Xiyan and protect her. She's
lost enough already. I would be the same if it were my little treasure too and Tian-didi would
be completely lost without either of you."

"I will, Li-jie. Just take it easy, you could go into labour any day so I'll hurry back."

"Alright off with you then. Oh and... if possible, please bring my silly husband back to me?"
Shen Jiu let out a breath he didn't know he was holding as a strange ache in his rib disturbed
him.

When he stepped out and ran, he placed more spiritual energy to increase his speed and
together with Tianlang-jun, made their way to Luo River.
 Chapter 17
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

The waters of the Luo River were deceptively beautiful but beneath it's crystalline
appearance was a raging current that would normally have dragged many naïve travellers
under so it was in a way the perfect place to send your child down to avoid certain death from
pursuing cultivators. If not for the foreknowledge that the son of Su Xiyan and Tianlang-jun
would undoubtedly survive, Shen Jiu had little hope a child would survive the river's
treacherous waters. Even one with a demonic heritage.

The air was particularly cold at this time of the year and Shen Jiu could feel the chill in his
bones. At peak condition, his own golden core would've been able to maintain handle the
temperatures but he was trying to conserve whatever spiritual energy he had managed to
recover from the last three days.

"Shen-Xiong, she's further down." Tianlang-jun said. "Zhuzhi-lang sent us some of his snake
scouts ahead."

"Tell them to hold back and avoid conflict, I need their eyes not their fighting prowess." Shen
Jiu replied, even as his vision blurred briefly and he felt sick. Thanks to the Three Pronged
Leaf Stag's third horn, he was able to avoid possibly the worst Qi Deviation he had ever had
in both of his lifetimes but it still affected him as well as the unshakable sense of dread.

"Are you alright? Peak Lord Mo said you would need a few more days of rest even if you
didn't suffer from a Qi Deviation."

"I'll rest up once Xiyan's back at the Grotto." Shen Jiu pushed Tianlang-jun to one side to
hide. Even with a mask on, he didn't want to risk being seen by others. Shen Jiu spotted
yellow uniforms fly past and then noted some familiar uniforms of Qing Jing Peak, Bai Zhan
Peak and Qiong Ding Peak. It seems that Mo Zhangyu was doing his part to diverting the
Palace Master's attention so he beckoned Tianlang-jun in the opposite direction.

The sight of a trail of blood and dismembered bodies of various cultivators form different
sects was all that was needed for him and Tianlang-Jun to sprint ahead.
Still, there was a large group of them, most of them Huan Hua Palace disciples and they were
all surrounding one person, shouting profanities at her but ultimately, they were terrified. Su
Xiyan covered in cuts, her clothes soaked head to toe with blood and her hair was loose
looked like she was a mad vengeful spirit.

Eyes wide and bloodshot, she slew everyone in her wake without blinking but it was all with
one particular direction to a figure in the background amongst a sea of yellow. The figure in
black stuck out like a sore thumb and Shen Jiu could only feel his heart drop to his stomach.
Because of course, it had to be such a person in his sordid history that had to rear his ugly
head. Wu Yanzi smirked as it was clear that he was cooperating with the Huan Hua Sect.
"Traitorous whore! You disappoint Sect Leader so much." cried one of the of the generic
martial siblings.

"Seems, even my reputation is nothing compared to Lady Su's is it?" chortled Wu Yanzi.

"You shut up, you scum. We barely had to stomach receiving information for you. It's the
only thing that's stopping us from running you through too."

"How terrifyingly ungrateful, wasn't I the one who helped out earlier? Otherwise, you would
all still be struggling with that brute of a commoner if it weren't for me." Shen Jiu froze as
amidst the littered bodies strewn haphazardly, there was only one who was laid down in a
more dignified manner. Shen Mao was on his back, a huge blood puddle formed around him
his pale figure. His lips were a dark blue almost green as if he was poisoned, his army Dao
lay still in his hand.
Upon hearing the insult against Shen Mao, Su Xiyan screamed as she charged sword flailing
much to the horror of her former martial siblings who all struck together swords. Even if she
was able to block the first wave of 6 strikes, she wouldn't be able to stop from the rest.
Fortunately for her, she didn't need to as a single wave of pressure rushed passed and struck
out at everyone. Tianlang-jun growled while Shen Jiu could only stare at the man that once
called himself his master in one life.

He thought he would not have to encounter such a person again in his life since that time at
the Red Warm Pavillion but here he was. It was an oversight that he hadn't learnt from in his
first life. Let anyone alive and they will eventually come back for revenge.

"So... it really is you." Wu Yanzi rasped. "You've been working together with the wench and
Heavenly Demon, haven't you? Too bad your master is now stuck under a mountain." Had it
not been for the feeling of numbness seeing Shen Mao's body, Shen Jiu would've scoffed at
the pathetic man's deductions. "Or is he?"

In retaliation, blood hounds appeared and the cultivators in the group look startled as
Tianlang-jun ordered them to strike the demonic cultivator. The man was so surprised that he
inadvertently swallowed the blood mites sealing fate to something worse than death.
Tianlang-jun's expression was grim.

That's the Heavenly Blood technique. Does that mean...?

There was a strange stillness, he did not feel pain or grief of loss, he only wanted blood.

"I'll kill you..." Shen Jiu muttered emotionlessly to the surprise of Tianlang-jun and Su Xiyan.
In all the interactions and shenanigans, the Heavenly Demon and former Huan Hua Head
Disciple had never witnessed their sworn brother to kill anyone.

Indeed, this really would have been the first time that Shen Jiu had killed in this life. No one
could see behind the ruthless cold jade eyes that could strike hearts numb with terror.
Despite the many times he did it in the past, Shen Jiu actually hated killing. The closest he
felt to enjoying it was being back at the Qiu Household, watching the place burn down while
he slaughtered one despicable member of that place one after another and with an increasing
demented smile on his face as he was bathed in their blood.

Shen Jiu did not even have that sense of satisfaction either. He just felt empty. He never used
these kind of techniques since the first time he killed Wu Yanxi, but it did not mean he did
not keep them, honing them to deadly accuracy to the point they were much more advanced
than they were before.

No one outside of Cang Qiong had ever seen Xiu Ya. It was also fortunate that there were no
Cang Qiong Mountain disciples there either. One moment, the weimao rogue cultivator was
in front standing between them and Su Xiyan, then suddenly he was at the back of the crowd
and everything went silent. Even the raging waters of the Luo River was muted to a mere
trickle of sound as if they were all caught in some kind of bubble and time froze. The air was
stagnant and stray water droplets froze in mid air.

When the sound came back, the cultivators all watched as they fell apart. None of them were
even able to scream as a lattice of long cuts started to appear and chunks of their own flesh
started to tumble off them like tiny meat bricks. All of a sudden the huge group of cultivators
were nothing more than piles of flesh, shredded cloth and puddles of blood leaching into the
Luo River. Despite the sudden explosion, not speck of red had gotten onto the white and
green clad rogue cultivator, the gleaming thin white sword also shone like a pure heavenly
light despite leaving a carnage in its wake.

[System Update: Title: Insane Cutting Skills has been achieved. Title: Instant Mass Killer has
been achieved.]

There was however one accursed survivor, Wu Yanxi.

Shen Jiu would later curse the irony of it all, for the array he placed on that loathsome
individual was indeed still there. When he originally placed the mark , it was meant to only
ever been a defensive spell to keep the man away from him and the Red Warm Pavilion sent
him flying away. It seemed that same spell, in the end, also saved his life from Shen Jiu's
attack.

To his credit, Wu Yanxi instantly crumbled in his terror like most cultivators would in
witnessing a mass slaughter in the blink of an eye. He had enough sense to use his own
technique to escape fleeing the scene. Otherwise, he would've realised that Shen Jiu had
unleashed every he had leaving him vulnerable as a kitten straight afterwards. As soon as Xiu
Ya was sheathed, his knees buckled only to be supported on either side by Su Xiyan and
Tianlang-jun.

"Save him..." Shen Jiu whispered as he tugged on Tianlang-jun and together they stumbled
over to Shen Mao. Tianlang-jun knelt to the man's side. Shen Mao was riddled with stab
wounds of swords. A single ugly gash was across his throat as the finishing blow. "Come
on... your blood..." Tianlang-jun pulled out a knife and cut his hand allowing the blood to
flow into one of the wounds. Shen Jiu's heart raced in anticipation watching hopefully as the
wounds started to close but something was wrong. Shen Mao was not waking up. "Why?
Why is it not working!? Did you not say your Heavenly Blood would be able to heal
anything?"

"It does, but if the soul has already left even if I take the body to the Holy Mausoleum... he
won't..."

"No, no, no. You don't understand." Shen Jiu yanked Tianlang-jun forward. His eyes wide
and murderous and sending shivers down the demon, though it was clear that the other could
topple him over. Heavenly Demons were too proud to show fear but in that moment,
Tianlang-jun felt terrified. "Li-Jie is back home waiting for her husband. Their child is
waiting for his father!" The lump that Shen Jiu felt in his chest exploded into a torrent of
agony as the horn of the Three Pronged Leaf Stag cracked.

"I know Shen-Xiong." Tianlang-jun replied slowly trying to keep himself calm more than
anything else. "I'm sorry..."

'That word...' Shen Jiu thought. 'That fucking word..." as flashes of the number of times
people have said that cursed word to him.

"A-Jiu... it's my fault... if I hadn'-" Su Xiyan trembled, her eyes were filled with tears and in a
most pitiful sight if any one else saw her.

"YOU SHUT UP!" Shen Jiu roared as he shoved the two of them away, his weimao falling
off revealing a dark face that made them both flinch. "YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO EVEN
SPEAK TO ME!" Without their support, Shen Jiu wasn't able to stand and he was on his
hands her knees. Completely spent, even breathing was difficult for him now. Tianlang-jun
and Su Xiyan knelt down beside him, the latter looking awful, cut up and bleeding in several
places, dirt marks and her normally silky locks all but brittle straw. The former Head Disciple
was known to be a cold hearted beauty. People would never have believed she could be
reduced to this sorry state; on her knees, as if begging to be executed.

Shen Jiu felt almost happy to oblige as the image of 'that person' was imposed on her face but
with the eyes being rounder and ochre in colour instead of midnight black like the stars. No
the eyes belonged to the father. Oh how he hated that face on her and the colour of Tianlang-
jun's eyes. Each of them contributed an element of themselves toward that half breed he
loathed the most.

Even in this life, he couldn't escape losing so much to benefit that little bastard. He wanted to
scream out in agony, throttle, stab and gouge out pieces of them but he neither had the
strength having used up the measly amount of spiritual power he recovered from 3 days of
bedrest.
Instead, he crawled over to Shen Mao's body, cleaned as much of the dirt from his face with a
handkerchief and heaved the burly body onto his back. With his more slender frame, it
looked almost comical but one thing that he was known for was his sheer force of will. Even
when everything else was taken from him, even death, he refused to falter to do what he set
out to do.
Shen Jiu smacked away any attempts to help from anyone, even Yue Qingyuan and Liu
Qingge. Even the ever smiling Peak Lord Mo was solemn as he watched the young rogue
cultivator drag the body home, step by step. The extra wards he placed to help cover the
groups tracks was the least he could do but Shen Jiu knew, even a Peak Lord hide the
massacre of large group of cultivators for long. Still, it was an act that Shen Jiu would later
feel grateful for.
Shen Jiu didn't dare to look up when Shen Li entered the door. At first, he heard her
whispered relief to see that Su Xiyan had returned. Her face froze though even as Shen Jiu
tried his best to clean up the face and body to make her husband's body presentable. Shen Li
said nothing as her hand went to brace her still yet to be born son and the small motherly
smile disappeared as soon as her eyes landed on her dead husband.

Silence reigned the Grotto, with only quiet whispers that were only out of perfunctory
necessity. Shen Li was seated as Su Xiyan with Mo Zhangyu explained to her what happened.
She didn't say anything at all. Shen Jiu wondered if she was even listening or if she was off
into her little world, where her bubbly husband returned alive and well, so she could scold
and smack him irritably on the arms for risking his own life, then they would hold each other,
taking turns stroking her round belly waiting for the day their son would come into the
world.

Shen Jiu in turn ignored everyone to potter about, checking and rechecking his wards,
reading various manuscripts over and over for some clue. They were compromised because
there was the threat of one person who knew their secret. Wu Yanzi's cultivation was not
something to speak of but what he lacked in his spiritual power, he made up for knowing all
the conniving tricks he could use. Shen Jiu knew this with every fibre of his being. He had
once spent several years with the monster and he was frustrated because he couldn't tell them
how he knew.

"Just rest now Shen Gongzi," Mo Zhangyu said finally as he felt him strike an acupoint that
made him go limp.

---

[System update: 3 days till meeting with User]

Shen Jiu swallowed at the loss of time once more and he started to question, what the point
was. Eventually, he strained his ear to focus on the muffled voices.

Whilst the Grotto was quiet, there was a huge uproar as the remains of the crowd of disciples
were eventually discovered and the Palace Master was now truly out for blood. As it turns
out Wu Yanzi would likely want to make his move to borrow the Huan Hua's rage to defeat
his enemies.

"He has taken my blood, I can track him down and kill him." Tianlang-jun reasoned

"And prove to the world that you are not in fact trapped at Bailu Mountain? then what would
happen to Shen Jiu? He'll surely be hunted as well by the cultivation world"
"I won't let anything happen to Shen-Xiong. For all that he has done for me, I will always
honour his kindness. A drop of kindness should repaid with a flood. I intent to return to my
realm with both him and Xiyan. Shen Li and her child too."

"Absolutely not!" Liu Qingge growled while Yue Qingyuan also stood up in alarm. Shen Jiu
looked around as demons and cultivators descended into an argument. Under normal
circumstances, Shen Jiu would just let them at it but he needed to focus on securing his
grotto. Yu Wanzi indeed needed to be silenced.

"A-Jiu?" he looked up in surprise as Shen Li had appeared nearby, her arms wrapped securely
around her round belly. She was dressed in white hemp, the traditional mourning clothes. Her
voice sounded horse, probably from crying and the fact she hadn't really spoken to anyone for
several days. Shen Jiu couldn't blame her and he didn't even dare look at. "come with me
please?" Shen jiu followed mutely, letting the lost argue it out when she led him to part of the
underground where they kept and preserved Shen Mao's body. They were going to be ready
for a proper funeral and cremation of the body.
Shen Li had a far away look but rubbing her belly once again. Then it changed as she pressed
her lips and turned to Shen Jiu.

"Li-Jie... I..." his voice felt stuck. No matter what he couldn't say it as easily as everyone else
because he knew how meaningless it was.

"Do not say that word. There's nothing to be sorry for. Mao-ge and I knew what we were
getting ourselves into and this was merely the consequence of our decision. You kept your
promise and brought him back to me." Shen Jiu only felt the crushing weight on his chest
grow despite this. He still didn't dare look her in the eye but was inevitably forced him to by
cupping a hand on his face and making him turn to face her. He knew he had to confess.

"I knew the man that killed him. I met him once before but I never killed him then and my
inaction meant-"

"Ridiculous. That's still not something to be sorry about. You could never have known that he
would return and kill Mao-Ge. Stop blaming yourself." Shen Li sighed as she touched the
cracked horn on his neck. "Peak Lord Mo told me that you are someone who would be prone
to Qi Deviations and heart demons... because you are a kind person beneath it all. You worry
about losing the things you care about and because you become distracted, you lose control."
Shen Li's lips quivered and her eyes began to water as if she was the one that had committed
a grave sin. "Now, I'm being selfish again but I hope you'll help me. You've taken care of me
so much over these last few months, we practically named you our son's Yifu."

"If it's to support you and your son in Mao-ge's stead, you know I'm already willing." Shen Li
smiled. It was the first time she did so for these past few days.

"I know you will, but just one more thing."

"What is it?" Shen Jiu asked.

"I want that man to suffer. The one that killed him. It's not enough to just silence him. I want
him to feel despair and cornered like a rat. I want him to spend his remaining days looking
 behind his back and when he finally draws his final breath, it has to be the most painful and
drawn out breath he will ever take" Shen Li spat. It was almost crazed in the venom she
spoke. Something that Shen Jiu had never seen before but it was a sentiment that he shared.

"I'll do what I can to make that happen." Shen Jiu replied.

"Thank you, then hear me out, won't you?" Shen Li whispered while rubbing her belly once
more before glancing over to the door. "Those two will never be safe in this realm will they?"

"Tian-xiong and Xiyan? No, their safest bet is to get back into the Demon Realm. It's only a
matter of time and the secrecy of this place may also be compromised due to Wu Yanzi."

"Then let's compromise his story and clear your names. No one else saw your face did they?"

"No, they were all killed." Shen Jiu replied.

"Then no one but Wu Yanzi knows that Su Xiyan has sent her son away. First, we'll need to
capture Wu Yanzi, not kill him yet. If you can make use of your masks and make one of him
for yourself and one for me as Su Xiyan then we can put on a performance before the Huan
Hua Palace Master."

"No." Shen jiu snapped glaring at her. "I'm not risking your life or your baby's."

"A-Jiu, Mao-ge and I have been in the same position as those two right now. Xiyan has
already lost so much, the least she should have is some peace to be with the man she loves."

"That doesn't mean you should be risking your life too nor the life of your son by
impersonating hers." Shen Jiu growled, wondering why this woman could actually be ruthless
as well as reckless. "Don't be foolish."

"I'm not,"

"You are, I'll think of something else but I will not-"

"Don't think you're the only one who was given a second chance, Shen Qingqiu..." Shen Li
rasped back. Suddenly, Shen Jiu's entire worldview shattered.

Chapter End Notes

Meanwhile, in another corner of the universe, the fanfic writer known only as
Madyamisam stared blankly at the screen at the last sentence, stunned by the revelation
of the sudden plot twist. She wails as she has to run with it now. “Ah! What the
fuuuuuuucccckkk... Damn characters running away with the plot..."

Shen Li: *cackles like a witch* Suck it! You shitty writer!!!
 Chapter 18
Chapter Summary

PLAYER 2 HAS ENTERED!!!

Chapter Notes

So I ended up pushing the rating to an M because I wasn't sure how this might trigger
people regarding complicated childbirth. I haven't gone into details but still proceed with
caution ok? Tags been added

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Don't think you were the only one who was given a second chance, Shen Qingqiu

Shen Qingqiu. Shen Qingqiu. That was a name that had yet to exist and one only he knew
would come to exist. Over the years since he returned he had a passing thought of whether
there were others but this was not something he had ever considered. Then suddenly, it all
changed when it literally smacked him in the face.

[System Update: Character designation Shen Li wishes to share previous designation

information. Connecting... Connection established.]

"Who are you?" Shen Jiu whispered. Rather who 'were' you?

"Someone who died much later than you when I confronted that half demon." Shen Li replied
rubbing her belly. "I heard stories about you and what you apparently did." Shen Li
murmured, a coldness in her eyes as if she was a noble woman with a dagger behind her
back. "I suppose, I was not that much better, in fact, I was definitely worse though. I lived a
ripe old age that my hair turned silver before my own end. Thinking about it, what happened
to you in the end is disproportionate to your crimes. For my crimes, my victims, which
included my own flesh and blood deserved more justice than what they were given, yet I feel
I was left off lightly in comparison."

"Why are you telling me this?" Shen Li glanced over towards the place where her husband
lay.

"Because it doesn't matter now. It's the only thing left I can do for you, for those two and
especially for this little one" she replied. "I'm not a good person, A-Jiu. While I'm sure this
unknown child in me will be safe somehow, I naively thought that would guarantee our
security too. But, after seeing what happened to Mao-ge, I realise how expendable we really
are and what we are destined for."

"Was he also?"

"No... the voice never allowed me to share all this with him or others. For a while, I thought I
was the only one until I met you and certain events about you didn't add up." Shen Li
replied.

Indeed, the System had gave multiple warnings to Shen Jiu to not directly expose where his
vast knowledge came from a previous life to anyone. Or at least, now he has learned, to
someone who has not been granted the memories from that previous life.

"Alright, tell me a little more." he replied.

"I was part of a noble family with a unique spiritual bloodline and betrothed to my cousin. I
conspired with the enemies behind my then husbands back. He was another foolishly soft
man and perhaps I would've been fond of him too had it not for the fact that he was willing to
submit and allow us to be subservient to Luo Binghe for the 'sake of the people'. " Shen Li
sneered and Shen Jiu could feel a kinship with her. "Our daughter was also set to be that half
breed's next conquest of the long list of women he already had. It was disgusting and
degrading and I was the only one protesting about the disgrace to our lineage, even after
having to give up my own happiness all for them to hand it over to that brat. I was angry and
resentful that my sacrifice was for nothing so my cousin paid for it swiftly with his life as
well as the 'people' he cared so much about. I fought for years. In the end, the only one who
was still by my side was Mao-ge to comfort me. Even that daughter and my sons before her,
all my children loathed me."

Shen Jiu understood what she meant as he felt his heart twist painfully at that child that he
raised and doted on turning a hateful gaze towards him because of 'him'. Twisting his
protective intentions to something so ugly. "Did Shen Mao die too?"

"I don't know maybe... he stuck by me at my death too. Foolishly drank the poison with me
when we were cornered by Luo Binghe and my sons, but I slipped the antidote into his cup."
she replied. "He didn't smile at all in that life. Never got married, he was just my guard. A
loyal one and still just as honourable that even the half breed respected him. His only mistake
was me. Loving me despite it all and... I loved him back then too. Luo Binghe never
respected me. No one else did. Just Mao-ge... and that was enough." Shen Li became quieter
as she had a faraway look. "That last moment, I was thinking. I could've just forsaken that
pride of lineage to be with him a moment longer. Then I was reborn and allowed to choose
differently, so I did. I think my cousin accepted that too considering he didn't make much
effort in the search for us when Mao-ge and I eloped in this life."

[System Update: Shen Jiu's origins updated. Title earned: Trauma bonding.]

"So Shen Mao's luck in finding those tomes and useful information was because of you?"

"I... may have given him a little guidance, but he did most of the legwork." she replied giving
a bittersweet smile. "Care to have a history lesson of what happened after your demise?"
[System Update: Character Designation Shen Li wishes to share classified information.
Warning: Acceptance will incur a penalty. Accept?]

"Don't say anymore." Shen Jiu snapped as he felt his spirit flee from his body and as the
biting images of that nightmarish figure approaching him ready to rip him and Shen Li apart.
"I don't need to know anymore about that."

[System Update: Request declined.]

"Then will you agree to my plan instead?" Shen Li asked. Her eyes were red. The woman
was tenacious as well as manipulative, even willing to pit her own life against the System
itself to get what she wanted. Shen Jiu wasn't sure what she was like in her previous life but
he was somewhat relieved he hadn't met her before she became Shen Li.

"I'll see what I can do." Shen Jiu replied, the response was a gentle palm against his face.

[System update: 2 days before meeting User. Be prepared to receive.]

---

Shen Jiu cursed as Tianlang-jun and Zhuzhi-lang had just set off to search for the demonic
cultivator and to capture him. Mo Zhangyu, Yue Qingyuan and Liu Qingge also accompanied
them to help divert attention of other cultivators again though this time they at least knew
exactly where their target was. That was when the System blared loudly.

[System update: Shen Li is entering labour. Meeting User is imminent, prepare to receive.]

He was supposed to have another day. He rushed the room as Shen Li was keening as a
puddle of water formed at her feet. Su Xiyan, who was there and had hung around, but
avoided speaking in fear of being the target of Shen Jiu wrath was suddenly by her side.

"Li-jie... you're..."

"Xiyan dear, help me to the bed please. I have everything ready." Shen Li gasped as she tried
to do the breaths that Shen Jiu had taught her. The courtesan with experience at childbirth
from the Red Warm Pavillion that Shen Jiu had arranged before hand was not due to come for
another day so he felt his heart race as he would be needing assistance with the birth.

[System: Designation Shen Jiu doesn't need to worry, you have completed training and will
be qualified to handle the birth. Please continue to work hard.]

'For some reason, you are not very reassuring.' Shen Jiu argued back through gritted teeth
even as he ordered Da Bai to bring a mountain of towels and heated a vat of water with his
talisman. He hurriedly gathered herbs and the pills he squirrelled away to prepare for the
situation.

The process was a blur as Shen Li screamed. The mountain of clean cloth he had prepared
dwindled down quickly and Shen Jiu panicked even more as the child's position had suddenly
shifted and was not normal. He had to act quickly otherwise the infant will suffocate.
"Why is there so much blood? There was not this much when I... " Su Xiyan mumbled to
herself looking at the state of affairs. She paled when Shen Jiu heated up a small slender
knife. "A-Jiu what are you doing?"

"The baby's position shifted and it will be too dangerous for Li-Jie to do this naturally."

"But you're just going to cut her open?" Su Xiyan gasped.

"Just keep your mouth shut and be ready to receive the child with the towels and prepare the
blood replenishment pills to recover any blood loss. Li-Jie's not a cultivator so you will need
to circulate your energy to activate the effects of the pills."

"But-"

"Xiyan, it's alright. Let's trust him, ah?" Shen Li was sweating, face pale but her eyes were
clear and determined. Su Xiyan looked between the two then nodded then focused her
spiritual energy to ease the pain while Shen Jiu worked focusing it on the slender unused
knife he crafted for himself several months ago.

After what felt like hours, a cry was heard and the notification from the voice chimed.

[System Update: User has been safely received. Congratulations! Congratulations!

Congratulations! Good things must be said three times. Title: Barber Surgeon has been
achieved. New overlay awarded. Title: That's A Lotta Prep has been achieved. Golem variety
has expanded. You can now create different models. Title: Doctor Spedrunner has been
achieved. Your dexterity has increased. Title: Lore Accurate Smartarse has been achieved.
You have unlocked advanced lessons to future scholarly endeavours. Title: Life extender has
been achieved. All your allies have higher defensive stats. User/Guide connection has been
established. Connection is stable. Due to several accolades achieved you have received a
bonus buff. Empathic connection boon has been awarded. This boon will remain active until
User has completed all developmental milestones.]

Shen Jiu felt frozen, even as the System chimed a list of nonsense to him as the strange box
changed from a plain green blue to red and white stripes. He couldn't hear things being
spoken to him from others around him. He could only just stare at the squirming, screeching
ugly creature covered in blood and slime in his trembling hands as he cleaned it away,
swaddling the baby with the last of the towels.

Whoa... what a trip...

The voice was that of a young man was in his head. 'I can hear his thoughts?'

[System: Correct. He can not hear yours. Conditions of use, you can not let User be aware of
this ability otherwise boon will prematurely end. Good Luck in supporting your User, Guide
Shen Jiu]

Fuuuuuckkk, did I die out of anger from reading that shitty novel. What do you mean I'm
in Proud Immortal Demon Way? Are you fucking kidding me? Why did I have to be
transmigrated into a baby in the world of that crapfest? Are you scamming me? Give me
my money back. Airplane! You shit fuck of an author!

Shen Jiu blinked a few times as the voice was a continuous litany of profanity and panic. He
was starting to develop a headache.

'Is there a way to shut this off for a little while without having to end the boon prematurely?'
Shen Jiu figured the boon would come in handy in taking care of the child but not at the
expense of his remaining sanity.

[System: You can switch on the profanity filter.] He could swear that the monotonous voice
was pitying him and was giving him a slight reprieve, but it wasn't much.

'Please do that. ..' Shen Jiu replied and the young man's voice was mostly silenced. 'This User
lived a previous life it seems as well. Transmigrated from another realm? Correct?'

[System: Enquiry is related to restricted information. You need a higher authority to access.]

'So only whatever this child will talk about?'

[System: Correct.]

'Fine, I don't really need to know at the moment.'

"Xiao Jiu! Are you alright?" the concerned face of Yue Qingyuan was in front of him,
kneeling by his side. Shen Jiu came out of himself and noticed a large screen had been put in
place as another person was there as well dressed in Qian Cao Peak uniform. It was strange to
see Mu Qingfang without a moustache again but he quietly took over the aftercare with Su
Xiyan supporting.

"A-Jiu? My baby?"

"Is fine..." Shen Jiu's words were slurred and dry from the intense silent concentration. "It's a
boy..."

Is that my mom? She... sounds like my last mom...

The baby's had stopped crying too with just a few whines and breathing. There didn't seemed
to be any complications as far as Shen Jiu could see even as he gently ran a quick check. The
child was very pink almost red and it was scrunched up with a good head of black hair.

"Yes little one, that's your mother. Would you like to go to her?" Shen Jiu replied to the
question aware that the soul within the boy would just assume that he was pretending to have
a conversation with a newborn. What he hadn't expected was a tiny hand suddenly reach out
and grip one of his fingers.

Shen Jiu had seen babies both at the brothel and the local village. For the latter, the fathers of
said children would whoop with joy at holding their children for the first time, bursting into
tears when the infants hands held their fingers. He never considered that he'd have that
experience and something stirred in him now that he did. Though it felt warm and uplifting, it
also came with a deep pain.

It shouldn't have been me.

He walked slowly towards the screen as he peered around to see Shen Li's pale, but alive,
smiling face. Su Xiyan did an excellent job of cleaning up and maintaining the woman's
dignity while Mu Qingfang helped with the aftercare of the birth.

"The procedure conducted here is remarkable. Many of female Qian Ciao disciples have
encountered such complications and most of the time both mother and child don't make it. I
hope I can consult with you about your methods and pass it onto my martial sisters. Maybe
that can increase chances of survival."

Does he mean a breached birth? Did she get a C-section in this kind of historical fantasy
setting? Hardcore, so hardcore. They don't have epidurals in these days. How much pain
was she in? Ah!

"Su Xiyan helped with numbing the pain of the procedure with her spiritual energy and
passing blood replenishment pills." Shen Jiu explained to the healer who nodded with
understanding while reassuring the tiny human in his arms.

"Make sense, make sense."

That's a relief...

"Please? Can I hold him?" Shen Li asked weakly reaching out. Shen Jiu and Su Xiyan both
helped, one to support the mother, the other the infant so that they could finally meet. The
baby scrunched his face as if in deep concentration.

Now how do I open my eyes?

As Shen Jiu heard this, the child's lids slid open revealing dark eyes. The baby blinked.

Damn it! It's all blurry. Am I freaking short sighted in this life too!?

"Oh... he's perfect... my little Shen Yuan. My baobei." Shen Li whispered bringing her face
close to her son tears flowing from her face. "Your father would've been proud of you."

Shen Yuan huh? Are you being a bit lazy, System? No creative license at all? Well
whatever, it's not that the name is a bad one anyway. And really? Would've? Am I already
half an orphan? F*** you, System!

Shen Jiu wanted to leave the area so that mother and son can have some time together but his
feet felt like lead. As if fate was taking some pity on him, he felt a hand land on his shoulder.
Yue Qingyuan smiled warmly.

"Well done Xiao Jiu, you saved their lives. Let Mu Shidi take over so you can rest, alright?"
Yue Qingyuan suddenly looked apologetic. "I understand you wanted privacy here and you're
very capable, but I had a feeling that a Qian Cao Peak disciple could be of help and it was all
confirmed when Su Xiyan contacted me. Mu Shidi is very reliable. He won't say anything
about this place. Come on now, you've done more than enough."

Shen Jiu sighed as he was allowed to be led away. The other side was Liu Qingge who also
had complicated look on his face. He wasn't sure if it was bordering between disgust or
concern.

"What?"

"You're filthy." Liu Qingge said in his usual blunt tone. There was something he was also
holding. Poking out of it were small cloth dolls and fabrics for swaddling babies. It seems the
brute can be thoughtful sometimes too. Shen Jiu remembered that he had a sister. She would
likely have been born not too long ago either. "You should go wash." the order was abrupt as
usual but there was a tinge of pink coming from his ears as he left the bag. "I'll go fill up the
wash tub."

Shen Jiu raised an eyebrow at how familiar the man knew his way around his place. Both him
and Yue Qingyuan. He sighed tolerating their coaxing, one gentle and doting, the other one
blunt and practical. Shen Jiu for the most part answered with generic replies, while he
listened to User' Shen Yuan's inner monologue.

Mu Qingfang? Yue Qingyuan and Liu Qingge? Are they... Cang Qiong Mountain? Whoa...
cool, this is like the front seat to a theatre play. But wait, they were from the sect where
Luo Binghe first studied? What time period would this be at? Certainly before he took over
the Three Realm right? Heck even before Liu Qingge's death. Is he around as a disciple
here yet? That's like the only readable part of his life. Ah fine, I'll figure out in time, just
need to do the growing up stuff right? Ugh... just why... start here?

'So this little one knows a lot about this world's history and yet he treats it like it's a story.'
Shen Jiu thought as he washed the last of the residue of the birth and switched to a new set of
robes that were laid out by Yue Qingyuan.

It's so undignified when you've got the mind of an adult. I know I'm hungry and it's
natural but this is a woman's breast ok? And on top of that it's my mom's. F*** this is just
weird... and... oh come on!!! This is why babies don't know anything! They have no
concept of shame!

Shen Jiu confusion of the boy's one sided conversation, led to his sudden realisation that this
was still a newborn. He let out huff, as something warm bubbled from his stomach and his
face twitched like it hurt.

"Are you crying or laughing?" Liu Qingge frowned.

"Nothing, just a thought came to mind regarding the child." Shen Jiu croaked.

"Ah... Shen Yuan? Right?" Yue Qingyuan asked. "He looks healthy, and quite cute."

"Not cute. He's ugly." Liu Qingge retorted.

 "Liu shidi, he's a baby. All babies are cute."

"No, he's right. He's ugly." Shen Jiu said surprising both men. "But I suppose anyone would
look like a giant red walnut, if they were stuck in a small cramped place for several months."

After a moment of silence, Yue Qingyuan burst into a hearty laugh.

"You two are terrible." Liu Qingge rolled his eyes frowning, not really understanding why
him speaking the truth would illicit someone to laugh. Shen Jiu let his lips quirk upwards
imagining a stocky book seller laughing along with them with tears of joy in his eyes.

Chapter End Notes

Ok... So I think I managed to work this in somehow. Please OC characters, do not throw
anymore curveballs ok?

Shen Li: 😈
*shudder* Anyway yay Shen Yuan is FINALLY here.

Fun Fact: The first ever surgeons recorded were barbers. Yes the people that shave your
beards. They have this red and white stripe signs to represent blood and bandages hence
why Shen Jiu earned the title: Barber Surgeon.
 Chapter 19
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

I mean what kind of sense does it make to have that kind of plot hook and then, never
address it again in favour for what is clearly a side story to acquire ANOTHER wife? Like,
I know it's supposed to be some stallion novel with a harem, but I bet no one else cares to
remember wife number 428 Li XingXing. As if that's not a f***ing clone of his first wife!

Shen Jiu twitched as he tried to focus on meditating.

Why couldn't that sh*tty author talk about the beasts in that region instead? They had that
Werewolf tribe that declared themselves rivals against Mobei-Jun! Yet that barely took up a
paragraph when they could've explored and improved their friendship. Instead, we get
another canon fodder villain forcing a throw down against Luo Binghe only to be stomped
on in one move. Just accept he's the most powerful and do something else more
meaningful with your lives for f**k's sakes.

Shen Jiu sighed, hearing that Shen Yuan was awake again and ranting again, probably with
the System. At first, he wondered what was going to happen now that the baby was born as
the System had been silent with him for 7 days but found himself doing more preparations for
the next months. He did visit to check on mother and baby every chance he had whenever
Shen Yuan was awake then leaving him with Shen Li to be fed before he eventually fell
asleep again.

Ah, it's Uncle Jiu, now that's a NPC cultivator I can get behind. H e's fun and he talks to
me as if I were an adult and not baby me like my mom and Auntie Xiyan. I like him. I
wonder what he'll talk about today? Is he going to let me know what rare plants he
managed to acquire or monsters parts that Liu Qingge got him?

Shen Jiu huffed at how avid a student this boy was when listening to his lectures. While he
tolerated the children he took care of for the villagers, none of them were all that interested in
his own work and interests. Shen Yuan's interest was a refreshing change and sometimes he
interjected with his own insights.

"Awake again, A-Yuan? Unfortunately, Liu Qingge hasn't been by so I have nothing to talk
about. Though after some time has passed and you have grown enough to handle it, I might
be able to introduce you to YanYan and Tufei properly."

Oh the Twin Tailed Cats. That species are supposed to have the softest fur of all the
spiritual animals in the novel. Ah! I. Want. To. Pet. Them!!!

"They've been pawing around the borders a little put off that they can't enter the area they
both grew up in. I'm sure they're itching to get back though I'm not sure how they'll react to
you."
They should have a sniff of something that has my scent to get used to me. Ah, I want to
see them... in fact I want to see something, everything is so blurry still and it's so boring
just eating, pooping and sleeping.

'Hmm... scent... that is actually a good idea.' Shen Jiu considered. Sometimes, amidst the
ramblings, the child had wise insights.

As a result, Shen Jiu tried to pay attention to all of Shen Yuan's thought floods. Sometimes
the rants mentioned things that Shen Jiu had never heard of interspersed with something
innovative. Shen Yuan seemed particularly fond and meticulous of detail with the monsters,
their weaknesses and the environments they must live in. A lot of it made sense but there was
no known information to the truth, outside of Shen Jiu investigating them for himself.

"Ah A-Jiu, if you need to do something else, I can watch over A-Yuan." Shen Jiu barely
noticed the Su Xiyan jump in attentively. Truthfully, Shen Jiu did need to do some more
preparations for the coming days. He checked the arrays around the Grotto earlier and so far
they were undisturbed. Next, he needed to check his exotic herb garden.

Ah! Wait I want to hear more about the garden and why did you plant that one single
'slutty' eggplant in the middle of it all! What's your reason? Uncle Jiu? Uncle Jiu!

Shen Jiu opened his fan to hide his face as he felt it twitch again. He just felt like planting the
thing and for some reason Shen Yuan thought there was some hidden secret technique he was
cultivating. Probably it was because of the way he worded it to him. Sometimes the boy was
actually pretty naive.

"Then I leave it to you." Shen Jiu replied not looking back as he went to tend his garden with
the 'slutty' eggplant.

Ah? You're really going to leave? Uncle Jiu, please have mercy on me! I'd rather listen to
you talk to the plants than deal with the babbling!

"Good morning to you, little grumpy face. Aren't you just a cute little button!" Su Xiyan
cooed.

Ugh.... lady spare me...

"I think someone did a little poopy. Let's get you changed."

F**K ME TO HIGH HEAVEN! WHEN WILL SOMEONE PLEASE GIVE ME SOME

DIGNITY HERE!!!

Shen Jiu felt the warmth in the pit of his stomach again so he hurried away towards his
garden.

---

Sometimes, the voice's rambles gave about the plot and characters of the "story" gave Shen
Jiu a headache. He noted that there were a lot of key figures that the boy knew of and it
seemed almost all of it was surrounding the beast. It was almost like the so called story was
documenting his entire life history and experiences.

Naturally, anyone that the Beast was an enemy of was painted in a poor light. It parroted the
same diatribe of Shen Qingqiu's character he's heard of before. Dumb, jealous, lecherous and
conniving without a single ounce of loyalty in his heart for others.

It wasn't pleasant to hear but he understood Shen Yuan seemed to be taking it as a story of
fiction. Besides, there were elements of truth within the story of many lies that he couldn't
refute.

[System Update: Main Quest event 'I Wanna Be The Very Best" is starting. Good luck.]

'What? No details on what I need to do beyond the title? And after 7 days without any
notifications since he was born?' Shen Jiu cocked an eyebrow.

[System: Your mission is to help User fulfil his greatest potential in this world.]

'Greatest potential? In what? In his last life, he was an overly doted upon third son in a a well
to do family. He had the intelligence to achieve anything he could possibly set his mind to,
instead he chose to settle living in a mediocre existence while reading about the lives of other
people.'

While he listened to the flood of thoughts about the "story", Shen Jiu also paid attention to a
couple of the details about Shen Yuan himself, so he laid it out to the System.

[System: You are enquiring on restricted information-]

'I've not enquired for information from you. I just figured out what kind of person A-Yuan
was from listening to his thoughts these past few days.' Shen Jiu reasoned as he started listing
his thoughts.

'He has lack of ambition, suggesting he was never pressured into competition, so he must
have at least two much older siblings in that life who were ready take on the family business.

His main interests is reading and he has a large base of knowledge, which means he was from
a family that is able to afford him a good education as well as resources to keep him well fed
for all his life but because they are inactive hobbies, he was either sickly at one point or lazy
but more likely the former considering my next point.

He has a disdain for bullying from his admiration for stories that focuses on the main
character rise to beat up oppressors and that suggests that he has at least another younger
sibling to develop protective instincts over but he is physically unable to due to being sick.

Instead, he developed a high literacy and tends to escape to reading and writing scathing
rhetoric to vent his own frustrations of his own lacklustre life. He openly displays hatred for
helpless individuals which is likely a projection of his view of himself and hence, he has a
lack of self care and likely died pathetically.

[....]
'Your silence indicates to me that some if not most of what I said is correct.' Shen Jiu
smirked. 'So, it would be nice to get a hint to help unlock A-Yuan's 'potential'.

[System Update: You've achieved the title 'Oh shit, I'm Sherlock'. Congratulations. You've
unlocked a hidden reward that will support you in your quest. It will be loaded shortly...] For
some reason, he could detect a sense of sarcasm in the monotone but he felt no further change
for now.

Taking note of the peace afterwards, Shen Jiu took time to meditate and consolidate some of
his spiritual cultivation after doing some light maintenance on his garden. He had broken
through a tricky bottleneck shortly after the boy was born so these days left him feeling
fatigued.

Shen Jiu brushed a hand over the crack of the Three Pronged Leaf Stag horn as he reflected
on being careful in the future. Liu Qingge and Yue Qingyuan took turns going out of the
grotto and passing any news from outside the safety of the Grotto back to him.

The Palace Master of Huan Hua was practically frothing at the mouth from the loss of several
of his own disciples and was out on the hunt for him and Su Xiyan. Shen Jiu sighed as he
looked at the hand currently slightly green from the plucked leaves and imagined it being
red.

He remembered having nightmares when he killed the Qiu household in the first life. He
always did when blood was on his hands, yet there was nothing of the sort with this killing. If
anything, Shen Jiu almost felt at peace with himself or perhaps it just didn't hit him yet. He
suddenly his stomach lurch when he heard a piercing crying along with that voice. Xiu Ya
flew to his hand as he dropped the basket of harvested herbs.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? PUT ME DOWN! OW THAT'S MY LEG! STOP HOLDING
ME LIKE THAT!!!

"Look at this Zhuzhi, Li-Jie must've had her child. It's so tiny!" Shen Jiu glowered as he
spotted Tianlang-jun staring at the newborn, starry eyed and excitable like a hyperactive
puppy. He was also holding the poor child upside down by his leg. "Human's are so
charming... but why is it making such a loud noise, how do I get it to be quiet?" Tianlang-jun
was turning the newborn around in his arms, prodding and grabbing before holding Shen
Yuan by his torso. He was starting to panic when the baby continued to scream bloody
murder.

YOU BIG BRUTE! YOU DUMBF***! DON'T YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT
BABIES!? I WANT TO SPEAK TO YOUR MANAGER! I CAN'T BREATHE! I'M
COLD!

"Um... w-what do I do!?" Tianlang-jun asked Zhu Zhuzhi-lang who simply gave a blank
stare. He knew nothing about humans and their anatomy. Before he could even search for
help, his hand was empty of one crying baby. With a single movement, Shen Jiu swaddled the
child and held Shen Yuan securely against his chest. A couple of light bounces, Shen Yuan
started to quieten down.
Heavens... only a few days old and my life was already flashing before my eyes....

"Ah! Shen-xi-" Tianlang-jun fell silent with Shen Jiu sending him the mother of all death
glares. If outsiders were able to witness it, they'd have questioned who was truly the
Heavenly Demon.

"A-Tian! What is wrong with you?" Su Xiyan came charging over and smacking the
Heavenly Demon on the arm before hovering worriedly over the whimpering child. "Babies
are really delicate, you could've hurt him just now."

"I'm sorry... I got overexcited." Tianlang-jun was instantly cowed by both his sworn brother
and the woman he loved. Shen Jiu ignored their antics and turned his attention to check for
injuries. Shen Yuan let out one last whimper before screwing his face as if he was
embarrassed by the whole incident.

"A-Jiu, is he alright?" Shen Jiu glanced back at the two noting them flinch. He mentally
scoffed at how the couple was tiptoeing around him like he was about to explode but his
priority was to make sure that Shen Yuan's needs were met. With long elegant strides, he
headed towards the room where Shen Li rested.

"Heavens, what happened out there? I thought Xiyan was looking after A-Yuan?" Shen Li,
pale faced slowly sat up. The courtesan, Xiao Mei who originally came over to support the
birth now sat as her maid and helped her up.

"He's alright, I've checked."

"I'm sorry, Li-Jie. I took my eyes off him for a moment to send the dirty clothes to the
washerwomen. I didn't realise A-Tian had come back." Su Xiyan looked the picture of
misery. It irritated Shen Jiu as she had been acting like a kicked puppy whenever in his
presence. It was disgusting and he hated how much it reminded him of that 'that' person. He
turned away to avoid looking at her resulting in inevitably shattering her already guilt ridden
heart some more.

Is she crying? Oh come on, don't cry. Don't be mean to Auntie. I'm fine, look! Babies are
surprisingly resilient ok? They have super healing powers.

"Now, now. It's not like A-Yuan was actually harmed." Shen Li replied, her eyes warm as she
beckoned the younger woman closer. Su Xiyan, whom had been known to be cold and
detached most of her life, lit up upon seeing the baby. A teary smile crept on her face as she
touched the baby's head.

"Shen Daozhang, can I speak with you?" Xiao Mei stood up and touched his arm. There was
only a light blush on her face, a lot less than what she was used to wearing at the Red Warm
Pavillion as a courtesan. She nudged him to one side.

"What is it?"

"Mu-Daifu said earlier that due to Shen furen's weakened state from the birth, her energy will
be directed to recovery and as a result she won't be able to produce enough milk for the
baby."

"He's suggesting to bring in a wet nurse?"

"Daozhang you are indeed clever. I thought I'd ask you because I'm not sure how to break the
news to Shen-furen. She really wants to spend as much time with her baby as possible."

"I do not object to the idea from Mu-Daifu." Shen Li called out and Xiao Mei cowered hiding
behind Shen Jiu as if she had done something wrong.

I object! I've only just got used to this now! Don't I get a say in this? I can go on a diet if
mom needs to recover. Or give me rice water or some other substitute.

"A-Yuan needs to be fed well and if I can't provide then I need to rely on another."
Emboldened that she wasn't going to be reprimanded, Xiao Mei stepped forward.

"In that case, I can help look for-"

"There's no need to, there's someone already here that could do the job." Shen Jiu replied
pointing towards Su Xiyan, who had quite clearly turned into a gaping fish pulled out of the
river. He lost count of the various expressions that this woman was actually capable of and he
dared anyone to say she was actually cold and detached. Shen Li glanced over and smiled.

"I see, that does make sense."

"B-but... my poison... it's still in my body." Su Xiyan whispered shrinking backwards as if

just uttering her condition would harm everyone. She already was miserable from her failing
to safeguard Shen Yuan.

P-poison?

"I doubt the ill effects of it will pass into the milk. It's a poison that was designed to affect
demons and as Shen Yuan's fully human, it won't hurt him. " Shen Jiu rubbed his chin as he
considered other methods of dealing with demons outside of the conventional spiritual
attacks, burnings and beheadings. "It might even prove to help build his own physical
defences against them. Probably...."

PROBABLY!? Hey Big Bro! I do not appreciate on being your guinea pig! Ingesting
things without checking if they are compatible with life is what got me here in the first
place! Mom? Mom!? You're not REALLY going to go along with this, are you!?

"Your logic makes sense, A-Jiu."

Mama Noooooo!!!

The high pitch wail of Shen Yuan's inner voice initially startled Shen Jiu but that strange
bubble of warmth returned coming from the pit of his stomach and curl upwards to his chest.
His felt his face twitch which he covered with an open of his fan.
"Well if that's true, then I'll be honoured to help feed A-Yuan." Su Xiyan announced bowing
stiffly but also determined towards Shen Li and glancing nervously over towards Shen Jiu.

Ah... poison... I'm going to be sucking on poison... no... no I'm not going to think about
that. I'm just going to tune out. System put on my playlist... WHY THE F*** ARE YOU
PLAYING ALICE COOPER!?!?

Shen Jiu turned face Xiao Mei if only to avoid being seen by the couple and trying to ignore
listening further to the wailing voice as well as the bubbling feeling in his stomach.

"I'm thankful for you willing to risk yourself to come and help. I'll arrange to escort you back.
"

"Oh, do not worry about it Daozhang, it's actually a welcome break." Xiao Mei stared up
starry eyed and latched on to his arm. "Although, I wouldn't mind getting an escort from your
esteemed self teehee!"

"Very well," Shen Jiu replied. Tianlang-jun who was standing also seemed to squirm. "What
now?"

"Be careful, he's already informed them and everyone is looking for you. There are portraits."
Shen Jiu sighed feeling an even bigger headache than anything Shen Yuan was babbling
about.

"It can't be helped now. I can't keep hiding." Fortunately, Xiao Mei was clever enough to
dress more plainly as well so that she would blend in more with the local villages.

"But I wanted to let you know that I-"

"I'll deal with it later. I do have to make some payments to Red Warm Pavillion for allowing
one of their courtesans time away for 7 days after all."

"Daozhang owes our sisters a lot of 'music lessons'." Xiao Mei tittered nuzzling close to him
and gripping to his arm. "Also everyone really wants to see the little baby as well one day.
Will Shen-furen invite us to little one's 100 day banquet?"

Shen Li smiled replying with a noble grace. "The more the merrier. You have been a
wonderful help these past few days so you'll definitely be first on my list of honoured
guests." The young woman tittered with 'Aiyoh and thank you's' but Shen Jiu knew she was
taken by surprise. Not many would unashamedly invite people of her ilk to a banquet so she
had only been half joking but Shen Jiu that the book seller's wife was not just anybody.

---

Shen Jiu stepped away to get ready to set off, slipping on a tasteful but elegant pastel green
hanfu with darker green accent and a matching dark green fan. This would give off the look
of a well to do gentleman who would not be too out of place walking out in public and be
able to afford to come to a brothel too. He let out a huff as he let the warmth in his stomach
 rise to the surface and his body shook, he waved the green fan against his face when it finally
subsided.

"You know Daozhang... I've never seen you laugh before little baby was born. He must be
truly special to you." Xiao Mei commented leaning against the door and a smirk on her face.

"I suppose..." Shen Jiu replied honestly.

"You look even more handsome when you laugh. There's no need to hide it. If only to stop
tormenting your friends." Shen Jiu considered her words before he nodded in agreement as he
lifted his arm to allow her to hook around it.

"Alright, I won't next time." he said.

Chapter End Notes

Happy New Year everyone. It's been a bit angsty over the last couple of chapters and
while I can't guarantee there won't be more, this should not be one of those chapters
though and there should be more fun ones after as well.

A cookie for anyone who can guess the song from Alice Cooper. XD

I was also listening to Celine Dion's 'That's the Way It is' while writing this.
 Chapter 20
Chapter Notes

Apologies, I had this on draft and forgot to upload it. I've been pretty busy doing a little
bit of acting for a training programme at work. It's quite interesting and I applaud
anyone in the film making industry. It's a full days work for 10 minutes worth of
footage.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Shen Jiu knew there was a lot of eyes on him when he escorted Xiao Mei to the brothel. The
scathing whispers were nothing new to him but the brave girl pinched at his arm. She was
clearly scared but she held herself up with the air of confusion and concern.

"Shen Daozhang, you have a lot of guts to show up again." so someone was finally going to
confront him slamming a fist on the table in front of him.

"Excuse me, gongzi?" Shen Jiu asked. The cultivator in question was Huan Hua Palace
disciple as he shoved a portrait along with his usual outfit.

"Don't try to play dumb. We know who you really are. You might as well have come out with
your weimao." Shen Jiu sighed.

"Alright, but what is the meaning of having my portrait for? Mind giving me a reason for
what offense I've committed against you? I don't believe we have ever met."

"You haven't met but you certainly met my little brother whom you murdered along with 50
other cultivators. Prepare to die." the Huan Hua Palace disciple went to strike leaving a lot of
courtesans screaming bloody murder at the onslaught. Shen Jiu reacted accordingly dodging
easily enough but he lamented that he couldn't limit the damage to the place. It meant adding
to his tab from the Madam of the Warm Red Pavilion.

"Easy there comrade, be clear that you have got the right person." Shen Jiu as he elegantly
gripped the disciples sword with two fingers. Though he knew that the Huan Hua palace
disciple did indeed find the right person, he had to keep up the act. "What proof do you have
that I've committed such an atrocity?"

"Proof? Not just proof but someone who was there. A survivor of your cruelty who witnessed
it all. You and that traitorous slut Su Xiyan." Shen Jiu glared as he easily disarmed the
disciple that he did not care to learn the name of.

"Who is this person that claims to have seen me? I can tell you now that I have been quite a
busy person with my own business. A woman and friend of mine had gone through a difficult
birth." Shen Jiu pulled towards the exit to avoid anymore damage to the establishment,
throwing a pouch of both ingots and rare herbs from his garden over to xiao Mei.

"A woman with a child. Was it that whore and her halfbreed spawn? I don't care, I'll kill you
both in honour of my fallen brother and to comfort our shizun. Nothing you say is
trustworthy."

"Anymore trustworthy than your 'witness'?" Shen Jiu wheedled as he took to the open streets,
clearly warning all the commoners to stay clear. All of them ducked their heads in response
and scuttled to the alleyways. Shen Jiu noted the twitch that he confirmed was Wu Yanzi as
the witness and not that there was anyone else. It would be a shame to have to kill another
person. Shen Jiu learnt that lesson from a lifetime ago.

Though it seemed uncanny, he felt the powers of restraint as ropes of Immortal Binding wrap
around him, sealing his spiritual powers. there was a triumphant call as more Huan Hua
Palace disciples came out of their obvious hiding places. Shen Jiu swallowed that sudden
crowd of disciples in the street started to part and a older man walked down. He had a severe
face on his greying face but it was clearly recognisable as the Huan Hua Palace Master.

"Shizun, we've apprehended the criminal. Let's end him right here."

"Enough!" the Palace Master held up his arm. "We still don't know where Xiyan is. Take him
back to the Palace and put him in the Water Prison. I want to have a talk." Shen Jiu was
knocked roughly back and forth and he was vaguely reminded of flashes of younger days and
he hoped those skills he used to survive were not too rusty.

The interior of the Huan Hua Palace was as extravagant as always though he tried his best to
feign the look of confusion of this being the first time he had been here. As they wound down
to the floors and it became darker towards that familiar curtain of acidic water. He shuddered
as he noticed a piece of stray cloth disintegrated into nothing. He gave side glances noticing
the smug sneers from the disciples around him as the Palace Master opened the curtain and
he was pushed through towards the central empty platform.

The empty space at his rescue attempt for Xiyan was an odd one as the woman had already
gone by the time that he and Tianlang-jun had arrived. Fortunately, Shen Jiu had guessed the
subsequent events that had happened based on the clues in that beasts name and his guess had
paid off and Xiyan had been saved from deaths door at that point.

Having also provided her with the information of th nature of the poison, he also knew of
how to excise most of it out of her body with carefully cultivated herbs and medicines, he had
acquired in preparation for this day.

He was tossed to the platform followed by the Palace Master shortly. The curtain closed
behind them so he was now alone and in their clutches.

"Now I can make this easy for you or very difficult." the Palace Master, an aged face with
lines of silver in dark hair. In the future, that would turn completely white. "Do you know
what this place is?"
"N-no," Shen Jiu replied, his eyes wide looking very much like a small animal.

"This place is called the Water Prison. It's what my Huan Hua Palace is most famous for." the
Palace Master replied. "I've looked into you 'Shen Daozhang'. You apparently, don't have a
master and cultivated on your own as a young prodigy out of nowhere. Asides from dubious
visits to a brothel, you've kept to yourself, traded with rogue cultivators of information and
wares. Correct?"

"Yes..." Shen Jiu replied.

"I've noticed the Cang Qiong Mountain seemed to be acquaintances to you as well. While we
are rivals, I do trust that sect as a righteous and would never associate themselves with evil,
which is why I am sceptical of the rumours surrounding yourself."

"But Shizun!"

"Silence!" the Palace Master barked and they cowed as the Palace Master stepped forward
placing two long aged fingers underneath Shen Jiu's chin. It took everything in him to not
twist his face away in disgust and clearly aware of the older man's intentions as the Palace
Master tipping it upwards to see his face. "Does Wu Yanzi honestly take me for a fool when
the remnants of that attack that killed my beloved disciples was clearly demonic in nature?"
Shen Jiu felt relieved while he widened his eyes looking every bit of a child looking at a lost
of what was happening to him. It was an act he perfected to garner sympathy when he was on
the streets and the attack he made against the group in question was demonic technique
taught to him by Wu Yanzi himself.

"But Shizun, he could've been Wu Yanzi's associate! Maybe Wu Yanzi is his master." one of
the disciples piped up. Shen Jiu glanced over and a brief thought occurred considering if
there were others like him and Shen Li, however this was quickly dismissed as the disciple
was clearly grasping in order to find someone he can exact his revenge against. "Or perhaps
cultivation partners."

Shen Jiu couldn't help but show disgust at that second conjecture which he belatedly thought
would give himself away but it actually leant itself to the narrative he and Shen Li planned
for.

"I've just checked your core earlier and he has clearly cultivated with the righteous path and
if I recall there was an incident at a certain brothel where Wu Yanzi was struck with a unique
defense array that prevented him from entering that establishment. I believe that was your
doing." The Palace Master was indeed shrewd as it seems he was aware of Shen Jiu for
several years now. "Perhaps you were there or perhaps he wanted revenge against you for
denying him access to his favourite whore."

"Perhaps both..." Shen Jiu said. This was a risky move and could dismantle everything and he
would indeed be trapped and executed. The Palace Master narrowed his eyes but then
smirked stroking his beard.

"Do tell..."
"I was meeting up with Su Xiyan. Her child was not with her at the time as she felt it was
necessary to hide it then... he came along with your disciples."

"I see... I see what this is about. Poor thing. Considering you've been cultivating by yourself,
you will not be aware of many things in our world and it seems my wayward disciple has
manipulated you along with several of her martial siblings." The Palace Master concluded.
"Do you know what child she was carrying?"

"I know it was baby that you disagreed with which is why she ran away. I didn't question
further the reason why..." Shen Jiu said. It was the truth as he knew.

"Of course, of course she wouldn't have told you it was a child with the blood of a demon."

"A demon?" Shen Jiu asked as if he didn't know.

"Yes Shen Daozheng, it seems she neglected to mention that reason and dragged you into
trouble without you knowing. I can see now that you were just well-meaning. Afterall who
could be more innocent than a baby? Correct?"

"No, your-"

"Shen gongzi, I can be lenient to you for you were just naive and too trusting. Tell me where
Su Xiyan and her demon child is and I'll let you go. I'll even extend an invitation to become a
disciple at my Huan Hua Palace."

"What do you mean by that?"

"What many think a cultivators think. It's likely why the Cang Qiong lot have been friendly
with you too. You might not seem to be aware of it but you are truly a rare talent in your
generation and you've achieved a lot on your own however, you lack the world knowledge of
the evils our world face. You've been unfortunately pulled into this in the guise of friendship
by Xiyan who has associated herself with demons."

"But she once asked me for information about a poison that can kill them... so why?" Shen
Jiu asked.

"Indeed, she once did. It was a mission I tasked her with and she sought your help but she
became a traitor, being bewitched by the Heavenly Demon Tianlang-jun. I had a feeling that
she was trying to involve you too so I'm warning you now. Do not trust her. Tell me where
she and her child is, then you can go free."

"I-I don't know... I really don't know where she and her baby is right now." Shen Jiu replied.
"I-I really was helping another woman who was having a difficult birth."

"I know, I believe you." the Palace Master replied, his voice became soft and gentle, as if a
father speaking to a child. "Please if you have any information at all?"

"I... I can't tell where she is now but... I can tell you where she will be." Shen Jiu replied.
"She's meeting with me in 2 days at the Luo river."
"Thank you, Shen Daozheng." The Palace Master replied as he pulled out several needles.
"Now be a good boy and stay here for a little while."

"But you just said-" Shen Jiu was immediately cut off as the needles went in his neck, chest
and head. Pain exploded inside his body and with his spiritual core bound by the Immortal
Binding there was also no relief. It was unrelenting as he felt like he was burning with fire
then chilled to the bone. Another few punctures from several others and the intensity
exploded. Shen Jiu lost count how many the Palace Master had stabbed him with but it felt
like it was every conceivable inch of his body sealing movement and his meridians. He was
frozen in place that there wasn't even a need for the Immortal Binding rope.

"As you've been involved whether intentionally or not, there is still a chance for the demons
evil influence on you. I'll help you purge it out. I'd like to say it's painless but it's not. Stay
here until I check what you've said is the truth and I'll deal with you later." The Palace
Master's kindly face dropped again as the curtain of Water opened up and they all exited
leaving him shaking from the waves of hot and cold pain.

After being sure that they were gone, Shen Jiu stopped moving, willing through the pain, the
hot and cold, he found stillness. He recognised the technique and the needles used and
scoffed at the lie. The man just simply wanted him to torture him so that he could be free to
manipulate him afterwards. It was a torture method that he had undergone among many
others in his past life and without any respite. Even with a body that has never experienced
the same kind of pain he did in that past life, it was not going to break him. Not then and not
now.

[System Update: You've achieved the title Academy Award Winning Badass. Your pain
tolerance has risen, your resistance to status effects has risen. Your trauma has increased to
dangerous levels of functioning. Recommendation: Therapy. Yes/No]

'Not now.'

[Reminder scheduled for 3 days time.]

Shen Jiu concentrated as he curled into a ball despite the constant changes and just simply
being still. With his mind drifting off, his thoughts turned to the day before.

---

"Daozhang?" he paused briefly to look at the young youth that he hadn't seen for several days
and had accompanied his uncle on the hunt for a certain demonic cultivator.

"Is he still unconscious?" Shen Jiu's voice was low and he sneered in disgust.

"Yes, we've made sure to keep him incapacitated like you asked, but I don't understand why
we don't just kill him."

"Try to keep Li-jie from knowing of his presence until I get back. She should not be exerting
herself for anyone especially for him. Can you try to get your uncle to agree to that
arrangement as well?"
"Understood, I will make sure he is unharmed until you come back."

"Harm him all you like, just don't kill him."

---

As Shen Jiu thought of this he gasped as if waking from a bad dream. The pain of constant
hot and cold was still there though muted in comparison and the smell of acrid water was
replaced by the smell of soil and herbs. By his side was the remains of an egg plant and his
body was covered in a blanket.

Shen Jiu sighed relieved that the transfer worked. He flexed the fingers of the foreign body
and slowly pushed himself up letting the blanket drop exposing his naked top half. Nearer to
his dantian where his core resided, he stared at the intricate looking array he had acquired
after receiving the reward of a more advanced version of his golems. While Da Bai was
simple and able to set commands and tasks he instilled into to operate independent of
himself, this was one that can be controlled by him directly and given enough time to absorb
spiritual energy from the soil could even leave the Grotto.

It wasn't exactly like the Sun and Dew Mushroom he had found back then but at least he
didn't necessarily have to die to attain it. He did need to return to absorb spiritual energy to
recharge it otherwise the golem will dissipate and his soul be sent back to his original body.
Any spiritual attacks used would spend the stored energy even more. Right now the body had
7 days of functioning brimming with energy. The golem looked like it was working well
enough as he manoeuvred with it as if it was his own original body.

[System Update: Soul connection with Golem established. You have achieved the title: I. Am.
Ironman. Current Spiritual charge: 100%]

"I've put your spare clothes to the side next to you. Shame about the eggplant. Perhaps I can
make a stew with what's left." he turned to see Shen Li who was standing by his side with A-
Yuan in her arms.

"Why are you up and not resting?"

Is that Uncle Jiu? When did he get back? Also spare clothes? You've been busy at the
Warm Red Pavilion huh? You sly dog, you.

A-Yuan had already plumped up and grew out of his walnut look, his face was becoming
round and cute. Though he's sight was still not developed yet, his eyes were wide open and
the infant was already smirking.

"Why are you stopping me from joining in the torture of my husband's killer in your
dungeon?" Shen Li retorted. The smirk dropped and the little eyes widened.

T-Torture? Dad's murderer? Dungeon?

"It's most vexing to be left out when A-Tian and Zhuzhi are entertaining themselves down
there. For demons, they sure like to obey you like little puppies." Shen Li pouted.
Demons!? Are we at a villain's committee? Am I born into a family of Luo Binghe's rogue
gallery? Shen... Shen... Is Uncle Jiu... 'THAT' Shen? Awww... come oooonnnn. Of all the
characters, he had to be THAT guy?

"I'm not fairing better with being interrogated and tortured by the Palace Master at the Water
Prison either, you know?"

What does he mean by that? How is here if he's in the Water Prison? Why is even AT the
Water Prison getting tortured!? WHY IS EVERYONE GETTING TORTURED!?!?!?

"It's the only way to convince him."

"I doubt the Palace Master is fully convinced. Even if he is, he's too prideful to let me go."

"Perhaps but Cang Qiong can force his hand. Especially if you agree to take up the role of
Qing Jing Peak disciple." Shen Jiu bit his lower lip. "You've told him that you are meeting
Xiyan right?"

"Yes, he'll be ready to intercept to confront her at the Luo River."

"The Luo River?"

Hang on... is this is some kind of hidden backstory on Luo Binghe's origins, Airplane had
been holding out on? WHERE THE F**K WAS THIS IN THE NOVEL!?!? Are you
telling me that Shen Qingqiu had a legit reason for the hate instead of just stupid jealousy?
Su Xiyan and Tianlang-jun... I remember he was alluding to that side plot about a demon
dad and a Huan Hua Palace disciple. So this must be it...

Shen Jiu sighed. "Is there a problem?"

"Isn't that the same river she sent her son down? Isn't it a risk that they might find him?"

"Oh and it's fine for you and A-Yuan impersonating the two of them while Su Xiyan and
Tianlang make their merry escape to the borderlands? Huh? To put yourself up as the decoy
facing Huan Hua Palace's wrath?" Shen Jiu growled back. Shen Li swallowed.

Wait... why are you involving me? I'm just a baby... what level of irresponsible parenting
are you at, cray -cray mama!?

"I trust you." Shen Li replied boldly.

"Oh you 'trust' me!?" Shen Jiu laughed mirthlessly. He almost wished he could go into a Qi
deviation and put himself into a coma rather than deal with Shen Li's insane plan. "You have
truly gone mad."

Right? Uncle Jiu? Let's get out of here! Even if you are a villain, you and I are the only
sane people here.

He felt a single arm wrap around his shoulders and the older woman's head resting against his
back
 "Please A-Jiu..."

"Stop it."

"It's really the last thing I will ask of you."

F*********K, go ahead and cry too while you're at it, mom. How can any self respecting
man refuse that? Uncle Jiu you poor guy. You had no chance...

"Then listen to me too and don't go near the prisoner. I will make sure that your revenge for
your husband and A-Yuan's father is completed thoroughly." Shen Jiu whispered back.

"Alright..." Shen Li replied before giving him a watery smile. She looked down and stroked
her baby's stunned face. "Look A-Jiu, A-Yuan looks so focused. He's got the resolve to carry
his part off too." Shen Jiu gave them both a side eye.

"He looks traumatised."

Chapter End Notes

The needle torture is my fellow writer Duochanfan's idea. If you be mean don't blame
me, blame her.
Please drop by the Archive and comment to let the creator know if you enjoyed their work!