Chapter 22

Xie Bi An woke up at the crack of dawn. He rolled out of bed deftly and landed silently, glancing at Fan Wu She who was still sleeping and gently tucking him in before going out.

It was a cold morning in the mountains, and every breath he inhaled was crisp as if he had swallowed a handful of frost and snow, which burned his heart and lungs. The muddled feeling was swept away and he woke up completely.

He spent the rest of the night thinking about why he had resisted the Eight Trigrams Platform and why he had fainted, as well as the unbelievable dream. Fortunately, he was a happy-go-lucky person by nature and was not one to take the bull by its horns, so if he couldn't understand it, then he would just stop thinking about it, as his body was not seriously injured anyway.

In fact, he had a vague feeling that what happened this time might have something to do with his past life. As an underworld general, he knew that people could not completely erase traces of their past lives. Mengpo's five flavoured bewitching soup was to make people forget their memories, not erase them. Memories can never be erased, and whatever that has been forgotten can be remembered again. It's just that for the vast majority of people, will only occasionally have a brief flashback when they encounter a similar scenario throughout their lives. They will only feel a sense of déjà vu, and not understand what that means.

It is likely that he had been to the Eight Trigrams Platform in his previous life where something significant had happened, and when he revisited the place this time, he got a flashback of his memory. It’s just that he didn’t know if that dream also had something to do with his previous life. It's better if it didn't, because it obviously didn't end well for him in the dream.

Xie Bi An decided not to bother himself or think about it anymore. He drew out his Pei Xue, meditated, and concentrated on his sword training.

Fan Wu She was awake long before Xie Bi An got off the bed, but he did not get up immediately. Instead, he rolled in the blanket that still had the lingering body heat and fragrance of Xie Bi An, and slept for a while with his eyes closed.

When he got out of bed and walked out the door, Xie Bi An was dancing with his sword on the edge of the cliff.

The handsome young man in white was dancing with his sword under the cloudy sky. The silvery sword light created a magnificent shadow that fell between the green peaks of the beautiful mountains. The white glow is just like a snowy heron and a shooting star, wrapped in auspicious clouds and surrounded by rays of air, as if it will be transformed into an immortal in the next moment.

Fan Wu She's emotions were stirred. He flew over with his Ting Mo unsheathed and clashed with Pei Xue with a sharp “dang”, the sound echoing within the walls for a long time.

The two shadows, one black and one white, the white like paper, the black like ink, the brush moving and flying like a dragon and a snake, entwined until the sea and clouds produced waves, gradually there was white in the black, and black in the white. The yin and yang, black and white, four appearance and eight trigrams.*

Black and white, yin and yang, in unity, opposition, mutualization, ebb and flow.

----

Before victory and defeat can be determined from this sparring session, they were interrupted by Xu Mao.

Xu Mao specially came to visit Xie Bi An, and also offered him an immortal pill: "Elder Master heard that Immortal Sovereign Impermanence was not well and was very worried, so he sent me to send this True Element Jade Practicing Pill. This pill can calm the mind and replenish qi. It also has benefits for cultivation, so I hope Immortal Sovereign Impermanence will kindly accept it."

A pill of this grade costs a lot of heavenly materials and treasures to make, and cannot be obtained even if one has money; it is something that requires a cultivator to go up to Yunding to ask for it in person.

Xie Bi An, who had studied under Zhong Kui, naturally had a lot of knowledge, and he felt that this pill was a generous gift, much more generous than their birthday gift, but as he was out and about, representing his master's face, he could not display his ignorance, so he arched his hand and smiled, "Thank you very much, junior would be impolite to decline."

"Anyone who comes here is our guest. If you don't feel comfortable in Wuliang Sect, it would be a shame for us.”

After a few more words of courtesy between them, Xu Mao asked, "Hey, Lord Lan said he wanted to come and see little White Master. Since you are fine now, is it…”

"Lord Lan?" Xie Bi An's eyes lit up, "Brother Lan is here?"

"Yes, he arrived yesterday. I came over last night to deliver the message. Why, didn't Lord Fan tell you?"

Fan Wu She's face was straight: "I forgot."

Xie Bi An smiled, "I was guessing if Brother Lan would come to send birthday congratulations on behalf of Xianyue Pavilion, and he did. Come on, I'll take you to meet Brother Lan."

Fan Wu She did not even want to meet this bullsh*t "Brother Lan", but he also would not allow Xie Bi An to meet him alone.

Halfway down the road, there were suddenly a few disciples running past them in a hurry, all gathering in one direction.

Xu Mao grabbed one of the disciples and scolded him, "What’s the rush? Can't you see the guests?"

"Senior Brother Xu." That disciple saluted, "Senior Brother Song and Lord Lan are sparring on the Eight Trigrams Platform. It’s a rare encounter between the Wuliang Sword and Junlan Sword."

Xu Mao's eyes lit up, "Little White Master, let's hurry up and take a look too."

Xie Bi An's heart thumped. One is Li Bu Yu's closed-door disciple, the famous one-armed swordsman of Jianghu, and the other is holding the divine weapon quenched by Shen Nong Ding, the young pavilion master of Xianyue Pavilion, who has the beautiful reputation of "the world's number one Lord". Of course he wanted to see it because this competition is destined to be exciting, but when he thought of the Eight Trigrams Platform…

Fan Wu She grabbed Xie Bi An’s wrist: “We’re not going.”

"What's wrong?" Xu Mao said in confusion.

Xie Bi An settled down, "It’s nothing, I want to watch it too, let's go."

The three of them ran to the Eight Trigrams Platform. Seeing that platform, which seemed to be suspended in mid-air, a man in blue and a man in green were fighting with their swords. Their swords were flying so fast that they were almost trailing residual shadows around them. The moves displayed by the experts were the best of the best, and the Eight Trigrams Platform was already crowded with disciples from Wuliang Sect and guests who had come to celebrate the birthday.

Xie Bi An was instinctively reluctant to go near the Eight Trigrams Platform, and only stood at a distance, but he could see the sword strokes clearly.

Xu Mao exclaimed, "It's been a long time since I've seen senior brother Song get serious. When he makes a move, it’s astonishing.”

Both Impermanences did not say anything. They have learned how powerful Song Chun Gui was, and the only reason they had been able to get out of that man's hands the last time was because he hadn't pursued them. Otherwise, if they had joined forces, although they might not be defeated, they would definitely have been seriously injured.

"However, Lord Lan's Junlan Sword Technique enjoys a well-deserved reputation, otherwise Pavilion Master Lan would not have poured out the strength of his clan to forge a sword for him with Shen Nong Ding. Although his cultivation and sword technique are slightly inferior to Senior Brother Song's, with that divine weapon in his hand, it is considered as an even match."

Although Fan Wu She felt unpleasant in his heart, he had to admit that Lan Chui Han was not the embroidered pillow* he imagined. Although his love affair was as famous as his sword technique, he did not sap his spirit by seeking pleasure*.

Xie Bi An also could not stop saying, "Awesome, wonderful."

Fan Wu She asked, "Which style has Song Chun Gui's Wuliang Sword cultivated to?"

"Rumor has it that it has been cultivated to the eighth style, but no one has seen Senior Brother Song exert it yet."

"What about Li Bu Yu?"

"Uh…” Xu Mao was surprised.

It was a great disrespect to call the honored one by his name, not to mention that Li Bu Yu was the most honored person in the cultivational world today. Xu Mao has never heard of anyone in his life who would dare to call his master's name in such a reckless manner, so he froze for a moment.

Xie Bi An was also shocked, "Wu She, how can you be so rude!" He hastily apologized to Xu Mao, "I am really sorry. My junior brother studied under a casual cultivator when he was a child, so his manners are not very good, plus he is young and inexperienced. I hope you will not blame him."

"No worries, no worries." Xu Mao smiled dryly and wiped the sweat off his face.

Fan Wu She twitched his mouth disdainfully. An eerie killing intent flashed in his eyes. It is ironic that the boy, who was a two-faced, submissive villain that followed his big brother everywhere and flattered him, was now the leader of the immortal cultivational world.

The two men on the Eight Trigrams Platform stopped at some point, afraid that if they fought any longer, they would get angry and would not be able to resist fighting for real.

"Ah, they've finished their match." Xie Bi An walked over and called out from the stage, "Brother Lan!"

The man on the stage turned his head after hearing the voice. He was dressed in blue with a jade belt, embroidered with hidden clouds and orchids. His posture was tall and distinguished, and his appearance was even more handsome. A pair of wavering peach blossom eyes pulsated with emotion, and when he smiled, it was just like the saying - a person is like a mauve willow in spring, with a breeze through the bones and a gentle body.

With this look, it is no wonder that he is known as the world's number one gentleman.

Lan Chui Han flew down and landed in front of Xie Bi An in a dashing manner, smiling in surprise, "Bi An!"

"Brother Lan, it's been a long time."

"Yes, it's been almost three years." Lan Chui Han sized up Xie Bi An. He reached out to touch his head and said softly, "I remember the first time I saw you, you were only eight or nine years old, but now you look like an adult."

Fan Wu She narrowed his eyes.

Xie Bi An laughed, "I've been an adult for a long time now, I even have a junior brother." He showed Fan Wu She to Lan Chui Han as if he was presenting a treasure, "Brother Lan, this is my junior brother, Fan Wu She. He has excellent roots."

Lan Chui Han looked at Fan Wu She with a smile, "I've heard of him. he must be a revered person to be able to get accepted as a disciple by Heaven Master."

Fan Wu She looked coldly at Lan Chui Han.

Xie Bi An eyed Fan Wu She from behind.

Fan Wu She reluctantly arched his hand, "Greetings, Lord Lan."

"Lord Lan, that Junlan sword technique just now really took our breath away." Xu Mao complimented.

"You have over-complimented me, compared to big brother Song, I am still…”

"Immortal Sovereign Impermanence, how are you?"

Song Chun Gui had walked up to them at some point in time and looked at the two indifferently.

Xie Bi An's expression stiffened as he bowed uncomfortably, "Song Zhen Ren*."

Xu Mao said unexpectedly, "Have you met Senior Brother Song before?"

"It's a long story." Song Chun Gui made a gesture of "please" with his one arm.

 

----

Translator Thoughts:

The yin and yang, black and white, four appearance and eight trigrams.*[黑白两仪，生四象八卦]--- this meaning actually comes from the Yin and Yang theory. You can refer to Baidu for your information. There includes an illustration as well: tinyurl.com/323z3vrh

embroidered pillow*[绣花枕头]---outwardly attractive but worthless

sap his spirit by seeking pleasure* [玩物丧志] --- play through life and have no serious ambition

Zhen Ren* [真人]---It’s a title used in ancient Chinese. Often used as titles, such as Yinzi, Wenzi, Liezi, and Zhuangzi (尹子、文子、列子、庄子). It is another name for Tianzun (天尊). Refers to the ancient Taoists and Taoism who cultivate the Dao (becoming immortal), understand the universe and the origin of life, and awake people. Previously in a few chapters of WCJ did mention Xiang Qu Zhen Ren. I thought it was the name of that person until I Baidu the meaning now lol.

 

Editor Thoughts:

Hello~ It's been a while since our last update... Both Ari and I have been busy recently with work and personal life. Thanks for waiting for the updates :) 

When this volume is fully edited we will probably discuss again to see if it's feasible to lock the full volume for editing, but I'm thinking we will probably just lock the chapters that are under editing for now since updates are getting less regular. 

Meanwhile, here's some food for thought. Life just doesn't seem to go the way you want it to go eh? Is it the gamer in me that selected impossible difficulty at the start

 

Edited on 21 Mar. 21 (Emzie)

Edited on 19 Aug 21 (Limit)

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