Gu Shengxia and Wang Chunli had been cultivating for almost twenty years now, but their cultivation level left much to be desired.
Although they consoled themselves every day by comparing their progress with the younglings who had just entered the sect, eventually the truth knocked at the back of their heads, and they had to accept the fact that they were severely lacking compared to those who started cultivating at the sa ti they did.
So what to do when hard work fails to yield the result one expected?
Gu Shengxia and Wang Chunli had only one answer to this question --- one simply needed to find a shortcut to success.
This mindset was dishonorable and, unfortunately, common among many wannabe cultivators throughout the Human Realm.
Instead of heading directly to Yingchun Forest, Gu Shengxia and Wang Chunli took Huang Taichen to a private chamber in a tea house, where around twenty other cultivators from various sects had gathered. Judging from the less-than-intimidating aura that emanated from them, their cultivation level was way below average.
Then again, who was Huang Taichen to make such an assessnt? As soone who did not possess innate talent for cultivation, he was practically at the bottommost rank.
"Brothers, as promised, I brought my shidi today."
Gu Shengxia draped an arm around Huang Taichen’s shoulder.
The other cultivators looked Huang Taichen up and down like he was an exotic beast to ta himself.
"And this is the beast tar?" one of them asked incredulously.
"Hell, yeah. He can manipulate a lot of beasts to do his bidding. Or coax them for his benefit, whatever," Gu Shenxia said while shooting a brief glance in Huang Taichen’s direction.
Huang Taichen clenched his jaw and scanned the faces of the cultivators one by one.
"... Nice to et you."
But then he grabbed his two shixiongs by the arms and said in a grim tone, "Shixiongs, we need to talk."
Gu Shengxia and Wang Chunli were dragged outside the door. Once the door fell shut, Huang Taichen glared at them one by one.
"What is this? I thought that we were just going to capture the demons and bring them to Sect Leader Bai?"
Gu Shengxia chewed at his lower lip nervously. Wang Chunli pursed his lips and said, "Do you think that three people can subdue demons easily? We need as many help we can get. Huang Shidi, leave the matter of profit division to us. You just do what you do best."
In other words, they just wanted Huang Taichen to handle the most difficult part of the quest, and then they could just swoop in for the prize. Huang Taichen had half a mind to retreat then and there, but these two shixiongs of his were very adamant in leading the sketchy group of hunters. If he retreated, everyone in the room might fall victim to the demonic beasts.
He couldn’t let that happen.
"Alright," he begrudgingly agreed. He figured that if it ca down to it, he could give them a window to escape. Maybe that brush with death would be enough to scare them straight and prevent them from making the sa mistake twice.
Gu Shengxia and Wang Chunli heaved a sigh of relief. Gu Shengxia happily patted Huang Taichen on the back.
"Atta boy! That’s what I am talking about. Now, let us depart! Glorious days are ahead of us!"
Huang Taichen responded with a grunt as he was dragged back into the private chamber. Glorious days? He was not too sure of that.
Yingchun Forest was a day’s ride away by horse. Once there, however, they had to proceed on foot. The trees were too dense for horses to navigate, making them more of a hindrance than a help.
The ones who found the demonic beasts were Gu Shengxia and Wang Chunli, so they led the way. Huang Taichen, who had no spiritual power to boast, brought up the rear. Hung at his belt was his vessel flute and a sword that he had yet to master. Huang Taichen’s mood grew worse and worse with every step they took away from the forest entrance.
For so reason, he was overco by a sense of foreboding. Unfortunately, it was too late to go back. Not that this greedy bunch of cultivators would listen to him.
Arghhhhh.
It was then, that he caught sight of a certain young man, who was walking so distance away from him. This young man was sowhat familiar.
Curious, Huang Taichen stepped next to him and said, "Hey."
The young man turned his pair of beautiful almond eyes in his direction, his gaze unreadable.
"Yes?"
Huang Taichen frowned.
"Have we t before?"
The young man smiled, and suddenly the gloomy atmosphere that engulfed the forest lifted at once.
"I don’t think so," he said, his voice gentle and light.
When he shook his head to remove fallen leaves from his dragon-shaped crown, his high ponytail swayed beautifully, almost dancing in the air.
Huang Taichen gulped.
The young man possessed a truly extraordinary beauty. It wasn’t a feminine charm, but a captivating allure that only grew more striking the longer one looked. Huang Taichen had never considered himself a cut-sleeve person, but even he could not help but blush furiously when the beautiful young man looked at him a bit too long.
The young man’s appearance was so otherworldly that he might have been a god or a demon. How else could a person with that look exist in the human realm?
"So, uh, my na is Huang Taichen. It’s... it’s very nice to et you."
As soon as he introduced himself, Huang Taichen wanted to kick himself in the rear. What was he introducing himself for? They were on a quest to catch demons! Would the young man think that Huang Taichen had so abnormal interest toward him?
But the young man, thankfully, did not take Huang Taichen as a weirdo. He gave Huang Taichen an acknowledging nod and said, "My na is Xie Jianyu. Nice to et you."
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Author’s note :
Baby Jianyu is online!
Huang Taichen : Shihzuhnnnnnn!!!! QAQ!
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