Who Dares Slander My Senior Brother Chapter 18

The moonlight like water, Wen Jing flew within the mountain. The mountain road was clearly visible.

The python’s whereabouts were unclear. This was not a moonless day of the month that he searched for a trace of the serpent, but on the contrary, it was a night filled with moonlight that he had learned it might occasionally be seen.

Arriving at the monolith, Wen Jing stealthily flew by only to see the immense coil of its body. The python’s tongue flicked out. Its body no longer trembling, it lay quiet and still as it gazed at the moon looking bored to death.

He quietly tossed over a piece of hongfan fruit.

The python’s head suddenly lifted up and bit the hongfan fruit. Glancing at Wen Jing it immediately spit it out. The fruit rolled across the ground.

Wen Jing picked up the piece of hongfan fruit and wiped it off: 『You clearly like to eat it, why aren’t you willing to accept……』

Not daring to act rashly, he once again pulled out a piece of hongfan fruit and silently sat down on a nearby rock.

His placed his hand on the body of the python and very slowly and gently began to stroke.

The python didn’t resist. Wen Jing was secretly happy. Not satisfied with his small victory he reached his hand towards its head.

This temperamental serpent was difficult to coax yet unexpectedly it tolerated his behavior.

At last, his hand reached the top of its head. The serpent shifted, apparently somewhat dissatisfied but did nothing else.

Wen Jing was restless at heart. He wasn’t shaken off?

He stroked for a while. The python lowered its head and quietly flicked its tongue. Wen Jing decided to quit while he was ahead and pulled out two hongfan fruit and held them out in front of him: 『Eat.』

The python bowed its head and ignored him.

Wen Jing restrained himself for a long time, his heart thumping until finally he couldn’t help but to quietly say: 『You’ll become my demon beast, ok?』

His voice had hardly fallen when the python’s head suddenly lifted up with an ice-cold expression. Its coils stretched out as its body blocked the moon.

Enveloped in the python’s shadow, Wen Jing trembled and asked: 『You don’t like the idea of becoming my demon beast? Uh, I got it……I won’t anymore, I won’t dare ask again……』

Suddenly, there was a loud sound from not too far away. A ray of light rose into the sky and illuminated the night.

A green light thrust at the python!

The python’s eyes were ice-cold as it flew into the sky and promptly formed a protective screen of blue light in front of its body.

The green light struck the barrier and scattered, raining down like needles upon the surrounding rocks.

Wen Jing covered his head. Injured by the sharp spiritual energy, his arms and thighs immediately began to pour blood. He was greatly shocked.

The surprise attack was from a golden core cultivator. Not only that, he had already reached the late stage of cultivation! Who could it be?

Wen Jing felt himself to be incomparably insignificant. He didn’t know how he could escape when suddenly the python wound its tail around his waist in protection.

The green light came again and fell on the monolith forming the figure of a tall and straight Taoist.

Appearing about thirty he was dressed a dull gray Taoist robe. His hair was worn in a messy bun giving him a slovenly appearance.

He stood perfectly straight, his unfeeling gaze could freeze a person solid.

Feeling uneasy, Wen-Jing tightly clutched the python’s tail. This Taoist’s cultivation was terrifying. Could the python at his side stand up to him?

A long sword, upon which shone the green light of a large coiled dragon suddenly came out from somewhere and appeared in his hand. Killing energy poured forth.

There was a humming sound in Wen Jing’s head.

Azure Dragon Sword.

This Taoist was ーーDuan Xuan!

That is since he had joined the sect, the one that should have been present but had never appeared, irresponsible, dreadful, one who should die for his sins ten thousand times over, master!

Duan Xuan slowly raised the Azure Dragon Sword, his gaze like a knife, without saying a word.

The python’s eyes filled with murderous intent as it raised up and exposed its slender fangs.

The chill of Qing Xu was the cold of the Azure Dragon.

The Azure Dragon Sword was a cold sword. The python dreaded the cold and it was likely that would not be a match for it.

Suddenly, a green light flew out as fast as lightning and punctured the blue barrier with a loud sound. The python dodged to the side and taking the advantage, the green light deeply cut the serpent’s body. Blood gushed out.

The python let out a hissing sound as it gathered a ball of light blue light in its mouth.

Wen Jing saw the serpent’s body become stained with red blood and felt deeply anxious.
Duan Xuan wanted to slay the python, what should he do?

Duan Xuan coldly grunted. The Azure Dragon Sword was already in his hand as he immediately sent out a killing moveーー

Wen Jing panicked and shouted: 『Master, have mercy!』

The Taoist’s eyebrow raised slightly as he coldly spoke: 『Who?』

Wen Jing struggled out of the python’s tail and tumbled out to stand in front of the Taoist who was positioned on the monolith, saying: 『Master! I’m Lu Jing! This python’s nature isn’t bad, please be merciful!』

The Taoist’s brows creased deeply as if trying to remember which of his disciples was called Lu Jing.

Wen Jing shouted: 『Master! Although this python has occupied this area without permission, it has never injured anyone. Master don’t hurt it!』

Duan Xuan coldly gazed at him: 『Move aside.』

His voice was callous without even the slightest amount of emotion.

He disliked explaining himself. This python’s body emitted a faint demonic energy and very likely had uncertain origins. It was better to kill it before it became dangerous.

As he finished speaking, he gathered the green light again and immediately the python spat out another ball of blue light which crashed against the other. The sky lit up with a bright light which illuminated Wen Jing’s deathly pale face.

The green light and the blue light were an even match but the blood flowing out of the python’s body violently gushed forth.

Duan Xuan’s gaze was ice cold. He silently chanted as the Azure Dragon Sword suddenly lit up and decisively forced back the blue light into retreat.

『Heaven Amplification Art! Break!』

As he gave a low shout there came a loud crash from the sky. The Azure Dragon Sword suddenly struck through the blue light and stabbed towards the python’s body.

Wen Jing looked at the python with distress: 『No……』

It dodged but fell short and was cut open by the sword. Both wounds spurted blood and the serpent’s body was soon drenched. It coiled up into a ball looking extremely miserable.

The Azure Dragon Sword returned to Duan Xuan’s hand. With effort, the python attempted to straighten its body, its eyes filled with hatred but already too weak to make a move.

Duan Xuan lifted the Azure Dragon Sword with the intention of killing the python with his next move.

Only to see a small person throw himself on the python’s body and stand up with sadness and bitterness and shout: 『Master, have you forgotten? Our sect’s ancestor Qing XuZi who captured and released the cyan python seven times. Don’t tell me Master’s decision is to kill it? Although the python doesn’t have permission to be here in Xun Yang mountain, has master heard of it hurting anyone?』

Duan Xuan was shocked. He coldly stared at Wen Jing and tightly pursed his lips.

These words were directly from the teachings of Duan Xuan’s master, Lu Zhen.

The original words were like this.

「Lu Zhen had once said: 『The ancestor of our sect, Qing XuZi captured and released a cyan python seven times. Why would you need to exterminate this monster? He hasn’t hurt anyone, he only has a different way of living.』」

ーーexcerpt from 《A Calamity for All Living Things》Chapter 142.

Originally, Duan Xuan had been obsessed with killing and accidentally become deviated. Fortunately, Lu Zhen had sacrificed himself to pull him away and allowed him to rein himself in from disaster. Duan Xuan wasn’t an expressive person, but these words were engraved in his heart.

In chapter 142, Duan Xuan wanted to kill a disciple who had committed a serious crime due to negligence. Liu QianMo urgently begged him not to kill anyone. His manner of speech was similar to that of Lu Zheng from those days. Deeply shaken, Duan Xuan under many watching eyes chose to destroy that disciples cultivation and send him down the mountain. Everyone was taken aback.

Since then, the other disciples had placed Liu QianMo in charge of handling issues related to Duan Xuan.

This time, it was Wen Jing shouting these words, his whole body tense as he looked at him with fear. Would it be any use, or did it require Liu QianMo to shout these words to be effective? Would Duan Xuan kill or would he let them off?

Duan Xuan’s expression was uncertain, his thoughts were in disorder and he swayed as he stood.

The tone was so similar. The python had a trace of demonic energy, but it had never caused any harm.

……was his deceased master guiding him through this young man?

Anguished at heart, Duan Xuan’s thoughts were chaotic. Not in the mood to continue fighting, he icily glanced at Wen Jing and recalled the Azure Dragon Sword.

The rays of light filling the sky promptly died away.

The green light rose into the sky and was gone.

Wen Jing blankly stared at the sky, his heart almost jumping out of his chest.

Duan Xuan had left, he’d flown away……

In a daze, suddenly he felt something silently rubbing his back.

Wen Jing turned around and saw the large python’s head softly nudging him. Slowly stroking, the serpent’s tongue tasted the air, then wrapped around his waist.

Wen Jing felt warm inside as he hugged the python’s head saying: 『I was scared to death……I thought he’d kill us both……』

He wasn’t boasting. Just now he had rushed in without thinking.

The python lay quietly as it bled, it’s tongue licking the tears from Wen Jing’s face.

『Ugh……don’t lick……don’t lick……it’s slimy……I’m not crying, ok?』He grabbed the serpent’s tongue on his face but it was too slippery to hold as it pulled away.

Wen Jing touched the python’s head as he anxiously asked: 『What about your injuries? Will you die from the bleeding?』

Hearing this, the python turned and licked the wounds.

Shortly, the bleeding began to slow.

『Eh……your tongue can stop the bleeding? Such a miracle……』He said as he stared, only to see the python then lick the cut on his own arm.

A soothing feeling surged from the wound and the pain faded by half.

Wen Jing silently looked at it.

He was so weak, it was no wonder the python looked down on him.

One day, he would become a strong person who would not lose face.

Under the gentle moonlight, Wen Jing leaned against the python and quietly placed the hongfan fruit by his side.

♥

The next morning.

The man in the mirror had an icy expression. Calm and collected, he slowly treated the injuries on his back and leg. The bleeding had already stopped, but the Azure Dragon Sword’s damage hadn’t yet been eliminated.

In previous years, in the winter days without a moon, he hadn’t been able to control his transformation and had needed to occupy the area by the moonstone. On those dark and cold nights, no one traveled, only himself alone would stay by the monolith and pa.s.s the endless night. Until now he’d never been found.

If it hadn’t been for that youngster going out every day to find him, he wouldn’t have been out on a day with the moon and then by chance have run into Duan Xuan.

Wen Jing woke up alone in his stone house and rubbed his eyes. After last night’s fierce battle, Wen Jing had feared that a concerned Liu QianMo would follow the sounds and arrive. Not daring to stay longer, he parted ways with thy python and urged it to also leave.

It had been really scary, he didn’t know if something else that could threaten the python would show up…….

While he was dressing, the transmission stone suddenly lit up. Wen Jing promptly picked it up: 『Eldest senior brother!』

『Lu Jing, please come to the main hall immediately!』His voice seemed to hold a trace of urgency.

Wen Jing didn’t dare ignore it. He quickly put on the rest of his clothes and flew to the main hall.

What happened?

Arriving at the entrance, he saw the other nine people solemnly standing along with the indistinct sound of a voice. Seated within was a Taoist around 30 years of age with sharp eyes and wearing a grey Taoist robe.

Wen Jing’s body trembled a little as he trotted in, silently stood by Jun YanZhi, and attempted to become invisible.

However contrary to his wishes, Liu QianMo pulled Wen Jing forward 『Master, this is the small junior brother I mentioned just now. He was a.s.signed to us by clan head Xi.』

Cheeks streaming with tears, Wen Jing thought: We’ve already met!

The hall was quiet.

Liu QianMo secretly swallowed his saliva. If master didn’t want to accept this disciple, he would accept him himself!

There was a long pause, then Duan Xuan emotionlessly said: 『I will accept him as a disciple tomorrow.』

Liu QianMo was relieved and released his breath: 『Many thanks, master.』

The cold voice continued again: 『Now we will determine his resilience. He will soak in the ice mountain spring all night without eating New Year’s Eve dinner.』

Liu QianMo froze, then replied: 『……understood.』

Wen Jing hated to the point that his teeth itched: There was only one New Years Eve dinner a year, and he wasn’t allowed to eat! It was clearly a grudge from last night!

He quietly opened Duan Xuan’s moral standing value.

「Moral standing value: -243. Misfortune to the world, should be eliminated.」

He truly was a scoundrel!

Author’s notes:
Regarding the question that the small black gong (1) not being black: at present time the small gong hasn’t completely become black. (2)

Small theater:
The Taoist’s brows creased deeply as if trying to remember which of his disciples was called Lu Jing.

Wen Jing, Jun YanZhi: You only have nine disciples, do you need to think this much?

Translator’s notes:

1.  You might remember that in j.a.panese, seme is the top while uke is the bottom of the pair. In Chinese, gong is the top while shou is the bottom.

2. Probably doesn’t need to be explained, but this refers to blackened where the originally nice guy becomes cold and ruthless due to storyline. See Renegade Immortal for a non-bl example.

I once read a Sci-fi series where in the fifth book or thereabouts, the author decided to give the heroine amnesia via brain damage from an accident. I struggled to finish the book with the now boring heroine only to discover at the end that she gains back some memories but her personality is forever changed. WTF. Give me back my heroine! I looked up some spoilers for the next book to see if the author redeemed the story only to discover that her husband (who I never liked) admits that he never loved the heroine in the first place, hooked up with her only to fulfill a promise he made with her ex-fiance, and only finally fell in love with her after her personality change. OMG. It’s been years since I read that and I still think it’s the worst thing I’ve ever seen done to a story and such a horrific revelation. She’d been living a lie all along.    ‧º·(˚ ˃̣̣̥⌓˂̣̣̥ )‧º·˚