BW Chapter 181.1

Grand Finale (part 1)

 

“……The reason the Heaven-Piercing Blood Formation completely dissipated was that the original restrictions dissolved. However, logically speaking, it should have required Di Huai, the formation master, to act personally. During this time, the people sent by Wanxuan Academy to investigate discovered a trace of strange remnant soul, but unfortunately it completely dissipated before they could preserve it……” Hao Zheng looked at the small-scale replica of the Heaven-Piercing Blood Formation in the room and the replacement process of old and new restrictions. The Eight Trigrams Formation in the illusion was also slowly repairing itself.

 

“Although Ning Xingyuan’s method was dangerous, sometimes one must break before building anew. It was indeed a clever move.”

 

“But looking at it this way, I actually find Ning Xingyuan’s meticulous thinking somewhat terrifying.” Shang Nuanwei said quietly.

 

Hao Zheng said with interest. “Oh?”

 

“It’s just a feeling.” Shang Nuanwei stared at the blood formation and said, “Ning Xingyuan, Pei Heguang, and Chu Jun – these three people always give me a strange sense of similarity in certain aspects… but I can’t quite put my finger on it.”

 

“Probably they all like to manipulate people’s hearts.” Hao Zheng said leisurely. “Those who seem emotional are actually the most ruthless. Those who seem ruthless are actually trapped by emotion. Those who appear to drift outside, indifferent to worldly affairs, are actually——“

 

“Dean, Venerable Jinghe has arrived.” Someone announced from outside.

 

“Please invite him in quickly.” Hao Zheng smiled and waved his sleeve to put away the blood formation model, saying unhurriedly, “Actually deeply involved in the game, contending with the Heavenly Dao for their fate.”

 

Chu Jun entered and glanced at him coolly.

 

Hao Zheng stroked his still-ungrowing beard and looked at him with a grin.

 

“Hey, instead of dealing with that big mess of affairs in Chen City, how do you have time to leisurely wander around Wanxuan Academy?”

 

Chu Jun said, “Wanxuan Academy is on break. I came to pick up the children and take them back.”

 

Hao Zheng immediately had an ominous premonition.

 

Sure enough, he then heard Chu Jun say, “I heard that Yuanbai accidentally struck a young disciple from Hanyan Sect?”

 

“……Using ‘struck’ might not be quite appropriate.” Hao Zheng said quietly, “He nearly severed the person’s leg.”

 

Chu Jun said, “I see. Have people from Hanyan Sect come?”

 

Hao Zheng nodded. “Hanyan Sect’s chief disciple Han Wujiu is waiting in the front hall, saying he wants to discuss with you how to resolve this matter.”

 

Chu Jun said good-naturedly, “As it should be. I’ll go meet him.”

 

After Chu Jun left, Shang Nuanwei patted her chest with lingering fear. “Chu Jun is truly angry, isn’t he?”

 

Hao Zheng put down his teacup. “Who told Hanyan Sect to court death? They deserve it.”

 

On the other side, Ning Buwei stood in front of the disciples’ quarters waiting for people.

 

It was the time when Wanxuan Academy’s disciples were going home for vacation. The disciples’ quarters were bustling with noise and excitement. The female disciples had particularly many belongings. Some whose storage rings and bags weren’t enough had to use bundles or tie things to their swords. They laughed and played innocently. Groups of two or three female disciples walked past the entrance arm in arm. Some had already passed by several times, their gazes sizing up Ning Buwei repeatedly before leaving with quiet transmission laughter.

 

It wasn’t that Ning Buwei wanted to eavesdrop, but these little ones’ transmission barriers were like mere decorations to him. Their whispered words all fell clearly into his ears.

 

“……Such a handsome disciple. Who is he waiting for?”

 

“I haven’t heard of any female cultivator having such a handsome Dao companion.”

 

“He looks so young. Is he the seventh young master of the Ge family?”

 

“Doesn’t look quite right. I’ve seen Ge Qi before, and he’s not as good-looking as this one.”

 

“Good heavens, that waist, those legs, that face! Even eating eight furnaces of beauty pills couldn’t achieve this, right!”

 

“Such beautiful hands! Ah ah ah, he’s looking at me! Quick, let’s go!”

 

“Let me look a bit more. The image stone hasn’t finished recording yet. When we get back to the quarters, we can all watch together!”

 

“Wuu wuu, Mother, I want to go to Hehuan Sect now. I want to find ten furnace cauldrons exactly like him to sleep with in turns!”

 

“How annoying, saying such nonsense… We at Hehuan Sect are the most devoted!”

 

“Ah ah ah, that nose, those eyes, that mouth – I want to kiss them!”

 

“Be careful, don’t let him hear you!”

 

“There’s a barrier, what are you afraid of? Ying ying ying, I want to sleep with him.”

 

Ning Buwei coughed lightly, clasped his hands behind his back, and moved further away toward the gate, maintaining a wooden expression without speaking.

 

These young disciples nowadays were really… improper.

 

Just as Ning Buwei was feeling awkward about whether to leave or stay, lamenting the decline of moral standards, Jiang Yizheng and Yang Lingzhu finally emerged from the disciples’ quarters carrying large and small packages.

 

Jiang Yizheng had sharp eyes and a loud voice. Seeing him, he waved from afar and shouted excitedly, “Father! We’re here!”

 

In an instant, the surrounding noisy laughter stopped abruptly. Jiang Yizheng seemed to hear the sound of many hearts breaking.

 

“Ah ah ah, he’s already a father!”

 

“I don’t accept this! How could this happen! Wu wu wu, which vixen stole his soul and even had children with him!”

 

“The child looks about our age, must be over a hundred years old. No way, too old, I don’t love him anymore.”

 

“No no, I don’t accept anyone ten years older than me! Even if he looks good, it’s still no!”

 

“I want him to be my father.”

 

“I think you want your father to break your legs……”

 

This group of lively young disciples’ feelings came and went quickly. Their chatter was completely childish play. Ning Buwei, who had come to his senses, immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

 

When they walked to the entrance of the disciples’ quarters, he reached out to take the several bundles that Jiang Yizheng and Yang Lingzhu were carrying and put them into his storage ring.

 

“Why so many things?” One storage ring wasn’t enough, so he had to clear out another one specifically.

 

Jiang Yizheng said, “The academy gives out so many things. Just this year’s new academy robes alone number over twenty sets, and they all have to be stored flat. Jewelry and magical artifacts also need to be stored separately, taking up a lot of space.”

 

“Father, did you bring the hairpin?” Yang Lingzhu tugged at his sleeve and asked.

 

“I brought it, I brought it.” Ning Buwei pulled out a delicate plum wood hairpin from his sleeve and handed it to her.

 

Yang Lingzhu took the hairpin and put it on, then looked up at Ning Buwei and asked, “Father, does it look good?”

 

“It looks good.” Ning Buwei adjusted the tassels on her earrings that had gotten tangled together, then handed Jiang Yizheng the belt he was supposed to wear, saying helplessly, “We’re just going to Li City for ten days or so, then returning to Chen City. You really can’t wait even a moment.”

 

Just to find this hairpin, he and Chu Jun had turned the Ning residence in Chen City upside down, and sure enough, it had been dragged into the soil and buried by Da Bao.

 

“It’s different.” Yang Lingzhu touched the hairpin and smiled with curved eyes.

 

Jiang Yizheng teased. “Right, right, this was given by Ge Qi after all.”

 

The great demon, who had been gracefully carrying two bundles, became alert for the second time upon hearing the name Ge Qi. “Who is Ge Qi?”

 

Yang Lingzhu said happily, “Ge Xuanyu, the seventh young master of the Ge family.”

 

“He’s the top scorer in Wanxuan Academy’s annual exams every year, and he has a Heavenly Spirit Body. At seventeen, he entered the top hundred of the Tianji Rankings. He’s particularly amazing!” Jiang Yizheng agreed. “And he’s especially, especially good-looking, though I think Third Young Master Shen is even better-looking, just a bit weaker in cultivation.”

 

“Is Third Young Master Shen the person sister saved during her last training expedition?” Yang Lingzhu asked.

 

“Yes, he’s even more timid than me. When he saw the python, he hugged me and wouldn’t let go.” Jiang Yizheng mercilessly mocked. “What a coward, haha.”

 

Ning Buwei listened from the side, his temples throbbing. What Third Young Master Shen, what Ge Qi – giving hairpins was one thing, but requiring his daughter to rescue them… What kind of behavior was this!

 

The great demon suddenly found that hairpin particularly offensive.

 

“You should still focus on studying and cultivating well at Wanxuan Academy.” Ning Buwei said earnestly, “Before establishing your Dao heart, don’t think about such frivolous matters.”

 

“Father, have I gotten fat? Why is this belt so tight?” Jiang Yizheng held the belt around her waist, looking a bit worried. “Everyone else has such slender waists, why is mine so thick?”

 

Ning Buwei gritted his teeth. “Being a bit plump looks better. What’s the point of such a thin waist? It would snap with one squeeze. How would you even know how you died when fighting?”

 

Jiang Yizheng, who was habitually carefree, felt relieved upon hearing Ning Buwei say this. “Father is right. Li City’s Chengyun Tower roasted duck is so fragrant. When we get there, let’s hire a chef to come to the house and cook, and we can roast some sweet potatoes too.”

 

“The lotus-paste cakes are also delicious.” Yang Lingzhu nodded in agreement.

 

Ning Buwei, who had been working hard to carry bags for his daughter: “…………”

 

No one had heard the warning in his words at all!

 

While he was picking up Jiang Yizheng and Yang Lingzhu, Chu Jun also brought Feng Zizhang, Cui Yuanbai, and Ning Xiu to the flying boat. However, Feng Zizhang lagged behind, talking with several disciples around his age.

 

Seeing him approach, Feng Zizhang waved to them and ran toward the flying boat clutching his sword.

 

“Father!” He didn’t even use the ladder, nimbly jumping up and pressing one hand on the railing to flip aboard, his vermillion disciple robe drawing a beautiful arc in the air.

 

Feng Zizhang turned around and waved to those disciples.

 

Not far away, the female disciple standing in the middle lowered her head somewhat shyly, while the other disciples sent teasing laughter.

 

Ning Buwei hooked his neck and pulled him over, asking teasingly, “Which family’s daughter?”

 

Feng Zizhang’s handsome face instantly turned bright red. “F-Father, what are you saying!”

 

“Tsk, you’re no longer young, so stop copying your younger siblings by calling me ‘Father.'” Ning Buwei said with a half-smile. “I noticed from her waist token that she seems to be a talisman cultivator from Xuantian Sect?”

 

Feng Zizhang nodded with a red face and asked quietly, “Father, during the New Year holiday, can I bring her to Chen City to play for a few days?”

 

“Of course.” Ning Buwei said, “As long as she doesn’t mind Chen City being quiet and desolate.”

 

“She doesn’t mind, she doesn’t mind.” Feng Zizhang was immediately overjoyed.

 

“Look at your promising self.”

 

****

 

This trip to Li City was originally intended for Ning Buwei to pay respects to Yan Jinzhou, but it happened to coincide with Wanxuan Academy’s temporary vacation, so he took the opportunity to bring the little ones to Li City to play for a few days.

 

Chen City had been home to many people this past year, mostly clan members from Ning Jiafeng’s branch, as well as many cultivators who came seeking reputation and displaced commoners. Ning Buwei found managing these matters tiresome, so he handed everything over to Ning Jiafeng, allowing him and Chu Jun to enjoy peace and quiet.

 

Nearly three-year-old Ning Xiu was at the age of becoming increasingly lively and active. He ran around barefoot in the flying boat’s main hall. This Golden Core cultivator seemed to have inexhaustible energy, wearing out even the tireless Cui Yuanbai, who now lay sprawled and refusing to move.

 

Ning Xiu climbed onto Chu Jun’s lap and, looking at his father who was talking with his big brother, whispered in his ear. “Mother~ can you give me a piece of candy?”

 

Chu Jun wiped his hands clean and said flatly, “Go ask your father.”

 

Ning Xiu lowered his little head miserably, hugging Chu Jun’s hand and refusing to let go, saying softly, “Mother~ you’re the best~”

 

Chu Jun pinched his chubby face and said methodically, “Then sleep by yourself tonight, don’t cling to your father.”

 

Ning Xiu, who hadn’t seen his father and slept together with him for a long, long time, thought seriously for a while, then said in a sweet voice, “Then can I sleep with Mother?”

 

“No.” Chu Jun rejected him ruthlessly and said gently, “But I can give you three pieces of candy.”

 

Ning Xiu seemed to smell the sweet fragrance of candy and sat on Chu Jun’s lap, conflicted for a long while. “Want~ six pieces of candy~”

 

“Two pieces.” Chu Jun gave no ground, even ruthlessly reducing it by one piece.

 

“Then I don’t want candy anymore~ I want to sleep with Father and Mother together~” Ning Xiu decisively gave up.

 

“Too late.” Chu Jun gently touched his little head. “One piece of candy, sleep by yourself.”

 

Ning Xiu: “!!!”

 

Cui Yuanbai was enthusiastically chasing Da Bao with Little Black, one hanging upside down from the beam, the other having already climbed out of the flying boat, only to be pulled back in by Chu Jun’s spiritual power without him even turning his head.

 

“Father! I’ll sleep with little brother!” Cui Yuanbai ran over patter-patter, sweating all over from playing.

 

Chu Jun wiped his sweat with a handkerchief and smiled. “No, you need to go into the Purple Mansion for wall-facing meditation.”

 

Cui Yuanbai’s cheerful smile froze on his face.

 

“Or I could tell your dad how exactly you broke that Hanyan Sect young disciple’s leg.” Chu Jun said leisurely, “Let him punish you instead.”

 

Cui Yuanbai obediently shook his head. “Father, I’ll meditate.”

 

Chu Jun patted his little head. “Don’t be recklessly brave and fierce in the future. Think carefully about how you should have fought that battle.”

 

Cui Yuanbai looked at him with seeming understanding and nodded.

 

Eh? He actually wasn’t forbidding him from fighting?

 

Yang Lingzhu and Jiang Yizheng were decorating their magical artifacts when suddenly Little Black fell from the beam, landing with a long thud on the table and crying “ying ying.”

 

Yang Lingzhu and Jiang Yizheng couldn’t care about their magical artifacts anymore and hurried to pick him up, but as soon as they touched him, Little Black’s scales began falling off like rain.

 

“Ah ah ah ah, what’s happening!” Jiang Yizheng cried out in terror, her hands trembling as they froze in mid-air while supporting the dragon head.

 

The others heard the commotion and came forward, only to see a bright light flash as the crying little black dragon transformed into a six or seven-year-old child, tears streaming down his face as he wailed. “Waa, it hurts so much——ying——“

 

Everyone stood frozen in place.

 

“Wu wu wu, where’s my tail? Where did my tail go? Where are my claws? Where are my whiskers?” Little Black looked at his white, chubby legs and arms in terror, crying more and more heartbroken, finally looking at Ning Buwei and wailing, “Father! My tail is gone!”

 

Little Black usually clung to everyone for play, but Ning Buwei and Chu Jun weren’t children and didn’t pay much attention to him. Most of the time, they let him coil around their wrists or perch on their shoulders and legs to sleep. When he woke up, he would bounce around looking for others to play with. Apart from occasional troublemaking, he was relatively worry-free.

 

Looking at this little dumpling in front of him, Ning Buwei found it really hard to connect him with that thin, long little milk dragon. This call of “Father” gave him quite a headache.

 

He was crying so sadly, probably still thinking he was slender, wanting to burrow into Ning Buwei’s sleeve, but Ning Buwei picked him up and put clothes on him.

 

He was really quite chubby. Cui Yuanbai was taller than him, but his clothes didn’t fit, so they had no choice but to temporarily alter Feng Zizhang’s clothes for him to wear.

 

Little Black clung to Ning Buwei’s arms, crying heartbrokenly. “My tail is gone, my claws are gone, my beautiful scales are gone too. I’m going to die!”

 

Chu Jun examined his pulse and checked him over, finding no abnormalities, but Little Black hugged his hand, crying until he was gasping for breath. “Mother, I’m going to die, ah ah ah——“

 

“……You won’t die.” Chu Jun pinched his chubby little hand, where even the small dimples were round. The entire dragon had become like a dragon meatball after transforming into human form.

 

Little Black hugged Ning Xiu. “Little brother, I’m going to die——“

 

Ning Xiu stood on tiptoe, wanting to pat his head, but the other party was too large, so he had to give up. “You won’t~ I’ll protect you~”

 

“Wu wu wu, little master brother, you’re so good!” Little Black’s self-awareness was probably still a bit confused, hugging everyone present and wailing once.

 

Cui Yuanbai was nearly suffocated by his embrace, pinching his arm and exclaiming, “Little Black, you’re so fat. You’d definitely taste delicious if roasted.”

 

Little Black shuddered all over and hid behind Ning Buwei, crying.

 

Half an hour later, Chu Jun and Ning Buwei looked at Little Black, who was trying to curl himself into a ball and getting Ning Xiu and Cui Yuanbai to help look for his tail, and fell into silence.

 

“How could he suddenly transform into human form?” Ning Buwei was completely puzzled.

 

“There have been no other dragon clans seen in the Seventeen States. When we reach Li City, let’s ask Big Yellow.” Chu Jun said: “Transformation might not be a bad thing. Little Black had shown himself in public before, and some people might have ill intentions. Being in human form is actually safer.”

 

Ning Buwei nodded, then his sleeve was gently tugged.

 

He looked down to see Ning Xiu looking at him with a confused expression. “Father~ what will I turn into?”

 

Ning Buwei was puzzled. “Turn into what? Do you want to learn transformation techniques?”

 

Ning Xiu shook his head. “Little Black can turn into a dragon with a tail, Big Brother Huan Huan can turn into a knife that breathes fire. What can I turn into?”

 

“……You can’t turn into anything.” Ning Buwei cruelly told the truth.

 

Then Ning Xiu sadly ran to Little Black and started dropping golden tears with him.

 

Seeing him so sad, Little Black stopped crying and hugged Ning Xiu. “It’s okay. When I turn back into a dragon, I’ll still let you touch my tail.”

 

So Ning Xiu cheered up a bit, and before long, the little ones had forgotten their sad matters and were playing together in a heap.

 

Ning Buwei felt his ears were about to explode, so he put up a soundproof barrier around himself and hid on the deck.

 

Chu Jun also came out to get some air not long after. “Wanxuan Academy is only giving ten days of vacation this time.”

 

Ning Buwei felt as if he’d been granted amnesty. The two leaned shoulder to shoulder, and he rubbed his fingers before reaching out to embrace Chu Jun’s waist.

 

Chu Jun turned to look at him. “Hmm?”

 

Ning Buwei said, “How is your Tranquil Dao heart?”

 

Chu Jun said seriously, “After going through trials, it has become more solid.”

 

Not knowing which of his laughing points this sentence had hit, he buried his face in Chu Jun’s shoulder and shook with laughter.

 

In the end, even Chu Jun couldn’t help but smile.

 

Although it was a joke, Venerable Jinghe was very certain of one thing.

 

He had lived for over a thousand years and had never felt his mind as settled as it was now.

 

The path of tranquility never feared bustle and noise.

 

“Li City is just ahead.”

 

“Shall we drink some Immortal’s Intoxication?”

 

“……A light drink would be fine.”

 

“Good.”

 

****