Is Everyone Else's Eldest Disciple Like This? | Chapter 26 | A Volatile Temper | Novela.app

Shen Hongchuan, the seventh disciple of Rizhao Mountain, was as elegant as a jade tree in the wind, a peer among the elite. With a first-rate spiritual vein and a wealthy family background, he was born a darling of the Heavens. Unfortunately, the man had a screw loose. Despite being such a brilliant and noble figure, he harbored a fixation for the Eldest Senior Brother—the number one "trash" of Rizhao Mountain—that others simply could not fathom. He had been sent to Rizhao Mountain by his family at a young age to seek the Dao. Master Guining, possessing a lazy disposition and having no time to manage him, simply tossed him to Ming Zhu to play with, leaving the boy to his own devices. Who could have known that under Ming Zhu’s wing, a perfectly good seedling for Daoist cultivation would be forcibly led down the path of demonic cultivation? Because of this, the Shen family—the greatest clan in the Kingdom of Ximu—had once commissioned the Wenfeng Tower to print countless scrolls and distribute them everywhere. The insults hurled at Rizhao Mountain filled an entire volume without a single repeated phrase. The sharpness of their words was appalling, and the matter was only settled when Master Guining personally intervened. Oh, and for that same reason, Ming Zhu was sentenced to a year of forced seclusion in the Ice Pond, nearly turning into an ice sculpture. This was the first time Shen Hongchuan had seen his lively Eldest Senior Brother in the seven years since he left Rizhao Mountain. Originally, he had planned to have a heart-to-heart talk with Ming Zhu throughout the journey. However, even after reaching the inner chambers, Ming Zhu remained in a daze. He felt so nauseous that he would retch at the slightest touch, so Shen Hongchuan was forced to give up on the idea. Over the course of two days and one night, Ming Zhu was tormented to the point of near-unconsciousness. He didn't even know when the flying kite landed. He only had a vague memory of being held in someone's arms and carried for a long time. After a period of jolting and noise, he was finally placed gently amidst a soft fragrance of crabapple blossoms. Ming Zhu forced his eyes open, looking at the person above him with blurred vision. "Thirteen?" he asked blankly. The person seemed somewhat dissatisfied. "Senior Brother, who are you calling?" Ming Zhu stared dizzily for a long while before murmuring, "Hongchuan." Only then did Shen Hongchuan offer a tender smile. He reached out to wipe the cold sweat from Ming Zhu’s forehead and said softly, "We’ve arrived at Shuoyu City. Get some sleep. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to Wenfeng Tower to collect your letters." Ming Zhu’s eyes were half-closed, looking as though he might drift off at any moment, yet he forced himself to speak. "Don't lie to me." Shen Hongchuan’s voice grew even gentler. "When have I ever lied to you, Senior Brother?" Ming Zhu gave a soft "oh." He was already lost to sleep, his head tilting slightly against the soft pillow. Within moments, he had drifted off again. Shen Hongchuan waited until his breathing became steady, sitting by the bedside and watching him quietly for a moment before slowly exiting the room. Shuoyu City was the most prosperous city in the Kingdom of Ximu, brightly lit day and night. Even though it was late, the streets were still crowded with people. Spiritual lamps hung from the vibrant crabapple trees along the road, stringing the entire city into an ocean of warm light as bright as day. It was a scene of worldly vanity and bustling mortal life. As soon as Shen Hongchuan stepped out of the room, he saw Lu Qingkong and Zhou Fuxue standing by a window in the long corridor. He arched an eyebrow. "Why are you two still here?" Lu Qingkong replied with a chilling, sour tone, "You’ve brought Ming... Eldest Senior Brother here. Where else would we go?" Shen Hongchuan produced a fan from nowhere, snapping it open to hide half his face. He smiled like a blooming flower. "You spent the whole journey scolding me, saying I shouldn't have booked the flying kite for you in advance. I am a man who always corrects his mistakes when told. Therefore, I haven't made any arrangements for you at this inn. I’ll have to trouble you junior brothers to go out and find your own place to stay." Lu Qingkong said coldly, "Shen Hongchuan! Are you doing this on purpose?" Shen Hongchuan was remarkably honest. "Yes. Did you just figure that out?" Lu Qingkong: "..." Shen Hongchuan waved his fan, his eyes crinkling with a smile. "The main reason I’m reminding you to stay elsewhere is..." Before he could finish, a sharp, black afterimage flickered out of thin air beside Lu Qingkong, striking toward his face with the speed of lightning and showing no mercy. Lu Qingkong dealt with arrays and mechanical traps all day; his martial arts skills were practically non-existent. Although he sensed the attack aimed at his face, he didn't even have time to dodge. His pupils constricted. Before the palm-wind could land, the metallic ring of a sword being unsheathed echoed in his ears. In the next instant, the Wuxin Sword blocked the ferocious strike, forcing the attacker back with a loud *thud*. Though Zhou Fuxue disliked Lu Qingkong, he could not stand by and watch him be harmed. He had intervened at the critical moment to clash with the newcomer, causing the Wuxin Sword to let out a sharp, violent hum. Zhou Fuxue’s gaze darkened. For the Wuxin Sword to issue a warning on its own, the strength of the person before him was not to be underestimated. Yet, since the man had been pushed back so easily, he likely hadn't used his full strength. The exchange happened in a flash. Shen Hongchuan remained smiling. Even as Zhou Fuxue looked at him with a cold, sharp gaze while holding his sword, Shen Hongchuan didn't change his expression. He unhurriedly finished his sentence: "...is that you aren't very welcome here." The person who had just traded a blow with Zhou Fuxue finally revealed his face. He was dressed in black, appearing as if he might melt into the night. He wore a strange, rusted iron mask, and his entire being radiated an aura of decay and ill omen. His voice was hoarse, his tone filled with loathing. "People of Rizhao, get out." Lu Qingkong was still shaken. Even though he knew Shen Hongchuan wouldn't let anyone truly hurt him, his face was pale. "Shen Hongchuan, if you don't want Eldest Senior Brother to find out, then pull your dog back. Don't let him out to bite people." "He isn't my dog," Shen Hongchuan said innocently. "Every inch of the land you stand on belongs to the Shen family. Your Sect Leader once promised my family that Rizhao disciples would never set foot in the Shen household. Junior Brother, what is this? Are you planning to defy your master’s orders?" Lu Qingkong glanced around and indeed spotted the unique emblem of the Ximu Shen family on a nearby plaque. No wonder the servants had been so respectful to Shen Hongchuan along the way. "You..." Watching from the side, Zhou Fuxue could see that this Seventh Senior Brother who had appeared out of nowhere was clearly making things difficult for them. Every word dripped with disdain and contempt. He had no desire to suffer here. Frowning, he said, "Fine. But we are taking Eldest Senior Brother with us." The motion of Shen Hongchuan’s fan stopped. The smile remained on his face, but his eyes were the first to turn cold. Zhou Fuxue did not fear him, stating coldly, "Since you do not welcome the people of Rizhao, then as the Eldest Disciple of Rizhao, he naturally cannot stay here and impose upon you." Shen Hongchuan gently folded his fan, murmuring, "Take him away?" Zhou Fuxue said nothing, meeting his gaze coldly. Shen Hongchuan lowered his eyes slightly, his thin lips parting as he whispered, "Take him away? Take him... away?" After repeating it a few times, he seemed to snap. When he looked up again, his crimson demonic eyes were filled with a vicious killing intent as he glared at Zhou Fuxue. His handsome face actually looked somewhat distorted. He squeezed the words through his teeth: "With just your measly Foundation Establishment cultivation, you think you can take him away from me?" In an instant, a majestic surge of demonic energy erupted from his body. With a thunderous boom, the carved windows nearby were shattered to pieces. It looked as if countless ghostly shadows were scrambling to escape from behind him, only to be swallowed whole by that terrifying, hideous demonic aura. His long hair billowed without wind; he looked like a vengeful spirit straight from hell. Zhou Fuxue’s breath hitched. He felt the spiritual energy in his meridians come to a complete standstill. It felt as though a massive mountain was pressing down on him. Cold sweat poured down his face, and he could barely breathe. Lu Qingkong shouted angrily, "Shen Hongchuan! Stop! Do you want to kill him?" Shen Hongchuan’s robes fluttered violently. He held his hands slightly open, meeting Zhou Fuxue’s defiant, unyielding gaze with an expressionless face. Suddenly, he said, "Your eyes... they really are quite nice." As he spoke, the demonic energy swirling in the air slowly condensed into a pitch-black feathered arrow. With a flick of his finger, the arrow whistled through the air, aimed straight for Zhou Fuxue’s eyes. Zhou Fuxue’s body was frozen. Though his instincts screamed at him to dodge, he couldn't move a single finger. He could only watch as the black arrow roared ferociously toward his eyes. His heart hammered wildly—whether from fear or shock, he did not know. In the next moment, the nearby door was suddenly pushed open with a soft creak. Ming Zhu opened half the door, his loose robes trailing on the floor. Barefoot and leaning against the doorframe, he rubbed his eyes dizzily and muttered, "Hongchuan, you're being too loud." Almost instantly, Shen Hongchuan retracted every bit of that majestic demonic energy. The feathered arrow, which was only three inches from Zhou Fuxue’s pupil, dissipated into mist. The crushing pressure vanished just as quickly, as if nothing had ever happened. Ming Zhu finally rubbed his eyes open. Seeing the complicated expressions on the three men, he asked in confusion, "It's the middle of the night. Why aren't you sleeping? What are you doing standing out here?" Shen Hongchuan’s face changed instantly. He tucked his hands into his sleeves and offered a refined, elegant smile. "It’s nothing. Old Nine and I haven't seen each other in a long time, so we were just catching up. Did we wake you, Senior Brother? My apologies, I’ll be quieter." Ming Zhu’s head was still foggy from sleep, so he didn't think much of it. He simply told them not to be too noisy before closing the door to go back to sleep. Shen Hongchuan let out a sigh of relief, whispering, "That scared me to death." Lu Qingkong sneered, "Where's that bravado of yours now?" Shen Hongchuan gave Zhou Fuxue a brief, cool glance. He was surprised to find that this "bargain" junior brother showed no sign of lingering fear or panic. He was as calm as if he hadn't just nearly had his eyes gouged out. Shen Hongchuan found himself looking at him with a bit more respect. Having been interrupted by Ming Zhu, Shen Hongchuan lost his interest in the conflict. He lazily tapped his fan and said to the masked man beside him, "Prepare a room for them." "But... the people of Rizhao..." "Don't waste your breath. Just do as you're told." "...Yes." Shen Hongchuan asked, "Where are you going tomorrow?" Zhou Fuxue couldn't adapt to Shen Hongchuan’s rapid, volatile mood swings, so he kept his neck stiff and remained silent. Lu Qingkong, who was likely used to it, answered, "We’re going to Wenfeng Tower first. In the evening, we’ll check the black market in Shuoyu City to see if there are any materials for crafting." "Oh," Shen Hongchuan said. "How many spirit crystals did you bring in total?" Lu Qingkong stated a figure. Shen Hongchuan replied, "Oh, that much? That’s quite a lot. It’s enough to buy a single stick of candied haws with peach blossom honey at the black market." Lu Qingkong: "..." *** **Glossary** Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation --- | --- | --- 说玉城 | Shuoyu City | Literally "Jade-Speaking City," a prosperous city in the Kingdom of Ximu. 析木国 | Kingdom of Ximu | One of the regional kingdoms in the story's setting. 闻风楼 | Wenfeng Tower | Literally "Wind-Listening Tower," likely an information or news organization. 筑基 | Foundation Establishment | A standard stage in cultivation (Xianxia). 晶玉 | Spirit Crystals | A form of currency or energy source used by cultivators. 魔气 | Demonic Energy | The energy used by demonic cultivators (Mo Xiu).