Is Everyone Else's Eldest Disciple Like This? | Chapter 50 | Awakening from the Ice | Novela.app

Seasons turned, and the cycle of heat and cold repeated. The peach trees newly planted in Buzhiya had grown into a lush canopy. In the courtyard pond, red lotuses were in full bloom, and several crimson carp leaped from the water, trailing droplets before diving back in and sending ripples across the surface. Zhou Fuxue carried several lotus stalks as he walked slowly into Ming Zhu’s room. He placed the freshly cut red lotuses into a porcelain vase, adjusting them briefly before turning to leave. In over a year, Zhou Fuxue had grown several inches taller. His entire aura had become increasingly unfathomable. With Ming Zhu gone, he had become even more taciturn than usual. When the outer sect disciples saw his distant, cold demeanor, none dared to initiate a conversation with him. Every time they saw him, they would go out of their way to avoid him, just as they did with Lu Qingkong. Zhou Fuxue didn't care. He kept to himself, and aside from Shen Di’an’s occasional visits, he had almost no interaction with others. He walked out of Buzhiya with an expressionless face. Before he could return to his own quarters, a pale blue figure rushed out from the shaded forest path and hurried toward him, shouting, "Fuxue!" Zhou Fuxue turned and said calmly, "Greetings, Tenth Senior Brother." "Stop with the 'greetings' already! How have you not fixed that habit of being overly polite after all these years?" Shen Di’an grabbed his sleeve and pulled him along, speaking with some excitement. "Hurry, Eldest Senior Brother is coming out of seclusion today. The other brothers have already gone to receive him. We’re the only two left." Zhou Fuxue was startled. The coldness on his face vanished instantly as he said urgently, "Wasn't it supposed to be another month?" Shen Di’an looked like he was enjoying the chaos. "Who knows? Maybe Master went soft-hearted. The Cold Pond’s restriction was opened this morning, but Eldest Senior Brother hasn't come out on his own. We’re worried he might have died in there, so we’re all discussing whether to break down the door and take a look." A hint of softness finally appeared on Zhou Fuxue’s frost-like face. Originally, Shen Di’an had been dragging him along, but now Zhou Fuxue gripped Shen Di’an’s arm and charged forward like the wind, disappearing in an instant. Shen Di’an was jerked off balance and let out a miserable cry. "Aaaah! Why are you going so fast? Are you rushing to be reincarnated?!" Outside the Cold Pond in the back mountains, several people had indeed gathered. Zhou Fuxue looked around and saw that almost all the senior brothers currently at Rizhao were present. Among them was a stranger holding a zither. In his six years at Rizhao Mountain, Zhou Fuxue had never seen him. Thinking carefully, the only person Zhou Fuxue had never met was the Second Senior Brother, who rarely left his quarters. The Second Senior Brother, Yi Fuji, was dressed in white. He was another one who refused to wear the standard Rizhao robes properly, yet his temperament was so peaceful that there wasn't a hint of rebelliousness about him. Simply looking at him made one involuntarily feel calm. He held a *Jiaowei* zither with a gentle expression, standing among his brothers of vastly different temperaments. He smiled without speaking, appearing as if he existed in a small world of his own. Shen Di’an’s health was poor to begin with. After being dragged along for the whole run, he stopped and gasped for breath for a long time before saying crossly, "For over a year, you’ve been like a stone, indifferent to everything around you. Why is it that the moment Eldest Senior Brother is mentioned, you act like a babe desperate for milk? You’ve exhausted me." Zhou Fuxue led Shen Di’an forward and cupped his hands in greeting. "Greetings, Senior Brothers." These senior brothers were still as discordant as ever. Even though they were gathered on the small stone steps outside the Cold Pond, standing very close to one another, they didn't communicate at all. Each of them radiated a loathing aura that screamed, *“How annoying, stay away from me.”* Shang Yanfeng leaned against the wall of the Cold Pond, clutching his sword. His sharp eyes swept over Zhou Fuxue before tapping Shen Di’an. He parted his thin lips and said, "What is this frantic behavior? Have you eaten your manners?" Before Zhou Fuxue could speak, Lu Qingkong chimed in sarcastically, "Since when did our Rizhao Mountain have rules? Fifth Senior Brother, is this a new rule you’ve set?" Shang Yanfeng glanced at him. Beside them, Yan Xueyu, who was draped in a white crane-feather cloak, frowned slightly. "What are you arguing for? Be quiet." Shang Yanfeng said, "Tell him to shut up first." Lu Qingkong retorted, "I wasn't the one who spoke first." Yan Xueyu said, "Are you bullying me because I can't see, so I have no way to beat you?" Zhou Fuxue: "..." Although he had long heard that the senior brothers did not get along, he hadn't expected it to be to this extent. A single sentence could ignite a war between them, and even the seemingly steady Shang Yanfeng would join the bickering. Zhou Fuxue was lost in wonder. As the three looked ready to continue their argument, the man who had been smiling silently beside them suddenly plucked a string on his zither with his slender fingers. The sound was deep, resonant, and lingering. Lu Qingkong froze for a moment, then immediately fumed, "Second Senior Brother, you’re being biased again! It wasn't my fault at all!" Yi Fuji plucked the strings a few more times. Only then did Lu Qingkong reluctantly shut his mouth, though he made sure to glare fiercely at Shang Yanfeng. When these brothers gathered, it was practically a hall of asuras. What Zhou Fuxue didn't understand was why simply receiving Ming Zhu from seclusion required all these senior brothers—who usually avoided each other—to gather here. Shen Di’an was likely used to the scene of his brothers clashing. He didn't care much. After catching his breath, he walked to the door of the Cold Pond and lightly touched the ice door. His fingers were instantly stung by the cold. He hissed and said, "If he doesn't come out on his own, can this door not be opened?" Hearing the sound of Shen Di’an’s teeth chattering from the cold, Yan Xueyu untied the crane cloak from his shoulders and tossed it casually to him. He frowned and said, "Yes. That’s why Second Senior Brother and I were thinking of just breaking it open. The Cold Pond isn't a good place. Even someone with a high cultivation like Yanfeng can only stay inside for three years at most. Ming Zhu hasn't reached the Nascent Soul stage yet; over a year is already his limit. It’s safer for him to come out early." After wrapping himself in the crane cloak, Shen Di’an finally stopped shivering. He asked, "Then why haven't you acted yet? Does Master forbid it?" Yan Xueyu said, "Your Fifth Senior Brother won't allow it." Shen Di’an immediately looked at Shang Yanfeng and asked in confusion, "Fifth Senior Brother, why?" Shang Yanfeng frowned. "Have you considered that with Eldest Senior Brother’s temperament—hating seclusion as he does—why would he not come out voluntarily when the restriction was lifted? If we rush in recklessly and he happens to be breaking through inside, what then?" Beside him, Lu Qingkong rarely agreed with Shang Yanfeng’s suggestion. "It’s been over a year. If Eldest Senior Brother really is breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage right now, rushing in would only cause a backlash and severe injury. It’s too dangerous." Yan Xueyu said, "Why is everyone being so troublesome? I’ll take responsibility if anything happens. Get him out of there now!" Yi Fuji continued to smile gently at the side. Hearing this, his knuckles lightly tapped the wood of the zither. Shen Di’an suddenly couldn't help but laugh. "I agree with Second Senior Brother." Zhou Fuxue was baffled. Since he arrived, Yi Fuji hadn't said a single word; he had only been plucking his zither. Yet the other brothers seemed to understand him perfectly and replied with ease. Lu Qingkong paused, then said, "True. Given Eldest Senior Brother’s personality, he definitely wouldn't cultivate properly even in seclusion. A few years ago, he stayed in the Cold Pond for a year, and when he came out, his cultivation hadn't increased at all—it actually seemed to have dropped a bit." Shang Yanfeng gave everyone a cold sweep of his eyes. He then stepped forward, pressed his hand against the ice door, and said coldly, "Fine. If he is truly harmed, you can all go kneel and confess your sins to Master." As soon as he finished speaking, a burst of power erupted from his palm. The ice door instantly shattered into pieces, and powdered frost fell like heavy snow. Shang Yanfeng withdrew his hand coldly. His eyes, sharp as blades, swept over them as he spat out words like ice: "Go in." Yan Xueyu was the first to walk in. However, just as he stepped through the door of the Cold Pond, a sword light suddenly surged out from within. It whistled past Yan Xueyu’s face, instantly freezing the long hair hanging over his shoulder into frost. This change happened in the blink of an eye. It wasn't until Shang Yanfeng shoved Yan Xueyu aside and his Cold Wood Sword instantly unsheathed to narrowly block the next incoming sword qi that the others reacted. Yan Xueyu couldn't see the scene, but he felt a wave of cold air gradually creeping up from the soles of his feet. The group filed in. Before they could see anything clearly, a flash of deathly white sword light whistled down from the air, striking toward them with unstoppable force. Shang Yanfeng’s pupils constricted. The pressure of the Mahayana stage instantly spread out, enveloping the entire Cold Pond. Behind him, Yi Fuji walked in unhurriedly. He suspended the long zither in the air before him, lowered his eyes, and gently plucked a string. The sound sent a ripple through the void, dispelling all the sword lights. A shower of frost immediately fell from the ceiling of the Cold Pond. Amidst the vast white mist, Ming Zhu stood dressed in white, holding the Kuayu Sword. He looked at them expressionlessly, his peach-blossom eyes sharp and indifferent. Water was still dripping from his thin garments; as the droplets hit the ground, they instantly transformed into crystalline ice lotuses. Zhou Fuxue: "Senior Brother!" Ming Zhu seemed not to hear him. His eyes were cold and distant as he looked at the crowd before him. He parted his thin lips and asked, "Who are you?" Zhou Fuxue was stunned, while the others all wore a helpless "here we go again" expression. Lu Qingkong held his forehead and said impatiently, "It’s like this every single time. Who can hit him awake?" Yi Fuji let out a soft chuckle and plucked a few more strings. The zither music was melodious; it was unclear what message he had transmitted. The originally indifferent Ming Zhu froze. He instinctively blurted out, "Nonsense, I didn't sleep myself stupid." As soon as the words left his mouth, he seemed somewhat confused as to why he could understand the meaning of that zither music. The indifference on his face gradually dissipated, and he looked at the people before him with a hint of daze. Shang Yanfeng stepped forward and flicked Ming Zhu’s forehead hard with his finger. A red mark appeared on Ming Zhu’s pale, jade-like brow as a Heart-Clearing Spell was struck into his spiritual platform. Ming Zhu watched a cold-faced stranger walk toward him and instinctively wanted to swing his sword. However, for some reason, his body didn't want to move at all, allowing the man to flick him so hard he leaned back slightly. The Heart-Clearing Spell entered his brow, quickly jolting Ming Zhu’s sleep-muddled mind awake. His whole body shuddered, and he became completely lucid. The daze hadn't yet left his face as he scanned the crowd. After a long moment, his lips slowly curled into a smile. "What kind of strange wind is blowing today that it blew all of you here to see me at once?" Lu Qingkong said crossly, "Don't tell me you’ve just been sleeping for this past year of seclusion and haven't cultivated at all?" Ming Zhu blinked, and the frost on his long lashes drifted down. "Ah? Has it been over a year already? I didn't know." Everyone: "..." He really had slept for a year. No wonder he had slept himself stupid. Yan Xueyu was feeling around to remove the frost from his hair. Hearing this, his sightless eyes swept over Ming Zhu coldly. "How is your cultivation?" Ming Zhu made a thoughtful sound and closed his eyes to investigate. After a long while, he said with a beaming smile, "The Golden Core is still there, but my cultivation has dropped to the Foundation Establishment stage." Everyone: "..." Shang Yanfeng and Yi Fuji both frowned. That sharp sword light from earlier was not a pressure that could be emitted by someone at the Foundation Establishment stage. But seeing that Ming Zhu himself didn't seem to know, they merely glanced at each other and remained silent. Ming Zhu didn't care much about their varied expressions. He tugged at his thin white robes and said, "Junior brothers, which of you can be kind enough to give your Senior Brother a coat? Can't you see I'm shivering from the cold?" Zhou Fuxue, who had been out of sorts, was just about to take off his outer robe when Shen Di’an draped Yan Xueyu’s crane cloak over Ming Zhu’s shoulders. Ming Zhu didn't notice the flash of disappointment on Zhou Fuxue’s face. He addressed the group, "Come, come. To celebrate my emergence today, let’s all go to Buzhiya for drinks. It’s rare for us to gather." Shang Yanfeng said, "As long as you don't cook, we’ll go." Everyone nodded in agreement. Ming Zhu: "..." *** **Glossary** Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation --- | --- | --- 不知雅 | Buzhiya | The name of Ming Zhu's courtyard/residence. 易负居 | Yi Fuji | The Second Senior Brother of Rizhao Mountain. 焦尾 | Jiaowei | "Scorched Tail," a famous type of ancient Chinese zither (qin). 大乘期 | Mahayana Stage | A very high level of cultivation. 元婴 | Nascent Soul | A high stage of cultivation. 金丹 | Golden Core | A mid-level stage of cultivation. 筑基 | Foundation Establishment | A basic stage of cultivation. 清心诀 | Heart-Clearing Spell | A technique used to clear the mind of confusion or illusions. 寒木剑 | Cold Wood Sword | Shang Yanfeng's sword.