The matter had been set aside, but Shen Yan’s mention of it brought it back to the forefront of Nie Shiyun’s mind. He shared his thoughts with Zhai Bairong. Although Zhai Bairong had a general grasp of the situation, he still didn't fully understand concepts like "the plot" or "the Heavenly Dao." He looked at Nie Shiyun, pondered for a moment, and asked, "Is that Strange Fire difficult to deal with?"
Nie Shiyun thought it over. "It’s certainly more difficult than the fragment of the Strange Fire you subdued back then. A true Strange Fire possesses its own intelligence; it can attack and flee. However, with Meiqiu’s help, it shouldn't be too dangerous for us."
Hearing that Nie Shiyun was relying on him, Meiqiu lifted his head with a touch of pride.
Zhai Bairong recalled the time he and Nie Shiyun had "split the loot" in the secret realm, where he had obtained the fragment of the Azure Lotus Strange Fire. Back then, he hadn't known things would turn out like this. Nie Shiyun now forged equipment more frequently than Zhai Bairong refined pills, and he possessed a fire spiritual root himself. If the Azure Lotus Strange Fire had been given to him instead, perhaps it would have been put to better use.
However, if he said that aloud, Nie Shiyun would surely frown and tell him he was talking nonsense. So, Zhai Bairong didn't mention it, only saying, "Then let’s go take a look. Do you know where it is?"
Nie Shiyun tried to recall the details, but he found that the specifics of the original novel’s later stages were beginning to blur in his mind. After all, the plot had changed so much, and ten years had passed since he arrived in this world. Even the best memory would struggle to keep up.
"If it’s the same as what I know, the Vermilion Bird Strange Fire is located along the southeastern coast. There are many islands scattered there, mostly deserted. However, that fire is constantly moving, so I can't say for certain exactly where it is."
Speaking of which, there had indeed been rumors lately about unusual heat in the southeast. The sun was much harsher than usual, and there were several reports of cultivators' private residences catching fire. Most people in the cultivation world hadn't taken it seriously yet, but if news of the Strange Fire spread later, more people would likely connect these phenomena.
"The range is small enough. Most people who have heard rumors are probably still searching blindly," Zhai Bairong remarked.
"I can come and go as I please. However, I need to inform my father and cousin, and then make some preparations. But as I told Shen Yan just now, any move you make involves your entire sect. Should you report this to your Master?"
Zhai Bairong thought for a moment, clearly hesitant. Unless absolutely necessary, he didn't want to contact Qu Zhanmeng at all during this sensitive period. After a brief silence, he lowered his voice and asked Nie Shiyun, "Since you stay in the back mountain all day anyway and rarely see any disciples of the Pavilion, why don't we ask your father if they can keep a secret for us? We could take Disguise Pills and slip out quietly."
Nie Shiyun was slightly surprised by Zhai Bairong's attitude. In his impression, unless it was something he was personally interested in, Zhai Bairong usually had a "let it be" attitude toward heavenly treasures. This time, even though Nie Shiyun wasn't particularly invested, the other man was exceptionally proactive.
Meiqiu chimed in excitedly, "Going out to play! Going out to play!"
He still had the temperament of a child, after all. He had been cooped up in the secret realm for three years looking at snow every day, and while returning to Yunqing Pavilion had been novel for a few days, staying in the back mountain for several months had become tedious.
Nie Shiyun looked at Zhai Bairong and said, "Did you find some enjoyment in staying by my side with a Disguise Pill before? It’s not a bad suggestion. I’ll ask my father tomorrow."
Zhai Bairong chuckled. "Perhaps there really is some fun in it. Before, I only thought about standing out in the sect and being valued. Now that I’ve reached this point, I feel that those things are all empty. I wish the entire cultivation world didn't know us, so we could live freely and unconstrained."
*It’s the classic case of 'fame brings trouble,'* Nie Shiyun thought.
Seeing that Zhai Bairong was interested in the Strange Fire and Meiqiu was bored at home, Nie Shiyun decided to follow their plan and ask his father for permission. According to the information, Duan Mingyu was trapped in the Yingyue Sect, so the main plot likely wouldn't advance for a while. They could head southeast, taking their time to enjoy the scenery in disguise, without having to rush like they did when searching for the Immortal Tool.
Once Nie Shiyun made his decision, he went to find Nie Li and reported his thoughts.
Nie Li was a bit conflicted; his original intention was for Nie Shiyun to stay longer. After seeing the Star-Moon Spirit Wood Sword he had forged, Nie Li had been greatly impressed. He had already been secretly scouting several potential clients—highly respected elders from major cultivation sects. With just a few commissions, Nie Shiyun’s strength would surely make him famous throughout the cultivation world.
However, Nie Li still put Nie Shiyun first. Seeing his son so cheerful about sneaking out for a journey with his Dao companion, Nie Li ultimately didn't voice his original plans.
He sighed inwardly. Nie Shiyun left every so often, and whenever he returned to Yunqing Pavilion, he always stayed cooped up in his cave dwelling to cultivate, showing little interest in the Pavilion's affairs. Nie Li had previously discussed with Nie Mingde who should take over Yunqing Pavilion in the future. Now it seemed that even if Nie Shiyun was the best of his generation in both cultivation and tool-refining, he certainly wouldn't want to sit in that position.
Nie Li said understandingly, "Go if you want to. I will announce to the outside world that you both have been in the back mountain."
Nie Shiyun smiled. "Thank you, Father."
"Do you have enough spirit stones?" Nie Li couldn't help but ask with concern.
Nie Shiyun shook his head. Before the Great Cultivation Assembly, he would still take pocket money from Nie Li, but now he suspected his personal wealth exceeded his father's. Not to mention, he had just made a killing from Shen Yan and was very well-off.
Because they were sneaking out, Nie Shiyun only told Nie Li and Nie Xing'an, not even informing Du Zhi or Qi Xuan'er. However, seeing how the relationship between those two had been heating up lately, with pink bubbles practically floating around them, he figured they wouldn't notice his absence anyway.
After a few days of preparation, Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong took Disguise Pills, suppressed their cultivation to the Foundation Establishment stage, and quietly left the mountain via a secluded path from the back of Yunqing Pavilion.
Before becoming famous at the Great Cultivation Assembly, not many people recognized Nie Shiyun. However, Zhai Bairong, regardless of his status, would attract a lot of attention just by his handsome face. Now, Zhai Bairong had deliberately disguised himself to look slightly below average. Nie Shiyun felt this was a unique trouble reserved only for those with heaven-sent handsome faces.
"Let's go." Nie Shiyun leaned closer to Zhai Bairong and reached out his hand under his sleeve. Same-sex Dao companions were very common in the cultivation world; the reason they usually caused a stir was simply because they were famous. Now, as two unremarkable cultivators, let alone holding hands, even if they walked pressed against each other, no one would give them a second glance.
Zhai Bairong smiled and took Nie Shiyun's hand.
Originally, he had only thought about helping Nie Shiyun get that Strange Fire. But seeing that Nie Shiyun wasn't in a hurry, Zhai Bairong suddenly felt that traveling and sightseeing along the way was also quite nice.
While the two were in high spirits and embarking on their journey, Duan Mingyu, whom Nie Shiyun believed to be still trapped in the Yingyue Sect, was making a move.
"Can't you really help me?" Duan Mingyu sighed.
After Duan Mingyu had spent half the day in his quarters wheedling and pestering him, the cultivator’s heart had long since softened. He only hesitated because his subconscious knew this was wrong.
Lately, Duan Mingyu had been coming to talk to him often. Several times, Duan Mingyu mentioned wanting to drink sweet fruit wine or eat certain foods, and this fellow disciple would run down the mountain to buy them for him. When Duan Mingyu felt bored, the disciple even found ingenious little trinkets, similar to modern-day music boxes, to give to him. Looking at Duan Mingyu’s reliant and admiring gaze, the cultivator always felt a great sense of satisfaction.
Today, Duan Mingyu claimed that staying on the mountain was truly unbearable and he wanted to go to the town at the foot of the mountain for a stroll.
This put the cultivator in a difficult position. Although Qu Zhanmeng had told them to watch Duan Mingyu, he hadn't said they couldn't buy him harmless little trinkets. Now that Duan Mingyu wanted to go out, it violated Qu Zhanmeng’s orders.
"How about this... I'll just pretend I don't know, and turn a blind eye..." the cultivator said hesitantly.
"But he isn't as nice as you..." Duan Mingyu said that if he tried to pass through the restriction alone, he would surely be discovered by the other disciple monitoring him, who would report it to the Master, and then he would definitely be punished. As he spoke, he felt more and more aggrieved—he hadn't done anything wrong, yet he was locked up here, not even allowed to go down the mountain for a breath of air.
"..."
If Qu Zhanmeng had told these two cultivators the truth as he had told Zhai Bairong, they would certainly not dare to harbor any other thoughts right now. But considering that the fewer people involved in such a disgraceful matter the better, Qu Zhanmeng had only informed the few disciples responsible for guarding and patrolling that Duan Mingyu was in poor health and must not leave his residence until he reached the Great Perfection of the Golden Core stage. No other information was disclosed.
By now, the heart of the cultivator who had been begged by Duan Mingyu for so long had already leaned to one side, feeling that Qu Zhanmeng was being somewhat unreasonable. Finally, after Duan Mingyu spoke with tears welling in his eyes, he softened and agreed to go across the hall to deliberately distract the other cultivator, allowing Duan Mingyu to go down the mountain for a while.
"Really? Thank you!" Duan Mingyu excitedly grabbed the cultivator's hands. He didn't manage the distance well and almost pressed himself right in front of the other man. This caused the cultivator's heart to thump wildly.
"Shh, it won't be good if he hears. There might be patrolling disciples down the mountain, so be careful if you go to the town, otherwise we'll both be punished," the cultivator whispered. "I can't stall for too long. Come back after a few hours, okay?"
"Mhm!" Duan Mingyu nodded.
"Then I'll go across. It just so happens I haven't been down the mountain for a few days. If you pass by a tavern, would you like to buy a bottle of Osmanthus Wine and come to my room to taste it together?" As the cultivator finished, his mind wandered a bit, and he scratched his hair sheepishly.
"Sure, sure."
Once he was down the mountain, he should be able to find Brother Rong Lü, and then he would surely help solve the problem. Thinking about meeting him, Duan Mingyu felt that he was finally saved, his heart full of joy. Facing the cultivator's expectations, he agreed without a second thought.
Enjoying the story? Rate this novel:
Transmigrated into a Total Shou Novel as a Cannon Fodder, but Ended Up 1v1-ing the Male Lead | Chapter 110 | A Secret Journey South | Novela.app | Novela.app
