It’s Not Easy Being a Master, Chapter 73: Kitten

By the time Shen Zhixian got to Xuanji Tower the next day, he was still angry.

The person who was able to put out his fire had instead ran away with his pants on. Even though he’d resolved Shen Zhixian’s situation a bit before he ran, Shen Zhixian was still not fully satisfied. He recalled a word he’d heard in modern times, and couldn’t help but curse him in his heart.

Yan Jin, this troublesome person! What was he up to?

Next time Shen Zhixian saw him, he won’t allow him to touch even a finger!

The smile on his face was calm and gentle as usual, but if those who knew him well were to see him at this moment, they would notice that he was gritting his teeth.

Xuanji Tower’s master was called Wu Xuan. He and Shen Zhixian were not too familiar with each other, but after many years of studying the path of profound knowledge, he was more attentive and sharper than the normal person. He felt that Shen Zhixian was acting a bit unusual and asked tentatively, “Sect Leader Shen, what’s wrong?”

Shen Zhixian smiled and shook his head. “It’s nothing big. It’s just that on the way here yesterday, I met a very fierce wolf cub. But, after taking a bite, it ran away.”

Wu Xuan let out a sound of understanding, but didn’t continue to ask. Instead, he went to greet other people.

The atmosphere of this small gathering was much more serious than the last one. With his expression somewhat grave, Wu Xuan drew the divination hexagram in front of everyone. “The sect standard practice is not to calculate more than one hexagram unnecessarily. This hexagram was originally calculated a few days ago and it would be inconvenient to calculate a new one. Everyone, please take a look at the result.”

After explaining the hexagram’s image to these laymen, he sighed and said, “A really terrible conclusion. It looks like the outcome won’t be favorable and so this trip will be very dangerous.”

“No matter how difficult it is, as the old seniors, we should protect the juniors,” the Yao Sect Leader, Xue Ci, said in a smooth voice. He stroked his chin and said with a chuckle, “We Yao Sect aren’t much but we do have a lot of medicines. Whoever needs it, don’t hesitate to ask.”

The remaining participants, including Shen Zhixian, all expressed their opinions. Although Wu Xuan’s calculations indicated that there will be great dangers, none of them were deterred.

After all, this was related to the safety of the entire cultivation realm. They all filled leading positions at their respective sect and would never shrank away their duty. Like this, the matter was resolved.

The demons and monsters that had escaped did not disperse, and after being hunted down for a time, they’d learned to unit and work together.

Based on the information from various sects, a location was finally identified as the most likely hideout for these creatures.

After much consideration, everyone decided that it was best to lay a siege on these demons and monsters. Even if they could not exterminate these creatures in full, they could still temporarily seal the place.

If too many people participated, the demons and monsters might be alarmed. After a lot of discussions, it was decided that the people present today should take the lead and then arrange for the disciples to follow up later.

Almost all sect leaders were present, most of whom could be considered as old foxes. The only difference was Qianyin Pavilion, who sent a young senior disciple named Lian Qin. He was more or less about the same age as Shen Zhixian, and he carried a guqin across his chest. In front of his seniors, he was neither servile nor overbearing but was rather refined and courteous.

According to reports, the Qianyin Pavilion sect leader was very ill, and Lian Qin had been running the sect in his stead. He’d been in power for a long time and his qualification was also considered one of the best in the entire cultivation realm. The fact that he was here to replace the Qianyin Pavilion sect leader was also very good.

Wu Xuan looked at him, then looked at Shen Zhixian, and sighed. “We old foxes, we’re going to be caught up by the young people soon, ah.”

Without further ado, everyone began to make arrangements for the remaining matters. A group of people would attract too much attention. Walking alone also wouldn’t be good. In the end, it was decided that they would split into two groups.

One group would lead the front, and a group would lead the disciples in the back.

Shen Zhixian, Xuanji Tower’s Wu Xuan, Yan Sect’s Xue Ci, and Qianyin Pavilion’s Lian Qin were in the first group so they set out first.

After everything was settled, they parted ways. However, as soon as Shen Zhixian arrived at the foot of the mountain, he came face to face with a young man in black.

Seeing this man, Shen Zhixian subconsciously frowned and the anger that he’d just suppressed roared back up.

The young man in black blocked their path. His gaze shifted from Shen Zhixian to Wu Xuan. His expression shifted slightly and he said with some hesitation, “Xuanji Tower Sect Leader?”

The young man’s temperament was cold and his cultivation was indiscernible. Wu Xuan also unexpectedly couldn’t sense his cultivation level at all. He didn’t answer his question and only said, “Who are you?”

The young man in black pulled out a letter from his chest. “The Chen family from Mingzhou sent me.”

Wu Xuan took the letter and opened it. After taking a closer look to confirm its authenticity, his slight frown eased and he said with a smile, “There are many people here. Let’s step aside to speak.”

The five people found a quiet place to communicate.

Mingzhou had many powerful hidden masters. However, they have all retreated from the world and only the juniors in the clans would occasionally come out to practice.

A while back, Wu Xuan sent an invitation letter just to give it a try. However, he didn’t have much hope in his heart. A couple days ago, when he saw that there was no representative from Mingzhou, he didn’t take it to heart and wrote the whole thing off.

However, Wu Xuan was still not convinced by the letter. He cautiously asked for the young man’s identity. If the young man recognized his suspicion, he didn’t say anything. He only took out a finely carved jade ornament.

The jade ornament emitted a pure spiritual qi, and it was also proof identifying that it’s holder was a member of one of Mingzhou’s hidden clans.

Wu Xian said, “Please excuse my offense,” and reached out to take the jade ornament for careful study. Everyone knew that Wu Xuan was the most knowledgeable about Mingzhou’s hidden clans.

The jade ornament, which was the unique symbol representing the Mingzhou’s Chen family, was indeed authentic.

Wu Xuan’s smile became more sincere. To make a long story short, matters were discussed once more and eventually the young man named Chen Yan was allowed to join them.

Shen Zhixian looked askance at him and let out a light, indeterminate chuckle.

This Chen Yan.

Among the people they knew, only one person, Chen Lie, had a relationship with the Mingzhou’s Chen family. Who knew what method Yan Jin used to get the jade ornament, which allowed him to pretend to be a member of the Chen family.

Yan Jin also changed his appearance to conform with his act as a member of the Chen family. Shen Zhixian didn’t expose him. He just pretended not to know him and didn’t speak to him at all. Along the way, everyone rode on their mounts. Yan Jin “unintentionally” drew nearer to Shen Zhixian’s side.

Shen Zhixian pretended not to see him and spoke to Lian Qin with a smile.

Yan Jin’s lips tightened and, when he looked at Lian Qin, his eyes had a glint of danger. Lian Qin sensed the danger and turned to look but only saw a silent young man sitting upright and looking straight ahead.

After traveling for a few days like this, the always laughing Xue Ci, the leader of the Yao Sect, who was as benevolent as his name implied, felt that something was off.

Although they accepted Yan Jin on the surface, they were actually quite guarded against him. After all, those hidden clans from Mingzhou hadn’t been seen in a long time. No one knew their true intentions. Moreover, this young man…

Was he paying too much attention to Sect Leader Shen?

After seeing that the young man had chosen to sit next to Shen Zhixian, he smiled and said mildly, “Gentleman Chen had met Sect Leader Shen before?”

“I don’t know him.”

“I’ve looked forward to meeting him.”

Their two voices sounded at the same time. Mu Xuan smiled and brought his tea up to his mouth. After joking a few sentences, he changed the topic.

After a little rest, they continued their journey.

As they were leaving the teahouse, Shen Zhixian fell back toward the end of the group and Yan Jin naturally slowed down.

A flash of green quietly shot out of Yan Jin’s sleeve and quickly jumped onto Shen Zhixian’s sleeve. It climbed up Shen Zhixian’s shoulder, softly chirping.

A few people nearby heard this sound and looked back. Xue Ci’s face lit up the moment he saw Xiao Caoya. He was from Yao Sect, which specialized in medicine, and naturally paid a lot of attention to spirit plants. Although he didn’t know what kind of spirit plant the little bud sprout was, he could see at a glance that it was unusual. “This is Sect Leader Shen’s little spirit plant?”

Since Yan Jin didn’t speak, Shen Zhixian didn’t deny it either. Smiling, he said, “Just raising it for amusement.”

Spirit plants that had gained consciousness were extremely rare, but still not impossible to find. What was even more rare was the fact that Shen Zhixian seemed to be affectionately raising the little spirit plant. Xue Ci looked at it again and, after sensing Xiao Caoya’s vigorous spiritual qi, felt emotionally moved. “I wonder if this old man can take a closer look?”

Xiao Caoya shook, and before Shen Zhixian could respond, it jumped to Xue Ci’s hand and began to shake its leaves energetically at him.

Xue Ci was very familiar with handling medicinal spirit plants and was very gentle. Xiao Caoya didn’t reject him at all and rolled around in his palm.

Xue Ci took out a good medicinal pellet and fed it to Xiao Caoya. As two small leaves held the big pellet, Xiao Caoya laughed excitedly. Soon, the pellet turned into spiritual qi and was absorbed.

It let out a satisfied belch and then stood up and solemnly bowed to Xue Ci.

Xue Ci couldn’t help laughing. He felt very reluctant to hand the little grass bud back to Shen Zhixian. He said, “This little thing is unexpectedly very clever and isn’t shy with strangers. In the future, it shouldn’t take food easily from strangers.”

Shen Zhixian thanked him for the medicinal pellet and put Xiao Caoya on his shoulder. He said half-jokingly, “I probably don’t have the ability to raise pets. The little ones that I raise always like to run away.”

During this journey, since everyone held similar positions , it wasn’t difficult for them to get along with each other. They would even often joke around. Xue Ci asked, “Sect Leader Shen also raised another little spirit pet?”

Shen Zhixian climbed onto his mount, which was a pegasus. After he settled in, he let out a faint smile and replied, “I also kept a very fierce wolf cub. It’s a pity that after I raised it, it bit me and ran off.”

“Oh, it is a pity indeed…”

Xue Ci laughed and climbed up to his mount. It was a lazy-looking black-shelled tortoise, with his head always shrinking and his limbs sticking out.

Naturally, flying was always faster than running on the ground, and they were also in a hurry. This was the first time Shen Zhixian flew alone, without Yan Jin’s company, and his fear of heights trickled back up. But, it wasn’t too strong this time, which allowed him to endure and mask his discomfort.

This time, Yan Jin also sent Xiao Caoya to accompany him. As Shen Zhixian watched Xiao Caoya danced on the pegasus’s head, he began to breathe easier and felt a little more at ease.

Yan Jin, as usual, was not far from his side, flying almost at the same speed as him, with some distance between him and others.

Shen Zhixian was counting Xiao Caoya’s jumps and flips when Yan Jin’s voice sounded in his ears. It was transmitted by a spell so that only he could hear it.

“I also have experience in raising a pet…”

Shen Zhixian was still in the middle of counting Xiao Caoya’s movements. When he heard Yan Jin’s words, he missed a number and didn’t even notice when Xiao Caoya flipped over once more.

“But my kitten is ignoring me. What should I do?” Yan Jin’s low voice had a trace of apprehension and guiltlessness as he whispered, “I’ve offended my kitten and now he’s angry. Since Gentleman Shen is rich in experience, can you teach me how to coax him back? ”

Shen Zhixian, “????”

Shen Zhixian picked up Xiao Caoya and wanted to throw it back to Yan Jin. However, after thinking about it, he held back. After putting Xiao Caoya back on the pegasus, he moved his lips angrily.

No sound was made, but his words passed into Yan Jin’s ears with a secret spell.

Through gritted teeth.

“….Enduring a beating wouldn’t be too bad.”

……

After rushing throughout their journey, everyone finally arrived at the place where the demons were hiding. It turned out to be a high mountain with a cave dug out at the foot of the mountain. Although the inside was obscure from view, there were faint noises that sounded like small animals scratching at the dirt.

Shen Zhixian hovered his hand over an overturn boulder. His spiritual knowledge entered the rock, and he was surprised to find that the place didn’t have a single trace of disruption. He extended his spiritual awareness and frowned after a moment. “There’s spiritual qi as well as devil qi.”

He took a breath and said, “This place is a secret realm.”

This whole mountain was a secret realm.

“These demons actually knew how to hide in a secret realm.” Wu Xuan calculated on his fingers. “Partly terrible, partly auspicious. It’s really unclear.”

As soon as his voice fell, Lian Qin suddenly called out, “Be careful!” and at once, smashed his guqin.

From within the dark cave came a strange sound. The mass of black qi, which hit by the guqin, seemed to snarl. Suddenly the ground began to tremble. It was as if an invisible barrier had opened at the cave’s mouth and wind was sweeping out of it, spewing sand and dust.

The whole mountain was shaking, as if it was going to rise up.

Shen Zhixian abruptly said, “This secret realm is moving; they’re trying to leave!”

———————
Xixi: You guys have noticed how smooth Yan Jin has gotten, right? Lol. But, don’t forget that he’d completely regained the memories from his past life, which included being in a romantic (and sexual) relationship with Shen Zhixian. This also explained how he was suddenly able to become so powerful. Not to mention, in this current lifetime, they’ve been in a relationship, albeit kind-of long distance, for a year now.