It’s Not Easy Being a Master, Extra 2: Fluffball

After witnessing the secret realm’s collapse and annihilating the demons, there was a short period of rejoicing. Then, after watching in stupefaction as the Lord of the Wasteland abducted Sect Leader Shen, everyone began to fall into a panic again.

What the heck was going on? What to do? Won’t Sect Leader Shen be in trouble? What was this big devil planning to do to Sect Leader Shen?!

Many disciples stared at Wu Xuan. Several of Wu Xuan’s people grew stressed and looked at each other.

Their eyes were cautious.

Due to their current conditions, they couldn’t just storm into the wasteland to find the person. The leaders could only take their disciples back home before taking a short rest and traveling to Qingyun Sect to discuss the situation.

Wu Xuan was the first to go.

Then he came back in a trance.

Xue Ci and others sent a letter asking him about the situation. Wu Xuan remained silent for a long time, not knowing how to reply.

In fact, he didn’t need to reply. Soon, a rumor spread quickly and that was enough.

When Xue Ci heard the rumor, he was silent for a long time. Then he carefully asked the young disciples who’d came to report it, “How did Qingyun Sect respond from top to bottom? Was there any anger?”

The young disciple also felt that it was quite unbelievable. He said dumbly. “It seems not. They’re quite calm.”

Xue Ci, “…..”

Xue Ci felt that the older he got, the less he could keep up with the rhythm of young people.

Shen Zhixian wasn’t very clear about the rumors spreading in the outside world. Before he left Qingyun Sect, he’d made a lot of arrangements. Even without him there, the whole set would be able to operate properly. Therefore, he wasn’t in a hurry to go back. He stayed in the wasteland with ease and would only occasionally communicate with several elders.

After being lazy for almost a month, Shen Zhixian left the wasteland.

Yan Jin had something to do with it. He drove away Shen Zhixian’s favorite wolf cub, making Shen Zhixian a little angry so he decided it was time to go back to the sect.

Then he became stunned.

This……

What were they saying?

Why would Shen Zhixian willingly sacrifice his righteousness to personally tame the wasteland devil with true love? It moved people to tears. All over, everyone claimed that this kind of devotion to justice was indeed worthy of admiration and should be strongly commended…

What fantasy world had he transmigrated into again?

Shen Zhixian concealed his appearance and stood at the end of the street, listening to a round of rumors. The more he listened, the more he laughed. After thinking for a while, he silently went back to the sect. He didn’t immediately up to the top of the Fifth Peak. Instead, he went to the disciple’s residence and looked around.

It was noon and everyone was resting. But, Ming Yi’s house was very lively. He was having a good discussion with another disciple, Ming Li, and wasn’t aware that there was someone outside. Naturally, if Shen Zhixian wanted to hide his presence, it would be impossible for them to detect it.

“I don’t think it’s good. It doesn’t accurately reflect the sect leader’s great righteousness. It should be more exaggerated. My manuscript is better.”

“I don’t think so. Your manuscript is too exaggerated. It may cause too much gossip. It’s not good.”

“But rumors should be mixed with the real and the false, so that people can’t tell clearly…”

Those words almost lead to scuffle.

After listening for a while, Shen Zhixian raised his hand and knocked twice on the door. Without waiting for a response, he pushed the door open.

Ming Yi, who was in the middle of quarreling with the other young disciple, suddenly heard the door open. His back was to the door but he didn’t bother to look back. “Who–”

Ming Li, who was sitting opposite him, looked up as soon as the door opened and instantly became shocked.

In the next instant, Ming Li hurriedly knelt down and became a terrified little quail. “Sect, Sect, Sect, Sect–”

Ming Yi’s heart dropped. He whipped around, saw Shen Zhixian, and immediately became a second little quail. “Sect, Sect, Sect, Sect–”

Shen Zhixian didn’t let them get up and first looked at the papers strewn messily on the table.

Every time he flipped a sheet, they trembled until at last the two little quails nearly trembled into the ground. Shen Zhixian held the stack of papers neatly in his hands and asked slowly, “Who is Qing Yun?”

Ming Yi’s forehead broke out in sweat. He didn’t dare lift his head and kept his face lowered as he stammered, “It’s….it’s disciple…”

Case solved.

Shen Zhixian counted the number of melon fields in the nearby farms that were in urgent need of a field hand, and asked lightly, “I haven’t seen the new book recently. You haven’t written it yet?”

“Little, little, little disciple do not dare …”

Ming Yi cautiously looked at the door from the corner of his eyes. But, the door was empty. The person he wanted to see wasn’t there. He became even more terrified. Earlier, he was arguing so fiercely with Ming Li, but now he was willing to sacrifice himself for brotherhood. Closing his eyes, he honestly confessed, “Sect Leader, this disciple doesn’t dare…”

So they were accomplices.

Shen Zhixian wasn’t really angry. As he watched the two little quails tremble, he couldn’t help wanting to milk more fun out of this. He continued to frighten them. “Laying out your elder’s life as you wish is a major crime. It seems like the sect’s rule–”

He paused deliberately for a moment. The two little quails dared not look up. Their hands were pressed so tightly to the ground that their fingertips were white. Shen Zhixian said, “Who taught you these words?”

Ming Yi looked up in surprise and saw Shen Zhixian shaking the thick stack of papers in his hand.

Shen Zhixian asked meaningfully, “Since you have the courage to disrespect your seniors like this, you’d better not talk drivel. Who taught you to say these words?”

The two young disciples stammered but dared not say anything. Shen Zhixian suddenly remembered that Yan Jin had left the wasteland for a short period. At the time, while he cheerfully playing with wasteland’s demons and monsters, Yan Jin left for two hours. He hadn’t thought much about it, but now….

“Has Yan Jin been back?”

Ming Yi had a cold sweat on his forehead. He whispered “yes,” while crying in his heart: Senior Brother Yan, forgive me. I really didn’t mean to. Wu wu wu wu.

His hunch was correct.

Shen Zhixian shook his head slightly, collected his serious expression, and smiled slightly. “Get up.”

The two little quails looked at him timidly, and when Ming Yi saw that the sect leader wasn’t angry, he stood up carefully and bowed to the side.

“At this moment, I won’t hold you accountable. It’s just that these words….needs more caution.”

Shen Zhixian’s words were vague. If it was someone else who said this, it would stand to reason that the person wouldn’t allow the words to be published. But, this person was Shen Zhixian, whose tone implied….Ming Yi hesitated before gathering up his courage and asked, “The disciple is stupid. Please ask Sect Leader for clarification.”

Shen Zhixian sighed. When he spoke, there was an imperceptible smile in his voice. “The big devil in the wasteland had already been reformed. There’s no need for the immortals to give up their righteousness…to tame the big devil in the wasteland, isn’t this right?”

……..

After leaving Ming Yi, Shen Zhixian went to see the elders. Apart from Fourth Elder who knew a point or two, the other three elders didn’t know much about his connection with Yan Jin and the wasteland.

These elders were his martial uncles. Shen Zhixian respected them and expressed his apologies to them. Even the most serious and solemn elder of the bunch only frowned and told him to be careful. There was nothing else to be said.

Shen Zhixian was grateful, and when Yan Jin came the next day, he took him back to see the elders.

It was evening when the two returned to Fifth Peak. After taking over as the sect leader, Shen Zhixian should have moved to the main peak, but he’d become used to living on Fifth Peak. What’s more, he was too lazy to move. Therefore, he decided that he would not move, and so he simply continued to live here.

During dinner, a young disciple came to tell them that they have a guest.

Shen Zhixian asked briefly, then waved his hand to let the disciple invite the person in.

The guest was the bald monk, whom they hadn’t seen in a long time.

The bald monk seemed to have been dire straits recently. Seeing a table full of food, his eyes brightened. He sat down without any embarrassment and requested for meat buns.

He seemed to have a special liking for meat buns and steamed buns. While sipping his tea, Shen Zhixian watched him wolfing down the meat buns. Absentmindedly, he remembered the pit-filled novel he had originally read…

The author’s name seemed to be four characters: Steamed Bun Buddhist Monk.

Shen Zhixian, “…..”

Now that everything was peaceful, the old calculations or grudges of the past were nothing.

The three had known each other for a long time. They set out wine in the pavilion and drank together for one night. Shen Zhixian and Yan Jin drank only a little bit, but the bald monk was probably anxious about something. He poured himself a few jars of wine and got himself drunk.

“You’re both finally considered settled…” The bald monk lay on the table, murmuring in a daze. “Our poor little A’fei. I don’t know yet…”

His voice gradually dropped. After a while, he let out a deep grunt. It was just that he was too drunk and couldn’t sleep well. After two or three grunts, he rolled over and fell to the ground.

Shen Zhixian, “…..”

The corners of Shen Zhixian’s mouth curved up, thinking this was rather funny. As he was about to speak, the bald monk woke up with a start and stood up, staring out of the mountain and seeing a vast night.

He stood in a daze for a long time. After drunkenly turning two circles, he cupped his hand respectfully toward an old tree. “The old monk is full of food and drink, and he should leave…”

After the bald monk finished speaking, he made another turn. This time, he happened to turn in the right direction. He stepped down the stone steps and staggered downhill. Although he was drunk, he walked very fast.

Shen Zhixian, “……”

Shen Zhixian summoned the two young disciples to lead the bald monk down the mountain. When he turned around, he glimpsed a thin piece of paper lying under his seat.

He picked it up easily. The paper was very thin, but the texture was very durable. He could feel the abundant spiritual power, which seemed somewhat familiar.

Shen Zhixian held it and looked at it with Yan Jin. There were many lines scribbled on the paper. But there there doesn’t seem to be any logical rules to it so it was difficult to determine what it was exactly. The two of them looked at it for a while.

Based on the bald monk’s quick footsteps, Shen Zhixian feared that he would be almost at the foot of the mountain by now.

After drinking, Shen Zhixian was also lazy. Too lazy to look for someone, he simply tucked it into his sleeve. “If it’s important, the bald monk will come back. If it’s not important, I will return it to him next time I see him.”

Yan Jin didn’t care very much. He helped Shen Zhixian into the house and turned around to prepare the hot water.

The night was heavy, and the night pearl in the corner exuded a soft light. On the bed, the two embraced each other and fell asleep. No one had noticed that Shen Zhixian’s coat, which had fallen to the ground, had suddenly moved.

A light wind seemed to be blowing over the coat, exposing a piece of paper. The messy lines on the paper were like flowing water, drifting gently.

……………

Shen Zhixian hadn’t had a dream in a long time.  He didn’t know if it was because he’d been drinking. He slept drowsily and dreamed.

He dreamed that he’d become a cat.

A snow-white, princely and beautiful Shen Maomao. {T/N: Mao = cat)

Shen Maomao opened his eyes in the dream. The house table in front of him was very tall. He looked up and found that he was actually lying next to an ordinary wooden bench.

The sky was still dim, but light was gradually rising in the sky. Even though it hadn’t completely covered the whole sky, some people were already busy. There was the sound of hot water boiling, the sound of crackling and frying things in the oil pan, and the sound of the steamer colliding.

Shen Maomao moved, trying to see where he was. But when he moved, he immediately felt some pain in his left hind paw.

Shen Maomao tilted his head and saw that a wooden bench had fallen next to him. His left hind paw was probably injured by the wooden bench and that was why it was so painful.

He had no time to think about what was going on. A fierce, young voice rang above his head, “Mom! There’s a cat messing around here! He knocked down the stool!”

“Then you beat him away. Don’t be so noisy…”

Sensing the other person’s dangerous intention, Shen Maomao’s body instinctively moved faster than his thoughts.

But, as soon as the left paw touched the ground, pain immediately shot through his body.

Shen Maomao let out a breath and couldn’t help meowing out in pain. The boy who had just spoken earlier held a feather duster and swiped it at him. He staggered forward and ran a few steps.

There was no trace of spiritual power on this body. Shen Maomao endured the pain of his left hind paw and stumbled forward to avoid the feather duster behind him.

The other person was a little child and probably thought it was quite fun. Even though Shen Maomao had already ran away from ​​the breakfast shop, the little kid was still running after him with a smile.

His left hind paw was in such pain that he felt as if he would lose consciousness. Shen Maomao gasped. His meows were weak and helpless, and his footsteps slowly weakened.

Seeing that the feather duster was about to fall on him again, a black fluffball rushed out of nowhere and picked up his neck and ran away.

“Ah! Mom! There’s a black dog!”

The child shouted again. He chased a few steps and watched as the little black dog ran into a narrow alley with the little white cat in its mouth. He stomped his feet in anger.

Shen Maomao swayed back and forth in a mess until he became dizzy. Finally, he was gently placed down. He looked up at the dog that had grabbed him and ran.

No, it wasn’t a dog.

Shen Maomao stared at the black fluff that was about his size and meowed.

The black fluffball flicked its tail, gasped for two breaths, and whined at him.

It’s whine was soft and milky.

Ah, it’s a little wolf cub.

The wolf cub’s eyes were round and black. Shen Maomao recognized at a glance that there was a high chance this was Yan Jin. These eyes looked too much like Yan Jin’s when he was a child.

Shen Maomao thought this and murmured tentatively to him.

He wanted to talk, but what he was thinking about in his heart became meows when said out loud. He tilted his head and looked at the little black wolf cub in front of him. Yan Xiaolang seemed to recognize him and yet not recognize him at the same time. [T/N: Xiaolang = little wolf]

Before long, the little boy entered unhesitatingly.

He was afraid that the dog would bite him, so he didn’t dare to step forward and just threw the stones at a distance.

Shen Maomao couldn’t move because of his foot injury and Yan Xiaolang was still young and lacked the energy to run. The child was very skillful at throwing stones and almost hit Shen Maomao’s tail.

Yan Xiaolang nervously stood up. He put away his little claws and moved Shen Maomao’s tail over. Afterward, he lowered his head and pulled Shen Maomao’s against his breast.

Stones were thrown over one after another. Yan Xiaolang squatted in front of Shen Maomao and desperately hugged Shen Maomao between his two paws, blocking the stones with his body.

A stone hit Yan Xiaolang and he whimpered in pain, but he never let go of the cat.

Shen Maomao looked up with some difficulties and saw that his bright and dark eyes were full of pain. His wet nose was trembling and his breath was warm.

Really looked silly.

Fortunately, after the child threw six to seven stones, he was called back by his mother.

Shen Maomao regained his sense and pushed Yan Xiaolang away. He dragged his injured leg and walked around to take a look at Yan Xiaolang’s wound. The stones were sharp and ended up cutting his back into a bloody mess.

Even knowing that it was a dream, Shen Maomao was very angry. He wanted to scratch the child, but he was helpless. On the one hand, his paw was injured. On the other hand, there was no medicine. He hesitated and then began to tenderly lick Yan Xiaolang’s wound.

At first, he wasn’t used to it so it took him a while to become proficient. The bloody smell exploded between his lips and tongue, and he poked Yan Xiaolang’s front paw with a small claw.

Yan Xiaolang understood what he wanted and lowered his head obediently.

Shen Maomao retracted his sharp claws and patted Yan Xiaolang’s head. “Miao wu wu wu.” Don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid. Wait for our injuries to heal and we’ll fight together.

Yan Xialang hummed and rubbed his head against Shen Car’s fluffy paws

It would be too difficult for a cat with an injured leg and a young wolf cub to stay in town. After hiding in town for two days, Shen Maomao frowned and decided to take Ya Xiaolang out of town.

There is a forest not far from the town, but Shen Maomao didn’t dare to go in. After all, there were many beasts in the forest. If they meet any of those beasts, they’ll surely be swallowed up into the beast’s belly.

So they could only hover around the edge of the woods. When they’re hungry, they catched a fish in the river water.

Shen Maomao refused to eat raw fish so Yan Xiaolang dragged some dry wood and piled them together. Shen Maomao picked up a matchbook and set the pile on fire with some difficulties. Yan Xiaolang used a branch to pierce the fish and began to grill it.

The two fluffballs had limited abilities. The fish wasn’t very clean and was difficult to grilled. After a while, the fish was still not fully grilled. Instead, the two almost ended up burning their fluffy fur.

Shen Maomao sighed and threw the failed grilled fish into the fire and walked away.

Yan Xiaolang followed in frustration, seeming to feel guilty and restless.

Shen Maomao took him to hide behind a big tree, patted his paw, and motioned for him to feel at ease.

They didn’t put out the fire, and it was soon discovered by a person passing by. The passerby saw a fish that was burnt black, and suddenly became interested in eating grilled fish. He took off his shoes and socks, tied up the hem of his pants, and rolled up his sleeves.

The aroma of the grilled fish spread quickly. Shen Maomao heard a growl from Yan Xiaolang’s stomach. He unsheathed his claws, revealing sharp nails.

The injury on Shen Maomao’s paw was already better. He motioned to Yan Xiaolang to sit on a root underneath and nimbly and silently climbed up the tree onto a branch.

There were many little illusion ghosts hanging upside down on the branch. Shen Mao Mao took a deep breath, then two paws grabbed hold of the branch and he began to shake it vigorously.

When the branch started to shake, the person looked around cautiously. But, Shen Maomao had hid himself very well in the green leaves and so he wasn’t discovered.

The little illusion ghosts were alarmed and began to look around. Shen Maomao lifted his paws towards them and made a threatening meow. The little illusion ghosts were frightened and scattered. This group of panicked things rushed toward the passerby.

The little ghosts were like shadows, their figures transparent and hard to see. In the night time, they could be quite scary for ordinary people. The passerby was frightened and ran away, leaving behind the freshly grilled fish.

After he ran away, Shen Mao Mao calmly climbed down the tree. However, he tripped over a raised twig and nearly fell down. Scared, Yan Xiaolang looked up at him nervously

Fortunately, Shen Maomao landed safely. He shook his fur and, pretending that nothing had happened, walked elegantly to the fire.

The fish was on a twig, which was partially embedded in the ground, and it was roasted just right.

Shen Mao Mao squatted down. Two front paws pulled out the twig and handed it to Yan Xiaolang.

Yan Xiaolang’s eyes were bright and full of satisfaction. He took the grilled fish and stared at it, waiting for it to cool.

While he looked at the grilled fish, Shen Maomao looked at him. In the light of the flames, Shen Maoma suddenly felt that Yan Xiaolang seemed to have maybe … grown up a little bit?

After the grilled fish finally cooled down, Yan Xiaolang began to nibble the fish.

He very carefully gnawed the fish’s side. Shen Maomao couldn’t help but call out, “Miao wu miao wu.” Eat the meat, not the bones.

However, Yan Xiaolang, who had always been obedient, ignored him this time. He still carefully gnawed away the fish bones and then handed the grilled fish back to Shen Maomao.

Shen Maomao was touched. He couldn’t help but squint his eyes, wanting to put on a pleased expression. He took a bite at the fish’s tail and tasted it. After pushing the fish back to Yan Xiaolang, he lifted his chin to indicate that he should also eat.

Seeing that Shen Maomao refused to eat any more, Yan Xiaolang was anxious and whined a few times. His black pupils were large and wet..

Shen Maomao no longer responded. He only tilted his head and looked at Yan Xiaolang. The closer he looked, the more he realized that Yan Xiaolang really did get bigger.

Originally they were about the same height. One could even say that Yan Xiaolang was a little shorter than him. How many days had passed? How did he grow so tall already?!

Yan Xiaolang was now half a head taller than him!

Shen Maomao was a little angry. They’re both from the same fluffy family. But, how could Yan Xiaolang grow so tall, but he couldn’t?! He straightened his body but found that he was still shorter.

How good.

Shen Maomao sighed, finding that he couldn’t blame Yan Xiaolang. They separated the fish and continued to eat while it was hot. The fish was delicious but it was too small, especially since they’re both splitting it. Shen Maomao spit out a fish bone and sighed again.

After he wakes up from this dream, he’ll have to tell Yan Jin to go and catch a fish for them to eat.

The two fluffballs washed their paws by the river and went back to their simple nest.

Shen Maomao usually slept outside, but the wind was a bit cool tonight. As he was getting sleepy, he suddenly felt Yan Xiaolang moved next to him.

“Miao?” He murmured lazily and squinted his eyes sleepily.

Yan Xiaolang responded with a whimper, and then sat up halfway. He gripped the back of Shen Maomao’s neck with his mouth and moved him to the inside of the nest. Then, the whole wolf body fell on Shen Maomao, pressing him firmly into the soft underbelly.

After Shen Maomao was pressed by him, he opened his eyes, meowed twice, and tried to push him away with his paws.

Yan Xiaolang didn’t move. He was like a big warm blanket, protecting the little cat so that no wind could blow against it.

…He was just a little heavy.

Shen Maomao shifted under his belly, arched his head, and sighed generously.

Okay, sleep.

Before going to sleep, he made up his mind once again that he would grill fish when he wakes up. Thinking about it, he snuggled up with Yan Xiaolang and slept.

Perhaps this time the obsession was too deep. The thought of grilled fish finally pulled him out of Shen Maomao’s dream.

There really was something heavy pressed up against him. When Shen Zhixian opened his eyes, he saw Yan Jin’s familiar face.

He moved slightly, but Yan Jin was still pressed up against his body, hugging him tightly, just like the little wolf in the dream.

Shen Zhixian raised his eyes to silently look at Yan Jin’s sleeping face for a long time. He smiled, sighed quietly, and reached out to hug Yan Jin’s waist as if hugging his big baby.

Okay, sleep.

Wake up later to eat grilled fish.

———————–
Xixi: This is the last one for Shen Zhixian and Yan Jin. The final extra will be about Duan Yuan.