NEBM Chapter 64: Returning

Shen Zhixian was feeling very irritable lately.

The first reason was that he’d beheaded too many demons and eliminated too many devils, which will inevitably affect his mood; the second reason was that he had no information on Yan Jin’s whereabouts; and the third reason was that…

The day he tried to communicate with Sect Leader Wen’s broken sword spirit, he saw a vague image.

It was the scene where Sect Leader Wen suffered a qi deviation while in retreat. Aside from Sect Leader Wen, there was another figure partially hidden in the image.

Using his sword, an unknown man was sneakily destroying Sect Leader Wen’s painstakingly arranged protective formation.

However, this was, after all, just a ray of a broken sword remnant. The image only flashed briefly before disappearing completely.

Shen Zhixian clenched his fist, his heart ice-cold. Even though he’d only seen half of the sword, it was enough. He recognized that it was Song Ming’s sabre.

Sect Leader Wen’s death really was related to Song Ming!

Previously, Shen Zhixian only had a vague suspicion. Now, he was almost certain of Song Ming’s guilt.

Song Ming was initially just an ordinary disciple. However, after Shen Zhixian’s body was seized, Sect Leader Wen saw that Song Ming was very diligent and hardworking. He then accepted him as a disciple and passed the sect leader position to him, wanting him to take more care of Shen Zhixian.

But who knew…

It was only at the last moment that Sect Leader Wen clearly saw the wolf’s ambition and the heartless scorpion under Song Ming’s gentle face.

Shen Zhixian rushed for a few days. By the time he arrived in Qingyun Sect, night had gradually shaded the sky darker. He was well acquainted with Qingyun Sect’s restrictions. Moreover, since Sect Leader Wen had deliberately opened the back door for him, something Song Ming didn’t have the capability to change, he was able to silently enter the sect.

He didn’t go back to his own peak. Instead, he went to Shilian Mountain.

The last time he was here, Yan Jin had altered a formation, causing them to be teleported to this place. Right now, as he looked at this familiar scenery, his mood was complicated.

This was the place where he’d naughtily ran over when he was a kid. The demon beasts here were more powerful and so it was usually not open to new disciples for trial. When he was a kid… In Sect Leader Wen’s words, he was like a little jumping cat.

He liked to jump where all the excitements were and go where he shouldn’t go. Relying on his own excellent cultivation and quick-wittedness, he’d quietly slipped into this mountain area.

The demon beasts here were much more powerful than the little demon beasts outside the rest of the mountain. After Little Cat Shen Zhixian secretly observed this place, he felt that he might be capable of fighting them and so, no matter how many, he would catch each demon beast and fight with it.

He stayed here for a few days, messing with a group of demon beasts to the point of tears. When Sect Leader Wen found out that he’d came to this place instead of going into retreat as he ought to, Sect Leader Wen hurried in to rescue him. The moment he was taken out, all the demon beasts celebrated for three days.

However, soon after discovering that he’d received no injuries, Sect Leader Wen was relieved and no longer restrained him. “Those demon beasts are all quite resistant. Since you’re not afraid, it’s also good to go and move your muscles.”

So, he took off for a few more days.

The demon beasts were not at all happy to see Little Cat Shen Zhixian return, waving his tail and looking for a fight.

Demon beasts, “……”

Over time, the demon beasts here would run the moment they saw Shen Zhixian. To them, little Shen Zhixian brought too many nightmares. Even after so many years, this practice still existed, so when he and Yan Jin came here last time, the demon beasts continued to avoid him.

He thought he’d transmigrated into a book at the time and it was Yan Jin’s protagonist’s halo that was making the demon beasts act that way.

As Shen Zhixian remembered the past, nostalgia flashed through his eyes.

He walked all the way to the place where they’d previously found Sect Leader Wen’s illusion. This flat land was also a place that he’d particularly liked when he was younger. Whenever he become tired after fighting or practicing, he would often come here to rest, to find solace in the peace and quiet.

Sect Leader Wen knew this place and had even visited him here several times.

Sure enough, there were several illusion stones here.

These illusion stones were locked with a restraint that only he could open. Shen Zhixian quickly unlocked it and a glimmer of light flashed. Sect Leader’s Wen voice appeared in front of him, his figure slightly transparent, almost like a mist.

Shen Zhixian’s eyes grew slightly moist, and he could not help murmuring, “Master…”

By the time Shen Zhixian left the mountain, the night sky was pitched black.

Although he came out with a calm face, his heart was heavy with depression.

He’d never so thoroughly hated anyone before. Regarding the half-devil seizing his body, he could only blame himself for his own lack of strength. But Song Ming…

Shen Zhixian threw a punch at the tall tree next to him, causing the tree to shake and the leaves to scatter down. He hadn’t bothered protecting his hand with spiritual power and the bark was hard. Blood trickled down his fingers and slowly fell to the ground drop by drop.

He totally disregarded his injury; it was, after so, a minor insignificance compared to the heavy pain in his heart.

Suddenly, he understood why Little Yan Jin had wanted him to leave him behind so many times and why Little Yan Jin persisted in saying that he was dragging him down.

If it wasn’t for him allowing his body to be seized by a half-devil, why would Master worry so much? How would Song Ming have the opportunity to scheme against Master and cause him to die so terribly?

Shen Zhixian’s hands trembled and tightly fisted.

At this moment, he felt so confused. He wanted to kill Song Ming immediately, but logic told him that he needed to keep Song Ming alive in order to find out the truth. Regardless of whether Song Ming schemed against Sect Leader Wen or whether he merely schemed against Yan Jin, these were all things that he would pay Song Ming back one by one.

Shen Zhixian stood there for a while. Suddenly, he raised his hand and executed a spell, transforming his face into Sect Leader Wen’s face, before striding out.

……

The main peak of Qingyun Sect.

This was the place where Sect Leader Wen lived, and where Song Ming lived right now.

Because it was night, a lone candle burned inside the house, the single flame flickering with no wind.

Song Ming sat in front of a table, his face dark while the candlelight cast his shadow on the wall. The shadow was superfluous, as if there were two shadows.

“What should we do now? There’s been no sighting of Shen Zhixian and Yan Jin for a while. They weren’t forced out even after we caused such big troubles for them. But they somehow still managed to force Yan Shen to his death.” Sing Ming’s voice was angry. “Now, everyone is busy killing demons and fiends everywhere, lessening the problems that Yan Shen had planted.”

“What is there to worry about? Yan Jin is a natural born devil. As long as we instigated him into becoming a devil, he would kill people without any efforts from us. Wouldn’t this be enough? As for Shen Zhixian…” Song Ming’s mouth was tightly closed but another raspy and cold voice came out of his body. “I want this body. I’ve never encountered anything that fits me like this. I blame that merman for meddling into other people’s business…”

Song Ye was annoyed when he heard this voice. He couldn’t help but slap the table, causing the table to make a muffled sound. He said cold’y, “You can’t go and stay with another junior disciple? Why did you have to come to me?”

“Oh…if I hadn’t taken over Shen Zhixian’s body for so many years, you wouldn’t have the chance to take this master position. You should be grateful to me.” The raspy voice let out a creepy laugh. “Your body is also good. If I can’t return to Shen Zhixian’s body, it wouldn’t be too bad to stay with you.”

Song Ming’s face showed his impatience as he scolded “Get lost!.” But, just as he was about to continue talking, the candle’s flame suddenly flickered and burst. Song Ming turned his head sharply toward the window. “Who?!”

The closed window squeaked and then slammed open from the outside. The wooden bolt, which had originally kept the window closed, broke in two and fell to the floor with a dull thud. Song Ming’s heart jumped with an ominous hunch.

It felt as if something terrible was about to happen. Once the window was fully opened, he saw the person standing outside the window!

It couldn’t be human.

Song Ming was terrified. He jerked to his feet and shouted in a trembling voice, “Master…No, Sect Leader Wen…”

Although this face had disappeared for many years, it had always haunted his dreams at midnight. The familiar face unexpectedly appeared before him again!

Song Ming’s forehead turned cold and sweaty. Meanwhile, the half-devil hidden in his body remained silent. The half-devil naturally recognized Sect Leader Wen. When Sect Leader Wen was alive, he had feared facing him with Shen Zhixian’s body. Now, he also dared not make any trouble.

Sect Leader Wen stood outside the window, not entering. He merely glanced at them with an icy gaze. After looking at Song Ming for a long time, the corners of his mouth suddenly lifted, and he softly said, “I’m back, Song Ming.”

This voice was exactly the same as Sect Leader Wen, causing Song Ming to subconsciously take a step back and bumped into the table. Not caring about the pain, he clenched his teeth and watched as Sect Leader Wen quietly drifted away. A moment later, he squeezed out a sentence through his teeth, “He, he’s back…”

…..

After assuming Sect Leader Wen’s appearance to “see” Song Ming, Shen Zhixian decided not to disturb the other elders. Fourth Elder had worked hard with Master to rescue him that year and could generally guess most of his situation. He’ll talk to Fourth Elder tomorrow regarding any follow-up matters.

After experiencing so many revelations, his mood was in constant turmoil. Shen Zhixian felt tired from the depths of his heart.

When he returned to his room, he looked around silently.

He’d announced his seclusion so no junior disciples had come up during the time he was gone. Although he’d placed a restriction, it was probably destroyed when Song Ming discovered that he’d left and came to snatch his puppet wood.

As a result, all kinds of objects were scattered about.

Shen Zhixian looked for a while. In the empty room, he was alone. There was no Yan Jin, no Xiao Caoya, no sounds at all, turning the peak into a very lonely place.

There was only a cup of cold tea on the table.

Shen Zhixian went out and gently touched the jade bed that Yan Jin had bought for him. Brushing off the fallen leaves, he laid down on the bed, exhausted.

In the night sky, the stars flickered silently. He stared at them for a while, and the wash of sadness overcame him again.

Shen Zhixian was actually a person who could regulate his mood. He usually never allowed himself to become addicted to a certain emotion. But, this time, he was really too uncomfortable. Various emotions roiled in his heart, making him want to talk to others.

But he was alone.

Shen Zhixian took a deep breath, slowly released it, and closed his eyes.

He slept fitfully, his dreams a strange, chaotic jigsaw of all sorts of past events. The dreams brought more discomfort, causing his brows to furrow in agitation.

The last dream started when his heart was pierced by the wicked dragon’s sharp claw and ended on the final scene of Sect Leader Wen’s anxious and worried face.

Shen Zhixian suddenly jerked awake, his chest violently undulating. He panted quickly, a drop of cold sweat rolling down his forehead.

At this time, the night was the darkest before dawn. He opened his eyes and was startled to see someone standing by the bed.

It was a very familiar figure. The man held an outer coat in his hand and was about to cover him with it.

Shen Zhixian instinctively grabbed the person’s wrist. But then, he saw a pair of blood red eyes, and he murmured, “A’jin.”

Yan Jin paused. He seemed to remember his appearance and tilted his head uncomfortably, not wanting Shen Zhixian to see his eyes.

But Shen Zhixian suddenly released his hand and lifted his arms toward him. In the darkness, Yan Jin couldn’t see his expression very clearly, but he could hear him choked out a word full of aggrievement. “Hug.”