Early Spring, Rongyun Sect.
White cranes circled the peaks, floating among the clouds as always. The green moss on the stone steps at the mountain gate was new, the snow had melted away, and even the withered trees were sprouting fresh buds. Even though Shen Tanqi had only been away from the sect for a few days, it felt like he had been gone for years.
The incident of Chen Gui in Shuoxia City had not yet spread within the sect. With the grand competition fast approaching, the sect could not afford any disturbances that might give other sects something to gossip about. Thus, only the higher-ups of the sect were aware of it.
In front of the main hall of the sect, countless disciples gathered, all intensifying their training in swordsmanship and techniques. The fragrant scent of medicinal herbs from Dan Feng Peak lingered throughout the sect all day.
Upon returning to the sect, Shen Tanqi received a message from Fang Wenxun. Apparently, Xiao Qingyu had returned to the sect to report their actions, and the sect master was very pleased with their performance during the Shuoxia City mission. He intended to reward both Shen Tanqi and Yu Ce.
Yu Ce, however, had no interest in those rewards. Just thinking about the pile of disciple lists he had to go through last time and the sect master’s endless chatter gave him a severe headache. He claimed to be extremely tired and in need of rest, asking Shen Tanqi to accept the rewards on his behalf.
So, Shen Tanqi happily went to collect the rewards—two Rejuvenation Pills personally refined by the sect master. It was said that using one could instantly replenish one’s spiritual power.
While anyone could refine such pills, the sect master’s were of the highest quality.
With the Rejuvenation Pills in hand, Shen Tanqi returned to Yaoting Pavilion, where two little ones were studying under Yu Ce’s supervision. To be precise, it was Yu Ce and Taro Ball supervising Goldfish’s studies.
“Brother, you got that question wrong,” Taro Ball frowned, tapping Goldfish’s paper with his finger.
Goldfish sidled up to Taro Ball, pleading, “Let me copy yours, please.”
Taro Ball quickly covered his paper, sternly saying, “No way. You need to do it yourself, or you’ll never get it right.”
Goldfish wailed and, glancing up, saw Shen Tanqi entering, his eyes lighting up as if he’d seen a savior. “Daddy, I can’t do this problem. I just can’t do it!”
Shen Tanqi sat down next to him, suddenly remembering the youngest’s tearful cries of ‘I can’t solve this problem,’ and couldn’t help but laugh. “Come on, Goldfish. You need to study hard. Otherwise, you won’t be able to go to school with your brother next year.”
Both Goldfish and Taro Ball were at the age to start school, and Shen Tanqi was considering finding a private tutor for them in the village below the mountain.
Seeing that his daddy wouldn’t help him either, Goldfish swallowed his complaints, resting his small face on the desk, staring at the paper in distress.
Yu Ce, noticing his return, put down his book and skillfully helped Shen Tanqi take off his outer robe, asking quietly, “How did it go?”
In response, Shen Tanqi pulled out the two Rejuvenation Pills from his pocket and handed them to Yu Ce, “Here, take these. They’ll come in handy during the sect’s grand competition.”
Spiritual energy always had its limits, and although Yu Ce’s dantian was deep like the ocean, it wasn’t infinite.
Yu Ce slowly took the two Rejuvenation Pills, still warm from being carried close to Shen Tanqi. He lowered his eyelashes and whispered, “Senior brother, you are too good to me.”
He knew the sect master well enough to understand how stingy he could be. One of those pills was certainly meant for Shen Tanqi.
Shen Tanqi seemed determined to ensure Yu Ce would win the grand competition, giving him his share of the Rejuvenation Pills and even his treasured artifacts.
“You know I’m good to you, so why aren’t you working hard?” Shen Tanqi said, lifting his eyelids. He casually picked a bayberry from the fruit plate on the table and popped it into his mouth. Ever since Yu Ce discovered he liked them, he bought them every day.
This silly dragon, even if he loved sour things, he can’t eat the same thing every day.
Yu Ce smiled, his tone respectful, “With the encouragement of my senior brother, I will always work hard and never slack off.”
Shen Tanqi rolled his eyes, not buying it for a second. “I asked Senior Brother Fang when I got back. There was an illusion trial this morning, and you were the only one from Rongyun Sect who didn’t participate.”
Yu Ce paused slightly, placing the book in front of him, his voice soft, “Weren’t you also absent, Senior Brother?”
Hearing this, Shen Tanqi felt his anger rising. “Why would I go? Can I win the sect’s grand competition?”
He felt like he was dealing with a kid playing games before a crucial exam, more anxious than the kid himself.
Seeing his anger, Yu Ce silently raised his book higher, shielding himself from Shen Tanqi’s piercing gaze, and softly said, “Senior Brother, I have to take care of the kids during the day. I really don’t have time.”
Was this something a protagonist of a cultivation novel would say?
Shen Tanqi bit down hard on the bayberry in his mouth, narrowing his eyes. “Goldfish and Taro Ball are so well-behaved, which one needs your care?”
He truly didn’t understand. Did Yu Ce believe he was so capable that he didn’t need to train to win the competition?
In the original story, Yu Ce was diligent, training every day without a moment’s rest.
Moreover, the sect’s grand competition involved the four major sects and several smaller ones, full of hidden talents and geniuses. If anything went wrong, Yu Ce might not secure the top spot.
“The kids are well-behaved,” Yu Ce looked up from his book, glancing at Shen Tanqi, seemingly nonchalant. “But I still worry.”
Shen Tanqi straightforwardly offered, “Then I’ll take care of the kids. You focus on your training.”
“That’s not an option either. Senior Brother, you forgot, you’re on the disciple list too.”
Nothing seemed to work. What was he trying to do?
Shen Tanqi was only on the list because the Rongyun Sect wanted to give face to the Shen family.
Just as Shen Tanqi was about to retort, Yu Ce suddenly spoke, “If I were to go for the illusion trial, I’d need someone to accompany me. I planned to have Senior Brother Fang, who isn’t on the disciple list, go with me this morning. But since you went to receive the reward and weren’t around, I was worried the kids might cause trouble, so I didn’t go.”
Shen Tanqi’s anger was stuck in his throat, and he asked, “You really need someone to accompany you?”
“Yes,” Yu Ce replied calmly, “The illusion trial takes one deep into an illusion, a test to overcome one’s own desires and restraints. Without a companion, there’s a high chance of getting trapped inside and never coming out.”
Now Shen Tanqi understood. If Fang Wenxun, who had nothing much to do, could watch the kids, Shen Tanqi could accompany Yu Ce to the illusion trial, and Yu Ce would be willing to go.
He felt something was off with Yu Ce lately, but he couldn’t pinpoint what it was.
“Alright.” Shen Tanqi picked up his coat from the chair and put it back on. He snatched the annoying book from Yu Ce’s hand, saying, “Let’s go now. We can still catch the end of the trial.”
After being worn down by Yu Ce, Shen Tanqi felt his ability to act quickly had improved significantly since he first crossed over to this world.
Once he decided, Shen Tanqi discussed the childcare arrangements with Fang Wenxun, who cheerfully agreed. With the grand competition preparations mostly sorted, Fang Wenxun could afford a few days off to play with the kids.
If it were someone else’s kids, he might hesitate, but Shen Tanqi’s two children were both beautiful and sweet-talking, endearing themselves to everyone they met.
With Fang Wenxun’s help, Shen Tanqi felt relieved.
He accompanied Yu Ce to Fu Peak for the illusion trial. Fu Peak wasn’t just about drawing talismans; it also involved formations, illusions, and the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams. There was a lot to learn here.
Shen Tanqi vaguely remembered reading in the original story that the protagonist was invincible in the sect’s grand competition, excelling in everything from demon-slaying swordsmanship to alchemy and talisman drawing. There was only one challenge that gave him a hard time.
That was the secret realm in Wen Qiu City, a place with countless overlapping illusions that tested the willpower of those who entered. According to the book, some people saw hell, while others saw the celestial realm. The illusions varied, but they were all incredibly difficult to escape.
The protagonist almost got trapped in the illusion.
Of course, this protagonist was the very Yu Ce standing before him.
Feeling uneasy, Shen Tanqi had specifically asked Fang Wenxun about Yu Ce’s performance in the illusion trials earlier this morning. The result was a big zero; Yu Ce hadn’t even participated.
In the original story, Yu Ce seemed to avoid the illusion trials, and Shen Tanqi didn’t know why. But since it was a potential threat, he had to eliminate it in advance.
At Fu Peak, the illusion trial consisted of a stone formation crafted by a sect elder. Simply standing in the center of the formation would soon lead one into an illusion.
Arriving late, Shen Tanqi and Yu Ce saw many disciples coming out from the illusion trial. Some had blissful expressions as if reluctant to leave, others were dejected, and a few looked terrified, as if their souls had been scared out of them.
“What on earth…?” Shen Tanqi muttered to Yu Ce, inadvertently catching the attention of a nearby female elder.
The elder, however, was kind and explained with a gentle smile, “Did you miss the morning trial? The illusion formation produces different illusions each time, related to one’s mind and experiences. Sometimes, it shows the most beautiful and desirable scenes of one’s life, and other times, the most fearful and terrifying moments.”
As she finished speaking, the elder looked at Shen Tanqi, recognizing him and gasping, “It’s you, Shen Tanqi.”
Shen Tanqi, aware of his notorious reputation in the sect, felt embarrassed and started to retreat, but the elder grabbed his wrist and whispered, “I heard from the sect master that you saved the people of Shuoxia City?”
Surprised, Shen Tanqi nodded without thinking.
The elder’s eyes lit up with admiration, and she said, “Well done. I have friends living in Shuoxia City. Thanks to you, they are probably safe and sound.”
Shen Tanqi stood there, stunned. In that moment, he realized that redemption didn’t require him to prove himself tirelessly. Even if he just did what he believed was right, others would see him differently.
Just then, an opening appeared in the illusion formation. The elder nudged him forward with a smile, “Go ahead, there’s a spot open. You must win this sect competition and bring honor to our sect!”
Shen Tanqi blinked in disbelief. Wait, shouldn’t she be saying this to Yu Ce??
Turning back, Shen Tanqi saw that Yu Ce was staring intently at the newly budded peach blossoms on the tree. He reached out, broke off a branch, and bent down to smell it, murmuring, “Is it spring already…?”
Shen Tanqi: ?
What spring? Brother, can you focus on the task at hand? He’s acting like he’s the main character in a romance drama!
Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters. (๑>ᴗ<๑)
