Ch 134: The Cannon Fodder Won’t Play Along Anymore [QT]

Mu Xing, hearing this, lowered his head and glanced at the warm, fluffy ball in his arms.

Lingbao could understand their conversation, lifted its head, and let out two delicate, whiny cries at him.

But Li Xuanyao had only spoken casually, and very quickly shifted the topic to their junior sister, Yu Hongyao.

“Your Senior Sister Hongyao entered only a few days later than me, yet her talent far surpasses mine…”

As he spoke, they rounded a bend. From the cliffside, a vine hung down, dotted with pale yellow blossoms, brushing right against Mu Xing’s head.

Li Xuanyao plucked a sprig, handed it to Mu Xing. “Silver Bell Flower, replenishes qi and blood. At your age, a few blossoms are just right.”

He plucked another sprig and handed it to the Lingbao in Mu Xing’s arms.

Mu Xing: “…”

Shixiong, from just now until now, you’ve already plucked things from the roadside three times to give me.

Thinking of how Old Master Mu had earlier grabbed a handful of fruit to give him, Mu Xing was dazed: casual feeding—is this perhaps Medicine Peak’s tradition?

Still, Li Xuanyao knew well the effects of each herb, and these didn’t fill the stomach. Once eaten, they dissolved into a warm current that nourished the body. Mu Xing didn’t feel bloated at all.

Moreover, Li Xuanyao, seeing that he was a child, picked only those with good taste—sweet-sour fruits, or the sweet Silver Bell Flower.

Apart from a touch of embarrassment, Mu Xing was overall quite pleased.

Before long, they arrived at their destination.

It was apparently where Medicine Peak disciples lived together: rows of exquisite pavilions scattered neatly across the ground, flowers and grasses blooming everywhere, a truly beautiful sight.

Mu Xing exclaimed in surprise: “This is so pretty.”

“Prettier than Crescent Moon Peak?” Li Xuanyao asked, his mood complicated.

He’d heard the little shidi (junior brother) had been brought over by Uncle-Master Xue from Crescent Moon Peak.

Mu Xing answered honestly: “Much prettier than Crescent Moon Peak, in every way.”

Li Xuanyao was instantly satisfied, then proudly added: “Our Medicine Peak, in terms of scenery, is naturally the most beautiful among the thirteen main peaks of Taixu. And in terms of disciple treatment, also the best among all Taixu disciples.”

“Why?” Mu Xing asked, as expected.

“Because we’re rich!” Li Xuanyao replied.

His face was full of righteous conviction: “Though cultivators shouldn’t care too much about worldly comforts, if one can live more comfortably by one’s own skill, why not?”

Mu Xing: “…That makes a lot of sense.”

*

Some Medicine Peak disciples, seeing Li Xuanyao approach, saluted. Catching sight of the child in his arms, they were all astonished.

Li Xuanyao, especially excited at this moment, loudly introduced: “This is Master’s newly accepted disciple, my little shidi, Mu Xing.”

Mu Xing: “…”

Alright, I see now. You really, truly did want a little shidi.

Thanks to Li Xuanyao, in less than half an hour the entire Medicine Peak knew the peak master had accepted a new direct disciple, only six years old, with jade-like features, adorably cute, obedient and clingy—all of it proudly flaunted by Li Xuanyao.

He picked out a small pavilion for Mu Xing, very near his own.

Handing Mu Xing a jade slip, he said: “Inside is a basic introduction to Medicine Peak. Little shidi, read it when you have time.”

He then circled the pavilion with a severe, critical air.

“So cold and empty, how could little shidi like this?” He shook his head, summoned service disciples, and set them to work.

Mu Xing watched blankly as Li Xuanyao acted like a fussy top client, ordering the service disciples to clear out almost all the standard furniture. In less than half an hour, everything was replaced with a brand new set.

The rugs inside were changed to fluffy ones in pale yellow and cream. The mattress was piled several layers thick; Mu Xing heard them say it was made of raven feathers from a winged beast—sit on it and half a person could sink in.

The tables, chairs, all the furnishings were rounded and smooth-edged. The room was filled with jade carvings of flowers, birds, and beasts, plus soft plush bunnies, little birds, and floral pillows.

Mu Xing even spotted several little Lingbao replicas!

…

Mu Xing stood dumbstruck, watching Li Xuanyao pace back and forth, dissatisfied here, unhappy there, endlessly ordering the Medicine Peak craftsmen around.

In under two hours, the elegant little pavilion was completely transformed into a child’s room, full of warmth and fluff.

Li Xuanyao finally settled down, looking satisfied as he turned to Mu Xing. “Little shidi, look—will this do? Should be comfortable, right?”

Mu Xing’s eyes roamed around, gradually lighting up.

Though he hadn’t had much in the way of requirements for his living space, and though the pavilion had originally been elegant and lovely, which already pleased him—he had to admit, after all Li Xuanyao’s fussing, the effect was undeniable.

This bright, cozy little house—he really did like it.

“Mm!” He nodded vigorously. “It’s very pretty, I like it. Thank you, shixiong!”

Li Xuanyao instantly beamed, and swooped in for a hug. “Come on, shixiong will take you to get your disciple’s robes.”

As they left the pavilion, he glanced back and told the craftsmen: “And here, and here…”

Pointing at a few eaves: “Hang some strings of little wind chimes. Nice ones. I’ve got several large pieces of top-grade yellow jade—use that.”

Mu Xing quickly said: “Shixiong, don’t go to such expense…”

Li Xuanyao laughed: “Worried about me spending silver? I tell you, you needn’t ever worry about shixiong’s money—it can’t be used up.”

Just then, a female disciple of Medicine Peak happened to pass by. Hearing this, she laughed. “That’s true, little junior brother, you don’t need to save money for senior brother. He’s not just the richest disciple of Medicine Peak, but of the entire Taixu Sect!”

Mu Xing looked puzzled. Li Xuanyao smiled and said, “I’m not from an immortal sect, I came from the mortal world. Just so happens I have a father who’s an emperor there.”

Mu Xing: “…”

So he’s a royal heir. My apologies.

*

All the way, Li Xuanyao carried him like some treasured mascot out of Medicine Peak. The disciple robes were to be collected at the outer gate, where all Taixu disciples’ garments were managed.

Taixu Sect disciple robes were white with a blue base; Mu Xing had also owned one before. Only, Crescent Moon Peak’s sleeves were embroidered with a silver crescent moon, while Medicine Peak’s bore spirit grass. These small details distinguished disciples of the various peaks.

Though they could have had the robes delivered directly, Li Xuanyao purposely brought his little junior brother out, so he could get familiar with the sect’s environment and meet people. This alone showed the difference compared to those on Crescent Moon Peak—Mu Xing had been there for so long, and never once did any senior brother or sister think to do such things for him. In truth, the people of Crescent Moon Peak had never truly regarded him as a junior brother.

Once they left Medicine Peak, Li Xuanyao flicked his fingers at his waist, and the white gourd there flew into the air, spinning as it grew larger. Hugging Mu Xing, he leapt up onto it, standing on the gourd.

“Let’s go!” Li Xuanyao shouted, and even remembered to use spiritual power to form a protective barrier to shield Mu Xing from the wind.

“If you’re scared, just close your eyes. Senior brother will hold you tight.”

Mu Xing shook his head and kept his eyes open, watching the scenery below.

Though he had once lived in a cultivation world, in that life, following Master Yue Fubai, they had mostly stayed among mortals. A sect like Taixu, purely made of cultivators, he had never truly experienced before.

Riding a flying tool was extremely fast; before long, they reached their destination.

There were far more people in the outer gate. Lingbao had stayed behind at Medicine Peak, so it hadn’t followed Mu Xing out. Here, Li Xuanyao did not carry him but instead held his hand. He seemed to be well-liked in Taixu Sect—many disciples greeted him as they passed. He responded to each one, and along the way introduced Mu Xing as Medicine Peak’s newly accepted junior brother.

Mu Xing, still so young, fair and good-looking, being formally introduced with such care by Li Xuanyao, was clearly being valued. By the time they arrived at the place to collect disciple robes, his arms were already full of little trinkets—meeting gifts from fellow disciples—piled all the way to his chin. He looked helplessly at senior brother, who only laughed. “Perfect timing, we’ll get you a storage pouch too, so you won’t have to worry about running out of space for your gifts.”

He took Mu Xing inside, registered his identity, had his measurements taken, and came out to wait for the finished robes. Li Xuanyao sat with him under a tree. “I’ll go fetch your identity jade token. About the time of one incense stick. Xingxing, wait here for senior brother, don’t wander, alright?”

By now, he had naturally switched from calling him “little junior brother” to “Xingxing.”

Mu Xing nodded obediently, watching Li Xuanyao leave, then carefully arranged his gifts neatly at his side. These were all tokens of goodwill. Bored, he squatted on the ground, chin propped in his hands, watching the passing disciples of Taixu Sect.

After a while, someone came near and patted him on the shoulder. Mu Xing turned his head—it was a somewhat familiar face.

“Xiao Yu, it really is you, I thought I was mistaken,” the newcomer said in surprise. He frowned as he looked him over. “Why aren’t you staying properly on Crescent Moon Peak? What are you doing here?”

At the mention of Crescent Moon Peak, Mu Xing recalled who this familiar-looking youth was. Xue Wuya’s third disciple, Shi Zhizhu. He was accompanied by several other youths, also wearing Crescent Moon Peak robes. Mu Xing did not recognize them—they were likely not Xue Wuya’s personal disciples.

From the look of it, they didn’t yet know what had happened earlier. Mu Xing said, “Senior brother Shi, I’m not called Xiao Yu, my name is Mu Xing. And I’m no longer a disciple of Crescent Moon Peak.”

Shi Zhizhu’s face darkened, staring at him. “What nonsense are you talking? You’re master’s disciple, our junior brother. If you’re not from Crescent Moon Peak, then where else could you be from?”

He looked at Mu Xing’s attire. It was the spring robes he had just changed into at Medicine Peak, a light green outfit with no extra embroidery, only simple arrays etched on it to ward off the cold. Worn on Mu Xing, it made the little boy look fresh and tender, lips red and teeth white, like a newly sprouted bamboo shoot.

But Shi Zhizhu’s expression was full of displeasure. “Who let you change into this outfit? It’s hideous. Doesn’t suit you at all.”

Mu Xing couldn’t help but think Crescent Moon Peak people all seemed sick in the head. To them, anything resembling Xue Zhongyu was good-looking; anything different was ugly. He shook his head. “I don’t think it’s ugly. I think it looks very nice. Senior brother chose it for me.”

“Senior brother? Which senior brother?” Shi Zhizhu said coldly. “Our senior brother is out on assignment, outside the sect. Xiao Yu, who brought you out here? Why are you being so disobedient? If you keep this up, master and senior brothers won’t like you anymore.”

“I’m his senior brother!” Li Xuanyao, holding the freshly received disciple jade token and robe, had just come out in time to hear someone interrogating Mu Xing. He strode over quickly, shielding Mu Xing behind him. He swept his gaze over Shi Zhizhu and the others, face sharp with displeasure. “Disciples of Crescent Moon Peak, you’re all so grown already, and yet you gang up to bully my six-year-old junior brother? Shameless, aren’t you?”

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