Chapter 81 – It’s My Home

  Jun De’s recovery was swift, and he was soon back to his normal self. But he ended up playing the part of a weary patient in order to keep away from Shen Ruolan and Mu Yanyu.

  He would wince whenever one of them visited him, speaking softly and moving slowly in order to ‘rest’ in his room as much as possible. Alone and perfectly safe.

  “Everything outside the Sect is dangerous, and it’s only in my own courtyard that I can truly be happy!” Jun De exclaimed as he softly shut the door on Shen Ruolan, who had visited for the third time that day.

  It wasn’t that he didn’t appreciate her concern; it was just that he didn’t want to risk dying young from whatever conflict was happening between her and Mu Yanyu.

  Jun De spent the following days inside his private chamber aboard the flying ship, cultivating or napping, and occasionally practicing the sword art that Mu Yanyu had given him. The demonic Qi was completely gone, removed by Mu Yanyu’s ‘intervention,’ and his breakthrough to the 7th Level of Qi Condensation was now stable.

  For once, there was no crisis looming over him, and he looked forward to going home.

  When the ship finally descended outside the outer walls of Yunlai City, a large welcoming party was already assembled there.

  City Lord Han had left to pursue the demonic cultivators with a small party of Core Formation Elders, and the Sect Master of the Tranquil Mountain Sect had joined him, leaving Shen Ruolan, her parents, and a large contingent of guards to enter the City without Han Zhengwu.

  Shen Ruolan wore a pale blue dress embroidered with plum blossoms, and her long, blue-black hair caught in the sunlight as she looked up at Jun De, who was accompanying her to the gate.

  Stopping at the edge of the city, Jun De bowed respectfully to Shen Ruolan’s parents.

  “Thank you again for your hospitality and assistance. Yunlai City was very kind to me, and I will always remember it fondly.”

  Shen Jiuyang nodded, once again pleased with Jun De’s respectful attitude.

  “You have earned a place here, Jun De. If you ever choose to return, the gates of Yunlai City will always be open.”

  Han Yuqin smiled warmly.

  “Take care, Jun De. I have no doubt we will see each other again soon.”

  Jun De turned to Shen Ruolan, who was frowning and biting her lip.

  “You really aren’t going to stay?” She asked softly.

  Jun De nodded, and he smiled gently in order to soften the blow. Despite everything that had happened, he didn’t want to hurt Shen Ruolan’s feelings.

  ‘But there is no way in hell I am staying here.’ Jun De thought.

  “The Tranquil Mountain Sect is my home.” Jun De said instead, and he truly meant it. He missed his quiet courtyard, drinking with Ren Qiu and listening to the advice of Elder Shen. Even if he had to enter the Inner Sect when he got back, Jun De knew that the Tranquil Mountain Sect was where he belonged.

  “I’m glad you’re safe, Jun De. Thank you for everything.” Shen Ruolan said, and there were tears in her eyes. Jun De reached out and squeezed her hand gently.

  “I’ll miss you. I don’t have anyone to play ‘Go’ with at the Sect.” Jun De said, attempting to lighten the mood a bit.

  “Maybe you will soon.” Shen Ruolan said cryptically, and Jun De tilted his head in confusion at the statement.

  “Ruolan?”

  She stepped back, and there was an expression of resolve on her face.

  “You’ll see me again, Jun De. Don’t think you can escape me that easily.” Shen Ruolan said boldly.

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  Nodding his head, Jun De turned and quickly made his way back to the ship. He had no idea what Shen Ruolan was planning, but he knew that he wanted nothing to do with it.

  ‘I’m keeping my word. No more harems! That sort of thing will get me killed!’

  Shen Ruolan watched from the city gates as Jun De disappeared into the ship, and it rose into the sky. It wasn’t until it had vanished across the horizon that she spoke.

  “I have made my decision.” She declared.

  Han Yueqin looked at her daughter, and she could feel that something was about to be said that she wouldn’t like to hear.

  “What decision, daughter?”

  “I am joining the Tranquil Mountain Sect. Where Jun De goes, I will follow.”

  Her parents stared at her in stunned silence.

  Far above Yunlai City, Jun De stood at the prow of the ship and stared at the landscape below. He had a sudden feeling of existential dread, as if someone had just walked across his grave.

  Shivering, he silently urged the ship to fly faster.

  Page Break

  The soaring peak of Tranquil Mountain was just as Jun De remembered. It was truly fitting of the name ‘Tranquil,’ and he immediately felt a sense of peace and ease wash over him just by being in its presence.

  The massive skyship drifted down onto a landing platform that was nestled high on the mountain, with blue and gold banners fluttering in the mountain wind.

  Surprisingly, Elder Shen was waiting for Jun De upon his arrival. The Elder’s hands were tucked behind his back, while a smile had appeared on the old man’s face.

  “So you return. A bit battered and bruised, or so I heard, but with many gains. Congratulations, Jun De. I knew you would come back alive and well.”

  Jun De chuckled as he approached the Elder and bowed respectfully.

  “I appreciate your faith in me, Elder Shen. Truth be told, I doubted I would ever see the Sect again.” Jun De admitted.

  “I had no doubt that you had survived the Hollow Stream Sect. The heavens have great plans for you, Jun De. You may resist the pull of fate, but it will always succeed in guiding you to where you need to go.”

  “Thank you, Elder Shen.” Jun De bowed again, and the Elder nodded approvingly.

  “I look forward to hearing of your adventures. But for now, you should rest.” Elder Shen said, waving him off.

  Jun De turned toward the Upper Ridge and his waiting courtyard with his favourite chair, his peach trees, and his small pond with its bridge, when Elder Mu’s voice cut through the air like a sword stroke.

  “Jun De.”

  Turning slowly, Jun De found Mu Yanyu standing near the edge of the platform. Her expression was unreadable, but there was a gleam in her eye that made his stomach drop.

  They hadn’t spent much time together since he had fainted, apart from a quick visit to ensure his health, and Jun De wasn’t entirely sure where things stood between them.

  She had saved his life, no doubt about it, and they had been intimate together, but Jun De wasn’t sure how she felt about him.

  ‘And she’s dangerous. Incredibly beautiful, but far too dangerous.’ Jun De thought, remembering how Mu Yanyu had briefly lost control of her Qi and caused him to faint.

  ‘Why can’t anything in life be simple? That’s it, no Harem, and anyone I pursue in the future needs to be safe. Safe and weak. No more Core Formation cultivators, or granddaughters of City Lords.’

  “You recall your punishment, don’t you, Jun De?” Mu Yanyu asked, and Jun De was truly stumped. It took him a long moment to remember what the Elder was referring to.

  “You left the Sect dressed in common robes. It was a clear violation of Sect rules regarding identification of rank and allegiance.”

  Jun De blinked in surprise, and he finally recalled that Elder Mu had jokingly told him he would be punished with six months in the Ninefold Refinement Array.

  ‘Wait, I thought she was joking!’

  “Your punishment was delayed due to extenuating circumstances, but now that you are well, you will fulfill your punishment as originally stated."

  Jun De’s mouth opened to reply, but no words came out.

  Finally, Mu Yanyu’s lips curled into a smile.

  ‘He is overcome with gratitude. He thought I had forgotten about his desire to train, to push himself to his limits. This will be part of my apology to you, Jun De, for how I behaved earlier.’ Mu Yanyu thought, and she was filled with regret at how she had lost control of her Qi for a moment, causing Jun De to be harmed.

  “You will spend the next six months in the Ninefold Refinement Array. It will do you well to stabilize your recent breakthrough. There is no need to discuss it further.”

  Mu Yanyu gave no further warning.

  With a flick of her sleeve, a surge of invisible force erupted from her. It was refined, impossibly fast, and entirely unstoppable. Qi wrapped around Jun De like a vice, and it lifted him off the ground before he could utter a single word of protest.

  “Elder Mu, can we….!” Jun De tried to speak, but his voice was already trailing into the distance as he rocketed into the sky. Mu Yanyu’s Qi formed a streak of pale blue light as it carried him swiftly toward the Nine-Treasure Pagoda and the Ninefold Refinement Array deep beneath it.

  In the Outer Sect, a number of disciples all paused their training as their eyes narrowed and they tilted their heads to look at the sky.

  “Did you hear that? It sounded like someone screaming.” One muttered, glancing upwards.

  “Maybe? It was probably the wind.” Another Disciple replied, frowning at the sky and shielding her eyes with her hand to look.

  Far above them, Jun De’s voice echoed across the sky, fading into the vast mountain air as he shot into the Pagoda and was deposited gently into the Ninefold Refinement Array. He barely regained his feet when the doors shut and the array activated.

  Unlike before, Elder Mu had ordered Elder Hua, who was in charge of the Nine-Treasure Pagoda, to set the array to its maximum, pushing the limits of what the array was capable of.

  “I hate the Tranquil Mountain Sect! Who said this shitty place was home! It’s a prison!”