After Escaping From Death, He Went Even Crazier By Criticizing Black Lotus Chapter 2
byChapter 2: The Rumor of the Collapsed House. Stop Shipping Us!
Eldest Senior Brother escorted Su Huan back to his residence and, before leaving, asked him again in a tone of confirmation, “Junior Brother Su, did he truly not force you?”
Su Huan was startled, then answered honestly, “No, he didn’t.”
He thought to himself that it was supposed to be his script, but who knew the black lotus wouldn’t follow the routine and actually stole his scene!
Only then did Eldest Senior Brother feel relieved and depart, “It seems you two truly have genuine affection for each other.”
He hesitated for a moment, but before leaving, he still offered a word of advice, “Junior Brother Su, that kind of preference is not good. Perhaps you should change it.”
Su Huan: …
That damn black lotus!
Neither of them noticed that at the other end of the path, two ordinary disciples, upon hearing their conversation, immediately wore expressions of disbelief, as if they had just stumbled upon major gossip.
They glanced again at Senior Brother Su, who was usually gentle, polite, and neatly dressed, but whose clothes were now disheveled, whose snow-white neck bore distinct purple-blue marks, and whose beautiful eyes showed a hint of flushed redness, suggesting he had been thoroughly “nourished”…
Connecting this sight with Eldest Senior Brother’s question and Senior Brother Su’s tacit acknowledgment, they immediately nudged each other silently, winking and retreating backward.
…
After that incident, Su Huan kept avoiding the black lotus, staying indoors for nearly a month.
As the foremost immortal sect in the world, Xuanji Sect was founded upon seven great spiritual mountains, named Yuxiao, Zihuan, Jianglian, Danyang, Lingshuang, Lichen, and Jiyou. Disciples from different mountains required tokens to travel between them.
For the past month, he had been holed up on Lichen Mountain. Even if the black lotus wanted to kill him, he couldn’t get in.
Su Huan comfortably lived the life of a slacker for a month.
However, he wasn’t completely idle. During this month, he familiarized himself with the temperaments of the original host’s senior brothers and sisters. Aside from Chongjiang True Lord, who was in perennial seclusion, the remaining disciples included the steady and reliable Eldest Disciple Yin Pei, the cheerful and righteous Second Disciple Wei Yinzui, and the little junior brother, Fang Mingyun, a mere bundle of joy who constantly followed him, calling “Fourth Senior Brother,” “Fourth Senior Brother,” his mind purely focused on getting a few more pieces of malt candy from him. Among them, Third Senior Sister Feng Jiangyue was the kindest and most caring, especially towards the two younger junior brothers.
They were all extremely easy to get along with.
Without needing to stay up late memorizing scripts, rush between filming locations, or worry about others’ schemes, Su Huan had been living a life of comfort and ease these past days.
This good life continued until his Third Senior Sister came looking for him: “Junior Brother, Master has gone into seclusion again. Before he did, he instructed the two of us to lead a team down the mountain to eliminate demons. Apparently, traces of the demonic race appeared in Liufang City a few days ago.”
“I’ll be right there.”
Master’s orders were absolute, so Su Huan agreed.
The reason he dared to agree to go out was that a month ago, to rectify the mess the original host had made, he had already submitted the correction for the protagonist’s aptitude. Xiao Jianming had probably already become the Sword Venerable’s personal disciple and was no longer in the same lineage as him. He wouldn’t run into that dog during his experience trip down the mountain.
Right…?
Moreover, he had completely mastered the original host’s cultivation methods over the past month. It was time to go out and breathe some fresh air!
Su Huan arrived at the foot of the sect with a smile on his face and joined the demon-slaying squad, where he overheard some rumors about himself.
“Is that him? The one who was forcefully taken…”
“I went to the Back Mountain, and that small wooden house left by the Martial Uncle really collapsed!”
“I heard that junior brother has now become the Sword Venerable’s disciple…”
The smile on Su Huan’s face instantly stiffened.
What is going on?! What are you talking about? How was he forcefully taken?!
He suddenly regretted agreeing to go on this experience trip with his Third Senior Sister.
His regret reached its peak when he saw Xiao Jianming among the demon-slaying squad.
Su Huan grabbed his Third Senior Sister in horror, secretly pointing at Xiao Jianming and whispering in shock, “Why is he in the team?!”
Feng Jiangyue glanced over, unsurprised, and said, “Oh, the Sword Venerable heard about your situation and specially approved it.”
After speaking, she gave Su Huan a gossipy look and teased him, “Junior Brother, is that rumor true? What does it feel like to be forcefully taken by your beloved? I didn’t realize you had this kind of preference…”
Su Huan was utterly shocked: “I didn’t! It wasn’t me! No!”
Those were all rumors!
For a moment, Su Huan wanted to desert the mission: “Senior Sister, I suddenly feel a terrible headache…”
“I have studied a bit of medicine. I can check on Senior Brother.”
On the other side, Xiao Jianming, having found his target, stepped toward them and finished the sentence with a faint smile.
Feng Jiangyue gave a knowing smile and left the cool spot beneath the sect’s plaque to the two of them.
Thus, Su Huan was forced to face Xiao Jianming directly, forced to accept the various expressions cast his way from all directions.
Wuwuwu, the outside world is terrifying, I want to go back to the mountain!
“Senior Brother seems… not very keen on seeing me.”
Xiao Jianming walked up to him, his smile unchanged, yet tinged with a hint of disappointment.
Nonsense! Can we please never meet again in this lifetime?!
Su Huan quietly shuffled sideways.
However, the black lotus didn’t understand his feelings. Whether intentional or coincidental, he blocked Su Huan’s path, playing the role of someone disliked by his beloved, his tone sounding quite wronged: “But the last time we met, Senior Brother said he was fond of me…”
A group of people with keen ears in the distance instantly became excited, pushing and shoving each other in agitation.
When did I ever say that? Don’t spread lies!
Su Huan cursed vehemently in his heart, but dared not show the slightest hint of it on the surface, only managing an awkward smile: “Junior Brother Xiao must be joking.”
Xiao Jianming didn’t let him off the hook. Instead, he took a step closer, his eyes, dark as lacquer, fixed on him: “Did I say something wrong? Senior Brother doesn’t like me?”
Su Huan immediately retreated, treating him like a formidable enemy.
Xiao Jianming followed closely, as if intending to pin him against the wall in front of everyone.
The people around them, unaware that this seemingly innocent and charming young man was actually a hypocritical black-hearted white lotus, secretly cast gossipy glances, standing by and watching the drama unfold.
Su Huan wanted to cry but had no tears.
In the novel, before the black lotus matured, due to his childhood experiences, he was accustomed to disguising himself as a highly deceptive weakling to develop discreetly. He was a master of playing the pig to eat the tiger. Surely he wouldn’t kill him in public now?
Surely…?
Xiao Jianming moved closer and closer, even extending a hand.
Su Huan’s heart pounded. He immediately wanted to reach out and form a hand seal, but the other party pressed his hand down.
Xiao Jianming chuckled softly: “What is Senior Brother afraid of?”
Su Huan was cowardly but had the guts of a tiger. He glared at him silently. What exactly do you want to do?
Xiao Jianming sighed slightly and placed his other hand on Su Huan’s forehead: “I merely wanted to check on Senior Brother’s illness.”
The eyes directed at Su Huan immediately showed a hint of condemnation, as if he were a scumbag who misunderstood his Dao companion’s good intentions.
Su Huan: … What a peerless, black-hearted white lotus!
Su Huan gritted his teeth and muttered softly, “…You’re the one who’s sick.”
Xiao Jianming seemed addicted to acting, displaying a wounded expression, but made no further move.
Confirming that the black lotus wouldn’t kill him for the time being, Su Huan’s courage flared. He fiercely shoved away the person blocking him and fled straight to his Senior Sister’s side.
He failed to notice that the other party quietly placed his left hand behind his back, where a golden ball of spiritual energy materialized in his palm.
It was identical to the spiritual energy in Su Huan’s own Dantian.
Xiao Jianming watched the youth who had darted into the crowd, his confusion deepening.
Why was he different from before?
*
Su Huan clung tightly to Feng Jiangyue like sticky candy, refusing to be shaken off.
No other reason than the overwhelming sense of security provided by his Senior Sister’s Soul Transformation cultivation. Dealing with a protagonist who hadn’t fully matured yet was like slicing vegetables.
Su Huan, who was less than a weakling, consciously hugged his Senior Sister’s thigh.
After the group had satisfied their curiosity and everyone had arrived, they set off for Liufang City.
Su Huan was a spell cultivator and could only fly after reaching the Nascent Soul stage. Since his flying artifact had been sacrificed by Xiao Jianming as a hidden weapon, he had to brazenly hitch a ride with Junior Sister Qiu’s Jade Flower Hairpin boat.
As soon as his feet touched the ground, Su Huan, feeling quite grateful, extended his hand and smiled, “Junior Sister Qiu, let me help you down.”
His Third Senior Sister snorted upon seeing this: “Dog currying favor.”
He stated righteously, “Junior Sister Qiu kindly gave me a ride. Naturally, I should show my appreciation and try to please her.”
Feng Jiangyue rolled her eyes. He was just putting on an act. Why didn’t he ever try to please her on normal days?
Junior Sister Qiu covered her mouth and chuckled, saying, “Senior Brother Su, the person you should be pleasing is not me,” then gracefully pointed to her side, “It should be him.”
Su Huan followed the direction of her finger and saw the black lotus.
Meeting his gaze, Xiao Jianming raised an eyebrow, a half-smile playing on his lips.
Su Huan: “…Junior Sister Qiu, I think I need to clarify again. The rumors are all false.”
He truly couldn’t handle the black lotus.
*
As one of the personal disciples of Lichen Mountain and one of the team leaders, Su Huan followed closely beside Feng Jiangyue after landing, mimicking his Senior Sister as he led the way toward Liufang City, deliberately leaving the black lotus far behind in the crowd.
Ahead, the river was vast and misty. The moist river breeze brushed past the weeping willows, and small waves lapped against the bank. A few flower boats dotted the wide river surface, but since this was the cultivation world, they were right before their eyes in just a few breaths.
Su Huan was inwardly amazed.
After only a few steps, they saw the City Lord of Liufang City, trembling with fear, leading a group of guards and servants off a boat. He was dressed in rich, luxurious robes, his large, fat belly shaking violently, his face oily—he looked exactly like a corrupt official who had embezzled a lot of public funds.
Beside him, Feng Jiangyue seemed to read his mind and spoke frankly, “City Lord Liu is a true official who cares for his people. Since he took office, he has never taken a single thread or needle from the common folk. Three hundred years ago, when Liufang City was invaded by the demonic army, he exhausted his cultivation to protect the city’s residents.”
Su Huan awkwardly rubbed his head, feeling ashamed for a moment.
Before City Lord Liu could reach them, he apologized profusely, “Aiya, esteemed immortals have traveled a long way. I apologize for my failure to greet you properly, my failure to greet you!”
As he approached, he tripped over a stone on the path, stumbling.
Thanks to Feng Jiangyue, who quickly extended a hand to steady him, he avoided a nasty fall.
Feng Jiangyue nodded, “City Lord Liu, there is no need to be so polite. Liufang City is under the jurisdiction of our Xuanji Sect, and we naturally ought to ensure its stability.”
City Lord Liu repeatedly thanked her, “Thank you, immortal. Thank you, immortal!”
Looking closer, Su Huan noticed that the left side of City Lord Liu’s eyebrow had been burned off by something, the remaining half curled and singed above his brow bone, looking quite comical.
Meeting Su Huan’s scrutinizing gaze, City Lord Liu quickly covered his face with his hand in embarrassment and apologized, “Please forgive me, immortal. This happened this morning when I was accidentally scorched by the demonic fire spat out by a demonic beast. I haven’t had time to use the hair-regrowth spiritual liquid yet.”
He then gave an awkward smile, turned, and bowed to lead them onto the boat.
Su Huan felt instantly embarrassed.
Then he heard a familiar soft chuckle from behind him.
Su Huan realized with a start that the black lotus had approached without him noticing, and his kind Senior Sister was standing at the back of the line, winking at him, implying: You two lovebirds are so clingy, I won’t interfere~
Su Huan immediately bristled.
Senior Sister, what are you doing?!