After the Villain Lost His Cultivation - Chapter 12

Xi Jianglan felt numb all over.

Sheng Jiao remained silent, facing that familiar face with calm composure.

It seemed… he was already used to it.

The two stared at each other in silence.

Xi Jianglan reacted quickly, forcing his expression to remain taut, although the slight twitch of his brow revealed a hint of ‘What is it this time?’ perfectly mimicking Sheng Jiao’s demeanor.

If Juan Xunfang were here, he would definitely bang his head on the ground and shout, ‘’Peace be upon the Sect Leader.’’

Sheng Jiao stared at him expressionlessly, as if waiting to see how he would keep up the act.

Xi Jianglan gave him a cold glance and lifted his foot over the threshold, ready to leave.

In his mind, no one would dare block the path of the fearsome Sect Leader Sheng. He had assumed the man would step aside for him, but unexpectedly, this person stood there like a pillar, unmoving. Xi nearly bumped straight into him, unable to stop in time.

Xi Jianglan’s eyes darkened, displeased as he looked at him.

Sheng Jiao was always like this, saying nothing, but with just a glance, he could make people retreat three steps.

But this person seemed to lack that kind of awareness.

Just as Xi Jianglan was scheming how to borrow power from Sheng Jiao to intimidate the man, Shang Yuan swooped down from the eaves as light as a flying swallow and landed silently in front of the two of them.

When she looked closely, she was completely stunned.

”S-Sect Leader?”

Two Sect Leaders?

”He is careless and irresponsible in his duties.” Xi Jianglan coldly pointed at Sheng Jiao, his voice mysteriously sounding without moving his lips. ”Expel him from the Xiezhi Sect immediately.”

Sheng Jiao: ”…”

Shang Yuan: ”???”

Shang Yuan stared blankly at her Sect Leader’s face, which carried the look of a grim reaper, and instinctively nodded obediently: ”Oh, okay, sure.”

Sheng Jiao: ”…”

Xi Jianglan was very pleased with Shang Yuan’s ‘easy to fool’ nature and gave her an appreciative look as he slowly walked past the ‘tough guy’ and calmly made his way out of Guchang Temple.

For some reason, every time Xi Jianglan saw this tough opponent, he felt a deep unease.

It was as if all his disguises and deceptions were exposed in front of him, as if this person knew all his tricks and always had a backup plan to avoid being fooled.

Thinking about the wound on the man’s palm, Xi Jianglan, surrounded by enemies, racked his brain for a long time, but still couldn’t remember any connection with him.

Xi Jianglan pretended to be calm, quickened his pace, and was just about to leave.

Sheng Jiao, watching his retreating figure, which looked like a bird about to escape from its cage, seemed on the verge of exploding with excitement. Suddenly, he spoke coldly.

”Xi Jue…”

Almost the moment Sheng Jiao began to say ‘Xi,’ Xi Jianglan’s heart skipped a beat. As if he had been anticipating this, he immediately abandoned the slow, deliberate pace he had copied from Sheng Jiao and shot forward like a wild horse breaking free of its reins.

He really had been found out!

Xi Jianglan gritted his teeth and rushed out, the little vitality accumulated in his meridians from the Yutang flower suddenly transforming into spiritual power, helping him charge straight forward like the wind!

The ‘tough guy’ must be at the Transformation Spirit realm, and any moment of hesitation would result in being caught. Xi Jianglan had never reacted so quickly in his life, and in an instant, he was already several miles away in the Ghost Forest.

He was running fast, but that chilling spiritual power was even faster. Before Xi Jianglan’s toes could touch the ground to rest, the invisible force surged towards him like a giant hand.

Xi Jianglan: ”…”

For no reason, a hint of chilling hostility flashed in Xi Jianglan’s eyes, and he subconsciously wanted to activate the spiritual power in his inner palace.

But just as this thought came to mind, the black cat appeared out of nowhere, and its previously soft voice suddenly became deep and furious, shouting loudly.

”Xi Jianglan, are you trying to get yourself killed?!”

Xi Jianglan instantly woke up as if from a dream.

After just a moment of hesitation, the chilling spiritual power coiled into ropes that bound Xi Jianglan’s slender body, howling through the Ghost Forest toward Guchang Temple.

The spiritual power was chilling and sharp, causing the disguised ‘Tianyan Bead’ on Xi Jianglan’s wrist to burst apart, the beads clattering to the ground.

In just a quarter of an hour, Xi Jianglan found himself back in Sheng Jiao’s hands.

Xi Jianglan: ”…”

Sheng Jiao looked at him expressionlessly.

Xi Jianglan didn’t like being tied up like this, floating in the air. He felt an overwhelming lack of security, and his toes kept straining to reach the ground, as if he wanted to touch it.

“Um… cough, my lord, please calm down.” Xi Jianglan always spoke differently to different people. Realising that he couldn’t compete with this formidable ancestor, he flexibly apologised with a dry laugh, saying, “I just missed Sect Leader Sheng too much, so I took on his appearance to relieve my longing.”

When Xi Jianglan smiled with his own face, he was stunningly beautiful, captivating and alluring.

But at that moment, he was wearing Sheng Jiao’s face, which looked like a demon possessed…

Shang Yuan had never seen the Sect Leader laugh before, and she immediately trembled in shock.

Even when he saw his face full of ingratiating expressions, Sheng Jiao remained completely unmoved.

He raised his hand and gently stroked Xi Jianglan’s lips, seemingly puzzled as to why this mouth could never speak a single truthful word.

Xi Jianglan, dutifully playing the part of the obedient one, was momentarily stunned when his lip was touched.

Sheng Jiao maintained his position of touching Xi Jianglan’s lips and asked, ”Longing too much?”

Xi Jianglan’s heart skipped a beat.

Sheng Jiao continued, ”…didn’t you say before that Sheng Jiao wanted you but couldn’t obtain you?”

Xi Jianglan cursed in his heart, wondering how this guy could have such a good memory and bring up old grievances so quickly, he had the same bad character as Sheng Jiao.

But given the situation, he feared that this man might lock him up in a dark prison where the sun never shone, so he kept talking and putting in a lot of effort.

“Master Sheng treats me with such deep affection, my heart is not a cold stone, and over time, I will naturally develop feelings for Sheng Jiao.”

Shang Yuan gasped in surprise, covering her lips.

Sheng Jiao’s eyes flickered slightly, and it was impossible to tell what emotion was in his tone.

“Is that so?”

Xi Jianglan nodded vigorously: “Yes, yes, yes!”

Sheng Jiao didn’t know whether he believed it or not, finally, he withdrew his hand from Xi Jianglan’s lips. The coldness in his eyes faded slightly, and even the spiritual power binding Xi Jianglan dissipated.

Xi Jianglan stumbled but finally landed on the ground, silently breathing a sigh of relief.

It seemed that this person was still afraid of Sheng Jiao, he could evade the issue every time by mentioning Master Sheng.

Sheng Jiao turned and walked towards Guchang Temple.

Without needing to be told, Xi Jianglan obediently followed to avoid any further suffering.

Shang Yuan walked beside him, watching him with a curious expression.

Xi Jianglan was someone who couldn’t live without flirting. He knew that this girl was the easiest to deceive, foolishly believing whatever others said, and he happily planned to play with her.

As soon as he opened his mouth, he said, ”My heart is not a cold stone, and over time, I will naturally develop feelings for Sheng Jiao.”

Xi Jianglan: ”???”

Shang Yuan looked confused: ”Oh, I know.”

Why say it again?

Xi Jianglan was stunned, he randomly touched his lips and, in a daze, realized that Sheng Jiao must have just left something on them just now.

He didn’t have time to tease Shang Yuan and quickly ran forward, opening his mouth to call out “Sir.”

However, that phrase still slipped out uncontrollably: “My heart is not a cold stone…”

Xi Jianglan: “……”

Xi Jianglan suddenly covered his mouth.

Sheng Jiao looked at him sideways and said indifferently, “Since your mouth can’t speak the truth, then don’t say anything.”

Xi Jianglan: “…”

For the first time, Xi Jianglan was provoked by this man and shouted angrily, “I will kill you!”

But what came out of his mouth was still that phrase that made his mind tremble: “My heart is not a cold…”

My heart is not a cold stone.

Xi Jianglan immediately fell silent, his head buzzing.

He had always been good at judging the situation and knew that getting angry was useless, so he took a deep breath and decided to practice silent meditation like Sheng Jiao and Rang Chen.

If he uttered those shameful words “My heart is not a cold stone” again, he would just hit his head and die here; no one could stop him!

Finally, it was quiet around Sheng Jiao as they returned to the third floor of Guchang Temple in silence.

Xi Jianglan had thought that Feng Yu would have already bought Xi Qingfeng’s innate mark by now, but unexpectedly, he was still bidding.

After hearing Feng Yu call out the terrifying number of “five hundred thousand spirit stones” with such bravado, Xi Jianglan was silent for a long time and sighed, “My heart…”

Pah!

Feng Yu went mad, slamming the table and grinning ferociously: “After all these years, this is the first time I’ve seen someone dare to compete with me over spirit stones, truly courting death, 550,000!”

Heng Yudu sat off to the side, playing with a jade slip, and calmly said: “That innate mark painting isn’t worth that much money. Buying it would be useless for you.”

“That brat over there, judging by the voice, is probably that worthless little bastard Qu Rao from the Qu family,” Feng Yu took a sip of water as he sat down. “Anyone can have that innate mark painting, except the Qu family. Who knows how they’d disgrace it?”

Heng Yudu laughed: “If Qu Rao isn’t using his brain, are you not using yours either?”

Feng Yu turned around and glared at him.

Heng Yudu: “Don’t misunderstand, I…”

“I didn’t misunderstand!” Feng Yu interrupted him irritably, “I just think that painting is most likely related to the real culprit. Xi Jue has been wronged by the Xiezhi Sect for so many years, and now that we finally have some clues, we can’t let them vanish into thin air.”

Heng Yudu lowered his eyes, coughed a few times, gently stroking the jade slip that flew into his palm, and softly said, “Shut up.”

The jade slip suddenly flashed with a golden pattern, then transformed into a beautiful, fragile glass bird that flapped its wings and flew away.

Feng Yu had already gotten carried away with the bidding, rolling up his sleeves, planning to smash down a million to properly intimidate that little waste from the Qu family.

Soon, Qu Rao furiously called out again: “Sixty… ugh!”

The sound abruptly stopped.

Feng Yu was still waiting for the kid to raise the price, but after waiting for a long time with his hair standing on end, he only heard the sound of chimes being struck under the Bodhi tree.

Three chimes rang out.

The bidding ended, and Xi Qingfeng’s “painting” went to Feng Yu.

Feng Yu dropped his sleeves and coldly said to Heng Yudu, “Why are you interfering in my business? I have plenty of spirit stones.”

Heng Yudu calmly replied, ”Even if you have spirit stones, there’s no need to waste them like this. Tianyan Academy will be accepting disciples soon. If you have spare spirit stones, please allocate some to repair my study.”

Feng Yu’s gaze was somber. “Hengzhang has really put a lot of effort into the academy. I remember that you were supposed to recruit disciples in Zhongzhou. Did you really leave your good disciples to come to this poor and remote place just because of a mere Xi Twelve?”

Heng Yudu didn’t say anything. He just gently stared at the innate mark painting being rolled up by the monk. After a while, he suddenly said something that seemed irrelevant.

“Feng Yu, if one day, Twelve’s innate mark is also hung up there for bidding, you…”

Feng Yu’s whole body froze, and he was unexpectedly covered in goosebumps from his casually spoken words.

“What do you mean?”

Heng Yudu immediately regretted what he had said: “Don’t misunderstand, I just said it casually.”

Feng Yu looked at him with a complicated expression: “Do you know something?”

Heng Yudu didn’t answer. A glass bird flew to his ear and flapped its wings twice. He listened for a while and smiled.

“Let’s go.” Heng Yudu pushed his wheelchair and said with a half-smile, “Sheng Jiao has brought Twelve back.”

Ever since Feng Yu learned that it was Sheng Jiao who had captured Xi Jianglan, he had been eager to watch the fun. Upon hearing this, he immediately dropped the previous topic, pushed Heng Yudu as if the wind were at their backs, and went to see Sheng Jiao and Xi Jue’s “tragic love story.”

In the Dharma Hall on the first floor.

Qu Rao used all his strength, but he could not break free from Heng Yudu’s “Changing Moon”, and could only watch as Xi Qingfeng’s painting was taken away by Feng Yu.

After the chime fell silent, the invisible spiritual power that had been stuck in his throat finally dissipated.

“Heng Yudu!” Qu Rao was furious, his eyes red. “And Sheng Jiao! They are all laughing at my Qu family! So many of our Qu family’s Tianyan spiritual veins have vanished, these two must be involved!”

The guard beside him finally spoke up, hesitantly saying, “Young Master, you shouldn’t have tried to buy that painting this time…”

All the major families in Zhongzhou suspected that the Qu family had drawn Xi Jianglan’s innate mark, and now, at this critical moment, he was rushing to buy Xi Qingfeng’s innate mark. Wouldn’t that just give people a reason to criticize him?

Qu Rao glared at him hatefully, as if he wanted to devour him.

Just then, another cultivator at the Spirit Transformation Realm hurried over and said, “Young Master, it seems everyone is saying that Sect Leader Sheng is in Wuyin City investigating the snow disaster and has not come to Guchang Temple.”

Qu Rao was stunned for a moment and murmured, “Then just now…”

He quickly realized and slammed the table in anger, shouting, “Xi Jue..”

Xi Qingfeng’s innate mark had become common knowledge, and Xi Jue would definitely come to Guchang Temple following the sound.

And out of all the thirteen provinces, he was the only one who urgently needed the Yutang Flower.

He remembered how “Sheng Jiao” had barged in without a word and calmly plucked the Yutang flower right under his nose until only the bare stem was left…

Qu Rao felt both shame and anger!

Back at Tianyan Academy, Xi Jue often disguised himself as Sheng Jiao to skip classes and avoid punishment, but he never expected that he would have the audacity to impersonate him now…?!

Qu Rao gripped the table tightly, his eyes fierce. “Find Xi Jue…”

Everyone looked at each other

”Go find him! He must still be parading around with Sheng Jiao’s face, deceiving everyone! Bring him back to me!”Qu Rao shouted angrily. ”This time, I will tear him to pieces!”

”Ah-choo—”

On the third floor, Xi Jianglan suddenly sneezed, nearly spilling out “My heart is not a cold stone.”

He had transformed into his scarlet-clothed, tear-stained appearance, obediently sitting beside Sheng Jiao, his fingers dancing as he sincerely expressed his longing for Sheng Jiao.

”Lord, I haven’t done anything bad using Sect Leader Sheng’s face, it’s purely because I miss him too much. I hope you can forgive me. Please let me say something.”

Sheng Jiao ignored him.

Xi Jianglan sneezed again and persistently gestured: ”Then let me change my words.”

After all, even someone as thick-skinned as Xi Jianglan couldn’t keep that cheesy line hanging on his lips all the time.

Xi Jianglan said, ”If I change to… Xi Jianglan has deep feelings for Sect Leader Sheng, loves him, but cannot obtain him.”

Sheng Jiao, finally annoyed by him, turned his head to glance at him, his thin lips parting slightly.

”Can you see if you change into his face?”

Xi Jianglan gestured animatedly, ”Although I can’t see him face to face, I can mentally ease my lovesickness, my lord, you must be understanding.”

Sheng Jiao suddenly said, ”Okay.”

Xi Jianglan’s heart skipped a beat.

Every time this person responded to him decisively, he would suffer a great loss.

Sheng Jiao suddenly raised his hand. After rippling water marks swirled around him twice, his appearance changed in an instant.

Xi Jianglan’s eyes widened in shock.

Sheng Jiao… took off his disguise and turned into his original cold and frosty face.

He said expressionlessly: “Since you miss him, then it’s good, good, to see.”

Xi Jianglan choked on his breath, coughing painfully as if his heart was being torn apart.

“Cough cough! My heart is not… cough cough!”