After the Villain Lost His Cultivation - Chapter 8

Sheng Jiao had a unique aura around him.

Like the snow on a mountaintop and the fresh scent of winter plum blossoms after the snow.

Xi Jianglan had been staring fixedly at Sheng Jiao’s neck, wishing he could bite down and inject the poison pill into his meridians, turning him into a pool of blood. However, whether it was the calming scent in the air or the fever burning too fiercely, in his dazed state, he gradually lost consciousness.

Half asleep and half awake, he vaguely felt a cold spiritual energy coursing through his battered meridians, gently dispelling the burning heat. His entire body felt as if it were soaking in warm water, completely comfortable.

Xi Jianglan let out a few satisfied hums and muttered, “More… just a little bit more.”

The spiritual energy paused for a moment before obediently returning.

Xi Jianglan contentedly buried himself in the warm embrace before him, faintly hearing someone mention “Xi Qingfeng.”

Xi Qingfeng?

For a brief moment, Xi Jianglan’s feverish mind cleared.

No, he was clearly planning to escape from the clutches of the Xiezhi Sect, how could he suddenly fall asleep?

The aura still enveloped him, and the slight feeling of weightlessness in the unstable space remained, that tough guy was still holding onto his little paper figure to guard against Feng Yu.

Xi Jianglan felt the heartbeat of that person, his thick eyelashes fluttered slightly as he deliberately pretended to still be dreaming, mumbling incoherently.

“Sheng Jiao…”

Sheng Jiao stopped his steps.

Xi Jianglan rubbed Sheng Jiao’s shoulder affectionately with his forehead and called out again.

”Sheng Wuzhuo.”

Having just woken up, his voice was a bit nasal, and calling his name conveyed a sense of tenderness and ambiguity.

Xi Jianglan took advantage of the moment, his hand carelessly climbing up to wrap around Sheng Jiao’s neck, as if still half-asleep, wanting to kiss his neck without fully opening his eyes.

Juan Xunfang… Juan Xunfang began to pinch his cupid’s bow sharply.

The slender neck was right in front of him. Xi Jianglan bit down hard on the poison pill hidden between his teeth, causing the poisonous liquid to silently seep through the gap in his lips.

As long as he gently touched the vital point on the neck, no matter how powerful this person was, he wouldn’t escape death

Sheng Jiao watched coldly as he got closer and closer.

Just as Xi Jianglan’s warm, soft lips were about to touch his adam’s apple, Sheng Jiao suddenly reached out, his palm as wide as a curtain, forcefully covering Xi Jianglan’s lips and pressing him down hard.

The world spun, and Xi Jianglan was heavily set down, his waist caught on a mountain step. The black crane cloak spread out in layers across the ground, resembling a pool of dark ink.

Xi Jianglan’s eyes suddenly snapped open.

”Xi Jue.”

Sheng Jiao seemed to finally lose patience, his hollow, lifeless eyes coldly staring at him: “If you don’t want to die, then put away your tricks.”

Xi Jianglan: “…”

How is this tough guy even more formidable than Sheng Jiao?

He gritted his teeth.

Xi Jianglan let out a soft “mm”, wanting to explain.

But Sheng Jiao’s hand tightened even more, his large, hot palm pressed firmly against Xi Jianglan’s lips, forcibly blocking all his insincere justifications.

His eyes were like a cold wind, intimidating without even being angry.

Juan Xunfang had already pinched the cupid’s bow many times along the way, and now, seeing his leader finally display his great power, his eyes immediately shone brightly.

”Did you see that?” he exclaimed to Shang Yuan. ‘The Sect Leader can’t tolerate him anymore, he’s finally angry!”

Shang Yuan asked curiously, “But when the Sect Leader gets angry, doesn’t he usually strike people with a ray?”

Juan Xunfang: “…”

His face was filled with pain, unwilling to believe it. “Shut up!”

Shang Yuan didn’t understand why, so she just kept quiet.

Being controlled by others, Xi Jianglan finally relinquished his powers and nodded in a flexible manner.

Sheng Jiao observed him for a long while, as if judging whether he would really obey.

But after seeing something, he finally let Xi Jianglan go.

Xi Jianglan’s slender waist ached from being pressed against the mountain steps. He gently licked his lips, swallowed the poison, and silently gritted his teeth.

Having wasted two poison pills but failing to hurt this person at all, Xi Jianglan reflected that from childhood to adulthood, he had never suffered such a significant loss, except for with Sheng Jiao.

Sheng Jiao ignored him and turned to take a step forward.

At the top of the countless steps, they arrived at Guchang Temple.

Located deep in the mountains, the temple was majestic, with heavy black bird-scaring bells hanging from the eaves of the ancient structure. As the cold wind blew, the dull ringing caused countless evil spirits to flee.

Today, Guchang Temple was unusually holding a bidding event at a quarter past noon. Since it was the first time selling the innate mark, even those who weren’t looking to buy anything felt compelled to join in the excitement. The small Guchang Temple was packed with a dense crowd.

The monk who came to greet the guests held a string of Buddhist beads, nodding and greeting each passerby.

Outside, groups of cultivators chatted in threes and fives, some whispering while others spoke loudly.

“Hey, monk,” a cultivator with a blade shouted, “You’re openly selling Tianyan’s innate mark. Isn’t that against morality? Aren’t you afraid that the people from the Xiezhi Sect will wipe you out like wild foxes?”

The monk’s expression was indifferent, he remained calm despite the ridicule. He clasped his hands and chanted the Dharma name.

“Donor, you’re joking. What we are selling at Gu Chang Temple today is Xi Qingfeng’s painting, not innate marks.”

However, no one with discerning eyes believed his nonsense, and they all burst out laughing.

That said, it was still fun to watch.

Feng Yu stood impatiently under an osmanthus tree, a bunch of little paper figures floating in his palm, but none of them responded.

Could it be that Xi Jianglan had was really been taken away?

Once he enters the Xiezhi Sect, he will probably never be able to escape until his death.

The painting being auctioned at Gu Chang Temple today must be related to the culprit who massacred the Xi family. If he can obtain the painting, Xi Jianglan might still have a chance to survive.

Thinking this, Feng Yu gathered the little paper figures into his sleeve and walked toward Gu Chang Temple.

At the same time, Xi Jianglan had just stepped onto the steps.

He quickly glanced around and spotted Feng Yu’s eye-catching black and white robe adorned with the ghostly character. His eyes lit up, and he hurriedly took a couple of steps forward.

“Noble Feng-“

The voice abruptly cut off.

Xi Jianglan: “?”

Xi Jianglan opened and closed his mouth but couldn’t make any sound, while the Binding Silk on his wrist was pulled by someone, forcefully dragging him back.

Sheng Jiao said expressionlessly, “Do you want to enter the Prison of Wisteria?”

Xi Jianglan: “…”

Xi Jianglan smiled at him meekly and skillfully raised his hand to make a gesture in sign language: “I don’t want to, I hope you will be merciful.”

At the same time, he cursed in his heart, “I will kill you sooner or later.”

However, it is unclear whether Feng Yu is truly a noble person. Xi Jianglan only shouted two words, and amidst the bustling crowd, Feng Yu seemed to sense something and stopped, turning around to look.

Xi Jianglan’s eyes brightened again, almost tearing up.

“Noble Feng, good brother!”

With his clever mouth sealed by the Silence Zen, Xi Jianglan could only desperately wink at Feng Yu.

“Help, help!”

The two of them seemed to be in perfect sync with each other. Feng Yu and Xi Jianglan looked at each other at first sight in the vast crowd.

Xi Jianglan clasped his hands together peacefully and even thought of saying “Amitabha.” 

He felt that Feng Yu was like a divine warrior sent from the sky, and his whole body was emitting the Buddha’s light that could save people from danger.

The next moment, the divine warrior frowned and turned around to leave.

Xi Jianglan: “……”

Xi Jianglan’s expression stiffened.

He… just left?

Does this mean he didn’t recognize him?

Turning his head to look, Xi Jianglan saw that Sheng Jiao and the others had already changed their outfits. The dark patterns of the Xiezhi on their robes had disappeared, and their swords were nowhere to be found, making them inconspicuous as they walked through the crowd.

Xi Jianglan immediately raised his hand to touch his face, and sure enough, he found that his handsome face had become rather ordinary.

No wonder Feng Yu didn’t recognize him.

Xi Jianglan glared at Sheng Jiao in front of him, gritting his teeth as he angrily lowered his hands, the silk binding on his wrists making a clinking sound against each other.

He was indeed ruthless.

He admitted that he was not as skilled as others.

It was almost three-quarters past noon, and the people outside began to enter Guchang Temple one by one.

When you walk through the high threshold, what you see inside the temple is a towering Bodhi tree with lush branches and leaves that block out the sun.

There are no statues of deities in Guchang Temple. In the center of the temple is a huge plaque with two large characters written in a flamboyant style.

Tianyan.

These two characters were written by a great master, and just a glance reveals a chilling sword intent and a contradictory aura of Zen tranquility and inclusiveness.

Hanging on a high platform in the middle of the temple is a painting.

It is Xi Qingfeng’s innate mark.

The innate marks are the second layer of spiritual roots that come from the Tianyan spiritual veins. It’s unclear how the culprit managed to peel off the innate mark intact back then, and even turn them into a painting.

The entire artwork exudes a sinister and cold aura, making one feel vaguely uncomfortable at first glance.

Guchang Temple has seven levels, with the three lower levels divided into elegant rooms, by lifting the bamboo curtains, one can see the Bodhi tree in the center.

Xi Jianglan was pulled into a small compartment by the silk bindings, discreetly scanning his surroundings to look for Feng Yu.

However, after just a quick glance, his attention was drawn to the painting in the center.

Although he was deaf, his eyesight was excellent, and he was momentarily taken aback by the signature.

“Xi Qingfeng?”

Juan Xunfang instinctively stood behind Sheng Jiao, but after being met with a cold glance, he could only brace himself and “sit at the same level” as the Sect Leader. Hearing Xi Jianglan’s murmur, he frowned and asked, “You don’t still not know, do you?”

The more Xi Jianglan looked at the painting, the more he felt that something was wrong. He turned back in confusion and asked, “Know… what?”

Sheng Jiao lifted the bamboo curtain and looked down at the eerie painting that resembled tree roots. His gaze deepened, lost in thought.

Jue Xunfang replied succinctly, “That painting is the innate mark that was stripped from the eldest son of the Xi family’s collateral branch, Xi Qingfeng.”

Xi Jianglan was taken aback.

He was momentarily at a loss to understand the meaning of this short sentence, looking as if he had just heard something incomprehensible.

After a while, Xi Jianglan finally let out a soft “Ah.” He suspected that his ear ornament artifact must have been damaged earlier, otherwise, how could he have heard such an absurd statement?

An innate mark can be stripped away?

And sold?

The people from the Xiezhi Sect came to Guchang Temple because of this painting?

Upon fully realizing what this painting represented, Xi Jianglan’s face instantly turned pale, and a strong metallic taste filled his throat, almost causing him to vomit blood from the shock.

Covering his lips, Xi Jianglan forced himself to suppress the blood rising in his throat, his eyes trembling violently, looking as if he was on the brink of collapse.

“My, my brother…”

Sheng Jiao frowned.

Shang Yuan’s feelings were shallow, her face filled with confusion.

Meanwhile, Juan Xunfang, who had always disliked Xi Jianglan, felt a twinge of sympathy.

The Xi family had already suffered a tragic calamity six years ago, who would have thought that not only had his brother, whom he had lived with for so long, met a tragic end, but he had also been stripped of his innate mark and sold openly at an auction?

Who could bear such a thing?

Xi Jianglan suddenly inhaled sharply, leaping to his feet with bloodshot eyes, stumbling madly as he rushed outside.

Sheng Jiao quickly raised his hand.

The silk bindings instantly restrained Xi Jianglan, forcibly gripping his wrist and pressing him against a nearby carved stone pillar.

Xi Jianglan’s wrists were lifted up almost as high as if he were suspended by chains, and he desperately touched the ground with his toes to keep his body from dangling in the air. The thick crane cloak was torn apart, revealing his slender form shaking violently.

His eyes sparkled with clarity, and two streams of tears suddenly fell, sliding down his pale cheeks to the edges of the crane cloak. His voice was filled with anger and resentment as he shouted sternly, “Let go! For six years, your Xiezhi Sect has failed to find the culprit, yet you allow my brother’s innate mark to be… My brother was such a kind and gentle person, and even in death, he has to endure such humiliation!”

Xi Jianglan broke down completely, his face streaked with tears, several strands of black hair stuck to his damp cheeks, making his already sickly and pale complexion look even more frail.

Sheng Jiao looked at him indifferently, unmoved even in the face of tears.

Jue Xunfang had crawled through the ranks of the Xiezhi Sect for many years and had witnessed countless tragic events. He had thought that he, like the esteemed Sect Leader Sheng, had a heart of stone, strictly adhering to principles and turning himself into an emotionless puppet.

But seeing Xi Jianglan’s miserable state of almost collapse, even the hardest heart would inevitably show some softness.

“Sir.” Juan Xunfang was kind-hearted for the first time in his life, and even temporarily put aside the hatred of this boy for tarnishing the innocence of the sect leader. “As long as we find the person who sold the painting, we will definitely get clues about the culprit, Xi Jue…”

…his brother’s innate mark was sold in public, it was so tragic and pitiful that his collapse and madness represented the limit of his restraint, which was understandable.

There was no need for such harsh measures.

Ignoring him, Sheng Jiao suddenly asked, “Who are Xi Qingfeng’s parents?”

Xi Jianglan, who was crying heavily, stiffened at this question.

Sheng Jiao asked again: “How old is Xi Qingfeng? What is his surname and courtesy name?”

Xi Jianglan remained silent.

“What is his innate mark?”

“……”

Finally, Sheng Jiao said coldly, “You don’t even remember who Xi Qingfeng is.”

Xi Jianglan: “…”

Damn it.