193 - We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real?

Chapter 193: I Want to Establish Some Rules for This Place Called the Western Regions Before they knew it, two months had passed. Every day, Yu Yunwei had to rise early, sitting promptly in the courtyard by mid-morning, quietly listening to Xiao Mo’s lessons. Listening to Xiao Mo recite those classical phrases and poems, Yu Yunwei found her head aching more and more. However, with no other options, Yu Yunwei could only grit her teeth and attend class. By late afternoon, Xiao Mo would also teach Yu Yunwei some Confucian etiquette, and even made her practice walking, standing, and proper sitting postures. Despite not understanding the usefulness of this as a disciple of the Demonic Sect, Yu Yunwei complied, as she was no match for Xiao Mo and had no other choice. Gradually, however, Yu Yunwei discovered Xiao Mo’s boundaries. Although she had never seen Xiao Mo smile, and he usually seemed cold, occasionally showing a murderous intent towards her, it never escalated beyond a warning. So, her courage grew bolder over time. One night, Yu Yunwei sneaked into Xiao Mo's room with a dagger, aiming to stab his chest. But she ended up plunging into emptiness. Before she could react, Xiao Mo was already standing behind her. Yu Yunwei quickly hid the dagger in her sleeve, turned around with a smile, and said, "Senior Brother, you're still awake." "If I were asleep, I might not wake up again," Xiao Mo looked at her leisurely, "Hold out your hand." Frustrated, Yu Yunwei clenched her fist, but soon, like a deflated ball, she extended her hand towards Xiao Mo, palm up. Xiao Mo tapped her palm with his sheathed sword, one strike after another. Beyond the physical pain, the malevolent energy from the sheath seeped into her bones. The dual agony of body and spirit nearly caused her to faint multiple times. "Go back." After ten strikes, Xiao Mo lowered the sheath. With a pale face and tears in her eyes, Yu Yunwei silently walked out of Xiao Mo's room. "Wait." Xiao Mo stopped her, "Leave the dagger." Biting her lip, Yu Yunwei slammed the dagger onto the table before storming out in a huff. Yet, Yu Yunwei wasn’t ready to give up. She tried to poison Xiao Mo, attempted to strike him with a club during meditation. However, without exception, every attempt failed. Xiao Mo never stopped her malice, yet every time she was discovered, her palms would endure punishment. At times, the strikes would damage her spirit, leaving her bedridden for days. Staring at her numb hands, Yu Yunwei could only comfort herself that at least she didn’t have to attend class. But soon she realized she was mistaken. Once recovered, Xiao Mo demanded she catch up on all the missed lessons. Every time a new idea emerged in Yu Yunwei's mind and led to punishment, she'd lay low for a while. But soon enough, another plan would spring to mind. This time, she thought of a clever scheme. That night, Yu Yunwei secretly took the handkerchief her master had left to dry on the mountaintop and placed it under Xiao Mo's pillow when he wasn't looking. When her master returned, wondering where the handkerchief had gone, Yu Yunwei immediately jumped in, blushing, "Master, I saw Senior Brother taking something of yours back to his room." As expected, Yu Yunwei led her master to discover the embroidered plum blossom handkerchief under Xiao Mo’s pillow. Yu Yunwei anticipated her master would be angry and scold Xiao Mo. But unexpectedly, when Xiao Mo returned, her master merely patted him on the head with a knowing smile, "Ahh, it seems you've grown up. You don't have to steal a handkerchief. If you want one, just ask me. I might even have some unwashed ones." Xiao Mo was momentarily taken aback. Then, looking at Yu Yunwei beside their master, he instantly understood what had happened. Without a word, Xiao Mo swung his blade, the crimson energy throwing both master and Yu Yunwei out of the courtyard, casually tossing the handkerchief onto their master’s head. "Master… how could Senior Brother do this! Doesn’t he respect you?" Plan foiled, Yu Yunwei tried to stir the pot again. "He never really respected me, you know," her master chuckled, dusting off soil from his rounded bottom, pulling the handkerchief from his head, and placing it on Yu Yunwei's. "As for the handkerchief, you take care of washing it." "..." Watching her master walk away, Yu Yunwei clenched the red handkerchief, tightly pressing her lips. It was then that Yu Yunwei realized the relationship between Xiao Mo and her master was like that of a mentor and disciple, yet not quite. No matter how out of line Xiao Mo was, her master seemed indifferent. The following morning, Xiao Mo finished his lesson with Yu Yunwei and left Blood Peak again. Yu Yunwei was increasingly curious. Previously, Xiao Mo mostly practiced his swordsmanship on Blood Peak, rarely venturing out. But since he slew that Golden Core senior brother on Cloud Peak a few months ago, he seldom stayed at Blood Peak, sometimes gone for the entire day. This time, Yu Yunwei secretly followed to see what he was up to. She saw Xiao Mo head into the "Blood Butterfly Pavilion" in Wandao Town. It was a place for information trading. Before long, Xiao Mo emerged and flew to a mountain peak. In a pavilion on the mountain, several cultivators were drinking. Step by step, Xiao Mo approached and drew his long blade without a word, commencing an attack. After half an incense stick's time, Xiao Mo lopped off the last man’s head, tossed it aside, and flew to another location. For the rest of the day, Yu Yunwei watched as Xiao Mo hunted down and fought one cultivator after another. Even though all of them were more advanced than him. By evening, she had lost track of how many Wandao Sect disciples Xiao Mo had killed that day. "You’ve been following all day. Show yourself." Yu Yunwei, lost in thought as she stared at Xiao Mo standing amidst the corpses, was startled as his voice reached out. Nervously clenching her hands, Yu Yunwei stepped out from behind a tree. "Xiao Mo..." "What did you call me?" "...Senior Brother," she corrected herself through gritted teeth, "Why did you kill them?" "They, like me, are contenders for the position of Saint Child. Bloodhead said they planned to kill me, so I decided to strike first." Xiao Mo turned to look at her, "Any issues with that?" "N-no..." Yu Yunwei gulped. "No issues? Then let's head back. It's getting late." Xiao Mo sheathed his long blade and walked ahead. "Senior Brother." Watching his retreating silhouette, Yu Yunwei called out again, "Do you want to become the Saint Child of Wandao Sect?" She didn’t know why she asked. After all, who in Wandao Sect wouldn't want to be the Saint Child? But she felt he was different. Though many days had passed, Yu Yunwei felt Xiao Mo seemed devoid of desires, wanting for nothing and needing nothing. "It's alright. I just did it in passing," Xiao Mo replied. "In passing?" Yu Yunwei blinked, "Then what do you want to do, Senior Brother?" "What do I want to do?" Xiao Mo lifted his head, the blood-red sunset casting its glow on him, casting his shadow long and far. "I want to establish some rules for this place called the Western Regions."