Chapter 4

Translated by boilpoil Edited by boilpoil

When Wen Fu takes hold of his arm, Bai Lianhua is able to feel directly the difference in feeling when facing the Wen Fu now compared to before. Before, he had no pressure living together with Wen Fu, but now, not just the aura of demonic cultivation from Wen Fu, just his imposing aura and that particular sense of pressure higher-ranked cultivators exerted to lower-ranked cultivators is enough to make Bai Lianhua feel suppressed and restrained.

——Of course, what’s most nerve-racking is Wen Fu’s expressionlessness.

This makes Bai Lianhua suspect if he had happened to owe tens of thousands of high-level cultivation gemstones to him.

“System, what cultivation rank is Wen Fu now?”

“Lower Dacheng .” The system does not play dead this time and answers obediently.

Bai Lianhua feels his poor little soul shudder. Jeez, Dacheng. This is definitely atop the food chain in cultivation realm. Above, there’s bare few cultivators of Dujie and ascension rank.

When he left this world, Wen Fu only just reached Yuanying rank… how long had he been away?

Though no matter how long had passed, Bai Lianhua racks his brains again and again, but is still unable to recall anything he did that should make him apologetic to Wen Fu. Compared to the antagonists in the worlds to follow, Wen Fu definitely had VIP service…

And in a reunion after a long time, can’t you treat the weak white lotus a bit more generously? With what Wen Fu is doing, if he were really the traditionally soft and limp, poor little white lotus, tears would already be gathering in his eyes.

Bai Lianhua tries to move his arm, trying to remove it from his grip, but then Wen Fu holds it more tightly with greater force, as if afraid he’d suddenly disappear.

“Since you’re back, don’t think of leaving again.” After pausing, Wen Fu says in a low voice, “be good, and what you want, maybe… I’ll give it to you personally.”

Bai Lianhua looks at Wen Fu with a confused expression, even forgetting to struggle. His expression is blanked out. What he wanted? Something even he didn’t know he wanted?

… Uh, not exactly. He wants his computer, and his Internet, and his peaceful, relaxing hikikomori life. Though however would Wen Fu give him those?

Bai Lianhua feels like asking, but he doesn’t know where to start.

Bai Lianhua’s expression, though, when seen by Wen Fu, is interpreted differently. Seeing how Bai Lianhua stopped struggling and became obedient when he said this, Wen Fu closes his eyes, concealing his tumultuous mind. He switches the topic after a short silence, “can you bring me into the Forest of Mists now?”

He does truly wish to see the place where they had spent their days.

Bai Lianhua is not yet recovered from their previous conversation, and answers dryly, “no… I don’t have the pill to enter the Forest on me.”

He was just thrown back into this world by the system, completely unequipped with anything cultivational. The only thing of note is that the system is not that stingy and had put clothes on him that are appropriate for the setting when materialising him, instead of any of the clothing of the other worlds.

Wen Fu stares fixedly at Bai Lianhua, not saying anything, making Bai Lianhua feel culpable. When he suspects whether Wen Fu didn’t believe him, he suddenly looked away, and again puts up a smile, sounding nonchalant.

“Alright then, since we can’t enter the Forest of Mists, you might as well come back with me.”

——He did not believe in Bai Lianhua, of course. They’ve been together for more than a hundred years, and he knows Bai Lianhua better than himself. He is careful and attentive to detail, and likes to hoard like a hamster. He often makes extra pills in preparation. His stock has never been depleted ever, and when it came to as important a pill as one that allows entry into the Forest of Mists?

Once, Bai Lianhua even said in seriousness, that if something was up and staying outside was inevitable, if nothing else, this pill must be carried at all times, and if something were to happen it would even allow escape into the Forest of Mists to save lives… Like he rescued him that time.

But now… ah, well, if he says he doesn’t have it then let’s say he doesn’t.

…

Bai Lianhua is not in a good mood. He does not want to go to Wen Fu’s residence at all. He would rather go somewhere isolated and interrogate the system, to breakthrough this situation where he doesn’t know a single thing. Though, the situation forcing him, he’ll have to comply.

He is still an upper Zhuji cultivator, the same when he died, but Wen Fu is already a big boss at Dacheng. It’s not something he can object to. Bai Lianhua can be said to have been brought back to Wen Fu’s residence by him without resistance.

——And clearly, Wen Fu seems to be in a fouler mood than he… Are people who become demonic cultivators all moody like that?

It is making Bai Lianhua tense. He doesn’t really even dare interrogate the system in his mind right now, afraid he might show some oddity in his expression when he does so, and let this antagonist who is no longer so easily soothed realise something.

They’re silent all the way, but when they reached their destination, there’s a high level demonic cultivator in front of the protection spell circle of his residence. He’s clearly here for Wen Fu.

Bai Lianhua’s eyes glimmer as he hopes Wen Fu will leave him alone for a moment, so he can have a deep conversation with his system. All cultivators that would be able to interact with Wen Fu would clearly also be great powers in their own rights. That they are visiting personally must mean they have something to discuss.

The demonic cultivator who doesn’t seem to be a good person at all says as expected, “Wen Fu, about that ancient era concealed realm…”

Wen Fu looked uninterested, “I’m busy with something.”

The other person looks surprised. They must be joking, what could be even more important than an ancient era concealed realm? Wen Fu also showed apt interest in it before.

“Something important?”

“The most important thing in life.”

The demonic cultivator is retorted speechless, not knowing how to continue. He looks about and sees Bai Lianhua who, due to being held and dragged along, is almost completely embraced in Wen Fu, and he raises his eyebrows and chuckles, “tch, this is?”

It’s been so many years, and they’ve never seen Wen Fu getting close with any cultivator like this. Both the righteous cultivators and demonic cultivators thought Wen Fu looked silly when he’s utterly stone-cold and clean like that. Especially the demonic cultivators, who think he’s hypocritical. He’s long fallen into demonic cultivation, but still acting special like that, did he really think he can be unaffected by his surroundings?

And someone like him finally has someone by his side?

Wen Fu smiles coldly, and starts talking, “the white lotus I was keeping ran away, and I only found him after so long… I’ll be rearing him well this time.”

The demonic cultivator makes an implicational ‘oh.’ He doesn’t understand what white lotus means, perhaps it’s a little thing between the two of them, but say, this little Zhuji cultivator sure did have the looks and the disposition to live up to the words ‘white lotus.’ It’s both clean and gentle but not too dry… eh, this is exactly the type they demonic cultivators like!

And other than that, he is able to get what Wen Fu meant by ‘rearing’… Is this guy declaring his ownership? Was he that possessive?

This sure is interesting. The demonic cultivator looks at Wen Fu who may be similar in cultivation rank to him but who is much higher in terms of battle prowess, then looks at the little Zhuji cultivator stuck in his embrace like he’s a treasure, and thinks this is certainly interesting enough to share with others.

Since he’s amused, he doesn’t stick around and leaves without hesitation, letting Wen Fu go on with his so-called important thing.

Only Bai Lianhua’s thoughts are messed up and his body stiffened, as if extremely shocked. He can’t help but think, this is weird. Wen Fu shouldn’t know the meaning of white lotus, should he? And the tone he said this… Bai Lianhua feels as if his goosebumps are tingling. He tries to squeeze himself to the opposite side to stay far from Wen Fu.

Wen Fu walks into his residence with Bai Lianhua in his hands. He sees how Bai Lianhua appears as if having been zapped by lightning, and him reflexively trying to stay away from him, and stops. He caresses Bai Lianhua’s face.

“Hmm? Was I wrong? Don’t Bai Lianhua sound exactly like white lotus?” He acts gently, and touches the corner of his eyes, “truly, you’re also pitiable like a white lotus. Unfortunately…” everything is smokes and mirrors.

Looking at his eyes that are widened in shock, that are as clear and bright like a stream flowing through, people can’t help but put down their guard, and become sympathetic… Of course, if he starts crying, he would probably be evoking more sympathy.

Bai Lianhua and white lotus… This is an aural connection he only noticed when he was reading Bai Lianhua’s name for hundreds of thousands of times in his mind.

Bai Lianhua can feel himself shuddering. He might not be smart, but he’s not dumb either. Wen Fu has exposed too much information, whether true or false, there. Yet whichever direction he interprets them in it’s terrifying.

At least, one thing is sure. Wen Fu has already seen through his core of being a white lotus.

He… can he perhaps not do the missions anymore? He wants to go back to his resting space. Even if he had to spend hundreds of years of his life against a bunch of fog, he’ll be happier than this at least!

The trickster system pops up, “host, it’s wrong to think so pessimistically like that. We should feel positive and optimistic when doing missions.”

“It’s just the mission’s target getting tainted again. When faced with difficulties, we must tackle them head-on and try to overcome them, instead of running away.”

“In fact, don’t worry, a certain degree of tainting of the mission objective is helpful to us completing our return of white moonlight mission.”

Bai Lianhua is unconvinced, and he can’t even care about whether he would be exposing himself talking to the system in front of Wen Fu at this point, and asks directly, “system, tell me the truth. Does Wen Fu know about your existence, and knows that I approached him with ulterior motives?”

If this were true, with Wen Fu’s personality he’ll never tolerate it… it’s certainly miraculous how he’s still alive right now, able to live in front of our dear antagonist instead of being eliminated right at the start.

“Cough, you can say yes, but also say no… This is a complicated situation, hard to explain in a short period of time…”

Seeing how the system is only knocking him about the garden path and completely sealed on why Wen Fu got tainted again, Bai Lianhua understands that he isn’t getting any useful information even if he continues listening, and would only be annoyed by the constant buzzing. He doesn’t think anymore and cuts off his communication with the system from his side.

——It’s probably not a false intuitive feeling that the system seems to be quite joyous of this terrible situation occurring.

Toxic.

Author’s notes: The naughty system says its favourite hobby is to create inferno-level pandemonium for its dear host either intentionally or unintentionally, and is looking for like-minded individuals to participate together=w=~ [Hey!]

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