CHAPTER 4: CONFINEMENT (2)

Zhong Minyan was the youngest disciple out of the generation of disciples with the name "Min", and his generation was also the youngest generation of disciples in Shaoyang Sect. So, the many random things that his senior brothers were too lazy to do would be handed to him, and he would be many times busier than the other disciples.


So, he would also be the person who forgot the most things.


Today after eating lunch, he arrived at the martial arts grounds early and hadn't slashed his sword a few times, when a few senior brothers came over to practice with him. Second Senior Brother Chen Minjue was the most cunning, and seeing that he was going to be defeated by his littlest junior brother, suddenly said, "Minyan, aren't you supposed to send food to Little Junior Sister in the future?"


Zhong Minyan was surprised, and his next sword move immediately revealed a flaw. Chen Minjue grasped the opportunity, turned his wrist, and Minyan's sword clattered to the ground. He smiled, and said, "You lost. How about you go send food quickly now? Otherwise if Madam knows, she will be heartbroken."


He actually forgot! Zhong Minyan ran out of the training grounds, and into the kitchen to grab the food. Because Xuanji very rarely appeared at the martial arts grounds, he also didn't bother to pay attention to the affairs of this junior sister. He was learning new and complicated cultivation skills, and had only paid close attention to practicing, that he had completely forgotten about her being confined.


So annoying, they must both hate each other. She was confined, and had also brought him bad luck. If he had to go to the scary Mingxia Cave three times everyday, then he wouldn't have as much time to practice cultivation in the afternoon.


Even though he normally enjoyed joking around, and smiled so much that it seemed like he didn't have any worries, he was actually an arrogant person. He was the lowest in seniority, and was usually not paid much attention to, always being ordered to do this and that, so he was always very strict to himself on practicing. When the training had become harsher, he had vowed to surpass First Senior Brother, so everyone wouldn't look down at him anymore. But now because he has to bring food to Xuanji, he only had half of his time in the afternoon to practice, so how couldn't he be frustrated?


The head chef of the kitchen had already prepared Xuanji's food, and had put it into a box. She gave the box to him with a big smile, and said, "Yes, go quickly now. Don't keep Xuanji hungry. She's quite pitiful."


Pitiful! It should be hateful! She was the one being lazy, but had dragged him into the situation!


After walking half the way, Zhong Minyan slightly opened the box, but only saw two dishes and one bowl of fruit soup. He secretly took the largest piece of sweet and sour pork ribs and put it into his mouth, eating it delightfully.


Humph, I just won't let that girl eat!


There was no light in Mingxia Cave, so Zhong Minyan already had a torch prepared. Finding the stone house was easy, but it was completely dark inside, and silent. He said coldly, "Chu Xuanji, eat lunch."


No reply.


Zhong Minyan was a little annoyed. "Chu Xuanji!" He increased his voice.


Still no reply.


Zhong Minyan finally decided that something was not right, so he jumped onto land and ran into the stone house, his torch in one hand, and saw that the little girl was huddled into a ball, and seemed to be asleep, clutching a small red rattle in her hand. A candle was burning on a rock table nearby, its wax nearly all gone, as well as three other candlestrips and a flintstone.


He sighed, and reached his hand out to push her, and said, "Chu Xuanji, wake up, it's time to eat lunch."


Xuanji slowly opened her eyes to see bright fire in front of her, and also Zhong Minyan, who was looking at her impatiently and holding a big black basket in his hand.


"Eat lunch." Zhong Minyan put the food on the table and looked back. She didn't move, and he couldn't help but feel angry. "If you don't want to eat, just say it, and it will save me a lot of time flying here and back everyday."


Xuanji felt frozen, and didn't want to move. This person hated her with such an intensity that it seemed like she owed him something. She didn't have the energy to bicker with him, but if she didn't eat, then her mother would be sad. She pondered for a long time, then climbed down the bed, grabbing the bowl under a pile of clothes wrapped around her body.


Fortunately, the food was still warm, and was delicious. She ate more than half of it, and looked up to see Zhong Minyan staring at her, and asked softly, "Do you want to eat some?"


She had guessed what Zhong Minyan was thinking about. His face turned slightly red, and he said with a grumble, "Finish the food quickly, and I can go back to practicing sooner."


Xuanji took a sip of the soup, and said, "You can leave now. You can collect the bowls and plates when you come over for dinner, so it won't waste as much as your time."


He didn't think that she would say this, and thought for a moment, then said, "Staying here all alone, don't you want to talk to someone else?"


Xuanji didn't reply, and just finished her food rapidly, and handed the basket to him after she put the plates and bowls inside. "I'm done, you can take it now."


Zhong Minyan felt embarrassed to stand up again and took the basket rather timidly. He wanted to say something else, but seeing her bluish face, his heart softened and he said gently, "Can I bring you a cotton blanket and coat tonight?"


Xuanji needed a blanket and coat, and since he was the one who brought it up, she nodded her head obediently.


He rarely sees this little devil girl being so obedient and cute, so different from the first impression of being very stubborn, and actually didn't really want to leave. He looked from left to right, then said, "Then......what else do you want? Books? Or toys? Being here by yourself, you must be very lonely."


She shook her head. "No, thank you."


Zhong Minyan could only get on the boat, but after only rowing a few times, ran back. He took off his jacket and wrapped it around her, then said rather rudely, "You can have my jacket for now, but do get it dirty. I will bring you some books and candles tonight. You are very stubborn."


Xuanji lowered her head, saying nothing. He really didn't suit to be around this kind of weird and changeable person, so he left hurriedly.


At night, he kept his word, and not only brought two cotton blankets and a few thick coats, but also a stack of books, a writing scroll, a few writing brushes as well as ink and a writing brush rack. With these items, the empty and cold stone house seemed to be a little cozier.


"Just use these candles for now, and I'll get you some more when you use them up. Madam wants to tell you that it's cold and wet in the cave, so you have to practice everyday, or else you might get sick. Here is the scroll for the Xuan Ming Fists, you must remember to practice."


Xuanji nodded her head softly, and he couldn't help but smile slightly, and said, "You promise now, but are you going to pretend I said nothing when you turn around again?"


Xuanji said unhurriedly, "Yes, I don't want to practice. But I also don't want everyone to always be angry at me. Is nodding my head not right?"


Zhong Minyan chuckled two times. "No, No. If people know that there are two sides to you, they would probably be even angrier."


"Then I don't know what to do. I don't want people to yell at me, or practice."


"Why don't you like to practice? Don't you want to become an immortal?"


"Yes, but I'm lazy."


Zhong Minyan knew that if he continued to talk to her about this, he would want to pinch, or rather destroy, her idea. He really hasn't met this kind of person before, so lazy that she looks arrogant, and still wants to become an immortal.


"Oh, then you can only become one kind of immortal." He put the candles on the table as he talked.


"What kind of immortal?" Xuanji was a child, but had surprisingly didn't realize that he was joking with her, and asked curiously.


The corners of Zhong Minyan's lips curled up. "A lazy immortal. You can just continue to do nothing, and maybe someone from the Heavens will come down and make you a lazy immortal."


So he was mocking her. Xuanji was a little disappointed and thought for a moment, then said, "I don't want to practice,but I will definitely become an immortal."


"Yes, yes. You can just wait to become a lazy immortal!" Zhong Minyan went into the boat, not bothering to continue to talk to her.


The stone house was silent again. Xuanji stared at the candles on the shore, and continued her everyday task: Being bored.


She could definitely become an immortal. That was what she said before.


But she was also wondering, where this arrogant confidence that had let her say such astonishing things, had come from. She didn't know any fist skills, or have any immortal powers, or even any sword skills, but she just believes that she will become an immortal.


Zhong Mingyan was probably right. She could only be a lazy immortal.


She couldn't be any other immortal, but could she be this lazy immortal?


Here, Xuanji was thinking about many random things, and over there, Shaoyang Sect was so busy organizing everything up for the Flower Hairpin Conference that everyone had completely forgotten about her.


On the fourth of August, the first day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the sect leaders of the five sects as well as the important people of the different branches gathered at Shaoyang Peak to do the final selecting. It was still the same, they would draw lots to determine the five people who would go into the wilderness to catch the demons, the highlight after the Conference.


Speaking of the Flower Hairpin Conference, no one was as excited as Linglong was. She could be seen running around the whole day, trying to find her father and mother. Because the Flower Hairpin Conference was held every five years, all of the male disciples, including the youngest ones, had seen it take place before, so even though they were also very excited, they could hold it in. This was Linglong's first time to see such a big martial arts competition, as five years ago she was only six, and couldn't remember the skills that the disciples had used. It's just that while she was overly excited, she also felt sad for Xuanji. She was confined in Mingxia Cave, which was blacker than the darkest night, and wouldn't be able to see such a lively scene.


She had pestered her mother the whole morning, insisting to go to Shaoyang Peak with her to see the lots being drawn, but was easily persuaded by He Danping with a piece of cake. But who knew that just right after she left, Linglong started annoying Zhong Minyan by telling him to take her with him to the peak.


"No, I have to send Xuanji her food now. And besides, Madam already said that it's not good for children to go. Elders are everywhere over there, and it wouldn't be good to accidentally bump into anyone."


Zhong Minyan rejected her request in a flash.


Linglong said anxiously, "Then you can go after you send the food! We'll just go take a peak, and then come straight down, okay? I promise I'll be good, and will not make any trouble."


Zhong Minyan said as he put the food into the basket, "I have to practice after delivering the food. Don't be impatient, you'll get to see everything in half a month, and no one will stop you then."


Linglong really couldn't control herself anymore, and grabbed his sleeve as she started to yell "great brother, great Minyan". The sleeve was twisted so much that it looked like a piece of Mahua. (7)


"Just go with me! Let's just see them draw the lots! Minyan Big Brother! Great Big Brother! I beg you, go with me!"


Zhong Minyan really couldn't do anything with this kind of pestering, and could only yell, "Okay, little god, let go of me first. If the senior brothers see us, Master will have no mercy on our skin. I'll first go send Xuanji her food, then we'll go, okay?"


Seeing him agree, Linglong couldn't help but bloom inside, and said, "We'll just go take a quick peek and come back quickly, and then you can go deliver the food to Xuanji! Just one peek, and you don't have to be afraid of being found out!"


Zhong Minyan had no way out, and could only let go of the basket as she dragged him towards the peak.


Shaoyang Peak was Sect Leader Chu Lei's main hall, and also the hall for visitors. There were only two paths to get to it: Use the white jade Changgui Sword on the edge of the cliff to fly up, or obediently climb up the stairs, going around and around for at least an hour.


This was the arrogance of Shaoyang Sect. They would very rarely accept the incompetent, so you only had two choices: obediently go back, or obediently climb up. Shaoyang Peak was so high that the top of it was covered with clouds and had many jagged rocks that ordinary people would be intimidated by.


"Climb up?" The color of Zhong Minyan's face was similar to that of a bitter gourd as he looked at the stone steps, more than half of them covered by clouds, and his legs trembled.


"We'll of course fly up!" Linglong pouted, "I won't climb the steps! It'll take so much time!"


"Who will fly? Do you know how to fly?"


Linglong smiled brightly, pointed to the tip of his nose, and said, "Stop pretending! Of course it's you! And you think that I didn't see! Who was practicing to fly on his sword behind the mountain the other day? And I haven't even asked you! If you still pretend, then I'll tell daddy!"


Zhong Minyan's face turned red, "You unexpectedly saw me......don't tell Master! Junior Sister is good, don't tell anyone else, do you understand?"


Linglong was confused and said, "Why can't I tell father? You can already fly on your sword, and your skills are so much better than Fourth Senior Brother and the others. Father would be so happy to hear this!"


Zhong Minyan said seriously, "I will not benefit much from this, but rather be harmed a lot. Even though Master will be happy, all the senior brothers who haven't learned to fly on a sword yet will be scolded. If they are scolded, where will all of this anger eventually go?"


Linglong understood, nodded her head, and said, "What you just said was right......but these things are all so complicated......does everyone think so much like this everyday?"


Zhong Minyan's smile faded. "There are so many more people who think more than this! Come on, stop talking nonsense, aren't we going to see them drawing lots? If we don't go now then I won't have time to send Xuanji her food."


He walked to the cliff, and as expected, there was a row of white jade swords. He picked up a partly-old one, put some weight on it with his left foot, and it slowly floated up with him on it, seeming like it wasn't being completely controlled. He tested to fly around two times, and then smiled at the yelling and screaming Linglong and extended his hand to her, then said, "Get on, little god! Don't chirp like this after you get on."


Linglong was ecstatic. She liked to play with Zhong Minyan. It was still Little Six who was the best. He would do everything the way she liked and he also talked sweetly.


When he was flying the sword up, Linglong suddenly thought of something, and grabbed his sleeve and said childishly, "Little Six, you can not be like Third Senior Brother and Fifth Senior Brother from the past, secretly leaving the mountain to return to their homes because the work was too hard."


Zhong Minyan almost fell off the Changgui Sword, and steadied himself, then smiled bitterly, "Which eye did you use to see me complaining of the hard work and wanting to go home? And besides, my home......I don't have a home to return to anymore, both my parents died from the Plague. Shaoyang Peak is my home."


"Then we must pinky swear." Linglong stuck out her pinky, blinked her large, black eyes, and said, "Little Six will be with me forever, we shall never part."


But Zhong Minyan's smile faded, and he said quietly, "This is only what little girls do. We men always keep our word, and even if we don't pinky swear, we will still accomplish it."


Linglong hated it most when people disagreed with her, and said as she frowned, "I don't care! We must pinky swear!"


Zhong Minyan stuck out his arm, "Here, let's swear with our arms. Pinky swearing is what girls do, I will not do it."


Linglong happily hooked her arm through his, they both seemed so childish, and she said, "If he does not keep this promise about not secretly going down the mountain, then I will have all the teeth in Little Six's mouth fall out, and he will be a toothless old man!"


After swearing, both of them started laughing hysterically, thinking that it was very fun. He was fourteen, and she was eleven, and they were both in their years of innocence and had yet to fully understand the world. Their so-called eternity was just an illusion in their eyes. The 'forever' in their heart was just like the Flower Hairpin Conference that was about to start, it was in front of them, and then disappeared after a while. There was no frustration or sadness in it.


It was said that the two climbed the last few steps to the top of the cloud-filled peak. The top was Biyu Roof, paved with green jade, very clear, warm and beautiful. The two shuffled like cats through the nearby bushes, to see the big disciples of Shaoyang Sect crowded on the rooftop, obviously the ones guarding the peak. Linglong didn't think that drawing lots could be so formal, and was scared , and said in a low voice, "We're done for. It's guarded so heavily, so how are we going to be to see it secretly?"


Seeing this, Zhong Minyan knew that it would be impossible to secretly look. He lowered his head and thought silently for some time, and suddenly came up with something. He pinched Linglong's hand, motioning for her to follow him. Then, he coughed and stood up from the bushes, patted the dust off his clothes and walked grandly to the rooftop. There seemed to be a rabbit in Linglong's chest, and she was jumping so excitedly. She didn't know what Zhog Minyan was going to do, but found it very exciting and fun, and obediently followed him forward.


As expected, when they just walked onto the rooftop, two big disciples stopped them at the front, saying, "Honored Master said that the lots are currently being drawn with the sect leaders of the different sects, and no one is to bother them."


Zhong Minyan seemed unanxious, smiled and then said, "Are you two senior brothers of the 'Zhen' generation? I am here by the order of Yinghong Senior Aunt of Yuyang Hall to pass on a sentence to Madam."


As soon as the two people heard Yinghong Senior Aunt, their faces turned bitter.


It turns out that Shaoyang Sect has seven split halls, and each hall has their own special trait, and Chu *Yinghong was the leader of Yuyang Hall, the sect that created the rules. The disciples of Yuyang Hall were the ones who would check to see if everyone was following the rules, walking around Shouyang Mountain in their white robes and green sashes. Chu Yinghong was like a smiling tiger, and even though she was the youngest out of her generation of aunts and uncles and was only thirty-seven years old this year, the Sect Leader still had to let her do most things her way.


Firstly, her husband was Elder Heyang of Zhenxia Hall, who was specially in charge of punishments; secondly, even though she looked tender and kind, she was actually very difficult to deal with. If anyone broke the rules, they would be immediately taken to be punished, without any exception. If you plead to her, she would agree happily, and then increase your punishment by ten times.


The year when Shaoyang Peak and Southern Mountain Xuanyuan Sect had a dispute, they had relied on her. A woman had caused the elders of Southern Mountain Xuanyuan Sect to be able to say nothing and in the end, the sect leader of Xuanyuan, Zhu Shi Taoist had personally come to Shaoyang Peak to pay his respects to the sect leader, and the two sects had taken an oath to forever remain great friends, linked by the air.


This kind of godly woman, had caused the former sect leader to have only words of praise for her, and many people had recommended her to become the next sect leader. The former sect leader had considered her multiple times, but still gave up on the talented and intelligent her and chose the steady and silent Chu Lei. Fortunately, she had no ambitions to become the hall master of Yuyang Hall by her own skills. But still to this day, the old disciples say that if she ever announces that she was going to leave, then at least one-third of Shaoyang Peak would choose to follow her. It is to be admitted that her ability is not small.


So if this powerful Yinghong Senior Aunt wants to pass on a message, adding on to the fact that she and Madam were very good friends, the two people couldn't dare stop them, and could obediently let them in.


Linglong didn't expect that they would be let in so easily, and looked at Zhong Minyan with admiration. When this person told lies, his face didn't redden and neither did his heartbeat quicken, it was like he was telling the truth. She lifted her head to secretly take a glance at Zhong Minyan to see him still pretending, but his eyes were full of mischievousness.

Pulling on the sleeve, Linglong pinched his arm vigorously and was about to praise him for doing so well when those two people raced up to them again, shouting, "wait a moment!"


The two of them were surprised, and could only think that their lie was exposed, and could only turn their faces.


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