There was a scene that could often be seen in ancient TV dramas.
A just and incorruptible official threw down the command token and shouted: Drag them down and hit them with the cane for thirty floggings!
Both imperial palace maids and eunuchs who made a mistake were dragged down by the imperial guards to be punished with a cane.
“Caning”. Tying the person to a vertical stool, with yamen attendants on both sides holding long sticks to beat their buttocks.
Shen Xingcong once pondered a question when he was bored. In ancient times, there were so many corporal punishments, why was “caning” be the most common?
Afterward, he came to a conclusion on his own.
It’s because the buttocks have a lot of flesh. It hurts to be hit, but it won’t break your bones or tendons. Just lie down for a few days, and it’ll be fine.
Most importantly, being spanked in broad daylight was a very shameful thing. Most people have been caught and spanked by their parents at an unknown age of seven or eight years old at most. If they were a little older, they would probably have self-esteem.
When he heard Shen Xingcong’s words, Xiao Lin was obviously silent.
Shen Xingcong also didn’t bother to be long-winded anymore, grabbed the person’s arm, and walked towards the bed. He pushed the person onto the bed.
Xiao Lin staggered and fell, landing on his knees on the bed, his clothes a little messy.
Shen Xingcong: “Aren’t you afraid of damaging your clothes? Then hurry up and take off your pants.”
“…” Xiao Lin turned his head sideways, “Senior brother is serious?”
Shen Xingcong: “Why, afraid?”
Xiao Lin seemed to smile faintly: “Senior brother’s interest has become quite eccentric lately.”
“Do you think I’m joking?” Shen Xingcong made a gesture to strip someone’s pants off.
Just as his hand tugged on the edge of his pants, he was caught by a hand.
Xiao Lin had always made very little sound when he was beaten in the past. He was just like a puppet that couldn’t feel pain. This time, he actually resisted.
Shen Xingcong raised his eyes: “If you don’t want to, go apologize to the girl.”
Xiao Lin stared at him for a long time and suddenly said: “Does senior brother think I did something wrong?”
Shen Xingcong: “Of course you are wrong!”
“So what you are doing now,” Xiao Lin asked, “Is to seek justice for Mu Xiaorou?”
Shen Xingcong didn’t respond immediately.
He was indeed upset for Mu Xiaorou, but all of it wasn’t for this reason.
Xiao Lin spoke and acted in this manner. To see the big in the small, which in reality, was exactly not to attach importance to others. Therefore, in the original story, there was no sense of guilt for killing Mu Xiaorou.
To Xiao Lin, the “love” of others is just like garbage in a bucket, completely worthless.
Once he thought about this, Shen Xingcong felt a little depressed.
He couldn’t figure out the reason. It stands to reason that he had no fantasies about Xiao Lin from the very beginning. No one understood Xiao Lin’s nature better than him.
But at this moment, he realized the other person’s nature as a “demon seed” once again, and there was an indescribable congestion in his heart.
Xiao Lin’s usual “performance” was probably too normal. Occasionally revealing his side of illogical feelings, only made people’s minds more complicated.
…could he think like this because he didn’t know since when he had expectations for Xiao Lin?
“Probably it’s because,”
Shen Xingcong said something he had never imagined.
“I also want to prove that the prophecies are not necessarily true.”
This was something Xiao Lin had said before.
When mentioning the reason for stopping the other person from restoring his spiritual roots, the other person’s rhetorical question left him completely speechless.
“To you, there is really no one you value in?”
Hearing this, Xiao Lin paused for a while.
Silence fell within the room.
Shen Xingcong still maintained the action of half-pressing the person, then realized that the posture wasn’t quite proper and straightened up.
What was he saying? Obviously, from the very beginning, it was just to “educate” this kid. How come the more he thought about it, the deeper it got.
It was meaningless.
The answer was clearly given earlier in the original story.
Not only Mu Xiaorou, but also Senior Sister Yun Xiu, Senior Brother Murong, Senior Brother Yu Fei, and even Master. No matter how well he was treated, they would all be killed in the future by this person without a change of face.
Xiao Lin wouldn’t take any of them to heart, so what use were these few words of his.
Anyway, right now, he only wants Xiao Lin to go and apologize. Whether sincere or not.
Shen Xingcong was planning to threaten the matter of “spanking” again but saw Xiao Lin stretching his hand out to him: “Give it to me.”
Shen Xingcong: Ah?
“Scented pouch.” Xiao Lin looked up, “This time, I will listen to senior brother.”
.
Shen Xingcong didn’t know why Xiao Lin suddenly changed his mind. But seeing this, he also took hold of the other person’s hand and took advantage of holding it up.
Walking out of the house.
Shen Xingcong waited for Xiao Lin to close the door and walked out a few steps alone.
However, he saw a sneaky silhouette in the woods not far away.
He carefully approached and actually saw that it was Senior Brother Murong. The other person was pacing in the forest with his hands clasped behind his back and a calm face.
He didn’t know what he was thinking deeply about and was oblivious to his approach.
“Murong…”
As soon as Shen Xingcong uttered two words, the opposite side suddenly stopped as if frightened.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Shen Xingcong surprisingly said: “Senior Brother Murong, what are you doing here?”
“Ct, fc.”
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Zegbcu bqfcfv tlr wbeat, atfc rjlv: “P obguba.”
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Shen Xingcong wasn’t surprised and smiled: “Then senior brother, think more about it. I have something to deal with Xiao Lin now, and will return later.”
He was about to leave but was stopped.
Murong somehow had a strange look on his face and walked a few points closer to him. Leaning close to his ear, and said: “Xingcong, I believe that you are not a forceful person.”
Shen Xingcong: ?
A weight was pressed on his shoulders, and he could hear the other person’s low voice in his ears.
“Moderation.”
Dropping such a sentence, Murong seemed to put down the big stone in his heart and walked away.
Shen Xingcong stood dumbfounded in place, watching the other person’s figure disappear.
Senior Brother Murong, did you read some colloquial storybooks?
.
He didn’t understand it and still didn’t comprehend it.
Shen Xingcong originally couldn’t guess Senior Brother Murong’s thoughts many times, and he didn’t take them seriously.
Afterwards, he met up with Xiao Lin and went to find Mu Xiaorou together.
Since she would leave the peak tomorrow, the other person was packing up inside the house.
Mu Xiaorou looked very surprised at the sudden visit of the two of them. She saw Xiao Lin’s still somewhat timid and evasive attitude, and when she heard the other person apologize, her eyes widened even more.
At least in a sense, Xiao Lin’s acting skills were still good.
Mu Xiaorou easily accepted the apology. She took the crumpled scented pouch and pinched it with her fingertips as she lowered her head: “Actually, I am also responsible. It was too insincere to entrust someone to pass it on for fear that you wouldn’t accept it.”
Shen Xingcong: “Xiaorou…”
“To say that I don’t care at all is probably a lie. But since this matter has been clarified, I can finally let it go.” Mu Xiaorou wiped the corners of her eyes with her fingers.
“I’m going to leave the peak tomorrow, will you come to see me off?”
Shen Xingcong: “Of course.”
Mu Xiaorou finally smiled and then said to the young man who was the same age as her: “Xiao Lin, you should also come. After this, as we are both fellow disciples, we have to get along well.”
After saying goodbye to Mu Xiaorou, the two of them walked back.
The trees on both sides shaded the sun, casting large shadows on the soil. Occasionally, the sunlight was mottled, reflecting small light spots on the tree trunks.
Shen Xingcong walked faster.
In his opinion, this matter was finally over. Although the road was bumpy and accidents occurred frequently, it should also be considered to cut off the fate of the two couples.
As long as Mu Xiaorou was no longer close to Xiao Lin in the future, the ending could always be avoided to be as miserable as the original story.
“Senior brother.”
He heard the person behind him call him and turned around immediately.
Xiao Lin stood under the shade. Only his hair was slightly soaked in sunlight.
“You asked just now. Is it now that you also finally find the prophecy ridiculous?”
“…”
Shen Xingcong did have a momentary shake. But he quickly saw the reality clearly and put those unrealistic “expectations” at the back of his mind.
He didn’t respond directly: “So what.”
Xiao Lin: “Senior brother understands me, I am so grateful.”
This was probably another technique used to “act well-behaved” in everyday life.
Shen Xingcong pulled the corner of his mouth, and just as he was about to answer, he heard the next sentence.
“In addition, I want to tell senior brother.”
Xiao Lin curved his eyes and said.
“At least for now, senior brother is special to me.”
The white clouds scattered, and the sunlight intensified. Passing through the heavy overlapping leaves, it fell on the young man’s handsome appearance.
Perhaps because of the sunlight, the black pupils weren’t as deep as usual. On the contrary, it refracted faint light.
Shen Xingcong couldn’t help but be motionless.
.
Not long after going back, Shen Xingcong finally figured out the meaning of these words.
For now, he was “special” to Xiao Lin.
If this wasn’t the usual rhetoric of showing off and pretending to be well-behaved, but was sincere, then there was only one possibility.
Xiao Lin needed his blood and was trapped by the life and death contract. The two of them were bound together and were naturally “special” to each other.
Perhaps it was the scenery that made it so. When he heard him just now, he was a bit touched, thinking that Xiao Lin really treated him as a “senior brother”. Now that he has carefully thought about it, he realized that he has overthought it.
The next day was to see Mu Xiaorou off. Just like when the person came, all of the disciples of Jing Xin Peak came over to see her off.
Mu Xiaorou’s next stop was Liu Ming Peak. The other side’s welcome disciples hadn’t yet arrived, so they stayed put and talked more.
Senior Sister Yun Xiu held Mu Xiaorou’s hand and repeatedly urged her to come over when she wanted to. If she had any questions about cultivation, she could also ask.
Mu Xiaorou smiled and replied one by one.
Afterward, she said goodbye to Senior Brother Murong and Senior Brother Yu Fei, one after another.
“Many thanks to two senior brothers for taking care of me.” Mu Xiaorou bowed deeply, “Xiaorou will not dare to forget in the future.”
Mu Rong nodded implicitly. Yu Fei, however, was unwilling to let go and wanted to go for a hug. However, his back was slapped by Yun Xiu.
“Men and women are different, so you must not be rude.” Yun Xiu glared.
Yu Fei was aggrieved.
Mu Xiaorou went to say goodbye to Xiao Lin, still slightly shy: “That, I have caused you trouble during this period of time. It’s all my fault for being hot-headed and losing my propriety for a while.”
Xiao Lin was polite but slightly alienated: “See you later.”
Finally, it was Shen Xingcong’s turn. Mu Xiaorou hadn’t said a few words before she felt a gust of wind blowing above her head. Several disciples from Liu Ming Peak came with their swords, cupped their hands, and said: “Come to greet Senior Mu.”
Mu Xiaorou was a bit flustered for a moment and grabbed Shen Xingcong: “That, Brother Xingcong, you come closer a little. I have something to say to you.”
Didn’t want the others to hear it?
But with the hearing ability of the people present, even if the volume was lowered, it was useless.
Although he was puzzled, Shen Xingcong still bent over: “What——”
Halfway through his sentence, he felt a softness on his cheek.
Mu Xiaorou unexpectedly put up her toes and kissed him lightly on the face. It was like a dragonfly skimming the water’s surface. It was fleeting.
“Brother Xingcong, you have always been helping me all the time. Yesterday as well, thank you.”
When waiting for Shen Xingcong to respond, the young girl had already run away with a red face. While waving her hand and smilingly said: “Goodbye, Brother Xingcong!”
Liu Ming Peak’s disciples were all stupefied. And yet, the person in question had already summoned her flying swords to ascend. They didn’t have time to ask more questions and hurriedly followed this nominally “senior” away.
The grass set off a burst of green waves due to the wind. Shen Xingcong’s hair was blown into disarray, standing in place, already frozen.
Until his back was slapped heavily.
“Not bad ah brat.” Yu Fei envied, “When did you get so close to Xiaorou, how come I don’t know?”
Murong looked at Shen Xingcong and then at Xiao Lin on the side and muttered: “Love triangle.”
Yun Xiu was also shocked. But after all, it was Mu Xiaorou who took the initiative, so she couldn’t say anything.
“Young cultivators nowadays ah…”
In the end, only such a sentence was sighed out.
These words completely went into Shen Xingcong’s left ear and out of his right ear. He completely didn’t understand why Mu Xiaorou suddenly kissed him, even in public.
Although he couldn’t figure out the reason. But, but…
Shen Xingcong rubbed his face.
As she was the favorite character in the original story, there was a feeling of being intimate with an idol. The mood couldn’t be described as bad.
Moreover, the girl’s lip was so soft.
The mood was like a feather, floating lightly in midair.
“Senior brother, you drool.”
The next second was shattered by reality.
Shen Xingcong subconsciously wiped the corners of his mouth and realized that there was nothing at all. Turning around, he glared angrily: “What nonsense, where am I that wretched!”
Xiao Lin: “…”
He averted his eyes, “I saw the corners of senior brother’s mouth grin to the base of his ears, and I thought it was leaking.”
What!?
Shen Xingcong cupped his face.
Was his own smile that exaggerated.
“Xingcong ah.” At this time, a weight pressed on his shoulders, Yu Fei spoke meaningful and heartfelt words. “At first, you obstructed Xiaorou from coming over in every possible way, and I thought it was because you couldn’t bear to let go of Xiao Lin. Actually, I was the one who misunderstood.”
Murong’s gaze once again roamed over the two people, muttering a word: “Sour.”
“It’s not!” Shen Xingcong could never let the pure feelings between idol and fan be tainted.
“She just kissed me because she was grateful, it’s not like she has another meaning.”
“Okay.” Yu Fei crossed his arms, “Then how come she didn’t kiss me or Murong or Xiao Lin, but only you?”
Shen Xingcong thought momentarily: “Maybe because I am the most handsome?”
Yu Fei exclaimed, “This traitor is shameless”.
“Alright, don’t say so much.” Yun Xiu frowned, “Since Xiaorou has left, today’s practice must not be slacken. All hurry back.”
The crowd walked back.
Shen Xingcong glanced at Xiao Lin from the corner of his eyes, still somewhat uneasy. He purposely distanced himself from the people in front of him before he came over and said: “She must be grateful because I helped you two make up. She definitely has no other intention.”
Xiao Lin glanced at him: “What is senior brother saying this for.”
Shen Xingcong: “I am afraid that you will misunderstand.”
After all, when the other person called him “Brother Xingcong” before, Xiao Lin was weird.
At that time, he didn’t guess the reason. Because Teacher Lan Jin’s sudden seclusion was too confusing, he put it behind him.
But later on, he guessed a bit.
Xiao Lin called him special, probably because of the “life and death contract”. If he valued others too much, Xiao Lin was afraid that he would feel forced to get involved in trouble, which would be inconvenient for him.
“Anyway, don’t worry.” Shen Xingcong put his hand on his shoulder, “As far as I’m concerned, you’re definitely the most ‘special’ as well.”
Xiao Lin glanced at the palm that landed on his shoulder and narrowed his eyes slightly.
“It is good that senior brother understands.”
This should be considered as settled?
“Then let’s hurry, we are far away from the people in front.”
Shen Xingcong was about to move forward, but his palm was grasped.
“Besides,” Xiao Lin added, “If the other person takes the initiative, I don’t care.”
Shen Xingcong: Ah?
He saw that Xiao Lin looked at him. The other person’s mouth was hooked, but his eyes weren’t even curved: “So, senior brother also does not need to explain to me.”
“Whether it’s kissing you, hugging you, or wanting to dual cultivate with you. As long as senior brother is not tempted, all is senior brother’s freedom.”
This, this topic has jumped too far.
Shen Xingcong was dumbfounded and nodded in confusion. And suddenly felt wrong: “You also do not need to extend it so improperly!”
Xiao Lin: “What’s improper with that?”
Shen Xingcong pointed out: “At your age, kissing and hugging is enough. What’s all this talk about dual cultivation, and what kind of miscellaneous books are you actually reading usually.”
Xiao Lin gazed at him for a while and suddenly turned his head and sighed.
Shen Xingcong: …
What about this inexplicable feeling of being despised.
“In short,” Shen Xingcong restored his spirit, “Let’s not talk about what you think. Even if it doesn’t matter to you, if you want to kiss anyone, hug anyone, or become couple with anyone, I will be the first to disallow it.”
It wasn’t easy to save Mu Xiaorou, he didn’t want a second or third “Mu Xiaorou”.
Xiao Lin was silent for a long time and spoke: “Senior brother is so unreasonable.”
Shen Xingcong justified: “How am I unreasonable?”
“…quite so.”
Xiao Lin raised his head slightly, the bottom of his eyes reflecting the scenery above.
“When senior brother wanted to tie a contract before, he also never asked for my opinion.”
“If asked,” Shen Xingcong said, “You will definitely make some tricks.”
Because this kind of contract, depending on Xiao Lin’s temper, he was never likely to agree.
And he was very determined at the time. He had been forced to a dead end, and this was the only way to go.
Xiao Lin smiled and didn’t respond to this. Looking sideways: “So according to senior brother’s meaning, you want me to be alone and miserable for the rest of my life?”
This was what Shen Xingcong meant.
Anyway, this person couldn’t show any sincerity to anyone, so why bother to harm others.
Seeing his acquiescence, Xiao Lin moved a little bit closer: “Then surely senior brother has already prepared himself mentally to accompany me to be alone and miserable for the rest of his life?”
Shen Xingcong didn’t think too far ahead.
Transmigrated to this world, how long his life would be, and whether or not he would meet the person he admired later.
If it really came to that, just the fact that he had made a life and death contract with the demon seed would not qualify him to make a promise to the person he loved.
That was why when he first heard Xiao Lin’s curse-like whisper, he couldn’t help but feel scared.
【This is a contract made by the senior brother himself.】
Because of this sentence, he inexplicably felt that he would no longer be able to do anything in his own life.
But now at this moment, Shen Xingcong wasn’t so afraid.
Perhaps it was the complete mastery of that huge power over the past year and a half; or the realization that Xiao Lin also had a “weakness”?
Shen Xingcong was unclear of the exact reason, but he was finally able to respond to it.
He didn’t remain speechless as he did when he first made the contract, but instead gazed into Xiao Lin’s eyes.
“Okay.” Shen Xingcong said softly, “I will accompany you for the rest of my life.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Lin blinked his eyes.
This move caused his bottomless black pupils to no longer be so terrifying, instead showing a bit of spiritual life.
The corners of his mouth were slightly tugged, and the muscles were pulled.
Shen Xingcong saw his own shadow in the other person’s immersed eyes.
“Really interesting.”
He seemed to hear this sentence beside his ear.
Shen Xingcong was the same.
It was clear that they used to dislike each other the most, and now they would actually say such things.
If he went back to the moment he had just transmigrated and told himself that this would happen in the future, he would definitely not believe it.
Originally, this kind of promise should only appear between people who love each other. Now, it seemed that it wasn’t necessarily so.
Shen Xingcong smiled as well.
“Interesting, isn’t it?”
The author has something to say:
The next chapter will move forward into the adulthood chapter.
Translator’s notes:
Interesting! XD I really love Murong’s character.
Oh, and just a bit of an explanation from the author’s notes, I’ve skimmed through the next chapter, and there will be a time skip. So, you can look forward to it!
Wao finally adulthood. Then there comes some spicy scene as well 😁
Thank You for the new chapter (ෆ❛ัᵌ❛ัෆ)°
Thank you for the update 🌺
Yay finally adulthood! 🥳
Senior brother Murong has misunderstood 😰
Thank you for the chapter !!
Senior brother murong really was
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