I Might Be a Big Shot — Chapter 6
On the cliffs of the Soul-Breaking Gorge, not a blade of grass grew. Unless someone was driven to despair — or forced there — no one would normally come here. Ordinary people avoided the cliffs as if their lives depended on it; why would anyone seek death here? And cultivators knew this place held no vitality and dared not approach either.
Thus, the escape of Changkong Zhuoyu and Li Xinglun from the gorge was extraordinarily quiet — nothing like the scene Changkong Zhuoyu imagined, where he would split mountains and rivers with a single stroke, fly straight from the gorge floor to the cliff top, crash into a group of fighting cultivators, and then shine brilliantly, instantly making a name for himself in the cultivation world.
The truth was, Changkong Zhuoyu hacked open a path with all his strength at the gorge’s bottom, and Li Xinglun, taking advantage of that trace of spiritual energy, simply hoisted Changkong Zhuoyu and flew up to the top, escaping that place completely. Once out, Li Xinglun set Changkong Zhuoyu down on the desolate cliff top — not even a bird around — then lay spread-eagled on the ground, gasping heavily, rejoicing at having survived.
But Changkong Zhuoyu was decidedly unhappy.
They had climbed out of the Soul-Breaking Gorge! This was possibly the first time since the war of the gods war that anyone had emerged alive — such an event was rarer than someone successfully crossing the ascension tribulation. How could no one know? How could no one bang gongs and drums to welcome them back to life?
“Ah…” Changkong Zhuoyu sighed long and melancholy. “The world has declined, and hearts have grown cold. My subordinates of old — so disloyal! Not a single one even tried to come here and look for me. I don’t ask that they all be here, but at least one or two truly loyal ones should have camped here with dry rations, waiting bitterly for centuries until I finally emerged. Then, seeing a rainbow light shoot from the gorge into the sky, he would rush to me with tears streaming, kneel at my feet, clutch my leg, and weep about how hard life has been without me… That’s how it ought to be!”
Li Xinglun: “…I have just one request of you. In front of others, say as little as possible. If you must speak, keep it to a word or two. Also, keep your movements small — when nodding, just a slight tilt will do. And never, ever eat in front of others — it completely ruins the immortal aura you’re trying to project.”
“Why?” Changkong Zhuoyu widened his eyes, his face reading clearly: ‘This is unfair.’
“Aren’t you trying to take me as your disciple?” Li Xinglun raised his head. “When I choose a master, there are requirements. Too weak — no. Too dumb — no. You… made it out of the gorge, so your strength is not bad, but you’re… naïve. Until you recover your memories, keep a tighter rein on yourself.”
“That makes sense.” Changkong Zhuoyu nodded in agreement. “Since I want you as my disciple, I must meet your standards for a master.”
Seeing him agree so easily, Li Xinglun wiped a cold sweat inwardly. Luckily, Changkong Zhuoyu was easy to manipulate; otherwise, if others found out how gullible he was, it’d be a problem.
That’s right — Li Xinglun had already decided to stick with Changkong Zhuoyu. First, because his own strength was too weak and he needed a talisman. Second, because Changkong Zhuoyu was simply too easy to fool — Li Xinglun couldn’t trust him to deal with others. Someone like him could be talked into working for anyone with a halfway convincing story, maybe even handing over his very soul to be forged into a weapon, still cheerfully saying: ‘Glad I could help…’
The thought of that was unbearable — better to stay with him.
Since the place was quiet, this was the best spot to recover. Li Xinglun sat cross-legged, steadying the turbulent energy in his body after resisting the divine power earlier. He had nearly shattered his true essence just forcing his way out of the gorge, while Changkong Zhuoyu — who had opposed the entire gorge’s divine power — sat beside him, seemingly unbothered, not even needing to adjust his breathing.
After thirty-six cycles of his true essence restoring his internal balance, Li Xinglun opened his eyes and saw Changkong Zhuoyu crouched on the ground, fascinated by a line of ants moving house. When he noticed one ant struggling to carry its food, he even used a wisp of spiritual energy to help it along, lightening its load so it could deliver the food to its new burrow.
Li Xinglun: “….”
That level of control over spiritual energy was astounding. A powerful cultivator might well split mountains and rivers, but to lighten an ant’s burden without it even noticing, without harming it in the slightest — that kind of precision was frightening.
Even ordinary people couldn’t guarantee not crushing ants when they stepped, let alone cultivators with far greater power.
Yet such a fearsome technique — and he was using it to help ants move house?
Li Xinglun felt a lump in his chest, even more worried about Changkong Zhuoyu’s future. Changkong Zhuoyu always claimed to have been someone important with countless subordinates — and maybe it wasn’t just talk. Even if he’d cut ties with the past, he should still have some impressions.
Which only made it worse, because someone like him had almost certainly been betrayed by his own subordinates to end up in that gorge.
So not only did Li Xinglun have to avoid being recognized by his own unknown enemies, he had to make sure Changkong Zhuoyu’s old followers didn’t recognize Changkong Zhuoyu either. At least Li Xinglun could run if discovered — but Changkong Zhuoyu? He’d probably happily run right back into their trap.
“Master,” Li Xinglun called resignedly, “are you finished?”
Having watched the ants reach their new home, Changkong Zhuoyu stood up, solemnly, and said, “Yes. I have been guarding you this whole time. Now that you’re done, so am I.”
Li Xinglun’s mouth twitched. “Then let’s go. We can’t stay here — I need revenge, and you need to recover your memories. Better to head back to the cultivation world.”
“Revenge?” Changkong Zhuoyu frowned, never having heard Li Xinglun mention his past before. “Do you have some deep grudge?”
Perhaps because Changkong Zhuoyu was so pure, his question carried no malice — only a faint concern. Li Xinglun didn’t struggle much before telling his story briefly. His expression stayed calm, neither nostalgic when recalling his pampered youth nor bitter when mentioning the massacre of his family — as if recounting someone else’s tale.
“That’s it,” Li Xinglun said flatly. “I bear a blood-deep grudge, yet don’t even know who my enemies are or how strong they might be. And I myself am barely at Foundation Building — avenging my family is no easy task. You taking me as a disciple is hardly worth it. Luckily, in this world, disciples can’t betray their sect, but masters can expel disciples. If you think I’m too much trouble, just kick me out.”
“That won’t do!” Changkong Zhuoyu immediately retorted. “Without you, who would fetch tea, pick wild fruits for me? And since you’re in danger, I can’t possibly leave you alone to seek revenge in the cultivation world. A master must protect his disciple.”
Li Xinglun had said all this to test him, and hearing such a righteous response, his lips twitched — but gradually softened into a faint smile.
“In that case, Master, don’t dislike having a debt-laden disciple like me.” Li Xinglun clasped his hands and bowed sincerely.
“How could someone as formidable as I be afraid of a little debt?” Changkong Zhuoyu leaned close, lowering his voice as if afraid of being overheard. “Let me tell you — I’m sure I have a treasure trove somewhere.”
Li Xinglun: “….”
“With my great strength, I must’ve amassed countless rare treasures, divine artifacts, and miracle pills. Once I recover my memories, we’ll go retrieve it. Someone of my caliber doesn’t even need these things — they’ll all be yours. You’ll advance rapidly, and then you can personally kill your enemies! And even if you can’t, don’t worry — you still have me!” Changkong Zhuoyu declared confidently.
Li Xinglun: “….”
Good thing he was naturally calm and not prone to daydreams — otherwise, he might actually believe that nonsense!
“Master, perhaps we should first figure out how to change our appearances.” The best way to deal with Changkong Zhuoyu’s fantasies was to change the subject. “My enemies surely think I’m long dead — I can’t let them find out I’m alive. And Master, you’re so powerful — we’re bound to dominate the cultivation world eventually, so of course we can’t show our faces. We’ll need a face-changing pill. As for you…”
Thinking of how eagerly Changkong Zhuoyu wanted his subordinates to recognize him, Li Xinglun changed the wording: “You should change your face too. Think about it — if even with a changed face your loyal subordinates still recognize you, that’s true loyalty.”
“That makes sense.” Changkong Zhuoyu nodded approvingly. “That was my thought as well.”
“Oh? How so?”
“Disciple, I always felt… I didn’t look like this in the past.” Changkong Zhuoyu touched his own face. “Maybe to overcome a deadly tribulation and forget everything, I had to completely remake myself?”
“…Even so, changing your face seems safer.”
“No! I must have been the most handsome man in the cultivation world. How could I lose this elegance and grace by changing my face?” Changkong Zhuoyu refused firmly.
Li Xinglun: “…Fine. Whatever makes you happy.”
Though Changkong Zhuoyu was entirely unreliable, one thing about him was true — his vague intuitions were almost always right. Like when he said they could get out of the gorge — and they had.
And… looking at that face, so striking it dimmed heaven and earth, Li Xinglun also thought it would be a shame to hide it away.
~ Chapter End ~
Comments
Post a Comment