(14)
Ever since being repeatedly screwed over by various brainless teammates while forming a party in Sand Town, Jiang Xing had developed an extreme aversion to teaming up with anyone.
If he were to choose, the members of his team had to be obedient, and when necessary, they could be kicked out to serve as human meat shields.
Yan Zhun fit the criteria perfectly. First, Yan Zhun was not very smart and easy to deceive; when Jiang Xing previously sent him to find Zishu Bai, he went without the slightest hesitation, never once suspecting whether Jiang Xing would turn around and sell him to human traffickers.
Second, he had little capability—his natural talent was low, his cultivation level was weak, and he was exceedingly easy to handle.
Third, although he was kind-hearted like Zishu Bai, he was timid and dared not meddle in other people’s business, so he would not stir up trouble or cause unnecessary complications.
Thinking about it this way, Yan Zhun was simply the most suitable teammate.
Seeing Jiang Xing grab Yan Zhun and prepare to leave, Zishu Bai hurriedly blocked the doorway and asked with concern, “Where are you two going?”
Having his path blocked, Jiang Xing’s face darkened, and his tone turned cold: “Get out of the way.”
What did this have to do with Zishu Bai anyway?
Didn’t he have other friends in the East Palace? What did it matter if there was one more or one less Yan Zhun? A side character and small cannon-fodder like Yan Zhun was unworthy of entering the all-powerful, expert-filled protagonist group.
“I want to know why you’re taking him away.”
Zishu Bai was tall and broad-shouldered to begin with, blocking the doorway so tightly that Jiang Xing couldn’t even bypass him.
Jiang Xing had no choice but to look up at Zishu Bai, whose expression was tense, as if he thought Jiang Xing was going to take Yan Zhun out to be sold.
Jiang Xing let out a cold sneer, pulled out a mission scroll from his lapel, unfurled it with a rustle, and shoved it in front of Zishu Bai’s face. “Look clearly. I’m taking him out of the mountain to slay demons. Why, do I need to report this to you?”
It was clearly stated on the scroll that inner sect disciples had the right to select any outer sect disciple they wished to team up with, and outer sect disciples could not refuse for any reason.
After reading everything on it, Zishu Bai’s breathing hitched slightly. He said in a low voice, “This mission involves demon cultivators—it’s very dangerous. Who else did you select as a teammate?”
Demon cultivators?
Jiang Xing hadn’t looked closely at what his mission actually was yet, but even if there really were demon cultivators, it couldn’t possibly be very dangerous. How could the sect hand over a dangerous mission to a disciple who had just entered the inner sect?
Therefore, having just him and Yan Zhun for this mission was enough.
Zishu Bai pursed his lips. As if reading his thoughts, he whispered, “Are you planning to go with just the two of you?”
Hearing this, Yan Zhun’s face changed drastically. He looked at Jiang Xing in utter disbelief. “You’re only bringing me? What kind of joke is this? Forget about high demons, I can’t even beat a low-level demon!”
Jiang Xing grabbed his shoulder and interrupted coldly, “Shut up. If you don’t want to go, feel free to go protest to the elders and see if they agree.”
At those words, Yan Zhun looked at Zishu Bai with a face full of despair, his eyes practically screaming the word help.
Even though Jiang Xing had indeed entered the inner sect relying on his own strength, Yan Zhun similarly hadn’t forgotten Jiang Xing’s terrible swordsmanship and the scene during the demon-slaying assessment where he was almost beaten to death by a demon cultivator.
“The two of us going to fight a high demon is absolutely seeking death,” Yan Zhun tried earnestly to advise Jiang Xing, his tone filled with utmost sincerity and a strong desire to survive. “Besides, isn’t there another outer sect expert standing right here? Why not bring Brother Xiao Bai along?”
Jiang Xing impatiently ignored his words and prepared to drag him away by force, but Zishu Bai shifted slightly and blocked them once more.
Jiang Xing raised his head, meeting Zishu Bai’s unblinking gaze, which seemed to carry a hint of probing as Zishu Bai softly tested the waters: “Why don’t you go ask Senior Brother Wu to go with you?”
As those words fell, Jiang Xing’s body stiffened slightly. He subconsciously replied coldly, “What’s it to you?”
Zishu Bai continued to stare at him. That gaze made Jiang Xing feel inexplicably furious, as if his entire self had been stripped naked and seen right through. He couldn’t help but say even more harshly, “What right do you have to interfere with my choices? I’ll pick whoever I want to pick, and leave out whoever I want to leave out. What are you to me to be fit to point fingers at me here?”
Frightened by Jiang Xing’s fury, Yan Zhun tugged at his sleeve and whispered, “What’s wrong with you? There’s no need to speak so harshly. Brother Xiao Bai was just asking.”
However, Jiang Xing glared at him fiercely and said in a heavy voice, “I speak harshly? He’s the one blocking my way here the whole time. Me not drawing my sword to cut him down is already showing mercy.”
Why not go with Wu Moxun? Why were there so many ‘whys’? Was Zishu Bai intentionally trying to make him state out loud that Wu Moxun disliked his poor swordsmanship and would never go on a mission with him?
Did he want to humiliate him that badly?
“I just wanted to say,” Zishu Bai lowered his eyelashes, his voice gentle and soft, “if he won’t go with you, I can accompany you.”
Hearing his words, Jiang Xing clenched his palms tightly and said coldly, “I don’t need you.”
Even without Zishu Bai, he could still survive just fine.
He didn’t need anyone’s pity. No matter how many times Zishu Bai asked him, his answer would always be that he didn’t need it!
Zishu Bai looked at him in silence. After a long moment, he whispered, “But I want to go with you. We haven’t spoken to each other in a long time.”
It wasn’t pity, nor was it about worry—he simply wanted to go slay demons together with Jiang Xing. All the things he said earlier were merely setup for this single sentence.
Jiang Xing’s expression froze abruptly. Then he heard Zishu Bai’s voice, which sounded almost like a plea: “I promise I won’t cause you trouble. My swordsmanship is good, and I’ll definitely be more useful than Yan Zhun.”
Yan Zhun: “…He’s not wrong.”
“And I’ve recently learned many new spells. I’ve even mastered that move you used in the inner sect assessment.”
“Indeed, he was just teaching me that a moment ago, but I couldn’t learn it. You two have both swordsmanship and spellcraft—doesn’t that make a perfect match?”
The two chimed in one after another—one trying his best to sell himself, and the other trying his best to sell the former. Jiang Xing couldn’t even find a moment to chime in.
“What do you think?” Zishu Bai talked for quite a while before realizing Jiang Xing hadn’t responded, so he couldn’t help adding, “If you really want Yan Zhun to go, bring me along too. It’d be great if the three of us go together.”
Yan Zhun took a deep breath and said in a low voice, “It’d be even better if you don’t let me go. I can pray for you two in the sect and have the Ancestral Master bless you.”
Jiang Xing’s eyes fell upon them. After a moment, he faintly looked away and mockingly said to Zishu Bai, “I think we’d better forget it. Don’t you still have to accompany those friends of yours?”
Zishu Bai froze for a moment, then whispered, “Your matters are more important.”
Grandma had said that if he could make more friends, perhaps it could dilute his possessiveness over Jiang Xing. But if he really had to choose, he wanted to be with Jiang Xing more—doing anything was fine, even if it wasn’t going on a mission, but simply chatting, eating meals, or looking at the scenery of Wuwang Sect, as long as Jiang Xing was willing.
They hadn’t spoken in a long time, but Zishu Bai had occasionally seen Jiang Xing a few times—he had seen him practicing swordplay with Wu Moxun, and had also seen Jiang Xing chatting with Fang Wenjie. He thought Jiang Xing’s world didn’t lack him, which was why he hadn’t gone to disturb him.
Yan Zhun’s gaze drifted back and forth between the two of them. Seeming to notice something, he let out a low chuckle: “Brother Xiao Bai, how come I’ve never heard you say words like ‘my matters are more important’ to me?”
Teased by him, Zishu Bai’s face instantly grew scalding hot. He stammered in embarrassment, “What important matters do you have? Jiang Xing’s matter is proper business.”
“Oho…” Yan Zhun dragged out his tone meaningfully, smiling as he said, “And here I thought it was because Jiang Xing is more important to you in your heart than I am.”
As soon as those words fell, Zishu Bai’s face turned even redder. He stuttered, trying to argue back, when Jiang Xing suddenly spoke out of nowhere: “Are you two done talking?”
Both of them stopped and looked toward him. Jiang Xing stowed the scroll away, placing it back inside his lapel, and spoke expressionlessly, “If you want to come with me, that’s fine too. But I must state beforehand: the rewards will be split 60/40. The two of you get 40%, and I get 60%.”
Hearing this, Yan Zhun couldn’t help but curse under his breath, “The two of us get 20% each? You’re way too crafty!”
“If you have the capability, enter the inner sect yourself.” Jiang Xing sneered softly, saying nonchalantly, “If you don’t, then shut your mouth and take it.”
Although his tone still wasn’t great, Zishu Bai inexplicably felt that Jiang Xing’s mood seemed to have improved just a tiny bit.
He couldn’t tell which sentence of theirs had dissolved Jiang Xing’s anger, but seeing Jiang Xing’s mood turn better, he felt happy as well.
“I don’t need a reward—you two can split it 60/40.” Zishu Bai smiled gently, suddenly stepping forward to pull both of them into a tight embrace. His voice was tender: “This is great—the three of us can be together again.”
Caught off guard by his tight hug, Jiang Xing almost instantly had the other party’s scent rush into his nose—a subtle scent of gardenias, clean and refreshing, wrapping his entire body within it.
He wasn’t used to being hugged, or rather, he had rarely been held like this by anyone. His body subconsciously resisted this unfamiliar sensation, and he awkwardly pushed Zishu Bai away, his tone filled with distaste: “Stay far away from me.”
However, Yan Zhun yanked him back with a grab and mocked, “What’s wrong with a quick hug? Are you embarrassed? How come you weren’t embarrassed when I carried you on my back earlier?”
Brought up that tiny bit of nonsense for a lifetime—Jiang Xing ground his teeth, raised his leg, and kicked him, making Yan Zhun howl in pain.
“Are you sick? If I can’t have kids in the future, it’s all on you!”
Having vented his anger, Jiang Xing was in a much better mood. The moment he raised his head, he bumped completely unprepared into Zishu Bai’s shallowly smiling eyes.
His mind abruptly recalled that sentence from earlier—Your matters are more important. Jiang Xing’s heart skipped a beat, and he immediately darted his gaze away as if dodging.
He truly didn’t need friends.
It didn’t matter if he had no friends; he could live very well all on his own.
Yet the Jiang Xing from his childhood, back when he was at his most ignorant and clueless, had also once hoped that someone would be willing to keep him company.
“Are you Jiang Xing?”
“I’ll share half of my eraser with you. You don’t have to give it back.”
“Don’t talk to him. He’s dirty and smelly all over, and he always gets into fights. He’s a wild kid with no mom or dad.”
“Teacher, Jiang Xing is beating people up again!”
“If you don’t write a self-criticism letter, you’re not allowed to go home. I really don’t know how your family raised a child like you—no wonder the other students aren’t willing to play with you.”
That half-eraser sliced open by a pocketknife was something he had once wanted but failed to get.
If someone gave it to him, he would never return it. Even if he didn’t want it, he would never let anyone take it away.
Unreasonable, selfish, and willful—that was how Jiang Xing was.
It was Zishu Bai who had provoked him first.