Chapter 121: Try Saying That Again

After Zhang Ning said those words, it felt as though the entire world fell silent for an instant. But Chu Hanyu made no comment, merely saying with a smile, “Is that so? Let us read for two hours first!”

Zhang Ning had completely forgotten what he had been thinking about the day before. Inside, he was shouting at the top of his lungs: “Good heavens! I do not want to read. I only want to look at my Master’s smiling face. I could stare at it all day!”

Two hours later.

With Chu Hanyu’s permission to go out for a short walk, Zhang Ning was so delighted he could have taken flight. He had actually experienced the feeling of recess once more. His good mood was not spoiled even when Chu Hanyu called him back just before he left and inexplicably patted him twice on the shoulder blade before finally letting him go.

But Zhang Ning had barely dashed outside, without even having time to find a few senior disciples or Han Zun and share the joy of receiving special instruction from his Master, when he was summoned to the Grand Elder’s residence. Zhang Ning was so bewildered that, for a moment, he could not even remember who this Grand Elder was.

…Oh, right. Su Ye’s backer, was he not? What a skillful opportunist. Zhang Ning had only come out for a brief rest, and even that had been noticed.

What Zhang Ning did not know was that the Grand Elder had also been startled by his subordinate’s efficiency. After hearing that Zhang Ning had been taken under the Venerable’s direct guidance, the Grand Elder had prepared himself for the possibility of not seeing him for quite some time. He had practically watched Chu Hanyu grow up and knew very well how seriously he took responsibility for his disciples. Unless he molded Zhang Ning into something respectable, he probably would not let go. Thus, the Grand Elder had been contentedly eating, drinking, and amusing himself, and had even planned to leave the sect after a while to go out and play…

To travel, that was.

He had never expected that, although he always claimed to be undisciplined and frivolous, his prestige within the sect was actually formidable. The factions that had formed around him of their own accord were by no means weak, much less the subordinate to whom he had personally assigned this task. That subordinate had nearly gone mad after failing to see Zhang Ning for several days. He had practically been lurking at the edge of the Water-Moon Grotto-Heaven’s territory the entire time, and that was how he had finally intercepted Zhang Ning.

The Grand Elder had been eating pastries when he received the report without warning. Startled, he stuffed the pastries into his mouth in two or three bites and did not even have time to brush away the crumbs before Zhang Ning entered.

Naturally, Zhang Ning had no intention of causing trouble. After sizing him up twice, he bent at the waist and gave a half-bow.

“Zhang Ning pays his respects to the Grand Elder.”

But, truthfully, if he had not been worried about causing a misunderstanding, Zhang Ning really would have looked at the Grand Elder a few more times. Unlike most demonic cultivators, the Grand Elder did not maintain the appearance of a young and handsome man. Although he looked hale and hearty, he resembled an ordinary old man—at most, one could tell that he must have been rather handsome in his youth. If not for the lack of an ethereal, otherworldly air about him, Zhang Ning would have taken him for an eminent master of the orthodox path.

The Grand Elder nodded. Stroking his beard, he discreetly brushed away some pastry crumbs and said, “This old man is meeting the Fifth Highness for the first time. Now that I have seen you, I know the rumors were not exaggerated! You have truly given this old man a great deal of face.”

With that, he looked at Zhang Ning with a beaming smile.

One did not strike a smiling face, and besides, Su Ye was currently suffering under Zhang Ning’s authority. Feeling somewhat guilty, Zhang Ning could not help developing a little fondness for the Grand Elder’s kind and amiable manner.

“I have always known that the Grand Elder is a pillar of the Great Freedom Heavenly Demon Sect. My Master often instructs me to show you the respect you deserve.”

Zhang Ning’s words were nothing more than polite pleasantries. Up to now, the time he and Chu Hanyu had spent together, even added up, had not amounted to much. How could Chu Hanyu possibly have mentioned such things? Still, hearing them made the Grand Elder feel quite pleased.

This Highness has a good temperament…

The Grand Elder also recalled his subordinate’s report: when Zhang Ning was aboard the Big-Bellied Vessel, he had punished the disciples who offended him merely by splashing them with water—a punishment that could hardly be called a punishment at all. The Grand Elder nodded inwardly at the thought.

Of course, he did not know what had happened to Zhang Ning after he arrived at the Great Freedom Heavenly Demon Sect through a series of fortuitous mistakes. But he had always kept an eye on Zhang Ning, Chu Hanyu, and the others. In the Grand Elder’s eyes, Chu Hanyu’s recent conduct could be described as far more “lively” than before. It was infinitely better than the days when he had acted like a salted fish who knew only how to seclude himself in cultivation.

To speak of something highly disrespectful, the Grand Elder knew perfectly well how arrogant Chu Hanyu had been as a child. After growing up and suffering a great upheaval, his temperament had become exceptionally cold and distant. He was the sort who accepted softness but not force…

In the Grand Elder’s eyes, therefore, Chu Hanyu’s present transformation was naturally all thanks to this adorable little fellow who had appeared out of nowhere—Zhang Ning.

His attitude grew even more cordial.

“I am already an old man with one foot in the grave. I cannot do much for the Great Freedom Heavenly Demon Sect anymore. In the future, will we not have to rely on Your Highness? Even now, Your Highness can already be considered a pillar of the sect!”

Zhang Ning scratched his head and smiled sheepishly. “You flatter me.”

Seeing that Zhang Ning became embarrassed after only a little praise, the Grand Elder unconsciously began treating him like a child and wanted to say a few more things to tease him. But what should he talk about? …Perhaps he could tell him a few stories about Chu Hanyu’s childhood. What child would not want to hear fascinating stories about his parents when they were young?

Thus, the Grand Elder began in a deliberately mysterious tone.

“You do not know this, Your Highness, but the Venerable was an exceptionally handsome child!”

As he spoke, he felt an itch on the inside of his thigh. Looking down, he saw that some pastry crumbs had fallen there. He scratched the spot and continued, “When the Venerable was young, he was first accepted as a nominal disciple by the previous Sect Master. It was solely because of his appearance. But who could have imagined…”

The Grand Elder had just been about to describe how Chu Hanyu, through his extraordinary comprehension and brilliant talent, had made a stunning comeback and slapped everyone in the face, when Zhang Ning suddenly kicked over the table. His hair stood on end with fury, and his eyes reddened.

“Say that again if you dare!”

The Grand Elder was completely dumbfounded. He had no idea what had just happened or what was wrong with the Fifth Highness. Little did he know that, in Zhang Ning’s eyes, the Grand Elder’s bewildered expression made him even more hateful.

What had the Grand Elder’s actions looked like to Zhang Ning?

While talking about how handsome his Master had been as a child, he had scratched the inside of his thigh…

What the hell was that supposed to mean?!

In Zhang Ning’s eyes, the Grand Elder’s previously kind and amiable image had instantly plummeted from the heavens and become lecherous and shameless.

Damn it! He was a pedophile—and he had set his sights on my Master!

You old brute! What kind of person is my Master? Are you even worthy of mentioning him? And in that tone, no less!

Zhang Ning felt his blood surging toward his head once more. He nearly transformed and activated invincibility mode, ready to pin the Grand Elder to the ground and beat him senseless to vent his Master’s anger.

From the few short sentences the Grand Elder had spoken, Zhang Ning had already imagined all manner of dreadful possibilities. His Master’s cultivation and status had now reached such heights, yet there had once been people bold enough to speak of him in that way. Who knew how many grievances his Master must have suffered as a child?

Master… my poor, pitiful Master!