XIAO SHUXIANG'S

434 - The Feeling of Not Wearing II

Xiao Shuxiang gasped for breath, he just lay down on the floor without fixing his position. Lan Guan Zhi himself had finished cleaning himself and was in a neater appearance than before.

Inside this spacious private room is a wooden bulkhead that separates the room into two. One part had a bed netted, while the other part was the place where Xiao Shuxiang, Patriarch Lan, and Lan Guan Zhi were.

There was a table sitting in front of the Second Patriarch of the Sky Sword Sect, Lan Xu Jian. Beside him was Lan Guan Zhi with the same sitting position as him.

These two Lan brothers had an amazing posture, like jade carvings with an aura as white as snow. Although they look equally authoritative, the two remain different.

Lan Xu Jian was a cultivator who always carried a white fan everywhere, he was a friendly Patriarch, smiling and more friendly when compared to the Little Brother.

Xiao Shuxiang sometimes thought of this, how could such a friendly Patriarch Lan have such a younger brother as me and as cold as Lan Guan Zhi, even though both of them were siblings.

"Xiao 'Er.. If you keep lying on the floor, your back will feel cold." Lan Xu Jian poured tea on his white jade cup, he noticed Xiao Shuxiang who was still lying on the floor without ever budging.

"Truly amazing. All day long it was only me who continued to be embraced and admired, while Lan Zhi was completely untouched. They did not dare to even shake hands with him, but instead they dared to jump and move me.. Tsk tsk's.."

Xiao Shuxiang shook his head in disbelief. He stared at the ceiling of the room while grumbling. It felt as if this young man had not listened to Patriarch Lan's words just now.

".. What in their eyes was Lan Zhi so creepy? They should be more afraid of me, right? Not to Lan'Er.. Hiya.. What the fuck is this,"

Lan Xu Jian smiled faintly and began to drink his tea, "Xiao'Er, you have a special attraction than LanLan, so obviously they would rather have your head around."

"Chairman, its own attraction..? Do you want to hear what your students have to say to me? 'Brother Xiao, this hug is for you and Young Master Lan, please pass it on to him', 'Brother Xiao, this kiss I left for Young Master Lan, can you give it to him?', isn't that crazy?! Do I have to hug and kiss Lan Zhi representing them?!"

"The kids are just kidding, you don't take it seriously.." Patriarch Lan poured back the tea on his jade cup, and he looked at Xiao Shuxiang before asking the young man something. "Mh.. Xiao'Er, how many people did it?"

"Do not know.." Xiao Shuxiang started to wake up and fix his position, ".. But both of my cheeks are very sticky. It's been pinched, authenticated, and badly I can only resign. All of them, no matter the men and women.. They left a lot of kisses for Lan Zhi,"

Patriarch Lan blinked, he looked at Xiao Shuxiang who was seen rubbing his cheeks. He did not expect his disciples to be able to act like that. But since in front of him was Xiao Shuxiang, he had to consider it.

Xiao Shuxiang had once studied in the Sky Sword Sect and his presence became a new color for this place. He was the one who received the most punishment and was never at all deterred.

Xiao Shuxiang was also a figure that made many disciples in the sect often act mischievously. His presence carries a bad influence, but on the one hand his Alchemist abilities are so admired.

If he thought about it all, Lan Xu Jian could only exhale slowly and go back to enjoying his tea.

"Elder, didn't they learn Ethics Training? Is it appropriate for your students to jump up and move me? Their behavior was like that of my brothers," Xiao Shuxiang talked about the Butterfly Sect, his brothers also had such a spirited person.

"Who do you think this is all wrong?" Patriarch Lan looked at Xiao Shuxiang, ".. There are five thousand rules in this sect, they apply them every day - and it only takes one troublemaker until they all start to follow suit, too,"

Xiao Shuxiang blinked, Patriarch Lan's gaze clearly establishing him as a suspect. He smiled bitterly and scratched his non-itchy cheek.

"But.. But that wasn't it, I haven't studied here in a long time, remember? So how could I possibly be a bad influence on them.." Xiao Shuxiang tried to defend himself, but he actually got a strange look from Lan Guan Zhi.

Patriarch Lan shook her head, "You are indeed no longer studying here, but you sneak here often, right? LanLan looked at you like that so that you would know where your mistake lay, you seemed to forget who Lan Xiao called the mother."

!!

Xiao Shuxiang's face looked pale, he was indeed only a few months of study in the Heaven Sword Sect, but he always came to visit-almost every time.

Because he was very familiar with Alchemist Zhou Yan, the Third Patriarch of this sect.. Xiao Shuxiang went in and out to visit Lan Xiao, as well as looking for disciples to be used as guinea pigs from his pills.

Xiao Shuxiang laughed bitterly, he scratched his cheek while looking for an excuse to reply to Lan Xu Jian, ".. Doesn't the elder have a job now? Let me guess, all this time the daily activities of the Elders-if not to sit idly here, it must be to the Lotus Flower Sect and tease Huan Fei's grandfather there, right?"

Patriarch Lan shook his head slowly, almost choking on his tea because of this young man. Xiao Shuxiang indeed had the talent to mess with the calmness of others.

"Xiao'Er, you never seem to feel any punishment from me.."

!!

"Of course you have! The mass whip that the Elder did last time lowered my pride. The crack of my butt hurts so much because of that, it's still I can even imagine."

Lan Guan Zhi snorted, he drank his tea quietly while staring at his good friend. He was eager to ask the Alchemist Chef about 'self-worth', he felt that Xiao Shuxiang had never had one.

Lan Xu Jian glanced at his sister and smiled. Although Lan Guan Zhi had not spoken since then, his younger brother had always listened carefully.

Lan Xu Jian spoke again, this time he discussed the marriage of the Alchemist Chef whose news had been widely known to people.

The longer he talked, the more Lan Xu Jian became convinced that something was going on between Xiao Shuxiang and Lan Guan Zhi. Because these two young men do not look at each other, let alone talk to each other.

He did not want to interfere in their relationship, hence Lan Xu Jian was silent and preferred to believe that the feud between these two young men would stop by itself.

Xiao Shuxiang did talk more with Patriarch Lan than his good friend, he only occasionally lured Lan Guan Zhi even though his friend only replied in a slow mutter.

The longer he stayed in this room, the more things Xiao Shuxiang heard from Lan Xu Jian. Most were good news about his friends such as the state of Qi Xuan in the Lotus Flower Sect, Zong Ming and Ying Liu who were in the Silver Bamboo Sect, as well as the lives of the disciples of the Butterfly Sect.

Lan Xu Jian did not forget to ask Xiao Shuxiang to meet the Third Patriarch of the Sky Sword Sect, Zhou Yan had long awaited the arrival of his disciple, as well as Feng Ying.

Xiao Shuxiang did have plans to go around after repairing his White Cat sword, he still wanted to stay for a long time in the Eastern Continent. But of course, today he had to finish something with Lan Guan Zhi.

Patriarch Lan had been in his sister's room for quite some time, saying goodbye after the sun was already very dusk. Now, this private room feels so quiet.

Xiao Shuxiang and Lan Guan Zhi stood on the edge of the ledge, both of them staring at the sky decorated with starlight. None of them spoke for more than ten minutes, both of them enjoying the calmness of the night.

"Would you like a drink?" Xiao Shuxiang finally spoke, he took out one small pot of Dragon Emperor Arak from his Semestal Bracelet and offered his good friend a drink.

Lan Guan Zhi shook his head softly in response. The young man beside her no longer offered her wine.

The Dragon Emperor Arak was the most powerful Xiao Shuxiang-made wine. He actually had a wine that had no intoxicating content, but it was expelled anyway-Lan Guan Zhi had no intention of drinking it, the young man had already drunk a lot of tea before.

"You still don't want to explain anything to me?" Xiao Shuxiang inhaled the delicate and sweet fragrance of Dragon Emperor Arak, the scent was mixed with the refreshing, cool, and clear sandalwood. He looked towards Lan Guan Zhi.

The younger brother of the Second Patriarch of the Sky Sword Sect was a handsome and dazzling young man. His firm posture, face, and stern gaze greatly reconciled the view.

Lan Guan Zhi was extremely beautiful with her impeccably pure white clothes. His long forehead ribbon seemed to be choppy elegantly following the direction of the wind. The strong aroma of sandalwood comes from it.

"Lan Zhi's.. You're still gonna keep quiet?"

"Nothing I have to explain to you." Lan Guan Zhi shifted his gaze and looked at Xiao Shuxiang fixedly. He asked his friend to rest.

Xiao Shuxiang drank his wine and then exhaled softly, ".. I know there are some things you shouldn't say, you have a right to have secrets. But your attitude that suddenly changed like a stranger was something I couldn't accept, was it because of that girl?"

What Xiao Shuxiang was feeling, he would clearly reveal immediately. He didn't need any pleasantries to talk to Lan Guan Zhi. Right now, he did not want to joke.

"Miss Qi has nothing to do with it."

"If it wasn't for the girl, then what? Mad Beggar Boy also knows your attitude is changing, Lan Zhi. He was worried, and so were the other friends. They just don't dare ask you.."

Xiao Shuxiang's voice was slightly low, his eyelashes were shaking, he looked down before continuing his words.

".. Is it because I have your attitude like this? Because I'm getting married to the White Cat soon..? That's impossible, right?"

"Mn, but it has a little to do with you."

!!

Xiao Shuxiang looked at his good friend and was like waiting for something. Lan Guan Zhi breathed softly before starting to say that right now her emotions were indeed a little unstable, hence she wanted to go home to calm her mind.

"Lan Zhi, are you really 'liking' to me?! Like that kind of 'it'?!"

"Impossible. I'm not a Crazy Beggar Boy."

Lan Guan Zhi directly denied his good friend's remark upon seeing Xiao Shuxiang's strange expression. He exhaled slowly and thought for a moment.

"Mn, this isn't about you.. But it's related to you.." Lan Guan Zhi walked over to get closer to his good friend, saying the reason behind his attitude.

Ever since helping Xiao Shuxiang with the Bone Penetrating Nail, Lan Guan Zhi had been severely injured from being exposed to the poison on the heirloom. It could not be pulled easily, but to help his best friend - he did it all.

To make matters worse, Lan Guan Zhi's body was filled with pain. She shut herself in the room and the unpleasant incident happened, hearing it made her best friend surprised.

Xiao Shuxiang was like he was clenched, he held onto his strong wine pot and tried to catch his breath. He had thought about that for a long time, so long that he had even forgotten, there was no way anyone could pull out the Bone Penetrating Nail without taking any risks.

"Shuxiang's.."

Xiao Shuxiang shook his head, he was still trying to calm down even though his feelings felt bad. He stared at the face of his best friend.

"Why do you have to again..?" xiao Shuxiang's voice sounded trembling, the edge of his eyes looking red. "Why do you always help me.."

"Shuxiang's.."

"You know the risk of uprooting that heirloom, right?! Your own life is in danger, it is not a human-made weapon..! But why are you still helping me?"

Xiao Shuxiang's throat was sore as he swallowed, he knew clearly that the end of anyone who plucked the Bone Penetrating Nail was to die a miserable death.

".. My fault. I should have stopped you by then, I.."

"You are innocent. Besides, I'm fine now, anyway,"

Lan Guan Zhi's words did have a point, but Xiao Shuxiang felt it was not that simple. Life was a payment from anyone who dared to pull out the Bone Penetrating Nail, so his friend could still breathe now definitely had a reason.

Lan Guan Zhi knew his good friend wanted to demand an answer again, saying that it was true that there was a risk he had to bear. He also thought he would die.

Xiao Shuxiang listened, he was again surprised to find out that Lan Guan Zhi met the Three Heavenly Heirloom Spirits and helped reshape the body again.

"You.. You met Shouxing?"

"Mn, he showed me a lot."

!!

Xiao Shuxiang flinched, "What.. Is that why your attitude has changed? because she.. Show me how cruel your best friend is..?"

Lan Guan Zhi patted his friend's arm softly, he shook his head and said that's not the cause.

He had indeed seen Xiao Shuxiang's cruel and inhumane past, but they were only events from the time that should not have had any effect on his attitude.

".. They are spirits of heirlooms who have swallowed many negative human auras. Because of them, I was also affected.." Lan Guan Zhi said that it was important for him to do the Heart Demon Cleansing, which was why he wanted to go home.

".. The nature of the three spirits was very different and only Shouxing had a good personality. But he was colder than any other spirit. L'm.. Sometimes you can feel how you feel,"

Xiao Shuxiang looked at Lan Guan Zhi's face carefully, his friend like a perfect jade sculpture. Eyes with clear depth that feels will attract him, he tried to find the answer to his simple question. Why would Lan Guan Zhi be this good?

Xiao Shuxiang knew how the nature of a spirit occupied an heirloom. Anyone knows an incredible heirloom was once used by humans with different characters. Yet still, whether Black or White Stream.. The treasure was used to kill.

Hatred, resentment, and bloodlust will continue to cling to the heirloom. If the new owner does not have good self-control, then the heirloom will pull him into the dark. And now, Lan Guan Zhi's body was instead formed by the third most powerful heirloom spirit in this Continent.

"It must be very heavy for you.. Then why don't you do the Heart Demon Cleansing immediately? If you keep putting it off, you can be affected by their evil aura."

"Doing this cleaning takes a very long time, I don't want to miss your wedding. So I'm trying to hold on,"

Xiao Shuxiang looked at his good friend, he touched Lan Guan Zhi's arm and rubbed it gently. Somehow this young man would rather see his marriage than pay attention to the condition of his own body.

"Lan Zhi, in this world.. You're the person I least want to see in danger. Hearing that you've been so badly injured that pulling out the Bone Penetrating Nail has made me sick, are you that stupid that you have to put yourself in danger for my sake?"

Lan Guan Zhi's eyes slightly changed when he heard Xiao Shuxiang's words that he was reluctant to help. He turned his eyes in the other direction and then made a sound.

"You're my friend, so I'm doing what I can to help you."

!!

Xiao Shuxiang bit his lower lip before downing back his Dragon Emperor Arak, he began to sigh.

"We're friends, but you should also be able to measure your own abilities. If those three spirits hadn't helped you, you might have died without me knowing."

Xiao Shuxiang would never be willing if Lan Guan Zhi were gone. Only this young man beside her could believe in being able to kill him someday. And besides, Lan Guan Zhi was a person he recognized.

"Shuxiang, don't think about it anymore. It's all over, no need to be tapped again."

"Son, you don't know how scared I am. This Xiao Shuxiang is not used to receiving much kindness, it scares me. You owe me a lot of money,"

"You saved my life too."

"Isn't that broken? While fighting Wyvern, you saved me too."

Lan Guan Zhi turned his head towards Xiao Shuxiang, from the look in his eyes - he was like saying he did not want to discuss something like counting how many times they helped each other.

Xiao Shuxiang also did not want to discuss it anymore, he saw the scene below and then asked his good friend to immediately do the Heart Demon Cleansing.

".. You withstood the negative aura of the Three Heavenly Heirloom Spirits all this time already impressed me and were completely unable to believe it. I don't know how far you're controlling yourself, but you can't keep holding it. So you have to go,"

Lan Guan Zhi listened to the remark, he also paid attention to where his good friend's gaze was headed. He exhaled slowly before starting to open his voice.

"I don't have good enough self-control to withstand Three Spirits as great as that, but Immortal Zhou Yuan helped me. So I can still-!"

Lan Guan Zhi gasped as he suddenly heard the sound of a falling object. His gaze immediately led to the wine pot that was clearly dropped by Xiao Shuxiang, he looked at his good friend who was like he had just heard the roar of lightning.

"Shuxiang..?"

"You.. Who did you say you met?" Xiao Shuxiang looked at Lan Guan Zhi, the edge of his eyes flushed red. He did not hide his surprise at all.

"I met Immortal Zhou Yuan."

Xiao Shuxiang had not heard that name for a long time. I don't know why his chest is so tight and his knees feel weak. But he still tried to look calm.

"Senior Zhou's.. How did you meet him?"

"I don't know, it just happened."

Lan Guan Zhi actually never thought about it. But indeed ever since helping his good friend with the Bone Penetrating Nail and feeling death due to the risk on that heirloom-himself was able to meet the Three Heavenly Heirloom Spirits as well as Immortal Zhou Yuan.

"I.. Actually wanting to meet Senior Zhou," Xiao Shuxiang's voice sounded slightly quivering, ".. But I don't think he wants to see me."

Xiao Shuxiang snorted with a smile, "His face will definitely be very angry. It was very clear because I, someone who had already done a lot of damage could instead get a chance to live again. Senior Zhou must have been very critical of me,"

"It doesn't look like that.." Lan Guan Zhi said that Zhou Yuan showed his life when he met Xiao Shuxiang, all until the last moment. Hearing that made his best friend surprised.

Xiao Shuxiang actually wanted to hide some things about his past to Lan Guan Zhi, but it was unexpected that his good friend even knew all of that.

Now it seemed that he understood, other than the influence from the negative energy of the Three Heavenly Heirloom Spirits that made Lan Guan Zhi's attitude change to him, also because of what Zhou Yuan had shown about his past.

Xiao Shuxiang was as if immersed in his own thoughts, his gaze looking down, he was secretly smiling bitterly.

"I think it's like that. There's nothing to question anymore. Lumiere's right.. Man will never be able to accept me.."

***