Chapter 8 – What Grudge?

After breakfast, Fang Yang said goodbye to Feng Ye, who was still deep in thought.

The two of them were tasked with different areas. Feng Ye had to clean the martial arts training square, while Fang Yang had to tidy up the meditation hall in front of the square.

Feng Ye unconsciously waved to Fang Yang, walking toward the martial arts square in a daze.

“Does Fellow Daoist Feng Ye have to do this every day?”

Hao Chen’s voice brought Feng Ye’s wandering soul back. He stared in shock at the broom in his hand, only then realizing that he had arrived in the square.

And there was still that tail following him, unable to be shaken off.

Feng Ye suppressed his misgivings and swung the broom vigorously, sweeping up dust half a person high. Hao Chen was forced to step back by the raised dust, and spread his fan to cover his mouth and nose.

Feng Ye then replied unhurriedly: “It’s a sect assignment. I have to do it. After all, I’m only a junior disciple in the outer sect.”

When he heard Feng Ye’s last sentence, Hao Chen’s lips curled into a playful smile behind his fan.

According to his observations yesterday and today, Feng Ye was indeed useless in many aspects, and didn’t seek to make progress. But the more Feng Ye was like this, the more Hao Chen felt that this person was a hidden talent.

Although he still didn’t know how strong his opponent was, the wisdom he displayed in verbal confrontation with him should not be underestimated.

Such a person had sneaked into Lingxiao Sword Sect under the identity of a deceased individual, and was pretending to be a hopeless case. What was he planning?

Hao Chen’s interest in Feng Ye was growing stronger and stronger. Even though Feng Ye wasn’t his original purpose for coming here, for this person, Hao Chen’s original purpose could be set aside for the time being.

Hao Chen’s eyes and nose were hidden behind his fan, and Feng Ye could only see his curved eyebrows.

This fellow seems to be smiling at all times, a cunning old fox, Feng Ye thought to himself.

Although Hao Chen appeared to be in his twenties, a young master in his prime, Feng Ye felt – with a bit of prejudice – that under Hao Chen’s youthful appearance there must be an old fox who had lived for who knows how many years, shamelessly pretending to be young.

Although he himself had no right to point fingers at Hao Chen.

“What else does Fellow Daoist Feng Ye do every day aside from sweeping the floor?” Hao Chen asked again.

Feng Ye didn’t want to bother with him, so he withdrew his attention and said while he swept: “Sleep.”

Thinking of the events the previous day, Hao Chen’s mouth twitched. He made a quick recovery and persisted in asking: “And besides that?”

Feng Ye was about to say “eat,” but Hao Chen likely knew he was going to say that, and took the lead to block that option: “Besides eating, sleeping, and sweeping the floor, does Fellow Daoist Feng Ye have any other pursuits?”

Feng Ye looked at Hao Chen intently. He placed the broom in front of him and held the handle with both hands, pretending to think for a moment. Then he nodded with a serious expression: “I do.”

Hao Chen’s eyes lit up. He saw Feng Ye maintain a serious look as he said: “Killing the rooster.”

Hao Chen: “……”

The false smile froze on his face.

The moment Hao Chen was put in an awkward position, the smile on Feng Ye’s face became sincere. He felt relaxed from head to toe, and even the sunlight seemed brighter.

Whistling, he continued to happily sweep the floor and contribute his part to keeping the sect clean and tidy.

Hao Chen stood in the sun for a long while. Feng Ye had already moved some distance forward, and Hao Chen dithered for a moment before deciding to look for another chance to break through.

Like Feng Ye, he had realized how difficult the other party was to deal with.

Obtaining information from such a person was as difficult as climbing to the sky, but…..it was entirely different with Fang Yang.

Fang Yang was wiping the tables in the meditation hall when he saw Hao Chen approaching, waving his fan. Out of politeness, Fang Yang temporarily set his work aside and walked to the door to greet him: “Hao…..uh…..”

Fang Yang hesitated, uncertain how to address Hao Chen. This was his Useless Shixiong’s friend, and it seemed a bit confusing to directly call him ‘Fellow Daoist Hao Chen.’”

Hao Chen said considerately: “Call me Hao-dage.”

“Oh, Hao-dage,” Fang Yang called out obediently.

Hao Chen looked at the wiping cloth in Fang Yang’s hand and said with fake concern: “You have to do odd jobs each day? Is it the same for your shixiong?”

Fang Yang nodded, adding: “Sometimes my shixiong oversleeps and doesn’t have time, so I’ll help him.”

Oversleeps? Hao Chen raised his eyebrows. He didn’t believe that Feng Ye was actually a lazy person. Then there must be some other reason why Feng Ye overslept, such as…..what did he get up to at night?

Hao Chen said in a seemingly casual tone: “Your shixiong is probably busy at night.”

He had originally intended to take advantage of the situation and keep Fang Yang talking. It would be best if he could tell him the specific times Feng Ye was away at night, and where he went.

Unexpectedly, Fang Yang shook his head: “He’s not. Shixiong goes to bed on time every night. He goes to bed when it gets dark, and sleeps until sishi the next day. Even thunder doesn’t wake him up.”

Hao Chen tapped his chin with the handle of his fan. He still didn’t believe it. Feng Ye was probably just pretending to go to bed so early. Once the door was closed, he could leave without anyone noticing, thanks to the fact that the junior disciples around him hadn’t even reached the Foundation Building stage.

But Fang Yang likely didn’t know anything about it. Hao Chen knew he wouldn’t find anything if he continued digging, so he chose another topic: “Speaking of which, I discussed the Dao beneath the moonlight with your shixiong a month ago. Your shixiong speaks eloquently, and I consider him to be a close friend. How is it that he’s changed so much in just one month?”

Hao Chen didn’t bat an eyelid when he said this, and Fang Yang was completely ignorant. He just hesitated a moment before replying honestly: “I don’t know. I only met him a month ago. Before that, although we live close together, we barely interacted with each other.”

One month ago…..the timing was right. Hao Chen continued: “What happened a month ago?”

Fang Yang recounted the entire process of his encounter with Feng Ye: “I saw that Shixiong was trapped in a corner by Lu Chengye, so I helped him out.”

“And Lu Chengye is still alive?” Hao Chen suddenly asked such a strange question.

Fang Yang stared blankly for a moment, replying subconsciously: “He’s alive, ah. He threatened us yesterday.”

Hao Chen frowned in thought and didn’t speak for a while.

Fang Yang observed Hao Chen’s expression, somewhat confused. He thought for a moment and suddenly remembered something: “Oh, right. A month ago, Shixiong changed his name.”

“Oh?” Hao Chen’s pondering was interrupted, and he raised an eyebrow with interest.

Fang Yang divulged everything with no hesitation: “A month ago, my shixiong had just come back from training outside. Two days later, the Lu Chengye incident happened and he met me, and then he changed his name.”

“Why did he change his name?” Hao Chen asked curiously.

Hao Chen wasn’t actually surprised by Feng Ye’s odd behavior a month prior. One month ago was when he spied the body, and it was likely after he left that Feng Ye took the body, impersonated the man, and returned to Lingxiao Sword Sect.

The surprising thing was that changing his name would draw a lot of attention. Ordinary people received their names from their parents, and wouldn’t change them rashly. Feng Ye was very low-key in his conduct with others, so much so that he could even tolerate someone like Lu Chengye bullying him. Why would he change his name when doing so would draw the attention of others? 

He thought Fang Yang would find it a little strange, but Fang Yang said as a matter of course: “Isn’t this a very normal thing?”

Hao Chen: “ ? ” Was it that he’d been asleep too long, or did mortal customs change so quickly?

Fang Yang explained: “Many people in our sect change their names, ah. Because their original names were too ugly, like Goudan, Gousheng…..”^[1]

Lingxiao Sword sect did not take family background into consideration when recruiting disciples, only aptitude. Some disciples who came from poor families didn’t even know a few characters before coming to the sect. Their parents naturally didn’t possess much education, so with the idea that giving a child a cheap name would make spirits less likely to notice them, they chose their names so casually.

And after a year of study, even if there wasn’t much improvement in their cultivation, their horizons had definitely expanded a lot. Names like Goudan and Gousheng stood out from the crowd among a group of peers with immortal temperaments.

Disregarding everything else, when sparring with others and introducing themselves, it was normal for others to say, “I am xx from xx sect, please give me some advice.” But these disciples would say, “I am Chen Goudan from Lingxiao Sword Sect, please give me some advice.”

There was no need for comparison. Just saying the name out loud made a person feel that they had already lost.

Thus, there were people every year who changed their names. This was not uncommon among all of the major sects.

Fang Yang asked in surprise: “Hao-dage, is there no one in your Tiangong Pavilion who’s changed their name?”

Hao Chen was speechless. Just like his fake friend, his identity as a disciple of Tiangong Pavilion was also fake. He had been in a high position for a long time, so he naturally wasn’t aware of the affairs of these low-level disciples. Faced with Fang Yang’s question, he just smiled and prevaricated.

Since this was the case, it probably wasn’t surprising that Feng Ye would change his name. Regardless of whether he changed it just because the original name was ugly, or if it was for some other reason, his actions did not draw attention.

This wandering soul of unknown origin had infiltrated Lingxiao Sword Sect a month ago using the identity of the original owner. He acted in a low-key, cautious manner, and his purpose was unknown. 

Hao Chen could roughly deduce the time of Feng Ye’s arrival, although it was of no use to him. He still knew nothing about Feng Ye’s true identity.

But judging from Feng Ye’s style of action, he probably wouldn’t reveal any flaws in front of Fang Yang.

So Hao Chen asked without much hope: “Has your shixiong displayed any odd opinions or actions?”

Contrary to his expectations, Fang Yang nodded once more.

Hao Chen straightened up, ready to listen carefully to Fang Yang’s words.

Fang Yang recalled the scene of calling for Feng Ye to get up in the morning, and commented expressionlessly: “He wants to kill the rooster.”

Hao Chen: “……”

Hao Chen: “ ? ? ? ”

What grudge did this fellow have against roosters?

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[1] Goudan 狗蛋 and Gousheng 狗剩 = Dog egg, Dog leftovers. ⮐

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Chapter 7 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 9