Slag Shou Cultivating Manual - Chapter 75

Chapter 75: Humiliation

Upon seeing the person he had longed for but could never reach, the once arrogant Liu Yihan immediately deflated, appearing like a helpless youth. His grip on Jiang Hanzheng’s throat loosened slightly as he flusteredly explained, “Master, I—I’m Liu Yihan. Do you remember me?”

Jiang Hanzheng’s weak words made He Lang unwilling to listen further. He could not recall the past and had no desire to remember it. So, before Liu Yihan finished speaking, He Lang shook his head, indicating that he did not remember.

This small gesture struck Liu Yihan like a sword, leaving him paralyzed and sapping his strength. The hand gripping Jiang Hanzheng’s arm slackened, allowing him to break free with ease.

Gasping for fresh air, Jiang Hanzheng felt discomfort in his chest and coughed violently. He desperately inhaled as he stumbled towards his approaching master, panic-stricken, but his weak legs could not support him, causing him to fall again.

In his moment of panic, fearing he would offend his master, Jiang Hanzheng’s mind went blank, and his trembling legs gave way. Unexpectedly, instead of dodging, He Lang reached out and caught him, pulling him into a warm embrace filled with a faint, comforting fragrance.

Feeling the body shaking violently in his arms, He Lang maintained a calm expression, tightening his hold around him. He softly said, “Let’s go back.”

Liu Yihan, unwilling to give up, bit his lip, wanting to explain further. However, He Lang turned to support Jiang Hanzheng and made it clear that he intended to leave immediately, not wanting to linger with Liu Yihan.

Jiang Hanzheng rubbed his chest where he had been struck, leaning into He Lang’s support, half of his body enveloped in his master’s embrace.

The proximity was something he had never experienced even in his dreams. Just breathing, he could smell the faint fragrance on his master, and a slight turn of his head revealed He Lang’s concerned gaze.

Even though the crisis had passed, Jiang Hanzheng felt an inexplicable tension, as if facing a formidable enemy. His heart raced, and his steps felt as light as if he were walking on cotton, but he didn’t dare lean his weight on the person beside him.

He couldn’t help but glance back at the disheveled Liu Yihan, feeling both hatred and a twinge of pity.

The still youthful Jiang Hanzheng couldn’t understand why a seemingly strong man could be so easily defeated by the mere appearance of another person.

Noticing Liu Yihan’s dazed expression and the thoughts swirling in his head, He Lang spoke up, teasing him, “What are you looking at? Wouldn’t you prefer to stay and keep him company?”

Originally meant as a joke, it perhaps didn’t fit He Lang’s typically calm demeanor, or perhaps his apprentice was just too earnest. Upon hearing this, Liu Yihan, who had just regained his color, turned pale again, his voice trembling as if on the verge of tears. “N-no, please don’t leave me, Master!”

Feeling guilty, He Lang was surprised that such a simple statement could make his usually strong disciple appear like a fragile girl, ready to cry.

With a gentle smile, he reassured Jiang Hanzheng, “Master will never abandon you. You’re a man, so don’t be so weak in the future.”

Upon hearing his master’s admonishment, Jiang Hanzheng’s cheeks flushed, and he immediately composed himself, hurriedly wiping away the remnants of his tears, lowering his head in shame. He feared his master would think less of him, especially after experiencing a life-and-death situation. He had never faced such turbulence before, and the shock had overwhelmed his emotions. If his master had arrived just a moment later, he might have truly faced disaster.

Clenching his fists, a wave of weakness surged through him, making him acutely aware of his own fragility.

That his master would personally come to find him was beyond his imagination. What merit did he have to earn the favor of someone like him? Was it merely because of the beast core within him? Surely that was inconsequential in his eyes.

Jiang Hanzheng’s heart remained uneasy, and he pondered for a long time. Ultimately, the echo of his master’s words, “Master will never abandon you,” brought him a slight sense of reassurance.

He pressed a hand to his chest and quietly thought that his master was indeed a gentle person. Perhaps he had accumulated blessings in a past life to have this encounter in this one.

Once his mood settled, he took a large step back, slightly bowing to He Lang to express his gratitude and bid farewell. “It’s getting late, and I need to return to cultivate and rest. Thank you for saving me today, Master—”

“The spirit herbs haven’t been watered yet,” He Lang interjected, as if hinting at something.

“But—” Jiang Hanzheng’s expression showed confusion, but he dared not think further. He quickly replied, “I’ll obey your command.”

After finishing watering the spirit herbs, Jiang Hanzheng found that a restriction had been set on the mountain peak, preventing him from descending.

He hesitated repeatedly, daring to knock on his master’s door, but there was no response for a long time.

Was his master resting? Or was he busy with something important? Would he disturb his master’s peace by knocking so recklessly? As these worries piled up, Jiang Hanzheng withdrew his hand from the door handle and let it hang dejectedly. Just as he was contemplating spending the night outside, a flat voice rang out.

“If you don’t come in, you might as well sleep with the spirit herbs.”

Jiang Hanzheng hesitated. He Lang knew how much the boy respected him and feared he might genuinely sleep outside. Thus, he quickly retracted the words that he knew Jiang Hanzheng might take to heart, waving his hand as a surge of spiritual energy burst open the door, gesturing for him to enter.

This was Jiang Hanzheng’s first time entering this dwelling. Despite his nervousness, he mustered his courage and said, “Master, could you please lift the restriction on the mountain so that I can go down?”

He Lang seemed unwilling to let him leave so easily. He slowly walked to the censer in the center of the room and lit some calming incense.

In an instant, flickering sparks ignited, and the censer began to emit wisps of light smoke, dissipating into the air. Jiang Hanzheng felt himself relax, but he still couldn’t decipher his master’s intentions and cautiously opened his mouth to ask again.

He Lang, leisurely enjoying himself, preemptively responded in a serious tone, as if warning him, “It’s dark now, and there are tigers that eat people down the mountain. You can’t leave.”

“…?”

This answer was clearly unexpected, leaving Jiang Hanzheng filled with questions.

Even he wasn’t ignorant enough to think that there were tigers in the sect’s territory; such creatures wouldn’t just appear out of nowhere. If he were to stay on the mountain solely because of this reason, he would be overly timid.

A wild thought crossed his mind, and he incredulously wondered if his master was merely teasing him.

Nervously clenching his wrists, Jiang Hanzheng tentatively asked, “Then what should I do?”

“Naturally, you should rest here,” He Lang replied matter-of-factly.

Jiang Hanzheng’s eyes widened, appearing even more at a loss. It seemed he was about to refuse again.

“Are you that afraid of me? Why are you always so tense?” He Lang felt a rare annoyance rising within him. He stepped closer, crouching slightly to meet Jiang Hanzheng’s gaze as he knelt to bow. They were only a fist’s distance apart.

Having known each other for more than half a month, it frustrated He Lang that his young apprentice still treated him with such formality. Every time he tried to be closer, Jiang Hanzheng’s face reflected a fear akin to encountering a ferocious beast. He Lang pondered why, despite his amiable demeanor and gentle appearance, this child remained terrified of him.

Their eyes met, and Jiang Hanzheng lowered his gaze, his lips pressed into a thin line, showing a hint of difficulty and bitterness. It wasn’t that He Lang wasn’t friendly enough; rather, it was because he was overly kind to him for no apparent reason that Jiang Hanzheng felt constantly startled, as if he were living in a dream, uncertain and anxious. He feared that if he relaxed even slightly, this fragile dream would burst like a bubble, fading into nothingness.

“…” He Lang rubbed his forehead, standing up and retracting his earlier question. He didn’t want to provoke his disciple’s imagination and opted to lead him to the bedroom so he could rest early.

“Master is in the room next door. If you need anything, just call. I’m not one to wake up grumpy,” He Lang spoke with a playful tone, intending to tease him. However, his young apprentice seemed not to think much of it and only asked, “Master, do you also rest?”

His cultivation was still low, and he remained in a mortal form, so he still needed sleep and rest to maintain his energy. However, given He Lang’s cultivation level, he had already stepped into the realm of a semi-immortal, making it unlikely for him to feel fatigue or tiredness. This made Jiang Hanzheng slightly curious about his master’s need for rest.

“Hmm.” He Lang didn’t elaborate further, knowing that his lifestyle habits might seem odd in the eyes of practitioners.

Though he did not require sleep, he had grown accustomed to the lifestyle of a mortal and didn’t wish to lead a life devoid of rest, needing some time each night to calm his mind.

Jiang Hanzheng looked around the room. It was spacious and elegantly furnished, with all the utensils being of high quality, though not brand new. He Lang lived alone, yet the room was impeccably tidy, and the bedding was well-prepared, indicating it had been set up in advance.

An indescribable feeling welled up within Jiang Hanzheng, making him feel as if his heart was filled with soft cotton. He couldn’t help but smile broadly, and soon he found himself comfortably lying on the bed, tightly hugging the soft blankets, and staring at the ceiling, unaware of when he had fallen asleep.

### Author’s Note:

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