Don't Cause Trouble Chapter 34: Departure

Xu Chengyu had a vivid memory of that cultivator surnamed Ye—the one who flew on a sword while dragging people behind her. So when he heard that members of Qianji Sect were here, curiosity got the better of him and he came to take a look. As soon as he stepped inside, he saw Ye Su walking toward him and instinctively called out.

Ye Su looked up and clearly recognized him too. "Fellow Daoist Xu, long time no see."

"So you’re the one Elder Xin wants to take as a disciple?" Xu Chengyu recalled Ye Su’s incredible speed on her sword and finally understood why Elder Xin would want to take someone from an artifact-crafting sect as his apprentice. Clearly, she had outstanding natural talent.

"Me?" Ye Su looked surprised, then quickly realized the misunderstanding. "It’s not me. I don’t even use a sword."

"What?" Xu Chengyu was stunned.

Her flying sword technique had been absurdly fast, and she’d even managed to carry three people on it. She didn’t look like someone who didn’t use swords.

"The one Elder Xin wants is over there," Ye Su said, pointing to Yi Xuan, who was meditating under a nearby tree. "He’s my junior apprentice brother."

Just then, You Fushi walked out and happened to hear this, falling silent as he came to stand beside Ye Su, giving her a pointed look.

"And who’s this?" Xu Chengyu had never seen You Fushi before and asked instinctively.

Ye Su turned and met You Fushi’s gaze. "…" Right—she’d completely forgotten about this one.

"Oops—my mistake," she quickly corrected herself. "This is my actual junior brother, You Fushi. The one under the tree earlier is our fifth junior brother, Yi Xuan."

You Fushi glanced at her and slowly lifted his left hand, tugging up his sleeve to reveal the snake-shaped bracelet—the Mistflower Fang. He was clearly using it as leverage, hoping to wear it a few more days.

Ye Su looked away and gave a slight nod of permission. Only then did You Fushi lower his sleeve in satisfaction.

At that moment, Ming Liu Sha and the other two arrived and, upon seeing Xu Chengyu, immediately came over to greet him.

Xu Chengyu looked over at Ye Su and You Fushi, then glanced at Yi Xuan under the tree, and finally at Ming Liu Sha and his companions. His gaze eventually settled on Lu Jiu. "Is this fellow Daoist also from Qianji Sect?"

"I'm a rogue cultivator," Lu Jiu said, standing and cupping his fists in greeting. "Just traveling with them this time."

Xu Chengyu fell silent for a long moment, feeling inexplicably puzzled. He remembered that Qianji Sect was a crafting sect, but these people… they looked more like they came from Hehuan Sect.

Had the sect changed its cultivation path? Or were they just accepting disciples based on looks now?

"I still owe you a favor from before," Ye Su said. She couldn’t sense Xu Chengyu’s cultivation level and noticed the sword he carried wasn’t ordinary either. She figured this was a favor she'd need to repay in the future.

"It was just a map," Xu Chengyu replied, shaking his head. "No need to take it seriously."

"Since you accepted it, it counts," Ye Su said. "But I’m still at a low cultivation stage. I’ll repay it when I’m stronger."

"Alright," Xu Chengyu agreed openly, then added, "It’s only been half a year, and you’ve already reached the mid-Foundation Establishment stage."

He was in the mid-Golden Core stage himself, and could easily discern the cultivation levels of those around him.

Ye Su smiled. "Did you come here just to see us?"

"Yes and no," Xu Chengyu replied, pointing toward Zhongnan Peak. "I live there."

Ah, that made sense. The first time she met Xu Chengyu, Ye Su had assumed he was just an ordinary disciple of the Sword Sect. Now she realized he was one of their core lineage disciples.

"We’re here hoping to find Sword Sect disciples to explore a secret realm with us," Ye Su said, lifting her gaze. "Would you be willing to join us?"

Xu Chengyu wasn’t foolish. In fact, he was sharp enough to stand out among the core disciples. He remembered his juniors saying that Qianji Sect had made some kind of deal with their sect leader—not surprising if this was part of it.

"Which secret realm are you planning to enter?" he asked.

"Any of them," Ye Su replied. "As long as we’re allowed in."

Xu Chengyu blinked, not quite understanding what she meant.

"Secret realms are full of spiritual energy and beasts that can be used as materials for artifact crafting," Ye Su explained directly. "So as long as we’re allowed in, we plan to go to every one of them."

Xu Chengyu studied her expression and suddenly connected the dots. He thought of Qianji Sect’s current decline and finally understood. "You’re trying to use the spiritual energy inside the realms to break through?"

"Exactly."

"You all have guts," Xu Chengyu couldn’t help but say. Even sword cultivators rarely did this—it was too dangerous. Secret realms were unpredictable, and even major sects prepared thoroughly before entering.

"Just trying to survive where there’s no other way," Ye Su said calmly, as if stating a simple fact.

After a moment of thought, Xu Chengyu said, "I’ll join you."

Ye Su smiled. "Great."

……

Not long after, the news that Xu Chengyu was going to explore secret realms with the people from Qianji Sect spread throughout the entire Sword Sect.

On Zhongnan Peak, at the residence of the core disciples.

"Senior Brother, you're going to the secret realms with those artifact refiners?" Core disciple Ma Chongqiu pushed the door open forcefully. "Why not put that energy into cultivation instead?"

"Going to the secret realms is also cultivation." Xu Chengyu opened his eyes and broke his meditation. "Exploring more might help with my breakthrough."

"But you're going with those cultivators whose realms are low, and who can’t even defend themselves," Ma Chongqiu said disdainfully. "Qianji Sect is on the verge of ruin. I don’t know what they’re still struggling for."

"Have you seen them?" Xu Chengyu asked.

"Who?" Ma Chongqiu thought for a moment. "The people from Qianji Sect? I’ve seen them from a distance once."

Xu Chengyu closed his eyes again, clasping his hands together and circulating his spiritual energy. After a moment, he spoke again. "Don’t you think they all have faces that look like they’re going to be very powerful in the future?"

Ma Chongqiu was puzzled. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

He admitted that those people were decent-looking, but just because someone was good-looking, it didn’t mean they were powerful, right?

What’s going on with Senior Brother?

"Senior Brother," Ma Chongqiu said seriously, looking at Xu Chengyu, who had once been as bright as the moon. "I’ve noticed something’s off with you since half a year ago. If you’re affected by a demon heart, you need to ask Master and the Grand Elder for help right away."

That was when Senior Brother had just returned from training with his junior disciples. He had actually tied a rope to his sword, let a new disciple sit on it, and flew them around. The others were scared out of their wits, thinking the young disciple had done something wrong and that Senior Brother was punishing him.

Only Ma Chongqiu knew that after landing, Senior Brother had said, "It’s actually pretty hard to control."

"There’s no demon heart. You don’t understand," Xu Chengyu said, still feeling intrigued by the people from Qianji Sect. They were so different from any young cultivators he had met.

Ma Chongqiu furrowed his brows. "Senior Brother, if you’re going, then I’m going too, along with Junior Sister Zhou. We’re not at ease letting you go alone."

"You’ll need to ask Ye Daoist." Xu Chengyu circulated his spiritual energy again, and the exhaustion around his body gradually faded.

Ma Chongqiu said, "She’ll pick the most powerful disciples. Junior Sister Zhou and I are only in the early stages of Golden Core."

Without hesitation, Ma Chongqiu immediately stood up. "I’ll go ask Master to recommend us."

……

"Disciple, the elders from those other peaks are too weak," Xin Shenzi stood at Yi Xuan's door early in the morning, demanding an explanation. "Why don’t you just let me teach you swordsmanship instead?"

Yi Xuan came out of the room, his overly handsome face expressionless, but there was a noticeable calmness in his eyes that hadn't been there before. "Ask my senior sister."

Xin Shenzi turned his head toward a row of people squatting at the door, eating spirit fruits. He immediately spotted Ye Su. "Have you thought it through? Hurry up and let Yi Xuan be my disciple."

"Senior," Ye Su looked up and asked, "If Yi Xuan becomes your disciple, what exactly will he learn?"

Xin Shenzi frowned. "If he's my disciple, then I’ll teach him all the sword techniques I know—as long as he can learn them."

With that assurance, Ye Su nodded and turned to Yi Xuan. "You’ll stay behind. In the future, half of Qianji Sect will depend on you."

Half for crafting, and half for protecting the sect.

As their strength increased, Sword Sect would be their main source of support.

"So you’re my disciple now?" Xin Shenzi stared at Yi Xuan excitedly. "Come on, say it—‘Master!’"

Yi Xuan: "…" No matter how many times he saw Xin Shenzi, he could never quite get used to the man’s overwhelming enthusiasm.

He glanced at Ye Su—was she doing this on purpose to mess with him?

When Ye Su’s eyes swept over him, Yi Xuan quickly looked away and turned to Xin Shenzi. "…Master."

"Hahahaha!" Xin Shenzi burst into loud laughter, his messy hair practically standing on end. "I finally have a disciple!"

"Senior Sister," Ming Liu Sha turned to Ye Su. "Have you picked everyone?"

Ye Su nodded and held up three fingers. "All from Zhongnan Peak’s core disciples."

She hadn’t expected them to volunteer so readily, nor Sword Sect to actually let them go.

"I heard," Lu Jiu rushed over, "that a secret realm east of Tushou City is about to open. Sometime this month."

Ye Su stood up. "Go pack your things—we’re leaving tomorrow."

Ming Liu Sha and the others immediately turned and went to prepare.

Ye Su lowered her head and sent a message to Xu Chengyu to let him know they’d be departing the next day.

"Take this," Xin Shenzi pulled a Qiankun bag from his belt and tossed it to Ye Su. "There are some protective artifacts in there for you all. Just stay alive—don’t make my disciple sad and mess up his sword training."

Ye Su raised her eyebrows. "Much appreciated, Senior."

Xin Shenzi was simply in a good mood. If Ye Su hadn’t intervened, his disciple would’ve already run off. Thankfully, he came back and acknowledged him as master.

At that thought, Xin Shenzi couldn’t help but laugh again.

Yi Xuan: "…"

---

The next morning, Ye Su’s group, along with Xu Chengyu and his two companions, gathered at the foot of Sword Sect’s mountain gate.

"Junior Brother, we’re heading off. Focus on learning your swordsmanship," Xi Yu waved at Yi Xuan.

"We’ll come back for you," Xia Er called out.

Yi Xuan silently watched them go. Just like before, they were parting ways again—but this time, it felt a little different.

"Disciple," Xin Shenzi stood nearby and said, "once you master swordsmanship, you’ll be able to go with your senior brothers and sister."

Everyone in Sword Sect practiced swordsmanship, and the three core disciples were especially skilled. Flying on swords was second nature to them, and in the blink of an eye, they had already traveled a thousand miles.

Ma Chongqiu, eager to show off in front of Qianji Sect’s people, intentionally flew far ahead.

"Chongqiu! Wait! Senior Brother is still behind!" Zhou Yun called out behind him.

"What’s wrong with Senior Brother?" Ma Chongqiu stopped mid-air and turned to Zhou Yun. "Didn’t I tell you? There’s something off about him."

Zhou Yun sighed. "Let’s go back and check on him." They had flown too far.

At that moment, Xu Chengyu, who had lagged behind, was staring at the large basket hanging under Ye Su’s sword. "Ye Daoist, you’re using a basket now? I tried hanging a chain from my sword before, but it didn’t really work."

"Baskets work better than chains," Ye Su replied earnestly, fully engaging in the conversation.

"It does look pretty effective. Junior Brother You is even asleep." Xu Chengyu glanced down.

Ye Su chuckled but said nothing. Her junior brother never had a day where he wasn’t asleep.

"Senior Brother!" Ma Chongqiu flew back, and the moment he stopped, his eyes widened in shock at the giant basket hanging from Ye Su’s sword. "What… is that thing?"

Why was there a person inside it?

Ma Chongqiu turned to Xu Chengyu, his expression complicated. So this was the reason Senior Brother wanted to go with Qianji Sect. Turns out, he and Ye Su… had the same kind of weird hobby.

……

The gap between the Core Formation stage and the Foundation Establishment stage really was vast. Xu Chengyu and the others could fly their swords without needing to stop at all, but Ye Su's group couldn't—they had to stop and replenish their spiritual energy.

"Their cultivation level may be low, but their speed's not bad," Ma Chongqiu commented as the group paused to rest.

Zhou Yun turned her head and said to him, "Senior Brother Chongqiu, maybe try saying less. Master told us to properly accompany them through the secret realm."

"With a small secret realm like this, as long as we’re here, we can handle everything inside," Ma Chongqiu said. "What’s there to worry about?"

"Master said never to let your guard down," Zhou Yun reminded him. "Besides, you're supposed to listen to Senior Brother Xu."

"Yeah, yeah," Ma Chongqiu muttered as he stared at the group meditating nearby. They really don’t look like they’ll be anything special in the future...

His eyes drifted to You Fu, who was practically leaning against Ye Su. The guy didn’t even know how to ride a sword properly and spent all day napping. He clearly wasn’t a serious cultivator at all...