Watching the Mountain

Zhang Zhentian left.

After easily defeating Shen Wuchen, he laughed three times and said:

"Hahaha! Junior Brother Shen, it looks like you’ve still got a long way to go if you want to beat me. Keep training hard. I’ll be waiting for the day you finally do."

With that, he stretched lazily and strode briskly out of Xu Ran’s Cave Mansion.

His steps were light, and he looked completely at ease, carefree and confident.

In stark contrast, Shen Wuchen stood rooted to the spot with a gloomy expression, his spirits sinking as he watched Zhang Zhentian’s departing figure.

When he saw Xu Ran, he stared at him reproachfully. "Master Xu, why did you tell Senior Brother Zhang all that?"

Xu Ran blinked, taking a moment to process the question. "Tell him what?"

"That I want to defeat him," Shen Wuchen said, his face devoid of expression.

"Oh, that." Xu Ran tapped his forehead, then looked at his student and spoke earnestly.

"You’re my student, but he’s my junior brother."

Shen Wuchen fell silent for a moment before asking plaintively, "Master Xu, can’t you show a little favoritism?"

Xu Ran paused, then after a moment of silence, he said, "Alright, ask me that last question again."

"Why did you tell Senior Brother Zhang?"

Xu Ran nodded, patted Shen Wuchen’s shoulder, and replied in the same earnest tone as before.

"You’re *just* my student, but he’s the junior brother I watched grow up."

Shen Wuchen’s expression froze. His gaze toward Xu Ran grew even more reproachful.

’Is that the kind of favoritism I was talking about?’

Seeing his expression, Xu Ran burst out laughing and explained, "You’re both like family to me. Since you’ve made it your goal to defeat him, I had to give him a heads-up. Wouldn’t want any misunderstandings to crop up between you two in the future, right?"

Shen Wuchen was silent for a moment before saying expressionlessly, "I can accept that explanation."

Hearing this, Xu Ran smiled again. He looked at Shen Wuchen and asked curiously, "How did you manage to form your Dao Seed and break through to the Purple Mansion Stage?"

At the mention of this, Shen Wuchen’s expression grew serious as he began to explain.

"It was a method Elder Zi Teng came up with. He said that since I wasn’t having any major insights, I might as well stop worrying about it all so much..."

Shen Wuchen went on to describe the entire process of his breakthrough in detail, including some of his insights. Afterward, he looked at Xu Ran expectantly and asked:

"Master Xu, what do you think? Were any of those insights helpful to you?"

After a moment of silence, Xu Ran slowly exhaled. "It’s the thought that counts."

Hearing this, Shen Wuchen’s face stiffened once more. He quickly reverted to his usual stoic, aloof expression and asked bluntly, "So they weren’t helpful at all?"

Seeing his student’s reaction, Xu Ran hesitated for a moment before replying against his better judgment, "Of course not. Your thoughts and experiences... they actually gave me a lot to think about."

Shen Wuchen finally relaxed. ’See?’ he thought. ’How could my insights be completely useless to Master Xu?’

*

*

*

A few months later, Flowing Clouds Master paid Xu Ran a visit. Upon seeing him, he said with great solemnity, "Thank you."

Xu Ran knew what he meant. For some time now, Zhang Zhentian had been constantly challenging his fellow sect members to spars, apparently trying to rebuild his aura and belief of invincibility.

While it was unclear if he would succeed, at least he was no longer wallowing in despair and apathy as he had been before.

Seeing his grandson getting back on his feet filled Flowing Clouds Master with immense relief.

Xu Ran waved his hand dismissively. "Elder Flowing Clouds, there’s no need to thank me. Like you said, he’s my junior brother."

"Besides, I can’t take the credit for this. If you want to thank someone, you should thank my student, Shen Wuchen."

Xu Ran didn’t know what exactly had transpired in Zhang Zhentian’s mind, but he was sure of one thing: Zhang Zhentian had only started to pull himself together after his conversation with Shen Wuchen.

He was actually quite surprised by this. He’d never expected Shen Wuchen to have such an effect. After all, Xu Ran had talked himself hoarse trying to get Zhang Zhentian back on his feet to no avail. Yet, shortly after Shen Wuchen showed up, Zhang Zhentian had left with a boisterous laugh, his fighting spirit completely restored.

Flowing Clouds Master was surprised to hear this, but after a moment’s thought, he nodded seriously.

"It seems I was right before. Your student is destined to be a great rival for that boy, Zhentian."

Xu Ran glanced at him in surprise. "You have that much faith in him, Elder?"

But Flowing Clouds Master shook his head. "It’s not about my faith in him. I’m afraid that in Zhentian’s heart, he already sees your student as a great rival."

"Really?" Xu Ran was taken aback, a seed of doubt planted in his mind. ’Although Zhang Zhentian is no longer undefeated, he can still beat Shen Wuchen with ease. Would he really consider someone like that a great rival?’

But then he recalled the image of Zhang Zhentian leaving with a hearty laugh, and he thought that maybe it wasn’t so impossible after all.

’I wonder what kind of face Shen Wuchen will make when he finds out Zhang Zhentian considers him a great rival.’

*

*

*

"Master Xu, you aren’t joking, are you?"

The moment Shen Wuchen heard from Xu Ran that Zhang Zhentian might consider him a great rival, his face instantly became a mask of stoic aloofness.

Seeing his reaction, Xu Ran sighed inwardly in resignation.

’Then again,’ he thought, ’it seems Shen Wuchen only has this one expression. I don’t know what I was expecting.’

After getting an affirmative answer from Xu Ran, Shen Wuchen was silent for a long time before asking, "Is Senior Brother Zhang issuing challenges because he wants to rebuild his belief in his own invincibility?"

"That seems to be the case," Xu Ran replied, a little uncertain himself.

Shen Wuchen fell silent again for a moment, then nodded and said expressionlessly, "I understand."

With that, he silently rose to his feet and departed with that same aloof look on his face.

"Where are you going?"

Xu Ran asked, confused by his sudden action.

Shen Wuchen said coldly, "I’m going to challenge him."

With that, he strode out with an aloof gait.

Xu Ran was stunned for a second before he realized Shen Wuchen’s intention. ’Since Zhang Zhentian wants to rebuild his belief in his own invincibility, what he needs most are victories.’

’But the Profound Pure Sect only has so many disciples, and he can’t expect someone to accept his challenge every single day. No one likes to lose; they can’t be expected to be Zhang Zhentian’s stepping stones forever.’

’In the entire Sect—no, in the entire Cultivation Realm—the only one who can readily accept defeat is probably Shen Wuchen.’

He stared blankly at Shen Wuchen’s departing back, his feelings a complicated mix.

After leaving Xu Ran, Shen Wuchen quickly found Zhang Zhentian. With his typical aloof expression, he declared, "I’ve come to challenge you."

Zhang Zhentian was taken aback, then asked with a bewildered expression, "Junior Brother Shen, are you serious? You should know you’re no match for me right now, shouldn’t you?"

Shen Wuchen let out a cold laugh. "Then I’ll keep challenging you until I win."