I Ran Away with the Scumbag's White Moonlight Chapter 36

The Sect Leader had an old acquaintance named Shen Zhuo. Back then, the righteous and demonic factions weren't as hostile as they are today. At the age of sixteen, the Sect Leader didn't have the habit of announcing his identity when traveling. They first met in a small border town; the Sect Leader was there to gather herbs, while Shen Zhuo was on a sect mission to protect the villagers.

Both of them were clearly not locals, and a misunderstanding arose when they bumped into each other. They fought from one end of the town to the other, scaring off the bandits who had come to rob the place. In the end, the Sect Leader, full of pent-up frustration, single-handedly dealt with the bandits.

Although the misunderstanding was eventually cleared up, the two were worlds apart in terms of methods and identities. They thought they would part ways and never meet again, but surprisingly, they encountered each other four more times in the following two months.

During that time, the Sect Leader often wandered near the Snow Ridge to collect medicinal plants for the cold pool. Shen Zhuo seemed to have tasks as well and frequently descended the mountain. It was quite miraculous; after meeting so many times, they eventually became close friends.

Once, while gathering herbs, the Sect Leader was injured by a poisonous creature guarding the plants. He barely escaped with his life, but was left too weak to leave on his own. In desperation, he sent a message to Shen Zhuo using the communication method Shen Zhuo had taught him, though he held little hope.

In the icy, bone-chilling wind, just before the Sect Leader succumbed to the poison and lost consciousness, a familiar blue robe appeared in his snowy vision. Shen Zhuo seemed to descend from the heavens, not only rescuing the exhausted Sect Leader but also using a snow lotus seed he carried to detoxify him. The Sect Leader, still bearing wounds from the poisonous creature's attack, was taken back to Shen Zhuo's sect.

It was then that the Sect Leader learned that this person, who had only briefly mentioned being the senior disciple of his sect, was actually the thirteenth chief disciple of the prestigious Xuanyun Sect.

During that period, Shen Zhuo seemed extremely busy. After rescuing the Sect Leader and returning him to the sect, he resumed his hectic schedule. The Sect Leader often didn't see him for an entire day, only occasionally sensing his presence late at night when Shen Zhuo would come to check on him.

Shen Zhuo mentioned he was busy with an important ceremony. The Sect Leader, having been saved by him, naturally didn't make any further demands. Moreover, he was well-treated at Xuanyun Sect, with ample supplies of rare medicines, allowing his injuries to heal quickly.

While recuperating, the Sect Leader had a good impression of everything at Xuanyun Sect, even the chubby junior brother who always brought him bitter medicinal soup didn't leave too much of a shadow on the sweet-toothed Sect Leader.

The only thing that felt a bit odd was that, although the people of Xuanyun Sect appeared aloof, their gazes always carried a hint of curiosity and an inexplicable eagerness when looking at the Sect Leader.

Perhaps it was his identity that drew their attention. Although the Sect Leader noticed this, he didn't think much of it, as he had already disclosed his identity to Shen Zhuo.

Once his wounds were nearly healed, the Sect Leader planned to leave Xuanyun Sect. Shen Zhuo had already arranged for a disciple to escort him down the mountain. However, just before his departure, Shen Zhuo's youngest junior brother came to him, saying that Senior Brother Shen was about to participate in the Xuanyun Sect's sect leader succession ceremony and asked if the Sect Leader wanted to stay and witness it.

The Sect Leader knew Shen Zhuo was preparing for a ceremony but didn't expect him to become the sect leader at such a young age. However, considering Xuanyun Sect's renowned reputation and Shen Zhuo's strength, it wasn't too surprising.

Although both had been honest about their identities, Xuanyun Sect was a prestigious righteous sect, and the distinction between righteous and demonic was significant. Attending such a solemn ceremony made even the Sect Leader hesitate.

The junior brother noticed the Sect Leader's hesitation and straightforwardly advised him that missing such a once-in-a-lifetime event due to worldly opinions would be a great pity.

The Sect Leader thought about how the sect leader succession ceremony was indeed a once-in-a-lifetime event, and Shen Zhuo had saved his life, so missing it would be a shame. Moreover, when he roamed the martial world as a young man with a demonic sect identity, he was accustomed to wearing a mask and had earned the fearsome nickname "Iron Face," which could stop children from crying at night.

Few had seen his true face, and if even Xuanyun Sect didn't mind, perhaps he could stay and attend as an ordinary friend without causing too much trouble for Shen Zhuo.

After careful consideration, the Sect Leader decided to stay.

A few days later, it was the succession ceremony for the fourteenth sect leader of Xuanyun Sect. Early in the morning, the Sect Leader, who had been staying in the guest room for two days without showing his face, was taken to be meticulously dressed, with even his face carefully made up by the rarely seen maidens of Xuanyun Sect.

The Sect Leader was naturally striking in appearance; otherwise, he wouldn't have worn a mask to avoid trouble. Xuanyun Sect, residing deep in the snowy mountains, typically favored a simple and elegant style in their attire. The maidens didn't add much embellishment, but when the Sect Leader emerged in his overly formal robes, not only did the maidens blush and the disciples stare, but even the junior brother who had mentally prepared himself was stunned for a moment.

Once everyone snapped out of it under the Sect Leader's puzzled gaze, they hurriedly led him to the succession ceremony.

What the Sect Leader didn't expect was that, contrary to his initial plan of attending as an ordinary friend, he was placed among the core disciples of Xuanyun Sect.

Seeing the chubby junior brother who had been bringing him bitter medicinal soup every day and the junior brother who had persuaded him to stay looking so excited, the Sect Leader grew increasingly suspicious.

However, before he could voice his doubts, the solemn ceremony officially began.

Seventy-two bells rang in unison, their ethereal chimes echoing across the snow-covered Snow Ridge. Dressed in a pale gold, subtly patterned moon-white sect leader's robe, with a snow-colored mink cloak draped over his shoulders, Shen Zhuo ascended the steps to the altar under the watchful eyes of all.

Xuanyun Sect had a close relationship with the beasts of the snowy mountains and typically didn't hunt them. However, years ago, a malevolent mink wreaked havoc on the Snow Ridge, disturbing the peace of the mountain's creatures and nearly becoming a spirit. The sect leader at the time went to subdue it, resulting in the cloak used for this grand ceremony.

Shen Zhuo, who usually wore blue, now donned the luxurious snow-colored attire, enhancing his usual gentle and refined demeanor with an air of transcendent sharpness. Under the gaze of all, he was like a sun suspended over the snowy mountains, dazzling beyond compare.

Not only the devout disciples of Xuanyun Sect and the amazed guests but even the Sect Leader, who had roamed the martial world for years, was captivated by Shen Zhuo's appearance.

The Sect Leader, having ventured out into the world at a young age, prided himself on having seen many grand occasions, even attending the succession ceremonies of major righteous sects with ease. Yet, Shen Zhuo was indeed the first to leave him in awe.

The Sect Leader finally understood a bit of the feelings of those who had been mesmerized by his own appearance.

The succession ceremony proceeded smoothly. Xuanyun Sect's timing for leadership transitions was always determined by the new leader's strength, so despite Shen Zhuo's youth, no one doubted him. This succession was widely anticipated, and the sect's disciples held great respect for their senior brother.

The Sect Leader was genuinely happy for his friend. He was somewhat grateful to be placed among the core disciples, as this vantage point offered the best view of Shen Zhuo's entire succession process.

However, he didn't expect that after the ceremony, when Shen Zhuo turned to see him, he was genuinely taken aback.

While others might not have noticed, the Sect Leader, who had interacted closely with Shen Zhuo, immediately recognized his astonishment. He watched as Shen Zhuo, feigning composure, turned to speak with the former sect leader, his master, who merely stroked his snow-white beard with a smile, saying nothing.

Before the Sect Leader could fully grasp Shen Zhuo's reaction, he was nudged by the core disciples beside him to step forward and congratulate the new sect leader. The Sect Leader had learned about this process from the Xuanyun Sect disciples, but he had assumed everyone would go up together to celebrate Shen Zhuo. Unexpectedly, he was the only one pushed forward.

With so many people present, even though the ceremony had ended, the crowd hadn't dispersed. Having already taken a step forward, the Sect Leader couldn't retreat and had to brace himself to approach Shen Zhuo.

As he drew near, he noticed that Shen Zhuo, who appeared calm in his snow-colored cloak, was anxiously explaining something to his master.

"Master, he really isn't..."

The master smiled kindly, his hair and beard long since turned white, resembling a sage from beyond the world. He asked, "What's the matter? You've already given the sword tassel, and now you're embarrassed?"

With that, he nodded at the Sect Leader with a loving expression.

The Sect Leader, utterly confused, couldn't help but ask, "Senior, what do you mean by sword tassel?"

Shen Zhuo, who had his back to him, was so flustered that he hadn't noticed his approach. Hearing the familiar voice, he stiffened.

The master stroked his beard and explained slowly—Xuanyun Sect used sword tassels as tokens of affection. When the Sect Leader was gravely injured and brought back, everyone in the sect saw the sword tassel hanging at his waist, which belonged to Shen Zhuo and could only be touched by one's destined partner.

The Sect Leader was dumbfounded upon hearing this.

The small pouch Shen Zhuo had used as a sword tassel contained the snow lotus seed that had saved the Sect Leader's life. After consuming the snow lotus seed, the Sect Leader had carefully kept the pouch, intending to return it to Shen Zhuo with something equally precious as a token of gratitude.

He never imagined that by consuming a detoxifying remedy, he had inadvertently taken the token of affection meant for Shen Zhuo's destined partner.

Seeing the Sect Leader's shock, the master patiently reassured him, saying there was no need to worry about differences in identity. Xuanyun Sect, residing in the snowy mountains, rarely ventured into the world and didn't participate in the conflicts between the righteous and demonic factions. The two of them needn't concern themselves with external opinions and should follow their hearts. Xuanyun Sect would always be their home.

The core disciples nearby, hearing this, also began urging the still-stunned Shen Zhuo. Most of them were Shen Zhuo's junior brothers, and their words were earnest.

"Senior Brother, don't hesitate; this isn't something to delay!"

"Yeah, yeah, we worked hard to keep Ling Ge here..."

Shen Zhuo frowned at them, and once they fell silent, he turned and cleared his throat, addressing his master, "Master, the truth isn't as it seems; it's just that I was reckless..."

Though he spoke with his usual tone, he never dared to glance at the Sect Leader beside him.

"Ling Di was saved by the snow lotus seed, and I had already arranged for him to be escorted down the mountain. He wasn't aware of the sword tassel's significance..."

From start to finish, Shen Zhuo had never mentioned the snow lotus seed's value or the sword tassel's significance. To avoid pressuring the Sect Leader, he had agreed to his departure and later, upon hearing that the Sect Leader wished to stay for the ceremony, had only intended for him to witness it before sending him off.

But he never expected that his master and junior brothers would reveal everything to the Sect Leader.

The Sect Leader, initially overwhelmed by the sudden influx of information, found his attention drawn to Shen Zhuo—

The usually composed Shen Zhuo, who could face a hundred bandits with ease, now seemed as if the mink cloak was too warm, his handsome face flushed as he spoke.

This misunderstanding was quite overwhelming, and if the Sect Leader had a more explosive temper, he might have severed ties with Shen Zhuo on the spot.

But he didn't.

The Sect Leader, seeing Shen Zhuo's flushed face, intended to make a lighthearted joke, but before he could speak, he found his own ears turning red.

He never knew that blushing could spread like an epidemic, so swiftly and thoroughly.

In the end, although the title of sect leader's wife wasn't formally established during the succession ceremony, the Sect Leader didn't leave immediately.

After finally overcoming the strange ailment that made them blush and speechless at the sight of each other, he and Shen Zhuo made a pact to leave after five years, once the new snow lotus seeds were harvested.

However, before the five years were up, the matter of the sword tassel was already settled.

But five years later, the martial world grew increasingly tense, with frequent conflicts and incidents among the factions. Even within the righteous path, peace was elusive, and any slight disturbance could spark significant friction. Coupled with numerous false rumors of divine artifacts, there was a foreboding sense of impending chaos.

Though Xuanyun Sect remained unaffected by these disturbances, the century-old snow lotus had bloomed, marking the once-in-three-hundred-years season for snow lotus seeds. They became more vigilant.

Freshly picked snow lotus seeds needed to be immediately stored in a flowing gold jade cup, or they would wither on the spot. Flowing gold jade was an invaluable, top-tier rare material, and Shen Zhuo, along with the Sect Leader, went to a flowing gold jade mine to extract it.

But they didn't anticipate encountering an accident in the safest part of the mine after navigating numerous dangers. To protect the Sect Leader, Shen Zhuo used himself as a shield, ultimately sacrificing his life to push the Sect Leader out, leaving himself trapped in the collapsed mine.

Though the Sect Leader escaped the mine, he had no intention of leaving. Forcing himself to remain calm, he recalled the mine's structure, avoided subsequent collapses, and spent a day and night digging alone outside the collapsed mine, finally reaching his lover's dust-covered fingers with his bloodied arms.

But Shen Zhuo had been trapped for over ten hours, barely clinging to life. On the way back to Xuanyun Sect, he passed away in the Sect Leader's arms.

Before parting, he didn't even have the strength to touch his lover's tear-streaked face.

The Sect Leader didn't stop his journey home. He was convinced that Shen Zhuo wouldn't leave him like this and that Xuanyun Sect would have a way to save him.

However, the journey back was far from comforting. Because he carried flowing gold jade, the Sect Leader was targeted as he left the mine with Shen Zhuo. Pursued relentlessly, those after him grew increasingly aggressive. To prevent them from disturbing Shen Zhuo, the Sect Leader led them away from the inn, fighting tenaciously against these skilled opponents for two days.

Ultimately, he couldn't withstand the relentless attacks, and it was only when the former Sect Leader arrived that he was saved from exhaustion.

But when they returned to the inn, the Sect Leader was horrified to find Shen Zhuo missing.

In an instant, countless hopeful and terrifying thoughts flooded his mind, but after much inquiry, he learned that a high-ranking official's daughter had died, and they intended to arrange a grand ghost marriage for her. Dissatisfied with the deceased they found in the city, they heard the innkeeper mention Shen Zhuo's body while drinking, and upon seeing it, they were finally satisfied.

The official then sent people to forcibly take Shen Zhuo's body. The innkeeper, having received a reward from the official's family, packed up and left the city, his whereabouts unknown.

If not for the former Sect Leader's intervention, the grief-stricken and irrational Sect Leader might have slaughtered the entire inn.

When they finally reached the official's residence, they found the entire family had been executed for serious crimes. Due to their long-standing oppression of the people, the official's body was devoured by the townsfolk, and over a hundred family members were executed by soldiers sent from the capital for attempting to flee.

In the end, even piecing together the bodies of their family members was a challenge, let alone finding Shen Zhuo, who had been missing for days.

The Sect Leader, heartbroken, suffered several bouts of rage-induced delirium. They never found Shen Zhuo's whereabouts, but repeatedly encountered ambushes from various factions seeking the flowing gold jade. With no other choice, the former Sect Leader forcibly took the exhausted Sect Leader back to the demonic sect for recovery.

Since then, the Sect Leader never saw his lover again. Seasons passed, and it had been sixteen years since their separation.

This long-buried past was truly shocking to hear. Although Shi Jingxian himself could remain calm, his too-young body couldn't help but shed tears, and his heart felt as if it were being hammered, aching to the core.

Revisiting such a nightmarish and despairing wound left the Sect Leader exhausted and drained. However, having endured the passage of time, he still had the strength to care for the young master.

Seeing the young master take a handkerchief to wipe his tears, the Sect Leader sighed deeply, saying tiredly, "Today, I learned from Sect Leader Bai that... Tingzhi is not dead."

Tingzhi was Shen Zhuo's courtesy name.

The young master looked up sharply, shocked, at the Sect Leader and Bai Qinglian.

He clearly hadn't anticipated this answer.

Bai Qinglian nodded slightly.

"The former sect leader was my master."

He continued the story from another perspective, filling in the gaps from sixteen years ago.

"Shortly after my master went missing, Xuanyun Sect received news. My grandmaster and uncles refused to believe it and immediately sent people to the flowing gold jade mine. But before they arrived, another group reached the sect first."

After learning of Shen Zhuo's death, a well-trained team arrived at Xuanyun Sect. They brought back Shen Zhuo, alive.

The visitors identified themselves as relatives of the imperial consort, Nan Fei. They were responsible for the official's conviction and had connections with people in the martial world. They found Shen Zhuo at the official's residence, recognized his identity, and discovered he was still alive.

They used imperial medicine to save him, barely keeping him alive. However, Shen Zhuo was severely injured and never regained consciousness.

Xuanyun Sect was overjoyed and deeply grateful to these people. As long as Shen Zhuo was alive, there was hope of saving him, a situation far better than their worst fears.

The relatives of Nan Fei subtly inquired about Xuanyun Sect's snow lotus seeds. Xuanyun Sect, grateful for their help, agreed to give them some of the newly harvested seeds. However, the relatives demanded all the seeds.

If it were any other treasure, Xuanyun Sect would have given it in gratitude, no matter how rare or valuable. But Shen Zhuo was gravely injured, and the snow lotus seeds were essential for his recovery. They couldn't give them all away.

So, the relatives proposed another condition: give them half the seeds and promise to assist them whenever needed.

What could a consort's relatives possibly want?

Xuanyun Sect sensed potential turmoil in the royal family but had no choice but to agree.

Afterward, Xuanyun Sect completely withdrew from martial world conflicts, focusing solely on healing Shen Zhuo, though he never regained consciousness.

After hearing Bai Qinglian's explanation, Shi Jingxian still hadn't heard the crucial part he wanted to know. He couldn't help but ask, his voice still nasal, "Why didn't Xuanyun Sect inform the demonic sect that the former sect leader was saved?"

Why did they keep it from the demonic sect for so long, leaving the Sect Leader heartbroken for sixteen years?

Even if Shen Zhuo hadn't woken up, the Sect Leader wouldn't have endured such a long time without hope.

Bai Qinglian paused and said, "At the time, the Snow Ridge snow lotus was in full bloom, and the martial world was in turmoil. Xuanyun Sect was under close scrutiny, so the sect chose to close its doors and didn't spread the news."

Shi Jingxian didn't accept this explanation.

"What about afterward?" he insisted, "Why didn't Xuanyun Sect inform my father once the turmoil subsided?"

Bai Qinglian glanced at the Sect Leader before saying, "Later, when the turmoil subsided and the sect planned to inform the demonic sect, they suddenly heard..."

"They heard that the Sect Leader had a child."

Shi Jingxian was taken aback. He had considered the young master's birth but hadn't expected it to occur at that time.

Bai Qinglian continued, "The sect believed the Sect Leader had moved on and had a child with someone else, leading to resentment. Moreover, when my master was returned by outsiders, the Sect Leader was nowhere to be found. Although they later received a letter from the Sect Leader, the sect couldn't help but harbor some resentment."

"And since my master never woke up, the sect didn't inform the demonic sect."

Shi Jingxian looked at the Sect Leader, who had his eyes lowered, appearing utterly exhausted.

Having seen the Sect Leader in the young master's memories, Shi Jingxian didn't believe the Sect Leader would have moved on so quickly.

Sure enough, Bai Qinglian said, "But when I passed through this area and heard that the young master had nasal polyps, I realized something was amiss."

"My master had congenital nasal polyps as a child, with symptoms identical to the young master's. He only recovered after diligently practicing mental techniques."

Bai Qinglian also looked at the Sect Leader, "This was long before my master and the Sect Leader met, and the Sect Leader seemed unaware of it."

That was possible, Shi Jingxian thought, as allergies could be hereditary, explaining why the young master had the same condition as the former sect leader.

But if that were the case, then...

Shi Jingxian looked at the Sect Leader, "Father, then I...?"

The Sect Leader rubbed his temples and said softly, "You are Tingzhi's child."

Shi Jingxian was stunned, "Father?"

If the young master was Shen Zhuo's child, then the Sect Leader...

Could it be that Shen Zhuo had an affair with someone else while with the Sect Leader, and the Sect Leader later adopted his orphan?

But Shi Jingxian quickly dismissed this idea.

The young master resembled the Sect Leader so much that anyone could see their familial connection.

The Sect Leader remained silent for a while before hoarsely saying, "Child, you are... my biological child."

"...?"

The Sect Leader struggled to explain, "Our family has a unique constitution, with heightened senses, and men can also bear children..."

Shi Jingxian hadn't fully processed this statement when he noticed Bai Qinglian's gaze.

The look was indeed peculiar, and Shi Jingxian couldn't help but frown.

...What was he looking at?