So, who could it be?
The sect master racked his brain to no avail. In the end, he listed out every enemy he had ever made.
Now, he had to find a way to clean up this mess.
He had two options. One, deny everything until the end. Two, hunt down whoever was behind it and resolve the problem at its source.
Only that way could he keep his secret from being exposed.
But even in the worst-case scenario, his secret being revealed would only be considered a "scandalous love affair." At most, he would be criticized, but it would not lead to any serious consequences.
The sect master fell silent for a moment, then chuckled with renewed confidence.
…
"Senior, this sweet wine is absolutely amazing. Want to try it?"
A little boy craned his neck and looked up at Song Wanníng with bright eyes full of anticipation. He looked as if he were carved from jade, his features delicate and adorable. A jade gourd hung at his waist, adding to his charm.
Song Wanníng lowered her gaze, raising an eyebrow. "With how hard you're advertising, is this tavern owned by your family?"
The boy scratched his head sheepishly. "No… I just thought, maybe when Senior drinks it, you'd spare me a little taste too..."
He held up his fingers to indicate a tiny amount, his eyes shining with hope.
Song Wanníng smiled faintly. "I saw you going around promoting the wine in the tavern, so I figured you were helping out your family business."
She was on her way to the Artifact and Talisman Sect and had passed through Jiyuan City. Stopping by this tavern for a quick meal, she had barely sat down when this little thing came bouncing over.
"Alright, I'll give it a try."
She agreed easily, ordered a bowl of the sweet wine, and even let the boy have some.
He happily sat down across from her, sipping the drink and chatting away. His whole demeanor was endearingly bright.
"Senior, this sweet wine is amazing!
Oh right, are you from out of town?"
He asked between sips. A faint gleam passed through his downcast eyes, gone by the time he looked back up, all innocent smiles once more.
"Mm. I'm headed to the Artifact and Talisman Sect, just passing through."
Song Wanníng's lips curved slightly as she sampled the drink.
It was indeed quite good.
"I see. Then do you have a place to stay, Senior? You could come to my home instead!"
The boy beamed. "The rooms here are expensive, and they love to scam people."
He wrinkled his nose, playing up his cuteness.
But he didn't lower his voice. The tavern's manager overheard him loud and clear.
"Hey, brat! Tired of living, are you? Daring to slander our tavern like that? Want me to beat you up?" The manager rolled up his sleeves, storming over with an angry scowl.
The boy jumped off his stool in a flash and hid behind Song Wanníng. "See, Senior? I wasn't wrong, was I? This is a black-hearted place! Look at him, always threatening to beat people!"
He tugged tightly at her sleeve, his delicate face full of righteous outrage.
Song Wanníng glanced at him, the amusement in her smile deepening.
"You little troublemaker, get over here now!" The manager didn't dare offend Song Wanníng and could only glower from a distance, gritting his teeth.
The boy stuck out his tongue. "Hmph, I'm not stupid! Not coming!"
"You—!"
The manager was just about to explode.
Before things could escalate, Song Wanníng stood up and smoothed things over. "He's just a child. Don't take it to heart."
She tossed a pouch of spirit stones, which landed squarely in the manager's arms.
"Consider this my apology on his behalf."
The manager peeked into the pouch. His expression flipped instantly as he bowed respectfully. "Since our honored guest has spoken, I'll take my leave. If you need anything, just call."
He backed away, all the fire gone from his voice.
The boy's eyes flickered subtly before returning to their usual brightness. He skipped over to Song Wanníng, hands on his hips with a triumphant huff.
"See? I told you, all he cares about is money! What a greedy old man!"
Then he spun around and grinned. "Come on, Senior. Stay at my place. It's huge! Don't let these black-hearted people make a profit off you."
As he spoke, he carefully watched Song Wanníng's expression.
"No need. I'll just stay here. Wouldn't want to trouble you or your family."
Song Wanníng sat with a relaxed air, showing no sign of leaving.
She took another sip of the sweet wine, her calm expression unreadable.
"It's no trouble at all!"
The boy didn't seem surprised by her refusal. He climbed back onto the stool and started eating again while continuing their chat.
Soon enough, a tale began to unfold. A pitiful image of a boy mistreated by his father's second wife. As he spoke, he seemed on the verge of tears but stubbornly held them back.
"Ever since my father remarried, he stopped caring about me. Don't be fooled by how I'm dressed, Senior… I have spiritual talent, but they won't let me cultivate. They say the cultivation world is too dangerous and that I should just enjoy a noble's life as a mortal.
That woman, she acts all nice in front of others, but really…
My mother brought me here for sweet wine once. Ever since she died, I haven't had it again... wuwuwu..." This time, he really did cry, drawing glances from nearby tables.
Anyone else would have been mortified.
But Song Wanníng remained unbothered, her face impassive from beginning to end.
The boy soon sniffled and wiped his eyes. "I'm sorry, I lost control. I just really miss my mother...
I know, Senior. You must find me annoying too. It's fine, I'm used to it... After all, that woman always said my mother died because of me, a worthless child...
Thank you for listening, Senior. I'll leave now. Don't want to bring you bad luck."
He jumped off the stool and made for the exit.
As soon as he turned his back, his expression went cold. Not a trace of grief remained.
Just as he stepped outside, a voice called out behind him.
"Wait, little one!"
He stopped right away. A flash of triumph crossed his face, quickly replaced by a tearful look as he turned around.
"Senior, is something wrong?"
"Here. Take these spirit stones." Song Wanníng tossed over a storage pouch, her eyes carrying a trace of gentleness. "Don't believe what that woman said. You're a good child. Use these to live well."
The boy froze.
This... wasn't the reaction he had been hoping for.
For a moment, he stood there dazed. By the time he snapped out of it, Song Wanníng had already returned to the inn.
Qi Xiezi's expression darkened to an ugly shade. His grip tightened around the storage pouch.
That woman… actually didn't take the bait?
Jaw clenched, he stared at the tavern for a long moment before finally turning away in silence. If he kept pushing now, he might arouse suspicion. That would be troublesome.
Fuming, he stormed back to the secluded courtyard and immediately activated a communication talisman.
===
Hey there! ( ´ ▽ ` )ﾉ
If you've been following my translations for a while—or even if you just stumbled across one of the novels I work on—you might've noticed that I sometimes drop a link in the comment section of certain chapters. That link usually leads to my personal glossary, where I explain some of the more complex terms and concepts related to cultivation.
But I realized something recently… maybe some of you are reading through the app, not the web version, and copying links there can be a hassle (´･ᴗ･ ` )
So! I decided to upload the glossary directly to my Webnovel account. You can now find it right on my profile, titled:
🌸 The Xianxia Handbook: A Guide to Cultivation and Beyond 🌸
This way, it's easier for you to access, and I can keep updating it whenever I come across new terms, concepts, or explanations I feel are worth sharing. Whether you're new to cultivation novels or just want to deepen your understanding, I hope this helps enhance your reading experience. (๑˃ᴗ˂)ﻭ
I highly recommend adding it to your library and giving it a read—even if you're already a seasoned xianxia reader. Why? Because the handbook includes everything from foundational terms you've probably seen a hundred times, to deeper insights and uncommon concepts you might not have explored yet. It's also a great refresher if you ever feel confused by a term mid-chapter.
The content is a mix of information I've gathered from various sources and my own interpretations after reading way too many cultivation webnovels (∠｀ω´) 📚
For example:
-I wrote an entire section called "The Evolution of Cultivation and the Diversification of Paths", where I explore how cultivation branches beyond just "martial" or "spiritual" types. I also touch on 法修 (Fǎxiū) as spell-based cultivators, 剑修 (Jiànxiū) for weapon users, 音悦修 (Yīnyuè Xiū) for sound cultivation, 道修 (Dàoxiū) for Path-focused cultivators, and 魔修 (Móxiū) for demonic ones. Plus, side paths like talisman masters, beast tamers, and more.
-You'll find discussions on Five Spiritual Roots (五灵根, Wǔ Líng Gēn) and how they're viewed differently in different novels—some say it's the worst, others say it's the best.
-I also dive into Heavenly Tribulations, how they vary depending on the cultivator's path, and what that means for progression.
Basically, I try to "make it make sense" by piecing together bits of knowledge scattered across tons of novels. I've rarely seen any story explain all of this in a consistent and logical order, so I figured... why not try myself?
That said, everything in the handbook reflects my personal understanding, even if I reference or quote from other sources. I try to keep things neutral, general, and easy to understand—especially since different authors interpret terms in very different ways.
You'll also find clarifications for common misconceptions, like:
-Dual Cultivation isn't always about sex—it actually has two forms: one intimate (yes, that one), and one non-intimate focused purely on energy exchange.
-Terms like human furnace or cauldron (炉鼎, lú dǐng)
-Concepts like Takeover or Soul Piercing (common transmigration tropes), which I cover in Chapter 23: Spirit/Soul/God (神, Shén) & Divine Sense
-The Hierarchy of Worlds, the difference between practitioners vs. cultivators, Martial Arts vs. Cultivation, and other common worldbuilding tropes like sects, clans, realms, and more.
All in all, this version is way more comprehensive and accessible than the old comment-linked glossary, so I really recommend you check it out! (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧