The Villain's White Lotus Halo Chapter 21

Kir just got a wordpress! In the future we will be posting the chapters that we've respectively done the translations for, but since she seems to be figuring things out, I'll be doing it for today!

Syn Chapter 21 – Yan Xing  

The moment Yin BiYue took Luo MingChuan's card, he clasped his sword in his hands. He promptly poured in his core energy, and his figure disappeared from the port.

He vaguely felt the breath of the wind and waves, the buzz of the marketplace, the clouds of dust on the main road, and the glare from the the early summer sun. However, everything was gone within the flash of an instant.     

In the next moment, he stepped onto solid ground.

Before he could even clearly see the woods in front of him, practically in the same moment, an immense force abruptly pulled him back.

Even though Yin BiYue was cautiously prepared, he still staggered a bit. With no time to turn, he stabbed his unsheathed sword that carried immense core energy backward. But instantly, like a clay ox in the sea¹, the presence evaporated.

A strong lesser segue stage cultivator!

Still, he did not use his backup plan, because the pulling force vanished. From behind him, a person's voice rang out,

"Wait a moment brother, I have no ill-intentions!"  

That person let go of the grip on his shoulder, took two steps back, and suppressed his presence.  

"Friend…"

Yin BiYue looked back and was stunned.

It was not because this person was extremely good-looking that he left people speechless.

Rather… it was because he looked very familiar.

His deep brown ensemble was somewhat shabby. On his waist hung a wine bottle, and he carried a changdao² on his back. His messy hair was tied in the back, and his chin was covered with stubble.

This image of a 'down on his luck Jianghu³ drunkard' did not seem like it'd belong to  a cultivator.

But if observed closely, this person's features were sharp and distinct, his high brow bone slanted back to his temples. His eyes were too clear, naturally reducing the romanticism of his peach blossom eyes.

It only emphasized the embarrassment and sloppiness.

The other person also examined him back, surprised.

In the end, he asked uncertainty, "fourth bro?"

At this time, Chatterbox's voice rang out from their backs, "Third shixiong! Why are you here?!"

That person turned around and immediately turned pale with shock, "fifth bro!"

He then pointed at both him and Duan Chatterbox, "Weird! How come you two appeared out of nowhere! … fourth bro, what's wrong with your hair? I didn't even recognize you!"

Yin BiYue thought he finally knew why his face was so familiar.

Because this person was exactly third shixiong who hardly ever visited once every three years: Yan Xing.

The last time they met was when Duan Chongxuan came to Xi Hua Peak and went through the apprenticeship ceremony in front of the picture of their master.

Yin BiYue nodded his head at Yan Xing, "Third shixiong, it's a long story…." He was not sure why his hair became white, so he switched topics, "Fifith shidi and I traveled to the Southern Continent to participate in the Flower-Picking Festival."

Chatterbox continued, "How about third shixiong?"

Yan Xing's expression became awkward, "It's a longer story…"

Suddenly his face shifted, "Careful!"

Yin BiYue and Duan ChongXuan were instantly alert.

Third shixiong was already in lesser segue stage. What kind of person could he be avoiding?

Yin BiYue's gaze landed on the place he stepped on earlier. Less than two feet away, there was an array flag sticking out.

Yan Xing probably pulled him back because he was afraid he would break this array.

There were eight others of such flag, set zigzagged within the forest, around a radius of about three feet, with the three of them in the middle.

Yin BiYue inspected it closely. This was a concealing array.

However, the arrangement and technique were very simple and crude. If not for Yan Xing's high level of cultivation, a causal learner of arrays would be able to see past it

Yin BiYue's fingertips moved slightly, and a stream of core energy flowed out. In the soughing breeze, two of the flags exchanged positions. His gesture changed again, and the northernmost flag slightly leaned south half an inch.

It was just this subtle adjustment that caused the entire formation to change instantly, with the wind calming inside the circle.

Yan Xing sensed this kind of change and his mood relaxed. Ruthlessly punching his shoulder, Yan Xing exclaimed, pleasantly surprised, "fourth bro! Pretty good!"

Yin BiYue was a little embarrassed by his brazen manner, lowering his head, "shixiong is exaggerating."

In his heart, he knew that if Yan Xing didn't trust him, he wouldn't have been able to alter his array.

But he remained confused. If the person was a strong foe, higher in cultivation than Yan Xing, how could they not see through the array? If their cultivation was lower, why the need to hide?

A rustle sounded not too far away and a hazy white figure traversed over.

The person was getting closer. His airy boots stepped onto fallen leaves and weeds, making the slightest of sounds. Not hiding his presence in the slightest.     

It was a young man with a sword in hand.

The youth came closer and closer, close enough to see that the sleeves on his thin robe were decorated with splashing landscapes; the peaks of his eyebrows radiated a heavy coldness.

Yin Xing became nervous again, closing his mouth wordlessly the second time.

Even Yin BiYue and Duan Chongxuan were infected by this tension, solemnly gazing at the approaching person.

A familiar voice suddenly emerged from the forest, "Young Heir Song"

It was Luo MingChuan's voice.

The youth who was called Young Heir Song turned his body, slightly stunned, "Luo shixiong?"

Yin BiYue finally confirmed that the Director already did not want Luo MingChuan to die anymore.

Otherwise, any disturbance during the transportation would be enough to let Luo MingChuan to die without a sound, his corpse unfound.

On the contrary, the Director really did want the three of the to participate in the Flower-Picking Festival.

But perhaps even the Director could not foresee the current situation. Because… the Director could not be bored enough to calculate Yan Xing and the young heir's personal affairs.

The people outside the array perimeter had already began exchanging greetings.

"How come Luo shixiong is here right now?"

"Fukong Sea suddenly erupted a tide of sea beasts, sealing the ship routes. Luckily, the Academy Director delivered over cards that teleported me here. Have you seen any other people in this forest?"

"No I haven't… Since it was the Director's card, there won't be a problem. Maybe they landed a bit farther from here. No need to worry Luo shixiong. I am also looking for someone; we can go together."

Hearing this, Duan ChongXuan exclaimed, "The future heir to Cang Ya Shan and the QingLu Sword Sect's young heir, tsk tsk, their relationship isn't bad."

Cang Ya Shan did not have this 'young heir' term. But the status of the head disciple already signified the tacit approval of being the next generation's Sect Leader.

Yin BiYue also confirmed the identity of this young man who will someday take on the responsibility of QingLu Sword Sect's: Song Tang.

Graceful Sword Song Tang. Compared to Zhong Shan from the same sect, he was younger, had a higher cultivation, and became famous earlier.

Luo MingChuan diverted Song Tang's attention.

Yan Xing sighed with relief. "That kid also looks familiar…" He looked at him harder, suddenly realizing, "It's Xi Gan Peak's Luo MingChuan… fourth bro, fifth bro, you guys have any ideas to let him draw that Song Tang away?"

Yin BiYue nodded his head. He condensed his core energy into a bundle, controlled by his spirit, and precisely delivered to Luo MingChuan's ear.   

"Luo shixiong, Duan shidi and I are north of you, three meters away, in Yan Xing shixiong's concealing spell. Yan shixiong is the person that young heir Song is trying to find."

This meaning was very obvious. Since they were in the array, they did not want to be found.  

Luo MingChuan's expression did not change. The surprise in his eyes left in a flash. Next to him, Song Tang did not notice it in the slightest.

 He then smiled, "There is no hurry in finding this person. I plan to enter Ye City in advance and find a place to stay during the Flower-Picking Festival."

This year's Flower-Picking Festival was QingLu Sword Sect's turn to host. Song Tang was the young master, so naturally, many of the affairs were managed by him. For example, the lodging for each sect's disciples in Ye City.

Sure enough, Tang Song apologetically responded, "I was too careless. I have forgotten that Luo shixiong came from afar. You must be tired from the journey. My sect has already prepared everything. I'll take Luo shixiong there immediately."

They watched the two walk away, their silhouettes fading in the forest.   

Yan Xing again harshly smacked Yin Biyue's shoulder, "Fourth bro, you're too awesome!!"

Yin Biyue only felt that this Yan shixiong was not like what he imagined.

He couldn't help but think of a lot of things related to this shixiong.

1) disappear without hope of returning

2) 长刀 (changdao)：a  two-handed, single-edged Chinese sword

3) 江湖 (jianghu):  It points to the mode of lifestyle of people who are free, wandering the lands, like entertainers or practitioners. It is extremely prominent in wuxia genre where people of high martial art skill roam. 

We finally meet Yan Xing! Our good drunken third bro. He… really is a bro.

Everyone shower Kirrs with adulation for translating, and trying her hand at doing the hyperlinks and footnotes.

We would like to thank to for editing from our friendly neighborhood and with a little extra help translating some random lines that got missed.

(It's still!! Monday!! here!!)

syn

Chapter end