Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 304 - 298: Subduing Bi Xiao, Forming a Sworn Siblinghood [Looking for Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets]_1
Bi Xiao’s words were clearly an attempt to make amends. Sha Chen could hear it, his eyes shining. He was safe.
At first, when the San Xiao sisters came so aggressively, he was truly prepared for a fight to the death. Unexpectedly, due to his diplomatic efforts, the situation had reversed. Bi Xiao, the one with the fieriest temper among them, had been sent by the San Xiao to teach Sha Chen a lesson, but she ended up being captivated by his charisma.
However, this wasn’t to say Bi Xiao was simple-minded or gullible. In fact, she had seldom experienced such situations. In the past, whenever conflicts arose, she would immediately resort to fighting. She had never encountered someone like Sha Chen, who reasoned things out, didn’t hold grudges even when misunderstood, and even expounded on principles for her. It was like a woman who had met countless scoundrels suddenly encountering an honest, wealthy young man; naturally, she would be drawn to him. Especially when comparing herself to Sha Chen, she felt she was unworthy of him, and guilt overwhelmed her heart. Women, when feeling guilty, could even agree to a lifetime commitment.
Fairy Yunyao was utterly flabbergasted. She knew Bi Xiao’s personality, but she never expected Bi Xiao to take the initiative to make peace. Although shocked, she felt even happier. It wasn’t just Bi Xiao who benefited; Yunyao herself had also learned much from Sha Chen’s teachings. Not everyone repays kindness with ingratitude; most people prefer to return favors. Sha Chen had benefited them and shown them kindness, so they naturally felt goodwill towards him and wished him well.
Sha Chen seized the opportunity, saying, "Since Sister Bi Xiao has spoken, if I were to continue speaking recklessly, wouldn’t that be unappreciative of your kindness?"
He immediately called her "sister." Why sweat the small stuff? Calling a woman hundreds of thousands of years old "sister" didn’t embarrass Sha Chen in the least. If possible, he would have even called her "darling." If he could be supported by a wealthy woman, he wouldn’t want to strive anymore.
Moreover, although Bi Xiao had begun her Cultivation journey earlier and was older, her cultivation level was profound, and she currently appeared even younger than Yunyao. She looked like an ordinary mortal girl of twenty, and her temperament was likely that of a young woman in her early twenties. After all, they had started their Cultivation early, and their entire lives had been spent either cultivating or seeking resources for Cultivation. Knowing only how to fight and kill, how could they understand the complexities of human relationships? If they truly understood, they wouldn’t have been unfavored by the Tongtian Hierarch during the Apocalypse Epoch, remaining mere outer sect Disciples.
Sha Chen was keenly aware that all three San Xiao sisters had the temperament of women in their twenties; Fairy Yunxiao, at most, had the maturity of someone in her thirties. Truthfully, they were still easy to fool.
However, this time he wasn’t fooling them; it was his magnanimity that had moved Bi Xiao.
Bi Xiao said, "In learning, there is no seniority; the accomplished one is the teacher. As River Lord has taught me the Qingping Scripture’s Quasi-Saint Chapter, you are my benevolent teacher. Calling me sister actually makes me feel ashamed."
Sha Chen was stunned. Damn. I’m not even allowed to be your younger brother, and now you want me to be your teacher!?
But he had misunderstood her.
Bi Xiao said, "How about this: you call me younger sister, and you will be my elder brother."
Sha Chen almost spat out his wine. A woman hundreds of thousands of years old asking me to call her ’little sister’? What is that about!? Would anyone even be able to say it out loud!?
Without hesitation, Sha Chen said, "Alright, little sister. I’m your elder brother then; I’ll take advantage of this."
He seized the opportunity without hesitation. What’s shame, anyway? If a stunning beauty like Lin Chi-ling called me brother, would I not answer!? Chang E, who was over a hundred thousand years old, already called me brother; I wouldn’t care about having one more sister who was several hundred thousand years old.
Seeing Sha Chen agree, Bi Xiao felt a flurry of emotions and a strange sensation. Her mind went surprisingly blank. Then, at Sha Chen’s prompting, she picked up her wine cup, they clinked their cups together, and drained them in one gulp.
What followed was a memorable scene. Sha Chen patted Bi Xiao’s shoulder and her delicate back, saying, "Hahaha, little sis."
Bi Xiao, looking puzzled, replied, "Uh, elder brother."
She had actually just said it casually, not expecting Sha Chen to play along and really call her "younger sister." Although she felt a tinge of regret, the feeling was also quite novel. Besides, the wine had been drunk, the terms of address used, and it was her suggestion; it was too late for regrets.
Moreover, what she had said was correct: "In learning, there is no seniority; the accomplished one is the teacher." Sha Chen had imparted Dao Techniques to her, and since she had proposed it, acknowledging him as her elder brother was now irreversible.
Bi Xiao accepted it. Once she did, things felt much more natural. Then, she called over Yunyao and Chen Sha, the clone.
Laughing, she said, "Yunyao, Martial Niece, you two come here and kowtow to your Senior Martial Uncle."
Senior Martial Uncle!?
Sha Chen’s expression turned odd as he stressed, "Uncle. It’s Uncle."
Bi Xiao said, "It doesn’t matter, it’s all the same, elder brother."
Chen Sha, the clone, had a strange expression but otherwise appeared calm. Yunyao, however, was completely baffled, still not having processed what had happened.
When she finally did, she was dumbfounded and said, "Martial Aunt Bi Xiao, he... him... are you serious?"
Although Yunyao was grateful to Sha Chen and had a good impression of him, she still found it hard to digest that he had suddenly become Fairy Bi Xiao’s sworn brother. This change is way too drastic! They came seeking revenge. Even if they failed, it shouldn’t have turned out like this! And now they’re even acknowledging kinship!
Bi Xiao, feeling she was losing face, berated her, "What nonsense are you spouting? When have I ever not been serious? He is my elder brother, I acknowledge him. If you don’t kowtow, you’re disrespecting an elder!"
Yunyao felt like crying.
However, Chen Sha, the clone, knew how to play along and immediately kowtowed, calling him "Uncle." Forced into a corner, Yunyao also had to kowtow, reluctantly calling him "Uncle." Just one look at her face revealed her reluctance, her eyes full of resistance.
Sha Chen chuckled. "Good children. It’s our first meeting, and I don’t have much to give you."
Then he took out some Immortal Pills, all of various special kinds that he had intended to exchange for other things. He casually handed them over.
Yunyao was dumbstruck, gazing at the valuable Immortal Pills in her hand, utterly perplexed. Even she had never seen someone so generous. Back on Jinao Island, the elders were never so generous; all resources were allocated based on contributions. Rewards from elders were few and far between, and the items given were usually quite ordinary.
The Immortal Pills Sha Chen gave, although not directly for Cultivation, were invaluable for anyone navigating the perilous outside world. When roaming the Jianghu, one is bound to face dangers. These various Immortal Pills, useless to Sha Chen, were treasures to other cultivators. When traveling, one could be ambushed, injured, or suffer various kinds of attacks. The assortment of Immortal Pills Sha Chen provided was comprehensive, like a complete set, extremely tempting for someone who spent their years struggling in the outside world.
Fairy Yunyao was indeed tempted, hence her dumbstruck expression. This meeting gift was truly too generous. It was worth more than a thousand years of her toiling on Jinao Island. Even if exchanged for Cultivation resources, it would yield a substantial amount. Moreover, such special Immortal Pills were rarely traded; they were usually kept for self-defense, for emergency needs.
At this, the last bit of Yunyao’s reservations vanished without a trace. She enthusiastically called him "Uncle" repeatedly. She was just short of calling him "Daddy."
Sha Chen also gave his clone, Chen Sha, a meeting gift, an even more generous one, as the clone also had needs in the outside world. He planned to cultivate his clone to serve as a support and a trump card.
At the same time, Chen Sha, the clone, secretly handed Sha Chen a Qiankun Bag. It contained Cultivation resources he had scrimped and saved over the years, managing to set aside from Jinao Island. Although not much, it could alleviate Sha Chen’s current resource shortage and sustain him for several more months.
Sha Chen hesitated for a moment, then took out a jar of Enlightenment Tea, about a pound inside. He poured out two ounces and divided it into three smaller jars: two containing one ounce each, and one containing eight ounces. He then cheerfully handed a one-ounce jar each to the clone and Yunyao, and gave the eight-ounce jar of Enlightenment Tea to Bi Xiao.
He laughed. "Little sister, this is our first meeting, and I don’t have much to give you. This Enlightenment Tea is made from the young leaves of the Phoenix Tree and is very beneficial for enlightenment."
Fairy Bi Xiao’s eyes widened. She had lived for countless years and seen many treasures. She had been fortunate enough to obtain Enlightenment Tea before, but only about two ounces. Now, weighing the tea in her hand, she realized it was at least eight ounces.
HISS!
Such a generous gift left her both pleasantly surprised and somewhat apprehensive. Sha Chen possessed great treasures, so perhaps he didn’t place immense importance on Enlightenment Tea; he always seemed to have enough.
However, Enlightenment Tea was an extremely important Cultivation resource. Using it during Cultivation and comprehension could allow one to achieve twice the results with half the effort. Bi Xiao had just listened to Sha Chen’s lecture and only vaguely grasped the Quasi-Saint Chapter. With the aid of Enlightenment Tea, she would undoubtedly comprehend it much more easily.
Therefore, this tea was incredibly valuable to her. Joy and surprise filled her heart, and her face showed even more guilt as she said, "Elder brother, you’re too good to your little sister. I have nothing with which to repay your kindness..."
Sha Chen cut her off. "No need to talk about offering yourself in repayment; we understand each other. We’re family, after all. How could I forget my little sister when I have good things to share?" Then he added, "If you really feel indebted, why not help me comprehend a Formation instead?" 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢
The San Xiao, with their Primeval Chaos Gold Funnel, had devised the infamous Nine-Curve Yellow River Array, which demonstrated their profound understanding of Formations. In the realm of Formations, if Sha Chen was a primary school student, they were Great Grandmasters. Sha Chen wasn’t even qualified to carry their shoes.
Upon hearing this, Bi Xiao immediately said, "Elder brother, are you asking little sister to comprehend this Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation? No, this isn’t the Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation; it’s even more majestic. It must be the Eight Gates Heavenly Lock Formation."
HISS.
Sha Chen was suddenly dumbfounded. He had led Bi Xiao into his Cave Abode, and the place they were currently in was, in fact, its Life Gate. Many things in the Flowing Sand River Cave were protected by its various gates. He had even considered that if things went south, he would lead Bi Xiao into the Death Gate; even if it couldn’t kill her, it could trap her. He just hadn’t expected Bi Xiao to recognize it as the Eight Gates Heavenly Lock Formation right from the start. She simply hadn’t mentioned it until now.
Bi Xiao said, "Just so you know, elder brother, I saw that the entire Flowing Sand River Cave was enveloped by the Eight Gates Heavenly Lock Formation the moment I entered."
"I suppose I was rash earlier, which is why you took precautions. This truly makes me feel ashamed," she said. She was self-aware enough to admit this.
She continued, "However, I was conceited earlier. Even though I recognized it, I still came in, believing I could break the Eight Gates Heavenly Lock Formation in an instant." She sheepishly scratched her head. "It’s truly embarrassing. After seeing through it properly now, I realize it would take me at least a quarter of an hour to break it."
Sha Chen instantly broke out in a cold sweat. Good grief. Thank goodness I hadn’t led her into the Death Gate at the start! She’s not human! She can break my Eight Gates Heavenly Lock Formation in just fifteen minutes! And she has the nerve to act sheepish about it?! Such a show-off!
