Don't Back Down
1633 Words
The jade-white immortal stairs rose from the ground, ten thousand *zhang* high, ten thousand *zhang* long.
Long and tall, steep and precipitous.
The Shangqing Sect was built upon these Ascending Immortal Stairs, supported like a precious object held aloft by the two peaks, Divine Maiden and Xiang Concubine, which resembled a pair of jade hands.
Looking up from below, the Shangqing Sect sat atop the clouds, shrouded in mist like immortal qi, remote and unattainable.
Chu Ran stood at the foot of the ten-thousand-*zhang* immortal stairs, gazing past the steep, jade-white staircase of the immortal family towards that immortal sect in the distance.
An expression of melancholy lingered on his elegant face, a faint trace of sorrow hovering between his brows.
A cold wind blowing from the valley lifted his sleeves, making them flutter, his robes snap, and his black hair rise.
From afar, it was truly a picturesque scene, the person as beautiful as an immortal.
—It was just a pity that no one currently had the leisure to appreciate this beautiful painting.
Except for a certain Golden Core True Person with nothing better to do.
While Chu Ran stood at the foot of the Ascending Immortal Stairs, pretending to be a literary youth immersed in melancholic sorrow,
All around him, many had already eagerly begun climbing the ten-thousand-*zhang* long staircase that connected the mortal and immortal realms.
These people wished they had eight legs like spiders to climb faster and faster up the immortal stairs. Their expressions were tense, their steps swift, terrified that if they were a step too slow, it would be too late.
Among such a crowd of impatient people, Chu Ran, standing motionless on the Ascending Immortal Stairs, admiring the mountain scenery and playing the role of a melancholic literary youth, simply looked like an i***t.
Zhao Sizhuo, who was single-mindedly determined to cling to a powerful ally, grew anxious seeing this.
*Big Bro, Big Bro, what's wrong!*
*Why aren't you moving, why aren't you moving?*
*If you don't move soon, it'll be too late!*
Zhao Sizhuo was frantic inside but dared not show it to Chu Ran.
What was Chu Ran?
He was the powerful ally!
Dare to show dissatisfaction towards the powerful ally?
Believe it or not, the ally would cut you down in minutes!
Young Master Zhao was burning with anxiety but didn't dare urge Chu Ran. He could only dawdle over to Chu Ran's side and ask euphemistically, "Brother Chu, why aren't you moving?"
Hearing this, Chu Ran turned his head, looked at him, and a faint smile slowly appeared on his elegant, handsome face.
He pointed at the Ascending Immortal Stairs ahead and said, "Look."
Young Master Zhao followed the direction of his finger.
"What do you see?" Chu Ran asked.
He saw nothing... except a tall, long, steep immortal staircase.
But! Young Master Zhao instantly perked up, thinking, *When the powerful ally asks a question, there must be a deeper meaning!*
*Can't answer with such a shallow, simple answer. Must be... profound, unfathomable, extraordinary!*
A flash of inspiration struck Young Master Zhao's mind. He hurriedly said to Chu Ran, "I see... the Immortal Path!"
With a solemn, reverent expression, he said in an extremely serious tone, "This is an immortal staircase, but it's not merely an immortal staircase. It is the Immortal Path. It is the path beneath each of our feet, it is our path of cultivating immortality."
↑ The above was purely Young Master Zhao's nonsense.
His entourage of followers behind him, upon hearing this, all looked at him with admiration and said, "Brother Zhao, profound insight!"
"As expected of Brother Zhao!"
"Marvelous! Hearing your words is like a sudden enlightenment."
"..."
*Tsk*, look at that professionalism, learn from it!
Being a sycophant isn't something just anyone can do; flattery isn't something just anyone can deliver.
Zhao Sizhuo also thought his answer was wonderful, perfect!
He felt smug inside, thinking he was still quite clever and perceptive, wasn't he!
But facing Chu Ran, he couldn't be so proud; he had to be humble. That was the powerful ally, after all!
How could a subordinate steal the ally's spotlight? That was a major taboo!
With highly developed awareness and professional ethics, Young Master Zhao immediately turned and scolded his followers, "Shut up! Brother Chu hasn't even spoken yet; who are you to speak?"
Then he turned back, asking Chu Ran with a fawning expression, "Brother Chu, do you think what I said is correct?"
Chu Ran looked at him with his dark, crow-feather-like eyes, an amused, ambiguous smile on his elegant, handsome face. "Both correct and incorrect."
"Huh?" Young Master Zhao wore a puzzled expression.
"Immortal stairs as the Immortal Path—that's not wrong," Chu Ran said slowly. "That you have this awareness shows your comprehension is good, far surpassing most ordinary people in this world."
Ah—
He was being praised.
Young Master Zhao's eyes widened in surprise upon hearing this, then a look of moved emotion appeared on his face. He lowered his head and wiped his eyes with his hand.
"Why are you crying?" Chu Ran asked, his gaze fixed on him.
"I... I'm just too happy," Zhao Sizhuo's voice was choked. He looked up at Chu Ran with red-rimmed eyes. "You're the first person to ever say that to me."
Hearing this, Chu Ran's expression remained unchanged, his eyes clear and sharp as he looked at him.
Seeing Chu Ran like this, Young Master Zhao couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.
Long-suppressed feelings buried deep in his heart for so long came rushing out. He said to Chu Ran, his voice filled with resentment, bitterness, and grievance, "Always, people only say I'm stupid, say I'm trash, worthless."
"Nonsense!" the richly dressed youth behind him hurriedly interjected. "Brother Zhao, with your heaven-bestowed talent, how could you..."
"Shut up!" Zhao Sizhuo turned and shouted angrily at him, his face flushing, eyes glaring red. "Don't think I don't know that all the flattery you usually give me is fake!"
"Fake, all of it!"
Zhao Sizhuo roared loudly, "It's all because of my father, because of the Zhao Family, that you tell me lies and try to please me! If I weren't surnamed Zhao, if my mother weren't the Princess of the North River Prince's Manor, you would never flatter me like this!"
"Don't think I don't know you mock me behind my back, think I'm nothing but a bullying, good-for-nothing wastrel relying on my family's influence. Say that I... am not as good as Zhao Siyue!"
Zhao Sizhuo's outburst of grievances and roars instantly caused the group of richly dressed youths behind him to look at each other in dismay, falling silent.
This...
Has Young Master Zhao taken the wrong medicine today?
Chu Ran stood to the side, features cool and sharp, watching this scene with a cold gaze.
After his roaring vent, Zhao Sizhuo wiped his eyes, looked up at Chu Ran with red-rimmed eyes, and said in a hoarse voice, "Do you also think I'm useless, trash?"
Chu Ran looked at him, tilted his head slightly, blinked, his elegant, handsome face wearing an expression of careful consideration.
This appearance instantly made the secretly peeping Yunhua True Person feel a warmth in his nose.
He hurriedly covered his nose with his hand, his eyes fixed unwaveringly on Chu Ran, his mind filled with, "*So cute, so adorable—*" scrolling past.
After a long moment of contemplation,
Chu Ran answered very honestly, "You are quite useless."
Instantly, a look of despair flashed across Young Master Zhao's face, his heart filled with "*I knew it, I am trash, even the powerful ally says so...*"
"But so what?" Chu Ran's tone abruptly shifted. He pointed at the Ascending Immortal Stairs ahead and said, "Your answer was good, but that's not what I wanted you to see."
Zhao Sizhuo looked up at him, rabbit-like eyes filled with confusion.
"What I wanted you to see is..." Chu Ran said, a cold smirk curling his lips, his face full of disdain, his voice as icy as the freezing waters of the North Sea, "...a bunch of idiots!"
"They can't even see the path beneath their feet clearly, yet they rush out impatiently," Chu Ran's voice dripped with scornful mockery. "The Path unclear, obstacles arise in the heart."
He gave a light, contemptuous laugh and said, "Just a tiny bit of mist is enough to cut off their path to immortality."
Zhao Sizhuo looked up and gazed ahead.
He saw—
Ahead, a vast, hazy white mist had risen on the previously clear ten-thousand-*zhang* immortal stairs.
Everyone was trapped within.
Those inside couldn't see out, but those outside could clearly see their every move.
The people who had eagerly rushed out first and were walking at the forefront were now trapped in the mist, unable to find a way out, growing anxious and restless, their expressions gradually turning frantic, like ants on a hot pan, running around in circles.
Zhao Sizhuo was stunned watching this.
Seeing his expression, Chu Ran slowly said, his tone casual, "On the path of cultivating immortality, it has never been about who walks the fastest, who walks the best, who is the winner."
"Rather—who can walk to the end."
"Take me, for example—" Chu Ran said, suddenly stepping forward, closing the distance to Zhao Sizhuo.
Zhao Sizhuo was startled by his sudden movement and reflexively stepped back.
Noticing his reaction, Chu Ran gave a disdainful laugh and said, "What are you dodging for? I'm not going to eat you."
"..." Zhao Sizhuo.
*Holy crap!*
*Big Bro, your style changed so fast, so weird!*
*I'm scared!*
*So wicked, so unrestrained...*
*Please give me back my normal, aloof, cold, and condescending powerful ally.*
- Writer
