After Cultivating With the Enemy Ch. 1

Translated by Neirith

Immortal Realm, Hongmeng Mountains.

The mountains were a vast expanse, full of wind and snow.

A suspended bridge spanned the length of two peaks, with soft powder snow covering the bridge deck. Below the stone bridge lay a vast abyss.

Beneath the light grey sky, dozens of figures traversed quickly across the middle of the bridge.

“Hurry up, or I won’t be able to meet Hongmen Academy’s enrollment deadline!”

“There’s too much snow, be careful!”

As the wind and snow increased, frost began to form on the bridge at a speed visible to the naked eye. The sharp chill forced a young man to go ahead.

“Ahhh——!”

Before anyone had the time to shout, a sound came across the horizon, like a sharp blade piercing the void. A radiant silver dragon descended from the sky, landing on the spot where the young man had fallen.

After a while, the silver sheen settled firmly on the stone bridge. 

It dissipated and revealed a cold and frosty face. 

The man appeared to be a young adult, wreathed in a coarse silver and white robe. The lines of his face and neck were delicate and thin, all wrapped within a fur collar. His skin was white as snow, completely lacking in color, almost in accordance with the surroundings. 

“This bridge is extremely dangerous, be careful.” He lowered his head to instruct the youth next to him.

Upon closer inspection, it could be seen that the color of his eyes were exceedingly dark, but inside them, a radiant gleam could be traced through his inky pupils, as if they had been cleaved through by the reflections of snow. 

The youth was stunned, peering at his savior in a daze, and it took him a long time to find his voice. “Th-Thank you very much, Respected Immortal!”

“I’m not…” He shook his head and looked as if he wanted to explain, but stopped. 

“Today is the last day to enroll at Hongmeng Academy. Please hurry.”

After saying this, the white-clothed man turned into a silver flash that soared into the sky. 

A while later, the same white figure appeared in front of the gate at Hongmeng Academy. There was no snow or wind here, and a thick fog was blown away by the wind to reveal layers and layers of forest green. Exposed in the distance was the corner of a roof adorned with glazed blue tiles. Beyond the ridge of the roof hung the warm golden sun, and a cloud lingered above it.

Ji Chaoyun wrapped his clothes about him as if chilled, and raised his eyes to peer over the numerous stone steps, gazing at the glazed roof in the distance.

At the other end of the stairs stood a stone tablet with the four characters reading out “Hongmeng Academy.”

“Ji Chaoyun, did you run out to rescue some newcomers again?” A sudden voice came from behind him. A tall blue-clothed man smiled and leaped down from atop a stone and affectionately wrapped his arms around the others’ shoulders. “If you invite me out for a drink, I won’t report you to the Respected Immortals.”

Ji Chaoyun batted him away, looking at him indifferently. “Weren’t you also rescued by me? Anyways, we are also newcomers.”

Hongmeng Academy opened its doors once every hundred years, and scattered immortals from all across the land would scurry to attend. 

Ji Chaoyun was one of them.

The academy was a place exclusively for disciples of the Immortal Realm to study. If they wanted to enter, they would need to pass the entrance examination at Hongmeng Mountain.

“Seeing that tomorrow is the final day for the assessment, why do you still insist on running out? What if someone catches yo——” The man in blue stopped as Ji Chaoyun suddenly glanced back at him. Then, he chuckled and continued his words. “I know you’re kind hearted, but it hasn’t been easy to come here. Isn’t it better to avoid trouble?”

“I didn’t break any rules.” A cold breeze swept across the mountain, and Ji Chaoyun tightened his clothes around himself, half of his face hidden in his white fur collar. “It hasn’t been easy for anyone to get to this point. I’m just trying my best.”　　

“Fine, whatever you say. Anyways, I have another reason for seeking you out.” Any expression of a smile disappeared from the blue-clothed man’s face as he lowered his voice and said, “Tomorrow is the final evaluation and the examiner is…”

“It’s me.”

Hearing this, two heads collectively raised to see a tall figure standing in front of the gate. It was unknown how long the figure had been standing there for. 

The visitor seemed to cast a smile that was not a smile, his eyes haughtily sizing up Ji Chaoyun. “Ji Chaoyun, this young master won’t let you off easy.”

Jiang Cheng, ranked as one of the top ten at Hongmeng Academy, happened to be the examiner for the final entrance exam. 

Ji Chaoyun’s lips twitched inaudibly, as if cursing in secret. 

Jiang Cheng’s parents were both immortals and had been so since birth, relying on their talents to cultivate to a high degree. Naturally, they countered fewer obstacles than others. Others hoping to enroll at Hongmeng Academy had to go through a myriad of difficult assessments, but these natural-born immortals had a free pass and didn’t have to undergo any assessments. 

The place that various immortals clamored to get into, in their opinion, was merely a place to pass the time.

The Immortal Realm had always respected status. There was no sense of fairness at all. 　　

Before the person beside him could retort, Ji Chaoyun calmly stepped forward and asked quietly, “Does this Respected Immortal have any reason for approaching us?”

Jiang Cheng snorted coldly, “Ji Chaoyun, I’ll give you one more chance. Apologize and obey me as an attendant for a year. Perhaps this young master will be in a good mood, so he might be merciful and let you attend.”

As the two looked at each other, Ji Chaoyun replied without batting an eyelid. “Respected Immortal is the chief examiner. To promise a new student like this, I’m afraid if the Supervisory Committee finds out…”

“You——” Jiang Cheng’s expression changed dramatically as he shouted, “You dare, you diminutive demon dragon! Shameless!”

Ji Chaoyun’s eyes sank and a dangerous light flashed through his eyes. But before anyone had time to notice, he lowered his head timidly and said no more. 

“Good, very good…” Jiang Cheng grit his teeth in anger, “Just you wait, if you can pass the exam, this young master will kneel down and bow to you!” After saying this, he turned about angrily and left.

None in front of the gates of Hongmeng Academy were allowed to fly. Even if the gods were present, they would have to slowly climb the thousands of steps. 

The two stared at the back of Jiang Cheng, who was quickly running up the mountain. The blue-clothed man said stiffly, “He came down thousands of steps and now he’s struggling to climb back up, just to say this to you?” He shook his head and sighed, “…He must really hate you.”

“…” Ji Chaoyun was momentarily speechless. “Let’s go.”

The two turned the corner near the mountain gate and walked along a side path. Immortals who had not passed the final exam weren’t allowed to enter Hongmeng Academy and could only live in temporary residences in the evergreens outside the gate. 

Hongmeng Academy had opened the mountain for enrollment ten days ago, and Ji Chaoyun had been among the first batch to arrive at the evergreens. 

Since that day, news that an iceberg beauty had arrived in the evergreens spread throughout Hongmeng Academy. Those natural-born immortals cared not for learning or studying all day, but were full of interest when it came to treasures and beauties. For a few days, people snuck into the evergreens, hoping to take a stealthy peek at Ji Chaoyun.

Jiang Cheng was born with a superior background and grew up like the moon held up amongst many stars, so he originally didn’t care much about it. However, as there were an increasing number of whispers that Ji Chaoyun was an unrivaled heavenly beauty, Jiang Cheng became unable to stand it. Thus, he picked a night to daringly sneak a peek from over the wall. 

——And was subsequently beaten as a thief by Ji Chaoyun who happened to be practicing his sword. 

That’s how the two of them became entangled with each other.

“If you ask me, I’d say you should just apologize to him. From now on, we’ll all be classmates. Wouldn’t it be better to just bear with it?” The man in blue leaned against a table as the flask against his hip clanked.

Beneath the lights, sat Ji Chaoyun, who was clasping a classic and reading it carefully. 

The candle on the table flickered after being disturbed by the man’s clothes as he drank his alcohol. Ji Chaoyun’s patience grew thin and he raised his head. “Ye Chenxing.”

“Present.”

Ji Chaoyun turned a page. “Leave after you’re done drinking. I haven’t finished today’s studies.”

“You’re not even admitted yet, but you’re already so studious. Can’t you leave a way for us underachieving students to survive?” Ye Chenxing leaned his head over teasingly. 

It could be said that looking at others from beneath a light added a bit more color to their complexion, and this was especially true for a particular person. The lights and shadows made his outline more defined, his black, delicate eyelashes hanging down and casting shadows across his porcelain face.

No wonder natural-born immortals had tried their best to catch a glimpse of him. It would be hard to find anyone to compare to him in Hongmeng Academy, or even throughout the Immortal Realm. 

Ye Chenxing swallowed unwillingly and, as he turned his gaze away, noticed the book in Ji Chaoyun’s hands. “Oh, where did you get that? The fourth volume of the Taoist Classics. I didn’t think you could find this in the Immortal Realms anymore.”

Ji Chaoyun paused before turning a page. “A friend gave it to me.”

He clearly didn’t want to elaborate, so Ye Chenxing didn’t push him and merely touched his nose, drawing from within his arms, a crystal spirit stone. He threw it on the table. 

“Here, this is my only one.” Ye Chenxing said. “Before the assessment starts, send this thing to Jiang Cheng and say something nice. He has no reason to make life difficult for a newcomer.”

“No need, take it back.”

“You——” Ye Chenxing leapt off the table and began scolding him, “I already asked, and tomorrow’s test is an arena. You have to win against three people before you can enroll, you can’t lose a single one! What if Jiang Cheng arranged a few masters for you, how will you win?”

Ji Chaoyun’s voice remained steady. “I also remember that we can choose the type of assessment ourselves.”

“So wh——”

“Enough.” Ji Chaoyun raised his head as lights darted through his eyes, appearing like shooting stars streaking through the night sky. “I can win.”

—

As the night darkened, Ji Chaoyun closed his book and placed it back in his pouch. He sat silently at the table for a while before withdrawing from within his arms, an elaborate purse. Inside the purse was a feather.

Under the lights, the plume had a red and gold luster. There was a trace of strong spiritual power flowing through it. 

Ji Chaoyun gently brushed the surface of the feather with his fingertips as he closed his eyes and fragmented memories rushed in like the tide.

—

“I heard that mortals give each other gifts when they are in love. I’ve received your gift, but I have nothing to give you at the moment… Take my phoenix feather and keep it safe. I can’t help if you lose it.”

“…Tch, what’s so precious about it, if you like it, I’ll pluck a few more for you. Let me be bald.” The man turned and, amidst the starlight, there was an almost indiscernible gentleness in his eyes. “Wait for me to return, Little Dragon. Once I return, I’ll never leave again.”

“Is this thing worth your life? Do you think he’ll come back?” In the pitter patter of the rain, footsteps fell as the verbal assault continued endlessly as a shrouded figure chased him. Ji Chaoyun’s entire body ached with pain, and his breath reeked of blood. 

“Hand it over, otherwise, don’t blame us for being impolite!”

“Why are you still resisting? If we killed you now, nobody would know! Give it!”

The plume had been thoroughly soaked in his blood, just like in the past. Over and over, Ji Chaoyun had tried his best to raise his head, but saw nothing but blood. He never saw the person before him.

Then, there was a coldness as a sharp sword pierced his heart. 

Suffocating pain swept through his body as Ji Chaoyun opened his eyes. It was a while before he heard his own rapid gasping. 

He held the phoenix feather tightly in his hand, trembling violently. At the same time, the night wind blew open the window and the lights were extinguished, plunging the room into darkness.

Shining moonlight passed through the trees, and when Ji Chaoyun turned his head, a bronze mirror nearby reflected his appearance.

The beautiful peach blossom eyes were red and brimming with tears. The inky darkness of his pupils had faded, and a pair of vertical pupils had emerged, light and clear as glass. 

On his forehead, a pair of silver dragon horns had surfaced, creating a light halo in the moonlight. 

Ji Chaoyun stared at his appearance in the mirror before he finally calmed down. He got up, closed the window, and curled up in his bed as he carefully placed the phoenix feather back in his purse. 

From within the darkness, he pressed his lips against the purse and whispered, “Good night.”

—–

The author has something to say:

This novel’s CP is: Feng Qi x Ji Chaoyun 

This is a rebirth novel, wait for the next chapter for the little darling to appear and give Little Dragon a pinch. Beware of thunder in the front row~

This is a child-bearing novel with dragon eggs (maybe phoenix eggs??), don’t ask about reproductive isolation, it doesn’t exist in the Immortal Realm.

—

Neirith: Another little teaser for you guys, it’s a very sweet novel about a dragon and a phoenix, written by the same author as Marked by a Tyrant After Transmigrating and I Got Marked by My Shadow Guard After Pretending to Be an Alpha. I have no plans to pick this up for the time being, but will reconsider after I finish my current project(s).