Shen Buyu’s offhand praise made little sense on the surface, but Su Lian alone caught its meaning. After a moment’s thought, he echoed, “Indeed. I admire Sheng-shidi as well.”
“The journey here could not have been easy, yet Sheng-shidi always manages to turn danger aside.”
He was referring to their road to Buye City.
The two of them traded remarks, but Sheng Rufei himself said nothing. Most of his attention rested on the youth beside him. Lin Shijin’s mood was still poor, and he had been quietly watching him all along.
With his fingertips held, Lin Shijin gradually settled. He shifted slightly and, almost without thinking, curled his fingers softly around Sheng Rufei’s.
Their small movements beneath the table were obvious to anyone with eyes, yet no one called them out. Everyone simply chose not to see.
“This year, Wuxiang Mountain summoned its disciples far earlier than usual,” Shen Buyu said, smoothly steering the conversation elsewhere. “Opinions differ, but what I want to tell you is…”
He paused, looking at his fellow disciples.
“You should be prepared.”
“Prepared… for the possibility that you may never return.”
That drew Lin Shijin’s attention at once. Before he could speak, Chunhe had already asked, “Shixiong Bu Yu, what do you mean?”
“It is a deduction based on the movements of the demon clans,” Shen Buyu replied. The gold trim on his sleeve was worn, and several pieces of coloured, tortoiseshell-patterned glass rested in his palm. “A few days ago, I cast a divination.”
“For reasons unknown, the demon clans have suddenly grown restrained. At the same time, Wuxiang Mountain advanced its summons. Yet the divination yielded nothing.”
“When a reading fails, there are only two possibilities. Either it lies beyond the heavens’ patterns, or… it is being concealed.”
Lin Shijin frowned slightly. He had not even known Shen Buyu practised divination, yet judging by Sheng Rufei and Su Lian, they seemed to take it seriously.
“What does ‘being concealed’ mean?”
“It usually points to calamity,” Shen Buyu said. “Such a situation has only occurred once before, a thousand years ago, when the Three Realms fell into upheaval. Demon priests and the monks of Jinyue Temple alike spoke of it only in riddles.”
“If the signs cannot be read, it means no one can stop what is coming. Even Heaven’s will cannot be grasped.”
He let out a quiet sigh. “Of course, this is only my conjecture. If Bu Wen were still here, perhaps we could glimpse something more. My own skill in fuji divination is far inferior.”
Su Lian’s lips twitched faintly. Inferior? He had already pieced this much together. They ought to be grateful he was not entirely accurate.
“Shixiong is too modest,” Mu Wanqing said. “Did you see anything else?”
“There were… other things,” Shen Buyu replied, glancing briefly at Sheng Rufei, but choosing not to elaborate. “But even if one sees it, one cannot change it.”
“I tell you this only so you may prepare yourselves. If that day truly comes…” He exhaled. “There may be nothing we can do.”
Silence settled for a moment.
It was clear their shixiong had a rather fatalistic outlook, one that sat oddly among orthodox disciples.
Sheng Rufei lowered his gaze, thoughtful but silent.
Shen Buyu did not press the matter. “Enough of that. Let us order. This place serves good food.”
He called for the waiter and proceeded to name a long list of dishes, evidently ordering a bit of everything.
“Have you learned anything about the trial?” Sheng Rufei asked Chunhe and Mu Wanqing.
“We have,” Chunhe said. “It is said to involve the Blood Tower. Teams of two. If one dies, the trial is considered a failure.”
Mu Wanqing added, “This time the trial is not set outside the mountain. It is said to be extremely brutal. We must sign life-and-death contracts before entering.”
Lin Shijin felt a flicker of unease. If one failed, the other failed as well… if something happened to him, what of Sheng Rufei?
“And it is not only disciples,” Chunhe continued. “Scourge-Slayers have also entered. They seem to have a separate task within the Blood Tower, though it overlaps with ours.”
“What task?”
Chunhe shook her head. “No one knows yet.”
“Not just them,” Shen Buyu added. “You may also need to watch for demonic cultivators.”
Su Lian gave him a look. “And that comes from your divination as well?”
“There are three factions involved this time,” Shen Buyu said. “The immortal sects, the Scourge-Slayers, and… since the demon clans are absent, only demonic cultivators remain.”
Xue Ning raised a brow, studying him with new interest.
The dishes soon arrived. Shen Buyu dropped the subject and began chatting idly. Most of them had long since abstained from food, barely touching their chopsticks.
Except Shen Buyu, who ate and drank freely, even ordering wine.
Lin Shijin picked at a few sweets. Beside him, Sheng Rufei scarcely ate at all, instead placing food into his bowl.
After some time, Shen Buyu said, “Sheng Sixteen, you’ve drawn quite a bit of attention lately. Best be cautious when you go out.”
Then he called Sheng Rufei outside.
The room quieted.
Lin Shijin glanced towards the door, restless. What could not be said openly?
“Lin-shidi.”
He started. Su Lian had placed food into his bowl.
“No need to worry,” Su Lian said gently. “Though Buyu-shixiong is unreliable, his divinations are usually sound. It may concern Liuguang.”
Lin Shijin gave a small acknowledgement but did not touch the food. He remained wary.
Xue Danggui shifted the plates, pushing the sweets towards him. “Perhaps it is something he cannot say aloud. A short life, hidden illness, that sort of thing.”
Su Lian coughed sharply, cutting him off. Mu Wanqing and Chunhe shot him disapproving looks.
Lin Shijin ignored him entirely, idly prodding at his soup, though his ears strained for any sound beyond the door.
After a while, Sheng Rufei returned.
They did not linger and soon made their way back to the inn.
Lin Shijin followed behind, thoughts in disarray. It was only their first day here, yet already things felt uncertain.
“Shixiong… what did Buyu-shixiong say to you?”
He could not hold it in any longer.
Sheng Rufei took his hand as they walked. The streets were lively, filled with disciples. Lanterns and fireworks lit the night, and cheers rose from below.
Lin Shijin glanced out the window as they entered their room.
“He said,” Sheng Rufei replied evenly, “that I am competing with Shizun for someone. I should be prepared to be expelled from the sect.”
Lin Shijin froze. “That’s what he said?”
Sheng Rufei gave a quiet hum and returned to his workbench, resuming the puppet he had been crafting.
Glazed tiles, spirit-conducting threads, and glass-like materials lay scattered across the table.
“I will likely be expelled when I return,” he added.
It sounded almost absurd. The foremost genius of Fuguang, expelled.
Lin Shijin stepped closer. “If that happens, I’ll go with you.”
Sheng Rufei paused, looking at him.
“Following me will mean hardship. And pursuit.”
“I know,” Lin Shijin said, gripping his sleeve. “But I want to stay with you.”
Sheng Rufei studied him for a long moment, then reached out and lightly patted his head.
“I will try,” he said.
Lin Shijin did not like that answer, but he let it pass.
Outside, fireworks bloomed.
“Shixiong, let’s go watch them,” he said. “There are so many people.”
He liked crowds, liked being both within them and apart.
He had not expected agreement, yet Sheng Rufei set down his tools. “Mm.”
Lin Shijin brightened at once. “We can finish the puppet later.”
He rummaged through his storage ring and produced a mask, deliberately choosing an ugly one, a fierce, snarling demon face.
“Shixiong.”
Sheng Rufei inclined his head, allowing him to tie it on.
Silver hair, ghost mask. Even so, his features could not be concealed.
Lin Shijin lingered, then leaned in, brushing a light kiss at the corner of his lips.
“Shixiong looks very handsome,” he murmured.
Sheng Rufei’s gaze darkened. “Mm.”
His hand came up, steadying him, and the next moment their lips met. Breath tangled. Heat rose.
Pressed lightly back against the wall, Lin Shijin clutched at his robes, breath catching. They were still by the window. He pushed at him, flustered.
Sheng Rufei only drew him closer, lifting him with ease.
