“How did you end up here?”
Before Lin Shijin could react, his collar was seized from behind. Xue Dangui leaned in close to his ear as he spoke, his breath brushing against it and raising goosebumps along his skin.
“Mianmian?”
Hearing the commotion, Cui Haoxue came over. A hint of surprise flickered in his eyes before softening.
“Why are you here?”
They both asked the same question. Lin Shijin said, “Let go,” inwardly cursing his luck. Not only did Xue Dangui fail to release him, there was even a trace of amusement in his voice.
“Mianmian?”
Unaware of their relationship, Cui Haoxue’s gaze fell upon Xue Dangui’s fingers, his brows knitting slightly. “Let him go.”
“Let go, did you not hear me?” Lin Shijin felt somewhat uncomfortable from the grip. Taking advantage of the moment when the two were speaking, he struck Xue Dangui with his scabbard and swiftly retreated to the other side.
He should never have come this way, he thought. Straightening his collar, he said to Cui Haoxue, “My shixiong is waiting for me ahead. I will take my leave.”
He needed to get away from these two as quickly as possible. Whenever he ran into these so-called destined leads, nothing good ever came of it.
“Stop.” Before Lin Shijin could turn, a sword appeared before him. Xue Dangui lazily blocked his path. “Your shixiong? I doubt the two of you are even together.”
“This natural maze forest is fraught with danger. If you are alone, you may be swallowed by the poisonous mist before you even find your way out.”
Lin Shijin thought to himself that it was none of his concern. The other’s cultivation was higher than his, and he still did not know Xue Dangui’s true identity. He replied slowly, “There is no need for your concern. I have my own way out.”
“Mianmian, are you alone?” Cui Haoxue said. “Why not come with us? If you stay with me, I will protect you.”
With that repeated “Mianmian”, Xue Dangui narrowed his eyes slightly, his smile faintly mocking. “The fiancée you mentioned… surely you don’t mean him?”
Lin Shijin felt a headache coming on. He looked at Cui Haoxue’s somewhat stiff expression, the tips of his ears already reddening. His silence was answer enough.
“No. The two of us have no relation whatsoever.”
“Mm.”
They spoke almost at the same time. A shadow passed through Xue Dangui’s eyes. He gave a soft scoff, having more or less guessed the situation.
Lin Shijin glanced at Cui Haoxue, whose gaze flickered. Not wishing to say more, Lin Shijin only wanted to leave quickly.
He repeated himself, “We have no relation.”
Remembering his current identity, Xue Dangui said to him, “Lin-shidi, you would do well to stay with us. I doubt you will be able to contact Sheng Liuguang any time soon.”
“He is likely encountering trouble as we speak. Those who come to Wuxiang Mountain do so for various reasons. First, to seek opportunities. Second, for the famed sword Qiushui. Third, for the sacred artefact.”
“Anyone who has come for the sacred artefact is almost certainly targeting Sheng Liuguang. It must be quite lively where he is now.”
Lin Shijin froze for a moment. Concern for Sheng Rufei rose in his heart, and he unconsciously tightened his grip on his sword. “Do you know where he is?”
“I do not.” Xue Dangui knew, but had no intention of saying so. He would rather Sheng Rufei died quickly, so he could take the little fool away.
“Mianmian, are you going to look for your shixiong?”
Lin Shijin gave a brief response, unwilling to become entangled with the two of them. He could tell they were acting together. Since Xue Dangui was putting on an act, he would play along as well.
“Xue-shixiong, there is no need to worry about me. My shixiong and I remain connected. We will meet later.”
“I will take my leave.”
He repeated himself once more. Behind him, Cui Haoxue continued calling out “Mianmian” several times, but Lin Shijin did not turn back and simply walked away.
At first, he thought that leaving so easily seemed a little too smooth. It did not take long before he realised he had been right.
He had arrived alone, yet now there were two tails following behind him at a steady distance.
When he stopped, they stopped. When he walked, they followed. He circled around, attempting to shake them off. He managed it briefly, only for them to reappear behind him not long after.
Lin Shijin continued walking ahead, then slowly came to a halt and turned around.
Xue Dangui had somehow plucked a blade of grass and woven it into a rabbit, now holding it by the tail.
Cui Haoxue, standing beside him, noticed Lin Shijin and paused as well, his eyes shifting slightly, a trace of awkwardness in his expression.
“They are like flies,” Lin Fuheng said with a glance. “Tell them to get lost.”
Lin Shijin pressed his lips together slightly. “Do you think that would work?”
He was growing irritated. After a moment, Fuheng changed his mind and said, “Then let them follow. Since they are willing, let them come along with you.”
Fuheng’s voice turned faintly sinister. “Do you think those two will end up fighting?”
They were both fragments of the same person’s soul. In certain respects, they were bound to resemble one another, equally disagreeable.
Lin Shijin had not expected Fuheng to give in so readily. Just moments ago he had been cursing in irritation, and now he was allowing them to follow.
“With them around, you have two extra shields. Since you cannot shake them off, let them follow. The two of them will certainly know your shixiong’s whereabouts.”
Lin Shijin said, “Even if they do, they will not tell me.”
They had not told him earlier when he asked.
“There is another group ahead. You may run into them shortly. Being alone would be to your disadvantage. Let them follow you. They will surely step in on your behalf.”
At first, Lin Shijin did not understand what Fuheng meant, until he saw Mo Yan in the distance, dressed in the robes of a Luoxiao disciple.
The two groups collided. Strictly speaking, Lin Shijin was alone, but with two persistent shadows clinging to him, he felt rather at a loss. Mo Yan noticed him as well.
Behind Mo Yan trailed a group of disciples, all from Luoxiao. Lin Shijin had no idea how they had come together, but it was clear they followed Mo Yan’s lead.
“You?” Mo Yan looked somewhat surprised. His gaze first fell on Lin Shijin, then passed over Xue Dangui, and finally settled on Cui Haoxue, who wore a long robe embroidered with a sword and crescent moon.
Why was he with a scourge-slayer?
Lin Shijin felt thoroughly unlucky. Everyone he did not wish to meet had appeared, except for Sheng Rufei.
He had no desire to join Mo Yan either. Saying nothing, he glanced at the sky. It was nearing dusk. If they did not get out soon, the poisonous mist would begin to spread.
“You have been separated from Sheng Liuguang?” Mo Yan’s gaze swept over the two behind him, a trace of disdain in his eyes. “In Wuxiang Mountain, relying on others alone will not suffice.”
Lin Shijin was slow to catch on and failed to detect the mockery. He nodded, taking it as a reminder.
“Thank you for the advice, Young Master Mo.”
Scratching his head, he added, “We are not heading the same way. Have you seen my shixiong along the way?”
Mo Yan did not answer him at all. Instead, he turned to speak with a disciple beside him, deliberately ignoring him.
Realising he was unwelcome, Lin Shijin did not press further and prepared to leave.
Watching from behind, Xue Dangui saw that the fool could not even tell good words from bad. He stepped forward and drew Lin Shijin behind him. His tone was languid, though it was unclear to whom he was speaking.
“In Wuxiang Mountain, relying solely on others truly will not do.”
As he spoke, he cast a casual glance at the group of disciples behind Mo Yan, a hint of interest in his eyes.
Only then did Mo Yan’s attention settle on him. When silent, this man’s presence was faint, but once he spoke, a trace of hostility surfaced, making it difficult to gauge his depth.
“Are you a disciple of Fuguang?”
Xue Dangui pretended not to hear. He turned to look at the boy behind him and muttered under his breath, “Idiot.”
“Let’s go.”
Lin Shijin was left somewhat baffled. Xue Dangui seized his wrist and dragged him along. Cui Haoxue swept his gaze over Mo Yan and his group before following after them.
None of the three responded to Mo Yan. Lin Shijin’s attention was on Xue Dangui, Xue Dangui was being deliberate, and Cui Haoxue simply did not involve himself.
“What are you doing? I can walk on my own.”
Lin Shijin’s wrist was still twisted, wrapped in a layer of gauze. The grip made it throb with pain. He struck Xue Dangui’s hand with his scabbard.
As soon as he spoke, Xue Dangui released him, his tone impatient. “Have you no sense? What is the point of speaking to him? Do you think he would tell you anything?”
Clutching his wrist, Lin Shijin winced at the pain. He had known nothing good would come of this. Glancing at Xue Dangui, he said, “What has it to do with you?”
“Can you stop following me?”
“Who is following you?” Xue Dangui laughed. “This is the way out. Are we not allowed to walk this way? Or has your name been written on the road?”
Lin Shijin found him utterly unreasonable. A face that looked eminently punchable surfaced in his mind. It might even be that same person.
After all, they shared the surname Xue.
“Mianmian.” Cui Haoxue had been watching from the side. He had not been able to interject, partly because he felt it inappropriate to do so, given that the other was Mianmian’s shixiong.
Yet now it seemed Mianmian did not care for him.
Cui Haoxue stepped forward, positioning himself in front of Lin Shijin, and frowned slightly at Xue Dangui. “Do not frighten him.”
“Mianmian, is he truly your shixiong?”
Lin Shijin neither nodded nor shook his head. The man resembled Xue Dangui, yet he was not entirely certain. He feared mistaking the wrong person, as he had yet to catch any solid proof.
He was pulled behind once more, somewhat speechless, standing aside with his hands tucked in. He listened as Cui Haoxue and Xue Dangui exchanged words. At first their tones were even, but before long Xue Dangui turned openly sarcastic.
“Who I am is none of your concern. What right have you to interfere?”
“And stop calling him Mianmian. Are you illiterate? That is not his name.”
Cui Haoxue was indeed unable to read. He disliked others bringing it up, save for those close to him. He had initially held some regard for Xue Dangui, but now his expression darkened.
“He is my fiancée.”
Meaning he could call him whatever he pleased.
Lin Shijin glanced at the sky and scratched his ear, unable to recall acquiring a fiancé at any point. He did not refute it, as Xue Dangui had already begun mocking him again.
“A fiancée from your dreams? Since when were you two betrothed?”
“Our marriage was ordained by fate.”
“Ordained by fate? And you expect people to believe such nonsense?”
Lin Shijin found it all rather tedious. Standing with his hands tucked in, he yawned and edged two steps to the side. Seeing that neither of the two lunatics paid him any heed, he quietly took two more steps.
He had thought it would take some effort to shake them off. Yet when the two of them were facing each other, they seemed to lose all sense.
After walking for a while, Lin Shijin spotted a cave. He tossed a small stone inside. When there was no response, he slipped into the cave.
He curled himself up in a corner like a small stone and stayed perfectly still.
“If it was truly ordained…” Xue Dangui’s expression darkened as he was about to continue, when something caught his eye.
Cui Haoxue reacted at the same moment. Both of them turned to look.
The surroundings were empty. The quiet, well-behaved youth who had been standing there a moment ago had vanished.
