Yan Jin suddenly turned around and walked toward the outside of Ghost Wind Forest.
Chu Liang hurriedly called after him, “Where are you going? Our mission isn’t over yet!”
His voice was loud, but Yan Jin acted as though he hadn’t heard a word, leaving without even turning his head.
In the end, he was the only one who felt that he had been mocked and looked down upon. If Yan Jin had been a little more composed, perhaps he might even have earned praise for knowing how to bend without breaking.
But seeing his behavior, the others could only shake their heads inwardly. This Third Young Master Yan might possess extraordinary talent and profound spiritual insight, but his temperament was truly far too narrow. They feared that he would have difficulty accomplishing anything great in the future.
Chu Liang was left standing there, awkward and embarrassed. When he saw Ji Lanying hesitate before ultimately choosing to remain beside Yuan Xian rather than leave, his irritation only deepened.
Compared with his shidi, however, Chu Liang’s composure was much greater. His expression remained unchanged as he apologised to everyone present.
“I didn’t expect things to turn out this way, and we’ve delayed everyone’s time. I’m truly ashamed.”
No matter how differently everyone might be thinking inside, they still had to maintain appearances. Hearing this, the others naturally assured him that they did not mind.
The Ghost Wind Forest was indeed every bit as dangerous as rumoured. They had encountered such a major problem almost immediately after entering. Although Yan Jin withdrew from the operation, everyone else still had to continue deeper into the forest. The clearing operation lasted another two or three hours. As evening approached, Yan Lin suggested that they set up camp and rest.
After killing the Leopard King and defeating Yan Jin in two consecutive battles, Ye Huaiyao was no longer merely an ordinary disciple whom people remembered only because he was handsome. He had barely rested for half an hour before visitors began arriving one after another.
Ye Huaiyao smiled and politely dealt with them all. Then, taking advantage of a brief lull, he brought A-Nan to hide behind a secluded cluster of rocks.
He caught a pheasant and placed it over the fire to roast. Only then did he have time to ask A-Nan, “How did you end up here?”
In front of Ye Huaiyao, A-Nan had returned to his somewhat awkward and reserved manner, without a trace of the ruthlessness he had displayed earlier. He sat upright beside the fire, looking so solemn that one would think he was participating in some grand ceremonial rite rather than roasting meat.
Hearing Ye Huaiyao’s question, A-Nan moved his lips, “I… I…”
Apparently unable to come up with a convincing explanation, he could only tell the truth: “I knew you had gone down the mountain. I wanted to see… see you…”
Ye Huaiyao laughed, “What’s there to see?”
That was simply the sort of person he was. If he didn’t casually tease someone a few times, he practically couldn’t carry on a conversation. Even Huaijiang, that ancient mirror spirit who had cultivated for a thousand years, could be driven into a rage by Ye Huaiyao. Naturally, Ye Huaiyao wasn’t about to let an interesting child like A-Nan off the hook.
But A-Nan couldn’t kick Ye Huaiyao like his mischievous companions might, nor could he curse at him the way Huaijiang did.
Whenever Ye Huaiyao smiled at him, A-Nan’s heart began beating faster. He didn’t know what to say, yet he was also afraid that if he said nothing, Ye Huaiyao would find him boring.
After a long hesitation, A-Nan murmured, “Mm. Yes.”
“Oh, you poor child.” Ye Huaiyao couldn’t help laughing. “I don’t bite. You don’t have to be so nervous.”
He casually raised two fingers and made a gesture. A flash of golden light swept through the air, slicing down the most luxuriant cluster of flowers from the treetop above them. Ye Huaiyao reached out and caught it.
The flowers gave off a faint, delicate fragrance. He handed them to A-Nan. “Hungry? Here, hold onto this and play with it for a while. I’ll give you some roasted meat later.”
A-Nan thanked him and accepted the flowers with both hands. He examined them from side to side, apparently quite interested. Ye Huaiyao told him to relax and then said nothing more. For a while, the two sat quietly together. The only sound was the sizzling of fat dripping from the roasting meat.
Night had already grown deep. The flickering flames cast a warm red glow over Ye Huaiyao’s face. With his head lowered and his gaze downcast, he possessed an indescribably elegant and dazzling beauty.
For some reason, A-Nan suddenly felt as though he had seen this scene before. It was as if, many years ago, on some distant night, he too had sat opposite this person, silently stealing glances at him.
Had it really happened, or was it merely a dream that had become extraordinarily vivid during some lonely night?
That dream seemed to have lasted for an eternity. Longing. Yearning. Desire. Obsession.
And now that person was once again within arm’s reach, yet somehow remained so close and so impossibly untouchable.
A-Nan turned the skewer in his hands. The Illustrious Sage, so sacred and noble in the young boy’s heart, quietly swallowed.
The roasted meat wasn’t nearly as delicate as the dishes prepared in the small kitchen on the mountain, but its rustic, natural flavour had its own appeal. It was practically irresistible. It was only missing some seasoning.
Ye Huaiyao called inwardly, “Senior Huaijiang?”
After remaining silent for a long time, Huaijiang sneered: “Salt, chilli, chestnuts, plums?”
Ye Huaiyao grinned. “As expected of a true master. You really are knowledgeable. You even know which seasonings go best with roasted meat.”
Huaijiang had long since given up resisting. Sometimes, when he looked back on his circumstances, he genuinely couldn’t understand what kind of madness had possessed him when he decided to attach himself to Ye Huaiyao’s primordial spirit.
He couldn’t seize Ye Huaiyao’s body. He couldn’t trick him. And in the end, the dignified thousand-year-old divine mirror had somehow become a kitchen steward.
He truly regretted it. Unfortunately, his physical form had yet to recover, and he couldn’t leave even if he wanted to. The only thing he could do was cultivate as quickly as possible, restore his body, and leave this place as soon as he could.
Having resigned himself to his fate, Huaijiang no longer resisted Ye Huaiyao’s demands. Through one of his fragmented incarnations in the mortal world, he obtained bottles and jars of seasoning from his believers and then hurled them directly at the head of that detestable brat.
Ye Huaiyao grabbed another bag of wine and prepared to hand it over along with the roasted meat. “Here, my cooking—”
A-Nan was chewing on a flower petal. He raised his head, preparing to listen attentively.
Ye Huaiyao: “…”
“My goodness, you little ancestor.” He was both amused and exasperated. “Do you eat everything? Those flowers aren’t for eating! Can you even eat that? What if you poison yourself? Spit it out, quickly!”
Come to think of it, it was true. Ever since the two of them had met, practically everything Ye Huaiyao gave A-Nan was something to eat. And this silly boy was so obedient that even after realising the petals were bitter and astringent, he still obediently placed them into his mouth one by one, like a clueless little lamb.
He even tried to reassure Ye Huaiyao, “They’re delicious.”
“Arsenic is delicious too. Crunchy when you chew it.” Ye Huaiyao shook his head in disbelief. “I really can’t believe there are children this obedient in the world. Here, take this. Put the flowers down. Eat some meat and have a drink.”
A-Nan obediently followed his instructions. He ate a piece of meat, then took a sip of wine, following the order exactly. There was a faint, fishy taste mixed into the wine.
Ye Huaiyao explained, “We killed Mo Bao together. I used some of its blood, and the remaining half belongs to you. Its medicinal properties are rather potent, so mixing it into wine makes it easier to consume.”
A-Nan looked surprised. Before he could refuse, Ye Huaiyao continued casually, “You lost quite a lot of blood today. You should replenish it. Drink.”
He winked at A-Nan. “But next time you deal with someone bad, you don’t need to smash a hole in your own head with a rock just to frame him. That’s a terrible trade.”
Earlier, when Yan Jin had thrown him aside, A-Nan’s injuries hadn’t actually been serious. But he hated how Yan Jin was always causing trouble for Ye Huaiyao. When he noticed a rock lying nearby, anger overtook him. He picked it up and smashed it hard against his own head.
He had always looked so innocent and harmless that, just as expected, everyone around them had been unable to bear watching and had begun condemning Yan Jin.
A-Nan didn’t think he had done anything wrong. What he hadn’t expected was that the only person who had seen through the entire scheme was Ye Huaiyao. The moment he realised he had been exposed, A-Nan’s face had gone pale.
He was a child born alongside misfortune. His birth had been accompanied by his mother’s death. Perhaps someone born under such an ill fate was never meant to possess affection or warmth. From childhood onward, A-Nan had been rejected, despised, mocked, and avoided like a plague.
Everything he did was wrong. Because his very existence was considered the greatest mistake of all.
Yet strangely, A-Nan didn’t feel much sadness about it. His body might still look like that of a child, but his heart had long since ceased to be innocent.
Neither wind nor frost nor snow could truly wound him anymore. All he could feel was coldness and hatred. He didn’t care.
—It was as though this inherently heartless world had once taken something precious from him. Something so precious that, after losing it, he no longer had anything left to cherish. All he wanted was to destroy.
Until Ye Huaiyao appeared.
The first time that person’s hand touched the top of his head, A-Nan suddenly felt as though he had awakened. He was no longer a detached observer standing outside the world.He was suddenly inside it.
Alive. Was he really alive? His dead heart was beating so quickly, so violently.
And because he had finally felt something real, he began to fear losing it. He became anxious. He became uncertain.
Perhaps, in A-Nan’s eyes, Ye Huaiyao was a sacred deity. Such a despicable scheme of framing someone else should never have been allowed to appear before him.
A-Nan’s expression looked almost as though he had just been sentenced to death. His dark eyes became misty as he hurriedly said, “I’m sorry.”
He reached toward Ye Huaiyao’s hand, hesitated, and finally grasped the corner of his robe. “I… I won’t do it again.”
His expression was so pitiful that even Huaijiang couldn’t stand it anymore. He couldn’t help grumbling,
“I originally thought this boy was ruthless and persistent, a promising talent. How is it that the moment he meets you, he becomes so timid and fussy? Has he never considered that, when it comes to shamelessness and wickedness, who could possibly surpass you? What’s the big deal about using a little trick like this?”
Ye Huaiyao: “…”
Wonderful. One person thought he was sinister and shameless. The other was terrified of him as though he had seen the King of Hell. Was this really a sign that he ought to reflect on his character?
Ye Huaiyao looked at A-Nan. He found the boy’s terrified expression somewhat amusing, but at the same time, he couldn’t help feeling sorry for him. If he grew up still carrying this sort of personality, he would definitely suffer.
So Ye Huaiyao spoke gently, “You don’t have to be so frightened. I’m not angry with you. In the end, if I hadn’t told you to guard Faux Leopard, you wouldn’t have gotten into a confrontation with Yan Jin in the first place. You wouldn’t have had to smash your own head with a rock just to make him look guilty.”
A-Nan gradually dared to meet his gaze. He raised his head and stared at Ye Huaiyao without blinking.
Ye Huaiyao continued, “It’s just that you need to learn when to avoid someone’s strength. Next time you know you can’t beat him, just stay out of his way. What could possibly be more important than your life?”
A-Nan’s eyes brightened slightly, but the light quickly faded. “I don’t have spiritual energy. I don’t know martial arts. I’m useless.”
Ye Huaiyao smiled. “Today you helped me kill Faux Leopard, and you managed to anger Yan Jin thoroughly. That’s already more useful than many people.”
A-Nan spoke as though making a solemn oath, “In the future, I’ll find better ways to protect you. I will… I will become stronger!”
He rarely spoke so many words in one breath. His voice trembled slightly, but every word was filled with determination. “I definitely will!”
Ye Huaiyao smiled. “Mm. I believe you.”
From a high place, Yuan Xian watched Ye Huaiyao talking with the unfamiliar boy in the distance. He hesitated for a moment. In the end, he still didn’t approach.
Footsteps sounded behind him. Yuan Xian turned around. The person approaching was Cheng Yuan.
“Young Master Yuan.” Cheng Yuan gave him a slight nod. “Greetings.”
The two had no friendship whatsoever. Yuan Xian was somewhat surprised. His suspicious gaze swept over Cheng Yuan before he returned the greeting, “Fellow Immortal Cheng.”
A sharp glint flashed through Cheng Yuan’s eyes. Perhaps he too felt there was no point in exchanging empty pleasantries, so he went straight to the matter.
“I’ve noticed that Young Master Yuan pays rather close attention to Ye-shidi. This is his first time descending the mountain. If he behaves improperly or happens to offend you, I hope Young Master Yuan won’t take it to heart.”
Yuan Xian had arrived late and knew nothing about the grudges between Cheng Yuan and Ye Huaiyao. He assumed Cheng Yuan had simply noticed his attention toward Ye Huaiyao and was worried.
“You’re overthinking it, Fellow Immortal Cheng. I only thought that Young Hero Ye resembles an old friend of mine, which naturally brought back some memories.”
Cheng Yuan’s narrow eyes narrowed slightly. Behind his back, his fingers unconsciously tightened around his sleeve. After a moment, he slowly asked, “That old friend… are you referring to the Illustrious Sage?”
The instant those words left his mouth, Cheng Yuan felt Yuan Xian’s slight surprise. Then, a tremendous killing intent erupted. It surged toward him like a wave.
Cheng Yuan was already considered one of the strongest disciples within the entire Chensu Sect, but Yuan Xian was someone who could stand on equal footing with the Illustrious Sage. The instant Yuan Xian released his pressure, Cheng Yuan felt as though an enormous mountain had descended onto his shoulders. He could barely breathe. His knees weakened, and he almost collapsed to the ground.
He hurriedly circulated every bit of strength in his body to resist. Even so, his entire body continued trembling. Yuan Xian’s reaction was enough for Cheng Yuan to realise that the words “Illustrious Sage” carried an extraordinarily special meaning for him.
—And it might not necessarily be the grief of someone mourning a beloved Dao companion.
Good. This was very good indeed.
Others might not have noticed, but most of Cheng Yuan’s attention had been focused on Ye Huaiyao. How could he possibly have missed the complicated expression on Yuan Xian’s face when he looked at him? It was a mixture of resentment and longing.
Furthermore, Yan Lin of Xuantian Tower also seemed to regard Ye Huaiyao with unusual interest.
Thinking about the changes in that person after awakening from his coma, thinking about the fact that eighteen years had passed since the Illustrious Sage’s death, and thinking about how Ye Huaiyao was also exactly eighteen years old this year…
A wild and audacious possibility slowly began to take shape in Cheng Yuan’s mind.
Author’s Note
This chapter should probably be called “Ye Huaiyao and His Three Men”…
Although, at present, he doesn’t like a single one of them.
