After struggling to maintain the pressure for some time, Yuan Xian finally withdrew his oppressive aura. Cheng Yuan was drenched in sweat; his body swayed, and he had to brace himself against a nearby tree before he could stand steadily.
A faint smile seemed to touch the corners of Yuan Xian’s lips as he said lightly, “Fellow Immortal Cheng, some things are better left unspoken once you’ve seen through them. The more you say, the more trouble you invite.”
He had no need to ask, nor did he particularly care to know what Cheng Yuan had discovered. After all, the Illustrious Sage was dead. That was an accepted fact throughout the cultivation world. Yuan Xian had his regrets and missed him, but he had no intention of changing anything.
Cheng Yuan was slightly short of breath when he spoke, but his tone remained calm. “Young Master Yuan, you’re overthinking it. I’m not trying to expose or threaten anything. I merely sympathise with you because we’re in the same predicament.”
Yuan Xian’s voice carried a trace of mockery. “Oh? Then may I ask what predicament you and I share?”
Cheng Yuan said, “The pain of longing for someone you cannot have, of wanting something you cannot obtain. Isn’t that the greatest affliction of the heart?”
Without looking at Yuan Xian’s expression, he continued evenly, “Lord Yunqi was an extraordinary man. His peerless bearing and legendary deeds alone could provide enough material to keep storytellers in ten cities employed. I always thought that Young Master Yuan, having obtained such an exceptional partner, must have cherished and loved him dearly.”
His tone suddenly shifted, “Yet after seeing the expression on your face when you were with Young Master Ji today, I realised that you have someone else in your heart. That makes your situation rather similar to mine.”
Yuan Xian had no idea what Cheng Yuan was implying. Was he suggesting that Yuan Xian loved Ji Lanying and had therefore killed Ye Huaiyao? Such baseless speculation was meaningless. Unless Cheng Yuan had gone mad, why would he do something so pointless?
Yuan Xian casually raised an eyebrow and folded his arms across his chest. “Could it be that Fellow Immortal Cheng is trying to win me over with this, hoping I’ll help you obtain your…beloved?”
Cheng Yuan smiled. “Naturally, I’ll handle that matter myself. How could I trouble Young Master Yuan? You’re overthinking it. I merely wanted to say that if there is someone I desire, I’ll stop at nothing and exhaust every means to obtain them, whether they are willing or not. I have to get them first before there’s any chance of discussing anything else, don’t you think?”
Yuan Xian frowned as he looked at him. Cheng Yuan said no more. He merely bowed with a pleasant smile and departed.
Once his back was turned to Yuan Xian, he finally lost control of the emotions surging within him and couldn’t help smiling.
Ye Huaiyao, the Illustrious Sage. Heh. It seemed he really had stumbled upon a priceless treasure.
More importantly, after probing Yuan Xian, Cheng Yuan had confirmed that Yuan Xian wasn’t particularly attached to the Illustrious Sage. He probably wouldn’t interfere in this matter.
That meant Cheng Yuan could act without restraint. Regardless of who the other person was, as he had told Yuan Xian, if there was someone he wanted, he would obtain them even if it meant resorting to any means necessary.
As for whether that person was willing—feelings would naturally come with time.
Since destroying his spiritual veins had failed, perhaps breaking his legs and gouging out his eyes, leaving him dependent on Cheng Yuan for the rest of his life, would be a better solution.
Cheng Yuan knew he couldn’t delay. If Ye Huaiyao really was the Illustrious Sage, more and more people would inevitably discover his identity.
The Illustrious Sage had many friends, but he also had many enemies. His cultivation had yet to fully recover, so before successfully contacting Xuantian Tower, he certainly wouldn’t dare publicly reveal who he was.
Cheng Yuan intended to take advantage of this window of opportunity and strike first. He would make sure that “Ye Huaiyao” “died” during the Ghost Wind Forest extermination operation. Then, if anyone came looking for the Illustrious Sage afterward, they could simply go searching for his remains inside the bellies of the beasts.
Cultivators did not need sleep, but Ghost Wind Forest was dangerous at every step, and the dangers became even greater after nightfall. Thus, everyone still erected protective barriers and set up camp to rest.
Cheng Yuan entered his tent and found someone already lying on his bed. Seeing him lift the curtain and enter, the young man propped himself up and gave him an ingratiating smile.
Cheng Yuan was not particular about gender and normally had many bed partners. But tonight, his heart and mind were consumed by a single person, and everyone else suddenly seemed utterly beneath his notice.
He noticed an outer robe lying on the ground, hooked it up with the tip of his foot, and tossed it onto the handsome young man on the bed. “Get out.”
The young man’s smile froze. He reluctantly picked up the robe and put it on, unable to resist complaining, “Cheng-shixiong has been getting colder and colder lately. I know you’re thinking about Ye-shidi. Compared to him, I’m probably not even worth half a finger.”
Cheng Yuan gave him a cold glance. “If you already know you’re inferior, why are you still talking nonsense?”
A trace of resentment appeared on the young man’s face, but he didn’t dare say anything more. He hurriedly finished dressing and prepared to leave.
As Cheng Yuan watched his retreating back, the corner of his eye caught sight of a packet of Bewitching Bone-Corrosion Powder lying on his desk. A thought occurred to him. “Come back.”
The young man assumed Cheng Yuan had changed his mind and happily returned.
Cheng Yuan smiled, pulled him into his arms, stroked his cheek, and asked softly, “I remember your relationship with Ye Huaiyao…isn’t it rather good?”
…
The next morning, Ye Huaiyao arranged for someone to escort A-Nan out of Ghost Wind Forest. The boy probably realised that his presence might become a burden to Ye Huaiyao, so he didn’t insist on staying.
The three-day deadline also passed in the blink of an eye. The demons and malicious spirits within Ghost Wind Forest had been almost completely eradicated, and disciples from distant sects such as Xuantian Tower and Yan Dao Sect had already begun withdrawing. It appeared that the Chensu Sect would be able to return to the mountain early the next morning.
Ye Huaiyao sat reclining against his couch, a book in his hand. A pot of Qingqu wine rested on the small table beside him. Candlelight and moonlight mingled together, illuminating his handsome, otherworldly face and highlighting the eight characters printed on the cover of his book: The Enchanting Fox Fairy’s Midnight Visit to the Top Scholar.
Huaijiang: “…”
Nothing to say. Absolutely speechless. Such a contradiction between appearance and character. Lord Yunqi indeed.
Huaijiang had no interest in erotic fiction. After skimming a couple of lines, he turned away and said, “Tonight is our last night in Ghost Wind Forest. Didn’t you predict that someone would come looking for trouble? There are only three hours left.”
The fox spirit who seduced men to cultivate yin and yang had frightened the handsome top scholar into reciting the Dao De Ching*. Ye Huaiyao found the story amusing, smiled, and turned another page.
(*TN: Also spelled Tao Te Ching, it is a foundational Chinese philosophical text written but the legendary sage Laozi a that serves as the bedrock of Philosophical Daoism.)
“I revealed too much when I fought Yan Jin. Even if nobody else thinks much of it, Cheng Yuan will certainly become suspicious. The various sects have been here for the past two days, but once we leave Ghost Wind Forest tomorrow morning, he won’t have another opportunity. Dark night, cold wind…isn’t tonight the perfect time to make a move?”
His tone was casual and detached. Then he cheerfully invited Huaijiang, “Don’t be in such a hurry, Senior. Come, let’s read the storybook together.”
Huaijiang: “…I’m not reading it!”
Ye Huaiyao laughed mischievously. “There’s nothing wrong with this book. Why are you so resistant? Let me guess. Could it be that you’ve lived for several thousand years and are still a virgin, so—”
Huaijiang was just about to tell him to get lost when the curtain outside the tent suddenly rustled. A voice called softly from outside. “Ye-shidi?”
Huaijiang immediately fell silent. The corner of Ye Huaiyao’s lips lifted slightly. But after recognising the voice, there wasn’t the slightest trace of amusement in his eyes. He raised his voice, “Come in.”
The curtain was lifted, and the person who entered was the same young man who had been lying on Cheng Yuan’s bed a few days earlier.
He was Ye Huaiyao’s shixiong from the Chensu Sect, Huang Xia. After Master Xuanyi’s death, the two of them had simultaneously lost their master’s protection and had supported one another as they grew up. Their relationship could be described as exceptionally close.
Ye Huaiyao had expected someone to come looking for trouble. He simply hadn’t expected it to be him.
His expression changed for only an instant. By the time he invited Huang Xia inside, his smile had already concealed everything. “Shixiong, what brings you here?”
Huang Xia smiled and walked over to Ye Huaiyao’s couch. He casually picked up the storybook and glanced at it. “Nothing much. It’s been a long time since we drank together, so I came to see you. You accomplished a great deal in Ghost Wind Forest this time. You should be able to return to Taixuan Peak now. Congratulations.”
He put the book down, picked up Ye Huaiyao’s wine pot, and shook it. Seeing that more than half remained, he poured a cup for each of them.
“Come, let’s have a drink.”
Ye Huaiyao readily complied. He picked up the cup Huang Xia had poured and took a small sip. “Shixiong, the reason I failed the grand competition and was transferred from Taixuan Peak to the outer sect ultimately wasn’t because of whether I had rendered enough service. Someone simply wanted to bring me down.”
Huang Xia had been anxiously watching Ye Huaiyao drink. Hearing this, he was momentarily distracted and sighed wistfully. “There’s nothing we can do. Master left us too early, leaving us brothers without anyone to rely on. All we could do was endure being bullied…”
He shook his head and clinked cups with Ye Huaiyao. “Come, finish it.”
Ye Huaiyao drained his cup. With a faint, knowing smile, he asked, “What? Someone has been giving Shixiong a hard time too?”
Huang Xia sighed. “Doesn’t that happen all the time? If only I could find someone truly reliable to depend on.”
As he spoke, he also drained his cup. He frowned and complained, “Isn’t this medicinal wine you use for healing yourself? How can you serve it to guests? It’s terrible.”
A smile remained in Ye Huaiyao’s eyes. “Bad wine is still better than poisoned wine. Shixiong, since you’ve come here as an unwelcome guest, don’t blame your shidi for having poor hospitality.”
His sudden remark startled Huang Xia so badly that he even forgot to cough. After freezing for a moment, he forced a smile. “Ye-shidi, what are you talking about? This wine is yours. How could there be poison in it? Besides, we’re blood brothers in the same sect. Why would I poison you?”
Ye Huaiyao said calmly, “That depends on what Cheng-shixiong wants…”
Then he suddenly raised his voice. “Cheng-shixiong, it’s cold outside tonight. Aren’t you freezing standing out there?”
Huang Xia’s face alternated between pale and flushed. He hadn’t expected Ye Huaiyao to have already guessed that Cheng Yuan had sent him. So all his acting just now had merely been a performance for Ye Huaiyao. “That…that cup of wine…”
Ye Huaiyao gave a mocking laugh, somehow produced another wine cup, poured the wine onto the ground, then tossed the cup aside. He looked toward Cheng Yuan, who had just entered. “How could I possibly dare drink it?”
Every movement was effortless and elegant. Beside him, Huang Xia’s pale face only made Ye Huaiyao appear even more striking. Thinking that this man would soon belong to him, Cheng Yuan felt his blood heat with excitement, and a faint smile appeared on his lips. “I knew I couldn’t hide it from you.”
Huang Xia was stunned. Cheng Yuan knew Ye Huaiyao was wary of him, yet he had still sent Huang Xia over to offer him poisoned wine. Wasn’t that completely unnecessary?
Ye Huaiyao said, “Cheng-shixiong sent Huang-shixiong here to make this gesture simply to tell me that, if you wanted to, you could make every person close to me leave me. It’s a warning that I’d better not go against your wishes.”
Faced with the questions in Huang Xia’s and Ye Huaiyao’s eyes, Cheng Yuan smiled. “You guessed correctly…halfway.”
As he said the words “halfway,” his gaze suddenly sharpened. His body flashed backward, and in the same instant he struck Huang Xia mercilessly in the chest with his palm.
Neither Huang Xia nor Ye Huaiyao had expected this. Ye Huaiyao only had time to instinctively take one step forward before the unmistakable sound of breaking bones rang out.
Huang Xia had never imagined that his brief affair with Cheng Yuan, followed by his willingness to carry out this task for him, would end in such a way. The retribution for attempting to murder his shidi had arrived far too quickly.
His eyes widened in shock. A line of blood slowly trickled from his mouth, then he collapsed to the ground, dead.
Ye Huaiyao had taken only that single step, and he knew immediately that it was already too late. He stood silently where he was, watching Huang Xia’s body fall.
After a moment, a cold curve appeared at the corner of his lips. Slowly, he asked, “Cheng Yuan, what exactly do you want?”
Cheng Yuan’s eyes narrowed. Deep within them, flames seemed to leap violently, as though they could hardly wait to consume Ye Huaiyao whole.
Suppressing the excitement in his voice, he said, “Let me ask you one question first.”
Ye Huaiyao’s eyes shifted slightly, seemingly already aware of what he was going to ask. Still, he said, “Go ahead.”
Cheng Yuan stared directly at him and asked, each word deliberate: “Are you truly the Illustrious Sage?”
Ye Huaiyao answered without hesitation. “Yes.”
Yes. No further proof or explanation was necessary. With that single word, standing there in all his radiant splendour, he made the truth impossible to doubt.
Author’s Note:
Family reunion! Family reunion! Again and again!
The people from Xuantian Tower withdrew from Ghost Wind Forest today, so you need to give Yan Lin a little time to travel. Once he reaches Xuantian Tower tomorrow, he’ll be able to report the news.
The Illustrious Sage in everyone else’s eyes: a little immortal man, ethereal and otherworldly.
The Illustrious Sage in Huaijiang’s eyes: Wow, you’re really something. (/ω＼)
