The voice was vast and ethereal, its source impossible to discern. Zhan Yu’s gaze sharpened slightly. After concentrating for a moment, he suddenly leapt into the air, swept out an arm and caught hold of something, then sheathed his sword and landed.
The ground beneath his feet had already been levelled. Since the surface layers of the buildings and rocks had all been softened, even anyone buried beneath them would not have died. Thus, despite the impressive commotion, whoever had done this had indeed shown mercy.
It was simply unclear whether that mercy had been out of consideration for the Xuantian Tower, or specifically directed towards the Chensu Sect.
A disciple came over and asked, “Master, what is that? A paper… paper bird?”
He was astonished to see that what Zhan Yu had caught in mid-air was a little bird folded from xuan paper. It looked rather foolish and endearing, and even had a certain cuteness to it, which left him quite bemused.
Zhan Yu’s expression was somewhat peculiar. “It is the Art of Transmitting Sound and Shifting Form. Whoever caused the entire mountain to collapse has already left. This was left behind in advance.”
Throughout the entire cultivation world, there were very few people capable of such a feat, and he could name almost all of them.
Yet the voice he had just heard seemed vaguely familiar. It sounded like the one person it should have been least likely to be.
Zhan Yu murmured to himself, “How could it be him? Clearly, when he fought Shixiong all those years ago, he should already have…”
His disciple, standing beside him, had not heard clearly. “Master, who did you say?”
Zhan Yu came back to himself, put the paper bird away with a turn of his hand, and said, “No one. Silly boy, don’t just stand there. Go and get to work.”
By the time Mount Chensu collapsed, the people from the Xuantian Tower had already travelled far away and had yet to receive the news. As a handsome white dragon, He Zhanyang felt that despite working so hard as a mount, he was receiving even less attention than some wild country boy. He was thoroughly disgruntled, and flew at full speed. Before long, he had reached one of the Xuantian Tower’s nearby branch halls.
The return of the Illustrious Sage was no trivial matter. Not only was Ye Huaiyao himself a person of exalted status with far-reaching connections, his return would inevitably lead more people to wonder about the whereabouts of the Beicang Demon Lord, who had fought the Illustrious Sage all those years ago.
Therefore, once the news spread, it was bound to cause an enormous stir throughout the entire cultivation world, and there would naturally be no shortage of trouble to follow.
Although the news could certainly not be concealed for long, Yan Chen was mindful that Ye Huaiyao had yet to recover fully and wanted him to have as much time to recuperate as possible. He therefore instructed everyone not to spread the news outside, merely ordering the branch to prepare courtyards and rooms in advance. Everything was to be kept simple, and there was no need for a formal welcome.
Even for a branch of the Xuantian Tower, the opportunity to receive a personal visit from the Law Sage was a rare honour. When they suddenly received the news, the disciples were overjoyed and threw themselves into preparing the lodgings, taking great care over every detail.
—They had even filled an entire shelf with the storybooks and street snacks Yan Chen had ordered them to find for Ye Huaiyao to while away the time.
Ye Huaiyao smiled as soon as he entered. “Who arranged all this? How thoughtful!”
The person who had led them inside was one of the few people at the branch who knew the Illustrious Sage’s identity. Hearing this, his face lit up with delight, and he stepped forward to answer respectfully, “To answer the Illustrious Sage, this subordinate arranged it. If you find it even slightly to your liking, then this subordinate will consider himself fortunate for three lifetimes.”
Ye Huaiyao smiled. “You certainly know how to flatter people. What’s your name?”
The other man hurriedly replied, “This subordinate’s name is Hu Quan.”
Ye Huaiyao said, “I’ll remember it. These next few days are rather unusual, so have all the brothers put in a little extra effort and keep a close watch on anything out of the ordinary. Make a proper note of whoever contributes the most and whoever earns merit. When the time comes, take my word to the treasury and collect some spirit stones and talismans to distribute among everyone. That way, if anything unexpected happens, they’ll at least have something with which to defend themselves.”
He was simply too handsome, and his face looked far too young. Hu Quan had secretly been thinking that if the Law Sage and the others had not personally accompanied him, he might genuinely have suspected that this was an impostor pretending to be the Illustrious Sage.
But now that he saw Ye Huaiyao casually issue instructions, handling everything thoroughly and effortlessly while remaining approachable, he displayed the unmistakable bearing of a sect leader. Hu Quan was immediately won over, and repeatedly agreed.
Ye Huaiyao gave him a sidelong glance and smiled. “What is it? Now that I’ve given you some good things, you no longer suspect I’m a fake?”
Hu Quan had never imagined that the thoughts he had just been turning over in his mind would be seen through at a glance. He was so startled that he almost thought Ye Huaiyao could read minds.
He hurriedly said, “This subordinate would never dare! This subordinate had no such intention!”
Ye Huaiyao threw his head back and laughed. “I’m only joking. You’ve worked hard too. Go and get some rest.”
Once Hu Quan had left, the corners of Yan Chen’s lips lifted slightly. “You still can’t shake that bad habit of teasing people.”
Ye Huaiyao swept up the hem of his robe and sat down beside the table. He picked up a piece of pastry and ate it, grinning. “What are you talking about? After all these years without me around to tease you, didn’t you miss me, Shixiong?”
Yan Chen said, “What a pointless question. Of course I missed you. Isn’t that why I came all this way to bring you home?”
Although he said this, his actions were anything but gentle. He simply knocked the pastry from Ye Huaiyao’s hand and ushered him over to the bed. “Greedy cat, stop eating. Let me look at your injuries first.”
The injuries Ye Huaiyao had sustained from Cheng Yuan’s attack were truly severe. If he had merely been an ordinary eighteen-year-old boy, he might genuinely have been crippled. Fortunately, he had once possessed a foundation of cultivation, and the timely discovery of the Leopard King’s blood had provided him with the treatment he needed. His complete recovery was merely a matter of time. Yan Chen circulated his cultivation to help Ye Huaiyao expel the remaining poison from his body, then used his own spiritual energy to nourish and regulate Ye Huaiyao’s meridians.
When the two of them finished, Ye Huaiyao felt wonderfully refreshed. His hearing and sight were clearer, and even the dull ache that had lingered in his chest had disappeared.
Yet he frowned slightly. “Shixiong, healing my injuries is one thing, but why are you transferring your spiritual energy to me as well? It’s far too draining on your true essence. I can simply recover slowly on my own. Don’t drag yourself down with me.”
Yan Chen said, “I’m still stronger than you.”
Ye Huaiyao smiled. The two of them fell silent for a moment. Then Yan Chen reached out and gently brushed away the hair at his temple.
In a soft voice, he said, “Don’t worry. Your injuries will heal eventually. But I want to ask you something now. Are you ready to come back, Illustrious Sage?”
The Illustrious Sage carried a great deal upon his shoulders. As someone occupying a similar position, Yan Chen naturally understood this more deeply than most.
During the years Ye Huaiyao was gone, he had often wondered whether, if his shidi had not been burdened with so many honours and expectations, this accident might never have happened.
Or, if he had been given another chance, would their master have entrusted this position to his most beloved disciple?
But in the end, once one had entered the martial world, one was never truly the master of one’s own fate. Now that Ye Huaiyao had returned, the world remained full of turmoil. As long as he lived, he would have to shoulder the responsibilities that belonged to him.
A thousand years, a hundred years, everyone understood this principle. But Yan Chen had spent eighteen years living in fear and worry, and suddenly he could not bear to let go.
Ye Huaiyao smiled. “Of course.”
He rose and wandered over to the window, looking down at the mountains and lakes beneath him. In a leisurely voice, he said, “Rather than asking whether I’m ready to come back, it would be more accurate to say that I never left. Wherever one lives, there is a martial world. Even a little sect like the Chensu Sect is full of strife, isn’t it?”
Yan Chen thought of the ugly faces of those people, a mocking smile appearing at the corners of his lips. “Because they are themselves no more than ants, they become all the more eager to trample others beneath their feet, just to prove their own strength. Such clowns are nothing more than a source of amusement. They are not worth mentioning.”
Ye Huaiyao laughed. “Indeed, they’re not worth mentioning! That’s precisely why I have no interest in them either.”
He flung the window open and gazed out at the blue sky and white clouds. “The meaning of life lies in constantly challenging the unknown and the powerful. I can take fame and fortune lightly, but I don’t want to let my years pass in vain. Since I’ve chosen to stand upon a perilous peak, I should look down upon the scenery. If I wanted to stand aside and watch the tides of the world, why would I have taken this position in the first place?”
“Raise your head to the floating clouds of the northwest; to lean against Heaven across ten thousand miles, one needs a long sword.”¹
Ye Huaiyao turned back and smiled at Yan Chen. “This is what I want. Even if I end up covered in dust, I will have no regrets.”
The boldness and freedom in his words dispelled the melancholy in Yan Chen’s heart. He silently considered Ye Huaiyao’s meaning once more, and a smile appeared on his own face.
He said, “You’re right.”
Yan Chen patted Ye Huaiyao on the shoulder. “Go and do whatever you want. You should understand that your Shixiong will naturally take care of everything else. Whatever decision you make, you needn’t hesitate. Just remember this: you are home now. Behind you are me, your other shixiong and shidi, and the entire Xuantian Tower.”
You are the Illustrious Sage, and you alone are worthy of it.
Ye Huaiyao drew a breath, smiled faintly, placed his hand over Yan Chen’s and gave it a squeeze, then nodded at him.
Yan Chen said, “I just finished clearing your meridians, so rest for a while. Have a good sleep and recover your strength. By the time you wake up, your shidi and shimei should be back as well.”
Ye Huaiyao smiled. “I think I just heard that you sent Zhanyang and Wanqiong to the Ji family?”
Yan Chen gave a quiet “Mm”, maintaining a solemnly innocent expression. “Is there a problem?”
Ye Huaiyao burst out laughing. “You’re still the crafty one. You use all your little tricks and then stand here pretending you don’t know anything. I don’t dare keep you here any longer.”
He firmly pushed Yan Chen from behind, shoving him out of his room. Yan Chen relaxed his body and simply allowed Ye Huaiyao to propel him along, though a faint smile could be seen at the corners of his eyes and brows.
If an ordinary disciple had happened to pass by at that moment and seen the Illustrious Sage and the Law Sage fooling around like children, they would certainly have been utterly astonished.
Ji Lanying had yet to realise that the misfortune awaiting him was only just beginning. He had been seriously injured and was practically carried down the mountain by Yuan Xian.
Several Xuantian Tower disciples had gone with Yan Jin’s group. It was unclear whether they looked down on Ji Lanying or thought his injuries were not serious enough to warrant any further attention. In the end, Yuan Xian ordered his attendants to find a carriage and send Ji Lanying back to the Ji family.
Ji Lanying lay in the carriage, a layer of soft, comfortable bedding beneath him. The effects of the medicine he had taken were gradually setting in, yet his wounds remained extremely painful, and no matter what he did, he could not fall asleep.
It was a strange and subtle sensation. It was not limited to physical pain. An icy chill seemed to emanate from deep within his bones, leaving his heart hollow and bringing him almost to tears.
For some inexplicable reason, Ji Lanying had a persistent feeling that, just moments ago, something immensely important had left him.
Yet no matter how he racked his brains, he could not work out what he had lost. That very uncertainty only made him more uneasy.
Amid his unease, Ji Lanying slowly turned his head and caught sight of Yuan Xian’s profile through the constantly shifting gap in the carriage curtain. His pale purple robes fluttered with the jolting movement of the horses.
Ji Lanying slowly let out a breath and thought, Fortunately, I still have him.
At a time when he was in such a sorry state, nothing could have been more reassuring than having the esteemed Yuan Xian by his side. He knew that as long as he still had this man, the Ji family would not dare make things too difficult for him.
Ji Lanying said, “Brother Yuan.”
His voice was not loud, but Yuan Xian heard it at once. He lifted the carriage curtain and leaned his head inside. “What is it? Does your wound hurt?”
Ji Lanying said, “It hurts terribly. Lord Shaoyi was far too heavy-handed. I never expected the Xuantian Tower, the foremost sect of the righteous path, to be so ruthless in its methods. He even knew that I was your friend, yet he still refused to give you any face.”
Yuan Xian’s expression had initially been rather sombre, as though preoccupied with his thoughts. But upon hearing Ji Lanying’s words, he paused, then suddenly laughed, returning to his usual carefree, roguish demeanour.
Yuan Xian teased, “What, you think a figure as eminent as Lord Shaoyi needs to give me face?”
Ji Lanying was taken aback.
Yuan Xian always carried a certain frivolous, roguish air about him. To him, this was more like a disguise for making his way through the martial world, and naturally, the thoughts hidden behind that disguise were not something anyone could see through at a glance.
Ji Lanying had seen him like this countless times, but Yuan Xian rarely spoke to him in such a tone. This made Ji Lanying keenly aware that the other man’s attitude towards him seemed somewhat unusual.
His expression remained unchanged, his manner as gentle as a spring breeze. He merely smiled and said, “That is true.”
After a pause, Ji Lanying added, “Brother Yuan, don’t ride your horse. Come and sit in the carriage for a while. It’ll be easier for us to talk.”
Yuan Xian said, “All right.”
With that, he abandoned his horse, lifted the curtain and nimbly leapt through the carriage window, landing inside with effortless grace. He sat opposite Ji Lanying and said, “Let me change your dressing first.”
Ji Lanying’s wound was not particularly deep, but it was extremely long. Since it covered such a large area, bandaging it was especially difficult and agonising. With the slightest jolt of the carriage, it had split open again.
By the time Yuan Xian had finished changing the dressing, Ji Lanying’s forehead was slick with cold sweat. Even so, he did his utmost to control his expression, unwilling to let his face become too contorted with pain.
As a member of a collateral branch of the Ji family, Ji Lanying’s birth could not exactly be called lowly, but compared with the people around him, he could certainly be described as being of humble status. This had taught him from childhood how to appear harmless while still making others feel favourably disposed towards him.
His gentle temperament and striking appearance were clearly his greatest assets. He could never be as favoured by fate as the Illustrious Sage, free to act as he pleased.
But gentleness had its own advantages. Ye Huaiyao’s status meant that he was unwilling to lower himself, whereas Ji Lanying’s warmth and friendliness clearly held a greater appeal for the likes of Yuan Xian and Yan Jin.
He had once suffered humiliation because of the Illustrious Sage. Later, when he became acquainted with Yuan Xian and learned that Yuan Xian was actually Ye Huaiyao’s Dao companion, Ji Lanying had secretly savoured the satisfaction more than once, as though the resentment in his heart had finally found an outlet.
—Ye Huaiyao, after all, had things he could never surpass.
Yuan Xian was proof of Ji Lanying’s own worth, as well as his greatest source of support. From every perspective, he was immensely important to Ji Lanying.
Ji Lanying gave Yuan Xian a pale smile. “Brother Yuan, thank you.”
Yuan Xian wiped his hands clean, leaned back, and said casually, “You saved me back then. I remember that debt of gratitude. There’s no need to be so polite.”
Ji Lanying said gratefully, “You can’t put it that way. I only helped you that once, and it was merely something I happened to do. But Brother Yuan, you’ve helped me so many times. I’ll always remember this kindness.”
Yuan Xian raised an eyebrow. “Just remember it? What’s the use in that? Even if you remember it for a hundred years, a thousand years, I won’t get the slightest benefit from it, will I?”
Ji Lanying froze, almost wondering whether he had misunderstood. “What?”
Yuan Xian gave him a half-smile. “You should know what I want.”
His gaze swept over the front of Ji Lanying’s robes, but there was nothing in his eyes but a detached smile, not the slightest trace of desire or infatuation. It was more akin to mockery.
Only when he saw Ji Lanying shrink back in alarm did Yuan Xian leisurely continue:
“When I told other people that I already had someone in my heart, you knew I meant you. Yet you deliberately played dumb, pretending not to know, while never distancing yourself from me and still coming to me for help whenever something happened. You didn’t really think that a few sweet words would be enough to make me willingly work like an ox and a horse for you, did you?”
Ji Lanying was greatly startled. He struggled to sit up, only for the pain from his wound to force him back down. “I didn’t mean that. I truly didn’t know…”
“Good.” Yuan Xian gave a soft laugh. “Then what about Yan Jin? This whole affair ultimately began because of him. You… truly didn’t know that he was doing it to avenge you?”
Ji Lanying said in alarm, “I… I only found out afterwards. At the beginning, I genuinely knew nothing about him crippling Ye… about having Cheng Yuan cripple the Illustrious Sage’s meridians!”
He spoke cautiously. “Are you angry because of the Illustrious Sage? I’m sorry, but I genuinely didn’t know that he was Ye Huaiyao, and… and I didn’t know that you still cared about him.”
Yuan Xian lowered his eyes, his tone slightly cold as he said softly, “You really are always so innocent. Naturally, there are plenty of things you don’t know. Lan Ying, tell me, if I hadn’t read Yan Jin’s memories from his spiritual consciousness, would you have said that you didn’t know what had caused Cheng Yuan’s death either?”
His uncharacteristic attitude left Ji Lanying completely at a loss. “I… that’s not what I meant…”
Under Yuan Xian’s cold, penetrating gaze, he faltered for a moment, then suddenly thought of a plausible explanation.
“As you just said, the whole matter began because Yan Jin wanted to avenge me. When all is said and done, I bear a great deal of responsibility. At the time, we happened to witness what Cheng Yuan was doing. How could I possibly have sided against Yan Jin and helped someone he disliked? Wouldn’t that have meant betraying his good intentions?”
Ji Lanying said earnestly to Yuan Xian, “Brother Yuan, I’m not that heartless a person. I remember all the kindness you have shown me, and I will certainly repay it. Even if you wanted to…”
He lowered his voice. “This is all too sudden. Give me some time to think it through.”
Ji Lanying’s words had been very cleverly chosen. He had explained why he had not intervened when he saw Cheng Yuan harming Ye Huaiyao, while also making it clear to Yuan Xian that he was a person of gratitude and loyalty, rather than someone who merely knew how to exploit others.
Finally, he had not forgotten to leave Yuan Xian a little hope, neither accepting nor rejecting him outright. Had this happened before, seeing Ji Lanying so badly injured, Yuan Xian might well have been unable to bring himself to say anything further.
But just now, on the mountain, when he had seen Yan Jin lying on the ground, Yuan Xian had suddenly felt as though he were looking at another version of himself. The realisation had sent a chill through him.
He nodded. “ ‘The kindness we’ve shown you.’ This ‘we’ includes me, Yan Jin, and plenty of other people. So what you’re saying is that you’ll sleep with each of us in turn, as a way of soothing your ‘conscience’? Ji Lanying…”
Yuan Xian braced his hands on his knees and leaned forward slightly, gazing directly into Ji Lanying’s eyes. “I’m going to ask you one question today. Answer it, and everything that happened before will be wiped clean. I absolutely will never bring it up again.”
He had a pair of captivating peach-blossom eyes that always gave people the illusion of tender affection. Ji Lanying’s face flushed, though a trace of unease remained. “Ask.”
Yuan Xian said, “I’m telling you plainly now that I like you. So what will you choose? If you have no feelings for me, then don’t come looking for me to do anything for you ever again. If you do have feelings for me, then stop associating with all those Zhang brothers and Wang brothers of yours. Stay quietly by my side!”
Once he had finished speaking, Yuan Xian leaned back, his gaze sharp. “Choose.”
Not long ago, Ji Lanying had felt secretly relieved and pleased simply because Yuan Xian was staying by his side. Of course he did not want to lose this man’s support. Yet the condition Yuan Xian had put forward was simply too harsh. There was no way he could fulfil it.
After a moment of silence, Ji Lanying said, “Do you really have to force me like this?”
Yuan Xian said calmly, “I’m not forcing you. You’re forcing me. Ji Lanying, I’m willing to help you and I’m willing to save you. In the first place, it’s to repay the debt I owe you, and in the second, it’s because I have feelings for you. But that doesn’t mean I’m a man you can deceive and toy with as you please. The last person who tried that is already a cripple!”
He suddenly curved his lips into a smile, but his eyes had turned utterly cold. “Me? I’m rather frightened.”
Author’s Note:
Note: ① From Xin Qiji’s Water Dragon Chant.
Of course it was Wang-boy who tore apart the mountain. He holds a grudge.
I never expected Shixiong to be so popular after all (○o○).
