Chapter 13#
第13章#
Zhongwu Immortal Lord gazed at him deeply, and after a long moment, let out a soft, inaudible laugh.
His every breath seemed to tug at Yuling’s nerves. Yuling shuddered at his quiet laughter, his eyes drifting aimlessly with nowhere to settle.
After a moment, his gaze shifted to focus on Yulin, and his eyes lit up.
Yuling stumbled out of bed without even putting on shoes, wobbling forward to grab at Yulin’s sleeve frantically.
“I… I can return everything to you. Can you make him give my spiritual power back to me?”
“I can’t… I can’t cultivate immortality without it…”
The Liu family valued cultivation greatly and had high hopes for him. If he became a worthless failure, the consequences would be unthinkable.
Yulin listened, his eyes lowering with pity, unsure what to say.
He managed a bitter smile, “So you know these things must be ‘returned’ to me. So you do know.”
Yulin closed his eyes, remembering his past life—his dantian shattered, his life ending in gloom.
He once had everything, and then lost it all.
Yuling paid no heed to his words, gripping his sleeve even tighter. His voice came out hoarse and pitiful, tears welling in his eyes as he stared at Yulin: “Please… please…”
He repeated it over and over, his voice gradually choking as he spoke.
Yulin’s voice grew hoarse. “What can I do?”
“Go find Wenyin! He must have a way!” Yuming burst in, speaking loudly and urgently.
Yulin turned his gaze to stare at him.
“Wenyin has no way either.” Zhongwu Immortal Lord, who had been sitting, now rose and walked toward them. “A shattered spirit meridian—even gods cannot save him.”
And so Yuling’s path to spiritual cultivation came to an end.
Hearing this, Yuling nearly collapsed. His eyes were vacant, repeating mindlessly: “Please… please…”
Yulin looked down at Yuling’s pale, bloodless face, his throat tightening. The sight reminded him painfully of himself from long ago.
“It’s all because of you.”
“What?”
The sudden words made Yulin react instinctively, pausing before turning toward the source.
Yuming stood with his head lowered, his expression hidden in shadow. His left hand clenched into a tight fist, barely restraining something.
“If you hadn’t caused this mess, Master wouldn’t have had to take care of you. Perhaps things wouldn’t have come to this.”
“If we’d discovered the antidote was faulty earlier, Aling wouldn’t be like this! Moreover, it’s because of you that Wenyin was so cruel to him.”
His face contorted with emotion, his gaze toward Yulin filled with disgust, as if looking at a mortal enemy.
With that, he turned away coldly, pulling Yuling to his side and holding him gently, soothing him.
Yulin’s expression didn’t change—as if this were something he’d grown accustomed to, experienced countless times before.
His eyes narrowed slightly, and he laughed softly, his eyes devoid of warmth. “Yuming, you truly are quick to render judgment on me based on a single opinion.”
Years of friendship had become nothing but scattered dust on the ground, no longer of concern to anyone.
Yulin spoke flatly, articulating what he believed to be Yuming’s view: “My near descent into madness means nothing to you. All your care, all your attention is on Yuling.”
“I shouldn’t have existed. I should have died on that stage, giving your precious Yuling no chance of misfortune.”
“Isn’t that right?”
Yuming was left speechless, unable to respond.
Yulin composed himself, his face expressionless as he glanced at them once more before turning to leave.
His wounds were not yet healed, his form somewhat unsteady, yet his spine remained perfectly straight, needing no one’s support.
…
“Xiaolin.”
Yulin’s thoughts had been wandering, and he found himself standing before Wenyin without realizing it.
Wenyin, serene and unsuspecting, noticed him pause and become hesitant.
“What’s wrong?” Wenyin asked, sensing something amiss.
After a long silence, Yulin asked: “How did Yuling get injured so severely? You said…”
Wenyin pulled him down to sit beside him without a word, then replied: “You’re asking why I shattered his spirit meridian so he can never cultivate immortality again?”
Yulin’s head snapped up, and he saw Wenyin gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind his ear, his eyes swirling with emotions Yulin couldn’t quite decipher.
“For treating you so badly, how could I possibly let him off easy?”
Yulin froze, his eyes widening slightly.
Wenyin’s eyes seemed to speak, and his gentle, knowing words suddenly pulled Yulin’s mind back to the pitch-black chamber of his past life.
Had Wenyin also been reborn? Did he know about the past?
Before Yulin could ask, Wenyin’s eyes clouded over, and like a child caught in wrongdoing, he turned away hesitantly, unable to meet Yulin’s gaze.
“Xiaolin, are you afraid of me?”
Yulin’s heart ached. He shook his head, reached for Wenyin’s hand, and spoke gently: “You did this for me. Why would I fear you?”
He wanted to reassure Wenyin.
Wenyin had always been kind to him, never bickering, always yielding and caring. If Wenyin didn’t wish to speak, Yulin wouldn’t press. He trusted that Wenyin would never hurt him.
“It’s just… with you like this now, I fear you’ll be implicated.”
Yulin’s eyes unconsciously moved to the tattoo on Wenyin’s hand.
The mark seemed to radiate heat—hundreds of degrees—and the skin beneath was reddened, as if burned.
Wenyin naturally withdrew his hand, smiling reassuringly. “They can’t do anything to me.”
Yulin wasn’t a fool. The Spirit Medicine Valley used Wenyin as a puppet, so how could he be faring well? The scars visible beneath Wenyin’s carelessly rolled sleeves told the real story. It was all just a facade of brilliance.
“Xiaolin, what are you doing here?” Yuxuan had found him. “Your senior sister and I were very worried about you.”
They had been blocked outside the door by Zhongwu Immortal Lord and were anxious. When they noticed Wenyin’s silhouette, they hurried over.
“Second Senior Brother.”
Yulin turned to glance at Wenyin beside him.
Wenyin smiled at him and waved his hand. “Go on.”
Yulin was reluctant. “Remember to come find me if anything happens.”
Wenyin chuckled, pushing him toward Yuxuan. “You’ve become such a worrier.”
“Second Senior Brother, take him back. I’ll be going now.” Wenyin called out to Yuxuan.
Watching Wenyin’s departing figure, Yulin couldn’t shake an ominous feeling.
…
“Xiaolin, what are you thinking about?” Yuxuan looked at him.
“Oh, nothing.” Yulin snapped back to attention.
She reached up and pinched his cheek. “You really must rest and recuperate. You look so haggard.”
He shook his head. “I need to go to Shanhai Sect in a few days.”
“I’ve heard. It’s far away in the mountains, and Shanhai Sect has been secluded for so long. Finding it will be difficult. But with Master taking you, I’m at ease.”
He looked surprised. “Senior Sister, aren’t you going?”
“No,” Yuxuan shook her head. “Master is only taking you. That place is crowded and chaotic—with more people, he couldn’t keep watch properly.”
Yulin acknowledged this, then after a moment’s thought, asked hesitantly: “Senior Sister… does Yuling have an older brother in Floating Life Sect?”
Yuxuan nodded. “He’s under Elder Rushixia. His talent isn’t very high—he’s just an outer disciple.”
“What’s his name?”
“Liu Yufeng.”
Suddenly, clarity struck him. Finally, he’d identified what he’d missed. These days, his thoughts had been on the Liu family of Fuyang City, yet the memory never aligned.
Now that the name “Liu Yufeng” was spoken, the black cloth shrouding his memory slowly lifted.
Twelve years ago.
Not long after Yuanjing Immortal’s departure, Wenyin made contact with Zhongwu Immortal Lord.
When Wenyin first arrived at Floating Life Sect, he was like a frightened beast, yet forced to remain calm and try to please others.
Yulin knew Wenyin, so he took his hand and adopted the manner of a host. “Master, let me take him out for a walk? He seems very sad.”
Wenyin hung his head, looking dejected, though he stubbornly insisted: “I’m not sad.”
Being two years older, he couldn’t afford to lose face in front of a child, so he put on a mature demeanor.
Yulin didn’t argue, instead turning to coax Zhongwu Immortal Lord: “Will you, please?”
At that time, Yulin was but a small child. Since falling ill the previous year, he’d been staying at Floating Life Sect, bored out of his mind. He was eager to use this chance to play outside.
With his delicate, perfect little face still round with baby fat, Yulin’s big eyes sparkled with anticipation as he gazed at Zhongwu Immortal Lord.
Zhongwu Immortal Lord sighed and relented. “Then let your senior sister take you.”
Hearing this, Yulin’s mouth spread into a huge grin. He grabbed Zhongwu Immortal Lord’s sleeve, pulling him down, and planted a kiss on his cheek. “Mwah!”
Zhongwu Immortal Lord helplessly patted his head. “Such a little charmer!”
Yulin made a funny face and dragged Wenyin away.
After eating, Yuxuan took them both out wandering through Fuyang City. Yulin’s eyes lit up at the sight of crystal-clear candied hawthorn, sugar figurines, and the savory aroma of stewed meat drifting for miles.
Yuxuan flicked his forehead. “Didn’t we just eat? Did you bring Wenyin out to cheer him up, or are you just hungry?”
With only the three of them, and both Yuxuan and Yulin treating Wenyin so well, he naturally relaxed, poking his head forward. “He’s definitely just hungry!”
“I am not!” Yulin protested, but his voice grew quiet as he looked at the food stalls on both sides.
He coughed awkwardly. “Well, fine—there are pig trotters, candied hawthorn, and crispy pastries involved.”
Yuxuan laughed, her eyes crinkling with mirth. She exchanged a glance with Wenyin, and both broke into smiles.
“Stop laughing!” Yulin’s face flushed. He grabbed the softest target and ran to cover Wenyin’s mouth with his hand.
“Mmm-mmm!” Wenyin laughed while trying to pry his hand away.
Seeing them roughhousing, Yuxuan quickly pulled Yulin away, coaxing him: “Stop playing. I’ll buy you candied hawthorn.”
She went to a stall and bought each of them a stick of candied hawthorn. With food in hand, Yulin settled down.
Sure enough, Yulin behaved himself, crunching away at the sugar coating with “crack-crack-crack” sounds, his cheeks puffed out like a little squirrel.
Yuxuan’s heart melted at the sight. She reached up and gently stroked his hair.
Feeling the warmth on top of his head, Yulin looked up at her.
Yuxuan spoke to him softly: “Wenyin will be one of us at Floating Life Sect from now on. You must take good care of him, okay?”
With his cheeks stuffed full, Yulin could only manage “mmm-mmm-mmm” sounds. He quickly swallowed and said, “Of course!”
He ran over and grabbed Wenyin’s hand, adopting a grown-up tone: “From now on, I’ll look after you!”
Yulin was small and looked delicate and cute. Wenyin, standing half a head taller, looked him up and down, deliberately teasing him: “That’s asking too much of you!”
Though he spoke stubbornly, his hand held Yulin’s tightly.