Chapter 28#
Jade Pendant#
Outside the State Preceptor’s Manor, the sky was low, dark clouds were descending, and a storm was brewing.
Inside the State Preceptor’s Manor, fine snow drifted, and everything was no different from any other day.
It was calm and peaceful, and the atmosphere was even lighter than usual. There weren’t many people in the State Preceptor’s Manor, yet an inexplicable sense of warmth arose.
Zhu Anning was the happiest; he wrote his wish on a wooden plaque, tied it with a red string, and hung it on a peach branch.
“They say wishes made on one’s birthday will come true,” Zhu Anning said with a face full of hope. “I want to hang my wish in a high place so that the heavens can see it.”
Yin Yuheng looked at his junior brother and asked with amusement, “What wish did you make?”
“A wish won’t come true if you say it out loud,” Zhu Anning said solemnly. “Senior brother is not allowed to peek.”
On the wooden plaque, he wrote that he hoped to be with his senior brother forever.
Forever.
“Alright, alright, I won’t look.” Yin Yuheng glanced at him with a smile. “Today, you’re the boss.”
Zhu Anning’s face turned even redder at Yin Yuheng’s smile.
The small wooden plaque swayed in the wind, and Zhu Anning pulled Yin Yuheng into the room. Yin Yuheng let him lead him by the hand, his gaze indulgent.
In fact, for cultivators, ordinary food was no longer a necessity. But Zhu Anning liked it, so the small Taoist boys had specially prepared a sumptuous meal.
Zhu Anning pressed Yin Yuheng down at the table and whispered, “Senior brother, did you know? When I was a child, I sometimes couldn’t even get one full meal. At that time, I thought, if someone gave me food, I would be good to them for a lifetime.”
Yin Yuheng was stunned for a moment. “And then…”
“Then I met him,” Zhu Anning’s gaze was gentle. “He was an exceptionally good person, better than the best I could imagine.”
Yin Yuheng remembered something. “The young master you told me about?”
“…Yes.” Zhu Anning lowered his head, wanting to say it was you, but he didn’t dare speak.
Yin Yuheng rubbed his hair compassionately.
Zhu Anning again felt that sensation of being drowned in tenderness. He suddenly couldn’t restrain himself and threw himself into Yin Yuheng’s arms.
“Senior brother…” Zhu Anning called out softly, but he didn’t dare look up into Yin Yuheng’s eyes.
“What’s wrong?”
“…No, nothing.”
At that moment, Zhu Anning almost had an impulse to tell everything. But in the end, he still shrank back.
Yin Yuheng seemed to sigh and patted his shoulder. “How old are you, and you’re still acting like a spoiled child? Get up.”
Zhu Anning got up obediently.
Yin Yuheng took a deep look at him. “Stand straight.”
Zhu Anning immediately did as he was told.
Yin Yuheng took out a jade pendant and tied it to Zhu Anning’s waist.
When Yin Yuheng’s hand touched the side of his waist, Zhu Anning’s whole body trembled, and he murmured softly, “Senior brother…”
Yin Yuheng raised his eyes with a smile. “A birthday gift.”
“This is spiritual mountain jade. It’s said that the wearer can concentrate their mind and settle their thoughts, which is beneficial for cultivation.” Yin Yuheng said softly, “Right now… you have enough talent, you’re just lacking a bit of mental state.”
Zhu Anning was originally full of joy, but hearing Yin Yuheng’s words, it was as if cold water had been poured over his head, and his expression froze.
He knew where his “talent” came from—
It was snatched from his senior brother.
As if not noticing Zhu Anning’s stiffness, Yin Yuheng smiled somewhat apologetically. “The jade is good jade, but unfortunately, my carving skills aren’t very good. Don’t be too picky, junior brother.”
“…Senior brother carved it himself?” Zhu Anning asked softly, picking up the jade pendant hanging from his waist with great treasure and importance.
Senior brother carved it himself.
Where was senior brother’s carving not good? Whatever senior brother did was the best.
“It’s very beautiful, I’ll always wear it.” Zhu Anning cautiously rubbed the jade pendant.
Yin Yuheng smiled. “I’m glad you like it. I remember the first time I gave you the Flame-Leaving Warm Jade, you didn’t like it.”
Zhu Anning looked up nervously. “I, I didn’t dislike it… I was just ignorant back then, senior brother, don’t blame me.”
Zhu Anning felt regret in his heart, but he couldn’t say it out loud.
His heart rose and fell; a single word or look from Yin Yuheng could trigger his thoughts. Every time he had just immersed himself in the spring-like tenderness, the next moment he was suddenly thrown into the wind and snow, driving him to madness.
Zhu Anning really couldn’t hold up, his lips pale.
Yin Yuheng smiled and changed the subject: “Has teacher not arrived yet?”
“…Not yet.” Zhu Anning’s face looked even worse.
He suddenly didn’t want Li Guanghan to appear here.
He didn’t want his senior brother to look at anyone else.
Why did there have to be anyone else? How great it would be if only he and his senior brother were at the birthday banquet.
“I’ll go find teacher.” Yin Yuheng stood up with a smile. “Be good.”
Zhu Anning hummed an acknowledgment with his head lowered.
After Yin Yuheng left, Zhu Anning sat alone at the table waiting.
He cautiously clutched the jade pendant Yin Yuheng had given him, a sweet and happy smile appearing on his face.
This was simply a dream-like life. If only days like this could continue forever…
His eyes brightened slightly.
*
Yin Yuheng went out and stood in the wind and snow, thinking where he might be.
Most likely…
Yin Yuheng didn’t like the Wentian Terrace. It was always so cold and so empty. He couldn’t forget the feeling of kneeling in the center of the terrace, the feeling of dying as blood flowed from his chest.
He climbed the steps and pushed open the door, but the hall was empty.
Teacher wasn’t here?
Yin Yuheng frowned and was about to turn and leave when his gaze suddenly caught something.
On a small table in the hall lay a very beautiful sword.
…Was this the sword teacher had specially commissioned from Yuanming Pavilion to give to his junior brother?
Yin Yuheng couldn’t help but walk over and gently touch the hilt. It was cold to the touch; it was a good sword.
A look of fondness appeared in Yin Yuheng’s eyes, which then turned into deep self-mockery.
This was a gift teacher was going to give to his junior brother; how could it be his turn?
Besides… with his current body, no matter how good the sword was in his hands, it would be a waste.
Better not to touch it.
Yin Yuheng sighed and suddenly noticed a small jade pendant lying beside the sword.
Yin Yuheng was stunned, feeling that this jade pendant looked somewhat familiar.
He curiously picked it up and rubbed it a few times. The quality of the jade was very warm and smooth, but the carving of that very distinctive big bird…
Yin Yuheng thought blankly, isn’t this the jade I carved?
When Yin Yuheng was young and had nothing to do, he liked to carve jade. When he carved his work bit by bit, he would feel an indescribable peace.
He hadn’t carved jade for many years, except for the one he just gave to Zhu Anning…
So this was a jade he carved when he was young? Why was this jade here?
Yin Yuheng held the jade and pondered for a while, but couldn’t figure it out. Just as he frowned and was about to put the item back, he suddenly heard Li Guanghan’s cold voice behind him: “What are you doing?”
Yin Yuheng was startled and quickly put down the jade pendant. He looked up at Li Guanghan, only to find the other’s face was icy, with a deep, suppressed ferocity in his eyes.
Yin Yuheng instinctively took a step back and said blankly, “Teacher.”
Li Guanghan walked toward him, and Yin Yuheng suddenly felt the surrounding spiritual energy pressing down on him. Pain flared in his spiritual veins, and he couldn’t help but start trembling.
“…Teacher?”
Li Guanghan finally stopped, his expression still terrifyingly cold.
“Hand over your hand.”
Yin Yuheng reached out his hand blankly.
“I once swore that whoever touched this jade, I would crush their wrist.”
Li Guanghan grabbed Yin Yuheng’s right hand and applied slight force.
Yin Yuheng’s face turned deathly pale.