Chapter 3#

Poison#

The carriage finally entered Chaoge.

The spring was chilly, and only a few peach blossoms had bloomed in Chaoge. A light breeze blew into the clothes, bringing a chill to the entire body.

Yin Yuheng lifted the carriage curtain, glanced at the fresh green of the willow trees by the roadside, and squinted his eyes with a pleasant mood.

After three months of absence, he was finally home.

At this moment, the novel’s plot had not officially begun, and Yin Yuheng had not yet lost his memory; he was still the noble and precious Crown Prince of the Li Dynasty.

As the Crown Prince, Yin Yuheng had left Chaoge three months ago for the northwest, representing the Li Dynasty on a diplomatic mission, and signed a non-aggression pact with the Demon Realm.

As for the encounter with Lu Yan, it was merely a small interlude on the return journey.

*

Yin Yuheng was not in a hurry to return to the Eastern Palace of the Crown Prince, but first made a detour to the Imperial Advisor’s Mansion.

The master of the Imperial Advisor’s Mansion was Li Guanghan, who was also Yin Yuheng’s teacher.

—According to the rules of the cultivation world, he should have been called “Master” (Shizun). But Yin Yuheng was the Crown Prince of the Li Dynasty; except for the Emperor, who was qualified to be called “Master” before him? So Yin Yuheng called him “Teacher.”

Yin Yuheng stepped into the Imperial Advisor’s Mansion. When the young Daoist boy at the door saw who it was, he couldn’t help but be stunned and greeted him with surprise: “Your Highness, you’re back!”

Yin Yuheng nodded with a smile and asked, “After three months of absence, how has Teacher been lately?”

The young Daoist boy quickly replied, “The Imperial Advisor is all well.”

The boy slapped his head and remembered another important matter: “By the way, the Imperial Advisor went out a few days ago and brought back a young man, taking him as a disciple.”

“Oh?” Yin Yuheng blinked, seemingly a bit surprised, “Then I’ll have a junior brother in the future? What’s his name?”

“Zhu Anning,” the young Daoist boy smiled.

Yin Yuheng’s eyes flickered, and he repeated with a smile, “Zhu Anning, a good name.”

Yin Yuheng carried the wooden box into the Imperial Advisor’s Mansion, passing through pavilions and towers, leaving a trail of footprints in the snow.

It was already early spring in Chaoge, yet the entire Imperial Advisor’s Mansion was still covered in a layer of white snow.

Li Guanghan practiced the Nine Cold Dao Intention, and the entire Imperial Advisor’s Mansion was covered in snow all year round. As Yin Yuheng walked, his cheeks turned red from the cold. But at the thought of soon seeing his longed-for teacher, the smile on Yin Yuheng’s face deepened a bit.

“Is Teacher still practicing at the Heaven-Asking Platform today?” Yin Yuheng asked casually.

Li Guanghan was cold-hearted and cold-natured, with only cultivation in his heart, and often spent the whole day sitting and meditating at the Heaven-Asking Platform. Even though Yin Yuheng was his disciple, he was not very close to him.

The young Daoist boy quickly said, “Today, the Imperial Advisor is at Young Master Zhu’s residence, seemingly to regulate his spiritual meridians.”

Yin Yuheng paused and chuckled, “Teacher is truly attentive to Junior Brother…”

Zhu Anning’s courtyard was in the west, elegant and refined; it was evident that some heart had gone into its selection. When Yin Yuheng arrived, Li Guanghan had not yet come out, still regulating Zhu Anning’s spiritual meridians.

Yin Yuheng was a bit surprised to notice that peach blossoms were actually blooming in the courtyard.

The young Daoist boy explained, “Young Master Zhu is afraid of the cold, so the Imperial Advisor specially paved the courtyard with warm stones, making this place as warm as spring all year round.”

The cold wind blew into his clothes, and Yin Yuheng moved his cold fingers, lowering his eyes and smiling, “So that’s how it is.”

The courtyard was filled with arrays and couldn’t be entered at will, so Yin Yuheng waited in the snow outside.

The young Daoist boy hesitated: “I’m afraid the Imperial Advisor won’t be out for a while.”

Yin Yuheng coughed twice while holding the box and whispered, “It’s alright, I’ll just wait here. I have a gift I want to personally give to Teacher.”

When he said this, the young man’s eyes were filled with a smile, and even the snow-covered Imperial Advisor’s Mansion seemed to be brushed by a spring breeze. The young Daoist boy was dazed for a moment and quickly lowered his head.

Yin Yuheng held the box and waited until the sunset filled the sky and twilight fell before he heard the sound of the door opening with a “creak.”

Yin Yuheng was freezing all over, his fingertips cold, and his legs numb. But he couldn’t care about these; his eyes lit up, and an imperceptible look of joy appeared on his face: “Teacher!”

A person stepped out of the room, dressed in brocade clothes and a jade crown, his face as beautiful and cold as a jade carving. Those eyes, devoid of joy or sorrow, were empty, reflecting Yin Yuheng’s shadow.

He was the world-famous Spirit-Severing sword cultivator, Li Guanghan, whom the world looked up to.

Yin Yuheng smiled gently and cherished the box in his arms: “Teacher, this is for you, I brought it back from the Demon Realm.”

Li Guanghan cast a faint glance at him and took the box. Yin Yuheng quickly lowered his head.

Inside the box was a small white lotus flower, emitting a faint light in the night.

A hint of surprise actually appeared on Li Guanghan’s always indifferent face: “The Yellow Spring Flower from the Demon Realm?”

The Yellow Spring Flower only grew on the banks of the Ghost River, but the Ghost River was dangerous, and no one knew how many bones were buried there. Moreover, this flower needed to be watered with fresh blood to prevent it from withering. Looking at Yin Yuheng’s pale face, one could tell how much he had sacrificed for this flower.

However, Yin Yuheng didn’t mention any of the hardships along the way, but only said softly, “Teacher, the Yellow Spring Flower can nourish the spiritual soul. You are about to break through the minor completion of the Spirit-Severing realm, so perhaps you can use it.”

Li Guanghan remained silent for a moment and finally sighed: “You have been thoughtful.”

Yin Yuheng’s eyes curved into a smile: “I am very happy to be able to help Teacher.”

Yin Yuheng stood under the plum tree, the biting wind swirling around the plum branches, blowing down a few clumps of white snow. His features were gentle, and his smile made even the world lose its color.

A refined gentleman, as if cut and polished, as if carved and ground.

When Zhu Anning followed Li Guanghan out of the room, this was the scene he saw.

Zhu Anning’s eyes dimmed, and he quickly stepped forward, gently pulling Li Guanghan’s sleeve: “Master! This must be the Eldest Senior Brother, right?”

Yin Yuheng was startled, his gaze swept over Zhu Anning’s hand, and finally he nodded: “Yes, I am…”

“The gift Senior Brother gave to Master must be something good!” Zhu Anning interrupted him with a light smile and leaned over to look at the things in the box, not reserved at all. Li Guanghan did not push him away, and there was a hint of subtle indulgence.

It made Yin Yuheng look like an outsider.

“This is your Junior Brother, Zhu Anning.” Li Guanghan’s always indifferent voice carried a hint of tenderness, “He comes from a poor background and has suffered a lot, so you should take care of him.”

“…Alright.” Yin Yuheng remained silent for a moment, then nodded and smiled gently at Zhu Anning, “It’s my first time meeting Junior Brother, so I should give a meeting gift.”

He took out a pendant from his Qiankun bag and handed it to Zhu Anning. However, this pendant was gray and unattractive, like a piece of stone.

Zhu Anning was stunned for a moment, his gaze fell on the pendant, and he looked lonely: “Does Senior Brother not like me very much?”

Yin Yuheng was a bit puzzled, then reacted and sighed with a smile, “Junior Brother misunderstood, this is not an ordinary stone, but a Flame-Dispelling Warm Jade, which is perfect for nourishing spiritual meridians. Junior Brother just had his meridians cleansed, so he should need this.”

As he spoke, Yin Yuheng even looked up and complained to Li Guanghan: “Junior Brother comes from a cold and bitter place, so he must not have seen such a thing. Teacher, how did you forget to prepare one for him?”

The young Daoist boy smiled: “Your Highness truly cares for your junior brother.”

Li Guanghan nodded: “I neglected it.”

Only Zhu Anning’s face stiffened, and his hand holding the warm jade was overly forceful, turning a bit white.

Clearly, Yin Yuheng’s tone was gentle and concerned, but he felt that Yin Yuheng’s words hidden a high-and-mighty disdain. Was he giving him charity and mocking him?

Zhu Anning’s expression was stiff, and he couldn’t speak.

“It’s good to be able to help Junior Brother.” Yin Yuheng’s smile was light, and as he smiled, he suddenly coughed violently.

A trace of blood slid down the corner of his lip.

“You…” Li Guanghan was startled and was about to step forward, but was pulled by Zhu Anning.

“Master, I suddenly feel a bit uncomfortable.” Zhu Anning’s face was pale.

“You just had your meridians cleansed, it’s normal to feel a bit uncomfortable.” Li Guanghan turned back to look at Zhu Anning and frowned, “I’ll take you to the Wenhua Pool first to nourish you. Yuheng, you…”

Yin Yuheng understood and said while coughing, “I’m fine, Teacher, you take Junior Brother to the Wenhua Pool first.”

After saying that, without waiting for Li Guanghan’s answer, he turned and left, leaving only a thin, thin, and lonely back.

Li Guanghan was stunned as he watched his back.

*

Yin Yuheng, who had vomited blood and run away, felt refreshed as soon as he left the Imperial Advisor’s Mansion, and slowly wiped the blood from the corner of his lip.

At the door, a low-key and luxurious carriage was parked by the roadside. Yin Yuheng got into the carriage, relaxed, leaned lazily on the cushion, took a sip of hot tea from his Qiankun bag, and warmth gradually filled his limbs and bones.

“The Yellow Spring Flower has been sent out, and today’s play is finally over. It’s so cold, Li Guanghan likes snow so much, why doesn’t he just move to the snowfield to live?”

Xiao Bai interjected: “According to the plot, you will have the opportunity to go to the snowfield with Li Guanghan in the future, and you will even be thrown into an ice lake by him, dying… Ah, pui, I didn’t say anything just now, Heng-ge, you must not take it to heart!”

It must have been frozen stupid by the snow in the Imperial Advisor’s Mansion as well, why mention these scumbag deeds for no reason?

“…I almost forgot if you didn’t say it, this dog of a man.” Yin Yuheng smiled half-heartedly, his index finger gently tapping the teacup.

He was the most noble little prince of the Li Dynasty, born with spiritual bones. He entered the sword path at the age of seven, established his foundation at eleven, formed his core at sixteen, and his name was known all over the world.

He was born noble and talented, and should have had a free and easy life.

Unfortunately…

He unfortunately met a few people, gave his heart that he shouldn’t have, wandered around, and suffered all kinds of torture.

And the origin of all this suffering was Li Guanghan.

The carriage moved through the alleys, and Yin Yuheng leaned lazily on the soft couch, narrowing his eyes and saying, “What would happen if I killed Li Guanghan?”

“…You can’t kill him, nor can you kill Lu Yan,” Xiao Bai shook its pages and said, “The plot in the book is destined to happen, this is fate.”

Characters destined to appear in the plot cannot be killed before the plot ends.

“I know,” Yin Yuheng showed a look of regret, “I was just thinking casually.”

After a while, Yin Yuheng suddenly said, “I think the name ‘Yellow Spring Flower’ is well-chosen.”

Xiao Bai: “?”

Yin Yuheng smiled: “Giving it to Li Guanghan, I wish him an early descent to the Yellow Spring.”

In his sea of consciousness, the white book shook and silently recalled the past.

*

Yin Yuheng was only thirteen years old when he first met Li Guanghan.

The man was ambushed by his enemies and fell unconscious in the mountains with serious injuries. The little prince on a trip happened to pass by and felt pity, kindly lending a helping hand.

—This was the original plot in the book.

“Li Guanghan is in the cave ahead. According to the plot, you should save him,” Xiao Bai was a bit excited, “He’s the alpha with the most scenes! Hurry up!”

The little prince squatted down, looked at the man on the ground who was still very handsome even in such a sorry state, and touched his chin: “So it’s him.”

At this time, Xiao Bai was still an innocent and simple child, and didn’t realize Yin Yuheng’s sinister intentions at all: “Yes, yes, he’s the Lord of Penglai, in the future…”

Before it finished speaking, Yin Yuheng had already grabbed the other’s neck with a cold face.

Xiao Bai was so scared that it stuttered: “You, you, you…”

“If I don’t strike first and save him, should I wait for him to torture me in the future?” Yin Yuheng sneered.

“But, this,” Xiao Bai was already confused, “According to the plot…”

Yin Yuheng put more force on his hand. The person on the ground’s breathing first became rapid, and then gradually weakened.

Yin Yuheng was still uneasy, and strangled him for another half-cup of tea before letting go.

Yin Yuheng stood up, rubbed his sore wrist, and finally showed a smile, making Xiao Bai tremble with fear.

“A dead scumbag is a good scumbag, isn’t it?” Yin Yuheng turned to leave.

“Cough…” Suddenly, Li Guanghan on the ground coughed violently, his chest rising and falling violently, and a trace of black blood overflowed from the corner of his lip.

Yin Yuheng paused: “…”

Xiao Bai stuttered: “Li Guanghan was injured in his heart meridian. You just strangled his neck, and for some reason, it happened to make him cough up the poisonous blood in his chest, which helped him instead…”

In the next instant, Li Guanghan woke up in a daze.

Li Guanghan only felt pain all over his body, his chest was heavy, and his neck was also a bit painful. He was dazed for a while, and vaguely saw a young man standing beside him, only then did he realize that he had been saved.

He was too seriously injured, and his eyes were also injured, and his vision was blurry, so he couldn’t see the other’s face clearly.

“Thank you…” Li Guanghan had rarely been so disheveled, even using all his strength to speak, “Thank you for saving my life… I… will surely repay you in the future.”

Yin Yuheng: “…You’re welcome.”

Xiao Bai: “…” The plot seemed to have been completed in a strange way.

Yin Yuheng twitched the corner of his mouth, bent down, and said with concern, “Are you alright? You’re so seriously injured, don’t move, wait for me.”

After Yin Yuheng finished speaking, he turned and left.

The next day, Yin Yuheng brought a full pot of hot chicken soup and said gently, “I’ve added some spiritual medicine to the soup, you should drink a little to nourish your body.”

Xiao Bai watched helplessly as Li Guanghan finished the pot of chicken soup with arsenic, didn’t die, and even said thank you.

On the third day, Yin Yuheng brought spiritual fruits coated with red crane top (a poison).

On the fourth day, Yin Yuheng brought a pie with broken-gut grass.

On the fifth day, Yin Yuheng simply brought a pot of poisonous wine.

After ten days, Li Guanghan’s body gradually recovered, and his complexion became better and better.

Yin Yuheng: …