Chapter 33#

Truth#

The rain had been falling for a long time, and there was still no sign of it stopping. Rainwater dripped from the eaves, rhythmically striking Li Guanghan’s heart.

Ever since he began practicing the Nine Cold Dao Intention, his mind had rarely been in turmoil for a long time. He had always felt that there was nothing left in this world worth caring about, except for his young boy.

But at this moment, he suddenly felt that fate had played an absurd joke on him.

He suddenly recalled that when he was in Fengliang, it had also rained.

At that time, he had been dragged into a mountain cave by the youth. His eyes couldn’t see clearly, but his hearing had become more acute. He could hear the pitter-patter of rain hitting the leaves outside the cave, and the sound of the youth’s breathing beside him.

Time became long amidst the sound of rain. The nightmare of the Penglai siege and the blood-stained jade sea seemed to drift away; between heaven and earth, only he and the youth were real. Li Guanghan suddenly felt that this world was actually not so bad, because with someone like the youth around, everything had meaning.

Li Guanghan thought to himself that he didn’t want to be some world-renowned Penglai Divine Lord, nor some sword cultivation genius everyone pursued. He would rather hide his name and build a small courtyard in some scenic countryside. He and the youth would live there, spending every sunrise and sunset together like ordinary people. The courtyard would be filled with flowers the youth liked, and perhaps they could raise a dog or a cat. By then, his body would have recovered, and he would take care of the youth very diligently, holding him in the palm of his hand, not letting the youth suffer a bit of hardship or injury…

Thinking this way, Li Guanghan couldn’t help but say it out loud.

After hearing his thoughts, the youth was silent for a while.

“I also want to find a place to live such a life—relaxed, comfortable, and free,” the youth sighed, “but I can’t.”

Li Guanghan was somewhat helpless: “You’re not that old, why do you have so many concerns?”

The other party chuckled softly, and only after a while did he say: “People always have various responsibilities. Many things, no matter how unwilling one is, must be experienced; it’s a part of life. Where are there such good things where everything goes one’s way? Don’t have regrets; maybe we’ll have a chance to listen to the rain together again in the future—if you still remember me then.”

How could he not remember? Li Guanghan thought, the person I can least forget in this life is you.

*

Thunder suddenly exploded in his ears, and lightning lit up the sky. Li Guanghan was abruptly jolted from his memories.

The youth’s smiling voice seemed to still echo in his ears, clear and gentle. Li Guanghan thought dazedly, Indeed, it is so similar to Yuheng’s voice…

How had he not noticed?

He thought the youth was the person he could least forget in this life, yet for five whole years, he hadn’t discovered it.

Clearly there were so many clues, yet he had turned a blind eye. A leaf before the eye shuts out Mount Tai. Only now did he suddenly realize how much he had missed.

Li Guanghan’s hand gripping the jade pendant suddenly tightened, but he quickly and cautiously lightened his grip. He blankly asked the old eunuch beside him: “Yuheng…”

Thinking he was getting impatient, the old eunuch said respectfully: “His Highness might be delayed by something; this old servant will send someone to report again immediately.”

Li Guanghan was stunned for a moment, and his expression suddenly changed slightly: “Wait!”

The old eunuch was startled and looked at the Spirit Severing sword cultivator who had suddenly lost his composure.

Li Guanghan’s voice trembled slightly: “Tell him not to come; I will go find him.”

He remembered that Yuheng was severely injured… the wind and rain were so heavy outside, he should be resting well in bed—how could he come out?

Li Guanghan felt his fingertips trembling even more violently. For a sword cultivator, this was extremely improper. His heartbeat was very slow, and he had some trouble breathing. It was as if cold water was enveloping his heart, with white frost climbing inch by inch.

When intense emotions first arrive, out of a certain subconscious self-protection, people often cannot react in the first instance. Just as someone in extreme grief might not be able to make a sound when crying, Li Guanghan only felt his heart turning cold at this moment—so cold that it was somewhat numb.

Li Guanghan was in a trance and turned to find Yin Yuheng. The old eunuch was somewhat flustered; the Eastern Palace was a restricted area not to be trespassed upon, but Li Guanghan’s status and identity were transcendent, and he didn’t dare to stop him. Just as he was getting anxious, a figure slowly walked over from the other end of the long corridor.

The person didn’t walk fast; his figure was thin, his sickly frame seemingly fragile. Yet he didn’t let anyone support him, nor did he hunch his back; even his features were calm and peaceful.

Like a graceful jade bamboo, unbroken by wind and rain.

The damp wind blew his white robes and hair ribbon; looking at him in the dim light, he was like the negative space in an ink wash painting.

Li Guanghan’s footsteps stopped, his gaze somewhat blank.

The person also stopped his footsteps.

“I apologize,” the other party said softly, seemingly with some regret, “I can’t walk anymore…”

Li Guanghan’s breathing hitched for an instant.

He knew how severely injured Yin Yuheng was… because most of those injuries were related to him.

His numb heart throbbed heavily, emotions constantly accumulating and then being suppressed with a death grip. The piled-up feelings seemed to be about to burst his chest.

This was not a good omen. The harder they were suppressed, the more they would cause one to be in unbearable agony and fall into eternal hell at the moment all emotions erupted.

Li Guanghan took a few steps forward and grabbed Yin Yuheng. He heard his own hoarse voice: “Why aren’t you lying in bed properly?”

Yin Yuheng looked up with some surprise.

He was surprised by Li Guanghan’s concern.

This gaze made Li Guanghan instinctively stiffen. How poorly had he treated Yin Yuheng in the past that even a single sentence of concern could make the other person feel surprised?

…Indeed, he had been very poor to him.

What he had done in the past flashed through his mind; Li Guanghan’s face gradually turned pale, but he didn’t dare to think deeply. He instinctively escaped it, not daring to recall.

How excessive must a person’s actions be to reach the point of being afraid even to remember?

Li Guanghan closed his eyes and tried to soften his voice: “Don’t be afraid, I… I won’t hurt you.”

Yin Yuheng lowered his eyes and gave an “oh.”

The person before him was too weak; Li Guanghan lightened his breathing and cautiously supported Yin Yuheng. He said astringently: “You… eight years ago, did you go to Fengliang?”

“I did,” Yin Yuheng replied flatly, his tone lacking the enthusiasm he once had when facing Li Guanghan. The concern from Li Guanghan that he had once pleaded for in vain could now only elicit a fleeting, surprised glance.

Yin Yuheng even gave Li Guanghan a small sideways look, his eyes full of wariness and doubt. He was thinking, was this perhaps another of Li Guanghan’s tactics? Just like that time when Li Guanghan took his heart’s blood for Zhu Anning, he had also feigned tenderness.

So this time, what did his teacher want to take from him again?

Yin Yuheng smiled with difficulty, waiting for Li Guanghan’s following words.

Li Guanghan felt a pang in his heart from Yin Yuheng’s gaze. He asked with difficulty: “In Fengliang, did you ever save someone? In the mountain forest on the outskirts of Fengliang…”

“The mountain forest outside Fengliang?” Yin Yuheng frowned and recalled for a while. Amidst Li Guanghan’s nervous gaze, he finally nodded: “I did.”

“That person was severely injured, unable to move and unable to see. I happened to meet him and originally wanted to take him to the Prefectural Manor, but he was unwilling, saying he was being hunted.” Yin Yuheng said as he recalled, “Later, I gave him my medicinal pills and went to see him every day.”

“Why do you ask this?”

As Li Guanghan listened, not a shred of doubt remained in his heart. Who else could know so many details besides his young boy?

He had searched for the youth for so long, yet he had always turned a blind eye to the person beside him. He had even recognized the wrong person and, for a disguised liar, had harmed his treasure to its current state…

Li Guanghan said with a trembling voice: “Go back to the room and rest first; don’t walk around anymore.”

He wanted to pick Yin Yuheng up, but was gently pushed away.

Feeling Yin Yuheng’s resistance, Li Guanghan’s arm froze.

“I can walk myself.” Yin Yuheng gave a soft gasp and lifted his feet with difficulty and slowness.

…His heart grew heavier and heavier; the accumulated emotions were teetering, liable to explode at any moment. Li Guanghan clenched his fists, his nails digging into his flesh.

Finally unable to help himself, he stepped forward and picked up Yin Yuheng in his arms, brought him into the room, and placed him on the bed.

Yin Yuheng stiffened slightly, clutched the quilt, and said with lowered eyes: “You…”

“Lie down properly.” Li Guanghan gazed at him with a complex expression, reaching out a hand and revealing that lustrous jade pendant in his palm.

“Do you still…”

Li Guanghan wanted to ask, do you still remember this jade pendant? It was given to me by you back then… However, before he could speak, he saw Yin Yuheng’s face turn even paler, and he shrank into the bed while clutching the quilt.

“I didn’t touch it,” Yin Yuheng’s voice trembled slightly as he instinctively covered his right wrist, “I didn’t touch it…”

The youth seemed extremely frightened; he lowered his head, avoiding Li Guanghan’s gaze. Pain flared in his right wrist again, reminding him to “not touch things you shouldn’t touch.” Yin Yuheng murmured: “I beg you… don’t punish me…”

Looking at Yin Yuheng’s fearful and terrified appearance, at this instant, Li Guanghan felt as if he were in an ice pool in the depths of winter.