Chapter 38#

Transference#

The rain has cleared and the sun is rising, with the light of the sky and the shadows of the clouds reflected in the mirror-like puddles. At a roadside tea stall, idle tea drinkers chat about everything under the sun, discussing recent rumors within and outside of Chaoge.

Among them, the most eye-catching is the blood slave case that was brought up again a few days ago.

The matter of blood slaves had long been strictly forbidden in the Li Dynasty; as soon as this incident came out, everyone was filled with righteous indignation. It is said that under thorough investigation, several officials were indeed involved; although there were not many, they touched the Crown Prince’s reverse scale, and he ordered them all to be strictly dealt with. Now, the entire atmosphere of the imperial court has become three degrees more stable.

The people’s thoughts are direct and simple: whoever does good deeds for the benefit of the country and the people is naturally a good person. The Crown Prince’s reputation among the populace has grown higher; no matter who mentions him, they instinctively use a tone of admiration.

Beside the tea stall, a young man stood in the corner. His clothes were somewhat disheveled, but his features were beautiful, and the dust on his body still couldn’t hide his loveliness. The young man gently toyed with the silver bracelet on his wrist, his hair hanging down, looking somewhat lost.

This person was none other than Zhu Anning, who had departed in the heavy rain. He didn’t know where to go and had wandered here aimlessly.

Zhu Anning didn’t say a word, quietly listening to the discussions of the people around him; the more he heard, the more his heart felt sour. Ever since being brought to Chaoge by Li Guanghan, he had almost always stayed in the State Preceptor’s Manor and had very little contact with the outside world. Every time his senior brother saw him, he also rarely mentioned what he was doing on a daily basis. Hearing about the blood slave case, the Immortal-Promotion Decree, and so on at this time, he couldn’t help but feel both happy and miserable.

His senior brother was meant to be dazzling like the moon in the sky, while he was the decaying dust in the shadows. If it weren’t for him, his senior brother wouldn’t have had to suffer so much. Perhaps he shouldn’t stay in Chaoge anymore… Zhu Anning dazed for a long while before suddenly hearing someone call him.

“Isn’t this Young Master Zhu?”

Zhu Anning looked up; when he had no expression, his beautiful face was coldly gorgeous.

The person who came was actually the Young Master of the An family, whom he had met once before. Zhu Anning still remembered this scion of an aristocratic family once insulting him on the street, and it was his senior brother who stood up for him…

Senior brother.

No matter what he did, he would think of his senior brother. Zhu Anning closed his eyes and turned his head to leave.

“Young Master Zhu, why are you in such a hurry to leave?” Young Master An gave a signal with his eyes, and the servants behind him surrounded him, blocking his way.

Zhu Anning didn’t say a word, took his sword from his interspatial bag, and held it in his hand.

Young Master An sneered: “What, are you still waiting for your senior brother to come save you? His Highness the Crown Prince probably has his hands full right now and has no time to come save you. The good thing was interrupted last time; this time I don’t ask for anything else, just have a drink with me, how about it?”

Zhu Anning was slightly stunned, a look of ferocity flashing between his brows. His hand gripping the sword tightened, and he said in a deep voice: “…Let’s go.”

Young Master An was somewhat smug, thinking, so what if he’s the small disciple of the State Preceptor’s Manor? According to secret reports, the two disciples of the State Preceptor’s Manor haven’t been getting along lately. This Zhu Anning has no foundation or background, while he himself is the direct son of an aristocratic family; wouldn’t he have to give him some face?

Zhu Anning followed Young Master An silently into a private room in a restaurant. After taking a seat, he glanced indifferently at the surrounding servants: “So many people watching?”

With a beauty by his side, a world of just two would naturally be better. Young Master An gave Zhu Anning a playful look, feeling somewhat excited, and waved his hand to let the others withdraw.

However, before he could even raise his wine cup, a sword light was pressed against his neck.

*

After a cup of tea’s time, Young Master An’s eyes widened in terror, and he made a gurgling sound in his throat as his hair was grabbed and his head was pressed into a plate.

Zhu Anning squeezed his neck, waiting until he was about to lose his breath before abruptly letting go, repeating this as his gaze was cold and tinged with madness.

“I hate the smell of blood; don’t force me to use my sword to cut the flesh off you,” Zhu Anning’s pleasant voice now sounded only terrifying. Falling on Young Master An’s ears, it made him unable to help but tremble all over. “Speak.”

“I… I’ve already said it…” Young Master An was tortured to the brink of death. Glanced at by Zhu Anning’s cold and sharp eyes, he shivered: “His Highness the Crown Prince and the aristocratic families have long-standing grievances… His Majesty and the First Prince are in seclusion… and we received a secret report that His Highness the Crown Prince is severely injured…”

Zhu Anning abruptly tightened his hands; Young Master An’s face turned beet red, and his eyes rolled back.

“So you aristocratic families plan to take this opportunity to be unfavorable to my senior brother… His Highness.”

Zhu Anning’s voice was fierce, but he was extremely gentle when saying the words “His Highness.” He didn’t dare to call him senior brother out loud because Yin Yuheng forbade it, only able to call him that secretly in his heart.

Whatever his senior brother requested, no matter how much it hurt or how sad he was, he would surely be obedient.

Zhu Anning looked at the twitching Young Master An, a look of disgust flashing in his eyes.

He didn’t know… that so many people wanted to be unfavorable to his senior brother. Although his senior brother’s status was high, he also bore immense pressure and could be harmed and calculated against at any moment…

He didn’t know any of this. He had been protected too well before, and his eyes only saw that bit of ridiculous hatred, plunging a knife into the person who stood in front of him to shield him. Later he learned the truth, but because of his own selfishness, he only cared about coveting his senior brother’s warmth, demanding attention and care from him…

His senior brother was so tired, yet still had to be bullied by him; how sad and painful he must have been… His senior brother was in so much pain, yet when facing him, he would still gently comfort and take care of him.

He didn’t deserve to possess such tenderness.

On his birthday, his senior brother was so sick, yet he only thought of having his senior brother come celebrate for him. He didn’t dare tell his senior brother the truth, nor did he think about how to find medicine or a cure for him… Even when making a wish, his wish was to be with his senior brother forever—he was accustomed to taking and never thought to actively share some pressure or burdens for his senior brother.

He had never thought about these things before, but now that he had lost everything, he had also woken up as if from a grand dream. He scrutinized his past self with a cold, disgusted, and biting gaze, dry heaving in waves of nausea. Selfishness, stupidity, ingratitude—each of the crimes he had committed made him hurt so much he could hardly speak.

Sometimes he felt that if his senior brother hadn’t saved him from the dungeon back then and had let him die in pain and blood there, would his senior brother have lived better? He was of no use at all; even staying by his senior brother’s side as a little toy to be called upon at will was annoying. Every moment Zhu Anning loathed himself to the point of wanting to die, but his life was saved by his senior brother, and his talent was given by his senior brother; if his senior brother was unwilling to use his blood, then he didn’t even have the power to decide his own life.

Zhu Anning’s hands applied even more force, and Young Master An finally couldn’t take it and fainted. Zhu Anning abruptly let go, a trace of an obscure and uncertain look flashing on his face.

He knew what he should do from now on.

He didn’t deserve to stay by his senior brother’s side in the open, nor was he fit to be his senior brother’s knife or sword. He could at least stay in the shadows and work hard to do some things for his senior brother… he would be very careful not to disturb his senior brother or make things difficult for him.

This way, he at least had a meaning to live.

Zhu Anning closed his eyes and began to think.

*

Yin Yuheng sat by the window leafing through the memorials submitted by the various prefectures and counties, bright sunlight spilling over his fingertips. His expression was serious and focused; occasionally he would frown, but soon it would smooth out.

“This year’s harvest looks good.”

As soon as the rain stopped, the weather quickly warmed up. Spring had gradually reached its end, and the many flowers had fallen in this rain. Yin Yuheng wore only thin clothes today and didn’t feel cold. Although the injury in his chest was still serious, it at least didn’t hurt all the time—a very fine chain hung around his neck, with a gold-tinged feather pendant resting against his chest. A subtle warmth flowed into his chest cavity, suppressing the injury in his heart meridians.

Yin Yuheng was concentrating intently when someone suddenly came to report.

“Sect Master Shen requests an audience?” Yin Yuheng rose, somewhat surprised. “Please show him in quickly. I’ll be there right away; please wait a moment.”

Knowing Shen Fengxiu’s aura was noble and cold, while inside he was actually a casual and unrestrained person, Yin Yuheng had him invited to the small pavilion outside the bamboo forest. Shen Fengxiu was indeed satisfied with the surroundings; even before Yin Yuheng arrived, he wasn’t polite and sat down to pour himself a cup of tea, intending to pour one for Yin Yuheng as well, but was stopped.

Looking up, it was a young man in black with sword-like brows and starry eyes. The youth gave him a gentle smile, had someone bring a small stove to place beside him, and put a teapot on the stove.

“Spirit Ginseng, Lingzhi leaves… these are all medicinal ingredients for nourishing blood and supplementing qi. Is this a special spiritual tea you’ve prepared? For Yuheng?” Shen Fengxiu sized Lu Yan up with great interest. “Not bad, stronger than that cold-blooded monster Li Guanghan.”

Lu Yan gave another smile and was about to leave. Shen Fengxiu suddenly called out to him.

Lu Yan turned back and saw Shen Fengxiu revealing a somewhat profound smile.

“I’ll give you a chance to make Yuheng fall in love with you; do you want it?”

Lu Yan was stunned for a moment, his brow furrowing slightly: “What do you mean?”

Shen Fengxiu crooked his forefinger and tapped the table rhythmically: “Don’t you envy Li Guanghan? Someone so cold-blooded and heartless is fortunate enough to have obtained all of Yin Yuheng’s sincerity. Yuheng is in such pain because of him; don’t you hate it?”

Lu Yan didn’t speak, his gaze gradually turning cold, his hands clenching into fists unconsciously.

Shen Fengxiu added: “I plan to tell Yuheng a piece of news today… but I’m afraid he won’t be able to bear the blow. He likes Li Guanghan too deeply—so deeply that it’s worrying…”

“I have a kind of incense here named ‘Transference,’ whose effect is quite miraculous.” Shen Fengxiu’s voice suddenly dropped, sounding somewhat mysterious. “If this incense is lit while two people are in the same room, both will enter a dream together, recalling past events they experienced with the person they like most.”

At this point, Shen Fengxiu paused and looked at Lu Yan’s expression.

“The best part is that in the memory, the role of ’the person liked most’ will be replaced—replaced by the person who accompanied them into the dream. When they wake up, all memories will have been quietly changed. The other person will no longer remember who they truly liked, but will only think that the person they like is the one who accompanied them into the dream.”

“This is ‘Transference’.”

Shen Fengxiu’s tone was like enticing honey leading one to fall: “Don’t you want to replace Li Guanghan? You’ve actually thought about it, haven’t you? Now there is such an opportunity… you can transfer all of Yuheng’s feelings for Li Guanghan to yourself. How about it, are you tempted? This is a good thing for you, and also a good thing for Yuheng.”

Lu Yan’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down as he pursed his lips tightly. In his eyes, which usually held starlight, only a deep darkness remained.

*

When Yin Yuheng arrived, the two had finished discussing whatever they were talking about.

Hearing footsteps, Lu Yan turned and gave Yin Yuheng a nod: “You two talk; I’ll…”

Yin Yuheng didn’t seem to notice the somewhat strange atmosphere and smiled: “You’re leaving? Stay and listen together. Has Sect Master Shen come specially today with important business?”

Lu Yan neither agreed nor disagreed, glanced at Shen Fengxiu, and sat down beside them.

Shen Fengxiu smiled and pointed at the teacup in front of Yin Yuheng: “Your Lu Yan specially prepared this for you; it’s been warming for a long while.”

Yin Yuheng picked up the teacup and took a sip, his smile becoming more genuine.

Shen Fengxiu curled his lips, about to speak, when someone else hurried in to report that the State Preceptor had arrived.

In an instant, the atmosphere in the small pavilion, which had been harmonious just now, abruptly turned cold. Shen Fengxiu revealed a cold smile, Lu Yan’s eyes were full of indifference, and Yin Yuheng could only say helplessly: “I’ll go meet him.”

“Together.” Shen Fengxiu stood up abruptly, sneering incessantly. “As it happens, what I have to say also has to do with him.”

*

Before Li Guanghan entered the palace gates, he intentionally walked a bit slower, secretly regulating his breathing and suppressing the cold pain rising in his body. The wound on his wrist was also carefully concealed by his sleeve.

Unable to find an Azure Dragon Branch, Li Guanghan decided to use his own blood first.

At Li Guanghan’s level of cultivation, he rarely got injured, and even when injured, he rarely bled. Every drop of his blood contained refined spiritual power; losing too much blood even carried the risk of his cultivation regressing.

But when Li Guanghan cut his skin, his expression didn’t change at all. He even intentionally forced out his heart’s blood, because such blood was the most useful.

Just as he had done to Yin Yuheng back then.

He refined his blood into pills. Although his spiritual veins were not naturally pure like Yin Yuheng’s, his cultivation was transcendent after all, and the pills refined from his blood could at least repair a portion of the spiritual platform’s damage.

As long as it was beneficial to Yin Yuheng’s injury, Li Guanghan was willing to endure the pain of losing heart’s blood.

Li Guanghan clutched the jade bottle in his hand and walked through the winding corridors. He saw Yin Yuheng’s figure from afar, his gaze softening slightly, but it suddenly turned cold when he saw Shen Fengxiu and Lu Yan beside him.

Li Guanghan gave the two of them a cold look, said nothing, and looked back at Yin Yuheng.

“Why are you wearing so little? Let’s go inside.” Li Guanghan said softly. He truly wasn’t good at expressing his feelings and could only try his best to show his gentlest side. He was worried in his heart about scaring his Yuheng, and even more afraid that Yuheng would misunderstand his tenderness as having an ulterior motive. Yet no matter what Yin Yuheng said, he didn’t even have the right to defend himself.

Yin Yuheng also didn’t know how to face Li Guanghan right now and turned to go inside in silence. Perhaps he had indeed caught a draft; he couldn’t help but lower his head and cough. A look of pained care appeared in Li Guanghan’s eyes as he took his hand and used spiritual power to regulate his spiritual veins.

Before long, Li Guanghan’s face turned several degrees paler. But he said nothing, only saying hoarsely: “Just rest well and nurse your injuries; don’t worry about other things, I will find a way…”

Before Li Guanghan could finish his words, Shen Fengxiu’s mocking voice rang out from the side: “The Lord State Preceptor truly is deeply affectionate and righteous. Someone who didn’t know would think you valued him very much.”

Li Guanghan’s expression turned cold as he turned to look at Shen Fengxiu. At this moment Yin Yuheng moved slightly, and Li Guanghan quickly looked back, rubbing Yin Yuheng’s wrist.

“It’s alright, I won’t touch it,” Li Guanghan felt a bit of sourness in his heart. “Don’t worry.”

Very few people dared to be disrespectful to Li Guanghan; toward such people, Li Guanghan usually didn’t pull his punches. But for Yin Yuheng’s sake, he could endure it all.

He could even tolerate Lu Yan staying by Yin Yuheng’s side, even though a subtle anger arose in his heart whenever he saw Lu Yan.

Yin Yuheng lowered his head.

Li Guanghan wanted to say something more, but Shen Fengxiu interrupted him again.

“Enough, enough, I don’t have time to watch the Lord State Preceptor feign deep affection.” Shen Fengxiu looked at Yin Yuheng. “Yuheng, facing such a person, what else do you have to say to him? Are you not injured enough? Have you not suffered enough?”

Li Guanghan shouted angrily: “Shen Fengxiu!”

Spiritual pressure arrived abruptly; Shen Fengxiu felt a metallic taste in his throat, but refused to shut up.

“Yuheng, what exactly do you like about him?”

Yin Yuheng opened his mouth: “I…”

A bad premonition suddenly surged in Li Guanghan’s heart, and he said coldly: “These are matters between me and Yuheng. Shen Fengxiu, you’re sticking your nose in too far.”

“Heh, I actually do know some past events from back then.” Shen Fengxiu raised his eyebrows, his smile a bit faint. “Falling in love with someone who saved you is also understandable, right? Back then, Yuheng encountered a mishap, and Lord State Preceptor saved him in time…”

Li Guanghan’s heart pounded wildly: “Enough!”

“It’s not enough,” Shen Fengxiu said loudly. “Was the truth back then really like that?”

Li Guanghan said no more; his gaze turned cold, and an invisible sword intent went straight for Shen Fengxiu’s throat. Shen Fengxiu’s face turned pale, but at the critical moment, Yin Yuheng lunged over and pushed Shen Fengxiu away.

Yin Yuheng barely stood firm, coughing violently. The sword intent swept past him, stimulating his heart meridians. Yin Yuheng pressed the gold feather on his chest; warmth gradually surged up, and he finally managed to stop the coughing.

“Yuheng!” Li Guanghan’s expression changed abruptly as he tried to support Yin Yuheng. “How are you…”

But someone was faster than Li Guanghan. Lu Yan reached out and grabbed Yin Yuheng, giving Li Guanghan a look full of anger. He lowered his head and lightly touched the feather on Yin Yuheng’s chest, the light of the Golden Crow fire intensifying.

—It could be felt that at this moment he wanted even more to bring the fire onto Li Guanghan’s head.

Yin Yuheng turned his head and lightly squeezed his hand. Lu Yan’s breathing became disordered for a moment.

Li Guanghan’s fingertips trembled slightly.

“Let him speak.” Yin Yuheng turned his head and looked toward Shen Fengxiu, his gaze profound. “What exactly do you want to say?”

Shen Fengxiu was stunned for a moment after being pushed away by Yin Yuheng, and his voice became even colder: “Since Lord State Preceptor saved Yuheng back then, do you still remember where and when you saved him?”

As soon as these words came out, the room went dead silent.

After a long while, Li Guanghan said hoarsely: “I don’t remember the past events very clearly.”

Shen Fengxiu looked at him: “You truly don’t remember clearly?”

Li Guanghan felt his hands trembling even more violently, as an invisible fear gradually climbed.

A dignified Sword Lord, admired by tens of thousands—when had he ever felt fear?

But with such a simple sentence, Li Guanghan felt the taste of fear.

As if something was about to be lost forever.