Chapter 82#

Embrace#

Xiao Bai had a hard time calming down again, also feeling a bit confused about the current situation. As a book spirit, it tried to sense the changes in the plot.

It felt that things were becoming increasingly strange.

“Brother Heng, if something happened to Lu Yan…” Xiao Bai’s voice suddenly grew smaller.

Yin Yuheng slowly, slowly blinked his eyes.

“What kind of ‘something’?” His voice betrayed no emotion. “Injury? Memory loss? A great change in personality? He wouldn’t suddenly get a whim to follow the plot and imprison me, would he?”

Xiao Bai: …

Even though Brother Heng’s voice was very calm, it sensed a coldness and couldn’t help but shiver.

In fact, it didn’t even need to ask Yin Yuheng; it understood in its heart.

If it were the Lu Yan they had first met, no matter what happened, Yin Yuheng would only take it as a joke.

But things were already different now.

For Yin Yuheng, whatever others did was fine, but Lu Yan was special. Whether it was betrayal, separation, or injury, they were all things Yin Yuheng could not tolerate.

Xiao Bai didn’t dare speak, but after a moment, Yin Yuheng suddenly gave a soft laugh.

“Don’t be nervous.” Yin Yuheng’s expression softened. “It’s fine, as long as he’s not injured.”

Xiao Bai was stunned.

As long as he’s not injured, it’s okay?

Yin Yuheng walked along the long bluestone path outside the palace city. The sunlight fell on the floor tiles, casting mottled shadows of leaves. While thinking about Lu Yan, Yin Yuheng said, “Eunuch De, there’s no need to follow me anymore.”

When he was the Prince Regent, he needed Eunuch De to follow him in the shadows for protection. But now, within the borders of the Li Dynasty, it was safe for Yin Yuheng.

He didn’t know what had happened with Lu Yan, but Yin Yuheng felt it would be better for him to meet Lu Yan alone.

In the nearby void, Eunuch De’s figure slowly emerged, bowing to Yin Yuheng as he withdrew. He had watched Yin Yuheng grow up, and his relationship with Yin Yuheng was not like that of an ordinary monarch and subject. At this moment, unaware of the internal situation, he only thought Yin Yuheng was going to see Lu Yan and couldn’t help but smile and remark: “When Your Majesty and the Demon Emperor met by chance, I never expected such a friendship as today.”

Yin Yuheng smiled lightly: “Yes.”

The wind blew, and the evergreen spiritual grass by the palace wall rustled.

“But back then… it wasn’t exactly a chance encounter.”

At that time, when he looked at Lu Yan, there was still malice in his heart; he truly hadn’t expected the heartbeat of today.

After Eunuch De left, Yin Yuheng suddenly stopped in his tracks.

At this moment, he connected the changes in the Heavenly Dao just now, Lu Yan’s behavior, and the original plot.

Yin Yuheng was silent for a moment, then gave a soft, gentle sigh.

“Brother Heng?” Xiao Bai asked in confusion.

“I think I know what happened, and I know where to find Lu Yan.”

He turned and walked toward the outskirts of Chaoge.

If the mountain will not come to me, I will go to the mountain.

Fifty miles outside the imperial capital Chaoge, the only small inn still stood in the wilderness.

This place was remote, with only traveling merchants from north and south stopping here, so business wasn’t very good. But the innkeeper couldn’t care about these things now; he had more important things to do.

He was busy studying a newly found cultivation book, “Basic Introduction to Qi Refinement.”

Since the influence of the Immortal Promotion Decree had grown wider, cultivation was no longer out of reach. With the support of the Crown Prince—no, with the support of the Sovereign—anyone with talent could learn the Way.

The innkeeper was engrossed in his book when he heard footsteps outside the door. He managed to shift his attention and looked up to greet the guest: “Staying for the night or…”

Before he could finish, he was stunned.

Walking into the shop from outside was a young man.

This was the second time the innkeeper had seen him.

This young man had stayed at the inn once before, and it was that one glimpse that the innkeeper had never forgotten.

Not like a person of this world, more like an immortal from the heavens.

The wind brushed the young man’s ink-black hair and blew through his white robes, the silver-embroidered sleeves swaying gently like mist and flowing clouds. Below the sleeves, the young man’s slender wrists were revealed.

The innkeeper was dazed for a moment. Only after a while did he react, his hand holding the book trembling slightly, so excited he couldn’t even speak: “…”

The innkeeper was no fool. With this “young master’s” elegance and bearing, and the display when he had stayed here before, who else could it be but Prince Yuheng, the current Sovereign?

He hadn’t expected him to set foot in his small shop for a second time. The innkeeper was almost about to faint with excitement, yet he couldn’t help but feel that such a simple dwelling was simply unworthy of the divine young man before him.

Instead, the young man smiled, his eyes gentle, as he shook his head slightly to indicate that the innkeeper didn’t need to reveal his identity: “It’s fine. I’m waiting for someone. I’ll sit here for a while and then leave. Just bring me a pot of tea.”

“But I only have ordinary tea…” the innkeeper stammered.

“It’s no matter.”

“Yes, yes.” The innkeeper scrambled to prepare the tea, his steps nearly out of sync.

The young man chose a table in the main hall and sat down, looking out the door.

He was indeed waiting for someone. After about half an hour, or perhaps a bit longer, he seemed to sense something. He finally stood up, placed a silver coin on the table, smiled and nodded at the innkeeper, and turned to leave.

The innkeeper watched the young man’s retreating back, stood dazed for a moment, then came to his senses and carefully picked up the silver coin, treasuring it in his bosom.

Not far from the inn was a small grove.

The scenery here wasn’t particularly good, the trees grew crookedly, and there was no sense of beauty. The vegetation was withered, and the wind was cold.

But Yin Yuheng still remembered this place—it was where he had first met Lu Yan.

Back then, he was still restricted by the plot and had seriously injured the other with an arrow. It was thanks to Lu Yan wearing a heart-protecting mirror that he had barely kept his life.

Yin Yuheng slowed his pace, slightly lowering his eyes as he walked toward the place of their first meeting.

If he hadn’t guessed wrong, Lu Yan would be here, wouldn’t he?

Finally, he saw the man standing not far away with his back to him, lost in thought.

Dressed in black with a golden crown, clear and upright, just looking from a distance, he was like a fire that could burn through heaven and earth. Where he was, the sun in the sky was but a background and foil.

Part of this was due to his Demon Emperor lineage, but more because Lu Yan himself was a person who made one feel bright and cheerful.

It really was his A-Yan.

The wind swirled the fallen leaves and blew his hair. Yin Yuheng stopped in his tracks.

In the next moment, Lu Yan turned his head, and their eyes met.

It reminded one of their first meeting years ago.

At this instant, Yin Yuheng saw Lu Yan’s somewhat stiff posture and slightly reddened eyes.

Yin Yuheng opened his mouth, but the many things he had originally wanted to say suddenly couldn’t be spoken.

In Yin Yuheng’s impression, Lu Yan was always cheerful and open-minded. Even when facing pursuit and being driven from his home, he would never give up on himself or sink into pain. A Golden Crow divine bird was likely born with a passionate vitality. But at this moment, Yin Yuheng could see a deep bitterness in the other’s eyes.

Those eyes, which should have been steadfast and bright, were now dimmed, as if dark clouds had obscured the sun.

Yin Yuheng had originally been thinking, what would his mood be when he met Lu Yan? Would he question him? Would he test him? Would he ask him what happened? But at this moment, looking into the other’s eyes, a dense ache for him surfaced in his heart.

“A-Yan…”

He finally called out softly.

Just then a gust of wind blew, carrying a bit of a chill. Yin Yuheng’s injuries were not yet fully healed, and he couldn’t help but lean forward and cough softly twice. But Yin Yuheng didn’t care about this; he straightened up and wanted to say something more, but didn’t have the chance to speak.

Because before he could speak, almost instinctively, Lu Yan had already hurriedly taken a step forward: “The wind is heavy outside, why did you come…”

The caring words stopped, the remaining half swallowed back in silence.

They stood among the rustling trees, a distance of several meters between them, looking into each other’s eyes.

It wasn’t a strong wind, but at this moment it seemed somewhat noisy.

Looking at the troubled Lu Yan, with this scene before him, what was there not to understand?

Yin Yuheng was immediately certain that Lu Yan knew.

He knew that their meeting back then was his deliberate arrow and rescue, his calculation and deception.

It must be the Heavenly Dao’s doing, Yin Yuheng thought coldly. It was likely the deviation of the plot that made the Heavenly Dao unable to resist anymore, forced to personally intervene and try to expose the truth to make Lu Yan hate him.

Then, like the original plot, driven by hatred, Lu Yan would hurt, toy with, and imprison him, finally piercing his heart with a sword.

Now that Lu Yan knew everything, what would he think? Does he truly hate me? Will he treat me like in the original plot?

Yin Yuheng was skilled at seeing through people’s hearts and was usually at ease before most people, but for the first time, in front of Lu Yan, he didn’t know how to describe his mood.

Is it because concern leads to confusion? Because he cared about the other?

Yin Yuheng barely curled his lips: “Lu Yan.”

Yin Yuheng suddenly remembered the first time he had treated Lu Yan with sincerity: after his blood had been taken, he was standing blankly outside the National Preceptor’s Manor, unable to move due to his injuries, when the other had run toward him carrying a lantern.

Like a small spark of light, he had illuminated his dark night.

At that time, Yin Yuheng thought that if one day the other betrayed him, he would surely be unable to accept it.

But now looking at Lu Yan, Yin Yuheng thought, it’s okay, he could understand… it’s okay. The one who had hidden things from the beginning was indeed himself; at least before today, Lu Yan had never done anything wrong.

He wanted to believe in him.

Believe that his A-Yan wouldn’t hurt him like in that dream.

Under Yin Yuheng’s wordless gaze, Lu Yan finally moved, walking toward him.

Yin Yuheng pursed his lips.

In his sea of consciousness, Xiao Bai couldn’t help calling out “Brother Heng.”

Yin Yuheng didn’t move until Lu Yan reached him and then, with a trembling hand, reached out—

Gently, carefully, he pulled the pale-faced Yin Yuheng into his arms.

The movement was so slow and light, as if afraid that with even a little force, the person in his arms would feel pain.

Yin Yuheng was slightly stunned, and in his sea of consciousness, Xiao Bai also dazed for a moment.

Another gust of wind rose, gently brushing past, entangling their hair.