Xue Huai was pushed to the door by the crowd and bumped his head, his vision slowly returned.
“Brother, I’m scared. You go outward and come here a little bit.”
He was still a bit dizzy, and the boy in front of him was pulling his wrist, causing him a headache.
The aftermath of death is not yet over, and in the midst of a noisy and bustling crowd, he was grabbed by the other party as if he was a drowning victim, with a force that was almost frightening.
Xue He was startled by him, and even his voice quieted down. “Let’s go out, Brother. Young Master Yun and his companions are downstairs, and they can definitely save us… Brother, are you alright?”
When Xue Huai finally came back to his senses, and saw the youth’s childish and innocent face, it was as if he had been bitten by a poisonous snake.
He remembered where this was, and the pain in his wrist told him that it wasn’t a dream.
When he was sixteen years old, Xianzhou was in turmoil and demons were rampant. At a time when everyone had to be three times more careful, he couldn’t resist his stepbrother, Xue He’s pleading, so he took him into the Xunxian Pavilion in the name of the young master of the Xue family.
The Xunxian Pavilion, depending on its background, spiritual root, and fame, those who came here are either rich or noble. However, that day coincided with the reversal of the seasons, countless demons and monsters had gambled with the rich and powerful on the first floor and entered Jinyu Gate.
People who usually enjoy going out on the weekend were also terrified and desperately wanted to stay inside the house. Nearby people also fled, causing panic and anxiety.
At this moment, the only one left outside is a fool like him who was being pulled out by his younger brother. Besides, his younger brother is even risking his own life, desperately wanting to sneak into the Xunxian Pavilion to look for someone.
He followed Xue He’s hopeful gaze and looked down.
Downstairs, a black-clothed youth was leaning against the railing, silently looking at the door, as if he had just woken up from his sleep. When the rainwater brought by the monsoon fell down on his brows, he reached out, brushed it away, and pulled off the cloak’s hat on his head, revealing slightly disheveled white hair and the icy, blood-like Buddha’s seal between his brows.
At that moment, it’s as if something unprovoked had awakened, even his playmates couldn’t help but retreat three feet.
A child who was as evil as the night is said to be a bastard born from the Emperor of the Heavenly Realm and the Princess of the Demon Realm. Despite having a terrible background, everyone was still attracted to him because, that year, a rumor had already begun to circulate that this child named Yun Cuo would be the next lord of the cultivation world.
Xue Huai withdrew his gaze.
He is too familiar with this person.
When he was sixteen years old, he met him for the first time, and it was like seeing an old friend.
The two became allies by blood oath, and he went against his father’s wishes to learn swordsmanship. He travelled thousands of miles and personally sent him to the Emperor’s position with his own hands.
It has been rumored that Xue Huai would definitely be Yun Cuo’s Daoist partner. And at that time, Xue Huai was also a bit fond of him.
Later, the marriage certificate was indeed sent to the Xue family, but it was not for him.
Xue He showed him the marriage certificate that Yun Cuo had sent to their door to propose marriage. His eyes were full of joy to receive this blessing.
Xue Huai was not a narrow-minded person, and he also hopes that his younger brother can be happy. From then on, he let go of his vague thoughts and seriously became his protector. Then, Yun Cuo and him gradually became estranged, and he also felt that it was understandable—the so-called preference for love over friendship is only human nature.
But in the end, he spent most of his youth on the battlefield and died for him, only to receive the title of “incompetence protector” which made him bitterly disappointed.
After his death, his soul had already reached the Naihe Bridge. Upon hearing about this matter, he knocked over the Mengpo Soup1A soup that must be given to anyone who crosses the Naihe Bridge. All memories of past lives and hellish torment are swept into oblivion, turning each person into a clean slate, ready to be reincarnated. to come find him even though it means risking dissolving his soul. He spent three days in the sun, visited his own funeral, and searched everywhere. In his last moment before he completely disappeared, he found that Yun Cuo was crying while holding his urn. He was crying so hard that he was almost out of breath.
Why did he cry so sadly?
Even his beloved Xue He didn’t cry so sadly—to be precise, Xue He didn’t cry at all.
After his death, his father fell seriously ill and couldn’t get up. His stepbrother happily became the new young master of the Xue family, not even wearing the ceremonial clothing. Even his stepmother, who usually cares about him, pretends to be haggard in front of others but all glowing and smiling behind the scene.
After dying once, Xue Huai realized that this was the so-called “knowing the face but not the heart”.
Yun Cuo was the only one he couldn’t see through.
He didn’t know how Yun Cuo felt about him. Is it nostalgic, reluctant, a lifelong brother, or an “incompetent” protector?
Yun Cuo and Xue He are a pair. Xue He has loved Yun Cuo since childhood, and Yun Cuo seems to feel the same.
He couldn’t figure it out, he simply didn’t want to. In this life, he doesn’t want to worry about these things anymore. He had too many bad debts in his previous life; in fact, he shouldn’t have intervened in anything related to Xue He in the first place. In this life, he wants to live well and take care of his true loved one.
After all, he should have had nothing to do with Yun Cuo, when he thought about it after he died, he ended up being just like what others said—he didn’t know him, he didn’t know him at all.
*
Xue Huai withdrew his gaze and turned his head, wanting to push open the closed door. He pushed it a few times but it didn’t move.
Xue He became anxious and still wanted to pull him downstairs: “Brother, Brother, there are many people here, I’m scared. Let’s go downstairs and find Young Master Yun, alright?”
Xue Huai smiled and said, “Xue He, you were born with triple spiritual roots and your cultivation is now at Yuandan level. Instead of seeking help from strangers, it’s better to rely on yourself. Our Xue family manufactures ammunition and we never produce a good for nothing who can’t fight, do you understand?”
Xue He was really dumbfounded this time—he felt that there was something quite not right with his brother.
Three years ago, he followed his mother into the gate of the Xue family and changed his name and surname, relying on the Xue family for survival. It was snowing heavily that day, and Xue Huai was sitting idly brewing tea. His eyelashes were pitch black, his smile was faint, as cold as a silver light on the back of a snowy mountain.
He swept him a glance, and the red tear mole under his eye made him appear breathtakingly attractive: “You are my younger brother? I’ll take care of you guys from now on.”
He is so sharp and dazzling, the young master of the Xue family who is loved by countless people, it almost burns people’s eyes.
Outside, he is the most eye-catching, even if he doesn’t say anything, as soon as he stands there, everyone’s gaze would involuntarily gather on him. At home, he is a careless young man, but what he said, even their father dared not disobey. He had promised to take care of him, and since then he had really responded to his every request, even speaking to him in a gentle tone and never doubting him.
But today… what’s wrong with Xue Huai today?
Xue Huai slammed on the door hard, causing a panic among the people inside: “Let me in. I’m not a ghost, I’m also an innocent citizen seeking refuge.”
The person inside quickly responded to him and shouted in panic “ Nonsense! How can you prove that you’re not a ghost? Don’t look down on ghosts, ghosts can also talk. Hundreds of ghosts are wandering tonight, they’ve already arrived downstairs!”
Xue He timidly said to him “Brother, let’s go down…”
Xue Huai didn’t even care about Xue He’s little trick behind his back.
That year, when he saw his younger brother scared, he simply knocked down the door, scattered a handful of golden melon seeds to clear the way, grabbed a knife and left after killing.
This is his style—high-profile. Young people rely solely on their own wills to do things, and it coincidentally is the same as Yun Cuo. No wonder he was noticed by Yun Cuo.
At that time, the knife he snatched happened to be Yun Cuo’s. The next day, Yun Cuo came to find him to return it, but he couldn’t remember where it had been lost. The two of them searched for a whole day, and then they got to know each other.
Xue Huai touched his sleeve and indeed found a package of golden melon seeds.
Xue He came over and pulled him: “Brother…”
Xue Huai put away the golden melon seeds and glanced back at his younger brother “Do as you wish.”
“No, Brother, downstairs… It seems like Young Master Yun and his team are coming this way!” Xue He’s expression was not fear, but a little excitement. He pointed to show Xue Huai “Brother, they’re asking if we need help!”
Xue Huai turned around and looked.
The hundred ghosts were almost approaching the door, and the several young people below made some movements, but they had no intention of going inside the room. Xue Huai’s gaze swept under the eaves, only to find that the young man in black who was originally leaning there was missing.
The next moment, a black shadow leapt out of thin air from the pavilion on the second floor where they were located!
The monsoon was fierce, and Yun Cuo appeared before them like a wisp of ghost without warning. Xue Huai was caught off guard and looked up at Yun Cuo’s deep eyes.
Xue Huai only had one idea in his heart: run quickly.
The way Yun Cuo recruited troops and horses back then was like this. When he wants to get you to join, he will chase you to the ends of the earth to drag you in, you can’t beat him nor run away. You will end up crying and join him. Those who refused to join were all dead later.
There are not many people who caught Yun Cuo’s eyes. As far as Xue Huai knows, he has a blacklist and a whitelist, with people he thinks are “not stupid” written on the whitelist. While the blacklist includes the names of his enemies.
All the people on the blacklist were missing, and they all died before and after Yun Cuo took over as the Emperor.
And there are only two names on the whitelist: one is Yun Cuo himself, and the other is Yun Cuo’s silly cat.
Such a hateful tyrant, being targeted is a lifetime thing. If Xue Huai was given ten more chances to live a new life, he still wouldn’t go for the same high-profile solution as he did back then.
Yun Cuo looked at him without any other movement, just standing there, looking at him as if he was lost in thought.
*
Xue Huai calmly looked over and took a few steps back—smashing the door behind him with his backhand while shouting “Ghosts!!!”
The people inside were not aware of the situation. He immediately caused them to scream, making a lot of commotion. Xue Huai smoothly tore open the bag of golden melon seeds and scattered them behind himself. He then used his acting skills and cried out “Ah! My golden melon seeds!”
In this building, there were also many immortals who loved to take advantage of others. As soon as these words were spoken, someone immediately began to fight and the crowd drowned Xue Huai at once. People were everywhere inside and outside the door. Xue Huai’s shoes were trampled on, before he finally found a corner and shrunk up.
The young master of the Xue family has never been in such a difficult situation before.
One shoe was lost, so he simply took off the other and stepped barefoot on the ground. He looked at the empty ground floor and was about to walk down the stairs when he noticed the dead silence around him.
There was a big empty space around him, and Yun Cuo emerged from the crowd, looking down at him. His shoulders trembled, he gasped slightly, and his eyes bright and frightening.
“Xue…”
Before Xue Huai could react, he was already being pulled into a powerful embrace.
Yun Cuo stepped forward and held the stranger he had met for the first time tightly in his arms. He exerted so much force that Xue Huai felt like his waist was about to break, and even breathing became difficult.
At that moment, as if the person approaching the flames felt the heat, Xue Huai vaguely caught some emotions of the person in front of him. That was a deeply accumulated, suffocating despair and happiness, as if… surviving a disaster.
Xue Huai hesitated for a moment, then reached out in shock, wanting to push him away. Yun Cuo followed suit, tugging on his hand and hugging him even harder.
The people around them were talking extensively, Xue Huai’s face turned pale, and it took a long time before Yun Cuo let go.
Yun Cuo’s voice trembled a bit, the future emperor that everyone should feared was a bit stuttering when speaking: “Don’t be afraid, your name is Xue Huai, isn’t it? I’ll take you home.”
T/N: I currently re-editing this series, this was my first project as a translator and I happened to picked a cultivation one :3 so the whole thing was a mess, I’m aware of it. Therefore, I might change some terms or names of things there, if you notice different name, then it’s me editing…
