Zhu Xing gradually no longer came to deliver things anymore.
After being rejected by Xue Huai once, the young man obviously lost interest in him. The impulsive admiration of young people is fleeting. It comes fast and goes faster. Xue Huai thinks it’s good like this.
In his previous life, after he was fifteen years old, he got really busy under Yun Cuo’s seat, and there were fewer admirers surrounding him, or those who, despite liking him, dared not speak. Dealing with such a matter was actually a waste of time for him, and he couldn’t help but find it a bit refreshing as well.
Yun Cuo actually comes every day.
He came for a walk. Sometimes Xue Huai came back from Shenhua Terrace and met him. Yun Cuo would carry a box of pastry, two marshmallows, and so on. When he met him, he gave him half and didn’t say anything or come in for a cup of tea. He said his silly cat was waiting for him in the distance, so he couldn’t stay any longer.
They didn’t talk much, and when they walked together, they looked like strangers that had just met. Xue Huai didn’t know what to say, and Yun Cuo was simply quiet. Over time, when they met, a strange tacit understanding emerged—this tacit understanding is from Xue Huai one-sided. He spent too much time with him, so long that he had nothing to say and didn’t want to think too deeply about it. Yun Cuo, on the other hand, seemed to have no intention of going any further.
Three days before Xue Huai went to the Murong family, he went to pay respects to his mother.
The Huangquan Mountain in Xianzhou is not easy to travel, with ghosts and monsters rampant. In front of each deceased’s grave, there are Lycoris Radiata flowers planted, with their voice and smiles from when they’re alive inside. If the deceased’s soul is still here in this world, then the Lycoris Radiata flowers that were planted will be white. However, if the deceased has been reincarnated already, then the Lycoris Radiata flowers will turn fiery red.
His mother passed away due to illness. The Fengyu tribe’s people are delicate and light, but their bones and bodies are fragile. When Murong Mi died of illness during the turmoil of the Six Realms and the invasion of demons into the Nine Continents, Xue Huai was still young and also obedient, not the same cold and obedient as right now. Xue Zong also had his heart set on his home, and his mother said that she has no regrets about leaving.
Therefore, his mother’s Lycoris Radiata flowers were bright red when they were planted. It’s beautiful and enchanting, just as beautiful as her glorious before her death.
“I’ve disgraced you.” Xue Huai reached out and gently touched the petals of the Lycoris Radiata flowers. He remembered that when he came to look at it after he died, risking his soul to dissipate, the Lycoris Radiata flowers had also been planted in front of his grave, but it was half red and half white.
The old monk who was enchanting him said, “Half red and half white. Restless when dead, definitely have worries. I won’t do this ritual.”
Only a few people came to pay respect. Xue Huai didn’t spend much time crouching over his grave. Of the people who came and went, some he knew and some he didn’t. His father, who loved him the most, was still on sickbed and couldn’t get on the floor, while his grandparents didn’t close their eyes for seven days and seven nights.
He only learned after his death that his remains had been burned by his comrades and brought back in an urn. But Yun Cuo refused to return his ashes, which made Xue Zong furious, trembling, and unable to say a word, and his illness became even more severe.
He may have gone all out to find Yun Cuo in his last breath. When he was alive, Yun Cuo, as the monarch, was harsh and cold-hearted, but he wasn’t here anymore, he should be returned to his family. What great hatred is it to say “the protector is incompetent” and even bully his family after his death?
He felt that there might be some things going on here that he didn’t know about. But things that he didn’t know in his previous life are even more difficult to figure out in this life. Xue Huai understands that there are some things that there’s no need to find a solution for.
He wanted to be like his mother, who had come, who had loved, who had a beautiful family and a carefree life, and left like enchanting flowers, leaving them with ease.
Desperate and heartless, she left her precious son waiting unattended on the Naihe Bridge ten years later.
The Lycoris Radiata flowers slowly bloomed, projecting the deceased’s appearance and past into his palm. The things presented in the flowers are different for everyone; mostly, it was the deceased’s thoughts on the audience during their lifetime. Xue Huai saw himself in his mother’s eyes, his childhood, his delicate and innocent appearance, sitting on a small bench and earnestly learning the zither music, holding onto his mother’s shoulder to the Shenhua Terrace, and listening to his father’s stories about weapons……
The memories make it impossible to withdraw, the thoughts are getting farther and farther away, the body is getting colder and colder, and Xue Huai’s eyes are gradually becoming disconsolate—it wasn’t until he suddenly felt pain on his wrist did he suddenly break free from the illusion of memories.
A short-legged silver-gray cat lifted its front paw and placed it on his arm, loosened its grip, and then dropped its ears. Using its pink little tongue, gently licking the spot where Xue Huai had been bitten, looking both aggrieved and pitiful.
Xue Huai turned around and saw Yun Cuo standing not far away, silently looking at him.
In this position, the scene that Xue Huai had just watched in the Lycoris Radiata flowers must have been seen by him as well.
He had been used to being cold and proud, and it felt as if someone had spied on his secret—even if it wasn’t a secret. It was the most ignorant, vulnerable, and beautiful side of him that wasn’t meant to be exposed to people.
Yun Cuo shifted his gaze away. His eyes rested on the dense thicket of Lycoris Radiata flowers around him, and he gave a rare frown, waving a hand to his side as if brushing away a cloud of dust.
That was a very ordinary and casual action, but in that instant, Xue Huai felt as if the clouds around him dissipated and daylight flowed out from between the cracks. The cold air around him dispersed, and the temperature rose back up.
Only then did Xue Huai completely come back to his senses and exhale a mouthful of cold, turbid air that had accumulated in his chest.
It is rare for him to be somewhat unbelievable. “I …… just had a nightmare?”
He has a water spiritual root and a slightly Yin aura. This constitution is prone to attracting ghosts, which is normal. But he has been protected by the Shenhua Terrace’s fierce aura since childhood, and now his cultivation has reached the Yindan level as well. Ordinary demons and ghosts dare not approach him, but now he is actually haunted by the remnants of an ordinary cemetery?
Yun Cuo nodded and said, “Huangquan Mountain is a gloomy place, and the cold air is heavier than other places. Have you been feeling down lately and haven’t paid attention to rest? Don’t do this in the future.”
Although he is younger than him, he has such a father-like tone.
Xue Huai has actually slept very well these days. He has finished drawing the atlas, and the only thing that the Shenhua Terrace is busy with is Yun Cuo’s order, which he doesn’t need to keep an eye on all the time.
He nodded perfunctorily and then asked, “Why are you here?”
Yun Cuo said, “Take a walk.”
Seeing Xue Huai looking a bit unconvicted, Yun Cuo added, “It was the cat that found you. It really likes you.”
Like a silly cat taking credit, he came and rubbed against Xue Huai’s hand again and finally got a head rub as its wished.
Xue Huai’s face was still white when he stood up, the piercing cold hadn’t subsided yet, and after he was dazed in place for a while, he thanked Yun Cuo.
Yun Cuo said, “As long as you’re okay.”
Xue Huai offered incense to his mother. Since Yun Cuo accidentally came here, he followed the guests’ rules, kneeling down and offering sincere incense. Xue Huai kowtowed a few times, then he would kowtow a few times as well, each time for a long time, kneeling down and not getting up. His serious demeanor surprised Xue Huai a bit. Not advising on one’s etiquette in front of the grave is Xianzhou’s rule, so he didn’t say anything.
After kowtowing, Yun Cuo stood up and went down the mountain with Xue Huai, driving away the evil spirits along the way, and the atmosphere returned to silence.
There were pedestrians coming and going on the roadside. The snow melted last night, and the mountain road was a little slippery. Yun Cuo didn’t speak, but Xue Huai vaguely noticed that he was staring at his steps, as if afraid that he would fall.
“Xue Huai?”
A strange voice came from the front, and Xue Huai subconsciously stopped. He didn’t expect that Yun Cuo, who was behind him, had slowed down a step, and the two almost bumped into each other, causing both of them to sway on the mountain path. Yun Cuo quickly reached out and grabbed him, pulling him to step on the deep snow that had accumulated in the nearby grass, which prevented him from falling with Xue Huai.
Xue Huai’s body is very soft and warm. He took after his mother, with a small skeleton and a tall figure. Despite his heroic spirit, he could still be held by him, and his waist could be wrapped around with just one arm. His soft and fragrant hair hung on the side of his neck, itchy and somewhat cold.
Yun Cuo let go of his grip on Xue Huai’s waist, his ears reddened in a short period of time, and in a low voice, he said, “Be careful.”
A small spell of self-protection that Xue Huai had just made while swaying didn’t work, instead he was honestly caught and taken into Yun Cuo’s arms. He was also a bit embarrassed, so he quickly rushed away from his arms.
At the foot of the mountain path, a young man with a tall and jade-like figure looked over with a smile and said, “Be careful, the mountain road is slippery. Why are you still so careless, Xiao Huai?”
He is gentle and full of scholarly charm. His appearance may not be very good, but his breath is very clean, with a thin and straight appearance.
Xue Huai stared at this person for a while and finally remembered who he was:
This is his childhood playmate, a neighbor’s brother who is three years older than him, named Bai Yingting.
The two families have an old family friendship and live close to each other. Xue Huai basically grew up with him when he was a child. Later, Bai Yingting went to a faraway Xianzhou in the east to study and practice, and once he’s gone, he doesn’t see him for several years. The last time Xue Huai met him, he was only eleven years old.
Blame it on him, it said that I haven’t seen him for four years, but it’s actually longer. In addition, I haven’t seen him in my last life for eight years, and Xue Huai almost forgot this person.
Yun Cuo glanced at Bai Yingting but remained silent. He picked up the cat and followed Xue Huai down the mountain.
He said, “I will go for a walk.”
Xue Huai looked at Bai Yingting’s appearance, which appeared to have something to say to him. He couldn’t say anything more to him for a while and just went after and pulled him down, then said seriously, “Just now, thank you. For both times.”
Yun Cuo didn’t turn around and gestured with his back, indicating that he had heard him. The cat in his arms meowed twice, caught a glimpse of his bright red eyes, and curiously went to scratch it but was forcefully held down by Yun Cuo.
The fresh scent on Xue Huai’s body seems to have not dissipated yet.
“Xiao Huai, your friend?” Bai Yingting looked at Yun Cuo’s back as he left and asked.
This young man gave him a very strong sense of oppression, although he didn’t give him more than just a glance. That kind of evilness and hostility made people shiver.
Xue Huai replied, “Sort of, he’s my father’s customer. Bai… Brother Bai, why did you come back?”
Bai Yingting smiled and said, “After completing my studies, I plan to settle down here. I came to see you, Xiao Huai.”
“Have you heard anyone say? The young master of the Bai family has returned from his studies and has reached the Yuandan level. This is really fast.”
“Is it the Bai family across from the Xue family? I remember that child. Oh, he’s so gentle. Coming back this time, is he planning on taking the imperial examination?”
Not long after Bai Yingting returned, rumors had already spread among the neighbors. The people of Xianzhou are simple and honest. Although they are broad, they all seem to belong to the same family, and when it comes to discussing, it is always not too trivial.
Yun Cuo stood in front of the pharmacy, slowly searching for calming herbs. He heard the old doctor announce the names of each medicine one by one, and the worker wrote them neatly on paper.
The old doctor teased him, “Young Immortal Lord, You haven’t slept well recently? It seems that I haven’t seen you out for a walk recently. Are you feeling okay?”
Yun Cuo replied：“Busy, not bad.”
A few simple words, there was also a hint of fatigue in his expression. The old man knew and no longer asked. This young immortal lord has his own affairs to attend to, such as cultivation and socializing, and he would still dedicate an hour every day, saying that he was out for a walk.
He doesn’t see a pattern in his walks. A few days ago, he went to the east, and today he said he would go to Huangquan Mountain to take a look.
Yun Cuo asked, “Can someone who doesn’t rest well and deficit continue to take this medicine?”
The old doctor looked at him and said, “Young Immortal Lord, there’s nothing wrong with you. It’s a three-point poison, so don’t randomly take medicine.”
Yun Cuo said, “It’s for someone else. Sir, he has a water spiritual root and a sword-like aura to protect his body. Recently, he was taken advantage of by the evil spirit. I think it’s because he didn’t have a good rest, so I came to get some medicine to calm his nerves and clear his mind.”
“Evil spirit?” The old man pondered for a moment: “The little ghosts in this Xianzhou are very weak. If they have really reached this stage and are still haunted by nightmares, I’m afraid they really don’t have a good rest and their pulse is weak. Besides, if the person you are referring to is a man, dual cultivation can solve it.”
Yun Cuo’s ears began to turn red again. “He is still young.”
“Oh, it’s okay, then. Let him rest more and bask in the sun for a few days, then it will be fine.” The doctor quickly grabbed the medicine for him, wrapped it up, and gave it to him. He suddenly pondered, “However, if your friend is particularly lethargic, let’s see if he has just opened a Heavenly Calamity1Heavenly Calamity refers to the unfortunate experiences that are destined to occur.or not. The sky and thunder strike could make his soul scattered. At this time, medication can be used to calm his soul so as not to be targeted by ghosts who seize the opportunity to enter. The soul returns to the body, and those that have been taken and then taken back… Just use the same medicine as you, in short, there has been turmoil in his soul.”
Yun Cuo was taken aback for a moment and said, “He’s not that serious. I’m… I went off track in cultivation, he didn’t.”
He used the excuse that his cultivation had gone off the rails to excuse the illness of his unstable soul, and to this day, no one knows that he has been reborn.
He whispered, “There are still eight months and three days left until his first calamity, he probably just hasn’t rested well. Thank you.”
The doctor looked at him like he was a fool—the calamity can only be pushed to an approximate date, even with the most spiritual divination techniques, it is impossible to determine a specific date because this is, after all, a heavenly calamity in cultivation, and the will of heaven is unpredictable.
He took the medicine and walked out.
The neighbors next to him were actually talking about the return of Bai Yingting. “Oh my, let me tell you, this Bai family is close to the Xue family, and Bai Yingting’s future is limitless in cash. The Xue family may tie the knot with them.”
“Seriously? Isn’t the young master of the Xue family still young?”
“His 16th birthday has also passed, he’s not too young. Isn’t it common to find a Daoist partner before going to practice? Although the child from the Bai family doesn’t look as amazing as Xue Huai, but he is also delicate and comfortable. He looks obedient and clever, he has a good personality, and can love people. I think there’s a chance, maybe these two families have even arranged marriage since they were babies.”
The crowd sighed for a moment.
At this moment, memories from a few days ago came flooding back, with those words still ringing in his ears.
Xue Huai was drunk and said earnestly in his arms, “I have a fiancé.”
Xue He, whom he had met just once in his previous life, said, “My brother likes those who are quiet and gentle, and he doesn’t like someone who looks too fierce.”
He remembers that this person is Xue Huai’s stepbrother.
Before handing over the marriage certificate to Xue Huai, he visited Xue Zong first. This elder did not trust him and believed that he could not provide peace for Xue Huai’s life. Therefore, the two sides discussed with each other and agreed to make an unsigned five year marriage contract. He wanted to make a career, and after five years, he would confess his love to Xue Huai again.
Xue Zong said, “Xiao Huai likes you. I can tell that. With his temper, he only wants what he likes. That’s why I gave you a five-year grace period. Our Xue family’s beloved cannot be handed over to someone with a half-demon bloodline that might lose control at any time.”
Later, Xue Zong fell ill and became unconscious. Xue Huai was busy taking care of his father, and while he’s busy dealing with the war, he couldn’t see the person for ten and a half days. After much thought, he broke his oath and sent Xue Huai a signed marriage certificate, but it was later rejected by that stepbrother of his.
He didn’t believe a word that Xue He said. Xue Huai’s father has said he likes him, how could he possibly refuse him?
But later on, Xue Huai did start to maintain a distance from him. The two of them argued every day and got more and more heartbroken. He ultimately didn’t have the opportunity for them to sit down and have a good conversation.
Even if reborn, what he did not recover in his previous life, he might be able to make it up in this life. However, Xue Huai doesn’t understand anything now, how should he apologize to him?
In this lifetime, he retreated and kept a respectful distance from him.
Yun Cuo paused in his footsteps for a moment and then walked on without stopping.
His cat was squatting in the corner waiting for him, being picked up by him. His green eyes reflected his handsomeness and sharp eyebrows. With white hair and red eyes, the aura of a half-demon was icy cold.
He asked in a low voice, “Do I look… aggressive?”
His little gray cat climbed onto his shoulder, extended its tongue to lick his face, and tilted its head in confusion.
