Yang Lianting moved his stiff and numb fingers with difficulty. Still, he was unable to open his eyes. His throat seemed about to catch fire and his chest hurt terribly. Yang Lianting struggled to get up but his body wouldn’t listen to him. He panicked and grew impatient, all his emotions blended together, and his even breath began to shorten. The wound on his chest slowly cracked open and began to bleed.
“Don’t move around.” The voice sounded a little lofty, stern and solitary.
Hearing the voice, Yang Lianting was stunned. Ignoring his body’s pain, unable to restrain himself, his eyes reddened.
How nostalgic.
In his previous life he had ruthlessly abandoned the owner of this voice like a worn-out shoe. Unwilling to even listen to more than half a sentence. In truth, this voice had always resounded throughout his entire life.
How strange.
It had been too long since he last heard that person speak with such a voice. Back then the proud and lofty Dongfang Bubai had raised his pitch as if he pinched his throat and learned to talk like a woman in order to please him. Just because he had once said a contemptuous taunt.
Yang Lianting wanted to laugh but his body trembled without control. The internal injuries, due to Dongfang’s palm strike, and his chest wound, due to the poisoned arrow, began to tear apart in pain. Drenched in cold sweat, his body spasmed.
“Don’t move.”
In an instant, the scent of pinewood could be smelt. His tense body relaxed faintly, only to sense Dongfang Bubai holding him in place. Through that person in red’s palm dense internal energy continuously flowed into Yang Lianting’s body.
Only after his pain was alleviated and the dryness in his throat lessened, was he able to open his eyes.
It seemed to be dusk.
The light curtains, the painted screen, the heated stove. What entered his sight within the chamber, looked foreign yet familiar. Yang Lianting fell into a daze for some time, suddenly he realized that this must be Dongfang Bubai’s bedchamber. All the furnishings were exactly the same as in the past. Pausing for a moment, his eyes fell on the person before him.
Dongfang Bubai was suited for wearing red.
He didn’t know if his pale skin was because of practicing the Sunflower Manual or because this person rarely left his chamber. The red robe and pale skin, framing a face like ornate white jade. He looked clear and elegant.
Like a painting of a banished immortal.
Yang Lianting was so absorbed in the entrancing sight before him that he was unable to move his eyes away. In their past life, why had his heart been so blind that he had never known that the person in red who always lowered himself to please him, was so impeccably handsome? Lying on the bed Yang Lianting felt half guilty in his heart. Tracing the silhouette of the man before him, over and over, wanting to engrave him deeply into his heart.
Until Dongfang Bubai’s internal energy flow was suddenly halted with a single snort.
Pffft–
Spurting a mouthful of blood out of his mouth, Yang Lianting was caught off guard and nearly tumbled down the bed. Looking back, Dongfang Bubai had already stood up with a wave of his sleeves and his eyes seemed to be colder than before. “If you are able to look at this Seat[17] like this, your injury mustn’t be all too serious.”
Lifting his hand with difficulty to wipe away the blood stain at the corner of his mouth, Yang Lianting smiled crookedly after realizing that the person in front of him was not the tolerant and loving Dongfang Bubai. He was the Holy Cult’s temperamental Cult Master, to whom his behavior must seem rash and rude. He coughed a few times, moved over and stood up from the soft bed despite his heavy injuries. He fell to his knees with his right hand covering the wound on his chest that still seeped blood. His tone hoarse, as if honed over sandpaper, he stated, “This Subordinate[18] knows his wrongs and hopes that the Cult Master will allow him to redeem himself–”
Dongfang Bubai frowned.
Standing not too far away from Yang Lianting, he glanced at the man dressed in a single white garment kowtowing in front of him. Initially, he intended to raise his hand that was hidden under a long sleeve to end the man’s life with a strike of his palm, but once his line of sight fell on the bright red blood seeping through the white cloth on his chest, the powerful energy concentrated in his palm dissipated with a gust of air.
He halted.
Snorting scornfully, Dongfang Bubai waved his wide sleeve and said, “Considering that you’ve been hit by an arrow for this Seat, your life shall be spared. Now that you’ve woken up, get out.”
No longer sparing Yang Lianting a glance, he was about to leave.
Yang Lianting smiled bitterly, forcefully enduring the pain in his body, he took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, then once again bowed and kowtowed.
Gestures and manners impeccable.
If Dongfang Bubai ignored the fact, when he had just awoken and had blatantly stared at him disrespectfully, he could not find the slightest fault with this strange guard. Not knowing why once Dongfang Bubai thought of the face pallid as paper and the chest covered in bloodstains, he could not help but feel distracted, for a heart like an ancient well, for a heart that had been indifferent to everything for many years this distraction felt quite odd.
Dongfang Bubai felt irritated.
Ready to leave, his footsteps slightly paused.
He creased his eyebrows and lowered his head, his black eyes falling on Yang Lianting who was still kneeling “Can’t stand up? Do you want to bother Ping Yizhi[19] to treat you a second time?”
The words had been said, but Yang Lianting did not move.
Dongfang’s heart ignited in anger and his eyebrows furrowed deeper and deeper. Feeling this bewildered because of a guard… Seeing that Yang Lianting had yet to respond, even after a long time passed, Dongfang Bubai raised his hand once again, about to kill him with a palm strike.
However, the palm’s energy did not gather. He felt moved in his heart, once his mind recalled the figure rushing up the steps of the altar in disregard of his own safety, the man who had been pierced by an arrow for his sake.
It hadn’t been pain, fear, or regret. The expression in his eyes had been too complex. As if he was relieved, as if being able to die for him was something that made him feel happy. Dongfang Bubai was confused. How could a person, with such a look…
A strange little guard, whom he had never met, how could he so willingly die for him? So in a moment of confusion Dongfang Bubai actually held the terribly injured and dying Yang Lianting and flew[20] back to his residence in front of the entire congregation. He even used the Blackwood Token[21] exclusive to the cult master, to have the divine doctor Ping Yizhi come up Blackwood Cliff.
He had gone to great lengths, yet this person seemed to know exactly how to anger him. Dongfang Bubai frowned and sternly began to admonish him. However, before he could say anything, he suddenly found something off. This man, did he fall unconscious again? Dongfang’s frown deepened, as he stepped forward then reached out to see if he was breathing. Only to find that the injury on Yang Lianting’s chest had completely split apart and his internal energy had turned chaotic.
Recalling his expression when he had stood up and knelt to him, Dongfang worried that, at that moment, he must’ve been in so much pain he would’ve surely preferred to be dead rather than alive. Dongfang’s eyes faintly darkened and his eyebrows tightly furrowed. After a long while, he snorted in displeasure.
“He really is a person of unyielding will.”
Though he thought so, his hand movements didn’t halt, didn’t make the slightest pause. While helping Yang Lianting lie back down on the bed, he called out to the Dark Guard hidden around the courtyard in a deep voice. “Tell Ping Yizhi to come quickly.” After receiving a response, Dongfang Bubai simply lowered his eyes back on Yang Lianting’s face and remained silent for a long time. Feeling a little unhappy he lifted his hand and pressed it on the man’s chest. If he did not transfer him his internal energy, he might not be able to hold on until Ping Yizhi arrived.
How could he become part of the Yellow Guard if his martial arts skills were so poor? Dongfang Bubai distractedly thought if he shouldn’t take the time to rectify the quality of the cultists on Blackwood Cliff. He glanced at Yang Lianting with a hum. Despite his poor martial arts, he had still rushed to his death.
Ping Yizhi was infamous for his bizarre temper, few people of the Jianghu dared to provoke him, yet to Dongfang Bubai he was genuinely respectful. Having received the order of the Cult Master, he rushed over with his medicine kit. “Cult Master, you should not waste your internal energy. Leave the diagnosis and treatment to this Subordinate.” After speaking a few words, Ping Yizhi respectfully bowed, and was about to go forward, when he saw that Dongfang Bubai seemed to be lost in thought. Slightly surprised, he opened his mouth and called out twice to the Cult Master, only then did he see Dongfang Bubai come to his senses.
His expression frigid, he lightly coughed, waved his sleeves, and stood up. “If you had taken even longer this Seat would have wasted more internal energy.”
Of course, Ping Yizhi did not dare say anything more to avoid angering the moody Cult Master, he silently stepped forward and examined Yang Lianting’s pulse. Noticing the chaotic pulse, his face abruptly changed, “How come the injuries have worsened?”
Turning his head to look towards Dongfang Bubai he asked, “Earlier, this Subordinate gave him medicine and bandaged his wound, how come the wound suddenly cracked open?”
“…”
Dongfang Bubai did not turn his face away yet his expression turned grim. Upon noticing this, Ping Yizhi coughed and did not inquire further.
“Can he be saved?” After a long time passed Dongfang Bubai finally raised this question.
“Cult Master needn’t worry, this guard may be badly injured, but his will is quite tenacious. Once this Subordinate administers his needles[22] and reapplies the medicine he should be fine after he recuperates for a few days.” Ping Yizhi added, “The Cult Master is benevolent, the Cult Master’s kind actions to this yellow guard have truly convinced this Subordinate.”
Hearing Ping Yizhi’s flattery, Dongfang Bubai’s face chilled. Thinking back to Yang Lianting, who had stared straight at him, he sounded his agreement. “He truly is a loyal one. However, for someone who courts death at every turn, even if his life is saved, who knows how long he can still remain alive.”
Martial artists had strong internal energy, although Dongfang Bubai had spoken very softly, Ping Yizhi had heard most of what he had said. He coughed and did not speak. His gaze falling upon the unconscious Yang Lianting he couldn’t help but pity him. In recent years the Cult Master’s state of mind turned increasingly moody and elusive, his thoughts profound.
This yellow guard had risked his own life to protect the Cult Master, however considering the current sight, the guard had not only not received a reward and had instead offended the Cult Master. Recalling the many lives that had been taken by the Cult Master’s pair of hands over the years, Ping Yizhi shook his head and laughed. Who knew how long this little guard could remain alive, while he served the Cult Master?
After Ping Yizhi had left the chamber Yang Lianting was still unconscious. Dongfang Bubai glanced at his lifeless face and unexpectedly turned a little irritated. The more he looked at him, the more he seemed to be an eyesore.
“Cult Master, do you want this man removed from your inner chamber?” Noticing Dongfang Bubai’s change in expression his maid Qingluo, who had been serving him for some time, stepped forward and asked, “The smell of blood is too heavy, should this Servant light another incense burner for you?”
Dongfang Bubai frowned.
Remaining silent for a long time, he thought of Ping Yizhi’s instructions not to easily move him again, then finally shook his head. “No need, let him sleep here.”
“Then, Cult Master you–” Qingluo was about to speak more, but before she could finish her sentence, she was startled by the Cult Master’s dismissive snort.
“When did this Seat allow you to talk so much?”
Back covered in cold sweat, Qingluo fell to her knees and did not stop kowtowing. She did not dare to say half a word more.
“Stand down.”
Once the chamber had cleared, his expression eased by a few points. All of Blackwood Cliff is afraid of me. Dongfang Bubai’s eyes darkened faintly and the raised corners of his mouth formed a faint smile. Covered in shadow, the contours of his elegant and clear face were slightly obscured.
Since he secretly began practicing the Sunflower Manual, he had become increasingly temperamental, more and more people had died by his hands. How can I not notice the congregation’s extreme awe and fear? Even Qingluo, she had served him for so many years, yet she too was afraid of him.
Dongfang Bubai smiled wryly, suddenly feeling a little tired. He was about to stand up and leave, when his line of sight swept over Yang Lianting, whose body lay unconscious on the bed. He slightly narrowed his eyes, thinking, This guard is a bit different from the others on Blackwood Cliff.
Thinking back to all his prior actions after he had blocked the arrow for him until he had offended him after walking up, even after he had fallen to his knees and kowtowed on the ground and admitted his mistake, Dongfang Bubai had never seen a trace of fear in his eyes.
How interesting.
“No need to pretend to be asleep when you woke up already.” Dongfang Bubai indifferently said.
Indeed, he had already noticed that the guard on the bed had regained consciousness since an incense stick’s time. All martial artists’ six senses were sharp, not to mention he was the Wulin’s[23] unrivalled Invincible East, how could Yang Lianting’s secretive movements remain unnoticed?
Yang Lianting smiled bitterly, slowly opened his black eyes, and struggled to get out of bed to give the man a salute.
“No need.”
Dongfang Bubai turned around and stopped Yang Lianting’s motion. Slightly narrowing his eyes, he looked at him, and asked word for word, “You aren’t afraid of me?”
Suddenly being asked such a question, Yang Lianting paused slightly. He leaned back against the bed. Gazing at the man in red sitting not too far away from him, who was surrounded by the candles’ flickering light, his eyes gradually became complex and reddened.
How could he possibly be afraid of him?
To speak of fear, he might’ve been afraid of him when they had just met in his past life. Back then, it had been said that the Cult Master was apathetic and moody, would arbitrarily kill the subordinates and servants around him. Later on, after he had faced the hundreds of temptations, the thousands of pains, did he gradually understand. This person’s expressions are cold yet his heart is soft. The world’s first, the Invincible East had let himself be bullied in such a way, yet refused to be cruel to him in the slightest from beginning to end.
How could he be afraid of him?
But these words could not be said, even half a sentence. Yang Lianting smiled, put away the messy emotions deep in his heart. Shaking his head, he looked at Dongfang Bubai and slowly said, “This Subordinate is a member of the Sun Moon Holy Cult, and he is only… only reverent and devoted to the Cult Master.”
“How can he feel fear?”
Listening to him speak Dongfang Bubai looked a little moved and smiled a little, but he did not comment further. It was unclear if he believed him or not.
“Alright,” he paused. “Speak, what reward do you request?” His eyes were as cool as the moon, the slightest emotion couldn’t be seen. Dongfang Bubai glanced at Yang Lianting, opening his mouth to say, “Considering that you’ve blocked an arrow for this Seat, whatever you want, just say it, this Seat will give it to you.”
I want you.
Yang Lianting’s heart beat frantically.
His first reaction, his first thought, was this sentence.
But these three words could never be said.
The man shook his head and covered his chest wound with a hand, he looked at Dongfang Bubai and answered in a low voice, “Cult Master, thank you very much, but this Subordinate… this Subordinate doesn’t want anything.”
He needs nothing.
Narrowing his pair of eyes, Dongfang Bubai looked at Yang Lianting, the emotions in his eyes turning increasingly complex. Eventually, he gently smiled and lightly said, “You’re quite odd. From the highest to the lowest on Blackwood Cliff, every single one of them desires something in their heart, be it gaining power, authority, or wealth. But, you say you don’t want anything?”
Yang Lianting shook his head in silence and looked at the man in front of him, with some bitterness and complexity in his heart. It wasn’t like he didn’t want anything. Rather, what I want the current you cannot give me.
“Cult Master.”
“Did you think about what reward you want?”
Yang Lianting shook his head.
He leaned against the bed’s headboard, his gaze falling upon Dongfang Bubai’s face for a long, long time. He carefully traced the figure in front of him. Gazing at him he felt a dull ache in his heart, yet also a sweetness that made him flustered.
God treated him well.
Muddled mind and lost heart, he had been wrong for an entire lifetime.
Luckily, he was granted the chance to relive his life and could see him again.
Yang Lianting deeply gazed into Dongfang Bubai’s eyes and slowly smiled. The man’s voice sounded gentle, it contained the endless light of a merged life and rebirth, contained his well-hidden affection.
“Cult Master, you still don’t know this Subordinate’s name.”
Dongfang Bubai was stunned, he habitually intended to reply but was preempted by Yang Lianting, the man’s black eyes were faintly dazed. Eyes filled with the vicissitudes of life, filled with joy and gratitude beyond words. Yang Lianting felt as if he had gone back in time, back to the day when he had first become part of the Personal Guard and had seen Dongfang from up close for the first time in his life.
When Dongfang Bubai had told him to raise his head, he had raised his head with trepidation. At the time, he had been really timid, really shrunken. He had truly wondered what the high and mighty Dongfang Bubai saw in him.
“Cult Master, this Subordinate is called Yang Lianting.”
He walked past the light curtains hanging above the bed, past the red candles’ faint glow, his eyes falling on Dongfang Bubai’s face. He swallowed dryly and his eyes reddened.