The flickering candle flames tinted the chamber in a mellow and warm light. Wearing only his inner garment, his body wounded, Yang Lianting stood barefoot on the floor and gazed at him.
In fact, such an action toward the mighty and majestic Master of the Cult could be considered greatly disrespectful. He noticed that due to his gaze, displeasure and killing intent were rising in Dongfang Bubai’s heart. That person’s presence was too strong, Yang Lianting could barely restrain his own body from shaking visibly, his whole back from being drenched in cold sweat. Yang Lianting thought back to his past life, It was around this time that Dongfang Bubai succeeded in mastering his martial arts and his temperament turned exceedingly sensitive and suspicious. If any servant blatantly stared at him like he did, he would have seen it as a great offense.
Perhaps because tonight was special, but the severely injured Yang Lianting could not restrain himself from stepping forward, could not restrain his heart from fiercely pounding. He had said, “Cult Master, Yang Lianting, I’m called Yang Lianting.”
People can be quite strange.
In his past life, Yang Lianting begun hating Dongfang Bubai call him ‘Lian di’[25] once he noticed his abnormal thoughts toward him. He had been constantly anxious. If others heard that single sound, it could have revealed the unusual relationship between the two of them at any moment.
However, after being reborn, the one standing before him no longer was that man dressed in vibrant red, who had loved him wholeheartedly yet the cruel and violent Holy Cult’s Master who stood above all, which left him in a daze.
Lian di, that single sound, was very important to him.
Dongfang Bubai’s first reaction was to kill Yang Lianting by a strike of his palm. He truly intended to end his life in one move. Since castrating himself and practicing the Sunflower Manual he had detested anyone observing him too closely. It was his heart’s deeply buried taboo, and his heart’s darkest secret. In the Wulin, anyone who had dared to break his taboo was dead.
So, after Yang Lianting had repeatedly come too close to him and had offended him again and again, Dongfang Bubai did not hesitate in the slightest. He thought nothing of raising his hand, his palm aimed at Yang Lianting.
The palm’s energy was sharp. Grazing his cheeks, his whole body tensed. Yang Lianting clenched his fists, his spine straight, but he did not avoid the incoming attack. His deeply pitch-black eyes contained both fondness and silent shame.
Yang Lianting had always been greedy for life and afraid of death, had been lusting after pleasure and enjoyment.
But he would not dodge.
In his past life, Yang Lianting had not seen clearly, while now in this life he would try to wholeheartedly understand.
“You really have a lot of guts!”
Who knew which ghost or god had interfered but facing those profound eyes hidden beneath lightly lowered eyelids, Dongfang Bubai’s palm, which contained powerful energy, did not hit him. Although Yang Lianting’s chest was bandaged tightly, traces of blood still seeped out of the wound, after the dissipating energy had grazed him.
Dongfang Bubai could not help but frown and snort dismissively as he distractedly looked at his retracted hand. For the sake of this ungrateful guard who had faithfully blocked an arrow for him he would spare his life today!
He had obviously spared his life, but Dongfang Bubai did not know why his heart’s qi surged unpleasantly. He simply waved his sleeve and turned around, no longer looking at Yang Lianting and said in a frigid tone, “This Seat shall spare your life. If you repeatedly offend this Seat, you’ll be punished.”
“Since you, Guard Yang, are safe and sound, are able to walk then go to the outer courtyard and stand guard for this Seat.”
‘Spare your life’ hearing Dongfang Bubai say these words to him, Yang Lianting’s taunt spine slightly loosened, he wanted to laugh a little but his eyes were sore.
He had made a gamble and sure enough–
If he lost, he would lose his life.
If he won, then Dongfang was still Dongfang.
He was the Invincible East, the Sun Moon Holy Cult’s divine and murderous Cult Master. The entire congregation feared him, dreaded his very presence. Only Yang Lianting, this one person, knew that he had a kind heart.
It had been precisely because of this that he had been able to act so unscrupulously in his past life. Taking advantage of his soft heart, he had wronged him so many times he should’ve died a thousand times, died ten thousand times under his hand. However, he had still placed Blackwood Cliff’s boundless scenery, its highest authority, into the hands of Chief Steward Yang.
In this life.
Even if everything began again, even if he did not remember anything, he could not help but blame himself for having treated him in such a way. He was still as hesitant to raise his hand against him, like in the past.
“Cult Master, that assassin–” Yang Lianting suddenly raised his head again, upon remembering the matter, opened his mouth and called out to Dongfang Bubai.
He did not turn around.
A slim and slender body covered by a wide red robe, with his back toward Yang Lianting, his chilling alienation seemed to be an impassable barrier separating them. Even if he had a thin back he was still the formidable Holy Cult’s Master, unrivalled in the Wulin. “Since your injuries have healed, standing guard for this Seat shouldn’t be an issue.” He paused slightly. “As for that one assassin, who doesn’t treasure life and fear death… Guard Yang needn’t worry, this Seat… will never be merciful.”
Dongfang Bubai’s final four words were spoken plainly, yet the indifferent killing intent within chilled him to the bone. Yang Lianting shivered and simply affirmed in a deep voice, without saying more.
Dongfang had spoken, so there was no need to transgress any further, the reason why he had repeatedly asked him was not out of disbelief. He believed in Dongfang Bubai, yet Ren Woxing, Ren Yingying and Linghu Chong’s actions had ultimately led to their deaths. The very moment he had been reborn, Yang Lianting had decided that he would not be as lax as in the past.
Dongfang Bubai’s punishment for Yang Lianting’s offense was to hold night vigil. In truth, there were countless competent dark guards stationed around Dongfang Bubai’s courtyard, there really was no need for Yang Lianting, who had poor martial skill and was seriously injured, to keep vigil. But, after he had exited Dongfang Bubai’s chambers he still did so.
Deep into the night, Blackwood Cliff was enveloped in dense fog and faint wind. The biting cold could be felt even with outer garments. Regular guards felt the chill, not to mention the injured Yang Lianting, who suffered from internal injuries and an arrow wound. He stood still occasionally stomping his feet and rubbing his hands. Letting out a breath, he gazed at the white mist slowly floating in the air.
After guarding for half the night, he stood in place and loudly laughed like a fool. Did his actions affect his injuries? Of course. The person in pain grinned, while his muscles twitched without control.
Glancing toward the mellow and tender candlelight radiating from Dongfang Bubai’s bedchamber he suddenly didn’t feel any pain. The distance between the both of them was close, so close, yet they were separated by a single wall.
Taking a look at the moon above his head, he estimated how much time had passed. He was sure that Dongfang was reading on his own around this time. Clearly, he was part of the Jianghu, was the leading martial artist and titled the world’s first, he was the Sun Moon Holy Cult’s Master, yet the one in red always gave Yang Lianting the impression that he was more like a pure and delicate scholar. Other than practicing martial arts Dongfang liked to read.
The chamber lit with light pinewood incense, the idly reading person leaning on the bed surrounded by the candles’ dim light… Yang Lianting smiled slightly. He seemed to see his past life’s Dongfang, vividly remembering every little detail.
Indeed, Dongfang Bubai was reading a book.
Slender fingers and distinct joints turned page after page, he appeared serious and focused. The candlelight shining on his face softened his stern contours, his eyelashes cast shadows over a face as beautiful as a painting. Only at a time like this, would the arrogant and powerful Master of the Holy Cult reveal a little purity and harmlessness that should not be known.
Not knowing why, yet Dongfang had been unable to read past the first few pages of his book even after reading for a while. So, he simply closed the book, frowned, and sat up straight. Asking in a low voice into the air, “That guard who’s holding night vigil outside, is he still standing?”
“Replying to the Cult Master, since the Hour of the Dog[26] until now, many hours have passed.”
Dongfang Bubai snorted, that fellow was quite tough. He had said ‘stand guard for this Seat’ and he had been keeping vigil throughout the night. With a frigid face, he opened his mouth and inquired again “Tell this Seat, does the guard resent this Seat for his punishment?”
The dark guard hidden in the shadows of the chamber, lightly coughed. Not knowing how he should reply, he hesitated.
Not hearing an answer, Dongfang Bubai thought that the dark guard tacitly agreed with his own speculation. However, once he thought of Yang Lianting he felt anxious, felt his heart churning in anger.
A single cold snort containing his internal energy shocked the dark guard on the beam of the roof. Abruptly, he tasted a metallic liquid in his throat and coughed, he spat out a mouthful of blood. “Cult Master, Cult Master has misunderstood–” Afraid, the dark guard no longer dared to hesitate he leaped down from the beam. Respectfully kneeling to Dongfang Bubai’s feet, he clenched his fists, lowered his head, and explained in a complex tone, “That guard doesn’t resent the Cult Master. He also didn’t say anything behind the Cult Master’s back. In this Subordinate’s opinion, he seems like a child, fear–
“What is he afraid of?”
“Rather than fear, he seems to enjoy–” The dark guard knelt on the ground. Not daring to look at Dongfang Bubai, he simply said everything in one breath, “According to this Subordinate’s observation that guard… has been smirking outside since he was punished to hold vigil. This Subordinate doesn’t know… what’s so funny.”
Smirking?
Dongfang Bubai frowned his delicate eyebrows and felt more and more perplexed. He waved his hand to signal the dark guard to stand down, walked to the window, lifted the curtains, looked into the pitch-black courtyard.
Dongfang Bubai practiced martial arts, naturally his eyesight, hearing and other senses were exceptional. Even if the surrounding courtyard was dark, he was able to clearly discern the expression of Yang Lianting at this moment.
Indeed, he was smiling.
That smile, that expression in his eyes.
Reminiscing of a cherished memory, yet his feelings were as complex and opaque as newly ground ink.
“Is keeping vigil for this Seat truly funny?” Dongfang Bubai appeared in the courtyard. Standing by Yang Lianting’s side, he sternly said such a sentence.
In an instant, Yang Lianting froze, pulled back from his own thoughts. Hearing his uniquely clear and cold tone Yang Lianting felt relieved. He coughed and noticed that the person’s voice was filled with curiosity, rather than alienation. He simply refused to directly ask what he was laughing at. Yang Lianting felt moved, but he did not dare to reveal it in the slightest. He straightened up, coughed again, and seriously shook his head in refusal.
“Keeping night vigil for the Cult Master, is this Subordinate’s honor.”
“Humpf!” Dongfang Bubai snorted once again.
Glancing at Yang Lianting with concern that he himself had not noticed, he stated, “It seems that you possess great fortitude.”
Yang Lianting smiled bitterly.
You don’t even blame me, for not properly keeping watch.
In his previous life, he had known that he spoke harshly yet was very kind at heart, even in this life, Dongfang Bubai still liked to speak like this. Hearing him speak and noticing the kindness underlying his words this early, Yang Lianting felt faintly bitter.
“This Subordinate is willing to work for the Cult Master, with every breath in his body, until death.”
“Alright,” he said. “Return to your own room and go to sleep, this Seat doesn’t need you here. Laughing like this in the middle of the night, you’ll scare my maids.” Dongfang Bubai waved his sleeve to drive Yang Lianting away, with a frigid face.
Yang Lianting felt reluctant, but he nodded in agreement and politely bowed. Currently, he could not casually go against him. In order to approach Dongfang step by step, it was better to obey. He thought that after driving him away Dongfang Bubai would leave, but once Yang Lianting raised his head he saw that person standing frozen in place.
A single unlined garment.
Standing in the pitch-black courtyard, he could still make out his face as white as jade, his pointed chin.
He was very thin.
In his past life, he had not noticed, or had not been willing to care about it. In this life, looking at such a thin Dongfang Bubai, Yang Lianting’s heart faintly ached.
Noticing the cool night’s chilling winds, his footsteps paused. He hesitated to speak and continued onward. However, unable to hold himself back, he stopped walking after a while. Looking at Dongfang Bubai, he lowered his head and said in a deep and low voice, “Cult Master, it’s cold tonight.”
Dongfang Bubai was stunned still and wanted to reply but he then saw Yang Lianting bowing, turning, and retreating from the yard. He frowned and wanted to scoff. He, the Invincible East, was a matchless martial artist, internal energy endlessly flowed in every part of his body. Why would I be afraid of tonight’s cool breeze? Besides, isn’t this man treating me as if I’m a woman or made of porcelain? Dongfang Bubai stood still in the courtyard, he lightly scoffed, his brows rising and his facial expression full of disdain.
Turning back towards his bedchamber, even Dongfang Bubai himself did not notice that his mood that had been distracted and agitated all night abruptly lightened after a few words with Yang Lianting.
Lying on the bed, about to rest, Dongfang Bubai quietly said, “Yang Lianting… Yang Lianting…”
In an enigmatic tone, which contained a subtle emotion even he himself was unaware of, he quietly muttered, “A nice name.” The night on Blackwood Cliff was silent, only the rustling winds and the buzzing of insects could be heard.
Unexpectedly, Dongfang Bubai could not sleep.
Moonlight poured in from outside the windows and lit up the room. Yang Lianting lay on his hard bed, deep in thought. While he had returned to an earlier time, the present Dongfang was not the Dongfang to whom everything had happened.
He did not remember anything.
Still.
Love was a wonderful and mysterious feeling. From ancient times to the present, it was engraved in one’s bone marrow and flowed through one’s blood.