There was only one bed. Naturally, Yan Jin won’t grab it, leaving it to Shen Zhixian. In his heart, he wondered why Shen Zhixian suddenly became unhappy, but he didn’t ask. He silently blew out the candle for Shen Zhixian and went to meditate on the soft couch with Xiao Caoya.
Moonlight poured in through the half-opened window, carrying with it a slight, cool breeze.
It was already deep into the night. Xiao Caoya was sleeping soundly on the windowsill, bathing in the moonlight. Shen Zhixian was on the bed. His breathing was steady, indicating that he was clearly asleep.
Yan Jin’s eyes opened, displaying a clear intensity. He tilted his head in the direction of the bed and walked silently toward it.
Shen Zhixian was probably still pretending to see him as a 'stranger” so, tonight, his sleeping posture was very proper. The lining of his clothes were neat and meticulous. He was lying on his back with the brocade comforter placed on his lower abdomen and his hands folded over it. The position gave him a very serious appearance.
Yan Jin stared at him for a long time.
Those years in Qingyun Sect, when he was living next to Shen Zhixian, he’d had the good fortune to see Shen Zhixian’s sleeping posture many times, which was as unrestrained and uninhibited as his sword skills.
The comforter was about to fall to the ground, and the pillow was pushed into a crooked position. Shen Zhixian turned soundly on his side, his long, black hair spread out like ink behind him.
Thinking that Xiao Caoya was bothering him, he angrily rolled under comforter and turned back over, tiredly and softly murmuring, “Don’t be noisy.”
Yan Jin glanced down, not knowing what Shen Zhixian was thinking.
The wind blew a strand of hair against his face, making Shen Zhixian felt very uncomfortable. Still asleep, he raised his hand and pushed it back a few times.
But, the strand of hair was very stubborn. The moment Shen Zhixian’s hand dropped back, it started to make trouble again under the instigation of the wind.
Shen Zhixian murmured something incomprehensible.
Yan Jin’s eyes softened unconsciously, not even realizing that he had a small smile on his lips.
He gently fixed the strand of hair for Shen Zhixian before moving his eyes to Shen Zhixuan’s wrist.
Because he’d just tried to push back the errant strand of hair, Shen Zhixian’s hand lay casually on the bed, fingers slightly curled.
Yan Jin crouched down and quietly took Shen Zhixian’s hand.
His hands were ice-cold all the time, as if they had never been warmed. Yan Jin gently turned it over and took his pulse.
When Yan Jin left, Shen Zhixuan’s body was still very weak. Although he seemed fine right now, Yan Jin dared not take it lightly.
Fortunately, his pulse was smooth and powerful.
Yan Jin was slightly relieved and couldn’t help but think more.
When he saw him earlier, Master didn’t seem to be very angry. Did he…forgive him? Why did the Master suddenly change his identity? And still happened to use this name?
He thought wildly and lowered his gaze. He saw that Shen Zhixian’s wrist no longer had the string of jade beads that he used to wear.
He assumed that since Shen Zhixian had disguised his identity, he probably took it off.
On the white wrist, there was a place that was marked with a very different color. Without the jade beads blocking it, the scars on Shen Zhixian’s wrist was clearly visible to Yan Jin’s eyes.
Yan Jin had briefly seen the scar before. But, this was the first time that he was able to see it completely. It was an irregular wound, which clearly indicated that it was not made with a knife nor a sword. It stretched across the snow-white wrist, and when touched, appeared to be slightly raised.
Yan Jin carefully studied the scar, realizing that it seemed to have been…caused by repeated biting.
How can someone with Master’s identity have such a wound?
Yan Jin’s heart gradually began to doubt. Somehow, he had an intuition that this scar might have less to do with Shen Zhixian and had something more to do with…
Sui Xian.
Sui Xian, ah.
He mulled over the name repeatedly in his heart. In the end, this name tasted a little sweet, a little sour, and a little joyful and sad.
The combination of emotions were so complicated, making it difficult to untangle.
In fact, many of his memories were chaotic. Those past events seemed to be crushed and broken down and interlaced with the timeline of his life, leaving only small fragments embedded in his mind.
He no longer remembered why he must find this person. He only knew that there was an insatiable obsession that repeatedly appeared in his mind. His life seemed incomplete and it was as if only until he found Sui Xian and swallowed him into his stomach, ingesting his flesh and blood, could he be considered complete.
Forcibly searching for memories made his head start to ache. Yan Jin’s hold inadvertently tightened and Shen Zhixian noticed the discomfort. Still sleeping, he shifted anxiously, frowning.
The hand holding Shen Zhixian’s wrist felt as if it’d been scorched by fire, and the binding contract within his spiritual sea issued a warning, using this sting to remind him not to harm this person.
Yan Jin suddenly returned to his senses, immediately realizing the terrible thoughts that had insidiously entered his mind. His mouth tightened, eyes clearly struggling as, within its depths, a hint of red quietly flickered into life.
Former Sect Leader Wen’s voice saying, “My disciple, Sui Xian.”
Master had followed with a phrase, saying to always see each other year after year.
In fact, there was no need to look for any further proof. The most instinctual and most direct response in his heart had already told him the truth. But, he couldn’t help but tremble with trepidation, fearing that everything in front of him was just an illusion, making him deadly afraid to touch.
The headache seemed to burst in his head, the pain sharp enough to cut him in two. Yan Jin put up with the pain and gently lowered Shen Zhixian’s hand. He stood up and took two steps backward.
Master.
Sui Xian.
As he turned away, Yan Jin couldn’t help but turn to look back one more time. The clean and handsome man on the bed slept soundly. When he was awake, he would be indolent and unconstrained. But, when he was asleep, there would be a gentleness between his eyebrows.
Like the full moon on a dark night, emitting the brightest and most beautiful moonlight.
………
Shen Zhixian had become like an ordinary person. After rushing on the road these past few days, he was really exhausted. Although he wanted to guard against Yan Jin, he couldn’t help but feel upset and ended up falling asleep at night. He had no clue about what had happened in the middle of the night.
He just felt that his wrist seemed to be a little sore. But, it was only momentary.
He turned his hand around in confusion. Looking at it, it was only a little bit red, but there seemed to be nothing wrong with it.
He concluded that he must have fallen asleep on his hand; it wouldn’t be the first time. As a result, he pushed the confusion away and no longer thought about it.
Since Yan Jin wanted to travel with him, and Shen Zhixian couldn’t refused, he only calmly asked, “Where to?”
He had no destination himself. In fact, he’d intended to secretly follow Yan Jin and see if he could locate the mysterious secret realm that housed the inverse demon fish scale.
Since they were traveling together, as long as he was careful not to reveal his identity…it shouldn’t be too big of a problem.
Maybe he could even become “good brothers” with Yan Jin. Perhaps, after Yan Jin found the scale, he would consider their brotherhood and give him a piece of the scale.
Shen Zhixian, who was totally unaware that his disguise had been completely seen through, thought optimistically.
Yan Jin actually also didn’t have a clear destination in mind. But, he couldn’t bear Shen Zhixian looking at him for so long so he hesitantly said a direction. “That….go south.”
Shen Zhixian nodded in agreement.
Shen Zhixian had enough of hard traveling for the past two days and decided to buy a comfortable riding mount. Not far from this town, there was a place that specialized in various mounts so he decided to stop by there and take a look.
Yan Jin, of course, had no objection and, along with Xiao Caoya, followed him silently.
Before they left the town for good, Shen Zhixian suddenly thought of something. He went back to find a bookstore and left Yan Jin to wait outside, leaving behind the statement that he wanted to buy something himself.
Yan Jin initially wanted to follow but stopped when Shen Zhixian glanced at him.
Fortunately, Shen Zhixian only went in for a short while and soon came out. When he came out, his hands were empty and his expression looked subtly self-satisfied.
Yan Jin saw his expression and only quietly asked, “You bought something?”
Hearing him ask, Shen Zhixian’s expression turned a bit weird. He shook his head after a while, saying, “That boss was ruthless and completely lacking in conscience so I didn’t buy anything. Let’s go.”
Shen Zhixian took the lead and walked forward. Yan Jin turned back to look at the bookstore. He had a good ear so he heard the bookstore owner muttering.
“Aiya. This set of books was sold, making me so much money….But, I won’t feel bad. I could just go back and listen a few more times to that storyteller.”
Yan Jin lowered his eyes and strode forward to follow.