Ch138 - Unwilling to Smile

Few had seen Su Xuanlin draw his sword.

When one cultivated to his level, weapons became burdensome.

Until today, that radiant spiritual sword suddenly howled from Yingxu Sect’s peak with earth-shaking, menacing momentum, striking directly at Chongjue with a clang.

Chongjue’s snow-white robes and black hair flew wildly backward. Without blinking, he raised his hand. The Buddhist beads flashed with Buddha’s light, instantly shattering the sword intent.

Su Hansheng froze, confused by Su Xuanlin’s sudden attack.

“Father?”

Su Xuanlin gave Ying Jianhua a cold look.

Ying Jianhua immediately stepped forward, hoisting Su Hansheng over his shoulder to carry him away from the battlefield.

Su Hansheng struggled desperately, shouting, “Wait! Don’t…”

Ying Jianhua ran while saying, “Be quiet! Don’t you have any awareness?! If you keep speaking up for the World-Honored One, Master will be angry enough to eat someone!”

Su Hansheng finished his unfinished words: “…don’t fight in my courtyard, I just cleaned it up! Chongjue!”

Ying Jianhua: “…”

Hearing him call Chongjue’s name only made Su Xuanlin’s anger rise another level. His spiritual sword, controlled by his divine sense, fiercely struck at Chongjue.

Chongjue glanced at Hanmang Garden, now cleaned up by the companion tree. Seeing the sword light approaching, his form suddenly transformed into smoke, silently becoming a stream of light heading toward Yingxu Sect’s peak.

Su Xuanlin sneered coldly, wielding his sword as he gave chase.

Today, he had to kill this man.

As the two faced off with drawn swords, the culprit Su Hansheng remained completely unaffected. After Ying Jianhua set him down, seeing Hanmang Garden was temporarily safe, he breathed a complete sigh of relief.

He was still asking, “What day is it today? Did someone help me take leave at Wendao Academy?”

Ying Jianhua said coldly, “At a time like this, you’re still thinking about the academy? What exactly is going on between you and the World-Honored One?”

Su Hansheng pulled the bright red marriage contract from his sleeve, smiling as he showed it to Ying Jianhua. “This is our marriage contract.”

Ying Jianhua: “…”

Seeing the two names on the marriage contract, Ying Jianhua nearly fainted, saying furiously, “You!”

“Hey!” Su Hansheng quickly grabbed the contract and stepped back, raising an eyebrow smugly. “Big Senior Brother, calm down. If you hit me like before, when Father comes back, he’ll beat you too.”

Ying Jianhua froze. “So you got a free pass and want to tattle on me for all the times I beat you over the years?”

Su Hansheng, emboldened, nodded without hiding it.

Ying Jianhua immediately sneered. “Well, since you’re going to tattle anyway, wouldn’t it be a waste if I didn’t beat you once more before Master returns?”

Su Hansheng: “…”

Su Hansheng immediately stopped smiling, clutching the contract to his chest and backing away, warily saying, “Big Senior Brother, I was wrong, I… I won’t tattle… ah!”

Ying Jianhua chased after him.

Su Hansheng screamed as he ran around the courtyard.

After recovering his memories, Su Hansheng got beaten first, sitting pitifully on the veranda wiping his tears.

Ying Jianhua kept examining the marriage contract, his brow never relaxing, saying incredulously, “You’re incredibly bold. The World-Honored One, your uncle—neither of these identities means anything to you?”

“Why am I being blamed again?” Su Hansheng said sullenly. “Shouldn’t we blame Chongjue for disrespecting his elders?”

Ying Jianhua scoffed. “Just wait. When Master comes back, he’ll beat you again.”

Su Hansheng was extremely worried.

This matter had been exposed when he was completely unprepared. If he could have delayed until after recovering his memories, he could have found a way to help Su Xuanlin and his Big Senior Brother accept this matter peacefully.

Now it was terrible—he’d get beaten twice.

Over the years, Su Hansheng hadn’t spent much time with Su Xuanlin. His childhood memories were few, and their longest time together was only during this period when he’d lost his memory.

Given Su Xuanlin’s temperament, he’d probably really try to separate them.

Su Hansheng was annoyed to death.

Before Su Xuanlin returned, Ying Jianhua as the Big Senior Brother had to get to the bottom of this. Now that Master was back, this troublesome matter was finally not his concern.

Ying Jianhua reached out and roughly patted Su Hansheng’s head. “You’re on your own. I’m going back to Old Talisman Ridge.”

Su Hansheng nodded glumly.

Thunderous sounds occasionally came from Yingxu Sect’s peak, earth-shaking.

When two Great Ascension cultivators fought, it was naturally a spectacular sight of mountains crumbling and earth splitting. If not for the barrier, they would have leveled dozens of Yingxu Sect’s peaks and mountain ranges.

Su Hansheng propped his chin, watching the commotion at the mountain top, then leaned back, feeling life was difficult.

Let them fight. This was bound to happen eventually.

With that thought, Su Hansheng’s mood actually improved considerably. After lying down for a while and seeing the two had no intention of stopping soon, he simply wandered back inside, lay on the bed, and used his Wendao Academy disciple token to contact Yuan Qian.

Yuan Qian quickly replied with a flamboyant scrawl.

“Yuanxiao?! My goodness, you’re okay?!”

Su Hansheng replied, “What could happen to me—did anyone help me take leave at Wendao Academy?”

Yuan Qian wasn’t good at writing, so he sent an illusion talisman directly.

After connecting spiritual energy, Yuan Qian’s phantom emerged from the disciple token, shocked. “At a time like this, you’re still thinking about taking leave?! The listening walls in the Three Realms are going crazy saying the Immortal Lord has come back to life and returned to Yingxu Sect! Is this true?!”

“Yes,” Su Hansheng nodded.

Yuan Qian’s eyes immediately lit up. “It’s really true?! Young Lord, we have a ten-day break coming up. Can Baili and I visit you at Yingxu Sect?”

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“You’re something else.”

To be in such hell and still thinking about whether the academy deducted points—if he’d been this conscientious three years ago, would he have been in such negative points?

Su Hansheng chatted with them for a long time, but the commotion at Yingxu Sect’s peak still hadn’t stopped. Apparently Su Xuanlin’s fury wouldn’t subside anytime soon.

Su Hansheng could only wait.

But after waiting and waiting, from dawn to dusk, through two cycles of day and night…

The two were still fighting?!

Su Hansheng couldn’t take it anymore. He was still worried about his studies. He immediately flew up to Yingxu Sect’s peak with a dark expression.

The perpetually snowy peak had been scraped into a “plain,” completely bare without a trace of snow. The peak seemed much shorter than before—someone had sliced off the top.

The culprits, Su Xuanlin and Chongjue, stood in the center, spiritual energy overflowing, still murderous.

After Su Hansheng landed, he frowned. “Why aren’t you finished yet?—Are you two even trying to kill each other? What fight lasts two days without a winner? Are you playing house here?”

Su Xuanlin and Chongjue: “…”

The two had cultivation at the peak of the Three Realms. After two days of fighting, their spiritual energy was nearly exhausted.

Su Xuanlin coldly withdrew his spiritual sword. “None of your business. Go play.”

Chongjue said gently, “Don’t worry. I know my limits.”

The contrast in attitudes was stark.

Su Xuanlin’s face turned green.

Su Hansheng responded to Chongjue’s approach, pursing his lips in a smile as he walked forward and looked up at him. “I was thinking about going back to the academy.”

Chongjue raised his hand, brushing Su Hansheng’s stray hair behind his ear, leaning down slightly to coax him gently. “After I ‘discuss’ things with the Immortal Lord, I’ll take you back to Wendao Academy.”

Su Xuanlin: “…”

Flirting with his son right in front of him?!

Did they have no shame?

Su Xuanlin couldn’t accept Su Hansheng being so intimate and affectionate with a close friend he’d known for a thousand years. His lips trembling, he pointed at Chongjue and suddenly fell backward.

…Completely unable to withstand this blow, he fainted.

Su Hansheng: “Father!”

Chongjue: “…”

Their first confrontation ended with the dignified Immortal Lord fainting from anger.

Su Hansheng hadn’t expected Su Xuanlin to be so fragile that he’d actually faint from anger. He hurriedly helped him back.

Su Xuanlin, angry and exhausted from two days without rest and depleted spiritual energy, regained consciousness after a moment.

He completely changed from his previous furious demeanor, sitting there expressionless, as if already at the end of his rope, having no will to live, unwilling to smile ever again.

Su Hansheng crouched beside him, supporting his knees, saying carefully, “Father, are you alright?”

Su Xuanlin said expressionlessly, “I’m fine. I couldn’t be happier to let you welcome him as your Dao Companion.”

Su Hansheng: “…”

Su Hansheng, like when he was young, carefully pressed his face against Su Xuanlin’s knee, saying sullenly, “I know you can’t accept it right away, but this isn’t just a whim for me to be with him.”

“He was in seclusion for three years, and just days after emerging, he tricked you into agreeing to the marriage contract,” Su Xuanlin still wore that lifeless expression, saying coldly. “Three years ago, how old were you? Seventeen. He really had the heart to do it.”

Su Hansheng felt this was unfair to Chongjue, saying quietly, “I really was the unfilial one first. I’m not defending him.”

Su Xuanlin still didn’t believe it, sneering.

Su Hansheng looked back.

Chongjue stood under the tree by the door, fingering his Buddhist beads. Sensing Su Hansheng’s gaze, he turned slightly, showing him a gentle smile.

Over these two days, he’d tried to explain countless times, but Su Xuanlin, blinded by rage, wouldn’t listen and only wanted to kill him.

Su Hansheng sighed, looking up. “Father, do you know the phoenix bone can defy time and grant a second life?”

Su Xuanlin’s hand paused slightly, frowning at him.

“In my previous life, no one protected me. I was framed by Qi Jianyi and fell into Infinite Hell,” Su Hansheng, having recovered his memories, could speak calmly about his past life’s tragedy. “I was dying then, and you saved me.”

Su Xuanlin’s eyes widened.

No wonder…

No wonder Su Hansheng had been so averse and resistant to him, yet after recovering his memories, was obedient and gentle, calling him “Father” constantly, more compliant than as a child.

It was because of the previous life.

“I understand your concerns,” Su Hansheng looked at him hopefully. “I’m not a foolish child, nor am I just seeking novelty. In my previous life, if not for you and Chongjue, I probably would have died without a complete corpse in Infinite Hell.”

Su Xuanlin had personally witnessed how dangerous and terrifying Infinite Hell was. From Su Hansheng’s brief words, he could tell how much his child had suffered. His heart softened unbearably, lifting his slender fingers to pat Su Hansheng’s head, saying gently, “Xiaoxiao, if you’re just grateful to him…”

His child was still young—even counting the previous life, hadn’t lived to a hundred. In the eyes of these thousand-year-old monsters, he was still a cub without fully grown fur.

Chongjue’s fraction of age was older than Su Hansheng. In Su Xuanlin’s view, even if Su Hansheng initiated it, it must have been the more experienced Chongjue who seduced and bewitched him first.

As a father, he had to use every method to make the naive cub understand Chongjue’s predatory ambitions.

Su Hansheng was still young, perhaps just confused gratitude from the life-saving grace of the previous life, mistaking it for something else. Perhaps he could be corrected.

But Su Hansheng said, “I’m not a child anymore. I naturally understand the difference between gratitude and love.”

This word “love” immediately became another arrow, shooting straight into Su Xuanlin’s heart, choking him badly.

Su Xuanlin was speechless for a moment, his gaze turning toward Chongjue waiting by the door. His eyes finally cleared of rage, beginning to examine and consider.

Earlier, he’d been praising Chongjue as the rare “gentleman” among his scoundrel friends, but once his impression was overturned, he found the man truly detestable. How had he been so blind to be friends with him for so many years?

But tracing the cause, it was because he’d pulled Chongjue’s evil side down to Infinite Hell back then.

If not for that, Su Hansheng probably wouldn’t have encountered the evil one…

Wait…

Su Xuanlin had almost convinced himself to try accepting Chongjue when he suddenly had a realization, discovering the most critical issue.

In the previous life, Su Hansheng encountered the evil one.

That unfettered, self-indulgent evil one.

Su Xuanlin’s eyes showed terror, his lips trembling for a long time before making a sound.

“In the previous life, the evil one… what did they do to you?”

Chongjue, who had been listening by the door, felt his heart sink, thinking this was bad.

Su Hansheng was straightforward—any casual sentence could reignite Su Xuanlin’s anger, even worse than before.

Su Hansheng tilted his head, thinking. “He helped me get revenge on those villains, killed evil beasts to help me grind chess pieces… oh, he also gave me his life jade for protection, but I didn’t know at the time. When I died, I think I took him along too.”

Chongjue froze, his anxious heart finally settling.

Good thing Su Hansheng was smart now, knowing that mentioning any of the bad things the evil one did would make Su Xuanlin faint from anger.

Su Xuanlin breathed a huge sigh of relief.

He’d thought the evil one would harm Su Hansheng, but hearing these things, it seemed fine. Perhaps the evil one still remembered Su Hansheng and instinctively protected him.

“Father, he’s really good.” Su Hansheng earnestly counted Chongjue’s virtues in this life.

“After I was reborn, I kept causing trouble and he never got angry. Back then I didn’t understand—I pestered him about dual cultivation every day, but he’d scold me, holding fast to his Buddhist principles, never giving in, not at all like the lustful demon he was in my previous life. He’s truly disciplined now, only breaking precepts because of me. Father, please don’t be angry with him anymore, okay?”

Chongjue: “…”

Su Xuanlin: “…”

Su Hansheng: “Father? Father, what’s wrong? Did I say something wrong? Father—!!”

Hearing a “thud” from inside as someone collapsed on the bed, Chongjue rubbed his temples.

Sigh.

This would take time.

***

In one day, Su Hansheng made his father faint twice. By the time things finally settled down, it was completely dark.

Xie Zhizhi, afraid Su Hansheng would upset Su Xuanlin again, ushered them both away with an eerie look.

Su Hansheng and Chongjue walked side by side back to Hanmang Garden.

This was the first time they were alone together since Su Hansheng recovered his memories. Su Hansheng still carried the marriage contract, glancing furtively at Chongjue from time to time.

After catching him for the third time, Chongjue couldn’t help but smile. “What are you looking at?”

“Checking if you’re backing out now that you’ve sobered up,” Su Hansheng said darkly. “That night you dragged me to make the marriage contract, so attentive. Now that you’re sober, the World-Honored One is back to being an untouchable flower on a high peak. It’s unnerving.”

Chongjue had long expected Su Hansheng to say shocking things, and wasn’t as fazed as before. He said slowly, “If I weren’t acknowledging it, why would I fight your father for two days?”

“Ha,” Su Hansheng said with a half-smile. “What good did it do? You fought for two days without a winner. In the end, I had to step in to pacify my father.”

Chongjue: “…”

You call that pacifying?

More like adding fuel to the fire.

These past days, Chongjue had gotten used to Su Hansheng’s truly obedient demeanor. Seeing him now so vividly throwing a tantrum, his heart softened with amusement. Helplessly, he said, “Are you angry?”

Su Hansheng muttered quietly, “Not a bit angry.”

Then he reached out, grabbed Chongjue’s hand, and forcibly pulled him into the room.

Night fell, stars and moon shining together.

Su Hansheng lit the lamps, grabbed his clothes, and went to the hot spring behind the mountain to bathe.

Chongjue watched his departing back, hesitated, then followed.

Su Hansheng treated him like family. At the spring’s edge, he simply stripped off his clothes and entered the water naked.

Chongjue had just arrived when he saw Su Hansheng’s back about to enter the water. Instinctively, he closed his eyes and turned aside.

The World-Honored One had maintained his Buddhist principles for years, supposedly desireless. But the evil one’s memories surged back, flooding his consciousness overwhelmingly—that brief glance just now paled in comparison to those images.

Su Hansheng carried the red marriage contract with him everywhere, only setting it aside for a moment when bathing, placing it on his clean clothes nearby. He treasured it greatly.

Humming a tune, he leaned against the rocks at the spring’s edge, his slender arms splashing water on his face.

Chongjue’s gaze was too tangible. Su Hansheng looked back puzzled, his loose black hair floating in the water like seaweed.

“Are you bathing too?”

Chongjue shook his head.

If not bathing, why stand there like a pillar?

Su Hansheng didn’t understand but didn’t think much of it, happily continuing his bath.

Given Su Hansheng’s previous behavior, he’d probably be teasing constantly. But Chongjue waited and found Su Hansheng really was just focused on bathing, even childishly conjuring a few illusory magpies with spiritual energy to float on the water.

What kind of gentleman watches someone bathe like a lecher?

The gentleman Chongjue hesitated for a long time before finally turning to leave.

Inside Hanmang Garden was spacious. Chongjue sat cross-legged on the daybed meditating, his divine sense occasionally sweeping over Su Hansheng in the back courtyard, only to quickly withdraw as if touching hot coals.

After this torment for a while, Su Hansheng finally emerged from the back courtyard, covered in moisture.

“Father probably won’t stay angry long,” Su Hansheng said casually while climbing onto the daybed and drying his hair, still thinking about business. “After all, there’s a generational gap between us. His anxiety is understandable. The marriage contract’s done anyway. We’re not in a rush to register together. We can wait until after I graduate.”

Chongjue stopped fingering his Buddhist beads, opening his dark eyes to gaze at Su Hansheng.

Su Hansheng finished drying his hair and lazily lay down on Chongjue’s lap, stretching contentedly. “It feels great to have nothing weighing me down.”

No Heaven-Reaching Tower, no phoenix bone, no need to scheme to seduce Chongjue.

This was exactly the idle life Su Hansheng wanted.

Chongjue touched Su Hansheng’s long black hair. “When do you want to return to the academy?”

Su Hansheng was thoroughly lazy. “Whatever. It’s fine if I don’t graduate next year. I’m not in a hurry anymore.”

Chongjue: “…”

Watching Su Hansheng prepare to sleep, Chongjue suddenly understood his motives.

Before, Su Hansheng constantly clamored for kisses and dual cultivation, not because he was addicted or particularly enjoyed it, but because despite his best efforts, he couldn’t make Chongjue accept him. He could only use this clumsy method, hoping to make Chongjue feel desire for him like the evil one had.

Now that their matter was exposed to Su Xuanlin, and Chongjue was willing to face his friend’s wrath for him, plus that red marriage contract, it gave Su Hansheng a sense of security.

He no longer needed to tempt Chongjue with “dual cultivation” because he’d already achieved his goal.

Su Hansheng was easy to understand. Realizing this, Chongjue felt a soft spot in his heart being pinched—painful and bittersweet.

Chongjue stroked Su Hansheng’s forehead, his eyes gentle as he said softly, “Sleep.”

Without his worries, Su Hansheng quickly fell into deep sleep.

After he was sound asleep, Chongjue gently lifted him and carried him to the soft bed in the inner room.

Gazing at his sleeping face, Chongjue seemed to sense something, sighed soundlessly, stood up, drew the bed curtains, and left Hanmang Garden.

Night descended from all sides. Su Xuanlin stood alone outside Hanmang Garden, his gaze cold and indifferent.

Chongjue no longer wanted to fight him, nor did he want to continue handling this matter vaguely.

He prepared himself—if Su Xuanlin attacked again today, he would never fight back. He’d let him strike until his anger subsided.

Chongjue removed his protective seals and artifacts, saying calmly, “I know you can’t accept this matter yet…”

Beat me or scold me as you wish; I won’t resist.

But before he could finish his prepared words, he heard Su Xuanlin say, “I accept it.”

Chongjue: “…………”

Chongjue was choked by what he’d been about to say, staring at Su Xuanlin in rare astonishment.

He… he accepted it just like that?

Su Xuanlin’s face was pale as he looked at Chongjue indifferently. “When Xiaoxiao was born, I made mistakes in my confusion. And for over ten years, I wasn’t by his side, which led to him suffering so much in both lives.”

…And let you take advantage.

Su Xuanlin wanted to pull out his parental authority, severely separate the two, first grievously injure Chongjue, then send Su Hansheng to Old Talisman Ridge without another word. Given time, the two would naturally drift apart.

But as soon as he had this thought, Su Xuanlin felt unusually guilty—because he realized he had no right to interfere in Su Hansheng’s affairs.

As a father, he hadn’t accompanied Su Hansheng as he grew up, wasn’t there during his many dangers and hardships, and even arranged the marriage that led him into Infinite Hell.

He simply didn’t deserve to be a father.

Su Xuanlin closed his eyes briefly, exhaling.

Seeing his genuine remorse, Chongjue said gently, “Xuanlin…”

“I accept it.”

Su Xuanlin interrupted Chongjue, his gaze like a knife as he looked him up and down, his words icy.

“If you and Xiaoxiao register together, will you change how you address me…”

Chongjue froze.

Su Xuanlin coldly finished the sentence.

“…and call me Father?”

Chongjue: “…”

***