Ch31 - ...Let Me Go

Thank you Sadie Woods for the Ko-fi! ♥️

Editor: Sahloknir

Qin Jun’s long, silver-grey hair was blown around him as the miasma from his body exploded outward.

Jiang Yinghe could only stare mutely at the other person. He saw those eyes were helplessly looking at him as well. The embrace of a ghost cultivator was terribly cold, and not even a shred of life or movement could be felt from the part closest to their heart.

“You…” Jiang Yinghe was still in a state of disbelief. He struggled out of those arms and retreated half a step. His voice wavered slightly.

“You’re a ghost cultivator.”

His voice has always been as clear and cold as frost, but it now seemed like snow mixed with the blood and sweat he invested all these years. The complicated tone dropped into the silence between them.

His head was repeating the scene of Qin Jun shielding him just now as well as when his flesh melted away to reveal his true appearance as a wraith.

Jiang Yinghe opened his hand. The icy body of the Wangchen sword materialized in his palm. A bitterly cold sword light gleamed on its edge.

The surrounding Yao Wang Valley cultivators were stunned. All they could do was be afraid and not attract attention to themselves. There would be no way to escape from the genuine Half-step Golden Immortal before them.

Qin Jun stood in front of him. The Zhanyun sword at his side shook and hummed to express its pleasure at being unsealed.

Qin Jun’s grey eyes were focused on him the entire time. It was only when he saw the sword appearing in Jiang Yinghe’s hands that he hoarsely whispered, “Shizun…”

“Be quiet.” Jiang Yinghe took a deep breath. Wangchen was so cold in his hand that he was almost frozen solid. He never imagined that the second disciple he had cared about for so long was actually such a high-level ghost cultivator!

Then what was the past two centuries? A trick by an evil being? A lie? Or was there some greater purpose that necessitated Qin Jun to lie in wait?

Jiang Yinghe’s mind was a mess. He tried to calm down, saying his words precisely,, “I am not your Shizun. When have you ever put me in your eyes?”

“These many years and seasons that we’ve lived through, even if they are just lies. All this time… when have you put me in your eyes?”

“In Yun City when the ghosts were migrating, I pulled you out of a cocoon of miasma. I spent all of my time nurturing and protecting you over the last two hundred years…” Jiang Yinghe could not look at him, only at Wangchen’s cold sword body in his hands. He couldn’t go on. His last words were squeezed out in a low, tight voice.

It took immense effort for him to say, “Qin Jun. If it wasn’t today, when were you planning to strike at me?”

The person across from him did not reply.

So this was what it felt like to have Shizun refer to him by his whole name… Qin Jun stared at the snow sword Wangchen in Jiang Yinghe’s hands. He took a step forward. All the resentful energy on his body was suppressed, as if it had never been there in the first place.

“This disciple had never considered such a thing.”

His voice was still as quiet as it used to be—as if he held onto a shred of hope that everything could go back to normal. Qin Jun glanced up at the other person’s face. He saw the flawlessly white corners of Shizun’s eyes start to turn red. He couldn’t see it before, but after he approached, that faint hint of red began to spread. It was like Jiang Yinghe would begin to weep at any moment.

He didn’t dare to get closer. He could only repress his anxiousness and try to explain. “This disciple has only had Shizun since emerging from the cocoon in this life. I would never hurt Shizun.”

Jiang Yinghe had not noticed the tears gathering in his eyes. His hands were cold and he felt a stabbing pain in his heart, but only for an instant. It was as if his emotions became capped upon reaching a certain threshold. He remained stuck there—in immense and unbearable agony.

“These words,” Jiang Yinghe said, “are they truth or lies?”

His voice was lost in the old residence and echoed once. The person he was talking to could barely breathe.

Jiang Yinghe closed his eyes. His mind was in complete disarray as he struggled to keep some semblance of calm. There was no time to consider whether he could find another genius approved by the system after losing Qin Jun. Right now, if this matter wasn’t resolved correctly, the currently peaceful cultivation world would once again be thrown into chaos.

Qin Jun’s identity was just too apparent. A Half-step Golden Immortal ghost cultivator that was revived from a cocoon. Who could it be other than that Spirit Patriarch from three thousand years ago? Moreover, this once infamous cultivator might take out his rage on others after being exposed so suddenly.

Jiang Yinghe loosened his grip and pierced Wangchen into the ground, leaning heavily on the sword. “Leave.”

Qin Jun startled, as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“Our relationship was a farce from the beginning. Since you say you don’t plan on acting against me and you’ve had your fun, leave.” Jiang Yinghe finished speaking and choked back the soft sobs that threatened to escape his throat. He struggled to maintain an unaffected demeanour. “From now on the two of us will be mere strangers to each other.”

“When did I agree to that?”

Qin Jun tightly clenched his fist. The restlessness and rage evil cultivators were known for flashed through his eyes. It was as if the most vulnerable and fearful part of his heart had been trod on. A fearsome wrath leaked from his entire body. He couldn’t help but blurt out, “Shizun, don’t be like this with me. I want to remain at your side…” but afterward he ruthlessly suppressed himself once again.

His words had no effect.

Jiang Yinghe drew his sword backhandedly and glanced at Qin Jun before leaving for the entrance. After only a few steps, he discovered the originally clear sky had instantly turned from day to night.

On closer inspection, it wasn’t night but an endless sea of wandering spirits and resentful ghosts mingling together and obscuring the sun. Below them were countless waves of ghost cultivators who had obtained a solid form. Among them were many that had achieved at least the Nascent Soul stage. Their presence surrounding this place made it seem like hell on earth.

Ghost cultivators resided below ground, on the opposite face of this world. Those that were unable to enter the cycle of reincarnation after dying would all go to the reverse world. It was referred to as the ‘Ghost City’ or the ‘Nether Realm’.

The Nascent Soul ghost cultivators that obtained both a solid body and consciousness all kneeled outside. Their unified voice was enough to shake the heavens. “The Nether Realm has spoken, we await the orders of the Patriarch–”

Jiang Yinghe stopped in front of the endless mass of darkness. He heard Qin Jun’s low and hoarse voice from behind him.

“Shizun.” He recited the word with the same inflection as always, but something broke through his endless restraint to reveal his true, heated desire. “Stay by my side.”

When Jiang Yinghe remained silent, Qin Jun continued, “If you stay by my side and return with me, I will let these Yao Wang Valley cultivators go.”

Jiang Yinghe clenched his sword-wielding arm with his other hand. He was angry enough to want to run him through. But Qin Jun was a wraith, so he wouldn’t bleed, even if his physical form was pierced. This was the only reason he restrained himself, but his emotions still leaked through his clenched teeth. “…Ungrateful wretch.”

“Otherwise,” Qin Jun didn’t even blink as he stared intently at him, “even if I don’t lift a hand, these people will all die here.”

He approached and covered the back of Jiang Yinghe’s sword-wielding hand with his own. His voice was quiet and slow. “Shizun, I won’t harm you. I just need you to stay by this disciple’s side. Don’t leave me.”

Jiang Yinghe didn’t even know how to repudiate him anymore. He slowly caught his breath before he was able to slightly calm down. He turned to speak to Chou Yongzhou. “If you return, do not inform my Zhangmen-shixiong. This situation was caused by a lapse of judgement on my part.”

He paused, then continued. “If my Shixiong asks, tell him that Jun-er and I are going on an indefinite journey…I’m afraid I can no longer pass on that sword pendant for you.”

Jiang Yinghe had thought this through in a split second. If Qin Jun only had this one request, then it was the safest for everyone if he stayed for now. These righteous cultivators from Yao Wang Valley were unlikely to object. Now was not the time to let tempers flare…not while they were at such a disadvantage.

He took out that peach-coloured sword pendant from his sleeve and returned it to Chou Yongzhou before looking around. He said to Qin Jun. “Asking the Patriarch to open a path in the surrounding ghosts.”

The words were cold, as if this was who Jiang Yinghe really was all along. As if he was, from top to bottom, the icy frost under the moonlight—radiating a sub-zero chill.

But Qin Jun knew there was another side to him. Towards him, Shizun has always been incomparably mild and temperate. He even appeared personable and indulgent when admonishing him.

It was like a block of steel had crushed his heart. It was so heavy that it sent all his uncountable hopes and dreams crashing into an endless abyss.

He shakily waved his hand and parted the millions of ghosts surrounding the area. A ray of sunshine shone through, leaving a single safe passageway.

In front of his astonished and silent compatriots, the green-clad Chou Yongzhou accepted the sword pendant and bowed deeply to Jiang Yinghe. “Please take care, Xianjun. Do not give up, no matter what may happen.” He stared pointedly at Qin Jun.

Jiang Yinghe obviously did not understand his meaning. His heartache gradually eased as he forced himself to consider the Patriarch’s motives. He was only able to come to the conclusion that Qin Jun still wanted to toy with him. He could think of no other reasons. In his mind, Qin Jun was still as straight as an arrow, so even though he’d sensed some odd desire in the other’s voice earlier, since he was a man, nothing would happen.

But Chou Yongzhou thought differently. Jiang Yinghe’s ice spiritual root and his high level of cultivation made him an ideal furnace to many evil cultivators… He heard that ghost cultivators could extract and eat the soul. This, along with the Patriarch’s heated gaze towards him, probably meant that Xuan Wei Xianjun’s body was about to be stained by the lusts of his former disciple.

Jiang Yinghe didn’t know what he was talking about, but that didn’t stop him from answering vaguely. “I know. You should all go.”

After Chou Yongzhou stood, every one of the Yao Wang Valley cultivators saluted in Xuan Wei Xianjun’s direction before leaving. They said no words. Their heavy expressions told enough.

The road that Qin Jun had opened was very narrow. On their way out of the old residence, the resentful ghosts on either side of them were practically drooling. But since their Patriarch was near, no one dared to do anything.

The atmosphere became even more stagnant after they had left.

Jiang Yinghe stood where he was. He withdrew Wangchen to his personal dimension to prevent the sword from ringing out.

He sighed. “Patriarch, why must you…”

He only said so much before being stopped by Qin Jun. The hand that was covering Jiang Yinghe’s turned to tightly interlace their fingers.

Qin Jun embraced him from behind. His chin was resting on Jiang Yinghe’s shoulder and he sucked in a deep breath against his neck. His voice became even more raspy.

“Don’t call me that…” The end of his sentence was drawn out. “Address me the way you did before, alright?”

Jiang Yinghe had his hand and waist held by him, which left him speechless. He was exasperated as he turned his head. “Are all you evil cultivators so eager to make mischief? You insist on playing your role even after being exposed?”

Qin Jun’s only answer was to hold him tighter. Jiang Yinghe could feel the residual warmth on his palm.

“Shizun,” He continued, his voice hinting at a loss of control, “call me Jun-er, okay?”

Although it was phrased as a question, the end gave off a feeling approaching the paranoia of the mentally insane. Alarm bells went off in Jiang Yinghe’s head, and he agreeably said, “Alright…Jun-er.”

The person beside him immediately calmed down a lot. Jiang Yinghe breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. He then heard Qin Jun’s quiet question.

“Were you…truly sad just now?”

Jiang Yinghe sighed, “Yes, I was about to keel over with grief… Let go of me.”

Any more and he would start bawling.

It was only after Jiang Yinghe struggled for a bit that Qin Jun reluctantly let him go. He saw Jiang Yinghe turn to stare at him with those inky black eyes.

He slowly looked over Qin Jun before saying, “…I once expressed my admiration of you to your face. That, and the matter today are the same. They were both caused by my preconceptions, my inability to see the forest for the trees. Who would have thought the Spirit Patriarch that I admired was right in front of me this whole time.”

“Shizun…”

Jiang Yinghe didn’t reproach him for calling him that. He instead rubbed in between his eyebrows. “If you aren’t trying to take me out, are you coveting the other righteous immortals? What of the female cultivator of the same sect as you that you admire, is she real or another one of your lies? Is there someone else?”

Qin Jun steadily looked at him and got closer. He replied, “I do admire someone in my heart. As for the righteous immortals…If Shizun wishes to protect them, then Jun-er wouldn’t make the first move.”

How can Jiang Yinghe easily believe his bullshit again? “Then what are you going to do with me?”

Qin Jun stared into his eyes. Every word was carefully announced. “We are returning to the Nether Realm to get married.”

WTF? Get…married?

Jiang Yinghe was completely blindsided. For some reason, the first reaction he had to this was that Qin Jun tired of their charade as master and disciple after being exposed and wanted to act out being cultivation partners instead. Why the Patriarch felt they needed to get married too was beyond his understanding.

“You, you…” Jiang Yinghe paused, before continuing with anger in his voice, “Then what about the young lady that you like?”

Qin Jun: “I don’t like women…”

“…So your so-called admiration and love was just a joke to you in the end.” Jiang Yinghe couldn’t control himself after hearing the words ‘don’t like’. His voice deepened as he spat out, “What a scum of a casanova you are!”

Qin Jun: “…What’s a casanova?”

—-

By the time Li Huanhan rushed over, the originally pristine residence of the Sword Saint was in tatters. Everywhere was a mess, and the entire area was tainted by rolling miasma.

The black sleeves of his robe were picked up by the wind. There was a dark shadow in his blood-red eyes as he surveyed the surroundings. His grip on the Jimie sword trembled from how tightly he was holding it, and a piercing red sword light was visible.

He couldn’t find any trace of them. Only the abundant resentful energy remained.

He was one step too late.

Li Huanhan had no faith in Qin Jun’s character. Who knows where that bastard took Shizun. The sound of a flute suddenly came from the previously silent roof of the residence.

Li Huanhan snapped his head up to see a beautiful youth dressed in red sitting on the top of the wooden pillar. His clothes were reminiscent of the scattered sunlight that passed through a layer of clouds.

Chang Ye stopped playing his flute when he sensed a strong killing intent from the other’s gaze. He smiled, “Long time no see, Li-shixiong.”

Li Huanhan made no move to answer.

“Qin-shixiong…should have most likely taken Shizun to the Nether Realm.” Chang Ye caressed the emerald flute in his hands. “I just happened to catch a glimpse of an army of ghosts returning to the Nether Realm when I arrived. Unfortunately, I can’t win against Qin-shixiong right now.”

He tapped the flute against his palm a few times. Li Huanhan glared at him before turning into a wisp of light and hurrying to the Nether Realm.

Chang Ye watched him leave with glittering eyes. It was impossible to tell what he was thinking, even the upturned angle of his lips was somewhat deceitful.

He reached out a hand to brush over the saber tied at his waist, speaking out loud to himself. “…Shizun will only like me. I’m the most obedient and cute after all.”

A soundless wind blew over. Chang Ye was calculating how much time had passed before he seemed to suddenly remember something and laugh.

“Sorry, Xiao Yun-shishu.”

On the other side, Yun Buxiu who agreed to accompany Chang Ye back to Peng Lai woke up in a daze. The youth in red who was originally drinking wine with him was nowhere to be seen.

He startled and thought he was still dreaming. Then he saw a tall devil wearing a fur coat walk over. There was a pair of prominent tiger ears visible on his head as he came over to sniff him. The aura of a Primordial God level devil cultivator surrounded him.

Yun Buxiu: “…”

Yun Buxiu didn’t dare to move.

He soon heard the other’s rough and low voice.

“You’re fucked. Your Shizhi married you to me.”

Yun Buxiu: “???”

Author’s Corner:

HeHe: Fuck, my disciple’s an evil cultivator!

Yun Buxiu: Fuck! Your disciple’s married me off!

The martial brothers experiencing tragedy.

Rain: Author, you can’t make me cry and then make me laugh! I’m going to get an aneurysm at this rate!!

Sahl: All the Feels for our second disciple this time—these boys! Jun-er, I— * forcefully hugs Patriarch and gives pats on head *

Meanwhile: Chang Ye—I’m the cutest, so Shizun will of course like me over those other stinky brats…

Me: Um. That’s not how this works, child.