After that, no one came in and made a fuss until they reached the He Huan Sect. In this rare moment of peace and quiet, Jiang Yinghe slowly finished the rest of the books Wang Mengzhou had sent. He found some of the plots very clever and fascinating.
There wasnât much sexual content, and the few instances were quickly glossed over. Perhaps the subtlety was because these stories were meant as a gift for a senior.
The four of them only reappeared after arriving at He Huan Sect. Many of the He Huan disciples were in a hurry. Even their greetings revealed a vague sense of sadness.
Tong Guiyu had managed this Sect for centuries. He had watched these juniors grow up. Even if his reputation wasnât exactly stellar within the righteous path, he did show some kindness to the disciples.
The person who came to welcome him this time wasnât Protector He, but a handsome youth of about seventeen or eighteen. A pelt the colour of snow draped around the shoulders of his dark blue robes lined with black and gold. Protector He stood behind him.
âMengzhou greets Senior.â
Wang Mengzhou stepped forward and bowed his head.
Jiang Yinghe nodded slightly. He followed the youth into the hall without saying anything.
Wang Mengzhou was a disciple of Tong Guiyu, but his status hadnât been made public before. This person, who stayed at the Lan Ling Publishing House to study and learn about the path of harmony, was Tong Guiyuâs appointed successor.
Jiang Yinghe had no objection to his friendâs choice, nor did he question this juniorâs ability to do the job. He was only here to do what Tong Guiyu had asked of him: to silently remain by Wang Mengzhouâs side.
The He Huan Sect main hall was consumed by strife and bickering. Many of the He Huan elders clung to the news of the Sect Masterâs death, refusing to allow the successor appointed by the Deputy Sect Master to take direct charge of the Sect.
Then the doors of the hall opened and shut. The messenger disciple announced Peng Laiâs arrival, heralding a sudden silence in the hall.
Jiang Yinghe stepped into the main hall, surrounded by Li Huanhan and Qin Jun. The little cat, Chang Ye, had never liked such occasions.
Without a word, he was brought to his seat by Wang Mengzhou. He seated himself in silence and stroked his whisk, waiting for someone else to be the first to speak.
But no one dared to be so presumptuous.
This eerie stalemate dragged on. Many quietly peered over, only to avert their eyes for fear of causing offence.
Representatives from Guang Han Palace, Ying Zhou School, Yao Wang Valley and all the other righteous immortal sects occupied the other seats. Not one looked familiar. Only Chou Yongzhou stood and bowed to him.
Huai Qing Zhenren has always treated him with respect for saving his life.
A long time passed before a He Huan cultivator stroked his beard and spoke. His words were rather tentative. In front of Jiang Yinghe, even those who had beards reaching the floor had to behave as a junior.
It wouldnât do for Jiang Yinghe to interfere in an internal matter of He Huan Sect, but his presence alone spoke volumes about his stance. It was invaluable help.
By the time three incense sticks had finished burning and the tea had been refilled once, He Huan Sect had finished negotiations. Something like a court of elders was established to assist Wang Mengzhou. After thinking about it for a while, Jiang Yinghe concluded this was probably the cultivation worldâs version of a constitutional monarchy.
With everything settled, the ceremony began. None of the sects were allowed to leave until it was finished.
After everyone departed, Wang Mengzhou came once again to Jiang Yingheâs side. He spoke for a bit about his shifuâs last instructions, also mentioning that Lan Ling Publishing Houseâs collections would always be open to Jiang Xianjun if he enjoyed them.
âŠWhat in the world did Tong Guiyu say to make this child think I like those strange books?
Jiang Yinghe was about to refuse when he looked up and noticed Chou Yongzhou lingering nearby. He was staring out the doors of the He Huan Sect main hall.
Jiang Yinghe followed his gaze. There were two statues outside of a man and a woman representing a harmonious couple.
The bitter winter wind and light snowfall from earlier dusted the statuesâ hair and shoulders with a layer of white. It was gradually being swept away by the wind.
Chou Yongzhou didnât say anything for the longest time. Then he pulled up his collar and turned to leave after a gentle glance at Wang Mengzhou.
His retreating figure seemed thin and lonely, even slightly depressed.
Jiang Yinghe watched him leave. He heard Wang Mengzhou speak.
âXianjun, senior Huai Qing, heâŠâ the teenager hesitated for a moment, âfor my shifuâs sake, his status in Yao Wang Valley has been greatly diminished. He also seems rather down lately and rarely smiles. However, Zhenren still takes great care of his juniors.â
âEn.â Jiang Yinghe didnât turn away for a long time. He suddenly had a feeling the other person wasnât down because of the impact on his reputation and the criticism he had received from Yao Wang Valley.
Just like the void left during the three hundred years or so before Jiang Yingheâs reincarnation, what Chou Yongzhou saw were not snow-covered statues, but the uncertainty awaiting him for perhaps hundreds or thousands of years, until that person returned to his side.
Jiang Yinghe sighed. He reached out and patted Wang Mengzhouâs shoulder, saying, âTong Guiyu wonât be able to come back to He Huan Sect any time soon. You have to work hard and stand on your own two feet to protect those important to you.â
Wang Mengzhou looked up at him, seemingly unable to comprehend how cold this world could be just yet. Nonetheless, he nodded seriously.
â-
He Huan Sect had long since prepared residences for the sect representatives sent to observe the succession ceremony.
Jiang Yinghe also finished preparing Wuchen. All that was left was to melt it and recast his sword. He stayed in his room to work on the main points. The entrance of another person went unnoticed.
Until the rich dark colour of ink spread into the inkwell from the ground inkstone.
Jiang Yinghe didnât need to raise his eyes to know that Li Huanhan was by his side.
The two of them did not need words for there to be a tacit gentleness between them. Li Huanhan had lit the candles by the time it was getting dark, but he still held down Jiang Yingheâs wrist.
âDonât write anymore.â He said, âYou were frowning just now. Are you tired?â
Jiang Yinghe had only just set aside his pen when he was picked up by the other person. He hadnât expected such a sudden move. ââŠIâm not tired. Rather, whatâs going on with you?â
Li Huanhan immediately pressed their lips together before hugging his shizun tightly around the waist and bringing him to bed.
Jiang Yingheâs mind was in turmoil as he heard a deep voice ringing in his ears.
ââŠDoes Shizunâs progress bar show anything?â
Jiang Yinghe hadnât received any new tasks these days. If there was any progress, it wouldâve been the few percentages from dual cultivating with his disciples. Thus, he just remembered that it was at 50% and thought no more of it. He took a look after Li Huanhanâs reminder.
âŠ51%?
Jiang Yinghe paused. He didnât know where this extra 1% had come from. Just as he pondered this, he saw Li Huanhan extend a hand and produce a dense and wrathful current of demonic energy.
Before Jiang Yinghe could ask, the demonic energy suddenly underwent changes. Its temperature plummeted until cold and ghostly miasma lingered between Li Huanhanâs fingers.
Jiang Yinghe couldnât speak at this astounding sight. He looked up with a gaze filled with questions, and the other person obliged.
âI exchanged pointers with my little shidi yesterday and unintentionally discovered this.â
He said it lightly, with emotions not much different from usual.
âŠThe increase in fusion progress should be because of this.
Jiang Yinghe held his hand. The miasma underwent another transformation into the unpredictable and flighty devilish energy. Then everything returned to silence.
âI asked Qin Jun and Chang Ye. They are also experiencing this.â Li Huanhan gazed at him and said, âThis should be the first sign.â
Jiang Yinghe didnât know what emotions the other felt as he said those words. But when he looked up, he saw a deep calmness in those blood-coloured eyes, with barely any sadness or frustration. However, this serenity only made his heart tremble more.
Li Huanhan lowered his head and kissed him gently, whispering, âIs there a place for me in Shizunâs heart?â
Jiang Yinghe couldnât speak. He nodded.
âThen thatâs enough.â Li Huanhan said, âIt is the best resting place for me.â
Jiang Yingheâs fingers tightened their grip on his lapels. ââŠDonât say that. Youâre going to make meâŠfeel like Iâm about to lose something.â
âNo.â Li Huanhan corrected with gentle patience, âThis isnât loss. I am simply returning to your side for real this time.â
âAs the fusion progresses, a stabbing pain plagues my heart.â He said by Jiang Yingheâs side, âI want to appear before you as a cultivation partner, not as a disciple before his master like now.â
âI too want Shizun toâŠno longer be restrained by reputation, the divide between good and evil, or the distance a master and disciple should maintain. I want you to be forevermore the moon surrounded by stars, the leader of the immortal path untouched by mortal affairs.â
Li Huanhan took his hand in his. Their warmth mixed and mingled.
âRetain your purity. I will return cleanly to your side.â
This was the person Li Huanhan treasured the most, someone whose every frown was more than he could bear. How could he possibly be willing to make his beloved suffer even a little for his sake?
Jiang Yinghe felt that his mind always stopped working when he looked at this person. He couldnât distinguish between the complicated emotions he was experiencing, but there was something he knew with unparalleled clarityâ
How much he loved him.
Jiang Yinghe leaned over and kissed him. Just when things grew heated, a cat suddenly meowed.
Jiang Yingheâs movements paused. He turned towards the door to see Qin Jun standing there with a cat in his arms.
It was hard to imagine that, given Qin Junâs relationship with Chang Ye, he would actually hold that little green tea cat properly one day instead of by the scruff of its neck.
Qin Jun let out a long sigh. âAs expected of Li-shixiong. You move so fast.â
While he spoke, he reached up and grabbed a ruby-eyed black snake off his body. The Blood Shadow residing within this snake body had gone into hibernation. It didnât shift even as it was pulled off.
âIt mistook me for someone. Came crawling onto me after I played with your demonic energy for a while.â Qin Jun carelessly threw the black snake towards Li Huanhan, âIf I hadnât been watching it, it would be in Chang Yeâs stomach by now.â
Li Huanhan took it without expression. He pressed a few points on the snakeâs body and it immediately woke up, twisting itself onto his fingers like a pretzel.
Li Huanhan stared at the other two-thirds who so rudely disturbed him. His voice was faint. âAnything else?â
âAlsoâŠâ Qin Jun tossed the white cat in his arms in his shizunâs direction before speaking very sincerely to Jiang Yinghe, âI can say âsharing is caringâ now, right?â
Jiang Yingheâs ears turned red. His mind was in utter chaos as the other person spewed those shameless words in such a gentlemanly tone. âHeâs not the only one feeling that way. San-er and I are also quite pitiful. How can Shizun be so biasedâŠâ
He called me biased againâŠ
Jiang Yingheâs bottom line was nonexistent at this point. He turned to look at the light snow outside the window, quietly stumbling through his words, ââŠIf you want some thenâŠthen come get it, I guessâŠâ
Authorâs Corner
This slopeâs too steep for my little bike. (stare)
So I gave up on my cart and started pushing my friendâs work.