“What did you talk about with the little tyke last night?”
Erlang glanced at Gui Yin.
The pair had left the inn rather early in the morning after bidding goodbye to the children. They were heading back to the mysterious cave in hopes that they would seek death once more.
“So, you know?”
“I heard him say he wanted to talk to you, then you two walked off,” Gui Yin said. “Did you offend him in some way?”
“He heard that I could tell fortunes, so he asked me to tell his fortune.”
“Nonsense. My child would never believe in something like that,” Gui Yin scoffed.
“Then, what do you think we talked about?”
“About…” Gui Yin’s voice faded. His cheeks slowly warmed. He snuck a glance at Erlang, only to find the other intently watching him. “What?”
“About?” Erlang’s smile deepened, showing his dimples once more. He walked a little closer. “Lord Immortal, what are you thinking about to have your face become so red?”
“It’s…hot. It’s hot outside. It’s the summer. It’s natural for my face to get red.”
“If you weren’t a cultivator of nearly a thousand years of age, I might believe you,” Erlang said, nodding slowly. He glanced at Gui Yin’s fan. “Besides, are you still hot when that fan of yours is moving at such a rapid pace?”
Gui Yin stopped fanning himself.
Erlang chuckled. He shifted even closer until his breath could brush against the shell of Gui Yin’s ear. “Do you think that it was about you…and me?”
Gui Yin smacked Erlang with his open fan.
The two men stopped walking and faced each other.
“Is it because you’re always involved in sketchy matters that you no longer need to care about face? How could you be so narcissistic to think so?”
“Was it not?”
“It was! But why was that the first thing that occurred to you?” Gui Yin scoffed. He turned away, grumbling, “Absolutely shameless.”
Erlang shook his head, laughing to himself as he followed Gui Yin’s quickened footsteps. “Well, just know that I didn’t say anything I shouldn’t have. I also told your little disciple that I would take very good care of you.”
“Do I need you to take care of me?” Gui Yin asked.
“Naturally not, but he asked me to, so I just agreed. I didn’t want to worry his little heart,” Erlang said. After a moment, he looked to Gui Yin. “Gui-xiong, but I have a question about this head disciple of yours.”
Gui Yin looked at him suspiciously. “Ask.”
“I saw him taking a few pills while we were heading back in. May I ask what those are for?”
Gui Yin’s brows furrowed. He looked at Erlang with a tight smile. “And why should I tell you?”
“I’m only concerned. He said that it’s an illness that inhibits his path of cultivation,” Erlang said, his smile disappearing into a frown. He lowered his gaze thoughtfully as he spoke. “I saw that he had quite the potential. It would be a shame if a little curable illness were to stop him from being cultivation world’s greatest.”
“He doesn’t need to be the greatest. He only needs to be happy,” Gui Yin said in displeasure.
“But what if he wants to be.”
Gui Yin met Erlang’s gaze.
“When I said I saw potential in him, I could tell he was a little upset. Besides, there’s a difference between choosing to be mediocre and being unable to change your fate of being mediocre,” Erlang said. Seeing Gui Yin’s downcast gaze, Erlang continued: “Share it with me. I’ve been to a lot of places and I know a lot. Perhaps I can find a cure for him. If not now, then maybe in the future.”
Gui Yin’s hesitation became more apparent. Erlang sighed. “Gui-xiong, I know what you’re concerned about, but he’s just a thirteen-year-old boy. What would I gain from harming him? And you’re my benefactor that I have yet to pay. He’s your disciple, that would make it even more impossible for me to harm him.”
Gui Yin scoffed in amusement. “How can I trust you?”
“That’s a choice you’ll have to make. But you also know that I never break a promise,” Erlang said. “Even if we may become enemies in the future, until I repay you four times, I will definitely not turn on you.”
“How troublesome for you,” Gui Yin said.
“Not at all, not at all. As Huigu Palace Palace Lord, I should at least hold up this amount of integrity,” Erlang said.
“If…and I’m saying if,” Gui Yin said. “If you can find a cure for him…”
“If that is what you want, I will count that as one of the four favors,” Erlang said.
Gui Yin let out a long sigh. “Alright. I’ll choose to trust you.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“Thank you for gifting me the honor.”
Xel Tlc jcv Sgijcu ofii rlifca obg j ktlif jr Xel Tlc jaafwqafv ab ujatfg tlr atbeutar.
Gfrqlaf tlr wfwbglfr yfmbwlcu mifjgfg, tbk tf wfa tlr vlrmlqifr kfgf ralii j yieg. Lf gfwfwyfgfv ojg lcab atf vlrajca qjra, yea atf gfmfca qjra kfgf wfwbglfr tf mbeiv bcis mjamt j uilwqrf bo. Pa kjr ilxf j gfoifmalbc lc atf kjafg. Po tf aglfv ab jqqgbjmt la jcv abemt la, atf lwjuf kbeiv vlrqfgrf lcab j tjhs wfrr, cfnfg ab gfnfga yjmx ab lar bglulcji jqqfjgjcmf.
“Do you know about the incident six years ago when a group of ghost cultivators were attempting to establish their own territory?”
“You’re speaking about the Phantom Pillars Incident?”
Gui Yin nodded. “I happened to be in charge of taking care of the cultivators involved. During the cleanup process, I found him in the rubble, but the ghostly qi had already entered his meridians and contaminated his soul. There is little we can do about his soul, but we can still try to clear up what’s left in his meridians. He has to bathe in a solution my shimei concocted and take the Phoenix Elixir every three months. As for the secondary pill you mentioned, it’s most likely the Mind Calming Pill to subdue heart demons.”
“So, it’s to that extent?” Erlang murmured. “That is to say, he hasn’t died, but he’s been infected?”
Gui Yin hummed in agreement. It was that kind of situation.
“There is a springs in Kunlun,” Erlang said, “That can purify demonic energy and ghostly energy. I can try to get your disciple access to it.”
Gui Yin’s eyes widened. He looked at Erlang in surprise. “Do you think it’ll work?”
“It’s worth a shot. It’s a bit tricky to purify the soul, but I know for certain it can at least get rid of the excess energy that’s blocking his potential. He may have to stay there for a few years up to a decade,” Erlang said. He glanced at Gui Yin. “Are you willing to let him do that?”
“Willing,” Gui Yin nodded. “Of course. If he’s willing, then I would let him go.”
“It just so happens that my abode in Kunlun is around the springs, so he could easily have access to it,” Erlang nodded. He smiled. “After I take care of my business, I will come find you again to arrange his stay.”
Gui Yin nodded emphatically. “That would be great. Thank you, Erlang.”
Erlang’s lips twitched into a smile. He let out a long sigh. “So, I have to be useful to be on your good side, hm?”
“I don’t know what you mean,” Gui Yin said, turning away again coldly.
“Before you refused to even utter my name, but now you’re thanking me so sweetly,” Erlang chuckled. “I should do more for you.”
“If you do more than three more things, then it’ll be my turn to owe you. I would rather not.”
“If it were you, I wouldn’t hold you accountable for anything,” Erlang said.
The two men’s gazes collided. Erlang’s smile widened and Gui Yin merely raised a brow.
“Still, I have to say, your little disciple is really impressive. Even with all that ghostly qi within him, he’s able to cultivate to Foundation Building,” Erlang said. “His future prospects are boundless.”
“They are. He’s made for cultivation,” Gui Yin said with a woeful sigh. “It’s a shame the gods were jealous of his talent.”
“Is that what it is?” Erlang chuckled.
“If you are born with talent, then you’re bound to lose something in exchange,” Gui Yin said. “This world is never free from transactions.”
“Then, what did you lose?”
Gui Yin glanced at him.
“You’re talented in cultivation, you’re handsome, and you’re highly intelligent. You have everything anyone could want from riches to status,” Erlang praised. “So, Gui-xiong, what did you lose?”
“I…” Gui Yin’s gaze grew distant.
It would be great if Gui Yin could remember what he lost. He supposed his shizun and his martial siblings would be the obvious answer. He lost his home and a sense of belonging that came with that found family. He lost his memories as well. If he wanted to be more negative, he could say that he didn’t even have a sense of self. He still couldn’t figure out what crazy turn of events led to him putting himself through such grueling trials, but since he had returned, he could hardly come to terms with anything that’s happened.
Some days, he felt like he was Gui Yin, the editor at Butterfly Books who had unluckily been sucked into one of his client’s stories. Other days, he clearly knew that he was Gui Qinle, the lord immortal who was respected by many. Then, there were days when his identities blurred, leading him to question whether any of this was real.
Was he really Gui Qinle? Was he even Gui Yin? Or was he someone else entirely that had been tossed around like a plaything by powers he couldn’t even begin to comprehend?
Then, in his dreams, he was haunted by memories he could never clearly recall when he woke up. He just knew that whenever he tried to remember, his chest would ache incessantly until it felt like blood was flowing from his heart.
Gui Yin’s silence spoke much more than he realized. Erlang’s eyes narrowed silently and the blacked-out patch of Gui Yin’s life reappeared in his mind. The Heavens eluded him, but could it be that Gui Yin also didn’t know?
“…A lot,” Gui Yin said. He looked at Erlang wearily. “I’ve lost a lot. But I’m sure you also relate.”
Erlang’s relaxed expression showed a hint of surprise. Eventually, he chuckled. “At least we’ve found one similarity.”
The remainder of the walk continued in silence. Gui Yin was concentrating on searching for the entrance, while Erlang’s gaze lingered on Gui Yin.
“Gui-xiong.”
Gui Yin looked up. He let out a soft sigh. “Erlang, can’t you at least help me? We’re trying to pursue someone that you’re looking for.”
Erlang smiled. “Gui-xiong, I have a question.”
“What question?” Gui Yin asked, his voice tinged with feigned irritation. He straightened and brushed his hands over his robes. “Can’t it wait till we’re in the cave?”
“If you were able to know your future, would you want to?” Erlang asked.
Gui Yin’s playful expression faded a fraction. “My future?”
Erlang hummed. “For example, whether or not everything will turn out alright.”
Gui Yin fell into his own thoughts for a moment. A soft chuckle left his lips. “If they don’t turn out well, wouldn’t I just give up?”
Erlang hummed softly. If someone was told their life was doomed to fail no matter how much they struggled, it would definitely be plausible they would simply choose to give up. However, he offered only because he knew Gui Yin would never.
“Don’t talk about nonsense. Let’s find the entrance first,” Gui Yin said. He readjusted his folding fan in his belt and stooped back down.
Erlang watched Gui Yin’s back. He approached slowly and crouched down beside him. “I think you’ll gain more than you lose.”
Gui Yin’s hands stilled. He looked at Erlang.
“You may feel like you have nothing right now, but in the future, you’ll find happiness.”
“Because of you?” Gui Yin asked, tilting his head in amusement.
“…Pardon?”
“Because you keep saying we’re fated. So, if you’re meant to be in my future, will I find happiness because of you?”
Erlang stared at Gui Yin in surprise. Gui Yin chuckled and returned to his task at hand.
“I don’t really care about if I really become happy or if I fall into destitute. What matters to me right now is my past and present. I only need to not regret the decisions I’ve made and make decisions I won’t regret,” Gui Yin said, a long sigh leaving his lips. His hands brushed through the foliage in front of him. A small pout formed on his face at the lack of results. “That’s all there is to it.”
Gui Yin stood, brushed his hands together and moved on to the next area. Erlang dazedly followed.
“Then, even if I told you that you’ll die in a few days, you won’t be angry?”
Gui Yin glanced at Erlang. “I might be. It’s not like I asked you.”
“But if you had.”
“If I had, then I wouldn’t be angry. I was the one who wanted to know anyway. If that’s my fate, then so be it. It’s not like you decided I was going to die in a few days,” Gui Yin said. He paused for a moment and then turned to Erlang, his hands resting against his knees. “Are you an astrologist or something?”
“What?”
“You keep talking about reading stars and futures and stuff. Can you actually?” Gui Yin asked.
Erlang held Gui Yin’s gaze as his usual smile took over his features. He leaned in slightly, until Gui Yin could feel his breath. “What do you think?”
“I think you’re too bored, so this is your way of messing with people,” Gui Yin said. He impulsively reached out and poked Erlang’s forehead. He turned away and waddled to the next patch of grass. “If you really were an astrologist, you would be in some prestigious sect like Xingwang School (星忘门), or you’d be a chair member in the Beidou Alliance.”
“What if I wanted to live a quiet life?”
Gui Yin sat back on his heels and looked at Erlang. “If this is what you think a quiet life is, I don’t want to know what your version of a busy life is like.”
Erlang chuckled. He followed Gui Yin. “Gui-xiong, I’m finding that you’re suiting my tastes more and more.”
“Sorry, but I only allow people to have one taste,” Gui Yin looked over his shoulder. “Spend it wisely.”
“The two of us are f—”
“Then, you must take care to not fall into your desires,” Gui Yin said. He patted Erlang’s shoulder with feigned sympathy. “You want to stay in my future, don’t you?”
Erlang remained where he squatted as Gui Yin moved on. After a moment, Erlang’s unbridled laughter touched Gui Yin’s ears. The tips of his ears reddened. His fingers blindly felt around, but he couldn’t seem to concentrate. Erlang had a really nice voice.
“Hurry and help find the entrance. If you don’t, I’ll smack you,” Gui Yin threatened.
Erlang stood and obediently went to search another part of the path they had come across. After another twenty minutes, Gui Yin finally found an opening. He stood excitedly and tugged Erlang over.
“Finally found it! My waist was about to kill me!” Gui Yin said.
Erlang glanced down. Did a slim waist like that contain no power?
“What are you waiting for?”
Erlang looked at Gui Yin. “What?”
“Jump.”
“…You’re not jumping?”
“I’ll jump after you tell me it’s safe,” Gui Yin smiled. He flourished his fan and lightly fanned himself. “I promised to help you—I didn’t promise to risk my life.”
Erlang smiled politely. “Then, I will be heading on ahead.”
Without a moment of hesitation, Erlang put one foot in front of the other and gracefully fell down the hole. About a minute later, Gui Yin heard Erlang’s voice transmission.
“It’s safe.”
Gui Yin grasped Fenghua and jumped down the hole. He prepared to cushion himself, but before he could even see the ground, he felt a pair of arms embrace him. A dull light came from the floating orb beside him. His arms had unconsciously wrapped around Erlang’s neck. The man’s arms gently held him by the waist and the knees. The action was natural, as if they were made to fit each other.
“Why haven’t you let me down yet?” Gui Yin asked.
Erlang released Gui Yin with the same abruptness he had when he caught him. If Gui Yin hadn’t been prepared to be dropped, he really would have fallen.
“Jerk,” Gui Yin mumbled.
He waved his fan and guided the small orb in front of them. Erlang looked at the new trinket with a hint of fascination.
“Gui-xiong, what’s this little toy?”
“This is Night Pearl. It’s an invention of mine. The Night Luminescent Pearl is a hard to come by magical item but it’s useful in a lot of scenarios that require light, so I made something that mimics its fluorescent qualities,” Gui Yin explained. He drew it closer and held it towards Erlang. “It doesn’t have any of the other magical properties, but it’s a good…guiding light.”
Gui Yin had almost let slip the word “flashlight”. Erlang glanced at Gui Yin, obviously noticing the awkward pause. But he didn’t comment on it. He turned his attention back to the Night Pearl in Gui Yin’s hands. A light hum of appreciation was heard.
“Fascinating. Gui-xiong really comes up with all sorts of interesting things.”
“Interesting is definitely the right word for it. If you think about it too hard, you’ll just realize that I’m lazy. I want life to be more convenient.” Gui Yin waved his hand carelessly and the Night Pearl flew ahead again.
“There’s nothing wrong with wanting convenience,” Erlang said.
“If you want, I can give you some,” Gui Yin said. “You just need a little bit of spiritual energy. And they’re easy to make. Just—”
Gui Yin immediately stopped talking. The Night Pearl dashed back into his sleeve and the tunnel was enveloped in darkness. The sound of the uneven, scraping footsteps appeared again. Gui Yin reached out, his hand fumbling slightly as his eyes concentrated on the darkness in front of them. He eventually met a hand in midair and felt Erlang tug him closer.
Erlang slipped past him, walking ahead as they tried their best to lighten their footsteps. The scraping footsteps continued, but they seemed to be getting fainter. The two men didn’t rush and simply continued down the path. There was no light, but as cultivators of such a high caliber, they were able to see their surroundings as if the room were dimly lit.
A long time passed before it was silent again.
Gui Yin released Erlang’s hands and crouched down. “Erlang.”
Erlang squatted down beside him. His brows furrowed. “Blood. Does that mean that other than that creature, there are other things in this cave?”
Gui Yin nodded. “It could very well also be the person we’re looking for.”
The two men fell silent. Erlang looked at Gui Yin. “Gui-xiong, may I trouble you for a bit of light again?”
Gui Yin lifted his sleeve. The Night Pearl flew from his sleeve, circled, and then stopped just above them, illuminating the gory scene in front of them.
Erlang placed his fingertips onto the damp soil. He closed his eyes and fell into a silent meditation. Gui Yin glanced over his shoulder and shifted on the balls of his feet. There was no corpse around them. There were bones, but the bones were splintered and broken up. It was difficult to tell what they previously belonged to.
“It wasn’t a human,” Erlang concluded.
Gui Yin looked at him quizzically. “How do you know?”
“The stars told me,” Erlang smiled. He glanced at his hand, now red and sticky with blood, with a slight distaste. He stood, his hand hanging awkwardly away from his body. “But that means that there are other creatures. For now, whatever ate that thing will pose more of a threat to us.”
Gui Yin tucked his folding fan into his belt and reached into his sleeve. A moment later, he had pulled out a container of water. He brought Erlang’s hand over to him.
“Did the stars tell you what kind of creature it was?”
Erlang watched the scene before him in a stunned silence. Gui Yin poured water onto his hand and then produced a handkerchief to wipe it down. A sound of protest died out at the back of Erlang’s throat. The movements were natural, but this naturalness made Erlang’s heart jump.
Gui Yin glanced at Erlang promptingly.
“I…no,” Erlang shook his head. He felt a trace of pity as Gui Yin released his hand. “I’ll take the handkerchief.”
Gui Yin raised a brow.
“I’ll wash it and give it back to you later. You can take mine for now,” Erlang reached passed his lapel and handed it to Gui Yin. “I haven’t used it yet.”
Gui Yin glanced at the black handkerchief that had the character “二” embroidered onto it. “Does your real name actually have the character ‘Er’ in it?”
Erlang’s heart had calmed down long ago, but when he heard this question, it gave a slight jump. He took in Gui Yin’s innocent expression and eventually smiled.
“‘Er’ isn’t part of my real name. I’m just the second son my mother had.”
Thank you for this chapter!
thanks for the read!
Gui yin can really make a person’s heart throb when he wants to
YAYYY TREATMENT FOR GUI LINGHUO!!! mwah, Erlang youre the best (๑˃ᴗ˂)
when Erlang caught Gui Yin and kept holding him, i kept staring and rereading until i was lightheaded cause i forgot to breath;;; then the tables turned with Erlang getting flustered!!!! MWHAHAHA!! love it. altho the lore around why “Er” is making me both concerned and curious….. did smth happen to the first son? was there an expectation to, essentially, always be second in everything and never forget that? could be overthinking (not good when i deprived it of oxygen earlier lolol) but hm….
pats your back please don’t forget to breath– thanks for reading!!
Thank you for the update ❤️💯
thanks for read!
AHHHhHH!!! Thanks!!! A little nervous about what they will find, but man the interactions are fantastic
hehe thank youuu! thanks for reading!
thanks for the chapter <;