“It’s…not much better, is it?” Ye Liuxing whispered.
It wasn’t just “not much better”, Lin Cangyuan thought. It was actually much worse.
For centuries, the ghost barrier was like a living organism, bending and shifting whenever the boundaries of the ghost realm twisted and morphed according to the shifting landforms in a plane that mortals couldn’t begin to comprehend. The reason the crack began to form was because the ghost barrier had suddenly stopped adapting. Since this “living organism” was no longer “alive”, it relied on humans to maintain it.
For a while, this maintenance seemed to be working. Even with days like the Ghost Festival, the wounds on the ghost barrier healed with relative ease.
But this time was different.
Everyone knew the ghost barrier was at its limit, but even if it was going to crumble, this sort of crack was exceedingly unnatural—especially when there had apparently been monks attempting to seal it back up for the past eight years.
A large gash, starting from the height of a five-story building down to about the height of a regular tree, stood out from the shimmering green barrier. Resentful energy that transformed into demonic energy once it touched the mortal plane seeped out, like pus from an infected wound. If the crack had just been a small cut eight years ago, now it was a festering wound—a breeding ground for disease.
Yet, miraculously, aside from the one kilometer distance, starting from directly in front of the barrier, none of the demonic energy touched the air.
Lin Cangyuan looked up above their heads.
“If not up above, then,” Lin Cangyuan glanced down.
Ye Liuxing crouched to the ground. He pinched the soil, rubbed it between his fingers, and lifted it to his nose. His expression pinched before he stood. “The soil indeed smells like demonic qi.”
Lin Cangyuan’s gaze darkened. He harrumphed and flicked his sleeves. “Let’s head back.”
Before Lin Cangyuan could walk too far, he heard an unfamiliar voice calling out to him. Ye Liuxing and Lin Cangyuan turned, watching as a plump bald man ran over to them, his hands grasping at his robes so he didn’t trip over them as his feet moved. Once he was in front of Lin Cangyuan and Ye Liuxing, he placed both hands together and slowly bowed.
“This monk heard of Lord Liaosu’s arrival and hurried over,” the monk said, somewhat out of breath. His gaze flickered upwards. When he realized Lin Cangyuan wouldn’t ask for his name, he awkwardly cleared his throat. “This monk is called Yuan from Qingwu Monastery.”
“Monk Yuan,” Lin Cangyuan echoed. He glanced at the gash in the barrier. “And they sent you out here to give me answers, I presume?”
The old monk cleared his throat awkwardly. “One could say that, yes.”
“Then, may I ask how the ghost barrier, which wasn’t in this state before, has somehow gotten worse under the supervision of Qingwu Monastery, Lingxin Temple, and Wuqin Monastery?”
Ye Liuxing glanced at Lin Cangyuan. Despite being quick to snap, it was rare for Lin Cangyuan to truly become angry. And when he really became angry, someone was bound to pay the price.
“T-this—there is a reason, Lord Liaosu! It wasn’t due to our negligence.”
“I think you mean it wasn’t just due to your negligence,” Lin Cangyuan said, his gaze darkening. “Since things had come to this point, you should have contacted the Beidou Alliance or any of the greater sects in the upper realm. This was your first mistake!”
The pressure surrounding the monk doubled, causing the man to crumble to his knees.
“Sect Master-shixiong,” Ye Liuxing quickly held Lin Cangyuan’s arm. “Don’t be rash. If something happens to this man, they’ll surely make a fuss.”
Lin Cangyuan took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He scoffed and flicked his sleeve. “Call a meeting with everyone.”
Ye Liuxing helped the monk up and bowed his head slightly before jogging to catch back up to Lin Cangyuan.
“Bullshit. They’re lying out of their ass,” Lin Cangyuan said.
“Maybe there truly was a reason they refused to tell anyone,” Ye Liuxing said. “When the meeting is held later, please don’t jump to conclusions and listen to them. I know you’re mad right now, but we have to at least hear what stupid excuses they have.”
Lin Cangyuan glanced at Ye Liuxing. “Of course, I’ll listen. Am I that unreasonable of a person?”
Ye Liuxing smiled wryly. As if he hadn’t just forced a man to his knees out of anger.
At around the time when night fell, a meeting between the three groups was brought together. Lin Cangyuan sat at the head of the table, as the senior member of the Beidou Alliance. The aura he exuded caused the monks to tremble in fear. His gaze fell on one young man, who’s expression remained impassive, as if this entire situation had nothing to do with him.
Lin Cangyuan’s gaze flickered away.
“I’m sure the reason I’ve brought you all here has already been explained. So, it’s your turn. Tell me how the ghost barrier has fallen to such a state.”
“W-we also aren’t sure. It wasn’t like this initially—I-I mean, it wasn’t like this even last year! But it was this year that the ghost barrier faced a rapid deterioration. We’ve been trying to contact Beidou Alliance, but nothing has come to fruition. It’s almost as if all connection between here and the upper realm has been cut off.”
“That’s impossible. How would Ninglan have come here if that were true?” Ye Liuxing asked.
Lin Cangyuan frowned.
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.
“Shizun,” Deng Yenuo whispered. Ye Liuxing and Lin Cangyuan looked over. “It was Gui-shishu who contacted us first though.”
Ktf gbbw ofii rlifca.
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The young man nodded silently. “I understand. And I agree with you, Lord Liaosu. There is indeed something odd going on here.”
“Changyuan!” an older monk snapped. “What are you saying?!”
The young monk, named Changyuan, turned emotionlessly away. His cold gaze fell on Lin Cangyuan once more. “I arrived only last month, because my shifu told me that the ghost barrier was on the verge of collapse. Out of the Five Monastery Alliance, I should already be the strongest, yet the barrier hadn’t gotten any better. In fact, it progressively worsened.”
A hand slammed the table as an elderly monk stood. He whipped his head to another monk who sat beside Changyuan.
“Mingzhen, control your disciple!”
The man glanced up. He shrugged. “If you had just listened to our words earlier, it wouldn’t have come to this.”
Lin Cangyuan sat back and watched the monks bicker amongst each other. The few cultivators who had volunteered to be stationed in Beihua Town watched with growing irritation. They turned to Lin Cangyuan to do something.
Lin Cangyuan eventually cleared his throat, silencing everyone in the room. He looked at Changyuan.
“Do you think that there is a mole in this group?” Lin Cangyuan asked.
“Yes.”
“Who is it?” Lin Cangyuan asked.
Changyuan’s emotionless gaze rolled past the group closest to Ye Liuxing.
A man hopped up. “You’re lying!”
“Monks never lie,” Changyuan said. His gaze fell on the man, whose face was trembling in anger. “But since you’ve been lying for a long time now, I suppose you aren’t a monk.”
“You—”
“Mingzhen, look at this! It’s because you spoil your disciple that he thinks he can say whatever he wants. How could the head monk of Qingwu Monastery be a mole! It’s preposterous!”
“That’s right! Changyuan, you’ve grown arrogant. Just because you have the most promise and talent amongst the Five Monastery Alliance doesn’t mean that you no longer have to respect your elders!”
Lin Cangyuan and Ye Liuxing glanced at each other.
They rarely paid attention to what was happening among the Buddhist monks, so they hadn’t even known such an odd character existed amongst them. But it was amusing to watch as the pack of them screamed like monkeys, while the youngest of them all sat in silence.
Mingzhen, Changyuan’s shifu, glanced at his disciple with a slight sigh. “Changyuan, apologize.”
“Why must I?”
Mingzhen’s brows furrowed. But instead of scolding further, he simply turned to the others. “As you can see, he doesn’t want it.”
Ye Liuxing had to lower his head and pretend to drink tea to prevent himself from laughing. He couldn’t tell if Changyuan was truly that powerful, or if this Mingzhen just didn’t want to bother.
“Silence.”
Lin Cangyuan’s command forced the monks to stop shouting insults at the young man. His gaze flickered over to the group sitting beside Ye Liuxing. Qingwu Monastery.
“That’s all for now,” Lin Cangyuan said.
“Wait, Lord Liaosu—”
“I said, that’s all for now,” Lin Cangyuan said. He turned to Changyuan. “Could you come with us to the clinic?”
“Yes.”
The monks seethed in anger as they watched Changyuan leave with Lin Cangyuan and the others. As they were halfway there, Lin Cangyuan paused. He looked over his shoulder at Mingzhen.
Mingzhen gave a sheepish smile. “I’m afraid if I leave this child alone, he will offend you, lord immortal.”
“How so?” Lin Cangyuan asked, raising a brow.
Mingzhen glanced at Changyuan and sighed. “He doesn’t have his emotional root
, so he doesn’t understand human emotions very well.”
Lin Cangyuan glanced at Changyuan. The young man met his gaze steadily. After a moment, Lin Cangyuan shook his head.
“That will be fine. Don’t worry, Mingzhen-dashi,” Lin Cangyuan said. “We won’t take offense even if his attitude is unconventional.”
Mingzhen glanced at Changyuan. He sighed and patted the younger man on the back rather harshly. “Behave yourself.”
Changyuan glanced at Mingzhen. “I know.”
Once the group entered the clinic, Deng Yenuo offered Changyuan a seat and poured him a cup of tea. Changyuan watched him silently for a moment.
“You’re very handsome.”
Deng Yenuo froze. He met Changyuan’s gaze and chuckled. “Thank you.”
“I’ve never met a person that’s as handsome as you,” Changyuan continued, his gaze attached to Deng Yenuo as if he had been mesmerized.
Deng Yenuo glanced at Changyuan. “I don’t dare accept such a compliment.”
“Why not? It’s a fact that you’re handsome. This isn’t flattery,” Changyuan said.
“I…” Deng Yenuo lowered his gaze. “Um. Then, thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Ye Liuxing fiddled with the books on his table. He felt a cold sweat beading on his forehead. He tried his hardest not to, but his eyes eventually flickered towards Lin Cangyuan. If his shixiong had been angry by the ghost barrier, then now he was furious. He shook his head. He wouldn’t get involved in something like this. If there was anything to tease Lin Cangyuan about, then he would find out later when he was no longer so angry.
“Yenuo.”
Changyuan glanced at Lin Cangyuan and then to the man beside him. “So, your name is Yenuo?”
Deng Yenuo offered a small smile and returned to Lin Cangyuan’s side. “Shizun?”
“Where’s my tea?”
Deng Yenuo showed a flicker of confusion. “I…you were the first person I gave tea to.”
Lin Cangyuan glanced at the cup in front of him and coughed lightly. “I see. I didn’t notice. Sorry.”
“No…no, it’s okay,” Deng Yenuo said. He pressed his lips together as a fluttery feeling entered his chest.
This should be Lin Cangyuan being jealous, right?
Lin Cangyuan loudly cleared his throat. “Changyuan-dashi, you accused Qingwu Monastery so clearly. Do you have any evidence?”
“You couldn’t see?” Changyuan asked. He frowned slightly. “I thought people of higher cultivation would be able to see.”
“…See what?”
“Every human is born with an aura,” Changyuan said. “The aura can change color with even the simplest things, like emotion or trauma. It’s a big reason as to why some animals may be sensitive to a certain human. But once a person ascends to a certain realm in their journey to reach Nirvana, then their aura will fade. It will become more and more difficult for people to judge them instinctively. The elder monks here should have an aura that is faintly detectable, like my shifu or even Young Master Yenuo, but I can see them clearly. Their every shift in color and the rotting smell that comes from them. This only happens when they’ve fallen from their path and have touched the world of mortals again.”
“His surname is Deng,” Lin Cangyuan said.
Changyuan observed Lin Cangyuan silently for a moment before amending his words. “Young Master Deng.”
Lin Cangyuan fell silent. After a long time, he looked at Changyuan again, his eyes slowly narrowing. “Are you a spirit?”
Ye Liuxing and Deng Yenuo straightened. They glanced at Changyuan.
“My shifu says I was a koi spirit,” Changyuan replied honestly.
“Koi spirit,” Lin Cangyuan murmured. He nodded. “I see. Thank you.”
Changyuan waited for Lin Cangyuan to speak more, but when he saw that he was going to end the conversation, he spoke up again: “There is one more thing.”
“What is it?” Lin Cangyuan asked.
“I know how they are preventing the ghost barrier from healing.”
Lin Cangyuan’s gaze sharpened. “How?”
“May I have ink and paper and a brush please?” Changyuan asked.
The word “please” sounded rather forced, but Ye Liuxing rather appreciated the effort. Once the paper and ink were placed beside him. Changyuan lifted the brush and began to draw out what looked like an elaborate array. The three men hovered behind Changyuan’s shoulder until completion.
He had drawn two. Lin Cangyuan squinted as he looked between the two images, finding them nearly identical.
“Here,” Changyuan pointed a slender finger. “This area is where Qingwu Monastery is in charge of. They changed it to this.”
The trio looked to where Changyuan pointed. It was subtle, but now that it was pointed out, it was obvious.
“If you catch them in the act tonight, you can press charges,” Changyuan said, handing the two images over to Deng Yenuo. He stood. “However, I don’t know what you’ll do beyond that. As of now, we cannot contact the upper realm via our regular routes of communication.”
Lin Cangyuan fell silent. A moment later, he turned to Deng Yenuo. “Yenuo.”
“No.”
“Don’t say that so fast,” Lin Cangyuan sighed. “After we apprehend them, go find Elder Shan and Palace Lord Li. If you inform them of what has happened, then no one else in the Beidou Alliance will refuse us.”
Seeing Deng Yenuo’s reluctant expression, Lin Cangyuan couldn’t help but brush his hand over Deng Yenuo’s head. He smiled when the younger man looked at him.
“I’ll stay safe until you come back, okay?”
“You should remain safe regardless of whether I am by your side or not,” Deng Yenuo murmured, his hand reaching up to hold Lin Cangyuan.
Lin Cangyuan chuckled. “Alright, I promise I will. And you don’t have to worry anymore—there’s your Jiu-shishu and now your Gui-shishu by my side. What could possibly happen to me?”
Deng Yenuo hesitated a moment longer, but eventually nodded.
Lin Cangyuan turned to Changyuan. “If these members of the Qingwu Monastery are taken out of the array, will the barrier crumble at a faster rate?”
“I can cover them,” Changyuan said confidently. “Them being there is actually a burden.”
Lin Cangyuan nodded. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Changyuan said. He glanced at Deng Yenuo. “Um—”
“If that is all, I think you should head back and prepare for the array tonight.”
Changyuan looked a bit displeased, but after glancing at Deng Yenuo one more time, he willingly departed.
“A koi spirit, huh?” Ye Liuxing murmured. He glanced at Deng Yenuo. “He seems to have taken a fancy to our Young Master Deng.”
“Preposterous,” Lin Cangyuan said. “His own shifu said he doesn’t have an emotional root. It would be impossible.”
“He’s only fascinated with my looks,” Deng Yenuo said. “I didn’t sense any other meaning from him.”
Lin Cangyuan glanced at Deng Yenuo. He awkwardly coughed. “I know.”
Deng Yenuo smiled softly. He pressed a quick kiss to Lin Cangyuan. “I’m leaving.”
“You—”
“I’ll be back, Shizun. Don’t miss me,” Deng Yenuo said, quickly absconding from the clinic.
Ye Liuxing coughed. “Um…you two—”
“What about it?”
“N-nothing! Nothing. I didn’t—I wasn’t—um,” Ye Liuxing glanced at the utensils on the table. “I should clean up. Haha. Who knows how many injured people there will be tonight?”
gasp this Changyuan, i love youuuuu
uwu he’s a cutie isn’t he. hehehe thanks for reading!!!
Thank you for the update ❤️💯
thank YOU for READ
Poor Ye Liuxing doesn’t even know what to say💀
He’s absolutely Speechless 😭 thanks for reading!
Yenuo and the sect master are so cute!!!
I misread the title to lucky boi for a moment lol