The cold war between Yankui and Gui Linghuo lasted an entire week.
Although Yankui still ate the food he was given and still helped Gui Linghuo with menial tasks, the young man didn’t bother making any friendly conversation. The flowery smell that hung around him had also gotten stronger, making Gui Linghuo hide a smile every time he thought about it. At some point during the week, Gui Linghuo heard a loud crash and rushed to the scene, only to find that Yankui had knocked something over.
Such a petulant guest would garner hate from even the most patient host, but Gui Linghuo remained calm and silently cleaned up the mess.
When the second week rolled around, Gui Linghuo softly knocked on the door again and waited for silence to greet him.
The door slowly pulled back and revealed Yankui’s eye. Gui Linghuo smiled. “Breakfast.”
Yankui pulled the door open a little more and stared at Gui Linghuo until the man stepped in.
“What’s wrong? Not angry anymore?” Gui Linghuo asked.
Yankui pursed his lips. He sat down and huffed.
“Here, try some. I made leek pancakes,” Gui Linghuo said.
Yankui peeked at Gui Linghuo. The man was as good-tempered as he had been before, making Yankui feel even more uncomfortable. He took a few bites before clearing his throat. “…Hey.”
Gui Linghuo glanced up. “Hm?”
Yankui mumbled something indecipherable.
Gui Linghuo raised a brow. “What did you say?”
“I said I’m,” Yankui mumbled again.
Gui Linghuo’s lips curved slightly. He leaned a little closer. “Sorry, one more time?”
“I’m sorry!” Yankui shouted. He took a deep breath and shoved an entire leek pancake into his mouth.
Yankui’s entire face was bright red. He really wanted to find a hole and shove himself into it. He had gotten to the age of twenty-one and had never apologized to anyone so sincerely before. But after this sincerity passed, there was only embarrassment and unwillingness.
If it wasn’t for that man’s ghost guards continuously pestering him for a report, he wouldn’t even bother apologizing to Gui Linghuo! Yes! That’s exactly why! That’s the only reason why!
Gui Linghuo watched Yankui stuff his face. The frustration and gloom he had felt from earlier in the morning faded a little. The corner of his lips lifted and he reached over to rub Yankui’s head again.
Yankui stilled. He glared at Gui Linghuo and looked like he might bite his hand off.
“I’m sorry too. I don’t know your circumstances, yet I kept trying to push my thought process on you,” Gui Linghuo murmured. “You must really hate devil cultivators.”
“Yeah, they almost killed me,” Yankui said. He swatted Gui Linghuo’s hand away. “And rather than being angry about that, I’m just annoyed at you.”
“Oh?”
“Your home got ruined because of ghost cultivators and now your shizun is missing because of them, right?” Yankui said. “So, why would you still cling to such an idealistic view on the world?”
“I’m not clinging to it,” Gui Linghuo said. He glanced down at his gloved hands and seemed to see the disgusting black veins underneath. “I truly think there are good devil cultivators out there.”
And if he didn’t think so, he might fall into madness and let his own hatred consume him.
Earlier this morning was a great example. He had trouble getting out of bed from the pain that dug into his veins and threatened to puncture them through. If he didn’t repeat Gui Yin’s teachings and if he hadn’t had to deliver breakfast to Yankui, maybe he would have had another attack, rendering him unable to leave the bed for weeks at a time again.
It was important for him to keep a clear, cool mind. He could be upset and he could be sad, but he couldn’t hate others. Hatred would be his downfall.
But he didn’t bother explaining everything to Yankui. And he was a bit preoccupied.
Today, he was finally able to get a closer look at Yankui again after a week. He immediately noticed the differences.
His lips were a little thinner. His face was a little slimmer. The flowery scent on him was a little less.
Gui Linghuo’s eyes narrowed. Was he switching tactics?
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.
“Mbgufa la. Pa’r erfifrr ab jguef klat qfbqif ilxf sbe,” Tjcxel weaafgfv lgglajyis.
Xel Olcuteb mtemxifv. “Gb sbe kjca ab ub lcab abkc klat wf abvjs?”
Tjcxel mjealberis uijcmfv eq. “Xb lcab abkc?”
“Zc. P rjlv yfobgf atja P kbeiv ajxf sbe jgbecv, gluta?” Xel Olcuteb rjlv. “Ktfc, sbe uba jcugs ja wf jcv P tjnfc’a yffc jyif ab eqtbiv atja qgbwlrf.”
Yankui pursed his lips. He fiddled with his chopsticks. “Why? Do you need to buy something or whatever?”
“Mn,” Gui Linghuo hummed. “I need new brushes.”
Yankui glanced at him skeptically. He would have believed Gui Linghuo more if the man told him he needed to buy a coat. However, he didn’t bother bursting his bubble. He hummed noncommittally and agreed to go into town with him.
When they set out, Gui Linghuo insisted that Yankui wear a cloak. The cloak was lined with fur to prevent the winter chill from coming in. To others, it might be overkill, but to Yankui, who had a body temperature that was far lower than regular people, it was perfect. He hugged it closer to himself and even forgot to wonder how on earth Gui Linghuo knew.
Xinggang City rained often around this time of year. In the past, the cold and wet streets did nothing to deter the people from setting up stalls and exploring the city. But after the war, it seemed like the entire population had lost their spirit. Few people were in the streets now and those who were would look up at the sky mournfully as they wondered what would come from this hard to find peace.
When the people running stalls saw Gui Linghuo, the dower expressions on their faces lightened.
“Xiao Huo, it’s rare to see you around here nowadays!” the stall owner selling sweet potatoes smiled kindly.
Gui Linghuo greeted them and tentatively chose four sweet potatoes. “I’ve been busy recently, so I haven’t had much time to come out.”
“I would guess so, huh?” the old man sighed. “After the whole war and all that…oh, right, I haven’t seen that little shimei of yours in a while either. How about taking a few extra back for her?”
Gui Linghuo politely declined. “I haven’t seen her in a while. She’s grown now so she rarely comes back.”
Yankui watched this back and forth and couldn’t help but frown a little. Why was Gui Linghuo lying? Whenever Yankui saw him, he would be sitting at the gazebo, staring silently ahead. As for that shimei of Gui Linghuo’s, wasn’t she out looking for their shizun? What was the point of lying to this old man?
“And has there been any news of Lord Immortal Ninglan?” the old man asked worriedly.
Gui Linghuo softly shook his head. “We’re still looking.”
The old man’s eyes reddened. He sighed and stuffed a few more sweet potatoes into the bag. “It’s raining today, so there won’t be many people stopping by. Just hand them out to those martial siblings of yours.”
“Thank you,” Gui Linghuo said.
The two of them left the stalls. Gui Linghuo pulled out a sweet potato, carefully peeled back the skin, and handed it to Yankui. He met the younger man’s quizzical eyes and smiled.
“When I was younger, I would come into the city with my martial siblings from time to time. Because we were disciples of the overseeing sect, people here have a strong impression of us,” Gui Linghuo said. “It’s been a while since I’ve walked the street like this. I’m surprised he even recognized me.”
“Well, you’re wearing your uniform today,” Yankui pointed out between bites.
“That’s true,” Gui Linghuo agreed.
The two of them walked to a few more stalls. When it began to rain, Gui Linghuo opened up the umbrella and shielded them both. Yankui stilled and glanced up at the umbrella in surprise.
The person running the hairpin stall giggled. “Are you two a couple?”
“Us?” Yankui stared at the lady. “No, we aren’t.”
The woman hummed, but her gaze flickered over to Gui Linghuo knowingly. “That’s a shame. You two would be a good match.”
Yankui laughed awkwardly, but didn’t know what to say. What was wrong with the people in the upper realm?
Gui Linghuo tugged the ribbon that Yankui had been holding from his hand and placed it back on the table. “I’ll take this and the other one he was looking at.”
The lady grinned happily. “Alright!”
Yankui turned to Gui Linghuo. “I was just looking casually.”
“I know. But you need more things for your hair anyway. Or do you want to keep using that broken hairpin?” Gui Linghuo asked.
Yankui pouted. He did not want to keep using the broken hairpin. He glanced at the ribbon and felt a little excited. It had been a long time since he had gotten any new hair accessories.
The bag was given to Yankui to hold. The younger man started on a new sweet potato as they approached the stationary store.
Yankui glanced in at all the expensive pieces and opted to stay outside. He took the umbrella and shimmied into a corner. “I’ll stay here.”
Gui Linghuo hesitated for a moment, but eventually nodded. He entered the store and was immediately called on by the store clerk.
Yankui watched him for a moment and turned back to face front. He ate the sweet potato, his eyes squinting happily. The sweet potatoes here didn’t taste the same as the ones where he was from. Anything where he was from tasted like rot and smelled of decay. In the upper realms, everything tasted fresh. This was probably how that man and his subordinates ate.
Yankui pushed aside his unsavory thoughts and took another large bite of the sweet potato. Once he finished, he brushed his hands together and got ready to go into the stationary shop. Before he could, he felt something move about in his abdominal region. He froze and pursed his lips. He glanced up at Gui Linghuo, who was still preoccupied with buying brushes, and quickly snuck away.
His grip on the umbrella tightened and his steps quickened in haste. The pain in his stomach grew until his face paled and sweat began to pool at his hairline. He dropped the umbrella, and nearly fell to the ground.
The drizzle of rain was slowly becoming heavier. Yankui’s hair stuck to the sides of his face. His eyes narrowed and the black irises suddenly became a ghostly green. He trudged forward a few more steps and fell against the wall of an alleyway.
He swayed, pushed himself from the wall and reached into the densest part of the shadows. His hand searched around until he found what he was looking for. He gripped it tightly and yanked the person out.
The ghost guard hadn’t expected to be summoned in such a rough way. He flew from the shadow pocket and was flung against the wall, flying into it like a splattered fly. He fell roughly on the pile of trash, but still got up into a kneeling position. Cold sweat gathered at his palms and he lowered his head until his nose nearly touched his knees.
“Young Saint, what have you summoned me for?”
“Report,” Yankui breathed out slowly. “Did I not give you a report?!”
The ghost guard immediately prostrated. “Yes, Young Saint! You have! A-and I turned it in the moment you handed it to me. I—”
“Then, tell me why—” Yankui gripped his abdomen tightly. Green flames flickered at his finger tips as black veins bulged at his neck and his forehead. The pain was unbearable for a normal person, but for Yankui it was just the beginning of a nightmare. His expression cooled. “Did you betray me?”
“I-I didn’t! I swear, Young Saint, I haven’t—”
Yankui stretched out his hand as he began to breathe heavily. “Give me the suppressants.”
The ghost guard suddenly recalled that his master had indeed handed him a new batch of suppressants. He shakily reached into his pouch and produced the green vial.
“H-His Excellency told this servant to give this to the Young Saint when I was next summoned,” the ghost guard trembling explained. “T-this servant didn’t realize that it was actually a suppressant. Young Saint, please sp—”
The ghost guard’s next words would never be heard.
A blood curdling scream rose into the air as the black soot was scattered to the winds.
In the vial was a rolled-up note and three pills.
Yankui’s eyes narrowed as he took one and read the note.
My good son,
If you are seeing this note, it must mean that phase two has commenced. It is not your father’s wish to see you eaten alive, so it would be best if you act faster. You’ve gotten close to the boy who can wield the Ghost Flames, have you not? If not, that’s okay. Your father is a man of his word. You still have two years, but be sure not to leave too much time in between reports like last time. Your father, I, will get worried.
With love,
Your father.
“Father,” Yankui scoffed.
The letter went up in flames as Yankui slumped against the wall. He held the vial of pills close to his chest as the rain splattered against his cheek. He closed his eyes and slowly slid to the ground. The pain in his stomach was slowly subsiding, but he couldn’t help but want to vomit. He held a hand to his chest and tilted his head up. He felt the rain slide down his face and shivered silently.
Soft footsteps approached him and the cold rain was suddenly cut off.
Yankui slowly opened his eyes and looked up into Gui Linghuo’s face.
The young man reached out. “Can you stand?”
Yankui looked at the hand stretched out in front of him. For some reason, he felt that this hand would be very warm. His brows furrowed and he threw the thought away. He forced himself to stand on his own, his hands shakily clawing at the walls.
He took a moment to steady himself before he spoke. “Sorry, I got the umbrella wet.”
Gui Linghuo frowned. He looked at the shivering man in front of him and handed him the umbrella.
Yankui absentmindedly accepted it. He couldn’t help but wish that Gui Linghuo had arrived just a few minutes later. If he arrived a few minutes later, he wouldn’t have to see him like this.
The thought was fleeting and indecipherable against Yankui’s pounding mind. He didn’t even have the opportunity to linger on it because in the next moment, Yankui’s feet no longer touched the ground. He nearly dropped the umbrella again. He lifted his head and met Gui Linghuo’s eyes as his arms fell naturally around his neck.
“What are you doing?” Yankui asked.
“You look like you’re about to collapse,” Gui Linghuo said. “Just hold onto the umbrella. We’re going back.”
“It’s fine. I can walk on my ow—”
“I won’t ask what happened,” Gui Linghuo said. He met Yankui’s eyes. “I won’t ask, so just let me carry you.”
Yankui averted his gaze. His silence was taken as a tacit agreement.
Gui Linghuo silently carried Yankui back to Shuangye Peak.
He helped Yankui change out of his wet clothes and dry his hair. Once everything was done, Gui Linghuo left to make ginger tea and returned not too long later. He set the teapot on the tea table and brought the cup to Yankui. He looked at the younger man’s lowered head for a moment and eventually turned to leave.
“Thank you.”
Gui Linghuo’s steps stilled. He looked over his shoulder and smiled. “You’re welcome.”
Yankui held the warm cup in his hand. He pursed his lips. “You really shouldn’t have.”
Gui Linghuo shrugged. “But I wanted to.”
Yankui’s grew on the cup tightened. He averted his gaze. “You’re an idiot.”
“Am I?” Gui Linghuo wondered. He chuckled. “Just rest. You have a slight fever right now. It should be fine after some sleep. If it still isn’t, I’ll get you cold medicine.”
Yankui nodded.
He watched Gui Linghuo walk to the door and spoke again, “Do you like the perfume?”
“What?”
“The perfume that I wear,” Yankui said. “Do you like it?”
Gui Linghuo stilled. His grip on the door lessened. He met Yankui’s gaze again. “Not really. It’s quite strong.”
“Then, I won’t wear it tomorrow,” Yankui said.
Gui Linghuo smiled softly. “Alright.”
Yankui lowered his head and took small sips of the ginger tea.
Gui Linghuo left the room and began to make his way back to his own room.
Once he was there, he closed the door behind him and stared blankly into the distance.
When he noticed that Yankui had disappeared, he had panicked. However, this panic wasn’t the same as losing sight of someone important in a crowd. It was the panic he had on the battlefield, when he had lost sight of his enemy. Adrenaline pumped through his veins as he searched desperately for Yankui, yet when he saw the figure squatting in the alleyway beside the fallen umbrella, all his desperation evaporated into thin air. All the question in his mind had disappeared.
The figure reminded Gui Linghuo of an abandoned animal, waiting pitifully for someone to extend a helping hand. And when a hand was extended, when all their fur was dried and they were fed and warm, the pathetic animal would unwittingly trust their savior.
“So, it was the perfume,” Gui Linghuo muttered. He chuckled wryly to himself and sighed. He went to his bed and laid down. “Shizun…if you saw me like this now, would you dislike me?”
A manipulative person like him would surely be disliked, right?
An Accurate Reenactment as The Great Compassion Mantra plays for Gui Linghuo: okie let’s writey down ( . .)φ___ there’s a “That Man” behind Yankui (yeehaw for correct mini theory), he got ghost guards, upper realm beatch, and- alarming shit goes down “Young Saint!” [pencil breaks] YOUNG SAINT!? FATHER!?!!?!!? YANKUI’S DAD IS “THAT MAN”?? my spaghetti wasnt wild enough!!!
also like cheers to Gui Linghuo figuring something out but oof, poor guy. and your father is a sweet guy and an author, so i believe he would at least understand
Gui Linghuo’s little adventures— Thanks for the chapter<3
yan sure is a syllable.
it’s kind of funny how they’re both like I Am The One Manipulating Him… He Is Too Starved For Affection To Notice… Idiot.. atleasthe’spretty
why is that exactly them LMAO 😭 thanks for reading!
Pfft! Perfect!
Manipulating manipulators…hmmm…
Ur father is a fox.Stand tall he will be proud 👍
+1
I can’t stand watching quiet anymore and had to go hunting for my account to comment😂
Aigoo as my as i love our 1 out of 3 protagonist i miss Shifu 🦊