A scoff. “Ludicrous.”
Fan Yi leaned back and clicked his tongue. “Is that how you are going to deny my sincere proposal?”
“Sect Leader, you know that that is not the wisest choice, especially at this moment. Not only am I being pursued, but I do also not even have the power to protect myself,” Wu Lingtian said. “You may not care about the reputation of your sect, but I advise you to at least care about the safety of your sect.”
Fan Yi smiled. “See, you care so much about the sect already? You even spoke more than five words to convince me to reconsider. I think you are more than qualified to be a member of our sect.”
Wu Lingtian looked at the lunatic in front of him and pushed himself off the pillar he was leaning against. He began walking out of the study but felt Fan Yi come up from behind him. He stopped walking and looked at the man behind him.
“Yu Lan,” Fan Yi looked at Wu Lingtian. “I am being very serious right now.”
“Then you need to reconsider it.”
“I have,” Fan Yi sighed. “Look me in the eyes and tell me I’m not being very sincere right now.”
“Sect Leader, do not be so ridiculous.”
Fan Yi’s smile faded slightly. He looked down to his feet and let out a sigh.
“Sect Leader, you have done more than enough for me. I do not need you to be implicated in this matter more than you already are,” Wu Lingtian said. “I am just one person, but your Screeching Sparrow Sect has so many people depending on you. We can say now that nothing will happen, but if something does end up happening in the future, then what? I appreciate your kindness, but—”
“I’m doing this for myself.”
Wu Lingtian looked at the pair of seemingly depthless eyes that stared back at him. He felt a pinch in his chest as his eyes roamed over the set of lips that pulled into a familiar, easy smile. Wu Lingtian really hated it.
“A long time ago,” Fan Yi let out a sigh. “I knew someone like you.”
Wu Lingtian waited for Fan Yi to continue.
“His situation…I would say it wasn’t as dire,” Fan Yi confessed. “However, he was alone. The entire world seemed to be at odds with him. He had no one to rely on. He had no one to talk to. He was scared that if he reached out, the ones who remained by his side would be implicated. I couldn’t do a single thing to help him. I was powerless. But now, I can help, so let me help you.”
Wu Lingtian fell silent. “Are you done?”
Fan Yi’s smile widened.
“Sect Leader, I already stated my opinion,” Wu Lingtian said. “Your lie is not going to make me reconsider.”
“Fine,” Fan Yi stepped forward. “What if I told you I love you, so I don’t want you to be in harm’s way?”
Wu Lingtian took a step back and stumbled slightly over his own heel. His hands reached back and he just barely managed to steady himself before crashing into the door. His lips parted once. He pursed them together and breathed out a sigh.
“That is not funny.”
“I also don’t think it’s funny,” Fan Yi said.
“Sect Leader,” Wu Lingtian’s expression showed a hint of agitation.
“I don’t want to be in a world without you.”
“Sect Leader.”
“If something were to happen to you, what would I do with myself?”
“Sect Leader.”
“I will love you even if the oceans dry and the sky crumbles. Yu Lan, I—”
“Sect Leader!”
The aggressive bark caused Fan Yi’s smile to grow more genuine. He pressed his lips together to suppress his laughter as he took in Wu Lingtian’s reddened face and angered expression.
“Speak one more time,” Wu Lingtian dared.
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.
Fan Yi shook his head.
Qe Olcualjc ibbxfv jkjs jcv abbx j vffq ygfjat. “…Tbe jgf rb mbgcs.”
Mjc Tl uglccfv.
“P klii gfmbcrlvfg.”
Mjc Tl aliafv tlr tfjv. Qe Olcualjc uijcmfv ja tlw jcv mifjgfv tlr atgbja. Ktf yijmx-mibatfv wjc rtgeuufv jcv qblcafv ab tlr wbeat.
Qe Olcualjc uijcmfv ja tlr ilqr. Ktf alqr bo tlr fjgr, ktlmt tjv pera gfmbnfgfv, yfujc ab gfvvfc bcmf wbgf. “Vqfjx.”
“Just reconsider? My moving confession didn’t sway you enough?” Fan Yi showed an expression of dramaticized confusion.
“Sect Leader, if you ever speak like that in front of me again, I am unsure how my fists will react,” Wu Lingtian looked Fan Yi with a threatening glare.
“But I poured my heart into it.”
“Goodbye, Sect Leader,” Wu Lingtian turned on his heel and began to leave.
Fan Yi finally allowed himself to laugh. He followed Wu Lingtian out the door but stopped at the doorway. “Yu Lan, you aren’t very cute like this!”
Wu Lingtian’s fist clenched as he resolutely stomped out of the courtyard.
“You should be a little truer to your feelings!” Fan Yi continued to tease, his voice growing louder the further Wu Lingtian walked. “Just admit you love me!”
Wu Lingtian jumped over the wall, not even bothering to walk straight anymore.
Fan Yi watched as he bound across the rooftops. A satisfied grin spread over his face. A low throat clearing snapped him from his thoughts. He slowly turned and looked at Tian Xiewen calmly.
“How long have you been here?”
“…I heard nothing,” Tian Xiewen awkwardly pinched his ear.
“You should also try being a bit more honest,” Fan Yi pushed himself from the doorway and entered his study. “Did you need something from me?”
Tian Xiewen cleared his throat. “We received a report from the Hall of Impartiality. They say that Frost Cliff Pavilion has started their investigation on Drifting Clouds Mountain Sect.”
Fan Yi’s expression cooled. “Have they found anything yet?”
“Not much. However, it has been confirmed that they did indeed confiscate Yu Lan’s sword, but they did not break it.”
“They didn’t?”
“It was broken when they went to retrieve it in the morning,” Tian Xiewen said.
Fan Yi’s brows furrowed. He rested his chin on his intertwined fingers and frowned. “Was there anything else in the report?”
“Nothing else,” Tian Xiewen said.
“Does that mean someone tampered with the sword?” Fan Yi murmured.
Tian Xiewen fell silent. “In the official report, however, it was written that the sword had been corroded by demonic energy. That’s why it had broken.”
A cultivator’s sword that had achieved spirituality would have a mind of its own. For someone of Wu Lingtian’s caliber, if one could access the memories recorded within the sword, they would be able to see the events that happened that night. Therefore, if Wu Lingtian really had witnessed something that he shouldn’t, or if someone truly was trying to frame him, the easiest way to get their way would be to somehow destroy his sword.
However, as if now, it would be a miracle if any other evidence arises.
Fan Yi shook his head and turned back to Tian Xiewen. “Report anything else that happens.”
“Yes, Fan-ge. Is that all?”
The sect leader hesitated. “How difficult would it be for a sword that had been tampered with to break?”
Tian Xiewen frowned. “Well, it depends on who made it.”
The Yu Lan Sword was known for its exquisiteness. It had been crafted by a famous blacksmith named Hanyou. The cultivator was elusive and had been in seclusion for many centuries now. The Yu Lan Sword was the last known sword Hányòu (寒佑) had ever crafted and publicly announced. It had been crafted with a strong spiritual sense. While Hanyou’s swords were normally gifted to talented youths, this was the only sword that had been on public display at his residence, for it denied submitting to any master that Hanyou had personally chosen for it.
According to the story, Situ Hong had dragged Wu Lingtian along with him out of curiosity. The two youths had watched from within the crowd. Situ Hong had even thought about trying, despite already having his own sword and a spiritual weapon. Wu Lingtian had been uninterested and was prepared to leave when alarmed gasps and shrieks tore through the crowd. When Wu Lingtian turned around, he was met with the snow-white sword. It had nudged against him gently until Wu Lingtian had plucked it from the air.
From then on, “Yu Lan Sword” and “Wu Lingtian” had become synonymous to each other. Where there was Yu Lan Sword, there was Wu Lingtian. Where there was Wu Lingtian, there was Yu Lan Sword.
Such a powerful sword was unable to break so easily, so what had caused it to shatter?
“However, seeing that it was Hanyou, the chances of Yu Lan Sword miraculously breaking because of an accident is close to none. Tampering would also leave behind obvious traces. But…it could have been a fake,” Tian Xiewen tentatively proposed.
Fan Yi looked up at Tian Xiewen. “Someone switched the sword out?”
Tian Xiewen frowned. “Maybe. I don’t see anyone who could have done such a thing though. Wu Lingtian would have a strong spiritual connection with that sword since it chose him as its own master. He would have noticed something was amiss after bonding with it all those years.”
Fan Yi fell silent as his fingers lightly drummed the top of his desk. He eventually let out a sigh. “We have to treat this situation with care. For now, don’t mention it to Yu Lan or anyone else.”
“What about Yizhou?” Tian Xiewen asked.
Fan Yi nodded. “You can tell them, but make sure you two are completely alone.”
Tian Xiewen nodded. “Understood.”
“You can go first,” Fan Yi said, his brows pinched tightly together.
“Yes, Fan-ge.”
Tian Xiewen exited Fan Yi’s study, leaving Fan Yi alone with his thoughts.
The image of Wu Lingtian’s cold eyes resurfaced in Fan Yi’s mind. His calloused hand had been wrapped tightly around the hilt of what was supposed to be Yu Lan sword. A faint red glow from the sword pulsed through the air, mixing in with the blood that stained his sword and had splattered his robes. The monster laid dead on the ground—its head cleanly severed off. Wu Lingtian walked over, his boots sloshing through the bloodied mud. He had looked coldly upon Fan Yi.
At that time, Fan Yi hadn’t believed the words that people spoke: “Wu Lingtian is Yanluo himself.”
Fan Yi had never thought more about this statement. It was just a group of envious people making up rumors and slandering someone who sat on a higher place than them. It wasn’t until that point did Fan Yi realize what they meant.
Yanluo—the king of the Underworld. The last person you see before reincarnation. The reminder of death and the punishment bringer.
Fan Yi remembered himself standing his ground. He had to fight off the impulse to take a step back. When Wu Lingtian was just a few steps away from touching Fan Yi, he stopped walking. There was a certain clarity in his eyes that felt unstable, but the pair of black eyes insisted on watching Fan Yi.
“Are you okay?”
The three words had snapped Fan Yi from his dazed state. He remembered smiling and assuring Wu Lingtian that he had been fine. After that, Fan Yi no longer thought about the strange feeling he had gotten from Wu Lingtian. Up until now.
Fan Yi ran his hands down his face. Just what had happened to Wu Lingtian since they had parted ways all those years ago?
Fan Yi stood and stepped out of his study. The sound of cicadas created a monotonous buzz in his ears as he wandered from his residences. His eyes searched for a flicker of white fabric, or for a glimpse of the reticent man. He stopped a few disciples occasionally to ask but found that Wu Lingtian had not been sighted. Fan Yi’s brows furrowed as he continued around the sect.
It wasn’t until he neared the lake that he felt Wu Lingtian’s presence.
Fan Yi’s steps quickened. He ducked under a low hanging branch and paused. Wu Lingtian sat crouched by the side of the lake. His eyes followed the fish that swam by with a hint of amusement. He reached out and ran the back of his index finger against the head of the fish. When he heard the shifting of grass, he looked up. A minute irritation flashed over his face.
“Do you still want to pick a fight today?” Wu Lingtian asked.
The thudding in Fan Yi’s chest slowly subsided. He looked at the clear, focused eyes in front of him. The indolent expression made the corners of Fan Yi’s lips quirk up. He walked over and crouched down beside Wu Lingtian.
“No, I just needed to see your face.”
Wu Lingtian turned away. He was disinterested in the man that continuously spewed honied words in hopes that he would stay. Fan Yi watched the white-clothed man, unconscious of his slowly softening gaze. Hearing only silence, Wu Lingtian couldn’t help but peek at the sect leader. He turned his body towards the other man.
“Did something happen?”
“Hm?”
“I saw Third Pillar as I was leaving.”
Fan Yi let out a noise of understanding. “It wasn’t anything bad.” He shifted towards Wu Lingtian with a smile. “I just suddenly really wanted you to look at me with irritation.”
Wu Lingtian frowned. Each emotion was displayed so vividly on his face. Fan Yi fell into a daze just by looking at him.
“Sect Leader, is everything okay?” Wu Lingtian asked.
Fan Yi laughed. He nodded. “Yes. Everything is fine.”
Wu Lingtian watched him cautiously and slowly nodded.
“As long as you’re fine, then I’m fine,” Fan Yi leaned back on his hands and breathed out a long sigh of relief. He stared up at the blue skies and fell back onto his back. “Wu Lingtian.”
Wu Lingtian’s hand hovered above the fish. “Hm?”
The words Fan Yi wanted to say remained stuck in his throat, like a fishbone that refused to come out. He swallowed and felt a painful itch. The guilt in his chest expanded until there seemed be no space to fit it. His tongue flickered out to moisten his lips as they pulled into a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
“I just wanted to try saying your name.”
“Oh.”
Fan Yi allowed his arms to spread out on either side of him as he watched a flock of birds fly by. A warm summer breeze brushed through the silence between them. Fan Yi glanced at Wu Lingtian’s back.
“Do you want to try saying my name?”
“No.”
“Why not?” Fan Yi sighed. “It’s been centuries. If you still want to keep a respectful distance between us, I’ll be sad. I already consider you to be part of my family.”
“Fan Yi.”
Wu Lingtian’s abrupt voice intercepted any other silly words Fan Yi wanted to say. Fan Yi turned to Wu Lingtian in surprise.
“Stop talking like that,” Wu Lingtian warned.
Fan Yi’s surprise was replaced by a flattering smile. “Alright, Lingtian.”
Wu Lingtian suppressed the urge to roll his eyes and turned his attention back to the fish. He was trying to control the bubbling irritation rolling around in his gut when he felt Fan Yi nudge his back. Wu Lingtian jolted straight and turned back to look at Fan Yi with a glare, only to find the man was holding out a carefully wrapped piece of candy.
“Peace offering,” Fan Yi blinked innocently.
Wu Lingtian hesitantly took the candy. Under Fan Yi’s gaze, he unwrapped the piece of candy and popped it into his mouth before turning away again. “Thank you.”
“Mn,” Fan Yi hummed and looked back up at the sky. “…Yu Lan, do you think we can continue to live like this?”
Wu Lingtian’s eyelashes trembled.
“I like it like this,” Fan Yi continued. “The crisp summer breeze, the warm radiating heat. The sound of cicadas.”
The laughter of disciples in the distance. The quiet that came with sitting by the lake. The bustling activity that enshrouded Screeching Sparrow Sect and WuYe City. A lively peace that few would have the fortune of experiencing in their lifetime. A peace that was warm enough to lull anyone to sleep. That was the kind of life Fan Yi wanted to live.
“Things change.”
“But they can be maintained.”
Wu Lingtian’s back remained straight as he watched the fish swim to and fro. Fan Yi’s words echoed in his mind.
He always wondered how Fan Yi could say each word with such precision and confidence. It had been like this centuries ago, and it was still like this today. Wu Lingtian knew he was a man who had experienced losses and sacrifices, yet here he was, claiming that he could maintain this fragile peace when he should know better than anyone that peace cannot be maintained without a price.
“If this peace has a price, then I’ll pay it,” Fan Yi spoke, as if he had read Wu Lingtian’s mind.
Wu Lingtian looked at him.
“I’ve paid for things cheaper and dirtier than this,” Fan Yi propped himself up and grinned. “If I can make something like this last a little longer, then I wouldn’t mind.”
Wu Lingtian looked at the man with a reckless, naïve sparkle in his eyes. For once, he didn’t look away. The words he wanted to stay were stuck in his throat. But in that moment, an unspoken promise was made. It hung in the air and sped up his heartbeat. Fan Yi’s smile widened and for once in Wu Lingtian’s life, the silence was welcomed.
These poor men have been so hurt, well poor might not be the right word but still!
😔 they’re definitely deserving of some type of pity, don’t they? thanks for reading!
I adore them
……. ˏ ₍•ɞ•₎ ˎ why do I have a bad feeling ……like Yuwu/2ha ouchie oh no feeling ( ◎ – ◎； )
one day, I hope to write a story full of Yuwu/2ha ouchie oh no feeling 😔 not Yu Lan. Maybe the next one tho– THANKS FOR READInG!!
that’s the scariest thing anyone has ever told me (but also….I want to desperately read it??? help there is something wrong with me) Thank you for writing ♡♡( ෆ ` ꒳ ´ ෆ ) ˡºᵛᵉ ❤ ⃛ ♡ ~
The Yu Lan Sword choosing Wu Lingtian is such a sweet story that I’m mourning their separation. If it really broke, that’s tragic, of not, then I think it’s lonely 😄. But maybe losing it is the reason Wu Lingtian has emotions on his face?