“You don’t remember what happened that night and you don’t remember what happened while you were in prison,” Fan Yi folded a finger each time he listed something. “But you remember that you had a person you loved and you remembered me and Sect Leader Wang. You seem to remember people, but at the same time you didn’t remember how deep your relationship with Feng Ling Immortal and Miss Zhou went.”
“The matter of the person I cherished was remembered later,” Wu Lingtian said.
“Oh,” Fan Yi took another bite of the bun in contemplation. He looked at Wu Lingtian. “So, you only recognize people and places, but you don’t remember the depths of relationships?”
“That would be the easiest way to put it,” Wu Lingtian agreed.
Fan Yi slowly nodded as he accepted this explanation. However, something made him look at Wu Lingtian quizzically again. “Hey, but you remembered some things that happened between us—so, do you also remember events?”
Wu Lingtian lowered his gaze. “Not really. After spending so much time with Sect Leader, it’s natural that I remember more things between us.”
“I suppose that’s true,” Fan Yi murmured. He sucked in a cold breath between his teeth and focused on Wu Lingtian again. “Then, aside from people and places…there really isn’t anything else?”
Wu Lingtian nodded. “Events are hazy. I don’t remember anything after Sect Leader Wang passed. I only remember the few times we bumped into each other through the years. To be honest, I don’t even remember what my friend, Xiao Xunrui, looks like.”
“And yet, you,” Fan Yi laughed a bit, “You…still acted as if nothing was wrong?”
Wu Lingtian nodded, a bit more sheepish this time.
“The tenacity you have,” Fan Yi chuckled.
“Well, it’s really more that…after trying to remember some things several times, I always drew a blank, or I just realized I had no idea what someone was talking about,” Wu Lingtian admitted. “It was never everything at once, but the more it happened, the more I wondered if I truly was Wu Lingtian. Or if I really was real.”
Fan Yi’s smile faded as he looked at Wu Lingtian. The other man had gone silent and the dazed look had returned to his eyes.
Fan Yi lightly coughed. “Well, I can tell you now, that you’re very real to me.”
Wu Lingtian glanced at him.
“Not only that, the interactions we’ve had the past month have felt more like you than the you before this incident has felt to me for the past century,” Fan Yi said. He followed this statement with a light shrug. “What can I say? You’ve never exactly been a gentleman. In fact, your personality kind of sucks and you really enjoy messing with people, but this is the type of Wu Lingtian that I’m used to.”
Wu Lingtian laughed. He narrowed his eyes, “How else am I like?”
“You enjoy holding grudges and you have a petty personality,” Fan Yi raised a brow. “If I tripped you once, you’d definitely try to push me down the stairs twice.”
Wu Lingtian’s laughter grew.
“Oh, and you always have to have the last word in!” Fan Yi rolled his eyes. “With that wooden face of yours, you completely can’t let yourself be wronged in the slightest. But you’re also sentimental.”
“Sentimental?”
Fan Yi nodded. “And a romantic. To me, Wu Lingtian isn’t just a petty, two-faced poser, but also someone who could make a loyal friend.”
He sighed and shook his head slightly. “Too bad we were never on the same sides.”
“Until now.”
“Well, now is different, isn’t it?” Fan Yi smiled. “So, when you ask me if I trust you, the answer is obviously a yes. Because I know what kind of person you are, Wu Lingtian. You—the real you—right now, is someone I would trust with my life.”
Wu Lingtian held Fan Yi’s serious, smiling gaze for a moment, before he averted his eyes. His hand lifted to shield his mouth as he let out a light chuckle. “Sect Leader, I only said a few words, but you gave me an entire speech to comfort me. How nice of you.”
“It’s not just to comfort you. I’m confessing my true feelings,” Fan Yi said. “And what I said before still stands—I believe that you are my soulmate. It was like that back then, and it’s still like that now.”
Wu Lingtian lowered his gaze.
“…Could it be that you’ve also forgotten about this?”
Wu Lingtian lightly cleared his throat. He didn’t really want to admit it.
“Well, I could tell you,” Fan Yi said. He snuck a look at Wu Lingtian and smiled. He finished off the rest of his bun and brushed his hands together, “But, I think it would be nicer if you could remember it yourself.”
“Then what if I never remember it?” Wu Lingtian asked with a dull tone to his voice.
“Then, learn slowly why I say that you’re my soulmate,” Fan Yi smiled. He stood. “Are you done with breakfast?”
Wu Lingtian nodded, “I’m done.”
He stood as well and rounded the table to retrieve the Rui Sword on the daybed. “Let’s first go to the village head’s home and then visit the undertaker if they don’t want to cooperate with us.”
The entire way from the inn to the Zhao manor, Wu Lingtian had a contemplative look on his face. Although Fan Yi tried his hardest to pretend that he didn’t notice, he still couldn’t help the smile that snuck onto his lips whenever he glanced over.
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.
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Although no one said anything or did anything, they all kept their distance.
Fan Yi, upon noticing this strangeness, smiled. “Could it be that we’re too handsome?”
“It’s a small town. I’m sure everyone has already heard about our identities,” Wu Lingtian said. “Not to mention, we don’t exactly blend into any crowds with our way of dress.”
After all, all cultivators had the habit of wearing specially made clothes that had defensive spells woven in. While they looked like regular robes on the outside, the quality of fabric still did not look cheap. In a town like this, even if they weren’t pinned to be cultivators, they would stand out because they look rich.
“This is the first time I’ve been singled out because of my great fortune,” Fan Yi said, almost gloatingly.
Wu Lingtian glanced at Fan Yi, not bothering to hide his disdain. “This is just a pauper flaunting his wealth in front of a homeless man.”
“…Not everyone can grow up in a wealthy sect like you, alright?”
Wu Lingtian cleared his throat lightly as he turned away. “At any rate, I already guessed cultivators wouldn’t be looked upon kindly in this place. We should be careful when we meet the village head.”
Fan Yi raised a brow. “The most they’ll do is kick us out and reject helping us. What else can they do?”
Wu Lingtian still had a nagging voice in the back of his head. However, as for what else they could do, he really didn’t have an answer.
The manor was relatively straightforward to find. It was towards the back center of the village and was the largest building in the entire place. The manor stood humbly without being too extravagant, yet still showing that this is where the most influential family in the village lived. Above the standard double doors hung a sign that read “Zhao Manor” and there was a servant diligently sweeping the leaves at the front.
Wu Lingtian stopped the young man politely. “Excuse me, could we please see your master?”
The young servant looked Wu Lingtian and Fan Yi up and down before cautiously asking, “What for?”
“We’re cultivators who were just passing by this area. We heard of some unfortunate events that have been happening and we were hoping to ask a few questions about Young Master Zhao and the other residents who have been afflicted with this strange illness,” Wu Lingtian explained.
Even just after hearing the word “cultivator”, the servant’s expression darkened. His tone did a complete one-eighty, “Cultivators? We don’t need your type around here. You should just leave already.”
Wu Lingtian glanced at Fan Yi, who lightly shrugged his shoulders. He uncomfortably turned back to the servant. “Sir, could you please at least ask your master for us? It won’t take too long.”
The servant’s glared at Wu Lingtian. He raised his brow up in the air and made a swatting motion. Wu Lingtian took a step back, his arm already moving to pull Fan Yi behind him.
“I said leave!” The servant swung the broom threateningly. “We don’t need help! Especially not from your kind of people! Now get out of here!”
Wu Lingtian took several steps back. The servant pulled down his broom and turned sharply on his heel to step back into the compound.
“Wait, really, we just need a few—”
The double doors were cruelly slammed in Wu Lingtian’s face.
The man still had his mouth half hanging open. He retrieved his foot, which had taken one step up the short stairs, and stared blankly at the door. Fan Yi pursed his lips and stepped forward to try and offer a few words of comfort.
“It’s alright, A-Tian. You said you expected this already, didn’t you? They’re still suffering from the loss of their young master, so it’s understandable that they—…A-Tian?”
Wu Lingtian stared at the door silently. Although his expression didn’t betray anything, Fan Yi somehow felt that those pairs of normally calm dark eyes exhibited a flash of irritation.
Soon, however, he swiftly turned around and began to walk away from the manor.
Fan Yi looked at the tightly closed door and then at Wu Lingtian’s retreating back. He jogged after his companion and snuck another glance. “…Are you actually mad?”
“How could that be?” Wu Lingtian drew his shoulders back. “I’m not petty enough to get angry at such a presumptuous person.”
“Really?” Fan Yi scanned Wu Lingtian’s face. “Because it feels like you’re actually a bit peeved.”
“I’m not,” Wu Lingtian said.
“…It’s okay if you are. I won’t laugh.”
“Sect Leader.”
“Yes?”
Wu Lingtian’s steps slowed to a stop. He looked at Fan Yi woodenly. “It would be more convincing if you said so without that smirk on your face.”
Fan Yi’s lips immediately straightened. “I promise I won’t laugh.”
Wu Lingtian scoffed and began walking again.
A giggle escaped Fan Yi, but he quickly followed Wu Lingtian again. “Now what? Should we just leave them alone? That servant was so rude to us already. I’m afraid if we actually barged into see the master of the house, they would pour dog blood on us to shoo us away.”
“We don’t need them.”
“Huh?”
“We’ll just go to the undertaker. At any rate, it’s not like we can revive the dead. Their son is already gone, even if we managed to meet them, whatever we ask of them and whatever problem we solve is of no use to them,” Wu Lingtian said. “We might as well find someone more impartial.”
“But it’s still their village,” Fan Yi said.
“If they cared, they wouldn’t reject our help so savagely,” Wu Lingtian said.
Fan Yi hummed in agreement. “Then, what should we do now?”
“Let’s go back to the inn. I’m sure the innkeeper knows where the undertaker is at,” Wu Lingtian said.
Fan Yi nodded along and happily followed Wu Lingtian.
The walk back from the manor to the inn was filled with just as much scrutinization. They even heard the hushed whisperings of several of the villagers. Some noted their handsome appearances while others claimed that another tragedy was about to descend on their village. It was clear how much of a taboo cultivators were in this town and it wasn’t something that the two men were surprised about.
When they returned to the in, Wu Lingtian stepped up to the front desk to ask for the innkeeper. At least at the inn, the people who worked here were polite and understanding. They asked for Wu Lingtian and Fan Yi to wait before heading to the back in search for the innkeeper.
Fan Yi leaned against the counter as his gaze scanned the dining area. “A-Tian, how much do you know about the cultivator that passed through here five years ago?”
“Just that he was handsome,” Wu Lingtian said as he absentmindedly fiddled with the ring on his finger. “That’s something else I want to look into, though I’m not sure how we’ll go about that with how hostile people are with cultivators.”
“Does the innkeeper know any more information?” Fan Yi raised a brow.
“We could ask,” Wu Lingtian murmured. His gaze fell on the Rui Sword at his side. His index finger lightly tapped the scabbard. “Hey, will you answer my questions today?”
“No. Just have fun with your sect leader, lover boy.”
Wu Lingtian’s lips thinned. He slumped against the counter and donned a gloomy, bored look.
Upon seeing this expression, anyone who was gossiping and anyone who was sneaking glances immediately turned away and began to mind their own business again. Fan Yi glanced at his companion again and coughed lightly. He scratched at his brow and patted Wu Lingtian on the back.
The other man looked over.
“It’s only the beginning of the day,” Fan Yi encouraged, “you got this.”
“…Thank you, Sect Leader.”
Fan Yi reached into his lapel and pulled out a piece of candy. “Cheer up.”
Wu Lingtian breathed out a sigh and took the candy. He unwrapped it and popped it into his mouth. The sweetness filled every corner of his mouth, making expression ease and his shoulders relax. “Thank you, Sect Leader.”
The innkeeper came back out with the waiter boy. The waiter excused himself to continue his job as the innkeeper sat down with Wu Lingtian and Fan Yi.
“We had questions about the cultivator that came five years ago,” Wu Lingtian said straightforwardly. “Do you know anything else about him?”
The innkeeper frowned. “He did stay here for a time before he moved to the Zhao Manor, but I knew very little about him. He wasn’t wearing anything of note—just gray Daoist robes. His hair was always pulled up in a bun by a plain piece of ribbon. To me, it seemed like he was trying to be very lowkey. It’s just a shame he attracted attention with that handsome face of his.”
“Have you ever had a conversation with him?” Wu Lingtian asked.
“Oh, well, of course! But it was rarely anything of note.”
“He never told you where he was from or his purpose to be here?”
“He never mentioned where he was from, but he just vaguely said he was passing through this town to gain experience,” the innkeeper replied.
“Was he very well-mannered?” Fan Yi asked.
“Pardon?” the innkeeper turned to him.
“Did he carry himself like this one?” Fan Yi pointed to Wu Lingtian. “Pulled back shoulders and straight back; head slightly tilted and expression always mellow?”
“Mm…now that you mention it, there was always a bit of that attitude,” the innkeeper nodded. “That’s probably why I never thought he was a scam artist, since he carried himself how everyone would assume a cultivator should act.”
“Then, he’s not from Jianshi,” Fan Yi rubbed his chin.
“How do you know?” the innkeeper’s eyes widened.
Fan Yi shook his head. “Cultivators in Jianshi wouldn’t act like that. To put it simply, we in Jianshi are the roughest of the rough. Propriety, manners and the sort aren’t something we value. It’s our way of life. It’s like…compare living in an army base to living in the royal palace—those are two completely different lifestyles, right?”
The innkeeper nodded in understanding. He snuck a glance at Wu Lingtian, calmly sipping at his tea. “Then, this Honorable Cultivator here…”
“Ah, he’s a Jianshi cultivator now, but he was raised in Xianping. He’s got that grace about him,” Fan Yi patted Wu Lingtian’s shoulder. He lowered his voice, “But don’t let his gentlemanly manner fool you. He’s a total scoundrel.”
“Sect Leader,” Wu Lingtian set the tea cup down. “We’re supposed to be talking about important business, not gossip.”
“This is what I mean. It’s always ‘important business’ first,” Fan Yi sighed with a slight shake of his head.
The innkeeper chuckled, obviously finding Fan Yi quite amusing. “Honorable Cultivator, are you…a sect leader?”
Fan Yi smiled. He leaned a little closer to whisper, “We’re from Screeching Sparrow Sect.”
The innkeeper’s eyes widened. He looked from Wu Lingtian and back to Fan Yi. He cupped his hands together and bowed slightly, “Oh my, forgive me for being so shortsighted! I didn’t expect I would be graced with the presence of Sect Leader Fan at all!”
Fan Yi waved away his courtesies. “Don’t worry about it at all. Although Zhao Village is a bit out of our way, it’s still on the fringes of our territory. This type of thing should be taken care of by us.”
The innkeeper showed a grateful expression as Wu Lingtian continued to quietly sip at his tea. He noticed the elderly man’s gaze on him and looked up.
“If he’s Sect Leader Fan, then you are…?”
“My surname is Wu, given name Lingtian,” he said with a slightly lowered head.
The innkeeper’s face seemed to pale. He gasped quietly before letting out a long breath. “Goodness, my goodness. If it’s like this, then our Zhao Village can truly be saved.”
“No need to be so polite. We’re only doing what we should have been doing anyway,” Wu Lingtian said. “And about that cultivator…”
“Oh, yes, yes! My apologies, we got offtrack,” the innkeeper shook his head. “What else do you two Honorable Immortals want to ask?”
“Did he leave a name?”
“A name…he only ever said he was surnamed Xiu. He was quite secretive overall, so I doubt that was even his real name,” the innkeeper said. “Other than that…mm…he had a gentle attitude, like Sect Leader Fan here, but slightly more reserved. Although he was with Young Master Zhao often, he treated him courteously, as if he were a lady to be courted.”
The innkeeper sadly shook his head. “What a tragedy…”
“Was there anything ever strange about him?” Wu Lingtian persisted. “Aside from the fact that he was secretive.”
“Strange, huh?” the innkeeper frowned. “Nothing stood out to me as strange about him. It was just the events that surrounded his appearance was strange.”
“Then, how about when he left?” Wu Lingtian asked. “You said he left without a word one day.”
“Oh, yes. That was extremely abrupt,” the innkeeper nodded. “There was no trace of him even thinking about leaving! But, one day, Young Master Zhao said that he couldn’t find him anywhere.”
“At that time, what was their relationship like?”
“Harmonious. So harmonious, that many thought the young cultivator would even take Young Master Zhao with him when his travels continued,” the innkeeper said.
“And did Young Master Zhao ever say anything about this cultivator’s departure?” Wu Lingtian asked.
The innkeeper shook his head. “He was just as confused as the rest of us.”
Wu Lingtian fell silent. Although he’d asked many questions, this still didn’t provide enough details of this man and only brought up more questions. If he truly wasn’t from Jianshi, how could he come over? Despite Jianshi not having as strict territorial restrictions as Xianping, most Xianping cultivators would stay clear of Jianshi. Unless, he was someone who had just been banished? But according to the account of the innkeeper, he seemed well put together, and he said he was traveling at the request of his shizun.
People who were pushed into a corner and had nowhere else to go other than Jianshi were not people who would simply wander around the province with a calm mind. They would usually either seek asylum from a sect, or find a cave of spiritual energy to hide and recover themselves first.
Wu Lingtian and Fan Yi exchanged glances.
“Innkeeper, do you happen to know where the undertaker is?” Wu Lingtian asked. “We would like to ask a few questions about the deceased’s corpses.”
“Oh, yes! I do happen to know where he is,” the innkeeper called for someone to bring over a brush, some ink, and paper. He proceeded to draw a quick and simple map. “It’s on this side of the village. It’s not too far away, but if you take the wrong turn, you might get lost.”
“Thank you,” Wu Lingtian accepted the map and looked it over. He stood again. “Thank for answering our questions.”
“Not at all, not at all. Thank you for taking this matter so seriously,” the innkeeper said with a smile. He looked between Fan Yi and Wu Lingtian. “Speaking of which, I heard you two came from the same room this morning? If it’s too cramped, I could provide a room for free.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Wu Lingtian said. He turned to Fan Yi. “Let’s go.”
Fan Yi smiled at the innkeeper and the two men left for the undertaker.
What the heck kind of servant is comfortable chasing off cultivators with a broom without asking his boss first? Shouldn’t he be a little concerned about getting killed or fired? Bold.
(1) Fan Yi is confident in the soulmate stuff yet it doesn’t seem romo. with how nonchalant he is overall about cultivation partners and just romance in general (thinking of the start of the novel), he strikes me as a comrade on the aromantic spectrum.
(2) it feels pretty certain that Wu Lingtian is indeed a human, having his memories as a kid on the streets and his
/others memories of his sword. but my brain keeps insisting he is the ACTUAL Yu Lan sword, that his recurrent insistence of being human is because he is that but others hadn’t treated him that way with a sword origin… hm or perhaps they influenced each other extremely deeply after his cultivation upgrade, hence the character change…….
(3) Fan Yi in his own funky way has confirmed feelings of a soulmate sort but he doesn’t want to (forcibly/pushily) possess Wu Lingtian’s heart with him being unwell and all. so he is waiting. but Wu Lingtian also is waiting for Fan Yi to realize…. i feel like perhaps there may not be a development of their relationship closer towards cultivation partners until Wu Lingtian remembers the soulmate claim origins or figures it out in a new way.