Wu Lingtian’s blank expression slowly returned to a more natural, relaxed state. He shifted his gaze away. “Sect Leader, you must be joking. How could I teach?”
“Why not?” Fan Yi quirked an eyebrow. He smiled. “From what I’ve seen, you’re quite patient with children. I saw you earlier with Li Qing, and then when you dealt out punishment to those three kids the day before. You even have the patience to handle a drunk Xiewen—I think you’d be a fine teacher.”
“Having patience is different from being able to teach, Sect Leader.”
“I think you would be an excellent teacher,” Fan Yi insisted.
Wu Lingtian met Fan Yi’s gaze. “Is this an order?”
Fan Yi’s smile tensed. “It’s an option.”
Wu Lingtian ignored the uncomfortable stirring in his chest and looked away. “Then I refuse.”
Fan Yi hummed. “Alright! Don’t worry about it then.”
Wu Lingtian hovered beside Fan Yi a moment as the sect leader tided up the targets used during archery earlier. Fan Yi glanced at Wu Lingtian with a polite smile, waiting for the other man to speak.
“Is there anything you need me to do?”
Fan Yi patted his hands together after straightening. “What? Do you feel uncomfortable drinking and eating here for free?”
Wu Lingtian gave Fan Yi an unamused look. “Sect Leader.”
“You saved my life thrice—I only saved you one. If you wanted to laze in my sect for the rest of your life, I wouldn’t even look twice.”
“Sect Leader, I am being serious.”
“Yu Lan, I am also being serious. Mm…then how about you go run back to Li Ran two more times and I can save you two more times,” Fan Yi joked.
Wu Lingtian looked into those mischievously twinkling eyes and held back a scoff. “Other than that and other than teaching, is there anything else I might do?”
“Isn’t it better to just rest?” Fan Yi asked gently.
The emptiness in Wu Lingtian’s hand was especially jarring after the few brief moments he was allowed hold the sword. His fingers curled into his palm, hoping to fill the space with something else.
The two men stared at each other in silence.
Fan Yi insisted. “You’re still healing.”
“You know I am not.”
Fan Yi looked at the vulnerability that peaked out through Wu Lingtian’s eyes against his cold expression. The dullness in Wu Lingtian’s eyes seemed to stab at the most sensitive parts in Fan Yi’s heart, prodding at wounds that had just managed to heal not too many decades ago.
“Just trust me,” Fan Yi said. He took a step back. “Take it easy—especially today. I have something else to do, so I will be leaving first.”
Their conversation had met an unsatisfying conclusion. Wu Lingtian nodded silently. His gaze remained on the ground as he listened to Fan Yi’s retreating footsteps. The sound of shoe against gravel slowly disappeared from Wu Lingtian’s hearing and the man finally looked up. He stood alone in the large arena and slowly stepped out. The sun hung high overhead now, but the summer heat didn’t seem to affect Wu Lingtian at all.
A majority of the disciples had descended the sect after Fan Yi had granted them the rest of the week off. As Wu Lingtian walked through the sect, the place that had normally felt crowded the past three days suddenly felt empty. He was brought back to his time on Drifting Clouds Mountain Sect, a sect that was so large that even thirty people on the same peak would be equivalent to three people in a large hall. The sect had far too many people, yet was far too spacious. No matter where Wu Lingtian went, he always felt that he was alone. Silence permeated every corner of the sect filled with rules and regulations. The only true lesson Wu Lingtian ever learned from his time there was “silence is the loudest sound”.
Wu Lingtian’s feet came to a stop at the entrance of Screeching Sparrow Sect. His gaze wandered down each step and each lantern that hung about before landing on the person that had just reached the top of the steps.
The person was blindfolded and wore a colorful set of brocade robes. Their figure was obscured by the layers of fabric they wore despite the sweltering heat. Their hair was pulled back into a loose bun with pieces of hair tastefully framing their face. There was an indescribable beauty about them that was neither too masculine nor feminine. Their entire aura was soft and forgiving, yet something told Wu Lingtian that if he even so much as breathed wrong in this person’s presence, even Fan Yi wouldn’t be able to save him.
“An unfamiliar breathing pattern…an unfamiliar walking pattern,” Ren Yizhou tilted their head. A slow smile spread across their face. “Could this be Lord Immortal Yu Lan.”
Wu Lingtian clasped his hands together and bowed. “Second Pillar.”
“No need to be so courteous,” Ren Yizhou laughed. They stepped a little closer and poked their head around curiously. “You know, we’ve never met before.”
“We have not.”
Although Wu Lingtian had had many run-ins with Fan Yi and had been in the same vicinity as Tian Xiewen, he had never had any contact with the Second Pillar of Screeching Sparrow Sect. He had never even heard of any rumors.
“Mm, you’re just as stiff as that little wolf said,” Ren Yizhou said. “So, what are you doing out here at the front of the sect? Thinking about escaping?”
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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“Tbe vbc’a tjnf ab tjnf j qijmf ab yf,” Efc Tlhtbe gfjrbcfv. “Tbe pera cffv j gfjrbc. Ccv cba kjcalcu ab yf tfgf lr j ugjcv fcbeut gfjrbc ab ifjnf.”
Qe Olcualjc ofii rlifca. Lf rboais rtbbx tlr tfjv. “P vb cba tjnf atja gfjrbc.”
“It couldn’t be that you already gave yourself over to Fan Yi, have you? I was only gone for two days,” Ren Yizhou frowned.
Wu Lingtian felt that the way people phrased things in this sect was strange. “That is not the case.”
“Oh good,” Ren Yizhou nodded. “Marriage is a big deal. You mustn’t decide based on the fact that you are grateful to someone.”
Seeing Ren Yizhou’s serious expression, Wu Lingtian couldn’t even think to respond any way other than equally as seriously. He hummed in response and took another look at Ren Yizhou. He wondered when the latter would enter the sect.
“Are you bored?” Ren Yizhou made another guess. “I bet Fan Yi isn’t letting you do anything, is he?”
“He is not.”
Ren Yizhou sighed understandingly. “He’s always been like that. It’s because he’s worried about you. You were in a coma for so many days and then you got attacked by that lion. Those injuries on you were not light. Once he makes sure there won’t be any repercussions, I’m sure he’ll put you right to work.”
“Mn.”
Ren Yizhou stretched out their waste with a slight groan. “Goodness, I missed the sect. I was never one to settle, but after staying here for so long, it feels wrong to leave for a long period of time.”
“Mn.”
Ren Yizhou’s lips pulled into a smile. “Has anything happened while I was gone?”
Wu Lingtian thought for a moment before shaking his head. “Nothing.”
“Nothing?” Ren Yizhou looked mildly disappointed. They let out a sigh. “Well, if there’s nothing then there’s nothing…are you busy right now?”
Wu Lingtian couldn’t help but feel that such a question was meant to poke fun at him. “No, I am not.”
“Good, I just needed someone to rant to,” Ren Yizhou sighed as they swiftly and accurately took Wu Lingtian’s hand.
Wu Lingtian’s long legs stumbled as Ren Yizhou tugged him along. He glanced down at the fingers tightly gripping his hand and felt a discomfort crawling his back, directly reaching to the back of his head. He felt the urge to fling the hand off, but he held back. Despite his best to hide it, his tension must have been sensed because Ren Yizhou released Wu Lingtian’s hand just as quickly as they grabbed it.
“There should be a gazebo over this way,” Ren Yizhou explained. “I will tell Wen Yi to get us some snacks and we can talk.”
Wu Lingtian hummed, his mind wondering who Wen Yi was.
“Wen Yi is my disciple. I have another little fool name Liang Jun,” Ren Yizhou supplemented. “Have you met them yet?”
“No,” Wu Lingtian shook his head. “I have only met Li Qing.”
“Ah, Fan Yi’s little rascal,” Ren Yizhou chuckled. “She’s quite cute, isn’t she? Obedient and smart.”
“Mn.”
Ren Yizhou led Wu Lingtian down a zigzagging bridge. When they met the gazebo resting on the island, Ren Yizhou carefully sat down and reached into their sleeve. With a flick of their wrist, a light bell sound echoed through the large lake. Wu Lingtian watched in silence. Moments later, a teenage girl appeared from the skies. She landed smoothly before them and greeted her shizun and Wu Lingtian.
“Shizun, Lord Immortal.”
“Yu Lan, this is Wen Yi, my eldest disciple,” Ren Yizhou introduced.
Wu Lingtian bowed his head in acknowledgement.
Ren Yizhou reached out and held Wen Yi’s hand. “Wen Yi, can you bring us some tea and snacks?”
Wen Yi hummed. She threw Wu Lingtian another glance before flying off again. Ren Yizhou sighed and placed the bell down on the table. “Such a convenient little thing.”
“Can only Miss Wen hear it?”
“Why are you calling her Miss Wen? Just call her Wen Yi,” Ren Yizhou chided. “Wen Yi can hear it because she has an enchantment on her earring. No one else can hear it unless we’re right beside each other.”
Wu Lingtian stared at the bell in fascination. He had never heard of a spiritual item like that.
“Interesting, right? Xiewen made it for me for my birthday a long time ago. I was complaining how it was so inconvenient to look for someone to help me when I needed something, and he crafted this,” Ren Yizhou’s smile was gentle as they carefully touched the side of the bell. Wu Lingtian wasn’t sure they even realized it. Ren Yizhou’s head tilted up. “Since this is our first meeting, can you answer some questions for me?”
Wu Lingtian straightened unconsciously. “Please.”
Ren Yizhou leaned in slightly. “I’ve heard many people describe you, but I can never visualize it. They just say you’re cold and handsome. Could you tell me what you look like?”
Wu Lingtian leaned back slightly. For once in his life, he felt completely at loss for words. “I…”
Ren Yizhou reached into their sleeve and pulled out a mirror. “Here. Take this.”
Wu Lingtian held the mirror with two hands and looked down at himself. He stared at his own features for an uncomfortably long time and still didn’t know how he should describe himself. He looked at his eyes and then his nose and then his lips. His gaze shifted to the teardrop mole below his left eye and grazed over his wavy hair before glancing back up at Ren Yizhou.
“Take your time,” Ren Yizhou said with a gentle smile.
“…Mn.”
“Shall I ask some guiding questions?”
“…Yes.”
“What does your hair look like? Is it straight? Is it white?”
“…It is wavy,” Wu Lingtian unconsciously touched his head. “Black.”
“I always imagined you with straight hair,” Ren Yizhou hummed. “Then what about your face? Is it round or square? Are your eyes peach blossom shaped or phoenix shaped? Eyebrows?”
“My face…I cannot tell,” Wu Lingtian murmured. He could say that it was slim, but slim couldn’t be what described it.
“That’s fine,” Ren Yizhou assured him.
“My eyes are,” Wu Lingtian awkwardly touched the edge of his eyes. “Phoenix shaped. Eyebrows…are there.”
Ren Yizhou laughed. “Are they thick or thin?”
“Thicker.”
Ren Yizhou nodded. “Then what about your lips?”
“Lips?” Wu Lingtian pursed his lips and thought about it for a moment. “…They are lips.”
“Are they fuller than Tian Xiewen’s are not as full?”
Wu Lingtian recalled Tian Xiewen’s lips. “A little fuller?”
“Oh,” Ren Yizhou grinned. “You sound very handsome. Any defining marks?”
“A mole,” Wu Lingtian said. He rubbed at it slightly. “Below my left eye.”
“Seems like you’ll have a life of suffering,” Ren Yizhou sighed. “That’s what they say about people with moles there.”
Wu Lingtian glanced at Ren Yizhou.
“Thank you for answering my questions,” Ren Yizhou gently lifted the mirror away from Wu Lingtian’s hands just as Wen Yi returned. “I would have just asked if I could touch your face, but that seemed a bit much.”
Wu Lingtian felt a discomfort crawling up his back as soon as Ren Yizhou mentioned it. “Thank you.”
“No, no, I’m the one thanking you,” Ren Yizhou smiled.
Wen Yi poured them each a cup of tea before stepping back. “Shizun, I will be taking my leave then.”
“Mn. Thank you, Wen Yi,” Ren Yizhou dipped their head happily and reached for a small cake to bite into.
Wu Lingtian sipped at the tea, his eyes lingering on the delicacies in front of him. His fingers twitched slightly, but he didn’t reach out for one.
“Do you want one? Osmanthus cake,” Ren Yizhou said. “They’re quite delicious.”
“No, thank you,” Wu Lingtian refused.
“Hm, I was sure you’d like one,” Ren Yizhou tilted their head. They finished off their cake and brushed their hands together. “Ah, right, I’ve forgot to ask one thing.”
“Please ask away.”
“How do you see yourself?” Ren Yizhou asked.
Wu Lingtian stared blankly.
“While looking in the mirror, aside from your features, what did you see?”
Wu Lingtian took sip of tea to get rid of the lump forming in his throat. His chest seemed to constrict tightly. It was suddenly a bit difficult to speak.
“Yu Lan?”
“I saw…someone unfamiliar,” Wu Lingtian sounded out his words carefully. He hesitated before continuing, “Before I dressed in red, but now I wear white. It was strange to see myself that way.”
“Did you used to wear red a lot?” Ren Yizhou asked curiously. “I remember hearing that was all you wear.”
“I did. However, I disliked it.”
Ren Yizhou fell silent. This silence was filled with the sound of the water lapping against the side of the small island. It mingled with the sounds of birds, flying overhead. Off in the distance were the chirping summer cicadas, mixed in with joyful laughter of the disciples that were too far to hear clearly.
After a moment, Wu Lingtian tentatively added, “I like white better.”
Ren Yizhou chuckled. “I’m sure white suits you much better.”
Wu Lingtian looked up at Ren Yizhou. The smile on their face was soft and understanding. However, in the next moment, a vague, unclear memory interrupted this warm vision. The smile became twisted as it was smeared with a mixture of rouge and blood. He quickly averted his gaze and drained the remainder of his tea.
“May I call you Lingtian?”
“Pardon?” Wu Lingtian jolted from his thoughts. He looked at Ren Yizhou with a rare glimmer of surprise in his eyes.
“You can call me Ren-jie. A lot of people called me that back at the brothel. Or you could call me Ren-ge—I also had some of those. Either is fine, it’s just a nickname anyway,” Ren Yizhou said.
“Ren…”
“Second Pillar is far too alienating, you see. It makes me feel uncomfortable. We’re basically one family now, so let’s address each other as such.”
Wu Lingtian blinked. “Family?”
“Mn! Aren’t you planning on staying here for a while? Once Fan Yi opens his doors to people, they’re open forever,” Ren Yizhou said. “So, even if you leave, you’re still part of our family.”
Wu Lingtian subtly lowered his gaze.
“So, may I call you Lingtian?”
“…Yes.”
“And you can call me…?”
“…Ren-jie.”
Ren Yizhou clapped their hands together. “Good! See, don’t we seem closer this way?”
The numbness Wu Lingtian had felt the past three days was slowly replaced by the beating summer heat. The clear sound of cicadas and the simmering summer that burned his skin told him that he wasn’t dreaming. This was real. He was clearly real.
He was at Screeching Sparrow Sect. He was still alive. And he had killed his own master.
The world began to sway around him. The edges of his vision darkened and the ringing in his ears grew louder. The last thing he heard was a frantic shout.
He couldn’t help but feel apologetic to Ren Yizhou. It was their first meeting, yet he had fainted.
I’m curious on what Ren Yozhou background is to invoke these reactions in Yu Lan
Thank you for chapter
they’re just a comforting presence that lets wu lingtian feel safe 🥺
The bomb shell that he killed his master tho and everything just hit him. Man the poor man needs to process
world spinning, no time to process 💫 thanks for readinnggg
Everything is so sharp when the numbing shock wears off. But, marriage? We’ll come back to that one, right?
Helloo!! I really freaking love how Ren Yizhou uses they/them, and I reset my password (I haven’t logged in here in ages) here just to say this lmao. Also as a person with low-esteem, I think the whole mirror thing is relatable and smart
*Low self-esteem. I was already on the next chapter before I suddenly started thinking if I actually even wrote self-esteem lmao
usually i just ghost in the discord emoji reacting to updates, but i saw this had completed and so am now slowly reading it and dont have the opportunity to emoji react to each chapters, so i ran to make an account to give 💜💜💜💜💜 and ti say i am lowkey growing obsessed with Ren Yizhou. they seem so fun!! and also im loving Wu Lingtian and all the characters tbh!!!
aaawww thank youuuuuu 🥺🥺💕
The mole on Wu Lingtian’s face seems to be wandering.
Teardrop mole between [[under?]] his right eye
A mole … below my left eye
do you remember which chapter it said right? It’s supposed to be left lmao 😬 edit: nvm i found it uwu thanks for pointing it out! lol
I think this has been the third story were I saw the thing about a mole on the left eye. Interesting! (Everyone suffered a lot)
it’s a pretty popular myth/belief that if you have that kind of mole under your eye, you had a rough past life lol it appears a lot in other literature too. or it’s just a mystical beauty feature uwu
I’ve never heard of that before danmei, it’s an interesting belief!
o really? 😳 it appears in chinese media once in a while. i wouldn’t say it’s like…a mainstream archetype, but it is quite popular
Yeah, the only things I know about Chinese culture is from danmei, I’m from south America haha