After that, whenever Wu Lingtian was at the sect, he always felt like someone was staring at him.
He saw Li Ran less and less frequently. Whenever he asked others where Li Ran had gone, they would all say the same thing—he’s in the back mountains with Rong Meihua.
The more peculiar thing was, after that incident, the back mountains were sealed off for usage. No one was allowed in unless they were a sect elder or were specifically invited by a sect elder. When asked why, Rong Meihua just looked at them coldly, saying that the energy in the back mountains had been corrupted and that she and Li Ran were trying to find ways to repair it. As for what was wrong and how they were trying to fix it, none of those questions were answered.
In the blink of an eye, Wu Lingtian was almost a hundred. The heavy feeling in his stomach grew worse every time he returned back to the sect.
Zhou Ying’an glanced at Wu Lingtian. “What’s wrong with you now? Why do I feel like you’re always carrying a black expression when you come back nowadays?”
“Where’s Da-shixiong?”
“Where else could he be? He’s obviously with Shizun,” Zhou Ying’an said. She finished the rest of her pastries and clapped her hands together. “Alright, I’ll be off now!”
“Where are you going?” Wu Lingtian asked, frowning tightly.
“Frost Cliff Pavilion! Do you want to come?”
“You’re not concerned?”
“About what?” Zhou Ying’an asked.
“About the back mountains.”
“Shizun and Da-shixiong have it covered. It’s nothing for us to worry about,” Zhou Ying’an said.
“It’s been nearly eighty years and they’re still working on it—don’t you think that’s just a little weird?” Wu Lingtian asked.
“Weird…well, if the energy lines have been tampered with, then it’s not weird to take that long to try and fix it,” Zhou Ying’an said. “Besides, you know how Shizun likes tinkering with things. Maybe, while they’re at it, she’s also inventing new talismans or whatever.”
Wu Lingtian looked at Zhou Ying’an skeptically. “You really don’t think anything’s off?”
Zhou Ying’an shook her head. “None at all. Maybe you think it’s weird since you’re rarely at the sect, but…there’s really nothing odd going on.”
Seeing that Wu Lingtian was still hesitant, Zhou Ying’an sighed. She patted Wu Lingtian on the shoulder. “I know you resent Shizun, but I promise she’s gotten better. She rarely even yells at the disciples anymore, much less punish them. In fact, I don’t think she’s used the water dungeon in nearly fifty years.”
“That long, huh?” Wu Lingtian stared at Zhou Ying’an blankly.
“…Alright, alright. I know it’s useless to say this stuff to you,” Zhou Ying’an said awkwardly. “Just—just know that she’s not doing anything weird. You can keep hating her all you want.”
“I was going to do just that,” Wu Lingtian said. He stood and began to walk with Zhou Ying’an. “Do they really remain back there year-round?”
“It’s like you. Except, they’re still better. They leave seclusion when it’s New Year’s. You don’t even come back.”
“It’s plenty clear that no one wants me back,” Wu Lingtian sneered.
“What are you saying? There are tons of people who love you!”
“The disciples, not the elders,” Wu Lingtian corrected.
“Who cares what they think?” Zhou Ying’an clicked her tongue. “Do you even care?”
“They annoy me with their greater than thou morals,” Wu Lingtian said. “If the job gets done, who cares if I use some violence? Besides, it’s not like I’m going out there to kill people.”
Zhou Ying’an offered a weak smile. “They do have a point.”
“What point?”
“Hey, don’t get up in guards already,” Zhou Ying’an said. “I mean, you’re mainly right, but they’re right that…you really do have some harsh methods.”
“If I’m harsh, then others should be branded a murderer,” Wu Lingtian said. “Besides, I only mess with the ones who mess with me first. It’s the law of survival, the way of the world. If I act weak and submissive, do you really think they’ll let me go? They’re always saying that I’d be nothing without Drifting Clouds Mountain Sect. I can’t just let them prove themselves right.”
“Still…do you really have to destroy their cultivation every time?”
“That was twice. Once was because that young master pissed me off, the other time was because I caught that cultivator harassing a young woman. If that’s what he’s using his cultivation on, why does he even need it?”
“That one is fine. But the first one—you never even provided a reason for the first one.”
Wu Lingtian glanced at Zhou Ying’an. After this one look, he decided he couldn’t tell her. He couldn’t tell anyone. How could he explain that the reason he destroyed someone’s cultivation was because someone had insinuated that the big, evil sect leader of Screeching Sparrow Sect was sleeping with young boys? Sure, the rumor was horrendous, but because of Fan Yi’s already horrible reputation, people would have left it with a scolding. According to them, physical punishment would be too harsh.
His expression darkened. “They said something they shouldn’t have.”
“…Did they insult Heixue Town?”
“Something like that,” Wu Lingtian said.
“I swear, your temper has just gotten worse and worse.”
“It was only twice. And they deserved it each time.”
“Alright, I agree. They deserved it,” Zhou Ying’an said. She glanced at the sky. “Alright, I really have to go. You behave yourself while you’re back here. If you run into Shizun—no. Why am I saying something so unlucky? Just don’t run into her, okay? I’m off!”
Wu Lingtian waved as Zhou Ying’an departed from the sect. His hand fell to his side and he frowned. In recent years, when he ran into Rong Meihua, they would always fall into arguments. It was odd, considering Wu Lingtian spent most of his time blatantly avoiding her. He couldn’t make heads or tails of the situation, but whenever they met, Rong Meihua almost treated him as if he were her greatest enemy.
It was to the point that Wu Lingtian no longer called her shizun unless they were around outsiders. When it was just the two of them, or if Li Ran and Zhou Ying’an were around, all manners were dropped. Vulgar words might even fly. Still, Wu Lingtian always managed to keep his composure. He would never go too far.
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.
Unfortunately, he had to see Rong Meihua today. After all, he returned to the sect with only one purpose.
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If he left Drifting Clouds Mountain Sect now, Wu Lingtian believed he would have enough prestige to carry himself. Then, he could travel to Jianshi and then…
Wu Lingtian splashed water into his face. He glanced at the mirror across from him and shook his head. That would be moving too fast, wouldn’t it? He should at least wait another…another fifty years. That’s right. He’ll be independent and wait another fifty years.
Or…
Wu Lingtian thought about Fan Yi’s expression the last time he saw him. Although the man was obviously busy, he still remembered his promise to Wu Lingtian—if Wu Lingtian ever needed him, he could just come to Screeching Sparrow Sect.
Those words were probably said perfunctorily, but they warmed Wu Lingtian’s heart. A smile formed on his face. He squeezed the sides of the basin and sat down.
If he acted pitifully, he wondered if Sect Leader Fan would accept him into his sect. What should he say? That he had a falling out with Rong Meihua? That Rong Meihua took pleasure in abusing him and he was tired of it? Or should he say that the rules of Xianping didn’t suit him very much?
All of those were true, but which would be the most convincing?
Perhaps saying that Rong Meihua abused him would be too much. If anyone heard, they would only laugh. Fan Yi wouldn’t—that much Wu Lingtian was sure of—but he didn’t want other members of Fan Yi’s sect to have a poor impression of him.
Then, should he just say honestly he had a falling out with Rong Meihua? Would that seem like he was a teenager running away from home though? Would Fan Yi try and convince him to return?
Wu Lingtian frowned. He tapped his finger against the table irritably. That wouldn’t do though. He didn’t want to return once he left. He even considered cutting off all relations publicly when the time comes. He might be viewed as a white-eyed wolf, but that was much better than being strung along for a few more years.
As for the rules of Xianping…perhaps that would work. After all, Jianshi was established to get away from those unfair laws.
Wu Lingtian nudged the basin aside and placed his chin onto the table. His heart hammered against his chest as he fantasized about how it might go.
If he arrived at the entrance of Screeching Sparrow Sect and told them who he was, would they believe him and let him in? No. Perhaps, instead, Fan Yi would come down to talk to them. And then after he explained his circumstances, that pitying look will cross Fan Yi’s face. His brows will furrow, his lips will press together, and he’ll avert his gaze when he realizes he’s been staring at Wu Lingtian for too long.
Then, after a few beats of silence, Fan Yi will agree and let Wu Lingtian stay with them. At that point, Wu Lingtian will volunteer to teach the disciples or help out around the sect. He’ll do anything to become an integral part of the sect. Then Fan Yi won’t make him leave. He’ll show Fan Yi that he’s useful.
Wu Lingtian pressed his lips together. He took a deep breath to calm himself and stood. He grabbed his robes and threw them on.
He was excited now.
Once he finished dressing, Wu Lingtian began to pack.
In reality, most of the things here were useless gifts from people who didn’t know him too well. The few things he needed were mainly in his Qiankun pouch already, but he grabbed several sets of clothing and threw them in as well. The books that weren’t considered sect property were also dropped into his bag. He hesitated a moment before packing some blankets and pillows as well.
He’s done so much for Drifting Clouds Mountain Sect—he could at least take this much as repayment, right?
The allowance Wu Lingtian got from the sect was left at the table. He had more than enough from the money he earned from helping the common folk and acting as a mercenary for other sects.
After tidying up his room, Wu Lingtian stepped back and looked around.
Despite packing up, the room remained relatively the same.
He really had no attachment to this place.
Although people weren’t allowed near the back mountains at this time, Wu Lingtian still wandered over. There was an array placed there. If Rong Meihua was paying attention, she would certainly sense that someone was lingering and would come out to find out who it was.
“Hm? Wu-shixiong, why are you all the way out here?”
Wu Lingtian looked over his shoulder. “I could ask you the same.”
The disciple smiled sheepishly. “Don’t tell Sect Leader, but I’m slacking.”
“You told her yourself. She has monitoring all over this place,” Wu Lingtian said, gesturing to their surroundings.
“Wu-shixiong, don’t scare me like that,” the disciple said, his face immediately paling. “Sect Leader just left seclusion.”
“She just left?” Wu Lingtian’s brows furrowed.
“Yes! I even saw her head back to her residence.”
“I see,” Wu Lingtian murmured. He patted the disciple on the shoulder. “Thanks. I won’t tell anyone I saw you here.”
The disciple breathed a sigh of relief.
Wu Lingtian’s strides were wide as he made his way to Rong Meihua’s residence. His mind repeated the dialogue he had been rehearsing since he had been accepted as his disciple.
“Thank you for taking care of me all these years, but I want to leave Drifting Clouds Mountain Sect,” Wu Lingtian murmured.
The phrase rolled off his tongue smoothly without a stutter. In fact, it sounded quite emotionless. Though, in front of Rong Meihua, when had Wu Lingtian ever acted like their relationship was anything more than estranged?
He was near Rong Meihua’s residence now. His nerves were taught from excitement and anxiety. He knew that Rong Meihua wanted him gone too. For years, both parties have been waiting for this one moment. That’s why she always egged him on, wasn’t it? Today was the day her wish will be fulfilled. She will definitely be happy.
The weather reached a freezing point.
Wu Lingtian just barely managed to avoid the snow that was beginning to fall from the sky. He looked out from under the eaves of the roof as the glimmering white flecks drifted to the earth. He turned on his heel and headed for Rong Meihua’s study.
He knocked.
There was a long silence that followed after.
Wu Lingtian’s brows furrowed. He knocked again, but there was still no response. His eyes drifted to the room next door. After a moment of hesitation, Wu Lingtian stepped to the side and knocked on the door of Rong Meihua’s bedroom.
If he strained his ears, he could hear the sounds of breathing coming from within. There was someone in there for sure.
Wu Lingtian raised his hand to knock again, but something at his feet caught his eye. He froze.
Smoke leaked from the bottom of the door. It was barely noticeable but enough to be alarming. Wu Lingtian’s brows furrowed. He hurriedly knocked on the door.
“Shizun? It’s me, Lingtian.”
There was no answer.
Wu Lingtian pursed his lips. He knocked a little harder. “Shizun, are you in there? Can you hear me?”
Still no answer.
Wu Lingtian certainly felt the breath, but it was getting weaker. Anxiety clawed at Wu Lingtian’s chest. He glanced down at the smoke again. It wasn’t fire, but instinct told Wu Lingtian that it was something worse—something even more poisonous.
He took a deep breath and knocked one last time. When he verified that Rong Meihua would not be answering him, he readied himself and threw himself into the door.
The door gave way surprisingly easily. In fact, it was as if it had already been opening as Wu Lingtian sent himself forward.
He tumbled to the ground with a loud grunt.
The doors behind him creaked shut, like the eerie prelude to a horrific symphony.
Smoke covered the ground. The windows were covered by black cloth to prevent sunlight from seeping in. Candles flickered weakly, not doing very well to light up the room.
Wu Lingtian slowly pushed himself up. He looked out at the scene in front of him, eyes widening as he registered what it was.
“Da-shixiong,” Wu Lingtian scrambled forward on all fours. He scooped the convulsing man into his arms. “Da-shixiong, what’s wrong?”
Li Ran’s gaze dazedly settled on Wu Lingtian. His hand stretched out weakly and grasped the front of his robes. “Why…why are you…”
“Who did this? Where’s Shizun?” Wu Lingtian asked, slightly shaking Li Ran.
“She…you…get out…”
“What?” Wu Lingtian’s brows furrowed. He looked around the room. One swift look verified that Rong Meihua was not currently in the room with him. His blood turned cold. What had happened to their shizun?
He shook himself and stood with Li Ran in his arms. Before he could make it towards the door, however, he felt his arm squeezed.
“No…leave…leave me.”
“Leave you?” Wu Lingtian’s brows furrowed. He shook his head.
In Li Ran’s delirious state, he must not realize who Wu Lingtian was. Perhaps he even thought he was the perpetrator.
“Da-shixiong, it’s me, Lingtian,” Wu Lingtian said. His grip on Li Ran tightened. “Forget it, let’s talk about this when we get out.”
Li Ran shook his head weakly. He tried to put his weight down, but his body had already lost all of its strength. He struggled slightly, but Wu Lingtian ignored him.
With his hands full, Wu Lingtian could only attempt to kick the door down. The oddest thing wasn’t that the door didn’t budge—it was that Wu Lingtian was forced back.
Wu Lingtian and Li Ran fell to the floor. The leg Wu Lingtian had used had gone numb. He glanced back at the door as a chilling realization took a hold of him.
They were locked in.
Li Ran writhed on the ground. He clutched his chest as his breathing came out in rapid, broken gasps. He used what was left of his strength to latch onto Wu Lingtian’s sleeve. His mouth opened and closed wordlessly as cold sweat poured down the side of his face.
Wu Lingtian shakily held Li Ran’s hand. Then, he felt a third presence in the room.
“How touching. So, this is your brotherly bond?”
Wu Lingtian froze. The hand that held Li Ran’s trembled slightly. He slowly turned and looked up at the woman, who was standing not too far away from them.
“Sh…Shizun,” Wu Lingtian shifted. He was still hugging Li Ran to his chest as he wobbled forward. “Shizun, Da-shixiong is in a lot of pain. We have to get out, but the door is—”
“Are you stupid?”
“…This disciple doesn’t understand what Shizun is saying,” Wu Lingtian mumbled. “But I don’t know what’s wrong with Da-shixiong. We have to get a doctor. He might be poisoned or—”
A soft laugh left Rong Meihua’s red lips. “I always thought you were annoying, but you’re kind of cute, aren’t you? What? Do you think denial will make this entire situation disappear? Everything is so blatantly in front of you, but you’re still trying to ignore it?”
Wu Lingtian averted his gaze. He stared at the ground as Rong Meihua walked closer.
“I did that to him. I did that to Li Ran,” Rong Meihua said, her voice like a cold, sharp knife, driving itself into Wu Lingtian’s skull. “If I don’t, then he won’t listen to me, you see. And I wanted absol—”
“Shut up.”
Rong Meihua raised a brow. “Shut up?”
Wu Lingtian’s eyes were burning. He held Li Ran tighter to himself, as if he wanted to absorb the other party. As if it were the only way he could protect him. “How could…he’s your disciple!”
“So what if he’s my disciple?” Rong Meihua asked with a quirked brow.
Wu Lingtian glared at Rong Meihua. “Then, that sect elder—was that also your doing?”
Rong Meihua’s eyes widened. “You’re not as dumb as I thought.”
Dread squeezed Wu Lingtian’s heart. He clenched his jaw. “What are you trying to hide in the back mountains?”
“I have no reason to explain anything to you,” Rong Meihua said, smirking slightly. She glanced at Li Ran in Wu Lingtian’s arms. “Now, if you could return my property to me.”
“Your property?” Wu Lingtian echoed.
“Yes, my property,” Rong Meihua said. She gestured around. “Haven’t you seen this smoke? Do you not know what it is?”
Wu Lingtian had his suspicions, but all his assumptions led to an unpleasant answer. If Rong Meihua was seeking absolute obedience, there was only one thing this substance could be.
“Just be a good boy and hand him over,” Rong Meihua said. “I’m almost done with him.”
Rong Meihua reached out for Li Ran, but Wu Lingtian jerked back.
“…Not going to listen to me, huh?” Rong Meihua straightened. “Well, that doesn’t matter. You’re going to die today anyway. You can just savor this one last act of rebellion.”
“Since I’m going to die anyway, why don’t you just answer me?” Wu Lingtian asked. “Why are you doing this to Da-shixiong?”
“Why are you so hung up on that?” Rong Meihua asked, a sarcastic smile on her face. “He started rebelling. I couldn’t allow that for my cause.”
“He lo—” Wu Lingtian looked down at Li Ran. Fingernails dug into Wu Lingtian’s arm, preventing him from speaking any longer.
Shattered starlight—that’s what Wu Lingtian thought of when he saw Li Ran’s eyes. Guilt and sadness converged into tears, falling uselessly down his cheeks. This was the path he had chosen when he admitted his love for Rong Meihua. He knew it was doomed from the start.
“…Can’t I do it?”
Rong Meihua’s brows furrowed. “What?”
“Instead of Da-shixiong…I can do it instead, can’t I?”
Rong Meihua stared at Wu Lingtian. “Do you even understand what you’re saying?”
“I don’t want to die,” Wu Lingtian said dully. “I’ve spent my entire life trying to survive to this point. I feel like it’d be stupid for me to die here. You just want absolute obedience, right? I can do that.”
Rong Meihua’s sharp laughter seemed to echo in Wu Lingtian’s already throbbing mind. After what felt like an eternity, she finally stopped.
“You? Absolute obedience? You’re the last person who should be saying that, Wu Lingtian. Ever since you were a child, you went up against me. The only reason you started to shut up and mind your own business was because of all those times I locked you in the water dungeon,” Rong Meihua said. She laughed incredulously. “And now you’re saying that you’re willing to pledge your absolute obedience to me? I never realized how funny you were!”
Wu Lingtian raised his head and met Rong Meihua’s gaze. “I’m being serious.”
“Serious?” Rong Meihua echoed. There was endless amusement in her eyes. She glanced down at Li Ran. “Alright. Then, how about this? I put a serpent’s heart into Li Ran’s soul and I have the venom that controls it. Take that out right now and put it into your own soul.”
Li Ran’s eyes widened. He struggled, but Wu Lingtian held him back down.
“If you do that, then I’ll believe you,” Rong Meihua said.
“If I do that, will you let Da-shixiong go?”
Rong Meihua quirked a brow. “Why should I?”
“For the sake of your master and disciple relationship, can’t you just let him go? You’ve already laid the room out with Dreamless Fog. You can just use it to brainwash him, can’t you?” Wu Lingtian asked. “He’ll forget everything about this exchange and you’ll have your good disciple back.”
“Is that your true motive?” Rong Meihua asked in amusement. She scoffed. “Wu Lingtian, you have more loyalty than I thought you did.”
“Promise me,” Wu Lingtian said. “If you don’t harm him, I promise you absolute obedience.”
“I can just kill you.”
“I’ll come back as a ghost,” Wu Lingtian said. “I don’t know what you’re planning, but I promise you I’ll do worse. Then, I’ll take you and drag you with me to the darkest depths of hell.”
Rong Meihua remained silent.
Wu Lingtian broke out into a smile that didn’t match his empty eyes. “You can scatter my soul. You can try to erase my entire existence, but I’ll find a way to come back. You know resentment is the strongest force in the universe, right? And you know me—I always do what I promise.”
Rong Meihua glanced at Li Ran. “All for your shixiong?”
“It’s the least I can do for him,” Wu Lingtian said. He ignored the sharp pain in his arm. “It’s the least that you can do for him as well.”
The silence while a decision was being made was the most deafening kind.
“Alright.”
The response came so casually that Wu Lingtian temporarily forgot the situation he was in.
“I promise you,” Rong Meihua said.
She turned and sat down at the nearby tea table. Once she made herself comfortable, she looked towards Wu Lingtian. Her eyes were filled with anticipation.
Wu Lingtian took a deep breath. Li Ran’s fingers still clung desperately to his arm, as if that could change a decision that was already made. Wu Lingtian closed his eyes. The insertion was easy, but the extraction took more of a process.
In the hour that followed, Li Ran’s pained screams was the only thing that filled Wu Lingtian’s ears. By the end of it, Li Ran had passed out. He laid limply against Wu Lingtian’s legs and an odd, writhing object threatened to escape from Wu Lingtian’s grip.
He glanced at the venomous Gu, then looked to Rong Meihua’s satisfied expression. He lifted his hand to his opened mouth and swallowed it.
On one hand these past chapters are slowing breaking my heart to pieces, especially knowing what happens to Li Ran in the end. Poor Wu Lingtian. On the other hand, I simultaneously find it just a bit funny imagining WLT hurling insults at Rong Meihua.
Aha so she wasn’t some kind of hero or saint who got taken over by something. She was already a jerk and so nobody noticed the difference? 😂 I’m assuming, since he always said it wasn’t her when he killed it. It was cute how he was imagining how Fan Yi might greet him.
;-;