After that, another thirty years dragged by. When Situ Min was nearing sixty, Situ Hong finally returned to Purple Bamboo Sect. His temperament seemed to have settled by a lot. With Situ Min was sect leader, Situ Hong was much more diligent in his duties. He no longer ran off, on the basis of exploring the world. He remained in the sect to teach, but seeing his older brother like this nearly made it more unbearable.
“Da-ge, you haven’t been out in a long while.”
“Isn’t it good to be at home?” Situ Hong said as he graded the papers before him. “I don’t need to go out.”
Situ Min shifted uncomfortably. “Da-ge, are you okay?”
Situ Hong’s brush stilled. He looked up and smiled. “What do you mean?”
His older brother’s smile unsettled him. For a brief moment, Situ Min was unsure of what to say. And then a thought occurred to him: when was the last time he asked his brother this question? It seemed that this topic had never come up, not even when Frost Cliff Pavilion was burned to the ground.
“I think it would be good if you took a break,” Situ Min said, his voice soft.
Situ Hong set his brush down and leaned back in his chair. “Your father would be so happy to see me working so hard for you, but you’re telling me to take a break?”
“He’s our father.”
Situ Hong stood. “Maybe you’re right. I think I do need a break.”
Situ Min pursed his lips. He spoke hesitantly: “Is it really impossible to forgive him?”
“…You’re my little brother. Your mother is my stepmother. But as I’ve gotten older, it’s become clearer to me,” Situ Hong said. “That man can no longer be my father. Can you accept that?”
Situ Min was no longer the naïve, spoiled child. He had long learned the full story of Situ Hong’s mother. If the same thing happened to his mother, he knew that he also wouldn’t be able to forgive his father. But the guilt ate at him, for wanting to keep his father yet still wanting to have a good relationship with his brother.
Situ Hong chuckled. “I’m not asking you to choose any side. Just don’t make me reconcile with him.”
Situ Min hesitantly nodded.
“Good. Then, I’m leaving the sect to you,” Situ Hong said with a grin.
Wu Lingtian and Xiao Xunrui had their own lives to live. It had been a while since they were home anyway. Situ Hong didn’t think he would be able to bump into them by chance on his sudden vacation. Instead of looking for his friends, Situ Hong decided to take a trip around the continent instead. When he was needed, he would slay a few monsters and exorcise a few ghosts. When he was tired, he would sit at a tea house and listen to a few stories. Life was mundane, but Situ Hong no longer craved anything more exciting.
Perhaps that’s what it meant to age.
A soft sigh left his lips as he smacked the ghoul’s head with the side of his fan.
“Whether you’re human or monster, you must have a bit of integrity,” Situ Hong said. “I’ve never met a monster who goes around peeping at women when they shower. Good gracious.”
The ghoul struggled ferociously in its bonds, making Situ Hong giggle.
“You must have been some kind of pervert in your life,” Situ Hong sighed. He stood and drew a sigil in the air.
He took a step back and watched the purifying process. When the ghoul disintegrated into dust he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Just as he was about to leave, he felt a shift in the wind. His head whipped towards the sudden movement. His fan flourished, but he was a second too slow. He braced for impact, but the pain never came. Instead, the howling of a mutated wolf pierced the night sky. The wolf slammed into the tree and disintegrated into a smoke of red.
“This is Fengya,” a low voice said. “You’ve walked too far.”
“Is it?” Situ Hong looked around. He let out a sheepish laugh. “My apologies, I didn’t notice. Thank you for helping me, xiongtai.”
The man in front of him stiffened. He turned and glared at Situ Hong. “Xiongtai? Situ Hong, you don’t recognize me?”
The man in front of Situ Hong stood just a few inches shorter than him. His hair was black and tied back into a singular braid. He wore arrow-sleeved robes and had a bow and a set of arrows slung over his back. His eyes seemed to glimmer with shards of red, reminding Situ Hong briefly of Wuma Qiongling. He hesitated for a moment and smiled.
“Xiao Rong?”
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.
“Zs ulnfc cjwf lr Táczú (严徐).”
Vlae Lbcu mtemxifv. “Tbe’nf ugbkc eq cbk.”
Qjc Tjcze ygfjatfv bea. “Xb yjmx. Tbe’gf cba reqqbrfv ab yf lc Mfcusj klatbea j qfgwla.”
“P xcbk. P klii yf ublcu yjmx cbk,” Vlae Lbcu rjlv.
Qjc Tjcze tfrlajafv, tlr olcufgr vluulcu lcab tlr qjiw. C wbwfca ijafg, tf mjeuta eq ab Vlae Lbcu. “Tbe…vb sbe kjca ab nlrla Mfcusj?”
“Fengya?” Situ Hong’s steps slowed. He chuckled. “I thought I wasn’t allowed in.”
“If you want, you can follow me in,” Wan Yanxu said. He observed Situ Hong silently and subtly felt that something was wrong. “But only if you want.”
Situ Hong fell silent. “Well, I don’t have anything better to do. Will you give me a tour?”
Wan Yanxu nodded. “I can be your guide.”
“Alright,” Situ Hong smiled.
The two men trailed through the dark forest silently. Wan Yanxu might have grown up, but he still had trouble finding the correct words. It had been a long time since he had seen Situ Hong, much less heard news about him. It was only recently that the name Lord Feng Ling had begun making waves again. Even then, they were like ripples in a small lake. Few people knew what he was doing or why he suddenly wandered Jianghu once more. And Wan Yanxu didn’t feel like it was his place to ask.
“Are you still the Young Heir?” Situ Hong asked.
“That is still my title. But my Royal Uncle has basically delegated all his duties to me,” Wan Yanxu said.
“Is he enjoying his time with Xunrui?” Situ Hong asked, a small chuckle at his lips.
“He is. They live a blissful life of immortals.”
“While you slave and suffer.”
Wan Yanxu smiled slightly. “Basically. And you have been…?”
“Teaching. I’m a teacher,” Situ Hong said. He glanced at Wan Yanxu with a slight smirk. “It’s nothing interesting, right? My little brother got tired of seeing my face around, so he suggested I take a trip. Then I wandered and wandered and ended up in Fengya. It must be some kind of fate.”
Wan Yanxu’s heart hammered against his chest. “Yes, it must be.”
“I’m assuming your uncles aren’t in?”
“They aren’t. You just missed them,” Wan Yanxu said, his voice soft. “But I’m not busy recently. I have time to accompany you.”
“Accompany me, huh?” Situ Hong echoed.
Wan Yanxu hesitated, “Or, do you not want me to?”
“No, it’s not that. It’s just been a while since I’ve had someone accompany me,” Situ Hong said, a small frown on his face. “It’s been a long while.”
“You can come find me whenever. I’ll accompany you,” Wan Yanxu said. He met Situ Hong’s questioning gaze and felt his cheeks warm. “I—I’m actually quite free.”
“The Young Heir of Black Scales Palace is actually quite free?” Situ Hong asked in amusement.
“Just in certain situations,” Wan Yanxu said. “Like now.”
Wan Yanxu glanced at Situ Hong. He shifted slightly to see the other man’s expression better, but in the next moment, an abrupt scoff left Situ Hong’s lips. It was as if he were holding back a laugh. His fan snapped open as he covered the lower half of his face and coughed slightly.
He glanced at Wan Yanxu and shook his head slightly. “You’re being a little too obvious.”
“A little? I’m not trying to be subtle,” Wan Yanxu said.
“If you’re serious, then I’ll stop by.”
Wan Yanxu’s eyes brightened slightly. “Or I can come find you!”
Situ Hong looked at Wan Yanxu.
“I-I mean, well…it would be a hassle to travel to Fengya all the time. And since I’m so free, it shouldn’t be too much for me to visit you…wherever you are,” Wan Yanxu said.
“Oh, you’re so free, are you?” Situ Hong asked, amused.
“I’m very free,” Wan Yanxu said. “Whenever you’re bored, just give me a call. I’ll appear by your side right away.”
Situ Hong finally couldn’t hold back his laughter. In his entire life, he had never met a person more absurd than he was. It was interesting speaking with someone like Wan Yanxu, who didn’t have a filter over his mouth.
Seeing Situ Hong’s smile, Wan Yanxu felt a warm bubble in his chest. His own lips unconsciously curled. He was right—he still liked Situ Hong. Maybe he even liked him more now.
“Give you a call? Now, how will I do that?”
Wan Yanxu plucked a ring off his finger and handed it to Situ Hong. He watched as a brow slowly quirked before he gave an answer. “If you get too bored, just give this a tap. I’ll know and I’ll rush over.”
“Rush over,” Situ Hong took the ring and turned it in his finger. He glanced at Wan Yanxu. “I’ll take it for now. I want to see how you rush to me.”
Wan Yanxu felt his heart flutter.
Situ Hong had never been to Fengya and knew little about the geography. Wan Yanxu didn’t take Situ Hong anywhere outside of Black Scales Palace’s territory and only brought him into what could be deemed as the capital city. Situ Hong glanced around, watching as people dressed in clothing that varied from what he was used to walked past. People didn’t have their hair pinned with traditional wooden pins. The shapes were odd, curling and clasping their hair in creative ways Situ Hong had never imagined. Their clothes were like patchworks of various materials—none of which seemed to be silk or the harsh fabric of commoners.
When Situ Hong gave Wan Yanxu another look, he realized that the other man was also wearing something similar. His cut of his clothing was more similar to Xianping’s clothes. However, he had a pronounced lapel that was made of a soft material. Clipped to half his shoulder was a cape that draped over his arm. His hair was pinned up in a half bun by a silver claw that had a dragon-like decoration clipped to the side of his head.
Wan Yanxu caught Situ Hong’s gaze and looked over. “What is it?”
“You all dress differently here.”
“It’s because the climate is different,” Wan Yanxu explained. “The people here have to dress warmer.”
Situ Hong let out a soft hum in understanding. His gaze drifted over the decorations lining the streets. Other than the way of dress, the speech patterns were also different. The dialect wasn’t too different, but it took Situ Hong a moment to understand.
The store vendors sold toys and trinkets that he would never be able to see in Xianping or Jiangshi. The objects were made of simple and cheap materials, yet were fashioned in such delicate and interesting ways. Situ Hong watched in fascination as an older gentleman showed off a toy made of leaves and blades of grass to a curious child.
Wan Yanxu glanced at Situ Hong and then back to the toys. There was no way Situ Hong would want something so crude and simple. But as they walked past, Wan Yanxu’s fingers itched slightly. He couldn’t help but take note of all the things that Situ Hong’s gaze lingered on in curiosity. If it was food, he obviously bought that right away.
He watched as Situ Hong’s eyes lit up with each new flavor. The dulling look to his eyes had vanished bit by bit the longer he roamed the streets with Wan Yanxu.
Situ Hong glanced at the setting sun. He frowned slightly and found it a shame. He had already promised Situ Min that he would return the day after. If he wanted to keep his promise, he would most likely have to leave tonight. He pursed his lips and prepared to say his farewells, when Wan Yanxu stopped him.
“Let’s have dinner first. I know a good restaurant,” Wan Yanxu said. “It’s quite popular around here. It started off as a little mom and pop shop, but it’s gained more traction over the years. It’s still famous for meals that taste homecooked and genuine. Do you want try?”
Situ Hong looked at Wan Yanxu’s soft smile and found himself nodding along. Even when he had sat down and was listening to Wan Yanxu order, he hadn’t figured out what had happened.
“Gege, I need to use the restroom. You can start eating when the food comes out,” Wan Yanxu said, already getting up.
Situ Hong watched as the man left, seemingly in a hurry. He raised a brow as he sipped at his tea. Wan Yanxu must have really needed to pee.
The dishes came out in a timely manner, but even as Situ Hong began to nibble at the delicious delicacies, Wan Yanxu hadn’t come back. His brows raised slightly as he glanced over the balcony. He caught a glimpse of the young man walking back into the restaurant, his arm full of things. Situ Hong’s brows furrowed, but he silenced his doubts until Wan Yanxu returned.
Situ Hong watched as the man placed down an armful of items. He slowly dragged his gaze over each one and found that they were all the little trinkets that he had been eying. His fingers flexed around his chopsticks and the spicy fish suddenly became a bit sweet.
“A parting gift.”
“A parting gift?” Situ Hong set his chopsticks down. “This is more than one.”
“I…It is, isn’t it,” Wan Yanxu sat down across from Situ Hong. “If it’s too much, you don’t have to bring it all back. When I visit, I’ll—”
“I’ll take them all back,” Situ Hong said as he lifted the small, weaved box that contained a doll that would pop out. He smiled slightly as he fiddled with it. He glanced at Wan Yanxu. “Thank you.”
“You don’t have to be so polite,” Wan Yanxu said. His gaze drifted over the dishes. “Were these to your taste?”
“Mn. It tastes good,” Situ Hong said. His fingers lingered on the items.
The fatigue he had felt coming into Fengya had faded. He had even forgotten why he had felt so tired and annoyed recently. The small gifts in front of him brought him a childish joy that he hadn’t felt in a long time. It was as if he were back to a time when nothing bad had happened to his friends. When they could all sit around and laugh and joke without much of a worry in the world.
Situ Hong knew that he would never be able to go back to those days, but these little gifts brought him a bit of respite.
Even as Wan Yanxu walked Situ Hong to the border of Fengya, there was still a smile on his face. He finally let out a sigh and turned to Wan Yanxu.
“Young Heir.”
“Gege.”
Situ Hong chuckled. He rubbed Wan Yanxu’s head with a bright grin. “Thank you for accompanying me today.”
Wan Yanxu’s face slowly heated. “It—no. Thank you for letting me.”
“If you ever stop by Purple Bamboo School, I’ll be sure to give you a warm welcome,” Situ Hong said, his voice soft.
Wan Yanxu’s eyes widened. “I—I’m free at the end of the week!”
Situ Hong raised a brow.
“W-what I mean is…can I…will you allow me to see you again so soon?” Wan Yanxu asked.
Despite his embarrassing request, Wan Yanxu’s eyes shined. In fact, the man in front of him didn’t seem like he realized just how embarrassing such a request was. Situ Hong felt a laugh bubbling in his chest again, but he held back. In the face of such sincerity, it would be rude to laugh.
Situ Hong nodded. “I’ll see you at the end of the week then.”
Wan Yanxu’s face glowed.
Situ Hong had already turned his attention away. Just as his hand touched the hilt of his sword, he felt a tug backwards. A soft kiss landed against his cheek. The touch was fleeting, like a feather that had just brushed against his face. When he realized what had happened, Wan Yanxu had already disappeared.
Situ Hong raised a hand. He felt his fingers touch the spot that still retained its heat. His lips twitched slightly, but he ignored the warmth creeping up his neck. He scoffed, tossed his sleeves, and flew away from Fengya.
The cold air seemed to cut his cheek and reddened his nose. But nothing seemed to take away the warmth from that fleeting kiss.
A/N: surprise update bc it’s my cake day– Also, more chapter of Situ Hong, then it’s the epilogue ;v; felt like i should give everyone a heads up…
Toys and a kiss! I thought Fengya sounded kind of rough at first, but it produces the sweetest boys ☺️
So cute !
Thank you for the chapter 🙂
look at Wan Yanxu learn!! yes ask if Situ Hong wants to!!!! gosh still a cutie, raining all the nice things kn Situ Hong aldgksxhsj
I’ve been quiet the whole journey but I’m quite anxious to know what happened to Rui Sword. :'( What happened to it when the Sect burned last time, where is it, who wield the sword now?