The boat drifted lazily with the tide. The oar that was sunk below the water moved only subtly, to make sure that the waters didn’t turn the boat around. Otherwise, the man who steered the boat sat with his eyes closed as the child onboard shifted from one side to the other. The reddish-brown eyes were opened far wider than anyone was used to seeing them. His hands were tucked under the slightly oversized uniform of Yunkong Pavilion. His fringe fell over his left eye in a cumbersome fashion that made the boy tuck his hair behind his ear once in a while.
He sank slightly behind the side of the boat as wispy faces floated by. Some were gruesome, with their jaw falling off or their neck completely severed, while others looked almost alive, if not just a bit mournful.
As they passed through the River of Forgotten Souls, the boy silently listened to the soft humming from the man at the oar and eventually, he shifted and jogged over to the man.
“Pavilion Master.”
Ye Mingxi opened one eye. “What’s up?”
“What are you singing?” the child asked curiously.
“Is my singing bad?”
The child shook his head. “No, it sounds nice. But it’s a little sad.”
“It’s a song to soothe the forgotten souls,” Ye Mingxi said. He yawned slightly. “Xiao Zhen, how about you try singing it too?”
Huai Zhen glanced over the side of the boat, at the faces that peered back up at them and shyly mimicked the tune he had been hearing for most of the day. The ghostly faces faded slightly, making Huai Zhen stop his song midway.
Ye Mingxi opened his eyes. He looked at Huai Zhen, who was still staring curiously over the edge of the boat.
“Xiao Zhen, is there something over there?”
Huai Zhen quickly shook his head.
“Really?” Ye Mingxi hummed. He shifted and the boat dipped slightly under his weight. “Well, that’s better, I suppose.”
Huai Zhen snuck a curious glance at Ye Mingxi. “As opposed to?”
“Seeing things,” Ye Mingxi said. He glanced over the side of the boat. “Because I see tons of things. When you can cultivate, you’ll see them too.”
“What sort of things?” Huai Zhen asked.
“Forgotten souls,” Ye Mingxi said. “You should sit down. It isn’t safe to run around like this. If you fall in, I might not be able to fish you back out.”
Huai Zhen sat down obediently, but still continued to look over the edge of the water. After a long while, the boy spoke again, “Are the forgotten souls dangerous?”
Ye Mingxi glanced at Huai Zhen. He leaned on his side and looked over the water with Huai Zhen. “What have you learned from your lessons?”
Huai Zhen thought about it. “We learned about wandering souls, but not forgotten souls. Are they the same?”
“Not exactly,” Ye Mingxi said. He laid down and rested his head on his arm. “Wandering souls are souls that haven’t been guided to the Underworld. They’re lost because they didn’t realize that they’ve died or because they lost a part of their souls during the process of their death. Forgotten souls are special. They’re either souls of the nameless dead or souls who have waited so long for someone, that they’ve forgotten who they are.”
Huai Zhen glanced at the faces below them again. “How…can someone be nameless? Doesn’t everyone have a name?”
Ye Mingxi smiled. “Some people don’t have names. But in death, ghost guards can still find and guide you even if you have no name. However, in the Underworld, records can get lost. If they get lost, then the ghost guards can’t find you and guide you to the Yellow Springs.”
“Get lost?” Huai Zhen exclaimed. “Are the ghost guards in the Underworld so careless?”
Ye Mingxi laughed. “It isn’t the ghost guards’ fault. It is the fault of your own soul.”
“Your own soul?” Huai Zhen echoed.
Ye Mingxi hummed. “If you forget who you are, then you’ll become a forgotten soul. If you’re a forgotten soul, you’ll become a nameless soul.”
“How do you just…forget? Isn’t that the same as a wandering soul then? Like how they’ve lost part of their souls.”
“Hm…if your Shizun were here, he’d be much better at explaining,” Ye Mingxi said.
“This is why you don’t have disciples,” Huai Zhen said.
Ye Mingxi laughed and nodded. “Well, you’re right. This is exactly why.”
Huai Zhen pouted. “Can’t you try to explain?”
Ye Mingxi sucked in a breath of cold air and let out a long hum. He rolled his fingers through the air and, slowly, a soft, wispy silver ball emerged onto his palm. “Okay, how about this? Pretend that a human’s soul is this orb.”
Huai Zhen nodded.
“Then, within this orb, is the important information. It contains includes the karma you hold throughout your many lives, and records of your existence across eons,” Ye Mingxi said. “Now,” Ye Mingxi lifted a hand and gently brushed the wisps aside, “Do you see the surface?”
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.
Ktf regojmf uibkfv klat rmglyyifr, famtfv lcab atf bgy’r regojmf.
Lejl Itfc cbvvfv. “Zc.”
“Ktfrf rmglyyifr jgf…atf wfwbglfr sbe tjnf bo atlr ilof,” Tf Zlcuzl rjlv. Lf ilutais ajqqfv atf bgy. “Qtfc sbe’gf j kjcvfglcu rqlgla, atlr tjqqfcr.”
Qlat atf iluta ajq, atf rmglyyifr bc atf regojmf bo atf bgy ojvfv rilutais, ifjnlcu rbwf yftlcv ktlif batfgr mbwqifafis vlrjqqfjgfv.
Huai Zhen gasped.
Ye Mingxi chuckled as he restored the orb to its original appearance. With a pout, he tapped the orb again, “But when you’re a forgotten soul, this happens.”
Huai Zhen’s eyes widened as smaller wisps fell from the bottom of the orb. “What happened?”
Ye Mingxi smiled as he waved his hand over the orb again. “What was inside the orb?”
“Records of your soul’s existence over eons,” Huai Zhen said.
Ye Mingxi nodded. “Yup. And so…?”
“…A wandering soul is someone who has lost their sense of self in this life, but a forgotten soul is someone who has forgotten their own existence,” Huai Zhen concluded.
“Precisely. No wonder Liuye likes teaching you,” Ye Mingxi said as he rubbed Huai Zhen’s head.
Huai Zhen frowned. He glanced over the edge of the water. “That’s so pitiful…”
“It is. But even if they are pitiful, remember to be wary around forgotten souls.”
Huai Zhen met Ye Mingxi’s gaze. “Why?”
“They’ve lost their sense of self due to their obsession. Once they become a forgotten soul, there is very little chance they will become whole again. Many will become demons or fierce ghosts and ghouls,” Ye Mingxi said. He tilted his chin towards the water. “The River of Forgotten Souls leads directly to the Underworld. Many linger here, as they wait for their loved ones or those that they seek vengeance on. However, after centuries of waiting, they’ll forget themselves. Then, they grow hungry. They want energy to remain alive, so that they can fulfill their obsession. That’s why the River of Forgotten Souls is a well-known drowning spot.”
Huai Zhen scooted away from the boat’s edge. “But they all look so…”
“They?”
Huai Zhen caught himself. He glanced warily at Ye Mingxi and then back into the water, where the tear-stained faces looked back at him.
“It’s sad to be forgotten,” Huai Zhen finally said.
Ye Mingxi smiled sadly. He let out a soft, disappointed sigh, and hummed. “It is. To wait forever for someone or something you’ve long forgotten is truly pitiful. That’s why the locals around here also know this river to be Sijun River. ‘Day after day I yearn for thou yet see thou not, though in the Yangtze River, we partake’.”
Huai Zhen’s chest ached slightly. He took one last glance in the water and shifted further into the boat.
“Is there no way to help them?”
“Perhaps if you run into one lone forgotten soul. But here, in this river, it will be very difficult. There are some who have waited for hundreds of thousands of years and some who have been waiting only a few decades. Some wait without resentment while others have steeped too long in hatred,” Ye Mingxi said. “It’s not that you can’t, but it would be far too difficult. It’s a feat that even your Shizun would struggle with.”
Huai Zhen’s head sank lower to his chest. “Then, that means no one can do it…”
Ye Mingxi chuckled. He patted the back of Huai Zhen’s head. “Maybe you can.”
“Don’t tease me, Pavilion Master. I’m turning eleven this year and I can barely absorb spiritual energy,” Huai Zhen murmured. “How could I ever think of accomplishing something that Shizun won’t even do?”
“Who knows?” Ye Mingxi said. “Maybe you’re just a late bloomer. Once you’ve found a workaround, perhaps you’ll become the most amazing cultivator this generation has ever seen.”
Huai Zhen smiled slightly to himself. He glanced at Ye Mingxi. “Thank you, Pavilion Master.”
“Why are you thanking me so sincerely? I’m only telling the truth,” Ye Mingxi said.
Huai Zhen softly shook his head. He understood his own body better than anyone. For some reason, something that came so easily to every one else was the world’s most impossible thing to him. He already knew that he wasn’t cut out for cultivation, like the other children said. His shizun was only keeping him around because he was an orphan that was pitied.
Soon, the boat was docked, and Ye Mingxi scooped Huai Zhen into his arms so that the two could teleport to their intended location.
The entire time, Huai Zhen held onto Ye Mingxi’s shoulders and looked around in awe.
When he was told that he didn’t need to bring winter clothes, he had been skeptical and brought along a cloak. Now that he was in the Yinxue Region, he realized that he wasn’t being teased. The weather here was like the summers of the Yunheng Region. It was oddly warm, but it wasn’t unpleasant.
“Lord Weidan, you’ve arrived.”
Huai Zhen looked over his shoulder at the teenager who was walking over to them, flanked by several cultivators. He glanced at the people silently as Ye Mingxi greeted them. They weren’t scary like the disciples back at Yunkong Pavilion said devil cultivators would be. They all had heads, eyes, and noses. None of them looked like they had a limb out of place. In fact, Huai Zhen felt that they looked like perfectly normal people.
“A-Zhen, greet the Vulture Saint.”
Huai Zhen started. He looked around and then peered at Ye Mingxi. “…Who?”
“Lord Vulture Saint,” Ye Mingxi said. He turned himself so that Huai Zhen could look directly at Nie Chenhui. “Him.”
Huai Zhen stared at Nie Chenhui, his eyes widening further by the second. Nie Chenhui smiled.
“What’s wrong, little kid?” Nie Chenhui asked. “You don’t want to greet me?”
“No…not that,” Huai Zhen awkwardly said. His fingers pinched Ye Mingxi’s clothes. “Um…you look very young.”
Nie Chenhui’s eyes widened. He threw his head back and laughed so hard that he stumbled. His subordinates quickly caught him and nudged him back up until he was steady on his feet again. He wiped the nonexistent tears from his eyes and giggled again.
“My, my! This little kid knows how to sweet talk people,” Nie Chenhui said with an unnaturally wide grin. He placed his hands into a differential salute and bowed. “How about I introduce myself first? I surname is Nie, given name Chenhui. I am the Vulture Saint of Black Mane Palace and the Lord to border region of Yinxue Region. You may address me as Lord Nie.”
Huai Zhen lifted his hands from Ye Mingxi’s shoulders and clumsily copied him. “Lord Nie. I’m…um…”
Nie Chenhui watched in anticipation to see how the little boy would introduce himself.
“Um…I’m the disciple of Yunkong Pavilion’s Lord Hanjing, Huai Zhen.”
“Good,” Nie Chenhui praised. He sighed as he lightly pinched Huai Zhen’s cheek. “You’re far cuter than the Young Lord.”
Huai Zhen awkwardly moved away. “Young Lord?”
“Mn! The little monster that you will be playmates with,” Nie Chenhui said. He had an odd glimmer in his eyes as he lowered his hand. “Be careful. He looks to be your age, but his mind games are stellar.”
Huai Zhen shifted closer to Ye Mingxi.
“Lord Nie, please do not try to frighten a disciple of my sect,” Ye Mingxi warned.
Nie Chenhui laughed. “Oh, my apologies. The Young Lord isn’t that horrible. He’s quite kind. Now, come this way! I will take you to the teleportation array.”
Ye Mingxi frowned slightly. He gently stroked Huai Zhen’s back and whispered to the boy, “I’ve spoken to the Young Lord a few times personally. He is a kind boy. You won’t have trouble getting along with him.”
Huai Zhen hesitantly nodded. He lowered his gaze as his lips pursed.
He hadn’t been expecting much anyway. He was used to being harassed. Whether it was here or Yunkong Pavilion, it didn’t make a difference. Though, he had hoped that maybe the playmate he was supposed to have would be a little different. After all, when his shizun spoke to him about the Young Lord, there was a hint of fondness to his voice. And his shizun rarely spoke about anyone or anything with fondness.
Even the Ashen Phoenix that had just been born was gifted to the Young Lord as a first meeting present.
But there were many disciples like that in Yunkong Pavilion. Some kids were kind when adults were around, but when it was just them and him, they would reveal their true colors. However, if even his shizun was fooled, then Huai Zhen really had to be cautious around the Young Lord.
Huai Zhen took a deep breath when they arrived and prepared himself for another round of horrifying ghostly figures.
Ye Mingxi gently patted Huai Zhen’s back.
The child had put on a brave face when it was announced he would have to spend two years at Black Mane Palace, but he knew that anyone—adult or child—would be anxious when told they would have to spend time in a foreign place against their own will. And someone as smart as Huai Zhen would have probably realized that his situation was as precarious as a hostage was in an enemy kingdom.
Still, after meeting Ge Nianlan, Ye Mingxi had faith that the child wouldn’t make Huai Zhen’s fear of people any worse. He was clearly a sensible and bright child. If anything, perhaps Huai Zhen’s disposition would turn for the better.
Even with Baili Liuye expression his doubts about Ye Mingxi’s optimism, the man still held onto some hope.
After all, like father like son, right? Although Baili Liuye was not normal, he wasn’t a bad person. Even if Ge Nianlan was a little abnormal, Ye Mingxi doubted he would do anything extreme.
As they stepped into Black Mane Palace, their presence attracted many glances from disciples.
Huai Zhen, who had been looking around curiously the entire journey, now hid his face deep against Ye Mingxi’s neck. The boy hugged Ye Mingxi tightly, clearly refusing to let go regardless of the circumstances.
Upon seeing this, Nie Chenhui glanced over worriedly.
Ye Mingxi smiled. “He’s okay. He’s just shy.”
Nie Chenhui gave a skeptical nod. “Well, it is overwhelming to have so many people—”
“Lord Nie!”
The boisterous shout away the attention that surrounded them.
A small boy, dressed in dark green robes, came barreling down the hill. Behind him was a teenage boy and a teenage girl. The girl looked irritated while the boy looked somewhat helpless. In their hands were knick-knacks and toys. The small boy was holding two bags as well and he didn’t stop running until he was in front of Nie Chenhui.
“Lord Nie, where were you? I was looking for you everywhere!”
Nie Chenhui raised a brow. “Young Lord, I told you that today is the day that I had to pick up Young Master Huai and Lord—”
“I know! That’s why I was looking for you,” Ge Nianlan huffed. He held out the two bags. “Which looks better?”
“…Of all people, why are you asking me?” Nie Chenhui sincerely questioned.
“I asked everyone. You’re the last one,” Ge Nianlan confessed.
Nie Chenhui scoffed. “So, what did the others say?”
“If I tell you, it’ll sway the vote,” Ge Nianlan coldly cut him down.
“Then, what’s it for?”
“Gift packaging,” Ge Nianlan said. “Which one looks better?”
Nie Chenhui realized that the recipient of the gift was standing right behind him, but this boy’s impressive tunnel vision had blocked him out completely. He withheld his laugh and looked at the two bags seriously.
“Mm…I think white and purple would match Yunkong Pavilion’s uniform.”
“That’s their uniform color?” Ge Nianlan asked in surprise. He raised a brow at the white bag with purple embroidery. “Does that mean that they have to do laundry a lot?”
After all, wouldn’t white stain with the amount of monsters and people they have to kill?
Nie Chenhui bit down on his lower lip. “They…the uniforms are self-cleaning. Much like our own.”
“Oh, thank goodness,” Ge Nianlan said. He smiled to himself. “Then, I’ll go with this color!”
Ge Nianlan turned to Zheng Yuying and Luo Qianwu. “Give me the stuff.”
Luo Qianwu glanced at Ye Mingxi and the bundle he was hugging that had refused to move. “Um…Young Lord…”
“Time is running out,” Ge Nianlan said. “Gimme.”
Luo Qianwu and Zheng Yuying held out the items and dropped them into the brocade pouch. The pouch expanded and then compressed again. Ge Nianlan smiled in satisfaction and tossed it in the air a few times. After a moment, he glanced over his shoulder at Ye Mingxi and smiled the cutest smile he could muster.
“Lord Weidan.”
“So, you could see me?” Ye Mingxi asked, clearly amused.
“It was an emergency,” Ge Nianlan said with a small pout. He looked at the bundle Ye Mingxi was hugging and craned his neck slightly to try to get a look at the boy’s face. “Um…”
Ye Mingxi softly cleared his throat. “A-Zhen…”
Huai Zhen burrowed further into Ye Mingxi’s arms.
Ge Nianlan’s eyes widened.
This…was the future Supreme Devil God? But he was so small! Not only was he small, but he reminded Ge Nianlan of a little rabbit. He was just like the little rabbit that Ge Nianlan had seen in the book Zheng Yuying had recently given him—small, round, and white.
“He’s shy. The attention makes him flustered,” Ye Mingxi said, his eyes shifting around to the disciples around them.
“Oh,” Ge Nianlan nodded in understanding.
Luo Qianwu softly cleared his throat. “Then, Young Lord, how about we prepare some snacks at the drawing room first before we—”
“What are you all staring at?” Ge Nianlan asked. “You don’t have anything better to do?”
The disciples, who had been loitering around to see the new guest, started. They immediately walked away in groups of three to four, all with their heads down. By now, they knew Ge Nianlan. Although he wasn’t a horrifying existence, who would want to get on the bad side of the palace master’s son?
In just a few minutes, the field was cleared of people. The only thing there were their group and a few grazing birds.
Ge Nianlan stepped closer to Ye Mingxi. He raised himself to his tiptoes and looked at the side of Huai Zhen’s face.
By pure coincidence, Huai Zhen was trying to sneak a peek of Ge Nianlan.
In that moment, the two boys’ eyes collided. Huai Zhen inhaled sharply as Ge Nianlan beamed.
“Hello! My name is Nianlan. What’s your name?”
AAAaaw c’est trop mignon
I’m waiting to see the first lyrics xD
Thanks for the chapter ✨
thanks for reading!
kyaaa!!! another chapter so soon! this is great! reading it truely made my day! awww, Author, they are so cute~ can’t wait for the next one 😀
aaaa thank you!
Thanks for the chapter 😁
thanks for reading!
So cute… thanks for the chapter
thanks for reading!
Lmao the self cleaning on white robes must be a thing cuz clearly I can’t wear white even going on a walk so to wear it in such a world, there has to be secrets! Wish I can have one irl so I don’t have to do laundry.
they go on a morning walk and they immediately get dirt on their clothes lmao 😭 i also wish there was self cleaning robes irl….i bet there wouldn’t be stains anymore ;v;
thanks for reading!
HUAI ZHEN IS JUST THE LITTLEST GUY!! oh right!! wasnt he also into romance novels? THE BOYS CAN BOND OVER IT 😀
HE’S JUST THE SMALLEST TINIEST BABY hehehe hopefully they’ll get along…
thanks for reading!