That day, Sect Master Fang Yan was handling some sect matters in the main hall when a rare visitor appeared.

It was Xie Liufeng, who hadn’t shown up for the past eight hundred years.

Fang Yan looked up and greeted him: “Uncle Master?”

Xie Liufeng didn’t beat around the bush and directly stated his purpose: “I’m just passing through. I’ve come to collect the disciple token for our little Xing Xing.”

It was a simple matter, so Fang Yan quickly retrieved a new disciple token from his drawer and handed it over: “Uncle Master, just write down Chu Xinghui‘s information on it.”

Since Xie Liufeng had come for Chu Xinghui, he also casually handed over another storage bag to Xie Liufeng: “This contains the reward for the first-place winner of this trial. Since you’re already here, you might as well take it to Chu Xinghui as well.”

Xie Liufeng thanked him and took the storage bag.

He looked down and inscribed Chu Xinghui’s information on the disciple token, leaving the Qingjing Peak mark on it, and handed the token back to Fang Yan for record-keeping.

Fang Yan glanced at the token, his eyes narrowing slightly: “Uncle Master, aren’t you going to register under your name?”

The information on the token only listed that Chu Xinghui was a disciple of Qingjing Peak, but it didn’t mention his master.

Xie Liufeng seemed a bit frustrated by the matter: “He doesn’t want to.”

Ever since Chu Xinghui had rejected becoming his disciple, Xie Liufeng had tried indirectly coaxing him many times, but Chu Xinghui remained resolute.

Fang Yan thought he must have misheard: “Huh?”

Everyone could see that the two spent nearly all their free time together, so their relationship was quite clear to all.

When Xie Liufeng had taken Chu Xinghui away that day, it seemed like their master-disciple bond was already sealed.

Yet now Xie Liufeng was saying that Chu Xinghui didn’t want to become his disciple?

Fang Yan looked toward the sunflower seeds on the table, fighting the urge to start snacking, sitting up straight as he tentatively asked: “… Does that mean Chu Xinghui wants to go to another master?”

After all, Chu Xinghui’s talent was extraordinary. Although most people assumed he was already Xie Liufeng’s disciple, there were always a few adventurous souls who tried to make a move.

Although the chances were slim, what if someone succeeded?

Xie Liufeng shook his head: “Of course not.”

If Chu Xinghui were thinking of going to another master, he wouldn’t be here right now. Instead, he would have gone to confront anyone attempting to steal his disciple away.

Fang Yan continued guessing: “Did you two have a disagreement?”

Xie Liufeng was completely puzzled: “Not really.”

They had always spoken frankly with each other. If Chu Xinghui was dissatisfied with anything, he would never keep it hidden.

Moreover, after rejecting the idea of becoming his disciple, Chu Xinghui still liked staying with him as always… he was even a little more clingy.

Fang Yan could only offer some general advice: “At this age, disciples often have shifting thoughts. As an elder, you can’t push against them. More communication helps. He’ll eventually be willing to share his thoughts with you.”

Xie Liufeng said: “Ah,” and added: “He did tell me.”

Fang Yan, now quite curious, perked up: “What did he say?”

Thinking of Chu Xinghui’s explanation, Xie Liufeng looked even more confused: “He thinks our relationship shouldn’t be one of master and disciple.”

Fang Yan continued to probe: “…Then what does he think it should be?”

Xie Liufeng answered honestly: “I don’t know.”

Chu Xinghui hadn’t said.

More precisely, Chu Xinghui hadn’t figured it out yet.

Fang Yan had never encountered a situation like this, so he solemnly handed over the registered jade token to Xie Liufeng, indicating that he didn’t know either.

*

When Xie Liufeng returned to Qingjing Peak, he happened to run into Chu Xinghui, who was heading down the mountain.

He had just finished cultivating and received a message from the sect to pick up his disciple jade token, so he was planning to head down.

The two stood apart, one on the stone steps above, one below, quietly looking at each other.

Neither spoke first.

It was dusk. The setting sun cast a gentle light over the both of them.

Teenage years were when one grew fast.

Xie Liufeng gazed at Chu Xinghui and suddenly noticed the youth before him had already shed his immaturity. His features now bore the early traces of adulthood.

Chu Xinghui looked at Xie Liufeng, his eyes unconsciously lighting up. He seemed to want to walk over but hesitated, unsure of something, and remained still.

Xie Liufeng sighed inwardly, then took the initiative to step down two steps and walk over to Chu Xinghui. He handed him the items in his hand: “Your stuff—I picked it up for you on the way.”

Chu Xinghui didn’t pay much attention to the resources, instead, he focused on the jade token and examined it carefully.

…Xie Liufeng hadn’t recorded him under his own name.

Chu Xinghui lowered his gaze, playing with the token, and tried to keep his tone calm: “You’re not angry?”

He couldn’t quite name what he was feeling.

He knew Xie Liufeng had always treated him kindly, seeing him as a disciple and teaching him that way.

But now he had said he didn’t want to be his disciple.

He had rejected the master-disciple relationship on instinct but hadn’t figured out what path lay ahead instead.

And… now that he wasn’t Xie Liufeng’s disciple, would Xie Liufeng still want to spend time with him like before?

The uncertainty about the answer made him anxious, downcast, and restless.

So he could only try to stay near Xie Liufeng as much as possible to ease these uncomfortable emotions.

Though he knew Xie Liufeng wouldn’t cast him aside, if… if Xie Liufeng truly didn’t want to be close to him like before, at least he’d have memories of when they were close.

Noticing his downcast mood, Xie Liufeng gently pinched his cheek and comforted him: “Why would I be mad? You just don’t want to be my disciple—you’re still mine.”

Before meeting Chu Xinghui, he had never even thought of taking a disciple. Now that Chu Xinghui was by his side, whether he was officially a disciple or not wasn’t that important.

Just like Chu Xinghui had once said—for him, what mattered most was Chu Xinghui himself, not the title of “disciple.”

Mine.

Chu Xinghui inexplicably liked that word and responded with a soft “mm.”

Xie Liufeng said: “Just so you know—even if you don’t want to be my disciple, I’ll still raise you like one. If you ever change your mind, we can add your name under mine.”

“…It’s not that I don’t want to be your disciple.” Chu Xinghui looked at him and corrected him again: “It’s just that I don’t think our relationship should be that of master and disciple.”

Xie Liufeng couldn’t argue with him, so he pinched his cheek again and said: “Alright, alright. If you say it’s not, then it’s not. I’ll wait until you figure it out, okay?”

He had always had no bottom line when it came to Chu Xinghui.

Suddenly, Chu Xinghui hugged him.

Xie Liufeng instinctively caught him, gently stroked his hair, and softly asked: “What now, my little ancestor?”

Chu Xinghui hugged his waist tightly and buried his face in his shoulder. The restlessness he’d been feeling these days suddenly calmed. He mumbled: “Then it’s a promise—you’ll wait until I figure it out.”

Xie Liufeng continued to comfort him: “Alright. No matter how long you take, I’ll wait. Whatever relationship you decide on, I’ll accept it. Want me to write you a promise in writing?”

Chu Xinghui looked up at him: “You really would?”

Xie Liufeng couldn’t help laughing and teased: “Of course not.”

Chu Xinghui lowered his head in disappointment.

Xie Liufeng pretended to consider it seriously for a moment and added: “But if someone were to beg me nicely, maybe I’d change my mind.”

Chu Xinghui thought for a moment, then obediently tugged on his sleeve and looked up: “Then… please? Is that okay?”

Xie Liufeng, quite satisfied, wrote him a promise and even signed his name.

Chu Xinghui took the note and carefully wrote his own name right beside “Xie Liufeng.”

He looked at the two names side by side and felt very satisfied, carefully putting the paper away.

Xie Liufeng looked at him with a smile, reached out and held his hand, then slowly walked back with him.

He quietly let out a sigh of relief.

…Finally coaxed him.

Clearly, he was the one who got rejected, yet in the past few days, Chu Xinghui had seemed more upset than him.

*

When the two of them reached the door, Chu Xinghui suddenly remembered something: “Senior Xie and Cheng Yu will be coMing to Beiyue in a while.”

Xie Liufeng nodded, not caring much about the news: “Let them come.”

Sometimes alchemists needed herbs that required specific times or places to harvest. In such cases, Xie Tinglan and her disciples had no choice but to travel all over, it was nothing unusual.

Xie Liufeng recalled that Chu Xinghui got along quite well with Cheng Yu and asked: “Are you going to see Cheng Yu?”

Chu Xinghui shook his head: “No, I made an appointment with Senior Xie.”

Xie Liufeng was stunned for a moment: “Why are you looking for her, for alchemy?”

Chu Xinghui explained: “I want to ask her about you.”

Xie Liufeng looked puzzled, not understanding why he had to go about it in such a roundabout way: “Why not ask me directly? I’m right here.”

Chu Xinghui said bluntly: “Your memory is too poor.”

If he asked Xie Liufeng, Xie Liufeng wouldn’t hide anything, but he would likely gloss over the unpleasant parts of his past.

He was always good at that, as if those experiences were really light and easy.

But he wanted to know… everything about Xie Liufeng.

Xie Liufeng chuckled helplessly: “It’s nothing good. Why would I remember that stuff?”

If he had the time, he might as well remember what dishes Chu Xinghui liked.

Thinking of that, Xie Liufeng’s thoughts suddenly shifted.

…Speaking of which, it had been a while since he made fish soup. Maybe he should go buy a couple of fish later.

Chu Xinghui asked for his opinion: “Can I ask?”

If Xie Liufeng didn’t want him to know, he wouldn’t go.

Xie Liufeng pulled his thoughts back from fish soup and nodded: “Of course. You can ask anything about me.”

 

 

Support translation: