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.”

 

Chapter 53

“……It was best not to let the people around you……”

After the two people agreed, life returned to its usual state.

That day, Chu Xinghui went out to the city to buy some things.

After he finished buying things and walked out of the city, he was about to fly back to the sect with his sword when he suddenly heard a familiar female voice from the side: “It was really great to run into Senior Brother here.”

Hearing this voice, Chu Xinghui’s brow twitched.

Qin Suyun, whom he had not seen for many days, walked up to Chu Xinghui with a gentle smile, looking up at him with affectionate eyes: “Is Senior Brother also here to buy things? I came here to purchase a few spiritual herbs, but I know very little about their quality. I wonder if I could trouble Senior Brother to help me choose some?”

She seemed very haggard during this period, and there were faint traces of dark circles on her face that had been covered with powder.

Chu Xinghui frowned slightly and had just spoken a single word: “Qin……”

Fearing that he would call her the wrong name again, Qin Suyun hurriedly interrupted him and introduced herself: “Qin Suyun!”

Chu Xinghui responded with an “oh”: “Fellow Cultivator Qin.”

Qin Suyun: …

She forced the topic back with difficulty: “I wonder if Senior Brother would be willing to help?”

Chu Xinghui shook his head: “No.”

The smile on Qin Suyun’s face stiffened slightly.

She persisted and tried to grab Chu Xinghui’s arm: “Senior Brother need not rush to refuse. It would only take a little time to help this junior sister take a look. I have always remembered Senior Brother saving me before, and meeting Senior Brother this time is also an opportunity to repay you. If Senior Brother sees anything you like, I can give it to you.”

The coursework of the Beiyue Sword Sect was heavy, and cultivation tasks were also very tight. She had never practiced as a sword cultivator before, and even passing the entry trial had taken great effort. After entering the sect, she could barely keep up with the coursework. She had gone days without sleep in order to finally squeeze out some time to pester the Heavenly Son of Dao.

Chu Xinghui stepped back and looked at Qin Suyun.

He had always been suspicious, but since Qin Suyun had not been appearing in front of him recently, he had not taken the initiative to investigate.

Now…

Chu Xinghui suddenly called out a name without warning: “Qin Yuwen.”

Qin Suyun subconsciously looked up, her pupils suddenly contracting, then quickly pretended to know nothing and frowned: “What is Senior Brother talking about? The deceased first disciple of the Lingshang Sect? Why bring him up suddenly?”

Chu Xinghui observed her expression and had already confirmed who was inside this body.

He did not say much more, and a spirit sword silently appeared in his hand.

Qin Suyun seemed to sense his killing intent and tried to say something, but her face suddenly twisted, and then her expression turned blank.

Chu Xinghui did not know what strange situation this was, so he stepped back vigilantly and drew his spirit sword.

The next moment, Qin Suyun’s expression suddenly “came alive” again.

Her gaze shifted slightly as she smiled at Chu Xinghui in a gentle voice: “Fellow Cultivator Chu.”

This demeanor felt somewhat familiar.

Chu Xinghui vaguely recognized the current controller of this body: “Yue Yao?”

Earlier, at Water Cloud City, he had already suspected that Qin Yuwen was likely working with Yue Yao, so her appearance here now was not surprising.

What he had not expected was that Yue Yao actually still had control over Qin Yuwen’s new body.

“Qin Suyun” chuckled softly, her tone gentle: “Indeed, it is me. Fellow Cultivator Chu is truly perceptive.”

She habitually wanted to reach for her fan, but upon noticing her empty hands, she unconsciously rubbed her fingers in slight discomfort.

Chu Xinghui looked at her, waiting for her explanation.

Yue Yao lowered her gaze, saw the sword tip pointing directly at her chest, and reached out to push the blade aside: “It is not very friendly to greet someone like this after so long, little Cultivator friend.”

Chu Xinghui did not withdraw his spirit sword and only said: “If Fellow Cultivator Yue has something to say, just say it directly.”

“Very well.” Seeing that Chu Xinghui did not like roundabout talk, Yue Yao restrained her expression, “I suddenly took over this body because I sensed Fellow Cultivator Chu’s killing intent—did Fellow Cultivator Chu just now want to kill him?”

Chu Xinghui nodded and admitted: “Yes.”

Given the enmity between him and Qin Yuwen, it had originally been fine when Qin Yuwen was dead, but now that he had suddenly come back to life, he naturally needed to die again.

Yue Yao sighed and said directly: “So… I came this time to request Fellow Cultivator Chu to temporarily spare his life.”

Chu Xinghui did not refuse immediately and instead asked: “Reason?”

Yue Yao lowered her eyes and chuckled behind her sleeve: “Qin Suyun’s life is still useful to me. It would be a waste for him to die here now. Why not give me some face, Fellow Cultivator Chu?”

Chu Xinghui honestly said: “But his life is harmful to me. If I do not kill him, he will harm me.”

Yue Yao raised her eyes and looked at him with a faint smile: “Then what if I say letting Qin Suyun live until the time he should die would be beneficial to all of us? Not only you and me, but also that senior who has always been by your side.”

She looked at the body she was currently occupying and casually smoothed the wrinkles on her sleeve: “Such a foolish, arrogant, and incompetent person only relies on powers that do not belong to him… Killing him would not take much time, and keeping him here would not cause any trouble. If you trust me, you will not lose anything. At worst, when he loses his usefulness but is still alive by chance, you can then strike him down again, can’t you?”

Chu Xinghui did not trust her.

But since she mentioned Xie Liufeng, he was still willing to speak a bit more: “Fellow Cultivator Yue has said so much, but it seems you have not provided any substantial information.”

“You do have a point. Sharing information between collaborators is indeed an important foundation for a stable transaction.” Yue Yao pondered for a moment, then looked up sincerely, “However, the timing is not right. I will come to the Beiyue Sword Sect during the next Immortal Sect Grand Competition, and we can discuss it in detail then.”

The Immortal Sect Grand Competition would not take place until a year later.

Chu Xinghui also sincerely expressed his opinion: “Fellow Cultivator Yue’s words… sound like you are stalling for time.”

Yue Yao cried out in injustice: “Fellow Cultivator Chu, you truly wronged me. It is only because this matter is complicated that I need to prepare.”

She had traveled far to cast a spell here just to preserve Qin Suyun’s life, and now she was being suspected of wanting to preserve his life—it was truly insulting.
Chu Xinghui looked at her without speaking.

Yue Yao looked somewhat troubled and thought for a moment before saying: “Alright. To prevent unnecessary suspicion, I will teach you the technique to control this body and Qin Suyun’s soul. You can handle him however you wish, as long as you keep him alive.”

Chu Xinghui’s gaze moved slightly, and he handed her a blank jade slip.

Yue Yao used her divine sense to engrave the technique into the jade slip and returned it: “Is Fellow Cultivator Chu satisfied now?”

Chu Xinghui was not fully satisfied and honestly said: “Half.”

Yue Yao did not mind and smiled: “It is enough that Fellow Cultivator Chu is willing to trust me even half. I am very grateful.”

She looked at Chu Xinghui and said meaningfully: “Since the cooperation is established, I will offer one more reminder. Regarding Qin Suyun… it is best not to let that Senior Xie by your side know.”

Chu Xinghui frowned.

Yue Yao continued: “Although our Qin cultivator friend is useless, he did say one true thing. That Senior Xie is already someone who should not exist in this world. Cultivators either ascend or die when their fate ends; remaining stuck in a place that does not belong to them is not a good thing. I will boldly guess that you may serve a similar purpose to him as Qin Suyun does to others. You know Qin Suyun approached you with ill intent, so you should also know that Senior Xie keeping you by his side likely has other motives…”

She seemed to feel she had said too much and quickly stopped: “Ah, I misspoke. These are all just guesses. Fellow Cultivator Chu need not take them seriously.”
Chu Xinghui replayed her words and caught one key point: “Do you mean I can solve Xie Liufeng’s problem? Does Fellow Cultivator Yue know how?”

Yue Yao: …

Did this little Daoist friend completely not understand provocation?

Her smile stiffened slightly: “I do not know, but Qin Suyun specializes in such matters. You might try asking him.”

Chu Xinghui thought for a moment and nodded.

He suddenly felt that keeping Qin Suyun alive might indeed be somewhat useful.

After this matter was concluded, Yue Yao nodded to Chu Xinghui: “Very well, since the transaction is complete, I will take my leave. If I stay any longer, he may notice.”

The body she had carefully selected for Qin Suyun still had too many limitations; she was not used to it and preferred to return to her own body sooner.

Chu Xinghui suddenly remembered something and stopped her: “Please wait a moment.”

Yue Yao looked at him in confusion: “Hmm?”

Chu Xinghui asked succinctly: “The holy artifact you mentioned last time.”

Yue Yao thought for a moment and smiled slightly: “That… you have already obtained it. But the transaction is not yet complete. Wait until you send it to where it belongs.”

Yue Yao soon left.

Chu Xinghui could not help pressing his temples.

Speaking with this Saintess was truly exhausting—she said so much, yet it was unclear what she had actually said.

*

On the other side, with Yue Yao gone, Qin Suyun’s consciousness finally regained control of her body.

She felt as if she had been momentarily dazed. When she opened her eyes again, Chu Xinghui was still in front of her.

However… was Chu Xinghui standing in this position just now?

Qin Suyun felt a headache and asked: “Senior Brother, where were we just now?”

Chu Xinghui glanced at her and, somewhat regretfully unable to kill her directly, casually scared her: “We were talking about Qin Yuwen.”

Qin Suyun’s heart tightened, and her memories from earlier finally returned completely.

Cold sweat appeared on her temples as she cautiously asked again: “Why did Senior Brother suddenly mention this person?”

Chu Xinghui calmly fabricated: “Oh, I just remembered that you both have the surname Qin and wondered if you might be related.”

Although Qin Suyun felt something was off, she still relaxed slightly and quickly denied it: “Qin Yuwen comes from an immortal cultivation aristocratic family. I was only a rogue cultivator before entering the sect; I only happened to share the surname Qin. I would not dare to falsely claim kinship.”

Chu Xinghui nodded without stating whether he believed it or not.

Qin Suyun felt uncertain.

Seeing that it was getting late, Chu Xinghui prepared to return to his sect and politely said goodbye.

Qin Suyun was still anxious about her identity and did not want to keep him, so she quickly bid farewell.

*

Chu Xinghui soon returned to the sect.

Then he returned to his cave residence and directly dragged Xie Liufeng out, recounting everything that had happened that day from beginning to end.

 

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