"So, he's the one who brought Da Shixiong to the place where we were locked up?" Luo Cheng asked.
Yu Lingyu shook his head. Wu Xuan had already explained the whole thing to him earlier.
"Damn. Didn't you used to have another pet, not this little brat?" San Jie said with a heavy sigh. His face showed a mix of disgust and fear.
"Yu Shidi, it's time to say goodbye to your father," Wu Xuan said loudly.
Everyone nearby, Juyao Peak disciples included, turned to look at each other in confusion.
"Father?"
"What father?"
"How would I know?"
Yu Lingyu's face burned red. That damn Wu Xuan!
"Go back to the peak for now. I'll be back soon," Lingyu said to San Jie. He patted his shoulder and turned to leave. "Oh, and one more thing, they didn't lock me in."
"Be careful of that man," San Jie muttered, casting a wary glance at Wu Xuan. But just as he spoke, he had to leap to the side again, screaming in fear as the black weasel jumped onto Yu Lingyu's shoulder.
"That bored little bastard!" San Jie shouted.
Yu Lingyu ran back up the stairs. When he looked over his shoulder, he saw Wu Xuan wink at Hu Mao and smile warmly.
"Let's go," Wu Xuan said happily, turning away.
Yu Lingyu: "....."
They walked together up the mountain path. Along the way, Lingyu passed many Juyao disciples, some were meditating, some practicing swordsmanship, others chatting in small groups. Everyone bowed respectfully to Wu Xuan as they passed.
Further up, in the middle of a clear blue pool, a young woman sat in lotus position, floating just above the water. The ripples beneath her moved in rhythm with her calm, steady breath.
"Shiniang!" Wu Xuan called, bowing slightly.
"Ah-Xuan? What are you doing here?" she asked, her eyes still closed.
Yu Lingyu glanced at her. Her lashes were long and perfect, her silky black hair flowing like ink. She must be Mr. Shi's wife.
"Shiniang, I want you to meet someone."
After a pause, the woman slowly opened her eyes. They were clear blue, like the pond water itself.
"Ms. Shi!" Yu Lingyu greeted quickly as her gaze settled on him.
She stood up slowly, stepping lightly across the water to reach the shore.
"Come with me," she said simply.
She led them up the steps beside the pond and into a stone building, her cabin. Inside, the space was clean and simple, filled with herbs. A small table sat in the middle with round cushions around it.
She sat down and gestured for them to join her.
"Ah-Xuan, who is this young man you want me to meet?" she asked, giving Lingyu a small smile. "You're from Jun Peak, aren't you?"
"Nice to meet you, Ms. Shi. I'm Yu Jiang Fei of Jun Peak," he replied politely.
Yu Lingyu rarely used his courtesy name, so only a few people knew it.
Mrs. Shi nodded gently. "Welcome."
"Shiniang, can you examine him?" Wu Xuan asked respectfully.
Mrs. Shi was one of the best doctors in the Lian Sect, but Yu Lingyu didn't understand why he needed to be examined.
She smiled faintly at Wu Xuan. After her husband, only Wu Xuan could ask something like this from her.
She reached out and gently took Yu Lingyu's right wrist, checking his pulse.
"Hmm..."
She stayed quiet, examining him until about half an incense stick had burned.
"There's nothing wrong with him," she finally said, letting go of his hand.
"But-" She paused mid-sentence.
"Ah-Xuan, can I have a little talk with you?"
That was clearly her way of asking Yu Lingyu to step outside.
He bowed to her and quietly left the room.
Wu Xuan sat straight. "Is something wrong, Shiniang?"
Mrs. Shi placed her hands together on the table. "What's your relationship with him, Ah-Xuan? I've never seen you this close to anyone."
"Nothing special," Wu Xuan said casually. "I'm just... a little curious about him, that's all."
The faint scent of sandalwood filled the room.
Mrs. Shi's expression grew more serious. "He has an inner wound that hasn't healed yet. It's buried deep, something in his soul."
Wu Xuan's brows tightened. He had sensed it before, but now it was confirmed.
"But... is it dangerous?"
"It's very strange," Mrs. Shi said softly. "The injury touches his soul. If he uses spiritual power carelessly, it could cause serious harm."
"Is there a way to cure it?"
"Sorry, Ah-Xuan. I'm afraid I can't help with that. But why don't you go meet my Shizun at Lian Sect? He'll surely have an answer."
"Thanks for the advice, Shiniang. But... I have one more thing to ask." Wu Xuan's voice lowered. "His soul is already damaged, isn't it?"
Mrs. Shi looked at him for a while, then slowly shook her head. Wu Xuan stayed silent, watching her.
"I don't know what that kid went through," she said gently. "But whatever it was, it must've torn his soul apart. I honestly don't know how it's still in one piece. At this rate, it could shatter at any moment."
"If he's an Ancient God," Wu Xuan asked, brows furrowing, "could it be done? Could someone collect all the broken pieces of the soul?"
"Gods can. Heavenly demons, too. But Ah-Xuan…" She looked at him seriously. "That kid doesn't even have the inner strength of a basic cultivator. He's not a god."
Hearing that, a faint smile tugged at the corner of Wu Xuan's lips.
He already knew Yu Lingyu was hiding his true spiritual power behind the mask.
After thanking Mrs. Shi, Wu Xuan flew off and found Yu Lingyu sitting outside, quietly studying herbs.
"Let's go meet my Shizun," he said, landing beside him. "And remember, just say exactly what I told you to say." He gave a quick warning, then hurried down the stairs.
***
"Yu Shidi, what do you think of Juyao Peak?" Wu Xuan asked as they walked back from the meeting with Elder Shi.
Yu Lingyu had been nervous, but Elder Shi hadn't questioned him too much, just observed him silently.
"It's good," Yu Lingyu replied quietly, still thinking about the incident in the forest.
"Your name's Yu Jiang Fei, huh? Never heard of it before," Wu Xuan said, trying to spark conversation after Lingyu's short answer.
"I'm sure no one else knew it before. Only my Shizun and Da Shixiong," Lingyu replied without looking at him.
Wu Xuan rolled his eyes. "Da Shixiong again," he muttered under his breath.
"What?" Lingyu turned, snapping out of his thoughts. "Did you say something?"
"Why don't you tell me a little about your past?" Wu Xuan asked, hands behind his back as he watched him with interest.
"My past..." Lingyu murmured, glancing at the peaceful scenery of the Juyao Mountains. "I'm from Yue Village. You know, the birthplace of the Heavenly Demon Yue Ling."
He smiled faintly as the wind played with his hair.
"I don't remember much about my parents. If Shizun hadn't taken me in, I probably would've starved."
Wu Xuan said nothing, just listened carefully.
"Boring, isn't it?" Lingyu asked, his cheeks turning a little pink when Wu Xuan stayed silent.
"No. Not at all. I was just wondering…" Wu Xuan said calmly. "As someone from Yue Village, what do you think of Yue Ling?"
Yu Lingyu looked at him for a moment. "I've never met him, so I don't dare judge his character. But if you ask me..." He paused. "I think he was a respectable and noble man."
A small smile tugged at Wu Xuan's lips.
"Noble? Yu Shidi, do you realize you're calling a demon, a noble?"
"Of course I know," Lingyu said softly. "There are good and bad people. And there are demons, some good, some bad."
"And gods?" Wu Xuan asked, tilting his head slightly. "Do you think there are good and bad gods, too?"
"Yes, there is."
"Example?"
"Fengshen."
Wu Xuan froze for a second. "Fengshen? You mean he's bad?" He looked genuinely surprised. "The Wind Lord is a kind soul. Yu Shidi, don't say something like that near a Fengshen temple."
Yu Lingyu smiled."Well... if Wu Shixiong says he's not bad, then maybe he's not."
Wu Xuan glanced at the hazel eyes visible through the mask. He still couldn't figure out what Yu Lingyu was really thinking.
"So why do you think he's bad?" Wu Xuan asked as they continued walking. They were passing by the tall stone buildings, getting close to the entrance gate.
"He cheated on the one he loved," Yu Lingyu said softly, letting out a sigh. "Isn't that enough to make someone bad?"
"Hmm. I've never heard that story before," Wu Xuan replied, glancing sideways at him. "Why did he do that?"
"I don't know," Lingyu admitted after thinking for a moment.
"Then maybe he had a reason," Wu Xuan said as they finally reached the gate. "You can't judge someone just by what you see on the surface."
"You think so? That there must always be a reason?" Yu Lingyu asked quietly, following him as they started down the steps.
For a moment, he forgot about Wei Yunhe.
"I can't go, Da Shixiong-"
"I already told him," Wu Xuan interrupted. "I said I'd escort you to Jun Peak, so he's probably left already."
He looked up at the blazing midday sun, and the sunlight reflected in his eyes. Yu Lingyu noticed the shimmer. The moment he got to know Wu Xuan personally, he realized he was completely different from what he'd imagined.
There were always thousands of girls chasing after even a glimpse of Wu Xuan, but he never looked back at any of them.
And now, all his attention was on him.
Yu Lingyu felt something burning inside, something he didn't fully understand himself.
They walked together in silence, heading toward the first steps of Jun Peak. Even from this distance, Lingyu could sense that Wei Yunhe, San Jie, and a few others were already up there, from the base of the stairs.
A soft smile formed on his lips.
Wei Yunhe reminded him so much of his brother, He Yu.
He Yu, who always waited for him with a gentle smile.
"Then I guess this is where we say goodbye," Yu Lingyu said, stopping and turning to Wu Xuan.
"Fine. No problem. Your parents don't like me anyway," Wu Xuan said with a light shrug.
"If you pair Da Shixiong with San Shidi, I think the entire Jun Peak will protest," Yu Lingyu teased with a smile.
"That's because they all pair San Shidi and Shen Shidi. They're always fighting like a married couple."
Wu Xuan: "..."
"Now that's bad. Who is this Shen Shidi anyway? I can't let someone like that steal your father."
Yu Lingyu and Wu Xuan stared at each other for a second, then both burst into laughter at the same time.
It was the first time Yu Lingyu had ever seen Wu Xuan laugh like that. Before, all he had seen were smirks and eye rolls.
"Alright, I'm going now." Yu Lingyu took a few steps ahead, then turned and smiled. "But Wu Shixiong, maybe you should worship Huoshen instead of Fengshen."
"Fire God, He Yu is a truly good person."
"He Yu..." Wu Xuan repeated, still standing where he was, watching him go.
"But what can you do, Yu Shidi?"
"I like Zi Feng!" Wu Xuan murmured with a cheeky grin.