Chapter 4: Yuheng (Part 2)

He Tingtong grabbed the person and dove into the small grove. Turning his head, he saw that the delicate white flower from moments ago had straightened his back, suddenly half a head taller than him. All the grievance and dejection on his face had vanished as he expressionlessly wiped his tears.

He Tingtong took a deep breath, calming his emotions, then carefully asked: “Divine Lord, may I ask… is there some deeper meaning to what you’re doing?”

“They wanted me to leave.” The young man’s tone had not a ripple of fluctuation. “But you still haven’t answered whether we’re getting married or not.”

“I’m not good with words and not skilled at communicating with people. I didn’t know what to say, so when I saw a book on your desk, I just recited from it.”

“Not bad. Useful. Convenient.” Fu Fengyan praised.

He Tingtong’s vision went dark. Crouching on the ground, holding his head, he fell into contemplation, not daring to imagine what degree the rumors had spread during the seven days he was unconscious.

“So now, have you decided?” A shadow fell over him as Fu Fengyan propped one hand against the tree trunk, trapping him in his arms with a wall-slam pose. The youth tilted his head, extremely long black hair sweeping down from behind, nearly brushing He Tingtong’s cheek. He still had his eyes closed, unable to see those strange purple pupils different from ordinary people, making his features appear delicate and well-behaved. “When shall you and I marry?”

This move… He Tingtong’s lips twitched. He felt that during the days he was unconscious, the story books confiscated in the cabinet had probably been read cover to cover by someone.

He pressed his forehead, sighed, then refused cleanly and decisively.

“Many thanks for the Divine Lord’s regard, but I must decline.”

“Why?” Fu Fengyan seemed puzzled.

He Tingtong raised his eyes, gaze firm, completely unmoved.

“I don’t like you, don’t love you, don’t want to become dao companions with you.” His voice was steady and resolute. “Divine Lord, you’re very strong, very good-looking, very kind, your personality… is also good, but one chance encounter isn’t enough to move my heart.”

With a twist, he ducked out from Fu Fengyan’s side. He Tingtong stood up, patting the dust from his clothes, speaking seriously: “The Divine Lord has shown me life-saving grace, so in this matter I don’t wish to deceive you. My heart is currently still as water, with no mind for romance. If I agreed directly, it would be unfair to you instead.”

“I will definitely repay the debt of saving my life. I can climb mountains of knives and descend into seas of fire for you, can repay with my life, but I cannot give you love.”

Yuheng Sect’s winter was extremely cold. Though the sky was clear, the accumulated snow across the wilderness hadn’t completely melted. In the mountain forests were piles of white, like rabbits nestled in the vegetation.

Fu Fengyan’s hand fell limply. Standing among the trees, his expression was completely blank, looking pitiful.

He Tingtong’s lips parted slightly. He’d wanted to offer consolation, but on second thought, he had no right to comment on others’ affairs.

Moreover, having restarted so many times, He Tingtong always assumed the worst about suddenly appearing romance, after all, he didn’t know if this big shot was planning to cultivate the ruthless dao and pull in a passerby as a stepping stone to overcome an emotional tribulation, or was simply bored and looking for entertainment in an otherwise smooth life.

But he currently had neither the mood nor time to humor anyone. He still had many, many very important things to do, with no time to delay.

A spirit communication talisman dragging bright light flew over, stopping on his shoulder. He Tingtong opened it to see—the sect leader was summoning him.

“Master has business with me. I’ll head over first. The sect’s location is remote with few scenic spots. Divine Lord, please make yourself comfortable.” He Tingtong emerged from the trees, leaving without attachment.

Leaving Fu Fengyan standing alone among the trees, motionless like a snow-covered boulder.

After an unknown time, he opened his eyes, touching his face, then his throat. He tried lifting the corners of his lips upward a bit, forming an alluring curve, making his voice a bit thinner, humming out a melodious tone.

He was smiling, but his dark purple eyes held complete indifference.

“Why was I rejected?” Fu Fengyan didn’t understand. He’d already observed many times and studied for a long while. Hearing that He Tingtong most liked the sect’s young sect leader, he secretly learned that person’s words and actions, watching the interactions and flirtations between him and his demon lover. He’d learned the techniques to perfection, so why was he still rejected?

He Tingtong didn’t like him.

Understanding this point dealt Fu Fengyan a blow that left him dazed in place for at least fifteen minutes.

However, Fu Fengyan was always good at consoling himself.

Being rejected must mean He Tingtong didn’t like this style.

If this path doesn’t work, just try another.

Withdrawing his smile, Fu Fengyan’s body immediately lost that timid, clingy aura, revealing an inhuman coldness.

He swept his gaze across the mountain peak, then stepped forward, drifting out like a ghost.

---

The Yuheng Sect’s main hall was situated at the mountain peak. He Tingtong climbed the stone steps exhaustedly. When he’d climbed halfway, drenched in sweat, he heard a soft, timid voice from behind: “Senior martial brother, wait!”

This voice sounded far too much like Fu Fengyan’s. He Tingtong shuddered, nearly thinking the other had climbed up right behind him.

Turning back, he saw a snow-white, delicate face nestled in a soft fur collar, revealing a pair of round, timid eyes like a mountain deer.

It was Yuheng Sect’s young sect leader Yun Zhi, the sect leader’s only son, his junior martial brother, the precious pearl and treasure held in everyone’s palms.

He Tingtong somehow secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Thank goodness.

“Young sect leader.” Nodding distantly, He Tingtong asked: “Is there something?”

Seeing his manner, the youth immediately showed a hurt expression, biting his lip, tears glimmering in his eyes. “Senior martial brother, could we speak privately?”

He Tingtong used to really like these eyes, finding them pure, innocent, and pitiable. Until the person stabbed a sword through his heart and dantian, and when he was dying and calling for help, he saw the youth leaning in the murderer’s embrace, shyly flirting and casually suggesting they throw his body off a cliff.

Knowing a person’s face but not their heart—this was the first lesson He Tingtong learned at an extremely painful cost.

Seeing he wouldn’t move, Yun Zhi had no choice but to walk to his side in two or three steps, walking shoulder to shoulder with him.

“Senior martial brother…”

“Speak plainly if you have something to say.”

“Your injury…”

“Already healed.”

“Then… senior martial brother, please, for the sake of us growing up together, can you spare Ayuan?” Yun Zhi’s eyes brimmed with tears as he grabbed He Tingtong’s sleeve. “He’s not bad. He was just too jealous then, thought we were close, temporarily lost his reason, so he did something foolish…”

He Tingtong laughed coldly inside. Temporarily lost reason—meaning the kind where he ambushed from behind when He Tingtong was exhausted from fighting a fifth-realm demon beast, stabbing two vital points?

Or meaning possessing someone’s body in disguise, infiltrating the sect to participate in the Azure Cloud Trials, mixing in the Immortal Alliance as a spy, finally slaughtering everyone in Yuheng Sect and opening the seal causing Hanshan Realm’s fall—that kind of not bad?

He Tingtong looked at this junior martial brother treating him like a fool, lips curving, voice carrying a chill: “So the young sect leader’s meaning is for me to bend the law for personal gain? That’s a demon.”

“No! This is an exchange.” The youth suddenly raised his voice, then softened it abruptly. “Ayuan is very good, very obedient. Demons also have good and bad, don’t they? I won’t let him do bad things anymore.”

“Besides… I’ll help you, help you be with that mortal!”

He Tingtong: “?”

“Senior martial brother, you know my father’s temperament. Immortals and mortals are different. Father has always detested sect disciples getting too entangled with ordinary people, let alone someone like you making private vows for life…” He carefully looked at He Tingtong’s eyes. “As long as you help conceal Ayuan’s identity, I’ll help persuade father to let you and that mortal be together.”

Yun Zhi looked at him pleadingly. “You really like him, right? He’s very beautiful, but has disabilities, and eloped with you. Someone like him, without you, how could he survive?”

He Tingtong: “…”

Yun Zhi thought he’d grasped his weak spot, coaxing persuasively: “I help you, you help me, neither owes the other. This matter can be written off with one stroke. Otherwise, mutual destruction benefits neither of us.”

Now threatening too.

He Tingtong wanted to laugh hearing this. Sarcastic words floated to his lips but he swallowed them, giving Yun Zhi a mocking look before turning to leave. “Fine, I’ll help you hide his identity.”

Yun Zhi immediately rejoiced, breathing a sigh of relief. “Thank you, senior martial brother! I’ll make father agree to your marriage!”

He Tingtong didn’t want to speak, taking two or three steps up the stairs, heading inside ahead of time.

---

“How is your wound healing?”

The Yuheng Sect leader was a middle-aged man who looked forty or fifty, hair graying, wearing a high crown and broad belt. Sitting in the high seat, he appeared very imposing.

He Tingtong knelt alone in the spacious hall, knees aching from cold. He bowed, respectful and proper. “Elder Song sutured the wound well. This disciple has recovered much.”

“That’s good.” The sect leader’s deep voice floated down from above. “Yun’er told me about you encountering a fifth-realm demon beast in Hanshan Realm. Do you have anything to add?”

“This danger was because my cultivation is inadequate. I failed to slay the demon and couldn’t protect junior martial brother well. This disciple is deeply ashamed and willing to accept punishment.” He Tingtong lowered his head, face pale, eyes downcast, looking as if he might collapse, tone dejected, seeming extremely self-reproachful.

“A fifth-realm demon beast simply isn’t something your cultivation level can handle. Preserving your life was already fortunate, and you led the demon away alone, willing to sacrifice for fellow disciples—you did very well in this.”

“However, why are you entangled with a rootless mortal, even letting him cause a scene at the sect?”

Spiritual pressure bearing down almost bent He Tingtong’s straight back. The sect leader’s voice carried anger amid authority, echoing in the hall. “Look at how many people are watching the show! You’ve made your master lose all face!”

“Though youthful infatuation is human nature, disciple, you must think clearly. Your talent is already mediocre. If you waste more time on romance, you’ll only delay your future!”

The sect leader slapped the armrest twice. In the empty hall came muffled thuds. This young disciple was reserved and stubborn with strong opinions, hard to control. He’d wanted to use this mistake to suppress him and make him admit fault, but unexpectedly the kneeling youth suddenly straightened his back, voice resonating like a bell, loudly agreeing: “Master’s teaching is correct! This disciple thinks the same!”

“My heart holds the great dao, intent on ascension. How can I be trapped by private feelings, confined by love? This disciple already intended to cut ties with that mortal. I’ll make things clear with him shortly and send him away. Love, hate, and emotions are all illusions—the dao of longevity is the true path!”

He Tingtong answered eagerly, eyes bright, impassioned. Not expecting such high awareness from this boy, the sect leader listened in a daze. All the talking points prepared to educate his disciple stuck in his throat, unable to go up or down.

After searching for a long while, he squeezed out dryly: “That mortal is deeply attached to you. Doesn’t seem like something a few words can handle.”

“The dao is heartless. If he won’t leave, don’t blame me for being ruthless.” He Tingtong lowered his voice, gaze determined.

The sect leader stammered out praise: “That you… you can think this way is very good.”

He Tingtong looked up, eyes full of admiration: “It’s all because master taught well!”

The sect leader’s lips twitched as he quickly changed the subject.

“Three more months until the Azure Cloud Trials. This trial spot was something your master worked hard to obtain. You must know that with your qualifications, without the sect as backing, you couldn’t access these things in eight lifetimes.”

The middle-aged man descended from the high seat, walking before He Tingtong to pat the youth’s shoulder. “Your master does everything for your own good. Think—when you were three, your parents died, master raised you to this age, always treating you as my own child. Now this great opportunity is before you. You absolutely cannot disappoint your master!”

The Azure Cloud Trials—this was something the Immortal Alliance created in recent years. Led by the five great sects, funded by the clans, a academy was established in Yunzhou Province. Its purpose was to gather talent from the nine provinces and cultivate the next generation of cultivation world’s elite.

In past years it only accepted heaven’s favorites from great sects, clans, and royal families. These past two years enrollment expanded—as long as one passed the test, one could gain admission.

The sect leader highly valued this opportunity. Yuheng Sect was located remotely with thin spiritual veins. The sect’s inheritance wasn’t particularly impressive, and disciples’ cultivation levels were mediocre. In recent years they’d barely survived on some old properties. If a disciple entered Azure Cloud Academy and gained a big shot’s inheritance, for an obscure sect like theirs, it would be like soaring to the heavens.

However, Yunzhou Academy only wanted young people aged fifteen to thirty-five with cultivation at the second realm or above.

Though currently only one or two people in the sect met the requirements, though even as a rogue cultivator without sect backing one could take the test, though he was selected to be a disposable stepping stone—falling on He Tingtong’s head, it still seemed like a tremendous favor granted by the sect leader.

He Tingtong laughed coldly inside but his body bowed down, eyes fanatical: “This disciple understands and is willing to die ten thousand deaths for the sect!”

Satisfied with He Tingtong’s attitude, the sect leader patted his head like petting an obedient dog. “Good child.”

“Alright, go rest. Recover well—absolutely can’t have any mishaps at the Azure Cloud Trials.”

He Tingtong nodded in agreement but didn’t rise. Instead he looked up, gaze burning, speaking loudly: “There’s one more matter. This disciple doesn’t know if I should speak.”

The sect leader was in good spirits. “Speak freely.”

He Tingtong spoke forcefully: “This disciple inadvertently witnessed outer sect disciple Shen Xiyuan seducing junior martial brother. The two were intimate on the back mountain, unseemly to watch. This disciple is truly worried junior martial brother was deceived and will delay the Azure Cloud Trials!”

The sect leader’s vision went dark. “…What?”