CH 46

April 1st, 2023

Fang Li’s expression shifted slightly, his heart sinking.

Xie Huai should already understand his circumstances. In this situation, no treatment would work at all. Only cultivating could dissolve the spiritual power in his body, but as a fool, how was he supposed to cultivate?

But Xie Huai was saying he could cure him. Just what did he mean by that?

It couldn’t be that there really was a way to cure him? Or was it for the sake of sounding him out?

On the other hand, Fang Mingyuan was absolutely beside himself with joy at the unexpected news. He was so excited his entire body started trembling, nervous and uneasy and fearful of letting the chance slip as he said, “R-really? He can be cured?”

Heaven knows how many doctors he’d invited in these past years, but they’d all said that there was no way……

The fortune tellers all said that this child wouldn’t be able to live past twenty.

Watching with his own eyes as this child got thinner day after day, his time limited, yet still completely ignorant to it all, as a father, who knew how much heartache he’d been in?

Xie Huai gave Fang Li a profound look and said slowly, “Even if his madness can’t be cured, I can at least promise he’ll live a long life of a hundred years.”

Fang Li: “……”

Fang Mingyuan fell to the ground kneeling with a plop, tears in his eyes. “A long life of a hundred is good enough, it’s good enough! If Yuyi-jun can cure him, you’ll be my Fang family’s savior in this life and the next. I’m willing to put up a longevity tablet……”

Xie Huai waved his hand, and Fang Mingyuan felt a formless force pull him up.

Xie Huai said blandly, “There’s no need for a longevity tablet. Only, your son’s disease has persisted so long that it’s become severe. Curing him will take more than a little bit of time. He will need to come back to the ridge with me, is that fine?”

What wasn’t fine about it?

Fang Mingyuan didn’t hesitate at all and said decisively, “I’ll give this foolish son of mine to Yuyi-jun! Everything will be done according to Yuyi-jun’s arrangements!”

Fang Li’s expression nearly froze solid.

Just like that, he was sold out by his cheaply gotten old man.

If not for the fact that he was a fool, he definitely wouldn’t agree! But if he were to expose himself right now, the Fang family would only think that he’d been possessed by a spirit or demon, and Xie Huai was bound to slay him as a spirit or demon. Now that he’d boarded this train, it was hard to get off, so he could only continue to pretend.

But do you think that as long as you tell me to go, I’ll go? Do you think that a fool doesn’t have opinions?

Fang Li had a look as though he didn’t understand anything at all, standing there completely unmoving. As the great and mighty Yuyi-jun, you must leave yourself some face, would you really go as far as to use force?

But before Xie Huai had any reaction at all, Fang Mingyuan, seeing Fang Li’s appearance, immediately came over to pull his hand and drag him outside. His foolish little son didn’t understand. How rare was it that Yuyi-jun was willing to cure him and save his life, how could he cause trouble for Yuyi-jun?! What if Yuyi-jun left and didn’t bother with him anymore?!

Fang Li: ……

Seeing that Fang Mingyuan had already stuffed him into the carriage, the corners of Fang Li’s eyes suddenly turned red. He grabbed onto Fang Mingyuan’s sleeves and refused to let go. Are you really going to cruelly send your son far, far away?

Fang Mingyuan looked at his son’s confused, imploring eyes, and his heart immediately softened. He couldn’t bear to let Fang Li leave either, okay? This child had never left home before, and no matter how good Yuyi-jun was, he was still a high and lofty cultivator. He looked cold and aloof, and who knew if he would be able to take good care of this child. He feared that Fang Li would be cold or hungry or suffer grievance on the ridge, but as soon as he thought about how this child was just about to turn twenty……

Those were nothing. Being able to live was more important!

Compared to living a long life of a hundred, none of these little trifles were important.

Fang Mingyuan steeled his heart and ripped away Fang Li’s hand. Although he knew that Fang Li couldn’t understand him, he still instructed earnestly, “After you go, you have to behave well and do as you’re told. Don’t give Yuyi-jun any trouble, understand?”

Fang Li: ……

It looked like there would be no choice but to leave today. Fang Li couldn’t help a trace of worry from flitting through his eyes. Not wanting to reveal his identity was one facet of things, but more importantly, everyone in the Fang family was a mortal. What would they do after he left…… At the thought of the incident from last time, he truly couldn’t feel at ease!

Xie Huai had originally already turned to leave, but his line of sight swept past Fang Li, not letting the flash of worry in Fang Li’s eyes escape him. He couldn’t help but pause his steps.

Could it be……

Fang Li was unwilling to leave with him because he was worried for his family?

Regardless of why he was hiding his identity or what his purpose was, it looked like…… At the very least, his care and protection of his family members was sincere. When he thought about how the first thing Fang Li had done after returning home was to set up the array to defend against demonic cultivators, Xie Huai pondered to himself for a moment, and three jade charms appeared in his hand.

Xie Huai waved his hand, and the jade charms landed in Fang Mingyuan’s hands. He said impassively, “These are sword talismans that I’ve personally made. They contain a sliver of my sword intent, and they can be used for self-defense.”

Protective charms personally made by the number one in the world, Yuyi-jun!

Fang Mingyuan’s hands were trembling as he cupped the jade charms. Such precious things, and he’d been given three of them at once. Y-Yuyi-jun was really far too generous……

What had he done to deserve it……

This jackpot falling out of the sky had struck him dizzy, but it still wasn’t over yet……

Xie Huai then said, “If you miss your child, you can come to Hollow Ridge to visit him. If you encounter any difficulties, you can also come to the ridge to find me.”

This time, Fang Mingyuan wasn’t the only one who was shocked. Even Tao Lu was shocked silly.

S-Shixiong was……

Giving the Fang family a pledge?

Not even he had seen sword talismans personally made by Shixiong before. One had to know that not even a Void Refining cultivator would be able to block a sliver of Shixiong’s sword intent! A single charm would be enough to drive the whole cultivation world mad, and he’d given out three of them at once. The problem was, giving the protective charms hadn’t been enough, and he’d even pledged to protect the Fang family.

With Shixiong’s words, who in the world would be blind enough to dare make a move against the Fang family?

Tao Lu was in a daze……

This time, he truly didn’t quite understand.

Doing a good deed wasn’t done like this, was it?

Just what was so extraordinary about the Fang family, to be able to make Shixiong go this far?

Fang Li’s heart also quivered.

He couldn’t understand why Xie Huai was doing this either.

Just where had he revealed any flaws?

It couldn’t be that it was because he’d exposed Du Meng’s plot and had instead attracted Xie Huai’s suspicion?

Fang Li lowered his eyes.

Seeing as there was no more leeway in the matter, it looked like he could only go with Xie Huai first. He needed to be on his best behavior in order to lower Xie Huai’s guard and find an opportunity to escape……

After all, it was very normal for a fool to wander off and get lost, wasn’t it?

………………………………………

Xie Huai originally could have traveled by sword, and it wasn’t impossible to bring someone else on his sword, but to a mortal who’d never cultivated before, it was more or less not very comfortable, so they specially rented a carriage.

Tao Lu sat outside driving the carriage, his ears pricked, curiously listening to the sounds coming from inside.

But there wasn’t any sound coming from inside at all.

Xie Huai sat with his back straight inside the carriage, his probing gaze resting on Fang Li’s face. The young man’s expression was uneasy and aggrieved, playing the part of a fool to perfection……

Xie Huai’s eyes darkened.

He thought about how that person had also always liked to pretend. Back on Mt. Wanxun, he’d tricked that whole crowd of people into running in circles just like this……

He had the carelessness of someone who treated life like a game, but he also had a kind and gentle heart that wanted to protect others.

Just like the person before his eyes. Even while playing the fool, he thought about his family at every turn.

Everything…… was so similar to him.

Xie Huai suddenly didn’t dare to think any further. In these nine years, the bone-cutting despair time after time had long made him realize that he shouldn’t cling to any foolish hopes.

To the point that…… When there was suddenly someone who was truly so similar to that person, he actually didn’t dare to believe……

He was afraid that it was just another fantasy.

Fang Li snuck a cautious peek at Xie Huai.

The closer one got to Xie Huai, the more apparent it became that Xie Huai really was a bit different from before. The thoughts of the Xie Huai of right now were deeper than the Fallen Star Sea, and his every move and action were impossible to fathom.

Even if Xie Huai suspected him because of the matter with Du Meng, was there any need to go this far? Xie Huai was so insistent on bringing him away……

It couldn’t really be because Xie Huai was going to treat his illness, could it?

Fang Li was also tired from pretending for a while, so he simply closed his eyes to go to sleep. Forget it, at this point, he could only figure things out as he went. He didn’t intend to walk the demonic path in this life anyways, so seeing as he wasn’t a demon and wasn’t doing anything bad, no matter what, Xie Huai wouldn’t take his life.

No matter how Xie Huai changed, he still had complete faith in Xie Huai on this point.

Xie Huai definitely wasn’t the kind of person to slaughter innocents or prey on the weak.

The carriage was pretty cozy, and it had been reinforced with spells so that it didn’t jostle. Fang Li soon comfortably fell asleep.

…………………………………………

By the time Fang Li woke up again, the carriage had already stopped. He crawled up lazily, about to take a look to see where they were.

Tao Lu squeezed inside to smile at Fang Li and say, “You must be hungry, I’ll take you to go eat.”

Fang Li avoided Xie Huai’s gaze and grabbed Tao Lu’s hand to get down from the carriage. This kid was still so kind and likable. Fang Li had found him pretty cute back then……

As expected, he had a good eye for people.

They arrived at the county capital.

Tao Lu led Fang Li by the hand to the biggest restaurant in town. He didn’t know what Fang Li liked to eat either, so he ordered a tableful of all kinds of dishes. Seeing the table full of delicious food, Fang Li’s mood improved even more. Xie Huai’s younger sect brother sure was much easier to get along with than Xie Huai himself……

Fang Li truly was a bit hungry, as this body of his got hungry very quickly, so he didn’t stand on ceremony and started chewing.

Xie Huai didn’t touch his chopsticks at all, only lowering his eyes impassively to look at Fang Li with contemplation.

Fang Li knew Xie Huai was looking at him, so he ate with even less restraint, playing the part of a fool with as much vigor as possible. Plus, he intentionally avoided his favorites from before to prevent Xie Huai from getting suspicious.

Tao Lu didn’t eat much either. During the meal, all of his attention was focused on taking care of Fang Li, because when Fang Li wasn’t knocking over this, then he was dropping that, turning the whole table into a chaotic mess. Tao Lu felt his head throb. He really didn’t understand why Shixiong had insisted on bringing this fool along. If he weren’t nearby to take care of things, and his cold and lofty Shixiong and this fool were left by themselves……

Tao Lu couldn’t imagine what kind of terrifying image it would be. Forget it, forget it, it was still better to leave taking care of Fang Li to him!

Xie Huai watched and watched, and suddenly, the corners of his lips quirked up faintly.

Fang Li’s acting really was good. If not for the fact that he’d stumbled upon the events of that night, perhaps he’d even suspect that Fang Li really was a fool, but because he’d seen this person’s other side a long time again, watching him now, Xie Huai instead thought that his performance was a bit meticulous. Besides, Fang Li hadn’t even made this much of a fuss when he’d been with Lu Hongdao. He was intentionally trying to put the blinders on him, huh……

You’re that unwilling to go with me?

Xie Huai’s fingers curled softly, and he looked blandly at Tao Lu, saying, “No need to bother with him.”

Tao Lu was startled. “But……”

Xie Huai’s eyes cooled slightly as they rested on Fang Li without blinking. He said meaningfully, “You’re getting in the way of his illness acting up.”

Tao Lu: “……”

Fang Li: “……”

Fang Li’s hand, which was holding a chicken leg, trembled faintly, and his heart went thump. That sentence of Xie Huai’s had been rather pointed. Had Xie Huai discovered that he was pretending to be a fool? That, that shouldn’t be the case, right……

Although Tao Lu was a bit reluctant, Xie Huai had already spoken, so he sat down obediently to one side and stayed put, watching Fang Li eat by himself.

Fang Li quickly became full and had no more energy to mess around. He wiped his hands carelessly on his clothes a few times, then revealed a silly smile.

Xie Huai slowly got up and said, “If you’re full, let’s hurry on our way.”

It was still Tao Lu who truly couldn’t watch on and helped Fang Li with a cleaning spell to get him tidied up before finally leading him back to the carriage.

Time passed day by day.

Every day, if Fang Li wasn’t hungry, then he was tired. If he wasn’t missing home, then he wanted his mom, truly driving Tao Lu to the point of tearing his hair out. Fang Li himself was also completely worn out, but Xie Huai…… remained completely unmoved.

Fang Li glanced at Xie Huai. Fine, you win.

Seeing as this trick was useless, then there was no need to waste time on it.

After a few more days, Fang Li acted as if he’d gradually accepted his fate and finally stopped raising a fuss. Every day, he would only have a listless, downcast appearance, docilely allowing Tao Lu to lead him around.

In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed.

Once again, they stopped at a little town.

Xie Huai and Tao Lu could practice inedia, but Fang Li had to eat every day, so they hadn’t been traveling very quickly. Although Xie Huai might suspect him, he wasn’t mistreating Fang Li in terms of living conditions……

The dishes made by the restaurant in this little town were just average. After a whole journey’s worth of food, Fang Li thought he could at most give them a six out of ten.

Don’t mention it, but with all the stops along the way, he’d actually gotten to enjoy all the different kinds of delicacies in this world. He thought he could even become a food blogger now.

Fang Li occasionally felt a bit rueful.

If not for the fact that he’d offended Xie Huai so badly just before leaving and that Xie Huai definitely wouldn’t forgive him, it would have been pretty nice to take Xie Huai as a travel buddy for vacationing……

Tao Lu was also getting more and more experienced at ordering food. All of the dishes on the table were things that Fang Li liked.

Fang Li still ate all by himself.

Xie Huai still had that appearance of being immovable as a mountain.

The man’s cool face looked indifferent, but in reality, he had been silently observing Fang Li the whole time. Although Fang Li’s acting was indeed very good, and he had even avoided behaving similarly to before on purpose, a person’s likes and habits, those things that were carved into their bones…… were impossible to change so easily.

Underneath that flimsy pretense, the person who revealed himself before Xie Huai’s eyes was more and more similar to that person……

Neither of them were very good at handling spice. Although Fang Li pretended to like it and always intentionally picked spicy things to eat, as soon as he had a little too much, his eyes would be full of tears. After reaching the limits of his endurance a few times, he quietly gave up.

Neither of them liked the taste of bitter saltbush. Although Fang Li meticulously avoided the dishes that he’d liked before, when it came to any dish that had bitter saltbush in it, he would still rather die than let his chopsticks touch it.

When they ate something that they liked, the satisfaction at the corners of their eyes—perhaps even he himself had never noticed that it was still exactly the same as before……

And when they slept, that completely relaxed and languid posture, and even the habit of having one arm bent and one arm hanging down when sleeping on his side was still just like back then……

Through these little details that were unconsciously revealed even when meticulously concealing himself, what was displayed was instead this person’s genuine side.

In the depths of night, Xie Huai had once dreamed of the past time and time again, closing his eyes to sketch out time after time that vision of that person when he had still been here……

Carving all of that person’s tiny expressions and little movements deep into his mind.

So that he wouldn’t be unable to recall so much as what he had looked like as time went on……

And with every passing day that he interacted with Fang Li.

It was like the illusion that had wandered through his dreams hundreds and thousands of times had finally walked out of the nothingness, appearing vividly before him……

The emotions in Xie Huai’s chest were practically impossible to suppress, weighing down on him until he was nearly suffocating.

This was the first time in the past nine years that he’d been so close to that person’s shadow……

So close that he could nearly touch it.

So, could it be you?

But if you really are him, then when did you wake up, and why must you hide your identity?

If one were to say that you lost your memory, you also clearly remember the secret passage in the treasure vault, and you even know how to set up an array to defend against demonic cultivators. No matter how one looks at it, you don’t look like you’ve lost your memory……

But if you didn’t lose your memory, then why are you avoiding me, why aren’t you willing to acknowledge me?

Do you really want so badly to sever all ties with the past?

Then what about me……

Am I also a part of the things you want to throw away, the things you want a clean cut from? Do you not feel any lingering attachment at all?

Xie Huai’s heart felt like it was being squeezed tight, the depths of his eyes dim and pained.

Do you know how I’ve been surviving for the past nine years?

Just as you wished, I’ve lived up to those things that you were willing to pay with your very life to obtain for me…… Acting as the swordsman who slayed the devil and protects the common people in the eyes of the world.

But as for you, why must you be so ruthless to me?

Unwilling to come back and see me even once.

……………………………………

The Author Has Something to Say:

Xie Huai: The wife is so cruel to me.

Fang Li: My bro has become my bitter enemy.