Dawn found birds chirping on the main peak of Xuyun.
The wind blew gentle ripples on the lotus pond, and jade-white lotus flowers swayed melodiously.
“Mmm…”
The voice was lazy, carrying a lingering hint of hoarseness.
The Demon Lord breathed lightly, lying between his pillows and quilts, half asleep and half awake. A few rays of sunlight fell on his delicate, slender collarbone, inadvertently bringing to mind a flicker of spring.
With his captivating phoenix eyes still closed, he raised his hand from the bedside and slowly pushed away the thin blanket from his waist.
Another hand stretched out from the side and gently caught his hand, holding it.
“Shi-ge?”
Hearing the deep and mellow voice beside his ear, Lin Fuqing finally opened his eyes, blinking.
In the pale morning light, he dimly saw a tall, familiar, and long-missed figure sitting against the backlight beside the bed.
His adult facial features were more profound than in his youth, revealing a handsomeness as sharp as the blade of a knife, suppressed by his cold temperament.
This was… the Immortal Sovereign Huangyang, who had protected half of the Immortal Realm with his sword in their previous lives.
The same Immortal Sovereign who also single-handledly betrayed the immortal path, colluding with the Demon Lord on a bloodied journey of more than 80,000 miles, fully embracing the mantle of a Star of Calamity.
Fang Zhiyuan leaned over and used his free hand to stroke Lin Fuqing’s back through the quilt, whispering, “It’s rare that you’re free. If you’re still tired, sleep more.”
Lin Fuqing smiled softly, his eyes wet as if they had been through a night of rain. He murmured, “I begged you.”
Fang Zhiyuan frowned and leaned closer to listen: “What did you say?”
Lin Fuqing licked his lower lip with the tip of his tongue and laughed, “…My waist hurts.”
Fang Zhiyuan: “…”
On the window eaves came the sound of wind.
A messenger paper goose perched prettily on the wooden eaves, jumping and hopping in the brightest spot of sunlight.
Fang Zhiyuan stood up and beckoned the little paper goose over. Lin Fuqing, still curled up in bed with his eyes closed, hummed, “That’s for me… Never mind, you can just look at it for me.”
Last night, before bed, Lin Fuqing had sent a brief message to Lu Kuifu, asking about the golden dragon. This paper goose was the reply.
Reading the message on the paper goose, Fang Zhiyuan sighed. “Thunder Sky Immortal Sovereign is really devoted to you…so devoted that there’s nothing more to be said.”
The fantasy realm in the Golden Osmanthus Palace was expected to open in two and a half months, at the start of spring. The Immortal Sovereign would personally select the twelve candidates to enter, rather than follow the rankings of the Golden Omanthus Challenge. A truly unprecedented decision.
This was likely to cause quite a stir.
Although this Golden Osmanthus Challenge had its fair share of twists and turns, it had still produced a final ranking. If Lu Kuifu ignored the ranking and personally selected his own candidates to enter the fantasy realms, those talented individuals who had made the final rankings but were not selected would surely complain endlessly.
Furthermore, the cultivators who had performed poorly in the previous Golden Osmanthus Challenge due to various accidents would also certainly be dissatisfied. Why was preferential treatment given only to this particular challenge? Why didn’t the master of the Golden Omanthus Palace do the same in previous years?
The Golden Osmanthus Palace had always been a symbol of justice and righteousness in the immortal realm. This time… in order to send Lin Fuqing, who had given up the competition halfway, in as well, Lu Kuifu was willing to risk his reputation.
Lin Fuqing frowned at this. “How can he do this so hastily and without any plan? This is really reckless.”
When he’d sent that letter last night, this wasn’t what he had in mind. Fang Zhiyuan had told him that the small fantasy realm would be opened to the public under two conditions: the first was to encourage outstanding disciples, and the second was to reward those who made contributions to the immortal realm.
Lin Fuqing had originally wanted Lu Kuifu to send him some troublesome tasks, and once he’d completed it, this could be used as an excuse to allow him to accompany Fang Zhiyuan into the small fantasy world.
“You’re dreaming,” Fang Zhiyuan rolled his eyes at him. “How could Immortal Sovereign Lu let you take such a risk?”
Lin Fuqing said unhappily, “As a ruler, one should be respected with subjects who obey and have faith in him, not be protected by them for fear of being harmed.”
After saying this, he smiled helplessly. He himself knew that it wasn’t that he didn’t know how to do it, but that, as the ruler of a dead city, how could he have any dignity left?
Be it Lu Kuifu or Shentu Lenchun, he feared that what they felt was guilt and heartache, rather than sheer admiration.
There was no other way. Lin Fuqing shook his head and said, “I’ll tell Lu Kuifu not to select Huaguo. The small fantasy realm is full of dangers. I don’t feel at ease letting her in there.”
Fang Zhiyuan agreed. “Just you and me would be perfect.”
As they chatted like this, Lin Fuqing sat up, giving up on continuing to sleep.
Spiritual energy washed over his skin, transforming into clothes that fitted his current body. “We’ll wait until the arrival of spring, then bring your little dragon back with us and…:
He stood up and walked over to Fang Zhiyuan’s side, his clothes fluttering.
“Didn’t you get the Huangyang blade from this small fantasy realm? Let’s also take this opportunity to retrieve it too.”
………..
Leisure and idle days always pass by very quickly, particularly for those who are used to being busy. Once they relaxed, they didn’t want it to end.
Lin Fuqing couldn’t remember how long it’d been since he’d spent such a happy and comfortable winter.
He could finally sleep until he woke naturally, letting his bones soak in laziness for a while. His daily routine was pretty much the same: he’d play with the withdrawn Ziwei, give the disciples some pointers, and bury newly brewed wine in snow under the old sacred tree.
His little calamity star was right beside him. He could see Fang Zhiyuan any time he wanted. He could tease him, kiss him, and even dual cultivate with him. Occasionally, they would reminisce about their past lives and chat for hours.
These days seem too good to be true.
—Unexpectedly but reasonably, apart from Yin Changxin, the first person who knew that Lin Fuqing and Fang Zhiyuan had become a Daoist couple was Yu Hongtang.
“Gege, have you become Dao companions?”
The girl’s face was flushed with surprise and excitement, her eyes jumping back and forth between them.
“Shhh.”
Lin Fuqing put his index finger on his lips and pushed Fang Zhiyuan out as a shield without hesitation, “Your Yuan gege is too shy to make a fuss about it.”
Speechless, Fang Zhiyuan turned his face away with a complicated expression. It was true that he often had disagreements with his shi-ge when they were young, and now he had no choice but to bear this loss in silence.
“Wow…” Yu Hongtang’s eyes were surprisingly bright, as if filled with the sheen of water, reflecting the colorful and crystal sunlight.
“A long time ago…”
Her voice was like a silver bell, trembling with excitement. Suddenly, she broke into a brilliant laugh, and she said with great joy, “This should have already happened a long time ago!”
Lin Fuqing and Fang Zhiyuan shared confused looks.
What did she mean it should have happened a long time ago…Could it be that, when they were this age, their feelings for each other was already so obvious that even Xiao Hongtang saw it?
“Hehe…” Yu Hongtang smiled, grabbing each of their sleeves and shaking them cutely. “Gege, we must stay together forever! We must live a happy life!”
She blinked and whispered to Lin Fuqing, “Qing’er gege…Xiao Hongtang will be a little more obedient in the future. So please don’t run away and leave me like last time, okay?”
Their little shimei was very good at acting coquettish.
She was already a delicate girl with red lips and white teeth, a natural beauty. But when she acted like this, she was even more adorable, and anyone who saw her would want to pick her up and hug her.
Yu Hongtang rubbed her face against Lin Fuqing’s waist and murmured, “Gege, what’s so good about the outside? Let’s live our whole lives in Xuyun, okay?”
Hearing this, Ling Fuqing’s heart skipped a beat.
He knew this eleven-year-old girl he’d raised quite well. While Yu Hongtong may look like a little devil, usually playful and mischievous, she was in fact quite smart and cunning.
Suddenly saying this today, had she noticed something?
Could it be that, because the atmosphere between him and Fang Zhiyuan had been different from that past, she’d become uneasy?
Lin Fuqing raised his eyes and met Fang Zhiyuan’s gaze; he was obviously thinking the same thing.
Without care for the outside world, spending his whole life in Xuyun…
He hoped so.
With an inward sigh, the Demon Lord rubbed his sister’s head. “Be good, and stop making trouble. Next time, I’ll make sure to tell you before running away.”
Not getting the guarantee she’d wanted, Yu Hongtang puffed up her cheeks and stared at Lin Fuqing for a long time. The latter simply calmly let her look.
Finally, she gave in and said angrily, “Okay, okay, this is fine.”
Another half month quietly passed by. After the New Year, as the secular world called it, the weather gradually warmed up.
At this time, another unexpected visitor disrupted their secluded life.
Above the main peak of Xuyun, a snow-covered mountain path twisted and turned. The wind blew snow down from the branches.
A donkey with gray-black hair walked leisurely along the mountain path.
It was really quite a strange site.
Taiqing Island was surrounded on all sides by the sea. How could a strange donkey suddenly appear out of nowhere?
So this donkey must not have been an ordinary donkey.
Even though its appearance was quite ordinary, with dust and mud on its hooves, making it look a little dirty.
The Heaven and Earth Gathering Formation had already sounded an alarm. The spiritual energy contained within became chaotic, and the formation runes exerted pressure one by one.
Yet the donkey still continued to climb the mountain slowly and steadily. It had a crude, broken saddle on its back, on which hung an iron sword without a scabbard, and on that saddle sat a rather shabby-looking man.
As the path turned, two young figures suddenly appeared, blocking the way forward.
The white-cloth young man took two steps forward, and a hint of helplessness appeared between his clear and beautiful brows. He bowed his hands in greeting.
“…A few months ago, when my fellow disciples and I went to participate in the Golden Osmanthus Challenge, we met the Thunder Sky Immortal Sovereign, Lu Kuifu.”
The other man, dressed in black, also had a subtle expression on his face. He spoke in a slightly cold voice, “After returning, the Lord of Dongliu Sea, Dragon King Ao Yin, stopped by for a visit.”
“……cough.”
The donkey stopped moving. The scruffy man riding it straightened, scratched his stubble somewhat embarrassedly, and looked away.
Pretending not to see it, Lin Fuqing internally sighed with a small headache. “Our master, Xuyun Daoren Yin Changxin, is of course well-known. However, I didn’t expect that you would also suddenly visit today…”
Fang Zhiyuna continued, “The previous Saint Master of Ziwei Pavillion, Ruan Mington, had already passed away. So, we only need one more Dean Yan Yuyan from Shisong Academy, and we disciples of Xuyun would have met all the Great Tribulation masters of the current immortal realm.”
Lin Fuqing smiled broadly and walked forward. When they reached the gray donkey, they said to the man, “Wouldn’t you agree, Ye Jianshan?”
“…..”
The sword was the most supreme weapon.
Since ancient times, the majority of cultivators were sword cultivators, and even among ordinary paladins, there were many who carried swords.
Among the sea of sword users, there was a legendary swordsman.
“Aiya, hahaha…”
The scruffy man on the donkey laughed wryly and patted his forehead. He looked about forty to fifty years old, his clothes a little worn but clean. When he raised his face, it was clear that his slightly weathered face was actually very handsome, exuding a kind of mature charm.
“Ye has long been ‘missing’ in the eyes of the immortal realm. I never expected that I would be recognized at a glance.”
Fang Zhiyuan’s lip curled. “No, it’s just an unfortunate coincidence that the little demon child Shentu Linchun happens to be staying here in Xuyun. Ye Jianshen caused quite a disturbance in Senluo Stone Palace when he snatched away the previous Jade Maiden as his wife. If the people of Senluo Stone Palace dared forget about it, wouldn’t that be too careless?”
Ye Fu’s smile deepened. He waved his hands repeatedly, saying, “Those are old matters, old matters. I didn’t realize the seriousness of the mess I made back then. Please don’t mention it, Immortal Huangyang.”
The man spoke in a gentle tone, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that it was quite elegant.
If Lin Fuqing and Fang Zhiyuan hadn’t already known it, they would never have imaged that this person was actually the nominal master of Sword Valley, the number one swordsman who had been missing for many years, and the only man in the immortal realm with the word “God” in his title.
This was the sword god, Ye Fu.