Chapter 22: Exchange

Bian Lingyu had never anticipated that she would deceive him.

The sun had already risen, and his techniques and bone spikes were fully functional. Yet earlier, he hadn’t noticed that Shi Luoyi was awake.

He had let his guard down around her, only approaching because he believed she was asleep. But the moment her long lashes fluttered, Bian Lingyu instantly realized—she had been feigning sleep.

In an instant, the bone spikes in his sleeve stirred.

He had many options.

If he truly didn’t want Shi Luoyi to discover him, he could have used the bone spikes like ribbons to blindfold her. Even with all her strength as a small blade cultivator at the Core Formation stage, she wouldn’t be able to break free. He could then render her unconscious and leave.

But before the spikes emerged, he remained silent, making no move. Instead, he allowed her to grasp his sleeve and open her eyes.

No one wanted to remain forever in another’s shadow, nor did anyone willingly stay hidden, poisoning themselves with longing glances.

So, if you truly wish to know, then open your eyes and see.

Am I truly the Wei Changyuan you’ve been yearning for?

Morning dew dripped from the leaves as the girl finally opened her eyes. She began: “Senior… I actually…” Her voice cut off abruptly as she stared at him, dumbfounded.

Bian Lingyu’s face showed no trace of panic or abnormality, remaining perfectly calm.

He watched as Shi Luoyi froze in shock, her eyes wide with disbelief. Then her face turned crimson, and she began coughing. The hand that had clung to his sleeve retracted quickly, as if it had touched poisonous miasma.

Glancing at her fallen hand, Bian Lingyu’s lips curled into a smile—but it held no warmth. Without a word, he rose and silently walked down the mountain.

He should have known.

What Shi Luoyi lacked was never a birthday gift but rather Wei Changyuan’s care and apology.

She had already descended into madness; there was no turning back.

Even the previously restless bone spikes in his sleeve now lay still, as lifeless as dead objects.

Shi Luoyi had rehearsed countless times in her mind how to address the “elder” after meeting him. From what she knew, those with profound cultivation often had eccentric temperaments.

Yet, no matter how meticulously she calculated, she never expected the owner of the clay rabbit to be Bian Lingyu.

When she opened her eyes and saw him, she was left speechless, nearly choking on her breath, her mind in chaos.

It wasn’t until Bian Lingyu coldly glanced at her before leaving that she snapped out of her disarray and began to contemplate what had just happened.

The clay rabbit, identical to the one from her past life, lay beside her. She picked it up.

It had been crafted adorably, with long ears and a pair of red, teary eyes, as if it had been crying pitifully. The more Shi Luoyi looked at it, the more familiar it seemed. Unable to resist, she touched her own eyes, feeling unusually flustered.

It doesn’t look like me at all! she denied inwardly.

The rabbit’s eyes were gentle and moist. Holding it in her hands, she noticed it emitted a faint golden glow, shielding her from the morning chill.

“How could it be him…”

Why would Bian Lingyu give her a clay rabbit?

If Shi Luoyi remembered correctly, in his eyes, she had not only acted unreasonably and harmed him but also insulted him by giving him “a broken lock.”

Bian Lingyu had once hated her so much that he forced her to consume a poisoned pill, though the mortal poison proved ineffective against her immortal body.

Though their relationship had improved somewhat after the Qing Shui Village expedition, it was far from reaching the point where he would gift her a magical artifact. Could it be that he knew she had been rejected by Wei Changyuan because of his sister and felt guilty? Or perhaps he feared she might harm Bian Qingxuan and was using the clay rabbit to apologize?

This explanation, among all unreasonable guesses, seemed the most plausible. After all, he had previously attempted to reconcile on behalf of Bian Qingxuan.

Shi Luoyi stroked the rabbit’s face and sighed. For the first time in her peaceful existence, she felt a twinge of envy toward Bian Qingxuan for having such a good brother.

No wonder, even after ascending to immortality, Bian Qingxuan hadn’t forgotten to bring him along.

Having understood this, Shi Luoyi picked up the Daughter Red wine she had hidden and decided to chase after Bian Lingyu. The clay rabbit was likely something Bian Qingxuan had given him for protection. What would he do without it? Though she desperately needed the rabbit, she couldn’t bring herself to take something meant to protect a mere mortal.

Shi Luoyi assumed Bian Lingyu hadn’t left long ago and believed she could catch up quickly. But following the direction he had taken, she reached the foot of the mountain without spotting him.

She hadn’t expected him to move so swiftly. After some internal struggle, she eventually made her way to the residence of the outer disciples.

Outside Bian Lingyu’s courtyard, a young boy sat dozing on the threshold.

Several elegant pear trees stood before the wooden gate, though they hadn’t yet budded this season.

This was only Shi Luoyi’s second time stepping foot here, and she felt a pang of awkwardness. After all, the last time she had come, she had treated him terribly.

At that time, consumed by her inner demons, she had been filled with violence and hadn’t paid attention to the details of the courtyard. But she was certain there hadn’t been a gatekeeper boy. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have dared to act so brazenly in broad daylight…

Now they were guarding against her to the point of assigning a gatekeeper. Clutching the rabbit, she wondered: Will they throw me out in a moment?

Ding Bai, still growing at his age, was drowsy every morning. With half-closed eyes, he opened the courtyard gate and sat on the threshold to snatch a little more rest.

After all, Master Bian Lingyu wouldn’t care.

This morning, just as he opened the gate, he saw Bian Lingyu returning from outside. His clothes were damp with morning dew, his expression cold, and he didn’t spare Ding Bai a glance as he entered the courtyard.

Ding Bai had learned not to overthink his master’s actions, sparing himself unnecessary worries. Lazily basking in the morning light, he continued to nap. His head bobbed slightly, and in his drowsiness, he lost balance, tumbling forward toward the ground.

Startled, he immediately opened his eyes, thinking: Oh no, I’ll probably end up with another bump on my head, just like the other day.

But before his head hit the ground, a soft hand cushioned his fall.

Ding Bai froze, straightening up to see the most beautiful sight in his eleven years of life.

A maiden crouched before him, her peach-like cheeks and apricot eyes captivating. Her flowing skirt spread across the ground like a painting, and under the dim morning light, her dew-kissed lashes glistened as if tears were about to fall. Yet her eyes weren’t sorrowful—they sparkled with amusement, tinged with playful friendliness.

The soft hand that had caught him belonged to none other than the girl before him.

Ding Bai stared at her, his face flushing bright red.

“Little Junior Brother, could you please announce my arrival? I’m here to visit,” she said gently.

Ding Bai’s heart, newly awakened to budding affection, nearly leapt out of his chest. Senior Sister Qingxuan was beautiful too, but she didn’t look like this!

And she smiled at him! She even called him Little Junior Brother.

Eyes shining, Ding Bai exclaimed: “Senior Sister, are you here to see Master? I’ll go announce you right away!”

Suppressing his racing heart, he darted into the courtyard like a gust of wind.

“Master, Master…”

Bian Lingyu sat beside the alchemy furnace, flipping through a book of medicinal recipes. When he saw Ding Bai burst in so recklessly, the herbs in his hand transformed into blade-like leaves: “Get out.”

Ding Bai caught the blade leaves but paid no heed to his cold demeanor, grinning foolishly: “There’s a senior sister outside who wants to see you, Master.”

“I’m not seeing anyone.”

Though Ding Bai was sometimes afraid of him, he knew Bian Lingyu wouldn’t truly harm him. Unwilling to let the beautiful senior sister leave disappointed, he pleaded anxiously: “She’s extremely beautiful, Master, please, just see her…”

Bian Lingyu had initially assumed Ding Bai meant Bian Qingxuan, but upon hearing his explanation, he realized who he was talking about.

“No,” he said curtly without lifting his head, repeating the same icy response.

What could Shi Luoyi possibly come for? Most likely to return what he had given her. Upon realizing it was from him, she probably avoided it like venomous snakes.

Ding Bai sighed dejectedly, muttering under his breath: “Heart of stone!” Helpless, he relayed Bian Lingyu’s words to Shi Luoyi and indeed saw the faint disappointment in those beautiful eyes.

Unable to bear her disappointment, Ding Bai quickly added: “Senior Sister, I’ll secretly bring you in.”

Shi Luoyi found it curious: “Is that allowed?”

“Of course,” Ding Bai replied. “Follow me.”

He led Shi Luoyi through the barrier and into the courtyard. Fearing Bian Lingyu might punish him, he cleared his throat like a little adult: “Master is in the alchemy room. You two talk—I’ll stay outside and keep watch.”

Shi Luoyi crossed through the courtyard, feeling a rare flush of embarrassment as she passed by the bedroom. Thankfully, Bian Lingyu wasn’t inside; otherwise, even with ten times the courage, she doubted she’d dare enter again.

She found the alchemy room and sure enough, saw Bian Lingyu sitting before the alchemy furnace.

The flickering firelight illuminated his cold, aloof face. His gaze was lowered, casually skimming through the medicinal manual in his hands. Sensing something, he tightened his grip on the book but never raised his head.

Shi Luoyi sighed inwardly, walked up to him, squatted down, and looked up at him.

She called his name: “Bian Lingyu.”

His dark lashes fluttered slightly as he turned to look at her: “What is it?”

“I’ve come to return the clay rabbit. It’s too precious—I can’t accept it.”

“If you don’t want it, throw it away,” he said indifferently. “Now that you’ve said your piece, leave.”

Shi Luoyi faltered, not expecting such a response. The clay rabbit, imbued with some sentience, seemed to shrink back into her arms in委屈.

His mood was so foul that even spiritual objects could sense it.

Shi Luoyi gently patted the rabbit in her arms, not blaming him for his icy attitude. Since the first time she had kicked open his courtyard door months ago, he had always appeared irritable, yet he had never harmed her.

Thus, she said: “I’m not unaware of your intentions. But I’ve already made my decision. The clay rabbit brims with spiritual energy—it’s clearly no ordinary object. To be honest, I’ve owed you for everything between us. I planned to apologize to you after returning from Qing Shui Village. You can make any request, and I won’t exchange it for magical artifacts. I also promise not to harm you anymore.”

She thought this explanation would reassure him and make him understand she harbored no ill intentions toward Bian Qingxuan regarding the broken engagement.

But his eyes carried a cold smirk as he slowly drawled: “You know my intentions?”

He lingered on each word, dragging them out until Shi Luoyi felt an unsettling strangeness.

She blinked and nodded.

“Then tell me—what exactly are my intentions?”

As he asked this, Shi Luoyi noticed the medicinal herbs he had been using for alchemy were crushed in his hand with a sharp snap .

Her expression stiffened, and she felt a sudden wave of confusion. Could she have been wrong? Wasn’t Bian Lingyu apologizing on behalf of Bian Qingxuan?

Uncertain, she hesitantly replied: “Aren’t you thinking that my broken engagement with Changyuan Senior Brother is because of Bian Qingxuan? Are you trying to apologize on her behalf and ask me not to target her?” After all, everyone in Hengwu Sect hoped she wouldn’t target Bian Qingxuan.

Bian Lingyu stared at her, expressionless.

Shi Luoyi forced herself to continue: “Since I’ve already agreed to dissolve the engagement, I won’t cause further trouble or hold a grudge against Bian Qingxuan over this matter—you can rest assured.” As for the other misdeeds committed by Bian Qingxuan, she would find opportunities to retaliate when the time came.

After her words, Shi Luoyi noticed his icy gaze seemed momentarily frozen.

She rarely saw such a bewildered emotion on Bian Lingyu’s face—no trace of his usual coldness, replaced instead by something peculiar. He remained silent for a long while before murmuring: “So you’re saying… you agreed to dissolve the engagement?”

She nodded.

The crackling of the alchemy furnace echoed, masking whose heartbeat it concealed.

Seeing her looking at him, Bian Lingyu averted his gaze.

Shi Luoyi wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but she thought she glimpsed a faint smile on Bian Lingyu’s face.

It was a light smile, unlike any of his previous sneers or mocking grins. Instead, it was pure, like frost flowers in winter or the summer tide.

Caught off guard, Shi Luoyi couldn’t help but freeze.

Coming to her senses, she felt both amused and exasperated. What kind of people were these siblings?! If she were more hot-tempered, she’d surely be furious. Upon hearing about someone’s broken engagement, they didn’t express sorrow or comfort but instead smiled. She unconsciously puffed her cheeks, feigning anger: “Did you just… smile?”

Bian Lingyu denied it: “You’re mistaken.”

Shi Luoyi mentally hummed softly, not blaming him for gloating. She said: “In that case, take the clay rabbit back. I stand by my word.”

Bian Lingyu glanced at her, then ignored her once more.

Shi Luoyi was now certain she had guessed correctly. After all, Bian Lingyu hadn’t denied it, and his mood had visibly improved after she assured him she wouldn’t harm Bian Qingxuan over the broken engagement.

Since Bian Lingyu didn’t want to take it back…

She retrieved the jar of Daughter Red wine from her interspatial pouch and asked: “Then let’s trade, shall we?”

Bian Lingyu’s gaze fell on the Daughter Red , his brows furrowing slightly.

Fearing he might disdain it, Shi Luoyi explained: “This jar of Daughter Red was personally brewed by my father the year I was born. My mother was from Nanyue, where there’s a custom: whenever a baby girl is born, a jar of Daughter Red is prepared and buried beneath a tree. When she comes of age and marries, it’s dug up and consumed as a blessing for her to find a good husband and grow old together.

She smiled faintly and added softly: “Though I no longer need it now, my father used the finest spiritual dew in the world to brew this wine. Even ordinary cultivators who drink it can gain sixty years of cultivation. I know it’s not equal to your clay rabbit, but it’s the only thing I have to offer in exchange right now. Or, if you want something else, I can find it for you later?”

Shi Luoyi had expected Bian Lingyu to grow impatient as she spoke so much, but to her surprise, he didn’t interrupt her, quietly listening the entire time.

When she finished, she waited for him to request something else. But he simply said: “No need. This will do.”

And so, Shi Luoyi handed over the Daughter Red .

In her heart, she felt a pang of regret. She had originally hoped to find the elder who could help her save her father, but it turned out to be nothing more than a coincidence. There had never been any elder to begin with.

Shi Luoyi couldn’t ask about the origins of the clay rabbit, as she and Bian Lingyu weren’t familiar enough to inquire into his or Bian Qingxuan’s personal opportunities. For cultivators, prying into or seizing another’s opportunity was considered the gravest offense.

However, at least one matter in her heart had been resolved. Though she hadn’t found a solution here, Shi Luoyi wasn’t disheartened. In this lifetime, she had plenty of time to address regrets left unfulfilled in her past life.

Including atonement.

After some thought, though sixty years as a demonic cultivator had largely eroded her sense of shame, she knew an apology was unavoidable. She took out her Divine Ruin Blade and offered it to him with both hands. She said to Bian Lingyu: “We agreed in Qing Shui Village that we would settle our grievances after leaving. If you still harbor resentment, now is your chance for revenge.”

She spoke frankly: “If you want to cut me a few times, go ahead.”

An apology required sincerity, and as she finished speaking, she prepared to kneel.

Bian Lingyu grabbed her.

Their eyes met, and he gazed at her damp yet bright eyes: “I’m just a mortal—I can’t lift your blade.”

She gave an understanding “Oh” and generously replied: “Then tell me what to do. I’ll handle it myself, and don’t worry—I won’t hold back.”

A faint smile flickered in Bian Lingyu’s eyes as he calmly said: “If you truly feel remorseful, come help me refine pills every evening after your lessons.”

The girl’s face showed a hint of difficulty. She was a blade cultivator, after all—was Bian Lingyu serious about making her refine pills?

What if she blew up his furnace or burned down his courtyard?

But since he was the one owed, and he was only asking her to refine pills, it wasn’t unreasonable. Perhaps he simply wanted to see her flustered and helpless. With no reason to refuse, Shi Luoyi nodded: “Alright, I agree.”

Before leaving, she suddenly remembered something and turned back to ask: “Bian Lingyu, once I’ve refined the pills well enough, will you forgive me then?”

The morning breeze swept through the room, carrying the boy’s clear, cold voice: “It depends on your performance.”

Though she didn’t receive a definitive answer, Shi Luoyi still smiled.

This was good enough. If there was a way to make amends, it meant things weren’t irreparable.

________________________________________

After Shi Luoyi left, Ding Bai noticed Bian Lingyu emerge holding a jar of wine.

He found a peach tree and buried the jar beneath it.

Ding Bai was extremely curious: “Master, what is this?”

“Daughter Red.”

It was the first time Ding Bai had heard him speak so gently, which shocked him immensely. Bian Lingyu’s movements as he buried the wine were meticulous, as if he feared breaking the jar.

Ding Bai naturally knew about Daughter Red from the mortal realm. Though he hadn’t been born into the mortal world, he harbored a certain longing for its customs. Especially regarding wine—it seemed every man held hopes for it.

Licking his lips, Ding Bai asked: “Master, may I…?”

“You can try.”

His tone was calm, but the subtle chill in his words made it clear he wasn’t joking.

Ding Bai shivered and dared not covet the wine any longer, but Bian Lingyu’s evident care for it only deepened his curiosity.

“So, Master, when will you dig up this jar and drink it?” Could he sneak a sip then?

After Ding Bai asked this, he noticed Bian Lingyu pause momentarily.

For a long while, so long that Ding Bai thought he wouldn’t respond, Bian Lingyu finally spoke: “Perhaps in this lifetime, or perhaps not even in the next.”

The bare pear tree had yet to bloom, but Ding Bai felt an inexplicable sadness. The aloof, icy Bian Lingyu, who always seemed untouchable, sounded as if he were living in the mortal world—and yet also as if he might vanish at any moment.