Arc 5: Chapter 16
Lin Yuan could hardly believe that there was actually a person who would cheat on Xie Hanzhou. Were they a demon?? Actually cheating on such a good-looking and gentle Xie Hanzhou!
Aside from shock, Lin Yuan’s anger also bubbled dangerously.
Did they get to touch his husband’s hand?
Did they hug him?
No way…did they kiss him?
Lin Yuan felt his eyes mist over, from anger, from feeling aggrieved, and from being envious. That lucky two-timer could actually kiss his husband without punishment… wait, couldn’t he also pretend to be ‘ignorant’?
But how would he even pretend to not be intentional?
It was too difficult!
Lin Yuan thought back to the previous worlds when he and his husband kissed. During their kisses, his husband was always fierce and urgent, like he was a starving beast on the hunt. Their lips and teeth tangled together and their bodies pressed against each other in a tight embrace.
It was both painful and pleasurable. Afterwards, his lips were always swollen and burning and his tongue was numb. Every time, he felt as if he was going to be swallowed up completely.
The kisses often left him dazed and muddleheaded, like his mind was in a heavy fog. In the moment, he felt as though he became an extension of his husband.
Thinking back, Lin Yuan felt that he had been too ungrateful. He had taken for granted the days when he had a husband to kiss. He even had the audacity to complain about his husband’s aggressiveness and fierceness. But now he clearly had two husbands—two stunningly beautiful husbands—but one he couldn’t kiss, and the other he didn’t dare to kiss.
Indeed, the well-fed do not understand the hunger of the starving! Hmph!
Lin Yuan desperately wanted to question Xie Hanzhou how exactly that two-timer had offended him, but he was afraid a question like that would be too inappropriate and Xie Hanzhou would get angry.
Lin Yuan suppressed the sour jealousy inside him. He looked at Xie Hanzhou with dejected eyes and said glumly: “Master, that two-timer… that person who offended you probably did it on purpose. He was probably pretending.”
Like a lightbulb went off in his brain, Lin Yuan suddenly felt as if he had uncovered the truth. That two-timer must have taken advantage of his husband’s innocence and pretended!
What evil methods!
With his guess, Lin Yuan felt both indignant and pity for Xie Hanzhou. His round eyes glistened with unshed tears, and his soft voice sounded like it was muffled with fluffy cotton candy: “You're too good-natured. If someone offends you like that again, you shouldn’t be so lenient. You need to teach disobedient disciples like that a lesson.”
Preferably throw them far away like Chu Yao, Lin Yuan thought to himself.
Xie Hanzhou’s heart was usually calm and silent like a frozen sea, but at this moment, something warm stirred up a small current underneath the icy surface, creating gentle ripples.
Staring at the youth feeling wronged on his behalf, Xie Hanzhou suddenly felt a hint of curiosity that also carried a little evil taste. What if Lin Yuan found out that the one who offended him the most was none other than himself? What kind of expression would he make?
Would he be... happy?
But this thought was like a shooting star, and it vanished in an instant. Xie Hanzhou had no intention of letting his disciple know the truth.
He was Lin Yuan’s master, a role that was both an elder and a teacher. A disciple’s romantic interest in their master was against the ways of the conventions of the world. To Xie Hanzhou, this was just a mere test of his Daoist heart. As a teacher, it was his duty to correct this little disciple’s feelings and guide him back to the right path.
He intended to correct Lin Yuan’s feelings towards Yu Sui’an as well, because neither he nor Yu Sui’an was worthy of this little disciple’s pure-hearted affection.
Xie Hanzhou nodded his head lightly, his gaze remaining indifferent and untouched: “Indeed, you are right. Disobedient disciples need to be properly taught a lesson.”
Lin Yuan’s displeasure was eased a lot by these words. Like a satisfied little puppy, he wagged his invisible tail and said: “Master, you’re wise and mighty. That’s exactly how it should be! Disciples like that should be discarded, just like Chu Yao.”
Xie Hanzhou mused that if he truly discarded this little disciple, the youth would feel very wronged and might even cry. After all, just hearing that Chu Yao touched his hand made Lin Yuan’s eyes red with jealousy.
Xie Hanzhou gazed into the boy’s eyes and strengthened his resolve to correct Lin Yuan’s feelings. Someone as warm and soft as Lin Yuan should not be sullied by Yu Sui’an, even if Yu Sui’an was another version of himself.
“Lin Yuan…” Xie Hanzhou placed his long, jade-like hand on the stone table. His fingertips cast a shadow that was darker and more profound than the light gray of the stone surface.
His voice was cold and distant, like the howling snowstorms of the far north. It carried a chill that could freeze all of the blood and the passion entangled the mortal soul: “Starting for today copy the Clear Heart Sutra ten times a month. Same as before, I will review your transcription at the end of each month.”
Lin Yuan was waiting for his master to finish renouncing that two-timer disciple, unexpectedly, Xie Hanzhou suddenly increased his homework.
Lin Yuan thought that his state of mind had been pretty clear recently. At least, he didn’t feel the need to copy scriptures any more. But he didn’t dare challenge Xie Hanzhou’s order. If he thought about it another way, he was the only disciple that had to do extra homework. It must mean his master treated him differently! This was a unique form of care and affection just of him!
With that perspective in mind, Lin Yuan felt much better. He obediently nodded: “Understood, Master.”
Xie Hanzhou acknowledged him with a faint ‘en’ and was about to dismiss Lin Yuan as he would with other disciples, but when the words reached his lips, he found himself unable to say them.
In the end, Xie Hanzhou went along with his instincts and didn't say anything. But without dismissing Lin Yuan, he couldn’t let his little disciple just stand there.
After some thinking, Xie Hanzhou looked up at the ancient sycamore tree towering above them. Seemingly out of nowhere, he said: “When I was young, I enjoyed climbing this tree to admire the mountain scenery and the stars. You… can climb it and take a look as well.”
Lin Yuan had expected that Xie Hanzhou would simply tell him to leave as he usually did. Confused but also curious, Lin Yuan softly nodded and obediently climbed to the highest point of the ancient sycamore tree.
Above, the twelve mountain peaks of Yuqing Palace appeared to float in midair amidst the clouds. Mountains overlapped in a hazy embrace, and the golden rays of sunlight spilled over the mountain faces making them look like fragmented diamonds.
Below, faceless disciples traveling in trailing white robes, like blooming white, jasmine flowers. Over thousands of years, the scenery had changed a lot, yet it also seemed untouched.
The sky and clouds stretched out endlessly, seemingly right above that it felt within reach. Lin Yuan couldn’t help but extend his hand.
He didn’t touch the blue sky, instead, he touched the light.
Focused on the scenery in front of him, Lin Yuan didn’t notice there was something behind him. In fact, even if he turned around, he wouldn’t have realized it was there.
Lin Yuan didn’t know that behind him stood a wisp of Xie Hanzhou’s divine soul. The flawless and handsome man gazed at him with a mix of focus and tenderness. The breathtaking celestial views of Yuqing Palace seemed insignificant compared to the person he saw.
Xie Hanzhou’s gaze traced from the boy’s flowing, inky hair to his clear, mirror-like eyes, down to his straight nose, and finally rested on his soft, red lips.
This was the first time he looked at Lin Yuan so closely. He looked at the youth... as if there were no master-disciple relationship between them.
Like Xie Hanzhou was bewitched, he slowly raised his hand and reached towards the youth. Deep in his divine soul, an unknown resonance that crossed time and space began to fluctuate.
Finally, Xie Hanzhou stopped himself and did not touch the youth in front of him. Lin Yuan was his disciple.
The moment he withdrew his hand, his divine soul stirred, creating a gentle breeze that brushed across Lin Yuan's face.
【Di! Please pay attention host, the villain Xie Hanzhou’s blackening value has risen to 15%.】
Lin Yuan, happily immersed in the scenery, paused: “…”
What happened?
Who upset his husband again?
Who did it?!
⋅ ˚ ₊ ‧ ୨୧ ‧ ₊ ˚ ⋅
With his anger still not dissipating even after leaving the Ancient Grove Hall, Lin Yuan decided to eat a full meal at the dining hall first before dealing with the source of all evil, Chu Yao.
Chu Yao, now a disciple of Daoist Danyang, was in the middle of moving to the Peak of Crimson Radiance. When Lin Yuan arrived at the disciple’s rooms he saw a crowd had gathered at Chu Yao’s door.
Mu Chengfeng was at the forefront consoling the tearful Chu Yao. Seeing his beloved weep so sadly, for the first time, Mu Chengfeng felt a sense of dissatisfaction towards the sect leader he had always respected. How could Master treat Chu Yao like this? Chu Yao was so obedient and well-behaved, this was too excessive!
Lin Yuan pushed through the crowd of disciples and entered the room, his gaze icy as he looked at Chu Yao. His tone was frosty: “Chu Yao, let’s duel.”
Although Lin Yuan preferred to ambush the source of all evil with a sack and a beating, Chu Yao had Mu Chengfeng by his side, making it impossible to pull off. There would be even less opportunity after Chu Yao moved to the Peak of Crimson Radiance.
Anyways, sometimes a straight up duel was the best method.
Chu Yao was still in the middle of pretending to pitiful and stared at Lin Yuan in disbelief with tear-streaked cheeks. His crying voice was full of grievance: “Brother Lin, w-what are you saying?”
Lin Yuan, expressionless, repeated: “I said let’s fight. Test our skills against each other. Up utill now, among Master’s new disciples, you and I are evenly matched. Don’t you think we should settle the score before you leave?”
Chu Yao disagreed in his heart. His so-called ‘talent’ was entirely thanks to a system cheat that gave him the appearance of exceptional aptitude in other people’s eyes.
Lin Yuan relied solely on his innate skills and comprehension. He was the fastest to master the Pure Jade Sword Technique among the new generation, even supposedly breaking the record that Daoist Ziyuan set in his prime.
Fight against Lin Yuan? Not unless he wanted to die!
Feigning weakness, Chu Yao’s reddened eyes filled with tears again as he weakly whispered: “Brother Lin, please understand. I’m not in the mood for a duel right now.”
Lin Yuan sneered: “I am.”
Chu Yao: “…” Wtf, where did this straight man come from?!