Arc 5: Chapter 27
The eastern part of the Northern Territory bordered the Demon Realm, separated by an 800 kilometer long red river. On one side, grasslands stretched endlessly like an emerald sea. On the other side, soul-sucking red flowers bloomed, leading to a land of bones.
To the west was a hundred kilometer deep gorge, drawing the line between the Monster Realm and the mortal world.
When Xie Hanzhou emerged from seclusion, he ascended directly to the peak of the Heavenly Realm. Now, his sword strike could reach tens of thousands of kilometers away, striking through wind and rain, and piercing deep into the Northern Region.
The grassland was also a grand formation array that human cultivators had set up to block the Demon Clan. For a thousand years, the grass had remained verdant and lush, but with Xie Hanzhou’s single sword strike, even the sky of this land had to bow down, seeing snow and storm.
Following closely behind Xie Hanzhou who had forcefully entered the formation, Lin Yuan stepped onto the grasslands. The moment his feet touched the ground, he almost jumped up in shock and his round eyes widened with inexplicable panic and helplessness.
Xie Hanzhou saw his little disciple’s reaction and took a moment to realize the reason. He immediately pulled Lin Yuan into his embrace and gently patted the youth’s back: “It’s alright… it’s alright…”
Lin Yuan was like a frightened, bristling kitten. Soft, distressing whimpers escaping his throat, and his pupils trembled with unease.
“Master…”
Xie Hanzhou lowered his head and kissed Lin Yuan’s ear. His voice was soft and low, and the lingering sound fading into the wind: “This grassland was established a thousand years ago by the great immortal sects after their victory over the Demon Clan. Since then, the sects from across the land regularly come here to reinforce the formation.”
“You’re still young and haven’t been cultivating for long, it’s natural that you can’t resist the killing intent left by the predecessors towards the Demon Clan.”
As Xie Hanzhou spoke, he took off his sword, Unsullied, from his waist and handed it to Lin Yuan, letting him hold it.
Unsullied was the sacred sword of Pure Jade Palace’s sect masters, passed down through generations. Its sword intent was incomparably sharp and cold, as if it could pierce through anything and never be defeated.
Obviously, not just any person could touch this sword.
If anyone else was here, they wouldn’t be able to believe their eyes. Unsullied was gently resting Lin Yuan’s embrace, and its sword hums were soft and harmonious, like a lullaby.
The reason was simple—because it was Xie Hanzhou’s sword. Because Xie Hanzhou liked Lin Yuan, so Unsullied liked him too.
With Unsullied in his hand, Lin Yuan felt a little better and stepped away from Xie Hanzhou's embrace.
Although the sword’s intent shielded him from the killing intent to some degree, the bone-chilling cold still remained. Lin Yuan tried to endure it. He tried really hard, but soon he couldn’t bear it anymore and rushed himself back into Xie Hanzhou’s arms.
“Master, it’s so terrible here…” His voice was very aggrieved: “I’m scared…”
Xie Hanzhou understood that his little disciple was still too delicate to handle this land filled with bones and decay. But even so, Xie Hanzhou wanted to bring him north. He wanted to take the boy he loved back to the land where he was born.
Back to that city that was long forgotten by the rest of the world. To a place of ruin. To the place where the former Hanzhou had died.
Moreover, Xie Hanzhou harbored a darker, more terrifying desire. He had already made up his mind that when his little disciple's cultivation was strong enough, he would bring him to that dead city, to Frost City, and strip him of his clean, pristine robes of Pure Jade Palace.
Then, like a beast claiming its mate, in his city, he would possess Lin Yuan completely.
It would be a violation, a near-brutal desecration.
Xie Hanzhou’s thoughts were simple, yet chilling to the bone. He was the sole survivor, but after he and his little disciple dual cultivated there, his little disciple would become one of Frost City’s people.
That way, Xie Hanzhou would no longer be the only soul alive. He would no longer be alone.
Thinking of this, Xie Hanzhou felt unprecedented peace and satisfaction. He lifted up his little disciple, lowered his head, and pressed their foreheads together.
His face remained as expressionless as ever, making one unable to distinguish joy or sorrow, warmth or cold, light or dark, righteousness or evil. His voice dropped lower, and his lips brushed against the youth as he spoke: “Don’t be afraid, Master is here. I’ll take you to find Yu Sui’an.”
“If Sui Sui is scared, close your eyes. When you open them again, Sui Sui won’t be afraid anymore…”
Lin Yuan obediently closed his eyes. He leaned against Xie Hanzhou’s shoulder, full of dependence, and hummed.
From the Northern grasslands to the banks of the Red River, Xie Hanzhou could have arrived in a few moments, but with his beloved disciple in his arms, he walked slowly.
He wanted to keep the youth to himself a little longer before he had to share him with the other version of himself.
Disappointingly, no matter how slow he walked, it only took an hour.
On the opposite side of the Red River, a man in crimson robes stood among a field of red spider lilies.
As the representative flowers of the underworld, their petals were as red as blood. They bloomed in brilliance, and would never wither for ten thousand years. Yu Sui’an stood on the far shore of the Red River, gazing at the verdant plains on the other side.
Occasionally, Yu Sui’an would pluck one of the most dazzling flowers, collecting them until he had a bouquet in his arms, looking like he was holding a cluster of flames.
He wanted to take these flowers and offer them to the youth he longed for, who would soon be arriving.
Yu Sui’an saw a flurry of wind and snow and sensed a familiar presence across the river.
He knew that his other self was bringing their boy here.
Lin Yuan had fallen asleep in Xie Hanzhou’s arms, but was awoken by the sound of rushing water. Suddenly, a strong floral fragrance filled his senses, so thick that it even masked the smell of the blood.
He rubbed his eyes and sleepily murmured: “Master…”
Then he heard someone chuckle lazily: “You’re only calling for your master. What about me?”
Lin Yuan’s drowsy consciousness instantly cleared. He opened his eyes, his sight focusing on the man not far away.
Yu Sui’an was even more dazzling than the flowers surrounding him. His eyes were deep and serene, shining with a breathtaking shade of glassy blue.
“Senior Brother!”
Lin Yuan’s gaze stuck to Yu Sui’an’s face like syrup.
Yu Sui’an felt very satisfied with this. Even though the little liar was in Xie Hanzhou’s arms, his eyes and infatuation were all on him.
Still, the sight of the little liar in Xie Hanzhou’s arms pricked the eyes. Yu Sui’an raised an eyebrow slightly and said: “Immortal Sovereign, put your beloved little disciple down. With both of us here, we can’t lose him.”
Only then did Lin Yuan remember that Xie Hanzhou was still carrying him in an embarrassing posture. His face turned red and he quickly scrambled down.
Seeing the youth’s rosy cheeks, Yu Sui’an said teasingly: “Now you’re feeling shy? I saw that you slept very comfortably earlier. Junior Brother, you are the first one to use Pure Jade Palace’s Patriarch like this.”
Lin Yuan’s cheeks puffed out and he looked at Yu Sui’an with grievance, saying softly: “Senior Brother… stop teasing me.”
Yu Sui’an’s lips curved and he said smilingly: “Alright, I’ll listen to Sui Sui.” He revealed his hand that held the bouquet of blood-red flowers and presented them to Lin Yuan. His tone was lazy and carefree: “These flowers only grow on the Red River banks, and I chose only the best ones that could match up to Sui Sui. Do you like them?”
Lin Yuan was stunned for a moment and then accepted the bouquet from Yu Sui'an’s hands.
He said softly and sweetly: “Thank you, Senior Brother…”
Lin Yuan lowered his head carefully, taking a light sniff. The petals were delicate and soft, brushing against his skin, and its sweet nectar exuded an intoxicating fragrance that was almost bewitching.
Suddenly, he belatedly realized that he was holding both Yu Sui'an’s flowers and Xie Hanzhou’s sword.
Yu Sui’an finally noticed the sword too. He looked at Unsullied, which was usually whirring with an imposing, murderous aura, now lying docilely in Lin Yuan’s arms. He scowled: “I must be seeing things. Is this a fake Unsullied sword? How can a junior disciple hold it?”
Unsullied let out a loud hum, as if expressing its dissatisfaction. If not for the fact that it was in Lin Yuan’s embrace, it might have leaped from its scabbard to strike someone down.
Hearing this, Xie Hanzhou crossed his arms and glanced coldly at the flowers: “The bank of the Red River is covered with hundreds of thousands of flowers. Picking some flowers to woo someone, Yu Sui’an, if you’re short on money, you should tell Master.”
Yu Sui’an sneered: “No need. Even if these flowers grow everywhere, they still carry my sincerity. Master, after reading all of those Daoist scriptures, surely you don’t believe that money can represent the weight of someone’s feelings, right?”
Xie Hanzhou’s voice remained indifferent: “Of course not. Why do you say so?”
In just a few sentences, the tension between them was thick enough to be cut by a knife. Between the two men, Lin Yuan hugged both the flowers and the sword tightly and said quietly: “Um… This is all my fault. I was wrong. I was too flirtatious and greedy. Master, Senior Brother, if you both find this unacceptable, then… let’s just forget it.”
Yu Sui’an thought the little liar was frightened and immediately glared at Xie Hanzhou: “Master, did you hear that? If you think it’s unacceptable, just forget about it. My Sui Sui won’t force you.”
Xie Hanzhou ignored Yu Sui’an and pulled Lin Yuan into his arms and kissed the youth’s forehead. He said gently: “Baby, don’t be afraid. Your senior brother and I both cherish you, we both like you. What just happened won’t happen again. Don’t worry.”
Yu Sui'an also gave a soft ‘en’, and then he caught a glimpse of Xie Hanzhou’s hand that was placed on the youth’s lower waist.
Annoying. He really wanted to cut it off!