Arc 5: Chapter 35
【Di! Congrats host, the blackening value of the villain, Xie Hanzhou, has dropped to 1%.】
【Di! Congrats host, the blackening value of the villain, Yu Sui’an, has dropped to 10%.】
As the blackening value steadily decreased, Xie Hanzhou’s Daoist heart became more clear and firm. And Yu Sui’an’s wounds that had long been engraved into his bone marrow, finally began to scab.
As long as there is a person who is willing to thoroughly care for you, even the most painful of wounds will eventually heal.
⋅ ˚ ₊ ‧ ୨୧ ‧ ₊ ˚ ⋅
Five years later.
Lin Yuan was now in his twenties, but he still looked like a bright and energetic teenager.
In the past five years, he had crossed famous mountains and rivers, past willows and bridges, and through snow and flowers, cultivating and learning all of the way.
Simultaneously, he sharpened his swordsmanship techniques, including Pure Jade Palace’s swordsmanship, Xie Hanzhou’s swordsmanship, and Yu Sui’an’s swordsmanship.
Lin Yuan’s aura had now changed greatly, exuding a refreshing aura and the sharpness of a swordsman.
Finally, they decided to return to Pure Jade Palace.
Although five years seemed long, to cultivators who would live for centuries, the time was just a drop in the bucket.
When Lin Yuan entered Pure Jade Palace again, his classmates almost couldn’t believe their eyes.
“Lin… Brother Lin?”
When Lin Yuan smiled, he was still as pure and lively as before: “Long time no see~”
To the rest of the sect, they only knew that five years ago, at the same time Xie Hanzhou publicly announced that he would be going out to seek enlightenment, Lin Yuan left saying the same thing.
But no one associated the two of them together. One was the Patriarch, and the other was just a new disciple, the difference between their status was too big.
Sensing Lin Yuan’s new cultivation level, his classmates were astounded, saying incoherently: “You…have already…”
Lin Yuan knew what they were trying to say and nodded. He had never slacked with his cultivation, adding on that he had one-on-one mentoring from Xie Hanzhou and Yu Sui’an, his cultivation path was very smooth.
Now he was at the upper level of the Earthen Realm, just a step away from the Sky Realm.
The reason they came back was for the Constellation Grand Festival, which was held only once every ten years. Xie Hanzhou promised that after the festival, they would leave to go to the south and get married.
Lin Yuan’s cultivation level was sufficient now, and he could start dual cultivating… ( ⸝⸝´꒳`⸝⸝)
Lin Yuan’s ears were slightly hot, thinking of these past few years, every night had been… very colorful.
Xie Hanzhou and Yu Sui’an needed to preserve their Yang energy, so nothing was done till the end, instead, Yu Sui’an brought many things from the Demon Realm…
Lin Yuan’s momentary spacing out wasn’t noticed by his classmates, and soon they began to excitedly share the latest news from the sect to catch their friend up to date.
“Brother Lin, do you know, Master Danyang last disciple is said to be a genius swordsman…”
Lin Yuan silently thought to himself that this disciple must be Chu Yao.
“Oh right, you probably know him. His name is Chu Yao. Do you remember him?”
Lin Yuan nodded: “I remember, what about him?”
His classmate’s expression grew complicated. There was some faint jealousy, also admiration, and even a little suspicion: “Last month, Chu Yao broke through to the Earthen Realm. Everyone says that he’s the fastest to reach the Earthen Realm after the Sect Master, and his talent is even comparable to Eldest Senior Brother (Yu Sui'an). I admit that Chu Yao has extraordinary talent, but I just feel something is off about him…”
“Moreover, Second Senior Brother is too indulgent with him. Chu Yao follows him everywhere, and even Master Ziyuan gives him preferential treatment. Oh, what's crazier, is that when a group of us disciples went on a task and passed through the capital of Great Yan, the Emperor actually wanted to make him his consort.”
“And then, and then, we went to the northern border, and the patriarch of the Heaven Abyss Sword Sect even gave him the famous sword, Hollow...”
They chatted for over an hour, when suddenly Lin Yuan’s stomach rumbled.
His classmates also saw it was around meal time, and immediately pulled him up and said: “Brother Lin, let’s go to the dining hall and continue talking.”
Lin Yuan: “Ah.” They can still talk?! o.0
When he entered the dining hall, Lin Yuan almost thought he walked into the wrong place.
His classmates explained: “The Emperor of Yan renovated the whole dining hall and sent two royal chefs to cook Chu Yao’s meals. Really treating him like the empress, tch.”
Lin Yuan didn’t care. The newly renovated dining hall was much nicer than before, and the food was tastier too. Lin Yuan plunged his head in his bowl and concentrated on eating.
The chatter around him continued noisily, but suddenly, their voices gradually quieted.
A vibrant crimson robe came into view, and one of the classmates looked up and jumped in shock. He shouted nervously: “Se… Senior Brother!”
Lin Yuan bit into a sweet and tender piece of braised pork and chewed happily. Hearing the call, he looked up in confusion.
Yu Sui’an saw his little liar’s puffed up cheeks and there was even sauce at the corner of his mouth and laughed a little: “Did I starve you before? You’re eating so ravenously.”
Lin Yuan’s eyes brightened and his smile was even more cheery. He looked at Yu Sui’an’s red robe that set off his pale and fair skin, and asked curiously: “Why didn’t you change into the disciple’s robe?”
Yu Sui’an sat down next to Lin Yuan and took out a handkerchief. He gently wiped off the sauce on Lin Yuan’s mouth, and said lazily: “I’ll wear it tomorrow. I’m already wearing this one, no point in changing now.”
Seeing Lin Yuan’s cheeks bulge, Yu Sui’an stared at the braised pork on Lin Yuan’s plate: “You’re eating so well, does it really taste that good?”
Lin Yuan naturally handed over his own chopsticks: “It’s delicious! Try it.”
The classmates sitting around him looked at their interaction and their jaws almost dropped to the floor.
What is going on??
Why is Lin Yuan so close to Senior Brother???
Lin Yuan noticed their fervent gazes and thought for a moment, and then smiled and explained: “I forgot to tell you all—Senior Brother and I are lovers. After the Constellation Grand Festival, we’re going to form a Dao bond and marry each other.”
A classmate was so shocked he hiccuped. He thought, first Chu Yao, and now Lin Yuan, could it be… in this day and age, a man has to be romantically involved with another man to achieve great progress in cultivation?
Lin Yuan had no idea what ridiculous thoughts were running through their minds. There was a long period of silence, and Lin Yuan asked: “Why aren’t any of you saying anything?”
A classmate forced out an awkward chuckle: “I just didn’t expect… you and Senior Brother…”
Just then, Yu Sui’an swallowed the piece of braised pork and remarked lightly: “Barely acceptable. The taste isn’t great.”
His amber eyes turned to Lin Yuan’s classmate and said with a faint smile: “Junior Brother, do you think Lin Yuan and I aren’t a good match? I think we’re a match made in heaven.”
Faced with the dazzling look of Yu Sui’an, the classmate immediately said: “Yes! Senior Brother and Lin Yuan are a perfect couple.”
Yu Sui’an was satisfied. Now that he had completed the step of openly showing off his relationship in front of Lin Yuan’s classmates, he got up to get his own food and have lunch with Lin Yuan.
Sitting down, Yu Sui’an said dotingly: “Since you like it, I’ll give all of mine to you.” He gave all of his braised pork to Lin Yuan, and even personally fed the pieces to his mouth.
Lin Yuan caught sight of his classmate’s gossipy eyes and flushed. He pinched Yu Sui’an: “You eat too.”
Yu Sui’an liked to tease him. He raised an eyebrow and said: “What? Can’t a Daoist couple be affectionate?” He turned to Lin Yuan’s friend and asked: “Junior Brother, you think so too right?”
The friend nodded like a chicken pecking rice: “Yes, yes, of course a Daoist couple should be close to one another.”
Yu Sui’an chuckled softly: “You hear? Feeding you is perfectly normal.”
Lin Yuan didn’t believe it, but he had no way to refuse him. In the end, he had to obediently accept being fed by his second husband.
Fortunately, Yu Sui’an didn’t continue teasing him, and the rest of the meal went smoothly.
⋅ ˚ ₊ ‧ ୨୧ ‧ ₊ ˚ ⋅
As they left the dining hall, they ran into a group of people, and at the very back walked Chu Yao.
Chu Yao easily spotted Yu Sui’an. After all, disciples usually wore white robes, but Yu Sui’an was dressed in striking crimson. After not seeing Yu Sui’an for so long, he had nearly forgotten about him. But seeing him again, he found Yu Sui’an’s beauty utterly breathtaking, even more bewitching than a demon.
“Senior Brother,” Chu Yao greeted him.
Yu Sui’an glanced at Chu Yao indifferently, as if he was no different from any other disciple: “Junior Brother.”
Then Yu Sui’an turned his head toward the handsome young man beside him, his voice as gentle as flowing water: “Let’s go.”
Lin Yuan also took initiative to hold Yu Sui’an’s arm and smiled sweetly: “Ok, Senior Brother.”
Chu Yao was surprised. He knew that Yu Sui’an never allowed others to touch him, so how come he was acting so intimately with this young man? And from his experience, this wasn’t how normal senior and junior brothers interacted.
Looking closely at the young man’s face, Chu Yao hesitated before saying, “You’re… Lin Yuan?”
Lin Yuan smiled. “It’s me, Brother Chu. Long time no see.”
He seemed to ask Yu Sui’an inadvertently: “Senior Brother, Brother Chu and I were classmates once, should we invite him to our Dao ceremony?”