Chapter 71: Nian Yuzhuo
The wind lifted the scattered letters into the air. Zhang Junluo rushed into the bamboo grove and saw pages all over the ground. “…” He grabbed them in a panic. There was blood.
Which meant Nian Yuzhuo really had struck the third junior brother. That reassured him.
Based on what he knew of Nian Yuzhuo, the man wouldn’t leave survivors.
“Third Junior Brother,” Zhang Junluo murmured, “if you want to blame someone, blame your own ambition. You let the position of sect master blind you.” He hurried to pick up every letter he could see, then noticed a suspicious drag mark in the dirt, stretching from his feet all the way to the cliff’s edge.
The wind was fierce. The air still seemed to carry the smell of blood.
His black cloth shoes scraped on the rock. He peered into the bottomless ravine and let out a breath. Looked like Third Junior Brother had fallen.
From the fact that no one had collected the letters, Zhang Junluo inferred Nian Yuzhuo’s anger. Maybe he’d mistaken Third Junior Brother Su Lingya for the long-time pen pal and, having come to duel with sword in hand, killed in a rage.
He couldn’t be certain, though. That uncertainty made him uneasy. He didn’t want new trouble breaking out.
“Senior Brother?” a baby-faced disciple asked. “Why’d you come back alone? Did you see Third Senior Brother?”
“No.” Zhang Junluo asked in return, “Did you really tell Lingya to meet me?”
“I did,” the junior said anxiously. “I told Third Senior Brother very clearly, and I even shoved the sword right into his hands.”
“I see…” said Zhang Junluo. “Then let’s wait a bit longer. If he isn’t back by the hour of You, we’ll go look for him.”
“Okay.” The junior nodded.
Yesterday afternoon, they’d just come down the mountain and passed through a small town, where they’d seen a girl selling her sword to bury her father.
A few rich dandies were harassing her in the street. Their Third Senior Brother had a soft heart and stepped in.
But Zixiao Sect had rules: you couldn’t fight with people who didn’t know martial arts. While the girl was being harassed, Third Senior Brother ended up making a mess of himself instead.
Only when First Senior Brother stepped in did things get resolved, and he even paid ten taels to buy the girl’s sword.
At the time, First Senior Brother scolded Third Senior Brother. “Master told you to temper your body, but all you do is practice swordwork. When you can’t draw a blade, what’s swordwork good for?”
Third Senior Brother didn’t agree, and the two of them crossed words. Outwardly it looked like friendly debate between sect brothers. Underneath, the current ran swift and dark.
Su Lingya wanted to rip off Zhang Junluo’s righteous mask and show everyone the man was a selfish hypocrite who strutted around as First Senior Brother all day. Ptuh.
Zhang Junluo couldn’t stand Su Lingya’s “pig that eats the tiger” act. What “most beautiful man under heaven,” what “kind heart”… please. If he could speak frankly, he’d say the idiots worshipping Su Lingya must’ve lost their minds.
They were all outstanding on their own paths and could’ve minded their own roles in peace.
But lately the sect master seemed ready to step down, and who else would be candidates if not the brothers of Zixiao?
First Senior Brother had the best odds. He’d polished his persona as a righteous young hero to a shine and had some fame in the jianghu.
Second Senior Brother was honest and thick-skinned, likely there just to participate.
Third Junior Brother also had fans, but he was famous for his face. What kind of hero was that? Since when could a pretty face make you sect master?
Might as well let the whole jianghu laugh themselves to death so they could inherit more silver.
Meanwhile, Nian Yuzhuo, leader of Xuanyin Sect, carried the man who might be his long-time confidant “Rongqing” and rushed back to his stronghold.
“Welcome back, Sect Leader!” Cai Jiugao, the Left Protector, dropped to one knee with a thump.
“Welcome back, Sect Leader!” Hua Sanniang, the Right Protector, also knelt with a thump.
The elegant sect leader’s figure flashed as he cradled Li Dong. He glanced back and flicked his hand. “Rise.” Before the word had fully landed, his silhouette had already moved ten zhang ahead.
Fuqu Courtyard, residence of Divine Physician Wan Muchun.
Nian Yuzhuo kicked open the old man’s gate.
“Welcome, Sect Leader,” Wan Muchun said, standing with a bow. “That makes the third gate this month you’ve broken… ai.”
Heavens help us. The entire demonic sect was made of wastrels.
“Spare me the chatter.” Nian Yuzhuo strode into the inner room and set Li Dong down. “He took a Six Yin Palm. Tell me how to save him.”
“Huh?” Wan Muchun looked startled.
Six Yin Palm was their sect leader’s signature move. There wasn’t a second person in the world who knew it.
Whoever made the leader use the full force of Six Yin had to deserve death.
Could it have been a mistake?
Wan Muchun lifted Li Dong’s robe and looked at the palm mark dead center on his chest. He thought, this absolutely couldn’t be a mistake.
“This young lord is remarkably handsome,” he couldn’t help saying.
“Save him,” Nian Yuzhuo ordered.
“But, Sect Leader…” Wan Muchun said, “anyone who takes Six Yin Palm, even if he doesn’t die, will suffer a regression of mind and become erratic and unhinged.”
Unless you could find the unimaginably rare blood qilin to replenish the heart meridian, there was no full cure.
Whether a blood qilin even existed was anyone’s guess.
Wan Muchun sighed inside. Such a pity for such a beautiful face.
“Just save him,” Nian Yuzhuo said, hands clasped behind his back. The fingers he hid were clenched tight. “We’ll discuss the rest once he’s out of danger.”
“Yes.” Wan Muchun pushed down his questions and focused on treating the young man on the bed.
He readied silver needles, fire-cups, and other tools.
Nian Yuzhuo kept watch at the side. Sometimes he stared at the young man’s face. So this is what Rongqing looks like. Younger than I imagined.
Sometimes his gaze fixed on the young man’s chest. The crimson palm print was an eyesore.
At this time, Li Dong was having a very difficult time.
He felt like he’d worn the wrong body. From the moment that palm hit, his consciousness stayed perfectly clear, but his body wouldn’t move, like he’d died.
He heard every word Nian Yuzhuo and Wan Muchun exchanged.
When he learned the body could be saved, he breathed out. But what the hell did “regression of mind, crazy and erratic” mean?
If he woke up acting too normal, would they treat him like a monster?
Thinking about how fierce Nian Yuzhuo could be, Li Dong decided it’d be safer to act a little “crazy.”
There were a few world settings he hated most. One, cops and crooks. Two, wuxia.
At least cops and crooks still lived under law. Wuxia basically meant killing whenever you felt like it.
Gather a crowd to slaughter demons. Arrange life-and-death duels. What’s wrong with just living quietly?
His body still wouldn’t respond. Every minute felt like proof he was already a goner.
He waited, and when drowsiness crept in, he didn’t dare sleep.
Some details weren’t always written clearly in the novel, and he couldn’t remember everything clearly either.
Like what Wan Muchun just said: Six Yin Palm causes regression of mind. In the original, there wasn’t a line that Su Lingya’s mind regressed, but it did say he became erratic and his temperament changed drastically.
Half an hour later, Li Dong couldn’t hold out. He sank into a deep, dark sleep.
When he woke, he blinked up at a handsome face with a hint of sharpness, studying him from above.
Li Dong’s pupils were unfocused. He looked around in confusion. His whole face said, Who am I, where am I, what am I doing?
“You’re awake?” Nian Yuzhuo asked.
“Who are you?” Li Dong asked back.
“Who are you?” Nian Yuzhuo parried.
“I’m…” Li Dong said blankly, “who am I?”
Nian Yuzhuo let out a breath. He’d looked at the clothes and sword earlier and seen at a glance that this man was a righteous sect disciple. If he really was Nian Yuzhuo’s heart’s desire, Rongqing, then he absolutely couldn’t accept being tied to the demonic sect leader.
Rongqing like this was perfect. He could stay in the demonic sect long-term without hating the sect.
“Your name is Rongqing,” Nian Yuzhuo said. “I’m your husband.”
“…” Meow meow what!?
“Do you know what ‘husband’ means?” Nian Yuzhuo crouched in front of him and lifted his chin with a finger. “It means I’m the person closest to you. Your sky, your earth. Everything about you belongs to me.”
Li Dong stared at him in a daze, already wailing inside. Those lines are mine.
“You don’t understand?” Nian Yuzhuo frowned. “Wan Muchun!”
“Here,” Wan Muchun came out of the pharmacy. “What does the Sect Leader need?”
“He’s awake,” said Nian Yuzhuo. “Come take a look.”
Wan Muchun came over and lifted Li Dong’s head. “Let’s see.” He muttered, “Eyes won’t focus. Might be regression of mind. Let me ask a few questions.”
“What’s regression of mind?” Li Dong asked, eyes big and curious.
“No need to ask,” Wan Muchun said over his shoulder. “Sect Leader, his mental capacity now may not even be that of a seven or eight-year-old.”
Li Dong understood that one. In plain terms, it meant the mind of an eight- or nine-year-old. Melancholy. He’d actually planned to act three.
“In that case, fine,” Nian Yuzhuo said, pressing his lips together.
“I’ll go decoct the medicine.” Wan Muchun retreated to the pharmacy.
“Rongqing,” Nian Yuzhuo leaned close. “I’ve longed to see you and couldn’t. Today I finally got my wish. I’m very pleased.”
The moment the words fell, Li Dong saw that sharp face swoop in. A strong hand locked the back of his head. “…” His lips were pried open with ease as the other stormed in like wind through fallen leaves.
Ferocious and domineering.
From that kiss, Li Dong tasted a mad possessiveness, thick with obsession.
“Mm…” Doing this to someone whose mind isn’t whole. Where’s your shame?
Then again, Nian Yuzhuo had crawled out of piles of corpses to become a demonic overlord. What shame would he have?
Flat on the bed, Li Dong felt like life had lost all flavor. His already unfocused gaze turned hazier. He’d just taken a heavy hit and his body was weak. Faced with the male-lead shou’s forceful kiss, he didn’t even have the strength to kiss back hard.
“Rongqing,” Nian Yuzhuo finally let go, satisfaction on his face as he hovered over Li Dong. “Stay in the demonic sect with me. I’ll give you endless wealth and honor.”
Li, age three, Dong blinked, opened his mouth, then reached up and twirled the peacock-blue tassel in Nian Yuzhuo’s hair.
“You like this?” Nian Yuzhuo immediately took the tassel off and put it in Li Dong’s hand. “If you like it, it’s yours. Anything I have, I can give you.”
Li Dong’s feelings tangled. He knew Nian Yuzhuo meant every word.
Nian Yuzhuo loved Zhang Junluo to a degree that bordered on death willing.
After all, Zhang Junluo was the two-dimensional best buddy who’d been with him since he was a teenager. Their bond ran deep.
Honestly, Li Dong didn’t feel confident. It’d be hard to pull out Zhang Junluo’s place in Nian Yuzhuo’s heart.
“Pretty,” Li Dong said, playing with the tassel. A bright smile lifted his face.
His complexion was still too pale. “Wan Muchun!” Nian Yuzhuo barked. “Brew a dose right now.” And then, “Use the best medicine we have. I want to see color back in Rongqing’s face within three days. If we don’t have it, go buy it.”
“Understood, Sect Leader,” Wan Muchun said quickly.
“You stay here and behave,” Nian Yuzhuo said, touching his heart’s treasure’s cheek. “I’ll be back in an hour.”
“Where’re you going?” Li Dong held his hand.
“Rongqing.” Nian Yuzhuo’s heart swayed. He squeezed back. “You took the Six Yin Palm and your body’s weak. That’s my fault. I’ll go up the mountain and hunt you a deer.”
“What’s a deer?” Li Dong asked, looking up at him.
“You…” Nian Yuzhuo smiled. “A deer is a deer. When I bring it back, you’ll see.”
He finished and turned on his heel with clean, elegant ease, handsome enough to take your breath away.
If the Nian family hadn’t fallen, he probably would’ve grown into a carefree young master.
But the family had fallen. Nian Yuzhuo had been a bed slave, then a nobody foot soldier of the sect, and finally the Xuanyin leader feared across the realm.
Half an hour later, Li Dong smelled medicine.
“Young Lord Rongqing,” Wan Muchun said, carrying a bowl in one hand while dragging a chair with the other. “Time for medicine.”
Li Dong almost said sure, then remembered and flopped back. “Stinky. I’m not drinking it.”
“Er…” Wan Muchun said, “This old one was negligent.” Only then did he remember he was dealing with someone whose mind had regressed below the topknot years.
There was a way.
Back to the pharmacy. He found candied fruit and preserved plums.
“Young Lord Rongqing~” Wan Muchun returned with a fox-eyed grin. “Look what I’ve got.”
He held a piece of candied fruit to Li Dong’s lips. Li Dong opened his mouth to bite.
“Ah-ah,” Wan Muchun pulled his hand back. “If you want the candy, you have to drink the medicine first.”
“Hmph…” Li Dong turned his head. “I don’t want the candy either.”
He was a grown adult. How could he submit over one piece of candy.
“Young Lord Rongqing, don’t be willful,” Wan Muchun said. “If you won’t drink it, we’ll wait till the Sect Leader returns and let him punish you.”
He used a standard trick for children. It always worked on the other kids in the sect, since everyone was afraid of the Sect Leader.
“Then we’ll wait for him,” Li Dong said, burrowing under the quilt.
“You…” Wan Muchun frowned, helpless. “You’re making trouble for me.” If the Sect Leader came back and found he couldn’t even coax one patient to drink medicine, wouldn’t he get scolded?
Meanwhile, Nian Yuzhuo pushed his lightness skill to the limit, sprinting up the high mountain. Even with his great martial strength, he was drenched with sweat.
He didn’t dare linger. He quickly found a full-grown stag and hauled it down alive.
He made it back to Xuanyin in one breath. He should’ve sent it to the kitchen, but then he remembered his sweetheart’s innocent question. His heart went soft. He carried the stag straight to Fuqu Courtyard.
So a living stag (a male deer) lay by Li Dong’s bed, crying helplessly, as pitiful as could be.
“Rongqing,” Nian Yuzhuo said, “you just asked me what a deer is. This is a deer.”
Li Dong sat up, eyes wide. “So that’s a deer…” Then, “It’s really cute.” And, “Why’d you bring it back?”
Couldn’t he see how scared the poor thing was?
“For you to eat, of course.” Nian Yuzhuo sensed something was off and shut his mouth at once. “What’s wrong?”
“Don’t eat deer,” Li Dong said. “Let it go home, okay?”
“No.” Nian Yuzhuo frowned. “Deer’s a great tonic. You’re weak and need nourishment.” He thought to himself, his Rongqing truly had a kind heart, unchanged even after losing his wits.
“I’m not eating it.” Li Dong pulled the quilt over his face. “It’s too cute. I’m not eating it.”
“Sect Leader,” Wan Muchun called from behind, “you’re back.” He sighed, holding the bowl. “Young Lord Rongqing won’t drink. Please talk to him.”
Nian Yuzhuo’s face darkened. “You won’t drink, and you won’t eat deer. How will your body recover?”
“That’s a fat deer,” Wan Muchun said when he noticed it. “But Sect Leader, Young Lord Rongqing shouldn’t take big tonics right now. Save venison for autumn.”
It was only the start of the eighth month. With the heat, deer could cause too much internal fire.
“I’ll drink the medicine. I’m not eating the deer,” Li Dong said. He took the bowl obediently and gulped it down, then made a twisted face.
That was genuine, not an act. Chinese medicine was truly hard to drink.
“You’re very good,” Wan Muchun said. “Here, candy.” The white-bearded old doctor popped a candied fruit into Li Dong’s mouth with a smile.
“Fine,” Nian Yuzhuo said, voice low. “We won’t eat the deer.” He glanced at Li Dong, then at the stag on the floor. “Have someone keep it for two days, then let it go.”
“Yes, Sect Leader,” Wan Muchun answered.
“Give it here,” Nian Yuzhuo said, taking the box of candied fruit from him. “You go work. I’ll watch over Rongqing.”
“Yes,” said Wan Muchun, wisely touching his nose and withdrawing.
“Is the candy good?” Nian Yuzhuo sat on the bed. “I’m guessing you’ve forgotten my name too.” He held out another sweet. “Listen carefully. My name is Nian Yuzhuo.”
This time he gave his real name.
No more hiding, no more fear.
“Nian, Yu, Zhuo?” Li Dong mumbled around the candy. “I’m sleepy.” He dropped onto Nian Yuzhuo’s shoulder without a hint of caution.
Nian Yuzhuo gathered him up in both arms. “…” His fingers trembled slightly. “Mm, then sleep.” He hadn’t heard a confession, but he was certain. The person in his embrace was the Rongqing he’d dreamed of for years.
Author’s Note:
Morning~
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