EHEWASS CHAPTER 74

Chapter 74: Nian Yuzhuo

Before coming to Xuanyin Sect to demand a person back, Zhang Junluo had imagined the worst would be offering Nian Yuzhuo an apology and talking things through. After all these years of correspondence, he knew the measure of it.

The reality turned out very different.

“Chengqi,” Zhang Junluo said. “You still don’t believe I’m Rongqing?”

They’d shared enough in their letters. Proving he was Rongqing wouldn’t be hard.

“No,” Nian Yuzhuo said. “I believe you.”

“Then why are you detaining Lingya?” Zhang’s brows pinched.

“Why do you sound so sure Su Lingya is here in the demonic sect?” Nian Yuzuo walked to Zhang Junluo's side, glancing sideways at his confidant friend meeting for the first time. His mood was very complex. “Rongqing, you never told me you’re Zixiao Sect’s First Senior Brother.”

“I hope you’ll forgive that,” Zhang sighed. “You know I don’t always have a choice.” He kept a modest bow, gaze lowered.

Nian had long heard of Young Hero Zhang of Zixiao. Some said he championed justice. Some praised his grace. There were even rumors he was the next Sect Master of Zixiao.

He even had the qualifications to contend for Wulin Alliance Leader. What a blue-blooded, upright gentleman of the righteous path.

How could he be entangled with the leader of a demonic sect?

Nian also remembered he’d exposed his identity to Zhang three months ago, yet Zhang had kept writing. “When you learned who I am, what did you feel?”

Disgust, like any other righteous man? Hatred, the kind that made you want to kill?

“Panic,” Zhang said. “I never imagined you were the demonic leader. For a moment, it tore me up inside. Chengqi, you wouldn’t understand the feeling.”

“Then why did you keep writing to me?” Nian turned and looked at him, eyes fluctuating.

“Because I couldn’t let you go,” Zhang said.

“What does that mean?” Nian’s hands tightened behind his back. “What kind of feelings do you have for me?”

Too blunt a question, not at all in the ancient, roundabout style.

Zhang looked up into the blade-bright pressure of Nian’s gaze. Even a seasoned liar couldn’t spit out something false at once.

His mouth worked. He put on a pained look and dodged that gaze. “Chengqi, you and I stand on opposite sides. I don’t want to say more. I came to Xuanyin today for Lingya.”

If Su Lingya hadn’t been taken by Nian, Zhang wouldn’t have set one foot inside a demonic sect.

He had his eye on the Alliance Leader’s seat. He couldn’t allow Nian Yuzhuo to become a stain.

“For him, then?” Nian murmured. “In that case, please leave.”

Meeting the real Rongqing wasn’t what he’d imagined. There was no thrill at all.

In Nian’s imagining, he and Rongqing had known and cherished each other, the only friends each had. He’d invested deeply. The other… not so much.

Dull as dust once the lights came on. That was this meeting with Zhang.

“Someone,” Nian called toward the door. “See Young Hero Zhang down the mountain.”

He could feel the man’s stance toward the demonic sect. He couldn’t lie to himself that Rongqing didn’t mind who he was.

“You…” Zhang clenched his fist. “Lingya’s never wronged you. Why stir up a fresh feud between righteous and demonic?”

“See the guest out,” Nian ordered.

Before Zhang could be led away, Nian flicked his sleeve and left by the back door.

Xiaofeng Hall. A row of maids knelt in front of Li Dong, blocking the threshold.

“You’re all terrible.” Li Dong’s clothes were rumpled, his feet bare. “Move! I’m going to find Yuyu.”

“The leader said you’re not allowed to go out,” the maids chorused.

“Nonsense.” Li Dong lifted a cloth shoe. “If you won’t let me out, I’ll hit you with the shoe…” He saw that ink-blue silhouette and dropped the shoe mid-sentence.

A long hand caught it. “You may withdraw,” Nian Yuzhuo said.

“Sect Leader,” the maids said with fright and withdrew.

“Yuyu!” Li Dong’s eyes lit up, and he ran barefoot toward him.

In the past, he’d have faked a trip so the leader would catch him.

But just as he prepared to trip himself, he sensed something badly off. A coldness, like Yuyu might watch him fall and not move.

So he only stumbled a little. “Ow.” Then he looked up pitifully. “Yuyu, it hurts.”

Nian looked at him, cold, and didn’t come to hold him.

He waited a full three seconds. No comforting words. No straightening messy clothes. Yes, something was wrong.

“Yuyu…” His voice shrank, turning timid.

“Don’t sit on the floor.” Nian couldn’t force a smile. He didn’t feel like smiling, and he had no patience to coax him. “You two, help him inside.”

Two maids came at once, one on each side, and lifted Li Dong.

“I don’t want you. I want Yuyu…” he mumbled, keeping his eyes on Nian as they led him away, pleading and bewildered.

Nian stood at the door and looked once, said nothing.

When Li Dong looked back again, there was no one there.

It was too abnormal to be anything but one of two things: either the leader knew the truth and realized the real Rongqing was someone else, or he’d lost his mind for a moment.

Li Dong sat on the bed, spaced out, then rolled his eyes from the ceiling to a maid. “I’m hungry.”

“Yes,” the maid said, just as respectful as before. “Please wait a moment, young lord.”

Back in his study, Nian Yuzhuo said in a low voice, “Shadow guard, summon Protector Cai.”

A knee struck the floor. “Yes.”

In less than a quarter hour, Cai Jiugao entered and bowed. “Leader.” He assumed Nian wanted a wedding update, so he launched in. “The arrangements are mostly in place. Elder Wu says the day after tomorrow and the day following are both auspicious…”

Most likely the wedding date would be one of the two.

“The wedding,” Nian said, “stop the preparations. Cancel it.”

“Ah?” Cai was stunned. Why the delay? Had something happened? “Yes, Leader.” As subordinates, they obeyed. They didn’t ask.

After Cai left, Nian clenched a fist and drove it into the pillar.

Wood sank in. Five dents marked out the knuckles.

“Outrageous…” The one he’d cradled with both hands wasn’t the person he’d longed for all along.

His mood was wretched. He’d thought meeting Rongqing would make him happy. He’d thought too much.

Right now, a hollow gnawed in his chest. He needed something to fill it.

From the moment he knew Li Dong wasn’t the real Rongqing, Nian stopped stepping into the main room of Xiaofeng Hall. He stayed in the study next door.

Night fell. Wan Muchun personally brought medicine.

“Huh?” he said. “The leader’s not here?” At this hour, the main room of Xiaofeng Hall was usually full of laughter, or the leader’s pretending-to-scold tone.

The quiet tonight felt wrong.

“Back in the study,” a maid said.

“Oh. Understood.” Wan picked up the tray and headed that way.

“Divine Doctor Wan,” the maid called quickly. “Young Lord Rongqing isn’t in the study.”

“Mm?” Then he must be asleep. Otherwise, why wouldn’t the sticky young lord be stuck to the leader? “It’s late. I’ll wake him.”

Wan Muchun stepped inside. “Young Lord Rongqing.” He stopped short. Li Dong wasn’t asleep. He sat at the bedside, very quiet.

“What’s wrong?” Wan asked.

“It hurts here.” Li Dong poked his chest. “Can you take me to Yuyu?”

Clear, innocent eyes in that devastating face. Hard to refuse. “All right, all right.” Wan had no idea. “Drink the medicine first, then I’ll take you to the leader.”

“Mm.” Li Dong took the bowl and drained it in one go.

“Well now,” Wan said. “So good today. Did you upset the leader?” He assumed it was something small and chuckled. “Come on. The leader’s in the study.”

The maids didn’t dare stop Divine Doctor Wan, and only watched as Li Dong stepped over Xiaofeng’s threshold.

“Sect Leader,” Wan said. “May I enter?”

At Nian’s “enter,” he pushed the door and spoke as he came in. “Young Lord Rongqing missed you, so I brought him to you.”

Nian spun around. “Get out!”

Wan wasn’t the only one who jumped. Li Dong startled too. “Yuyu, hug…” His voice trembled, on the verge of tears, as he shook in the center of the room.

Nian’s heart thudded, tight and painful.

This person was, to him, a stranger.

He didn’t even know what the man was like with a clear mind.

Worse… why was he detaining a righteous disciple? That wasn’t something he should do.

“Wan Muchun,” Nian said. “Leave us.”

“Yes…” Wan snapped out of it and obeyed.

He worried a little for Li Dong, but that was that. Everyone’s coming and going, life and death, were the leader’s to decide in Xuanyin. If Young Lord Rongqing had truly angered the leader, none of them could intervene.

“Yuyu.” Li Dong insisted and threw himself forward. “It hurts.” He burst into tears, bright and wet.

“Go back,” Nian said. “I’m not your Yuyu.” And the other wasn’t the person he’d wanted for years. “You and I are strangers.” He turned his head and forced distance between them.

The one he’d kept… he couldn’t hit or scold. He could only avoid.

“Are you playing hide-and-seek with me?” Li Dong said. “Yuyu, hug. No hide-and-seek.”

“Don’t come closer,” Nian ground out. “I’ve no time to play with you. Go back to Xiaofeng Hall and stay quietly.”

When he thought of a suitable place, he would… send him away.

“Ugh!” Li Dong plopped down where he was and cried.

“You…” Nian watched from a distance. For a moment, he almost rushed over to help him up.

“I drank my medicine,” Li Dong said. “I ate my meals…”

Nian pressed his lips together and watched.

“Yuyu, hug,” Li Dong said, rubbing his sleepy eyes. “Yuyu, hug me to sleep…”

“Su Lingya,” Nian called him by his real name. “Understand this. If you follow me, you’ll have no place in the righteous path again.” His fists clenched. “You won’t want that.”

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Author’s Note:

【Today and tomorrow I’ve got some very, very important things taking up my time. Updates won’t be long, please forgive me. When I’m back I’ll pump out two long chapters. Love you— from the handsome guy who finished the draft at 3:30 a.m.】

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