Chapter 77: Nian Yuzhuo
In the original novel, the author wrote that back then, Nian Yuzhuo had nowhere to go, so he joined the demonic sect to make a living.
To him, the sect was never an irreplaceable home.
You could tell from how he later betrayed it for that scummy gong, he clearly didn’t care much about the position of Sect Leader.
Compared with the man he loved, the title and all his martial power could be given up at any time.
Zixiao Sect, Jingzhe Pavilion.
After Li Dong came back, he moved into the same place Su Lingya used to live.
The place had been deserted since his disappearance, but the moment he returned, it became crowded again.
“Third Senior Brother, I’m blah blah blah…”
“Third Senior Brother, I’m blah blah blah…”
Everyone took turns introducing themselves.
All the shouting made Li Dong’s head throb. Was his expression not cold enough, or was his aura not intimidating?
What he didn’t know was that with Su Lingya’s devastatingly beautiful face, no matter what expression he made, no one could bear to leave. They only stared harder.
“You’re all too noisy,” Li Dong said. “Go. I want some peace and quiet.”
The lively room instantly went silent. Everyone looked embarrassed.
“Right, right, Third Senior Brother just came back and he’s still injured. We shouldn’t bother him so much.”
“Exactly,” Zong Yu added. “Then we’ll leave and let Third Senior Brother rest.”
Night fell completely. Li Dong had little appetite; after two bowls of porridge, he shut the doors and windows and lay down to sleep.
The new moon hung faint, the mountain air cool and sharp.
It was Nian Yuzhuo’s first time stepping foot in the Zixiao Sect, and apparently he had no sense of direction, couldn’t tell east from west to save his life.
“Who’s there?” The voice came from inside Moyuan Courtyard, Zhang Junluo’s quarters.
Hearing that familiar tone, Nian Yuzhuo answered, “It’s me.” He stepped out of the shadows and appeared before Zhang Junluo. “Where’s Su Lingyao?”
“Chengqi?” Zhang Junluo frowned. “Why are you here?” Then he realized how pointless that question was. Of course the man had come for his third junior brother.
Still, to think the demonic Sect Leader dared infiltrate the righteous sect alone shocked him.
“Take me to Lingyao,” Nian Yuzhuo said.
“That’s impossible.” Zhang Junluo’s brows knit tighter. “Leave now. I won’t let you come and go as you please in the Zixiao Sect.”
Nian Yuzhuo looked at the darkening sky, impatience showing in his face. “If you won’t tell me, forget it. Goodbye.” He turned and leapt away.
“Nian Yuzhuo!” Zhang Junluo shouted, running after him.
“Where is Su Lingyao?” Nian Yuzhuo caught a young Zixiao disciple and demanded.
“J-Jingzhe Pavilion…” The boy was so terrified he trembled all over.
“Where is Jingzhe Pavilion?”
“T-that way…” the disciple stammered.
Nian Yuzhuo struck the side of his neck, and the boy collapsed.
“Little Junior Brother?” Zhang Junluo arrived to find the disciple already unconscious.
Inside Jingzhe Pavilion, Li Dong stood by the table drinking a cup of water before bed.
A sudden gust of wind blew the doors wide open.
Under Nian Yuzhuo’s piercing gaze, Li Dong calmly continued to drink.
He wore a snow-white robe; his long black hair flowed like silk, his features as refined as a painting.
“Su Lingya?” Nian Yuzhuo called softly.
“Who are you?” Li Dong set down his cup.
“You’ve forgotten me again…” Nian Yuzhuo caught himself and added quietly, “I’m Nian Yuzhuo, little fool.”
He walked toward him.
Li Dong’s eyes stayed distant. “Nian Yuzhuo? I don’t know you.”
Nian Yuzhuo’s gaze darkened. “You’re still angry at me?” He pressed his lips together. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
At the word hurt, Li Dong remembered cracking the man’s skull open.
“My apologies,” he murmured. “I’ve lost my memories.”
Nian Yuzhuo froze. “What?”
“I was ambushed and injured,” Li Dong said. “After waking, I forgot everything.”
Seeing the flicker in Nian Yuzhuo’s eyes, he felt a faint pang, but he knew that the man’s affection for the little fool had always been more obsession than love.
“Third Junior Brother!” Zhang Junluo’s voice approached. “There’s an intruder in the sect, be careful!”
When he reached the door, Nian Yuzhuo was already standing inside.
“Nian Yuzhuo, don’t push your luck,” Zhang Junluo warned. “The Zixiao Sect isn’t a place for you to run wild.” His hand gripped his sword hilt, ready to draw.
In that tense moment, Nian Yuzhuo moved faster than sight, grabbing Li Dong by the waist and the wrist.
“Don’t move, or I’ll kill him.” His arm tightened around Li Dong.
“You—” Zhang Junluo’s voice rose. “Think carefully. Step out that door and you’re declaring war on the righteous sects. The Xuanyin Sect will be hunted down without mercy.”
“I’ve already thought it through,” Nian Yuzhuo said calmly. “I’m no longer the Sect Leader of the Xuanyin Sect. What I do today has nothing to do with them. I’ll bear the consequences myself.”
Not only was Zhang Junluo greatly shocked, Li Dong was also very surprised, yet felt it was expected.
For Nian Yuzhuo to give up his position for love was typical. The man was pure love-brain through and through.
“I have no enmity with you,” Li Dong said flatly, glancing at him.
“Right,” Nian Yuzhuo replied. “We’ll talk after we leave this place.”
“Third Junior Brother!” Zhang Junluo shouted as the two vaulted out the window. He followed close behind.
If Nian Yuzhuo had been alone, he could’ve lost him easily, but with someone in his arms, it wasn’t so simple.
“Put my junior brother down!” Zhang Junluo drew his sword and slashed toward his back.
The cliff path was steep, on one side a sheer drop into the roaring river, on the other thick, dark woods.
Their fight raged along the edge. Neither was seriously hurt, but Li Dong broke into a cold sweat just watching.
He’d inherited Su Lingyao’s martial skills yet had never used them; he barely knew where to start.
Such a high cliff, would they fall?
Unfortunately, that was exactly what happened.
Unable to retreat safely, Nian Yuzhuo wrapped Li Dong in his arms and jumped.
“Chengqi!” Zhang Junluo shouted, catching his robe.
The reflex surprised Nian Yuzhuo; he hadn’t thought the righteous disciple would try to save him.
“You shouldn’t have…” he muttered, but it was too late. He used his inner force to shield Li Dong as they plunged into the rushing water below.
“...” Sh*t.
Li Dong hurt too much to speak and then realized something worse.
Damn it, Nian Yuzhuo couldn’t swim.
Seriously? Couldn’t swim and still jumped?
Cursing under his breath, Li Dong turned and dragged him through the current.
The water swept them far downstream before he finally spotted a shallow bank and hauled Nian Yuzhuo ashore.
“Third Junior Brother?” Zhang Junluo’s voice rasped from a nearby rock. “Quick, come pull Senior Brother up.” He was utterly spent.
Li Dong wanted to say useless but swallowed it. “Coming.” He walked over and pulled Zhang Junluo up.
“Lingya, cough.” Nian Yuzhuo lay on the sand, coughing hard.
“You swallowed water.” Li Dong lifted him slightly, patting his back.
The canyon wind was bitter. Nian Yuzhuo leaned against him for warmth, still trembling.
Zhang Junluo looked at their silhouettes and felt something twist inside. “Third Junior Brother, come here to your senior.”
“Don’t.” Nian Yuzhuo held Li Dong closer. “You’ve lost your memories. To you, he’s just a stranger.” Then he used his qi to dry both their clothes.
Honestly, it was warm in the Sect Leader’s arms. Li Dong would’ve needed his head examined if he moves away.
Besides, he wasn’t close to Zhang Junluo anyway.
“You!” Zhang Junluo pushed himself upright and stepped toward them. “Lingya, you know he’s the demonic Sect Leader who hurt you—”
“Hmm?” Nian Yuzhuo turned to Li Dong. “You know who I am? You remember I injured you?”
So the man had only been pretending to be stupid?
“Yeah.” Li Dong nodded.
“Liar!” Nian Yuzhuo raised his palm. “Why did you trick me?”
The thought that all those days caring for the little fool had been an act filled him with fury.
“Senior Brother,” Li Dong said calmly, sitting a little distance away. “Whatever happened between you and the Sect Leader isn’t my concern.”
Zhang Junluo looked conflicted.
“I’m not staying in the Zixiao Sect, and I’m not interested in the position of Sect Leader. You don’t need to guard against me,” Li Dong added.
“Third Junior Brother, you’re too serious,” Zhang Junluo said softly. The man really had changed, calmer, sharper, and far more grounded than before.
“Su Lingya,” Nian Yuzhuo said darkly, “I’m talking to you—”
“I heard you.” Li Dong didn’t look at him. “You’re mad I lied, but didn’t you also hit me out of nowhere? Why did you hit me then?”
Nian Yuzhuo hesitated, then looked toward Zhang Junluo. “Rongqing, since we’re all here, let’s clear the air. Why did you hint in your letter that Lingya was behind the temple?”
The tables had turned.
“You’re overthinking it,” Zhang Junluo said stiffly. “I just mentioned it casually.”
He’d never imagined that one day, Nian Yuzhuo would confront him for Su Lingya.
“Really?” Nian Yuzhuo sneered. “Let’s hope so.”
Zhang Junluo’s heroic image shattered piece by piece, leaving only bitterness behind, like an old friend you couldn’t quite stand.
“Chengqi, you misunderstand,” Zhang Junluo said quickly. “Anyway, what matters is you and Lingya. You only ever liked him because he looked like me.”
That was vicious.
Nian Yuzhuo looked at Li Dong. “That’s not true.”
“Isn’t it?” Zhang Junluo’s tone was cold. “You wanted to marry him because you mistook him for me.”
Li Dong watched the two of them bicker like dogs and decided not to say a word. He got up and walked toward the riverbank.
“Lingya?” Nian Yuzhuo hesitated, then followed.
Zhang Junluo lingered for a moment before going after them as well.
“Where are you going?” Nian Yuzhuo asked.
“The wind’s strong. I’m finding a place to rest,” Li Dong said.
“So you believe him?”
“Believe what?” Li Dong replied evenly. “You and I aren’t that close, are we, Sect Leader Nian?”
“I told you, I’m no longer the Sect Leader.” Nian Yuzhuo pressed his lips together. “Do you remember anything from when we were together in the sect?”
“What difference does it make?” Li Dong said. “Did you really give up your position because of me?”
Nian Yuzhuo didn’t answer.
Li Dong found a small cave sheltered from the wind. It was dry inside. “This will do.” He began clearing it out for the night.
“Watch for snakes.”
“Ah—” Li Dong gasped as a small red snake slid past his foot.
“Lingya?” Nian Yuzhuo rushed in. “What happened?”
“Nothing.” Li Dong shook his hand. “Something bit me.” It didn’t hurt much, so he kept cleaning.
“You’re bleeding.” Nian Yuzhuo caught his hand. “What if it’s venomous?” He lowered his head and sucked the wound.
“Aren’t you afraid?” Li Dong tried to pull back.
“Don’t move.” Nian Yuzhuo spat out a mouthful of blood.
“You’re not mad I lied to you?” Li Dong asked.
“Still mad,” Nian Yuzhuo said quietly. “But even so… so what?” He couldn’t kill him. Even now, he didn’t regret leaving the sect for him.
He sat down nearby.
At that moment, Zhang Junluo appeared at the cave entrance, and Li Dong stopped talking.
“Rest,” Zhang Junluo said from outside. “I’ll keep watch.”
“Then rest,” Li Dong answered, finding a spot to sit.
“You asked if I gave up the Sect Leader’s seat because of you,” Nian Yuzhuo murmured, half-closing his eyes. “If I said yes?”
“Then you’re an idiot,” Li Dong said.
“I heard you’ve got a nickname called ‘the number one beauty under heaven.’” Nian Yuzhuo chuckled softly. “Seems I didn’t recognize greatness when I saw it.”
Li Dong raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
“Was it all just to toy with me?” Nian Yuzhuo asked.
“No.” Li Dong’s answer was short.
Nian Yuzhuo fell silent, simply staring at him.
Truth be told, he himself was just as stunning, a face like carved jade, rare among men.
Otherwise, as a child, he wouldn’t have been sold to a brothel.
Li Dong had met four great beauties before, each unforgettable.
After meeting Nian Yuzhuo, he’d planned to finish his mission and quietly leave.
But damn it, whatever bit him really was poisonous.
Nian Yuzhuo’s cheeks flushed; his breathing turned uneven.
He’d touched Li Dong’s blood, and the poison was spreading through him faster.
“You’re poisoned,” Li Dong said, sweating.
“Yes…” Nian Yuzhuo sat cross-legged to circulate his qi. “Pft.” He spat blood after a single round.
“What’s wrong?” Zhang Junluo called.
“Nothing. Don’t come in,” Li Dong replied. He hesitated, then helped Nian Yuzhuo sit upright. “Don’t use qi to resist. That’ll spread it faster.”
“Get out!” Nian Yuzhuo shoved him away, his face contorted.
“Third Junior Brother?” Zhang Junluo called again, worried.
Li Dong didn’t have time to answer. Nian Yuzhuo grabbed his arm, nails digging in painfully. “Ow! Damn it,” Li Dong hissed. “If you want me gone, then let me go first!”
Nian Yuzhuo released him, shaking violently. “Go…”
He wasn’t a patient man, and in pain he became irritable and unstable.
Li Dong stepped back two paces but stayed where he was.
“What are you waiting for?” Nian Yuzhuo growled. “If you don’t go now, don’t blame me for being rough.”
Yet even as he said it, he forced himself to stay still, afraid of hurting him again.
Author’s Note:
【Didn’t get very far today, kinda ashamed… Modern arcs are easier to BS (hey!). The next two stories will both be modern, and after that this whole novel should wrap up! At this pace, I should finish by late January.】
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