CHAPTER 9 In his last life, this was the place he and Yanming met.

A hidden realm was an independent world constructed by using special structural arrays. Some hidden realms were being used to contain mausoleums of ancient higher powers; some hidden realms were the training grounds of disciples for certain sects. It was common for sects to own a hidden realm or two and divide them according to its difficulty.

The legends said that it was the Venerate Sword[21] Ye Lan who gave the Golden Light Temple the Hidden Realm of Xuanji. It was extremely dangerous and was unsuited to turn into training grounds for the disciples. And so, everyone suspected that the Hidden Realm of Xuanji was Ye Lan’s mausoleum and that it contained all Ye Lan’s lifelong treasures.

Ye Lan was the founder of the flourishing age of cultivation in Yunze. When beasts of the ancient reigned and demonic cultivators ran rampant, he had cultivated into the master of swords from the identity of an ordinary person and obtained an ancient sword. After using it to thoroughly seal up those demonic cultivators, he welcomed the flourishing age of cultivation in Yunze. According to the legends, his fortunes went against the Heavens and had a countless number of precious relics, and so, the Hidden Realm of Xuanji which was said to be his mausoleum was fantasized by many people that it was filled with relics.

Fu Changling, too, thought that way in his past life. Until when he finally came to the Hidden Realm of Xuanji himself.

He vaguely remembered the process of coming here. Back then he fell when he was trying to escape from the Shangguan Clan, and conveniently slipped into this hidden realm. Just as he fell into the hidden realm, a sharp wind had blown into his eyes and by the time he fell onto the ground, he couldn’t see anything.

Heavy snow was happening back in that day. It was cold and forlorn. Alone, with his vision blurred, Fu Changling could only vaguely see shadows. As he was left stranded amid the horrendous snowstorm looking for a way to leave, after a while, he ran into some monsters. Those ferocious beasts grabbed him and mouthful by mouthful they tore away his flesh. He thought that he was about to die. And it was at that moment, a sword broke through the wind currents and felled all the beasts around him. He heard the sound of those beasts breaking into a run and not long later, his surroundings quieted down, leaving behind only the ground of falling snow.

He pushed himself up to sit and heard someone walking across the snow towards him from his back. He turned around at the sound and could only see a black shadow. That person appeared to be wearing a jade guan. He had a tall and lean body. He was looking at Fu Changling for a long time before he finally spoke, “A member of the Fu Clan?”

Fu Changling could not speak. He raised his head at him, blood pouring out of his eyes, trailing down his jade-white face. After that, he heard that person say, “Your curse hadn’t been lifted, and you couldn’t see as well?”

Fu Changling nodded his head. The opposition knelt and then he felt warmth flowing into his eyes. After a while, the bleeding stopped and a pair of warm hands held his hand, helping him up, “I’m not skilled in healing, but don’t be afraid, I will lead you out.”

After he finished speaking, the other person placed the sheath of a sword into his hand. The sword sheath had the texture of a white jade, glowering with frost in such a cold weather. As Fu Changling held onto the sword’s sheath, he heard that person say, “Hold onto my sword. I will guide the path for you.”

And so, he grabbed onto that sword and followed him forwards.

That person was walking in his front. Fu Changling could vaguely see his rear. He was wearing a wide-sleeved robe and a guan. He looked extremely thin from the rear, near identical to every other sword cultivator in Yunze yet something was also different.

He wanted to ask the name of the other person, but he couldn’t speak. The other person appeared to know what he was thinking of and steadily said, “Call me Yanming.”

Yanming.

As he recalled this name, a sudden realization hit him, and after that only did he realize—this was an incident that happened a long time ago.

If Yanming hadn’t showed up back then, he would never have left the Hidden Realm of Xuanji. He hasn’t met Yanming in this life yet, so then…

Was Yanming here?

Fu Changling’s heart birthed some yearning. At this moment, from Fu Changling’s shoulder came a pained groan from Qin Yan. Fu Changling turned around to look at Qin Yan, and after a moment of contemplation, he turned around and looked at their surroundings.

This plaza has no guards. They appear to be fully confident in the security of this place. Every cage that stood on the sides had different people.

As for the people in these cages, judging from their attire, appeared to be mostly cultivators from different sects. These cultivators were all sprawled on the ground as if they were experiencing a cram. Their skins seemed to have shriveled and stuck fast to their bones like tree bark. The only way to tell that they’re still alive was the rising and falling of their chests.

Fu Changling thought and thought. Waiting for Yanming was like an extremely risky gamble. If Yanming didn’t come then it was impossible for him to escape the Hidden Realm of Xuanji alone.

What if Yanming hadn’t come?

He needed a second plan, and this plan was to make Qin Yan and him work together.

Regardless of why Qin Yan wanted to kill him, they were both in dangerous situations right now. The Hidden Realm of Xuanji offered sacrificial tribute on a monthly basis. If they could not escape the hidden realm before the date of the sacrificial ritual, then they would become similar to those cultivators—forever becoming the nourishment of this hidden realm.

Fu Changling gave it some thought and raised a hand to slap a ray of light on Qin Yan’s shoulder.

Qin Yan’s injury healed at a speed obvious to the eye. Fu Changling scanned his body with his spiritual energy, and after confirming that his injuries have completely healed, he mutters a few incantations.

The incantations and arrays that Fu Changling learnt were extremely complicated. They exist in all sorts. First, he uprooted the yin energy that the wraith had planted into Qin Yan and then gave Qin Yan a “Coaxial Heart Spell”.

The Coaxial Heart Spell could guarantee that the one being casted could not harm the caster. Due to the differences in their cultivational stages at this moment, Fu Changling could only retain the effects of this Coaxial Heart Spell on Qin Yan for a maximum of one month. In reality, one would still need to take into account the level of cultivation Qin Yan had on him. He even had to cast it on an injured Qin Yan to utilize it, otherwise, taking into account the differences of their cultivational levels, Qin Yan would not have fallen for it. However, there were benefits for himself to have made such a huge detour—once this spell took effect, even if Qin Yan refused to work together with Fu Changling, he’d have no way of harming him.

After Fu Changling cast the spell on Qin Yan, he let out a breath of relief, raising his hand to flick off beads of cold sweat from his forehead.

After those series of events, he was truly tired. His own injuries hadn't healed and so he took out his medicinal bottle and swallowed a few pills then closed his eyes and sank into meditation to self-heal.

After an entire day of regulating his spiritual energy, he felt something stir in his surroundings. He opened his eyes and saw Qin Yan looking at him.

Qin Yan appeared to still be in a daze. He hasn’t yet completely understood their current situation. Fu Changling smiled and gently said, “Woke up?”

Qin Yan abruptly came back to his senses and expressionlessly stood up. He then reached for his sword and went straight for Fu Changling’s neck to catch him unguarded.

Fu Changling didn’t avoid it. He watched as Qin Yan attacked, but shortly before it touched his neck, a shapeless energy stopped him as if someone was holding him back. He couldn't even get close to Fu Changling.

Qin Yan struggled and pulled his senses back, then he lifted his gaze at Fu Changling and furiously said, “What incantation have you placed on me?!”

“I’ll say, Qin Yan.” Fu Changling raised an eyebrow. “Are you and I that close? You even know that I specialize in incantations.”

“What is it?!”

Qin Yan was a little furious. Watching at how he was genuinely mad, Fu Changling considered the fact that he still wanted to ask him for a truce, so he didn’t want to completely ruin their relationship, thus he quickly said, “The Coaxial Heart Spell. Relax, it’s not detrimental to your body, only,” Fu Changling lowered his voice into a whisper, smiling, “There’s no way you can hit me.”

Qin Yan raised his hand to draw his sword but Fu Changling was quicker. He pressed his sword back into his hand and added, “More so kill me.”

Qin Yan frantically inhaled. He gripped his sword tight, appearing to be incredibly furious. Fu Changling watched his expression and carefully said, “Why don’t you try… warming up?”

Qin Yan didn’t bother himself with him, but he truly did need warming up.

Watching how he calmed down, his focus fell back onto Qin Yan’s hand.

His hand was very cold, just like a piece of jade. It gave off a very smooth looking texture and touching it would instill an itch in your heart. He couldn’t help his mind trailing off but he quickly returned to his senses. He slowly withdrew his hand and said, “Warm up your senses first, then I will go through with you about what’s happening. Regardless of why you want to kill me, I reckon setting this issue aside first. We’re now in graver danger.”

Qin Yan appeared to have calmed down after listening to his words. His hand resolutely placed above his sword, tightened and relaxed. After a long time, he inhaled a deep breath of air and finally lifted his gaze at Fu Changling. “What plans do you have in mind?”

Fu Changling’s lips curled listening to his words. He knew that when Qin Yan was still in this mood, he would be reasonable to words. He gestured to his surroundings with his fan and said, “Look at those cultivators. What is the matter with them?”

“And do you know why?”

Fu Changling kept his fan and rhythmically tapped it against his palm. Qin Yan said nothing and quietly looked at him. As the atmosphere grew awkward when he didn’t talk after a long time, Fu Changling coughed and said, “They have all become the nourishment for this hidden realm. If we’re not careful, this is how we will end up!”

Fu Changling spoke intimidatingly, but Qin Yan did not budge. He remained sitting and looking at Fu Changling quietly.

Fu Changling finally could not stand it. “Aren’t you going to give me some reaction? I feel very awkward like this! Do you know how to chat?”

Qin Yan quietly looked at him, and after a while, when he watched Fu Changling’s expression turn stiff, he said, “En.”

Fu Changling, “...”

A second before he collapsed, Qin Yan finally asked, “And then?”

Author’s Notes:

Qin Yan’s unique way of banter—and then?

[Small Theatre]

Ask: What did you feel during the first time you met Fu Changling?

Qin Yan: Weak. Pitiful. Obedient. I think I am obliged to help him.

Ask: And now?

Qin Yan: He’s cuter when he’s blind.

Ask: Describe the present version of him.

Qin Yan: You feel aggravated looking at him, what’s more, you couldn’t even beat him to death.