CHAPTER 21 Stop it; else, I'll have no choice but to kill you.

The black mist spun its way up around them, shrouding Fu Changling and Yanming, isolating them completely from their surroundings.

Fu Changling could feel all the voices around him fading away. He watched Yanming blankly. Yanming reached out towards him, tenderly looking at him. For a split second, he couldn't distinguish if this person was the Yanming from his previous life, or the Yanming from this life.

He has clearly told himself before that the people in this life were different from the people in his previous life. Without those memories, he cannot be the Yanming from his previous life. So, under the pretext of a toast, he had told Yanming that he was sorry, which was actually supposed to mean farewell. However, when Yanming looked down at him, in that instance, he felt as if this person was the same person from his previous life, and that there was no difference at all.

Unable to stop himself, he took Yanming’s hand. Unexpectedly, Yanming fell down from midair, landing into Fu Changling's arms.

“Hold on.” Fu Changling hastily fished out his own spirit pouch and fed it to him, but Yanming’s wound didn't show any kind of improvement.

Fu Changling instinctively realised that the strike had contained all the strength of the god of this realm. As long as they stayed in the Hidden Realm of Xuanji, or as long as the ‘Venerable One’ was still the god of this realm, there was nothing they could do about his wound.

At this very moment, even if the God’s Massacre Array had begun operating, the ‘Venerable One’ was still entangled in a battle of strength with Wu Sisi. Considering the strength of both parties, it would be impossible to achieve a swift defeat of the ‘Venerable One’.

But Yanming could not wait that long.

The only way to save Yanming was to instantly break apart the Hidden Realm of Xuanji and deliver him out.

After all, the place from where Yanming entered the Hidden Realm of Xuanji was his sect. His shifu was a powerful person. If they could get out of the hidden realm at once, Yanming would return to the place he’d entered through. At that time if he can meet his shifu, perhaps there'll still be a little hope of saving him.

Fu Changling thought of all the possible ways out. Yanming leaned into his arms and vomited a small mouthful of blood. He hesitantly raised his head to look up at Fu Changling. With his hand that was dripping with blood, he held Fu Changling’s palm, his young eyes filled with longing.

“I… I want to go home…”

He vomited more blood and begged, “My shifu… my shifu…is still waiting for me, bring me out… bring me out… It’s the only way I can survive. I don’t want to die here.”

“You promised me."

He repeated, “You promised me.”

Fu Changling didn’t speak. He felt Yanming’s strength through his hold on him and looked into his eyes.

His eyes were gentle, clear. Exactly the same as he had imagined.

He had promised him.

Just like back in that year, when Yanming had promised him. He told him that he’d get Fu Changling out, and so kept his promise even if he had to risk his own life.

“Don’t you worry.” Fu Changling’s heart was at a loss as he sat up. He started transferring his spiritual energy to heal Yanming’s wound as he hurriedly said, “I will bring you out, you won’t die here.”

“It’s too late…” Yanming’s eyes were limpid. “The God’s Massacre Array… it’s too late…”

Just like his previous life, if he delayed even a little again, it’ll be too late.

It severely affected Fu Changling’s emotions. He almost agreed without any second thoughts. However, the moment he opened his mouth to speak, a Cleansing Heart Talisman in his palm abruptly lit up. A streak of chill spread through his palm and penetrated his head, instantly clearing his mind.

Qin Yan’s warning suddenly flashed through his mind: "You have to promise me that you will not force your way out of the Hidden Realm of Xuanji."

“I know you’re a flirt, but now that we’re in peril you should be more wary.”

This is not Yanming!

Earlier, he had cast two spells on Yanming’s body. The first one was the Coaxial Heart Spell, same as the one on Qin Yan, and the other one was the Cleansing Heart Spell.

By this moment, the Cleansing Heart Spell had taken effect. This could only mean that Yanming had used an illusion on him.

There wasn’t enough time for him to think why he was doing this. So, he instantly pushed him away from his arms and into the soaring black mist. He opened his little golden fan with the intention to cast a spell.

However, the other person was quicker. He had barely opened his golden fan when ‘Yanming’ reached out and grasped his little fan firmly, as another person standing behind Fu Changling clasped their hand over his mouth.

Fu Changling gasped for air.

In his heart, he roughly understood what was going on. He watched as Yanming looked at his face with indifference. His breathing was becoming more laborious.

He had planted a Coaxial Heart Spell on Yanming, yet, at this moment, Yanming was still able to hit him. This could only mean one thing—Yanming was not human.

Only if he was not human was it possible that he could hurt him even after planting the Coaxial Heart Spell.

A non-human entity, who appeared within the hidden realm with knowledge of all his memories and inner desires here was only one creature that was capable of doing such things.

A heart demon[1].

This was a norm within hidden realms. However, he didn't expect that a heart demon would actually appear in such an unpredictable manner.

Where did this heart demon come from? Was it nourished by himself or someone else has deliberately cultivated it? He has been close to him for so long; what is his purpose?

An uncountable number of thoughts flashed through Fu Changling’s mind in an instant. The other person seemed to understand his thoughts. He approached and pressed close to him. A galore of memories started flooding Fu Changling’s mind.

“You want to ask me where I came from?”

‘Yanming’ leaned in closer. He laughed, pointing towards Fu Changling’s chest. “Your heart.”

“Your heart has turned impure, Huayang-Jun.”

Hearing this, Fu Changling closed his eyes. He frantically chanted the Cleansing Heart Spell in his mind, desperately trying not to think of any past events and expose any bit of flaws.

When confronting a heart demon, one must not have any defects in their heart.

‘Yanming’ looked at his expression like he discovered something extremely amusing. His lower half had already turned into black mist, swirling around Fu Changling. He nonchalantly said, “You think a Cleansing Heart Spell can save you? From the second you entered the hidden realm, I had already begun taking form. I’ve been by your side, observing you for so long, gathering your emotions and thoughts bit by bit and nourishing my body. Your every regret, your every emotion, every bitter smile, they are all nourishment for me. Do you know? That the demon in your heart has already been nourished for a long time? I only borrowed its strength, that’s all.”

“Leader of The Immortal Alliance, Huayang Zhenjun,” Yanming said softly, leaning against his ear.Why are you unable to root out a little demon?”

“That’s because,” his voice was very light, “You’re already used to the heart demon’s existence. Without transforming into the person of your heart’s desire, how could you continue to live on? During those ten years; who do you think it was, when you repeatedly caught glimpses of Qin Yan’s shadow?”

Fu Changling didn’t speak, a layer of cold sweat forming on his forehead. In his palm, the Cleansing Heart talisman repeatedly ignited brightly, the pain pulling him back from the heart demon’s voice over and over.

Looking at him, ‘Yanming’ chuckled nonchalantly.

“Did you think that a Cleansing Heart talisman...” His hand trailed all the way from Fu Changling's chest to his face, then held it. That hand was still drenched with blood, its familiar scent filling Fu Changling's nose. The other person tilted his head, looking at him with a little pity, “could put an end to your decades-long obsession over Qin Yan, could put the annihilation of your clan behind you?”

“Fu Changling,” he said gently. “Do you still remember all the blood debts accumulated in your family?”

Hearing this, Fu Changling was startled. In that moment, the black mist screeched and rushed into his body. He felt like the sky and the earth were spinning around him, and he suddenly couldn't make out where he was.

It seemed like he had returned back to the year when he was nineteen and the entire Fu Clan was set aflame. He was wearing his mourning clothes and his clan’s white forehead ribbon. In the crowd, he could hear his second uncle and younger brother’s voices, loudly yelling at all the common disciples, “Run! What are you looking at? Run!”

But he couldn’t leave. He was a core member of the Fu Clan. At the time of danger, he must stand in the front line and support his family.

So, he and the Fu family members had been at the front line. That night, blood spattered across his entire face and all his clan members collapsed by his side one by one. Eventually he also exhausted all his spiritual energy and fell into the pool of blood.

Then he saw Qin Yan in all white clothes, his pupils red and his jade sword dyed with blood. He followed behind a masked man. They walked over the flames and the blood of his clan members, coming to a halt in front of his body.

It started drizzling in the perimeter. The weak autumn rain failed to put out the large fire at the Fu Manor and also wash away the entire Fu family’s blood.

“Do you still remember?” Yanming’s voice sounded once again, “Then are you still drawn to him? What about your promise to me?”

“I… I didn’t...”

Fu Changling trembled as he spoke with great difficulty.

“You didn’t?”

‘Yanming’ leaned in closer. “You are. You chose him and abandoned me. Look, right now you're giving it your all to protect him from me.”

“You forgot what you promised me.”

“I didn’t!”

“You already forgot your promise back then and what you thought when you left the hidden realm. You said you’ll wait for me. At that time, in your heart you believed in this lifetime that I’m the only person you’ll like.”

“I didn’t forget!” Fu Changling couldn’t hold back anymore. He lowered his head and cried out, “I didn’t forget… I didn’t forget…”

“Then,” ‘Yanming’ cupped his face, looking at him seriously. “Why didn’t you save me?”

Fu Changling stared blankly at the person in front of him.

His face was dyed with blood, just like Fu Changling had thought in his memory.

At that time, he couldn’t see him. However, he could distinctly remember that this sacrificial altar was located in the Hidden Realm of Xuanji. He had repeatedly heard someone’s muffled groans. He thought, if he could see at that time, that Yanming would’ve looked like how he did right now.

‘Yanming’ used his slender fingers to wipe off his tears and looked at him tenderly. “Changling, you’ve already opened the Hidden Realm of Xuanji for me once.”

‘Yanming’ spoke with tears in his eyes, “Why can’t you do it now? Will you abandon me for Qin Yan?”

Why can’t you do it?

Fu Changling listened to the question from the person in front of him. For a while, he couldn’t make out who this person was.

That version of Changling sounded like he was dead. Like his father, his family, his friend; like the souls who unjustly died under Qin Yan’s sword.

He felt it wasn't Yanming, but all of those people, questioning him.

He only felt a moment of desperation drowning him, as if he had seen the future, seen fate and seen the people around him falling one by one.

He didn’t choose Qin Yan!

He will not allow it and neither will he let Qin Yan harm the people in his life again.

He didn’t forget his feelings for Yanming. In this lifetime, even if he doesn’t love Yanming, he will not love another person again.

He will save Yanming. He must save Yanming.

Fu Changling panted and fixed his eyes on the Yanming in front of him.

“I will save you.” He clutched his sleeve, panting as he said, “Yanming, don’t be afraid; I will definitely bring you out.”

“I didn’t forget,” he desperately explained.“What he did, I will always remember.”

“I promised you. Even if you don’t know it, I will always remember.”

As he spoke, he could feel tears blurring his vision , turning it hazy.

He looked at ‘Yanming’ in front of him, but he did not look like a teenager anymore.

He could see the shadow from many years ago.

Only at this moment, he realised; it turned out that he remembered it so clearly. He seemed to have returned to his teenage years, those forgotten memories abruptly surging up in his quiet mind. The love that had been buried in the past, suddenly flared up.

He remembers that year in a howling snowstorm; Yanming had halted in front of him, lowering himself to ask, “Member of the Fu Clan?”

He remembers the temperature of Yanming’s white jade sword in his hands. He held him and walked a very long distance.

He remembers Yanming telling him, “I’ve said before that I’ll protect you on the way out, so let alone abandoning you.”

He also remembers Yanming holding his hand tightly amidst the howling winds, loudly yelling, “Fu Changling! Leave this place alive, I will search for you out there!”

He remembers himself secretly touching his face that night. He also remembers himself in the snowstorm, kissing his cold lips when his heart was brimming with despair; remembers his sword urging spring in faraway mountains and rivers and also remembers the Flower of Rebirth delivered atop the windowsill in the silent rain.

What he remembers most clearly and profoundly is the time when he hugged him in the snowstorm, thinking that they would die there at that time.

The despair and pain in that moment, mixed with the powerlessness to confront the death of his friends and relatives from his previous life rushed up together. He couldn’t reflect and think too much anymore.

He could vaguely hear Qin Yan shouting himself hoarse, but he didn’t care anymore. He had chosen Yanming.

Be it the previous life or this life, he could not choose Qin Yan. Because no matter how beautiful Qin Yan was, he was a murderer and a sinner.

He trembled as he placed both his hands on the sacrificial altar, feeling the patterns and line in its centre and recalling the scenes of the previous life.

In his previous life, it was at this altar where he found the exit of the Hidden Realm of Xuanji.

In his previous life, it was this place, where he used the Soul-gathering Pagoda to break the array and force his way out of the Hidden Realm of Xuanji.

Then, his golden core had shattered and he and Yanming never met again.

But it doesn’t matter.

As long as Yanming is alive and able to see his shifu, his shifu will provide him with medical attention and everything will be fine.

He owes Yanming his life. He couldn’t pay him back in his previous life, but in this life, he will.

Blood flowed into the array. Exactly at this moment, a swift sword wind fiercely came and Fu Changling looked up flabbergasted as he saw a whitejade sword cutting through the crowd. The sharp blade came to a stop before his eyes. Qin Yan was covered in blood, his sword as steady as a mountain.

The wind rolled up, carrying away the snowflakes on both their bodies. Qin Yan was covered with blood from head to toe, his wide sleeves fluttering in the wind. The Heavenly Palace of Hongmeng’s Jade pendant on his waist was lightly wafting in the wind as the blood stained tassels rose and fell. Red and white intertwined, becoming a gorgeous color by itself.

The hand holding the sword did not tremble even a little. His eyes fell on Fu Changling, as steady and calm as the mountains and rivers, the sun and moon.

“Stop it,” his voice dropped, “else, I'll have no choice but to kill you.”