CHAPTER 34 And that in this lifetime of his, would he ever… love someone like that again?

Along the way, Fu Changling frantically ran to the Reaching Moon Palace. The fox was about to catch up to him. Watching as the animal refused to cease pursuit, Fu Changling didn’t stop to think whether Qin Yan was sleeping or not, he went straight into Qin Yan’s sleeping chambers. Upon entering, he saw Qin Yan sitting on the bed, mediating. He instantly hid behind him, gripping onto Qin Yan’s clothes as the fox leapt in. He called, “Shixiong, save me!”

The fox followed Fu Changling as the both of them rushed into the sleeping chamber. Fu Changling briskly froze after he’d hid behind Qin Yan, and as his actions were too abruptly, he’d created an ear-piercing screech as he scampered across the ground. Qin Yan furrowed his brows hearing his, and flickered his eyes open, looking towards the fox in front of him and called out in displeasure. “Flower.”

Flower gave him an undeserved look, and began whimpering, slipping its head in front of Qin Yan. Qin Yan fumbled his head and Flower once again became excited. At the same time Qin Yan fumbled Flower’s head, he turned to Fu Changling and said, “Get off.”

Fu Changling knew those words were meant for him. He shyly let go of Qin Yan, apologizing as he clambered down from Qin Yan’s bed.

Once he got off, Flower softly growled at him. Qin Yan called Flower’s name with a warning. “Flower.”

Being warned by Qin Yan, Flower instantly began to cottequishly whimper. Fu Changling knew that he wasn’t liked so he stood far away. After combing through Flower’s fur for a while, Qin Yan said, “What were you chasing?”

Hearing these words, Flower seemed to recall the task that he was given earlier. It nudged Qin Yan’s hand, letting out an “Awoo” then ran out.

After Flower left, Qin Yan took out a cloth from his sleeve and began wiping his hands. Fu Changling awkwardly smiled, “That, um, is Flower a spiritual pet of Shixiong’s?”

“En.” Qin Yan calmly said, “He’s called Jifeng[3].”

Fu Changling found it strange and couldn’t help saying, “Ah?”

Wasn’t it called Flower?

Qin Yan semeed to know what Fu Changling wanted to ask, so he explained, “When I found it, it was still a kitten. I thought it was a tabby cat so I called it Flower. Afterwards, I don’t know from where it heard that the name Flower wasn’t melodious. So other than me and Shifu, it’ll bite anyone who calls it by that name. So, Shifu gave it a new name. In the future, you should call him Jifeng.”

Hearing these words, Fu Changling was a little curious. “Shixiong, how long ago did you find it?”

“Nine years ago.”

Fu Changling spoke unhesitatingly. “You couldn’t tell a fox from a cat at eight years old?”

Qin Yan remained silent. Fu Changling knew that he said something wrong, so he quickly tried to save the situation. “I guess, it’s quite normal. After all, these furry things all look very similar.”

Even if this was a very lame attempt of saving the situation, Qin Yan obviously refused to humour him. Fu Changling felt somewhat awkward, so he turned to look at the moon arch gate, then lowered his head and hummed a melody as if nothing happened.

Thankfully, Flower quickly returned. It brought a piece of cloth in its mouth, face full of eagerness to buy its master’s favour. It firstly ran a circle around Fu Changling then sprawled next to Qin Yan’s bed.

Qin Yan took that piece of cloth from Flower’s mouth, quietly looking at it in his hand. Fu Changling saw how serious Qin Yan looked, so he turned his gaze back to him.

This was a black silk cloth with a blood stain on it. It was obviously torn but there wasn’t anything strange about it. Qin Yan quietly looked, then lowered his head to smell it.

“Where did this come from?” Qin Yan lifted his head to look at Flower. Flower stood up, tapped its chest with a paw and behaved as though it was vomiting. Then, using two paws shifting back and forth, it did a gesture that seemed like it was tearing something. Then it knelt and walked a few steps with its head lowered as if it was lifting something off the ground with its snout.

These series of behaviours were incredibly human-like and done smoothly. Fu Changling couldn’t help admiring it and thought that this seven-grade beast was definitely smarter than the others. As long as one was human, they’d instantly know what its gestures meant.

Holding the cloth, Qin Yan fumbled the silk and mulled as he said, “The owner is wounded and vomited blood on his clothes, then tore it down. So you brought this back?”

Flower nodded its head. Qin Yan lowered his head and looked at the blood on the silk. Fu Changling heard Qin Yan’s words and mulled over it in his heart. He leaned forward and tried to test the waters. “Shixiong, what’s this?”

“On the night of the exam at Spiritual Mountain, someone trespassed the rear of the mountain of the Forbidden Lands,” Qin Yan held nothing back, answering him honestly. “The person escaped so I allowed Flower to pursue them.”

Using a seven-grade spiritual fox to engage pursuit was truly very suitable.

Although Fu Changling guessed that this was connected to the incident at the rear of the mountain from that night, he hadn’t thought that Qin Yan would so forthrightly be honest with him. He felt somewhat coy and said, “I wouldn’t have guessed that Shixiong would trust me so much, that you’d even tell me such things.”

Hearing these words, Qin Yan lifted his head and eyed him with a conflicting look as if there was something he wanted to say, but in the end, he remained silent and simply passed the cloth to him. “Come here and take a look.”

Fu Changling wanted to take a look at that cloth for a long time, but just as he was trying to come up with an excuse to ask Qin Yan for it, he hadn’t expected Qin Yan to voluntarily give it to him. He rather nervously observed Qin Yan but couldn’t help himself taking a step forward to take the cloth.

When Qin Yan noticed that Fu Changling was persistently stealing glances at him, he gave it some thought and finally said, “There are not many people in the Lasting Moon Peak. You are my only Shidi, you should be learning more.”

With these words, Fu Changling finally assured himself. This person, Qin Yan, either took you for a passerby or thoroughly a confidant. Since he brought him back to the Lasting Moon Peak, that would mean that he has already accepted him as his Shidi[4]. He would never suspect his Shidi.

When Fu Changling thought of this ‘Shidi’ identity of his, he felt somewhat emotional. He immediately said, “Shixiong makes sense. Xiufan would most certainly learn from Shixiong and strive to make Lasting Moon Peak proud.”

Qin Yan said nothing. He turned to look at the moon outside of the moon arch door.

Fu Changling closely examined the black cloth in his hand.

This black cloth looked like any normal silk, but it was smooth to the touch. He fumbled it for a while then walked under the moonlight to closely inspect its patterns. Soon after, he raised the silk cloth up and smelt it, discovering the smell of mixed blood. Fu Changling creased his brows involuntarily.

“What have you found?” Qin Yan impassively asked.

Fu Changling mulled over it for a moment before finally deciding not to withhold any information from Qin Yan. “This cloth is a product of Lustre Aroma Town, and there’s the scent of sandalwood on it.”

“Lustre Aroma Town?” Qin Yan repeated.

Fu Changling knew that Qin Yan didn’t know much about the things that went on in the mortal realm, but the Fu Clan often has such dealings as businessmen, and so they were incredibly familiar with items of daily use. He smiled, and explained, “Yunze’s cloth supply comes from various sources. Every place has its own special type of cloth. These black silk’s patterns are patterns from the Lustre Aroma Town.”

As Fu Changling spoke, he walked up to Qin Yan and passed the silk to him. “The Lustre Aroma Town belonged to the territory of the Daoist Sect, yet this scent of sandalwood often showed up on buddhist cultivators. Since they could soundlessly slip into the Forbidden Lands of the Spiritual Mountain, it seems like if Shixiong wanted to investigate this person, they wouldn’t be from a small background.”

“It’s a matter regarding the grander scheme of Yunze,” Qin Yan resolutely added. “Whatever theories you have, speak it. I will not ask you about your sources.”

With these words, Fu Changling got bolder and continued. “If it was connected to Yunze, then all the most prestigious buddhist cultivators all belonged to the Golden Light Temple. I’m guessing that this person has indefinable connections with the Golden Light Temple.”

Qin Yan said nothing. He was fumbling Flower’s head while Flower sprawled on the ground. Slowly, Qin Yan said, “Half a month ago, I mistakenly went into the Hidden Realm of Xuanji that belonged to the Golden Light Temple and encountered the first sight of a demonic aura. In order to leave the hidden realm, the person who was with me and I both broke the seal of the Hidden Realm of Xuanji, but we realized that that seal was actually two seals, and one of them was the entrance into another realm. Soon after, I reported this matter to Shifu. The night before, I discovered the Hidden Realm of Xuanji in the rear of the mountain and that a group of cultivators had taken it away. Since the seal of the hidden realm was already broken, would this hidden realm still exist?”

Qin Yan lifted his head to look at Fu Changling. Fu Changling mulled over it and said, “In usual situations, it would no longer exist. But that seal wasn’t entirely broken, so the hidden realm supposedly still exists. However, the hidden realm would no longer sustain its previous laws. It has lost its original purpose and simply exists solely to keep a seal. If one were to follow the logic of what you said, that this hidden realm was the entrance to another realm, then one is to either wait as time goes on and those people from the other realm break the seal and make their way here. When that time comes, the hidden realm will cease to exist.”

“What if I don’t want those people from the other realm to come here?” Qin Yan glared at him.

Fu Changling understood what he meant and gave him an answer. “Then you need to go in there once more, and strengthen the seal of this hidden realm. In fact, if that was the entrance to this realm, then an ascension stage cultivator or ones above that level must be the one to strengthen the seal.”

“I understand now.” Qin Yan lowered his head, as if he was deep in thought.

Fu Changling lightly coughed and said in panic, “That, um, I do have a senior in my clan who was also an ascension stage cultivator back then. He is very familiar with the makings of arrays. He might know what to do with these seals that leads to another realm. He had even left me some arrays that’s specifically used to seal up entrances to other realms!”

“Oh?” Qin Yan lifted his head.

Fu Changling’s heart was beating very fast. He thought that this manner of putting it was extremely dangerous and could only be used on fools. He was afraid that Qin Yan didn’t believe him, or that he’d begin to investigate his background.

Even if Qin Yan had said nothing, only, “Then give me the arrays he’d given you. Tomorrow, I will pass them to Shifu.”

“Can be done.”

Seeing that Qin Yan hadn’t asked much, Fu Changling relaxed. He knew that Qin Yan was always forthright with his words, but he didn’t think that he’d be so easy to fool. He quickly said, “I will go search for it now.”

“En.” Qin Yan nodded, seeming to already be tired. “Go back and sleep.”

At the mention of ‘sleep’, Fu Changling somewhat hesitated. He stole a glance at Flower, watching as the latter rolled back its snout and bared its teeth. Fu Changling then turned back to Qin Yan. “That, um, it seems like Flower doesn’t really welcome me.”

Qin Yan remained silent. He lowered his head to fumble the black cloth in his hand, as if he was pondering over something. After a long time, he finally said, “You can sleep in the room at the side.”

Hearing these words, Fu Changling was overcomed with pleasant surprise. He quickly said, “Thank you Shixiong! I will most certainly repay Shixiong in the future!”

Qin Yan said nothing more. He lowered his head to look at Flower by his feet, his gaze solemn.

Fu Changling didn’t dare to disturb Qin Yan further. He quickly ran out and gathered his things from the little hut, then quickly moved back in to where he had slept the night before.

After he went out, Qin Yan lowered his head and leaned in closer to Flower. “The person they wanted to kill, was him?”

Flower nodded its head. It turned to look into the distance, and Qin Yan followed its gaze.

Spiritual foxes were far more sensitive to their surroundings compared to normal people. When Flower ran a circle around Fu Changling with the black cloth in its mouth, Qin Yan knew what Flower meant.

Qin Yan patted its head and quietly said, “Go back and sleep.”

Flower replied with an “Awo”, then ran out wiggling its tail.

Fu Changling laid on the bed as he listened to the sound of Flower running out. He lifted his arms to fold it behind his head as he looked upwards at the ceiling.

After a while, he fished out a talisman from inside the lapels of his robes and cast it out, watching as it flew towards the outside and stuck itself fast to a bundle of black mist. The black mist then disperse within a blink of the eye, completely soundless.

Fu Changling turned around, closing his eyes, as if nothing extraordinary had happened as he drifted into sleep.

On the morning of the second day, Fu Changling still felt like he was in a fever dream. Until something landed heavily onto his stomach and Fu Changling jerked upright to see Flower jumping on his stomach like its life depended on it, happily gekkering at the top of its lungs.

“Stop, stop, stop!”

Fu Changling quickly urged the beast to stop galloping on him. He quickly pushed himself up and rubbed his eyes. “I’m getting up. I’m getting up immediately.”

Satisfied, Flower ran to the grounds and spun around in circles. Fu Changling watched the sky darkened and despairingly got up. He came to the door and saw Qin Yan standing at its entrance. Watching Fu Changling coming out, he rose into the air on his sword and calmly said, “Let’s go.”

Having finished speaking, Qin Yan unhurriedly flew up to a place as tall as half a person and flew forwards.

Flower howled, “Awoooo” then followed after. As he flew in the front, Qin Yan called back, “If you can’t catch up, you’re getting thrown out.”

Hearing these words, how would Fu Changling dare to delay the time? He briskly fled after Qin Yan. Qin Yan slowed down his speed on purpose so that he was only a bit ahead of him. Fu Changling ran like his life depended on it as he beelined through the forest. Watching Qin Yan in front of him, he couldn’t help complaining, “Shixiong, isn’t it not allowed to fly on swords in the Lasting Moon Peak?!”

“Those ranking below direct disciples are not allowed.”

Qin Yan so righteously answered him and Fu Changling felt like scolding someone.

The only people in the Lasting Moon Peak were Jiang Yebai who lived in the clouds, him, and Qin Yan. Additionally a fox that behaved human. Wouldn’t that make him and Flower the only ones below the rank of a direct disciple?

At the thought that his ranking was the same with a spiritual pet, he fumed.

He couldn’t help saying, “Shixiong, this isn’t fair. I am your Shidi after all. Compared to Flower…” Before he could finish, Flower snapped at him. Fu Changling shrank to one side and quickly changed his wordings. “At the very least, I should be a bit different from Jifeng?”

“You’re right.” Qin Yan calmly said.

Just as Fu Changling wanted to bargain, Qin Yan’s Zhenxue Sword elongated and he reached a hand out to Flower, “Come on up.”

Flower happily yelped and leapt onto the sword. And so, a man and a fox flew in the front, leaving Fu Changling behind them running frantically.

Had it been the late thirty years of his previous life, Fu Changling’s stamina would find this difficult to achieve. This wasn’t only because he later on switched to become a sword cultivator; most importantly, he was hunted by Qin Yan for ten years. In those ten years, any steps taken too late will cost him his life. After spending long years running and hiding, it benefited his physique and stamina. However, it wasn’t the same presently. Even if his soul was the soul from his previous life, this body was the body of seventeen-year-old Fu Changling.

Seventeen year old Fu Changling was a daoist cultivator through and through. He was sluggish and lethargic. After chasing after Qin Yan for a short span of road, he couldn’t catch up anymore. Qin Yan flew forwards for a while but upon realizing that Fu Changling hadn’t caught up, he turned and looked at Fu Changling, who was leaning against a tree, and said, “Three.”

“Shixiong, let me rest for a while. Just a while.”

“Two.”

“Everything takes time to make progress!” Fu Changling straightened his back, panting as he said, “Shixiong, how can you be so unreasonable? Additionally, this is a winding road to cultivation…”

“One.”

Qin Yan expressionlessly called, “Flower.”

At those words, Flower leapt at Fu Changling with a snarl, drawing back its snout. Fu Changling’s expression abruptly changed and he turned around to run. Finally, just as he turned, he saw Qin Yan’s sword pointing back at him. With a mouthful cry, he had no choice but to turn and run towards the mountain ridge.

“Consider it done if he’s bitten to death.” were the only words Qin Yan left him before he slowly made his way forwards.

Hearing these words, Flower snapped at him unhesitantly with its snout. Fu Changling frantically ran forwards and each time he was a hair’s out of reach. Flower’s bites were powerful, able to grind smaller trees into dust with every bite.

Seeing how much effort Flower was putting into it, Fu Changling almost went crazy. He wanted to cry as he ran. In such a nervous situation, he became even more talkative.

“Jifeng! Calm down! Don’t bite anymore! Shixiong, help! I’ll run. I’ll no longer take any rest! Ask it to go back a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a!”

His cries echo throughout the Lasting Moon Peak. Xie Yuqing, leading the disciples of Bright Mulberry Peak, passed by. Yun Yu heard these voices and inhaled a sharp breath of air. “What is Dashixiong doing?”

“Thankfully…” Shangguan Mingyan, hovering on his sword, looked southward at Fu Changling who was running for his life along the edges of the lake, and swallowed. “Shijie is much more gentler.”

Hearing these words, Yun Yu knew he’d said something wrong. He immediately wanted to stop him, but Xie Yuqing said, “That’s not a bad idea.”

“It’s not!” Yun Yu instantly stopped Xie Yuqing. “Look at how many trees there are in the Lasting Moon Peak? We don’t have that much in Bright Mulberry Peak. We don’t have any spiritual beasts either. Shijie, this idea won’t work!”

Hearing these words, after a long moment of pondering, Xie Yuqing regretfully said, “Then forget it.”

When Xie Yuqing led the disciples of Bright Mulberry Peak to Sword-Landing Cliff, the sky hasn’t brightened. All the disciples from each peak have arrived and settled down in their respective places. Everyone had their own spot, so it was easy for Xie Yuqing to spot those who hadn't arrived.

At the Jade rabbit hour, Xie Yuqing began their training. She observed those below the stage from above it and saw an empty space that belonged to the Lasting Moon Peak. Furrowing her brows, she said, “Shen Xiufan?”

Yun Yu and Shangguan Mingyan stole a glance at that empty spot of Lasting Moon Mountain as well. Yun Yu couldn’t help asking, “Has he got bitten to death by Jifeng?”

Xie Yuqing looked into the distance, then called one more time. “Shen Xiufan?”

“I’m here!”

Fu Changling heard Xie Yuqing’s call from afar. He called as he came running. “I’m here! Shijie! I’m here!”

As he spoke, he panted as he ran to the row where the word “Lasting” was labelled. He was the only one in that row, so he had stood out from the crowd. Panting, he couldn’t even stand straight. Looking at him, Xie Yuqing impassively said, “Since you’re late. Today, you will be helping me.”

Hearing these words, everyone let out a breath of relief. Fu Changling was still somewhat puzzled, before Xie Yuqing said, “Come up.”

Fu Changling quickly went up the stage. Xie Yuqing passively said, “Draw your sword.”

Fu Changling listened as Xie Yuqing spoke. He began to discreetly draw his sword. Even then, the moment his hand was placed onto his sword, Xie Yuqing’s wooden one struck out without warning. Fu Changling was shocked until he fell to the ground, rolling to his escape as he avoided it.

He didn’t dare take out something originally from his sect in front of so many people, so he could only attempt avoiding it in a flurry. Although Xie Yuqing was using a wooden sword, her skills were exceptionally ruthless. Everytime he got hit, he felt like vomiting blood. Once the little demonstration came to an end, Fu Changling was already sprawling on the ground. Xie Yuqing kept her sword and steadily, she said, “This set of skills shown today are called the Seventeen Styles of Searching Plum. Today, practice your basics once then practice individually.”

As she spoke, Xie Yuqing didn’t forget about Fu Changling. She turned around to look at him. “Shen Shidi, it’s time to get up and practice.”

Sprawling on the ground, he pushed himself up with great difficulty and said through gritted teeth, “Yes, Shijie.”

He had no choice but to get up. He has already experienced it fully that these psychopathic sword cultivators from the Heavenly Palace of Hongmeng never take his life or body seriously!

They would never care for your limits, because limits do not exist for them. In their world, there was only bypassing limits, bypassing limits, and bypassing even more limits!

The Heavenly Palace of Hongmeng did not trust in tears.

Shivering, Fu Changling went back to his own spot and began to numbly follow their sword training.

After morning training, once Xie Yuqing announced a break, he couldn’t hold up any longer and fell right to the ground. Shangguan Mingyan and Yun Yu hurried over to him as Shangguan Mingyan called in panic, “Brother Shen, are you still alive?”

Fu Changling looked up at the sky, face full of despair.

“Mingyan… Promise me…”

“Brother Shen, speak, how are you feeling? Should I deliver you to the Hall of Saviours?”

“If… If I died…” Fu Changling turned to him, and looking at Shangguan Mingyan, his gaze serious as he said, “Remember to burn me more beds and quilts. When I’m down there, I want a comfortable bed, and I do not wish to be reborn human again.”

“He’s fine.” Yun Yu said after hearing these words and reassured himself. He told Shangguan Mingyan, “Look at him. He’s still so talkative.”

As he spoke, Yun Yu gave Fu Changling a nudge. “Speaking of which, are you getting up? If you’re not, then there’s no more meals left for you.”

Hearing these words, Fu Changling felt his strength coming back. He pushed himself up and got to his feet with Shangguan Mingyan’s help, then with Yun Yu, they headed towards the canteen of the disciples of the Heavenly Palace of Hongmeng.

Cultivators no longer needed to eat after their foundation establishment stage. These items belonging to the realm of mortals are cumbersome habits they needed to leave behind. However, if their dishes were made using spiritual beasts and plants, then these foods would be beneficial to their bodies. Hence, canteens for disciples mostly exist in large sects to provide them a daily supply of food made from spiritual beasts and plants.

Shangguan Mingyan and Yun Yu helped Fu Changling to the canteen. Upon entering the canteen, everyone turned to look at them. People who were familiar with them have even walked up and happily said, “Wow, Brother Shen, how amazing you are that you could even still come for a meal.”

“How amazing is Brother Shen? Even after practicing the Seventeen Styles of Searching Plum, he could still stand on his feet. He truly lived up to his name as a disciple of the Lasting Moon Peak!”

“Brother Shen…”

Praises of him didn’t stop from the moment Fu Changling entered the canteen until the moment he finished his meal. After the meal, Fu Changling got closer to the people from the canteen. He ate as he chatted with these disciples. These disciples seemed to be often allured by the Lasting Moon Peak, but they seldom got close to it. There was only Qin Yan and his Shifu in the Lasting Moon Peak; both of them were not people good with small talks. Once Fu Changling came, everyone became excited and crowded around him as they bombarded him with questions.

“Shixiong, is Dashixiong exceptionally strict with your studies?”

“That’s not called strict.” Fu Changling propped his head up with his hand, passing himself off like a senior. “It’s called caring.”

“Shixiong, I heard that Dashixiong let you sleep in a fox’s den. Is that true?”

“I just slept in it for half a night.” Fu Changling lifted his gaze at the person who asked that question. “Additionally, Shixiong had the intention to clean out the guest room to welcome me in, so he only temporarily let me rest in that place. How would he ask me to live in a fox’s den? You people would never be able to fathom the care and love Shixiong showed me. Look, in order to welcome me to the guest room, he spent half a night cleaning it out. Are any of your Shixiongs that nice?”

“I didn’t expect Dashixiong to be that nice.” All the disciples looked at him enviously. “I want a Shixiong like that too!”

“Alright, alright.” Yun Yu couldn’t bear to listen to it any longer. Pulling Fu Changling, he got up. “There’s still class in the afternoon. What are you people wasting time chatting here for? Be on your way.”

Fu Changling found himself being dragged out as they squeezed through the crowd of people. He bowed towards the other disciples and shyly said, “My apologies, my apologies. I will take my leave first. We will chat another day. Everyone, remember to pay visits to the Lasting Moon Peak, I will be your host…”

Yun Yu and Shangguan Mingyan squeezed their way out. Lowering his voice, Yun Yu said, “Don’t so blindly boast out here. When that time comes, I’m afraid you don’t have the pride to take it when it backfires.”

“Am I blindly boasting?” Fu Changling looked at him in disbelief. “Aren’t the things I’ve said the truth? You didn’t know how adorable that fox den Shixiong built for me is.”

Yun Yu, “...”

He’s beyond help.

Yun Yu finally gave up trying to make Fu Changling come to his senses. He dragged Fu Changling to the afternoon class and got him a seat.

In the afternoon class, other than some basics about the history of the Immortal Realm and some cultural subjects, the most important course was the mental cultivation path. The basics of this course was taught by Qin Yan. Hearing that Qin Yan would be teaching, Fu Changling felt very happy, as he sat eagerly to see Qin Yan coming.

Qin Yan came on time. After entering the door, he didn’t even look at Fu Changling and instead went straight to flip open the book and began teaching everyone the basics of the Heavenly Palace of Hongmeng’s mental cultivation paths.

The mental cultivation paths of the Heavenly Palace of Hongmeng was an extremely radiant technique. After a simple explanation, Qin Yan said, “The mental cultivation paths of Yunze have only very mild differences as they’re mostly similar. After everyone has entered their core formation stage, we will begin to allow everyone to pick their own mental cultivation paths to cultivate. Each peak also has its own specialized mental cultivation paths. When that time comes, the direct disciples will be teaching them in person. Today, everyone should first feel the basics of mental cultivation.”

As he spoke, Qin Yan fell into a lotus seat as he led everyone to begin the basics of mental cultivation.

Fu Changling behaved like a newcomer, obeying Qin Yan’s words as he began regulating his spiritual energy and nourishing his golden core.

When afternoon came, the sun rays pierced through the window sills and the sparrows happily chirped on their tree branches. Qin Yan softly recited the incantations as he led everyone to begin regulating their spiritual energy. His voice was calming, and this sort of calmness could allow one to feel warmth in their hearts as if they were far away from this mortal realm. The entire class seemed to be taking place in a Land of Peach Blossoms[5] outside of this world, to allow a person to forget their past, no longer worried for the future and only focus on what’s in front of them.

At this moment, once he opened his eyes, he could see that person, who could allow him to forget all his worries, sitting in front of him.

His eyebrows were as beautiful as those out of paintings, like those of a goddess’. Yet among his godly aura, there was a few undefinable kindness mixed in them.

This sort of kindness had always been on Qin Yan.

Even if they were in their previous life, when Qin Yan was still a demonic cultivator, this undefinable air of compassion and benevolence was there.

Fu Changling looked at Qin Yan’s face and for some reason, he was frozen in place. After Qin Yan finished reciting the final word, he seemed to have noticed Fu Changling’s gaze. Slowly, he opened his eyes only to see that young man looked at him dazedly.

That gaze was clear and passionate, the same it was many years ago.

Qin Yan looked at that gaze, and for a brief moment, his gaze cleared as well.

He didn’t know why he began to think about that day many years back when he was drinking with Su Wenji in the Unsullied Palace.

Su Wenji had asked him, “That person, Fu Changling. What of him do you admire?”

Holding his cup, Qin Yan slowly said, “His eyes.”

“Eyes?”

“A person who has seen hatred will learn how to hate. A person who has seen despair will learn the feeling of despair. But there’s someone—he has seen all the love and hate, all the despair and pain of this world, but each time when you look at him, he would raise his head and it’s like you are meeting him for the first time.”

“As long as he lives, you will feel that, even if everyone in this world had given up, he would still move forwards.”

These distant memories caught Qin Yan off guard that the way he was staring back at Fu Changling dazedly made him smile. He soundlessly muttered something to him.

“Shixiong, wait for me after class.”

Qin Yan retracted his gaze and thoughts and turned, as if he’d seen nothing.

Fu Changling smiled as he propped his chin up. He turned and looked at the sparrows hopping about the branches through the windows, and felt like he was in a very good mood.

After class, Qin Yan didn’t wait for him. He got to his feet and walked out. Fu Changling quickly told Shangguan Mingyan and Yun Yu. He said, “I’ll take my leave first.” Then, he quickly ran after Qin Yan.

Yun Yu fell behind, stunned, then he loudly called, “Wait! I will bring the accounts to you later!”

Fu Changling waved a hand, then chased after Qin Yan. “Shixiong! Shixiong, wait for me!”

Qin Yan didn’t walk slower simply because of Fu Changling. He walked at a leisurely pace as if Fu Changling had no effect on him at all.

Fu Changling quickly caught up to him, but he’d truly expended too much strength today. He panted in heavy breaths, couldn’t help saying, “Shixiong, didn’t we agree to wait for me?”

“No.”

“Then consider me one-sidedly making that agreement.” Fu Changling wasn’t even a little bit upset. He consoled himself and said, “It’s the same even if I caught up. We’re going back to the same place. Is Shixiong going back to the Lasting Moon Peak?”

“I’m going to look for Shifu.”

“Oh,” Fu Changling nodded upon hearing these words. Then, suddenly, he recalled something. “Speaking of which, Shifu hadn’t looked for me even once. Shixiong, will Shifu be teaching me in future?”

“If I am unable to teach you,” Qin Yan answered Fu Changling’s question unhesitatingly, “Then Shifu will teach you.”

“That’s too great!” Fu Changling happily said.

Qin Yan couldn’t help glaring at him. Fu Changling then immediately felt something was off, so he quickly explained and said, “What I meant is, with how amazing Shifu is, I am already happy to have Shixiong teach me.”

Qin Yan turned his head and said nothing more.

Fu Changling followed behind Qin Yan. He wanted to speak some more, so he gave it a thought. He figured out that Qin Yan preferred to talk about serious affairs, so he asked, “Shixiong, previously you said that each peak has their own mental cultivation path, so what is the mental cultivation path of Lasting Moon Peak?”

“The Path of Lovelessness.”

Hearing these words, Fu Changling stared at him. He always knew that Qin Yan cultivated the Path of Lovelesness, but he still couldn’t stop himself from asking one more time. “Is Shixiong also cultivating the Path of Lovelessness?”

“En.”

“Then,” Fu Changling felt somewhat conflicted, “Are all people who cultivates the Path of Lovelessness unable to feel emotions?”

“The Path of Lovelessness is separated into five stages: to cleanse one’s heart, to abandon one’s desires, to embrace detachment, to abandon emotions, and to forget emotions. The cleansing heart is the first stage; to keep their hearts in an unbiased and calm state, so that they can control their own emotions. This is one of the most important things of the basics.”

“Oh,” Fu Changling nodded. “That is why you and Xie Shijie, as well as Shifu, seldom speak.”

“The abandonment of desires is the second stage; to empty your heart from your desires from this world, to abandon hunger, power, love, as they are all considered sins.”

Hearing these words, Fu Changling felt panic rising from his heart. “Then how are all of you different from monks?”

“To embrace detachment is the third stage; since one has abandoned all their burdens in this worldly realm, regardless of any emotions, they mean little to us. However, to embrace detachment is only to let your emotions go, but it does not mean that they do not exist.”

“So the fourth stage, to abandon emotions,” Fu Changling instantly said, “I understand now. It means to have no emotions at all.”

“One can put it that way.” Qin Yan nodded his head. “To feel nothing is to have nothing.”

“Then what about the final stage? If one already has no emotions, what else could they forget?” Fu Changling was already feeling somewhat muddled.

Hovering ahead, on top of his sword, with both arms at his back and wind billowing in his hair, Qin Yan said, “To forget one’s emotions is the final stage on the Path of Lovelessness. In this world, few could achieve it.”

“To forget one’s emotions is to let go of emotions that already exist. To put behind yourself the emotions you already have and release yourself from them like one who has none. The saint is unmoved by emotions, those below the level of saints are not tainted by emotions. It’s easy to feel no emotions as all those below the level of saints commonly experience them, but it’s difficult to forget emotions you already have.”

Listening to these words, Fu Changling looked at Qin Yan and couldn’t help saying, “Then, what is a love root in the Path of Lovelessness?”

Qin Yan said nothing. He seemed to be thinking for a very long time before he answered, “To be in love, and love too deeply, is intolerable by the path of a daoist. So, a love root would exist within oneself, and they hold all the feelings of a cultivator towards a person or an event in life. Those who cultivate the Path of Lovelessness are also normal people. It is already not easy for them to make it to the detachment of the emotions stage, so what can be said about forgetting one’s emotions stage? Therefore, among the methods of cultivation, where is a technique specifically made for this. It is to entrust all their emotions and feelings onto a love root. Once the love root fully develops, they would gorge it out and from then on enter the final stage of the Path of Lovelessness.”

Hearing these words, Fu Changling felt somewhat puzzled. “Then, would everyone who cultivates the Path of Lovelessness have a love root?”

Qin Yan remained in silence.

Fu Changling gave it some thought, but thought that it wasn’t too possible. “If everyone could pass the cultivation using such a method, and place all their emotions into one love root and then gorge it out, then it's far too easy to cultivate the Path of Lovelessness. There must be a condition for one to produce a love root, or perhaps, they need a condition in order for them to gorge it out. What condition is that?”

As he spoke, Fu Changling looked at Qin Yan, and curiously asked, “Shixiong?”

Looking into the distance, Qin Yan said, “Not every affection of love could withstand the pain of ending it. The growth of a love root is connected to the lifeline of its owner, and from the time of the ancients to the present, none has ever successfully gorged it out and lived.”

Fu Changling was taken aback. The two of them arrived at the Lasting Moon Peak. Qin Yan headed upwards. “I will go look for Shifu.”

After he’d finished speaking, he went ahead. Fu Changling stood where he was, and after a long time, a sharp pain came from his heart.

Oh, Qin Yan.

He lifted his head and watched the person who has left.

He suddenly wanted to ask him.

What sort of intense love does someone need to feel to produce a love root?

And that in this lifetime of his, would he ever… love someone like that again?