Chapter 46

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Chapter 46

Bai Tan was already spent, with the medicine blood taking effect, he had no energy left to resist. When he raised his head, he was able to see the male staring at him, the long, narrow, blue eyes dark and mottled. The pain in them was hard to hide, unexpectedly stunning him.

……That kind of look made it seem as if the other really cared for him.

As he thought that, his head was rubbed in appeasement, “Don’t move around, let me treat your wound.”

Once Bai Tan’s fur was petted in the right way, a few explosive emotions in his heart opened its gate, surging out nonstop. He whimpered and couldn’t hit the brake on his tears either, but he didn’t want to show weakness either as he turned his head to the side.

“Tell me, who was it that bullied our high and mighty demonic sect leader into looking like this?” Wu Yanfu helped wipe his tears away. He looked as the other kept both his eyes and mouth shut tight, not answering, showing off his stubbornness. His eyes became even darker, lowering his head, he sealed the other’s lips, then he bit the tip of his own tongue to feed the other a sip of medicine blood. Bai Tan clenched his teeth, but the medicine blood still leaked into his throat, finally, his body softened, and tilting his head to the side, he fainted in the other’s arms.

Amid unconsciousness, Bai Tan felt a chilly, wet, and soft item flitting over the number of sword cuts on his body gently. It bought slight pain but was also a bit ticklish, not too strong but when the soft object moved onto the wound on his shoulder, the pain and itchiness became unbearable. He moaned once before lifting his weighted eyelids.

The other male raised his head at the sound, he wiped the bloodstain from the corner of his mouth and looked at him with drooping eyes. Then lowered his head to continue cleaning the wound on his shoulder for him. His breath would fall on his neck at times, almost as if it was rubbing against him affectionately.

Bai Tan slapped his face aside, “Why do you keep saving me time after time? Aren’t you staying by my side just for the Rengu Nian Beads? Since you already have it, what are you doing still sticking yourself onto me like a lingering ghost?”

Lingering ghost? That was accurate.

Wu Yanfu smiled, his lips left the youth’s shoulder as they moved next to his earlobe, speaking warmly, “I’ve said before, I like you. Since I like you, of course, I’m gonna stick myself onto you.”

“Stop being so disgusting!” Bai Tan scoffed coldly and weakly. He pulled his opened clothing back on, as his finger came in contact with the sword cut on his chest, he felt that it had already turned to scab, he couldn’t help but be shocked, yet his hand was held by the other tightly.

“What are you hurrying for, let the wound heal first then put on your clothes, it’s not like I will take advantage of you.” The man’s voice in the night was both deep and soft, yet the murderous aura that surrounded him had Bai Tan’s hair standing on end.

“Who did you meet tonight, how did you get injured like this?”

“What does it have to do with you?” Bai Tan still couldn’t suppress the painful feeling inside as he spoke irritatedly.

“You’re Ah-Chi’s master, if you were injured, then Ah-Jiang will naturally fight back for you.”

“No need. I take responsibility for my own doings.”

Bai Tan turned over, he wanted to jump off the horse but unexpectedly, the corner of his clothing was stuck. The upper part of his clothing was immediately dragged down to his waistline, exposing the art piece that Wu Yanfu had tattooed there with his own two hands. The moonlight at this hour shone on the youth’s skin as white as snow, the alluring bone that was located at the flower’s core was as red as a streak of cinnabar, painting the blooming epiphyllum so lusciously that it was hardly recognizable.

Before the person behind him could have an extra glance, Bai Tan pulled his robe up. Just as he wanted to jump off the horse, his waist area tightened as a soft call rang beside his ear, the horse instantly sprinted, running towards the hill.

Looking from the top of the hill, the lights of the Cang Long City shone, bright and majestically.

The wind had their robes turning and flying, Bai Tan’s battle spirit suddenly swelled. He just wanted to get on the stage immediately, show off his skill, and turn those from Wu Lin that looked down on him into losers beneath him.

He didn’t care for the others much, but as for that Tian Su by his side who was hard to identify as a foe or an ally. He was the strongest opponent he’d met to this day, and it was extremely hard to predict what that person was planning.

As the horse rushed down the hill, carrying the two, his alluring bone was numbing from the constant bumps. Bai Tan removed the hand by his waist to squirm a little towards the front, he asked, “Why did you steal the Rengu Nian Bead yesterday?”

“If you want to know, then answer my question first. Was it the sword formation of the Tian Yang Sect who harmed you?”

Bai Tan was shocked, just like that he was able to identify it, which was pretty good on his part.

Seeing as how the other hadn’t made a sound, Wu Yanfu was certain, his hand grasping the rein tightened slightly as his joints let out cracking noises, “So it was the people from Tian Yang Sect, that Sect Master Su Muzhe has a vendetta against the Fu Tu Sect.”

“Oh?” Bai Tan suddenly remembered the details of the father and daughter’s conversation he’d eavesdropped on, he asked, “Was it because of a woman? I heard Su Muzhe say that his wife was killed by someone of the demonic sect.”

Wu Yanfu went silent for a while, then said, “That’s right, it was someone of the Fu Tu Sect who killed her.”

Bai Tan subconsciously pushed every wrong-doing onto a certain person, “Was it Wu Yanfu? Humph, it was most likely because he got interested in that guy’s wife and used his authority as the Wu Lin Overlord to abduct her…”

“Nonsense.” Before allowing him to make it any more ridiculous, Wu Yanfu stopped him coldly.

Bai Tan caught on, “Could it be that you know some behind the scenes stuff?”

“That woman was Wu Yanfu’s mother, don’t imagine nonsense.”

“Mother? Then… then, is the Sect Master of Tian Yang Sect, Su Muzhe, Wu Yanfu’s father?”

After being given a father out of nowhere, Wu Yanfu felt a bit displeased, he replied blandly, “Of course not. Many years ago, the Sect Leader of Fu Tu Sect, Wu Lianyun, stole Su Muzhe’s wife to be his Concubine Ming. The woman gave birth to a son for Wu Lianyun, which was Wu Yanfu.”

Bai Tan spoke in surprise, “So that old demon was actually the son of a Concubine Ming? But as a Concubine Ming, aren’t they fated to be extracted by the cultivator to bones and die? How was one able to give birth to a child for the cultivator?”

The person behind him laughed mockingly, he pulled on the rein to slow down the horse’s steps.

“Those are just rumors.”

“What’s the meaning of that?”

“Since ancient times, the Concubine Ming’s death is decided by the cultivator. When one reaches the last level of the Sky of Six Desires, if they kill their Concubine Ming themselves and drink the Concubine Ming’s heart blood, then they’ve accomplished breaking away from extraneous things of life. They would be cut off from their seven emotions and six desires, never to have sorrows or joys, nor would they grow old and die, just like the gods. If, when the cultivator reaches the last level of the Sky of Six Desires and isn’t willing to kill their Concubine Ming, then they cannot break through the barrier, they won’t be able to succeed in training the Sky of Six Desires. If one couldn’t break through the barrier, and doesn’t dual cultivate with their Concubine Ming in time to conform their lust, they will die from Qi Deviation.”

Bai Tan was stunned, so that was how it worked? He’d always misunderstood the cultivation method of the Sky of Six Desires…

When that old demon went into Qi Deviation then, was it possibly because…he didn’t want to kill him?

No, even if he let him off for a moment in time, he could’ve changed plans at any time to take his life.

Wu Yanfu’s mother probably hadn’t escaped from death in the end.

With such assumptions, Bai Tan’s brows furrowed in loathing, he continued to ask, “So even though that Concubine Ming birthed a son for Wu Lianyun, in order to cultivate, he still killed her in the end, right?”

“Wrong, the one who killed her wasn’t Wu Lianyun, but Wu Yanfu.”

Bai Tan went blank for a bit, “Why did he…kill his own mother?”

While Wu Yanfu listened to him asking questions nonstop, as if he cared deeply, he couldn’t stop his heart from turning in excitement, “You wanna hear about Wu Yanfu’s past that badly?”

Bai Tan instantly shook his head.

Wu Yanfu sighed without much thought, “Tch, then whatever. Ah, he’s dead anyway, just let those stories go into the grave along with him.”

Bai Tan’s chest tightened, and he forced himself to squeeze two words out of the opening between his teeth, “Say it!”

Wu Yanfu stretched his syllables out, “Ai, let’s not, let’s not.”

Bai Tan turned his head to grab his clothes, “Say, say it, you!”

Wu Yanfu stared at him mischievously, he raised one corner of his mouth, looking like he was both smiling and not smiling, “So, you actually still care about your Shizun this much?”

“Bullshit!” Bai Tan lifted his hand, wanting to scratch him, but it was caught and tucked into the other’s embrace.

He started struggling but the man held it extremely tight, his chin pressed into the fossa of his shoulder as he spoke softly next to his ear, “The private matters of the Western Region Wu Lin Overlord are not to be spread around, I’ll only tell you, you have to keep it a secret.”

Bai Tan pricked his ears up, nodding.

“Wu Lianyun abducted the Concubine Ming, but his heart ended up moving for her. He wasn’t able to break through the barrier of emotions, so he couldn’t succeed in the Sky of Six Desires, he even had a son with the Concubine Ming. The Concubine Ming always hated him, she found a chance to poison him, making him unable to do the deed anymore[1], never able to finish training the Sky of Six Desires. He could only put his hopes on his son, he forced Wu Yanfu to kill his own mother to harden his emotions, then he put all of his heart into passing skills down to him.”

“Later, when Wu Yanfu succeeded from his training, he killed his father as well, to avenge his mother. Pitifully, this individual who killed both his father and mother never finished training the Sky of Six Desires either, he even died at the hands of his Concubine Ming.”

“Say, isn’t it laughable?”

Bai Tan obviously couldn’t laugh, he went quiet for a while before asking, “How did you know that I* was his Concubine Ming?”

Wu Yanfu poked the red dot on the center of his forehead, “I was once Wu Yanfu’s disciple, of course, I recognize this Gecko Mark[2].” As he spoke, he turned his head to blow air into the youth’s ear ambiguously, “He definitely never got to share intimate skinship with you before he died, or else, how could your mark still be here?”

The root of Bai Tan’s ears heated up, he moved his head to avoid him but the other held his chin and turned his head back and kissed the heart of his forehead.

The horse was already stopped at the time, the two’s bodies stuck against each other intimately, submerged in the pure, water-like moonlight. Two different sets of hair flew as they entangled together with no intention of letting go, dancing on top of their clothes as if they were a pair of jiao dragons chasing each other in the ocean waves.

“You insolent…!” Bai Tan came back to his senses, he leaped off the horse’s back before wiping the heart of his forehead roughly. He had a false sense of having been marked by the kiss, he felt extremely unpleasant and instantly used “Wu Feng Nong Yue” to fly down the hill. He flew out several meters in the blink of an eye, jumping past the city wall of Cang Long City.

Wu Yanfu immediately chased after, Bai Tan flew into the city and landed on top of the highest building in the city.

The tall building was impressively high, high enough to touch the clouds even as if it was a Buddhist Temple. On its top was a massive stone carving, the image of “Carp Leaping Over Dragon Gate”[3] was carved there, above it was the “Nine Dragons Playing with Pearl,”[4] that was the stage of the Great Assembly of Wu Lin, where only those who’d gone past the Liudao Lunhui Formation had the right to enter. It was named the “Dragon Gate Building”[5], symbolizing a fish leaping over the gate. This meant that those who made it here would all have a place in Jiang Hu, and if one could defeat all the others, then they could ascend like a dragon, able to dominate Jiang Hu.

Bai Tan sat down after jumping on the Dragon Gate, that was when he felt the sharp pains coming from his wounds. It was clear that they weren’t completely healed yet, he should’ve rested for a day or two, but at the time, he couldn’t leave the intense, beautiful scenery of this place behind.

Wu Yanfu also landed on top of the building, he lifted his head to see the youth sitting on top of the Dragon Gate, “What are you doing sitting up there? Come down.”

Bai Tan was stunned for a bit, he dropped his eyes to look at him, feeling that both the scene and situation were familiar.

At the end of summer that year, a Udumbara tree was blooming gracefully, under the moonlight, they were like thousands of layers of snow rolled up. He sat on the tree branch, a man stood under the tree, making eye contact with him just like this, speaking almost the exact words.

Why did Tian Su remind him of that Old Demon?

Must be…the illusion that was affecting him.

Bai Tan shook his head, sudden dizziness hit him and his body leaned, causing him to fall down. Wu Yanfu stepped on the upturned eaves that poked outwards and caught him in midair in his embrace before landing back on the Dragon Gate.

“Your injuries aren’t healed yet and you already want to cross the Dragon Gate and look askance at the world? How impatient.”

“What am I* impatient for? The seat of Wu Lin Overlord belongs to me without a doubt.” Bai Tan spoke disdainfully.

Not sure if it was the moonlight that had his eyes lost or he was just too weak, but he suddenly felt like he was in a dream.

To be at the peak of Wu Lin with this person who could be both his foe or an ally, he felt extremely pleased. As if it should be paired with a bottle of wine, a string instrument, and good sparring, then it would finally be qualified for this excellent and gorgeous scenery.

“Really? Then I will wait and see…”

……This seat of Wu Lin Overlord will be the bride price from your Shizun.

If I said there is a sedan carried by eight, then there will be a sedan carried by eight, your Shizun stays true to his words.

Wu Yanfu lowered his head to watch the beauty under the moon in his embrace as he slowly leaned down, but the youth turned his head to avoid him once again. He covered the heart of his forehead with one hand and his mouth with the other, leaving a pair of phoenix eyes glistening with water glaring at him.

So, the other pinched his earlobe a little, “Does master still want to dual cultivate with me? With the Great Wu Lin Assembly coming up, isn’t it best to go over your Sky of Six Desires training? How about we cultivate together once your injuries heal?”

A wave of uneasiness washed over Bai Tan from his playful tone, yet he still nodded. He felt just like a virgin girl that’d been teased by a lecher, irritation instantly grew in him.

“Also, you never answered me*, last night, just what did you take the Rengu Nian Bead for?”

“Naturally, it was to save someone.”

“Now thinking of it, you probably used it to save Si You.” Bai Tan chuckled coldly, “Where did you hide him? Let’s make this clear, I* hold the utmost resentment for Si You, it was fine before as he was about to die from Qi Deviation anyway, but now that you’ve rescued him, then I* have no choice but to kill him.”

“What if…Ah-Chi insists on interfering?”

“Then you are my* enemy.” Bai Tan turned back around, his phoenix eyes were sharp and cold as they stared at him, “Didn’t you keep repeating that you like me*? If you like me* then bring me* Si You’s head!”

“Whatever you want, Ah-Chi will bring to you, but that’s the only exception.”

Bai Tan nodded, smiling as he spoke, “Oh? So, you don’t want a part in the treasure map? The details of the treasure map are all engraved in my* brain if I want others to see, I* have to be happy and willing.”

Wu Yanfu squinted his eyes, he didn’t continue the conversation and nor did Bai Tan continue paying attention to him. Then, they heard the sound of wind blowing from behind, Li Wuzhang and Mi Lansheng suddenly landed in front of them.

“Sect Leader Bai…I apologize, earlier, I misunderstood you.” Mi Lansheng said to Bai Tan with furrowed brows, then turned to Wu Yanfu on the side, his weapon Tu Luo Po Zhang Jue was already in hand; ready to attack anytime, “I heard from Sect Leader Bai that you stole the Rengu Nian Bead? If you don’t want to die, then…hand it over instantly.”

Li Wuzhang also took out his Soul Leaving Awl, preparing to help him. Bai Tan chuckled, “The Rengu Nian Bead isn’t in his hands anymore, the Rengu Nian Bead is in Si You’s stomach, instead of going after him, you guys should go after Si You.”

Mi Lansheng closed in towards Wu Yanfu step by step, “‘Death Demon’ Si You? Where is he?”

Wu Yanfu stared at him, clearly speaking word by word, “Sect Master Mi…there’s no use even if you get the Rengu Nian Beads back. Once the day of the Solar Devouration[6] comes, with the heaven and earth’s viciousness all visible, hundreds of ghosts traveling, not even the Rengu Nian Beads can suppress the ruthless god that you worship. If you don’t want to be bitten back by the demonic spirit sealed in your Tu Luo Po Zhang Jue and be left with threats in the future, the only thing you can do is to head to the Tian Zhu Shrine deep in the Heavenly Mountain to find a solution.”

Shock showed on Mi Lansheng’s face, “You…how do you know this?”

“You will find out in the future. Sect Leader Bai, we still have many days ahead.” Not wishing to get into a serious fight here, Wu Yanfu took a step back before jumping down from the top of the Dragon Gate Building and walked into the building right through the front door.

Knowing that once the Dragon Gate Building was entered, all conflicts could only be solved on the stage, Mi Lansheng sighed in anger, he could only jump down as well. Bai Tan didn’t want to fall behind as he landed in front of the door with Li Wuzhang.

The door of the Dragon Gate Building was cast into a golden, shining dragon head. Once it opened its great dragon mouth, it could spit out a path of stone stairs that were wide enough for ten people to walk abreast of each other to enter the building. In front of the door was a monk in red robes standing with one palm held up straight, as motionless as a stone statue, it seemed like he was an ‘Awakened One’ guarding the door.

Since they’d arrived extremely early, the Dragon Gate Building wasn’t bustling yet, they seemed to be the only ones there.

“Ai, my nephew…” At that moment, an old female voice rang from behind.

Bai Tan turned his head to see an old woman with a slouching figure in a cloak, a face veil covered half of her face, revealing only a pair of apricot eyes. Even though there was no spirit left in her eyes, he was still able to recognize the one before him.

“Aunt? Where did you go these days? How did you end up like this?”

He went near her in shock, Gui Yu’er’s body swayed a bit, falling towards him. He quickly supported her, only to hear Gui Yu’er letting out a long sigh as if she was deadwood blown over by the wind.

“Nephew, don’t enter the Dragon Gate Building anymore, how about coming to Xi Ye with me to pay respect to your mother?”

Li Wuzhang spoke, “Sect leader, let me hold her.”

It was as if Su Maner’s face was right in front of him, Bai Tan panicked through and through. He had Gui Yu’er leaning in his arms before passing her over to Li Wuzhang, he walked into the Dragon Gate Building. As he entered, he realized there were already many people who stood by the railings throughout the eight to nine ring-shaped stories, in the center was a round, stone platform that was hundreds of meters wide.

On top of the platform hung a great drum, as vividly bright as the sun.

Bai Tan gazed at the drum once before turning to go up the stairs with Li Wuzhang.

Translator: Crispyfry

Proofreader: Grumpykit

QC: Xiao

Translator’s Comments: I’ve already finished the novel, but I missed quite a bit of details so when I realized Bai Tan basically “married” Wu Yanfu’s half-sister in the last chapter, I was shook.

Also, Wu Yanfu: “Sect Leader Bai, we still have many days ahead.” bruh, you’ve been missing out on them all saying that BT bouta die so like, he bouta die, stop thinking of your Si You and help him.

Xiao’s Comments: Someone needs to open their closed mouth and blurt out the secret or else Wu Yanfu’s going to be oblivious to the fact that Bai Tan’s about to die until it’s too late…

Translator’s Notes:

[1] “Do the deed” (人道) – My prime assumption is that the term the author used was directing towards “having sex” since the Sky of Six Desires requires dual cultivation. But it could also be related to one of the paths in the Liudao Lunhui (like the Asura Path mentioned in earlier chapters), I couldn’t figure out how it would relate or fit in the context though.

[2] Gecko Mark (守宫砂) – Also known as the “Protector of the Palace Mark”. This was a little dot-shaped red mark put on females with potions made from dried gecko fed on cinnabar, it meant virginity since the mark isn’t suppose to go away until the woman has sex.

This English post includes some information on it: https://www.theworldofchinese.com/2014/09/the-virgin-complex/

This is the Baidu info: https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E5%AE%88%E5%AE%AB%E7%A0%82

[3] “Carp Leaping Over Dragon Gate” (鲤鱼跃龙门) – lit. translation. A myth where the ‘dragon gate’ is located at the top of a waterfall cascading from a legendary mountain, and if any carp could leap past it, it could transform into a powerful dragon. More info: https://www.zengyotaku.com/carp_jump_dragon_gate.html

[4] “Nine Dragons Playing with Pearl” (九龙戏珠) –

(I couldn’t find a good English site with this myth but it was interesting so I wanna summarize it) Based off a myth where when the East Sea Dragon King wasn’t able to pick a heir to the throne out of his nine sons, he asked for the Bodhisattva Guanyin of the Southern Seas to help him. Guanyin transformed a lotus seed into a beautiful girl named ‘Mingzhu’ (AKA Pearl) and said that after they hang out for forty-nine days, she will have Pearl pick the heir. After 49 days, all nine princes fell in love with Pearl and were willing to give up the throne to marry her, Pearl was given permission by Guanyin for who she wanted as her husband. But Pearl didn’t want to hurt any of their feelings, so she turned into a pearl and escaped. The nine dragon princes chased after her and with no choice left, she turned into a puddle of water and thus disappeared. The nine dragon princes were saddened and promised to all transform into nine rivers for Pearl.

[5] “Dragon Gate Building” (龙门楼) – lit translation.

[6] “Solar Devouration” (日蚀) – Lit. translation. Also literally “Solar eclipse” but I went with ‘Solar Devouration’ as the term ‘solar eclipse’ seemed too ahead of the story’s time and too scientific for its setting.

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