CH extra 4

The sound of the phoenix flute moved, the light of the jade pot turned, and it was a night where the fishes and dragons danced. 

Bai Tianrui enjoyed drinking, but rarely got drunk.

The moment he kissed the lips he had longed for, he wished that he really had been drunk. If he was drunk, he wouldn’t be able to see the pity and mercy in Xuan Qing’s eyes. If he was drunk, he wouldn’t know that Xuan Qing didn’t have a hint of affection for him. 

Being pushed away as a matter of course, Bai Tianrui took a few steps back and greedily stared at Xuan Qing. However, when he saw Xuan Qing’s eyes clearly, the desire in his heart turned all into anger.

“Do not look at me with such eyes, I am not a child!!!” He angrily roared, but it seemed so powerless. Bai Tianrui just stared as Xuan Qing walked away.

The monk’s back was the same as when he had arrived; his spine was straight and his hands and feet were light and breezy.

Bai Tianrui just watched as Xuan Qing left and stood alone in the alley for a long time. It was only until nightfall, when the lights of the whole Dajing gradually extinguished and fell into the boundless silence, that he turned to leave.

That night, Bai Tianrui did not sleep. As long as he closed his eyes, what swarmed in his mind was the touch of Xuan Qing’s lips. He didn’t know if it was his own imagination, but he always felt that Xuan Qing’s lips had a faint sandalwood scent to it.

Bai Tianrui smiled bitterly and thought, this was probably Marauder’s barrier.

In accordance with past habits, Xuan Qing would head off to the palace before leaving to say goodbye to Bai Jinglun, therefore, Bai Tianrui was not too anxious. But who knew that this time Xuan Qing did not follow his usual rules and when Bai Tianrui arrived at the inn, he was actually informed that he had already left.

Looking at Lin Rufei’s innocent look, Bai Tianrui cursed in a low voice, turned around, and left with his back showing a bit of wretchedness. However, by the time he rushed to the city gate, the monk was long gone.

Xuan Qing’s trail became a mystery and as long as he left Dajing, it was impossible to find him. Bai Tianrui felt hatred in his heart as he stood at the city gate cursing. He did not care about the astonished and fearful eyes of the people around him. 

“The monk can run away, but the temple won’t run with him[1].” Bai Tianrui clenched his teeth and almost crushed the sword in his hand.

In the following years, as Bai Tianrui expected, he could not find Xuan Qing’s trail at all.

Xuan Qing, this monk, had no name in Jianghu. Even if he did something, he wouldn’t necessarily know that it was him. Wanting to find his whereabouts was like finding a needle in a haystack.

But Bai Tianrui was not in a hurry, he knew where Xuan Qing would go.

Four years later, at the Kunlun Sword Competition.

With the invitation sent by Lin Rufei, Bai Tianrui headed off to Kunlun.

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At this time, four years had passed since the two last met. In mortal terms, four years may be very long, but for them, it was just a snap of the fingers.

At the sword competition, Bai Tianrui really met Xuan Qing.

Xuan Qing was smiling as he said something to the little gongzi of the Lin family. Both of their faces surfaced with a gentle look and at first, they looked extraordinarily similar. This gentleness was different from the compassion that he had used to view all objects; this gentleness carried real temperature. 

Even if Bai Tianrui didn’t want to admit it, he was indeed jealous. He clasped the sword at his side with a deadly clasp and slowly stepped forward, walking up to Xuan Qing.

Xuan Qing smiled and turned back. Just as he had when they parted four years ago, he called out to him tamely: “Bai gongzi.” With his tone of voice and demeanor, there wasn’t a trace of impropriety, as if he was just seeing an old friend who he hadn’t seen for a long time.

Bai Tianrui greeted, “Master Xuan Qing, long time no see.”

“Long time no see.” Xuan Qing gently responded.

“I didn’t expect Master Xuan Qing to really come.” Bai Tianrui narrowed his mesmerized eyes, “It seems that Master Xuan Qing and Lin gongzi’s relationship is indeed good.”

“Lin gongzi is my friend.” Xuan Qing replied as he lowered his head. Thus, he did not notice that when he said the word “friend,” the pupils of the powerful Prince of Dajing in front of him, contracted fiercely, as if he had heard something incredible.

“Friend?” Chewing on this word, Bai Tianrui laughed, “So that’s how it is.” He then turned around and left.

“Isn’t it a bad idea to stimulate him like this?” In the end, Lin Rufei noticed what was going on and hesitantly asked.

Xuan Qing looked puzzled, as if he didn’t know what Lin Rufei meant by this: “Stimulate?”

When Lin Rufei noticed that the confusion on Xuan Qing’s face did not seem to be fake, he lost his smile: “Has this monk ever liked anyone?”

Xuan Qing replied, “Monks only believe in Lord Buddha, how can they be moved to lust.”

“That’s true.” Lin Rufei sighed, “Then it’s going to be hard for that little Prince.”

During the lively banquet, Lin Rufei, as the host, naturally had a lot of wine poured for him. However, Bai Tianrui did not join in on that lively party and simply sat on the side, drinking alone. 

Probably because the drinks on Kunlun were different from the mortal world, after he drank a lot, a slight drunkenness seemed to have also surfaced. It seemed that someone next to him was asking him something with a smile; asking if this gongzi had something unhappy and why he was sitting here drinking by himself. However, Bai Tianrui ignored it.

Only until the banquet came to an end did a certain monk, sitting in the corner, rose to say goodbye.

Bai Tianrui put down the glass of wine in his hand and also followed him out.

The two walked outside. Xuan Qing noticed his movement, stopped, and turned to look at him. Four years had not left the slightest trace on this monk’s face. He still looked the same as he did four years ago and still looked at him with the same gaze as he did four years ago.

“Xuan Qing.” He did not call him monk this time, but called him by his name.

Xuan Qing raised his eyes and looked at Bai Tianrui.

“Four years ago, why did you leave without saying goodbye?” Bai Tianrui asked him.

Xuan Qing smiled, “This monk had already sent a letter to the emperor, how can you call it an unannounced farewell?”

Bai Tianrui gritted his teeth, “You sent a letter to my brother, what about me?”

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Xuan Qing sighed, “Bai gongzi.”

Bai Tianrui, “Mnn?”

Xuan Qing asked, “Do you like flowers?”

Bai Tianrui frowned at him, “So what if I do?”

Xuan Qing continued, “Have you ever planted any?”

Bai Tianrui pursed his lips but did not say anything.

Xuan Qing said, “This monk likes flowers, but never planted any.”

Bai Tianrui understood what Xuan Qing meant and he clenched his teeth once again, “Just because the flowers will wither?”

Xuan Qing smiled, “No, only because flowers and grass look the same to the monk. Whether it blooms or not and whether it withers or not.”

Bai Tianrui smiled miserably: “So you use me as a metaphor for flowers, meaning that whether it is flowers or grass, or a stone on the roadside, in your eyes, there is no difference?”

“Yes.” Xuan Qing’s voice was still so gentle. However, for Bai Tianrui, that simple reply “yes,” pierced through him as if blood had flowed everywhere. With his hoarse voice, he roared, “What about Lin Rufei——Lin Rufei——”

Xuan Qing looked at Bai Tianrui strangely.

Bai Tianrui questioned, “Is he a stone in your eyes too?”

Xuan Qing replied, “Naturally not.”

Bai Tianrui asked, “Then what is he?”

Xuan Qing blinked and smiled, “He is……the ruler of the world.”

Bai Tianrui’s eyes were red, “Xuan Qing, you’re not willing to give me even a single chance?” 

Xuan Qing, however, did not speak and just quietly looked at Bai Tianrui. Probably because Bai Tianrui’s eyes were too desperate, he couldn’t help but let out a low sigh, “Bai gongzi, why are you doing this?”

Bai Tianrui laughed miserably, turned around, and left. His steps looked a bit staggering as he walked away from him.

Xuan Qing looked at him quietly before bowing his head and reciting, Amitabha Buddha.

This was the last time they saw each other after more than a hundred years. Bai Tianrui left the sword competition, but did not return to Dajing and Xuan Qing also never saw him again.

Until one day, when Xuan Qing went to pay respect to Bai Jinglun. At this time, Bai Jinglun had been dead for many years so Xuan Qing took advantage of the Qingming Festival to sweep his tomb in the light rain. 

In the end, he was the emperor so his tombstone was extraordinarily clean. However, Xuan Qing noticed that in the corner of the tombstone, a small white flower bloomed.

Ghost messenger. Xuan Qing squatted down halfway and gently stroked the small flower that was trembling in the rain. He raised the oil paper umbrella in his hand and gently sheltered it. 

“Xuan Qing.” Someone was calling him.

Xuan Qing looked up, but saw nothing.

Was it just his imagination? Xuan Qing thought. He felt that he heard the voice of Bai Tianrui.

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[1] Idiom: “I’ll get you sooner or later.”