CH 35

The howling wind drowned out their voices.

Ye Bingran suddenly realized that this place was a created illusion of memories, and the other person wouldn’t answer.

He looked at the exquisitely handsome little boy, bent down to pick up the Li Tian sword from the snow, and returned it to him. Then he walked to the side, brushed the accumulated snow off a stone, and sat down.

Shen Liuxiang tilted his head slightly, supporting his chin with one hand, and stared at the person still staring blankly at him.

He thought to himself: He really is like a block of wood, looking so dull and foolish.

He had come to the Sword Sect with the Qinglíng group to play. Here, their Master was taken away by Daoist Jianzhen, and his senior brothers went to the training ground, while he was taken away by Uncle Lan.

Blue Uncle always loved him and would always give him a bunch of nice things whenever they met. This time was no exception.

He was treated well, had delicious food and drinks, and touched the bulging storage bag. He wrapped himself in a warm and fluffy blanket and slept on a beautiful bed.

Seeing this, Uncle Lan took out a nine-stringed qin and played a soothing melody to help him have good dreams.

After sleeping for half an hour, Shen Liuxiang rubbed his sleepy eyes and heard Uncle Lan talking with someone.

“It’s been almost two years since he joined the sect, yet he still doesn’t speak. He just practices the sword on the back mountain all day. I’ve tried everything, but I’m at a loss.”

The person beside him sighed lightly, “Brother Lan, you’ve put in so much effort. This child is indeed pitiful. He watched his parents be swallowed by a demonic beast to protect him, only to see their bloody remains scattered everywhere. Let alone, he was only five years old, if it were you or me, we’d both go insane.”

“He practices the sword day and night because he’s in pain, deep down in his heart.”

Uncle Lan sighed as well.

“When he paid his respects to me as his master, I asked him why he wields the sword. He pointed to my hand and wrote, ‘To prevent anyone from dying in front of me!'”

Shen Liuxiang grabbed a handful of snow, lowered his head, and fiddled with it using both hands.

The evening grew darker.

He stood behind Ye Bingran, who was almost turning into an ice sculpture.

“I have a gift for you.”

Two small snowmen, each about the size of a palm, appeared in Ye Bingran’s line of sight. One held a small twig, and the other had a green leaf on its head.

“Since you don’t talk, I’ll take it as you’ve agreed to accept them.”

Shen Liuxiang placed the snowmen on the ground one by one, then lifted his eyelids, stood up straight with a straight waist, and said boldly, “Alright, it’s time for you to return the favor.”

The surroundings fell silent for a moment, and only the sound of snowflakes gently falling was heard.

Ye Bingran’s face showed a bit of confusion. He hurriedly reached for his storage bag, but as soon as his hand stretched out, he found that there was nothing on his waist. Not only did he not have a storage bag, but he didn’t even have a piece of broken jade.

Shen Liuxiang saw him slightly embarrassed and smiled.

“In that case, I’ll make it easier. I’m a coward and afraid of death. I treasure my life the most.”

He picked up the snowman with the green leaf, grabbed Ye Bingran’s hand, and placed it on top of the snowman. “From now on, if I encounter danger, you can come and save me. Consider it as returning the favor.”

Ye Bingran’s fingertips trembled slightly, and his icy eyes stared at the delicate little snowman in his hand.

It’s wrong…

Everything is wrong—!

Just like that day when he couldn’t bear to let go of the little snowman and held it in his hand, only to end up melting it.

He was really foolish and clumsy.

“Don’t say I’m bullying you; this is just returning the favor.” Shen Liuxiang took off a small piece of the missing lotus leaf from his head and shook it. After shaking off the snowflakes on it, he took a step forward and covered Ye Bingran’s cold snow-covered head with the emerald lotus leaf.

“Past clouds, look ahead… if you can’t see anything, you can look at me.”

“I’m the beloved disciple of Qingling!” he said with warmth and gentleness.

After speaking, the young boy in white glanced at the sky and mumbled that his Master should be looking for him, then turned and walked away.

Ye Bingran’s fingertips brushed across his sleeve, almost catching him, but ultimately he didn’t catch anything. He watched as the person disappeared into the wind and snow.

“Don’t go—”

Ye Bingran suddenly chased after him.

Reacting in a completely different way from before.

Indoors, Lan Xiaosheng’s face changed drastically. He tried to extinguish the incense, but a surge of spiritual power protected the incense, blocking his actions.

And the source of that spiritual power was not someone else; it was Ye Bingran himself.

“Oh no, he fell into the nightmare trap!”

Ling Ye’s eyes flickered slightly. “No, he’s distracted protecting the incense, which means he’s still conscious and knows that he’s in an illusion.”

Lan Xiaosheng was surprised. “If that’s the case, why not let me save him?”

Ling Ye didn’t answer. He pinched the incense, which was only half-burnt, and with a flick of his finger, he crushed the spiritual power attached to it and broke the incense.

Ye Bingran suddenly spat out blood and woke up.

His gaze fell on the young man on the bed, and his thin lips trembled. His voice was extremely hoarse. “I came to Qingling to find you… I’m sorry, I mistook you… I was wrong.”

Lan Xiaosheng saw that his emotions were off, but it wasn’t the time to ask in detail.

The incense, only one stick remained.

“Who’s next?”

Ling Ye stood by the bed, tucking the blankets, his face indifferent. “Zhou Xuanlan.”

Lan Xiaosheng massaged his forehead. “His cultivation level is not enough.”

Ling Ye glanced at him with a slanting gaze. “Master Lan has a strong bias against him.”

“Yes.” Lan Xiaosheng admitted openly, “The entanglement between Liuxiang and him is not a good thing.”

“As for future matters, let’s discuss them later.” Ling Ye stood with his hands behind his back, his expression calm. “Your wariness of him and my expectations of him are the same. Now is the time we need him.”

The door opened again.

Ning Runxin’s face turned iron-gray. If it weren’t for Zhao Lin’s dissuasion, he would have gone forward to argue. How could he be worse than even the Golden Core Stage disciples?!

Su Baiche glanced around, pondering the possibility of a successful escape. If the Nightmare Beast was caught, it would most likely expose him.

But Tong Xi said, “No, it’s critical now. You must follow Zhou Xuanlan closely.”

Su Baiche held back his eager steps. “Please be more specific.”

Just as Tong Xi was about to speak, Su Baiche heard a voice in his mind, sounding confused and disoriented.

It was the Nightmare Beast.

“Master, who is the newcomer? This aura makes me feel a little scared.”

Su Baiche was speechless. “You are a fierce beast of the Demon Realm, why are you pretending to be pitiful?”

Nightmare Beast: “But I…”

“Spare me the nonsense,” Su Baiche frowned, “Your domain is the sea of consciousness, create an illusion to trap him, that should do it.”

After a while, the Nightmare Beast stuttered, “It’s useless. These memories can’t trap him… The only place that might work, I can’t touch it, can’t see it, there… there’s the aura of the Heavenly Dao.”

“Heavenly Dao?!” Su Baiche was taken aback, pondered for a moment, “Don’t use his memories. Create an extra illusion to trap him, and you take the opportunity to escape.”

The Nightmare Beast stumbled, “W-What kind of illusion would work? Please instruct me, Master.”

“How simple. Do you even need to ask?” Su Bai Che stroked his chin, “Of course, you bring out a beautiful woman to seduce him. As long as she’s beautiful and enticing enough, even a vigorous young man won’t be able to resist!”

The Nightmare Beast thought it made sense and left to carry out the task.

Zhou Xuan Lan opened his eyes, surrounded by a fragrant aroma.

He was half-immersed in a hot spring, leaning against a cool stone, holding someone in his arms.

The young man wore half-opened red clothes, revealing a fair and enticingly slender chest. The curve of his neck was elegant, and his waist-length black hair clung to his damp, boneless body.

His white, jade-like arm wrapped around Zhou Xuanlan’s neck, and his dark lashes trembled as he asked, “Am I pretty?”

Zhou Xuan Lan looked at his face, “Beautiful.”

The young man in red smiled enchantingly, like a captivating enchantress.

His hand moved downward, and his slender and fair fingers gently traced along Zhou Xuanlan’s spine.

His vermilion lips brushed against his ear, emitting a seductive breath.

“I know you want me. Come on~ here, you can strip my clothes and do whatever you want to me… No one will know, and I won’t resist, allowing you to indulge~”

Zhou Xuanlan turned his head to stare at the young man’s delicate features, remaining silent for a moment. Then, he reached out and pinched the delicate, fair neck.

His gaze was indifferent and a confident, cold smile curved his lips.

“Get lost. My Master wouldn’t behave so recklessly.”

T/N: Looking forward to seeing regretful Ye Bingran…