CH 99

TL: Moonlit

When Shen Ye and Ye Ze were about to leave, the Huang family wanted to offer them a significant amount of gratitude money, but Shen Ye politely declined. He had already received the reward transferred by Huang Ziyao and didn’t want to take any more money. More importantly, he knew that the Huang family’s intention was only partially to befriend him, and mostly to establish a connection with the Ye family. He didn’t want to bring trouble to Ye Ze and wouldn’t interfere with Ye Ze’s affairs with the Ye family. If the Huang family was genuinely interested, they should directly approach Ye Ze.

It was close to noon at this time, and the two of them returned to the old house for lunch before planning to leave for the airport.

Shen Shimu knew that they were going to the Qi Lian Mountains and really wanted to join them. During their last trip to Lishan Village, even though the roads were not accessible and the environment wasn’t great, with Shen Ye around, he didn’t suffer much. Instead, he was amazed by Shen Ye’s abilities.

This time, he wanted to witness more of Shen Ye’s extraordinary skills.

“Aren’t you supposed to prepare for the wedding banquet with Brother Zong? What’s the matter with you running away?” Shen Ye shook his head and said, “If I take you with me, Brother Zong will hold a grudge against me.”

Shen Shimu realized that was true and could only sigh, “Fine, I won’t go then.”

Xu Ce chuckled and said, “Actually, it should be me and junior brother accompanying Master.”

“Yeah, that’s right,” Mr. Wang also seemed eager to try.

Although he was timid, he also enjoyed watching Shen Ye use his techniques. Especially the move Shen Ye revealed at the Taoist temple yesterday, it left him in awe.

Unfortunately, Shen Ye had no intention of taking anyone else and left directly with Ye Ze.

Before boarding the plane, Shen Ye received a WeChat message from Ning Shihua: [Master Shen, I can arrive in the western province before noon tomorrow. Where should we meet?]

When they woke up this morning, Ye Ze reminded Shen Ye to contact Ning Shihua according to the agreement. Ning Shihua replied at that time, saying that she had a shoot today and couldn’t return with them. However, she could rearrange her schedule for tomorrow.

Shen Ye replied: [You can go back to your hometown. I’ll come to find you the day after tomorrow in the morning.]

Ning Shihua’s hometown was a small town beneath a prefecture-level city in the western province. Their county was called Qi County, right at the foot of the main peak of the Qi Lian Mountains.

This time, Shen Ye planned to go from the western province to the main peak of the Qi Lian Mountains. He calculated that Mingxin Daoren was on the main peak, and the deep pool where Yang Yuhang’s master obtained the jade brush was also there.

However, Shen Ye intended to go from Huan County, adjacent to Qi County, to the main peak. That area had more complex terrain and was more remote. He deliberately avoided densely populated counties and cities to avoid unnecessary trouble.

The plane arrived at the provincial capital in the western province in the late afternoon, around five o’clock. It would take a three-and-a-half-hour drive from the provincial capital to Huan County. After discussing it, Shen Ye and Ye Ze decided to stay in Huan County for the night.

This time, they only brought a few bodyguards. Zong Yiming did not come along because he had to prepare for the wedding banquet. They traveled light for convenience and quick movement.

“Sorry to trouble you again,” Shen Ye embraced Ye Ze’s waist. “The hotels in the county probably aren’t great.”

When they stayed overnight in the county during their previous visit to Lishan Village, Shen Ye felt that he had inconvenienced Ye Ze.

Ye Ze touched his face and kissed him on the lips. “It’s okay.”

In the previous world, Shen Ye was pampered by his master and fellow senior brothers and sisters, but he had no trace of fragility. After coming to this world, Shen Ye had been working hard to earn money to support him… Ye Ze thought to himself, why did he deserve to receive the sincere love of a child?

Even though the child lived so freely, he was willing to stay by his side…

So he didn’t feel inconvenienced at all. On the contrary, he was afraid of inconveniencing Shen Ye.

The two of them stayed in Huan County for one night and set off early the next day to the main peak.

Below Huan County, there was a small village called Jiulong. There was a small path leading to the main peak, but the road was rugged and rarely traversed. Only a few mountain climbers would take this route to climb the mountain.

Shen Ye had already calculated the trace of Mingxin Daoren. In order to find him quickly, he decided to take this small path.

He didn’t bring any bodyguards, only setting off lightly with Ye Ze.

If everything went smoothly, one day would be enough for a round trip.

The car entered Jiulong Village, a small village with few inhabitants, and a few scattered households at the foot of the mountain.

The village chief knew they were going up the mountain and did not stop them. Someone discovered this place ten years ago, and since then, there have been hikers and mountain enthusiasts coming here every summer vacation. The village chief had already grown used to it.

Shen Ye and Ye Ze parked the car at the entrance of the village and walked up the mountain with their backpacks.

The mountain road was truly rugged. They had to climb uphill as soon as they ascended, and after walking less than five hundred meters, they entered the deep forest of the mountains. Towering trees surrounded them, blocking out all sunlight, making it feel like there was no daylight. The ground was covered with decaying leaves, moistened by the forest’s humidity. Occasionally, bird cries could be heard coming from the mountains, creating an eerie atmosphere.

“Don’t be afraid. I’m here,” Shen Ye turned around and held Ye Ze’s hand.

Ye Ze chuckled and held his hand back. “Then you better protect me.”

“No problem!” Shen Ye smiled and patted his chest to assure him.

In fact, he just felt that it was too quiet and wanted to talk to Ye Ze.

Of course, Ye Ze understood that he was joking and was more than willing to play along.

By now, they had entered deep into the mountains, without a trace of anyone around. Shen Ye said in a low voice, “I’ll use my techniques to speed up our pace.”

He made several hand gestures, and soon the path ahead turned into flat ground. They walked on it as if they were on a smooth highway. Moreover, he used his techniques to speed up their steps, and their speed was similar to driving a car.

For Shen Ye, this speed was still too slow. In the past, he could fly on a sword, covering a thousand miles in a day.

But there were many limitations in this world, and this was the limit of his acceleration.

“The old Taoist is halfway up the mountain,” Shen Ye whispered to Ye Ze.

He had already sensed the trace of Mingxin Daoren, so he deliberately concealed his and Ye Ze’s presence, afraid of being detected by him.

Ye Ze pondered for a few seconds and asked, “Will I affect you later?”

“No,” Shen Ye shook his head, intertwining his fingers with Ye Ze’s. “Back then, the old Taoist was injured by your purple aura. Even if his cultivation has advanced in the past ten years, he still can’t harm you. Don’t worry.”

Ye Ze nodded.

Afraid that he would get bored, Shen Ye jokingly said, “This mountain is full of spiritual energy. There are many precious medicinal herbs. Let’s pick some when we come down and give them to Grandpa and Grandma.”

Ye Ze softly responded, “Okay.”

“There are also some spiritual creatures in the mountains. Are you afraid?” Shen Ye deliberately frightened Ye Ze.

Actually, he didn’t sense the presence of any spiritual creatures. Although the spiritual energy in the Qi Lian Mountains was abundant, it seemed that this world was no longer suitable for nurturing spiritual creatures. Therefore, Shen Ye didn’t detect any traces of them.

Ye Ze smiled faintly. “I’m not afraid. You’ll protect me.”

Shen Ye raised his chin proudly. “Of course.”

After about twenty minutes, they reached the halfway point of the main peak.

“We’re here,” Shen Ye pointed ahead and said.

Ahead was a deep pool that was less than thirty square meters, with water so deep that the bottom couldn’t be seen. Above the deep pool, to the left, was a cliff, and there was a small waterfall flowing down.

“The old Taoist is in the cave behind the waterfall,” Shen Ye said. “Let’s go.”

To reach the area behind the waterfall from their current position, they had to use their techniques.

Shen Ye performed a technique and held Ye Ze’s hand, leading the way.

Thinking that he would soon capture Mingxin Daoren and take revenge, Shen Ye was extremely excited.

Indeed, there was a cave behind the waterfall. There was a formation set up at the entrance of the cave.

Shen Ye disdainfully curled his lips. “They actually want to stop me with a formation. They underestimate my abilities.”

With a wave of his hand, even without using his full strength, the formation was broken.

“…So weak?” Shen Ye couldn’t believe it. Compared to the formation outside the Taoist temple two days ago, this formation was obviously weak.

Ye Ze heard his muttering and asked in a low voice, “What’s wrong?”

Shen Ye shook his head and pondered, “I understand now. The core of this formation should be himself. He was seriously injured, so the power of the formation has weakened.”

Two days ago, he killed two disciples of the old Taoist and destroyed the Ju Yang Formation and the Taoist temple. The old Taoist must have been seriously injured.

No wonder when he saw the photo of the old Taoist a few days ago and deduced that the old Taoist was in the Qi Lian Mountains, he was still here today. It was estimated that the old Taoist had already foreseen that he and Ye Ze would come for revenge. However, he stayed here because he didn’t have the strength to run.

Before, he was worried that the old Taoist would escape, but now it seemed that the old Taoist’s abilities were even weaker than he had expected. Despite being injured, he could only wait for death.

Shen Ye pulled Ye Ze and walked inside.

The cave was pitch black, and nothing could be seen. Shen Ye quickly used a spell to illuminate the cave. The cave was small, and they could see the end of it at a glance.

However, it was decorated in a flamboyant manner, and spiritual energy continuously surged out from the inside. It was obviously the place where the old Taoist cultivated.

Shen Ye looked up and saw an old man with white hair and a white beard meditating not far away.

“Is that him?” Shen Ye had actually already recognized that the old man was Mingxin Daoren, but he still whispered to confirm with Ye Ze.

Ye Ze looked for a few seconds and nodded, “Yes.”

He could never forget the face of his enemy.

Back then, it was this old Taoist who brought Ye Xiangtang to their house to cause trouble. His grandfather was immediately taken ill, and if it weren’t for the purple aura on him injuring this old Taoist, both he and his cousin might have been killed.

Shen Ye nodded and was about to take action against the old Taoist.

But then he heard the old Taoist speak, “You’ve finally come.”

Shen Ye ignored him and threw a talisman at him, trapping him in place.

Surprisingly, the old Taoist didn’t struggle and just said, “I knew you would find your way here.”

Shen Ye couldn’t be polite to the culprit who harmed the Ye family. He sneered, “The heavens are just, and a person who commits such evil deeds like you will surely face retribution. Now, the heavens have sent me to deal with you!”

From the appearance of the old Taoist, it was evident that he had taken countless lives.

Shen Ye was determined to carry out justice, but what made him angrier was that the old Taoist had caused the death of Ye Ze’s parents because he coveted the purple aura on Ye Ze’s body… Thinking that Ye Ze would be upset when he learned the truth, Shen Ye’s anger surged.

He had made up his mind to extract the old Taoist’s soul and let it experience being burned by fire, scalded in hot oil, involved in a car accident, and hacked by a knife in his specially prepared formation… day after day, until ten years had passed and his anger subsided.

The old Taoist glanced at Shen Ye and said, “I know I won’t live much longer, and you won’t let me off easy… It was my miscalculation. I didn’t have a chance to seize the purple aura from Ye Ze.” He suddenly fixed his gaze on Ye Ze and continued, “Back then, I shouldn’t have personally dealt with you. I should have found a mortal to kill you and absorb your purple aura…”

He clicked his tongue and showed a very regretful expression.

Shen Ye couldn’t help but mock, “With your abilities, there’s only a dead end when you oppose my husband.”

“Yes, that’s why I was ultimately defeated,” sighed the old Taoist. He then looked at Ye Ze and Shen Ye again and said, “You two are actually married… Ye Ze was originally destined to be a star of ill omen. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have killed his parents and…”

Before he could finish his sentence, Shen Ye swiftly threw a talisman at him and shouted, “Shut your mouth!”

Shen Ye didn’t want Ye Ze to know that his parents and uncle and aunt died in a car accident because of him. It would be too cruel for Ye Ze.

However, Ye Ze had caught a glimpse of the truth and stared at the old Taoist, asking slowly, word by word, “Star of ill omen?”

The old Taoist replied, “Yes…”

Unfortunately, he only managed to utter one word before Shen Ye sealed his mouth with another talisman.

Shen Ye had been flustered and hadn’t expected to use a talisman to silence the old Taoist.

“Don’t listen to his nonsense,” Shen Ye said anxiously. He grabbed Ye Ze’s hand and said, “The purple aura on your body is the aura of emperors and generals. I’ve never seen anyone emit a purple aura in my original world, which shows that you are favored by the heavens!”

Due to his anxiety, Shen Ye spoke rapidly without taking a breath.

Ye Ze listened silently and tightened his grip on Shen Ye’s hand. He whispered, “Don’t worry, I haven’t thought too much about it.”

Shen Ye: “?”

Why was his husband so calm?

This was different from what he had anticipated…

Ye Ze said, “I only believe in the fate you’ve foretold for me. I don’t trust what others say.”

Author's Note

Happy New Year, my darlings~

I’ll be updating less these days, but I’ll return to the regular 6,000 words per day starting tomorrow~

I’ll continue sending red envelopes on the first day of the new year. Goodnight, my darlings~

I’ll revise the text another day~

Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or watered me between 23:57:05 on 2019-12-31 and 22:53:29 on 2020-01-01~

Special thanks to the following little angels for watering me: Xiao Niu (5 bottles); Seiichi, Cucumber Chips, Sunset Glow (1 bottle each).

Thank you all for your support. I will continue to work hard!