Next up, please welcome our new Benefactor – Honi! This wave of updates thanks to Honi (*´▽`*)❀.
(3/5)
Xiao Mo carried this speculation with him, his heart thundering uncontrollably.
Even though Chu Jinglan had quickly regained his composure, pretending nothing had happened wouldn’t make sense after what just occurred.
If it really was because of me… then could I dare to think even more boldly? Could I believe that I hold more weight in Chu Jinglan’s heart than I originally thought?
The thought clawed at Xiao Mo’s mind, filling him with both hope and unease.
But ever since Xiao Mo had known him, Chu Jinglan had always been someone who could maintain a flawless facade when he wanted to stay composed. In this way, they were similar—though their methods differed slightly.
When Chu Jinglan steadied himself, his expression became as still and cold as a deep pond without ripples. Xiao Mo, on the other hand, could still smile nonchalantly, masking his emotions behind an air of casual ease. Whatever it took to hide his feelings, he would do it.
For the first time, Xiao Mo realized this habit might not be such a good thing—and he took a moment to reflect on himself as well.
Meanwhile, Yan Chun, Chu Xia, and Mo Zhi hadn’t seen Chu Jinglan for years. Now reunited with both Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan in one day, they couldn’t stop their tears from flowing. No matter how much fame or success they’d achieved outside these walls, their hearts were still tied to that small house from long ago—to the two people who had pulled them out of the mire.
If it weren’t for these two people who had once saved them, there would never have been a swordsman like Yan Chun, a healer like Chu Xia, or a great blade expert like Mo Zhi. The kindness they received back then was something they had never forgotten.
The three of them didn’t even bother using a cleansing spell to wipe away their cold sweat. Instead, they nervously murmured, “Master…”
Chu Jinglan’s gaze swept over them slowly.
Xiao Mo had come down the mountain specifically to find them.
“Come in,” Chu Jinglan said.
He turned and walked away with Xiao Mo, leaving the three stunned for a moment before breaking into delighted smiles. Realizing what Chu Jinglan meant, they quickly packed up their courtyard belongings into their storage devices and followed him. Five figures stepped together through the gates of Du-E Sect.
The once cold and desolate sect now carried a faint sense of liveliness as scattered individuals reunited.
Chu Jinglan assigned them a mountain peak at a reasonable distance from Du-E Peak. The three hurriedly placed their belongings there before returning to Du-E Peak and standing respectfully before Chu Jinglan.
Even after all these years, when faced with important matters, it was still Yan Chun who spoke on behalf of the group.
Despite having made names for themselves in the outside world, the three of them seemed like children again in front of Chu Jinglan and Xiao Mo—filled with both unease and anticipation. Bowing respectfully, Yan Chun asked, “Master, does this mean we are now officially part of Du-E Sect?”
With a flick of his fingers, Chu Jinglan sent three Du-E Sect waist tokens floating into the air before them.
These weren’t the crude wooden tokens from their time in the lower realm but refined spiritual jade tokens that shimmered with brilliance. Overjoyed, the three accepted the tokens with trembling hands. “Thank you, Master!”
“I don’t take disciples,” Chu Jinglan said calmly. “From now on, you may call me Sect Master.” He made no mention of whether Du-E Sect would ever open its doors to others. With Xiao Mo standing beside him, he added, “Do I have one?”
Chu Jinglan flipped his hand over and presented a jade token to Xiao Mo.
Xiao Mo accepted it with both hands and gently ran his fingers over it. The token was exquisitely crafted—made of white jade but not overly cold in appearance. The golden inscriptions of spiritual runes were seamlessly embedded into its surface, and the engraved characters flowed like dragons dancing across the token’s face. It was truly beautiful.
The sect’s emblem was a lotus flower.
So Chu Jinglan prefers lotuses over night-blooming cereus? Xiao Mo thought as he traced the flower’s design with his fingers. He decided then and there that he would carve a lotus motif into the sword tassel he planned to make for Chu Jinglan.
Carefully storing away his token—the symbol of his identity within Du-E Sect—Xiao Mo turned to Yan Chun, Chu Xia, and Mo Zhi with a warm smile. “It’s rare for us to reunite like this. I’d like to cook a meal so we can sit down and catch up properly. Would you be willing to help me?”
The three immediately agreed enthusiastically: “Of course!”
Earlier that morning, Xiao Mo had noticed that the kitchen in Du-E Peak’s courtyard was fully equipped with everything one could need. As he led the trio there to showcase his cooking skills, he realized that although Chu Jinglan hadn’t said much, he was following closely behind him.
Blinking in surprise, Xiao Mo asked, “You…”
“I’ll join you,” Chu Jinglan replied simply.
Xiao Mo chuckled softly. “Alright then—let’s all cook together.”
In this immortal’s residence nestled in the cold mountains, smoke from cooking fires rose gently into the air, bringing a touch of human warmth to the otherwise frosty surroundings. The kitchen buzzed with activity as pots bubbled and laughter filled the space. Xiao Mo and Yan Chun’s group chatted happily as they worked, while Chu Jinglan—though expressionless—stood among them instead of outside in the snow.
The more elaborate dishes took several hours to prepare and couldn’t be finished in time for lunch. Instead, they ended up preparing an entire table full of food for dinner.
Of course, everyone present had already reached a level where they no longer needed food for sustenance. This meal wasn’t about filling their stomachs—it was about sharing time together at the table. Whether it was lunch or dinner didn’t matter; what mattered was sitting down together.
By dusk, the courtyard table was laden with dishes: Eight-Treasure White Feather Chicken, Honey-Glazed Roasted Pork, Steamed Sea Beast Fish, Exotic Treasure Soup—all steaming hot and fragrant enough to make anyone’s mouth water.
Mo Zhi pulled out some wine from his storage device and announced proudly: “This wine is called Relief from Worries. It’s an exceptional vintage over a hundred years old—I brought it out today just for us to enjoy!”
Mo Zhi, who usually couldn’t bear to drink much of his precious wine, had brought out everything he had today. The group poured their drinks and raised their cups in a shared toast.
Xiao Mo had never drunk alcohol before. The wine was fiery and intense, yet rich and aromatic. Its complex flavor was hard to describe, as if it carried the essence of countless worldly experiences, turning all the bitterness and sweetness of life into a flame that burned its way down his throat and into his heart. Whether it could truly relieve worries was uncertain—but its strength was undeniable.
The wine was also infused with potent spiritual energy. After three cups, Xiao Mo’s cheeks flushed, and heat surged through his body. Knowing his limit, he set down his cup and refrained from drinking more.
What Xiao Mo didn’t realize was how captivating he looked at that moment. His eyes glistened with a gentle mist, his flushed cheeks blooming like peach blossoms—more vivid than the evening sunset. The faint intoxication in his gaze was more alluring than the finest wine.
The inner demon had neither blood nor tears, but now, in his human form, Xiao Mo’s veins ran hot with blood. When he felt anger, shame, or drunkenness, his face could flush with warmth, and his eyes could glisten with unshed tears.
Chu Jinglan’s gaze stayed fixed on Xiao Mo. He held his cup steadily, drinking one glass after another as if swallowing flames.
As Xianzun, Chu Jinglan’s spiritual energy was unparalleled in the world; this wine was nothing to him. He could drink a thousand cups without getting drunk.
Meanwhile, Mo Zhi hugged the wine jar and drank deeply in bold gulps. With the alcohol emboldening him, he no longer waited for Yan Chun to take the lead in speaking. Wiping his mouth with a hand, he turned to Xiao Mo and said: “Actually, we heard the news this morning—about the wedding banquet three months from now.”
“When you came this morning, Shixiong, we guessed you might be the one marrying Master. Later, when we learned it was you who had returned… we were truly overjoyed.”
Mo Zhi’s eyes reddened as he choked up slightly: “We’ll do everything we can to help prepare for the Dao companion ceremony—you can count on us!”
Chu Xia held her cup delicately and sipped slowly before sidling up next to Xiao Mo. In a quiet voice, she said: “Shixiong… after you left, Master didn’t withdraw from the world at first. In those early years, he acted decisively and drew a lot of criticism. But after establishing Du-E Sect… things became far too lonely.”
After storms of bloodshed came years of solitude and desolation. Out of respect for Chu Jinglan’s presence, Chu Xia refrained from saying anything too sorrowful aloud. Instead, she simply added: “Now that you’re here… we can finally be at ease.”
Raising his cup again, Yan Chun smiled warmly: “And let me offer an early blessing to Shixiong and Master—ah no, I should say Sect Master now.” He corrected himself gracefully before continuing: “May you two live in harmony like a well-tuned zither and remain united forever.”
This toast had to be honored. Xiao Mo lifted his cup again and drank another round.
The group drank together from dusk until moonrise. Eventually, Yan Chun and Chu Xia helped a thoroughly drunk Mo Zhi stumble away. Xiao Mo had only drunk five cups in total; though his cheeks were still flushed like peach blossoms, he remained clear-headed.
However, the lingering effects of the alcohol left warmth coursing through his limbs and chest. Now that only he and Chu Jinglan remained under the moonlight, Chu Jinglan finished off the last of the wine in silence. Though he had drunk more than anyone else that night, he showed no signs of intoxication—his mind was completely sober.
In the soft glow of moonlight, a storage device slid across the table toward Chu Jinglan.
It wasn’t the one Chu Jinglan had given Xiao Mo last night. Setting down his empty wine cup, Chu Jinglan’s gaze followed the storage device upward until it landed on Xiao Mo’s face—his cheeks still tinged with a rosy hue like blooming peach blossoms under the night sky.
Radiant and stunning, unparalleled in elegance.
Xiao Mo smiled at Chu Jinglan. “I thought, since you said we’d split things evenly, it wouldn’t make sense to only divide yours and not mine.”
Inside the storage device was half of Xiao Mo’s personal wealth, redeemed from the system’s store. He had taken everything he owned, divided it in half, and placed one portion into this storage device.
“My things should be shared with you as well. That’s only fair.”
Chu Jinglan picked up the storage device. Xiao Mo couldn’t tell if he scanned its contents with his spiritual sense, but after holding it for a moment, Chu Jinglan quietly accepted it.
Xiao Mo let out a sigh of relief.
They no longer had any formal partnership or shared mission, yet they were still splitting their belongings equally. This gesture had already crossed the line of mere close friendship.
The fact that Chu Jinglan accepted it filled Xiao Mo with quiet joy. Perhaps Chu Jinglan hadn’t realized that their relationship had already deepened—this was understandable. For someone unfamiliar with matters of the heart, understanding feelings could come in an instant, unprompted yet crystal clear. But if that moment never came, they might remain oblivious forever, unable to see what was right in front of them.
When Xiao Mo had come to terms with his own feelings, it had been a strange and profound experience. Chu Jinglan might not understand yet—but that was fine. Xiao Mo would take his time leading Chu Jinglan by the hand and guiding him forward.
Buoyed by the warmth left behind by the strong wine, Xiao Mo turned to Chu Jinglan and said softly: “I haven’t properly said this yet… I’m back, Chu Jinglan.”
Under the moonlight, Chu Jinglan’s calm eyes seemed to shift slightly. He turned toward Xiao Mo, his gaze meeting his directly. He noticed how Xiao Mo’s fingers fidgeted nervously before hearing him ask: “Can I hug you?”
The last time Xiao Mo had hugged him, it had been to suppress his consciousness—leaving him unconscious and plunging him into a long and lucid nightmare.
Chu Jinglan felt his heartbeat falter. The air around him grew thick and heavy as if suffocating him. His blood felt like it was freezing; his soul seemed on the verge of fracturing. His hand pressed tightly against the table as shadows stirred—an unseen beast twitched its ears, its pupils narrowing into slits as sharp fangs bared themselves in silent anticipation.
Xiao Mo was still waiting for his answer.
After a moment, Chu Jinglan lifted his hand from the table. It moved just slightly upward—a motion so tentative that it could have meant anything—but Xiao Mo’s eyes lit up instantly. He opened his arms and embraced Chu Jinglan without hesitation.
Chu Jinglan’s hand froze midair.
He wasn’t drunk, yet he felt dizzy and lightheaded. The moonlight seemed to swirl in his vision, dazzling him to the point of pain—not in his eyes but deep within his heart.
And yet… within that embrace, his once-silent heart began to beat again. The warmth of Xiao Mo’s body radiated outward, melting away the heaviness and stickiness in the air around them until it dissipated entirely. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Chu Jinglan heard his own heartbeat and breathing clearly—felt warmth spreading through every corner of his being as if pulling him out of suffocating darkness and back into the world of the living.
Tentatively, with stiff and trembling movements, Chu Jinglan slowly raised his arms.
When he finally wrapped them around Xiao Mo—truly holding him in his embrace—he tightened his grip firmly.
He’s back.
He’s really back.
Right here—and he’s not leaving.
Chu Jinglan knew that over three hundred years, his heart had split into two halves: one half housed a raging beast; the other scattered seeds of hope. Now those seeds were beginning to sprout—tiny shoots pushing upward through the soil—and even this small growth was enough to quiet the roaring beast within him.
He took a deep breath and suddenly tightened his arms further, pulling Xiao Mo closer against him.
Xiao Mo was slightly startled by this but didn’t let go. Resting his hands around Chu Jinglan’s shoulders, he repeated softly: “I’m back.”
From the moment they reunited until now, Chu Jinglan finally felt his mind clear, as if a fog had lifted. The icy facade on his face cracked inch by inch, and his trembling pupils betrayed the emotions surging within him. Holding the dream he had waited three hundred years for, he murmured hoarsely, “You’re back.”
I waited endlessly for your return, my heart reduced to ashes.
But now that you’re here, I realize that beneath those ashes still lay smoldering embers. I couldn’t ignite them myself, but with just one touch from you, they flare to life.
Chu Jinglan closed his eyes as the long-suppressed false calm shattered. Like magma erupting from a volcano, emotions surged uncontrollably. His arms tightened around Xiao Mo as his eyes reddened. When Xiao Mo tried to move away, Chu Jinglan placed a hand on his head, steady yet firm, pressing him gently back onto his shoulder.
“…Just a moment longer. Just a little while,” he whispered.
While clarity and emotion still coursed through him, he wanted to hold this person a little longer.
Xiao Mo blinked and then leaned gently against Chu Jinglan’s shoulder. “Alright.”
They stayed like that for a long time before their moonlit silhouettes slowly separated. In the soft glow of the night, they quietly traced each other’s features with their eyes.
Perhaps one of them wanted to raise a hand but then let it fall back down.
By now, Chu Jinglan’s reddened eyes showed no trace of their earlier turmoil. With two fingers pressed together, he placed a protective seal on Xiao Mo’s body. “If this seal is triggered, I’ll be able to come to your side immediately. Also, I’ll always be able to sense your location.”
Xiao Mo raised an eyebrow playfully: “If I say thank you, would that be polite or distant?”
Chu Jinglan replied calmly: “Between us, there’s no need for thanks.”
Xiao Mo smiled warmly. “Alright.”
Chu Jinglan withdrew his hand and used his sleeve to cover his trembling fingers. “I feel like I’ve gained some insight—I’ll return to my room to cultivate. You should rest early too.”
Xiao Mo watched him leave with reluctant eyes. “Mm.”
Only after Chu Jinglan entered his room did Xiao Mo slowly look away. He gazed up at the bright moon in the sky and listened to the loud pounding of his own heart.
…That’s it—there’s no way I’m cultivating or sleeping tonight.
And Xiao Mo was right. After returning to his room, he found himself restless—perhaps the lingering effects of the wine or perhaps something else entirely. His body felt hot and unsettled, and though he tried to calm himself, the smile tugging at the corners of his lips wouldn’t fade.
This restless energy was both maddening and sweetly satisfying.
He glanced out the window toward Chu Jinglan’s room and found himself tempted to drag him out for a long conversation—or even just sit silently together. But since Chu Jinglan was cultivating, that idea was out of the question.
Resigned, Xiao Mo lay back on his bed and tossed and turned for what felt like forever before finally giving up on resting altogether. He pushed open the door and stepped outside to wander among the nearby mountain peaks in hopes of dissipating some of this restless heat.
The outside world boasted that Du-E Sect’s eighty-one peaks were filled with extraordinary sights—this seemed like a good chance to see if those claims were true or just exaggerated rumors.
The peaks were protected by restrictions that blocked spiritual sense from probing but didn’t prevent physical entry. Xiao Mo randomly picked one peak and strolled inside at a leisurely pace, his flushed cheeks and bright eyes still carrying traces of joy. In the mountain forest’s gentle breeze, he seemed like spring itself had arrived.
The peak he chose at random wasn’t particularly remarkable in terms of scenery. However, in his good mood, even ordinary sights seemed tinged with extra beauty. So he continued walking further into the mountain forest with light steps and a contented heart.
After entering the mountain peak, Xiao Mo found it easier to use his spiritual sense for exploration, which helped him avoid getting lost. But after walking just a few more steps, his spiritual sense detected a path leading underground.
He stopped abruptly, his spiritual sense lingering at the iron gate at the end of the path.
Why does this gate… look like it belongs to a prison?
Pressing his lips together, Xiao Mo decided to follow the path and investigate.
At first, he didn’t think much of it—a large sect having a prison was perfectly reasonable. He was merely curious and wanted to take a look.
The dungeon door wasn’t locked. As soon as he pushed it open, a wave of rancid blood stench hit him in the face, making Xiao Mo’s eyes widen in shock.
Deep within the dungeon, someone was chained—iron links pierced through their collarbone and bound their limbs tightly, locking them in place. Hearing movement at the entrance, the chains rattled faintly as the figure kneeling on the ground lifted their head. It seemed they had just woken up; their gaze was unfocused as they struggled to make out who had entered.
Even before they could clearly discern who it was, a hoarse voice filled with mockery rasped out: “What now? Remembered me again? What more do you want…”
Xiao Mo recognized the face immediately, his expression shifting to one of shock and suspicion. “Fenxiu!?”
He was still alive!
Xiao Mo stood frozen at the dungeon entrance. The faint intoxication and warmth from earlier vanished instantly. Why is Fenxiu here?
1 Kofi = 1 Extra Chapter
hooo?
thanks for the chapter!