(2/5)
(っ˕ -｡)ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁
The names Hong Lan and You Yetan were simple and casual—ambiguous enough to blur whether they were real or fake. However, they were easy to remember and had subtle ties to their true selves. When others addressed them by these aliases, they could respond naturally without hesitation.
The decision to disguise themselves and join the escort team was a spur-of-the-moment idea Chu Jinglan had after hearing that Fenxiu’s new holding location would be at Yaori Sect.
Xiao Mo wanted to visit the Tianyuan Secret Realm—not just to gather materials but also to train and consolidate his cultivation. However, given Chu Jinglan’s fragile mental state, Xiao Mo had initially planned to postpone his cultivation plans and stay in their small courtyard for some time to focus on accompanying Chu Jinglan.
Chu Jinglan’s willingness to travel with him was an unexpected delight.
Previously, Chu Jinglan had declared fiercely that he wanted to lock Xiao Mo away so no one else could see him. While this journey contradicted the first half of that statement, it fulfilled the second half perfectly.
To disguise themselves, Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan used a magical artifact—a thin veil as delicate as cicada wings that covered their faces. The artifact not only altered their appearances but also adjusted their physiques when infused with spiritual energy. To outsiders, they appeared entirely different—but in each other’s eyes, they still saw their true selves.
The magical artifact they used for disguise was a paired set. After recognizing its masters and imprinting marks on each other, it allowed them to see each other’s true faces as long as they maintained a basic flow of spiritual energy.
Naturally, Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan kept the spiritual energy circulating—Xiao Mo even treated it as part of his cultivation.
This way, Xiao Mo’s beautiful true face remained unseen by others, becoming a view exclusively for Chu Jinglan. Given Chu Jinglan’s occasional bouts of obsessive possessiveness, one might suspect that even if there were no need to hide Xianzun’s identity for official matters, Chu Jinglan would still insist on covering Xiao Mo’s face before stepping out.
And the key point was that Xiao Mo would happily comply with him.
The flute hanging at Xiao Mo’s waist wasn’t the jade flute “Jing Mo” that Chu Jinglan had gifted him. Jing Mo was too conspicuous, having already been seen at the Treasure Banquet. Instead, Xiao Mo carried a different flute, and Chu Jinglan had similarly swapped out his sword Breaking Dawn for another heaven-tier magical weapon.
Mo Zhi added some context to their identities: “These two have inherited Xianzun’s swordsmanship and techniques. If we encounter trouble along the way, they’ll be able to assist. Xianzun has also sent the guardian beast Golden Flame Flowing Fire Phoenix along with us.”
This explanation was primarily for Chu Jinglan’s sake since “You Yetan” perfectly replicated Xianzun’s sword techniques. It was better to clarify upfront to avoid startling others when he used them.
Qiuqiu had shrunk its size and perched proudly on Xiao Mo’s shoulder, puffing out its fluffy chest in pride at being mentioned.
Meanwhile, Fortune Spirit Butterfly Xiao Cai had also been brought along but seemed nervous and jittery. Xiao Mo had no choice but to store it in a spiritual pet pouch where it felt more at ease.
Hearing this information, the others couldn’t help but speculate: If these two inherited Xianzun’s teachings, does that mean they’ve been part of Du-E Sect for a while? How come we’ve never heard anything about them?
Chu Xianzun was notoriously secretive—his ability to keep things under wraps was unparalleled. This sudden revelation felt just like his abrupt announcement of his Dao companion—completely catching everyone off guard.
Suppressing their curiosity, the group politely exchanged greetings before Mo Zhi led Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan into the escort team.
The gathered group included disciples from the Cloud Peak Six Sects, the Immortal Alliance, and Jinxiu Pavilion—thirty people in total. Among them were five Great Perfection stage cultivators, including Yue Ming and Jun Bushu. Wang Yichen wasn’t present, but another familiar face joined the group: Mu Jian.
Mu Jian had progressed smoothly in his cultivation path without any complicated emotional entanglements. He was now a prominent figure in Lingxiao Sect and maintained his good relationship with Dai Zisheng as always.
Without any melodrama between them, the two brothers remained close—free from burdens or debts.
Xiao Mo couldn’t help but glance at these familiar faces a little longer than usual. Before he knew it, Chu Jinglan had gently grabbed his chin and turned his face back toward him.
Chu Jinglan’s gaze was deep as he said: “You’ve looked long enough.”
Xiao Mo blinked at him before realizing that Chu Jinglan’s emotions were once again slipping out of control. Smiling brightly, he replied: “Alright, I won’t look anymore—you’re better looking than them anyway.”
Chu Jinglan paused slightly at those words.
Right there in front of everyone, Xiao Mo leaned forward and kissed Chu Jinglan lightly on the side of his face. “Really.”
Chu Jinglan: “!”
The kiss was light but sudden—catching Chu Jinglan completely off guard.
The dark currents swirling in Chu Jinglan’s eyes hadn’t yet gathered fully before being shattered by Xiao Mo’s small gesture. Before they could rise into waves, they dissolved into foam and dissipated with a quiet pop. Yet Xiao Mo wasn’t finished—he moved Chu Jinglan’s hand from his chin down to interlace their fingers tightly together.
Xiao Mo gazed at Xianzun’s strikingly handsome face and said with sincerity: “Every part of you is beautiful.”
Having promised to help Chu Jinglan heal his heart, Xiao Mo was determined not to let it remain just an idea. He would show kindness to him, comfort him when his spiritual consciousness was unstable or his emotions were off, and give him peace of mind. Xiao Mo made sure to follow through with actions.
Even small details could help keep Chu Jinglan in a good mood.
Chu Jinglan: “…”
He hurriedly averted his gaze, but his fingers tightened, firmly holding Xiao Mo’s hand by his side. While his eyes avoided the situation, his body reacted honestly—gripping Xiao Mo’s hand and refusing to let go.
A familiar face who had come to greet Mo Zhi happened to witness this scene. For some inexplicable reason, their heart started pounding as they were struck by the subtle intimacy between the two. Mo Zhi followed their gaze and turned to see Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan holding hands, with Xiao Mo slightly tilting his head toward Chu Jinglan as he whispered something quietly to him.
Mo Zhi: “…”
Mo Zhi wrapped an arm around his friend’s shoulder and turned them away, preventing their eyes from lingering too long on the pair. He said matter-of-factly: “They’re Dao companions—it’s perfectly normal.”
The friend sighed with admiration: “Their relationship must be really good. That level of affection—it’s making me blush just watching them.”
Mo Zhi echoed the sentiment with a sigh: “It is very good.”
After all, who else but Xiao Mo could truly reach into Chu Jinglan’s heart?
Chu Jinglan lowered his gaze, his eyes falling to the hem of his robe. “I wasn’t… If you want to keep looking, go ahead.”
“No need,” Xiao Mo replied as he leaned against Chu Jinglan’s shoulder and pressed closer to him. “Right now, I only want to look at you.”
Chu Jinglan inhaled softly, gripping Xiao Mo’s hand even tighter. He thought that perhaps today’s spiritual consciousness training might be shortened a little.
Xiao Mo truly was his cure.
Before Fenxiu was locked into the prison carriage, Yue Ming extracted a portion of celestial demon blood—a sample of essence blood. This left Fenxiu looking even paler than before, his complexion worse than Jun Bushu’s sickly appearance, as he swayed unsteadily on the verge of collapse.
Seeing Fenxiu’s cultivation crippled with their own eyes brought relief to many cultivators present while also deepening their understanding of Chu Jinglan’s power. According to historical records, Return to Void stage cultivators could kill Great Perfection stage cultivators—but crippling someone while keeping them alive was far more difficult.
Yet Chu Jinglan had accomplished it.
After Yue Ming finished extracting the blood, it was prepared for delivery alongside the alliance contract to the current demon lord. Xiao Mo sent a voice transmission to Chu Jinglan: “Does celestial demon blood have any use for human cultivators?”
“It’s useful for demon cultivators but mostly useless for other human cultivators,” Chu Jinglan replied. “Medical cultivators requested it—they’re studying its properties.”
Xiao Mo realized something: “Does Du-E Sect still have more of Fenxiu’s blood?”
Chu Jinglan confirmed: “Yes.”
Human cultivators had leveraged Chu Jinglan’s reputation to keep Fenxiu’s remnants at bay, ensuring they wouldn’t dare approach Du-E Sect. Meanwhile, Chu Jinglan himself hadn’t suffered any losses—his methodical approach offered reassurance about his capabilities.
Yue Ming raised his hand and announced: “Alright—let’s move out.”
During the escort mission, once the group had traveled three hundred miles beyond Du-E Sect’s territory, they switched transportation from flying boats to spiritual beasts, transitioning from aerial routes to land travel. This change provided ample opportunities for those secretly coveting Fenxiu and made ambushes along the way more convenient.
The spiritual beasts used were fifth-rank Chasing Wind Horses, known for their speed and endurance. The journey from the transfer point to Yaori Sect would take seven to eight days if quick, or ten to fifteen days at a slower pace.
Yaori Sect was the closest major sect to Du-E Sect, which was one of the reasons it was chosen as Fenxiu’s next holding location.
Since the Tianyuan Secret Realm hadn’t opened yet, Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan weren’t in a rush. They followed the group at a steady pace.
On the first day, nothing unusual happened until nightfall. As everyone settled down to rest, Yue Ming remarked: “It seems we’ll have to get farther from Du-E Sect before certain people dare to make a move.”
Many had been genuinely terrified of Chu Jinglan during the human-demon war.
Apart from those assigned to guard Fenxiu and keep watch tonight, the rest of the group found their own spots to rest. Familiar faces gathered together, and as soon as Du-E Sect’s trio—Mo Zhi, Xiao Mo (Hong Lan), and Chu Jinglan (You Yetan)—sat down, activity stirred around them.
It was people trying to probe for information about Du-E Sect’s disciple recruitment.
Chu Jinglan summoned a spiritual lamp, illuminating their surroundings. Most people approached Mo Zhi first for conversation since he was alone, but some also came forward to greet Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan politely.
Chu Jinglan simply closed his eyes, adopting a completely unapproachable demeanor. Xiao Mo returned greetings courteously but kept his responses brief, worried that too many people gathering around might make Chu Jinglan uncomfortable.
However, he heard Chu Jinglan’s voice transmission: “If you want to talk to someone, don’t worry about me.”
Xiao Mo replied: “Of course I’ll consider your feelings.”
Chu Jinglan reassured him: “If I truly can’t bear it, I’ll let you know.”
He needed to gradually adapt—to heal his heart illness.
Xiao Mo gently squeezed Chu Jinglan’s fingers. “We’ll take it slow.”
The soil atop Chu Jinglan’s metaphorical grave began to crack slightly as warmth seeped into the cold night. Even his voice carried traces of that warmth: “…Alright.”
Seeing their attitude, others focused their attention on chatting with Mo Zhi instead.
Mo Zhi had always been talkative, but when it came to questions about Du-E Sect, he couldn’t provide much information—after all, everything about the sect was decided by Chu Jinglan himself.
“Daoist Mo,” someone asked eagerly, “Has Du-E Sect officially opened its doors to disciples?”
Mo Zhi replied hesitantly: “Uh… not widely yet. Only a few have been accepted—not many.”
“Are all those accepted personally taught by Xianzun? How can one be chosen?”
Mo Zhi answered vaguely: “Not all are taught directly by Xianzun. As for how they’re chosen… that’s entirely up to Xianzun.”
After asking numerous questions without receiving any definitive answers, many left disappointed—though they couldn’t help but envy those who had been accepted into Du-E Sect. Especially Hong Lan and You Yetan; being personally taught by Xianzun was an honor beyond compare!
Some refused to give up entirely and simply sat down near Mo Zhi for the night. With nothing else to do, they figured chatting all night might yield some useful information eventually.
As night deepened, spiritual lamps floated around the area. Chu Jinglan ignored the surrounding noise and entered meditation to cultivate his spiritual consciousness.
Seeing him begin circulating his spiritual energy, Xiao Mo picked up his flute and began playing a tune—using musical techniques to assist Chu Jinglan in calming and focusing his mind.
The melody was familiar—it was the song they had composed together.
The sound of the flute was melodious, like snow in the mountains, moonlight through pine forests—clear and crisp. Accompanied by the appropriate musical techniques, it was soothing and refreshing, bringing clarity to the mind and peace to the heart.
Unlike when he operated spiritual energy as a inner demon, Xiao Mo now played while simultaneously adjusting and refining his technique. Chu Jinglan’s expression softened as Xiao Mo infused his emotions into the melody. Through the music, he conveyed his feelings—gentle and tender—letting them reverberate within Chu Jinglan’s sea of consciousness.
Unknowingly, those around them were drawn in by the flute’s sound and fell silent. When the song ended, many exhaled slowly, feeling refreshed. Someone praised him: “What a beautiful melody.”
Xiao Mo pressed his fingers against the flute, preparing to play another tune. But during this brief pause, he overheard someone say: “I just remembered—this is Chu Xianzun’s famous piece, Mo Ran Cang Lan!”
Xiao Mo’s breath faltered.
Immediately, another person chimed in: “Oh yes! I thought it sounded so familiar. Back then, Chu Xianzun played this flute piece on the battlefield—its wild waves surged with killing intent and slaughter. But hearing it today—it’s completely different! Who would’ve thought this melody could be so beautiful?”
Xiao Mo unconsciously lowered his flute and focused on listening to their conversation.
This melody indeed carried an imagery of waves and tides, but when they composed it together, there hadn’t been a trace of bloodlust or killing intent in it. If Chu Jinglan had played it with such ferocity, he must have altered its rhythm and some of its notes.
And… so the song already had a name?
Mo Ran Cang Lan (Ink-Dyed Vast Waves)—the name sounded grand and majestic, evoking an image of boundless openness. But as Xiao Mo mulled over it carefully, he couldn’t help but taste an endless bitterness within it.
They had agreed to name the song together—but at that time, he wasn’t by Chu Jinglan’s side. What had Chu Jinglan been thinking when he wrote down that first character Mo?
Was it their shared moments of composing the melody together—filling sheet after sheet with notes?
Xiao Mo’s heart softened into a mix of sweetness and sorrow.
He loved the name. From now on, he would play this song for Chu Jinglan—not as a melody for battlefield slaughter but as an offering of moonlight from the heavens and flowers from the sea, brought before him one by one.
The song was complete; its composer remained. From now on, Xiao Mo would always play it for Chu Jinglan.
1 Kofi = 1 Extra Chapter
Awwwwww
woooow!
thanks for the chapter!
and still with the naming scheme of combining parts of their names 🥹🥹🥹🥹
my heart is just bursting with how gentle cjl still is — the descriptions of his fierce internal emotions and beast imagery contrasting with his ultimate desire to treasure xm dearly.