BAAF Chapter 83.2

Shen Liuxiang was speechless: “You must have seen this in a dream. I never noticed.”

 

Xu Xingchen snorted disdainfully. “Of course you wouldn’t notice. He watches you constantly, but the moment you start to look his way, he detects it and avoids your gaze in advance.”

 

Xu Xingchen raised an eyebrow: “I wasn’t completely certain at first, but after seeing Zhou Xuanlan, I understood completely.”

 

Shen Liuxiang was shocked: “What does he have to do with this?!”

 

“If even I can see it, Zhou Xuanlan certainly sees it more clearly,” Xu Xingchen said. “But he’s quite restrained. Not only did he let the Sword Sect people leave safely, but from beginning to end, he never revealed anything in front of anyone. Ye Bingran probably doesn’t even know his feelings were discovered.”

 

“That’s why I say Zhou Xuanlan harbors ulterior motives. He hides things so deeply, his ambitions must be great,” Xu Xingchen glanced at Shen Liuxiang and snorted coldly. “It seems he’s gotten what he wanted now.”

 

Shen Liuxiang was half-believing, half-doubtful. As he pondered, he heard Xu Xingchen ask: “By the way, does Zhou Xuanlan know about this?”

 

Shen Liuxiang: “What?”

 

Xu Xingchen: “The Three-Life Stone, of course.”

 

Shen Liuxiang’s expression froze: “He doesn’t know.”

 

He remembered the many love letters and countless magical artifacts that his original self had given to Ye Bingran, which Zhou Xuanlan still possessed. Immediately becoming alert, he instructed: “Don’t tell him under any circumstances!”

 

Otherwise, he could never clear his name, even if he jumped into the Yellow River.

 

Xu Xingchen pondered for a moment, then mumbled: “Alright.”

 

Just as Shen Liuxiang was about to pat his head in gratitude, something in his storage pouch began to vibrate. He reached in and took out a jade slip with golden tassels.

 

Having been defeated by jade slips twice, Shen Liuxiang had learned his lesson and changed their appearance.

 

Shen Liuxiang infused spiritual energy and called out first: “Imperial Father.”

 

The jade slip emitted Di Yunyu’s voice: “Come to my bedchamber. Shen Renshen has grown a green leaf.”

 

Shen Liuxiang’s face lit up with joy. Since his return, he hadn’t had time to check on Bubu. He had only asked Di Yunyu, who told him it was still bare with nothing showing. He hadn’t expected it to suddenly grow leaves.

 

He immediately put away the jade slip and hurried to Di Yunyu’s bedchamber.

 

Xu Xingchen watched him leave. Thinking of what was said earlier, he snorted, stood up, swept his sleeve, and strode toward the Archive Tower.

 

Regardless of who Shen Liuxiang’s destined one was on the Three-Life Stone, he needed to find out who Zhou Xuanlan’s was. This would prevent his brother, who was both stupid and foolish and only knew how to trust others, from being deceived.

 

Zhou Xuanlan finished copying the palace rules three hundred times and could finally leave the confinement room. To his surprise, Xu Xingchen was waiting for him outside.

 

He rubbed his wrist and asked: “Where is Master?”

 

Xu Xingchen: “Looking at Shen Bubu.”

 

Zhou Xuanlan’s expression softened a bit, and he prepared to go see. However, Xu Xingchen raised his hand to stop him, insisting: “You can’t leave. First, come with me to the Three-Life Stone.”

 

Qingling Sect also had a Three-Life Stone, so Zhou Xuanlan naturally knew about it. At the sect, disciples were not allowed near it. Since the stone contained the power of the Heavenly Way, the sect was concerned that some disciples might be affected in their state of mind.

 

Zhou Xuanlan had no interest in the Three-Life Stone.

 

In his view, this thing was like a divination art that could glimpse the Heavenly Way. Although it could predict some things about the future, whatever result one obtained was actually irrelevant.

 

The past perhaps couldn’t be reversed, but the future could be changed.

 

However, seeing Xu Xingchen’s serious face and his attitude of not letting him go without compliance, Zhou Xuanlan still went with him.

 

The Three-Life Stone stood in clear water, silent and solid.

 

Zhou Xuanlan reached out his hand, about to place it on the stone, when Xu Xingchen suddenly interrupted: “Wait!”

 

He folded his arms, his face showing a dangerous expression. “Let’s be clear beforehand. If it’s not the three characters ‘Shen Liuxiang,’ I won’t let whoever appears on it off the hook.”

 

Xu Xingchen said fiercely: “Don’t feel sorry for them when the time comes!”

 

Zhou Xuanlan’s black eyes were open, his thin lips moving slightly. “I have only one heart; I don’t have so many hearts to ache for others.”

 

Xu Xingchen was marginally satisfied with this answer. He stepped aside, eyes wide open, staring unblinkingly at the Three-Life Stone, commanding: “Put your hand on it.”

 

Although Xu Xingchen spoke this way, he believed it would be Shen Liuxiang. In his view, a person like Zhou Xuanlan would walk a single path to the end—stubborn to the point of obsession, unwilling to rest until he got what he wanted, and unable to tolerate losing it once obtained.

 

He felt such a person was too dangerous, which was why he had tried to interfere. Unfortunately, Shen Liuxiang had already fallen in too deep and couldn’t be pulled out.

 

Now, realizing he couldn’t stop it, Xu Xingchen could only think of the future. Being optimistic, there was nothing wrong with the Ninth Demon King—at least his affection for his brother wouldn’t change.

 

The years of cultivation were long; the two would continue to be entangled. If even in this situation, Shen Liuxiang wasn’t Zhou Xuanlan’s destined one, wasn’t his fated person, then who could be?

 

With these thoughts in mind, Xu Xingchen was full of confidence. So when Zhou Xuanlan’s palm pressed against the stone’s surface, a flash of light appeared, and the inscribed characters emerged on the stone.

 

He fell silent for a moment, then summoned the Xuanhuang Sword.

 

As the blade left its scabbard, the spiritual energy around tightened. Xu Xingchen’s voice, filled with rage, echoed throughout the forest.

 

“Who is Su Baiche?!!!”

 

Shen Liuxiang, who had just left the Archive Tower, heard the familiar voice.

 

He had already gone to see Shen Bubu. Its roots were plump, and a fingertip-sized green leaf had grown at the top, looking full of vitality. Di Yunyu had taken very good care of it.

 

He had planned to take Zhou Xuanlan to see it, but couldn’t find him. When the Imperial Tutor at the Archive Tower mentioned that Xu Xingchen had taken him away, Shen Liuxiang was puzzled. Hearing the voice, he hurried over.

 

Seeing the figures in front of the Three-Life Stone, Shen Liuxiang’s expression became peculiar.

 

Could it be that Xu Xingchen had betrayed him?

 

However, the scene before him was somewhat strange. Xu Xingchen was holding a sword gleaming with cold light, furious, looking first at the Three-Life Stone, then at Zhou Xuanlan. Like an enraged little lion, he was struggling to decide whom to slash first.

 

Zhou Xuanlan frowned, staring at his hand, lost in thought.

 

Upon noticing Shen Liuxiang’s arrival, Zhou Xuanlan’s expression changed. Beside him, Xu Xingchen, filled with anger, suddenly found an outlet for his complaints and was about to tattle. But before a single word could escape his mouth, Zhou Xuanlan quickly covered it with his hand.

 

Xu Xingchen widened his eyes. One hand held the sword, using its back to strike Zhou Xuanlan, while the other forcefully pried away his hand, his face red with anger.

 

Zhou Xuanlan firmly covered his mouth, his handsome face rarely showing panic.

 

Although he didn’t place much importance on the Three-Life Stone or care about it, what if Master found out? What if it made Master sad or created a rift between them?

 

So the two began to struggle in front of the standing Three-Life Stone.

 

Shen Liuxiang watched in astonishment.

 

Xu Xingchen was one thing, but his disciple, Zhou Xuanlan, who had always appeared calm and collected since his youth—this panicked, flustered appearance was something he had never seen before.

 

How extraordinary! How rare!

 

Shen Liuxiang smiled, watching the commotion for a while before saying loudly: “Stop it. Is it because my name isn’t on it?”

 

Zhou Xuanlan froze in place.

 

Xu Xingchen removed the hand from his face, incredulous: “How did you know?!”

 

He pointed at Zhou Xuanlan, indignantly saying: “When he put his hand on it, the name on the Three-Life Stone wasn’t yours, it was Su Baiche!”

 

Seeing Shen Liuxiang calmly nod, Xu Xingchen was angry at his lack of reaction. He stepped forward, gripped his shoulders, and shook him vigorously, as if trying to wake him up. “Who is Su Baiche? Do you know them? Do you know what relationship they have with Zhou Xuanlan? Is he hiding something from you?”

 

Shaken dizzy, Shen Liuxiang placated him: “Alright, don’t be so anxious, otherwise what will we do later?”

 

How could he tell Xu Xingchen that perhaps if his hand were placed on the Three-Life Stone, the name that would appear might also be Su Baiche?

 

Xu Xingchen didn’t understand his meaning and lowered his hand, but still glared angrily at Zhou Xuanlan.

 

In contrast, Shen Liuxiang was quite calm.

 

This result was within Shen Liuxiang’s expectations. Given the original story, it wasn’t surprising that the Three-Life Stone gave such an answer.

 

Zhou Xuanlan’s gaze fell on him. He opened his mouth to explain but was stopped by Shen Liuxiang’s raised hand, causing his face to pale.

 

Did Master not even want to hear his explanation? “Master, I…”

 

“It’s alright,” Shen Liuxiang interrupted, walking up to him. “I understand everything. There’s no need to mind what appears on this Three-Life Stone.”

 

Zhou Xuanlan stared at him, still frowning deeply, seeming to judge whether his words were sincere. At the same time, he said: “I share Master’s viewpoint. It doesn’t matter who appears on the Three-Life Stone; there’s no need to mind it.”

 

At these words, Xu Xingchen sneered: “Really?”

 

Sensing trouble, Shen Liuxiang attempted to cover this blabbering mouth, but the experienced Xu Xingchen quickly dodged.

 

Then came a loud voice: “What a coincidence! On the Three-Life Stone, Elder Brother’s destined one isn’t you either, but that Ye Bingran.”

 

“Do you also not mind?”

 

After Xu Xingchen finished speaking, a sudden silence fell around them.

 

Finally, Shen Liuxiang broke the silence with a dry laugh, turning to look at Zhou Xuanlan. “Of course I don’t mind. Like I said, this Three-Life Stone…”

 

Halfway through his sentence, Shen Liuxiang couldn’t continue.

 

Zhou Xuanlan’s face was grim, his brows exuding intense coldness.

 

He remained silent for a long while before finally managing to speak, his tone severe: “Master, rest assured, this disciple won’t mind.”

 

Shen Liuxiang: “…” Yes, he believed that.

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1 Kofi = 1 Extra Chapter