AVL Chapter 4

Couldn’t have what he wanted, love turned to hate.

 

Eight simple words that sparked endless imagination in Feng Yu.

 

Xi Jianlan said: “At Tianyan Academy, I lived in the same courtyard as him. Back then I was a noble young immortal lord with a slender waist, long legs, black hair and snow-white skin—I was truly beautiful.”

 

Feng Yu rolled his eyes, but to hear the gossip he reluctantly endured: “Fine, beautiful young immortal lord—then what?”

 

“Look at Sheng Jiao, on the other hand—a poor, destitute ghost.” Seeing Feng Yu obviously getting excited, Xi Jianlan continued his efforts, “To him, I was like the bright moon in the sky, completely out of reach. It’s not surprising he fell deeply in love with me.”

 

Feng Yu frowned: “Hold on, I remember Sheng Jiao always picked on you back then. Even when I passed you notes in class, he’d strike us with his little thunder.”

 

Xi Jianlan: “…”

 

Uh, let me make something up.

 

“Also!” Feng Yu’s brain suddenly got smart for a moment, “Sheng Jiao most detests cut-sleeves. Last year there was a rebellious bastard in Xiezhi Sect who tried to force himself on his own master. Sheng Jiao didn’t even wait for the Tianyan pearls to judge—he directly used heavenly thunder to beat the man half to death.”

 

Xi Jianlan pretended to be shy: “You don’t understand. Since he couldn’t have me, naturally he can’t stand seeing other cut-sleeves.”

 

Feng Yu glared at him: “You still remember what Sheng Jiao’s Xiangwen is, right?”

 

“I know, ‘Worthy of Heavenly Dao.'” Xi Jianlan said, “On enrollment day, we were both hung up and beaten by him at the academy’s main gate with people coming and going. I still remember such an embarrassing thing for you.”

 

“…Don’t mention the past!” Feng Yu’s face turned green, “Sheng Jiao is a cold-faced, cold-hearted monster. Love means less than paper to him. As long as someone commits a crime, even if it’s his parents, he’ll mercilessly slaughter them according to the Heavenly Dao.”

 

People in the Thirteen States privately called him “Lord Heavenly Dao.”

 

How could someone with such a naturally ascension-bound fate fall into the mortal world for a man?

 

And have love turn to hate?

 

“That’s exactly how it is.” Xi Jianlan spun his tall tales, “Sheng Wuzhuo looks like an otherworldly, aloof flower, but his true nature is obsessive and extreme. When I refused him back then, he even tried to force himself on me! If you don’t believe it, go ask him yourself.”

 

Feng Yu gasped.

 

Force, forced himself?!

 

This… was too exciting, wasn’t it?

 

Feng Yu wanted to ask more, but Xi Jianlan interrupted: “Hey, who was that bastard who tried to force his master? So brave and audacious—is he still alive?”

 

“That was Jun Shuofeng from Chang’an Road in Central State. His master’s surname is Shen.”

 

“Oh oh oh!”

 

“Continue talking about you and Sheng Jiao.” Feng Yu decided to empty his brain and stop thinking, continuing to listen to the entertainment, “Did he really confess his love to you?”

 

“Yes, and then I harshly rejected him.”

 

Feng Yu got excited again: “What reason did you use to reject him?”

 

“I said he was poor and not worthy of me.” Xi Jianlan said indifferently.

 

Feng Yu burst out laughing: “Poor? Young immortal lord, do you know that now all three regions of Central State belong to his Sheng family—truly the wheel of fortune turns, don’t look down on poor youth!”

 

Xi Jianlan: “…”

 

Seeing that after hinting for so long, this bastard just wanted to watch the excitement and laugh at him, Xi Jianlan decided to be direct: “In my previous life I died because of you, and in this life I’ve been misunderstood by you for years. You should repay me.”

 

Feng Yu choked.

 

Although he had a violent temper, he had clear principles of love and hate. After holding it in for a long time, he reluctantly said: “How do you want me to repay you? I won’t offer myself in marriage.”

 

“I don’t need that kind of ungrateful repayment.” Xi Jianlan’s eyes curved, his pale lips gaining some color from joy, “Just help me do one very simple thing.”

 

“What?”

 

Xi Jianlan said: “Help me kill Sheng Jiao.”

 

Feng Yu: “…”

 

Feng Yu looked at him blankly, staring with wide eyes.

 

The rhinoceros horn lamp suddenly flared.

 

“Young immortal lord.” Feng Yu said seriously, “I always feel like you’ve been away from Central State too long, and with the rhinoceros horn lamp sealed, your information is a bit outdated.”

 

Xi Jianlan made an “mm?” sound, listening attentively.

 

“Let me put it this way.” Feng Yu said, “Me, Rang Chen, Heng Yudu, Liu Tiaotiao, even if we call up Little Poison and all of us from Zhuxing Zhai attack together, even if we tie up Sheng Jiao’s hands and feet, we’d still be going to our deaths. That saw-mouth gourd only needs to point a finger and a bunch of people would be reduced to ashes.”

 

Xi Jianlan: “…”

 

Xi Jianlan said disdainfully: “How are you all so useless?”

 

Feng Yu couldn’t bear it anymore and directly raised his hand to draw his ghost blade, planning to give him a beating.

 

“Spiritual level Xiangwen! Spiritual level! Born with an ascension fate, otherwise how could he control Xiezhi Sect at such a young age?”

 

Xi Jianlan raised his foot, pressing his slender leg against the ghost blade handle, and settled for less: “Fine, we won’t kill Sheng Jiao. Just get me a Yutan flower.”

 

Feng Yu said indifferently: “I’d rather help you kill Sheng Jiao.”

 

Xi Jianlan: “?”

 

Feng Yu said: “Do you know who’s been intercepting the Yutan flowers all these years?”

 

“How would I know?” Xi Jianlan said, “Back when the Xi family dominated and controlled the three regions of Central State, we offended countless people—the Qu family, the Sheng family… oh right, and the Rang family too.”

 

Feng Yu: “Wait? The Rang family? Didn’t you always get along well with Rang Chen?”

 

Xi Jianlan said innocently: “Don’t you know? I… accidentally broke his vow of silence, causing years of his cultivation to be ruined overnight, even his Xiangwen was damaged.”

 

Feng Yu: “?”

 

Can this bastard do anything right?!

 

No wonder he’s fallen so low—it’s all his own doing.

 

“A single Yutan flower is hard to find, and if I go looking for it, the prestigious families in Central State will definitely know I’m colluding with you, and might even track you down through me.” Feng Yu slapped Xi Jianlan’s pig hoof, “Move.”

 

Xi Jianlan sighed and raised his hand to adjust his robes.

 

His every movement carried the nobility accumulated from years of luxury, as if he wasn’t in a shabby clinic but still in the golden, glorious Xi family of Raole State.

 

“It’s just that if I can’t find another Yutan flower, I’m afraid I won’t even live to see the Mid-Autumn Festival.”

 

Feng Yu frowned.

 

Xi Jianlan, who had just been cheerfully gossiping, now drooped his eyebrows as if he were dying.

 

“Anyway, in my previous life I also died during this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival. Perhaps this is fate. You don’t need to worry about me anymore.” He sighed, “After I die, you can take my corpse to Sheng Jiao for credit—several tens of thousands of spirit stones bounty. You can enjoy yourself lying on my bones. I don’t mind, I really don’t mind.”

 

Feng Yu: “…”

 

Feng Yu’s hand lightly moved toward his ghost blade, as if wanting to draw his sword and cut him.

 

Xi Jianlan used his trump card, letting out a “wuwah” and spitting out blood, fainting from heartbreak.

 

Feng Yu: “…”

 

Feng Yu was furious but still couldn’t let him die because of the “rebirth” matter.

 

He coldly glared at the pretending-to-be-dead Xi Jianlan.

 

He really owed him.

 

Xi Jianlan squinted and saw Feng Yu with a dark expression holding the rhinoceros horn lamp, apparently looking for Yutan flowers for him. Only then was he satisfied, turning over and sleeping comfortably.

 

Perhaps because Sheng Jiao was mentioned too many times, the young Sheng Jiao mistakenly entered Xi Jianlan’s dream.

 

In the ghostly mist, Sheng Jiao in black robes seemed to merge with the ink-like darkness, like a lofty deity, looking down at him coldly from above.

 

—Suddenly, he said something.

 

“Lord Heavenly Dao” rarely opened his noble mouth to speak, but unfortunately Xi Jianlan was deaf, and in his dream there was only endless silence in his ears—he couldn’t hear a single word clearly.

 

He could only vaguely make out the lip movements, knowing he was calling his name.

 

Xi Jue.

 

“Click.”

 

The string of thunder-patterned Tianyan pearls hanging from Sheng Jiao’s wrist moved without wind, spinning rapidly in unison, until all 108 pearls stopped on the same character.

 

Execute.

 

A heavenly thunder suddenly struck down.

 

Rumble—

 

Xi Jianlan’s pupils contracted sharply, watching helplessly as the thunder fell toward his forehead.

 

But in the next instant, the thunder that could reduce a person to powder was like a spring breeze, gently brushing through his disheveled hair.

 

As his black hair flew wildly, there seemed to be a light kiss like a dragonfly touching water falling on his forehead.

 

Xi Jianlan suddenly opened his eyes, instinctively covering his right shoulder.

 

An extremely strange dream, so brief it seemed like just an instant.

 

It was already morning outside.

 

Pale light streamed in from the window, bringing with it the strong fragrance of osmanthus flowers.

 

Xi Jianlan’s ears were silent. He fumbled around the pillow with his hand but touched a cold hand instead.

 

A beautiful, gorgeous ghost was lying by the bedside. Seeing him wake up, she smiled eerily, her pale hand hooking the dangling earring as she floated to the door.

 

Xi Jianlan: “…”

 

At Tianyan Academy, Feng Yu also loved to control fierce ghosts to wake up others. Every morning, Zhuxing Zhai could hear a series of screams and curses.

 

Unexpectedly, after all these years, Feng Yu’s twisted sense of humor hadn’t changed.

 

Xi Jianlan propped himself up and looked up.

 

Sure enough, Feng Yu was leaning against the door frame, his long legs propped against the half-open door, saying lazily: “Sleeping so long, I thought you were dead.”

 

Because he was backlit, Xi Jianlan couldn’t make out his lip movements, but knowing that Feng Yu never said anything pleasant, he went with the flow: “Barely still alive… why are you still here?”

 

Feng Yu said something else.

 

Xi Jianlan couldn’t see clearly, so he casually replied: “Oh, give me back the earring. That’s my most valuable possession.”

 

Feng Yu walked over, sneering: “How much could a few cheap broken beads be worth? I’ll buy you a pile to skip stones with.”

 

This time Xi Jianlan finally saw clearly what he said and naturally replied: “As long as Young Master Feng doesn’t mind the expense, I’d be delighted.”

 

Feng Yu casually tossed the dangling earring back: “There’s someone outside who’s been knocking on the door, annoying as hell.”

 

No matter what Xi Jianlan did, he was always vigilant. He had thought Feng Yu took his earring because he discovered something suspicious about the “rebirth” story and was testing his ears, but thinking carefully, this straightforward guy didn’t know how to beat around the bush and didn’t have the brains for such testing.

 

He relaxed, bit the hair tie to casually bundle his long hair, and openly put the earring back on his ear.

 

Sound suddenly returned, and indeed someone was banging on the door outside the clinic.

 

“Brother Lan!”

 

The one knocking on the door was the little girl from next door who sold pastries. She had probably run over quickly, her cheeks flushed red.

 

Xi Jianlan: “Banban? What happened?”

 

The little girl Qin Banban said happily: “Brother Lan, didn’t you want that… Tan flower before? The owner of the medicine shop in the north of the city said another one came in today and asked me to tell you!”

 

Xi Jianlan was stunned.

 

Just yesterday he mentioned the Yutan flower, and today he found a straggler?

 

“Is it the Yongning Medicine Shop in the north of the city?”

 

“Mm-hmm, yes.”

 

Only then did Xi Jianlan nod: “Thank you, I’ll go right away.”

 

Over the years, most of the Yutan flowers Xi Jianlan used to prolong his life were found at this medicine shop.

 

After Qin Banban delivered the message, she stuffed the hot pastries in her hands to him and was about to run away.

 

Xi Jianlan suddenly said: “Banban?”

 

Qin Banban stepped into the snow water with one foot, exclaimed “Aiya” and jumped up, her bright red skirt spinning like a blooming flower.

 

The pretty, lively little girl steadied herself and turned back, asking curiously: “What?”

 

Xi Jianlan instructed: “There might be a snow disaster these days, don’t run around.”

 

Qin Banban smiled brightly: “You’ve reminded me so many times, I remember!”

 

With that, she ran away happily through the snow.

 

Xi Jianlan returned to the clinic, staring thoughtfully at the osmanthus cakes.

 

Feng Yu leaned against the medicine cabinet, casually reading messages on the rhinoceros horn lamp, saying offhandedly: “I searched all night yesterday. Even Heng Yudu doesn’t know where to buy Yutan flowers. How is it such a coincidence that this medicine shop just happens to have one? Could someone be deliberately luring you there to catch you like a turtle in a jar?”

 

Xi Jianlan shook his head: “Not likely. I’ve gotten Yutan flowers from this medicine shop in previous years, and the timing is usually around the summer solstice.”

 

Seeing that he seemed to plan to go out, Feng Yu was still worried and stuck a small paper figure containing a wisp of his divine consciousness on Xi Jianlan’s face: “Take this.”

 

Xi Jianlan smiled at him: “What, worried about me?”

 

“Yes.” Feng Yu smiled without warmth, “I’m worried sick about you. If you die, where will I go for entertainment?”

 

Xi Jianlan laughed loudly, threw on a thick crane cloak, and leisurely left the clinic.

 

Wuyin City had been snowing for a day and night, and the osmanthus trees throughout the city had unusually bloomed. Xi Jianlan gazed at the golden osmanthus flowers, as if wanting to pick some to taste.

 

There were still Chengshe Academy cultivators coming and going on the long street, searching for “the detestable Xi Jianlan.”

 

Xi Jianlan passed by them without changing expression, not even moving an eyebrow.

 

After a while, he finally reached the medicine shop in the north of the city.

 

This medicine shop had been open for many years, with an ancient plaque, and countless people came and went daily.

 

The small paper figure nestled in Xi Jianlan’s sleeve suddenly said: “I just cast a divination for you—a great ominous sign.”

 

Xi Jianlan was calmly and steadily about to step inside when he heard this, his foot suspended over the threshold, neither up nor down: “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

 

Feng Yu added: “But within the ominous sign there’s also vitality. There will be a benefactor to help you, turning misfortune into fortune.”

 

Things had come to this point. Even knowing it was dangerous, Xi Jianlan had no choice but to jump in.

 

His injuries couldn’t be delayed any longer.

 

Anyway, as long as it wasn’t Sheng Jiao, he could probably escape unscathed from anyone else.

 

The medicine shop owner was working an abacus. Seeing someone come in, he smiled and said: “Doctor Lan, this year’s Yutan flower just arrived.”

 

A small box sat on the desk, filled with rich spiritual energy and carrying a flower fragrance Xi Jianlan knew all too well.

 

It was indeed a Yutan flower.

 

Ever since Feng Yu mentioned the “great ominous sign” divination, Xi Jianlan appeared calm on the surface but was secretly on edge.

 

But the shopkeeper’s attitude was the same as before, the Yutan flower showed no abnormalities, and there was no presence of unfamiliar spiritual energy around. When Xi Jianlan handed over the spirit stones from his storage bag and received the Yutan flower, the stone in his heart finally settled.

 

Thinking carefully, back when they studied divination, that fool Feng Yu always copied his hexagrams during class quizzes. How could his divination possibly be accurate?

 

Xi Jianlan took out the Yutan flower and tucked it into his sleeve, returning the box.

 

Feng Yu could see he was afraid the box might have tracking formations, rolled his eyes, and thought this sickly person was really cautious—no wonder he could escape Xiezhi Sect’s pursuit for six years.

 

The sickly person bid farewell to the shopkeeper and leisurely headed home, taking the opportunity to despise Feng Yu’s divination skills.

 

“You deserved to be scolded by the elder. ‘Turning misfortune into fortune’—I think it’s more like turning fortune into misfortune?”

 

“Enough already!” Feng Yu said angrily, “My divination has been accurate many times over the years!”

 

Xi Jianlan pressed his advantage: “Then where’s my misfortune?”

 

Feng Yu said coldly: “When you get back, I’ll chop you with a blade—that counts as encountering misfortune.”

 

He’d never seen someone so cheaply eager for “misfortune.”

 

Xi Jianlan stopped talking.

 

Feng Yu thought he was secretly plotting something bad again, but suddenly heard Xi Jianlan say: “Benefactor Feng.”

 

Feng Yu: “?”

 

Xi Jianlan walked to the entrance of Naihe Alley without changing expression, maintaining his composure: “Benefactor Feng, Brother Feng, save me.”

 

Feng Yu sensed something was wrong: “What’s the matter?”

 

“Misfortune.” Xi Jianlan said, “Someone is following me.”

 

Feng Yu frowned and swept out his divine consciousness: “There’s no one.”

 

“There is, definitely.” Xi Jianlan could bend and yield, “I was wrong. Young Master Feng’s hexagrams are number one in the Thirteen States! Great ominous sign turning misfortune into fortune—save me.”

 

Seeing his cowardly appearance, Feng Yu sneered: “Aren’t you good at swindling? How can’t you even shake off someone tracking you?”

 

Xi Jianlan kept shouting: “Save me, save me.”

 

Feng Yu was amused by his anger: “You’re on your own. I’m already at Guchangsi Temple now.”

 

Xi Jianlan was stunned: “What are you doing at Guchangsi Temple?”

 

“Didn’t I tell you this morning?!” Feng Yu said impatiently, “Guchangsi Temple has a spiritual object for sale today. I still have to compete in bidding. It’ll be at least half an hour before I can get back.”

 

Xi Jianlan: “…”

 

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