AVL Chapter 74

A chaotic commotion erupted as Xi Jianlan chased Yu Tuishan around, beating him.

 

When Yu Hu arrived, Yu Tuishan’s cheek was bruised black and blue. He squatted at the doorway, watching ants carry things, as if all the world’s phenomena could captivate him.

 

Xi Jianlan sat cross-legged on the soft couch, regulating his breathing and letting spiritual power flow through meridians that had been stagnant for three months, gradually restoring sensation to his body inch by inch.

 

Yu Hu approached lightly with a brand new rhino-horn lamp, carefully setting it on the table.

 

His movements were extremely quiet, but Xi Jianlan’s “Sound of Leisure” xiangwen was far too keen. He slowly drew his spiritual power inward, opened his eyes.

 

Only then did Yu Hu speak: “Senior Brother, I’ve ordered a new rhino-horn lamp from Lingxi Manor.”

 

Back at Tianyan Academy, Xi Jianlan had ordered a rhino-horn lamp under the identity of Xi Jue. It was permanently extinguished and sealed away because of his constant lies.

 

At the time, refusing to accept it, he’d even specially taken Sheng Jiao’s rhino-horn lamp to boast about casually.

 

In the end, he’d implicated Sheng Jiao’s lamp too—it was sealed for ten years.

 

Xi Jianlan nodded, flicking a strand of spiritual power into the lamp.

 

The rhino-horn lamp suddenly glowed, faintly revealing a character written in soaring cursive from the wick—”Ling.”

 

Xi Jianlan’s sour mood finally improved somewhat, though his small face remained darkened as he tinkered with the spiritual signals on the rhino-horn lamp.

 

Yu Tuishan, utterly unable to read the room, cheerfully poked his head through the doorframe: “Hey, with the rhino-horn lamp, can’t you just send Sheng Jiao a message to report you’re safe?”

 

Yu Hu looked at Yu Tuishan with pity.

 

Sure enough, Xi Jianlan spoke angrily again: “How did I tell you back then?! Repeatedly and emphatically—the moment the plan succeeded, you’d immediately explain everything to him. Did your ears stop working too?!”

 

Yu Tuishan shrank his head, scolded.

 

“Three months… it’s already been three months,” Xi Jianlan said painfully, covering his forehead. “My credibility with him is already terrible. He doesn’t believe a word I say. Now I’ve fake-died for three months—he’ll definitely think I’m deliberately scheming against him…”

 

If Xi Jianlan suddenly popped up cheerfully to find Sheng Jiao, Sheng Jiao would surely strike him with the Tianyan Pearls.

 

Wasn’t that actively seeking death?

 

Xi Jianlan’s head throbbed as he asked Yu Hu: “Ayue, has any news come from Xiezhi Sect?”

 

“No news,” Yan Yu Hu shook his head. “Only heard that after the ‘Dream of Yellow Millet’ incident, Sect Master Sheng went to Medicine Sect once and returned only after half a day.”

 

Xi Jianlan froze: “Medicine Sect?”

 

Sheng Jiao had gone to Medicine Sect?

 

Xi Jianlan immediately opened the rhino-horn lamp to search for Lezheng Jiu, but this was a new lamp with only Yu Tuishan and Yan Yu Hu’s spiritual power signatures inside. He couldn’t send messages to anyone else.

 

Xi Jianlan: “…”

 

Xi Jianlan flopped back onto the soft couch, wishing he were dead.

 

Yu Tuishan had been indulged by his mother from childhood until he was utterly lawless. After awakening his xiangwen and suffering eight years of inhumane torture, he’d become somewhat unhinged and couldn’t empathize with anyone.

 

He squatted for a while, figuring Xi Jianlan had finally calmed down, then cheerfully approached again.

 

“I’ve stopped supplying ‘Abandoned Immortal Bones’ to Evil Qi Road and Jiuxiao City. After a while, I’ll find an excuse to get those desperately needing ‘Abandoned Immortal Bones’ to rob Tianyan spiritual power from Central State noble families.” Yu Tuishan’s eyebrows danced with delight. “Hahahaha, the scene will definitely be spectacular! Let them fight, let them fight!”

 

Xi Jianlan stared at him expressionless, saying coldly: “Do I look like someone who wants to join the festivities?”

 

Yu Tuishan was at a loss, disbelieving: “You’re still angry? Half an hour has passed and you’re still upset? What’s wrong with you? You’re just as stubborn as a dog.”

 

Xi Jianlan: “…”

 

Xi Jianlan fell silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled and hooked a finger at Yu Tuishan, saying gently: “Come here.”

 

Yu Tuishan thought he’d forgiven him and grinned as he approached.

 

Yu Hu looked away, seeming unable to bear watching.

 

The next instant, “boom”—

 

Yu Tuishan was sent flying through the door by a palm strike from Xi Jianlan, landing pathetically tangled in the peach tree in the courtyard. He even shook several peaches loose, which bounced off his head.

 

Yu Tuishan, quick-handed, caught the peaches before they hit the ground, and without even rinsing them, took a bite. Lounging listlessly on the branch, he complained: “Why’s your temper getting worse? Who spoiled you like this?”

 

Xi Jianlan had exhausted the small amount of spiritual power he’d accumulated on hitting Yu Tuishan. With a dark expression, he sat cross-legged again to regulate his breathing.

 

Yan Yu Hu remained standing silently, watching him. A rare warmth flickered across his usually frost-like face.

 

After a while, Xi Jianlan, whose eyes had been tightly closed, suddenly spoke: “Ayue…”

 

Yan Yu Hu: “Mm?”

 

Xi Jianlan opened his eyes, gazing at the brilliant sunlight outside the window, and spoke softly: “Tomorrow… let’s go back for a visit.”

 

Yan Yu Hu was silent for a moment, then said: “There’s no need.”

 

Xi Jianlan: “I want to go back and see.”

 

Yan Yu Hu: “Wouldn’t you rather go see Sect Master Sheng first?”

 

Xi Jianlan: “…”

 

Xi Jianlan’s lips twitched: “Can you please not remind me of that?”

 

A faint smile appeared in Yan Yu Hu’s eyes.

 

Xi Jianlan just wanted to avoid it one day at a time. Inexplicably, he recalled Sheng Jiao’s words back then…

 

“Don’t let me see you in the secret realm, or you’ll know the consequences.”

 

Not only had he gone to the secret realm, but he’d also thoroughly schemed against Sheng Jiao, and finally escaped by faking his death for three whole months.

 

Sheng Jiao would probably eat him alive.

 

Xi Jianlan shuddered, not daring to think further.

 

“Let’s talk about it after I return from Yanwen Mountain.”

 

***

 

The next morning.

 

Xi Jianlan wore a crimson robe embroidered with osmanthus patterns. A hairpin of gold and jade osmanthus branches was woven through his black hair, framing his forehead. He absently stroked the storage ring Sheng Jiao had given him on his finger as he coldly left the annex.

 

Yu Tuishan had gone out early and eaten eight breakfasts. Chewing on a piece of dog-tail grass, he happened to meet them head-on and hastily followed: “Ling’er, where are you going?”

 

Xi Jianlan didn’t want to respond to him.

 

Yu Tuishan, shameless and persistent, asked Yan Yu Hu: “Ayue, where are you two heading?”

 

Yan Yu Hu said coldly: “Yanwen Mountain.”

 

Yu Tuishan paused, stammering: “Oh, oh, that’s right. It’s… it’s time.”

 

Xi Jianlan left with a dark expression.

 

Yu Tuishan watched his back longingly.

 

Having coincidentally hit this particular day and getting Xi Jianlan this angry, Yu Tuishan rarely dredged up some conscience from his wicked heart. He felt he should do something to coax him.

 

Yu Tuishan rubbed his chin, thinking for a long time, then suddenly clapped his hands.

 

He had it!

 

“Come here!”

 

Quickly, servants from Evil Qi Road hurried over: “Yu the Great, what are your orders?”

 

Yu Tuishan spoke with great pride: “In two days, it’s Yanling’s birthday. Go inform the lord of this place ‘Wuyin City’—I want to throw him an unprecedented birthday banquet.”

 

The servant was taken aback: “A birthday banquet?”

 

“That’s right.” Yu Tuishan grew more delighted the more he thought about it. “Get all the prominent figures from the Thirteen States to come celebrate my younger brother’s birthday!”

 

The servant asked carefully: “Would the Great Lord Yan… agree?”

 

Yu Tuishan said casually: “No need to tell him. I want to give him a surprise. He’ll definitely be happy then.”

 

The servant: “…”

 

“Oh right!” Yu Tuishan, lost in the joy of pleasing his younger brother, said happily: “Most importantly, you must invite Sect Master Sheng from Xiezhi Sect—by whatever means necessary.”

 

When Xi Jianlan and Sect Master Sheng reunited, he’d definitely be moved to tears and cry with joy.

 

He’d never be angry with him again.

 

***

 

Just after leaving Yu Tuishan’s ostentatious mansion, Xi Jianlan tilted his head and sneezed.

 

He slightly furrowed his brow, always feeling as if someone behind the scenes was plotting against him.

 

Xi Jianlan had thought he’d need to go through a formation to leave Evil Qi Road for “Wuyin City,” but to his surprise, stepping out of the mansion revealed a sky as clear as washing, blue and cloudless.

 

The long street bustled with people, each shadow crisp and clear.

 

Xi Jianlan was taken aback.

 

Yan Yu Hu explained for him: “During the three months senior brother slept, the Great Lord has relocated Evil Qi Road to Wuyin City. It caused quite a commotion throughout the Thirteen States back then. Things have only settled down recently.”

 

Xi Jianlan frowned: “The lord of Wuyin City agreed to this?”

 

“The Great Lord gave the city lord’s young master—who was born without spiritual roots—a Heaven-grade xiangwen.”

 

Xi Jianlan understood.

 

The two of them left Wuyin City and boarded a small river boat heading south.

 

The boundary between Central State and Northern Territory was a mountain range stretching continuously for a hundred thousand li, like a giant dragon lying across the land, separating the two territories.

 

Xi Jianlan sat alone on the railing of the boat’s gallery, legs dangling outside the wooden rail, his thin frame swaying in the wild wind as if about to topple.

 

He raised his hand to smooth his disheveled long hair, and the boat happened to pass through a thick layer of dark clouds where visibility vanished, drifting silently over layered peaks and ridges.

 

Yan Yuhu knocked on the door and said softly, “Senior brother, we’ve arrived.”

 

Xi Jianlan was startled and lowered his eyes to look down.

 

Yanwen Mountain was lush and verdant, its greenery dense and flourishing. The oblique wind and fine autumn rain draped the emerald mountains in a misty haze.

 

Familiar yet strange.

 

Xi Jianlan gazed blankly for a long moment, then suddenly pushed himself up with his hand and leaped down from the ten-thousand-zhang height. His crimson figure seemed like a drop of blood, falling into the boundless landscape.

 

By the time Yan Yuhu brought the boat to rest at the entrance of Yanwen Mountain, he could see from afar that Xi Jianlan was climbing up the thousand-layered stone steps, one step at a time.

 

Though he could ride the wind upward, Xi Jianlan did not stir his spiritual power. The soft, cool autumn rain fell upon him, and even his feathered lashes were covered with a thin layer of white mist.

 

Each step of the mountain stairs was both strange and familiar.

 

In the gentle drizzle, Xi Jianlan’s crimson robes fluttered, and the storage ring on his finger chimed against the jade tassel at his waist, sounding like tinkling jade pendants.

 

In a daze, with each step Xi Jianlan climbed, his tall figure seemed to grow smaller, his strides becoming larger and more vigorous.

 

A yellow oriole stood among the verdant mountains, its wings fluttering and shaking loose the rain collected on the leaves.

 

Drip. Drop.

 

On the thousand-layered steps of Yanwen Mountain, a half-grown child in white robes happily climbed upward, panting heavily. A bead of sweat slid down his snow-white cheek from his forehead, lingering for a moment at the red mole at the corner of his eye before falling.

 

“A-Yue!”

 

The ten-year-old child waved happily downward: “I’m almost there, you’re going to lose again!”

 

In the shade of nearby green trees, a younger child climbed the steps with a face as pale as paper, saying weakly, “Senior brother, I really… can’t run anymore.”

 

Yan Ling laughed at him: “Useless! I’m going first!”

 

Yan Yue grew anxious and climbed with both hands and feet: “Senior brother, senior brother.”

 

Yan Ling laughed loudly, his short legs struggling, yet maintaining the pride of a senior brother before his even younger junior, his legs aching as he finally climbed the thousand-layered steps and reached the peak of Yanwen Mountain.

 

“Ha ha ha.” Yan Ling stood on the last step, grinning at him. “Hurry up, hurry up. If Mother finds out I’ve snuck out to play again, she’ll definitely beat me. This time since you lost, you have to take the blame for me, otherwise I…”

 

Before his boastful threat was finished, a gentle voice came from the side: “Otherwise what?”

 

Yan Ling didn’t react and said proudly: “Otherwise I’ll twist the truth and say it was you, being younger, who kept pestering me to go out and play.”

 

After speaking, Yan Ling’s smile froze, his thin frame suddenly shivered, and he turned around stiffly, trembling.

 

Lady Chao stood in white robes, her dark hair loosely pinned up, smiling teasingly at Yan Ling, though it was unclear how long she had been standing there.

 

Yan Ling’s small face turned green, and he said dryly: “Mother, how are you here?”

 

Lady Chao said flatly: “If I’m not here, where should I be?”

 

“In the Nine Heavens playing a celestial maiden, of course.” Yan Ling, skilled at sweet talk, only stiffened for a moment before quickly falling in line, grinning at his mother to please her. “Why would you lower yourself to come to this shabby place? Oh Mother, your hair arrangement looks so lovely today, and that hairpin is beautiful too, with two purple beads hanging from it, they match your robes so well.”

 

Lady Chao smiled and extended fingers as delicate as green onion whites, gently stroking Yan Ling’s small face. A fragrance of medicine wafted over.

 

Yan Ling gave her a well-behaved grin.

 

Lady Chao’s fingers suddenly pinched Yan Ling’s ear, her eyes curving, yet her hand was merciless: “This ugly hairstyle was pinned by your father, and the hairpin was also chosen by your father. You two father and son truly inherit the same aesthetic sense—you can make even the ugliest things sound pretty as flowers.”

 

Yan Ling wailed: “Mother! Mother, have mercy! I know I was wrong!”

 

Lady Chao’s fingers twisted half a circle more: “If you wanted to sneak out and play, that would be one thing, but why did you have to drag A-Yue along?”

 

Yan Ling was about to cry.

 

“It hurts, it hurts! Mother, Mother, I know I was wrong. I won’t bring A-Yue next time, wuu!”

 

Lady Chao saw this little liar’s tears falling and couldn’t bear it, so she released her hand and looked at him softly.

 

While Lady Chao was scolding Yan Ling, Yan Yue finally climbed up, panting heavily, his small face as pale as paper, yet still bowing respectfully.

 

“Shimu.”

 

Lady Chao sighed, took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from Yan Yue’s face: “Where did you two go to play?”

 

Yan Ling made exaggerated faces at Yan Yue behind him.

 

Yan Yue didn’t see and answered obediently: “Reporting to Shimu, Senior brother took me to the mountain peak over there, saying we could see the Qiaoqi Market of Central State.”

 

Lady Chao said gently: “And did you see it?”

 

“No.” Yan Yue shook his head. “The fog was quite thick, we couldn’t see anything.”

 

Lady Chao turned to look at the guilty-looking Yan Ling.

 

Yan Ling said glumly: “I, I just wanted to see what all the fuss was about.”

 

Lady Chao asked helplessly: “You wanted to go that badly?”

 

Yan Ling peeked at his mother’s expression and said carefully: “Just, just a tiny bit, not really that much.”

 

Lady Chao had no way to deal with him and laughed: “How about we take a boat to Central State City later to see the Qiaoqi Festival?”

 

Yan Ling and Yan Yue froze, nearly jumping up on the spot.

 

“Truly?!”

 

Lady Chao nodded: “I’m nothing like you, knowing only honeyed words.”

 

Yan Ling happily circled around Lady Chao, cheering: “Yes, yes! Mother is the best! Mother is a fairy!”

 

Lady Chao patted his head: “Go get ready and change out of those clothes.”

 

Yan Ling hurriedly nodded and pulled Yan Yue away happily to change clothes.

 

In the middle of the mountain range between Central State and Southern Territory, there were countless peaks—over a thousand thousand. A thousand years ago, the spiritual energy in this mountain range had been abundant, and it once produced many great sects renowned throughout heaven and earth.

 

But ever since Tianyan descended into the world, the sects on the mountain range gradually declined. What remained were only a bunch of minor sects—or to put it less kindly, scattered cultivators with no future prospects.

 

Yanwen Mountain’s disciples had withered away. On the enormous peak, only Yan Ling’s family and the adopted Yan Yue remained.

 

Yan Ling quickly changed into fresh clothes and pulled Yan Yue, whose sash wasn’t even tied properly yet, bounding toward Yanwen Mountain’s river boat.

 

It was a vessel left behind by the sect many years ago—rustic and exquisite, requiring only a wisp of spiritual power to fly all the way to Central State City.

 

Lady Chao and Yan Hanque had been waiting for some time. Yan Ling hugged Yan Yue and bounced aboard, his eyebrows dancing with joy.

 

“Let’s go, we’re heading out!”

 

The boat slowly rose into the air, soared over the massive mountain range, and reached Central State City by noon.

 

Yan Hanque was taciturn. Even on the boat, he only sat in meditation and cultivation. Yan Ling crawled around beside him, making a racket, but Yan Hanque turned a deaf ear, as if he didn’t exist.

 

Finally, the boat descended.

 

From high above, Yan Ling had already noticed that Central State City seemed even more bustling than usual. Lanterns and decorations were hung everywhere, and before nightfall, fireworks were crackling and popping without cease. It looked less like celebrating the Qiaoqi Festival and more like a celebration.

 

Yan Ling bounded off the boat and pulled Yan Hanque’s hand, his eyes gleaming as he ran outside.

 

“Father, what is that?”

 

“Father, father, can I buy one to play with?”

 

“Father!”

 

Yan Hanque glanced down at him and tossed him a spirit stone, letting him squander it as he pleased.

 

Yan Ling hugged his arm and laughed continuously, then asked without causing more trouble: “Father, why is this year’s Qiaoqi different from the previous years? The scale is so grand!”

 

The main street of Central State was crowded with people. Perhaps because he saw a child asking, a nearby man kindly answered for him.

 

“It’s because the young master of the Xi family in Central State City is having his birthday.”

 

Yan Ling asked curiously: “The Xi family?”

 

“Yes.” The man smiled. “The Xi family isn’t a particularly large clan, and Tianyan doesn’t have many heavenly-grade xiangwen among them. Normally they keep a low profile. But this year, Xi Jue has just turned twelve—the day when that young master awakened his xiangwen. I heard the young master Xi Jue himself insisted on making a grand affair, and the Xi family indulges him without restraint, so how could they refuse?”

 

Upon hearing it was a family with Tianyan spiritual veins, Yan Ling obediently fell silent.

 

Even someone as careless as he knew that having a Tianyan family and people like them were worlds apart.

 

Just then, the crowd on the main street parted to the left and right, creating a path.

 

Yan Ling was nearly knocked over by the crowd and wanted to crane his neck to see, but his short stature meant he couldn’t see anything.

 

Yan Hanque silently picked him up.

 

Yan Ling finally saw the spectacle.

 

On the main street, several qilins were carrying an exquisite and luxurious palanquin, hanging lanterns inscribed with the character “Xi” in flowing calligraphy.

 

A delicate hand lightly lifted an elegant window curtain, revealing a face of arrogant extravagance.

 

—That was the young master of the Xi family, Xi Jue.

 

The spoiled young master had lips red as cinnabar and teeth white as jade. At first glance, he was a noble son raised in luxury and refinement, and Xi Jue swept his gaze across the densely packed crowd, his eyes full of arrogance.

 

Yan Ling clutched Yan Hanque’s shoulders, happily watching the spectacle.

 

Without meaning to, the disdainful gaze of the arrogant young master Xi Jue met Yan Ling’s.

 

Yan Ling blinked in confusion.

 

Xi Jue wrinkled his nose in disgust and pulled his gaze away, snorting: “Country bumpkin.”

 

Yan Ling caught the shape of his lips and was instantly so angry that he leaned backward, nearly tumbling out of Yan Hanque’s embrace.

 

What an insufferable, arrogant dog!

 

***

 

 

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