WBICDPH Chapter 56

Chapter 56 — The Spring’s Quiet Understanding

“So, what exactly brings the Young Lord to seek me out today?”

At Dripping Spring, Zhe Yu looked across the low table at his rare guest, who sat there with a sour face, arms crossed, and stubbornly silent. Zhe Yu found it amusing—but he kept that to himself.

Xiao Lanqi had arrived in a whirlwind earlier that day. The moment he got there, he plopped into a chair and refused to say a word.

Since Xiao Lanqi wouldn’t speak, Zhe Yu didn’t press him. They sat in silence for nearly the time it took an incense stick to burn before Zhe Yu finally poured himself a cup of wine and broke the stalemate.

“…”

Xiao Lanqi shot him a sideways glance. “Who said I came to see you? I was just taking a walk because I was bored and happened to wander in.”

“Of course, of course,” Zhe Yu said patiently, humoring him. “Since you’re already here, is there anything you’d like to talk about?”

Xiao Lanqi paused again. When he finally spoke, his words came faster. “The Twelve Torch Guards have come looking for me. They probably already know my identity.”

“I know.”

“Lin Jin’s Sacred Jade Physique has been exposed too.”

“I know.”

“The Thorn Spirit called out ‘Lord’ before it died. That means Han Xiao was hiding nearby. That woman is ruthless and dangerous. This was only the beginning—she failed this time, but she won’t give up easily.”

“I know.”

“…How do you know everything? If you already knew, why ask me anything?” Xiao Lanqi snapped.

Zhe Yu finally let out a small laugh.

Xiao Lanqi bristled. “What are you laughing at?!”

“Nothing. I’m just happy that you came to share things with me on your own.”

“Don’t flatter yourself. You asked—I just answered reluctantly.”

“Mm-hmm. Still, I didn’t expect you to be wary of Han Xiao.”

Zhe Yu’s eyes curved slightly as he spoke.

“As if,” Xiao Lanqi scoffed. “She’s not even worth my attention.”

“Oh? Then why emphasize that she’s ruthless, dangerous, and won’t give up? Were you hoping I’d stay on guard and prepare for her next move?” Without waiting for an answer, Zhe Yu added, “Ah, I see. Maybe she isn’t a threat to you, but she is to Lin Jin. If that kid fell into her hands, he wouldn’t stand a chance. So you’re asking me to protect him, aren’t you?”

“Absolute nonsense!”

Xiao Lanqi downed his wine in one gulp and slammed the cup back on the table. “I never mentioned him. Stop twisting my words. Whether he lives or dies has nothing to do with me.”

“But he did just save you, didn’t he?”

At that, Xiao Lanqi bristled. “Who asked him to? Even without him, I could’ve burned that Thorn Spirit to ashes myself. Don’t expect me to thank him! He knew he was weak, but still stood in front of me like some hero. Now he’s stuck in bed crying from the pain—completely foolish.”

Zhe Yu watched him with a helpless smile. “He didn’t know who you really were. To him, you were just a small, vulnerable dog. So he stood in front to protect you—because you seemed weaker than he was.”

As he spoke gently, Zhe Yu refilled Xiao Lanqi’s cup, then seemed to remember something. “By the way, after everything happened, I went to Jinlin City myself. I found something interesting in the mountains behind it. Care to hear?”

Xiao Lanqi raised an eyebrow. “Let’s hear it.”

With a wave of his hand, threads of spiritual energy gathered at Zhe Yu’s fingertips, forming a mysterious diagram in the air between them. He adjusted it slightly before explaining, “I found traces of a formation array. Judging by the time, method, and lingering aura, it was definitely left by Han Xiao’s group.”

Xiao Lanqi frowned as he studied it. “I’ve never seen this formation before. It looks… incomplete.”

“Exactly. It’s missing its core.”

Zhe Yu conjured a small red orb of energy and placed it at the center. “I once saw a similar formation described in an ancient text. It requires an extremely cruel and powerful heavenly-grade artifact as its core. Hard to forge—but once completed, anyone who enters it, god or demon, will be killed. Its name is rather dramatic: the Asura Blood Prison.”

He paused before continuing, “I’ve heard that Han Xiao—the leader among the Twelve Torch Guards and a trusted aide to Xiao Lancheng—is not only a master of poison but also highly skilled in forging artifacts. Do you think she might have truly created the legendary core—the Heavenly Asura Seal?”

Xiao Lanqi lowered his gaze slightly. “You’re saying…?”

“That the Thorn Spirit was only bait,” Zhe Yu replied. “A larger trap lay behind it. Han Xiao knows you well. She knew you wouldn’t reveal your identity in front of the kid, so she didn’t push him to desperation. She expected you to let yourself be taken somewhere isolated before revealing yourself. If that had happened, the Asura Blood Prison would have been waiting for you.”

He continued calmly, “Unfortunately for her, she miscalculated one thing—the kid. Instead of handing you over, he chose to protect you and hold out until help arrived. Whether you admit it or not, he really did save your life.”

Xiao Lanqi didn’t reply for a long while.

Zhe Yu let him think in silence. A moment later, as he reached for the wine jug, he suddenly paused and raised an eyebrow. “The kid is coming. Young Lord, would you like to hide?”

“Hide where?” Xiao Lanqi snapped, glancing around the open bamboo grove.

Zhe Yu simply opened his sleeve.

Rolling his eyes, Xiao Lanqi transformed into a palm-sized puppy and climbed inside. Zhe Yu sealed his aura with a simple gesture and straightened his sleeve to conceal himself completely.

Soon, a thin figure appeared through the mist. Lin Jin walked slowly, his face pale and sickly.

“I heard you were badly injured,” Zhe Yu said gently. “Why not rest instead of coming all the way here?”

He quietly replaced one wine cup with a white jade teacup. “You’re still recovering—no alcohol. Try some tea instead.”

“That’s fine,” Lin Jin replied as he sat down. “I’ve been stuck in bed for days and was going stir-crazy. And… I have many questions I can’t figure out on my own.”

Zhe Yu began preparing tea with water from Dripping Spring. “Ask whatever you like.”

Lin Jin sighed. “You probably heard—I encountered demonic cultivators in Jinlin City…”

He explained about the star-silver ornaments worn by demons and asked why one of the guards wore only a left-ear earring.

Zhe Yu nodded. “That relates to a special demonic custom. Piercing the left ear marks the beginning of life, usually done by the family. The right ear is considered sacred, close to their demon heart, so it’s rarely touched—unless they meet the most important person in their life and invite them to pierce it.”

“The most important person… like a lover?” Lin Jin asked.

“Not necessarily,” Zhe Yu replied. “It could be a savior, a sworn master, a mentor—anyone who changes their life. ‘Most important’ isn’t limited to romance.”

Lin Jin nodded thoughtfully and sipped his tea in silence.

After a moment, Zhe Yu asked, “Anything else you want to ask?”

“Yes… one more thing.”

Lin Jin hesitated, fingers tightening around the hot teacup until he nearly burned himself. He set it down awkwardly, hid his trembling hand in his sleeve, took a deep breath, and finally asked:

“Master… my contracted beast—the little puppy named Qiuqiu… is he really just an ordinary green-eyed hound pup?”