Chapter 60: Tempest and Turmoil

The night was as dark as pitch, with no moon or stars in sight, and not a single flicker of light in the sky.

Zhang Xiaofan had been kneeling at the entrance of the cave for nearly six hours. The disciples from other sects had long since retired to sleep, and even the last flickering fire in Dazhu Peak’s cave reluctantly dimmed, leaving only silence.

Inside the cave, Tian Buyi seemed to have said something, and Tian Ling’er almost immediately shouted out:

“Father!”

There was no reply, no further words. Zhang Xiaofan didn’t know what had happened, but soon, Song Daren walked out.

Zhang Xiaofan raised his head and looked at his senior brother. There was a pained expression on Song Daren’s face, but he finally said with a hard heart, “Little Junior Brother, Master says that you are bothering him by kneeling here. If you must kneel, do it farther away.”

Zhang Xiaofan’s heart sank, and he felt a sudden chill on his face. It had started raining in this pitch-black night.

Without a word, he silently got up and walked to a distant spot, kneeling under the ancient trees at the edge of the dense forest.

Song Daren watched him for a while. The figure of his junior brother grew increasingly blurry in the rain and darkness. He sighed softly, shook his head, and walked back.

Suddenly, a loud boom reverberated through the sky, and a flash of lightning cut through the heavens, as if the black night had been torn into pieces. Shortly after, large raindrops fell like pebbles, pelting the rocks and making a loud noise. Soon, a torrential downpour began.

In an instant, the world became a blur. Zhang Xiaofan was drenched in no time, his clothes clinging to his body, making him feel unbearably cold. He looked ahead, but the heavy rain made it impossible to see the cave clearly.

It seemed as if he was the only one left in this world, enduring this hardship alone.

He lowered his head, motionless.

This rain seemed to be a punishment from the heavens, unrelenting and relentless. Thunder rumbled and lightning flashed, mocking him.

Rainwater trickled down from his wet hair and along his face. Zhang Xiaofan could barely keep his eyes open. But at that moment, in the midst of the storm, he suddenly saw a figure before him, with one foot planted right in front of him.

With great effort, he lifted his head. A flash of lightning illuminated the sky, and in that brief moment of light, he saw a beautiful woman standing before him.

Zhang Xiaofan was completely stunned.

Lu Xueqi was also soaked to the bone. As the lightning faded, her figure became a faint shadow in the darkness, but Zhang Xiaofan could distinctly feel that she was right in front of him.

In the midst of the fierce storm, that gentle figure knelt down before him.

The rain grew more intense, and the wind howled!

Deep in the forest, there seemed to be a demonic roar, resonating through the trees.

A cold hand, trembling slightly, brushed over Zhang Xiaofan’s hair. A voice, like a whisper in the night, spoke softly:

“Don’t be afraid, it will pass soon!”

“…”

“I’ll stay here with you!”

“…”

A thunderclap seemed to split the sky, shattering his soul. In the midst of the raging storm, the icy rain danced like demons, and that gentle face, those tender eyes, were like the sweetest dream, by his side.

She murmured in the storm, speaking to Zhang Xiaofan, and perhaps to herself, softly, very softly:

“You saved me and protected me, even risking your own life. I will do the same for you. I know the pain in your heart, and though I cannot take it away, I will share it with you. I hope that one day, you can be happy with the one you love…”

Her voice grew softer and gradually faded. The storm raged on, and her fragile figure swayed like a wounded flower in the wind. Zhang Xiaofan felt as if he were in a dream.

The night was dark, and the heavens were silent!

※※※

The storm raged for a long time before it finally subsided. Zhang Xiaofan was ice-cold, and the chill seeped deep into his bones. His hands and feet were numb, and he knew that if he continued like this, he would surely fall ill. But no matter what, he did not want to get up and seek shelter.

In the midst of the cold, a faint warmth slowly spread from his right arm, seemingly coming from the magical treasure, the Flame Mirror, tied to his wrist. This warmth helped to ward off some of the cold.

Zhang Xiaofan suddenly thought of the ghostly woman he had seen earlier. He had thought it was Lu Xueqi, but now, he could no longer see her, nor did he know if she had left or if she had never been there.

A bitter smile appeared on his lips, and he shook his head, splashing water droplets. Just then, he heard a clear voice: “Foolish boy!”

Startled, Zhang Xiaofan turned around, almost calling out “Senior Sister Lu,” but he saw a girl walking out of the dense forest, holding an umbrella and smiling warmly at him. It was Biyao, the young woman from the Devil Sect, someone he never expected to see here.

Although the rain had lessened, it was still pouring heavily, and it was difficult to see clearly. Zhang Xiaofan thought he was seeing things, but when he looked closely, it was indeed Biyao, walking towards him with a smile on her face.

She was still wearing her pale green dress and holding the blue-green oilpaper umbrella. However, the heavy rain had dampened parts of her delicate dress, causing it to cling to her skin, revealing and concealing her form.

Zhang Xiaofan lowered his head, unable to look at her.

Biyao, a little surprised, squatted down in front of him, looked him up and down, and laughed softly, “You’re really strange, staying here in such heavy rain. Is this some kind of cultivation method in your Qingyun Sect?”

Zhang Xiaofan glared at her, but he was taken aback by the unexpected gentleness in her face.

“Boom!” A rumble of thunder echoed from the dark clouds, and a massive bolt of lightning split the sky, followed by a flash. The rain intensified once more.

Biyao frowned and moved closer. Zhang Xiaofan suddenly realized that the rain hitting him was much less painful. He looked up and saw that Biyao had shifted her umbrella to shield him. But the rain was so heavy that Biyao, in her attempt to protect him, got drenched herself.

Zhang Xiaofan felt a warmth in his heart and reached out to push the umbrella back, saying softly, “You just recovered from a serious illness in the Drip Blood Cave. Be careful not to catch a cold.”

Biyao seemed a little surprised, looking at Zhang Xiaofan. He was puzzled by her gaze and asked, “What is it?”

Biyao smiled, her expression filled with joy, and said, “So, you actually care about my well-being?”

Zhang Xiaofan blushed, but luckily, it was hard to see in the dark. He stammered, “I’m just worried you’ll get sick and blame me.”

Biyao leaned closer, squatting beside him. She shifted the umbrella to cover both of them, shielding them from the storm.

In the wind and rain, Zhang Xiaofan felt a faint warmth and a subtle fragrance. He couldn’t help but look at her, and their eyes met. They both froze for a moment, but Zhang Xiaofan was the first to look away, his heart beating wildly.

Biyao, usually so talkative, was now quiet, simply squatting next to Zhang Xiaofan. When he wasn’t paying attention, she discreetly shifted the umbrella to cover him more.

“Ah.” Zhang Xiaofan, in the midst of his confusion, suddenly remembered something and exclaimed, “How can you be here?”

Biyao, unperturbed by his reaction, smiled faintly, her voice tinged with sorrow, “I came to see you.”

Zhang Xiaofan lowered his voice, his urgency evident, “There are many righteous people around here. Even if we don’t consider the elders from Tiantai Temple and Fragrant Valley, any elder from our Qingyun Sect would mean certain death for you. Why don’t you leave quickly?”

Biyao remained calm, her smile unchanged, and sighed, “You, little fool, have a good heart.”

Zhang Xiaofan was speechless.

Biyao whispered, “You claim to be a righteous person, and that righteousness and evil cannot coexist. Why don’t you call someone to capture me?”

Zhang Xiaofan, feeling anxious, was struck by her words. Although he was not as talented or brilliant as Lin Jingyu or Senior Sister Tian Ling’er, he was not a fool. Over the years, no one on Dazhu Peak had paid much attention to him, making him somewhat insecure.

Hearing Biyao’s teasing, Zhang Xiaofan realized the seriousness of his situation. Not only was he being punished by his master, but if anyone from his sect discovered him with this Devil Sect girl, he would be in grave trouble.

Thinking of the consequences, Zhang Xiaofan’s mind went blank. He was about to call out to his fellow disciples when he noticed Biyao leaning against him. The umbrella, which she had mostly tilted over him, left her own side soaking wet.

Her clothes clung to her, and even her face was dotted with raindrops, slowly sliding down.

Zhang Xiaofan could not bring himself to call out.

“Why are you doing this?” Zhang Xiaofan asked softly, “I know your father must be a powerful figure, and you must be a privileged young lady. Why risk so much to come here and suffer for me, a mere Qingyun disciple?”

The rain and wind howled, and in this vast, desolate night, it felt as if they were the only two people left in the world.

Biyao, feeling a chill, leaned closer. Her action was both intimate and familiar, like the time they were in the Drip Blood Cave, facing life and death together. Her voice, now a bit uncertain, said, “I’m not suffering. You don’t understand; the real suffering is in the heart…”

Her voice trailed off, and Zhang Xiaofan suddenly felt her head resting on his shoulder.

The wind and rain roared, and Zhang Xiaofan’s mind went blank, filled only with the faint, sweet fragrance beside him.

※※※

At dawn, the clouds parted, and the rain stopped.

Tian Buyi, alone, stepped out of the cave and saw his little disciple still kneeling at the edge of the dense forest, unmoving.

Frowning, he walked over. Zhang Xiaofan, hearing the sound, raised his head and, seeing his master, called out softly, “Master.”

Tian Buyi saw that his disciple was completely drenched, with water still dripping from his hair. His face was even paler, showing that he had suffered greatly in the heavy rain.

Tian Buyi frowned, and hearing the sounds of other disciples stirring in the caves, he grunted and walked towards the forest. Passing Zhang Xiaofan, he said, “Come with me.”

Zhang Xiaofan hurriedly agreed and tried to stand, but his legs, numbed and sore from kneeling all night, gave way, and he fell again.

Tian Buyi paused, seemingly hesitant, but he continued walking. Zhang Xiaofan, gritting his teeth, massaged his legs until the blood flow returned, and he managed to stand up.

Seeing Tian Buyi’s figure disappearing into the forest, Zhang Xiaofan ran to catch up. By the time the other disciples emerged from the caves, they were already out of sight.

※※※

The forest on Liubo Mountain was full of ancient, towering trees, many of which required several people to encircle. The remoteness of the place had allowed these trees to grow undisturbed.

Zhang Xiaofan followed Tian Buyi, walking slowly through the forest. The morning light filtered through the treetops, casting a glow on the underbrush. The rain had washed everything, and the forest was a lush, vibrant green, with occasional small, unknown flowers blooming in the solitude, emitting a subtle fragrance.

Tian Buyi walked ahead in silence. He was short and stout, and Zhang Xiaofan was now half a head taller than him. But to Zhang Xiaofan, his figure seemed as imposing as a mountain god. Moreover, the thought of Biyao weighed heavily on his mind, troubling him deeply.

As Zhang Xiaofan struggled with whether to tell his master about Biyao, Tian Buyi suddenly stopped and turned around. Zhang Xiaofan’s heart raced, and he stopped as well. They were deep in the forest, surrounded by towering, ancient trees, with only the distant sounds of birds breaking the silence.

Tian Buyi looked Zhang Xiaofan up and down, his expression unreadable, and asked, “You’ve been in the rain all night. Are you okay?”

Zhang Xiaofan shook his head, saying softly, “I deserve it, Master.”

Tian Buyi grunted, “You say it lightly, but do you hate me for it?”

Zhang Xiaofan was startled, his already pale face turning even whiter. “No, Master, I don’t. I deserve it, and I wouldn’t dare blame you.”

Tian Buyi looked at his most neglected disciple, who was clearly in distress. His mouth twitched, and he sighed, his expression softening.

“Alright, now that we’re alone, is there anything you want to tell me?”

Zhang Xiaofan’s heart tightened, wondering if his master knew about Biyao. The relationship between Zhang Xiaofan and Biyao was complicated, and he was terrified that his seniors would find out about her visit.

Lost in thought, Zhang Xiaofan was interrupted by Tian Buyi, who, growing impatient, said, “Why did you react so strangely to your senior brother yesterday?”

Zhang Xiaofan, realizing his master wasn’t referring to Biyao, relaxed. But he couldn’t explain why he had lost control, even to himself.

Tian Buyi, after waiting for a response, sneered, “Did you get angry because you saw Ling’er and Qihao being intimate?”

Zhang Xiaofan was shocked, his mind going blank. His secret infatuation with Tian Ling’er, known only to him, had been exposed by his most respected master. It was more shocking than the thunder that had boomed the previous night.

Unable to move or speak, he could only stare at Tian Buyi, his mouth agape, utterly speechless.