In this dream, it felt as though a thousand years had passed.
He walked alone in the darkness until he saw a village, a place bathed in familiar, warm sunlight. He ran towards it, and the familiar faces smiled at him, joking and laughing.
The air was so fresh and sweet that it filled his heart with joy, making him roll freely on the grassy field beside the village, laughing with abandon.
Suddenly, more children appeared around him, pouncing forward. The always cheerful Jingyu laughed loudly, “Do you admit it, do you admit it?”
Do you admit it…
He muttered to himself, as if repeating the words from long ago.
Suddenly, the sky darkened, and black clouds gathered as if the heavens were collapsing. The people around him vanished, and the once warm and familiar village disappeared. Darkness descended upon the earth, leaving only a faint beam of light illuminating the terrified and helpless child…
He suddenly screamed, “I admit it, I admit it…”
Sitting up abruptly, he was drenched in sweat, panting heavily.
“Xiaofan, what’s wrong?” A familiar voice asked, sounding startled. It was Lin Jingyu, who grabbed Zhang Xiaofan’s shoulder and asked urgently.
Zhang Xiaofan, still panting, looked at him. Lin Jingyu sat by the bed, his face tense and somewhat haggard, staring at him. Zhang Xiaofan hesitated for a moment, then looked around. This was a small, simple room, with only ordinary furniture and a wooden bed. He was lying on the bed, covered with a thin blanket.
He lowered his head, took a deep breath, and said, “Nothing, just a nightmare.”
Lin Jingyu’s lips moved slightly, and he slowly released Zhang Xiaofan’s shoulders.
After a moment of silence, Zhang Xiaofan asked, “Where are we now?”
Lin Jingyu hesitated, then said, “We’ve left Liubo Mountain and are now in Changhe City by the East Sea. We’re staying at a small inn in Changhe City.”
Zhang Xiaofan remained silent.
The room fell quiet. After a while, Lin Jingyu suddenly asked, “Xiaofan, is there something you want to tell me?”
Zhang Xiaofan’s shoulders seemed to tremble. He lifted his eyes and met the gaze of his childhood friend, but the look in those eyes was strangely unfamiliar.
He lowered his head again, speaking slowly, “No, Jingyu.”
Lin Jingyu frowned, about to say something, but finally held back.
Another silence, and Zhang Xiaofan asked, “How did we get back here?”
Lin Jingyu sighed, “On that day on Liubo Mountain, after you fainted, everyone saw… your condition and exchanged glances. In the end, my master, Uncle Tian, and a few others decided to bring you back first. The Demon Sect was in disarray, and their attention was on the monster, so they didn’t stop us. We returned to Changhe City smoothly.”
Zhang Xiaofan was silent for a moment, then asked, “How long have I been like this?”
Lin Jingyu replied, “Three days.”
Zhang Xiaofan fell silent again. Seeing his expression, Lin Jingyu felt frustrated and blurted out, “Xiaofan, what’s going on? How could you—”
“Jingyu!” Zhang Xiaofan interrupted loudly, cutting off Lin Jingyu’s question.
Lin Jingyu was taken aback, looking at him.
Zhang Xiaofan’s voice was hoarse, and he didn’t meet Lin Jingyu’s eyes. He kept his head low and said softly, “Don’t ask, please don’t ask anymore.”
Lin Jingyu gritted his teeth, stood up, and looked at Zhang Xiaofan for a long time before turning to leave. As he neared the door, he turned back and said, “Xiaofan, don’t worry. No matter what the reason, I believe in you. I’ll ask my master to speak on your behalf!”
Zhang Xiaofan sat on the bed, motionless, as if he hadn’t heard. Lin Jingyu glanced at him one last time, then resolutely turned and left. Outside, there seemed to be more people. Lin Jingyu whispered a few words to them, and then his footsteps faded away.
The room was very quiet.
—
After some time, Zhang Xiaofan slowly raised his head and threw off the blanket. He was still wearing the clothes from Liubo Mountain, and no one had changed them. Instinctively, he reached for the bedhead, but his hand stopped mid-air.
There was nothing there.
His firestick, which had been with him for years, was gone.
He sat there, his lips trembling slightly.
Quickly, he got out of bed and ran to the door, pulling it open.
Two people outside turned in surprise. It was Song Daren and Du Bishu.
Seeing Zhang Xiaofan, their expressions were strange. After a while, Du Bishu managed a dry laugh, “Little Junior Brother, you’re awake?”
A beam of sunlight from the sky behind them illuminated Zhang Xiaofan’s face, and he suddenly felt dizzy, swaying slightly.
Song Daren’s face changed, and he instinctively reached out to support him, but then pulled back.
Zhang Xiaofan was stunned, looking at his senior brother, whose face was pale as paper.
Song Daren’s lips moved, and he finally said slowly, “Little Junior Brother, you’re injured. You should stay in the room and rest, don’t move around too much.”
Zhang Xiaofan slowly stepped back, and just as he was about to turn, he couldn’t help asking, “Senior Brother, where is my firestick?”
Song Daren and Du Bishu’s faces changed. After a long while, Song Daren said coolly, “Little Junior Brother, your treasure has been temporarily confiscated by our master. Don’t worry about it.”
Zhang Xiaofan didn’t say anything more, turned, and gently closed the door.
—
In another corner of the inn, in a secluded room, Taoist Cangsong, Tian Buyi, and Xiao Yicai sat together.
On the small round table between them lay the dark green firestick.
Taoist Cangsong reached out and picked it up. He placed the firestick in front of him, stroking it gently. When his fingers touched the Bloodsucking Pearl at the tip, his eyes flickered with a subtle light. After a while, he said mildly, “So this is the Bloodsucking Pearl?”
Tian Buyi suddenly snorted coldly.
Xiao Yicai looked at Tian Buyi, then at Taoist Cangsong, and said, “Honored uncles, what should we do now? Please advise.”
Taoist Cangsong glanced at Xiao Yicai and said, “Xiao Nephew, you are known for your wisdom and decisiveness. Why don’t you suggest something?”
Xiao Yicai shook his head, “This matter is too serious. I don’t know what to say.”
Taoist Cangsong looked at Tian Buyi’s stern face and said, “The most troublesome thing now is the constant questioning from the Tiansin Temple. They keep asking how Zhang Xiaofan learned the Great Brahman Prajna Sutra. Their attitude is aggressive, and if not for Fazheng’s restraint, they would have demanded him already!”
Tian Buyi said coldly, “They want to take him? We need to clear things up first. Besides, my disciples’ matters are not their business.”
Taoist Cangsong frowned, wanting to say more, but Xiao Yicai spoke, “About this, Uncle Tian, I met Li Shixiong from the Incense Valley this morning. He also wants to take him!”
Taoist Cangsong was surprised. Tian Buyi glared, “What does the Incense Valley have to do with this?”
Xiao Yicai said softly, “Uncle Tian, calm down. I think the Incense Valley is being unreasonable. Li Shixiong said that when he and Zhang Xiaodi entered the Black Stone Cave to investigate a lost treasure, they found the demons dead, but the treasure was missing. Zhang Xiaodi claimed he hadn’t seen it, which seemed suspicious. Now, it seems he stole—”
With a loud bang, Tian Buyi slammed the table, shattering it.
Xiao Yicai looked embarrassed. Taoist Cangsong frowned and said, “The Incense Valley clearly has ill intentions. We shouldn’t bother with such baseless accusations.”
Xiao Yicai nodded, “Actually, we can push back the Incense Valley, but many of our fellow practitioners are demanding an explanation. They want to know why a demonic artifact from eight hundred years ago is with one of our Qingyun Sect’s disciples?”
Tian Buyi clenched his fists, his face grim, and cursed, “That little beast!”
Taoist Cangsong said slowly, “Brother Tian, don’t be too angry. No one could have foreseen this. But now, the situation is serious, involving the Tiansin Temple and the Demon Sect. We should return to the mountain and consult the sect leader.”
Tian Buyi exhaled deeply and, suppressing his anger, nodded, “Fine, let’s leave immediately.” He glanced at the firestick in Taoist Cangsong’s hand.
Unexpectedly, Taoist Cangsong smiled and put the firestick in his chest.
Tian Buyi’s face changed. Xiao Yicai frowned, “Uncle Cang, this treasure—”
Taoist Cangsong waved his hand and said to Tian Buyi, “Brother Tian, this incident has disgraced our Qingyun Sect and offended the Tiansin Temple. As a master, you bear some responsibility, don’t you?”
Tian Buyi glared, “So what?”
Taoist Cangsong said calmly, “I am in charge of punishments in the Qingyun Sect. This evidence should be kept by me. You wouldn’t object, would you?”
Tian Buyi stared at him for a while, then stomped out angrily.
—
In the streets of Changhe City, people went about their usual business, bustling and lively.
Zhou Yixian and Xiao Huan stood at a street corner, frowning at the small inn with the sign “East Sea Inn” hanging above its door.
Xiao Huan licked her ice candy, satisfied, and then casually asked, “Grandpa, are you sure the Qingyun Sect members are staying here?”
Zhou Yixian nodded, “Of course. Haven’t you seen the cultivators going in and out?”
He mused, “They’ve been in Liubo Mountain for so long. I wonder what happened.”
Xiao Huan rolled her eyes, “You’re so confusing. If you’re a Qingyun Sect member, you won’t admit it. If you’re not, you care so much?”
Zhou Yixian was flustered, “Although I disdain to acknowledge these younger Qingyun Sect members, I’ve seen through the world and prefer a life of poverty, wandering to help the common people—”
Xiao Huan turned and walked away.
Zhou Yixian swallowed his pride, glanced at the inn, and followed.
Xiao Huan said, “You’re ashamed to admit it. We planned to go to Liubo Mountain, but we couldn’t find a boat for days.”
Zhou Yixian laughed awkwardly, “Those boatmen are ignorant. How can they not know where Liubo Mountain is?”
Trying to change the subject, he said, “I wonder if that guy Zhang Xiaofan died in Liubo Mountain?”
Xiao Huan glared, “Don’t say that. I read his palm. Though he has a chaotic fate, he’s not short-lived.”
Zhou Yixian chuckled, “I’m curious. What did he see in the Full Moon Well outside the Black Stone Cave?”
Xiao Huan laughed, “You still remember that?”
Zhou Yixian nodded, “Yes, people with such chaotic fates are rare. I’m getting more curious.”
Xiao Huan nodded, “Me too—”
Laughing, they almost bumped into two figures. Zhou Yixian yelled, “What are you—”
But his voice trailed off as he recognized the beautiful girl in green, Biyao, and a woman in black.
Zhou Yixian stammered, “I-I was wrong. I’ll return your money. Please forgive us!”
Biyao frowned, her face pale and tired. She glared, “I don’t want your money. Answer my questions.”
Zhou Yixian, eager to please, “Sure, I’ll tell you everything. Fortune, longevity, or romance? I’m great at fortune-telling.”
But Xiao Huan tugged at his sleeve, and he realized, “Oh, pretty lady, what do you want to know?”
Biyao, silent, asked, “Why were you looking at the East Sea Inn?”
Zhou Yixian and Xiao Huan exchanged a glance, “We just happened to pass by and saw the cultivators.”
Biyao said, “So the Qingyun Sect members are there?”
Zhou Yixian nodded, “Seems so.”
Biyao, after a long pause, “Have you seen the young disciple who saved you?”
Zhou Yixian, surprised, “You mean Zhang Xiaofan?”
Biyao, surprised they knew his name, “Did you see him?”
Zhou Yixian and Xiao Huan shook their heads.
Biyao, disappointed, “You mentioned the Full Moon Well outside the Black Stone Cave. What did you mean?”
Zhou Yixian explained, “It’s said that on a full moon night, if you look into the well, you’ll see your true love.”
Biyao, thoughtful, then dismissed them, “Go.”
As they walked away, Biyao called, “Wait.”
Zhou Yixian tensed.
Biyao asked, “What about the Full Moon Well?”
Zhou Yixian relaxed, “Legends say you see your true love in the well on a full moon night.”
Biyao, contemplative, then said, “Go.”
Zhou Yixian and Xiao Huan, relieved, walked away. Biyao and the mysterious woman in black remained.
“Aunt Yu, who did he see in the well?” Biyao, bitter, “It must be Ling’er, or that beautiful woman with the Celestial Jade sword. What am I to him?”
The mysterious woman, “Men often don’t understand their own hearts.”
Biyao, pleading, “Aunt Yu, I want to see him.”
The woman shook her head, “No.”
Biyao, desperate, “He’s in agony. I can’t let him suffer.”
The woman sighed, “Your father warned me to watch over you. With so many powerful cultivators, it’s dangerous. We’ll see him again, I promise.”
Biyao, “But he’s violated the rules. Will they kill him?”
The woman, “Calm down. Zhang Xiaofan is suspected of having ties with our Holy Sect due to the Bloodsucking Pearl, and he’s also practicing the Great Brahman Prajna Sutra. This is serious. The Tiansin Temple won’t let it go. I’m sure they’ll take him back to the Qingyun Mountain for a decision. For now, he’s safe.”
Biyao bit her lip, “Aunt Yu, please help him, for my sake.”
The woman, after a moment, “If your father decides to save him, I’ll help once.”
Biyao, elated.
The woman, her smile hidden, “That night, when he faced the monster, I was moved. It reminded me of someone from long ago, a white-robed figure. Even their expressions were similar…”
The night, the brave young man, and the shadows of the past, all intertwined.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage