Chapter 107 - Vinegar Jar Overturned
Translated by Eve
Edited by Serefina, Kitty
8. Vinegar Jar Overturned
This scene stunned the people from the Qinghe Sect. They looked at Yun Huaiyu, who rode atop of the red-crowned crane. Even if Yun Huaiyu’s bearing was gentle and he looked completely harmless, they did not dare make any rash movements… because none of them could discern Yun Huaiyu’s cultivation level.
While they were shocked and uncertain, one of the people saw the jade pendant tied to Yun Huaiyu’s waist. He cautiously inquired, “Is Your Excellency a disciple of the Immortal Sect?”
Yun Huaiyu smiled and nodded, “I am Yun Huaiyu of the Immortal Sect.”
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone’s expressions changed! The vigilance and doubt from before completely vanished. All that was left was reverence and shock! The one who spoke immediately cupped his hands and said, “So it is Peak Master Yun. We are disciples of the Qinghe Sect. Peak Master has traveled far. Please excuse me for not coming to welcome you.”
Yun Huaiyu smiled faintly. His gaze was warm and his voice was clear and melodious, “Gentlemen, you are too polite. I only happened to pa.s.s through by chance. Forgive me for rashly b.u.t.ting in. May I ask how this person has offended you gentlemen?”
The Qinghe disciple angrily said, “He’s a demonic cultivator. Not only did he murder an innocent from a village, but he also killed our sect members!”
Yun Huaiyu’s expression changed slightly. He stepped off of the crane and slowly walked over to those people, cupping his hands, and said, “So it’s like this. Only, I have a history with this person. He was once my friend. Unfortunately, he has gone astray… I do not know if you gentlemen would be willing to do me the favor of handing him over to me. I a.s.sure you that I will get justice on your behalf. Of course, I understand everyone’s pain from losing your sect members. I am willing to give you ten thousand spiritual crystals as compensation.”
When he said this, his att.i.tude was amiable, and there was a smile on his face the whole time. It did not feel like he was using his power to pressure them.
When the Qinghe Sect members heard the first part, they were really angry. Even with Yun Huaiyu’s ident.i.ty, it was a bit much to want to take away the murderer of their sect members. However, when they heard the latter part, their expressions changed.
Ten thousand spiritual crystals… that was no small amount.
The Qinghe Sect was a small local sect. Ten thousand spiritual crystals was almost more than what was in the Sect master’s treasury…. This was a tempting offer that a normal cultivator could not refuse.
Even split amongst the few of them, it was enough to purchase a lot of cultivating resources.
Should they turn down ten thousand high quality spiritual crystals and Yun Huaiyu’s goodwill to avenge the deaths of a few people?
No, no one was that stupid.
Moreover, Yun Huaiyu was willing to offer them ten thousand spiritual crystals. If he wanted to forcefully take the person away, they could not stop him. They might as well get something in return. Everyone exchanged glances and then said, “Since he is Peak Master Yun’s friend, we have no objections. We trust that Peak Master Yun will definitely be just.”
Yun Huaiyu flashed a smile like a spring breeze. He took out a storage bag and handed it to them. “Many thanks. This is ten thousand spiritual crystals. Please, count them.”
The Qinghe Sect members coughed. They then opened it and took a glance. They were smiling so wide they could not close their mouths. “No need to count. Everyone knows of Peak Master Yun’s integrity. We have no need to be suspicious of you!”
Yun Huaiyu smiled, “You are too polite.”
The Qinghe Sect members said, “Since Peak Master has come here, you must come be our guest.”
Yun Huaiyu shook his head, “I still have matters to attend to. Perhaps I shall come later if I have the chance.”
Those people did not insist. Once they had the spiritual crystals, they were just itching to leave and split it. They smiled and said, “OK! Since Peak Master has things to do, we will not continue to disturb you. We will take our leave first!”
Those people had come rus.h.i.+ng over with murderous auras but left with faces full of smiles. They didn’t even give Xie He, who was on the ground, another glance. It was like he didn’t exist.
Xie He watched those people leave. There was a disdainful sneer on his lips.
This was how those on the righteous path acted. They were always hypocritical and contemptible. He watched as Yun Huaiyu strode over to him. In the end, the other stood before him. Xie He looked up and snorted, “Why did you save me? Are you about to kill me again?”
Yun Huaiyu gave Xie He a profound look. He bent down and carried Xie He. There was faint gentleness in those black eyes. He said, “I won’t kill you.”
After they had parted that day on Three Spirits Mountain, he had returned to the Immortal Sect after giving away the divine weapon. He received the Sect Master’s criticism and was kicked while down by other members of the sect. He had spent a lot of time and energy on remediating the situation before going into closed-door cultivation once more.
This time, the door to the next stage, which had never moved before, slightly loosened. His breakthrough was near. His internal demon began to fluctuate….
He finally realized that he didn’t want Xie He to die.
Over these last two hundred years… he had never realized that he actually regretted it. He regretted hurting this person. He regretted pus.h.i.+ng the person who loved him into that abyss…. It was just that he was not willing to meet this regret head-on. He persevered down his road of cultivation and was not willing to admit that he had made a mistake.
But now, he could no longer continue to deceive himself.
He missed him.
【Ding, Yun Huaiyu’s Favourability Value +5. The current Favourability Value is 70.】
Yun Huaiyu carried Xie He and stepped onto the red-crowned crane. He found a tavern to settle in. Because Xie He’s injuries were very grave, he let Yun Huaiyu hold him.
Yun Huaiyu carefully placed Xie He on the bed. He unclothed Xie He, causing Xie He to immediately begin to struggle. His gaze was fixed on Yun Huaiyu, and the wounds on his body began to bleed. Yun Huaiyu immediately held him down and used a soft voice to say, “Don’t move. I’m only applying medicine.”
He looked at the bleeding wounds on Xie He’s body, took out the Immortal Sect’s spiritual medicine, and carefully applied it. His slightly cold fingertips covered in the ointment lightly caressed Xie He’s wounds. Xie He felt a numbing pain wherever the fingertips touched. But he could not free himself. He could only shut his eyes and turn his head away, lips paling.
Yun Huaiyu looked at the man on the bed. He gently helped him apply the medicine and then placed his fingers onto Xie He’s wrist. He discovered that the other was empty inside. His spiritual force was weak and his cultivation had regressed to late stage Soul Condensation…. Yun Huaiyu’s gaze sharpened. This was why Xie He couldn’t even deal with those few cultivators. But what happened? What caused him to become like this?
Xie He had his eyes shut the whole time. There was a look of patient endurance and pain that could be seen in his profile.
Yun Huaiyu gazed at Ji Xing’s pale, emaciated facek2026;. He suddenly remembered that dazzling youth who seemed to be G.o.d’s favored one. Although they had grown up together, he had always stood in the other’s shadow and looked up at him. Later, when they entered the Immortal Sect together, this did not change. He was an ordinary outer disciple while the other was a core disciple with boundless prospects.
Yun Huaiyu had always known about how Ji Xing felt for him but had never thought of accepting him. Even while he used the other and always hid his true self, pretending to be a gentle and reliable friend, he was actually jealous inside.
He was jealous that Ji Xing had everything. Meanwhile, he had to calculate and scheme for everything he needed.
His accomplishments today were not founded on talent or luck. No one knew how arduously he worked or how he had to harden his heart and become ruthless.
Life was unfair. He knew this from a very young age…. If you wanted to live, you must use any and all methods. The benefits of cultivating were more important than anything else. Therefore, at that time, he didn’t hesitate to act against Ji Xing because he didn’t trust anyone. He only trusted himself.
But he was wrong. He could have trusted this one person.
Now, he stood at the summit of all cultivators. He saw indifference everywhere. Only now did he understand what he had at that time and how precious and rare it was. However, he had personally thrown it away.
“Ah Xing…” Yun Huaiyu lowered his head, his black hair falling down the side of his face. It framed his pale face, which was refined like jade. His eyes, which were like water, seemed to reflect the light. He said, “I know that you’ve always blamed me. I’m sorry.”
Xie He opened his eyes in shock. He looked at Yun Huaiyu, incredulous.
How many years had it been… since he heard that gentle voice call his name. How many years… had it been since he saw this person smile at him. How many times… had he heard the other tell him he was sorry in his dreams… tell him that it wasn’t on purpose….
What was this before him? A laughable dream?
Yun Huaiyu looked at Xie He, who had become absent-minded. He smiled, gently grabbed the other’s hand, and said, “I’ve always missed you.”
When Xie He heard this, his eyes gradually became clear. In the end, they were covered in a layer of frost.
The dream was too beautiful. It was all fake.
If this person regretted even a bit, cared for him even a bit, he wouldn’t have made bogus accusations against him when he had returned back then. He wouldn’t have ignored him for the last two hundred years…. To this day, he still could not forget that sword piercing his chest and those merciless eyes on that day. Just one second prior, Yun Huaiyu said he loved him In the next second, Yun Huaiyu pushed him down a bottomless abyss.
The corner of his lips raised, and he snorted. “If you want to kill me, kill me. There’s no need to make fun of me.”
Yun Huaiyu’s smile froze.
Xie He quirked an eyebrow and said, “I’ve long since seen your true face. Therefore, there’s no need to act in front of me. Also… have you pretended for so long that you’ve forgotten what you were originally like?”
Yun Huaiyu’s expression became rigid in that instant. A moment later, it relaxed again. The hand that was holding Xie He exerted a bit of force, and there was helplessness in his eyes. He said, “Perhaps, ba…. Only, you’re right. I don’t need to act in front of you. So….
“I meant what I said just now.” Yun Huaiyu’s gaze was fixed on Xie He as he slowly said, “I know that you probably won’t forgive me, but I want to make it up to you. These words come from my heart.”
Xie He grit his teeth. “Scram.”
Enough. Don’t act so ridiculous in front of me. I don’t need it!
Yun Huaiyu’s expression did not change. His eyes were gentle. “Rest well. I will come see you later.”
After saying this, he let go and left.
When Yun Huaiyu walked out the door, the smile on his face dampened. He raised his hand and took a look. Just now… when he was holding Xie He’s hand, he really didn’t want to let go. However, he didn’t want to push it too far.
He was still lying to the other. What compensation, what forgiveness? Everything was fake….
He just wanted the other, that’s all. He wanted to take back what he had lost that time. He was an expert at putting on a mask in order to get what he wanted.
Back then, he had lied to this person to kill him. Now, he was lying to him in order to get him.
On the road of cultivation, there was no need for regrets.
【Ding, Yun Huaiyu’s Favourability Value +5. The current Favourability Value is 75.】
…………………………………………………………………
After seeing that Yun Huaiyu had left, Xie He revealed a lazy expression and flipped over.
【444：Host dada, Yun Huaiyu’s Favourability Value is rising very quickly, ah. O(∩_∩)O~】
【Xie He：It’s normal.】
【444：(⊙o⊙) Oh!】
【Xie He：Men are like this. When they’re in dire straits, they don’t value love. They only want success and recognition. When they have that and then find that it’s lonely, they begin to reminisce about the pure love at the beginning. They begin to want to fulfil their spiritual needs. I don’t have to do anything. I just have to make him feel that I haven’t changed, and he will be itching to chase after me.】
【444：So it’s still that you only know to regret after losing something…._(:зゝ∠)_】
【Xie He：No, the important point is that I’m still world-shakingly handsome. If we met again after a long separation and I had become a fat, vulgar old man, he would not want to chase after that pure love. He would only want to decisively get rid of me. Men are this shallow. Don’t think about it too much. Smile.JPG】
【444：……】
【Xie He：Actually, I really empathize with him. As an ambitious man chasing after his goal, it doesn’t matter if he is unscrupulous with his actions. Unfortunately, he’s a bit too fake and contemptible as a person. What can we do? For the sake of experience points, I can only wrong him and make him a whole new man. ? 】
【444：Host dada, jiayou. ↖(^ω^)↗】He didn’t feel any sympathy for Yun Huaiyu!
Xie He could perceive that the effectiveness of the Immortal Sect’s spiritual medicine was very high. His wounds no longer hurt. The difference between him and Yun Huaiyu was like that between an executive of a huge corporation and a self-employed, poverty-stricken person. The difference in the resources available to them was huge. Yun Huaiyu was obviously very rich.
Xie He waited until he regained a bit of strength before preparing to escape.
Xie He directly jumped out from the window. Because he tore open his wounds with these movements, he felt a p.r.i.c.kling sensation in his throat. He coughed lightly and then continued outwards. He left the small town and arrived at the base of a mountain. Tired, he leaned against a tree to rest. As a result, he fell asleep.
When he woke up, he saw that there was a fire set up in front of him. Yun Huaiyu was clad in white but sat on the ground anyway. He was roasting a hare. When he saw that Xie He had woken up, he smiled and said, “You’re awake. Are you hungry? For you.”
As he said this, he handed the roasted hare to Xie He, eyes gentle. His voice was low, “I still remember the time from before we entered the Immortal Sect. We would frequently go up the mountain together(?), right? At that time, you would always hunt prey and roast it for me. I was too useless back then and always needed your care.”
Xie He’s expression changed slightly. He gazed at the s.h.i.+ny, oily roasted hare that was giving off a tempting aroma, in a daze. It looked like he had recalled some painful memory. Suddenly, a fierce struggle appeared in his eyes. But in the end, he still ruthlessly threw it to the ground. With a cold voice, he said, “I told you to scram. Did you not hear me?”
Yun Huaiyu watched the hare he had roasted with much difficulty drop to the floor and get covered in dirt. His eyes dimmed, and one could see hurt in his eyes. “I’m sorry.”
Xie He’s hand suddenly clenched, and the veins on his forehead bulged. “Enough! Don’t say anything more!”
Yun Huaiyu looked at him. It looked like there was suffering in his eyes. He wanted to say something. He moved his lips, but no words came out.
Xie He gave him a fierce glare, stood up, and began to leave. Yun Huaiyu immediately followed after him. He didn’t stop him, though, and only followed from behind. When Xie He walked, he walked. When Xie He stopped, he stopped.
Xie He walked for a while before turning to ask, “Why must you follow me?”
Yun Huaiyu gave him a profound look. “I’m worried for you.”
Xie He grit his teeth in anger and turned back around, continuing forward. However, he discovered that no matter what he did, he couldn’t throw Yun Huaiyu off. The entire way, Yun Huaiyu didn’t follow after him too closely or from too far away…. When Xie He was tired and slept, he would wake up and see that Yun Huaiyu had covered him with his clothes or helped prepare food for him. He would never say a thing and would only silently take care of him.
Like this, several days pa.s.sed. Xie He woke up again and found Yun Huaiyu sitting in front of him like always. The other smiled and said in a fawning manner, “I found a wild apricot grove. I picked a few and they taste quite good. Do you want to try?”
He spread out his hands. There were a few apricots in them.
Xie He’s expression was complex. He shut his eyes and then suddenly said, “Come here.”
Yun Huaiyu’s eyes lit up. He stood up and sat next to Xie He. He handed the apricots over and said, “It’s really not sour at all.”
Xie He looked at the apricots in a daze. He then raised his hands, as if going for the apricots… but just as he was about to touch them, he abruptly changed direction and wrapped his fingers around Yun Huaiyu’s throat!
Yun Huaiyu had been on guard all this time. He quickly raised his own hand to block, grabbing Xie He by the wrists and pressing him onto the ground. A sharp light flashed in his eyes.
Xie He’s ambush failed. He was pressed down by Yun Huaiyu. A smirk appeared on his lips. “Don’t you feel really guilty and apologetic? Why don’t you pay me back with your life? If you die, I’ll certainly forgive you.”
The apricots fell onto the ground. The warm atmosphere that was present just now vanished. All that was left was emptiness and loneliness.
A long time later, Yun Huaiyu let go of Xie He. Pain flashed through his eyes. He said, “If I die, there will be no one to protect you.”
Xie He sneered, “I don’t need your protection.”
Yun Huaiyu’s gaze was fixed on him. His voice was bitter, “I know. But I want to protect you.”
Xie He’s gaze was ridiculing him, but he was too lazy to continue paying him any attention.
He could not throw the other off or kill him…. What else could he do?
After several more days, while Xie He was in a shallow sleep, a sudden and familiar wave of heat appeared inside of him…. His eyebrows furrowed, and he revealed a suffering expression. Not good: the poisonous flames were about to act up again….
Although the eruption of the poisonous flames was delayed due to him having his power sucked out and the severity was lessened enough that he would no longer lose all awareness, it was still painful and unbearable.
He stumbled to his feet. He didn’t want Yun Huaiyu to see him in a sorry state….
Even if he knew it was a futile attempt, he still didn’t want to give up.
Xie He took a few steps but could not hold on and still fell to the ground. Yun Huaiyu, who had been carefully following behind him, immediately came forward and held him. Only then did he discover that Xie He was hot all over. The other’s expression was very ugly, as if he was enduring something quietly. Immediately, he asked nervously, “What’s wrong?”
Xie He grit his teeth, eyes slightly red. “Let go of me!”
Yun Huaiyu looked at him, frowning and stressed, “No. Your condition is strange.”
He held Xie He, restraining his struggles. He held Xie He’s wrist and sent in slightly cool spiritual force to examine him.
Upon doing so, he discovered that Xie He’s spiritual force was out of control. They charged around violently in his broken meridians. He was a cultivator, so he could immediately tell that Xie He, who was enduring this right now, must be in extreme pain.
After a while, Yun Huaiyu let go and said in a low voice, “Your spiritual force is out of control.”
He was also experienced and knowledgeable. He immediately knew what was causing this. For the sake of cultivating forcefully back then, Xie He must have ended up with some old illness that had yet to heal. That was why he was facing such repercussions. When he thought about how Xie He had been tormented every year, every month…Yun Huaiyu’s heart seized with pain.
This was the first time his heart hurt….
Xie He no longer had the energy to pay Yun Huaiyu any attention. He used all his strength to resist the poisonous flames. Because it was too unbearable, he struggled in Yun Huaiyu’s embrace, causing his clothes to become undone, revealing the skin of his neck….
Yun Huaiyu pressed down on Xie He’s waist and his gaze fell on that beautiful neck and that exquisite clavicle…. His eyes darkened.
He had always known that this man was outstanding, arrogant, and handsome…. However, this was the first time he was so close to him. The person was currently in his arms. If he wanted him, he could have him.
His palm touched the other and for the first time, an unprecedented desire welled up in Yun Huaiyu.
He wanted to be closer….
For the entire night, Yun Huaiyu held Xie He tightly. When the poisonous flames rescinded, Xie He’s body went soft.
His clothes were stained with sweat and his black hair stuck to his forehead. His rosy lips were slightly parted and his Adam’s apple bobbed subconsciously…. He looked like a beautiful wild beast that had been dredged out of the water, gorgeous and s.e.xy….
Yun Huaiyu’s gaze s.h.i.+fted up from Xie He’s lips and fell onto that pair of black eyes. He suddenly asked in a soft voice, “Ah Xing… do you still love me?”
Xie He seemed distracted as he stared at Yun Huaiyu in a daze.
Yun Huaiyu slightly leaned down and stared into Xie He’s eyes at an extremely close distance. There seemed to be a maelstrom whirling in his pupils, causing others to become fascinated and unable to look away…. His thin lips parted and he said, “I love you.”
Xie He looked at him… the face of the young man he had loved deeply so many years ago appeared before him. He was smiling and telling him: Ah Xing, I love you.
Is this a dream…? It’s really realistic… but… he loved him, ah….
He loved him. Loved him so much he was willing to give up anything. Right now, this person was in front of him and was telling him what he wanted to hear….
Xie He suddenly reached out and looped his arms around Yun Huaiyu’s neck. There was boundless love in his eyes, and he softly called out, “Huaiyu, you’ve finally come back…. Where did you go…? I’ve missed you so much….”
Yun Huaiyu chuckled in a low voice, expression soft, “I also really missed you.”
This was a hypnotic technique.
It would cause a person’s heart to waver and let them immerse themselves in a beautiful dream, one that they would be unwilling to leave.
Sorry… I will even use despicable means if it means I can have you.
When Xie He heard this, he smiled. This smile seemed to melt the ten-thousand-year-old ice covering his face. At this moment, he looked at Yun Huaiyu tenderly, raised his head, and kissed him, meeting with those slightly cold lips…. This was the person he loved, ah. He wanted to kiss him, wanted to hold him, wanted to be near him….
Yun Huaiyu didn’t move. The moment Xie He kissed him, his heart nearly stopped. He only hesitated for a second… before pus.h.i.+ng Xie He onto the ground and kissing him deeply!
It was the first time he had tasted pa.s.sion. Only now did he realize how sweet it was, how it could make one lose control. It felt like there was something filling his chest!
【Ding, Yun Huaiyu’s Favourability Value +5. The current Favourability Value is 80.】
Xie He was kissed until he was panting. He could feel Yun Huaiyu kiss him again. Those slightly cold lips fell onto his neck, his Adam’s apple….
He hugged Yun Huaiyu, baring his neck and gasping quietly, “Huaiyu….”
“I’m here,” Yun Huaiyu looked up. The deep affection in his eyes was no longer concealed. His voice was low and slightly hoa.r.s.e, “Ah Xing, I want you. Is that OK?”
Xie He looked at him and smiled. “OK. I also want you.”
When Yun Huaiyu heard this, even if he knew that Xie He was confused and being made to say this, he still felt the emotion in his chest roil. He could no longer control himself and gently leaned over….
………………………………
At this moment, a sword cut through the air!
Yun Huaiyu was nearly pierced by this sword. He promptly turned his body to the side and dodged! That sword barely missed the two of them and embedded itself firmly into the ground. The sword was still slightly vibrating.
【Xie He：To tell the truth, although I had already planned for this, I still almost went soft from that scare.】
【444：Σ( °△°|||)︴How frightening! Mo Cang has come. His Blackening Value is at 100 again!!!】
【Xie He：Ai, almost got to do it once. Sigh.JPG】
【444：……】
Eve: …Actually disappointed that XH didn’t get to do it with Yun Huaiyu tbh….
kitty: okay, but both MLs are awful this time around…
sere: ^ what kitty said +1. Xie He’s a.n.a.lysis of men’s desires is like 1000% on point.