Chapter 61: “Everything Belongs to Lin Ye.”

Chapter 61: "Everything is Lin Ye."

Outside the Scholar's retreat, footsteps occasionally passed by, soft as spring rain.

The sound of those rain-like footsteps echoed within the retreat, each passing step making Lin Ye's heart tremble. His heart trembled so fiercely it ached, yet he dared not move, for Xue Li was mere inches away.

Xue Li's fingers traced his face.

At this moment, he sat while she knelt, their posture already somewhat intimate. Yet Xue Li did not understand. After struggling inwardly, Lin Ye clung to a self-mocking delight—whatever her reason, she was always the one drawing close to him.

Whatever her relationship with Song Wanfeng, "Lin Ye" must hold some place in her heart.

In her spotless, untouched heart, within the emptiness sealed by the "Heartless Art"—how much of it did he truly claim?

Lin Ye's clear eyes were like stars strewn across rain-patterned stones, reflecting Xue Li's image.

Xue Li lowered her gaze, her fingers lingering on his face, just as distracted.

This distraction was different from her usual absent-mindedness. Normally, she paid no mind to the people passing by, allowing her gaze to drift and her thoughts to wander. But now, though she was focused, her mind still scattered.

She thought, pondered...

She did not understand what she was thinking, only that after gazing at Lin Ye, she too had learned a bit of evasiveness.

He was so beautiful—not the rugged good looks of other men, nor the delicate features resembling a woman—but a rare kind of beauty born from perfect bone structure, flawless skin, and unblemished grace.

Xue Li had never touched a skull as exquisite as his.

Her fingers moved along his cheeks, tracing inch by inch, memorizing the contours of every bone and muscle. As she admired silently at the superiority of his bone structure, she noticed the heat radiating from his skin.

Xue Li lowered her eyes.

Just as Lin Ye lifted his gaze, his dark eyes stealing a glance at her.

She saw his Adam's apple bob, and as her gaze followed the movement, he jerked his face aside, his body tensing tightly.

Lin Ye whispered, "D-Done yet?"

Xue Li: "W-Why are you stuttering?"

Lin Ye froze, then flared up in anger: "You're copying me!"

He suddenly realized the mischief beneath her calm exterior.

Yes, Xue Li must harbor cruelty within her. No matter how innocent that cruelty might be, she was no saint. A kind person would never bear the title of "Snow Girl," nor would they tease him like this.

Lin Ye pushed Xue Li away, his cheeks flushed: "If you're finished, release me."

Xue Li gave an "Oh," withdrawing her hand, almost regretful, and stepped back. Yet the moment she released him, it was Lin Ye who leaned forward, gripping her sleeve, his face burning as he blurted: "Well? How was it?"

Xue Li: "Very good."

Lin Ye thought to himself: *She’s definitely complimenting me. Of course, I am naturally handsome. Even if I'm ill now, I'm still better than that old man Song Wanfeng. I'm young and strong, at my peak.*

Xue Li hadn't expected a single phrase to make his pride puff up again.

Though his cheeks burned too fiercely to lift his head, he clung to her sleeve and demanded: "What do you mean by 'very good'?"

Xue Li tilted her head, considering: "If I collected skulls, I’d pick yours first."

Lin Ye paused briefly.

Lin Ye crinkled his eyes with a smile.

He chided her, "What kind of nonsense is that? Throwing 'like' around so casually—what if someone takes it seriously?"

Xue Li hadn’t fully processed his words yet, her gaze fixed solely on his radiant smile. Meanwhile, Lin Ye glanced up and clearly noticed her fondness for his smile, so he flashed an even brighter grin.

Casually, Lin Ye reached out and lightly touched the corner of her eye. "Let me apply medicine for you, okay?"

He chirped, "Otherwise, if you really go blind and can't recognize me anymore, I’d be so heartbroken I’d cry myself unconscious every day."

Without waiting for Xue Li to respond, like magic, he produced a precious scar-healing ointment from his robes. Nowadays, wherever he went, all sorts of medicines accompanied him, which came in handy.

Xue Li was surprised.

Xue Li said, "If we hung you upside down and shook you, I bet all sorts of treasures would fall out."

Lin Ye imagined the scene and burst into laughter, completely tickled. Though Xue Li didn’t understand why he was laughing, she found herself smiling too.

He pulled Xue Li to sit down, first cleaning her eyes with water before applying the ointment. This time, as the medicine spread, Xue Li caught a faint floral fragrance, beneath which lingered the underlying bitter scent of herbs clinging to Lin Ye.

The cool hem of the youth’s robe brushed against the corner of her eye.

Lin Ye chirped, "I’ll always apply medicine for you from now on."

Xue Li remained silent.

Lin Ye then backtracked, "No, I shouldn’t say that. It’s best if you don’t get hurt at all."

He went on, "What would you do without me? Who would take care of you? Doesn’t that beloved senior brother of yours even know to apply medicine for you?"

Xue Li replied, "I don’t like others touching me."

Lin Ye’s eyes danced mischievously, his expression smug. "You didn’t like me touching you either, but didn’t I succeed through sheer persistence? A brother with so little dedication—you should ditch him."

Xue Li glanced at him, sensing his strong dislike for Song Wanfeng. But the moment her eyes shifted, he exclaimed, "Don’t move! The ointment might get in your eyes!"

Xue Li immediately sat upright.

Unseen by her, Lin Ye made a face, proud of his cleverness.

He spared no effort in muttering complaints about Song Wanfeng into her ear. When Xue Li frowned, seemingly displeased, he smoothly changed the subject. "That Bai Li… the young man who fought you in the woods that day—he’s one of the Four Master Assassins of the Western Regions. Could you take him?"

Xue Li answered, "Yes."

Lin Ye applied slightly more pressure against the corner of her eye as he carefully rephrased, "I mean… if you held back, could you win without getting hurt?"

Xue Li replied, "How can one practice martial arts without getting hurt?"

Lin Ye’s tone grew urgent. "By using your head! Why take unnecessary risks? You’re so clever—you must have a way."

Xue Li said nothing.

Her thoughts turned to Bai Li.

At her and Bai Li’s level of martial arts, there were no shortcuts—only pure skill. Xue Li had never faced such a formidable opponent before, and she knew the feeling was mutual. In truth, Bai Li’s martial arts outmatched hers, forcing her to rely on unorthodox moves.

But more importantly, Xue Li was determined to win.

Xue Li was lost in thought. In the past, nothing held her interest, and she cared little for anything. But now, facing a worthy opponent, she found herself actually caring and unwilling to lose.

She also realized it had been a long time since she stopped practicing martial arts. Since her master’s passing, daily practice was no longer part of her routine. Maybe it was time to pick up her training again...

As these thoughts crossed her mind, she let out a soft "ah" when the cool ointment missed her eye, but his fingers accidentally grazed her eyelashes instead.

Lin Ye chided, "A Xue, don’t get hurt."

Xue Li raised her eyes.

Lin Ye lowered his gaze, focusing intently on the corner of her eye. "If he’s too much for you, just tell me. I’ll think of another way. Don’t risk your life or put yourself in danger. That day, when I saw you both mid-air, his brass knuckles nearly grazed your throat, yet you didn’t dodge... You scared me half to death."

Lin Ye added sorrowfully, "Nothing’s worth getting hurt for. Put yourself first—don’t harm yourself, don’t make me worry."

In Xue Li’s eyes, Lin Ye’s face was mirrored.

She remembered Yu Long saying, "Don’t hurt yourself."

Song Wanfeng had also said, "Don’t hurt yourself."

And now Lin Ye said, "If you get hurt, I’ll worry."

...Were these all expressions of concern? Did they all care for her?

Martial arts came with bruises, but their worries felt different. Under her master’s and Song Wanfeng’s concern, she still had to take the hits; but Lin Ye—did he truly not want her to get hurt?

Why?

Having finished applying the ointment, Lin Ye lifted his gaze to meet the girl’s eyes.

After talking for so long, his cheeks had cooled. He smiled at her and turned to put away his ointment, but Xue Li caught his fingers.

Lin Ye paused, looking down at her hand holding his.

Xue Li also lowered her head slowly, unsure why she had reached for him.

After a moment of hesitation, she whispered to Lin Ye, "Are you... not angry with me anymore?"

Lin Ye was taken aback, his heart softening instantly. *Silly girl.* He hadn’t been angry for a long time.

But curiosity got the better of him. "What if I were still angry? How’d you make it up to me?"

His mind raced, and his cheeks flushed again. Clearing his throat, he considered suggesting something—like a hug.

Just like the one she had shared with her shixiong in front of the Prefect’s residence. What her shixiong got, he wanted too.

As Lin Ye’s pulse hammered, his face burning, Xue Li thought for a moment and said, "If you’re not angry with me, I can tell you a little secret of mine."

Lin Ye froze.

He wrestled between the allure of a "hug" and the temptation of "her secret."

In the end, he reluctantly gave up on the embrace and asked, "What secret?"

Xue Li extended her hand toward him. "Bai Li might’ve slipped me something."

"What?!" Lin Ye exclaimed in alarm, seizing her arm to check her pulse. "I’m not sensing anything. A Xue, where do you feel unwell? And you’ve been chatting with me all this time—we need a medic, now!"

Panicked, Lin Ye began wondering if Emperor Guangyi had brought that miracle doctor along.

Xue Li gave a small shake of her head.

Xue Li said, "That day, I felt something land on me—it was identical to the medicine I’ve taken for years, but the effects were far more violent. At the time, my heart raced and I had a headache. When the flute sounded, for a moment, my mind went utterly blank..."

She described her experience in detail, and Lin Ye listened attentively.

She hadn’t told Song Wanfeng, and she hadn’t planned to tell Lin Ye either. But Lin Ye had been angry, and she needed something to appease him.

Lin Ye’s face grew grave. "Now that you mention it, it was indeed strange. At the time, my heart raced too, though not as strongly as yours..."

Lin Ye searched his memory. His recall was uncanny—every detail preserved. That day, his entire focus had been on Xue Li, yet now, looking back, he could still recall how others had reacted.

Lin Ye mused aloud, "You were clearly suffering. I also found it odd. The Emperor was swarmed with questions, and it seemed he was affected too. But Liang Chen and the others were fine, and Ming Jing couldn’t explain my reaction, since the flute lacked the usual punch of her ‘Magic Flute.’

"If the conspiracy that day was targeting you, why were His Majesty and I implicated? What do we have in common with you?"

Lin Ye’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.

Lin Ye stared at Xue Li. "The only thing His Majesty and I share is that we both host poison in our blood. A hundred and twenty years ago, the Huoqiu Kingdom seeded a venom called ‘HeartEater’ in the direct bloodline of the Li imperial family. Over time, due to... my blood, the ‘HeartEater’ has been all but cleansed from Southern Zhou’s royals. There might still be traces in our blood, but it’s not severe."

Lin Ye steadied himself.

He was no real aristocrat.

If his reaction had to stem from anything, it must be because of the three drops of heart’s blood in his chest. Emperor Guangyi being slightly affected made sense—but Xue Li? Why was her reaction so much stronger than theirs?

Lin Ye asked, "The ‘HeartEater’ venom only exists in the imperial bloodline. How could it be in you... A Xue, what kind of medicine has your master been giving you all these years?"

He grabbed her wrist, furious, desperate. "Is it ‘HeartEater’? How could Master Yulong have poison from the Huoqiu Kingdom? Why would she poison you? How long have you been taking it? What symptoms do you usually have? No, we must go to His Majesty."

As he spoke, he made to stand, but Xue Li held him back.

Xue Li remained calm. "My symptoms differed from yours. It might not be ‘HeartEater.’ My master would never harm me."

Lin Ye burned with anger.

Even now, she still defended Master Yulong!

But when he looked up, he saw the hollow look in Xue Li’s gaze.

She had been raised by Master Yulong, grown in the Assassins’ Guild. She had spent years killing, years in solitude, years without seeing normal people. All this time, she had only had Master Yulong and Song Wanfeng.

How could he fault her for the life she’d been given?

Reining in his turmoil, Lin Ye forced a smile to comfort her. "You’re right. The ‘HeartEater’ venom is over a hundred and twenty years old. For us, it causes racing hearts and pain, but you don’t seem to suffer the same. How old is Master Yulong? How could she possess such poison? I let fear cloud my judgment. Your master raised and protected you—she would never harm you."

Xue Li lowered her head.

After a long silence, she breathed a barely audible ‘Mm.’

Lin Ye’s heart quivered. With a light tone, he asked, "First, we need to figure out what this poison really is. Do you have any clues?"

"I do," Xue Li said, her tone flat, as always. She took out a handkerchief from her sleeve. "That day, I caught a bit of whatever was carried by the wind under my nails. Later, I used my inner strength to extract a trace and stored it in this cloth. But I hadn’t decided how to investigate it yet."

Lin Ye’s countless worries eased slightly at that moment.

Unable to help himself, he leaned forward and hugged her. "My clever A Xue."

Xue Li gazed at him with crystal-clear eyes.

Lin Ye grinned with a grin, "With this bit of medicinal powder, it's enough. My blood isn't pure enough, so its effect might be limited. Well, His Majesty's blood also reacts to poison... I'll go and ask His Majesty to spare some blood. He has a renowned physician by his side. With the blood and this powder, perhaps the physician can really recreate the formula."

Xue Li nodded.

She only asked, "Will His Majesty give his blood?"

Lin Ye hesitated.

Generally speaking, the emperor's body was sacrosanct—he would not grant his blood to anyone. For others, it was unthinkable. However, Emperor Guangyi had cooperated with Lin Ye before. Such an approachable emperor might be willing to offer his blood.

But then again, this was "HeartEater."

The Northern Zhou emperor was afflicted with "HeartEater" and needed the young master's antidote. Emperor Guangyi might not be willing to develop a true antidote for "HeartEater" to save Northern Zhou's royal family. Moreover, Xue Li's condition might not even be "HeartEater."

Right—they absolutely must not admit it was "HeartEater." Otherwise, Emperor Guangyi would never grant his blood.

Lin Ye chuckled, "Let's take it step by step. His Majesty is an approachable emperor."

Xue Li nodded.

She had considered the same problem as Lin Ye, but she didn't care. Whatever the powder was, it didn't matter to her.

Life and death follow destiny.

She didn't cherish life as much as Lin Ye did. No matter where her path led, she wouldn't dwell on it. If fate decreed she perish here, then so be it.

Death should...

Before Xue Li could ponder "death" further, Lin Ye lightly grabbed her sleeve and shook it, grinning. "Enough of such gloomy thoughts. We finally have a chance to go out—let's buy some gifts for our friends."

Xue Li was puzzled. "Friends?"

Who? Who were her friends?

Seeing her reaction, Lin Ye immediately launched into his lecturing mode, sounding like an old man educating the young. "When you face difficulties in life, it's friends who help you. As the saying goes, 'When away from home, one relies on friends.' Having people around is important. Going it alone won't do. Even the smallest grains of sand, when gathered, can form a tornado."

He once again used Bai Li as an example. "If you had many friends, and someone as fierce as Bai Li came at you, all your friends could gather to protect you. Even if they had to overwhelm him with numbers, they could exhaust him."

Xue Li thought to herself, *No, a master fighter like that wouldn't be stopped by sheer numbers. More people would just mean more casualties.*

After his lengthy sermon, Lin Ye paused to take a sip of tea, only to hear Xue Li say innocently, "But no matter how much sand you gather, isn't it still just sand?"

Lin Ye: "..."

Seeing his expression darken, Xue Li tactfully averted her gaze, pretending she hadn't said anything. She murmured, "Fine, I'll buy gifts for friends. I'll get something for Song Wanfeng."

Lin Ye: "…?!"

--

While Lin Ye and Xue Li were out and about, back at the traveling palace, Emperor Guangyi was reviewing the interrogation records of the surrendered bandits.

Documents piled on his desk, Emperor Guangyi flipped through them one by one, his usually gentle eyes now unfathomably dark. His fingers drummed absently on the table as he pondered the contents:

The interrogations revealed that these bandits had been put up to it to dare kidnap the imperial heir—and even the emperor himself. They had taken the risk, aiming to strike it rich by selling Emperor Guangyi to someone, then disappear into the Western frontier to hide for decades.

However, the identity of the backer remained unknown.

Those who knew had all died during that day's chase.

Emperor Guangyi narrowed his eyes, recalling the fearless heroism of those who had saved him that day—the Sichuan Army, Prince Yu's Heir, Lin Ye... all acted without hesitation. Yet, in that very moment of selflessness, the informed bandit leader had died, silencing him permanently.

So, who was behind it?

As Emperor Guangyi pondered, his thoughts turned to Lin Ye. And then, to the woman accompanying Lin Ye—Dong Jun, Xue Li.

Among them, Lin Ye was the least likely suspect. But since he couldn't explain why he had come to Jinzhou, suspicion still lingered. As for Xue Li... with martial skills so formidable, and beauty so striking...

The emperor drifted into deep thought.

A servant outside announced, "Your Majesty, Prince Yu's Heir seeks an audience."

Emperor Guangyi paused briefly before instructing, "Show Li Weiyan in."

Li Weiyan entered, dressed in fine robes and a jade belt, tall and lean—yet his face was covered in pustules. After bowing, Emperor Guangyi sighed sympathetically, "Weiyan, has the injury on your face still not healed? I have a skilled physician by my side—let him examine you."

Li Weiyan smiled self-deprecatingly. "Your Majesty is most gracious, but there is no need to trouble the physician. I failed in protecting you, and my family is gone. This face... must be my penance."

He then composed himself. "I came to discuss the sacrificial ceremonies. Your Majesty came to Jinzhou for the stone tablet, after all..."

Emperor Guangyi interrupted with a smile, "The bandit affair is not yet settled. The rites can wait. Weiyan, what is your opinion of the young lord?"

Li Weiyan's heart skipped a beat.

He raised his disfigured face, his inky eyes unreadable. "I do not know the young lord."

Emperor Guangyi chuckled. "Of course not. But it strikes me as odd—why would the Marriage Alliance Mission detour to Jinzhou instead of taking the usual route through Xiangzhou? And how did he just happen to arrive in time to save me?"

Li Weiyan seemed not to understand the emperor's implication and remained silent.

Emperor Guangyi continued, "That Dong Jun by the young lord's side saved me in my moment of crisis. I was deeply moved. This ordeal has made me realize how dangerous it is to lack strong martial artists by my side. I’ve heard that Northern Zhou’s Emperor Xuanming allied with 'Qin Yueye,' using the Assassins' Guild as his personal army, obeying only him..."

Perhaps it was the emperor's imagination, but in the candlelight, the heir's lashes lifted slightly, revealing eyes like dark, wet stones at the bottom of a lake—glinting with something inscrutable. For a fleeting moment, they seemed to shimmer with a creeping, tangled madness.

But when Emperor Guangyi looked again, the young heir merely appeared excited.

Before the emperor could finish, Li Weiyan eagerly interjected, "Let me ease Your Majesty's worries—what if we invite that Dong Jun to serve as an imperial guard? How does that sound?"

Li Weiyan's tone was always peculiar. The emperor hesitated, but the heir had already seized the initiative, volunteering to handle the matter himself.

The flickering candlelight stretched elongated shadows across the hall, the young emperor's figure extending infinitely in the sunset glow. The rustling bamboo leaves outside added an eerie, warped ambiance.

After pacing for a while, Emperor Guangyi summoned another attendant. "Has the young lord awakened? Have him brought at once—I have matters to discuss concerning Prince Yu's Heir."

The court eunuch bowed and retreated.

He had clearly heard the emperor pitting Li Weiyan against Lin Ye, yet now Lin Ye was being summoned—concerning Li Weiyan.

The eunuch kept his eyes lowered, not daring to probe the emperor's machinations.

--

The setting sun painted the horizon crimson—another day was coming to an end.

Lin Ye had cast aside all his duties to play with Xue Li. Likewise, Xue Li had abandoned her search for her master's truth to indulge in mischief with him.

The two had been hunched over a clay figurine stall for half an hour.

At first, it was just to buy gifts. But when Lin Ye noticed Xue Li's intense fascination, he turned to the vendor and arranged for them to learn how to mold clay figures. Xue Li was surprised and initially reluctant, but under Lin Ye's enthusiasm and example, she eventually knelt beside him, her hands covered in clay.

A line of misshapen clay figures lay scattered at the feet of the two youths.

Xue Li and Lin Ye's fingers and palms were smeared with mud, yet they remained in high spirits. The more they struggled, the more determined they became, and the clay figures in their hands gradually took shape.

The weather was too hot, and wearing a bamboo hat while molding clay was inconvenient, so Lin Ye tossed it aside.

Just then, a troop of cavalry passed by, their iron hooves clattering against the stone pavement like fleeting sparks. The leading general suddenly turned his head, casting a glance at the pair, thinking the boy looked somewhat familiar. But the cavalry was on their way to the imperial lodge to report to the emperor, leaving the general no time for closer scrutiny.

Lin Ye, still engrossed in shaping clay, was eager to teach Xue Li how to play.

Lin Ye: "Ah, you have to mold it like this. See how nice mine is?"

Xue Li: "It’s my first time. Quit bossing me around—my ears hurt."

Lin Ye sulked, "I was worried you’d feel lonely, and now you’re scolding me for talking. Hmph, I’m ignoring you now. Go ahead and slowly make your gift for Song Wanfeng..."

His tone was odd, drawn out, but when she still ignored him, he turned away sulkily as well.

The vendor lounged nearby in a reclining chair, fanning himself as he watched the two teenagers play, highly entertained.

Lin Ye’s clay figure fell apart again. He gave up, crouching beside Xue Li, watching as she carefully smoothed the mud over the figure in her palm.

He observed her work with fascination—admiring her deft fingers, feeling proud by association. He held his breath, afraid to disturb her. As the little clay figure took shape under her hands, Xue Li pursed her lips in quiet focus, while Lin Ye oohed and aahed, clapping enthusiastically.

Her face grew hot—perhaps from the sun.

Lin Ye rested his chin on his hands, his robes draped over the ground, watching her clay figure with keen interest. "Now, do you still think that more sand just means it’s still sand?"

Xue Li shook her head.

Lin Ye was satisfied.

Yet within that satisfaction lurked a hint of jealousy. He muttered, "Then what is it? A gift for Song Wanfeng? Does one person really need so many gifts?"

Xue Li gently flicked the clay figure’s brows, wiping away excess mud. With the final stroke applied, the crimson sunset light fell—half the wall sank into shadow, while the other half illuminated the figure she held up.

The little clay figure wore embroidered robes, a silver crown, and a jade belt, its features expressive and lifelike.

Lin Ye stared, the longer he looked, the more familiar it seemed.

Xue Li said,

"It’s Lin Ye."

Lin Ye’s lowered lashes trembled slightly.

Xue Li cradled the clay figure, lifting it slowly. Lin Ye’s gaze followed, rising with it.

He saw the evening breeze stir, strands of hair brushing his eyes, as the girl raised the figure she had shaped with her own hands—higher than her brows—letting the golden light bathe it. The setting sun and the clay figure reflected in her eyes. Her face dotted with mud, she gazed at her creation with reverence, her whisper soft as fireworks bursting behind Lin Ye’s ribs:

"Everything is Lin Ye."

A thousand butterflies fluttered in his heart; tinkling whispers teased his ears.

Lin Ye crouched beside the girl, his eyes fixed on her, his expression dazed. This was the vast mortal world, yet also a hell on earth—he stood within it, watching as human longing poured down like rain, enveloping, drowning him.

Xue Li, her face smudged with mud, was by no means the most beautiful maiden.

Xue Li, her face smudged with mud, was in Lin Ye’s eyes, the most beautiful sight.

Was this really just attraction? "Lin Ye...do you still think... it’s just attraction?"