Chapter 127

Chapter 127

Luo Qianyu’s long lashes fluttered. He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

He couldn’t tell whose heartbeat it was.

Thumping against his chest, steady and slow.

Even though Wen Yu was talking about the Young Marquis’s life, which had nothing to do with him, being held and comforted like this made his chest tighten for no reason, and his nose stung with sourness.

Why did he feel so damn close to tears?

He wasn’t really suffering from amnesia, nor was he Wen Yu’s real beloved—just some outsider who got dropped into a novel.

But something was stuck in his chest, trapped, making it hard to breathe and his heart pound heavier, like it was about to break out of its cage.

Then a sharp pain hit his head. Luo Qianyu’s hand shook, his brows knitting as he stumbled. Wen Yu caught him: “You okay?”

“Nothing… just a headache,” Luo Qianyu mumbled, lowering his gaze. But he spotted a pouch at Wen Yu’s waist, its opening loose, and a thin piece of something slip out.

He picked it up and looked at it in the dim light—it was a paper cutout.

It showed a young guy.

The face was about eighty or ninety percent like his own.

Luo Qianyu froze, bits of memory flashing through his mind like flowers in a fog.

Holding the cutout, he asked, guessing: “Is this… me?”

Wen Yu’s eyes dropped to his hand. “It’s you.”

Luo Qianyu was intrigued: “Was this made three years ago… in the capital? Did you cut it?”

Wen Yu said, “No, someone gave it to you.”

Well, at least he’s honest.

Luo Qianyu was confused: “If it was a gift to me, why are you holding onto it? And… for three years?”

“Seeing the cutout is like seeing the person.” Wen Yu’s voice was right by his ear, calm and cool as ever, low: “For three years, in the dead of night, when desire burned and longing wouldn’t let go…”

“I had your little picture to ease my lovesickness.”

…

Luo Qianyu froze for a second. When it clicked, his ears turned red.

Who knew a paper cutout could be used like that?

Holy shit!

“You pervert, go live with this cutout!” The young man tossed it to the ground and got up to leave.

But Wen Yu grabbed his arm: “Where are you going?”

Luo Qianyu said: “Yunshan’s still at the inn. I’ll go get him.”

Wen Yu stopped him: “There are still rebels out there.”

The young marquis gritted his teeth and huffed: “I was trained by the Alliance Leader himself. If I can’t handle this, what kind of Third Prince am I?”

About fifteen minutes later, when Luo Qianyu opened the door again, he returned with Yunshan. By then, the rebel forces in Jing Pass had flooded the government office, and the stationed troops had arrived, encircling them from behind. The north part of the city where they were had gone quiet.

No one knew how the battle would end, but this place was clearly no longer safe.

They slipped out of Jing Pass under cover of night.

.

Traveling by day and resting by night, after three days of journeying, as twilight settled, they finally spotted the distant outline of the legendary Nine Abyss Alliance.

Luo Qianyu couldn’t help feeling nervous.

The Nine Abyss Alliance—just the name sounded creepy as hell, making you think of fog, skeletons, blood, and all that. No wonder Xiao Che had called Wen Yu “Alliance Leader of the Nine Abyss” back then, and he’d found it hard to believe.

The wind lifted the carriage curtain. Luo Qianyu took the chance to yank it open and hop down nimbly, and looked at the land hidden in the tree shadows ahead. He asked: “You haven’t told me much about the Nine Abyss Alliance.”

The young man voiced his long-held doubt: “Isn’t the Alliance Leader of the Nine Abyss supposed to be Zhongli Jinyue?”

“When I was in South Zhao, I never heard the Alliance had changed hands. You probably never announced it to the world. But… how did the Crown Prince know, and why did he call you Alliance Leader directly?”

Wen Yu lowered his gaze, tidying the young man’s hem, his voice calm: “After I took over as Alliance Leader, he visited once as an envoy from Zhao and saw me.”

Wen Yu met the young man’s eyes, speaking flatly: “Zhongli Jinyue is dead.”

Luo Qianyu was startled. The suspicion in his heart was confirmed, and he pressed: “Did you kill him?”

“No,” Wen Yu said. “He drowned in love himself and died for it.”

Holy shit…

Luo Qianyu was shocked. What earth-shattering gossip had he just heard?

That legendary Zhongli Jinyue? The one with immense power and lofty status, the mysterious great master from the original book—ended like this?

Suppressing his shock, he asked: “That’s too devoted. Who was it for? What kind of person could make him love so much he’d give up his life?”

But Wen Yu only shook his head: “I don’t know.”

“He’s been dead for three years.”

Luo Qianyu’s heart tightened. He pressed on, asking how Wen Yu had taken over Zhongli Jinyue’s position as Alliance Leader and what he had done over those three years. But Wen Yu only skimmed over the details, speaking lightly and briefly. Yet to Luo Qianyu’s ears, it was enough to make his heart race.

Seven years ago, the Wen family was wrongfully exiled.

Back then, over two hundred members of the household were banished from the capital to a place three thousand li away. In the end, only a handful survived. Wen Yu’s mother also fell gravely ill. Every doctor and physician they saw along the way just shook their heads and sighed.

At his wit’s end, Wen Yu broke the rules of exile, wandering the land with his mother in search of a cure, but found no hope.

Hearing that the Nine Abyss Alliance could solve what the world could not, he sought them out as a last resort. That place was a taboo in the martial world; without permission, not even a bird could fly in, let alone Wen Yu, the son of a disgraced criminal.

As expected, he couldn’t even get past the mountain gate. Just as he was losing heart, the Alliance Leader unexpectedly agreed to see him.

That unseen figure said his mother’s illness could be cured.

He even named someone—Doctor Zhang, who had ties with the Wen family back in the capital.

But the cure required a thousand-year snow lotus as a medicinal ingredient.

Just as Wen Yu was about to ask where to find the snow lotus, Zhongli Jinyue left only one sentence: “The place you must not go.”

Luo Qianyu listened intently. So that was it—the capital city of later times!

This was the beginning of the original story.

…

Who exactly was Zhongli Jinyue?

And why did he help Wen Yu?

Luo Qianyu was puzzled.

Later, a series of events unfolded in the capital, and the Wen family was finally exonerated and restored to honor—a stark contrast to the original book, where in the final chapter, the stock-buying gong rivals fought each other to the death, never once thinking to clear the Wen family's name.

Afterward, Wen Yu led troops into battle, his reputation growing stronger and stronger, yet suddenly, a year later, he quit his post and disappeared without a trace.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, the Nine Abyss Alliance had a new leader.

Wen Yu didn't go into the dangers involved, but the position of Alliance Leader was always a hotly desired one. To ascend to it, you had to first earn everyone's trust. Though Luo Qianyu had not witnessed it firsthand, he could already imagine the flashing blades and undercurrents, where even Wen Yu, as the protagonist, must have brushed with death more than once.

"Why did you take his place? Why did you have to be this Alliance Leader?" Luo Qianyu's heart raced as he asked, unable to hold back. "The capital valued you—wasn't that a great future?"

Wen Yu lifted his gaze to the distant mountains and forests, the wind stirring his robes, his voice low as if barely audible: "The Nine Abyss Alliance solves the world's problems, can do anything."

"And I just want to find one person."

…

…

As they passed through the layers of ancient trees outside the Nine Abyss Alliance, the scene that slowly unfolded before him made Luo Qianyu hold his breath.

It wasn't some creepy forbidden zone—it was a mysterious hidden path tucked away in the mountain stream, leading to a paradise on the other side.

Walking further, the view opened up, wide and clear.

The lanterns grew thicker, blending into an endless night.

Pavilions with winding hallways were shrouded in mist, and in the distance, colored glass lamps hung over the water pavilions, reflecting in the pond water. Several celestial spots linked in a line, grand and dazzling, even more dazzling than the grand sights of the Zhao capital.

The so-called "heavenly realm of eternal night" was exactly this.

The young man couldn't help but marvel inwardly—even cultivation novels wouldn't dare write scenery like this. For a moment, he forgot he was in the legendary, terrifying Nine Abyss Alliance.

Wen Yu didn't linger, just led him deeper.

As the sounds of people faded and the lively atmosphere thinned, a vermilion gate suddenly loomed before them. Under the eaves hung a black sandalwood plaque, its letters gleaming in the lantern light.

Luo Qianyu looked up, his heart skipping a beat as his eyes fell on the plaque, reading the words out loud: "Luo Marquis Manor?"

A marquis's manor?

This was deep in the Nine Abyss Alliance, thousands of miles from the capital—how could there be a marquis's manor here?

Following Wen Yu across the threshold, a wave of familiarity washed over Luo Qianyu, making him look around. The tall old tree in the courtyard, the birdcages hanging under the eaves, the two kneeling mats in the distant ancestral hall.

Though he'd never seen them since transmigrating into the book, his breath caught.

Even a few servants in blue clothes walked past the corridor, bowing respectfully when they saw them: "Alliance Leader, Young Marquis."

Luo Qianyu looked at Wen Yu, uncertain: "Is this… where I lived before?"

Wen Yu: "Yeah."

Luo Qianyu was already speechless: "You… when did you build this?"

Wen Yu said softly: "The moment I found out where you were and confirmed who you were."

Luo Qianyu's throat tightened.

Oh my god—that must've been ages ago!

Wen Yu had actually rebuilt a marquis's manor for him!

Following the winding hallway past a moon gate, a courtyard with green bamboo appeared. Luo Qianyu stared at the sign "Jinlin Courtyard" on the gate, though confused, he murmured without thinking: "It's where I lived before."

"Yes." Wen Yu leaned down and kissed his forehead. "Back then, the young master often called me into this courtyard to practice swords with you."

Luo Qianyu's expression stiffened slightly, inwardly scoffing: Young Marquis? "Practice swords" was probably just an excuse to take advantage of your beauty while handing over the sword or gripping it.

But then he thought again—his current martial arts were indeed taught by Wen Yu hand in hand, so the original owner had stumbled into something good. Though driven by selfish motives, he had genuinely learned something.

The two passed through Jinlin Courtyard and headed toward the stables on the west side.

Before they got close, Luo Qianyu caught a flash of striking red.

In the innermost stall of the stable was tethered a fiery red steed, its mane like flames, limbs long and robust, even its hooves gleaming with a luster—so beautiful it was hard to look away.

In the two-plus years since transmigrating, cut off from the modern world and deprived of his beloved sneakers and racing cars, horses had gradually become a new solace. But he had never seen such a divine warhorse.

Yet as he approached, the horse seemed to spot him too, its eyes fixed straight on him, then suddenly grew agitated.

It reared its neck and neighed, its front hooves pounding the ground, the hard hooves striking the stone slabs with a "clatter" as if it wanted to break through the fence and charge at him.

Startled by the commotion, Luo Qianyu instinctively stepped back, hiding behind Wen Yu.

Wen Yu chuckled softly: "Don't be afraid."

"Its name is Pifeng, and it knows you."

Seeing Luo Qianyu's confusion, he added, "Back then, you personally gave this horse to me."

Luo Qianyu peeked out from behind Wen Yu: "It knows me?"

Then why was it so aggressive?

Wen Yu said no more, walking straight to the stable, untying the reins, and leading Pifeng out.

As soon as the horse set foot on the ground, its gaze locked onto Luo Qianyu. First, it let out a loud neigh, then it charged straight at him, hooves pounding.

Luo Qianyu was terrified, his soul nearly fleeing. He stumbled back a few steps and fell to the ground, and in an instant, Pifeng was right in front of him.

But the expected collision never came.

Instead, the horse nudged his head with its own, forcing him to look up, bewildered. Its lips moved, its nose sniffing his face, hands, and clothes.

Its head and neck pressed against him, rubbing up and down, and it gently pushed him with its head.

Luo Qianyu: "?"

The young man didn't know what to do.

Right when he was panicking, a soft rustle came from above him. The little bird flapped its wings and landed steadily on Luo Qianyu's shoulder.

Luo Qianyu barely managed to sit up. The moment he stood steady, his waist was suddenly grabbed, and he was lifted onto Pifeng's back.

The young man snapped, "Your shoulder wound... we just bandaged it up—why are you messing around!"

"I'm fine." Wen Yu swung onto the horse behind him, grabbed the reins, and gave a sharp flick.

Hooves clattered across the courtyard, heading straight for the side gate.

The scenery outside blurred past. Luo Qianyu gripped the saddle tighter, his heart racing, and couldn't help asking, "Where are we headed?"

Wen Yu just said, "Somewhere."

They rode for what felt like forever before Pifeng's hooves finally slowed.

Luo Qianyu felt the wind in his ears go from harsh to soft, until Wen Yu pulled the reins and the horse's hooves landed steadily on the ground. Only then did he come back to his senses.

He had no clue how long they'd been riding. He only remembered the tree shadows going from thick to thin, until they were replaced by a dazzling sea of lights.

Wen Yu got off first and tied Pifeng to a willow by the road, then reached out to help Luo Qianyu down.

The young man had just steadied himself when he looked up and froze.

This wasn't just any town—it was a "city that never sleeps," wrapped in lights.

The river lapped gently, with countless lanterns floating on its surface. Candlelight shone through thin paper, reflecting in the ripples as they swayed with the waves. It was like the whole starry sky had shattered and poured down onto the earth.

Not far away, in a tavern, guests leaned on the railings, raising their cups. The clear wine in their cups reflected the full moon in the sky. The sound of strings and bamboo flutes drifted in with the river breeze, soft and clear.

Suddenly, streaks of light cut through the night sky. Fireworks exploded in the sky, and as the golden-red sparks fell, they mixed with the lantern reflections on the river and the candlelight on the shore.

Warm yellows and bright reds blended together, even more stunning than the grand Lantern Festival in Zhao half a month ago.

The crowd was streaming inward along the street, and only then did Luo Qianyu hear what people were saying—this was the famous "Lantern City."

A town on the edge of the Nine Abyss Alliance's territory, the only place outsiders were allowed to visit, and tonight just happened to be the Lantern Festival.

As the two moved with the crowd, Luo Qianyu's eyes were drawn to a mask on a stall.

It was a half-face mask covering the eyes—one black with silver patterns, the other moon-white with gold flecks, the edges carved with cloud patterns. You couldn't look away.

Wen Yu stopped and bought them both.

Luo Qianyu took them, his fingertips brushing the lacquered surface, thrilled. But when Wen Yu handed both masks to him, he looked up and asked, "Why aren't you putting one on?"

Wen Yu: "You liked both, so I got them."

Luo Qianyu couldn't help but wonder—was Wen Yu not watching the lanterns at all, but watching him instead? He'd been watching him that closely.

The young man raised his hand and helped Wen Yu put on the black mask.

As his fingertips brushed Wen Yu's earlobe while tying the straps, Luo Qianyu drew in a sharp breath. The mask covered most of Wen Yu's face, but left his high nose bridge, jawline, and those captivating eyes visible.

How could this guy be so handsome no matter what?

The two continued with the crowd, the streets getting noisier.

Luo Qianyu was overwhelmed. Stalls on both sides were hung with spinning lanterns and rabbit lanterns, their colorful lights glowing on everyone's faces. The cries of vendors, the laughter of children, and the sweet tunes of bamboo instruments all blended in his ears. Even the wind carried the sweetness of sugar paintings and the fragrance of osmanthus wine.

He had only ever heard that the Zhao Kingdom under his father's rule was a prosperous era, but this town under the Nine Abyss Alliance's jurisdiction was so grand and bustling that it secretly stunned him—it was no less than West Zhao.

Just as a cluster of fireworks burst into golden-red sparks in the night sky, the crowd grew denser, and the two were separated.

Luo Qianyu looked down and found only Yunshan by his side.

He stood on tiptoe, searching the crowd for a few rounds, but couldn't find Wen Yu. Worried that Yunshan might get stepped on, he stopped. Seeing that the riverbank nearby was crowded with people releasing river lanterns, he followed the flow.

"Would you like to release a river lantern, young master?" the old stall owner, seeing him stop, greeted warmly. "Write your wish on the lantern, set it on the river, and let it drift away with the current—your wish will come true!"

Luo Qianyu watched with interest, pointing to a few lanterns that didn't float into the sky and asked, "And what about those flying lanterns?"

"Those are sky lanterns, released for one's beloved!" the old owner laughed. "Write the name of the one in your heart on the lantern. When it rises into the sky, the first person you see will be your destined partner!"

"And besides, these lanterns will eventually drift to the Magpie Bridge of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, ensuring the two will be together!"

Luo Qianyu found it novel. It seemed the customs of Lantern City were unique and different from the usual. He immediately bought one river lantern and one sky lantern.

He first picked up the river lantern, his brush hovering over the surface. After a moment's thought, he wrote, "Family joy and happiness, may all go smoothly."

He looked up, saw no one nearby, and added two small lines: "Success in escape, return home soon."

He gently set the river lantern on the water, watching its shadow drift with the current, gradually floating into the distance.

Next came the sky lantern.

Luo Qianyu held the brush, now at a loss.

...

Who was his beloved?

The lantern vendor's words echoed in his ears: "Young master, write the name of the one in your heart on the lantern. When it rises, the first person you see will be your destined partner!"

Luo Qianyu was momentarily dazed, as if pulled by some force. Then, as if possessed, his brush moved slightly.

Just as the ink touched the paper, forming a single "dot," a gust of wind blew. The brush fell to the ground with a "clatter," and the sky lantern wobbled violently, nearly slipping from his hands.

At that moment, a hand steadily steadied the lantern frame.

Luo Qianyu looked up.

Standing beneath the lantern was Wen Yu, his face covered by a mask.

The man before him, clad in black with hints of red, had eyes that seemed to hold the stars, or perhaps the fire of the lanterns, reflecting Luo Qianyu's stunned expression.

Just then, a burst of fireworks exploded in the sky, a cascade of brilliance pouring down. Amid the shifting light and shadow, the two locked eyes.

Luo Qianyu heard his own heartbeat.

Everything around him faded,

Every sound thundered in his ears.

...

His beloved stood under the lanterns.

Author's note:

Hot gossip—Zhongli Jinyue died of lovesickness.

Abstinence Brother: Love-struck idiot, no spine.

Author: Alright, let's do an interview—how'd you become the new Alliance Leader? "Shoves the mic over"

Abstinence Brother: ...

Little Mermaid: ?