Chapter 141

Chapter 141

The child stole a glance at Lord Zhongli, hesitating, as if he wanted to speak.

Zhongli Jinyue: "Speak."

Only then did the child speak: "Lord Zhongli, that person outside... has been kneeling out there for six days straight."

"Day and night, nonstop. His knees must be about ruined by now, right?"

The man in black robes turned his gaze to him, then suddenly spoke: "First time I've seen you so worried about an outsider."

The child smiled sheepishly, scratching his topknot, and dropped his voice: "My lord, please go see him. Even if you don't want to meet him, at least let him give up for good and head home..."

Zhongli Jinyue said nothing, turned, and left.

...

...

Midnight. Dead silent.

At the mountain gate, where there should have been no one, a clear young voice suddenly cut through the thick night, faint but unmistakable:

"I, Luo Yan, an official of Da Xi, request an audience with Lord Zhongli!"

"I, Luo Yan, an official of Da Xi, request an audience with Lord Zhongli!"

...

In the silent valley, the voice was hoarse, unceasing, relentless.

Inside the bedchamber, the black-robed beauty, already asleep, abruptly opened his eyes.

His expression unchanged, he looked out the window at the misty, endless valley.

After a few breaths, a tall figure appeared outside the mountain gate.

Moonlight flowed like silk. From a distance, the youth was still kneeling, perfectly still.

The man walked slowly closer, his voice low like night mist rolling in: "If Zhongli Jinyue got woken up by you, do you think he'd still agree to see you?"

He reached out a hand to touch the other's shoulder, "Staying out all night, counting on that unbeatable body of yours, not afraid of catching a cold?"

The man reached out to touch Luo Yan's shoulder—

It felt stiffer and rougher than expected, completely devoid of any living warmth.

Before he could even push, the figure tilted sharply, and with a faint rustle, the dry straw inside it scattered down.

And that repeating voice came from a sound-storing stone tucked in the straw figure's chest.

He reached in and pulled it out—a faintly glowing keepsake, one of those popular sound-storage trinkets that had recently become all the rage in the outer city.

Zhongli Jinyue froze, then laughed.

He reached out a finger and gently brushed the crooked, painted eyebrows on the straw figure: "Hmph."

"You little liar."

.

Dragging his exhausted body back into the city, Luo Yan headed for the inn, passing the lantern stall again.

The stall owner recognized him at once, just as enthusiastic as before, and called out stubbornly: "Young master, sure you don't want a sky lantern? For wishes and romance—works like a charm!"

Luo Yan shook his head. "No. And you already asked me that yesterday."

"Asking doesn't cost anything, does it?" The boss rubbed his hands together, his eyes darting, and added: "Legend says if you write your true love's name on a sky lantern, when it rises, the first person you lay eyes on is your soulmate!"

Luo Yan raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Boss, be honest—didn't you just make that up to sell more lanterns?"

The shopkeeper, as if caught red-handed, turned bright red: "You look so young and promising, but you've got no romance in you!"

Luo Yan gave a noncommittal smile and turned away.

Back in his inn room, staring at the lonely night outside, the youth, as if possessed, gently set a plain white sky lantern by the window.

Just as Luo Yan was about to put brush to paper, a faint, almost imperceptible sound came from the doorstep.

Luo Yan froze.

The next moment, several whooshing sounds rang out!

Several black-clad, masked figures burst into the room, blades glinting, aimed straight at his vitals. Unarmed, Luo Yan dodged and parried. Shadows danced, momentum surged. He evaded the swift, fierce attacks without hurry, his expression calm and composed.

But as the fight moved near the window, Luo Yan instinctively turned to shield the unlit sky lantern. In that split second of distraction, a crossbow bolt took the opening and pierced straight through his chest!

A sharp pain hit, and the youth let out a low grunt before striking back.

Just as the assassins were about to swarm and hack him to pieces, a figure flashed by and landed silently in front of Luo Yan.

Without even seeing how the person moved, there was only a faint glint of cold light in the night and a barely-there scent of blood in the air. In the span of a breath, the dozen or so assassins had fallen silently to the ground, dead.

Luo Yan's eyes widened.

Recognizing the figure in the moonlight, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes: "...It's you?" the youth asked. "What are you doing here?"

Zhongli Jinyue did not answer, his gaze only falling on Luo Yan's bleeding wound. But Luo Yan bent down and carefully examined the fallen men, muttering softly: "They're from the rebel army..."

Just then, the warm lamplight in the room flickered slightly, and that plain white sky lantern broke free from the window frame, rising leisurely into the air, gradually merging into the vast river of stars.

"You took an arrow to the chest. Aren't you going to tend to it?" Zhongli Jinyue looked at him, one eyebrow slightly raised.

Luo Yan, as if accustomed to it, lowered his eyes and said: "No rush."

Zhongli Jinyue's gaze swept over the bodies on the floor: "Why would the rebel army hunt you down to this extent?"

Luo Yan stood up: "I was the one who led the troops to suppress their rebellion before."

"Liu Bing's rebel army still has remnants. If they want to revive their cause, killing me is the one sure way."

Zhongli Jinyue: "Knowing that, how is it that you're still unarmed and without any defense?"

Luo Yan said: "I had just changed clothes and didn't have time to grab my sword, that's all."

Perhaps because the other had just helped him, the two of them no longer had the tense hostility of previous days. The youth sighed and murmured: "If only I had a folding fan."

"A folding fan?" Zhongli Jinyue looked at him. "Such a light, flimsy thing—how could it serve as a weapon?"

"Why not?" Luo Yan explained, his eyes brightening with the idea: "Made with ribs of fine gold or dark iron, the edges of the leaves sharpened. When opened, it can slash like a blade; when closed, it can block like a short staff. Light and handy, and it can even deflect arrows."

The youth paused, a slight smirk tugging at his lips. "But no one's ever tried this method before."

As he spoke, Luo Yan suddenly furrowed his brow, his body swaying a bit.

Zhongli Jinyue shifted, about to catch him, but saw Luo Yan already struggling to sit back on the bed, taking a deep breath, ready to unbutton his shirt and deal with the wound.

Zhongli Jinyue stepped forward. "Silly, don't move."

"What are you doing?... I've got it!" Before Luo Yan could protest, the man reached out, pulling the youth into his arms. Wrapping an arm around his waist, he held his shoulder steady with one hand while gripping the arrow shaft stuck deep in his flesh with the other.

This position completely enveloped Luo Yan in the other man's presence, pressed against the fabric, he could feel the firm chest underneath.

The next moment, the tip of the arrow was snapped off, and a muffled grunt escaped Luo Yan's throat, cold sweat instantly beading on his brow.

"This is gonna hurt a little," Zhongli Jinyue's low voice murmured by his ear.

Before Luo Yan could answer, the sudden pain hit him. The arrow was yanked out clean and quick, bringing with it a splash of warm blood that instantly soaked the back of his clothes.

"Ngh—!" Luo Yan shook violently from the pain, letting out a short, strangled sob, tears spilling over almost instantly.

Zhongli Jinyue hesitated for a moment, then quickly moved, flicking a burst of energy from his fingers to snap the arrow and toss it aside.

He looked down at the person trembling in his arms, tears falling, plop plop, onto his shoulder. Zhongli Jinyue's brow furrowed in surprise. His usually cool, lazy voice unconsciously softened as he held him tighter, murmuring soothingly: "It's okay, the arrow's out. You'll be fine soon..."

Luo Yan just sobbed, not saying a word, burying his face in the other man's neck, as if unable to stop the wave of pain washing over him.

"Luo Yan, looks like you're used to this."

"Is this the life you've gotten used to?"

...

"If you were alone right now, how would you even draw your sword and deal with this?"

Luo Yan said nothing.

Zhongli Jinyue looked down at his tear-soaked lashes, still glistening, then reached up, using his thumb to wipe the tears from Luo Yan's cheek.

"Your lashes are all wet from crying," the man said softly.

Everyone knew he was immortal, but no one thought he could feel pain.

He was even more afraid of pain than most people.

When Luo Yan had calmed down a bit, Zhongli Jinyue still didn't leave. It got to the point where Luo Yan was wondering if he should kick him out, when the man suddenly spoke: "Didn't you want to get into the Nine Abyss Alliance?"

Luo Yan looked up at him.

"I'll get you in."

Luo Yan: "You?"

"You don't trust me?" The Mysterious Guest raised an eyebrow at him.

Luo Yan recalled the rumors, hesitating. "They say the Nine Abyss Alliance is so tight, not even a fly can get in."

Zhongli Jinyue's lips curled slightly. "A fly can't, but I sure can."

He said, "I have a letter of passage, so I can come and go as I please."

A spark of hope lit up in Luo Yan's heart, but then the man's tone suddenly shifted. "But I have three conditions."

Luo Yan: "..."

Of course!

There was never a free lunch in this world. Why would this man help him for nothing?

"First," Zhongli Jinyue said, "Entering the Nine Abyss Alliance is easy, but leaving is hard. When you can leave will be up to me."

Luo Yan pondered briefly, then nodded. "Fine."

He'd get in first.

"Second," the Mysterious Guest paused, "While inside the alliance, your every word and action must follow my orders. When you meet that Zhongli Jinyue, you are not to make a move."

Luo Yan bit his lip. "Fine... but why would I make a move?"

The man didn't answer, instead slowly stating the third condition: "Third, the world calls you Luo Yan, and those close to you call you Qianyu. I've never liked being lumped in with others, so the name I use must be unique."

Luo Yan was taken aback, thinking for a moment. "But even names like Qianyu, A-Yu, Qianqian... those slightly intimate titles have been used before. What do you want to call me?"

Zhongli Jinyue gazed at his tear-stained, slightly reddened eyes, and spoke slowly:

"From now on, let me call you A-Yan."

■

■

Luo Yan was silent for a moment.

"Fine." He looked up, meeting Zhongli Jinyue's gaze, his voice soft but firm. "I agree."

Zhongli Jinyue seemed surprised by his straightforwardness, raising an eyebrow slightly. "Aren't you curious about my name?"

Luo Yan was momentarily stunned, then said frankly, "If Your Excellency wishes to tell me, you will; if not, why should I ask?"

Zhongli Jinyue crossed his arms. "You'll have to call me something. You can't keep saying 'Your Excellency' or 'scoundrel' forever."

Luo Yan asked, "Then... what should I call you?"

Under the moonlight, Zhongli Jinyue's eyes were deep, a faint, enigmatic smile curling at the corners of his lips as he lowered his voice, laced with a hint of temptation:

"Call me 'big brother.'"

Luo Yan: "..."

His ears suddenly burned.

How could this man be so... brazen!

He pressed his lips together, turning his head away, and after a long while finally said, "...When do we leave?"

Zhongli Jinyue let out a low laugh, took his wrist, and said, "Follow me."

*

Passing through that mountain gate that made the world hesitate, the sight before him was enough to secretly astonish Luo Yan.

The outer Nine Abyss Alliance was already like a fairyland, but deep within, it was a whole new world. It wasn't the grim fortress of traps and barriers he had imagined, but rather a landscape of pavilions and towers nestled among lush greenery, with mountains and rivers as its backdrop.

Waterfalls plunged like silver rivers cascading down, their gentle murmur mingling with the fragrance of exotic blooms and rare herbs that adorned the winding paths. Mist coiled around the mountain slopes, and the clear cry of cranes echoed, as if he had stepped into a hidden paradise.

Luo Yan never imagined that one day he would be a guest for a night within the Nine Abyss Alliance.

His mind preoccupied with urgent matters, the young man couldn't help but ask at first light, "When are we going to see Alliance Leader Zhongli?"

The Mysterious Guest however seemed not to hear him. Instead, he led Luo Yan to a nearby winding, crystal-clear brook. "The weather is fine. How about we go for a swim? This is a mountain spring with healing properties; it will be good for your injuries."

"Swim? I..." Luo Yan was here on serious business, not for sightseeing!

The next moment, he was scooped up into a bridal carry, and the two of them jumped into the stream. Before Luo Yan could even undo his hair ribbon, his blood-stained robe was already being removed.

The cool spring water washed over his skin, rinsing away the weariness and dust of the past days. The arrow wound had healed, but a lingering ache remained. Yet, as the water soaked in, that burning pain began to fade.

The following days left Luo Yan even more bewildered.

Luo Yan pressed, "When will you take me to see Lord Zhongli?"

The Mysterious Guest would either brush him off with a "No hurry" or deftly change the subject. Sometimes, annoyed by the questioning, he would pinch Luo Yan's cheek, his tone carrying a hint of threat: "A-Yan, if you keep nagging, I'll toss you to the grey wolves in the back mountains."

Luo Yan was furious but helpless.

The Mysterious Guest seemed to have completely forgotten the "serious business" of bringing him in to meet Zhongli Jinyue. Every day, he found new ways to have fun.

Any refusal was met with a reminder of their three-part agreement.

Sometimes, the man would bring sturdy horses, and they would gallop freely across the grasslands. The wind whistled past Luo Yan's ears, lifting his hair, and for a moment, his worries were forgotten.

Sometimes, they would climb to the highest observatory.

The Mysterious Guest would point at the vast starry sky, casually recounting ancient tales of constellations or anecdotes from the martial world. The night mountain breeze was cool, and Luo Yan, shedding his fatigue, found an unexpected sense of peace settling over him, gradually drifting into sleep.

Zhongli Jinyue even took him to the plum blossom grove. During the blooming season, he pulled Luo Yan under a plum tree to share a drink. The wine was warmed, carrying a faint plum blossom fragrance, mellow on the palate with no lingering bite.

After a few cups, his belly felt warm.

Without him realizing, amidst the exhilaration of galloping against the wind, under the tranquil night sky of the observatory, and in the slight intoxication of the plum grove, Luo Yan's nerves, strained for far too long, began to soften and relax, bit by bit, like a frog slowly warmed in water.

The Nine Abyss Alliance had unexpectedly become a rare place for him to catch his breath.

The constant gloom that shadowed the young man's brow gradually eased, and the haze that had settled in his eyes was scattered by the mountain breeze.

Once, after galloping over a gentle slope, a view suddenly opened before them—a valley ablaze with colorful flowers. Luo Yan couldn't help but rein in his horse and stop. Gazing at the boundless sea of blossoms, the corners of his mouth lifted unconsciously into a carefree, radiant smile.

Sunlight streamed down, his red hair ribbon fluttering in the wind. The pure, fervent spirit of youth in his eyes was dazzlingly bright.

Zhongli Jinyue reined in his horse and stared at the young man, momentarily transfixed.

.

It was like a stolen week.

Immersed in this peace and splendor, an unexpected sense of lightness welled up in Luo Yan's heart.

He could no longer remember how long it had been since he had laughed so purely, unburdened by guilt, free from imperial commands, simply relaxing as "Luo Qianyu." It was a long-lost, almost luxurious carefreeness in his life.

Yet, the weighty matter hanging over his heart prevented the young man from indulging for too long.

As they rode back together, stepping towards the pavilion in the fading twilight, Luo Yan finally stopped.

The Mysterious Guest halted as well.

"When are we going to see Lord Zhongli?"

The young man paused, then breathed softly, almost inaudibly, "...Brother."

The man's pupils contracted slightly.

His Adam's apple bobbed. His fingertips brushed over the red ribbon tying Luo Yan's hair, the gesture gentle. After a long moment, he said, "A-Yan, have you undergone your capping ceremony?"

Luo Yan was taken aback, then shook his head. "No."

On the day his family met its sudden downfall, he had not yet reached the age for the capping ceremony. He had already become the son of a disgraced official, plummeting from the clouds into the mud. Those rites and honors symbolizing adulthood had long become distant, unattainable luxuries.

"Here, I will perform the capping ceremony for you," Zhongli Jinyue said. "After that, I will take you to see the person you wish to meet."

Luo Yan looked at him and nodded. "Alright."

.

The capping ceremony was not a grand affair.

It was just the two of them, at a secluded, open cliffside within the Nine Abyss Alliance, with heaven and earth as their witness and the gentle breeze as their guest.

The Mysterious Guest personally bound his hair and performed the three stages of crowning. Luo Yan could feel the occasional touch of his fingertips against his hair, and his heart stirred with a strange, inexplicable flutter.

"The rite is complete." Zhongli Jinyue took a step back, observing Luo Yan's neat cap and handsome features. He offered a cup of wine. "A-Yan, on the day of your capping, the toast must be drunk."

Luo Yan knew this custom. He took the cup and drank it all in one go.

On the night of the capping, Zhongli Jinyue took him to the Lantern City outside the mountains.

The night market was bustling, ablaze with lights as bright as day.

Following the crowd, the two of them released two river lanterns by the water's edge. Squatting by the riverbank, Luo Yan watched his own lantern drift slowly into the water. On its paper wall, he had written in somewhat clumsy regular script:

"May the seas be calm and the rivers clear, bringing peace to all under heaven.

May Zhi Heng recover from illness, blessed with constant joy and peace."

Next, they walked to the stall selling sky lanterns. It was the same vendor, with the same saying—"When the sky lantern ascends, you will see your beloved."

Last time, their sky lantern had been interrupted by the rebel army and flown away on its own.

This time, Luo Yan hesitated. Holding the brush, he looked at the blank surface of the lantern. He had no beloved in mind, so he intended to leave it empty and not release it.

Suddenly, Zhongli Jinyue beside him spoke, his voice cutting through the noisy crowd to reach Luo Yan's ears:

"How about writing 'Zhongli Jinyue'?"

Luo Yan asked, "Isn't it supposed to be for your beloved?"

The man looked down at him. Under the glow of the lanterns, his eyes were bright and profound, as if concealing stars. "Isn't he the one you most wish to see?"

Luo Yan thought for a moment. After a long pause, the young man lifted his brush and, stroke by stroke, wrote the four characters "Zhongli Jinyue" on the lantern paper.

Holding the sky lantern, he walked to a slightly open area, ready to release it.

However, an evening breeze suddenly rose, carrying a chill. Already unsteady on his feet from the wine, Luo Yan was buffeted by the wind, stumbled, and nearly lost his grip on the lantern, which tilted precariously.

The next moment, a pair of hands steadied his arm firmly.

The sky lantern flew far away.

A man's face came into view.

Luo Yan's pupils contracted slightly.

Around them, the stream of pedestrians flowed endlessly, the noise of the marketplace seemed to fade away in an instant as the two stood where the lantern light was dim.

The lanterns drifted farther away, and the one destined for him was now gazing back.

.

The bustle of the lantern town faded away as they went up to the open-air seating on the second floor of a riverside tavern.

The night breeze swept by, carrying the faint sound of music and the river's murmur from afar.

Luo Yan leaned on the railing, looking down at the winding stream lit by lanterns and the brilliant starry sky. The wine made the young man's eyes grow hazy, and he stared blankly at the magnificent view, lost in thought.

But the Mysterious Guest wasn't looking at the night view; his eyes stayed fixed on the young man in front of him.

"Just drinking is a bit boring." Zhongli Jinyue picked up the wine flask, poured himself half a cup, and brought the rim to his lips. "How about… we each tell each other a weakness?"

"If the other person doesn't think it counts, they drink a cup as punishment."

Luo Yan, hearing this, slowly turned his head. His drunken eyes thought it over for a moment before he replied, "Alright."

"You go first?"

"Mm."

Luo Yan was silent for a long while before speaking softly, "Actually… you've always been right about me."

Zhongli Jinyue was startled: "What?"

"I really like having fun."

"The serious act I usually put on… it's all fake." The young man took a sip of wine, hesitated for a long time, and murmured, "I don't like those towering city walls that block out the sky and seem endless, nor have I ever wanted to be a top scholar… I'd rather ride freely, with the wind rushing past my ears, craving a life of freedom, with no restraints. I want to roam mountains, rivers, and lakes, see all the world's wonders, without being tied down."

"My weakness… I guess, is that I hate being tied down."

Zhongli Jinyue let out a low laugh, his voice especially deep and magnetic in the night: "That doesn't count, I already knew that."

Luo Yan frowned, looking a bit troubled. After thinking again, he said, "I'm actually really scared of pain."

Luo Yan looked down, his voice getting softer: "Every time… I get hurt, it really hurts… I don't want to worry my mother, or let the soldiers' morale drop, so… I've held it back every time." The young man paused, as if remembering a really painful experience, his voice barely audible, "When my arm broke and I had to set it back in place… that hurt the most."

"Back then, I thought, why did it have to be me?"

Luo Yan's gaze drifted into the distance, "If I could be reborn, I wouldn't want to be 'Invincible General Luo Yan' anymore… Just being the Young Marquis, just being Luo Qianyu, would be enough."

Zhongli Jinyue's hand, holding the cup, trembled almost imperceptibly.

He watched the young man recount his pain with downcast eyes, falling silent for a moment. The man pressed his lips together and lowered his voice: "… A-Yan is afraid of pain, I already knew that too."

"That doesn't count either?" Luo Yan lifted his drunken, hazy eyes, muttering with some displeasure, "You're so strict…"

His body swayed, about to fall, but Zhongli Jinyue reached out and caught him firmly.

The young man leaned in close, his warm breath smelling of wine, suddenly getting close to Zhongli Jinyue's ear. In a voice barely above a whisper, meant only for the two of them, he cautiously said:

"It's my heart."

"Everywhere else can heal on its own, but… my heart can't."

Luo Yan said softly, "If my heart gets pierced, I'll die."

Zhongli Jinyue's pupils suddenly contracted. He was completely stunned, and his grip on Luo Yan tightened.

But Luo Yan, as if unaware of the shocking thing he'd just said, tilted his head and kept going on his own, "If this one doesn't count either…" His eyes swept to the ink and brush on the table, and his eyebrow twitched, "Then there's just one left."

"My handwriting… is terrible."

Zhongli Jinyue was amused by his abrupt shift in thought. Suppressing the strange feeling in his heart, he followed along and asked, "How bad could A-Yan's handwriting be?"

As if to prove himself, Luo Yan broke free from his support, walked unsteadily to the table, picked up the brush, dipped it fully in ink, and on the spread-out paper, he earnestly and carefully wrote four large characters—Zhongli Jinyue.

Zhongli Jinyue picked up the paper, looking at his own name with the ink still wet. He was momentarily stunned, then let out a low, rumbling laugh, his chest vibrating with an indescribable emotion: "Now I believe that A-Yan becoming the top scholar must have been due to his brilliant essays and extraordinary talent, with little to do with this handwriting…"

Luo Yan's ears reddened: "… Bastard."

As the laughter subsided, Luo Yan suddenly remembered the main topic and raised an eyebrow in accusation: "I've said so much, but you haven't said a single thing. That's hardly fair."

Zhongli Jinyue took a sip from his cup: "I've never had any weaknesses."

Emboldened by the wine, Luo Yan secretly studied the Mysterious Guest before him and spoke, "Since you appeared, you've handled everything with ease, looking as if nothing concerns you. Your skills are extraordinary, almost inhuman… So now, what is your weakness?"

Zhongli Jinyue's smile faded, and he looked at him with a heavy gaze. Something seemed to churn in those eyes, carrying emotions Luo Yan couldn't understand, so focused that it felt like he might be drawn into them.

The atmosphere suddenly became subtly tense.

Luo Yan's heart inexplicably skipped a beat.

Feeling flustered under that gaze, the young man instinctively looked away and stepped back. But his steps were unsteady, and with a slight stumble, he pulled the Mysterious Guest, who had reached out to steady him, and they both fell to the ground!

The next moment, the expected pain didn't come. He was firmly held in Zhongli Jinyue's arms, cushioning the impact of the fall.

The world spun, and he found himself pinned beneath the man, enveloped in his tall shadow and the familiar, cool scent.

Their bodies pressed tightly together, separated only by fabric, they could feel each other's burning warmth and pounding hearts.

Zhongli Jinyue's breath was hot, brushing against his cheek.

"… Wasn't it my weakness you asked about?" The Mysterious Guest's voice was low, even a little hoarse.

Luo Yan's heart thundered, his cheeks growing hot as he struggled to push him away, "I, I don't want to know anymore…"

But Zhongli Jinyue let out a low laugh, stroking his reddened ear, his gaze fixed on the young man's flustered eyes:

"A-Yan already knows."

Luo Yan looked at him blankly, his mind a mess from the wine and these sudden words.

The man leaned down, closing in until their noses almost touched, their hot breaths mingling, his voice carrying a magnetic allure:

"I call you A-Yan, what should you call me?"

Luo Yan's long lashes trembled. Looking up at the face so close, breathtakingly handsome, under the man's spell, he murmured in confusion:

"… Brother."

The moment the words fell, Zhongli Jinyue reached out and pulled loose the red ribbon binding Luo Yan's dark hair. His ink-black locks cascaded down, making the youth's flushed cheeks and jade-like neck stand out even more.

Then, the man leaned down and kissed the young man's cool lips.