Chapter 19: Rising to the Top and Making a Name… Who’s Got Time for Your Regrets Now?

Chapter 19: Rising to the Top and Making a Name... Who's Got Time for Your Regrets Now?

Lu Xingchen had never been this humiliated before.

His cultivation level kept plummeting, his dantian was in excruciating pain, and his meridians felt as if they were being sliced by knives—all of this, he had Su Jiabao to thank for!

Su Jiabao is simple, innocent, and kind? Su Jiabao harbored no ill will? Su Jiabao had done nothing wrong?

Lu Xingchen was practically being driven up the wall by this mindless Foxtail Grass Spirit.

Gnashing his teeth, he shot back: "So he's a good person? Who smashed the jade pendant? Who destroyed the spirit flower? Who snatched someone else's sugar cake and pushed them off a cliff!"

Su Yiner trembled, staring at him in disbelief.

Cousin... Why is he bringing up old scores? That's all in the past now, why is he still holding a grudge against A Bao!

How could he be like this!

She hugged Su Jiabao tighter, biting her lower lip hard.

The Foxtail Grass Spirit sneered coldly: "He didn't mean any of it. Do you have to be so petty and narrow-minded? Must you nitpick with a child?"

Lu Xingchen felt his vision darken.

A stifling anger tightened his chest, an indescribable resentment churned in his throat, and his mind buzzed chaotically.

For the first time, he experienced the taste of being unable to speak his mind.

Lu Xingchen barked a bitter laugh: "He didn't hurt *you*, so it's easy for *you* to be generous!"

He stepped forward furiously, waving his hand to shoo away this detestable spirit.

"I won't waste words with you, move aside!"

The Foxtail Grass Spirit didn't budge.

"You, what's with your emotional instability? You blow up over nothing during a normal conversation." The tuft of foxtail on its head rustled, and the white grass hairs on its body swished in the night breeze. "Why do you always think the worst of people? Why must you always view others with prejudice? Su Jiabao doesn't have any of the intentions you imagine. You think he harmed you? That's just your own petty-mindedness!"

Fu Yu gave the Foxtail Grass Spirit's head a pat, smoothing down the dog tail that was shaking more and more vigorously.

It was getting choked up towards the end; it mustn't get so emotional it starts crying at a time like this.

Lu Xingchen's expression gradually stiffened.

This kind of dialogue sounded all too familiar!

His body swayed, and in a dazed moment, countless scenes floated before his eyes—

Cousin accidentally broke the wooden carving Elder Xie left for Xie Fuyu. Xie Fuyu wouldn't let it go, driving him crazy: "Cousin, it was just an unintentional mistake. Can't you be less stingy?"

Cousin fell down the steps. Xie Fuyu said she did it on purpose. He couldn't help but laugh angrily: "She intentionally got hurt just to frame you? Xie Fuyu, put away your petty-mindedness."

Cousin accidentally stayed overnight in his side chamber, got her clothes wet, and had to borrow his clothes to wear. Xie Fuyu flew into a jealous rage. He repeatedly explained to her: "Cousin is simple and kind-hearted, she doesn't have those kinds of thoughts. Don't always look at her with such dislike."

Cousin accidentally ate some poisonous herbs, her life in critical condition. Xie Fuyu, blinded by deep prejudice, absolutely refused to hand over the Heart Elixir. In his moment of desperation...

Lu Xingchen closed his eyes, feeling only unbearable pain in his dantian.

In this world, unless one has suffered the same illness, how can there be true empathy?

He said, his voice thick with pain: "Fu Yu, I..."

"Apologize to him." A voice, cold as ice, spoke in his ear. "Lu Xingchen, apologize to Su Jiabao."

In his daze, he couldn't tell if it was her voice or that spirit's voice.

Or perhaps... it was his own.

He was always like this, making Xie Fuyu apologize to his wronged cousin.

Was this how she felt back then?

But, but...

Lu Xingchen opened his mouth, his voice hoarse as he tried to defend himself: "But Cousin and Su Jiabao are different. Cousin is just a weak mortal, she never intended to harm you..."

The other sneered: "Su Jiabao is just a mortal child. What means could he possibly have to harm you?"

Lu Xingchen was momentarily speechless.

Yes, he was just a child, a six or seven-year-old mortal child. But he had indeed ended up in this state because of Su Jiabao.

At this moment, he truly was like a mute who had eaten bitter herbs—unable to speak of his bitterness.

In the past, was Xie Fuyu this wronged too?

Lu Xingchen's mind was a tangled mess, his face alternately flushing red and turning pale.

Su Yiner watched the changing expressions on his face, her heart growing colder and colder.

Where did Xie Fuyu learn such scheming, actually using A Bao to drive a wedge between her and Cousin's feelings!

In just a short moment, she had already gotten Cousin to feel heartache and start doubting himself. This couldn't go on any longer!

A glint flashed in Su Yiner's eyes as she stepped forward and gently tugged at Lu Xingchen's sleeve.

"Cousin, Cousin! That monster that frightened A Bao before, it couldn't be... it couldn't be..." Timidly, she pointed a finger at the Foxtail Grass Spirit. "It couldn't be... that thing, could it?"

Upon hearing this, Su Jiabao immediately started shrieking at the top of his lungs: "Ah, yes! It was it! It was it! Brother-in-law, hurry up and kill it!"

Lu Xingchen's face turned cold.

Thinking back, the timing of Su Jiabao's intrusion was indeed far too coincidental.

Of course, even without Su Jiabao, he trusted in his own self-control; he would never have done that kind of thing with Cousin.

His voice turned icy as he questioned: "Was it you, this spirit?"

Fu Yu raised her hand, pulling the Foxtail Grass Spirit behind her.

"Yes." She took a step forward, smiling faintly. "I had it bring Su Jiabao over. Is there a problem?"

Su Yiner's eyes instantly reddened.

"Cousin, A Bao was just terribly frightened, that's why he barged in and crashed into you." Tears welled up in her eyes as she turned to Fu Yu. "Miss Xie, what you did is simply too much!"

Fu Yu couldn't help but laugh.

She asked idly: "I'm too much?"

Lu Xingchen pressed his lips tightly, a tumult of emotions churning within him.

He knew, of course, that this couldn't be blamed on Fu Yu. Yet, if Su Jiabao hadn't suddenly barged in like that, he wouldn't have nearly suffered a qi deviation.

Su Yiner raised her face. "Of course you're going too far! If you hadn't frightened A Bao, how could my cousin have..."

"Stop." Fu Yu held up a hand. "As everyone knows, I was leading the team investigating the case."

Su Yiner's heart skipped a beat, a vague sense of foreboding washing over her.

Before she could process it, she saw Fu Yu speak with a faint smile. "The two of you searched for someone by sword flight, disturbing the entire mountain peak, yet returned empty-handed. It was I who helped you find Su Jiabao."

Fu Yu's voice was calm and even, her demeanor composed.

She said, "You don't know gratitude; I don't blame you. But if you repay kindness with enmity, then shouldn't I find someone to discuss the matter of the soup with you?"

Su Yiner trembled and quickly hid behind Lu Xingchen.

"I... I don't know what you're talking about!"

Lu Xingchen's mouth was filled with bitterness.

If the matter of the drugging came to light, Su Yiner's reputation would be completely ruined.

He believed she had only made a momentary mistake.

"The soup... I already drank it." After a moment of silence, he spoke hoarsely. "Cousin, Xie Fuyu helped you find your brother. Thank her."

Su Yiner's eyes flickered; she bit her lip and remained silent.

Lu Xingchen intensified his tone, enunciating each word clearly. "Su Yiner, I'm telling you to thank her, right now!"

This was the first time he had ever spoken to her so harshly using her full name.

Su Yiner felt both frightened and wronged. She twisted the corner of her clothes and reluctantly stepped forward. "Miss Xie, thank you for finding A Bao... My cousin and I thank you."

Fu Yu smiled. "You're both welcome."

Lu Xingchen's breath hitched.

The words "you're both" made him realize belatedly that his cousin's expression of thanks had been laced with calculation.

He had always firmly believed his cousin was delicate and pure.

In reality, his cousin was not delicate.

Then what about pure? Was that also just his... wishful thinking?

He opened his mouth but couldn't make a sound, watching helplessly as Fu Yu left with the Foxtail Grass Spirit in tow.

He was too ashamed to chase after her.

Even if he did catch up, he wouldn't know how to begin explaining himself to her.

After a long while, Lu Xingchen composed himself and spoke hoarsely to the siblings. "The security restrictions are over. You must leave the mountain immediately."

"What?!" Su Yiner exclaimed, her eyes rolling back as her body went limp and she fell backward.

This time, Lu Xingchen did not reach out to catch her.

She collided with Su Jiabao. Su Jiabao, having suffered quite a fright that night, was already staring blankly and rigidly. Caught off guard by her impact, he let out a strange cry, fell to the ground, and began convulsing.

Lu Xingchen frowned in disgust. "Still trying to pull some trick..."

He paused mid-sentence, sensing something was wrong.

Su Jiabao wasn't faking illness. As he convulsed, white foam spilled from his mouth, his eyes rolled upward, and strange gurgling sounds came from his throat.

Su Yiner, panicked, forgot she was supposed to be fainting.

She threw herself forward, holding down Su Jiabao's flailing hands and stuffing a thick handkerchief into his mouth.

"A Bao is fine, he's fine, he'll be better in a moment, just a moment..."

Lu Xingchen hesitated briefly before stepping forward to help her restrain the spasming, struggling Su Jiabao.

"Epilepsy?"

"Mhm." She nodded lightly, her eyes red.

Lu Xingchen furrowed his brow. "I don't recall this illness in your family."

Su Yiner's body trembled, her knuckles turning white as she forced a smile. "Such is our bitter fate. What can we do?"

Lu Xingchen sighed, having nothing more to say.

Fu Yu walked quietly along the mountain path with the Foxtail Grass Spirit.

The moonlight was beautiful tonight, casting clear shadows of the trees and grasses on the rocks on either side.

The Foxtail Grass Spirit blinked. "Master, I think he's very regretful now."

"Mhm." Fu Yu nodded. "Regretful about what?"

The Foxtail Grass Spirit was silent for a moment before saying sarcastically, "He doesn't regret what he did wrong; he regrets that he's about to be ruined."

"Exactly right." Fu Yu was pleased. "Soaring to great heights and achieving fame and success—who has time to dwell on past regrets with you?"

The Foxtail Grass Spirit nodded vigorously.

"Master," it asked, "why can't he see her true nature even after she drugged him?"

Fu Yu patted its head. "Figure it out yourself."

"Master!" The Foxtail Grass Spirit covered its head and jumped up. "I'm already stupid enough! Hitting me will make me even stupider!"

Fu Yu laughed. "Fools have their own blessings."

It made a few funny faces, its body subtly twisting to the side as it muttered quietly, "Meeting you is the greatest blessing."

By her side, it seemed everything could be easily resolved, and the gnawing hatred in its heart was gradually subsiding.

The person and the grass returned to the wooden building where Fu Yu lived.

"Master, master," it urged eagerly, "quick, try tossing that copper coin!"

Fu Yu chuckled.

She took out the copper coin and tossed it idly.

Auspicious, auspicious, auspicious.

She raised her eyebrows slightly and cast the lots several times in a row.

Still no Great Auspice.

The progress was auspicious, but the Foxtail Grass Spirit was not pleased.

It huffed angrily and rapped its own head: "Why is it still auspicious! Why hasn't it broken yet!"

Fu Yu: "If the bond were to break now, I don't think it would be the peach blossom that gets severed."

The Foxtail Grass Spirit asked foolishly: "Then what would it be?"

Fu Yu smiled: "It would be me."

The Foxtail Grass Spirit: "Huh?"

Fu Yu explained: "The Sect Master has requested the Retrospective Light three days from now. If the bond hasn't broken, it means the person isn't dead, so of course it's an auspicious omen."

The Foxtail Grass Spirit: "...That works too."

Fu Yu smiled without speaking.

For a Diviner, a core skill is to interpret any divination result in a favorable light—to reassure, or rather, to placate the client.

That night.

A familiar sensation welled up in her heart.

With her eyes closed in the dream, Fu Yu could already feel the all-encompassing red.

Dreaming of that blood-red battlefield again?

Fu Yu was in no hurry to open her eyes.

It hadn't been long since the last dream. She hadn't even thought of seeing him, so why did she dream of it now?

Unhurried, Fu Yu took a step forward.

"We didn't meet that often when he was alive."

She chuckled softly and opened her eyes.

"...Hmm?"

Ahead, on the vast plain, stood a dense, countless mass of Evil Spirits.

Evil Spirits covered the mountains and fields, yet there was no chaotic, frenzied scene.

The great army stood solemnly, formations strict and orderly, silent and still.

Suddenly, a unified, resounding battle cry echoed across the wilderness—"&*!"

Fu Yu: "..."

She must have slept too deeply, seeing Evil Spirits marching in formation, obeying commands, assembling for battle.

Fu Yu laughed out loud, lifting her gaze to survey the rows of Evil Spirit battle formations.

Where was Jun Bu Du? Where was he?

It wasn't that she wanted to see him, but with such a spectacle before her eyes, who wouldn't call it rare?