Chapter 56: Mission

Chapter 56: The Mission

At that time, Su Hang wasn't trying to defend Su Yun, nor had he given it much thought—he simply found it all too coincidental.

When Su Yun mentioned his father, Immortal Venerable Lingqing appeared before the two of them, just like on Falling Snow Peak. A few times when Su Hang brought up Patriarch Su, Immortal Venerable Lingqing had brushed it off.

Su Hang figured maybe the Immortal Venerable didn't want him to have any more contact with Patriarch Su. After all, Su Hang had already burned all bridges with the Su family recently, and the Immortal Venerable had seen the whole thing.

He thought the Immortal Venerable was worried that bringing up Patriarch Su again would only cause more pain, but...

As Su Hang thought this, he raised his tearful eyes to look at Immortal Venerable Lingqing, only to see the Immortal Venerable's eyes half-closed, with no intention of answering any questions about the Su family.

By now, the two had returned to the small courtyard at Guanwei Academy that was specially prepared for Immortal Venerable Lingqing. The doors and windows were half-open, and the cold, pale moonlight from outside fell on the Immortal Venerable's face, making him seem even more cold and distant.

His eyes were as deep and dark as a pool, as if no light could reach the depths of them. Immortal Venerable Lingqing didn't say anything. He casually leaned back in the grand armchair, arrogance and calm seeming etched into his very bones. He just watched Su Hang quietly, yet it put immense pressure on Su Hang.

"Immortal Venerable, do you know if my father is doing well these days?"

Su Hang's fingertips curled up slightly without him realizing. He lowered his eyes, his lashes fluttering slightly. He didn't want to look at Immortal Venerable Lingqing at all anymore.

He was afraid the Immortal Venerable would say something he didn't want to believe.

But Su Hang couldn't help but listen closely to the Immortal Venerable's thoughts.

His body went stiff as he unconsciously inched closer to Immortal Venerable Lingqing, until his nose was filled with the cold, snowy scent that was uniquely the Immortal Venerable's. Only then did a voice slowly sound.

'What do you want to hear?'

Su Hang froze. Startled by the Immortal Venerable's out-of-the-blue words, he jerked his head up, only to find that Immortal Venerable Lingqing was still in the same position, not having moved at all.

That voice just now... Did the Immortal Venerable say that himself, or...

Before Su Hang could think more deeply, another voice cut off his thoughts.

'What do you want to hear?'

Su Hang was stunned. He had been staring at Immortal Venerable Lingqing the whole time and was absolutely sure the Immortal Venerable hadn't opened his mouth at all.

Then those words... could only be the Immortal Venerable's thoughts.

Did the Immortal Venerable deliberately let him hear his thoughts?

Did the Immortal Venerable know he could hear other people's thoughts?

At this thought, cold sweat broke out on Su Hang's forehead. He looked at Immortal Venerable Lingqing in a daze, hesitating for a long time before carefully asking in a low voice.

"Immortal Venerable, just now... did you say anything?"

Summoning his courage, Su Hang looked at Immortal Venerable Lingqing. The Immortal Venerable just raised an eyebrow, his expression unchanged, and didn't say anything.

A long time passed—so long that Su Hang's whole body went stiff, yet it also felt like only a moment had gone by. Just as Su Hang was about to give up on asking, the voice that was uniquely the Immortal Venerable's slowly sounded before him.

'Didn't you hear everything I said?'

Su Hang's body went rigid instantly. This time he watched carefully—Immortal Venerable Lingqing had truly not opened his mouth.

And he didn't have the ability to communicate with the Immortal Venerable through spiritual connection, so this voice could only be...

Coming from within the Immortal Venerable's heart.

When had the Immortal Venerable learned of this?

"Immortal Venerable..." Su Hang's Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily. Having the secret buried deepest in his heart exposed gave him a shameful feeling, as if someone had seen through him completely.

Though he had long since been seen through by Immortal Venerable Lingqing.

"How did you come to know?"

How did you come to know that I can hear others' thoughts?

Su Hang opened his mouth, and finally voiced the cautious question in his heart.

At this, Immortal Venerable Lingqing raised an eyebrow and finally reacted. He rose and walked before Su Hang, lowering his gaze as he lifted a hand to caress Su Hang's face, with something between pity and affection: "Me? I knew from the very beginning."

Su Hang was stunned, his lips parting wordlessly.

Seeing this, Immortal Venerable Lingqing's lips curved upward slightly. He felt that control over the situation had been restored, and his mood improved. He ruffled Su Hang's soft, fine hair and said gently, "If there's nothing else, rest early tonight. You'll need to rise early tomorrow—didn't you say you were going down the mountain with Qu Wenshan and the others for training?"

But Su Hang didn't move. He simply stood there in place, gazing at Immortal Venerable Lingqing, his eyes churning with emotions he couldn't name.

"Immortal Venerable, do you know how my father is doing today?"

At these words, a chill crossed Immortal Venerable Lingqing's brow, and his voice unconsciously carried a hint of coldness: "Why are you always so fixated on your family? It's not as if you'll see them again anyway. What do their affairs have to do with you?"

Su Hang bit his lower lip hard, biting until it turned white. He thought of Su Yun's words, thought of the Immortal Venerable's strange behavior on Falling Snow Peak whenever he mentioned Patriarch Su, and a terrifying thought began to take shape in his mind.

Seeing Su Hang's expression—on the verge of tears yet holding back—Immortal Venerable Lingqing felt a surge of pity and heartache. He crouched down, cupped Su Hang's face once more, and gently brushed his thumb across Su Hang's moistened eye corners.

"Alright, I know you encountered someone with no sense today and you're not in a good mood. Tell me, what would you like to cheer—"

"My father... is he dead?"

Before Immortal Venerable Lingqing could finish his sentence, Su Hang's trembling voice cut him off.

The Immortal Venerable's almost tender smile froze on his face. He raised an eyebrow in confusion—whether puzzled by Su Hang's words or by how Su Hang had learned of Patriarch Su's death was unclear.

Su Hang averted his gaze from Immortal Venerable Lingqing, lowered his head, and clenched his fingertips that had gone white from tension. His voice trembled slightly yet was resolute: "Immortal Venerable, you really... are terrible at lying..."

A flicker of confusion passed through Immortal Venerable Lingqing's eyes. His brow furrowed slightly, his bright peach-blossom eyes curving upward, as if he hadn't understood Su Hang's words.

But Su Hang's heart was a mess right now. Even facing the one he loved, he didn't wish to say more: "Your Excellency, I'll take my leave now. Please rest early as well."

With that, Su Hang turned and walked away slowly.

Immortal Venerable Lingqing rose to his feet, watching Su Hang's slightly sobbing retreating figure. His brow furrowed tighter and tighter, his heart feeling as if someone were clutching it, aching inexplicably. He simply watched in silence, momentarily at a loss for words.

*

The next morning, the air still carried a heavy dew, damp and humid. Su Hang's eye corners were slightly red and swollen. A cool breeze swept past his ear, and he turned to look back at the courtyard gate.

Today, the Immortal Venerable had not appeared.

The courtyard was empty. The teacups and books left uncollected in the pavilion still sat steadily on the stone table, dampened by the dew.

Su Hang sniffled his stuffy nose, lowered his head to stroke the sword at his waist, and walked down the mountain with unsteady steps.

At the foot of the mountain, a crowd had gathered, divided into many groups—all disciples heading down the mountain for training, just bound for different destinations.

From a distance, Su Hang spotted an elder standing out distinctly among the crowd. Before a group of disciples, her bearing was especially striking.

Other teams might have their own advantages, but having an elder lead them was something only they could claim.

Su Hang, adjusting his attire before this particularly stern elder, hurried to her side and bowed respectfully with his hands clasped in salute: "Elder Yang, I wish you a peaceful morning."

Elder Yang gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.

Standing beside her, Su Hang glanced around and saw Qu Wenshan standing ramrod straight, quietly by Elder Yang's side. When Qu Wenshan noticed Su Hang looking his way, he offered a warm, gentle smile.

Su Hang's gaze shifted right, where Ji Chuan was grinning at him with a shit-eating grin. Su Hang gave a wry twitch of his lips and looked away.

He didn't see Su Yun.

He distinctly remembered Su Yun telling him yesterday that he would join Elder Yang's group. Whenever there was a chance for cultivation, Su Yun held onto it for dear life—how could he bear to give up this chance to get up close and personal with an elder?

Elder Yang, lowering her gaze slightly to look at Su Hang, seemed to read his mind and said in a flat, detached tone: "You're looking for Su Yun? He won't be coming."

Su Hang froze for a moment and blurted out, "Not coming?"

Elder Yang gave a slight nod and simply said, "Someone else will take his place."

Su Hang's brow knitted slightly, a nagging feeling that something was wrong stirring in his chest, but before he could ask, he was interrupted by the sound of footsteps.

The newcomer had black hair and black robes that completely hid his face, with a long sword tucked into the back of his belt that seemed to give off a faint chill. Without a word, he approached Elder Yang and stood there silently, stock-still.

Elder Yang cast a brief glance at the black-robed youth, then said, "Everyone's here. Let's head out."

With that, she produced a small Immortal Boat from her sleeve and tossed it carelessly onto the open ground. The boat gradually expanded to normal size and hovered in the air. Elder Yang stepped in first, followed closely by her disciple Qu Wenshan, who was carrying their gear.

Meanwhile, Su Hang sized up the newcomer from the sidelines.

The figure showed no face, walking forward quietly. Even as he moved away, Su Hang didn't look back.

It was as if the guy had some kind of gravitational pull.

Only when Su Hang's back was lightly tapped did he snap out of it. He turned and shot Ji Chuan a look of annoyance, only to see Ji Chuan wearing a goofy, off-kilter grin, though there was a hint of scrutiny in his eyes.

"Why do you keep staring at him? Do you two know each other?"

Su Hang felt uneasy under Ji Chuan's probing stare. He thought Ji Chuan was being rude, and combined with his already sour mood from yesterday's events, he didn't feel like engaging with him today.

But then again, Su Hang thought, if someone asked and he ignored them, would Ji Chuan be upset?

After all, Ji Chuan was one of the few close friends Su Hang had.

So he replied in a cold, stiff tone: "If I knew that person, I wouldn't be staring at him."

Hearing this, the wariness on Ji Chuan's face vanished for a moment, and then, like a good friend, he slung his arm around Su Hang's shoulder. The two were vastly different in build, and from a distance, it looked as if Ji Chuan had Su Hang completely enveloped in his embrace.

At that moment, the black-robed youth inside the Immortal Boat noticed their interaction. He turned around and quietly watched Ji Chuan and Su Hang through the window.

Ji Chuan caught the figure's movement inside the boat and curled his lips into a playful smile, pulling Su Hang even closer.

Su Hang, completely oblivious to what was happening inside the boat, simply found Ji Chuan's lack of manners irritating as the grip squeezed him painfully.

"Let's go."

Ji Chuan's tone carried a hint of cheerfulness as he pushed the stumbling Su Hang toward the Immortal Boat.