After a long silence, Xie Weiyuan finally broke it. He straightened his disheveled robes, assumed the bearing of an elder, and stiffened his spine: “That… indeed, the one who has been sending you cultivation manuals is me the Pure Xuan Lord of the Nine Heavens.”
“…Why?”
Xie Weiyuan remained silent for a moment before fabricating an excuse: “Though I have been reclusive for many years, detached from worldly affairs, I recently saw that the sect’s destiny was obscured by dark clouds. I came to the front mountain to cast a divination, and it turned out that the person of destiny was you…”
Shen Yunjin raised his eyelids and continued to gaze at the person before him, his expression flickering.
“Seeing that your roots were excellent and you were a talent worth molding, but fearing that a pearl might be buried in dust, and given my long seclusion and inability to appear publicly, I have been helping you in the dark these past few nights.” Xie Weiyuan lied without a hint of shame.
Shen Yunjin observed his expression; he truly didn’t look like he was lying.
He lowered his eyes, concealing the disappointment in them.
He had finally unveiled the mystery of this person today, yet he didn’t feel the excitement he had imagined.
There is something wrong, but I cannot put it into words…
How could it be someone I have never known?
It is not him…
Shen Yunjin’s thoughts swirled. Xie Weiyuan wanted to take advantage of his distraction to slip away, but was frozen in place by the man’s grip, feeling a sting of pain.
“Will you not release me yet?” Xie Weiyuan raged.
Shen Yunjin listened to him and loosened his grip.
“Is everything you said true?”
Xie Weiyuan rotated his aching wrist and replied impatiently: “Could it possibly be fake?”
Shen Yunjin felt uneasy. He said respectfully: “I have been cared for by you, Grandmaster, these past few days. Since I accidentally injured you today, let Disciple help you reset your hand.”
It was indeed inconvenient for Xie Weiyuan to reset it himself. He pursed his lips, shot a sideways glance at Shen Yunjin, stepped back half a step, and extended his hand toward Shen Yunjin with noble, icy indifference.
“Very well, proceed.”
With a snap, the hand was quickly reset.
Shen Yunjin gripped his hand, raised his eyes, and upon thinking of something, his eyes brightened so much so that Xie Weiyuan felt entirely uncomfortable.
He pulled his hand back and stood with his hands behind his back, looking truly like a master from beyond the world: “That being so, I shall go. Remember to practice diligently.”
Shen Yunjin watched his back, solitary and proud in this world.
His heart thundered. He took half a step forward, his eyes still burning with lingering light, and asked eagerly: “Will you return in the future?”
Xie Weiyuan hesitated for a moment. He realized this was a good method; he could use this persona to help Shen Yunjin, saving himself from hiding like a thief every day.
This would also allow him to bypass the System’s OOC restrictions and give Shen Yunjin some pointers on his lessons.
He nodded: “I will come again in the future.”
He turned and left, fearing Shen Yunjin might notice a flaw.
Shen Yunjin lowered his eyes indifferently, feeling the lingering warmth in the man’s palm. When he had struggled with that person earlier, he clearly had not been holding such an aged hand, yet the moment he reset the hand, he discovered it had changed…
The corners of his lips curled into an imperceptible smile.
That man didn’t even remember to play the role fully.
He also turned and walked in the opposite direction from the man.
Shen Yunjin walked slowly. The night breeze blew pear blossoms across his vision, making it feel as if he were strolling leisurely. He pondered in secret, waiting for the cool night breeze to disperse his racing heartbeat.
Twinkling stars reflected in his eyes, and his heart felt as brilliant as the starlight.
Heavenly Compassion spoke up behind him: “You look very happy.”
“Hmm, indeed.”
Man and sword stepped through the starlight, travel-worn, and walked back to the Cloud-Hidden Hall.
The candlelight in Xie Weiyuan’s bedroom was still lit, casting a blurred silhouette on the window paper.
From this angle, Shen Yunjin could see the man’s slender chin and well-proportioned figure cast thinly upon the window.
Xie Weiyuan was flipping through a book.
The candlelight flickered, popping with a few crisp sounds. His gaze rested on the window paper, and for some reason, he stared foolishly for a long time…
The next morning, the clear light broke, and the lead-gray sky began to brighten.
Shen Yunjin swept away the fallen blossoms from the night in the courtyard.
He heard rustling movements from Xie Weiyuan’s bedroom and looked over to see the man walking out, his eyes still holding the ignorance of someone not yet fully awake.
“Did you go to collect your disciple uniform today?” Xie Weiyuan asked.
“Yes.”
Shen Yunjin had changed out of the black clothes and was wearing the apricot-yellow uniform of the Jiuyou Sect. He truly looked much more obedient, and he no longer seemed so gloomy, finally possessing the youthful spirit appropriate for his age.
Shen Yunjin blinked, his gaze falling on Xie Weiyuan’s collar.
It must be said that Xie Weiyuan was not a person who liked to be tightly bound in private.
Before he moved into the Cloud-Hidden Hall, the Xie Weiyuan he saw was rigid and stern at every moment; he always looked down on others with a disdainful gaze, as if the whole world was murky while he alone was pure.
But ever since he had entered this place, he often saw the man walking out in a casual thin robe, without even closing his collar tightly. It was worn loosely, revealing a small patch of collarbone and a white, delicate neck, filled with sleepy drowsiness and languid posture.
His gaze fell upon that patch of fair collarbone.
The Water Spiritual Root truly was nourishing.
He could even see the blue veins beneath that pale, translucent skin so frail, flawless, and perfect, igniting a desire to abuse.
Shen Yunjin wanted to leave red marks upon it, wanted to crush this beautiful jade, wanted to leave his own dirty fingerprints there.
He could perhaps do it; he was now about the same height as his Master, and the Master might not be able to break free of his strength. He could press this person onto the table, grinding against Xie Weiyuan with his own scorching fingertips, hurting this cold, haughty man little by little.
He no longer had to look up to that high-and-mighty Linghua-jun…
That was how he used to think; he no longer had to fear this person and could return every humiliation he had ever suffered, inch by inch.
His own fingertips could touch the Master’s lean face, could crush his wrists, could make the other person be controlled solely by him.
He would not be able to break free.
Xie Weiyuan frowned slightly: “What are you daydreaming about?”
A fallen flower petal landed on the white robe, unnoticeable, resting on Xie Weiyuan’s slender shoulder.
Shen Yunjin stepped forward and gently brushed the petal away.
“Master, there is a petal on your shoulder.”
Xie Weiyuan did not move away. He turned his eyes slightly, watching Shen Yunjin’s hand gently brush over his shoulder. Even through a layer of thin fabric, he could feel the scorching temperature.
The fire that had been extinguished last night reignited in the depths of his heart. Only then did he notice that they were standing much too close, so close that their breaths were merging, and he could even feel the other’s exhalations trembling against his neck, causing him to shiver all over.
Is this person made of fire? How can he be so hot…
He retreated half a step, his complexion still pale.
“Master, you…”
Shen Yunjin wanted to say more but was embarrassed and ashamed.
He didn’t know what the meaning of saying these things was, but he still wanted to tell Xie Weiyuan.
Yes, what is the meaning?
But it had been troubling him in his heart for a long time.
His hand rested uncomfortably against his own neck, and he turned his head away, his earlobes burning red.
“Master, today is my birthday.”
He regretted it as soon as the words left his lips. What if I said it? The Master is so cold and unfeeling; he surely wouldn’t care, nor would he acknowledge me.
But he still wanted to test him.
He wanted to see if Xie Weiyuan would say “Happy Birthday” to him.
Xie Weiyuan was a bit different now, perhaps…
He hoped for it, looking at the man’s ink-black hair tips.
He didn’t even dare to look at the man’s face, only studying his hair.
But after a long silence, neither of them spoke.
Without receiving a response for a long time, Shen Yunjin couldn’t help but feel regret. Would Xie Weiyuan think this had nothing to do with him? He was just an obscure disciple under his tutelage; why inform him of such a trivial birthday?
He was so cold, and he liked him so little; why would he say “Happy Birthday” for his sake?
I was overthinking it.
Shen Yunjin turned away, feeling lost and despondent.
Why wait for an answer I already knew before I even asked?
So, holding his broom, he said somewhat hurriedly: “Apologies, Master, I said it in passing. The courtyard floor isn’t finished; I will first…”
“No need to sweep; it doesn’t matter,” Xie Weiyuan said suddenly.
It doesn’t matter. You don’t need to apologize; it is just that I… I cannot say it.
He really wanted to cherish and care for Shen Yunjin like a younger brother, but he couldn’t express it on the surface; the System would restrict his actions, and he couldn’t even bring himself to say “Happy Birthday.”
If Shen Yunjin lived with him in a modern society, he would definitely take good care of him and give him his own warmth, bit by bit.
It was no big deal either way; he had always been that kind of person. Friends used to often say he was a “bleeding-heart saint” even if he were scratched by a stray cat or dog, he would continue to feed them.
When he first transmigrated, he often worried that he wouldn’t be able to play this role well and that people would see through his flaws.
In fact, that was true Xie Weiyuan truly was bad at acting.
He didn’t know why he felt this way, but his heart ached for this person. Shen Yunjin had already suffered too much, and he could only try his best to make his life a little better.
But he couldn’t say any more.
Shen Yunjin paused for another moment, but in the end, he never heard the words he had hoped for. He left in low spirits, the light in his eyes fading bit by bit.
As expected, Xie Weiyuan still doesn’t like me; he won’t even say a simple sentence like that.
Why did I have any expectations for this person?
For so many years, he had never received his Master’s pity; not beating him on his birthday was already a grace. Why be so sentimental, thinking this year would be different?
Anyway, I’m used to it.
Dappled sunlight filtered through the branches, leaving fragments of shadows on Xie Weiyuan. He watched the back of Shen Yunjin as he left, finally letting out a mournful sigh.
Why suffer such repression?