"So, he was the one who brought Da Shixiong to the place where we were locked up?" Luo Cheng asked. Yu Lingyu shook his head. Wu Xuan had already briefly told him what had happened.
"Damn. Didn't you have another pet than this brat?" San Jie sighed. His face was full of disgust and fear.
"Yu Shidi, it's time to say goodbye to your father." Wu Xuan said loudly. Everyone, including the Juyao disciples, looked face to face.
"Father?"
"What father?"
"How do I know?"
Yu Lingyu felt his face turn red. That damn Wu Xuan!
"Go to the peak for now. I'll be back soon. Oh, and one more thing, they didn't lock me." Yu Lingyu patted San Jie on the shoulder and prepared to leave. "Beware of that man." San Jie said turning to Wu Xuan. But at the same time, he was forced to jump aside again, moaning, as the Weasel pounced on Yu Lingyu's shoulder. "That bored bastard!"
Yu Lingyu ran up the stairs again. Looking over his shoulder, Wu Xuan winked at Hu Mao and greeted him with a smile. "Let's go." He turned back with a happy face.
Yu Lingyu "....."
The two of them walked up the hill. Throughout that time, Yu Lingyu met many Juyao disciples, including those practicing meditation, those practicing swordsmanship, and groups spending their free time. They all bowed slightly to Xuan.
Further up, in the middle of a blue pool, a young woman rested in the lotus position, floating just above the water. Below her, the water in the pond rippled and responded to the steady rhythm of her breathing.
"Shiniang!" Wu Xuan bowed slightly and greeted her. "Ah-Xuan what are you doing here?" she asked, still not opening her eyes. Yu Lingyu looked at her slightly. With perfect eyelashes and long silky hair, she must surely be Mr. Shi's wife.
"Shiniang, I want you to meet someone."
The woman, who was silent for a while, opened her eyes. She had blue eyes that were as clear as water. "Ms. Shi!" Yu Lingyu greeted as he saw her gaze fixed on him. Rising slowly, she stepped on the water and came to the land.
"Come with me." She said that and climbed the steps next to the pond and entered the stone-made building - her cabin. Around the chamber were numerous herbs and the inside of the chamber was very simple and spacious. She reached out to the cushions around a small table and motioned for them to sit there.
"Ah-Xuan who is this young man you want me to meet?" she asked, giving Lingyu a small smile. "You're from Jun Peak."
"Nice to see you, Ms. Shi. I'm Yu Jiang Fei of Jun Peak." Yu Lingyu only used his courtesy name when necessary. Therefore, there were not many people who knew the name Jiang Fei. Mrs. Shi nodded her head and welcomed him.
"shiniang, can you examine him?" Wu Xuan humbly asked. Mrs. Shi was one of the best doctors from Lian Sect, yet Yu Lingyu could not understand what needed to be examined.
Mrs. Shi looked at Wu Xuan and smiled. After her husband, it was only Xuan who could make such a request from her. Taking Yu Lingyu's right hand, she gently checked his pulse.
"Hmm." She continued to examine him until about half of the incense stick was burnt. "There's nothing wrong with him." She finally said, letting go of Lingyu's hand. "But-" She started to say something but stopped herself.
"Ah-Xuan can I have a little talk with you." It was like asking Yu Lingyu to leave the room. He greeted Mrs. Shi and hurriedly stepped outside.
"Is there something wrong Shiniang?" Wu Xuan asked after Yu Lingyu left.
"What's your relationship with him, Ah-Xuan? I've never seen you close to anyone before." Mrs. Shi asked, placing her hands together on the table.
"Nothing special, he's just- I'm a little curious about him. That's all." Wu Xuan replied, matching his words. The smell of sandalwood in the cabin wafted through his body.
"He has an inner wound that hasn't healed. I can't really figure out what it is. Something that's buried deep in his soul." Mrs. Shi said.
"But Shiniang, is it that dangerous?" Wu Xuan asked. He had recognized it before, but still needed to confirm it. Why exactly he was bothering about Yu Lingyu, he also wants to know.
"It's very strange. The injury affects his soul. If he uses his spiritual power without proper care, it could be dangerous for his soul."
"Is there a way to cure it?"
"Sorry Ah-Xuan I'm afraid I can't help but why don't you go meet my shizun in Lian sect? He'll surely have an answer."
"Thanks for the advice Shiniang, but I have one more thing to ask you. His soul is already damaged, isn't it?" Wu Xuan asked in a low voice.
Mrs. Shi slowly shook her head while looking at Wu Xuan who was silent for a while.
"I don't know what that kid went through, but it must have damaged his soul beyond repair. I have no idea how his soul is going to be in one piece again, but it could break at any moment."
"If he is an Ancient God, can it be done? Collect the broken soul?" Wu Xuan asked, furrowing his brows.
"Gods can. Heavenly demons can too. But Ah-Xuan that kid doesn't even have the inner strength of a normal meditator. He's not a god."
With Mrs. Shi's statement, a slight smile appeared at the corner of Wu Xuan's mouth. He already knew that Yu Lingyu was hiding his true spiritual strength with the mask. After thanking Mrs. Shi, he flew over to Yu Lingyu who was studying herbs outside.
"Let's go meet my shizun. Remember, just say what I said." Warning Lingyu, Wu Xuan hurried down the stairs.
****
"Yu Shidi, what do you think of Juyao Peak?" Wu Xuan asked on the way back from meeting Mr.Shi. Yu Lingyu went to see Mr. Shi out of fear, but he did not question Lingyu that much. "it is good." Yu Lingyu, who was conscious of what happened in the forest, said.
"Your name is Yu Jiang Fei? I haven't heard before." Unnerved by Yu Lingyu's short answers, Wu Xuan asked as if to start a discussion again. "I'm sure no one else knew it before except for my shizun and Da Shixiong."
Wu Xuan rolled his eyes. "It's Da Shixiong again." He snorted slowly.
"What?" Yu Lingyu asked, coming to his senses. "Did you say something?"
"Why don't you tell me a little about your past?" Wu Xuan made a request. With his hands tied behind his back, he diligently monitored Yu Lingyu.
"My past," Yu Lingyu muttered as he gazed at the landscape of the Juyao Mountains. "I'm from Yue Village. You know, it's the birthplace of Heavenly Devil Yue Ling." Yu Lingyu said with a slight smile as the wind blew his hair. "I don't remember much about my parents. If Shizun hadn't taken me in, I would have starved to death."
Wu Xuan listened carefully but did not say anything. "Boring isn't it?" Yu Lingyu asked with a blushing face when he saw that Wu Xuan did not answer.
"No. Not at all. I was wondering what you thought of Yue Ling as a resident of Yue Village?"
Yu Lingyu stared at Wu Xuan, who was slightly silent. "I have not met him personally, so I dare not judge his character. Hmmm, but if you ask me, I think he is a respectable and noble man." A smile tugged at the corner of Wu Xuan's mouth.
"Nobal? Yu Shidi do you know that you are talking about a devil now."
"Of course, I know. There are good and bad people and there are demons, both good and bad."
"And God? Do you think there are good and bad gods?"
"Yes, there is."
"Example?"
"Fengshen."
Wu Xuan was stunned for a moment. "Fengshen? Bad?" He couldn't believe it. "Wind lord is a kind soul. Yu Shidi, don't say that in front of a Fengshen temple."
Yu Lingyu smiled.
"Well, I guess if Wu Shixiong says, he's not bad."
Wu Xuan stared at the hazel eyes that appeared from within the mask for a moment. He could not understand what he was thinking. "So, why does Yu Shidi think he's bad?" Wu Xuan asked as he started walking again. They were passing the large Stone buildings and would soon reach the entrance gate.
"He cheated on his love. That's why he's bad, isn't he?" Yu Lingyu said with a sigh.
"Hmm. I haven't heard that story. Why did he do that?" Wu Xuan asked, looking at Yu Lingyu as he walked.
"I do not know." Yu Lingyu replied after thinking for a while.
"So, you don't know that. He must have had a reason. We can't judge anything by looking at the surface alone." Wu Xuan said as he finally reached the gate. "You think so? That there must be a valid reason?" They both slowly started down the stairs. Yu Lingyu seemed to forget Wei Yunhe for a moment.
"I can't go, Da Shixiong-"
"I already told him. I told him I would escort you to Jun Peak so he must have already left." Wu Xuan said, looking at the scorching midday sun. His eyes were shining in the sunlight. As soon as he got to know him personally, Yu Lingyu realized that Wu Xuan was different from what he thought. There were thousands of young women everywhere, scrambling to even catch a glimpse of Xuan, but he never turned around. Yu Lingyu was inwardly burning inside at this extraordinary affection Xuan was showing to him.
They walked slowly towards the starting steps of Jun Peak in silence. Even then, Yu Lingyu could tell that Wei Yunhe, San Jie, and others were already approaching them from the bottom of the stairs. A small smile appeared on his face. Wei Yunhe always reminded him of his brother He Yu. He Yu, who was always waiting for him with a smiling face.
"Then we leave our goodbye here." Yu Lingyu said as he stopped where he was, facing Wu Xuan. "Fine. No problem. Your parents don't like me anyway."
"If you pair Da Shixiong and San Shidi, I'm afraid the entire Jun Peak will be against it." Yu Lingyu said with a smile.
"Because they all pair San Shidi and Shen Shidi. They always killing each other like a married couple."
Wu Xuan "..."
"So that's bad. Who is this Shen Shidi? I can't let your father to be stolen by someone like that."
Yu Lingyu and Wu Xuan stared at each other for a while. But at the same time, both of them burst into laughter as the people standing at the foot of the steps were stunned. It was the first time that Yu Lingyu saw Wu Xuan with a smile on his face. Before, he was only used to smirking and rolling his eyes.
"Ah, I'll go now. But Wu Shixiong," Yu Lingyu took a few steps forward and said with a smile. "I suggest that you worship Huoshen instead for Fengshen." he said slowly.
"Fire God He Yu is truly a good person."
"He Yu," Wu Xuan muttered as he still stood watching Yu Lingyu leave.
"But what can you do, Yu Shidi?"
"I like Zi Feng!"