Within three days, Wenfeng Tower issued a Jade Decree, co-signed by the most esteemed cultivators across the Five Continents, laying bare the truth of the past for all the world to see.
In an instant, the Five Continents were thrown into an uproar. People marveled at the revelation; some were skeptical, some half-believing, and others spun various conspiracy theories. Regardless, the deep-seated prejudice against the Guifang demon cultivators began to show the faintest signs of fracturing.
Gui Ning’s cultivation had completely dissipated. Shang Yanfeng escorted him back to Rizhao Mountain. Initially, Zhou Fugue and the others had wanted to stay at Lveyue Tower with Ming Zhu, but he had driven them all away, refusing to let a single person remain.
Before leaving, Zhou Fugue was incredibly unsettled. He tugged at Ming Zhu’s sleeve without a word, his face a mask of displeasure.
Seeing him sulking like a child, Ming Zhu smiled. "What is it?"
Zhou Fugue said sullenly, "I want to stay with you."
Ming Zhu looked at him strangely. "Have the injuries Yanfeng gave you already healed?"
Zhou Fugue: "..."
Ming Zhu laughed and said, "Alright, alright. It’s not as if I’m never coming back. Once Na Lian and I return to Guifang to settle things, I’ll head straight back to Rizhao."
He lifted his hand, showing the red thread wound around his pinky. "We have the Concentric Knot, don't we? Are you afraid I’ll run away?"
Zhou Fugue still frowned, and only after a long bout of coaxing from Ming Zhu did he reluctantly follow Shang Yanfeng and the others.
Even after they had walked a great distance, Zhou Fugue kept looking back, his face full of longing.
Watching from the side, Shang Yanfeng and the others felt their teeth ache from the sheer sweetness of it. They felt these two were simply too clingy; a moment’s separation was like snapping a lotus root while the fibers remained connected. Looking at Zhou Fugue’s gaze, it was as if he wanted to glue himself to Ming Zhu and never be peeled away.
Shang Yanfeng said irritably, "That’s enough, stop looking. Get on the Sky-Kite."
Zhou Fugue continued to look back.
Shang Yanfeng took a deep breath, his fists clenched tight. He ground out through his teeth, "Look back one more time and see what happens."
Zhou Fugue touched his still-bruised midsection and coldly forced himself to look away, his face clouded with gloom.
Shang Yanfeng said in disbelief, "You... no, what are you acting aggrieved for? You brat, you dared to harbor such thoughts toward our Eldest Senior Brother—an act of insubordination I haven't even fully settled with you yet. Now that you’ve actually gotten what you wanted, how do you have the face to look miserable?"
Zhou Fugue remained silent, but he felt aggrieved nonetheless.
Shang Yanfeng was so angry he clutched his chest, nearly fainting.
Lu Qingkong hurried over to smooth things over, patting his fifth senior brother’s back. "Hey, hey, don't be angry, don't be angry. There will be plenty of time to be angry later; no need to rush it all now. Fifth Senior Brother, please calm down."
Shang Yanfeng: "..."
Shang Yanfeng hadn't been that angry initially, but after this foolish junior brother’s "consolation," he was nearly fuming with the Samadhi True Fire.
Lu Qingkong brought out the Sky-Kite, and everyone boarded. It wobbled as it ascended into the sky, soon vanishing into a tiny speck.
Only then did Ming Zhu withdraw his gaze. He pulled his heavy cloak tighter, lowered his pale lashes, and asked softly, "Where is Yi Fuju now?"
Na Lian stood behind him and replied, "He’s already gone mad. Where else could he go? He is still at Rizhao Mountain, of course."
Ming Zhu’s eyes lost focus as he stared into the void, murmuring, "He... he’s mad. Then what will become of Fuhua?"
He vaguely remembered that years ago on the Sky-Kite, Ming Fuhua seemed to have deep feelings for Yi Fuju.
Na Lian said, somewhat speechlessly, "I say, Yi Fuju ruined you and turned you into what you are today, yet you’re still worried about him? Are you humans all this fond of returning good for evil?"
Ming Zhu recalled the moment his wrist was severed and he fell toward the Sun-Shading Cliff. That always elegant and steady man had been covered in tears, his hand gripping the blade trembling violently, and that soul-tearing cry...
*"I'm sorry..."*
Ming Zhu said softly, "He was right."
Na Lian didn't quite hear him. "What?"
"At that time, what he did was the absolutely correct choice," Ming Zhu murmured. "If it had been anyone else—even Master—they might have preferred to sacrifice everyone else just to save me, even though I was doomed. Only Yi Fuju... no matter the circumstances, he is always the calmest, the one capable of making the best choice."
Na Lian didn't understand at all what these foolish humans were being so sentimental about all day. However, seeing Ming Zhu’s dazed state, he didn't want to say anything to spoil the mood. He changed the subject: "By the way, I have a lead on the matter you asked me to investigate."
Ming Zhu blinked, finally turning his gaze toward him.
Na Lian said, "About ten years ago, the Master of Wenfeng Tower received news of him."
Ming Zhu’s eyes suddenly trembled, and his lips began to shake slightly.
Na Lian looked at him with a complex expression. After a long silence, he spoke.
"Ming Zhao. In the seventy-fifth year of the Chang'an era, in a certain secret realm..."
Ming Zhu’s body gave a sudden jolt.
Na Lian said softly, "...He fell."
"Not even his bones remained."
Ming Zhu froze in place. He stood expressionless for a moment before suddenly pitching forward, his body crashing unexpectedly into Na Lian.
He gripped Na Lian’s arms tightly. Then, as if his body could no longer support itself, he slowly slid down against Na Lian’s sleeves until he was crouching on the ground.
Na Lian looked down at him and said softly, "I had already found out when we arrived at Lveyue Tower, but I didn't tell you then, fearing you wouldn't be able to bear it."
Ming Zhu’s hands deathly gripped Na Lian’s cuffs. His head was bowed, his shoulders shaking, and after a long time, a low sob escaped him.
In truth, when Ming Zhao’s name was absent from those one hundred and thirty-seven invitations, Ming Zhu had already guessed his end. Back then, Ming Zhao had personally struck Na Lian down the Sun-Shading Cliff. Given Na Lian’s vengeful nature, how could he have spared Ming Zhao alone?
Even though he knew, Ming Zhu had been avoiding the truth, not daring to face it. It wasn't until this moment that Na Lian cruelly cut it open, laying the bloody facts before him, making even the act of breathing feel like agony.
"Why... why..." Ming Zhu desperately suppressed his sobs, struggling to speak. "Why did he fall? What... what was he doing in a secret realm?"
Na Lian said, "Likely searching for a divine artifact capable of resurrection."
Resurrection?
Ming Zhu was stunned. Then, from his dust-covered memories, a sentence Ming Zhao had once said suddenly surfaced.
*"The one I want to resurrect has never been Su Yan."*
That sentence carried so much meaning, but at the time, Ming Zhu’s heart had been blinded by anger and hatred. He had completely ignored its significance. Thinking back now...
Back then, Ming Zhao had traveled across the Five Continents because he had already foreseen Ming Zhu’s fate to die at the Sun-Shading Cliff. Was he trying to save him?
And when he and Ming Zhao had laid everything bare, he hadn't even been able to say "I'm sorry," nor had he been able to earnestly call him "Father."
Ming Zhu’s hands dropped. He hugged his knees, curling into a tighter ball.
Na Lian gently patted his shoulder, unsure of how to comfort him. After thinking for a moment, he couldn't help but say, "Perhaps this was his retribution. Besides, even if he hadn't died then, I would have killed him later anyway. Try to look on the bright side."
Ming Zhu: "..."
*Is this how you comfort someone?*
The grief that had consumed Ming Zhu was instantly halved by Na Lian’s words. He lifted his tear-streaked eyes to stare at Na Lian. His gaze was incredibly complex—filled with disbelief, shock, and a sudden urge to beat him to death.
Na Lian looked back at him with total innocence. Ming Zhu rubbed his brow, feeling that further communication with Na Lian was impossible. He stood up, composed his complicated emotions, and then asked, "Then... where is Hong... Hong Chuan buried?"
Na Lian said, "The Shen family took him back to Jianglou for burial. We can stop by there after we finish our business."
Ming Zhu nodded, his expression slightly somber.
The matter of Wenfeng Tower spreading the news was handled entirely by Nan Qinghe of Lveyue Tower. Na Lian didn't bother with it further, though he felt that the lad seemed to have improper intentions toward his younger brother. He needed to take Xi Chu away from him quickly.
Na Lian was naturally the type to burn bridges once they were crossed. He settled the affairs of Lveyue Tower with swift decisiveness and gave Nan Qinghe a pile of treasures that were priceless across the Five Continents as a reward for his hard work.
However, when Nan Qinghe received those rare treasures that others would beg for, he didn't look moved at all. He merely glanced softly at the little fox nestled in Na Lian’s arms, who was looking around curiously. He said in a low voice, "Is Xi Chu going with you as well? Guifang hasn't been rebuilt yet, and his body is weak. Isn't traveling around like this..."
Na Lian immediately became wary. "I will look after my own brother. I won't let him suffer. You needn't worry."
Nan Qinghe looked dejected, his eyes fixed on Xi Chu.
Xi Chu looked at the person before him with curiosity. Thinking of something, he placed his two small paws on Na Lian’s arm and gave a soft cry toward Nan Qinghe.
Xi Chu’s voice was thin and tender, incredibly soft. Only then did Nan Qinghe manage a faint smile. "Then you must take good care of him..."
Seeing his lovestruck expression made Na Lian’s teeth ache. He hurriedly muttered a few words of farewell and fled.
Xi Chu looked up at the defensive Na Lian and gave a small yip.
Na Lian’s jaw tightened as he said seriously, "In the future, don't talk to strange people, do you hear me?"
Xi Chu tilted his head. "Ma?"
Na Lian scolded, "Do you hear me?!"
Xi Chu extended a small paw pad and pressed it against the back of Na Lian’s hand. Only then did Na Lian feel relieved, pulling his brother close to give him several kisses.
"Good boy."
Ming Zhu had already packed his things and was waiting at the entrance of Lveyue Tower. Seeing Na Lian’s doting, almost obsessive expression as he held Xi Chu, his lips twitched. "How are we getting to Guifang?"
Na Lian said, "I previously had people seize several Sky-Kites in Shou'an. I’ve already sent everyone ahead to Guifang to scout the situation. There’s one spare left outside the city; we’ll take that one."
Ming Zhu gave an "um" and followed him as they strolled out of the city. From a distance, he saw the Sky-Kite parked on the wasteland.
Ming Zhu seemed to realize something and suddenly asked, "Wait. You said you sent everyone else ahead. Then who is going to pilot this Sky-Kite?"
Na Lian looked at him with a strange expression. "Me, of course."
Without hesitation, Ming Zhu turned around and started walking away.
Na Lian quickly grabbed his sleeve, saying repeatedly, "Hey, hey, hey! Where are you going?"
Ming Zhu said expressionlessly, "I’m afraid of falling to my death."
Na Lian: "..."
*This kid... what kind of way is that to talk?*
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
--- | --- | ---
同心结 | Concentric Knot | A symbolic knot representing union and shared hearts; often used as a magical bond between lovers.
行鸢 | Sky-Kite | A kite-shaped magical vessel used for aerial transportation.
降娄 | Jianglou | A geographical location/region.
南清河 | Nan Qinghe | A character associated with Lveyue Tower.
奚楚 | Xi Chu | Na Lian's younger brother, currently in the form of a small fox.
三昧真火 | Samadhi True Fire | A powerful, spiritual fire in Chinese mythology/cultivation.
首安 | Shou'an | A city or location name.
