Xuan Yang’s eagerness to share his secret news took a sharp downturn after Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong left him hanging for half the night. It was only after total darkness had fallen that the two finally finished tidying up the room. Xuan Yang entered, looking thoroughly disgruntled.
"If I’d known, I would have requested a separate room!" Xuan Yang grumbled.
Zhai Bairong, well aware that they had been a bit too unrestrained and had left Xuan Yang waiting outside, couldn't help but cough awkwardly. He cast a sidelong glance at Nie Shiyun.
Nie Shiyun said helplessly, "You’re such a big bird now; you should have started living on your own long ago! But have you forgotten? You’re technically still in 'seclusion' and aren't supposed to be out."
Upon hearing this, Xuan Yang wilted, slumping dejectedly into an armchair. He had lost every bit of the refined young master aura he had displayed outside.
Zhai Bairong had noticed long ago that while Nie Shiyun and Xuan Yang were experts at putting on an intimidating front in public, they revealed their true colors the moment doors were closed. Neither of them could sit straight, leaning against whatever was available. Just as Xuan Yang was currently draped over the armchair, Nie Shiyun was in a similar state, leaning lazily against Zhai Bairong.
Such a poor environment had not corrupted Zhai Bairong, however. He still sat upright and proper on the edge of the bed. Seeing Xuan Yang’s lack of spirit, he offered a few words of encouragement: "The reason we required you to go into seclusion and avoid people is that you’re already over twenty, yet you still look like you’re barely in your early teens. Once you reach the Nascent Soul stage in a few years, it will be easier to explain away."
After reaching the Qi Refining stage, a cultivator’s aging process slowed down. Once they reached the Nascent Soul stage, they could maintain their youthful appearance forever, or even revert to a younger look—the so-called "returning to youth" was entirely possible.
Xuan Yang’s physical growth was slow. Nie Shiyun could fool the people of Yunqing Pavilion for a few years, but as time passed, he worried that word would leak out and attract unwanted curiosity. Thus, many years ago, he had put Xuan Yang into "seclusion," restricting his cultivation and activities to the back mountains. Only a few people knew the truth, while most disciples of Yunqing Pavilion felt a mix of sympathy and relief. They felt sympathy because Xuan Yang was a Golden Core cultivator at such a young bone age yet was held to such high standards; they felt relief because... the front mountains were much quieter after he went into seclusion! The disciples were finally free from the occasional chaos he caused.
"Just wait a few more years. A twenty-something Nascent Soul cultivator is already eye-catching enough," Nie Shiyun added.
"You’re going to bore me to death!" Xuan Yang nearly slammed the table in protest. However, remembering the few times he had accompanied Nie Shiyun and encountered Deity Transformation cultivators, that indisputable and powerful pressure made even the once-fearless him tremble. He still harbored a lingering fear that if his true form were exposed, he would be turned into phoenix soup or phoenix meatballs...
"You two better hurry up and reach the Deity Transformation stage so you can protect me," Xuan Yang said, propping up his head and making a very unceremonious declaration.
"We can't protect you forever," Zhai Bairong said with a smile. Though his tone was gentle, Xuan Yang could sense an underlying firmness. He pouted but did not argue.
*Staying by their side isn't so bad. If it were anyone else, they’d be begging me to stay!* Xuan Yang grumbled inwardly.
"Never mind that. I have a huge secret to tell you!"
Hearing Xuan Yang’s mysterious tone, neither of them showed much interest. They simply said, "Let’s hear it."
Xuan Yang was dissatisfied with their attitude. He tossed his head and said, "You think I’ll just say it because you asked? Show some sincerity!"
Nie Shiyun casually tossed him a spirit fruit from his spatial ring.
"That’s not what I meant! I’m talking about your attitude!" Xuan Yang flared up in anger, but he still reflexively caught the fruit and refused to give it back.
Nie Shiyun gave Zhai Bairong a helpless look, his eyes seemingly saying, *I told you he’s going through puberty.*
"Hasn't the Yingyue Sect been searching for Duan Mingyu all this time? I know where he is," Xuan Yang huffed proudly, watching their reactions out of the corner of his eye.
Sure enough, as soon as those words left his mouth, the two who had been indifferent suddenly snapped to attention. Their gazes shifted instantly.
"Really?"
"How do you know?"
Although they no longer had any connection to Duan Mingyu, they had always been curious about where he had hidden. Five years ago, Rong Lü had suddenly appeared, but before any information could be gathered, he was gone. Everyone assumed that without Rong Lü’s protection, Duan Mingyu would soon have nowhere to hide, yet several years had passed without a trace.
Zhai Bairong did not want Duan Mingyu to be caught. Aside from his inability to accept the Yingyue Sect’s inhumane methods, he had his own plans. After advancing to the Nascent Soul stage, he had left Qu Zhanmeng’s tutelage and taken up a position as an independent elder. On the surface, he remained very respectful toward Qu Zhanmeng and did not take on any disciples of his own. Qu Zhanmeng felt this reflected well on him and treated Zhai Bairong with much more warmth.
Gradually, Zhai Bairong discovered that while Qu Zhanmeng spoke of loyalty, he was not actually putting much effort into working for the Ancestor above. After a bit of thought, Zhai Bairong understood. The Ancestor almost never left his secluded grotto, and rumor had it his lifespan was nearing its end. Among the Nascent Soul elders, Qu Zhanmeng held the highest status. If the Ancestor passed away, the benefits Qu Zhanmeng would reap would be far easier to obtain than the effort required to painstakingly find a Heavenly Yin Physique for him.
In any case, given the Yingyue Sect’s foundation, the death of the Ancestor would not significantly shake the sect’s roots. On the contrary, if the internal factional struggles intensified afterward, no one would be left to bother him. Thinking this way, Zhai Bairong felt the situation was quite favorable.
Neither of them had any idea where Duan Mingyu had gone. However, since Xuan Yang hadn't mentioned it before and suddenly brought it up today, Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong had already guessed that this matter must be closely linked to the mortal realm. Seeing Xuan Yang’s expectant and proud expression, the two shared a look and patiently questioned him with great sincerity, asking for his enlightenment.
Only then did Xuan Yang feel satisfied. After teasing them for a bit longer, he couldn't keep it in any longer and poured out the entire story of his encounter with Duan Mingyu like beans spilling from a bag.
The two fell into a long silence after listening, clearly having never expected such an outcome.
They had speculated that Duan Mingyu might have fled to the mortal realm. The Yingyue Sect had even sent disciples here a few years ago, and local prominent families had been notified to keep an eye out for him. But if Duan Mingyu had lost his spiritual root over a decade ago and could no longer cultivate, and his appearance had completely changed, how were those families supposed to find news of a mere commoner?
"If it weren't for his scent, I wouldn't have recognized him... He’s become so old," Xuan Yang said, puzzled. "By the way, is it really impossible to recover once a spiritual root is shattered?"
"Of course not. But in the mortal realm, it might as well be. The pills required to repair a spiritual root are high-grade Spirit-rank pills. Forget mortals; even average cultivators can't afford them. And even if it is repaired, once your cultivation has dissipated, you have to start training all over again," Nie Shiyun, who now knew a great deal, explained to Xuan Yang on Zhai Bairong’s behalf.
Seeing Xuan Yang’s lingering fear, Zhai Bairong comforted him: "You don't need to worry. Generally, damaged spiritual roots can be fixed. A complete shattering is a fatal injury."
Nie Shiyun took the opportunity to chime in: "It’s different once you reach the Nascent Soul stage. Even if you suffer a fatal injury, your Nascent Soul can escape. It’s worlds apart from the Golden Core stage. Well? Do you feel motivated to cultivate and advance now?"
Lately, Xuan Yang had indeed become lax with his cultivation. Hearing this, he couldn't help but swallow hard, a sense of crisis rising within him.
"I think I have heard that Nascent Soul is a major hurdle..." Xuan Yang murmured.
Nie Shiyun gave Zhai Bairong a confident smile. When it came to hoodwinking kids, he was a professional.
Afterward, a thoughtful Xuan Yang entered the jade pendant space to cultivate. Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong remained outside, drinking tea and chatting.
Even though Duan Mingyu had been out of their sight for a long time, hearing that he had met such a pitiable end left both of them feeling somewhat complicated.
If he could have lived out his life as a mortal without worries, that would have been one thing. But it seemed Duan Mingyu had never truly woken up. Everyone around him had left, yet he remained immersed in the dreams of the past, refusing to change.
"Should we go take a quiet look? He probably hasn't gone far," Nie Shiyun asked.
"Of course not," Zhai Bairong replied immediately.
Nie Shiyun laughed. "It was just a question. You don't have to be so guarded, do you?"
Zhai Bairong glanced at him, neither confirming nor denying. Nie Shiyun didn't actually feel jealous of Duan Mingyu. To put it bluntly, no one understood the cause and effect of those past events better than Nie Shiyun, who had read the original book and knew the will of the heavens. But occasionally, when Duan Mingyu was mentioned, Nie Shiyun liked to pretend to be jealous. As for why—he knew exactly what he was doing.
"It’s better not to go, lest he clings to us again if he finds out. It would only invite trouble," Zhai Bairong said helplessly.
Knowing that Duan Mingyu’s life would likely end in the mortal realm, and at the very least, he wouldn't be taken back by the Yingyue Sect, was enough. As for how Duan Mingyu would face reality in his remaining days, now that even his last shred of hope was gone, it had nothing to do with Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong.
From that day on, Duan Mingyu’s whereabouts were never known to anyone again.
"I’ll listen to you," Nie Shiyun stretched, changing the subject. "This round trip has taken quite a bit of time. By the time we get back to Yunqing Pavilion, that little girl will probably be talking, won't she?"
Before they set out, Xuan’er’s child could only babble. She had once accidentally called out "Ba-ba," which moved Du Zhi so much he burst into tears on the spot. Qi Miaohan refused to be outdone, obsessively trying to get the child to learn "Auntie," but the six-month-old gave her no face at all, remaining silent and making her stomp her feet in frustration. It was hard on Qi Xuan’er; with a husband and an older sister who were both like children, she could only stand by, caught between laughter and tears.
The immortal ship took about a month for a round trip. Perhaps by the time they returned, Qi Miaohan would have succeeded. Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong couldn't help but chuckle at the thought.
The next day, the cultivators took the children who had said their goodbyes to their families and boarded the immortal ship to return to the cultivation world.
***
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Transmigrated into a Total Shou Novel as a Cannon Fodder, but Ended Up 1v1-ing the Male Lead | Chapter 130 | A Final Glimpse of the Past | Novela.app | Novela.app
