After Forgetting Two Exes - Chapter 13

Fortunately, Zhong Ling had not misled them further; they learned that there was a Zhong Family Village at the foot of the Northern Mountains in Yongzhou. Ji Xun Yue and Xuan Huai immediately rushed there.

Each riding a horse, they pressed on while asking for directions. As time dragged on, the worry etched between Ji Xun Yue’s brows grew deeper. Although she was grateful for Xuan Huai’s constant comfort along the way, her mind remained a chaotic mess.

“Master, if Zhong Ling happens to,”

She steadied herself, refusing to finish the pessimistic thought. She knew that since Zhong Ling had made up her mind, she likely left herself no way back, but how could she stand by and watch her junior sister’s soul perish and her path end in dust?

These twenty days were but a blink of an eye compared to her thousands of years of life, yet she had felt an immediate kinship with Zhong Ling. The girl’s naive innocence stirred her affection, making her instinctively want to make up for the debt she owed her own sister through Zhong Ling.

The pain of being unable to save her closest kin and the powerlessness of being on the verge of repeating the same mistake intertwined in her heart like a surging whirlpool, gradually engulfing her entire being.

A sudden, sharp pain pierced her head, causing her hands to lose their strength. She released the reins, and her body tilted to the side.

At the moment she was about to fall from the horse, Ji Xun Yue snapped awake. She habitually flicked her fingers to summon spiritual power to protect herself, only to remember it was unusable during the trial. By the time she tried to grab the reins again, her hands had no strength left.

The horse was galloping at full speed; this fall would likely cost her half her life. Yet, she felt surprisingly little fear. Was it because the Immortal Realm had miraculous pills, or did she simply feel that someone would save her?

In the next instant, someone pulled her into a tight embrace. A faint, elegant fragrance reached her nose—one she felt she had smelled somewhere before.

“Xuan—”

She had only uttered half of Xuan Huai’s name before he fell to the ground with her in his arms. He timely activated his spiritual power to wrap around them, shielding them from the violent impact, though they still rolled twice on the ground.

Ji Xun Yue was cradled in his arms, her head buried against his chest; she could even feel his rapid heartbeat. His embrace brought her a strange sense of peace. Her thoughts drifted back to the time he was drunk; his room had been filled with this exact same incense.

“A-Yue, what is wrong?”

Xuan Huai’s voice sounded above her head, but it seemed very distant.

A-Yue? Why call me so intimately?

For some reason, her head hurt even more. She tried to remember something, but her mind only went blanker. Xuan Huai helped her sit up, his hand supporting her back to keep her from collapsing.

They were very close. Ji Xun Yue looked up at him in a daze, seeing for the first time such undisguised concern and worry on Xuan Huai’s face, along with emotions she couldn’t quite decipher.

“My head hurts,” she whispered.

It hurt so much she couldn’t think; she clenched her fists, wanting to strike her own skull. Her vision darkened, and large patches of blood appeared. She followed the trail of blood upward and saw the lifeless body of Ji Ling Yin.

She instinctively murmured her sister’s name. Then, she saw Ji Ling Yin open her eyes, a familiar smile blossoming on her pale face. Those similar features, that familiar smile—she had seen them somewhere else. Ji Ling Yin opened her mouth to say something, but there was no sound.

“Zhong Ling…” Ji Xun Yue identified the mouth shapes. A wave of dizziness hit her, making it almost impossible to breathe.

A warm, gentle surge of spiritual power entered her body, traveling through her limbs and gradually soothing her agitation. Surprisingly, she did not reject this power. Like being pulled from the water just as she was about to drown, Ji Xun Yue gasped for air and coughed violently as the pain in her head slowly receded.

She opened her eyes to see white fabric embroidered with elegant patterns. Moving her fingers, she realized both her hands were tightly gripping Xuan Huai’s sleeves. She hadn’t realized when she had buried her head on his shoulder, and Xuan Huai was holding her gently, one hand pressed below the back of her neck to transfer spiritual energy.

When she looked up, she met Xuan Huai’s worried eyes. His brow was slightly knit, and his expression was tense, devoid of his usual icy demeanor. His blatant concern left her in a daze.

He had saved her. He was her rival, but also the master who cared for and protected her.

Ji Xun Yue pulled back slightly and steadied herself. “Thank you, Master.”

Xuan Huai withdrew his hand. “Why the sudden discomfort?”

Ji Xun Yue lowered her eyes and whispered, “An old ailment. My head often hurts when I am emotionally agitated.”

It was a lingering effect from an injury sustained during the War of Gods and Demons, but it had usually just been a simple headache. This was the first time it had been so severe.

Ji Xun Yue tried to stand but found herself weak. It was only with Xuan Huai supporting her firmly that she managed to stand steady. There was no time for formal thanks; she had to stop Zhong Ling.

“I am fine, Master. We must hurry.”

“Good,” Xuan Huai replied briefly. “I will lift you onto the horse.”

Ji Xun Yue did not refuse. Subsequently, Xuan Huai flipped onto the horse, sitting behind her. She remained silent, watching his hands as they reached around her to hold the reins. She was completely enveloped in that mysterious, faint fragrance.

“Sit steady,” his crisp voice sounded behind her.

Ji Xun Yue nodded gently. With a neigh from the horse, they galloped away. The forest path was rugged and uneven, making her sway. She had intentionally leaned forward to keep a distance from Xuan Huai, but the jolting made it impossible to maintain her strength. She unconsciously leaned back until her back was almost pressed against his chest. The fragrance seemed to grow stronger.

Pine Mist Incense.

The phrase suddenly popped into her head. It seemed to be the name of the incense Xuan Huai used. But she had never used Pine Mist Incense; why would such a thought occur to her?

At the Entrance of Zhong Family Village

Fang Qingchen and Shen Zhi Yao were about to leave, but there was no sign of Zhong Ling. Ji Xun Yue, having regained her strength, shouted loudly, “Shen Zhi Yao!”

Upon seeing her, Shen Zhi Yao’s eyes widened, and she hurriedly looked at her own master. Fang Qingchen tilted his head slightly, closed his folding fan, and swept his gaze over them with a natural composure.

Ignoring the hand Xuan Huai reached out to help her dismount, Ji Xun Yue jumped down on her own and ran to Shen Zhi Yao, grabbing her arm. “Where is Zhong Ling?”

Shen Zhi Yao frowned in pain. “What are you doing! Let me go!”

Ji Xun Yue raised her voice, wanting to snap the girl’s arm. “If anything happens to Zhong Ling, you will be held responsible!”

A folding fan lifted Ji Xun Yue’s wrist, signaling her to let go. Fang Qingchen’s tone was displeased. “Xuan Huai, is this how you teach your disciples?”

Xuan Huai stood beside Ji Xun Yue and said plainly, “And what of the disciple you have taught?”

“Just a useless piece of trash who can’t do anything right,” Fang Qingchen said ruthlessly, increasing the pressure on his fan. Ji Xun Yue was forced to release Shen Zhi Yao.

“Master?!” Shen Zhi Yao was stunned, unable to believe Fang Qingchen would belittle her so openly in front of outsiders.

“Am I wrong?” Fang Qingchen glanced at her. “You are wasting my time.”

Shen Zhi Yao’s face turned red and white. She bit her lip and bowed her head. “I am sorry, Master.”

Ji Xun Yue, having lost all patience, glared at Fang Qingchen. “Tell me where Zhong Ling is. What have you done to her?”

Seeing her rudeness, Fang Qingchen narrowed his eyes. “Your junior sister is just like you, a stubborn breed.”

Ji Xun Yue frowned. “What do you mean?”

Fang Qingchen turned, his fan pointing toward the village. “She is in the village. Do not worry; she is fine.”

Ji Xun Yue gave him a deep look, wondering to what extent his “fine” actually went. She looked at Xuan Huai. “Master?”

Xuan Huai said, “You go ahead. I have words for Fang Qingchen.”

Ji Xun Yue nodded and hurried into the village. As her figure receded, Xuan Huai retracted his gaze, returning to his usual coldness as he scrutinized the two before him.

Shen Zhi Yao felt guilty under his gaze, lowering her head and rubbing the spot Ji Xun Yue had hurt. Even someone so beautiful could make one shiver with a single look.

“What are you still doing here? Didn’t you hear that Immortal Lord Xuan Huai wishes to speak with me?”

Fang Qingchen’s light mockery came from her side. Shen Zhi Yao looked up at her master and said quickly, “I am sorry, Master.”

But she didn’t know the way back to Yongzhou City. She could only walk in a random direction, turning back only after she was dozens of meters away. She stood there like a student in detention, waiting for Fang Qingchen to finish his talk.

Shen Zhi Yao couldn’t understand why there was such a gap between two masters. If she were the one violating celestial regulations, Fang Qingchen would likely celebrate finally getting rid of her. All her misery began with choosing Fang Qingchen.

She had thought that since Fang Qingchen hadn’t found a suitable disciple during the ceremony, he would readily accept her as the last one. She hadn’t expected him to be so elitist. Was there truly no master-disciple affection just because her aptitude was poor? Had she made the wrong choice back then?

She had tried everything to please her senior brothers and sisters, wanting to get on their good side, but they simply used her as a servant, knowing she was Fang Qingchen’s “bargain” disciple. What noble sects? What immortal grace? They were all a bunch of hypocrites!

When Fang Qingchen was refused by Xuan Huai for alchemy, she had approached Zhong Ling to find leverage to threaten Xuan Huai and please her master, but she hadn’t expected Zhong Ling to turn on her at the last moment. After all her meddling, the relationship between Fang Qingchen and Xuan Huai had only worsened, and her master would surely never give her a kind look again.

Shen Zhi Yao glared hatefully at the two men in the distance, a sense of desolation rising in her heart.

With Fang Qingchen

Once Shen Zhi Yao was far enough away, Fang Qingchen spoke leisurely, “I didn’t expect you to come. I suppose Ji Xiuwen tipped you off?”

Seeing Xuan Huai’s silence, Fang Qingchen continued on his own, “He took the top spot in the last competition thanks to Ye Jinyue’s help. It’s only natural he wants to repay the favor. He’s currently very popular among the disciples; I have no reason to hold it against him.”

Ji Xiuwen’s strength was not much worse than Zhou Yu’s, but he wasn’t as good at pleasing his master and had few chances to show his face. Fearing jealousy, he had always hidden his brilliance.

Xuan Huai said calmly, “A talented disciple has to rely on outsiders to get a chance. What a ‘fair’ sect you have.”

“The affairs of the Yanming Sect are not for you to criticize,” Fang Qingchen said. “Let us talk about this current matter instead. Why don’t we speak plainly?”

“Very well,” Xuan Huai said coldly. “First, stay away from my two disciples. Second, I have no intention of helping you refine medicine; please stop wasting your efforts.”

Fang Qingchen wasn’t angry. “Those who dare to speak to me like that are probably all in the Yunxing Sect. The matter with Zhong Ling ends here; I have no desire to interfere further. She can take her own punishment.”

If the matter with Zhong Ling escalated, he would be held responsible for not reporting it. There was no need to get burned.

Xuan Huai’s face darkened. “You tried to use Zhong Ling’s life to blackmail me, and now you want to wash your hands of it with a single sentence?”

“Then what do you want?” Fang Qingchen waved his fan, looking composed. “Xuan Huai, you really don’t mince words, leaning on the support of Imperial Princess Yu Qian Chan.”

Xuan Huai said indifferently, “Fang Qingchen, not everyone pursues power as you do.”

Fang Qingchen stared at him for a long time. “Are you determined to hold a grudge against me?”

Xuan Huai’s gaze swept over him with detachment. “As long as you do not target Ye Jinyue and Zhong Ling, I have no intention of opposing you.”

“I truly envy you, having two such good disciples,” Fang Qingchen said lazily. “If I had known, I should have insisted on snatching Ye Jinyue away back then.”

Xuan Huai actually gave a light laugh, mocking him, “Have you forgotten? She didn’t want you as her master at all.”

Fang Qingchen shrugged. “How would one know without trying?”

At this point, Xuan Huai had no desire to talk further, but he offered a warning: “I advise you not to target Ye Jinyue again, or you will only bring disaster upon yourself.”

Fang Qingchen clearly didn’t take the words to heart. Instead, he asked playfully, “Then what are you planning? A master and disciple riding the same horse, where is the decorum in that?”

Xuan Huai ignored him, looking at the lonely figure of Shen Zhi Yao in the distance. He added one last concern: “Furthermore, however you treat your disciple now is how she will treat you in the future.”

“I never wanted to take her in; she’s the one who clung to me. What she values is not me, but the Yanming Sect behind me.”

“Since you took her as a disciple, teach her well and lead her onto the right path.”

Fang Qingchen closed his folding fan and gave a cold laugh. “Words are wasted on those who do not understand.”

With that, he left.