After Forgetting Two Exes - Chapter 18

After only a moment of hesitation, Shi Yuan’s figure had already vanished.

Thinking it over, Ji Xun Yue decided to return to the Immortal Realm first.

Back at Luoxing Terrace, she assumed a cultivation posture as a pretense, carefully controlling her spiritual power to ensure she appeared to have just reached the level of the Second Realm. This progression was so unbelievable that she didn’t hold much hope of fooling Xuan Huai.

As her mind wandered, she sensed spiritual energy approaching from behind. Maintaining her original position, she acted as if she were deeply focused on her practice. It was only when Xuan Huai drew near that she retracted her stance and turned around as if just hearing footsteps, feigning surprise: “Master? You’ve ended your seclusion?”

Xuan Huai nodded, sensing the spiritual energy circulating within her body. “Your cultivation…”

Ji Xun Yue lied without batting an eye: “These past few days, this disciple practiced with a focused mind and unexpectedly broke through the bottleneck. Fortunately, I have not disappointed Master.”

Xuan Huai looked at her calmly, appearing lost in thought, which made her heart tighten. He spoke plainly: “Your aptitude is excellent; it was only a matter of time before you awakened. However, that you could break through to the Second Realm within a few days is indeed beyond my expectations.”

Ji Xun Yue acted astonished: “The Second Realm? I’ve actually reached the Second Realm? How could it be so fast… Could it be that I am the legendary genius of immortal cultivation?”

So fake, she thought, I can’t keep this act up much longer.

Upon hearing those last words, Xuan Huai froze for a moment, a smile appearing in his eyes. “It seems that is the case.”

He actually believes it?

Ji Xun Yue didn’t care and continued her pretense: “It is all thanks to Master’s excellent guidance. I want to practice more to consolidate it; I ask for Master’s instruction.”

Xuan Huai, however, said: “It is late. Cultivation cannot be rushed. Go back and rest early.”

Ji Xun Yue gave a short reply. It was time to tell him about the competition. She weighed her words before speaking: “Master just said I have reached the Second Realm? I heard that the previous batch of cultivators will be holding a competition in a few days. I would like to participate and see, so I ask for Master’s permission.”

“Doing so might draw too much attention.”

“But this cannot be hidden forever. I want to handle it myself.”

“Very well. I will accompany you.”

Ji Xun Yue looked at Xuan Huai; his gentle attitude actually made her feel a sense of melancholy. He was so good to his disciple, why was his hostility toward the Demon Realm so deep? The flowers of Shen Yuan would bloom at dawn tomorrow; did he end his seclusion early specifically to ruin her flower viewing?

On the way back to the sect, Ji Xun Yue was preoccupied with her thoughts and remained silent. Although she knew Xuan Huai glanced at her multiple times, she did not respond. When they stood before the main hall, about to part ways, she stopped, her expression solemn: “Master…”

“What is it?”

She hesitated. The things on her mind could not be said aloud. If it truly were Xuan Huai’s doing, even if she didn’t pursue it, there would always be a rift between them. Could she still interact with him as she usually did? She wanted to ask why he had to target her, but she wanted to ask her own heart even more: what kind of answer would actually satisfy her?

Even with the evidence from Fushuang Forest before her, why did she still hold onto a baseless hope? Why did she feel not a shred of resentment when she saw him, but instead felt an involuntary urge to trust him?

“I want to drink,” Ji Xun Yue said to herself, planning to go to Yu Qian Chan’s place later to bring back a jar of wine. Thinking too much made it hard to sleep; she might as well get drunk and wait for the results tomorrow. Realizing what she had blurted out, she froze and waved her hands: “I didn’t mean it that way.”

“You… have something on your mind?” Xuan Huai said slowly, though his heart felt bitter. Was she so lost because she had chased after Shi Yuan and found out the reason? While he was still rejoicing over her protection of him, he hadn’t expected to witness her reunion with Shi Yuan.

Ji Xun Yue made an excuse: “I’m just a bit frustrated… perhaps I’m worried about the competition.”

Xuan Huai was silent for a long time before replying plainly: “How about some ‘Qingfeng Zui’? If you have worries, you can tell me.”

That’s not right, she thought, I didn’t mean to ask him for wine and I wanted to drink alone in my misery.

But if she could make him stay and drink with her all night, wouldn’t she be able to keep an eye on him and prevent him from leaving? Yet, if she kept watch, how could she find evidence? Wasn’t that the reason she came to the Immortal Realm in the first place? Before even drinking, Ji Xun Yue felt intoxicated otherwise, why were her thoughts so contradictory that even she couldn’t figure out what she wanted?

But she… still wanted to try. She said: “Alright, but ‘Qingfeng Zui’ is too precious. Master can just bring any wine.”

Xuan Huai replied: “There is only this.”

“…” Even Shi Yuan didn’t get this treatment.

His gaze dimmed slightly: “You don’t like it?”

Ji Xun Yue shook her head: “Then I thank Master.”

Xuan Huai fell into silence again, and the atmosphere became tense. Ji Xun Yue suddenly realized that he also looked unhappy. Was he thinking about destroying the flowers? A voice in her heart said, don’t let him go.

She would stall him a bit longer, until she could figure things out.

The sky had darkened. With a wave of Xuan Huai’s hand, sparks of fire lit up along the path, illuminating the way forward. Standing in Xuan Huai’s small courtyard again, Ji Xun Yue had a strange feeling. The night breeze blew gently, awakening old memories.

Speaking of which, this was only her second time here. During the first time, their sect and Shi Yuan were here; though they weren’t well-acquainted, there were no barriers, and they happily gathered for a meal—a warmth of companionship she hadn’t felt in a long time. Because of her junior sister’s hangover tea, she had accidentally discovered Xuan Huai’s true form: a fox demon. Learning about his past and his tragic background, which was intricately linked to her, had left her at a loss.

Since then, the two of them hadn’t had much contact. It was just that she had caused trouble a few times and he never got angry, but instead stood by her side. It was just that he saw her being lazy in her cultivation but never interfered. It was just that when she tried to hide her junior sister’s affairs and made a mess of it, he appeared in time to resolve her urgent crisis. It was just that when her headache flared up, he protected her with all his might and showed every care.

Asking her heart: they had known each other for less than a month, so why did she trust him so much? She had hated him for a thousand years, so why did it take only one month for that hatred to vanish? Wasn’t she the one who loved to hold grudges? Hadn’t she vowed countless times to make Xuan Huai suffer the consequences of his actions?

Why was it that from that one glance on the Dianxian Terrace, her heart had completely softened and she could no longer hate him? It felt as if an answer was trying to break through an obstacle, only to be held back. She felt somewhat dazed as she watched Xuan Huai return with the wine, his figure adorned by the specks of lamplight, appearing so noble and untainted. Every time she looked at him, she didn’t want to look away.

Seeing her unsettled expression, Xuan Huai asked softly: “What is it?”

Ji Xun Yue suppressed the waves of emotion in her heart and shook her head: “It’s nothing.”

Xuan Huai placed the wine on the stone table: “Shall we drink here?”

“Alright.” Ji Xun Yue smiled, walked over to sit down, and took the wine cup he handed her.

Among gods and demons, many have the habit of drinking perhaps a method learned from mortals to drown their sorrows, and they found it quite effective. She wasn’t a heavy drinker; it was only when she remembered the past or her deceased friends and found her grief hard to resolve that she would drink heavily, hoping to forget her worries in a drunken state. One doesn’t need a hangover pill, isn’t the point of drinking to forget all troubles once drunk?

She wasn’t picky about wine; after all, once there are worries on the mind, even fruit wine is intoxicating. However, the ‘Qingfeng Zui’ brewed by Xuan Huai was of excellent quality crisp and mellow. The cold wine felt warm upon entering her mouth. It felt just like… the feeling Xuan Huai gave her. From the cold detachment and distance of their first meeting to seeing his gentle features and tender smile. He was never far away, yet he was unreachable.

Watching the clear wine swirl in her cup, Ji Xun Yue drank it in one go. Her movements were all seen by Xuan Huai. He lowered his eyes, repeatedly pondering the questions he couldn’t ask. Was she truly troubled by the matter of Shi Yuan? He still remembered that over three thousand seven hundred years ago, after he ended his seclusion, he heard news of the Demon Realm’s Young Master pursuing a cultivator. She pursued him fervently, sending many spiritual herbs and immortal pills, teaching him how to cultivate, and punishing those with ill intentions for him.

Xuan Huai thought silently, and without realizing it, his cup was soon empty. The sound of the clear wine hitting the cup brought him back; she was refilling it for him. He thought of today, when she actually asked if they had met. She had clearly encountered him in the Yiu Realm and the Mortal Realm, yet she didn’t remember at all. It seemed that once a moment is missed, there is no future.

The two continued to drink and refill in silent understanding for who knows how long, until the night was nearly half over. Feeling a bit tipsy, Ji Xun Yue tentatively asked: “Does Master also have things that trouble him?”

Xuan Huai held his wine cup, neither confirming nor denying.

“So, we’re just going to say nothing and just drink?” she muttered.

“What do you want to talk about?” he asked, his voice low and raspy, tinged with an inexplicable sense of loss.

Ji Xun Yue shook her head: “I don’t want to talk about anything.” She looked up at him, serious and focused: “I only want to look at you.”

Under the hazy moonlight, her face was as white as snow, yet it seemed separated by a layer of mist. She frowned slightly; although it wasn’t her original appearance, her habitual small movements were the same as always, making it easy for him to recall the time they spent together. But why did she say she wanted to look at him? She was drunk; perhaps the one she wanted to see was Shi Yuan, but he was willing to lie to himself.

Xuan Huai smiled gently: “I feel the same.”

“Really?” Ji Xun Yue wasn’t happy to hear this; instead, her expression grew more sorrowful. She said: “Then don’t go, alright?”

Xuan Huai froze, staring at her silently. Since she so desperately hoped Shi Yuan wouldn’t leave, why did she break the engagement back then? Seeing his silence, she hurriedly grabbed his sleeve, her speech slurred: “You are not allowed to go.”

Xuan Huai looked at the sleeve she was clutching and, after a long time, finally responded: “Alright.”

She looked as if she had received the greatest news in the world, her smile filled with joy from her eyes to her brows—so joyful that he couldn’t bring himself to resent her. He didn’t blame her, and he couldn’t refuse her closeness. But he had miscalculated one thing: she came with a grudge, and he was the target of her journey. If she found out that such a boring person like him had provoked her for a thousand years, she would be very disappointed.

Now the misunderstanding was about to be cleared. Though he didn’t know why she sealed her memories of Shi Yuan, as long as she wanted to, she could restore them at any time and then… rekindle her relationship with Shi Yuan. She didn’t remember him; what was wrong with her liking someone else? As long as she could be happy, he was willing to offer his blessings, but he simply couldn’t accept being the stepping stone for their reconciliation—only able to keep his distance so she wouldn’t suspect, and hiding the past so she wouldn’t be troubled.

The moonlight was soft, shining on the two people, each with their own worries. Ji Xun Yue rested her head on her arms on the table, so tired she wanted to close her eyes, her gaze still fixed on him. She suddenly wanted to call out to him.

“Xuan…”

But just as she slurred the first half of the sound, she couldn’t withstand the drunkenness and closed her eyes to sleep, the hand clutching his sleeve loosening unconsciously. Xuan Huai’s expression was lonely. When she called out, she was indeed treating him as Shi Yuan.

Is it dawn?

Ji Xun Yue opened her eyes blankly, her mind not yet clear. Looking at the top of the bed, she suddenly woke up—when did she return to her room? She threw off the blanket and got out of bed, only to see a note on the tea table. Picking it up, it was a message left by Xuan Huai.

“Summoned by the God Realm, may return late.”

She stared blankly at the elegant handwriting, filled with regret. How could she have actually gotten drunk and failed to keep an eye on Xuan Huai? He went to the God Realm again was there something Yu Qian Chan needed him for?

Just as well, she needed to head out too.