After Forgetting Two Exes - Chapter 26

The following day.

“Senior Sister,” a polite voice called out from behind the door, accompanied by a rhythmic knocking.

Ji Xun Yue opened her bleary eyes. Recognizing the voice as Yu Zai Ye, her exhaustion clung to her. She closed her eyes again, pretending not to hear.

But after a moment, the knocking resumed.

She let out a pained sigh. Her life was truly going downhill; she couldn’t even manage to sleep until she woke up naturally anymore.

“I’m coming! Stop knocking!” she shouted toward the door as she sat up. Seeing the faint light outside the window, she asked, “What time is it? Is it evening already?”

If it truly was evening, why did she feel so utterly drained?

Yu Zai Ye replied, “Senior Sister, it is currently the Hour of the Rabbit.”

It wasn’t even dawn yet. He had woken her even earlier than Zhong Ling used to.

Ji Xun Yue threw on her outer robe and opened the door. Yu Zai Ye stood there neatly dressed, his features sharp and alert, his dark hair bound in a high crown. He looked positively brimming with energy.

She asked weakly, “Why wake me so early? Is there some urgent matter?”

Yu Zai Ye first offered a respectful bow, then said earnestly, “Senior Sister, can we begin our cultivation now? There are a few areas I would like to consult you on.”

Ji Xun Yue was momentarily speechless. “Did you… always wake up this early to cultivate back at the Fenglan Sect?”

Yu Zai Ye nodded. “It was the sect rule. And many people woke up even earlier than required.”

Comparing the two, Xuan Huai was far too indulgent with his disciples. How was she supposed to tell her Junior Brother that, currently, this sect only practiced in the afternoon?

Not wanting to dampen his enthusiasm, she said tactfully, “Master usually gives guidance in the afternoon. You might want to practice on your own first. Besides, cultivation should have a balance of tension and relaxation.”

Yu Zai Ye said, “Thank you for the guidance, Senior Sister. I can persevere.”

” ” It seemed she needed to be more direct when communicating with him.

However, even as dense as Yu Zai Ye was, he could see the resistance written all over her face.

He hesitated, apologizing, “I am sorry. I did not clarify the situation and have disturbed your rest.”

Ji Xun Yue waved her hand dismissively. “It’s fine. You’re new and haven’t adjusted yet. Our sect is actually quite casual. No morning or evening lessons, no need for formal morning greetings.”

She felt increasingly guilty as she spoke. Looking at it now, the Yunxing Sect was truly lacking in discipline.

She quickly added, “It is simply that I am not diligent enough. You should wait for Junior Sister to return. She is hardworking and will surely be willing to wake up early to practice with you.”

With another disciple promising to bring glory to the sect, she could finally slack off with a clear conscience.

“Senior Sister Zhong Ling?” Yu Zai Ye pondered. “Alright, I understand.”

Ji Xun Yue nodded with a smile, intending to say goodbye and crawl back into bed for a nap, when he spoke again. “I also made breakfast. I am not sure if it will be to Senior Sister’s taste.”

Her Junior Brother had already achieved inedia, yet he had made breakfast for her out of the sincerity of his heart. How could she ignore that?

She blinked. Between sleep and food, she ultimately chose food.

After a quick wash-up back in her room, Ji Xun Yue stepped out and found Yu Zai Ye standing in the courtyard, staring off into the distance. She called out to him.

Yu Zai Ye turned at the sound and gave a humble nod.

Fortunately, she was over six thousand seven hundred years old; facing this three-hundred-year-old Junior Brother didn’t intimidate her in the slightest.

As they walked side-by-side toward the dining hall, the scene made Ji Xun Yue miss Zhong Ling even more.

Only eleven days had passed since her Junior Sister’s confinement began. She was practically counting the days on her fingers.

Yu Zai Ye said, “I didn’t find the chance yesterday, but I wanted to thank you in person, Senior Sister. I know it was you who asked Master to take me in. Thank you for giving me the chance to continue my cultivation.”

Ji Xun Yue quickly corrected him, “You’ve misunderstood. It was Master’s own decision.”

Yu Zai Ye was slightly taken aback. “It was Master?”

Ji Xun Yue smiled. “Yes. Don’t be fooled by Master’s cold exterior; he is actually… very kind to people.”

As she spoke those last few words, she paused, her voice softening.

Once upon a time, both Shi Yuan and Zhong Ling had said similar things to her. Now, even she was saying it.

Ji Xun Yue lowered her eyes, her heart fluttering for a reason she couldn’t name.

Since the night of Shi Yuan’s drunkenness, Xuan Huai’s demeanor and actions had remained the same as always. Yesterday, he had maintained his usual lukewarm attitude toward Shi Yuan.

Yet, she still felt something was off, though she couldn’t pinpoint where this strange feeling came from.

Yu Zai Ye said sincerely, “Thank you for the reminder, Senior Sister. I will keep Master’s kindness in my heart and practice diligently. I will never bring shame to the sect.”

Presumably, Xuan Huai didn’t care much about how outsiders viewed him taking in a disciple from the Six Great Immortal Sects.

Ji Xun Yue smiled appreciatively. “Good. I’ll be waiting for you and Junior Sister to reach great heights in the future so you can look after your Senior Sister.”

She suddenly stopped, looking toward the main hall.

Yu Zai Ye stopped as well, asking in confusion, “Senior Sister?”

“Junior Brother, it sounds like someone in the main hall is calling your name. And it’s more than one person.”

” I hear nothing.”

Ji Xun Yue let out a helpless laugh. “Let’s go. We should check it out.”

It seemed breakfast was off the table. Furthermore, why did this scene feel so familiar?

“Yu Zai Ye, get out here right now!”

“If you don’t crawl out here, don’t blame us for being impolite!”

Three men stood outside the main hall, shouting in all directions like headless flies. A brief scan revealed they were all at the strength of the Sixth or Seventh Realm.

Yu Zai Ye’s expression turned solemn upon seeing them. “They are disciples of the Fenglan Sect. They are all Senior Sister Yuan’s immortal partners.”

“All of them?” Ji Xun Yue was profoundly shocked. She thought Yuan Wan Yi was two-timing; it turned out she had four partners?

But her Junior Brother had no real connection with Yuan Wan Yi. Why were they here causing trouble first thing in the morning?

Before she could ask, the three men spotted them, their faces instantly twisting with resentment.

“Yu Zai Ye, die!” One of them, though refined in appearance, had features distorted by rage. He summoned his spiritual tool, sending several bursts of flame toward Yu Zai Ye.

The move was vicious, leaving no room for survival. He intended to take her Junior Brother’s life!

The man was in the Sixth Realm; her Junior Brother naturally couldn’t withstand the force of the move. Ji Xun Yue reacted instantly, decisively pushing Yu Zai Ye aside, but she had no time left to dodge herself.

She couldn’t expose her true strength to neutralize the flames, but with her constitution, she could take the hit. She would simply be injured.

“Senior Sister!” Yu Zai Ye shouted in panic after a brief moment of shock.

The flames closed in. Before Ji Xun Yue could even summon a shield to dampen the impact, the air around her suddenly turned freezing. The flames were instantly frozen solid, falling to the ground and shattering into dust.

Before the attacker could react, he was struck by a blast of cold air, falling backward onto the ground.

“Presumptuous.”

The voice, cold as jade, sounded from behind her. It carried a rare trace of fury.

Ji Xun Yue turned to see Xuan Huai walking quickly toward her. The coldness in his eyes vanished completely the moment he looked at her.

“Are you hurt?” He reached out his hand, but stopped abruptly just before touching her, as if realizing he was losing his composure.

Ji Xun Yue shook her head. Fortunately, he appeared in time, or she really would have been in trouble. Why did she have to rely on him every single time? She really was…

Xuan Huai gave a small nod, and his tense jawline finally relaxed.

They were standing very close. He carried the scent of morning dew, likely having just returned from the medicinal fields.

“Senior Sister…”

Ji Xun Yue looked toward her Junior Brother. He stood there, his face filled with such self-reproach that he didn’t even dare to walk over.

She was about to comfort him when Yu Zai Ye, unable to hide his anger, questioned the fallen Fenglan Sect disciple, “Li Qing Song, it’s one thing if you want to kill me, but did you never consider you might accidentally harm others!”

Li Qing Song’s rash attack had also caught the other two disciples off guard. They looked at each other, their previous arrogance replaced by trepidation.

The disciple who seemed to be the most senior among them said, “This… Immortal, please forgive us. Our Junior Brother was acting out of desperation…”

Li Qing Song struggled to crawl up, interrupting him. “At most, it’s a life for a life! I don’t want to live anyway!”

“Ugh!” In the next instant, both his knees were struck. He thudded onto the ground, coughing up a large amount of blood.

Xuan Huai said coldly, “You are not worthy.”

Ji Xun Yue felt a flush on her face. Steeling herself, she asked, “Did you come here today to vent your anger on behalf of Yuan Wan Yi?”

“No, it’s not… it’s Wan Yi…” The disciple lowered his head, gritting his teeth as he spoke with difficulty. “Wan Yi has been murdered! We are here on the Sect Leader’s orders to bring Yu Zai Ye back for questioning.”

Yuan Wan Yi was dead?!

Yu Zai Ye was shocked. “Brother Zhao Xu, Senior Sister Yuan was in the Eighth Realm, how could she…”

“Yu Zai Ye, stop pretending to be a good person! You must have killed Wan Yi to get revenge for Cai Bin!” Li Qing Song clutched his chest, looking up at him with venomous eyes.

Ji Xun Yue reminded them, “Brother Li, Junior Brother Yu only has Second Realm cultivation. How could he kill someone in the Eighth Realm? Don’t you think that’s too absurd?”

Li Qing Song roared with all his might, “Then it was your whole sect! You all killed Wan Yi together!”

Ji Xun Yue: ” ”

It turned out he had truly gone mad.

The blow of losing his lover had broken his mind. No wonder his opening move was a killing blow.

Yu Zai Ye asked, “Brother Zhao, when did something happen to Senior Sister Yuan?”

Zhao Xu said, “Wan Yi was summoned to the Lingxiao Palace yesterday evening. We don’t know when she returned. It wasn’t until this morning when she didn’t show up for practice that we went to her room and found her…”

Yesterday evening? That was around the same time they had returned from Yu Qian Chan’s questioning. Had Yu Qian Chan and the Elders summoned Yuan Wan Yi afterward?

Understanding their intent, Yu Zai Ye explained, “Brothers, please accept my condolences. I haven’t left once since returning from the Lingxiao Palace yesterday. This truly has nothing to do with me. Since the Sect Leader has questions, I will go with you.”

Ji Xun Yue asked, “Are you certain Senior Sister Yuan was murdered?”

Zhao Xu nodded, saying painfully, “Her body… had multiple wounds.”

Ji Xun Yue frowned, utterly perplexed. Yuan Wan Yi died immediately after the matter of Cai Bin was brought up. Yuan Wan Yi was suspected of stealing others’ cultivation; now that she was dead, there was no witness. Was someone trying to silence her? And what could Rong Chen hope to learn by calling her Junior Brother over?

Zhao Xu helped Li Qing Song up. Seeing the man was in a daze, he apologized, “Immortal, forgive me. I failed to restrain Junior Brother Li and almost harmed Junior Brother Yu and this Senior Sister. It was my dereliction of duty. I will request punishment upon returning to the sect.”

Xuan Huai glanced at Li Qing Song, his expression flat. “He will bear his own guilt.”

Yu Zai Ye bowed to Xuan Huai and Ji Xun Yue. “Master, Senior Sister, I will go with Brother Zhao to the Fenglan Sect.”

Ji Xun Yue thought for a moment and called out to the group as they prepared to leave. “Wait! Brother Zhao, would it be possible for me to come along as well?”

Zhao Xu asked warily, “What do you intend to do?”

She wasn’t comfortable letting her Junior Brother go alone, and she wanted to confirm the wounds on Yuan Wan Yi’s body. But how could she say that without making them suspicious?

Xuan Huai said, “Yu Zai Ye is now my disciple. How can Sect Leader Rong summon him for questioning without going through me? I am not comfortable letting him go alone.”

Ji Xun Yue looked at Xuan Huai in surprise. He looked back at her, his gaze holding a reassuring intent, telling her not to worry.

She couldn’t help but smile. She hadn’t realized when she and Xuan Huai had developed such a rapport.

Zhao Xu naturally had no reason to refuse. After some thought, he reluctantly agreed. “Very well. Everyone, please follow me.”