After Forgetting Two Exes - Chapter 7

Even in Yu Qian Chan’s class, Ji Xun Yue still felt drowsy; she discovered for the first time that her friend’s voice was actually quite hypnotic.

Woken up by her junior sister after class, Ji Xun Yue met her friend’s slightly reproachful gaze with a shrug and an apologetic smile.

Upon returning to the sect, Ji Xun Yue and Zhong Ling walked side by side toward Xuan Huai’s residence.

That morning, Zhong Ling had considered paying her respects to Xuan Huai, but Ji Xun Yue, unsure if he had recovered from the wine, pulled her junior sister straight to class instead.

The closer they got to Xuan Huai’s small courtyard, the more hesitant she felt, wondering how much of last night’s events he remembered.

The back hall was the alchemy room. In the open space before the hall stood a bamboo rack with three newly placed bamboo trays. They were covered in medicinal herbs, appearing to have been set out to dry only recently.

Ji Xun Yue walked over to the trays to examine them.

After her mother was injured, she had read many medical books and recognized many herbs; however, she struggled to control subtle fluctuations of power and had never been good at refining medicine.

She once had a sudden urge to practice again, but her enthusiasm was extinguished by the worn-out alchemy furnace Xuan Huai had sent over.

“Senior Sister, is this Dragon Soul Grass?” Zhong Ling followed her and looked on curiously, suddenly asking.

“You recognize it?”

“A few days ago, when Immortal Wen Tan was lecturing, he introduced many common herbs of the Immortal Realm and even brought samples for us to see.”

Ji Xun Yue asked expectantly: “Oh? Then what about these other two?”

Zhong Ling recalled carefully: “The leaves are long and thin with serrated edges; this should be Red Blemish Bamboo leaves. This one, I cannot tell.”

“It is Crow Feather Grass,” Xuan Huai’s voice came as he stepped out from the west side hall.

The west side hall served as a warehouse for storing refined medicinal herbs.

Ji Xun Yue and Zhong Ling turned and bowed quickly. “Master.”

Xuan Huai nodded. When his gaze swept over her, his expression was perfectly calm, as if nothing had happened.

Ji Xun Yue felt strangely disappointed.

Xuan Huai asked: “You have just returned from class? Go and rest first. Report to the Falling Star Platform at the hour of Shen.”

“Yes.”

Xuan Huai added calmly: “There is no need to pay your respects to me daily. To me, the master-disciple relationship lies in teaching, not in etiquette. I also do not like being disturbed without reason.”

Was he talking about Shi Yuan?

Ji Xun Yue said: “Then my junior sister and I shall take our leave.”

Xuan Huai looked at her. “Jinyue, stay behind. I have something to ask.”

Was it about yesterday?

Once Zhong Ling had left, Xuan Huai spoke: “An hour ago, Fang Qingchen sent me a message. He wanted to clarify what happened this morning.”

Ji Xun Yue realized she had forgotten that Fang Qingchen was also one to hold a grudge. No matter how much he disliked Shen Zhi Yao, he would likely protect her for the sake of his own reputation.

Xuan Huai continued: “He said you humiliated Shen Zhi Yao.”

For some reason, she felt there was a hint of a smile in his eyes.

Ji Xun Yue hesitated. “I,”

Xuan Huai walked over to the bamboo trays and sifted through the herbs. “It does not matter. You may tell me exactly what you know and what you did. If you were not in the wrong, I will not blame you.”

In the end, Shen Zhi Yao was the one at fault; at most, Ji Xun Yue was guilty of arguing with a fellow cultivator.

Ji Xun Yue recounted everything in detail, including Shen Zhi Yao being scolded by Yu Qian Chan, and of course, her own guilt for skipping class, which had left her junior sister vulnerable to bullying.

Xuan Huai listened silently, his hands never stopping their work.

Ji Xun Yue peeked at him, her voice growing less confident as she spoke. She suddenly realized a problem: as the dignified Demon Sovereign, surely she wouldn’t be punished by him for this?

After she finished, Xuan Huai nodded slightly. “I see. The fault in this matter does not lie with you.”

Ji Xun Yue was quite surprised. “Master does not think I was too impulsive?”

Xuan Huai stopped his movements and looked at her with a faint smile. “How do you think it should have been handled?”

Ji Xun Yue thought for a moment and shook her head. “I do not know.”

Forcefulness was her usual method, and it was the most effective.

She analyzed: “If I had endured it, it would likely only make Shen Zhi Yao more arrogant. Reasoning with her seemed impossible, and a simple retort wouldn’t have made her yield. Thinking about it, there seemed to be no perfect solution.”

Xuan Huai nodded. “Since you chose the method you felt was most appropriate and protected Zhong Ling, why would I blame you?”

Ji Xun Yue fell silent. He was unexpectedly understanding.

She then smiled. “Thank you, Master.”

Now it was Xuan Huai’s turn to be silent. He lowered his eyes and spoke slowly: “About last night,”

Ji Xun Yue blinked, unsure how to react, waiting for him to continue.

“You saw everything?”

Ji Xun Yue replied: “Yes.”

Another long silence followed.

Xuan Huai looked at her. His eyes lacked the seductive golden hue of his demonization, appearing more cool and detached.

“Do you have nothing to ask?”

“Why is Master a member of the Demon Race yet still able to become an immortal?”

Just as the God Realm enlightened mortals to become immortals, the Demon Race transformed beasts to expand their combat power, calling them the Yiu Race, or the Demon Race. The Yiu cultivated demon cores to take human form and increase their strength, which was different from the cultivation methods of the Immortal Race.

Xuan Huai said: “During the War of Gods and Demons, I was heavily injured and my demon core was destroyed, leaving me no different from a mortal. It was Imperial Princess Yu Qian Chan who saved me.”

Ji Xun Yue was astonished. Yu Qian Chan had saved him?

“Are Master and the Princess friends?”

“The Princess showed me great kindness; we are not exactly friends.”

Yu Qian Chan and Xuan Huai had known each other for a long time; why had she never told her? Thinking back to every time she complained to Yu Qian Chan about Xuan Huai’s supposed evil deeds, her friend had never said a word.

Xuan Huai continued: “At that time, my lifespan was nearly at its end. It was the Princess who suggested I cultivate the Immortal Path and pass the trials of the God Realm to become an immortal.”

Ji Xun Yue had heard of this. The Ninth Realm pursued by cultivators was merely a threshold of strength; one was only permitted to stay in the Immortal Realm after passing the God Realm’s trials.

Just as she was about to speak, a sudden gust of wind interrupted her. Several ancient trees planted in the corner rustled, mimicking her chaotic thoughts.

She had never imagined Xuan Huai had such a tragic past.

During the War of Gods and Demons, the Demon Realm had split into two factions. She remembered the fox clan had stood by her mother’s side; what was Xuan Huai’s secret? Did he hate her because he lost his kin in the war?

If it were only for revenge, Xuan Huai’s identity as a demon would be a useful piece of leverage. However, she did not want him to be judged for his origins; she only wanted him to pay for his actions.

Ji Xun Yue stared at Xuan Huai, trying to read his thoughts through his indifferent expression. Strangely, from the first moment she saw him, she had an indescribable feeling. Every time she saw him, she found it impossible to feel anger.

She still could not connect him with that reckless, hated rival, even wondering if he was truly the person who had done those things. Such a thought was absurd. Regardless of the truth, she would not forget his help, his understanding, and his validation.

Ji Xun Yue composed her thoughts and smiled slightly. “I understand. Do not worry, Master; I will not tell anyone.”

Back in the kitchen, she found Zhong Ling standing still with a worried expression.

Seeing Ji Xun Yue return, Zhong Ling asked anxiously: “Senior Sister, what did Master want? Was it about Shen Zhi Yao?”

Ji Xun Yue nodded. “It is fine. Master is on our side.”

Only then did Zhong Ling relax, lowering her head and whispering: “I am sorry, Senior Sister. I did not want to cause trouble for you, so I kept it a secret.”

Ji Xun Yue sighed. “Zhong Ling, do you trust me?”

Zhong Ling was surprised. “Of course I trust Senior Sister.”

Looking at her somewhat flustered expression, Ji Xun Yue asked the question anyway. “Did you not take the Dust-Severing Pill?”

Zhong Ling’s eyes widened, and she instinctively denied it. “Of course I took it,”

Ji Xun Yue said calmly: “Then why do you still remember things from the mortal world?”

Zhong Ling’s face changed color. She bit her lip and murmured after a long pause: “Senior Sister, I was wrong,”

Every cultivator entering the Immortal Realm was required to take the Dust-Severing Pill. On one hand, it was to prevent them from lingering on mortal ties so they could focus on cultivation; on the other, it prevented them from interfering with mortal order for personal reasons.

Though cruel, it was logical. Immortals and mortals are different; cultivators pursue the vastness of the Immortal Path and should not stay mired in a few short decades of mortal life.

Seeing her junior sister’s terrified expression, Ji Xun Yue softened her tone: “I am not scolding you, but what you are doing violates celestial regulations. You have mentioned the past to me several times. I can keep your secret, but have you considered the consequences if someone else hears and exposes you?”

Zhong Ling’s eyes turned red as she said guiltily: “Senior Sister, I never meant to involve you or Master.”

“This has nothing to do with Master or me; you failed to consider yourself.” Ji Xun Yue shook her head. “If the Immortal Realm finds out, the light punishment is solitary confinement and forced severance of ties. The heavy punishment is the stripping of your immortal fate and being reduced to dust. You would not only fail to return to the mortal world but also be barred from reincarnation!”

Zhong Ling remained silent for a long time until tears began to well in her eyes. “Senior Sister, I know all of this,”

Seeing her on the verge of tears, Ji Xun Yue immediately regretted her harsh words. “You also know that from the moment you stepped into the Immortal Realm, no one in the mortal world remembers you anymore. Why be so persistent?”

Zhong Ling gave a bitter smile. “But I do not want to forget my father and mother. I do not want to forget their kindness in raising me. I, I cannot bear to forget.”

“So you want to follow Senior Brother Chu to the lower realm just to see them?”

“Yes. I cannot wait twenty or thirty years. What if they are already gone by the time I can go down? Senior Sister, I just want to see them one more time.”

Ji Xun Yue could understand Zhong Ling’s feelings. Guided by immortal fate into this realm, she only realized later that returning was hopeless, so she clung to her memories as a form of comfort.

“Junior Sister, you have already stepped onto the path of cultivation and are destined never to go back. Past events are sometimes not just ties but obstacles.”

Zhong Ling lowered her eyes, letting her tears fall. “I know, Senior Sister. I just want to see them once. Please do not tell Master! I will only see them this once, just a glance from afar. Please, Senior Sister?”

The purpose of the Dust-Severing Pill was merely to ensure a cultivator could focus. Zhong Ling was certainly not the first to struggle with the past. But the path to immortality was difficult; if her resolve was not firm, could she succeed?

As Ji Xun Yue hesitated, Zhong Ling pleaded again: “Senior Sister, I promise you that I will take the Dust-Severing Pill after I return. Is that alright?”

Seeing Zhong Ling crying so piteously yet with such sincere eyes, Ji Xun Yue’s heart softened. “Alright. I will keep your secret for now. After we return, you must make a complete break with the past.”

Zhong Ling finally broke into a smile through her tears, gratefully taking her hand. “Senior Sister, thank you!”

For a fleeting moment, Ji Xun Yue seemed to see the shadow of Ji Ling Yin in Zhong Ling and froze. She said with emotion: “Junior Sister, no matter what difficulties you have, do not hide them from me. I will surely help you solve them. This is my promise to you.”

Zhong Ling was stunned, then moved. “Senior Sister, I will always remember your kindness to me.”

Ji Xun Yue reached out to wipe away the remaining tears from the corner of her eyes. “Alright, stop crying. It hurts my heart to see you cry.”

Zhong Ling nodded and forced a smile. “Let us not mention it anymore. Senior Sister, I will go wash my face and come back to make lunch.”

Watching her junior sister’s retreating figure, Ji Xun Yue’s mind remained troubled. She had once said the same words to A-Yin, but she had failed to keep her promise.