I Reborn on the Night I Divorced the Sword Deity, My Childhood Friend - Chapter 2

The residence of the Sword Venerable, Lingyun Peak.

A figure in a gray and white crane-patterned cloak stood silently by the window. He gazed down at Shen Siyuan, who was painting at the desk beside him. He possessed sharp brows and eyes like stars; even when looking down, he carried an air of cold, otherworldly grace. This was the current master of the Sword Sect, Sword Venerable Yuan Muzhou.

As Shen Junyu had previously speculated, Yuan Muzhou had indeed been within the Sword Sect these past few days. Shen Siyuan and Yun Suyi had only been able to enter and exit Yunmiao Pavilion smoothly because they possessed Yuan Muzhou’s personal hand-written permissions.

As for why Yuan Muzhou had not gone to see Shen Junyu yet, it was not because he was busy. Rather, he did not want to. To put it another way, he held a weary, avoidant mindset.

For instance, at this very moment, the winter plums on Lingyun Peak had finally bloomed. They were a vibrant red, standing proud against the frost and snow, looking truly moving. In their youth, Yuan Muzhou loved nothing more than admiring the plums and practicing swordplay with Shen Junyu on Lingyun Peak. Now, however, he would rather watch Shen Siyuan paint by the window in a warm pavilion, capturing the bright plum blossoms and the ethereal snowy scenery with a brush. He did not wish to set foot in Yunmiao Pavilion again.

Shen Siyuan finished half of the painting, smiled slightly, and set down his brush. He rotated his wrist and looked up at Yuan Muzhou. “You have been standing there watching for so long. Are you not tired, Big Brother Yuan?”

Yuan Muzhou replied, “I am fine. However, your injuries have just healed, so you should not overexert yourself.”

Upon hearing this, the look Shen Siyuan gave Yuan Muzhou became increasingly affectionate. “I am a Great Fusion stage master after all. How could I be so fragile?”

Yuan Muzhou glanced at him and said, “But considering your reckless behavior recently, you did not act like a master should.”

Yuan Muzhou’s tone was indifferent, but the underlying concern was not shallow. Shen Siyuan felt extremely comforted by this. Just as he was about to use this momentum to tease Yuan Muzhou further, a spirit pigeon flew in through the window.

The spirit pigeons used for delivering letters within the Sword Sect all looked the same. Shen Siyuan did not think much of it; he stopped talking and watched Yuan Muzhou. Unexpectedly, when Yuan Muzhou saw the pigeon, his gaze froze for a split second.

It was only a brief moment before Yuan Muzhou regained his composure. He raised his hand to receive the pigeon, removed the letter it carried, and opened it. The letter seemed very short. Yuan Muzhou scanned it once, folded it, and placed it in his robe. At the moment he folded the letter, a flicker of dark light involuntarily spilled from his eyes.

Shen Siyuan observed his expression. “Is there an important matter within the sect?”

Yuan Muzhou shook his head. “It is just some trivial matters. You do not need to worry.”

Shen Siyuan knew Yuan Muzhou’s temperament. After a moment of deliberation, he smiled understandingly. “It is no matter. If you have business, Big Brother Yuan, then please go. I am also a bit tired after painting for half the day, so I shall take a short nap.”

Hearing this, Yuan Muzhou silently looked at Shen Siyuan. This gaze was somewhat too deep, causing Shen Siyuan’s heart to skip a beat, yet he maintained his clear and quiet smile. Yuan Muzhou eventually looked away and exhaled slowly. “If only everyone were as sensible as you.”

The moment Yuan Muzhou said this, Shen Siyuan’s mind raced, and he understood immediately. He felt a surge of secret joy, but he did not show it. He maintained his considerate facade and urged Yuan Muzhou to attend to his business.

However, as Yuan Muzhou was leaving, he mentioned casually, “Big Brother Yuan, if you have time, you should go see my brother. Although he has been in a foul mood lately, he has been thinking of you. If you go, he will likely be happier.”

As expected, Yuan Muzhou’s aura became even colder upon hearing those words. He simply dropped a cold “I know” and turned to leave. Watching Yuan Muzhou’s tall retreating figure, a smile of genuine pleasure finally curled at the corners of Shen Siyuan’s lips.

Standing outside Yunmiao Pavilion, Yuan Muzhou stood amidst the wind and snow. He looked up at the snowflakes drifting onto the silver-white barrier of the pavilion, remaining motionless for a long time. He likely knew why Shen Junyu wanted to see him. That was exactly why he did not want to enter.

He had not expected that the high-spirited and bright youth of the past would become what he was now: reclusive, eccentric, and paranoid. Shen Junyu would even become jealous of his own younger brother over imaginary slights.

Over the years, Yuan Muzhou had been searching for a way to repair the Golden Core. However, Shen Junyu could not endure the hardship involved. He had failed repeatedly, wasting countless resources. Yuan Muzhou had never complained about this, but it was Shen Junyu who eventually suggested stopping, saying he no longer wanted to repair his Golden Core.

At that moment, Yuan Muzhou had felt extreme disappointment. He looked at Shen Junyu’s pale face, said nothing, and agreed. He thought that they had plenty of time and could take things slowly.

Since then, however, Shen Junyu had inexplicably become distant and cold. He had refused to see Yuan Muzhou several times without giving a reason, leaving Yuan Muzhou feeling frustrated and cold-hearted.

Even so, none of these were the true reasons Yuan Muzhou did not want to enter Yunmiao Pavilion. The most important reason was Shen Siyuan. Whenever Shen Junyu was cold or emotional, Shen Siyuan would always appear at the right time to mediate between them.

When Yuan Muzhou suffered due to internal sect conflicts, Shen Siyuan would travel everywhere to smooth out relationships for him. When Yuan Muzhou was depressed over Shen Junyu giving up on his Golden Core and nearly suffered a cultivation deviation, it was Shen Siyuan who exhausted his energy to calculate the flaws in his technique and saved him in time.

Combined with the recent matter of the demonic flood dragon, it was difficult for Yuan Muzhou not to feel a stir in his heart. Especially when others noticed Shen Siyuan’s deep affection and dropped hints about it, Yuan Muzhou’s initial discomfort gradually turned into guilt and pity.

When exactly did this feeling begin? It was likely during the Sect Assembly nine years ago. All the elders had directed their criticism toward Shen Junyu as usual. They wanted Yuan Muzhou to divorce Shen Junyu so that he could break through to the Great Fusion stage as soon as possible. Some elders even threatened to leave the Sword Sect. At that time, Yuan Muzhou’s fatigue and anger had reached their limit and were about to explode.

It was Shen Siyuan who stood up. He promised to perform a “Destiny Star Divination” for every elder within ten years, provided they continued to support Yuan Muzhou. Yuan Muzhou was both shocked and moved.

The Yuheng Sect specialized in geography and astrology; they could see past lives and know the future. Although Yuheng cultivators generally had low cultivation levels, they were always honored guests of the major sects. The Destiny Star Divination was a secret technique of the Yuheng Sect. Each divination was extremely taxing on the user’s life force, but it was incredibly powerful, capable of helping someone through a critical cultivation breakthrough or a life-or-death crisis.

Shen Siyuan made that sacrifice for him. Although Yuan Muzhou objected on the spot, he could not overcome the persistence of the elders and Shen Siyuan. Ultimately, his position was secured again, and the elders gave him another ten years.

Having incurred such a heavy debt of gratitude, Yuan Muzhou felt another burden on his shoulders. Yet, he did not feel weighed down; instead, he felt as if he saw a glimmer of hope. From then on, he gradually became closer to Shen Siyuan. He repeatedly offered other benefits to replace the divinations Shen Siyuan promised the elders, but Shen Siyuan refused.

When Yuan Muzhou worried for him, Shen Siyuan would simply smile and say, “I am happy to be able to do something for you, Big Brother Yuan. You have worked too hard for my brother over the years. It is our Shen family that owes you.”

At that moment, Yuan Muzhou felt a momentary trance. His heart trembled slightly, and he nearly lost his composure. Even Shen Siyuan felt the Shen family owed him. Although Yuan Muzhou did not see it that way, he felt nothing but endless coldness when he thought of Shen Junyu.

Now, the ten-year deadline was approaching again. Shen Siyuan continued to work for him and had even been injured for him. He remembered clearly how, on the night Shen Siyuan was seriously injured by the flood dragon and fell into a coma, Shen Siyuan had gripped his hand and said hoarsely, “Big Brother Yuan, I truly have no other way. But I really do not want to see you being dragged down like this. I think if there is really no other option, you could persuade my brother to agree to a temporary divorce. You can reinstate the covenant later. At least this way, it will not affect your breakthrough.”

When Yuan Muzhou heard this, his brows furrowed. Just as he was about to speak, Shen Siyuan looked at him with a bitter smile. “Big Brother Yuan, you should know my heart after all these years. I am not saying this to take advantage of the situation. I… I only hope you can live a life where everything goes according to your wishes.”

At that moment, looking at Shen Siyuan’s haggard yet clear eyes, Yuan Muzhou’s heart trembled uncontrollably. He was the esteemed Sword Venerable, seen by the world as all-powerful. Yet who knew that “living according to one’s wishes” was a grand luxury for him? Only the person before him seemed to understand.

After a long silence, Yuan Muzhou slowly gripped Shen Siyuan’s hand and said in a voice that sounded foreign even to himself, “Recover well and do not think too much. I will consider what you said.”

In that instant, a moving brilliance clearly blossomed in Shen Siyuan’s eyes, and he instinctively gripped Yuan Muzhou’s hand back. At that time, Yuan Muzhou clearly understood the hope hidden in Shen Siyuan’s gaze, yet he did not let go of his hand.

After that night, once Yuan Muzhou calmed down, he fell into a deep dilemma. He understood that if he truly asked Shen Junyu to dissolve the companion covenant, there would be no going back. Moreover, he had once promised Shen Junyu that they would be a couple for a lifetime. He did not know how to choose, so he chose to escape.

Until three days ago, when Shen Siyuan offered to visit Shen Junyu at Yunmiao Pavilion, Yuan Muzhou guessed what he intended to do, yet he still gave him the written permission. In his heart, he desperately wanted to know the result of their conversation, yet he was also conflicted. He wanted to know if Shen Junyu still cared for him after all these years. Was he willing to temporarily dissolve the covenant for his breakthrough? If so, his years of devotion would not have been in vain.

Yet he could not help but wonder: if Shen Junyu really agreed, what choice should he make in the future? Therefore, on the night Shen Junyu and Shen Siyuan spoke, he waited for Shen Siyuan at the pavilion outside Yunmiao Pavilion.

Late at night, Shen Siyuan appeared before him in the snow with red eyes. With a face full of guilt and helplessness, he whispered, “Big Brother Yuan, I am sorry. I tried my best to persuade my brother, but he refused. I have no other way.”

In that moment, amidst the heavy snow, Yuan Muzhou heard the sound of his once indestructible Dao heart shattering. He finally made a choice in his heart. Since Shen Junyu cared so much about this ethereal title of partner, he would give it to him until the end. But that would be all.

His thoughts slowly returned to the present. Yuan Muzhou withdrew his hollow gaze from the endless sky and stepped into Yunmiao Pavilion.

When Yuan Muzhou arrived, Shen Junyu was gathering the jade slips he used for divination into a box. Seeing Yuan Muzhou standing at the doorway with a cold expression and covered in snow, Shen Junyu froze for a moment and put down the box. He steered his wheelchair toward Yuan Muzhou. Feeling the cold and oppressive aura around him, Shen Junyu said nothing. He simply took out a plain handkerchief, intending to wipe the snow from Yuan Muzhou’s furrowed brows.

In the past, Yuan Muzhou would have softened his expression, held Shen Junyu’s hand, and spoken a few words to him. Unexpectedly, this time, Yuan Muzhou simply flicked his finger with an indifferent look. A flash of light passed, and his cloak was as clean as new, untouched by dust.

Shen Junyu’s raised hand froze in mid-air. Yuan Muzhou ignored this and walked directly past him. He entered the room and stopped before the incense altar dedicated to the Three Pure Ones.

“What is it you wish to say?” Yuan Muzhou spoke with his back to Shen Junyu. His tone was cold and devoid of emotion.

Shen Junyu sat in his wheelchair and remained silent for a moment. He quietly put the handkerchief back into his robe. “Siyuan and Mother came to see me a few days ago.”

Yuan Muzhou closed his eyes, his voice carrying an ill-concealed weariness. “I know.”

The moment Yuan Muzhou said those words, Shen Junyu’s calm eyes finally trembled violently. His pale fingers instinctively gripped the wheelchair armrests. Yuan Muzhou knew? What did he know? Did he know about the absurd things Shen Siyuan and Yun Suyi had said to him, or did he only know that Shen Siyuan had been “wronged”?

At this moment, Shen Junyu would rather it be the latter. Thus, he asked, “Muzhou, do you truly know?”

After a brief silence, Yuan Muzhou remained turned away, staring coldly at the statues of the Three Pure Ones. He spoke in an extremely indifferent and calm tone. “The elders have been pushing hard this year. Siyuan has been working everywhere to find a way for me to break through. He was seriously injured because of it recently. He was simply too exhausted and acted out of concern when he said those things to you. You do not need to take them seriously, and do not let this damage your relationship as brothers. After all, he did it for me and the sect, and he was injured. You have done nothing, so do not blame him.”

Each word Yuan Muzhou spoke was casual, but in this bitter winter, they were like ice needles piercing Shen Junyu’s already numb heart. When the last sentence was spoken, Shen Junyu even thought he was hallucinating.

Relationship as brothers? Did Yuan Muzhou truly know what he was saying? Looking at Yuan Muzhou’s tall, straight back, Shen Junyu knew he was perfectly conscious.

The interior of Yunmiao Pavilion was silent. One could even hear the wailing of the wind and snow outside. Shen Junyu stared at Yuan Muzhou’s back for a long time, as if trying to see through it to his true thoughts. The more he looked, the colder and heavier his heart became.

However, thinking of what Yuan Muzhou had said, Shen Junyu still wanted to defend himself. He remained silent for a moment before saying with restraint, “Muzhou, I know Siyuan has worked hard, but I have not done nothing for the sect. Do you know that back then—”

“Enough.” Yuan Muzhou interrupted him, his voice heavy. He frowned, his face clearly showing that he thought Shen Junyu was being unreasonable. “There is no need to mention things from so long ago. I do not mean to blame you. I only hope you can be more sensible. At the very least, do not make us worry about you anymore.”

Shen Junyu was stunned. At this moment, he became completely quiet.

Us? When did Yuan Muzhou and Shen Siyuan become “us”?

So, everything Yun Suyi and Shen Siyuan said was true? Yuan Muzhou and he only had “old sentiments” left. After all, at this moment, he had even lost the right to be included in the word “us.”

After a long period of confusion, the last spark in Shen Junyu’s heart finally went out. Miraculously, however, he became calm again. Knowing the truth clearly made him more sober than being kept in the dark. The moment a knife pierces the flesh is the most painful, but it is only for a moment. It was better than endless suffering day and night, where one could see no future yet still tried to struggle.

Having thought this through, Shen Junyu looked up again at Yuan Muzhou’s cold back. In a voice that was calm to the extreme, he asked a question he had never thought of asking before.

He asked, “Muzhou, do you want a divorce?”

The air fell silent again. This silence was different; it carried a thick and sluggish undercurrent. Soon, the undercurrent subsided, and Yuan Muzhou finally turned his head to look at Shen Junyu. He showed his first expression since entering the room. He furrowed his handsome brows and said with restraint and a hint of weariness, “Junyu, I promised I would take care of you for a lifetime. Do not overthink things.”

Shen Junyu looked at Yuan Muzhou’s expression across the flickering light. Suddenly, his heart became still. He did not feel disappointed, nor did he feel any joy from receiving a promise. He only thought: As expected.

Shen Junyu’s expression was too calm. It was so frank that it produced a haunting sense of eeriness. Yuan Muzhou’s eyelid twitched slightly. Not knowing why Shen Junyu was like this, he was about to speak.

Shen Junyu suddenly looked up again and gazed at him quietly. “In that case, Muzhou, are you willing to swear an oath that you will never marry anyone else but me in this lifetime?”

Yuan Muzhou was slightly stunned. Then, a thick feeling of stagnation slowly grew in his heart. This feeling made him feel exceptionally weary at all times. He looked at Shen Junyu silently.

He used silence as a cold refusal.

Watching Yuan Muzhou’s nearly indifferent gaze, Shen Junyu did not show a trace of displeasure. After a long time, he smiled faintly. “I understand.”