Reborn As The Short-Lived White Moonlight of the Tragic, Powerful Male Lead - Chapter 28

Chapter 28

A Bright Red and Very “Yellow” Face

After digesting the information, Xie Lanting learned the purpose of the Naga’s Heartless Tear.

It was the final tear shed by a Naga before they became completely heartless and emotionless. The owner could directly inherit the talent for illusions; the ultimate level of mastery would depend on one’s own cultivation.

In the original novel, there was no mention of a Naga’s Tear, but Gu Yunqi had used illusions. He once created a massive illusion to trap enemies and frequently used them as cover—always with effortless ease.

Arrays could also create illusions, but the book never described Gu Yunqi setting up arrays. Xie Lanting had assumed the process was simply omitted; now it seemed highly likely that he relied on the Naga’s Tear and didn’t need arrays at all.

However, the Naga’s Tear had already merged into his body. According to the Naga, unless the previous master died… wait, died?

Xie Lanting began to piece it together. In the original story, could it be that the Naga’s Tear only chose Gu Yunqi as its master after the Immortal Lord’s death?

It was very likely.

If that were the case, he hadn’t exactly stolen Gu Yunqi’s lucky encounter.

If I find a way back to my world later, I’ll see if I can leave the Naga’s Tear behind before I go. Once I’m in a different world, the Tear will be masterless, and perhaps it will find its way to Gu Yunqi then.

Having reached a conclusion, Xie Lanting picked a rock to sit on. He studied the art of illusion while waiting for the others to emerge.

The second one out was Chen Zhushu. He seemed emotionally stable as he hopped over to Xie Lanting with his tail: “Is the Immortal Lord the first one out? As expected of someone so amazing!”

“Immortal Lord, do you know? I experienced something terrifying in the illusion! The storytellers in there suddenly announced all at once that they would stop writing novels. My god, it was practically the end of the world!”

Chen Zhushu had a pure heart, so his illusion was much more amusing than others. Xie Lanting couldn’t help but laugh: “And that’s why you woke up?”

“Exactly! How can the world exist without storybooks? They are my source of happiness!” Chen Zhushu said. “I immediately realized it was fake, broke the illusion, and hurried out.”

As he spoke, he checked the piles of books in his spatial ring. His mood brightened: “Reality is still the best.”

Time flowed differently in the trial illusion compared to the outside. Xie Lanting and Chen Zhushu had already finished discussing a book together when a new disturbance appeared in the void. It was Ge Wen.

He looked a bit unhappy, but since he usually wore a stone face, the change wasn’t dramatic. Only Chen Zhushu saw it immediately and swished his tail over to comfort his senior brother.

Xie Lanting closed his book and frowned.

The illusion was only useless against himself. Since the trials for Chen Zhushu and Ge Wen went smoothly, Gu Yunqi’s trial should be proceeding normally as well.

In such trials, the more complex a person’s thoughts, the more difficult the experience. Xie Lanting had initially held the mindset that the protagonist wouldn’t need his help, so he had spent the time chatting with Chen Zhushu about everything under the sun. But now that even Ge Wen was out and Gu Yunqi still hadn’t appeared, he couldn’t help but worry.

Another half hour passed. The tip of Xie Lanting’s tail curled occasionally, betraying his inner turmoil.

According to the Naga, those who couldn’t break the illusion would be trapped inside forever.

Although it was impossible for the “dragon-slaying” male lead to fail at such a minor hurdle, hearts are made of flesh. Having spent so much time together, Xie Lanting couldn’t remain completely indifferent to Gu Yunqi’s situation.

It was the same logic as knowing the protagonist would eventually be powerful, yet still feeling angry when seeing him being bullied now.

Xie Lanting couldn’t help but ask the Naga: “Is it absolutely forbidden for outsiders to interfere during the trial?”

The Naga replied: “Once the inheritance of the Heartless Tear is complete, if the remaining people haven’t emerged from the illusion, the inheritor can enter to lend a hand and pull them out. There is one person left; do you wish to enter his illusion?”

Xie Lanting got his answer and hesitated before saying, “I’ll wait a bit longer.”

Illusions touch the deepest parts of the heart, effectively laying bare a person’s true self. Everyone has things they don’t want others to know. Although he had read the original work and knew Gu Yunqi through and through, intruding was still impolite.

I’ll wait one more stick of incense’s time. If Gu Yunqi still isn’t out, I’ll go in to help.

In matters of safety, politeness had to take a backseat. If he truly saw something he shouldn’t, he would offer a sincere apology after the rescue.

Another period passed, and still, there was no movement. Xie Lanting finally couldn’t sit still and asked the Naga to send him in.

“This is an inheritance constructed by the Heartless Tear,” the Naga said. “Meditate, and you will find the way in.”

Xie Lanting closed his eyes and activated the illusion techniques within his sea of consciousness. He heard the gentle ripple of water in his ears, and when he opened his eyes again, he was standing in a lush mountain forest.

Shouts and noises could be heard not far away. This was the trial illusion built by the Naga’s Heartless Tear, so Xie Lanting, as the current owner of the treasure, had a natural advantage. He first used the illusion to hide his form and transform his tail back into legs before walking forward.

After a few steps, the view suddenly opened up. He was standing right in front of the Gu family’s mountain gate.

Red silk and festive banners were everywhere; it was clearly the scene of a wedding.

Gu Yunqi stood before the gate in red wedding robes. This time, he wasn’t alone. A man and a woman stood beside him. Though they looked young, their eyes revealed the kindness of elders.

Looking closely, Gu Yunqi’s features were very similar to theirs. Xie Lanting’s heart skipped a beat: Could these be Gu Yunqi’s parents?

Sure enough, the woman raised her hand to straighten Gu Yunqi’s collar: “In the blink of an eye, my son has reached the age to start a family. Although time means nothing in cultivation, I can’t help but feel that years spare no one. I’ve grown old.”

Gu Yunqi grasped his mother’s hand: “But Mother is as beautiful as ever, you haven’t changed at all.”

Gu mother smiled: “Always so sweet-tongued!”

The family of three was a picture of harmony. Watching from the shadows, Xie Lanting sighed. No wonder Gu Yunqi was reluctant to leave; in this illusion, his parents were still alive. Even if he knew it was fake, he couldn’t resist staying for a few more glances.

Knowing he was safe for now, Xie Lanting felt relieved. He decided to wait a little longer.

By the way, Gu Yunqi was getting married in the illusion—to whom?

He wanted to see who would become Gu Yunqi’s Dao companion. That way, after their own divorce in the future, he could introduce a similar type to Gu Yunqi.

Not long after, Xie Lanting saw a familiar crane-drawn carriage flying from a distance. The accompanying entourage was from the Yujian Sect.

Xie Lanting: “…”

When the group landed, Gu Yunqi stepped forward to receive his bride—himself, dressed in wedding robes—from the carriage.

Mystery solved. The Dao companion was still him.

…Fine. After all, Gu Yunqi had only ever married him. Although there was no romantic love between them, they got along well enough. If the illusion needed to construct a wedding, using him as a placeholder made sense.

The ceremony was as grand as ever, but Gu Bu, Gu Jingping, and the others were absent. On the Yujian Sect side, Liu Qifeng and Shu Dao—who usually made things difficult for him—were also missing. Furthermore, he appeared healthy and vibrant, with a ruddy complexion.

It wasn’t a forced marriage, but rather a joyful union of mutual affection.

Parents alive, a wedding night… all of life’s greatest joys. It seemed the illusion intended to create a beautiful dream to make Gu Yunqi indulge and drown in it.

Xie Lanting sighed. Even he couldn’t bear to break such a dream… wait, did I just mention the “wedding night”?

Xie Lanting watched as the wedding banquet lasted until evening. Amidst the cheering of the guests, the new couple returned to their bridal chamber.

The chamber was no longer a small, broken house, but a residence befitting the status of a Gu family Young Master. Xie Lanting watched the couple enter the room hand-in-hand. He wondered if the illusion would be that detailed—should he skip this part?

After they had been inside for a while, Xie Lanting hesitated, but eventually phased through the wall.

Within seconds, he retreated, his face bright red and his heart “yellow” (dirty/scandalized).

Red was the physical color of his face; yellow was the mind of a grown adult.

When he saw “himself” lying beneath another person with disheveled clothes, a flushed face, and eyes full of longing, Xie Lanting admitted that the thickness of his skin had limits.

Not to mention Gu Yunqi’s face, which already had a lethal effect on him, leaning in so tenderly and passionately… no “face-con” (someone obsessed with beauty) could withstand it!

Xie Lanting was going crazy. Had Gu Yunqi not realized this was an illusion yet?! But given the current situation, he was too embarrassed to show himself!

Imagine: Gu Yunqi is about to enjoy a spring night with the “you” in the illusion, and you suddenly appear by the bedside saying, “Hi, wake up, stop dreaming.”

Who would be the embarrassed one? Who?!

Regardless, he certainly wouldn’t be able to escape the awkwardness.

Xie Lanting stood at the door with a complex expression. Just as he summoned the courage to take half a step closer, he suddenly heard a faint, soft moan from behind the door.

It was the kind of sound made only when one is comfortable and enjoying themselves—extremely cozy, laced with affection, and meltingly soft.

It was definitely his own voice.

Xie Lanting jumped back ten feet as if struck by lightning and fled the scene immediately. He stayed far away from the bridal chamber. He was certain Gu Yunqi hadn’t realized it was an illusion yet; his mind must be clouded, otherwise, he wouldn’t be doing this.

But even if his mind was clouded, an illusion touches the things at the bottom of one’s heart… while Xie Lanting was only at the stage of “craving his face,” Gu Yunqi was already “craving his body”?!

Xie Lanting recalled how Gu Yunqi’s robes were also half-fallen in that room, the red candles reflecting on his face… that appearance and expression truly made one’s imagination run wild.

His throat moved, and he couldn’t help but cover his face. Fine, for a face-con like him, it actually was acceptable.

Even with the illusion’s boost, it didn’t change the fact that Gu Yunqi was “down for it” with him. So the original novel didn’t mention it, but Gu Yunqi was actually a face-con too?

Xie Lanting found a tree and flipped himself up onto a branch, intending to let the cold wind blow. Either way, it was impossible for him to go and wake Gu Yunqi up right now.

He didn’t know how long the illusion planned to stretch tonight, or if the cold wind was enough to blow away the heat in his face.

…

Inside the room, the Xie Lanting created by the illusion lay with a dazed gaze on a bed covered in crimson silk. His robes were messy as he raised his hands to circle Gu Yunqi’s neck, breathing softly: “Yunqi…”

Gu Yunqi propped himself above him, looking at him tenderly and quietly.

“Yunqi…” the illusion-Xie Lanting called him with a languid voice, “Come…”

Gu Yunqi raised a hand to stroke his face. After a moment, he leaned down, held the person, and rolled over, pulling Xie Lanting into his arms but making no further moves.

The illusion-Xie Lanting hugged his back and made a confused sound: “Hm? What’s wrong?”

“Immortal Lord, let’s go bid farewell to my parents tomorrow morning.”

Xie Lanting: “Sure. Is there somewhere you want to go?”

“Yes. I’ve actually traveled to many places over the years, but I always went in a hurry. I’d leave as soon as the business was done and never got a good look at the beautiful mountains and rivers.”

Gu Yunqi held him, resting his chin on Xie Lanting’s shoulder, and spoke slowly into his ear: “They are actually worth stopping for. Beautiful moments and scenery shouldn’t be wasted. I’ll take the Immortal Lord to see them.”

“Just the two of us?” the illusion-Xie Lanting smiled. “Alright.”

“I actually wanted to see them with my parents too, but the opportunity has already passed.”

As Gu Yunqi said this, his eyes reddened. Fortunately, the illusion-Xie Lanting couldn’t see. He steadied his voice and even spoke with a light, smiling tone: “My parents need their time as a couple too. I’ve been clingy since I was a child; I was too immature. They still have each other. We will see our scenery, and they will see theirs. When we’re done, we’ll go home, gather together, and share our stories as table talk. The whole family together, happy.”

Xie Lanting: “We can go with your parents occasionally too. I don’t mind. We still have a long time.”

Gu Yunqi choked almost imperceptibly: “…Yes. We still have a long time.”

His hand moved up, stroking through Xie Lanting’s hair, and stopped at the back of his neck: “Immortal Lord, let’s rest.”

Xie Lanting’s ears turned red, but before that soul-stirring voice could speak again, Gu Yunqi suddenly pinched the back of his neck. Xie Lanting’s body stiffened and he immediately fainted.

Gu Yunqi gently laid him down, removed his outer robes, and covered him with the quilt. Then he stood up, straightened his slightly messy clothes, and sat down in the center of the room with his attire perfectly in order.

He had known for a long time that this was just a beautiful dream. His will was simply not strong enough; he was unwilling to wake up immediately.

He had long since missed the chance to tour the world with his parents, because they were long gone.

Give me a little more time… After I say goodbye to them tomorrow morning, I’ll break this illusion. Let this be my final moment of weakness.

But this illusion is quite ridiculous, Gu Yunqi thought as he looked at the person sleeping soundly on the bed. How could the Immortal Lord possibly show such an expression to seduce me?

Recalling the gaze he had just seen, he hurriedly poured a cup of cold tea and drank it to suppress the “fire.”

He had to admit, with Xie Lanting’s face, the lethal power was truly strong.

…

A night passed. The real Xie Lanting on the tree branch watched the two come out of the room. He didn’t want to know at all how many “R-rated” scenes had played out in that room last night. He jumped down from the tree, using the Naga’s Tear to hide his form and aura, and followed them slowly.

At the main hall, Gu Yunqi and the “Xie Lanting” served tea to Gu’s parents. The family of four was harmonious. Xie Lanting thought he would give him a little more time with his parents; if Gu Yunqi didn’t wake up by noon, he would reveal himself.

After all, he didn’t want to wait until nightfall to see another “live-action storybook” version of himself.

But just as Xie Lanting turned around and before he could step over the threshold, the scene before him changed abruptly. The warm house was gone. Lightning and thunder crashed in the night sky above him, and torrential rain poured down, splashing violently against the ground.

Xie Lanting’s face turned deathly pale in an instant; he nearly lost his footing.

He clutched his chest and turned around stumblingly, only to see Gu Yunqi kneeling in the rain, holding “himself” in his arms. The rain washed away the blood; it was obvious the person in his arms had been dead for a long time.

The doors to the Gu family ancestral hall were blown open by the wind, and the spirit tablets of Gu Yunqi’s parents stood coldly inside.

The illusion had realized that a beautiful dream couldn’t keep Gu Yunqi, so it shattered the dream into a nightmare, wanting him to lose control and lose himself.

Gu Yunqi’s face shifted from horror to a silence deeper than the night. Holding “Xie Lanting’s” corpse, he slowly drew the sword Cangyue.

Xie Lanting knew he was awake and about to break the illusion. He hurriedly used the Naga’s Tear to evacuate first, as he didn’t want to stay in this environment for a single second longer.

He couldn’t help but curse inwardly at what a terrible trial this was: picking the thunderstorm night he hated and letting “himself” die in Gu Yunqi’s arms in such weather.

If the Naga’s Tear weren’t already in his possession, he would have suspected this illusion was his own true trial.

…

After Xie Lanting emerged, his stress response to the thunderstorm hadn’t faded. His face looked terrible. Chen Zhushu hurriedly said, “Immortal Lord, what happened…”

Xie Lanting couldn’t care about anything else and grabbed his shoulder: “Don’t let him know I went in later.”

The “he” was, of course, Gu Yunqi. Chen Zhushu didn’t understand why, but he nodded and agreed. Ge Wen was a man of few words and didn’t care to meddle.

Xie Lanting tucked his still-shaking hands into his sleeves. Fortunately, he hadn’t stayed in the thunderstorm for long and managed to recover his normal appearance before Gu Yunqi came out.

When Gu Yunqi stepped out of the secret realm, he was covered in an irrepressible murderous aura. His entire temperament was completely different—one could believe he was a different person. Only after seeing Xie Lanting did his shoulders relax, and the gloomy aura slowly retracted.

He walked toward Xie Lanting, his body swaying. Xie Lanting instinctively reached out to support him. Gu Yunqi leaned his weight on Xie Lanting’s shoulder, his voice weary: “Immortal Lord, I’m so tired.”

Recalling what he had seen in the illusion, Xie Lanting remained silent for a moment before raising his hand to pat his back: “It’s alright. The illusion was all fake.”

The wedding night, the thunderstorm horror… it really is terrifying.

Gu Yunqi leaned on Xie Lanting’s shoulder and closed his eyes. He thought to himself: This isn’t good.

In his emotional turmoil just now, he had moved his spiritual energy too much. His cultivation was about to become uncontrollable. At this rate, he would break through in a day or two at most.

He had to quickly figure out how to hide it.