Reborn As The Short-Lived White Moonlight of the Tragic, Powerful Male Lead - Chapter 6

Chapter 6

As the saying goes, “The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.” Xie Lanting followed Baili Wuhen, and the Gu family guards followed Xie Lanting. In the sea of people, they formed a discreet, hidden chain.

Chu Yi critiqued: “The Immortal Lord’s tracking skills are subpar; he’s relying entirely on his high cultivation for concealment. In terms of technique, we are far superior.”

Chu Er grunted: “Obviously. This is our profession.”

The two had swapped into common clothes, blending perfectly into the crowd. While speaking, Fifteen appeared like a ghost to exchange information.

“Confirmed. The pair are Baili Wuhen and Nian Wan’er—the Baili young master and the Nian family lady. Their goal is the Purple Flower Town, five miles outside Dongyang, to exorcise a demon.”

Chu Yi: “Baili? Nian? Never heard of them.”

Fifteen pulled out a small booklet, flipped through it, and replied: “The Baili family had a bit of a reputation three hundred years ago, but they’ve long since declined. The Nian family has never been famous. It’s normal you haven’t heard of them.”

Chu Er rubbed his chin: “A third-rate lineage and two kids who haven’t even formed their Cores. Why is the Immortal Lord following them?”

“Who knows?” Fifteen shrugged. “I’ve gathered all the intel I can on them, and I really don’t want to eavesdrop anymore. That Baili kid has no love in his eyes, yet sweet talk flows from him effortlessly. It makes my skin crawl. Pure pretense.”

Fifteen tucked away his notebook: “I’m heading back to the Young Master. You two keep an eye on the Immortal Lord.”

…

The news Fifteen gathered was the same Xie Lanting had picked up while tailing the pair. Having endured a barrage of “sweet nothings” and knowing Nian Wan’er’s tragic fate in the original book, Xie Lanting could only conclude that Baili Wuhen was a superb actor. He didn’t treasure Nian Wan’er; he only coveted her family’s treasure.

Night fell without further revelations. Xie Lanting returned to the inn to plan. Dongyang was too crowded; since Baili Wuhen was going to Purple Flower Town, he would strike there. Chaos made for a better escape.

Baili Wuhen and Nian Wan’er weren’t threats, but the Nian family attendant was a Golden Core. Xie Lanting hadn’t fought since transmigrating; against a peer of equal cultivation, the outcome was an unknown.

I only want Baili Wuhen’s life. I’ll use a distraction to keep the others away, he thought.

The moon rose. Xie Lanting blew out his lamp. Logically, he should sleep, but tonight he sat cross-legged on the bed to meditate, looking every bit the diligent cultivator.

He wasn’t being diligent; he was being forced.

Cold sweat beaded on his forehead, his brows knitted in pain. By the third watch (midnight), when all was silent, Xie Lanting finally opened his eyes. He set up a sound-isolating barrier around the room and clutched his chest, letting out the agonizing cry he had been suppressing.

“Ah… heavens, this… hurts too much, ugh!”

He collapsed onto the bed, curling into a ball. He removed his mask to wipe the sweat. With the barrier up, he no longer held back his voice. The pain in his limbs and meridians was life-threateningly intense.

It turned out the original body’s injuries hadn’t fully healed. A lingering side effect caused several days of intense suffering every month. During the day, it was a dull ache, but at night, the pain amplified until he felt like his soul was being shredded.

Having only inherited the memories and not the experience, Xie Lanting was truly caught off guard. He felt as if ten thousand ants were eating his heart. His vision went black; he wished he could knock himself unconscious.

“What a… mess!”

Transmigrating into a man with “Danger” written on his forehead and inheriting a broken body—why did he have to suffer like this?

He thought he would scream until dawn, but in his delirium, he found himself biting his own lip until he tasted blood. He hadn’t realized he was such a stubborn person.

Only when the first rooster crowed did the bone-chilling pain retreat. Xie Lanting lay limp on the bed, his inner robes soaked through with sweat as if he’d been fished out of a river. He couldn’t lift a finger.

Half-closing his eyes, he stared at his hand and asked the original soul: Xie Lanting, did you ever regret it?

If you hadn’t protected those disciples, you wouldn’t be broken and diminished. You’d still be the Peerless Sword Immortal. No one could bully you then—and now, in your pain, who is looking out for you?

Naturally, there was no answer.

The pain passed, and with it, the fragility and wandering thoughts. He sighed and rolled over. Regardless, he would fight to live. He hadn’t asked to be here, but since he was, he would live well enough to make the journey worthwhile.

…

He lay there until full daylight. When the waiter knocked, he finally found the strength to get up. He donned his mask and ordered hot water for a bath.

He downed half a pot of cold tea. His meridians no longer burned, though his chest felt a lingering tightness. He sat waiting for the water, but the damp clothes were uncomfortable. He stood and began to disrobe to at least wipe away the sweat.

He had just stripped down to his thin inner robes when there was a knock. Thinking it was the water, he pulled the door open—only to find himself face-to-face with a very handsome man.

Gu Yunqi stood with his hand still raised to knock, staring at Xie Lanting.

The inner robes were made of fine ice-silk, thin as a cicada’s wing. Once soaked with sweat and clinging to the skin, the visual was more scandalous than being naked. Gu Yunqi’s hand froze mid-air. He hurriedly looked away, his eyes darting around the hallway with nowhere to land.

Xie Lanting: “Oh, it’s you. What’s up?”

“I…” Gu Yunqi cleared his throat. “I heard movement in your room and thought you were up. I wanted to ask if you’d like to have breakfast together. Also, I had a question about a cultivation mantra I couldn’t grasp…”

Gu Yunqi was a dedicated actor playing a low-level cultivator who still needed three meals a day. Xie Lanting replied: “Go ahead and eat. I need to take a bath. Don’t wait for me.”

Gu Yunqi practically bolted away. Xie Lanting thought, Look how hungry the poor kid is, entirely unaware of the effect he’d just had.

Downstairs, Gu Yunqi sat at a table. A disguised Chu Er leaned in and whispered: “Young Master, your face is looking a bit…”

Gu Yunqi said decisively: “The weather is too hot.”

Chu Er pulled his thick clothes tighter: “Oh.” I totally believe you. Really.

Upstairs, Xie Lanting enjoyed his bath and downed a bottle of spiritual medicine. He changed into fresh clothes. His body, having been treated with medicine for years, carried a faint scent of herbs. It wasn’t unpleasant—a rare, botanical fragrance—but it always carried a hint of bitterness.

When he went downstairs, he found Gu Yunqi hadn’t eaten yet. He was waiting by the window with a table full of pastries, buns, wontons, and porridge. Gu Yunqi invited him: “The waiter recommended these. I saw you had a good appetite yesterday, so I ordered a bit of everything.”

Knows his stuff, Xie Lanting thought, sitting down happily. He ate while listening to Gu Yunqi’s fabricated cultivation problems, answering them with a good mood. He noticed Gu Yunqi didn’t eat much—just some porridge and a single piece of pastry.

The pastry was a medicinal cake—fragrant but slightly bitter. Xie Lanting liked it, but Gu Yunqi paused after one bite, slowly forcing himself to finish the small piece.

Xie Lanting lowered his gaze and stirred his porridge: “Not to your taste?”

Gu Yunqi thought, He’s quite observant. Perhaps being away from home made him less guarded. Gu Yunqi said calmly: “I don’t like bitter things.”

He had endured enough bitterness in life; why choose to eat it? He’d rather eat coarse grains than a “delicate” but bitter snack.

Suddenly, a plate was pushed in front of him. Snowy white cakes drizzled with golden honey and topped with tiny, fragrant osmanthus flowers. The scent was purely sweet.

“Honey Osmanthus Cake. It’s sweet.”

Xie Lanting pushed the sweet cakes toward him and swept the remaining medicinal cakes onto his own plate. He finished them, stood up, and left with a “Enjoy your meal,” leaving Gu Yunqi staring at the plate of osmanthus cakes.

The honey was intoxicating, the texture soft. Gu Yunqi slowly ate every single one. It was… very sweet.

While the sweetness lingered, Chu Yi sat across from him, pretending to be a friend but using voice transmission.

“Baili Wuhen and Nian Wan’er have left for Purple Flower Town. The Immortal Lord followed.”

Gu Yunqi wiped his hands and stood up: “We’re going too.”

…

Thus, when Xie Lanting bumped into Gu Yunqi at the entrance of Purple Flower Town, he blurted out: “Why are you here?”

His surprise was obvious. Gu Yunqi handled it smoothly: “I heard on the streets yesterday that an evil spirit is causing trouble here. Since I am out for experience, I cannot stand by and watch.”

It was a righteous, logical explanation. Xie Lanting: “…Fine.”

Gu Yunqi then asked: “And why is Senior here?”

Xie Lanting replied in a dry, deadpan voice: “Naturally, same as you. To punish evil and promote good.”

Gu Yunqi acted appropriately pleased: “Senior is truly virtuous! Since we have the same goal, why don’t we travel together?”

If Baili Wuhen was here to exorcise a demon and Gu Yunqi was jumping in, Xie Lanting couldn’t avoid him. Their paths were one; traveling together was inevitable.

On the way, Gu Yunqi shared the intel he’d “heard” from “passersby”: The trouble began a month ago when a pair of newlyweds vanished. Initially, no one suspected demons, until more couples disappeared on their wedding days. Eventually, one survivor returned, claiming to have seen a monstrous entity.

Xie Lanting: “Someone came back?”

“Yes,” Gu Yunqi nodded. “Six couples have vanished. In three cases, neither returned. In one case, both returned. In the remaining two, one bride returned from one, and one groom from the other.”

Logically, the town should be in a panic with no one daring to wed. But as they reached the Town Mayor’s manor, they were greeted by the sound of gongs and drums. Red silk fluttered everywhere. A wedding was being prepared.

However, there were no guests. The “lively” atmosphere was artificial, created only by the musicians. To hold a wedding now was either incredibly brave or a trap.

After they introduced themselves as sect disciples, the Mayor came out personally to greet them. Behind him were two people dressed in wedding finery.

Xie Lanting raised an eyebrow. He’d only lost sight of them for a moment, and now they were in wedding robes? What kind of play was this?