The Beautiful Pariah Thought He Could Be Loved - Chapter 26

Chapter 26: The Five Senses Sealed

The copper bells hanging beneath the upturned eaves swayed with the wind, revealing the sharp, pale tip of a paulownia core.

Red lanterns supported by bamboo frames hung under the eaves. The glazed roof tiles were laid out neatly, while the pillars had turned a dark red over the passage of time.

Two young attendants dressed in lotus-colored outer robes waited quietly between the pillars.

Ordinary sounds of congratulation drifted from within; the atmosphere was relaxed.

Inside the hall, beneath a landscape ink painting, a table was set. Two cultivators with the air of transcendent immortals sat on either side. One had graying hair and a solemn expression as he stroked his beard, though his face was far from relaxed.

The other sat with eyes downcast, watching the emerald tea leaves settled at the bottom of his cup.

On either side of them were five armchairs, where cultivators sat conversing cheerfully.

The Blood Glory Palace had been completely purged. Representatives from various sects had gathered to express their joy.

“This plan’s success is thanks to our young nephew here,” an old man spoke first, clapping his hands and laughing heartily. “You truly surprised us. When the rumors first spread, I said I didn’t believe them. I didn’t realize you had this in mind all along.”

He pointed at He Lvqing with a smile. “Good lad! You even managed to fool all of us!”

Others chimed in amiably, “Indeed, Daoist He is a blessing to the world.”

At this moment, one should have offered a few humble words of modesty. He Lvqing knew this well, yet he remained silent. His palm rested lightly over the tea lid, rubbing it back and forth.

The lid clattered against the cup, producing a piercing, grating sound.

The atmosphere in the hall shifted instantly.

Many frowned. To them, He Lvqing’s gesture signaled that “what you are saying is nonsense.”

He was far too arrogant.

Though He Lvqing had always been proud, he was never the type to ignore people so blatantly.

Elder Han, seated at the head, shot him a sidelong glance. The tea in He Lvqing’s hand had long since lost its heat; what was he still rubbing it for?

Looking closer, he realized He Lvqing’s pupils were unfocused. His mind was elsewhere. Thinking of that person, the Elder couldn’t help but let out a sorrowful sigh.

The old man felt slighted but didn’t want to break the day’s pleasant mood. He chuckled darkly to himself: To even be able to strike down the person sharing your bed… He Lvqing, you are truly cold-blooded.

Or perhaps…

His gaze shifted to the young man sitting at the very end of the row. Warm sunlight fell upon the youth, softening his silhouette, leaving only a faint, smiling outline visible.

A chill ran down the old man’s spine. He turned back to find He Lvqing staring at him with those pale green eyes, though he hadn’t noticed when he’d looked up.

The old man shuddered and instinctively offered a forced smile.

After a moment, He Lvqing withdrew his gaze and set the teacup back on the table.

Elder Han spoke to change the subject: “Scholar Duan has just returned. I wonder if there have been any gains?”

Duan Shi, sitting closest to the door, shook his head slightly. He Lvqing looked over; Duan Shi’s eyes were still covered by a white cloth, and he wore a shallow smile.

A month ago, the Immortal Alliance had besieged the Demon Abyss, intending to wipe out the demon race. Unexpectedly, the pure-blood tribes received word and went into hiding. The Alliance had no choice but to destroy organizations of mixed-blood demons, like the Blood Glory Palace, before returning.

The Liumo Sect had tasked Duan Shi with staying behind in the Demon Abyss to track the whereabouts of the Qingrong Flute.

Now that Duan Shi was back, he indicated he had found nothing.

Duan Shi was exceptionally gifted in the art of divination, sometimes even capable of foretelling the future. Lvqing’s gaze lingered searchingly on the white cloth over his eyes for several moments.

He had heard that Duan Shi was severely injured during this trip, yet today he moved freely up the mountain, his expression normal, with no visible wounds on his skin.

Was it his eyes that were injured?

The atmosphere turned heavy. The representative of the Hutung Sect asked anxiously and cautiously, “In Daoist Duan’s opinion, does my sect’s Qingrong Flute still exist in this world?”

Duan Shi’s voice was clear as he replied slowly, “That is exactly what I was going to say. The Qingrong Flute is still out there.”

Among the mixed-blood sects, the Blood Glory Palace was the most powerful; only they had the strength to steal the Qingrong Flute.

They had searched the Palace inside and out, top to bottom, but found no trace of it.

Someone whispered, “Could it be in the hands of the pure-blood demons?”

This was a terrifying conclusion. When did the pure-bloods recover their strength? Why did they want the flute? Most importantly, the Immortal Alliance was currently exhausted; if the pure-bloods decided to act…

At this point, someone looked at He Lvqing reproachfully, only to find He Lvqing meeting his gaze head-on. That person instantly shrunk back. He Lvqing let out a cold sneer.

Seeing this, Duan Shi’s voice rang out at a moderate volume: “I still need to investigate further.”

“However… I did find the remains of the Overlord Bow during my journey. I consulted a weapon refiner; it can no longer be repaired.” He took a folded square cloth from his storage pouch. “Sect Leader Wang, please accept my condolences.”

“What?!” A female cultivator stood up abruptly, her voice trembling. “Then… then my son?”

Duan Shi said apologetically, “I did not find your son’s body. Judging by the scene, it seems a high-ranking demon detonated its inner core, causing an explosion.”

He was implying: Your son could not have survived.

The woman swayed, then sat back down half an hour later, looking soul-less and holding her head.

He Lvqing frowned and spoke his first words of the day: “A high-ranking demon? Can you confirm if it was Fei Jia?”

“I have never seen Fei Jia. However…” Duan Shi’s voice was soft, keeping everyone in suspense.

“I performed a divination. It was Fei Jia.”

Someone wondered, “Why would Fei Jia flee in that direction? Does anyone here know what he was doing there?”

“Could the Qingrong Flute be near there!”

Duan Shi didn’t deny it, saying leisurely, “I heard that Xin Sha once intended for Fei Jia to marry the Young Palace Master, Xin Qishu?”

The name Xin Qishu—the thread running through the entire plan—was mentioned for the first time since the annihilation of the Blood Glory Palace.

As the sun shifted west, Duan Shi’s features were finally fully exposed. But his eyes, the most expressive part of a face, were covered. From his orientation, he was looking at He Lvqing.

Lvqing’s expression was icy as he spat out a single word: “Yes.”

Someone guessed bluntly, “Was he going to see Xin Qishu?”

Several pairs of eyes turned toward He Lvqing. The old man said, “Surely the Sword Sovereign killed Xin Qishu before the rendezvous?”

“Is that so?” Duan Shi asked pointedly.

Lvqing’s eyes were exceptionally cold, his facial features sharp as if carved by a blade. “No. Xin Qishu is currently in the dungeon, awaiting future interrogation.”

The reputation of the Fayu Court Dungeon was legendary; no one voiced an objection to this decision.

Duan Shi stood up. “I wonder if it would be convenient to open the cell door. I wish to ask him a few things.”

As soon as he finished, He Lvqing immediately refused: “It is not convenient.”

The crowd looked at him strangely.

Duan Shi didn’t push further. He cupped his hands and said, “In that case, I shall take my leave.”

Elder Han cleared his throat. “I heard our nephew was severely injured. Why not stay at Fayu Court to recover? It won’t be too late to leave once you are well.”

After declining a few times, Duan Shi eventually stayed.

…

The meeting adjourned, and the crowd headed out. Duan Shi walked to the front.

Lush, tall trees lined the path, their thick green leaves blocking out the harsh light. Small plaques hung on the brown trunks.

With no one around, Duan Shi’s smile flattened, replaced by an eerie aura.

Xin Qishu imprisoned in the dungeon?

He didn’t believe that lie for a second.

He was very concerned about the blood-red particles that had drifted out the day he chased the Qingrong Flute. His intuition told him he was close to the truth.

Xin Qishu must know what they were.

But where is Xin Qishu now?

He rolled his eyes thoughtfully.

…

After the banquet, He Lvqing did not linger. He flew via sword to his residence, located on a remote peak. The peak was protected by a barrier that ordinary people could not enter.

Several palaces stood at the summit.

One belonged to Yang Li, who had not gone to the Demon Abyss. After the incident at the Yunzi River, his cultivation had gone awry; he had coughed up blood and frequently fell into deep sleep, so the Elders left him at Fayu Court.

Passing his own palace, He Lvqing did not go in. Instead, he continued toward a cliff at the edge of the peak. Below the cliff was the churning sea.

The waves crashed against the rocks with a rhythmic thumping sound.

He Lvqing flicked his sleeve and jumped, falling into the rolling waves.

Underwater, he pressed his palm against a certain rock. After a surge of suction, the water vanished, and he was pulled into another place.

The sky here was blue and clear. A clear river flowed beside a forest, and a wooden hut sat nestled in the lush green grass. Stone slabs were laid out in front of the hut, and the sturdy lawn on either side was dotted with tiny flowers.

The temperature here was not hot; it was like eternal spring.

This place was actually still within Fayu Court, hidden by an array left by an ancestor. To hide the array, the ancestor had specifically diverted an unnatural sea.

When He Lvqing was young, he used to stare at this strange sea from the cliff, completely baffled. Once, after a setback in his cultivation, he let himself fall, discovering this secret while holding his breath.

Now, a second secret was hidden within this one.

On the stone slabs outside the door was a trail of wet footprints.

They led inside.

Lvqing’s eyes narrowed. He stepped forward and pushed the door open forcefully.

The interior was well-lit, with warm beams of light hitting the floor. Xin Qishu lay on the bed with his eyes closed. Ye Yi was sitting casually on the floor by the bedside with one leg hooked up, looking drenched and staring gloomily at Xin Qishu’s face.

Beside him on the floor lay a flopping, lively grass carp.

Water droplets flying off the fish splashed onto the hem of He Lvqing’s robe.

He Lvqing frowned. “How did you find this place?”

He had never told anyone about this spot.

“I’ve been taking care of this peak since you left. I know every corner of it perfectly.” Ye Yi didn’t care at all about being caught; he didn’t even look up.

After a pause, he asked, “What’s wrong with him?”

He had been here for a long time, and Xin Qishu had been lying there without waking. No matter what he did, there was no reaction.

Yet, his pulse was still beating.

“Did you do this to him?”

“No,” He Lvqing said. “The shock was too great. His body began to protect itself by sealing off the five senses. He might only open his eyes when he feels his surroundings are safe…”

“You confessed to him?” Ye Yi didn’t ask why He Lvqing hadn’t killed Xin Qishu or put him in the dungeon. The answer to that was far too obvious.

He Lvqing’s voice was hoarse. “I couldn’t hide it. Fei Jia took him out of the room.”

That day, after Xin Qishu asked that one question, he seemed to lose his soul. He had no reaction to anything He Lvqing did. It wasn’t until He Lvqing brought him out of the Demon Abyss that Xin Qishu closed his eyes.

Ye Yi fell silent. Dust motes drifted slowly in the sunlight inside the hut.

“Leave,” He Lvqing began to usher his guest out.

Ye Yi let out a sigh and stood up, walking toward the door.

“Take your fish with you.”

Ye Yi curled his lip, waved his hand, and the fish flew out behind him.

After the sound of the array activating, He Lvqing sat in Ye Yi’s spot, gazing obsessively at Xin Qishu’s bloodless face.

When will you wake up?

I still have things to say to you… if you don’t want to hear them, I can stay quiet…

Wake up. It’s all over. I won’t lie to you anymore… truly, truly, truly, truly…

Xin Qishu’s lips turned down slightly.

He Lvqing paused, then reached out and very gently pinched his cheek.

Xin Qishu’s expression remained unhappy, as if in silent protest.

Why did you hide him here secretly? Why didn’t you come to see him… He Lvqing let his imagination run wild with the expressions and movements Xin Qishu would make…

This scene felt strangely familiar. On some late night, he had done something similar. What was he doing then? Oh, he was taking Xin Qishu’s blood.

Memories flooded back. The past and present intertwined continuously. He broke down, covering his face and burying it in the quilt.

A few muffled sobs escaped.