The Handsome, Powerful, and Tragic Master Has Been Reborn [Transmigration] - Chapter 4

Yue Wuji froze for a fleeting second before the sharpness in his eyes softened. He reached out, gently patting Jun Lianyi’s head, and then turned his gaze away to the dawning horizon. When he spoke, his voice sounded as if it were drifting from a great distance; ethereal and preeningly calm.

“I didn’t used to fear the cold, but now… I find myself dreading the chill quite a bit.”

Jun Lianyi didn’t fully grasp the weight behind those words, yet seeing Yue Wuji like this caused an inexplicable pang in his chest. He reached out and carefully gathered Yue Wuji’s hands into his own, breathing warmth into them and rubbing them gently. “Then your disciple will simply stay by Shizun’s side forever to warm your palms. That way, Shizun will never feel cold again.”

Yue Wuji turned back to look at him in silence, offering no further reply.

*****

This mysterious ailment of Yue Wuji’s persisted for three months. During this time, Jun Lianyi summoned Xiaoyaozi several more times, but the physician remained baffled by the root cause. Xiaoyaozi repeatedly requested to enter Yue Wuji’s sea of consciousness to investigate, but Yue Wuji refused him every single time.

It was common knowledge that the sea of consciousness was the seat of a cultivator’s power; not only did the spiritual sense and Nascent Soul reside there, but it also housed one’s most deeply buried memories. Jun Lianyi recalled from the original novel that Shizun’s childhood had been harrowing; he figured Yue Wuji simply didn’t want to expose those tragic memories to anyone and thus didn’t press the matter.

Over those three months, Jun Lianyi cared for Yue Wuji with unmatched devotion. He added layers to his clothing when it was cold, personally prepared medicinal soups to coax a smile from him, and when nightmares woke the man, Jun Lianyi would hold him close with tender comfort. His care was, in every sense, meticulous.

One afternoon, Jun Lianyi arrived with a freshly brewed medicinal congee only to find Yue Wuji standing by the bed wearing nothing but a thin inner robe. His brow furrowed in disapproval as he set the bowl down and grabbed a cloak from the bench, draping it over Yue Wuji’s shoulders. “Shizun is neglecting his layers again,” he said, his tone carrying a soft, scolding weight.

Yue Wuji’s expression shifted slightly as he waved a hand to dismiss a transmission talisman from Xiaoyaozi. He turned to Jun Lianyi and spoke tonelessly, “I was merely getting up to send a reply to your Sect Uncle.”

Jun Lianyi wasn’t interested in excuses. He pulled Yue Wuji toward the table, his deer-like eyes scanning the man before he reached out to tighten the lapels of his robe. He then pressed the bowl of congee into Yue Wuji’s hands. “Try this, Shizun. It’s a new recipe I developed using the finest spirit herbs and grain from Peony Mountain. For an ordinary person, this would cause a surge in cultivation; for Shizun, it will nourish your spiritual energy.”

“I have long since reached the stage of Bigu and have no need for food. You needn’t work so hard every day; don’t do this again.” Despite the rejection in his words, Yue Wuji’s hand reached out to accept the bowl.

He ate with a quiet, effortless grace, his movements never making the slightest sound. Jun Lianyi loved watching him eat; in these moments, he would nod and smile at whatever Shizun said, thinking to himself: You’re my “wife,” and I find joy in cooking for you. There’s no such thing as “too much work.”

Unaware of these thoughts, Yue Wuji finished the congee and set the bowl down. Just as Jun Lianyi was about to clear the table, Yue Wuji spoke.

“Lianyi, sit. I have something to tell you.”

Jun Lianyi blinked in surprise. “Was the congee not to Shizun’s liking?”

Yue Wuji shook his head.

Feeling a sudden, nervous flutter, Jun Lianyi sat back down and looked at him expectantly. “What is it, Shizun?”

“It concerns the Deep Sea Secret Realm.” Yue Wuji’s tone was level as he flicked his sleeve, revealing a crimson pill in his palm.

Jun Lianyi eyed the pill with curiosity and a hint of excitement. “What is this?”

He knew of the Deep Sea Secret Realm from the original book. It was a pivotal plot point where the scum gong first entered a trial, and it served as the catalyst for Shizun’s feelings to deepen into a genuine obsession.

“Three days from now will mark seven years since you joined the sect,” Yue Wuji explained. “Divine Sword Sect mandates that any disciple who has reached their seventh year must travel to the Deep Sea Secret Realm for a trial.”

“Oh…” Jun Lianyi rested his chin in his hand, lost in thought.

Yue Wuji continued, “The realm lies ten thousand miles beneath the ocean. This is a Fish Pill; once consumed, it allows one to breathe freely underwater for over three months.” He paused, his gaze intensifying. “Lianyi, remember this well: the pill is only effective for three months. If you have not cleared the realm by then, you must not persist. You must return immediately. Do you understand?”

Moved by the trace of worry in the man’s eyes, Jun Lianyi nodded vigorously. “Your disciple will keep it in mind.”

In the original story, the scum gong had intentionally ignored this warning to trap himself in danger, eventually baiting Yue Wuji into a rescue mission to steal his first kiss. While Jun Lianyi certainly wouldn’t mind a kiss, his goal was to be a supportive partner, not a source of trouble.

After thanking Yue Wuji and taking the Fish Pill, Jun Lianyi returned to his room to pack. Most of his luggage consisted of spiritual artifacts and talismans, with the rest being simple changes of clothes. This would be his first time away from Yue Wuji since transmigrating, and he felt a heavy sense of reluctance.

Before leaving, he decided to pay Yue Wuji one last visit to say a proper goodbye. Just as he raised his hand to knock, the door swung open from the inside. His fist nearly collided with Yue Wuji’s forehead, but the man tilted his head with lightning-fast reflexes to avoid the blow.

“I’m so sorry, Shizun! Why… why were you coming out?”

A complex emotion flickered in Yue Wuji’s eyes before vanishing behind a mask of calm. “It is nothing major. I simply had something I wanted to give you.”

“What is it?” Jun Lianyi was eager; anything from Yue Wuji was a treasure to him.

Yue Wuji reached into his sleeve and pulled out a tiny, delicate fox, offering it to him.

“This is a Sleeve Fox, a type of spirit beast. You need only feed it a drop of your blood for it to regain its true form, which is the size of a regular fox. Its cultivation is equivalent to a Golden Core stage cultivator. When not in use, recite the incantation, and it will shrink back down to be carried in your sleeve. Take it with you; it may be of use during your journey.”

Since Jun Lianyi was currently at the Nascent Soul stage, having a Golden Core level spirit beast as an assistant would certainly make the trial easier. He was thrilled. Hearing these words of concern from the usually expressionless Yue Wuji touched his heart deeply. His hands trembled slightly as he reached for the small creature. “Your disciple thanks Shizun for the gift!”

As Yue Wuji placed the fox in his palm, his fingertips brushed lightly against Jun Lianyi’s cheek—a gesture that seemed to carry a mix of lingering affection and reluctant parting. Finally, he turned his back to the boy, his voice sounding slightly husky. “Go now. Be careful on your way.”

“Yes, I understand!” Jun Lianyi carefully tucked away the Sleeve Fox. He stole one last look at Yue Wuji’s back, and just as he turned to leave, he heard a voice behind him.

“Lianyi,” he called.

Jun Lianyi froze mid-step and turned around. “Does Shizun have more instructions?”

Yue Wuji did not turn around, and his voice betrayed no emotion. “I… did once care for you.”

Jun Lianyi was stunned for a second. Then, a wide, bright smile broke across his face. “And I care for Shizun, too! I cared before, I care now, and I will always care for you in the future!”

Yue Wuji’s body stiffened. He silently closed his eyes, a weary, bitter smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He gave a soft “Mm” and waved a hand toward Jun Lianyi. “Go on, then.”

“Your disciple takes his leave!”

*****

In the Divine Sword Sect, the Sword Branch was the most prestigious, and within that branch, Jun Lianyi was the only one fortunate enough to be Yue Wuji’s personal disciple. For others, even catching a glimpse of the Immortal Venerable was as difficult as reaching the heavens. As the sole disciple, Jun Lianyi had not disappointed; he had risen through the ranks to become the most outstanding student in the sect.

The ranking system at Divine Sword Sect was unique; instead of being based on the order of entry, it was based purely on strength. As the current “Eldest Senior Brother,” Jun Lianyi was responsible for teaching other disciples four times a year. This meant descending the mountain every three months to instruct others in the basic techniques taught by Yue Wuji.

His next teaching stint was supposed to be in a few days, and he had hoped to use the time to get to know his juniors better. Now, he would have to play it by ear.

There were many others entering the secret realm this time, most of whom were familiar faces from the original body’s memories. There were ten from the Sword Branch, eight from Alchemy, eight from Artifacts, and five each from the Dao and Dharma branches—thirty-seven people in total, including him.

After nervously greeting the others, Jun Lianyi finally breathed a sigh of relief. He found a secluded spot on the cloud boat and quietly pulled out the Sleeve Fox. He brushed his finger over the fox’s head, his heart full of joy. “Little fox, did Shizun give you a name?”

The fox looked up at him, its golden pupils widening as it let out a few soft, high-pitched cries. Jun Lianyi couldn’t understand it, but knowing Shizun, the man likely wouldn’t bother naming a spirit beast. He stroked it again with a smile. “Since Shizun didn’t give you one, how about I do? Let’s call you A-Li, okay?”

A-Li was the name of his cat back home. Even though the cat was annoying and always woke him up, he realized he actually missed the little creature.

The fox cried out twice more, wagging its tail and nuzzling its head against his hand. Jun Lianyi’s heart melted. On a whim, he pricked his finger and fed the fox a drop of his blood. “From today on, stay by my side as a companion, okay? I won’t hide you away in my sleeve!”

Upon drinking the blood, the fox transformed with a soft poof into its full size and pounced on Jun Lianyi. They tumbled together in a heap, the fox clearly delighted.

Meanwhile, back at Yueqing Villa, Yue Wuji stood silently by the window. Before him floated a water mirror, currently displaying the image of Jun Lianyi rolling around and laughing with the fox.

Suddenly, the little fox in the mirror seemed to sense something. It looked up, staring through the void and directly into Yue Wuji’s eyes.

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