Transmigrated as the Villain and Driven Crazy by the Vengeful Male Lead - Chapter 43

Chapter 43: The Rift – Are We in Love?

After that day, Chang Huaichen had Jiang Zhiqing follow him to learn magic.

Jiang Zhiqing asked him: “Am I learning to save people, or to summon ghosts?”

Chang Huaichen’s beautiful eyes curved: “I’ll tell you once you’ve learned it.”

Jiang Zhiqing was already over twenty; logically, he had long passed the optimal age for cultivation. However, his talent was startlingly high. In less than a year, he cultivated a spiritual core.

Perhaps because Chang Huaichen loved this period so much, the dreamscape did not accelerate, despite no major events occurring. On the contrary, Su Cheyue felt the time was passing extremely slowly—so slowly that even he, let alone Lyu Shuyao, found it a bit of an ordeal.

It was like a ceaseless trickle of water, or snow that refused to melt.

They would walk hand-in-hand in deserted valleys under the night sky, kiss amidst the roar of waterfalls that drowned out the world, and linger in intimacy within the inviolable sleeping quarters.

They would wear masks to go down the mountain, taste the blandest food, drink the roughest wine, and spend warm nights in small cottages.

During these times, Chang Huaichen would talk about Su Chen, Su Cheyue’s father. Jiang Zhiqing didn’t understand much about the cultivation world, but he listened with rapt attention.

One day, as they emerged from a wine shop, they encountered a family in Huailing selling their daughter.

Calling it “selling” was a stretch; in reality, the family was haunted by evil spirits and, in a fit of desperation, had sought help from a traveling Taoist on the street. The Taoist had a long but thin beard and small, murky eyes that darted around constantly. He had taken their money with a grin but failed to deliver results. The lady of the house was not easily brushed off, however, and had been hunting the Taoist across the city every day.

Today, she finally caught him, refusing to let go: “Master! I finally found you! Master! We bought so many of your talismans and covered the whole house with them, so why is my son’s nightmare still not cured?! And my little daughter sees that ghost floating around every night and cries from terror! Master, what should we do?!”

Being knelt to, pulled, and begged in front of a crowd, the Taoist broke into a cold sweat: “This… I…”

“Could you be a traveling swindler?! No wonder I thought the characters on those talismans were crooked and fake—you’re an impostor!”

Unhappy at having his reputation trashed in public, the Taoist’s eyes rolled wickedly as he decided to shift the blame: “Who said I’m a liar? There is a source for your house being targeted by ghosts! If you don’t resolve the source, it won’t matter if you buy enough talismans to make the walls collapse!”

The lady fell for his trick again: “What source?”

The Taoist pointed a finger at the little girl she was holding: “The source is this little girl!”

The lady froze: “You’re talking nonsense!”

“Nonsense? Everyone in Huailing knows there are more women than men here, and that women have bodies that attract Yin! Furthermore, you said it yourself—it’s always your little girl who sees the ghost first!”

The lady was instantly lost: “Then… then what should I do? Can I hire someone to perform a ritual for her?”

The swindling Taoist decided to get rid of her once and for all: “Of course not! As the saying goes, humans have three parts light that gods and ghosts dare not touch. Your daughter has already become a medium for the ghosts to reach the human world. The only way is to light a fire on her and burn it for three days and three nights to completely burn down this ‘ghost bridge’!”

He started believing his own lie as he spoke, sneering: “But would you be willing? I knew you couldn’t do it, which is why I delayed telling you the solution!”

“Burn for three days and three nights? Will the little girl even survive?!”

“That’s too cruel…”

The onlookers looked on with pity. The lady was too shocked, her hand trembling as she held her daughter’s: “I… my girl… I can’t…”

The girl was young but understood some of it. She asked innocently: “Mother, what is ‘burning with fire’?”

A passerby said: “Silly girl, they’ll light a fire on you. It hurts very much!”

The girl said: “It’s okay. I’m not afraid of pain. If it hurts for three days, will the house be better?”

The lady wailed, then suddenly pushed her daughter into the Taoist’s arms with her eyes shut: “Since you say so, you must have a way to keep her alive… I leave her to you, Master! As long as our bad luck is dispelled, we are willing to pay any amount!”

The little girl burst into tears: “Mother… don’t you want me anymore, Mother?”

The lady deceived herself: “Don’t cry, little girl. It’s only three days! I’ll come get you in three days…”

With that, she covered her face with a handkerchief and rushed into the crowd, not daring to look back.

“Hey—wait!” The Taoist also pushed the girl away. “What is all this!”

The girl chased after him: “You can’t leave! Mother told me to follow you!”

“Get away! You unlucky thing, ruining my business! Don’t follow me!”

The girl said: “I’m not an unlucky thing. I won’t be an unlucky thing once I’ve been burned for three days!”

“Sigh, what a poor child…” The crowd shook their heads and dispersed. In the sunset of Huailing City, only a tiny figure remained, chasing a bloated Taoist.

A man in a grey-white robe stepped forward to stop her, lifting her onto his shoulder: “Be good, little one. Stop crying. Come with Brother.”

Chang Huaichen followed behind him. Jiang Zhiqing said, “Let’s take her back.”

Chang Huaichen: “Back where?”

“To Zhuohua Palace.”

Chang Huaichen smiled: “You’re not worried now that she’ll be bullied by me if she enters the palace?”

Jiang Zhiqing looked at him solemnly: “Would you?”

Chang Huaichen asked back flippantly: “Would I?”

…

They returned to the palace at night, the little girl asleep on Jiang Zhiqing’s shoulder.

Chang Huaichen suddenly asked him: “The Soul-Rend Slash I taught you—have you learned it yet?”

Jiang Zhiqing was a bit embarrassed: “I’m not very familiar with it yet. I’ll practice as quickly as I can.”

Chang Huaichen nodded: “Then I’m heading back to the hall.”

“I’ll settle her in first and come over in a bit. Wait for me.”

“No need.” Chang Huaichen yawned. “I’m very sleepy today. I want to sleep alone.”

Jiang Zhiqing gave a doting smile: “If we don’t do that, can I not sleep with you?”

The corner of Chang Huaichen’s lip curled: “That’s right.”

He truly turned and walked away, leaving Jiang Zhiqing to watch his silhouette for a long time, his eyelids drooping despondently like the folded wings of a bird.

Whenever Chang Huaichen was alone in the dreamscape, Lyu Shuyao felt less awkward. He saw Chang Huaichen sitting in the valley, painting the Yin-Summoning makeup on himself by the moon: “He’s going to summon ghosts again.”

The night was cool as water. The reversed Peach Blossom makeup was glazed by the frost, possessing a lush beauty yet a sacredness that brooked no defilement.

Someone grabbed his hand from behind.

Chang Huaichen turned: “I thought I said—”

“Have you been sleeping?” Jiang Zhiqing asked.

Chang Huaichen was a bit dazed: “…Don’t be angry.”

“I asked you, have you been sleeping?”

Jiang Zhiqing stared at his forehead: “Chang Huaichen, you can’t stop, can you? How many times have you done this behind my back?”

“The ghost at that little girl’s house—was it also summoned by you using this makeup?”

A flash of shock crossed Chang Huaichen’s eyes. Before he could speak, Jiang Zhiqing forcefully picked him up and began walking back.

“Let me go!” His voice was filled with anger and shame. “Jiang Zhiqing, put me down!”

“Since you don’t want to sleep, I’ll make you sleep.”

Chang Huaichen cast a spell in his arms, attempting to break free. Jiang Zhiqing’s footsteps paused; taking the chance, Chang Huaichen flipped down to fly away, but Jiang Zhiqing actually caught up and hauled him back, his powerful arms pinning him against a smooth, cold boulder.

Jiang Zhiqing’s features were handsome and rugged, like carved jade; Chang Huaichen knew this. But he didn’t know that without the indoor lamps, his face—restraining both emotion and desire—looked hazy and deep under the pure white moonlight, so beautiful that a single look threw one’s heart into chaos.

Jiang Zhiqing said: “Give me the brush.”

Chang Huaichen obediently handed it over.

Jiang Zhiqing wiped away the reversed forehead ornament and plucked a few peach blossoms from nearby with his bare hand. Using the juice of the petals, he began to repaint Chang Huaichen’s ornament, stroke by stroke.

He wasn’t as practiced as Chang Huaichen and painted extremely slowly. The touch of the brush must have been very itchy, and he was being pressed down tightly from below.

He gripped Jiang Zhiqing’s sleeve, his brow furrowed in restless tension.

“The Twin Lotuses.” Jiang Zhiqing finished the brushwork and tilted his chin up: “You are not allowed to wash it off.”

Chang Huaichen stared at him blankly, his lips slightly parted.

Jiang Zhiqing waited a few seconds, his gaze dropping to lock onto his lips. Casting aside his previous angry and overbearing tone, he whispered softly, “You missed me.”

Chang Huaichen: “Mm.”

Jiang Zhiqing said: “Call me Brother.”

“Brother.”

Jiang Zhiqing followed the flow and kissed him.

The moonlight turned thick and white, tacitly veiling the entire valley as a passionate tide of desire surged in the corner. Red robes slid off narrow, snowy shoulders as they entwined, their voices thick with heat.

Snap.

Deep in the flowery woods, a branch was stepped on in panic.

Jiang Zhiqing was the first to regain clarity. He quickly gathered Chang Huaichen’s clothes. His eyes were stern as he stood, but they turned to shock upon looking closer.

“…Qingqing?”

Everyone in the dreamscape froze.

Jiang Zhiqing (the sister) looked pitiably small. Seeing what was happening before her from a few steps away, she retreated repeatedly in disbelief.

“Qingqing!”

Her brother reached out to grab her. Jiang Zhiqing (the sister), half-startled and half-terrified, looked like a cracked porcelain doll with features almost identical to her brother’s. She turned stiffly and bolted.

Without a second thought, Jiang Zhiqing (the brother) chased after her.

The sound of footsteps faded, and the valley returned to its sacrificial silence. Chang Huaichen sat up from the stone, calmly tidying his clothes. He picked up the brush Jiang Zhiqing had tossed aside, seemingly wanting to repaint the Yin-Summoning makeup.

But as he held the brush, the tip only millimeters from changing the Twin Lotuses on his forehead, he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

He had spent his life being arrogant and unrestrained, remaining calm even when surrounded by evil ghosts. Yet in this moment, alone under the moon in the cool of the night, he showed a look of helplessness for the first time.

After a long while, with a hint of inexplicable frustration, he murmured softly: “It seems I really am a bit reluctant to let go.”

“We agreed it was just for pleasure; how did it turn into a worry?”

He fell asleep leaning against the stone. When the first light of dawn broke, Jiang Zhiqing returned, treading tiredly over the fallen petals.

Chang Huaichen opened his eyes hazily. Seeing Jiang Zhiqing, he said softly: “…Hmm?”

Jiang Zhiqing’s eyes were bloodshot from staying up. The emotion in his gaze was complex, causing Chang Huaichen to daze for a moment.

“Qingqing is gone,” Jiang Zhiqing said.

Chang Huaichen frowned.

“She’s missing. I searched all night and couldn’t find her.” His voice was filled with worry and despair. “Chang Huaichen, my sister is gone.”

“Your lightness skill isn’t bad; how could you fail to catch her?” Chang Huaichen wondered. “How is that possible?”

He thought for a moment and relaxed. “The palace waterfall has a barrier; she can’t get out.”

“Could someone have kidnapped her? Or opened the barrier from the outside?”

“Impossible,” Chang Huaichen said firmly. “No one in the world can break the barrier of Zhuohua Palace.”

Jiang Zhiqing punched a peach tree, sending petals fluttering down. He tried his best to restrain his anger: “Chang Huaichen, you are always so conceited! This is your palace, your disciple—my sister trusted you and liked you so much, yet you give me such a dismissive line and won’t even stand up! How can I trust you? How can I feel safe with you?!”

Only the sound of falling petals remained.

“I don’t believe I ever asked for your trust.” Chang Huaichen stood up, squinting. “You want me to help you find your sister, right? That’s easy for me. But once she’s found, what should I say to her?”

“Should I tell her that I, Chang Huaichen, like her very much too, but her brother already took a step before her? That if she doesn’t mind, we can all play together as three?”

Jiang Zhiqing shuddered: “Shut up!”

“Her brother went to bed with the man with the worst reputation in the cultivation world.” Chang Huaichen spoke rapidly. “Is that what you want me to tell her?”

“Stop it…” Jiang Zhiqing hung his head in defeat.

Chang Huaichen looked at him and suddenly smiled.

“Or should I tell her that you and I are truly in love, and hope she can bless us?”

He took a step forward, his palm stroking Jiang Zhiqing’s burning chest: “Are we in love, Jiang Zhiqing?”

Jiang Zhiqing’s pupils dilated.

“Even if you think I am stubborn, cold, and heartless—do you still love me?”

“I—”

“Jiang Zhiqing, you don’t even know what you want. If you can’t accept it, if you don’t have the courage to show it to the world, then you shouldn’t have started it at all.”

Chang Huaichen’s questions were rapid and aggressive, but in reality, he was perhaps afraid to hear the answer.

He stepped back, condensed power in his fingertips, and wiped his forehead. Blood immediately rained down his snowy face.

Jiang Zhiqing cried out in shock: “Huaichen!”

He had personally gouged out the Twin Lotuses he had painted.

Jiang Zhiqing tried to step forward but was stopped dead by the red-glowing sword, Tao Yao. Chang Huaichen said: “After dawn, regardless of whether Jiang Zhiqing is found, leave Zhuohua Palace.”

Pleasure in the mortal world is but a reflection in the water, a moon in a mirror—it doesn’t last.

Tao Yao trapped Jiang Zhiqing, who could only watch as Chang Huaichen walked away.

…

Su Cheyue said: “Is it so hard to accept?”

He always had the air of an observer and rarely asked questions of his own. Lyu Shuyao was slightly startled.

“…Yes. It’s hard to accept.”

Since the relationship between Chang and Jiang became clear, Lyu Shuyao was like he had been doused with cold water. He was unusually silent, looking at everything in the dreamscape with a cold eye.

“Why?” Su Cheyue looked at him.

“No reason,” he said. “It’s human nature. It’s just hard to accept.”

Chang Huaichen returned to the palace, the blood on his cheek not yet dry. He took a drop with his finger, parted his lips, and licked it with his tongue.

Perhaps the scent of blood gave him some kind of stimulation; he sat by the bed where he had once been intimate with Jiang Zhiqing, his eyes frantic and blank.

Slowly, he pulled out a token.

It was the Bounty Order.

Chang Huaichen frowned, chanting a spell toward the token. He blew a whistle and sent a command: “Use the strength of all cultivators in the world to find Jiang Zhiqing for me.”

The room was deathly silent.

He waited for a long time, but no one accepted the order. This was abnormal. Then, someone spent a huge amount of spiritual power to send a voice transmission to the Palace Master from a thousand miles away.

“Palace Master Chang?! Did you send out the Bounty Order? Who is Jiang Zhiqing? No matter who it is, no one will take it. Everything outside is in chaos! Hurry out of the palace and help!”

Chaos? What happened?

Chang Huaichen thought for a moment and sent the order again. Still no response.

The reach of the Bounty Order was vast, its temptation so great that even evil ghosts with boiling resentment couldn’t resist. How could such a simple task have no one willing to take it?

Sensing something wrong, Chang Huaichen summoned his sword and stood upon it like a dragon emerging. He soared across the valley without causing a single petal to sway.

He looked down and saw Jiang Zhiqing still standing there. He frowned helplessly, appearing to hate himself.

He had just said those harsh words, yet upon seeing him again, he still couldn’t let go.

Fine. What harm is there in telling him everything.

“Jiang Zhiqing.” He sent a voice transmission through the clouds. Jiang Zhiqing looked up and saw the person on the sword passing like a beam of light; his eyes instinctively filled with a layer of amazement.

Followed by confusion and worry: “Where are you going?”

“Wait for me to return,” Chang Huaichen said. “We will find your sister together.”