Chapter 87

"Yun Xiang Yi and Hua Xiang Rong have fled back to Fenglin Continent, and the Cangyu Sect has ignored the Immortal Alliance's questioning." Lan Chui Han brought in the latest news from the Immortal Alliance.

Xie Bi An's expression was unimaginable: "Does the Cangyu Sect really want to be an enemy of the entire Immortal Alliance?"

"We can't figure it out either. Even if Qi Meng Sheng can hang on to life with the Seven Star Life-Sustaining Lamp, then she would almost become a disabled person, so what's the point of this?" Lan Chui Han's sword brows knitted lightly, "With the power of the Cangyu Sect, if we go to war, there will be countless deaths and injuries, and no one wants to go that far."

"So, you were sent by Li Bu Yu to be a guest?" Fan Wu She glanced at Lan Chui Han.

Lan Chui Han smiled lightly, "Six years ago my father forged a sword for me using the Shen Nong Ding. My sect is on friendly terms with the Cangyu Sect, and I also have a personal relationship with Yun Zhong Jun, the senior brother of the Cangyu Sect, so what is wrong with me being the guest?"

Zhong Kui nodded: "Yun Zhong Jun and Yun Xiang Yi have been fighting for the position of Sect Leader. There are quibbles in the dark more or less. If you go to persuade them, it might really help. What is the Chunyang Sect's request?"

"To return the Seven Star Life-Sustaining Lamp, to have Yun Xiang Yi and Hua Xiang Rong stripped from their cultivation, be expelled from the Cangyu Sect, and to go before the spirit of Immortal Lord Xu to apologize for their crime." Lan Chui Han’s expression was cold, "The Chunyang Sect has always been neutral, as Immortal Lord Xu did not die from the Thunderfire Stone, but just happened to have reached the end of his life, I think they only wanted to steal the Seven Star Lamp, and did not dare to have the idea of plotting against Immortal Lord Xu, therefore, their lives are not wanted."

"Well, that's fair." Zhong Kui stroked his beard and said, "These two girls have caused a great deal of trouble and must pay the price, but Qi Meng Sheng is also to blame. It's just that if this really leads to a fight between the sects, it is bound to be a lose-lose situation, which is not what Immortal Lord Xu wants to see. So, settling it like this is the most rational."

"What if the Cangyu Sect insists on covering it up?" Fan Wu She said, "From what I know about Qi Meng Sheng, she is cunning and stubborn, ambitious and proud, so it is impossible for her to abolish her own disciples."

Xie Bi An broke into laughter, "Junior brother, you are so young, how would you understand Qi Meng Sheng? There are many strange rumors about the Cangyu Sect in the Central Plains, so you cannot judge without any evidence."

"Back then, Zong Zi Xiao relied on the Xuanyuan Heavenly Secret Talisman to dominate Jiuzhou and was invincible, and those famous sects bowed down one after another." Fan Wu She sneered disdainfully, "Only Qi Meng Sheng, who would rather break than bend, is worth being called a great hero of her generation. She is not even afraid of Zong Zi Xiao, and now she will hand over the Flying Plume Ambassador who is as close to her as her own child? Impossible."

Zhong Kui* <---: I think SQC either made a typo or forgot to give Zhong Kui dialogue here HAHAHAHA What do you think he should say? ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Lan Chui Han paused for a while: "In fact, Alliance Master Li also thinks the same thing, which is why he sent me to lobby Yun Zhong Jun. If they don't hand over the two, the Immortal Alliance will definitely have to seek justice for the Chunyang Sect, and then the Cangyu Sect will have to become enemies with all the Central Plains sects, and no one wants to go that far." He looked at Zhong Kui, "But why exactly is Heavenly Master here? Can you give me a clear explanation?"

Zhong Kui took a sip of his wine, "I was entrusted by Immortal Lord Xu on his deathbed with a task, so I am not at liberty to reveal it."

Lan Chui Han nodded his head thoughtfully.

---

After staying overnight at Shazhou, the four of them set off early the next morning.

It is rare for people from the Central Plains to carry out activities outside the Pass because of the desolated desert and extreme cold temperatures. Where the environment is very harsh, so if they get lost, they may not be able to return.

As they left Shazhou, they traveled north. The more they walked the more sparsely populated it became, and the weather got colder and colder, entering a world of white snow and wind all year round.

Xie Bi An had come to the Pass when he was young, precisely to see the Xianyue Pavilion forge a sword with the Shen Nong Ding, although this was not the path he had taken. Perhaps he was so young that all the memories he had left were surprisingly fresh and interesting, forgetting how cold it was here. He wore a thick cotton coat and was protected by his spiritual power, yet his lips were still blue from the cold. The snow dance brought up by the cold wind was confusing to the eyes, and the white expanse seemed to have no end.

"This hellish place." Zhong Kui shivered and said, "No wonder the Cangyu Sect stands in the immortal cultivation world without falling. So far away and so cold. If there was no Shen Nong Ding, who would look at her territory?"

Fan Wu She said, "It's not very far. If you fly on the sword you can get there in no time, but the wind and snow are so strong that you can't see anything. I'm afraid only people from the Cangyu Sect won't get lost."

Lan Chui Han gazed into the distance, a layer of white frost on his eyelashes: "There are campsites built by travelers and merchants ahead where we can shelter from the wind."

"Has Brother Lan ever traveled this road? It doesn't seem to be the same road to Shen Nong Ding as back then."

"Well, I visited Fenglin Continent again later."

Before it got dark, they arrived at the place that Lan Chui Han had mentioned - a natural barrier formed by a craggy rock, with no snow underneath and can shelter them from the wind. The surrounding was scattered with dry firewood left by people who had traveled this way. It seems like those people who travel to Cangyu Sect will rest in this area.

Xie Bi An and Fan Wu She unpacked one by one and prepared to lay out their bedding and make a fire for cooking.

When Lan Chui Han wanted to go over and help, Zhong Kui waved his hand, "Hey, Lord Lan, let them do their work, you can sit down."

So Lan Chui Han calmly sat down.

Fan Wu She was so angry that he rolled his eyes at Lan Chui Han, thinking that he was the Supreme Demon in this generation. Last time he was ordered by Xie Bi An to wipe the floor, and this time he actually had to serve a pretentious fool. He couldn't swallow this anger in his heart.

"Junior brother, you go and gather the firewood."

"Oh." Fan Wu She saw Bi An was laying down the quilt, "Senior brother, just lay one for master."

"That won't do, how can we let Brother Lan sleep on the floor?"

Fan Wu She's face had just pulled down when he saw Xie  Bi An smiling at him, "We both have to keep watch anyway, so do it for a while, okay?"

His features instantly smoothed out, "Okay."

The two of them got the fire going and while the water was boiling, they stretched out their hands and warmed them.

When Xie Bi An's hands were warmed, he put them on his frozen face, and when his hands were cool, he put them down again to warm them, repeating this several times.

Fan Wu She held Xie Bi An's face in his hands, and his dark eyes reflected the leaping fire, his eyes were amazingly bright: "I'll cover it for you."

Xie Bi An froze, "No need, just warm yourself up."

But Fan Wu She insisted on pressing his face and not letting his hands go, "Your face is still very cold."

Zhong Kui and Lan Chui Han were right beside him, and Xie Bi An was a little embarrassed. He pulled Fan Wu She's hand down, "I'm not cold anymore. You should warm up by the fire quickly. Your hand is colder than my face, so who is covering who?"

Lan Chui Han put one hand to support his face and looked at them with a smile.

Fan Wu She looked at his hands and muttered in a small voice.

"Master, Brother Lan, the water is boiling, have a sip of hot tea first."

"Is my wine warm yet?"

"Master, can't you drink your tea first?"

"Drinking wine is what warms you up. One sip and it burns your heart and lungs, your body will immediately catch fire. Try it if you don't believe me."

Xie Bi An helplessly handed him the wine, "Don’t drink too much, the rice will be cooked soon."

Lan Chui Han said with a smile, "Where in the world did the Heavenly Master find such an obedient and reliable disciple like Bi An?"

"Haha, found him only by chance."

"Then ..." Lan Chui Han looked at Fan Wu She, the corners of his lips curled slightly, as if he wanted to say something.

"Him ah? I owe him wine money. I most likely got drunk, so I agreed to take him in as my disciple."

"Oh?" Lan Chui Han raised an eyebrow, "So, he is considered to be someone from unknown origin and also knows the Zongxuan Sword Technique. No wonder Alliance Master Li wants to check his origins."

Fan Wu She looked askance at Lan Chui Han, "What business is it of an outsider like you to know my origins?"

Xie Bi An hastily intervened, "Brother Lan is just concerned about you."

"Exactly. Alliance Master Li wants to send Song Chun Gui to check. If it weren't for the back-to-back incidents with the walking corpse at Diancang Peak and Immortal Lord Xu, he would have come long ago." Even in the wilderness, Lan Chui Han ate without losing his elegance. He tasted the soup, "Mmm, it's so fresh and delicious. Bi An, your cooking is really excellent."

"I'm flattered. There's a shortage of everything here, I'm just getting by with what there is."

"I'll help Lord Lan serve some more." Fan Wu She reached out to grab Lan Chui Han's bowl, saying that he wanted to serve the soup, but looking at the momentum, it was clear that he wanted to hit his bowl.

Lan Chui Han was instantly alerted and gently blocked the unfriendly hand: "No need."

Fan Wu She reached out again, and the two of them used their hands to exert a few moves. The wooden bowl flowing back and forth between their wrists, each time nearly falling to the ground and being retrieved, without even a drop of water being spilt.

Zhong Kui watched with amusement, simply taking it as a dish that goes well with alcoholic drinks. Xie Bi An picked up the branch and struck Fan Wu She’s hand: "No manners."

Fan Wu She retracted his hand and glared at Xie Bi An in exasperation.

"Eat your meal properly and stop doing such childish things." Xie Bi An filled another bowl of rice for Fan Wu She.

Fan Wu She was so indignant that he was almost full from anger. He must get back his power from his previous life as soon as possible, so that Xie Bi An would never dare to underestimate him again.

At night, the two brothers kept watch.

They gathered around the fire, wrapped in their blankets, and the flames flickering. It’s the only sound in the dead silence of the night.

"Senior brother, are you cold?" Fan Wu She asked gently.

Upon hearing those words, Xie Bi An tightened the blanket: "Yes."

Fan Wu She added, "We can both wrap up together, so that we can wrap up with two quilts, and we won't be cold."

"If it's not cold at all, I'm afraid I'll fall asleep."

"It's okay if you fall asleep, I'll be awake."

"How can that be? I can't leave you alone to keep watch."

"Then we'll stay awake together." Fan Wu She unfolded the quilt and put it over Xie Bi An.

The two of them rustled and adjusted, and ended up sticking next to each other.

Xie Bi An puffed out a steam of air and whispered, "Kunlun is too cold. I always feel I’ve suffered this cold before, not as a child, but ..."

"Hm?"

"Wu She, do you occasionally flashback to memories that are not your own? Like strange memories."

"What are you referring to?"

"It's what I said to you before, that everyone doesn't really lose their memories of their past lives. They just don't remember them. I've had a strange familiarity with this human realm ever since I fainted on the Eight Trigrams Platform, that is, a feeling as if I had been here in another identity."

Fan Wu She's breath hitched.

"Here, for example. I feel as if I have really been frozen before. Not like this with food and clothing and a fire to keep me warm, but really frozen. I suspect that this is a fragment of my past life's memories too."

"These fragments, have you pieced together any useful clues?"

Xie Bi An thought about it and shook his head, "There are millions of people in the world, and everyone walks a different path. Clues won’t tell me what happened in my past life. To be honest, I don't want to know either. I guess I didn't have a good life in my past life."

Fan Wu She felt his heart ache, "Not a good life?"

"Well, maybe I cultivated sufferings in my previous life." Xie Bi An looked up at the stars and muttered to himself, "In my previous life, I have seen this same starry sky, right? Everything has passed. These memories, can they stop bothering me?"

"..."

Fan Wu She hoped that Xie Bi An would never remember his previous life, but he also hoped that he would remember and bring Zong Zi Heng back across a century of time. This extreme contradiction tore his heart at every moment.

----

Edited on 5 Apr. 21 (Emzie)

 

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