Yin Wangzhi stared at him, his gaze piercing like slender and persistent feathers, drilling deep into all hidden secrets. It appeared soft yet missed no corner, determined to see through all intimacies. He aimed to strip away the disguises and facades, seeking the answers he desired, and would leave his mark with the fine, sharp tip, inscribing ‘This Ghost King has been here’ in an unseen corner, leaving no opportunity for self-deception.
Truly unreasonable to the extreme.
“I’m not…” Yu Sheng initially wanted to deny and explain. He was even a bit confused; whether through illusion or disguising himself as an old man, it was merely an instinctive response. He hadn’t even thought deeply about the reasons and motivations behind it.
But when confronted with Yin Wangzhi's gaze, his mind, which should have been seriously contemplating, became muddled. He thought of many things—alcohol, his previous behavior that could almost be classified as fleeing in a panic, and the words that should and shouldn’t come to mind. Yet he could not come up with a reasonable motive for using illusions to disguise himself.
—His expression seemed to suggest he knew something.
After that thought flashed by, Yu Sheng instinctively felt flustered and somewhat guilty. For a moment, he was confused by the gaze, doubting whether, as Yin Wangzhi said, he had too many distracting thoughts in his mind that shouldn’t be there.
His voice became softer, his heartbeat growing increasingly noisy. “But I myself…”
He didn’t even know what those ‘wandering thoughts’ were, so how could he voice them? What kind of answer was Yin Wangzhi waiting for him to provide?
In his consciousness, the dangerous words he had caught a glimpse of in a story flashed by. Yu Sheng felt a bit dazed, sensing that Yin Wangzhi was too close, the wind almost tangling their hair together.
He caught a faint scent of alcohol, mixed with the fragrance of soul blossoms.
The tension in his nerves was softened by the aroma, and Yu Sheng lowered his head to avoid Yin Wangzhi’s gaze.
“I just don’t want unrelated people to know that I’m back in the world.”
Finally, he thought of the most suitable answer, but it came too late. After a series of stutters, silence, and tension, this response likely had little credibility in the Ghost King’s ears.
As soon as the words fell, Yu Sheng regretted it a bit—if Yin Wangzhi continued to ask ‘why,’ he didn’t have the energy to think of more reasonable explanations. If that happened, he was afraid…
“Like this.”
Yet, Yin Wangzhi did not pursue the matter further, wisely relinquishing the opportunity to penetrate through everything. He lightly placed a hand on Yu Sheng’s shoulder and stood up.
“Hey! How long are you going to slack off, you bastard?!” Zhang Xiaotian shouted from the edge of the pit, clenching his fists in defiance. “My people are watching nearby. Don’t even think about taking advantage of this chance to act against the Master… ah!”
Yu Sheng flicked a seed shell, hitting Zhang Xiaotian squarely on the forehead, leaving a cute, light red mark. With a blank expression, he blew on his fingers and crossed his arms, saying, “What nonsense are you spouting?!”
Who wants to act against you!
How could such nonsense be shouted so loudly?!
Unruly disciple!
Zhang Xiaotian wilted, his tail... ah no, his sword drooping as he returned to the pit. Yin Wangzhi chuckled lightly and flicked his fingers—right on Yu Sheng’s clean collar.
A wisp of delicate black smoke emerged from Yu Sheng’s collar. At the same time, a chilling aura brushed against his collarbone, akin to Yin Wangzhi's body temperature.
Seeing Yu Sheng dazed for a moment, Yin Wangzhi quietly explained before leaving, “I couldn’t hold my liquor earlier and accidentally left some yin energy on you, please don’t hold it against me, Master.”
Yin energy...
In simple terms, there are two types of yin energy: one exists in the Ghost Realm, the essence upon which ghosts rely for survival and cultivation, and the other comes from the ghosts themselves, akin to a ‘scent’ that acts as a mark.
Ghosts typically leave their unique yin energy on two types of existences: one is their possessions or prey, and the other is their partners.
As for the function, the stronger the ghost, the more domineering and intense the residual yin energy, capable of causing weaker ghosts to retreat, preventing their possessions from being coveted by others. On the other hand, it can be used to sense the location of ‘possessions’ and ‘partners.’
By the time Yu Sheng recalled the circumstances under which yin energy would linger and its function, Yin Wangzhi had already gone far away.
Was it really ‘accidental’ that he left behind this yin energy…?
Yu Sheng remained dazed for a long time, meditating silently while reciting the Qingjing Sutra several times before he could calm down again. When he opened his eyes once more, the three disciples had each completed the tasks he had assigned and returned.
Zhang Xiaotian had brought back a few more people, who, as he explained, were ‘discovered while filling the pit and captured after sneaking over from the Human Realm.’
Those people looked disheartened, having never imagined their luck would turn so badly. After managing to cross over, they directly encountered the three most formidable individuals in the Three Realms, getting captured alive and even marked with a seal on their consciousness.
Unlike the others who had been captured before, upon seeing Yu Sheng, the ‘kind-faced’ and ‘seemingly authoritative’ old man, they couldn’t help but start to plead for sympathy, claiming they weren’t irredeemably bad people, just trying to make a little extra money during this last bit of time.
Yu Sheng didn’t understand and asked, “Making money? What does that have to do with smuggling?”
Zhang Xiaotian cast a disdainful glance at them and stepped forward to explain on their behalf, “Reporting to Master, they say it nicely, but what they actually do is just buy low and sell high, trading in goods. Many things from the Spirit Realm turn into treasures once they reach the Human Realm, and after the Three Realms separated, the longer the time passes, the more valuable these treasures become.”
So it’s an import-export business…
Yu Sheng stroked his beard, finally understanding.
Zhang Xiaotian continued, “But this kind of trade usually requires approval from the Spirit Realm. Recently, during these special times, only a few families have been permitted to enter the Spirit Realm to collect various spiritual items. This effectively prevents criminals from the Human Realm from using merchant identities to smuggle. Other scattered merchants, unable to obtain approval, have begun to entertain these shady ideas.”
Logically speaking, Zhang Xiaotian was already the Alliance Master of the Human Realm’s Immortal Alliance. This kind of matter was entirely within his purview, and there was no need to report to Yu Sheng, the honorary Master, or to seek anyone else’s opinions. Yet he still patiently explained all the details, even without Yu Sheng needing to ask, simply revealing a hint of confusion would prompt him to provide clarification.
He showed no hint of the Alliance Master’s airs, appearing as though he was a completely different person from the serious and decisive Zhang Xiaotian who had just come to seize life and death from those people.
Instead, he resembled… a wolf dog that had caught prey outside and brought it home, wagging its tail in hopes of receiving a reward, fearsome and ferocious as a wolf on the outside but rolling over to expose its belly like a dog on the inside.
The many smuggler criminals who had seen the ‘wolf’ side of him tactfully averted their eyes, protecting their fragile worldview from further blows, unwilling to look at the hidden side of the greatest figure in the Human Realm.
Yu Sheng didn’t think too much about it; he just felt that his eldest disciple was quite ambitious. Despite holding a high position, he remained very aware of these trivial matters that had nothing to do with his own interests. Yu Sheng smiled and nodded, suddenly realizing that among the three disciples, the eldest disciple’s character had the least degree of collapse.
In the original story, Zhan Xiaotian was also a highly accomplished, busy person, with admirers everywhere. Yusheng had no intention of interfering in the internal affairs of the Immortal Alliance. He understood that even if Zhan Xiaotian’s character was crumbling now, he no longer needed guidance from him in this regard. Thus, he said nothing further, nor did he plead for him as others hoped he would.
When he looked up, he saw Zhan Xiaotian’s bright eyes and radiant smile, as if he were waiting for compliments, reminiscent of his expression when he had made progress in his cultivation back at the cliff. Yusheng raised his hand, intending to pat his head but realizing there were too many outsiders around. He ended up patting his shoulder instead, complimenting as he wished, “With you in the Immortal Alliance, those elders can surely rest assured.”
Zhan Xiaotian stepped closer, his gaze still burning, seemingly unsatisfied. He asked, “Then, Master, do you also feel reassured with me?”
Yusheng blinked. “Hmm? Naturally, I feel reassured.”
The eldest disciple caused the least trouble and was the easiest to appease, with a straightforward mind that didn’t require much guesswork.
Zhan Xiaotian smiled even wider, his gaze still intense.
Yusheng thought for a moment and added, “You didn’t get hurt this time, which is progress.”
His mood seemed to improve completely, and he brought out a handful of various flowers and herbs from behind his back, handing them to Yusheng. “Master, this is for you.”
A gift?
Yusheng instinctively took it but realized something was off once he held it.
These were not ordinary flowers; they were clearly "leashes" connected to the souls of the smugglers. Destroying this bunch would mean taking their lives!
Yusheng couldn’t catch his breath. “You…?!”
The expressions of those whose lives were in the hands of another were varied and colorful.
Zhan Xiaotian seemed unfazed, chuckling. “These people could have been directly executed outside. With the identity of the Alliance Leader, no one would question it… They disturbed Master and wasted my time with you. In fact, I almost killed them several times earlier. Even now, I’m not confident in my self-control. I might impulsively take their lives in my dreams out of anger, so I thought it would be better to let Master take care of them first.”
Yusheng: …
What a joke.
I’m not part of the Immortal Alliance.
Zhan Xiaotian gently placed a hand on his sword, instinctively soothing the sword spirit, his voice dropping. “Master, you’re too early in trusting me.”
Yusheng frowned. “Xiaotian, are you worried about being influenced by the sword spirit?”
He shook his head. “Master, these lives are indeed cheap. I didn’t expect the ‘leashes’ on the other side of the soul imprint to materialize beautifully. If you find it pleasing to the eye, please keep it for me. If you don’t like these wildflowers, you can toss them or burn them.”
Yin Wangzhi, watching the scene unfold, found it tedious. “If you know they’re just wildflowers, you should have burned them early and buried them in a deserted place.”
Zhan Xiaotian’s expression became serious again, his tone flat. “The Immortal Alliance has its own rules. I can’t do that.”
Yin Wangzhi: “You’re being contradictory.”
“If Master thinks they should die, then that wouldn’t be breaking the rules and wouldn’t violate any principles.” Zhan Xiaotian’s smile returned, and a wildness appeared in his eyes, causing Yusheng’s heart to skip a beat.
He had just thought that Zhan Xiaotian’s character design was the least damaged. He had felt reassured in his heart, thinking that as the Alliance Leader, Zhan Xiaotian was calm and focused on the bigger picture, just like he was portrayed in the original work—upholding justice in the world while not lacking in humanity, a perspective difficult for his many admirers to comprehend.
Yusheng felt a chill in his heart as he looked down at the seemingly ordinary bunch of flowers in his hand, feeling sweat form in his palms. The flowers were indeed beautiful, vibrant, and fragrant. Their colors came from the soul, and their scent came from memories. The nutrients and moisture in the leaves came from the lifeblood of their roots.
Zhan Xiaotian still knew what should be done, what shouldn’t be done, and what principles could not be compromised.
But he was no longer the Zhan Alliance Leader from the original story.
The clear and bright voice rang out again, flat and emotionless, reciting a line,
“There is a rule in the Immortal Alliance that applies to the Alliance Leader.” Zhan Xiaotian stroked his sword and slowly said, “If a leader’s mind is unstable or his thoughts waver, their mentor or elder may act in a supervisory role to delineate a boundary.”
Yusheng fell silent.
He had never realized that Zhan Xiaotian had already lost confidence as the Alliance Leader.
Perhaps pride remained, but Zhan Xiaotian’s faith had begun to waver, leading him to self-doubt. The once firm-willed protagonist, who had improved the entire situation of the Immortal Alliance and became an object of aspiration for many, was now actively requesting his mentor to be his supervisor.
Even now, he didn’t trust that he could maintain his rationality at all times, not to be driven by personal grievances to impulsively execute those who should be brought before the Immortal Alliance for judgment.
Yin Wangzhi accused him of being contradictory and hypocritical, yet in the original work, Zhan Xiaotian had no flaws and held himself to strict standards. Even the demon king, who stood on opposing sides, couldn’t find fault with him and even expressed admiration for his character, which marked the beginning of their friendship.
Now, however, this had become the source of their mutual ridicule and quarrels, both unable to see eye to eye.
Zhan Xiaotian should have been the first Alliance Leader who didn’t need a supervisor at his back.
A supervisor, in other words, was the only one who could stop, veto, or influence the Alliance Leader's decisions and actions. They were the only force that could balance the power of the Alliance Leader and prevent them from forgetting their original intention and being blinded by greed.
Only the self-controlled and error-free sage, the most selfless and powerful leader, wouldn’t require such a character behind them.
Yusheng looked down at the bunch of flowers in his hand, staring for a long time, before finally picking out the most special one.
He reached out and selected a flower with golden petals and a silver stem. The stem and leaves were tough and thorny. Because it was so beautiful and eye-catching, it looked as if it were a fake flower, made from some rare metal.
This flower belonged to Zhan Xiaotian. Up close, one could smell a sneezy fragrance that was not pungent but a bit spicy, like chili powder mixed in. The golden petals had a different color staining from the center of the flower, a deep red, resembling thick blood.
This flower is dedicated to the mentor of the Alliance Leader of the Immortal Alliance, to serve as the current supervisor, guarding the last line.
Just as the other flowers represented the incarnations on the other side of the soul imprint, this one was also the incarnation on the other side of Zhan Xiaotian’s soul, hidden among those criminals' “flowers,” sent while the master was unaware, becoming the most precious and unique gift.
Zhan Xiaotian had been straightforward and naive for many years, but this one time he had been cunning, playing a trick on his master.
It was akin to relinquishing his life and death rights while also tying a collar around his neck, with the other end of the leash placed in the master’s hand. By doing this, he appeared to be the one who had gained an advantage.
Yusheng couldn’t smile or dare to frown in rejection, holding the flowers while also clutching Zhan Xiaotian’s “flower.” He felt as if something had pinned him in place, unable to react for a long time.
Zhan Xiaotian should have been immortal, so even if he voluntarily relinquished the incarnation on the other side of the soul imprint, it should have been the most unbreakable flower, like this sturdy flower of gold and silver, which should be indestructible by fire or iron. Now, however, the center of the flower was stained red, like dripping wax from a candle.
He cautiously touched it with his fingertip; as soon as he got close, he felt a heat radiate from it.
The red part was warm, burning hot, yet also soft, unable to recover the metal’s hardness. It had become a reverse scale, a fatal point, a flaw, capable of killing Zhan Xiaotian. It was also the strongest proof that Zhan Xiaotian needed him as a supervisor.
Yusheng felt as if something were lodged deep in his throat, as if there were many things he wanted to say but couldn't find the words. In the end, he simply stood up, carefully gathering the flowers and storing them in his space, placing them in the safest corner he could find.
After a moment, he regained his voice and looked at Zhan Xiaotian, asking slowly, "Is it because of me?"
Whether it was the character design collapsing, the plot going awry, or the instability of his Dao heart leading to wavering beliefs, blaming it all on the sword spirit—were all these changes, both good and bad, with potential risks and gains, really… because of me?
The smile on Zhan Xiaotian’s face gradually faded, slowly dissipating and settling down.
“Master, how can this be your fault? Everything is my own choice.” He added, “Compared to being a sage, I long for the life of an ordinary person.” Zhan Xiaotian's eyes, usually so bright, dimmed slightly, tinged with bitterness. As he spoke, he carefully moderated his breathing, suppressing his emotions, and asked in return, “Is this wrong in your eyes, Master?”
Wrong?
Yusheng’s eyelashes fluttered, and he felt a sudden daze, as if his heart had been struck hard by something.
Not long ago, Zhan Xiaotian had also used a similar tone to ask his opinion, hadn’t he?
But at that time, he hadn’t taken it seriously and didn’t pay it much mind. The questions raised back then were just minor worries.
—Is liking men wrong?
He could no longer recall how Zhan Xiaotian had tested his views back then, what words or attitudes he had used. But he vaguely remembered that such a question had been placed before both of them.
At that time, he had confidently told Zhan Xiaotian not to care about the opinions of the world, to not overthink it. If you like someone, then just like them; strive for it and don’t leave any regrets.
Now…
Now he suspected he had unwittingly dug a very well-situated grave for himself.
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