Chapter 237 Though Dead, Still Alive (Ice Crack) He was still fast asleep

Lin Feiran sat cross-legged on the roof ridge, gazing at the wisp of smoke and Qiu Tong's inexplicably haggard face, momentarily speechless.

"What's the meaning?"

She had been playing with old things with the sword spirit, but then she received a message from Qiu Tong. She struggled to climb onto the roof and found this secluded spot. She wanted to ask Qiu Tong how she was doing, but then she heard this inexplicable sentence.

Qiu Tong did not explain immediately. Instead, she hugged her knees and took a moment to catch her breath. After sorting out the whole story, she told Lin Feiran about everything that had happened that day.

Lin Feiran listened intently, her brows gradually furrowing. She stroked the hem of her dress and said softly, "You mean, you suspect that your father, like you, was also reborn?"

Qiu Tong brushed aside her messy hair and nodded immediately.

"I don't want to admit it, but I really can't find any other reason."

You may not know this, but my father and my third uncle grew up together. They are not only family but also brothers for hundreds of years. He would never casually lay a hand on my third uncle because of someone else's divination or prophecy.

...You didn't see what Third Uncle looked like; he was emaciated and had been tormented into a nightmare.

If he hadn't experienced it firsthand, how could he have so cruelly harmed his own siblings?

In my previous life, my father had unwavering faith in Langqiu. Even when someone discovered something unusual, it was quickly dismissed due to insufficient evidence.

The king did not take it seriously, which led to the great disaster that followed.

Even Qiu Tong herself, if she hadn't experienced that ordeal in her previous life, wouldn't have believed that Langqiu harbored any treacherous intentions.

But the thought of the possibility of Prince Qingping's rebirth sent a chill down Qiu Tong's spine.

"I used to think it was God's mercy that granted me a second life, so that I could rescue Wei Changzai and prevent him from falling into the nightmare."

But now…

Qiu Tong bit her lip and fell silent, not saying anything more.

Lin Feiran knew more, but she was even more surprised and suspicious. She couldn't help but stand up and pace back and forth on the rooftop in deep thought.

Qiu Tong is reborn.

It is highly likely that Prince Qingping will also be reborn.

So, could there be others?

"But there's one thing I don't understand."

Lin Feiran stopped and turned to look.

"Assuming your father was truly reborn, and harbors such deep hatred for your third uncle, why... is he so cold-hearted towards you?"

Qiu Tong was taken aback, then suddenly realized, "That's right, we didn't do anything to wrong him in our past lives!"

One problem is solved, but another, even more perplexing one, follows.

Neither of them could offer a better explanation at this point. Qiu Tong sighed, leaned back on the ground, and looked up at the roof beam.

"For some reason, I always felt that there was some kind of conspiracy behind the rebirth."

The events of this life are completely different from those of the previous life. Many people seem to have changed their personalities, including you.

Besides, there was no Xueyun in my previous life, and my older sister wasn't this tired.

Lin Feiran paused, glanced at Qiu Tong who was lying flat, and didn't know how to speak.

Should I tell Qiu Tong that I am not the "Lin Feiran" she knows, and ask her to separate me from that Lin Feiran?

But she's already in the book, so how can she not be considered Lin Feiran?

Moreover, Qiu Tong has already been frightened enough today. If we tell her that this is just a world in a book, wouldn't that only add to her suspicions?

Lin Feiran sighed inwardly and said, "Perhaps there are other people like you."

With Lin Feiran by her side, Qiu Tong's earlier shock and fear had vanished, and she even began to ponder the strange behavior of those around her.

"Actually, I initially doubted you too, but then I realized something was off. If you were reborn, you would have already turned the Daohe Palace upside down in this life."

Perhaps you descended the mountain early, your circumstances changed, and so your temperament changed as well.

But there's one person I feel is very wrong..."

The two looked at each other, seemingly understanding each other's thoughts, and then spoke in unison.

"Zhang Chunhe".

Both of them were very familiar with Zhang Chunhe and knew about his past life, so it was perfectly normal for them to have such doubts about him.

Qiu Tong felt that Zhang Chunhe accepted his demon identity too quickly, and his words were much gentler, which was very different from his previous life.

Lin Feiran had a question lingering in her mind ever since she fled to the demon realm.

This could certainly be covered up by various coincidences, but Zhang Chunhe was never an ordinary person.

If a Venerable One in the Divine Travel Realm truly doesn't want to let her go, she won't be able to escape even if she had wings.

But he didn't make a move; he just watched from afar, then handed over the power to stop him to Wei Changzai, and finally casually shot an arrow.

Lin Feiran paused, her gaze lingering.

Before this, she attributed her escape to Zhang Chunhe's arrogance and contempt for her.

But at this point, it is clearly not the case.

The only explanation for his decision is that he chose to bring her back rather than do something else that was more important, and that he couldn't have both.

What could be more important to him than obtaining the sword bone?

What does this have to do with arresting or releasing her?

If his rebirth is real, then what does he want to do in this life?

Lin Feiran originally didn't want to waste time on Zhang Chunhe, but now that he was also involved in the rebirth, she had to think more about it.

"Lin Feiran."

Qiu Tong suddenly spoke up, revealing her speculation.

"Zhang Chunhe was willing to lend me the book, but asked me to return it on time. I didn't think much of it at first, but if rebirth is real..."

In my past life, he disapproved of my association with Wei Changzai, but in this life he makes no attempt to stop me and is even willing to lend out my master's authentic artifact. I suspect there's something fishy going on, and I don't want to return to the human realm for now.

Lin Feiran nodded: "Things are unusual, so it's best to be careful. Even if you send someone back, he'll still have a reason to make trouble."

"Why don't you postpone it for a few days? I'll come find you after I reach the demon realm. I'll give the book to Wei Changzai to take back then, and Zhang Chunhe won't make things difficult for him."

Qiu Tong paused. In the midst of the tension these past few days, she had indeed thought of Wei Changzai, but most of the time she still recalled him from her past life.

She patted the dust off her clothes, wiped the thin layer of sweat from her forehead, and asked casually, "Is Consort Wei with you?"

Lin Feiran suddenly remembered their relationship and immediately said, "Don't misunderstand, it's just that things happened suddenly, and I'm temporarily using the small world he built to recuperate. Besides us, there's also Ru Xian here."

"He and I are not what you think... Wait!"

Qiu Tong paused in her act of standing up, a look of horror on her face: "You... how come you're staying with the Lord!"

This is like having a tiger by your side!

Seeing the wariness on her face, Lin Feiran couldn't help but smile and speak frankly.

"He will naturally stay with me."

"What kind of talk is that?"

Qiu Tong put the broken stringed zither aside and looked at it suspiciously. She saw that Lin Feiran's expression was calm, but his eyes and eyebrows were slightly raised, with a rare gentleness and joy. Qiu Tong's breath caught in her throat, and she immediately covered her mouth and exclaimed in surprise.

"You, you all..."

Lin Feiran simply smiled and nodded.

Qiu Tong was in a state of utter confusion, experiencing a mix of emotions.

She didn't know whether to be shocked that Ru Xian could also fall in love, or to be secretly pleased that Wei Changzai was no longer bound by other ties, or to regret that Lin Feiran already had someone she loved.

Wait, why is she feeling regretful?

Qiu Tong put aside her chaotic thoughts and, considering everything that had happened that day, felt extremely tired and disoriented. She wanted to say something, but because the other person was Ru Xian, she hesitated for a moment and decided to remain silent.

"Congratulations." She hesitated for a long time before finally uttering those two words.

Then wouldn't her feelings for Consort Wei be...?

Qiu Tong recalled the day they parted ways. Lin Feiran had left slowly yet resolutely, and now, when he looked at her again, his gaze had changed.

She thought, "So there really are people who can never look back."

As Qiu Tong absentmindedly wiped away the beads of sweat, Lin Feiran silently curved his lips into a smile, secretly delighted.

She thought, "Lin Feiran really knows how to seize opportunities."

She originally intended to give Ru Xian to everyone she knew, but she was too embarrassed to mention it deliberately, lest it seem like she was showing off. That was just right.

Qiu Tong suddenly remembered something and turned around to ask, "You just said you were recuperating? Were you injured?"

Lin Feiran nodded and was about to explain when a person flew to the rooftop carrying a bowl of medicine. She turned her head and was somewhat surprised.

It turned out to be Consort Wei who arrived.

She glanced down; the hem of his dress, like scattered snowflakes, still hung among the branches and leaves, and among the overlapping branches, she could vaguely see his loosely draped fingers.

He was still asleep; his sleep was rather long.

Lin Feiran felt somewhat worried.

When Wei Changzai saw her looking elsewhere, he quietly followed her gaze and looked at the trees as well. But he quickly looked away and said, "I heard him say this morning that he should take his medicine every two hours. He hasn't woken up yet, so I brewed it for him."

Thank you.

Lin Feiran said something, but didn't take the medicine. Instead, she looked at him and said somewhat embarrassedly, "I'm too tired to climb the tree right now. Could you take me to see him? I'm a little worried about him."

Wei Changzai stared at her, his dark eyes swirling with a strange emotion, which he quickly suppressed.

He tightened his grip on the rim of the bowl, lowered his eyelashes, his expression as cold as ever, and said, "Fine."

Wei Changzai put down the medicine and glanced at the white smoke as if by chance, but he couldn't see the person in the smoke. However, judging from the decoration of the room, it should be a woman.

He breathed a slight sigh of relief.

While he was brewing the medicine, he kept looking at the ceiling. Although he couldn't hear Lin Feiran's words, he could see her focused expression. He couldn't help but guess who she was. It would be good if she was a woman.

He turned his gaze to Lin Feiran, a hint of expectation returning to his phoenix eyes, and said with pursed lips, "How can I take you there..."

Even so, he had already reached out his hand, waiting for her to respond so that it could land on Lin Fei's waist.

That's how they used to be.

Lin Feiran, not understanding his meaning, said, "Of course, it's flying on a sword."

His outstretched hand stopped halfway. He glanced at Lin Feiran again, then slightly closed his palm, turning it into a finger-joined shape. The snow sword behind him immediately flew out, creating ripples in the air before stopping in front of the two of them.

Lin Feiran was somewhat surprised: "I thought you would use the Kunwu Sword."

Wei Changzai didn't look at her, but stroked the sword: "Lianyan is very good, I like it even more."

Lin Feiran muttered something, which he didn't quite catch, but he felt a little depressed. Just as he was waiting for Lin Feiran to mount the sword herself, her hand suddenly landed on his arm.

Wei Changzai opened his eyes slightly, his gaze involuntarily falling on the spot where the two were touching.

He didn't expect Lin Feiran to do this.

He was still wearing his armbands, so a section of his forearm was exposed. Her hand was right above him, and when she applied a little force, her slender fingers gripped him tightly. He could even feel the familiar calluses on the base of her palm.

How long has he been in contact with her like this?

In the blink of an eye, Lin Feiran had already briefly used the momentum to flip onto the sword, all in the blink of an eye.

Lianyan was her former sword. As soon as she got on it, the ripples on the water became more frequent. Before Wei Changzai could even control the sword, it had already carried Lin Feiran forward.

"..."

Wei Changzai remained silent, watching Lianyan walk away. The warmth of her body seemed to linger on his arm. He subtly lowered his sleeve.

Lin Feiran didn't care about the leverage she had just used. The distance from the rooftop to the treetop was only a few meters. She glided forward and, before she could even steady herself, she had already stepped onto a branch.

As if sleeping soundly with eyes closed, her snow-white hair fell like scattered moonlight, her face not appearing pale, but rather very deep in slumber.

Lin Feiran took his wrist and examined him using the method he had been taught, but found nothing unusual.

"Like grazing, like grazing?"

She called out to him and shook his face, but still couldn't wake him.

Lin Feiran's eyes showed some panic. She did not move him rashly, but urgently called out, "Grandmaster, what's wrong with him?"

A holy spirit appeared in response. He looked around, and seemed somewhat hesitant, as if unsure, and said, "He must have taken some medicine just now, which is why he is unconscious. But don't worry, he's fine."

Lin Feiran pondered for a moment: "Could it be the medicine he went to find earlier?"

Knowing this, the grandmaster nodded: "It should be so. Look at those ice patterns behind him; those are the unusual signs of consuming spiritual herbs."

Lin Feiran peered over and indeed saw fine ice patterns spreading out from his back, climbing to the branches, clinging to his back like veins.

She frowned: "If there were any signs of drowsiness, he wouldn't have administered the medication here, and he would have informed me beforehand, but he didn't say anything..."

"Perhaps it's because he also underestimated the drug and didn't expect it to turn out this way."

The grandmaster sighed softly.

“He is different from ordinary people. No matter what kind of medicine it is, he will be the first person to test it. What the consequences will be, not to mention him, even I cannot be sure... Let’s not do anything to him for now, and observe him after the ice patterns fade.”

Upon hearing this, Lin Feiran dared not move again. She originally wanted to stay here and guard, but as the ice patterns slowly spread, her master told her to leave temporarily to prevent the ice patterns from shattering when they touched her.

Lin Feiran remained silent for a moment, then summoned Lianyan to trim half of the branch from which the ice patterns had not yet spread, revealing his figure and face. Only then did he step back onto the sword and return to the opposite side.

Her movements were much slower than usual. When she moved back to the roof ridge and turned around to look, the bright red peach branch was covered with ice patterns, spreading out like veins. The red and pink mixed with the frosty white was very eye-catching.

Ru Xian lay there, her hair and sleeves hanging down, her exhausted hands resting on a branch, her palms full of peach blossoms.