Chapter 175 Journey to the Human Realm "May this journey be without danger."
Since the last time he refined the pill, Ru Xian's health has improved. He no longer needs to bathe in the morning sun to relieve his pain, and he can fall into a light sleep at night. However, his illness has not yet been cured.
The chaotic energy channels lie dormant, while spiritual power occasionally surges.
To temporarily suppress the disturbance, he went into seclusion to refine several pills, so that he wouldn't be helpless when the spiritual energy became chaotic.
If he hadn't known Lin Feiran's temperament, he would have definitely taken her into the Bitter Sea Pool for seclusion.
So before leaving the pass, he sent her a message, hoping she would come to see him soon. He didn't expect that she was already waiting for him at the top.
As she sat with her arms crossed, leaning against the window railing, looking up, the weariness in her eyes gradually dissipated, and the firelight reflected in her emerald pupils, shimmering with golden light.
"When did you start squatting on the roof?"
He asked the question he already knew the answer to.
Lin Feiran didn't understand his meaning, but answered very precisely: "He came at Shenshi (3-5 PM), which means it's about half an hour and a quarter of an hour."
Ru Shan smiled and simply stood up and went back into the room. Without asking where she was going, he walked behind the jade screen and said, "Then wait another quarter of an hour."
"good."
As soon as he left, she turned over and climbed onto the windowsill, her back to the inner room.
Without asking, it's obvious that having just emerged from seclusion, he would definitely need to bathe and change clothes.
Soon, light footsteps sounded from below. Lin Feiran looked down and saw several little kids carrying lacquered wooden boxes hurrying into the warm pavilion.
It was the ginseng boys who rushed to serve Ru Xian after learning that he had left the pass.
They stepped across the threshold for a moment, then hurriedly stepped back a few steps, looked up, and saw Lin Feiran squatting on the windowsill, speechless for a moment.
Ru Xian's residence was always used for rest. If there were important matters to discuss, they would usually be discussed in the main hall. On ordinary days, few people would come here to see him.
Apart from Lin Feiran.
She was just as familiar with this place as they were.
She even knew there was a slender jujube tree at the corner of the courtyard wall, and she would always pick a couple of them whenever she came and went, but now she had already pulled them all out.
She ate those perfectly good dates.
The children sighed helplessly and, in childlike wit, warned her not to look around, before entering the warm pavilion to prepare to light the fire.
As for Xue, he is always cold-natured. He is fine in spring and summer, but he will feel much colder in winter. The elders of the Shen clan had warned him long ago that even if he does not feel cold, he should still do his best to keep the fire burning and not slack off.
Just as the group was preparing, Ru Xian had already bathed and changed clothes and came out.
He stopped them, then said that he wouldn't be in the warm pavilion today, before mounting Lin Feiran's sword and leaving.
"Was the Lord's bath always this quick before?"
"How did she know that the Lord had emerged from seclusion?"
"Why aren't you riding in a royal carriage?"
The children looked at each other for a moment, completely baffled, and one of them couldn't help but speak up.
"Judging from the direction they're heading, they're going to the back mountain. What are they going there for?"
They did not know, just as the sleet did not know.
He stood behind Lin Feiran, moved a little closer, and asked, "What are you doing going to the back mountain?"
"Light the lamps." Lin Feiran answered these two words and then descended on his sword. "Don't worry, it's definitely warmer there than in the heated room."
Upon arriving at the clear pond behind the mountain, one sees several star-shaped lanterns lit on the rugged rocks, with a mermaid lantern in the very center, its flame bluish-white and wisps of purple smoke rising from it.
With so many candles around, even the wind blowing in felt warm, so it wasn't cold at all.
Ru Xian was initially puzzled, but after a moment's thought, she understood: "Legend has it that mermaid lanterns are used to guide souls, yet you lit one today..."
Is it for your father or your mother?
Lin Feiran was somewhat surprised, but quickly recovered and explained, "This time it's for my father. Every year before, I would light a lamp at Daohe Palace, hoping to summon his soul. They still don't know that I've come to the demon realm."
Like hail sweeping across the lights, his gaze slowly settled on her face: "How long have you kept these lights on?"
Lin Feiran knew what he wanted to ask: "It was set for seven days, so according to the time in the human world, the day after tomorrow will be the anniversary of my father's death."
Ru Xian took two steps forward and looked around.
Besides the swaying starlight, there is a rattan swing woven on a tall tree, a chessboard next to the clear pond with an unsolvable "Worry-Free Game" on it, straw benches on both sides, and a red clay stove not far away, which is burning brightly at this moment.
These were clearly all arranged by her, perhaps so that her parents' spirits could have a place to rest when they arrived here.
As he looked around, he noticed that two star lamps had been blown out by the wind. He then ignited them by forming a hand seal with his fingers, and looked at Lin Feiran, making a speculation.
"No wonder you brought me here today. You're not someone who's content to stay in the demon realm and light lamps; you want to return to the human realm to offer sacrifices?"
Lin Feiran paused, looked up at him, and looked surprised.
"How could you guess so accurately... I do indeed plan to return to Luoyang tomorrow."
Logically speaking, I shouldn't go back.
After all, the seal on my body was placed by the likes of the Human Emperor. Now that it has been broken, they should be very wary of it, but they have not made any move yet.
They either didn't know yet, or they did know but dared not rashly come to the demon realm, waiting for me to walk right into their trap.
But I still want to go back.
"It's not just for the sake of paying respects; I also want to enter the palace to investigate my mother's past."
Ru Xian listened quietly to her without interrupting. Only then did he raise his eyebrows slightly and part his thin lips: "So, tonight is your last time seeing me before you leave?"
"The last time?" Lin Feiran looked at him again, her eyes filled with pure surprise. "After I go to the human realm to find out about my mother's past, I will return to the demon realm."
Besides, I'm not here to see you one last time, and this isn't the place I want to take you.
She asked earnestly, "Ruxian, would you be willing to go with me to pay respects?"
A very soft sound rang out, like a flash of pale blue lightning passing through a fingertip.
Lin Feiran's serious inquiry naturally stemmed from his own considerations.
Firstly, since the two had only recently become acquainted, it was indeed somewhat abrupt to bring up the matter of paying respects at a memorial service.
Secondly, he has never liked going out, so he might not be willing to go to the human world and stay for several days.
Whatever choice she makes, she will respect it.
Ruxie's gaze lingered on her face for a few moments before he finally couldn't help but sigh and reach out to touch the corner of her eye.
Looking at him like that, no matter what he says, he probably won't be able to refuse.
"Of course I'd like to."
You are my sword; wherever the sword is, the scabbard should naturally be there too.
A warm breeze blew between the two of them, and Lin Feiran immediately came to her senses, her eyes wide open, her face flushed red from this argument about swords and scabbards.
"Then we'll set off tomorrow."
She added a sentence at this point.
“I’ve already asked Xun Feifei for leave, and he will help me postpone my shift.”
In an instant, all the beauty vanished.
Ru Xian couldn't help but laugh: "How silly, Lin Feiran."
...
The following day, when Lin Feiran explained the matter of the worship to Bi Qing and the others, saying that he would need to stay in the human realm for a few days, everyone expressed their understanding.
After all, they already knew about this when Qingzhu presented the mermaid lantern on the day of the Taibai Banquet, and they even gave her several gifts as part of the occasion.
But when they learned that Ru Xian was also going along, their expressions were quite varied.
Xun Feifei was somewhat surprised, but quickly composed herself and said nothing, only wishing him a safe journey.
Biqing and Xuanzhen were quite surprised, never expecting that Ruxian would be willing to go out again after so many years!
However, the two kept their shock to themselves and dared not make any jokes about it.
Ping An couldn't say anything either. She had drunk too much at the Taibai Banquet and had been feeling dizzy lately. Even on her way back to the bamboo forest, she would accidentally wander into Zhang Siwo's house and smash his carefully crafted sword.
As for Qingzhu, he lowered his eyes for a long time before looking at Lin Feiran and saying softly, "May this journey be without trouble."
Lin Feiran asked, "Aren't you going back to the human realm?"
Qingzhu shook her head: "I went to the human realm to infiltrate in preparation for the pilgrimage to the Sacred Valley. Now that things are settled here, I don't need to go back."
"in this way."
Lin Feiran nodded, bid farewell to the others one by one, and then boarded the carriage with Ru Xian, gradually traveling away.
On the way to the human realm, Ru Xian leaned against the couch and fell asleep. Lin Feiran looked at him and couldn't help but recall the detailed conversation with Qiu Tong that day.
Because their conversation was too secretive and shocking, they stopped using the communication jade token to talk. Instead, a paper fox delivered a fragrant pill, which allowed them to meet and talk face to face.
Although Lin Feiran knew about Qiu Tong's rebirth, he dared not casually reveal his own origins.
Qiu Tong looked bewildered and her mind was in turmoil. She was very doubtful about whether what she was seeing was real or not. If she were to find out that all of this was just a world in a book, she might not be able to accept it.
Thinking of this, Lin Feiran could only listen quietly until she finished speaking, and then asked.
How did you know about the bone removal?
In the original book, Lin Feiran was expelled from the mountain sect by Zhang Chunhe for framing Qiu Tong and committing many evil deeds.
This was just the usual fate of a vicious female supporting character. After that, the book never mentioned "Lin Feiran" again.
Qiu Tong recalled, "That was a long time later. At that time, I had already confessed my feelings to him and we agreed to travel together. I met 'you' under the Three Bridges, and that's when I learned the whole story from you."
After you were expelled from the mountain, you traveled to many places, trying to find a healer to restore your spiritual veins, but Zhang Chunhe appeared along the way and brought out your sword bone.
That previous marriage contract was nothing more than a cruel, self-inflicted compensation.
Considering that the person in front of her was Lin Feiran, Qiu Tong did not reveal the wrong things she had done in her past life, nor did she mention the reason why she was expelled from the mountain.
Lin Feiran understood after hearing this.
According to Qiu Tong, this should have happened after she and Wei Changzai got together. The original book says that the two confessed their feelings to each other and got married, but then it ended abruptly. What happened after that, she naturally had no way of knowing.
"So, you and Wei Chang discovered Ru Xian's sudden death during your travels?"
Qiu Tong was taken aback. Seeing that she didn't seem too moved when Wei Changzai was mentioned, she didn't know what to feel.
"It wasn't us who discovered it."
In my previous life, the fox clan experienced an internal strife. My father and mother were imprisoned, my brothers and sisters were far away, and the elders were locked in a tower.
Wei Changzai was visiting his clan at the time and was caught in the crossfire. It was through his desperate struggle that we were able to escape and make our way to the demon capital, Lan City.
At that time, I wanted to ask the Demon Lord for help, which is why I met him a few times and had an impression of him.
Later, when Wei Chang and I were traveling, we happened to pass through Lan City and wanted to go and express our gratitude. However, we soon learned that the Demon Lord's spiritual power had recently gone mad and he had exploded and died...
When we entered the Demon Capital, the entire city was draped in white mourning. The willows and brocade flowers planted along the Jade Belt Stream were burned to ashes to bid him farewell. The demons under his protection wept bitterly, while the demons who were trying to merge into the Demon Capital were secretly delighted.
The scene was actually quite chaotic, and no one cared that we were entering the city.
The five envoys stood silently atop the city wall, scattering golden spirit dust into the twilight sky; it was said that this dust was formed from their physical bodies.
Lin Feiran sat at the table, stroking the porcelain cup again and again, gazing silently at the tabletop, speechless for a moment.
Thinking of this, Qiu Tong became somewhat uneasy again: "Don't these things sound incredibly unbelievable? Are they true or false? Your personality is completely different from your previous life..."
She was extremely anxious but couldn't find a way out, so she buried her head in her hands and slumped onto the table.
"Autumn Eyes".
Lin Feiran's voice was like an extremely gentle and clear spring, slowly and irresistibly seeping into Qiu Tong's ears.
“I can be absolutely certain that everything you said is true, and not some crazy rambling.”
Her words were like a rock, suppressing Qiu Tong's inner turmoil with an irresistible force, so she looked up.
"As for whether it's true or false, why be so fixated on it? You were you in your past life, and you are you now."
Just like today, as we talk here, perhaps you dreamed of me, or perhaps I dreamed of you, but does it matter?
Even if this is a dream, to you and me, it is real.
The moment he uttered these words, Lin Feiran suddenly saw a beam of light flow from Qiu Tong's body and merge straight into the sky.
But it was only a fleeting, extraordinary sight.
Lin Feiran was slightly taken aback, and when she looked again, there was nothing there.
"..."
She concealed the surprise in her eyes and looked at Qiu Tong's face again.
Qiu Tong was looking at Lin Feiran, her eyes already glistening with tears. Before the tears could fall, she quickly lowered her head to wipe them away, as if not wanting Lin Feiran to see them, and hurriedly picked up a cup of cold tea.
"Thank you for your guidance... I've left you a few incense pills. If you want to ask me anything in the future, you can light them anytime."
As for my third uncle's matter, I will investigate it again using the method you suggested. Anyway, thank you.
The cold tea was poured down, and the wisps of smoke rising from the incense sticks dissipated, revealing no trace of Qiu Tong.
Lin Feiran sighed silently.
"What are you thinking about?"
Ru Xian woke up at some point. He sat up, raised his hand slightly, and the carriage curtain slowly rolled up, revealing a dazzling starlight outside.
Lin Feiran turned to look at him.
“I was thinking, when we first met in the cave, the cave was filled with fluorescent lights, and you said that was your scattered flesh and blood. It turns out you weren’t just teasing me.”
Ru Xian raised an eyebrow, wondering why she suddenly brought this up, and smiled.
"You weren't as fun as you are now when you were a kid, why would I tease you?"
Lin Feiran remained silent, then suddenly seemed to remember something. He opened his eyes, turned around, and pulled an old cloth bag from his mustard seed bag.
This cloth bag is made of satin, white in color, embroidered with daylily patterns, and at this time it is about the size of a football, with a faint sheen.
She suddenly realized, "So this is the cloth bag I kept when I was a child."
Ru Xian leaned closer with interest, poked her with her finger, and looked at her with a half-smile, saying, "I don't remember it being this small."
Lin Feiran blushed slightly and silently stuffed it back, completely unaware that there was anything wrong with her action.
After all, this was Ru Xian's own body and soul.
“I didn’t know what this was before, so I wanted to open it and take a look. As soon as the knot loosened, a ray of light flew out. I thought it was a treasure that stored spiritual energy, so I immediately tied it back up... and then all that was left was this.”
She coughed lightly and pointed outside the car, saying, "We're about to enter the human realm! The magic array on the endless sea is now shattered like this; I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing."
Finally, we arrived in the human world.
Lin Feiran lifted the carriage curtain and looked down. The mountains and rivers meandered, with countless towering peaks, shrouded in mist and clouds, creating a hazy, impressionistic beauty.
The carriage traveled north, stopping in a small town near Luoyang. After the phoenixes flew back on their own, they rode on their swords, shrouded in the night, and quietly entered Luoyang.
...
With a gentle tinkling sound, the flower bells under the eaves rang softly, echoing within the heart of the peony, scattering tender petals.
"Changzai, what are you looking at?"
Zhang Chunhe walked out from under the corridor and looked at the closed-door disciple in front of him, who carried a snow sword and whose posture was as cold as ice and snow.
Wei Changzai lowered his dark eyes slightly, cupped his hands and said, "A bird flew by in the sky, I was just momentarily distracted."
Zhang Chunhe nodded and led him inside: "The reason I brought you to the palace this time is to introduce you to Venerable Ding Yi. He thinks highly of you, so you must be very careful when you meet him this time."
"Yes, disciple understands."
Zhang Chunhe nodded: "I've never had to worry about this. By the way, the other day the medicine boy said you went to my Shangqing Hall, why is that?"
Wei Changzai said calmly, "I recently broke through to the next realm, and my divine platform is still unstable. I wanted to find some calming pills, but I haven't seen my master or received any reply, so I went to look for them myself. I hope my master won't take offense."
"They're just some pills, nothing serious. Take this token, take as many as you like."
Zhang Chunhe took out a token and gave it to him.
"I have been away from the palace these past few days because I have other matters to attend to. Some of my disciples are being disobedient and I need to teach them a lesson. So I haven't had time to look after you. Things will be fine after this period."
Wei Chang was puzzled, but glanced at him discreetly.
The matter of punishing disciples has always been handled by Taihui. Who could possibly require him to take action personally?
But it didn't matter; he didn't care.
Wei Changzai has always been calm and patient enough to lie low. He made these moves for the token. Now that he has the token, and Zhang Chunhe is too busy to do anything else, it is the best time to go to Guanlantai to investigate.
"Thank you for the medicine, Master." Wei Changzai stood with him at the door and asked, "Master, is there anything important you need me to do tomorrow?"
Zhang Chunhe turned to look at him: "No, what's wrong? Do you have something to do?"
Wei Changzai shook his head, his black hair at his temples slightly disheveled, and said with a calm expression, "Tomorrow, this disciple wishes to go into seclusion for a day to calm his mind and refine the pills he obtained earlier."
"Alright, you must not neglect your cultivation. I will not allow anyone to disturb you."
Zhang Chunhe turned around and slowly pushed open the old, rustic wooden door in front of him.
Author's note: I worked overtime today, so I missed 7 PM...
100 red envelopes will be given away in this chapter!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com