WJ Chapter 86

Papaya (1)

You gave me a papaya;

I repaid you with a jade pendant.

It was not repayment—

it was a pledge of enduring affection.

—

The winter night’s moonlight illuminated the pale clouds, then draped down like a thin veil shrouding the mortal world.

This place was the wilderness north of Wanci Manor and south of Mount Shenlie—rugged and desolate, rarely traversed by passersby. Low hills and streams crisscrossed the land, with only wild vegetation and no proper roads.

Below the hillside, beside a small stream, dry long grass grew, and among the grass clusters, the faint chirping of insects echoed quietly.

A young boy of about seven or eight years old sat on the earthen bank beside this small stream, his dark green clothing almost blending with the grass and leaves.

Duanmu Lin looked up at the moon.

The bright moon has been merciless since ancient times, its waxing and waning coldly observing the mortal world.

The moon seen from Wanci Manor seemed no different from the moon seen in this desolate place.

Duanmu Lin wondered silently whether the moon viewed from the Zhuyin Sect would still be the same. He’d heard that Mount Shenlie was very high, so perhaps the stars and moon would be larger, brighter, and more beautiful there.

The wind rose, and a human figure came soaring through the air like a black roc spreading its wings—one moment still in the distance, the next already landed by the stream.

The newcomer walked toward the young boy sitting there.

Duanmu Lin only glanced back silently without saying a word.

He saw a hem of robes black as night, upon which a vivid crimson-gold candle dragon coiled and danced, glaring at him with bared claws.

Looking across the five lakes and four seas, north and south under heaven, there was only one person in the martial world who could wear this candle dragon black robe.

Zhuyin Sect Leader Yun Guyan was walking step by step toward Duanmu Lin’s side.

This Zhuyin Sect Leader—who provoked countless righteous orthodox sects to curse him viciously while fearing him like a venomous snake—was actually only in his thirties, yet his eyes already bore the marks of vicissitudes.

His facial features were deep-set and handsome, but his entire being emanated a murderous aura that rampaged freely, adding several degrees of cold malevolence to this man, making people shudder involuntarily.

The next moment, Duanmu Lin’s chin was clamped by a hand. Yun Guyan twisted his face around and sneered coldly, “Young Master Duanmu, why aren’t you continuing your escape?”

The young boy blinked slowly, and when he spoke, his voice was tender yet clear and pleasant. “I never intended to escape. Who told your Zhuyin Sect’s guards to all be useless—I just couldn’t help running out to get some fresh air.”

He bit his lower lip somewhat reluctantly and raised an eyebrow. “You’re not useless, so I know I can’t escape. That’s why I’m not running.”

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Yun Guyan did not become angry.

This Zhuyin Sect Leader—who in people’s word-of-mouth accounts had been depicted as an evil demon—actually nodded his head with satisfaction and released him.

“Very good, you’re not wrong. Those Zhuhuo Guards are indeed useless, unable to even watch over a seven-year-old child.”

His tone shifted, and a cold dark light suddenly flashed through Yun Guyan’s eyes. “So, this lord has already had those several people chopped up and fed to wild dogs.”

Duanmu Lin’s pupils contracted slightly. The killing intent emanating from this terrifying man before him pressed down on him like a tide, making it hard to breathe.

He secretly dug his nails into himself to suppress his body’s instinctive trembling. Duanmu Lin knew Yun Guyan was deliberately trying to frighten him, but at the same time, he had no doubt whatsoever that what Yun Guyan said was true.

He only heard Yun Guyan say, “Well? Since you know you can’t escape, why don’t you obediently come with this lord?”

“I won’t go,” Duanmu Lin immediately refused, his two thin little legs swinging back and forth. “I want to watch the moon and listen to the insects chirping.”

“……” Yun Guyan scrutinized him carefully for a long while, then suddenly furrowed his brow deeply. “Tsk, you really aren’t afraid of this lord at all.”

That this child—whom he’d secretly schemed and abducted to serve as a medicine person for Liu’er—seemed somewhat special was something Yun Guyan had actually discovered upon first meeting Duanmu Lin.

Betrayed by his own family, abducted by a sinister cult scorned by the righteous path, and facing him, such a “demon lord” who killed without blinking—this child was not only unafraid but dared to question him sternly. At the time, it had truly surprised Yun Guyan.

Back then he’d thought it was just the fearlessness of a newborn calf not knowing to fear tigers, but then as soon as night fell, someone came to report that this child had drugged the Zhuhuo Guards watching him and escaped.

Bold, meticulous, and knowing how to bide his time—such mental fortitude was truly unlike what someone of this age should possess.

Yun Guyan did know that disciples of the Duanmu family were bathed in secret medicinal baths from childhood and often developed intelligence earlier than ordinary children, but even so, this Young Master Lin’s aptitude could truly be called one in ten thousand.

He only saw Duanmu Lin smile and say, “You need me to save your son’s life, and you can’t kill me, so what do I have to fear?”

“You’re still young and don’t know that in this world there are many methods that can make life worse than death.” Yun Guyan shook his head. “However, as long as you’re obedient, this lord naturally won’t use those methods on you.”

Duanmu Lin said nothing.

Yun Guyan found this child interesting and, rarely, had the patience to ask, “You clearly know you can’t escape, so why are you still being stubborn and refusing to leave? Is it unwillingness in your heart?”

Duanmu Lin answered irrelevantly, “Has the Sect Leader ever heard this kind of insect chirping?”

“Never.”

“They’re called Winter Listeners. This is a rare exotic insect—born in winter, dying in spring, chirping only on winter nights. Their wings can be used in medicine.”

Duanmu Lin spoke indifferently, his eyes fixed on the stream surface covered with a thin layer of ice, upon which a white moon was clearly reflected.

On the rocks by the stream grew damp green moss, and two wild grass turtles lay motionless in the mud beneath the stones.

Duanmu Lin suddenly raised his hand to point at the turtles, asking Yun Guyan rather aggressively, “They say a tortoise lives a thousand years and a turtle ten thousand, yet Winter Listeners only live for a few months. Why?”

“All things in the world have their heaven-ordained fate,” Yun Guyan said lightly. “This is destiny.”

“So, my being made into a medicine person by the Zhuyin Sect is also my destiny?”

“Precisely your destiny.”

Duanmu Lin suddenly raised his head, his black and white eyes cold as if covered with frost. “Then what about the Zhuyin Sect’s Young Sect Leader being afflicted with Fengchun Sheng poison and destined not to live past fifteen years?”

Yun Guyan imperceptibly raised an eyebrow.

Well, this child’s tongue was truly sharp—in one careless moment, he’d actually been led into a trap.

Duanmu Lin’s meaning couldn’t be more obvious.

Didn’t you say all things in the world have their heaven-ordained fate?

You want me to accept my destiny as a medicine person—why don’t you have your son accept his destiny and die?

But Yun Guyan was, after all, someone whom the leaders of various powers gnashed their teeth cursing as a demon lord. He snorted with laughter, looking at Duanmu Lin with calm composure and a sidelong glance. “Liu’er’s Fengchun Sheng poison is naturally his destiny.”

He paused, then immediately continued word by word with pride. “But having this lord as his father is also Liu’er’s destiny.”

“……”

Duanmu Lin lowered his eyes sullenly. He felt this statement made sense.

The Zhuyin Sect’s Young Sect Leader was born with chronic poison—his father, to save his son’s life, even dared to abduct the young master of one of the martial world’s three great families. He didn’t have such a father; all he had was inexplicable coldness and difficulties, increasingly harsh demands and beatings day by day.

He too should have been considered a family young master, yet his clothing and food were equivalent to servants’, and when going out, he didn’t even have an attendant by his side. In broad daylight, he was secretly harmed by his uncle, yet not a single manor disciple saw it—wasn’t this just born destiny?

Yun Guyan was very satisfied with Duanmu Lin’s deflated appearance. He bent down and vigorously rubbed the child’s head, narrowing his sharp long eyes and saying:

“As for you, honestly accept your fate and return with this lord. As long as you’re willing to obediently cultivate blood for Liu’er, this lord can definitely make your life in the Zhuyin Sect a thousand, ten thousand times better than at Wanci Manor.”

“Really?”

Duanmu Lin smiled faintly, his gaze clear and bright. “All right, then I’ll return with you.”

Noticing the child’s form of address had changed from “you” to the more respectful “you,” Yun Guyan clapped his hands and laughed heartily. “Assessing the situation and not suffering immediate losses—good, truly a clever little brat. Duanmu Nanting has lost a treasure.”

Duanmu Lin tilted his head. “No one at the manor ever said I was clever.”

Yet in his heart he was secretly laughing: You’re clearly the one who used poison schemes, yet you’re lamenting that others lost a treasure—this demon lord is truly shameless!

Yun Guyan was unaware of the young boy’s silent criticism and pointed toward the grass. “Winter Listeners—born in winter, dying in spring. These habits are quite good. Since you like them, catch a few. When we return, you can raise them in the Medicine Gate and won’t need to run out to listen to any insect chirping.”

Duanmu Lin indeed went and caught several. Yun Guyan removed his outer robe and handed it to him, and the young boy unceremoniously used the supremely noble candle dragon-patterned Sect Leader’s robe to wrap up the insects, loosely bundling them into a breathable small package that he held with both hands.

Yun Guyan stood to the side with his hands tucked in, waiting for Duanmu Lin to enthusiastically finish catching insects, then walked over, extended an arm, grabbed the child by the back of his collar, and placed him on his shoulder.

Duanmu Lin gave a small “ah” of surprise and trembled with shock. Yun Guyan stepped on the weeds walking up the slope, saying with amusement, “What’s wrong? Have the adults in your family never held you? Tsk, but that’s understandable—the Duanmu family are all old fogeys.”

“We must return to the sect up the mountain overnight. Mount Shenlie is bitterly cold. This lord must use internal energy to protect your body. If you move around and fall off, in just an instant you’ll suffer frostbite. Believe it or not.”

Duanmu Lin nodded to show he understood. Lying on Yun Guyan’s solid shoulder, he silently thought: Even Duanmu Nanting, his biological father, had never praised him, nor would he allow him to watch the moon outside, had never removed his robe to help him catch insects, and had never held him.

This Zhuyin Sect’s Young Sect Leader truly had a good destiny.

Yun Guyan activated his lightness skill, and fierce wind immediately howled past them.

Duanmu Lin’s black hair was blown into disarray. He could feel the small insects in the robe in his hands jumping one after another.

This day had been a very ordinary winter day.

This day, Wanci Manor lost their young master.

This day, seven-year-old Duanmu Lin was personally carried by Zhuyin Sect Leader Yun Guyan up the wind-and-snow-swept Mount Shenlie.

In the blink of an eye, several days had passed.

Inside Yangxin Hall in Xifeng City, Yun Guyan sat lazily on a chair in the inner chamber, with Hundred Medicines Elder Guan Muyan at his right hand.

This divine physician who had lived in seclusion deep in the mountains and forests for a long time and had only been recruited into the sect by Yun Guyan several years ago had always had an eccentric and unrestrained personality, and even dared to speak casually before the Sect Leader. “Sect Leader, when you said a few days ago that this young master of the Duanmu family was very interesting, I didn’t take it seriously, but now I believe it!”

Yun Guyan lifted his eyelids, seeming to smile yet not smile. “What has he been up to now?”

“Heh heh, don’t even mention it. Yesterday I prepared strong blood-nourishing medicine for him. That child may be young, but his bones are hard as nails—and he’s got thorns too! After forcing down those several bowls of medicine, he vomited blood until he was nearly done for, yet in the end he still glared at me and said, ‘The medicine is so bitter, add some sugar next time.'”

Yun Guyan waved his hand with calm composure. “Ha, then just add some for him.”

A handsome man in white robes came out from inside carrying tea, placed the tea cup on the table for Yun Guyan, and while pouring tea, gently raised his eyes with a smile. “The Sect Leader quite likes this child?”

“This child’s temperament suits this lord’s taste. If it weren’t for Liu’er needing him as a medicine person, perhaps this lord would raise him by my side.”

Yun Guyan admitted it quite readily, but after thinking it over still shook his head nonchalantly. “Such a pity—this lord wouldn’t dare compete with Liu’er for people.”

Guan Muyan rolled his eyes. “Great Sect Leader, the way you’re talking, it’s as if you’ve abducted a child bride.”

Wen Huan’s expression immediately darkened.

He knew this Divine Physician Guan was someone the Sect Leader had specially invited out of the mountains to treat the Young Sect Leader, but the price was truly shockingly high—Yun Guyan had promised Guan Muyan that as long as he was willing to join the sect to treat the Young Sect Leader, he would immediately be honored as an Elder and concurrently serve as the Medicine Gate Master within the sect.

That was acceptable enough, but this Guan Muyan was accustomed to being dissolute, and even after joining the sect showed no restraint, repeatedly showing disrespect to the Sect Leader. Wen Huan naturally disapproved.

But he hadn’t expected that Yun Guyan, who usually maintained an air of authority and tolerated no offense, would actually endure it for the Young Sect Leader’s sake.

Just like this moment—Yun Guyan, who received an eye roll, didn’t show a trace of annoyance. Instead, he stroked his chin thoughtfully. “Tsk, raising from childhood, then using when old enough—hearing it put that way, it’s not so different, is it?”

Wen Huan had originally been harboring some dissatisfaction, but at this statement couldn’t help but laugh. “Sect Leader, this truly is quite different.”

Yun Guyan was in a good mood and, exceptionally, even bantered back with Wen Huan. “Hey, not different—if this lord says it’s not different, then it’s not different.”

Wen Huan smiled helplessly and handed him the tea.

All right, whatever you say is what it is.

“After Duanmu Lin has adapted to taking the medicine, bring him to Yangxin Hall to see this lord.”

Only after giving this instruction did Yun Guyan accept the tea, drinking it all down like plain water without even tasting it. After finishing, he suddenly remembered and solemnly added, “Remember well—the matter of the child bri—cough, the medicine person, must absolutely not be let known to Liu’er. You may withdraw.”

Wen Huan suppressed a smile and assented, still properly bowing to Yun Guyan before retreating several steps and then turning to leave.

And at this time, Yun Guyan remained immersed in the small joy of having found another glimmer of hope for his son. He naturally didn’t know that this casual remark at this moment would, many years later—

Become a self-fulfilling prophecy.