WJ Chapter 36

Deer’s Cry (3)

Having left the room, Yun Changliu leaned against the door, his breathing still unsteady.

Suddenly a gust of wind blew, and he realized he had actually been frightened into breaking out in a thin layer of cold sweat by the Protector’s few remarks.

Now his heart was no longer cold, but instead filled with frustration and suffocated anger. He had truly been thrown into a panic just now—he should have been able to see through it, yet those few wicked jokes had made him lose all composure.

…It really was true—his soft spot had been seized.

Yun Changliu stood dazed for a moment, then turned with a wooden expression and walked away.

However, he hadn’t taken more than a few steps when a black shadow flashed before his eyes.

A Yin Ghost in black clothes and black armor suddenly materialized, kneeling neatly on one knee before the Sect Leader, presenting a letter with both hands.

“There is a message from Yanyun Palace in Xifeng City. The Old Sect Leader requests the Sect Leader to return to the Sect.”

Yun Changliu’s eyes darkened.

He had been about to reach out and take the letter, but hearing this sentence, his heart immediately sank heavily.

——It was over. Now there truly was no time for kissing.

Behind him, the door opened with a sound—it was Guan Wujue coming out after him. Seeing the Yin Ghost present, the Protector’s teasing smile immediately disappeared from his face. He walked to stand behind Yun Changliu and said seriously, “Sect Leader?”

Yun Changliu glanced at Guan Wujue, then reached out to take the letter from the Yin Ghost and unfold it. After reading through it rapidly, he channeled his internal energy.

The paper scattered and fluttered, turning to dust.

Guan Wujue was startled, but Yun Changliu calmly pushed the Protector back, “It’s nothing. Go back inside and rest.”

Guan Wujue asked, “Has something happened in the Sect?”

Yun Changliu was silent for a moment, but still nodded. His temperament was naturally mild—he was the kind of person who couldn’t stay angry for more than half a moment over small matters. With this interruption, he couldn’t be bothered to sulk and quibble with Guan Wujue anymore.

Guan Wujue didn’t press to ask what had happened, only saying, “You need to return?”

Yun Changliu immediately responded, “It’s you and I. If we’re returning, you’ll come back to the Sect with this lord together.”

As he spoke, Yun Changliu had already pushed Guan Wujue back into the room.

But the Protector shook his head, “This matter isn’t finished yet. Even if we can’t obtain the medicine right away, we must at least earn a promise from Duanmu Nanting. Now when nothing has been settled, how can Wujue return? Please, Sect Leader, go on ahead.”

Yun Changliu said, “You left the Sect to seek medicine, but this lord left the Sect for you. If this lord leaves first, what would that mean?”

“Sect Leader… Now the Zhuyin Sect is an honored guest of Wanci Manor. Duanmu Nanting is counting on Wujue to help him find his son, so naturally he’ll take the utmost care. The most dangerous time already passed yesterday—what is there for the Sect Leader to still worry about?”

“As long as it’s you, this lord will worry.”

“……” Did he think Wujue caused too much trouble?

Guan Wujue considered himself rather eloquent, yet he was always rendered speechless by one or two sentences from the Sect Leader who had never been good with words.

The Protector smiled bitterly and could only patiently persuade, “Though the Sect Leader destroyed the letter and won’t let me see it, Wujue can still guess that something quite terrible must have happened… Right now the Sect should be when they need you most. Moreover, you’ve been delayed outside for quite a while this time, and the Fengchun Sheng poison is a major hidden danger. No matter what, you truly cannot stay any longer.”

Yun Changliu sighed heavily and rubbed his brow, “This lord understands…”

In fact, everything Guan Wujue said made sense. Rationally, he wasn’t unclear about it. According to what the letter said, he had no choice but to make a trip back. And Guan Wujue here might actually be safer than following him back to the Sect.

Taking ten thousand steps back, if real danger arose, there were still the Yin Ghosts.

Yet the more stable it seemed, the more uneasy his heart felt.

“Wujue guarantees he absolutely won’t take risks, and won’t cause trouble at Wanci Manor either. If the Sect Leader doesn’t trust me, you can even take this subordinate’s swords with you.”

As Guan Wujue spoke, he actually turned and presented his twin swords into Yun Changliu’s hands, looking extremely obedient. “In another two days, Wujue should return as well. Please rest assured, Sect Leader.”

Yun Changliu shook his head and raised his hand to push the swords away, “No need for that.” After hesitating for a moment, he ultimately followed his heart and earnestly instructed, “If that’s the case, after this lord leaves, you must be careful in all matters and not be careless… Put yourself first in everything.”

Guan Wujue agreed, but Yun Changliu still felt uneasy. He couldn’t help but step forward and grasp his wrist, adding in a low voice, “You yourself said the Fengchun Sheng poison can’t withstand fright. Don’t make this lord short-lived anymore, understand?”

Guan Wujue wanted to laugh, but felt too pained to actually laugh.

“Sect Leader…”

The Red-Robed Protector suddenly bent his knees and knelt before Yun Changliu.

He devoutly lowered his head, lifted Yun Changliu’s hand, and pressed it to his forehead, murmuring like an oath, “The days ahead are long. The Sect Leader will surely live to a hundred years…”

Yun Changliu hastily moved to help him up, but paused when both hands touched those thin shoulders.

The Sect Leader suddenly thought that after returning to the Sect, he and Wujue might not be able to continue like this anymore.

That night a year ago had been too tragic. They had ignored each other for an entire year. This time Guan Wujue had returned to the Sect on his own initiative, and there was already Yun Chanjuan between them, now with Ah Ku added as well. So one pretended to be cold, the other deliberately distant, thinking they could endure until the end like this…

It was just a pity that after the Fengchun Sheng poison’s outbreak, when these two people softened, each was faster than the other. When the shadow of death’s blade hung overhead, even the most heart-piercing pain could be temporarily peeled away, revealing that bit of sincerity they wished to hide away for a lifetime.

Like moths to flame, seeking that last bit of warmth, barely enough to serve as consolation to take to the underworld.

Yet these indulgent days, counting them out, were also drawing to an end.

After returning to the Sect, those deliberately ignored rifts between them… would still come back eventually.

Yun Changliu helped his Protector up, but didn’t let go.

His clear, deep eyes suddenly turned with a gentle, warm flowing light.

He still felt he hadn’t been greedy enough.

To return like this left him somewhat unwilling.

Yun Changliu raised his hand and touched the corner of Guan Wujue’s lips.

Without preamble, he murmured, “Just once.”

Guan Wujue understood.

He looked up at Yun Changliu’s handsome, clear brows and eyes, ethereal as an exiled immortal. His gaze held an extremely gentle heat, like a small candlelight swaying but never extinguishing under the eaves on a rainy night.

With a faint smile, his eyes curved as he said softly, “However many times you want is fine, truly.”

Yun Changliu drew in a breath. His hands gradually slid down from the Protector’s arms, encircling his slim, tight waist, slowly but powerfully drawing the person into his embrace.

Perhaps from spending so long at the Medicine Gate, his Protector carried a faint, bitter medicinal fragrance that Yun Changliu had never encountered anywhere else, yet it inexplicably brought great peace to his heart.

Yun Changliu rested his chin on Guan Wujue’s shoulder, his cheek brushing against the falling strands of hair, causing a somewhat unbearable itch.

It didn’t seem to itch on his cheek, but rather stirred at the tip of his heart.

He tightened his arms and held him closer, until their two bodies were pressed tightly together, as if even their two vivid, beating hearts had joined as one.

Guan Wujue also raised his arms and gently embraced Yun Changliu’s back.

He tilted his head slightly and nuzzled against the Sect Leader’s face.

Both their bodies were somewhat hot.

Both their hearts beat very fast.

Their intermingled breathing was also somewhat chaotic.

In those few breaths of tranquility, it was as if they had already cycled through several lifetimes of fate.

More enduring than seas drying and rocks crumbling, more lasting than mulberry fields turning to blue seas.

They seemed to embrace at the boundary between the highest heaven and the deepest underworld. Heart-wrenchingly, soul-rendingly painful, yet so satisfying, so full it could barely be contained, almost overflowing.

“…Enough.”

Finally, Yun Changliu forcefully closed his eyes, released his hands and took a step back, letting go of the person before him.

He immediately turned away with his hands behind his back, not daring to look at Guan Wujue again.

This was truly the last time.

Probably there would never be such indulgence again.

Unexpectedly, the next moment.

The Sect Leader’s snow-white sleeve was grabbed by the Protector.

Guan Wujue’s eyes stared fixedly at the Sect Leader.

The expression on his face was beyond words.

“——Sect Leader.”

“So when you said ‘just once,’ you meant just a hug?”

Yun Changliu: “……”

The Four Directions Protector almost collapsed as he shook Yun Changliu’s sleeve, “You… at a time like this, you just wanted a hug? That’s enough?”

Yun Changliu: “……”

Guan Wujue forced himself to stay calm, “Sect Leader, Wujue has some wine here. How about you have a little to build up your courage…”

Sect Leader Yun’s handsome face had frozen completely. If you looked carefully, even his ear tips were somewhat red. He stiffly said in annoyance, “You… are making a scene! Why don’t you build up your own courage!”

“I…” The Four Directions Protector froze. The hand clutching the Sect Leader’s sleeve loosened, and his spirit instantly deflated.

He blinked, covered his lips and coughed once to fake propriety, “Wujue… wouldn’t dare do something so insubordinate!”

Yun Changliu gazed coldly at the Protector.

Guan Wujue looked back innocently at the Sect Leader.

——Fine then. In the end, neither of them had the courage, neither dared to cross the line first.

“…Forget it, forget it.”

In the end, it was still Guan Wujue who helplessly laughed first, “Is the Sect Leader preparing to leave now? Wujue will see you off…”

……

By the time Yun Changliu had finished packing and taken his leave of Duanmu Nanting, it was already noon.

The Sect Leader in white clothes on a white horse stood at the entrance of Wanci Manor, turning to say to Guan Wujue, “No need to see me far.”

Behind him stood ten Yin Ghosts. This number was only settled after the Sect Leader and Protector had haggled and negotiated for the better part of a day.

Both feared something might happen to the other, both wanted to leave more people for the other, and finally they split them half and half.

Yun Changliu said there was no need to see him far, but Guan Wujue still insisted on accompanying him another two li.

The two chattered on this entire way, each with ten thousand worries, you giving an instruction and I adding more nagging, the content all roughly the same words. Finally, perhaps even they felt it was too awkward, and each fell silent.

After walking quietly for a while, Yun Changliu again tried to send the Protector back. Guan Wujue couldn’t prevail against the Sect Leader and could only pat Feixue’s head, finally instructing the horse, “Remember to protect your master well.”

Then he watched as Yun Changliu leaped onto the horse, his snow-like figure gradually fading into the distance.

Guan Wujue remained in place gazing after him. Only after the Sect Leader’s figure had disappeared for quite a while did he shake his head and slowly turn to walk back toward Wanci Manor.

However, before the manor’s main gate even came into view, Guan Wujue encountered someone waiting for him.

He should be counted as a young man, though clearly several years older than Guan Wujue. His features were quite handsome, but his expression was so shy it gave the impression of honest simplicity.

That dark cyan robe embroidered with bamboo didn’t make him look the least bit elegant, but rather gave an incongruous feeling. If he changed into tattered cloth clothes and got a bit more sun-darkened, he’d look exactly like a country farmer tilling the fields.

“Protector Guan!”

The moment the young man saw Guan Wujue, he immediately showed a joyful, excited expression and rushed forward in a few quick steps, performing a deep bow without another word.

“I’ve long admired your great name, heard of it like thunder.”

After completing the bow, the young man raised his head again, grinning to show an enthusiastic, brilliant smile, “Hehe… To actually meet you in person today, truly a great fortune, a great fortune!”

Guan Wujue was a bit confused. He had no idea where this young man with shining eyes had come from.

Seeing the young man lean closer and closer, the Four Directions Protector warily took a step back. But before he could open his mouth to inquire, the young man immediately identified himself.

“This humble one is Duanmu Deng, son of Duanmu Nanting.”

The young man scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly:

“Until my younger brother Duanmu Lin is found, I am, for the time being… the Young Manor Lord of Wanci Manor.”