Mayfly (1)
The mayfly’s wings are delicate, its garments neat and fine.
My heart is heavy with sorrow—where is the place I can return to?
——
Guan Wujue ultimately walked out of Yangxin Hall alone, the dark red robe embroidered with ink plum blossoms billowing behind him in the wind. His face was grave as water as he descended the long steps, his eyes dim and utterly lightless.
After grinding away for several days, the Sect Leader had finally allowed him to leave Yangxin Hall, yet Guan Wujue’s heart held only bitterness.
How could he not know that Yun Changliu’s concession this time wasn’t because he trusted him, but simply because his heart had softened.
——Clearly knowing you have a problem, yet when you kneel and plead, I still can’t bear it.
Guan Wujue let out a self-mocking cold laugh, his brows relaxed as he turned back to gaze distantly at the great doors of Yangxin Hall.
He closed his eyes with restraint and drew in a light breath. In that very moment, it was as if countless sharp thorns mercilessly pierced into his chest all at once, stabbing until he was dripping with blood, stabbing until his heart was torn apart with pain.
Before, it had only been deception… but after today’s events, it could already be considered exploiting the Sect Leader’s tender affection and care for him.
…In the end, he had still committed the sin he himself most despised and most hated. Guan Wujue felt he was the most base traitor, the most contemptible wretch, and guilt nearly tore him to shreds.
But behind him, there was no path of retreat left.
When all was said and done, staking all the strength of this lifetime, he only wanted to save one person. After a thousand hardships to reach this step, finally seeing a glimmer of light ahead; seeing the long night about to end, the harsh winter about to pass… how could he bear to stop now.
When obsession runs deep, one becomes possessed.
He could no longer… turn back.
Guan Wujue withdrew his gaze and continued walking down in a daze, his footsteps echoing emptily on the long stairs.
His mind was in disarray thinking about the matters ahead when, after just a few more steps, without any warning whatsoever, a sudden explosive spasm of agony erupted in his chest!
“Ngh…!”
Guan Wujue’s pupils constricted sharply. He staggered violently, nearly stepping into empty air and tumbling down the stairs. Before he could understand what was happening, his vision blurred with a layer of fog from the pain, and his heart began to pound violently and irregularly against his ribs, reaching the point of suffocating breathlessness in an instant.
This is…
Guan Wujue coughed with difficulty, turning his head to the side, his complexion visibly paling at a rate visible to the naked eye. He vaguely guessed what was happening, but gritted his teeth hard and continued walking forward.
Too close to Yangxin Hall—he dared not stop, didn’t even dare to raise his hand to cover his chest and give that alarmed organ some futile comfort, afraid that the Sect Leader might on a whim look at his retreating figure from the doorway.
By the time he finished these mere dozens of steps, Guan Wujue was in such pain that his vision had scattered and blurred, his entire body trembling. With great difficulty enduring until he turned into a deserted area, he leaned against a pillar and collapsed, his fist pressed hard against his chest. Within a breath or two, his back was soaked with cold sweat.
Enduring the pain in his heart meridians and the accompanying stifling dizziness, Guan Wujue struggled to tilt his neck back, trembling purplish-pale lips gasping for air in fine threads, yet was still able to think coldly and calmly: As expected, the medicine’s efficacy is beginning to consolidate… faster than anticipated.
…That’s right—he had been taking medicine to nourish blood since Yun Changliu’s poison erupted a year ago. That substance had extremely fierce medicinal properties; drinking it was as tormenting as taking poison. However, it wasn’t without benefits—with that medicine sustaining him, his complexion wouldn’t become excessively haggard, and his heart meridians, which were actually already extremely fragile, could still hold on a while longer. Outsiders couldn’t see anything abnormal.
And when the medicine’s efficacy gradually coalesced in the blood within his body, these effects that sustained this body would withdraw one by one. This process varied in length from person to person—as short as eight days, as long as a month or two. When this too was finished, the medicine person would be considered cultivated and ready for use.
Not knowing how much time had passed, when this brutal torment gradually became less life-threatening, Guan Wujue weakly half-closed his eyes and let out a breath of relief, bringing his hand to his forehead to wipe away the cold sweat.
…Truly an unfortunate stroke of fortune—the medicine’s consolidation came so many days earlier than expected, and he just happened to come out at this moment, missing it by mere instants.
If this had erupted in front of the Sect Leader, he really might not have been able to get away with it.
After recovering for quite some time, Guan Wujue finally dared to fumble for the pillar and try to endure the residual pain while standing up bit by bit.
The Protector surveyed his surroundings and stumbled forward a few steps, stopping to catch his breath before continuing. He had agreed to half a shichen [an hour], and the Sect Leader was still waiting for him to return. He wanted to hurry to the Medicine Gate to get some medicine that could suppress the pain and weakness.
Unfortunately, this day was destined to be restless.
Before Guan Wujue could endure the discomfort and make his way to the Medicine Gate, he encountered someone who had specifically come looking for him.
“So the Protector is here—Wen Huan has been searching for you.”
Wen Huan, emerging slowly from midway, still wore that clean white robe, his face bearing an elegant and amiable smile as he made a “please” gesture:
“The Old Sect Leader requests your presence. I must trouble you to make the trip with me.”
Guan Wujue’s expression darkened slightly.
Well then—he had only been released from Yangxin Hall for less than half a shichen… and Yun Guyan had already received word and sent someone to find him, even dispatching Wen Huan personally.
He might believe the claim that the Old Sect Leader had completely withdrawn and no longer managed sect affairs; but to say that Yun Guyan didn’t maintain some forces of his own underneath… probably not even ghosts would believe it.
Seeing Guan Wujue remain silent, Wen Huan inquired with kind concern, “The Protector’s complexion doesn’t look very good. What happened?”
The Four Directions Protector forced his lips into a slight smile and performed a salute, saying, “My apologies, Wen Daren. The Sect Leader is still waiting for Wujue. Today is truly inconvenient… As for the Old Sect Leader’s side, Wujue will personally go tomorrow to apologize.”
Wen Huan sighed, the look in his eyes as he gazed at the Protector carrying a measure of apology.
An ominous premonition rose in Guan Wujue’s heart. He called out softly, “Uncle Huan…?”
However, before his words had finished falling, Guan Wujue felt his wrist tighten!
It was Wen Huan. Completely unprepared, Wen Huan had seized his pulse gate in a flash, and the internal energy flowing through his meridians immediately slowed.
The Protector looked at Wen Huan in shock, yet calmed down in the next instant. Already knowing he couldn’t break free, he simply relaxed his body and let Wen Huan restrain him, asking with a cold laugh, “What is the meaning of this, Wen Daren?”
Wen Huan shook his head and said apologetically, “I’m sorry. You’ve known the Old Sect Leader’s temperament since childhood—this person has never been willing to accommodate others.”
Guan Wujue fell silent for a moment before asking, “Must I go?”
Wen Huan nodded. “You must.”
It seemed there was no room for negotiation.
The Protector could only smile helplessly. “Very well then, let’s go.”
……
Yanyun Palace was an unusual place. Even when it was bright daylight outside, inside it remained dim as always.
As Guan Wujue and Wen Huan stepped deeper into Yanyun Palace, their elongated shadows on the ground slowly contracted and disappeared.
What greeted them was Yun Guyan’s gaze like cold iron, his powerful and domineering pressure suddenly rushing toward them.
Upon the throne, the Old Sect Leader let out a cold snort, narrowing his eyes and saying, “Protector Guan, have you been living comfortably in Yangxin Hall?”
Guan Wujue knelt on one knee, saying in a deep voice, “Plans cannot keep up with changes. I beg the Old Sect Leader’s forgiveness.”
Yun Guyan didn’t allow him to rise, only beckoning to Wen Huan. The latter bowed his head and walked behind Yun Guyan, bending down to whisper softly by the Old Sect Leader’s ear. “This child is extremely weak. I’m afraid the medicine’s efficacy has just begun to merge with his blood… If not for this, Wen Huan would have had difficulty obtaining him so easily.”
Yun Guyan raised his eyelids. “Oh? So soon?”
“After all, this is the second time nourishing blood. Being somewhat faster isn’t unusual.” Wen Huan sighed. “Medicine people who can survive having their hearts pierced and blood extracted are already rare. One who can endure nourishing blood a second time—he’s the first… The Medicine Gate has no prior records, so some deviation isn’t surprising.”
“……”
After contemplating for a while, Yun Guyan waved at the Protector kneeling below. “Rise.”
Seeing the Old Sect Leader’s attitude soften somewhat, if it were someone who knew what was good for them, this would be the time to tactfully show submission and display an obedient attitude.
Unfortunately, the Four Directions Protector had never known what was good for him. Enduring the palpitations that came when standing up, Guan Wujue coldly raised his head and said, “Old Sect Leader, you’re too impatient. The Sect Leader finally allowed Wujue to step out of Yangxin Hall’s gates for half a shichen. If I return late again this time, the days ahead will be difficult.”
Wen Huan gave him a pained look that said “say a few words less,” but was instead met with the Protector’s glare as he said mockingly, “Thanks to Wen Daren’s kindness, Wujue was supposed to go to the Medicine Gate to get medicine, but now I’m afraid I won’t make it in time. If the Sect Leader notices, don’t blame it on Wujue.”
“Well well, aren’t we quite spirited?” Yun Guyan narrowed his eyes, pointing at him with a finger and raising his eyebrows at Wen Huan. “See? You wanted to feel sorry for him, but instead you got pricked, didn’t you?”
Saying this, the Old Sect Leader drew out a letter from his sleeve and said leisurely, “Since this lord’s Yanyun Palace cannot keep the Protector, this secret letter from Wanci Manor need not…”
These words fell on Guan Wujue’s ears like thunderous roaring. “What secret letter!?”
Yun Guyan hummed. “Naturally it’s a letter from Gu Jinxi. But seeing as the hour isn’t early anymore, the Protector should hurry back and continue your tender entanglement with Liu’er…”
Before he could finish the sentence, Guan Wujue suddenly knelt down. “This subordinate knows his fault! Old Sect Leader, please forgive me!” Yet he couldn’t suppress the joy showing on his face.
Back when he and the Sect Leader went to Wanci Manor, Guan Wujue had entrusted a letter to the Yin Ghosts to deliver to Yun Guyan, laying out his entire plan. The channel Gu Jinxi and Yun Guyan had used to conspire back then still remained, so he had simultaneously entrusted all subsequent contact matters to the Old Sect Leader as well.
Since Yun Guyan still had the mood to tease him like this, it probably wasn’t bad news…
Sure enough, he heard Yun Guyan say slowly, “Gu Jinxi agreed. The date is set for the full moon of next month. You’re to bring that ‘Ah Ku’ alone to a desolate hill twenty li outside Wanci Manor. Exchange person for medicine.”
As he spoke, joy also appeared in the corners of Yun Guyan’s eyes. He drew out the half piece of white jade pendant hanging at his neck, gripping it tightly in his palm, his usually low voice involuntarily trembling. “Fengchun Sheng is a rare poison under heaven. Medicine person blood can only suppress it but cannot eliminate it completely. But now, as long as we have Wanci Manor’s nine-leaf jade clarity lotus, supplemented with the Medicine Gate’s heavenly materials and earthly treasures…”
His eyes lit up with a fervent glow. “Combining the medicinal power of both, we truly can achieve what you said—a hundred years of life! Good! Excellent…!”
Wen Huan at the side couldn’t bear it and averted his gaze.
…Yun Changliu’s hundred years of life was to be exchanged with this child’s life before him. How cruel, how heartless.
The Four Directions Protector clearly hadn’t realized there was anything “cruel” or “heartless” about it. A wave of joy shook him from blood vessels to bone marrow until they nearly burned with heat. Guan Wujue took a deep breath to suppress the excitement that made his whole body tremble, the corners of his lips unconsciously forming a beautiful curve. “It is very good… too good. Finally… finally reached this step. As long as we can obtain it this time…”
He was simply too happy, too excited, and had rarely lost his usual calm and acuity, completely failing to notice Yun Guyan’s gradually darkening and complex gaze.
Until Yun Guyan slowly stood up, his mountain-like aura silently extending. That voluminous and stately black robe unfurled, the candle dragon pattern upon it seeming to awaken from a dark abyss.
Yun Guyan stood straight like this, staring at him, and suddenly said, “Protector, come with this lord.”
Guan Wujue looked up slightly in surprise.
At first he didn’t react to what the Old Sect Leader meant.
Under Guan Wujue’s somewhat bewildered gaze, Yun Guyan—the Old Sect Leader who usually sat high in the depths of the palace—actually condescended to walk down step by step, coming before the red-robed Protector.
“As for the remaining matters, the Protector need not concern himself. The transaction with Gu Jinxi will be continued by this lord.”
Yun Guyan said lightly, placing a hand on the Protector’s lean shoulder and patting it twice intimately, even smiling. “As for you, these remaining days…”
But his face, his eyes, his tone carried not even the slightest bit of warmth. Instead, they were covered with a shadow that made one’s entire body turn cold.
“——Leave Xifeng City and stay peacefully, becoming a medicine to be properly stored in a box.”