LMY Chapter 176

The carriage sped along the official road, with the gates of the Capital already in sight.

The young man in the carriage had delicate features, though his brows seemed to carry a trace of melancholy. He looked again hopefully at the stern-faced guard opposite him and politely asked, “This big brother, may this lowly one know why Bian Daren has summoned him to the capital?”

This person was Xun Yao.

A year ago, he had come to the Capital with his classmates from Changlin Academy to take the imperial examination. He achieved the rank of Top Scholar, which should have been a joyous occasion. However, he unexpectedly became entangled in an examination fraud case and was imprisoned for several months. No matter how he defended himself, the charges remained firmly fixed. Just when he thought death was certain, the situation took an unexpected turn – his name was cleared, but his official career was ruined, and he returned to Hexi in disgrace.

Xun Yao had been one of the best students at Changlin Academy. While becoming Top Scholar wasn’t guaranteed, passing the examination had been almost certain. He had already imagined his future career path, but instead nearly lost his life. After returning home, he felt his life was completely dark and even considered suicide. It wasn’t until his enlightenment teacher came to counsel him, and with his parents’ unwavering support, that he gradually accepted reality. He opened a private school and became engaged to his childhood sweetheart, with the wedding planned for ten days later.

Unexpectedly, a group of people suddenly burst into his home carrying Bian Cang Daren’s token from the Capital, and without explanation, dragged him onto a carriage.

No matter how much he inquired during the journey, he couldn’t get any useful information from these people. The examination fraud case had already ruined half his life, and now it continued to hang over him like an inescapable shadow, making him both confused and uneasy.

“Young Master Xun, there’s no need to worry,” the other person remained as cold as ever. “You’ll understand when we reach the Capital.”

Xun Yao cursed internally, but before he could finish, the carriage suddenly stopped. If he hadn’t quickly grabbed the curtain, he would have been thrown out.

“Who goes there!?” someone shouted angrily outside.

However, after only a slight sound, silence fell outside, leaving only the sound of horses’ hooves stomping anxiously on the ground.

The person sitting opposite him changed expression. “Young Master Xun, please stay inside the carriage.”

After speaking, he lifted the curtain and went out.

Half an incense stick’s time later.

Xun Yao, unable to bear the suspense any longer, bravely lifted the curtain and was stunned by the scene outside.

Those who had been “escorting” him all lay scattered on the ground, though without any trace of blood, as if they were merely sleeping. The only person standing was a plainly dressed Taoist priest who appeared to be only twenty-four or twenty-five years old. He carried a sword on his back and held a whisk in his hand. His temperament was cold and otherworldly. He looked at Xun Yao without expression and performed a Taoist greeting.

Xun Yao, crouching in the carriage, swallowed and instinctively returned the greeting.

“This humble Taoist is Yue Jingming of Mao Mountain,” the man stood still and said. “The young master may leave now.”

Xun Yao had never heard of Mao Mountain. He gripped the door frame and said, “This…Taoist priest, do you know why these people were trying to take me away?”

Yue Jingming said, “Someone in the Capital is looking for you.”

“Who is it?” Xun Yao frowned and said, “I don’t want to live in constant fear every day. Please enlighten me, Taoist priest.”

Yue Jingming looked at him, “I don’t know either. This person’s background is mysterious and their movements are strange. I have been tracking them for nearly a hundred years but have never seen their true face.”

Xun Yao stared at him in shock. The other person appeared to be only in his twenties, but his entire demeanor was completely unlike a young person’s. Though his words were bizarre, they somehow seemed convincing. He couldn’t help but ask, “What do they want with me?”

“Unknown,” Yue Jingming said. “They might want to take your life, or your body, or use you for evil alchemy. You’d better not go and stay away from this person.”

Xun Yao thought the other person was talking nonsense, but this Yue Jingming appeared so composed that he seemed unconcerned whether Xun Yao believed him or not, as if he was simply stating facts. Xun Yao even felt that if he insisted on going, the other person wouldn’t stop him.

Xun Yao’s mind turned quickly, and he suddenly had an idea. “If what Taoist priest says is true, I, as an ordinary person, certainly cannot resist. Since Taoist priest has come to save me from trouble, you must be a person of compassion. I hope Taoist priest will protect me.”

He got down from the carriage and bowed to Yue Jingming.

Yue Jingming didn’t refuse, “Young master may follow me into the city.”

Xun Yao decisively followed behind him.

He could see this person had real abilities and a righteous character. If what he said was true, following him was the safest option, and besides… he felt the name Yue Jingming somehow sounded familiar.

“Taoist priest, where in the Capital are we heading next?” Xun Yao couldn’t help but ask.

Yue Jingming looked at the tightly closed city gates, then turned to Xun Yao and politely asked, “Is the young master afraid of heights?”

“Ah?” Xun Yao was stunned for a moment, following his gaze to the towering city wall, “I… I shouldn’t be?”

“Excuse me,” Yue Jingming grabbed his belt and easily leaped over the city wall with him.

Xun Yao watched in amazement as the sky came close and then suddenly moved away. In the blink of an eye, they were standing on the stone pavement inside the Capital, his mouth still open in shock.

“Please,” Yue Jingming released his hand, his voice cold but polite.

“Please…please lead the way, Taoist priest,” Xun Yao’s gaze toward him instantly became reverent, as if looking at a respected centenarian.

****

Xiao Chunhe looked at Liang Ye in silence for a while. “…Do you have to hold him like that while I explain?”

Liang Ye lowered his eyes, brushed Wang Dian’s loose hair behind his ear, and adjusted him to a comfortable position in his arms. “He becomes frightened when his depression acts up, he can’t be away from me.”

Wang Dian’s brows were tightly knitted, his forehead covered in cold sweat, and he insisted on burying his face in Liang Ye’s neck. Liang Ye held the back of his head and kissed his ear, “I’m here.”

Wang Dian’s tense body finally relaxed a little.

Xiao Chunhe wished he were blind at that moment. He took a deep breath and said, “Wang Dian is your reincarnation.”

Liang Ye’s eyes showed no ripple of emotion. Xiao Chunhe squinted and smiled, “You knew already?”

“My memory may be poor, but I’m not brainless,” Liang Ye held Wang Dian tightly in a possessive embrace and stared at Xiao Chunhe. “I don’t care why you brought him here, he’s mine now.”

Xiao Chunhe smiled, “Don’t slander us, who said we brought him here?”

“Zhen doesn’t care,” Liang Ye stared at him darkly. “He’s mine.”

“You’re no different now than when you were a child fighting over baked flatbread,” Xiao Chunhe sighed helplessly. “He is Liang Ye, just Liang Ye reincarnated after death. Why are you possessing him? He can’t be your destined love – you’re the same person.”

“Did Martial Uncle fall in love with Master because others told you to?” Liang Ye suddenly spoke after a moment of silence.

“Of course not,” Xiao Chunhe said.

“Then there’s nothing wrong with me managing my own destiny,” Liang Ye held Wang Dian even tighter. “If he is also Liang Ye, then I have even more right to manage him. It’s only natural that I don’t let him love others.”

“…” Xiao Chunhe was almost drawn into his logic, “You’re just sophistry.”

Wang Dian was awakened by being nearly suffocated. He raised his hand and weakly punched Liang Ye’s waist, “Are you… trying to suffocate me?”

Liang Ye loosened his grip, and Wang Dian leaned against him, coughing hard. He glared at Liang Ye for a long while before reaching out to touch his face.

“It’s true,” Liang Ye caught his hand. “I’ve already had someone prepare the medicine.”

Wang Dian nodded, then two identical pairs of eyes stared straight at Xiao Chunhe.

“Don’t look at me like that. Telling you this much already counts as revealing heaven’s secrets. You’re both so clever, figure it out yourselves,” Xiao Chunhe squinted and said, “It’s just me here. If it were Yue Jingming instead-”

“What if it were me?” a cold voice suddenly sounded at the door.

The three people in the room were all startled.

Xiao Chunhe’s body froze. “Did someone just speak?”

Liang Ye gave him a sympathetic look, then stood up to look at the person who had already walked behind him, barely hiding the schadenfreude in his eyes. “Master.”

Wang Dian examined Yue Jingming. The other person was handsome and dignified, with gentle features, looking very proper and peaceful, with a convincing air of authority.

Yue Jingming’s gaze swept over Wang Dian and Liang Ye, finally landing on Xiao Chunhe, who had his back turned.

“Master-” Liang Ye had just opened his mouth when Yue Jingming gave him a cold look.

“Reckless use of techniques, damaged meridians, ruined foundation, excessive indulgence,” Yue Jingming said coldly. “Go kneel before the incense.”

Wang Dian watched in shock as Liang Ye closed his mouth and knelt down in an empty space in the room.

Xiao Chunhe tried to sneak away quietly, but Yue Jingming said in a deep voice, “Xiao Chunhe, come out.”

The previously fox-like person seemed to have met his nemesis. His shoulders slumped, and he obediently walked out the door.

Wang Dian had just found a soft cushion to put near Liang Ye’s knees and hadn’t had time to exchange glances with him when he heard Yue Jingming’s cold voice. “Don’t give it to him, use it yourself.”

Wang Dian’s scalp tingled almost instinctively. Before he could react, he found himself kneeling on the cushion, facing Liang Ye. He whispered, “Why do I have to kneel?”

Liang Ye knelt with a wooden face, staring straight ahead, and said, “Excessive indulgence.”

“Go to hell,” Wang Dian was angry and embarrassed. He wanted to stand up defiantly, but Yue Jingming’s cold, authoritative face suddenly flashed in his mind, and his knees instantly went weak.

This was really damn strange.

“When did you figure it out?” Wang Dian asked in a low voice.

“What?” Liang Ye maintained a pose of quiet reflection.

“Stop playing dumb, you knew early on that your master and the others brought me to this damn place,” Wang Dian said coldly.

“Not much earlier than you,” Liang Ye’s eyebrows moved slightly. “I only suspected at first, then saw Xiang Meng outside the city, and when Martial Uncle appeared, it was confirmed.”

“At first?” Wang Dian turned to look at him.

“At Shizai Mountain, Xiang Meng mentioned a comment,” Liang Ye said matter-of-factly. “But Zhen has never believed in such ethereal things.”

Wang Dian narrowed his eyes.

“Master never shows mercy in his actions, and Martial Uncle…” Liang Ye frowned slightly, “was probably trying to warn us.”