Qiao Xuan was completely dumbfounded. What happened to Lu Chen being a mere mortal?!

His master, Yun Tingshu, had been reclusive for many years, staying hidden even in the celestial realm. Even Bai Cang hadn’t heard of him, but that could be because Bai Cang was from the Western Wasteland and wasn’t well-versed in celestial matters. Still, even in the heavenly realm, few people knew his master’s name. Yun Tingshu was extraordinarily low-key and mysterious—probably because he had been isolated for so long that no one even remembered him anymore.

But this so-called “mortal” Lu Chen, easily recognized him.

How could he possibly be just a mortal?

It turned out Lu Chen wasn’t human either! And he knew Yun Tingshu, which meant he’d lived a long time. Qiao Xuan was feeling dazed and confused.

He had thought Lu Chen would be his most hassle-free love trial…

But it turned out Lu Chen was the hardest to predict!

Right now, Qiao Xuan could only describe his feelings as meeting with disaster. Seeing that once again, he was dealing with someone he couldn’t defeat, he quickly took a couple of steps back. This is so unfair! I’ve already gone through my tribulations and ascended as an immortal. It’s fine if I’m not a big deal in the celestial realm, but here on Earth, I thought I could finally feel like a boss! But instead, even here, he kept running into people stronger than him.

He was tired. This world just wasn’t treating him well.

Yun Tingshu looked at Lu Chen with a calm expression, though there seemed to be a hint of nostalgia in his eyes. After a long silence, he spoke softly, “It’s been a long time.”

Lu Chen, however, remained cold, his lips curling slightly. “I had no desire to see you again.”

Yun Tingshu sighed softly and said, “Since we’ve met, why not come inside and talk?”

Qiao Xuan, standing nearby, remained as quiet as a mouse. The moment his master turned to go inside, Qiao Xuan quickly followed. I may not be able to fight, but I’ve still got my master, so as long as I stick close, I’ll be fine!

Lu Chen watched them coldly but, after a brief hesitation, followed them into the inn.

Yun Tingshu glanced at Qiao Xuan with a faint smile and said softly, “You should return to your room.”

Qiao Xuan nodded immediately.

Got it! You two need to talk in private.

He didn’t dare look at Lu Chen again and obediently scurried into the adjacent room, shutting the door with a bang. Feel free to talk; don’t mind me!

Lu Chen stared at the closed door for a long while before turning to Yun Tingshu.

Once Lu Chen stepped into the room, the door closed on its own, without a breeze. Yun Tingshu waved his hand, and a teapot and two cups appeared on the table. He sat down and calmly said, “Sit down, and we can talk.”

Lu Chen’s expression remained tense, his face tight with tension. Yun Tingshu was always so composed, so unruffled—nothing seemed to move him. Even after everything that had happened, he had never changed.

What Lu Chen couldn’t understand was how Yun Tingshu had managed to find Qiao Xuan…

Ten thousand years ago, Lu Chen had witnessed the destruction of the Phoenix clan with his own eyes but had been powerless to stop it. It had been just like when he had watched everything else fall apart—everything, in the end, fell to the cycles of fate and the laws of the heavens. He had once rebelled, been unwilling to accept it, but what had come of that?

This was no longer the same Three Realms.

Nothing could last forever; nothing could remain eternal.

All of us are just barely surviving.

But why… why was he still by your side?

Lu Chen took a deep breath, his sharp eyes fixed on Yun Tingshu. Slowly, he spoke, “How did you find him?”

Yun Tingshu didn’t respond, simply pouring tea for Lu Chen and speaking in a light, detached tone, “Why not sit and have some tea first?”

Lu Chen’s jaw tightened, and after a long silence, he finally sat down.

Through the swirling steam, Yun Tingshu’s face seemed slightly blurred. He smiled faintly and said, “I didn’t expect to see you here. It seems you and he are indeed connected by some fate.”

Fate?

Lu Chen might have hoped so, but hearing this word from Yun Tingshu’s mouth only filled him with a sense of mockery, even anger.

I’ve searched for so long, waited for so long, thinking all hope was lost, only for you to get everything with such ease. If this is fate, then what about you and him?

Was he destined to be a step behind again?

Lu Chen’s expression grew colder, his voice hoarse as he said, “I don’t know how you did it, but I’m not the person I once was, and you…”

His gray eyes filled with bitter mockery. “You’re not who you once were either. You’re no longer free to act as you please. Can you still protect him?”

With that, Lu Chen stood abruptly and turned to leave.

Yun Tingshu watched his retreating figure, a hint of helplessness in his eyes as though he wanted to say something but ultimately chose not to. He merely called out softly, “Ah Chen…”

Lu Chen’s steps faltered for a moment, but he didn’t turn back and soon disappeared from sight.

This time, I won’t let go again.

Nor will I lose to you.

…

Meanwhile, Qiao Xuan had his ear pressed against the wall, but he couldn’t hear a thing.

As an immortal with magical abilities, he should have been able to eavesdrop with ease, even through ten walls, let alone one. If he couldn’t hear anything, it meant that his master had put up a barrier to prevent him from listening in.

Which only made him more curious!

Ever since he had arrived here, the only people in Xuanye Valley had been his master and two stone-turned-spirit servants. He had never seen any friends of his master, either before or after his tribulations. No other immortals ever visited Xuanye Valley. His master had always been alone. After so long, Qiao Xuan had never even associated his master with other people.

Yes, there were plenty of immortals, but only his master had this level of detached solitude.

Even Hua Lan liked throwing banquets and was the social butterfly of the heavenly realm. Bai Cang had countless underlings and spent his time plotting world domination. Even Jiang Weiqing was the star of the Guiyuan Sword Sect, admired by countless disciples. And while Lu Chen was cold, he still had a friend in Qin Mu, at least.

Everyone had some connection to the world.

But his master had none.

In Qiao Xuan’s eyes, his master was the true immortal who was above the mundane world, an existence beyond the reach of ordinary beings!

This was the first time he’d seen anyone who knew his master!

But from the looks of it, their relationship wasn’t exactly friendly… What kind of connection did they have? And who exactly was Lu Chen?

Not being able to listen in was driving Qiao Xuan crazy with curiosity…

Pacing back and forth in the room, he anxiously wondered if they had finished their conversation yet. But he didn’t dare to just barge in. The suspense was killing him…

Fifteen minutes later.

Qiao Xuan tiptoed to the door, quietly opening it and moving to his master’s door, trying to peek through the crack.

Just as he leaned in, the door opened.

Qiao Xuan: “…”

Well, this is awkward.

But he quickly glanced inside—Lu Chen was gone. When did he leave?

Yun Tingshu looked at Qiao Xuan calmly, as if nothing was out of the ordinary, and asked, “Looking for me?”

Qiao Xuan chuckled awkwardly, his eyes darting around as he said, “Where’s Lu Chen?”

Yun Tingshu replied, “He’s gone.”

Gone so quickly? It seemed like they didn’t talk about much, but that made sense—Lu Chen hadn’t seemed eager to chat in the first place…

Qiao Xuan couldn’t hold back his curiosity any longer and asked, “Master, do you know him?”

Yun Tingshu replied simply, “Yes.”

Qiao Xuan: “Who is he?”

Yun Tingshu glanced at him and said, “A friend.”

Really? Qiao Xuan didn’t believe it. With how tense Lu Chen had been, “friend” didn’t seem to fit. “Enemy” sounded more believable! But his master’s nonchalant response clearly meant he didn’t want to talk about it, so Qiao Xuan wisely dropped the subject.

He only had one concern—had Lu Chen recognized him?

If he had, that would be bad news…

Qiao Xuan wasn’t the type to ignore problems. His master was on his side, so if he kept hiding things and caused trouble later, it would be his own fault. Better to ask now!

Qiao Xuan, embarrassed, nervously said, “Master, Lu Chen was the person from my seventh life’s love trial…”

Seeing no reaction from Yun Tingshu, Qiao Xuan bit his lip and anxiously asked, “Did he recognize me?”

Yun Tingshu’s gaze softened. After a pause, he smiled gently and said, “You don’t need to worry.”

Don’t need to worry?

What does that mean?

Does it mean he didn’t recognize me, or that even if he did, I don’t need to worry because Master is here?

Just as Qiao Xuan was about to ask more, Yun Tingshu calmly asked, “Didn’t you go out earlier to find a place to eat? How did that go?”

Qiao Xuan: “…”

Oh, you remembered that?!

He had just used that as an excuse to sneak off to see his sister. But fortunately, he was familiar with Nan Yue and already knew all the good spots to eat. After all, Qin Mu had been a guest of the Crown Prince and half a figure in the martial world, so dining out was nothing new to him…

Qiao Xuan blinked and smiled, “I found a great place!”

He led his master out, walking through the familiar streets with a sense of being in charge. He remembered a restaurant with excellent food and quickly found that it was still there, much to his relief—otherwise, he would have had to scramble to find another spot.

Qiao Xuan confidently led them to the second floor, called the waiter over, and ordered several dishes. He knew the menu by heart and could order with his eyes closed.

After ordering, he glanced out the window. Uh-oh. Across the street was a brothel, and now that it was getting dark, the women were coming out to attract customers…

He hadn’t thought about that when choosing the place. He nervously glanced at his master’s expression.

Yun Tingshu had removed his hat and placed it beside him, his silver hair falling elegantly down his face. His pale eyes were as calm as ever, untouched by the noise and distractions around him. Even in this bustling place, his ethereal aura remained unshaken.

Qiao Xuan looked at his master, then at the women below.

This was the fanciest brothel in the capital, and the women were quite beautiful. But compared to Yun Tingshu, they seemed like mere dust.

No one could compare to him.

Qiao Xuan cleared his throat and quickly averted his gaze.

Soon, the food arrived. The waiter, upon seeing Yun Tingshu, was so stunned he almost forgot to serve the food. It took him a moment to come to his senses and set down the dishes before walking away in a daze.

Qiao Xuan found this reaction completely normal. This is how ordinary mortals react when they see a true immortal. Even after a hundred years of looking at his master, Qiao Xuan had only just gotten used to it.

He stared at the steaming dishes, but instead of digging in, he eagerly pushed the food toward his master, saying in a fawning tone, “Master, try this!”

Yun Tingshu didn’t refuse. He picked up his chopsticks and took a piece of braised pork.

Qiao Xuan watched nervously until his master had eaten it. Finally, he sighed with relief. He had worried that these ordinary dishes wouldn’t suit his master’s tastes, but it seemed that wasn’t the case.

His master wasn’t that out of touch with the world, after all…

Qiao Xuan perked up, excitedly recommending more dishes. “Their braised pork is amazing, slow-cooked to perfection… and this steamed perch, freshly caught from Qinghe River, has the best texture… Oh, and these bamboo shoots are the tenderest you’ll ever find…”

“How is it? Is it good?” Qiao Xuan’s eyes sparkled as he eagerly looked at his master.

Yun Tingshu smiled and said, “It’s good.”

Though it was only two simple words, Qiao Xuan felt completely satisfied. For his master, that was high praise! There was no greater joy than sharing something you love and having it appreciated, especially by someone as exalted as his master. Even though Yun Tingshu sat in a noisy restaurant eating mortal food, his divine aura remained untainted. This only made Qiao Xuan respect him more.

This must be what it means to have true presence.

No wonder I can’t compare, even after all my years as an immortal.

After dinner, they strolled back toward the inn. On the way, Qiao Xuan’s eyes lit up when he saw a vendor selling candied hawthorn skewers. He rushed over and bought two, then hurried back to his master, offering one excitedly. “This is really good too!”

Yun Tingshu saw the brightness in Qiao Xuan’s eyes, and his own expression softened. He reached out and took the skewer.

Throughout the evening, Yun Tingshu had been easygoing, accepting everything from the mortal world without a hint of disdain. Qiao Xuan, who had been tense earlier, began to relax. It seemed his master wasn’t as cold and aloof as he had always thought. Maybe it was just Qiao Xuan who had been too uptight…

He bit into the candied hawthorn. It was sour, but in a way that brought back memories.

Maybe I’m just not cut out to be an immortal…

Before he realized it, they had returned to the inn. Qiao Xuan glanced up at his master, only to find him gazing back with those pale eyes. Then, a cool hand gently touched his lips, and Yun Tingshu’s soft voice said, “You’ve got something on your lips.”

Qiao Xuan’s heart skipped a beat. His gaze fell on the candied skewer his master still held. He hadn’t eaten any…

Guess he doesn’t like it.

That’s fine, I’ll eat it! We can’t let it go to waste!

“Master, if you’re not going to eat it, I’ll take it!” Qiao Xuan grinned, eager for more.

Yun Tingshu chuckled and handed the skewer to Qiao Xuan.

It was late by the time they returned to the inn. Satisfied, Qiao Xuan beamed and said, “Master, I’m going to bed now!”

…

That night, Qiao Xuan slept soundly, well-fed and content.

The next morning, he woke up feeling a mix of emotions.

It had been a long time since he’d felt this carefree. Ever since arriving in this world, it had been one tribulation after another, and even after becoming human, he had thought he could finally be free. But instead, he kept running into powerful exes and living in constant anxiety. Only when he was with his master did he feel truly at ease, as if he were just an ordinary mortal.

He was reluctant to leave.

But he knew it was time to return.

Before coming here, he had promised his master that once they visited Nan Yue, he would go back to the celestial realm to continue his cultivation. Now that everything in Nan Yue was settled and his sister was doing well, there was no reason to delay.

Besides, there was the added complication of Lu Chen. He couldn’t drag his master along with him, eating and playing while that mess lingered.

He needed to know when to stop.

He had hoped to stay longer, but that no longer seemed like an option.

Forget it. Now that these love trials were everywhere, even though the mortal world had its charm, it wasn’t safe. Better to retreat and cultivate for a while, then maybe try again in a few years—hopefully without so much bad luck.

But before he left, he couldn’t return empty-handed!

Qiao Xuan set off on a spirited shopping spree.

He stocked up on spices so he could cook for himself, bought pots, pans, and bowls, and even ordered a large redwood bed so he wouldn’t have to meditate on a stone slab anymore! He bought silk, fabrics, books, and anything else that caught his fancy, stuffing everything into his storage space.

With all these supplies, I can remodel my little cabin and have plenty of fun! Life won’t be so boring anymore! Qiao Xuan thought gleefully.

He spent the entire day shopping and, without realizing it, found himself on a different street.

This was the part of the city where the wealthy lived. There were fewer people on the streets, and those who passed by were mostly from noble families. The area was dignified and solemn, a clear sign that it was where the influential resided.

There wasn’t much to buy here, so Qiao Xuan was about to leave.

But as he glanced at the wide, clean street, he was momentarily dazed.

A thousand years had passed, and this place was no longer what it used to be, but the Rong family’s estate had once been here, hadn’t it? He remembered there had been a jar of peach blossom wine he had buried in the yard himself… But a great fire had destroyed everything back then. The mansions here were newly built, and none of the old traces remained.

After so many emperors, everyone still remembered the great Ming Emperor Xiao Lu, who had ushered in the golden age and was hailed as one of history’s greatest rulers. But who still remembered the loyal Rong family that had been wiped out?

It’s almost laughable. The Rong family had given their lives for Xiao Lu, and a thousand years later, here he was, fighting for the Xiao family’s throne again as Qin Mu.

At least this time, only he had died.

Qiao Xuan smiled wryly and shook his head. It’s all in the past. It was just a tribulation. I’ve bought everything I need, so I’ll return to the celestial realm tomorrow…

Just as he was about to turn and leave, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a tall figure stepping out from behind a red gate. The man looked up, revealing a refined and elegant face, and their gazes locked.

Qiao Xuan: “…”

Crap. He spun around and bolted, but the man moved even faster, appearing in front of him in an instant. His gaze was filled with shock and emotion, and his deep eyes carried a complicated look.

Qiao Xuan’s expression froze, his face going pale. How did I run into Hua Lan?!

One ex was bad enough. Now there were two?!

Can’t I catch a break?!

The author: “A love triangle is approaching~” 

Qiao Xuan: “Just let me die already!”