“Ran away so fast earlier, but now I’ve caught you again.”

Chu Hanjin felt a bit helpless and asked, “What exactly do you want?”

“Nothing much,” the youth said with a grin as he approached. “I can tell you’re not locals, judging by your clothes, and you’re not Rongku Sect disciples. So why are you here in Fengliu City for no reason?”

Someone nearby called out to him, “Xiao Die, hurry up after you’re done shopping and head back. If Lord Xin finds out, you’ll get scolded!”

So the youth’s name was Xiao Die.

As expected, his name had a bit of a delicate, perfumed air. Chu Hanjin pondered for a moment before Xiao Die walked up to him, wrapped his hands around Chu Hanjin’s arm, and said, “Immortal, are you coming to drink again tonight? Call me! I guarantee you’ll have a great time. I’m free every day. Just say the word, and I’ll come.”

It wasn’t the first time Chu Hanjin had been flirted with, but this youth went as far as physically grabbing him, making it impossible for Chu Hanjin to shake him off. His face stiffened, not knowing what to do.

Yue Lin pried the youth’s fingers off. “What are you doing?”

Xiao Die, rubbing his sore hand, rolled his eyes. “Don’t touch me, you brute. I don’t like your type. I like this white-clad Daoist. So handsome, so cold, like a jade statue. He’s gorgeous!”

As he spoke, Xiao Die tried to reach for Chu Hanjin again.

Chu Hanjin took two steps back, placing his hand on his sword, but then realized it was pointless to argue with a youth. With no way to retreat further, he resigned himself to standing behind Yue Lin.

Yue Lin spoke up, “Don’t like my type, huh? Didn’t you say this morning—” He shot a chilling glare at Xiao Die. “That he’s my lover? Now you’re hitting on him? Are you asking to die?”

As he spoke, a faint glow of a talisman appeared in Yue Lin’s palm.

Yet the youth wasn’t scared in the slightest. With hands on his hips, he shouted, “You dare hit me?!”

Any more commotion and the whole street would likely gather around them, drawing unwanted attention. Chu Hanjin gently tugged at Yue Lin’s sleeve. “Let’s go.”

As they turned to leave, Xiao Die continued yelling behind them, “Do you know who my lover is?”

“…”

Yue Lin scoffed, “If his lover finds out he’s causing a scene in the middle of the street, shouting like that, he’d lose all his face.”

Having shaken off the youth, Chu Hanjin didn’t comment. “Let’s just get something to eat at a tavern.”

As they were about to walk, two riders on fast horses galloped down the main road. Both wore the robes of the Rongku Sect, carrying a dust whisk. Their wide sleeves fluttered, and their presence exuded an ethereal aura. As they passed by, they glanced at Chu Hanjin and Yue Lin.

The first rider, with sharp features and a high nose, looked heroic. The second, with long, narrow eyes, had a somewhat flirtatious look, his gaze flowing.

When the second rider saw Chu Hanjin, he tightened the reins slightly. Something flew from his sleeve and landed in Chu Hanjin’s lap—a flower hairpin with six petals.

Without stopping, the rider galloped away.

Chu Hanjin held the hairpin and turned to Yue Lin. “What does this mean?”

Someone nearby spoke up, “Oh no! He’s marked you!”

Chu Hanjin: “???”

The person explained, “That hairpin is also known as the ‘Evil Embroidered Ball.’ If he throws it to you, it means he fancies you and wants to sleep with you. If you know what’s good for you, you should go to him willingly. Otherwise, he’ll come for you tonight.”

Chu Hanjin: “That forceful?”

Yue Lin clicked his tongue in irritation. “Fine! Let him come tonight. If he doesn’t, he’s a coward!”

“…”

It was clear that Yue Lin was very angry.

Chu Hanjin asked again, “What if I refuse?”

“Refuse? It’s simple. There have been men who refused before—he forced them, then killed them afterward. Do you know his nickname? The Jade-faced Asura. He’s lustful and cruel. If he wants someone, he gets them. Often, once he’s had his way, he discards them. You better be careful, Immortal.”

“…”

Chu Hanjin looked at the hairpin in his hand, examining it under the sunlight. Engraved at the base was the symbol of the Rongku Sect.

The Rongku Sect, isolated and remote, oversaw the northern desert region. Though they preached righteousness at their spring banquets, it seemed that in these far-off corners, they acted as they pleased.

Since Chu Hanjin had encountered this, he decided to tuck the hairpin into his sleeve, planning to report it to Xing Jiangxin later.

But just as he slipped it into his sleeve, Yue Lin frowned. “Let me see.”

Chu Hanjin handed it to him.

Yue Lin turned it over, examining it carefully. As expected, the hairpin was infused with spiritual energy, which had already seeped into Chu Hanjin’s sleeve. This so-called nightly visit was likely guided by the spiritual energy.

Yue Lin transferred the spiritual energy onto his own sleeve and collar before handing the hairpin back to Chu Hanjin. “If he dares to come tonight, I’ll make sure he doesn’t leave.”

“…”

Clearly, his anger stemmed from jealousy.

And the reason for his jealousy was probably that someone had shown interest in Chu Hanjin.

For some reason, Chu Hanjin felt his ears grow warm. After a moment, he said, “Let’s eat first.”

The two of them went to a tavern in town. Upon entering, they noticed that while the streets were bustling, the tavern was almost empty.

Thinking it was just a slow day for business, Chu Hanjin called the waiter over. “We’d like to order.”

The waiter handed him a menu.

Chu Hanjin looked it over and said, “I’ll have the steamed bass and cold beef slices—”

The waiter shook his head. “Sorry, Immortal, we’re out of bass.”

Chu Hanjin chose another dish. “Braised pork loin?”

“Apologies, no pork loin either.”

//

Yue Lin shot a cold glance at the waiter. “You run a tavern, but you’re out of bass and pork loin. Let me guess, if I order cold beef, you’re out of that too, and no seaweed and pork trotters either?”

The waiter looked troubled. “We really don’t have those.”

Yue Lin: “But you’ve got them written on your sign.”

“I’m terribly sorry, Immortals. The town’s Master Zhou is holding a funeral these days, and all the delicacies have been delivered to his residence. Even our chef has been hired to help with the event. When I saw you two come in, I thought you were guests attending the funeral.”

Chu Hanjin raised his eyes. “Which Master Zhou?”

“The one in the courtyard behind the red walls next door.”

“Ah, I see.”

It was the same house from which they had broken a branch earlier.

The waiter added, “If the Immortals want to eat something good, they could head over to Master Zhou’s residence. He’s hosting a half-wake banquet tonight, and most of the town is attending. I’m afraid my little tavern doesn’t have many customers left.”

No wonder business was so slow.

Chu Hanjin relented. “Just serve whatever you have, enough to fill our stomachs.”

“Understood.”

After the waiter left, Chu Hanjin exchanged a glance with Yue Lin.

Chu Hanjin asked, “Should we go?”

Since they were here in the northern desert to find clues, the more lively and unusual a place, the more likely they were to uncover something.

Yue Lin nodded. “Let’s go. But first, let’s eat.”

Master Zhou’s residence was packed with people. Two rows of wreaths were displayed at the entrance, and the ground was littered with scraps of red paper from firecrackers. Many people stood around, gossiping as they nibbled on sunflower seeds and peanuts.

It’s only natural to join in on such an occasion.

Chu Hanjin didn’t have to ask much before he overheard the story of how the young master had died.

“Oh, the unpredictability of life! Who would have thought?” One auntie, cracking sunflower seeds, slapped her leg. “Just the other day, I delivered eggs to the housekeeper and caught a glimpse of the young master. He was lively, full of energy, his face glowing with health. He didn’t look sick or like he was going to die! He even greeted me and invited me over for a meal in a few days.”

She shook her head and sighed. “Life is unpredictable, so unpredictable. I was about to go to bed last night when an old woman came knocking, saying that Master Zhou’s young master had suddenly died—dropped dead! No warning at all. I heard he had just finished eating, undressed, and lay down to rest when he suddenly spat out black blood. He started vomiting, kept vomiting until the whole room was filled—”

She took a deep breath. “When I got there, the bed was covered in blood, the floor too. The young master was lying there, stiff, his head tilted to the side, already dead! Can you imagine? Such a handsome young man, gone just like that!”

Someone next to her asked, “But he wasn’t sick, was he? How could he have died so suddenly?”

“I can’t say for sure. No, he wasn’t sick. His mother cared for him well, had him wear a long-life lock since birth. We all watched him grow up in the neighborhood, cheerful and well-mannered. He never fell seriously ill. To think he’d die like this, it’s truly heartbreaking!”

“…”

Chu Hanjin glanced at Yue Lin.

How could someone die so suddenly? It didn’t make sense.

As they were about to walk further in, the aunt suddenly lowered her voice, glancing around as if preparing to reveal a secret. But the moment she saw Chu Hanjin and Yue Lin, she stopped, putting on a kind smile. “Are you two Immortals?”

Chu Hanjin was about to respond when Yue Lin quickly denied it, “No, we’re not. We were just passing by and saw the crowd, so we came to take a look. We’ll be leaving soon.”

The aunt sighed in relief and continued her story in a low voice, “I heard that Master Zhou’s young master was cursed to death!”

Chu Hanjin’s pupils narrowed slightly, and he was about to listen more carefully.

Just then, a servant came out and said, “Please don’t block the entrance. Come inside, come inside.”

His eyes swept over the crowd, landing on Chu Hanjin and Yue Lin, noting their noble and handsome appearances, which set them apart from the common folk. He walked over to them. “Immortals, please, do come inside.”

Since they’d been spotted and invited, Chu Hanjin had no choice but to comply.

The servant led them to the account office, saying, “If you’re here for the wake, you can leave your gift money over there.”

“…”

Chu Hanjin sighed. “This.”

Gift money, as in a contribution for the wake.

So even attending a half-wake banquet required a gift.

Chu Hanjin nodded and walked over to the accountant, taking out his money pouch. The accountant glanced at the two of them. “How much are you giving? And how much are you giving?”

Were they expected to give two separate contributions?

Yue Lin gently pressed Chu Hanjin’s hand down and smiled. “We’re family, so we’re giving one gift.”

The accountant squinted, eyeing the two of them. “Family?”

There was something indescribably odd about his expression.

“We’re Dao companions,” Yue Lin explained.

“…”

A slight flush crept up behind Chu Hanjin’s ears. He handed over the gift money and couldn’t help but steal a glance at Yue Lin.

Dao companions?

Technically, it wasn’t incorrect, considering their situation.

But the way Yue Lin said it so naturally, almost as if he enjoyed it, made Chu Hanjin feel a bit uneasy.

Without realizing it, they had become “family.”

Yue Lin took his hand. “Let’s go.”

Chu Hanjin asked, “To check the body?”

“Yes. Since the young master died so suddenly, there must be something unusual. The body should reveal some clues.”

Chu Hanjin gently shook off Yue Lin’s hand. “I can walk on my own.”

He wasn’t sure why Yue Lin insisted on holding hands so often.

Once was enough for an urgent situation, but now?

Yue Lin glanced at him, lips quirking in a faint smile, clearly not the least bit embarrassed. Instead, he replied leisurely, “What’s wrong with holding hands?”

“…”

Chu Hanjin didn’t want to argue with him.

Ahead of them was a wide passage filled with guests and workers. Chu Hanjin headed toward the more crowded area. “Guests usually pay their respects to the deceased. The busiest place is where the coffin is.”

His guess was correct.

The coffin was not in the main hall but in a side chamber, surrounded by paper effigies, wreaths, and funeral offerings. In the front hall, a woman leaned against the coffin, dabbing at her tears with a handkerchief, as people came and went to console her.

Upon closer inspection, Chu Hanjin realized that the woman was the same one they had encountered earlier that morning.

As he was about to step inside, he paused.

In the front hall, where the coffin lay, there was a faint, ominous black mist lingering—an extreme evil presence.

The woman, nearly engulfed by the black mist, seemed entirely unaware, continuing to dab her eyes with her handkerchief.

Chu Hanjin muttered, “Something’s not right here.”

Yue Lin agreed. “Indeed.”

“The black mist is coming from the coffin, indicating that the corpse is cursed.” Chu Hanjin thought for a moment. “It would be helpful if we could examine the body closely.”

Examining the body sounded simple.

Yue Lin thought for a moment. “Should we just go up to the woman and tell her there’s something wrong with the body?”

“Is that appropriate? It would draw too much attention during the funeral. If we don’t find anything, we could be accused of disrespecting the dead. Besides, the woman doesn’t seem to like cultivators…” Chu Hanjin looked at Yue Lin. “Let me confirm a few things first.”

Yue Lin nodded. “Alright, let’s go.”

They approached the front hall where the coffin was placed. When the woman saw them enter, she stood up with incense in hand, saying, “Immortals—”

When she realized they were the cultivators who had broken the branch that morning, her movements stiffened slightly.

Chu Hanjin gently took her arm. “My condolences, madam. My friend and I arrived this morning, unaware of the customs, and unintentionally offended you. When we heard this afternoon that your son had passed, we felt saddened and came to pay our respects.”

Chu Hanjin had an exceptionally convincing face. His features were handsome, his expression sincere, and his white robes pristine, with a faint fragrance always lingering around him. He stood out like a celestial being among mortals.

Not to mention, he was well-read, spoke with elegance, and his words were carefully chosen—qualities that made him especially liked by women and young ladies.

The woman, hearing his apology, sighed heavily. “I wasn’t upset with you this morning. It’s just that, it’s just that…”

Her voice faltered, and her eyes grew red as she dabbed at her tears with her handkerchief. Taking advantage of this moment, Yue Lin stepped forward, pretending to offer incense, and took a quick glance inside the coffin. Typically, the coffin would remain half-open until the burial, allowing relatives and friends to view the body.

Yue Lin’s gaze landed on a pale, lifeless face.

In life, the young man must have been quite handsome, with well-defined features. But now, his lips were purple, pressed tightly together. Yue Lin’s eyes shifted downward, noticing black mist rising from the chest, likely the source of the problem, though it was hidden beneath the burial clothes.

Confirming that the woman wasn’t paying attention, Yue Lin discreetly reached into the coffin—

Suddenly, he felt an icy hand grasp his wrist.

It was cold, bone-chillingly cold, like a block of ice.

And the hand didn’t feel like it belonged to an adult man. It was smaller, with sharp, prominent bones and pointed fingernails.

Yue Lin twisted his wrist, and the sound of bones snapping filled the air as he broke the fingers of whatever was holding him.

Then he felt sharp teeth sinking into his skin.

What the hell?

At that moment, the woman turned to Chu Hanjin, gently pulling on his hand. “Immortal, please burn some incense for my son. May he rest in peace in the afterlife, under your protection.”

As she spoke, the woman slowly turned around.

Yue Lin quickly withdrew his hand, feeling a sharp pain—it had been viciously bitten.

The woman’s eyes were already on him. “Immortal, have you burned incense?”

Yue Lin hid his injured hand behind his back and nodded. “I have. My condolences.”

Just as he was about to inform Chu Hanjin about his injury, two tall figures in Daoist robes hurriedly entered the hall. They were slender and upright, holding dust whisks in one hand, accompanied by a group of concubines and maidservants, looking quite important.

The woman quickly went to greet them. “Master Chenyang, Master Luoyang!”

A pair of sharp eyes swept over them.

It was the same Rongku Sect immortals they had seen on horseback earlier, the ones who had thrown the flower hairpin at Chu Hanjin.

The one named Chenyang was the more stern-looking of the two. He didn’t even glance at the Zhou family matriarch, his gaze directly locking onto Yue Lin and Chu Hanjin. Meanwhile, Luoyang, with his slightly seductive eyes, coughed and spoke gently, “Where are you two from?”

Chu Hanjin was about to reply, but Yue Lin beat him to it. “We’re wandering cultivators from the Bai family, just passing through.”

Luoyang chuckled. “I saw you two this morning, and now we meet again.”

Yue Lin glanced at him, lips curling slightly. “What a coincidence.”

There was a thick tension in the air.

Luoyang’s gaze lingered on Chu Hanjin, clearly reluctant to look away. After a moment, his attention shifted back to Yue Lin, piqued. “What are you hiding behind your back?”

He was referring to Yue Lin’s injured hand, the one bitten by the malicious spirit in the coffin.

Luoyang’s eyes narrowed. “Show me.”

Chu Hanjin and Yue Lin weren’t naive enough to believe that just because they were fellow cultivators, they could trust these two. Yue Lin raised his hand, revealing the bloody wound. “What’s the problem?”

Beside him, Chenyang’s brow twitched slightly.

Luoyang’s voice remained soft but carried a sinister undertone. “How did you get hurt?”

Yue Lin, in no rush, glanced at Chu Hanjin. “My Dao companion bit me. Is that a problem? Our private affairs aren’t something we need to explain to you, are they?”

Dao companion. He had said it again.

Luoyang, understanding the underlying hostility in Yue Lin’s words, nodded but added, “The blood looks fresh.”

Yue Lin replied smoothly, “Of course. He bit me just now when he was angry.” His tone turned sharp. “What else could it have been?”

At this point, Luoyang found himself at a loss for words. To press further would suggest he knew more than he let on. Next to him, Chenyang let out a soft snort.

The Zhou family matriarch looked flustered. “I-I…”

Yue Lin gently patted her shoulder. “It’s alright. We’ll be leaving now. Please continue entertaining your guests.”

With that, he and Chu Hanjin exited the hall.

Once they were out of earshot, Yue Lin finally revealed his hand. Chu Hanjin took it in his own, inspecting the wound. “What happened?”

Yue Lin explained the strange encounter inside the coffin.

Chu Hanjin nodded, carefully bandaging the injury before lightly massaging Yue Lin’s fingertips.

A subtle tingling sensation spread through Yue Lin’s hand, causing him to lower his eyelashes. “What is it?”

Chu Hanjin quietly remarked, “You really had to say I bit you.”

But by now, his mindset had stabilized. Hearing Yue Lin’s nonsense no longer made him flustered. At least, he didn’t correct him in front of others anymore. He would wait until they were alone to settle the matter.

This was a good development.

Without realizing it, they had become a team.

Chu Hanjin examined his hand closely. “There’s no poison in the wound. Does it still hurt?”

Hurt?

Standing beneath the peach tree next to the red wall, Yue Lin thought for a moment. A mere scratch like this was nothing to him, no worse than an itch. But hearing Chu Hanjin’s concerned tone, Yue Lin softly replied, “…Yes, it hurts.”

Chu Hanjin didn’t know what kind of evil spirit was inside the coffin, but seeing Yue Lin’s hand, with its flesh torn and bleeding, he gently clasped Yue Lin’s palm, transmitting his spiritual energy to heal the wound.

Chu Hanjin’s spiritual energy was pure and gentle, like a cool breeze, refreshing the mind.

And his hand, as pale as jade, felt warm and soft to the touch.

Yue Lin lowered his lashes, watching the figure in front of him.

As Chu Hanjin transferred his spiritual energy, he couldn’t help but wonder why the two Rongku Sect cultivators had appeared just as Yue Lin reached into the coffin. Most likely, they were trying to prevent something from being discovered, or perhaps there was something acting as a lookout.

Moreover, the Zhou family matriarch clearly had a negative view of cultivators, yet she still greeted those two with a warm smile, though that smile seemed a bit forced.

If this wasn’t a simple coincidence, then perhaps the young master’s death was connected to those two cultivators.

To know for sure, they would need to investigate further.

“Yue Lin…” Chu Hanjin raised his eyes, about to share his thoughts.

But instead, he found himself staring into Yue Lin’s deep golden eyes.

Yue Lin had taken his hand, lightly holding it in both of his own, as if he were holding something precious. His movements were careful, his thumb unintentionally brushing against Chu Hanjin’s smooth hand.

The warm touch spread along his hand, like a spark, igniting a flame that quickly reached his chest.

Even though they had shared moments of comfort during nightmares before, it had always felt distant, unreal, like something that hadn’t truly touched his heart, as it all happened in the dark of night.

But now, under the glaring midday sun, Yue Lin was gently holding his hand, as if unconsciously, and had been for quite a while.

“…”

A thin layer of sweat appeared on Chu Hanjin’s palm.

Yue Lin’s fingers, slightly calloused, wrapped around his own. With scars on his knuckles, Yue Lin’s hand seemed rougher and more rugged compared to Chu Hanjin’s slender, fair fingers, which now felt almost bullied under Yue Lin’s grasp.

Without realizing it, they had been holding hands for quite some time.

Just as Chu Hanjin was about to ask, “Does it still hurt?”

He realized that even this question sounded a bit too intimate.

Chu Hanjin attempted to withdraw his hand. “Are you alright now?”

He assumed that in such an awkward moment, Yue Lin would let go. But to his surprise, just as Chu Hanjin started to pull away, Yue Lin tightened his grip, slowly stepping forward and gently pulling Chu Hanjin into his arms.

Chu Hanjin froze for a moment.

Yue Lin looked directly into his eyes, not looking away or offering any excuse, and said bluntly, “Your hands are so soft.”

Chu Hanjin: “…”

Yue Lin’s gaze softened, his voice tinged with emotion. “Thank you…”

Chu Hanjin: “…”

Yue Lin slowly lifted Chu Hanjin’s hand to his lips and kissed it gently. “I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time.”

Chapter 30

Chu Hanjin stared down at his hand, the one Yue Lin had just kissed.

There were no visible marks, but it was faintly damp.

A rush of heat and an uncontrollable sense of panic surged through him. Chu Hanjin cursed under his breath, “Scoundrel!” Then he turned and hurried toward the more crowded area.

His mind was a chaotic mess.

This man was outrageous, so outrageous.

Who gave him permission to kiss his hand?

And in broad daylight, right under everyone’s noses!

Chu Hanjin kept walking, his thoughts racing, when he heard Yue Lin’s voice behind him. “Where are we going?”

Chu Hanjin answered, “To the deceased’s room.”

Yue Lin: “You’re going the wrong way.”

“…………”

The deceased’s room was in the side chamber, to the right of the second door. Bamboo grew nearby, indicating that the young master had a refined taste in life. Now, though, the corridor was lined with talismans, and women and men in charge of the funeral rites were chanting incantations in the courtyard, scattering paper money to the wind.

When Chu Hanjin and Yue Lin entered the courtyard, the ritualists glanced at them but continued chanting. However, two Rongku Sect cultivators standing nearby asked, “What are you doing here?”

Yue Lin replied, “We’re here to pay our respects. It’s a pity about the young master’s death.”

The cultivator shook his head and snapped, “Leave, leave! We’re busy here. Don’t break the taboos.”

Not allowed to observe, they had no choice but to leave.

But just as they reached the door, Chu Hanjin said, “I’ve figured it out. They’re chanting a Wang Sheng spell.”

Yue Lin: “Hmm?”

“The Rongku Sect’s talisman spells—I studied some of them before,” Chu Hanjin explained. “That’s a basic spell to suppress vengeful spirits. It encourages evil souls to give up their grievances and move on, no longer causing harm.”

Yue Lin: “You know Rongku Sect spells?”

Chu Hanjin glanced at him. “Back at the sanctuary, there was a high-ranking Rongku Sect disciple who taught me some. But putting that aside, why would they chant a soul-suppressing spell instead of a soul-comforting or soul-soothing spell after death?”

Something wasn’t right, very not right.

Yue Lin lowered his lashes and asked, “Did he really die an unnatural death?”

Chu Hanjin nodded. “That’s the only explanation.”

Thinking about the arrogant demeanor of those cultivators, Chu Hanjin felt a growing sense of unease.

The Rongku Sect, as one of the Six Great Sects, held immense power and was a model for all cultivators. Yet here, its members were committing murder openly, without even bothering to conceal their actions.

If word of this got out, the Rongku Sect would lose all face.

Circling around to the back of the courtyard, Chu Hanjin suddenly thought of something. “Do you think he lured me to the northern desert just to show me this?”

To expose the Rongku Sect’s sins in front of him, and then…

Chu Hanjin felt as though he was starting to understand something, but it was still unclear. The two of them had already reached the back of the courtyard. No one was around. Yue Lin easily blew open the door and jumped inside.

He fetched a stool, placing it by the window. “Come on, step on it.”

“……”

Chu Hanjin wasn’t that delicate.

Stepping on the stool, he landed inside the room. The air inside was cold and eerie, piercing his skin like needles.

The room had been tidied up, with no sign of the bloody aftermath. However, Chu Hanjin crouched in the corner, rubbing his fingers together, and gestured to Yue Lin. “There’s blood.”

Despite repeated cleaning, the bloodstains here hadn’t been fully removed.

One could only imagine how gruesome the death had been.

Chu Hanjin said, “I’ll try summoning the soul.” Perhaps they could call forth the young master’s spirit and ask about his death.

He drew a circle on the ground, placing a talisman inside it. If the young master’s soul returned, the talisman would rise into the air.

But after Chu Hanjin finished reciting the entire incantation, the talisman remained motionless.

Chu Hanjin looked around the dark, eerie room and said, “His soul has been taken away.”

He glanced out the window, where the group outside was playing wind instruments and chanting incantations. “If I’m not mistaken, they got to it first.”

When someone dies unnaturally, their vengeful spirit lingers at the site of their death, waiting for justice. But if these people had hurriedly taken the spirit away, it meant they were trying to cover something up or intended to use the vengeful spirit for some purpose.

As they were pondering this, the sound of footsteps echoed from outside the door.

Chu Hanjin glanced at Yue Lin. “Let’s go.”

In an instant, they were outside, standing in the courtyard.

Nearby, a servant called out, “The banquet is starting! Hurry and get some food while it’s hot!”

Chu Hanjin still wanted to discuss things with Yue Lin, but to his surprise, Yue Lin casually walked in the direction of the banquet, smiling as he said, “Let’s go eat first.”

Chu Hanjin followed him. “You…”

After the servant had walked away, Yue Lin leaned in close and whispered, “Come on, let’s eat and ask around. Isn’t there a saying? You can’t find out the truth of any story without asking the old ladies at the village entrance.”

“……”

Chu Hanjin gave him a deep, thoughtful look.

For someone like Lord Yue Zhao, who rarely mingled with mortals, this was quite the unconventional approach.

They entered the front hall where the banquet was being held. Most of the guests were already seated—merchants and wealthy businessmen at one table, cultivators and immortals at another, and ordinary townsfolk seated together, all coexisting peacefully.

The servant gestured. “Please, Immortals, sit here.”

Yue Lin declined. “No need. We’ll just sit anywhere. You go ahead.” He then walked over to where a group of middle-aged women were seated, munching on sunflower seeds, and pulled out a bench to sit down.

“……”

The women, with their kind, friendly faces, were busy gossiping about everyone around them. They knew every detail, down to the mole on the waist of a distant relative’s son.

Yue Lin waved at Chu Hanjin. “Coming?”

Could he refuse at this point?

Chu Hanjin glanced around and, with small steps, walked over to sit beside Yue Lin. The women’s gazes immediately fixated on him. “This Immortal… He’s so…”

The women of the northern desert were straightforward, taking a moment to find the right word.

“Wow, he’s stunning.”

“……”

Chu Hanjin lowered his lashes, maintaining his usual composed demeanor. But here, surrounded by these women, his refined appearance had little effect. All he could hear was a barrage of questions. “Immortal, are you married?”

Chu Hanjin: “No.”

“Do you have someone you like?”

“No.”

“Why aren’t you married yet? Aren’t your parents worried?”

“……”

Yue Lin poured himself a cup of wine, chuckling as he listened.

Chu Hanjin shot him an annoyed glance, and Yue Lin finally stopped enjoying the show. “Yeah, they’re worried. We’ll only be staying in Fengliu City for a few days. After that, he’ll head home to get married.”

The women widened their eyes. “He’s engaged?”

Chu Hanjin’s expression showed a hint of distress. Yue Lin nodded. “Yes, he’s already got someone. So, Aunties, no need to match him with anyone. He’s soon to be a married man and won’t be able to handle it, haha.”

Only then did the questioning about Chu Hanjin’s love life stop. The women turned their attention to Yue Lin. “Are you married?”

Yue Lin answered without hesitation. “Married.”

He glanced at Chu Hanjin. “And my wife is already pregnant.”

“Oh dear, how unfortunate.” “These days, young people are getting married so early.” “I was just thinking of matching him with my niece.” After a few complaints, the conversation finally moved away from the topic of marriage.

It was at this point that Yue Lin asked, “My friend and I traveled from afar and heard about the tragedy with Master Zhou’s son, so we came to pay our respects. He was so young. How did he pass away so suddenly? What a pity.”

The women’s faces were filled with sorrow. “Yes, such a shame, such a shame.”

Yue Lin added meaningfully, “So young…”

Unable to resist, the women began to chatter all at once.

“I heard he wasn’t clean. He used to frequent the brothels and caught some disease. He never got better, and that’s how he died. But the family didn’t want to admit it because it would’ve been too embarrassing, so they didn’t say anything about the cause of death.”

“Not clean? He seemed like such a good person. I was even thinking of matching my niece with him. But his health wasn’t great. He was always on medication, maybe he caught something that couldn’t be cured.”

“It was definitely a dirty disease! I even picked up his medicine a few times…”

Amid the gossip, one woman, her lips tight and her eyes red and swollen, suddenly stood up and shouted, “You don’t know anything! Stop spreading rumors!”

Yue Lin cracked a peanut and placed it in Chu Hanjin’s hand.

But Chu Hanjin wasn’t in the mood to eat. His attention was on the woman.

She stomped her foot. “He was cursed to death!”

With that, she threw off her apron and left the table.

The abrupt outburst left everyone stunned for a moment before someone said, “That was Nanny Wang. She nursed Master Zhou from birth, so she probably knows more than we do.”

“She must’ve been upset because we were talking about the young master’s innocence.”

“Yeah, we shouldn’t speak ill of the dead.”

Yue Lin nodded solemnly. “You’re right. Spreading rumors about diseases isn’t respectful to the deceased. Let’s stop discussing it for the sake of his reputation.”

Then, out of nowhere, someone muttered, “If they cared so much about reputation, they shouldn’t have invited that kind of person.”

Hearing this, Chu Hanjin’s gaze shifted.

The others followed suit.

They saw a youth, dressed flamboyantly, standing out awkwardly in the crowd with heavy makeup and an air of gaudy extravagance.

It was Xiao Die, the young man from the brothel.

And judging by the reaction around him, everyone looked down on him.

But he ignored the stares, closing his parasol as he found a seat and began helping himself to the food, not caring if others had gathered yet. He casually picked out the best dishes, his manner both coarse and unrefined, yet with a certain charm on his sweet, youthful face.

He gnawed on a chicken leg, fully aware of the eyes on him.

Moments later, a pair of figures approached—Chenyang and Luoyang, the Rongku Sect Daoists, walking side by side, one stern, the other flirtatious.

As they neared, Xiao Die looked up at Luoyang, who was walking on the right.

He smiled before lowering his head to continue eating.

It was clear that the two were heading toward Chu Hanjin’s direction. Yue Lin remained unfazed, but Chu Hanjin’s eyelid twitched, feeling the impending social death moment approaching.

Master Chenyang spoke first. “Forgive my rudeness. I wasn’t aware you were Lord Yue Zhao of the Far Mountain Sect.”

Chu Hanjin maintained his composed expression. “No need for formalities.”

“Since you’re passing through, I’ve long admired your grace. Might I invite you for some tea?”

The Six Great Sects had an alliance, and hospitality between sects was customary. Even if Chu Hanjin didn’t want to drink tea, as a representative of the Far Mountain Sect, refusing would be seen as disrespectful to the Rongku Sect.

Yue Lin set down his chopsticks.

Luoyang’s eyes lingered on Chu Hanjin as he raised his brows. “Shall we, Lord Yue Zhao?”

There was a veiled accusation in his words, not just an invitation but also a subtle reprimand for entering their territory without announcing themselves—an act of poor etiquette in the orthodox circles.

Yue Lin helped Chu Hanjin to his feet. After a moment of thought, he pointed at Luoyang and said, “This morning, on the street, you were the one who threw a hairpin at Lord Yue Zhao, weren’t you?”

Luoyang: “That was me.”

“Well, at least you have the courage to admit it. I’ve heard this hairpin has a nickname, ‘The Evil Embroidered Ball.’ Throwing it at someone means you’ve taken a fancy to them and intend to possess them. You threw it at Lord Yue Zhao. What were your intentions? Don’t you think that’s disrespectful?”

Luoyang looked surprised. “How could there be such a nickname? There’s an ancient tradition of showering flowers like rain, gifting beautiful fruit, all to honor beauty. I was merely expressing my admiration for Lord Yue Zhao’s elegance, with no intention of impropriety. You’ve wronged me with that accusation.”

Yue Lin smiled. “You’re right. You, a mere town guard of Fengliu City, daring to covet Lord Yue Zhao—compared to the moon, you’re just a flickering firefly. It’s a bit ridiculous and arrogant.”

There was a clear undercurrent in his words.

Luoyang held his forehead, looking exasperated. “You’re being too aggressive, my friend. If my act of throwing the hairpin offended you, I’ll admit my mistake. After all, Lord Yue Zhao is renowned. By the way, who might you be?”

He was asking for Yue Lin’s name.

Since they rarely encountered people from other sects in this northern region, the two of them had discussed earlier and figured out that this was Chu Hanjin, but they were still clueless about Yue Lin’s identity.

Yue Lin replied indifferently, “I’m Lord Yue Zhao’s servant.”

Luoyang burst into laughter. “A servant? But I’ve heard you claimed earlier to be Lord Yue Zhao’s lover. Ah, it must’ve been a joke—something I almost believed.”

“……”

Yue Lin licked his teeth but said nothing.

If it were the old him, he would’ve whipped that smug smile off Luoyang’s face.

But now, for the sake of the bigger picture, he held his tongue. Luoyang continued, “Shall we?”

His voice was gentle, but each word was like a soft blade.

Chu Hanjin frowned. He understood that the more someone lavished him with praise, the more they intended to use him against others.

He exchanged a glance with Yue Lin before stepping forward.

“You two are distinguished guests, high in status. How did you end up sitting among the locals? They gossip and aren’t exactly clean, but fortunately, I noticed in time and brought you out,” Luoyang remarked as he led the way.

Beside him, the usually silent Chenyang shot them a sideways glance, his tone blunt. “Lord Yue Zhao, what brings you to the Rongku Sect?”

Clearly, he lacked Luoyang’s finesse, his words tinged with displeasure.

Chu Hanjin replied curtly, “It’s a confidential mission. I can’t divulge the details.”

Since his rank was higher than theirs, his tone was stiff, and Luoyang had to smooth things over. “Of course, we didn’t mean to pry, just wondering if we could be of any assistance.”

The tension eased slightly, and Chu Hanjin responded more kindly. “If I need help, I’ll seek it out.”

Luoyang smiled again. “Of course.”

This man had a flirtatious air, with peach blossom eyes and a voice laced with a hint of laughter. His zhuyeqing Daoist robes were worn like a rich young master’s silk robes, exuding elegance and grace.

But his gaze kept lingering on Chu Hanjin.

Yue Lin chuckled suddenly. “Daoist friend, I heard a nickname about you today, and after meeting you, I must say it fits you perfectly.”

Luoyang blinked. “What is it?”

Yue Lin replied, “The Jade-faced Asura.”

Luoyang: “Oh? What does it mean?”

“It means you’re both lustful and violent.”

“……”

The head table, directly facing the coffin, was reserved for close friends and relatives of the Zhou family, wealthy merchants, and, of course, a spot for the renowned Rongku Sect cultivators.

Luoyang gestured grandly. “Please, take your seat.”

As Chu Hanjin was about to sit down, he noticed someone else already seated.

The man wore a blue robe and held a fan, his hair tied in a jade crown, with two flowers braided into it. His appearance was refined, if somewhat pale. Though not overly handsome, his gentle smile gave off a spring-like warmth.

Luoyang introduced him. “Allow me to introduce. This is Lord Yue Zhao of the Far Mountain Sect. And this is a friend I met during a recent patrol—his name is Bai Gu.”

Chu Hanjin gave him a glance but didn’t pay much attention.

But as he sat down, he heard Luoyang’s surprised voice. “Daoist friend, why don’t you sit?”

Chu Hanjin looked up, noticing that Yue Lin had gripped the back of the chair tightly, veins faintly bulging on his hand, his gaze fixed on the cultivator named Bai Gu, eyes filled with rage.

A wave of violent energy surged from Yue Lin, but only for a brief moment. He quickly pulled out the chair and sat beside Chu Hanjin.

Bai Gu cupped his hands. “Lord Yue Zhao, I’ve long admired you.”

Chu Hanjin lowered his lashes, murmuring a polite response, while Yue Lin’s voice came through a spiritual transmission: “Something’s wrong with this place.”

Chu Hanjin’s heart skipped a beat as he glanced at him.

Yue Lin continued in the transmission: “This is indeed a trap. After we finish eating, we should leave.”

Chu Hanjin responded with a silent nod.

Yue Lin had been calm when they encountered Chenyang and Luoyang, but the moment he saw Bai Gu, his mood darkened. If Chu Hanjin wasn’t mistaken, Bai Gu had a connection to Yue Lin. Or perhaps, Yue Lin recognized him.

Luoyang raised his cup. “I recently met Daoist Bai Gu, and today I have the honor of meeting Lord Yue Zhao. Such an influx of distinguished guests these past few days, haha… Let’s drink to that!”

Yue Lin blocked him. “Lord Yue Zhao doesn’t drink.”

Bai Gu looked at Yue Lin for a moment, then smiled. “How do you know he doesn’t drink? Luoyang, you haven’t introduced this Daoist friend yet.”

Luoyang clapped his forehead. “Oh, I forgot. This is Lord Yue Zhao’s servant. May I have your name?”

“Yue Lin.”

Luoyang repeated the name a few times: “Yue Lin.”

But Bai Gu kept repeating a different word, softly mumbling: “Servant, servant…”

As if he found the title suspicious.

At this point, Chu Hanjin asked, “Do you two know each other?”

Bai Gu replied, “Not exactly. This Daoist friend just resembles my ninth brother. But he passed away over twenty years ago.”

Chu Hanjin: “And who might your ninth brother be?”

This was a bit intrusive. In normal conversation, one would stop before asking such a personal question, as digging into someone’s past like this was considered impolite.

But since Chu Hanjin had asked, Bai Gu answered earnestly, “My ninth brother. He looks almost exactly like my ninth brother. I almost mistook him for the same person.”

The atmosphere around the table grew tense.

Luoyang, curious, remarked, “Your ninth brother? You’ve never mentioned him before…”

Bai Gu continued to smile at Yue Lin. “Daoist friend, do you have any siblings?”

Recalling the story Yue Lin had shared in the cursed forest, Chu Hanjin could almost guess that Bai Gu might truly be Yue Lin’s younger brother. They were connected somehow.

However, Yue Lin didn’t seem keen on talking about his past, nor did he seem eager to re-enter the world. Digging into his past would only upset him, wouldn’t it?

Chu Hanjin replied curtly, “You’ve mistaken him.”

With those words, the tension lifted, and everyone laughed, raising their cups. “To drinking!”

The liquor, a local specialty from the northern desert called Huangtai, was incredibly strong. A single sip seared the throat, burning through the lungs.

Opposite Chu Hanjin, Bai Gu took a sip of the liquor and said, “To be honest, I miss my ninth brother dearly. When I was young, I was reckless and did many things that hurt him. I broke his heart. Now that I want to make amends, my ninth brother is long gone. It makes me so sad, I could beat my chest in regret.”

Chu Hanjin held his tea cup, remaining silent.

Beside him, Yue Lin also said nothing.

Bai Gu, frail as he seemed, continued to drink the potent liquor, his face turning pale as he coughed violently, almost choking. “Huangtai… It was my ninth brother’s favorite wine. The memories it brings… If only he could return. I’d tell him how sorry I am. I don’t want anything else, just his forgiveness.”

“……”

Ordinarily, hearing such words would make someone feel that the sentiment was genuine.

But the more Chu Hanjin listened, the more uneasy he felt.

It was as if someone had come to the court to file a grievance, having done so many times before, but this time, they faced a higher-ranking official and decided to tell their story with the utmost detail and emotion, leaving no stone unturned.

The more perfect the narrative, the more it felt like a performance.

As if they already knew that their ninth brother was sitting at the table, listening.