Chapter 150: Old Things (Part 1)

Penglai.

The matter of Shen Suwei’s escape was suppressed. Most of the disciples knew that a new semi-step transformation of spirit had appeared in the sect, but who it was remained a tightly guarded secret. Lin Jin had sealed the mouth of the Disciples’ Hall, and no one dared speak of it.

Xu Baopu was called to the sect leader’s private quarters. He called out, “Master, you called for me?” Through the screen, he saw the thin figure lying on the bed. Clearly gravely injured, he knelt and choked on his words, “Father…”

“What happened?” Xu Binglai’s voice, weak and breathless, came from behind the screen. “Are you mourning for your father?”

The incense in the room was thick and soothing, mingling with faint traces of blood. Xu Baopu moved closer to tend to the illness, choking back tears. “Suwei should not have acted this way. No matter what, he should not have disregarded the master.”

Xu Binglai lay with his eyes open, staring at the rafters, his expression not one of anger but seemingly deep in thought.

“Shen Suwei, he is terrified of being locked away. Do you know that as a child, he lived his life in a prison? He barely escaped, and before entering Penglai, he was trapped in ice for a hundred years.”

Xu Baopu moved his lips but said nothing. He had never heard Shen Suwei speak of his past.

The pale and delicate face of Shen Suwei appeared in Xu Binglai’s mind. When he looked at others, it was with a cautious and obedient demeanor. Shen Suwei had never done wrong, but he was always bound. For the sake of freedom, he had even mortgaged his entire life to Penglai.

Xu Binglai spoke calmly, “Knowing that this matter causes him pain, I still had him locked away in the Snow Cliff Cave. For your junior brother, this is too cruel.”

“In these years, I am aware of how many injustices I have made him suffer.”

“A person has their blood and spirit. One can only endure so much before there is nothing left to give. If it were me, I would have long since fallen into madness. But Shen Suwei still endured.”

Xu Binglai closed his eyes. “I can control him because I bully him for being a good person. It shows that morality only harms those who follow it, and loyalty only binds those who value it.”

Xu Baopu, as when he was a child, asked, “Then what about bad people?”

Xu Binglai sneered. “Bad people jump higher.”

“This matter is not Suwei’s fault.” Xu Binglai slowly gave his orders. “It’s only natural for humans to act this way.”

“Understood.” Xu Baopu looked worriedly at the master’s pale face.

Xu Binglai’s complexion was ashen, like fragile glaze on a piece of glass, making one’s heart tremble.

“Speaking of it, I have wronged him more.”

The scent of blood in the air made Xu Binglai’s thoughts drift slowly.

His mind floated back to the spring of March, when he first saw Princess Mingxia in the mortal realm. The princess stood on a painted boat, surrounded by vibrant flowers, with numerous white hydrangeas and golden chrysanthemums pressing down on the boat’s cabin, her skirt fluttering in the wind.

At the time, he was still young, just emerging from the snowy wilderness, not yet accustomed to the noise and color of the human world.

In the gentle breeze, the boat slowly passed in front of him. The young woman’s hair was styled into a complicated high bun with celestial tassels and flowing ribbons like mist, causing his gaze to fixate on her, following the boat as it moved.

Until a maid threw a flower in his face, shouting, “How dare you spy on Princess Mingxia!”

Petals scattered. The princess stopped her maid and smiled apologetically at him.

That smile was like the moon, full of grace.

Young Xu Binglai had no shame. He had never seen such beauty before and was so enchanted that he followed the boat with his sword, eyes still fixed on the princess. The boat’s full complement of maids scolded him for his lack of manners.

Despite the awkward scene, Princess Mingxia maintained her composure, sitting inside the cabin as usual, admiring the scenery and writing greetings, never speaking to him, nor did she order him away.

Finally, at the Hundred Flowers Banquet, the imperial guards advanced with sticks and magical instruments, preventing him from following. Xu Binglai fled on his flying sword, but he managed to learn that the princess was from Beishang and her name was Shen Luo, with the title

“Mingxia.”

That title suited her well.

That night, Xu Binglai wrote to the princess in a letter, telling her exactly that.

He sent his letter-carrying butterfly through the inner courtyard to Princess Mingxia. As long as the princess wrote on the letter, the butterfly would automatically return, and others would not be able to see the contents of the letter.

Along with the butterfly, he also sent several magical tools he thought might be useful to the princess, such as a small sword for protection, spider silk for concealing one’s form, and enchanting incense, among others.

The royal family of Beishang also had spiritual roots, though they were not skilled in cultivation. He, on the other hand, was a disciple of the Immortal Sect and a master of artifact crafting, producing exquisite treasures—items that were almost impossible to find in the mortal world.

Princess Mingxia never replied to his letters, but each time, she would send a servant to return the butterfly to him at Penglai’s Dream Crossing, expressing her gratitude for the magical tools Xu Binglai had sent her and also offering him a return gift.

Xu Binglai couldn’t help but feel disappointed.

But thinking about it, it made sense. They had only met once by chance, and the rest was him persistently pursuing her. He often sent poems late at night, disturbing Princess Mingxia’s life.

Which woman wouldn’t feel bothered by that?

Princess Mingxia was not interested in him, so she refused to continue the correspondence.

However, she was always polite, thanking him whenever he expressed affection.

Xu Binglai buried his face in his pillow.

Compared to the princess’s elegance, he felt like a barbarian who had not yet evolved.

Ever since that encounter on the flower boat, he could never forget her. His late-night letters, sent without return, grew more frequent.

It started to affect his cultivation, and Xu Binglai realized that he had developed feelings for her.

So he went to seek advice from his master, the then sect leader, now the Elder Taishang, asking if it was possible for him to marry a mortal woman.

To his surprise, the Elder Taishang flew into a rage, slapping him across the face. He scolded him for not focusing on his cultivation as the sect’s eldest disciple and for thinking about matters of love. Such distractions would hinder his future path and his role in inheriting the sect’s legacy. He was punished with confinement.

At the time, Xu Binglai was bewildered, shaken by his master’s anger, the news that he was expected to become the sect leader in the future, and the pain in his meridians, all of which disrupted his thoughts.

While in the discipline hall, his junior sister Zhou Bei came to bring him food.

Zhou Bei was a taciturn and honest sword cultivator. As the Elder Taishang’s daughter, she had not received any special treatment in Penglai, and she practiced diligently every day. Being less talented than her senior brother, she often felt insecure.

Xu Qianqian, their daughter, had inherited some of her temperament.

Anyway, they had always interacted as normal senior and junior, but she had defied the sect leader’s orders to check on him, which surprised him. Zhou Bei put down the wooden box, and the fragrance of the incense ball she carried filled the air.

“Senior Brother, eat.”

The scent wafted to his face, adding a touch of warmth and affection to her expression.

After that, he and Zhou Bei unknowingly grew closer. She accompanied him every day to practice swordsmanship and attend early classes. Not long after, the Elder Taishang even showed interest in them and began to arrange for them to become Taoist Partners.

Later, Xu Binglai came to understand that the Elder Taishang’s fierce reaction might have had other reasons.

The Elder Taishang had long been interested in him, specifically his talent. Xu Binglai was destined to marry Zhou Bei, so how could he have any entanglements with other mortal women?
Fortunately, Princess Mingxia had no interest in him. Any fleeting infatuation he had quickly disappeared along with the letter.

Xu Binglai treated Zhou Bei very well. Everything he had, she had. Because she was a good person, no one could bear to disappoint her. Zhou Bei gave birth to two children for him—Baopu and Jiansu, both with great potential to his satisfaction. After marriage, Zhou Bei’s smile grew brighter every day.

Zhou Bei said that because Xu Binglai never asked anything of her, she felt at peace and content.

Life should have continued this way, but one night, while he was in his study, a letter-carrying butterfly arrived.

The butterfly hovered on the desk, flapping its wings and scattering golden dust.

He recognized it clearly. It was the same butterfly he had sent to Princess Mingxia.

Although Princess Mingxia had never written to him, now, after two years of no contact, she suddenly sent him a letter.

What could she have written? Was it a response to his earlier confessions? Xu Binglai fixed his gaze on the butterfly, and the arrival of this letter disrupted everything, bringing back all the memories and unspoken admiration he had long since buried.

He hesitated for a long time, placing a paperweight over the butterfly, not opening it.

If Princess Mingxia had responded, he couldn’t guarantee that he wouldn’t be moved. If that happened, it would be unfair to Zhou Bei, so he simply chose not to look.

Perhaps his expression betrayed him. Zhou Bei, holding their child Xu Jiansu, slowly lost her smile, and a hint of bitterness crept in.

Every time Xu Binglai sat at his desk and saw the butterfly trapped beneath the paperweight, he found himself lost in thought.

One day, as he walked around the screen, he saw Zhou Bei sitting at his desk, holding the butterfly.

She could no longer resist and had opened the letter.

“Why haven’t you read it?” Zhou Bei asked, frowning. “If someone entrusted you with something, what would happen if it was delayed?”

Xu Binglai froze, quickly snatching the butterfly to read.

Princess Mingxia’s handwriting was just as he had imagined—elegant and refined. But there was nothing in the letter to embarrass him.

Apart from some pleasantries, the letter was brief, stating that she had a child, one with both water and fire spiritual roots, a child with great potential. She asked him to take the child to Penglai to cultivate as soon as possible.

As soon as possible.

Water and fire spiritual roots—contradictory roots, a mark of divine punishment. How could she have given birth to such a child? The royal family of Beishang either had water or fire spiritual roots.

Xu Binglai could guess immediately. This child was likely the offspring of her and a brother from the same sect. This man was most likely the tyrant of Beishang, a man despised by all.

So when she had refused to correspond with him earlier—was it because she had no interest, or was it because she dared not, or could not?

Regardless, palace secrets were not for outsiders to know. Princess Mingxia appeared gentle, but she had a backbone. She would never expose her difficulties unless she had no other choice.

A person marked by divine punishment was considered inauspicious. If the child’s identity were exposed, it would likely lead to his death.

The letter he had trapped beneath the paperweight was, in fact, her plea for help.

And for the Immortal Sect, a day in the immortal realm equaled five days in the mortal world.

In the months of his hesitation, the young Shen Suwei, in despair, buried his mother and spent two years struggling alone in the midst of the Beishang palace, surrounded by demons.

Xu Binglai closed his eyes, his golden eyelashes damp.

Xu Baopu whispered in his ear, “We went through the sword manual left by the Third Junior Brother, but we didn’t find any clues.”

“No need to investigate anymore. He was likely doing it for Xu Qianyu.”

“But the little junior sister…” Xu Baopu said nervously.

“She’s fine.” Xu Binglai said weakly, “This person has taken my luck; I can feel it. If she’s fine, then I’ll be fine. If anything happens to her, do you think I’d still be lying here?”
“That little devil, so lucky, and even used Heavenly Thunder to seal the gods.”

Xu Binglai did not have a favorable view of Xu Qianyu, and there were other reasons for this.

His mother, Shui Weiwei,

He had never told anyone, but in the illusion created by Shui Weiwei together with the demonic creatures, she transformed into the appearance of Princess Mingxia. He hadn’t returned to the sect but had boarded Princess Mingxia’s ship and spent a lifetime with her.

Shui Weiwei had touched his reverse scale.

Xu Qianyu was an accident, and yet he had taken his luck.

He should hate Xu Qianyu, especially now, when the task he was supposed to complete was unfinished, but he was growing weaker by the day.

But Xu Qianyu left such a deep impression on him.

He squinted his eyes, and it seemed as though he could see a pair of ears swaying behind the curtain. In recent days, she hadn’t caused any trouble, and the palace had been unusually quiet, even giving off a deathly air.

Thinking of this, he softened his heart.

At that moment, the sound of ice breaking rang in his ears, and Xu Binglai’s eyes sharpened. Xu Baopu had already captured the purple butterfly that flew in through the broken window. The faith butterfly of Luo Shuiyuan, from the Lingyue Immortal Sect, had turned into a piece of paper in Xu Baopu’s hand.

Xu Baopu looked at the contents of the letter, and his expression changed abruptly.

Xu Binglai snatched the letter to look, “Xu Qianqian is missing?”

“How could Xu Qianqian be out in autumn? Where would Xu Qianqian get spiritual roots?”

Xu Binglai suddenly raised his eyes, scrutinizing Xu Baopu with suspicion. His gaze was as sharp as lightning. “You knew already. Why didn’t you tell me?”

Xu Baopu felt ashamed. “I thought that after Master was struck by Heavenly Thunder, his health has been poor, and I didn’t want you to worry about this matter. Moreover, with Shuangshuang giving birth, I neglected Qianqian.”

“You truly…” Xu Binglai, enraged, smiled bitterly. He slapped Xu Baopu across the face with the letter, then rose from the bed, gripping his sword.

“Master!” Xu Baopu grabbed him. “I’ll go find Qianqian. Your meridians have been damaged, and your injuries are severe. How can you risk further harm?”

“She’s your sister.” Xu Binglai had already transformed into a beam of sword light and disappeared. “I have already failed your mother. How can I fail Qianqian?”

---

At almost the same time, the Elder Taishang received the news of Xu Qianqian’s disappearance and was furious. “Is it that wretched woman’s doing again?”
“Do you mean Luo Shuiyuan?” Elder Yi asked.

The Elder Taishang said, “I remember the grudge against Luo Shui for Bei’er’s death. If it weren’t for her alchemical pills still having some value and Yin Xiangjun protecting her, I would have killed her long ago.”

Elder Yi paused. “The puppet strings have been severed, and we can no longer trace Miss Xu’s aura.”

The Elder Taishang calculated with his fingers. “Forget it; Xu Binglai has already reached Nanling. Let him search.”

Elder Yi looked at him. The Elder Taishang’s cultivation had grown stronger, his frosty hair like snow, his eyes like a kind of jade, even colder and more indifferent than when Xu Qianqian had been critically ill years ago.

Even the safety of his own biological grandson no longer seemed to affect him, which was a bit chilling.

“That’s fine; now you can focus on your tribulation.”

The Elder Taishang nodded. “As for the position of Sect Leader, if Xu Binglai proves useless and Xu’s two children can’t handle it, you take over.”

Elder Yi’s expression showed surprise.

“It’s a pity we lost Lu You. The Demon King is no longer under our control.”

“There’s also that child,” the Elder Taishang’s eyes opened, and a faint red appeared in his forehead. A delicate red sword, as thin as a cicada’s wing, emerged, its tip like a poisonous snake’s tongue. “Xu Binglai’s illness was due to her inheriting the Heavenly Thunder Sealing God technique. Shen Suwei, that demon, has also been controlled by her. If the two of them join forces, they’re too powerful. She can’t be left alive.”