Chapter 116: The Aloof Immortal and the Wealthy Prince 05

Several days later.

Zhongli Mingji stood in the courtyard admiring the flowers, with pastries made by Jin Muhan placed on the table beside him. The young man stood tall and graceful, his features as delicate as a painting. Jin Muhan sat on a stone stool, propping his chin on his hand as he gazed at the aloof beauty.

Mingji is really beautiful…

A beauty that transcends gender, captivating everyone who lays eyes on him. Dressed in luxurious robes, his elegance was unmatched. Even among the prominent families of Jin City, it would be hard to find a second person like him. Not even his eldest brother, the crown prince renowned for his literary and martial prowess, could compare to the man before him.

Yet, although Zhongli Mingji was staying in his mansion, Jin Muhan’s heart was filled with complexity. He had confessed his feelings, but the other party had shown no reaction. Mingji remained as composed as ever, making Jin Muhan feel as though he had overreacted.

Zhongli Mingji raised his fingertips, gently touching the blooming peach flowers in the courtyard. The immortal energy within him flowed softly, sensing the moment the flowers reached their peak. In full bloom, they radiated fleeting splendor. He could clearly feel the joy of each peach blossom, a natural expression of the vitality of all living things. The usually cold and flawless heart of an immortal was subtly moved by the blooming flowers.

Through empathy, he could experience a wider range of emotions. The first day of transitioning from the path of detachment to the path of emotions went smoothly for Zhongli Mingji.

Until Jin Muhan took his hand. The man’s complex and fluctuating emotions caused Mingji to frown. A longing that was hard to attain, yet impossible to let go of. Heaviness, loss, helplessness, and the frustration of intense desire that could not be fulfilled. To want but not to have, to be unable to give up…

Jin Muhan was completely unaware that Zhongli Mingji was sensing his inner turmoil. A few days ago, after confessing his feelings to Mingji, he had immediately fled, fearing rejection on the spot. These past few days, his interactions with Mingji had been filled with anxiety, as if something was being suppressed. Even though he hadn’t been met with coldness or indifference from Mingji, it still felt like a heavy stone was pressing on his heart.

“Mingji…” Jin Muhan called out hoarsely, his eyes overflowing with intense affection.

Zhongli Mingji released Jin Muhan’s hand and lightly touched the spot on his chest where his heart was pounding fiercely. The suppressed and yearning emotions grew even more intense, as if they were about to break free from their restraints. Extreme love and sorrow. They fueled Mingji’s path of emotions, causing his cultivation to rise steadily.

The thunderous energy in his immortal veins began to surge, making him lean against Jin Muhan’s shoulder in discomfort. All his cries of pain were stifled in his throat, preventing anyone from noticing his suffering.

Jin Muhan supported Mingji’s waist and carried the unwell young man back into the house. “Mingji, where are you feeling unwell?”

Zhongli Mingji gasped for breath, the immortal energy within him growing while clashing with the thunderous force, leaving him physically and mentally exhausted. “I’ll call the imperial physicians right away. Hang in there,” Jin Muhan said as he quickly went out to summon help. Soon, three or four imperial physicians arrived to treat the suddenly ailing Zhongli Mingji.

By then, Mingji had already fainted, the violent turmoil in his immortal veins too much to bear. It felt as though he was being torn apart by a thousand knives. The imperial physicians were at a loss in the face of such chaotic pulses and could only prescribe some pain-relieving and calming remedies.

“Your Highness, this young man’s pulse is extremely erratic. It seems like a sign of early demise. We fear we cannot cure his illness.”

Jin Muhan took a deep breath and asked with difficulty, “Is there truly no renowned physician within the entire Longyuan Kingdom who can treat Mingji?”

The lead imperial physician replied, “Perhaps you could seek help from the immortal sects stationed in Jin City. They might be able to treat this gravely ill young man.”

Jin Muhan nodded heavily. He instructed the servants to prepare the new medicine prescribed by the physicians and gently fed it to Zhongli Mingji. Then he stayed by Mingji’s side, waiting for his beloved to wake up.

“Mingji, I won’t force you to make a choice. As long as you’re safe and well, that’s enough for me.”

He couldn’t imagine a life without Mingji. The thought of a future without Zhongli Mingji was too terrifying to contemplate.

Meanwhile, Zhongli Mingji, whom Jin Muhan was so worried about, was trapped in his own demonic illusion.

“Mingji, come to your mother. Today is your birthday, and your father has prepared your favorite dishes. Come home with me.”

“Young Master, let’s spar!”

“Elder Brother, it’s time to practice swordsmanship.”

“Elder Uncle, how do we break this sword technique? Please teach us again.”

“Elder Elder, take a look at this year’s disciples. Should they train more?”

“Immortal Lord Xuan Shuang…”

Facing the memories of the original owner’s life, he remained unmoved. Only when it came to Jin Muhan did his emotions become turbulent. Jin Muhan was the person he had loved for five lifetimes, the first person he had ever fallen for, and the first person he wanted to continue developing a relationship with. These identities alone were enough to trap him in the demonic illusion, but he also knew that the demonic illusion was nothing but a fleeting mirage.

What he wanted was a real lover. So he ignored the gentle and caring Jin Muhan and broke through the demonic illusion before him. But behind the demonic illusion lay another layer, one targeting Lu Yan’s demonic illusion.

“Yan, don’t follow in your sister’s footsteps. After she ascended to immortality, she could no longer return to the demon realm.”

“Yan, you must cultivate diligently. Only by becoming stronger can you protect the deer clan from being bullied.”

“Young Master, your cultivation has broken through again.”

The young man who had transformed from Zhongli Mingji into Lu Yan looked at the parents and friends approaching him, a trace of surprise flashing across his peerlessly handsome face.

“This demonic illusion is quite impressive, digging into my past.”

He pondered for a moment and smiled. “In this world, only two beings know my past identity. One is the system bound to my soul…”

“And the other is the world consciousness that knows my origins.”

It seems the world consciousness still hasn’t given up. It’s trying to use this demonic illusion to kill me!

“Fine, I’ll play along.”

The young man, now restored to his original appearance, wore a green brocade robe and slowly walked forward from the starting point of the illusion. His gaze was cold and distant, leaving it unclear whether he was pleased or angry.

The demonic illusion replayed his life, using his family and friends to constantly tempt him.

“Young Master, I heard Lu Yin is getting married. Should we go join the celebration?”

“Lu Yan, this is a new storybook from the human realm. Come and read it with us!”

Before the age of three thousand, he was the young master of the deer clan, doted on by his parents and clan members. Back then, he lived a simple and happy life, leaving behind memories that were beautiful and joyful. He was well-protected, his face radiating a naive brightness untouched by the world’s hardships.

After three thousand years, he attended his sister’s wedding banquet in the celestial realm and witnessed a broader world, encountering many awe-inspiring immortals. Those who had ascended to immortality were all extraordinary talents. Before their ascension, they had been the pride of the human or demon realms. And those born as celestial immortals stood at a height unreachable by humans or demons, with greater potential than human or demon immortals.

“So this is Lu Xi’s younger brother.”

“Wow! He’s quite handsome, but just an ordinary deer demon.”

“It’s rare for demons to ascend. Someone like Lu Xi, who ascended to immortality, only appears once every tens of thousands of years. She’s rarer than human immortals.”

“Her younger brother probably doesn’t have that chance. What a pity for such a striking beauty…”

“Tsk, maybe he can too! This child shares the same bloodline as Lu Xi. Perhaps he’ll be lucky enough to ascend to immortality.”

“Enough, let’s drink.”