Chapter 57
Si Lan felt uncomfortable hearing the title “God of Grief”. His lips tightened into a thin line.
Haowei glanced at his tightly pressed red lips and said, “If you don’t like him, I’ll go find him alone. You wait for me at Zhuyun Peak.”
“He’s in seclusion…”
“Yeah, we’ll just barge in.” Haowei said casually.
Si Lan fell silent for a moment, then said, “I’ll go with you.” He felt awkward to directly mention that they had been acting together for a long time. Suddenly not following Haowei made him feel uneasy.
Haowei looked up, his gaze moving from Si Lan’s lips to his eyes. “No need to force yourself.”
“I’m not forcing myself.” Si Lan raised his eyelids and met Haowei’s gaze, only then noticing they were both lying on the bed. He was loosely wrapped in a white inner garment, while Haowei’s chest was bare, bearing a red scratch mark.
Si Lan’s face stiffened for a moment. A scratch mark… How could he not remember scratching Haowei? Instead, he vaguely recalled being carried to bed by Haowei and then subjected to a chaotic nibbling, with Haowei’s voice filled with anger ringing in his ears.
“Such lack of focus deserves punishment.”
Thinking of this, he lowered his head and saw the bruised skin exposed at the collar of his inner garment, as if he had been through a lot of turmoil. Was this the punishment?
Si Lan’s face alternated between red and white, unable to help narrowing his eyes, glaring at Haowei with a hint of anger.
Seeing Si Lan just lowered his head to look at his body and then raised it up, glaring at him with anger in his eyes, Haowei knew what he was upset about. He coughed lightly and hurriedly said, “Well, let’s go together then. Yu Wuxia said, ‘The change of the six harmonies, the eight yin and yang will surely change,’ which is easy to understand. But what does ‘Reincarnation for a hundred lifetimes all fails, and this life you will also fail’ mean?”
Si Lan shook his head, but a bizarre thought arose in his mind, which he felt was impossible.
Instead, Haowei said, “Could it mean that you’ve been reincarnated a hundred times to stop Yu Wuxia’s actions?”
Si Lan remained silent.
If that were true, then his fate would be too miserable.
No wonder he gave only a penny to heaven, and heaven still brought him here. Saying something about unifying the six realms was actually to be subjected to scrutiny. If he thought nothing and was still tricked by heaven.
He held his head in his hands, deeply regretting not downloading the anti-fraud app years ago.
Haowei looked at his painful appearance and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Si Lan looked at the jade-like man in front of him and silently felt that among the myriad misfortunes, the fortune was that some of the people in the Demon Realm, and the man in front of him, had appeared in his life.
In the face of regret, it actually felt a little worthwhile.
He came down from the bed, intending to prop up the bed, but his wrists were really sore, and he almost fell over.
Haowei held his figure and his eyes were empty, as if there was some guilt in him.
“It’s better for you to rest for a day before we go to find the God of Sorrow.”
“No, we’d better go find the God of Sorrow as soon as possible.”
Although he didn’t know what Yu Wuxia wanted to do, delaying a day was a waste of a day. It was better to stop Yu Wuxia as soon as possible.
Haowei nodded, reached out and grabbed Si Lan’s wrist, and helped him rub it. He still felt a little guilty in his heart and felt that he had been reckless and indulgent last night, and he should be less eager for material things in the future.
Si Lan was unaware of Haowei’s inner thoughts, still furrowing his brow as he pondered. If Yu Wuxia had been planning these things for a long time, many previously inexplicable matters seemed to have explanations now.
For example, Zhongli once told Lou Yu that he had seen Lou Yu in a dream, where Lou Yu was his groom, which led Zhongli to fall in love at first sight upon meeting Lou Yu. Could that dream have been planted in Zhongli’s mind by Yu Wuxia, intentionally hinting at Zhongli?
And then, Dayong was summoned to the mortal realm by Pei Yu immediately after appearing, such timing being so coincidental. Perhaps the tragedy between Pei Yu and Taoyuan was orchestrated behind the scenes by Yu Wuxia.
…
He just couldn’t understand why Yu Wuxia manipulated so many people and things. What did he intend to achieve?
Si Lan’s mind was full of questions, unable to comprehend. In the blink of an eye, he and Haowei arrived at Gusha Mountain.
Across from Gusha Mountain flowed a murmuring stream, beside which hung a waterfall. Water cascaded down, creating a roaring sound.
Si Lan glanced at the waterfall and suddenly remembered the dream he had had yesterday, where Yu Wuxia had brought him to this waterfall.
Why was it so coincidental?
Si Lan couldn’t help but take a few steps forward, gazing intently.
Haowei saw Si Lan standing motionless, staring at the waterfall, and said, “This waterfall is transformed by the Mirror Pitcher, one of the artifacts of the God of Grief.”
“Mirror Pitcher… Can it see things that will happen in the future?” He remembered seeing the new Six Realms in this Mirror Pitcher.
It was a completely unfamiliar Six Realms, or more precisely, there were no Six Realms inside. Immortals, demons, and humans were all integrated into a bizarre world where there was no supreme ruler, no ants groveling in the dust.
“You saw things that will happen in the future here?” Haowei asked in return.
“Yeah, but it might also be a false image created by Yu Wuxia to deceive me.” Although Si Lan spoke to Haowei, he was also comforting himself inwardly.
There were so many highly cultivated individuals in the Six Realms; they shouldn’t be heading towards destruction.
Not long after they landed, a group of mountain guards from Gusha Mountain sensed their presence and immediately surrounded them.
These people were ordinary phoenixes and had not seen Haowei before, so they did not recognize Haowei’s identity.
But from Haowei’s attire and aura, they felt he was extraordinary, so their attitude was mild.
The leading female servant was Qingxuan, the attendant of Princess Jingzhu of the Phoenix Clan. After scanning both of them with her eyes, she bowed to Haowei. “May I ask which immortal you are? And why have you come to Gusha Mountain?”
Gusha Mountain had been closed to outsiders for tens of thousands of years.
“Haowei.” Haowei had no intention of concealing his identity. The moment he spoke his name, the faces of the phoenixes changed drastically, and they immediately knelt down and saluted.
“Greetings, Your Majesty.”
Haowei’s expression was indifferent, his voice deep with a hint of coercion. “Is the God of Grief still in seclusion?”
“Understood,” Qingxuan replied.
“I have come this time to meet Lord Xiyou,” Haowei stated succinctly, unwilling to waste words.
Upon hearing this, Qingxuan appeared conflicted. “Your Majesty, Princess Zhu instructed us to guard the vicinity of Mount Gusha and ensure that no one disturbs Lord Xiyou. Furthermore, Lord Xiyou himself instructed our Phoenix clan not to disturb their rest before secluding himself.”
Haowei’s eyelids drooped slightly at her words, his gaze turning sharp and piercing as he turned to Si Lan beside him. “What do you think?”
Si Lan replied slowly, “Since we’re already here…”
In the next instant, a formidable pressure descended upon the Phoenix attendants. An intense oppression hung over them, rendering their faces grim. They knelt on the ground, unable to move, their lips trembling as they struggled to speak.
Haowei and Si Lan strode past them directly, heading towards Mount Gusha. The mountain was enveloped in a formation set by the previous Phoenix Queen, resistant to intrusion, and breaking it would surely alert Princess Zhu.
Haowei, unsure of Si Lan’s feelings towards Princess Zhu, informed him of their intent. Si Lan nodded in response.
He wasn’t afraid of Princess Zhu anymore, now that he possessed a fragment of the Heavenly Way. Even Lord Xiyou didn’t concern him.
Haowei then used magic to dismantle the formation—a golden Phoenix illusion set by the previous Phoenix Queen. The formation shattered under Haowei’s sword aura.
Mount Gusha trembled violently as rocks tumbled and clouds of dust billowed into the sky, casting a pall over half the heavens. Animals in the mountain fled in fear, their cries echoing eerily.
When debris threatened to strike Si Lan, Haowei calmly deflected them without changing his expression, holding Si Lan’s hand. In an instant, they appeared atop the peak of Mount Gusha.
Si Lan looked at the female Phoenixes still trapped below. “Will they be injured by the falling rocks?”
Haowei replied calmly, “No one will die.”
“Oh.”
Si Lan didn’t say more. When the Phoenix daughters caused trouble at Cloud Crest Peak last time, he had received them with patience. Initially, he only disliked Princess Zhu, feeling the others were innocent. But upon reflection, he realized the eight Phoenix daughters’ easy cooperation with the Lord of the Deer implied the entire Phoenix clan harbored grievances against him, likely stemming from his father’s rejection of Princess Zhu’s advances, turning the Phoenix clan against him as well.
Since that was the case, he no longer wanted to be the good guy.
Suddenly, a Phoenix cry resounded from the distant horizon, echoing through the skies and causing all birds to sing in unison. Strange avian calls enveloped the entire mountain.
A colossal crimson Phoenix descended upon auspicious clouds. With a slender neck, a raised back adorned with intricate patterns, fiery wings spread wide, and a tail trailing like a rainbow, it merged seamlessly with the crimson sunset.
This was Princess Zhu.
Folding her wings, Princess Zhu stood before Haowei and Si Lan. Perhaps intentionally, she remained in her enormous form instead of taking human shape, offering a dignified greeting to Haowei while her gaze, brown and unwavering, fixed on Si Lan.
“Sovereign Haowei,” Princess Zhu nodded gently, her eyes never dropping, holding Si Lan’s gaze.
Si Lan discerned a hint of madness and resentment in her eyes, his own gaze darkening. Remembering her insults and taunts towards Luo Hui, veins bulged on his forehead, a hint of demonic aura swirling around him.
Haowei lightly squeezed his hand, and Si Lan’s demonic aura subsided slightly, calming his anger.
“Princess Zhu, I broke the seal on Mount Gusha only to meet Lord Xiyou. I hope you can forgive this intrusion,” Haowei said respectfully. Princess Zhu was thousands of years his senior and held a relationship with him as his elder, so Haowei had to show some deference.
Princess Zhu shook her wings and finally shifted her gaze from Si Lan to Haowei. “Your Majesty, what brings you to see Lord Xiyou?”
Haowei replied succinctly, “I have a matter that puzzles me, and I believe Lord Xiyou might provide clarity.”
“Your Majesty, to be frank, Lord Xiyou may not be able to see you at this moment.”
Haowei’s expression remained unchanged at this news, his voice lowering slightly. “What if I insist on seeing Lord Xiyou today?” Normally, Haowei would never act so impetuously; if someone didn’t wish to see him, he wouldn’t force a confrontation. But now, among the Six Realms, Lord Xiyou was the oldest and most knowledgeable among the Divine Emperors. Thus, disregarding etiquette, Haowei was determined to meet him.
Princess Zhu dared not stop Haowei, glancing at the attendants still kneeling at the foot of Mount Gusha with an uneasy expression. “Your Majesty, such actions may not be appropriate in terms of etiquette or sentiment.”
Haowei had no interest in discussing etiquette or sentiment with her, nor did he wish to waste time. He simply stated, “Princess Zhu, please step aside.”
“…,” Princess Zhu hesitated.
Princess Zhu hadn’t expected Haowei to be so unyielding. Her expression stiffened slightly before she turned her gaze to Si Lan. She knew he held a grudge against her.
Si Lan, undaunted, smiled provocatively at her. This only darkened Princess Zhu’s expression further.
Haowei took a step forward while holding Si Lan’s hand, compelling Princess Zhu to yield to them.
With the barrier around Mount Gusha breached, theoretically, Lord Xiyou should have heard the commotion outside. However, there was no response from him. Could he be at a critical point in his cultivation?
Suppressing his curiosity, Haowei sent a mental message into Mount Gusha.
“Lord Xiyou.”
He called several times but received no reply.
Si Lan sensed something amiss. “What’s wrong?”
“Lord Xiyou seems… off.”
Glancing at Princess Zhu, Haowei spoke and then proceeded to breach a corner of Mount Gusha, pulling Si Lan inside.
Observing this, Princess Zhu flew into Mount Gusha as well. Partly to understand why Haowei and Si Lan were together and whether they intended harm against Lord Xiyou.
She hadn’t forgotten Si Lan’s gaze towards her years ago—a young boy full of hatred and malice, as if he wanted to tear her apart and consume her flesh.
She still shuddered at the memory. Recently, the eight Phoenix daughters returned from Cloud Crest Peak with unusual expressions, suddenly changing their stories about Si Lan not being just an ordinary person, but a Divine Phoenix.
She found their behavior peculiar but could not extract any information from them. Reflecting now, Haowei must have threatened them.
Additionally, she wanted to know what had happened to Lord Xiyou. She had never seen him; by the time she was born, Lord Xiyou had already closed himself off for cultivation. Before her aunt passed away, she passed on the Divine Array to her, granting her Lord Xiyou’s protection. Over the years, she had been invincible in the Six Realms. However, elders of the Phoenix clan hinted that Lord Xiyou used to transmit divine messages frequently during his seclusion, but in recent ten thousand years, there had been none. Therefore, the elders suspected Lord Xiyou might have perished.
Inside Mount Gusha, there was another barrier, presumably set up by Lord Xiyou himself. Haowei noticed the barrier’s magic was extremely weak, nearly collapsing. With a gentle spell, he shattered the barrier instantly.
They descended into the depths of the mountain, where darkness surrounded them. Haowei conjured a flame to illuminate their surroundings.
Inside the cave lay only a white jade bed.
On the jade bed leaned a black figure, head bowed slightly, features obscured. They sensed little presence from him, resembling more a desiccated corpse—thin and lifeless.
Si Lan and Haowei approached slowly, standing before Lord Xiyou.
Lord Xiyou still showed no response.
Si Lan observed him and couldn’t help but look at Haowei, silently questioning if they had found the right person.
Haowei responded with a look confirming they hadn’t made a mistake; this was supposed to be Lord Xiyou.
Yet, it wasn’t as they had imagined.
“Lord Xiyou, we pay our respects,” Si Lan bowed slightly. However, the dark figure remained unresponsive. Si Lan noticed a part of his arm exposed to be turning black and couldn’t help but suspect…
With courage, Si Lan extended his hand towards the figure’s nose to check for any sign of life. As his fingers touched the desiccated body, it slowly stirred. The head lifted, revealing murky, yellowed eyes meeting Si Lan’s gaze.
“Junli, we’ve waited for you for twenty thousand years.”
T/N: Hey there! There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~
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What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love
How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep
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