Thunder roared, and torrential rain drummed against the broken eaves like frenzied, rhythmic beats.
Woken by the thunder and rain, Song Qing Shi felt groggy, his memory somewhat fragmented. His lips were uncomfortable, perhaps a bit swollen. The Yuan infant within his Dantian showed increasing signs of fissures, making it even more challenging to contain...
As he sat on the bed contemplating, fragmented memories finally resurfaced. The two of them had gone to the Nine-Tiered Tower to enjoy the moonlight and lanterns. He invited Yue Wu Huan for a drink, and intoxicated, Yue Wu Huan played a beautiful melody. Seizing the opportunity, he had forced himself on Yue Wu Huan with beastly kisses! He even abused his higher cultivation level, rendering Yue Wu Huan unable to resist and kissed him several times!
What kind of brutish behavior was this?!
Song Qing Shi felt panicked, wishing he could dig a hole to bury himself in and then heap eighteen layers of soil on top!
Footsteps approached from outside; Yue Wu Huan's were notably heavy.
Song Qing Shi felt like he was hearing his death sentence; he wondered if kneeling in apology would spare him a few layers of that impending dirt...
Yue Wu Huan pushed open the door and walked in, sopping wet, his body caked in mud and streaked with blood.
Taking a deep breath, Song Qing Shi was ready to earnestly apologize. However, the scent of blood caught his attention. Forgetting the awkwardness and misunderstandings of the previous night, he hurriedly lifted his mosquito net, leaped out of bed, and rushed to Yue Wu Huan. What he saw was disconcerting: Yue Wu Huan was drenched, looking like a drowned rat, with blood mingling with rainwater in a viscous blend. Stray strands of wet hair clung tightly to his golden mask, dripping with cold beads of water.
Yue Wu Huan looked at Song Qing Shi's slightly swollen lips, and his eyes seemed to lose all color.
"What happened?" Song Qing Shi called out several times. Seeing Yue Wu Huan unresponsive, he felt increasingly anxious. Though cultivators didn't catch colds, staying wet could be uncomfortable. He took the initiative to fetch a towel to wipe away the water droplets from Yue Wu Huan's body, then took out a change of clothes from his sachet. After hesitating for a moment, he cautiously asked, "Can you change your clothes yourself?"
Yue Wu Huan finally snapped back to reality, took off his mask, and began to remove his rain-soaked garments one by one. Exposed were numerous bite marks from insects and snakes. Though no single injury was severe, they were spread all over his body. Especially shocking were his normally slender and perfect legs, now marred by numerous small wounds. Many were inflamed with spreading venom, looking horrifically bruised.
At a glance, Song Qing Shi recognized these injuries as An Long's handiwork. His face turned grim, as he struggled to contain his rage, striving for composure.
Yue Wu Huan had already used detoxifying pills to suppress most of the poison. Song Qing Shi summoned ghostly flames to extract the common toxins. However, An Long's mastery of insect poisons was profound, and some were specialized toxins resembling fungal viruses, immune to the ghostly flames and requiring gradual medicinal treatment.
It was a type of fungal virus that he himself had helped to develop...
A wave of suffocation engulfed Song Qing Shi as he recalled the past.
He quickly treated Yue Wu Huan's wounds, generously applying medicinal ointment before wrapping layer upon layer of gauze around them.
The thunder had ceased, but the rain still roared erratically, filling the room with oppressive, stifling air.
Finally, after attending to the last wound, Song Qing Shi lifted his head and sincerely apologized, "I'm sorry."
Yue Wu Huan hesitated for a moment.
"It's my fault. I should never have let you two go together," Song Qing Shi painfully explained. "I should have realized—where is there such easily dissolved enmity? Where is friendship so easily formed? People who don't get along shouldn't be put together... I'll discipline An Long and take you back home. From now on, I'll only allow him to write letters; I won't let him enter the valley or meet you."
Storybooks lie. There's no such thing as bonding through bickering.
All of it was his naïve foolishness, his wishful thinking.
Consumed by guilt, Song Qing Shi mentally berated himself, frustrated by the limited vocabulary he had to express his intense self-reproach.
Yue Wu Huan lowered his eyes and softly said, "Master, there's something important I need to tell you."
...
Song Qing Shi sat on a chair, staring blankly at the gradually lightening sky. The rain had lessened, but the clouds still rolled ominously. The endless drizzle seemed incapable of ceasing, its moisture pervading every corner of the room, making him feel thoroughly uncomfortable.
He felt as though he had woken up from a strange dream.
Yue Wuhuan had laid out the entire situation, waiting quietly for his decision.
Song Qingshi closed his eyes slowly, scanning through his body with his spiritual sense again and again, searching for the tiniest indications of injury. After an exhaustive search, he finally located a dead parasite nestled deep within his brain. The creature was so small, its color almost indistinguishable from his flesh, that it was virtually undetectable.
This was the near assassin of his life.
Had the system not timely transported a fragment of his soul from another world to mend his physical form, he would've already been dead.
"I don't remember," Song Qingshi stared at the parasite in his palm and rubbed his forehead, grappling with painful memories. Finally, he said, "I don't recall him harboring such intentions towards me, nor do I remember what exactly happened at that time..."
Yue Wuhuan consoled, "Master, don't be sad. He must have exploited his status as a friend to strike when you were unguarded."
Netherworld Ghostfire suddenly materialized in the air, forming a beautiful black lotus.
"Wuhuan, do you remember?" Song Qingshi held the black lotus gently and whispered, "My Ghostfire instinctively attacks any killing intent. Anlong is unaware of this fact."
If Anlong had harbored killing intent, he would've sensed it; moreover, the parasite in his brain could've been destroyed by the Ghostfire...
A duel between two Nascent Soul cultivators could devastate an entire mountain.
Yet, he had been killed in silence.
Why?
A sense of foreboding crept into Yue Wuhuan's heart, as if something were spiraling out of control...
"I don't remember the events, but after extracting the parasite, I did recall my emotions at the time of my death—no hatred, no anger," Song Qingshi found the situation almost laughable. Failing to muster a smile, he lowered his head and softly admitted, "Wuhuan, I might have willingly accepted death..."
"You're talking nonsense! That's impossible!" Yue Wuhuan tightly gripped his shoulders, her voice tinged with fear, "Why?"
"I don't know," Song Qingshi was in agony for being unable to recall the events. "Even if he didn't consider me a friend, I couldn't lie or deceive myself or his feelings. At that time, I couldn't give him what he wanted, but... I could give my life—it wasn't important. My death wouldn't bring sorrow to anyone."
Every day, he brewed potions alone, read alone, researched alone, cultivated alone, watched the clouds alone...
Whether alive or dead, it made no difference; nobody cared.
In the other world where his fragmented soul had landed, things were even worse. A variety of severe diseases resulting from his incomplete soul rendered him beyond medical help. It brought immense pain to his family, who forced smiles in his presence. How could he possibly take it lightly? His parents secretly wept behind his back, and his sister sacrificed her dreams to take care of him. He had become a burden, forced to put on a brave face, making everyone believe he didn't care. Yet, he realized lying on the sickbed that his death would be the only way to free them from suffering and allow them to find happiness again.
After leaving that world, he no longer thought of his family.
Nobody needed him to stay alive.
"No..."
Yue Wu Huan was profoundly shocked; he had never considered that Song Qing Shi, who was always gently encouraging him, could harbor such thoughts.
For the first time, he realized that he hadn't truly understood this seemingly straightforward person.
"No, it can't be..."
Yue Wu Huan started to feel flustered, sensing that things were spiraling out of control.
"Being neglected was a thing of the past, before I met you," Song Qing Shi noticed his unease and quickly reassured him. "After meeting you, I've had a purpose. I won't entertain such foolish thoughts anymore; I want to accompany you for the rest of our lives. I won't have those foolish thoughts again..."
Yue Wu Huan's breathing became somewhat hurried; he awkwardly offered comfort: "You're not stupid."
"No, I really am stupid. Now that I think about it seriously, An Long's intentions were obvious all along. I convinced myself with various excuses, turning a blind eye," Song Qing Shi became more remorseful as he spoke, continuously apologizing. "I'm sorry, it wasn't intentional. I was... I was just envious. Envious that others had friends who would hang out with them, go to festivals, bicker over trivialities, act foolishly together, and laugh heartily. So, I overlooked those warning signs and went along with whatever he said..."
In this world, his natural poisonous fire kept people at a distance; no one dared speak with him, let alone befriend him.
In the other world, his frailty made people cautious. They showed pity and care but kept their distance.
No one ever invited him to the movies, shopping, internet cafes, parties, singing, or playing sports.
On the rare occasions when someone who didn't know any better tried to get close, his emotional ineptitude quickly drove them away.
Slowly, he stopped hoping for anything at all...
Yue Wu Huan felt as if his usually agile tongue was tied, and he could only dryly repeat his earlier assurance: "You're not stupid."
"Don't worry; I won't talk about such depressing things anymore," Song Qing Shi noticed that Yue Wu Huan seemed unhappy and immediately smiled. He hesitated before saying awkwardly, "Actually, I should have known long ago; who would want to be friends with someone like me?"
His eyes were straining to smile, the corners turning up, but tears began to well up, and he couldn't hold them back.
"Huh?" Song Qing Shi noticed the tears and was somewhat puzzled. He continued to smile while wiping them away, "It's alright, I'm not sad, not sad at all. Don't worry..."
Suddenly, his voice stopped.
The obtuse man finally understood the feelings welling up inside him.
But these feelings were illogical, and he couldn't afford to entertain them.
He's strong; he's not afraid of pain; he doesn't burden others; he can solve all his problems on his own...
Song Qing Shi lowers his head, not wanting to reveal such vulnerability.
"I'm sorry." Yue Wu Huan finally loses his composure, reaching out to tightly embrace the crying man before him. The muffled sobs pierce through him, as though lacerating his very soul. Tears soak through the freshly changed tunic, a dampness that leaves him despondent. He lowers his head, gently stroking the slightly trembling back, attempting an apology, "I shouldn't have made you upset."
Song Qing Shi speaks softly, "It's not your fault. The truth won't disappear just because I pretend not to see it."
He will continue to be strong, but right now, he can't quite control his emotions.
"Wu Huan, can I cry for a little while?"
"Mhm, I'll be with you, always with you."
"Wu Huan, am I ridiculous?"
"No, you're never ridiculous."
"..."
The dark clouds gradually disperse, and the rain slowly ceases; sunlight once again graces the world.
If you fail, reflect and start over...
Dwelling on the sorrow of failure will make you miss out on life's most beautiful moments.
It takes Song Qing Shi a considerable amount of time to finally hold back his tears, steady his emotions, and stand up once again.
Yue Wu Huan looks at him with concern.
"I'm fine now," Song Qing Shi says with a trace of sadness, but a voice resolute, "If it's a mistake, then it must be corrected. I don't harbor those feelings for An Long, can't give him what he wants, nor can I forgive what he has done. So, I will not associate with him ever again."
Yue Wu Huan falls silent.
The wolf's true face has been unmasked, forever banished.
The master will retreat from danger, return to the Valley of the Medicine King, and live a peaceful life.
He should be happy, but why can't he bring himself to smile?
He even contemplates altering the plan, personally tearing apart the painstakingly woven web...
Yue Wuhuan found herself saying, "From now on, I will redouble my kindness towards you, never allowing you to feel sad or distressed again."
Song Qingshi looked up in surprise.
"I'll accompany you to festivals, go shopping with you, venture on adventures, and do all sorts of fun things," Yue Wuhuan blurted out, not knowing what came over him. None of these plans had ever been on his agenda; they were all wrong. Yet, he couldn't control his heart or his tongue as he uttered one promise after another. "Whatever you like to do—watching clouds, reading, experimenting, traveling, playing music—I'll be there. You won't ever be lonely."
Song Qingshi stared at him, momentarily at a loss for words. His eyes misted over, blurring his vision.
His Nascent Soul ached sharply, but he didn't care.
Yue Wuhuan lifted his head and gently wiped away his tears, "Don't be sad; you deserve the very best."
He wanted to give him the most flawless gem, the most vibrant flower, the most perfect companion.
He wanted him to be jubilant, free from worries and devoid of pain...
Song Qingshi couldn't help but smile. Touching his still somewhat swollen lips, he finally recalled the chaotic, passionate kiss from last night. Fearing another misunderstanding, he cautiously asked, "You once said your feelings for me were the same as Anlong's. If Anlong is not a friend, then what about you...?"
Yue Wuhuan froze...
He suddenly remembered his terrifying, uncontrollable desires, those unspeakable, dirty thoughts that lurked within him.
Song Qingshi asked earnestly, "Wuhuan, are you my friend?"
Yue Wuhuan's entire body stiffened.
The simple question penetrated his heart's defenses, word by word.
He felt as if he were staring at his own tombstone, hearing the knell toll for him.