Editor: Sahloknir
“Kiss,” Gong Wei earnestly tried his best to pronounce the word clearly.
Xu Shuangtze’s expression was slightly grim at this moment. He never displayed changes to his feelings outwardly. With Gong Wei’s present intellect, he could not perceive his emotions at all. Xu Shuangtze asked, “Who did you learn this from?”
Gong Wei stared at him blankly, unable to comprehend his question.
There is no way to trace the origin of where he picked up the word, because Gong Wei was too quick at parroting others. If anything new appeared within his line of sight, it might be randomly imprinted in his memory. Then, he would suddenly repeat these words or sentences one fine day, with such confidence that it would startle everyone.
Xu Shuangtze calmly softened his tone, “Do you know what that means?”
Without hesitation, Gong Wei nodded.
“Why do you want a kiss?”
Gong Wei chuckled and leaned closer to Xu Shuangtze’s face.
He was a little short at that time. Before his lips touched Xu Shuangtze’s, he was pushed by two fingers on his forehead. “No kissing. Continue writing.”
The brush was shoved back into Gong Wei’s hand. However, he still refused to continue copying the Spirit of the Sword manual. He struggled to turn his head around, asking, “But why?”
Xu Shuangtze did not answer.
“Why…why not…no kisses?”
At this time, it was rare for Gong Wei to form a whole sentence. He clearly was relentless in pursuit of an answer. But Xu Shuangtze was indifferent. From Gong Wei’s angle, he could only see the lower half of his face. Xu Shuangtze’s defined jawline was hidden in the shadows, and his warm breath ruffled the hair on the top of Gong Wei’s head when he spoke.
He said, “Because you have to wait until you grow up.”
Gong Wei certainly couldn’t grow up in one day, so he was upset.
That day when Xu Shuangtze was about to leave and return to Cang Yang Sect, Ying Kai, who had been busy for an entire day with his work, came out to send him off. Gong Wei raced over from the end of the corridor and pounced in front of Xu Shuangtze. With a ‘muack’, he forcibly smooched Ying Kai’s cheek.
“…” Lord Ying was astounded, and his reaction was the exact same as Xu Shuangtze’s, asking, “Who did you learn this from?!”
Gong Wei turned his head and grinned at Xu Shuangtze.
Unlike what he had expected, Xu Shuangtze did not react. He just stood there quietly, staring at Gong Wei. Then, he averted his gaze, turned, and left.
Gong Wei was stunned, and a trace of fear suddenly arose from within. Before he could figure out what he should do, Gong Wei chased after him in a panic. He grabbed onto Xu Shuangtze’s arm, preventing him from leaving. Then, he tiptoed in an attempt to kiss him, but Xu Shuangtze relentlessly pushed him away, saying, “Let go.”
Gong Wei panicked even more. Still grasping onto his sleeve, he leaned closer, causing Xu Shuangtze to scold, “Let go!”
Ying Kai stood in the distance, confused, and had no inkling of what was happening.
Gong Wei staggered and almost stumbled onto the ground. He has never been so severely reprimanded by anyone before. Gong Wei’s entire being was shrouded in an unprecedented fear. However, no matter what he did, it seemed that he could not stop Xu Shuangtze from leaving. In the chaos, he grabbed Xu Shuangtze’s robes. His weight forced the man to lean slightly, looking right at him. With a blink, Gong Wei’s right pupil turned blood red at once!
Xu Shuangtze’s pupils constricted in response.
Everything in the world became still at this moment.
Gong Wei hurriedly inched his lips forward on tiptoe. Right when their lips met, a more oppressive and terrifying spiritual power burst out of Xu Shuangtze’s primordial spirit, snapping him out of the illusion. After coming out, the torrential impact forced Gong Wei back by a few steps!
With a plop, Gong Wei backed against the railing, and was helped up by Ying Kai who dashed forwards, and cried in surprise, “What happened?”
Xu Shuangtze sternly berated, “How dare you use such inhuman tricks against me?”
Ying Kai’s expression changed at this and he spun around to look at Gong Wei, who shrank back. His right eye had changed back to normal as he apologised, “I’m… I’m sorry…”
“Gong Wei!”
The spiritual power in Xu Shuangtze’s voice shook the air. Gong Wei crept over to grab his belt, but was once again shoved aside!
Ying Kai quickly separated the two of them and demanded to know, “What did you do!”
Ktf jawbrqtfgf kjr afcrf jcv We Vtejcuahf rtea tlr fsfr jcv rabbv atfgf obg j ofk ygfjatr yfobgf fztjilcu vffqis.
Lf bqfcfv tlr fsfr jcv rajafv klat lcvloofgfcmf, “P’w ifjnlcu cbk.”
Ying Kai wanted to reprimand his Shidi, but Gong Wei burst into tears right away. Ying Kai then wanted to persuade his friend, but Xu Shuangtze had already summoned No Way Out. Stepping onto his sword, he soon disappeared into the skies without even looking back.
…
Xbcu Qfl vlv cba wjcjuf ab xlrr We Vtejcuahf lc atf fcv.
Dfmjerf tf kjr ajeuta j ifrrbc joafg atja vjs, Tlcu Bjl mbeiv cfnfg oluegf bea kts Xbcu Qfl kjcafv rb vfrqfgjafis ab xlrr We Vtejcuahf. Mfjglcu atja tf kbeiv xlrr qfbqif ja gjcvbw, tf ajeuta tlw j ifrrbc jcv rafgcis lcragemafv atja batfg atjc fjalcu jcv rqfjxlcu, tf rtbeiv cba vb jcsatlcu firf klat tlr wbeat.
Gong Wei felt indignant, but there was nothing he could do. He didn’t know why Xu Shuangtze was maddened. He could only draw a simple conclusion from his reaction, that is, before a person grows up, the act of ‘kissing’ is strictly forbidden. One could only do such a thing as a grown-up.
—But what if Xu Shuangtze dies when I grow up, what should I do if I can’t kiss him?
Gong Wei wanted someone to clear up his pressing doubt, but it was a long sentence. At that time, it was way beyond his ability to express it, so he had to give up.
Yet, no one noticed that Gong Wei seemed to begin growing a little faster since that fateful day.
When he was first brought back to the Immortal Alliance, he could not even stand on his feet. After observing Ying Kai for a few days, he learned to walk, stand and sit upright. After that, following the passing of the old Sword Sect Master, he was sent to the Correctional Palace for training along with the young Yuchi Rui. The two hit it off right away and they quickly began to race wildly across the entire mountain, tussle at the slightest disagreement, and jointly wreak havoc out of boredom.
Before Yuchi Rui’s arrival, Xu Shuangtze personally taught Gong Wei for half a year but failed to get him to complete copying the Spirit of the Sword manual. One day, after Yuchi Rui’s arrival, Gong Wei came to realize that his buddy could memorize the entire Spirit of the Sword manual. This came as a surprise to him!
Soon after, without anyone knowing why, Gong Wei could do the same.
This youth with a mysterious past, seemed to have been curiously observing the world around him. He used everyone he encountered as a measure, and constantly adjusted and calibrated his behaviour and performance to match theirs.
At this rate, he may soon reach his perception of being all ‘grown-up’.
But he did not expect that reality would increasingly contradict his beliefs with the passing of time. He would never be able to catch up with concealing the cracks which constantly formed.
It all began with the eclosion of the old Artefact Sect Master.
.
Eclosion was a polite term to describe an etiquette of the Immortal Alliance. It was just a better way of saying that a cultivator had passed away after failing to ascend. The old Artefact Sect Master was the eldest grandson in one of six major families of the Immortal Alliance.
He left behind two sons in his death. The eldest son being Changsun Chengfeng. In his will, he decreed that his funeral should be modest and only delegates from the Correctional Palace, Cang Yang Sect, Golden Gate and a few other major sects were invited to offer condolences.
Ying Kai was highly stringent when it came to matters of etiquette. He thought that Gong Wei seemed to have matured a lot recently and no longer behaved like an ignorant child. With that, he decided to bring him along to pay respects at the Changsun’s. He instructed Gong Wei to be quiet and most importantly, not to play his suona. Ying Kai even got him to learn a few phrases to express condolences before he was at ease.
Ying Kai did not expect an oversight despite his thorough preparations. After paying respects at the funeral hall, the bereaved family invited all distinguished guests to the front hall for tea. In that time, Gong Wei slipped away. Within a short while, the Artefact Sect’s disciples hurriedly entered to report, crying and complaining, “We ask the Alliance Master to preside over this injustice! Young Master Gong is blaspheming the legacy of the deceased Artefact Sect Master!
Ying Kai was so astounded that he dropped the lid of his teacup instantly.
Xu Shuangtze got up, frowned, and strode out of the front hall.
Ying Kai swiftly followed. Even before the crowd stepped into the mourning hall, they saw that the heavy coffin lid had been opened from a distance. Gong Wei sat alone on the ground, the body of the old Artefact Sect Master was seated opposite him and a chessboard was placed between them. Gong Wei was bored and was currently using his spiritual power to play a round of chess with the body.
Xu Shuangtze’s expression abruptly dimmed and Ying Kai rushed forward and dragged Gong Wei out of the funeral hall, reprimanding, “How can you be so rude! Stand still!”
Gong Wei was taken aback and looked at them in confusion.
Ying Kai scolded, “This is a funeral, and such matters of life and death shouldn’t be taken lightly. The family and friends of the deceased are mourning, but you treated this occasion in jest. Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?”
“…”
Gong Wei gaped a few times and was at a loss for words. So, he turned towards Xu Shuangtze for help.
Xu Shuangtze said coldly, “Go, stand in the corner.” Then, he gestured towards Changsun Chengfeng whose face was full of mixed emotions, asking, “Let’s discuss this aside.”
Ying Kai was still fuming, but he had to pause the lecture to apologize and clean up the mess. However, as soon as the two turned around, they heard a choppy but clear voice from the youth behind them,
“—Life can be joyful and death can also be celebrated. Life and death are natural cycles. One dies and will get reincarnated back into the world. All beings are immortals this way, so why should we grieve?”
The two spun around at the same time, Ying Kai asked in astonishment, “What did you say?”
Gong Wei continued, “It is inevitable for mortals to die. Like a mayfly, like how the day turns to night or even how there’s heaven and earth. It is both trivial and natural. How is it worth mentioning? How is it worth mourning?”
Although the pronunciation was awkward and the sentence was clearly choppy, Gong Wei had never strung so many words together before. Ying Kai was stunned, “What the hell are you talking about Gong Zhiyu? You and I are all mortals on this earth, how can you say this?”
Ying Kai was never this harsh and Gong Wei shrank back instinctively, but still couldn’t help protesting, “I…”
Ying Kai rebuked, “Stand still and keep quiet!”
“…Outrageous!” “Why does the Shidi of Lord Ying act like this?” “Ill-mannered, disrespectful!”…
There were more and more whispers of accusations going around, and it grew increasingly out of hand.
Gong Wei shuddered from the hostility that came from all directions and turned his gaze towards Xu Shuangtze for the last time. However, the other party’s expression was like a bucket of cold water pouring down on him.
Xu Shuangtze looked down at Gong Wei, narrowing his eyes imperceptibly as if he was secretly scrutinising something.
Gong Wei could feel his jaws trembling, and he suddenly stammered, “Life and death are predestined. There is time for glory and a time for it to pass. This is the natural path in Daoism. If the death of mortals warrants endless weeping, then why is no one sad for the coming of spring and the passing of winter, or feel sorrow and joy for the blooming and withering of flowers and leaves?”
Gong Wei raised his voice, “What then, is the difference between the two?”
The whispers buzzed even more loudly, and there was a shock reflected in everyone’s eyes as if they had just seen a monster. Ying Kai furiously pulled Gong Wei over, “You come with me!”
Gong Wei struggled desperately, “I don’t want to, I’m right! I’m…”
At this moment, Xu Shuangtze’s cold voice sounded from above his head, “Are you really a human?”
Gong Wei stiffened and looked up timidly.
The strange looks of everyone else blurred into the background. Only Xu Shuangtze’s cold pupils bore into him as if he was facing something alien, “—Where did such an inhuman idea come from?”
“What the hell are you, Gong Zhiyu?”
That was the first time Xu Shuangtze vocalised this particular thought.
Although Gong Wei was very used to this sentence much later, it viciously pierced through his heart upon hearing it for the first time. His heart flinched at once.
Looking back, this moment was perhaps the beginning of all the cracks in their relationship.
Gong Wei had forgotten how he left the Changsun’s that day. He only remembered that after returning to the Correctional Palace, he was locked up in the side palace for self-reflection. Gong Wei was full of panic and horror but gradually fell asleep with a despondent indignance.
When he woke up from hunger, it was late and the palace was shrouded in darkness. There was only a dim candle on the table illuminating the quiet face of Xu Shuangtze. He was sitting upright and reading a book with a silver porcelain plate containing a heap of food at the side.
“Awake?” As if nothing had happened earlier, he closed the book and beckoned, “Eat.”
It turned out to be a dish of chicken pastry rolls.
After all, Gong Wei’s intellect was that of a child’s. He widened his eyes and sat up, carefully surveying the snack and then back at Xu Shuangtze. When he was still hesitating whether to reach for it, Xu Shuangtze had already picked up a pastry roll with his finger and sent it to his lips, indicating that he could tuck in.
“…”
Gong Wei doubtfully took a bite of the pastry from his hand, and the familiar fragrance and scrumptiousness filled his mouth.
Xu Shuangtze often wore ivory-colored robes embroidered with gold patterns and a black fitted inner armor which made his shoulders and back appear especially upright. The warm orange candle glow neutralized the sharp details of his facial features. He looked handsome and virtuous, especially from the side. The line from the bridge of his nose to his lips and jaw were as defined as a sculpture’s.
Gong Wei sat cross-legged on the mat, watching him while eating with his hands, unable to avert his gaze. The night breeze howled outside the hall, but the small space enveloped by a single candle was intimate and warm. The last trace of displeasure from the day was unconsciously forgotten. Gong Wei’s instinct to be closer to Xu Shuangtze took over and he inched towards him uncontrollably. Xu Shuangtze asked, “Do you want more?”
Gong Wei shook his head.
Xu Shuangtze took out a Digestive Pill, and Gong Wei lowered his head again to lap it directly from his palm.
Gong Wei’s skin had a subtle translucence, but it couldn’t be seen clearly under the dim candlelight. There was a natural innocence and a carefully curbed curiosity that emanated from his features. As long as the demonic right pupil didn’t appear, the youth wasn’t much different from other young disciples within the Immortal Sects. Xu Shuangtze observed him quietly, a trace of inexpressible emotion surged within his eyes. He whispered after a long while, “Don’t take my words during the day to heart.”
Gong Wei looked up blankly.
“I won’t say that about you again.”
The two looked at each other at close range. Gong Wei blinked and leaned in affectionately.
Xu Shuangtze’s throat slipped up and down, his fingers curled in slightly to form a fist as if he wanted to restrain something. But at that moment, the peculiar aura of the youth had already hit him in the face. As if he had been bewitched, he reached out and gently brushed his fingertips across the corner of Gong Wei’s lips.
At this moment, the palace gate was pushed open with a creak, and Ying Kai poked his head in, asking in a low voice, “Is he awake?”
Xu Shuangtze’s arm stiffened slightly.
If one observed carefully, Lord Xu’s expression was clearly atypical at this point. However, the shift was too swift and subtle. In the next moment, he leaned back and sat upright, lowered his gaze, and took a sip of tea.
Without knowing what happened, Gong Wei tilted his head and gazed over Xu Shuangtze’s shoulder, looking at the entrance, “Shixiong!”
Ying Kai coughed and pushed the door in. He was carrying a plate of snacks in his hand. He walked closer and asked, “Have you eaten?” Then, he hurriedly hid the porcelain plate behind himself, saying, “Then you are not allowed to eat more. You’ll have to abstain from food in the future. Don’t tell me you intend to eat Digestive Pills for the rest of your life…”
Gong Wei grinned and yelled, “Shixiong!”
Sitting on the other side of the mat, Ying Kai stiffened his face and asked, “Do you know where you were wrong?”
Gong Wei would not hesitate to spew all sorts of flattery when he got scared and would unabashedly sweet-talk when he was happy. He immediately answered, “I know I was in the wrong!”
Ying Kai grilled, “Where were you wrong?”
Gong Wei cried, “As a fellow human being, I should follow the crowd. If everyone is crying, I should cry too. And I shouldn’t have played chess with the old Artefact Sect Master.”
Ying Kai did not know if he should laugh or cry at this, “That’s not it. Not only did you not cry, but you were defending your erroneous actions with preposterous arguments. You are simply…”
Gong Wei immediately promised, “I will cry next time.”
“…” Ying Kai asked, “What if you can’t cry?”
“I’ll pretend to cry!”
This suggestion was logically flawless and reasonable—No one knew it better than Ying Kai about the true sentiments of younger disciples and descendants who came to pay respects at funerals of major families. Many were forced by etiquette to help each other cast spells and pretend to weep. How else could there be such emotive tears falling for the deceased, whom they had never met in their entire lives?
Ying Kai was at his wit’s end. He could only end his lecture at this point, “Don’t commit the same mistake again.”
Gong Wei nodded in all seriousness, “En!”
Xu Shuangtze asked suddenly, “Do you still want to eat?”
He had asked this question once earlier on. But Gong Wei’s attention was immediately drawn back to him as he shook his head in response. Then, Gong Wei beamed at him. The harmonious atmosphere around the mat made him relaxed, and the candlelight reflected in his glistening eyes.
Xu Shuangtze asked in a low voice, “Why are you smiling?”
Gong Wei’s eyes were filled with a look of contentment, and he whispered, “Xu Bai.”
Ying Kai reached out his hand, about to smack Gong Wei, chiding, “Is this how you should address Lord Xu?”
However, Gong Wei tilted his head in avoidance. He continued looking up at Xu Shuangtze and flatteringly declared, “I promise to really cry on the day you die.”
Xu Shuangtze suddenly froze.
The air around them came to a standstill at once, and Ying Kai gaped several times before forcing out, “…What did you say?”
Half of Gong Wei’s face was illuminated by candlelight, while the other half was hidden in the shadows. He happily leaned closer to Xu Shuangtze, and articulated,
“When you die, I will really cry.”
Editor: Sahloknir
“Kiss,” Gong Wei earnestly tried his best to pronounce the word clearly.
Xu Shuangtze’s expression was slightly grim at this moment. He never displayed changes to his feelings outwardly. With Gong Wei’s present intellect, he could not perceive his emotions at all. Xu Shuangtze asked, “Who did you learn this from?”
Gong Wei stared at him blankly, unable to comprehend his question.
There is no way to trace the origin of where he picked up the word, because Gong Wei was too quick at parroting others. If anything new appeared within his line of sight, it might be randomly imprinted in his memory. Then, he would suddenly repeat these words or sentences one fine day, with such confidence that it would startle everyone.
Xu Shuangtze calmly softened his tone, “Do you know what that means?”
Without hesitation, Gong Wei nodded.
“Why do you want a kiss?”
Gong Wei chuckled and leaned closer to Xu Shuangtze’s face.
He was a little short at that time. Before his lips touched Xu Shuangtze’s, he was pushed by two fingers on his forehead. “No kissing. Continue writing.”
The brush was shoved back into Gong Wei’s hand. However, he still refused to continue copying the Spirit of the Sword manual. He struggled to turn his head around, asking, “But why?”
Xu Shuangtze did not answer.
“Why…why not…no kisses?”
At this time, it was rare for Gong Wei to form a whole sentence. He clearly was relentless in pursuit of an answer. But Xu Shuangtze was indifferent. From Gong Wei’s angle, he could only see the lower half of his face. Xu Shuangtze’s defined jawline was hidden in the shadows, and his warm breath ruffled the hair on the top of Gong Wei’s head when he spoke.
He said, “Because you have to wait until you grow up.”
Gong Wei certainly couldn’t grow up in one day, so he was upset.
That day when Xu Shuangtze was about to leave and return to Cang Yang Sect, Ying Kai, who had been busy for an entire day with his work, came out to send him off. Gong Wei raced over from the end of the corridor and pounced in front of Xu Shuangtze. With a ‘muack’, he forcibly smooched Ying Kai’s cheek.
“…” Lord Ying was astounded, and his reaction was the exact same as Xu Shuangtze’s, asking, “Who did you learn this from?!”
Gong Wei turned his head and grinned at Xu Shuangtze.
Unlike what he had expected, Xu Shuangtze did not react. He just stood there quietly, staring at Gong Wei. Then, he averted his gaze, turned, and left.
Gong Wei was stunned, and a trace of fear suddenly arose from within. Before he could figure out what he should do, Gong Wei chased after him in a panic. He grabbed onto Xu Shuangtze’s arm, preventing him from leaving. Then, he tiptoed in an attempt to kiss him, but Xu Shuangtze relentlessly pushed him away, saying, “Let go.”
Gong Wei panicked even more. Still grasping onto his sleeve, he leaned closer, causing Xu Shuangtze to scold, “Let go!”
Ying Kai stood in the distance, confused, and had no inkling of what was happening.
Gong Wei staggered and almost stumbled onto the ground. He has never been so severely reprimanded by anyone before. Gong Wei’s entire being was shrouded in an unprecedented fear. However, no matter what he did, it seemed that he could not stop Xu Shuangtze from leaving. In the chaos, he grabbed Xu Shuangtze’s robes. His weight forced the man to lean slightly, looking right at him. With a blink, Gong Wei’s right pupil turned blood red at once!
Xu Shuangtze’s pupils constricted in response.
Everything in the world became still at this moment.
Gong Wei hurriedly inched his lips forward on tiptoe. Right when their lips met, a more oppressive and terrifying spiritual power burst out of Xu Shuangtze’s primordial spirit, snapping him out of the illusion. After coming out, the torrential impact forced Gong Wei back by a few steps!
With a plop, Gong Wei backed against the railing, and was helped up by Ying Kai who dashed forwards, and cried in surprise, “What happened?”
Xu Shuangtze sternly berated, “How dare you use such inhuman tricks against me?”
Ying Kai’s expression changed at this and he spun around to look at Gong Wei, who shrank back. His right eye had changed back to normal as he apologised, “I’m… I’m sorry…”
“Gong Wei!”
The spiritual power in Xu Shuangtze’s voice shook the air. Gong Wei crept over to grab his belt, but was once again shoved aside!
Ying Kai quickly separated the two of them and demanded to know, “What did you do!”
Ktf jawbrqtfgf kjr afcrf jcv We Vtejcuahf rtea tlr fsfr jcv rabbv atfgf obg j ofk ygfjatr yfobgf fztjilcu vffqis.
Lf bqfcfv tlr fsfr jcv rajafv klat lcvloofgfcmf, “P’w ifjnlcu cbk.”
Ying Kai wanted to reprimand his Shidi, but Gong Wei burst into tears right away. Ying Kai then wanted to persuade his friend, but Xu Shuangtze had already summoned No Way Out. Stepping onto his sword, he soon disappeared into the skies without even looking back.
…
Xbcu Qfl vlv cba wjcjuf ab xlrr We Vtejcuahf lc atf fcv.
Dfmjerf tf kjr ajeuta j ifrrbc joafg atja vjs, Tlcu Bjl mbeiv cfnfg oluegf bea kts Xbcu Qfl kjcafv rb vfrqfgjafis ab xlrr We Vtejcuahf. Mfjglcu atja tf kbeiv xlrr qfbqif ja gjcvbw, tf ajeuta tlw j ifrrbc jcv rafgcis lcragemafv atja batfg atjc fjalcu jcv rqfjxlcu, tf rtbeiv cba vb jcsatlcu firf klat tlr wbeat.
Gong Wei felt indignant, but there was nothing he could do. He didn’t know why Xu Shuangtze was maddened. He could only draw a simple conclusion from his reaction, that is, before a person grows up, the act of ‘kissing’ is strictly forbidden. One could only do such a thing as a grown-up.
—But what if Xu Shuangtze dies when I grow up, what should I do if I can’t kiss him?
Gong Wei wanted someone to clear up his pressing doubt, but it was a long sentence. At that time, it was way beyond his ability to express it, so he had to give up.
Yet, no one noticed that Gong Wei seemed to begin growing a little faster since that fateful day.
When he was first brought back to the Immortal Alliance, he could not even stand on his feet. After observing Ying Kai for a few days, he learned to walk, stand and sit upright. After that, following the passing of the old Sword Sect Master, he was sent to the Correctional Palace for training along with the young Yuchi Rui. The two hit it off right away and they quickly began to race wildly across the entire mountain, tussle at the slightest disagreement, and jointly wreak havoc out of boredom.
Before Yuchi Rui’s arrival, Xu Shuangtze personally taught Gong Wei for half a year but failed to get him to complete copying the Spirit of the Sword manual. One day, after Yuchi Rui’s arrival, Gong Wei came to realize that his buddy could memorize the entire Spirit of the Sword manual. This came as a surprise to him!
Soon after, without anyone knowing why, Gong Wei could do the same.
This youth with a mysterious past, seemed to have been curiously observing the world around him. He used everyone he encountered as a measure, and constantly adjusted and calibrated his behaviour and performance to match theirs.
At this rate, he may soon reach his perception of being all ‘grown-up’.
But he did not expect that reality would increasingly contradict his beliefs with the passing of time. He would never be able to catch up with concealing the cracks which constantly formed.
It all began with the eclosion of the old Artefact Sect Master.
.
Eclosion was a polite term to describe an etiquette of the Immortal Alliance. It was just a better way of saying that a cultivator had passed away after failing to ascend. The old Artefact Sect Master was the eldest grandson in one of six major families of the Immortal Alliance.
He left behind two sons in his death. The eldest son being Changsun Chengfeng. In his will, he decreed that his funeral should be modest and only delegates from the Correctional Palace, Cang Yang Sect, Golden Gate and a few other major sects were invited to offer condolences.
Ying Kai was highly stringent when it came to matters of etiquette. He thought that Gong Wei seemed to have matured a lot recently and no longer behaved like an ignorant child. With that, he decided to bring him along to pay respects at the Changsun’s. He instructed Gong Wei to be quiet and most importantly, not to play his suona. Ying Kai even got him to learn a few phrases to express condolences before he was at ease.
Ying Kai did not expect an oversight despite his thorough preparations. After paying respects at the funeral hall, the bereaved family invited all distinguished guests to the front hall for tea. In that time, Gong Wei slipped away. Within a short while, the Artefact Sect’s disciples hurriedly entered to report, crying and complaining, “We ask the Alliance Master to preside over this injustice! Young Master Gong is blaspheming the legacy of the deceased Artefact Sect Master!
Ying Kai was so astounded that he dropped the lid of his teacup instantly.
Xu Shuangtze got up, frowned, and strode out of the front hall.
Ying Kai swiftly followed. Even before the crowd stepped into the mourning hall, they saw that the heavy coffin lid had been opened from a distance. Gong Wei sat alone on the ground, the body of the old Artefact Sect Master was seated opposite him and a chessboard was placed between them. Gong Wei was bored and was currently using his spiritual power to play a round of chess with the body.
Xu Shuangtze’s expression abruptly dimmed and Ying Kai rushed forward and dragged Gong Wei out of the funeral hall, reprimanding, “How can you be so rude! Stand still!”
Gong Wei was taken aback and looked at them in confusion.
Ying Kai scolded, “This is a funeral, and such matters of life and death shouldn’t be taken lightly. The family and friends of the deceased are mourning, but you treated this occasion in jest. Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?”
“…”
Gong Wei gaped a few times and was at a loss for words. So, he turned towards Xu Shuangtze for help.
Xu Shuangtze said coldly, “Go, stand in the corner.” Then, he gestured towards Changsun Chengfeng whose face was full of mixed emotions, asking, “Let’s discuss this aside.”
Ying Kai was still fuming, but he had to pause the lecture to apologize and clean up the mess. However, as soon as the two turned around, they heard a choppy but clear voice from the youth behind them,
“—Life can be joyful and death can also be celebrated. Life and death are natural cycles. One dies and will get reincarnated back into the world. All beings are immortals this way, so why should we grieve?”
The two spun around at the same time, Ying Kai asked in astonishment, “What did you say?”
Gong Wei continued, “It is inevitable for mortals to die. Like a mayfly, like how the day turns to night or even how there’s heaven and earth. It is both trivial and natural. How is it worth mentioning? How is it worth mourning?”
Although the pronunciation was awkward and the sentence was clearly choppy, Gong Wei had never strung so many words together before. Ying Kai was stunned, “What the hell are you talking about Gong Zhiyu? You and I are all mortals on this earth, how can you say this?”
Ying Kai was never this harsh and Gong Wei shrank back instinctively, but still couldn’t help protesting, “I…”
Ying Kai rebuked, “Stand still and keep quiet!”
“…Outrageous!” “Why does the Shidi of Lord Ying act like this?” “Ill-mannered, disrespectful!”…
There were more and more whispers of accusations going around, and it grew increasingly out of hand.
Gong Wei shuddered from the hostility that came from all directions and turned his gaze towards Xu Shuangtze for the last time. However, the other party’s expression was like a bucket of cold water pouring down on him.
Xu Shuangtze looked down at Gong Wei, narrowing his eyes imperceptibly as if he was secretly scrutinising something.
Gong Wei could feel his jaws trembling, and he suddenly stammered, “Life and death are predestined. There is time for glory and a time for it to pass. This is the natural path in Daoism. If the death of mortals warrants endless weeping, then why is no one sad for the coming of spring and the passing of winter, or feel sorrow and joy for the blooming and withering of flowers and leaves?”
Gong Wei raised his voice, “What then, is the difference between the two?”
The whispers buzzed even more loudly, and there was a shock reflected in everyone’s eyes as if they had just seen a monster. Ying Kai furiously pulled Gong Wei over, “You come with me!”
Gong Wei struggled desperately, “I don’t want to, I’m right! I’m…”
At this moment, Xu Shuangtze’s cold voice sounded from above his head, “Are you really a human?”
Gong Wei stiffened and looked up timidly.
The strange looks of everyone else blurred into the background. Only Xu Shuangtze’s cold pupils bore into him as if he was facing something alien, “—Where did such an inhuman idea come from?”
“What the hell are you, Gong Zhiyu?”
That was the first time Xu Shuangtze vocalised this particular thought.
Although Gong Wei was very used to this sentence much later, it viciously pierced through his heart upon hearing it for the first time. His heart flinched at once.
Looking back, this moment was perhaps the beginning of all the cracks in their relationship.
Gong Wei had forgotten how he left the Changsun’s that day. He only remembered that after returning to the Correctional Palace, he was locked up in the side palace for self-reflection. Gong Wei was full of panic and horror but gradually fell asleep with a despondent indignance.
When he woke up from hunger, it was late and the palace was shrouded in darkness. There was only a dim candle on the table illuminating the quiet face of Xu Shuangtze. He was sitting upright and reading a book with a silver porcelain plate containing a heap of food at the side.
“Awake?” As if nothing had happened earlier, he closed the book and beckoned, “Eat.”
It turned out to be a dish of chicken pastry rolls.
After all, Gong Wei’s intellect was that of a child’s. He widened his eyes and sat up, carefully surveying the snack and then back at Xu Shuangtze. When he was still hesitating whether to reach for it, Xu Shuangtze had already picked up a pastry roll with his finger and sent it to his lips, indicating that he could tuck in.
“…”
Gong Wei doubtfully took a bite of the pastry from his hand, and the familiar fragrance and scrumptiousness filled his mouth.
Xu Shuangtze often wore ivory-colored robes embroidered with gold patterns and a black fitted inner armor which made his shoulders and back appear especially upright. The warm orange candle glow neutralized the sharp details of his facial features. He looked handsome and virtuous, especially from the side. The line from the bridge of his nose to his lips and jaw were as defined as a sculpture’s.
Gong Wei sat cross-legged on the mat, watching him while eating with his hands, unable to avert his gaze. The night breeze howled outside the hall, but the small space enveloped by a single candle was intimate and warm. The last trace of displeasure from the day was unconsciously forgotten. Gong Wei’s instinct to be closer to Xu Shuangtze took over and he inched towards him uncontrollably. Xu Shuangtze asked, “Do you want more?”
Gong Wei shook his head.
Xu Shuangtze took out a Digestive Pill, and Gong Wei lowered his head again to lap it directly from his palm.
Gong Wei’s skin had a subtle translucence, but it couldn’t be seen clearly under the dim candlelight. There was a natural innocence and a carefully curbed curiosity that emanated from his features. As long as the demonic right pupil didn’t appear, the youth wasn’t much different from other young disciples within the Immortal Sects. Xu Shuangtze observed him quietly, a trace of inexpressible emotion surged within his eyes. He whispered after a long while, “Don’t take my words during the day to heart.”
Gong Wei looked up blankly.
“I won’t say that about you again.”
The two looked at each other at close range. Gong Wei blinked and leaned in affectionately.
Xu Shuangtze’s throat slipped up and down, his fingers curled in slightly to form a fist as if he wanted to restrain something. But at that moment, the peculiar aura of the youth had already hit him in the face. As if he had been bewitched, he reached out and gently brushed his fingertips across the corner of Gong Wei’s lips.
At this moment, the palace gate was pushed open with a creak, and Ying Kai poked his head in, asking in a low voice, “Is he awake?”
Xu Shuangtze’s arm stiffened slightly.
If one observed carefully, Lord Xu’s expression was clearly atypical at this point. However, the shift was too swift and subtle. In the next moment, he leaned back and sat upright, lowered his gaze, and took a sip of tea.
Without knowing what happened, Gong Wei tilted his head and gazed over Xu Shuangtze’s shoulder, looking at the entrance, “Shixiong!”
Ying Kai coughed and pushed the door in. He was carrying a plate of snacks in his hand. He walked closer and asked, “Have you eaten?” Then, he hurriedly hid the porcelain plate behind himself, saying, “Then you are not allowed to eat more. You’ll have to abstain from food in the future. Don’t tell me you intend to eat Digestive Pills for the rest of your life…”
Gong Wei grinned and yelled, “Shixiong!”
Sitting on the other side of the mat, Ying Kai stiffened his face and asked, “Do you know where you were wrong?”
Gong Wei would not hesitate to spew all sorts of flattery when he got scared and would unabashedly sweet-talk when he was happy. He immediately answered, “I know I was in the wrong!”
Ying Kai grilled, “Where were you wrong?”
Gong Wei cried, “As a fellow human being, I should follow the crowd. If everyone is crying, I should cry too. And I shouldn’t have played chess with the old Artefact Sect Master.”
Ying Kai did not know if he should laugh or cry at this, “That’s not it. Not only did you not cry, but you were defending your erroneous actions with preposterous arguments. You are simply…”
Gong Wei immediately promised, “I will cry next time.”
“…” Ying Kai asked, “What if you can’t cry?”
“I’ll pretend to cry!”
This suggestion was logically flawless and reasonable—No one knew it better than Ying Kai about the true sentiments of younger disciples and descendants who came to pay respects at funerals of major families. Many were forced by etiquette to help each other cast spells and pretend to weep. How else could there be such emotive tears falling for the deceased, whom they had never met in their entire lives?
Ying Kai was at his wit’s end. He could only end his lecture at this point, “Don’t commit the same mistake again.”
Gong Wei nodded in all seriousness, “En!”
Xu Shuangtze asked suddenly, “Do you still want to eat?”
He had asked this question once earlier on. But Gong Wei’s attention was immediately drawn back to him as he shook his head in response. Then, Gong Wei beamed at him. The harmonious atmosphere around the mat made him relaxed, and the candlelight reflected in his glistening eyes.
Xu Shuangtze asked in a low voice, “Why are you smiling?”
Gong Wei’s eyes were filled with a look of contentment, and he whispered, “Xu Bai.”
Ying Kai reached out his hand, about to smack Gong Wei, chiding, “Is this how you should address Lord Xu?”
However, Gong Wei tilted his head in avoidance. He continued looking up at Xu Shuangtze and flatteringly declared, “I promise to really cry on the day you die.”
Xu Shuangtze suddenly froze.
The air around them came to a standstill at once, and Ying Kai gaped several times before forcing out, “…What did you say?”
Half of Gong Wei’s face was illuminated by candlelight, while the other half was hidden in the shadows. He happily leaned closer to Xu Shuangtze, and articulated,
“When you die, I will really cry.”
