Elder Shi raised his right hand slightly, signaling permission for Wu Xuan to speak.
Standing tall with his hands calmly clasped behind his back, Wu Xuan began, "We all know that most of Jun Peak's internal disciples, including Wei Shidi, will soon depart for the mission in Luoyang City. Many external disciples will be joining them as well."
The hall fell quiet.
"Therefore," Wu Xuan continued, "I suggest that Juyao Peak join forces with Jun Peak for this year's tournament. Since our brothers from the Lingxiao Sect are also participating, we can adjust the number of teams back down from six to five."
Shi Xieren: "…"
Yu Lingyu: ??????
Yi Qiu: This man is definitely possessed.
Of course, Shi Xieren wouldn't reject Wu Xuan's idea. Whether or not he asked for permission, whatever Wu Xuan wanted usually happened.
"Very well," Shi Xieren said at last. "Wu Yixuan, speak with the disciples at Juyao Peak and finalize the arrangements."
As expected. No one at Juyao Peak ever went against Wu Xuan's word.
After Shi Xieren left, the meeting gradually came to an end and the hall began to empty out.
"Let's go to Jun Peak first and make the arrangements with the Lingxiao Sect," Wu Xuan suggested casually.
Yu Lingyu sighed and only shook his head.
The Lingxiao Sect were devoted followers of the Wind Lord.
And now... the Wind Lord himself had to host them.
What a tragic fate.
***************************************************************
San Jie couldn't even shout. All he could do was cover his mouth tightly to keep the frustration in.
Meeting Wu Xuan? Fine. He could survive that.
But sharing a room with Shen Ming?
San Jie looked like a landmine about to go off. His glare hit Yu Lingyu like a flurry of invisible arrows.
"We apologize for the short notice," Yu Lingyu said politely to the twelve disciples of the Lingxiao Sect. "Unfortunately, we didn't have time to prepare separate cabins. Please bear with us for a few days. The new ones will be ready soon."
"No problem at all, Brother Yu. Thank you," replied Jin Fan, their leader, with a calm smile.
Once the rooms were handed over, Yu Lingyu turned to inspect the group of apprentices who had been relocated.
"Yu Shixiong…" San Jie whispered, somehow sounding calm and on the edge of murder at the same time. "Leaving the cabin? Fine. I can deal with that. But why- why- do I have to room with him?"
He stressed every single word like it hurt to say them.
"Haha, it's not like he's going to molest you," Wu Xuan replied casually with a shrug.
San Jie's eyes narrowed.
"I hope your mother comes back soon. Father's about to be stolen by some swindling woman," said Wu Xuan, looking at Lingyu.
Yu Lingyu: "…"
San Jie: "?????"
"What mother?" San Jie asked, completely thrown off. Yu Lingyu had to fight the smile tugging at his lips.
"Well then, San Shidi," Lingyu said smoothly, "if you hate it that much, why not stay with Duan Shimei and Xu Jin Shimei?"
Laughter rippled through the group as San Jie's face turned redder than the evening sky.
"Then why can't I stay with you?" he growled.
"You can't!" Wu Xuan snapped, arms crossed tightly, sounding more panicked than stern.
"Why not?"
"Wha- Where would I sleep then?" Wu Xuan shot back quickly, clearly fishing for an excuse.
"Yu Shidi, we're sharing a room, right?" he added, turning to Yu Lingyu with mock innocence.
Yu Lingyu blinked. "Huh?"
"What, you want me to sleep outside?" Wu Xuan asked, voice returning to its usual teasing lilt.
"Never!" San Jie suddenly shouted, like a man possessed. "Hey! Stay away from Yu Shixiong!"
Wu Xuan rolled his eyes.
"San Shidi," Yu Lingyu said quietly, "he's older than you. Be respectful."
"Damn it, why are you taking his side?! Don't tell me you want to sleep with him too!"
BANG!
Yu Lingyu was stunned into silence. His face flushed slightly as he stared at San Jie, unsure whether to scold him or hide in embarrassment.
"Ah, it's not like anything is going on between them," Luo Cheng said, stepping in quickly. He grabbed San Jie's arm and added, "San Xiong, stop it."
Then he turned with an apologetic bow. "Sorry, Wu Shixiong. We'll be going now. Let's go, Yu Shixiong."
He covered San Jie's mouth with his hand and dragged him away. Even as he was being hauled off, San Jie didn't miss the chance to shoot Wu Xuan one last death glare, his eyes practically glowing with murderous intent.
Wu Xuan simply raised an eyebrow, lips twitching like he was holding back a laugh.
Meanwhile, Yu Lingyu stood there awkwardly, wondering how to apologize for the scene.
"Wu Shixiong, he-"
"Oh, don't worry." Wu Xuan waved it off with a shrug. "He's a father, too."
He casually started walking up the street toward Yu Lingyu's cabin.
Yu Lingyu blinked. "A… father? What?"
**************************************************************
"Zi Feng, Lord of the Sighing Wind, stood pitifully at the edge of a raging storm. His silver hair billowed in the wind as he controlled the tempest with ease, but his heart felt the weight of the battle within. His opponent, Demon Lord Yue Ling, perched atop a fearsome black dragon, was directly in his path, defying the storm's chaos.
'Zi Feng!' Yue Ling's voice boomed through the winds. 'Will you break your promise?'
Zi Feng lowered his head, his voice barely a whisper against the roar of the storm. 'I'm sorry,' he murmured, regret dripping from his every word. "
"Wait! What is this? Why does it sound like a love story?"
"Shut up!" The crowd erupted, and Shen Ming was quickly silenced by their collective shout.
Jin Fan chuckled, flashing a small smile as he continued his story by the flickering light of the outdoor bonfire. "Of course, it's a love story. They both remembered the time they spent together, their heart-to-heart kisses in the moonlight."
The group groaned.
"Yue Ling became the devil of the mortal realm after Zi Feng ascended to the heavens, promising to protect the mortal world. They both saw something in each other, hope, love, but the gods opposed it, branding the Wind Lord as a traitor. He was subjected to punishments beyond endurance."
Jin Fan's eyes gleamed as he leaned in. "Zi Feng could no longer bear it. His heart became a battlefield, and every sigh was like a moan of pain."
Yu Lingyu frowned, and Wu Xuan raised an eyebrow.
"Yue Ling heard of Zi Feng's suffering, and driven by rage, he unleashed his dark powers against the gods. But when he found Zi Feng, pierced by the blade of the Heavenly Emperor, it was too late."
Jin Fan paused for dramatic effect, his voice lowering. "Yue Ling kissed the humble Zi Feng's cold lips for one last time, before driving his blade through his chest. Yue Ling's blood rained down in flames, scorching the earth. The wind itself burned with fire."
Everyone was listening intently, but Yu Lingyu couldn't help the confusion that flickered across his face.
"So, in the end," Jin Fan finished, his voice heavy with meaning, "the two of them became a legend, a warning about love and defying the gods."
Yu Lingyu stared blankly. "..."
Wu Xuan blinked, clearly unimpressed.
San Jie broke the silence, his face red with indignation. "Who the hell wrote this? Is that man out of his mind?" He shouted, clutching his browband tightly. "This is practically an erotic novel! How did we get here?"
"I don't know. This is just a story we heard when we visited the Wen Sect," Jin Fan replied, unbothered by the criticism, his smile never fading.
Yu Lingyu, though slightly embarrassed, was curious. "So... is Zi Feng really dead?"
"No," Jin Fan replied with a shrug. "It's just a story. The Wind Lord can't die."
BANG! It hit Lingyu's head like an arrow. I died several times, you know?
"Wait a minute," Shen Ming interjected, his voice serious. "Why is it Yue Ling, and not Li Jiu, Zi Feng's best friend? How does the Wind Lord just fall in love with a devil like that? There's no history between them."
San Jie shot a sharp look at Shen Ming, while Jin Fan faltered, struggling to find an answer.
"That's why it's fiction, you fool! Can't you hear?" Said San Jie.
Shen Ming snapped, his face darkening with anger.
The surrounding crowd burst into laughter, the sound mixing with the crackling of the bonfire, which rose higher, casting a warm glow across the night.
Wu Xuan and Yu Lingyu stood apart from the group, sharing a moment alone while the twelve disciples of the Lingxiao Sect and their apprentices relaxed around the fire. The moonlight filtered through the branches of the plants, creating intricate shadows that danced on the ground, doubling in size under the firelight.
"Brother Jin Fan, is it true that the Lingxiao Sect floats in the sky?" someone from the group asked.
Jin Fan, brushing his long cloak aside, sat back down on a small bench, looking relaxed and composed. But it was Wu Xuan who answered, his voice smooth as he spoke up before Jin Fan could.
"Not really," he began, "It's located on a cliff in the middle of the sea. The sect can only be accessed by flying swords, which is why it's called 'floating.'"
"Really, Wu Shixiong?" Luo Cheng asked eagerly, eyes wide. "Have you been there?"
"Yes, once," Wu Xuan answered, his gaze distant. He glanced at the Lingxiao disciples, his expression briefly hardening. 'Why do Wu Xuan and the Lingxiao disciples seem to have such mixed feelings about each other?' Yu Lingyu wondered.
"Well, it's getting late," Yu Lingyu said, trying to steer the mood. "Why don't we finish the rest tomorrow morning?" Slowly, the group dispersed to their respective cabins, despite the low rumbling noises that hinted at the stormy weather outside.
Yu Lingyu watched as San Jie and Shen Ming headed toward one of the cabins. He silently hoped for a peaceful night; at least with Luo Cheng and another disciple nearby, he wouldn't have to worry about more arguments.
"Yu Shidi?"
Wu Xuan's voice broke through Yu Lingyu's thoughts. He looked up to find Wu Xuan standing a little ahead, his silver ornament gleaming in the moonlight. Arms crossed, he gave a playful smile, waiting for Yu Lingyu to catch up.
"Don't you want to go to Juyao Peak?" Yu Lingyu asked as they walked side by side, Wu Xuan absentmindedly knocking a pebble along the road with his foot.
"No," Wu Xuan answered, his gaze fixed on the ground, deep in thought. After a brief silence, he added in a softer voice, "Yu Shidi... could Zi Feng and Yue Ling really be in love?"
Yu Lingyu froze at the sudden question. Despite Jin Fan's earlier comment about it being fictional, Wu Xuan's tone carried an unmistakable seriousness, almost as if he were in pain. Yu Lingyu paused by a peony plant growing near his cabin and plucked one of its delicate flowers.
"What do you want to think?" he asked, turning to Wu Xuan, his voice steady.
Wu Xuan slowly approached, his eyes fixed on Yu Lingyu. "I'd like to think they lived happily ever after, but they didn't, did they?"
Yu Lingyu paused, his fingers tightening around the peony in his hand. His silvery hazel eyes met Wu Xuan's, unflinching.
"Didn't they?" he asked, his voice a calm challenge.
"I'm sure not," Wu Xuan said softly, his tone heavy with something unspoken. "If they had, you wouldn't be here."
Yu Lingyu didn't answer, his gaze lingering on Wu Xuan. He felt the weight of the words, his grip on the flower tightening in response. The silence between them grew thick, stretching longer and longer until Wu Xuan broke it.
"Do you know me?" he asked, his voice quiet but insistent.
Yu Lingyu didn't answer right away, his chest tightening. There was something unsettling about the way Wu Xuan asked, something that made his heart skip a beat.
"Wu Xuan," Yu Lingyu finally said, but Wu Xuan shook his head, as though rejecting the answer.
"No," he murmured, stepping closer. "Do you know yourself?"
Yu Lingyu blinked, caught off guard by the question. "I… I am Yu Lingyu."
Wu Xuan's eyes narrowed slightly, his expression unreadable. "You're not him."
The words hung in the air, sharp and unsettling. Yu Lingyu's lips pressed together in a tight line. His heart raced as his mind scrambled to make sense of what Wu Xuan had said.
He was sure that Wu Xuan didn't see his devil mark. So, what was Wu Xuan hinting at? Did he suspect something? Did he think Yu Lingyu might be Yue Ling? After all, Yue Ling's hometown was Yue City...
"If I'm not him, then Wu Shixiong… who am I?" Yu Lingyu's voice wavered, though he tried to maintain control. His heart pounded painfully in his chest as he stared at Wu Xuan, waiting for an answer, but dreading it all the same.
With a smooth, almost graceful motion, Wu Xuan bent forward, his presence overwhelming as he took the peony from Yu Lingyu's hand and gently placed it in his hair. The gesture was tender, yet it felt too intimate, too heavy, like a promise that neither of them had agreed to.
"You," Wu Xuan whispered, the words more intimate than Yu Lingyu ever could have imagined. He lightly ran his fingers through Yu Lingyu's silken hair, brushing against his forehead. "You are Yunshang Fengyue, Zi Feng."
The words landed like a bomb. Yu Lingyu's breath caught in his throat, the world around him spinning for a moment.
How did you know?
The question blared in his mind, though he couldn't form the words fast enough. His past, his identity, everything was shattering at the seams.
The peonies, the symbol he had worn for so long, now felt foreign, almost like a mockery. They were once a comfort, an identity, but in this moment, they felt like chains. His heart pounded harder, faster, as Wu Xuan's eyes gleamed with a mixture of excitement and something far more dangerous.
"Zi Feng," Wu Xuan repeated, his voice softer now, as though savoring the sound of the name.
"Lord of the WIND, muse of thousands of poets." His fingers lightly brushed the spot on Yu Lingyu's mask where the demon mark had once been, a mark that now seemed to burn under his touch.
Yu Lingyu fought to breathe, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts. Denial? Useless. If he revealed the truth, it would only make things worse. He needed to keep his composure. He needed time. He swallowed hard, his throat dry.
How? The question spilled out before he could stop it, weak and desperate. "How? How are you-"
Wu Xuan's smile deepened, almost predatory. He leaned in, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "Is it that important?"
Yu Lingyu's heart raced. He could feel the heat of Wu Xuan's breath, could almost taste the danger in the air. "What... what's going on now?" he asked, his voice barely more than a soft whisper.
His mind screamed in confusion. I'm not a demon, I'm a deity. He wanted to make that clear, but the fear twisted in his chest. What does Wu Xuan want? Does he want to fight me? Does he-
But Wu Xuan simply waved his hand dismissively, as though the questions didn't matter.
"Oh, one more thing," he said, his voice light and teasing once again. "I'm more of a fan of Fengshen than Huoshen."
Yu Lingyu stood there, frozen in place, as Wu Xuan casually turned and glided toward the chamber, leaving him with nothing but questions.
The words echoed in Yu Lingyu's mind, Fengshen, the wind god. His identity, his past, everything, was slipping through his fingers.
His hand tightened around the peony, the flower now a symbol of everything he had been, everything he had tried to escape. What does Wu Xuan know?
And more importantly, what does he want from me?