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The story often went like this: An untalented outer disciple falls prey to his jealousy and sabotages the prodigy of the sect with his wicked schemes. Sometimes, the story also went like this: After suffering years of abuse at the hands of the favored prodigy of the sect, an originally weak and unremarkable disciple finally makes a break-through and avenges himself.
Wei Yanzi's tragic tale, however, went more like this: He, a third-rate outer disciple whose combat prowess was on par with a particularly fierce kitten, had the misfortune to enter the Yunlei sect at the same time as Gu Yiliang, a genius who immediately became the sect leader's personal disciple. With a distance as vast as the heavens and the earth separating them, they should have had no fate with each other. However, every dramatic narrative needed a protagonist and antagonist. And in the eyes of the bored citizens living in the nearby city, the stark contrast between the two of them meant they were the perfect candidates.
…
Why was he always the bitter weakling in these stories, even the ones that cast him as the protagonist?!
There was more to life than having a high cultivation! Would he look incredibly cool while flying on a sword? Of course! Would he want to look young and beautiful forever? Who wouldn't! Did he want to become a powerful warrior capable of cutting down even the most blood-thirsty demon beasts? Actually, not really. He disliked getting blood on his robes.
He was getting off-topic! The point was: A major sect like the Yunlei Sect had more than enough cultivation fanatics who slept with their swords every night. What differentiated a major sect from a minor sect was the ability to recruit a much wider range of disciples with different specializations. If they accepted a disciple with lower cultivation, it would be because they had useful talents in other areas. Even someone like Wei Yanzi was given a place overseeing the organization of the sect's vast collection of cultivation manuals and secret techniques, thanks to his superior memory.
Who would jeopardize a comfortable life like this by scheming against their fellow disciples? Wouldn't sabotaging someone like Gu Yiliang, who was the future of the sect, be no different from sabotaging himself? It was one thing for those stories to portray him as a pathetic weakling who couldn't lift a sword without stabbing himself in the foot. (Mostly because he did accidentally injure himself by dropping his sword on his foot once.) It was another thing to portray him as someone too foolish to live!
There was no need to even address the far more absurd idea that cultivation sects were places where only brute strength prevailed. The last time someone dared to offend Wei Yanzi, they were rewarded with a long, miserable month spent in the library trying and failing to find the book their master asked them to retrieve.
It was fine. It was fine. Those who pursue the Great Dao shouldn't get too caught up with matters in the mortal world. No one in the Yunlei sect had ever minded or believed the rumors. All the disciples from the other sects and clans must be similarly open-minded as well, right? Especially since anyone coming here for the big tournament should be too pre-occupied to waste time on unsubstantiated gossip of strife and discord within the Yunlei Sect!
Wei Yanzi sighed. He should probably do something about the rumors.
The first sign of trouble was the sight of the boisterous crowd inside Little Chen's bookshop. As the largest bookshop in the city and the most popular place to exchange gossip, this usually meant that something major had happened recently.
The second sign of trouble was Little Chen's almost-frantic concern when he saw Wei Yanzi enter the shop.
"Yanyan! How are your injuries?"
Casting a worried glance at the crowd, Wei Yanzi quickly shushed him. "What are you talking about?"
"The story's already spread everywhere, there's no need to be embarrassed." Little Chen lowered his voice. "There's no shame in getting hurt in the Forest of Wandering Souls."
Wei Yanzi was speechless. Even if he did have a death wish, he'd been too busy helping prepare for the upcoming Sacred Gauntlet Tournament to travel so far away!
With a knowing look, Little Chen handed him a bottle of medicinal pills. "These are a gift from your fans."
"I'm not hurt. I mean it!" insisted Wei Yanzi as he pushed the bottle away. "Today's the first time I've left the sect in almost two months."
Little Chen blinked. "But if it wasn't you, then who did Gu Yiliang rescue in the forest?"
When the truth finally hit Wei Yanzi, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry. It was clearly Gu Yiliang's reckless and disobedient pet cat who got into trouble, so why did the blame somehow end up falling on his head instead?! If he ever ran into that little furball in the future…!
Ah, forget it, forget it! Gu Yiliang's small snowy cat was so fluffy and adorable. How could anyone stay angry at those large, watery eyes?
"Little Chen, I'll have to trouble you to help me correct some rumors," said Wei Yanzi with a wry smile on his face. "I wasn't the one who ran off into the forest. It was Gu Yiliang's cat, who happens to share a name with me."
Somewhere close by, a young woman let out a small muffled squeal and dropped the book in her hands. However, by the time Wei Yanzi took a step towards her, she'd already squeezed through the crowd and ran out of the door. "Miss, you dropped your book?"
Making a quick hand seal, Wei Yanzi summoned the book into his hands. He brushed the dust off its cover. "Huh? The Yunlei Sect Dual Cultivation Manual?"
How did a cultivation manual from his sect end up in the hands of a mortal? And why did it seem to be a cultivation manual he'd never seen in their library before? Curious, he flipped the book open.
The Forest of Wandering Souls was deathly silent on this night. Thin, withered branches curled into sinister imitations of claws, their unnerving shadows dancing under the moonlight. A thin layer of ice covered the decaying leaves scattered all over the ground.
This gloomy atmosphere would have made even the most stalwart hero's blood run cold. Yet, standing nonchalantly in the middle of a clearing, Gu Yiliang seemed completely unaffected. With his long hair fluttering in the breeze, even the cold harsh moonlight turned gentle when it lit his face…
Wei Yanzi's eyes darted left and right as he quickly closed the book. Whoever wrote this cultivation manual didn't just put the Yunlei Sect's name on it, they even included the head disciple as an exemplar? He should still investigate this further to be safe. "Little Chen, I'll buy this book from you."
"Ah?" Little Chen gave the cover a quick glance. "Did you make a mistake? I don't think this book is from our shop."
"It isn't?"
"You know that we don't carry cultivation manuals here."
Wei Yanzi coughed. "Well. In that case, I'll be taking it with me then."
"Of course. Will you be buying anything else?"
"Ah, not today," said Wei Yanzi hurriedly as he headed for the door. "Don't forget to help me dispel those rumors! I'll leave the Yunlei Sect's reputation in your hands!"
Back in his rooms, Wei Yanzi flopped down on his bed and opened the book again. One page later, he was admiring the writer for the size of their vocabulary. Who knew there could be so many different ways to describe the stunning light in Gu Yiliang's eyes? Two pages later, he began to contemplate skipping forward until something - anything - happened other than Gu Yiliang standing prettily under the moonlight. Four pages later, he was already in too deep. He refused to believe that the writer's rambling love for Gu Yiliang could outlast his patience and his stamina.
Really now… Were Gu Yiliang's wrists truly so appealing? Well, if he were completely honest, they did hold a certain allure whenever Gu Yiliang dazzled the crowd with his swordplay. There was just something about the graceful flick of his wrist juxtaposed with the lethal sharpness of the sword's attack…
His thoughts were going in a dangerous direction! Ahem. Back to the main point. If this went on any longer, the only thing left unpraised would be the embroidery on Gu Yiliang's robes!
Nine pages later, Wei Yanzi surrendered. He was a fool. How could such a meticulous ode to Gu Yiliang's beauty miss out on a detail as crucial as the intricate embroidery which signified Gu Yiliang's position as the head disciple of the sect?!
Numbly, Wei Yanzi continued to read. The most unbelievable thing was that no matter how hard he tried to nitpick… It seemed none of the book's statements were inaccurate? There was only one word to describe the brainwashing effects of this book: Powerful!
Thankfully, the heavens were merciful. The tribute to Gu Yiliang's perfection finally ended after ten pages. Desperately, Wei Yanzi dove into the actual plot of the book, pushing away unbidden images of Gu Yiliang's bewitching smile.
Heedless of the branches tearing at his robes, Gu Yiliang rushed through the forest at full speed the moment he heard that familiar scream. Gone was the calm expression on his face, replaced with a look of urgency. Anyone seeing him now would be shocked to see his disheveled hair and mud-caked clothing, when moments ago he looked as though nothing in the mortal world could touch him.
"I've finally found you!" Panting heavily, Gu Yiliang gazed at Wei Yanzi with a passionate fervor.
"Shixiong?" A faint blush appeared on Wei Yanzi's face at the toned muscles revealed by the torn fabric of Gu Yiliang's robes.
"Don't speak, Yanyan. You're too badly hurt." Gu Yiliang gathered Wei Yanzi into the protective embrace of his arms.
Wei Yanzi smiled weakly. "It's enough that I can see you for one last time…"
"No!" Gu Yiliang clutched Wei Yanzi tighter against himself. "There's still another way. A special technique passed down by my family. I can heal you… with my yang qi."
A resolute expression crossed Gu Yiliang's face. Then, without another word, he ripped off the remaining tatters of his robes.
This book was a little inappropriate! Yet, for some reason, he couldn't stop reading. He'd often heard the other disciples speak of their experiences when gaining enlightenment, but it wasn't until today that he discovered what it was like for a book to expand a person's entire worldview! What a creative interpretation of the rumors! What a wonderful take on the loyalty and care between a shixiong and shidi! Even though he and Gu Yiliang weren't actually in love with each other, it warmed Wei Yanzi's heart to know that there were people out there who believed the best of them both instead of casting one or the other as a villain.
If only more people shared such positive impressions of them!
Wei Yanzi sank deep into thought. A plan slowly began to form in his mind.
Wei Yanzi's first order of business was coming up with a way to lure Gu Yiliang away from his single-minded focus on cultivation. When Gu Yiliang wasn't meditating in his immortal cave, he'd be practicing his swordplay. And when Gu Yiliang wanted to take a break, he would lie down on a bed made of ice jade, so he could improve his physical constitution while he slept.
In short, to successfully accomplish this first step, he'd have to come up with a very compelling reason. Otherwise, he shouldn't even dream of seeing Gu Yiliang's shadow!
A knock sounded at his door.
Absent-mindedly, Wei Yanzi opened the door. "Is something the matter?"
"Wei-shidi. I had some free time recently and thought to visit you." Gu Yiliang's smiling face greeted him. "May I come in?"
"Gu-shixiong…" Wei Yanzi stared at him in disbelief. "You're here? On a break? Have I been caught in an illusion array?"
Gu Yiliang laughed, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Wei-shidi likes to joke. I'm not really that bad, am I?"
Who's joking? Your model working habits have been suppressing all us slackers in the sect since you've joined! Wei Yanzi resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Still, Gu Yiliang's visit happened to coincide with his plans, so he wasn't going to complain too much. With a grin, he gestured for Gu Yiliang to come in.
"I won't hold a grudge against you for your dark past," declared Wei Yanzi generously. "If you're ready to redeem yourself of your bad habits of working too hard, then I, Wei Yanzi, will be happy to help!"
"You're a bit of a troublemaker, aren't you?" Gu Yiliang laughed again and ruffled Wei Yanzi's hair. "It seems I've found the right person to help me cause a little trouble behind my master's back."
Wei Yanzi's heart thumped. That mischievous glint in Gu Yiliang's eyes! That devilish, enchanting smile! Wasn't this how every renegade's journey began? In his mind's eye, he could already see Gu Yiliang standing tall before the hypocritical crowd who had gathered to condemn his lawless ways, a carefree and wicked grin on his face. The only thing missing was the love interest who could tame the rebel's wild and dangerous heart.
Swallowing hard, Wei Yanzi shook himself free of his thoughts and responded just a beat too late. "T-trouble?"
Gu Yiliang nodded. "You remember what happened with Yanyan earlier this week - my Yanyan, I mean."
A slight blush crept up on Wei Yanzi's cheeks as he resolutely tried not to think about how Gu Yiliang had moaned those very same words in that book he'd read earlier. Now was not the time for his memory to helpfully recall all the details of that steamy dual cultivation scene!
"Well, I still haven't recovered from my injuries, and my master has forbidden me from participating in the tournament until I'm fully healed." A look of distress crossed Gu Yiliang's face. "She won't allow me to practice either."
"Gu-shixiong, I understand how frustrating it must be to be forced to rest…" Wei Yanzi paused, wondering if that was too blatantly untrue. "But your master is doing this for your own good. What if you made your injury worse?"
"Of course I'm not so reckless as to risk that," reassured Gu Yiliang. "Rather… there's a special healing technique passed down from my family's ancestors that can help speed up my recovery. And I was hoping you could help me."
"…" Did he somehow end up picking up a prophetic book? Wei Yanzi's eyes landed on the loosely tied belt of Gu Yiliang's robes, suddenly aware of how easy it would be for those robes to simply slide off Gu Yiliang's shoulders.
"Wei-shidi?"
Wei Yanzi gulped and forced himself to look at Gu Yiliang's face. If this were a story, this would be the part where he'd selflessly offer up his own body with equal measures of anxiousness and anticipation - all for the greater good of the sect, of course. They stood no chance of winning the tournament if Gu Yiliang were hurt! But faced with the reality of Gu Yiliang's gentle and hopeful gaze, all the coherent thoughts in his mind simply packed up and fled.
"What is going through head of yours, Wei-shidi?" Gu Yiliang waved his hand in front of Wei Yanzi's face. "Not everything I do is filled with danger, you know. You don't have to look like a rabbit caught in a hunting trap. For this task, you don't even have to leave your room if you don't want to."
Wei Yanzi hurriedly moved to block Gu Yiliang's view of his hopelessly messy bed. "No, I think your place is better!"
"Ah. Really?" Gu Yiliang's face broke out into a dazzling smile. "Thank you!"
Wait a minute? How did he end up agreeing? Did he just get tricked? "Gu-shixiong, I—"
"—Wei Yanzi, consider me in your debt. Only you could have helped me with this." Gu Yiliang sighed. "No one else in the sect knows how to play an erhu."
"… Oh." At this moment, Wei Yanzi wished more than anything that he'd spent more time studying earth-based cultivation techniques so he could directly tunnel to the center of the earth and never return. Avoiding Gu Yiliang's eyes, he mumbled, "For something so simple, it's no trouble at all. How can I be too busy to help the head disciple of our sect?"
"Nevertheless, I appreciate your help." Gu Yiliang bowed.
"There's no need to be polite! If you want to thank me, then grant me permanent permission to visit and pet your cat in the future."
Gu Yiliang laughed. "I'd be more than happy to have a second Yanyan in my life."
Unlike the outer disciples, all the inner disciples were granted their own immortal caves to further support and nurture their cultivation. As the head disciple of the sect and an exceptional talent who reached the peak of Core Formation before he turned thirty, Gu Yiliang naturally lived in one of the best locations. When they entered his brightly lit meditation room, a rush of spiritual energy greeted them, the source of which was a spirit spring in the corner whose waters currently nourished a small, modest herb garden.
Feeling the difference between them more keenly than ever, Wei Yanzi tentatively asked, "Are you sure my cultivation is high enough to use your family's special healing technique?"
Gu Yiliang nodded. "The ancestor in my family who developed this technique designed it specifically for use under extreme duress. Even someone who lost their cultivation and used up all their spiritual energy can still activate its healing capabilities, as long as they've understood the principles behind it."
"This ancestor of yours must be a rare genius to be able to invent a technique like this." Wei Yanzi shook his head in amazement. "I had no idea your family's roots in music cultivation went so deep!"
A thought suddenly occurred to Wei Yanzi. "Gu-shixiong, I don't think I've ever heard you play before. What's your instrument of choice?"
"None." Gu Yiliang smiled ruefully. "Would you believe me if I told you that I have no talent for music?"
Wei Yanzi almost laughed before he realized that Gu Yiliang wasn't joking. His gaze softened, and he grinned. "No one believes me when I tell them Elder Huang is my biological father either."
Gu Yiliang's posture relaxed ever so slightly, and he bumped his shoulder against Wei Yanzi. "That's a credit to Elder Huang and his impartiality."
This time, Wei Yanzi did laugh. By now, he was pretty sure that Elder Huang had opened more back doors for him than he'd walked through actual doors. "Gu-shixiong is too kind."
In this warm, amiable atmosphere, Gu Yiliang handed over a jade slip containing the healing technique, while Wei Yanzi retrieved his erhu and its bow from his interspatial ring. Wei Yanzi's inability to transform theory into practice had always held him back when cultivating, but that had never stopped him from reading everything cultivation-related that passed through his hands. Now that he'd been given a technique that relied primarily on theory and comprehension, he took to it like a fish to water.
Soon, a lilting melody filled the air. As the notes dipped and soared, the abundant spiritual energy around them swirled in answer, forming a thin, golden layer of light surrounding Gu Yiliang.
It was only when the song finished that the golden light faded from Gu Yiliang's body.
Wei Yanzi quickly stood up and rushed to Gu Yiliang's side. "How do you feel, Gu-shixiong?"
"I made the right decision back then to gift my erhu to you." Gu Yiliang reached over and gently stroked the neck of the erhu. "Your talent has only become more outstanding since then."
Wei Yanzi trembled. "My secret benefactor all those years ago… was you?"
He was vaguely aware that Gu Yiliang had responded to his question, but at this moment, all he could hear was a loud buzzing in his ear. The start of everything - the one event that set off the first flurry of rumors that cemented their places as bitter adversaries - that outlandish rumor that he'd stolen a valuable magic treasure from Gu Yiliang! So this was how the truth got twisted into malicious gossip!
Wei Yanzi wept bitter tears inside. Gu Yiliang! You kicked me into a pit and didn't even realize it!
Time flew swiftly. Before they knew it, the day of the Sacred Gauntlet Tournament arrived. Standing outside the city gates, Gu Yiliang and Wei Yanzi waited at the head of the delegation to welcome the last - and most elite - batch of disciples from the other sects and clans.
Sensing the curious gaze of several mortals hiding nearby, Wei Yanzi moved closer to Gu Yiliang and threw his arm around Gu Yiliang's shoulder. If they were hoping to see conflict and discord, he was going to give them the exact opposite!
A light chuckle sounded from Gu Yiliang. Putting his arm around Wei Yanzi's waist, he leaned in and whispered, "I just know that you're thinking up an unexpected idea again."
Gu Yiliang's breath was hot against his ear, making him flush. Not trusting his voice to remain steady, Wei Yanzi turned his head to glare at Gu Yiliang. He immediately regretted his choice when he realized just how close they were. His eyes fell to Gu Yiliang's lips that were only inches away from his own, then quickly darted away.
The right thing to do at this point was to politely put some distance between each other, then pretend nothing had happened. Gu Yiliang, however, decided to move in even closer, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I'll take that as an admission of guilt, then."
Evil! Despicable! Shamelessly using his good looks to bewitch his opponents into speechlessness!
With another chuckle, Gu Yiliang shook his head helplessly. "Still stubbornly keeping your plans a secret?"
"Yeah, Wei-shixiong! Tell us your plans!" One of the younger disciples jumped into the conversation. "Why are we waiting here instead of back at the sect?"
The spell was broken. The two of them pulled away from each other.
"What secrets? What plans?" grumbled Wei Yanzi. "There's a food festival being held this week in the city, so I thought it'd be convenient to invite our visitors to have a taste of the local cuisine."
All the disciples standing behind them suddenly became incredibly well-behaved, looking much more like the lofty and dignified cultivators that they were supposed to be. Well, except for the few who didn't manage to wipe their drool away.
"I see now why you had to keep this a secret," said Gu Yiliang solemnly. "If news got out, we'd be overrun with volunteers."
"Exactly," said Wei Yanzi, as though he'd masterminded the entire thing. In truth, his real plan had been to use this opportunity to flaunt his closeness with Gu Yiliang to their visitors and the people of the city. And as an extra benefit, they could also provide some new materials for the author of the book and their fans. It was still Gu Yiliang who was more thoughtful, however. They had so many disciples in their sect, many of whom had a fatal weakness for delicious food. Although the city wasn't small, there was no way they could all fit in the streets.
"Then I must thank Wei-shidi for the special invitation," said Gu Yiliang as his arm found its way around Wei Yanzi's waist again. "It's rare for me to get an opportunity like this."
Wei Yanzi rolled his eyes. "Your opportunities wouldn't be so rare if you didn't spend all your time cultivating."
"All right, all right." Gu Yiliang laughed. "I won't do that anymore. After all, our time spent together is just as interesting as cultivation."
… Why did it sound like Gu Yiliang was gently coaxing a neglected lover with those words? In a daze, Wei Yanzi began to question not only his life, but his entire existence. Wasn't he the one who was supposed to do all the flirting (very subtly, of course) on this trip? Was it really fine for Gu Yiliang to flirt back? And so obviously too? Or was he over-thinking Gu Yiliang's natural friendliness?
Wei Yanzi made a sort of incoherent noise that barely passed for a response. Then, he moved his focus to the road in front of them, pretending to keep watch for their visitors.
This wasn't surrender - it was a strategic retreat!
By the time the visiting disciples arrived, Wei Yanzi had already worked himself up into an indignant huff. As an outer disciple who frequently interacted with both the cultivation and the mortal world, how could he have lost against Gu Yiliang, whose constant companions were his sword and his pet cat in a lonely cave? What was the point of all the epic love stories he'd read if he couldn't even match up to someone who grew up on cultivation manuals?
Determined to redeem himself, Wei Yanzi strode into the city with renewed purpose.
Was he, the leader of the welcoming delegation, supposed to be in charge of all the visiting disciples? Sorry, he only had eyes for Gu Yiliang. Did someone have a question about the place they were touring? Deepest apologies, but he was too busy showing Gu Yiliang all his favorite spots in the city. It was only when he started hearing audible mutters of discontent that he finally led them to the largest street in the city where the food festival was hosted.
There, he recklessly threw his money around, letting Gu Yiliang try all the snacks and dishes that caught their attention. They weren't alone either, as all the other wide-eyed disciples spent a frenzied afternoon clearing out all the food from the street vendors. All the way until they returned to their sect, Wei Yanzi basked in the joy of having pampered and spoiled Gu Yiliang rotten, all without incurring any retaliation.
In hindsight, he could only blame his consecutive victories and the satisfaction of a full belly for making him careless. Not even Gu Yiliang's warm gaze as they prepared to say goodbyes put him on his guard.
"Before I go—" Gu Yiliang took out a small container wrapped in cloth. "You mentioned that the lychees we had this afternoon were your favorite, right?"
"Yes," answered Wei Yanzi. He didn't mind such a minor concession in exchange for more delicious lychees!
"Good." Without hesitation, Gu Yiliang tore away the cloth and flipped the container over. But before the lychees fell to the ground, a large burst of spiritual energy lifted them into the air. Then, thin, sharp bursts of sword qi cut through the air. And with a level of precision that bordered on showing off, they peeled and pitted the lychees perfectly.
Finally, Gu Yiliang executed the killing blow, making a hand gesture that caused the floating lychees to re-arrange themselves in the shape of a heart.
"These are for you," said Gu Yiliang with a smile as he gave the small container to Wei Yanzi.
"Thank you." The moment Wei Yanzi received the container, the lychees flew into it one-by-one.
"Good night." Gu Yiliang paused. "Yanyan."
"Good night," whispered Wei Yanzi.
For a very long time afterward, he simply stood in front of his door as though his soul had left his body.
Another crushing defeat!
Thankfully, Wei Yanzi had a resilient temperament that wasn't easily swayed by setbacks. He would never give up so easily! This was one competition he was unwilling to concede to Gu Yiliang!
Waiting until the dueling portion of the tournament finally kicked off, he made sure that he was in the front row cheering for Gu Yiliang whenever he was on the dueling platform. In return, Gu Yiliang started off all his duels by smiling and waving at Wei Yanzi.
Not to be outdone, Wei Yanzi then began rushing towards Gu Yiliang's side each time he stepped off stage, handing him healing elixirs while wiping the sweat off his brows. A grateful Gu Yiliang repaid the favor by taking Wei Yanzi everywhere with him on his flying sword.
To show off in front of an even bigger audience, Wei Yanzi bet a top-grade magic treasure on Gu Yiliang's victory. The commotion caused by this move was only outdone when Gu Yiliang won first place and gifted the grand prize to him.
Amidst the thunderous applause from the crowd, Wei Yanzi laughed with giddy joy. "All right. I admit defeat."
Because Gu Yiliang was merciless even in victory, he smiled a smile so brilliant it lit up his entire face. "Then allow me to claim my prize."
The applause grew louder. And as Gu Yiliang captured his lips in a kiss, all thoughts of rumors and competition fled his mind. All that remained was the beginning of a story they would be writing together.