Dreams had no rhyme or reason.
Zhao Lixuan slept soundly, half his dream plunging him into a pile of warm, fluffy white geese where he rolled around blissfully.
But good things never lasted. The flock suddenly flapped their wings and flew off. He chased after them frantically, following the white geese as they soared over Fu Xi Palace. Below, his young martial brothers and sisters swung wooden swords by the vegetable patch, their moves clumsy, adorable, and hilariously off-kilter.
Zhao Lanze stood guard nearby, his expression brimming with gentle indulgence.
Big brother…
He wanted to stop and watch, but the geese carried him straight through the Three Realms Gate. Just like in his youth, he leaped after them—
When he opened his eyes again, he landed in that familiar little courtyard in the Mortal Realm.
The courtyard bordered West Market; beyond the wall came the hawkers’ shouts, children’s laughter, the rumble of cart wheels over bluestone slabs—all weaving into the lively bustle of street life.
In the serene inner courtyard amid the noise, Jiang Chen sat at the table in red robes, reading a book.
Shadows from the loofah vine filtered through the window lattice, dappling his face.
Zhao Lixuan stared in a daze, suddenly feeling once more that pure, unadulterated blaze of affection from years ago.
Back then, he woke before dawn every day, pumped up like he’d chugged chicken blood, doing every foolish thing imaginable for his beloved—and loving every second.
Sure, it was utterly cringe-worthy in hindsight, full of laughable blunders. But even Immortal Lord Li Xuan secretly missed those days sometimes.
Missed that fierce, blazing passion, that lone burst of youthful courage.
Zhao Lixuan woke in a muddle.
Warmth lingered in his chest from the dream.
Yu Rumu’s nourishing porridge was great in every way—except how it knocked you out cold. Even now, with his eyes open, his mind was still a foggy mush. The sudden shadow by the bed didn’t even startle him.
It should’ve terrified him.
But he just blinked blankly, feeling nothing amiss.
He even grinned goofily at the figure.
“Heh, heh heh, Little Jiang…”
Moonlight hazed the room; Jiang Chen’s dark eyes gazed quietly at him, like a seamless extension of the courtyard dream.
Then, on pure impulse, Zhao Lixuan grabbed Jiang Chen’s hand—still pinching his cheek—and pressed it to his own face, nuzzling it contentedly.
“Heh heh, Little Jiang today… looks so good. See, red really is… your best color, heh.”
He looked so good. Zhao Lixuan couldn’t resist—he pecked lightly at that cool palm, like a chick pecking rice.
“Immortal Lord Li Xuan.”
“…”
“…”
Reality sharpened around him. Goose-shaped pillows littered the bed. The dream ebbed like a tide, cold, sober awareness seeping in like mist.
Zhao Lixuan’s smile froze.
Zhao Lixuan paled in horror.
Zhao Lixuan’s blood ran cold.
Zhao Lixuan tensed like facing a mortal foe.
Zhao Lixuan nearly leaped out of bed, flinging Jiang Immortal Lord’s hand away like a hot potato!
But Jiang Chen, uncharacteristically, didn’t get mad. Under the moonlight, he just watched Zhao Lixuan quietly, his gaze tinged with… helplessness? Amusement?
No.
Amusing? Zhao Lixuan didn’t get it.
Was this funny??!!
This wasn’t funny at all. Not one bit!
He was endlessly grateful for Jiang Chen’s rare magnanimity—not treating his sleepy blunder as some unforgivable sin—but it still wasn’t funny!
After all these years, he’d messed up like that again in a drowsy haze. He wanted to die!
…
He’d crossed that untouchable line again, knowing full well he shouldn’t.
Utterly mortified, he wished for death.
But this time, Jiang Immortal Lord showed unbelievable tolerance.
No sarcasm, no blow-up. When Zhao Lixuan “fell ill” for three straight days after, Jiang Chen even visited each time, bringing rare precious tonics.
Sometimes he’d sit quietly with him for a bit. Before leaving, he’d sweep the fallen pear blossoms from the courtyard.
“…” Zhao Lixuan could hardly believe it, utterly baffled.
What the hell happened? Pigs flying? Has he turned over a new leaf and learned to be human?!
Spooked, he didn’t dare fake sickness longer. On the fourth day, he “recovered” properly and returned to the training grounds.
The training grounds still shimmered with immortal light, but Jiang Chen was like a different person.
No more drill-sergeant-from-hell pushing him to the brink. Instead, he gave precise pointers on weak spots in his spells—terse words that hit the mark every time. When Zhao Lixuan circulated his energy and hit a snag from the sudden intensity spike, Jiang Chen silently stood guard.
With his own pure, gentle demonic power, he quietly smoothed Zhao Lixuan’s channels, guiding his immortal energy to flow smoothly.
“…………”
In the secret realm, Jiang Immortal Lord no longer charged ahead like a lone wolf.
When Zhao Lixuan swept away demonic qi with the radiant light of the Nine Heavens Immortal Sash, Jiang Chen’s sword intent wove in perfectly, syncing with his immortal energy rhythm. For the first time, Zhao Lixuan felt true teamwork—his spells amplified to 120% power!
Unimaginably, when a powerful realm beast resisted and backlash from violent spiritual energy reversed the demonic qi, Jiang Chen quietly took the full brunt of the shock himself.
“???”
Zhao Lixuan saw his slightly pale face and panicked: “Uh, Immortal Lord Jiang, you don’t have to go that far…”
Jiang Chen: “You’re just recovered from a major illness.”
“Leave it to me. That’s all.”
Zhao Lixuan: “…………”
Even more out of nowhere, demonic qi fluctuations weakened the Three Realms barrier, triggering the second Moon Hunt early.
The Immortal Lords were well-prepared this time: all wore Clear Heart Leather Rings refined from Myriad Phenomena Demon Pupils remnants. Heeding past lessons, they advanced cautiously, never slacking.
They swept masses of demonic beasts effortlessly. Immortal Lords Li Xuan and Jiang Chen led the charge to the edge of the Ten Thousand Bones Demon Abyss at the deepest part of Misty Crevice Abyss. There, on sheer thousand-zhang cliffs, they braved danger to light a Nine Nether Lantern.
The lantern burned eternally, its glow piercing the thick demonic barrier.
From afar, the Vast Heaven Mechanism Mirror oversaw the whole battlefield and finally, via that light, fully mapped the Rift Abyss depths—demonic beast distributions and terrain truths laid bare.
The Rift Abyss looked bottomless, beast numbers up from a decade ago, but top-tier threats weren’t the overwhelming horde feared.
With a clear map, a few more well-planned Moon Hunts with precise tactics could steadily eradicate the demonic plague!
Perfect!
Word spread; Fu Xi Palace erupted in excitement.
“Li Xuan’s feats this round are beyond ordinary!”
“Yeah, he humbly said it was just ‘scouting’ beforehand. But that scout lit up the whole Demon Clan nest!”
“Demonic qi so thick in Misty Crevice Abyss depths—even the Vast Heaven Mechanism Mirror couldn’t see through. Immortal Lord Li Xuan risked it all holding the lantern; now the full map and distributions are clear! Future sweeps can be targeted. No more groping an elephant in the dark, hearts in throats.”
“Immortal Lords Li Xuan and Jiang even casually dusted the toughest Millennium Bone Demon on the way!”
“Now we’re set—not just this Moon Hunt, even the one in ten years (if it happens) is no worry. Merits for the present, benefits for ages to come!”
“…”
Amid the flowery praise and starstruck adulation, only Zhao Lixuan knew how perilously close to disaster his “heroic” lantern advance had been.
Those guardian Millennium Bone Demons were far tougher than expected.
He and Jiang Chen had poured every ounce of strength, exhausting every trick, to barely scrape a win. Jiang Immortal Lord’s dark sleeves were shredded, his arm gashed to the bone with seeping black demonic qi—the stark proof.
That gruesome wound? From Jiang Chen blocking a silent killing blow meant for him.
Afterward, not a word of blame for his carelessness. Just a sword to obliterate the bone demon, then calmly: “Keep going.”
“Wasn’t it you who said, we’re here—Ten Thousand Bones Demon Abyss… right in front of us?”
But truthfully, any hint of reproach from Jiang Chen then, and Zhao Lixuan would’ve halted.
Jiang Chen’s choice to indulge and protect let them reach the abyss edge, light the lantern—earning today’s universal acclaim.
…
With the global scout from this Moon Hunt, they struck while the iron was hot, launching a third sweep soon after.
Armed with precise maps, the Immortal Lords beelined for the Rift Abyss heartland. Battle raged fiercely; demonic beasts scattered under the encirclement.
Zhao Lixuan charged ahead as always, fully immersed in this first true synergistic shoulder-to-shoulder fight—complementary strengths, mutual backup.
Who could’ve guessed? The famed lone fighter Sword-Wielding Immortal Lord, who never minded others on the field, would one day become the world’s best, most reliable comrade—perfectly aiding every assault, covering his flanks, even forgiving slips.
Letting Zhao Lixuan taste battlefield exhilaration like never before!
From youth, he’d been Fu Xi Palace’s biggest slacker ne’er-do-well. Blessed with great fate and talent, but squandering it on clever laziness, idling away days.
By his brother’s age back then, he had similar gifts but zero achievements.
Worse, when his brother needed support most, he wandered aimlessly; lost in private affairs, too sunk to pull away—even missing his brother’s final days…
“Roar—!”
A foul wind snapped Zhao Lixuan from fleeting memories.
Eyes sharpening, he advanced instead of retreating. The Nine Heavens Immortal Sash whipped like a reversed galaxy, coiling the beast’s throat. Jiang Chen’s Mortal Life Ashes blazed with all-consuming karmic fire, stabbing from a tricky angle to pierce skull and neck guard junction precisely!
Demonic blood sprayed like inky downpour.
Cheers and gasps rose from fellow disciples, but Zhao Lixuan had no ears for it.
Prolonged battle exhaustion hit hard; dizziness blurred his vision. In that hazy instant, he wondered if this effort brought him… one step closer to his brother?
Even a tiny, insignificant step.
Even if the road was long, steps faltering. He’d keep pressing toward that goal.
Twenty years on—could he one day become a pillar like his brother, gentle yet steadfast, guarding all?
His body swayed on the verge of collapse. Next instant, a firm arm caught him from behind, steadying him.
For a heartbeat, Zhao Lixuan let go completely, leaning softly into that support. Jiang Chen silently tightened his hold, shielding him securely.
Sunlight pierced the demonic fog, glinting off the blood-flecked profile, etching sharp contours.
Zhao Lixuan lingered quietly like that, drawing silent strength, until he stood firm again.
He looked up at Jiang Chen—heart clear of grudges, pure sincerity shining.
“Immortal Lord Jiang, seamless teamwork… invincible.”
…
The Moon Hunt was a smashing success. That night, the palace brimmed with joy; Yu Rumu finally returned, travel-worn.
He’d skipped these two Moon Hunts, seconded with Immortal Lord Shouyuechu to Immortal Capital for a top-secret Immortal Court mission. Absolute secrecy meant no updates for days.
Back now, he skipped rest and sought Zhao Lixuan.
“Li Xuan, all good these days? Heard you racked up huge wins in Moon Hunt—hurt at all? Actually, that day before, I…”
“…”
“…”
Finally, Yu Rumu explained the misunderstanding with Jiang Immortal Lord days ago.
Hearing his anxious recount, Zhao Lixuan finally got it.
So that’s it!!!
Thus, Jiang Chen’s recent “friendly” and “thoughtful” anomalies had an explanation.
Couldn’t blame Yu Rumu, really.
Old wounds ran deep for both. He’d witnessed Yu Rumu get utterly duped by A’Tu; Yu Rumu had seen his own heartbroken slump over Little Sweet Jiang. For twenty years, to avoid ripping scars, he never mentioned A’Tu; Yu Rumu never brought up Little Sweet Jiang.
Never spoken of—how to know the truth?
That’s why Little Martial Brother assumed Little Sweet Jiang was a girl for a full twenty years!
“Whatever, it’s fine. No big deal.”
Zhao Lixuan silently lifted the teapot, pouring cup after cup until he drained the entire pot before finally regaining his composure.
In the end, he set down his cup with a clink.
“I get it now. I understand everything.”
“At least the Jiang Immortal Lord still has a shred of conscience—he remembers that one bit of kindness from back then!!!”
…
Zhao Lixuan finally understood it all.
At their reunion this time, the moment he’d first sensed something off in Jiang Chen’s attitude, he should have laid everything out honestly and talked it through!
Apologize where an apology was due, make amends where amends were needed. His family was wealthy enough, after all—whatever Jiang Chen wanted, he could provide.
Even if the other man was too proud to accept, at least it would show his attitude of owning up to his mistakes and changing for the better. Instead of dragging it out like this.
As expected, Jiang Chen was still holding a grudge against him.
Even after all these years, even though their statuses had long since changed from the past. Deep down, Jiang Chen was still that heavy-hearted, stubborn, obstinately proud little Jiang. How could he easily let go of those tangled, messy past grievances that couldn’t be cut or sorted out?
Yet, Yu Rumu’s words from the past few days must have touched him somehow.
No matter how aloof or ill-tempered little Jiang was, his nature was fundamentally kind.
He’d probably learned how miserable Zhao Lixuan had been back then and decided to let bygones be bygones, no longer holding that hatred.
