Chapter 36: Why Haven’t They Changed Back! Part 2

The Myriad Treasures Pavilion naturally wasn’t just in Star City. As the most famous auction house on the entire continent, the Myriad Treasures Pavilion’s status was beyond doubt. Any item traded within its walls had a seven-day protection period. If it were forcibly taken within those seven days, the Myriad Treasures Pavilion would certainly reclaim it for you.

The meaning behind the old man’s words was that these people intended to snatch the Spirit Medicine from Feng Xixing’s hands.

Such a large accusation being pinned on them was something none could bear. The tall, thin man who had stepped forward first looked even worse. He quickly bowed. “Master Gu.”

Gu Tao was a Master Artificer of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion. Three Artifacts in that very auction had been his works. He wouldn’t normally appear at the pavilion; nobody knew why he was here today.

By now, the tall, thin man was already feeling some regret. But Gu Tao was clearly not someone easily fooled. He could only brace himself and explained the situation. Yet, the words he spoke made Lin Chuyun absolutely furious.

According to this man’s explanation, Bai Linghan merely wished to buy the Spirit Medicine from Feng Xixing’s hands with money. But just moments ago, these people’s attitudes weren’t about buying the Spirit Medicine—they clearly wanted Feng Xixing to just give it to Bai Linghan!

Gu Tao glanced at the man, then at Bai Linghan standing to the side, and finally asked Feng Xixing, “Is this the case?”

Feng Xixing looked at those people, then turned his gaze to Bai Linghan. His voice was hoarse. “You want to buy the Calming Heart Pill?”

Bai Linghan felt the spiritual power suppressing his voice quietly dissipate. He bit his lower lip and nodded. “Yes. Linghan’s Senior Brother has unfortunately Entered the Devil Path and urgently needs a Calming Heart Pill. As long as Senior is willing to reluctantly part with it, Linghan will be eternally grateful…”

“Two million Spirit Stones.” Feng Xixing had no desire to listen to his long-winded speech and spoke directly.

Bai Linghan froze, as if he hadn’t processed it.

Seeing this, Feng Xixing gave a cold laugh and said hoarsely, “Could it be you intend This Venerable to give it to you for free?”

Mocked by him, Bai Linghan’s face flushed red, his teeth secretly gritting in hatred. This man had just spent only one million to win the Calming Heart Pill, and now he was turning around to demand two million Spirit Stones!

Why didn’t he just rob someone!

Gu Tao, upon hearing this, nodded as if casually. “The Calming Heart Pill is indeed precious. Two million Spirit Stones is within reason.”

With him saying that, Bai Linghan had no way to accuse Feng Xixing of extortion.

However, although Bai Linghan had received Spirit Stones from Lin Chuyun, Lin Chuyun himself didn’t actually have that many. All told, Bai Linghan only had less than two hundred thousand Spirit Stones on him.

Thinking of this, he cast a pleading gaze towards the surrounding people.

But these people, who moments ago had been so full of righteous indignation, claiming they’d help him get justice, were now all shrinking back, not daring to make a sound. Bai Linghan nearly ground his silver teeth to dust. He could only look at Feng Xixing, his eyes unconsciously revealing a hint of resentment and killing intent.

“Insolence!” A hoarse reprimand came from under the cloak as a burst of spiritual power struck at Bai Linghan without mercy.

Bai Linghan only had time to conjure a Water Shield before he was struck by the spiritual power, flying backward and crashing to the ground. After the Water Shield shattered, the falling water soaked him entirely, making him look utterly wretched.

“Senior!” Bai Linghan didn’t care to tidy himself first. He glared hatefully at Feng Xixing. The fingers clawing the ground exerted force fiercely, so hard his fingertips broke the skin without him even noticing. “Senior is so ruthless, aren’t you afraid of retribution in the future!”

No one had ever dared threaten him like this. Feng Xixing narrowed his eyes, the killing intent in his heart no longer concealed.

Bai Linghan’s face went pale instantly. His mind, filled with resentment, finally cooled down. But Feng Xixing had already walked right in front of him. Bai Linghan could even feel the illusionary sting of killing intent prickling his skin.

“Se-Senior…” Bai Linghan’s voice trembled.

Lin Chuyun felt somewhat hesitant inside. It would naturally be good if they could eliminate Bai Linghan now, preventing the latter Six Realms war where heaven and earth would collapse again, but he always felt things weren’t that simple.

Indeed, just as Feng Xixing was about to act, an angry shout came from behind them.

“Stop!”

A silver light flashed through the air, shooting straight between the two. Feng Xixing retreated two steps and looked toward the direction the Silver Blade had come from.

“Star City forbids fighting!” The man was wearing the uniform of the Star City Lord’s Guard. He strode over, pulled the sword embedded in the ground into his hand, and eyed Feng Xixing warily.

Bai Linghan came back to his senses, realizing he’d been saved. He quickly scrambled up and hid behind the man, looking exceptionally pitiful.

Feng Xixing glanced at the two men, knowing he wouldn’t be able to kill Bai Linghan today. He looked coldly at Bai Linghan, his gaze filled with utter contempt. Without another word, he turned and left.

Stung by that final look, the resentment in Bai Linghan’s heart surged continuously.

If it weren’t for his poor cultivation, how could he have suffered such humiliation today? Bai Linghan had originally planned to go back and discard that strange black stone, but now he completely abandoned that idea.

As long as he had that stone, he could cultivate faster. Only cultivation realm gained was something tangible he could truly grasp in his hands.

Feng Xixing evaded the gazes of the crowd. He didn’t discard his cloak until he exited Star City, his facial features also returning to normal. He looked down at Lin Chuyun in his arms and asked worriedly, “How is Shizun?”

Just now, Lin Chuyun had first acted to seal Bai Linghan’s voice, then forcibly used his spiritual power to help him withstand Gu Tao’s Spiritual Pressure. If Feng Xixing hadn’t promptly given him the Ice Crystal, he probably would have fainted by now.

Because he was too tired, the cat ears atop his head lacked the energy to stand up and drooped down limply.

Lin Chuyun said nothing, just shook his head and leaned against Feng Xixing’s chest with his eyes closed. Despite saying nothing pitiful, he somehow looked even more wretched than Bai Linghan.

A strange feeling abruptly flickered through Feng Xixing’s heart. He had never seen Lin Chuyun look so fragile, as if he could only rely on him. If Feng Xixing just abandoned Lin Chuyun here, Lin Chuyun likely wouldn’t survive the night…

Thinking this, Feng Xixing couldn’t help but be stunned.

It seemed he hadn’t thought about that plan he originally intended to use to kill Lin Chuyun for a very long time.

Even when Gu Jingshan took Lin Chuyun to Spirit Herb Peak, he had only felt displeasure at not being able to follow. He hadn’t considered at all that if Lin Chuyun were cured, it would be impossible for him to kill Lin Chuyun.

Now… Lin Chuyun had indeed been tricked out by him and was in his arms. The situation was even better than he had anticipated. Lin Chuyun had no spiritual power and couldn’t even summon the Azure Wood Sword.

Couldn’t even summon the Azure Wood Sword…

Feng Xixing sighed. He tightened his arms slightly, holding the person securely.

Then they’d just have to walk back to Spirit Cloud Peak.

By the time the two returned to Spirit Cloud Peak, the sky had already dimmed into twilight.

Feng Xixing entered the Bamboo Hut and looked down to find Lin Chuyun had already fallen asleep. However, perhaps because he was too tired, even in sleep, Lin Chuyun’s brow was tightly furrowed.

He hesitated for a moment, but ultimately laid Lin Chuyun down on his own bed.

Lin Chuyun was sleeping deeply and showed no sign of being disturbed. After being put down, he just rolled over slightly and continued sleeping. Leaving Feng Xixing alone beside the bed, his gaze fixed on the cat ears atop his head, his heart torn with indecision.

To touch, or not to touch?

The two cat ears looked fluffy and fuzzy. Although they were slightly drooped now, they would still twitch a little at the sound of movement.

When he was carrying Lin Chuyun, the ear tips would occasionally brush against his neck, then twitch as if embarrassed and quickly dart away.

Feng Xixing took a deep breath, slowed his movements, and gently sat down on the edge of the bed. Then, very carefully, he reached out, his fingertip brushing against the cat ear as lightly as possible.

The cat ear flicked rapidly several times, the touch against his fingertip completely painless. Instead, it seemed to nuzzle against him coquettishly.

Seeing that Lin Chuyun still hadn’t woken, Feng Xixing extended his fingertip again. This time, he gently toyed with the cat ear, poking it twice.

Now the cat ear grew somewhat irritated. It swiveled back and forth rapidly, trying to dodge this finger annoying enough to earn a cat’s ire. But no matter how it moved, it couldn’t escape. In the end, it gave up struggling, flopping down motionless.

Seeing that he might have bullied it too much, Feng Xixing felt a bit guilty.

But just as he was about to pull his hand back, Lin Chuyun, who had been very quiet before, suddenly mumbled something softly and rolled over.

This movement put Lin Chuyun’s head right onto Feng Xixing’s palm, pinning his fingertips completely. He couldn’t move them at all.

Having seen their owner avenge it, the cat ear rotated happily twice before flopping back down contentedly.

Feng Xixing’s hand was completely frozen. He could even feel the warm breath from Lin Chuyun’s breathing landing on his palm.

He tried to move his hand out very carefully, but saw Lin Chuyun wrinkle his brow. Unhappily, Lin Chuyun buried his head down further, pressing his entire hand under his head.

Now, there was absolutely no hope of escape.

Feng Xixing was helpless. He could only sit down on the side of the bed.

With one hand pinned under Lin Chuyun, he couldn’t even sit in meditation to cultivate. He could only lean sideways against the bedpost at his back and sit there with his eyes closed the entire night.

…

Lin Chuyun dreamed again.

This time, the dream wasn’t filled with those strange Demon Beasts, but with two humans.

A tall man wearing a black robe and a gentle, beautiful-looking woman. The two seemed to be a married couple. The man doted on his wife very much; in Lin Chuyun’s dream, the woman’s face always carried a happy smile.

It seemed Lin Chuyun had no role in this dream, but he followed the two through many places, watching them watch the sunrise atop a high mountain, and watching them see the stars fall beside an Ice Lake.

It should have been a very happy dream. Yet, at the very end of the dream, Lin Chuyun saw the woman, her face deathly pale, lying within an Ice Coffin.

And the man stood beside the Ice Coffin, his gaze fixed on the woman’s face, not a single trace of life left in his eyes.

Could it be… that woman died?

Lin Chuyun’s heart suddenly ached. He couldn’t explain why, but subconsciously, he wanted to step forward. However, this single step seemed to alert the man. A deafening roar of rage erupted beside his ear.

“Who’s there?!”

Lin Chuyun instantly jolted awake. He looked around blankly. Only after a long time did he realize it was just a dream. He took a couple of deep breaths, but the sharp pain in his heart didn’t dissipate.

“Shizun?” Feng Xixing’s voice sounded beside his ear, tinged with concern and doubt. “What’s wrong?”

Lin Chuyun shook his head hesitantly. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly realized something. He looked down at himself.

Human form.

He reached up and touched the top of his head.

Cat ears.

Lin Chuyun’s gaze became vacant. Why hadn’t he changed back?