Chapter 21: Spring Light Mildly Intoxicating, Spring Breeze Caressing the Face Part 1

Spring light was mildly intoxicating, and the spring breeze brushed against his face.

Xie Linlang opened his eyes. He looked at the turquoise canopy above his head and the silver sea begonia embroidery on it, suddenly snapping back to reality.

This… this was…

Xie Linlang jolted upright, then froze in place.

Everything around him felt so familiar. This was clearly his residence in Jiuxia Mountain, located in Tanghua Valley on the eastern side of the sect gate.

As a major immortal sect, Jiuxia Mountain naturally had lands dedicated to planting and nurturing spiritual crops.

Tanghua Valley housed excellent spiritual fields and various precious spiritual herbs. Pill masters often came here to gather fresh materials needed for their daily pill refining.

As Jiuxia Mountain’s most skilled pill master, Xie Linlang had simply taken up residence deep in Tanghua Valley, by the small stream where Moon Sea Begonia and Yellow Azaleas grew.

At that moment, the spring light was perfect. A gentle breeze carried faint floral fragrances, the stream babbled softly, and several clusters of verdant bamboo grew under the corridor, enhancing the serene quietude.

Just then, two light footsteps approached from downstream along the small stream. After some rustling in the low shrubs and flower clusters, a figure in a deep green robe emerged.

The man seemed not to notice Xie Linlang at all. He pointed excitedly at the cottage by the stream and turned to the person behind him. “Junior Brother, come look! The scenery here is really nice—flowers, water, flat land nearby, and even some scattered spiritual fields. We can build a temporary little valley hut here. That way, you won’t have to shuttle back and forth between your cave abode and Tanghua Valley every day.”

As the green-robed youth shouted loudly, soon another Xie Linlang—dressed in cyan robes with a slightly youthful face—ducked out from the flower clusters, bending at the waist.

That Xie Linlang smiled at the corners of his lips. He appeared to be surveying the surroundings, but in truth, his pitch-black eyes reflected the figure of the young man ahead.

He said mildly, “Senior Brother really knows how to pick a spot.” He paused, then lowered his voice. “I like it a lot.”

The youth walking ahead was Pei Ji.

His deep green robes nearly blended with the verdant forest around them. As he darted about examining the terrain, soon several vibrant Moon Tang Flower petals and yellow azalea petals adorned his hair.

“But Tanghua Valley is under the Third Elder’s jurisdiction, after all. Building a little hut here secretly won’t escape the Third Elder’s notice, but no worries—I know the Third Elder loves fruit wine. We’ll head to the depths of Cuilin Mountain in the west and ask the Soul Transformation Stage Monkey Elder for a jar of Blue Fruit Wine. The Third Elder will surely turn a blind eye and won’t interfere!”

Pei Ji spoke with great enthusiasm. He was incredibly efficient; once he confirmed it was a good spot, he brainstormed solutions in minutes. He even began gesturing on the open ground, planning the layout.

“Junior Brother, how many rooms do you want? One for storing materials and pill refining, one quiet chamber for your cultivation, and then…”

Pei Ji suddenly leaned close to Xie Linlang, who had remained still by the stream. He bent slightly at the waist and tilted his face upward to peer into Xie Linlang’s downcast eyes, as if trying to glimpse the light within.

His voice rang clear, carrying a hint of probing. “You’ll need a room for me too, right?”

Xie Linlang smiled with pursed lips and softly hummed in agreement. “Whatever Senior Brother says.”

But the next second, he suddenly reached out and gently brushed Pei Ji’s head, removing the pink, red, and yellow petals.

Xie Linlang blew the colorful petals from his palm and turned his face slightly, saying impassively, “Senior Brother is still so impulsive. How about we just share one room? That way, you won’t sneak into my Pill Room at night, mistake a laxative for a hangover cure, and eat it by accident.”

Pei Ji’s face flushed faintly. He retreated a step, his gaze drifting, his voice awkward. “Oh, then… let’s go with your idea, Junior Brother…”

The two youths walked side by side through the flower clusters by the stream, chatting in detail about their visions for their future home.

Meanwhile, Xie Linlang leaned against the corridor railing, gazing dazedly at the scene. When he closed his eyes, tears streamed down.

Youth knows no sorrow—how wonderful that was.

He now knew where this was and why these past events had resurfaced.

Life and death were the ultimate principles of heaven and earth. Resurrection defied the heavens. To truly come alive, first his three souls and seven spirits had to fully awaken.

This was the site of the future home he and Pei Ji had dreamed of sharing. Unfortunately, when it was finally built, only he moved in alone.

After that, he always wore black.

Because that youthful Xie Linlang—full of hope for the future—had vanished along with Pei Ji.

“I still want to live… I have to…”

Before Xie Linlang could finish, the scene before him changed dramatically.

He was flying rapidly through the air, the scenery around him receding swiftly. The sky was overcast, dark clouds pressing down.

At one moment, Xie Linlang suddenly felt excruciating pain throughout his body. His Nascent Soul nearly shattered from the heart-wrenching agony.

Xie Linlang spat out blood and truly plummeted from midair.

He crashed into a patch of wild grass, his vision blackening as he fell completely unconscious.

At some point, Xie Linlang finally regained consciousness. He felt countless icy droplets falling on him, yet he had no reaction at all.