Chapter 31: The Truth Revealed. So It Was Like This, It Was Actually Like This.
The dark clouds obscuring the moon parted, and cool moonlight shone into the limestone cave.
In the long, narrow cave, a youth in white robes carrying a sword had leaves stuck in his white hair. Another youth was even more wretched; his entire face was grimy and smeared with blood stains, his clothes torn into rags.
The bright moonlight passed through the transparent figure, landing on the embracing youths.
Xiao Jianming looked down at this scene, unable to stop himself from turning his head away, his brows slightly furrowed.
If he hadn’t been uncultivated and without a Golden Core back then, unable to open the restrictions of the Zhutian Jade, he wouldn’t have been so weak.
Ji Buhuan healed Little Xiao’s leg. By the time they returned, the sky was bright.
He asked the children where they wanted to settle down and found good places for all of them. In the end, only Little Xiao remained.
Little Xiao said he wanted to follow him. Ji Buhuan was troubled by this for a long time, but finally made the decision: This kid has good talent, let him go to Cousin’s place.
So Little Xiao was half-forced to walk with him toward the Xuanji Sect.
Xiao Jianming had always thought that Ji Buhuan saving them was just a casual act, like a wandering hero saving a fawn by the roadsideāreleasing the fawn back into the forest and clapping his hands to leave dashingly, not understanding the fawn’s admiration and attachment.
Now, standing from this perspective, he realized the base color behind Ji Buhuan’s dashing demeanor was sorrow.
Day by day, he was sadly counting down the time.
Xiao Jianming didn’t know why he was sad. Little Xiao also didn’t understand why Ji Buhuan wouldn’t let him stay, angrily lagging far behind, so far that he couldn’t even see Ji Buhuan’s shadow.
When Ji Buhuan appeared again, Little Xiao thought he had finally come to apologize, but he didn’t expect Ji Buhuan to smile and tell him: “Sorry, Little Xiao. Brother has something to do suddenly and has to break his promise.”
Ji Buhuan took off the lotus petal water jade hanging at his waist, stuffed it into his palm, and instructed: “If you don’t want to go to the Xuanji Sect to cultivate, then don’t go. Here, take this.”
“Remember, if you have difficulties in the future, you can seek help at the Xuanji Sect with this.”
“Brother is leaving.”
Caught off guard, it came to an abrupt end.
Little Xiao was completely stunned.
Now he thoroughly believed that even if Ji Buhuan harbored malice in his heart, he had absolutely no bad intentions toward him. But it was too late.
Ji Buhuan turned and left without looking back.
Xiao Jianming looked at his past self, face full of disbelief. A rare trace of pity leaked from his dark, heavy eyes.
He knew with absolute clarity that after Ji Buhuan suddenly left that year, he first dazedly refused to believe it. Later, realizing he was truly abandoned, he couldn’t help but feel resentment.
Growing a bit older, reaching the age of first understanding romantic attraction, his mind was still filled with Ji Buhuan.
Unknown when it started, he began to resent himself. Why didn’t he act more obediently at the start? If he had called out “Brother Buhuan” like those other kids, would he not have been left behind?
Brother Buhuan, Brother Buhuan… He pressed that lotus petal water jade to his heart, calling out in his heart day after day. Unknowingly, it became a habit he could never break.
At this moment, the small youth, just like back then, couldn’t catch up to the figure flying away on a sword. He could only stop in exasperation, thinking the other party must be joking with him, that maybe he would come back by dinner time.
Xiao Jianming withdrew his gaze, not looking any longer, and turned to leave as well.
Ji Buhuan actually hadn’t gone far. He had just concealed his figure. He waited until the youth walked far away before revealing himself.
At this moment, Xiao Jianming, who had been following him, saw a majestic figure appear behind him as well, standing with hands clasped behind his backā
“Had enough fun?”
Upright crown, black robes like ink, over nine feet tall, motionless and majestic as a mountain. With sword-brows and focused eyes, his expression was dignified without anger, bearing a resemblance to Ji Buhuan between the brows.
“Let’s go back.”
From beginning to end, he only said two sentences. He didn’t even deign to glance at the departing thin child, as if he were just an ant casually saved by his son, unworthy of his attention.
As soon as the voice fell, Xiao Jianming saw the black mist on Ji Buhuan’s body surge violently, becoming increasingly dense.
Xiao Jianming was mute. So Brother Buhuan’s malice all stemmed from this person.
He already had some guesses about the subsequent events.
But it didn’t matter.
As long as Brother Buhuan treated him with sincerity, that was enough.
Ji Buhuan silently followed behind that man, returning to the Ji Family he had never stepped out of since birth.
When Xiao Jianming sensed his thoughts, a flash of surprise crossed his eyes, but he felt it was within expectations.
Precisely because Ji Buhuan knew the Ji Family was no good place, he would rather go back alone than take him along.
Xiao Jianming felt a slight bitterness in his heart. The gloom that had arisen many years ago seemed to finally find a sliver of relief at this moment.
Unknown how long they walked, Ji Buhuan followed the man to an exquisite pavilion and pushed open the door.
Ji Buhuan walked in, and the door behind him slammed shut.
Xiao Jianming followed him. After passing three corners, he saw a woman of magnificent beauty locked deep in the pavilion. Though her clothes were simple, they were of immense value. She was detained on a high platform. The single vermilion mole between her gentle brows was striking, and her face shape was identical to Ji Buhuan’s.
Sure enough, he heard Ji Buhuan call out: “Mother.”
Layers of cloud sleeves hid the chains on her slender wrists but couldn’t hide the soft clink. Madam Ji opened her eyes and asked softly: “Why didn’t you escape?”
Ji Buhuan told her about the Changqing Sect affairs, his pale eyes full of apology: “It is your child who is useless, failing to escape far away.”
Madam Ji sighed lightly: “Saving people is a good deed. It’s not your fault.”
The youth leaned on his mother’s knee, revealing a small smile at her words, his eyes bright as stars: “Being able to save those children means this escape wasn’t in vain.”
Madam Ji smiled gently and praised him: “My son did the right thing. Your father has lost his kindness, but you cannot be like him. You must become a kind person.”
After speaking, she lowered her eyes to cover his brow and whispered: “Sleep. Next time there’s a chance, Mother will find another way to send you out.”
Ji Buhuanās life returned to calm.
Someone delivered three meals a day outside the pavilion. The servants were respectful and dared not look around. The food delivered was all of the standard for the Clan Head’s wife and the Young Master, without the slightest mistreatment.
Every time this happened, Madam Ji would tease Ji Buhuan: “Look, your father is pretending to be a benevolent man again.”
After eating, she began to teach Ji Buhuan various spells.
Ji Buhuan didn’t know which sect’s spells they were, but Xiao Jianming saw clearlyāwhat he learned were all Xuanji Sect spells.
His right eyelid twitched immediately.
The day he mastered them coincided with Ji Heng coming to visit the mother and son.
Madam Ji didn’t fear him, nor did she think of avoiding him. She even finished teaching the last spell in front of him, asking calmly: “How is it?”
Ji Heng watched Ji Buhuan perform it once, raising an eyebrow in praise: “Learned well.”
Madam Ji smiled.
Ji Heng sat opposite her for a while. When the tea in his hand was about to be finished, he spoke abruptly: “Three days from now coincides with the full moon of the fifteenth. I plan to set it on that day.”
Madam Ji stopped smiling: “That day is his sixteenth birthday.”
Ji Heng paused, but still said: “I have divined it. The spiritual energy generated in the earth veins that day will be at its peak since the fall of the God Venerable.”
Madam Jiās gaze was clear as water as she asked him lightly: “He is also your child. Must you send him to die?”
Ji Heng was silent.
Madam Ji understood, looking down with a sneer: “Ji Heng, for that bit of delusion, you have truly gone mad.”
Ji Heng looked into the distance. A small figure was moving about on the waterside pavilionāit was the youth diligently practicing spells. He sighed: “Sacrificing one person to restore the entire great clan to its former gloryāis that not good?”
“Three hundred years ago, the title of the Number One Noble Clan never belonged to any Dongfang or Nangong… Even today, my Ji Clan is the only noble clan to have produced a God Lord.”
“Moreover, as long as I use heavenly treasures to sustain Huan-er’s life, once I ascend to godhood, I can easily save him. At that time, I will do my utmost to compensate Huan-er, making him the second most noble God’s Son in the world. Is that not good?”
Xiao Jianming looked at the two in astonishment. Suddenly learning this shocking secret, he found it inconceivable.
Since the last God Venerable fell, the path to heaven had been broken. The entire cultivation world couldn’t even cultivate immortals, so how could a new God Lord be cultivated?
What exactly was going on?
Soon, Madam Ji resolved his doubtsā
She said indifferently: “Since you divined that the wisp of destiny for the new God’s birth falls on Buhuan, given time, he will naturally be able to cultivate to the God’s seat.”
Ji Heng: “Too slow.”
“I am Huan-er’s closest kin and have already reached the Mahayana stage. I am the most suitable candidate.”
Madam Ji laughed abruptly: “It’s just that you yourself are jealous of that supreme status.”
She whispered: “Since you cannot persuade me, and I cannot make you give up… then let each depend on their own ability.”
Ji Heng was silent. After a long while, he stood up and left.
Xiao Jianming looked at Madam Ji sitting alone on the high platform with unspeakable emotion.
He could tell that Ji Buhuan had not become a God. Presumably, that heavenly destiny of becoming a God had been seized by Ji Heng.
If this was the truth, then what about the malice on Ji Buhuan that suddenly disappeared?
In this world, only their Lingxi Clan could see malice. If it wasn’t a conspiracy against the Lingxi Clan, then what was it?
On the fifteenth, Madam Ji cooked a bowl of longevity noodles for Ji Buhuan, looking at him tenderly: “May my son have this day every year, and be without worry every day.”
Halfway through the meal, Ji Heng arrived.
He even rarely revealed a fatherly gaze: “Huan-er, eat slowly. Be careful not to choke.”
Ji Buhuan knew thenāit was today.
He had always known his father’s plan. They never avoided him when they spoke.
Madam Ji stood up, slowly walking down the high platform to the youth’s side. Behind her, the sound of fine chains rang incessantly.
Ji Buhuan looked up at her and put down his chopsticks.
When the moment truly arrived, his emotions weren’t intense. He just felt a little sad and bewildered in his heart.
Ji Buhuan whispered: “Mother, I’m going.”
After speaking, he paused, feeling some regret: “…I’m sorry, Mother. We agreed that when I grew up, I would take you out.”
Madam Ji looked at him, her gaze gentle.
Ji Heng waved his hand, saying: “No need to go out. Do it right here.”
As his voice fell, several powerful figures swarmed in from behind. The old butler standing at the front held a tray of heavenly treasures, comforting with a pitying look: “Young Master, don’t be afraid. Just sleep and you’ll be fine when you wake up.”
The surroundings changed in an instant.
Runes appeared all over the pavilion. A massive magic array appeared under their feet, covering the entire pavilion, gathering all spiritual energy together and surging it toward the high platform, entering Madam Ji’s body.
Ji Buhuan collapsed to the ground in sync with the pain, his aura skyrocketing, the spiritual breath so thick it almost turned into liquid.
Xiao Jianming’s pupils shrank. He truly hadn’t expected this entire pavilion to be the array, and the array eye was actually in Madam Ji’s body.
Ji Buhuan stared in astonishment at the surging spiritual energy on Madam Ji, murmuring: “…Mother?”
Madam Ji held him on her knees, slowly patting his back, her voice soft: “Buhuan, don’t be afraid. Mother is fine.”
Xiao Jianming watched for a while before understanding what this array was about.
If that wisp of destiny on Ji Buhuan did not reach the God’s seat, it would ultimately be just an ethereal wisp of luck, unable to transform into the authority held by a God Lord.
Ji Heng’s method was to use the array and the mother’s body to purify Ji Buhuan’s physical body, filling it with sufficient spiritual concentration to create the illusion of being “Born Divine” to deceive the Heavenly Dao, taking the opportunity to seize the divine authority bestowed upon him, thereby ascending to the God’s seat in one fell swoop.
However, with spiritual power entering like an ocean and never leaving, Ji Buhuan’s body would explode before the “forcing of growth” was complete.
Xiao Jianming watched this scene with trepidation.
At this time, the powerful figures behind Ji Heng acted in unison, suppressing the skyrocketing aura on Ji Buhuan.
Ji Buhuan curled up in pain. Madam Ji held him and looked at Ji Heng, smiling: “I still need to thank your arrogance for letting me stay on this array eye every day, giving me this opportunity today.”
Ji Heng never dared to underestimate her. He cautiously checked the array again and again but couldn’t find any problems.
Until the spiritual breath on Ji Buhuan rose to the Golden Core stage and stopped abruptly. Ji Heng shouted in disbelief: “What did you do!”
Madam Ji ignored him, smiling as she sang a ballad she composed herself: “All evils in the world, harm my marriage mistake. The gods pity my intent, sending this lotus fate. Departing this body, never to return again…”
On the waterside pavilion, lotuses bloomed in response to the voice, beautiful beyond measure.
Ji Buhuan felt the spiritual power in his body plummet rapidly, while the spiritual energy in the pool became dense quickly. He couldn’t help looking at his mother.
Madam Ji traced his brow and eyes, smiling softly: “Mother insisted on naming you Buhuan back then, hoping that even if I couldn’t walk out of the Ji Family, I would let my child go out, to live freely and happily from then on, never returning to this cage… My son, can you do it?”
Ji Buhuan couldn’t understand: “…Mother, what are you saying?”
Madam Ji didn’t speak, only tapping his forehead lightly.
A spiritual light flashed, and Ji Buhuan began to feel dizzy. During this time, something rushed out of his body along with the lost spiritual power. He also heard his father raging: “Su Yu! When did you split half his soul?! Are you trying to make his soul scatter!”
Madam Ji smiled: “With an incomplete soul, he cannot sustain the spirit infusion. Your hope has failed.”
Ji Buhuan looked at her blankly, realizing he could barely hear her words anymore.
Blood slowly flowed from Madam Ji’s seven orifices, yet her smile was calm.
She said to Ji Heng: “Today I use my life to grant my son a life of half a soul… Hahaha, you will never find his other half soul.”
“You lose.”
Ji Heng looked at her with a heavy gaze, then suddenly laughed.
“Ah Yu, Ah Yu. Did you think I would have no way out if you did this?”
Ji Heng took out a small, translucent shard. Thick immortal energy emanated from it.
Xiao Jianmingās pupils shrank violently upon seeing this object. Itās a shard of Dustless!
Ignoring Ji Buhuan’s struggle, Ji Heng suddenly merged this shard of the immortal artifact into his soul.
He slowly began to explain to Madam Ji: “Years ago, I never understood why the Lingxi Clan, overlords of the Wuwang Sea, treated that old thief Dongfang so favorably…”
“It wasn’t until the Lingxi Clan was annihilated and I took the opportunity to explore the Wuwang Sea that I obtained a corner shard of this immortal artifact by chance and learned the Lingxi Clan’s secret.”
“It turns out that although the Lingxi Clan can see through the malice in human hearts and control the Laws of No Falsehood, they are also extremely prone to getting lost in all kinds of evil thoughts because of it. Therefore, for generations, they have worshipped a natural ‘Innocent One’ as a Spirit Imprinter to guide the Lingxi Clan away from losing their way.”
“And that old thief Dongfang used this object to make his son, Dongfang Xu, disguise himself as a natural Innocent One, deceiving the Lingxi Clan’s trust and having that brat worshipped as the Spirit Imprinter.”
“Ah Yu, so what if you split his soul in two? Souls share the same origin. When the time comes, they will inevitably show the same state of No Falsehood.”
“As long as I make Huan-er the Spirit Imprinter of the Lingxi Clan, the other half of the soul will be like a bright pearl in the night market in the eyes of the Lingxi people. Just one look, and they can easily recognize it.”
“Madam, I win this game by half a stone.”
Madam Ji stared at him fixedly, a tear falling from the corner of her eye before she died.
Ji Buhuan cried out in despair: “Mother!”
Ji Heng stepped forward and slowly closed his Dao Companion’s eyes, a look of sorrow seeming to appear in his own.
The memory illusion revealed by the soul search finally came to an end in response to this cry of despair.
Xiao Jianming stood dazed on the spot, almost unable to stand steady.
So thatās how it is. It was actually like this.
Recommended Reads
