Chapter 40: A New Name; He Suddenly Forgot His Name
The bonfire burned brightly. Feng Jiangyue and Xiao Jianming sat on either side of the youth, their gazes clashing in mid-air.
Feng Jiangyue glared furiously: This scheming wolf who arched our family’s cabbage!
Xiao Jianming met her cold gaze with indifference: Heh.
Right in front of Feng Jiangyue, he reached out and half-wrapped his arm around the youth’s waist.
Feng Jiangyue nearly exploded with rage.
Meng Qinghui noticed the subtle, unusual atmosphere between them. She tilted her head slightly, calmly accepted the spirit fruit Hua Wuyou eagerly offered, and quietly spread out her divine sense.
Su Huan, completely oblivious, gnawed on a chicken leg. Having regained the memories of being “Ji Buhuan,” his state of mind had shifted drastically upon seeing his Third Senior Sister again, leaving him at a loss for words.
It turned out that the memories he thought belonged to the original host were actually his cousin Su Zhao’s memories. And the person who had been taken into the Xuanji Sect and raised by Senior Sister Feng since childhood… wasn’t truly him either.
But the senior brothers and sisters on Lichen Mountain clearly didn’t know he wasn’t the real fourth disciple. Moreover, his cousin was clearly named Su Zhao, so why did they call him by the childhood nickname “Huan-er”?
Su Huan was confused by this and couldn’t figure it out no matter how hard he tried.
Looking up, he met Third Senior Sister’s worried gaze. His heart softened instantly, and he voluntarily began to recount the events of the past few days.
Hearing that Su Huan had turned danger into safety, Feng Jiangyue breathed a sigh of relief. But when she heard they hadn’t received any reinforcements, a look of surprise flashed in her eyes.
“Eh? I was trapped in a ghost city at the time and couldn’t make it, so I asked Eldest Senior Brother to go save you. He is right here in the Northern Barren Mountains; did you not see him?”
Su Huan looked surprised and shook his head.
Hearing this, Hua Wuyou’s eyes lit up immediately. He leaned in and interjected, “Are you talking about your Xuanji Sect’s Chief Disciple, Yinzhu? He’s here too?”
“That’s right, it’s him.”
Hua Wuyou’s face burst with joy. “Since I was a child, I’ve heard my father mention that he plays the zither beautifully and is the number one musical cultivator in Hua Yao. If I could ask Senior Brother Yinzhu for some pointers, this trip wouldn’t be in vain!”
However, Feng Jiangyue said with regret, “Then you might be disappointed this time. Eldest Senior Brother is the host of this Immortal Alliance Conference and will not be participating in the competition.”
Hua Wuyou felt instantly regretful upon hearing this.
Thinking of this, doubts arose in Feng Jiangyue’s heart.
Strange. Fellow cultivators of the same sect practice the same mental cultivation methods, so they should be able to roughly sense each other’s location. With Eldest Senior Brother’s cultivation level, he shouldn’t have been unable to find them, right?
A bad premonition suddenly struck her: Oh no, could something have happened?
Feng Jiangyue hurriedly took out her communication token. Unsurprisingly, there was no response.
A chill instantly ran down her spine.
At this time, Su Huan also looked at her with concern. “Senior Sister, do you have a way to find Eldest Senior Brother?”
After hearing the situation, Meng Qinghui’s expression turned solemn. “Although the two of us are not Xuanji Sect disciples, we are willing to do our meager part to help.”
Hua Wuyou nodded repeatedly.
Only one person’s expression remained unchanged, even showing a hint of rejection.
Su Huan noticed the look hidden in the depths of his eyes. He blinked at him, asking silently: What’s wrong?
The gloom in Xiao Jianming’s eyes instantly dissolved: It’s nothing.
In his eyes, everyone in the world possessed evil delusions (wang), merely varying in size.
In comparison, although this Eldest Senior Brother also had evil delusions, they were extremely small. Presumably, someone who could pass the Xuanji Sect’s Path of Asking Immortals shouldn’t be a bad person.
It was just that, for some reason, he felt the aura on this Eldest Senior Brother was uncomfortable.
…A bit like that hypocrite surnamed Dongfang.
Although the Northern Barren Mountains of Hua Yao Zhou were not as boundless as the Hundred Thousand Barren Mountains of Cang Xuan Zhou, they were still vast enough. Trying to find a single person without the connection of the same sect’s mental cultivation method was impossible.
However, when Feng Jiangyue recited the incantation to trigger the tracking method but failed to sense her Eldest Senior Brother’s location, she turned pale with shock.
Just then, the communication token at Feng Jiangyue’s waist suddenly lit up, transmitting a gentle voice: “Junior Sister Feng?”
Feng Jiangyue rejoiced. “Eldest Senior Brother!”
On the other side of the token, Yinzhu responded. He paused, then said somewhat sadly, “I’m sorry, Junior Sister Feng. I ran into a Strange Snow Cold Current and have been trapped in it for these past three days, unable to rush over to save Junior Brother Su and the others…”
Feng Jiangyue was astonished. Eldest Senior Brother actually encountered a Strange Snow Cold Current?!
The Strange Snow Cold Current was a bizarre phenomenon unique to the Northern Frontier. It appeared randomly in the barren mountains at unpredictable times, like a small, living world of its own. Wherever it passed, the land would turn into a realm of ice and snow. Cultivators trapped inside would be frozen to death if they couldn’t hold on until the current departed.
Xiao Jianming raised a doubt: “Three days? But more than half a month has passed.”
Yinzhu’s surprised voice came from the token: “More than half a month?! But the sun and moon have only cycled three times here…”
He stopped halfway, perhaps recalling the power of the Strange Snow Cold Current, and couldn’t help but sigh.
“Listening to the voice, is that Junior Brother Xiao? Is Junior Brother Su there too? Are you two alright?”
Feng Jiangyue hurriedly said, “Eldest Senior Brother, they are fine! Where are you? We will come to save you right now!”
Yinzhu breathed a sigh of relief but said, “It’s good that they are fine. You don’t need to worry about me. I observe that this Strange Snow Cold Current will dissipate in just four more days. I will naturally come out then.”
Hearing that he was safe, Feng Jiangyue and the others finally let out a sigh of relief.
The group returned to the Xuanji Sect with peace of mind.
As soon as they arrived at the foot of the mountain, they met Su Zhao and Ning Zhou, who had been waiting there in advance.
Upon seeing Xiao Jianming, Su Zhao rolled his eyes dramatically but didn’t say anything more about separating the two.
He had originally come to the Xuanji Sect to file a complaint. Who knew that he would learn from Master Chongjiang that their divine souls were already bound? He also learned the truth that Xiao Jianming had only hurt Su Huan because of the demonic qi intrusion.
People with bound divine souls shared the same fate in life and death from then on. It was even more intimate than Dao Companions who had established a contract. If they were forcibly separated, Su Huan’s soul would inevitably scatter.
He had no choice but to cease hostilities.
Now, seeing Xiao Jianming’s guarded look, he only felt annoyed.
Turning to see Su Huan safe and sound, joy burst forth in the youth’s eyes as he looked at him, and only then did his heart feel a little better.
Su Huan threw himself at him. He was intercepted by Xiao Jianming halfway, but that couldn’t stop his cheerful voice: “Cousin! I finally see you guys! What exactly happened? Where did you go?”
Su Zhao’s outstretched hand grasped empty air. He glared at Xiao Jianming again and said grumpily, “You have to ask him why he suddenly went crazy and took you away, disappearing without a trace.”
Su Huan looked at Xiao Jianming, frowning slightly, but didn’t ask.
He thought that perhaps Xiao Jianming couldn’t suppress the onset of the Wangyan symptom, which led to such an incident.
A trace of melancholy appeared between his brows.
…If this continued, the Black Lotus would eventually become the cold-hearted killing god from the original novel.
But only by finding the natural Non-Delusional One could the Lingxi Clan’s Wangyan symptom be resolved. Where could he find such a person?
Su Huan thought hard, while Su Zhao secretly observed his expression.
Seeing that although there was worry on his brow, his gestures unconsciously revealed a closeness to Xiao Jianming, the worry in Su Zhao’s heart dissipated considerably.
It seems Huan-er really likes this kid. So be it.
Su Zhao took Su Huan aside. After moving away from the others, Su Zhao erected a barrier and said, “I waited for you here to say goodbye.”
Su Huan was surprised. “Why? Is Cousin not returning to the Xuanji Sect?”
Su Zhao shook his head. “No. I have already paid my respects to Master…”
Remembering that Su Huan still knew nothing about this, he explained, “The Sect Master and the Old Man know about the dirty secrets of the Ji family. Back then, they helped me set up the formation to guide your soul over, and they also helped modify your identity. Although you are me, you are also not me.”
As his voice fell, a memory surfaced from the depths of Su Huan’s mind—
In a secret chamber, he… Su Zhao lay on a jade bed, his body’s spiritual breath connected to a translucent spirit jade placed on the same bed.
Streamers of light flowed slowly. His divine soul submerged into Su Zhao’s body, as if a wandering soul had found a home again.
Master Chongjiang walked in and sighed.
“Zhao-er, have you thought this through?”
A spirit jade beside them suddenly transformed into a human shape. It bowed to Master Chongjiang. Its appearance was identical to Su Zhao’s current look, and its voice was firm.
“In this world, only I share close blood ties with him. Hiding Huan-er’s divine soul inside my body… even if Ji Heng comes to the Xuanji Sect, he will absolutely never discover it.”
Su Zhao bowed again. “Only in this way can his safety be protected. Disciple thanks Master for granting this fulfillment.”
Su Zhao kowtowed deeply, then looked up at Master Chongjiang with intense emotion. “I do not know when I will return from this journey. I ask Master to protect him in Disciple’s stead.”
Master Chongjiang turned his back to hide his emotion and waved at him.
The Old Sect Master watched from the side, stroking his white beard, and advised, “Why must you go out? Staying by his side, could you not protect him personally?”
Su Zhao shook his head. “If I am too close to the main body, my flesh will reject his divine soul because of it.”
Ji Buhuan lay on the jade bed, his body immobilized, unable to move. Listening to their words, tears flowed, but he couldn’t make a sound.
The Old Sect Master sighed, “No matter what, you are a disciple of my Xuanji Sect. If you suffer grievances outside, then come back.”
Su Zhao accepted with tears in his eyes and bowed again.
It wasn’t until the dust settled that Lichen Zhenren released the immobilization spell on him, sighing, “You heard them. Do not let down everything your cousin has done.”
Ji Buhuan immediately jumped off the bed, kneeling and begging, “Two Seniors, Brother Zhao, forgive me for not obeying. Please switch me back…”
Intense hatred burst from his eyes. “I want to go back to the Ji family… My mother was killed by him. I want to go kill him! I must kill him!”
The Old Sect Master marveled, “You are truly strange. He imprisoned you since birth and wanted you dead, yet you didn’t hate him. But now that your mother died because of it, you start to hate him.”
Ji Buhuan closed his eyes. “He is my biological father. If he wants to take this life of mine, I have no complaints… but he caused my mother’s death! She was so innocent…”
Ji Buhuan kowtowed deeply to the ground again. “…I beg you all to fulfill my wish!”
Su Zhao hugged him. “Huan-er, I know your hatred, but he is in the late stage of Mahayana, and the Ji family is so massive. Even if forces like the Xuanji Sect and the Nangong family intervened, it would only end in mutual destruction…”
“Now that you have escaped, live well…”
Ji Buhuan’s eyes were blood-red with tears, filled with hatred. “I don’t want to!”
“I have the Heavenly Dao’s fortune on me; I can kill him! Brother Zhao, let me go back… I must kill him to avenge Mother! I can definitely kill…”
Su Zhao waved his sleeve in unbearable grief, and Ji Buhuan fainted.
…
When he regained consciousness, Ji Buhuan’s head throbbed dully, and he didn’t remember who he was.
He saw the Old Sect Master and Lichen Zhenren touching his head with compassion and kindness.
The Old Sect Master said, “Good child, from now on, you are a disciple of my Xuanji Sect.”
Lichen Zhenren handed him a spirit sword, tapped his brow lightly with a fingertip, and a point of spiritual light submerged into it. “From now on, you are my fourth disciple.”
As his words fell, memories began to form in Ji Buhuan’s mind. He said dazedly, “I am… a Xuanji Sect disciple, a direct disciple of Lichen Mountain. My name is…”
He suddenly forgot his name.
His head suddenly began to ache violently.
Lichen Zhenren hurriedly supported him, exchanged a glance with the Old Sect Master, and said, “Your name is Su Zhao, you are my fourth disciple. Have you forgotten?”
“No…” The youth’s voice overflowed with pain. “That is not my name…”
Hearing this, a trace of surprise flashed in Lichen Zhenren’s eyes as he looked at the Old Sect Master.
The Old Sect Master was equally surprised and asked him, “Then what is your name?”
The youth held his head, silent for a long time.
It wasn’t until the chaotic memories in his mind were reorganized, dispelling the pain, that the youth lifted his head, his eyes confused. “I don’t remember… I only know, there seems to be the character ‘Huan’ (Return).”
The Old Sect Master clapped his hands and laughed heartily. “Since you only remember there is a ‘Huan’ character, I will use this to give you a new name: Su Huan.”
“When you understand the significance of this name, you will know your former name.”
The youth murmured repeatedly, “Su Huan…”
“Okay.” His eyes became firm.
“From now on, my name is Su Huan.”
“Huan-er?”
Seeing him dazed, Su Zhao called out.
Su Huan’s eyelashes trembled lightly, moving suddenly.
“Brother Zhao…” He murmured subconsciously.
Su Zhao’s nerves tightened upon hearing this. “Huan-er, what’s wrong?”
Su Huan came back to his senses. Seeing his nervous expression, he couldn’t help smiling. “I’m fine.”
“Really?” Su Zhao was skeptical, but seeing no issues, he didn’t dwell on it.
He instructed, “If that kid surnamed Xiao treats you like before again, tell me. I’ll have your Brother Ning Zhou beat him up…”
Su Huan nodded obediently. “Cous… Brother Zhao, rest assured, the Senior Brothers and Sisters will protect me.”
“By the way, Brother Zhao.” Su Huan frowned slightly, looking at him. “That Wangyue Sect… it’s not a good place. You shouldn’t go back there, right?”
Su Zhao was slightly stunned, then laughed and explained, “That was just a sect we picked at random to snag a spot in the secret realm. No need to care about it.”
After speaking, his voice softened a few degrees. “Huan-er need not worry; I live very well outside. Ah Zhou and I have agreed to travel across all Seven Continents and Four Seas together. Now that we’ve finished touring Hua Yao Zhou, we are just about to go see other places.”
“Is that so.” Su Huan’s heart relaxed a little.
Su Zhao removed the barrier. Ning Zhou walked to his side, and sensing this, Xiao Jianming followed.
Ning Zhou summoned his life-bound sword and pulled his Dao Companion up onto it. Su Zhao nestled in his arms, turning back to wave at Su Huan. “Huan-er, we’ll meet again!”
Su Huan waved and watched them leave.
For some reason, his heart felt a bit swollen, a trace of reluctance rising within.
…
Meng Qinghui and Hua Wuyou were chatting about the Dao with Feng Jiangyue. Seeing them return, they stated directly that they wouldn’t go with them; they would wait at the foot of the mountain for the Wanxiang Sect’s team to arrive before going up the mountain to pay a visit together.
Hearing this, Feng Jiangyue straightforwardly insisted on taking them to the best inn at the foot of the mountain, her treat.
Having been delayed for so long, Xiao Jianming’s brow showed a hint of impatience. Seeing Su Huan foolishly wanting to tag along, he unconsciously reached out to embrace him, saying bluntly, “We still have important matters, so we won’t accompany you.”
Su Huan paused and couldn’t help looking up at him, eyes puzzled.
Xiao Jianming said helplessly, “Did Huan-er forget? Before we left, Zihuan Zhenren instructed that once the spirit herbs were found, we should send them back to her for her to start the furnace and refine the pills.”
Only then did Su Huan remember there was indeed such a thing.
So, together with Xiao Jianming, he went to Zihuan Peak.
Translator’s note: Eight more chapters to the story end.
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