Chapter 63: I Lost Yu Xiao Zhao

This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation

Before anyone could see who was descending the mountain, laughter reached their ears first.

It was laughter, yet it carried an endless desolation, leaving those who heard it inexplicably sorrowful.

As the laughter grew closer, the indistinct figure gradually became clear.

The normally poised and graceful Senior Brother Fang looked utterly haggard. Tear stains ran down his face, and his once-pristine white robe was smeared with dirt. He staggered with each step, looking as if he might collapse at any moment.

Everyone was stunned, their jaws nearly hitting the ground.

“Is… is that… Senior Brother Fang?”

“Oh, heavens! Did Senior Sister Zhou completely break him?”

“What happened? Why does Senior Brother Fang look like this?”

“…”

Zhang Jun gulped audibly.

For the first time, he felt that Grand Senior Sister Zhou was quite gentle with him in comparison.

“Senior Fang…”

Seeing Fang Cheng Lang approach, Zhang Jun attempted to greet him.

However, Fang Cheng Lang walked past him without even glancing his way.

Behind him was Lan Zi Yu, equally silent.

Zhang Jun awkwardly withdrew his hand, his face full of confusion.

The others, sensing that something was deeply wrong with Fang Cheng Lang, suppressed their curiosity and concern, stepping back to make way.

Under the bewildered gazes of the crowd, Fang Cheng Lang and Lan Zi Yu departed in their disheveled states, leaving behind countless questions.

…

Lone Moon Peak

“Foolishness!”

Master Qing Yan glared at Fang Cheng Lang and Lan Zi Yu, who were kneeling in the grand hall. His icy tone barely concealed his anger.

Fang Cheng Lang kept his head bowed, his entire demeanor steeped in despair.

Lan Zi Yu lowered his posture even further. “Master, please calm your anger.”

“You have greatly disappointed me,” Master Qing Yan said flatly.

Despite the calm delivery, Lan Zi Yu felt an overwhelming pressure, forcing him to bow even lower.

Meanwhile, Fang Cheng Lang remained listless, as if Yu Zhao’s departure had drained all his vitality, leaving behind only an empty shell.

Master Qing Yan’s eyes flickered with a mix of disappointment and surprise.

Fang Cheng Lang had always been composed and reliable. Even he had not anticipated that Yu Zhao’s departure would have such a devastating effect on him.

“Cheng Lang.”

“…Your disciple is here.”

Fang Cheng Lang’s response came after a long pause, his voice hoarse.

“Do you blame me for expelling Yu Zhao?”

“Your disciple does not dare.”

“Then why are you acting like a weeping, fragile girl?”

“Your disciple is weak and cannot bear the pain of separation. I ask for punishment from Master.”

After speaking, Fang Cheng Lang prostrated himself, his head touching the ground, refusing to rise.

Though his words denied blame, every sentence dripped with resentment.

Master Qing Yan understood that Fang Cheng Lang had trapped himself in a spiral of guilt and regret.

He turned his gaze to Lan Zi Yu. “Do you also blame me?”

“Your disciple does not blame you.” Lan Zi Yu raised his head. “I only blame myself.”

Regarding Yu Zhao’s situation, Lan Zi Yu had gained more clarity than Fang Cheng Lang.

Master Qing Yan had expelled Yu Zhao to give her a legitimate reason to sever ties with them.

But the ones truly responsible for driving Yu Zhao away were themselves.

Strictly speaking, Fang Cheng Lang did not truly blame Master Qing Yan. He was projecting his anger, but in reality, he blamed himself. This was why he sought punishment.

Seeing Lan Zi Yu’s calm demeanor, Master Qing Yan was somewhat appeased.

“Since you understand the reasoning, you will explain it to him. He may not leave this residence until he comes to terms with it.”

Master Qing Yan swung his sleeve.

In the next moment, Fang Cheng Lang and Lan Zi Yu found themselves back in Fang Cheng Lang’s cave dwelling.

“Senior Brother,” Lan Zi Yu called softly.

Fang Cheng Lang raised his eyelids and gave him a detached glance before walking into the meditation chamber and lying down fully clothed.

Lan Zi Yu followed him into the chamber, looking at his Senior Brother’s indifferent demeanor with a mix of frustration and urgency.

Their master had made it clear—if Fang Cheng Lang didn’t come to terms with his situation, he wouldn’t be allowed to leave. A year or two might be tolerable, but what if he never did? The thought of his Senior Brother spiraling further down troubled Lan Zi Yu deeply.

Determined not to stand idly by, he racked his brain for ways to persuade Fang Cheng Lang. Meanwhile, their Fourth Senior Brother, Cui Jue, completed a session of pill refinement and emerged from seclusion.

Cui Jue’s dwelling wasn’t far from the medicine garden he had cultivated. After his retreat, his first task was to tend to the garden.

Watering, weeding, pruning, harvesting…

It took him two full days to restore the garden to order. When he finally finished, he let out a long breath, only to startle himself before laughing softly.

He had never realized how physically taxing it was to maintain the garden.

His thoughts drifted to Yu Zhao.

Ever since Yu Zhao became his Sixth Junior Sister, he hadn’t worried about the medicine garden for a long time. But three years ago, when her Dao foundation was damaged, forcing her into seclusion to rebuild it, he had been left to manage the garden alone.

Only then did he realize that the garden, which he had casually expanded over time, had grown several times larger. The effort it now demanded was incomparable.

Reflecting on the years Yu Zhao had cared for the garden, Cui Jue couldn’t help but admire her diligence.

“Three years have passed. Junior Sister Zhao should be coming out of seclusion soon,” he thought.

Recalling the Dragon Tongue Flower incident, he felt a pang of regret. Perhaps he had wrongly accused her back then. Deciding to take this opportunity to reconcile, he planned to share half of the pills he had just refined with her. The rest, he would distribute to their Little Junior Sister and keep a portion for himself.

With a plan in mind, Cui Jue changed into clean robes and made his way to Yu Zhao’s cave dwelling. The thought of seeing her again lifted his spirits, and his steps grew light.

When he reached her dwelling, he noticed the door was wide open, and the defensive array was not active. A wave of joy washed over him.

“Junior Sister Zhao must be out of seclusion,” he thought.

With a rare smile softening his usual calm expression, he steadied his breathing and quietly entered, intending to surprise her.

But before he could venture far, a strong odor of alcohol mixed with a sour stench hit him. His brows knitted as he quickened his pace.

“How much did Junior Sister Zhao drink?”

As he moved closer, he heard muffled sobbing.

Dropping all pretense of stealth, Cui Jue hurried inside.

“Junior Sister Zhao!”

The cave dwelling was empty.

From a heap of wine jars, Su Ming drunkenly lifted his head, burping before meeting Cui Jue’s worried gaze.

Su Ming froze, then broke into loud, uncontrollable sobs.

“Fourth Brother, I—I lost Yu Zhao!”

Cui Jue stood rooted to the spot, his body stiff.

“What… did you just say?”

After listening to Su Ming’s tearful, hiccup-filled recounting, Cui Jue stood dazed, as if his soul had left his body.

He had just been planning to apologize to Yu Zhao and ask her to resume caring for the medicine garden. Now, she was no longer on Lone Moon Peak.

“She’s too foolish,” he murmured. “Why would she defy the Master?”

Did she not understand that the Master could decide her life and death with a single word? If their Little Junior Sister wanted the Starry Sky Stone, why not give it to her? He could have found another one for her, two or three if needed, until she was satisfied.

Why did she insist on standing her ground?

Cui Jue couldn’t comprehend it.

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