Chapter 75

Chapter 75: Sleeping Side by Side

No need to say more—the answer was already clear in Bai and Mei’s hearts.

—From the very beginning, this group entering the mountain to search for Zhao Da had likely already been watched.

The wandering spirits on Tianshan were far greedier than the resentful ghosts Bai and Mei had encountered in Guang’an Prefecture or at the Tan family village. They were not selective about those drawn into their control, unlike Master Chang, who was clear that even the Liang County Magistrate had lived in his home for decades without noticing the “Chang residence.” Nor were they like Lady Meng, who followed a principle of “if people don’t offend me, I don’t offend them”; although there were many guests at the Full Moon Banquet, at least they went voluntarily into the Tan family estate.

Tianshan? The wandering spirits not only harbored malice toward those pulled in but would actively search for “prey” down the mountain.

This sent a chill through Bai and Mei’s hearts. They couldn’t help but wonder: if Yu Han and Han Shu could be disguised, what about themselves? Could it be that while they were still carrying Zhou Liuer searching for a way out, someone else—perhaps posing as “Bai Zhengliu” and “Mei Yinghan”—had already brought Zhou Liuer and the original twelve people down the mountain, finding other excuses to lure more Tianshan disciples up?

At this thought, Bai Zhengliu glanced at Mei Yinghan.

In the firelight, Mei Yinghan’s once bright and handsome face was cast in a heavy shadow. He was clearly worried. Bai Zhengliu knew he should say something, but phrases like “we will surely get out” felt too hollow in the current situation.

He considered, then took another approach: “Mei brother, there’s something I’ve been thinking about since last night.”

Mei Yinghan’s eyes flickered, and the shadow seemed to ebb from his face like a tide, leaving the usual gentle expression.

He asked Bai Zhengliu: “What is it? Please speak, Bai brother.”

Bai Zhengliu smiled slightly, thinking, “Mei brother is still so polite with me… ah, now is not the time to care about that.”

The swordsman straightened his expression and said: “It’s about the past of Senior Changyangzi that the wandering spirits mentioned yesterday. What the senior encountered upon arriving at Tianshan—clearly, it concerns your ancestor, Mei brother. But from what I can see, it seems you don’t know about these events?”

Mei Yinghan considered Bai Zhengliu’s words carefully, then said: “From the time I have memory, the local townspeople have held Tianshan in high regard. If there were any matters that my ancestor could not reconcile with them, I truly find it hard to imagine.”

Bai Zhengliu said: “In any case, most of the legends they told afterward are probably lies. So this segment may not necessarily be true either.”

Mei Yinghan shook his head: “But the events later are all shadowless legends; this segment, however, was told with detail… I’ve never seen my ancestor personally, nor spent time with him. But if, when he first arrived at Tianshan, there were indeed cases of humans being used as sacrifices, my ancestor would never have stood by idly.”

Bai Zhengliu: “So, Mei brother, you still believe this story.”

Mei Yinghan did not answer directly. He lowered his eyes, pondering for a moment before saying: “Yes, I believe it—if the other words were meant to confuse us, this part would have been unnecessary. It implies a deep respect for my ancestor.”

Bai Zhengliu spoke softly: “Then who could they be?”

Mei Yinghan remained silent.

Bai Zhengliu continued: “Whether in Guang’an Prefecture or the Tan family village, we encountered the same situation: wandering spirits or resentful ghosts either harmed people or helped them—it doesn’t matter. But upon closer inspection, each seems to carry its own temperament and personality.”

Mei Yinghan’s fingers curled slightly.Bai Zhengliu said: “When I listened to the fake Yu Han and Han Shu speak, they praised Senior Ling Yunzi’s tassel-making skills and worshiped Senior Changyangzi so much. But now thinking back, all of this was actually ‘unnecessary’ to mention. If they spoke it, does it mean they really think that way, revealing just a bit beyond the orders of whoever controls this place?”

Mei Yinghan pressed the tip of his tongue against his upper palate. He had never felt cold before—partly from habit, partly because the circulating internal energy in his body offset much of the chill. But now, he felt a cold wind sweep through, leaving an emptiness in his chest.

Even the tip of his tongue tasted bitter. There was no need for Bai Zhengliu to continue; Mei Yinghan fully understood what he was trying to convey and could hardly refute it.

He himself also agreed with Bai Zhengliu’s reasoning.

“They are people of the Tianshan Sect,” Mei Yinghan said. “They are naturally from Tianshan… My sect has been here for decades. Although I’ve never heard of any senior going missing before, the disciples under Master Changyangzi always followed the principle of ‘freedom to come and go.’ He would never force his disciples to be filial, nor would he act like some Central Plains sects that pursue and kill any disciple who leaves, calling them traitors.

“If a few seniors had been working at the foot of the mountain and were deceived into the mountains one day, or if they had originally planned to descend but encountered the same situation we did, and then returned, the sect—even if unable to learn of their whereabouts—would simply think they voluntarily severed ties with Tianshan, not that anything went wrong.”

After all, the wandering martial visitors at that time hadn’t yet encountered the Blood Demon Patriarch. And from Mei Yinghan’s memory, even if Tianshan had disciples go missing, the disappearances were never widespread. No wonder no one noticed before.

But who could they be? In Mei Yinghan’s mind, several faces from his childhood, which had never appeared in the sect again as they grew up, quickly passed by.

He stared blankly for a long moment. Bai Zhengliu noticed, feeling slightly frustrated.

He had intended to help Mei brother shift his mood, to draw him away from worrying about the senior masters and younger disciples. Unexpectedly, his few words had changed Mei brother’s line of thought, yet the mood remained heavy.

Bai Zhengliu felt this was not good.

But once the gates of thought were opened, they weren’t so easy to close. Bai Zhengliu could only add sticks they had collected to the fire while continuing to observe Mei Yinghan.

After watching for a while, Mei Yinghan noticed and looked at him.

Bai Zhengliu froze, blinking, genuinely unsure what to say.

Seeing the swordsman show such a rare moment of uncertainty, Mei Yinghan couldn’t help but smile slightly. The gloom was still there, but a small gap appeared, letting a bit of light through.

He told Bai Zhengliu: “Bai brother, you sleep first. I’ll keep watch the first half of the night.”

Bai Zhengliu blinked again and, dryly, said: “Mei brother, why not—”

Mei Yinghan didn’t let him finish, shaking his head to interrupt: “Alright, don’t argue with me. I was tired before, but now I am completely awake.” Noticing more frustration on Bai Zhengliu’s face, he added: “Don’t overthink it. You’ve indeed given me direction. Also, concerning the Tianshan masters, I originally knew more than you. Go to sleep now, give me some time, and see if I can think of any clues.”

The swordsman said this, and Bai Zhengliu could only nod. He closed his eyes, feeling heavy-hearted. He thought he would have difficulty falling asleep, but the physical exhaustion of the past few days quickly carried him into dreams.

The ever-vigilant blade master did not notice Mei Yinghan had been watching him all along.

Mei Yinghan did not do it intentionally. But in the current environment, he could either watch the snow, the stars, the fire, Zhou Liuer, or Bai brother. The first few reminded him of the dire situation they were in; Bai brother, however, brought a sense of calm and peace. Even as the young man slept sitting upright, he eventually leaned to one side in his sleep.Mei Yinghan watched, anxious.

Bai Zhengliu’s body leaned more and more, his head drooping lower, as if any slight shift in posture could startle him awake.

Mei Yinghan moved his fingers slightly, feeling a warm, subtle surge of impulse in his heart.

He told himself: “Bai brother worked so hard today; now he must rest well to have the energy to continue exploring tomorrow. I have to help him… this isn’t selfish.”

Thinking this calmed him considerably. Before Bai Zhengliu toppled entirely into the snow, Mei Yinghan sat beside him, carefully resting the young man’s head on his shoulder.

Throughout the process, Bai Zhengliu did not wake.

Mei Yinghan listened to his breathing, lowering his head to see the shadow of his eyelashes beneath his eyelids.

He quietly, endlessly took in this scene. His body felt both soft and rigid, and a voice in his mind grew louder: Mei Yinghan, admit it, this is indeed selfish!

Mei Yinghan closed his eyes.

He could hear his own heartbeat “rumbling,” violent as spring thunder, yet also overwhelming as a spring tide.

Yet outside the swordsman’s chest, everything was so quiet. Between heaven and earth, only the sound of burning wood remained.

Mei Yinghan faced his own feelings clearly.

He thought: “Bai brother, Bai brother.”

He thought: “My care for you… seems not just about calling you ‘Bai brother.’”

…

…

When Bai Zhengliu awoke again, the night had already passed its midpoint.

His body did not feel stiff as it normally would when waking in the wilderness; instead, it felt as comfortable as sleeping in a bed. Bai Zhengliu marveled silently but did not dwell long. He quickly recalled the current situation and opened his eyes: “I’m awake, Mei brother. Your turn to rest.”

Mei Yinghan’s body was still tense, but he had already shifted position before Bai Zhengliu woke, returning to his original spot. Hearing the words, he exhaled slowly and smiled: “Alright.”

Bai Zhengliu wanted to ask if Mei Yinghan had made any discoveries, but clearly, now was not the time. He closed his mouth, watched Mei Yinghan close his eyes, and then checked on Zhou Liuer.

Until Mei Yinghan’s breathing lengthened.

The blade master lifted his eyes to look at the young man not far away.He didn’t know what had happened earlier, but at this moment he thought: “Now, in the wilds, I rarely sleep comfortably, yet Mei brother is so stiff. When he wakes, he must be sore all over… why not help him a bit, let Mei brother lean on me?”

And true to form, Bai Zhengliu, as always, acted without hesitation.

Author’s note:

Last night before bed I glanced at the main page of this story and, dazzled, misread the word count as 280,000.

Mood: “What, I’ve actually written this much—oh, it’s actually 230,000? Suddenly seems bland TT”

But on second thought, well, it’s almost there anyway =v="