Tian Hua had never felt closer to death than he did at that moment.

His current body had a low pain tolerance, and every cough sent waves of pain through his chest.

Before the sun rose, Tian Hua hurriedly disposed of the water in the basin and removed any traces that might indicate he was ill. Despite his efforts to ensure that not a single detail betrayed his condition, Xiang Jun was startled when he saw how unwell Tian Hua appeared.

Either way, he could not afford to dwindle any longer, and as Xiang Jun presented him his watery congee for breakfast, that only solidified his resolve. Tian Hua retrieved the talismans he had crafted the other day, ensured that Yang Junchen wasn’t nearby, grabbed his training stick, and set off for the stone stairs.

However, no matter how hard he tried to ignore the dull ache in his body, it was persistent enough to force him to immediately halt his steps, struggling to catch his breath due to the weakness in his legs.

“Teacher?” asked Xiang Jun as he emerged from inside his master’s dwelling. “Are you feeling unwell?”

“No, I’m absolutely fine,” Tian Hua replied, his forehead damp with sweat.

Despite his weakened condition, ambition drove him forward. He understood that in this world, only those with wealth had a chance of leading a more peaceful life. With enough resources, he could secure a home far from these disciples, providing for their needs from a distance. Furthermore, he aspired to establish a reputation as a proficient alchemist in the future—and achieving that goal in this world presented a unique set of challenges.

Xiang Jun hesitated, before stepping forward and insisting, “But you don’t look fine at all!”

He also needed to put his old core to use, and the only way to do that was through alchemy. However, he lacked both the ingredients and the funds to purchase them!

That small cauldron had been ridiculously expensive!

Now, if only I could make it down the stairs without collapsing in the process….

Suddenly, he heard determined footsteps approaching. Tian Hua swiftly turned his head, anticipating the calm countenance of Yang Junchen or the disapproving gaze of Long Xinyue. To his surprise, it was Xiang Jun, looking at him with furrowed brows and a downturned mouth.

“Teacher, go get some rest,” Xiang Jun said, his tone still firm but his grip gentle as he took hold of Tian Hua’s arm.

Despite his initial resistance, Xiang Jun started pulling him along, guiding him back up the stairs with a determined look on his face. Tian Hua’s attempts to refuse were silenced by the resolute expression on the disciple’s face, leaving him with no choice but to follow.

Well, isn’t this just fantastic! Tian Hua felt a wave of frustration as he reflected on how his carefully laid plans from the previous day had been completely derailed. He had intended to craft a sufficient number of talismans to secure the funds needed for various future expenses, including the purchase of essential ingredients for his pill refining. Now, it seemed like all his efforts had gone to waste.

Xiang Jun glanced at his master, his expression souring. “Do you not remember the promise you made?”

“I don’t,” answered Tian Hua sincerely and frowned. What promise? What’s going on??

Xiang Jun stopped in his tracks just as he was opening the door to his master’s dwelling. The fingers clenched on his arm tightened ever so slightly, a change that Tian Hua felt, given how sensitive his body had become.

“You… Of course, you have amnesia.” The fingers clamped down so tightly that Tian Hua couldn’t help but hiss in pain.

At the sound, Xiang Jun’s eyes widened, and he immediately released Tian Hua’s arm. He turned to face Tian Hua quickly, his words stuttering as he apologized and bowed, “I, I’m sorry, Teacher! I didn’t realize… I’m so sorry!”

Seeing Xiang Jun’s deep bow, Tian Hua responded with a somewhat awkward, “It’s quite alright.”

However, Tian Hua’s heart raced like a rabbit’s. During their journey back to the sect, Xiang Jun had never once shown frustration with his master’s slow pace or the frequent breaks they had to take due to Tian Hua’s leg and back pain. It was as if he had encountered an entirely different person, and this abrupt change in demeanor was disconcerting.

Tian Hua tried to suppress his nervousness with a discreet cough, yet it unexpectedly escalated into a fit. He sensed Xiang Jun’s gentle grasp on his arm once more.

“Go inside, Teacher. I’ll get you some soup and tea.”

. . . . .

“What are you doing?”

Xiang Jun was diligently tending to the simmering soup, hunched over the firepit, when Long Xinyue quietly approached from behind, her eyebrows slightly raised. “I made congee this morning. Is he being picky again?”

He shook his head. “He’s sick.”

“Ah,” Long Xinyue sighed with a roll of her eyes. “Let me guess. Is it a cold?”

Xiang Jun continued stirring the soup silently.

“Aha!” She nodded and moved closer, crouching down in front of him. “He caught a simple cold. Why am I not surprised? Have you seen how feeble he is? All that boasting when he first brought us here about his strength, just to keep us in line and obedient in his presence?!”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

He shrugged.

Long Xinyue placed her hand on his shoulder and spoke with conviction. “He was lying! He lied about everything—his connections, his financial situation, his abilities! Everything’s a lie, Jun!”

His hand slowly stopped stirring.

“Think about it,” Long Xinyue continued. “He told us he was once the cherished disciple of a major sect but abandoned it all to wander the world! Does that sound credible to you?” She pointed at Xiang Jun, her eyes narrowed. “And after disappearing out of the blue, he returns claiming he has amnesia? He suddenly can’t remember anything he said or did in the past? What am I supposed to make of it? This man is a master of deception! Nothing that ever came out of his mouth was the truth!”

Xiang Jun dropped the wooden spoon into the pot and rubbed his eyes vigorously. His silence only fueled Long Xinyue’s frustration, prompting her to grab his shoulder and shake him gently.

“I’m leaving next week,” Long Xinyue declared. Her words left Xiang Jun wide-eyed and stunned. “I can’t wait any longer, Jun. I stayed here for you, but I can’t take it anymore. I want to start rebuilding my life, step by step. I want to experience the life that Tian Hua promised us but never followed through!”

She stood up, and Xiang Jun watched her intently. “What about Senior Brother?”

“I don’t care. If he wishes to stay, then so be it. That’s none of my concern.”

“What about the food? Or the shelter?”

Long Xinyue sighed. “I’m thinking of trying to reach out to one of my distant relatives. I’m not sure if anything will go as planned, but at least for a while….”

“But, but… But what about Teacher’s promise…?”

Long Xinyue looked at the boy as he continued to work on skimming the impurities from the soup, his eyes red and on the verge of tears. She let out a sigh, feeling a mix of exasperation and sympathy for him.

“Forget about that. Whatever promise he made, he’s already forgotten. Remember? He has amnesia now,” Long Xinyue remarked, tapping her head. His shoulders slumped, and she couldn’t help but reach out to ruffle his hair. “Don’t worry, Jun. If you come with me, we can work on making your wishes come true.”

She gave him one final reassuring pat and gracefully strolled toward the tranquil pond, presumably to confer with Yang Junchen regarding her intentions. Time passed, and Xiang Jun gradually ceased his absentminded stirring, extinguishing the fire. The fragrant soup was now prepared, yet he found himself utterly devoid of the vigor needed to get to his feet.

Don’t worry, Jun. If you come with me, we can work on making your wishes come true.

If you come with me, we can work on making your wishes come true.

We can work on making your wishes come true.

The words spoken by Long Xinyue resonated with a poignant familiarity, causing Xiang Jun’s chest to constrict with the bittersweet memories they stirred. While the speaker and circumstances were worlds apart, he couldn’t help but draw parallels between Long Xinyue and his own mother.

He shook his head, determined to banish those memories. It wouldn’t do any good to him to recall anything from his past.

If you come with me…

Not now. If Long Xinyue promised that she would help him, then it must be the truth.

With that in mind, Xiang Jun stood up and reached for a bowl he had prepared in advance to serve the soup. However, a faint murmur of voices in the distance caused him to freeze in place.

“Is this the place? I think it is.”

“Do sects look like this? I expected something more grand.”

“I wonder if the sect master is here….”

“Look at these statues! This is beautiful.”

A woman dressed in plain, hand-sewn clothing was the first to ascend the stairs, leading a group of five others, comprising both men and women. The final member of their party was a stoic old man who appeared unperturbed by the chatter of the others.

Xiang Jun remained fixed in place, his gaze shifting between the individuals gathered around the stairs, engaged in animated conversation. He was first confused, and this soon turned to surprise. Even when Long Xinyue had ventured into the village, informing the locals that their temple could be visited for a modest fee, very few had shown any interest in visiting during the weeks Tian Hua had been absent.

The woman at the head of the group spotted Xiang Jun standing a short distance away and bowed in his direction. Nervously, he attempted to return the gesture, but his hands trembled, causing him to drop the bowl he had been holding, which clattered to the ground.

The others in the group simply stared at him, their expressions a blend of curiosity and concealed politeness.

“Are you one of the disciples here?” The woman examined him from head to toe and offered him a friendly smile.

“Y, yes. Is it my Teacher that you’re looking for?”

“Yes, the sect master,” she replied.

The old man scanned the surroundings with a skeptical expression, as if he couldn’t quite believe he was at the sect. Eventually, his gaze settled on Xiang Jun, who involuntarily flinched under the weight of the old man’s intense stare.

“Then, I will tell my Teacher that there are guests,” Xiang Jun said, bowing his head respectfully before hurrying off to Tian Hua’s dwelling.

Before he could reach it, however, Tian Hua swung the door wide open.

His master clung to the wall for support, his face drained of color yet tinged with a feverish rosiness. Noticing the strangers that had arrived at the sect, he glanced around then directed his questioning gaze to Xiang Jun.

Xiang Jun shook his head, his expression mirroring his uncertainty. "I have no idea, Teacher. I've never seen them before."

“Ah! I remember you!”

The woman at the forefront spoke upon noticing him, her voice ringing with clarity, which caught Tian Hua’s attention. Sensing the collective scrutiny of the onlookers, Xiang Jun discreetly stepped back, avoiding the spotlight.

“You were selling luck talismans!” She reached into her leather pouch and retrieved a crumpled piece of paper. “I bought one out of curiosity, but I never expected it to work so well. Not only did I manage to sell all my eggs for a great price yesterday, but this morning I found silver coins on my way to the market! It was only then that I realized I had the talisman with me all along, just like you instructed.”

Xiang Jun cast a quick glance at Tian Hua, who raised his eyebrows for just a brief moment.

“The talisman must be the reason! I’ve had it with me ever since I bought it. Normally, I get tired and need breaks when walking, but on my way up the stairs to your sect, I didn’t feel any pain!”

Tian Hua’s eyes widened with feigned surprise. “Ah, that’s truly wonderful to hear! I’m delighted that the talisman brought you good fortune.”

Another villager chimed in, “I had a similar experience! My cow gave birth to a healthy calf, and I haven’t had such good luck in years.”

“That’s the case for me as well!” Another piped up. “When I went to visit my father…”

As the villager shared his story and how it related to the talisman he had purchased from Tian Hua, Xiang Jun noticed Long Xinyue approaching from behind the willows, with Yang Junchen following closely. His eyes accidentally met Yang Junchen’s and, in his haste to avert his sight elsewhere, looked straight into the old man’s eyes.

Uhhh… Xiang Jun quickly bowed his head. Why is that man looking at me…?