Fire—flames spread across the sky, engulfing the entire mountain, staining the horizon red.
Xiao Lingyu stood there as if he could feel no pain, staring blankly toward the foot of the mountain.
There, the man he had loved so dearly held a young man in blue robes in his arms, speaking to him with complete tenderness. Xiao Lingyu didn’t even need to use his spiritual senses to hear the words; he could guess perfectly what was being said: that all of Xiao Lingyu’s past crimes and evils had led to his inevitable downfall, that the junior disciple shouldn’t grieve, and so on.
In that man’s eyes, Xiao Lingyu had been cruel, ruthless, and utterly wicked, while the man in his embrace was innocent, pure, and flawless. Yet did that man remember that Xiao Lingyu had once been innocent and pure too? For that man’s ambition, Xiao Lingyu had stained his hands with blood, abandoned conscience, betrayed his master, destroyed his clan, and fallen into darkness—only to receive the cold judgment: “You brought this upon yourself.” The disdain in that man’s eyes was blatant and unyielding.
Tears slid down Xiao Lingyu’s face, but the scorching flames dried them before they could touch the ground, just like his pitiful and tragic love.
At the foot of the mountain, the man in white robes continued tenderly addressing the young man in blue, while Xiao Lingyu on the burning peak longed for even a single glance from him—yet it was impossible. Piece by piece, his heart turned to ashes. He lifted his gaze and softly began to chant toward the foot of the mountain:
“Behold the Qi’ao, the green bamboo flourishing. There is a gentleman, skilled in cut and polish, like carving and grinding. Refined and splendid, oh noble one, you shall never vanish!”
Yes… a true gentleman, skilled in cut and polish.
He remembered when, as a child, he had been brought up the mountain by his master. Among the full hall of people, that man in white stood against the light, beautiful as a deity descended from heaven.
Young Xiao Lingyu, naive and ignorant of the world, had thought him the most beautiful person he had ever seen—even surpassing the champions described in plays. Foolishly, he spoke it aloud, only to receive strange glances from everyone. Fear gripped his heart, yet the man showed no anger; instead, he smiled gently, like a spring breeze. That smile imprinted itself on Xiao Lingyu’s heart, and over the years, he had been irresistibly drawn to that gentleness, love taking root.
He said he admired talent, so Xiao Lingyu stayed up late in secret to practice calligraphy and memorize poetry.
He said he disliked those stronger than himself, so Xiao Lingyu restrained his cultivation, always acting submissive by his side.
He said he wanted to see what lay in the forbidden area, so Xiao Lingyu risked life and limb to sneak into the rear mountain, enduring severe injuries just to help him uncover its secrets.
He said he wanted to become sect leader, so Xiao Lingyu abandoned conscience and cleared every obstacle for him, earning a reputation as ruthless and heartless.
He said he wanted to eradicate the demonic sect, so Xiao Lingyu willingly fell into darkness to serve him, yet the news caused his master’s heart and qi to fail, leading to a fatal backlash.
He had smiled tenderly at Xiao Lingyu, spoken sweet words, and promised a shared life of longevity.
He had said much, but done nothing.
And Xiao Lingyu… had been foolish enough to believe him.
Even as news of his betrayal spread, Xiao Lingyu refused to believe it. Driven by faith in the man’s supposed hidden motives, he stormed into the sect. The sect naturally struck down this disciple who had betrayed master and clan, fallen into darkness, but Xiao Lingyu pressed on, arriving before the man only to see him tenderly holding another, face full of affection. When his gaze lifted to Xiao Lingyu, it was cold as frost.
Then came a palm that sent him flying from the hall into the Nine Nether Flame Array.
Even then, foolishly, he had absorbed the blow himself, sparing the man from harming him, breaking every tendon and sinew.
Couldn’t he see that Xiao Lingyu was already beyond survival?
The Nine Nether Flame Array—was it meant to obliterate him completely, leaving no soul to reincarnate?
Laughing bitterly, Xiao Lingyu lifted his head to the sky.
“Ha… ha… ha… Xiao Lingyu, you are pitiful, truly pitiful. You thought your love would be returned, that your bloodshed, betrayal, and ambition for him could earn his heart… but he never loved you. All the promises, the shared life, were lies! Your whole life… a joke!”
The laughter rang shrill and cruel, echoing like the cries of the dead.
As the sound reached the mountain, the man in white briefly glanced toward the summit, disdain flashing in his eyes. The young man in blue frowned, speaking gently:
“Senior Brother Yuan, Master Brother Yu truly loved you. No matter what he did before, he is about to die. Please don’t hate him anymore.”
The man in white softened his voice, speaking carefully:
“That person has always been cunning. How do we know his feelings are genuine? He has used love as a guise to harm you repeatedly. A fire killing him would be mercy enough; no need for pleas.”
Looking at the young man again, he continued, “Xuan’er, I know your nature is gentle. Once the fire dies down, shall we have the guards retrieve his body?”
The young man in blue nodded softly, “That’s fine. In cultivation, a soul without resting place is dangerous. If you retrieve Master Brother Yu’s body, may he be reborn in a good family, living in peace.”
The man in white said with bitterness, “Peace is secondary. The key is that his mind must no longer be as wicked as this life.”
The young man in blue looked up, “Senior Brother?”
The tone was part complaint, part coquettish plea, utterly charming. The man in white melted, replying hurriedly, “Alright, alright, peace… peace.” Yet he couldn’t resist, adding, “Xuan’er, your heart is too soft.”
He embraced the pale, elegant youth, softening his tone further: “Let’s return first. The night wind is strong; I fear for your safety.”
“Mm,” came the quiet reply.
Overjoyed, the man in white commanded guards to leave a few behind to recover the bodies after the flames died, the rest following him back, his commanding aura fully restored.
Four strong, flawless white horses drew a crimson-lacquered carriage. After placing the young man inside, the man in white glanced once more at the burning summit, showing no attachment, and departed.
Four guards remained at the mountain foot, vigilant as they waited for the fire to subside.
One guard asked curiously, “Can you really retrieve a body from the Nine Nether Flame Array? I heard it obliterates the soul completely.”
Another sneered, “The master said it can be done—why question it? Just grab some ashes; no one will care.”
A third added, “Senior Young Master Xuan is the master’s junior disciple. Surely he knows the fire destroys souls?”
The last spoke coldly, “It suffices that the master believes he doesn’t. Gossip about him and you’ll be dead.”
The other three fell silent, guarding the flames around the summit.
At the peak, Xiao Lingyu’s laughter grew faint. The flames engulfed him, yet clad in red robes, face deathly calm, he endured the inferno. Perhaps the pain of betrayal had long since dulled all physical suffering.
As the fire consumed him, the black, ancient bracelet on his wrist glowed faint green under the flames. A hoarse, aged voice called from the summit:
“Foolish child… foolish child!”
Xiao Lingyu, waiting for death, snapped his eyes open, sharp resolve flashing.
“Who’s there?”
Though trapped in the Nine Nether Flame Array, his years of ruthless mastery made him feared across the lands. Few in the younger generation could challenge him. Though he sought death, he would not tolerate intruders.
The voice spoke again: “Don’t ask who I am. I only ask—do you truly wish to die?”
Xiao Lingyu countered: “Truly? Or in pretense?”
The old voice paused, then asked: “What if I could keep you alive?”
“Impossible,” Xiao Lingyu retorted immediately. “I’m grievously wounded, my sinews broken, trapped in the Nine Nether Flame Array. Escape is impossible.”
The voice did not deny, only asked: “If I truly keep you alive, what will you do? Will you cling to that faithless, heartless man?”
Xiao Lingyu froze. He had long sought death, wanting his soul obliterated, never to see that man again. Now he was offered life—and asked what he would do with it.
What would he do with his future?
The question awakened every instinct for survival. His first half of life had been spent entirely for that man. Every thought, every desire, every action revolved around him. Xiao Lingyu had forgotten his own life, his own passions.
He remembered when his master asked him as a child, “Why cultivate immortality?”
“To live forever,” he had answered sincerely.
Now, after years devoted to another’s ambitions, he had long forgotten the purpose of cultivation, hands stained with countless sins. The path to immortality had slipped further away.
Bitterly smiling, clarity returning, Xiao Lingyu spoke slowly:
“I know the first half of my life was a joke. This fire will burn all the past clean. If by fortune I survive, I will start anew.”
“And… what about that man?”
The old voice pressed: “Sever all ties. No more entanglements.”
“Good!” The aged voice sounded delighted, slightly upbeat. “Raise your hand. Look at that bracelet on your wrist.”
Xiao Lingyu examined it curiously.
It was a bracelet he had found as a child in the rear mountains. Curious, he had worn it, and it had grown inseparable from his wrist. Even his master could not remove it, explaining it was no ordinary artifact and a sign of fortune. Over the years, it had grown with him, always fitting his wrist, but never removable. He had even considered giving it to that man, but it was impossible.
The old voice said: “This bracelet is the Nether Bracelet, forged from Nether Stones. Rare in material, it binds spirits. I was trapped in it for countless years. Had you not awakened me with the flames, I would have remained sleeping.”
Xiao Lingyu asked, puzzled: “Why were you trapped? And why have I never heard of Nether Stones?”
“Don’t ask why. Every child in the cultivation world knows its value. How could you not?”
“I am well-read,” Xiao Lingyu said angrily. “I’ve never heard of it.”
The voice dismissed him: “Fine. You’ve never heard. I will first ensure your escape.”
“Escape? How?”
The voice’s tone brightened: “I once mastered a secret technique, ‘Time Reversal.’ By sacrificing some power, I could reverse time. Today, fate has brought you here; you will witness it.”
Xiao Lingyu almost could not believe it. “Time Reversal? Such a skill exists?”
The old voice replied proudly, “Of course. I conquered the cultivation world with it. None dared oppose me.”
Xiao Lingyu interrupted: “Then why were you trapped in the bracelet?”
The pride vanished: “I was careless.”
Xiao Lingyu said nothing. Betrayal by one close to you was a pain he understood well.
The old voice sighed softly: “Even with this technique, I have regrets. How can Heaven make a man perfect?”
“Normally, the spell requires power. Now, in the Nine Nether Flame Array, the energy allows me to perform it.”
“Child, are you ready?”
Though irritated by the term, Xiao Lingyu focused, ready.
Before the spell began, he asked: “Why? Why save me?”
The old voice was silent. Green flames spread across the summit, forming a vortex. Xiao Lingyu was swept in, losing consciousness, hearing only the old voice sigh:
“Because you remind me of an old friend! True devotion is rare in this world.”
That night, the rear mountains of Yuntian Sect burned. Flames red as blood filled the sky. Soon the fire turned green, ghostly mists rising, faintly carrying the wails of a hundred spirits.
The world said: “There may be wronged souls here.”