novelraw Chapter 74 : Daoist Chang’an’s Former Affection
Chapter 74 : Daoist Chang’an’s Former Affection
Chapter 74: Daoist Chang’an’s Former Affection
“Yeah.”
Lu Changyuan answered cleanly.
Who else could it be but me? Could I possibly be Heaven’s Dao itself?
Jiang Jiayi’s body trembled slightly as she spoke softly, “Sect Master, it has been a long time.”
Lu Changyuan gave a quiet “Mm,” his expression somewhat complicated.
“Hm? What are you doing?!”
Lu Changyuan’s eyes widened sharply, and not far away, Qiu Yuehan also looked on in shock at the red-robed sword immortal.
The red robe was gently slipped off, revealing a small embroidered bellyband within.
The woman’s smooth, delicate shoulders were laid bare in the air.
Jiang Jiayi walked up to Lu Changyuan.
“Here, the demon mark.”
She pointed at her fair shoulder.
“Sect Master, carve another demon mark for me.”
She paused for a moment.
Then Jiang Jiayi continued, “Otherwise, I’ll tell her about your existence.”
The her she spoke of naturally referred to the current master of the White Domain Dao Sect.
Lu Changyuan raised his brows sharply.
“What are you trying to do?”
Jiang Jiayi’s tone was perfectly justified.
“Back then, I begged you to remove the mark. Now I want it back. Is that not allowed?”
To think such a thing could happen — a beautiful red-robed sword immortal begging to have a demon mark carved on her body.
Jiang Jiayi added, “I can’t beat her. I keep thinking, if it had been me who became your disciple back then, would I have become the number one under heaven instead?”
Lu Changyuan sighed.
Knowing Jiang Jiayi would never let the matter go, he lifted his hand and tapped her shoulder lightly.
The demon mark did not form.
“I can’t carve it. You’ve already perfected your innate sword body. There’s nothing in this world that can leave a trace on you.”
Jiang Jiayi stared blankly at Lu Changyuan’s hand, dazed for a moment, before murmuring, “Even the Sect Master can’t do it?”
Lu Changyuan was silent for a while before replying, “No. Unless I one day step into Jade Radiance again.”
“Then I’ll wait until the Sect Master reaches Jade Radiance, and have you carve it for me then.”
Jiang Jiayi spoke as if it were only natural.
“Once the Sect Master engraves it for me, I’ll go and fight her again.”
Lu Changyuan asked, “What is she doing lately?”
“Subduing demons. The Desire Demon stirred a few days ago, seemingly trying to descend. She can only watch from the peak of Heavenly Mountain.”
“The Desire Demon appeared amidst Blood Thunder. You can tell her that I’ll be heading to the Nether Kingdom soon.” Lu Changyuan waved his hand, rubbing his forehead.
“Now put your clothes back on.”
But the red-robed sword immortal merely said, “The Sect Master saw far more back then. This is nothing in comparison.”
Qiu Yuehan was dumbstruck.
What did she mean by you almost became his disciple? And he saw far more back then? Fairy Yue was suddenly conflicted — was it a mistake to call Lu Changyuan her Master in the first place?
“What exactly did Young Master see back then?”
A lilting voice came from outside as the door suddenly opened.
A young immortal fairy in white robes stood beneath the moonlight, smiling at the three inside.
It seemed the letter was no longer needed.
There was not the slightest trace of surprise on Jiang Jiayi’s face.
She calmly fastened her robe.
“Nothing.”
Qiu Yuehan felt an odd sense of déjà vu.
This scene — it felt like she had lived through it before.
Only, last time, she had been the one in the lead role.
Xia Lianxue took slow steps toward Lu Changyuan.
“Hm? Young Master, I have a few questions for you — about Senior Sister’s demon mark, and also Sword Immortal Jiang’s...”
Jiang Jiayi interrupted Xia Lianxue, saying, “I’ll take her back to the sect first. You shouldn’t stay in the mortal world too long. Otherwise, the heavenly tribulation will find you again.”
Without waiting for Lu Changyuan to respond, the sword immortal wrapped her arm around Qiu Yuehan and departed.
“Young Master? Look into my eyes. Can you tell me what’s going on?”
The little fairy smiled softly, but in her eyes flickered something utterly terrifying.
Lu Changyuan couldn’t read it, but his back went cold.
He coughed twice.
“The demon mark is for seeking the Dao. Truly. Come, I’ll explain it properly.”
Xia Lianxue obediently walked to his side and took his teacup.
“The tea’s gone cold, Young Master. You’d better not drink it.”
Her smile never once faltered.
Lu Changyuan asked again, “You leaving Heavenly Mountain — is that really all right?”
“I used a time technique to suspend my state. It can keep me in my Heavenly Mountain condition for half a day. Once it’s dawn, I’ll have to return.”
Lu Changyuan turned his head toward the moon outside the window.
Could someone please save him?
This was urgent.
The little fairy took his chin and turned his head back.
“Young Master, your explanation? You’ve hidden so much from me — it hurt, you know?”
In a few swift motions, she loosened his robes.
“Wait— at least turn off the lamp!”
But Xia Lianxue had no such intent.
Instead, she looked at the scars across Lu Changyuan’s body, her eyes full of pain.
It had only been a few days since he had endured the Blood Thunder with his bare body.
His flesh had not yet fully healed — the newly grown, faintly pink flesh under the blackened wounds made one’s heart tremble.
The little fairy’s slender hand brushed over his wounds.
“Does it hurt?”
“It’s fine.”
Xia Lianxue had never intended to condemn him.
She was far too heartbroken for that.
She only wanted him to know — even if he didn’t mind, he couldn’t just bring anyone home, could he?!
“It must hurt a lot.”
Lu Changyuan exhaled.
“Truly, it’s fine. You just stay safely in Heavenly Mountain. I’ll make a trip to the Nether Kingdom and bring back the Sun and Moon Dial. That way, you won’t have to remain trapped there.”
It was said that three thousand years ago, there was a prodigious cultivator titled Lord of the Nether, who, after many years of cultivation, ascended to Jade Radiance.
Wishing to transcend Jade Radiance itself, he created the Nether Kingdom, drawing both the souls and resentments of all beings into it, and refined them together into a Dao artifact — the Sun and Moon Dial.
Later, the Nether Kingdom shattered, the Lord of the Nether perished, and the Dial was lost to the mortal world.
Eventually, it was by chance that the master of the Sun-Moon Palace discovered it and used it to found the Sun-Moon Palace.
With the Dial’s aid, the palace flourished rapidly.
Lu Changyuan’s reason for seeking the Sun and Moon Dial was simple — the object could obscure Heaven’s will and trace the past.
Xia Lianxue could only remain on Heavenly Mountain now, but if she had the Sun and Moon Dial, she would be able to travel anywhere under the heavens.
The little fairy rested her head gently against Lu Changyuan’s chest, listening to his heartbeat.
She couldn’t tell whether it was his heart or hers that was beating faster.
“There’s no need for that. The Nether Kingdom lies beyond the Dao — it’s dangerous. I’ll be fine staying on Heavenly Mountain.”
Lu Changyuan cut her off.
“I’m familiar with the Nether Kingdom. It won’t be dangerous.”
He still had to visit the Nether Kingdom to pay his respects to the Dao, after all.
Xia Lianxue didn’t doubt him.
But the thought that he didn’t have to go, yet was doing it for her sake, made her heart ache.
When she lifted her gaze again, the emotions in her eyes had softened into ripples of water.
She whispered, “Young Master, tell me another story — the story of the Sun-Moon Palace.”
Lu Changyuan thought for a moment.
“When I retraced the Red Dust, I met Su Wu Xiang and the master of the Sun-Moon Palace. Later, they founded the palace together.”
The little fairy wrapped her arms around his waist.
“The Third Princess said several times that the master of the Sun-Moon Palace was a woman.”
Lu Changyuan chuckled lightly.
He reminisced, “She was. Back then, we almost became Dao companions...”
Oh no.
He had said something he shouldn’t have.
Lu Changyuan lowered his head, only to see the little fairy’s brow gathered in a murderous chill.
He reached out to ruffle her hair and explained, “We didn’t. Later, we had a falling out and never spoke again.”