Hua Che chased while chanting in his heart, "Keep calm, keep calm, keep calm."

Though his cultivation was still shallow, he had at least reached this point; shouldn't Gentle Breeze awaken by now?

In his previous life, he and others came to the Bright Moon Valley for training. He encountered Gentle Breeze, who had been dormant for many years, after accidentally falling into the valley's hundred-meter-deep icy pool while trying to save someone.

Although this encounter was a year earlier than expected, Gentle Breeze was, after all, the sword had accompanied him through many battles, bathed in blood, and engraved in his soul. Would the bond disappear with the flow of time?

Hua Che landed on the mountaintop, gasping for breath. Looking around, the arsonist was nowhere to be seen.

Well, if they wanted to escape, he couldn't catch up in his current state.

Hua Che was pondering whether to go back or go to the cold pool to retrieve the sword when suddenly, a loud noise echoed in the valley!

The entire mountain range trembled!

Hua Che hurriedly grabbed hold of an old locust tree to steady himself. This vibration was extraordinary and seemed familiar.

Before Hua Che could speculate, a dazzling silver light spilled from the fractured valley floor, soaring into the sky!

The familiar aura made Hua Che's heart tremble. Almost instinctively, he chased after it. The closer he got, the stronger the refreshing and gentle aura became.

Gentle Breeze, unlike other swords, was unique. It wasn't as cold and arrogant as Bright Moon, nor as clear as Listening Spring. It stood alone, warm and moist, bringing a gentle breeze. With one stroke, it could traverse the Nine Provinces, bringing spring to withered trees; with one strike, it could dispel darkness, dispersing clouds and revealing clear skies.

That was Gentle Breeze.

Hua Che halted.

The sword, pure and immaculate as frost, was gripped firmly in another's hand—someone else's.

In an instant, Hua Che's gaze turned terrifying.

This arsonist wasn't just here to set the town ablaze; he was also after the ancient sword.

Though the figure was cloaked entirely in black, concealed by a massive cape from head to toe, Hua Che had about seven percent certainty regarding his identity.

"Was it you who set the town on fire?" Hua Che cautiously inquired.

Though the arsonist's face was obscured, being chased here by a sixteen-year-old would startle anyone.

The arsonist stared at him for a moment, but without a word, he drew his sword directly from its sheath and charged towards Hua Che to kill him.

Hua Che hurriedly dodged. Swords with spirits like Gentle Breeze had their own temperaments, and having accompanied it for a hundred years, Hua Che was already familiar with Gentle Breeze's nature. He barely evaded two strikes from the arsonist despite the person’s profound cultivation, who was evidently taken aback. He had expected to easily deal with this inexperienced youngster, but now he was facing a cunning old hand, so he became serious.

The edge of the blade grazed past his neck. If Hua Che hadn't dodged quickly, he would have lost his head.

His vision blurred a bit. He touched the bloodstain on his neck and glared fiercely at the unfaithful Gentle Breeze. "Have you turned against me?"

Whether it was truly startled by his outburst or tasted the familiar scent of blood, Gentle Breeze buzzed with some unease.

The arsonist gripped the sword tightly, his voice low and heavy. "You are already my spiritual weapon. Thinking of betraying me?"

Hua Che sneered. "Who is truly its master?"

The arsonist's killing intent was evident. His sword strikes were fast and ruthless. Even though Hua Che could see the trajectory of the sword, his body couldn't react in time, and in an instant, he was cut open in several places. When the sword came at him again, he didn't dodge. Instead, he reached out and grabbed the blade.

The tip of the sword stopped just inches from Hua Che's heart.

This action even startled the arsonist.

"Once a spiritual weapon acknowledges its master, it will never betray, as long as the soul exists. No matter when or where, whether in the heavens or the underworld, with just one call, it will return immediately." Hua Che tightly held the blade, sliding his hand down from the guard to the tip, staining the entire blade with fresh blood.

In an instant, Gentle Breeze radiated brilliance!

The dazzling silver light reflected Hua Che's excessively pale face. His phoenix eyes were slightly cold, and his lips curled into a bloodthirsty smile. "The spiritual weapon of this Lord. How dare you touch it!"

The arsonist felt a burning sensation in his palm, as if scorched by flames. Instinctively, he let go, and the sword's blade turned, rushing towards his forehead!

At the same time, another sword flew out, and the arsonist, looking into the distance, no longer entangled, quickly left.

Hua Che lowered his eyes, recognizing it was Listening Spring, and turned around to see that indeed it was Chu Binghuan who had followed him.

"It's you. How's Sasa over there..." Seeing him, Hua Che's tense nerves suddenly relaxed, but this relaxation caused him to feel dizzy and weak all over.

"Hua Che!" Chu Binghuan timely hugged him from behind, and upon a closer look, his face changed drastically.

Not just Chu Binghuan, even Hua Che himself was startled.

The front of his clothes had been soaked with blood at some point, and there was a bloody hole in his right chest. Only now did Hua Che feel the pain.

"Don't move." Chu Binghuan seemed more afraid than Hua Che himself, his voice trembling slightly.

Hua Che let Chu Binghuan handle it, loosening his clothes and making a simple first aid treatment for the wound. He seemed to recall that he was injured when he failed to dodge while saving the little girl from the flowing arrows.

Sitting against a tree, Hua Che had lost a lot of blood, feeling extremely dizzy. He tried to stay alert as he watched Chu Binghuan arranging bottles and jars beside him. Chu Binghuan took out all the precious medicines from his sleeve and hurriedly prepared them, occasionally channelling some true energy for Hua Che and feeding him some Spirit Gathering Pills, fearing that Hua Che might pass away if he wasn't careful.

Hua Che seemed quite relaxed, casually admiring the moon and stars, and inadvertently glanced at Chu Binghuan, suddenly unable to hold back his laughter. "Dr. Chu, did you add more Angelica and safflower, or do you think my bleeding isn't enough?"

Chu Binghuan was taken aback, his face turning pale.

Suppressing the urge to burst into laughter, Hua Che put on a wry smile, putting a a ‘my life is so hard, all hope is lost’ kind of expression, said, "Can you handle it? Or should we find another doctor? I don't want to die..."

"..." Chu Binghuan pressed his forehead, "Shut up!"

Hua Che chuckled.

Chu Binghuan took a deep breath, truly troubled. He had completely forgotten the formula he was so familiar with. Clearing his mind, he threw away the medicine he had prepared, digging out the wounded Hua Che from his mind, and started over.

When Hua Che held the sheepskin jade bottle filled with the medicinal liquid, he looked into the distance and asked, "How are they over there?"

"The fire has been extinguished, and they are handling the aftermath." Chu Binghuan urged, "Don't worry about them, drink your medicine."

Hua Che shook the jade bottle, and the medicine inside emitted a friendly call, making Hua Che shiver.

After all, he had suffered greatly from Chu Binghuan's medicine during their hundred years together.

The Demon Lord feared neither heaven nor earth but feared Chu Binghuan's medicine.

That medicine was so bitter that it could shock the world. Once you took it, you wouldn't dare to think about the next time. Chu Binghuan named it "Let's see if you dare to get sick again," which terrified Hua Che, making him flee in panic.

Hua Che was on the verge of tears just from hearing the sound of the medicine rolling, his whole body feeling goosebumps.

"Um, let's just chat for a bit..."

Chu Binghuan was ruthless: "Drink!"

Gulp!

Pinching his nose, Hua Che reluctantly took a sip from the jade bottle and was instantly choked with tears streaming down his face.

Coughing and crying at the same time, Hua Che protested, "If you want me dead, just say it outright. Don't torture me like this!"

Chu Binghuan remained completely unmoved: "Drink it all in one go!"

Hua Che was exasperated: "You're trying to murder your own husband!"

Chu Binghuan: "..."

As soon as those words slipped out, even Hua Che was stunned.

It was just that the atmosphere at the moment was perfect, seamlessly blending with their past life. Speaking without thinking, Hua Che blurted out nonsense.

Chu Binghuan was momentarily taken aback.

It was such a coincidence that the location and the people were all the same.

In their past life, six months after joining the Qing Immortal Sect, they went down the mountain for training, and the location was Bright Moon Valley. When Hua Che fell into the cold pool while saving someone, he had both internal and external injuries.

Chu Binghuan prepared medicine for him, and Hua Che was pleasantly surprised. However, as soon as he took a sip, Hua Che's face changed drastically, and with distorted features, he exclaimed, "It's so bitter!? Quickly take it away, I don't want to drink it!"

Hua Che acted like a three-year-old throwing a tantrum when he refused to drink the medicine, regardless of persuasion or scolding. Chu Binghuan wasn't the patient type either. He decided to take matters into his own hands, sealing Hua Che's acupoints, forcibly prying open his mouth, and pouring the medicine down his throat.

As a result, Hua Che found himself lying on the ground, tears streaming down his face from the bitterness of the medicine. Observers might have mistaken his reaction for mourning the loss of a loved one!

"Chu Binghuan, you're practically murdering your own husband! If you're aiming for widowhood, just come out and say it, and I'll gladly oblige!"

In the end, Chu Binghuan chased him with a sword in the moonlit valley, finally bringing Hua Che to silence.

The bitter medicine notwithstanding, its effects were undeniably beneficial. Hua Che felt particularly embarrassed after making the remark and drank the medicine in one go, fighting back the urge to cry. Suddenly, a sweet taste filled his mouth.

It was candied fruit.

Surprised, Hua Che looked at Chu Binghuan. The supposedly "ruthless" doctor had shown an unexpected touch of consideration? Wasn't he the one who took pleasure in others' suffering after drinking his medicine the most?

The flavour of the candied fruit was unmistakably familiar.

"Where did you get this...?" Hua Che pointed at his pale lips. "Where did you buy it?"

Chu Binghuan opened a white box, revealing over ten different kinds of candied fruits inside. "I made it myself."

Hua Che had a sweet tooth, always preferring candied fruits coated in a thick layer of honey. He especially enjoyed those made from apples, pears, and green plums.

He had tried candied fruits from roadside stalls and those made in the imperial kitchen, but none compared to those made by Chu Binghuan. Hua Che's eyes lit up, and he couldn't resist indulging in every bite.

Unfortunately, Chu Binghuan was quite stingy with his treats. He only generously gave two pieces when Hua Che took his medicine, leaving Hua Che to suffer in silence.

After leaving the Qingxian Sect and parting ways with Chu Binghuan, Hua Che could no longer enjoy candied fruits.

Upon their reunion, they found themselves on opposite sides of life and death, with no thought of Chu Binghuan offering him treats again.

*

After a hundred years, as Hua Che tasted the candied fruits once more, he was almost moved to tears.

He reached out for another piece, then a third, fourth, and fifth, savouring each flavor.

"I didn't expect Young Master Chu to be so skilled in this art," Hua Che remarked with a grin. "Any woman who marries you in the future will be truly fortunate!"

Chu Binghuan glanced at him before igniting a fire with some dried firewood.

"Little Ice Cube, why did you decide not to join the Shang Qing Immortal Sect?"

Chu Binghuan broke off a branch and tossed it into the flames. "Just didn't feel like it."

Hua Che asked in a lazy manner, "Are you interested in achieving enlightenment and becoming an immortal through cultivation?"

Chu Binghuan: "I don't want to."

"Are you saying that you're also attached to the mortal world?" Hua Che was quite surprised, smiling as he asked, "Then tell me, what kind of female cultivator do you like? Someone like you wouldn't marry a woman from the mortal realm, right?"

Chu Binghuan remained silent as Hua Che continued talking to himself, "Firstly, she must come from a distinguished family background, at least matching the status of the Yuntian Shuijing Sect. Secondly, she must have a good personality, be able to handle your icy temperament, be gentle and virtuous, and her cultivation level shouldn't be too low..."

"Hua Qingkong."

"Her character shouldn't be too weak and delicate; she should be strong, able to manage both household affairs and martial arts. Oh, especially, she must be skilled in cooking. You, Young Master Chu, have been pampered since childhood and are very picky. You don't eat meat, only vegetarian dishes, and you dislike onions, ginger, garlic, and chili. You like tofu and noodles..."

Chu Binghuan's heart tightened as he looked deeply at Hua Che. "You... know me so well?"

"You like dumplings, with a mixed filling, and drink only Lu Shan Cloud Mist tea, or, if it's not available, West Lake Dragon Well Longjing tea will do. You don't like alcohol; you only drink Baijiu on special occasions. You have a cleanliness obsession, detest dirt, and if you don't shower after sword practice and go straight to bed, you'll definitely beat someone up..."

A mist seemed to cloud Chu Binghuan's eyes. "Where did you find out all this?"

Hua Che chuckled lightly. "I guessed! Also, every night before bed, you must light a Profound Water incense stick.  want to jot all these down and give them to your destined celestial wife."

Chu Binghuan's expression turned cold. "Shut up and rest."

"Nope," Hua Che smiled, bright and clear, his handsome face revealing undeniable fatigue. "I'm afraid if I shut up now, I won't have the chance to speak again in the future."

 

Translator : DarNan