Rebirth As A Human Cauldron Chapter 22 part 2

Chapter 22 Part 2

With this thought in mind, Qin Duan refrained from asking. He picked up the tea pot from the table and poured himself a cup of tea.

The man turned his head slightly and spoke gently, “Both of you have traveled all the way here. It must have been tiring. I’ve prepared guest rooms in the mansion. Please rest for a while.”

Wu Que’s mind was in chaos, and he was eager to get away from Qin Duan. He followed a servant and left without even looking back.

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The sight of Qin Duan protecting Feng Li had ignited jealousy within Wen Yushu. He had lost his temper, smashing a teapot in the process. Shards had pierced his arm, and it took him a while to clean up the mess and apply medicine. He had rushed over to see him immediately after, but when they faced each other, he found himself unable to speak.

Even if it was just a little bit, he didn’t want his little Xù gege to see him as a malicious and dark-hearted person.

So, Wen Yushu smiled faintly. He lightly touched his slender and pale fingers to Qin Duan’s, brushing against the gaps between his fingers. “I’m sorry.”

“…”

Qin Duan felt as though his heart was melting under that slightly weakened smile. He couldn’t muster stern words, so he could only give Wen Yushu’s face an annoyed pinch. “You really are a bunch of troublemakers.”

He sighed and pulled out a chair to sit down. He casually remarked, “How’s Feng Li’s injury? It’s not a big deal, right… Do you need me to take a look?”

Wen Yushu’s eyelashes trembled, and the fingers hidden in his sleeves clenched into a fist.

“Naturally, it’s not a big deal… A few days of rest and it will be fine, you don’t have to… worry.”

“That’s good.” 

Qin Duan picked up a piece of mung bean cake from the snack box and put it in his mouth. He mumbled, “Hmm, while you’re at it, tell me about that ritual… How exactly is it performed?”

He finished speaking, but he didn’t get an answer until he had swallowed the food. Qin Duan raised his eyebrows in surprise, looking up to find Wen Yushu’s face devoid of color. Alarmed, he quickly reached out to support him. “You…”

Before he could even touch the other person’s body, he was tightly grasped by the other’s hand. The strength was so great that he couldn’t break free for a moment. Qin Duan’s wrist was starting to ache from being held so tightly. Instinctively, he struggled a bit, and he noticed that blood was starting to seep through the bandages on the other person’s wrist.

In that moment of relaxation, he was suddenly pulled into an embrace filled with the scent of medicine. Wen Yushu buried his face in Qin Duan’s shoulder and asked in a barely audible voice, “Can we escape…?”

Qin Duan was taken aback, thinking he had misheard. It wasn’t until he was almost out of breath from being squeezed around the waist that he realized the gravity of the situation.

He knew what Wen Yushu was afraid of, so he comforted him by patting his back.

“Don’t mess around, Yùshū,” he said. “I need to know the truth.”

The dream he had seen through the heavenly dao, the unfinished words that had been left hanging… and all the signs that pointed to the ritual that was to take place at midnight tonight – he wasn’t meant to be a sacrificial offering; he was the soul slumbering beneath the altar.

“I…,” Wen Yushu’s voice trembled intensely, as if he might burst into tears at any moment. “Why is it that even though I know… I can’t stop it…”

Qin Duan stroked the smooth hair at the back of his head. “We’re both humans, Yùshū… Though I don’t believe in gods or fate, we’re both humans.”

We’re both just tiny specks in this vast land of Zhōng Zhōu. It’s so difficult to change this world, but all we can do is hold each other’s hands as tightly as we can.

“Nothing bad will happen… Rest assured. After all, weren’t they planning to resurrect ‘me’? Even the heavenly dao can’t casually spread lies, can it?”

Words are often powerless, yet they can still offer comfort.

Wen Yushu slowly lifted his head. Tear drops glistened on his eyelashes, and his lips were pursed tightly. A few strands of black hair were stuck to his face, giving him a somewhat pitiful appearance.

Qin Duan couldn’t hold back anymore. He leaned forward and kissed Wen Yushu’s forehead. He was about to speak when the door behind them suddenly swung open.

Bai Lingzhi stood outside the door with a dark expression, looking at the two figures wrapped in an embrace inside the room. He asked in a hoarse voice, “What are you doing?”

Due to the array Qin Duan had inadvertently triggered outside the city, its strokes and patterns were almost identical to those of his master. Although Qin Duan had demonstrated drawing symbols and formations in front of him before, due to his right hand being sealed, most of his work had been done with his left hand, resulting in distinct differences.

Bai Lingzhi had learned almost everything from Qin Duan himself, so he was extremely familiar with his master’s handwriting. Even though there was a prophecy, and the reincarnation inherited the memories, appearance, and personality of the original, when he saw that formation, he felt doubtful. When he thought about their past interactions, he couldn’t maintain his calm anymore. He had followed the arrangements of the man to take care of that annoying Feng Li, and as soon as he was done, he rushed over.

… only to witness this scene.

It was as if something was pressing on his chest, making it hard for him to catch his breath. He stared at Wen Yushu with his wide golden eyes, almost wanting to tear him apart.

Sensing the aura of killing intent emanating from him, Qin Duan instinctively positioned himself in front of his childhood friend. “Why are you here?”

Bai Lingzhi sneered, “If I hadn’t come, would you already be in bed with that brat?” His words ended with a trace of self-unnoticed bitterness.

Qin Duan couldn’t stand Bai Lingzhi’s unfiltered remarks. He was about to reprimand him when Wen Yushu steadied himself with Qin Duan’s help and raised his head slightly in Bai Lingzhi’s direction. He spoke calmly, “Lord Bai, it was you who personally handed him over to me back then.”

Though his words were few, each word held deep meaning.

Seeing his disciple biting his lip, looking pale as if he were dead, Qin Duan sighed, “I…”

“I regret it,” Bai Lingzhi interrupted, his tone forceful. “Can’t I regret it? After all, I was the one who found it first. No matter what, it’s mine…”

“He’s a person, not an object,” Wen Yushu retorted. “Lord Bai, you’re quite a renowned figure. How can you be so inconsistent in your actions?”

“Sticking to conventions is the Dao cultivators’ thing. I’m a demonic cultivator. We should act as we please, without any restraints!” Bai Lingzhi took a step forward to grab Qin Duan’s hand. “Now I want to take back what’s mine. Is Master Wen trying to compete with me using his body?!”

Seeing his frustration, Wen Yushu retorted sarcastically, “Is Lord Bai so certain that he’s willing to go with you? Back then, you were the one who pushed him away, and now you’re the one regretting it…”

“Enough, Yùshū,” Qin Duan weakly interrupted. “He’s immature. Why are you meddling… Hissss, are you trying to crush my hand?”

“You even call him by his name…” Bai Lingzhi’s voice trembled with anger. “He hurt you, too. What’s so great about him? Why do you treat him this way?”

“…”

Wen Yushu’s face drained of color after that sentence, and his lips quivered for a moment before he managed to say anything.

Sometimes unintentional listeners are attentive. There was a fleeting moment when even Qin Duan thought that Bai Lingzhi had realized something, but he quickly realized that he was only referring to his involvement with the Wen household.

Seeing the two of them with pale faces, he could only feel a headache coming on. He sighed deeply with his eyes closed. “It’s all in the past. I don’t blame either of you.”

The misunderstanding from his previous life was already the deepest regret in Wen Yushu’s heart. After peering into the secrets of the universe, this regret didn’t heal; instead, it grew even heavier.

As a result, he began to nervously doubt everything he saw in his final moments. So, when he first saw the reborn Qin Duan, he repeatedly tested his identity. Only after leading him to the back mountain did he finally confirm it.

Qin Duan knew about Wen Yushu’s sensitive and suspicious nature, as well as how Bai Lingzhi’s careless remark would affect him. Thus, when he spoke, it was mainly directed at him. However, while Bai Lingzhi was sharp, he was unaware of the intricacies between the two, believing that Wen Yushu had forgiven him, which gave him confidence, making him act recklessly.

Raising an eyebrow, he smiled with his bright golden eyes. When Wen Yushu momentarily lost focus, he embraced Qin Duan, saying playfully, “Master, I want one too.”

Qin Duan was baffled. “Want what?”

Bai Lingzhi leaned over and nuzzled his face. “What you did to him just now.” Then, he looked teasingly at Wen Yushu. “I want you to kiss me too.”

“Little brat, stop playing around.”

Bai Lingzhi huffed and stubbornly clung to him. Afraid of upsetting Wen Yushu further, Qin Duan tugged his sleeve and said, “We’ll talk about it later.”

“I want it right in front of him… Master, if you don’t kiss me, I’ll kiss you.” The snake demon declared, half revealing his crimson tongue as he lightly licked Qin Duan’s neck.

Qin Duan shivered involuntarily and was about to reprimand him when he saw Wen Yushu weakly smile and say, “Since the two of you are in such high spirits, I won’t disturb you…”. He slowly continued, “Please let me be alone for a moment. I’ll think carefully about what you said.”

With the conversation reaching this point, pressing on seemed unnecessary. Qin Duan nodded, “Take care, Yù Shū…”

“I’m fine,” Wen Yushu shook his head. “Let me have some time alone. I’ll contemplate your words. Since we’ve reached this point, further questioning might not be productive.”

Qin Duan was about to continue but hesitated. “Yù Shū…”

“I’m alright,” Wen Yushu interrupted gently. “Just let me have some peace for now. I’ll think over what you said.” 

Since the conversation had reached this point, pushing further seemed counterproductive. Qin Duan nodded, “Take care, Yù Shū…”

“Regarding the ritual tonight, how is it going to be conducted?” Bai Lingzhi suddenly interjected. “The most crucial part of the prophecy we received in Demonic Abyss Valley was heard by you… You took my Master’s Shura Fan and sealed it beneath the mountain. What purpose does it serve?”

“Shura Fan was the most intimate belonging of his life. I used it to naturally attract Qin Duan’s soul. As for the specifics, you’ll find out later.” Wen Yushu finished and left the room, making sure to close the door behind them.

Qin Duan was pondering about the Shura Fan when he suddenly felt his lips cooling. Bai Lingzhi was lowering his head, deliberately brushing his silver scales against Qin Duan’s lips, leaving a gentle touch.

His most willful and indulgent disciple had a day where he voluntarily lowered his head – although he still hadn’t confirmed his own identity.

It seemed that the truth had been exposed by the array outside the city. Qin Duan gently ran his fingers through the person’s silver hair, not saying anything.

He knew the person wouldn’t ask, and even if he did, he couldn’t answer.

As Qin Duan’s long fingers ran through his hair, Bai Lingzhi felt strands of hair intertwining and gently pulling on his scalp, creating a faint itch.

Once upon a time, there was also someone who held the young him in their arms, teaching him step by step how to set up formations and draw symbols, guiding him into the world of cultivation.

That person’s body was cool, like an eternal iceberg that would never melt, yet their breath was warm, awakening the hibernating snake within him…

Bai Lingzhi closed his eyes, suppressing the fluctuating emotions as he embraced Qin Duan as tightly as possible.

… But inevitably, someone would eventually pull away.

The room that was just lively suddenly fell quiet. Feeling a bit uncomfortable, Qin Duan returned to his seat and quietly finished the pastries on the table as he sipped the cold tea, which had lost its warmth as night descended.

Flicking away the crumbs from his fingertips, Qin Duan stood up as the evening sky turned dark. When Wu Que came to accompany him, he smiled and said, “Let’s go.”

***