Co-translator: Luckykoi

Lord Shen widened his eyes in astonishment. He had more questions on his mind but Bai Fanlu didn’t have any intention of explaining further to him.

Even if Xiang Wanyi was kind by nature, once his true identity was exposed, people would ceaselessly find ways to obliterate his existence out of dread and fear.

To ordinary people, his very existence was an immense threat.

After the time it took for an incense stick to burn to its end or thereabouts, the door was opened from the inside. Shen Lanshan walked out. Even though he was leaning weakly against the door frame, his eyes revealed that he had regained his mind.

“Lanshan!” Lord Shen was beyond ecstatic as he hurried up to support him. He asked with uncertainty, “A-Are you better now?”

“Father, please forgive your unfilial son for causing you to worry.”

Carried by emotion, Lord Chen embraced his son and tears involuntarily flowed down. Shen Lanshan embraced his father as well, and the household servants raised their sleeves to wipe their tears.

Bai Fanlu watched this from the sidelines and did not see Xiang Wanyi come out. Then, a white silhouette flickered from the window, and he felt that Wanyi had reattached himself to him.

Wanyi was probably afraid of startling others. Hence, he had furtively come over through the window.

“Immortal Master is the Shen family’s greatest benefactor!”

Lord Shen dragged Shen Lanshan over to pay their respects to Bai Fanlu, but Bai Fanlu hastily helped them up. “There’s no need.”

He took out the longevity lock from the folds of his robes and spoke. “I’ve cast a protective ward on this lock. Young Master Shen, for your safety, please always carry it with you.”

“Thank you so much!” Master Shen thanked him profusely, receiving the item and putting it on his son.

Shen Lanshan looked at Bai Fanlu and his gaze was seemingly able to penetrate through him to see the shadow hidden on him.

Bai Fanlu gave him a slight nod.

Seeing that Bai Fanlu was about to leave, Lord Shen hastily spoke, “Immortal Master, are you about to depart? Please rest in my humble abode for the night. Tomorrow, I’ll send my men to prepare a small gift for you. Please don’t refuse it, Immortal Master, otherwise I can’t feel at ease!”

Naturally, Bai Fanlu didn’t intend to leave right away, but he was worried that Xiang Wanyi would feel uncomfortable if he was away from the bridge too long.

“Thank you, Lord Shen. I regret that I do have something to trouble you with and I’ll be accepting your hospitality. However, I need to temporarily take my leave now.”

“That’s great, then please be on your way. I’ll have someone wait for you at the door.”

When Bai Fanlu left, he could still feel their gazes fixated on his figure.

From the moment Shen Lanshan came out of his house, he had only said one sentence to his father. Bystanders were of the opinion that it could be due to having been bedridden for a long time that made him unable to get his spirits up, but Bai Fanlu could read the reluctance and despondency in his expression. He guessed that Xiang Wanyi should have confessed the situation to him.

Back at the bridge, the tattered talismans rustled in the evening breeze. Finding them an eyesore, Bai Fanlu waved his hand and burned them all.

At this time, Xiang Wanyi left Bai Fanlu’s body and took on an illusory form, just in time to see him do this.

“Young Master, I’m curious about something. Do you mind me asking?”

Bai Fanlu brushed off the dust on his hands and felt that the bridge was much tidier and pleasant to the eyes.

“What is it? Go ahead. Also, don’t address me as ‘Young Master’. Lufan will do.”

“All right, Lufan.” Wanyi also wasn’t one for formalities. He smiled faintly. “You’re an immortal, right? I could sense it when on you just now.”

“Yes, why?” Was the immortal aura on him overwhelming for Wanyi?

After Xiang Wanyi left Bai Fanlu, he gradually regained his incorporeal soul form. The smile was so faint that it was almost imperceptible. Yet, Bai Fanlu could imagine how his expression was at the moment because a remarkably soothing atmosphere wrapped around him, like a cleansing spring breeze.

It was odd. Even though he had the misfortune of walking on the path of demonic cultivation, he still got an unfathomable feeling from Xiang Wanyi.

Oblivious to Bai Fanlu’s thoughts, Xiang Wanyi continued, “I didn’t expect that you would be willing to help me despite knowing my identity. Compared to those immortals who had come here in the past, none were like you. You rather surprised me.”

Bai Fanlu unconsciously smiled. Was the feeling mutual?

One was a demon but unlike any demon; one was an immortal unlike any immortal. It was no wonder that they felt a resonance with each other.

Suddenly, he thought of Xiao Liu. That youth argued that there was no difference between immortals and demons. Now, from the looks of it, Xiao Liu was conversely more perceptive than he was.

“You’re the one who surprised me. You’re clearly a demon, yet you try your utmost to do good by others.”

“Lufan…” Xiang Wanyi could hear the concern in Bai Fanlu’s voice.

Bai Fanlu sighed. He said grimly, “You only have a year left. Do you really intend to go on like this?”

Xiang Wanyi fell silent for a moment. “Lanshan had asked this too when I spoke to him earlier. Actually, I didn’t want to tell him this at first, but I also feel that what you said makes sense.”

“Sometimes, to those you cherish, kind deception is no different from drinking poison to quench thirst. Instead of departing without farewells, it is better to live in the present moment together without regrets.”

Bai Fanlu’s guess was right. Wanyi had listened to his advice and had opened up to Shen Lanshan, telling him that his days were numbered and that he didn’t have a next life.

In the novel, Yun Zhan didn’t tell Xiang Wanyi to do this, nor did the book’s Bai Fanlu. However, when reading, Bai Fanlu had felt that if a person cared for someone, he shouldn’t lie to them, especially in matters regarding life and death.

Although doing this seemed a bit too cruel, in Bai Fanlu’s opinion, if he had sincere intentions for someone, and that someone returned this sincerity, then whether in life or in death, they should be honest with each other.

The right of decision lies with the significant other—the right to speak lies with oneself.

But on the flip side, if his significant other were to deceive him and say that it was for his own good, Bai Fanlu might not easily choose to forgive.

Bai Fanlu had never been in love, but he felt that that was the way it should be. Who didn’t have such idealistic daydreams? As for how it would be in reality, he’d take it as it came.

The two of them sat by the stream in silence for a while. Xiang Wanyi reminded him, “It’s getting late. You should go back.”

Only then did Bai Fanlu get up. Wanyi was like a dear friend to him and, for a moment, he had lost track of time.

“There will surely be a way. Don’t give up.”

Bai Fanlu didn’t know why he would say so. He hadn’t thought through the specifics, but he believed that if there’s a will, nothing was impossible.

However, Wanyi shook his head. He said in relief, “I initially thought that I would suffer through this year alone. Thankfully, with your help, I can now spend these last days with Lanshan. I am already content, and I dare not ask for more.”

When they parted, Bai Fanlu glanced back at the silhouette by the bridge. He felt as though there was an immense weight, like a large stone, pressing down heavily on his heart.

The next day, Bai Fanlu had packed up and was about to bid his farewells to Lord Shen when a household servant came to notify him that Lord Shen was already waiting for him. A young man had come knocking in the early hours of the day, asking for Lord Lufan by name.

Bai Fanlu was wondering who it could be, but upon hearing the servant mention the name Lufan, he immediately guessed it.

Sure enough, as soon as he walked out of the inner courtyard, he saw the young man waiting expectantly at the entrance of the main hall. He was accompanied by the white monkey on his shoulder.

The moment he saw Bai Fanlu, Xiao Liu waving exuberantly and called out at once.

“Immortal brother, I’ve caught up to you!”

Bai Fanlu was dumbfounded. He didn’t expect Xiao Liu to be this tenacious. From the two dark circles under his eyes, it was quite probable that the youth forgo all sleep to rush over.

“How did you find me?”

“With Zhizhi, of course!”

What on earth? Is that a monkey’s nose or a dog’s nose?

Bai Fanlu gave the white monkey a pointed glare. That fellow trilled and made faces at him, then softly chittered in greeting.

Bai Fanlu was exasperated, “All right.”

He had no choice. He’d first bid his farewells to Lord Shen, then deal with this brat.

Bai Fanlu walked into the main hall. Lord Shen and Shen Lanshan were already waiting for him. After a night’s rest, Shen Lanshan’s complexion looked better.

Aside from the tea set prepared on the table, there were also silver ingots neatly arranged on a tray and resplendent robes of silk and satin.

“I don’t know how to show my gratitude, so I offer these humble gifts in the hopes that the Immortal master will not despise them.”

Bai Fanlu had expected that Lord Shen would bestow him with gifts of gratitude, and while he did come here for the reward, it wasn’t his main objective.

Since Lord Shen was sincere, Bai Fanlu didn’t put up any pretences and requested frankly, “There’s no need for these. But I do have a favour that I would like to ask Lord Shen for.”

“Immortal master, don’t hesitate, please speak.”

“It shames me to say that I’m in urgent need of a horse for transportation if it’s possible…” Bai Fanlu paused.

Lord Shen seemed completely thrown off guard that all he wanted was a mere horse. While he found it strange, he readily agreed to the request. “That is easy! It’s only a horse; I’m in possession of a few good horses, Immortal master, you may take your pick.”

Bai Fanlu was about to clasp his hands together in gratitude when Xiao Liu suddenly tugged at his sleeve, asking softly, “Immortal brother, why do you need a horse for?”

What else? Ride it, of course.

Bai Fanlu said, “I’ll tell you more later”

Bai Fanlu chose a red bay horse in the end. Before he left, he even specially bid farewell to Shen Lanshan, reminding him to keep his silver lock close at hand.

In the presence of Lord Shen, Shen Lanshan courteously responded. Assuming that he had nothing more to say, Bai Fanlu turned to leave. But no sooner had he taken a few steps than Shen Lanshan caught up to him, shaking off the servants that followed behind.

“Young Master Lu, if there’s any way to save him, I’m willing to sacrifice everything!”

His words were concise and his expression was earnest. As soon as he said those few words, his agitation caused him to cough violently again, until a servant rushed over to support him. Shen Lanshan reluctantly turned around, still pleading, “Please, you must… you must…”

The emotion surging in those deep-set eyes was so heavy that when Bai Fanlu saw it, he felt the rims of his own eyes moisten.

“I will think of a way. Rest assured and take care of yourself.”

It wasn’t ‘there will surely be a way’ as he mentioned last night but ‘I will think of a way’.

Bai Fanlu didn’t know why he promised something that he was unsure of. At first, he had only decided to stick his nose into this for the sole purpose of procuring a horse.

He had felt quite sorry for Xiang Wanyi’s ending when reading the novel and even joined the other readers in leaving comments, begging the author to give him a better ending.

But now, this regret had taken shape, materialising into a vague idea.

And the moment the thought appeared, the voice of the system sound rang in his mind—

[Side quest unlocked: ‘The good deserves a good ending’. Quest objective: Help Wanyi enter the cycle of reincarnation.]
[Quest achievement rewards: ‘Reader's Brain Fragment’ x5. Activate the hidden events to obtain additional rewards.]
[Quest hint: The banks of the Yellow Springs, Mengpo Soup. The living are dead and the dead are living.]

“Immortal brother, what are you trying to solve? Can I help you?”

Bai Fanlu was still mulling over the system prompts when Xiao Liu’s voice interrupted him.

But he was in no mood to be bothered with him. Bai Fanlu led the horse out of the town, planning to purchase food reserves for the journey when he abruptly found that there was a cloth bag hanging from the horse’s neck. When he opened it, several silver ingots were revealed.

It was only then that Bai Fanlu realised why Lord Shen didn’t insist on giving him the silver ingots. He had secretly placed them here.

If that was the case, then he may as well accept it. The journey ahead was long. He could use this to cover travel expenses, saving him the trouble of earning money.

Bai Fanlu kept the money inside his enchanted pouch and purchased the travel essentials. He had led the horse outside the village and was just about to get on. However, Xiao Liu was still following doggedly behind him.

Bai Fanlu couldn’t help but ask, “Why do you insist on following me?”

Xiao Liu gazed at the sky. “A good man ought to be ambitious. I aspire to be like Immortal brother, upholding justice across the lands.”

This ‘good man ought to be ambitious’ took Bai Fanlu right out of it. He seemed to have said the exact same before.

Oh, right! Come to think of it, he had said the same to Yun Zhan.

“I’m not upholding any sort of justice, I just have some business to attend to.”

“Then I promise that I won’t interfere,” Xiao Liu raised his hand and vowed.

Defeated, Bai Fanlu got onto the horse without another word. Xiao Liu unexpectedly continued chasing after him and very quickly, he began to gasp for breath.

Bai Fanlu couldn’t bear to watch anymore and stopped.

If it wasn’t Xiao Liu and instead was anyone else, he would have flicked the whip and dashed into the distance.

“Truth be told, when I received a blow by that scheming Flower Thief the night before, my spiritual energy was affected. I’m afraid that you will not learn anything even if you come with me, and I’ve no way of protecting you if we encounter danger.”

“What?” Xiao Liu continued panting loudly like a bull. He calmed down, then stuck both hands on his hips, saying gravely, “Then all the more reason for me to protect you!”

“...” Defeated again, Bai Fanlu’s head started to ache. “Let me draw an analogy for you. The place that I’m heading to is thousands of miles away from here. I initially intended to activate a spell to reach there in less than half a day’s time, but now I’ve got to go by foot, and it might even take me years to do so. So, you see—”

Bai Fanlu patted the red bay horse under him. “I went out of the way to get this. Even if I’m riding a horse, it’ll still take me a long time. Why do you want to waste time with me?”

“Ah?” Xiao Liu abruptly widened his eyes.

Oh, he’s finally getting it, Bai Fanlu thought to himself. The example he had just given was deliberately exaggerated to scare off this ignorant brat. It finally seemed to be working.

But never did he expect that the rascal did not raise his voice this time, but he even had a look of enlightenment all over his face.

“Immortal brother, why didn’t you say so earlier? I’ve got something! It’s much stronger than your skinny little horse, hands down.”

How is this horse skinny? It’s clearly very strong, alright? Bai Fanlu thought to himself. The youth must have said so on a whim. What way could he possibly have? Was he really going to materialise a plane in this day and age?

But Xiao Liu whipped out a jade leaf from his collar and brought it to his lips. Then, a crystal-clear, drawn-out whistle pierced the air straight through to the skies.

Before Bai Fanlu could comprehend the situation, he saw that where the wilderness and the blue sky converged, a faint black dot appeared in the far distance.

This black dot gradually grew larger, swiftly streaking in their direction. When he was finally able to make out the outline of it, he saw a white stallion with black hooves, whinnying as it galloped towards them.

Ding, ding! The system rang again.

[Congratulations on unlocking the hidden event ‘The Horse Proudly Gallops in the Gentle Breeze of Spring’. This is a reward of ’The Divine Steed, Silver Snow’ and ‘Reader's Brain Fragment x3’.]