Chapter 18

Ling Xia packed up with Da Bai first thing in the morning. What he only wants now is to go in a far, far place that doesn’t have anyone who would wrong him, or point fingers at him and say that they mistook him for someone else. He went to the storefront and ordered some rations to the waiter, then he inquired basic informations about the neighboring city so he could make preparations for the journey.

The waiter packed their rations and handed it to him. A hand then patted him on the back. A familliar cheery voice rang: “Senior brother Ling, you’re up so early? What a coincidence though that we’re going on the same route. We should go together.”

Ling Xia silently turned around. Just as he expected, it was that young lad who had blue hair.

Ling Xia replied apathetically: “Oh really? What a coincidence.”

Su Mu Zhe carefully studied his expression. He smiled and said: “It looks like senior brother Ling didn’t have a proper sleep last night, what seems to be bothering you?”

“Many thanks to senior brother Su’s concern. I actually slept well.” Ling Xia walked directly pass him. He didn’t have any interest to travel with this trashy mouth Su Mu Zhe. The other person also seemed to take delight in badgering him with questions which he really hated.

Su Mu Zhe was skipping as he followed him on the road, except that Ling Xia wasn’t paying him any attention. He places Da Bai on the ground where Da Bai soon reverted to its full form. Da Bai rudely flapped its wide wings towards Su Mu Zhe, the latter being pushed a few steps back.

“Senior brother Xiong, I’m afraid we can’t travel together. I’ll be going first.”  Ling Xia gave Su Mu Zhe a nod then turned around and jumped at Da Bai’s back.

Su Mu Zhe stared dumbly upon seeing Da Bai, but he quickly jumped to its back as well. He grinned: “Pardon my poor eyes. I didn’t expect that your small bald chick turns out to be a high level magic beast, Bald Eagle —- it should be able to carry me as well for the journey.”

Ling Xia didn’t think that his face was thick to this extent. He kept his annoyance in check and said: “Senior brother Su, Da Bai is not used to strangers. Do understand.” Da Bai’s feathers are already pricked up. If Ling Xia wasn’t on top of it, Da Bai would have threw Su Mu Zhe off ages ago.

Su Mu Zhe inhaled deeply then bellowed: “Gentlemen of Iron Ring Clan, you’re treasured immortal cauldron had been stolen by me! If you want to take it back, come find me!”

Ling Xia was stunned by his sudden outburst. Then he heard several rushing footsteps coming from the inn. It was those four burly men from yesterday. They jumped down directly from the second floor, wielding menacing long swords and was coming their way.  

Su Mu Zhe’s face wore a panicked expression: “Senior brother Ling! Ahhhhh! This is bad!”

The corner of Ling Xia’s eyes twitches. If he continued to stall, he will get caught in the trouble as well. He was left with no choice but to pat Da Bai’s back and say: “Da Bai, let’s leave here first!

Da Bai quickly soared into the sky. Those burly men that was stomping and shouting in anger quickly looked like dots from above. Su Mu Zhe leaned back leisurely and laughed: “Thanks a lot for the help senior brother Ling.

Ling Xia asked sternly: ” Senior brother Su, just what is your real intention for following me?”

“How could you say it like that senior brother Ling?” Su Mu Zhe replied accusingly, “I felt close to you the first time we met, so I just want to get to know each other, that’s all.”

Ling Xia shut his eyes. He lost interest in saying more.

Nevertheless, Su Mu Zhe didn’t care about his cold attitude. While on the road, Su Mu Zhe was humoring himself with humming and singing something about a romantic affair between a older brother and a younger sister.

It was almost noon when Su Mu Zhe gazes down and smiled: “There’s  a small town below. Shall we go down and eat something? For offending senior brother Ling, how about I treat you?”

Ling Xia couldn’t make sense of the dialect spoken in that said small town at all, and yet, Su Mu Zhe didn’t have any problems in conversing with the locals. It made Ling Xia admire him for a bit. Su Mu Zhe wasn’t even stingy with his choice, he brought Ling Xia in the best restaurant in there. Ling Xia didn’t show any reservations towards Su Mu Zhe. He went ahead and ordered the best dishes that filled their table, thinking that it would piss the guy.

But Su Mu Zhe was hardly phased by that. He even added an additional order of a jar of a hundred year old liquor, and pour Ling Xia a cup with a full smile: “Here, here, here, senior brother Ling! Let’s drink to our content!”

Ling Xia toasted with him, downing small sips at a time. When it flowed inside his mouth, it was sweet and cool with a slight spicy aftertaste. The more he drinks, the more he finds the taste to his liking. On the other hand, Su Mu Zhe downed the cup in one shot then he would reveal the bottom of the cup for Ling Xia to see.

Su Mu Zhe smirked: “Senior brother Ling, you’re kinda coy, like a young lady.”

Ling Xia knew that he was provoking him on purpose, but he couldn’t stop himself from being affected. He could only drown the sorrow for the time being by distracting himself with the intoxicating alcohol. He tilted his head backwards and drank the whole cup in one gulped: “I’m a bad drunk so I’ll leave myself to the care of the young master!”

After three cups down, Ling Xia’s face was already flushed and he was moving wobbly. His eyes was getting misty as well.

Su Mu Zhe was smiling and laughing as he drank. The liquor was called “San Wan Dao (Done After 3 Cups)”, but it wasn’t that strong for him. He smiled teasingly: “Senior brother Ling, are you drunk already?”

Ling Xia looked him up and down and replied with slurred speech: “I remember now! You are Su Mu Zhe!”

Su Mu Zhe laughed and replied: “Of course I am, I just told you my name a while ago. Senior brother Ling, just what is your relationship with the current Demon King?”

What relationship?

Ling Xia sneered twice. He stood up with unsteady feet when suddenly, his head was struck with something that felt like a thousand flowing electric current. Last time this happened, he remembered most of the plot of the novel. And now, the identity and roles of the characters slowly started to become clear in his brain. His eyes widened as he exclaimed: “You are Xiao Hu’s junior brother!”

Su Mu Zhe paused then nodded: “You know Xiao Hu?”

His question suddenly made Ling stare back at him with a dumb expression.

Why did I call the protagonist’s name in a familiar manner like its natural?

He clutched his head and thought hard, but his mind only became more erratic.

Su Mu Zhe observed Ling Xia with full interest. He knows that Ling Xia is already drunk. But the more he got to know Ling Xia, the more he became suspicious. His appearance and name are really similar to that person, such resemblance is too much of a coincidence.

During the time he spent with the other ‘Ling Xia’, even if it wasn’t with pleasantries. but he surmise that ‘that person’ and this man in front of him is too identical! But then again, he didn’t know that person that much….

He secretly checked the elemental energy flowing within Ling Xia’s body during their journey. And to his surprise, they had the same thing aswell!

It’s impossible to have that so much similarity with someone in this world! Can it be that there’s really a magic that can ressurect the dead?

He pinches his chin and perks his lips up. Song Xiao Hu and the others are about to arrive soon. So whether this person is real or fake, he’ll get to know for sure.

When Ling Xia became sober, he was greeted with a splitting headache. He had never been this drunk before. He opened his eyes while groaning in pain. His dulled awareness gradually clearing up.

He is currently lying in a bed at a small room. The interior of the room seemed like it belonged to an inn. He shifted to the side with great difficulty, and saw the sky outside filled with stars. It seemed that he had been asleep the whole afternoon.

Da Bai was lying by his side, unexpectedly fast asleep.

When he remembered what had happened while he was drinking with Su Mu Zhe, his expression immediately turned dark. He couldn’t take it anymore after Su Mu Zhe bombarded him with tons of questions so out of annoyance, he grabbed the cup of liquor and pour it on top of Su Mu Zhe’s head then snarled: “Lao Zi already told you that I don’t have any relationship with him, none! Say something like that again and I will cut you down!”

Su Mu Zhe gave a comical look after he was poured with liquor on the head. His face was dripping wet while he was making a dumbfounded expression…

Why did that scene gives me a feeling of de ja vu?

Ling Xia’s mouth pulled into a straight line. It’ll be strange if Su Mu Zhe didn’t get back at him later!

He kneaded his throbbing head for a while, then stood up and pushed the window open. A gust of cold wind rushes in, rousing his drowsy state and improving his mood a lot better.

If Su Mu Zhe is the lord protagonist’s junior brother, and if he continued to associate himself with the guy, he is bound to meet with Song Xiao Hu and the others. If he had met him when he just transmigrated to this world, he can’t say for sure but he might have hugged the protagonist’s thigh. But now….

Remembering the villain’s ending in the novel causes a sudden gripping pain in Ling Xia’s heart.

Although Yu Zhi Jue was a troublesome jerk, I didn’t see him having any despairing thoughts towards the world….But the moment he finally realizes that that ‘Ling Xia’ is already dead, would he then seek to destroy the world?

Such thoughts made Ling Xia feel some kind of stiffling pain in his chest.

He woke Da Bai up, then started his preparations to leave. And as expected, he didn’t have any intentions on telling Su Mu Zhe about it.

It doesn’t matter whether Yu Zhi Jue will destroy the world or not, whether Song Xiao Hu will save it or not, I don’t have anything to do with it. I’ll go away from these major characters and go to a remote place to live in peace. Perhaps I may be lucky enough to survive the destruction of this world by then, hehe.

These people, these things, they don’t matter to me….

Da Bai replenished its energy when the night time arrived so Ling Xia quickly jumped out of the window with Da Bai. The fee for his stay on the room, he’ll leave it for Su Mu Zhe to handle.

The flapping of Da Bai’s wide wings created a shockwave of gust, quickly alerting Su Mu Zhe who was staying at the next door. He hurriedly opened his windows and saw a man and a bird flying towards the direction of the bright moon. He yelled towards the two but they didn’t even turned their head back. Su Mu Zhe slammed the windos open and jumped out. He summoned his earth-type beast and chases after them.

After half an hour had passed, Song Xiao Hu who was riding Ah Li arrived travel worned after rushing over. Su Mu Zhe who was leaning on a tree pointed at where Ling Xia is and said: “They went over that way.”

Song Xiao Hu asked in a daze: “Are you sure he is big brother Ling?”

Su Mu Zhe grudgingly rolled his eyes: “Boss, do you really think I would be mistaken?”

He had sent a message to Song Xiao Hu beforehand, explaining his conjecture to him.

Song Xiao Hu suddenly laughed out loud, smacking Su Mu Zhe with his fist: “Thanks a lot, Mu Zhe! It seems that master’s words were all true, he really didn’t lie me!”

He remembered about that nameless master with a mask, Ah Li’s former master’s prophecy —- “Living may end with death, and death to living….The dead shall rise again, and destiny will bring us together…

He stroked Ah Li’s head and solemnly said: “Ah Li, let’s go and find big brother Ling.”

Ah Li suddenly widened its amber eyes in excitement and roared with great ardour that the ground momentarily shook. It slowly unfurled its great white wings, and set its four paws ablaze. Ah Li readid itself to soar into the sky.

Su Mu Zhe stared in amazement: “I-it already transcended?”

From ancient up to the present times, the number of transcended magic beasts never exceed twenty. And now, the Dark Arts Sect’s Two Headed Flying Serpent is the only one existing transcended magic beast. But to think that Ah Li had already reached that level!

Song Xiao Hu mounted Ah Li. He gave Su Mu Zhe a smile and waved his hand: “Mu Zhe, I’ll be going now to find big brother Ling!”

Seeing Song Xiao Hu and Ah Li soar into the sky eagerly, Su Mu Zhe cupped his hands in respect and smiled. He then decided to go as well and look for his future wife!

“Da Bai,” Ling Xia rambled, “I will continue to find ways for your feathers to grow back. En, we will also ask around where is the best place to get red medicinal pills….That’s right, the Holy Maiden Peak! The goddess is in there!”

His eyes gleamed bright, but it soon dimmed after. When he mentioned the Holy Maiden Peak, it made him remember that scoundrel Yu Zhi Jue again….

Ling Xia depressingly sighed. He knows that this world is just a place written in a novel, that’s why he shouldn’t let himself be affected by the protagonist nor the villain!

Fuck!

He hung his head and petted the top of Da Bai’s head while saying: “Why don’t we find and meet the goddess of the Holy Maiden Peak, although that might be a very difficult task….”

Da Bai had already gotten used to seeing his dejected look while they were traveling, so it only blinked its eyes in response.

Da Bai suddenly turned nervous when it felt something dangerous approaching! It’s overwhelming power is actually on par with that Two Headed Flying Serpent!

Da Bai cawed loudly as a warning, then it started to take Ling Xia towards the ground—- It’s very easy to conceal their presence beneath the cover of the thick woods.

Ling Xia became alarmed so he immediately watches his back. Even though his eyesight is amazingly good, but he can’t see from that far. He could only see a vague small figure that seemed to be in flames.

Is it another ferocious magic beast?

Ling Xia suddenly tenses up. He leaned forward to Da Bai who was flying downwards to hide his body from view.

But that unknown creature was flying too fast! Da Bai haven’t reached the ground yet and he could already hear an earth-shattering yell that echoes for several Li, frightening countless forest creatures and causing them to scatter and run wildly all over the place: “BIG—-BROTHER—-LING! WAIT—-FOR—-ME!”

Ling Xia was startled. He immediately looked back and saw a magic beast with great white wings and four blazing paws catching up to him from the distance. Riding it is a man with a spiky hair in high spirits.

He was struck with great astonishment, the pupil of his eyes shrank. He instantly recognized the identity of the man and the beast the moment he saw them: “Xiao Hu, Ah Li….”

Countless scenes and images suddenly appeared before his eyes. Ah Li protecting him within its bossom till it was covered with bloody wounds, Song Xiao Hu risking his life to protect him…and the last one where Yu Zhi Jue appeared.

Yu Zhi Jue was holding him, pressing his face close to him with a broken and despairing look.

That pained expression of Ah Jue that wrings his heart…

Its as if his memories started to play in reverse, like a movie that slowly run in a flashback.

Several scenes rolls by like a camera film, making his heart race, feel affection, pain, and suffering….

Some of them were brief, others are in long divided segments….

Until it finally reached the very beginning.

When he just transmigrated, he met the protagonist. And as he turned his head, he saw his Ah Jue.

The boy was clearly a little devil, leaning back with his arms crossed in his chest, his pair of beautiful phoenix eyes looking at him from the side. His appearance was arrogant and stubborn yet very attractive.

Perhaps at that time, he just wanted to take good care of this little devil….

But in the end, he was the one who was looked after instead.

Author wanted to say: Don’t ask me why Ling Xia recovered his memories after he saw Xiao Hu. Just think of it as the effect of  the golden halo of the protagonist.

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Bonbon wanted to say:

Next one is the last chapter for volume four… Want to see it soon? Fret not! Bonbon got your back!

Its just taking me a bit longer to edit in my phone because my old pal broke for good(aka my old pc)

But don’t worry! I got the ending chapter up by tomorrow! Till then~