Chapter Fifty-Seven: Past Events, All Explained in a Single Word

“It’s him, why is it him! Didn’t I already kill him? Could it be his vengeful spirit refuses to rest and has returned to seek revenge on me?” Xiao Yin rambled incoherently, muttering bewildering words that left even Yu Shang, sitting beside him, utterly confused.

“That’s enough, calm down! Who exactly is this ‘him’ you’re talking about?” Yu Shang seized the panic-stricken Xiao Yin, desperate to extract some answers.

“I can’t calm down! After all this time, why won’t he let me go? First, his father hounded me relentlessly, wishing he could grind my bones to dust, and now he himself has returned from the underworld to come after me. I can’t take it anymore—I just want a few days of peace and quiet. Is even that meager wish too much to ask?” Xiao Yin’s voice trembled with hysteria, his composure on the brink of collapse. Yu Shang began to piece together fragments of the truth, but the youth standing in the ring didn’t look anything like a restless ghost from the afterlife.

“No matter who this ‘he’ is, as long as I’m here, no one will harm you!” Yu Shang said, frowning with concern. He could feel Xiao Yin’s terror, just as Xiao Yin had once shared in his own sorrows. No matter what happened, he would never allow anyone to harm a single hair on Xiao Yin’s head.

“Forgive me, everyone. I’m not feeling well and wish to take my leave and rest for a while. Farewell!” Before anyone could react, Lan Wu rose and strode quickly away.

“I, too, have matters to attend to. Farewell!” Without another word, Xiao Yin hurried after her, as if fleeing for his life. Clearly, both wished to escape this troublesome place and find some peace.

“Wait!” Yu Shang had barely risen to speak when a voice from afar interrupted him. At that moment, a massive double-layered flying disk soared over and landed directly in front of the two trying to leave, blocking their path. Immediately, a handsome youth clad in silver armor dashed over, retrieved the flying disk with a wave of his hand, and stood before the crowd, sneering coldly. Yu Shang recognized him at once—the very youth who had just fought in the ring. Glancing back at the stage, only a wretched figure remained, writhing in agony. Clearly, the newcomer’s cultivation was impressive; he had dispatched his opponent in no time.

“Do you know who I am?” the youth asked with a slight chuckle, his natural arrogance seeping through his words.

“Forgive our ignorance, sir. You have yet to announce yourself—how could we know your esteemed identity?” Leng Huaiyi, who had quietly observed for some time, stepped forward to shield Xiao Yin and Lan Wu, his tone polite yet unmistakably laced with deadly intent. Gentle as water in daily affairs, he was clearly not to be trifled with when angered.

“Perhaps you really don’t know who I am, but I doubt those two could be so forgetful. Does this face truly stir no memory?” The youth’s sneer wiped away any pretense of courtesy. He continued, “Don’t forget, my brother died a miserable death because of you two—a pair of shameless lovers!” Rage distorted his features, his desire to tear the pair apart almost palpable. Yet, upon hearing his words, Xiao Yin and Lan Wu both visibly relaxed, their shared tension vanishing instantly—to the utter confusion of the onlookers.

“Perhaps I do bear some responsibility for your brother’s death, as it began with me. But he had nothing to do with it, so don’t lash out at innocents like a mad dog!” Lan Wu’s initial guilt gave way to indignation as the youth implicated Xiao Yin. She could endure insults herself, but would never allow anyone to disgrace her beloved.

“Hmph, so you’re nothing but a coward—daring enough to act, but not to take responsibility, leaving a woman to shoulder the blame. Disgusting!” The youth’s contemptuous glare at Xiao Yin made the onlookers bristle with anger.

“That’s enough! I’ve made it clear he had nothing to do with it. If it’s vengeance you want, come at me—leave the innocent out of this!” Lan Wu finally lost her temper, her voice rising above the crowd’s din. Had the arena not been noisy, her outburst would surely have drawn a crowd.

“Enough, Lan’er. It’s time I told you the truth. I did kill his brother, but the story is far more complicated than it seems. I’ll explain everything to you later.” In an effort to calm the furious Lan Wu, Xiao Yin confessed.

“Then you’re the benefactor I’ve sought for so long? How can this be?” Lan Wu shook her head in disbelief.

“Enough with the performance—you can’t fool me. Who knows if you two weren’t already entangled in a sordid affair, discovered by my brother, and so you murdered him and then eloped!” The youth sneered. “Betraying your husband and killing him in cold blood—how do you have the gall to live so shamelessly? And you, stealing another man’s wife, dare to flaunt yourself here—aren’t you afraid my brother will haunt you for the rest of your days?” His words grew more vicious by the moment, turning the faces of those present ever darker.

“I don’t care how important you think you are, nor about your grudge with them. Judging by your words alone, you’re an ill-bred scoundrel. It seems your late brother was no better—a menace best left dead! Besides, if one’s conscience is clear, there’s nothing to fear from ghosts. They rid the world of a villain—what’s to fear? It’s you we should be wary of, for you strike me as the type to scheme in the shadows!” Yan Xue Su could no longer contain her anger and retorted mercilessly. She cared little for who was right or wrong—she simply would not tolerate anyone so brazenly slandering her friends.

“What a pity—such a graceful appearance, yet inside it’s all murky filth. No wonder you can’t speak a decent word. I suppose your late brother was the same: murder, arson, coveting other men’s wives—no crime too great. Such people are better off dead, sparing others their harm. Perhaps we should send you to join him—shall we help you reunite?” Even gentle, kind Meng Youyuan was provoked into a sharp, sarcastic attack.

“You want to goad me into attacking before the competition, so Yanlan Academy will disqualify me and expel me, is that it? I won’t fall for your trap. I’ll make it to the final round—then grievances will be avenged and scores settled! Be smart and kneel to beg for mercy on the day of the competition. Perhaps I’ll show mercy and leave you a corpse!” the youth laughed arrogantly. His ordinary appearance concealed a shrewdness that saw through their ploy at a glance. With that, he swaggered off, leaving the crowd standing in stunned silence, each lost in their own thoughts.

After a long pause, Lan Wu finally recovered herself and walked on in silence, her head bowed. Xiao Yin followed, lost and vacant, as if his soul had departed. The rest, bewildered by this sudden turn of events, could only trail after the uncharacteristically subdued pair, returning to the small bamboo cottage. Meanwhile, the old headmaster and the great elder, still observing the matches, were unfazed by the group’s abrupt departure. They sipped their fragrant tea, watching the contest with undisturbed leisure.

“Don’t you think you owe us an explanation for what just happened?” Lan Bingxian stepped forward, blocking the pair, his tone stern. Never before had they seen him so grave; the matter clearly weighed heavily on them all. This was no longer a simple contest, but a vendetta that could easily claim lives.

“I too would like an explanation. What on earth happened?” Lan Wu turned to Xiao Yin, unable to believe that the benefactor she had searched for so long was the very man who had been by her side all along. The coincidence was unfathomable.

“One time, during my training in the mortal world, I heard a woman crying for help. Curious, I followed the sound and found a young couple, soon to be married, embroiled in a quarrel. As I was about to leave, they began to fight. The woman was soon defeated. Normally, I wouldn’t interfere in such matters, but her helpless, despairing gaze moved me, and the man’s behavior angered me. Unable to restrain myself, I intervened. However, I had previously offended the black cat of the Netherworld, and it seized the chance to ambush me, using my hand to eliminate the man. Afterwards, I was hunted by the celestial realm and endured many ordeals before becoming who I am now.” Whenever Xiao Yin recalled the past, a certain calm and composure came over him, deeply captivating any who listened to his tale.

“When I finally survived and appeared before the woman, not only did she show no gratitude, but she attacked me and, most vexingly, forgot me completely. Honestly, I wondered if all I had suffered for her was worth it. Yet, perhaps it was fate—we endured many hardships together, even if she never remembered me. But that doesn’t matter anymore. What matters is that we two lovers have finally been united!” At this, Xiao Yin smiled, plainly content and happy.

“Believe me, I never meant to forget you. But at the time, I was trapped by that man and thrown aside, hitting my head on the wall. I lost consciousness and couldn’t see your face. When I awoke, you were gone. After that, I truly tried my best to find you, but you had vanished as if you’d never existed.” Lan Wu pouted, a hint of grievance in her voice.

“There now, silly girl, I never blamed you. In fact, I’m grateful I saved you back then—otherwise, how would I have such a wonderful wife today?” Xiao Yin laughed and gently pulled Lan Wu close, whispering softly in her ear, leaving her blushing and at a loss for words.