Entering the familiar place, Xin Lan’s steps slowed. He gulped and tried not to think about the past, simply carrying Xiang Yu to the stone pavilion. He sat down and continued to hold the body of the fallen god, blankly staring at the table in front of him.

Back then, things had really been too easy. He hadn’t needed to search for Xiang Yu’s reincarnation, he had been easily accepted by the Hua family, and even though he had felt reluctant at first and only done so because of the oath he swore, his engagement to Hua Lin Yu had been set up with little effort. It was only later that everything turned difficult to the point where it seemed like they had no chance to reconcile.

This time around, everything was different. He had no idea where Xiang Yu’s soul might have been reborn and he didn’t know how to find out either. Since this was the case … what should he do? Finding a safe place for his immortal body was one thing. Even though he had been hesitant at first, he was sure that he had come to the right place. But what about after this? Where should he go to start? He simply didn’t know.

While Xin Lan worried about the future, Hua Lin Rong sat in his own room, focusing on his cultivation. These years, that was what he mostly did. His grandparents were close to ascending so the family would soon shrink further. With his younger brother gone … well, he couldn’t help but think that maybe it would be for the best if all of them ascended to the Nine Heavens.

Nothing was forever and he didn’t have much of an obsession with keeping the Hua cultivation family alive. Following his grandparents and then his parents to the immortal realms and letting this specific legacy die out in the mortal realm seemed alright. This was the conjecture he had finally arrived at in the past years. Now, he only needed to continue working hard so he could ascend soon.

Just then, there was a faint knock on the door and a hesitant voice rang out. “Young Master … there is a visitor.”

Hua Lin Rong stopped the current cycle of cultivation and opened his eyes. “A visitor?” that was the most unspecific introduction he had ever heard.

The guard outside scratched his neck, wondering what to say. He couldn’t remember what the man outside was called but it also didn’t seem to be good to call him ‘the second young master’s fiance’. Nobody would bring up the death of the second young master unless absolutely necessary, after all. He hesitated for a while longer and the door finally opened before he could make up his mind.

Hua Lin Rong raised his brows. “Who is it?”

“Uh …” The guard looked over his shoulder, regretting that he had come over. He should have insisted to stay at the gate! He cleared his throat, scratched his cheek, and finally had to motion in the direction Xin Lan had left in. “The fiance of … second young master.” In the end, he still had to say it. “He said he’d wait in his courtyard.”

Hua Lin Rong stared blankly before finally humming. “I see.” He nodded and silently walked past the guard. He had no idea why Xin Lan would come here. It had been so long already. Why was he here now? Furrowing his brows, he rushed to Xiao Yu’s courtyard.

When he stepped through the gate and saw Xin Lan sitting in the pavilion, holding a thin finger tightly wrapped in a cloak in his arms, his heartbeat accelerated. He had met Xiang Yu and he believed what he had said but … he had never seen his brother’s body. Now, he couldn’t help but hold some faint hope. Maybe Xin Lan had found a way to bring him back? If this was the case …

He rushed over, his gaze stuck on the person Xin Lan was holding. He couldn’t see much save for the lower half of their face. The age seemed about right, it was the same shape but … it wasn’t his brother. Even without seeing his full face, he already realized as much.

Hua Lin Rong took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled, pushing down the disappointment inside. He shouldn’t feel surprised. He knew Xiao Yu was dead and couldn’t return. Just now, that had only been momentary flights of fancy. How could he take it seriously?

He straightened out his expression and sat down opposite Xin Lan, finally raising his gaze to take a closer look at the dragon. Then, his eyes widened slightly. “You …” He had never seen Xin Lan without his mask before. Doing so now, he wasn’t sure what to think. Back then, it had been such a big issue between his brother and Xin Lan but … it didn’t seem as bad as he had imagined.

Xin Lan hardly noticed his gaze. He was used to getting attention thanks to his special status and the original contentment about regaining most of his looks had been washed away by Hua Ling Yu’s demise. Now, he hardly thought of it. He simply felt that Hua Lin Rong should be surprised considering it had been a much longer time for him since he was in the mortal realm.

“You must be wondering why I am here. To be honest, you might not like it.” He lowered his head and looked at the person in his arms, sighing faintly. “Your brother … was originally from the Nine Heavens.”

Hua Lin Rong nodded. “I know. He came to see me. His … original self, that is.” It was a shock and, to be honest, he wished Xin Lan would have told him instead of this person who clearly wasn’t quite right in the head. Still, he also understood that Xin Lan likely hadn’t suffered any less than he did.

Xin Lan only nodded. “It’s good if you know him. To be honest, this is about him.” Saying so, he faintly brushed back the cloak’s hood, exposing a little more of Xiang Yu’s face.

This time, Hua Lin Rong’s brows raised even higher. This … was definitely not what he had expected.