Chapter 149 – Extra 10 – How Yao Wei Met Zeng Jingxuan 5 (End)

As soon as his Spiritual Vision gave a warning, he had already fallen into the water. This was definitely not a simple slip but rather the work of whatever had stirred the fish earlier. Yao Wei dared not hesitate and immediately sprinted forward. Fortunately, the fish pond wasn’t very deep, and as long as Zeng Jingxuan could hold off the evil entity for a while, he should be able to find the source of the malevolent force.

However, as he rushed to the edge of the pond, Yao Wei quickly realized something was wrong. The chaotic struggle in the water didn’t look like a fight against an evil entity—it looked like drowning! Wasn’t Zeng Jingxuan supposed to be as graceful as a crane? How the hell couldn’t he swim? Without time to think further, Yao Wei dove into the pond!

The pond, being a fish farm, was far from clear. As he plunged into the murky, fishy water, Yao Wei’s vision darkened and blurred almost instantly. The struggling figure was less than three meters away, his movements awkward, as if something had entangled his legs. Below him, a dark, writhing mass of tendrils flailed like a living, monstrous creature.

Assessing the situation, Yao Wei kicked his legs and swam toward Zeng Jingxuan. He approached from behind, wrapping his arms around Zeng Jingxuan’s chest. This action immediately triggered a counterattack. Whether it was due to panic from facing the monster or the natural reaction of a drowning person, Zeng Jingxuan’s arms flailed wildly. Unprepared, Yao Wei took a solid elbow to the face, his teeth gritting in pain, but he didn’t let go. With a strong push, he lifted Zeng Jingxuan’s head above the water.

Supporting Zeng Jingxuan’s chin with one hand, Yao Wei quickly spoke into his ear, “Take a deep breath. Don’t struggle. I’ll go down and free your legs.”

Perhaps because he was able to breathe, Zeng Jingxuan seemed to calm down a bit. His arms stopped flailing uncontrollably, and he gave a slight nod. Yao Wei immediately let go and dove downward. By now, he could clearly see what was entangled around Zeng Jingxuan’s legs—a black vine, narrow yet tough, about the thickness of a finger, smooth like a rope. When Yao Wei tugged at it, the vine didn’t retreat but instead extended two more tendrils from below, as if trying to drag Yao Wei down with it.

Damn, this thing really has a mind of its own! Not knowing the origin of this thing, Yao Wei flipped out the Swiss army knife he always carried. He quickly sliced his fingertip, letting the blade draw blood, and then slashed downward. Whatever this thing was, it was undoubtedly an evil entity, which was why it used drowning instead of simply drilling holes into its victim. Though he couldn’t use Taoist techniques underwater, the yang energy in his blood was still effective.

Sure enough, as the bloodied blade struck, the vine shuddered and released Zeng Jingxuan’s leg. However, it wasn’t ready to give up and tried to entangle both of them again. Yao Wei, however, had already scattered a handful of soybeans, which transformed into a swarm of fish that tangled with the vine. Grabbing Zeng Jingxuan’s shoulder, Yao Wei swam with all his strength toward the shore. A few meters later, they reached the bank, and with a final heave, Yao Wei pulled Zeng Jingxuan out of the water. He slapped Zeng Jingxuan’s back, and with a “cough,” Zeng Jingxuan spewed a mouthful of filthy water and began coughing violently.

Though they were out of immediate danger, Yao Wei didn’t relax. The bean fish in the water had already been destroyed. He reached into his travel bag by the shore and pulled out a small Yangsui mirror. This was a common tool in Laoshan Taoist practices, usually used to focus sunlight and replenish yang energy. But at this moment, it was a weapon!

As Yao Wei adjusted the mirror, the morning sunlight reflected off its surface and shone onto the pond. The vine, which had already emerged from the water, shrank back as if scorched by fire and quickly sank back into the depths. The frenzied fish also gradually calmed down, and the surface of the water became still, as if nothing had happened.

Only then did Yao Wei’s heart settle. He turned to look at Zeng Jingxuan, who was still sitting on the ground, his clothes soaked and clinging to his body. His hair was disheveled, dripping with water, and even his eyelashes were wet, giving his strikingly pale face an indescribable allure. Though Yao Wei was also drenched, his heart inexplicably beat faster. He reached out to help Zeng Jingxuan up, but Zeng Jingxuan gently pushed his hand away. Without wiping the water from his face, Zeng Jingxuan stared at the pond and uttered two words: “Corpse Vine.”

Yao Wei was stunned but quickly understood. Yes, the thing in the pond was indeed a Corpse Vine, often used to guard tombs. In ancient times, methods to prevent tomb robbery were numerous, and the use of dangerous animals or plants around tombs was a common tactic among the wealthy. Animals were usually snakes or insects, while plants included something called “Corpse Vine.” This thing thrived on yin energy and could survive for millennia. Normally, it lay dormant underground as a withered vine, but once exposed to corpse energy, it would immediately come to life and attack. Thus, it was often buried in front of burial chambers. If someone dug into the sacrificial pit, the seemingly dead vine would rise up, and the tomb robbers would have no chance of escape.

The vine in the pond must have been the same. They had likely accidentally dug above an ancient tomb, and the corpse energy in the tomb was sealed by the water. The Corpse Vine, nourished by the water, had come to life but remained dormant at the bottom of the pond until the madwoman had committed suicide by jumping into the pond. The corpse energy had activated the vine, which then wrapped around the body. The two complemented each other, and with the reversed Three Yang Formation, the vine had grown stronger. When Yao Wei and Zeng Jingxuan showed up at the pond before dawn, they naturally became targets.

While Yao Wei was piecing this together, Zeng Jingxuan struggled to his feet and walked toward the peach tree in front of them. He reached out and touched the tree trunk, then turned to Yao Wei, who was still standing there dumbfounded, and extended his hand. “Lend me your knife.”

Had he figured out a solution? Yao Wei was still in a daze but handed over the small knife. Zeng Jingxuan took it and began carving into the tree bark. Soon, a Three Yang Formation talisman appeared on the trunk. After confirming it was correct, Zeng Jingxuan flipped the knife and cut his index finger.

“Hey!” Yao Wei tried to stop him. The wound on his own hand hadn’t even healed yet—he could have squeezed out some blood. But Zeng Jingxuan had already smeared his own blood on the talisman. He then turned and walked to the other side of the pond, repeating the process: the same talisman, the same activation with his blood. Yao Wei gradually understood—Zeng Jingxuan was correcting the natural Three Yang Formation, turning it from reversed to proper. By using the formation to trap the Corpse Vine in the pond, they could wait until noon and use tools to completely eradicate it, naturally retrieving the madwoman’s body in the process. It wasn’t surprising that Zeng Jingxuan could come up with such a solution in an instant, but the man in front of him was still unsteady on his feet. His face remained pale, and though he had nearly died, he showed no fear or hesitation. He simply stood up and calmly began setting up the formation to eliminate the evil entity.

Three peach trees, three talismans. Once he finished, Zeng Jingxuan took a deep breath and looked at Yao Wei again. Before Zeng Jingxuan could speak, Yao Wei handed over the Yangsui mirror he was holding. “Need this?”

Surprised by Yao Wei’s quick understanding, Zeng Jingxuan paused for a moment, then smiled. “Exactly.”

This was the first time Yao Wei had seen him smile. Though he was drenched and pale, Zeng Jingxuan’s demeanor remained unshaken, even becoming more vivid, like a resilient pine or bamboo that even the fiercest storm couldn’t break. Looking at his upright figure, Yao Wei suddenly felt a strong impulse—he wanted to capture this moment and secretly tuck it into his photo album.

Zeng Jingxuan didn’t notice Yao Wei’s distraction. He took the Yangsui mirror and walked to the center of the pond, placing it on the ground. As the sunlight hit the mirror, it seemed to activate something. The talismans on the three peach trees simultaneously burst into flames, and then a whirlwind rose from the center of the pond, shooting straight into the sky. In the midst of this gale, all the peach trees began to tremble, and the half-bloomed petals fell like snowflakes, scattering into the air.

As the petals swirled and the morning light grew brighter, the dew on the water’s surface sparkled, creating a hazy glow. Yao Wei swallowed hard and spoke with some difficulty, “Brother Xuan, is it done?”

Not noticing the change in Yao Wei’s address, Zeng Jingxuan brushed the wet hair from his forehead and smiled. “It should be fine now. I’ll call Lei Rui and have someone come to drain the pond.”

But Yao Wei seemed distracted. Just then, he noticed that Zeng Jingxuan’s left ring finger was adorned with a simple golden ring. The sight made his heart sink, and he blurted out, “Brother Xuan, are you married?”

Zeng Jingxuan clearly hadn’t expected this question. He lowered his hand as if to hide it and quickly replied, “It’s not mine.”

Yao Wei had asked about his marital status, but Zeng Jingxuan had answered about the ring’s ownership—a blatant evasion and a clumsy one at that. Yao Wei, however, didn’t press further. Instead, he chuckled and changed the subject. “Well, I guess both the Lei and Song families will be satisfied now. But I think that fiancé of Miss Song isn’t a good guy either. Want me to dig up some dirt on him?”

Seemingly relieved, Zeng Jingxuan resumed his usual reserved demeanor and replied calmly, “Do as you please.”

Yao Wei, however, didn’t seem bothered by Zeng Jingxuan’s attempt to create distance. He cheerfully moved closer. “But Brother Xuan, your formation is pretty impressive. I didn’t know the Sanliao Village was skilled in this?”

Only then did Zeng Jingxuan notice the odd address. He frowned. “We’re probably around the same age. Just call me by my name.”

Yao Wei coughed. “Uh, Brother Xuan, I just have a beard. I’m actually not that old.”

Zeng Jingxuan’s brow furrowed. “How old are you?”

“This is my zodiac year—24. And you, Brother Xuan?”

“…Ten years older than you.”

“What?!” Yao Wei was genuinely shocked but quickly plastered on a flattering smile. “No wonder the Lei family respects you so much. Ahem, so it’s fine for me to call you Brother Xuan now, right?”

Seeing Yao Wei’s clingy demeanor, Zeng Jingxuan didn’t argue. He simply sighed and turned to walk back toward the Song family villa.

&&&

Memories flooded back, and the hospital room fell silent for a moment. Zeng Jingxuan slowly let the smile fade from his lips and asked softly, “All these years, I’ve always wanted to ask… why?”

Why did you suddenly take an interest in me? Why did you chase after me so persistently? Why were you so determined, even at the risk of your life… Zeng Jingxuan couldn’t figure it out. Their meeting had been sudden, and their lives rarely intersected, yet Yao Wei had doggedly followed him, stumbling along the way.

Seeing Zeng Jingxuan’s serious expression, Yao Wei’s smile widened. Without his beard, his face looked much younger. Though there were laugh lines around his mouth, he still had a somewhat roguish air. Blinking, he said with a grin, “Of course it’s because you’re handsome, Brother Xuan.”

The answer was so flippant it made Zeng Jingxuan want to hit him. After a moment of silence, he shook his head. “Now, though, I probably can’t compare to you.”

After the great battle, he had activated seven vital acupoints, and the toll wasn’t just on his lifespan. Now, his temples were streaked with gray, and even the innate aura he once exuded had dimmed. Back then, no one could tell he was over thirty, but now, he was well into his forties.

If it were anyone else, they might have regretted their words, but Yao Wei boldly reached out and took Zeng Jingxuan’s hand. “When you’re young, it’s easy to be captivated by beauty. But as you get older, you should find someone less flashy to settle down with. Brother Xuan, what do you think of me? I’ve still got some looks, some savings, and I’m reliable—perfect for a stable life.”

Zeng Jingxuan had heard this kind of shameless self-praise countless times over the years, but this time, instead of frowning, he chuckled softly. “Sounds like I’m the one getting the better deal.”

Yao Wei’s eyes lit up. If his ribs weren’t still healing, he might have leapt up and pounced on Zeng Jingxuan. But he knew when to play it cool and immediately tightened his grip on Zeng Jingxuan’s hand. “No, no, I’m the one getting the better deal. Brother Xuan, you’re… you’re…”

Zeng Jingxuan gripped his hand in return and said calmly, “I don’t know if we have twenty years left, but let’s take it slow.”

The words made Yao Wei’s heart ache with both sorrow and excitement. His fingers brushed over Zeng Jingxuan’s ring finger, where the ring was now gone, leaving only a blank space, as if waiting for someone to claim it again. “When I get out of the hospital, let’s go buy a pair of rings—our rings. Once we put them on, I’ll have you locked down for good!”

The words were utterly foolish, but Zeng Jingxuan smiled and replied, “Alright.”

With that, he slowly stood up and walked to the bedside. Leaning down, he pressed a light kiss to Yao Wei’s lips—soft, like a feather brushing by. Yao Wei’s heart raced, and ignoring the pain in his chest, he grabbed Zeng Jingxuan’s collar. “Brother Xuan, that’s not enough to settle the debt. You’ll need to add some interest…”

His voice was filled with an almost uncontrollable eagerness. Zeng Jingxuan chuckled softly but didn’t refuse. Bracing one hand on the headboard, he leaned in and kissed Yao Wei again.

The kind of kiss Yao Wei had been longing for.

When the kiss ended, Yao Wei’s breathing was still uneven, but he suddenly laughed. “Brother Xuan, in my life, my Spiritual Vision has only failed me once—the first time I saw you. I fell headfirst into trouble, but now that I think about it, that was probably the best decision I’ve ever made.”

Without avoiding the potential danger, he had plunged right in, his heart racing, his body trembling, but also filled with an uncontrollable excitement. Yao Wei couldn’t quite remember why he had done it, but in the end, he hadn’t made the wrong choice.

Zeng Jingxuan’s lips curved into a smile. “Such a good talent, wasted on this…”

His words were cut short as someone clearly preferred to use their lips for other things. They had already wasted too much time and couldn’t afford to waste any more.

Outside the hospital room, the sky was clear, the clouds sparse, and the moonlight glowed softly. It seemed tomorrow would be a sunny day.