Chapter 90 – Confession

Caught in the kiss, Zhang Xiuqi was momentarily stunned. Missing a piece of his Heavenly Soul, he didn’t fully understand the meaning of a “kiss.” However, the pressure on his lips gradually deepened, carrying with it a sense of longing and urgency. The kiss became more insistent, and at some point, a slippery tongue pressed against the seam of his lips, seeking entry with an unyielding force.

Zhang Xiuqi’s heartbeat suddenly quickened. His mouth filled with saliva, and his body seemed to be overtaken by an unknown emotion. Blood rushed to his head, and his ears began to ring. This was something he had never experienced before, but instinct took over. Without hesitation, he parted his lips, allowing the soft tongue to enter.

One was driven by a wild impulse, the other by hesitant acceptance, but soon their rhythms merged into one, like a crashing wave meeting a sturdy shore, gradually restrained and transformed into a tender entanglement.

In the midst of the unrelenting, gentle kiss, Wei Yang’s frantic heartbeat slowly returned to normal, and his trembling gradually subsided. When his rationality finally returned, he swallowed hard and pulled away, lowering his head to rest his forehead against Zhang Xiuqi’s neck. Behind him, the arms that held him tightened, cautious yet intimate, as if protecting a cherished treasure. Against his chest, Zhang Xiuqi’s steady heartbeat had quickened slightly, and his breathing had become heavier, revealing emotions different from his usual calm.

This was not a kiss that should have happened, at least not for the Little Celestial Master who was missing a piece of his Heavenly Soul. It was too deceitful, too exploitative. Yet Wei Yang felt no regret. When he was three years old, he had let go and allowed this person to leave his life. This time, he would not let go again.

After a moment, Zhang Xiuqi’s heartbeat also slowly calmed. He opened his mouth, feeling the numbness on his tongue dissipate, then gently patted Wei Yang’s shoulder. “Yangyang.”

The voice carried tension and concern, as if asking a question or offering comfort. For Zhang Xiuqi, this was already beyond his usual capacity for expression. Wei Yang’s eyes grew hot, and he nearly teared up again. But he was no longer a three-year-old child. The heat in his eyes lingered for a moment before he suppressed it.

“Brother Qi, I’ve remembered everything,” Wei Yang said in a low, almost dreamlike voice, trying to control his emotions. “Everything that happened in Wang Village, the so-called ‘Skin Walker’s Curse’ and the haunting—it was all because of me…”

The images in his mind were memories from when he was three years old. Normally, he shouldn’t have remembered so much, at least not so clearly. But those scenes were etched into his memory, even the ferocious expression on his father’s face was vivid. It wasn’t until today that he understood what his grandfather had hidden, not even mentioning it in his most private diary. If possible, the old man had wanted him to forget these things entirely, to wipe them from his memory completely.

Unfortunately, even that had failed.

“The dead dog in the courtyard was probably used to cultivate jade. My family originally dealt in counterfeit artifacts, and dog jade was the easiest to pass off as genuine. It only needed to be buried for a few years before it could be sold,” Wei Yang continued, piecing together the truth despite the pain. “But the dog wasn’t buried in the right place. It was affected by the Bone Formation and turned into a Dog Curse, which then possessed my father, making him…” Wei Yang’s lips trembled. “…making him kill my mother.”

Taking a deep breath, Wei Yang raised his head and looked directly at the man before him. “And then, you found me.”

He had been pulled out of the dark depths of the vat by the smiling young boy and given a precious Dragon and Tiger Mountain Talisman Jade. If Zhang Xiuqi’s father had saved his life, then Zhang Xiuqi himself had pulled him back from the abyss time and time again. That talisman jade had also saved him from countless deadly threats…

At this thought, Wei Yang’s expression darkened, his gaze falling to Zhang Xiuqi’s chest, where beneath his clothes lay a hideous scar. He wanted to ask: If he hadn’t taken that talisman jade back then, would Zhang Xiuqi have been injured like this? Would he have lost his Heavenly Soul? The fox’s words echoed in his ears. It hadn’t lied. Wei Yang had been the one who harmed his parents, who harmed Brother Qi…

As if sensing Wei Yang’s darkening mood, Zhang Xiuqi gently patted his back. “Dog Curse, not powerful.”

“Maybe, but the Bone Formation was fed with my blood, which caused the Dog Curse to appear,” Wei Yang said, not believing Zhang Xiuqi’s words. Memories don’t lie, nor do they fabricate.

The Little Celestial Master, however, shook his head slightly, struggling to organize his words. “Child’s blood, extreme Yang. Yin evil things, touch it, destroyed. Won’t form curse.”

Wei Yang frowned. “Are you saying the Bone Formation wasn’t a Yin evil thing?”

Zhang Xiuqi nodded. “This, also not.”

He pointed to the Bone Formation that had rolled from Wei Yang’s hand, his tone certain. The item was clearly engraved with Extinction Script, capable of controlling or even destroying the malevolent spirits trapped in the Ghost Yin Wood. How could it not be a Yin evil thing? In an instant, Wei Yang suddenly remembered what Master Chizhi had said. Back then, Master Chizhi couldn’t sense the Bone Formation’s presence, nor could he feel the Extinction Script on it. Only Wei Yang could detect a reaction when he touched it. Could it be that the Bone Formation truly held some mystery?

“Then… why did the Dog Curse in the courtyard become so powerful?” Wei Yang’s mind was in chaos as he grasped Zhang Xiuqi’s arm. “Was it because of that grand formation they mentioned?”

Jiang Nian had hinted at it, and his grandfather’s diary had vaguely mentioned it. There was a grand formation in Wang Village that affected the area’s vitality. Could it have been because of that formation?

“Grand Formation…” Zhang Xiuqi’s brow furrowed as if he were recalling something. “That formation, disturbed by Bone Formation, accident…”

His words carried a strange, indescribable quality, as if he weren’t speaking but reciting something. Wei Yang shuddered and couldn’t help but blurt out, “Was that what your father said? What else did he say? Who set up the formation, and what was their goal? Where did you go afterward, why did…”

Why did the seemingly invincible Celestial Master Zhang lose his life? What caused Brother Qi to suffer such severe injuries and lose a soul? And that Bone Formation stained with his blood—it must have been taken by Celestial Master Zhang. Could something have happened with it later?

Zhang Xiuqi didn’t answer. His eyes showed signs of turmoil, as if trapped by past memories. His thin lips trembled slightly as he murmured, “Father and I, went to the Forbidden Land, to train, but that person…”

He couldn’t finish. He clutched his head as if something were chiseling into his brain, bringing excruciating pain. Wei Yang immediately grabbed the Bodhi Bead hanging around Zhang Xiuqi’s neck and pressed it into his palm. “Brother Qi, hold onto this. Don’t think about it. Don’t rush. We’ll find the truth one day.”

And your Heavenly Soul. The white light of the Bodhi Bead flickered in Zhang Xiuqi’s palm as he tightly embraced the person in his arms, suppressing the turmoil in his chest. The memories he had recovered were like the most brutal instruments of torture, lashing at his heart. The fox’s cackling laughter echoed like a curse, entwining fear and pain within him. But he couldn’t fall. He still had a wish he hadn’t fulfilled.

A strange bloodline, a pair of eyes that could see the true form of Yin evil things, two Bone Formations, a spell, and a memory—this was all he had now. It might not be of much use, but it was better than before. He didn’t want to be a burden anymore. For Brother Qi, never!

As if he had found the motivation to keep moving forward, Wei Yang tightly hugged Zhang Xiuqi, holding onto that body just as Zhang Xiuqi had comforted him.

After spending some time in the old house, when both of them had completely calmed down, Wei Yang quickly tidied up the items in the embroidery room, erasing all traces of the spellcasting. He also organized the scattered wicker boxes in the inner storeroom and checked the furniture in the outer storeroom before returning home with the Little Celestial Master.

Seeing the two of them covered in dust, Eldest Uncle seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and urged them to wash up and eat. The events at the Jiang Family had shaken him, and now his gaze toward them had changed, no longer as reserved.

Wei Yang, of course, accepted this kindness. While eating, he casually mentioned, “Uncle, I’ve looked over the furniture. It should fetch a few hundred thousand. I’ll have someone contact you later.”

Eldest Uncle’s face immediately lit up with joy, but he didn’t forget his role as an elder. “The old house is where you grew up. After selling the furniture, the larger share should go to you. It’s not easy being on your own out there. We’re not that tight on money here…”

Wei Yang smiled. “Uncle, don’t worry. I’m doing quite well financially now. I don’t need that much. You keep the money from the furniture. It’ll come in handy for building a house or for Sister Yun’s dowry.”

Eldest Aunt’s expression was even more delighted than her husband’s, but she wouldn’t encourage him to do something so unscrupulous. The two of them refused to accept the larger share, pushing back for a long time before reluctantly agreeing to split it fifty-fifty, insisting that Wei Yang should take more for his efforts. Wei Yang didn’t press further. If he wanted Eldest Uncle and Aunt to get the larger share, he had other ways to make it happen. No need to spoil the mood now. The meal ended on a cheerful note, finally smoothing over the remaining sorrow in Wei Yang’s heart. After the meal, he bid farewell to his elders.

“Leaving tomorrow?” Eldest Aunt asked, her eyes widening in surprise. “It’s only been a few days. You could stay a bit longer.”

Perhaps because the incident at her mother-in-law’s grave had already occurred, she wasn’t as worried now. With the prospect of a large sum of money coming in, she felt the urge to have them stay longer.

Wei Yang smiled. “It’s just a vacation. I need to get back to work. I’ve had enough of staying here these past few days.”

Hearing it was work-related, Eldest Aunt didn’t dare press further. Eldest Uncle, however, was more straightforward. “Work comes first. You need to focus on your job. With a stable job, it’ll be easier to settle down. I’ve heard housing prices in the city are sky-high. Once the money comes in, you should think about buying a place…”

“Right, and finding a partner,” Eldest Aunt chimed in. “City girls all want a house and a car. Forget the car for now, but you should definitely buy a house first. It’ll make it easier to get married.”

With no parents around for this nephew, she felt it was her duty as an aunt to worry about these things.

Hearing this genuine concern, Wei Yang smiled slightly. “No need to worry about a partner. I’ve already found someone.”

“What?!” Eldest Aunt’s face lit up with joy. “Who is she? What’s her family like? When can you bring her back to meet us?”

Faced with this barrage of questions, Wei Yang smiled. “I’ve already brought him back. You’ve both seen him.”

When had he brought someone back? Xiao Yang hadn’t been home in seven or eight years. Where did this partner come from? Both of them looked confused, but a woman’s intuition was sharper. When Eldest Aunt followed Wei Yang’s gaze, her expression changed. “You… you mean…”

“That’s right. It’s him,” Wei Yang answered calmly.

Eldest Aunt nearly jumped out of her chair. “But… that’s not right! Your father only had you… you’ll be… ending the family line!”

Country folk weren’t stupid. On the contrary, secrets never stayed hidden in the village. Such anomalies were bound to exist and would inevitably be spread far and wide by the endless gossipmongers. Eldest Aunt had heard of similar things before but never imagined it would happen in her own family.

Wei Yang didn’t respond, only saying calmly, “With a fate like mine, I’d only bring misfortune to any girl. He’s enough for me. Aunt, don’t worry. I’ll live well.”

With that person by his side.

This unspoken sentence, Eldest Aunt somehow understood. Her mouth opened and closed weakly, unsure of what to say. She had heard about Wei Yang’s fate for most of her life, and there was also the tragedy of his parents. Now, just after he returned, something had happened at the Jiang Family. Who knew how much of it was due to those supernatural factors? If she said she wasn’t worried at all, that would be a lie. But who could have guessed he would end up with a man…

Wait, no! That Master Zhang seemed to be quite a powerful practitioner. It was said he had resolved the chaos at the Jiang Family. Maybe he was the right match for Xiao Yang…

Her mind was a tangled mess, and Eldest Aunt didn’t know what to say. Eldest Uncle, meanwhile, hadn’t caught on yet and was still unaware of what had happened. Wei Yang didn’t bother with their reactions. He politely excused himself and headed upstairs. Just as he reached the second floor, a shout rang out from the courtyard.

“What did you say?!”

It was Eldest Uncle’s voice. Wei Yang smiled and pushed open the door to the guest room. Inside, Lao Ye had finally woken up. After finishing dinner, he was pacing around the small room, while the Little Celestial Master sat quietly at the desk, carefully drawing a Soul Stabilizing Talisman. Seeing the figures of this man and the turtle, the pain in Wei Yang’s heart gradually dissipated. He quietly walked over and lay down on the wooden bed beside the Little Celestial Master, closing his eyes.