Chapter 91 – Return Journey

Early the next morning, Wei Yang woke up early. The fatigue in his body had mostly dissipated, but his heart still felt heavy, as if something foreign had been tied to it. The sensation was unpleasant, but he could bear it—especially since another person was lying peacefully by his pillow.

Quietly sitting up, Wei Yang gazed at Zhang Xiuqi’s sleeping face. The Little Celestial Master’s sleeping posture was as rigid and proper as ever, with his hands crossed over his lower abdomen, not moving an inch throughout the night. Only his disheveled black hair, scattered across his forehead, gave him a natural, childlike innocence. Just looking at him, Wei Yang wanted to lean down and kiss him awake, leaving only his own reflection in those dazed eyes.

However, he didn’t act. He knew all too well the importance of sleep for Zhang Xiuqi—it was also a method of solidifying the soul. Disturbing him might interfere with his soul-stabilizing practice. So, Wei Yang simply leaned against the headboard, quietly admiring his peaceful sleeping face.

After about 15 minutes, Zhang Xiuqi’s eyelashes fluttered, and he finally opened his eyes. Before his vision could fully focus, he felt something soft brush against his lips—a light kiss. Before he could react, Wei Yang had already straightened up and gotten out of bed.

“Brother Qi, we’re heading back today. There’s probably nothing else to find here. Let’s return to the city first and see if Master Chizhi has any leads…”

As he spoke, Wei Yang walked out of the room, presumably to wash up. Zhang Xiuqi didn’t get up immediately. Instead, he raised a hand and touched his lips in confusion. The strange sensation was fading, and his suddenly quickened heartbeat gradually returned to normal. The Little Celestial Master didn’t understand what this meant, but he felt a vague desire to pull back the retreating figure.

After lying in bed for a while longer, Zhang Xiuqi eventually got up as usual. Lao Ye seemed to have just woken up as well, busy eating shrimp from a bowl. Seeing Zhang Xiuqi rise, it let out a soft “ah,” as if greeting him. Zhang Xiuqi paused, then bent down as Wei Yang often did, gently stroking its shell. Without waiting for a response, he stood and headed for the bathroom.

By then, Wei Yang had finished and emerged from the bathroom. Seeing the Little Celestial Master, his expression didn’t change at all. He greeted him with a smile as if nothing happened, intending to pass by. But Zhang Xiuqi grabbed his wrist, looking at him with a serious expression.

“What’s wrong?” Wei Yang asked, slightly surprised. He hadn’t been able to resist stealing a morning kiss and now felt a bit guilty. He knew all too well that the Little Celestial Master’s soul wasn’t complete. Although he had made up his mind to stick close, taking advantage of the situation still weighed on him.

Before he could react, Zhang Xiuqi leaned in and gently brushed his lips against Wei Yang’s. Then, he reached up and touched Wei Yang’s lips, seemingly satisfied, before turning and walking into the bathroom.

This completely caught Wei Yang off guard. He stared at Zhang Xiuqi’s retreating figure, his heart pounding. Zhang Xiuqi’s Heavenly Soul hadn’t returned yet, so what did this mean? That he didn’t dislike it? Didn’t dislike the kiss, or his touch? A chaotic tangle of thoughts grew wildly in his heart. Wei Yang took a deep breath, forcing himself to look away. But as soon as he turned his head, he saw his aunt standing in the yard, her mouth agape, having clearly witnessed at least part of the scene.

The fire in his heart instantly extinguished. Wei Yang forced a calm smile, nodding slightly at her. As if startled by the smile, his aunt awkwardly fled into the kitchen, slamming the door shut with a loud bang. Hearing the noise, a genuine smile finally appeared on Wei Yang’s face, as if his wandering soul had returned to his body. He glanced at the bathroom one more time, then walked back to the room as if nothing had happened, starting to pack their belongings.

They haven’t actually gathered much from this trip. While Zhufang had shattered, Wei Yang had collected most of the Ghost Yin Wood. According to Brother Qi, it was a decent material for ritual instruments and could still be useful. The Bone Formation was placed alongside the one they had dug up from Miaotou Mountain. Both bone segments were hollow, and with a leather cord strung through them, they looked like an unconventional necklace. Wei Yang hung them around his neck. Although he didn’t know how to use them yet, they might offer some protection. He’d have to show them to Uncle Qi and the old monk later.

The letters were neatly stacked and placed in a backpack. Wei Yang hadn’t given up on his grandfather’s diary—it was the old man’s remaining keepsake, and it was written in “Spring Point.” It was worth taking a look. Quickly packing up the scattered items, Wei Yang finished just as Zhang Xiuqi returned from washing up.

Seeing the Little Celestial Master’s usual blank expression, Wei Yang felt a sense of relief. He gently took Zhang Xiuqi’s hand. “Let’s go, Brother Qi. Time for breakfast.”

Breakfast was still lavish, with plenty of hard-boiled eggs prepared as a farewell gesture. However, the expressions of the two sitting across from them were strange. Wei Yang’s uncle sat huddled to the side, his gaze darting between Wei Yang and Zhang Xiuqi, clearly uneasy. His aunt kept glancing at Zhang Xiuqi, her mouth opening and closing as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t.

The meal was unusually quiet. Afterward, Wei Yang sent Zhang Xiuqi upstairs to pack some clothes while he waved off his aunt, who was holding two large plastic bags of food. “Auntie, it’s just a few hours on the train. We don’t need all this.”

“Who doesn’t bring food on a train? There’s some fruit, dried goods, and the cured meat we made at home. If you can’t finish it on the train, you can take it home…” His aunt insisted on shoving the bags into his hands, then hesitated before stammering, “That, that Mr. Zhang, you two… well, don’t be so stubborn. Who knows what his status is? In the future, he might… might…”

Wei Yang raised an eyebrow in surprise. He hadn’t expected her to change her tune so quickly after just one night. But he wasn’t one to let a good opportunity slip by. He smiled and said, “Don’t worry. We’re getting along well now, and as for the future, I have my own plans…”

Would Brother Qi still trust him so unreservedly after his Heavenly Soul returned? Wei Yang had no idea, but no matter what the future held, he wouldn’t let go easily. Even if it meant taking advantage of the situation, he wasn’t someone with particularly high moral standards. For his Little Celestial Master, he was willing to lower them even further. And besides, Brother Qi didn’t seem entirely opposed…

The memory of the morning kiss surfaced in his mind, and Wei Yang’s heart raced slightly, a faint smile appearing in his eyes. Across from him, his aunt watched as her nephew’s ears turned slightly red. She awkwardly averted her gaze and muttered, “You, you know what you’re doing, right? Your uncle, he’ll… he’ll come around…”

Her words lacked conviction, but Wei Yang still smiled. “Thank you, Auntie. Don’t worry too much. I’ll come back to visit when I have time.”

After finishing packing, Wei Yang didn’t linger at home. He took Lao Ye and the Little Celestial Master and headed for the city. The rural road from years ago had been upgraded multiple times and now looked smooth and steady, with plenty of vehicles coming and going. Wei Yang didn’t hail a ride but instead stopped halfway, setting down his backpack and opening it to smile at Lao Ye. “Master, this is where I found you all those years ago. After so long, do you want to go home?”

The words were half-hearted, but ever since learning that Lao Ye could ward off disasters and protect the household, Wei Yang had felt uneasy. He wasn’t someone with particularly good luck, and if his bad fortune affected Lao Ye, he’d feel guilty.

The turtle poked its head out of the travel bag, slowly scanning the area before retracting its neck and opening its mouth as if yawning. Then it tucked its limbs into its shell and stopped moving, clearly conveying, “What the hell are you talking about? Don’t disturb my sleep.” Wei Yang chuckled, the weight in his heart lightening considerably. Carefully zipping up the bag, he smiled at Zhang Xiuqi. “Let’s go. To the train station!”

The county did have a train station, but only two green trains passed through, and few locals took them. Compared to the long-distance buses that were more reliable and punctual, the slow-moving trains that frequently stopped were less popular. As a result, the small station next to the bus stop was rather deserted. Wei Yang wasn’t in a hurry and easily bought two tickets for the afternoon train.

However, the waiting room was tiny, with only three rows of chairs that hadn’t been cleaned in who knows how long, their backs black with grime. Wei Yang turned to Zhang Xiuqi with a smile. “Brother Qi, how about we find a restaurant outside and eat before boarding?”

The Little Celestial Master wasn’t picky and nodded in agreement. They walked out together. Although the county wasn’t large, there were plenty of restaurants near the train station. They picked a decent-looking one and sat down to wait for lunch.

As Wei Yang studied the menu, a middle-aged man in another corner was also carefully observing them on his large smartphone screen. Seemingly confident in his identification, the man leaned against the wall and made a call. “Brother Zhao, I’ve spotted two guys at the station. They’re the ones who messed up our business last time…”

A cold voice came through the phone. “Are you sure?”

“Absolutely! That post went viral with tens of thousands of shares. I’m certain it’s them!” The man replied confidently. “They’re probably heading home. They just bought tickets at the station. Should we intercept them?”

“Don’t spook them,” the voice on the other end replied with a chilling tone. “Wait for me to get there. We’ll deal with them properly!”

“Got it,” the man said, rubbing his shaved head with a sinister smile. “They won’t escape.”