Chapter Thirty-Two

"Shouldn't I be asking you that, Junior Brother Pei?" Xu Ziyang stood in the corridor, his gaze meeting Pei Zhan's. His green robe was dappled with light and shadow, his expression cold.

Pei Zhan knew what he'd done.

The words hit their mark. Pei Zhan's expression grew dark, his gold-flecked eyes freezing: "You'd better hope nothing happens to him!"

Otherwise, he wouldn't let Xu Ziyang off!

Pei Zhan glared coldly at Xu Ziyang. His spiritual energy suddenly surged. His tall figure moved like a ghost towards the room behind Xu Ziyang.

As his hand touched the door, about to push it open, a well-defined hand grabbed his arm, squeezing so hard it felt like his bones might break.

"Junior Brother Pei, don't overstep." Xu Ziyang's smile was gone, his voice a warning.

Pei Zhan had repeatedly harmed Chu Rong. This time, he'd used a binding spell on a mortal—a serious breach of conduct. Xu Ziyang wouldn't let him near Chu Rong again.

This was between him and Chu Rong. When had Xu Ziyang gotten involved?

Who did Xu Ziyang think he was, talking to him like that?

Rage surged in Pei Zhan's chest. He used spiritual energy to shake off Xu Ziyang's hand, his voice dark: "You think you can tell me what to do?"

He didn't acknowledge Xu Ziyang as Senior Martial Brother, even if others did.

Pei Zhan reached for the door again. His shoulder was grabbed again, even harder. Even his strong cultivator's body felt the pain.

"I said, enough." Xu Ziyang's smile was gone. He looked at Pei Zhan without expression, his gaze cold. He was nothing like his usual gentle self.

But Pei Zhan wasn't easygoing either. Repeatedly blocked, he ignored Xu Ziyang. His anger grew, consuming his reason.

His spiritual energy surged, lashing out at Xu Ziyang.

Xu Ziyang was still injured. He couldn't use much spiritual energy, but he could defend. He stepped back, avoiding Pei Zhan's attack, and struck back.

Crash—!!

Powerful spiritual energy clashed in the corridor. The wooden door couldn't withstand the repeated impacts, slamming open against the walls.

In the room, Chu Rong heard the commotion and looked up. Before he could see what was happening, two tangled figures separated and moved towards him.

His vision blurred. A tall figure appeared before him. The man's arms opened, his strong, sleeved arms reaching for Chu Rong, pulling him against his broad chest: "Are you alright? Did he do anything to you? You..."

Chu Rong tensed instinctively, stepping back to put distance between them. His gaze behind the mask was cold as he looked at the handsome man. His long lashes curved upward, his captivating eyes icy, the corners tinged with red: "Pei Zhan, what are you doing here?"

Wasn't it enough that he'd been trapped in a binding spell for over an hour?

Pei Zhan's breath caught. He stared at Chu Rong as if not hearing him. He stepped forward, reaching for him again: "The binding spell is broken? Cen Yan hasn't returned. Who broke it?"

"I did." A low voice answered. A long arm blocked Pei Zhan. Xu Ziyang smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.

Pei Zhan turned, his gold-flecked eyes narrowing. Xu Ziyang was so close to Cen Yan. Shouldn't he be glad to see Chu Rong suffer? Why would he help?

Xu Ziyang seemed not to notice Pei Zhan's scrutiny. He looked at Chu Rong, his voice steady and warm: "Are you alright?"

Chu Rong shook his head. His hair swayed like rippling water. His expression behind the mask was hidden, but his body seemed to relax slightly.

Pei Zhan's outstretched hand clenched. His dark, intense gaze fixed on Chu Rong, unreadable.

Xu Ziyang noticed the subtle change. His smile widened. Looking at the mask's dark lashes, his Adam's apple moved.

When he looked at Pei Zhan, his gaze was sharp, leaving no room for argument: "Junior Brother Pei, Wusong Residence isn't your place. Please leave."

He acted as if he owned the place.

Pei Zhan withdrew his hand slowly. His dark eyes churned. He ignored Xu Ziyang: "You haven't left either."

He wasn't a resident of Wusong Residence either. What gave Xu Ziyang the right to dismiss him?

Xu Ziyang smiled without answering. He looked at the man passing through the corridor. "Yun Zhi, are you settling in at Wusong Residence?"

"Senior Martial Brother." Yun Zhi recognized him. "Senior Brother Cen has been very good to me. Thank you for your concern."

His eyes darted to the man in the room before he changed the subject.

Xu Ziyang exchanged pleasantries, then instructed: "Would you prepare another room for me?"

Yun Zhi dared not refuse. "Which room would Senior Brother like?"

Wusong Residence was large and quiet, with many empty rooms. Xu Ziyang pointed to the room next to Chu Rong's. "That one."

One side of Chu Rong's room was Cen Yan's. The other side was empty. Yun Zhi, handling Wusong Residence's affairs daily, knew this. He bowed in agreement.

Pei Zhan understood. His dark eyes churned as he looked at Xu Ziyang: "You're staying at Wusong Residence?"

Xu Ziyang smiled warmly: "Junior Brother Cen was uncomfortable here. He's switching with me. I'll be staying for the next six months."

In other words, unlike Pei Zhan, he didn't need to leave.

But that was easily solved.

Pei Zhan glanced at Yun Zhi: "Prepare another room. I'll be staying too."

Yun Zhi looked up in surprise. Meeting Pei Zhan's gaze, he trembled, agreeing quickly and hurrying off.

"Junior Brother Pei, staying without permission isn't appropriate." Xu Ziyang's tone hardened.

"Appropriate or not isn't for you to decide." Pei Zhan sneered, glanced at Chu Rong, and strode away.

Chu Rong frowned. Pei Zhan was staying at Wusong Residence too? When the two leads clashed, would he be caught in the middle again?

The memory of being unable to move was too fresh. The thought of repeating it made his heart sink.

"I meant what I said. I won't let him near you." Xu Ziyang's voice was low.

Pei Zhan's temper couldn't be controlled. Chu Rong doubted Xu Ziyang could manage it. But Pei Zhan's return was unexpected.

He had thought Pei Zhan was just talking.

Chu Rong sat back at the table, his robe pooling around him. He said nothing.

Xu Ziyang glanced at the food on the table, frowned, and left without pressing. "Eat. I won't disturb you."

He closed the door gently. As it shut, two invisible white figures slipped through and entered the room.

Sunlight filled the space.

Looking at the man by the table, the figures' deep eyes moved. His binding spell was broken?

Chu Rong was mortal. He couldn't have broken it himself. The figure's eyelids lowered. The man who had brushed past him at the door—had he helped?

His two separated spiritual consciousnesses hadn't been needed.

Chu Rong, unaware, sat down. After Pei Zhan's disturbance, the food was cold. He removed his mask, ate a few bites to fill his stomach, and set down his chopsticks.

-

Wusong Residence was cleaned daily. Yun Zhi quickly prepared the two new rooms.

Xu Ziyang and Pei Zhan moved in.

Pei Zhan's room was directly across from Chu Rong's. He stood in the corridor, staring at the closed door for a long time before returning to his room.

Xu Ziyang's door was open. He watched Pei Zhan close his door before going inside. He sat cross-legged on the bed, closing his eyes, circulating spiritual energy to heal his injuries.

Night fell. Cold moonlight covered the ground like frost.

In the quiet residence, a door opened. Soft footsteps moved from the room to the corridor, then out of Wusong Residence.

So late, where was Chu Rong going?

Xu Ziyang remembered the scene when Cen Yan emerged from the secret realm. Chu Rong had also gone out at this hour, heading towards the back mountain.

Xu Ziyang knew the area well. He remembered a hot spring in the back mountain.

When cultivators drew in qi, it purified their bodies. At Foundation Establishment, they could use cleansing spells. Months could pass without bathing, so no one visited the hot spring.

But mortals were different. They couldn't use spells. They had to bathe manually. The hot spring was perfect.

Xu Ziyang's heart raced. His breathing grew unsteady.

He opened his eyes, looked at the wall, got off the bed, and left the room.

As he stepped out, the door across from him opened. Pei Zhan, in black, headed out without hesitation.

Xu Ziyang's expression darkened. He moved before Pei Zhan, blocking his way. "Junior Brother Pei, it's late. Where are you going?"

Author's Note:

Sorry for the wait~

Added Pei Zhan.