Chapter 692 – The Flower on His Back

　　That day, Lingyu went down the mountain with Lian Hua to get rid of a monster in a prosperous city. That monster had a promiscuous nature and had defiled many innocent young men and women. They followed the traces of the monster and came to a brothel. That monster’s cultivation was so high that they needed to kill him in one fell swoop when he was unprepared. Thus, Lingyu and Lian Hua lied on their stomachs on the roof and placed arrays around them. They then used scrying arts to observe the situation inside through the roof.

　　Lingyu saw a slender young man lying on the bed, with a strong man with disheveled hair pressing him down. That man was thrusting quite violently. The young man’s white back, which was full of fine sweat, was shaking with this force, like a dying butterfly.

　　This was probably the most intense love scene Lingyu had seen in his life. Lingyu immediately stood there blankly and stared until he was cross-eyed. He only felt that this scene was utterly obscene, making people red in the face, but he also felt his abdomen turn hot.

　　He originally wanted to tear his eyes away from the scene, but he couldn’t stop himself from secretly peeking at it again.

　　AD

　　Lian Hua sent a message to Lingyu, “When I say attack, attack with me.”

　　Lingyu tapped the back of Lian Hua’s hand, indicating that he had heard.

　　The noise inside became louder and louder, and the young man’s chant also became more urgent and attractive. Just when Lingyu could hardly stand it anymore and wanted to escape, Lian Hua suddenly gave Lingyu a signal, and the two attacked the inside of the room simultaneously, taking down the lewd beast in one fell swoop, giving him no time to escape.

　　Later, Lingyu asked Lian Hua, “How did you determine when that monster would be the most vulnerable?”

　　Lian Hua gave him a smile and gaze that was full of deep meaning and patted his shoulder. He held the monster’s core and said, “You’d better just ask Chang Sheng directly about these matters after returning to Spirit Sect. If he finds out that you understand everything after I took you out for a trip, then won’t he blame me?”

　　Lingyu was unable to make any sense of the matter, but he also intuitively knew that this kind of thing was probably difficult to talk about and made people embarrassed, so he stopped asking more questions. But his heart felt like ants were biting all over; it was very itchy for some reason, and he couldn’t stop thinking about the scene.

　　However, after returning to the sect that day, Lingyu had a charming and gentle dream in the middle of the night. In his dream, he seemed to have become the naked youth, and that strong monster became Chang Sheng. He laid on the ground, surrounded by fields of large phoenix flowers in full bloom like flames, burning directly to the horizon and connecting with the fiery clouds.

　　It was in this enchanting and gorgeous flower cluster that Chang Sheng covered his back. His long hair slipped down the shoulder, resembling the finest silk. It was cool and smooth, but his body felt scorching hot, like he was going to burst into flames. When he woke up, Lingyu’s face suddenly turned green, white, and red, and there was a shameful stickiness between his legs.

　　Lingyu made life difficult for himself. First he sullenly threw the beddings and pillows all over the bed, then thought angrily, If the dream really did come true one day and my Shixiong wants to use that position, won’t he be disgusted upon seeing the ugly scars on my back?

　　Lingyu was annoyed for a while. Suddenly, it seemed a switch was turned on, and he abruptly realized that he was actually dreaming about Chang Sheng doing those extremely obscene things! Anger, fear, shame, and a trace of sweetness that couldn’t be ignored attacked his heart at the same time. After a long time, Lingyu finally reluctantly but happily accepted this fact.

　　He likes Eldest Shixiong.

　　It wasn’t the sort of like he held for a senior martial brother.

　　In this life, I only want this person.

　　“Oh.” Lingyu hung his head, looking like a puppy that had been wronged by heaven.

　　“However, it’s not like there’s no way.” Chang Sheng’s gaze fell on the flowers blooming all over the mountains and fields and smiled. “If I can tattoo something along the scars, they can be covered up.”

　　Lingyu’s eyes lit up in an instant.

　　Chang Sheng originally wanted to tattoo a defensive array on his back, which could protect his life at a critical moment, but Lingyu strongly opposed it.

　　If he ever gets to do that with his Shixiong in the future, he absolutely doesn’t want Chang Sheng to stare at his back and still lecture him about arrays. Anyhow, Chang Sheng just might do something like that.

　　After repeated selections, Lingyu drew a picture and gave it to Chang Sheng.

　　“This is a flower unique to the Seventh Region.” Lingyu drew the flower from the depths of his memory. He didn’t know why he chose such a flower. It looked enchanting, bewitching, and a little ominous. He felt that he suited this flower.

　　The river there was colder than the icy springs and deeper than the sea. If anyone fell in, then they would never be seen again. This kind of flower was watered by these rivers.

　　“From the moment I arrived at the Seventh Region until the moment I left, I’ve never seen this kind of flower wilt, nor have I ever seen leaves sprout from it.”

　　At that time, Chang Sheng had never seen such a bewitching and thoroughly red flower before, let alone its name, meaning, and implications.

　　“Forever blooming without withering. Not bad.” Chang Sheng held the drawing in his hand and looked at it for a moment. “It’s in line with the scars on your back. Then we might as well use this one.”

　　It took Chang Sheng three entire days to tattoo this flower onto Lingyu’s back. His design was elaborate, his technique was unique, and his tattooing was exquisite and peerless. Not only did he cover up all those scars, but he even made a picture of flowers in full bloom that would never wilt. Lingyu was very happy when he saw it.

　　Later, when Chang Sheng went to the demon realm, he suddenly saw a picture of the red spider lily on one of the demon palace’s murals. “What kind of flower is this?”

　　The servant who came to serve him knelt down first, then lowered his head and answered, “Sword Venerable, this is a flower that grows at the junction of the demon realm and the ghost realm. It’s unique to the Seventh Region.”

　　Chang Sheng’s fingers gently brushed the petals. “What hidden meaning does this flower have?”

　　The servant answered, “This is a flower that receives people into the Pure Land. It’s said that it can receive souls, but demons don’t have souls, so this flower probably receives human souls. Moreover, it’s said that the red spider lily’s flowers bloom for a thousand years and wilt for a thousand years. When the flowers bloom, the leaves fall, and when the flowers wilt, the leaves sprout. The flower and leaf will never see each other in any lifetime, so it also represents separation and despair.”

　　Only then did Chang Sheng know that the flower he was so satisfied with tattooing on Lingyu’s back actually had such tragic implications.

　　Is it because the ending for Youshan Lingyu and I had been doomed from the start?

　　If he was given another chance, he definitely wouldn’t let Lingyu have his way and forever burn that kind of flower onto his back. Unfortunately, he no longer had this chance.

　　“I haven’t seen that picture for a long time.” Yan Tianhen rubbed his nose. “Shixiong’s technique is excellent, but that picture is on my back. Usually, I couldn’t see it even if I wanted to.”

　　Lin Xuanzhi raised his hand and pinched Yan Tianhen’s cheek. “I haven’t looked carefully at the picture on his back. Perhaps if I look carefully, I can see what’s wrong with it.”

　　“What? You actually want to look at other people’s naked backs?” Yan Tianhen pretended to be angry. “I don’t agree. In this world, you can only look at my naked body!”

　　Lin Xuanzhi, “…”

　　A little too playful here.

　　Yan Tianhen asked, “Since Dage thinks that person seems to resemble Lingyu so well, why doubt him?”

　　Lin Xuanzhi replied, “If I didn’t already know that you’re Lingyu, I’m afraid I would have to think carefully before I can confirm that he isn’t you.”

　　Yan Tianhen was even more confused. “Were there any flaws in his acting?”

　　Lin Xuanzhi glanced at Yan Tianhen. “Everything he did was a little too deliberate. Only after the people Hai Kuanglang sent saw the flower on his back did he deliberately indicate that he wanted Zhan Fengting and Hai Kuanglang to go in person. His goal was to eventually lead me there. After I went, he allowed me to see that picture on his back, giving me the preconceived notion that he is an old acquaintance of mine. Then he looked back and had me see his face, which looked exactly like Youshan Lingyu. Everything about this feels too coincidental, so it seems like a trap.”

　　Yan Tianhen said angrily, “So you really did look at his back. Fuck, that little wench actually dares to seduce you naked. I’ll slaughter my way over right now and beat him up!”

　　He even dared to casually seduce someone who belonged to Prince Yan. Did that fake not want to live anymore?

　　Yan Tianhen was about to walk out, but Lin Xuanzhi hooked an arm around his waist and dragged him into his arms. “How come you’re in such a rush?”

　　Lin Xuanzhi couldn’t help smiling. “Don’t alert the enemy for the time being. I want to see exactly what kind of medicine this person is selling inside his gourd.”

　　Yan Tianhen thought for a while, then reluctantly said, “I’ll let him off for the time being and talk about it later. But besides being too deliberate, were there any other flaws?”

　　Lin Xuanzhi said, “If he was the real Youshan Lingyu, then he would want to run away after seeing me. Why would he be willing to meet an enemy like me? But he, on the other hand, insists on getting close to me instead. If I don’t doubt him, then who else can I doubt?”

　　Yan Tianhen couldn’t help feeling guilty.

　　Lin Xuanzhi could see things clearly and thoroughly. After Yan Tianhen unlocked the seal on Fu Zhu, he wanted to shrink himself into a ball and hide inside a tree. How would he dare to swagger around and take the initiative to have Lin Xuanzhi find out his identity? Lingyu represents a dark, cruel, and bloody past. Youshan Lingyu’s entire life was a tragedy.

　　He still remembered that when he was on the verge of death, his mouth was filled with blood as he showed a sincere smile to Chang Sheng. He said, “Finally…… It’s over.”

　　That messy and terrible life was finally over.

　　His exhausted body could finally embrace eternal rest.

　　“You’ve never wanted Youshan Lingyu’s life to repeat itself.” Lin Xuanzhi sighed gently and picked up Yan Tianhen, placing him on the bed. He leaned down again, his nose almost touching Yan Tianhen’s nose, and gazed at him gently.

　　Yan Tianhen readily followed the flow and hooked his arms around Lin Xuanzhi’s neck, smiling. “That’s right. Anyone who has lived that kind of life for a long time will get tired of it. If I see Dage, I would certainly hide myself, so he is a fake.”

　　No matter how good the fake was at acting, a fake was still a fake.