Chapter 127: A Strange Feeling

When they found Gu Mojian, he was dining with his family at the Gu residence.

Ye Zheng and Fang He merely dropped by to say a brief word, instructing Gu Mojian that they had matters to attend to and that he should stay put at the Gu residence rather than wandering off. With those casual parting words, they took their leave.

The Chu family. Chu Xingran.

At the thought of Chu Xingran, Ye Zheng raised an eyebrow and smiled. His dear little one!

He felt a pang of regret. Throughout his existence, he had never felt he owed anyone anything—except for Chu Xingran, an anomaly in his fate, whom he felt he had wronged the most. Sadly, even knowing the inevitable outcome, he felt powerless to change it or offer any form of restitution.

He could have undergone his tribulation the moment he arrived, setting everything in motion, but he hadn't the heart to do so. That was why he had allowed Chu Xingran to live through many more lifetimes. Yet, it had all been in vain; he still could not alter her destiny. If he could regret anything, it would be choosing to come here to undergo this tribulation; he would have preferred to have never met Chu Xingran at all.

"My lord, rein in your thoughts. Feelings that should not be harbored only lead to mutual suffering." Watching Ye Zheng’s unbearable torment, Fang He knew that he still could not bear to let go of Chu Xingran, nor could he bring himself to destroy her.

"You aren't destroying her. She was never meant to be; this is merely returning dust to dust, earth to earth."

"Rather than letting her suffer the pain of love lifetime after lifetime, it would be better to grant her release. It would be better for you, and better for her."

"A love that should never have been—why must you force it? Letting go is the best destination for you both."

"At the very least... at the very least, you have given her a chance. At the very least, you will be together for a while yet; you have accompanied her, haven't you?"

Fang He offered his earnest advice, though he himself was no different, having buried his own feelings deep within his heart where no one could ever tread. Love is a ridiculous thing; people never cherish it while they have it, yet struggle desperately when it slips through their fingers. They try to save it, try to give it up, try to forget it.

"Fang He, why is love so complex? Even when I know there is no future, why is it so hard to let go?" Ye Zheng gave a self-deprecating laugh and touched his face, feeling something fall from his eyes and track across his cheeks. Is this what it means to love without hope?

"Face reality and do what you must. Time will smooth over all these regrets." It was a cruel thing to say, but Fang He said it as much for himself as for Ye Zheng.

The two made their way toward the Chu residence. The atmosphere between them was subtle, particularly after Fang He’s admonition, and a heavy pressure hung in the air. With Ye Zheng’s icy, stoic expression, Fang He couldn't help but feel that this shameless fellow was trying to freeze him to death—he definitely had bad intentions.

"Stop cursing me in your mind, you idiot! I can hear you!" Ye Zheng, who had been walking along perfectly well, suddenly turned and kicked Fang He!

That shameless old thing—he cursed him in his heart every chance he got. Had he forgotten their bond? "We are symbiotes. If I die, you die. If you’re so unhappy, go up there and ask Old Man Ye to break this cursed connection!" He was posturing in front of him—if he had the guts, he should say it to his face! A useless old thing, knowing only how to grumble; if he had the ability, he should take some real action!

*Crackle!* Two bolts of thunder struck from the sky, landing squarely by the feet of Ye Zheng and Fang He!

"Damn it, your old man is really something. He won't even let us complain!" Fang He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. If he hadn't moved quickly, that strike would have hit him.

"Enough, it’s all your loose tongue. Let’s move!" Stingy ghost—so what if he said a few things? Was he really so unloved by his father and mother?

"I just can't stand your shameless face. When I decide to die, I’m definitely taking you with me. Just you wait!" Fang He snarled, then pushed past Ye Zheng and continued ahead.

Ye Zheng shook his head helplessly. There was truly no reasoning with Fang He; after all, their lives were intertwined.

"Brother, don't be angry. I'll buy you a drink another day!" Ye Zheng laughed brazenly. He truly enjoyed teasing Fang He. One could say they existed in a state of mutual annoyance—you couldn't stand me, and I couldn't stand you. But if anyone else dared to bully either of them, the other would never permit it. They could hurt each other, but if anyone else dared to lay a hand on them, it would be a death sentence.

"Hey, when we get back, I’ll have my old man grant you a marriage. How about I give you all the girls you like?" Ye Zheng followed behind Fang He like a ruffian, pestering him.

Fang He had been tempted when he heard about the drink, but his expression soured at the next sentence. Ye Zheng was a complete bastard; he had no shred of humanity!

"Brother, I really know I was wrong. Don't be angry. When we get back, I'll give you the Blood Jade, how about that?" Ye Zheng gave a cheeky grin, mirroring the very same roguish expression Fang He often wore. They remembered everything clearly from before they descended to undergo this tribulation, so when they were together, they would occasionally reminisce about the past.

The Blood Jade was a unique stone containing the power to suppress the laws of heaven and earth. No one else knew this. Whenever they wanted to stir up trouble in the past, they would take the Blood Jade with them so their transgressions would remain hidden from the cosmic laws.

"It's a deal. If you lie to me again, you're no man, and I'll steal your woman the moment we go back!" Muttering a few words, he considered Ye Zheng forgiven.

As they drew closer to the Chu residence, Ye Zheng’s heart began to race, and his breathing grew shallow. Chu Xingran held a magnetic pull over him; as soon as he drew near, he felt he could no longer control himself.

"Calm down, calm down. Look at that pathetic state you’re in. It’s just a woman, what’s there to be nervous about?" He should learn from him: pass through a thousand flowers without a single petal sticking to his clothes! A woman is nothing; if it doesn't work out, cut your losses; if it can, just go for it. Once you’ve got her, stop worrying about whether she’s willing or not. Just bring out everything you have to satisfy her demands. Anything that can be solved with money is no problem at all!

"It’s not that I’m not calm; it’s that I truly cannot control myself. It must be the nature of this love-tribulation—as soon as I get close, there’s this strange guidance." Ye Zheng curled his lip. Fang He didn't understand this feeling; there was no point in talking to him. Rather than listening to his hollow nonsense, he would rather investigate what was happening himself, so he wouldn't be led astray by this unreliable fellow again.

The closer he got, the stronger that feeling became, and the more intense the guidance grew. Moving toward the Chu residence, Ye Zheng found himself walking forward uncontrollably, hoping only to see Chu Xingran soon to alleviate this strange sensation.