Chapter 128: Fate Is Predestined by Heaven

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

Ye Zheng and Fang He merely dropped by to offer a brief greeting, informing Gu Mojian that they were leaving on business and instructing him to stay put within the Gu family’s home and avoid wandering off. After a few casual reminders, they took their leave.

The Chu family, and Chu Xingran.

At the thought of Chu Xingran, Ye Zheng arched a brow and smiled. His dear little one!

He felt a pang of regret. In this life, he had never felt he owed anyone anything, except for Chu Xingran, whose existence was an anomaly in the weave of fate. She was the one he felt most indebted to. Yet, knowing the outcome, he was powerless to change it; there was nothing he could do to make amends.

When he first arrived, he could have undergone his tribulation and set everything in motion, but he hadn't the heart to do so. Thus, he had allowed Chu Xingran to live through many extra lifetimes. But it was all in vain; he still could not alter her destiny. If he could regret anything, he would never have chosen to come here for his tribulation, preferring instead to have never met Chu Xingran at all.

"My lord, collect your thoughts. Feelings that should not be stirred only lead to mutual pain," Fang He said, watching the tormented Ye Zheng. He knew Ye Zheng 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 always meant to be an extra. This is merely returning dust to dust and earth to earth."

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

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

"At least... at least you left her a chance. At least you will be together for the time to come, and you have accompanied her, have you not?"

Fang He spoke with earnest persuasion, though he himself was no different. He simply buried everything deep within his heart, in a place where no one asked, and no one tread. Love is a laughable thing; we do not cherish it while we have it, but once it is lost, we struggle in agony, attempting to save it, to abandon it, to forget it.

"Fang He, why is love so complicated? Even knowing there is no result, why is it still so hard to let go?" Ye Zheng gave a self-deprecating smile and touched his face, feeling something drop from his eyes and streak across his cheek. So, this was what it meant to love without being loved in return.

"Face reality and do what must be done. Time will smooth over all these grievances." The words were cruel, but Fang He said them as much for himself as for Ye Zheng.

The two walked toward the Chu residence. The atmosphere between them was subtle, especially after Fang He’s admonition, and a heavy pressure hung in the air. Ye Zheng’s face was like a block of ice, and Fang He felt that this shameless fellow was trying to freeze him to death—he was definitely up to no good.

"Stop your damn complaining in your head. I can hear you, you idiot!" Ye Zheng, who had been walking perfectly fine, suddenly spun around and kicked at Fang He! The shameless old thing was always cursing him in his mind; had he forgotten their connection?

"We are symbiotes. If I die, you die too. If you’re not satisfied, go find Old Man Ye and break this wretched bond!" If he had the nerve to act arrogant in front of him, he should have the guts to go up there and say it! A useless old thing—what was the point of just cursing him? If he were capable, he’d take some real action!

*Crackle! Crackle!* Two bolts of thunder descended from the sky, striking firmly at the feet of Ye Zheng and Fang He!

"Good grief, your old man is something else! He won't even let us complain!" Fang He wiped the cold sweat from his brow; if he hadn't moved quickly, that strike would have hit him.

"Enough, it’s all your big mouth. Let’s go!" Stingy ghost. What was the harm in complaining a little? Was he truly unwanted by both father and mother?

"I just can't stand your shameless face. When I decide to die, I’m dragging you down with me. You just wait!" Fang He snarled, then shoved Ye Zheng aside and marched forward.

Ye Zheng shook his head helplessly. He really had no way to deal with Fang He; after all, they were bound by symbiosis. "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 affliction; he couldn't stand Fang He, and Fang He couldn't stand him. But if anyone else dared to bully one of them, the other would never allow it. They were allowed to hurt each other, but if an outsider dared to make a move, it was a death sentence.

"Hey, when we go 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 rogue, pestering him.

Fang He had been tempted at the mention of a drink, but his expression soured at the next sentence. This bastard Ye Zheng really had no shame!

"Brother, I really know I was wrong. Don't be mad. When we get back, how about I give you the Blood Jade?" He gave a cheeky grin, his demeanor identical to that of the scoundrel Fang He.

They remembered everything clearly from before they descended for their tribulation, so when they were alone, they occasionally spoke of the past. The Blood Jade was a very special stone that contained rules capable of restraining the laws of heaven and earth. No one else knew this. Whenever they wanted to cause trouble in the past, they would take the Blood Jade with them so that the laws of heaven and earth would not discover their transgressions.

"It's a deal. If you lie to me, you're not a man, and when I go back up, I'll steal your woman!" He grumbled a few words, which counted as forgiving Ye Zheng.

As they drew closer to the Chu residence, Ye Zheng’s heart began to beat faster, and his breathing grew shallow. Chu Xingran seemed to have a magical hold on him; as the distance closed, Ye Zheng felt unable to 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—passing through a field of flowers without a single petal sticking to him! Women were nothing; if they weren't a good fit, cut your losses; if they were, just make your move. Once you have them, who cares about anything else? At such times, just bring out everything you have to satisfy their demands. Anything that can be solved with money isn't a problem!

"It's not that I'm not calm; I truly cannot control myself. It must be because of this love-tribulation. Once I get close, there’s this strange guidance." Ye Zheng curled his lip. Fang He didn't understand this feeling, and talking to him was useless. Rather than listening to his nutritional-less nonsense, he might as well go see what was happening for himself, so he wouldn't be tricked by this unreliable fellow again.

The closer he got, the stronger the feeling became, and the guidance grew more intense. Drawn toward the Chu residence, Ye Zheng moved forward uncontrollably, hoping to see Chu Xingran soon to ease this strange sensation.