Chapter 36
Osmanthus flower jelly, mugwort rice balls, tangyuan, jian dui, baobing, glutinous rice balls, mooncakes in all kinds of varieties.
For a moment, no one spoke.
They just stared.
Weiyang leaned closer to the menu, his eyes scanning everything at once. "…This is too much."
Yinghua nodded slowly. "How do you even choose from this?"
Wei Zhi flipped a page, her expression unchanged but her eyes moving carefully over each item. "You don't. You pick something and stop thinking."
Wuming didn't say anything, but his gaze lingered briefly on the simpler dishes before shifting away again.
Lin Yi closed the menu with a soft sound.
"Order what you want," he said. "Don't hold back."
That was all Weiyang needed.
"I'm getting the Sichuan hot pot," he said immediately, then paused. "And dumplings. And—wait—no, honey sesame chicken too."
Yinghua laughed. "That's not choosing, that's taking everything."
"It's called balance," Weiyang replied seriously.
Wei Zhi didn't even look up. "It's called greed."
Wuming exhaled faintly through his nose.
Yinghua tapped her chin, thinking. "I'll take wonton soup… and maybe tangyuan for dessert."
Wei Zhi closed her menu. "Seaweed and tofu soup. And nothing sweet."
Weiyang looked at her. "You're missing out."
"I'm not."
Wuming finally spoke, quiet as ever. "Beef brisket soup."
Simple.
Lin Yi glanced at each of them once, then turned to the waiter and began placing the order smoothly, as if he had already memorized everything.
As the waiter left, Weiyang leaned back, satisfied. "Best decision coming here."
Yinghua smiled. "Let's see if you say that after eating."
Wei Zhi rested her chin on her hand, looking slightly toward the window again.
Outside—
The moon still hung in the sky.
Unchanged.
But somehow—
The table felt warmer now.
The dishes arrived one after another, steam rising in soft curls, filling the table with warmth and rich aromas. Bowls were set down, plates arranged neatly, colors blending—deep reds, golden browns, soft whites.
For a brief moment, everything felt still.
Then, almost together—
"Thanks for the food."
And just like that, the calm broke.
Weiyang didn't wait a second longer. He grabbed his chopsticks and immediately started eating, fast and unrestrained, like someone who hadn't seen food in days. He didn't even bother pacing himself, moving from one dish to another without pause.
Wei Zhi watched him quietly.
Yinghua blinked, mid-bite, then leaned slightly toward her and whispered, "Has he not eaten for days?"
Wei Zhi didn't answer out loud.
Two days.
That was her conclusion.
Across the table, Wuming's gaze rested on Weiyang for a moment longer.
He really can't control his hunger.
A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips.
For just a second—
Something shifted.
A memory.
Another time.
Another life.
He was older then. Twenty-one. Standing at the peak of the demonic realm, feared not just by enemies, but by demons themselves. Not their king. Not their emperor.
But still—
They feared him.
Power. Isolation. Endless work.
Until exhaustion became routine.
And then—
There would be food.
A large hot pot.
Wonton dumpling soup, always included.
Prepared by someone younger.
Someone still in the academy.
Xuan Ye Xiao.
The memory lingered.
Soft.
Unexpected.
Wuming's gaze lifted slightly—
And met Yinghua's.
She had stopped mid-motion, her chopsticks frozen in the air, eyes wide as she stared at him.
Not scared.
Just… surprised.
Like she had seen something she wasn't supposed to.
At the same time, Lin Yi calmly leaned over and added more vegetables into Weiyang's bowl without a word, as if this was the most natural thing in the world.
Wei Zhi noticed everything.
Of course she did.
Wuming spoke first, his tone flat again. "Stop staring."
Yinghua flinched slightly, immediately lowering her gaze. "…I wasn't—" she started, then stopped, her face warming as she focused very hard on her food instead.
Wei Zhi leaned closer to her, voice low and teasing. "Aww… don't be like this, Yinghua. What will you do in the future if you keep reacting like this?"
Yinghua's blush deepened instantly.
Wei Zhi let out a quiet laugh, clearly entertained, then lifted her gaze again—
Only to catch Wuming still looking in Yinghua's direction.
Yinghua's head was lowered now, eating slowly, almost too carefully, her chopstick hovering near her lips as she avoided looking up again.
Lin Yi glanced over, noticing the shift. "Hmm… did something happen?"
Wuming didn't look at him. "Nothing. Keep feeding that pig."
Weiyang froze mid-bite.
Then turned sharply. "Shut up, you horse shit."
A pause.
Wuming looked at him.
Calm.
Cold.
"Only those who can't express themselves intelligently," he said evenly, "resort to such vulgar and low ways of speaking."
A brief silence.
Then—
"Oh."
A slight tilt of his head.
"I see where it's coming from."
Lin Yi choked.
Wei Zhi coughed immediately after, trying to suppress it.
Yinghua almost dropped her chopsticks, covering her mouth as she tried not to laugh.
And Weiyang—
Just stared at him.
As if he had been hit straight in the chest.
"…What?" he said finally, voice a little quieter now, clearly thrown off.
Wuming didn't respond.
He simply picked up his food again.
Like nothing had happened.
Weiyang went quiet after that, his earlier energy dimming just a little. He looked down at his food, poking at it before muttering under his breath, "I'd have to be even more stupid to argue with him."
Wei Zhi gave a small nod, as if approving the decision. "Good choice," she said calmly. "He's quick-witted. He'll answer anything you say—even if it matches perfectly, you still won't understand it."
Weiyang snorted. "Whatever. I don't care about that loser."
Wei Zhi only hummed in response, idly swinging her hand as if the conversation no longer interested her.
Lin Yi, meanwhile, reached forward again, placing more vegetables into Yinghua's bowl, then into Wuming's as well. Without asking, he signaled the waiter for another serving, as if he had already decided they would need more.
Wuming noticed.
His gaze shifted toward Lin Yi. "You seem quite generous," he said, tone neutral but edged with curiosity. "Are you really that rich… to give so freely?"
Lin Yi smiled faintly. "No."
He picked up his chopsticks again. "I'm not doing anything special."
Yinghua blinked. "Then… kind?"
Lin Yi nodded slightly. "Yes. Just being kind."
A small pause.
Then he added, his voice calm and steady, "Do good and let it go. Like dropping it into a river without expecting anything in return."
The others listened, even Weiyang, though he didn't look up.
"Because eventually," Lin Yi continued, "it comes back to you."
He glanced at them briefly.
"In other words—karma."
A faint smile.
"You receive what you sow."
For a moment, no one spoke.
The words settled quietly at the table, blending into the warmth of the food and the soft hum of the night.
Wei Zhi's gaze lowered slightly, thoughtful.
Yinghua nodded slowly.
Weiyang didn't say anything—but he didn't dismiss it either.
And Wuming—
Just watched Lin Yi for a second longer.
As if weighing something unseen.
After the meal ended and the night grew quieter, they stepped out of the restaurant one by one, the warmth of the place fading behind them. The streets were calmer now, lit by soft lanterns and the occasional passing light.
They walked together for a while.
First, they left Yinghua at her home. She turned back at the entrance, smiling brightly as she thanked Lin Yi again for the treat before disappearing inside. Then the group moved on, the air settling into a quieter rhythm.
Eventually, they reached Weiyang's place.
It wasn't anything impressive.
A simple apartment building—neither large nor small, just… there. The walls slightly worn, the structure modest, but still standing firm.
Weiyang stopped at the entrance and turned back to them, his usual grin returning like nothing had changed.
"This is my place," he said casually. "See you all tomorrow."
Wei Zhi gave a small nod.
Wuming didn't say much, but he lifted his hand slightly in acknowledgment.
Weiyang smiled wider, closing his eyes for a brief second before turning his body halfway as he walked off. "See ya."
Then he disappeared inside, his steps echoing faintly as he went up.
The others didn't stay.
They left.
Inside, Weiyang pushed the door open.
"I'm home!"
The words echoed slightly in the quiet room.
No reply.
The apartment was simple. A bed neatly set to one side, a table nearby, shelves holding only a few things. Nothing excessive. Nothing personal—at least not at first glance.
Then—
On the side, near the table—
A few framed photos.
A man.
A woman.
Their faces… unclear. Worn, faded, almost like they had never truly been captured.
Weiyang walked toward them.
Sat down.
Then slowly brought his hands together, palms pressed flat in front of him.
His expression changed.
Completely.
The brightness faded.
Replaced by something colder.
Quieter.
"…Rest in peace," he said.
A pause.
"…Father. Mother."
His gaze stayed on the photographs.
"I don't know what you looked like," he continued softly. "Or how you sounded."
Another pause.
"But… I should still pay my respects."
His voice lowered.
"…Shouldn't I, Elder Gu?"
Silence.
Then—
A faint shift in the air near the window.
Outside, sitting just beyond the frame, an old man flipped a page of the book in his hands. A small smile tugged at his lips.
"Why not, my child," he replied gently.
In the next moment—
He was inside.
Not through the door.
Not with sound.
Just… there.
Like a presence that had always belonged.
Elder Gu stepped in through the window as if the boundary meant nothing, his movements light, almost ghost-like. He stood quietly for a second, watching Weiyang.
The incense burned softly in a small bowl.
Smoke rising in thin, steady lines.
Weiyang remained in his position.
Still.
Respectful.
And for once—
Completely silent.
Elder Gu's voice broke the quiet, calm and amused. "You've gotten better at noticing presence," he said, watching him. "It seems my efforts weren't wasted."
He placed his book on the table and sat down on the chair, one hand resting on his beard as he stroked it slowly, eyes never leaving Weiyang.
The incense continued to burn.
Weiyang finished his prayer, then stood up, his expression already shifting back to something lighter. "Hey, Shifu," he said, walking closer. "Can you teach me how to control my qi?"
Elder Gu's hand paused slightly on his beard. "Weiyang," he said, "your Shifu is Lin Yi now."
Weiyang frowned a little. "Yeah, he is. But… aren't you too?"
Elder Gu gave a small nod. "I am. But Lin Yi can teach you control better than I can."
Weiyang clicked his tongue. "Oh come on, don't start sounding like him now. That whole 'be kind and throw it into the river' thing."
Elder Gu chuckled softly. "So he told you that too, hm?" He shook his head slightly. "That boy hasn't changed at all."
Weiyang's eyes narrowed just a little. "You know him?"
Elder Gu leaned back slightly, thinking. "Know him…? Hmm. Let me see." A faint smile formed. "We graduated together."
Weiyang blinked.
"I became a venerable of the Xuan clan," Elder Gu continued calmly, "and he…" his eyes softened slightly, "was the captain of the Ansha team for twelve years."
A small pause.
"He left that position not too long ago. A year, perhaps."
Weiyang tilted his head. "So now he's just a teacher?"
Elder Gu gave a quiet hum. "He's a Tian Zi." Then, more thoughtfully, "As for why he left… no one knows."
Weiyang looked away slightly, processing it. "Huh."
Then Elder Gu added lightly, "If you're asking about that, son—"
"Don't call me that," Weiyang cut in immediately. "Just because I have blond hair that shines in the sunlight doesn't mean I'm the son of the sun."
Elder Gu laughed, genuinely amused. "The sun," he said, "is nothing more than a perfect sphere of hot plasma—mostly hydrogen and helium—burning through nuclear fusion."
End of 36