Chapter 118: Starting Today

The interior of the Hall of Rebirth was not so dark as to obscure one’s vision. Following the customs of his home world, Water Blue Star, Zhang Ning lit three sticks of incense and placed them before the statue of the founding master at the entrance, as no one had taught him otherwise. He bowed three times and proceeded inside, pausing to pay his respects before each of the predecessors.

Zhang Ning gradually noticed that some predecessors were memorialized with statues, others with portraits, and some with coffins. What could be the standard here? Surely it wasn't just personal preference?

His expression grew increasingly solemn without him realizing it. As he ventured deeper, a vague, inexplicable sense of resistance began to churn within him, leaving him feeling utterly bewildered.

"What is wrong with me?" he wondered. "I can't possibly be this terrified of the dead, can I? This won't do. I must overcome it; no matter where I am, paying respects is a serious matter."

Having convinced himself, he continued further. He saw three coffins placed side by side. The one in the center bore no name, making it seem as if it might be empty. The one on the left was inscribed with the name of his Master, the Purple Flame Demon Saint, Xia Qing, while the one on the right bore the name of his senior disciple brother, the Myriad Umbrella Demon Emperor, Qin Guanlan.

What? Who?!

Zhang Ning froze, then recoiled in shock, stumbling over his own boots as he scrambled backward.

How could this be... So that was it!

That explained why everyone in the sect spoke of this "His Highness" with such unbridled praise, using every superlative imaginable, yet remained tight-lipped about his current situation. No wonder Chen Zili had spoken that way, and no wonder his other senior brothers had acted so strangely. It was all clear now—the head senior brother was dead.

Yet, Zhang Ning struggled to accept it. In his mind, his senior brother was an invincible figure—someone who, after transmigrating, had lived with reckless abandon, defying the heavens every single day. By all accounts, his destiny should have been to conquer the myriad worlds and preside over a harem of thousands. How could this happen? Could he have faked his death to return to Water Blue Star? Was the coffin empty?

As he pondered this, he felt a ghostly urge to take two steps forward, but he was suddenly struck by an indescribable force of resistance. The discomfort was like a sledgehammer pounding against his skull, a brutal attempt to snuff out his life.

Zhang Ning trembled uncontrollably. At first, he only retched, but soon he lost all control, collapsing to his knees and nearly vomiting bile.

He did not know what was happening to him, but he was gripped by an intense, visceral fear. Reflexively, he bolted toward the entrance of the Hall of Rebirth, stumbling several times in his panic. By the time he reached the doors, breathless and disheveled, he didn't even need to push them to understand what had happened. He saw that the doors were sealed.

He was trapped.

After exhausting every means to open the doors, Zhang Ning suddenly lost all strength. Whoever had plotted against him had undoubtedly succeeded.

He slumped against the doors, his forehead pressed tightly against the wood, his mind racing with a thousand thoughts. The one thing he couldn't grasp was why he felt such profound terror. What was he afraid of seeing if he opened the coffin? Was he afraid of corpses? Or was it something else?

Just as his vision began to blur, he felt the hall doors gently creak open. In disbelief, he stared blankly at the boots before him, just as he had the first time they met. His gaze traveled upward—the robes embroidered with dark clouds, the tall, upright posture, the handsome face, and the familiar, deep eyes that held a trace of surprise.

Zhang Ning lunged forward, clutching the man’s leg and crying out, "Master!"

***

Half an hour later.

Zhang Ning recounted the events in a stammering, disjointed fashion, then hung his head in shame. He felt utterly humiliated. How could he have been so terrified of mere remains? A coward! A weakling! Was he even a man?

He covered his face with his hands, unable to bring himself to look his Master in the eye. He knew there was something wrong with the situation; it was likely an attempt to sow discord between him and his second senior brother. The person he had seen near his second brother, the one who had led him to the Hall of Rebirth, could not have been one of his brother's men. Could he really fall for such an obvious frame-up?

Still, while he believed that as long as his Master was present everything would be fine, he was still embarrassed at having been caught sobbing like a young girl for half an hour.

Chu Hanyu listened quietly to Zhang Ning’s explanation. After a moment, he closed his eyes and said in a low voice, "Do not involve yourself in this matter anymore... From now on, stay by my side."

Zhang Ning was stunned by Chu Hanyu’s words. His eyes darted around, avoiding his Master’s gaze, before he replied with a joyful, "As you command, Master!"

***

Great Freedom Demon Sect.

Inside the Water Moon Cave.

Zhang Ning had not expected to be taken to his Master’s bedchamber, nor to the alchemy room where he was said to spend most of his time, but to the Water Moon Cave.

It made sense; Chu Hanyu surely had more than one place to rest within the Great Freedom Demon Sect.

The Water Moon Cave was not small. Screened by a waterfall-like curtain of water at the entrance, it resembled a villa nestled within a cavern. It was far from cramped; the space was much larger than any ordinary villa.

Unlike Chu Hanyu’s bedchamber, which was intimidating, the Water Moon Cave felt like an otherworldly sanctuary—harmless, comfortable, and relaxing. It was fully equipped with amenities, and although it didn't look frequently used, even the fruits and pastries on the table were steaming hot and elegantly arranged.

The treatment was excellent, yet Zhang Ning was sulking.

The reason was simple: since arriving, Chu Hanyu had acted normally, saying nothing and heading straight to meditate. He hadn't forbidden Zhang Ning from approaching, but Zhang Ning didn't dare disturb him. He told himself he had to take the initiative to speak so his Master could ask about his recent circumstances—but could he really count on Chu Hanyu to start the conversation? With his Master’s personality, that was out of the question.

After pacing back and forth for a while, Zhang Ning gave up. He knew Chu Hanyu’s meditation wasn't a deep, death-like trance that would make a disturbance fatal, but he felt an inexplicable sense of awe that kept him at bay. He wished he could whip himself into moving forward.

In the end, he retreated to a corner, not daring to make a sound. He pulled out a book to read, and to his surprise, he actually managed to get lost in it.

Zhang Ning did not notice that, once he was fully engrossed, Chu Hanyu opened his eyes and turned his gaze toward him.