Record of the Missing Sect Master Chapter 28

In which the biggest mystery is finally revealed!

Spoiler (not really):

We finally learn the name of the fourth Demonic Sect Elder!!

Ye You's consciousness drifted in and out, from waking to sleeping, aimlessly floating for a while before sinking into a deep sleep.

He felt as if he was walking alone down a pitch-black road lined with thorns, not knowing where he had come from and where he was going, but since there was a road under his feet, the only thing he could do was vacantly continue to walk forward.

After a very long time, he suddenly saw a beam of light.

Immediately following, he heard the sound of laughter.

Pampered, indulgent, lively, satisfied… Many people's voices were gathered together. Like a cup of warm tea on a cold winter's night, with one sip, the warmth spreads throughout the body, softly and gently embracing the spirit.

He also wanted to laugh, but the moment he lifted his head, he saw that the sky was blood-red, and those sounds abruptly changed in tone, like the mountains were screaming and the waves were roaring[1], engulfing everything, so desperate as to make people not dare to listen carefully. He futilely stretched out his hand, only to be grabbed resolutely by another.

“Ah-You, run!”

He was pushed out of a hole, and behind him, that woman's voice had shouted itself hoarse. Confused, for a moment, all he could do was listen to that blood-curdling cry smashing against his eardrums.

“Continue running, don't turn back! Go to Heji Mountain and find Elder Yu. He loves those who are skilled, so he'll definitely shelter you. Remember, don't tell anyone your name! Remember what we talked about before! Ah-You, you have to live on! Live on!”

“Live on—-!”

Within the cold and gloomy winter night, Ye You wildly rushed forward, falling and staggering as he went, and hot tears bubbled forth from his eyes, out of his control. But before the heat from them even dissipated, bouts of cold wind had already frozen his face.

The night was pitch-black. The only source of light behind him had already fallen to a sea of flames.

In the middle of the night, Wenren Heng suddenly opened his eyes. Lifting his hand, he felt around and found a hand full of cold sweat.

He hastily sat up and looked at the person beside him in the faint candlelight, only to see his Junior Brother's brows knitted together, sweat dripping from the other's forehead, breathing also more labored than usual. He patted his Junior Brother's face. “Ah-Xiao? Ah-Xiao? Wake up.”

The Young Miracle Doctor heard the noise and, from the newly set-up small bed, ran over. “What's happened to him?”

Wenren Heng indicated for the doctor to light the lantern beside the bed and tried once again to wake his Junior Brother, but no matter what he did, he couldn't get the other's eyes to open. The Young Miracle Doctor moved over to try as well but also couldn't do it. Seeing him shake his head, Wenren Heng asked, “What is it?”

“He's most likely having a nightmare,” the Young Miracle Doctor said, “His body is still very weak and disoriented, so he can't be woken… Ah, the Concentration Dew you gave me before could be useful!”

He dug out the small porcelain bottle and handed it over to Wenren Heng, indicating that the other should just directly feed the patient. Seeing the other holding and feeding Sir Xiao a mouthful, he said, “If it still can't be done, we can only leave it like this.”

Wenren Heng nodded and suddenly thought of something. Tenderly, he pulled his Junior Brother into an embrace and then softly patted the other's back.

The Young Miracle Doctor became dazed upon seeing this intimate action and blankly stared at him.

Wenren Heng said, “He also often had nightmares when he was little, and this had always helped. You should put out the light now.”

The Young Miracle Doctor hesitated for a moment until he realized that there's nothing much he could help with and so told the other to call for him if there was any change in Sir Xiao's condition before returning to his own bed, still full of worry.

Ye You's consciousness was still trapped in that cold and endless dream.

Beset by hunger and cold, he walked for a very long time. His hands and feet were frozen with frostbite, and every time the cold wind blew, it felt like his whole body was being cut by thousands of knives.

In winter, there were truly not many fruits available, so if he was in a rural area, he would dig out tree roots to eat, while if he was in the city, he'd wait outside a restaurant for the diners' leftovers. But in those cases, he rarely got to eat, only occasionally would he happen upon a kind person who'd give him a mouthful of food. More often than not, he went hungry.

If his luck was good, he would be able to beg a carriage on the road for a lift, saving him much walking.

He passed by one city, then another, from midwinter all the way until New Year's Eve[2].

During the New Year, the city was strung with bright lanterns and colorful silk, and smiling children wearing brand-new clothes were running every which way, incredibly lively. He squatted in a corner watching them, taking this period of time to rest and bask in the midday sun.

On the side, an uncle selling mantou[3] gave him many looks. Whether it was out of goodwill or because it was the new year, when it came time to close the stand, this uncle handed him a piping-hot mantou. Ye You hurried to take it and gave a word of thanks. As if bemoaning the state of the world, the uncle let out a small sigh and left pushing his cart.

Ye You watched the other walk far away before lowering his head to take a bite of the mantou. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw that a few beggars were approaching him from nearby, and feeling a bad premonition in his heart, he stood up and ran away.

But no matter how fast a child ran, how could they run faster than an adult? He was quickly surrounded, and panting, those people gave him a kick, swearing all the while, “Running so fucking fast! Run then, you little shit! Why aren't you running?”

Ye You curled up into a ball, rigidly gripping the mantou in his hand. Seeing that he was unwilling to open his hands, those people were so angry that they kicked him a few more times. Ye You gritted his teeth and bore it, not letting out a single sound. Right as he was about to give up, he suddenly heard screams echo through the air, and the feet on top of him all disappeared at once. He lifted his head and saw an uncle holding a sword had beat away those beggars.

The old man crouched down in front of him and kindly asked, “Anything wrong?”

Ye You shook his head and quietly said, “Thank you.”

The old man asked, “Your parents?”

Ye You's heart trembled, and he once again shook his head.

The old man didn't ask any further and helped him up from the ground, and then immediately paused before carefully feeling his bones. With some astonishment in his eyes, the man asked, “It would be a pity if you don't practice martial arts. If you have nowhere to go, why not follow me in the future?”

Ye You looked at him and was about to refuse when the other said, “I live on Heji Mountain, surnamed Yu. Although it's not a large sect, but it's still a sect in Jianghu that no one would dare to take advantage of. How about it?”

Ye You stared. In confirmation, he asked, “Heji Mountain?”

The old man thought that he had never heard of it and so explained, “It's a mountain that's not far from here. I came to the city to buy some items for the new year and will be going back soon. Will you come with me?”

The tip of Ye You's nose ached[4], and he felt as if those moments of bleak pain, suffered in hopelessness and isolation on those distant roads, were all falling away. That pitch-black, ice-cold journey had finally reached its end. He opened his mouth, doing his utmost to suppress the choking sobs bubbling up from his throat, and said, “…Yes.”

The old man was very happy and asked, “What's your name?”

“…Ah-Xiao,” Ye You heard himself say, “I'm called Ah-Xiao.”

The old man asked, “Your surname?”

Ye You used all his remaining strength to make his voice sound normal, “I don't… I don't have a surname.”

The moment he finished speaking, his vision turned black. The exhaustion accumulated from the past several months overpowered him with overwhelming force, and he immediately lost consciousness.

The next time he opened his eyes, he felt as if he was lying in a warm embrace. It had already been a long time since he had felt such warmth.

“Awake?” The old man reached over to check. “You have a fever. Oh, it's receded a bit. Come, drink some water.”

Ye You felt as if his whole body was fresh and cool, thinking that he had already been wiped clean or given a bath. He obediently opened his mouth and drank a mouthful of water, and only afterwards did he realize that there was another person present.

Right now, they were in a carriage, and inside the carriage was filled with items for the new year. He had nowhere to lie, so he had been held in the old man's embrace for the whole journey. That person was sitting next to the old man, seemed to be older than himself by a few years, and was also currently looking at him.

The old man noticed his line of sight and used that hand full of warmth to wipe away the sweat on his forehead before introducing them with a smile, “He's called Wenren Heng. In the future, he'll be your Senior Disciple-Brother.”

Ye You's mind was muddled, and he didn't wake for long before once again falling back asleep.

Wenren Heng quickly perceived that his Junior Brother's breathing was gradually evening out, not knowing whether it was due to the efficacy of the Concentration Dew or if it was due to his placating movements, but he hoped it was the latter and lightly patted the other a few more times.

“Senior Brother…”

Wenren Heng originally thought he was fantasizing, and it was only with the second repetition that he finally moved to listen attentively. Hearing his Junior Brother's quiet sleep-talking, he couldn't help holding the person a bit tighter and giving the other a kiss on the forehead.

The next day, as soon as the sky turned bright, Ye You woke up.

Wenren Heng didn't sleep very deeply, so the moment he perceived the other moving, he opened his eyes and met his Junior Brother's line of sight.

Ye You had been pulled entirely into the other's embrace, and raising his eyebrows slightly, he looked at their positions. Before he could open his mouth, Wenren Heng calmly gave an explanation, “Yesterday, you weren't sleeping very well and had a nightmare.” He released his hand and asked, “How do you feel?”

Ye You said, “I can't exert any strength.”

Wenren Heng was silent for a moment.

Although his Junior Brother's martial arts didn't count amongst the highest-ranking, it could probably still rank in the middle of the top ranks. And in particular, in the entirety of Jianghu, there were few people able to match that ghost's martial arts. Moreover, with his Junior Brother's natural disposition for practicing martial arts, now that his internal energy had completely disappeared, who knew what the other would think.

He had originally wanted to ask those Elders yesterday if they had been the ones to throw that silver, but those people ran away, so for now he was unable to judge the effect this matter would have on his Junior Brother.

Ye You said, “Senior Brother?”

Wenren Heng patted his shoulder and said, placating, “You're injured, so rest well first. We can talk about the rest later.”

Ye You obediently said, “Yes.”

He looked at his Senior Brother getting out of bed and dressing. Slowly remembering the situation before he fell unconscious, he asked, “What about Blood-sucking Ghost? What happened afterwards?”

Wenren Heng said, “He committed suicide.”

Ye You was surprised. “Committed suicide?”

“Yes, he drank poison.” While dressing, Wenren Heng gave an account of what happened yesterday, and looking at his Junior Brother, he said, “What thoughts do you have about this matter?”

Ye You said, “Let's first determine whether that rare book really exists.”

Wenren Heng said, “If it doesn't exist?”

Ye You said, “Then the person who Blood-sucking Ghost wants to protect, who is the true owner of this villa, is most likely within this group of people.”

Wenren Heng nodded. When he saw the other wanting to get up, he moved to block the movement. “What?”

Ye You said, “I don't want to lie in bed. You should help support me outside so I can sit for a while.”

Since the season had just turned into autumn, the summer heat still remained, and the mornings were neither hot nor cold, so getting some fresh air would indeed be very good. Wenren Heng didn't refuse, and seeing his Junior Brother reach out a hand to him, he instead reached over to carry the other in his arms, not at all acting as just a support.

He earnestly found an excuse, “You shouldn't wear yourself out right now.”

Ye You gave a fleeting smile, though by the time the other looked back, he had resumed his well-behaved appearance, acting docile, without a word of opposition.

Wenren Heng instructed his subordinates to bring the soft couch outside and placed his Junior Brother on it. While putting in order the breakfast that they were to have together, he noticed that the other was quieter than usual. Thinking that his Junior Brother might have perceived the issue with his internal energy and unable to determine the other's thoughts, Wenren Heng decided to just ask directly, “What are you thinking about?”

Ye You earnestly said, “Thinking that this meal is quite tasty.”

In hearing that, Wenren Heng knew that he wouldn't be able to get any useful replies from his questions, so he simply said to eat a bit more. And, after eating, the only thing he could do was diligently accompany the other. At this time, the scarred man returned from outside and told him that, this morning, someone had found a letter that hadn't been completely burned away as well as a bit of drug powder, though its use was still unknown.

“Oh?” Ye You's interest returned, and he was finally no longer quiet.

Wenren Heng pushed him back, not letting him move. “I'll go look. You rest.”

Because there was drug powder, Young Miracle Doctor Fang was also called away. Having received the Sect Master's orders, the scarred man was guarding Young Master Xiao when he saw those Demonic Sect Elders dressed in battered clothing slowly making their way over. Seeing them, he felt the corners of his mouth lift, and he made the excuse that he was going to bring over some fruits in order to leave temporarily.

Ye You also saw those same people, and he waved them over.

Those Elders hastily ran over. Seeing the Sect Master still alive, all of them almost burst into tears.

Yesterday when Elder Mei threw out that piece of silver, they all felt as if the sky was falling, and they never wanted to feel such a thing again!

Elder Baili didn't hesitate and grabbed the other's hand. “Sect Master, you truly don't remember anything, right? Let us tell you, you're actually our Demonic Sect's Sect Master. Your surname is Ye, first name You. Your name absolutely isn't Ah-Xiao!”

Elder Miao asked, solemn, “Sect Master, what has Wenren Heng told you? Other than saying that you're disciple brothers, has he said any other terribly shameless, roguish words?”

Elder Mei said, “No matter what he says, you definitely can't believe him! Your relationship with him definitely isn't that good!”

The last Elder, Elder Ji, also added words of agreement, “That's right, you two have even fought before! He truly isn't a good person! You should return with us to the Demonic Sect!”

Ye You laughed and said, “This lord[5] is already aware of all this.”

These Elders had spent an entire night thinking of how to advise the Sect Master to return home with them, and they had even made preparations to use force and abduct this person. But upon hearing the words “this lord” from him, they collectively choked back down those earnest and well-meaning words, and their expressions all turned a bit stiff.

They bit their fingernails and looked at him, feeling him out with a, “…Sect Master?”

Ye You, all smiles, made a sound in acknowledgement.

Elder Baili said, “You… In the end, do you remember things or not?”

Ye You raised his brows with some devilish feeling. “Why don't all of you guess?”

This, they didn't need to guess! This was definitely their Sect Master!

They took a deep breath. And unable to worry about whether there would be any consequences for disobeying the first order, they instead grabbed his shoulder and indignantly started an interrogation, “Where exactly did you go while you were missing for so long,” “Did you know that we were all worried to death,” “What exactly is the big thing you want to do,” “How did you get injured,” “Why are you together with Wenren Heng,” “Why do you call him Senior Brother,” “Why are you participating in this matter,” “Why did you want us to hit your death acupoint,” “After hitting your death acupoint, how are you still alive and well,” “Why why why why.”

And before they even had the time to show how truly angry they were, they saw the Sect Master give them a “quiet down” signal. Following his line of sight, they turned around and saw that Wei Jiangyue had come. They immediately stilled and sat upright.

Wei Jiangyue gave them a look and indifferently said, “So it's all of you.”

Elder Baili said, with adoration, “Yesterday, all of Sir Xiao's internal energy disappeared when he defeated that old ghost in one move. All of us were filled with such admiration that we especially came to visit him for a bit.”

Catching the Sect Master's eyes, Elder Mei hastily followed with, “Since Sir Wei has come, then we won't continue disturbing you.”

Wei Jiangyue nodded and watched them leave before sitting down on the chair on the side, sizing up the person in front him.

This person wasn't wearing his bandages, and his face looked somewhat pale, but his expression was still easygoing along with a hint of indolence. There weren't much signs of despondency at all.

“You…” The moment he opened his mouth, there was some hoarseness in his throat. After clearing it, he finally asked, “How are you?”

Ye You said, “Besides not being able to exert any strength, I'm otherwise quite good.”

Wei Jiangyue silently counted his breaths before saying, “I came today to give my thanks and ask for forgiveness for the sake of my little sister. Thank you, Sir Xiao, for saving my little sister's life, and I humbly beg forgiveness for the harm that Sir Xiao has suffered because of my little sister. I've already sent her out of the villa, and she'll soon be sent home to ruminate over her wrongdoings. Right now, she's still close by, at the nearest small county town. If Sir Xiao truly can't forgive her, then I'll personally go and destroy her martial skill myself before I send her away.”

Ye You laughed. “Destroying that little bit of martial skill probably wouldn't even tickle her. Why not destroy yours?”

Wei Jiangyue stiffened slightly. He looked towards the other's light pupils to see if the other was serious only to hear a light sigh.

“I'm just messing with you,” Ye You said softly, “My Senior Brother has had such a good relationship with your Fengxian Manor for this many years, so my saving Lady Wei is just par for the course. How could I let such a small thing come between all of you? I just hope that from now on you'll more strictly discipline Lady Wei, and not let her continue to be so headstrong.”

“Absolutely, I…” Wei Jiangyue had originally wanted to say a few more words about what he'd do next time she did something wrong, but then he saw this person looking elsewhere. While the emotions in the other's eyes were light, and there was no sign of any pain, he still found himself unable to say any of the words in his mouth.

For the people of Jianghu, with how vital martial skill was, if it was suddenly destroyed, thinking of it from the other's perspective, even he would be unable to bear it. Not to mention even having to put on a show of being blithe and carefree?

He had the profound thought that it'd still be better to just destroy Wei Jiangrou's martial skill.

He inwardly took a breath. “Sir Xiao…”

“There's no need to say any more, and you don't need to take this thing to heart,” Ye You lifted his hand to interrupt him and then said to him, “If you truly feel apologetic, then why not spend some more time helping the elders look into why Blood-sucking Ghost was still alive. If it wasn't for him, I also wouldn't have ended up like this, so right now, I just want to find the main culprit behind these incidents so that I can get some answers from him.”

Wei Jiangyue immediately said, “Yes!”

Ye You lazily listed to the side. “I'm tired, so I won't show you out.”

Wei Jiangyue, “…”

This person didn't even ask him if he had any other matters and was just so frankly chasing out a guest?

Wei Jiangyue looked at him and suddenly felt that his expression now was similar to the one he had when he asked “Why not destroy yours”. It wasn't like the previous normal, good-natured courtesy, and it instead contained slivers of sharpness, mystery, and high-ranking power, all mixed together, spilling out from that pair of penetrating, pale eyes, so penetrating that there was even a trace of evil energy.

Could it be that he was provoked because of the disappearance of all his internal energy? That's right, that definitely must be it.

Wei Jiangyue felt even more guilty, and he decided that he must think of a way to make up for it. Before he left, he resolutely promised, “Sir Xiao if, in the future, you have any use for me, just say the word, and I will absolutely risk life and limb to help out.”

Ye You asked, curious, “Including taking off all your clothes and dancing naked in the streets?”

Wei Jiangyue, “…”

Seeing his Senior Brother and the scarred man return, Ye You exchanged his expression for one of slight melancholy and said, “I'm teasing you. I already said not to take this thing to heart. It's a human life, after all. Even if it had been someone else, I would've still saved them.”

Wenren Heng stepped into the small courtyard and gave Wei Jiangyue a look.

The always popular, arrogant, and conceited Second Young Master Wei had stiffened in place. Seeing Sir Xiao completely change temperaments, he had absolutely no idea what to do. Unable to find the words, in the end, the only thing he did was absentmindedly nod at Wenren Heng before taking his leave.

Wenren Heng looked at his Junior Brother. “He came to apologize?”

Ye You faintly said, “Yes, he said if I couldn't forgive them, then he'll go and destroy Lady Wei's martial skill.”

Wenren Heng unhappily narrowed his eyes. “That skill of hers, what difference would it make to destroy it?”

Ye You especially approved of the other's words and wanted to bring up an even better idea, but he knew he couldn't.

He didn't care if, in front of others, he let out some of his true personality. In any case, he was sick right now, so it didn't matter. But the only one he couldn't show was his Senior Brother. His Senior Brother was too incredible and was also too aware of his personality. If he let any indications show, then he was finished. So the only thing he could do was lightly let out a breath, lower his eyes, and not continue speaking.

Wenren Heng suddenly realized that they had gotten on the topic of the other's internal energy. He hesitated for a while before finally asking, “Yesterday, you… what happened? Do you still remember?”

Ye You said, “I felt someone hit my death acupoint and then my internal energy just spilled over. Who hit it?”

Wenren Heng said, “I'm also not sure.”

Ye You guessed, “Could it have something to do with those people who recognize me? Do they know something?”

Wenren Heng sat down beside him. “They just came to find you. You didn't ask?”

Ye You said, “I didn't have the time before they started speaking first.”

Wenren Heng said, “What did they say?”

Ye You looked at him. “They said that I'm their Sect Leader, that I was tricked by you and that I'm not your Junior Brother, that our relationship before was not good and that we've fought before, and also that you've always had some designs on me, once even coming to the sect to ask about marriage. Did this actually happen, Senior Brother?”

Wenren Heng, “…”

The scarred man, “…”

Wenren Heng looked at his subordinate. The scarred man placed the freshly-washed fruits down on the table and innocently looked at the Sect Master to show that he had walked away the moment they had come, so he hadn't heard a single thing.

Ye You observed Wenren Heng. “Senior Brother?”

Wenren Heng wasn't able to grasp if this was his Junior Brother once again trying to test him, and he said, “No, or else you would've long heard this thing from the mouths of Young Master Li and the others. The things I said to you before were all true. You'll understand everything after you recover your memories.”

Ye You asked, “Then what if I never recover my memories?”

Then you can stay by my side your entire life and not leave, Wenren Heng answered in his heart, but from his mouth, he said, placating, “That won't happen. When Miracle Doctor Ji comes, let him try again. If it's still not all right, I'll help send you back and see if your people can find a way.”

Ye You let out a sound in reply and, using the soft couch as support, stood up.

Wenren Heng steadied him, “What?”

Ye You said, “I want to go to the toilet.”

Wenren Heng didn't let him go and once again carried him, putting him down only once they reached the toilets. “Can you go by yourself?”

“Yes. I just can't exert much strength. I haven't been injured to that extent.” Ye You gave him a look. “For such a thing as going to the toilet, I can't have you holding onto me.”

Wenren Heng watched this person go in. He didn't know if it was his misconception, but he felt as if the words his Junior Brother said just now seemed to have another meaning. When Junior Brother said “holding onto”, what area was he talking about holding?

He stood in amazement for a while. When he saw his Junior Brother weakly walk back out, he returned to normal, thinking that it was definitely due to his desires being left unfulfilled that he had begun thinking so crookedly. And thereupon, he pushed down those strange thoughts.

[1] 山呼海嘯 I translated this idiom directly since I thought it sounded more poetic that way, but it basically means that something unnatural is happening (so unnatural that it's causing nature to cry out in pain).

[2] Specifically, the Lunar New Year, which is also known as the Spring Festival since it celebrates the start of it.

[3] 饅頭 Basically Chinese bread but steamed instead of baked. If you've eaten a meatbun before, a mantou is basically just the bun-only, no meat, form of that. It's a staple food on the same level as rice. (Whether families usually eat rice or mantou depends on whether they're from the north or south of China, but I'm just digressing now.) Anyway, I'm an uncultured heathen who translates honorifics, but I'm not so uncultured as to translate food! (Fun fact: Ye You actually says “everyone's acting like I'm stealing their mantou when I haven't done anything bad” back in his speech on Yushan stage, but I just translated it to food since I didn't think it was that important, oops. I guess I am that uncultured.)

[4] 鼻尖一酸 Really wasn't sure how to write this properly so I just translated it (mostly) literally. But it's, uh, you know, the feeling you get when you're holding back tears and your nose kind of itches? Yeah, that's what Ye You is feeling right now.

[5] Ye You refers to himself as 本座, which according to Baidu (directly translated): “In legends or xuanhuan novels, this is what characters with extraordinary abilities refer to themselves.” So, yeah, Ye You has a very high estimation of himself, apparently.

Not a huge fan of the “beggars are evil thieves who pick on children” narrative, but whatever. Low hanging fruit, right?

But! Finally!! Fourth Demonic Sect Elder's name unlocked!! Whew, now that all the mysteries are solved, we can just all go home and have tea, right?

Chapter end