109 Forgotten Memories

[My apologies to everyone, this is actually Chapter 109. Please forgive me as I try to match the original word count. T_T]

It was already late at night when they left “Plum Valley.” Qi Yi Beigong tilted his head back to gaze at the night sky, smiling softly. “Brother… if one day I forget you, what will you do?”

Juechen Beigong raised an eyelid lazily and replied casually, “Then I’ll make sure you never see me again.”

Qi Yi Beigong wrinkled his nose and asked with a bitter expression, “Why?”

Juechen Beigong walked steadily with his hands clasped behind his back. “If you’ve forgotten, then what’s the point of seeing each other?”

Qi Yi bit his lip and said, “That’s true. I might forget you, but if you still remember me, that would make you sad…”

Juechen Beigong lowered his head and let out a quiet chuckle.

“Brother, promise me, if that day really comes when I forget you, then you mustn’t keep me by your side,” Qi Yi suddenly stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Juechen Beigong. His eyes were dark and bright, like stars shining in the night. Juechen Beigong silently walked past him. “Alright.”

Left behind, Qi Yi lowered his head and smiled faintly. “Brother… I’m serious about what I said…”

His soft whisper was quickly carried away by the wind. Qi Yi turned and hurried to Juechen Beigong’s side. “Brother, I won’t forget you. I promised I love you to the core of my being and will never forget you.”

The boy’s ink-black eyes were filled with deep affection. Juechen Beigong looked at him and slowly nodded. A smile curved at the corner of Qi Yi’s rosy lips as he gently grasped Juechen Beigong’s hand.

Suddenly, the night wind picked up sharply. Juechen Beigong paused but then resumed walking nonchalantly. Qi Yi instinctively stepped forward, glancing subtly around. He smiled lightly. “Brother, I haven’t been slacking off lately. Later, you can see if I’ve improved, alright?”

Juechen Beigong raised an eyebrow and nodded indifferently. Their hands remained intertwined. Qi Yi’s gaze casually fell somewhere, then he flicked a stone on the ground with his toe and threw it. A muffled groan followed, and in an instant, flashes of blades and swords appeared. A group of masked black-clad warriors leapt out, surrounding them completely.

Juechen Beigong surveyed the scene with casual eyes, sneering coldly. “A few days ago, Qiang Yanxi said your martial skills had improved greatly. Today, I’ll see with my own eyes.”

Qi Yi nodded at him with a smile. “With me here, Brother, you won’t have to lift a finger.” No sooner had he spoken than a flash of silver light appeared from his sleeve, and a sword was already in his hand.

“Good evening, everyone,” Qi Yi chuckled softly. But before his words finished, he seemed to merge with the darkness, vanishing without a trace. The masked men were startled but barely had time to react before feeling a chill in front of them. Before they could defend themselves, Qi Yi’s sword had pierced one of their bodies.

Blood dripped thickly from the silver-white sword tip. The seemingly frail youth stood in the center of the circle. “Too weak,” he mocked. The black-clad men exchanged glances, then without hesitation, raised their knives and swords to charge. Qi Yi smiled faintly, his footsteps quickened, and by the time he stopped, nearly half of the black-clad attackers lay defeated behind him.

The remaining masked men, looking at the pile of bodies beside them, glanced back at the youth bathed in moonlight, then at Juechen Beigong standing with folded arms watching them. Gritting their teeth, they attacked Juechen Beigong.

Pale yellow moonlight shone on the youth’s slender frame, merging seamlessly with his yellow robes, as if he himself were glowing. Qi Yi turned his face slightly, narrowing his phoenix-shaped eyes.

Knives and swords flew toward Juechen Beigong, who remained standing with arms crossed, expression unchanged, giving no indication of fighting back. Yet, when the blades were just an inch from his body, they all dropped to the ground, and their wielders collapsed alongside them.

With bodies piled at his feet, Juechen Beigong stepped over them and approached Qi Yi. He raised an eyebrow and smiled faintly. “Not bad. You really have improved.”

Hearing the praise, Qi Yi proudly lifted his chin and smiled. But in the next moment, his smile changed as a soft sword brushed against Juechen Beigong’s side, piercing him.

“Watch out!” the man’s voice rang in his ears, but Qi Yi hadn’t turned in time. Enduring the sharp pain in his back, Qi Yi kicked backward. The attacker behind groaned but didn’t strike again, instead fleeing swiftly.

Hidden in a corner, Mu Min silently retracted his step. His wooden face seemed even colder. Master, you’re truly reckless...

The slender youth slumped against Juechen Beigong. He gently stroked the youth’s back, feeling a warm dampness. Frowning, he decisively lifted Qi Yi into his arms. Qi Yi obediently nestled into the man’s embrace, but his gaze drifted somewhere else.

There was no one there, yet Qi Yi slowly curled his lips into a strange smile. The two disappeared into the night. Not long after, someone emerged from where Qi Yi had been looking. Expressionless, he watched them leave, then turned and walked away in the opposite direction.

The wind howled intermittently. Qi Yi, satisfied, wrapped his arms around Juechen Beigong’s neck, leaning into his embrace with a soft laugh. “Brother, am I heavy? I’m fine, just a surface wound. Why don’t you put me down?”

Juechen Beigong’s face darkened. “Shut up.”

Pouting, Qi Yi tried to lighten his weight. Except for when he was very young, Juechen Beigong had never carried him before. Qi Yi lifted his head, using the pale moonlight to look at the man’s profile. He had lived two lifetimes, never before had he found anyone so handsome. Nor had he ever imagined he could love someone this deeply.

Truly… is this the cycle of karmic retribution, the justice of heaven displeased? In the last life, he was selfish and ruthless. The brother of that life gave him everything, yet he remained unmoved. So this life, he must repay the debt, Qi Yi thought. But then he shook his head slightly. No, that wasn’t right. He knew clearly that this brother was not the same as the one from his past life—not even via reincarnation.

Someone like Juechen Beigong was not only peerless in this world but unparalleled across all ages! His hands tightened around the man’s neck. Perhaps because he was heartless and loveless in a past life, he was granted another lifetime—to experience the sorrows and joys, the sweetness and bitterness of love.

Unaware that Qi Yi was lost in thought, Juechen Beigong strode into the “Wandering Minstrel Pavilion” carrying him. The maids inside were stunned to see Qi Yi in Juechen Beigong’s arms. One hurriedly asked, “Master, shall I—”

“No need. Get the medicine box,” Juechen Beigong interrupted, carrying Qi Yi directly into the inner chamber and laying him on the bed. His face darkened as he examined the wound on the youth’s back. As Qi Yi had said, the sword wound was not serious nor deep. Juechen Beigong frowned and suddenly slapped the wound hard.

“Ah—!” Qi Yi cried out in pain, face down on the bed, then turned his head with a wronged expression. “Brother, I’m already hurt, and you’re not even sympathizing, but you have to make it worse!”

Juechen Beigong smirked faintly and raised an eyebrow. “What’s this? Playing the martyr? I’m just helping you make it more convincing.”

“Ah…” Qi Yi blinked, swallowed nervously, and forced a dry laugh. “I wasn’t trying to play the martyr…”

Juechen Beigong narrowed his eyes coldly. “If a wound like this on your back can stop you from dealing with an ambush, then I really have to question if you’re fit to be the young master of the Li Estate!”

“Uh…” Qi Yi grinned foolishly, trying to please him. Seeing the man’s expression unchanged, he reluctantly said, “Brother, except for the last one, the others weren’t arranged by me. I just got the information early, so…”

“So you purposely arranged people to put on a show for you?” Juechen Beigong scoffed. “Qi Yi, I really don’t see the point of this martyr act.”

The boy’s dark eyes flickered. He looked up straight at Juechen Beigong and said slowly, “Brother, do you really not know why I did this?”

Without waiting for a reply, he continued, “You say you like me now, but we both know how much. I’m not a greedy person. I just want you to like me a little more. Brother, although the martyr act is cliché, it was the most effective method I could think of.”

“Where did you get the confidence that I’d fall for this?” Juechen Beigong said coldly.

Qi Yi snorted self-mockingly. “I’m not confident. I just thought, if you’re touched by the scars on my hands, then I’ll gamble one more time.” He blinked. “Brother, do you like me more now?”

Juechen Beigong frowned just then as a maid entered carrying the medicine box. “Master.”

He nodded. “Put it aside and leave.”

The sudden interruption ruined the mood. Qi Yi glared coldly at the maid, who felt a chill run down her spine. She didn’t dare look up and hurriedly placed the box on a chair beside the bed before leaving.

Juechen Beigong roughly tore open the clothes over Qi Yi’s back wound and said flatly, “Take your clothes off.”

Seeing the man didn’t intend to respond, Qi Yi pouted and stubbornly stripped off his clothes, tossing them to the floor. Juechen Beigong’s expression remained unchanged as he narrowed his eyes slightly.

The pristine, smooth back bore a not-too-large wound. Though the cut wasn’t deep, the blood had almost dyed Qi Yi’s entire back red. Juechen Beigong frowned, wiped the blood with a clean cloth, then sprinkled medicinal powder over the wound.

“Sit up,” Juechen Beigong ordered sternly.

Pouting, Qi Yi sat up silently. Juechen Beigong wrapped gauze around him a few times, lowering his head to say softly, “Maybe I like you more than you think.”

Suddenly, the boy’s black eyes lit up. He stared at Juechen Beigong in disbelief. “B-Brother?”

After finishing the bandaging, the man’s lips curved into a slight smile. “That’s enough.”

“Brother…” The moisture gleaming in the boy’s dark eyes made it seem as if a layer of mist had settled over them. Juechen Beigong shook his head with a smile, and the boy suddenly threw himself into his arms.

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The next chapter contains the original content I mistakenly posted earlier.

Author’s note: I was wrong! I posted the wrong chapter yesterday. This is really Chapter 109. T_T
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