After transmigrating into the body of the protagonist's childhood friend, he was targeted by a

The three entered the main peak. The Grand Elder saw that although the three were in a sorry state, they were all alright. He breathed a sigh of relief and almost collapsed on the spot.

He first looked at Lin Zhixu, his lips trembled, and after a long while he could only squeeze out a sentence: "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back."

Elder Xuanqing and several medical practitioners rushed over upon hearing the news and hurriedly escorted the three to Danfeng.

Elder Xuanqing first examined Yan Lingcang and confirmed that he was only suffering from excessive spiritual energy depletion and was not in mortal danger. Then he hurriedly turned to Lin Zhixu.

"Come, come, let me see you. You've been captured by that evil creature for so many days, I hope you don't have any hidden injuries." Xuan Qing said, reaching out to touch Lin Zhixu's wrist.

Lin Zhixu took a half step back without making a sound, put his hands behind his back, and said calmly, "Thank you for your kindness, Elder, but I'm really fine. It's just that my spiritual power has been sealed these past few days, and I haven't been eating or sleeping well, so I'm a little weak. I'll be fine after I go back and rest."

Xuan Qing frowned: "How can that be? That place is filled with demonic energy, and your spiritual power has been sealed. You'll be affected to some extent. Don't take it lightly. If something really goes wrong, it'll be too late to fix it."

Lin Zhixu looked troubled when he heard Yu Linzhou hiss behind him and call out, half-jokingly, "Elder Xuanqing, please have mercy on me. If you don't come soon, I'll bleed to death."

When everyone turned around, they saw that Yu Linzhou had slumped in his chair, looking like he was barely breathing. He even rolled up his blood-stained sleeves, as if afraid that others wouldn't see his injuries.

Xuan Qing glared at him, annoyed. "What are you howling about? You were able to walk over by yourself just now. Now you know it hurts?"

Yu Linzhou said matter-of-factly, "He had someone with him just now, so why can't he feel the pain now? Besides, Lin Zhixu said he's fine, so don't scare him."

"He's been with me for so long, if something were really wrong, wouldn't I be able to tell? If you have nothing else to do, save me first, it hurts so much."

Xuan Qing was amused by his shameless behavior. While cursing "Serves him right," she still walked over, grabbed Yu Linzhou's wrist, and started probing.

Upon examining him, his expression changed: "How come your internal injuries are so severe? Your meridians are full of marks from the impact, and there's still demonic energy left! Yu Linzhou, do you think you're made of iron?"

Yu Linzhou didn't retaliate after being scolded, and lazily said, "Isn't this exactly what I'm waiting for you to save my life?"

Lin Zhixu stood aside, watching as Xuan Qing's attention was drawn to Yu Linzhou, and breathed a sigh of relief.

While Xuan Qing turned around to write the prescription, Yu Linzhou blinked and mouthed to Lin Zhixu, "Let's go first."

Lin Zhixu glanced at him with concern, hesitated for a moment, and finally nodded gently.

He cupped his hands in greeting to Xuan Qing: "Elder, I'll go back and pack up first."

Xuan Qing was busy and waved his hand without looking up: "Go on, go on, and don't run around during this time."

Lin Zhixu agreed and left the room.

Lin Zhixu had just left the alchemy room when he bumped into a figure hurrying towards him at the corner of the corridor.

Luo Yiyan had obviously received the news and rushed over, his forehead still damp with sweat.

He suddenly stopped in his tracks, looked up and saw Lin Zhixu standing perfectly fine in front of him. He was stunned for a moment, then quickly looked away.

"It's good that you're alright." He tried to make his tone sound indifferent. "Be more careful in the future. Because of you, so many people are worried about you."

Lin Zhixu was taken aback.

He looked at Luo Yiyan and saw that the other was tense all over, like a hedgehog with its quills sticking up.

He had no reply, and finally just nodded silently: "Mm."

The two remained silent.

Luo Yiyan stood there, feeling her mouth dry. She wanted to say something more, but felt that anything she said would be superfluous.

He admitted that he was still worried about Lin Zhixu.

I haven't felt at ease since the day I learned he was arrested.

But when I actually stood in front of them, all my anxiety and worry got stuck in my throat, and I couldn't utter a single word.

He wasn't without temper either. Having been betrayed like that, he couldn't just rush over and ask him all sorts of questions without any resentment.

Never mind, it's good that everyone is alright.

He pursed his lips, then turned to leave.

"Wait a minute," Lin Zhixu suddenly said.

Luo Yiyan paused and turned to look at him.

He tried hard to maintain a cold expression, but his eyes twitched very slightly, as if he was still expecting something: "Is there anything else?"

Lin Zhixu said, "Immortal Venerable Wucang is also injured; he's inside the Pill Pavilion. Aren't you going to go see him?"

Luo Yiyan was taken aback. So that's what he wanted to talk about.

The nascent expectation was doused with a bucket of cold water, leaving even him feeling it was meaningless.

He lowered his eyes, his tone becoming indifferent: "I understand."

After saying that, he didn't look at Lin Zhixu again and turned to walk towards the alchemy room.

Even though his back was ramrod straight, for some reason, there was always an inexplicable sense of loneliness about him.

Lin Zhixu stood under the corridor, watching him walk away, and only looked away after a long while.

He raised his hand, pressed his knuckles against his chest where it felt stuffy, and gently exhaled.

……

Lin Zhixu returned to Qiyue Peak.

Pushing open the gate to the courtyard, the familiar scent of grass and trees, mixed with the crispness after the rain, wafted towards me.

Everything in the room was as it had always been. The familiar environment eased his tense nerves, and a wave of fatigue washed over him instantly.

He slowly walked to the bedside, and without even having the strength to take off his outer robe, he collapsed straight down.

Like a bird that has been injured outside, finally returning to its nest.

He closed his eyes, his breathing gradually slowed, and soon he fell into a deep sleep.

I slept very soundly.

I didn't have any weird dreams, nor was I disturbed by demonic energy. When I woke up again, it was already completely dark.

There were no lights in the room, only moonlight leaking in through the half-open bamboo window, spreading a thin layer of silvery white on the ground.

Lin Zhixu shifted his body, then suddenly realized something and turned to look.

A person was sitting by the bed.

Yu Linzhou arrived at some unknown time and sat on the edge of the bed, resting his chin on his hands and quietly watching him.

He changed into a clean robe, his hair half-loose, looking somewhat languid yet exceptionally handsome.

"Awake? Is anything bothering you?"

Lin Zhixu remained silent.

He stared at Yu Linzhou for a while before slowly propping himself up to sit up.

The moonlight fell directly on Yu Linzhou's shoulder, outlining his pale features with a faint silver edge.

Lin Zhixu suddenly wanted to reach out and touch it to make sure it wasn't a hallucination he was having while he was still half asleep.

He thought it that way, and he did it that way.

He raised his hand, his fingertips landing lightly on Yu Linzhou's brow bone, then sliding down his cheek, finally stopping on the other's cool earlobe.

Yu Linzhou didn't dodge, but simply turned his head slightly and pressed his face into his palm.

He closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again; the corners of his eyes were slightly red.

Yu Linzhou suddenly laughed, reverting to his usual carefree demeanor: "What's wrong? Why are you staring at me like that? Have you finally realized how deeply you love me and how you can't live without me anymore?"