To Raise a Soul 37.1

With the weight lifted from his heart, Yu Zhen felt relaxed to the depths of his soul. When the architect delivered the new draft of the leisure center, he resolved to put his all into taking on the new work.

The new design incorporated changes according to Yin Yan’s ideas. The triangular shape of the building was preserved, but it was rounded like a drop of water. The area occupied by the building also became much smaller, leaving a large space for gardens.

The observatory was still present. On the spherical part of the ‘teardrop’, at the highest spot, the roof would be made of smart glass. From a birds-eye view, the section of glass would look like light reflecting on a drop of water.

“It’s beautiful.”

Yu Zhen looked at the design over and over again. With a fondness in his eyes, he looked up at Yin Yan and said, “I heard this architect is quite young? His design is very good. He’s very talented.”

Yin Yan looked up from his documents. With a move of his hand, a pagoda-shaped magical tool appeared in his hand.

Yu Zhen’s gaze was immediately drawn to it. With a glance, his eyes lit up. He put down the architect’s plans and moved closer to Yin Yan. “What’s this? It’s beautiful.”

The pagoda tower was very beautiful. Unlike the usual pagoda, it only had three floors.. The whole tower was covered with various gemstones. Although many colors were used, it didn’t look messy. Instead, it seemed like its stunning form was created after the tower bumped into an array of colors.

The cutest thing about the tower was a small, lifelike lion that was mounted on the top of its peak. It was chubby and wore the silly expressions of a lion cub. Its head was tilted to one side and viewers might tremble at its adorableness. 

Yin Yan looked at the plan discarded on the sofa. His emotions soothed, he moved his hand and transformed it into a fingernail-sized item. He motioned for Yu Zhen to stretch out his hand and then said, “I made this dimensional tool when I was first learning to refine tools. When you store or take things from my mustard space, you have to go through Xu Wu. It’s inconvenient. So this is for you.” 

Yu Zhen reached out a hand and stared at the miniature pagoda tower in Yin Yan’s hand. He felt that the longer he looked at the shrunken tower, the cuter it became. “The first magical tool that you made must be very memorable for you. It doesn’t seem like a good idea to give it to me…”

Despite his words, he didn’t retract his outstretched hand.

“Empty words.”

Yin Yan tapped the extended hand and said, “Not this hand. The other one.”

Having been seen through, some embarrassment crept in. Yu Zhen obediently switched hands and stopped pretending to refuse.

Yin Yan held Yu Zhen’s hand and then pulled out the red string around his wrist. He fastened the pagoda tower onto the length and said, “There are some small items in the tower. Have a look at them later. Give the ones you don’t want to Xu Wu, it will store them in my mustard space.”

As their hands were connected, a warmth rose up in him briefly. Yu Zhen eyed the red thread, then he eyed Yin Yan’s attractive hands. He touched the tower and, with false casualness, said, “I heard that powerful cultivators like to set up their own sect and collect disciples. What about you? Do you have your own sect? How many disciples did you accept?”

The warm and relaxed air around Yin Yan disappeared. Although he appeared to be calm, Yu Zhen was acutely aware of his quick change to a gloomy mood.

“I’m not powerful.”

Yin Yan lowered his head and picked up a document. “I only had one disciple, and I will only ever have one.”

Yu Zhen didn’t expect such an answer. A little stumped, he toyed with the red string on his wrist and glanced at Yin Yan’s focused expression. He felt a sudden swelling of sourness in his heart, and his mood dropped. With a quiet hum, he ended their conversation. He turned back to the sofa and sat down. Picking up the plan, he covered his own face and stared blankly.

I only had one disciple, and I will only ever have one.

Although Yin Yan led him onto the path of cultivation, helped him collect merits, taught him the methods of cultivation, and did everything that a master would do for a disciple, he hadn’t accepted Yu Zhen as a disciple.

Before their conversation, he hadn’t thought about becoming Yin Yan’s disciple.

Although he hadn’t thought about it before, he would be lying to himself if he claimed he didn’t feel saddened and disappointed that he wouldn’t have the chance to obtain that status.

There was already an irreplaceable person who enjoyed the right to enjoy Yin Yan’s care and stay by his side.

…I’m so envious. 

His back became hunched and he leaned back into the couch.

They must be very outstanding for Yin Yan to be determined to only have one disciple.

In any case, they would be better than me, a person with a damaged soul.

Only one person, hmm…Is there anyone in this world who wouldn’t want to monopolize a certain position beside their certain someone, and be doted on as the position allowed?

Yin Yan is so good. It must be a blessing to be his disciple… But, I have no hope to gain that position.

That’s right. Although Yin Yan’s fate and mine are intertwined, we’re only together for survival’s sake.

We have a collaborative relationship, not some deep emotional connection, or even any blood relations. On top of that, Yin Yan has been taking care of me ever since we met.

Lately, I seem to have been too impudent and willful in front of him. My days have been smooth sailing. Being looked after and protected by someone has felt really good and, unconsciously, I’ve become greedy and wanted even more. I wanted to test where his bottom line is and I wanted to have a reasonable position. I stood by his side self-righteously.  

I used to think that the best ending for me and Yin Yan was to mutually help each other fix our souls and then have our own fresh new beginnings. But now, I feel that separating is unbearably cruel.

Carefully shifting the drafted design aside, he watched Yin Yan turn a page of a document. Indulging in his desires, he continued mulling in silence.

It would be great if I could also be his disciple. That way I could justly stick to his side and not leave.

“What are you thinking about?” Yin Yan looked up and asked softly.

Yu Zhen snapped to attention. His mind short-circuited and he blurted out, “Yin Yan, if you only want one disciple, th-then what about a grand-disciple? Although my soul is damaged and my aptitude for cultivation doesn’t seem to be up to par, it’s better to take on someone familiar than a stranger. What do you think about taking me on?”

^*grand-disciple = disciple’s disciple. Like how a grandson = son’s son.

Yin Yan put down the document he was reading. It might have been an illusion, but Yin Yan seemed to have smiled.

“No. You are too stupid.”

Yin Yan replied decisively before callously looking down and picking up his document again.

“…”

Yu Zhen looked at him. He stared at Yin Yan and continued staring dumbly for a while. The small sense of disappointment and uneasiness disappeared. He stood up, walked over, and yanked the document out of Yin Yan’s hand. With resentment, he snapped, “Stingy ass! I’m going back to the apartment! You can go to the site by yourself!”

He turned, deliberately took the document with him, and tossed it onto the couch. 

Bang.

The door of the study was slammed shut behind him.

Yin Yan stared at the door for a long moment. With a move of his hand, the document on the couch returned to his hand. He smiled faintly and called, “Xu Wu, follow him.” 

The white cat appeared and meowed in reply. It concealed its body and dashed through the door. 

Yu Zhen felt regret quickly creep in after he’d left the study. Going to the construction site was a work obligation. Not going because he’d let his emotions get the best of him was unacceptable and would let down Yin Hexiang’s expectations. 

…And I was impudent in front of Yin Yan again.

He pulled at the red thread on his wrist in irritation. When his actions finally registered in his mind, he hurriedly moved his sleeves down to cover it. He hesitatingly glanced back to the study door he’d just left. Then he retrieved his coat from their room and went out.

I haven’t fed the flowers in the dimensional pot today. I’ll – I’ll go there first. At worst, I’ll just go there and then come back as quickly as possible.

Seeing that he was going out, the driver of his family approached him and asked to drive Yu Zhen.

Yu Zhen thought about it but declined. Instead, he got a pair of keys to a more low-key, black car and drove himself. 

When he was on the main road, he couldn’t help but examine himself.

Well, well, how long has it been? Even though I don’t need to drive when I leave the house, I’m still used to driving here and there.

There’s a subway just outside of the neighborhood but I didn’t even think about it.

And these insanely expensive clothes I’m wearing – I felt strange in them at first but now I’m very comfortable with them.

From being frugal to living in extravagance. It’s hard to become frugal again after living in luxury. I’ve become shameless. Too shameless.

In the future, when I leave Yin Yan and his circle, I’ll definitely be smited from my current rice bug^[1] self to my original form. At that time, Yin Yan will be living in the high skies, but I’ll be down on the ground. We’ll probably never cross paths again.

I have to make money!

His eyes expressed a determined look and he clenched the steering wheel tightly.

I have to make a lot of money! Then I’ll be very good to Yin Yan! If I can’t be his disciple or grand-disciple then I’ll just go back to the original plan! Have him as my family!

Yin Yan is so good to me. So good that I don’t want to separate from him. T-Then I’ll just treat him well. I’ll treat him extra well. I’ll treat him so well that he can’t leave me.

En! This is the best way!

He encouraged himself as he watched the red light before him turn green. He had a feeling that the relationship between Yin Yan and himself was at a turning point. He lifted his foot from the brake and smoothly drove past the traffic light.

Then…Bang!

A large van ran the red light and, unable to avoid it, his car was smacked on the side.

His eyes widened in shock and his mind ground to a halt for a few seconds. From his rear view mirror, he saw a policeman leave a police booth, blowing a whistle as he approached. Panic overtaking him, he pulled out his phone and dialed Yin Yan’s phone. Once connected, he stammered, “Yin-Yin Yan. I caused an accident. A car accident…”

Hearing those words, Yin Yan took a moment to compose himself. Then he set down the document, got up and replied, “Don’t be scared, I’ll come immediately.”