To Raise a Soul 47.1

After Yu Zhen had signed the documents and returned home, he unexpectedly found Yin Yan home.

Recently, though Yu Zhen was busy, Yin Yan was even busier. It had been a while since the two had been in the house together during the day time.

“How come you’re back? Did you leave something at home?” Without realizing it, he began smiling. Like a puppy who’s eyes landed on a bone, he rushed over to Yin Yan.

Yin Yan was sitting on the sofa, flipping through documents. He raised his head at Yu Zhen’s voice, gave his face a once-over, and then looked back at his documents. “No, today is Xiao Le’s birthday. Mom and Dad want us both back home.”  

Yu Zhen was stunned. An ‘Ah’ escaped his lips and he rapped his own head.

“Damn, how could I forget Xiao Le’s birthday? I don’t have a present prepared.”

He then pulled at his hair as his gaze drifted over to the dimensional pot. He also turned his pagoda tower over a few times but didn’t find anything suitable. He then sheepishly looked at Yin Yan. “Um… What did you prepare to give Xiao Le?”

“Mock exam papers for the GaoKao from the last few years,” Yin Yan replied without lifting his head.

“…”

Yu Zhen looked at him quietly. Mind blank, he dumbly asked, “My birthday is in the second half of the year. What present will you be giving me?” 

Yin Yan looked up from his documents again and fixed his gaze upon Yu Zhen.

Yu Zhen shifted his eyes to look away and fidgeted. “I-I don’t mean that I want a present. I’m j-just asking…”

“Tomorrow is my birthday,” Yin Yan replied.

Yu Zhen’s eyes snapped back up. Wide-eyed, he asked, “Isn’t it at the end of the year?”

I’ve counted the days.

“That’s Yin Yan’s birthday.”

“…”

“…”

Yu Zhen’s tangled mind came back online. What Yin Yan means is that the birthday in the last half of the year is the original body’s, but his own birthday is tomorrow.

Tomorrow!

I’m done for!

I’ve planned the present, but I haven’t started making it yet!

Yu Zhen appeared to have received a bolt from the blue and was shocked to stupidity. He looked at Yin Yan dumbly for a few seconds, then he broke into a run towards the dimensional pot.

Yin Yan: “…”

He closed the covers of the documents. Recalling the expression on Yu Zhen’s face, his lips flattened into a line.

Evil disciple!

Yu Zhen was convinced that Yin Yan was furious, despite his usual, calm appearance. 

However, he didn’t have the energy to care about that. He tightly grasped the peach wood sword that he had brought out and worried over whether or not Yin Le would like the present he prepared in a rush.

He had started learning to refine tools and the process went smoothly. It went so smoothly, it was as if he was only relearning it, as if he had only temporarily forgotten it and was reviewing the methods.

However, the time that he’d spent learning was short, he was using a lot of merits, and there wasn’t much spiritual energy around, so the tool refining didn’t go as smoothly as he’d hoped.

Yu Zhen had made the half-palm sized peach wood sword. For the main material, he used the bark of the mountain god which Yin Yan had gifted him. He fed it his merits and soaked it in lotus water. It could be used in exorcisms, attract happiness, improve focus, and calm one’s mind. 

It was very effective, but its appearance was too plain and simple. Although he had found a bead of ruby from the evil cultivator’s magical item and hung it on the sword, it remained too plain.

“W-why don’t I get another figurine?” He whispered and tugged on Yin Yan’s sleeve.

As if he didn’t hear anything, Yin Yan stood as still as a mountain. He looked both handsome and cool.

“…”

Yu Zhen looked at him for a few seconds, then he couldn’t resist the urge to poke Yin Yan with the small peach wood sword.

Yin Yan looked down at him with focused, hooded eyes, leaving the aura of an immortal on full display.

“Tonight, I want to sleep in separate rooms,” Yu Zhen added with a cold expression.

However, they had already been sleeping in different rooms.

After the issue with the Qiu family, Qiu Feiqian had taken some time to go abroad and drive away her cares. Worried, Yin Hexiang also made time to accompany her. Yin Le was busy with school work. He practically lived at school, although he did return for the weekends. 

The house was mostly empty, so they spent most of their time at their apartment and only returned to the villa during the weekends.

On the occasions they did go back to the villa, they went out to practice cultivation, so they had no time to share a bed.

With Yin Le’s birthday, they would return to the villa. As the evil cultivator had been eliminated and a phase of cultivation was coming to an end, they could finally share a bed, but Yu Zhen suddenly proposed that they sleep in different rooms.

And he said it with a cold face.

Unfilial disciple!

“As you wish.” Yin Yan looked away calmly and stood up. He called over an aunty that was cleaning nearby and asked her to set up a guest room on the second floor.

Yu Zhen pursed his lips and lowered his head, then he proceeded to stab himself with the wooden sword.

He agreed so easily. 

The aunty’s gaze bounced between the two men. She nodded silently and after leaving their line of sight, she immediately called Qiu Feiqian and reported, Bad news. It looks like Elder Young Master and Young Master Yu are arguing. Elder Young Master actually wants to sleep in a different room!

On the way to pick up Yin Le, Qiu Feiqian frowned. She cursed, “Damn kid. What are you arguing about… let him do as he wishes. I’ll have to have a word with him when I get back.”

As a third-year high school student, it wouldn’t be good to skip his studies for a birthday celebration. As a result, it was already past eight o’clock by the time that Qiu Feiqian had brought Yin Le home from a day of classes.

The cake had been arranged earlier on. The aunties all hid themselves away, giving space for the family.

“Today you’re 18 years old. You’re an adult now. Recently Mom and Dad have been busy, so this is how your birthday will be for now. After your GaoKao is finished, we’ll hold a big banquet to celebrate you moving into the next year of education.”

Yin Le frowned and shook his head. “No, don’t, don’t. I don’t want some banquet. It’s so tacky.”

“Even if it’s tacky, we have to hold it!” Qiu Feiqian smacked him. After thinking for a moment, she added, “If you do well, we’ll hold it. If you do badly, you’re going to redo the year!”

Yin Le wailed in anguish and collapsed onto the sofa. Qiu Feiqian laughed at his act and patted him.

The family had a lively meal and cut the cake. After smearing cake on the birthday boy’s face until it was covered in cream, it was time for presents. 

As promised, Yin Yan gifted a set of GaoKao papers from over the years. Yin Le was so angry that he almost smashed cake into Yin Yan’s face. Yin Hexiang gave him money for a holiday vacation. Qiu Feiqian gifted him the newest phone, something that all youngsters would appreciate.

Seeing the gifts that everyone prepared, Yu Zhen felt the peach wood sword wasn’t very suitable for Yin Le. He hesitated and said, “I made this. It was soaked in lotus water and has a simple and elegant smell. It can refresh and clear your mind… Umm, Xiao Le, you hold onto this for now. After your GaoKao is over, I’ll give you another present, one that you’ll like.”

The present was very unique and everyone’s attention was drawn to it. 

Under the warm light, the miniature peach wood sword looked both simple and cute. Golden thread wrapped around the sword hilt and a ruby hung on the thread. 

Embarrassed by the stares, Yu Zhen’s hand shrank back without his notice.

“Although the shape of this sword is very similar to a peach wood sword, the main material is the bark of a special, thousand-year-old tree. Legends say it can drive out devils and attract good fortune. The gem represents something good. It had been blessed to attract good fortune.”

Yin Yan picked up the peach wood sword from Yu Zhen’s hand and placed it in Yin Le’s hand. Then he instructed, “Remember to carry it on you. Don’t let it touch blood, or its effect will disappear.”

The peach wood sword was warm to the touch and it also brought a feeling of contentment. Yin Le returned to his senses and, turning the little sword in his hands, he beamed at Yu Zhen. “Thanks, Yu Ge! I like this present! It’s very cool!”

How is it cool? It’s clearly really plain.

Despite Yu Zhen’s thoughts, his nervousness and hesitation disappeared when Yin Le immediately put the peach wood sword into his pocket. Smiling, he replied, “It’s good as long as you like it.”

A smile also made its way onto Qiu Feiqian’s face. She tousled Yin Le’s hair, eyes filled with warmth.

In the evening, Yu Zhen and Yin Yan slept in different rooms. Qiu Feiqian frowned at that. As it wasn’t good for her to say anything, she secretly glared at Yin Yan a few times instead.

Yin Le looked shiftily as if he was ready for some juicy gossip, but he was scared back to his room by a gaze from Yin Yan. 

After successfully getting separate rooms, Yu Zhen checked the time. It was just past eleven o’clock. He rushed into the bathroom, locking himself in. Then he called for Xu Wu, and secretly had it transport him into the dimensional pot.

Although the dimensional pot was his magical tool, if he wanted to enter from any other place, he had to rely on Xu Wu’s power for the time being.

After arriving at his destination, Yu Zhen immediately ran to the side of the lotus pond. He fished out the remaining part of the mountain god’s bark, as well as a dark piece of wood, which he had obtained from the evil cultivator. He took in a deep breath, sat down, and began to immerse himself in refining a tool.

Tomorrow is Yin Yan’s birthday. There’s too little time. I have to make use of every moment.