To Raise a Soul 54.1

Yu Zhen obediently raised his head to let Yin Yan wipe his face with a paper towel. From the corner of his eyes, he noticed the three men squatting around a sapling that he had raised. Their faces were grave, causing nervousness to creep into Yu Zhen’s heart. In a hushed voice, he asked, “Yin Yan, why are they here? The saplings here… would they notice something?”

“They came to see the leisure hall. Dad gave me this task, so I couldn’t avoid it.” Yin Yan threw the mud-stained paper towel into a trash can. Gently tilting Yu Zhen’s head, he broke off Yu Zhen’s gaze and added, “Don’t look over there. They’ve already noticed the strangeness of the saplings.”

Yu Zhen’s nerves tensed up, but he didn’t give in to the urge to look back at the squatting group. Instead, he asked, “What do we do now?”

“You’re a monk. What you did is good for the country and for the people. It’s not in conflict with their stance. There’s no need to be too concerned about them. Treating them as normal will suffice.” Yin Yan gently stroked his cheeks. Spiritual energy gently flowed from his hands, removing all the sweat from Yu Zhen’s forehead. 

Yu Zhen immediately felt much cooler and more comfortable. Reflexively, he smiled at Yin Yan, but when he remembered Feng Yuan’s presence, he pulled Yin Yan’s hands down and earnestly replied, “Don’t use spiritual energy. Be careful or they’ll notice.”

The issue of Yin Yan’s reincarnation into another body was like a ticking time bomb. They couldn’t let their guard down. To avoid people like Feng Yuan, it was better for Yin Yan to retain the identity of being an “ordinary person”. 

“Don’t worry, they won’t notice.”

Yin Yan held his hands and asked, “Do you want to hear what they’re saying?”

Yu Zhen’s eyes brightened. “You can do that? How do you listen to them? Would they find out about it?”

“By using divine sense. They won’t notice it.” Yin Yan snapped his fingers beside Yu Zhen’s ears and the sound of Feng Yuan’s voice rang in their ears. 

“… the person of great evil is in B City, beside Yu Zhen.”

Hearing his own name, Yu Zhen felt another urge to turn and look in Feng Yuan’s direction, but Yin Yan lifted Yu Zhen’s head again. To the people around them, it looked like Yu Zhen had deliberately rubbed his cheek against Yin Yan’s palm.

Yin Yan pressed a thumb against Yu Zhen’s lips and said, “Listen carefully.” Then he withdrew his hands.

Yu Zhen pursed his lips and forced himself to relax.

… However, no one spoke for a long time. 

“They’re looking over here. Smile.”

Yu Zhen’s relaxed nerves suddenly tensed up again. He frowned and whispered, “Why did they mention my name? Who’s beside me? Why aren’t they talking? Are they watching us?”

“I like you.”

“What did you say?” Yu Zhen looked at him with bright eyes, like a tiger coveting its prey. The corners of his lips twitched. He’d heard it and understood it clearly, but he pretended to look serious.

Yin Yan complied with his prompting and replied, “I said that you like me.”

“That’s not what you just said!” 

Yin Yan covered his lips again and replied, “Shush, continue listening.”

At their spot beside the sapling, Bo Xiu and Feng Lin looked away. They looked like they just ate a bowl of dog food. They glanced at each other and Feng Lin smiled foolishly, while Bo Xiu awkwardly sighed and attempted to find his composure as an elder.

“In other words, we need to keep watching. We need to keep observing to see if Yin Yan is the person of great evil. From the current situation, he seems to simply be an ordinary person with a strange fate.” Feng Yuan finally stood up and he continued, “In a short while, I’ll find a chance to get in touch with Yu Zhen and ask for his opinion on Yin Yan. Everything else will have to wait until we’ve exchanged information. Alright, get up. The screen for blocking out sounds is about to fail.”

Feng Lin and Bo Xiu stood up. Not far away from them, Jin Kai who had been looking at the renderings of the construction site finally returned from a dreamlike state and focused on his surroundings. He looked at the renderings in bewilderment, then shook his head. After putting away the design plans, he put a smile on his face and approached the three men. “Old Feng, the basic arrangements of the center’s interior have been completed. Would you like to go inside now, or continue with your stroll?”

“Continue with the walk. It’s still early, there’s no rush.”

With another snap of Yin Yan’s fingers, the voice of Feng Yuan and the others disappeared. 

Yu Zhen frowned, looking as if he had some unspoken thoughts.

“They’re doubting me. Now it’s your turn to protect me.” Yin Yan slipped him a pill and continued, “Don’t be nervous. Later, when Feng Yuan looks for you, just go along with what he says. They won’t find any mistakes from me. And if you’re nervous, you can have a pill.”

Yu Zhen eyed the familiar “quick-acting, calming pills” within his hand and was filled with the urge to crush them.

It was those pills that obstructed their relationship and delayed the nurturing of their affections.

He tightened his fingers and a small amount of his spiritual energy emerged, seeming to bare its teeth.

“Hmm?” Yin Yan looked at him with hooded eyes as if he was looking at a disobedient child.

The spiritual energy was restrained back into Yu Zhen, and he silently placed the pills into the pagoda tower. He glanced at Yin Yan, then turned his back to him and began mulling over some thoughts.

Why does Yin Yan have to force down my excitement every time? Maybe in the future, I too can… Yu Zhen sighed at his thoughts.

After sneaky plans had been devised on both sides, everyone adopted amiable faces as they met up. As if they had no idea what was going on, Yu Zhen and Yin Yan politely exchanged greetings with the others. 

The day was too hot, making it unsuitable for entertaining guests outdoors, so they went into the leisure center. They visited the traditional culture area, which was the first section to be decorated. 

Although they were told that the interior had been fixed up, in truth, only the basic decorations had been completed. Plans had been made for the area, but the furnishings hadn’t been added yet. Although they were being given a tour of the place, there wasn’t really much to see.

However, with many years of experience under his belt, it was easy for Feng Yuan to talk about traditional culture, even if there were only bare walls. 

Yu Zhen’s experience in society was shallow so he was swept along into the conversation by the old man’s enthusiasm. Without realizing it, he was led into talks about their plans for the internal greenery area for the traditional section.

Half an hour flew by without Yu Zhen’s notice. Using the excuse of being thirsty, Feng Yuan asked Yin Yan and Feng Lin to bring some drinks over. Yin Yan glanced at Yu Zhen, nodded, and left without Feng Lin.  

As soon as Yin Yan left, Yu Zhen’s overheated brain cooled down. It was time for the real show to begin. Turning his head away, Yu Zhen secretly swallowed a pill. It cleared his mind instantly and brought a peaceful expression to his face. He gave off the subtle aura of a person who had no greed or desires as if he was a truly noble cultivator.

Feng Yuan and the others noticed the changed aura around him and figured he knew they were people from the same line of work. Without beating around the bush, Feng Yuan spoke first. “Junior ^[1] Yu, we’re both cultivators. I will set aside the polite talks. I came here today to ask you some things about your grandpa.”

Grandpa? Why are we suddenly talking about Grandpa? Shouldn’t he be asking about the meritorious sapling? Then probing about the truth of my relationship with Yin Yan?

Yu Zhen was puzzled, but his expression remained as still as mountains.

Seeing him maintain his silence, a sudden worry emerged in Feng Yuan’s mind and he said, “Junior Yu, where does your Grandpa live at the moment?”

This one’s easy to answer, there’s no need to lie.

Yu Zhen’s eyes dimmed and he replied, “He’s passed away.”

As I had thought.

Feng Yuan and Bo Xiu exchanged glances. They sighed within their hearts before Feng Yuan consoled, “May your grief be subdued. Life, death, and reincarnation are all according to fate. It’s better not to fixate on it.” 

“That’s what Grandpa always said.” Yu Zhen brightened up and smiled at Feng Yuan.

The mood in the room dropped. Yu Zhen continued with the tactic of “If my enemy doesn’t make a move, I won’t make a move. If it seems like my enemy is moving, I will move a little. I must protect Yin Yan well”. He stubbornly refused to speak first.

Feng Yuan thought Yu Zhen wore the attitude of respecting the old while cherishing the young and had thus let the elder dictate the course of their discussion. Feng Yuan’s expression became even friendlier and he said, “Your grandpa and I can be considered old friends. If you don’t mind it, you can also call me ‘grandpa’ in the future. Tell me if you face any difficulties. Everyone will help you. Right now, the cultivation world is in a decline, and it’s hard to come by talented people in the younger generation. You… You have to take care. Don’t fail to live up to your grandpa’s teachings and care.”

Old friends?

“I understand.” Sensing the man’s sincere care, a warmth rose up in Yu Zhen. He suppressed his doubts and replied, “Thank you, Grandpa Feng.”

Aside from the issue of having to protect Yin Yan and remaining tight-lipped on the subjects concerning him, Yu Zhen quite liked Feng Yuan and his companions so he was inclined towards befriending them.

However, he didn’t believe that Old Feng and his own grandfather were truly old friends. It was likely just said out of courtesy.

After reminiscing about the past, Old Feng circled around to the main topic. With a grave expression, he asked, “Xiao Zhen, for what reason did you come to B City?”

Yu Zhen’s warning radar immediately lit up. Recalling the words which he had overheard earlier, he replied, “A person of great evil.” I can’t say it’s because of Yin Yan. 

Feng Yuan’s expression changed immediately. He urgently asked, “Do you know who the person of great evil is?”

Feng Yuan didn’t mention Yin Yan’s name out of worry that he would provoke Yu Zhen’s dislike. He worried that if that person was not Yin Yan, Yu Zhen would dwell on it and react badly. After all, Yin Yan did appear to be Yu Zhen’s partner.

Cultivators were very perceptive of others’ words and bearings, so Yu Zhen didn’t dare to spin big lies. He shook his head and sneakily changed the topic of conversation. “After arriving in B City, I’ve run into many ghost cultivators and evil cultivators, but none were the person of great evil.” 

“Were you the one who dealt with the ghost cultivator at Boli building?” Bo Xiu couldn’t help but interrupt.

Yu Zhen looked at him and quietly racked his brains for how he knew about Boli building. As he was indeed the one to eliminate the ghost cultivator, he nodded and replied, “But the credit doesn’t belong to me completely. I had the help of a magical tool.” As well as a person.

Feng Yuan asked, “Is that magical tool your grandfather’s peach wood sword?”

You even know about this?

Bewildered, Yu Zhen nodded again.

Why does this group of people know what I did in B City so well? And they seem to know a lot about Grandpa. Did they do some research?

“That magical tool… Could I have a look at it?” With a little excitement, Bo Xiu made a request which could be considered slightly impolite.

He had worshipped Qing Xu Zi for a long time, although the senior had departed and there was no way to talk with him, Bo Xiu had the chance to look at his magical tool. It would help him get over some of his regrets.

With an opportunity to find out their true thoughts, Yu Zhen brought out the peach wood sword. After a moment’s pause, he also brought out the copper coins which Grandpa Yu had let him play with as a child.

After entering the Way, he’d realized that the copper coins contained merits within them. They could suppress and help the user avoid evil. It was a valuable item. His grandpa allowing him to play with it showed how dearly the man cared for him.

As soon as the sword and coins were presented, Feng Yuan and his companions burst into excitement. Feng Lin shouted, “My god! I can see it! I can see the glow of merits! Grandpa, I can see ghosts now!”

“Your sight has been influenced by the energy of the coins.” Feng Yuan mercilessly squashed his high spirits. Seeing the copper coins, a complicated expression crossed his face. After a long while, he sighed, “In the past, Qing Xu Zi had used these coins right in front of me. His skill for executing formations had reached perfection. This Feng’s techniques were a sham in comparison.” 

Qing Xu Zi? What?

Yu Zhen’s eyes widened. Worried he would expose himself, he turned his head as he put away the magic tools before he retrieved a pill and swallowed it to regain his calm. 

Don’t tell me that the Qing Xu Zi mentioned by Feng Yuan is Grandpa?

Qing Xu, Qing Xu Zi… they are the same person?*

^{*Reminder:
Qing Xu = Grandpa Yu’s official Taoist name.
Zi is something like an honorific.}

Feng Yuan really did know Grandpa?

Is the rumored Qing Xu Zi of the cultivation world, the Qing Xu Zi that Feng Yuan knows, the apparently very, very powerful Qing Xu Zi, the same person he knows as “Grandpa”? The same one who holed himself away in the countryside and surrounded himself with flowers, grass, chicken, duck, geese, rabbits and fortune-telling? 

Yu Zhen fell silent. Deafeningly silent.