After Escaping From Death, He Went Even Crazier By Criticizing Black Lotus Chapter 40
byChapter 40 A New Name He suddenly forgot his name.
The bonfire cast a bright light, and Feng Jiangyue and Xiao Jianming sat on either side of the youth, their eyes clashing.
Feng Jiangyue glared: That wicked wolf who stole my cabbage!
Xiao Jianming met her cold gaze: Hmph.
Right in front of Feng Jiangyue, he reached out and half-embraced the youth’s waist.
Feng Jiangyue was furious.
Meng Qinghui noticed a subtle strangeness between the few people. He slightly tilted his head, calmly accepting the spiritual fruit Hua Wuyou offered, and quietly spread his spiritual sense.
Su Huan, oblivious to the tension, gnawed on a chicken leg. With the memories of Ji Buhuan, his state of mind had undergone a drastic change upon seeing his Third Senior Sister again, leaving him momentarily speechless.
It turned out that the original host’s memories he thought he possessed were actually those of his cousin, Su Chao. Furthermore, the person who was taken in by the Xuanji Sect from a young age and raised by Senior Sister Feng was not him either.
But his Senior Brothers and Sisters on Lichen Mountain clearly didn’t know he wasn’t the real fourth disciple. Moreover, his cousin was clearly named Su Chao, so why did they call him by his nickname, Huan’er?
Su Huan was puzzled by this but couldn’t figure it out.
When he looked up and saw his Third Senior Sister’s worried gaze, his heart instantly softened, and he spontaneously began recounting the events of the past few days.
Hearing that Su Huan was safe, Feng Jiangyue breathed a sigh of relief. However, when she heard they hadn’t received aid, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes:
“Eh? I was trapped in a ghost city and couldn’t rush over in time, so I asked Eldest Senior Brother to go rescue you. He was right here in the northern desolate mountains, didn’t you see him?”
Su Huan looked surprised and shook his head.
Hearing her words, Hua Wuyou’s eyes immediately lit up. He leaned over and interjected, “Are you talking about Yin Zhu, the chief disciple of your Xuanji Sect? He came too?”
“That’s right, it’s him.”
Joy burst onto Hua Wuyou’s face: “When I was little, I heard my father mention that he plays the zither beautifully and is the foremost music cultivator in Huayao. If I could exchange pointers with Senior Brother Yin Zhu, this trip wouldn’t be in vain!”
But Feng Jiangyue said regretfully, “Then you probably came for nothing this time. Eldest Senior Brother is presiding over the Immortal Sect Grand Assembly and is not participating in the trials.”
Hua Wuyou felt disappointed upon hearing this.
Thinking of this, a trace of doubt arose in Feng Jiangyue’s mind.
Strange. Fellow sect cultivators can generally sense the location of their peers because they practice the same cultivation method. With Eldest Senior Brother’s cultivation, he shouldn’t have failed to find them, should he?
A bad premonition suddenly surfaced: Oh no, did something happen to him?!
Feng Jiangyue quickly pulled out her spiritual communication token, which, as expected, received no response.
A chill ran down her spine.
At this moment, Su Huan also looked at her worriedly: “Senior Sister, do you have a way to find Eldest Senior Brother?”
Meng Qinghui’s expression was solemn after hearing this: “Although we are not Xuanji Sect disciples, we are willing to contribute our meager strength to the search.”
Hua Wuyou nodded repeatedly.
Only one person’s expression remained unchanged, even showing a subtle aversion.
Su Huan noticed the look hidden deep in Xiao Jianming’s eyes. He blinked at him, silently asking: What’s wrong?
The gloom in Xiao Jianming’s eyes instantly dissipated: Nothing.
In his view, everyone in the world harbors evil desires, only varying in degree.
In comparison, although this Eldest Senior Brother also had evil desires, they were extremely minor. Anyone who could pass the Xuanji Sect’s Path to Immortality shouldn’t be a bad person.
Yet, for some unknown reason, he always felt uncomfortable with the aura surrounding this Eldest Senior Brother.
…It was a bit like that hypocrite named Dongfang.
Although the desolate mountains in the northern part of Huayao Continent were not as vast and boundless as the Hundred Thousand Desolate Mountains of Cangxuan Continent, they were still wide enough that searching for one person without the spiritual sense connection of the same sect’s cultivation method was impossible.
However, when Feng Jiangyue chanted the spell to activate her cultivation method and couldn’t sense Eldest Senior Brother’s location, she couldn’t help but be greatly alarmed.
Just then, the spiritual communication token at Feng Jiangyue’s waist suddenly lit up, and a gentle voice transmitted through: “Junior Sister Feng?”
Feng Jiangyue was delighted: “Eldest Senior Brother!”
On the other end of the token, Yin Zhu responded, paused, and then said somewhat sadly, “I’m sorry, Junior Sister Feng. I ran into an anomalous cold current of snow. I’ve been trapped in it for the past three days and couldn’t rush to save Junior Brother Su and the others…”
Feng Jiangyue was astonished. Eldest Senior Brother actually encountered an anomalous cold current of snow?!
The anomalous cold current of snow is a unique, strange phenomenon in the Northern Territory. It appears randomly throughout the desolate mountains at uncertain times. Like a small, living world, everything in its path turns into a world of ice and snow. Cultivators trapped inside will be frozen to death if they cannot endure until the cold current dissipates.
Xiao Jianming voiced his doubt: “Three days? But more than half a month has passed now.”
Yin Zhu’s surprised voice came through the token: “More than half a month?! But the sun and moon have only cycled three times here…”
He stopped mid-sentence, perhaps recalling the power of the anomalous cold current, and couldn’t help but sigh.
“By the sound of it, is that Junior Brother Xiao? Is Junior Brother Su there too? Are you all alright?”
Feng Jiangyue quickly said, “Eldest Senior Brother, they are fine! Where are you? We’ll rush over to save you right now!”
Yin Zhu breathed a sigh of relief but said, “It’s good that you’re safe. You don’t need to worry about me. I observe that this anomalous cold current will dissipate in just four more days. I’ll naturally get out then.”
Hearing that he was fine, Feng Jiangyue and the others immediately relaxed.
The group returned to the Xuanji Sect with peace of mind.
As soon as they reached the foot of the mountain, they ran into Su Chao and Ning Zhou, who were waiting there in advance.
The moment Su Chao saw Xiao Jianming, he rolled his eyes but didn’t say anything about separating the two again.
He had originally come to the Xuanji Sect to complain, but he learned from Chongjiang True Lord that the two’s souls were already bound. He also learned the truth that Xiao Jianming had only harmed Su Huan due to the intrusion of demonic energy.
People whose souls are bound are linked in life and death, closer than Dao Companions who have sworn a Dao Companion Vow. If they were forcibly separated, Su Huan’s soul would certainly scatter.
He had no choice but to back down.
Now, seeing Xiao Jianming’s guarded gaze, he only felt annoyed.
He turned and saw the unharmed Su Huan. Joy burst forth in the youth’s eyes as he looked at him, and Su Chao finally felt better.
Su Huan rushed toward him, but was intercepted halfway by Xiao Jianming. However, Xiao Jianming couldn’t stop his joyful voice: “Cousin! I finally see you! What exactly happened? Where did you go?”
Su Chao’s outstretched hand fell short. He glared at Xiao Jianming again and snapped, “You need to ask him why he suddenly went crazy and took you away, disappearing without a trace.”
Su Huan glanced at Xiao Jianming, his brow furrowed, but he didn’t ask the question aloud.
He thought that perhaps Xiao Jianming couldn’t suppress the onset of his Delusional Nightmare Syndrome, which led to this incident.
A trace of melancholy involuntarily appeared between his brows.
…If things continued like this, the Black Lotus would still become the cold-hearted, ruthless killing god from the original novel.
But only by finding a naturally desireless person could the Spiritual Rhinoceros Clan’s Delusional Nightmare Syndrome be resolved. Where could he find such a person?
Su Huan pondered deeply, while Su Chao secretly observed his expression.
Seeing that although he was troubled, his actions unconsciously revealed an intimacy toward Xiao Jianming, Su Chao’s worries lessened considerably.
It seemed Huan’er genuinely liked this boy. So be it.
Su Chao led Su Huan aside, away from the others. Su Chao set up a barrier and said, “I waited for you here to say goodbye.”
Su Huan was surprised: “Why? Isn’t Cousin returning to the Xuanji Sect?”
Su Chao shook his head and said, “No. I have already paid my respects to my master, the old man…”
Remembering that Su Huan was still unaware of this, he explained, “Sect Master Uncle and the old man both know about the Ji family’s secrets. They helped me set up the formation back then to guide your soul over, and they also helped you modify your identity. You are me, but you are also not me.”
As his words fell, a memory surfaced deep in Su Huan’s mind—
In a secret chamber, he… Su Chao lay on a jade bed, his body’s spiritual energy connected to a translucent spiritual jade placed on the bed.
Light slowly flowed. His soul entered Su Chao’s body, like a wandering spirit finding its home again.
Chongjiang True Lord walked in and sighed:
“Chao’er, have you thought this through?”
A spiritual jade next to him suddenly transformed into a human figure, bowing to Chongjiang True Lord. It looked exactly like Su Chao’s current appearance, and its voice was firm:
“In this world, only I am closely related to him by blood. By hiding Huan’er’s soul inside my body, even if Ji Heng comes to the Xuanji Sect, he will never find out.”
Su Chao bowed again: “Only this way can we protect his safety. Disciple thanks Master for fulfilling this.”
Su Chao deeply kowtowed, then looked earnestly at Chongjiang True Lord: “I don’t know when I will return after this departure. Please ask Master to protect him for me.”
Chongjiang True Lord suppressed his emotions and turned away, waving his hand at him.
The Old Sect Master watched from the side, stroking his white beard, and advised, “Why must you leave? Wouldn’t staying by his side allow you to personally ensure his safety?”
Su Chao shook his head: “If I stay too close to the main body, my physical body will reject his soul.”
Ji Buhuan lay on the jade bed, his body fixed and unable to move. Listening to their words, he shed tears but couldn’t make a sound.
The Old Sect Master sighed: “No matter what, you are a disciple of my Xuanji Sect. If you suffer any grievances outside, then come back.”
Su Chao tearfully agreed and bowed again.
It wasn’t until everything was settled that Lichen True Lord lifted the immobilization spell on him and sighed, “You heard them. Do not let down everything your cousin has done.”
Ji Buhuan immediately jumped off the bed, knelt down, and pleaded, “Two Seniors, Brother Chao, please forgive me for not obeying. Please switch me back…”
Intense hatred burst from his eyes. “I want to return to the Ji family… My mother was killed by him. I want to go kill him! I must kill him!”
The Old Sect Master found it strange: “You are truly odd. He imprisoned you since birth and wanted you dead, yet you don’t hate him. Your mother died because of him, and now you start to hate him.”
Ji Buhuan closed his eyes: “He is my birth father. If he wanted to take my life, I would have no complaints… But he harmed my mother! How innocent was she…”
Ji Buhuan kowtowed deeply to the ground again: “…I beg you all to grant my wish!”
Su Chao embraced him: “Huan’er, I know your hatred, but he is at the late stage of the Mahayana realm, and the Ji family is so vast. Even if forces like the Xuanji Sect or the Nangong family intervened, it would only end in mutual destruction…”
“Now that you have escaped, live well…”
Ji Buhuan’s eyes were bloodshot from tears, filled with hatred: “I don’t want to!”
“I have the destiny of the Heavenly Dao on me. I can kill him! Brother Chao, let me go back… I must kill him to avenge Mother! I can definitely kill…”
Su Chao painfully waved his sleeve, unable to bear it, and Ji Buhuan fainted.
…
When he regained consciousness, Ji Buhuan’s head throbbed, and he couldn’t remember who he was.
He only saw the Old Sect Master and Lichen True Lord kindly and gently stroking his head.
The Old Sect Master said, “Good child, from now on, you are a disciple of my Xuanji Sect.”
Lichen True Lord handed him a spiritual sword, lightly tapped his brow with his fingertip, and a point of spiritual light sank into it: “From now on, you are my fourth disciple.”
As his words fell, memories began to form in Ji Buhuan’s mind. He said blankly, “I am… a disciple of the Xuanji Sect, a direct disciple of Lichen Mountain. My name is…”
He suddenly forgot his name.
His head suddenly began to ache violently.
Lichen True Lord quickly supported him, exchanged a look with the Old Sect Master, and said, “Your name is Su Chao. You are my fourth disciple. Have you forgotten?”
“No…” The youth painfully let out a sound, “That is not my name…”
Lichen True Lord’s eyes flashed with surprise upon hearing this, and he exchanged glances with the Old Sect Master.
The Old Sect Master was equally astonished and asked him, “Then what is your name?”
The youth clutched his head and remained silent for a long time.
It wasn’t until the jumbled memories in his mind reorganized, driving away the pain, that the youth finally looked up, his eyes confused: “I don’t remember… I only know that there seems to be the character ‘Huan’.”
The Old Sect Master clapped his hands and laughed heartily: “Since you only remember the character ‘Huan,’ I shall use it to give you a new name, Su Huan.”
“When you understand the meaning of this name, you will know your former name.”
The youth murmured in repetition: “Su Huan…”
“Good.” His eyes became firm.
“From now on, my name is Su Huan.”
*
“Huan’er?”
Su Chao called out, seeing him lost in thought.
Su Huan’s eyelashes trembled, and he suddenly moved.
“Brother Chao…” he subconsciously murmured.
Su Chao heard him and tensed up: “Huan’er, what’s wrong?”
Su Huan came back to his senses. Seeing Su Chao’s nervous expression, he smiled: “I’m fine.”
“Really?” Su Chao was half-skeptical, but couldn’t spot any issues, so he didn’t press further.
He instructed, “If that boy named Xiao treats you like he did before, tell me. I’ll have your Brother Ning Zhou beat him up…”
Su Huan nodded obediently: “Cousin… Brother Chao, don’t worry. My Senior Brothers and Sisters will protect me.”
“Oh, and Brother Chao.” Su Huan frowned slightly, looking at him, “That Wangyue Sect… it’s not a good place. You shouldn’t go back there, should you?”
Su Chao was momentarily stunned, then laughed, explaining, “That was just a sect we randomly picked to snag a spot to enter the secret realm. You don’t need to worry about it.”
He then softened his voice: “Huan’er, you don’t need to worry. I’m doing very well outside. Azhou and I have agreed to travel all over the Seven Continents and Four Seas together. Now that we’ve finished Huayao Continent, we’re going to see other places.”
“I see.” Su Huan’s heart relaxed slightly.
Su Chao removed the barrier. Ning Zhou walked to his side, and Xiao Jianming noticed and followed.
Ning Zhou summoned his natal sword, embraced his Dao Companion, and flew onto the sword. Su Chao nestled in his arms, turning back to wave at Su Huan: “Huan’er, we’ll meet again!”
Su Huan waved, watching them leave.
For some reason, his heart felt a little full, tinged with reluctance.
…
Meng Qinghui and Hua Wuyou were chatting and discussing the Dao with Feng Jiangyue. Seeing the others return, they stated directly that they wouldn’t accompany them. They planned to wait at the foot of the mountain for the Myriad Manifestation Sect team to arrive, then visit the mountain together.
Upon hearing this, Feng Jiangyue readily insisted on taking them to the best inn at the foot of the mountain, offering to treat them.
After such a long delay, Xiao Jianming’s brow showed impatience. Seeing Su Huan foolishly still intending to follow, he reached out and wrapped an arm around the youth, stating bluntly, “We have important matters to attend to, so we won’t keep you company.”
Su Huan paused, looking up at him with a puzzled expression.
Xiao Jianming sighed helplessly: “Huan’er, have you forgotten? Before we left, Zihuan True Lord instructed us to bring the spiritual medicine back to her once we found it, so she could start refining the pills.”
Su Huan finally remembered that this was indeed the case.
So, he went with Xiao Jianming to Zihuan Peak.