Chapter 162 - 158: One Glance, Ten Thousand Years

Chapter 162: Chapter 158: One Glance, Ten Thousand Years

In his courtyard on Dan Peak, Chen Yue was cultivating as usual.

The Vast Heart Rock Skill circulated slowly within him, his aura rising and falling like the tide as it refined and absorbed the residual Medicinal Power deep in his meridians, bit by bit.

Suddenly, Chen Yue felt an aura approach from outside the courtyard and stop before his gate.

"Is Senior Brother Chen in? There’s a visitor, claiming to be Hu Shaoyu."

Chen Yue paused, slightly taken aback.

’Hu Shaoyu? What’s he doing here?’

Ever since returning to the Prefecture City, Chen Yue had thrown himself headfirst into his cultivation at the Panshi Sect. By his count, quite some time had passed.

His figure flickered, and in the next instant, he appeared outside the courtyard gate. He moved so quickly that his robes barely made a sound.

"Please lead the way," Chen Yue said with a smile.

Outside the gate stood a young man in a short gray tunic. He had an ordinary face and a stocky build—one of the On-Duty Disciples from the Panshi Sect’s main gate.

A look of awe filled the disciple’s eyes as Chen Yue suddenly appeared before him.

He hadn’t even seen how Chen Yue had come out of the courtyard. All he perceived was a blur, and then the man had materialized out of thin air.

"I wouldn’t dare, Senior Brother."

The On-Duty Disciple quickly suppressed his awe, stepped aside, and made a welcoming gesture. His tone grew even more deferential. "This way please, Senior Brother Chen. The visitor is waiting at the main gate."

Chen Yue nodded and followed the On-Duty Disciple.

About a quarter of an hour later, the towering main gate appeared in sight.

In the open space before the gate, a middle-aged man was pacing back and forth. The moment Chen Yue emerged, Hu Shaoyu’s eyes lit up.

"Chen!" Hu Shaoyu strode forward to greet him. "It’s good to finally see you!"

Chen Yue smiled as well and hurried to meet him.

He walked up to Hu Shaoyu and looked him up and down. Confirming that his aura was stable and he showed no signs of injury, Chen Yue breathed a small, inward sigh of relief.

"Hu, did something happen?"

Hu Shaoyu quickly waved his hand dismissively.

"Nothing’s wrong, nothing’s wrong! Lin is getting married tomorrow, and he sent me to ask if you’re free to come back for a celebratory drink!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Yue was completely stunned.

’Lin Quan? Getting married?’

An image of Lin Quan’s stern, unsmiling face surfaced in Chen Yue’s mind. During all those years in Youlin County, Lin Quan had been a complete loner, always coming and going by himself, showing no interest in women.

At one point, Chen Yue had even assumed that Lin Quan planned to spend the rest of his life alone.

’How could he change so suddenly after just a short time in Celestial State Prefecture?’

But despite his shock, Chen Yue quickly collected himself.

’Lin Quan is getting married. This is a good thing.’

’For a man who had persevered on his own for so many years in Youlin County, finding a caring companion to spend the rest of his life with in Celestial State Prefecture was certainly something to be happy about.’

Chen Yue nodded, the surprise on his face gradually replaced by a smile.

"If Master Lin is getting married, of course I have to go raise a glass."

He paused, glancing at the sky and then at Hu Shaoyu’s travel-worn appearance.

"I won’t wait until tomorrow. I’ll head to the Prefecture City right now and see if I can help with anything."

Hearing this, the smile on Hu Shaoyu’s face grew even wider.

"Great! Your old room has been tidied up; you can move in as soon as you get back."

Celestial State Prefecture wasn’t too far from the Panshi Sect. At their pace, they could get there in about half an hour.

The croaking of frogs from the fields on both sides mingled with the occasional barking of dogs from a distant village.

The two walked side by side, their pace unhurried.

Although Chen Yue’s cultivation schedule was tight, he couldn’t possibly miss Lin Quan’s wedding; he could afford to take this much time off. Besides, a little relaxation and a change of pace wouldn’t necessarily be bad for his state of mind.

After they had walked for a while, Chen Yue casually asked, "Has everything been alright in the Prefecture City? I’ve been so busy cultivating I haven’t been back. How did Master Lin meet his fiancée?"

Chen Yue was truly curious about Lin Quan’s sudden romance. What kind of woman could capture the heart of a man who had spent half his life alone in Youlin County?

Hu Shaoyu turned to look at Chen Yue, a peculiar expression crossing his dark-tanned face.

He seemed to be choosing his words carefully. His brow furrowed slightly, then relaxed, then furrowed again.

"It’s a bit strange, actually."

Hu Shaoyu finally spoke, his voice a little quieter than before.

"It was at the apothecary. The woman came to buy medicine one day, and somehow, the two of them just started talking. She came back a few more times after that, getting friendlier each time, and then... well, it just happened."

He paused, then added, "Lin dotes on her. He’s been saying recently that coming to the Prefecture City was the right choice, otherwise he would have never met Zhen Shu."

"Zhen Shu?" Chen Yue’s eyebrows rose slightly. "Is that the woman’s name?"

"Yes, her name is Shi Zhen Shu." Hu Shaoyu nodded, that same subtly unnatural expression still on his face.

Chen Yue nodded and didn’t press further, merely repeating the name silently to himself.

’Zhen Shu... To sleep on a pillow of books. It sounds like the name of a woman from a scholarly family.’

Chen Yue paused again, then asked, "What about Shen? Is he busy at the courtyard?"

When Chen Yue asked about Shen Dujiang, Hu Shaoyu’s expression became even more peculiar.

"No. Shen has been busy with something lately. We hardly ever see him."

As Hu Shaoyu spoke, his brow knitted into a knot. "He left the apothecary a few days ago. We only run into Shen occasionally now. When we ask him what he’s up to, he just shakes his head and won’t say, just tells us not to worry."

Chen Yue was taken aback, his pace slowing involuntarily.

’I’ve only been gone for a little over a month. How has something happened to every single one of them?’

Chen Yue’s brow furrowed slightly. He vaguely felt that something was wrong, but for the moment, he couldn’t put his finger on what it was.

’I know Shen Dujiang. The man is measured and responsible, not the type to abandon his duties without a good reason.’

’Since he chose to leave the apothecary, he must have had his reasons. It was just that no one knew what those reasons were yet.’

"Shen didn’t say what it was about?" Chen Yue pressed.

Hu Shaoyu shook his head, the confusion on his face deepening. "No. He just said he had some business to attend to and that he’d be back when he was done."

Chen Yue fell silent for a moment and didn’t ask any more questions. Some things were better asked directly to the person involved.

’Once I get to the Prefecture City and see Shen Dujiang, things will become clear.’

About half an hour later, the massive city walls of Celestial State Prefecture came into view.

Chen Yue and Hu Shaoyu entered the city and walked along familiar streets toward the courtyard.

After turning down two streets, the familiar courtyard appeared before them.

A large, red ’Double Happiness’ character was already pasted on the courtyard gate. A pair of brand-new red lanterns hung before the door, swaying gently in the wind.

Inside and outside the courtyard, many people were already busy helping with preparations. Some were moving tables and chairs, others were bustling about in the kitchen. The place was a hubbub of voices and activity, a stark contrast to the quiet street outside.

The air was filled with a festive aura—a mix of fragrant dishes and the fresh ink from newly posted red paper that made one smile involuntarily.

Chen Yue followed Hu Shaoyu into the courtyard, and with a single glance, he spotted Lin Quan.

Lin Quan was standing in the center of the courtyard, a huge smile on his face as he directed several people moving things.

His voice was a few notches louder than usual, carrying an irrepressible excitement. He looked at least ten years younger than he had in Youlin County.

The joy radiating from his very bones softened his usually calm and severe face so much that he looked almost like a stranger.

Not far away, Shen Dujiang was leaning against a pillar with his arms crossed, his brow tightly furrowed. He was staring at Lin Quan without blinking, his expression grave.

He was wearing a worn, grayish-blue robe, completely out of place amid the courtyard’s joyous atmosphere.

Hearing footsteps, Shen Dujiang turned his head. When he saw Chen Yue and Hu Shaoyu, his somewhat dull eyes instantly lit up.

His brow relaxed for a moment and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly before he quickly composed himself. He then strode toward Chen Yue.

Seeing Shen Dujiang approach, Chen Yue broke into a genuine smile, took a step forward, and cupped his hands. "Shen!"

Shen Dujiang walked right up to Chen Yue, and without any pleasantries, he grabbed Chen Yue’s arm and pulled him a couple of steps to the side, increasing the distance between them and Lin Quan.

"Something’s wrong with Lin."

Shen Dujiang lowered his voice, his speech much faster than usual, each word heavily stressed. "You need to take a look at him in a moment."

Chen Yue nodded, his smile fading slightly. He didn’t ask what was wrong. Since Shen Dujiang had said so, he would just take a look himself later.

Just then, Chen Yue’s nose twitched slightly.

He smelled the faint scent of blood. Though it was very faint, Chen Yue’s Perception was far beyond that of an ordinary person, and the coppery, metallic smell lingered in his nostrils, refusing to dissipate.

And the source was none other than Shen Dujiang, standing right in front of him.

Chen Yue’s brow furrowed sharply, his gaze falling on the area beneath Shen Dujiang’s left ribs.

Although it was covered by his robe, by relying on his Perception, he could clearly sense that the Qi and Blood Circulation in that area was somewhat stagnant.

"Shen," Chen Yue’s voice dropped, his eyes fixed on Shen Dujiang’s. "You’re injured?"

Shen Dujiang froze for a second, clearly not expecting Chen Yue to have noticed so quickly.

His lips parted as if to deny it, but upon meeting Chen Yue’s gaze, he ultimately nodded.

"I went out of the city on some business and got a small injury. It’s nothing."

His tone was nonchalant, as if he were talking about something trivial. "It’s just a flesh wound. It’ll heal in a couple of days."

Chen Yue frowned and nodded, not pressing the matter further.

’He could ask about these things after the wedding was over.’

He didn’t delay any longer, turning and walking toward Lin Quan.

"Master Lin," Chen Yue’s voice wasn’t loud. "I’m back."

Lin Quan was directing someone to move a jar of wine when he heard the voice and froze completely.

Then he spun around, and the moment his eyes landed on Chen Yue, the broad smile on his face deepened.

"You’re back!"

Lin Quan’s voice was filled with unconcealable surprise and excitement. He walked up to Chen Yue and looked him up and down, his eyes full of relief and satisfaction.

Then, as if he had suddenly remembered something, he whipped his head around and shouted toward the main house, "Zhen Shu! Zhen Shu, come quickly!"

His voice was so loud the entire courtyard could hear it. The busy helpers all stopped what they were doing and turned to look toward the main house.

The door to the main house slowly opened.

A figure emerged gracefully from within.

A gentle breeze swept by, causing her dress to flutter slightly.

She wore a pale pink dress with a white gauze outer layer. Her waterfall-like hair cascaded to her waist, with a single lock held in place by a silver hairpin worn at an angle.

Her steps were light and unhurried, each one like a footfall on water, without a trace of the mundane world.

Their eyes met in midair.

In that instant, time seemed to freeze.

Within Chen Yue’s Sea of Consciousness, the Heart Tiger that had long lain dormant in its depths suddenly raised its head.