Chapter 80: ELDER SHEN’S DOOM(1)

Fu Hanzheng remained beside Li Yan for some time after explaining what had happened, carefully examining his disciple to make certain that there were no lingering effects from the Nightmare Gu. Once he was satisfied that Li Yan was safe, he reached over and gently patted his head.

"You will stay here today. Do not return to your residence yet."

Li Yan looked at him in surprise. "But Master, I can go home now. The Nightmare Gu has already been removed."

"I know, but I would rather you stay here for another day. You can rest with Anyu while I deal with Elder Shen. There is no reason for you to involve yourself in this matter."

Li Yan nodded obediently. Since his master had already decided to handle everything, he saw no reason to argue.

Fu Hanzheng stood and adjusted his robes before looking at him again. "Stay here with Anyu and do whatever you want. You can study, cultivate, or simply rest. I will take care of everything else."

"All right, Master."

Fu Hanzheng left the room shortly afterward, taking the jade container containing the Nightmare Gu with him. He intended to present it to the sect master as evidence, and his expression remained cold as he left the manor.

Meanwhile, Hu Bai had already arrived at Li Yan’s residence. He had expected to find Li Yan there, but after searching the courtyard and discovering that it was completely empty, his brows gradually furrowed. He wondered where Li Yan could have gone so early in the morning before remembering that Li Yan had become Fu Hanzheng’s disciple.

The Apothecary Department was therefore the most obvious place to look.

Hu Bai turned toward the path leading there, but before he could go far, he noticed someone approaching from the opposite direction. His expression immediately became colder when he recognized Li Hanye.

Li Hanye noticed him at almost the same time, and his expression was no better.

The two men stopped several steps apart and regarded each other with undisguised displeasure. Neither of them had any reason to pretend that they liked the other, and the tension between them was obvious even without a single word being exchanged.

Neither man was supposed to have lessons that day, which meant they both understood that the other had come to the Apothecary Department for a personal reason. Hu Bai eventually broke the silence.

"What are you doing here?"

Li Hanye gave him a cold look. "I could ask you the same question."

Neither received an answer from the other. They simply continued toward the Apothecary Department, maintaining several steps of distance between them as though walking too close would somehow make the journey more unpleasant. The entire trip remained painfully awkward, and neither had any intention of starting a conversation.

When they reached the manor, Anyu opened the entrance after hearing them identify themselves. He recognized both men and understood that they had come to see Li Yan, but he did not question them about their reasons for visiting.

"Li Yan is inside," Anyu said.

Hu Bai’s expression eased slightly after hearing that Li Yan was safe, although he still wondered why Fu Hanzheng had decided to keep his disciple at the manor. Li Hanye became even more curious after hearing Anyu’s words, since he had come specifically to find the young disciple everyone had been discussing throughout the sect.

Anyu stepped aside and allowed them to enter.

Li Yan was sitting in the courtyard when he heard footsteps approaching. He looked up casually, but the moment his eyes landed on the person walking behind Anyu, his entire body froze.

He knew that face.

Li Hanye also stopped when he saw him.

For several moments, neither brother said anything as they stared at each other. Li Hanye seemed unable to reconcile the young man standing before him with the news he had received a while ago. The younger brother he had been told was dead was standing alive in front of him, and the familiar features were enough to leave him certain that he was not mistaken.

"Li Yan?"

Li Yan’s fingers tightened around the fabric of his clothes as he quietly answered.

"Yes."

Li Hanye stepped closer, his expression filled with confusion and disbelief. "What happened? Li Wei told me you were dead. I wanted to confirm it myself, but I did not have the time to return home. I was busy with my research and matters within the sect, and I have not been home in a long time. How are you alive?"

Li Yan lowered his gaze for a moment before deciding that there was no reason to hide the truth.

"They tried to kill me."

Li Hanye’s expression immediately hardened.

"Why would they want to kill you?"

"I do not know. I did nothing to them, but Li Wei wanted to get rid of me."

Li Yan explained that he had escaped before they could finish what they had started. Afterward, he deliberately allowed everyone to believe that he was dead and used the opportunity to leave the Li family behind. Coming to the sect had given him the chance to start a new life without having to worry about being dragged back into the family’s affairs.

"You should not regard me as your younger brother anymore," Li Yan said quietly. "It would be better if we remained strangers. I do not want anything to do with the Li family anymore, so please leave me alone."

Li Hanye’s expression became complicated as he listened to him.

"I am sorry."

Li Yan looked at him without saying anything.

"I should have paid more attention to what was happening at home. I spent most of my time on my research and matters within the sect, and I have not returned home in a long time. Nobody writes to me, and even when I send letters, I never receive any response. I had no idea what was happening to you."

"You do not have to worry about it anymore."

Li Yan shook his head gently. "Whatever happened to me is already in the past. You do not need to take responsibility for it. Let’s just remain strangers."

Hu Bai had remained silent throughout their conversation, but his expression had gradually become darker. He did not like seeing Li Yan speak so openly with another man, especially when the conversation involved painful matters from his past.

He stepped forward, intending to interrupt them, but Li Yan immediately noticed the movement.

His body stiffened, and he instinctively shifted backward when Hu Bai came closer. The reaction was small, yet Hu Bai noticed it clearly and stopped where he was. Confusion replaced the irritation that had been building inside him as he stared at Li Yan.

Li Yan had never been afraid of him before.

Hu Bai could not understand why Li Yan was suddenly avoiding him.

Before he could ask, Anyu finally decided that they needed to understand the reason for Li Yan’s unusual behavior.

"Li Yan was attacked by a Gu insect."

Both Hu Bai and Li Hanye turned toward him.

"What?" Li Hanye asked, his expression immediately becoming serious.

Anyu explained that someone had placed a Nightmare Gu on Li Yan. The creature had attached itself to him and caused the terrifying dreams he had been experiencing, while also draining his vitality. Master had removed it during the night, but the experience had left Li Yan shaken.

Li Hanye’s expression darkened as he listened. "Who in their right mind would send such a thing after him?"

Hu Bai’s face became equally grim. "Who did it?"

Li Yan remained quiet for several moments, his gaze lowering as the memories of the nightmares returned to him. The dreams had been terrifying enough on their own, but there was one detail that made them even more disturbing.

The person who had tortured him in every nightmare had always been Hu Bai.

Li Yan finally raised his head and looked at him.

"The reason I am a little shaken around you is because you were the one in my nightmares."