Qingyun Sect sat above the clouds literally.
Luo Qingyan leaned over the edge of the flying sword, face pale.
"…I'm going to die again."
"You cannot," Shen Wuyou replied.
"That is not comforting."
Wind roared past them. Below nothing but endless white clouds.
Above mountains floating like islands, waterfalls pouring into the sky, cranes gliding through mist. It was beautiful. It was also extremely high.
"Don't look down," Shen Wuyou said.
"I wasn't," Luo Qingyan looked down.
"…I regret everything."
Five minutes later, he was clutching Shen Wuyou's sleeve like a desperate cat.
"Slow down!"
"I am not moving."
"…Then why does it feel like we are dying?!"
Once they landed, Luo Qingyan immediately collapsed on the ground and kissed the stone.
"I love land. I will never betray you again."
A voice spoke behind him.
"…Master?"
Luo Qingyan turned.
A young man stood at the top of the steps tall, sharp-featured, wearing dark blue robes. His expression was polite, but his eyes…
Cold.
Very cold.
"Senior Brother?" Luo Qingyan tried reaching out his hand to him.
The young man ignored him.
Instead, he bowed slightly to Shen Wuyou.
"Master, why did you bring a beggar back to the sect?"
Luo Qingyan gasped.
"Excuse me? I am a professional debtor, thank you very much."
The young man's gaze flicked toward him.
"…He speaks."
"Tragic, I know." Shen Wuyeon exclaimed with a sign
Shen Wuyou stepped forward.
"This is Luo Qingyan."
A pause.
"He will be staying here."
The young man froze.
"…Staying?"
"Yes."
"…On Qingyun Peak?"
"Yes."
Another pause.
"…Why?"
Shen Wuyou glanced at Luo Qingyan.
"…Debt."
The young man's expression changed subtly.
But Luo Qingyan noticed.
Ah. So this one knew something. he thought
"I am Lin Yufeng," the young man said at last. "Inner disciple."
"Luo Qingyan," he replied cheerfully. "Debt slave."
"…I can see that."
Luo Qingyan leaned closer.
"Between us, is he always like this?"
Lin Yufeng did not look at him.
"Yes."
"…I'm sorry for your loss."
For the first time Lin Yufeng's mouth twitched.
"Your room is there," he said, pointing to a small building at the far end of the peak.
It looked…Broken.
"That is a storage shed," Luo Qingyan said.
"It is now your residence."
"…I hate it here."
Shen Wuyou walked past them.
"Unpack."
"I don't own anything."
"Then settle in."
And just like that, he was gone.
Luo Qingyan stared after him.
"…Does he always disappear like that?"
"Yes."
"…Does he come back?"
"…Eventually."
A long silence.
Then Luo Qingyan sighed.
"Fine. Lead the way, Senior Brother Cold Face."
"My name is"
"I know, but this feels more accurate."
Lin Yufeng walked ahead without responding. But he didn't correct him.
The "room" was worse up close.
Dusty. Old. One bed.
No windows.
"…This is where people come to die."
"You will live."
"Debatable."
Luo Qingyan flopped onto the bed.
It creaked ominously.
"…If I die, will my debt transfer to you?"
"No."
"Unfortunate."
Lin Yufeng turned to leave.
Then paused.
"…Master does not keep people."
Luo Qingyan blinked.
"…What?"
"He does not allow anyone on this peak."
"…Then why me?"
Lin Yufeng did not answer immediately.
Instead, he looked at Luo Qingyan properly, this time as if trying to understand something.
"…That is what I intend to find out."
And just like that he left.
Luo Qingyan lay there, staring at the ceiling. Then slowly raised his wrist. The golden thread glowed faintly.
Warm.
Unyielding.
"…What did I get myself into…"
Outside High above the clouds Shen Wuyou stood alone. Watching.
"…He is still the same."
His voice was quiet. Almost Soft. And for the first time there was something in his eyes that did not belong to an immortal.
Regret.