187. An Unfamiliar Calm
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In the past, after Bailong (Yin Xiaolong) surrendered, Tianlong had reluctantly released Yan Liwei (Weiyan) in accordance to the Oath.
But he had sent Yan Liyun a telepathic warning to never let him set eyes on Yan Liwei again.
Of course this had led to the Thousand years of Yan Liyun Sealing Liwei to prevent her from going after Bailong.
"At the time, Father's heart was broken to see you like that, but letting you out meant risking your death!" Yan Linfeng explained at present, amidst tears.
Back then, Yan Liwei was much too heartbroken to consider how her father had felt, and the instant she sensed Bailong's aura, she had deceived him and escaped, eventually finding Bailong and freeing him.
She would never regret saving Bailong! Not even now!
But her actions had come with heavy repercussions.....
Tianlong and Fei Yun had flown into a rage, and rather than let Liwei be in death, they had sealed her Star right within Sky Palace, dooming her to an endless cycle of bitter mortal rebirth.
Her rebirth cycle had been cruelly set by Fei Yun himself, her Fate resetting each time she died...
Yan Liwei would be born into a loving mortal family, but then lose that family and be cast into a lifetime of immense suffering as an orphan, and then she would die before twenty and be reborn to repeat the cycle.
Of course, this had also led to the Memory Spell, making the entire world forget her existence, except a handful of Central Immortals like Fei Yun, who had cast the Fate Spell, the previous Night Immortal, who had sealed her Star, and then a few others, including Sun Liang,
who had been right by Tianlong when it happened.
And this was why Sun Liang and Fei Yun had hated Weiyan after she survived Caoyang!
The Memory Spell cruelly allowed Bailong and the Swallows keep Liwei's memory, but never recall her face, and as an extra punishment, the Swallows were exiled from Sky Realm.
But unlike Bailong, Yan Liyun knew full well the tragic fate his daughter had been cast into...
"Which true Father's heart can bear such a thing?" Yan Linfeng sobbed. "Father wanted to take his own life, rather than live never seeing your face again!
"But he said doing such a thing wouldn't help you in any way... So he wronged himself instead!"
Yan Liyun had cast himself into endless sleep, using his shared blood and father-daughter bond in a powerful spell which bound his fate to Liwei's, sending his consciousness through her lifetimes.
At this point, Weiyan had collapsed to her knees, bitter tears falling.
Her father, that proud king of Swallows, had chosen endless sleep, sharing her rebirth cycle, each time born before her as some random stranger, who would then find her and raise her as an adopted child.
Linfeng sighed. "The last thing he said was that he would spend his life, just to shelter you from the rain, 'even if only a little'..."
The Fate Spell was powerful enough to ensure Liwei still suffered in some way and died before she turned twenty.
But with her father's presence, those bitter lifetimes had been reduced to mild suffering. All she had faced were an early death, and the inescapable discrimination that came with being an orphan in their world.
Flimsy things, really...
When all was considered, her father had provided her with more than 'a little' shelter from Fei Yun's rain of cruelty, and at present, Weiyan remained bowed to him, her forehead to the ground.
"Father, it is I who wronged you back then! I was blind and never stopped to think what my actions would cause...!" She sobbed, but Lord Xu hurried over to help her up.
"Aiyaya! Are you trying to break your father's heart?!" He threw an arm around her, patting her back. "Yanyan, I don't know what weighs on your heart so much! And I have no memories beyond this lifetime... But I'm content to know I didn't harm you!
"Let's leave things at that! Even if you harmed me in the past, you can repay me now by living happily with Xiaoyin, umh?! A grandchild or a few to tug on my beard would also be nice! If you make haste, there might even be another heir to challenge your brother to maintain an upright position!"
Weiyan chuckled amidst her tears, but gave a small nod.
In her opinion, nothing she said or did could ever repay this man for several lifetimes of shelter!
But she would try to make him happy to the bitter end!
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Before dawn the next day, Luoyin's closest circle of friends came hurtling into his room!
Xu Min, "Zhang Yin!!"
Xu Wen, "Shixiong!"
Xu Lian, "Yin gege!"
All three chorused as they hurried in, shattering the serenity of the morning!
Behind them, Xu Lin and Tao Yun followed, shaking their heads, and Xu Haoyuan opted to lean by the doorway, having seen that Luoyin was well at least.
Within the room, Xu Min was now boldly wet-eyed, Xu Wen pretended his own glistening eyes were a result of some unseen particles, and Xu Lian was refusing to let go of Luoyin's arm!
Normally this might have made Weiyan to roar out fire!
But she now knew Xu Lian was simply his sister, reborn as Xu Wen's twin in this lifetime...
Although, she did scowl when...
"Ha!" Xu Lian ran her fingers through Luoyin's silky silvery hair. "Such beautiful hair and eyes! Elder sister, you're really lucky I only see Yin gege as a brother!"
"You-!" Weiyan's expression looked like she had drunk one of her own tonics, but everyone else laughed, the exchange lightening the atmosphere at once!
No serious matters arose as this circle of friends caught up after the Yu Shui ordeal, and as they chattered, Luoyin found himself fighting off tears.
He was truly fortunate!
In this mortal life which had begun so painfully and uncertainly, not only had he met Weiyan again, but he had met friends such as these...!
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By noon, news that Luoyin was awake spread far and wide, and soon the Yan House was crammed full of what felt like more than half of Yue City!
If the entire Xu Clan Elders were not discussing in his bedroom, then it was the Sect Leaders and Wulin Elders still in Yueyan, or it was the Sect Elders, or the Elders from the Pill Pavillion and Herb Garden!
Luoyin's room was practically bursting at the seams and at present he scowled at Lord Xu who sat across the room, certain that his father-in-law was having too much fun with this new popularity!
Lord Xu's smile had turned his eyes to twinkling narrow crescents...
With a resident Immortal in Yue City... an immortal who so happened to be his son-in-law, his reign as Sect Leader would surely be written down as one of the best in history!
'Father-in-law! I can hear your intents from over here!!'
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The next day, Yue City was bathed in golden sunlight as the Sect Leaders and Wulin Elders bade farewell at Yue City's gate.
Small talk broke out as they discussed among themselves the shape the world had taken, and the way forward.
"I think we can all agree! Yueyan Sect should be Baishan's new number One Sect!" Sect Leader Huo suddenly stated.
"Ah, no!" Xu Fengyan waved a hand before his face, kindly declining the offer. "You can still grind me into fine powder with one hand!"
But Lord Huo firmly patted his shoulder.
"Ahaha, Xiaofeng, I didn't lose to you, but my Sect certainly lost to yours, and you have those two Little Monsters in your ranks! Huofeng Sect is not shameless enough to cling to the Number One position, but don't be complacent!
"We might seize it back in a few years!"
He looked around with a glare. "Does anyone else have a problem?"
"Hmph! When you ask so menacingly, who can have a problem?!" Lord Ju folded his hands petulently, but smirked at Lord Xu. "You heard him! Don't be complacent! Yunchi Sect is coming for you as well!"
"Hao, Hao!" Xu Fengyan bowed to them both. "I can only accept this new and precarious position of Number One!"
All the Elders cheered, and even the Grand Wulin Master applauded with a grin on his face.
"Umh! This upcoming generation will certainly make Baishan unshakable!!"
It was indeed the case, as foreign envoys were already approaching with the possibility of sending their children or disciples to learn in Baishan!
But after all the Elders and Sect Leaders departed, Yue City was more than ready for a well-deserved peace.
The City, and infact, Baishan as a whole, had settled into an unfamiliar calm, as even the Sects were more peaceful than ever, united after confronting such strong enemies.
And besides, the betrayers from their midst had thought them the dangers of blind competition, and their usual ruthless or cutthroat perspectives had taken a back seat which should last a goodly while!!
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Meanwhile, the one at the center of it all, had a few of his own resolutions to make...
First was Caoyang!
It had been well and good to use it as a safety net for the Civilian Immortals, but now no one could go in or out!
Thankfully, Luoyin was monstrously powerful now, and in a matter of days Caoyang was open to all for the first time in thirty thousand years!
The Age-ban was gone, and the Inner Seal was broken as well.
Luoyin also subdued Heishe (the Lava Snake) for good, rendering him utterly useless and sealing him at some obscure location in the mountain.
That was that...
And then came a matter Luoyin wanted nothing to do with.
But as he had told Weiyan, some matters had to be resolved, and he wore a cold expression as he walked into the Sky Palace Throne Room... This time, free and blameless...
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