Chapter Six: The Encounter

Originally, the boundless blue sky suddenly darkened with thick clouds, flashes of lightning streaking across as thunder rumbled.

Pedestrians on the street quickened their pace, and all the remaining stalls began to close. Yu Huan had not earned much today, but it would still suffice for a couple of days. He frowned as he gazed at the gloomy sky and hastened to pack up his belongings.

Meanwhile, Shen Xunqing pursued the Soul-Seeker Spike out of the Shen Royal Mansion. The black servant, noticing the approaching storm clouds from afar, quickly took an umbrella and followed after them. Shen Xunqing, now merely a mortal body, could ill afford to catch a chill from the rain; otherwise, it would be yet another ordeal.

The Soul-Seeker Spike flew swiftly. Shen Xunqing’s expression was somber as he followed closely, maintaining a slight distance in midair.

Ordinary weapons forged by common craftsmen were merely weapons, but those forged by cultivators with some skill were called magical implements. These implements were sentient—they understood their master’s commands and could sense their emotions.

Perhaps the Soul-Seeker Spike sensed Shen Xunqing’s subconscious anxiety. When Shen Xunqing intended to call it back, it sped up even more, like a runaway horse, disappearing without a trace.

Fortunately, there were few people left on the street now, and from a distance, only a white figure and a black figure could be seen passing by.

A drop of water landed on Shen Xunqing’s hair, but he paid it no mind. Soon, the black servant caught up and held the umbrella for him as the downpour began without warning.

A millennium, even ten thousand years had passed, but Shen Xunqing never imagined that the more than ten years he waited in the mortal realm would feel so endless—so long that he lost count of how many times he recalled every detail of his encounter with the little King of Hell. Yet, thinking of their impending meeting seemed to breathe life into the otherwise dull days.

Shen Xunqing looked at the drenched figure in the rain—the same face he remembered. After some time, he had finally found the little King of Hell.

The little King, soaked through and looking somewhat dazed and disheveled, made Shen Xunqing’s lips curl into an unstoppable smile.

Yu Huan was soon drenched as well. Instinctively, he shielded the items he had painstakingly prepared overnight and some borrowed goods, not expecting the rain to stop so suddenly. When he looked down at the tips of his jade-white shoes embroidered with silver patterns, he realized someone had kindly held an umbrella over him.

The rain continued to fall softly.

---

Yu Huan looked up in bewilderment, stunned. Perhaps because he had never left his village before, this was the first time he had seen such a strikingly handsome person—more precisely, someone captivating not with feminine allure, but with a heroic charm that left him momentarily speechless. The young man’s face was slightly youthful, likely younger than Yu Huan.

The youth wore white garments, his hair casually tied with silk ribbon, some strands falling over his face, cheeks faintly flushed. His eyes held a subtle light that Yu Huan found irresistible. At that moment, a smile played on his lips as he looked at Yu Huan and said, "Are you alright?"

His voice carried the huskiness unique to youth. Only then did Yu Huan snap back to reality, suddenly aware of his own bedraggled state. He hurriedly stood up, lowering his head instinctively to avoid the youth’s slightly embarrassed gaze, and replied calmly, "I’m fine."

A trace of amusement flickered in Shen Xunqing’s eyes when he caught sight of Yu Huan’s slightly reddened ear tips. His heart lifted. "Where are you headed? If you like, I could escort you," he offered.

Yu Huan felt a bit awkward. It was obvious—the unfamiliar fine fabric on the youth’s clothes was undoubtedly expensive, while he himself wore a patched coarse cloth shirt. Just as Yu Huan was about to decline, the rain suddenly intensified. Reluctantly, he nodded.

The black servant’s umbrella was large enough for the three men to share comfortably. Yu Huan glanced somewhat helplessly at the borrowed table and chairs. Shen Xunqing understood and said gently, "This rain won’t stop anytime soon. You should go back first and change your clothes. When the sky clears, you can come back for these. The imperial city’s security is good; these will be safe."

Yu Huan felt a bit reassured and walked alongside Shen Xunqing, matching his stride. Neither noticed the black servant behind them wearing an expression of disbelief. Though his face was calm, his heart was a turbulent sea.

Having served his master for so long, the black servant had never seen him speak with such patience, or hear such a gentle tone—no, such tenderness—as if afraid to startle the person in front of him.

After pondering, the servant concluded it was best to keep watch quietly, holding the umbrella for his two masters. He was but a subordinate; meddling too much would not bode well for him.

Shen Xunqing smiled faintly and began chatting casually with Yu Huan. "Where are you from?"

Yu Huan was noticeably taller than Shen Xunqing by more than a little. He bowed slightly, turning his head to say the name of an obscure place. When he mentioned his village, a trace of melancholy crossed his face—perhaps unnoticed by himself, but carefully noted by Shen Xunqing.

Quickly changing the subject, Shen Xunqing shared some amusing tales of the imperial city. Watching Yu Huan’s expression gradually relax, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Before long, they arrived at the inn where Yu Huan was staying. Shen Xunqing clasped his hands behind his back and casually proposed, "If you have the time, how about I take you on a tour of the imperial city?"

---

Yu Huan, thinking of his limited funds, was about to shake his head when he caught sight of the youth’s slightly anxious eyes. He recalled overhearing others speak of wealthy young masters while setting up his stall. This youth must be a rare, kindred spirit—someone he could genuinely connect with—which was likely why the invitation had been extended. If he refused, that radiant smile might fade into sorrow, and Yu Huan did not want to see that.

So, though he had already turned his head slightly, he slowly nodded. As expected, the youth’s face lit up with a dazzling smile, and Yu Huan’s lips involuntarily curved into a faint smile as well.

The youth’s eyes narrowed with a sly grin, resembling a fox who had just executed a clever scheme.

Seeing Yu Huan’s acceptance, Shen Xunqing continued, "It’s settled then. When the weather is fine, I will come find you."

“Brother?” Yu Huan frowned; he disliked that address and had blurted out, "It’s not brother. It’s Yu Huan."

Shen Xunqing paused briefly, then smiled even more warmly. "Yu Huan."

Hearing the youth call his name, Yu Huan instinctively replied. Shen Xunqing waved goodbye with a smile, and Yu Huan watched him depart before calmly entering the inn.

The old man, hearing the voices outside fall silent, looked up and was startled. "How did you get so soaked? When it rains, don’t you know to find shelter first?"

After speaking, he glanced at the small wooden box, barely wet, and sighed softly, "These are just material things. The young man’s health is far more important. Without a strong body, how can one hope for anything else?"