18 To Protect from Afar

"This subject greets his Royal Highness…" A trembling servant says, kneeling before the King.

However, the King doesn't respond. He continues to stare off into space, a dazed expression on his face.

Unsure of how to proceed, the servant nervously continues, "Y-Your Majesty, the Spirit Realm has successfully been restored, and all of the evil spirits are once again sealed. What are your next orders?"

"...Dismissed." The King answers, not even bothering to glance at his servant. He was in a particularly gloomy mood. Even more so because he's already bored of the Spirit Realm, and it hasn't even been a day yet.

He could only think of Xu Jiyu.

The servant tenses at his disparaging tone, before he nods and scurries off with a, "Y-Yes, Your Majesty!"

Once more, silence settles in the throne room, and the King begins to recall his memories with the youth. For some reason, he truly misses his partner. How was Xu Jiyu doing? Was he living alright without him?

Xu Jiyu… was he even safe? What if he was in danger? What if something happened to him, and the original Liu Jian was too weak to protect him?

Or even worse, what if the original Liu Jian already left Xu Jiyu all alone to fend for himself?

The more he thinks about it, the more he feels a strong sense of urgency to find the answers to his worries. He quickly sits up straight and calls out, "Fang Lei."

Almost immediately, a voice replies, "Your subject greets his Royal Highness."

Fang Lei had teleported himself into the King's throne room the moment he was summoned. This is because he is the King's right-hand man—even when the King was roaming about the human realm, he had faithfully stayed by his side and watched from a distance. His strong sense of loyalty had caused the King to take a liking to him and in the end, he made Fang Lei his retainer.

The King, with a renewed expression, leans forward with great interest. "Go to the human realm and look after Xu Jiyu. Report back to me on a daily basis on his status."

Yes, if he couldn't go see Xu Jiyu himself, he could always tell his servants to do it for him. With this, he'll be able to protect the youth from any danger, even from a different realm.

...Wait.

He blinks.

…Protect?

Hmm. Yes, he has an extremely strong desire to protect Xu Jiyu from any harm. But why? Before he met Xu Jiyu, he never experienced any kind of strange feeling like this. Now that he's experiencing them, he still has so many unanswered questions. He doesn't understand these overwhelming emotions.

Fang Lei stares at the King with a frown. "Your Majesty, if I may be so bold to ask—why are you so fixated on that man? Since you've returned, you haven't been doing anything but mope around in your throne and stare off into space. Are you alright?"

The King seriously ponders the question for a moment, before ultimately giving up on finding the answer. If it were anyone else speaking in this manner towards him, he would've already gotten rid of them by now. But since it's Fang Lei, whom he's close with, he doesn't mind it. With an unrefined sigh, he admits, "...I do not know. That's what I want to know, too."

"...I will, of course, follow your orders. But I just cannot fathom why..." Fang Lei replies, feeling a bit bitter. He believed that once the King returned to the Spirit Realm, then he would forget about the troublesome human. But it seemed that it wasn't the case… in fact, the King appeared to do the complete opposite and constantly kept Xu Jiyu on his mind.

Nonetheless, he'll continue to assist the King despite his own feelings. He owes the King this much, at least.

He bows, "I'll immediately go to the human realm."

"En, go on." The King nods in satisfaction, his mood improving considerably. He feels as if a huge weight has lifted off his spirit.

"Then, I'll be off." Just as Fang Lei is about to leave—

"Thank you."

Those words make Fang Lei freeze in place, before slowly glancing up at the King's soft expression. Never in his entire existence had he ever heard the King say 'thank you'. It surprised him, but he quickly fixes himself up and clears his throat. "Ahem, well… there is no need for you to say that to a lowly servant such as myself, but… you're very welcome."

It seems that the time the King spent in the human realm truly changed him.

The King hums thoughtfully, "...Mm."

---

After a week of traveling, the pair makes it to Yun Sect, the Sect which Liu Jian originates from.

...Thank goodness they've reached their destination, as Xu Jiyu seriously felt as if he were going to die every time they flew a hundred li per second on the spiritual sword. Throughout the week, Xu Jiyu only ever felt the familiar quickened heartbeat whenever they flew on the sword, but never with Liu Jian himself.

...So after realizing his true feelings, they just disappear, ah?! What kind of logic is this? Did he misunderstand his own feelings?

"This is my Sect, the Yun Sect. Please behave appropriately in front of my Sect Leader." Liu Jian says, tucking a strand of loose hair behind his ear.

Speaking of which, Liu Jian not only changed his personality, but he also changed his appearance. On the way here, he had bought a new robe so he wouldn't be half-naked anymore.

This time, Liu Jian wears an inner robe—a white one. Meanwhile, his outer robe is a light blue with white cloud patterns. He still has the fan hanging from his waist, but his muscular chest is no longer on display… and there are no longer any clips holding his hair back.

In contrast to his previous appearance, he looks much more like a diligent cultivator now.

"Right…" Xu Jiyu says, curiously gazing around at their surroundings. The Yun Sect, from his knowledge, is famous for their ruthless cultivation technique of meditating under extreme circumstances. Its cultivators endure intense suffering, such as receiving lashes from pliable, yet durable lengths of bamboo, in the pursuit of attaining higher cultivation.

So, wasn't the Sect Leader going to be extremely intimidating and strict? Xu Jiyu shivers at the thought. He attempts to quell his growing fear by asking, "Your Sect Leader… he's not scary, right?"

"He is a very understanding and kind man." Liu Jian answers calmly as he walks up the steps to the pavilion.

Even though Liu Jian had reassured him, Xu Jiyu doesn't feel any less frightened. "Well… alright! I'll do my best!"

He can't help but feel more nervous with every step he takes. After all, it's been five years since he's left his Sect… and he has not stepped foot into any other Sect, nor his own ever since.

When he remembers what his fellow Sect members told him before he left on this journey, his heart sinks. What if the Yun Sect was similar…? Would they make fun of him and sneer at him for his weak spiritual roots?

Liu Jian, who had sensed a shift in Xu Jiyu's mood due to his high cultivation powers, glances over at the gloomy youth walking beside him. Without thinking, he reaches over and pats Xu Jiyu on the head—though he does not know what exactly compelled him to do this. It just felt like he had to comfort this youth...

Surprised, Xu Jiyu stiffens underneath the familiar hand of his partner—it was the same hand, yet it felt different, somehow… he just couldn't put his finger on how to describe the difference.

He slowly relaxes and smiles up at Liu Jian, "...Thank you."

"...Mm. Do not be nervous, our Leader is the most considerate of all of the major Sects. You do not have to be afraid." Liu Jian ruffles the youth's hair a bit, before removing his hand. He faces forward once more and stops in front of the entrance of the pavilion, with a red-faced Xu Jiyu following close behind.

Since he promised the King to trust Liu Jian, then he will most definitely take his word for it.

Liu Jian calls out, "Sect Leader Qin Jin, your disciple Liu Jian has returned."

There's a moment of silence, before a gruff reply comes from inside: "You may enter."