27 Tragedies of the Azure Lotus Sect.

On Yang Wei's courtyard veranda, Huo Zhenwei and Yang Wei indulged in a bowl filled with a variety of meat cuts and stewed beef sauce.

Yang Wei, having polished off six bowls, belched and remarked, "A few more bowls, and I'll be full."

He grabbed yet another bowl, loaded it with rich, flavorful sauce and numerous meat cuts, and resumed eating.

Between bites, he turned to Huo Zhenwei and asked, "So you're saying the Young Master wasn't always like this?"

Huo Zhenwei confirmed, "Yes, before, he was very kind and thoughtful—a spitting image of humility."

"Jin Tianyu? Humble?" Yang Wei burst into laughter, hand on his stomach to ease the ache.

He laughed for quite a while.

However, on observing Huo Zhenwei's serious expression, he stopped laughing and asked, "Wait, you're not joking?"

Huo Zhenwei shook his head, "Not one bit."

Yang Wei placed his ceramic bowl on his lap. "Elaborate," he urged him.

Huo Zhenwei leaned in, taking another sip of the shaoxing wine from his gongfu cup, and shared, "You see, even though the Young Master and I claim Dragon Blossom Sect as our sect here in the Crystal River Mandala, it's not our original sect."

"Huh?" Yang Wei raised an eyebrow, spooning more sauce onto his dish. "So, what's your actual sect then?"

Huo Zhenwei explained, "We hail from the Azure Lotus Sect, which used to be in the Azure Water Realm, a place on the Silver Upper Trunk of the Azure Tree. It's not considered a major world, but our continent's cultivation base reached Nascent Soul, gaining recognition across the Crystal River Mandala."

"Cool," Yang Wei nodded, taking another spoonful of his meal. "But wait, what's this Crystal River Mandala you've been talking about?"

Huo Zhenwei chuckled, "You don't know? The Crystal River Mandala is our flow of time and events, it's like where we are now and where we should be—our fated continuum. The Mashyan World is a supercontinent with four continents, each reaching its peak at the Immortal Realm. It's located in the Golden Upper Crown of the Azure Tree... I hope you know that much at least..."

Yang Wei's eyes widened very slowly, "Oh, the Azure Tree, I definitely know that. Tell me more."

Huo Zhenwei continued, "The Azure Tree is part of the Shengjing Grove—a vast collection of trees, shrubs, fields, and even leaves of time and space, all connected to the Primordial Waters of Time which is like the ultimate Crystal River Mandala, governing the flow of everything in the Shengjing Grove."

Yang Wei chewed on a bone, nonchalantly remarking, "That's a lot to take in," showing more interest than surprise as he calmly continued eating.

Huo Zhenwei took another sip of his wine, using it to ease his throat as he'd been talking for a while. He then exhaled hot air before saying, "Alright, let me keep the tale going." He adjusted his glasses, and Yang Wei signaled him to proceed.

"In the Azure Lotus Sect," Huo Zhenwei began, "Jin Tianyu was a whole different person. Always kind and humble, helping the weak, studying hard to climb the cultivation ranks in the sect and most of all, loved and respected by all in the sect."

Yang Wei chewed on a chicken bone, expressing skepticism, "Kind and humble? That doesn't sound like the Young Master I know."

Huo Zhenwei nodded, "I get it might sound surprising, but you have to trust me on this."

Yang Wei continued munching, "Considering the company you keep, I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. Go on."

"Thank you," Huo Zhenwei acknowledged. "Now, in the Azure Lotus Sect, we had a stellar reputation. Of course, this was all thanks to Jin Tianyu's step-mother, who hailed from the Mashyan World just like my own mother."

Yang Wei interjected, "Mashyan World again. Jeez."

Huo Zhenwei smiled, "Anyway, Jin Tianyu's step-mother proposed to his father, and despite initial concerns about letting someone from the Mashyan World join since some of their women were known to conquer lesser worlds, things worked out."

Yang Wei probed, "Worked out until when?"

To Yang Wei, that was the most important part of this story. He knew it wasn't going to be a happy one, so he cared more about the tragedies Huo Zhenwei experienced there than the memories and good times.

Huo Zhenwei continued, "Until the worst happened—Emperor Heavenmind attacked our world."

"Emperor Heavenmind?" Yang Wei repeated with heavy interest.

Huo Zhenwei leaned in, sharing more details with Yang Wei, "Honestly, Emperor Heavenmind is a mystery to me. All I know is, he's a ruler in the Golden Crown of the Azure Tree, a mad cultivator who turns worlds into pills for power."

Yang Wei, looking indifferent, remarked, "Sounds dreadful, I guess."

He took a swig of shaoxing wine, exhaling contentedly.

"Emperor Heavenmind slaughtered every man, woman and child in the Azure Water Realm, even most of the cultivators present," Huo Zhenwei continued, "Jin Tianyu's step-mother and a few cultivators held him off, allowing some survivors to escape to the Mashyan World."

Yang Wei, curious, questioned, "So, how does this connect to Jin Tianyu's current nasty behavior?"

"On that tragic day, Jin Tianyu lost everything—his father, mother, and even his title as the next sect head," Huo Zhenwei expatiated.

"Title?" Yang Wei raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah," Huo Zhenwei continued, "His step-mother decided the sect would follow the Mashyan World's matriarchal system and by extension, her rules, stripping Jin Tianyu of his title and deeming him unfit to lead, just because he couldn't surpass the more capable women in their sect."

"So, the Azure Lotus Sect joined the Dragon Blossom Sect as a branch because of Jin Tianyu's step-mother?" Yang Wei deduced.

Huo Zhenwei nodded, "Exactly."

Yang Wei shrugged, "Alright then."

The story scarcely seemed to evoke any emotional response from him, but the reality was that it didn't. The world was rife with tragedies beyond one's complete understanding, and the presented story was merely one of countless examples. If he were to become emotional at every sad backstory, he would find himself in tears for each day.

Yang Wei slurped the last remnants of the savory meat cuts, let out a hearty belch, and took a swig of his shaoxing wine. He shot a curious look at Huo Zhenwei, questioning the purpose behind the unfolding story.

"Alright, spill it. What's the deal with telling me all this?"

Huo Zhenwei, rising from his seat, strolled away briefly before halting. Without facing Yang Wei, he explained, "I just thought you should know that Jin Tianyu isn't entirely rotten. He's just misunderstood, lost. I aim to be there for him, help him find his way back."

Clearing his throat, Yang Wei still remained skeptical; as would anyone in such a situation. "So, you want me to cut him some slack if we cross paths again?"

Huo Zhenwei, still avoiding eye contact, grinned and affirmed, "Exactly. The Young Master might stir up more trouble again, and I just want to make sure he doesn't face severe consequences. Can you, well, uh, ignore him if he repeats the same antics as last time?"

Standing up from his veranda, Yang Wei nonchalantly picked his ear with his pinky finger.

"Normally, I'd say no. Honestly, I don't care about Jin Tianyu's tragedies. If something changes you for the worse, it should be you or someone dear to you. If he lets an event turn him into a worse person, he's just a compass bending to the world's whims. And that, truly is the height of slavery."

Huo Zhenwei turned to face Yang Wei, puzzled. "I'm not entirely sure what you mean, but is that a yes?"

Yang Wei folded his arms, half-closed his eyelids, then shut them completely with a sigh. "Fine," he conceded.

Huo Zhenwei dashed towards Yang Wei, arms outstretched, and enveloped him in a tight hug. "Thank you!" he exclaimed, overflowing with gratitude.

Yang Wei's eyes widened.

He was slightly uncomfortable with the unexpected embrace.

The thought of a man hugging him was wrong on so many levels, yet he endured it.

After Huo Zhenwei pulled away, still beaming, he adjusted his glasses, clenched his fist, and bowed his head. "Thank you again," he expressed sincerely.

Yang Wei scratched the back of his neck, ensuring his long white hair was properly tied, and deadpanned, "Hope this hugging thing doesn't become a regular occurrence."

Huo Zhenwei coughed and chuckled, "Sorry, I got a tad carried away. I promise it won't happen again."

Yang Wei yawned dismissively, gesturing for Huo Zhenwei to leave.

"Whatever, you can go now. I'll clean up, and you can pick up the plates and stuff tomorrow or whenever."

Huo Zhenwei grinned, "Sounds good," and made his exit.

As he turned to leave, Yang Wei called out, "Huo Zhenwei?"

"Yes?" Huo Zhenwei halted, awaiting Yang Wei's question.

"Why are you doing all this for that Young Master?" Yang Wei asked without looking back.

Huo Zhenwei replied with a warm smile, "Because he's my friend."

"Good to know," Yang Wei responded plainly, focusing on the plates.

Huo Zhenwei left.

Still crouched next to where he packed the plates, Yang Wei muttered to himself, "A friend, I see."