A Peculiar Awakening: Memories of a Past Life’s Affections

Si Fenglang never believed in any ridiculous love stories; at the very least, there was no such absurd affection between him and Dan Fusheng. As for Si Chen, it was hard to say, but for Si Fenglang himself, it was an absolute certainty that no such bond existed.

After Dan Fusheng entered the Qianyu Gate, he was effectively placed under house arrest. They were unsure of his intentions, but observations over the past few days suggested he possessed quite a vibrant inner life.

Dan Fusheng maintained a disciplined routine, rising early and retiring early, regularly practicing sword forms to loosen his muscles and bones. He even took to caring for the flowers and plants in the Qianyu Gate’s small courtyard. After just two or three days under his care, the vegetation in that plot visibly flourished.

Later, Dan Fusheng began discussing cultivation with the disciples assigned to guard him. Gradually, more and more disciples gathered around him, and even Bai Yu, the official overseer, listened in from the side. During these discussions on cultivation, he would casually interject a “love story” between himself and Si Chen. Consequently, all the disciples of the Qianyu Gate now believed that Dan Fusheng and Si Chen were intimately involved.

Si Fenglang was utterly enraged. He wanted to summon Si Chen privately to discuss this matter, but Dan Fusheng and his followers refused to release his Junior Brother. Left to stew in his own frustration, Si Fenglang seethed. This demon, Dan Fusheng, had murdered his disciple and was now ruining his junior brother’s reputation! He vowed that once he regained his cultivation from his previous life, he would surely slay this fiend.

Yet, Si Fenglang soon realized something was amiss. His newly reawakened memories felt wrong.

His first encounter with Dan Fusheng should have been within Dan Fusheng’s sect, where he had mistakenly attacked Dan Fusheng, believing him to be a demon lurking within the sect. The second meeting occurred at the Demon Extermination Convention. Dan Fusheng had stood before him and said…

What exactly had he said?

Si Fenglang’s brow furrowed slightly, and a bead of sweat trickled down his temple. This particular memory was entirely new to him.

“Your Highness! This is absolutely not my senior sister’s fault!” Dan Fusheng’s words tumbled out rapidly, his agitation evident. Two cultivators dressed in the ceremonial robes of the Yu Kingdom blocked his path.

“Over six thousand people died because of her. You claim it’s not her fault? Whose fault is it, then?” Si Fenglang’s voice was cold and sharp.

“Those humans attacked first! They coveted the dragon bones! They murdered my senior sister’s parents! This is an old feud between their sect and the dragon race! My senior sister never intended to target the entire human race!”

One of the cultivators retorted, “Whether those people were right or wrong, we will be the judge. It is not for a demon to interfere.”

Dan Fusheng froze. “But those were her parents. She has no right to judge? Why? On what grounds!”

“What if you were a demon?!”

“I would naturally abide by the rules.”

“Then your parents truly raised an excellent son. Your mother and father have become artifacts, yet you can coexist peacefully with your enemies.” After Dan Fusheng uttered those words, he was immediately set upon.

Si Fenglang did not intervene. He merely watched with cold eyes. Arrogant, naive, and fanciful—such was Si Fenglang’s impression of Dan Fusheng upon their second meeting.

Later, when Dan Fusheng visited the Yu Kingdom, Si Chen kept him at the royal manor. Si Fenglang was greatly displeased. Si Chen should not have any dealings with demons, even if Dan Fusheng was a disciple of True Monarch You Qing. Si Chen, however, defended Dan Fusheng, and their indirect interactions caused Si Fenglang to change his perspective slightly.

Dan Fusheng believed the demonic realm was too chaotic. He wished to venture deep into the Land of the Dead to unite the demonic tribes, believing that only within a stable environment could they strive for greater aspirations.

Si Fenglang still found Dan Fusheng naive, yet he also acknowledged that he was worthy of being True Monarch You Qing’s disciple. He lacked the inherent evil of demons; he was more akin to a human.

One day, Si Fenglang suffered severe injuries and found himself trapped in the Land of the Dead. It was Dan Fusheng who saved him.

At that time, Dan Fusheng was not yet the Demon Lord. While his cultivation was growing rapidly, he still couldn’t control the ancient monsters who were thousands of years old.

“I’ve been observing this old Demon Lord for two years,” Dan Fusheng remarked as he applied medicine to Si Fenglang’s wounds. “A direct confrontation won’t work, and he’s resistant to poison. I’ve been giving him slow-acting poison for two years with no effect.”

Si Fenglang, who always engaged in direct combat, remained silent. He felt this approach was improper.

Dan Fusheng seemed to perceive his thoughts and reminded him, “This Demon Lord commits all sorts of evil. He kills on a whim, so he doesn’t need to die a dignified death. Besides, I’ve discovered he has a grandson he cares about deeply. I plan to kidnap him to threaten the old fiend.”

“Kidnap?!” Si Fenglang, despite the immense wound on his chest, struggled to sit up. “You’re going to kidnap someone?!”

“If my cultivation were higher, I wouldn’t need to resort to this. I could just kill him directly.” Dan Fusheng wasn’t keen on such unethical methods, but without the raw power, he had no choice. He patted the back of Si Fenglang’s hand. “After I kill him, I’ll use his stash to treat your injuries, okay? I’m out of medicine.”

“Do you want me to keep this a secret for you?” Si Fenglang asked.

“Huh? No need, I don’t care about that.” Dan Fusheng chuckled. “Just don’t forget my life-saving grace, okay? I can’t save you for free.”

Si Fenglang: “…”

“Later, just put in a good word for me,” Dan Fusheng rubbed his hands together. “Could you perhaps be a little more lenient towards demons?”

“No,” Si Fenglang closed his eyes. “You might as well throw me away.”

Dan Fusheng did not abandon him; he continued to care for him. Ultimately, Dan Fusheng prevailed. He healed Si Fenglang’s injuries and allowed him to leave. Before Si Fenglang departed, Dan Fusheng asked him, “Did you notice that I haven’t made any more requests these past few months?”

Si Fenglang nodded.

Dan Fusheng hummed. “Then have you been tormented by your conscience?”

Si Fenglang remained silent.

Dan Fusheng sighed again. “If you still have this attitude the next time we meet, then you’re truly a terrible person.”

Si Fenglang’s eyes snapped open. After a few ragged breaths, he clutched his chest. His emotions were in turmoil. He felt a sudden daze. He quickly rose and rushed towards the courtyard where Dan Fusheng was being held.

Dan Fusheng was at the entrance, explaining cultivation methods to the disciples. Upon seeing Si Fenglang, he instinctively offered a smile. “What’s wrong? Remembering our past affections?”

“I remembered,” Si Fenglang nodded.

Dan Fusheng’s smile froze. “Ah?” Now it was his turn to be confused.

“Those six months…” Si Fenglang’s voice grew softer.

“Which six months?” Dan Fusheng sensed something was amiss.

“The six months when you saved me.”

“Oh, right.” Dan Fusheng vaguely recalled that.

“I remember now. I can feel the emotions from that time,” Si Fenglang took a deep breath. “I truly… perhaps I really did have some feelings for you.”

Dan Fusheng: ???

Si Fenglang lowered his gaze. “What was our relationship in our previous life?”

Dan Fusheng: “…Junior Brother, Junior Brother? JUNIOR BROTHER!!!”

Chen Gui instantly appeared beside Dan Fusheng, raising a hand towards Si Fenglang. “Sir, please calm down. Judging by your final outcome, you should be in the relationship of murderer and victim.”

Dan Fusheng hid behind Chen Gui. This development was far too bizarre; only the rigid Chen Gui could offer him a semblance of security.

“What about before that?! What exactly happened between us?” Si Fenglang tried to see Dan Fusheng’s face, but Dan Fusheng kept hiding.

“I am not aware of that, but you did not have a romantic relationship.” Chen Gui was certain Dan Fusheng was single at the time; he was too busy causing mischief to date.

“I don’t believe it!” Si Fenglang pursed his lips. “When you came to the guard post, were you looking for Si Chen or for me? You looked at me very strangely.”

Dan Fusheng had indeed intended to spread rumors back then, but it was purely one-sided. He had no desire for a mutual relationship with Si Fenglang. If he had known it would come to this, he would have adopted a different strategy. He might as well have claimed Si Fenglang was his long-lost grandson.

“Explain yourself,” Si Fenglang lunged forward.

Chen Gui was a step ahead; he lifted Dan Fusheng into the air. “Until your ‘intimate relationship’ is proven, you cannot touch him.”

“He said it himself!”

“I do not trust the words of a demon,” Chen Gui said, having no intention of putting Dan Fusheng down.

“If you don’t believe me, you can probe my memories!”

“That would be impolite. Moreover, you are not even certain of the nature of your relationship,” Chen Gui would not be swayed. “Perhaps you merely harbored one-sided feelings. One-sided affection does not constitute a romance; it doesn’t even qualify as a Love Tribulation. Please maintain your dignity; harassing a demon also counts as harassment.”

Chen Gui erected a barrier and temporarily fled with Dan Fusheng.

Dan Fusheng let out a sigh of relief. “What was that all about? My… Junior Brother, why are you staring at me?”

“This awakening of his memories must be your doing. Did you make him fall in love with you?” Chen Gui was highly suspicious.

“I can’t even handle this kind of thing! What good would it do me to pull such a trick?!” Dan Fusheng had indeed made Si Fenglang recall more things, but even he hadn’t anticipated this turn of events.

“Then it seems he genuinely harbored such thoughts in his previous life.” Chen Gui’s brows furrowed. “Why?” This Si Fenglang had peculiar taste.

“Senior Brother will give you a beating, you know,” Dan Fusheng smiled.

“I didn’t say anything.”

“You think his taste is very strange, don’t you?”

“How did you know?! Did you use mind-reading?”

“You stared at me from head to toe with a face like you’d eaten a bitter gourd, even hissing. Did I need to guess?” Dan Fusheng lightly kicked Chen Gui’s backside.

“My personal advice is not to pursue romance; your love life might not be very pleasant.” Chen Gui dusted off his robes. “Master calculated your romantic destiny before he decided to sacrifice himself.”

“Oh?!” Dan Fusheng raised an eyebrow. “The result was terrible?”

Chen Gui nodded heavily. “Master’s eyes widened in horror at the time.”

To scare Master into losing his composure?! Dan Fusheng’s heart grew a little heavier.

“Master looked at me, appearing disoriented,” Chen Gui let out a heavy sigh. “He kept repeating, ‘Ah?! No way,’ while checking if his formation spells had any errors.”

“I actually have a Love Tribulation?” Otherwise, how could the old man have reacted that way?

“Perhaps. In the end, Master kept muttering, ‘It’s over, it’s over, it’s over,’ while looking at me. He never told me the specific outcome.” Chen Gui felt that Master was subconsciously seeking help, but he couldn’t provide any.

Dan Fusheng and Chen Gui fell silent together.

Finally, Dan Fusheng spoke first. “I probably shouldn’t be in a relationship.” Master’s reaction was terrifying.

Chen Gui wholeheartedly agreed. “Exactly! Keep that thought!”