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Ch137 - Recovering Memories




Outside, it was noisy and deafening.
After Zhou Gushè carried Su Hansheng into the room, she raised her hand to create a barrier to block the noise, then casually slapped Su Hansheng’s hand that was still covering his ears.
Su Hansheng, who hadn’t seen anyone hit him since losing his memory, immediately hissed and pitifully lowered his hands.
Zhou Gushè found the small table on the bed annoying, so she simply lifted it off and sat cross-legged on the bed, patting it. “Come.”
Su Hansheng obediently climbed up and sat across from Zhou Gushè, extending his hand.
Zhou Gushè frowned. “What are you doing?”
“Getting treatment,” Su Hansheng said. “No medicine?”
Zhou Gushè glanced at him, raising her hand to flick Su Hansheng’s forehead. “If it could be cured with just some medicine, why would I bother—close your eyes, stop looking at my hand, you’re going cross-eyed.”
Su Hansheng followed Zhou Gushè’s instructions, completely relaxing his body.
He didn’t know what illness he had, but if Zhou Gushè, summoned by his father and uncle, said he had one, then he probably did, so he cooperated fully.
Darkness fell before his eyes, only Zhou Gushè’s and his breathing faintly audible. But somehow, Zhou Gushè did something to his consciousness, and the two breathing sounds grew fainter and weaker.
Silently, it seemed only his own breathing remained.
“Little healer?” Su Hansheng felt afraid and tried calling softly.
No one responded.
Since waking up, Su Hansheng had only experienced unconditional favoritism and indulgence, his eyes filled with clear foolishness. Zhou Gushè told him to close his eyes, so even though he was scared, he kept them tightly shut.
Until an unfamiliar voice chuckled and said calmly, “Do you want to stay here forever?”
Su Hansheng opened his eyes in confusion, only to find he was no longer in Hanmang Garden. Looking around, everything was snowy white.
A phantom figure with indistinct features stood before him, wearing robes similar to the pattern he’d worn when he first woke up days ago. A gentle yet imposing aura slowly emanated from the figure, commanding awe.
Su Hansheng looked at him blankly. “What?”
Since waking, so many people had come to see him that he no longer asked “who are you?” They were all people he’d known before, presumably.
The figure chuckled, raising his hand.
Su Hansheng’s entire body suddenly floated up from mid-air, slowly ascending into the clouds with Him.
“Do you want to recover your memories?”
Su Hansheng nodded. “Yes.”
“If you recover your previous memories, the suffering of your past two lives will remain in your consciousness, unable to be erased,” the figure said in an extremely gentle voice, as if coaxing a child. “But if you’re content with your current state, you can continue living peacefully…”
Su Hansheng looked down in the direction He pointed.
They were floating above Hanmang Garden. Below, Su Xuanlin seemed to be fighting with Chongjue.
Ying Jianhua had somehow come from Old Talisman Ridge and was chattering away. The entire courtyard was about to be destroyed by their overwhelming spiritual energy.
It looked like a battlefield, like purgatory.
Su Hansheng: “…”
This kind of life… is considered peaceful?
Heaven’s Will seemed to choke for a moment, taking a long time before finding words. “…Carefree, with everyone caring for and loving you—a peace-ful life.”
The words “peace-ful” were especially emphasized.
Su Hansheng stood there in a daze, watching the chaos below. After a while, he suddenly asked, “Is my current carefree state because of my previous suffering?”
Heaven’s Will seemed not to have expected Su Hansheng to ask this question. After thinking for a moment, He said calmly, “Not entirely.”
Su Xuanlin, Ying Jianhua, and Xu Nanxian—they were bound by blood and sect ties. Even without the experiences of the past and present lives, Su Hansheng would still be the beloved young lord of Yingxu Sect.
Chongjue… might be different.
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“Are you sure?”
“If… if you keep asking…” Su Hansheng’s eyebrows slowly fell, saying glumly, “I won’t be sure anymore.”
Heaven’s Will: “…”
And here I thought he had such strong resolve?
But thinking about it, Su Hansheng didn’t understand social norms and had no memories to support him. He was like a child, easily swayed.
Heaven’s Will couldn’t help but laugh, softening His voice. “Suffering isn’t worth remembering. Losing it would be fortunate for you.”
Su Hansheng had no strong convictions, but hearing this, he frowned. “If I don’t remember, wouldn’t I have suffered for nothing?”
Heaven’s Will: “…”
Well, yes, but…
“If I don’t have my memories, I won’t be me anymore,” Su Hansheng said with unusual persistence. As he spoke, the confusion in his eyes gradually faded. “I don’t want to be someone else. I just want to be me.”
Experiences and memories shape a person’s character, beliefs, and emotions. Without memories, he would no longer be the Su Hansheng everyone knew, but become a… completely changed stranger.
Su Hansheng feared this.
Heaven’s Will watched him silently for a long time, seeming to sigh soundlessly, slowly reaching toward his forehead.
“Very well.”
Su Hansheng watched as that hand sent forth a golden spiritual energy that silently entered his forehead.
His consciousness roared like calm waters suddenly erupting into stormy waves. Countless memories flooded in overwhelmingly, instantly filling Su Hansheng’s empty mind.
***
Su Xuanlin was about to lose his mind.
Ever since he’d seen the images in the recording pearl, he’d been like a rabid dog off its leash, hell-bent on beheading Chongjue, with none of an Immortal Lord’s profound wisdom or mature composure.
After a tirade of insults, Chongjue still stood there in white robes, not saying a word in his defense. Su Xuanlin, finding no outlet for his rage, only exploded further.
He was like a lit firecracker, barely holding back as he said coldly, “What do you want to explain?”
Chongjue’s expression was calm as he said methodically, “After careful thought, there’s nothing to explain. What happened between Xiaoxiao and me is fact. If you’re angry, take it out on me. Don’t frighten him.”
Su Xuanlin: “…”
Su Xuanlin’s vision went dark, and he fell backward.
Ying Jianhua caught him. “Master!”
“Kill him,” Su Xuanlin said weakly, instructing his disciple. “Go now.”
Ying Jianhua hesitated. “Master, this…”
“He’s already laid hands on your junior martial brother, and you’re still hesitating!” Su Xuanlin attacked indiscriminately, furious. “What, do you want to speak up for him?”
Ying Jianhua said solemnly, “No, it’s that this disciple can’t beat him.”
Su Xuanlin: “…”
What use are you?
Su Xuanlin said, “Fetch… fetch my sword.”
He had to kill Chongjue today.
Ying Jianhua still remembered what Su Hansheng had said in the Heaven-Reaching Tower about “registering together,” and tentatively said, “Master, calm yourself. Getting angry is useless. Why not call Xiaoxiao over and ask him clearly?”
Su Xuanlin, still maintaining his last shred of rationality, immediately found this reasonable. He rubbed his throbbing temples. “Where’s Xiaoxiao?”
Chongjue said, “The little healer took Xiaoxiao…”
“Silence!” Su Xuanlin said coldly. “You call the child by his pet name while doing such filthy things. Do you have no shame?”
Chongjue: “…”
Chongjue obligingly corrected himself. “The little healer took my Dao Companion into the room. Perhaps to treat him.”
Su Xuanlin: “?”
Ying Jianhua: “…”
My sword, fetch my sword!
Su Xuanlin’s face turned pale, his lips trembling. “You… say that again?”
Chongjue was considerate enough not to repeat it, lest Su Xuanlin faint on the spot.
Just as chaos reigned, the door suddenly opened. Zhou Gushè casually smoothed her hem and walked out elegantly.
All three looked over simultaneously.
Zhou Gushè walked past the battlefield of ruins with her eyes straight ahead, but as she passed Su Xuanlin, she suddenly tilted her head, carefully examining his expression. “Immortal Lord, your anger attacks your heart. You need to calm your spirit.”
Then she looked at Chongjue and nodded. “Mm, the World-Honored One is already calm.”
With that, she stepped over the rubble and left gracefully.
Everyone: “…”
Su Xuanlin’s face was extremely dark, glaring at Chongjue as if wielding knives.
He was furious and hysterical, while this bastard was acting composed?
Su Xuanlin’s fingers twitched. This wasn’t going to work—he had to act, or he’d really die from his rage.
Just then, the door opened again. Su Hansheng walked out yawning, casually glancing at the surrounding ruins and frowning slightly.
Su Xuanlin immediately put away his murderous expression, coughed a few times, and tentatively asked, “Xiaoxiao, earlier Gushè came to see you…”
Was it to restore your memories, or does she have feelings for you?
“It’s nothing,” Su Hansheng said casually. He looked around, seeing the companion tree shedding leaves wildly from their auras and the entire courtyard looking ransacked, and frowned. “What are you doing?”
Su Xuanlin had already withdrawn his aura, and the chess pieces floating in the air fell like rain.
He held back for a long time, unsure if Su Hansheng had recovered his memories, and could only say with a dark expression, “Playing chess with your uncle.”
“Oh.”
Su Hansheng looked toward Chongjue.
Chongjue met Su Hansheng’s gaze, raising an eyebrow slightly, seemingly aware of something, a barely perceptible smile appearing in his eyes.
Su Hansheng raised his hand and moved it. The companion tree, which had been docile for several days, suddenly extended its lush branches, affectionately rubbing against its master’s cheek like a large, fawning dog.
The remaining branches began sweeping the chaotic courtyard like brooms.
Seeing this familiar action, Ying Jianhua froze.
Su Xuanlin had never really seen Su Hansheng control the companion tree so skillfully—when he “perished,” Su Hansheng was still small. When he used his divine sense to make the little sapling shake hands, he’d always get slapped by branches and cry to the heavens.
Now seeing the companion tree move so nimbly, Su Xuanlin didn’t immediately react like Ying Jianhua, still looking at the clusters of phoenix flowers on the lush branches.
Su Hansheng came down from the steps, walking leisurely to Chongjue’s side. He lifted his hand to remove a black chess piece from Chongjue’s shoulder and said casually, “You two can play chess so hard it lands on your faces?”
Chongjue looked down at him, saying calmly, “Your father flipping the board when he can’t win isn’t a first or second time.”
Su Xuanlin kept a straight face, suppressing the anger he’d just barely pushed down. Seeing Chongjue dare to complain first, he said darkly, “What lies are you spreading about me now?”
If not for that damned incident, would he have flipped the board?
“Xiaoxiao, come here,” Su Xuanlin said. “You wanted to go out and play before, right? Your eldest martial brother is back at the sect. Why don’t you go to Old Talisman Ridge with him for a while?”
After he dealt with this disgraceful Buddhist cultivator, he’d bring him back.
Seeing the two standing together, Su Xuanlin recalled the scenes from the recording pearl that made his eyes bloodshot, and the fire he’d just suppressed instantly flared up again.
Su Hansheng saw Su Xuanlin looking at Chongjue with fury and killing intent in his eyes. Guessing his father probably already knew about this matter, he didn’t want the two to have friction because of it. “What’s between Chongjue and me isn’t what you think.”
Su Xuanlin froze.
Calling him by name?
Looking at Su Hansheng’s appearance, Su Xuanlin belatedly realized.
Zhou Gushè’s visit had apparently recovered Su Hansheng’s memories.
Su Xuanlin’s lips trembled. He wasn’t psychologically prepared to face his son with recovered memories, and his towering rage instantly dissipated without a trace.
The usually lofty Immortal Lord rarely felt such anxiety.
“Xiaoxiao…”
But Su Hansheng didn’t show the disgust and rejection he’d imagined. He even grabbed Chongjue’s hand and walked to his father’s side, smiling. “Father, don’t be angry. Your eyes are red. Anger hurts the body.”
Su Xuanlin’s anxious heart instantly settled, filled with relief.
His son had recovered his memories, yet still cared about him and worried for his health…
Wait.
Holding Chongjue’s hand?
And what did that earlier statement about “Chongjue and me” mean?!
Su Xuanlin hadn’t even felt relief for a moment before his eyes nearly popped out, staring fixedly at their joined hands.
“What is this… Jianhua, what are you doing?”
Ying Jianhua looked utterly miserable, as if prepared, quietly pressing one hand on Su Xuanlin’s shoulder while half-circling his master’s waist with the other, ready to restrain him.
“I… I’m just afraid you…”
Before he could finish, Su Xuanlin understood Ying Jianhua’s intent.
Su Hansheng looked obedient and gentle, calling “Father” so sweetly.
He tilted his head, thinking, trying to mediate their conflict. He decided to take the blame first, so Su Xuanlin wouldn’t scold Chongjue for “disrespecting his elders” like Zou Chi and Qifu Yin had. If they fought, that would be bad.
Su Hansheng took a deep breath, confidently stating the excellent, flawless reason he’d been pondering.
“Father, don’t blame Chongjue. I was the rebellious one who seduced him first.”
Su Xuanlin: “…………”
Ying Jianhua: “…”
Chongjue: “…”
***