Chapter 103: That Year of Smoke and Blossoms, My Solitary Sorrow (Part One)

Su Fan couldn’t help but sigh deeply. When two such powerful masters clashed, the scene must have been earth-shattering. It was a pity he couldn’t witness it with his own eyes, but thinking about it, if he had been there, he would inevitably have been caught in the crossfire, possibly sustaining severe injuries.

He sighed again and asked, “Senior, do you happen to know that person’s identity?”

Drunken Immortal’s expression darkened. He slapped his storage pouch and took out a token, handing it to Su Fan. Su Fan carefully examined it. The token was made of wood, though Su Fan had never seen this kind of wood before. Intricate runes adorned its surface, making it difficult to decipher.

He gently turned the token over and suddenly felt a sharp tremor in his heart. The back of the token bore a casual engraving, yet Su Fan could recognize the image. He was extremely familiar with it—it was the same image engraved on the mysterious jade pendant hanging at his waist. The pendant had four such images, but this token had only one.

Su Fan did not take out the jade pendant for Drunken Immortal to identify, for he himself was uncertain of its origin and purpose. It would be unwise to reveal it casually. Besides, the pendant contained someone inside, so Su Fan was reluctant to entrust it to another.

Although Lan Yifeng remained in a deep, unbroken slumber, Su Fan had long vowed silently to repay the life-saving kindness he had received from him. If given the chance, he would rescue him, even if he knew nothing of Lan Yifeng’s background, or even if rescuing him might bring future harm.

Gratitude must be repaid—that was Su Fan’s fundamental principle. Revenge must be taken—that was also his creed. Thus, Su Fan masked the storm of emotions within his heart with only a slight change in expression.

Drunken Immortal assumed Su Fan’s reaction was simply shock at hearing his story and didn’t suspect there were deeper thoughts running through his mind.

Su Fan handed the token back to Drunken Immortal and said calmly, “Senior need not feel regret. Your disciples are all extraordinary; I believe their futures will be boundless.”

Drunken Immortal waved his hand and caught a red wine cup floating in the air, draining it in one gulp. The sharp bitterness of the wine scorched his throat but warmed his long-desperate heart.

Unconsciously, the two fell into silent contemplation. Su Fan quietly observed the seemingly youthful, handsome yet actually centuries-old man, feeling a subtle pang of melancholy.

After a long pause, Drunken Immortal spoke again, “My disciples... ah, one was used and killed. Another was cursed and will never grow up. The one I trusted most, both in wisdom and cultivation, worthy to inherit my legacy, is still missing.”

This must be the three disciples of Drunken Immortal. The one who was killed was likely Mr. Poison; the one cursed to never mature was surely Mr. Wine. As for the one missing, that was probably Mr. Madness.

Su Fan had long speculated on the identities of the three gentlemen from the Corpse Valley, but only now did he truly understand—they were all disciples of Drunken Immortal. With such a master, their resistance against the Heavenly Origin Sect made sense.

But why did Drunken Immortal oppose the Heavenly Origin Sect? Did the sect harbor even deeper secrets? That was a rhetorical question; the Heavenly Origin Sect had countless secrets, and this might not even be the deepest among them.

Su Fan casually asked, “Senior, are you certain Mr. Madness is still alive?”

The question was somewhat harsh. Drunken Immortal was already sorrowful over the missing disciple, and now Su Fan brought up the possibility that he might be dead.

Fortunately, Drunken Immortal was not petty. He appreciated Su Fan’s straightforwardness. Looking at him seriously, he said, “He will not die, I am certain.”

A bitter ache welled in Su Fan’s heart. The tone was almost the same as what he had said before—once for his parents, now for his disciple.

“For a disciple,” Su Fan silently thought of another person—the Purple-Clad Elder, who was willing to sacrifice everything for his chosen student. This figure had somehow been indelibly buried in Su Fan’s heart.

Drunken Immortal was not making baseless hopes. He pulled out an object from his sleeve—an identity token that contained a fragment of a cultivator’s soul. If the cultivator were harmed or killed, the token would immediately shatter.

Su Fan took it and scanned it, unable to conceal his shock. Three characters were inscribed: “Liu Shaoyu.” Not Liu Duoyu, nor Liu Xiaoyu, but Liu Shaoyu.

Su Fan’s mind raced. Such a coincidence was impossible. Could this Liu Shaoyu be the same Liu Shaoyu from his storage pouch—the one he met within the Immortal-Demon body?

Regardless, the Immortal-Demon must not be exposed. It was Su Fan’s final trump card. The Immortal-Demon’s power was unquestionable, but the stronger one was, the more jealousy it attracted. If the secret were revealed, Su Fan would be besieged by countless cultivators.

Su Fan’s dramatic change was apparent even to Drunken Immortal, whose spirit was already hazy. He curiously asked, “What is it? Is something wrong?”

Su Fan cleared his throat twice and smiled, “Mr. Madness has such a master. It’s enviable. The characters on this token are bold and vigorous—probably written by you personally, aren’t they?”

Drunken Immortal pondered but replied, “Yes, I wrote them. But I wrote similar tokens for all three. This is not unique to him, so young friend, you need not be so surprised.”

Su Fan silently nodded, sighing inwardly. Fortunately, he had concealed his emotions well. As for the debt he owed Liu Shaoyu, he resolved to return it at an appropriate time.

Drunken Immortal smiled and asked, “Do you know why I summoned you?”

Su Fan smiled back, “Surely not just to drink with a junior and reminisce about your past?”

Drunken Immortal chuckled, “Of course not. Talking with you is interesting, so I spoke more than I intended. But there are other matters to discuss.”

Su Fan lamented quietly that he had mostly been listening and rarely spoken. Now, hearing that the conversation was interesting, he fell silent. But then he thought that listening was indeed a pleasure and let the topic rest there.

Drunken Immortal said, “This old wine street is densely sealed with formations I built over nearly a thousand years. It can resist cultivators at the early Heart Transformation stage. I gift it to you. Do you want it?”

Su Fan’s smile faded. He replied calmly, “On what conditions?”

This was a heavy gift—seals capable of repelling Heart Transformation-level cultivators were miraculous beyond description. Su Fan was deeply interested in formations. If he could obtain this, he would surely study it and glean a new defensive skill.

But no great benefit came without a cost. Su Fan did not accept immediately but inquired about the conditions. This attitude earned Drunken Immortal’s high praise and evident fondness.

The chapter titled “That Year’s Firework Rain, My Solitary Melancholy (Part One)” has been updated completely!