The White Moonlight Disdained by the Male Protagonist of Redemption - Chapter 26

At that moment, the air turned still and quiet—no one spoke first.

Ning Yao waited for two breaths, then lost patience. She had been the master of this mountain for a long time—always the one giving orders, never the one taking them.
“You two… and the one behind—are you just passing by or here to knock on the door? ”

She didn’t say “you three” because the one in the back didn’t seem like he was on the same side. His demeanor was different and probably not one of them.

Wan Dongze asked, “What if we’re just passing by? And what if we’re knocking? ”

Ning Yao tapped the stone slab beside her. “Not your turn to ask questions yet.”

Wan Dongze chuckled and said, “Then we’re knocking.”

Ning Yao replied, “Knocking, huh? The master’s not home. You can leave now.”

Wan Dongze didn’t move. He stared at Ning Yao for a long while before asking,
“May I ask, young lady—are you guarding this mountain for someone, or are you just traveling and happened to pass by? ”

Ning Yao: “What’s it to you? ”

Wan Dongze laughed again, and his expression turned subtly meaningful.
Some people, he thought, were born to be mountain masters. Even if they were just sitting on a rough stone stool, they looked like they were perched atop a mountain peak—with not mud underfoot, but the whole mountain itself.

He sighed. “Looks like you’ve forgotten me again.”

Ning Yao smiled sweetly. “Well, how do I put it… People who aren’t important or people I don’t like—I tend to forget them within two days.”

Wan Dongze was about to speak again, but Yuwen Cai gave a soft cough beside him.

Right. He shouldn’t say more, especially not reminisce. Feng Jingzhuo was still here.

If Feng realized that the woman in front of him was Ning Yao, then all the effort of blinding him would’ve been in vain.

Wan Dongze shut his mouth.

Yuwen Cai stepped forward half a pace, smiling warmly. “Goddess of Fortune, I greet you.”

Ning Yao gave him a once-over. “Xuanwu clan? ”

“You have sharp eyes,” Yuwen Cai said politely. “My name is Yuwen Cai.”

Ning Yao asked, “Who gave you that name?”

“…Is there a problem with it?”

“Sounds nice.”

The Xuanwu clan had always seemed mysterious to her, and she held more caution toward them than other enemies. But this guy… with a name like Yuwen Cai (which sounds like “Yuwen Vegetable”), honestly, it made her want to lower her guard a bit.

But of course, that was just a passing thought. The man had addressed her as the Goddess of Fortune—that meant he had some real knowledge of her. She couldn’t underestimate him.

“So, the two of you are here specifically to knock on my door. You’ve tracked me all the way here.” Ning Yao stood up, her gaze shifting past the two of them to land straight on the man behind. “And you? Are you here for me as well?”

Her tone toward the man at the back was noticeably gentler—almost soft.

It wasn’t because she judged by appearance. The first two were clearly here for trouble—the black mist around them practically spelled hostile intent. Being polite to people like that would just be cowardly.

But the man behind… she couldn’t figure him out. At the very least, she didn’t sense any malice from him. Still, she wasn’t sure if he’d choose to stand aside and not interfere.

Ning Yao hoped he wouldn’t stay out of it.

No matter what the two demons were planning, there was no way she’d work with them. If talks broke down, a fight was inevitable. One powerful cultivator and a Xuanwu—kind of a tough match. But if she could win over one more person to her side, that would be ideal.

The man didn’t answer.

Still looked empty and unmoving.

Ning Yao felt a little awkward. She cleared her throat, about to raise her voice and ask again—when suddenly, he moved.

He walked toward her.

His footsteps were both light and heavy—light as if treading on clouds, heavy enough to crush the heavens with each step.

Ning Yao originally intended to form a temporary alliance with him to repel their enemies together—drive away those two annoying pests, and then see what he wanted. But this man, inexplicably, walked past the two as if they weren’t there. His eyes were locked solely on her.

He was very thin, like a skeleton. His trembling fingertips peeked out from his sleeves, and even his lips were quivering.

Then, from his beautiful, unfocused eyes, two lines of tears suddenly rolled down like jade beads, one after another.

Tears streamed down his face, yet the corners of his mouth lifted into a silly smile.

Among everyone present, it was Yuwen Cai who reacted first. He had been clenching his fingers, but suddenly his eyes rolled back, and he snapped back to his senses. He pushed Wan Dongze and urged him, “Go! Go!!”

Ning Yao: ?

Wan Dongze looked hesitant: “Didn’t you say—”

Yuwen Cai shouted, “Just go already!!! ”

Seeing Feng Jingzhuo’s reaction made everything clear—no matter how he recognized Ning Yao, now that he did, he would never cooperate with them. Once he came to his senses, he might even slay them as demons.

There was no chance of success today. While Feng Jingzhuo was emotionally unstable, Wan Dongze clenched in frustration, threw out a vortex, grabbed Yuwen Cai, and the two disappeared into it.

Ning Yao was dumbfounded by the sudden turn of events.

—First this man cried; then he laughed. Then those two lunatics panicked and fled like they were running for their lives. They seemed not to be normal persons, she thought.

Her gaze fell back on the strange man.

Now, it was just her and this crying-laughing man. She couldn’t be bothered with the two who escaped for now. She just wanted to figure this guy out: “Why did you come to Luoxiang Mountain?”

His tears continued to flow. He moved his lips but made no sound.

Ning Yao asked, “Are you looking for me too?”

He instinctively nodded, then paused and lightly shook his head.

What does that even mean?

Ning Yao guessed, “Is it that… the knife in your chest won’t come out?”

“Want me to try pulling it out for you? Or take you to a healer? Do you know any healer you trust?”

He blankly listened to her speak, then suddenly raised his hand to touch the hilt sticking out of his chest.

Ning Yao: “Hey, you…”

He pushed the blade deeper, then let go.

Ning Yao didn’t really understand the situation, but obviously having a blade stuck in your chest couldn’t be comfortable: “Why don’t you sit down? Standing is tiring.”

She sat down and patted a stone bench next to her: “Sit.”

Well, he wouldn’t sit.

Ning Yao gave up and awkwardly said, “Could you stop crying? ”

She rubbed her hands and sincerely explained, “You’re crying so sadly it’s making me really nervous. My family says I’m terrible at comforting people. Whenever someone cries and I try to say something, not only does it not help, it might actually make them angrier. If I try to comfort you, it might just make you feel worse, so I honestly don’t know what to say…”

If words won’t work, actions might. She offered, “You seem to be suffering from chronic illness. Can I take your pulse? I’m pretty good at medicine. If it’s treatable, I’ll do my best. But this knife… I’m not sure how to handle it—I don’t want to make things worse. If you trust me, I can call my grandmaster to take a look too. It shouldn’t be a big problem.”

He finally spoke, his voice hoarse like tearing silk: “You like helping others.”

Ning Yao replied, “Helping others brings happiness.”

He smiled, then shook his head. “Thank you, but it’s not necessary.”

Well, fair enough. They’re strangers—it’s normal not to trust her.

“The God of Fortune just ascended… so you don’t remember old acquaintances, do you? ”

He must be talking about that demon. Ning Yao said honestly, “I don’t. Maybe it’s related to ascending? I don’t remember anything from that time.”

Feng Jingzhuo closed his eyes; his wet eyelashes were trembling. Even the color on his lips had faded.

Ning Yao saw he looked really unwell: “Let me channel some energy to protect your heart. You can’t go on like this.”

Feng Jingzhuo quickly stepped back: “The God of Fortune is kind-hearted, and that’s a good thing. But you shouldn’t be merciful to everyone. Some people repay kindness with hatred. They deserve to be left to their fate.”

He said softly, “Don’t be too kind.”

Ning Yao didn’t agree but saw no need to argue: “Okay.”

Feng Jingzhuo lowered his eyes and finally sat down. Not on the stone bench she pointed to, but a bit farther away, maintaining a proper distance.

Once seated, he slightly turned his head and wiped the tears from his face, leaving behind only a pair of red eyes with lingering watery light.

After a while, having somewhat composed himself, he looked toward her again and smiled.

His thin lips curved slightly—it was a beautiful smile.

“God of Fortune, pardon my rudeness. I am a fallen god.”

Ning Yao’s eyes lit up: “So you’re the mountain god! Feng Jingzhuo?”

Feng Jingzhuo smiled and said, “Yes.”

He seemed to have gathered his scattered emotions and could now speak properly. Ning Yao remembered someone had said, A mature and refined person in a position of power should never probe too much—it demeans them and embarrasses the other. So, she acted like nothing had happened and casually said, “I’m Ning Yao. Just call me by name—I’m not fussy. Also, thank you for the gift. I really liked it.”

“I’m glad you liked it.”

Still, politeness aside, Ning Yao got serious: “But Mountain God, I have to tell you—you’re way too careless with your money! Those dozen of treasure chests—you could at least lock them or place a protective barrier. That’s a lot of money, you know! What if they got stolen? ”

Feng Jingzhuo nodded: “Yes.”

Ning Yao added, “I didn’t leave because I was watching your treasure. Don’t worry; not a single coin went missing.”

Feng Jingzhuo said gently, “Thank you.”

This mountain god seemed quite obedient—not the rebellious type who would recklessly activate forbidden magic no matter what others say.

Ning Yao asked, “Mountain God, do you mind if I call you by name? ”

“I don’t mind.”

Much easier that way. Ning Yao pointed at his chest: “Feng Jingzhuo, what is that thing? It’s stabbed near your heart. Does it hurt?”

Feng Jingzhuo said, “It does.”

Ning Yao repeated, “If you trust me, I’ll find a way. Really. I’m not bragging—my grandmaster may not be famous, but he’s very capable.”

Feng Jingzhuo’s fingertips curled.

After a pause, he shook his head: “Please don’t help me.”

Ning Yao asked, “Why not?”

He fell silent again.

Oh, right—that twisted logic of his. Ning Yao tried to reason: “Feng Jingzhuo, that kind of thinking is too narrow. Helping others is my decision. If someone repays kindness with cruelty, that’s their problem. I can’t give up doing what’s right just because of fear of what others might do. And seriously—“repay with hatred’? How bad could it get? They can’t actually kill me or—wait, what’s wrong? ”

Feng Jingzhuo held his chest, fingers pressing the handle. His expression was miserable.

“It’s nothing. The blade got loose,” he said.

Ning Yao couldn’t believe it: “The blade got loose, and you want to tighten it again? Wait… would pulling it out be more dangerous? ”

Feng Jingzhuo didn’t answer that. Instead, he asked, “In the God of Fortune’s clan, is there only one grandmaster? ”

“No, he’s just the only competent one. The rest are just useless weirdos. Not worth mentioning.”

Feng Jingzhuo smiled faintly, his tense posture relaxing.

“Sounds like the God of Fortune’s clan isn’t very big.”

Ning Yao replied, “Even these few are enough to wear me out. Any more and I’d go crazy. What about you? Do you have a big family?”

Feng Jingzhuo was silent for a moment and said, “I’m all alone.”

Ning Yao cursed herself—she really needed to stop prying. “…If you don’t mind, you’re welcome to visit my place. My family is really friendly—they’d welcome you.”

Feng Jingzhuo turned to look at her.

Ning Yao invited again: “We’re a down-to-earth people. A bit silly sometimes, but good people. Chill and fun to hang out with.”

Feng Jingzhuo smiled: “Maybe in the future.”

Which, in polite terms, meant no. Ning Yao was confused—did she misread him? Earlier, his expression clearly showed longing.

He reached for his chest again. Maybe the blade came loose again?

Ning Yao called him, “Feng Jingzhuo.”

He turned toward her.

“You said it hurts—why are you still being so rough with yourself? About that blade—does it really have to be tightened? If so, your eyes aren’t in good shape. Just teach me how. I’ll do it for you. I’ll be gentle.”

He didn’t move, still facing her.

After a moment, Feng Jingzhuo lowered his head, and a fleeting, bitter smile spread across his lips.

Ten thousand years had passed, and yet, it was now—when he had finally found her—that he was blind.