" Gray immortal" [] WWxNH []The untamed.

9: Meeting of fate.

Chapter 9: The Meeting of Fate

Wei Ying turned sharply, his instincts on high alert. Through the thick haze of resentment, a figure emerged, moving with a graceful yet purposeful stride. Wei Ying’s eyes narrowed, trying to make out the person’s features.

It wasn’t a Jiang sect disciple, nor was it someone from the Wen or Lan sects. No, this was someone entirely different.

The figure came closer, and soon, Wei Ying could make out the pristine white robes and a sword strapped across the figure’s back. His brow furrowed. The robes were unmistakable—a Taoist cultivator.

The young man stepped forward, his expression calm yet serious, his eyes sharp but kind. Wei Ying took a step back instinctively, unsure of the man’s intentions.

“You shouldn’t be here,” the man said, his voice soft yet firm. “The Burial Mounds is no place for the living.”

Wei Ying’s eyes met his, and for a moment, there was a flicker of recognition. The cultivator was about his age, with a strikingly serene presence, yet Wei Ying could sense an immense strength behind those calm eyes.

“I could say the same to you,” Wei Ying replied, his tone guarded but curious.

The cultivator smiled faintly, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I am Xiao Xingchen. I’m returning from my master’s mountain. But you...you seem different. The resentment here doesn’t affect you, does it?”

Wei Ying was taken aback. Xiao Xingchen’s words cut straight to the truth. He had noticed. Wei Ying quickly schooled his expression, unwilling to reveal too much.

“I’ve...learned to live with it,” Wei Ying replied cryptically. “Who is your master?”

“Boa Shan Sanren,” Xiao Xingchen answered, watching Wei Ying closely for a reaction. “She resides in the mountain beyond the Burial Mounds.”

Wei Ying’s heart skipped a beat. Boa Shan Sanren. The name stirred something deep within him, though he couldn’t quite place it. He had heard the name before, but it had always been in passing—a whisper of a great cultivator who had gone into seclusion.

“What are you doing here?” Xiao Xingchen asked, his gaze softening. “It’s rare to see someone so young...and alone...in a place like this.”

Wei Ying looked away, his chest tightening. Alone. That word struck a chord within him. He had been alone for most of his life—first on the streets, then even within Lotus Pier. The truth was, despite all his bravado, he had always felt alone.

“I don’t belong anywhere else,” Wei Ying replied quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Xiao Xingchen’s eyes softened further, and for a moment, there was silence between them. The wind rustled through the trees, carrying with it the faint echoes of forgotten souls.

“If that’s true,” Xiao Xingchen said gently, “then come with me. My master...she may be able to help you.”

Wei Ying hesitated, his mind racing. Could he really trust this stranger? And yet, something in Xiao Xingchen’s eyes told him that this wasn’t just a random encounter. There was a reason their paths had crossed here, at the edge of the Burial Mounds.

“What would she want with me?” Wei Ying asked, his voice laced with suspicion.

“You’ll have to find that out for yourself,” Xiao Xingchen replied, offering a hand. “But you shouldn’t stay here. Not like this.”

Wei Ying glanced down at Xiao Xingchen’s outstretched hand, his heart torn between suspicion and a strange sense of hope. This was the first person who had shown him kindness without any ulterior motives. And perhaps, deep down, Wei Ying was tired of being alone.

With a deep breath, Wei Ying took Xiao Xingchen’s hand, allowing himself to be led away from the darkness of the Burial Mounds.

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Xiao Xingchen is my favorite 🤭😁.