Chapter 2719: The Psycho City Lord

Seventeen years, for cultivators, is indeed not a long time.

The Divination Dao Sect lies hidden among the mountains, with clouds and mist swirling around.

After Jin Chen returned to the sect, he spent most of his time in closed-door cultivation; occasionally he went down the mountain to travel, handle some sect affairs, or, at the new emperor's invitation, entered the capital to discuss major matters concerning the yin-yang balance.

The red silk band around his wrist was never removed, becoming a distinctive mark.

All the sect's disciples knew the senior martial brother wore a red silk band on his wrist, but none knew its meaning, assuming it was a profound magic tool or a cultivation habit.

Only Chu Jiu Shan knew that the red silk band would fade after a while, prompting Jin Chen to leave the sect alone for a time; upon his return the band's color would be restored and his expression would soften considerably.

Seventeen years passed in the blink of an eye.

In Jiangnan in March, grass grows and orioles fly, the fine rain moistening like butter.

Today is the seventeenth birthday of Yin Chaosheng, sole heir of Jiangnan's wealthiest family; the Yin clan is rich beyond compare, generous and charitable, enjoying great local prestige.

This young master is even more legendary—said to have been born with auspicious clouds surrounding the beams, intelligent and exquisite from childhood, a boy born with a silver spoon in his mouth, basking in countless affections.

Now seventeen, he is strikingly handsome, his brows and eyes bearing an air of refined nobility; his birthday banquet is practically a city-wide celebration.

Before the Yin mansion, carriages and horses flowed like dragons, guests gathered like clouds—a scene of joyous bustle.

The carriage stopped at the alley's entrance.

"Shh! Don't make a sound, and don't tell my father!"

The carriage curtain lifted; a youth in a bright blue silk robe, waist bound with a jade belt, leapt down nimbly.

His features were as exquisite as jade, his eyes bearing the lively arrogance of being pampered; Yin Chaosheng made a silencing gesture to the coachman and attendants, his jade-handled fan snapping open and swaying gently.

"There's still a most important guest missing from the birthday feast—wait here, and don't follow me!"

Having said that, he didn't wait for the servants' reply and left alone.

Yin Chaosheng idly swayed his jade fan, constantly glancing around.

Since a month ago, he has repeatedly had a strange dream.

In the dream everything is hazy; he only vaguely recalls that on his seventeenth birthday he will meet an extremely important person.

This dream unsettled his mind, and he lost interest in the birthday banquet that had been prepared for months.

He waited and waited; as the auspicious hour approached and the banquet was about to begin, the important person from his dream still hadn't appeared.

Yin Chaosheng grew anxious, so he slipped out of the mansion to wander nearby, hoping to run into luck.

He walked through familiar lanes, bypassed the bustling market, crossed the quiet stone bridge, his gaze sweeping over passersby—but he never found that person.

After walking a while, hunger stirred; Yin Chaosheng spotted an old man selling candied haws by the roadside, took out a few copper coins, and said, "Old sir, one string, please."

Having just taken the candied haws and paid, Yin Chaosheng caught a glimpse of a white-clad figure flashing past the alley entrance.

In that instant, Yin Chaosheng's heart gave a jolt.

"It's him! It must be him!"

Yin Chaosheng didn't think—he just turned and ran after him.

He pushed through the crowd and rushed into the narrow alley.

The alley was deep and gloomy, mottled with moss; at its end lay a dead‑end, empty of anyone.

Yin Chaosheng stood dazed in the alley's centre, staring at the cold wall; his heart filled with loss and emptiness, as if something exceedingly precious had just been within reach—and then vanished in an instant.

He pressed his lips together, his eyes stinging; an urge to cry welled up inexplicably.

In his daze, a clear, spring‑like voice sounded from behind, tinged with a lazy smile.

"Are you looking for me?"

Yin Chaosheng stared, then turned his body extremely slowly.

Outside the alley mouth, an ancient apricot tree was in full bloom, its pale pink blossoms drifting down.

Amid the swirling blossoms, he saw a man in a moon‑white robe leaning against the pink wall at the alley's mouth.

The man was tall and graceful, his eyes smiling warmly enough to melt the slight chill of a Jiangnan March.

Looking down, a red silk band was tied around his left wrist, contrasting with his plain white robe and forming a vivid splash of color in the ink‑wash scene.

The moment the red caught his eye, Yin Chaosheng's eyes welled up and his vision blurred.

Jin Chen watched his dazed expression, gave a light laugh, stepped forward, and offered the candied haws from his hand, saying, "Candied haws—why aren't you eating it?"

Yin Chaosheng seemed to snap back to reality, instinctively gripping the bamboo skewer, staring at him in a daze.

Across the drifting petals and seventeen years, this glance was a predestined reunion after long separation.

After a long while, Yin Chaosheng's mouth twitched into a smile, and the tears pooled in his eyes finally spilled over.

"I've been waiting for someone," the youth said, his clear voice hoarse with a sob.

A gentle breeze blew, lifting more apricot blossoms to settle on their shoulders and hair tips.

Jin Chen's eyes flickered, and he asked softly, "Who are you waiting for?"

"I'm waiting for my beloved."

"Have you met them yet?"

Yin Chaosheng stepped forward, then another step, until he stood before Jin Chen.

His trembling fingertips hooked the red silk band, he lifted his head, and his moist eyes locked onto Jin Chen.

"I have met them."

Across seventeen long years, and the barrier of life and death's cycle.

At this moment, amidst the misty vapors and flying blossoms of Jiangnan, the dust settled.

……

【Congratulations, Host, mission completed, Blackening Value cleared to zero, reward points, reclaim Divine Water Spirit reward points 5000, Thousand-Face Disguise Candy Beans-6888! Accumulated!】

【Transferring to the next world……Transfer successful!】