#Older-and-younger senior brothers | Unconventional fake death | Two hopeless romantics
Jiang He is an obscure young disciple on Kunlun Mountain.
He's frail, unambitious, and has one great wish in life: to lie flat. Fortunately, his senior brother dotes on him, filling his room with gold, silver, medicine, and magical treasures as if they cost nothing.
Jiang He spends every day with his senior brother, sweeping the courtyard and chatting. With money, free time, and a peaceful life, everything is just right.
Until the day Immortal Lord Chen Yao storms Kunlun Mountain, claiming that Jiang He's senior brother has imprisoned the beloved of the Three Realms, who saved all living beings a thousand years ago. He calls the man cruel and evil, and says he deserves to die.
Jiang He is stunned. "It's a misunderstanding! There's no one in Senior Brother's hall except the two of us!"
Immortal Lord Chen Yao rubs his forehead. "Could it be that you're the beloved of the Three Realms?"
Jiang He: ?
*
Legend has it that Jiang Yuchun, the beloved of the Three Realms, had a face as lovely as a spring lotus and a heart of exquisite understanding. A thousand years ago, he sacrificed himself to the sword, gave up his soul, and brought an end to the age of chaos.
Jiang He, a senior-brother devotee who lies flat: I don't believe I'm the beloved of the Three Realms.
Who could have guessed that after Chen Yao, one person after another would come looking for him?
The Lord of Penglai Island points at Jiang He's hand. "Look, you have the same birthmark as him!"
Jiang He touches the mark on his palm. "Senior Brother said I got it from accidentally burning myself when I was little."
The leader of the demon race brings out a treasured portrait. "Look, you look exactly like him!"
Jiang He looks at the seal on the painting. "Your painting was done by my senior brother, wasn't it? He says everyone he paints has my face."
Immortal Lord Chen Yao simply takes a spirit sword from the deepest part of the treasure vault and puts it in Jiang He's hand. In an instant, the sword recognizes its master and rings out.
Chen Yao: "This is the sword Yuchun offered up his soul to. It has only ever recognized one master. Now do you believe me?"
Jiang He tells him sheepishly, "But when I was little, Senior Brother already had this sword recognize me as its master."
Chen Yao: ...
After everyone leaves, Jiang He curls up in his senior brother's arms, eating spirit fruit and chattering away. "I told them I'm not Jiang Yuchun. Why won't they believe me?"
His senior brother rubs his head. "It's all right. I'm here."
Jiang He closes his eyes, reassured, and soon falls asleep.
But where Jiang He cannot see, his usually gentle eldest senior brother looks toward the mountain gate, his gaze cold and sinister.
*
Lin Du will never forget that day.
A sea of blood surged beneath a blood-red setting sun. His junior brother drew his sword and killed himself before Lin Du, sacrificing himself to the sword. The hot, crimson blood splashed all over Lin Du.
He preserved his junior brother's body. He found a way to bring him back to life. He raised Jiang He all over again.
Lin Du lovingly strokes the hair at his beloved's temples, holding him close and gently touching Jiang He's forehead.
He was the one who found him first.
What does he care about all living beings? What does he care about fate?
Now, not even life and death will ever separate them.
Reading guide:
1. A green-tea, obsessive "gentleman" gong who would die without his junior brother x a frail, easygoing beauty shou who indulges his senior brother without limit. Both are hopeless romantics.
2. An unconventional fake death. In his previous life, the shou really was the beloved of the Three Realms, steadfast in his extraordinary devotion to saving all living beings. After he died willingly, the gong's old feelings burst into flames and he went completely mad.
3. The gong and shou are deeply in love with each other. The shou has a crowd of admirers, and I believe he deserves the respect and remembrance of the whole world.
4. To be continued. Blurb written on August 21, 2026.
Theme: Love should be mutual
