I and My Husband Sleep in a Coffin

Chapter 62 I'll wait for you to return

It was still the store with the old-fashioned decor.

Yi Yan was wearing plastic gloves and handling skeletons in the second-floor partitioned area. The odor of the liquid medicine was mixed with that of rotting meat. The girl next to him had her sleeves rolled up and washed the instruments at the sink.

There was an unhealed wound on the right side of Yi Yan's ever smiling face. It was a nasty and frightening cut that ran from the corner of his eye to his chin. It appeared to be slathered with a special medicine. Despite the fact that it was not bandaged, it healed swiftly.

Bai Yu looked at his face in surprise. He had no idea that the wound was Wen Fengjin’s work. He hadn't seen Yi Yan since Wen Fengjin walked out with Wang Xiaomie in his arms the other day.

Looking at the wound, Bai Yu couldn't help saying, "Your face..."

"Ah, yes." When Yi Yan saw him arrive, he smiled and laid down his work, removed his gloves, and replied nonchalantly, "It's simply a remembrance of an improper probing. It's a minor wound that will heal quickly."

"..." This is a minor wound?!

However, as a craftsman, Bai Yu was totally confident that Yi Yan could heal his wound without leaving any trace. He handed the little box over. "This is what Boss Wen asked that I send over. He stated that this is payment."

"Mn." Yi Yan took the box and opened it, his uncovered eye astonished, "This is truly...a generous remuneration," he said.

He shut the box and turned to the girl behind him, saying, "Take this box to the hidden cupboard, Xiao An, and make two cups of tea. I want to entertain this visitor."

The expressionless girl nodded, dried her hands, hurried over to grab the box, crouched down in front of the cabinet, opened the bottom cabinet to reveal a safe, and prepared to place the small box down.

That row of precious materials had been arranged at random, but the small box handed by Boss Wen had been placed in the safe below, and Bai Yu couldn't help but wonder what Boss Wen had taken out as recompense.

When he heard Yi Yan was going to entertain him, Bai Yu quickly motioned with his hand, "No need, no need, I'm just running an errand."

"Haha, are you afraid of me? Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you." Yi Yan smiled with a maturity that transcended time and the gentleness of growth. There were tiny wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, but they added a lot of approachability. "I'm also tired of being here. You arrived just in time to accompany me on a little rest. I'm not sure why, but your face looks quite familiar to me."

He placed his hand on Bai Yu's shoulder and led him downstairs to the living room very politely. Bai Yu found it impossible to resist such a gentle person, so he had to bite the bullet and sit down somewhat stiffly.

Yi Yan sat down and pushed the fruit bowl closer to him, clothed in a mandarin jacket.

"Little Friend, what's your name? Last time I saw you, I noticed you were highly interested in my materials. Don't tell me you're also a craftsman."

Bai Yu laughed stupidly, responding, "My name is Bai Yu. I am not a craftsman... I learned it by myself. My paternal grandfather was one, but he went missing later."

"Missing?" Yi Yan frowned slightly, "The circle of craftsmen is limited, and most of the famous ones know each other. If you tell me, I'll see if I've met your grandfather."

"Really?!"

Bai Yu was so excited that he was going to say something, but he stopped himself after opening his mouth.

He was not familiar with Yi Yan. Furthermore, Wang Xiaomie and Boss Wen were wary about approaching Yi Yan. What if the other party was a bad guy?

What should he do if Yi Yan intended to fish for information and then act?!

Before Bai Yu could finish his brain tonic[1], the man sitting across from him burst out laughing and exclaimed cheerfully, "Pfft! You're far too amusing, kid. Everything you think is written on your face."

"Are you worried about what I might do to you? Hahaha, don't be afraid; I won't hurt you." Yi Yan appeared to be both kidding and serious in his response: "My hands are covered in blood, but it is monster blood. I've never killed people. I never have and I never will."

Bai Yu's face was red from being seen through. He felt a little embarrassed to look Yi Yan in the eyes.

"...You have a particular hatred for monsters?"

"Hatred? Yes...you can say that." Yi Yan stopped smiling, "Those monsters are not human and should not be allowed to live among us. They will cause harm to the human race sooner or later. Besides, their strength is formidable. If they refuse to abide by human laws, how many people will pay with their lives as a result?"

"But there are also good monsters..." Bai Yu retorted quietly, remembering the umbrella Xiaomie had given him and the dumplings he had cooked; even Boss Wen, who appeared cruel, had saved his life.

"If there are good and bad humans in our world, then monsters must also have good and bad."

Yi Yan smiled and nodded, "What you stated also makes sense, but we can't tell the difference between good and bad monsters. Their very existence is a time bomb for the human race. Can you really live in peace if I bury a landmine in your house and promise you it won't explode?"

Bai Yu: "I..."

Yi Yan moved in close to Bai Yu and closely observed his expression, adding, "Monsters are dangerous, Bai Yu. This is something you must keep in mind at all times."

"Perhaps those monsters themselves also don’t realize it, maybe they don’t mean to, but once they go crazy, the kind of power they have is enough to destroy many happy families."

"Existences that violate the rules are unnecessary existences."

"Those who are not of my race will undoubtedly have different hearts[2]; there are no exceptions."

Bai Yu: "..."

Bai Yu: I want to refute but don't know how.

He was well aware that what Yi Yan said was incorrect, but he couldn't come up with any analogies or other explanations. Bai Yu rubbed his head, feeling even more uneasy.

And when Yi Yan noticed him feeling uneasy, he sat up straight with a sigh, his eyes and expression softening.

"I'm sorry; I said too much." Yi Yan softly apologized.

"...It's okay," Bai Yu said, shaking his head.

"This topic is far too serious... Let's move on to something else." Yi Yan smiled, "You said your surname is Bai, right. In that case, among the craftsmen I know, only Bai Cheng is the most suitable. Is it possible that he is your grandfather?"

Bai Yu, who had planned to slip away, suddenly locked his wide gaze on Yi Yan!

"Yes! Have you met him? Have you ever met my father, Bai He?!"

"You really are Teacher Bai Cheng's grandson."

Yi Yan's head shook slightly: "I am familiar with Teacher Bai Cheng, and I have studied beside him for a time. Your grandfather is an exceptional man with a talent for refining tools, and he has spent his entire life studying this area of work. I've learned so much from him that I can be called his half disciple..."

"Really?" Bai Yu was ecstatic, but Yi Yan’s next words doused him like a pail of cold water...

"He disappeared. I haven't seen him in 20 years, and as for your father, I’ve never heard Teacher Bai Cheng mention him," Yi Yan added.

"I, too, have been looking for him for years, but we often have to travel to remote locations to gather materials or fight hordes of creatures. Someone told me that a monster with never-before-seen power had been discovered in the location where he last appeared..."

"Maybe..."

Maybe he is no longer alive.

Bai Yu's brow was drenched in cold sweat. Despite the fact that he had been preparing for this for many years, hearing it pierced his heart.

All of his close relatives were gone.

He was the only one left.

A pair of young hands reached out and pressed on Bai Yu's knee-mounted hands.

Bai Yu looked up and saw it was Yi Yan.

"Don't worry; I’m just stating the possibility. Rest assured that I will not give up my search for Teacher Bai Cheng." Yi Yan's smile was very comforting, as if an elder was consoling the younger generation, giving a firm sense of security.

Bai Yu's expression relaxed. He pursed his lips and nodded.

They then discussed a variety of topics.

Yi Yan's knowledge was exceptional, whether it was about conversation style or tool refinement. After putting aside his prejudice against those monsters, he could effortlessly win someone's favor.

The same was true for Bai Yu.

They had already talked in great spirits until dusk by the time he reacted. It wasn't until Bai Yu's stomach growled in hunger that he realized it was late.

"I'm sorry for bothering you for so long." Bai Yu blushed as he rose up and apologized several times.

Yi Yan also rose up and looked at him with crescent eyes, full of tolerance as he shook his head: "It doesn't matter; I only discovered it now. By the way, Bai Yu. Since you want to enter this line right now and Teacher Bai Cheng isn't here, why don't you learn from me and become my disciple?"

"Ah?" Bai Yu was dumbstruck, opening his mouth wide. "This, this is not good."

All craftsmen aspired to pass on their skills to their own lineage, and it was even said that it was passed on to men but not to women. Even if Yi Yan was acting for the sake of his grandfather's honor, he couldn't simply agree to take him on as an apprentice?!

"Huh? Is it possible that you don't want to be my disciple?" Yi Yan frowned and appeared a bit sad. "I don't want to brag, but I am well-known in my circle. You're sure you don't want to?"

"No! I'm just thinking..." Bai Yu hurriedly explained, then expressed his reservations.

"As you can see, my real age is actually much older than my appearance," Yi Yan said indifferently after listening to Bai Yu. "but I don't have a wife and family by my side, and I believe it is difficult to have any heirs."

"And you, too, have no family and are the grandson of Teacher Bai Cheng, who once taught me... Isn't this the best of both worlds?"

Bai Yu was overcome with emotion. Yi Yan was certainly being modest when he said he was "a famous person in the circle." After all, with those valuable materials and the means he saw that day, it was no exaggeration to claim he was a 'leader.'

But he remained hesitant.

Yi Yan… Should I believe him after all is said and done?

At this point, he was hit by a brainwave and remembered what Wen Fengjin had said: "If he proposes something, remember to promise him."

F*ck me! Boss Wen is too awesome. How does he know Yi Yan wants me to be his disciple?

Bai Yu’s mind was stunned for a long time. Yi Yan put his hand on Bai Yu’s shoulder. Because of the height difference, he bent down and smiled slightly as he approached Bai Yu, and a few strands of hair that had fallen out of the braid dropped on his brow.

"Promise me, Bai Yu."

Bai Yu clenched his teeth and nodded firmly.

Yi Yan's smile became more genuine in an instant, fine lines narrowed from the corners of his eyes, and when the corners of his lips curled up, the entire person warmed up, like an empty oil lamp being lit, and the whole person and his surroundings got brighter.

"I'm very happy," Yi Yan said. "I'm really very happy."

Bai Yu was dazed by his smile and became a little bashful. Yi Yan walked him to the door as they chatted again.

Bai Yu was ready to turn around and leave when he felt a warm palm press down on his head and ruffle his short hair.

When he looked up, Yi Yan had already pulled his hand back, saying, "I'll wait for you to return, Bai Yu."

"......"

Bai Yu, who had gone far away, looked back at the little shop hidden right in the city center with a smile that he didn't even notice.

The next moment, he turned back and briskly walked away.

Footnotes:

[1] 脑补: An Internet buzzword, it usually refers to mentally supplementing certain plots and fantasizing about scenarios in comic books, novels, and reality that you wished would happen but did not.

[2] fēi wǒ zú lèi, qí xīn bì yì: Those who are not of our own clan must not be of the same mind as us. zú lèi can mean race or clan. Race obviously fits better in this context.

Translator:

So Yi Yan is gonna be Bai Yu’s shifu?!