Ch. 96 – Drinking Capacity

When Feng Ye entered the room, the four people who had entered ahead of him were already seated side by side at the dining table.

Although there were only two residents in this wooden house, there were four long benches occupying each side of the square table.

With the bearded man and the scarred man each sitting on one side and Fang Yang and Cao Zirui squeezing into another, the last remaining side was naturally reserved for Feng Ye and Hao Chen.

Before taking his seat, Feng Ye cast a cursory glance around the room. Although the house was small, it contained all of the necessities, such as beds, cooking utensils, and some other common household items. There were even embroidery needles and thread laying out, as well as a cloth tiger.

Feng Ye’s gaze lingered briefly on the cloth tiger.

“Come sit down! We just caught a rabbit today,” the scarred man called out to Feng Ye.

Feng Ye looked away and sat down at the table.

But before he could settle into his seat, Hao Chen unceremoniously squeezed in next to him, forcing him to move to the side.

Even though Feng Ye had given him enough space, Hao Chen completely ignored the ample space on his other side and pressed close to Feng Ye.

Despite carrying the fish all this way, Feng Ye still instinctively balked at anyone getting so close to him, and shifted a little further away.

Hao Chen, pushing his luck, scooted closer and closer to him.

This repeated several times.

The long bench was meant to be shared equally between two people, but Hao Chen was already seated in the middle, leaving Feng Ye with only one side of his buttocks resting on the bench.

If he moved any further, he would fall flat on his rear. Feng Ye finally gave up struggling and resigned himself to sitting close to Hao Chen.

Meanwhile, as the two of them shifted in their seats, the others at the table had already struck up a conversation.

The scarred man introduced himself first: “My name is Wang Wu. I’m a hunter from the mountains.”

Wang Wu then gestured to the bearded man on his left and said: “This is my good brother, Zhao Yi.”

Compared to Wang Wu’s beaming smile, Zhao Yi appeared somewhat indifferent. He had likely not been very willing to allow Feng Ye and the others inside his home, but Wang Wu had cut his refusal short. When Wang Wu introduced him, he simply nodded to everyone.

Once the two of them finished their introductions, it was Feng Ye’s turn to introduce his crew of four.

But he was currently occupied with his back-and-forth with Hao Chen, so Fang Yang stepped up to set an example. He introduced his party one by one, from the furthest away from him to the closest.

He only said their names, without explaining where they came from or what they were doing here. Because Fang Yang felt that even if he told these two hunters, they wouldn’t understand, since cultivation sects usually interacted very little with ordinary people.

But Wang Wu wasn’t satisfied with Fang Yang’s lack of explanation. His smile remained unchanged as he subtly probed for information: “I can see that the four of you possess an air of authority and an extraordinary bearing. You don’t seem like ordinary people.”

Fang Yang scratched his head sheepishly, and was about to say that they were just ordinary disciples of an immortal sect when a voice suddenly cut in.

“We brothers have only practiced martial arts for a short while, so we’re just mediocre, not much better than the average person. But Wang-xiong and Zhao-xiong seem to be quite skilled.”

Feng Ye gestured to the roasted rabbit on the table and smiled, saying: “This rabbit may look simple, but they’re actually incredibly difficult to catch. Once they really start to run, even a wolf might not be able to keep up. I see there are two more dead rabbits lying by the stove. To be able to catch three at once, Wang-xiaong and Zhao-xiong must have considerable martial arts skills.”

“Haha, hunting is all about experience. Properly set up the trap and bait, and the prey will fall right in. It’s not as complicated as you think. My brother and I are just physically strong, which can’t compare to the formal training and techniques of you four,” Wang Wu responded with a hearty laugh.

“An unconventional path is not necessarily inferior to orthodox martial arts. In the beginning, these so-called techniques were merely things that martial artists devised through their own contemplation. Wang-xiong, there’s no need to sell yourself short,” Feng Ye added.

Wang Wu chuckled again and dropped the subject.

He had already realized that Feng Ye was being evasive, so he decided to try a different approach to pry some information out of him: “By the way, what brings you four young men to Longqiu? This is a desolate wilderness teeming with wolves, tigers, and leopards; it’s not an ideal destination.”

Feng Ye replied with a smile: “We heard that there are ruins of an ancient city here, which made us very curious. Since we happened to be passing by Longqiu, we made a special trip to see them.”

Wang Wu’s eyes flickered briefly, and he replied: “Ancient city ruins, huh? That’s certainly true.”

“Oh? In that case, would Wang-xiong be so kind as to point the way? After a brief rest, we’ll head out and not trouble you any further,” said Feng Ye, raising his eyebrows.

“Hey, we met by fate, don’t speak of troubling us.”

Wang Wu waved his hand, then gestured outside: “As you can see from this mountain road, there’s absolutely no structure to it. After the rain, the dirt washes away as mud and the shape of the path changes. Since it’s your first time here, you’re bound to eventually get lost, so how about you just rest here for a while? This afternoon, when it’s not so hot, my brother and I will personally take you there.”

Faced with Wang Wu’s enthusiastic suggestion, Feng Ye thought for a moment, but didn’t refuse. He simply thanked the man: “Many thanks to Wang-xiong and Zhao-xiong.”

Seeing that the two had come to the end of their conversation, Fang Yang finally had a chance to chime in. He lamented to Wang Wu and Zhao Yi: “You really can’t judge a book by its cover, ah. I never imagined that Wang-xiong and Zhao-xiong would be such kind-hearted people. At first glance, you seemed a bit fierce, and I even thought you resembled bandits from a storybook.”

The lively dinner table fell silent in the wake of Fang Yang’s words.

Even the roasted rabbit, which was still piping hot after coming out of the pot, couldn’t alleviate the sudden temperature drop.

Wang Wu’s smile froze on his face, and Zhao Yi’s eyelid twitched, his right hand subconsciously going to his waist.

Cao Zirui glanced around, sensing that something was amiss.

Feng Ye’s gaze lingered on the long, narrow outlines at the waists of the two men. Judging by the length, they were probably daggers.

Hao Chen, on the other hand, calmly opened his fan and waved it.

Fang Yang was completely oblivious to the tremendous truth his words had inadvertently revealed, and he was equally oblivious to the strange atmosphere.

After speaking, he shifted his attention to the roasted rabbit on the table.

Although cultivators at Foundation Establishment stage were able to practice inedia, this rabbit really did smell delicious…..

Fang Yang swallowed.

“Ai, my brother and I have suffered a lot because of our appearances. When we went to the city to work as laborers in our early years, people thought we looked too fierce and refused to hire us.” After a brief tension, Wang Wu broke the silence around the dinner table.

His complexion returned to normal, warm and smiling, and he invited everyone: “We’ve been chatting so long that we forgot to eat. Come on, help yourselves.”

As he spoke, he personally tore off a rabbit leg and handed it to Fang Yang, hoping to stuff his mouth with it. 

Then he spoke again: “We didn’t expect to have guests today, so we only roasted this one rabbit. If it’s not enough, I’ll go roast another one right away.”

“No need,” said Feng Ye. “We’ve already eaten some dry rations on the way. Just a taste is enough. There’s no need for you to go to such trouble, Wang-xiong.”

“Oh, I see…..” Wang Wu feigned a regretful expression.

After saying this, he suddenly got up and fetched a jar of wine from the corner of the room. The jar was half a meter high, and looked quite heavy.

Although it wasn’t easy for Wang Wu to move it, he eventually managed. Such strength was not common in ordinary people.

At this sight, Feng Ye became more certain of his suspicions.

Wang Wu carried the jar to the table and broke off the mud seal, then smiled at everyone and said: “Just eating meat isn’t enough, it needs to be paired with wine to truly savor the flavor. Homemade rice wine can’t compare to the wine in the city. Please don’t be offended!”

As he spoke, he filled each of the bowls on the table to the brim, pouring such an unusually large amount that they nearly overflowed.

After pouring, Wang Wu sat back down and set an example for everyone by picking up his wine bowl: “I’ll drink first as a sign of respect!”

Having said this, he really did drink it all in one gulp.

When he finished, he turned the bowl upside down to show that not a single drop was left.

Fang Yang and Cao Zirui actually didn’t drink, but in the face of Wang Wu’s enthusiasm, as well as the fact that he had already finished his drink, they felt that it would be impolite to refuse.

Drinking was an essential part of becoming a man; it was something they would have to learn eventually. Thus, the two of them also picked up their wine bowls and began to drink in small sips.

Feng Ye picked up his bowl too. He briefly stared at the crystal-clear liquid, and only after confirming that it hadn’t been tampered with did he tilt his head back and drink it down.

Bang.

“Feng-xiong, please have more!”

The moment Feng Ye’s bowl clattered to the table, Wang Wu urged him to drink more.

Wang Wu poured himself another bowl, and also filled Feng Ye’s to the brim.

His intention to get him drunk couldn’t be clearer.

Whether that foolish boy named Fang Yang was truly a fool or merely putting on an act, he had actually laid their identities bare in one sentence.

But as he watched Fang Yang happily munch on a rabbit leg, Wang Wu leaned toward the conclusion that he was genuinely a fool.

Of the four people present, the most difficult one to deal with was probably the one named Feng Ye. After talking with him for so long, he had been unable to glean any useful information.

Feng Ye’s stated purpose for coming here, as well as the identities of this group, were probably not true at all.

Wang Wu had already realized that it would be difficult to get Feng Ye to talk, but…..

Men were most liable to open up in two situations: one was during pillow talk, and the other was after drinking.

He would get Feng Ye absolutely drunk, and then he would pour out everything he was holding back.

Although Wang Wu was also forced to drink during this process, he was extremely confident in his alcohol tolerance and didn’t believe that anyone could outdrink him.

Out of everyone at this table, it definitely wouldn’t be him who collapsed first.

However, his confidence was shattered merely half a shichen later.

And it wasn’t Feng Ye who shattered it, but Hao Chen.

After Wang Wu toasted Feng Ye three times, Hao Chen, who had been silent until now, suddenly joined the drinking party.

He had realized Wang Wu’s intention to get them drunk, and couldn’t help but pick up his fan and give it a flutter, feeling that an opportunity to showcase his charm had finally arrived.

Shielding one’s wife from drinking was practically a must-learn skill for any responsible man.

So Hao Chen snatched the wine bowl from Feng Ye’s hand, which had been refilled for the fourth time, and smiled slightly at the somewhat surprised Feng Ye: “You can’t hold your liquor. I’ll drink for you.”

Feng ‘can’t hold his liquor’ Ye: “ ……”

Hao Chen didn’t mind that Feng Ye had already used the wine bowl, and didn’t even sip from a different part of the rim. He simply drank all the wine in the bowl directly from where Feng Ye had drunk from.

This sudden disruption didn’t bother Wang Wu. He figured that with his enormous capacity for alcohol, he could easily get Hao Chen drunk and then start on Feng Ye again.

After drinking round after round, Wang Wu began to experience some pressure when the bowls numbered over a dozen. He was already slightly drunk, but this fellow named Hao Chen wasn’t even breathing heavily or red in the face. He seemed as if he could go a dozen more rounds without a problem.

Wang Wu’s eyes darted around, and he gave Zhao Yi next to him a meaningful look.

Zhao Yi nodded in understanding. He found a pretext to lift his bowl and propose a toast to Hao Chen, then took turns with Wang Wu plying him with drink.

They refused to believe that between the two of them, they couldn’t drink him under the table.

However, they had no choice but to believe it. Hao Chen accepted every one of their toasts, drinking every bowl Wang Wu and Zhao Yi poured him. Even when they refrained, he drank one bowl after another without stopping.

The roasted rabbit was long gone. Fang Yang and Cao Zirui stared in disbelief as Hao Chen repeatedly set down empty bowls, still holding their unfinished bowls of wine.

The dinner table had become a drinking battleground.

At long last, the wine jar was empty. Wang Wu had also reached his limit.

He stared at Hao Chen with a baffled expression. It truly defied belief; did this fellow have an entire ocean in his stomach?

He ended with a half-hearted compliment: “Hao-xiong, what great drinking capacity!”

Then he slumped over on the table.

Hao Chen finished the last bowl of wine in front of him, then turned to Feng Ye with a grin.

It was evident that he was seeking praise.

Feng Ye ignored him, staring at Hao Chen’s stomach with a head full of questions.

He shared the same idea as Wang Wu: was there an ocean inside Hao Chen’s belly?

The jar of wine weighed at least twenty catties, and most of it had ended up inside Hao Chen. Yet despite drinking so much, his belly was still flat. It was unknown where all of that wine had gone.

Feng Ye had seen Hao Chen’s true form in his dream, that Peng bird that blotted out the sky. Even if Hao Chen couldn’t drink up the sea, he could certainly drain a small river.

But that was his true form. How was the human version able to drink so much?

Feng Ye’s original form wasn’t small either, but his appetite and alcohol tolerance changed with his size. He could eat more in his dragon form, but as a human, he was no different from any ordinary person.

But that didn’t seem to be the case for the Kunpeng. Could it be that the structure of Hao Chen’s human form was different from ordinary people?

The more he thought about it, the more confused Feng Ye became. So, under Hao Chen’s bewildered gaze, he leaned down and pressed his ear against the other’s stomach.

Hao Chen stared down at Feng Ye lying in his lap, and asked in confusion: “What are you doing?”

Feng Ye first shushed him. Then, after listening for a moment, he replied: “I want to hear the sound of the sea.”

Hao Chen: “……”

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Chapter 95 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 97

Ch 28 – In Deep Trouble

Tau went looking for Yu Xi, wanting to get some materials for his figurine’s eyes. The door to Kersz and Yu Xi’s room wasn’t closed all the way, and he heard Kersz’s voice.

“Y-Yu Xi, don’t lick me, ah.”

Tau froze with his hand outstretched toward the door, then hugged his little dinosaur tighter.

After returning to his room, Tau couldn’t stop himself from turning around and glaring toward their door.

Sure enough, that madman Kersz was desperate to sell his body, and Yu Xi had gladly accepted.

The relationship between these two was incredibly messy, and something bad was bound to happen sooner or later.

How could he so easily get into an intimate relationship with someone as dangerous as Yu Xi? What if their relationship hit a snag and Yu Xi had a breakdown?

If Yu Xi were to try to drag humanity into death with him, would they be able to stop him?

Thinking of these things, Tau shook his head in disapproval at the actions of that dissolute space pirate Kersz.

Tau couldn’t sleep, because he hadn’t been able to put eyes on his little dinosaur yet.

He wanted a pair of eyes…..a pretty pair of eyes, preferably purple.

Tau poked the little dinosaur’s empty eye sockets a few times.

Were Yu Xi and Kersz finished?

Tau went out again, hugging his dinosaur. This time, he heard Yu Xi’s voice when he walked to their door.

“But you kept making that sound, like the meowing of a small kitten….”

Tau sighed. They weren’t finished.

He took the dinosaur back to his room.

Did Yu Xi perhaps have a problem with his aesthetic tastes? How could a kitten’s meow have anything to do with Kersz?

Tau had no choice but to return to his room.

He waited a little longer, thinking that this time, it should be fine.

But when he reached the door, he heard Kersz asking: “Give birth to robots? Why would I give birth to robots?”

Tau: ……

He glanced at the time. It had only been a few hours. How had they progressed to the point where they were discussing having children?

Furthermore, did Yu Xi have genetic material? And even if he did, he couldn’t combine it with Kersz’s, right? 

And what did they mean by ‘giving birth?’ Nowadays, humans were grown using machines. Human conception was illegal, ah.

Also, humans could not give birth to robots.

After lingering for a while at the door, Tau came to a conclusion – this must be a crazy, ridiculous little game between them.

Tau had seen far too many filthy things. Illegitimates like him occasionally received missions that required them to use their own bodies, so such things were not unusual to Tau.

But was Kersz really not afraid of developing health problems? Or did he have that much faith in the medical facilities of the ancient humans?

This space pirate was truly insane.

Tau returned to his room, where he cuddled his eye-less dinosaur until dawn.

He didn’t close the door, and rushed out the second he heard footsteps.

Upon laying eyes on Yu Xi, he raised up the dinosaur in his arms: “Do you have two purple eyeballs?”

“Huh? You finished it?” Yu Xi was rather surprised.

Tau nodded.

“Would you like to install a small interactive system in this little dinosaur?” Yu Xi asked.

Tau was stunned: “Is that possible? But its body is very fragile. Won’t it break easily?”

“You can apply some protective coating to it. The interactive system has a basic emotion module. Would you like that?” Yu Xi felt that Tau was exceptionally fond of this little toy.

Tau wasn’t sure if he wanted it or not: “But what if I die after installing the emotion module?”

“Even with an emotion module, it will still just be a pet. It won’t have the same profound emotions as humans.” Yu Xi felt that there was no need for Tau to worry about this.

“But what is profound, and what is superficial?” Tau felt that this was wrong. Feelings were feelings. How could there be a distinction between them?

Was the affection of a “pet” something that could be easily discarded?

“Profound affection is when your loved one understands you completely, including your good and bad qualities, and loves you regardless,” Yu Xi explained. “With superficial affection, the subject doesn’t understand you. Not your experiences, your suffering, or your joy.”

“They only like you because of the tiny bit of kindness you give them,” Yu Xi said. “You can’t be sure if they’ll still like you after they discover the real you.”

Kersz also overheard Yu Xi’s speech, and sighed as he straightened his clothes: “Aren’t your words a little too cold?”

“No, I’m speaking from experience,” Yu Xi said.

“Have you owned many pets?”

“I feel that I was kept as a pet by humans for a long time.” Yu Xi hadn’t expected that Tau would be so concerned over the feelings of a pet.

Clearly, Tau didn’t even care about the life or death of other humans.

After hearing Yu Xi’s words, Tau hugged his little dinosaur even tighter.

“With the emotion module, will it become like you one day?” he asked.

“No, that is just an artificial emotion system. You can think of it as your pet imitating you.” Yu Xi had undergone countless upgrades to become what he was. “Although it is incredibly close to reality, grief won’t cause it any physical problems.”

Tau: “So it would just be a lie.”

“You can think of it that way.” Yu Xi frowned. “But I don’t like using such a depressing word to describe it. Rather than a lie, I would say it’s a ‘fantasy.’”

Tau looked down at the dinosaur in his arms, then up at Yu Xi.

After a moment’s thought, he held the dinosaur out to Yu Xi with both hands: “Then please install an artificial emotion module in it. And purple eyes.”

“Okay. I’ll make the two of you look more like family.” Yu Xi took the dinosaur. “Have you named it?”

Tau shook his head. He didn’t know what to name it: “What did your ancient humans call this type of creature?”

Yu Xi: “Humans collectively referred to them as dinosaurs, or kǒnglóng.”

“It sounds so imposing. Then let’s call it ‘kōnglóng.’” Tau was very satisfied with this grand-sounding word.^[1]

Yu Xi: “…..Hehe.” He was still helpless against non-standard pronunciation.

Yu Xi went to assemble the protective casing and emotion module for Tau’s little dinosaur. Obviously, he would still need to modify the joints and muscular structure to make it look even cuter.

Kersz didn’t stick to Yu Xi. He was actually quite curious about Tau.

He didn’t understand why Tau had suddenly become enthralled with doing handicrafts.

Kersz asked him, but Tau didn’t feel that he was enthralled. It was just that he couldn’t do anything right now, such as transmitting intelligence, so he could only tinker with these little things.

“Then why not eat or drink instead of making things like that?” Kersz had also grown bored after recovering his health, so he started finding ways to amuse himself.

And his source of amusement was food.

He had never tasted any of this food before, and longed to try every single one of Yu Xi’s dishes.

Kersz was quite certain that Tau had never eaten proper food either. The Supreme Governor wouldn’t give his henchmen so many benefits.

Tau’s hobby was somewhat divorced from reality, and it seemed to be a sort of spiritual pursuit as well.

“Why are you thinking about food and drink?” Tau didn’t understand.

“Because those are a person’s most primal desires,” Kersz said. “Do you not have an appetite?”

Tau countered: “Isn’t lust also one of humanity’s most primal desires?”

“Of course it is~” Kersz agreed at once.

“You were exposed to lust much sooner than me,” Kersz said, looking Tau up and down. “Do you not feel it?”

“No.” When Tau engaged in such behavior, he was just completing a task.

“How can that be? You haven’t modified your flesh and blood body.” Kersz felt that it was impossible for Tau to be completely unaffected.

“I did experience a physical reaction, but it didn’t bring me pleasure.” Tau knew that it was just a normal human response. “I advise you not to mistake this fleeting pleasure for true love.”

Kersz: “Ah?”

Tau continued: “It is very deceptive. As I understand it, some people become addicted to this toxic pleasure.”

After venturing into space, humans rarely had sexual relations with each other anymore.

Because most people were not ‘compatible”

Compared to incompatible humans, customizable androids that could meet certain needs were more useful.

Human pregnancy was also illegal, so there was no need for humans to force themselves to have offspring with another human.

Human-on-human sexual relationships had become more of a peculiar “hobby.”

It was a desire to conquer that drove people to subdue a member of their own race.

Tau certainly found that to be a toxic pleasure.

“I didn’t feel pleasure, nor did I feel humiliated. But I think the lack of humiliation was because I don’t have much shame to begin with.” Tau looked at Kersz. “Ask yourself honestly, how did you feel when Yu Xi touched you?”

Kersz: “Very aroused.”

Tau: “Tell the truth.”

Kersz described it in more detail: “Even though I was aroused, my mind was pretty clear. I wanted him to continue, but I also felt that our relationship wasn’t at that point. I wanted him to stop, but I couldn’t bring myself to say the word ‘stop.’”

Tau: ……

Tau went quiet.

Kersz snuck a couple of glances at him. In consideration of their former friendship, he felt that he should show him a bit of concern: “Were you abused by those people?”

Tau: “Actually…..”

Kersz’s eyes widened.

“Actually, it’s those mentally-stressed people in high positions of power who prefer to be abused,” Tau said. “They always seem to enjoy finding a ‘master’ for themselves within a safe space.”

“As for those with sadistic tendencies, that group of people are a bit too extreme. Approaching them through lust is unreliable, because they really do cause deaths. Raising an Illegitimate is not a simple endeavor, and nobody would allow one in their hands to be scrapped so easily.”

“Your world is far more unhinged than that of a madman like me,” Kersz exclaimed.

Tau didn’t respond. He simply stared at Yu Xi’s door, waiting for the results.

Kersz’s curiosity was piqued again: “So, who have you been the master of?”

Tau remained silent.

Kersz: “Was there anyone you felt pity or tenderness for?”

“They have power and status. Why would I pity them?”

“Ha, you can see it when it’s not your father in question,” Kersz laughed.

Tau refused to speak.

Kersz attempted to strike up conversation again, but Tau ignored him.

Tau maintained this silence until Yu Xi brought out the little dinosaur, which had been fitted with an emotion module and a protective casing.

Tau’s eyes lit up, and he immediately straightened up and stretched out his hands to welcome his dinosaur.

Yu Xi handed over the small creature, whose expressions and facial features resembled those of a well-made cartoon character.

Most importantly, its eyes were a light purple just like Tau’s.

“Congratulations, you’re a father!” Yu Xi smiled and clapped, and then the entire room filled with cheers and applause.

Yu Xi had long since replaced the main system in this room with one more like that back on his planet.

Amidst the cheers, Tau hugged his dinosaur tightly.

He truly felt like he was a father.

He looked down at the dinosaur in his arms again. This was something he had painstakingly pasted together with pieces of paper.

Tau extended a finger, and the little dinosaur rubbed its head against it.

Tau felt as if he had received an electric shock.

The little dinosaur let out two “roars,” and Tau trembled helplessly. In the end, he looked to Yu Xi for help: “What does it mean?”

Kersz noticed that Yu Xi had changed into a white lab coat, and that upon hearing Tau’s words, he immediately pulled a pair of glasses from his pocket: “Come here, and I’ll tell you a few key points.”

Tau stiffly followed Yu Xi to the table.

“First, when it comes to holding a baby, you should ideally support its head, neck, and bottom. But considering that this one could run from the second it was born, you can just hold it however you like.” Yu Xi then pretentiously took out a piece of paper and a pen. “Then comes feeding. This is a creature hatched from an egg, so it doesn’t need breastmilk, but you must create food for it.”

Tau: “Create?”

“Yes, small food-shaped toys. If you really don’t have time, you can draw food on paper and cut it out. It will be able to eat it.”

Tau was shocked: “It’s really edible?”

“It can still taste the flavor.” Yu Xi smiled. “The more refined the product is, the more the child will like it. Don’t underestimate the technology of the ancient humans.”

Tau let out an exclamation of awe, and the dinosaur in his arms echoed him.

He stared wide-eyed at the dinosaur, and it wagged its tail at him.

Yu Xi tapped Tau’s head with his pen: “Listen carefully.”

Tau quickly sat up straight.

“Eating coarse food for too long can can cause it to have diarrhea,” Yu Xi added.

Tau was even more astonished: “It can get diarrhea?”

“Of course it can. The diarrhea will come out as bits of paper. Look at its bottom – those bits of paper will come out from there.” Yu Xi’s modifications to the dinosaur were very successful. “Healthy stool will look like a tiny crumpled ball of paper.”

Tau touched the dinosaur, utterly shocked.

“You can also make him some miniature clothes and shoes from time to time. Children like to look good.” At this point, Yu Xi lowered his head with a smile and asked the dinosaur if it liked pretty things.

The dinosaur nodded its big head, looking rather shy.

Yu Xi also reminded it that it wasn’t wearing clothes at the moment.

The dinosaur tried to cover its body with its short arms, but found that its forelimbs were far too short. Unable to cover itself, it could only surreptitiously tug part of Tau’s jacket over its body.

Tau looked completely dumbfounded.

Goodness! It really looked like a living thing. A living thing he had created himself!

He was really going to be a father!

What should a father do? The dinosaur currently had no clothes or food….that’s right! The dinosaur had nothing at all!

Tau jumped up with the dinosaur in his arms. He needed to quickly prepare food so that the dinosaur could have a full belly before he made its clothes.

Tau needed to get busy.

He asked Yu Xi for the food recipe, then took the paper and white glue back to his room.

“I still don’t get it.” Kersz crossed his arms and stared in the direction Tau had gone.

“I heard what the two of you were talking about,” Yu Xi said.

“Then why do you think he’s so obsessed with this little toy instead of food or physical pleasure?” Kersz asked in puzzlement.

Yu Xi had been pondering this question, and had even searched for references among the records of the ancient humans: “You weren’t interested in physical pleasure at the beginning either.”

“Because I was too focused on killing people. He’s obviously not as angry as I am.”

Yu Xi didn’t agree: “Perhaps you wished to use your rebellion to reveal your anger to everyone. Even if you couldn’t change the entire situation, you could still irk them, like a fishbone stuck in their throats.”

Kersz: “Why would people eat fish bones?”

“Oh, I forgot you’ve never choked on a fishbone.” Yu Xi realized that he hadn’t used the right analogy. “Or you could become a thorn stuck under their fingernails, unable to be ignored.”

Kersz considered this and decided that it was pretty accurate.

“In fact, many humans have a stronger reproductive desire under extreme conditions. It’s natural.”

People always hoped to pass on their genes as another form of “escape.”

But these desires seemed to belong to the future.

Both appetite and lust were forms of yearning for what was yet to come.

But these “Illegitimates” had no future at all.

What tomorrow would bring was not something they could dwell upon. Through repeated torment, their most primal desires as living beings had been forcibly snuffed out.

These “Illegitimates” were like rootless duckweed. They had no official identity, their biological parents had long since died, and they had nowhere to go.

Disobeying orders meant death.

Those early childhood education cartoons may be the “safe haven” Tau had found.

Tau was pursuing something unreal. His understanding had matured, but his preferences were deeply bound to those early childhood education cartoons.

Those animated films, which made it seem like the whole world was accommodating and guiding the viewer, contained a fatal attraction for Tau. And the act of making handicrafts posed no danger to him.

This was more like doing something to relieve boredom, but this “boredom” was particularly important for Tau.

All of this was absolutely safe for him.

And Tau had never felt absolutely safe before.

Thus, Tau became addicted. Like a child engrossed in playing house, he began to take care of his little dinosaur, creating food and clothes for it.

His feelings for the little dinosaur were real, but it was all a fantasy.

This, too, was a form of security.

“But his feelings for that thing really seem genuine.” Kersz grasped the key point.

Yu Xi hummed in acknowledgement: “Indeed. He might hope that the dinosaur’s feelings for him are also genuine.”

“Then why not get a real pet?”

“He doesn’t dare.” Yu Xi shrugged.

“From an outsider’s perspective, we humans are a bit too pathetic.” Kersz found it comical, but he couldn’t laugh.

“It’s hard to say what conditions would make your kind comfortable and at peace. I thought the ancient humans had finally found the answer, but then they still left.” Yu Xi didn’t understand either.

He had a clear understanding that both Tau and Kersz were in pain, but he couldn’t understand why the ancient humans, who were free from such pain, would still choose death.

Must every road have an end? Wasn’t that too pessimistic?

Kersz felt that his own behavior must also be incomprehensible to Tau, and that he must think that Kersz was blinded by simple, straightforward pleasures.

At this thought, Kersz felt that something wasn’t quite right.

Hadn’t Yu Xi just said that appetite and lust were part of a desire for a “future?”

Then did that mean Kersz wanted to have a future?

Hadn’t his lust toward Yu Xi just been caused by excessive touching?

Yu Xi was clearly a standard robot, yet he was more erotic than those androids that specialized in human desire.

Those androids were only capable of some straightforward functions. Yu Xi, however, was quite advanced, and he had a restrained, ascetic style.

Right now for example.

“What are you looking at?” Yu Xi noticed Kersz staring at his neck.

“You’re wearing a turtleneck underneath,” Kersz said.

“Yes, it’s very comfortable.” Yu Xi tugged at his collar. “Do you want one?”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.” Kersz shook his head.

What a pro, ah.

The blueish line on Yu Xi’s lower lip ran down his chin and across his Adam’s apple before finally disappearing beneath his turtleneck.

Wasn’t this designed to entice people into exploring below, following the dim, pulsing light?”

Indeed, this sophisticated, subtle eroticism was the real culprit behind arousing his lust.

It wasn’t that he hoped for a future with Yu Xi.

How could he possibly have such expectations?

“What are you tsking about?” Yu Xi asked.

“I was tsking at myself. As I recall, you said that your energy is running out soon, but you’re a robot who’s existed since before the ancient humans left the planet. You lived through the extinction of the ancient humans, and even to the birth of new humans. Your concept of time is definitely different from ours,” Kersz said.

Yu Xi nodded: “It is.”

“So I figure you won’t completely shut down until tens of thousands of years after I’m dead.” If that was the case, then how could Kersz possibly fantasize about a future with Yu Xi? Their futures were not on the same plane of existence.

Yu Xi reassured Kersz: “No, I’m burning through my energy very quickly. It’s possible that you will outlive me.”

Kersz: …..

Kersz suddenly took a few steps toward Yu Xi, but managed to control himself and suppress his agitation.

Yu Xi’s concept of time was indeed different from that of Kersz and others: “I could just keel over and die at any moment.” After all, three hundred years would pass in the blink of an eye.

Kersz froze.

He stared at Yu Xi, feeling his desire drain away again.

All of a sudden, it all felt so meaningless.

---

[1] The way Tau pronounces this makes it sound like “impractical dragon.” ⮐

---

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Chapter 27 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 29

Ch. 95 – Longqiu

Unlike the flat plains, this vast and lush mountain forest occupied uneven terrain. Undulating mountains and ancient trees of various heights stood side by side, their crowns forming winding, rippling waves. Though there were no turbulent waves like on the coast, the forest itself was a sea of trees, swaying in the wind.

Due to the rugged terrain and inconvenient roads, few people lived in these parts.

At the highest point of this mountain forest, one couldn’t see any signs of human habitation for many li around.

But today, something was different. On a forest path frequented by herb gatherers, four people were walking in pairs.

Hao Chen unfolded his fan, using it to shield his eyes as he peered up at the scorching sun, which was so bright that a moment’s glance was enough to blur one’s sight. After only a couple of seconds, he lowered his head and blinked his eyes.

Once the spots in his eyes subsided a bit, he couldn’t help but ask Feng Ye beside him: “How much longer do we have to walk?”

Hearing this, Feng Ye looked at the map in his hand and thought for a moment. The map was hand-drawn, with messy and primitive lines, lacking any aesthetic appeal. Its only redeeming quality was the clarity of the markings, which allowed one to roughly determine the route.

Feng Ye had gone to great lengths to obtain it, emptying his already meager savings to get an illiterate villager to painstakingly produce it for him.

This was an absolute necessity, for only upon truly entering the territory of Longqiu did they realize just how desolate the place was. So desolate, in fact, that aside from their small group, there wasn’t another living soul in sight.

And with nobody around, there was naturally no one to ask for directions. Without this map, they would be like headless flies, wandering aimlessly through the forest.

The four of them had set off from Lingxiao Sword Sect and headed to the nearest dock to take a ship to Longqiu. Given how desolate Longqiu was, there were obviously no direct routes running through it. 

They disembarked at another dock and then traveled by various means of transportation, including horse-drawn carriages, oxcarts, and even donkey carts, not missing a single mode of travel.

As members of a cultivation sect, by all rights, they shouldn’t have fallen so low as to travel by donkey cart. It was completely beneath the dignity of immortals.

But of the four, two appeared to be low in power and incapable of flight, and of the other two, one was a novice prone to crashing when flying on his own, so carrying someone else as well would be quite the gamble. The remaining one had extensive flight experience, but was still recovering from serious injuries and should avoid using spiritual power casually.

Thus, the four of them had no choice but to keep company with various livestock and hitch rides with traveling merchants or farmers heading to the market.

After three days of such travel, they finally arrived in Longqiu today.

They had passed through the last village at dawn, travelling deep into the heart of Longqiu. The sun was currently high in the sky, and it was the hottest part of the day.

Feng Ye studied the map for a long time, but he really couldn’t estimate how far they were from their destination on this hand-drawn map with arbitrary proportions.

But how far could it be? At most, they would traverse the entirety of Longqiu in two or three days. 

Two or three days of walking was nothing to a cultivator.

Although traveling beneath such a scorching sun was indeed somewhat grueling, cultivators had their own methods for regulating their temperature. Fang Yang and Cao Zirui, who were walking ahead, were full of energy. They were chatting and laughing, walking with a skip in their step, without a drop of sweat on their foreheads. They would occasionally leave Feng Ye and Hao Chen behind and rush off together to look at the scenery along the roadside.

Feng Ye himself also felt fine, but he had only been walking for half a day and wasn’t in need of rest.

Hao Chen was the only one with a listless look about him. In just one morning, he had asked “how much farther?” more than five times.

And the intervals between these questions were becoming shorter and shorter.

Feng Ye thought that this fish was just being lazy again, so he simply folded the map and put it in his sleeve, giving a perfunctory reply: “Almost there, almost there.”

Before Hao Chen’s eyes could completely light up, Feng Ye added: “We’ll definitely arrive within two more days.”

The look in Hao Chen’s eyes instantly turned to resentment, and he stared at Feng Ye so intently that Feng Ye couldn’t help but shiver even under the sun.

Feng Ye felt that Hao Chen was being unreasonable. They had only walked for half a day, so how could he be tired? This fish wasn’t some pampered young lady who had never left home.

Although he didn’t express his true feelings, his expression betrayed him.

Hao Chen couldn’t help but justify himself: “It’s too dry here…..”

Although Lingxiao Sword Sect was not located by the sea, it was situated near the coastal plains, so the air was humid. In spring and autumn, even without rain, it was difficult to keep quilts dry all year round.

Longqiu, however, was located in the northwest inland. As they ventured further into it, they subsequently moved farther away from the coast, and the air became increasingly dry.

Ordinary fish could not survive without water. And although a big fish like Hao Chen could move freely on the shore, at heart, he was still a water-loving creature.

He hated the dry air and scorching sunlight.

The sun wasn’t visible for most of the year in the North Sea, and when it was, its rays were gentle and warm, inducing someone to sleep while basking in it.

Hao Chen felt no discomfort in the early morning when the sun had not yet fully risen, but as it moved across the sky, he felt the moisture leaving him at an accelerating rate. If he stayed in the sun for too much longer, he might very well become a dried fish.

Although it may sound like an exaggeration, his desire to never again toil under such intense sunlight was genuine.

Instead of allowing himself to become a dried and salted fish on the shore, he should sink into the deep sea, quietly waiting amongst the cool currents for the hottest part of the day to pass.

When he heard Hao Chen’s reasoning, Feng Ye didn’t understand. So what if it was dry?

But then his eyes lit up in sudden realization.

This fish was struggling to acclimatize.

It seemed Hao Chen wasn’t being deliberately lazy. It was simply his nature as a fish to hate being active in such sweltering heat.

Although Feng Ye himself could be considered a seafood product, and he was fond of water, he wasn’t as dependent upon it as Hao Chen.

Seeing Hao Chen’s expression, as if he wanted nothing more than to lie down and do nothing, it seemed that only a timely rain would be able to alleviate his situation.

But such thinking was useless. Even as a dragon, Feng Ye was unable to call down rain.

In most myths and legends, summoning clouds and rain was one of the abilities of the dragon race.

This wasn’t entirely untrue; the dragon residing in the Eastern Sea of the heavenly realm could indeed control the clouds and rain. However, Feng Ye was a yinglong cultivated from a jiao, which was somewhat different from a naturally-born dragon.

His power was derived primarily from resentful energy. Specifically, the black mist he had brought back from the Emberless Horizon. While he did possess the ability to manipulate water, it was by no means his strong suit.

He could manipulate the water currents in the deep sea, but conjuring rain out of thin air in such a dry environment was beyond his abilities.

Since the power of a dragon was unable to bring rain, Feng Ye was out of ideas. He asked Hao Chen: “What do you suggest we do?”

Hao Chen took on a pensive look. Inwardly, he was delighted. At last, Feng Ye had fallen into his trap.

His listless expression was half genuine and half for show as he waited for Feng Ye to ask and let him reveal his long-held scheme.

“Carry me on your back,” was Hao Chen’s answer after feigning deep consideration.

If he was unable to ride Yinglong in his original form, riding his human form as a compromise would still be a satisfying experience.

Feng Ye’s resulting expression was one of complete disdain, as if to say, “keep dreaming.”

“Ai.” Hao Chen sighed, taking the hint. With no further unreasonable demands, he walked in laborious silence under the scorching sun.

Walking beside Hao Chen, Feng Ye was initially firm that carrying the fish was pure fantasy.

But seeing how Hao Chen was swaying unsteadily, like a drunkard unable to maintain his balance, Feng Ye’s resolve wavered.

After walking a few more steps, Hao Chen’s complexion grew increasingly weak, almost to the point that it made one think he was terminally ill and on the verge of death.

Feng Ye’s resolve wavered even more.

Hao Chen stumbled, nearly hitting his head on a rock. But he regained his balance at the last second and managed to stand up, giving Feng Ye a brave smile that said, “I’m fine.”

Feng Ye: …..

The two youths leading the way finally realized they were moving too fast, leaving their companions, who walked slower than the elderly, far behind.

They retraced their steps, only to find Feng Ye moving slowly forward with Hao Chen on his back.

With his plan a success, Hao Chen’s listless expression instantly vanished. He chattered incessantly in Feng Ye’s ear, admiring the scenery from the dragon’s back while complaining about the way Feng Ye was carrying him.

One moment, he would complain that Feng Ye was holding his knees too tightly, making them itchy, and the next he complained that Feng Ye wasn’t holding them tightly enough and he was about to slide off his back.

The “ # ” on Feng Ye’s forehead grew larger and larger, covering it almost completely.

Fang Yang ran back to their side with Cao Zirui, asking Feng Ye: “What’s wrong with Hao-dage?”

They thought that Hao Chen must be injured. What other reason would Feng Ye have for carrying him on his back? 

Before Hao Chen could explain, Feng Ye spoke up in a dark tone: “His legs are broken.”

Although this was clear mockery, Hao Chen didn’t speak up in his defense. He knew he had become a little too complacent, and that if he pushed his luck any further, the dragon might just throw him off his back.

So Hao Chen remained silent and tacitly accepted Feng Ye’s slander, wrapping his arms tightly around the other’s neck to prevent him from throwing him off. 

“How did he suddenly break his legs?” Fang Yang muttered, somewhat baffled.

But neither Feng Ye nor Hao Chen seemed inclined to answer, leaving Fang Yang with his doubts.

Meanwhile, Cao Zirui inspected Hao Chen’s legs and realized that they weren’t broken at all. He thought about why Feng Ye would carry Hao Chen on his back, and why he would say such a thing.

He even came up with a reasonable explanation: the two of them were flirting.

He still hadn’t forgotten the scene in the Floating Island Secret Realm where, upon waking up, he seemed to have seen the two of them kissing.

After the initial shock, he had gradually accepted it as fact.

The two of them being men didn’t seem to matter much. The path of cultivation was destined to be long and lonely, and whether one’s chosen companion was male or female was irrelevant.

Out of everyone in the group, only Fang Yang was oblivious to what was going on.

But oblivious as he may be, he still realized that carrying someone on his back must be exhausting for Useless Shixiong. So he suggested to Feng Ye: “Shixiong, we spotted smoke rising from the woods when we were walking ahead. There seem to be people nearby. Shall we go over and rest our feet for a while?”

Rest their feet…..although Hao Chen lived up to the “heavy” character in his name, Feng Ye felt that he could still go on.

He didn’t need to rest, but he did need to ask for directions.

“Living Soil is hidden in the mountains and marshes of Longqiu” was just a general statement, but in fact, there were more detailed accounts in the records.

There was a human saying that went: ‘Circumstances change as time passes, and even seas can transform into fields.’ Time could render the same land entirely unrecognizable.

Longqiu had not always been so rugged and sparsely-populated.

Legend had it that this place was once the site of the royal city of an ancient kingdom. However, as a new dynasty arose, Longqiu was struck by an earthquake that completely destroyed the old site of the royal city.

Plains were compressed by the seismic activity, causing mountains to rise up. Buildings that were originally distributed across the earth sank beneath it, with only a few scattered places still exposed above the ground.

Ling Yun had discovered the Living Soil near one of these ruins.

Therefore, the ruins were Feng Ye’s destination.

During the untold centuries these ruins lay submerged beneath the earth, the exposed sections had become largely overgrown with vegetation and blended seamlessly into their surroundings. A cursory glance from above would reveal nothing. Only by actually traversing the terrain would one realize that there was actually an ancient city buried beneath.

For this reason, Feng Ye didn’t let Fang Yang fly ahead on his sword to find the way, as it would be a waste of effort and Fang Yang might even get lost.

Compared to searching blindly on their own, asking the local residents for directions was clearly the wiser choice.

Feng Ye had previously inquired with a farmer who frequently went to the mountains to collect herbs, and he did indeed know where these ruins were.

Feng Ye had studied the map repeatedly, and although it was fairly accurate at first, the deeper they went into Longqiu, the more the map deviated from the actual route. He felt that if he continued to follow this map, he might end up straying far from his destination.

For this reason, he needed to find another person to correct his course. If there were indeed people ahead, those who lived in these mountains and forests would certainly be more familiar with the situation in Longqiu than that herb gatherer.

With this in mind, Feng Ye said: “Lead the way.”

Fang Yang readily accepted, and walked ahead with Cao Zirui.

Their destination seemed close, but it was actually quite a ways away, and it took the four of them another half a shichen before they finally arrived at the source of the smoke.

Young people possessed abundant energy, and both Fang Yang and Cao Zirui looked at ease. Hao Chen was also relaxed, and was even at leisure to take out a fan and wave it for Feng Ye while lying on his back.

Feng Ye had already realized that the fish was putting on an act, but he was also aware that the dry environment did have some effect on Hao Chen.

So in the end, he didn’t abandon Hao Chen, but carried him on his back for a short distance out of the goodness of his heart.

But that was the end of it. When they reached the wooden house from which the smoke was rising, Feng Ye immediately released his grip.

Hao Chen took the opportunity to climb down from his back, deciding to quit while he was ahead.

The wooden house was neither large nor small, and had been divided into two rooms.

But apart from this one house, the landscape was just like everywhere else in Longqiu, a vast stretch of mountains and forests.

A trail of smoke drifted alone in the sky, seeming a little desolate so far from human civilization.

It was unknown what sort of person would choose to live alone deep in the mountains.

Just as Feng Ye was thinking, he saw the homeowner push open the house’s wooden door. He was a muscular, middle-aged man with a full beard, and sized up Feng Ye and his companions with an unfriendly expression.

The four of them had been making a bit of a racket as they walked, so it was only natural for the homeowner to notice.

There were also sounds coming from inside the house, indicating that there was someone else living there.

Sure enough, shortly after the bearded man came out, another man emerged. He was also tall and burly, with a scar on his face.

“Why are you here?” asked the first bearded man.

“Oh, we came to get directions, and also to see if it’s convenient for us to rest here,” Fang Yang responded politely.

“No –” the man’s refusal was cut short.

Feng Ye glanced down to where the scarred man had grabbed his companion’s hand behind his back, but kept silent.

“No problem!” The scarred man managed to smooth things over, displaying a level of enthusiasm that didn’t match his appearance as he greeted the four of them: “Come in and sit down, good timing matters more than being early. We’ve cooked a meal, all wild game from the mountains. Would you like to have some?”

“We couldn’t possibly…..” Fang Yang sounded a little embarrassed, but the way he stepped forward betrayed his true feelings.

He was indeed very tempted by the delicious aroma of food wafting out of the house.

When Fang Yang went inside, Cao Zirui naturally followed suit.

Only Feng Ye and Hao Chen remained standing at the door.

The scarred man glanced at them, saying with a smile: “Aren’t you coming in?”

Feng Ye finally stepped forward, Hao Chen following close on his heels.

Seeing this, the two men went inside to prepare the meal.

Feng Ye and Hao Chen walked slowly. The distance to the house was only ten meters, but it felt more like ten li as they whispered to each other on the way.

“Does Fellow Daoist Feng Ye think there is a problem with these two people?” Hao Chen asked in a low voice.

Although Feng Ye hadn’t said a word, Hao Chen keenly sensed his suspicion.

Feng Ye chuckled softly, saying in a similarly low voice: “Two middle-aged men living together in the middle of the mountains? It’s obvious that something is going on.”

Those who lived in the mountains were either hunters or hermits who wished to escape from the world.

And judging from their uneducated appearances, these two were definitely not hermits.

That left one possibility: hunters.

However, hunters didn’t usually set up permanent residences in the mountains, and would typically just set up a small hut to rest in if their hunting went too late to return home.

The two men seemed to have lived here for years, and the house was fully-furnished, indicating that it wasn’t just somewhere for them to rest.

Their intentions were highly questionable. Longqiu’s soil was fertile due to the presence of the Living Soil, and farmers here were wealthier than in other areas.

Even if they lacked farmland, these two men were strong and healthy, and working for a landowner would be more lucrative for them than hunting.

But these two men had done the opposite, hiding themselves in the mountains. Feng Ye didn’t believe that there was nothing wrong with them.

Hao Chen’s gut also told him that something was off about those two, but he still couldn’t keep himself from arguing for the sake of arguing: “Are you sure?”

Feng Ye glanced at him and asked: “If you had the choice, would you be willing to live in a deep, remote mountain forest with another man who’s unrelated to you?”

Humans were social creatures, and most would never choose to live on such a remote mountain.

It would be understandable if someone lived there with a wife, since they at least wouldn’t be too lonely. But staring at a man who wasn’t related to you by blood all day long…..wouldn’t you feel suffocated?

Upon hearing this, Hao Chen immediately envisioned himself and Feng Ye building a small log house together in the woods, living happily without only each other as company. A smile spread across his face, leaving Feng Ye baffled. Then he took on a serious expression, answering solemnly as if reciting a marriage vow: “I am willing.”

Feng Ye: “…..”

He felt deeply that communicating with Hao Chen was impossible. Thus, he stopped dawdling outside with Hao Chen and strode forward, heading inside on his own.

---

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Chapter 94 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 96

The two of them stayed awake all night, and didn’t get up until the sun was shining brightly the next day.

When he awoke, Chu Jiubian first took a moment to assess his surroundings, making sure that he was lying still with his hands resting properly on his chest, instead of touching anything they shouldn’t. Only then did he slowly open his eyes.

What entered his vision were walls in grey and white.

He gradually levered himself up and turned to find that Qin Xiao was still asleep. He was lying perfectly straight, just as he had been before falling asleep the previous night. It didn’t seem as if he had moved at all.

“System, perform a scan,” Chu Jiubian said internally.

[Host, this System has detected that the patient’s wound has not reopened, and that it is in the process of healing.]

Chu Jiubian’s heart settled. With daily dressing changes over the next couple of days, Qin Xiao should be able to attend the palace banquet on the 30th without a problem.

Abruptly, he recalled the passage he had read in the original novel —

[Ning-wang Qin Xiao led his army to defeat a border kingdom in the Western Regions and was seriously injured. It took him three months to recover.]

Qin Xiao had still suffered a serious injury that was even more severe than in the novel, but thanks to surgery, advanced medical technology, and medicine, he was recovering faster than before.

But it took one hundred days to recover completely from such an injury, and the wound was also internal. Even though he could get out of bed, he still needed a longer period of rest in order to make a full recovery.

It was likely that he wouldn’t fully recover until after the New Year, but before the Imperial Examinations.

Chu Jiubian carefully examined Qin Xiao’s face. His complexion was better than it had been yesterday; he wasn’t as pale, and his lips had a little more color to them.

The black stubble on his chin was very noticeable.

Chu Jiubian touched his own face and could barely feel any. It was so subtle that one wouldn’t be able to see it unless they looked closely.

Qin Xiao was tall, but why did his beard grow so fast too?

In a moment of inexplicable impulse, Chu Jiubian reached out and gingerly touched the man’s chin.

The short stubble was a bit stiff, tickling his fingertips.

The man’s prominent Adam’s apple suddenly bobbed, and Chu Jiubian realized the impropriety of his actions, immediately withdrawing his hand.

Looking up, he found that the man’s eyes were closed, as if he had yet to awaken.

But Chu Jiubian knew at a glance that he was awake. Perhaps he was keeping his eyes closed in order to avoid an awkward situation for both of them.

Chu Jiubian felt that the room was a little too hot.

He got to his knees and, just as he had done the previous night, crawled across the man’s body to leave the bed.

He put on his boots, and seeing that Qin Xiao’s eyes were still closed, stood up and went to the outer room.

After grabbing his cloak, he headed outside to relieve himself.

A cold wall of air rushed in as he pushed open the door.

He realized that the wind had stopped, and that a blanket of snow had fallen over the courtyard without him noticing.

Qin Xiao had already met with Qin Chaoyang and Bai Lihong the day before, so two more palace servants had been assigned to the courtyard to attend to him.

The snow on the ground was currently only about one centimeter thick, but the snow on the rooftops was several times deeper. The palace staff had clearly shoveled the footpaths once, but the snow was still coming down.

Chu Jiubian summoned the palace servants and instructed them to help Qin Xiao get up and dress. Only then did he wrap his cloak around himself and step out onto the covered walkway, leaving a trail of footprints in the pristine snow.

There were actually places to relieve oneself inside the palace. Separated by partitions, they were similar to modern restrooms.

But since Qin Xiao was still inside, Chu Jiubian felt more at ease going out.

Meanwhile, at the city gates…..

An Wuji ordered his men to open the gates when the time arrived.

Huguang-wang and Dongjiang-wang had been unable to enter the city the previous night. Given the frigid weather, they couldn’t just sleep outdoors, so they had traveled to the nearest village and found lodging in a few residences.

Knowing that these people were members of the royal family, as well as vassal kings, the villagers were terrified. They offered them the best houses to stay in, slaughtered chickens, and prepared the most sumptuous of meals.

The two vassal kings secretly looked down on such things, but for the sake of their reputations, they behaved in a relatively friendly manner.

They even left some money for the villagers before departing in the morning. It was just a small amount of loose change that slipped through their fingers, not even enough to cover a single meal, yet the villagers were incredibly grateful.

Before they even arrived in the capital, their reputation for kindness and benevolence had already spread.

The city gates had been open for half an hour. Many shops had already opened on the bustling main street, and numerous people were out and about when the two vassal kings finally entered the city.

The common people quickly moved aside, and just as they were about to kneel in reverence, An Wuji and his Imperial Guards arrived.

It was well-known that An Wuji was half a member of the Qin family, so wherever he went, the common people were never required to kneel before him.

Thus, everyone simply hid inside the shops or stood behind their stalls rather than kneel.

Even when the procession of vassal kings entered the capital, An Wuji raised his hand to signal that they need not prostrate themselves.

The snow on the ground was several inches deep. Kneeling would certainly soak one’s robes and trousers, so it was best to not freeze themselves.

An Wuji stepped forward a few paces and led his troops to greet the entourage.

The two groups stopped upon approach, and An Wuji, in full view of the commoners, declared loudly: “This subordinate welcomes your Royal Highnesses. It was past the time to open the city gates last night, and in adherence to my duties, I was unable to allow Your Highnesses to enter the city.”

“However, this subordinate is truly impressed by Your Highnesses’ magnanimity, and the fact that you were willing to abide by the regulations of the Imperial City just like the ordinary citizens.”

With just a few words, he was able to corner both Bai Liyue and Bai Lihe.

If they revealed displeasure, it would demonstrate a lack of tolerance and a refusal to abide by the same rules as the commoners, making them no different from those powerful figures who abused their power and bullied the weak.

But if they were magnanimous and didn’t drag the matter out, they wouldn’t be able to rid themselves of the resentment in their hearts.

Neither of them were pushovers, and they certainly wouldn’t be so easily manipulated by An Wuji.

A few muffled coughs came from Dongjiang-wang’s carriage, and an attendant immediately said: “Your Highness, please drink some water to soothe your throat. Once we arrive at the palace, we will have an Imperial Physician examine you.”

His only response was two coughs.

The attendant looked very anxious, and there was a hint of anger to his expression.

He took a few steps forward and glowered at An Wuji, saying: “Commander An, please cease your cold comforts. Our lords have traveled a long distance, and barely stopped to rest in order to see His Majesty as soon as possible. They had hoped to arrive before the city gates closed yesterday, but unfortunately, we were a little late. We had nowhere to stay last night in such frigid weather, and His Highness even caught a cold. This morning, he even…..”

“I’m alright!” A slightly hoarse male voice sounded from the sedan chair. It was Dongjiang-wang.

“This lord’s attendant is inexperienced and lacks etiquette. Hoping Commander An will not take offense.” Dongjiang-wang did not show himself, and coughed a few more times inside the sedan chair before speaking again, “Please lead the way, Commander An. This lord also wishes to rest and recuperate quickly before seeing His Majesty.”

Dongjiang-wang avoided blaming An Wuji explicitly, but his words implied that the other man was cold and unsympathetic.

Having traveled a long distance, this vassal king wanted to meet the new emperor as soon as possible, but was unfortunately unable to make it there before the city gates closed. And in order to avoid trampling over the regulations, he was forced to search for a place to stay the night, which resulted in him catching ill.

Although An Wuji was only doing his duty, when taking the special circumstances into consideration, it wouldn’t have hurt for him to be a bit more flexible.

At present, his actions seemed somewhat rigid and unsympathetic.

Even the locals felt that An Wuji’s actions were a bit problematic. Those two were vassal kings, after all. They were the Emperor’s uncles, and if they were allowed to enter through the city gates, the common people wouldn’t think there was anything wrong with it.

This was the nature of the common people. They naturally harbored reverence and fear toward the powerful and privileged, instinctively elevating those who were already in positions of power even higher while neglecting their own rights in the process.

Even if they didn’t know who these powerful figures were, and understood that they would never share their power and wealth with them, they still catered to them in such a way.

This was something that escaped their self-awareness.

An Wuji’s mind might not be on par with Qin Xiao’s or Chu Jiubian’s, but he didn’t hold this position simply because of his friendship with Qin Xiao. He genuinely possessed the necessary abilities to fulfill the role.

Among the military officers, he was also a man of superior strategy and intelligence.

Therefore, he fully understood Dongjiang-wang’s intentions at this moment. He donned a tense expression, saying: “It is entirely this subordinate’s fault that His Highness has fallen ill. Had this subordinate known earlier, he would have been more flexible and granted His Highness this privilege that does not extend to the common people.”

The word “privilege” was deliberately emphasized.

These common people, who had become accustomed to the higher classes possessing and using special privileges, seemed to awaken to the reality of the situation.

Yes, ah. By doing what he did, Commander An was ensuring that the powerful and wealthy abided by the same rules as ordinary citizens. This demonstrated his respect for the common people. How could they possibly think that Commander An had done anything wrong?

“What is Commander An saying?” Huguang-wang’s voice sounded from the other carriage. “This lord has never sought out any special privileges. Didn’t we wait for the gates to open before entering the city like everyone else?”

At this point in the confrontation, neither side had gained any advantage.

Even Huguang-wang felt that if this discussion continued, they would be unable to out-argue Commander An.

This man was a military officer, yet he possessed such eloquence and intelligence.

Bai Liyue’s appreciation and desire for such talents grew even stronger.

He composed himself and lifted the curtain to look at An Wuji, saying in a gentler tone: “Please lead the way, Commander An.”

Observing the expressions of the surrounding common people, An Wuji realized that not many of them had been misled. Thus, he didn’t argue further, and simply said: “This way, Your Highnesses.”

He escorted the two of them to their respective residences and entrusted them to the care of others, then prepared to return to the palace.

But Bai Liyue climbed out of his carriage and stopped him, walking up to him with a smile: “I have long heard that Commander An is remarkably accomplished for someone so young. Meeting him now, I see that he truly possesses extraordinary charisma.”

An Wuji’s expression remained unchanged. He said with a bow: “Your Highness is too kind. You are the one with great talent and extraordinary charisma.”

Bai Liyue laughed, then reached out and patted him on the shoulder, saying: “This lord hasn’t been back to the capital in a long time. Are there any good places to visit in the city?”

“Does Your Highness wish to find a restaurant?”

Since these vassal kings would be going outside the city the next day for fasting and ritual observance, it would be understandable if they wished to eat and drink something today.

Bai Liyue: “Indeed, do you have any recommendations?”

“There is a restaurant belonging to His Majesty on Splendid Plaza. The food and drink there is excellent. Your Highness might want to give it a try.” An Wuji never forgot to drum up business for the Emperor.

Then Bai Liyue said: “I wonder if Commander An has any free time tonight to share a drink with this lord? I feel an instant connection with you, and I think we are very compatible.”

An Wuji had long heard that Bai Liyue possessed many talented subordinates, and that he also enjoyed recruiting various talents.

This person was clearly extending an olive branch, hoping to befriend him.

If Chu Jiubian were in his shoes, he would immediately agree, then see what benefits the other party had to offer and use the opportunity to gather some intelligence.

But An Wuji knew that although he was fairly intelligent, he was definitely no match for Huguang-wang. Therefore, he politely declined the invitation, saying that he had other matters to attend to, and set off straight for the Imperial Palace.

Bai Liyue stood in place, letting out a long sigh as he gazed after that retreating figure.

What a pity.

If a talent could not be used for his own purposes, it was better to destroy them rather than let others benefit from them.

*

*

Inside Yangxin Hall.

When Chu Jiubian returned from relieving himself outside, Qin Xiao had gotten out of bed.

Two wash basins had already been placed side by side in the room, along with buckets for changing out the water, and all of the necessary items, such as soap and willow twigs for brushing their teeth.

Palace maids were pouring hot water into the wash basins.

Chu Jiubian unfastened his cloak and hung it on the rack by the door, then looked up and met Qin Xiao’s eyes.

The two gazed at each other in silence.

The palace maids knew that neither of them preferred being waited on, so they quietly withdrew after placing the items down.

The door closed, leaving only the two men in the room.

Chu Jiubian stepped forward and stopped two paces from Qin Xiao.

“Are you cold?” Qin Xiao asked.

“No.”

Snow had fallen onto his hair, melting into water as soon as he entered the house.

A few strands of hair clung to Chu Jiubian’s face. Qin Xiao’s fingertips twitched, but Chu Jiubian had already raised his hand to smooth them away.

Qin Xiao rubbed his fingertips together, smiling silently.

Chu Jiubian had stopped concealing things from Qin Xiao and was no longer hesitant to reveal his supernatural abilities, so he directly took out a toothbrush and toothpaste from his spatial storage in full view of him.

Of course, just to be on the safe side, Chu Jiubian had transferred the toothpaste to a different container, and the toothbrush he brought out had a wooden handle.

Holding a willow branch, Qin Xiao turned his head to look at him and said: “That thing looks quite useful.”

Before he even spoke, Chu Jiubian had already bought a set of toiletries from the System Mall, including a razor.

Thus, the moment he finished speaking, Chu Jiubian handed him a brand new set of dental hygiene items.

Qin Xiao was taken aback. “I didn’t mean for you to do that,” he said.

Having said this, he still reached out and accepted the toothbrush and toothpaste, asking: “Did you conjure up all of these?”

“En.” Chu Jiubian couldn’t possibly explain the System Mall and his storage space to him, so he just gave a vague response.

Following his example, Qin Xiao put some toothpaste on his toothbrush and stuck it in his mouth.

The refreshing taste of lemon and mint instantly reminded him of that rainy night, when the same taste had been on the young man’s lips.

Fresh and sweet. Soft.

His expression shifted minutely, and he lowered his eyes to glance over himself. His robes were loose and flowing, and there was nothing unusual to be seen.

It was early in the morning, the room was hot, and he had been sharing a bed with Chu Jiubian all night. Qin Xiao felt that he was dangerously close to having an inappropriate reaction.

After brushing his teeth, Chu Jiubian squeezed some shaving foam onto his face.

The young man naturally had a somewhat distant and aloof appearance, but after covering his face in soft, fluffy white foam, his features were softened, making him look softer and more adorable.

Qin Xiao found everything about him novel. He was about to ask what that substance was when Chu Jiubian turned to face him and said in a cool voice: “Don’t speak yet.”

Qin Xiao swallowed back his words.

Chu Jiubian raised his hand and squeezed some shaving foam around his lips as well.

Since the shaving foam couldn’t be transferred to another container, Chu Jiubian didn’t give the bottle to Qin Xiao, but instead put it back into his storage space. 

He would buy some later that came in a ceramic jar.

“This is for shaving. It softens the stubble,” Chu Jiubian explained.

Qin Xiao nodded and didn’t ask further questions.

Chu Jiubian was aware of why he was giving Qin Xiao these things, and why he was explaining them.

He wanted to share things with Qin Xiao.

But he deliberately avoided thinking too deeply about it, maintaining an unusually calm demeanor.

He calmly accepted the subtle change in his relationship with Qin Xiao, but while he didn’t reject it, he also didn’t plan to do anything about it.

After waiting for a little while, Chu Jiubian took out a razor and a small mirror, and carefully began to shave his stubble.

Qin Xiao observed from beside him, and only spoke once he was finished shaving: “This mirror is nice. Can they be manufactured?”

“They can.” After washing his face, Chu Jiubian applied some lotion. “But we need to manufacture glass first.”

“Glass?”

Chu Jiubian smiled. He took out a new razor, then looked up at Qin Xiao and said: “Don’t move.”

“En.”

Chu Jiubian reached up and, supporting the man’s neck with one hand, began to carefully shave his beard with the other.

Qin Xiao looked down slightly, his gaze lingering on the young man’s exquisite, flawless face. Their eyes met unexpectedly, but Chu Jiubian casually looked away, avoiding any further “entanglement” with him.

As he wiped the last bit of shaving foam away, Chu Jiubian’s fingers rested on the man’s Adam’s apple, which bobbed beneath his fingertips.

Chu Jiubian withdrew his hand, and Qin Xiao washed his face in silence.

Not long after, the palace servants entered and cleared everything away, but Qin Xiao kept the toiletries on the table.

About half an hour later, there was more commotion outside. Breakfast had been delivered – but by Bai Lihong and An Wuji rather than the palace servants.

An Wuji had returned to the palace after getting the two vassal kings settled in, heading directly for Yangxin Hall.

He hadn’t been in the palace the day before and was unaware that Qin Xiao had woken up, so he went to the main hall.

His plan was to discuss the matter of the two vassal kings with Hong Fu or Qin Chaoyang, and go over whether he had said anything inappropriate at the city gates.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he entered the main hall, Bai Lihong scurried out and nearly collided with his legs.

Upon inquiring, he learned that Qin Xiao had actually regained consciousness the day before.

An Wuji immediately breathed a sigh of relief, and the invisible pressure that had been weighing on him for the past few days melted away.

He followed along upon learning that Bai Lihong was going to see his uncle, and as they reached the entrance to the western courtyard, he casually took the food trays from the servants’ hands.

Once he placed the trays down on the table, he turned to find that Bai Lihong had already moved closer to the bed.

Qin Xiao was sitting upright. Chu Jiubian reached out and picked the child up, then placed him on the bed. He even took off his shoes as he arranged Bai Lihong next to Qin Xiao.

“Thank you, Xiansheng,” Bai Lihong said sweetly. He then turned and carefully hugged Qin Xiao’s arm, tilting his chubby little face up to look at him. “Jiujiu, are you feeling better?”

“Much better,” said Qin Xiao. “You didn’t cry last night, did you?”

“Of course not,” Bai Lihong said proudly. “I wanted to, but I held it back.”

Jiujiu had been healed by Xiansheng, so he hadn’t cried at all.

Qin Xiao let out a soft chuckle.

Chu Jiubian smiled as he washed his hands.

An Wuji swept his gaze over the three of them, thinking to himself, This looks like a happy, harmonious family of three. Although His Lordship and the Young Master had no children of their own, having a well-behaved child like the young Emperor was no different from having a biological child.

“Jiujiu, are you going to eat in bed?” Bai Lihong didn’t forget that his uncle hadn’t eaten yet.

Qin Xiao just looked at Chu Jiubian.

He had been standing up for a while, and had even gone through some exercises. It was only a short while ago that he had sat down again.

Chu Jiubian actually wanted him to eat at the table, if for no other reason than his own disdain for eating in bed, but moving up and down was difficult for someone in such a state.

Figuring that the bedding could be changed out later, he said: “Just eat in bed.”

With great perceptiveness, An Wuji picked up the small bed table and set it on the bed, then placed the food on it.

Chu Jiubian assisted in bringing Qin Xiao one of the cups of water, then turned to go eat at the main table.

Qin Xiao looked at the second teacup, then asked An Wuji: “Is this yours?”

An Wuji had just poured water for everyone, including himself, so this cup must be his.

An Wuji glanced at it: “Yes.”

Qin Xiao then pushed the cup toward him: “You take it.”

“My Lord seems to look down on me,” An Wuji said casually, taking the cup back. “Even the Young Master didn’t look down on me.”

Qin Xiao hesitated, then looked up at him and asked: “What do you mean?”

Chu Jiubian’s hand froze midway through picking up some food with his chopsticks.

Bai Lihong blinked his bright, clear eyes, looking from one person to the other.

An Wuji walked to the window and sat down on the couch with his cup of water, saying: “When we first met, the Young Master even drank water from my water flask.”

Qin Xiao turned his head to look at Chu Jiubian, and found him eating his meal as if completely unaffected.

“When did this happen?” Qin Xiao asked.

His tone was mild, but An Wuji still detected a subtle strangeness to it. Realizing belatedly that he had misspoken, he took a sip from his cup.

Sensing the other man’s gaze on him, Chu Jiubian glanced up.

Their eyes met.

Chu Jiubian’s lips curved, and he said with a half-smile: “You nearly strangled me to death back then. I would have died without any water.”

Qin Xiao’s expression shifted as he recalled when they first met, his jaw tensing.

A long silence descended.

Chu Jiubian let out a light snort and resumed eating.

How dare he even ask? Wasn’t it Qin Xiao himself who had throttled him back then?

But Chu Jiubian wasn’t angry. The situation was different at that time; it would have been perfectly understandable if Qin Xiao had killed him.

However, there was one matter that caused Chu Jiubian’s mind to wander.

Qin Xiao had previously drunk from Chu Jiubian’s teacup, and even used the handkerchief he had wiped his hands with…..

Only now was Chu Jiubian able to confirm that it wasn’t because Qin Xiao was unrefined or lacking a sense of hygiene.

He didn’t treat everyone the same way – he wouldn’t even share a cup of water with An Wuji, his very close friend and subordinate.

The atmosphere in the room was a little strange.

Not daring to linger, An Wuji quickly composed himself and recounted everything that had happened this morning and the previous night. 

“There is nothing wrong with your actions,” said Qin Xiao. “Spread the word that His Majesty is deducting three months’ salary from you. This should appease Dongjiang-wang. Then have Hong Fu bestow some rewards on the two of them, and the matter should be settled.”

“As for their invitation to go drinking, it is good that you declined. You might not be able to handle them and end up falling into a trap.”

An Wuji was naturally aware of this, and nodded in agreement.

With the vassal kings arriving in the capital, city defense was of paramount importance. This kept An Wuji very busy, and he was unable to stay for long.

With nothing further to report, he stood up and took his leave.

Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao finished their meals and had someone clear the tables.

A desk was placed on the low platform by the window, where Chu Jiubian and Bai Lihong sat opposite each other, children’s writing materials and official memorials spread out between them.

Qin Xiao sat on the bed with a low table placed in front of him, upon which lay an even thicker stack of memorials.

As the New Year approached, memorials and holiday greetings of all kinds were pouring in in overwhelming numbers.

Fortunately, Bai Lihong was able to approve these types of documents himself, and would only show them to his uncle or the Grand Tutor if he couldn’t understand them or was unsure.

Chu Jiubian then took out the student exam papers and read through them one by one.

If he happened across a good one, he would take it to Qin Xiao and show him.

He avoided specifically looking for Lu Yao’s exam paper. If Lu Yao’s answers were mediocre, then he would have to spend more time instructing him, but if he did well, Chu Jiubian might become dissatisfied with everyone else’s exam papers after reading his.

The snow had stopped falling outside, and the servants were bustling about as they cleared the walkways. Inside, the underfloor heating was working well, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere.

The three of them sat there quietly, each doing their own thing.

The two vassal kings naturally made their way to Yangxin Hall, but since Bai Lihong was “slightly ill with a cold” and was unable to meet with them, they could only accept their rewards and go back to their residences.

As evening approached, the other four vassal kings finally arrived at the capital – before the city gates were closed.

By the time they arrived, Huguang-wang and Dongjiang-wang’s reputations for their “benevolence,” having spent the night in villagers’ homes and rewarding them with a “large sum” of money, had spread throughout the streets. 

Dingbei-wang Bai Liyu closed his eyes inside his carriage and let out a light chuckle, paying these words no heed.

The other three vassal kings also pretended not to have heard.

Situ Zhaoling and Situ Zhaoyao were sitting in their own carriage, following behind that of their parents.

Situ Zhaoling quietly lifted the curtain and peeked outside to see the street bustling with people and stalls. Everywhere she looked, there were red walls and dark-tiled roofs with upturned eaves, a scene that was completely different from what could be found in Nanjiang.

Everything seemed so fresh and novel.

Situ Zhaoyao lifted the curtain on the other side and exclaimed “Wow!” at the sight of some tanghulu skewers.

The carriage traveled along a side street before arriving on the busy and prosperous main thoroughfare.

This wide street divided the city into the eastern and western districts. The eastern commoners’ district was lively, but lacked the prosperity of the western side.

And along the western side of the road were numerous restaurants, brothels, and various other shops, all housed in either two or even three-story buildings.

Situ Zhaoling observed all of this with great interest. As they passed by a restaurant, she suddenly felt a strange sensation and looked up to see a figure in pink by a second-story window.

He was a handsome man with long, slightly curly hair and fox-like eyes that slanted upward at the corners, smiling as he looked over.

It was Wang Qichen!

Situ Zhaoling’s eyes lit up. But rather than greeting him, she simply regarded him with surprise and delight.

Wang Qichen opened his fan to conceal the smile at the corners of his lips, then gave her a slow wink.

Only once the carriage carried them out of sight did Situ Zhaoling lower the curtain, sit back in her seat, and excitedly tap her feet on the floor.

“A-Jie?” Situ Zhaoyao tilted his head and looked at her. “Did you see a friend?”

His sister always got so excited and happy when she was about to go out with a close friend, but this was the capital city. They had never been here before, so how could she possibly know anyone here?

“A-Di,” Situ Zhaoling said with a smile, “After we pay our respects at the palace, come out for a stroll with me.”

Her family was unaware that she also owned a shop in the capital, and her little brother was no exception.

She would go later to take a look at the shop in person. Her little brother was in for a shock.

Of course, she would be able to see Wang Qichen there as well.

Although she had met Wang Qichen many times in the Divine Realm, for some reason, she was incredibly excited to meet him in person.

News had spread that the young Emperor had caught a cold, but Nanjiang-wang and the others were still required to go through the formalities of visiting the palace.

After all, they were going to the temple tomorrow, and greeting him only when they attended the palace banquet would be a serious breach of etiquette.

And all of them wanted to meet the three-year-old Emperor.

As for Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian, the news they received stated that the two were still in Yangxin Hall, and there had been no further information. It seemed that Qin Xiao had still not recovered.

Some people were even saying that Qin Xiao was critically ill and on death’s doorstep, and that even a godly incarnation like Chu Jiubian was unable to save him.

They had also learned the reason for Qin Xiao’s injury: one of his most trusted deputies had betrayed him by shooting him in the back, nearly killing him on the spot. It was a miracle that Qin Xiao had survived long enough to make it back to the capital.

As for why the other party had betrayed Qin Xiao, there was no specific information available. They only knew that even after being subjected to heavy torture, that person had yet to utter a single word.

Naturally, this news had been deliberately spread by Qin Xiao himself in order to make those working in the shadows lower their guard.

Nanjiang-wang Bai Lihao entered the palace along with the four other vassal kings, bringing his wife and children with him.

They didn’t see the Emperor outside Yangxin Hall, and after lingering for a while to demonstrate their respect, they took their leave.

Eunuch Xiao Yuzi, who served Bai Lihong, personally led the contingent of vassal kings back outside the palace, remaining close to Bai Lihao the entire way.

Once outside the palace, everyone boarded their respective carriages.

Bai Lihao and his wife, Situ Anli, also boarded theirs.

Including the one carrying the Situ siblings, five carriages in total gradually made their way from the palace to their respective residences.

Upon reaching the main street, Situ Zhaoyao got out and hurried to his parents’ carriage, where he told them that he wanted to go shopping with his sister and would return later.

The brother and sister were both intelligent and precocious, and of noble birth. They also possessed deadly weapons and venemous gu to protect them, so they were naturally quite safe. 

Therefore, the two parents were quite at ease and allowed them to go amuse themselves, only warning them not to stay out too late and not to drink alcohol.

After agreeing, Situ Zhaoyao returned to his sister. Rather than making a turn with the other carriages, they proceeded straight ahead toward the silk workshop in the western market.

Meanwhile, Bai Lihao and Situ Anli returned directly to their residence in the capital.

Upon arriving in the main courtyard and confirming that everyone around belonged to their family, Bai Lihao procured a piece of paper from his sleeve.

Written in a sharp, bold hand, the letter read: We suspect that Cheng Shuo is under the control of gu, and hope that the Nanjiang royal family will assist in identifying them. A generous reward will be granted.

Also included was the location where Cheng Shuo was being held. The letter was signed by Chu Jiubian.

“A letter from Grand Tutor Chu?” Situ Anli’s brow furrowed.

Bai Lihao nodded. Xiao Yuzi had secretly handed him the letter, and he hadn’t let on that anything was out of the ordinary the entire way back.

They knew who Cheng Shuo was; he was the deputy general who had injured Qin Xiao.

Previously, they had discussed in private how Cheng Shuo’s sudden betrayal was, if not induced by coercion or bribery, most likely caused by external manipulation.

It seemed that Chu Jiubian had the same theory in mind.

But why would Chu Jiubian trust them? Shouldn’t they be the first names on the suspect list?

Or perhaps…..the other party was simply testing them?

“Husband, we should go.” Situ Anli took Bai Lihao’s hand. The little green snake poked its head out of her hair, flicking its tongue.

Bai Lihao nodded: “Let’s wait until later tonight.”

---

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Chapter 72 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 74

Ch 27 – Companionship for the Lonely

Curtis held Yu Xi firmly and didn’t let go. Yu Xi wanted to return to Kersz’s embrace, but Curtis had no intention of giving Yu Xi back.

This kid really liked children. He had originally been holding Yu Xi in his right arm, but then it began to tremble. 

Just when Yu Xi thought Curtis was going to let him go, he switched to holding him with his left arm instead.

His left arm also began to tremble shortly after, so Curtis tried using both hands, but he wasn’t able to hold on for long that way either. Finally, he asked Yu Xi if he wanted to sit on his shoulders.

“I’m afraid of heights.” Yu Xi felt that this human needed to get some exercise.

Curtis wanted to buy a baby carrier, but Kersz pulled Yu Xi back into his arms and didn’t give him the chance.

After securing Yu Xi in his embrace again, Kersz heard a very small sigh.

He glanced down at Yu Xi, who wriggled in his arms, adjusting his position until he found the most comfortable way to lay down.

Yu Xi looked very relaxed.

As Kersz spoke to Curtis with a smile on his face, he would occasionally tickle the child. Yu Xi tried to dodge his pestering hands at first, but when leaning away and light warning smacks were ineffective, he realized that Kersz was getting a sick pleasure out of this.

When Kersz reached out again, Yu Xi grabbed his fingers. But he didn’t shove Kersz’s hand away, because he knew that if he did, it would only come back and tickle him again.

Yu Xi clamped Kersz’s hand tightly in his arms.

Kersz: ……

“Are you sick in the head?” Tau asked Kersz in a whisper.

He noticed that Kersz’s ears were a little red.

Tau recalled that Kersz had never been prone to blushing before. Faced with his current appearance, Tau felt goosebumps rising on his skin.

Kersz looked at Tau with a smile: “You finally noticed.”

Tau remained silent.

Kersz moved his fingers slightly again, and Yu Xi quickly grabbed them.

This robot was really amusing.

Kersz laughed out loud.

Curtis looked on with envy: “You two have such a good father-son relationship.”

No, that was not an accurate description of their relationship.

Tau worried that Curtis, this fool, would attempt to replicate this interaction with the Supreme Governor.

“Perhaps you and your father just don’t have enough intimate contact.” Kersz gave him a beaming smile.

Tau’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Curtis was already an idiot, and Kersz was digging another hole for him.

Fortunately, Curtis wasn’t drunk this time and didn’t immediately call his father to act like a spoiled child. He just gave a wry smile and waved his hand dismissively.

Curtis asked Kersz if he had arranged for accommodations, and if he wanted to stay at his place.

Kersz declined the invitation.

Curtis was indeed a fool, but if their relationship developed too quickly, the Supreme Governor might grow suspicious. It was better to proceed gradually.

When the three of them returned to their lodgings, Yu Xi assumed his adult form. “How can a fool like him gain access to that big white dog system?”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Kersz rushed up and hugged him.

He nuzzled Yu Xi’s cheek, and Yu Xi could feel that his breathing had become heavier.

“Are you alright?” Yu Xi asked.

“I’m fine~” Kersz was fully blushing.

Yu Xi stared at Kersz for a long moment, then came to a sudden realization: “Do you have a strong need for control?”

Kersz smiled and asked in return: “Why do you say that?”

“You seem to really like holding me. Or rather, you seem to really like holding my small self. Is it because I look more harmless?” 

“You’re not harmless. If you were angry enough, you could wipe out the entirety of human civilization.” Kersz felt that Yu Xi’s analysis was incorrect. “You’re more dangerous than any of the people in power here.”

Yu Xi thought for a moment: “But you think I’m easier to control than they are.”

“To put it another way,” Kersz corrected, “You’re less likely than them to hurt me.”

“But it would be easy for me to kill you.”

“But you won’t.” Kersz shrugged. “Just like you said, you could hurt me easily and I wouldn’t be able to resist, no matter what you wanted to do.”

“I know I’m pathetic. Please have mercy on me and don’t ask any more questions.” Kersz pouted, looking very pitiful. “If you insist that I admit it, then even though you’re strong enough to kill me, you’re so honest that I feel perfectly safe.”

“I never really had a good life. Look at my former friend.” Kersz caught Tau as he passed by and pushed him toward Yu Xi. “I once thought of him as a close friend, but he was sent by the Supreme Governor and never actually opened his heart to me.”

“Given my status and situation, compared to others, I only feel secure when I’m with you.” Kersz released Tau, who regarded him with a frown.

For the past few days, Tau had been unable to access the StarNet on his datapad, and had therefore been unable to send his father any messages.

Tau felt that Yu Xi’s vigilance toward him was unnecessary, because Yu Xi was terrifyingly powerful. He was also worried that he would fly into a fit of rage and attack the Supreme Governor.

Nobody here was capable of stopping Yu Xi.

Tau felt that his mission was being sidelined by Yu Xi’s monstrous strength, and that his only option now was to cooperate with him.

In the past, Tau lived every second of his life for the missions. He needed to constantly accept and complete missions, and if one day he failed, death was the only fate that awaited him.

This was the case for all Illegitimates. He wasn’t special.

But now, he found himself having to think about other things, because his mission had been interrupted.

He lay in wait at Yu Xi’s side, looking for a way to either kill him or get him to work for the Supreme Governor.

Just that necklace around Yu Xi’s neck would be enough to take everyone out.

Tau felt helpless, as if he had been forcibly released from a cramped space.

He had a constant desire to act, but was acutely aware that nothing he did would be of any use.

“Go ahead and finish your work.” Yu Xi’s blue eyes flared slightly, and Tau’s half-finished dinosaur figurine appeared in his hand.

Tau: …..

It seemed that Yu Xi had a multitude of spatial compression devices on him.

Tau took the dinosaur, as well as the craft materials Yu Xi handed him.

Tau’s lips pressed into a thin line. He glanced down at the half-finished product in his arms, then back up at Yu Xi.

After looking back and forth several times, Tau was satisfied and left with his little figurine clutched in his hand.

They had picked a three-bedroom suite with two living rooms. Tau went into one of them, then came out again.

“Can I stay here?” Tau asked, pointing toward the room he had just entered.

“Of course you can.” Yu Xi nodded.

Tau pursed his lips again, then clutched his figurine and went back inside.

Yu Xi stared at Tau’s door in puzzlement.

“Was he smiling just now?” he asked Kersz.

“I think so.” Kersz felt that Tau was pursing his lips to hide a smile, especially since he widened his eyes at the same time in a way that made them sparkle.

“Is he very happy? But I’ve kidnapped him.” Yu Xi didn’t understand.

“Maybe he’s happy to be kidnapped.” He couldn’t do anything anymore, couldn’t accomplish any missions, which allowed him to finally relax.

It was like having freedom forced upon him.

“He doesn’t need to be accountable to anyone anymore.”

Yu Xi nodded in apparent understanding, then noticed Kersz touching his hand again: “What are you doing?”

“I’m feeling the temperature of this powerful and ferocious robot~” Kersz said.

“I’m not ferocious.” Yu Xi had never killed anyone.

“I know. And it’s precisely because I know that I’m so greedy.” Kersz pulled Yu Xi’s hand to his chest. “I like holding you. And you like being held by me, right?”

Yu Xi’s pupils dilated slightly.

“Do you want to touch more?” Kersz asked.

Yu Xi: “You’re tempting me.”

Kersz: “That’s right~ So, are you tempted?”

Of course Yu Xi was tempted. He dragged Kerz into a bedroom, and without speaking a word, got to work.

He liked Kersz’s powerful physique. While Yu Xi had previously been concerned about human “personal space,” now that Kersz had given up those rights, Yu Xi couldn’t be held accountable.

Kersz was a little anxious at the realization that he had become somewhat dependent on Yu Xi.

Perhaps it was similar to Tau’s situation. Yu Xi was powerful beyond comprehension, and his presence had become a kind of safe haven for him.

And the things that Yu Xi wanted…..were so simple.

Yu Xi’s personality had not yet fully matured, and all he wanted was some form of companionship.

No, perhaps it wasn’t quite so simple.

Kersz himself didn’t open up to others easily…..but he and Yu Xi had become friends.

Fortunately, this space pirate wasn’t an antisocial bastard who wanted to drag everyone down with him, so perhaps he wasn’t such a bad friend.

“Hey!” Kersz’s eyes suddenly widened. “What are you doing?!”

“Taking a taste,” Yu Xi said, holding Kersz’s arm.

“Did you bite me just now?” Kersz asked him.

“Yes, I felt very strange.” Yu Xi nodded, saying seriously, “When I touched you, I felt that you were especially cute, but then I thought of the things you do behind my back and also found you somewhat hateful.”

Kersz blinked.

“Then I had an inexplicable craving. I wanted to chew you up and swallow you whole, but you would die if I did that, and I don’t want you to die.”

“So I took a bite.” Yu Xi didn’t bite very hard. There wasn’t even a bite mark.

Kersz swallowed hard. “How do I taste?”

“Like meat.” Having said this, Yu Xi felt that the description was too vague. “Very, very tasty meat. If humans were food, you would definitely be the most delicious dish.”

Kersz: “…..Thank you for the compliment.”

Yu Xi smacked his lips: “Can I taste some more?”

“Taste?” Kersz’s voice trembled slightly. Did Yu Xi even realize how lewd his words were?

This behavior had gone far beyond what was permissible. Logically, Kersz should stop him immediately, but he didn’t say a word.

In the end, Yu Xi touched Kersz’s entire upper body. Yu Xi felt that he was very sensible, and didn’t touch certain parts of his body that should not be touched casually. 

Furthermore, considering the specific connotations of lip contact, Yu Xi avoided touching Kersz’s mouth.

He just touched everywhere else.

Yu Xi thought that Kersz was exceptionally good and generous, and felt that he had become much more tolerant of Kersz’s petty schemes.

And as for Kersz…..

Kersz couldn’t sleep. He looked at Yu Xi sleeping soundly beside him and didn’t understand how he was able to doze off.

Just now, Kersz had felt like his mind was about to explode. Yu Xi’s enthusiasm almost led him to believe that he had developed the desire to explore matters of love and romance.

He had thought that they were about to enter a messier, more intimate relationship.

Yet in the end, Yu Xi stopped once he had “tasted” enough and simply rolled over and lay down next to Kersz. He looked blissfully happy, and said that this was the luckiest day of his life, that he had never touched a human like this before.

He also solemnly thanked Kersz for his generosity, then fell asleep with a radiant expression on his face.

Kersz stared at Yu Xi’s sleeping face for a long time.

Then, with a sigh, he got up and went to the bathroom. He had a minor problem of his own to solve.

He had gotten too excited. His relationship with Yu Xi was getting better and better, and Kersz was stimulated by the intimacy.

Kersz wanted to find a way to ensure that his and Yu Xi’s relationship would always be unique, and that no matter how many humans Yu Xi abducted in the future, the special nature of their relationship would remain unchanged.

“I really have lost my mind a bit.” Kersz smacked his head.

Was he truly craving a sexual relationship?

Or did he just want to keep someone who treated him well?

“Mmm……ahh!!” In the middle of his self care, Kersz glanced toward the door and saw a pair of glowing blue eyes.

When had Yu Xi gotten here?!

Yu Xi’s eyes shone with an unnatural brightness. Upon realizing that he had been discovered by Kersz, he slowly closed the door.

Such was his fright that Kersz no longer had a “little problem” to solve. He rinsed off and changed his clothes.

Upon leaving the bathroom, Kersz found Yu Xi lying in bed asleep like he had been there all along. As if the blue eyes he’d seen had been an illusion.

“Yu Xi?” Kersz called out.

Yu Xi didn’t respond.

Kersz approached the bedside and gave him a gentle nudge.

Yu Xi still didn’t respond.

“What did you just see?” Kersz whispered in his ear.

Yu Xi trembled slightly.

Kersz: “Ha! You couldn’t control yourself, could you?”

Yu Xi had no choice but to open his eyes, looking somewhat at a loss: “I didn’t mean to.”

Kersz: “Hm?”

“I really did fall asleep, but I woke up as soon as you left.” Yu Xi defended himself, “I thought you needed to go to the toilet, so I waited outside the door.”

“Wait a minute. You thought I was using the toilet, so you waited outside the door?”

Yu Xi nodded.

“So do you always wait outside the door when I’m using the toilet?!” Kersz was astonished.

“It’s because my bed is empty.” Yu Xi didn’t think it was a big deal. He had always done this.

When the ancient humans kept cats and dogs as pets, those animals did the same thing.

Yu Xi was simply waiting for the human to solve his problem, after which he would return to bed and continue sleeping with him.

“But this time was different.” Yu Xi silently looked away, avoiding eye contact with Kersz. His hands gripped the edge of the blanket tightly. “I waited by the door for a while, and then I heard a sound.”

Kersz: ……

“It was a very soft sound, like a sound of discomfort.” Yu Xi had thought Kersz was hurt.

“I usually respect human privacy, honest!” Yu Xi excused himself again. “I thought you were injured, so I went to check on you.”

At first, Yu Xi didn’t realize what Kersz was doing, and was just relieved to see that he wasn’t injured.

“But you kept making that sound, like the meowing of a small kitten. A kitten with a deep voice. Then I realized what you were doing.”

And with that knowledge, Yu Xi’s rationality told him that he should quietly shut the door and pretend like nothing had happened.

But Yu Xi’s rationality didn’t seem to have any effect whatsoever, and he remained motionless, spying through the crack in the door. Judging from his actions, he didn’t seem conflicted at all.

“I wanted to keep watching…..but then you saw me.” Yu Xi was still a little regretful. “You looked so good just now, really.”

Yu Xi really liked Kersz’s tense body and expression of indulgence, though he couldn’t quite put his finger on what kind of liking it was. He felt like he wanted to push open the door and suddenly leap inside, making Kersz jump. But he also worried that Kersz would put on his habitual mask and hide his true feelings.

Kersz looked into Yu Xi’s eyes and found himself unable to speak.

Yu Xi’s eyes were still dimming and brightening, which clearly indicated that his emotions were still in a state of flux: “So did you become like that because I bit you?”

After a moment of silence, Kersz nodded with a burning face.

“I understand, it’s a secret of the human body caused by excessive touching.” Yu Xi pulled the blanket up to cover the lower half of his face.

“It’s not exactly a secret…..whatever, go to sleep.” Kersz felt that he shouldn’t continue talking to Yu Xi.

“If I hear that sound again, I definitely won’t open the door.” Yu Xi said this with a hint of disappointment. He wanted to see more, but feared that the human would object.

“En.” Kersz got back in bed and pulled the covers over him, closing his eyes.

Damn it, he seemed to be getting excited again.

Why?

Was it because he caught Yu Xi watching him?

Did he have a fetish for being watched? But he hated it when anyone tried to control him.

In the middle of pondering whether or not he was a masochist, Kersz fell asleep.

That night, Kersz dreamed of many things. His family, friends, and teachers, then the framing, accusations, and betrayal he experienced later on.

Kersz practically relived his entire life through these dreams.

Kersz killed countless perpetrators, and felt like he was losing his mind. He was both exhilarated and wracked with grief and indignation, and didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Drenched in blood, he continued running forward.

He felt that this road had no end, or that perhaps death was the only end that awaited him.

Only death could quench his burning resentment.

But as he ran and ran, Kersz felt that he was at the end of his strength.

He collapsed to the ground, heaving for breath.

“Are you tired?” someone suddenly asked him.

Kersz looked over and found someone sitting next to him. It was Yu Xi.

“What are you doing here?” Kersz asked.

Yu Xi thought for a moment, then shook his head: “I don’t know. I…..I wish someone would tell me what I should do.”

Yu Xi: “Maybe I’m waiting for someone.”

“Maybe? Then will the person you’re waiting for actually come?”

“I don’t know,” Yu Xi said, somewhat lost.

“What if you never see them again?” Kersz asked in puzzlement. “Have you considered that they won’t come?”

Yu Xi looked very sad.

Kersz sat up and dusted himself off: “Don’t be sad. I’ll wait with you for a while.”

Yu Xi didn’t seem to understand: “But don’t you have your own things to do?”

Kersz plopped down next to him: “I don’t know what to do either. I wish someone would tell me how to make things better so that I can stop being so angry.”

“Being angry is very miserable,” Yu Xi said.

“It is.”

“Waiting is also very miserable,” Yu Xi continued.

“Yes.”

Neither of them had found an answer yet. Fatigued by his anger, Kersz suddenly rested his head on Yu Xi’s shoulder, and Yu Xi tilted his head down to rest it against Kersz’s.

Kersz woke up.

He stared at the ceiling for a while, then turned to look at Yu Xi.

What was this robot dreaming right now?

Yu Xi dreamt of waiting.

He was surrounded by robot vacuum cleaners in a variety of colors. Yu Xi paced back and forth, scratching his head and rubbing his hands together.

Finally, a white robot vacuum cleaner emerged from the ward: “It’s born! It’s born!”

Yu Xi rushed to the robot vacuum cleaner, which carried a bundle of blankets on its back. Yu Xi picked up the bundle, inside of which was another robot vacuum cleaner the size of a palm.

Then a patient transport bed was pushed out, and Yu Xi saw Kersz laying on it. He hastened over and took Kersz’s hand: “You’ve worked hard.”

Yes, Kersz had reacted because of him, even though his reproductive drive wasn’t strong to begin with.

So while it was probably due to Yu Xi’s excessive behavior, was it possible that……Kersz wanted to start a family with him?

Yes! This human wanted to start a family with him! 

They would raise a bunch of little robots.

Why robots and not humans? Because Kersz was incapable of giving birth to humans. He was male.

Yu Xi felt that this was very scientific.

Still half asleep, Yu Xi murmured: “K-Kersz, are you trying to feed the baby?”

Kersz: ?

“You’re so good, but a robot vacuum cleaner doesn’t have a mouth.”

Kersz: ? ?

Wait, what kind of dream was Yu Xi having?!

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Chapter 26 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 28

Ch. 94 – Departure

“Fellow Daoist Feng Ye, I’ve finished packing. Why aren’t you ready yet?” Hao Chen leaned casually against the doorframe of Feng Ye’s room, teasing him as he watched him pack his things.

Upon hearing this, Feng Ye glanced at this person who claimed to have finished packing. Hao Chen was still dressed the same as before, without any bags or other travel items in sight.

His so-called “packing” was simply stopping by his own dormitory before rushing over to Feng Ye’s. The gap between their parting and reunion was less than half an incense stick’s time.

But Hao Chen really didn’t have much to pack. He had come to Lingxiao Sword Sect as a guest empty-handed, and he would naturally leave the same way. He couldn’t very well take the bedding from his guest room with him.

Also, cultivators had no need to carry bedding, cotton clothes, and dry provisions with them like ordinary people when they went out. Cultivators were not sensitive to cold or heat, nor did they require food. It was enough to keep a small amount of money, elixirs, and magic tools in their storage bags.

On the surface, they were only at the third and fourth levels of Qi Refining respectively, and neither of them had reached the stage where they could adhere to inedia. But their identities were all but exposed, so there was really no need for them to waste their energy pretending anymore.

Feng Ye didn’t plan to pack much, and was just tidying up his room.

Because after he left, he didn’t know if he would ever come back.

If this trip to Longqiu went smoothly and he was able to completely resolve the matter, he might not return.

In that case, today was the last time he would visit his dormitory. In the end, this room belonged to Lingxiao Sword Sect. He had been borrowing it all this time, and it would be a shame to return it in a dirty, messy state.

Without turning his head, Feng Ye placed the folded bedding into the closet. Then he went to the table and tossed a rag to Hao Chen, saying without any courtesy: “Come and help.”

This rag was thrown with great accuracy straight toward Hao Chen’s face. Hao Chen caught it with lightning speed, preventing the dusty rag from marring his fair and handsome features.

Hao Chen looked down at the rag in his hand, feeling that in all his time in Lingxiao Sword Sect, each day found him either sweeping the floor or wiping down tables. How could he, the Lord of the North Sea, have fallen to such a state?

But when he gave it some more thought, the man in front of him, the infamous Yinglong whose hands were said to be piled high with corpses and blood debts, had just been carefully folding a quilt. In light of this, he didn’t seem to have anything to complain about.

They clearly weren’t even married yet, so why were they doing housework? With these complicated thoughts swirling around in his head, Hao Chen dutifully began to wipe the table.

And as he wiped, he chattered continuously: “Fellow Daoist Feng Ye, you’re going to Longqiu to find the Living Soil?”

Feng Ye knew very well that he had absolutely no chance of concealing this matter from Hao Chen. His objective had always revolved around Jianmu, so his sudden announcement that he was heading to Longqiu was undoubtedly for the sake of the Living Soil.

He hummed in agreement.

“Then what are Fellow Daoist Feng Ye’s plans for travelling? Longqiu isn’t exactly nearby,” Hao Chen asked again.

Feng Ye thought for a moment, then replied: “We’ll go by ship.”

This ‘ship’ did not refer to a vessel sailed on the sea, but specifically to a ship-shaped magic tool that could soar through the sky, just like the one Lingxiao Sword Sect used to travel to the Floating Island Secret Realm last time.

In addition to such privately owned ships, there were also some public ships that travelled along specific routes.

Although cultivators were able to fly on swords after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, flying on their own still consumed spiritual energy. This was fine for short distances, but long distances required resting between periods of flight, which was far more strenuous than taking one of these public ships.

The price of a ship ride was also not expensive, and only required paying a certain amount of spirit stones.

Although Feng Ye had already emptied his pockets in North Sea City, his sect subsidy for the month had conveniently just arrived, providing him with a dozen or so spirit stones. It was just enough to purchase a ship ticket.

Upon receiving this answer, Hao Chen felt a pang of regret.

Taking a ship wasn’t the answer he wanted to hear. He very much wanted Feng Ye to fly there himself…..

Then Hao Chen could sit beside Yinglong’s horns, riding a dragon in the wind…..

Of course, he knew this was just wishful thinking. Feng Ye wasn’t even willing to remove his disguise, so how could he possibly shift into his true form and let Hao Chen sit next to his dragon horns?

But everyone needed a dream – even a fish. Hao Chen couldn’t help but imagine what such a future would look like.

He wondered when he would be able to touch Yinglong’s scales with his own hands, how different they would feel from fish scales, whether they were smooth or rough, and how pleasant to the touch they would be…..

The more he thought about it, the more absorbed he became, and his mind grew increasingly scattered. In a daze, he even felt that he had already touched those scales, and that they felt rather exquisite.

Feng Ye, unable to bear it any longer, flung Hao Chen’s fingers off the back of his hand. Even as this fish was wiping the table, there was a strange smile on his face. There was no telling what was going through his head.

After folding the quilt, Feng Ye had gone over to Hao Chen and waved a hand in front of his face, trying to call back the fish’s soul.

Unexpectedly, Hao Chen grabbed his hand and began to caress the back of it with all five fingers, inch by inch, like a big scoundrel.

Hao Chen belatedly realized what he had done after Feng Ye shook off his hand. It wasn’t just an illusion. He had really touched the dragon’s claws.

He reacted quickly, defending his actions with an earnest expression: “I was just reading your palm.”

In response, Feng Ye grabbed the rag and threw it at Hao Chen’s face.

This time, Hao Chen wasn’t able to react quickly enough. It was a direct hit. He immediately stopped trying to argue and ran out to wash his face.

With some annoyance, Feng Ye watched Hao Chen leave before turning back to continue tidying up.

By the time Hao Chen returned after washing his face, Feng Ye had finished cleaning. He surveyed the room with satisfaction. It was spotless and immaculate.

“Ready to leave?” Hao Chen asked, raising an eyebrow.

Feng Ye nodded: “Let’s go.”

Although Hao Chen was unable to fulfill his wish of riding in the wind on a dragon, he was still very much anticipating the journey to Longqiu.

Because it was just the two of them on this trip. What a perfect two-person world.

Hao Chen rubbed his hands together, pondering how he should break through Yinglong’s hard scales and touch his soft interior.

After weighing the matter carefully, Hao Chen concluded that it was better to take a step back than to push forward.

Whether Feng Ye himself was aware of it or not, after spending so many days together, Hao Chen had already realized that Feng Ye was not easy to get close to. He seemed to have a deep-rooted aversion to any sort of intimacy.

If Hao Chen got too close, the result would be just like before – the dragon’s stress response would be triggered, and he might even receive a beating.

Getting a rag thrown at him was nothing. A real beating was no fun at all.

Therefore, Hao Chen decided to patiently display his masculine charm, strength, safety, and reliability to the dragon during this trip to Longqiu, in the hopes of making the dragon willingly throw himself into his arms.

Then he would catch the other man against his broad chest. Feng Ye might not let him ride in the wind on his dragon form, so he would transform into a peng bird and carry Feng Ye on his back.

Side by side, Feng Ye and Hao Chen walked toward the mountain gate. Hao Chen’s eerie smile returned after only a few steps.

Feng Ye: “…..” Had this fish lost his mind?

As Feng Ye debated over whether he should ditch this fish and continue on his way alone, he unexpectedly caught sight of two familiar faces at the mountain gate.

“Shixiong!” Fang Yang greeted him happily. He was carrying a small bundle on his back, as if he was about to embark on a long journey.

“What’s going on…..” Feng Ye asked hesitantly.

Fang Yang wasn’t the only one carrying supplies. Cao Zirui also had his own package in the form of a fist-sized, jar-shaped satchel.

“We’re going to Longqiu too!” Fang Yang excitedly informed Feng Ye of the details.

After parting ways with his Useless Shixiong, he went to eat in a rather low mood, planning to visit Cao Zirui after finishing his meal. Unexpectedly, before he could head over, Cao Zirui came to find him first and told him that he was also going to Longqiu, then asked Fang Yang if he wanted to come along.

Fang Yang…..naturally wanted to go!

His shixiong and friend were both going to Longqiu, so how could he possibly stay at the sect alone?

But he didn’t know if Feng Ye had already set off, so he hastily packed his things and ran to the mountain gate to intercept him.

Luckily, he was able to catch him.

Cao Zirui was also going to Longqiu?

After hearing this explanation, Feng Ye looked at Cao Zirui with some surprise. Going to Longqiu at this time, it could be for no other reason than for the Living Soil.

But why was Cao Zirui looking for it?

Feng Ye’s eyes suddenly narrowed, zeroing in on the fist-sized ceramic jar that Cao Zirui was carrying across his body. Upon closer inspection, he realized that it really was a jar rather than a storage bag.

This jar was narrow at the top and bottom, yet wide in the middle. Consequently, unless one peered down from directly above, it was impossible to glimpse what was inside.

But without even looking, Feng Ye could guess what the jar contained.

Hao Chen noticed it too. They exchanged a glance and saw the same answer in each other’s eyes.

Jianmu.

“Has your Sect Leader Ji ever married?” Hao Chen abruptly asked a seemingly random question.

“No,” Cao Zirui replied with a puzzled look.

“If he does get married, even if the woman’s entire family worked together, they would likely never find his secret stash of money,” Hao Chen couldn’t help but lament.

What on earth was this about?

Fang Yang and Cao Zirui were equally baffled.

Feng Ye nodded in understanding. Although Hao Chen’s example was far-fetched, it was indeed accurate.

Ji Chengyue really was a…..genius at hiding things.

In fact, Ji Chengyue had planted the Jianmu sprout in the busy main square, and although he had set up a protective array, it was still not entirely safe.

Yesterday’s battle had made it abundantly clear that the force behind Xue Ren was after Jianmu. Having failed once, they were bound to try again.

Although Jianmu was a divine object, it was, by the same token, a magnet for trouble.

No matter what kind of protection was used, the person in possession of it would never have complete peace of mind, and they would certainly be in grave danger.

Ji Chengyue’s solution was to carry out a covert operation.

First, he openly made it known that he had planted the Jianmu sprout in the main square, and then he took it out and substituted a fake one.

Like this, everyone vying for Jianmu would focus solely on the fake one in the square.

And as for the real Jianmu, it was entrusted to Cao Zirui.

And Cao Zirui was instructed to stay far away from the center of the conflict.

Not only would this preserve the Jianmu sprout, but Ji Chengyue’s only remaining disciple would also be safe.

It must be said that this was a brilliant idea, killing two birds with one stone.

Ji Chengyue had previously hidden Jianmu in the most obvious place, and neither Feng Ye nor the creature impersonating him had found it the first time. Now, he had come up with an alternate way to hide it. Ji Chengyue’s mastery of concealment was truly admirable.

Fang Yang saw his Useless Shixiong and Hao-dage exchange a look, but he didn’t understand what it signified. He turned to chat with Cao Zirui, glancing back at the sect they were about to leave: “Ai, I didn’t even have a chance to see what Jianmu looks like,” he sighed.

Their journey had come at the last minute. In the morning, he had thought he would have plenty of opportunities, but with this unexpected afternoon departure, he wasn’t able to catch a glimpse of the Jianmu sprout.

When he heard this, Cao Zirui instinctively clutched the small jar he was carrying.

He wanted to tell his friend that Jianmu was actually here with him, but then he recalled his master’s instructions. He pursed his lips and ultimately didn’t tell his good friend.

The fact that he had absconded with Jianmu must be kept completely confidential.

Only if no one else knew about it would the enemy keep their eyes on the fake in the square. If it was exposed, then Cao Zirui, who was carrying the real Jianmu, would be in extreme peril.

In truth, Ji Chengyue had come up with this method out of desperation.

This time, Jianmu had absorbed divine power in order to sprout.

However, Yinglong gave the sprout to Ji Chengyue, and without a continuous source of divine power, Jianmu once again showed signs of decline.

Ordinary soil was simply incapable of providing it with sufficient nutrients for growth. If it continued to be cultivated within the sect, sooner or later, it would inevitably wither and die.

Only when all three nutrients were acquired for Jianmu would the sprout truly come to life.

Ji Chengyue didn’t know how long Jianmu could survive in ordinary soil, but the sooner these things were found, the better. Thus, the search for Living Soil was an extremely urgent matter.

However, he had his hands full with sect affairs and couldn’t spare the time. His identity as a sect leader was also too conspicuous, so it would be impossible for him to go to Longqiu unnoticed.

If he couldn’t do it himself, then he had to hand over the responsibility to someone else. But that person must be absolutely trustworthy. Ji Chengyue had been pondering who to entrust it to.

As it happened, Cao Zirui had just arrived to bid him farewell. This young disciple of his was someone he could trust without reservation, and while Cao Zirui had a formidable reputation within the sect, he was fairly unknown to the outside world.

He had only been a disciple for a year, and his trip to the Floating Island Secret Realm had not yielded any outstanding results, so he naturally went unnoticed by most people.

With his low profile and trustworthiness, Cao Zirui was simply the perfect candidate to search for the Living Soil in his place.

And after Ji Chengyue explained the advantages and drawbacks, Cao Zirui readily agreed.

Although his internal injuries had not yet healed, as long as he didn’t tell anyone that he was concealing Jianmu, he shouldn’t run into danger.

There was no problem with going out to get some fresh, healing air, and if he was able to help his master along the way, the situation couldn’t be better.

Thus, carrying the small jar containing Jianmu on his back, he invited his friend out and set off.

Since Jianmu wasn’t an inanimate object, it couldn’t be placed in a storage bag, and he could only find this jar to store it in. This jar had an ordinary appearance, but it was actually a magic tool capable of concealing an object’s aura.

Generally speaking, no one should realize that Jianmu was hidden among them.

Feng Ye and Hao Chen only noticed it when in very close proximity to Cao Zirui.

Although the boys were unaware of why Feng Ye and Hao Chen were going to Longqiu, having company was a good thing, so the two waited for them at the mountain gate.

Gazing at the two youths standing before him, each with a small bundle strapped to their back, Hao Chen belatedly realized that the “two-person world” he had just been envisioning suddenly felt a little crowded.

Contrary to Hao Chen’s reluctance, Feng Ye was quite agreeable to this arrangement. It was just as well that Cao Zirui kept the true Jianmu by his side. As long as the matter of the fake Jianmu remained undiscovered, Cao Zirui would face no danger. But should it ever be exposed, Feng Ye would be ready to intervene at a moment’s notice.

Thus, the four people, each with their own thoughts, walked out of Lingxiao Sword Sect’s mountain gate. As the mountain wall inscribed with the four large characters of the sect’s name disappeared from view, they officially embarked upon their journey to Longqiu.

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Chapter 93 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 95

T/N: Sorry for the late update! I drove across the country to visit my grandparents and forgot to bring my laptop…..

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The room fell into a peculiar silence.

A moment later, Qin Xiao spoke again: “Come here.”

Chu Jiubian: “…..Are you telling me what to do?”

Qin Xiao chuckled softly, then seemed to wince from the pain in his chest. He raised a hand and pressed it gingerly against the wound before continuing: “How could I dare?”

He was being sarcastic.

Chu Jiubian ignored him and remained lying down.

However, he soon heard a rustling sound from the bed, and turned his head to see Qin Xiao slowly trying to sit up.

Chu Jiubian quickly sat upright and said while putting on his shoes: “What are you doing? Don’t move.”

Qin Xiao stopped moving, then lay back down.

“I’ll sleep on the couch,” he said.

Chu Jiubian froze briefly. He couldn’t see Qin Xiao’s face in the darkness, but he could still feel the other man’s focused gaze.

He got off the couch somewhat uneasily and said: “I’ll go back to Yaotai Residence. Call Qin Chaoyang and have him bring a longer couch so he can keep you company.”

This hadn’t occurred to him earlier. Since Qin Xiao was now out of danger, it would be fine for someone else to stay with him and see to his needs.

Qin Xiao said nothing.

Chu Jiubian picked up his cloak and headed for the door. However, before he had taken more than a couple of steps, the other’s deep voice sounded behind him again: “My wound still hurts a bit.”

Chu Jiubian paused in his steps. He turned to look back.

Qin Xiao continued: “I think I strained something when I was washing up earlier.”

At this time, the System emitted a notification sound: [Host, there is indeed some minor bleeding from the patient’s chest wound.]

Chu Jiubian immediately frowned. As he walked over, he casually threw his cloak onto the couch and took a flashlight from the System Inventory to illuminate the area.

The powerful flashlight immediately brightened the entire room, and the person on the bed closed his eyes in surprise against the sudden illumination.

Chu Jiubian noticed at once that the man’s face was absent of stubble, and that his face looked clean and refreshed.

As for the blood and medicinal scent on his body, all of that had been cleaned away while he was in the Divine Realm.

His alternately heavy and shallow breathing had now returned to normal. Thus, aside from his pale complexion, Qin Xiao looked no different than he normally did.

Chu Jiubian shifted his gaze to his chest, noting that Qin Xiao had changed into clean undergarments made of black silk. The collar was slightly askew.

Beneath the smooth fabric, the undulating contours of his musculature were smooth and elegant, subtly conveying a sense of strength and vitality.

Qin Xiao adjusted to the light and opened his eyes, following Chu Jiubian’s gaze toward his chest before looking up at him.

Chu Jiubian only took a quick look, and before he could tell Qin Xiao to take off his clothes, the other man was slowly undoing the ties to reveal the entirety of his upper body.

His well-developed pecs and uniform six-pack abs came into view. Chu Jiuian’s eyelashes fluttered slightly.

There was gauze wrapped around his chest, and although some blood had seeped through, it was only a small quantity.

“System, has the wound reopened?” Chu Jiubian asked internally.

[No, some minor bleeding is normal.]

Chu Jiubian’s heart settled, and he looked up into Qin Xiao’s deep, penetrating eyes.

“The wound hasn’t healed yet, so don’t move around much these next two days,” he said.

Qin Xiao gave a hum of acknowledgement.

Glancing at his wide-open shirt, Chu Jiubian said: “Put your clothes back on.”

“I’m allowed to move?” Qin Xiao asked.

Chu Jiubian: “Yes.”

Qin Xiao slowly re-fastened his clothes, but they were loose and sloppy, which looked stranger than when they were halfway undone.

Chu Jiubian averted his gaze, going to the sofa to fetch the blanket for Qin Xiao.

“You’ll be fine if you don’t move around. I’ll come see you again tomorrow,” Chu Jiubian said, and once again prepared to leave.

“What if I need to get up in the middle of the night? Can I move on my own? Drink water?” Qin Xiao asked three rapid-fire questions, his tone casual and playful. “Unless the Young Master personally supervises me, I won’t know what I can do by myself.”

Chu Jiubian looked at him steadily, then suddenly let out a light chuckle: “Do you not want me to leave?”

“En,” said Qin Xiao. “I feel at ease knowing you’re here.”

Chu Jiubian said nothing, simply observing his expression in an attempt to glean something from it.

But before long, he was the first to look away, fearful of finding what he was looking for.

He turned off the flashlight and stashed it away in the System inventory.

The room returned to darkness, and it took a while for both of them to adjust before they could once again make out some vague outlines.

Qin Xiao followed the young man’s figure, watching him walk a few steps before stopping again.

Then, he turned around and went back to the bedside.

Chu Jiubian sat down on the bed, took off his shoes, and twisted to crawl in.

The bed was about 1.5 meters wide, which was plenty of space for two people. And although there was only one pillow, it was long enough to share comfortably.

However, Qin Xiao was sleeping on the outer side of the bed, and it wasn’t convenient for him to move. Chu Jiubian got on his knees and swung a leg over so that he was straddling Qin Xiao, placing his hands on either side of him out of caution. His long hair cascaded down his shoulders, bringing with it a tingling sensation as it brushed over Qin Xiao’s neck and lips.

But in an instant, Chu Jiubian was already lying on the inner side of the bed.

Without removing his outer garment, he lay straight on his back and stared at the bedframe above him.

At this moment, they were truly “sleeping together.”

Chu Jiubian had never been close to anyone like this before, and his entire body tensed up even as his mind went completely blank.

Qin Xiao lay still for a while before turning his head to look at the person beside him.

He seemed to notice how tense Chu Jiubian was, and reached out to share the blanket with him.

Chu Jiubian finally reacted and said: “Don’t move.”

“Cover up,” said Qin Xiao.

Chu Jiubian froze for a moment. Then, when he reached out to grasp the blanket, his hand happened to brush against Qin Xiao’s.

Those hands had regained their warmth, in stark contrast to their previous iciness.

His fingertips curled slightly, and he quickly grabbed a corner of the blanket and pulled it over himself.

Qin Xiao looked away, gazing up at the bedframe as well.

The room hadn’t been cold to begin with, and now that he was under the covers, it was even warmer.

Before long, Chu Jiubian felt his feet and legs warming up, but his hands remained stubbornly cold.

The room was silent save for the wind howling outside, which made the branches of the trees in the courtyard sway and rustle.

The two lay together in silence, separated by only a few inches. Neither of them were sleepy, but neither of them spoke.

This room belonged to Qin Xiao, and so did the bed, blanket, and pillow. The person himself was even lying directly beside him. Chu Jiubian felt as if he was enveloped in the subtle scent of Qin Xiao, and that some of it had even transferred onto him.

His breathing was light and shallow. Listening to Qin Xiao’s breathing, he knew that the other man wasn’t asleep either.

“Are you not tired?” His voice was somewhat soft.

“I’m not. You?”

“Me either,” said Chu Jiubian. “Did you eat something earlier?”

“No. I don’t know what I’m able to eat,” said Qin Xiao.

Chu Jiubian glanced toward him. Even in the darkness, he could see the other’s straight nose and the ridge of his brow. “So when you woke up, did you not also consider that you shouldn’t be moving around so freely?”

Qin Xiao smiled faintly and turned his head to look at him, saying: “I was very careful.”

Chu Jiubian: “…..”

As they looked into each other’s eyes, silence descended between them once more.

Due to their close proximity, Chu Jiubian felt as if he could feel Qin Xiao’s breath on his lips.

Suddenly, he noticed Qin Xiao leaning closer to him.

His heart skipped a beat, and he quickly turned his face away to look back at the bed frame.

“If you’re not going to sleep, then let’s talk about Cheng Shuo.” Chu Jiubian awkwardly changed the topic.

Qin Xiao turned his gaze away, and said while staring upward: “He has been thoroughly interrogated, but we were able to get nothing out of him.”

“Was torture used?”

“Severe torture.”

“Is there a grudge between you and him?” Chu Jiubian then immediately dismissed the idea, saying, “No, his family background is impeccable, and you and the Qin family have even shown him kindness. He shouldn’t have had any reason to harm you.”

Before Qin Xiao took Cheng Shuo with him on the expedition, Chu Jiubian had instructed Qin Chaoyang to re-investigate Cheng Shuo’s family background and recent actions.

People could change, and his worry was that this person might have had contact with someone else without Qin Xiao’s knowledge.

However, after Qin Chaoyang’s investigation, there was indeed nothing suspicious about Cheng Shuo.

“It is also impossible that his wife and children at home are being held hostage or threatened,” Qin Xiao said. “I’ve had people looking after his family affairs, and there is no way anything unexpected could have happened.”

“So he betrayed you for no reason?” Chu Jiubian asked with a frown.

Qin Xiao gave a hum of agreement.

A few moments later, he suddenly asked: “What is your relationship with Nanjiang-wang?”

Outsiders may be unaware of what happened early in the disaster that hit Nanjiang, but Qin Xiao knew that the solution to the grain shortage was all due to Chu Jiubian’s machinations.

Therefore, he must have a connection with Nanjiang-wang.

At the sudden mention of Nanjiang, a thought flashed through Chu Jiubian’s mind, and he turned his head to look at the other man: “Has Cheng Shuo been infected by gu?”

The Great Ning Dynasty existed in a world that combined elements of martial arts fiction, featuring internal energy, martial arts techniques, and many strange or unusual clans and their traditions.

The poisonous parasites called gu in Nanjiang were known throughout the world, and there were indeed occult practitioners who used such gu to kill or even control people.

The most powerful gu masters in Nanjiang were actually the Saintesses of each generation.

The current generation’s Saintess, Situ Anli, was the princess of Nanjiang and the mother of the Situ siblings.

To be able to control a man as strong as Cheng Shuo and force him to assassinate Qin Xiao against his will was a feat that no ordinary gu master could accomplish. It must have been the work of an exceptional practitioner.

Therefore, Saintess of Nanjiang Situ Anli was a prime suspect.

Qin Xiao said: “Hu Fang has witnessed people under gu-induced mind control. Their thoughts are altered, and they will act against their own will according to the wishes of the gu master.”

The way Cheng Shuo was acting now was completely different from before the assasination attempt that day.

Qin Xiao carefully recalled that before the assasination, Cheng Shuo had been acting normally, just as carefree and unrestrained as usual, without any signs of aberration.

But in the wake of the assassination, Cheng Shuo changed.

He became sullen, his eyes devoid of any hint of emotion.

Even the strongest person would reveal some signs of pain under severe torture, but Cheng Shuo, despite being covered in wounds, didn’t even flinch. It was as if he was immune to pain.

Listening to this, Chu Jiubian felt that it sounded somewhat like hypnosis.

Were these gu parasites really so powerful?

“I can’t confirm whether or not this matter is related to the Princess of Nanjiang,” Chu Jiubian said.

He was confident in the character and abilities of the Situ siblings, but he wasn’t certain of their parents’ temperaments.

However, judging by their actions during the drought, these two didn’t seem to be bad people. And since they had raised two such wonderful children, their character couldn’t be all that bad either.

But what if?

What if something bad could give birth to something good?

Chu Jiubian didn’t dare to speak too definitively.

Qin Xiao: “It is also possible that someone is deliberately framing them. Let’s wait until Nanjiang-wang arrives in the capital tomorrow, then find an opportunity to investigate further.”

“Nanjiang-wang will be here tomorrow?” Chu Jiubian had been in the Divine Realm for the past two days, and hadn’t seen Qin Chaoyang upon emerging today, so he was naturally unaware of such an event.

Qin Xiao, however, had already spoken with Qin Chaoyang and met with the young Emperor to reassure the child.

Since Chu Jiubian had asked, Qin Xiao replied: “Huguang-wang and Dongjiang-wang will arrive outside the city tonight, while the other four vassal kings are staying at the nearest post station and should arrive in the capital tomorrow evening.”

Chu Jiubian smiled when he heard this: “Are Huguang-wang and Dongjiang-wang trying to intimidate us?”

“Perhaps.” Qin Xiao smiled as well.

Although they hadn’t said much, the two of them understood each other without the need for words.

In the current situation, it was impossible to say who would intimidate whom.

As they were discussing the matter, two groups of people had already arrived outside the gates of the tightly-closed city.

From atop a tall horse, the leader of the guards escorting Huguang-wang shouted up to the city guards stationed on the wall: “His Royal Highness Huguang-wang and His Royal Highness Dongjiang-wang have arrived! Open the gates immediately and welcome them into the city!”

But a clear voice sounded from one of the people on the city wall, saying: “The city gates are already closed for the night. Hoping Your Highnesses will understand!”

As he spoke, a handsome man clad in soft armor appeared on the ramparts with a sword at his waist, gazing down at the crowd outside the gates.

Huguang-wang Bai Liyue disembarked from his carriage in magnificent robes, his demeanor stern and imposing. Simply by standing there, he exuded an overwhelming sense of authority.

Many soldiers on the city wall lowered their eyes, not daring to look at the other party.

This was the awe-inspiring aura of the most powerful vassal king.

Huguang-wang gazed up at the young commander upon the city wall and narrowed his eyes: “Who might you be?”

His voice wasn’t loud, but the person on the city wall possessed excellent hearing. He smiled upon hearing these words, then performed a formal bow and said: “This humble servant is An Ping, also known as An Wuji, Commander of the Imperial Guard. Paying respects to Your Highnesses.”

The city garrison and Imperial Guard were mostly composed of former members of the Qin Family Army. And although An Wuji was nominally the Commander of the Imperial Guard, the city garrison was also under his jurisdiction.

Therefore, there was nothing wrong with his appearance on the city wall.

“So it’s Commander An. I have long admired your reputation.” A laughing voice rang out, and a man dressed in dark green brocade robes stepped out of another carriage.

An Wuji looked over.

The man stood behind Bai Liyue. Although he was slightly shorter and thinner than him, his demeanor was in no way inferior to Bai Liyue, the most powerful of the vassal kings.

And despite his smiling appearance, there was no hint of warmth in his eyes. They were cold and sinister, sending chills down the spine of anyone who met his gaze.

This was Dongjiang-wang Bai Lihe. His maternal family was a wealthy and influential clan from Jiangnan, and he had also been the most favored second prince during Emperor Chengzong’s reign.

He was once the most promising prince to ascend the throne, but he was unfortunately defeated by Emperor Yingzong. However, due to the great influence of his mother’s family, his life was preserved and he was sent to a fiefdom to start anew.

But it could be said that among these seven vassal kings, these two were the most ambitious and truthful about their real selves.

“This subordinate is merely a humble commander. How could I dare accept a compliment from Your Highness?” An Wuji said.

In the Great Ning Dynasty, there were only two “rulers:” the Emperor and the Crown Prince. Therefore, even when facing a powerful and influential vassal king, officials did not need to address them as one would a ruler, but could simply refer to themselves as “this subordinate.”

“Commander An is too kind. You are a highly-favored figure in the eyes of His Majesty and Lord Ning-wang,” said Bai Lihe. 

“Although we brothers have arrived late today, we hope that Commander An will be kind enough to allow us into the city, so that we may avoid having to spend the night outside the city walls.”

“Rules are rules. Please understand, Your Highnesses,” said An Wuji, completely unmoved.

Bai Liyue gave a faint smile and said: “What a fine rule. Perhaps you could go and inform His Majesty? If His Majesty also believes that we should camp outside the city walls, then we will have no complaints.”

“It is late, and His Majesty has already retired for the night,” said An Wuji. “This matter will be handled according to regulations, so there is no need to report it to His Majesty.”

“Won’t Commander An cause too much offense by handling the matter this way?” The soldier beside him looked a little nervous as he whispered this to him.

“It’s alright,” An Wuji replied softly. “I’ll take responsibility if things go wrong.”

Bai Liyue and Bai Lihe might plan to shift the blame onto the Emperor for being unable to enter the city, but An Wuji wouldn’t give them the chance.

He would take full responsibility.

This way, when the young Emperor later punished him with a mild but public penalty, the two vassal kings would appear to have received justice.

These two had deliberately waited to arrive until after the city gates closed, but their plan had completely backfired.

Not only was it impossible for them to enter the city on the basis of privilege, but they also couldn’t blame the Emperor for being forced to sleep outside the city walls. After all, the Emperor wasn’t even aware of their arrival. All of this was simply the result of An Wuji diligently fulfilling his duties.

They wanted to put on a show of power in front of the Emperor, but now they found themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Bai Liyue’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Hadn’t it been said that neither Qin Xiao nor Chu Jiubian would be around? How could a small child like Bai Lihong have anticipated all of this?

Then was this a strategy devised by An Wuji himself, or perhaps by that eunuch, Hong Fu?

Bai Lihong truly had a wealth of talents around him.

Bai Liyue felt a sense of missing out.

How had all of these talents ended up belonging solely to the Emperor?

If possible, he would also like to find a way to get in touch with these people during this trip to the capital. 

It would be fantastic if all of these talents could be pulled into his service.

Bai Lihe fixed his gaze on the young commander for a long moment, his smile unchanged. However, the cold, sinister look in his eyes intensified until they were like those of a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, observing its surroundings.

*

*

Inside the bedroom in the western courtyard of Yangxin Hall.

Chu Jiubian listened with great interest as Qin Xiao spoke of several of the vassal kings.

Perhaps to help him understand more clearly, Qin Xiao even assigned them “animal personas,” which was quite unconventional.

Bai Liyue was a black bear who considered himself clever, but in reality, his fists were more effective than his brains. Bai Lihe was a sinister, venomous snake who liked to manipulate people, while Bai Liyue was a smiling, two-faced tiger who remained indifferent to matters that didn’t concern him.

Bai Lizheng was a rigid, old-fashioned ox who only cared about his small sphere of influence, Bai Lihao was a free-spirited steed who yearned for vast open spaces, and Bai Liyu, lacking sufficient strength, compensated with cunning schemes – a highly aggressive hawk.

“And as for Bai Liming…..”

Chu Jiubian said: “I think he’s a lot like a rabbit.” He was delicate and harmless, and often appeared easily startled.

Qin Xiao said: “I’m not familiar with him.”

In fact, he wasn’t very familiar with the other vassal kings either, and had only gleaned a few insights from their actions.

“Then what about me?” Chu Jiubian asked. “What kind of animal do you think I am?”

Qin Xiao glanced at him and let out a low chuckle.

“Why are you laughing?” 

Instead of answering, Qin Xiao countered with a question: “What does the Young Master think I am?”

“I asked you first,” said Chu Jiubian.

Qin Xiao: “You tell me first, and then I’ll tell you.”

Chu Jiubian: “Then let’s not talk about it.”

The room fell silent again.

Still not feeling sleepy, Chu Jiubian spoke up again: “Your injury is actually related to the Lu family.”

The Lu family’s ancestral home was Wuwei, located in Gansu. They had a natural connection with Dingbei-wang Bai Liyu, whose fiefdom ran through Shaanxi and Gansu.

It had been Minister of War Lu Youwei’s brother-in-law Pang Ruizhi,  commander of the Northwest Army, who had cooperated with Dingbei-wang to allow the enemy army to occupy Gansu, thus forcing Qin Xiao to go to war.

“En,” said Qin Xiao. “I’ve gathered some evidence, but now is not the time to make use of it.”

Chu Jiubian rolled over to face him.

Qin Xiao froze, and for some reason didn’t turn his head to look at the person beside him.

“The Lu family also has connections with the Tatars,” Chu Jiubian said. In the darkness, Qin Xiao’s jaw instantly tensed.

Chu Jiubian noticed this and unconsciously lowered his voice: “We’ll uncover the evidence.”

Qin Jingzhao and his wife were killed by the Tatars, but everyone knew there was more to the story. There must have been a traitor who leaked or falsified military intelligence, which led to their ambush and deaths in a foreign land.

And now, both Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian knew that this matter was inextricably linked to the Lu family.

But they simply didn’t have any evidence.

With such a major event, they felt that the Lu family couldn’t have been the only ones involved. There must have been other forces at play. Were the other three great families participants, or perhaps one or more of the vassal kings?

Anything was possible.

“Since no external leads can be found, perhaps we can try to find a breakthrough within,” said Chu Jiubian.

Qin Xiao said nothing.

Chu Jiubian continued: “Regarding the mandala incident, we killed Wang Wenyao, the Xiao family head’s son, as well as that young man from the Lu family, Lu Xingwen.”

“Lu Xingwen’s parents don’t belong to the clan’s main branch, but to a collateral one, and Lu Xingwen was their only son.”

Qin Xiao finally turned his head to look at him.

The young man lay curled up on his side, and even in the darkness of night, Qin Xiao could faintly discern the glint in his eyes.

“Someone heard Lu Xingwen’s parents say that their son’s life had been traded for two Lu family shops. Their tones sounded strange, which suggested that they harbored resentment toward the Lu family.” This was something Chu Jiubian had overheard from some gossiping lower-ranking officials while working at the ministry.

“This might be a breakthrough,” he said.

Lu Xingwen had been killed by Qin Xiao, but it was also true that the Lu family had failed to help him when he was in danger. The couple, having lost their only son, could not possibly see the so-called “bigger picture.”

Therefore, they now hated Qin Xiao and the Lu family to the bone.

If there was an opportunity to let “two dogs bite each other,” why not take it?

Chu Jiubian’s intention was to exploit their mindset and guide them to expose the Lu family’s collusion with foreign enemies, as well as their persecution of the loyal Qin family officials.

With the charges of harming loyal officials and colluding with foreign enemies to plot rebellion, the Lu family would be severely punished, if not sentenced to death outright.

Qin Xiao remained silent. An unknown amount of time later, he asked softly: “Are you looking into this to take on the Lu family, or is there another reason…..”

His words cut off halfway through.

Chu Jiubian didn’t answer, but instead said in an even softer voice: “I’m tired. Let’s go to sleep.”

*

*

For the next couple of days, they stayed holed up in Yangxin Hall to avoid having to go out and deal with those vassal kings.

It was now the 27th, with only three days left until the New Year.

The vassal kings were expected to go to the temple for fasting and ritual practices, and only on the thirtieth would they be able to return to the Imperial City to attend the palace banquet.

But tomorrow, they would certainly come to meet with Bai Lihong and pay their respects.

This was also a customary practice for vassal kings entering the capital.

Bai Lihong had cried again when he saw Qin Xiao today, and it took a considerable amount of effort to comfort him.

Qin Xiao then instructed him to feign illness so that the vassal kings wouldn’t linger when they came to pay their respects, thus preventing them from setting up a pitfall for the child.

For this reason, Physician Zhang was stationed in the main room of Yangxin Hall, and would likely remain there until the 27th.

Ever since obtaining a medical book from Chu Jiubian, Physician Zhang had firmly aligned himself with their cause.

The head of the Imperial Medical Academy was ill at home, and had already submitted a request for retirement. Physician Zhang was the most likely candidate for promotion, and naturally knew who his true masters were. Therefore, nothing was kept from him regarding Bai Lihong’s feigned illness.

As a shrewd and opportunistic person, he was naturally very diplomatic, and after taking Bai Lihong’s pulse, he understood without anyone needing to speak a word.

That being said, Chu Jiubian and the others had nothing to do for the next two days.

He lay on his side facing Qin Xiao, curled up with his hands clasped across his chest.

Closing his eyes, he tried once more to fall asleep.

If he didn’t sleep tonight, he would be exhausted during the day.

He was capable of sharing a bed with Qin Xiao under the cover of night, but it was impossible for him during the day.

Chu Jiubian lay there for quite some time.

Even with his eyes closed, he could sense Qin Xiao’s gaze on him.

Inexplicably, his body tensed up even more, and sleepiness evaded him.

Only when Qin Xiao moved – presumably shifting his gaze away – did Chu Jiubian feel himself relax slightly.

A while later, drowsiness gradually set in.

Qin Xiao waited until the breathing of the person beside him became heavy and deep before turning his head to look at him again.

He still couldn’t make out the other’s features, but that didn’t stop him from wanting to look.

A long while later, when his neck had become stiff, he finally turned his head back and closed his eyes.

However, before he even began to feel sleepy, he felt a weight settle on his shoulder.

He froze, not daring to move.

The young man was now breathing closer to his ear, clearly indicating that he was resting his head on Qin Xiao’s shoulder.

Qin Xiao didn’t sleep all night.

Chu Jiubian also “woke up” briefly during the night, though not with his physical body – it was his soul that awakened and entered the Divine Realm. 

This was for no other reason than that one of his Believers was calling out to him in the middle of the night, unable to sleep.

Chu Jiubian was initially a little reluctant, but had no objections once he realized that it was Qin Chuan who had summoned him.

It was likely that he had heard the news of Qin Xiao’s severe injury, and had come to the High Priest for help.

Sure enough, after offering him a formal greeting, Qin Chuan said in a heavy voice: “High Priest, may this subordinate receive the reward he was promised earlier?”

“You want me to save someone?” Chu Jiubian asked, knowing perfectly well what this was about.

“Yes,” said Qin Chuan. “This subordinate would like you to save Ning-wang Qin Xiao, who is in the Imperial Capital.”

Chu Jiubian considered agreeing, but then thought better of it.

“Grand Tutor Chu” was the one who had saved Qin Xiao, and he couldn’t take credit for it as the High Priest. Besides, it would be a good thing if this incident caused Qin Chuan to regard Grand Tutor Chu with gratitude and respect.

So he said: “He is recovering now.”

Qin Chuan was taken aback, and a look of barely-concealed astonishment appeared on his face: “Truly? Then Chu…..was it the Divine Lord who saved him?”

In the presence of the High Priest, that person should only be referred to as the Divine Lord, the Sacred Star – not Grand Tutor Chu.

When the High Priest answered affirmatively, Qin Chuan’s heart finally settled, and the anxiety that had been plaguing him ever since he heard the news subsided.

Ever since taking on the task of protecting Lu Yao and coaching him in interpersonal relations, he hadn’t paid much attention to intelligence from various sources, leaving it all to his subordinates.

And due to the fact that said subordinates were unaware of his relationship with Qin Xiao, they hadn’t reported the news of his grievous injury with any haste.

They instead continued their investigation, and only after two days, when they had confirmed that Qin Xiao had without a doubt been seriously wounded, did they dare to report it. Their caution stemmed from wanting to avoid incurring the displeasure of the alliance leader by submitting a false report.

Due to this, Qin Chuan was only approaching the High Priest now.

Even with the knowledge that Qin Xiao was in recovery, Qin Chuan was still not quite at ease. Thus, he asked the High Priest for leave, intending to temporarily set aside guarding Lu Yao in favor of going to the capital in person. 

And since the New Year was approaching, he might even be able to spend the holiday with his older brother.

The results of the third exam had not yet been released, so Lu Yao’s reputation had not spread very far, and few people had taken notice of him.

With the secret guards sent by Qin Xiao, plus the two extra men Qin Chuan assigned to the task, Lu Yao would be very safe.

This being the case, Chu Jiubian granted his request and allowed him to travel to the capital to see Qin Xiao.

When Chu Jiubian left the Divine Realm afterward, he inevitably woke up.

He opened his eyes. It was still dark outside, and it seemed to be snowing. The howling wind further intensified the cold, but Chu Jiubian’s cheeks were fiery hot, and his entire body seemed to be burning.

This was not due to the warmth of the room. It was because, without even noticing, he had almost completely plastered himself against Qin Xiao!

He was grasping the man’s arm with one hand, while the other rested over his chest.

His hand had thoughtfully avoided the side with the wound, only touching the pectoral closest to him.

The man’s elevated body heat warmed his hands, startling him and instantly sweeping away his drowsiness.

He closed his eyes and remained silent for a long time.

Then he slowly retracted his hand, slowly turned around, and curled up with his back to the other man, burying his face in the blanket.

In the darkness behind him, the man’s lips curled into a smile.

---

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Chapter 71 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 73

Chu Jiubian brought the food tray in and placed it on the table in the inner room, then sat down in a position where he could easily see the person on the bed.

Due to Qin Xiao’s prolonged absence, Qin Chaoyang had supervised the installation of underfloor heating in the western courtyard. Thus, even though no one had been in this room for two days, it was still very warm.

Chu Jiubian took a sip of tea, then tucked into his meal.

He ate very quietly, but the sound was still audible in the silent room.

The eyelashes of the person on the bed fluttered slightly, and his fingertips twitched, but he didn’t open his eyes.

During his two days in the Divine Realm, Chu Jiubian had barely closed his eyes at all. Now, the delayed exhaustion was catching up to him. Engrossed in his food, he nearly nodded off into his bowl and didn’t notice the subtle movements on the bed at all.

After forcing a few more bites down, he was unable to eat any more, and rinsed his mouth.

Chu Jiubian’s exhaustion was so profound that he couldn’t even keep his eyes open, and his mind was a jumbled mess.

He didn’t have the energy to deal with people just now, so he decided to take a nap first before calling Qin Chaoyang and the young emperor over.

After glancing around the room, he lay down on the soft couch by the window.

But before falling asleep, he didn’t forget to ask: “System, monitor Qin Xiao’s vital signs for me and wake me up if there is a problem.”

[Okay, Host.] The System had reaped a fortune in the past two days, and wasn’t going to extort its host over such a small matter now.

Chu Jiubian fell into a deep sleep even more profound than a coma.

More than ten minutes later, the person on the bed managed to open his eyes, but his vision was still somewhat blurry and unfocused.

After a short while of this, Qin Xiao finally regained some control and turned his head to look toward the window.

The seat by the window was covered in dark cushions, and was where Qin Xiao usually sat to drink tea and read.

The soft couch wasn’t long enough, so when laying down, Chu Jiubian couldn’t even straighten his legs. He was curled up into a ball, his long silver hair spread over him like a blanket.

Qin Xiao blinked, but he soon lost the ability to hold onto consciousness, slipping under again without managing to speak a word.

*

*

News of Qin Xiao’s severe injury was impossible to keep under wraps, especially with all of the Imperial Physicians being present at Yangxin Hall that day. This led to much speculation, and when neither Qin Xiao nor Chu Jiubian appeared in the following two days, the severity of Qin Xiao’s injury was basically confirmed.

Naturally, the reactions of various parties differed.

But it was self-evident that very few people were hoping for his survival.

They felt that Qin Xiao would likely be fine due to Chu Jiubian’s “divine” presence, but secretly hoped that something unexpected would happen.

Three days passed in this manner, yet no news emerged from the palace. The powerful Regent who held sway over the entire Imperial Court remained missing, his fate unknown.

They all began to wonder if Qin Xiao was indeed so grievously wounded that even Chu Jiubian, this immortal descended to earth, was unable to save him.

But despite having these thoughts, according to reason, they still believed that with Chu Jiubian’s abilities, he would surely be able to help Qin Xiao overcome his predicament.

Darkness came early in winter, and on this particular day, it grew dark shortly after dinner.

The main hall of the Wang family’s central compound.

Family Head Wang Huanzhi sat at the head of the table, with Minister of Rites Wang Zhiyuan seated next to him. Seated lower down was Wang Zhang, a family elder and also Wang Huanzhi’s strategist.

Inside the hall stood an iron stove purchased from the Hundred Treasure House. It was unique and exquisitely crafted, bearing no resemblance whatsoever to the thin-walled stoves used by ordinary people in later periods.

This iron stove was naturally of the same variety that Chu Jiubian had created for use in the Imperial Palace. He had more produced, and added some different designs and engravings to make them look unique, which allowed them to be sold at a higher price.

It wasn’t that he had no desire to make ordinary goods for the common people, but the amount of iron that could be mined was currently limited. Due to its scarcity and strict government control over the iron trade, the price of iron furnaces was very high, well out of the financial range of the common people.

Since this was the case, it was better to make exquisite, beautiful items and sell them at a high price to noble families.

Leaving aside the noble families in the capital, there were hundreds of iron stoves in affluent households now. Chu Jiubian had even taught the shopkeeper of the Hundred Treasure House how to make heated wall structures to keep rooms warmer.

The Hundred Treasure House was currently running a promotion: Buy one furnace and receive one heated wall, which the establishment’s craftsmen would set up.

At this moment, there was a heated wall in the main hall of the Wang family’s central compound.

The fire burned brightly, making the room warmer than it had been in any previous year.

Dressed in thin emerald green robes, Wang Huanzhi took a sip of his tea and said unhurriedly: “The minister has been quite busy lately. It has been quite some time since I’ve had the opportunity to sit and have tea with you like this.”

Ever since Wang Zhiyuan had instructed Wang Pengyi to diligently handle the task of transporting military supplies, Chu Jiubian had realized Wang Zhiyuan’s intention to align himself with the throne and entrusted him with more tasks, demonstrating an unprecedented level of reliance on the man.

He was now arguably the most powerful of the six government ministers.

Aside from him, there was no need to mention Deputy Minister of Revenue Wang Pengyi. Even the Wang family disciples who remained in court – Deputy Minister of Works Liu Junqi and senior official Wang Yu from the Ministry of Personnel – had also been given exceptionally important positions.

They were involved in everything, from arranging receptions for the vassal kings, to handling the promotions and transfers of various officials at the end of the year, and to dealing with local taxes and other miscellaneous affairs, making them incredibly frustrating to deal with.

Due to this, during the months that Qin Xiao was away, not only did the Wang family not experience suppression, but they actually grew in power.

Their influence was unrivaled, but this situation was like heating oil over a raging fire.

Everyone knew that Wang Zhiyuan was subtly siding with the Emperor, effectively betraying the alliance of noble families.

The Emperor – or rather, Chu Jiubian – was openly and without reservation relying heavily on members of the Wang family, using their power and connections to suppress the other three great families.

As expected, when everyone later conspired against Qin Xiao, Wang Pengyi diligently and conscientiously performed his duties in maintaining the army’s lifeline. Not only did he protect the supplies well, but he delivered them promptly, ensuring that the army had no worries whatsoever.

It was safe to say that Wang Pengyi played a significant role in Qin Xiao’s conquest of the Sai Kingdom.

Thus, the Wang family had positioned themselves entirely against the other great families.

As the family head, Wang Huanzhi’s ambition was not simply to be a loyal and capable subject serving the Emperor; he wanted to secure more benefits and power for both himself and the Wang family.

However, the actions of Wang Zhiyuan and Wang Pengyi, both high-ranking officials in the court, ran completely contrary to his intentions.

Assisting the throne in weakening the noble families was not a good thing.

Once the other families were suppressed, it would be their turn. Wang Huanzhi didn’t believe that Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao would allow the Wang family to enjoy a monopoly.

But what troubled Wang Huanzhi the most was that Wang Zhiyuan made no effort to conceal his interactions with his heir, Wang Qichen. In fact, during this period, Wang Zhiyuan had met with Wang Qichen more often than he did with Wang Huanzhi, the family head.

And then there was Deputy Minister of Justice Wang Ruzhen, who was a firm supporter of Wang Huanzhi. While most high-ranking members of the Wang family were being given important tasks, he was being marginalized.

Wang Huanzhi could only suspect that Wang Zhiyuan had said something to Chu Jiubian.

He had summoned Wang Zhiyuan today for the purpose of finding out whether he had secretly allied with his rebellious son, Wang Qichen, and whether he had begun to suppress the Wang family’s influence in court, particularly those who were loyal to the family head.

If that was the case, it would be even more difficult for Wang Huanzhi to transfer the title of ‘heir’ to his youngest son, Wang Wenyao.

“There are numerous matters to attend to in the Imperial Court with the end of the year approaching, so I’ve naturally been busier,” Wang Zhiyuan said in a mild voice.

Wang Huanzhi’s faint smile didn’t reach his eyes: “Then I’ll thank the minister for his hard work.”

“The Emperor’s reliance on me is no burden.” 

Wang Zhiyuan’s pompous words wiped the last trace of the fake smile from Wang Huanzhi’s face.

“We’re all family here. Why the need for such formalities, Minister?”

His tone was somewhat unpleasant.

Even though he needed Wang Zhiyuan on his side, Wang Huanzhi still couldn’t bear to humble himself. Unable to let go of his pride as the family head, he constantly treated others with disdain, affording them no respect whatsoever.

Sitting at the lower end of the table, Wang Zhang took a furtive glance at Wang Zhiyuan’s expression. He noticed no emotional fluctuations, but still spoke up to ease the tension: “The family head is meeting with you today to have a heart-to-heart conversation. Hoping My Lord will understand.”

Wang Zhiyuan smiled slightly and gave no response.

Wang Huanzhi then said: “My Wang family has been known for its integrity for generations. We disdain engaging in power struggles and vying for personal gain, and only act out of self-preservation. Surely My Lord understands this.”

With his gaze fixed on Wang Zhiyuan, he continued: “Now that Imperial power is on an upward trend and Ning-wang has returned to the capital after a great victory, enjoying unparalleled prestige, he will surely target our noble family after he recovers.”

Wang Zhang secretly observed the person sitting at the head of the table.

But Wang Zhiyuan remained silent.

Wang Huanzhi frowned and softened his tone, attempting to persuade him: “My Lord must understand that the reason our four great families have reached our positions is because we stand by and support one another. But now, we have all witnessed your association with Chu Jiubian and your close ties to the Imperial family. Surely, you don’t wish to bring ruin to our Wang family without any regard for the consequences?”

“Why does the Family Head say such a thing?” Wang Zhiyuan finally spoke. “Everything I’ve done has been to ensure the continuation of the Wang family for generations. I’ve never meant the family any harm.”

“But your current actions are pushing the Wang family into conflict with other influential figures,  placing us into a precarious position!”

Wang Zhiyuan’s expression iced over at the resounding force of Wang Huanzhi’s voice.

He had long mastered the art of concealing his emotions, and the fact that his feelings were discernable now was solely because he was making no effort to hide them.

Seeing this, Wang Zhang feared that the situation would escalate and damage their relationship, so he hastily spoke up: “The Minister has recognized the abilities of Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao, and wishes to forge a cooperative relationship with the Imperial family. It is perfectly understandable for him to leverage their influence in order to elevate the Wang family to greater heights. We are naturally grateful, and admire him for it.”

“But I would also ask you, My Lord, are you so certain that Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian will not discard you once you have lived out your usefulness?”

Wang Zhiyuan let out a light chuckle.

Wang Zhang and Wang Huanzhi were unfamiliar with how Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao operated, but having spent his days in the Imperial Court, Wang Zhiyuan had a very clear understanding of them.

These two men were powerful and influential. They possessed sharp minds, and were highly-skilled in cunning, strategizing, and manipulation. Both were outstanding figures of their time, and even an elder such as Wang Zhiyuan, who had been immersed in court politics for many years, found it challenging to deal with the two of them.

However, there was one thing that set these two apart from other influential figures.

Ironclad loyalty and integrity.

Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian were both men of profound loyalty and integrity, and who also cared deeply for the country and its people.

They worked tirelessly on behalf of the common people, and every action they took was for the purpose of improving the lives of those people and strengthening Great Ning.

And they indeed had the ability to succeed in this endeavor.

Before, Wang Zhiyuan had been engrossed in the political infighting and was unable to see the situation clearly. But when his student Liu Junqi was promoted and Wang Pengyi was entrusted with the vital task of transporting military supplies, he understood everything.

He also realized that the younger generation had a clearer understanding of matters than he did.

This was no longer the era of Emperor Gaozong; the resources of the powerful noble families were no longer needed to restore the livelihoods of the common people, so what Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian needed were people who would genuinely serve the court and the country’s citizens.

It was fortunate that the Wang family, and Wang Zhiyuan himself, had not yet done anything irreversible to Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian.

Those two were also willing to let byegones be byegones, and didn’t condemn the entirety of the Wang family outright. So when an opportunity to reconcile with them was presented, Wang Zhiyuan naturally took it.

However, the head of the Wang family was clearly preoccupied with his self-contained world and selfish desires, and was unable to see the bigger picture.

He was not as insightful as Young Master Wang Qichen.

Wang Zhiyuan recalled that Chu Jiubian had paid a visit to Yaotai Bookstore on his own initiative and spoke for some time with Wang Qichen.

Although the content of their discussion was unknown, judging from Wang Qichen’s actions during this period, he and Chu Jiubian must have reached some sort of agreement or partnership.

He had also noticed that whenever he happened to bring up Chu Jiubian or spoke of matters related to him, Wang Qichen’s attitude would become more respectful and affectionate.

The exact reason was unknown, but it was clear that Wang Qichen’s relationship with Chu Jiubian was not as simple as a mere business partnership. And this was good news for the Wang family.

But Wang Zhiyuan was unwilling to discuss the complexities and intricacies involved in this matter.

It wasn’t that he didn’t wish to offer advice to Wang Huanzhi, but that with a strategist like Wang Zhang by his side, he couldn’t possibly be unaware of these implications.

This meant that, knowing perfectly well what was happening, he was still determined to oppose the Emperor.

Wang Zhiyuan felt that this stubbornness was partly due to the fact that Wang Huanzhi’s son, Wang Wenfu, had been publicly beheaded by Qin Xiao for consuming mandala.

It was incredibly difficult to rid oneself of resentment after the killing of one’s child.

So ultimately, the division within the Wang family boiled down to differing perspectives.

While previously, the conflict had simply centered on “supporting the family head” or “supporting the young master,” they were now faced with a choice between “supporting the noble families” or “supporting Imperial power.”

Wang Zhiyuan was aware that Wang Huanzhi wanted to recruit him into his faction, but he had greater faith in Wang Qichen, and naturally wouldn’t accept the offer.

Whether he faced coercion or bribes, or emotional manipulation disguised as “righteousness,” he would not change his stance.

Therefore, with no desire to discuss the subject further, he changed tacks: “Instead of worrying about trivial things, the Family Head should be more concerned about the Yaotai Green Paper that has appeared on the market.”

Seeing the change in Wang Huanzhi’s expression, Wang Zhiyuan took a sip of tea before saying slowly: “The Young Master’s bookstore held a literary gathering, which successfully showcased both its reputation and the talents of those involved, not to mention its considerable financial resources. Currently, everyone is saying that the Young Master is the most likely candidate to secure selling rights for the Yaotai paper.”

After much anticipation, the Yaotai Green Paper had finally been released.

The first instance occurred in a brothel in the capital, where a well-educated courtesan skilled in calligraphy publicly unfolded a sheet of the paper and began to write with brush and ink.

The paper had a texture similar to the rice paper used in later periods, and compared to the paper currently available in Great Ning, it could be described as “white as snow, flexible and lightweight,” immediately drawing the admiration of anyone who laid eyes on it.

Moreover, he had learned that such high-quality paper and the young woman’s beautiful handwriting had combined in such a way that those pieces of calligraphy sold at exorbitant prices.

But that intelligent young woman stated that the papermaker did not wish to reveal his identity, and only sought someone to collaborate with. He would be responsible for making the paper, and his partner would be responsible for selling it.

However, the papermaker had his own considerations. He would need to vet anyone who collaborated with him, and only someone who met those requirements would be granted selling rights.

Only, he didn’t specify what those “requirements” were.

The Langya Gold Paper sold by the Wang family had previously fetched as much as one gold ingot per sheet at its peak, and was almost exclusively purchased by wealthy individuals for their collections. Now, the value of this Yaotai Green Paper would be even higher.

With such enormous profits involved, everyone naturally wanted to grab a piece of the pie.

Thus, in recent days, everyone in the capital who wished to sell Yaotai paper was putting in their best effort to showcase themselves.

Either they were searching high and low for information about the papermaker, or showcasing their poetic talent or wealth in order to impress him.

But several days had passed, and there was still no more Yaotai paper for sale on the market, nor had anyone heard of someone being favored for the selling rights.

Wang Huanzhi was naturally one of these people.

Selling paper was the Wang family’s most profitable business, and when anyone thought of writing materials such as brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, they would immediately think of the Wang family.

This was one of the reasons the Wang family was renowned for their adherence to etiquette and unwavering integrity.

However, if this Yaotai paper was seized by someone else, the Wang family would no longer be the sole possessors of a papermaking technique, and would lose both profit and prestige.

Therefore, Wang Huanzhi was willing to pay any price to become acquainted with the person behind this Yaotai paper.

Either the Yaotai paper would be sold to the Wang family, or they would completely eliminate the possibility of Yaotai paper ever appearing again.

If possible, Wang Huanzhi would prefer to have the best of both worlds.

This would give him greater influence within the Wang family, and allow him to break free from the stifling feeling of being overshadowed by Wang Qichen.

His petty schemes were completely transparent, and there wasn’t a soul in the Wang family who was unaware of them.

Besides trying to annoy him, Wang Zhiyuan had brought the topic up at this moment to make him anxious

When someone was anxious, they lost their rationality and composure, and were more susceptible to being deceived. 

Yes, Wang Zhiyuan was entirely aware that the “person” behind the Yaotai Green Paper was merely a scheme devised by Wang Qichen.

Because Wang Qichen was the one who had invented the paper in the first place.

It just wasn’t being sold at “Yaotai Bookstore” at the moment.

Wang Qichen had kept this matter very well-hidden. To make it more convincing, he even spread rumors within the family, claiming that the reason he opened the bookstore was actually to use the name “Yaotai” to establish a connection with the papermaker.

Therefore, none of them suspected anything.

Wang Huanzhi was somewhat anxious when the bookstore opened, but more than anything, he looked down on his eldest son and found his actions childish.

Without even knowing for sure that he would obtain the paper-selling rights, he had invested a huge amount of capital to open a bookstore on the busy Splendid Plaza, which would likely result in him losing everything in the end.

But now, Wang Zhiyuan had deliberately exposed his self-deception, informing him that Wang Qichen’s approach was more sincere than anyone else’s and was most likely to impress the “papermaker.”

As expected, Wang Huanzhi’s expression sank even further.

Wang Zhiyuan didn’t show it on his face, but deep down, he felt somewhat helpless.

In his youth, Wang Huanzhi had been considered one of the most outstanding among his peers. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to secure the position of family head. But as he grew older, Wang Huanzhi mindset became increasingly narrow, and his perspective more one-sided.

He was far too self-serving. He only cared about his second wife and the son she bore him, disregarding the well-being of the rest of the family. 

In fact, he had long since ceased to be a suitable family head for the Wang family.

“If you remain on a mountaintop for too long, you may forget the original reason you started climbing.” Wang Zhiyuan offered one last piece of advice, then stood up and said, “I’m tired. The Family Head should also go and get some rest.”

Having said this, he left through the door.

Wang Zhang watched his retreating figure, lost in thought.

Wang Huanzhi, however, disregarded the elder’s last words and said in a dark voice: “It seems he has made up his mind to side with that rebellious son.”

That being the case, he was even more determined to obtain the selling rights for the Yaotai paper and completely suppress Wang Qichen.

Seeing him in this state, Wang Zhang hesitated to speak.

Some things were not suitable for discussion at this time. The most important matter at hand was indeed to secure this new paper supply first.

Meanwhile.

At the Xiao family residence, Minister of Personnel Xiao Huaiguan was reclined halfway back on the soft couch in his bedroom.

His closed eyes were ringed by dark circles, his cheeks were slightly sunken, and his clothes were too loose on him. It would be no exaggeration to say that he was skin and bones.

Across from him, a woman dressed in light garments delicately plucked the strings of her musical instrument with slender fingers.

Amidst the decadent music, the room was filled with swirling smoke.

Xiao Huaiguan took a deep breath, then exhaled with a long sigh, a look of enjoyment on his face.

The woman’s eyes were also a bit hazy. She removed her hands from the instrument and went to his side, where she poured him a cup of tea and held it to his lips with a smile: “My Lord, have some tea.”

But Xiao Huaiguan paid no attention to her, his breaths coming alternately light and heavy.

“My Lord.” The woman said softly, “What kind of incense are you burning? Its fragrance makes one feel utterly blissful…..”

The sounds coming from inside the room were muffled.

Family Head Xiao Yao and former Deputy Minister of Works Xiao Wendao stood outside the door, their expressions equally unbothered.

“It’s gotten worse,” Xiao Wendao said calmly. “He doesn’t have long to live.”

Xiao Yao actually had a smile on his face: “With the vassal kings arriving in the capital, we should make preparations as well.”

The Xiao family was currently weak, and even though Chu Jiubian had given them a small opportunity to rise, if Minister of Personnel Xiao Huaiguan were to perish, they would be left without support in the Imperial Court.

For now, all they could do was suppress the influence of the other noble families. Only then could they all stand on the same mountain and continue to climb upward together.

“Who do you think is responsible for Ning-wang’s grave injury?” asked Xiao Wendao.

“Who do you think it is?”

Xiao Wendao smiled and looked toward the Northwest, saying: “It is naturally easier to get things done on one’s own territory. But I do wonder what the circumstances were like at the time that it led to Ning-wang being injured.”

Xiao Yao said nothing, but a subtle darkness flickered within his eyes.

*

*

They met by chance.

At the official post station closest to the capital, several groups of people were being received by the trembling postmaster and his staff, who offered all of them formal bows: “This humble official greets Zuiliang-wang, Pinxi-wang, Nanjiang-wang, and Dingbei-wang.”

His voice was shaking.

Never in his life had he imagined that he would encounter so many vassal kings arriving at his post station simultaneously.

Fortunately, he knew that the vassal kings were coming to the capital this year and had prepared for it just in case. Otherwise, he might have faced beheading if he called out these people’s names in the wrong order.

Zuiliang-wang Bai Liyan was the third eldest, and Pingxi-wang Bai Lizheng was the fifth eldest, followed by Nanjiang-wang Bai Lihao and Dingbei-wang Bai Liyu, who were ranked sixth and ninth respectively.

Only after he finished addressing them and found that none of them seemed angry did the postmaster breathe a subtle sigh of relief.

It seemed he had done it correctly.

However, it was possible that these four vassal kings simply had amiable personalities, like Huguang-wang Bai Liyue and Dongjiang-wang Bai Lihe, who had arrived together earlier.

These two people, one older and one younger, had been at odds from the moment they met, openly and subtly mocking and scorning each other.

The postmaster didn’t dare to shut his eyes all night, overcome by anxiety and dread. But thankfully, those two had departed for the capital that morning.

“Have guest rooms been prepared?” the young servant attending Zuiliang-wang asked with a smile.

“Indeed, indeed.” The postmaster led everyone upstairs to the second floor. “The best rooms have been prepared for the four vassal kings and their family members. Food and hot water will be brought up shortly.”

He spoke of family members, but it was actually just Bai Lihao who had brought his wife and the twin Situ siblings.

None of the other vassal kings had taken their female relatives along – mainly because the only legitimate female figure in the palace at present was the Empress Dowager, so there would be no point in bringing them.

And as for not bringing their sons, that was another consideration they’d all had to make.

Their fear was that Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian would suddenly make a move, demanding that they leave their sons behind in the capital. No matter what plausible reasons they provided, those sons would essentially be kept as hostages.

Therefore, everyone agreed that it was best not to bring their families, but Nanjiang-wang and his family disregarded this completely and came anyway.

Zuiliang-wang Bai Liyan, dressed in light blue robes and a fox fur cloak, asked everyone with a smile: “Who would like to choose their room first?”

He had been a cheerful person since childhood, regarding everyone with a smile. Very few people had ever seen him look angry.

Compared to his two older brothers, who were difficult to get along with, Bai Liyan was clearly the more popular one among them.

This was also the case at present, and the other three showed no signs of tension or awkwardness.

Bai Lizheng said: “Third Brother, you make the arrangements. We’ll listen to you.”

Bai Liyan then said: “Alright, then let’s take rooms in order of rank. If we leave tomorrow morning, we can reach the capital before the city gates close and save ourselves some trouble.”

Although his words seemed casual, they carried an underlying meaning related to the two vassal kings who had come before them.

Those two had arrived the previous night and ate a leisurely breakfast that morning before setting off. At their slow pace of travel, they certainly wouldn’t be able to arrive before the city gates closed.

But with two vassal kings outside the gates, who would possibly refuse to open them?

If the gates were not opened, it would seem like the Imperial Court didn’t value them. Afterward, any rumors they spread about how the Emperor was suppressing them, whether true or false, would be believed by at least some. And even if they were to rebel against the Emperor, those people would see their actions as justifiable.

Were the Emperor to allow the gates to be opened, he would also be creating a potential problem for himself.

As the saying went, “Even the Emperor is subject to the same laws as the citizens.” If he went against the decree that the city gates must be closed by a certain time for the sake of these vassal kings, what would happen afterward if the common people wanted to enter the city at night? Would the gates be opened for them or not?

If the gates were opened once, then they would likely be opened numerous times, in which case it would be better to just leave them open permanently. However, this would make it difficult to guarantee the safety of those inside and outside the city at night.

But if he didn’t open them, wouldn’t that make the Emperor a hypocrite?

Bai Liyue and Bai Lihe were attempting to manipulate the Emperor.

Everyone knew that Qin Xiao’s fate was currently unknown, and that Chu Jiubian had secluded himself in the western courtyard of Yangxin Hall in order to treat him. Therefore, it would fall upon the young Emperor to handle this matter.

Without those two present to help him strategize, it was unclear how the Emperor would react.

The others pretended not to understand Bai Liyan’s underlying meaning, and exchanged a few pleasantries before retiring to their rooms.

After washing up and having a meal, Dingbei-wang read for a while before preparing for bed.

His behavior was impeccable in every respect. Aside from being the most handsome among all the vassal kings, his mannerisms gave no indication as to what kind of person he truly was.

Shortly after the lamps were doused and he settled into bed, someone knocked softly on the window.

Then the window was pushed open slightly, and a crumpled piece of paper was tossed onto the bed.

Everything went silent once more.

Bai Liyu sat up and lit a tinderbox.

Shadows cast by the flickering firelight danced across his face.

His gaze fell upon the note, which contained only four words: Not awake. No confession.

The one who was “not awake” was naturally Qin Xiao, and the one who hadn’t “confessed” was Cheng Shuo, the deputy general who had attempted to assassinate Qin Xiao.

Ever since being imprisoned by Qin Xiao, he had remained completely silent, regardless of the methods the jailors used.

Bai Liyu burned the note, then closed the tinderbox and lay down again to sleep.

But whether or not he actually got any sleep was unknown.

*

*

Inside the palace, it was already the evening of the third day.

Chu Jiubian had been asleep since morning, and it was dark when he awoke.

The room wasn’t entirely pitch black, but it was still too dark to see anything clearly. He could only faintly discern a vague figure on the bed.

“How is he?” Chu Jiubian asked the System.

[The patient has been awake for three hours and seven minutes. An hour ago, he quietly went to relieve himself and returned. He also met with his subordinates, washed his face, and shaved his beard.]

The System normally wouldn’t report to him in such meticulous detail, but things were different for someone who had just undergone surgery. Every little detail must be taken seriously.

He was already awake?

And he had already accomplished so much?

Chu Jiubian looked up at Qin Xiao in astonishment.

His indistinct figure lay quietly in bed.

Chu Jiubian propped himself up into a sitting position, only to feel something slide off him. Reaching out to touch it, he discovered that it was the blanket he had previously draped over Qin Xiao.

[The blanket was placed on you by the patient] the System added.

Sitting on the soft couch, Chu Jiubian observed the other party in the dark.

After some time, he finally spoke: “Qin Xiao.”

His voice was still a little sleepy from just waking up.

“En.” The man’s hoarse voice sounded in the darkness.

For some reason, Chu Jiubain felt that even that single word sounded somewhat tender.

“How are you feeling? Other than the wound, are you uncomfortable anywhere else?” Chu Jiubian asked.

Before Qin Xiao could say anything, the System eagerly chimed in: [Host, the patient’s condition is completely normal. Please rest assured.]

So the points he spent weren’t wasted after all.

Chu Jiubian’s lips curved into a smile.

Qin Xiao answered: “I’m fine.”

Chu Jiubian lay back down on the couch, his long legs bent.

After a moment of silence, Chu Jiubian heard Qin Xiao say: “Thank you.”

“I told you before, as long as you treat me well, I’ll give you everything,” said Chu Jiubian. He would even give him his life.

Qin Xiao’s voice seemed to carry a smile: “Do I treat you well?”

Chu Jiubian didn’t respond, and deliberately avoided dwelling on the matter. He was well aware that he was dodging the issue.

When he received no response, Qin Xiao continued on his own: “It seems I still haven’t treated you well enough.”

The wind had picked up during the night, and howled faintly outside the window. The moonlight was very dim.

Inside, however, it was very warm. Therefore, the night was not desolate, but instead felt very cozy.

This was the first time they had slept in the same room, and it felt a little strange.

Chu Jiubian hiked up his blanket to cover his nose and mouth. It carried a faint scent that he couldn’t identify, but he recalled that it was always present on Qin Xiao.

“You won the bet,” he said, his voice muffled by the blanket.

“How is that?” Qin Xiao asked with a smile.

He watched the young man’s figure, not looking away for an instant.

He was not at all short, but when curled into a ball, he looked very small.

At this moment, the other party was lying on his back with his legs bent, revealing their straight, slender contours.

Chu Jiubian said: “The fact that you can sit here and chat with me about trivial things means you won, doesn’t it?”

Qin Xiao had bet on whether or not Chu Jiubian would save him.

He had now been saved. Qin Xiao had won.

Qin Xiao: “What exactly do you think I bet on?”

“Isn’t it that I would soften my heart?” Chu Jiubian asked casually.

Qin Xiao smiled faintly.

After a while, he said softly: “Something like that.”

He had been gambling on Chu Jiubian’s soft-heartedness.

But not that he would be saved.

He was gambling on whether Chu Jiubian would have a place for him in his heart.

Now, it seemed that he had found the answer – or perhaps not.

Qin Xiao observed the young man’s figure, his penetrating eyes appearing even deeper in the dim room.

Facing death often gave rise to one’s deepest desires.

Qin Xiao didn’t dare think back on what he had dreamed while he was unconscious.

But at this moment, he was perfectly clear on what he desired.

Chu Jiubian could feel Qin Xiao’s gaze fixed on him. It was intense, fiery, forceful…..

He turned onto his side and instinctively curled up, silently pulling the blanket higher so that only his eyes peeked out as he watched the person on the bed.

The wind outside had picked up. Chu Jiubian felt a cold draft seeping through the cracks in the window, and involuntarily shivered.

In the next moment, he heard the man’s low voice: “Come to bed.”

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Chapter 70 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 72

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Chu Jiubian stared speechlessly at Qin Xiao inside the silent carriage,

Qin Xiao wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief, then took a palm-sized pouch from his robes and handed it to Chu Jiubian.

“What is it?” Chu Jiubian accepted the pouch, and when he opened it and saw what was inside, he froze in surprise.

“I promised you before that I would get you grapes to eat after conquering the Western Regions.” Qin Xiao subtly steadied his breathing, then continued, “Unfortunately, there are no fresh ones during this season, only dried. Once they grow and ripen next year, you’ll be able to eat fresh ones.”

Chu Jiubian was at somewhat of a loss.

He had just spoken casually at the time, and hadn’t been serious at all.

Until Qin Xiao brought it up now, he had even forgotten that he had ever said such a thing.

“Give them a try,” said Qin Xiao.

Chu Jiubian took out two grapes and placed them in his mouth, then looked up at the other party.

Qin Xiao asked with a smile: “Are they sweet?”

Chu Jiubian offered him the pouch and said: “Want some?”

Qin Xiao shook his head. His gaze lingered on Chu Jiubian’s face as he said: “Give me a piece of candy.”

Chu Jiubian took out a candy and gave it to him. It was grape-flavored.

Qin Xiao put it in his mouth and said: “It’s sweet.”

Chu Jiubian looked at the pouch in his hand. Then, after a long pause, he closed it and put it in his pocket.

“Do you know what I thought about every day while I was gone?” Qin Xiao’s voice was very soft.

Chu Jiubian looked up to find the man leaning against the carriage wall, smiling rather brazenly.

“Every day, I thought about you,” he said.

The carriage arrived at the palace gates. Without waiting for or expecting a response from Chu Jiubian, Qin Xiao immediately climbed out.

Chu Jiubian touched the slight bulge of the pouch in his pocket, then got out of the carriage.

Ahead of them were Bai Lihong and Qin Chaoyang, who had been waiting a while, as well as Eunuch Hong Fu, who had arrived with a sedan chair to greet them.

Dispensing with any pleasantries, they proceeded directly to Yangxin Hall.

Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao walked side by side, crunching over the snow and leaving footprints in their wake.

The second they entered Yangxin Hall, Bai Lihong spun around and hugged his uncle’s legs.

But Qin Xiao, who always stood as tall and straight as a pine tree, stumbled slightly. Chu Jiubian reflexively reached out to steady him by the arm.

Qin Xiao turned his face away and covered his mouth and nose with a handkerchief. He coughed a few times, and the muffled sound faintly resembled someone choking on water.

A few moments later, he recovered his composure and concealed the handkerchief in his palm.

However, Bai Lihong’s sharp eyes spotted the bright red stain marring the handkerchief, and tears immediately welled up in them: “Jiujiu, you’re hurt?!”

Hong Fu and Qin Chaoyang had naturally noticed this as well, and traces of worry appeared on their faces.

Qin Xiao crouched down and gently stroked the child’s hair, his expression holding a previously unseen tenderness.

“Be good,” he said. “You must listen to your Xiansheng.”

Sensing that something was wrong, Bai Lihong wanted to throw himself into his uncle’s arms. But since he didn’t know where he was injured and didn’t want to hurt him, he could only hug his uncle’s arm with a trembling lower lip, tears pooling in his eyes.

The child didn’t know what was going on, but he could vaguely sense the uneasy atmosphere.

Qin Xiao hugged him tightly and gently rubbed his back, just as he had done many times before.

After a long while, he finally loosened his embrace and said: “Jiujiu is going to take a rest. You can go read your book first.”

Bai Lihong grabbed his hand. After hesitating for a moment, he whispered: “Xiansheng said we would all go to Fukang Pavilion to see the plum blossoms when Jiujiu returned.”

Qin Xiao just smiled and said: “Alright, we’ll go see them when there’s time.”

The child let go of his hand at last, saying: “Then Jiujiu can rest now.”

Qin Xiao gave a hum and stood up, then headed toward the western courtyard.

Bai Lihong stood rooted to the spot. He watched that figure walk farther and farther away, and when he could no longer see him, tears began to roll down his cheeks.

Eunuch Hong watched from the side, his eyes welling up with sympathetic tears. “Your Majesty, the heavens smile upon a good man like your uncle. He will be alright,” he said in a gentle tone, attempting to reassure him.

Bai Lihong nodded. His voice was choked with emotion as he said: “And Xiansheng is here.”

The child knew that his uncle had just said goodbye to him. Jiujiu felt that he didn’t have long to live, but Bai Lihong trusted Xiansheng and believed that with him around, everything would be okay.

Chu Jiubian trailed Qin Xiao to the western courtyard.

From beginning to end, Qin Xiao didn’t speak a word. Upon entering the courtyard, he beelined straight for the bedroom, pushed open the door, and went inside.

“Qin Xiao,” Chu Jiubian called out.

Qin Xiao paused in his steps, but didn’t turn around. His tall, upright figure was hidden by the shadows in the doorway.

“I’m a little tired,” he said softly.

Chu Jiubian stared intently at his retreating figure until the double doors shut completely.

His ears were ringing. He felt as if he couldn’t catch his breath.

Suddenly, Qin Chaoyang, who had been following a ways behind, rushed to the bedroom door at an incredible speed and slammed it open.

Chu Jiubian’s heart sank like a stone.

As the ringing in his ears subsided, he heard a man’s muffled coughing.

He stepped forward unthinkingly and entered the bedroom to find Qin Chaoyang helping Qin Xiao to lie down in bed. There was blood all over Qin Xiao’s face and body, and even on the floor.

“Call the Imperial Physicians!” Qin Chaoyang shouted toward the door.

But before he could even finish shouting, secret guards had already sped off to summon them.

Chu Jiubian composed himself and paced to the bedside, only to find that Qin Xiao had lost consciousness entirely. His breathing was shallow and irregular, his face as pale as paper.

The Imperial Physicians rushed over as quickly as they could, but after taking Qin Xiao’s pulse, their brows furrowed and their faces turned even paler than their patient’s.

They all retreated a short distance away to whisper among themselves, but were unable to come to a conclusion.

The head of the Imperial Medical Academy was advanced in age and had been stricken with a cold for several days, confined to his home due to illness.

The person currently in charge was Zhang Ziliang, the physician who had gone with Chu Jiubian to provide disaster relief in Hexi Prefecture. Upon meeting him, Chu Jiubian had noticed that although the man was somewhat self-serving, he was exceptionally capable and genuinely dedicated to serving the common people, so he had given him a copy of Compendium of Materia Medica.

Physician Zhang carefully took Qin Xiao’s pulse, after which he stood up and looked at Chu Jiubian.

“How is he?” Chu Jiubian asked.

If the Imperial Physicians could cure him, then he wouldn’t intervene, since Qin Xiao had survived in the original story anyway.

But Physician Zhang shook his head and said: “The arrow was shot with great force, and the placement was very precise. It’s a miracle that His Lordship survived, but now, I fear…..”

Chu Jiubian’s brow furrowed: “Is there really no one who can cure him?”

Physician Zhang wanted to say, Aren’t you the miracle doctor?

But he swallowed those words back and said in a low voice: “This humble servant is incompetent. Perhaps it would be best to wait until the head physician has examined the patient before making a definitive conclusion.”

“The head physician is unable to get out of bed.” Qin Chaoyang’s voice seemed to tremble slightly.

His eyes were bloodshot when he looked at Chu Jiubian, and he seemed to hesitate on the brink of saying something.

Chu Jiubian’s eyes scanned over everyone, and he ordered the Imperial Physicians to leave.

Once they left, Qin Chaoyang couldn’t hold himself back any longer and knelt before Chu Jiubian with a thud.

“Young Master,” he said, clasping his hands together. He looked up at Chu Jiubian and said in a trembling voice, “Before he left, His Lordship instructed his subordinates to follow your orders in everything. If he…..if he truly doesn’t make it, then I and all of the former members of the Qin Family Army will be at the Young Master’s command.”

Chu Jiubian’s heart skipped a beat. Those eyes stared up at him lifelessly, and he couldn’t detect any hint of hesitation or evasiveness in them.

His mind went completely blank.

It was true. Qin Chaoyang wasn’t lying.

Qin Xiao really intended to entrust him with everything.

But…..why?

Why would Qin Xiao trust him? Why would he……

The sweetness of the dried grapes on his lips became increasingly pronounced, and Chu Jiubian could almost see the man smiling lazily at him once more, saying, “Every day, I thought about you.”

Unlike the uncontrolled kiss under the umbrella that night, this time, Qin Xiao had seemed to be indulging himself for the last time.

“His Lordship once said that you should never be pressured to do anything, and this subordinate agreed.” Qin Chaoyang, a man who rarely showed his emotions, said with reddened eyes and a slightly choked voice, “This is the only time in this subordinate’s life that he has ever broken his word. I’m begging you, Young Master, please save His Lordship!”

“No matter the outcome, this subordinate is willing to go through fire and water for you, Young Master!”

After saying this, he slammed his forehead against the floor with a loud thud.

At the same time, a dozen or so secret guards appeared from seemingly nowhere. They all knelt behind Qin Chaoyang and bowed their heads in unison, saying: “These subordinates are also willing to serve you with utmost loyalty and dedication!”

Chu Jiubian stared at them, and a certain string in his mind seemed to snap.

At this moment, all of his self-deception and self-righteousness crumbled.

At last, he came to the clear realization that Qin Xiao was not some one-dimensional character, nor a so-called villain.

This world was real, and Qin Xiao was a living, breathing person who could talk and laugh, think independently, and one day…..die.

Chu Jiubian could no longer use the excuse of Qin Xiao’s inevitable corruption to deceive himself. He had convinced himself that Qin Xiao was the same kind of person as him, then used that as an excuse to associate with him with no reservations.

He now understood with absolute clarity that he and Qin Xiao were completely different individuals, with fundamentally opposite core values.

He was born into the world with no ties, with no one to care about him.

He supported himself through school, frantically acquiring all sorts of knowledge and skills, and presented himself as tenacious and self-reliant in the eyes of the public.

Even his entry into the entertainment industry had been driven by a craving for the fleeting affection of fans, as well as the sense of detachment that came with playing different roles.

What he called “method acting” was simply a way for him to escape reality – and himself.

Because he knew that if his true self were to be revealed to others, nobody would like him. Everyone would avoid him and whisper behind his back, saying, “He’s just like his parents. All of them are crazy.”

He was the anomaly, the problematic “villain.”

But Qin Xiao…..

He was strong and resilient, capable of protecting everyone from harm, and was also attentive and gentle in his care for everything and everyone around him.

He had a family. He had things he wanted to protect. And he had so many loyal subordinates and friends who were devoted to him.

He even had a biological brother who was still living, and a nephew who needed his care and support.

Chu Jiubian suddenly felt very ridiculous.

He had actually believed that he and Qin Xiao were alike, both of them in possession of a dark side that was unknown to others. He had even shamelessly declared, “We’re the same,” thinking that Qin Xiao would understand his abnormal behavior.

But in the end, Chu Jiubian was the only one bogged down in the mud.

If Qin Xiao knew that he wasn’t actually a lofty, all-powerful deity, and didn’t even possess the basic ability to love another person…..

Would he still care about him?

Would he still have left all of this power, all of these resources in his hands?

Would…..he still have traveled such a long distance to bring him the grapes he had casually mentioned once?

This kind of trust and care was a heavy burden to carry, but Chu Jiubian didn’t want to think about what would happen if it were all taken away.

In this case, since he knew that Qin Xiao would eventually discover his true nature, it would be better for him to die while he still had the best impression of him.

A lingering darkness seemed to surface in Chu Jiubian’s light-hued eyes.

He regarded Qin Chaoyang emotionlessly, and voiced neither a denial nor agreement.

He simply asked in a soft voice: “How did he get injured?”

On his way back to the palace, Qin Chaoyang had already inquired with the accompanying guards and learned that Qin Xiao hadn’t had many trustworthy soldiers at his disposal. All of his secret guards had been dispatched to areas of the Western Regions to investigate the local situations there.

Therefore, when the assassination attempt occurred, none of his secret guards were present.

However, they learned about the situation after the fact and relayed that information to Qin Chaoyang.

Since Chu Jiubian had asked, Qin Chaoyang held nothing back: “Deputy General Cheng Shuo wounded him with a repeating crossbow.”

Chu Jiubian abruptly clenched his hands.

“A repeating crossbow?” His voice held a tension that even he was unaware of.

“Yes,” said Qin Chaoyang. “His Lordship obtained it from a martial arts master. It was originally intended to be used for self-defense, but unexpectedly, it was used against him.”

So that’s how it was.

He understood now.

Even if it happened by chance, or through a series of unfortunate events, Qin Xiao’s original fate wouldn’t change.

He was always going to be injured. Even worse, it was done by a trusted subordinate who used the repeating crossbow Qin Chuan had delivered to him.

Chu Jiubian closed his eyes. It was getting hard to breathe.

He had never imagined that Qin Xiao’s injury would come about this way.

If he had known earlier, he…..

Chu Jiubian pulled himself together and looked toward the bed.

The man’s eyes were shut, and his breathing was intermittent, his brow tightly furrowed.

Blood in the chest cavity could lead to shortness of breath and suffocation. Combined with the unhealed wound in his chest, it was easy to imagine how much pain Qin Xiao must be in at this moment.

But even burdened by such suffering, he still didn’t wake.

There was no time to waste.

Others might feel self-reproach in this situation, or dwell on all kinds of eventualities, but Chu Jiubian simply felt as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

He had no more need for hesitation.

Qin Xiao had been injured by Chu Jiubian’s repeating crossbow. Chu Jiubian also still needed him in order to deal with the various forces in Great Ning, so for both practical and moral reasons, he absolutely must save Qin Xiao.

Chu Jiubian didn’t turn his head, and his voice came steady and low: “For the next five days, no one is to approach this courtyard without my permission, including the guards.”

Qin Chaoyang readily agreed. As he rose to his feet, the group of secret guards behind him vanished from the spot like a gust of wind.

He quickly left the residence with all of the palace servants in tow, leaving only a team of soldiers and Imperial Guards to stand watch outside the courtyard.

And he himself still had many matters to deal with.

Now that Ning-wang had returned to the capital, the other six vassal kings – aside from Anhuai-wang – should all be arriving one after another in the next day or two.

Five days later would be the 27th day of the twelfth month, leaving only three days until the New Year.

And during these five days, neither of the two people in charge at the palace would make an appearance. With only the three-year-old Emperor Bai Lihong at the helm, Qin Chaoyang and Hong Fu would be shouldering even greater responsibilities.

Fortunately, this was the time of year the court officials were taking annual leave, so not having morning court to attend would save a lot of trouble.

As for the banquets and exchanging pleasantries with the vassal kings, Minister of Works Jian Hongzhuo and Minister of Rites Wang Zhiyuan, who were now clearly aligned with the Emperor, would also be able to help with those matters.

Given Qin Xiao’s current state, Qin Chaoyang was unsure how to approach the Emperor. 

That small child, who had been eagerly awaiting his uncle’s return, must be so anxious and distressed over this happening before they even had a chance to talk properly.

With a frown on his face, Qin Chaoyang went to the main courtyard of Yangxin Hall and found Hong Fu seated there with the young emperor.

When he saw him enter, Bai Lihong immediately rushed forward and asked with tear-reddened eyes: “How is Jiujiu?”

“Answering Your Majesty, the Young Master said he needs five days.” He kept his words vague, not mentioning the condition of Qin Xiao’s health or whether Chu Jiubian would be able to heal him. Due to the fact that Qin Xiao’s injury was so severe and that Chu Jiubian had made no promises, Qin Chaoyang didn’t dare to get his hopes up.

Despite his youth, Bai Lihong gleaned the hidden meaning in his words.

But he was more optimistic than Qin Chaoyang. After hearing this, he sniffled and said with a strong nasal tone: “Then we’ll wait five days. Xiansheng will definitely cure Jiujiu.”

The child’s expression was resolute. In some ways, he had even taken on some of Qin Xiao’s usual demeanor.

Hong Fu was extremely unsettled, and couldn’t help but cast a glance toward the western courtyard.

Qin Xiao was the last remaining direct descendent of the Qin family. He prayed that the Grand Tutor would be able to pull off another miracle.

The western courtyard was completely empty and exceptionally quiet.

Chu Jiubian paced to the bedside and took a seat, gazing down at the man’s face.

“System, prepare for surgery,” he said internally.

[Host, bringing a non-believer into the Divine Realm will cost 500 points. Are you sure you want to proceed?]

“Just shut up.”

Deep down, Chu Jiubian was actually conflicted.

He hadn’t even been able to draw Qin Xiao’s card earlier. What if he wasn’t able to bring him in now?

Or even if he managed to bring him into the Divine Realm, what if he still couldn’t save him?

He had never performed a surgery before.

Even if he thoroughly understood the theoretical knowledge, that didn’t mean he would be able to perform the operation successfully.

“Do you have any book recommendations?” Chu Jiubian asked.

[Yes, Host. Based on your current situation, this System recommends that you purchase the following thirty-seven medical texts from the interstellar era.]

“I’ll buy them.”

[Okay. Purchase successful. A surgical unit has been set up inside the Divine Realm. Please make physical contact with the patient to establish a connection. This System will deduct 500 points and transport you and the patient’s physical body to the Divine Realm.]

Chu Jiubian’s fingertips trembled slightly, his gaze falling to Qin Xiao’s hand resting by his side.

Without hesitation, he reached out and grasped it.

In the next moment, a strong sense of weightlessness came over him.

Immediately afterward, the clear, crisp cry of a phoenix rang out and the weightless sensation vanished.

As his vision cleared, Chu Jiubian saw Qin Xiao lying beside him, as well as the golden phoenix under them, soaring high with a flap of its wings. 

Likely affected by the movement, Qin Xiao’s breath stuck in his chest for several seconds before he could exhale. When he finally did, it was accompanied by a painful, choking cough, and bright red blood splattered from his mouth onto both himself and Chu Jiubian.

“Qin Xiao.” Chu Jiubian clenched his hand tightly, unable to utter anything but his name.

The golden phoenix descended, dissolving into wisps of mist and scattering away as Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao landed firmly on solid ground.

Qin Xiao was lying on a surgical bed, surrounded by various instruments suspended in the air. There were even several spherical objects that resembled surveillance cameras, which emitted a faint blue light as they scanned Qin Xiao from head to toe.

Chu Jiubian quickly looked around and realized that this was not the place he normally met with his Believers. It was a newly-partitioned space.

He recognized many of the instruments at a glance, but he wasn’t familiar with all of them, and only had a vague idea of how to perform the surgery. Clearly, the knowledge from those thirty-odd books had not been fully absorbed yet.

“System, can you speed things up?”

[Host, the volume of knowledge you just absorbed is enormous. If you receive all of the information in a short period of time, your brain will experience intense nerve pain, but will return to normal once the knowledge transfer is complete. Are you sure you wish to proceed with the rapid transfer?”

“How long does it normally take? And how long with the rapid transfer?”

[Under normal circumstances, absorbing this amount of knowledge would take about three hours. For the rapid transfer, three minutes.]

[Friendly reminder: Activating the rapid transfer requires 5 points. Furthermore, nerve pain differs from other kinds of pain, and the suffering may continue for some time even after the initial pain has stopped. The duration varies from several days to several months, but will not affect daily life or Host’s ability to perform the surgery. However, there will be pain later and occasional bouts of unconsciousness. Are you certain you wish to activate rapid transfer mode?]

This was like using reward points to buy suffering for himself, but Chu Jiubian was the best at enduring pain.

“I’m sure,” he said.

[Okay. Rapid transfer mode has been activated for Host.]

The second it finished speaking, Chu Jiubian felt as if an electric current was shooting into his brain. He let out a stifled groan and immediately fell to one knee.

He lay his face down on the edge of the bed, his hands covering his head.

He’d forgotten that he had been holding Qin Xiao’s hand this entire time, until his forehead brushed against the man’s slightly cool hand.

Qin Xiao’s hands were always warm, Chu Jiubian thought abruptly.

After that, all thoughts fled. The intense pain made it seem as if his skull was breaking apart, and he began to shake uncontrollably. Cold sweat instantly drenched his back, and his damp forehead even left a wet mark on Qin Xiao’s hand.

Three minutes was both very long, and very short.

As soon as the time was up, a lightness suffused Chu Jiubian’s body even as his head continued to throb.

But as Chu Jiubian had acknowledged before, he was the best at enduring pain.

He hadn’t uttered a sound during the agony of those three minutes, and the lingering pain was nothing compared to that. It wasn’t even as painful as when he habitually tore off his fingernails.

The vast amount of knowledge in his mind coalesced into something coherent. Thanks to the System’s organization process, the thirty-seven books covered everything from basic medical principles to advanced techniques, and even to the actual surgical procedure. It was more than enough for Chu Jiubian to perform the operation successfully.

The Divine Realm was a completely sterile environment. Chu Jiubian didn’t even need to wear gloves.

He stood up and brushed aside his damp hair, then looked down at Qin Xiao.

The man’s face was as pale as paper. His breathing was irregular, but the pain on his face had vanished.

Surgical procedures in the interstellar ear were vastly different from those of modern times. One person could perform the entire surgery himself, as processes such as administering anesthesia and monitoring vitals were all done by machines.

The anesthesia machine had automatically injected the serum into Qin Xiao the moment they appeared, and it should be taking effect by now.

The anesthesia process only took five minutes in the interstellar era. Chu Jiubian took that time to inspect the surgical instruments he would be using, and then looked back at Qin Xiao.

His gaze slid from the man’s face to his chest. He tried to withdraw his hand to open Qin Xiao’s shirt, but the other party gripped it even tighter in response.

Startled, Chu Jiubian looked up to find that his eyes were still closed.

After a pause, Chu Jiubian said softly: “Don’t worry.”

Whether Qin Xiao heard his voice or the anesthetic had taken effect, Chu Jiubian’s hand was released.

He reached out and undid Qin Xiao’s outer garments.

On the remaining dark undergarment, faint, sticky bloodstains were visible.

Chu Jiubian continued until the man’s muscular upper body was completely revealed.

The contours of his muscles were well-proportioned and attractive, including the swell of his pecs.

Chu Jiubian, however, paid no attention to this as he fixed his gaze on the left side of the man’s chest. Untying the somewhat loose bandages, he revealed a gruesome arrow wound.

Perhaps because Qin Xiao had taken penicillin, the wound had not become infected. But because he was constantly on the move, it hadn’t had a chance to heal.

Of course, this wound was insignificant compared to his internal injuries.

Five minutes later, the anesthesia machine determined that the process was complete. The other machines were also ready. The ventilator was supplying oxygen, and the monitoring machine indicated that Qin Xiao’s vital signs were relatively normal.

Chu Jiubian reached out and selected a scalpel from the rolling table beside him. Then, he gave Qin Xiao a long, hard look before beginning the operation.

It was his first time performing a surgery, so even though he had a thorough understanding of what to do, he inevitably felt a bit awkward when making the first incision. As a result, Chu Jiubian performed every cut and every step with extreme caution and meticulousness.

A surgery that would have taken mere tens of minutes in the interstellar era took Chu Jiubian a full four hours to complete. 

When the last sutures were completed and bandages were applied, he tilted his head back, and his aching neck made a few crackling sounds.

Letting out a long breath, he looked at Qin Xiao’s face again.

The man’s face was pale, but his breathing was steadier.

As the only true god of the Divine Realm, Chu Jiubian could accomplish anything with a mere thought. Everything around him had already been cleaned up, and even the blood on the two of them had vanished, leaving them clean and refreshed.

He conjured up an armchair, placed it beside the bed, and finally sat down to relieve his aching back.

His temples throbbed, and the nerve pain returned for almost a minute before it stopped.

Chu Jiubian stared blankly at the person on the bed, and suddenly recalled the bet they had made before he left.

Qin Xiao had bet on whether would survive and return, and whether Chu Jiubian would save him if he was grievously wounded.

The two of them had made bets several times, with Chu Jiubian always emerging as the victor.

This time, it seemed that Qin Xiao had won.

Chu Jiubian smiled silently.

He seemed to have understood the concept of causality.

Qin Xiao would have still been injured without him, though less severely, and the Imperial Physicians would have been able to heal him.

But Chu Jiubian had appeared and bestowed a repeating crossbow upon Qin Chuan, which was then given to Qin Xiao, becoming the very weapon that would wound him.

The penicillin Chu Jiubian provided had prevented Qin Xiao’s wound from becoming infected or inflamed.

And now, he had pulled him back from the brink of death.

The cause was Qin Xiao being attacked and injured, and the outcome was his successful recovery.

The process may have changed, but the cause and effect remained the same.

But without Chu Jiubian’s intervention, Qin Xiao would have indeed perished, and the outcome would be entirely different.

He had managed to alter the cause and effect.

Chu Jiubian didn’t know what the System meant by “correcting causality,” but it certainly couldn’t mean that he should just stand by and watch Qin Xiao die to his own crossbow bolt.

He remembered the first thing the System had told him – to follow his heart.

So in his heart, did he secretly wish for Qin Xiao to live?

Chu Jiubian stared at Qin Xiao’s face for a long time, his mind completely blank.

In the interstellar era, anesthesia lasted for two days in order to get the patient through the most painful period after surgery.

And because Chu Jiubian was using only the best materials, even the antiseptic solution and ointment used for post-operative wound dressing were cutting-edge technological products. Combined with Qin Xiao’s naturally superior physical condition, his recovery speed was exceptionally fast.

By the third day, the patient’s bodily functions had returned almost to normal, and he was able to safely leave the sterile environment.

And once the effects of the anesthetic wore off, he would wake up soon after.

Chu Jiubian went to the bedside and looked down at the person laying there.

The man had grown stubble, but it didn’t make him look unkempt; instead, it added a certain indefinable air of refinement to his appearance.

Chu Jiubian observed him for a long time before finally reaching out to grasp his hand, which had become warm again.

He closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, he and Qin Xiao were back in the bedroom.

Nothing had changed, other than the fact that there was a pot of tea and several plates of still-warm lunch outside the room.

Chu Jiubian had been in the Divine Realm for the past two days. Time flowed differently there, and basic bodily needs ceased to exist.

But now that he was out, the faint aroma of food actually made him a little hungry.

He went and opened the door, then brought the food inside.

At the sound of the door opening, the eyelids of the person lying on the bed twitched.

---

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Chapter 69 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 71

Ch 26 – Humans Are Very Delicious

“I hate that trio.” Curtis’s injuries were healed by the medical pod once again, but those three people had vanished.

Curtis searched for over a month. The origin of the identity cards used by the three to enter the spaceport remained unknown, but they had indeed been issued by the Alliance and were not forged. It was very strange.

The Supreme Governor also didn’t believe him at all about the incident, because even more strangely, the surveillance cameras hadn’t captured any part of the confrontation.

Curtis found it particularly odd that the footage only showed Curtis beating that person up, and then leaving as soon as he was finished. There wasn’t even a record of the inspection, and the robots also claimed that they had never seen those three people.

“What the hell is going on!” Curtis slammed his fist down on the table.

The boy next to him was startled, and shrank into his father’s arms.

“Aiyo, I’m sorry, so sorry.” Curtis apologized to the young boy.

The child had big eyes and a lot of hair, which made his already small face look even smaller.

His skin was so white that had a blueish tinge to it, and his eyes were a cyan hue.

“It’s okay,” the boy said softly, unconsciously clenching his hand around his father’s long hair.

“Your child is adorable,” Curtis said to the man.

“Yes, very adorable,” Kersz replied with a smile, pulling Yu Xi closer to his chest.

He had never expected that Yu Xi could change the shape of his body like this, nor that they would run into Curtis again as soon as they arrived at the spaceport.

Tau firmly believed that this was a conspiracy carried out by Kersz, but Kersz was innocent. He really didn’t know what was going on.

In order to avoid drawing attention, Yu Xi had even transformed himself into a child.

Kersz hadn’t planned to make contact with Curtis so soon, because he wanted to take Yu Xi around and experience the joy of being a parent – despite not thinking that there was anything joyful about it before.

Curtis was fighting again when they ran into him, which made Kersz wonder if this was his standard routine.

But Yu Xi did nothing this time. Curtis had put too much pressure on him during their previous confrontation, leaving Yu Xi traumatized.

Kersz just hadn’t expected that Curtis liked children.

Or perhaps it was more accurate to say that the carefree humans on first-class planets generally loved children. Kersz was approached by many people along the way, and Yu Xi was happily touched by countless humans.

When those people touched Yu Xi’s head, he would rub his cheek against their hand and they would always exclaim “ah!” in delight.

The commotion drew the attention of Curtis, who was engaged in a fight, and he came over to take a look. Yu Xi was frightened, thinking that he had been exposed again, but it turned out that Curtis was just fond of children.

Curtis actually liked children, and after talking with Kersz, he felt as if he had made a close friend.

Yu Xi finally understood why Curtis’s parents wouldn’t give him a proper job. This kid seemed to be particularly foolish.

Curtis was somewhat envious of the relationship between Kersz and Yu Xi. He invited them to walk with him, inquiring about how they interacted and remarking upon how “normal” their father-son relationship was.

Tau didn’t think that Kersz and Yu Xi had a normal “father-son relationship,” because Yu Xi was older than Kersz.

Kersz had picked up and played with Yu Xi the instant he transformed into a child. He kept asking Yu Xi how it felt to sit on a human’s lap or lean against a human, and said that he could hold him in one arm and lull him to sleep.

Yu Xi was a little bashful under Kersz’s focused attention, but Kersz was further emboldened by Yu Xi’s embarrassment.

He began to describe in detail the mining jobs he worked in the past, saying that his thighs were still quite fleshy and that Yu Xi would definitely feel no discomfort when sitting on them.

Tau suspected that Yu Xi would collapse at that point, but he didn’t.

In any case, Kersz’s eagerness to market himself was certainly not for the purpose of being seen as a “father.”

When Kersz asked Tau if the two of them shared any sort of father-son resemblance, Tau was very frank with him. He said that he didn’t see a father and son, but a shameless slave seeking a master.

Kersz smiled and thanked him for the compliment, and Tau inexplicably felt a sense of frustration, as if his punch had landed on fluffy cotton.

Kersz held Yu Xi close at all times, occasionally patting his head. Yu Xi was initially shy and uncertain, but he quickly began to enjoy it.

Kersz was indeed a human with a lot going on in his head, always cooking up convoluted schemes behind his back, but Yu Xi didn’t mind.

Yu Xi was actually a little worried that tensions would arise, as he didn’t like confrontation.

But Yu Xi felt that he was more tolerant of Kersz now, because although Kersz was a very cunning human, and very naughty, he was also very good.

Leaning against Kersz’s chest, Yu Xi felt as if he was enveloped in an incredibly delicious food…..and it was a staple food, like bread or steamed buns. Yu Xi was almost dizzy from the aroma.

But every now and then, other humans would come and touch him, and it was like being given a snack or some fruit.

Yu Xi was in heaven, and even being frightened by Curtis didn’t bring down his mood.

What could he do, ah?

What if he was indulging in Kersz too much?

He would fall under Kersz’s control. He didn’t like dealing with human troubles, and he needed to maintain his own identity.

Kersz reached out and patted Yu Xi’s head. Lost in thought, Yu Xi squinted his eyes and drowsily rested his chin on Kersz’s chest. He gripped the long hair of Kersz’s disguise even harder, and clenched his other hand in his shirt.

Kersz watched Yu Xi’s movements and felt a little warm.

He remembered the little mouse he raised when he was a miner. The little mouse that would secretly hide food…..

Kersz rested his chin on Yu Xi’s head.

“I wish all fathers were like you,” Curtis said with a hint of envy.

Tau did not share his opinion. He felt that if all fathers were like Kersz, the universe would descend into utter chaos.

“Do you have a bad relationship with your father?” Kersz asked.

“I’m not sure if I’ve ever had a father or a mother. My nanny robots were probably more like parents to me.” Curtis took a sip of his drink. “I don’t remember ever sitting in their laps.”

“Perhaps there is a reason you never sat in their laps,” Tau said suddenly.

“What reason could there be?!” Curtis demanded.

“For example, maybe you lost control of your bladder and peed on your father,” said Tau.

Curtis scoffed: “How could that be?”

“It’s possible.” It was more than possible. It was the truth.

Of course, the Supreme Governor was indeed a cold-blooded ruler, but Tau did remember him holding Curtis in his arms.

The Supreme Governor was in need of a populist image at that time, so he announced that his youngest son’s nanny robot had broken down and that he would be taking care of him personally.

The cold-faced Supreme Governor was reading this decree to the people of the Alliance when suddenly, his brow furrowed.

He finished reading the decree, but did not immediately leave the podium.

His adjutant kept urging him, and when he had no other choice, the Supreme Governor stepped forward before the eyes of the populace.

He had been holding Curtis facing himself, and not very high up, so his entire lower body was soaked. It was unknown how much water the child had drunk before going up to the podium.

The Supreme Governor pretended nothing had happened, and this became a meme that circulated on the StarNet for a long time.

Tau sensed that this was the point where the Supreme Governor began to dislike his youngest son.

“Even so,” Kersz interjected, “that shouldn’t keep him from holding his child again. What do children know?”

Tau glared at Kersz, feeling that he was deliberately trying to sow discord between the Supreme Governor and his son. 

But Kersz didn’t think he was wrong.

Children didn’t know any better. If such a situation actually occurred, it would only prove that the adult involved was petty. 

No matter how much of an idiot Curtis was, the Supreme Governor was definitely an irresponsible father.

Kersz spoke of this so naturally that Yu Xi looked up from where he was basking in the warmth of human body heat.

Perhaps Kersz once had good parents, so he didn’t think that what happened to Curtis was right just because he didn’t like the kid.

Kersz possessed something that Curtis longed for but was unable to obtain…..or at least, he had possessed it at one point.

“You’re awake?” Curtis asked in a high-pitched voice when he saw that his eyes were open. “Did Uncle disturb you?”

Yu Xi shook his head.

“You’re so good~ Actually, Uncle wants a well-behaved child just like you.” Curtis reached out and touched Yu Xi’s cheek.

Yu Xi hesitated briefly at the touch, but still tried to rub his head against him.

Regardless of the conflict between them, Curtis was still a human who was touching him.

“My goodness, my goodness~ Look at that face. Do you want Uncle to hold you for a while?” Curtis extended a warm invitation, and Yu Xi nodded eagerly.

“Your child isn’t shy around strangers.” Curtis took Yu Xi into his arms. He hadn’t held many children, and this child felt more delicate and fragile than he had imagined.

“Indeed.” Kersz patted Yu Xi on the back with a formulaic smile. “That’s what I’m worried about. He likes me, but he likes everyone. Perhaps someone will tempt him away one day.”

“How could that be?” Curtis felt that Yu Xi must love his father very much.

“It’s possible.” Kersz felt that there were too many humans in the world.

Yu Xi felt…..

Yu Xi felt that his butt was uncomfortable.

Curtis was so thin that it felt like he was sitting directly on his thigh bone.

It didn’t hurt, but it was worlds apart from Kersz’s firm and bouncy muscles.

“You should eat a little more,” Yu Xi said to Curtis.

“This child is so good. He’s even concerned for me.” The more Curtis looked at the child, the more he found him pleasing to the eye.

Was he good? Yu Xi didn’t know. He only knew that he was no longer lounging in that soft embrace. Why was Curtis so hard and uncomfortable?

Curtis continued to hold Yu Xi in his arms.

He lacked that soft, cuddly feeling, as well as the heat that made Yu Xi feel drowsy.

Why was there such a huge difference between two humans?

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Chapter 25 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 27