Ch17 - Astir

Mu He soaked at the bottom of the water for awhile until he felt cold, then floated up. He shivered as the cool winds stirred the bamboo leaves beneath the bright moon. Their uneven shadows seem to come together and form the semblance of crow-gray daoist robes. Once again his dantian began to burn.

“Not good,” he muttered and dove back down.

A long time later, he rose dripping wet with his eyes squeezed shut against the bamboo. Sensing his abnormality, Nie Ting awoke from the depths of Black Lotus and asked, “What’s wrong with you?”

Mu He leaned against the edge of the pool as he wiped droplets off his face. “Senior,” he gasped, “That black wolf blood is so strange. All I did was get doused with it, but I feel so hot?”

“You were drenched in black wolf blood?” Nie Ting asked.

“Yes.”

Nie Ting fell silent. Feeling uncertain, Mu He wondered if black wolf blood was dangerous. Maybe it was toxic? And that was why he felt so awkward now?

“Senior, are there any secrets about this blood?”

Nie Ting didn’t answer but asked, “Are you…only feeling hot?”

Mu He thought back and recalled that was the case. “Mhm…I think so.”

“Feeling better after soaking in the cold water?”

The mountain valley was naturally shady and chill, so the pond water here was akin to ice. Mu He was so soaked through that his injuries had turned numb, to say nothing of feeling hot. He flipped out of the pool and said, “It’s much better now. Senior, this black wolf blood…”

“It’s normal. Black wolf blood is naturally hot, so there’s nothing to worry about. Hurry back, you’ll have no excuses if a patrolling disciple spots you.”

Mu He agreed, but still felt that Nie Ting’s advice sounded redundant. He had climbed the mountain with Xie Zhiwei earlier today and met many disciples along the way. Even if they didn’t know him, they should at least remember an important guest like his master. How could he have no excuses for being seen? It made him sound like a trespassing thief.

Mu He felt that Nie Ting was clearly hiding something. But since they were in a partnership now, he couldn’t afford to provoke the other man. Still, since they had a spiritual contract in place, there was no way the specter would harm him.

He had just emerged from the grove when he saw a group of people heading over from a distance. A few of them were slender female disciples and they were even holding treasures that illuminated the path.

“Hurry and get to your room,” Nie Ting scolded. Although he was an irascible man who never spoke kindly, this was the first time he sounded so stern. Mu He couldn’t see the harm in those disciples but didn’t dare relax his guard. He scurried like a cat through the shadows of bamboo until he reached the guestrooms, then slipped in through a door.

This was shizun’s room. It’d be safer than anywhere else.

Exhaling in relief, he shut the door, turned around, and froze.

In his bath, Xie Zhiwei froze as well. He had just been happily washing away with a smile and even started humming a little tune. All of that stopped as soon as Mu He came in the door and now he was angry.

Why didn’t the stinkin’ brat even knock? Now that he’s seen me undressed, how am I supposed to recover my image as his prestigious master?!

There was a reason for his worries. When he was still in showbiz, that damned pervert He Zheng once recorded him humming in the restroom, then shared it with fans online. All his years spent cultivating his image were left in shambles. He could still remember the nightmarish comments he saw online:

【Ohhh I hear tinkling, hahaha, so the male god’s just an ordinary man when he pees!】

…hahah.

【Good actors usually sing too, but no wonder Xie Zhi still hasn’t released a single song after all these years. He can’t carry a tune.】

Hmph.

【What a shame. Whenever I see my male god looking ethereal on screen I’ll remember this piece of audio. I can’t picture him as perfect anymore sobsobsob.】

…..

Xie Zhiwei felt like he desperately needed a computer with internet so he could post his grievances: I’m a guy who just got caught bathing by my student. Will this affect my image as a dependable dude? Urgent, waiting online for answers.

Despite his internal anxiety, the System restrictions only allowed his face to show a tiny bit of displeasure. Xie Zhiwei tried desperately to save face and changed to a more dignified sitting posture in the bath. “What has you in such a rush?”

Mu He quickly lowered his eyes, afraid to look at him directly. He began to fib on the spot. “To reply shizun, disciple was just…cold and wanted to change clothes, but went to the wrong room by mistake. That’s why…” How could I forget master was bathing? This is too sudden!

The interior was misty as Mu He remained staring at the ground. Unfortunately, lamp light illuminated the water droplets on the floor, which all showed reflections of Xie Zhiwei. The images were illusory at best, but they were enough to capture Mu He’s full attention. He could even tell from the silhouette that Xie Zhiwei had his hair damply draping over his shoulders like a waterfall. Bare skin peeked out from the side—his shoulder. Mu He was quite clear that this was only a reflection and the real man was less than three steps away from him. All he had to do was lift up his head to see.

Just like that, the searing heat he’d doused in cold water suddenly flared up in his dantian again. His throat felt parched too.

—

Xie Zhiwei was oblivious to Mu He’s changes as his mind filled in the blanks. He rushed in so quickly and looks nervous. Did he finally figure out how to seduce girls?

But that notion was swiftly dismissed. Although he was looking forward to the hero’s conquests, he admitted that a piece of wood like Mu He could never bloom without external stimulation. Right now the boy only had an old vengeful ghost for company—a bachelor too, who only taught him how to take revenge.

Wait, revenge!

Did this youngster try to assassinate Shen You in secret?

Sh*t, how could I forget?!

Xie Zhiwei suppressed his worry and made his voice more gentle. “Even if you’re cold, there’s no need to rush. Remember that master is here for everything.” See see, I’ll cover you. Remember to take me along next time you progress the plot, big bro.

He was itching to know the storyline for Ashen Cloud Sword Sect. In the future, he shouldn’t leave the protagonist for any reason. Otherwise, if he finishes the story all by himself, I’ll never fill in the gaps. Of course, what Xie Zhiwei thought and what Mu He heard were two different things entirely.

Mu He was in a bit of a trance as he muttered, “Disciple understands.” As expected, shizun treats me well. He believes me no matter what I say.

There was a splash. Mu He subconsciously swallowed and looked up just in time to see waves swirl into the air like suspended flower petals, large and semi-transparent. They rose just high enough to obscure Xie Zhiwei’s body before the man covered himself in clean clothes in the blink of an eye. By the time the water splashed back into the tub, he had taken to the air, his robes automatically arranging themselves neatly without any use of his hands.

Mu He had only glimpsed a second of Xie Zhiwei’s exit from the water, but it was enough to blow his mind. Even now his heart pounded wildly as he ducked his head again. The water droplets were reflecting that familiar crow gray hue as the daoist robes drifted towards him like falling bamboo leaves. Mu He gulped and stared at the droplets as his dantian burned even fiercer.

Xie Zhiwei stopped before him and felt puzzled. Didn’t the hero say he was cold? But it looks like he’s hot. I can see the sweat gathering on his forehead—unless it’s cold sweat?

But the protagonist refused to look at him, making the atmosphere inexplicably awkward. Xie Zhiwei figured Mu He was playing docile again. After all, he’d just leaped out of the water and was just wearing one layer of robes. Even his hair was still damp. Not looking at him now was a form of respect.

Since the hero’s behaving so well, I can’t fall behind either. At this thought, he continued their conversation. “For example, that young man insulted you today. Although Master couldn’t bear to injure him, I gave him the same spell I cast on Martial Nephew Bai the other day. Admittedly, restricting his movements and speech is a light punishment, but you shouldn’t feel too sad.” You’ll definitely kill him in the future, mhm.

Mu He couldn’t help closing his eyes when he recalled the curse from that boy again. “Disciple isn’t sad.” I just want to murder him.

Xie Zhiwei sounded relieved. “That’s good.” Then he placed a hand on Mu He’s shoulder and patted him a couple times in consolation.

This simple action made Mu He stiffen as the beads of sweat on his forehead coalesced into droplets. Unaware of this, Xie Zhiwei assumed he was still listening and continued to lecture. “Remember, everything you experience now, whether good or ill, will all count as part of your life experiences. Today’s encounter wasn’t frightening…but Master hopes that in five years’ time, you’ll stop getting bullied by others.” That’s not an exaggeration at all. In the original novel the hero became the Immortal Emperor in five years and subdued the entire world.

Mu He only felt like the hand on his shoulder weighed a thousand pounds. Somehow it also felt itchy. His thoughts were thrown in disarray, making it impossible to consider the deeper implications of Xie Zhiwei’s words.

So uncomfortable…so hot…so strange…

Xie Zhiwei nodded and said, “Have you remembered your Master’s words?”

“Disciple will remember…” Mu He managed with difficulty. He looked at his unbearable shoulder and the slender fingers of the well-boned hand resting on it. There were a few calluses on the tips, evidence of the years its owner spent writing scriptures.

Mu He’s head grew inflamed as he suddenly had an urge to grab those fingers and rub them, hard. But just as he threatened to lose control, Xie Zhiwei withdrew his touch.

“Shizun,” Mu He blurted, feeling greatly reluctant for the loss.

“Hm?” Xie Zhiwei finally looked at his face just as a large bead of sweat dripped down Mu He’s forehead.

No way, the hero’s feeling that hot?

A soak that long should’ve extinguished any heat, even if someone ate 100 seal members.

What kind of scary thing had happened to the hero’s body? The original novel didn’t mention anything about him heating up out of the blue, ah!

Mu He’s breathing grew labored. The Black Lotus spun in his consciousness to release waves of icy air, giving him a moment of clarity.

“Leave this place,” Nie Ting murmured, “Go back to your own room.”

Xie Zhiwei asked with concern, “Where do you feel uncomfortable? Why are you so hot?” He was about to touch Mu He’s forehead to pretend to take his temperature.

Mu He’s heart filled with joy, but Nie Ting hissed, “Don’t let him touch you.”