Forcing Chu Zhishi to use a boundary field showed that Dogâs spiritual power couldnât be underestimated. Naturally, Chu Zhishi was suspicious of the animalâs origins and kept asking Xie Zhiwei to look into it every two sentences he spoke.
Xie Zhiwei wouldnât spoil the story, of course. He only put on a slight smile and remained vague. Chu Zhishi was a shrewd man. If not for Xie Zhiwei acting deep all the time and his own trust in his senior brother, itâd be impossible to fool him. He didnât press, but his amused look intensified to growing interest.
Xie Zhiwei could only say, âYouâll find out later.â
That was an honest truth. The Buddhist-Daoist Conference was right around the corner and the hero would have his stirring family reunion. Itâd be hard not to know by then.
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This was Xie Zhiweiâs first time entering Heavenly Sun City since his transmigration. He swept his gaze around him and silently thought, Very big, very pompous. Itâs almost on par with ten Summit Cities. Just the trip from the training grounds to the main hall included stairs that wound around the mountain ten times. There were no railings of any kind by the steps. While ascending them wasnât difficult, it was a chilling sight for any ordinary traveler that turned their legs to jelly, preventing them from advancing half a step.
Xie Zhiwei was precisely one of those âordinary travelerâ types, so instead of forcing it, he simply took Mu He past the training grounds and straight to the rear mountains.
This was Mu Heâs first time here too, but for some reason he was too stifled to look at the tall, glorious buildings or even feign interest. He only stared at Xie Zhiwei and Chu Zhishi walking side-by-side in front of him, eyes dull and occasionally glimmering with venomous intent. Past the training grounds, he looked back to see the tiny figures flooding it like ants. Then he resumed walking, lips curved into an arc that might have been a smile, or simply scorn.
He had been worried over gains and losses but forgot he was someone who had been to the gates of Hell and back. How could those ordinary people compare to him? Shizun wasnât Shen You and he was many times stronger than Ming Kong. How could Mu He give himself that kind of evil ending?
The pathetic Ming Kong only owned a walking corpse by the end. Even unto death, he didnât get a single warm look from Shen You. But he had just met shizun recently before the man took him as his only disciple. He even cared and looked after him in all aspects. This was far beyond an ordinary master and disciple interaction, which meant they would only grow closer in the future.
He gazed towards the west, where the sunset was illuminating Xie Zhiweiâs body. The crow gray of his robes was extraordinarily distinct, as if it didnât belong to this world. Mu He involuntarily curled his fingers. In time, I too will have shizun treat me likeâŠ
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The rear mountains werenât as lively as Heavenly Sun Cityâs interior, but its few gray houses were still bright. The afterglow of the setting sun was a deep rich red that stopped short of the buildings, blocked by a dome of shimmering light. It was quiet within and didnât seem like anything had ran against its borders.
Chu Zhishi peeked at the interior and half-joked, âSecond senior brother, that beast couldnât have starved to death, right?â
Xie Zhiwei shooed him away. âYoungest junior brother can just escort us here. You should go back first.â
Chu Zhishi arched a brow. âSo serious? As expected, this is no ordinary beast. I hope its origins wonât shock me too much.â
Xie Zhiwei neither acknowledged or denied it, only smiled. I donât know if youâll be surprised, but when the truth was revealed, you submitted yourself to the hero that day. The two of you started communicating in secret and discovered that you were both investigating the cause of Xie Zhiweiâs death. In the end, you willingly became the heroâs lilâ bro.
Chu Zhishi was about to leave when he suddenly patted Mu Heâs shoulder while walking by. âSecond senior brotherâs disciple doesnât seem to be simple, either.â
Mu He expressionlessly stepped back, head bowed. âYoungest martial uncle, of course this disciple isnât simple. Shizun even said Iâm a cultivation genius. Didnât you hear him that day on One Step Cliff?â
Xie Zhiwei felt this was off. Why were these future friends speaking so sarcastically to each other? Yes, Chu Zhishi was always putting his foot in his mouth, but the hero had been acting off even since returning from Ashen Cloud Sword Sect. He stopped being sweet-tongued and even traded tit-for-tat with Chu Zhishi.
Chu Zhishi only laughed generously and dropped the arm which was hanging in mid-air. âI have a poor memory. Since thatâs the case, Iâll leave things here to second senior brother.â He gave Mu He one more look before finally departing.
Xie Zhiwei felt baffled, but when he went to pull Mu He forward, he felt a surge of spiritual energy from half a foot away. It emanated from Mu Heâs body from the inside out but was different from the energy of daoist cultivation paths. Only then did he realize why Chu Zhishi had noticed Mu He. How did the hero suddenly lose control of the Black and White Lotuses in his body? Or did he release their energy them on purpose? HeâŠwas he having blackening thoughts?
Why though?
Xie Zhiwei couldnât wrap his head around it, nor did he dare to pry. He only admonished, âYour youngest martial uncle grew suspicious just then. From now on, donât use Black or White Lotusesâ spiritual powers without permission.â At least wait until the Buddhist-Daoist Conference when youâve identified your father, ah. When I hand over custody of you, you can steep tea with Black and White Lotus for all I care. Donât destroy my sense of presence beforehand!
Still, was it okay for the hero to be so fierce in the beginning of his blackening? Xie Zhiwei was very anxious, though Mu He saw it differently.
Shizun is that nervous about my safety? How niceâŠ
But itâs far from enough!
Mu Heâs stubbornness was also misinterpreted by Xie Zhiwei.
Crap, he really is a black-hearted lotus. I treat you so well and just scolded you once, but youâre actually glaring at me! I knew you were no good after seeing you wear He Zhengâs face.
Xie Zhiwei complained to himself while maintaining his gentle expression to banish the boundary field around the premises. He decided to use Dog to distract the hero first.
A meow rang out before a white shadow rushed out and pounced on Mu He.
How could a proper snow civet beast die just because someone said so? Xie Zhiwei was about to make fun of Chu Zhishi when his expression grew stern. When Dog ran out, there was also a very sinister qi that chilled to the bones. He had done his homework a long time ago and recognized this as the aura of the Demonic Sect.
After days spent apart, Dog was now rolling around in Mu Heâs arms, acting extremely cute without any of its usual arrogance. It really was like a dog. But when Xie Zhiwei subconsciously touched him while sorting out his thoughts, he meowed and instantly chomped.
Mu Heâs heart ached at the sight. âShizun, be careful,â he said and muffled Dogâs nose to force him to open his mouth. Xie Zhiwei easily extricated his fingers and resisted the urge to beat this fat cat. âDisciple, it seems weâve wronged him,â he said.
The snow civet beast was a clean freak who only got along with people he liked. He couldnât stand the rest. The legends of this fellow stated it was once raised by the gods. Since Mu Heâs royal bloodline was also a lineage from the gods, the snow civet liked the imperial family and loathed its direct enemy, the demon clan.
Dogâs fighting prowess was unknown, but the novel had once mentioned how a snow civet beast had once ran into a group of soldiers from the Demonic Sect and tore them to shreds within minutes. Now it looked like Dog didnât tear apart the food delivery discipleâs clothes without reason; he wasnât excited over the food, but reminding him: Grandpa hates this demonic qi the most, get it away from me.
Clueless, Chu Zhishi had rudely sealed up Dog and the demonic qi in the same area, probably leaving him in despair. Enlightened by these thoughts, Xie Zhiwei was soon faced with even bigger doubts. Logically speaking, the demonic sect didnât invade them until after Xie Zhiwei died. He should still have a year left, so why were their members infiltrating the daoist sect already?
Mu He couldnât catch the meaning of Xie Zhiweiâs words and asked, âShizun, are you talking about Dog?â
âYes, letâs go in and have a look,â Xie Zhiwei was a bit gloomy as he led the way into the small hut.
Immediately, a foul stench assaulted his nostrils. Xie Zhiwei quickly covered his nose before he was overwhelmed. At first he disdained the cat for its smelly poop, but soon realized this wasnât excrement, but the scent of decay.
âShizun, watch your step.â Mu He suddenly pulled Xie Zhiwei back before he finished stepping, causing him to fall into his arms. Very naturally, Mu He reached forward to embrace him.
Xie Zhiwei didnât react much, but Mu He had a fright. Then his heart seemed to explode as it started pounding wildly. He had never been so close to shizun before. Looking up, his lips were almost at Xie Zhiweiâs nape and he could see a few strands of hair hanging below the bamboo hairpin that kept it all in place.
Xie Zhiwei sensed Mu Heâs breathing and could visualize their positions without even having to look. Sh*t, is it really okay for two dudes to recreate Jack and Roseâs Titantic pose?
AlsoâŠwhere is the hero touching right now?
Xie Zhiwei stared at Mu Heâs hands over his collarbones before the fingers began to explore downwards. His scalp tightened as he spoke. âDisciple, youâŠâ
As if electrocuted, Mu He withdrew his hands to stand properly. He looked up after a while and happened to meet Xie Zhiweiâs searching gaze. In a flash, he put all his efforts into an innocent expression and said with concern, âIt wasnât discipleâs intention to offend shizun. Itâs just that shizunâs heartbeat sounds a bit weak and distant, so discipleâŠâ
Of course he was lying, but this was the most realistic sensation he felt whenever he was close to Xie Zhiwei. The latter gave a start before smiling as if nothing had happened. âYouâre always saying silly things. If shizun wasnât well, I wouldâve sensed it myself long ago. You must be mistaken.â
Mu He bowed his head before the warm gaze and murmured, âShizun is right, it really is a mistakeâŠâ
His feelings for shizun hadnât been discovered, but why wasnât he happy? Instead he felt his spirits sinkingâŠ
Xie Zhiwei hid his discomfort and marveled at the heroâs attention to details. Even if it was to test his heartbeat, their positions just then were too much for words. It was akin to a sea of flowers blooming in spring. Luckily there was no ocean here, justâŠ
Xie Zhiwei looked towards his feet and sucked in a breath, only to choke on the rotting stench and start coughing nonstop. He used his sleeve to pinch his nose and cursed internally. F**k f**k f**k! Why did I see a corpse again ah! Its face is all rotten but the System didnât even give me any mosaics!!!
Xie Zhiwei forced himself to play it cool and stepped aside. The body on the ground was wearing short sleeves and short pants, its skin ashen white. It actually had red hair and a few sharp fangs exposed from its horribly cat-scratched mouth. Someone with such fantastical looks definitely hailed from the Demonic Sect. Thanks to the warm weather, the corpse had already entered a high degree of decay in only a few days. It wouldnât be long before it started growing maggots.
Xie Zhiwei didnât know why this demonic member was here, but his end was way too tragic. He glanced at Dog nestled up in Mu Heâs arms and took one more step aside.
Mu He knew of Dogâs origins and wasnât too surprised, but asked Xie Zhiwei, âShizun, this personâs from the Demonic Sect?â
Before Xie Zhiwei could nod, a charming female voice spoke from the door. âLittle gege, your eyes arenât bad. It seems my Demonic Sect still has great influence in your sect.â
Mu He blanched before turning towards the intruder. âWho are you!â
The other wore a red dress as she leaned the door, her slender waist exuding style without any deliberate posing. She didnât answer, but smiled at Mu He before shifting her gaze to Xie Zhiwei. The lotus-shaped gem resting over her forehead swayed with her movements, adding a few points of radiance to her person.
Xie Zhiwei grew guarded as he answered Mu Heâs question word for word. âThe Demonic Sect saintess, Qiu Chongyun.â
He silently left out eight words: this woman is also one of your wives.