Xie Zhiwei wasn’t feeling awkward because of this male-female intimacy. After all, he’d had plenty of kissing scenes with female co-stars as an actor. Though most of them were just clever camera angles, it had trained his tolerance to some extent. He wouldn’t react now even if a woman got naked in front of him. It was all part of the job.
Right, even now Xie Zhiwei treated everything he did as work.
He only felt awkward because he feared the protagonist might misunderstand. What if he thought Xie Zhiwei was the “man next door” who cuckolded him with a green hat? After being tricked by a girl like Cheng Daoxiu, this was the hero’s big taboo.
Xie Zhiwei adjusted his demeanor instantly and wore an expression so serious he might’ve been helping an old lady cross the road. He soundlessly took to the sky and landed three steps away. “This poor daoist didn’t mean it, I was abrupt.”
But Qiu Chongyun only grew invigorated and floated up as well. She sprawled on her side on the roof, one hand lazily cupping her cheek as she looked over. “Since this daoist knows you were abrupt to nujia, you should take responsibility.”
Her eyes were as clear as autumn water, the type of women to make men soft. In contrast, Xie Zhiwei was all tensed up. What damn responsibility? It’s not like I’ll get you pregnant with one step. Old sister, stop assaulting people when the hero’s recognizing his father beneath us. Can’t you be more serious during a pivotal plot point!
Confucius didn’t lie: women and villains were the hardest to please. You were supposedly acting rude if you got too close, and nursing a grudge if you strayed too far.
Then I’ll use the cold shoulder!
With four stars’ worth of Presence Points, Xie Zhiwei easily adopted an icy expression and walked to the other side of the tree cover to sit down with legs crossed.
Qiu Chongyun chuckled at the sight. “Why is the daoist closing your eyes? Is nujia so beautiful that your heart aches?”
Xie Zhiwei turned a deaf ear and concentrated on sending his divine sense into the house. There he saw Mu He holding Dog while standing ramrod straight, showing just the right amount of restraint and confusion when meeting his father for the “first time.” He looked up with a pair of shining eyes, the folding screen behind him casting a shadow that smoothed out his profile like a brushstroke.
Xie Zhiwei’s feelings swelled at the sight. The hero’s grown up a little. Even now, you can see the traces of his future outstanding nobility.
No wonder the director likes to give He Zheng 360 degree shots. He doesn’t have a single bad angle on him.
Inside the house was a taller figure dressed in brocade robes. Underneath the candlelight, his features were handsomely beautiful like jade, with a graceful temperament of elegance and calm. Still-drying tear tracks stained his face. He looked about five to six parts similar to Mu He, only with a higher nose bridge and more rigid contours to his face.
Tsk, pretty handsome, Xie Zhiwei mused. No wonder Mu He’s mother threw away everything to chase after his father. Gallant Outlaw’s too good at capturing people’s looks. He looks like Mu He but has his own distinct air.
Mu He’s father looked at the jade pendant in his hands and sighed. “Who would’ve thought our parting that year would keep us on separate shores, leaving this token in vain. Child, it was I who let down your mother, and even more—yourself.”
Mu He consoled him, “No need for self-rebuke, father. Mother has never said a word of complaint against you.”
“Because of that, I am more contrite…” Mu He’s father’s voice shook audibly as he clutched at the pendant and shut his eyes. “Your mother’s name was Zhaoshui, or reflecting waters. I once told her she’d never dry up while I was by her side. In the end, she actually named you He—to ‘dry out.’ It’s obviously… We promised to be together until death did us part, to make our vows reality, yet it was all empty words. She must have grieved at the moon each night, but never found traces of me…”
Xie Zhiwei felt metaphorical black lines on the side of his head.
What kind of father shares love stories with his son?
It’s probably his dad’s fault that his mother turned into a lovebird-brain! All these mushy lines are being said to the wrong person, ah! Your son has a sweeter mouth than you, wake up already big brother!
This is wrong, Xie Zhiwei suddenly recalled there weren’t any goosebumps-inducing lines in the original work. All father and son did was recognize each other before the whole scene was skipped with: “Father and son had a long talk until dawn.”
Seems like he was so into napping that he missed the part where they reunited and caught the “long talk” bit instead. The hero was pretty impressive. Despite listening to his father crying for so long, his ears hadn’t gone soft and his teeth didn’t ache. He even cooperated with red-rimmed eyes of his own.
Since there was nothing important going on, Xie Zhiwei wasn’t worried about the occupants in the room. Now the love(Qiu) line(Chong) plot(Yun) was more important.
Xie Zhiwei split his attention between the inside of the building and his surroundings. A faintly fragrant breeze drifted past him before Qiu Chongyun appeared by his side again, this time leaning bonelessly against the branch right next to him. Xie Zhiwei openly his eyes a crack and murmured, “What does this maiden want?”
Qiu Chongyun didn’t answer beyond openly staring at his face. When Xie Zhiwei’s hairs began to stand on end, she suddenly moved forward. Xie Zhiwei could only shift back. Laughing, Qiu Chongyun advanced again, closing the distance and becoming the second person after the hero to clearly see Xie Zhiwei’s eyelashes up close.
Xie Zhiwei glanced behind him and said, “Maiden, any further and we’ll hit the roof eaves.”
“So what,” Qiu Chongyun didn’t care.
Xie Zhiwei’s tone was sincere. “If this maiden wants to get down, this poor daoist can move out of the way.”
There was a snort before Qiu Chongyun laughed again. “Daoist, you’re so pretentious. You’re clearly here to eavesdrop on your disciple but keep stealing glances at nujia instead. A righteous daoist would only shout at us or kill us, but you’re quite amiable. If it’s not because you like nujia, then why? Admit it already.”
Xie Zhiwei almost spat up blood. “Maiden has misunderstood, this poor daoist does not.”
Sh*t, how can there be such a narcissistic woman?!
…all right, I actually admired her when I was reading the book.
After all, she did so much to drive the story when supporting the hero. There was even a popular saying in the comments section: Who’s the best for progressing the plot? Demonic Sect saintess, Auntie Yun.
Even this tangled sideways plot only needed Qiu Chongyun to appear to speed up the pacing again. However, the point was that he couldn’t get involved with anything on the hero’s side, whether it was objects, people, or tools to beat up monsters. They all belonged to the protagonist, not him.
At this point Xie Zhiwei’s divine sense saw Mu He’s father finish crying inside and wipe his eyes with a brocade handkerchief. He looked at his son in comfort. “No wonder you’re the child of Ah-Shui and I. No one in the world can touch this snow civet beast, yet you’re the only one who’s tamed it. Without a doubt, your bloodline is pure.” As he spoke, he proudly went to pet Dog’s head.
Dog was currently snuggling in Mu He’s arms when he looked up and promptly bit Mu He’s father’s finger. No petting was permitted at all. The man’s hard-won smile immediately stiffened. Mu He seemed panic-stricken as he made Dog release him. “Quick, let go of Royal Father.“
“It’s fine,” Mu He’s father freed his hand in embarrassment.
Mu He turned to set Dog on the ground and said, “Run along now.” As he spoke, his whole person seemed to transform, the innocence on his face turning sinister in an instant. Somehow, he did something with his hands that quickly sent the cat leaping towards the roofbeams.
Exactly where Xie Zhiwei and Qiu Chongyun were hiding.
A huge hole suddenly appeared in the roof. It happened so suddenly that a heap of broken tiles and dirt fell down in its wake. Xie Zhiwei quickly ducked his head and happened to meet the stuned gaze of Mu He’s father. Before the two of them could react, Mu He was already fuming their way.
“Demoness, it’s you again!”
Oh crap, Xie Zhiwei thought. He seemed to have forgotten something important.
With the Black and White Lotus in the hero’s consciousness, his mental senses were greatly magnified. If Xie Zhiwei could deal with Qiu Chongyun while spying on the hero, so could the hero cry with his father and spy on the roof. Xie Zhiwei was never planning to hide his actions from the protagonist since he was “looking after his disciple with good intentions.” But all that fuss with Qiu Chongyun made him forget this crucial detail.
He had no idea whether the hero thought Qiu Chongyun was seducing him just then, or vice versa. Even a hundred excuses couldn’t explain why the woman was practically draped over him now…prestige, reputation, integrity, all ruined.
“Hm? Who’s that on the roof?” Mu He’s father reacted as he looked up. “One looks like a daoist of some status while the other…doesn’t seem like a good guy.”
Once he drew his conclusions, the concealed guards flashed onto the roof from four directions and surrounded the duo. Qiu Chongyun rose to her feet as if no one was there and fluttered her eyelashes at the occupants indoors. “Wrong, oh. It should be ‘doesn’t seem like a good woman.'”
Xie Zhiwei stood up righteously and strove to salvage his image in the hero’s eyes. “This maiden has repeatedly intruded upon my daoist sect. Although this poor daoist treats her with courtesy, she persists in her obsessions. Since that’s the case, don’t blame this poor daoist for being heartless now.”
Qiu Chongyun arched one of her willow-like brows. “Oh? Now you act heartless…so you harbored affections before this?”
“….” said Xie Zhiwei. Spare me already.
“The demoness shouldn’t think of disrespecting shizun!” Mu He didn’t wait for his father before he ordered, “Take her into custody.”
The guards gave a start. Mu He’s father drank a sip of tea and said, “From this day forth, his orders are my orders.”
The plot’s progressing a little fast, Xie Zhiwei thought. In the original novel the hero’s identity was concealed until a public reveal at the Buddhist-Daoist Conference. But now they were acknowledging everything? Still, the hero called him shizun so intimately that it proved he trusted him. He was a little touched by that.
Mu He had already opened the doors and leaped onto the roof to land in front of Xie Zhiwei. Like before in Heavenly Sun City, he firmly blocked him from sight. “Eliminate the evil, she’s from the Demonic Sect.”
The guards swarmed forward, but Qiu Chongyun simply floated up like a black feather to land on the highest branch with a giggle. “Hurry and come, there’ll be a prize if you catch me, oh~”
The shadow guards weren’t slow, but she easily left them behind. Like a mosquito teasing a bear, she rose and dove leisurely between the gaps of her pursuers with ease, obviously in no hurry to leave. Occasionally, she even threw winks at Xie Zhiwei, though…Hell knows what she saw in him. The original Xie Zhiwei spent all day at home and never met anyone, so he was never subjected to such scenarios in the story.
Mu He’s expression turned uglier by the second before he stepped out and released ten streaks of black qi towards Qiu Chongyun to wrap around her like clouds.