“Ye Linshuang returned to the Nanli Jingtian border before dark. What have you been doing here all alone!”
Lu Xiaochan said as they walked.
The bright moonlight fell upon them, casting two connected shadows, and the back mountain was quiet.
As soon as Lu Xiaochan spoke, he felt that in this vast and desolate back mountain, every word spoken… was meant only for each other.
“I was thinking about a question,” Shu Wuxi answered.
“What question? Is there still something you can’t figure out?”
Lu Xiaochan grew curious, taking a few extra steps to walk in front of Shu Wuxi, lifting his head to see his expression.
“Xiaochan, if one day you were willing to sacrifice yourself… would it be for all living beings, or would it only be for one person?” Shu Wuxi asked.
Lu Xiaochan froze there.
What kind of question was this!
“Me? Sacrifice myself? I’m so afraid of death, how could I sacrifice myself?”
Lu Xiaochan almost burst out laughing. He was petty, how could he care for all under heaven?
“You are not afraid of death at all,” Shu Wuxi responded.
His answer was certain and solemn, as if in his heart Lu Xiaochan was always perfect.
“I’m just one of the masses, so insignificant. Dying for all living beings? I wouldn’t want to!”
Lu Xiaochan playfully tried to bump his forehead against Shu Wuxi’s chin, but ended up hurting his own head instead.
“So, if you were to sacrifice yourself, would it be for someone specific?”
“That wouldn’t happen either. Living is so good, why would I want to sacrifice myself?” Lu Xiaochan waved his hand.
Shu Wuxi fell silent, his hand holding Lu Xiaochan’s grew cold.
“Except for you,” Lu Xiaochan tilted his head and suddenly said these three words very seriously.
Shu Wuxi stopped walking and looked at Lu Xiaochan.
“What did you say?”
“I said except for you. In this world, what could be better than you, good enough for me to give up my own life?”
Shu Wuxi remained silent, looking at Lu Xiaochan with a gaze that Lu Xiaochan had never seen before.
It wasn’t like the sea that had been calm for ten thousand years, but rather passionate, as if pursuing something, an obsession that couldn’t be denied.
“Then later… don’t do that anymore in the future…”
“This isn’t something that won’t happen just because you say ‘don’t do that.'”
Lu Xiaochan suddenly thought of Ye Linshuang, and what he had said before leaving about gazing at Nanli from the extreme night of the Northern Sea.
That must have been the most beautiful scene in his heart, so no matter how Lord Lianyue Yuan changed, no matter what he did, in Ye Linshuang’s heart he would always be that suddenly descending aurora.
“If I sacrifice myself, it absolutely won’t be to let you live on broken and barely surviving, but because you are the most wonderful thing I’ve ever seen, and I want to protect you. Brother Wuxi, don’t ask me questions like this, it scares me.”
“I’m by your side, what are you afraid of?”
“Because… the old trickster once told me that it’s best not to encounter anything too perfect when you’re young, otherwise if your abilities are weak, you’ll spend your whole life thinking about it but never being able to reach it, and that would be the greatest regret. Look how perfect you are, and how weak I am?”
Lu Xiaochan said.
He didn’t know why he would say such things.
He only knew that Shu Wuxi suddenly reached out and held him tightly, just like when he had first returned from the Northern Sea, squeezing so hard it felt like he would crush him.
“I’m not perfect, and you’re not weak.”
Lu Xiaochan just loved being held by him like this – the more he couldn’t breathe, the more his bones ached from the pressure, the more at ease he felt.
Because only this way could he feel the emotions of this man who never showed his true nature.
“Let’s rush to Yechuan day and night? I really want a sword of my own now. I want the countless demons of the Demon Capital to never dare covet my elixir core again.”
I also want to protect you.
Even if you are very strong, I still want to protect you.
“Mm.”
Something soft seemed to touch the crown of Lu Xiaochan’s head, and immediately his own heart also became soft and tender.
He moved behind Shu Wuxi and jumped once, but Shu Wuxi didn’t react.
Lu Xiaochan jumped three times in a row, but Shu Wuxi still stood there. Lu Xiaochan unhappily punched his back.
Shu Wuxi turned his face and asked. “Xiaochan, what are you doing?”
Lu Xiaochan sighed helplessly. “I want you to carry me back, so I was trying to jump on your back!”
“I see.”
The moment he bent down, Lu Xiaochan grinned and jumped up onto his back.
Shu Wuxi gently bounced him up once and carried him forward.
“Xiaochan, if I took you to a place that’s even more desolate than this back mountain, would you think about leaving every day?”
Lu Xiaochan nestled in Shu Wuxi’s neck, nuzzled him with his nose, and smiled with narrowed eyes. “There would be so many things to do there! It would take so long, why would I think about leaving every day?”
“So many things to do?” Shu Wuxi repeated Lu Xiaochan’s words.
“If it’s desolate and quiet, then I’ll plant flowers and grass. Hey, we can move Kunwu’s herb garden up there, hehe!”
“What if there are no crickets, no cats and dogs?”
“Then we’ll raise our own! Hey, can we raise spirit beasts? Speaking of which, is that Biluo… still alive?”
“What if there’s no grilled flatbread with preserved vegetables, no braised noodles, no…”
“Oh, we’ll make them ourselves, won’t that be fun!”
Lu Xiaochan tilted his head and saw Shu Wuxi’s lips curve into a faint smile. Lu Xiaochan tightened his arms around Shu Wuxi’s neck.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing, just that after seeing Wushan, clouds are no longer clouds.”
“What?”
“After seeing your smile, no other smile matters anymore.”
“Xiaochan, if you’re deceiving me…”
“Why would I deceive you?”
“Then deceive me forever.”
Lu Xiaochan was very unhappy. He had always been sincere with Shu Wuxi. Although he occasionally flattered him, he had never deceived him!
When angry, he needed to teach Shu Wuxi a lesson – even a rabbit will bite when cornered!
Lu Xiaochan directly bit down on Shu Wuxi’s neck, and with considerable force.
Shu Wuxi originally intended to use his spiritual power to force open Lu Xiaochan’s jaw, but instead closed his eyes and allowed Lu Xiaochan’s little fangs to sink into his flesh.
Lu Xiaochan released his bite and looked at the mark he left, suddenly feeling a bit regretful.
“Why didn’t you stop me?”
“If you want to bite me, why would I stop you?”
Shu Wuxi continued carrying Lu Xiaochan on his back.
Lu Xiaochan pressed against Shu Wuxi’s back and said softly. “I didn’t deceive you.”
Shu Wuxi paused for a moment, then said lightly, “Then bite me again.”
“Why?” Lu Xiaochan straightened his neck.
“I like it.”
Lu Xiaochan was speechless – what kind of preference was this! How could anyone like being bitten by others!
“I won’t bite you anymore! My teeth hurt!”
Shu Wuxi carried Lu Xiaochan back to the guest room at the Meng family residence.
Meng Yuandao didn’t dare neglect them at all – the bedding was the finest, the tea was the best.
Even the bath water prepared for Lu Xiaochan contained some kind of all-purpose tonic herbs, making Lu Xiaochan sneeze from the fragrance.
“Why add so many herbs?”
Meng Ningsheng, who came to deliver the bath water, said, “The herbs in here are for calming the mind, improving blood circulation, and strengthening yang!”
“Uh…” Lu Xiaochan lowered his head, unable to identify which herbs were which, “No need for calming the mind, I sleep very well every night! As for improving blood circulation… I don’t have any bruises. And strengthening yang…”
“It’s Master’s sincere intention!”
“Alright… intention… someone might think this tub is an elixir furnace, and you’re trying to refine me into a golden pill with all these herbs!”
Despite saying this, Lu Xiaochan still wanted to lie in the hot water and have a comfortable soak.
“Lord Lan Meng is joking! I shall take my leave!”
“Lan Meng” was just a casual immortal title he made up on a whim, but hearing someone actually call him that was quite… amusing.
Lu Xiaochan quickly stripped off his clothes, but when it came to his undergarments, he accidentally tied the sash into a dead knot that he couldn’t undo for a long time.
Shu Wuxi gently pulled him to his side and lowered his head to help him undo the knot.
Lu Xiaochan also lowered his head, watching Shu Wuxi’s fingers, which were long and dexterous.
“Done, go ahead.”
Lu Xiaochan climbed into the tub and sat down, occasionally kicking at the medicine bags in the water.
Shu Wuxi stood behind him, using a cloth to wipe his back and shoulders.
Lu Xiaochan couldn’t help saying. “I may not have an emperor’s destiny, but I live more comfortably than an emperor!”
“What’s so good about being an emperor?” Shu Wuxi asked.
“An emperor has three thousand beauties!”
“Then being an emperor isn’t good.”
“Right, being an emperor isn’t good. Because an emperor doesn’t have you by his side,” Lu Xiaochan said lazily with half-closed eyes.
Back on the bed, Lu Xiaochan wore his undergarments and wrapped himself in the blanket, thinking he should fall asleep quickly to be energetic for the journey to Yechuan. But the more he tried to fall asleep, the more awake he became.
He rolled around on the bed like a pancake, turning the blanket several times before directly kicking it off with his feet.
Shu Wuxi, lying on his side nearby, reached out and pulled the blanket back.
“I don’t want the blanket! I’m dying of heat!” Lu Xiaochan raised his foot to kick again, but Shu Wuxi caught his ankle.
“You’ll catch a cold,” Shu Wuxi’s cool voice sounded.
As soon as Lu Xiaochan heard his voice, he felt completely at ease and immediately threw one leg over to hug Shu Wuxi.
“Xiaochan, what’s wrong?”
“I’m dying of heat! Your body is cool!”
Earlier, Lu Xiaochan had thought that after Shu Wuxi returned from the Northern Sea, his body couldn’t warm up, but now thinking about it, in summer, Shu Wuxi was like a perfect divine tool for staying cool!
Lu Xiaochan knew that the medicinal bags in the bath must have been the problem – what strengthening yang!
He, Lu Xiaochan, had eaten two large pieces of cumin-roasted lamb kidney during the day, his yang energy was already very strong.
Only someone like Meng Yuandao, who had been drained by evil spirits, needed to soak in medicinal bags!
Shu Wuxi remained motionless, allowing Lu Xiaochan to hang on him.
But Lu Xiaochan still couldn’t sleep. When he opened his eyes, he saw Shu Wuxi also looking at him, and from such a close distance, his spiritual light outlined his eyelashes so clearly, slightly curled upward as if anticipating something, making Lu Xiaochan really want to lick them.
“Xiaochan, why aren’t you closing your eyes to sleep?”
“Can’t sleep, let’s talk.”
“Mm.”
Lu Xiaochan knew not to expect Shu Wuxi to say much to him. If he kept talking and Shu Wuxi responded with an “mm,” that was already pretty good.
He had to think of something that would make Shu Wuxi say more.
Oh? Got it!
Today when they saw that senior brother and sister doing things on the back mountain, didn’t Shu Wuxi say he “liked” that kind of thing?
Lu Xiaochan narrowed his eyes. “Brother Wuxi, who have you done that with before?”
Although Shu Wuxi had said before not to ask about past matters, Lu Xiaochan’s bones ached with jealousy just thinking about Shu Wuxi having kissed someone else.
“Done what?”
Lu Xiaochan kicked his legs. “Making love! Didn’t you say you liked it? Have you kissed anyone?”
Shu Wuxi stopped answering him.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?”
“You wouldn’t like it.”
“Who says I wouldn’t like it? I’ve never kissed anyone before, I don’t even know if I definitely wouldn’t like it, how do you know I wouldn’t like it?”
Lu Xiaochan almost jumped up – why could Shu Wuxi assert so firmly that he wouldn’t like it?
Oh, could it be that only you, Shu Wuxi, get to enjoy this, and I, Lu Xiaochan, don’t get a chance?
Originally, Shu Wuxi’s body was ice-cold, and for the feverish Lu Xiaochan, sleeping against him was like hugging a big ice block in summer, very comfortable. But now, his body had also become slightly warm, no longer cool.
Lu Xiaochan was about to sweat again. He put down his leg and shifted toward the wall.
But Shu Wuxi immediately stretched out his arm and held him down.
Those usually deep and calm eyes were brewing something different.
Shu Wuxi’s palm against Lu Xiaochan’s back clothing grew increasingly hot, and Lu Xiaochan’s sweat-dampened undergarments seemed about to dry from the temperature of his palm.
For some unknown reason, Lu Xiaochan became nervous, gulping audibly, but that feeling of suspended anticipation made him, who usually cared about nothing… at a loss.
The clear, cold aura around Shu Wuxi had also taken on an unusual warmth, like the first ray of sunlight falling on a towering, unreachable mountain peak after a cold night, making Lu Xiaochan inexplicably yearn for it.
Although Lu Xiaochan knew he should keep his distance, he couldn’t help but move closer to take a sniff.
When he met Shu Wuxi’s gaze, he instinctively wanted to shrink back against the wall, but this time Shu Wuxi held him tight, leaving him unable to move.
If Shu Wuxi’s heart had always dwelled in a lonely, cold place, at this moment a hint of sweet freshness had flowed in, instantly becoming wrapped up, not even allowing a gentle breeze to penetrate, fearing it would scatter and take away this warm sweetness.
The flawless beauty in Lu Xiaochan’s desireless eyes seemed to carry a kind of temptation, reminding him of the cool yet fatally poisonous wine. Lu Xiaochan’s mind was filled with thoughts of “drinking poison to quench thirst.”
He felt he must have been possessed by an evil spirit, otherwise why would he say something in the next moment that made him want to slam himself against a wall to death.
“Why don’t you kiss me and see?”
His hands were so hot they felt like they would burst into flames.
Shu Wuxi’s eyes froze there, reminding Lu Xiaochan of the sound of fireworks he had heard that day, suddenly rising and exploding in the silence, never to be gathered back.
He wanted to laugh and say he was just joking with Shu Wuxi.
But just as his lips parted slightly, he no longer wanted to speak.
Because he… had gone mad with wanting to know how Shu Wuxi would react?
Would he say he was “presumptuous,” or call him “mischievous”? Or tell him to “behave”?
But he wanted to be presumptuous, wanted to be mischievous, didn’t want to behave.
It was you who said “you like it,” you who filled me with imagination and speculation, you who made me unwilling to accept that you… had kissed others.
There was no bright light in the room, only a bit of moonlight filtered hazily through the window, falling on Shu Wuxi’s nose bridge and eyelashes, leaving lines where light and shadow met. Lu Xiaochan saw Shu Wuxi’s throat suddenly bob.
His embrace seemed to be on fire, burning through Lu Xiaochan’s thin clothes, burning through his flesh and bones, but Lu Xiaochan didn’t want to move away at all.
Even if it was just a light touch like a dragonfly skimming water, Lu Xiaochan wanted him to touch him in that most special way.
In that instant, the man beside him suddenly turned over, the blanket sliding to the floor. Lu Xiaochan thought he was going to get up and leave, his heart feeling empty and cold, but instead, the other man held his hand, their fingers intertwined as he rolled on top of him.
He really did touch Lu Xiaochan’s upper lip, very lightly, very restrained, like testing the waters, leaving too quickly.
Lu Xiaochan hadn’t even had time to feel his lips properly.
His whole heart felt like it would leap out of his chest, all his blood rushing toward that pulsing spot.
He had never felt such dissatisfaction before – just moments ago he had told himself that just one touch would be enough, but Lu Xiaochan feared he would leave just like that, his fingertips tightening their grip on Shu Wuxi’s hand.
He opened his eyes wide, and Shu Wuxi’s spiritual light was surging, like storm clouds about to break, containing an indescribable madness, barely held back but ready to break free at any moment.
“Is that… all?”
What kind of kiss was that!
Before Lu Xiaochan could finish speaking, Shu Wuxi pressed down again, pressing against Lu Xiaochan’s lips.
Whenever Lu Xiaochan’s heart trembled wanting to hold on, Shu Wuxi would pull away, and when Lu Xiaochan would look at him foolishly with disappointment, full of barely contained anticipation, Shu Wuxi would press down again.
Lu Xiaochan didn’t even know if this time he would press against his upper lip, or lower lip, or the corner of his mouth. He just felt his heart was so full it felt like it would burst.
Shu Wuxi’s hair fell from his shoulders, sliding across Lu Xiaochan’s cheeks, tugging at his heartstrings unbearably.
These tiny, fragmentary kisses fell tirelessly, and Lu Xiaochan made intimate sounds of satisfaction like someone who had finally eaten their fill after being hungry for a long time.
Shu Wuxi paused for a long while, his eyes carrying a trace of panic, as if waiting for a heart-breaking outcome to arrive.
Lu Xiaochan’s face was terribly red, his eyes misty with moisture. His eyelashes trembled as he opened his eyes to look at Shu Wuxi.
“Brother Wuxi?”
“You’re not going to kick me?” Shu Wuxi’s voice was tense, his gaze so intense that it seemed if Lu Xiaochan moved even slightly, struggled even a bit, he would pin him dead to the couch.
“Why… why would I kick you?”
“You’re not going to bite me either?”
“Didn’t I already bite you when you were carrying me…”
“You asked me to kiss you. You won’t… leave without saying goodbye, right?”
“I won’t…”
Brother Wuxi, what’s wrong with you?
Lu Xiaochan’s mind was still in a haze of heat, before he could even start pondering this question, Shu Wuxi suddenly pressed down, cutting off Lu Xiaochan’s breath. He bit at his lips, his burning tongue pushing between Lu Xiaochan’s teeth, at first awkwardly sucking, but Lu Xiaochan felt as if both his spirit and blood had been stolen away, his fingers gripping Shu Wuxi even tighter.
For Shu Wuxi, Lu Xiaochan’s reaction wasn’t just permission – it was a response, the final straw that ignited, falling into his long-parched heart, burned with overwhelming intensity.
His tongue lost control, pressing against Lu Xiaochan’s palate, entangling repeatedly, reminding Lu Xiaochan of that day’s thunder-transformed qilin, carrying an overwhelming force, giving him no chance to avoid or refuse.
Lu Xiaochan felt dizzy, getting hotter and hotter. Though this man’s lips were soft, his kisses grew increasingly forceful, like the torrential rain after thunder, until Lu Xiaochan burned from his tongue tip straight to his heart.
Shu Wuxi suddenly stopped, his eyes awakening from their passionate abandon. He pushed Lu Xiaochan away and quickly walked out.
Cold wind rushed in, and Lu Xiaochan, who had been burning hot, suddenly sobered up.
His lips and teeth still retained Shu Wuxi’s heat and the intensity of their passionate moment.
He licked his palate, suddenly wondering why Shu Wuxi had left?
Was he angry?
Lu Xiaochan hurriedly got off the couch, running out without even putting on his shoes.
He couldn’t just kiss like this once… no, several times, and then run away!
As soon as he ran out, he saw Shu Wuxi standing under the dead tree in the center of the courtyard, spiritual energy surging around him, boiling endlessly.
He closed his eyes, head tilted back slightly, seemingly adjusting his inner breath.
“Brother Wuxi… what’s wrong?” Lu Xiaochan felt somewhat scared, worried that he had upset Shu Wuxi.
Shu Wuxi’s back was very tense, like a cliff about to split open.
Lu Xiaochan still couldn’t help but tug at his sleeve.
“If… if you feel uncomfortable about it, we can pretend what just happened… didn’t happen? After all… lips touching lips won’t… lose any flesh…”
At Lu Xiaochan’s tug, Shu Wuxi immediately pulled his sleeve away.
Lu Xiaochan stood there dumbfounded. Since Shu Wuxi had returned from the Northern Sea, whenever Lu Xiaochan had held his hand, grabbed his arm, or even mischievously pressed against his back, he had never pulled away.
Lu Xiaochan had never been afraid before, but now he was terrified.
Could it be that just because of his casual words, just because he made him kiss him, Shu Wuxi would now ignore him?
Lu Xiaochan grew anxious and quickly apologized. “I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! I’ll never do it again! Please don’t be angry with me!”
“What exactly will you never do again?” Shu Wuxi, who had his eyes closed, suddenly opened them.
His gaze was deep and oppressive, bearing down on Lu Xiaochan, making him tongue-tied, almost unable to speak.
“What won’t you do again?”
Shu Wuxi’s voice grew even colder.
Lu Xiaochan stepped backward, speaking without thinking. He felt wronged – he had just made a casual comment, and Shu Wuxi had kissed him, and then clearly he was the one unhappy, yet when Lu Xiaochan came out to apologize, he became even angrier?
Truly, Shu Wuxi’s heart was like a needle at the bottom of the sea!
“You were the one who said you liked this… kind of thing! You kissed me and then ran away! And now you’re acting like I did something terrible to you!”
