This time, the shopkeeper’s face turned red. “What were you thinking in that head of yours!”
“Thinking about my darling,” Lu Xiaochan deliberately looked entranced and rubbed his chest.
The shopkeeper wrapped up the wedding veil and pressed it into Lu Xiaochan’s arms. “You! Still so young, your heart stirs at the sight of a beautiful girl, crying out about life after life. Life is long – will you still appreciate her most beautiful years, and can you also appreciate her less beautiful moments?”
“I appreciate his face, small waist, and long legs!” Lu Xiaochan gestured in the air, “I also appreciate the tea he drank, the blanket he slept in, the words he spoke, the smell of his body. I appreciate everything about him.”
After speaking, Lu Xiaochan put down some silver coins and turned around, suddenly seeing Shu Wuxi standing at the doorway, quietly watching him.
“Brother Wuxi!” Lu Xiaochan’s heart stirred, and he was about to run and hug him, but he tripped on the shop’s threshold and fell flat.
Shu Wuxi immediately reached out and pulled him up.
“Be careful.”
“I can’t see!”
Lu Xiaochan grabbed Shu Wuxi’s clothing and stood up.
The shopkeeper then realized that this young gentleman could not see.
How could he still laugh so happily despite not seeing?
Not seeing was good – without eyes to see superficial appearances, the heart could cherish the most important things.
“Brother Wuxi, why did you come out? Weren’t you supposed to wait for me in the room?”
Lu Xiaochan tilted his head and asked.
“I was afraid you might fall,” Shu Wuxi tightly held Lu Xiaochan’s hand, head lowered, his gaze falling on the corner of the paper package exposed on Lu Xiaochan’s chest.
The package contained the wedding veil.
“Xiaochan… are you thinking of getting married?”
“Yes! Once we’re married, I can bully my wife every day!” Lu Xiaochan squinted and smiled, as if thinking of something extremely enjoyable, and rubbed his forehead on Shu Wuxi’s arm.
Shu Wuxi did not speak, just pulled Lu Xiaochan forward, nearly bumping into someone.
Lu Xiaochan grabbed him. “Walking back is so slow! Let’s fly on our swords!”
He jumped onto his sword, already suspended a zhang high, but Shu Wuxi showed no intention of getting on.
“Brother Wuxi?”
“Xiaochan, I won’t let you marry someone else.”
Shu Wuxi suddenly looked up, his eyes carrying a resolute and determined look.
As if Lu Xiaochan leaving would make him catch him, take his sword, and prevent him from going anywhere.
“Why would I marry someone else! I’ll marry you!” Lu Xiaochan’s face was excited, “Mandarin ducks entwined! Hehe!”
Shu Wuxi was stunned for a moment, then gracefully rose and landed behind Lu Xiaochan, instantly reaching the window.
Lu Xiaochan jumped in and turned back, not forgetting to pull Shu Wuxi’s hand.
Shu Wuxi, holding Lu Xiaochan’s fingers, crossed through the window, head lowered, looking like a bride descending from a sedan chair.
Lu Xiaochan licked his lips, his mind full of wild imaginings.
Shu Wuxi pulled Lu Xiaochan back to the bed and sat down calmly, but Lu Xiaochan knew Shu Wuxi was not as composed as he appeared.
“Brother Wuxi, your palm is so hot.”
Just as Lu Xiaochan finished speaking, Shu Wuxi suddenly pulled him over, his arm strength substantial, directly gripping Lu Xiaochan’s waist and lifting his entire body, making him sit face-to-face on Shu Wuxi’s lap, knees kneeling on the bed.
“Xiaochan, how do you want to marry me?”
Shu Wuxi slightly tilted his head, looking at Lu Xiaochan, who was slightly higher from sitting on him.
Lu Xiaochan’s heart drummed, both hands grabbing the clothes on Shu Wuxi’s shoulders, wrinkling them, his palms sweating without realizing.
Because this Shu Wuxi was one he had never seen before.
With longing and anticipation, Lu Xiaochan wanted to spend a lifetime doing nothing but teasing him.
Lu Xiaochan swallowed, took out the paper package from his chest, opened the wedding veil, and seriously placed it on Shu Wuxi’s head.
Lu Xiaochan knew he looked ridiculous, like children playing house.
Like how little Wang Xiao’er from the village head would play with Cui Hua from the village end, covering her head with a piece of cloth and performing a mock marriage. No formal betrothal, no matchmaker’s words, just childish whims.
When they grew up, each married elsewhere, they might only laugh when remembering such moments.
But Lu Xiaochan knew this wasn’t a game. He couldn’t see the veil, only knowing Shu Wuxi was still looking at him so deeply.
“We won’t worship heaven and earth, because being together is our own matter. We don’t need celestial blessings.”
“Mm,” Shu Wuxi softly responded.
Most times, whatever Lu Xiaochan said, Shu Wuxi would agree.
“We’ll just bow to each other,” Lu Xiaochan lowered his head, touching foreheads with Shu Wuxi through the veil.
They embraced like this, not separating for a long time.
“Brother Wuxi, what are you thinking?” Lu Xiaochan asked softly.
“I’m thinking about you.”
“I’m thinking about you too.”
Lu Xiaochan first kissed Shu Wuxi through the veil.
He heard Shu Wuxi’s thundering heartbeat, his suppressed breathing, the movement of his throat.
Pinching the veil’s edges, Lu Xiaochan gently lifted it, revealing Shu Wuxi’s neck, which he then kissed, kissing his bobbing Adam’s apple.
Lifting it higher to expose Shu Wuxi’s chin, Lu Xiaochan kissed it, lightly biting.
Shu Wuxi instinctively tilted his head back. Lu Xiaochan loved this reaction, kissing his lower lip, mischievously teasing the lip’s seam.
Shu Wuxi endured, gripping Lu Xiaochan’s waist. The harder he squeezed, the more Lu Xiaochan knew he was aroused.
When Lu Xiaochan kissed Shu Wuxi’s upper lip, Shu Wuxi leaned back, having to support himself with one hand.
Lu Xiaochan smiled triumphantly, quickly lifting the veil to kiss Shu Wuxi’s nose, cheeks, and eyes.
Just as he was about to pin Shu Wuxi down, Shu Wuxi unexpectedly pressed him onto the bed with one hand!
He supported himself beside Lu Xiaochan’s ear, his eyes blazing like a low-hanging cloudy sea, lightning and thunder pressing down.
Lu Xiaochan had never seen Shu Wuxi with such an expression – truly intoxicated with desire.
“Brother Wuxi… mmm… mmm…”
When Lu Xiaochan awoke, he found himself cradled in Shu Wuxi’s arms, fingers gently twirling the hair around his ear.
“Xiaochan,” he murmured Lu Xiaochan’s name.
Though his voice was cold, it sounded incredibly tender to Lu Xiaochan.
“Hmph…” Lu Xiaochan deliberately lowered his head, avoiding Shu Wuxi’s gaze.
“What’s wrong?” Shu Wuxi’s nose nudged his forehead.
He always cared about Lu Xiaochan’s emotions but often couldn’t understand his sudden mood swings.
“Weren’t you supposed to let me tease you?” Lu Xiaochan said in a raspy voice.
“But you clearly enjoyed it,” Shu Wuxi’s knuckles brushed Lu Xiaochan’s stray bangs.
His warm breath fell on Lu Xiaochan’s cheek, making his resolve waver, then hating himself for it.
“Xiaochan, once we find a way to prevent the bone-clinging cold garment from melting, we can…”
Lu Xiaochan’s ears rang at this, and he pulled the blanket over his head.
“Let the bone-clinging cold garment just melt!”
Shu Wuxi’s fingers pulled down the edge of the blanket, revealing Lu Xiaochan’s head with its cute whorl. Shu Wuxi leaned down and kissed it.
“Xiaochan, I want to see you wearing the wedding veil.”
“I won’t let you see!”
“Xiaochan, I want to kiss you like you kissed me yesterday.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Xiaochan…”
Shu Wuxi pulled the blanket further away, seeing Lu Xiaochan’s reddened face.
“I want to bite you,” Shu Wuxi made his request very seriously.
“Not allowed!”
Lu Xiaochan tried to burrow down, but Shu Wuxi was quick and actually bit his cheek.
Lu Xiaochan raised his head, about to bite Shu Wuxi in retaliation, but Shu Wuxi suddenly flipped over and pressed him down.
Oh no! It was indeed a mistake to start like this early in the morning!
He’d invited trouble!
Unexpectedly, Shu Wuxi’s expression turned serious, pushing out with his right hand, spiritual energy surging like a wall.
Lu Xiaochan then realized the Zhang Mountain Sect had come looking for them again!
And this time, they were a hundred times more formidable than before!
Shu Wuxi’s spiritual energy collided with the sneak attack, creating a buzzing sound in the air, making the entire inn tremble and nearly collapse.
But Shu Wuxi’s spiritual energy crushed the opponent, especially now that he was angry.
Lu Xiaochan instinctively grabbed Shu Wuxi’s collar, seeing his slightly furrowed brow, knowing Shu Wuxi couldn’t tolerate their approach.
They attacked without warning. If not for Shu Wuxi protecting Lu Xiaochan, who was completely unprepared, he might have been injured by their spiritual energy.
“Brother Wuxi, don’t be angry,” Lu Xiaochan smiled and tugged at him.
Outside the inn, Zhang Rongxiu was hovering on his sword by the window.
Yesterday, Zhang Xiao returned and reported that not only did he fail to bring back the person who had plotted against Zhang Wutian, but he also returned severely injured. The disciples he brought had their swords destroyed.
Zhang Xiao said the attackers were from the Tailing Pavilion, and their cultivation was deep, likely already at the Borrowing Power realm.
Zhang Rongxiu narrowed his eyes. He himself had been in the Borrowing Power realm for over thirty years and couldn’t destroy dozens of immortal swords with a single sword formation. This young man seemed difficult to handle.
The Zhang Mountain Sect’s reputation would be lost if Zhang Rongxiu didn’t teach this young man a lesson, and his son Zhang Wutian’s poison remained unresolved.
After careful consideration, Zhang Rongxiu decided to meet the young man in the inn.
If their abilities were comparable, he’d spar and save some face before negotiating. If the young man’s cultivation was slightly higher, he’d speak nicely and try to obtain the antidote.
To avoid seeming to bully with numbers – though his disciples’ combined strength would likely mean nothing to the opponent – Zhang Rongxiu brought only two disciples.
He used fifty percent of his power to probe the inn’s occupants’ cultivation. But Shu Wuxi’s returning palm made Zhang Rongxiu inwardly cry “bad”. Before the opponent, he was like an ant trying to shake a tree, not only failing to intimidate but also offending them.
“Are you Zhang Mountain Sect people annoying or what? That Zhang Wutian is shameless, trying to take advantage of this lord. I just gave him a little lesson, and you keep coming to harass me! Harassment is one thing, but to sneak attack while I’m not even awake? I heard your Zhang Mountain Sect is a famous immortal sect. Not only can’t you distinguish right from wrong, but you’re also so shameless?”
Lu Xiaochan, protected by Shu Wuxi, spoke whatever came to mind.
Zhang Rongxiu’s face outside alternated between pale and white.
For over a hundred years, Zhang Mountain City’s people had treated Zhang Rongxiu like a god, and neighboring immortal sects slightly inferior to Zhang Mountain Sect had always been cautious with him.
Zhang Rongxiu had been arrogant for years, but this was the first time someone had so thoroughly humiliated him.
Since Zhang Rongxiu arrived at the inn, the people had been avoiding him, and the streets surrounding the inn were almost empty. Although Zhang Rongxiu did not need to worry about Lu Xiaochan’s previous outburst being heard by anyone, he still found it difficult to tolerate.
His fist clenched, his knuckles crackling, he wished he could draw his sword and trap the young man in a sword formation, making him unable to live or die, regretting his arrogant offense against the Zhang Mountain Sect.
At this time, Shu Wuxi helped Lu Xiaochan up, placing his legs on his own body, arranging his trouser cuffs, and putting on his shoes and socks.
Lu Xiaochan fidgeted with his feet, but Shu Wuxi still held his ankle tight. Shu Wuxi’s thumb slid half a circle on Lu Xiaochan’s ankle, as if saying “don’t make trouble”.
Zhang Rongxiu outside the inn had already narrowed his eyes. Even through the wall, Lu Xiaochan could feel the other’s anger.
Anger hurts the body, but it hurts you, not me.
So the more angry you get, the better!
Zhang Rongxiu’s thumb pressed against the sword hilt, ready to draw at any moment.
“Immortal friend, there’s a misunderstanding. I am Zhang Rongxiu, master of the Zhang Mountain Sect. I heard that an immortal from Tailing Pavilion came to Zhang City and had some disagreement with my son. I hope the immortal can stay at our Zhang Mountain Sect for a few days, so I can fulfill the host’s hospitality and resolve the unpleasantness with my son.”
Zhang Rongxiu’s gaze was fixed on the window, trying to see the appearance of the speaker, but from this angle, he could only see a handsome scholar carefully putting shoes on the person on the bed.
The scholar slightly lowered his eyebrows, attentive to the youth on the bed.
The youth spoke again, with a burst of loud laughter.
“Haha! What misunderstanding could I have with Zhang Wutian? He harbored ill intentions towards me, but his cultivation was insufficient. I slightly disciplined him, and now I’m accused of ‘ambushing’? Things are already unpleasant. If I go to your Zhang Mountain Sect and meet Zhang Wutian, wouldn’t it become even more unpleasant? Would I kick him to the sky or stomp him into the ground?”
Zhang Rongxiu’s forehead veins throbbed.
He had been a sect master for over three hundred years and had never encountered someone so utterly disrespectful.
Outrageous! Simply outrageous!
“So, you’re not willing to provide the antidote?” Zhang Rongxiu gritted his teeth.
“He is pure and free from desires, so naturally he feels nothing!” Lu Xiaochan knew that Zhang Rongxiu was about to make a move.
“Hmph, my son, even if he needs to be disciplined, I will do it myself. When has it been the turn of outsiders to take action!”
Zhang Rongxiu pushed his thumb up, and the immortal sword was unsheathed. A sword formation rushed towards the inn’s wall. When the sword formation passed through the wall, the wall cracked into countless fissures and instantly collapsed.
Even the load-bearing pillars were destroyed. The inn’s guests screamed and fled.
Shouts came from downstairs. “The inn is collapsing! It’s collapsing!”
Lu Xiaochan saw the incoming sword formation and instinctively formed a defensive sword formation. The two forces collided, and the spiritual energy turned into countless fragments, scattered and disappeared.
The floor beneath their feet crumbled with a rattling sound, and the bed suddenly dropped!
Lu Xiaochan was startled, forgetting everything and grabbing Shu Wuxi’s collar.
Shu Wuxi wrapped his arm around him, lifting Lu Xiaochan, while his other hand opened the qiankun bag. The Wuhen sword emerged, spinning and landing beneath Lu Xiaochan’s feet.
At this moment, the entire inn had collapsed, dust dispersing. A young man stood on the sword, with a young scholar standing behind him.
Morning light fell, and the youth was immaculate, undisturbed.
He curled his mouth, looking at Zhang Rongxiu as if watching a clown.
“Zhang Rongxiu, you are a sect master responsible for the well-being of a region. You want to demolish this inn? Did you ask the innkeeper’s permission? Did you consider that people inside might be hurt? Are human lives so worthless to you? I see the lawless one is not your brainless son, but you, Zhang Rongxiu!”
“Since we are in my Zhang Mountain Sect’s territory, naturally what I say goes!” Zhang Rongxiu carefully observed the youth, who appeared to be only fifteen or sixteen. This indicated he had formed a core at a young age and had already reached the entering the power realm early on. Even if he had reached the borrowing realm, he could only be at the initial stage. Otherwise, how could such a young master not be famous in the immortal world, and how would he have not heard of his immortal title?
Thus, Zhang Rongxiu considered Lu Xiaochan a rising new talent from Tailing Pavilion.
Since he was just a young sapling, wouldn’t he be able to discipline him with all his might?
Then he would write a letter to Tailing Pavilion, striking first by feigning an apology, actually blaming Kunwu for not properly teaching his disciple who had offended someone in the Zhang Mountain Sect’s territory.
By then, he would have apologized, reported the incident, and Kunwu would not be able to do anything to him.
Thinking this, Zhang Rongxiu became even more determined to teach Lu Xiaochan a lesson.
“Hahaha!” Lu Xiaochan tugged at Shu Wuxi’s sleeve, “Brother Wuxi, did you hear that? I think this Zhang Rongxiu truly doesn’t know the immensity of heaven and earth! He thinks that as a sect master, he can cover the sky with one hand? Little does he know that there are over a thousand immortal sects with hidden talents. Does a Zhang Mountain Sect master with hundreds of years of cultivation really think he can act lawlessly?”
“I think you, a young child, don’t know the immensity of heaven and earth!”
With that, Zhang Rongxiu suddenly waved his sword, and a sword formation rushed forward.
Where the sword formation passed, the residual waves shattered the neighboring houses, tiles collapsed, and walls crumbled one after another.
Residents had to cover their heads and dodge.
Lu Xiaochan frowned. Shu Wuxi behind him said nothing, only squeezing Lu Xiaochan’s waist, signaling him to strike quickly.
In other words, Shu Wuxi believed that Lu Xiaochan could still compete with Zhang Rongxiu.
He thought that if he were truly the Liche of thirteen hundred years ago, he would have had six hundred years of cultivation. He had heard that Shu Wuxi had dedicated another six hundred years of cultivation to preserve his elixir core.
—Could these thousand years of cultivation not be a match for Zhang Rongxiu?
Lu Xiaochan’s courage grew. He mobilized his elixir sea, condensing spiritual energy. His foot lightly tapped the sword, and a flying rapid sword formation opened at the sword’s tip, like a massive shield, forcefully blocking Zhang Rongxiu’s sword formation.
But Lu Xiaochan had ultimately underestimated Zhang Rongxiu. The opponent’s sword formation instantly transformed, spreading out and forming countless tiny sword formations that suddenly attacked Lu Xiaochan.
“Xiaochan,” Shu Wuxi gripped Lu Xiaochan’s waist again.
Lu Xiaochan felt an itch from his grip, wanting to turn back and kiss Shu Wuxi without hesitation, but Shu Wuxi’s voice was deadly serious.
It seemed if he didn’t deal with Zhang Rongxiu, Shu Wuxi wouldn’t let him kiss him.
Lu Xiaochan exhaled, holding his breath and concentrating, imitating Zhang Rongxiu’s method of changing his sword formation.
However, his ability to manipulate the sword formation was not as skilled as Zhang Rongxiu’s. His formation only transformed into a four-sided sword formation, blocking Zhang Rongxiu’s attack.
Even so, in Zhang Rongxiu’s eyes, Lu Xiaochan’s ability to instantly change his sword formation indicated unfathomable cultivation.
Only a thin layer of cold sweat formed on Lu Xiaochan’s back, as he had nearly failed to block Zhang Rongxiu.
Not knowing Lu Xiaochan’s identity, Zhang Rongxiu could not determine whether his cultivation could defeat Lu Xiaochan. He spoke again, “Since you say you’re a disciple of Tailing Pavilion, tell me your immortal title!”
Lu Xiaochan, with his keen hearing, naturally detected the underlying lack of confidence in Zhang Rongxiu’s arrogant tone.
“Lord Lanmeng,” he said.
“Nonsense! I know every immortal title of Tailing Pavilion’s disciples who have reached the ‘borrowing’ realm! I’ve never heard of ‘Lord Lanmeng’! Moreover, you’re a medical cultivator, but you’re not using medical spells, but sword formations! I think you’re clearly impersonating someone, using Tailing Pavilion’s name to cause trouble in my Zhang Mountain Sect’s territory!”
Lu Xiaochan’s eyes widened. He had never seen such blatant distortion of facts.
“I think you can’t match my sword formation,” Lu Xiaochan curled his mouth in a smile, “It’s not shameful that you can’t defeat this lord’s sword formation! If you want to try my medical spells, that’s fine too!”
After all, the Sky-Piercing Sword Formation and the Tailing Sky-Piercing Spell were of the same lineage.
He had achieved some mastery in both and had practical experience.
Zhang Rongxiu had thought Lu Xiaochan was impersonating a Tailing Pavilion disciple, hoping to find an excuse to back down. He never expected to be pushed to the edge again.
Lu Xiaochan concentrated again, pointing his finger in the air. Spiritual energy leaked from his fingertip. The water that was originally flowing from the broken water jars at the street’s edge rose upward in countless fine streams, absorbed into his medical spell.
