LZX Extra 2

In the past, Lu Xiaochan was too shy to appear so completely honest in front of Shu Wuxi.

Because whenever Shu Wuxi looked at him, Lu Xiaochan knew he wasn’t just looking – his restraint was at the edge of destruction.

But at this moment, Lu Xiaochan felt that the person before him would give everything to protect him. To get close to him, to be near him, even for a dragonfly-skimming-water moment of possession, Shu Wuxi would give up himself – be it Wuyi Jingtian or his ten thousand years of cultivation.

So Lu Xiaochan also held him as tightly as he could.

The two cats on the boat’s canopy had finally settled down, but the small boat was carried by the current and bumped slightly against the shore.

The mild shock felt like a sword formation descending from the sky onto Lu Xiaochan’s body, tightening everything from his fingertips to his heart.

Shu Wuxi lowered his head, kissing him intermittently but intensely, as if saying “Xiaochan, don’t be afraid.”

At that moment, Lu Xiaochan’s breathing and heartbeat were entangled and pulled by the other, like having drunk a large gulp of “Wine Striking Immortal,” revealing everything in his heart uncontrollably before the “Mirror Flower Water Moon.”

When Lu Xiaochan felt he would truly die from the kissing, he tried to turn his face away, just to catch a breath, but Shu Wuxi would eagerly pursue and kiss him again.

This small boat was far more fragile than anything they had previously destroyed in their spiritual energy confrontations. It creaked pitifully in Lu Xiaochan’s released spiritual energy, seeming ready to fall apart at any moment.

Shu Wuxi pressed down on Lu Xiaochan, forceful yet decisive, his voice carrying a plea.

“Xiaochan, don’t fear me…don’t hide from me…don’t struggle against me, this is our only home…”

Just one sentence made Lu Xiaochan’s heart completely soft.

At that moment, Lu Xiaochan finally understood that when True Lord Lingyuan was tightly embraced by the possessed Yang Cang back then, the feeling must not have been panic, but rather – “So I am this important to this person.”

Important enough that even when he lost himself, he still couldn’t let go.

The so-called “doing whatever one wants” didn’t require having the whole world in one’s grasp – a boat too small to fit anyone else was already enough.

When dawn gradually traced golden lines at the horizon, Shu Wuxi still propped himself up, blocking Lu Xiaochan’s path, as if tomorrow didn’t exist.

The small boat passed under another bridge, and Shu Wuxi directly used his spiritual energy to keep the boat there.

In the dark space, day and night became indistinguishable. Shu Wuxi kissed Lu Xiaochan, giving him all of his thousands of years of passion and coldness, like offering up his breath and life.

In his daze, Lu Xiaochan saw the fine rain of spring sleep, falling gently, waiting for the summer cicada.

Lu Xiaochan felt he would truly die from this.

It seemed their time was different from all things in the world.

While all things underwent thousands of cycles of withering and flourishing, Lu Xiaochan was just being loved with all might by Shu Wuxi.

“Brother Wuxi… I like you… don’t be afraid, I really like you…”

Lu Xiaochan told him with tears, completely serious, until he was fiercely kissed again.

When Shu Wuxi let this small boat free, letting it leave from under that bridge, it was impossible to tell how many days had passed.

Lu Xiaochan slept regardless of day or night, hazily aware that Shu Wuxi had wiped his forehead, shielded him from sunlight to let him sleep peacefully, and embraced him when he shivered to keep him from getting cold.

When Lu Xiaochan woke up, he found the water town outside had been replaced by a large expanse of duckweed.

“Hmm? Where are we now?”

Shu Wuxi told him this was another town.

Lu Xiaochan rubbed his eyes and said, “Why do I feel it’s a bit hot?”

“It’s naturally somewhat hot in May.”

Shu Wuxi’s answer startled Lu Xiaochan, who grabbed his collar. “How long did you keep us under that bridge!”

Shu Wuxi just looked at Lu Xiaochan, not answering.

“Ah! You’re too much! People could die from that, you know?” Lu Xiaochan was so angry the small strands of hair on his forehead stood up.

Shu Wuxi turned his face away, with a faint smile at the corner of his lips.

“Xiaochan, if we could truly stay together till the end of time… what else would we do if not this?”

Lu Xiaochan’s heart skipped a beat, feeling that his Brother Wuxi had learned to be naughty?

The small boat swayed gently, Lu Xiaochan lay at the boat’s edge, the two strands of hair on his forehead swaying along. He reached out and grabbed a large handful of leaves floating on the water, wondering if they were edible.

Nonsense, of course they weren’t edible – these leaves were called “water willows”!

Although it was unlikely, what if after eating them, Brother Wuxi became fickle? What would he do then?

(TL: Water Willow (水性杨花, shuǐ xìng yáng huā).

This phrase 水性杨花 can also be used as a metaphor in Chinese to describe someone who is fickle or changeable in emotions or relationships, implying that the person moves from one thing to another quickly and without commitment.)

Though his thoughts were ridiculous, Lu Xiaochan pondered seriously, completely unaware that if he was the one eating them, why would Shu Wuxi be the one becoming fickle?

He glanced sideways, secretly looking at Shu Wuxi sitting beside him.

He still dressed like when he first came to Lu Shu town to find Lu Xiaochan, like a refined and serious young scholar, his hair tied up with a band, revealing his forehead that looked so noble and inviolable.

Stories about this Sword Master circulated everywhere, and some common people even treated the huge crater left by Wuyi Jingtian as a relic of Sword Master Yang Cang’s ascension to godhood, with temples worshipping him everywhere.

Just today as they traveled downriver, they had seen two such temples.

Lu Xiaochan had eagerly wanted to go ashore to look, but Shu Wuxi showed no interest.

And now Lu Xiaochan was looking at the water willows and letting his imagination run wild while Shu Wuxi concentrated on peeling nuts beside him, gathering a teacup full of kernels to give to Lu Xiaochan.

Crack crack, came the sound of nuts breaking. Lu Xiaochan’s attention gradually was drawn to Shu Wuxi’s fingers.

He first held the nut in his palm, the shell cracked, but the kernel always remained perfectly intact, and more importantly, he didn’t use any spiritual energy at all.

Then, he slightly opened his palm, moved his wrist, and the shell fragments fell into the water, two fingers picking up the kernel from his palm and placing it in the teacup.

The entire movement was natural and casual, yet carried a hint of elegance.

Every time Lu Xiaochan thought he was getting tired of looking at Shu Wuxi, he would discover he still loved watching him.

“Hungry?”

Shu Wuxi held the small teacup and placed it in front of Lu Xiaochan.

His hand had barely lifted when Lu Xiaochan moved closer, first brushing his nose against Shu Wuxi’s little finger. The other stiffened, then Lu Xiaochan’s lips pressed against his palm, and not satisfied with one kiss, while Shu Wuxi hadn’t withdrawn his hand, Lu Xiaochan directly kissed his wrist.

“Xiaochan—”

Shu Wuxi’s voice lowered, his throat somewhat hoarse.

Lu Xiaochan raised his eyes to look at him, and sure enough saw his gaze was deep, even the sky seemed to grow heavy with it, as if after so many clear days, it was finally going to rain.

Shu Wuxi’s breathing quickened, Lu Xiaochan loved hearing such sounds. He kissed between Shu Wuxi’s fingers, moved closer to him, felt him hold himself tighter, and fell back without any guard.

Something fell from Shu Wuxi’s sleeve – it was the qiankun pouch Kun Wu had given them.

“What’s still in here?” Lu Xiaochan asked.

“Nothing much anymore, except for the gold mountain from Wuyi Jingtian.”

Lu Xiaochan’s eyes grew wide, and he snatched the qiankun pouch.

“If I had known earlier, I would have shattered this boat! If I hadn’t thought we were out of money, how could you have been so arrogant!”

“Xiaochan?”

“Don’t get up! Who just said if we could be together forever what else would we do but this!”