Xue Laohu tilted his head away from Shudu, the latter stifling a quiet chuckle as he deftly retrieved the dangling Gu larva from the intricate web Xiao Zongzi had spun. The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth, the forest around them alive with faint, eerie whispers. Xue Tuzi stirred faintly, regaining a sliver of consciousness. His eyelids fluttered open, groggy and unfocused, but soon found clarity as he looked up at his Shizun's face. Xue Laohu held him tightly, cradling him as if he were a delicate thing on the verge of breaking.
"Hey, you're awake. That's good," Xue Laohu's voice was a low murmur, a teasing warmth in his tone. "But don't move. If you do, the poison will spread faster. We're almost there, 'kay?" His smile, both sweet and mischievous, lit up his features, as though the gravity of the situation couldn't touch him.
Xue Tuzi groaned softly, eyes squeezing shut again, his brows knitting together. He buried his face deeper into Xue Laohu's chest, seeking comfort in the steady rhythm of the man's heartbeat. The warmth radiating from him was intoxicating, and Xue Tuzi felt as if he could melt into it, be consumed by it. His own body trembled from the poison still coursing through his veins, but in Xue Laohu's embrace, he found a fleeting sense of security.
By the time they reached their destination, the sun had dipped behind the horizon, casting the sky in hues of deep purple and orange. Lord Mao sat comfortably on the porch, leisurely sipping a cup of tea, the tranquil scene at odds with the tension that had occurred. When his gaze lifted and saw Xue Laohu carrying a bruised and battered Xue Tuzi, he choked, sputtering in surprise. The tea scalded his throat, as he coughed violently, hitting his chest with a clenched fist.
Li Zhameng, who had been quietly standing by, rushed to his side, patting Lord Mao's back with one hand while bowing slightly. "Lord Mao, please call a physician," Xue Laohu commanded urgently as he strode into the hall, carrying the groaning, barely conscious Xue Tuzi in his arms. His steps were quick, his expression taut with worry as he pushed past disciples who scrambled to clear a path. Xue Tuzi's face was pale, beads of sweat trickling down his brow as he fought to stay awake, clutching weakly at Xue Laohu's robes.
Trailing behind, Shudu sauntered in with an air of nonchalance, greeting Lord Mao with a casual "Yo!" as though his presence there was entirely ordinary. His arms were crossed, clutching the wriggling Gu worm he had recently named Jiao Jiao. Shudu glanced down at the creature, its small, segmented body squirming, whiskers twitching as it let out a plaintive cry, shrill with the unmistakable call of "Mama!" Shudu rolled his eyes, sighing.
"Xiao Jiao, stop wiggling," he scolded, holding the worm firmly. "I told you already—I am your creator. You shall address me as Master." But Jiao Jiao merely tilted his oversized, gleaming bug head to one side, giving an exaggerated huff as if to say, "I don't think so."
The disciples of Sect Mount Dingbu, who had gathered at the commotion, gasped audibly. The sight of a demon striding casually into their sacred grounds sent a ripple of shock through the crowd. Some seethed with anger, hands instinctively reaching for the hilts of their swords, while others trembled uncontrollably, some urinating out of fear.
Shudu flashed them a sharp, toothy smile, waving at the crowd with a mockingly playful clawing gesture. He reveled in their reaction, enjoying the terror he inspired. Memories hung in the air like a thick fog—a fierce battle that had nearly burned Mount Dingbu to the ground 989 years ago. Shudu had sought Xue Laohu's mentorship back then, pleading to become his disciple. When he was refused, rage consumed him, and he unleashed his fury upon the sect, igniting its sacred grounds in a blaze. Yet Xue Laohu, with a calm authority, did not kill him. Instead, he cast Shudu out, erecting a powerful barrier around the mountain to ward off all demonic intrusions.
But that was almost a millennium ago, and time had weakened the barrier. Today, Shudu crossed it effortlessly, a living reminder of the sect's long-buried shame. He strolled forward, ignoring the fearful stares.
Xue Tuzi laid on the bed, drenched in sweat, his body trembling as he fought to stay alert. The physicians worked tirelessly, their brows furrowed in concentration as they grounded medicinal herbs and chanted incantations to expel the venom slowly leeching his strength. His skin was clammy, and the room was filled with the sharp, herbal scent of concoctions simmering over small braziers.
"Shizun!" Xue Tuzi gasped, his voice strained and barely above a whisper. His trembling hand reached out weakly, cold to the touch, and Xue Laohu was there instantly, his own warm hands enveloping Xue Tuzi's.
"I'm right here," Xue Laohu reassured him, his voice calm, yet threaded with concern. He gently wiped away the sweat beading on Xue Tuzi's forehead, carefully replacing the wet cloth that had already grown warm from his fever. Xue Tuzi's gaze remained fixed on Xue Laohu, his fever-bright eyes filled with a kind of admiration. Despite the pain clouding his vision, he managed a weak smile, his lips twitching upward.
He found himself thinking with that even with Xue Laohu's disheveled, butchered hair, it actually gave him a rebellious masculine aura. In the back of his mind, Xue Tuzi couldn't help but admit that it made his Shizun look a little bit "badass."
Xue Laohu ran his fingers brushing the patch of skin on Xue Tuzi's cheek where a bruise was fading. Xue Tuzi leaned into the touch, letting his face rest fully in Xue Laohu's palm, the warmth offering a momentary respite from the poison still burning through him.
Yi Ming let out a heavy sigh his expression shifted from concern to mild exasperation. My poor little Shou... What possessed you to pick a fight with your Gong? Yi Ming thought, shaking his head. That makes no sense. The whole situation had spiraled out of control, and now here he was, stuck watching this drama unfold. His mind wandered briefly—what about the system? It had been strangely quiet lately, and the only progress he had made was accumulating a paltry 25 life points.
"Wow... thrilling," he muttered sarcastically under his breath before snapping upright, yelling to the void. "System! You've got some explaining to do!"
In the distance, gagging and coughing could be heard, breaking the quiet. Yi Ming's nose twitched in disgust just as a screen flickered to life before him, displaying a list of his unlocked characters and their respective life points. His eyes narrowed as he noticed something strange—both the Shou and Gong had each five black hearts.
A message scrawled across the screen in bold letters:
SHOU AND GONG MUST EACH ACHIEVE 5 PINK HEARTS TO UNLEASH COMPLETE ROMANCE.
Yi Ming groaned, rubbing his temple. "You've got to be kidding me," he mumbled, crossing his arms. His foot tapped irritably on the floor as he asked, "And how exactly do I achieve that?"
The system, in its usual cryptic manner, responded:
EACH MISSION WILL BRING SHOU AND GONG CLOSER. SUCCEED, AND YOU SHALL BE REWARDED. FAIL, AND DEATH AWAITS YOU.
Yi Ming raised a brow skeptically. "Can I ask what my reward will be?" He didn't expect much, and sure enough, the system began coughing and sniffling awkwardly before fading away altogether without an answer.
"Fucking great," Yi Ming muttered, rolling his eyes. He pushed himself up from his seat and made his way to the courtyard. There, sprawled lazily on a mat, was Shudu, peeling a mandarin with his clawed fingers, juice dripping down his chin as he devoured the fruit with relish.
"Having fun?" Xue Laohu asked dryly, watching as Shudu blinked up at him.
"Hey, so about that healing," Shudu purred, extending his hand to pull Xue Laohu closer. His fingers traced over Xue Laohu's hand, the touch lingering as a mischievous smile curled his lips. His gaze was playfully, daring.
"Oh, right, I almost forgot." Xue Laohu responded, feigning nonchalance as he quickly smacked Shudu's hand away with a sharp flick of his wrist. He turned to call out for Li Zhameng. "Bring the ointments and the kits," he ordered, keeping his eyes averted from Shudu's gaze. Shudu, unfazed, began taking off his shirt, revealing the glistening sheen of sweat that covered his well-defined body.
As Shudu's shirt fell to the ground, the light caught the contours of his muscular frame, each muscle perfectly sculpted. "Woah, this guy is ripped," Yi Ming thought from the void. Back home, guys would have to spend hours in the gym every single day to achieve that look. Shudu caught Xue Laohu staring and smirked, leaning in as if to whisper a secret.
"Is Grandmaster pleased with this venerable one's body?" Shudu asked slyly, his voice dripping with amusement. He grabbed Xue Laohu's hand, guiding it dangerously close to his chest. "You may touch if you'd like."
Before Xue Laohu's fingers could graze Shudu's skin, he jerked back with an exasperated sigh. "You need to bathe. I can't apply medicine to a dirty body—go wash up."
Shudu exhaled dramatically, a playful pout on his lips as he said, "Grandmaster is so hard to please. Will you be joining me?" His voice was teasing, dripping with mock seduction, as his eyes flicked up toward Xue Laohu, the hint of a smirk pulling at the corners of his mouth.
Xue Laohu shot him a stern look, eyebrows furrowing in exasperation. "What? No, you're not a little kid anymore. Go bathe." He gave Shudu a firm shove, but his eyes couldn't help but linger on Shudu's back, catching sight of something new—something dark and intricate, etched into the broad expanse of muscle that rippled beneath Shudu's skin.
"This..." Xue Laohu muttered, his voice trailing off as his eyes widened in shock. There, sprawled across Shudu's sculpted shoulders and down his back, was an extravagant tattoo, vivid and unnerving. The tattoo was massive, covering almost every inch of his upper back with fine, detailed lines. Xue Laohu's breath caught in his throat as he took in the artwork: a small, white rabbit, its eyes wide with terror, caught in the deadly coils of a massive, black snake. The snake's scales glistened like ink, its jaws stretched wide, ready to devour the helpless creature. It was a violent, gruesome scene, frozen in motion—a predator and prey locked in an eternal struggle.
Shudu tilted his head to the side, catching the shift in Xue Laohu's expression, and a slow, amused grin spread across his face. "Oh, this?" he said casually, his tone light. "A few months ago, I met this old hag in a dark alley. She warned me—'beware of rabbits,'" he said, mimicking the woman's raspy, haggard voice with a theatrical flair. His smirk deepened, his sharp canine teeth gleaming as he glanced over his shoulder at Xue Laohu. "So I got this done. What do you think?"
The grin that stretched across Shudu's face was almost feral, his eyes glinting with mischievous delight. He seemed to relish in the grotesque nature of the tattoo, as if it were a twisted joke only he was in on. Xue Laohu's expression soured, a deep sigh escaping his lips as he rubbed his temples, pushing Shudu away.
In the bath, Shudu submerged himself, letting the hot water wash away the dried blood that had caked over the numerous cuts and bruises Xue Tuzi had left on him. His body, though riddled with scars from countless battles, still held a grace and strength that he took great pride in. He smiled to himself as he gently rubbed the water over his wounds, watching the red-tinged water swirl down.
"Xiao Zongzi, did you see how he looked at me?" he said, his voice filled with smug satisfaction. The memory of Xue Laohu's widened eyes as he took in his form replayed in his mind like a victory.
Xiao Zongzi, hung in her web near the bath. She had just ensnared a fly, its desperate buzzing filling the air as it struggled in vain. Without a trace of emotion, she bit into her prey, chewing methodically. "I think Grandmaster was more shocked than awestruck by your so-called 'grandiose body,'" she replied in a neutral tone, her voice dripping with dry sarcasm as she resumed her meal.
Shudu scoffed, his lips curling into a pout as he shifted in the water. "Please, give me some credit," he muttered, before slowly rising from the hot spring, the water cascading down his well-defined muscles. As he stood, he unraveled the thick braid that had been tied tightly against his head, letting his long hair fall in loose, wet curls that framed his shoulders like an inky waterfall. With a quick shake, droplets of water flew off him, splashing haphazardly onto Xiao Zongzi's web, causing her to frown in annoyance as she saw the damage.
Ignoring her irritation, Shudu dressed, leaving his chest partially exposed, as if daring anyone to gaze upon him. His grin was devilish as he made his way back toward Xue Laohu, with a mischievous glint in his eye.
When Shudu arrived at the courtyard, Xue Laohu and Li Zhameng were busy preparing the ointments and gauze to treat his injuries. The smell of herbs and oils filled the air as they worked diligently. However, when they turned to face Shudu, they were met with an unexpected sight—his wounds had already begun to seal themselves, the deep gashes were now little more than faint marks on his skin.
"Ehhh?" Xue Laohu said in surprise, glancing at the bottle and rag in his hand. "Where did all the injuries go?"
Shudu smirked, enjoying the moment of confusion. "Oh, Grandmaster Xue can still heal the wound he left here," he said smoothly, taking Xue Laohu's hand and pressing it to his chest, right over his heart. His chest twitched slightly beneath Xue Laohu's fingers, a playful spark in his eyes.
Xue Laohu let out a hearty laugh and playfully smacked Shudu on the head. "Cut it out. Seems like your demon body's got some self-healing magic. Nice."
Shudu leaned in closer, his expression shifting into something more suggestive as he raised an eyebrow. "Does Grandmaster like what he sees?"
Xue Laohu blinked, stepping back nervously, his heart racing as he tried to make sense of Shudu's brazen behavior. What is wrong with him? Yi Ming thought, watching the strange interaction unfold. All this flirting—he should be saving it for Xue Tuzi, not me! He let out a frustrated sigh, dragging his palm over his face as if trying to stave off an impending headache.
Now that he thought about it, things had been strange for a while. Shudu, Xue Tuzi, and even his usually stoic NPC, Li Zhameng, had all been a little too friendly with him lately. What is wrong with these people? he screamed silently into the void of his thoughts, his mind racing with confusion. None of this fit the script—at least, not the one he'd envisioned.
He shook his head, forcing himself to focus as reality came crashing back. Shudu, seemingly oblivious to the internal chaos he was causing, had already reclined back on the mat. He reached for his drinking gourd, taking a long swig, water spilling carelessly from the corner of his lips, tracing down his chin. His demeanor was casual, almost smug, as if he knew exactly how much he was getting under Xue Laohu's skin.
Then, with a sudden sharp sound, everything shifted.
A needle, fast as lightning, pierced the gourd in Shudu's hand, shattering it into a thousand pieces. Water splashed across the ground, the remnants of the gourd scattered in every direction. Shudu's smirk vanished, his eyes narrowing dangerously as he shot up to his feet.
By the entrance of the courtyard stood Xue Tuzi, swaying unsteadily, his body still weakened from the poison. His face was pale, his clothes disheveled, but his eyes burned with murderous intent, locked firmly on Shudu. His usually soft and innocent gaze had been replaced by something far darker—fury.
Xue Laohu's breath caught in his throat. Xue Tuzi was barely holding himself up, yet his resolve was unmistakable. That needle had been no warning shot—it was a declaration of his intent.