Author Archives: Thandar

At 9:30 PM on December 9, 2024, Qin Weidong dropped Lin Wu off at the hotel entrance. They had spent the entire afternoon at the amusement park, watched a folk performance in the evening, and just finished eating barbecue together. The day had been so enjoyable that he now felt reluctant to part.

“You’re heading back to Jianghe on the twentieth?” he asked, making conversation just to keep him there a little longer.

“Yeah, around the twentieth or twenty-first.” Lin Wu calculated his schedule.

“I’ll be going back soon too. If there’s time, want to grab a meal together in Jianghe?” Qin Weidong’s work had been centered in Jianghe and Shenhai in recent years, so the question didn’t sound out of place.

“Sure. I’ll probably be busy the first week, but after that I’ll have time.” Lin Wu smiled naturally.

“Alright.” Lin Wu had been smiling a lot lately. Qin Weidong felt a soft sweetness in his chest. They lingered at the entrance, chatting about nothing in particular. When Lin Wu turned to head inside, Qin Weidong suddenly called out—

“Lin Wu—”

“What is it?” Lin Wu turned back.

“See you tomorrow!” They had plans to go skiing in the county.

“See you tomorrow. It’s cold outside, get back in your car.” Lin Wu waved, urging him to warm up.

Qin Weidong broke into a wide grin and finally left.

…

At ten that night, Lin Wu finished washing up and sat at his desk. A white hat rested on the keyboard, the rabbit-ear hat they had bought together that afternoon. He stared at it for a while, and his thoughts drifted back more than a month—

Back to that hospital room in Xuhu. Qin Weidong had leaned in, then quietly pulled away. That was a memory from when he was seventeen, but a thirty-seven-year-old self was built from those same memories. He couldn’t be indifferent to the past.

After Qin Weidong left that day, Lin Wu had been stunned. And within that shock, there was also a sense of… so that’s what it was.

Qin Weidong’s gaze had sometimes been too direct. Even if Lin Wu pretended not to notice, it still felt strange. Until that afternoon, everything that had seemed off finally had an explanation.

He had felt confusion, disbelief, surprise. But not disgust.

Because Qin Weidong really was a good person.

He had even wondered, with his own dull and unremarkable personality, how could someone like Qin Weidong possibly like him?

Qin Weidong was upright, kind, came from a good family, had many friends. His world felt like it existed under a spotlight, vivid and alive. Lin Wu, on the other hand, was quiet, withdrawn. Even putting emotions aside, they were people from entirely different worlds.

He understood that. His seventeen-year-old self had understood it too.

So after realizing Qin Weidong’s feelings, he had gradually distanced himself, hoping to return things to normal. If they could still remain friends, that would be even better. He truly liked being friends with him.

He didn’t know what it meant to like someone. Nor did he want to. It would break his sense of safety. Entrusting his emotions to someone else felt foolish. He wouldn’t allow himself to become someone who longed for another person. That kind of feeling was irrational, unsafe.

He wanted to return to his old life.

But then came the daily messages, the study materials left at the guard station, the fight in the alley… Qin Weidong was too vivid, too impossible to ignore.

He felt like a tiny moth circling a light in his bedroom.

And he thought, for someone as dull as himself, being drawn to something bright and alive was only natural.

At some point, he realized he had begun to look forward to those messages. When alone, he would reread their conversations again and again.

Human emotions were the most unpredictable thing. Someone could like you today, and someone else tomorrow. Even marriages could end. Let alone the fleeting interest one boy might have in another.

One day, Qin Weidong would meet more interesting people. He would realize that the person he once liked in high school was dull, unremarkable, unappealing.

Lin Wu wanted to cut off this uncontrollable feeling.

But moths were drawn to light.

If the heart were a shell, he thought, maybe he could open it just a little.

Like someone standing at the edge of a cliff, observing. If the other person wanted to come closer, then come closer.

He would cooperate fully.

Until one day, when Qin Weidong grew tired of him. Perhaps even mocked himself—how did I ever like him?

He wouldn’t give him the chance to mock him. The moment he sensed it, he would leave first.

After all, his heart was only slightly opened. It could always be sealed shut again.

Lin Wu hung the hat on the rack. They were going skiing tomorrow. He had planned to take out a dark down jacket, but after thinking for a moment, he left the white one hanging outside, then sat back down.

Now both timelines had their own lives. Aside from occasionally confirming the time-channel connection, they were both gradually returning to normal.

10:12 PM. The memory refreshed on time.

…

Watching movies. Eating together. Walking side by side through the streets.

He saw his seventeen-year-old self cracking open that shell, cautiously testing something beyond his safe boundaries. That younger version of himself was even more timid than he was now.

And Qin Weidong—whether at seventeen or thirty-seven—was always the same. Vivid. Bright. Impossible to ignore.

He wondered why Qin Weidong no longer recognized him.

But it didn’t matter.

They had already met again.

He felt something new in his chest. Sweet. Unfamiliar. Alive.

Until the night of December 17—

Luo Xiaorong disappeared.

“I went to the cafeteria after work to ask. They said your mom left early…”

At 9 PM, Wang Manshan rushed to find Lin Wu. There had been a factory celebration that day, and all employees got off at eight. When he checked, Luo Xiaorong had left around seven. He had assumed she went home early, but when he arrived at Lin Wu’s place, something felt wrong.

“I’ve already contacted Supervisor Qiu. She’s asking around,” Wang Manshan said, trying to keep him calm.

“I’m going to the factory…”

Lin Wu had just reached the entrance of his neighborhood when he got the news. His mind buzzed. Then, as if realizing something, he immediately hailed a taxi toward the steel plant.

The first abandoned workshop.

No one there.

At the second abandoned workshop, there was someone.

In a corner of the factory, he saw a large pool of blood. It was Luo Xiaorong’s blood.

Luo Xiaorong was dead.

The workers who arrived afterward were stunned by the scene. Soon, the police reached the site, set up cordons, and the entire steel plant was thrown into turmoil. That night felt unreal, like a dream.

“How did you think to come to the factory as the crime scene?” After the incident, the police conducted routine questioning.

“I had wandered around the factory before and noticed these areas were pretty remote. When my mom went missing, I thought I’d come check here…” Lin Wu answered numbly.

“We’ll do our best to find the killer…” The officer handling the case patted his shoulder, unable to bear it.

According to the investigation, Luo Xiaorong’s time of death was between 7 and 9 PM. At the time, the factory was holding a celebration event with heavy foot traffic. The killer was likely prepared in advance or had cleaned up afterward. Despite deeper investigation, there were no leads. The case eventually went cold.

Memory turned like the pages of a book.

Lin Wu saw himself, accompanied by the police, confronting Zhao Fangli. He demanded to know who her accomplice was, who had killed Luo Xiaorong. She said she didn’t know.

He anonymously reported Guo Chengchun to the police. At that time, Guo hadn’t been imprisoned yet, but he had been involved in a fight when Luo Xiaorong was killed. He was not the murderer.

Guo Chengchun’s fate did not change. A month later, he was imprisoned for robbery. After Luo Xiaorong’s death, there were no further victims. The killer vanished like a drop of water evaporating under the blazing sun.

Lin Wu saw himself continue living, more numb than ever before, until 2024, when he obtained the phone again.

In the synchronized timeline, it was now December 9, 2004. There were eight days left before Luo Xiaorong’s death.

Because of the altered life trajectory, the house purchase, Luo Xiaorong’s trip, even the scene of them buying clothes yesterday had all changed. He once again found himself at Xuhu Hotel.

This was a new ending.

The twentieth ending.

Outside, a light rain had begun to fall. Wearing a dark black set of pajamas, he stood before the mirror. His thin frame, pale face, lips pressed into a straight line… he didn’t look good in this ending.

In a daze, text appeared before him once more:

Time is a river that cannot flow backward. Until this day, the river of time begins to reverse. And the reversed river will eventually reach its end…

Along with the text, three rules of spacetime emerged:

1. The two worlds run in synchronized time.
   Time in 2024 and 2004 progresses simultaneously. If today is December 9, 2024, then it is also December 9 in 2004.
2. Sent messages cannot be altered.
   Once a message is sent across time, its content cannot be changed. For example, in every timeline, on September 5, 2024, the phone will automatically compose and send the fire warning message to 2004. Even if the phone is broken or he dies, the message will still be sent.
   This is because September 5, 2004 is a fixed move. Without that message, the internet café fire would occur, and the entire chain of events that follows would never begin. His altered life would become a paradox.
   Therefore, sent messages cannot be changed or stopped. Only at new time nodes can changes occur. This is an automatic correction mechanism of time itself, preventing total collapse of the timeline.

He had already figured out these two rules.

But now, there was a third:

3. Certain memories will be erased.

He and Qin Weidong were the original connection point between the two timelines. They were variables.

In previous endings, he had known Qin Weidong, yet had no memory of what came after. He had assumed Qin Weidong went abroad and they simply lost contact. But as their connection deepened, that explanation no longer made sense.

Even if Qin Weidong had gone abroad, given how close they were, he should have remembered the details of that departure.

But there were none.

Now the rule explained it:

Because both of them were variables, even if he knew Qin Weidong between 2004 and 2024, the moment the spacetime message was sent on September 5, Qin Weidong would become a “person of the past” in his timeline. He would forget him.

Only in this way could both timelines continue to run in sync. Otherwise, the timeline would collapse into chaos.

As these rules surfaced, previously unseen memories also emerged—

“Sigh… how did something this big happen in our factory?”

“The police are investigating. Everyone’s on edge.”

“We should be careful getting to and from work. Better to go in groups…”

…

On December 25, a memorial service for Luo Xiaorong was held by the factory.

Lin Wu, dressed in mourning clothes, sat before the memorial hall. Around him were factory workers and neighborhood residents, familiar and unfamiliar alike, coming and going, all sighing in grief.

“Have some water. You haven’t had any all day.”

Lin Wu saw Qin Weidong. He was holding a cup of warm water, looking at him nervously.

“Thank you.” Lin Wu accepted it but didn’t drink. He wasn’t thirsty.

Qin Weidong hesitated, wanting to say something, but in the end said nothing.

At ten that night, after the funeral arrangements were finished, Lin Wu returned home with He Shuqin’s family. Qin Weidong followed alongside them.

Before parting, He Shuqin hugged Lin Wu tightly. “If it’s too hard being alone, come stay with us for a few days.” Her eyes were swollen from crying all day.

“Brother Lin Wu, come stay with us!” Wang Jiahui added, worried.

“I’m fine. Don’t worry.” Lin Wu forced a small smile.

“The police are investigating. There’ll be leads soon.” Wang Manshan spoke in a low voice, his eyes also red.

“Mm.” Lin Wu nodded firmly.

Three minutes later, only Lin Wu and Qin Weidong remained under the streetlight.

“We can’t contact 2024 right now, which means something changed at a point we don’t know yet. But we still have a chance. We can still reach 2024!” Qin Weidong tried to comfort him. Luo Xiaorong’s death was a huge shock, but as he said, there was still hope. If they could reach 2024 and get the phone, they might still change the outcome.

It was cold. Lin Wu was dressed lightly. Qin Weidong felt a pang of concern.

“You’ve had a long day. Let’s go upstairs first.”

He had wanted to stay with Lin Wu, but Lin Wu had said the same thing he told the Wang family. He needed to be alone.

So these past days, Qin Weidong would bring breakfast in the morning, and only leave late at night.

“Let’s go,” Qin Weidong said, about to lead the way.

“Qin Weidong.”

Lin Wu called out to him.

“What is it?” Qin Weidong turned back, puzzled.

“Qin Weidong, do you like men?”

There were three meters between them. Qin Weidong stood half inside the stairwell, while Lin Wu remained under the streetlight outside.

“Why would you ask that…” The question came so suddenly that Qin Weidong was caught off guard. He was about to say something, but seeing Lin Wu’s expression, he fell silent for two seconds, then said, “Yes. I like a man.” After that, he asked back, “Is that not allowed?”

“It’s allowed. It just feels disgusting.”

They were close enough that Qin Weidong heard every word clearly.

He pressed his lips tight. “We’ve known each other this long. I thought you already knew.”

“I did know. It’s disgusting.”

“We can talk about this later. Go upstairs and rest first.” Qin Weidong didn’t want to hear more and urged him to go up.

“Are you not understanding?” Lin Wu’s eyes were bloodshot from days of pressure. He stared hard at him. “I said you’re disgusting. Do you not understand?”

“I understand. Just go upstairs and rest, okay?” Qin Weidong tried to steady his breathing and reached out to pull him.

—Ugh—

The pressure of the past few days, combined with catching a chill and irregular eating, had left Lin Wu nauseous. He couldn’t hold it in anymore. The moment Qin Weidong touched him, he turned and vomited into the nearby trash can.

Qin Weidong’s face turned deathly pale. He froze where he stood.

Lin Wu vomited for a full half minute before easing slightly. Then he looked at him.

“Qin Weidong, I’m begging you. Don’t come bother me anymore. I’m grateful you lent me the phone before, but now I’m begging you, stop bothering me. I just want to live a more normal life.”

He used the word “bother,” fully aware of how humiliating it sounded. His face was pale from vomiting.

Qin Weidong stood motionless. After a long while, he finally asked,

“If I stop bothering you… will you feel better?”

“Yes.”

“…Alright. I won’t bother you anymore. I won’t affect your life again.”

He left.

Their lives returned completely to their proper tracks.

This was the twentieth ending.

And in the moment these endings surfaced, Lin Wu also saw countless previous ones—

“I won’t bother you anymore.”
“I won’t cling to you anymore.”
“I won’t disturb you anymore.”

…

In the small grove of the neighborhood, in the alley where they first met, at a bus stop in the dead of winter… these scenes had all appeared in other endings. They belonged to the future of synchronized timelines, the past of 2024.

Before, under the influence of the rules of time, he had been unable to see them.

Now that the rules had shifted, all the missing memories filled in.

Qin Weidong, you’re disgusting.
You’re disgusting.
You’re disgusting.

…

He saw himself say those words over and over again across countless endings.

Lin Wu’s chest heaved violently. He looked at the table. On it sat a bowl of red date soup, delivered at ten that night.

“Late-night snack…”

He hurriedly sifted through memories of different endings.

In the first through fourth endings, the hotel had no late-night snack service. In the fifth ending, not long after he checked in, the hotel began offering it.

“Hotel late-night snacks” should have been an objective reality, like the sun rising in the east and setting in the west. It should not change with the trajectory of his life.

But it did.

That was not reasonable.

Lin Wu closed his eyes.

The fifth ending began on September 23, 2004. It was also the point when Qin Weidong first learned about the spacetime messages.

From that point on, every one of his endings included late-night snacks, until the fifteenth ending, and then again after the seventeenth.

The seventeenth ending: Zhao Fangli’s car accident. He and Luo Xiaorong lived happily. To bring Zhao Fangli to justice, the eighteenth ending began.

The eighteenth ending: Zhao Fangli was arrested. He and Luo Xiaorong lived happily. A police officer was injured. To prevent that injury, the nineteenth ending began.

The nineteenth ending: everything was perfect and happy.

For over a month, he had been living in that nineteenth ending.

The only difference in those three endings was that Qin Weidong did not remember him.

He had thought it was amnesia.

Now, after understanding the rules of time, he realized:

The killer was still out there.

Before, the killer’s act of murder was an objective event. But after repeated alterations of the endings, the killer’s intent became unstable. The outcomes now shifted depending on whether the killer chose to act.

Until yesterday, the killer had no intent to kill Luo Xiaorong. So every ending remained peaceful.

But today, in 2004, the killer formed the intent—and had the means to carry it out perfectly.

That was why a new ending appeared.

In those previous three endings, Qin Weidong had not lost his memory.

Rather, due to fluctuations in the killer’s actions and the rules of time, all memories related to the spacetime phone had been erased. He lived a complete life in which he had never known Lin Wu.

Lin Wu also began noticing details he had once overlooked—

In one ending, at the graduation ceremony, a charitable company gave every student a large bouquet of flowers.
In another ending, when he didn’t attend, the flowers were gone. That was not reasonable.

In one ending, on a rainy day, a kind woman gave him a black umbrella.
In another ending, in a different place but similar rain, he received the exact same umbrella. The probability was far too low.

Once, when he moved and sold unused items, a chubby middle-aged man came to collect them.
In another ending, in a completely different place, the same man appeared again.

There were too many such details.

Some appeared in Ending A, vanished in Ending B, and reappeared differently in Ending C.

These were supposed to be objective events, yet they changed along with him.

And within all those details—

He saw Qin Weidong.

He and his seventeen-year-old self were anchored at the points of 2024 and 2004. But between those two points lay twenty years.

He hadn’t leapt straight to 2024 out of thin air. He had lived through the days after seventeen, the years after that, one by one, until he arrived here.

He knew Qin Weidong now. Which meant that tomorrow, the day after, next year, the year after that, he would still know him… all the way until September 5, 2024.

Qin Weidong had never lost his memory. Just like him, he had lived through those twenty years.

It was only from September 25 onward that Lin Wu could no longer see the memories in between. All he could see was Qin Weidong in the synchronized past.

…

Outside, the rain grew heavier.

As if sensing something, Lin Wu walked to the window and pulled the curtains open.

It was eleven at night. Rain poured down. There were no pedestrians outside. Directly across from his window was a black SUV parked in the dark. Its headlights were off. In the driver’s seat, there was a faint silhouette.

A car passed by, its headlights sweeping over. For a brief moment, he saw clearly—there was indeed someone inside, looking down at a phone.

And in that instant, he recognized the model of the car. The license plate.

He had seen this car before.

In the sixteenth ending, after attending a class reunion, he had wandered aimlessly down the road. There were few people around. He had almost walked straight into a utility pole.

Beep—

A horn sounded behind him. A SUV drove past.

The model and license plate were exactly the same.

It was Qin Weidong’s car.

In every ending, Qin Weidong possessed certain fixed assets. These did not change with the small shifts between their lives. So in every version of reality where they had parted ways, he still owned this car, this plate.

Now, rain poured down in sheets.

The person in the car seemed to sense something too and looked in his direction.

Their eyes met through the curtain of rain.

Under the distant streetlights, Lin Wu saw his face.

Qin Weidong.

In this ending, after 2004, they had never contacted each other again. There were no chance encounters. No amusement park trips. No plans to go skiing the next day.

When a new ending was formed, the old one disappeared. Everything connected to him shifted along with it.

This was not the Qin Weidong from six hours ago, the one wearing a rabbit-ear hat.

This was the Qin Weidong of the twentieth ending.

…

“According to normal time, first there is 2004, then 2005, then 2006, 2007…”

“But there’s a hidden line between them that we’ve ignored. That line is our future. The past of 2024 is made up of twenty years!”

“Have you ever thought about it? Those twenty years are real to the you in 2024!”

…

Those had been Qin Weidong’s words, the first time he learned about the spacetime messages back in 2004.

At the time, he had told Lin Wu not to start a new ending.

Because even if the outcome could be changed, living through those twenty years again and again was too cruel.

Lin Wu hadn’t cared.

He had seen too little love in his life. So he clung stubbornly to saving Luo Xiaorong and Wang Jiahui.

Even knowing the ending from the start, even if the process was filled with fear and uncertainty, he would still move forward.

The spacetime messages had always said this was both a new road and an old one. He was just walking a few extra paths. As long as the ending could be changed, it was worth it.

He had always believed himself to be resolute. Alone.

Until now, when he realized—

He had never been alone on this road.

When he reached each time node, he would gain the memories of past endings.

But for Qin Weidong, the moment he rewrote the timeline, all those memories turned to foam.

From the very beginning, Qin Weidong had known.

At that realization, a sharp pain gripped Lin Wu’s chest, so intense he could hardly breathe.

He suddenly remembered—just half an hour ago, he had still thought of himself as someone standing at the edge of a cliff, cautiously observing, carefully testing Qin Weidong’s feelings.

He let out a hollow laugh.

What observer on a cliff?

Did he even deserve that role?

He didn’t.

In that moment, he felt ashamed of himself.

He had treated each ending as a fresh beginning.

But for Qin Weidong in the previous ending—

Each time had been an end.

Lin Wu thought of the little mermaid from fairy tales.

He wiped the window again and again until the car below became slightly clearer.

Inside sat a man—

A merman.

✧˖°.──⋆⭒˚.⋆💌⋆⭒˚.⋆──✧˖°.

Ten minutes later, the two of them arrived at an old, well-established noodle shop. It was peak mealtime, so after looking around, they found a window seat and sat down.

“Hello, what would you like to order?” the server came over.

Lin Wu handed the menu to Qin Weidong. “What do you want to eat?”

“Anything’s fine.” Qin Weidong placed his suit jacket on the chair beside him and rolled up his shirt sleeves. The shop wasn’t large, but it had a clean, natural wood aesthetic.

“Two bowls of beef noodles, one side dish, and two tea eggs,” Lin Wu ordered for them.

“Any dietary restrictions?” the server asked while noting it down.

“No chili. And one bowl without cilantro,” Lin Wu said precisely.

“You don’t eat cilantro?” Qin Weidong asked, a little surprised after the server left.

“I can eat it or not. I just feel like you probably don’t eat cilantro.” Lin Wu smiled.

“How did you know?” Qin Weidong was taken aback. He really didn’t eat cilantro. It wasn’t that he couldn’t, it was just that when cilantro stuck to the noodles it felt oddly unpleasant. He often forgot to mention it when ordering, and would just eat it awkwardly.

“Just a guess.” Lin Wu didn’t elaborate, but his thoughts drifted back to 2004—

“You forgot to say it again. They chopped the cilantro too finely this time.” At a noodle shop near No. 1 High School in 2004, Qin Weidong looked helplessly at the cilantro in his bowl. He could eat it, but hated when it clung to the noodles.

“You don’t eat cilantro?” Lin Wu had asked curiously.

“I can.” Qin Weidong exhaled, setting aside his chopsticks, ready to just deal with it.

“I’ll take that bowl then.” Lin Wu pulled the noodles over from across the table without hesitation.

“Huh?” Qin Weidong blinked.

“I don’t have any restrictions.” Lin Wu smiled, then called to the owner, “Boss, don’t put cilantro in mine.”

“Got it!” The noodles had been made one after another. The owner had just happened to serve Qin Weidong first.

Soon, the second bowl arrived, and once again it was placed in front of Qin Weidong.

As Qin Weidong picked up his chopsticks, he glanced at Lin Wu.

“What’s wrong?” Lin Wu asked, looking up.

“Nothing.” Qin Weidong watched him eat the cilantro-covered noodles. The steam had made Lin Wu’s lips slightly red. For a moment, he felt that cilantro noodles weren’t so unpleasant after all—though only when they were in Lin Wu’s bowl.

That had happened when they had just met. After that, every time they went out for noodles, Qin Weidong would “forget” to say no cilantro, and Lin Wu would remind the owner for him every single time, never missing once.

Back in the 2024 noodle shop, their bowls arrived quickly.

“You were away on a business trip recently?” Qin Weidong asked as he picked up his chopsticks, casually shifting from “Mr. Lin” to “you” to close the distance.

“No. I went home for a bit. The neighbors next door have been renovating lately, it’s too noisy. I stayed there for two days and moved out again,” Lin Wu replied.

“I see…” Qin Weidong felt an inexplicable sense of relief.

Half a month ago, when he had planned another “coincidental encounter,” he learned that Lin Wu had already checked out.

“Help me find out which hotel Mr. Lin is staying at,” Qin Weidong had told the hotel manager.

The manager checked, but Lin Wu wasn’t staying at any hotel under their company. It wasn’t appropriate to investigate other hotels.

“I understand.” Qin Weidong didn’t pursue it further. He felt that the frequent encounters earlier might have pressured Lin Wu.

They had met in a hotel lobby, and now both had returned to their own lives. He didn’t want to trouble him, but every time he passed through the lobby, sat in his office looking down, or went to the hotel restaurant, he would unconsciously look for a certain figure.

He was thirty-seven now, not seventeen. He more or less understood why he wanted to find Lin Wu. To him, it was a strange, stirring, almost unbelievable feeling.

Whatever it was, aside from exchanging greetings, they were still strangers.

He had thought they would never meet again—until a week ago, when he happened to drive through the city and saw Lin Wu walking out of a hotel, dressed casually, heading into a nearby supermarket.

He quickly made a U-turn at the next intersection and parked about thirty meters from the store.

Three minutes later, Lin Wu came out. Qin Weidong drove up as if by chance—

“Mr. Lin, long time no see.”

That time, it wasn’t planned. It really was a coincidence.

After that, they returned to their previous pattern of frequent encounters. He didn’t dare push things too far. Each time was just a casual meeting, a greeting, and a parting. He had no next step planned, only feeling that seeing him once a day was enough.

“When will your neighbor finish the renovation?” Qin Weidong asked now.

“They said before the end of next month.”

“So you’ll stay until then?” Qin Weidong asked as if casually.

“I might head back earlier. There’s a project at school.”

“I see…” Qin Weidong continued, just as casually, “I’ve been in Xuhu lately. I don’t really have friends here. If you’re free sometime, want to grab a meal together?”

“Sure.” Lin Wu agreed without hesitation.

“Oh…” Qin Weidong didn’t expect such a straightforward answer. He froze for a moment, then quickly took out his phone. “Add me?”

“Okay.”

They exchanged contacts. Lin Wu’s profile picture was a physics symbol. His posts were sparse, mostly official school articles. Qin Weidong’s was a casual landscape photo, and for work reasons, his feed was just as clean.

At 7:30, they finished eating, and Lin Wu paid the bill.

Qin Weidong didn’t argue. But that night at ten, just before Lin Wu went to sleep, he received a message:

“I’ll be passing by your hotel tomorrow at noon. Want to grab a meal? My treat, to thank you for today’s noodles.”

“What are we eating?” Lin Wu asked.

“There’s a hotpot place near your hotel…”

“Okay.”

Although Qin Weidong had said it was just to repay the meal, over the next week he asked Lin Wu to eat together almost every day. Aside from two times when Lin Wu had meetings, he agreed every time. Sometimes Qin Weidong paid, sometimes Lin Wu did. As if by keeping things unsettled, they gave themselves a reason to keep seeing each other.

They got along very well during that time.

“There’s a performance at Happy Valley the day after tomorrow. Want to go check it out together?” On December 7th, after dropping Lin Wu off at his hotel, Qin Weidong made the invitation. It was the first time they had planned something beyond just eating.

“What time?” Lin Wu asked after checking his schedule.

“Two in the afternoon. I’ll pick you up at the hotel?”

“Alright. See you the day after tomorrow.” Lin Wu smiled.

“See you then.” Qin Weidong left, full of anticipation.

…

“At your school the day after tomorrow, do you have extra classes in the afternoon? Want to go watch a movie together?”

At the same time, in 2004, inside the Lide dormitory, Qin Weidong carefully edited the message and sent it to Lin Wu.

They had been getting along well lately, but it was senior year. Lin Wu’s academic pressure was heavy, and aside from after school in the evenings, they barely had any chance to meet. Just now, Qin Weidong had gone through his chat history with the “unknown number.”

The other person had once asked whether Men in Black had been released yet. When they first met, it hadn’t been out. Now it only had five days left before leaving theaters. He wanted to watch it together with Lin Wu.

“No extra classes. What time is the movie?”

Lin Wu had just come out of the bathhouse and typed back.

“4:10!” Qin Weidong replied immediately.

No. 1 High School got out at three. He calculated it. He could wait at the school gate at three, then they’d take about fifty minutes to reach the cinema. The movie would end around six-thirty, and they could even grab dinner and stroll around afterward.

“Okay.” Lin Wu replied.

…

“What time did you get here?”

At 1:50 PM on December 9, 2024, Lin Wu had just come downstairs when he saw Qin Weidong. It was cold today. Qin Weidong wore a white down jacket and drove a blue sports car, still striking even in winter.

“1:47. I just got here too.” Qin Weidong opened the car door for him.

After getting in, Lin Wu noticed Qin Weidong kept glancing at him.

“What is it?” Lin Wu asked.

“This is the first time I’ve seen you wear white.”

Lin Wu usually wore dark colors, but today he had on a white down jacket with a camel-colored hoodie underneath, making him look more lively than usual.

“My mom and the neighbor aunt took me shopping.” Lin Wu sounded a bit helpless.

Yesterday afternoon, Hao Shuqin had suddenly called him—

“I’m at Xintiandi Plaza with your mom, we want to buy coats. Come help us choose!”

Wang Jiahui had been at work, Hao Shuqin couldn’t decide, and Luo Xiaorong thought everything looked good. Lin Wu wasn’t busy, so he took a taxi over. In the end, both women bought coats, and under their persuasion, he bought this white down jacket. It looked good, but he wasn’t used to light colors.

“Does it look awkward?” Lin Wu asked, even slightly regretting wearing it out.

“Not at all. It looks great. It makes you look really clean. You should wear lighter colors more often.” Qin Weidong praised sincerely.

“…Okay.” Lin Wu looked out the window, still not quite used to it.

At 2:20, they arrived at Xuhu Happy Valley, the largest amusement park in the city. There were regular tickets and VIP tickets, and VIP didn’t require waiting in line. They bought two VIP tickets and went in.

“Can you do high-altitude rides?” Qin Weidong asked after downloading the park guide.

“Not really.” Lin Wu could handle them, but found them boring. He preferred indoor VR attractions.

“Same.” Qin Weidong agreed and focused on the indoor experiences.

Over the next hour, they played several classic attractions like “Crazy Idioms” and “Space Voyage.” The latter was especially fun, so they rode it twice.

At four o’clock, they walked out of a castle attraction called “Mystery World.”

“Want some cream egg waffles?”

There was a shop at the entrance, the waffles looked hot and delicious.

“Sure.” Lin Wu was a bit hungry. Even though they’d been doing indoor activities, the distance between attractions was long and physically tiring.

“What flavor?”

“Strawberry.”

“Got it.” Qin Weidong walked over and soon returned with two strawberry waffles.

“Thanks.” Lin Wu took one and was about to eat when a little boy wearing a toy hat ran past. He was going too fast and bumped into Lin Wu.

“Ah!”

Lin Wu stumbled, and the cream smeared onto his hand.

“Sorry! I didn’t mean to!” the boy apologized quickly. His parents rushed over too.

“I’m sorry, are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” Lin Wu checked. The cream hadn’t gotten on his clothes, but his hand felt sticky.

“Didn’t I tell you not to run!” the parents scolded the boy while apologizing. The father, feeling bad, went to a nearby shop and bought tissues and two colorful lollipops.

“We’re really sorry. We’ll make sure he behaves.”

“It’s really fine.” Lin Wu reassured them. Still, they insisted on giving him the tissues and candy before leaving.

“You okay?” Qin Weidong asked after they left.

“I’m fine. Just sticky…” Lin Wu wiped his hand but still felt uncomfortable. Spotting a restroom nearby, he handed the waffle and lollipops to Qin Weidong. “Hold these for me. I’ll wash my hands.”

“Sure, go ahead.”

After Lin Wu left, Qin Weidong sat on a nearby bench with the waffles and candy. He set them down, watching Lin Wu’s figure disappear into the restroom.

Feeling bored, he picked up his own waffle and took a few bites when his phone rang.

“Hello?”

“Brother Qin, remember you asked me to look into Li Xin? I got in touch with her…”

It was Hu Wei, calling while organizing shelves at a supermarket.

“What did she say?” Qin Weidong straightened up.

A month ago, Hu Wei had said Qin Weidong had dated Li Xin in high school. Qin Weidong didn’t believe it, so he asked him to check.

“After graduation we all lost contact. She wasn’t even from our school. I wasn’t sure I could find her…” Hu Wei said.

“It’s fine. If you can reach her, great. If not, forget it.” Qin Weidong wasn’t trying to reconnect. He was just curious about that supposed relationship he couldn’t remember.

He hadn’t expected any results. But now there was an answer.

“I asked Zhao Ming, who asked Sun Peng. It was a whole chain. Anyway, I added her on WeChat. She said you two never dated. Back then she had a crush on her class monitor…

And she was shocked too—

‘Me and Qin Weidong? Impossible. I liked our class monitor in high school, and Qin Weidong didn’t like me. I’m married to that class monitor now.’”

From the tone of her messages, she was living a happy life now. At the end, she added that if there was time in the future, they could get in touch as old acquaintances and meet up sometime. Of course, that was mostly just the kind of polite small talk adults exchanged.

“Then who did I date in high school?” Qin Weidong asked.

“No idea…” Hu Wei also found it strange. “I can ask around, see if anyone else remembers?”

“No need.”

At that moment, Lin Wu came out of the restroom, and Qin Weidong stood up with the waffles in hand.

“Huh?” Hu Wei didn’t catch it clearly.

“No need to look into it. Whether it happened or not doesn’t matter.”

He didn’t remember ever liking anyone in high school, and even suspected Hu Wei had misremembered. Asking about Li Xin had only been a casual thought. Just as he said, it didn’t matter whether it had happened. Life moved forward, and right now felt just fine.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.” Lin Wu walked over.

“It’s fine.” Qin Weidong hung up and handed him the waffle.

It was cold today. Earlier at the amusement park entrance, they had each bought a fluffy white hat with rabbit ears. Qin Weidong wore one, Lin Wu wore the other.

As Lin Wu lowered his head to take the waffle, Qin Weidong lightly tugged one of his rabbit ears.

Nice texture.

They were both wearing white down jackets today. Somehow, he felt like they matched quite well.

…

At the same time in 2004, Lin Wu and Qin Weidong walked into the movie theater. It was a small screening room. Men in Black was already near the end of its run, and the showtime was off-peak, so aside from one young couple, there was no one else.

“Our seats are row seven, seats six and seven…” Qin Weidong held the popcorn, checking the tickets as he searched.

“They’re in the last row.” Lin Wu pointed.

“Let’s go!” Qin Weidong walked ahead, while Lin Wu followed behind with two cups of cola.

They quickly found their seats. There were three minutes before the movie started. The lights were already off, and from their position everything was dim except for the big screen playing ads.

“Here.” Lin Wu handed him the cola.

“I’ll put this in the middle.” Qin Weidong set the popcorn between them.

Darkness amplified every sensation. The movie soon began. It was a large-scale sci-fi film with impressive visuals, though the plot was simple. After watching for a while, Qin Weidong noticed the couple in front sneak a kiss.

Embarrassed to look, he turned his head toward Lin Wu.

Lin Wu was watching the movie seriously. In the darkness, his pale skin stood out even more. His eyelashes were long, his eyes bright. Watching him, Qin Weidong took off his disposable glove and raised his hand, wanting to poke his cheek.

“What are you doing?” Lin Wu noticed. He was enjoying the movie, and there was an unintentional smile in his voice.

“There was a bug on your face. I was trying to flick it away,” Qin Weidong hurriedly covered.

“Where?” Lin Wu wiped his face. There was nothing.

“There was! There really was just now.”

People often exaggerate to cover embarrassment. So Qin Weidong actually reached out and poked his cheek.

“Stop it.” Lin Wu laughed and dodged.

“I’m not messing around, there really was!”

Qin Weidong kept poking, Lin Wu kept dodging, both laughing quietly. In the midst of it, Qin Weidong’s finger accidentally slipped into Lin Wu’s mouth.

His finger brushed past soft lips, touched teeth.

Both of them froze.

“Who told you to keep dodging…” Qin Weidong awkwardly pulled his hand back. Out of sight, his fingers rubbed together lightly. The spot that had touched Lin Wu still felt faintly damp.

“You already bit my hand, and I haven’t bitten yours yet. I’m the one at a loss!”

To cover the awkwardness, he started talking nonsense. It hadn’t even been a bite.

On screen, a fight scene was playing, the theater flickering with light and shadow. Lin Wu removed his glove, rested his hand on the armrest between them, and extended a finger, his eyes still fixed on the screen.

“Then don’t be at a loss.”

“What?” Qin Weidong didn’t understand at first.

“If you bite mine back, then you won’t be at a loss, right?” Lin Wu looked at him.

Qin Weidong met Lin Wu’s eyes. Maybe it was the dim theater lighting, but he felt there was something different in them compared to before.

His heartbeat quickened. Then he understood what Lin Wu meant—

“Then… I’m really going to bite you back?”

“Go ahead.” Lin Wu turned his gaze back to the screen.

Qin Weidong looked at the hand resting on the armrest between them. He had always thought Lin Wu’s hands were beautiful, pale, with well-defined joints. How could someone have hands that looked this good?

He glanced at Lin Wu. There was no reaction.

As if gathering courage, he carefully reached out and held Lin Wu’s hand, covering the back of it with his own.

He leaned closer, lowered his head, and gently bit down on Lin Wu’s fingertip.

They had both washed their hands earlier while waiting outside. Even though he had worn disposable gloves while eating popcorn, the sweet scent seemed to linger on Lin Wu’s fingers.

He bit lightly. Without thinking, his tongue brushed over the fingertip.

No reaction.

His courage grew. He moved his mouth lower, licked again, and finally took half of Lin Wu’s finger into his mouth, instinctively licking and teasing it.

All the while, Lin Wu kept watching the movie.

Qin Weidong licked his finger, and if he dared to shift his gaze even slightly, he could see Lin Wu’s profile and the pale line of his neck.

The movie scenes flickered by. After a long while, Qin Weidong reluctantly let go of Lin Wu’s finger, then took out a wet wipe and carefully cleaned it for him.

…

“See you tomorrow!”

“See you!”

At the same time, at six o’clock, in the second cafeteria of the Xuhu Steel Plant, employees finished their shifts and said their goodbyes.

Luo Xiaorong held a bundle of steamed buns and a large bag of beads from Qiu Yan’e as she walked toward the shuttle bus stop.

Last week, with Qiu Yan’e’s help, she had already bought a phone. She had hidden it in a box under her bed, planning to give it to Lin Wu on his birthday.

Qiu Yan’e had said no one ever thought money was too much. Lin Wu would need even more once he went to university, so she planned to keep stringing beads.

Full of that hopeful thought, she accidentally twisted her ankle. Half the beads spilled out, and one spool of thread rolled a short distance away.

She picked up the scattered beads, then stepped forward and crouched down to retrieve the spool.

Just as she was about to reach it, a pair of large hands picked it up first.

Luo Xiaorong looked up.

The man handed her the spool and smiled. “Here.”

She took it, then after a moment’s thought, just as her parents and others had taught her, she broke into a bright smile. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” he replied with a smile.

✧˖°.──⋆⭒˚.⋆💌⋆⭒˚.⋆──✧˖°.

“Brother Qin, heading out?” At eight in the evening on the eighteenth, Hu Wei had just returned to the dorm when he saw Qin Weidong putting on his shoes to go out. Qin Weidong was tall and in great shape. Today he was wearing a white hoodie under a blue denim jacket, and at a glance looked especially bright and handsome.

“Yeah, I’ve got something to do. I’ll probably be back pretty late.” Qin Weidong checked himself in the mirror, and after confirming that he looked handsome and stylish, headed out in high spirits.

“Brother Qin’s dating?” Gao Mingming was eating fried noodles in the dorm and looked curiously at Qin Weidong’s back.

Half a month earlier, Hu Wei had asked him whether Qin Weidong seemed off in any way. After observing carefully, he realized Qin Weidong was acting just like their former dorm leader had.

Last year, that dorm leader had secretly liked the Chinese class representative from the next class. At first he had been sweet and glowing, then later ended up looking like a frost-bitten eggplant after heartbreak. Qin Weidong was a perfect reenactment.

“So, who do you think Brother Qin is dating?” Hu Wei sat down across from Gao Mingming and asked. He was from the next dorm over and knew Qin Weidong’s dorm better than his own.

“Probably not anyone from our class.” Gao Mingming thought hard. He felt Qin Weidong treated all the girls in class the same, without showing special interest in any of them.

After going through all the possibilities, the two settled on Li Xin from No. 32 High.

“Really?” Hu Wei was doubtful.

“Probably. Out of all the girls we know, she’s the best match for Brother Qin.” Gao Mingming sounded very sure.

…

While the two of them were analyzing the situation, Qin Weidong arrived at the burger shop. It was Sunday, and No. 1 High had makeup classes this week, so there weren’t many people in the shop. After entering, Qin Weidong didn’t choose a seat by the window. Instead, he picked a relatively quiet one, the spot he and Lin Wu had often sat at lately.

“Hello, would you like to order?” After Qin Weidong sat down, a server came over with a menu.

“I’ll order in a bit.”

“Alright.” Qin Weidong was a regular here and usually ordered a lot. After leaving, the server warmly poured him a cup of hot water.

Qin Weidong held the cup and looked at the time on his phone: 8:20. There were still ten minutes before No. 1 High got out.

Right now, besides anticipation, he also felt nervous. He was excited because he would be seeing Lin Wu soon. As for the nervousness, his phone was still with Lin Wu. He knew that although Lin Wu seemed sensible and polite, he had his own standards when it came to people, and Qin Weidong had to pull out every trick he had just to get a chance to get close.

He hadn’t taken the phone back when he left last time. On purpose. He wanted to use the fact that his phone was still with Lin Wu as a way to stay in contact.

Now that Lin Wu had agreed to meet, he was actually worried the whole point was to return the phone. He didn’t want that. If the phone was returned, he had no idea how else he could keep in contact with someone who clearly didn’t want much to do with him. It wasn’t as if he could transfer to No. 1 High and become Lin Wu’s classmate.

Forget what Lin Wu thought, even he felt he was acting kind of creepy.

While he waited in that tense state, No. 1 High let out, and the burger shop gradually became lively.

Qin Weidong steadied his breathing and waited nervously. At 8:40, Lin Wu walked in.

“Over here!” Qin Weidong waved hard.

“What time did you get here?” Lin Wu sat down across from him with his schoolbag.

“A little after eight, not too early.” Lide High was only seven hundred meters away in a straight line. He knew Lin Wu still had class, so he truly hadn’t come too early. “Take a look, see if there’s anything you want to eat.” As he said this, he handed over the menu.

“Didn’t you say they just released a double chicken cutlet burger? Let’s get that.” Lin Wu glanced at the menu and said.

“Alright, then two chicken burgers, two colas, one order of chicken nuggets, one order of popcorn chicken…” Qin Weidong rattled off the order according to Lin Wu’s taste.

“Mm.” Lin Wu had no objections.

“The city turned on the heat on the fifteenth, but the heating pipes at our school broke, and they’ve been repairing them these past two days. The classrooms and dorms still don’t have heat. How’s it at your school?” While waiting for the food, Qin Weidong searched for a topic. He had been home for a while, and after Qin Jianzhang left town on business, he got bored and moved back into the dorm.

“Our school’s fine. I sit right next to the heating pipe, so it’s pretty warm.” Lin Wu said.

“That’s good.” After confirming Lin Wu wasn’t cold, Qin Weidong prepared to look for another topic.

“When will your school’s heat be fixed?” Lin Wu asked on his own.

“The school says within three days.”

“Then are your classrooms and dorms cold right now?”

“It’s only just started getting cold. It’s not too bad yet.”

“If it gets cold, you can add another blanket first. The workwear shops near the school all sell them. It gets cold here. Even after the heating comes on, two blankets is still fine.” Lin Wu suggested seriously.

“Okay…” Qin Weidong felt a little dazed. Lin Wu’s attitude today was so good that it felt unreal. Strictly speaking, Lin Wu was acting the same way he had when they first met, but because Qin Weidong’s expectations had sunk so low, he now felt like his head was floating in the clouds.

Five minutes later, their food came. Qin Weidong quickly went to get it, and the two ate together.

During the meal, he still tried hard to keep the conversation going, and Lin Wu followed along every time. Sometimes Lin Wu even asked how he had been lately. The atmosphere between them was so good that when they finally walked out of the burger shop and the wind hit him, Qin Weidong suddenly came back to himself.

It was now 9:50, and the two were standing outside the burger shop.

“Can the unknown number still be contacted?” Lin Wu asked.

“Yes.” Qin Weidong answered quickly.

Lately he had been taking the initiative to contact 2024, wanting to ask whether Lin Wu’s future life was good, whether he had a partner, what that person was like, whether Lin Wu was happy, and things like that. But whether because of personality or something else, the other side was very cold to him. Apart from knowing that the time connection still worked, the two of them had almost never talked privately.

“Are you going to send a text?” Qin Weidong asked after answering.

“No.” Lin Wu shook his head, then said, “The phone you lent me…”

“What about it?” Qin Weidong tensed up immediately.

“I don’t know whether I’ll keep contacting the unknown number in the future. Can I use your phone a little longer? It’s more convenient that way. Once I get my own phone, I’ll return it to you.” Lin Wu looked down at the curb as he spoke.

Lin Wu had just received 32,000 yuan in compensation not long ago, so he had money. Qin Weidong’s phone cost 6,700 yuan, which was expensive. No matter how you looked at it, what Lin Wu was asking was clearly taking advantage of someone.

“No rush at all! You can use it as long as you want!” Qin Weidong’s eyes widened the moment he heard that.

“Thank you.” Lin Wu smiled at him.

“You’re welcome.” Qin Weidong’s mind wavered. Ever since the atmosphere had shifted in the hospital, Lin Wu had not smiled at him like this in a very long time.

“I need to head over near your place for something. Want me to walk you back?” Qin Weidong asked tentatively. He felt their relationship had softened a little.

“It’s too far. I can get back on my own.” Lin Wu refused.

“Okay…” Qin Weidong felt like his emotions were on a roller coaster. Just a moment ago he had been slowly lifting off, and now he had dropped straight into the bottom. The drop was so sudden he was stunned.

“There’s still a last bus. I can just take it back myself. Do you have time tomorrow night? The zhajiang noodles at our school gate are pretty good.” Lin Wu said with a small smile.

“Then… eight thirty, we go eat together?” Qin Weidong tested the waters again.

“Do you have time? If you’re sure you’re coming, I won’t eat at six. We can have dinner together later.” Lin Wu asked.

“Sure!” Qin Weidong answered excitedly, then added, “You don’t have to wait on purpose. If you get hungry around six, just eat something first.”

“Alright.” Lin Wu smiled.

In the following week, Qin Weidong felt like he was floating on clouds.

They ate together, went to the burger shop to do homework, and occasionally chatted with the “unknown number” from 2024.

He and Lin Wu returned to their old rhythm. Every night they exchanged messages, and sometimes they talked on the phone.

“Lin Wu, there’s a math problem I don’t get. It’s too troublesome to explain over text. Can you walk me through it on the phone?” Qin Weidong’s excuse to call was extremely clumsy.

“Okay.” Lin Wu agreed.

At some point, the two of them had started talking on the phone before bed every night. Usually Qin Weidong would call, and Lin Wu would pick up. They no longer talked about math. Most of the time they talked about what they had done that day, or which shop had good food. Even though they had just seen each other that evening, the conversations were still warm and easy.

Qin Weidong liked to hang up only after Lin Wu had fallen asleep. Listening to Lin Wu’s breathing made it feel as though he were lying right beside him, just like those countless nights when they had first met.

Tsk tsk—

Hu Wei and the others tried to pry into who Qin Weidong was talking to, but he wouldn’t say. Still, he gave off that unmistakable sweet, lovestruck vibe every day.

…

“Mr. Lin, what a coincidence.”

Just as Lin Wu and Qin Weidong’s relationship was easing again, on November 25, 2024, Lin Wu ran into Qin Weidong once more. This time it wasn’t the previous hotel, but the third hotel Lin Wu had stayed in—

Half a month earlier, Luo Xiaorong and the others had returned from Qianzhou.

“Mom.” Lin Wu picked them up at the airport.

“Wuwu!” Luo Xiaorong ran over happily. She had a strong ability to brush things off, and since her circumstances had improved she hadn’t suffered much. Though she was nearly sixty, her health and energy were both well maintained.

“I’ll help you with the luggage.” Lin Wu helped the three of them with their bags.

“Brother Lin Wu, we went to Shenhai and Qianzhou this time. Shenhai was so fun, and Qianzhou’s night views were beautiful!” On the way to the parking lot, Wang Jiahui chattered non-stop. They had spent half a month away and had enjoyed every day.

After talking excitedly, she asked, “Brother Lin Wu, when are you going back to school?”

“Around the twentieth next month.” Lin Wu put their luggage into the car and replied with a smile.

“Then we won’t see you for ages again!” Wang Jiahui said with exaggerated reluctance.

“We’ll see each other at New Year’s.” Lin Wu smiled. Xuhu was only seven hundred kilometers from Jianghe. With modern transport, and since Luo Xiaorong lived in Xuhu, he used to come back once a week or every half month.

An hour later, the three of them happily returned home.

Lin Wu’s family and Wang’s family shared the same social circle. They had thought life would return to normal, but the neighbors next door were renovating every day. Other residents had tried to negotiate, but the renovation fell within legally allowed hours. After several disputes, the neighbor only promised to try to finish by the end of December.

After three days of noise pollution at home, Luo Xiaorong went to stay with Hao Shuqin, while Lin Wu moved into a third hotel. Meanwhile, his 2004 memories were still updating daily, and he had not run into Qin Weidong in 2024 for a week.

He had hesitated between the Xuhu Hotel and other hotels.

The current Qin Weidong had no memory. After some hesitation, Lin Wu chose a completely different hotel. Before checking in, he had looked it up online and confirmed it had no connection to the previous one.

He stayed indoors most of the time, until a week ago when he went to a nearby supermarket to buy drinks.

“Mr. Lin, long time no see.” That day the sunlight was strong. Just as he stepped out after shopping, Qin Weidong pulled up in a sports car at the entrance. He was wearing a brown leather jacket and exaggerated sunglasses. The two ran into each other again.

Over the next week, in the hotel restaurant, the lobby, the swimming pool… they returned to that pattern of frequent chance encounters. They kept running into each other, but Qin Weidong showed restraint. Most of the time, it really was just a coincidence.

Now it was six in the evening. Lin Wu was heading out to eat when Qin Weidong came down the stairs, and they ran into each other again.

“Mr. Qin.” Lin Wu stopped when he heard him.

“Heading out to eat?” Qin Weidong greeted him naturally. He had probably just finished an online meeting. He was dressed in a suit with a white shirt, looking more composed than before. Two buttons of his shirt were undone, giving him a more relaxed air.

“Yes.” Lin Wu replied politely.

“What are you planning to eat?” Qin Weidong asked.

“Not sure yet. Probably noodles or wontons.”

“Where are you going?”

“I’ll look around the snack shops nearby.”

“I haven’t eaten either. Want to go together?” Over the past few days, Qin Weidong often found chances to suggest things like running together or eating together. He always asked casually, but Lin Wu usually declined, citing work.

Now he asked again, but didn’t expect Lin Wu to agree. He was already bracing himself for rejection.

At that moment, Lin Wu looked at him. “Let’s go.”

“What?” The answer didn’t match his expectations. Qin Weidong froze.

“You said you haven’t eaten, right? Shall we go together?” Lin Wu echoed his own question back.

“Let’s go!” Qin Weidong answered without hesitation.

✧˖°.──⋆⭒˚.⋆💌⋆⭒˚.⋆──✧˖°.

Previous

Outside the stone door, the Kunlun disciples looked at one another. This path clearly wouldn’t work. As for other routes… even if the demonic cultivators were somewhat lax in their patrols, they weren’t blind.

Moreover, since the Demon Lord behind that stone door could call their senior brother away, he likely already knew they were here. The fact that he hadn’t sent the demonic dragon to deal with them as well was probably out of consideration for their senior brother.

Would the Demon Lord take this opportunity to deliberately torment him?

They sighed, frowning. Back in Kunlun sect, their senior brother had been spirited and unrestrained, proud and unyielding. And now he had to act as the Demon Lord’s lackey. It must be unbearable for him.

With heavy hearts, they exchanged the storybooks in their hands. The only thing they could do now was to give their senior brother less to worry about. So they lined up neatly and, of their own accord, returned to the ghost prison to continue eating chicken legs.

---

Shao Ye first poked his head out from behind the stone door and glanced around the chamber. The stone room was spacious and dim, lit only by a single hexagonal palace lantern casting a faint glow. Xue Du sat cross-legged in the center, eyes half-closed. Behind him, carved into the stone wall, was a massive nine-headed dragon, its dozen or so crimson eyes all fixed on Shao Ye.

Being stared at by so many eyes at once was unsettling. Shao Ye widened his eyes and glared back. The dragon seemed to pause for a moment, then struggled as if about to break free from the wall to teach him a lesson. But Xue Du raised a hand slightly, and the dragon quietly withdrew, closing its eyes again.

Shao Ye felt secretly pleased. He hurried over and asked, “My lord, what happened to your clothes?”

“They’re dirty,” Xue Du replied.

Shao Ye looked over the robe and didn’t see any obvious stains, but such details didn’t matter. As the Protector, when the lord gave an order, he only needed to obey.

There were clean clothes in the cabinet in the stone room. Shao Ye hurried over to fetch them, then just as eagerly helped Xue Du remove the robe he was wearing.

Xue Du had already risen to his feet, looking down at him as he happily folded the removed clothing and set it aside. Was he really this pleased just to help him change clothes?

“My lord, should the inner garments be changed as well?” Shao Ye asked.

Tsk.

“Change them,” Xue Du said.

“And the trousers?” Shao Ye asked again.

Xue Du lifted his eyes. Was that question intentional? The trousers were white, it should be obvious whether they were dirty or not.

Pretending not to know.

“Change them,” he said.

Shao Ye gave a small “oh,” not finding anything strange. He crouched down and helped remove Xue Du’s trousers. The scars on his legs were fewer than those on his upper body, but seeing them still made Shao Ye’s chest tighten.

He even felt a bit guilty. If only he had found the lord sooner, he wouldn’t have had to suffer so much.

After removing the trousers, Shao Ye looked up—and paused.

So big—oh.

Xue Du lowered his gaze to meet Shao Ye’s somewhat dazed eyes, amusement flickering within. Just as he thought, a little pervert.

Shao Ye quickly came back to himself and looked away, but as he helped Xue Du dress, his eyes kept sneaking glances downward. He told himself it wasn’t his fault. It really was… quite impressive. As expected of the lord.

While helping him with the trousers, he accidentally brushed against it. Translated on Hololo novels. He immediately pulled his hand back, his gaze drifting, then pretended nothing had happened as he fastened the sash.

Xue Du was certain it had been intentional.

At last, after changing all of Xue Du’s clothes from inside out, Shao Ye felt a great sense of accomplishment. He wanted to stay and talk with the lord a bit longer, but worried about disturbing his cultivation. So he said, “My lord, this subordinate will take his leave.”

Xue Du gave a faint hum and did not stop him.

Reluctantly, Shao Ye turned to go.

Xue Du watched his back. He had taken all the clothes he had just changed out of—what was he planning to do with them?

Just as he reached the doorway, arms full of clothes, Shao Ye stopped again and turned back, looking at Xue Du with a pitiful expression.

Xue Du understood immediately. Didn’t want to leave?

He raised a brow and asked, “Anything else?”

Shao Ye gave a sheepish grin and said in a coaxing tone, “My lord, could you remove the spirit-locking ring from my neck?”

“What for?” Xue Du asked. Even with his spiritual power sealed, as the Chief Protector personally appointed by him, no one in Xiaoyao Mountain would dare provoke him.

Shao Ye said, aggrieved, “If they come to disturb you, I won’t be able to stop them.”

In truth, he was the one causing the most disturbance.

Pacing outside, sighing one moment, letting out odd chuckles the next, making it impossible for Xue Du to focus.

“Come here,” Xue Du said to him. “Let me take a look.”

Shao Ye immediately jogged over, offering his head right up in front of Xue Du.

Xue Du’s long fingers hooked onto the black spirit-locking ring around his neck. He lowered his gaze and examined it for a moment, then commented, “I think it looks quite good on you.”

Good? He didn’t think so at all!

Shao Ye instinctively lowered his head to look, but couldn’t see anything.

A pity he hadn’t put it on him himself. Thinking this, Xue Du’s eyes darkened. With a slight exertion of his fingers, the spirit-locking ring around Shao Ye’s neck shattered instantly.

The black ring turned into wisps of smoke in Xue Du’s hand, leaving not even a trace behind.

Freed from its restraint, Shao Ye felt as though even the air he breathed had suddenly turned sweet.

He looked at Xue Du with shining gratitude. Meeting those bright eyes, Xue Du felt something soften in his chest, and his tone grew gentler as he said, “Go on.”

Shao Ye nodded. He walked toward the exit, looking back every few steps. Then he stopped and turned to ask, “My lord, when will you finish your seclusion?”

With him pacing around outside like that, Xue Du felt he might never finish it in this lifetime.

If he told him to leave directly, he’d probably cry.

Annoying.

Xue Du said, “Go take a look around the rest of Xiaoyao Palace. I’m worried the Four Demon Kings might stir trouble while I’m in seclusion.”

In truth, the Four Demon Kings had already learned their lesson. This wasn’t Xue Du’s first time entering seclusion. In the past, when he had done so, the demonic cultivators had often tried to trouble him, and none of them had ended well.

So when Wan Qian and the others heard that Shao Ye intended to guard Xue Du at the back mountain, they had even felt a bit amused.

Shao Ye, lacking experience in this, immediately perked up at Xue Du’s words. “My lord, rest assured. I guarantee I’ll complete the task.”

Then he asked with concern, “But my lord, do you really not need anyone guarding here?”

“No,” Xue Du said. “No one can get in.”

Only then did Shao Ye feel at ease. He left the stone chamber and returned to Xiaoyao Palace to begin his self-appointed campaign of “cleaning up corruption.”

The first thing he did was reclaim the treasures and weapons that had been confiscated from him by the demonic cultivators, along with the belongings of the other Kunlun disciples.

After making a couple of rounds through Xiaoyao Palace and confirming that the Four Demon Kings were behaving themselves for now, he went to the central plaza and began practicing his sword. His blade flashed like cold light, sword intent sweeping across the air, as yellow leaves fell in droves.

Just as he was fully absorbed in his practice, he suddenly heard someone call out, “Senior brother?”

The tone was full of disbelief.

Turning around, he saw his second junior brother, Chu Wenji, staring at him in shock, with a group of pursuing demonic cultivators behind him.

“Second junior brother, you’re here too?” Shao Ye greeted him, even asking, “Did Master come along as well?”

A tiny question mark seemed to crawl onto Chu Wenji’s head. Was this scene real, or was he dreaming? Translated on Hololo novels. Why was his senior brother standing so calmly in Xiaoyao Palace, talking to him like this?

Was Xiaoyao Palace really so lenient with prisoners?

Then Chu Wenji realized, it wasn’t leniency. His senior brother had defected!

The Snake King Luo Hongxia, one of the Four Demon Kings, caught up and shouted to Shao Ye, “Protector! This man has stolen a treasure of Xiaoyao Palace. Stop him at once!”

Shao Ye paused, then looked Chu Wenji up and down. “Second junior brother, did you steal something from our lord?”

Our… lord?

Was that something his senior brother should be saying?

On his way to Xiaoyao Palace, Chu Wenji had learned of a treasure within it, the Blood Bodhi. He had planned to steal it to use as leverage in negotiations. But the moment he got his hands on it, he was discovered.

He had fled all the way here. With a bit of luck, he could have shaken off the pursuers. But he had never expected to run into his senior brother.

Chu Wenji took a deep breath, calming himself. He tightened his grip on his sword. Even if his senior brother stood in his way, he would not hold back.

Shao Ye, having just been freed from the spirit-locking ring and not having had a proper fight yet, was itching for one. Since his second junior brother had run right into him, he could only count himself unlucky.

Chu Wenji was also a rare swordsmanship genius, but against Shao Ye, he still fell short.

After dozens of exchanges, Chu Wenji made a misstep and had his weapon knocked from his hand. Shao Ye spun his sword in a flourish and kindly advised the kneeling Chu Wenji, “Second junior brother, you can’t beat me. Stop struggling pointlessly and surrender.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll plead for leniency before the lord on your behalf.”

Enough was enough. Chu Wenji raised his head, glaring at Shao Ye with fury. “Senior brother, you really have joined Xiaoyao Palace. You’ve fallen this far! How can you face our master after this?”

Shao Ye fell silent. Chu Wenji thought perhaps he still had some conscience left, that he might yet turn back.

Then he heard Shao Ye say, somewhat puzzled, “Master never said I couldn’t join Xiaoyao Palace.”

Now it was Chu Wenji’s turn to fall silent. Who could have imagined his senior brother doing something like this? Was it their master’s fault then?

The demonic cultivators stepped forward together, seized Chu Wenji, and after retrieving the Blood Bodhi from him, prepared to escort him to the ghost prison to reunite with the other Kunlun disciples.

Shao Ye stroked his chin, looking at Chu Wenji’s unwilling back, and called out, “Oh right, second junior brother, wait a moment.”

Had his senior brother come to his senses and was about to apologize? Chu Wenji stopped but didn’t turn around. His expression was cold. He would never forgive his senior brother for such betrayal.

Instead, he heard Shao Ye ask, “Do you have a bottle of Liuxiang Valley’s muscle-regenerating ointment? You brought it, right? Give it to me.”

Chu Wenji turned back, staring at Shao Ye, who was asking for it without the slightest politeness, utterly speechless.

He really wanted to ask, senior brother, don’t you think your skin is a bit too thick?

Shao Ye walked over and yanked the storage pouch from Chu Wenji’s waist. Seeing Chu Wenji’s expression darken further, he consoled him, “Second junior brother, don’t be so stingy. You don’t need it anyway.”

Chu Wenji replied irritably, “How do I not need it?”

Shao Ye glared at him. “You’re a grown man. What’s wrong with having a few scars?”

That was a fair question, so what did his senior brother need the ointment for?

Could it be that his senior brother had been bewitched by some enchantress from Xiaoyao Palace and had become this ridiculous?

Shao Ye rummaged through the pouch, found the ointment he needed, then hung the pouch back on Chu Wenji’s waist. “Thanks, second junior brother. I’ll have them lock you up with our junior brother later.”

Chu Wenji: “……”

As much as he didn’t want to admit it, hearing that, he felt a small flicker of anticipation.

Shao Ye did as he said. He couldn’t release them, but he did have some say in how their cells were assigned.

As soon as Chu Wenji was shoved into the ghost prison, he saw Song Heming sitting there, holding a storybook and laughing out loud. All the comforting words Chu Wenji had prepared got stuck in his throat.

Hearing the noise, Song Heming looked up and exclaimed, “Second senior brother, how did you end up here too?”

“Got caught by senior brother,” Chu Wenji said coldly. He had wanted to say, “You’ve suffered,” but looking at Song Heming’s noticeably fuller face, he couldn’t bring himself to say it.

Song Heming didn’t know what had happened. He immediately patted Chu Wenji on the shoulder and said, “Senior brother has his reasons. Don’t blame him.”

Chu Wenji snapped, “He’s already become Xiaoyao Palace’s Chief Protector, and you’re still defending him!”

Song Heming sighed softly and explained, “He’s doing all this for us. Without senior brother, we might already have died at the hands of those demonic cultivators. That ‘Protector’ title is just his disguise, meant to deceive them.”

Chu Wenji suspected Song Heming had been poisoned or bewitched. “I don’t think he looks like he’s pretending.”

Song Heming disagreed. “That’s because you misunderstand him. He’s already suffering enough, acting as the Demon Lord’s lackey. If he knew you thought this way, he’d definitely be hurt.”

“…He’s suffering?” Chu Wenji asked sincerely.

Because to him, it really looked like his senior brother was enjoying himself.

“Of course he’s suffering!” Song Heming said with conviction. “That ‘Chief Protector’ title sounds impressive, but even when the Demon Lord changes clothes, it’s senior brother who has to serve him. If not for senior brother, you might never have seen us again.”

Song Heming recounted everything that had happened in detail, and by the end, even Chu Wenji felt uncertain.

Could it be that his senior brother was truly enduring humiliation for their sake?

---

A cold moon hung high over the mountain.

On the very night Xue Du emerged from seclusion, a major incident occurred in Xiaoyao Palace. Their treasured Blood Bodhi had been stolen again.

This time, all suspicion pointed to Shao Ye. The Four Demon Kings demanded that Xue Du interrogate him strictly, but Xue Du sat above them in silence.

Wan Qian was especially eager in this matter. “My lord, tonight only the Protector went to Taiyuan Hall. If not him, then who?”

Shao Ye defended himself. “I saw a suspicious figure and chased after it.”

“And where is that suspicious figure now?” Wan Qian asked.

“I didn’t catch him. He got away,” Shao Ye said angrily.

At this moment, Mr. Jinchan, Chen Tongming, also stepped forward. “Protector, speaking fairly, your explanation is very difficult to believe.”

Shao Ye shouted, “That’s slander!”

Wan Qian sneered, “Slander? I was wondering why a dignified senior disciple of the Kunlun Sect would suddenly join Xiaoyao Palace. So it was for our treasures all along!”

Shao Ye opened his mouth to refute him, then paused, feeling that the statement wasn’t entirely wrong. After a moment, he said, “Well… that’s true.”

“You admitted it! My lord, did you hear that? He admitted it!” Wan Qian shouted, waiting for Xue Du to give the order so he could seize Shao Ye on the spot.

Shao Ye shot Wan Qian a glare. “Admitted what? Isn’t the greatest treasure of Xiaoyao Palace our lord himself?”

What treasure could possibly compare to the lord?

Wan Qian: “?”

The Four Demon Kings were all left speechless by that reasoning.

Damn it! This shameless flatterer!

Xue Du, seated above with his chin propped on one hand, subtly adjusted his posture at those words, suppressing the urge to let his lips curl upward.

Even at a time like this, he was still openly confessing to him.

He really must be utterly infatuated.

—

Author’s note:

[“The Mystery of the Dantian: Twenty-Eight Hypotheses on the Body’s Energy Center”
“On the Interaction and Contest Between Soul and Physical Form”
“A Brief Discussion on Five Applications of Spiritual Energy in Agriculture”]

: What even are these titles? My head hurts just looking at them

: Master, please stop, I just finished my proposal defense and came to relax on the forum

: These are papers No. 1 wrote recently. Still the same beast as ever

: Is No. 1 cheating? Are you sure he doesn’t have his memories?

: Whether he does or not, I just know that aside from not choosing between boldface fonts, every format detail is perfect. He even remembered to bold the title

: Incredible!

: Maybe this is just muscle memory. Even Neverland can’t erase it completely

: Just like No. 6’s nonstop flattery, that’s muscle memory too

: Did you see the lord’s expression? That clearly worked

: No. 6: “On Building a Deep Emotional Connection: A Case Study of Xi Guanming, Pei Fangyan, and Xue Du”

: “Brief discussion” might not cut it. That’s clearly in-depth interaction

: I’d rather read “A Deep Analysis of a Proper Underling’s Sexual Appeal to His Boss”

: Titles alone aren’t enough, write a few paragraphs already!

: If I could write that, would I still be scrolling this forum?

: By the way, did you all bet your tokens on No. 6 this time?

: Nope

: ???? Still this stubborn?

: Don’t you believe in No. 6’s appeal to his boss?

: It’s not that, I’m just worried he might help his boss destroy the world

: …

: You’ve convinced me!

≽^•⩊•^≼

Next

Shao Ye pulled the garment off his head, looked down to confirm that it really was the lord’s clothing, and thought, how could the lord just toss his clothes around like that? What if the wind blew them away? Fortunately, this time it had landed on his head.

He neatly folded the robe in his hands, then lifted his head and looked toward the lord.

Under the cool moonlight, Xue Du’s bare upper body was illuminated, and only then did Shao Ye notice that his back was also covered in vicious scars.

His heart tightened, his eyes growing warm. The lord must have suffered greatly in the past.

Xue Du tilted his head slightly. From the corner of his eye, he saw Shao Ye staring at his back in a daze, those dark eyes damp, as if they held countless unspoken words. So he really did harbor improper thoughts about him.

Xue Du withdrew his gaze, glanced down at his trousers with an unreadable expression, then after a moment stepped into the Seven-Star Pool and slowly sat down.

Shao Ye, however, didn’t notice any of this. After feeling that wave of sympathy, he snapped back to himself, holding Xue Du’s clothes as he came to the edge of the pool.

He didn’t quite understand why the lord came here to bathe every day.

Seeing that Xue Du had his eyes closed, Shao Ye didn’t disturb him. Instead, he crouched down and reached a hand into the water. The moment his fingers touched it, he felt a bone-chilling cold, as if it might freeze them off entirely. He shivered and quickly pulled his hand back, saying, “My lord, this water is so cold.”

Xue Du raised his eyes to look at him but said nothing. He was wondering what Shao Ye meant by that. Was he trying to act coquettish? Or did he want to get into the pool and bathe together?

Overstepping, Protector.

Xue Du gave a faint hum.

Shao Ye continued, “Why does my lord bathe here?”

“To suppress the poison in my body and stay clear-headed,” Xue Du replied casually.

Still suppressing it? Shao Ye was startled and hurriedly asked, “My lord, is my junior brother’s blood not effective?”

Xue Du did not mention that he had used all of Song Heming’s blood to water the gourds on the mountain. He simply pressed his lips together and remained silent.

Shao Ye took that as confirmation and asked worriedly, “Then is there any other way?”

“Not for now,” Xue Du said.

What should be done, then?

Meeting Shao Ye’s anxious gaze, Xue Du wondered again, did he really like him that much?

Otherwise, why would a proud senior disciple of the Kunlun Sect care so much about the life or death of a demonic lord?

As Xue Du considered whether he should keep someone with such obvious ulterior motives by his side, he heard Shao Ye speak eagerly, “My lord, should we try using my blood?”

If his junior brother’s didn’t work, maybe the senior brother’s would.

Shao Ye lowered his head, looking at his wrist, then touched his neck, wondering which blood would be best. What about heart’s blood?

Xue Du lifted his head and silently scrutinized him, watching as Shao Ye rolled up his sleeves, then tugged at his collar to glance inside, before letting it fall again.

What was he looking at? Hiding something again?

Xue Du ground his teeth slightly. What a clumsy way of trying to entice him. Did he think this would move him?

“No need,” Xue Du said.

“My lord, you haven’t even tried,” Shao Ye insisted.

Try what?

Xue Du’s dark gaze fell on Shao Ye’s chest. So eager to offer himself… were all Kunlun disciples this… shameless?

Tsk.

Xue Du rose from the pool. His white trousers, soaked through, turned half-translucent, faintly revealing the long, well-built lines of his legs beneath.

Shao Ye looked up, puzzled. “My lord, are you done bathing?”

“No,” Xue Du said, turning and sitting down again in a different spot.

That side of the water didn’t feel cold enough anymore.

Shao Ye crouched there, watching ripples spread across the surface of the water, worrying about how he could possibly cure the poison in the lord’s body.

The evening breeze was cool, rustling the leaves of the wutong tree above.

---

News spread from Kunlun Mountain that the Kunlun Sect had joined forces with several other sects in the cultivation world to attack Xiaoyao Palace. Translated on Hololo novels. For a time, unease spread throughout the palace, everyone feeling on edge.

If it were only the Kunlun Sect, Xiaoyao Palace could handle it. But with so many sects gathered together, they might not be able to withstand it. The Four Demon Kings, however, were not overly concerned. When the time came, they would use the captured Kunlun disciples as hostages. For every step those righteous cultivators advanced, they would kill one. They didn’t believe those so-called righteous people could truly ignore the lives of their own disciples.

Even if things came to the worst, they could simply flee. In this cultivation world, who didn’t have some method of saving their own life?

Moreover, if those righteous cultivators actually managed to eliminate Xue Du, it wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing for them. The Four Demon Kings each harbored their own schemes. Among all of them, the only one genuinely worried about Xue Du’s safety was probably Shao Ye, the former senior disciple of the Kunlun Sect.

It couldn’t really be considered “former,” since up to now the Kunlun Sect had not removed his name from their rolls.

Wan Qian now held Shao Ye in utter disdain. He had a strong feeling that the whipping he received a few days ago might have had something to do with Shao Ye. Although there was no evidence for this at all, their lord was not someone whose thoughts could be judged by ordinary logic.

A flash of inspiration struck Wan Qian, and he immediately proposed to Xue Du, “My lord, the Protector is a disciple of the Kunlun Sect and should be quite familiar with them. So before the various sects reach Xiaoyao Mountain, I suggest sending the Protector with some men to intercept them. What does my lord think?”

This would both test whether Shao Ye was truly loyal to Xiaoyao Palace and deal a blow to those so-called righteous sects. Wan Qian could already imagine the colorful expressions on their faces when they saw the Kunlun Sect’s senior disciple turned into Xiaoyao Palace’s Chief Protector.

Before Xue Du could respond, Shao Ye rejected it outright. “I’m not going.”

What if they took advantage of his absence to harm the lord? That old fox Wan Qian clearly had ill intentions.

Wan Qian raised his voice. “At a critical moment like this, when Xiaoyao Palace faces danger, shouldn’t the Protector contribute his strength? Or is it that the Protector still harbors attachment to his old ties in Kunlun and hasn’t truly joined us?”

Now he was trying to pin a charge on him? Shao Ye ignored Wan Qian and turned directly to Xue Du. “My lord, I don’t want to go.”

Xue Du nodded. “If you don’t want to go, then don’t.”

Wan Qian: “……”

Since when had their lord become so easy to talk to?

Could he also say he didn’t want to go watch the old Demon Lord get carved up anymore?

Wan Qian truly thought his plan was brilliant, killing two birds with one stone. He wanted to push a bit further, but when he looked up and met Xue Du’s cool gaze, he silently swallowed his words.

The lord’s attitude toward this newly appointed Protector was far too strange. Did he really not suspect Shao Ye at all?

In the end, they still failed to come up with a reliable countermeasure. Xue Du simply sent the Four Demon Kings down the mountain to gather information.

He didn’t seem particularly concerned about the joint attack of the various sects. At a time like this, he even had the leisure to go into seclusion in the back mountain.

But the demonic cultivators below did not share his composure. They feared that at any moment the righteous sects might storm Xiaoyao Palace. Everyone was distracted, and even the guards had grown lax.

Seizing the opportunity, Song Heming slipped out. Under the cover of night, he used some tricks to obtain the keys to the ghost prison and rescued his fellow disciples. He had expected that even with his senior brother’s help, their lives in the ghost prison wouldn’t have been good. But now, looking at them, they seemed… a bit plumper than before.

Before he could ask, one of his senior sisters spoke first. “Junior brother, it’s only been a few days, and you look like you’ve filled out quite a bit.”

Song Heming: “……”

Alright, so everyone had been eating chicken legs.

All the captured Kunlun disciples had now been gathered except for Shao Ye. But this senior brother of theirs… they had no idea where to find him.

Someone sighed. “Where did senior brother go? Yesterday he told me he’d bring me the last volume of Legends of Liuxiang. Why hasn’t he come today? Did something happen?”

Another guessed, “Could it be he angered the Demon Lord and got… dealt with?”

“Probably not.”

“Don’t talk here, it’s too dangerous. Those demonic cultivators could come at any moment. Let’s leave Xiaoyao Palace first, then figure out how to rescue senior brother.”

With the spirit-locking rings still around their necks, any random demonic cultivator could subdue them easily. Rather than discussing how to find Shao Ye, it was more important to figure out how to escape Xiaoyao Palace without alerting anyone.

Fortunately, on their way to rescue Song Heming, they had already studied the layout of Xiaoyao Palace. After some discussion, the only viable escape route was to go around the back mountain, avoiding most of the patrols.

After finalizing their route, using feints and diversions, they finally made it safely to the back mountain. Translated on Hololo novels. But there, they discovered someone standing directly in their path. They were startled, thinking they had been discovered. Looking closer, wasn’t that their senior brother?

“Senior brother?” Song Heming called softly.

Hearing him, Shao Ye turned around, surprised to see them. “You’re out?”

“Senior brother, why are you here?” Song Heming asked.

Shao Ye answered frankly, “I’m guarding the door for my lord.”

Xue Du had said he was entering seclusion and was at a critical stage of cultivation, where he could easily suffer a backlash, so no one was to disturb him for the next few days.

Xue Du had not actually ordered Shao Ye to stand guard. This was entirely his own initiative.

When Song Heming heard Shao Ye address Xue Du as “my lord,” he felt a strange numbness. Was his senior brother getting a little too into this role?

That was normal too. If his senior brother wanted to blend into Xiaoyao Palace, he would naturally have to address things the same way those demonic cultivators did. He had probably just gotten used to it.

Song Heming said, “Senior brother, come with us now.”

Shao Ye shook his head. He had already risen to the position of Chief Protector in Xiaoyao Palace, with boundless prospects ahead. If he returned to Kunlun Mountain now, wouldn’t his grand ambitions be ruined?

“I can’t leave,” he said firmly.

Song Heming thought it over. His senior brother was now the “entrusted” Chief Protector of Xiaoyao Palace. If he left with them, it would surely anger the Demon Lord even more. And if they were captured again along the way, at least his senior brother, as Chief Protector, could still continue to feed them chicken legs.

His refusal to leave was most likely for their sake.

But Song Heming also couldn’t bear to knowingly leave his senior brother here to suffer alone.

What should he do? Knock his senior brother out and carry him away?

And if he were to knock him out… how many steps would that take?

Song Heming wracked his brain for a solution, unconsciously stepping forward a couple of steps. Shao Ye immediately called out, “Junior brother, you can’t go any further.”

“Huh?” Song Heming stopped, puzzled. “Why?”

Shao Ye said, “My lord said no one is allowed to disturb him right now. If you go any further, you’ll reach the place where he’s cultivating.”

Song Heming looked ahead along the path. At the end was a tightly shut stone door. They had studied this before, there was a narrow, inconspicuous crack beside it that they could slip through.

He immediately understood Shao Ye’s concern. His senior brother was afraid they would be discovered by the Demon Lord. He said, “Senior brother, we’ll be careful. We won’t be discovered.”

On their way here, they had heard demonic cultivators mention that the Demon Lord was in seclusion. During seclusion, one had to be fully focused. As long as they moved quietly, they shouldn’t be detected. And given that the Demon Lord’s cultivation technique was said to be dangerous, prone to backlash, perhaps they could even take this opportunity to seriously injure him.

Shao Ye still shook his head. “No.”

“Senior brother, we’ll definitely be careful,” Song Heming pleaded.

Shao Ye still refused. “This really won’t do.”

It wasn’t about being careful or not. The lord had said no one was allowed near.

Most of the Kunlun disciples sided with Song Heming. Opportunity lay in risk. They felt their senior brother was being overly cautious, nothing like his usual self. Had he been worn down by his time in Xiaoyao Palace?

They were about to force their way through when they suddenly noticed a demonic cultivator flying toward them from the horizon. To their shock, their senior brother actually stepped forward as if to stop him. The group hurriedly covered his mouth and, ignoring his struggle, dragged him into the nearby bushes.

Fortunately, the spirit-locking ring was still around his neck. Otherwise, they might not have been able to hold him back.

Their senior brother… might really have gone a bit off the rails.

The demonic cultivator was intent on settling accounts with Xue Du and paid no attention to these minor figures. Slipping through the crack beside the stone door, he disappeared inside.

Then, in the blink of an eye, there was a thunderous boom.

Looking up, they saw a nine-headed demon dragon soar out from the stone door, one of its heads gripping the intruding cultivator. It flung him into the air, then opened its mouth and released a blast of dark blue flames. The cultivator let out a shrill scream before being reduced to ash in an instant, not even a trace left behind.

The demon dragon flicked its tail, snorted, and returned through the stone door.

Hidden in the bushes, the Kunlun disciples were completely stunned, cold sweat breaking out all over them.

If they had ignored their senior brother and forced their way in just now, they would have ended up exactly like that demonic cultivator.

At once, the looks they cast toward Shao Ye were filled with admiration and gratitude.

Senior brother was truly wise.

Shao Ye shot them a glare. He could have stopped that demonic cultivator and performed well in front of the lord.

Just then, a low voice came from behind the stone door. Xue Du said, “Protector, come help me change.”

Shao Ye instantly switched to a bright, eager expression, waved at them, and happily ran toward the stone door.

The shaken Kunlun disciples watched his departing figure with tearful eyes. Their senior brother, the dignified Chief Protector of Xiaoyao Palace, was actually doing the work of helping the Demon Lord change clothes, and even had to force a smile.

Ah… their senior brother was truly suffering. Back in Kunlun, he had never endured such humiliation.

—

Author’s note:

[Isn’t the lord a bit too scheming? Deliberately spreading news that his cultivation is fragile and cannot tolerate the slightest disturbance]

And when disturbance came, it was annihilated completely.

: Earlier I was wondering why Xiaoyao Palace’s defenses were so lax. Turns out it was intentional. The lord is really something.

: In other streams, without No. 6 stopping them, the Kunlun disciples all went in. Translated on Hololo novels. Casualties everywhere. They even thought they had broken the seal and released that demonic dragon themselves, and now they’re drowning in guilt.

: Miserable, truly miserable.

: If No. 6 goes back to Kunlun later and they don’t make him sect leader, that would be ridiculous.

: No. 6: is sect leader even comparable to being chief steward of Xiaoyao Palace?

: ??? Isn’t he the Chief Protector?

: The Kunlun disciples in streams 1–5 struggled so hard just to end up like this. Meanwhile No. 6’s stream is just calmly eating chicken legs in the ghost prison.

: Same with the volunteers in other streams. After all that effort, might as well just latch onto someone powerful.

: If No. 6 stops streaming, he should write a book. I’ve already got the title: Choice Matters More Than Effort

: Instant bestseller!

: What exactly is the lord cultivating? Six major sects are about to attack and he doesn’t seem worried at all.

: Classic bait.

: I’ve always wondered, the lord always has No. 6 help him change clothes… is that also bait?

: I think when No. 6 ripped his clothes open in front of the lord earlier, that was bait too.

: Wait, when did that happen?

: The first time they met. I swear I heard fabric tearing.

: At this point it’s all just gourds anyway. Whether anything happened or not is whatever we say it is.

: Fair enough.

: Speaking of that, I’m still annoyed. At least in the Golden Laburnum Academy they let us see No. 6’s body. Now they won’t even show that. Refund!

: No. 6 is so sly.

: Here it comes again, the “tea No. 6” theory returns.

≽^•⩊•^≼

Help the lord undress?

Work like this was usually reserved for only the closest and most trusted subordinates, wasn’t it?

And yet the lord had recognized at a glance that he was suited for it. The lord’s insight was truly sharp.

With excitement in his heart, Shao Ye stepped forward. Xue Du was still dressed in a loose black outer robe, faint patterns on it glimmering subtly under the moonlight.

Shao Ye’s hands trembled slightly as he carefully removed the robe, smoothing it out a bit before placing it on a nearby stone. Then he returned in front of Xue Du, bending down to untie his sash.

Xue Du lowered his gaze, idly looking at the top of Shao Ye’s head. His hair, tied high, fell loosely to either side, secured with a jade crown of rather ordinary quality, not worth much. Was the Kunlun Sect really so stingy? This was how their senior disciple dressed?

Shao Ye removed Xue Du’s outer garment, then his inner robe. Before long, only a pair of white trousers remained on him. When Shao Ye lifted his head, he saw the crisscrossing scars covering Xue Du’s chest.

Though Xue Du looked lean, his physique, once revealed, was strikingly well-proportioned. His muscles were balanced, just right. His skin was pale, making the scars stand out all the more. Shao Ye stared blankly at those layers of deep and shallow marks, his voice catching as he softly called, “My lord…”

Xue Du tilted his head slightly, puzzled. Why did he look like he was about to cry?

Shao Ye wanted to reach out and touch the scars, but didn’t quite dare. He could only ask with concern, “Why are there so many wounds on your body, my lord?”

Xue Du said calmly, “In the past, I was the fish on the cutting board, and others held the knife.”

Shao Ye immediately said, “Where is the one who hurt you now? I’ll go kill them for you!”

Xue Du was confused. He lowered his gaze to the spirit-locking ring still fastened around Shao Ye’s neck. Was this some way of trying to gain his trust?

“In the ghost prison, recovering,” he replied.

“Recovering?” Shao Ye didn’t understand. Why not finish them off while they were weak? How could they be allowed to heal?

Xue Du gave a quiet hum. “I couldn’t bear to let him die too quickly.”

Someone like that wasn’t sent straight to hell but kept around wasting food?

Still, since it was the lord’s own decision, and he had only just come under his command, it wasn’t his place to comment too much for now. So he praised, “My lord, you are truly kind-hearted.”

Xue Du: “……”

This was the first time he had ever received such praise.

Perhaps he should let the former Demon Lord below hear it as well.

Shao Ye continued eagerly, “My lord, I’ve heard that Liuxiang Valley has a spiritual medicine that can remove scars. One day, shall I go there and obtain some for you?”

Xue Du, harboring suspicion, wondered why he was being shown such concern. Was he trying to win his trust first, then tamper with the medicine?

Too troublesome. He might as well give him an opportunity now.

He gave a soft hum and stepped forward into the Seven-Star Pool. The cold water rose inch by inch over his skin. Leaning back against the edge of the pool, he closed his eyes, giving this Kunlun disciple ample opportunity to act.

As long as he made a move, he would know what was hidden against his chest.

But things did not unfold as Xue Du had expected. This senior disciple showed no intention of making a move at all. Instead, he crouched by the pool, chattering away, “My lord, why did you capture my junior brother?”

“Your junior brother?” Xue Du asked.

“Yes, Song Heming!” Shao Ye said.

“You don’t know?” Xue Du asked.

Shao Ye shook his head. Translated on Hololo novels. Wan Qian that old man had kept his mouth tightly shut. Maybe one day after giving him a good whipping, he’d talk.

Xue Du said, “I’m afflicted with a severe poison. It flares up every night at midnight. Someone told me that Song Heming’s blood can suppress the poison in my body.”

Shao Ye hurriedly asked, “Then has your poison been cured, my lord?”

“No,” Xue Du replied. So now would be the perfect time to strike.

“Why not?” Shao Ye asked anxiously. “Is my junior brother’s blood not effective?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t used it yet,” Xue Du said.

“Why not use it?” Shao Ye’s tone even carried a trace of reproach. He said with concern, “Doesn’t it hurt, my lord?”

“It’s manageable. I’m just lacking strength,” Xue Du replied, though in truth, the pain, like red-hot needles piercing from skin into bone, had never ceased.

Shao Ye studied him for a moment. Aside from a slightly pale complexion, he didn’t seem to be in any obvious distress, so Shao Ye believed him and asked, “Then can my lord release my other junior brothers and sisters?”

He really didn’t treat himself as an outsider at all. Xue Du found it amusing. Half-closing his eyes, he said softly, “Although I bear the title of Demon Lord, the ones who truly control Xiaoyao Palace are the Four Demon Kings. They show me respect on the surface, but in private they often go against my will. I’m afraid this is not something I can decide.”

“Ah…” Shao Ye let out a somewhat disappointed sigh, but quickly adjusted his mindset. The more those four acted arrogantly and overstepped their bounds, the more it highlighted his own unwavering loyalty to the lord.

He assured Xue Du, “My lord, don’t worry. I will definitely help you get rid of those four shameless villains.”

Xue Du couldn’t quite figure out what he was thinking and simply said, “Thanks.”

He waited and waited in the Seven-Star Pool, unable to understand why this senior disciple of the Kunlun Sect still hadn’t made a move against him.

Opening his eyes, he turned his head slightly and saw Shao Ye staring blankly at his chest. What was there to look at?

As he thought this, Xue Du’s gaze also drifted to Shao Ye’s chest. Unlike Shao Ye, he was simply curious, what exactly was hidden there?

Since Shao Ye wouldn’t act, and since someone as kind as himself couldn’t just tear open his clothes, yet holding back like this wasn’t in his nature, Xue Du finally asked, “What’s on your chest?”

“Huh?” Shao Ye looked down and shook his head. “Nothing.”

“Then why is it bulging here?” Xue Du pointed lightly at his chest, droplets of water flicking from his fingers and dampening the fabric slightly.

Shao Ye said a little awkwardly, “This outfit was given to me by my master at the last minute. It doesn’t fit very well. I was going to have it altered.”

But before he could, he had been sent off to rescue his junior brother.

“If it doesn’t fit, it becomes like this?” Xue Du asked.

Shao Ye nodded, then after a moment, simply grabbed his collar and tore it open to both sides, showing him. “See, my lord? There’s really nothing.”

With that motion, his full, well-built chest seemed to spring free, firm and smooth, honey-toned under the moonlight, as though coated with a layer of sweet gloss that made one want to taste it.

No wonder it looked so pronounced.

Xue Du narrowed his eyes slightly. Lying, was he? How could this count as “nothing”?

Just as he suspected, this person wasn’t being entirely honest.

Amid the sharp pain coursing through every bone, there seemed to be a faint, unfamiliar itch mixed in, though the three shallow red marks above looked somewhat displeasing.

“What’s this?” Xue Du asked.

Shao Ye immediately complained, “Wan Qian did it.”

Xue Du nodded, watching as Shao Ye pulled his collar back together, then reluctantly withdrew his gaze.

The water in the Seven-Star Pool still didn’t seem cold enough.

The bright moon stretched across the sky, a gentle breeze stirred, and wutong leaves drifted down, sending ripples across the water.

At the peak of Xiaoyao Mountain, gourds hanging from trellises absorbed the spiritual essence of heaven and earth, diligently cultivating day and night.

---

The next morning, the Four Demon Kings arrived at Changchun Hall. Wan Qian was just about to kneel and plead guilty, intending to report that due to negligence, a Kunlun disciple had escaped from the ghost prison the previous night, thus completely distancing himself from Shao Ye.

But when he looked up, he saw that very Kunlun senior disciple now standing boldly at Xue Du’s side.

Xue Du lounged on the couch as usual. Once everyone had arrived, he said, “Get acquainted. This is Shao Ye, the senior disciple of the Kunlun Sect.”

Why was a Kunlun senior disciple standing beside him? What was this supposed to be? Had the leftover flesh from the old Demon Lord not been enough for practice, so he’d switched to a new person?

As the Four Demon Kings were silently speculating, Xue Du continued, “From now on, he is my Chief Protector.”

Shao Ye stepped forward, puffed out his chest proudly, and looked down at the Four Demon Kings with blatant disdain.

The Four Demon Kings: “?”

Among them, Wan Qian found this outcome especially unbelievable. He knew exactly when and how Shao Ye had come to Xiaoyao Palace. Translated on Hololo novels. When Shao Ye had told him he would rise to prominence, he hadn’t believed it. Yet in just one night, he had transformed into the Chief Protector of Xiaoyao Palace?

Had he bewitched Xue Du?

Wan Qian cautiously raised his head, wanting to see if he was mistaken, only to be met with a fierce glare from Shao Ye.

Yes… that feeling. That completely out-of-place aura that didn’t belong among the righteous.

Wan Qian quickly lowered his head again, just as Xue Du spoke in a tone like a heedless ruler, “From now on, treat the Protector as you would me. Understood?”

The Four Demon Kings dared not object and answered in unison.

Standing on the steps, Shao Ye sized them up. They all looked respectful toward the lord on the surface, yet secretly dared to defy him. Such disloyalty deserved to be purged from Xiaoyao Palace as soon as possible.

With his goal set, he still couldn’t quite figure out how to carry it out. For now, he decided he should first find a way to cure the poison in the lord’s body, lest these two-faced villains take advantage of a flare-up to harm him.

At present, Song Heming was being held in Zhilian Palace not far from Changchun Hall. Dozens of demonic cultivators stood guard outside. Aside from restricted movement, his treatment wasn’t too bad, certainly much better than the other disciples imprisoned in the ghost prison.

But when Shao Ye arrived, he saw that Song Heming now had several more wounds than when he had last seen him in Luosi Cave. Shao Ye asked, “Junior brother, what happened to you?”

“Last night, a demonic cultivator came and interrogated me about the whereabouts of the Golden Lotus Relic,” Song Heming replied.

“Which one? What did he look like? What’s his name?” Shao Ye quickly asked.

Song Heming shook his head. “I didn’t see his face,” let alone know his name.

Shao Ye patted his shoulder to comfort him. “It’s fine if you don’t know. Your senior brother will definitely avenge you.”

Song Heming looked seriously at Shao Ye. Only now did he notice that his senior brother was dressed in far more elaborate and luxurious robes today, with a silver hairpiece set with dazzling gemstones, clearly not something from the Kunlun Sect. Combined with the fact that he seemed able to move freely within Xiaoyao Palace, Song Heming couldn’t help but question his current status. Hesitating, he said, “Senior brother, you…”

Shao Ye didn’t hide it at all. “I’ve already joined Xiaoyao Palace.”

Song Heming nodded, understanding. “So you joined—”

Wait. Joined where?

He froze. He wanted to question how his senior brother could do such a thing, but before the words could leave his mouth, he reconsidered. If his senior brother could say it so openly, then he must have a clear conscience.

Now dozens of their fellow disciples were trapped in Xiaoyao Palace’s ghost prison. Rescuing them unharmed was almost impossible. Song Heming had always been clever and perceptive; after a moment’s thought, he understood Shao Ye’s intention.

He wasn’t someone rigid or inflexible. Letting out a sigh, he said, “Senior brother, I think I understand what you’re trying to do, but this is too dangerous.”

“It’s not that bad,” Shao Ye didn’t feel any danger at all. A little proudly, he said to Song Heming, “Junior brother, I’ve already become the Chief Protector of Xiaoyao Palace.”

Song Heming: “?”

Were positions in Xiaoyao Palace handed out this casually?

He strongly suspected his senior brother had been deceived by those demonic cultivators. This so-called Chief Protector likely held no real power and was probably just a test to see if he was sincere.

His senior brother had a pure and straightforward heart, likely unaware of the traps within. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have come to see him at a time like this.

Song Heming cautioned, “Senior brother, you must listen to the Demon Lord obediently for now!”

Shao Ye nodded. Of course.

He pulled out a porcelain bowl from behind him and asked, “Junior brother, can you give me some blood?”

Song Heming already knew why Xiaoyao Palace had captured him. Hearing Shao Ye make the same request, he actually felt that his senior brother was sharper than usual. He asked, “Senior brother, are you trying to gain the Demon Lord’s trust?”

“Yes, yes, yes.” Shao Ye nodded again. His junior brother really understood him.

Believing he had seen through all of Shao Ye’s plans, Song Heming pulled a hairpin from his head and, without hesitation, cut his wrist. Fresh blood flowed out steadily, and before long, half a bowl was filled.

Shao Ye carefully held the porcelain bowl. His junior brother was too kind. Tonight, he’d have someone add a chicken leg to his meal so he could recover properly.

Seeing this, Song Heming grew even more worried. Demonic cultivators were cunning and deceitful. When it came to scheming, his senior brother likely wasn’t their match. Moreover, although they claimed to make him Chief Protector, they hadn’t even removed the spirit-locking ring from his neck. They clearly still suspected him.

Song Heming reminded him again, “Senior brother, be careful in everything. Put yourself first.”

Shao Ye hesitated. He was afraid that now, he had to put the lord first.

Seeing him silent, Song Heming let out a long sigh.

If his senior brother truly put himself first, he wouldn’t have endured humiliation to infiltrate the demonic sect. He still couldn’t let go of his fellow disciples.

After delivering Song Heming’s blood to Xue Du, Shao Ye made another trip to the water prison. Since Wan Qian wouldn’t release them, at least bringing his fellow disciples some food and drink shouldn’t be a problem.

Wan Qian, having just been whipped earlier for accidentally stepping past the lord’s position, was in low spirits. He didn’t quite understand Xue Du’s intentions, but no matter what, Shao Ye was now personally appointed as Chief Protector by the lord. At the very least, he had to listen to him somewhat.

Before long, the Kunlun disciples in the ghost prison not only had food and water, but were even provided with bedding. If Shao Ye had more money, he would have bought them some storybooks to pass the time.

As evening fell, after confirming that his junior brothers and sisters were doing relatively well, Shao Ye immediately headed for the Seven-Star Pool.

He was too worried that someone might attempt to assassinate the lord during a flare-up of his condition. So even though the spirit-locking ring prevented him from using spiritual power, he still patrolled near the pool every night to ensure the lord’s safety.

But in Xue Du’s eyes, it was a different matter entirely. Every time he bathed, this Kunlun disciple would appear, not making a move, just staring at him. What was he after?

Could it be… that he liked him?

Showing up out of nowhere to join Xiaoyao Palace, wanting to eliminate those around him, even bringing his junior brother’s blood to him… if it was because he liked him, that explanation seemed to make much more sense.

Rustling sounds came from the grass behind him. Xue Du didn’t even need to turn around to know that Shao Ye had arrived again.

He stroked his chin and silently cursed: little pervert.

Unfortunately, he was destined to be disappointed. Xue Du was cold by nature, with no interest in matters of love.

Raising a hand, Xue Du removed his clothing and casually tossed it backward.

Shao Ye, who had just arrived and got hit in the face by the thrown clothes: “?”

—

Author’s note:

[Seriously? It’s bad enough we don’t get to see the lord bathing, but why are you showing us a bunch of gourds instead? Refund!]

: Honestly, it’s kind of interesting. I can almost hear those gourds talking

: What are they saying?

: Grandpa! Grandpa! Grandpa!

: Hahahahahahahaha

: When are these gourds going to talk? I want to hear them do a group comedy act

: Honestly, the Kunlun disciples seem better suited for that. Their senior brother defected, and they’re still asking for storybooks. And what is Song Heming imagining? Why does he look guilty toward No. 6?

: I suspect the devs lowered the NPC intelligence in this world

: Oh, I get it now. The devs are brilliant

: ?????

: I don’t get it. What’s so brilliant?

: To bring that NPC who was immune to the protagonist’s charm back onto the right path. Look, they even changed the protagonist’s gender this time. Probably still weren’t confident, so they also adjusted the protagonist’s intelligence to match No. 6

: My native language is speechless

: Not gonna lie, that kind of makes sense

: No. 6: say that again

: No. 6 already delivered the protagonist’s blood to the lord, so why isn’t he drinking it? Does he think it’s poisoned?

: Not only did he not drink it, he used it to water the gourds

: Gourds: Grandpa! Grandpa! Grandpa!

: Now I can hear it

: Honestly, this lord is kind of terrifying. When he poured out the blood, he smiled. I’m still getting chills

: Is he always going to be this unsettling? We haven’t even seen him kill anyone, but judging from the expressions of those cleaning up afterward…

: I’m scared, I don’t want to watch anymore

: Don’t worry, with No. 6 around, love can make flesh grow again

: @Old Demon Lord right here

: Ahahahahahaha help me 😭

≽^•⩊•^≼

Wan Qian first suspected that Shao Ye had taken the wrong medicine. After checking and confirming there was nothing wrong with what he had used, he then wondered if something was wrong with his own hearing and asked, “What did you say?”

Shao Ye gave him a strange look. Do demonic cultivators go hard of hearing too? So he repeated himself, “I asked if your Xiaoyao Palace is still recruiting people.”

So that really was what he said!

Curious, Wan Qian asked again, “Why are you asking that?”

“What else could it be for? I want to join!” Shao Ye replied as if it were obvious. Wasn’t that already clear enough?

“Why?” Wan Qian couldn’t understand.

Over the years, Xiaoyao Palace had often used worldly temptations such as beauty, power, and status to lure the talented disciples of righteous sects into the demonic path, and they took great pleasure in it. But someone who had just been beaten, not even badly, and immediately declared that he wanted to join them, this was the first time Wan Qian had ever seen such a thing.

He was so baffled that he felt no sense of accomplishment at all, only suspicion toward this person’s motives.

Shao Ye said, “Nothing much. I just suddenly feel like joining Xiaoyao Palace would give me a better future.”

A better future? What kind of future?

A future where he could lose weight quickly?

With his build, he would indeed keep their lord busy for quite some time.

Wan Qian narrowed his eyes and looked Shao Ye up and down twice, but couldn’t make sense of it no matter how hard he tried.

If he remembered correctly, this was the Kunlun Sect’s senior disciple, wasn’t he?

The senior disciple they were proud of?

The one everyone praised?

There had to be a trick!

Wan Qian pressed his lips together and said cautiously, “Xiaoyao Palace isn’t somewhere you can just join whenever you feel like it.”

“Then how can I join?” Shao Ye asked sincerely.

So eager? Wan Qian grew even more suspicious. With a cold face, he said, “Let’s find Song Heming first.”

Shao Ye let out a disappointed “ah,” cast a reluctant glance at the entrance where Xue Du had disappeared earlier, then followed Wan Qian out of the ghost prison toward Black Mountain.

To prevent Shao Ye from escaping midway, Wan Qian placed a spirit-locking ring around his neck, completely sealing his spiritual power. Shao Ye tugged uncomfortably at the black ring and asked, “It’s a bit tight. Can you loosen it a little?”

Wan Qian ignored him. It was already generous enough not to tighten it further, and he still wanted it loosened?

Seeing no response, Shao Ye changed the subject and asked, “By the way, why did you capture my junior brother?”

“Why are you asking that?” Wan Qian’s tone was full of caution.

“Just asking casually,” Shao Ye said. “If Xiaoyao Palace needs people, you could just capture me. There’s no need to take my junior brother.”

Wan Qian: “……”

“Does Xiaoyao Palace really not need people? I can even do chores,” Shao Ye added. Although doing chores was far from his goal, he believed that as long as he could stay, with his talent and effort, he would definitely become the most trusted confidant of their lord. At that point, Wan Qian would be nothing in front of him.

Just imagining that scene made Shao Ye want to laugh out loud, which startled Wan Qian beside him.

What kind of laugh was that? It sounded full of ill intent. Was something wrong with this guy’s head? Wan Qian quietly moved a bit farther away.

Shao Ye didn’t notice and continued asking, “Oh right, who went down with the lord just now?”

“That was Mr. Jinchan, Chen Tongming,” one of the Four Demon Kings of Xiaoyao Palace, Wan Qian answered. Then he suddenly froze, looked up in shock, and asked, “Wait, you’re calling him ‘lord’ too?”

What was wrong with that? Everyone else could say it, so why couldn’t he?

Shao Ye widened his eyes. “If I don’t call him ‘lord,’ what should I call him?”

“You should call him Demon Lord,” Wan Qian corrected in a low voice.

Shao Ye said righteously, “Doesn’t calling him ‘lord’ show that I’ve admired him for a long time? Calling him ‘Demon Lord’ sounds too distant.”

The problem was, why would the Kunlun Sect’s senior disciple admire their lord for a long time?!

Wan Qian was too tired to complain. He listened to Shao Ye chatter the whole way, and by the time they reached Luosi Cave, even he began to doubt himself. Translated on Hololo novels. Could it be that Xiaoyao Palace really had some extraordinary quality he had failed to notice, enough to make this Kunlun Sect disciple so eager to defect?

Deep within Luosi Cave, Song Heming was sitting alone in meditation, healing his injuries. His leg was wounded, and the spirit-locking ring on him hadn’t been removed. Below the mountain was the territory of demonic cultivators, so for now he had no way to leave. He could only wait for his sect to come rescue him.

Hearing a slight noise from outside, Song Heming opened his eyes and gripped the sword beside him. When he saw that it was Shao Ye, his face immediately lit up with joy as he called out, “Senior Brother!”

But the expression didn’t last long. As Wan Qian stepped forward from behind Shao Ye, the smile on Song Heming’s face instantly froze.

Wan Qian nodded in approval. “Not bad. You didn’t trick me. Song Heming really is here.”

At least he wouldn’t have to keep the old Demon Lord company.

Seeing the dazed and helpless look on Song Heming’s face, Shao Ye felt a bit sorry for him and sighed. “Junior brother, I didn’t have a choice.”

That old bastard hit way too hard. One day, he’d definitely get his revenge.

Song Heming stood frozen. After a moment, his mind, shaken by what he had just seen, finally began to function again. Why would his senior brother betray him for no reason? He thought there must be something else. These evil demonic cultivators must have threatened his senior brother with the lives of their fellow disciples, forcing him to bring them here.

So before Shao Ye could say anything else, Song Heming braced himself against the rock wall, staggered to his feet, and said on his own initiative, “Senior brother, you don’t need to explain. I understand your difficulties. I understand everything. I’ll go back with them.”

Although Shao Ye had no idea what exactly Song Heming thought he understood, having that kind of awareness was good enough. He reached out and patted Song Heming on the shoulder, affirming, “Good, as long as you understand.”

Wan Qian was a bit stunned. Were all the Kunlun Sect disciples like this? Song Heming, your senior brother just sold you out, and you still ‘understand’?

It had to be said, the righteous sect disciples were far more broad-minded than their demonic counterparts.

With a wave of his hand, Wan Qian took both Song Heming and Shao Ye back to Xiaoyao Palace.

On the way, Wan Qian was already thinking about how to deal with the remaining Kunlun disciples. What their lord needed was only Song Heming’s blood. The others were useless. Killing them would be a bit of a waste, so perhaps they could be used as hostages to extort some treasures from the Kunlun Sect.

As for Shao Ye…

How to deal with him would require some thought. For now, the priority was to bring Song Heming before their lord.

After returning to Xiaoyao Palace, Shao Ye watched as his junior brother Song Heming was taken away to be cleaned up, about to be brought before the Demon Lord, while he himself was about to be sent back to the ghost prison to listen to all those wailing cries below. It felt like a profound betrayal. Filled with indignation, he stared at Wan Qian in shock and demanded, “Why?”

Wan Qian had just finished arranging matters related to Song Heming and would soon personally escort him to the Demon Lord. Hearing Shao Ye’s question, he turned around in confusion. “Why what?”

“Why does my junior brother get to see the lord?” Shao Ye asked.

Wan Qian had already grown used to Shao Ye calling him “lord” like they did. It was honestly unsettling. He replied, “Because the lord wants to see him.”

“I want to see the lord too,” Shao Ye said.

Wan Qian let out a cold laugh. “The lord isn’t someone you can see just because you want to. Behave yourself. Since you helped me find Song Heming, I’ll let you have a good meal tonight.”

A good meal was supposed to satisfy him? If he got to the lord’s side, what good things wouldn’t he have access to?

Shao Ye thought that maybe he should try bribing Wan Qian, but when he reached for himself, he remembered all his valuables had already been confiscated by the demonic cultivators. He could only lower his voice and say to Wan Qian, “How about this? Let me see the lord, and when I make it big in the future, I definitely won’t forget you.”

Though that whipping, he would absolutely return.

Wan Qian didn’t feel like responding. What gave this guy the illusion that meeting the lord would lead to success?

Wait… this guy was so eager to see the lord. Could it be he intended to assassinate him?

That was exactly the kind of thing righteous disciples might do.

His eyes shifted slightly as a plan formed in his mind. But some things couldn’t be said openly. If the lord pursued the matter later, he’d end up thrown into the oil cauldron.

He would have to think it through carefully later. Calling over his subordinates, Wan Qian ordered, “Throw him back into the ghost prison.”

Shao Ye was dragged into the ghost prison, shouting, “Just you wait! You’ll regret this!”

Hearing this familiar kind of threat, Wan Qian couldn’t help but sigh again. How did such a person come from the Kunlun Sect? It really shouldn’t be possible.

Turning to his subordinate, he added, “Forget that meal tonight.”

For cultivators, fasting was nothing unusual, and Shao Ye didn’t really care about missing a meal. But Wan Qian’s attitude still displeased him.

Shao Ye sat in the corner, drawing circles on the ground. When his junior brother met the lord, would he mention him?

At least a little, right? After all, he had been the one to lead him out of Luosi Cave.

Outside, the sky gradually darkened, though the prisoners in the ghost prison could not sense it at all. Translated on Hololo novels. Shao Ye had long since lost track of how many circles he had drawn on the ground. He yawned, feeling drowsy, and was just about to close his eyes for a nap when he suddenly heard someone unlocking the cell door from outside and calling out, “Senior brother, hurry and go!”

Shao Ye shot up from the ground and rushed to the door. He cautiously pushed it open, but saw no one. It was as if that voice had only been his imagination, yet the door was undeniably open.

He crept along the dim corridor, surveying the surroundings. Saving the other disciples right now was impossible. Shao Ye consoled them silently, Once your senior brother makes a name for himself in Xiaoyao Palace, I’ll have the lord release all of you.

The guards in the ghost prison were unusually lax today. Shao Ye was almost at the exit before he encountered two demonic cultivators. They, however, were neglecting their duties as well, gossiping about happenings within Xiaoyao Palace. Shao Ye was about to slip away quietly when he suddenly heard them mention the Demon Lord. He paused and listened a bit longer.

The two of them were saying that every night at midnight, when the Demon Lord’s condition flared up, he would soak in the pool north of Changchun Hall for an hour or two.

A flare-up? Is the lord ill? Shao Ye felt both anxious and worried. What were Wan Qian and the others even doing!

He easily escaped the ghost prison. Moonlight poured down like water. Standing beneath the palace walls, he scratched his head. Good. A new problem had arrived. Where was Changchun Hall? And which direction was north?

Xiaoyao Palace was built along the mountainside, vast in scale, with countless halls standing in orderly rows. Shao Ye sighed in distress. If he had to search on his own, he might not find it even after an entire night.

Just then, another demonic cultivator passed by him without even glancing his way, muttering that he was heading to Changchun Hall to deliver incense. Shao Ye inwardly marveled at his good luck tonight and followed him without hesitation.

From a distance, Wan Qian watched Shao Ye’s departing figure. The spirit-locking ring was still around his neck, so he shouldn’t be able to use spiritual power. Could he have some other hidden method?

Well, he would find out tomorrow.

With unhurried steps, Wan Qian strolled leisurely back toward the ghost prison.

By the Seven-Star Pool, Xue Du stood tall and solitary, austere and composed.

The moonlight was bright, mist drifting across the water’s surface. It was not yet midnight, and the poison within Xue Du had not fully taken effect. Leaning against a wutong tree, he closed his eyes.

As midnight approached, the poison in his body began to stir. Just as he raised a hand to remove his clothes, he heard somewhat heavy footsteps coming from ahead.

Xue Du opened his eyes beneath the tree and looked up. A young man in his twenties approached, tall and well-built, with a handsome face. Judging by his attire, he appeared to be a disciple of the Kunlun Sect. After a glance, Xue Du withdrew his gaze and asked calmly, “Here to kill me?”

As soon as he finished speaking, the newcomer dropped to one knee with a thud and declared loudly, “Lord, this subordinate Shao Ye is willing to serve you with complete loyalty!”

The nearly drowsy Xue Du was startled fully awake by this declaration. He lifted his head and studied the young man again.

Around the youth’s neck was a black spirit-locking ring, no wonder his footsteps had sounded so heavy. His clothing bore signs of having been torn and crudely mended, even unsightly.

Xue Du was certain it was indeed the attire of a Kunlun Sect disciple.

Though in the end, it was only clothing. It proved nothing.

“Who are you?” Xue Du asked.

Shao Ye raised his head, his eyes bright and shining as if glowing. He straightened proudly and said, “This subordinate is Shao Ye, senior disciple under Elder Shouyi of Chaoyang Peak in the Kunlun Sect, known as the ‘Heaven-Shaking Sword.’ I’m good at fighting.”

Xue Du: “……”

He heard every word clearly, yet somehow, when put together, it made no sense.

He straightened slightly and rubbed his temple. Midnight had arrived. The poison in his body flared, as if his organs were being scorched by fire. Intense pain spread along his meridians to every part of his flesh.

“A disciple of the Kunlun Sect?” Xue Du’s expression remained calm as he asked, “Instead of cultivating properly on Kunlun Mountain, why have you come here to me?”

It wasn’t exactly by choice, but now wasn’t the time to bring that up. Shao Ye lifted his chin and said with utmost sincerity, “This subordinate has long admired your bearing, my lord, and has come especially to pledge allegiance. I humbly ask that you accept me.”

Xue Du chuckled softly. Since becoming the master of Xiaoyao Palace, this was the first time he had seen someone from the righteous path voluntarily come to join him.

And a senior disciple of the Kunlun Sect, no less?

Even the former Demon Lord below had never witnessed such a thing.

Lowering his gaze, Xue Du observed him. Translated on Hololo novels. The young man’s eyes were dark and bright, his shoulders broad, waist slim. His chest seemed slightly raised. Was he hiding some concealed weapon?

He didn’t care. Whether this man had come to assassinate him or had other intentions, tonight he was in a good mood and willing to play along.

Xue Du turned around, presenting his back to Shao Ye, and spread his arms. In a low voice, he ordered, “Come. Help me undress.”

—

Author’s note:

[The lord didn’t take Xiao Song’s blood. Is it because he couldn’t bear to hurt him?]

: Or maybe the lord doesn’t eat it raw. He’s waiting to find someone who can cook maoxuewang first

: …

: I’m hungry now. I want maoxuewang

: It doesn’t have to be that. Northeastern blood sausage would work too

: If you put it that way, the old Demon Lord below could contribute a plate of sauerkraut and pork too

: That’s dark…

: Only Xiao Song’s blood can ease the lord’s suffering. This totally has the setup of a classic melodramatic romance

: Xiao Song is a guy

: Sorry, forgot. Classic melodramatic danmei setup

: My homepage is still full of straight guys who thought this was a male-protagonist cultivation story. They’re howling every day

: Farewell to them

: I thought so too at first, but since the lord is the boss that No. 6 has chosen, I don’t think shipping Xiao Song with the lord has much future

: He treats the lord as his boss, not his husband

: Be honest, is there really a difference for No. 6?

: …

: But Xiaoyao Palace is kind of trendy, giving prisoners chokers and all

: “Choker,” seriously?

: By the way, when the lord bathes, does he have attendants nearby?

: Who are you asking? The official content never shows it

: Probably not. Not just bathing, there’s no one attending him at other times either

: Oh~~~~

: “Come, help me undress”

: No. 6, why are you hesitating? You should answer “Yes, my lord.” Have you forgotten how to do your job?

: Hahahahahaha

: After this undressing scene, who would still doubt No. 6’s identity as the chief eunuch

: We might not even get to see it

: Haven’t seen the koi in a while. Kinda miss it

: Wait, how did they build a ship thread for the lord and No. 6 so fast?

: The young master already picked his man. What are we waiting for?

≽^•⩊•^≼

World 3 – Immortal & Demon Record

【In the spring of the sixth year of Tianqing, an elder of the Kunlun Sect rescued an infant in the Abyssal Lands. He brought the child back to Mount Kunlun, accepted him as his final disciple, and raised him with great care. As the child grew day by day, a long-buried past was slowly unveiled.

The path of immortality is long, and fate is as sharp as a blade. Who owes a debt from a past life? And who made a promise in this one? By the banks of the Three Paths River, amid the sea of Forgetfulness Flowers, a single thought makes one immortal, a single thought turns one into a demon. When the book of fate is opened, how will the story be written… The vast seas turning to dust are but trivial matters. Better to ride dragons and cranes and admire the flowers along the way.】

The setting sun melted like gold, and the sea of clouds surged endlessly. Towering peaks rose thousands of feet high, piercing straight into the heavens.

The elders of the Kunlun Sect had gathered in the council hall of White Tiger Peak. Not long ago, Song Heming, the youngest disciple of Elder Shouyi, had been captured by demonic cultivators on his way to the Seven Wounds Tower and had yet to return.

The sect leader stroked his long white beard and said worriedly, “Heming has a special constitution. Now that he has fallen into the hands of demonic cultivators, I fear he will suffer greatly.”

Elder Shouyi spoke up, “Sect Leader, there is no need to worry. Not long ago, my eldest disciple sent word that they have already rescued Heming and will soon bring him back to Kunlun.”

The sect leader nodded upon hearing this and smiled. “That is good, that is good. Your eldest disciple is diligent in cultivation, skilled in swordsmanship, and possesses a pure heart. When he handles things, I am at ease.”

However, just as he finished speaking, a disciple’s alarmed shout came from outside the hall: “Master, something’s wrong! Master, something’s wrong!”

Moments later, a disciple covered in blood staggered into the council hall. His steps faltered, and he collapsed directly in the center of the hall.

Elder Shouyi was startled and quickly got up, rushing over to support him. While channeling his energy to heal him, he asked, “Zhao Yan? Weren’t you with your senior brother rescuing Heming?”

Zhao Yan was already severely injured, and after traveling day and night without rest, his condition had worsened. Hearing the question, he struggled to say, “Senior Brother… Senior Brother and the others… have all been captured by the demonic cultivators.”

“What!” everyone exclaimed.

Elder Shouyi continued, “Then where is Heming?”

“Junior Brother, he… he is…” Before Zhao Yan could finish, he suddenly spat out a mouthful of black blood. His eyes rolled back, and he fainted.

“Zhao Yan!” Elder Shouyi was shocked. Holding him, he called out to his junior sister, “Yuanxiang, come quickly and take a look at him.”

Elder Yuanxiang, who was well-versed in medicine, hurried over to examine Zhao Yan. After a while, she sighed. “These demonic cultivators are truly despicable. Zhao Yan has been poisoned.”

The poison was particularly insidious. It had originally lain dormant in his body without causing harm, but when Elder Shouyi had just channeled his energy to heal him, it activated the toxin within.

“Can he still be saved?” Elder Shouyi asked anxiously.

Elder Yuanxiang let out a long sigh. “I will do my best.”

“Sect Leader, what should we do?” another elder asked. Now nearly all of the younger generation of the Kunlun Sect had been captured by demonic cultivators. Were they to just sit and do nothing?

With Xiaoyao Palace now growing in power, the Kunlun Sect stood little chance against them.

The sect leader stood up and said solemnly, “Bai Jing, go at once and contact Qingxu Palace, the Giant Sword Sect, Liuxiang Valley, and the other major sects. Invite them to Mount Kunlun to discuss a joint campaign against Xiaoyao Palace.”

A cloud of unease hung over the entire council hall.

Meanwhile, within Xiaoyao Palace, which was soon to be attacked by the righteous sects, the atmosphere was peaceful and serene. The Demon Lord Xue Du lounged sideways on a soft couch, dressed in a black robe. His skin was pale, his features sharp, and his long hair flowed like a waterfall, loosely secured with a wooden hairpin, most of it cascading over the couch.

Resting his chin on one hand, he closed his eyes to rest.

Back then, the old Demon Lord had abducted eight hundred children from the human realm, feeding them carefully refined poisonous gu daily for three uninterrupted years, using their flesh and blood to cultivate his demonic arts.

Very few children survived those three years of poison. Even fewer could endure the daily torment of having their bones scraped and flesh cut away. In the end, only Xue Du remained.

At that time, no one could have imagined that this frail and pitiful-looking child would one day kill the old Demon Lord with a single strike and become the new master of Xiaoyao Palace.

There had always been rumors that the old Demon Lord had actually died at the hands of his four Demon Kings, and that the new Demon Lord was merely a puppet they installed to balance their power. Translated on Hololo novels. In truth, however, the four Demon Kings were as obedient as chicks before Xue Du. When speaking, they barely dared to breathe too loudly, afraid that a single wrong word would lead them to the same fate as the old Demon Lord.

They had personally witnessed how Xue Du sliced the flesh off the old Demon Lord piece by piece. Each slice was as thin as cicada wings, so translucent that it could catch the light under the sun, and when thrown into boiling water, it would cook instantly.

Others might not know, but they did. The old Demon Lord was not yet fully dead. He was imprisoned at the lowest level of the ghost dungeon, kept alive by a single breath. Whenever a bit of flesh regrew, Xue Du would carve it off again in the same manner.

Even more disturbing was that every time Xue Du performed this act, he would summon one of the four Demon Kings to watch. Though they were accustomed to bloody scenes, seeing their once mighty and domineering former master reduced to such a state inevitably stirred complicated emotions.

One of the four Demon Kings, the muddle-headed monk Wan Qian, hurried back and knelt on one knee in the center of the hall. Bowing respectfully, he said, “Reporting to Your Excellency, we have captured all the disciples of the Kunlun Sect. However… this subordinate is incompetent. We have yet to find any trace of Song Heming.”

Hearing this, Xue Du lifted his eyelids and glanced at him lazily, offering no clear response.

“Please rest assured, Your Excellency. Within five days—” Wan Qian cautiously looked up at Xue Du’s expression and quickly corrected himself, “No, within three days, I will definitely find Song Heming for you.”

“Go,” Xue Du said. His tone was flat, as if he had no particular concern about Song Heming’s whereabouts.

Wan Qian, however, did not dare to be careless. He knew that because Xue Du had consumed too many poisonous gu in his childhood, the toxins had merged within his body into an unknown deadly poison. Every night at midnight it would flare up, only subsiding at dawn. When it struck, it felt as though countless insects were gnawing at his bones, his meridians rupturing, the pain unbearable.

Later, a wandering Taoist came to Xiaoyao Palace. After examining Xue Du, he said that the poison in his body could only be suppressed by the blood of the descendants of the Eastern King.

And Song Heming was the only remaining descendant of the Eastern King in this world.

It wasn’t as though no righteous cultivators or demonic cultivators had tried to take advantage of Xue Du’s poison flaring up to end his life. But they discovered that after midnight, Xue Du was nothing like the weak, bedridden invalid they had imagined. On the contrary, he became even more ferocious. Anyone who went to see him at that hour—Wan Qian had yet to see a single intact corpse.

He rose from the ground, respectfully withdrew from the main hall, and immediately led his subordinates toward the ghost prison.

Aside from Zhao Yan, whom he had afflicted with the “life-draining curse,” all the Kunlun disciples who had come to rescue Song Heming had been captured. They were now imprisoned in the ghost prison beneath Xiaoyao Palace.

The ghost prison was dark and cold. A faint stench of rotting flesh lingered in the air, and thin strands of sobbing drifted up from below. Wan Qian knew these righteous disciples were the type to cast life and death aside, forever proclaiming that wealth could not corrupt them and force could not bend them. He had already prepared himself to grind them down to the end.

Though his lord had said nothing, Wan Qian knew clearly in his heart that if he still couldn’t find Song Heming within three days, he himself might be dragged beneath the ghost prison and fed to the old Demon Sovereign.

He had long since ordered his men to separate and imprison these righteous disciples. Now, they were being brought out one by one and subjected to brutal torture.

As expected of disciples from a prestigious righteous sect, Wan Qian sighed inwardly. Over the course of the night, he had used all manner of cruel punishments on four of them, yet not a single one had been willing to reveal Song Heming’s whereabouts.

Now the fifth had also fainted. There was no point pressing further. Wan Qian waved his hand, somewhat irritated. “Next one.”

The cell fell silent. Two demonic cultivators wordlessly dragged the Kunlun disciple bound to the rack into the depths of the ghost prison, then brought another one out.

Wan Qian had anticipated this result. These righteous disciples always talked about loyalty and righteousness, and ordinary torture rarely pried open their mouths.

If it came to it, he would simply pick one at random and execute them in front of all the Kunlun disciples. If they still refused to speak, he would kill another. He refused to believe they could watch their fellow disciples die one after another for the sake of a single Song Heming.

Yet recalling how those righteous cultivators had once risked everything to protect that mother and child, their almost crazed devotion to sacrifice, Wan Qian couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

He really didn’t want to end up as extra rations for the old Demon Lord below.

Before long, his subordinate brought another disciple over. Wan Qian looked up. This one was a young man with a high ponytail, thick brows and bright eyes, darker skin, appearing to be in his twenties. He was tall and strongly built; even beneath the loose blue Daoist robes, it was obvious he had a solid physique.

And just as obvious—this one would be a tough nut to crack. Irritation surged in Wan Qian. He grabbed the whip from the table and lashed it toward the newcomer.

“So you won’t talk either, huh! Let’s see just how stubborn you Kunlun disciples can be!”

Shao Ye had barely arrived before taking two lashes, and he was completely stunned. He stared blankly at Wan Qian. What is going on here?

“Say what?” he asked. After falling into the hands of these demonic cultivators, he had been thrown straight into the ghost prison. The soundproofing there was hard to describe—he couldn’t hear anything happening outside or even in neighboring cells. Only the miserable crying from below came through clearly.

Shao Ye was terrified. He hadn’t dared sleep the entire night. Ever since he was young, he had heard stories of demonic cultivators persecuting righteous disciples—stories in which the demonic cultivators were grotesque, cruel, and utterly inhuman.

How was he supposed to survive in their hands? He was still young. He didn’t want to die.

He never should have agreed to come rescue his junior brother in the first place. What a mistake.

Wan Qian assumed he was being mocked and lashed him across the chest again, anger blazing. “Still won’t talk? I’ll make you talk!”

The whipping tore open Shao Ye’s clothes. In no time, three savage, bloody welts appeared across his bronze chest. Translated on Hololo novels. The whip seemed to have been soaked in something—each strike felt as if hooks were ripping flesh away. Shao Ye sucked in sharp breaths from the pain.

“Then ask the question—!” Shao Ye roared. What kind of person is this?!

Earlier, he had heard the two demonic cultivators say they were going to subject them to harsh interrogation. But where was the interrogation? All he’d seen was the torture!

Wan Qian sneered. “Still trying to hold out, refusing to reveal Song Heming’s whereabouts? I know you Kunlun disciples are all stubborn. You won’t yield easily. But it doesn’t matter. We demonic cultivators have plenty of ways to torment you. Today I’ll let you properly experience this new method I’ve devised—”

Before he could finish, Shao Ye took a deep breath, opened his mouth, and blurted out rapidly, “My junior brother is at Luosi Cave on Old Black Mountain, thirty li east of Lianhua City!”

Wan Qian froze, the torture instrument in his hand pausing midair. He looked up at Shao Ye in confusion. What did he just say? Lianhua… what cave?

Before he could even process it, Shao Ye added, “Do you need me to lead the way?”

Wan Qian: “?”

That was… a little too proactive.

Shao Ye continued, “But if I guide you, you have to let me go!”

Wan Qian suddenly had no idea what to say. The so-called senior disciple of Kunlun Sect was even looking at him with something like a hint of ingratiation.

For the first time, he was genuinely confused. Was this really a righteous disciple? Why didn’t it seem like it at all?

A talent like this shouldn’t be wasted in the Kunlun Sect.

Could this be a trick?

Doubt filled Wan Qian’s mind. Just as he was about to question him further, he suddenly heard a familiar set of footsteps echoing down the corridor behind him.

Even though the person approaching was not close to them, Wan Qian quickly dropped to one knee in salute.

Hearing the sound, Shao Ye raised his head and looked toward the distant corridor. In the dim light, he saw a young man in a dark robe walking slowly along the hallway, then descending the wooden stairs deeper into the ghost prison. The man’s skin was very pale, his hair long. Shao Ye couldn’t clearly see his face, only that he seemed cold and noble, like a lonely moon fallen into the mortal world.

A plump middle-aged man followed behind him, the wooden stairs creaking under his steps as he went down with the man into the depths of the prison. Watching this scene, Shao Ye inexplicably felt a sour pang in his heart, thinking that should have been his place.

Wan Qian, however, understood clearly that his lord was going down again to “trim” the old Demon Lord.

After they left, Wan Qian stood up from the ground. Shao Ye asked curiously, “Who was that?”

“That is our lord,” Wan Qian replied.

Shao Ye asked again, “What’s he going down there to do?”

What did that have to do with him? Wan Qian shot Shao Ye a glare and said, “Mind your own business. Do you really know where Song Heming is?”

“Didn’t I already tell you just now?” Shao Ye said.

“Fine,” Wan Qian lifted his hand. “Untie him. Let him lead the way later.”

Shao Ye let out a sigh of relief. At least he wouldn’t get beaten anymore. It had hurt like hell. If he had just said it earlier, wouldn’t all this have been over already?

Thinking of that made Shao Ye annoyed. He said, “Do you have any medicine? My chest hurts.”

Wan Qian was speechless. Could this guy recognize that he was a prisoner?

Shao Ye added, “It really hurts. I’m afraid I won’t be able to walk later.”

Wan Qian gestured to his subordinate. “Give it to him.”

After taking the medicine, Shao Ye pushed his luck further. “Can I get some water too?”

It was Wan Qian’s first time seeing such a righteous sect disciple. It was oddly novel. He waved his hand. “Give it to him.”

After applying the medicine and drinking the water, Shao Ye felt his meridians clear and his breath settle. He felt like himself again. Walking over, he poked Wan Qian’s arm.

Wan Qian turned his head impatiently. “What now?”

Shao Ye chuckled awkwardly, rubbing his hands together. “Um… brother, are you guys at Xiaoyao Palace still recruiting?”

Wan Qian: “?”

Who are you calling “brother”?!

---

Author’s Note:

【Starting off this intense right away? Aren’t they afraid this kind of torture will cause psychological issues for the volunteers?】

: First, the officials monitor all volunteer data in real time. If any metric exceeds the limits, the plot is immediately adjusted. Second, only No. 6 was tortured like that.

: Huh?

: …stunned

: Why? Did they find out No. 6 was cheating, so they’re deliberately getting back at him?

: Uh, it’s because he’s better at fighting. In other streams, Second Senior Brother Chu Wenji led the juniors to rescue people. Only in No. 6’s stream did they send him.

: No. 6: Is that my fault?

: When will the officials hire a normal person to write the synopsis? This time only the last sentence was decent.

: Fun fact: “The vast seas turning to dust are but trivial matters; ride dragons and cranes to admire the flowers” comes from the Tang dynasty poet Cao Tang’s Minor Immortal Poems.

: The synopsis said the volunteers’ mission is to assist the Kunlun Sect in saving the world, but No. 6 immediately defected. All I can say is, classic him.

: But he defected way too fast.

: Too fast? Don’t talk nonsense, okay? No. 6 has always been this speed.

: Yeah, if Wan Qian hadn’t been so flustered and unable to speak clearly, No. 6 could’ve been even faster.

: No. 6: Then ask properly!

: Poor No. 6, took so many lashes for nothing.

: No wonder Wan Qian is called the muddle-headed monk.

: I originally planned to blindly bet on No. 6 this time, but this opening makes me a bit hesitant.

: Don’t bet. The officials definitely won’t give No. 6 any cheats this time.

: How do you know?

: I’ve got connections.

: Pfft, I thought you were some micro-expression expert.

: I feel like Zhao Yan’s line earlier was kind of off. It made me uncomfortable.

: Why? Was Zhao Yan disguised by demonic cultivators, or controlled by them?

: Ah! Did I miss some hidden plot?

: No, I just feel like what he should’ve shouted was: “Master, Senior Brother has been captured by monsters!”

: …

≽^•⩊•^≼

When Shao Ye came back, he happened to catch sight of Su Yuexiang’s departing figure. He watched her step into the elevator before pushing open the door and entering the ward. As he unpacked a delivery, he asked Pei Fangyan, “Seventh Uncle, I think I just saw Su Yuexiang. Did she come to see you?”

Pei Fangyan gave a quiet “mm.”

“What did she come for?” Shao Ye looked up, suddenly on guard.

Pei Fangyan summed up Su Yuexiang’s intentions and said, “Probably to persuade me to lay down the butcher’s knife and become a Buddha on the spot.”

What kind of nonsense was that? Shao Ye didn’t understand a word. Seeing Pei Fangyan beckon to him, he set the package aside and walked over quickly.

“I’m a bit hungry,” Pei Fangyan said, looking up at him.

“Didn’t you just eat?” Shao Ye asked, confused. It hadn’t even been an hour since lunch.

The next moment, he watched as Pei Fangyan pushed up his white shirt and lowered his head to bite into his lower abdomen.

Shao Ye: “?”

Even if you’re hungry, you can’t just eat a person! What is this, Hannibal?

A warm tongue traced slowly across his skin. Shao Ye felt his legs go weak. He lowered his head, one hand resting on Pei Fangyan’s shoulder, the other slipping into his hair.

After a while, he heard Pei Fangyan murmur, “So fragrant.”

There was even a post-meal review. Should he leave a five-star rating too?

“Squat down a little. I want to eat higher up,” Pei Fangyan added.

Oh, so he wasn’t done yet.

Shao Ye crouched down, and Pei Fangyan unbuttoned his shirt one button at a time, unhurried.

Shao Ye stared at his face for a moment, then asked, “Seventh Uncle, are your legs any better?”

Pei Fangyan lightly pinched his chest and smiled. “It’s only been a few days. Not that fast.”

Shao Ye gave an “oh,” then asked, “Then when will they get better?”

“If everything goes smoothly,” Pei Fangyan said, “it’ll take at least half a year to regain sensation.”

Seeing Shao Ye frown in concern, Pei Fangyan asked, “Why so anxious? Tired at night?”

“Not tired!” Shao Ye immediately shook his head.

What was two-plus hours of extended “exercise,” anyway?

Pei Fangyan chuckled softly and continued enjoying his “dessert.”

Outside, the autumn sunlight was bright, golden ginkgo leaves drifting down in a quiet cascade.

Ever since the Pei family learned about Shao Ye and Pei Fangyan’s relationship, they hadn’t stopped making moves against Shao Ye. Yet not a single hair on his head was harmed, while they themselves ended up in worse shape. They didn’t really believe in karma, but it didn’t take much thought to guess who was behind it.

None of them dared to confront Pei Fangyan directly. The last person who tried was now sewing in prison for seven years.

Some even resorted to “mystical” methods in private, hoping to get rid of Shao Ye or change Pei Fangyan’s mind. Unfortunately for them, the supernatural wasn’t very effective. At least, there were no visible results.

If they couldn’t deal with the two of them, they could at least make things uncomfortable for Pei Tiancheng.

After all, as Shao Ye’s father, he should bear some responsibility for all this.

So at the year-end gathering, the moment they saw Pei Tiancheng, they began their passive-aggressive remarks.

The sixth sister started, “Big brother really has a good son. We just don’t have your boldness, sending your own son to seventh’s bed. If we’d known seventh was so generous… oh my!”

Pei Tiancheng’s face darkened instantly. Honestly speaking, did he send him? It was clearly that bastard Pei Fangyan who seduced his son!

And “if they’d known”? If they’d known, they’d have sent their own kids too? They should take a good look at themselves. Even if they wanted to, would Pei Fangyan want them?

The fourth brother added, “But my A-Yang is my precious treasure. I could never bear to send him to seventh.”

Pei Tiancheng’s fists clenched. He sneered inwardly. They were all surnamed Pei, who didn’t know who they were? If they were really that upright, they wouldn’t have rushed to send their children to the old residence back then.

If they knew Pei Fangyan would hand over the Pei family to his lover, they’d probably line up themselves without a second thought.

Pei Tiancheng looked around at his siblings and suddenly asked, “How much did you all get in dividends this year?”

“Huh?” They were caught off guard by the sudden change of topic.

Pei Tiancheng sighed and said sincerely, “My share increased by nine percentage points this year. I’ve been calculating for days and still can’t figure out how much money that actually is. Do you know?”

Nine percentage points?

Before, all of them combined hadn’t even gotten that much.

In an instant, the jealousy on their faces was impossible to hide.

What was this? Glory through one’s son?

Seeing their sour expressions, Pei Tiancheng felt much better. He smiled and said, “Fourth brother, I remember you used to score full marks in math back in elementary school. Why don’t you help your big brother calculate it?”

Pei family’s fourth brother’s face darkened. This year his share hadn’t even reached half a percent, and judging from the tone of Pei Fangyan’s secretary, it might be even less next year. And now he was supposed to help Pei Tiancheng do the math? As if! Now he finally understood where the portion deducted from him had gone.

“Fourth brother, why aren’t you saying anything?” Pei Tiancheng turned to someone else. “How about you, sixth sister? Why don’t you calculate it?”

The sixth sister couldn’t even force a smile. She stood up and said, “Big brother, something came up at home. I’ll head back first.”

“Why leave? Stay and chat a bit longer! Help me do the math!” Pei Tiancheng tried to keep her, but she had already quickened her pace and fled.

After she left, the others quickly claimed they had things to do as well. No one wanted to stick around and listen to Pei Tiancheng brag about how much he’d gained from Pei Fangyan.

At last, Pei Tiancheng had found his source of satisfaction. Before, he hated meeting these sarcastic, passive-aggressive relatives, always bringing up his son and that old fox Pei Fangyan.

But now he had an epiphany. He had evolved. Whenever he felt like it, he’d call up his brothers and sisters just to have a “nice chat” about year-end dividends.

By the summer of the following year, Pei Fangyan’s legs actually began to regain sensation, and he gradually became able to stand.

Shao Ye braced his hands against the smooth bathroom wall. One of Pei Fangyan’s hands rested at his waist while the other was busy with preparation. After thinking for a moment, Shao Ye couldn’t help suggesting, “Seventh Uncle, maybe we should go back to the bed instead?”

“What’s wrong?” Pei Fangyan stopped and asked, “Weren’t you helping your uncle with rehabilitation?”

But he hadn’t known rehab would be like this!

Shao Ye turned his head and said, “The bathroom floor is too slippery. I’m worried you might fall.”

Pei Fangyan smiled. “It’s fine. As long as Xiao Ye stands steady.”

Sunlight filtered through dense leaves, scattering across the water. The koi in the ornamental pond had grown large and plump over the past two years. Viewers in Stream Room 6 were so familiar with them that they could name each one on sight.

If any koi met an unfortunate end, viewers would even hold a “cyber memorial” for it on the forum.

At this point, only Streams 2, 4, and 6 were still running. But Streams 2 and 4 had always been dull. And ever since Pei Fangyan regained the ability to walk, Stream 6 had also become less interesting. There were more koi to watch than anything else. On the forum, the “refund thread” had already grown to over twenty thousand posts.

Although the broadcast hadn’t officially ended, the outcome was already decided. Translated on Hololo novels. And since even the koi weren’t that interesting anymore, the organizers sped up the time flow in the streams again and began discussing whether to wake the remaining three volunteers early.

But before they could act, Pei Fangyan signed his will, marking the perfect conclusion of that world.

Inside the game pod, Shao Ye slowly opened his eyes, waiting for the violently pounding heart in his chest to settle.

He remembered what Pei Fangyan had told him before signing the will: every parting now was for the sake of meeting again. One day, he would come to him.

The same staff member as before stood outside the pod, explaining the results of this broadcast.

After listening, Shao Ye asked in confusion, “But aren’t there still Numbers 2 and 4?”

The staff member replied, “In the other worlds, Pei Fangyan chose to donate all his inheritance to charity.”

His uncle really was such a good person.

Shao Ye stepped out of the pod and looked around at the stark white walls. Suddenly, he asked, “Can I go see His Majesty now?”

The staff member paused mid-recording and looked up. “Have your memories returned?”

“No,” Shao Ye said.

“Then why do you suddenly want to see His Majesty?”

“I don’t know,” Shao Ye replied. “I just really want to see him.”

Suddenly? Hadn’t he asked this several times already? They’d only ever let him see from a distance.

“Not yet. To see His Majesty requires approval from both the Council of Elders and the Oversight Council,” the staff member explained.

Shao Ye had heard this answer countless times. He huffed. “I’ll remember you.”

The staff member almost laughed at his dramatic threat, but recalling his superiors’ private speculations, he replied a bit uncertainly, “I didn’t make the rules.”

“That’s fine,” Shao Ye said. “I’ll remember Tang Qichuan too.”

The staff member sighed inwardly. How did a small fry like him end up on the same list as the vice director of the Oversight Council? His life was complete.

Then he heard Shao Ye add, “When His Majesty wakes up, I’m definitely going to have him send that guy off to Gole Star!”

The staff member: “…”

Forget it, let Vice President Tang go up on this list by himself.

Having just parted from Pei Fangyan and now being told he still wouldn’t be able to see “His Majesty” for a while, Shao Ye felt a bit down, even though he knew that as the winner of this livestream, he would receive a large bonus.

Not long after, when Shao Ye realized that his bonus was nothing compared to the enormous medical bills he owed, his mood sank even further.

He left the room and went to the gym, planning to numb his wounded heart through exercise.

Meanwhile, Neverland project team had already begun preparing for the next livestream. During this time, the parents and employers of two volunteers personally came knocking, subtly and not-so-subtly reminding them to be more careful next time and not let anything go wrong again.

They didn’t dare to directly accuse No. 6 of cheating. Instead, they said he shouldn’t always be paired with NPCs in romantic plots, as it was unfair to the other volunteers and also unfair to viewers who had bet their points on others.

The person assigned by the project team to receive them was just a low-level errand worker. On the surface, he kept agreeing enthusiastically, saying “yes, yes, of course,” but the moment he returned to the institute, he treated it like nonsense and didn’t even bother reporting it upward.

What had gone wrong with their livestream? It was doing great. Viewership kept rising steadily. And now they were being threatened with investment? Ridiculous. With the Council backing them, would they really lack funding?

Just because they had a bit of money, they thought they were something special!

The project leader was also aware of the outside debates surrounding the past two livestreams, but honestly, they had never given No. 6 any special treatment.

During the broadcast, there had been two heated discussions about whether to adjust NPC parameters for the next session. But once the broadcast ended, everyone fell silent, and no one dared to bring up modifying NPC data again.

Because at the moment Shao Ye logged out of Neverland, His Majesty’s condition had noticeably improved. No one dared to gamble with His Majesty’s consciousness. And deep down, they all had a bold guess, one that felt terrifying even to think about.

They couldn’t touch the NPCs that could be controlled by external consciousness, but some special NPCs could still be adjusted. The leader said, “This time, let’s change Q-058’s gender. I refuse to believe our Q-058 has zero appeal!”

This was top-tier code they had spent three years developing. Could it really fail to attract His Majesty at all?

…

Shao Ye trained like crazy in the gym for three days, and his mood improved a lot. He clearly understood that the President and Seventh Uncle were the same person, but he had no idea how that person would appear in front of him once Neverland project ended.

During his free time, Shao Ye browsed the forums. They were in an uproar, arguing intensely over whether he had cheated.

Cheated? Who was cheating for him? Would they come ask him to reimburse the cost later?

Thinking about his current situation, Shao Ye couldn’t help but feel a wave of sadness. He tapped on his phone and posted a thread in the usually cheerful uncle-nephew CP section.

【I went on a business trip with my boss, and something happened along the way. Now my boss is in a coma, and they suspect I’m the one behind it. I want to ask—】

Because of the title’s character limit, the rest had to go in the main post. Maybe because the title looked dull compared to others like “After waking up, he was forced to become the scheming Seventh Uncle’s plaything,” “Minors do not enter—click to see multiple important NPCs in Neverland lose control in broad daylight” (with a koi fish fighting for food image attached), or “Academic column: deducing Seventh Uncle’s positions from koi swimming patterns,” no one replied for a full two minutes.

But two days later, when Shao Ye checked again, the thread had already grown to over two hundred replies. Translated on Hololo novels. Many people were asking about his situation. The more he shared, the more enthusiastic the responses became. Quite a few users even said that person shouldn’t be his boss, but his husband.

When Shao Ye saw that, he was so startled his soul almost left his body. That kind of joke couldn’t be made lightly. That wasn’t just any boss, that was His Majesty!

Besides…

He already had someone he liked.

But it was strange. Every time he thought about the President and Seventh Uncle, his thoughts would always end up on His Majesty.

Sigh, when would His Majesty finally wake up?

Shao Ye’s cheeks and ears flushed red. He knocked lightly on his own head and didn’t dare reply casually anymore.

Before he knew it, half a month of rest had passed quickly, and the third livestream of Neverland  was about to begin.

Full of anticipation, Shao Ye lay down in the game pod and closed his eyes.

≽^•⩊•^≼

Translated on Hololo novels.

Shao Ye nodded. “That’s what my uncle said.”

“Idiot!” Pei Tiancheng snapped. “And you just believe him because he said it? What kind of brain do you have? No wonder you get scammed!”

“My uncle wouldn’t lie to me,” Shao Ye shot back. His hand was already on the doorknob, pulling it open a crack, ready to run.

“Wouldn’t lie to you?” Pei Tiancheng scoffed. “If he’s not lying to you, who would he lie to? You look like the easiest person in the world to fool!”

He had always worried that one day Shao Ye would get sold off and still help count the money. Now it had actually come true. Maybe he hadn’t been praying to Guanyin at all, but to the God of Matchmaking instead. And that old god must have failing eyesight to be tying such ridiculous red strings!

Standing at the door, Shao Ye said firmly, “Anyway, my uncle might deceive anyone else, but he wouldn’t deceive me.”

Pei Tiancheng felt his blood pressure shooting up. Why wouldn’t this kid listen? That old fox Pei Fangyan had never once made a losing deal. By the time Shao Ye was chewed down to the bone and spat out, he’d better not come crying to him.

“You brain of yours!” Pei Tiancheng roared. “Did your uncle give you any guarantees? And you trust him this much?”

“Big brother doesn’t trust me that much? How about I draft a will today? Or just transfer my shares directly to Xiao Ye’s name?” Pei Fangyan’s voice suddenly came from outside the door.

Before Pei Tiancheng could stop him, Shao Ye had already pulled the door open. Seeing who it was, he asked in surprise, “Uncle, why are you here?”

“I finished my meeting, so I came to find you,” Pei Fangyan replied.

Pei Tiancheng cursed inwardly. What a clingy leech! He couldn’t even stay away for a moment. What was he trying to show off? Out loud, he asked in a less-than-pleasant tone, “How did you get in?”

Their neighborhood didn’t just let strangers in, did it? Which security guard let him through? He was going to file a complaint!

Beside him, Shao Ye gave a guilty laugh, scratching the tip of his nose. “Last time Uncle came over, I registered his face with the property management.”

Pei Tiancheng: “……”

Did his dear son’s loyalty really have to lean this far outward?

He forced a dry laugh. “Let your uncle come in. What are you doing standing at the door, letting the neighbors watch the show?”

Shao Ye hesitated. His father’s mood was clearly unstable right now, and he was ready at any moment to push his uncle’s wheelchair and make a run for it.

Pei Fangyan, however, wasn’t worried at all. He maneuvered his wheelchair inside, and Shao Ye watched nervously as he went straight up to Pei Tiancheng and asked with concern, “Big brother, what are you angry about?”

The nerve of this guy, asking that with a straight face! Pei Tiancheng gained a whole new understanding of just how thick-skinned Pei Fangyan was.

But in the very next moment, Pei Fangyan raised the bar even higher. He said, “Is Xiao Ye the one who made you angry? But I think Xiao Ye has always been very well-behaved. Could it be that big brother is being a bit too particular? Still, since you’re upset, I’ll apologize on his behalf. Please don’t take it to heart.”

Pei Tiancheng almost laughed from sheer anger. What did he mean, he was being too particular? And what right did he have to apologize on Shao Ye’s behalf?

He looked at Pei Fangyan and said with a tight smile, “So this is how you find a partner for your nephew?”

Pei Fangyan looked mildly surprised. “Big brother, you already know? I was planning to tell you this good news a bit later.”

Seeing his act, Pei Tiancheng grew even angrier. There was no way he hadn’t heard everything outside just now.

Good news? More like news that would send him straight to the afterlife!

Seeing how terrible his expression had become, Pei Fangyan continued, “Is there something you’re dissatisfied with, big brother?”

Pei Tiancheng couldn’t help but marvel inwardly at how Pei Fangyan could ask that with a completely unchanged expression. No wonder he could become head of the Pei family.

He let out a cold laugh. “Do you really think I should be satisfied?”

Pei Fangyan smiled. “Of course. Back then, you said you wanted to find Xiao Ye a highly educated partner. I asked if someone from MIT would be enough, and you said yes. Would you like to see my diploma?”

See his ancestors!

Pei Tiancheng felt his temples buzzing with rage. Was this really his fault for not specifying “female” back then? Who could have imagined his perfectly fine son would just turn like this?

In his mind, he had already cursed Pei Fangyan’s ancestors for eighteen generations, but on the surface, he didn’t dare go too far. At most, he could throw a few sarcastic remarks. He wasn’t foolish enough to chase after Pei Fangyan the way he might chase Shao Ye.

Reciting a few calming lines to himself, Pei Tiancheng finally managed to steady his emotions. Putting on the demeanor of an older brother, he said earnestly, “You and Xiao Ye… you’re not suitable.”

“What’s not suitable?” Pei Fangyan asked sincerely.

Pei Tiancheng wanted to ask him in return, what was suitable about it?

Pei Fangyan lowered his head, his voice slightly subdued. “Does big brother dislike that my legs can’t walk, or that I’m too old?”

“Dad!” Shao Ye stood behind Pei Fangyan, looking at Pei Tiancheng with disapproval, as if blaming him for saying something like that.

Pei Tiancheng felt wronged. What had he even said? He’d only said they weren’t suitable!

He was so angry he snapped at Shao Ye, “Go on then, call him Dad!”

Pei Fangyan looked up. “If you’re upset, take it out on me, big brother. Don’t scold Xiao Ye.”

Good heavens! Someone, please, take this monster away!

Pei Tiancheng’s blood pressure shot up. He could barely stand and dropped back onto the sofa. “You’re both men, and you’re uncle and nephew. If this gets out, what will people think?”

Shao Ye didn’t care at all. “Let people think whatever they want. It’s not like they’d dare say it to my face.”

If anyone really dared to gossip in front of him, they’d just be asking for trouble.

“It’s not like that…” Pei Tiancheng said. People might not dare gossip in front of his son or Pei Fangyan, but they would definitely talk behind his back. How was he supposed to show his face in his social circle after this? Just thinking about it made him want to crawl into a hole.

Pei Fangyan spoke up, “Big brother, are you determined to break Xiao Ye and me apart?”

Not necessarily, but as a great father who didn’t want to be labeled as someone who “sold his son for glory,” Pei Tiancheng felt he had to at least show some opposition. He pressed his lips together and said nothing for a moment.

Pei Fangyan didn’t mind. He continued, “Xiao Ye respects you very much as his father. If you insist on forcing us apart, it will put him in a difficult position. Of course, I understand that big brother probably doesn’t care much about Xiao Ye’s feelings.”

Pei Tiancheng: “?”

Couldn’t he just speak without stepping on him?

Pei Fangyan glanced back at Shao Ye and said, “But I would feel heartache. And you know what kind of person I am. In recent years, my mental state hasn’t been very stable. If Xiao Ye isn’t by my side, and I end up doing something… excessive, I hope big brother can be understanding.”

The smile on Pei Fangyan’s face grew even more sincere.

A chill ran down Pei Tiancheng’s spine. He looked at Shao Ye and saw him frowning, watching Pei Fangyan with concern. Wait, Pei Fangyan had just threatened his father right in front of him, and he had no reaction at all?

Did Pei Fangyan have some kind of intelligence-lowering aura? Ever since he showed up, his son seemed even more foolish. Where had that sharp tongue gone?

Pei Tiancheng took a long, deep breath and asked seriously, “What exactly do you see in him?”

Pei Fangyan answered without hesitation, “Xiao Ye is warm and cheerful, sincere and lovable, disciplined in his life, persistent and determined, hardworking and serious, and has a strong sense of responsibility.”

Shao Ye felt a little embarrassed from the praise. He scratched the back of his head and grinned. Was he really as great as his uncle said?

Pei Tiancheng wanted to ask the same thing. Was he really describing his son? Or was this some model student award speech?

After speaking, Pei Fangyan added, “Big brother, don’t you see all these strengths in Xiao Ye?”

Pei Tiancheng didn’t even want to respond anymore. Could this bastard just get out of his house already?

He picked up the herbal tea on the table and gulped down more than half the cup to suppress his anger, then asked, “So you’ll really give the Pei family to Xiao Ye?”

“Of course,” Pei Fangyan said.

Pei Tiancheng didn’t quite believe him. He could accept that his son was hopelessly in love, but if Pei Fangyan was too, then he’d suspect there was poison hidden underneath that love.

After thinking it over, he asked, “When are you making your will?”

“Dad!” Shao Ye called out. His uncle was still young, why was he talking about wills?

Pei Tiancheng glared at him. “Shut up.”

“I won’t!” Shao Ye glared back.

Pei Tiancheng slapped the sofa. “So what I say means nothing now, huh?”

Pei Fangyan reminded calmly, “Big brother, speak properly. Don’t scare Xiao Ye.”

Pei Tiancheng nearly spat out the tea he had just swallowed. What sin had he committed to deserve this today?

Pei Fangyan added, “A will can always be revised. Why don’t I just transfer all my shares directly to him?”

Pei Tiancheng quietly swallowed the tea he almost choked on and said, “Well… that would be a bit embarrassing.”

Shao Ye immediately exposed him. “Dad, maybe wipe that smile off your face when you say that.”

Could they not just be a normal father and son? Pei Tiancheng shot him another glare.

Completely ignoring his anger, and forgetting his original plan of using inheritance as leverage, Shao Ye said to Pei Fangyan, “No need. I already have enough money to spend. Giving me shares wouldn’t really do much.”

Pei Tiancheng almost laughed. Oh wow, his son was putting on the image of an independent, clear-headed man who wasn’t tempted by money in front of Pei Fangyan!

He wanted to fight for some benefits for this foolish son, but since the kid didn’t appreciate it, what could he do? He waved his hand at Shao Ye. “Get out, get out, just go.”

Looking at the two of them together was annoying.

Shao Ye found his dad a bit inexplicable. Why suddenly tell him to leave? But he had already come out to his father. Even if his dad still didn’t want to accept it, Shao Ye himself felt like a weight had been lifted off his chest, and he felt much lighter.

He happily returned to the old residence with Pei Fangyan.

Pei Fangyan hadn’t been joking about transferring his shares. As soon as they got back, he contacted his secretary and lawyer to prepare all the necessary paperwork.

But once the news spread, Shao Ye would inevitably become a target. His cousins had been working tirelessly at the company, some even ending up hospitalized, yet in the end they didn’t even get a sip of the rewards. Wasn’t it supposed to be that the harder you worked, the luckier you became?

Or was it that the harder they worked, the luckier Shao Ye became?

Pei Fangyan didn’t care what his nieces and nephews thought of him. He pushed aside all his work, took Shao Ye out to have fun for over half a month, and after returning, he checked into the hospital again. Recently, there had been new breakthroughs in this area of medical treatment in the country, and he wanted to give it a try. After all, he couldn’t keep relying on Shao Ye to do everything himself, what if he exhausted him?

Meanwhile, after learning that they had gone to watch a football match together, Pei Tiancheng didn’t sleep the entire night.

The next day, with dark circles under his eyes, he stood by the window and thought deeply that Pei Fangyan’s mental state might really not be normal.

He actually went to watch a football match with his son. Should he keep worshiping this “Bodhisattva” or not?

Pei Fangyan didn’t hide his closeness to Shao Ye in front of others, and gradually even those who were previously unaware began to notice something. No wonder Shao Ye could get so many shares, so he got to the top by selling himself? So what if he had a nice body!

The Pei family members were extremely frustrated, but they didn’t dare to voice their anger openly and could only complain in private. One reason was they were afraid of getting beaten, since Shao Ye’s fists were genuinely strong. The other was that he reported things too quickly. The scene at the birthday banquet, where their relative was sent off to Africa, was still fresh in their minds.

But accepting Shao Ye as the heir to the Pei family was absolutely out of the question. Why should he be? He hadn’t even changed his surname back!

And Pei Fangyan too, playing around was one thing, but actually planning to leave the Pei family to him, had he lost his mind?

For the honor of the family and its long-term future, they had to do something to change this terrible outcome. Since Pei Fangyan had set his mind on Shao Ye, then they would just make Shao Ye disappear.

So in the following period, they each tried their own methods: hiring kidnappers, sending bombs by mail, tampering with his car… yet nothing happened.

Shao Ye spent his days happily in the hospital accompanying Pei Fangyan through various rehabilitation exercises, completely unaware of all this.

Meanwhile, his cousins soon discovered that every scheme they plotted against Shao Ye ended up backfiring on themselves. Among them, He Jiahuai, who had always publicly claimed he had no objections to Seventh Uncle’s decisions, was especially unlucky. First, he was nearly hit by a flowerpot falling from upstairs. Then he was struck by a car and sent to the hospital. During surgery, someone even mislabeled a medicine bottle. If Su Yuexiang hadn’t noticed in time, it might have caused a serious medical accident.

He Jiahuai still hadn’t regained consciousness. With so many incidents happening in succession, it was hard to believe they were all coincidences. There were likely even more “accidents” waiting for him.

Although there was currently no evidence that Pei Fangyan was behind these events, Su Yuexiang instinctively felt that it was related to him. She went to the hospital, found Pei Fangyan, and pleaded with him to show mercy.

Pei Fangyan looked indifferent, sitting in front of the fish tank feeding the fish. Shao Ye had just gone downstairs to pick up a delivery and would be back later.

Seeing that he didn’t respond, Su Yuexiang added, “That’s still a human life, after all.”

Pei Fangyan scattered all the fish food into the tank, then turned to her and asked, “When you think this world is just a game, would you care about the life of an NPC?”

Su Yuexiang didn’t understand why he would think like that. After a moment, she nodded. “I would.”

Because she wasn’t sure whether it was the world that was wrong, or herself.

Pei Fangyan smiled. “But I wouldn’t.”

“And besides, they brought this on themselves, didn’t they?” he said.

Author’s Note:

【What did Seventh Uncle mean by that line? Does he know he’s in a game? Could he also be a player?】

: Just a gimmick from the official side. People were all talking about No. 6 cheating, and the moment Seventh Uncle says this, everyone’s attention shifts

: But Seventh Uncle is really crazy. One No. 6 livestream isn’t enough for him, he’s stirring things up in all five others too. He’s not choosing an heir, he’s playing battle royale

: I’m speechless at his tone. You “wouldn’t care” and you sound proud of it?

: Seventh Uncle: Doesn’t that just make me seem more seriously ill?

: I don’t just think No. 6 is cheating, I think Seventh Uncle is too. Why are all the other NPCs afraid of him?

: Because, uncle… I dare?

: That was cold

: Seventh Uncle is so “tea” when dealing with Shao Tiancheng. Why drink herbal tea when this is enough?

: I just want to know why No. 6 attracts him

: Didn’t Seventh Uncle already say? Warm and cheerful, sincere and cute, disciplined, persistent, hardworking, responsible

: Why doesn’t Shao Tiancheng ask where No. 6 works

: Spare the poor father

: From the koi in the viewing pool, you can tell No. 6 really is hardworking and persistent

: Really? I thought Seventh Uncle just liked his chest and butt

: How vulgar. Seventh Uncle has refined taste

: Oh, you’re not vulgar? Then what’s that post you made: “Guys, I’ve got a gym membership, now I just need to find myself a boss”

: Boss? You mean husband

: Top 😉

≽^•⩊•^≼

Thandar: Please give this novel a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on novel updates if you enjoy it so far. It’ll motivate this translator to release new chapters faster 🥲😘