Xiao Chunhe remained ill for several days.
Whenever he could not see that stinking Daoist, he missed him constantly. Whenever he did see him, the demon-gu tormented him relentlessly. Xiao Chunhe was hardly a pure-hearted ascetic with endless patience. Even in pain he could not resist teasing Yue Jingming until the other man became irritated.
Worse, Xiao Chunhe found Yue Jingming most attractive when angry. The demon-gu inflamed desire through his entire body like fire. He no longer dared openly seduce the man, so he could only secretly relieve himself. Afterward, he would miss Yue Jingming even more, deliberately make some noise to lure him over, and the instant he saw him the demon-gu would begin hurting again.
After several days of this cycle, Xiao Chunhe had visibly lost weight.
Yue Jingming stopped hurrying on their journey so he could care for him. Three bowls of medicine arrived on time every day, while Yue Jingming spent the remaining hours in the room next door. But as Xiao Chunhe grew thinner each day, even he sensed something was wrong.
That day, Yue Jingming collected medicine from the apothecary and also bought the magnolia pastries Xiao Chunhe had been demanding.
Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Xiao Chunhe took a bite and immediately held one to Yue Jingming’s mouth. “These are much better than the ones in Jiarong County. Try one.”
“I don’t eat them.”
Xiao Chunhe suddenly understood. “Could it be you want to taste the one in my mouth?”
Yue Jingming had already learned to automatically filter out this kind of nonsense. He took Xiao Chunhe’s wrist to check his pulse, and his expression darkened. “Yesterday you again… Did I not tell you to abstain and recuperate?”
Chewing his pastry, Xiao Chunhe said without changing expression, “Lust and indulgence are simply my nature. And you spend every day walking in front of me. I’m hardly a monk.”
“You…” Yue Jingming was frustrated with him, yet knew scolding was useless. After thinking for a moment he said, “Then find someone suitable. Man or woman, so long as you mutually care for one another. Settle down and establish a household. Perhaps that will calm your internal fire.”
The pastry dropped from Xiao Chunhe’s fingers onto the quilt. “You want me to find someone else?”
Yue Jingming explained, “If you genuinely try, you can always find someone suitable.”
“You actually want me to find someone else?!” Xiao Chunhe’s expression darkened. He stared sharply at Yue Jingming, his voice turning icy. “Su Zheng, say that again if you dare.”
Yue Jingming released his wrist and stood. “The medicine is ready.”
Xiao Chunhe grabbed him and pulled him back. Hostility appeared in those fox eyes that were usually full of laughter. “You know perfectly well how I feel about you. Don’t you think saying something like that is cruel?”
“If you continue like this, even I will not be able to save you,” Yue Jingming said calmly.
“Who says you can’t save me?” Xiao Chunhe replied confidently. “Just marry me.”
Yue Jingming sat on the edge of the bed, picked the fallen pastry off the quilt, then brushed crumbs from Xiao Chunhe’s clothes. Xiao Chunhe watched with amusement and suddenly asked, “If I died because of this, would you feel guilty?”
“No.” Yue Jingming placed the pastry on the table. “Everyone has their own causes and consequences. If you cannot overcome your own desires, that is your responsibility. I can only do what I can and leave the rest to fate.”
Xiao Chunhe reclined lazily against the headboard. “Heartless man.”
Yue Jingming dampened a cloth and handed it over for him to wipe his hands.
“All right, all right. I truly can’t do anything with you.” Xiao Chunhe slowly wiped his fingers one by one. “There’s no point lying around like this. While I’m still alive, I might as well hurry and help you find the moyao.”
Xiao Chunhe followed through. After finishing his medicine, he dressed neatly as if nothing were wrong. His luxurious brocade robes gleamed brilliantly. He even had energy to rummage through Yue Jingming’s sleeves for malt candy.
Yue Jingming allowed him only three pieces each day. A fourth was reserved specifically for occasions when Xiao Chunhe became too noisy and needed his mouth occupied. Once Xiao Chunhe discovered this, he insisted on finding all four every single day.
“Where is all your luggage?” Yue Jingming asked, looking at the empty room.
“I deposited it at a bank.” Xiao Chunhe patted his sleeves. “Once I save enough, I’ll buy a huge mansion and marry you. Does my wife prefer the capital or Jiangnan?”
“When worldly affairs are settled, I will return to the mountain to cultivate,” Yue Jingming answered honestly.
“That works too. Saves money. I can marry into your household instead.” Xiao Chunhe opened his fan and winked. “Husband?”
Yue Jingming remained unmoved. “Stop fooling around. The carriage is here.”
Xiao Chunhe closed his fan and weakly leaned toward Yue Jingming’s shoulder. Yue Jingming quickly caught him before he fell. Naturally, Xiao Chunhe took advantage of the opportunity and remained nestled against him.
The carriage stopped smoothly in front of them. Yue Jingming sighed inwardly and helped him aboard.
Xiao Chunhe never denied himself comfort. The carriage interior was spacious, with brocade cushions and pillows. The tea table and storage chests were made of rosewood, and an openwork incense burner decorated with animal motifs had been fixed in place. Pastries and fruit were plentiful. Ice basins stood in all four corners, cooling the carriage whenever the horses moved.
The driver was steady. The carriage gradually left Qinghuai County and entered the official road.
Bonelessly, Xiao Chunhe slid down Yue Jingming’s body and rested his head on the other man’s thigh. Yue Jingming had barely moved when Xiao Chunhe said weakly, “If I fall, it’ll hurt terribly. Would Husband really bear that?”
Yue Jingming focused inward, withdrawing his senses and settling his mind while true qi circulated through his dantian. Suddenly warmth touched his waist and abdomen.
Opening his eyes, he saw Xiao Chunhe lying on his side with both arms wrapped around his waist, face buried against him. His expression was weary and he had fallen asleep. The warmth came from his slow, even breath.
Loose hair lay across Yue Jingming’s knees and robe. The hair ribbon was almost undone, swaying with the carriage. The sleeper’s brows remained tightly furrowed. Dark shadows lay beneath his eyes, and his face was pale as snow.
Yue Jingming watched him for a long time. When the ribbon finally slipped free, he quietly raised a hand and caught it.
“Whoa!”
The carriage suddenly stopped and shook violently.
A fierce blast came from the distance. Yue Jingming instinctively pulled Xiao Chunhe into his arms and seized the Clear Breeze Sword beside them, holding it protectively before them.
The entire carriage cabin exploded into pieces.
Xiao Chunhe abruptly woke. Turning, he saw a green-robed young man standing on the treetop, looking down at them. Behind them stood a beautiful woman dressed as a man, twirling a flute in one hand and smiling.
“What happened?” Xiao Chunhe glanced at the unconscious driver beside the wreckage.
“The carriage left the official road. We must have unknowingly entered a formation and lost our direction.” Yue Jingming scanned the bamboo forest and finally looked toward the man in green. “Cen Shuang isn’t dead.”
Xiao Chunhe buried his face against Yue Jingming’s shoulder and inhaled deeply, almost as though preparing himself before turning toward Cen Shuang’s eerie green eyes.
Cen Shuang sneered. “Before, I thought I had smelled wrong. So you really are that half…”
He did not even finish. The brocade-clad man who had looked half-dead against Yue Jingming a moment earlier suddenly appeared directly before him. A black fan snapped open, countless cold-glinting poisoned needles shooting toward Cen Shuang.
Cen Shuang retreated frantically. Xiao Chunhe pursued without pause. One sweep of the fan severed bamboo stalks as thick as bowls. A long-fingered hand clamped tightly around Cen Shuang’s throat, and Xiao Chunhe’s beautiful, almost demonic face appeared directly in front of him. His voice was so soft it was nearly inaudible. “Should I crush those eyes of yours that can return from death?”
Cen Shuang’s pupils contracted. “You… ngh.”
Xiao Chunhe’s fox eyes flashed scarlet. “Shut up.”
Cen Shuang suddenly sensed an unimaginably terrifying aura. His emerald eyes began trembling beyond his control.
Elsewhere, Xiao Chunhe had moved too suddenly. Seeing the two disappear deeper into the bamboo forest, Yue Jingming followed with sword in hand, only for the woman to block him. “Daoist Master, wait.”
Yue Jingming did not slow. His sword thrust directly toward her face. She blocked with her flute while retreating. “Daoist Master, please do not misunderstand. I am Xiang Zhao of Shangyun Pavilion in the capital! What happened before was a misunderstanding. We had reasons for what we did. Please hear me out!”
Yue Jingming’s gaze paused. “Shangyun Pavilion?”
Deep in his memory, Zhou Lie seemed to have mentioned the name once.
“Yes. Shangyun Pavilion was established by His Majesty for a close friend. Its purpose is to eliminate demons and heterodox arts, uphold righteousness, and pursue the Great Dao.” Xiang Zhao spoke rapidly. “The Pavilion Master’s position is currently vacant, awaiting His Majesty’s closest friend to come and assume command. Demons now run rampant throughout the realm, and rumors say the birth of the moyao will bring catastrophe. We already possess clues to its whereabouts!”
“You pursue the moyao, but that does not justify harming innocent commoners.” Yue Jingming advanced with sword in hand.
“Daoist Master, they are not ordinary people. They are half-human, half-demon beings!” Xiang Zhao struggled to defend herself but continued. “The moyao has not yet fully formed and hides inside human bodies to evade pursuit. It excels at confusing hearts. The person beside you may…”
Yue Jingming’s sword aura abruptly grew fiercer.
Xiang Zhao staggered back, clutching her wounded shoulder. Seeing Yue Jingming turn and pursue the others into the bamboo forest, she stamped her foot before gritting her teeth and following.
Guided by the Yingshi Token, Yue Jingming reached the depths of the bamboo forest just in time to see Xiao Chunhe falling from high above like a kite with its string cut. He immediately leapt up and caught him around the waist. Xiao Chunhe coughed filthy blood into his arms, then let his head fall limply onto Yue Jingming’s shoulder.
Cen Shuang: “?”
Seeing Yue Jingming’s expression become increasingly frightening, he involuntarily stepped back. “I did not injure him!”
At this, Xiao Chunhe laboriously raised his head. Blood ran from the corner of his mouth. One hand gripped Yue Jingming’s robe while the other held a compass whose needle was shaking violently. In a low voice he said, “He has something belonging to the moyao on him.”
Almost at the same moment, the Myriad Demons Scroll on Yue Jingming’s body began burning hot. Yue Jingming asked quietly, “Can you tell what it is?”
Xiao Chunhe looked at Cen Shuang as though looking at a corpse. “Eyes.”
Cen Shuang’s expression changed. He immediately formed a hand seal. Bamboo leaves rustled around them. Wind swept inward from every direction, lifting countless green leaves until they crowded together like an iron barrel around Yue Jingming and Xiao Chunhe.
“Demonic lies meant to confuse people,” Cen Shuang’s voice came from beyond the leaves.
“Cen Shuang!” Xiang Zhao arrived and turned pale at the sight. “Have you forgotten what we are supposed to be doing?!”
Cen Shuang’s expression was ugly. “Help me! We must force him to reveal his true form today, or both of us will die here!”
He poured all his spiritual power into the bamboo-leaf formation. The surrounding world seemed to change color. Yet the being trapped inside was terrifyingly powerful. Seeing Cen Shuang about to fail, Xiang Zhao had no choice but to risk everything, sacrificing all her cultivation to forcibly stabilize the formation.
Inside the raging wind and leaves, Yue Jingming shielded the man beside him while searching for a weakness in the formation. Suddenly he heard Xiao Chunhe groan in pain. “Forget me. Go!”
“I can take you out.” Yue Jingming assumed his injuries had worsened and gripped his wrist, continuously sending true qi into him. Then he saw veins bulge across Xiao Chunhe’s neck as black markings spread over his cheekbones and his eyes became completely scarlet.
“Go!” Xiao Chunhe bared his teeth, his expression ferocious.
Yue Jingming suddenly froze.
A huge, fluffy, fiery-red tail appeared between them.
Xiao Chunhe instantly felt as though he had fallen into an ice cavern. Slowly he raised his head and, reflected in Yue Jingming’s clear eyes, saw a red fox dressed in brocade.