The sound of heavy, labored breathing echoed down the dimly lit hallway, punctuated by the rough, rhythmic scrape of something being dragged along the floor. Jiao Jiao's whiskers perked up instantly at the familiar noise, and the small creature wriggled eagerly, scuttling toward the sound with a quick, determined crawl.
Emerging from the shadows, Shudu's face appeared—flushed and slightly sweaty, his handsome features marred by a frown of irritation. His brows were knitted tightly as he pulled an unconscious Xue Tuzi along the corridor, Shudu's hands bound securely.
"Xiao Jiao!" Shudu's face lit up at the sight of his beloved Gu worm darting toward him with enthusiasm. He dropped Xue Tuzi's collar, stretching out his hands, palms open to receive the small creature. But to his surprise, Jiao Jiao bypassed his outstretched hands and instead latched onto Xue Tuzi, letting out an excited cry, "Mama!"
Caught off guard, Shudu nearly stumbled backward, his eyes widening in shock. Just then, Xue Laohu and Li Zhameng arrived, their eyes darting between Shudu and the scene unfolding before them. They watched as Jiao Jiao clung to Xue Tuzi, diligently working to extract the last traces of poison from his body, its tiny mouth latched onto him with an unexpected intensity.
"A-Tuzi!" Xue Laohu gasped softly, gingerly cradling Xue Tuzi in his arms. His skin was burning with fever, beads of sweat glistening on his flushed forehead. Xue Tuzi's half-closed eyes were glassy, his lips parted and trembling, with a small mole at the corner of his mouth glistening from the saliva trickling down his chin.
"He was bitten by a bat," Shudu muttered, his voice strained. "I tried to draw out the poison myself, but…" He glanced down at the still-busy Jiao Jiao. "Xiao Jiao has a talent for this sort of thing." Turning away, Shudu coughed into his bound hands, the harsh sound breaking the tense silence.
Xiao Zongzi, standing nearby, rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath, "It's because Master was indulging in… other pleasantries when he should have—" Her words were cut off as Shudu smacked her head with his tied hands, covering it up with a fresh bout of coughing as his face flushed.
The sound grated on Xue Laohu's nerves, frowning, shifting his attention back to Xue Tuzi. To his relief, he could feel the young man's temperature slowly starting to decrease, his once-feverish skin now turning pale and clammy. Shudu, sensing a slight reprieve, stretched his bound arms in Xue Laohu's direction. "Can Grandmaster Xue help this venerable one take this off?"
Just then, Li Zhameng's gaze drifted downward, his eyes narrowing at the dark, wet stain on Shudu's groin. "Shudu Gongzi… did the bats scare you so much that… you, uh… had an accident?" he asked with a raised brow, his voice laced with thinly-veiled amusement.
A flush of red crept up Shudu's neck, spreading quickly to his cheeks, which deepened to a mortified purple. Caught off guard, Xue Laohu looked down, eyes widening as he noticed the obvious wet spot… along with an unmistakable bulge straining against the fabric of Shudu's pants.
"Ehhh, you're right," Xue Laohu chuckled, his voice heavy with mock seriousness. "They were that scary?"
"I didn't piss myself!" Shudu barked, his voice strained with frustration as he tried to salvage the last shreds of his dignity. "I just spilled something, alright?"
Xiao Zongzi, never one to hold her tongue, piped up with a smirk, "For your information, my master spilled his seed—"
Before she could finish, Shudu clamped his bound hands over her mouth, his face a mixture of horror and anger as he muffled her words.
Meanwhile, Xue Tuzi stirred in Xue Laohu's arms, his eyes fluttering open as he began to regain consciousness. "Hey," Xue Laohu greeted him with a wide grin, relief evident in his gaze. "You're awake."
Xue Tuzi blinked blearily, his expression still dazed. His attention drifted downward, and his eyes widened as he noticed the pudgy Jiao Jiao, who had just detached from his chest with a loud, satisfied burp, visibly rounder than before. Xue Tuzi wrinkled his nose in disgust at the sight.
Xue Laohu's gaze followed, his eyes catching a glint of something nestled against Xue Tuzi's exposed chest—a small, sparkling jewel piece. "Is that—?" he started, brows lifting in surprise.
But Xue Tuzi hastily pulled his robe closed, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. Xue Laohu cleared his throat, hiding a grin, and shifted his attention to their surroundings. "Alright, we've officially crossed into Huo Mountain's territory. Shudu, if I recall correctly, you've been here before?"
"That is correct," Shudu replied, his voice laced with irritation as he cast a hard glare around the room, "Well, can someone get this shit off me?" He was still visibly flustered, his breathing uneven, but he was doing his best to pull himself together.
Xue Tuzi, wincing as he struggled to his feet, took a shaky step toward Shudu. He fumbled at first, his fingers trembling as he reached for the knotted ribbon binding Shudu's arms, before steadying his hand and, with a deft flick of his wrist, loosened the fabric. The ribbon fell away, leaving Shudu to rub his wrists, now mottled with red marks and the beginnings of bruises. He winced slightly as his fingers traced over the raw skin, his jaw clenching at the dull ache. Xue Tuzi gathered parts of his own hair, twisting them carefully as he tied the ribbon around them.
"Great. Then you'll lead the way," Xue Laohu declared, giving him a pointed look.
Xue Laohu was deep in thought, his mind racing to find a way for Shudu and Xue Tuzi to have more alone time together. The elusive 500 points dangled in his mind like a prize just out of reach. But the idea of asking Xue Tuzi to team up with Shudu felt almost laughable. The two of them could barely look at each other without a sneer or a look of disdain, turning their noses up as if they were staring down a bad smell. Still, he was determined. After all, he had a plan—a foolproof plan.
Smiling slyly, he reached out, resting a hand on Xue Tuzi's shoulder and nudging him forward ever so slightly. "This elder has grown old and weary," he murmured, slipping an arm around Xue Tuzi's waist with practiced ease, his other hand idly flicking his fan open and closed. "May he rely on his disciple for guidance?"
Xue Tuzi's doe-like eyes softened as he glanced back at Xue Laohu. "Of course, Shizun," he replied, his tone filled with warmth. Xue Laohu's usually messy hair fell loosely around his face, accentuating the sharpness of his jawline. In that moment, he looked less like the grandmaster he was known to be and more like a roguish bandit, rebellious yet striking. As Xue Tuzi moved ahead, his thoughts drifted, almost oblivious to the envious gaze of Li Zhameng, who watched with a pout as Xue Laohu continued to give his attention to Xue Tuzi.
Moments later, as they reached the edge of a corridor, Xue Laohu's hand slipped from Xue Tuzi's side, subtly allowing him to wander a few steps forward. Without missing a beat, Xue Laohu pivoted and caught Li Zhameng by the arm, pulling him abruptly into the shadows of a hidden alcove. Startled, Li Zhameng's eyes widened as he felt his Shizun's firm hand clamp over his mouth, his head pressing against the wall as he struggled to catch his breath beneath his Shizun's grasp.
What does Shizun want to do with me? Li Zhameng's thoughts spiraled as he felt the warmth of Xue Laohu's palm against his lips, his cheeks flushing under the firm hold. He glanced up to see Xue Laohu's gaze narrowed in concentration, his jaw clenched as though bracing against some unseen threat.
Xue Laohu leaned close, whispering an incantation under his breath as he wove a barrier between their hidden alcove and the main hallway, sealing them in a space no one would be able to detect.
Xue Tuzi glanced around, a frown creasing his brow as he realized his Shizun had disappeared. "Shizun!" he called out, a note of worry in his voice as he anxiously scanned the empty hall, his eyes darting to every shadowed corner. The tension in his voice made it clear he was growing increasingly distressed.
Shudu, hearing the commotion, turned back to see Xue Tuzi rushing past him, a desperate look on his face. "Hmm… this place is riddled with traps," Shudu mused, folding his arms and resting his hand on his chin thoughtfully. "He might've fallen into one."
From within the concealed hallway, Yi Ming silently cursed. Not good, he thought with mounting concern. If he keeps searching for me, there won't be a single spark of romance between them! He sighed, longing for some way to steer Xue Tuzi back on track. If only I had telepathy!
Suddenly, a bright notification screen flickered into his vision, the words glowing with almost smug insistence.
WOULD USER LIKE TO PURCHASE TELEPATHY SKILL FOR 150 LIFE POINTS?
"150?" Yi Ming's eyes widened in disbelief. You've got to be kidding me! This has to be a scam! He grumbled, shaking his fist in frustration, momentarily forgetting about his firm grip on Li Zhameng, who was looking up at him with a confused expression.
"Is he talking to himself again?" Li Zhameng sighed internally, rolling his eyes at the sight of his Shizun's one-sided rant.
Finally, Yi Ming let out a defeated groan. "Fine, take the 150!" he muttered, bracing himself as he watched his life points drop. But as the new skill settled in, he felt the strange, tingling sensation of a new ability syncing with his mind. Testing his newfound power, Yi Ming focused intently on Xue Tuzi's anxious figure and sent out a mental message, hoping to ease the young disciple's nerves.
A-Tuzi, he projected, his mental voice soft but firm, there's no need to worry.
Xue Tuzi stiffened, eyes widening as he looked around, disoriented. "Shizun? Where are you?" he called out, his voice a blend of relief and anxiety. He searched the surroundings, his gaze darting to every shadow, expecting his master to appear at any moment.
Hmmmm… I'm not there physically. I'm using telepathy to communicate with you, he explained, feeling the threads of his presence reach out to soothe Xue Tuzi's fraying nerves. But you must continue on without me.
"But Shizun!" Xue Tuzi's voice quivered, the pleading note unmistakable.
Completing the mission comes first, Xue Laohu said firmly, though he could hear the soft thud of Xue Tuzi's knees hitting the ground. Xue Laohu's tone softened, a trace of warmth slipping through. Hey, don't be sad... I'm okay, really. Remember the wristband you made me? I still have it with me. He tapped his wrist, as though Xue Tuzi could somehow feel the gesture across the distance. Besides, if I'm in any real danger, I'll send you a telepathic message. Okay?
"This disciple... couldn't even guide the way for Shizun," Xue Tuzi muttered, his voice heavy with self-reproach. His fingers curled into fists, nails digging into the dirt floor beneath him as he struggled to hold back his shame. "I am unworthy."
"Damned right! Useless!" barked Shudu, his voice laced with biting anger. Before Shudu could react, a sharp lash cut across his face, delivered with ruthless precision by Xue Tuzi's ribbon. With a fiery glare, he lunged at Shudu, fists flying, their bodies clashing in a flurry of blows and kicks as they wrestled each other to the ground.
Suddenly, a thunderous voice broke through the air, shaking both to their core. Enough! Both of you, NO FIGHTING!
The words echoed like a physical force, halting their battle mid-motion. Panting and bruised, Xue Tuzi and Shudu froze, casting wary glances around the room. Meanwhile, Xue Laohu sighed internally, feeling the weight of their endless squabbles. These two will be the death of me, he thought, fully aware that any hint of a budding relatipnship between them woils end in a bad romance.