Shudu wiped at the grime smeared across his face, but no matter how furiously he scrubbed, his vision remained blurred. Thick, slimy goo clung stubbornly to his eyes, distorting the world around him in a sticky, gray haze. He blinked and stumbled forward, nearly colliding with a tree as he tried to keep pace with Xue Tuzi and Li Zhameng, who were chasing the snake demoness deeper into the dense, shadowed forest. The canopy above loomed thick and dark, vines trailing like green snakes that swayed and slithered in the wind.
Xue Tuzi whipped his ribbon in a rapid arc behind him, aiming at the shadowy figure that had been following close at his heels. The ribbon whistled through the air, but the figure snatched it mid-flight, gripping it with a quickness that stopped Xue Tuzi in his tracks. The fabric wrapped tightly around the stranger's arm, yanking Xue Tuzi forward with a force that nearly sent him crashing into the ground.
"It's you!" Xue Tuzi spat out, his tone edged with irritation as he glared up at his captor, breathing heavily from the sprint. "Why are you following me?" He tugged at the ribbon, struggling to free it from Shudu's relentless grip, but the effort was futile. Shudu's fingers held steady, and Xue Tuzi's attempts only made the ribbon bite deeper into his own skin.
"I can't see a shit," Shudu growled, his voice laced with frustration as he pulled Xue Tuzi roughly against his chest. "And since you smell like a damn whore…" He leaned closer, inhaling deeply, letting his nose graze against the soft skin of Xue Tuzi's neck. The scent was sweet, an intoxicating mix of floral notes that lingered as Shudu's breath traced a path along his skin.
Xue Tuzi's face contorted with irritation, biting his bottom lip as he shoved Shudu away, both annoyed and disgusted. Shudu only smirked, releasing his hold on the ribbon, watching as Xue Tuzi quickly drew it back, his fingers deftly coiling it with practiced ease.
"What kind of man smells sweet and floral?" Shudu sneered, an eyebrow raised in mocking challenge.
Xue Tuzi leaned over, his mouth dangerously close to Shudu's ear, his warm breath tickling against his skin. "Do you like it?" he whispered, his voice low, each word dripping with a strange allure that seemed to wrap around Shudu.
"Huh…" Shudu grunted, momentarily disarmed, his brow furrowing in confusion.
"I said, do you like it?" Xue Tuzi murmured again, his words vibrating against Shudu's ear. The sound sent a shiver down Shudu's spine, his skin tingling under the unexpected tension. Xue Tuzi's lips twisted into a sinister smile, one Shudu could only barely make out through the haze of his impaired vision. The mole at the corner of Xue Tuzi's mouth stretched as he smirked, his eyes gleaming with a mischievous glint as he leaned even closer.
"Yeah…" Shudu muttered, his own lips brushing against Xue Tuzi's neck, as if drawn in by the scent that taunted him. But before he could fully process the moment, pain erupted in his abdomen as Xue Tuzi's knee connected with brutal precision. Shudu doubled over, groaning, the breath forced out of him in a harsh gasp.
"That's what I thought," Xue Tuzi snickered, delivering a sharp kick to Shudu's side. With a casual brush of his hand, he straightened his collar and dusted off his shoulder, his smirk barely fading.
"You… bitch!" Shudu growled, clutching his stomach as he staggered, his legs threatening to buckle. He stumbled back, one hand grasping desperately for support as he tried to steady himself.
"A-Tuzi, Shudu Gongzi," came a soft voice from behind the trees as Li Zhameng reappeared, slipping through the shadows of the dense forest. He glanced warily between the two of them, his expression uncertain.
"Meng Meng, did you see where she went?" Xue Tuzi asked, rushing over to Li Zhameng's side with urgency. Behind them, Shudu leaned heavily against a tree, grimacing as he clutched his bruised stomach.
"I saw her heading north," Li Zhameng replied, pointing toward the distant cliff edge, where the faint roar of a waterfall echoed through the trees. Mist floated in the air from that direction, mingling with the earthy scent of the forest.
"Let's go," Xue Tuzi said with a nod, already preparing to move.
"But… what about Shudu Gongzi?" Li Zhameng asked, glancing back at Shudu's hunched form.
Xue Tuzi rolled his eyes in exasperation. "Who cares? A kick to the stomach won't kill him. Besides, he can't even see. He's practically useless—just dead weight. He'll only slow us down."
"Ugh… dam you!" Shudu snarled, forcing himself upright as he leaned off the tree. "I can use my nose just fine!"
Xue Tuzi raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Oh really? Can you use your nose to track the demoness?"
"I'm not a dog demon, idiot. My senses are just… slightly heightened," Shudu snapped back, scowling as he rubbed his sore abdomen.
"Then you're still useless," Xue Tuzi retorted, irritation flaring in his eyes as he rolled them, his patience clearly wearing thin.
Li Zhameng stepped between them, scratching his temples nervously as he watched the tension build. "Look… maybe we should stay together," he suggested carefully. "That's what Shizun would want. A-Tuzi, since your ribbon has range, you lead. Shudu Gongzi can follow behind you, and I'll keep watch from the back." He offered Xue Tuzi an anxious smile, beads of sweat trailing down his temple as he noticed Xue Tuzi's deepening scowl.
"Fine," Xue Tuzi grumbled, his gaze fixed sharply on Shudu as he turned to lead the way. But before he took another step, he twisted back to give Shudu a venomous glare. "Just don't get too close to me, scum."
Shudu scoffed, waving him off with a dismissive hand, crossing his arms defiantly as the trio began their trek deeper into the shadowed forest. The air grew thick around them, and the ominous rumble of the waterfall seemed to pulse like a heartbeat, drawing them further into the unknown.
Xue Tuzi came to an abrupt stop, and Shudu, unable to see clearly, stumbled right into him. Xue Tuzi felt something hard thick and heavy press against his behind.
"Too close," Xue Tuzi growled, shoving Shudu to the side.
"Well, I can't see," Shudu snapped, his brows furrowed as he blinked, trying to clear his blurry vision. Just then, a faint hiss slithered down from the branches above. Without thinking, Shudu grabbed Xue Tuzi, pulling him close and pressing him against his chest behind the thick trunk of a nearby tree.
Li Zhameng ducked down beside them, his eyes alert as he aimed his gun upwards at the writhing cluster of snakes dangling from the branches. Their scales glistened in the sparse light, each one coiled and ready to strike.
Xue Tuzi's cheek pressed firmly against Shudu's chest, his hand accidentally resting over Shudu's heart, beating steadily beneath his fingers. Glancing up, Xue Tuzi took in the sharp line of Shudu's jaw, his defined features tense with concentration. His gaze traveled down to Shudu's tattooed arm, wrapped tightly around his waist; it was a sleeve of ink depicting all manner of dark nefarious creatures—centipedes, scorpions, and spiders—all adding to the aura of danger radiating from him. He felt a flush creep into his cheeks, a heat taking over his body as he slowly became aroused. Squirming against the embrace, he attempted to pull away, only to be met with Shudu's low, insistent "Shhh."
Xue Tuzi huffed and quickly turned, giving Shudu his back, but the man's grip around his waist remained firm. His leg began to shake restlessly, his agitation mounting as the heat inside him intensified, making him feel flushed and unsteady.
"Will you stop that?" Shudu muttered through gritted teeth, his voice a frustrated rumble as he felt the movement against his groin. Xue Tuzi bit his lip, trying to calm his racing pulse, as they both stayed pressed together.
"I… I have to pee," Xue Tuzi gasped, his voice soft and trembling as he covered his face with his hands, trying to hide the few tears that slipped down his flushed cheeks.
"Huh? You gotta pee at a time like this?" Shudu's tone was half-teasing, half-bemused as he looked down at him. Letting go of Xue Tuzi's waist, Shudu reached up, brushing a thumb over the tears on Xue Tuzi's warm cheek, wiping them away with surprising gentleness.
From his position at Shudu's feet, Li Zhameng couldn't help but watch with a faint smile. Maybe Shizun was right, he thought, they really do seem like a match made in heaven—when they're not trying to tear each other apart.
"Go on, go pee," Shudu said, giving Xue Tuzi a playful smack on his behind, the sound echoing softly in the stillness.
Xue Tuzi shot him a flustered glare but didn't protest, quickly turning to dart back into the shadows of the forest. He ran until he found a dense patch of underbrush and trees that provided enough cover. Glancing around to ensure he was truly alone, he undid his belt with quick fingers, pulling his pants down and finally letting himself breathe as he relieved himself.
He stroke his shaft gently, panting softly as his misty eyes held back the tears that gathered at the corners. He bit down on his bottom lip, the mole slightly quivering in ecstasy, silencing his moans while his strokes grew more intense. He pressed his head on a tree, softly gasping continuing to work his hard shaft until he came all over his hand.
Soft whimpers escaped his lips as tears traced hot paths down his flushed cheeks, his breaths coming in shallow gasps. He swallowed hard, he glanced down at his own reflection in a nearby stream. The light cast a silvery glow over the water, illuminating his tear-streaked face, his eyes rimmed red and filled with frustration.
He clenched his fists, and in a sudden burst of anger, slammed them into the water, sending droplets scattering like shards of glass. "Ugh. Disgusting. Despicable," he muttered, the words dripping with self-loathing as he watched his reflection ripple and distort. He dipped his hands back into the stream, scrubbing them against the cool current, hoping to wash away his dirty wanton.