Yi Ming's eyes snapped open, his head still echoing with the sharp sounds of the system. For a moment, he sat in a daze, his vision hazy, his cheek wet with drool. He hastily swiped a hand over his face, feeling the embarrassment of his impromptu nap. But before he could fully gather his thoughts, a blaring fire alarm pierced through his ears, accompanied by a red screen flashing urgently before him.
WARNING! WARNING!
GONG ML CRITICAL CONDITION! WARNING!
"Ugh," Yi Ming groaned, rubbing his eyes as if he could physically push away his exhaustion. Blinking hard, he refocused on the screen, where a new item glinted at him: "Mirror of Reflection." Yet the real shock lay in Shudu's life energy bar, which was draining at an alarming speed. Panic flickered in his chest. "System, what do I do?" he demanded.
His plea was met with a loud, raspy coughing sound, followed by gagging, sputtering, and finally, a series of sniffles that seemed to go on forever. Annoyed, Yi Ming rolled his eyes and stuck a finger in his ear, hoping to clear out the obnoxious sound.
HEAL GONG ML BY DAWN OR FACE PENALTIES
"Penalties?" Yi Ming repeated, frowning, hand resting thoughtfully on his chin as he tried to make sense of the cryptic warning. His brows knitted together in frustration as he called for the system again, hoping for clarity. But the voice of the old hag had vanished, leaving only silence.
After examining the true nature of the three young men standing before him, the Sage's discerning gaze softened. He saw no traces of malice or ill intent in their hearts. Though Shudu's reflection showed a monstrous beast, the image was merely a symbol of his internal struggle—an embodiment of the fear and conflict he harbored in reconciling his human and demonic sides. With a quiet sigh, the Sage reached into his pocket, retrieving two small vials and a pouch filled with medicinal herbs, which he handed to Xue Tuzi and Li Zhameng.
"Very well, I see no ill will among you," he murmured, pressing the items into their hands. "Take this antidote, and a little extra to help along the way." His tone softened, and a glint of nostalgia sparked in his wise old eyes. "And tell Grandmaster Xue to stop being a stranger. This old man's days grow lonely." He stroked his beard thoughtfully, his words carrying the warmth of an old friendship.
Xue Tuzi and Li Zhameng bowed deeply, murmuring their thanks with sincere respect. As the Sage turned to depart, the two glanced down at Shudu, who lay slumped against a large rock, his face pale and strained from his injuries. They had over a hundred li up the mountain to make it to Sect Mount Dingbu.
"You carry him." Xue Tuzi pointed at Li Zhameng, his tone a mix of command and irritation.
"Ehhh... why me?" Li Zhameng protested, crossing his arms with an indignant pout. "My qigong isn't even as strong as yours! I'll be dragging him halfway up the mountain before we're even close!" He stomped his foot, clearly hoping to get out of the task. Shudu, catching their bickering, managed a faint, tired frown.
A spark of inspiration suddenly lit up Li Zhameng's face, as he broke into a mischievous grin. "I know! Let's settle this with Cai Quan. Loser has to carry Shudu Gongzi."
Xue Tuzi's nose twitched, clearly not thrilled with the idea, but he gave a resigned sigh and extended his fist. "Fine." he muttered, his eyes narrowing in determination.
The two squared off, tension in the air as they held their fists back, pausing dramatically before presenting their choice. Xue Tuzi threw rock, only to be defeated by Li Zhameng's cloth. Li Zhameng burst into a small, triumphant dance, pumping his fist with glee as Xue Tuzi glared down at his own fist, muttering curses under his breath.
Xue Tuzi leaned over, slipping his arms under Shudu's shoulders and knees, and with a bit of effort, hoisted him up. He stumbled slightly, adjusting his hold to find a stable grip.
"Don't…" Shudu muttered, scowling in embarrassment. "I'm not some damsel in distress." His narrowed eyes flashed a defiant glare at Xue Tuzi.
Without hesitation, Xue Tuzi promptly dropped him, dusting his hands as he straightened up. "Fine. Then you can climb up by yourself," he replied dryly, brushing off his robes as if shaking off Shudu's attitude.
Shudu gritted his teeth, his growl low and begrudging. "Fine." But he barely managed to move before Xue Tuzi sighed and crouched down again, this time turning his back to Shudu.
"Just get on already," he muttered. Shudu relented, climbing onto Xue Tuzi's back. The weight settled heavily on Xue Tuzi's shoulders, nearly making his knees buckle, but he steeled himself and started up the steep mountain path. With each step, he could feel the strain building, his breathing becoming labored.
About halfway up, Xue Tuzi finally stopped, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. "You're... way too big," he panted. "I can't..."
Shudu's lips curled into a mischievous smirk as he leaned close to Xue Tuzi's ear, his voice dropping to a whisper. "That's what they all say."
Before he could finish, Xue Tuzi shook him off with a huff, letting him fall to the ground with a heavy thud. Shudu barely had time to react before Xue Tuzi shot him a deadly glare.
"One more word," Xue Tuzi warned, his voice cold, "and I'll leave you here."
From higher up the trail, Li Zhameng's voice rang out. "A-Tuzi! What's taking so long? We're almost there!"
Xue Tuzi rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath, but he crouched down one last time, heaving Shudu back onto his shoulders. He grumbled as he resumed the climb, quickening his pace. Near his tailbone he felt something hard jabbing him, every thrust stirred a heat within him. His face began to warm up, his cheeks flushing red, as his rough panting took over his lips. His moans were soft and uneven, something about this sensation lit him up, he had the urge to be completely ravaged by that thing.
Li Zhameng glanced over his shoulder, watching as Xue Tuzi finally stumbled to the top of the mountain, his face flushed, his breathing ragged. Xue Tuzi gasped, steadying himself as he took in the figure waiting for them—a striking man dressed in all white, pacing with a fan in hand. The man's short, tousled hair framed youthful, almost ethereal features, and he clicked the fan open and shut in a steady rhythm, his gaze fixed on the path below.
"Shizun!" Li Zhameng shouted excitedly, breaking into a sprint toward the man. He skidded to a halt and dropped into a respectful bow. Behind him, Xue Tuzi reached the summit, exhausted and slightly dizzy, dropping Shudu off his shoulders with a hasty thud before stumbling over to his Shizun's side. "Shizun!" he gasped, still breathless.
But Xue Laohu's eyes went wide, a flicker of horror crossing his face as he noticed Shudu lying on the ground, weakened and injured. Without a second thought, he brushed past Xue Tuzi and knelt beside Shudu, fingers moving swiftly to check his meridians. Energy pulsed from his hand as he transferred some of his own spiritual power to steady Shudu's condition.
Xue Tuzi's face fell, his expression shifting from admiration to dismay as he watched his Shizun carefully lift Shudu. Gritting his teeth, he looked down, clenching his fists, cheeks still tinged pink from the climb, his eyes a bit watery from the heat.
"You two," Xue Laohu barked sharply, his voice snapping Xue Tuzi and Li Zhameng out of their daze. "Start administering the antidote." He effortlessly lifted Shudu into his arms and strode down the hallway, his steps brisk and focused.
Xue Tuzi's jaw tightened as he watched his Shizun carry Shudu with ease, yet he reluctantly moved to follow his instructions. Meanwhile, Shudu, wincing and barely conscious, was groaning in pain as Xue Laohu brought him to his bedchamber.
Moments later, Li Zhameng peeked in, a bit hesitant but eager to report. "Shizun, the Great Sage gave us these medicinal herbs," he said, extending a pouch toward his master. "He also said…'don't be a stranger and come visit.'"
Xue Laohu's expression softened, and he reached out, giving Li Zhameng a gentle pat on the head. "You did well, Meng Meng," he said with a warm smile, tousling Li Zhameng's hair affectionately. Li Zhameng beamed, his eyes lighting up like stars as he basked in the praise.
Taking the pouch, Xue Laohu began tending to Shudu, carefully mixing herbs and applying them to his injuries. Shudu's eyes fluttered open, a faint smirk tugging at his lips even as he broke into a fit of coughing. "See… I told you I'd come back," he managed, his voice hoarse but laced with defiant humor.
"Enough. No more talking," Xue Laohu said firmly, cutting off Shudu's attempts to speak. His tone was gentle but brooked no argument as he carefully dabbed a damp cloth over Shudu's forehead, wiping away the sweat. All day, Xue Laohu devoted himself to tending Shudu's injuries, brewing bitter medicine, applying soothing ointments, and giving him a portion of his own spiritual energy to stabilize him.
Meanwhile, outside, Xue Tuzi searched for his Shizun. When he finally located him, he found Xue Laohu collapsed on the floor of the treatment room, drained from the constant healing. Xue Tuzi's eyes widened, panic flashing across his face as he hurried over.
Unbeknownst to Xue Tuzi, in the depths of his mind, Yi Ming was enduring a punishment from the system—an illusion in which he ran through a scorching desert, desperately evading giant cobras that pursued him relentlessly. The ordeal went on for what felt like an eternity, draining him mentally and physically. In reality, he was feverish and pale, beads of sweat trickling down his face as he lay on the ground, his breathing shallow and ragged.
"Shizun… is that parasite really so important to you that you would neglect your own health?" Xue Tuzi whispered, his voice thick with a mixture of frustration and concern. He reached out, gently dabbing his Shizun's brow with a handkerchief. With a quiet sigh, he lifted Xue Laohu into his arms, carefully carrying him to his bedroom and settling him onto the bed.
Some time later, Xue Laohu's eyes flew open, he gasped, clutching his chest as the remnants of the nightmare faded. His breathing was still uneven, and sweat continued to trickle down his temples. Beside him, seated on a chair with his head resting against the bed, was Xue Tuzi, fast asleep, his face softened in slumber.
Xue Laohu smiled faintly, reaching out to brush a lock of hair from Xue Tuzi's face. Then, moving carefully so as not to disturb him, he rose from the bed and quietly made his way to Shudu's room, his steps steady yet weary.
"Shouldn't he be tending to Shudu? Didn't they reveal each other's true nature? Ugh… I don't get it." Yi Ming muttered, scratching his head in confusion. He hesitated briefly before stepping into Shudu's room, who was still sound asleep.
Taking the chance, Yi Ming pulled up the translucent system screen, glancing over Shudu's character data. After the grueling punishment he had endured, Shudu's life energy bar was finally back to full—100%. He let out a long, relieved breath, the tension melting from his face.
But as he lowered the screen, he felt a prickle of awareness. Shudu was awake, his gaze sharp, his single red eye smoldering with an intensity that made the room feel smaller, quieter.
"An angel has descended," Shudu murmured, his voice low and soft. With a slight, almost hesitant movement, he lifted his hand to gently brush his fingers along Xue Laohu's chin.
Xue Laohu's lips curved in a quiet smile, as he reached up, clasping Shudu's hand in his own. He guided it back down to the bed, resting it against the sheets. "You joke too much," he replied. "But… I'm glad you're all right."
Shudu's eyes never left his face, an almost vulnerable light flickering in his gaze. "Does this venerable one's life truly matter so much to Grandmaster Xue?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. He leaned forward slightly, the question lingering in the air as he met Xue Laohu's eyes.
"Yes. Yes, it does," Xue Laohu said, his tone steady but warm. He kept his gaze on Shudu as he reached for his wrist, feeling his pulse beneath his fingertips. "In fact, it matters a great deal." He smiled softly, his thumb lightly tracing over Shudu's wrist.
Xue Tuzi lingered by the door, his heart pounding as he listened to the exchange between his Shizun and Shudu. He had woken up alone, immediately sensing that Xue Laohu was gone, and hurried to Shudu's bedchamber, where he found them together. The warmth and tenderness in his Shizun's voice as he spoke to Shudu ignited a sharp pang of jealousy. Clenching his fists, Xue Tuzi forced himself to leave, his steps heavy as he retreated to his own room.
Back in his quarters, Xue Tuzi searched for Jiao Jiao, hoping the little Gu worm's antics might distract him, but Jiao Jiao was nowhere to be found. After spending nearly the entire day hunting through every possible hiding spot, Xue Tuzi finally swallowed his pride and returned to the one place he hadn't checked—Shudu's room.
Gritting his teeth, he cracked the door open, peering inside. There, nestled snugly in Shudu's arms, was Jiao Jiao, content and completely at ease. Xue Tuzi's eyes narrowed in resentment, and the movement caught Shudu's attention.
"Oh look, who's here," Shudu remarked, his tone laced with amusement as he glanced down at the plump Gu worm nestled against his chest.
At the sight of Xue Tuzi, Jiao Jiao perked up, his oversized head bobbing with excitement. He wriggled free from Shudu's grasp and squirmed his way to Xue Tuzi's feet, rubbing his big head against Xue Tuzi's leg in a pathetic, pleading manner, as if asking for forgiveness. Xue Tuzi sighed, his expression softening slightly as he crouched down, extending his hand to pick up Jiao Jiao.
But before he could scoop the creature up, Shudu's voice broke the silence, carrying a teasing lilt. "Nurse, I'm thirsty."
Xue Tuzi looked up, his face carefully blank, holding Jiao Jiao in his arms as he approached the bed with a cold, indifferent expression.
Shudu's lips curved into a mischievous smile. "Give me some of your sweet nectar."
Xue Tuzi's eyes flared with barely contained rage. Without a word, he lifted the jug of water and dumped its contents straight onto Shudu's face. Water splashed over him, and Shudu let out a startled cough, though a smirk still played on his lips as he watched Xue Tuzi storm out, his footsteps echoing down the hallway.
Above them, Xiao Zongzi, who had been watching with mild amusement, shook her head, crossing her tiny legs. She dangled down from the ceiling, gracefully retrieving a towel, which she dropped onto Shudu's chest.