Shen Gurong, holding the finished puppet of his Master, happily jumped down from the tree.
But he hadn't used any spiritual power at this moment, and the paulownia tree was tall. His reckless jump startled Mu Zhe, who quickly landed on the ground first and caught Shen Gurong with open arms.
Shen Gurong's robes fluttered as he was caught, but he didn't even look at Mu Zhe, running off with the puppet in his arms.
"Master?" Shen Gurong ran aimlessly around Fanjiang Residence, seemingly searching for someone. "Master, Master!"
Mu Zhe chased after him, his face pale, but dared not call out to him again.
He was afraid that the confused Shen Gurong would mistake him for… the Master with the exact same face.
Shen Gurong ran around for a while but couldn't find his Master, so he returned to Fanjiang Residence, fiddling with the puppet, his eyes lowered, his long eyelashes trembling slightly like resting butterflies.
His fingertip gently touched the puppet's face, looking somewhat dejected, and he whispered, "Sir, sir will definitely like this puppet."
Mu Zhe sat cautiously opposite him, staring intently.
He didn't know what was wrong with Shen Gurong, nor how to wake him up, so he could only watch in vain.
Looking at Shen Gurong's unfocused eyes, Mu Zhe thought with a touch of despair: If only I were a physician…
A physician?
Mu Zhe froze, then abruptly stood up and left Fanjiang Residence, bringing Mu Xi from the spirit boat.
A moment later, Mu Xi's pupils contracted slightly, and his expression suddenly became somewhat languid.
Lin Shuhe yawned, raising an eyebrow, "Crazy? How could he suddenly go crazy?"
Mu Zhe, however, said with a grim expression, "He's not crazy, just his memory is a bit confused."
Lin Shuhe chuckled, not paying any attention.
Even if things were chaotic, how chaotic could they be?
But when Lin Shuhe saw Shen Gurong playing with the puppet, his smile froze on his face.
Truly, truly chaotic!
Lin Shuhe cautiously walked over, lifted the wooden hand and grasped Shen Gurong's, whispering, "Eleven?"
Shen Gurong raised his head blankly, his gaze still not fixed on anything, as if he couldn't see anyone in front of him at all.
Lin Shuhe raised his hand and beckoned in front of him, but Shen Gurong's pupils didn't move, as if he were blind.
No, he himself was blind.
Lin Shuhe's expression became somewhat solemn. He said to Mu Zhe, "How long has he been like this?"
"Half a day."
Lin Shuhe pondered for a moment, then raised his hand to examine Shen Gurong's spiritual veins, and after a long while said, "He's probably having another flare-up of his spiritual disorder."
Mu Zhe was stunned: "Spiritual disorder?"
He had never heard of such an illness.
And what did he mean by "another flare-up"?
Lin Shuhe swiftly removed the ice silk from Shen Gurong's eyes. Shen Gurong tilted his head slightly, seemingly puzzled, but holding his master's puppet, he appeared fearless.
Lin Shuhe pinched his chin, carefully examining his eyes. Shen Gurong was perfectly docile, not flinching at all.
Mu Zhe hurriedly asked, "What is a spiritual barrier?"
Lin Shuhe thought for a moment and said, "Back then, your master... must have seen something bad, suffered a shock, and his body instinctively tried to escape, creating a spiritual barrier. From then on, he couldn't see."
Mu Zhe was stunned, finally realizing what Lin Shuhe meant when he said "his eyes had never been injured."
Saw... something bad?
What could have caused him such a shock, making him willingly close his eyes, never to see any light again?
Mu Zhe stammered, "He...saw something?"
Lin Shuhe, having finished examining Shen Gurong and was binding the ice silk to his eyes, paused for a moment upon hearing this before awkwardly replying, "I don't know either."
Mu Zhe thought blankly: He's lying.
Mu Zhe had always felt that everyone on Liren Peak was treating his master with unprecedented kindness. Even those who loathed Shen Feng Xue like Chao Jiuxiao would risk their lives to protect him whenever danger arose.
At first, Mu Zhe thought it was due to the harmony within the Liren Peak sect, with all the senior brothers and sisters showing extra care for their youngest junior brother.
But that wasn't right.
The people of Liren Peak were all exceptional individuals, each with their own peculiar personalities. They came from different backgrounds, had different preferences, and went their separate ways after reaching adulthood, even living in different places. There was no reason for them to all be so kind to Shen Feng Xue.
For so many people to remain united, either Shen Feng Xue truly deserves such kindness, or… they all have reasons to be good to him.
Shen Feng Xue's nature isn't universally liked, so there must be other reasons.
And that reason isn't affection, nor his background, nor status or power; it can only be guilt.
Guilt is like a dull knife hanging over the heart, or a leech, impossible to shake off. One can only try their best to compensate, to fill the void created by guilt.
And kindness is the most effective way to fill that void, yet it can also be given away indiscriminately.
Lin Shuhe quickly examined him and said, "He's unconsciously avoiding everyone right now, he can't see anyone around him at all, you…"
Before he could finish, Mu Zhe paused and interjected, "That's not right."
Lin Shuhe: "What's not right?"
Mu Zhe: "He saw me just now."
Lin Shuhe froze, staring at him in astonishment.
Once a spiritual barrier forms, even Lin Shuhe couldn't dispel it, so how could it be…?
Lin Shuhe pursed his lips and said, "Did he see you? Did he recognize you?"
Mu Zhe shook his head: "Not sure. He said he wanted me to help him copy books."
Lin Shuhe hesitated for a moment before saying, "Then you should stay by his side and talk to him more. It'll probably help dispel the spiritual barrier."
As he spoke, he seemed to remember that this person was a little rascal who coveted his junior brother, but seeing Shen Gurong's current state, he couldn't bring himself to scold him. He could only reluctantly hand Shen Gurong over to Mu Zhe and turn away.
Mu Zhe sat opposite Shen Gurong, staring intently for a long time before trying to speak to him.
"Master?"
Shen Gurong didn't hear him at first, so Mu Zhe had to try and imitate his earlier action, lifting his face and forcing him to look at him.
Soon, Shen Gurong dazedly met his gaze.
Mu Zhe quickly seized the opportunity to offer a gentle smile: "Master, I..."
Before he could finish, Shen Gurong tilted his head and asked, "Have you copied the book for me?"
Mu Zhe was taken aback, then hurriedly took out the paper from the table and said, "Look, it's copied."
Shen Gurong had no judgment whatsoever; he glanced at the paper casually, then smiled at Mu Zhe and said, "You're so kind."
Mu Zhe was stunned by the praise.
Shen Gurong blinked, biting his fingertip as if deep in thought.
Afraid that he would lose sight of him once Shen Gurong's gaze left him, Mu Zhe quickly grabbed his hand, forcing a smile, "I...I copied the book for Master, how does Master plan to reward me?"
"Reward?" Shen Gurong tilted his head, looking at him, before suddenly smiling after a long pause.
He straightened his knees, placed his hands on the table between them, leaned slightly closer to Mu Zhe, and kissed him on the corner of the lips with a smile. Mu Zhe was immediately stunned.
Shen Gurong showed no shame whatsoever, even smiling slyly, and said, "This is what I most want to do to you."
Even knowing the timing was inappropriate, Mu Zhe couldn't help but blush.
Lin Shuhe said that once the spiritual barrier of unconsciously ignoring everyone else takes hold, it's incurable, but Shen Gurong seemed to treat him specially, unable to see anyone else, only him.
And…
Mu Zhe touched the corner of his lips, his tightly wound heart slowly relaxing.
And, Shen Gurong didn't seem to regard him as his teacher.
This conclusion delighted Mu Zhe.
Shen Gurong kissed him, finding him increasingly endearing, and climbed onto the table, leaning close to Mu Zhe, and mumbled, "Mu Zhe."
Mu Zhe was startled, then said with some joy, "Master, you recognize me?"
Shen Gurong laughed, "Of course I recognize you…"
He paused, then paused himself.
Recognize him?
Mu Zhe?
Shen Gurong froze, lost in thought, his mind reeling.
Mu Zhe, afraid he'd overthink and become obsessed, reached out and hugged him, softly coaxing, "It's alright, nothing's wrong."
This tiny bit of special treatment from Shen Gurong was enough to make him ecstatic.
It didn't matter if he didn't remember him.
Nothing was wrong.
Shen Gurong was completely absorbed in copying the book. Even though Mu Zhe had already fooled him into thinking the book was finished, a short while later, he was sitting upright at the desk, frowning and writing furiously.
This time, he was copying the 'Di Zi Gui' (Standards for Being a Good Student and Child).
Mu Zhe went from initial panic to gradual calm. Shen Gurong had suddenly gone mad without warning; he couldn't afford to lose his composure.
He had to go to Fengdu tonight to find out why Shen Gurong had become like this.
Once the reason is found, things will naturally become easier.
Shen Gurong copied books all day, his wrists trembling until he stopped, almost self-torturing. It was only after Mu Zhe's long persuasion that Shen Gurong finally stopped, bewildered.
He stammered, "But the teacher said to copy it five times."
Mu Zhe was taken aback. In just one day, Shen Gurong had already copied the book more than five times.
Knowing that he couldn't judge Shen Gurong by ordinary logic, Mu Zhe could only coax him, "You can copy it tomorrow. It's already very late."
Shen Gurong looked outside in confusion. Fanjiang Residence was a self-contained world, perpetually bright. Seeing this, Mu Zhe immediately waved his hand, and the outside world instantly turned into darkness.
Shen Gurong was easily fooled, even tugging at Mu Zhe's sleeve and smiling, "It's nighttime, are there lanterns to see?"
Mu Zhe: "You want to see lanterns?"
"Yes!" Shen Gurong nodded, repeating, "Let's go see the lanterns."
Mu Zhe was unaware of Shen Gurong's inner turmoil, but seeing his joy, he nodded in agreement.
Since he was going to Fengdu anyway, taking Shen Gurong along was fine.
Knowing they were going to see lanterns, Shen Gurong happily rummaged through the trunk in Fanjiang Residence, seemingly searching for clothes.
However, the clothes in the trunk were all things Mu Zhe had bought for him, mostly white or blue. Shen Gurong puffed out his cheeks, disliking them at all, and couldn't find anything after turning the trunk upside down.
Mu Zhe thought for a moment, then tentatively took out the red robe that Su Xiyan had given Shen Gurong before.
Shen Gurong took it happily upon seeing it and cheerfully put it on.
Mu Zhe led him out of Fanjiang Residence.
Yu Xinghe was trembling as he watched the slowly opening gates of Fengdu City in the distance. Seeing Mu Zhe and Shen Gurong emerge, his eyes lit up.
He jumped down from the spirit boat: "Master!"
Yu Xinghe bowed, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Shen Gurong, hoping to get a pat on the head from his master like before.
But Shen Gurong's eyes were unfocused; he was holding onto Mu Zhe's sleeve, seemingly oblivious to him.
Yu Xinghe waited and waited, but his master didn't pat his head. He looked up, looking aggrieved: "Master?"
Mu Zhe didn't let Yu Xinghe bother his master, asking, "How is Fengdu?"
Yu Xinghe quickly suppressed his pleading, saying, "The city gates opened after nightfall."
And the charred ruins instantly transformed into this bustling ghost town at dusk.
Mu Zhe nodded, then grasped Shen Gurong's hand, which was holding his sleeve, and cupped Shen Gurong's slender fingers in his large palm.
Mu Zhe led him towards Fengdu, with Yu Xinghe following a few steps behind.
Yu Xinghe had been staring intently at their clasped hands. Suddenly, he stopped, seemingly lost in thought.
"Junior Brother."
Shen Gurong was moving his fingers, tracing patterns on Mu Zhe's palm, tickling him.
He gripped Shen Gurong's hand tightly, preventing him from moving, and turned to Yu Xinghe, asking, "What's wrong?"
His tone was unusually gentle.
Yu Xinghe looked at Mu Zhe with a complex expression for a long time before stammering, "From now on..."
Mu Zhe's eyelids twitched.
Yu Xinghe, her ears turning red, whispered, "From now on, should I call you Master's wife?"
Mu Zhe: "..."
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