Shen Gurong lay there for a while before brushing aside his white hair, rising and slowly walking out.
He needed to think about how to make a trip to the hiding place on Liren Peak alone.
As he pondered this, upon exiting Zhibai Hall, he saw Mu Zhe standing under a mulberry tree not far away, holding a stack of papers, seemingly having waited for a long time.
Shen Gurong raised an eyebrow and slowly walked in.
Mu Zhe saw him approach and nodded slightly: "Master."
Shen Gurong asked, "What are you doing here?"
Mu Zhe lowered his head and respectfully replied, "Waiting for Master to return to Fanjiang Residence together."
Shen Gurong was taken aback, seemingly not expecting Mu Zhe to wait for him specifically.
Shen Gurong thought for a moment, roughly guessing that the young protagonist was trying to repay the kindness he had shown him earlier. He chuckled briefly and said calmly, "Before returning to Fanjiang Residence, I need to go to the library. You'll come with me."
Mu Zhe had never seen Shen Gurong smile before. Hearing this, he looked up in surprise, meeting Shen Gurong's gentle and refined gaze, and suddenly froze.
Shen Gurong saw Mu Zhe's sudden blankness and tilted his head slightly: "Hmm? What's wrong?"
Mu Zhe snapped back to reality and immediately bowed his head: "Yes."
Shen Gurong firmly grasped the Mu-style signpost, as if grasping at hope.
Just as he was about to ask Mu Zhe to lead the way, Mu Zhe voluntarily took a half-step forward to guide him.
Shen Gurong nodded, looking at the young Mu Zhe's dark hair whorl, and a slight smile played on his lips.
This child, indeed, clearly distinguishes between gratitude and resentment.
The library was on Jiuchun Mountain, not far from Fanjiang Residence. The two crossed the suspension bridge and slowly descended the mountain steps.
The steps were flanked by towering, lush trees, their canopies providing ample shade and a refreshing breeze. After a short walk, they arrived at the library of Liren Peak.
The elder of the library was sunbathing in front of the study. Upon seeing Shen Gurong, he nearly fell off his couch, hastily rising to his feet and bowing, "Greetings, Holy Lord."
Shen Gurong was almost used to everyone's trembling attitude towards him. He nodded, "I've come to find a book."
The elder quickly opened the carved wooden door of the library and welcomed the two inside.
Legend has it that the library of Liren Peak possesses the largest collection of books in the entire Three Realms and Nine Provinces. Even the royal family of Jingzhou once sent someone to borrow a rare copy, but Xi Guxing, not wanting to be involved with the mortal world, refused to lend any books, sending the person away.
Shen Gurong walked among the rows of bookshelves, divided into classics, histories, philosophical works, and literary collections, four shelves filled with books of all kinds.
The elder, carrying the mermaid candle, led the way: "What book does Your Majesty wish to borrow?"
Shen Gurong replied, "The Map of the Nine Provinces."
"The Map of the Nine Provinces is on the fourth floor." The elder led him up the wooden steps. Few people were present, and the air was thick with the damp scent of wood. "Three years ago, the Sect Leader revamped the Map of the Nine Provinces. It contains all the cities, villages, and towns that exist in the Three Realms."
Shen Gurong nodded, glancing sideways at Mu Zhe, who was silently following behind. "Is there a book you wish to borrow?"
Mu Zhe, who had been silently climbing the stairs, was taken aback by Shen Gurong's question. He hesitated for a moment, about to shake his head, but then, as if remembering something, nodded stiffly.
Shen Gurong said, "Then you may go. You don't need to accompany me."
Mu Zhe: "Yes."
Shen Gurong followed the elder upstairs.
Soon, the two reached the fourth floor.
The fourth floor was empty, with only real books displayed on the four walls, and in the center, a phantom map.
The elder said, "Your Majesty, this is the Kunyu Map."
Shen Gurong had never seen a map that could float in the air before. This Kunyu Map seemed to shrink the vast world onto a single sheet of paper, showing mountains, rivers, and densely packed towns and cities; if one were close enough, one could faintly hear the murmuring of the rivers.
Shen Gurong marveled at it.
The elder, rarely seeing this reclusive Holy Ruler, noticed his interest in the Kunyu Map and quickly asked, "Which city does the Holy Ruler wish to find?"
Shen Gurong thought for a moment and said, "You know all cities?"
"Indeed," the elder replied, "Liren Peak has existed for a thousand years, and all cities that have existed within that time are recorded."
Shen Gurong unconsciously rubbed the wooden beads on his wrist, remained silent for a moment, and then asked, "Has Huitang City existed in the past thousand years?"
The elder bowed slightly: "Please wait a moment, Holy Ruler."
He walked to the books on the wall, searched for a moment, and said, "Holy Ruler, there is no such city in the Three Realms."
Shen Gurong: "Are you sure?"
The elder nodded: "Indeed."
Shen Gurong breathed a sigh of relief. He said calmly, "Alright, I understand."
Shen Feng Xue was only a little over a hundred years old. The fact that Huitang City hadn't existed in this world for a thousand years meant that he had truly transmigrated into a fictional book.
"Is there anything else Your Majesty needs?"
Shen Gurong shook his head: "Thank you."
The elder was startled and quickly nodded, daring not to speak further.
After Shen Gurong went downstairs, Mu Zhe was already waiting at the door, holding the book he wanted to borrow.
"What book did you borrow?"
Mu Zhe showed him a yellowed book with two large, flamboyant characters written on it—"Questioning the Heart."
Shen Gurong didn't think much of it and left with Mu Zhe.
On the way back to Fanjiang Residence, Mu Zhe remained silent the entire time. Shen Gurong, being someone who couldn't stand being alone, naturally wanted to take this opportunity to change Mu Zhe's impression of him as a "beast."
He casually started a conversation: "Where's Yu Xinghe?"
Mu Zhe replied, "He's staying in the outer disciples' quarters. He went back after morning lessons."
Shen Gurong tilted his head to look at him: "An outer disciple?"
Mu Zhe stiffened, and said in a low voice, "I... Xinghe and I were afraid that staying at Jiuchun Mountain would disturb Master, so we moved to Changying Mountain without permission. We hope Master will punish us."
Shen Gurong thought to himself, with Shen Feng Xue's well-intentioned but mischievous nature, moving away to avoid trouble is the normal thing to do.
Xi Guxing had mentioned this before, but Shen Gurong had assumed these two were staying with Li Suo in the inner disciples' quarters, so he hadn't paid much attention.
If these two are disciples under Shen Feng Xue's tutelage, staying in the outer disciples' quarters of another sect, what will the other disciples think of them?
"It's alright," Shen Gurong said, "Just have Yu Xinghe move back as soon as possible."
Mu Zhe's face paled.
Although he didn't know why he had suddenly overheard Shen Gurong's thoughts, he always felt it was extremely impolite to pry into someone's mind. Unless absolutely necessary to use his spiritual power, he rarely ventured into Shen Gurong's consciousness.
But now, however, Mu Zhe's heart trembled slightly, and he suddenly felt an uncontrollable urge to see what Shen Gurong was thinking.
This ability to control the consciousness of the person who posed the greatest threat to him was, for the young Mu Zhe, almost a twisted temptation.
It felt as if two little figures, one black and one white, were fighting within him.
"Don't casually pry into other people's consciousness."
"Shen Feng Xue could easily invade my sea of consciousness before, so why can't I look at his?"
"Master will kill me if he finds out."
"He's the one who channeled his spiritual energy into my dantian; he's the one to blame."
Mu Zhe pressed his forehead in exasperation. In the end, he was still too young, and worried that Shen Gurong might harm Yu Xinghe, so he couldn't control himself and circulated his spiritual energy again.
Shen Gurong thought: It's good that he's back. Now I can cuddle this little dumpling every day.
Yu Xinghe has such a good temper; he'll hug and cuddle if he wants, unlike this little brat, who won't even let me hug him.
Mu Zhe: "..."
Shen Gurong seemed to be obsessed with tormenting Mu Zhe before, even when Yu Xinghe was acting silly in front of him every day, Shen Gurong wouldn't even glance at him.
When Shen Gurong suddenly asked Yu Xinghe to come back, Mu Zhe assumed he was up to something, but he overheard these words instead.
Shen Gurong: When will Mu Zhe finally let me hold him?
Mu Zhe: "..."
Mu Zhe stumbled, twisted his ankle, and fell three steps down.
Shen Gurong was startled and instinctively reached out to pull Mu Zhe into his arms.
Mu Zhe, still shaken, stared at him in astonishment.
Shen Gurong held him tightly, his gaze slightly lowered.
Sigh, this kid looks so cold, but he's actually quite soft to hold.
Mu Zhe: "..."
Mu Zhe's face turned slightly green.
Shen Gurong placed him on the steps, then knelt on one of the lower steps, ignoring Mu Zhe's weak struggles, and grabbed Mu Zhe's calf, gently squeezing his ankle.
Mu Zhe hissed in pain, immediately biting his lip to force the sound back.
Shen Gu Rong raised an eyebrow at him: "Does it hurt?"
Mu Zhe gritted his teeth: "No, it doesn't hurt."
He didn't cry out even when it hurt.
Shen Gu Rong wasn't quite convinced, so he gently pinched him again.
This time, Mu Zhe was in so much pain that tears welled up in his eyes.
Shen Gu Rong: Hahahaha! This stubborn little dumpling is really funny.
Mu Zhe: "..."
Seeing that Mu Zhe had no strength to struggle, Shen Gu Rong reached out to pull him into his arms.
Mu Zhe's face was pale, and he bit his lip stubbornly, whispering, "I can walk by myself."
Seeing his unwavering resistance, Shen Gurong reluctantly stood up and stepped back a few paces, saying, "Then try taking a few steps?"
Mu Zhe was incredibly resilient; despite the excruciating pain in his ankle, he didn't want to embarrass himself in front of Shen Gurong, so he tried to jump forward.
The steps of Liren Peak were already steep, and Mu Zhe's short legs usually struggled to walk, let alone with his injury.
He jumped twice but couldn't hold on any longer, stumbling and falling straight down the steps—if he landed hard, he would definitely get a head injury.
Mu Zhe panicked, and just as he was about to reach out to steady himself on the steps, he smelled a bitter medicinal scent, and then a pair of hands gently caught him, holding his small body steadily in their arms.
Mu Zhe's face flushed red.
Shen Gurong lowered his gaze, and through the thin silk veil, one could see the gentle light in his pale eyes.
Shen Gurong said softly, "Are you alright?"
Mu Zhe froze, his heart skipping a beat.
The next instant, he heard Shen Gurong desperately trying to suppress his laughter.
This child is so stubborn; even with tears welling in his eyes from the pain, he still says it doesn't hurt.
As expected of my disciple, he's really good at pretending.
Ha, ha, ha, ha!
Mu Zhe: "…………"
Mu Zhe, expressionless, clutched his book, struggling to push Shen Gurong's clothes with his small hands, his face flushed red, whether from anger or embarrassment, it was hard to tell.
He wanted to jump out of Shen Gurong's arms, but he was too afraid of the pain, so he could only bite his lip and remain silent, his resistance written all over his face, hoping Shen Gurong would have a change of heart.
Unfortunately, Shen Gurong was oblivious, holding him tightly as they leisurely strolled up the stone steps, even having the time to chat with Mu Zhe.
"Why did you decide to borrow this book?"
Mu Zhe was still sulking, ignoring him.
Shen Gurong didn't seem embarrassed at all, and asked again, "So, how many characters do you know?"
He just wanted to ask if Mu Zhe could read, since even the villain Yu Xinghe didn't recognize the characters for "exterminate evil," and Mu Zhe was younger than him, so he should be about the same.
However, after deliberately pinching Mu Zhe's ankle and forcibly holding him in his arms—things that made him hateful—asking this question felt strangely sarcastic.
Mu Zhe was used to being tormented by him, and immediately misinterpreted it.
He mumbled, "I recognize every single word in the Jingxin Sutra."
Shen Gurong happened to see Fanjiang Residence not far away and, hearing his words, praised him in a flat tone, "Oh, you're really clever."
Mu Zhe: "..."
It sounded more like mockery.
Mu Zhe's "betraying his master and ancestors" thoughts, which had been dormant for several days, began to stir again.
Shen Gurong, oblivious to Mu Zhe's subtle, sensitive thoughts, didn't notice.
The Cang and Fanjiang Residences were on the same mountain steps, allowing Shen Gurong to easily reach his lodgings.
He originally intended to take little Mu Zhe back to the side courtyard and perhaps further strengthen their master-disciple bond, but Mu Zhe kept struggling to get down and walk himself, so Shen Gurong had no choice but to put him down.
Mu Zhe's face flushed red, and he limped towards the side courtyard.
Shen Gurong said from behind, "Really don't want me to take you back?"
Little Mu Zhe hopped even faster.
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