At dawn, the fog over the Great Swamp was even deeper and thicker; visibility was almost zero beyond five steps.
Shen Wanglan and Shen Xiwu sat on the edge of the wooden boardwalk, swinging their short legs to watch the wondrous fog.
Having spent so many years in Huitang City, all Shen Wanglan had seen were countless ghosts and dilapidated ruins, so everything he saw after leaving home felt new and exciting.
Shen Xiwu took out a bunch of candied fruit and gave them to Shen Wanglan, then they swung their legs together to watch the fog—not knowing what was so interesting about it.
Shen Wanglan, with a candied fruit in his mouth, asked curiously, "Where does this fog come from?"
Shen Xiwu tilted her head and thought for a moment, "It seems to be dragon's breath, right?"
Shen Wanglan: "Dragon's breath?"
Shen Xiwu didn't know either, but seeing Shen Wanglan's seriousness, she could only make something up: "It's because there are many sleeping dragons deep in this great swamp. Every day after they breathe, white fog rises up; that's dragon's breath."
Shen Wanglan exclaimed "Wow!", his eyes full of longing as he looked at his aunt: "Is that so?! Auntie is so knowledgeable!"
Shen Xiwu was flattered by the praise.
Shen Wanglan then pointed to a distance, innocently asking, "What's the fire in that fog?"
Shen Xiwu looked up and saw that there really was a cluster of fire slowly approaching in the misty white fog. Before she could think further, the flame had already rushed to the two of them in an instant.
A man covered in flames lightly stepped on the edge of the wooden walkway, looking down at the two of them.
Shen Wanglan stared blankly at him. Xue Manzhuang, engulfed in flames, fearing he might burn the child, quickly withdrew his phoenix fire, leaving only a wisp at his fingertip, which he placed on a candied fruit pit in a small dish beside him.
His eyebrows almost flew off as he ostentatiously handed the phoenix fire, nestled in the candied fruit pit, to Shen Wanglan, smiling as he said, "This is for you."
Shen Wanglan took it, and seeing the flame clearly burning inside the candied fruit pit with its small hole, exclaimed in surprise, "Wow!" and reached out to take it.
Shen Xiwu, however, was prickly, staring warily at Xue Manzhuang, her eyes filled with vigilance.
She pulled Shen Wanglan up, shielding him behind her, her ghostly aura slightly shrinking when facing this man.
Xue Manzhuang quickly explained that he meant no harm: "I'm here to see Holy Lord Shen. Where is he?"
Shen Wanglan, unsuspecting, replied, "They're..."
Shen Xiwu abruptly covered Shen Wanglan's mouth, coldly staring at Xue Manzhuang, and said, "What business do you have with my brother?"
Upon hearing that this child was Holy Lord Shen's sister, Xue Manzhuang's eyes immediately lit up, and he said, "Hello, sister..."
Shen Xiwu frowned: "Who's your sister?!"
Xue Manzhuang still harbored designs on Shen Gurong, believing that based on his looks, power, and status as an ancient divine beast, he was the only one in the Three Realms worthy of Shen Gurong. He considered Mu Zhe, that disfigured brat, a toad lusting after a swan.
Seeing Shen Xiwu, Xue Manzhuang decided to win his sister's favor first, hoping she would speak well of him to Shen Gurong, perhaps giving him a chance.
Unfortunately, Shen Xiwu didn't want anyone near her brother, especially not a lecherous man like Xue Manzhuang whose ambitions were written all over his face.
Xue Manzhuang tried everything, but still couldn't gain Shen Xiwu's trust. Finally, he had no choice but to fly away and go find him himself.
Shen Xiwu couldn't catch him and stomped her feet in anger. She grabbed Shen Wanglan's hand and headed to find Shen Gurong to tell him about the trespassing.
The two of them ran to the pavilion, but just as they were about to push open the door, they were blocked by a barrier.
Mu Zhe's cold voice rang in their ears, sounding very displeased: "What is it?"
Shen Xiwu frowned and said, "Where is my brother?"
Mu Zhe's tone was full of impatience: "What is it? Just say it."
Shen Xiwu instinctively disliked Mu Zhe, but Shen Gurong liked him very much, so she could only grit her teeth and accept it.
“Just now, a person covered in flames barged in, saying they were looking for their brother.”
Mu Zhe paused, then said, “A phoenix?”
Shen Xiwu said, “It seems so.”
Mu Zhe said, “I understand. You two can continue playing.”
Even though Shen Xiwu disliked Mu Zhe, she had to admire his strength. After informing him of the situation and knowing he would handle the lecherous man covered in flames, she continued to lead Shen Wanglan to other parts of the Great Swamp.
In the pavilion, Mu Zhe dismissed the two, closed his eyes, and spread his divine sense outwards, quickly finding Xue Manzhuang flying erratically in the air.
Mu Zhe clicked his tongue, casually waved his hand, and a wisp of divine sense shot out, disappearing into the air.
He opened his eyes, casually brushed his loose black hair from his shoulder, and turned his head to find that Shen Gurong had been woken up. He was now fumbling to put on his ice-cloth and was looking at him with a gloomy expression.
Mu Zhe smiled obediently, "Good morning, Master."
Shen Gurong's face was ashen. He propped himself up, his white hair, spread across the bed, concealing his body covered in red marks and bruises. He coldly asked, "Have you thought of your last words?"
His voice was hoarse from the previous night, and when he feigned indifference, it carried a low, tearful tone—quite alluring.
Mu Zhe smiled, feigning ignorance, "What are you saying, Master? Mu Zhe doesn't understand."
Shen Gurong: "..."
Seeing that he still dared to play dumb, Shen Gurong expressionlessly retrieved the damned burmese bell from the bedside table. He held it in his palm, and with a slight exertion, the gold bell instantly turned to gold dust, fluttering down from his hand.
Mu Zhe: "..."
Shen Gurong said indifferently, "Last words."
Mu Zhe swallowed hard and said softly, "Master, as long as you don't... don't break me, you can do whatever you want with me."
Shen Gurong: "..."
Shen Gurong almost laughed out of anger. He grabbed Mu Zhe's chin and coldly demanded, "Was your attitude last night one of complete subservience?"
Mu Zhe blushed.
Shen Gurong: "Speak!"
Mu Zhe's voice was even softer: "Master, that was... the day before yesterday."
Shen Gurong: "???"
Shen Gurong stared at Mu Zhe in disbelief. He had actually been playing with him for two days?!
No wonder he was sore all over, even his legs were weak.
Shen Gurong gritted his teeth inwardly, and after a long while, he said through gritted teeth, "Are you a beast?"
Mu Zhe smiled gently, showing absolutely no trace of the beast he had been last night... the night before.
Shen Gurong coldly released his hand: "Take me to bathe." He'd beat him up afterward.
Mu Zhe hurriedly tried to please his master: "I've already bathed you for you."
That only made things worse; hearing it, Shen Gurong became irritable again. He kicked Mu Zhe in the waist, grinding his leg slightly, and said coldly, "Are you going to bathe me, or are you going to find another place and torture me to death?"
Mu Zhe's face flushed again.
Shen Gurong felt a stomachache watching him. He kicked him away in annoyance, struggled off the bed, and, wearing Mu Zhe's blue robe, went to the backyard.
Mu Zhe knew he didn't know the way, so he quickly went to support him and led him there.
Shen Gurong glanced at him but didn't refuse his help.
The two arrived at the hot spring in the backyard. Shen Gurong threw off his robe and stepped into the water with a cold face.
Mu Zhe leaned closer, saying, "Master, let me..."
Shen Gurong didn't dare remove the ice silk. Although it was uncomfortable to have it sticking to his eyes, it was better than not being able to see. He looked at Mu Zhe warily and said, "No need, I can do it myself."
Mu Zhe sighed, "I just wanted to massage your lower back with my spiritual energy."
Shen Gurong's face darkened: "Don't think I don't know what you're thinking."
In Shen Gurong's eyes, Mu Zhe's face clearly said, "I want to do it again," and Shen Gurong naturally wouldn't let him succeed.
Mu Zhe was a normal young man. Having just experienced the taste of sex, he wouldn't be easily satisfied. However, seeing Shen Gurong's resistance, he was even less likely to think about dual cultivation when Shen Gurong was so resistant.
"Master, I really just wanted to massage your lower back."
Shen Gurong said, "I don't believe you. Get out of my way."
Mu Zhe had no choice but to lean against the side.
Shen Gurong continued washing himself, the sound of water splashing around him making Mu Zhe's face inexplicably flush.
After a while, Shen Gurong couldn't help himself. He forced herself to remain calm and said in a low, expressionless voice, "Mu Zhe..."
Mu Zhe was about to turn his head when Shen Gurong immediately said, "Don't look, turn around!"
Mu Zhe had no choice but to turn around, staring at the ripples on the water's surface.
"What is it?"
Shen Gurong found it difficult to speak, yet he was truly distressed. After a long pause, he finally managed a hoarse voice: "That thing from last night...did you take it out?"
Mu Zhe hesitated for a moment before replying, "I took it out."
Shen Gurong's face flushed crimson, his voice growing softer: "Then...why do I feel something moving inside?"
Mu Zhe: "..."
Recalling the passionate encounter that night, Mu Zhe suddenly felt a surge of desire. He tried to remain calm, staring at the increasingly rapid waves, and said, "Fourth Uncle only gave...one piece, which Master crushed just now. That's all."
Shen Gurong finally breathed a sigh of relief, frantically splashing around in the water, feeling even more ashamed. He then submerged himself completely, causing a few bubbles to rise to the surface.
Mu Zhe heard his Master scolding him underwater.
'Aaaaah—Mu Zhe! You little brat!'
'Punishment by copying books should start early! I should have punished you so badly when you were little that your legs would tremble at the sight of me!'
'Insolence! You scoundrel! Ah…'
'Ugh, what if there's something else inside? I feel so uncomfortable.'
Mu Zhe: "…"
Just then, a firework exploded in the sky, illuminating the foggy horizon with a ring of light.
Mu Zhe frowned and glanced at it coldly.
Shen Gurong emerged from the water, casually brushing his wet white hair behind his back. Water droplets dripped from his eyelashes, soaking even his silk handkerchief. He frowned and asked, "What happened?"
Mu Zhe silently added another layer of protection, blocking out the snow-covered atmosphere from the sky. He smiled gently and said, "Nothing."
Shen Gurong frowned, his lips a vibrant red, his body glistening with water—a strangely alluring sight. He was completely unaware of how alluring he appeared to Mu Zhe, still frowning as he listened to the sounds outside.
He said, "I heard someone screaming?"
And it sounded like mournful birdsong?
Mu Zhe forced himself to look away from Shen Gurong, saying with difficulty, "It's probably some kind of spirit beast that's wandered in. I... I'll go check it out."
With that, he went ashore, wrapped his green robe around himself, and ran out in a panic.
Shen Gurong remained where he was, frowning. He wrung out his white hair, put on his outer robe, and followed his Daoist partner back to their bedroom, waiting for Mu Zhe to return and dry his hair.
Hmm, he'll dry my hair before I beat him up.
Shen Gurong thought to himself.
I have so many questions
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