Upon learning that Shen Gurong was to merge his household registration with Mu Zhe, Yu Xinghe rushed over from Yuzhou City, his eyes brimming with tears.
Since their parting in Xianzhou, Yu Xinghe had known that his master utterly despised him, and had never proactively sought out Shen Gurong again, to avoid further rejection. However, upon learning of such a momentous event as his junior brother becoming his master's wife, or his martial brother becoming his sister-in-law, he still had no choice but to swallow his pride and come.
When he arrived at Fanjiang Residence, Shen Gurong was trying on his wedding attire. He leaned against a soft couch, exuding an extremely languid air, perhaps somewhat weary. His eyes, hidden beneath the silk gauze, were only half-open, as if he couldn't muster any strength.
He glanced casually at the wedding dress, giving it a meaningful look.
Mu Zhe immediately pointed to a spot: "Here?"
"Yes," Shen Gurong said lazily, "I don't like the crane design. Change it for me."
Mu Zhe nodded: "Change it to what?"
"Whatever you like, just not the crane design."
Mu Zhe said: "Okay." He then put the wedding dress away and went to find the steward of Liren Peak.
As soon as he stepped out, he saw Yu Xinghe peeking out from behind a pillar in the corridor.
Mu Zhe was taken aback. He had been overwhelmed by the marriage ceremony these past few days, but his mood was unusually cheerful. Seeing Yu Xinghe, he surprisingly didn't give him a cold look and said, "You're here. Come in quickly."
Yu Xinghe pointed to himself in surprise: "Me?"
Mu Zhe said: "Yes."
Yu Xinghe was stunned for a moment, then happily went inside.
Shen Gurong was already resting on the soft couch when he heard footsteps. He frowned and mumbled, "Change it however you like, it's driving me crazy."
Yu Xinghe paused, then stammered, "Mas...Master."
Shen Gurong wearily opened his eyes, his brow relaxing only when he saw it was Yu Xinghe. He was utterly exhausted from the events of the past few days—the ceremony of the joint marriage and dealing with Mu Zhe's demands every night.
He sat up and beckoned to Yu Xinghe, saying, "Xinghe, you've come at the right time. Come here."
Yu Xinghe hurriedly ran over.
Shen Gurong handed Yu Xinghe a shimmering sword, perfectly matching his preference for a golden, sparkling style, saying, "This is the natal sword your master found for you. See if you like it?"
Yu Xinghe stared blankly at the sword, then looked at Shen Gurong, seemingly incredulous. He pointed to himself, "For me? Xinghe's?"
Shen Gurong chuckled, "Yes, take it, my hand is tired."
Yu Xinghe noticed a red mark on Shen Gurong's wrist, assuming his master was injured, and quickly took the sword, admiring it for a long time before exclaiming happily, "Thank you, Master! Xinghe loves it!"
Shen Gurong said, "I'm glad you like it."
He raised his hand, and Yu Xinghe immediately snuggled closer, nuzzling his head against his palm.
Shen Gurong chuckled softly and asked, "Xinghe, is it my fault?"
Yu Xinghe quickly shook his head, his head spinning before he finally stopped, and said softly, "It's not Master's fault, it's Xinghe's fault..."
He muttered under his breath, "Always like to compare myself to others."
If it weren't for his jealous nature, such a tragedy wouldn't have occurred in the Records of the Capital.
Shen Gurong patted him again and said gently, "I was wrong too."
Yu Xinghe immediately said, "Master is not wrong, Master is never wrong!"
Shen Gurong couldn't help but smile.
Yu Xinghe was overjoyed to receive a natal sword from his master. After leaving Fanjiang Residence, he carried the sword around Liren Peak countless times, showing it off to everyone he met.
However, everyone on Liren Peak was busy with the marriage ceremony in seven days, and everyone was too busy to listen to his boasting. Before Yu Xinghe could even finish showing off to a few people, his senior brothers, who were practically devouring people with their work, dragged him away to do manual labor.
A few days later, Wen Liubing, having completely subdued Fenglu City, finally had time to return to Liren Peak.
Shen Gurong was still altering his wedding attire, now on the verge of exploding with rage, even his gaze towards Mu Zhe carried a chilling intensity.
"I'm saying this for the last time. I'm very satisfied with this outfit, Mu Zhe. If you bring it back for me to alter again, believe me, I'll sew you inside."
Mu Zhe: "..."
Wen Liubing showed no courtesy to his master, pushing open the door and entering respectfully, "Master, would you like me to sew it for you?"
Shen Gurong: "..."
Shen Gurong glanced at him and said to Mu Zhe, "Go tell the elder in charge not to bother me again."
Mu Zhe was both amused and exasperated: "Master, you were the one who said you wanted it altered last night."
Shen Gurong glared at him and whispered, "Go away."
Mu Zhe had no choice but to leave with the wedding attire.
The wedding attire had been altered countless times; the Liren Peak management office had clearly put in a tremendous amount of effort.
Mu Zhe, undeterred by the trouble, insisted on handling even such small matters personally, fearing others might make a mistake.
Wen Liubing bowed and said, "Master, Second Junior Brother and the others won't be back until later. I don't know if they'll make it in time, so they asked me to deliver the gifts for you."
Shen Gurong rose, opened the window, and sat on the soft couch by the window, continuing to carve the bamboo flute that had already taken shape. He casually said, "Anything is fine."
Over the past hundred years, Shen Gurong had saved several children while exorcising demons. Having nowhere to go, he took them in as disciples. However, because he was either slaying evil or in seclusion, he hadn't taught them much; it was Xi Guxing who taught them.
—They were more like Xi Guxing's disciples than his own.
Wen Liubing hesitated for a moment before asking, "Master, how should I address Mu Zhe from now on?"
Shen Gurong was startled, almost making a mistake in his carving.
Wen Liubing tentatively asked, "Master's wife?"
A muffled boom echoed as the spiritual energy emanating from Shen Gurong nearly cleaved the bamboo in the courtyard in two.
"Sanshui," Shen Gurong said expressionlessly, his entire body radiating killing intent, "If you actually called him that, you should know the consequences."
Wen Liubing: "..." Wen Liubing bowed respectfully: "Yes, then I'll call him by his name."
Shen Gurong frowned: "Insolence! He is my Daoist partner."
Wen Liubing: "..."
Mu Zhe then presented the altered wedding attire to Shen Gurong for inspection. Before even entering Fanjiang Residence, he encountered Wen Liubing face-to-face.
Mu Zhe nodded slightly: "Senior Brother."
Wen Liubing coldly said: "Master's sister-in-law."
Mu Zhe: "..."
Mu Zhe: "???"
Wen Liubing coldly turned and left.
Mu Zhe didn't care; his senior brother's erratic behavior was common, and he was used to it.
He had barely entered Fanjiang Residence when he vaguely sensed from the Daoist Pact that his master seemed to be in a bad mood. He had no choice but to put aside his altered wedding attire and go inside to appease him.
Shen Gurong was carving a bamboo flute, his brow furrowed—probably the only one on the entire Liren Peak as leisurely as him.
Sensing Mu Zhe's return, Shen Gurong's brows finally relaxed. He seemed to remember something and said, "No matter what gift your fourth senior uncle gives you, don't accept it, understand?"
Mu Zhe asked in confusion, "Why?"
Shen Gurong said impatiently, "Don't ask so many questions, just don't accept it."
Mu Zhe said innocently, "But I already accepted it."
Shen Gurong: "..."
Shen Gurong almost stabbed himself in the palm of his hand with the small knife. He asked in astonishment, "When did this happen?"
Mu Zhe took out the familiar wooden box from his storage container and showed it to Shen Gurong: "Just now."
Shen Gurong immediately said angrily, "Give it back! Don't accept it!"
Mu Zhe was somewhat troubled: "But I've already accepted it, so giving it back......"
Shen Gurong sulked to himself, not wanting to make things too difficult for Mu Zhe, so he said in a low voice, "Give me that wooden box."
"Oh." Mu Zhe handed him the box.
Shen Gurong caught it and tossed it deep into his mustard seed, intending to burn it later.
Mu Zhe's eyes flickered slightly, but he said nothing more.
Taking advantage of a rare moment of free time, Mu Zhe sat beside Shen Gurong, accompanying him as he carved a bamboo flute.
As soon as Shen Gurong carved a piece of bamboo shavings, Mu Zhe swiftly swept them to the ground, ensuring his master remained completely clean.
Shen Gurong carved casually, asking, "Where did Wanglan and Xiwu go?"
Mu Zhe replied, "They're playing with Li Suo on Changying Mountain."
Shen Gurong nodded, then suddenly coughed for some reason, whispering, "Mu Zhizhi."
Mu Zhe: "Hmm?"
"My body... because of the potent medicine from a few years ago, I'll probably never be able to ascend in this lifetime." Shen Gurong lowered his eyes, carving a few words slowly on the bamboo, seemingly afraid to look up at Mu Zhe. "Your talent and cultivation are both quite good; perhaps with a few more decades of cultivation, you might have the opportunity to ascend."
Mu Zhe looked at him.
Shen Gurong, holding his breath, said in a muffled voice, "It might not be too late for you to back out now."
Mu Zhe's mind went blank. He stammered, "Master... are you going to back out?"
Shen Gurong, who had been anxiously awaiting Mu Zhe's answer, almost choked on his own words. He finally looked up and glared at Mu Zhe, saying irritably, "I'm afraid you'll back out. After all, Master is old and faded, while you're still young. People will definitely say I'm a pear blossom overshadowing a crabapple..."
Mu Zhe suspected his master had some mental issues. If he was considered old and faded, then everyone else was doomed.
Mu Zhe looked at the unease in Shen Gurong's eyes and realized what he was worried about.
Shen Gurong was still carving, but he was clearly distracted.
Mu Zhe took a deep breath, grabbed Shen Gurong's hand, interlocking their fingers, and solemnly said, "Wherever Master is, I will be."
Shen Gurong said, "Then ascension..."
Mu Zhe: "To hell with it..."
Shen Gurong looked up.
Mu Zhe swallowed the word back, saying, "...Ascension, I only want Master, not ascension."
Shen Gurong said quietly, "Who taught you to swear?"
Mu Zhe: "..."
Shen Gurong subtly breathed a sigh of relief, his fingers gripping the small knife as he made the final stroke on the bamboo flute. He then rummaged through his storage ring, finding the wooden bead Mu Zhe had given him earlier, and took out the red bead.
Mu Zhe watched his actions with suspicion.
Shen Gurong used his spiritual power to conjure a red string, tying the bead, hanging from it, to the already carved bamboo flute end, binding it together with the sky-blue silk tassel—a touch of vermilion leaping against the emerald green. Shen Gurong raised an eyebrow, handing the bamboo flute to Mu Zhe, and said calmly, "Here, take this. It's a token of love from your master..."
He tried to appear calm, but ultimately blushed slightly, struggling to finish the last few words.
"A token of love."
Mu Zhe blankly accepted the jade-like bamboo flute, his fingertips gently tracing its surface. He saw two characters, painstakingly carved by Shen Gurong, on the flute.
—Zhizhi.
After uttering the words "token of love," Shen Gurong felt so ashamed he wanted to disappear into the ground.
'Why are these four words so embarrassing?!'
'Am I an unmarried girl?! Why am I being so sentimental about giving a gift?!'
Mu Zhe: "..."
Mu Zhe suddenly chuckled gently.
He closed his grip on the bamboo flute, gently approached Shen Gurong, and placed a kiss on his brow, murmuring, "Thank you, Master. I like it very much."
Shen Gurong turned his head away, muttering, "I told you not to call me Master."
Mu Zhe wouldn't listen; he insisted on calling him that.
Shen Gurong was inexplicably reminded of something that made his waist and legs go weak by those repeated calls of "Master." Driven to desperation, he pushed Mu Zhe off him, reached for the bamboo flute, and said coldly, "Give me the bamboo flute; I haven't tuned it yet."
Mu Zhe laughed, "It's already very accurate."
"Inaccurate," Shen Gurong said, "Give it to me; I'll play a tune for you."
Mu Zhe: "..."
Seeing Shen Gurong's murderous expression, Mu Zhe hesitated for a long time, finally gritting his teeth and handing the bamboo flute to Shen Gurong, his face full of reckless courage.
Shen Gurong chuckled in exasperation, kicking him lightly and saying, "What kind of expression is that?"
Mu Zhe replied, "The expression of listening to heavenly music—Master, please." The sooner you die, the better.
Shen Gurong chuckled, scolding, "Little brat, always so good at sweet talk. I wonder where you learned that from."
Mu Zhe smiled obediently.
Shen Gurong grasped the bamboo flute and played a note.
Mu Zhe almost burst out laughing.
After Shen Gurong finished playing the entire piece, a dragon roared from afar, "On such a joyous day, why play a funeral tune? Isn't that unlucky? Shut up!!"
Shen Gurong: "..."
Mu Zhe: "..."
Seeing Shen Gurong's face turn ashen as he put away the flute, Mu Zhe subtly breathed a sigh of relief and removed the spiritual energy blocking his ears.
Just then, Shen Gurong gently leaned in and whispered something softly in his ear.
“After we've merged our household registrations, we'll return to the Great Swamp,” Shen Gurong said softly. “I'll only play this for you.”
Mu Zhe: “…”
Mu Zhe's days are numbered.
Seeing his expression, Shen Gurong laughed heartily. The bamboo flute twirled a few times in his slender fingers, landing precisely in his palm.
He hummed an unknown tune, his arm around Mu Zhe's neck, tying a lock of their hair together in an inseparable knot.
Even though they had cultivated together countless times, Mu Zhe's heart still pounded wildly at Shen Gurong's intimate gestures each time.
Shen Gurong's eyes narrowed slightly, his eyelashes fluttering, and he whispered, “From now on, I belong to you alone.”
Mu Zhe… Mu Zhe almost died from his own pounding heart.
He grabbed Shen Gurong's waist, buried his face in the crook of Shen Gurong's neck, and murmured, "Yes."
Shen Gurong teased him, "What is it?"
Mu Zhe whispered, "I am yours alone."
Shen Gurong smiled.
He reached up and removed the ice silk he had always worn over his eyes. The spiritual energy nourishing them these past few days had almost restored his eyes to normal. With the unsightly ice silk removed, this was the first time Shen Gurong could truly see Mu Zhe with his own eyes.
His eyes shimmered, reflecting only Mu Zhe, as if a boundless pool, dormant for hundreds of years, had finally been stirred, a stone falling into a deep pool, rippling out countless concentric circles.
Amidst the myriad disturbances of the mortal world, only one person remained in his sight.
That was enough.
[Main Story End]
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