Xue Manzhuang was nearly choked to death by Shen Gurong, crying pitifully.
Mu Zhe stood there stunned for a long time before finally rushing forward, managing to rescue Xue Manzhuang before his master could kill him.
Shen Gurong's white hair was disheveled, his eyes red-rimmed, and his pale, unfocused eyes, blinded by the falling ice silk, were unfocused.
Mu Zhe quickly carried Xue Manzhuang out of the room, using the time it took to return to Yu Xinghe's room to calm himself down.
When he returned after regaining his composure, Shen Gurong was no longer in the spirit-gathering array. Mu Zhe glanced around and noticed a small bulge under the brocade quilt on the bed.
Mu Zhe: "..."
Mu Zhe closed the door, lifted the bed curtains, and whispered, "Master?"
The master didn't answer, internally collapsing: I'm not your master! Your master is dead!
Mu Zhe: “…”
Suppressing a laugh, Mu Zhe unconsciously spoke in a coaxing tone, “I’ve already sent Senior Brother Li Suo to find Senior Brother. He should be back soon.”
Shen Gurong still refused to come out.
Mu Zhe wasn’t in a hurry. He sat patiently to the side, listening to his master’s inner turmoil.
Ahhh, so embarrassing! Let me die!
What’s embarrassing about it? I didn’t want this to happen either! Blame Xue Manzhuang! If it weren’t for him, none of this would have happened!
What should I do? What should I do? Mu Zhe saw everything. Will he look down on me as his master?
Whatever, I’ve embarrassed myself in front of him so many times already. One more time won’t matter.
Mu Zhe: “…”
His master certainly has self-awareness.
Shen Gurong huddled under the covers for a while longer. Perhaps it was too stuffy, or perhaps he had resigned himself to his fate after being humiliated so many times. Finally, he slowly reached out his lotus-root-like hand and gently lifted a corner of the brocade quilt. A hoarse voice came from behind him: "I... I can't find my ice silk."
Shen Gurong's soft, childlike voice softened Mu Zhe's heart: "I'll help you look for it."
Shen Gurong mumbled, "Mm."
He pulled the corner of the quilt back down.
Mu Zhe had never seen such a contrast in a person. If he hadn't witnessed it with his own eyes, he would never have believed that the aloof and arrogant Holy Lord, in everyone's eyes, could be so clumsy and endearing in private.
But upon closer reflection, the details that Mu Zhe had previously overlooked due to his dislike and fear of Shen Gurong revealed that his master wasn't as unapproachable as he appeared.
But then again, how could someone who can roll off the bed in their sleep and even mumble "Mother" in their sleep be inherently dignified?
Mu Zhe found the ice silk in the spirit-gathering array, walked to the bedside, and placed it on the couch.
He gently patted it, indicating that the ice silk was there: "Master, found it."
Soon, a hand emerged from under the covers, fumbled around for a moment, grabbed the ice silk, and then withdrew.
A rustling sound came from the small bulge in the quilt; it must be Shen Gurong tying the ice silk around himself.
Mu Zhe waited patiently.
After a while, Shen Gurong lifted the covers again, took a breath, and whispered, "Do you have any clothes?"
Mu Zhe shook his head. He thought Li Suo would only take him to play for half a day before returning to the mountain, and hadn't thought to bring a change of clothes.
Shen Gurong pulled the covers back down.
Mu Zhe was contemplating whether to borrow clothes from Yu Xinghe when the door suddenly opened, and Wen Liubing returned with a furrowed brow: "What happened?"
Mu Zhe gave a brief explanation, and Wen Liubing raised an eyebrow slightly, walked to the bedside, and without thinking, pulled back the brocade quilt.
Shen Gurong: "..."
Mu Zhe: "..."
Shen Gurong was completely naked, his white hair, longer than Mu Zhe's own height, disheveledly covering his body. He had been curled up in a ball, and the sudden loss of his only protection made him shudder. He looked up in astonishment at the person who had entered.
It was that rebellious disciple, Wen Liubing, again!
Even seeing Shen Gurong in his cub-like state, Wen Liubing remained unfazed, as if whether his master was human or bird made no difference to him.
Shen Gurong scrambled to the corner of the bed, tears welling in his eyes, almost bursting into tears.
He couldn't hold back any longer, glaring at Wen Liubing and cursing, "You brat!"
But Shen Gurong was too young now, even younger than Mu Zhe. His red-rimmed eyes and childish, whining voice held no intimidation whatsoever; instead, it evoked a strong urge to pinch his little cheeks.
Wen Liubing, relieved to find his master unharmed, explained, "Relying on phoenix spiritual power to transform is inherently prone to problems. Master, don't worry. We'll have Martial Uncle Lou check on you when we get back to Liren Peak, and you'll be fine."
Shen Gurong snatched the blanket back and hid under it again.
Wen Liubing patted the blanket, got up, and went out. He returned a while later, carrying a child's outfit.
Shen Gurong, who had been feeling suffocated and was secretly lifting the corner of the blanket to catch his breath, immediately shrank back upon hearing the brazen footsteps.
“Master, I’ve already had someone investigate the bamboo slip. There should be news in about three days.” He placed the clothes beside the bed and said, “Master, once you’ve changed, I’ll go back to Liren Peak with you.”
Wen Liubing’s straightforwardness bordered on idiocy; Shen Gurong felt that even with nine lives, he couldn’t keep up with Wen Liubing’s temper.
After a while, Shen Gurong had calmed down and his anger had subsided. He muttered, “Fine, you can leave.”
The only thing to do now was to get back to Xi Guxing and Lou Bugui as soon as possible.
Wen Liubing nodded and stood at the door, also pulling Mu Zhe, who was waiting to help his master dress, out as well.
Mu Zhe: “…”
Shen Gurong was really getting impatient. Hearing that there was no sound around him, he peeked out like a little spirit beast.
Once he was sure the room was empty, he threw off the covers, took a few quick breaths, and finally felt relieved.
Children's clothes are often brightly colored and gaudy, and the outfit Wen Liubing had casually grabbed was no exception. The pale yellow cardigan made Shen Gurong feel like he wanted to eat scrambled eggs.
But now wasn't the time to be picky. Shen Gurong clumsily tried to put the clothes on.
After a lot of effort, he was finally dressed.
Outside, Wen Liubing was talking to Li Suo, whose voice sounded very happy.
"Senior Brother Sanshui is coming back to Liren Peak with us too?" Li Suo asked. "Didn't you say you had important business to attend to and wouldn't be going back?"
Wen Liubing crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe, saying, "Now that Master's human form is having problems, I'm worried about you sending him back."
Li Suo tilted his head, puzzled. "The Holy Lord's human form?"
Just then, the door behind Wen Liubing suddenly opened gently, and a child with ice-silk blindfolds and dressed in a pale yellow robe walked out expressionlessly.
Li Suo looked at him, then at Wen Liubing, and an incredulous thought suddenly flashed through his mind.
He stammered, "Holy... Holy Holy Holy..."
Wen Liubing remained calm: "Yes, it's Master."
Li Suo nearly fainted.
If the Holy Lord regained his human form and knew they witnessed bird Shen Feng Xue and child Shen Feng Xue... wouldn't they be silenced?!
Shen Gurong kicked Wen Liubing's foot in anger.
Wen Liubing, seemingly unfazed by the pain, bent down and scooped Shen Gurong into his arms, saying, "Let's go, let's go back first."
Because of the water ghost's disappearance, Fuxian City had begun to gradually resume the Flower Festival. Wen Liubing, without looking to the side, led the group out of the city.
Li Suo held a child in each hand, while Yu Xinghe skipped and hopped, asking, "Senior brother, who is that child?"
Li Suo coughed dryly, mumbling, "Ahem, well... it's that person."
Yu Xinghe didn't hear clearly: "What?"
Mu Zhe said calmly, "Don't meddle in other people's business, just mind your own business."
Yu Xinghe pouted, deciding not to ask any more questions, his gaze lingering on Shen Gurong.
They successfully left Fuxian City, and a light drizzle began to fall.
Wen Liubing erected a protective barrier, shutting out the torrential rain. Shen Gurong, held in Wen Liubing's arms, drifted off to sleep to the sound of the spring rain.
But before he could fall asleep, he suddenly sensed a gaze from not far away, carrying an undeniable killing intent.
Shen Gurong instantly opened his eyes. Before he could react, Wen Liubing had already drawn his Lanting Sword.
Under a mulberry tree in the distance, a figure dressed in black blocked his path. His eyes, vaguely visible through the wide veil, radiated overwhelming murderous intent.
Wen Liubing met his gaze and coldly said, "The demon race gets information very quickly. I wonder if you have the guts to make a move."
The black-clad demon didn't utter a word of nonsense, transforming into a gigantic black panther and charging towards Wen Liubing with a roar.
Yu Xinghe screamed in terror, desperately hiding in Li Suo's arms.
Li Suo, however, seemed unconcerned. He held Yu Xinghe and Mu Zhe in his arms, covering the children's eyes.
The next instant, a beast's roar echoed from ahead, followed by a deafening crash. The massive demon's form slammed heavily to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust even in the rain.
Wen Liubing, his black robes fluttering, held a sword in one hand and gently cradled Shen Gurong in the other.
In a mere instant, the ferocious demon was severely wounded and collapsed nearby, unable to rise again.
Shen Gurong was immediately stunned.
He was so close to Wen Liubing that he hadn't even seen how he drew his sword.
He turned his head to look at Wen Liubing, whose usually straightforward and foolish eldest disciple now wore a fierce expression, staring intently at the demon as if it were an inanimate object.
Wen Liubing walked slowly over, pressing the Lanting Sword against the demon's neck, and said coldly, "You demons really did plant a spy on Liren Peak."
The black panther coughed up blood, glaring at him with a ferocious expression.
"Let me guess," Wen Liubing said coldly, looking at him, "It should be that white crane at Lotus Lake, right?"
Shen Gurong was stunned. That white crane wasn't from Liren Peak, but simply sent by the demons to monitor Shen Feng Xue?
No wonder Lou Bugui told him not to trust that white crane.
The black panther was about to speak but Wen Liubing didn't give him a chance, directly raising his hand and delivering a fatal blow.
The black panther died instantly.
Shen Gurong: "..."
Shen Gurong had read too many stories, where the villains usually either retaliated or talked incessantly before finally dying. But his eldest disciple seemed to defy convention, attacking without even letting anyone speak.
Shen Gurong finally began to have a slightly better opinion of his foolish eldest disciple.
Wen Liubing cleanly and efficiently dealt with a demon who had come to steal the divine artifact.
Fortunately, Shen Gurong had only been down the mountain for a day, and the other forces should not have reacted yet; otherwise, there wouldn't have been only one half-baked demon trying to stop them along the way.
It usually takes an hour to travel from Fuxian City to Liren Peak, but Wen Liubing was too fast, returning in less than half an hour.
Li Suo had informed Xi Guxing in advance that he was returning, so as soon as they arrived at the Boundary Spirit Tablet, Xi Guxing was already standing with his hands behind his back, waiting for quite some time.
Hearing footsteps, Xi Guxing coldly looked up, his gaze meeting that of the drowsy child Shen Feng Xue in Wen Liubing's arms.
Xi Guxing: "..."
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