The next morning, as the morning bell rang, Shen Gurong groggily sat up, rubbing his aching back.
His white hair was disheveled. He sat blankly on the couch for a long time before realizing he had to attend morning classes.
"Young Master, why are you making things difficult for yourself? You're a Holy Lord, and you still have to attend morning classes."
"Yes, yes, it's too much suffering. Why don't we just go to the library and ask the elders?"
"I've already told Mu Zhe, you should get up first."
"But I don't want to get up, I don't want to get up..."
Mu Zhe came to wake Shen Gurong, but before he even entered the room, he heard his master fussing again.
"No, no."
"Get up, get up."
Mu Zhe: "..."
That lazy, sleepy "no" made Mu Zhe uncontrollably recall the whimpering, ambiguous "no" he had heard in his ear the previous night.
Mu Zhe's face immediately flushed red.
He stood outside the door, silently reciting the Meditation Sutra to completely calm the heat on his face before pushing the door open and entering.
"Master."
His master had already finished sleeping, tilting his head to yawn, lazily glancing at Mu Zhe, tilting his head slightly, and asking in confusion, "What happened to your mouth?"
Mu Zhe: "..."
Mu Zhe's emotions, which he had forcibly calmed down after countless recitations of the Meditation Sutra, instantly spiraled out of control again. His face was filled with panic, and he quickly lowered his head, mumbling, "N-nothing."
Shen Gurong didn't think much of it. He got out of bed, changed his clothes, and went with Mu Zhe to the Zhibai Hall on Changying Mountain.
The two arrived a little late; the disciples attending morning lessons had already arrived. They all froze when they inadvertently looked up and saw Shen Gurong with his eyes covered by ice silk.
Then the entire Zhibai Hall descended into chaos.
Shen Gurong had been in seclusion for ten years, and since then rarely appeared before the disciples of Liren Peak. This was the first time these new disciples had ever seen the legendary half-step Holy Lord Shen.
The disciples of Zhibai Hall were filled with anticipation and excitement, instinctively suppressing their screams and maintaining their last shred of rationality.
Shen Gurong walked in without changing expression, and together with Mu Zhe, chose a corner seat, adjusting his robes as he sat down.
Mu Zhe frowned, glancing at the stunned disciples around him, and said in a low voice with some displeasure, "Don't you know your manners?"
The disciples then snapped out of their daze, hurriedly scrambling to their feet and bowing.
"Greetings, Holy Lord."
Shen Gurong slightly raised his hand, coldly saying, "No need for formalities, let's begin the morning lesson."
The disciples hurriedly sat back down, whispering amongst themselves.
"It's Lord Shen! Ahhh!"
"This is the first time I've ever seen the living Lord Shen! Heavens!!"
"So terrifying, so terrifying, so terrifying! Is this the pressure of a Mahayana cultivator? Ugh... my legs are weak."
"Rumors throughout the Three Realms say Lord Shen is the most beautiful man, and it's true..."
"I didn't want to come to Liren Peak, but he's just too handsome and too powerful, ugh!"
These disciples had only recently entered the sect, and most of them were still at the Foundation Establishment stage. For someone at the Mahayana and Nascent Soul stages to transmit their voices under their noses was practically announcing it to the entire world.
Mu Zhe's brows furrowed even more, while Shen Gurong seemed quite pleased, propping his chin up as he listened to this disciple and that disciple, even glancing at those who praised his looks.
Whether annoyed by the screams around him or simply not wanting his master to spare any attention for others, Mu Zhe slammed his hand on the table and said coldly, "No more telepathic communication."
The disciples: "..."
They all let out a soft "whoop," realizing that high cultivation truly allowed for unrestrained behavior, and fell completely silent.
He was able to hear others' telepathic communication, but he could hear his master's inner thoughts much more clearly.
'Hmm? Why not telepathy? Continue, praise me louder.'
Mu Zhe: "..."
Shen Gurong waited and waited, but no one praised him, so he could only wait listlessly for the elder of the library to arrive.
He glanced at Mu Zhe, who was sitting upright to the side, and suddenly thought, 'What's wrong with his mouth? It looks like someone bit it?'
Mu Zhe: "..."
Mu Zhe lowered his head even further.
As Shen Gurong studied, he grew drowsy. It was probably because the effects of yesterday's aphrodisiac from the demon cultivator's spiritual energy had just worn off; Shen Gurong was easily fatigued, and he began to doze off after sitting for only a short while.
He didn't intend to fall asleep, but his consciousness gradually faded into darkness.
Mu Zhe kept glancing at him out of the corner of his eye, noticing his head nodding as if he were about to drift off. Just as Shen Gurong was about to slump towards the wall, Mu Zhe quickly reached out and caught his head, preventing him from hitting it directly.
The disciples nearby didn't dare look directly at Shen Gurong, so they were unaware that the aloof and sage-king, revered throughout the Three Realms, was soundly asleep, his head resting on his disciple's forearm.
A quarter of an hour later, the Elder of the Library Pavilion entered the Zhibai Hall, yawning.
Still half-asleep, he tapped the table and said, "Come for today's lesson." The tapping startled Shen Gurong awake. He shuddered and murmured, "Do you know you're wrong?"
Mu Zhe: "..."
Shen Gurong slowly came to his senses after speaking.
He first glanced at Mu Zhe sleepily, then stared blankly at the table for a while, before suddenly seeming to remember something and involuntarily gasping.
The Elder of the Library Pavilion, already somewhat impatient with the noise, was about to reprimand his disciple when his gaze swept over Shen Gurong's cold face.
Elder: "..."
The reprimand he almost uttered was immediately swallowed back. He gave a dry laugh and nodded, "Your Majesty, is there a problem?"
Shen Gurong hadn't heard a word he said; he was practically collapsing.
"Ahhh—"
'I actually...had a wet dream?!'
Mu Zhe: "..."
Shen Gurong: 'And the subject was Mu Zhe! Ahhhhh!'
Mu Zhe: "???"
Mu Zhe, who was initially annoyed to hear Shen Gurong had a wet dream, was immediately overjoyed and stared intently at him uncontrollably.
Since Master...also had a wet dream about me, does that mean I still have hope?
Just as he was happily thinking this, he heard Shen Gurong think frantically: 'I actually bit his lip while asking him if he knew he was wrong?! Ahhhhh, what kind of master teaches their disciple like that?! This is misleading a student!'
Mu Zhe: "..."
Mu Zhe felt like he'd been doused with cold water.
That wasn't a wet dream at all; it was just yesterday's reality.
Mu Zhe couldn't describe how he felt, but it was definitely unpleasant.
Shen Gurong was momentarily stunned before realizing the elder was speaking to him. He quickly nodded, maintaining a cool and aloof expression, and said, "No, please continue."
The elder then continued.
Although Shen Gurong appeared extremely flirtatious, often taking pleasure in painting beautiful women on pleasure boats, this was the first time in his life he had ever had a "funny dream." He was incredibly embarrassed and didn't even dare to look at Mu Zhe.
'If my brother knew that my first funny dream was about a man, he would definitely beat me to death.'
Shen Gurong had never been afraid of anything since childhood, except for his older brother, who was five years his senior. Whenever his parents couldn't bring themselves to punish him severely, as long as his brother stood in front of him and gave him a cold look, Shen Gurong would immediately become as obedient as a puppy, not daring to utter a single word.
As Shen Gurong was filled with fear, a fragmented memory suddenly flashed through his mind.
He belatedly realized, 'Wait, I bit Mu Zhe's lip in my dream, why did he…'
Shen Gurong, like a wooden puppet, slowly turned his head, his gaze falling on Mu Zhe's slightly swollen lips, which, upon closer inspection, bore teeth marks.
Shen Gurong: "???"
Shen Gurong: "…"
Perhaps overwhelmed by the shock, Shen Gurong let out an "Ah," thinking expressionlessly, 'Oh my, it wasn't a dream.'
Not a dream…
'Someone kill me!!!'
'Where's the lightning punishment? Lightning punishment!!'
Mu Zhe: "…"
Shen Gurong finally realized that the "dream" was nothing more than the absurd thing he had done in his half-awake state last night. He collapsed like a burst dam, countless waves crashing over him.
'I don't know how to say it, but anyway, I just really want to die.'
Mu Zhe: "…"
'Heaven above, quickly send down a bolt of purple-gold lightning and strike me dead!'
Mu Zhe pursed his lips.
His master's inner monologue was so over-the-top that what should have been an extremely sorrowful event was instead twisted into something rather comical and absurd by Mu Zhe, devoid of any sadness.
Just then, a deafening clap of thunder suddenly echoed outside.
Shen Gurong's hand clenched in fright.
'No, no, no, I was just joking. Please, don't let the lightning strike! I just did something wrong unintentionally, it was just an accident.'
Mu Zhe: "..."
The elder, unfazed, finished his morning lessons as usual. Only then did Shen Gurong belatedly realize he had wasted the entire lesson on self-pity, forgetting even his important duties.
As the disciples gradually left, Shen Gurong immediately rose, not even speaking to Mu Zhe, and hurriedly left the Zhibai Hall.
"Elder, please wait."
The elder, regaining his composure, respectfully said, "Your Majesty."
Shen Gurong cut to the chase: "May I ask you a few questions?"
This elder was likely older than Shen Feng Xue, and Shen Gurong didn't fail to maintain proper etiquette.
The elder smiled and said, "Of course, what does Your Majesty wish to ask?"
Shen Gurong paused for a moment before concisely asking, "For mortals to enter the Dao, they must undergo the process of cleansing their marrow and tendons, is that right?"
The elder's eyes flickered before he said, "Your disciple, Mu Zhe, entered the Dao as a mortal, and the spiritual herbs for cleansing the marrow and tendons were all painstakingly obtained by Your Majesty."
Shen Gurong understood his meaning, but still forced a smile and asked, "Then, is it possible for a mortal to reach the pinnacle of cultivation like other cultivators?"
This was practically a blatant question to the elder about whether Shen Feng Xue had entered the Dao as a mortal.
The elder still smiled and said, "With countless spiritual herbs, there is naturally hope."
Shen Gurong frowned.
This elder was a cunning old fox; his words were utterly watertight.
"In these three realms, those born with spiritual veins make up the majority. Even in families whose ancestors were all mortals, there have been exceptions—those with spiritual veins capable of cultivation. Your young disciple, Yu Xinghe, is one such example," the elder said. "But Mu Zhe truly entered the Dao through force with a mortal body. If he wants to advance further, without the right opportunity, he will need a large quantity of spiritual herbs."
As he spoke, he added vaguely, "Or... a cultivator's yuandan." Shen Gu Rong's pupils constricted sharply.
The elder chuckled after speaking, "It's just that stealing someone else's yuandan is a heretical path only demonic cultivators take. Mu Zhe is a good child; Your Majesty should let him go out and gain more experience. Sooner or later, he'll find a good opportunity to improve his cultivation."
Shen Gurong wasn't sure if the elder truly knew about the half yuandan or was simply mentioning it casually, but he didn't press further and could only nod slightly, "Thank you for clearing my doubts, Elder."
The elder said, "You flatter me, Your Majesty."
Watching the elder leave, Shen Gurong turned back thoughtfully and saw Mu Zhe standing quietly under the mulberry tree in front of Zhibai Hall, watching him.
Their eyes met briefly before immediately looking away.
Shen Gurong felt ashamed, while Mu Zhe felt inexplicably embarrassed.
He was embarrassed by his own unrequited love, always harboring unrealistic expectations.
The two returned to Fanjiang Residence in silence, neither speaking first.
Mu Zhe had been pondering this all the way, hesitating whether or not he should reveal the truth. Before he could make up his mind, he saw Xi Guxing waiting under the Bodhi tree in front of Fanjiang Residence.
Shen Gurong walked over: "Senior Brother, what are you doing here?"
Knowing the two had something to say, Mu Zhe nodded slightly. Just as he was about to leave, Xi Guxing called out to him: "Mu Zhe, stay."
Mu Zhe then stopped.
A small table had already been set up under the Bodhi tree. Shen Gurong straightened his robes and sat down, glancing at Lou Bugui feeding Chao Jiuxiao's fish on the shore.
He raised an eyebrow: "Is there something important today?"
Xi Guxing glanced coldly at Mu Zhe, then suddenly frowned: "What's wrong with your mouth?"
Mu Zhe: "..."
Shen Gurong: "..."
The Sect Leader's ability to bring up the most awkward topics has always been quite impressive.
Mu Zhe mumbled, "It's nothing, I just accidentally got bitten."
Shen Gurong also lowered his head, saying nothing more.
Xi Guxing, a sword cultivator oblivious to social niceties, didn't think much of it. He asked, "Did you hear the thunder today?"
Shen Gurong nodded. He was blind, not deaf; he naturally heard something so loud.
Xi Guxing said, "That was the heavenly thunder summoned by the demon race to gather scattered demon cultivators from all over the three realms. There must be some trouble in the Great Swamp of Taozhou."
Shen Gurong tilted his head: "What does the demon race's business have to do with us?"
Xi Guxing glared at him with exasperation, saying, "Next year, the demon race will come to deliver spiritual veins to us. If something happens in Taozhou and we don't receive the spiritual veins, then the Burial Mound will be..."
Shen Gurong took a moment to realize that what could suppress the Burial Mound's barrier was precisely the spiritual veins that the demon race delivered every ten years. He immediately said seriously, "Then we should go and see... look."
Xi Guxing nodded. "That's right, so I plan to send Mu Zhe to the Demon Clan."
Mu Zhe, who was pouring tea for his master, paused, nearly spilling the tea. He looked up in surprise. "Me?"
"Yes, you," Xi Guxing said. "Now that you've reached the Nascent Soul stage, you should go and experience the Three Realms alone. Your other senior brothers, at your cultivation level, had already left Liren Peak and established their own sects."
The implication was clear: "Are you still a child? What's the point of always staying by your master's side?"
To put it more simply, "You're an eyesore, get out of here."
Mu Zhe: "..."
Mu Zhe tried to struggle. "But Master..."
Xi Guxing said bluntly, "Your master is being taken care of by us; you don't need to worry about that."
Xi Guxing acted as if protecting a cub, afraid that Mu Zhe would steal his junior brother away.
After speaking, he added, with a cruel twist, "The child's grown up; shouldn't he go out and gain some experience?"
Shen Gurong, oblivious to Xi Guxing's treacherous intentions, tilted his head and thought for a moment, "It seems so."
Mu Zhe: "..."
Shen Gurong had his own considerations. In Shen Feng Xue's memory, Wen Liubing went out to train for many years after forming his core, and the other disciples did the same. Now that Mu Zhe was so grown up, it was time for him to see the world.
—Although Mu Zhe had seen more of the world than his master had.
After returning to Fanjiang Residence, Mu Zhe remained silent.
Shen Gurong's embarrassment had lessened considerably. He coughed and spoke first.
He said calmly, "What, don't want to leave?"
Mu Zhe nodded.
Shen Gurong sighed and said, "There's nothing wrong with going out and seeing the world."
Mu Zhe knew that his ambitions were never limited to the small Liren Peak.
From a young age, he wanted to control his own destiny, so after entering the Daoist path, he cultivated relentlessly, never daring to stop for a moment, fearing that even a slight slowness would leave him manipulated and controlled at will.
Despite his fervent efforts to break free from this control, he ultimately couldn't escape this fate.
'If only I were stronger...' Mu Zhe thought uncontrollably, 'Stronger, to the Nascent Soul Realm, no, the Great Ascension Realm, then I could do whatever I wanted, no one could control me, and no one could say no to me.'
Lin Shuhe and Xi Guxing, knowing his feelings for Shen Gurong, had been openly and secretly trying to dissuade him from this rebellious thought. Mu Zhe knew perfectly well that they did this because he felt he was utterly unworthy of Shen Gurong, and any affection he felt was merely wishful thinking.
Such an ethereal figure, anyone standing beside him would feel like they were being tempted.
Lin Shuhe used puppets to prevent him from getting close to Shen Gurong, and Xi Guxing used trials to make him leave Shen Gurong. Mu Zhe felt like he was being manipulated by everyone, completely unable to act as he pleased.
If he were stronger than Lin Shuhe and Xi Guxing, wouldn't his affection for Shen Gurong no longer be mocked as "coveting"?
After pondering for a long time, Mu Zhe changed his previous dejected expression, looked up at Shen Gurong, and said seriously, "Yes."
Shen Gurong was about to persuade him further, but unexpectedly, he had already come to his senses. He said dryly, "Very good."
Truly a good child who never worries his master.
Shen Gurong was very satisfied.
After Mu Zhe finished speaking, he pursed his swollen lips and stammered, "Master, if I could..."
Shen Gurong: "Hmm? Speak louder."
'As expected of Little Miss Mu, he won't be bullied while he's cultivating alone.'
Little Miss Mu: "..."
Mu Zhe took a deep breath before saying, "If I return from my training with the demon race, Master... could you grant me one more thing?"
Shen Gurong thought for a moment, considering that the last time he made such a big promise to Mu Zhe, the child only asked for a wooden bead—it was just a trivial thing, so he gave it up.
"Sure," Shen Gurong said carelessly, "When you come back, I'll give you whatever you want."
Mu Zhe's eyes were deep, and he said softly, "Thank you, Master."
Well, someone just sold himself, and even helped count the money.
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