The dragon soared through the air, covering a thousand miles in a day. Shen Gurong sat atop its massive back, his white hair whipped wildly in the wind. By the time they finally arrived outside the city beneath the Gu Hong Secret Realm, Shen Gurong's hair was completely a frizzy mess, making him look like a madman.
Shen Gurong expressionlessly smoothed his hair, thinking to himself that the stories of reclusive masters in tales traveling on the wind with their hair perfectly in place were truly a lie.
Chao Jiuxiao transformed into human form on the spot, wrapped himself in his clothes, and gave Shen Gurong a cold glance, clicking his tongue in disdain.
Shen Gurong was busy putting on his crane-feather cloak and completely ignored him.
The city beneath the Gu Hong Secret Realm was called Gu Hong City, but it was actually just a small town. Before the Gu Hong Secret Realm opened, there were hardly any people there. Only when the Gu Hong Secret Realm opened every twenty years would countless cultivators from the Three Realms gather there.
Gu Hong City was a frozen wasteland. Even with his spiritual energy protecting him, Shen Gurong still felt cold, wearing layers upon layers of clothing. Once outside the city, he changed into an even thicker crane-feather cloak.
After fastening his belt, he casually used Di Mo to paint his white hair black, and concealed the icy light on his eyes with a hand seal.
Chao Jiuxiao said impatiently, "You're so slow."
Shen Gurong, having perfectly disguised himself, said calmly, "The white hair and ice-silk robe are too conspicuous. If you don't want to be stared at, you'd better wait for me."
Chao Jiuxiao crossed his arms, impatiently tapping the ground, causing cracks to appear in the icy snow. His face was full of irritation: "Hurry up! Are you a woman? Should I get you some more rouge?"
Chao Jiuxiao was only mocking his dawdling, but Shen Gurong thought for a moment and nodded seriously: "Okay."
Chao Jiuxiao: "..."
Before Chao Jiuxiao could completely explode, Shen Gurong finally finished getting ready.
He casually braided his long hair into a loose braid, letting it hang over his shoulders. The fur-trimmed hood of his cloak covered his head, revealing half his face.
In this attire, no one would mistake him for Shen Feng Xue on the street.
Shen Gurong only wanted to find his disciple peacefully and break the contract, and perhaps find a way back home; he had no intention of being watched like a monkey.
The two entered Gu Hong City one after the other.
The Gu Hong Secret Realm was to open tomorrow, and the vast city was already teeming with cultivators. Since there were no inns, everyone was using their own mustard seed huts for lodging.
These mustard seed huts were scattered along the long road, making the city look quite like a real city.
After entering the city, Shen Gurong casually asked, "Senior brother, did you bring any mustard seeds?"
Chao Jiuxiao snorted, "Why would I bring that?"
Shen Gurong: "..."
Shen Gurong paused, looking at him with a complicated expression, "Then where will we stay tonight?"
Chao Jiuxiao said, "Anyway, I can just find any place to curl up and sleep."
Shen Gurong: "..."
He was wrong; he shouldn't have had even a sliver of hope for this childlike dragon, Chao Jiuxiao.
Shen Gurong was agonizing over where to spend the night when he glanced up and noticed a massive painted boat floating in mid-air, its red paint and silk making it strikingly eye-catching.
The boat looked magnificent and luxurious, far more opulent than the previous one at the Spirit Boat Pavilion.
The words "Suihan" were faintly visible on the boat's hull.
Chao Jiuxiao also saw it, his gaze flickering briefly before he looked away. He said impatiently, "Let's go."
Shen Gurong didn't think much of it, turning his gaze back and following Chao Jiuxiao.
If Chao Jiuxiao could curl himself into a ball, Shen Gurong could sleep against the dragon's body, sheltered from the cold wind.
As Shen Gurong pondered the chances that Chao Jiuxiao wouldn't take advantage of letting him sleep on the dragon's body to kill him, he suddenly heard a sound of wood colliding in the distance. Then, the painted boat slowly floated down from the sky.
The cultivators of Gu Hong City all knew that it was the pleasure boat of Jing Zhuchen, the most beautiful courtesan in Suihan City. Although they were all eager to see just how alluring he was, they dared not approach due to the oppressive aura of the several Nascent Soul Realm cultivators surrounding the boat.
The spirit boat had been floating in the air for a day, and this was the first time it had made a sound.
Hearing the commotion, everyone emerged from their mustard seed realms, their eyes fixed intently on the spirit boat.
Soon, the spirit boat slowly landed on the long street, pushing the mustard seed houses on both sides back to their original positions.
Everyone's gaze turned towards it.
The spirit boat stopped right in front of Shen Gurong and Chao Jiuxiao.
Shen Gurong looked utterly bewildered, while Chao Jiuxiao looked utterly miserable, wishing he could transform into a demon and run away.
But just as Chao Jiuxiao had this thought, a seductive voice came from the top of the pleasure boat.
"Jiuxiao, where are you planning to go?"
Chao Jiuxiao scoffed, having no way to escape. He reluctantly pinched his nose and said, "Nowhere in particular."
Shen Gurong was startled, then suddenly realized that this was Jing Zhuchen's pleasure boat.
Thinking of this, Shen Gurong was somewhat stunned.
The few fellow disciples he had met on Liren Peak were all used to being poor, so seeing such a wealthy and extravagant senior brother was a bit of a shock to Shen Gurong.
Then, two people dressed in black stepped off the pleasure boat, their cultivation levels seemingly both at the Nascent Soul stage.
The two approached Shen Gurong and bowed respectfully: "Holy Lord."
Shen Gurong: "..."
Upon hearing this address, the crowd immediately erupted in excitement.
"That's... Shen Feng Xue, the Holy Lord?!"
"But isn't the Holy Lord supposed to have white hair and an icy aura? This one..."
"To actually meet the Holy Lord in the Gu Hong Secret Realm, this trip was truly worthwhile."
Shen Gurong caught all the whispers. He felt somewhat embarrassed; he had spent so much time disguising himself, only to have his fourth senior brother expose him with a single sentence.
Chao Jiuxiao scoffed without any politeness: "Don't want to be watched? Hmm?"
Shen Gurong glanced at him, wiped the ink from his white hair, lifted his hood to reveal his eyes covered by the icy aura, and said calmly, "Yes."
The surrounding people gasped.
"It really is the Holy Lord!"
"It's the Holy Lord!"
Shen Gurong: "..."
So, is this how you cultivators recognize people?!
The two respectfully welcomed Shen Gurong and Chao Jiuxiao into the spirit boat.
The spirit boat, having received its occupants, seemed as if it was afraid of being soiled by the dust on the ground. It swiftly took to the air, then slowly floated motionless in mid-air.
Shen Gurong stepped into the painted boat, only then realizing that the extravagance outside was merely the surface; the true extent of its wealth lay within.
Looking at the furnishings, Shen Feng Xue's memory told him that even a small trinket was something an ordinary cultivator couldn't afford in a lifetime.
"Hmm, my fourth senior brother is indeed very rich. Next time I buy a sword, I'll go to Suihan City."
As soon as Chao Jiuxiao arrived at the painted boat, he skillfully found a room and slipped inside.
Shen Gurong asked, "Aren't you coming with me to see my senior brother?"
Chao Jiuxiao's muffled voice came from inside: "He's definitely doing… I'm too lazy to go."
Shen Gurong tilted his head. Doing? What is he doing?
He didn't think much of it and was led to the top of the painted boat.
The painted boat floor was covered with thick carpets, and countless firestones warmed the surroundings, making Shen Gurong, who was sensitive to the cold, feel incredibly comfortable.
Shen Gurong, sleeves pulled tight, slowly lifted the bamboo curtain to find Jing Zhuchen.
But he had only taken a few steps inside when he heard a soft, ambiguous moan coming from within.
Shen Gurong: “…”
Shen Gurong paused, wondering if he had misheard.
He stood there, expressionless, looking at the slightly swaying bed curtains on the huge bed not far away.
Soon, another soft, seductive moan came from inside, followed by a husky, alluring voice.
“How…so deep?”
Shen Gurong: “…”
Soon, another man's deep voice came from inside: “Don’t you like it deep?”
The man did something to Jing Zhuchen, who suddenly let out a loud moan, the breath sounding like a sob, making one want to make him cry even louder.
Shen Gurong remained expressionless, but his ears gradually reddened. After figuring out what the people inside were doing, he turned and ran in a panic. A beaded curtain of spirit stones lashed at his face, making his brow bright red.
Shen Gurong endured the stinging pain in his nose and ran quickly out.
Inside the bed curtains, Jing Zhuchen heard the soft clinking of the spirit stones, took a few breaths, his cheeks flushed, and stretched out his toes to hook around the waist of the man on top of him. His eyes crinkled as he smiled and said, "My junior brother is here, hurry up."
The man gripped his slender waist, his eyes deep and dark: "Okay."
Shen Gurong ran to the edge of the painted boat.
Despite always being afraid of the cold, he disregarded everything and pushed open a carved window, letting the cold wind, carrying frost and snow, blow against his face, gradually dispelling the heat that had been burning within him.
Shen Gurong stood in the cold wind for a full hour, his face nearly frozen, before footsteps sounded behind him.
Shen Gurong turned around expressionlessly.
A man in black nodded and said, "Your Majesty, Lord Zhuchen requests your presence."
Shen Gurong hesitated for a moment before blankly saying, "I'm not home..." Before he could finish, he knew his words were inappropriate. Shen Gurong coughed and said, "Take me there."
He had been so flustered earlier that he couldn't remember how he got to Jing Zhuchen's room.
The man respectfully led him to find Jing Zhuchen.
Jing Zhuchen had already cleaned himself up and was now casually draped in a thin red veil, leaning against a soft couch with a satisfied expression. His lips were bright red, and even his eyes seemed to be brimming with tears.
The bed curtains were parted and hung on the golden hooks of the bedposts. The man who had shared his lovemaking with him was gone.
Shen Gurong walked in, glanced at Jing Zhuchen, and immediately lowered his gaze, afraid of seeing something he shouldn't.
Jing Zhuchen seemed boneless, lazily propping his head up against the bed, and said languidly, "Eleventh, long time no see."
Shen Gurong nodded slightly, trying not to think about what had just happened. He replied woodenly with a stiff face, "Fourth Senior Brother."
Jing Zhuchen chuckled at his standard reply, lazily sat up, his jade-like feet barely sinking into the soft carpet. He seemed weightless, floating to Shen Gurong's side.
Jing Zhuchen was so close that Shen Gurong could almost smell the sweet, cloying fragrance emanating from him.
Shen Gurong felt a little awkward and took a small step back, not wanting to get too close.
Jing Zhuchen seemed to find this amusing, smiling as he took another step forward, placing his soft, boneless hands on Shen Gurong's shoulders.
A fragrant aroma wafted over, and Shen Gurong froze.
Jing Zhuchen casually brushed aside Shen Gurong's white hair, then suddenly stood up and pressed his entire body against Shen Gurong's.
Shen Gurong: "!!!"
Shen Gurong stammered, "Senior Brother!"
Jing Zhuchen was only wearing a thin veil, and Shen Gurong didn't dare to push him away, fearing he might touch something, so he could only call out to him in vain.
Jing Zhuchen leaned close to his ear, gently blew a breath, and softly said, "We haven't seen each other for decades. Junior Brother, why don't you and your senior brother have some fun and catch up?"
Shen Gurong: "..."
So, his fourth senior brother's "catching up" meant having sex?
Shen Gurong recalled Chao Jiuxiao's words, "He's heartless, he even wants to sleep with his fellow disciples," and then remembered Chao Jiuxiao's avoidance of him, and suddenly fell silent.
Shen Gurong said blankly, "Senior brother, please have some self-respect."
Jing Zhuchen had probablyn't heard the words "please have some self-respect" in years. He froze for a moment, then finally couldn't hold back his alluring, seductive expression and burst out laughing.
He laughed so hard he nearly fell over, leaning on Shen Gurong's shoulder, tears streaming down his face.
Shen Gurong didn't understand what he was laughing at: "Senior brother?"
Jing Zhuchen laughed for a while before stopping, his long, slender fingers twirling a stray lock of Shen Gurong's white hair. His chin rested on his shoulder, his expression absent-minded yet full of smiles.
His tone was almost a complaint, tinged with grievance, as he said, "Our Eleventh Brother is so much better, he knows how to care for his senior brother. You have no idea how much that stinky man hurt me just now."
Shen Gurong: "..."
Please, junior brother doesn't want to hear your bedroom secrets.
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