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Ch90 - Lustful Thoughts




After Su Hansheng had completely resolved himself, he slept dreamlessly through the night.
At dawn the next day, before the sky had fully brightened, he rose and rushed to the back mountain’s Buddhist hall to find him.
The Buddhist hall door was tightly shut. Su Hansheng knocked twice and called out: “Chongjue.”
He didn’t even call him “uncle” anymore.
Chongjue was meditating in the Buddhist hall. After silently reciting scripture all night, his heart had finally settled—only to have Su Hansheng’s voice completely undo all progress.
He slightly furrowed his brow, turning to look at the closed door.
Before dawn, he could only faintly see the silhouette of a person on the carved wooden door.
Su Hansheng licked his finger and directly poked a hole in the paper door, his amber eyes peering darkly inside. He said quietly: “Chongjue, I know you’re in there. Open the door and let me in.”
Chongjue: “…”
He should have activated the barrier to snap his finger off.
Su Hansheng kept poking at the door. When Chongjue didn’t respond, he poked another hole. Soon the entire door was full of holes.
Chongjue said helplessly: “What business do you have?”
Seeing Chongjue finally acknowledged him, Su Hansheng said cheerfully: “I just wanted to have morning tea with Uncle. I even specially bought pastries from the dining hall. Let me in, yeah?”
Chongjue frowned: “No need. I’ve already entered seclusion from food.”
Su Hansheng didn’t give up: “Then we could just have some tea.”
Chongjue felt Su Hansheng was unexpectedly clingy today. He simply said: “Zou Chi will come later. After I’ve delegated matters to him, I’ll enter closed seclusion.”
Su Hansheng quickly asked: “For three days?”
Chongjue said: “Two years.”
Cracks had appeared on his jade pendant. It wasn’t like before when the bone chains had affected him—this was more serious. Two years of seclusion at Mount Sumeru might not even repair those cracks.
Su Hansheng was startled, not expecting such a major obstacle on his first day of action. He immediately protested: “You can’t leave!”
Chongjue said: “Don’t be unreasonable. Before your coming-of-age ceremony, I will emerge from seclusion.”
Su Hansheng’s face turned green with frustration. He kicked the door: “Let me in and explain!”
“Don’t linger. Go to morning class,” Chongjue said.
Su Hansheng protested: “The first bell hasn’t even rung yet…”
Chongjue’s spiritual power moved through his fingers, and the morning bell sounded softly.
Su Hansheng: “…”
Su Hansheng, enraged, fell backward: “You!”
The World-Honored One who’d been an untouchable lotus had become like this?
Could it be the evil one’s influence?
How infuriating.
With inferior cultivation and lower status, Su Hansheng had no harsh methods to employ. He had to resort to gentler tactics.
He took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing his anger, and adopted a pitiful expression: “Earlier, Uncle said he’d let me act freely for three days. It’s only been one day—are you going back on your word?”
Chongjue’s hand, which had been tracing the sleeve’s hidden patterns, paused slightly.
Su Hansheng, receiving no counter-argument, pressed on: “Was everything Uncle said before false? I’ve never had anyone teach me these things. The Celestial Immortal didn’t even like me—when I was young, he wanted to strangle me… Maybe I should never have been born in the first place, so I wouldn’t trouble Uncle now?”
The moment those pitiful words were spoken, the tightly closed door suddenly opened.
Chongjue’s brow furrowed as he looked down at him. After a long moment, he said quietly: “No. Don’t think of yourself that way.”
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Su Hansheng: “…”
No matter how Su Hansheng employed both hard and soft tactics afterward, Chongjue refused to relent.
Frustrated beyond measure, Su Hansheng angrily kicked the door and, with a grim expression, left following the morning bell.
The morning bell today rang half an hour earlier than usual. Everyone sat drowsily at their desks, heads nodding in sleep.
Su Hansheng was furious, silently fiddling with his prayer beads.
Yuan Qian’s sharp eyes noticed and poked him with his pen: “Hey, Xiaoxiao, what’s wrong? You look wilted.”
Su Hansheng remained in a foul mood and didn’t respond.
Yuan Qian clicked his tongue: “Didn’t finish your homework?”
Su Hansheng couldn’t help but glare back: “None of your business.”
Just as Yuan Qian was about to pursue further, Wu Baili, casually flipping through assignments without looking up, said: “Failed to confess to your crush?”
The previously listless Su Hansheng immediately jumped up, furious: “Nonsense! Disrespectful!”
Wu Baili and Yuan Qian: “…”
Su Hansheng’s outburst was so loud that other students jolted awake, all staring at him sleepily.
Su Hansheng hesitated, then, regaining composure: “…Are you still sleeping before class? Aren’t you afraid the academy director will scold you? Wake up and submit yesterday’s assignments.”
The students, fooled by his warning, drowsily began retrieving their assignments.
Wu Baili and Yuan Qian stared at him with knowing expressions.
Su Hansheng, feeling guilty, sat down quickly, keeping his head down and refusing to meet their gaze.
Morning class ended early due to the earlier bell, and afternoon classes dismissed early as well. Su Hansheng quickly gathered his things to leave, but the moment he exited Virtue Academy, Wu Baili and Yuan Qian flanked him on both sides.
Su Hansheng’s hair nearly stood on end: “If you do this again, I’m getting angry!”
Yuan Qian grinned mischievously: “Being angry will stunt your growth.”
Su Hansheng: “You!”
As the three walked along, they spotted Qifu Zhao approaching with a stack of books.
Su Hansheng quickly called out: “Qifu Zhao! Save me!”
Qifu Zhao was startled: “Wh-what’s happening? Put Young Lord down! Be careful his arms dislocate!”
Wu Baili and Yuan Qian finally released him, and Su Hansheng dropped to the ground. He kicked each of them once, saying irritably: “What exactly do you want?”
Yuan Qian’s eyes narrowed mischievously: “I just thought Young Lord was troubled by matters of the heart and wanted to help ease your worries.”
Qifu Zhao asked curiously: “Troubled by love?”
Su Hansheng glared at them: “Do you three even know how to write ‘love’?”
“Hmph.” Yuan Qian hooked Su Hansheng’s shoulder. “Three heads together surpass Zhuge Liang. Right, Wu Baili? Qifu Zhao?”
Wu Baili nodded coldly.
Qifu Zhao, uncertain what was happening but sensing gossip, also nodded obediently.
Su Hansheng eyed the three, then the passing crowds. He had no choice but to drag them back to Falling Parasol Lodge.
In Falling Parasol Lodge’s courtyard, they cleared a space, brought out a square table, and spread their assignments, ready to help the young lord sort through his troubles while working.
Wu Baili arranged tea and pastries.
Su Hansheng chewed his pen, deliberating under their watchful gaze for a long time before finally steeling himself. He slapped the table and said seriously: “Fine, I’ll tell you. Give me your advice.”
The three nodded gravely.
Su Hansheng picked up his teacup, contemplating before taking a sip. Then he asked: “Do you think… my uncle harbors romantic feelings for me?”
The moment the words left his mouth, Wu Baili, Yuan Qian, and Qifu Zhao froze mid-sip, their entire bodies petrifying like statues.
Heaven above, Amitabha Buddha, Highest Immortal—what had they just heard?!
Su Hansheng waited and waited for a response. Growing impatient, he poked Yuan Qian: “Hey, you three-headed fool, say something!”
Yuan Qian, completely dumbfounded, trembled as he stared at Su Hansheng: “Xiaoxiao, we were just joking. You can’t say things like this to us, outsiders!”
This is something that can’t be said so carelessly!
Wu Baili calmly took a sip of tea: “Stay composed.”
Qifu Zhao set down his teacup, picked it up again, put it down once more—completely flustered—and could only look pleadingly at Su Hansheng, hoping he’d say it was just a joke.
“I don’t consider you outsiders,” Su Hansheng said. He enumerated all the things Chongjue had done for him: “He’s restricted but still used spiritual power for me. When I caused trouble, he solved it without hitting me like my Senior Brother or scolding me like my fourth senior brother…”
Wu Baili rubbed his brow and interrupted: “Common superiors treat their juniors this way too. Yuan Qian, Qifu Zhao—tell him.”
Yuan Qian shrugged: “My superiors either beat or scold me.”
Qifu Zhao: “I have no superiors.”
Wu Baili: “…”
Su Hansheng said irritably: “He does all this without asking for anything in return—oh, and yesterday we bathed together, and he—ugh, ugh!”
This was absolutely something no one should hear. Yuan Qian immediately rushed forward and covered Su Hansheng’s mouth.
“Ah ah ah… we heard nothing!”
If the World-Honored One found out they’d heard this, they’d be struck dead by lightning!
Su Hansheng rolled his eyes and brushed Yuan Qian’s hand away: “Fine, fine. Let me ask you one question then.”
The three listened nervously.
Su Hansheng rubbed his chin: “How do I pursue my uncle?”
The three: “…”
Is this really something we should be hearing?!
Su Hansheng tapped the table and said dismissively: “I, the ‘guilty party,’ don’t fear this. Why are you so timid? Just treat it like helping me pursue an ordinary person. Come on, speak freely, all of you. There’ll be generous rewards.”
The three exchanged glances.
Well, that made sense.
If Su Hansheng didn’t fear it, why should they?
Though Yuan Qian and the others knew nothing of romance, they’d secretly read romance novels and observed others’ courtships. After calming themselves, they began offering suggestions enthusiastically.
“To pursue someone, you must first make them happy—do you know how to make people happy?”
Su Hansheng thought of his second senior sister’s methods and nodded.
“You should be considerate and know what they like.”
Su Hansheng thought again. Yesterday Chongjue seemed to quite enjoy that cold tea. While he didn’t particularly like sweet things himself, Chongjue had sipped it slowly until it was finished.
The three continued offering advice.
Su Hansheng nodded, expressing his newfound understanding.
***
As night fell, Chongjue delegated all his affairs to Zou Chi, then hesitated before saying: “Xiaoxiao… I entrust him to you.”
Zou Chi smiled and nodded internally, thinking: Please hurry back to Mount Sumeru. Otherwise, before entering meditation, the evil one will probably emerge and “corrupt” Xiaoxiao.
Chongjue anticipated that given Su Hansheng’s nature, he’d likely come spouting nonsense tonight. He was about to dismiss Zou Chi when his divine sense detected Su Hansheng already bounding up the steps, humming cheerfully.
Chongjue’s brow furrowed. He quickly issued dismissal: “There’s nothing else. If there are no other matters…”
Zou Chi said “ah” quietly: “There is something.”
Chongjue: “…”
Zou Chi sighed: “A-Yin is temporarily sheltering in Qifu Zhao’s body. He merely wishes to nourish his spirit using Fuling bloodline—he won’t do anything else. Please… don’t hold it against him.”
Chongjue said coldly: “Only if he stops eyeing Xiaoxiao’s eyes.”
Zou Chi was startled: “How could he?”
Chongjue didn’t elaborate further, about to dismiss him again when Su Hansheng appeared at the door, gently knocking, his voice crisp: “Chongjue, may I come in?”
Just as Chongjue was about to give him the cold shoulder again, Zou Chi spoke: “It’s Xiaoxiao. Come in.”
He raised his hand and opened the barrier-sealed door.
Chongjue: “…”
Su Hansheng entered carrying a cup of cold tea, a new long prayer bead strand hanging from his neck. He moved gracefully, bowing respectfully to both.
“Greetings, Uncle and Vice Dean.”
Zou Chi, still remembering the evil one’s crude comments, smiled as he remained seated, not wanting to leave the two alone.
If the evil one’s lust awakened, Xiaoxiao would be in danger!
Su Hansheng obediently sat across from Chongjue, separated by a small table, and grinned as he offered the cold tea: “Uncle, I noticed you enjoyed this last night, so I specially bought more from Yingxu Sect’s bazaar.”
Chongjue: “…”
Chongjue’s expression had been cold, but seeing sweat beading on Su Hansheng’s forehead—and lacking spiritual power to ride the wind—he must have rushed back. The World-Honored One’s already-soft heart melted instantly. He sighed silently and reached for the cup.
Just as Chongjue’s warm jade-like fingers touched the bamboo container, Su Hansheng’s restless paw secretly caressed his fingers with an ambiguous tenderness.
Chongjue froze.
Su Hansheng handed over the cup and, acting innocently, tilted his head: “Uncle, what’s wrong?”
Chongjue lowered his eyes and accepted the tea.
Perhaps he was overthinking.
But the next instant, Chongjue felt an odd sensation on his sitting leg.
He looked down expressionless and saw Su Hansheng had somehow extended his foot, stretching his toes to brush against his calf in an awkward, clumsy attempt at seduction.
Su Hansheng rested his elbow on the small table, chin in hand, smiling cheerfully at Chongjue.
Chongjue: “…”
**