Ch138 - Afterstory (III)

When Chu Zhishi saw that Mu He wasn’t alarmed but happy instead, he felt stunned. He quietly tugged at Xie Zhiwei’s sleeve and leaned in to murmur, “Second senior brother, is that disciple of yours too…too much of that, or you too much of that? Hurry and eat this pill soon, give him a taste of your strength tonight.”

Xie Zhiwei’s head was full of black lines. What did Cheese misunderstand, hey? What “that” is he talking about?

But he couldn’t very well tell him “No, actually your senior brother is the one on the bottom,” right?

Although he was together with Mu He now and didn’t care, in the eyes of veteran straight men like him it was embarrassing to be on the bottom. Otherwise, why would Cheese look so proud after his misunderstanding? As if he was the one pressing Mu He instead.

Xie Zhiwei wordlessly took back his sleeve, but Chu Zhishi refused to let go. “Second senior brother, why aren’t you saying anything? Don’t you believe in the effects of Black Wolf blood? You’ll know after you use it once.”

Xie Zhiwei wanted to cry but had no tears. I’ve actually used it in the past…

Mu He wasted no time in bumping away Chu Zhishi and blocking the way between them. “There’s no need for youngest martial uncle to worry about matters between shizun and I. If youngest martial uncle is curious, you might as well try it yourself.”

Chu Zhishi gave a start before he fumed. “What did you say?”

Xie Zhiwei interjected hastily, “Youngest junior brother, my disciple is just joking with you, don’t treat it seriously.” Then he muttered to Mu He, “Why tease him?”

Mu He instantly looked aggrieved. “It was him who first…”

“All right, all right,” Xie Zhiwei had no defenses against him like this and patted his hand soothingly. “We’ll go back to Suihan Lodge after meeting with your eldest martial uncle and the others.”

Mu He obediently nodded his head and took his hand without letting go. Chu Zhishi could only glare at them. His casual words were enough of an excuse for the pair to get lovey-dovey again. Now he understood that Xie Zhiwei and him were now people of two different worlds…no, four years ago and even eight years ago, they were already in different realms!

Tan Daoyao hurried to the door and informed, “Shizun, eldest martial uncle and third martial aunt are here.”

Chu Zhishi seemed to see a savior after being enveloped in a room full of “blooming flowers beneath the moon.” He quickly beckoned, “Hurry and invite them in!”

Sure enough, Xie Zhiwei still wanted to save face and quickly let go of Mu He’s hand when Yan Zhifei and Xia Zhiqi entered. The two of them stood with one in front of the other and barely managed to pass as a normal master-disciple pair if they didn’t make eyes at each other.

Yan Zhifei took a long stride into the rooms and saw Xie Zhiwei in his crow-gray robes at first glance. Four years had passed, but he still looked the same as ever; in fact his spirits seemed higher than four years ago. Yan Zhifei’s feelings were mixed as he grabbed Xie Zhiwei by the shoulders.

“Zhiwei, I heard Zhishi’s report but still couldn’t believe it, you’re really not…that’s truly wonderful.”

Xia Zhiqi nodded from the sidelines. “Heaven helps a good man like second senior brother.”

Although both of them were happy, Yan Zhifei had always been the stern type. Compared to feeling moved, his words sounded like a bitter man nursing a grudge. Xia Zhiqi was the cold and icy type, so her words also sounded hateful in tone. If outsiders didn’t know any better, they might think Xie Zhiwei owed the two a lot of money instead.

But Xie Zhiwei was sufficiently touched himself. He bowed towards Yan Zhifei and said, “I was capricious and stubborn four years ago, making eldest senior brother and third junior sister worry.”

Yan Zhifei sighed softly and helped him up. “You didn’t do anything wrong back then. Neither did Martial Nephew Mu He. Seeing you both at the end of your suffering makes a senior brother like me relieved.”

At this point, Mu He bowed towards Yan Zhifei as well, saying with a straight face, “Eldest martial uncle sent charcoal in snow back then, a great kindness that shizun and I will always remember. If the daoist sect has any need in the future, we shall do our best to help.” His brows were harmonious and a spring breeze seemed to surround his body, leaving none of the hostility from his past.

Yan Zhifei recalled the old Mu He, a man of few words who either spoke false or bloody things, but could now sincerely repay his kindness to the daoist sect. He helped him up too and said, “Zhiwei is really a good teacher. Now that the lands are peaceful, the daoist sect has no need of aid. It’s enough for you two to live happy and peaceful lives.”

Compared to Chu Zhishi’s fuss and bustle, this scene was more suited to a reunion after a long goodbye. Chu Zhishi felt angrier the longer he looked. How come Mu He that brat could act so crazy in front of him? He also contributed plenty back in the year they fought against King Yin Manor!

He sure can act. No wonder Xie Zhiwei can’t bear to eat the Black Wolf blood pill, it’s clear he feels distress for his sake.

Chu Zhishi suddenly turned calculative as he secretly laughed. I have ways to let second senior brother toss him.

After the group of people finished catching up with each other and exchanging pleasantries, Xie Zhiwei and Mu He returned to Suihan Lodge. The sunlight shone on the mountains and turned them emerald while a fresh wind blew in from all sides to send the pungent fragrance of bamboo to their nostrils. The pond in front of the door was filled with red goldfish that swam beneath the shadows cast by the bamboo grove as if they were weaving between the algae and water.

“You came back often to clean up, didn’t you?” Xie Zhiwei was overwhelmed with feelings.

“Once or twice a month, but always in the middle of the night,” Mu He nodded.

“Why?” Xie Zhiwei turned to look at him. “You can’t see anything in the dark.”

“Every part of Suihan Lodge and the daoist sect, even the world, was something shizun led me to see,” Mu He said as his eyes grew moist again, “I’m not used to looking at them without shizun here.”

I made him cry again…

Xie Zhiwei sighed and gently wiped the corners of his eyes with his fingertips. “In the future, Master will always be here.”

Mu He nodded vigorously, but his tears didn’t stop. Instead they flowed more and more. After all these days, any mention of those times without Xie Zhiwei would make him cry. Xie Zhiwei knew that it would take him a long time to make up those losses with Mu He. This time he simply cupped the other’s face and sucked away the traces of tears. “I said before, you’re my entire world. Master will accompany you all the way to see the rest of it.”

Mu He’s tears slowly stopped as he felt his face itch slightly. When he realized what Xie Zhiwei was doing, he lowered his eyes to look at Xie Zhiwei’s thin lips that were close at hand and unconsciously gulped.

Not noticing this, Xie Zhiwei was still asking him, “Where do you want to go now?”

“Can we go anywhere?” Mu He’s voice was a little hoarse.

“Yes, whatever you say goes.”

“Disciple wants to…”

“Mhm?”

Mu He cleared his throat. “Where’s the pill that youngest martial uncle just gave to shizun?”

Xie Zhiwei gave a start before taking out the box from his sleeve. “Oh…you mean this thing.”

Mu He’s eyes brightened. “That’s right. Right now, disciple wants with shizun to—”

Xie Zhiwei opened the box, waved his hand, and tossed the pill into the fish pond.

Mu He sucked in a breath. “Why did shizun throw it away?”

“This is bad, we can’t keep it,” Xie Zhiwei said righteously.

Just a tiny bit of Black Wolf blood-laced wine ended up with them going at it for three days three nights in the past. How could his old waist still take it if it was switched out for a refined version in pill form?

Those goldfish surrounded the pill as the water grew turbulent and split the elixir amongst themselves. Mu He’s heart was dripping blood. He was about to launch another attack of tears to get Xie Zhiwei softhearted again when the latter opened the doors and went inside. He could only follow him, only to see Xie Zhiwei walking back and forth in his old rooms.

“This is the stand for Qingping Sword, it’s not broken at all.”

“That’s the second half of the Diamond Sutra I wrote. I thought I lost it, but it was here the whole time.”

“And this book…” Xie Zhiwei took down a volume of poetry from the shelf and searched through before his eyes rested on a certain line. “The hues change color akin to an ashen dog.”

Mu He quirked up his lips and pointed outside. “Shizun, look.”

“What is it?” Xie Zhiwei followed his finger to see and saw the bamboo branches moving before a round white furball scampered out. It found two landing points on the bamboo before jumping to leap on the ground.

Dog placed the bamboo rat in its mouth on the ground and pressed it in place with his paws. It shook its body of white fur, meowed a couple of times at the interior of the house, and buried its head to feast.

Xie Zhiwei grinned and walked out slowly to look at the body of shiny, healthy white fur. “Everything’s the same as the psat.”

“Not the same,” Mu He hugged him from behind as he spoke by his ear.

Xie Zhiwei turned slightly towards him. “What’s different?”

“Things have gotten better,” Mu He kissed him on the lips, eyes filled with laughter.

“Right…much better.”

When he first arrived eight years ago, he was like a spiky hedgehog. Even if the System forced him to wear a smile, his heart was full of rejection for this world. Life was part of a plot, Mu He was the protagonist, every step he walked was for the sake of the mission.

Now things were indeed different.

Life was life, Mu He was his, and every step he took from now on would be for the other’s sake as well as his own.

Xie Zhiwei couldn’t resist leaning over to pet Dog’s head. Even this fat cat was getting more and more pleasing to the eye…

His finger shrank.

Dog was happily eating when it was disturbed and angrily leaped up to bite him. Xie Zhiwei’s mouth twitched. Although it didn’t hurt, it sure lost him dignity…

Mu He quickly pinched Dog by the nose so it would let go. Luckily Dog had an impression of Xie Zhiwei and didn’t use much strength, so it instantly released him to continue its meal. Xie Zhiwei chuckled and tried to amend things himself. “Even Dog’s improved by remembering me. It didn’t bite in earnest.”

Mu He massaged Xie Zhiwei’s hand with a nod. “Right, ah. When I left the peak to wander about, it guarded shizun in my place.”

There was a rustling sound from the grove before Tan Daoyao emerged while carrying a small basket. “Second martial uncle, Senior Brother Mu He, they made mooncakes today. My shizun ordered some brought over to you two.”

Xie Zhiwei was mystified. “But it’s not mid-autumn today, so why eat mooncakes?”

“Sect leader martial uncle said today was the event of a big reunion, so everyone in the daoist sect needs to eat mooncakes to celebrate,” Tao Daoyao handed the basket into Mu He’s hands. “There will be a banquet at Ascension City tonight, so don’t forget to come, second martial uncle.”

“All right, youngest junior brother has shown care.”

“Mhm mhm, farewell second martial uncle.”

Tan Daoyao left once his task was complete, leaving master and disciple alone. Xie Zhiwei opened up the box and saw only one mooncake inside.

Mu He knitted his brows. “So stingy.”

Xie Zhiwei thought it over and said, “It’s nothing. Mooncakes are sweet and greasy, so it’s hard to eat too much of them. We can just have a taste.”

“All right.” Splitting one up with shizun was precisely Mu He’s idea.

A short while later…

“Disciple, why is this mooncake so strange? Although it’s date paste filling, there’s a familiar taste about it.”

“Disciple finds it familiar too…”

The date paste scent was very strong and sweet, but it seemed to be mixed with a fishy smell..like of blood.

The two men looked at each other for a moment before blurting out at the same time, “Black Wolf blood.”

—

Far away in Heavenly Sun City, Chu Zhishi was currently gloating. There weren’t many Black Wolf blood pills, but those two were so mushy they’d definitely share the one mooncake between them.

Second senior brother, you might cherish Mu He, but I don’t. No need to thank me for helping you out with this tiny favor!

—

The author has something to say: After writing this I suddenly realized…I’m afraid the pond won’t be able to fit all the goldfish after this…

The Chinese commenters:

Translator’s Note: When your well-meaning wingman forgets to take your poor back into consideration…R.I.P.