Zhou Fuxue asked, "And then?"
Na Lian suddenly felt a prickle of guilt and coughed dryly. What else could have happened? Na Lian had mistakenly believed Ming Zhu was the one who killed Xi Chu. Poor Ming Zhu, covered in wounds and his mind a haze, had been unable to defend himself. In a fit of rage, Na Lian had nearly thrown him back into the Blood Sea.
Na Lian glossed over it. "Then? Well, what else? After he seized the body, the demon core and the physical shell didn't match. If things had continued like that, he would have eventually become a half-dead monster. So, I brought him back to the Taboo Forest and let him gradually merge with that demon core. It took... hm, about thirty years or so."
What Na Lian didn't mention was that after Ming Zhu had completely merged with the demon core and regained his sanity, he had remained mad for several years.
"That’s about it."
Zhou Fuxue’s brow was furrowed tight. Even though he knew Ming Zhu couldn't have had an easy life beneath the Sun-Shrouding Cliff, hearing it with his own ears still made his heart throb with waves of sharp pain. He took a small, shaky breath, and after a long silence, he asked hoarsely, "Why did he hide his identity?"
Na Lian sold Ming Zhu out immediately. "He’s probably afraid you’ll think he’s a monster. To be honest, calling him a demon isn't quite right, and calling him a human is even less accurate. He can only be called a monster now. Are you afraid of him?"
How could that be possible? Zhou Fuxue’s eyes were red with heartache. He took a deep breath, his voice trembling slightly. "You said just now that you wanted me to leave... Leave to where?"
Na Lian told him about Ming Zhu’s earlier outburst. Zhou Fuxue recalled the awkward scene from that morning, and his ears instantly turned red.
Na Lian said, "He should be outside trying to stage a 'chance encounter.' Just go out; he’ll take the initiative to bump into you."
Zhou Fuxue took his leave of Na Lian and walked out of the Moon-Snatching Pavilion, looking quite distracted.
Overnight, the crabapple blossoms on both sides of the street had all bloomed. The morning dew had not yet dissipated, hanging crystal-clear upon the petals, looking delicate and dripping with beauty.
Just as Na Lian had said, Ming Zhu—dressed in a flamboyant red robe—was crouching amidst the crabapple bushes, staring at the entrance of the Moon-Snatching Pavilion, waiting for Zhou Fuxue to come out so he could manufacture a coincidence.
A moment later, Zhou Fuxue indeed emerged. Ming Zhu was delighted and was about to slip out when he saw Zhou Fuxue’s face clouded with gloom, looking profoundly sorrowful.
Ming Zhu reflexively crushed a cluster of flowers in front of him, the bright red juice staining his slender fingers.
"He's that upset about being kicked out?" Ming Zhu thought indignantly. "Do you like serving people that much?"
Ming Zhu decided not to come out after all. He followed Zhou Fuxue stealthily along the way until he saw Zhou Fuxue stop in front of a sugar figurine vendor and take a sugar figurine shaped like a taboo beast. At that, he could no longer restrain himself.
Ming Zhu emerged from the bushes and walked forward with a blank expression. "Thirteen."
Zhou Fuxue was startled. Holding the sugar figurine, he turned around. Before he could even feel joy at seeing Ming Zhu, he saw his Senior Brother lean over with a cold face and—*chomp*—bite off half the body of the little sugar figurine in his hand.
Zhou Fuxue: "..."
Ming Zhu grabbed his hand and took another bite, swallowing the entire sugar figurine into his mouth. He said coldly, "It tastes good. Get two more."
Zhou Fuxue: "..."
Looking at the bare bamboo stick in his hand, Zhou Fuxue sighed helplessly. He followed the request and had the old man make two more sugar figurines—one of himself and one of Ming Zhu.
Ming Zhu immediately beamed with joy. Holding them in his hand, he couldn't bring himself to eat them.
Zhou Fuxue tugged at his arm and said with a faint smile, "Senior Brother, where have you been all this time? Why didn't you come find me?"
Ming Zhu felt a bit guilty and made up a random excuse before saying, "What about you? If I don't come to find you, you won't come looking for me?"
Zhou Fuxue had long since grown accustomed to his Senior Brother’s unreasonable behavior. He lowered his eyes submissively and said, "It is Fuxue’s fault."
Ming Zhu muttered, "As long as you know."
Leaving the street outside the Moon-Snatching Pavilion, they were met by a massive river that wound through the entire City of Shuo-Yu. Along the bank, green stone slabs had been piled into a waist-high lookout. Ming Zhu held the bamboo stick of the sugar figurine between his teeth and used both hands to vault himself nimbly onto the ledge. Facing the rushing river, he held his sugar figurine and turned back to give Zhou Fuxue a look.
Zhou Fuxue followed his lead and sat down beside him. Side by side, they looked toward the crabapple blossoms blooming on the opposite bank, as vibrant as a raging fire.
Ming Zhu tilted his head and tossed a jade token to Zhou Fuxue. "My divine sense is on this. Next time, use it to find me directly."
Zhou Fuxue caught it and looked. He found that a small character for "Zhu" had been carved into the jade token with a blade, and beside it was a casually drawn curved mark, resembling the trail of a snake.
Zhou Fuxue gave an "en" of affirmation and put the jade token away. Only then did he have the chance to properly observe Ming Zhu.
Even though he used spiritual power to maintain a disguise, Ming Zhu’s face was still terrifyingly pale. His pitch-black eyes were curved as he watched the undulating river in the distance. Seeing something, he suddenly turned his head and smiled. "There are two birds fighting in that tree..."
The moment the words left his mouth, he noticed Zhou Fuxue’s gaze fixed intently upon him, and he froze.
Zhou Fuxue stared at him steadily. As if possessed, he reached out to cup the side of Ming Zhu’s face, then leaned in and pressed his lips gently against Ming Zhu's.
A scent of medicinal herbs lingered around Ming Zhu’s lips. The touch was somewhat cool and crisp, much like the man himself—appearing gentle, but in truth, indifferent and detached.
Over fifty years ago, Perfected Master Guining had once evaluated the then-spirited Ming Zhu, who treated everyone with the gentleness of a spring breeze, as being heartless.
"Though Ming Zhu appears kind to everyone, in reality, he is more detached and cold-hearted than you or I."
In the past, he was good to everyone; even toward Nan Qinghe, whom he had only met once on the road, he was as warm as the wind. But once a person no longer held the value to merit his genuine treatment, he would forget them in an instant, his heartlessness enough to make one stare in shock.
Ming Zhu’s pupils contracted, and his golden demon eyes almost instinctively revealed themselves, but they retracted in an instant. He slightly lowered his long lashes and did not pull away.
Zhou Fuxue broke the contact as soon as it began.
Only then did Ming Zhu tilt his head slightly, his lips still glistening with a bit of moisture. He said softly, "Zhou Fuxue, you are being presumptuous."
His tone was gentle, without a trace of anger.
Zhou Fuxue said, "Yes."
He retreated back to his original position, sitting side by side with Ming Zhu as if that kiss had never happened.
The two were silent, with only the sound of passersby coming and going in their ears.
After a long while, Ming Zhu finally spoke. "Has fifty years not been enough time for you to think things through?"
Zhou Fuxue knew what he was referring to. He said, "I have thought it through."
Ming Zhu said, "Then you..."
Zhou Fuxue cut him off. "Does Senior Brother loathe me?"
Ming Zhu was stunned and said in shock, "How could that be possible?"
Zhou Fuxue turned his head, the corners of his lips hooking into a smile. "Then that means you like me."
Ming Zhu: "..."
Ming Zhu thought to himself, *I don't loathe anyone; does that mean I like everyone? What kind of twisted logic is this?*
Zhou Fuxue reached out to tuck a long strand of hair from Ming Zhu’s forehead behind his ear, his thumb lightly brushing against the side of his face in an incredibly intimate gesture. "Then why didn't Senior Brother push me away just now?"
Ming Zhu turned his head to avoid Zhou Fuxue’s touch, frowning. "I was just startled and didn't have time to stop you."
Zhou Fuxue gave an "oh," and then leaned in once more. This time, he didn't even reach out his hand; he simply lowered his eyes and kissed Ming Zhu’s lips. This time lasted longer, and he even intimately brushed against the slight gap of Ming Zhu's closed lips, softly taking his lip into his mouth.
This time, Ming Zhu was clearly genuinely startled. Panic appeared in his eyes, and he instinctively wanted to reach out and push Zhou Fuxue away. However, his hands were already pressed against Zhou Fuxue’s chest. Just as he was about to exert force, he suddenly felt the rapid thumping of the heart within Zhou Fuxue’s chest.
The heartbeat was like a drum.
Ming Zhu’s heart, which had not been moved for so many years, felt as if it had been pricked by a needle, aching until it went numb.
By the time Zhou Fuxue pulled away again, Ming Zhu’s pale pink lips had gained some color—Zhou Fuxue had nipped them twice before leaving.
Ming Zhu felt the sting and blocked his lips with the back of his hand, looking at Zhou Fuxue in a daze, appearing as if he had been kissed into a stupor.
Seeing him like this, Zhou Fuxue sighed softly and asked, "Why didn't you push me away this time either?"
Ming Zhu stared at him blankly. "You..."
Zhou Fuxue finished the sentence for him. "I am being presumptuous."
Zhou Fuxue had said the words Ming Zhu intended to say, leaving Ming Zhu with nothing to say. He could only freeze in place, turning his head to cast his gaze into the distance, landing once more on the tree where the two small birds were fighting.
He was dazed for a long time without speaking. Fearing he was overthinking, Zhou Fuxue said softly, "Senior Brother?"
"Ah?" Ming Zhu looked at him dreamily. "What? They stopped fighting and flew away..."
Zhou Fuxue was truly caught between laughter and tears.
Only then did Ming Zhu snap back to his senses. He lowered his head to look at the sugar figurine in his hand, his ears turning slightly red. After a long while, he said softly, "...I like it."
For a moment, Zhou Fuxue didn't understand, wondering what he liked. After a thought, he realized Ming Zhu was answering his previous question.
*“Why didn't you push me away this time either?”*
*“...I like it.”*
Ming Zhu had always possessed a personality of "drinking today's wine today"; he said what was on his mind and never mistreated himself. Now, perhaps because he no longer cared about life or death, there was even less need to go against his own wishes. He liked Zhou Fuxue kissing him, so he said so.
Zhou Fuxue asked knowingly, "Is it that you like me?"
Ming Zhu raised his head and shot him a look, thinking, *How can you be so thick-skinned?* But meeting Zhou Fuxue’s eyes, which were rarely shimmering with a faint light, those hurtful words were swallowed back down.
Liking his kiss and liking the person seemed to be no different. Ming Zhu thought quite philosophically, so he simply nodded and said, "Yes."
Zhou Fuxue stared at him in shock. He stared until Ming Zhu began to feel uneasy before he spoke hoarsely, "Senior Brother... Ming Zhu, do you know exactly what you are saying?"
Ming Zhu gave him a strange look. "Naturally, I know."
Zhou Fuxue had always treated this admiration as a one-sided longing. He had never imagined he would receive a response from Ming Zhu. Sometimes, he even thought humbly that just watching from afar for the rest of his life would be enough.
But when Ming Zhu lowered his head and softly said "I like it" to him, he became increasingly insatiable.
Zhou Fuxue took a few shallow breaths and said in a raspy voice, "Senior Brother... Ming Zhu, can you... give me a hug?"
During these fifty years of wandering, whenever Zhou Fuxue was tired and wanted to give up, he would take out another Memory-Recording Pearl and greedily watch that red-robed youth talking eloquently during morning lessons. It seemed that with just one look, his battered and bruised self could once again stand tall with his sword; no matter how many thorns lay ahead, they were nothing to fear.
Ming Zhu carried a strong scent of medicinal herbs, along with a faint aura of green lotus. When he leaned in, Zhou Fuxue was like an iron man cast from scrap metal; once the bright copper plating on the outside melted away, he could no longer support that massive frame. He collapsed like a falling mountain, his defenses utterly routed.
Zhou Fuxue hugged Ming Zhu’s back with a death grip, thinking blankly, *How pathetic I am.*
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
--- | --- | ---
说玉城 | City of Shuo-Yu | The city where the current events are taking place.
糖人 | Sugar figurine | A traditional Chinese snack made by blowing or molding hot sugar.
神识 | Divine sense | A cultivator's spiritual consciousness/perception.
玉令 | Jade token | A physical object used for identification or communication in cultivation settings.
留影珠 | Memory-Recording Pearl | A magical item used to record and play back visual/auditory memories.
归宁真人 | Perfected Master Guining | A senior cultivator/master mentioned in the flashback.
不讳 | Taboo beast | A mythical creature; here, the shape of the sugar figurine.
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Is Everyone Else's Eldest Disciple Like This? | Chapter 103 | Confessions by the River | Novela.app | Novela.app
