When Mu Gesheng woke up, the sky was already bright. Wu Biyou was fast asleep beside him, his phone still clutched in his hand.
Mu Gesheng felt the phone, then gave Wu Biyou a kick to wake him up. "Stop faking it. Get up."
Wu Biyou opened his eyes reluctantly. "How did you know I wasn't asleep?"
"My foolish daughter stays up all night whenever he plays games," Mu Gesheng said, standing up. "Your phone is still burning hot."
This time, Wu Biyou didn't bother arguing about being called a "foolish daughter." His attention was elsewhere. He coughed, hesitating before testing the waters. "So, uh... what did you see in there?"
Mu Gesheng looked at him with a half-smile.
Wu Biyou: "..."
By then, the school gates had opened, and students were arriving one after another. Mu Gesheng said nothing; he simply tossed the Mountain Ghost Coin in his hand and strolled leisurely out of the School History Museum, the crowd parting wherever he went. Wu Biyou followed him, utterly bewildered, unaware that in the eyes of others, he now looked like the school bully’s lackey.
After emerging from the illusion, Mu Gesheng was no longer in a hurry. He didn't return to the City God Temple immediately; instead, he wandered aimlessly around the school.
Wu Biyou followed him from the playground to the cafeteria, and from the cafeteria to the teaching building, until he finally reached his limit. "What exactly are you doing?"
"Nothing much," Mu Gesheng said with the air of a serene master. "I’m just looking at this crowd of single dogs and feeling like a winner in life."
Wu Biyou: "..."
Mu Gesheng continued to click his tongue and shake his head, laughing and beaming like a complete idiot who had just struck gold.
Expressionless, Wu Biyou pulled out his phone and sent a WeChat message to their group: *The Old Immortal has probably gone mad.*
Chai Yanyan replied almost instantly: *I think Great-Uncle has pretty much gone mad too.*
An Ping: *How’s the progress? What’s up with those two?*
Ever since the three of them had seen the memories Wu Zixu left in the Mountain Ghost Coin, their worldviews had been shattered.
Well, perhaps not entirely shattered, but their feelings were incredibly complicated—it was like digging up your parents' old wedding photos to mock them, only to be force-fed a mountain of public displays of affection.
An Ping was slightly better off; he had seen many fragments of memories beforehand and had pieced most of the story together—from the teenage meeting at the Ginkgo Study, to fighting side-by-side at the West City Gate, the correspondence during their time abroad, the suppression of the Ghost Soldiers as the army approached, Mu Gesheng’s death to save others, and that heart-stopping ghost marriage.
Chai Yanyan had been making strange noises the entire time. An Ping thought she had a sore throat, but Wu Biyou was used to it. "Ignore her. This woman starts screeching like a hawk whenever she sees this kind of messy romantic stuff."
Chai Yanyan covered her face and stomped her feet, filled with a strange excitement. "It’s so good. I believe in love again."
Sentiments aside, the three of them faced a grim problem. First: should they let Mu Gesheng know that Chai Shuxin had married him? Second: should they let Chai Shuxin know that they knew he had married Mu Gesheng?
Neither was easy. The first was asking for a lecture; the second was asking for death.
Three heads were better than one. After agonizing for days, they finally upheld the principle that "a blow to the head is better than a slow death" and pushed Wu Biyou out to be the sacrificial lamb.
The day Chai Shuxin returned from the Mirage, he was at the City God Temple handling the remaining affairs of the Chai family. Wu Biyou went there with the mindset of a warrior crossing the River Yi, never to return. He closed his eyes, steeled his heart, and spilled everything like beans from a bag.
Chai Shuxin was reading documents and showed no reaction. Wu Biyou stood there until his legs went stiff before he finally heard a faint "Mhm."
"That Mountain Ghost Coin was left to Mu Gesheng by your father; you have the right to see it." The man paused for a moment, then added, "I know this couldn't be hidden for long."
Wu Biyou waited with bated breath for what came next, only to see Chai Shuxin lower his head back to his documents. A moment later, he glanced up. "Is there anything else?"
Wu Biyou: *...That’s it?*
Chai Shuxin’s reaction was so flat that Wu Biyou, having survived the ordeal, didn't feel lucky—he felt disappointed.
Humans are truly contrary creatures.
But the three of them soon realized something was wrong. Chai Shuxin sat in that room for a day and a night, remaining in the exact same position without moving. Even the document he was "reading" remained the same page.
"What do we do?" Chai Yanyan looked at An Ping. "The document Great-Uncle is holding is the contract the Chai and An families just negotiated. My mom is still waiting for me to bring it back signed."
An Ping: "...I’ll go home and get a photocopy."
They couldn't let things drag on like this. After Chai Shuxin had been silent for a day and a night, Wu Biyou couldn't sit still. Zhu Yinxiao had mentioned earlier that Mu Gesheng might have been taken to Penglai by Lin Juansheng. Wu Biyou scrounged a Penglai entry jade token from An Ping and rushed off to find him.
Late last night, he and Mu Gesheng had arrived at the School History Museum. He had sent a message to the group saying the Old Immortal had seen the Mountain Ghost Coin.
Chai Yanyan, in turn, told Chai Shuxin.
*Great-Uncle has been acting abnormal since last night,* Chai Yanyan messaged the group. *He’s been in the kitchen making First-Rank Pot.*
Wu Biyou: *He’s been making it all night?*
*There are three giant pots piled up in the kitchen now,* Chai Yanyan said. *And he’s still going.*
Wu Biyou: "..."
An Ping was in class, secretly sending WeChat messages. After a long while, one popped up: *Wu Biyou, check if the Half-Immortal has disappeared.*
Only then did Wu Biyou realize that he had been so focused on his phone that Mu Gesheng had vanished.
*He came to class,* An Ping said. *He’s lost it.*
Chai Yanyan: *What did the Ancestor do?*
*The whole class was doing morning self-study when he suddenly walked in and started handing out candy,* An Ping said. *He said it was wedding candy.*
Chai Yanyan: "..."
Wu Biyou: "..."
*He even gave some to the homeroom teacher,* An Ping added. *It’s actually pretty tasty, though.*
Chai Yanyan: *Is this what 'old-age love' looks like?*
An Ping: *When old people fall in love, it’s like an old house catching fire.*
Wu Biyou: *Wake up, they’re already fucking married.*
***
After causing enough chaos at school, Mu Gesheng clapped his hands and returned to the City God Temple. Just as he entered West City Street, he saw Chai Yanyan and Huangniu squatting by the entrance, each holding a cup of milk tea.
Chai Yanyan winked frantically at Wu Biyou, dragged him over, and stuffed his mouth with a cup of milk tea. Then, she gave Mu Gesheng a sweet greeting. "Ancestor, you’re back!"
Mu Gesheng smiled at the young girl. "I heard from my foolish daughter. You’ve worked hard on the Chai family’s affairs."
"It was nothing, nothing at all! Just doing our duty!" Chai Yanyan’s eyes darted around. That unlucky Wu Biyou had been with Mu Gesheng all night and hadn't managed to squeeze a single word out of him.
They still didn't know Mu Gesheng’s attitude toward this marriage. But since An Ping said Mu Gesheng was handing out wedding candy in class, it should be... fine?
*Please let it be fine,* Chai Yanyan prayed. Chai Shuxin and Mu Gesheng had a ghost marriage; if there was a problem, they’d have to go to the Fengdu Underworld Court. If the Tiansuanzi and the Luochazi went to court for a divorce, the story would be sung in the Ghost Market teahouses for eight hundred years.
Mu Gesheng looked at Chai Yanyan’s face, reading the girl’s thoughts perfectly. He turned to Huangniu. "Where’s Sanjiutian?"
Huangniu pointed toward the main gate of the City God Temple with great trepidation. "The Luochazi is in the backyard." He thought for a moment and added, "Cooking."
"It’s still early for lunch. Why is he cooking at this hour?" Mu Gesheng shook his head with a smile and moved to push the door open.
Chai Yanyan couldn't help but call out, "Ancestor!"
Mu Gesheng turned back. "Yes?"
She stammered for a long time but couldn't find the words.
"Alright, alright, everyone disperse. Go find somewhere to play today." Mu Gesheng said to Huangniu, "You’ve worked hard, Lord City God. I’m giving you the day off. Your sentry pay will still be issued."
"Then what about you, Ancestor?"
"Don't call me Ancestor anymore." Mu Gesheng left one final sentence before closing the door. "Call me Auntie."
***
As soon as Mu Gesheng entered the courtyard, he smelled a familiar fragrance.
He pushed open the kitchen door and saw Chai Shuxin wearing an apron. Their eyes met, and the plate in Chai Shuxin’s hand shattered into pieces on the floor.
Mu Gesheng couldn't help but smile. He remembered when he had first woken from his long slumber; Chai Shuxin had dropped his medicine bowl in the same way.
This man could wield the Blood-Licking Blade with total composure, yet before him, he was always so earnest and meticulous, cradling the mundane details of daily life.
Chai Shuxin opened his mouth. He wanted to pick up the broken plate, but he was unwilling to look away from Mu Gesheng. For a moment, he was frozen in place, looking utterly at a loss.
"...Don't come in yet," he finally managed. "It’s too messy in here. I don't want you to get hurt."
"Oh?" Mu Gesheng leaned against the doorframe, tilting his head. "I’ve traveled thousands of miles to come home. Is my husband not going to let me in?"
Chai Shuxin’s legs nearly gave way, and he almost knocked over the pot behind him.
The great Luochazi, a man who commanded the realms of Yin and Yang across ten thousand miles of mountains and rivers, was now reduced to a wobbling mess in a tiny kitchen. Mu Gesheng couldn't take it anymore; if they kept standing like this, Chai Shuxin was going to dismantle the kitchen by accident.
Though, it was quite a rare sight—Sanjiutian actually wrecking a kitchen.
"Alright, alright." Mu Gesheng walked into the kitchen. "What are you fussing over so early in the morning... Good heavens, how many pots did you make?"
He was caught between laughter and tears. Then, he sighed and embraced the other man, gently but firmly.
"I’m back."
Chai Shuxin’s entire body was stiff. Mu Gesheng rested his chin on the man’s shoulder, nuzzling his neck to signal him to relax.
It took a long time for the other to speak. "I thought... you might not come back."
"How could I? You’re right here at home, cooking and waiting for me."
"...Where did you go?"
Mu Gesheng thought about it, but he couldn't suppress the flirtatious words at the tip of his tongue. "I went back to my maiden home for a visit."
Those words were the final straw that broke Chai Shuxin’s hard-won composure. He suddenly pulled Mu Gesheng into a crushing embrace, his strength almost unbelievable.
Mu Gesheng felt like his old waist was about to snap.
*I have ten thousand acres of roses in my heart, and they have caught fire in your arms. Years of separation have branded our bones and blood with heat; through days and nights together, through days and nights we heal.*
After a long while, Chai Shuxin loosened his grip. He held Mu Gesheng by the shoulders and stepped back half a pace, their eyes meeting.
*Wicked deeds bring their own end; talk too much trash and you’ll crash.* Mu Gesheng looked at Chai Shuxin’s dark, intense gaze, and his heart began to drum.
...Whatever, let him do as he wishes.
Chai Shuxin’s gaze was like a storm, carrying a surge of overwhelming emotion as he leaned in. Mu Gesheng closed his eyes and felt a hint of cold fragrance approach, followed by a soft warmth pressing against his lips.
It was like a tidal wave crashing against the shore, followed by the gentleness of a spring rain. It was a kiss of immense treasure and caution, almost reverent.
Mu Gesheng felt a salty moisture drip between his teeth.
Chai Shuxin was crying.
All of Mu Gesheng’s flirtatious thoughts vanished instantly. He was speechless and flustered; the other man’s tears seemed to crash through his lips and into his very soul, burning him with a searing ache. He finally understood the true meaning of heartache.
He sighed inwardly.
He opened his eyes, pressing his forehead against Chai Shuxin’s. Their lips remained in contact as he softly breathed into the other’s mouth, "Young Master Chai, that’s not how you kiss."
He licked his lips and leaned back in, their teeth and tongues entwining. A blurred laugh escaped from deep in his throat.
It was a laugh he hadn't uttered since his youth.
When they finally pulled apart, Mu Gesheng smacked his lips, feeling rather unsatisfied.
Looking at Chai Shuxin, though he appeared calm on the surface, his ears were completely red.
Mu Gesheng found the sight hilarious. *How old is this man, and yet he looks more innocent than those kids at the No. 1 High School?*
But then again, back in the day, he had been the type to spend a fortune at Guan Shan Yue. While not exactly a profligate playboy, he had certainly left a trail of romantic debts behind him. It was only because he died young that those matters of the heart had vanished like smoke. After waking from his long sleep, it wasn't that he hadn't met people he liked, but he no longer had the spirited, carefree temperament of his youth.
Now, the "old tree" was blossoming. With such a beautiful scene before him, Mu Gesheng looked at Chai Shuxin and touched his own lips. All the tricks of the trade from his past romantic exploits came flooding back, and his mind was suddenly filled with many thoughts that were unfit for polite society.
He wandered through various "scenarios" in his head for a while before clearing his throat. He looked at Chai Shuxin and asked, "Sanjiutian, do I still have to drink medicine today?"
Chai Shuxin blinked, then gave him a look of disapproval. "Regardless of anything else, you must take your medicine."
"Let’s make a deal." Mu Gesheng put on his unscrupulous merchant face. "I give you a kiss, you take away an ounce of medicine. How about it?"
Chai Shuxin: "..."
Young Master Chai’s face turned the color of a boiled shrimp. He squeezed out two words with great difficulty: "No way."
Mu Gesheng knew it wouldn't work; he just couldn't help teasing him. He hadn't seen such a fun version of Chai Shuxin in a long time. "Fine, fine." He let out a theatrical sigh. "Then can we reach a compromise?"
"...What kind of compromise?"
"I rushed all the way back from Penglai, desperate to see you. The journey was long and dusty, and I’m exhausted." Mu Gesheng leaned in close. "No drinking medicine today. Let’s do a medicinal bath instead. How about it?"
Chai Shuxin didn't suspect a thing, completely missing the subtext. He nodded immediately. "Alright. You go rest first; I’ll go prepare it."
Mu Gesheng could tell the man hadn't understood his meaning, but he wasn't in a hurry to clarify. Once Chai Shuxin had prepared everything and stepped out of the bathroom, he said, "I’ve tested the water temperature. If it gets cold, call me to change it. Don't fall asleep in there."
Mu Gesheng grabbed him and pulled him right back in. "Why go through all that trouble? Let’s soak together."
Chai Shuxin: "???!?"
The man froze on the spot, his expression a kaleidoscope of shock.
Mu Gesheng laughed inwardly. While suppressing his amusement, he began to unbutton the other man’s collar. Chai Shuxin finally snapped out of it; he looked ready to explode. He didn't know where to put his hands and instinctively tried to push Mu Gesheng away.
The scene looked like a rogue accosting a virtuous maiden. One would hardly know who was the one who had been "forcibly married."
Mu Gesheng said, "Sanjiutian, oh Sanjiutian. You had the nerve to put that red veil on me back then, and now you’re acting shy?"
"Besides, during all those years I was asleep and you were preserving my body, what haven't you seen?" Fearing the stimulation wasn't enough, he floored the gas pedal, leaning into the man’s ear to blow a soft breath. "Isn't the living version more fun than the dead one? Or does our Young Master Chai have some sort of unspeakable preference..."
Before he could finish, Chai Shuxin reached his limit and silenced him with a kiss, reaching out to kick the bathroom door shut.
***
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