After all, his mission might look like provocation to others; if Ning Bu’mo believed in him, it would be much simpler.
“Okay, I will do it,” Ning Bu’mo promised firmly.
Mu Wan was skeptical. Even those closest to him wouldn’t trust him completely, right?
“Are you sure? Will you support every request I make?”
Ning Bu’mo nodded definitely.
“For instance, if you are dealing with traitors in the estate today, what if I ask you to let someone go?” This was the mission Mu Wan had just received.
During this ambush, some of the guards in the estate were clearly traitors. Ning Bu’mo had brought a portion of them out specifically to see what the people in the dark would do. If he could catch them in the act and clear out the rot, that would be ideal. He hadn’t expected such an unabashed assassination attempt. Now that some of the nails had been pulled, using this assassination as an excuse to purge the estate’s cancer was all the more logical. The system, sensing this, hurriedly assigned him a task to save one of the individuals. Mu Wan was still wondering how to bring it up when Ning Bu’mo gave him the opportunity.
When the request was out, Ning Bu’mo looked even more disappointed: “Is it just this? Is that too simple to be a test?” Saving one life meant nothing to Ning Bu’mo; it made his promise feel weightless.
Mu Wan laughed: “Who asks for trouble like you do?”
“But anything concerning you is never trouble.”
The cheesy, opportunistic words made Mu Wan’s ears turn bright red. He didn’t know how Ning Bu’mo could say such things without shame. Yet, these slight emotional changes were a huge surprise to Ning Bu’mo.
Still, thinking of Mu Wan’s situation, his mood darkened. “When you recover, will you leave?”
“I suppose so.”
The affirmative answer made Ning Bu’mo’s mood sink even further: “To become an immortal?”
“Immortal?”
“Legend has it that after immortals undergo trials and their cultivation is profound, they ascend to the immortal realm. Is that the same for you?”
“I don’t know about the immortal realm. But once I recover and seek a higher realm, I likely won’t stay here.” Dayong was merely a stopover in Mu Wan’s path to immortality. He rested here, but he would not stay.
“You really have no attachment to this place.” Ning Bu’mo’s lips tugged, a bitter smile appearing. But what could he do? Could he stop Mu Wan and keep him in an environment that wasn’t the best for him? That would be too selfish.
“Why, can’t you bear to see me go?” Mu Wan propped his face on his hands, leaning in to look at him. “Don’t worry. If I really do leave, I should have the ability to return. Coming back to see an old friend like you is possible.”
Who wants to be your friend?
Accumulating inner gloom, Ning Bu’mo turned his frustration into a joke: “I’m afraid that by then, I’ll be an old man with gray hair, and you won’t even recognize me.”
Mu Wan imagined this man as an old man. Ning Bu’mo was handsome; even as an old man, he would surely be a handsome one. But at that point, those hands wouldn’t be able to pass him pastries, trim red plums, or stand before others and chatter about “Wan-wan” with pride. As a cultivator, he should have been accustomed to the separations caused by longevity, but at this moment, Mu Wan found he could not accept that result so easily. The smile on his face faded; he frowned, bewildered and hesitant.
Why do I feel so sad?
Returning to the estate in silence, Ning Bu’mo immediately began arresting the cancer within his household after a brief rest. On the way to bring the captured individuals in, Ning Bu’mo kept asking: “Will saving one person help you? If they all survive, will you recover more?”
Mu Wan was still ruminating on their conversation; hearing this, a strange, sour feeling grew in his heart. Was this man too good to him? Did someone really treat another this well unconditionally? Mu Wan didn’t understand. He stared at Ning Bu’mo, trying to figure out the source of his inexplicable emotions, but instead, he only made Ning Bu’mo stiffen.
Why is he staring at me? Did I do something wrong? Or is this another test?
Knowing that Mu Wan was set on leaving, Ning Bu’mo didn’t dare to be greedy and think Mu Wan was doing this for him; he only wanted to present his most perfect self to make Mu Wan happy.
The standoff was finally broken by the spies being brought in. “Your Highness, all twenty-one spies from the estate have been brought here,” Shadow Eleven said before stepping aside.
Mu Wan and Ning Bu’mo’s eyes fell upon the spies. They clearly didn’t know what had happened and were trembling, yet they didn’t forget to argue their innocence: “It’s an injustice, Your Highness! We have no idea about any spies!”
Ning Bu’mo decided the matter himself, asking Mu Wan: “Have you selected the one?”
Mu Wan raised his hand, pointing at one of them. Cultivators were extremely sensitive to the aura of others; whether evil or good, karma changed an individual’s aura drastically. Individually, these people hadn’t stood out, but gathered together, the stench of rot on some of them was obvious. Yet, a few amongst them, despite having killing intent, were otherwise clean.
Ning Bu’mo followed his gaze, paused for a moment, and after the other spies were taken away, he pointed at the one remaining person: “Are you sure it’s this one?”
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?” Mu Wan asked, finding it strange. He had thought the few mixed in were intentional.
Ning Bu’mo was intentional. He knew these spies wouldn’t tell the truth, so he mixed in a few of his own, banking on the fact that they didn’t know each other’s identities, so he could gain information once they were separated. He never expected Mu Wan to pick his own subordinate instantly.
Even Ning Bu’mo was stunned, let alone the guard who had just been saved. Is the spy mission still on? But he didn’t dare to ask; his Highness was currently too busy flirting with the Consort.
“Wan-wan is kind and brilliant; I certainly cannot compare,” Ning Bu’mo said, his eyes full of Mu Wan. Even if Mu Wan had released everyone, Ning Bu’mo wouldn’t have been unhappy. But to do this clearly showed Mu Wan was biased toward him. The intense gaze falling on Mu Wan made him increasingly uncomfortable.
This man is annoying. He must have been a great seed for a demonic cultivator in the cultivation world to be this disruptive to someone’s Daoist heart.
Thinking this, Mu Wan wrinkled his nose. He didn’t want to talk to Ning Bu’mo anymore, fearing his heart would grow even more chaotic. He turned his gaze toward the system, which was busy staring at its mission completion panel in disbelief, and lifted his chin slightly, signaling for it to hand over the points.
Three missions completed so easily; looking at the besotted Ning Bu’mo, who had no opinions of his own, the system felt it had been swindled by this wicked couple. Who completes missions like this? Were its points something so easy to get? Yet, with the Heavenly Dao pressing down, even if the system wanted to rebel, it had no chance. It had to reluctantly cough up the generous points to Mu Wan’s panel.
So far, the points given were quite substantial. Besides buying several spirit stones, Mu Wan used most of the points to purchase a pill furnace and herbs. In fact, with his merit, his need for spiritual energy was much lower; it was better to refine some pills, as he was doing now, to help the energy in his body integrate. Some spiritual herbs needed to be bought from the system shop, while others were easier to purchase in this world to save points. Ning Bu’mo, learning of this, took the initiative to help him find people to purchase them. Even for herbs that were considered rare in Dayong, Ning Bu’mo spared no effort.
“How are you even more diligent than me?” Mu Wan asked, processing the pill furnace, joking, “Are you in such a rush to have me leave?”
Ning Bu’mo looked at him sadly: “I’m just afraid you’ll be in pain.”
Ning Bu’mo would be happy if Mu Wan could stay even a moment longer. But if the cost was for Mu Wan to be in pain and faint as he had been before, cold as a block of ice, then Ning Bu’mo didn’t want it at all.
Such a healthy, positive expression made Mu Wan’s previous question sound overly hurtful. His movements paused; he suddenly reached out, looking at Ning Bu’mo: “Give me your hand.”
Ning Bu’mo didn’t understand, but he still extended his hand. As Mu Wan gripped his wrist, closing his eyes to do something, Ning Bu’mo lowered his head to look at the hand holding his own; slender, soft, and delicate. His palm gently enclosed Mu Wan’s hand, but he didn’t dare to truly grip it, fearing he would reveal his true feelings and cause Mu Wan to recoil.
Because he cherished him, he became timid.
Wan-wan.
Silently chanting these two words, Ning Bu’mo felt a sense of powerlessness he had never experienced before. That was a chasm more distant than life and death, constantly reminding Ning Bu’mo that he and Mu Wan were not people of the same world. He was a brief stopover, and one day, he would leave. Stop Mu Wan? Of course not. But even if he were to leave, he would be the most special one in Mu Wan’s heart.
Determined, Ning Bu’mo met the eyes of Mu Wan, who had opened his own: “What is it?”
“Nothing.” Mu Wan lowered his head, picked up a brush, wrote a prescription, and handed it to him: “Find the herbs in this prescription for me as well. Separate them into two groups; do not mix them.”
Ning Bu’mo didn’t understand but followed the instructions, finding someone to arrange the procurement. Mu Wan watched his busy back, tapping his cheek with his fingertip. He had realized that although he felt sad when the topic of leaving came up, he still didn’t want Ning Bu’mo to be a withered old man when they met again.
In this world, without a method for cultivation, one couldn’t channel energy; he was destined not to reach the high cultivation level Mu Wan had. But if one could condition the body and carefully train it, there was a chance to extend one’s lifespan. So, the handsome old man would have to wait. At the very least, right now, this person had to stay alive and well.
Compared to the medicinal materials Mu Wan needed, the pills for conditioning Ning Bu’mo’s body were much simpler to refine. Three days later, the first batch of pills emerged. Ning Bu’mo examined the clear, white pills, asking curiously: “Will eating this improve your body? Is there any danger? Although the art of Taoist alchemy has been passed down for a long time, there are many who have ruined their lives by tasting pills.”
He spoke with worry, his mind filled with examples of people who had pursued immortality, tasted pills, and been harmed.
Mu Wan opened the palm containing the pills and offered it: “These are for you to eat.”
“Oh, so they are for me?” Ning Bu’mo asked uncertainly. Upon Mu Wan’s nod, he didn’t hesitate to take one and pop it into his mouth; the way he did it showed no trace of his earlier worry.
“Wait, why did you eat it immediately?” Mu Wan couldn’t stop him. He lifted his chin, looking at his moving throat, then pinched his cheek to warn him: “Be careful I don’t poison you next time.”
“How could the things you give me be poison?” Ning Bu’mo smiled. His absolute trust made Mu Wan want to open his head and see how his brain worked. What a fool.
Doing foolish things, saying foolish words.
Muttering inwardly, Mu Wan told the truth: “These are for conditioning your body. One pill every ten days. Eating them will remove impurities from your body. While there is no immortality effect, combined with exercise, it will make your body much stronger.”
“So, these are to improve my physique?” Ning Bu’mo was flattered. Upon Mu Wan’s nod, Ning Bu’mo could no longer feign calmness; he rushed forward and pulled Mu Wan into his arms.
So, Mu Wan’s busyness these past few days was for his sake; so, he did have a place in Mu Wan’s heart.
The tight embrace felt as though it might draw the breath from his lungs. Mu Wan awkwardly held his hands for a while before patting his arm in embarrassment: “Hey, you don’t have to be like this just because you’re moved. It’s just physical conditioning.”
“It’s different,” Ning Bu’mo said, his tone muffled and hoarse. But he wouldn’t say how it was different. He held him for a long time before pulling away, his eyes bloodshot as he changed the subject: “By the way, I received news today that something is wrong over at the Mu household.”
Mu Wan’s attention was diverted; he had no time to question Ning Bu’mo’s earlier strangeness. He had received Chu Xueqing’s merit and had to resolve that karma. Unfortunately, neither the Chu nor the Mu families had provided relevant information, so he had asked Ning Bu’mo to keep an eye on the Mu estate. He hadn’t expected it to take so long to find a clue.
“What happened?”
“It starts after the winter hunt ended.”
Perhaps it was Mu Wan’s “Grand Ancestor” manifestation that had intimidated them, but for some time, neither the Empress Dowager in the palace, nor Ning Yu, nor any outsiders had come to cause trouble for Ning Bu’mo. With time available, other matters were brought back to the agenda, including the selection of Ning Yu’s consort.
The Empress Dowager naturally disagreed, but her disagreement meant little. As Ning Yu grew older, many ministers had already proposed that she withdraw behind the curtain and return the government to the monarch. While this seemed to be dragging on, the matter of Ning Yu’s marriage could not be delayed. Since the late Emperor had left few heirs, Ning Yu’s marriage had to be prioritized. The Empress Dowager couldn’t stop it, so she focused on the selection of candidates.
“I remember you said the Empress Dowager intended to choose Mao Leyou.”
Ning Bu’mo nodded: “But it is highly unlikely to succeed; the court will not permit it. However, what I want to say is related to Mu Yuwei.” He didn’t mention she was Mu Wan’s younger sister, nor did he think the Mu family was qualified to climb to Mu Wan. “Originally, Mu Zhe’s daughter was also on the preliminary list. The Mu family had actually prepared for this before you married me, but in such an important period, Mu Zhe’s heart wasn’t on the consort selection. Instead, he found Taoist and Buddhist monks to enter the Mu estate to conduct rituals.”
Perhaps knowing this behavior was strange, Mu Zhe did it very discreetly, but no matter how discreet, he couldn’t stop Ning Bu’mo’s shadow guards from watching. But for no reason, why would Mu Zhe do such a thing?