In the quiet valley of the Taiyi Sect, there was a serene cultivation cave. The cave interior was furnished simply yet practically, serving as the place where Xie Huaizhou usually retreated for closed-door cultivation.
Shen Yanchu and Xie Huaizhou began their shared cultivation journey right here.
Shen Yanchu lazily leaned against a smooth stone, holding a bunch of wild fruits. He tossed them into his mouth one by one while absentmindedly gazing at the cave ceiling, seeming to contemplate the meaning of life.
Meanwhile, Xie Huaizhou held a long sword, practicing his swordsmanship with meticulous care. Every time the sword light flashed, it whipped up a cold breeze that made Shen Yanchu shiver.
“Shen Yanchu, can you not have some ambition? This is a great time for cultivation, yet you are wasting it here!” Xie Huaizhou could not help but scold him.
Shen Yanchu yawned and said dismissively, “Oh, Senior Brother Xie, cultivation also requires a balance of work and rest. Look at how gorgeous the valley scenery is. Would it not be a pity not to enjoy it?”
Xie Huaizhou was about to retort. As soon as he opened his mouth, a sweet taste suddenly filled it.
“Senior Brother Xie, you should try these fruits too. I tested them, and this bunch is the sweetest.”
Rule number one of cannon fodder survival: butter up the protagonist when necessary.
Before Xie Huaizhou could react, he had already swallowed the fruit from Shen Yanchu’s hand into his belly, accidentally brushing his tongue against Shen Yanchu’s middle finger.
Shen Yanchu’s fingers were slender and well-proportioned, with every joint appearing just right, neither excessively thin nor overly thick. His nails were trimmed neatly and roundly, the fingertips a pale pink.
The skin of his hands was delicate and smooth, seemingly covered by a soft sheen that looked even more translucent under the sunlight.
The lines of his hands were smooth and elegant, and his wrists were slightly slender, making the entire hand look powerful yet gentle. Faint cyan blood vessels were vaguely visible on the back of his hand, adding a touch of vital energy.
After just a few glances, Xie Huaizhou felt his cheeks burning and the tips of his ears turning red.
Seeing Xie Huaizhou looking like this, Shen Yanchu immediately put on a worried expression and said, “Senior Brother Xie, you did not eat a poisonous fruit, did you? I will use a sound transmission talisman right now to notify the Sect Master so you can get out quickly and receive timely treatment.”
Shen Yanchu thought to himself: I am truly worthy of being a best actor. Not only can I get out, but I can also farm a wave of favorability points with the protagonist gong. I am so smart.
Unfortunately, ideals are full, but reality is skinny. While Shen Yanchu was still immersed in his own fantasy, he suddenly felt his collar being lifted from behind.
Looking back, Xie Huaizhou hoisted Shen Yanchu up like a small chick and carried him back to the stone block.
“Shen Yanchu, I reached Inanition long ago and do not need to eat these things. Besides, even if I ate poison, I would be safe and sound. Stop trying to pull little clever tricks.” Xie Huaizhou’s complexion had long since returned to normal, and his tone was cold.
“Even if I ate poison, I would still be safe and sound,” Shen Yanchu mumbled softly like a kitten curled up on the stone block. “How amazing.”
“Shen Yanchu! Do not think that because you whisper I cannot hear you.” Xie Huaizhou’s icy voice suddenly rang out, as if it were emanating from the depths of a freezing cold ice cellar, carrying a hint of chill that made one involuntarily shiver.
Hearing these frosty words, Shen Yanchu subconsciously turned back around, only to be surprised to find that Xie Huaizhou was not looking in his direction at all.
A secret sense of delight welled up in his heart, as he felt this gave him a golden opportunity to secretly make a funny face at Xie Huaizhou. Therefore, Shen Yanchu quickly turned around, making funny faces, sticking out his tongue, and pulling bizarre expressions behind Xie Huaizhou’s tall back, looking completely mischievous.
After finishing these antics, Shen Yanchu muttered silently to himself: “A cold-faced man is still easier to deal with, unlike that other guy.” At this thought, he could not help but chuckle inwardly.
However, just at that moment, an evil thought suddenly welled up in his mind: a curse that Xie Huaizhou would never obtain Su Rongyu! While thinking this, Shen Yanchu squatted down, using his finger to draw small circles on the ground while muttering incantations, looking as though he were genuinely casting some kind of malicious spell.
Nearly an hour had passed since arriving at this cave, and Shen Yanchu was currently trying every possible way to pass the time in this limited space. First, he lazily lay down on a relatively flat stone block, chewing greedily on the fresh fruits he had picked from outside the cave, looking as satisfied as if the fruits were some heavenly delicacy.
After a while, perhaps tired of lying down, he flipped over and began curiously reaching out to touch the cave walls, feeling their rough and cold texture. After touching the walls, feeling unsatisfied, he turned his attention to the tender green grass on the ground, squatting down to pull them up one by one. Before long, all the lush green grass originally growing inside the entire cave had been plucked clean by Shen Yanchu.
Looking at the roots and soil scattered all over the ground, Shen Yanchu sighed helplessly, truly having no idea how to continue passing the long hours. Just then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Xie Huaizhou sitting quietly aside in meditation, and a thought suddenly popped into his mind.
Therefore, he cleared his throat and intentionally raised his volume, shouting, “Senior Brother Xie, are you not worried about Su Rongyu at all?”
Hearing this, Xie Huaizhou slowly opened his eyes, glanced calmly at Shen Yanchu, and replied indifferently, “There is no need to worry. Ji Yanche will not harm him.”
However, Shen Yanchu did not let the matter rest and instead continued to press: “I know that of course, but are you not afraid that Ji Yanche will use hardline tactics against Su…”
Before he could finish his sentence, he was rudely cut off by Xie Huaizhou. Xie Huaizhou suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze piercing straight at Shen Yanchu as he said coldly, “What on earth are you letting your mind wander about all day long? Rongyu has a special constitution, and he wears special magic robes tailor-made by Master. Outsiders cannot easily get close to him.”
Yet, Shen Yanchu acted as if he completely failed to feel the chill in Xie Huaizhou’s words, and recklessly pursued the question further: “Senior Brother Xie, tell me honestly, do you harbor secret affection for Su Rongyu?”
Xie Huaizhou’s originally fair face suddenly looked as though it had been scorched by fire, instantly turning deeply red, with even the tips of his ears blushing. He stammered in refutation, “You stop talking nonsense! Rongyu and I are completely innocent. We only entered the Taiyi Sect together since childhood; it is not as wretched as you make it sound!”
Watching Xie Huaizhou’s awkward state, Shen Yanchu felt secretly pleased, thinking it was just as he had expected. So, he deliberately put on a solemn expression and continued to advise: “Senior Brother Xie, I am truly looking out for you. Look, chasing someone requires boldness and meticulousness! When you meet someone you like, how can you easily let them go and give them to someone else? You should keep them tightly bound by your side. That way, after a long time together, feelings will naturally develop.”
“You you fellow, you are simply spouting nonsense! Shut your mouth right now!” Although Xie Huaizhou said this, in his heart he could not help but ponder Shen Yanchu’s previous words. After all, when it came to how to pursue the person in his heart, he truly had zero clues and no idea at all.
“Fine, fine, fine, I will say no more.” Seeing that his objective had been achieved, Shen Yanchu agreed while holding back his laughter. Yet deep down in his heart, he could not help but banter: This Xie Huaizhou usually looks like a righteous gentleman, but he is actually like this when it comes to matters of the heart.