Shiyan carefully closed the door and, upon turning around, bumped right into Yuanyi’s chest. Subconsciously placing her hands over her chest, she lowered her head, closed her eyes tightly, and whispered, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”
Watching Shiyan with a helpless expression, Yuanyi raised a hand and lightly tapped her forehead. “It’s me.”
Hearing the familiar voice, Shiyan slowly opened her eyes. Only after confirming who it was did she let out a sigh of relief. “Oh, it’s you! You scared me to death.”
“What are you sneaking around here for?” Yuanyi asked with a worried frown.
“It’s Youyou. He said he had something to see Sovereign about, so I brought him over.”
“Youyou?”
“That nine-tailed little beast Sovereign keeps.”
“Did you like the pastries I had someone bring you?”
“I liked them.”
Tong You walked lightly across the slabstone path as warm mist drifted around, quietly dampening his fur. Seeing a dark patch within the large pool ahead, he quickened his pace.
What kind of bathhouse is the size of a sports field? Why build it so huge, aren’t there a ton of hard-to-reach spots that won’t get scrubbed clean? The fur on Tong You’s body was visibly soaked now, sticking together in small clumps as if he had just taken a bath.
Warm mist swirled around Qilian, faintly revealing him leaning against the edge of the pool. Across his wide, bare back sprawled an intricate, nameless black tattoo, his inky black hair cascading loose and floating alongside him in the water.
Tong You crept around to the left side, approaching stealthily. Because the warm mist was growing thicker, it gradually blurred his vision, making it hard to see the path. Feeling unsure of his footing, he dropped down to crawl forward on his belly.
Must be getting close to the pool edge by now, he thought, carefully probing forward with a wet paw. Suddenly, he felt a force shove him from behind, propelling him forward. Tong You gasped in shock, baring the sharp claws hidden in his fur to grip the ground, only to find the floor far too slick without a single crack to latch onto.
With a resounding splash, water flew in all directions. Before Qilian even had time to open his eyes, countless droplets pelted his head and face.
Immediately after came a frantic splashing sound. “Awooo!”
Help! I can’t swim!
Glub, glub…
Qilian chuckled softly, lifting a hand to wipe the water droplets from his face as he waded through the water to fish Tong You out.
Tong You tilted his head back laboriously, his limbs swallowed by the water and feeling heavier with every struggle. Just as he was about to slip under, a pair of large hands scooped him up.
“Stop flailing,” Qilian said.
Having swallowed plenty of water, Tong You felt dizzy and let Qilian carry him ashore.
Cough, cough, cough!
Ugh… He vomited a mouthful of water.
Qilian rested on the edge of the pool, propping his chin in his left hand as he looked at the bedraggled Tong You with an amused smile. “How was my bathwater? Delicious?”
What?! “Ugh~~~~”
Overcome by another wave of nausea, Tong You retched again. Soaked to the skin, his fur plastered tightly against his body, he trembled uncontrollably while water streamed down his legs to form a small puddle.
After recovering for a moment, Tong You began shaking the water off his coat, but suddenly paused as if a thought had struck him.
Was that you playing tricks on me? Tong You gazed at him pitifully.
Qilian spread his hands innocently.
Who else could it be besides you?
He trotted right up to Qilian and shook his wet fur all over the man’s face before darting away at top speed.
Qilian closed his eyes, knitting his brows with a slight expression of distaste, fully expecting the little guy to throw a tantrum. Watching him from a safe distance, Tong You backed away cautiously.
Heaven knows what kind of nerve this guy is striking again. After getting his face wiped, he’s actually smiling? Is he out of his mind? Tong You felt his back go cold. Shouldn’t a normal person be furious after getting shaken full of water? Why are you smiling? Why on earth are you smiling?!
“Where do you think you’re going? Get back here.” Seeing the dripping little furball attempting to make a break for it, Qilian curled a finger and exercised psychic control over him.
Hey! Hey! Hey! His four legs marched uncontrollably back toward Qilian, and despite putting all his strength into bracing his weight, Tong You couldn’t resist.
Watching the cowardly yet stubborn little furball, Qilian couldn’t be bothered to stay mad. He scooped him up in his arms and plunged backward into the water. “Since you’re already here, let’s wash up together.”
Tong You: I always feel like something isn’t right here, but I can’t quite put my finger on it.
Don’t change the subject! You’re the one who pulled that dirty trick on me just now! Tong You waved his furry paws in protest.
Qilian wiped the water from Tong You’s face. “I didn’t know it was you.”
I don’t believe you! Then who did you think it was? Tong You accused, even with his cheeks being pinched.
“What if it happened to be one of my secret admirers?” Qilian replied, the corners of his mouth curling upward.
Tong You rolled his eyes. Heh. First time getting this close to someone so narcissistic.
“Am I not good-looking?”
You’re passable, I guess. Though he said that, this stinky durian really was quite handsome, hitting every single one of his aesthetic preferences. And that physique, those eight-pack abs, that trim waist, even his hands looked nice.
“What do you mean by ‘passable’? Have you ever seen anyone better-looking than me?”
“Well?”
Holding Tong You up with both hands, he compelled an answer.
Tong You replied with unshakeable confidence: Yeah, me.
Qilian burst out laughing. This beast was even more narcissistic than he was.
“Tomorrow, you will begin your cultivation with me,” Qilian said solemnly.
Huh? His ears were waterlogged; he couldn’t hear clearly.
Raising his voice, Qilian repeated, “Cultivation.”
How bizarre, Tong You drifted off into thought.
“What?”
Aren’t Demon Sovereigns supposed to be taciturn, aloof, cold-blooded, ruthless, power-hungry, controlling, stubborn, headstrong, arrogant…
“Stop!” Qilian clapped a hand over Tong You’s mouth.
Tong You blinked large, innocent eyes at him.
“I’m a demon, not a mental patient,” Qilian sighed helplessly.
Oh, Tong You mouthed blankly.
“I am actually very easygoing in daily life. Exactly who told you all this nonsense?”
Read it in books.
“Which book? I’m going to burn it right now before it ruins my pristine reputation.”
Tong You: Sweats.
Oh come on, as a grand Demon Sovereign, don’t sweat the small stuff. Tong You rested his furry paw against Qilian’s wrist while casting sideways glances at the man’s torso.
I wonder what it feels like. I really want to touch it. Tong You licked the water from his lips as a random thought floated across his mind: How was my bathwater? Delicious?
Ptooey—
Seeing Tong You getting ready to spit, Qilian hurriedly pinched his chin. “Don’t spit in my pool.”
Tong You stuck his tongue out briefly to signal he had nothing in his mouth.
“I haven’t even settled accounts with you yet. When you were resting earlier, you pressed against my chest, did you drool on me?” Qilian pointed to the approximate spot on his chest where the furball had been draped.
No way, I don’t remember doing that. Tong You looked puzzled; he was pretty sure he didn’t drool in his sleep.
Anyway, it wasn’t me! It’s totally possible you produced your own drool, so stop trying to pin everything on me. I’m not taking the blame for that!
A second later, realization hit Tong You, and he panicked. Wait, you threw me in earlier just because there was spit on your clothes?!
Leaning back and lazying his neck to the side, Qilian answered without a shred of guilt, “In any case, it couldn’t possibly be mine, so it has to be yours.”
Where’s your proof? Tong You refused to back down.
“My clothes are the proof.”
What kind of proof is that? You tossed your clothes on the floor ages ago, they’re dry by now!
Tong You kicked both hind legs and shook his body. And stop holding me by my thighs like this, you’re uncomfortable and I’m miserable.
“Now you know what it’s like to be uncomfortable? Keep acting tough, why don’t you?” Tucking Tong You against his side with one arm, Qilian pinched his cheek with the other.
I won’t act tough anymore, I swear! Tong You mumbled with his cheeks squeezed flat.
Qilian settled Tong You into his arms, supporting him with his forearm. “I must say, you’ve got some heft to you. Heaven knows what you eat to grow this big.”
I don’t even know. The moment I opened my eyes, I was already this size. Tong You shook the water from his head.
“Then who gave you your name?”
No idea. All I know is my name is Tong You.
Qilian rubbed the top of his head. “Curious.”
Talk about curious, I can’t very well tell you that I used to be a human, and then for some unknown reason transmigrated into an unknown beast species, can I? That’s absurd, plus we aren’t even from the same world.
Tong You’s entire beast body pressed flat against Qilian. One of them wore nothing, while the other was covered entirely in fur.
He rubbed his back against the man, finding it rather uncomfortably hard.
Such a massive hunk of a guy, doesn’t even look greasy, and quite pleasing to the eye, hehe. Unable to resist the impulse, he pressed his paw pads right against the skin, flexing them rhythmically as if kneading dough or wiping a surface.
“What are you doing?”
Hearing the interrogation from above, Tong You slowly raised his head. The fur on his face was thoroughly soaked and thoroughly disheveled, and he blinked wide, innocent eyes at the man.
Touching your flesh, he kneaded once more.
Then, half-clenching his paw pads, he poked Qilian’s abdominal muscles. Too hard, feels like floor tiles.
Qilian: ???
“I’m nothing like you, you’re just pure fluff.” With that, Qilian slid his hand down to Tong You’s belly, pinching the soft layer of fat underneath.
Tong You grew ticklish, tipping his head back with narrowed eyes as he fought back giggles. Stop pinching, stop it!
After a brief playful tussle between man and beast, Qilian scooped up the dripping-wet Tong You and carried him ashore. While Qilian got dressed, Tong You stood nearby shaking himself off so hard he nearly got dizzy, stumbling forward a couple of steps before his front legs buckled and he sprawled face-first onto the ground.
Hearing the soft thud of the collapse, Qilian turned around while adjusting his robes. Looking down at the furry heap lying flat on the floor, he chuckled lightly, “Well, look at you, drunk?”
Stinky durian! Tong You gritted his teeth and muttered.
Qilian asked curiously, “What’s a stinky durian?”
I’m praising you.
“Doesn’t sound like it.”
A chill swept over him, and Tong You shivered.
Hey, can you use magic to dry me off? My fur isn’t going to dry on its own anytime soon. Tong You sat upright and gazed imploringly at Qilian.
Seeing that Tong You was asking for a favor, Qilian put his hands behind his back and rolled his eyes, concocting some mischief. “Beg me, then.”
I’m begging you, please! Tong You nodded repeatedly.
Qilian grinned wickedly. “Just saying it with your mouth isn’t enough. You have to show some real action.”
Then what do you want?
“My lower back feels a bit sore.” Qilian reached back to thump his waist.
Understood. Tong You glanced down at his soaking-wet fur and retorted, My… why don’t you dry me off first?
It wouldn’t hurt if you got a little closer like this, you know.
Tong You shook off more water, feeling only colder.
Qilian squatted down and beckoned. “Alright, come here.”
Tong You padded over, trailing water from his legs.
Crimson light gathered in the palm of Qilian’s hand. Placing his palm gently atop Tong You’s head, he slowly moved it downward. Tong You’s fur dried visibly and rapidly before his very eyes, and by the time the palm reached his tail, he had transformed back into his fluffy, pristine self.
So warm. He shook out his dry fur.
Qilian stroked his fluffy tail. “Now it’s your turn to thank me.”
Bedchamber.
Qilian lay flat on his couch while Tong You stood squarely on the man’s lower back, kicking his legs with all his might.