“Mm, what Senior says is right.”
Yan Fulang responded, but he did not move.
It was exactly midday, the time with the best light of the day. The windows of the main house were wide open, and the sunlight spilled in unscrupulously, falling upon the two of them.
The youth’s long and dense eyelashes were dyed a beautiful pale gold, casting a small shadow on his eyelids.
Yan Fulang closed his eyes, nuzzling very lightly once against Ji Yunzhao’s lap.
“Eh? Still not planning to get up?” Ji Yunzhao pulled at the youth’s ponytail in amusement. “Why are you really acting like a shameless little dog?”
His sleeves were pressed down tightly by Yan Fulang, so it was not very convenient for Ji Yunzhao to move.
He originally merely wanted to playfully tug at it, but unexpectedly, with a slip of his fingertips, he actually pulled Yan Fulang’s hair ribbon off.
The ink-like hair suddenly tumbled down, sliding past the gaps between his fingers. Ji Yunzhao almost failed to catch it, scrambling to gather them back into his palm.
Even after being called a little dog and having his hair turned into a complete mess by the improper adult, Yan Fulang did not crease his brow at all, much less make a sound, keeping quiet in silence as if he had fallen asleep.
Ji Yunzhao glanced at him, first binding Yan Fulang’s hair back up.
The hair ribbon was tied somewhat loosely. After all, his sleeves were pressed down by a certain whimpering and acting-spoiled kid, so his hands were not very convenient to move, so just making do with it was fine.
The moment his hand withdrew, Yan Fulang finally spoke.
The youth’s somewhat low voice came from below, a subtle sensation of vibration faintly felt within his lap.
“I will get up in a moment,” he said.
Ji Yunzhao burst out laughing, poking his face. “Are you intentionally waiting, only squeaking after I tie your hair properly for you?”
Yan Fulang tilted his face up slightly, very good-tempered to let him poke. “The trouble Senior caused, shouldn’t you properly clean up after it?”
“That is all because you insisted on clinging to me, that is why?”
Just as Ji Yunzhao was about to educate the male lead who was pushing his luck, a “growl” suddenly rang out within the room.
Coming from his stomach.
The unfinished words were instantly choked back down his throat by this awkward sound. Ji Yunzhao shrank back against the back of the chair in embarrassment, reaching out to push Yan Fulang’s head to urge him to get up quickly.
To avoid losing face again, his other hand also covered tightly his stomach that was currently protesting.
With so many things happening, he had entirely forgotten to eat lunch.
The youth moved, straightening his body, a very faint trace of a smile hidden within his peach blossom eyes.
He said considerately, “I will go cook for Senior. There is wild mountain goat processed this morning in the kitchen, how about making it braised or spicy? Stewing soup is rather time-consuming, I am afraid it will be too late.”
“Don’t cook, let’s go out to eat.”
Even if Ji Yunzhao raised kids with free-range methods, he still could not do something like making his cheap disciple whose hand was injured continue to cook for him. He patted the youth’s shoulder, signaling him to lower his head, and carefully tied the somewhat loose hair ribbon tightly.
“Just right to celebrate, you can begin official cultivation!”
A short half-hour later.
Ji Yunzhao had already taken Yan Fulang to sit down within the best restaurant in Yuncang City.
Yuncang City was the city closest to the cliff where they “lived in seclusion.” It was not considered a large city in the Eastern Continent, its scale being average, but because it was close to the sea and there were many water systems in the city, its river seafood and marine seafood were famously known in the Eastern Continent.
They arrived late, and the restaurant was packed to the brim during mealtime, with cultivators coming from other places drawn by its reputation, as well as local foodies.
Originally, it was impossible to have an empty seat, but it could not withstand Ji Yunzhao having money.
The mission funds for each world were very sufficient. To Ji Yunzhao, throwing a bit of money to make a kid happy was too easy.
He booked the private box with the best scenery, very magnanimously ordering a table full of river seafood and marine seafood.
“Do you really not want to order two dishes yourself?” Ji Yunzhao supported his chin with one hand, tilting his head to look at the youth sitting opposite him, his clear and clear apricot eyes blinking gently. “Coming out today is to celebrate for you, eh.”
“Then” Yan Fulang pondered for a moment. “Add another plate of white-cut chicken.”
“Why order this, hurry up and change to another one.”
The one who liked to eat chicken was him, as the cheap disciple’s interest in chicken meat was not that great.
“Don’t order what I like, ah. Chicken can be eaten at any time, and there are still a lot stored in the storage pouch. Seafood is not something that can be eaten every day,” Ji Yunzhao murmured in a low voice.
There were quite a few small rivers and creeks in the mountains, but he could only catch some fish and shrimp to take back. Yuncang City was different, as there were even sea crabs!
Coming out for a trip, shouldn’t they eat their fill? The cheap disciple was also too inept at seizing opportunities.
“Who says only Senior likes it, I also like it very much,” Yan Fulang said. “However, what did Senior mean by saying there are still a lot in the storage pouch? Wasn’t the last free-range chicken already finished yesterday?”
“This, cough.” Ji Yunzhao coughed dryly.
Oh no, a slip of the tongue; hunting secretly was discovered again.
“You, if you don’t have any dishes you want to order, then that’s that.”
Ji Yunzhao immediately shifted the topic: “Once we finish eating, I will take you for a stroll in the city, buy a new bed for your room, and the seasonings at home are also running low.”
As he spoke, the waiter brought up the food and drinks.
The scenery outside the window of the private box was very beautiful, with small bridges over flowing water, peach blossoms blooming full across the branches, and a black-awning boat rowing leisurely past, leaving tracks of ripples upon the water surface.
The two ate while enjoying the view and chatting, taking a long time to finish the table of dishes.
In fact, it was not completely finished, as some was still left over, all of which was packed and collected into the storage pouch by Ji Yunzhao.
Being rich was one thing, but when Ji Yunzhao undertook missions in the past, he had once been to some relatively extreme situations, so he did not have the habit of wasting food.
Besides, Yan Fulang was also inconvenient to cook recently, so taking these packed items back could at least make do for one or two meals.
Ji Yunzhao, who was intermittently diligent and thrifty in managing the household, thought so, and then pulled Yan Fulang to sweep across the street stalls, buying a bunch of food and snacks to bring back for storage.
The street was very lively, with sect disciples who had come down the mountain for purchasing, young women coming out together for recreation, and rich young masters causing a ruckus along the way in a rampant manner.
Ji Yunzhao bought two green sweet green glutinous rice balls, teasing the cheap disciple, making a gesture to feed him, when sudden bursts of exclamations came from behind them.
Unsure whose good-for-nothing son it was, he was currently riding an untamed spiritual beast that resembled a tiger, shivering while tugging at the reins, screaming as he charged toward their side.
The distance closed rapidly.
The wind that dashed past blew up Ji Yunzhao’s hair and the hem of his clothes. Behind him were stalls overturned into a complete mess by the spiritual beast and startled pedestrians, yet he did not even blink an eye.
“Did you see that little fo-fool behind us? Showing off too much is very dangerous,” Ji Yunzhao still had the leisure to speak with Yan Fulang, his tone sounding quite serious. “Wasting food, scaring little children, and will also be beaten up by righteous passersby.”
Just as his voice fell, only a loud “bang” was heard.
That rampaging spiritual beast, together with its master, smashed fiercely into an invisible wall, kicking up a large cloud of floating dust.
The cries of surprise became more and also louder. The spectating pedestrians stepped forward cautiously to check, and the guards arrived late, scrambling to help their young master up who had been thrown into a complete daze.
Ji Yunzhao did not care about the chaos behind him. The invisible wall turned into faint mist and dissipated, the boundless and surging spiritual energy returning entirely into his body. His hand was still raised, his fair fingertips pinching a small green rice ball, almost pressing against Yan Fulang’s lips.
As if certain that Yan Fulang would not eat it, the white-clothed youth had a smile brimming on his face, becoming increasingly arrogant.
“Take a bite, it’s really delicious, red bean filling.”
He urged with ill intent, “Yan Fulang? Yan-yan?”
Right in the next second after the name called out became increasingly sticky, a wet, slippery, and soft sensation suddenly fell upon his fingertips.
Yan Fulang lowered his eyes, his peach blossom eyes seeming to contain ripples of flowing light. Relying on Ji Yunzhao’s hand, he took a bite of the green rice ball.
“What Senior said is right, it is indeed delicious.”
He spoke in a low voice, taking another step forward, as if gathering Ji Yunzhao into his embrace, but at the same time, also using this to conceal his own face.
“Very sweet.”
“You-”
Ji Yunzhao had not expected that he would truly eat the green rice ball, freezing in place for a moment, taking a good while to find his voice again, rubbing his damp fingertips with some discomfort.
At the corner of the street.
A young man whose entire body was hung full of gold ornaments halted his steps.
“What happened ahead?” He Wenhua asked the guards with a frown. “Why is the road all blocked up?”
The guard replied: “Replying to Young Master, the Li family’s level-six spiritual beast lost control, almost injuring someone, and was stopped by a rogue cultivator at the critical moment.”
The reason for directly concluding that Ji Yunzhao was a rogue cultivator was because the guard did not see any sect emblem upon him.
He Wenhua followed the direction indicated by the guard, taking a distant look.
The rogue cultivator wore white clothes with wide sleeves, his delicate appearance just like an immortal in a painting, currently tilting his head to speak with the black-clothed youth beside him.
He Wenhua faintly felt that the youth’s figure was somewhat familiar, and before he could think further, he saw the youth suddenly glance over toward this side, then lean closer to the rogue cultivator.
Looking from his angle, the youth seemed to intimately nip at the rogue cultivator’s fingertips.
He Wenhua: “…”
“Young Master?” The guard asked upon seeing He Wenhua’s strange expression.
He Wenhua recovered his senses, letting out a light sneer. “Nothing, just a trick of the eyes. Originally thought that the little beast surnamed Yan was still alive, who knew it was just a male favorite.”
That rogue cultivator’s cultivation was at the Huiyang Stage at the lowest, otherwise he could not have subdued a level-six spiritual beast in one move. Yan Fulang was merely a useless person with a damaged spiritual root, what virtue or ability did he have to be favored by a cultivator of this realm and such beauty.
Furthermore, he had long been thrown down the cliff by himself, completely impossible to appear in Yuncang City in perfectly good condition.
Thinking up to this point, He Wenhua turned around impatiently, reprimanding the guards, “Stop watching the fun, why aren’t you going to continue inquiring about the whereabouts of the jade pendant!”
Ji Yunzhao and Yan Fulang strolled within Yuncang City until nightfall before returning to the small bamboo house at the bottom of the cliff.
Many new items were added to the home. The space was piled with food for the next several days, and Yan Fulang’s bed was also replaced with a larger and more delicate one, which was more than enough even if two people slept in it.
Quite a few clothes were bought, and several sets of bedding were also prepared. Miscellaneous small playthings filled up the remaining space, so Ji Yunzhao simply bought two more storage pouches, giving one to Yan Fulang with some magical treasures that might be useful, and keeping one for himself.
The entire bamboo house courtyard was rearranged by him once again, consuming quite a bit of energy.
The time to switch to the small account had not yet arrived, but Ji Yunzhao had already started yawning, wanting to sleep.
“Ah-Tong, can I automatically switch accounts when I fall asleep? So sleepy…”
He was used to staying up late, and previously it didn’t feel like anything to sleep right at 0:00, but today he was truly very sleepy, feeling like he was about to be unable to hold on—however, for him to be this sleepy, it should not only be because he was busy around the house, the main reason was probably because he ate too much for midnight snacks.
Eating too much and feeling sleepy was very normal.
The little black cat circled once around Ji Yunzhao’s feet. “Of course you can, the time has already been set long ago. However, Host, do you still want to go snuggle with the male lead tonight?”
Ji Yunzhao had switched to his small account at night to sleep and snuggle with Yan Fulang for so long, and the system’s battery had already been charged to 10%, which was enough to hold on for a period of time.
As long as Yan Fulang began to cultivate, then the growth speed of its battery would be even faster than Ji Yunzhao using the little fat bird small account to charge.
Going to burrow into Yan Fulang’s blanket every night had already become a habit for Ji Yunzhao. Plus, he also wanted to find an opportunity to bring the little fat bird account to light and officially join the family group chat, so it was better to hang around Yan Fulang more to build up a sense of presence.
Maybe he could bring the small account to the surface.
“Snuggle, why wouldn’t I snuggle,” Ji Yunzhao said with a yawn. “Charging a bit is a bit. Ah-Tong, one must learn to utilize the resources at hand.”
Ji Yunzhao was so sleepy that he was in a daze, yet he still forced himself to take a bath.
When walking out from behind the screen, the ends of his hair were not completely dry, his entire body covered in dense water vapor, and his collar was also half-open, so when the evening wind blew, it could hide nothing.
Ji Yunzhao took a look at the time, murmuring a complaint, “Why is it only eleven o’clock, I want to sleep.”
The system: “You sleep then.”
Ji Yunzhao stood in place entangled for only two seconds, raising his hand to casually gather his clothes, and walked out with large strides.
The system followed up completely bewildered, and as a result, saw Ji Yunzhao while rubbing his eyes, accurately avoiding Yan Fulang who was currently cultivating in the yard, stealthily sneaking into his room.
Kicking off his shoes, he climbed onto Yan Fulang’s bed with practiced movements, without the slightest hesitation when burrowing into the blanket.
Ji Yunzhao did not forget to remind the system to take his shoes back when it left.
The system: “…”
The system: “Um, Host, isn’t it a bit too reckless for you to act like this? Aren’t you afraid of being discovered by the male lead? You’ll drop your cover, eh!”
Most of Ji Yunzhao’s face was buried between the soft blankets, saying lazily, “Did you not see Yan Fulang’s enthusiastic appearance toward cultivation? He will definitely not return until the dead of night, and by that time I will have already switched to the small account long ago, so how could I possibly drop my cover.”
After returning from Yuncang City, Ji Yunzhao no longer let his cheap disciple run wild. He first took Yan Fulang to read the secret manuals for a while before going to organize the spoils brought back from sweeping the town.
Being the male lead and possessing a Heavenly Spiritual Root, the matter of cultivation was as simple as breathing to Yan Fulang. Ji Yunzhao didn’t even know where to begin worrying, so he left him to cultivate on his own.
When he was arranging the home, Yan Fulang was cultivating; when he was bathing, Yan Fulang was cultivating; when he finished bathing and started burrowing into the blanket, Yan Fulang was still cultivating.
Yan Fulang definitely could not stop for the time being, and saying he would go back to sleep in the dead of night was considered conservative, maybe he would even pull an all-nighter.
Once its host made a decision, there was no way to advise him back. The system knew this clearly in its heart, so it did not advise further.
“Well alright then,” the system asked. “Host, do you want me to stay here with you until the account switches?”
Ji Yunzhao was already too sleepy to want to speak, yawning one after another, a shallow layer of water mist quickly spreading across his eyes. “No need, this skin of yours loves to shed hair.”
The system left through the window with a face full of speechlessness while holding Ji Yunzhao’s shoes in its mouth.
When leaving, it did not forget to considerately close the window tightly.
The room fell into silence, leaving only a steady and long sound of breathing coming from within the bed curtains, very shallow and also very gentle.
Ji Yunzhao sleeping in Yan Fulang’s bed was as natural as sleeping in his own bed, and he also habitually nuzzled into the blanket.
Not nuzzling into the familiar warmth, the beautiful youth in his dream pressed his lips together with some displeasure.
An hour’s time passed very quickly.
During this period, the system that was left alone as a single cat in the main house looked out the window several times.
It could see Yan Fulang’s figure every time, thinking that what Ji Yunzhao said made sense, that the male lead might truly pull an all-nighter to cultivate, so it set its mind at rest and did not stare at all times.
Only when it was close to 0:00 did the system subconsciously take another look out the window.
It was precisely this glance that scared its cyber-soul into almost flying away, let out a “meow-wu” shout and bolted out the door wildly.
Where was Yan Fulang?!
Why wasn’t he continuing to cultivate?!
0:00 had not arrived yet, the host’s small account had not switched yet, ah!!!
At this time, beneath the long corridor.
A pair of hands with distinct knuckles gently pushed open the tightly closed bedroom door.