Shu Qing couldn’t remember when he fell asleep, only that he felt like he had slept for a very long time. It wasn’t a restful sleep; he could always hear sounds from outside, teetering between being awake and asleep.
He heard the King of the Underworld getting up and leaving the room. Later, he heard him return, seemingly asking the maid something, and even came to the bedside to check on him. This happened several times, and Shu Qing had a vague awareness of it, but his body felt incredibly heavy, unable to move an inch.
At first, he felt very cold, shivering from time to time, until he was enveloped in an embrace, and then he started to feel very hot. Shu Qing didn’t like the cold, nor did he like the heat, but he didn’t have the strength to struggle, so he just fell asleep in the warmth.
This time, he slept a bit more deeply. But then he had a nightmare. He dreamt that he was forced back to his original form, turning into a butterfly, and unfortunately crashed into a spider web, getting entangled all over. He struggled with all his might but couldn’t break free, watching helplessly as his glowing blue wings were torn apart, eventually transforming into another very small butterfly.
A small butterfly that looked a lot like him. But it was black and emitted an aura that only the King of the Underworld had. Shu Qing didn’t like this little butterfly, even felt a bit scared. As expected, the little butterfly gradually turned into a small black monster, crawling towards him along the spider web. Although it made no sound, Shu Qing could sense that this little monster wanted to devour his flesh and blood.
The spider web had already trapped all his movements, and now a little monster wanted to eat him. Shu Qing was anxious, enduring the pain of his wings being torn, and struggled even more. It wasn’t until the little monster climbed onto his body that Shu Qing finally escaped from the nightmare, suddenly opening his eyes.
Cold sweat soaked through his inner clothes, and he gasped for breath, sitting up abruptly from the bed. Once his breathing and heartbeat calmed down, he gradually regained his composure. Looking around, he was still in his room. It was very quiet. No King of the Underworld, no maid, and judging by the light outside, it should be daytime.
“…Chun Li?” Shu Qing called out for the maid, but his throat was dry and painful, making it difficult to speak smoothly. He was very thirsty and hungry. Shu Qing guessed he must have slept for a long time.
He lifted the quilt and got out of bed, intending to pour himself some water, but as soon as his feet touched the ground, his legs gave way, and he fell to the floor. At this moment, there was a sound from outside, and the maid came in, quickly rushing over to help him up.
“…Little Immortal, are you okay?”
“…I’m fine.” Shu Qing leaned on her hand, slowly getting up and sitting by the bed. “How long did I sleep?”
The maid replied, “Little Immortal slept for a long time, it’s been two nights already.”
No wonder he was so hungry, and his throat was so uncomfortable.
“…I’m very hungry, I want to eat something, and I need water.”
“I’ll go prepare it right away.”
“…Okay.”
But strangely, this time Shu Qing didn’t feel any discomfort. In the past, after being tormented by the King of the Underworld for a night, he would definitely feel unwell all over and need several days to recover. This time, although he slept for a long time and woke up hungry and thirsty, his body felt not only fine but more energized than ever.
Could it be that the King of the Underworld transferred spiritual power to him? It couldn’t be that he secretly absorbed the King of the Underworld’s spiritual power, right?
The maid quickly brought food. Shu Qing said he was very hungry and ate quickly, but in reality, he didn’t eat much. After stuffing five or six mouthfuls and drinking a few sips of water, he stopped eating. His face was pale and haggard, his expression thoughtful and dazed, with his long hair loose, wearing only a thin inner garment.
Having always seen Shu Qing in his usual arrogant and flamboyant manner, it was the first time the maid saw him so vulnerable. Her biggest feeling was how excessive the King of the Underworld must be to torment Shu Qing to this extent?
“…Shall I help Little Immortal wash and change clothes?” Shu Qing shook his head. “No need.”
The maid couldn’t believe it. Shu Qing usually cared most about his appearance, always dressing up beautifully no matter where he went. Even if he stayed indoors, just resting, he would comb his hair neatly and change into a clean inner garment. Today, he didn’t even comb his hair. He must have been scared by the King of the Underworld. No wonder.
That night, seeing the King of the Underworld return with the Mountain God’s head, they were all terrified. The others were even more frightened when they came in to clean the next morning. They only had brief contact. But Shu Qing was locked in the room by the King of the Underworld for an entire night. No one dared to enter that night, and no one knew what happened inside.
The maid thought for a moment, trying to comfort the Little Immortal. “…His Highness the King of the Underworld still cares about Little Immortal. He came to see you several times while you were asleep… and said to notify him immediately when you wake up…”
Shu Qing’s eyes flickered. “Did someone go to notify him?”
“Yes, as soon as Little Immortal woke up, I sent someone to notify him.”
“…”
“…Little Immortal?”
“Leave.”
The maid froze.
“Leave, I want to be alone.”
“…Yes.”
The maid didn’t understand what she said wrong, but she could clearly feel that Shu Qing was angry with her. Not daring to say more, she obediently retreated. Just as she reached the door, she encountered the King of the Underworld coming over. The maid bowed and saluted. “…Greetings, Your Highness.”
The King of the Underworld waved his hand and strode inside. It only took a few seconds, but when the King of the Underworld rounded the screen, he didn’t see Shu Qing at all. —He only saw Shu Qing quickly crawl under the bed, leaving a piece of light green clothing exposed.
The King of the Underworld, tall and imposing, took a few steps to the side. “What are you hiding for?”
Shu Qing didn’t answer, but the piece of clothing exposed outside was quickly pulled under the bed.
“Don’t want to see me? Can you avoid me forever?”
The King of the Underworld’s lips curled into a smile, but his tone was deliberately cold. “Not listening again? Do I have to pull you out myself?”
After what happened that night, such a threat would be terrifying to anyone. Shu Qing was no exception. But Shu Qing still didn’t react, just hiding under the bed, silent and motionless. It was like a silent standoff: if you have the guts, come and pull me out.
“Come out yourself, don’t force me to do it. Think about the consequences of disobedience, can you bear it?”
Shu Qing didn’t dare. But Shu Qing just wouldn’t come out. Because he also firmly believed that the King of the Underworld wouldn’t really do such a thing. He was just hiding under the bed, not stepping on the King of the Underworld’s head, what was there to be angry about? Would the noble and esteemed King of the Underworld really bend down to pull him out from under the bed? Or would he flip the bed he was sleeping on?
“I’ll count to three, and you better come out.”
The voice was as cold as ice, reminding Shu Qing of that night when the King of the Underworld came in with murderous intent, holding a long sword stained with sinister blood, reflecting a bleak light. Shu Qing’s body trembled again.
“Three.”
“Two.”
“One.”
“…”
But even after counting to three, Shu Qing remained silent under the bed, refusing to come out. Afraid yet determined to resist to the end. Fortunately, the King of the Underworld wasn’t really angry, nor did he intend to be. He wasn’t surprised by Shu Qing’s reaction. This little butterfly was always like this. Acting innocent and pitiful, weak and begging when scared, but doing whatever he wanted when he couldn’t be caught, everything had to be according to his own ideas, not shedding tears until he saw the coffin.
But the King of the Underworld didn’t dislike this personality. On the contrary, he was attracted to Shu Qing’s character, which sparked his desire to conquer. He found it quite good now. Still able to stick to his temper and principles, it seemed he hadn’t scared the little butterfly too much.
“Looks like you really know you were wrong this time.”
“…”
Although he didn’t get a response from Shu Qing, the King of the Underworld continued to speak. “Fine, stay under the bed if you like, just reflect on yourself.”
“I have other matters to attend to, can’t be bothered with you.”
The King of the Underworld didn’t linger, saying this, he really turned and left. Shu Qing didn’t come out immediately, still lying there for a while, afraid the King of the Underworld would suddenly come back. Whether he knew he was wrong was hard to say, but at this moment, Shu Qing knew he should find a way to leave the Underworld.
The King of the Underworld was ruthless and unpredictable, daring to kill the Mountain God without hesitation. One day, he might really kill him too. If he stayed here, he was likely on a path to death. What a joke. How could he really end up in a place like this? He still had to return to the Immortal Mountain, back to the Immortal Lord’s side.
Shu Qing gritted his teeth, he had to find a way to leave here.
…
Shu Qing was in a slump for several days, avoiding the King of the Underworld for several days as well. He didn’t change clothes, didn’t comb his hair, didn’t leave the room, and ate very little, like a little beast hiding in a cave, full of vigilance against the outside world.
The King of the Underworld came to see him every day, but each time Shu Qing hid under the bed, not speaking or coming out, no matter how the King of the Underworld threatened or tempted him. Once, the King of the Underworld almost really flipped the bed, and the next day Shu Qing changed his hiding place, turning back into his original form and flying into the flowers.
Fresh flowers were placed in the room every day, and that day they happened to be blue flowers, with large, layered petals, more than enough to hide a butterfly. No one expected Shu Qing to use this trick. The King of the Underworld thought he had escaped, searching everywhere, causing chaos, until Shu Qing fell asleep and fell from the petals, only then did the maid find him on the table.
There were no more flowers in the room. The bed was also changed. The King of the Underworld used a spell to seal part of Shu Qing’s spiritual power, forbidding him from turning back into his original form. Shu Qing was helpless, forced to lie on the chaise longue all day.
“…Little Immortal, look, these are all new fabrics, we can make many new clothes now.”
“And these, all new and interesting things from the Human World, does Little Immortal want to play with them?”
“Is Little Immortal hungry? Recently, a new small kitchen was set up in the palace, they can make many new dishes, does Little Immortal want to try?”
“Little Immortal… do you want to take a walk in the garden? Little Immortal hasn’t been out for a long time, let me help you wash and change clothes, let’s go out for a walk?”
The maid nagged in his ear every day, so noisy that Shu Qing couldn’t stand it, finally giving a refusal. “I don’t want to go.”
“Why not?” the maid said, “The garden is even more beautiful now, with many new varieties, the petals are large and numerous, Little Immortal will surely like it.”
Shu Qing lay on his side with his back to the maid, eyes closed. “Going out will only make everyone laugh at me, why seek such bad luck.”
“…How could that be? Who dares to laugh at Little Immortal?”
“Even if they don’t dare to do it to my face, they must think so in their hearts.”
Shu Qing said flatly, “I’m tired, I don’t want to care about what these people think anymore, nor do I want to find ways to deal with them. From now on, I’ll just stay here, and the entire Underworld can be peaceful.”
“…”
The maid paused, not knowing how to respond. But soon another voice followed. “I’ll accompany you, then no one will dare think that way.”
It was the King of the Underworld who came in. The maid quickly saluted. “…Greetings, Your Highness.”
“Leave us.”
“…Yes.”
The maid quickly retreated, leaving only Shu Qing and the King of the Underworld in the room. But Shu Qing remained motionless, still lying on his side, not even glancing at the King of the Underworld.
The King of the Underworld approached and sat down beside him. “…Still angry? It’s been days, is your temper really that big?”
Unable to escape, with nowhere to hide, Shu Qing was forced to face the King of the Underworld, speaking in a bland tone. “Not angry.”
“…Then why aren’t you getting up?”
“Not feeling well, please forgive me, Your Highness.”
“Look at me.”
“Won’t look.”
“…”
[Author’s Note]
Little Butterfly: Can’t help it, can’t help it, as soon as I open my mouth, I want to talk back (grinding teeth).