Junhua stared blankly at Mo Xuanli before hastily looking up toward the second floor, where, as expected, Gu Baiqing stood.
Junhua frowned slightly. This time, there was no gratitude in her expression—only suspicion and disgust.
“Why are you two here? I don’t need you interfering.” Junhua’s tone was harsh, though it couldn’t hide the disappointment within.
Already feeling stifled, Mo Xuanli became even more irritated upon hearing this. He withdrew his Divine Nine Transformations, glanced toward the stage, and said, “It was my brother who told me to come down. He probably thought you needed help.”
Suddenly, Mo Xuanli furrowed his brow. He noticed that the water sphere imprisoning the merfolk on the stage was rippling in a strange, rhythmic way.
Junhua was about to speak, but when her gaze landed on the merfolk, she froze slightly. Her teeth clenched, and the whip in her hand tightened.
The stall owner quickly came forward to smooth things over, speaking placatingly to both sides before finally turning to Junhua: “Young lady, business requires both parties to agree. We’re selling to someone else—you can’t force us to make the trade. From your robes, I’d say you’re a disciple of the Beast-Taming Manor. Best not cause trouble for yourself. If you truly want the merfolk, just leave your name and register. With that golden pearl in your hand, you can buy whenever you wish. Once we have stock, we’ll notify you immediately for bidding. But for today—let’s not make a scene.”
The man on the stage snorted, put away his weapon, and said lazily, “I don’t intend to waste a fine evening.”
Junhua shot him a vicious glare, said nothing, and turned to leave.
It was clear—she had given up.
But Gu Baiqing frowned slightly. He suddenly picked up Three Bean, whispered a few words, and then set the little creature down.
A moment later, Mo Xuanli floated back up, looking somewhat aggrieved at Gu Baiqing.
Gu Baiqing awkwardly asked, “You’re alright, right?”
“A bit sore,” Mo Xuanli said as he rubbed his waist.
Mo Xuanli’s body constitution was such that even if Gu Baiqing kicked him without using any spiritual power, it shouldn’t have hurt at all—but feeling guilty, Gu Baiqing coughed lightly and said, “Then… give yourself a massage.”
He definitely couldn’t offer to help with that himself. No, absolutely not.
Mo Xuanli sighed faintly and said, “Next time, just tell me directly.”
“I didn’t have time,” Gu Baiqing replied weakly.
Mo Xuanli didn’t understand—those water arrows hadn’t even been half as strong as Yu Chun’s lightning earlier. Couldn’t Junhua have just taken the hit herself? Why was there “no time”? Unless… there was some reason she had to avoid that strike.
As he pondered, the crowd below suddenly grew lively again. The man had paid, and others demanded he inspect the goods on the spot. But perhaps remembering Mo Xuanli’s earlier words, he decided not to check and instead take the merfolk away directly.
And so, with his escorting guards surrounding him, the man led the water sphere away, merfolk and all.
Master and disciple watched the merfolk being taken without a word.
“If you two really want him, I can try to negotiate,” Yu Chun offered with a smile.
Gu Baiqing replied calmly, “We do want him—but we can’t force others. It seems it’s just not meant to be.”
Mo Xuanli looked at Gu Baiqing with concern.
“I know you mean well,” Yu Chun said, glancing at them as if at naïve do-gooders who liked releasing fish back into rivers. “But there are too many things like this. It’s not worth it.”
The merfolk auction was the finale, so once the transaction ended, the event concluded.
Yu Qing tugged at Yu Chun’s sleeve meaningfully. Catching on, Yu Chun said, “Oh right, didn’t a few people just buy spirit beasts? They’re heading to the taming grounds now—it’s lively. Want to take a look?”
Mo Xuanli, knowing Gu Baiqing must be in low spirits from failing to rescue the merfolk, was about to decline—
—but to his surprise, Gu Baiqing agreed.
Mo Xuanli was taken aback; he’d thought his master wouldn’t want to waste more time with these two.
When the four of them exited, they saw a stream of people moving in one direction. Clearly, everyone was heading to watch the taming.
Not far ahead, however, the crowd split into two.
Yu Chun smiled. “Looks like both tamings are happening at the same time.”
He casually asked around and learned there were two spirit beasts, each with different elemental attributes—so spectators were choosing whichever interested them more.
“Brother Mo, Brother Xuanli—which one do you want to see?”
The two naturally replied that either was fine.
“Then why don’t we split up?” Yu Qing suddenly suggested—her intention now perfectly clear.
Gu Baiqing grew curious, wondering how Yu Chun would divide them.
“Well… how about Brother Xuanli goes with my sister to see the wind-type beast, and I’ll go with Brother Mo to see the other?” Yu Chun proposed immediately.
Gu Baiqing was a bit surprised but said nothing. Mo Xuanli, however, objected at once: “No. My brother and I can’t be separated.”
Yu Qing froze, her expression awkward. She’d gathered all her courage to make that suggestion, only to be refused so bluntly.
Gu Baiqing glanced at Mo Xuanli and said suddenly, “Xuanli doesn’t have to stick by me all the time. I think Young Master Yu’s arrangement is fine. Let’s split up.”
Mo Xuanli stared wide-eyed in disbelief. “Brother…”
Whether for safety or some other reason, his master shouldn’t want to be separated from him.
What did this mean? Did his master want him to accompany Yu Qing—or did he himself want to be alone with Yu Chun?
Impossible. His master clearly hated them.
But why…
Mo Xuanli immediately showed a look of pitiful grievance, staring straight at Gu Baiqing with eyes full of hurt, as though waiting for him to explain himself.
Gu Baiqing pretended not to see, and simply said, “Xuanli, go on. Be good and keep Miss Yu company—don’t lose her. When it’s over, I’ll come find you.”
He patted Mo Xuanli’s arm, giving a hint. But clearly, the sulking Mo Xuanli didn’t catch it at all. All he heard was Gu Baiqing using that same tone as when giving orders as his master—unreasonable and distant—and then watching him finish speaking, turn around, and leave with Yu Chun, leaving him behind, left to someone else.
“Brother…” Mo Xuanli wanted to follow, but Yu Qing blocked his path.
“Young Master Mo,” Yu Qing said excitedly, “my brother will take good care of your elder brother. Let’s go look at the spirit beasts over there—it’ll be fun!”
One sentence was enough to darken Mo Xuanli’s expression completely.
He was both angry and anxious, but in the blink of an eye, his master was already gone, disappearing with that Yu fellow.
Clenching his teeth, frustration surging in his chest, Mo Xuanli turned on his heel and strode toward another taming arena. Yu Qing quickly followed.
What on earth was Master doing? How could he act like this?
Standing on the steps of the circular taming arena, Mo Xuanli folded his arms, having no mood at all to watch any beast-taming demonstration. His mind was entirely occupied by the image of his master with that other man in the opposite arena, while beside him Yu Qing kept chattering enthusiastically.
Perhaps because the crowd was too dense, Yu Qing kept leaning closer and closer to him.
But Mo Xuanli’s mind was only on his master, his chest tight with unease. Finally, he couldn’t help it anymore and tried to sense him through their master-disciple bond.
At that moment, a hand appeared from behind him.
And just then, Mo Xuanli felt it—his master’s presence.
He was right behind him.
Surprise flashed across Mo Xuanli’s face. He turned around—and at that instant, as the excitement of the crowd surged and people jostled in chaos, that hand caught hold of his belt and pulled him backward.
Mo Xuanli was instantly swallowed up by the crowd.
Yu Qing turned her head for just a moment—and when she looked back, Mo Xuanli was gone.
She immediately began shouting Mo Xuanli’s name, weaving through the crowd in panic, but she couldn’t find him anywhere. Her face flushed with worry.
She didn’t notice that in the shadowed corner she’d just passed, at the edge of the milling crowd, one man had another pressed tightly against a stone wall.
Gu Baiqing, for his part, hadn’t expected this either. He took a few seconds to replay how on earth things had gotten this awkward. He had only meant to grab Mo Xuanli and pull him aside to hide. Logically, Mo Xuanli should’ve still been facing away from him. But just as he reached out, Mo Xuanli had turned around—and the next thing he knew, Mo Xuanli lost his balance, falling straight into him. With the crowd surging around them, they were shoved back against the wall together.
And now—this mortifying position, this suffocating closeness, the crowd pushing from all sides—
Gu Baiqing could feel their foreheads almost touching, lashes trembling, nearly brushing against each other. The distance between their eyes was so close it went out of focus—he couldn’t even see Mo Xuanli’s expression clearly.
Mo Xuanli’s nose was higher than his, so even though their faces were slightly offset, Gu Baiqing’s nose didn’t touch him—but Mo Xuanli’s nose tip brushed right against Gu Baiqing’s cheek.
And their lips—nearly touching. So close that the sensitive skin could already feel the warmth of the other’s breath. If Mo Xuanli lowered his head even a fraction, or if Gu Baiqing tilted his up just slightly, their lips would meet.
Not to mention those arms wrapped tightly around his waist and back, locking him in place.
“Master?”
“Mm… I came to find you,” Gu Baiqing murmured, pressing his lips inward for fear of accidentally brushing against him. He tried to tilt his head away, but found that any movement might bring their lips together. He didn’t dare move at all.
“Then why… did you leave me behind…” Mo Xuanli’s voice carried a deep note of grievance, almost like the whimper of a hurt puppy. “And made me go with someone else.”
“There was something I had to take care of—it was better this way. Later we need to meet up with Junhua… Uh, could we maybe fix our current situation first? Can you try pushing everyone away a bit?” Gu Baiqing was barely holding it together; his spiritual energy was practically surging out of control.
“…You want to avoid Yu Qing. You can’t move now—she’s nearby,” Mo Xuanli muttered in a low voice.
“Huh?” Gu Baiqing froze. What kind of situation was this? He’d thought he was being smooth—just grab the kid and run. He’d escaped Yu Chun easily enough earlier, but now—
D*mn it! Gu Baiqing suddenly realized—Was I just tricked by the protagonist again? How does this keep happening? Do we really have to get shoved into these suspiciously gay setups every single time?!
He really had to stay on guard—these setups came too fast to dodge.
Mo Xuanli said nothing more, only held his master quietly, his chest heavy with frustration. Again, it was because of Junhua—first he’d been kicked, and now he’d been left behind for someone else. Even if it was for a plan, he wasn’t happy.
It was all Master’s fault. So… a little payback wouldn’t hurt. Just hold him like this, keep him trapped here, never mind the others. This felt much better.
“Xuanli, hurry, think of something—we really can’t stay like this,” Gu Baiqing urged, desperate to escape the situation.
But another wave of shouting and excitement rippled through the crowd, pushing Mo Xuanli even closer.
Their faces shifted slightly apart, and suddenly a faint tickle at the corner of his lips made Gu Baiqing’s heart stop. He quickly tucked his chin down, trying to dodge.
His flustered gaze flickered upward—just in time to see Mo Xuanli’s throat bob as he swallowed, his lips parting slightly, drawing in a breath as if to devour something.
For a split second, only one word crossed Gu Baiqing’s mind—seductive.
And that terrified him.
Because in the next heartbeat, he felt like his obedient disciple might really push him down and kiss him.
The sense of it was so vivid, so overpowering, that Gu Baiqing tensed instinctively—his whole body twitching as he tried to move away.
When he moved, things only got worse—already pressed tightly together, Gu Baiqing immediately felt something was off below, as his movement made something brush against his leg. The spot that was touched felt different.
Didn’t that mean he was also touching him? Mo Xuanli must have felt it too… cough, cough, cough…
If this kept going, something was definitely going to happen.
His voice, almost panicked to the point of pleading, came out: “Void Spirit Space, Xuanli.”
Mo Xuanli could barely suppress the restless urge in his heart anymore—especially since his Master, unafraid of danger, was still moving. He was starting to suspect that his teacher wanted this to happen…
In that instant, Mo Xuanli lost control again, just like before. He wanted—right here, behind this noisy crowd—to pin his teacher against the wall and fiercely…
Seal his voice with a kiss. Even if a few sounds escaped, with the noise outside, no one would hear.
Until the taming exhibition ended. Until the crowd dispersed. Until his Master was completely…
Mo Xuanli’s breathing turned ragged. He swallowed unconsciously, the hand at Gu Baiqing’s waist trembling as it began to move, almost loosening his belt… his leg was even sliding between—
Suddenly, his Master’s voice sounded. It jolted Mo Xuanli back to himself for a moment, softening his heart.
The scene shifted—when he opened his eyes, they were already standing in a dark, quiet alley.
Mo Xuanli was still clutching him tightly—for one second, two—until Gu Baiqing came back to his senses and shoved him away. Mo Xuanli staggered back, bracing against the wall opposite, slightly hunched and panting, looking rather disheveled.
“You…” Gu Baiqing’s voice was unsteady. Why was Mo Xuanli acting so strangely?
That overwhelming pressure just now had felt too real, leaving Gu Baiqing inexplicably flustered.
“It’s nothing… disciple was only too eager to use the Void Spirit Space, so there was a bit of…”
The Void Spirit Space was a large-scale spell, one that consumed a great deal of energy each time it was cast. Hearing that explanation, Gu Baiqing’s unease eased somewhat.
As for that sudden surge in spiritual power earlier—that must have been a coincidence.
Gu Baiqing couldn’t easily suspect that the disciple he had “raised straight” had somehow veered off the path. Still, he dared not move any closer to Mo Xuanli right now. After being held so tightly just now, his body’s temperature still hadn’t settled.
The two stood in a strange silence for a while before Mo Xuanli finally asked, “Master, what exactly are we doing?”
Gu Baiqing straightened, his expression serious. “Let’s go find Junhua. Once that’s settled, we’ll return for the siblings.”
Only then did Mo Xuanli realize that Three Bean hadn’t been by Gu Baiqing’s side for some time. Apparently, since Junhua had left earlier, Three Bean had vanished as well.
Clearly, while Mo Xuanli went to help Junhua, his Master had given Three Bean some kind of order—hence the separation.
Though Three Bean often wandered off on his own, so Mo Xuanli hadn’t paid it much mind at first.
But now, it was clear—his Master couldn’t possibly know Junhua’s whereabouts unless Three Bean was with her, and Gu Baiqing was tracking Three Bean through their familiar bond.
The two moved quickly, and as they traveled, Gu Baiqing finally voiced his thoughts.
“Xuanli, what do you think of those people who capture and trade merfolk?”
“What do I think? They’re scum. Since when do they have the right to decide the fate of the merfolk? Selling them? That’s nothing but trafficking and collusion.” Mo Xuanli’s tone was firm.
Gu Baiqing’s lips curved faintly. “Well said. Which means, from the start, we shouldn’t have tried to bid for one.”
Mo Xuanli was taken aback.
Gu Baiqing sighed. “To deal with scoundrels, one must be even more shameless. That’s called using evil to fight evil—after all, this is a lawless world.”
They descended from the sky and spotted Junhua silently crouched at an intersection, ready to ambush a group in the distance—the very ones who had purchased the mermaid.
On a nearby rooftop lay Three Bean, wagging his tail when he saw them arrive.
Just as Junhua was about to act, two figures landed behind her. Instantly on guard, she whirled around, ready to strike—only for a parasol to block her blow.
Junhua froze, frowning at them. “You again? You’ve been following me—what do you want?”
Gu Baiqing stepped forward. “Naturally, the same thing as you.”
Her gaze turned cold. “Oh? You want the merfolk too?”
Gu Baiqing saw right through her and said plainly, “The merfolk should be returned to the sea.”
Junhua blinked, eyes flickering, but didn’t lower her guard. “Are you stupid? Of course they should be kept—there’s plenty to gain from them. I want one for myself. Do you even know how much a mermaid’s worth? I’m not giving her up, and neither should you.”
“Don’t bother testing us,” Mo Xuanli cut in before she could go on. “We’re here to help. But we don’t have much time—if Beast-Taming Manor suspects us, we’ll be in trouble. So don’t act later; I’ll handle it.”
“Come,” Gu Baiqing said to him, raising an eyebrow, “let’s be scoundrels then.”
Mo Xuanli’s heart stirred—this version of his Master felt all the more vivid, and dangerously enticing.
He drew a black robe from his storage pouch, threw it on, and vanished toward the street corner.
Junhua moved to follow, but Gu Baiqing stopped her. “Leave it to him. You can’t be seen—if anyone spots a man doing the robbing, that’s enough.”
“You’re not afraid they’ll suspect you?”
“We were just watching the taming event with the Yu siblings when the crowd scattered us. And since we split up afterward, no one has any reason to connect it to us.”
Outside, screams erupted. Mo Xuanli hadn’t even used his strongest spell—just barriers, formations, and elemental arts—enough to terrify the entire group.
Moments later, he returned, holding a water sphere, which he handed to Junhua. “Here.”
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