Chapter 348: Extra (2)
Zhang Wubing hadn’t exaggerated—he had truly packed up all the food from the Zhang family kitchen and brought it with him.
Just the two wolves helping him unload the car had to make four or five trips to carry all the takeout boxes into the kitchen.
Zhang Wubing, both arms filled to the brim and even using his body to push the door open sideways, stepped into the courtyard. But the moment he unexpectedly saw the ghostly officials cleaning the yard, he was so startled that his mind cleared instantly. He let out a scream that nearly escaped his throat, and the wine bottle tucked under his arm slipped from his hand.
Yet, the ghost officer from the underworld seemed even more terrified than Zhang Wubing. He quickly bowed deeply in respect, trembling as he deferentially took the miscellaneous items from Zhang Wubing’s hands. Meanwhile, another ghostly arm reached up from the ground and caught the falling wine bottle with eerie precision.
This time, they didn’t even need Jing Xiaobao to give the order. The ghost officials swiftly delivered all the food and alcohol into the kitchen and then fled as if for their lives.
Zhang Wubing stood frozen in place, utterly baffled. “?”
He stared dumbly at Yan Shixun, who had just walked out at a leisurely pace, and said, “Brother Yan, I think I’ve made it! Those ghosts are actually afraid of me!”
Yan Shixun, fully aware of the truth: “…………”
The ghost officials weren’t scared of the living Zhang Wubing—they feared the lingering majesty of the King of Hell still residing in his soul.
After Zhang Wubing had completed his mission and the Great Dao and heavens had been reset, the merits and sins within his soul were recalculated. His name was cleared, his former merit as the King of Hell was restored, and he was no longer deemed sinful just because he had once been tainted by death.
There was no longer any need for him to hide from the Great Dao. Because of this, the brilliance of his soul had finally begun to shine through.
These ghost officials had once worked alongside the King of Hell—they instantly recognized Zhang Wubing’s identity. Not one of them dared to act out of line.
For a moment, it was hard to say whether the previous King of Hell was more terrifying, or this one.
Zhang Wubing remained completely in the dark, while Yan Shixun saw the truth clearly.
Still, he had no intention of telling Zhang Wubing any of it.
—Zhang Wubing was a living person. He shouldn’t be burdened with the weight of heaven and earth. Why should he have to know these things?
The King of Hell had already spent centuries and all of his strength. Zhang Wubing was his final incarnation. Let this silly boy happily live his life and do whatever he wanted.
Yan Shixun simply gazed at Zhang Wubing in silence for a few seconds, then withdrew the nostalgic look from his eyes. He tilted his chin in the direction of the kitchen.
“Stop saying nonsense. Go ask Xiao Bao if he agrees. Go work with Ye Li.”
Jing Xiaobao, who had just finished hanging lanterns, heard his name and immediately jumped down from the tree. In just a few quick steps, he ran up to Yan Shixun and clung to his leg with both of his tiny paws, smiling brightly at Zhang Wubing.
Zhang Wubing shouted, “Jing Xiaobao!! Let go of Brother Yan!”
“Hee hee, I won’t~”
“Don’t you know about seniority? I called him Dad first!”
“Oh please, haven’t you heard of ‘the newcomer surpasses the old’? I’m so cute and clever—of course Yan Yan will like me more than you\~”
“Impossible!”
While the two of them bickered, Ye Li came out from the kitchen, face dark, and grabbed one of them in each hand, dragging them inside.
Held by the collar like cats caught by the scruff of their necks, both of them instantly turned quiet and obedient. In the chilly air radiating from Ye Li, neither dared say another word.
Yan Shixun watched the strange yet harmonious scene inside the kitchen, chuckled softly, then adjusted the Taoist robe draped over his shoulders and strolled slowly back to his room with the lead wolf by his side.
The courtyard was decorated with beautiful palace lanterns, glowing brightly and swaying gently in the cool night breeze. The shifting lights danced across the walls and ground, a breathtaking sight.
Besides the palace lanterns that Yan Shixun and Ye Li had bought with Jing Xiaobao on the street, there were also gifts sent from various sects, including Haiyun Temple’s own palace lanterns typically used in their rituals.
At first, Yan Shixun had worried that the righteous energy from Haiyun Temple’s items might cause discomfort to Jing Xiaobao. But the current King of Hell had only glanced at them and completely dismissed the concern.
Even though Jing Xiaobao had once been a fierce ghost, he now had a formal post in the underworld.
And even without that, given his status as someone who had Evil Spirit Bone Transformation, he had nothing to fear from the righteous Haiyun Temple, even under the crumbling Great Dao.
Most citizens of Binhai celebrating the New Year had no idea that they had been mere moments away from never experiencing another Spring Festival again.
Had Yan Shixun not appeared at the Jing residence and brought Jing Xiaobao out, then Jing Xiaobao alone could’ve killed or severely injured more than half the Taoists sent by Haiyun Temple to the concession zone, dragging half the city into catastrophe.
And aside from Haiyun Temple’s gifts, Yan Shixun had also received presents from Master Bai in the southwest.
Although the inheritor of the southwestern ghost plays had lived in seclusion for many years—imprisoning himself within the boundaries of Bai family Village out of guilt and never stepping beyond—his inherited skills were undeniably authentic. Even on a national level, he was regarded as a master of the highest caliber.
After recovering from his injuries, Master Bai heard updates about Bai Village from the special department. Overcome with emotion, he couldn’t stop the tears from streaming down his face. He sobbed uncontrollably in front of everyone, murmuring his heartfelt thanks to Yan Shixun.
Though he mourned Zheng Shumu’s death, he understood that for Zheng Shumu, death represented liberation.
That child, to whom he owed a great debt, had finally left the land of hatred behind and was now free to pursue what he truly desired.
To express his gratitude, Master Bai—after many years—picked up his carving knife once more and solemnly presented a gift to Yan Shixun, straight from his heart.
A palace lantern and a puppet.
Although Master Bai hadn’t originally specialized in making palace lanterns, any skill taken to its peak would inevitably transcend its own field. Southwestern ghost plays was, after all, an art of light and shadow. Master Bai’s carvings on paper and cloth were just as exquisite as those on leather.
What’s more, southwestern ghost plays placed great emphasis on the beauty of structure. Master Bai’s masterful woodworking skills even stunned the team of experts who came to observe.
From this elderly man who had returned from the brink of death, everyone was fortunate enough to witness the pinnacle of traditional artistry.
The small palace lantern contained eighteen layers, each meticulously hollowed and carved. It depicted landscapes, heavens and earth, flora and fauna—all captured with the finest detail, breathtaking in beauty.
When the light inside was lit, the temperature difference between the inner warmth and outer cool created a slight breeze that caused the eighteen layers to spin. The resulting play of light and shadow was incredibly intricate yet never chaotic, as stunning as a dream from another world.
When the team of experts delivered this gift on behalf of the now immobile Master Bai, their eyes were reluctant to part with it. Some even tried to offer a high price to buy this artistic treasure from Yan Shixun.
But Yan Shixun gently refused.
This wasn’t just a token of thanks from Master Bai—it marked the resolution of their karmic connection. More than that, it represented Master Bai’s renewed resolve.
Yan Shixun could see that Master Bai wanted to use this as a new beginning, to once again revive the nearly extinct art of southwestern ghost plays.
Back before he had gone to the southwest, Zhang Wubing had asked him whether there was any hope for the revival of southwestern shadow puppetry.
At the time, Yan Shixun had cast a divination, and it foretold that not only would southwestern shadow puppetry be revived—it would flourish.
But even then, not even Yan Shixun had expected it would unfold this way.
Still, it was a happy accident.
The great game of heaven and earth was never something mere mortals, seeing only a fragment, could truly comprehend.
Standing under the corridor, Yan Shixun looked up quietly at the slowly spinning palace lantern, his heart filled with emotion.
“Awooo.”
The lead wolf, disagreeing, swiped his big fluffy tail against Yan Shixun’s leg, nudging him, trying to lead him back inside.
“I wasn’t thinking about him,”
Yan Shixun said, understanding the wolf’s meaning. In the empty courtyard, he rarely revealed such a subdued tone. “His death was something both he and I knew deep down. He understood his fate from the very beginning… The fact that Xiao Bing was saved was already a pleasant surprise.”
“Awooo!”
The lead wolf shook its furry ears and looked up at Yan Shixun with seriousness.
It had seen the King of Hell.
In the burial grounds of Jiangbei, the wolf pack had guarded the villagers’ bones for decades, becoming akin to mountain deities themselves.
The lead wolf was aware of the quiet changes that had occurred there. It knew that it was precisely the King of Hell—whose sleeves flowed like pine and crane feathers—who had brought everything back from the brink.
“No. Even if one knows, accepting it is still something else entirely.”
Yan Shixun smiled faintly, his expression softening. He murmured, “When the cloud crane spreads its wings and flies away, it still leaves behind feathers glowing with light. How can one say there are no traces left in the hearts of those who remain?”
“Awooo…”
Ye Li turned his head to look out the window and saw Yan Shixun standing beneath the corridor, sleeves gathered, gazing up at the moon.
The rotating shadows from the palace lantern fell across his handsome face. The warm moonlight poured down, bathing the courtyard in tranquil beauty.
Ye Li couldn’t help but be drawn to his lover.
He put down what he was holding and slowly walked over to Yan Shixun, embracing him from behind. He lowered his head into the cool curve of Yan Shixun’s neck and sighed softly.
Yan Shixun snapped out of his thoughts, the memories of his master and the King of Hell fading away, as if he had been brought back to the human world.
He didn’t push Ye Li away. Instead, he lifted his hand to rest it on Ye Li’s arm, which was wrapped around him.
Neither of them spoke first, but the mood between them had already turned quietly intimate.
However, the tranquility of the courtyard was soon broken by loud arguing from the kitchen.
“Are you stupid? Don’t you know how this should be placed?”
“How could I not? Do you even know how to use this stuff? Oh right, I forgot—you’ve never used these kitchen tools before, have you, Xiao Bao? You were still using telegrams when you died. Of course you should listen to me.”
“You’re the one who brought up age! I’m about to be a hundred years old. I’m older than you. You should listen to me!”
Bang!
A loud sizzle of oil abruptly cut off their argument.
When Yan Shixun and Ye Li turned their heads at the sound, they saw two little heads quietly pushing up against the kitchen windowsill, their wide, guilty eyes peeking out at them.
The big and small troublemakers knew they were in the wrong and suddenly became obedient.
Yan Shixun twitched the corner of his mouth in exasperation.
To hell with romance under moonlight and lanterns! This was the real world—filled with rice, oil, and noisy kitchens.
He strode over with long steps, sneering as he reached out his hand. But before it could land, Jing Xiaobao beat him to it and burst into tears with a loud wail, immediately starting to tattle.
“Yan Yan, it was all Zhang Youbing’s fault… I mean, Zhang Wubing! I tried to stop him, but he wouldn’t listen to me.”
The child pointed at Zhang Wubing and began to complain, his expression full of grievance and innocence, without a single flaw.
Zhang Wubing was utterly stunned.
Now that Ye Li’s pressure was gone, the two had practically turned the kitchen into a playground. But the problem was—neither Zhang Wubing nor Jing Xiaobao had any real experience with the kitchen.
Fortunately, they still remembered that Yan Shixun wasn’t far away, so they didn’t dare go too far. In the end, their mischief only resulted in a minor accident.
Jing Xiaobao was promptly thrown off by Yan Shixun to clean up the mess. The child’s teary eyes had no effect on him.
Jing Xiaobao: qaq Am I not cute anymore? Why doesn’t Yan Yan love me now?
Compared to that, Yan Shixun even started to feel that Ye Li’s cooking skills were much more reliable.
And so, the capable Ye Li was ruthlessly sent back to the kitchen by Yan Shixun.
Ye Li: ………
He cast a sinister glance at Jing Xiaobao and Zhang Wubing, and the two immediately became quiet and well-behaved, not daring to make a sound, afraid of becoming the next punching bag.
Fortunately, while the process was chaotic, the end result was good.
Warm lights filled the living room as the group gathered around the table. The sound of a Spring Festival variety show played from the TV.
All the food in the Zhang family’s kitchen had been prepared by a hired chef. Though Father Zhang didn’t indulge in extravagance, he wouldn’t let the family eat poorly on such an important holiday.
What was even more outrageous was Zhang Wubing—he didn’t even spare the special wine Father Zhang had bought for the New Year. He had packed it all and brought it over.
There were so many delicious dishes on the table that there was barely enough room for them. The mouth-watering aroma of food filled the small courtyard with a cozy, lively warmth. On the TV screen, familiar faces like An Nanyuan and Bai Shuang appeared one after another.
**Heart-Pounding Journey of Ninety-Nine Days** had already become a legendary moment in variety show history. The participants had become the most popular celebrities of the year, receiving endless invitations for the Spring Festival. No matter which channel Jing Xiaobao sneakily switched to, familiar faces always appeared on the screen.
Yan Shixun glanced at it indifferently, but even he was surprised by how cool and handsome An Nanyuan looked on screen.
He raised an eyebrow in slight surprise. “That An Nanyuan looks nothing like the silly guy who came up with the whole ‘chased by ten thousand ghosts’ idea during filming.”
Zhang Wubing nodded with deep feeling, sounding a little gloomy. “Yeah, I don’t get it. When they were filming my show, every one of them seemed kind of dim, but on other programs, they totally looked like stars again. Why didn’t they show any idol aura on my show?”
As he spoke, Zhang Wubing became indignant and pulled up some data he’d researched to show Yan Shixun.
“Brother Yan, look! Other variety shows get praised for their visuals, but mine? Hardly anyone even mentions it.”
Yan Shixun sneered. “…Don’t you have any idea how your show turned out?”
Zhang Wubing scratched his nose awkwardly and shut up, sulking.
But as soon as Yan Shixun picked up his chopsticks, both Jing Xiaobao and Zhang Wubing’s attention quickly shifted to the table full of food.
Zhang Wubing, who usually wasn’t picky about food, got competitive and started snatching meat from under Jing Xiaobao’s chopsticks just to one-up him.
Jing Xiaobao had just happily picked up a big piece of meat when it got stolen.
Jing Xiaobao: q皿q
The two immediately launched into a full-on battle, each refusing to lose. The once towering piles of food on their plates began to shrink at an alarming rate.
Yan Shixun couldn’t help but shake his head and laugh. “Looks like there won’t be any leftovers today.”
Ye Li silently kicked the two unlucky brats aside and sat on one side of the table with Yan Shixun. He even subtly moved his chair closer to Yan Shixun’s side.
“…Why don’t you just sit on my lap while you’re at it?”
Yan Shixun gave him a fake smile. “Move one more inch and see what happens?”
Ye Li, who had just shown a delighted smile: …
He had genuinely thought Yan Shixun was being serious.
But even though the first plan failed, Ye Li wasn’t discouraged. His hand, hidden under the table, quietly reached out again, resting against Yan Shixun’s lean, firm waist. When it got smacked away, he tried to sneak it onto his thigh instead.
In the end, Yan Shixun grabbed his hand and twisted it backward with sharp precision, his gaze cold and piercing.
Their chairs made loud scraping sounds as they tipped from the force, and the two of them tumbled backward, crashing over the backrest of the sofa and landing in a heap on the couch.
In that split second, Ye Li instinctively reached out with his other hand to protect Yan Shixun, letting him fall directly onto his chest and shielding him from injury.
The loud crash startled the two still fighting over food. They looked up and were completely dumbfounded by what they saw.
Zhang Wubing’s cheeks were stuffed like a pufferfish, frozen in place, not knowing how to react to the scene in front of him.
Say something? Or stay quiet? Either option seemed… kind of bad?
After a brief hesitation, Zhang Wubing decisively turned the TV volume up to max and buried his head back into his food like he was deaf and blind, pretending he hadn’t seen anything.
He even took the chance, while Jing Xiaobao was still stunned, to snatch a big piece of meat right out of his bowl.
By the time Jing Xiaobao looked down and realized something was wrong, his bowl was empty except for the glossy, fragrant sauce. The meat had completely vanished.
Jing Xiaobao was stunned.
He quickly looked over at Zhang Wubing and saw the other guy chewing on the stolen meat with a taunting look on his face.
“Zhang Wubing!! Ahhhhh!!”
Jing Xiaobao immediately launched himself like a little cannonball at Zhang Wubing, full of righteous fury, as if he’d sworn to never share the same sky with him again.
On one side of the hall, chaos and shouting erupted once again. But over on the sofa, everything had gone strangely quiet.
Yan Shixun propped himself up on Ye Li’s chest, looking down at him from above with a cold, commanding gaze that carried a sharp and ruthless beauty.
Ye Li held his breath, momentarily spellbound by Yan Shixun’s face. His hand, which had been loosely around Yan Shixun, instinctively rose to trace the outline of his lover’s features. Caught up in the beauty before him, he couldn’t snap out of it.
Yan Shixun: “?”
He grabbed Ye Li’s hand and, speechless, said, “Can you behave while we’re eating? If not, you can go eat with the wolves outside.”
The lead wolf, who was peacefully eating his own dinner by the door: ? Why are you dragging me into your marital spat?
Ye Li let out a low chuckle and relaxed completely, collapsing onto the sofa and gazing up at Yan Shixun with a lazy grin, as if to say he accepted the condition.
“At this rate, those two are going to eat everything.”
A soft smile flickered in Ye Li’s eyes, shimmering under the warm glow of the lights like scattered stars. “Or… we could go somewhere else. Somewhere without those two troublemakers?”
Yan Shixun, who had already been watching him closely, felt his breath hitch and a flash of amazement pass through his eyes.
Even though he never really cared about such things, he had always known that Ye Li’s looks could be considered outstanding. And at this moment, there was something even more extraordinary about him—a beauty that surpassed the mundane, as if a meticulously carved divine statue had come to life.
It was as if he had been bewitched. He slowly lowered his head and leaned in closer to Ye Li.
Their breaths intertwined—warm and lingering.
A long time passed. By the time the Spring Festival program playing in the background had already changed several segments, Yan Shixun finally cleared his throat, pushed himself up with the support of the sofa back, and sat up.
He raised his hand, brushing his fingertip across the corner of his lips. A faint flush still lingered at the corner of his eyes. The sharp gleam in his gaze had softened, now resembling a shimmering pool of spring water.
Ye Li slowly propped himself up, not in a rush to get out of bed. Instead, he rested his face against his hand and smiled at Yan Shixun, looking completely satisfied.
“Shixun.”
He softly called out to his lover, his voice slightly hoarse.
But all he got in response was a sideways glance from Yan Shixun. “Get over here and eat. Or do you plan on sleeping on the couch forever?”
The moment those words left his mouth, Ye Li sat up so fast he left a blur behind.
With just a blink, Yan Shixun saw Ye Li already standing in front of him.
Ye Li opened his arms and gently pulled Yan Shixun into an embrace, planting soft kisses from his hair downward. At this close distance, the only thing reflected in each other’s eyes was one another—no spirits, no ghosts, no one else existed.
“Shixun…”
Ye Li whispered his name, and just that single word seemed filled with infinite affection, as if he wished to merge with his beloved forever.
He had missed ten years of Yan Shixun’s life. But ever since he proved his love for Yan Shixun to the Great Dao, he no longer wanted to miss even a single second more.
He wanted to stay by Yan Shixun’s side forever—through joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness.
Ye Li’s long fingers gently cupped Yan Shixun’s face, his fingertips rubbing his earlobes softly. Smiling, he leaned in closer…
Zhang Wubing was focused intently on eating, burying his head in his food with extreme determination. He absolutely refused to look up—not even a glance forward.
Halfway through his attempt at provocation, Jing Xiaobao noticed his opponent retreat without a fight. “?”
“Zhang Dabing, are you scared of me?”
Jing Xiaobao asked with a muffled tone of confusion, “Am I really that intimidating now? You won’t even look me in the eye?”
Zhang Wubing didn’t dare make a sound. Not a single word. He acted as if Jing Xiaobao wasn’t even there, completely immersed in the delicious meal before him.
This confused Jing Xiaobao.
Although he wanted to beat Zhang Wubing, he was self-aware enough to know that his own intimidation factor wasn’t nearly that strong.
He clearly understood that Zhang Wubing’s soul once belonged to the King of Hell, who ruled the underworld for thousands of years.
That was his predecessor.
In fact, when Jing Xiaobao first took over the underworld, he had borrowed the power of the former King of Hell from Yan Shixun to ensure the entire transition went smoothly, without a hitch.
It could be said that the former King of Hell’s control over the entire underworld was unmatched by any other being—mortal or spirit.
All those ghost officials and vicious spirits feared and respected the former King deeply.
And Zhang Wubing, with such a soul, even if he wasn’t aware of his past identity, still exuded a natural aura of authority. Even when he laughed or cried, people could tell he was no ordinary person.
That aura didn’t come from the Zhang family.
It came from Zhang Wubing’s very soul.
It had simply been hidden for a time due to his past spiritual sensitivity to ghosts.
But now, that hidden pearl had begun to shine once again.
Those who had met Zhang Wubing all said that the young master of the Zhang family had matured after trying to take responsibility and independently launch his own show, gaining the bearing of someone in charge.
But the world didn’t know what this soul had experienced behind the scenes, what it had done for heaven and earth, or what it had given up.
Jing Xiaobao knew, though.
If Zhang Wubing didn’t constantly cling to Yan Yan, he might’ve even been willing to treat him a little better… But this annoying guy always latched onto Yan Yan!
Fuming, Jing Xiaobao puffed out both cheeks. Then he slammed down his chopsticks and yanked Zhang Wubing, trying to distract him from eating. “Zhang Dabing!”
That shout didn’t get Zhang Wubing to lift his head. Instead, it startled Yan Shixun awake.
His previously hazy eyes instantly cleared, muscles tensing instinctively in alert. With a sharp motion, he shoved Ye Li away with a palm to the chest.
When he saw it was only Jing Xiaobao clowning around on top of Zhang Wubing, Yan Shixun relaxed and pulled his gaze away. The sharp aura he’d briefly released was withdrawn in an instant.
Just moments before, Ye Li had been in his lover’s arms, sharing tender kisses. Now, he was suddenly pushed aside with disdain—as if thrown from a warm room into an icy pit dozens of degrees below zero.
Ye Li reached out instinctively, trying to grab Yan Shixun’s arm. But the other used a clever twist to slip from his grasp, walking back to the dining table as if nothing had happened.
“Xiao Bao, the way you eat.”
Yan Shixun pointed loosely at Jing Xiaobao and frowned. “Get down. Are you a sloth?”
Jing Xiaobao dared not resist and obediently slid off.
But just as he was about to return to his seat, a sudden chill ran down his spine—from the top of his head to the soles of his feet.
Startled, Jing Xiaobao looked up in confusion. He didn’t understand how he could still feel this level of danger with his current strength.
Then he saw Ye Li looking at him with cold, narrowed eyes.
Jing Xiaobao’s hair practically stood on end. His survival instincts kicked in, and he tried to dash away—but Ye Li saw through him instantly and stopped him with a single call.
“Jing Xiaobao.”
Ye Li’s voice carried no emotion. Just those three simple words were enough to make Jing Xiaobao feel a crisis-level chill at being called by his full name.
He immediately stood up straight on the spot, eyes wide in terror, not daring to even breathe too loudly, unsure of what was coming next.
“There’s a bottle of wine in the kitchen. Go get it.”
As soon as Ye Li spoke, Jing Xiaobao let out a sigh of relief. Afraid that staying any longer might really provoke Ye Li’s anger, he darted away like a rabbit and returned in a flash hugging a bottle of red wine.
But just as he was stretching on tiptoe to place the wine on the table, he heard Ye Li again: “Oh, I forgot to ask you to bring a corkscrew.”
Jing Xiaobao had no choice but to make another trip.
Then—
“Where are the glasses?”
“Why did you only bring one?”
“Take this back to the kitchen.”
…..
In the next ten minutes, Jing Xiaobao didn’t get a single bite of food. He was too busy running back and forth between the kitchen courtyard and the living room, completely at Ye Li’s beck and call, spinning around in circles. Yet, he didn’t dare complain or show any anger.
Jing Xiaobao tried to seek help by looking toward Yan Shixun, but he was already captivated by Bai Shuang, who had just appeared on TV.
Jing Xiaobao: qaq What does it mean to be unloved by both father and mother… sob sob…
Zhang Wubing lowered his head another inch, taking advantage of Jing Xiaobao’s absence to happily stuff his face with meat.
Zhang Wubing: Now that’s what you call a survival instinct. Look, some people are just too young to understand that sometimes, you shouldn’t mess with a clingy couple. Look how bad it turned out for him. Tsk tsk tsk.
Meanwhile, on the other side of Binhai City, the Zhang family was staring silently at their empty kitchen.
“What time is it already? Why isn’t dinner ready yet? What’s going on?”
Old Master Zhang came downstairs leaning on his cane, only to find there wasn’t even the faintest smell of food in the dining room. The air itself seemed frozen and heavy with silence.
Old Master Zhang was completely baffled, almost thinking he had gone to the wrong place or remembered the time wrong.
When he reached the kitchen door, he saw that everyone else was already gathered outside, all silent, no one saying a word.
Old Master Zhang: “? Is this some kind of new performance art?”
Father Zhang slowly turned around with a complicated expression. He opened his mouth, but didn’t know how to explain the situation: their house had clearly been “robbed,” yet nothing valuable was missing — only the kitchen had been swept clean, not even a bottle of oil left behind.
Old Master Zhang peeked inside with a puzzled look — and also fell silent.
After a long pause, someone finally noticed something else: “Where’s Xiao Bing? He doesn’t seem to be in his room?”
“Huh? One of the cars in the garage is gone too.”
It was Mother Zhang who eventually called the security room. That’s when they found out that the youngest son had happily driven out not long ago.
When he passed by the guard room, Zhang Wubing had even cheerfully handed over a big box of freshly boiled dumplings to the guards — along with full bottles of chili oil and vinegar — and even wished them a Happy New Year.
The guards gratefully thanked Mother Zhang, and she quickly smiled and returned the pleasantries.
But once she hung up the phone and everyone looked at the kitchen — where only pots, pans, and barely any plates remained — they all understood what had happened.
— With Zhang Wubing’s lifelong tendency to attract ghosts, how many friends could he possibly have?
For him to go out that happily, there was only one explanation.
Zhang Wubing must have taken all of the family’s food and gone to celebrate the New Year with Yan Shixun.
“A grown son isn’t his mother’s anymore.”
Mother Zhang sighed sourly with mixed feelings. “Why does it feel like I sold my son to Mr. Yan?”
Father Zhang, however, had already come to terms with it. Back when Wubing was in the hospital, he’d asked Yan Shixun some questions. Although Yan Shixun hadn’t given him a direct answer, he could tell that his son staying alive was already a hard-won miracle.
So, whatever — as long as his son was alive, let him do whatever he wanted.
Father Zhang sighed and walked toward the fridge. “The chef has already gone home. It’s New Year’s — everyone’s with their families. We can’t bother them. Let’s just boil some frozen dumplings and talk about the rest tomorrow…”
He pulled open the fridge as he spoke.
Then suddenly, his voice stuck in his throat — he couldn’t get another word out.
Mother Zhang, curious, looked over — and immediately burst out laughing.
The freezer was completely empty. Not even a bag of corn kernels was left behind.
Father Zhang, not willing to give up, rummaged through the entire fridge — only to find a few red chili peppers.
He looked down at the peppers in his hand, momentarily speechless.
“That damn brat! Couldn’t even leave his old man a single bite!”
As soon as the words left Father Zhang’s mouth — smack! — Old Master Zhang slapped him on the head. “Watch your mouth in front of your old man! And besides, what’s wrong with Xiao Bing? That’s called caring for your friend!”
Father Zhang: “…………”
Mother Zhang stifled her laughter and quickly tried to smooth things over. “Well, it’s not all bad. Look, we still have chili peppers! That means next year will be blazing with good fortune!”
With that, she couldn’t hold it in anymore and started laughing so hard she teared up.
In the end, the whole family sprang into action, ransacking the cabinets and kitchen until they finally found a few packs of dried noodles.
Father Zhang rolled up his sleeves with a snort and glared at the others with a scowl. “You lot go sit on the couch and wait. So many people, and not one of you can cook. Hmph!”
Old Master Zhang’s stubborn streak flared up. He raised his cane, ready to fight. “You brat! When I was eating wild grass to survive, you weren’t even born yet, and you’re saying I can’t cook?”
The grandmother and other elders were initially surprised but then joined in the fun, all laughing heartily.
Father Zhang finally got what he wanted — the kitchen all to himself. He happily cooked up a big pot of noodles.
“Good thing that brat left me a bag of salt, or we’d all be out in the garden gnawing on grass tonight.”
He muttered as he tossed chili peppers into the pot, but a smile crept onto his face. His son’s bold and mischievous nature had unexpectedly amused him.
Zhang Wubing clearing out the kitchen was still better than before, when he never even thought to ask for help from his family.
At the very least, he no longer rejected his home — he had started to reintegrate.
For Father Zhang, who had nearly lost Zhang Wubing several times, this current moment — this peaceful, ordinary scene — was better than anything he had dared to dream.
His eyes turned a bit red. When he heard the voices calling from the living room, he quickly wiped his eyes and got ready to bring out the noodles.
But the next second, the Zhang household was rocked by an ear-splitting scream.
Mother Zhang jumped, dropping her sunflower seeds.
She rushed into the kitchen and found Father Zhang standing in front of the pot, eyes red and streaming with tears.
Mother Zhang, both amused and exasperated, asked, “It’s just noodles — why are you so moved?”
Father Zhang: “Sob sob sob…”
So spicy! The chili was still on his hands!!!
Meanwhile, as they ate, Old Master Zhang still hadn’t given up on renaming Zhang Wubing. “Don’t you think ‘Zhang Huozhe’ (Zhang Alive) sounds especially lucky?”
Everyone: “…………”
They all turned simultaneously to stare at the TV, which was still playing Zhang Wubing’s variety show, refusing to even give the old man a glance.
Father Zhang let out a tired sigh and reached for a bottle of wine.
Only to discover that even the liquor cabinet hadn’t been spared — Zhang Wubing had cleaned it out too.
“…………”
“ZHANG WUBING!!!”
Achoo!
Zhang Wubing suddenly sneezed hard, pitifully reaching for a tissue. But when he turned around, he saw that the last piece of fish he had placed in his bowl was already clamped between Jing Xiaobao’s teeth.
The grudge-holding little rascal even lifted his head proudly at him, smug as could be.
Yan Shixun looked at the completely empty dining table and could only helplessly remind the two, “If you’re still hungry later, have the wolf make you dumplings at midnight, okay? Don’t go touching anything in the kitchen on your own.”
He turned and smiled at Ye Li. “I was just wondering what we were going to do with all the food Xiao Bing brought… but now, with Xiao Bao here, it’s not a problem.”
Ye Li smiled, lowered his eyes and gave Yan Shixun a quick kiss, but when he looked at Jing Xiaobao, he gave a cold snort and accurately labeled him: “Glutton.”
Jing Xiaobao: My fists are clenched… but I can’t beat him qaq
Ye Li added another jab: “We can’t afford to raise him. Maybe we should just throw him out.”
Jing Xiaobao immediately panicked and threw himself into Yan Shixun’s arms. “I can eat very little, I swear! Or I can go out and eat ghosts instead, Yan Yan qaq.”
Yan Shixun said, “If the ghosts outside heard you say that, they’d probably cry.”
“You’ve been here long enough. Once the New Year is over, you should return to the underworld.”
Jing Xiaobao froze.
The child hadn’t expected the guardian he loved so dearly to actually drive him away. The tears he had been pretending to cry now flowed genuinely, welling up in his eyes and falling with a soft splatter. He looked utterly pitiful, heartbreaking even.
Yan Shixun sighed helplessly. “You’ve been playing with the nearby ghosts every day. They can’t take it anymore and have all come to complain to me. Some even went straight to Haiyun Temple, begging the temple to send them away—they don’t want to play with you anymore.”
It was practically like thieves begging the police to arrest them because the outside world was too terrifying.
Jing Xiaobao couldn’t speak. He just stared at Yan Shixun with tearful eyes, trying to win him over with his pitiful expression.
But Yan Shixun simply beckoned to the lead wolf. The lazy creature rose to its feet, tail swaying as it walked over. It gently bit down on Jing Xiaobao’s overalls and dragged him back to his own room.
The very perceptive lead wolf clearly understood: this was adult time now. It involved the very serious matter of species continuation. Cubs weren’t allowed to watch.
Having finally gotten rid of the two glaring third wheels, Ye Li could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Moments alone together were rare and precious, and that made them all the more worth cherishing.
Yan Shixun didn’t usually drink, but tonight, being the first New Year after the Great Dao reset, he had, without realizing it, consumed quite a lot in his happiness.
His face was now flushed, his sharp features tinged with a soft red. The slight drunkenness added an unfamiliar allure, and Ye Li’s gaze grew darker as he watched him.
Ye Li’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he took two steps forward, wrapped his arms around Yan Shixun’s waist, and murmured, “Shixun…”
Yan Shixun only glanced sideways at him before raising the wine glass and draining the last of the red wine in one go.
He tilted his long neck back, his Adam’s apple shifting. Wine spilled from the corner of his lips, sliding down the elegant line of his throat and landing on his well-defined collarbones.
His lips, stained deep red by the wine, looked especially enticing.
Before Ye Li could move any closer, Yan Shixun placed the empty glass on the table and suddenly turned around, pushing Ye Li’s chest and pressing him up against the nearby window.
The heat radiating from their bodies intensified the scent of the wine, turning it rich and lingering, wrapping around them like a slow-burning flame.
Ye Li’s back pressed against the glass. Looking down at his lover, his throat felt parched, and in that moment, it seemed nothing in this world—not even heaven and earth—could save him except for Yan Shixun.
He slowly raised his hand, resting it on Yan Shixun’s shoulder, then reached up to caress his cheek.
The tipsy Yan Shixun narrowed his eyes and instinctively nuzzled against the palm of Ye Li’s hand, like a big cat rubbing against the one it loved.
A big cat, with the power to kill, wary of everything and everyone, yet placing complete trust in only one person—so much so that it would rub gently in their embrace…
The feeling was too wonderful. Ye Li felt that his mind could no longer hold anything except for Yan Shixun.
Even the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth had completely faded from his thoughts.
What was the whole world worth? The reason he had taken charge of the Great Dao had only ever been for one thing—Yan Shixun.
Ye Li cupped Yan Shixun’s face and slowly lowered his head, eyes fixed on those flushed, tempting lips.
But just then, a sudden loud noise erupted outside the window. Shifting lights fell into the room, and the brightness stung Yan Shixun’s eyes, causing him to squint. He instinctively raised a hand and gripped Ye Li’s hand tightly, stopping him from getting any closer.
When Yan Shixun looked up, he saw brilliant fireworks lighting up the night sky outside the window.
Although all related information had been scrubbed clean online and most people treated this as a normal Spring Festival, the Binhai city officials knew just how hard-won this year’s New Year truly was.
And for many people, this was a New Year they would never live to see.
So this year, the Binhai government had lifted all previous restrictions and hosted a grand celebration downtown. Fireworks exploded one after another, drums thundered, and the atmosphere was nothing short of jubilant.
It wasn’t just to celebrate the first New Year since the world’s reset—it was to honor the lives left behind in the past year. To you who gave your lives to guard this world: The world you protected is now safe and at peace. Please, rest easy.
There was no more hunger. The granaries were full. Peace and prosperity reigned. No human, deity, or ghost could shatter the quiet happiness of ordinary people ever again.
So please… leave it to us. We will carry on in your place and protect it all.
In his office, Yang Binsheng looked up from his paperwork. As he saw the fireworks, his tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed. He took off his glasses and walked over to the window, watching the people below laugh and celebrate. He couldn’t help but smile.
The abbot of Haiyun Temple also looked up after finishing the rites. He turned to watch the fireworks for a long moment, his expression finally softening.
The exorcists all raised their heads at the same time, staring up at the sky ablaze with color. The brilliant lights reflected in their eyes like miniature suns burning within them—never fading.
“To the New Year, in memory of the old, for all beings under heaven.”
On the desk of Binhai City’s official office, the death list was closed, and a new proposal was opened.
“To protect all life.”
……..
Yan Shixun looked up at the fireworks, staring blankly, momentarily unable to return to himself.
What entered his eyes along with the fireworks was Ye Li, standing right in front of him.
In Yan Shixun’s gaze, it was as if Ye Li was surrounded by fireworks, every colorful light and shadow illuminating his cold, handsome features. Yet within those eyes, there was no heaven or earth—
There was only him.
Yan Shixun’s heartstrings trembled faintly, and all of a sudden, he burst into laughter.
“Shixun?”
Ye Li asked in confusion.
But before he could finish speaking, Yan Shixun had already reached out, grabbed his collar, and pulled him downward.
Ye Li willingly lowered his head, leaning closer to his lover.
“Ye Li, I forgot whether I’ve ever told you this… but it’s fine. Now, I want to say it again.”
On Yan Shixun’s slightly intoxicated face was a solemn expression.
“I’m really glad I met you, Ye Li.”
From that first glance at the marketplace when we were nine years old—
I never imagined I would become an exorcist, let alone that the heavens would entrust me with such a weighty responsibility.
But if there was one thing I knew back then… it was that you were the first life I ever saved. That you lived meant everything to me.
It wasn’t that I gave you hope, Ye Li.
It was you who planted the first seed in my heart. Because of that, I was able to pass through all these years of vengeful ghosts and death.
Yan Shixun looked up. He didn’t close his eyes. Instead, he looked earnestly and attentively at Ye Li as he slowly leaned in and pressed his lips against his own.
Lips met. Breath intertwined.
In Yan Shixun’s eyes, Ye Li’s gaze held the entire universe. He couldn’t look away.
It stole his soul.
“Crash!” With a crisp sound, the wine glass in Ye Li’s hand fell and shattered.
He lifted his arms to hold his lover, his embrace tightening slowly, as if he wanted to merge Yan Shixun into his own body, not leaving even the tiniest gap.
Ye Li had never been able to speak to anyone about what he had once felt.
He had walked the mortal world for a thousand years, yearning to protect this world he loved even until death. But what the human world gave back to him was nothing but relentless malice.
Sin, death, wails of despair…
The crimes engraved in those souls became nails stabbing into Ye Li’s eyes, and the hand he extended toward the human world was repeatedly ignored and injured.
Disappointment piled up, eventually burying all his hope.
Ye Li had grown to dislike the human world.
But only now did he realize—he had been wrong.
It wasn’t that he disliked the human world.
It was simply that, in the world he had seen back then… there was no Yan Shixun.
Anywhere that held Yan Shixun was his universe—it was Ye Li’s Dao.
Because Yan Shixun loved the human world so deeply, Ye Li, too, once again accepted it. He placed all living beings under his protection.
“Shixun, I love you. No matter what the human world becomes, regardless of whether heaven and earth exist—you are my Dao.”
The fireworks faded in a blink.
And spring nights were always fleeting.
…….
Yan Shixun’s lashes trembled. The light streaming in from the window disturbed his rest, keeping him from sleeping soundly.
He rarely lingered in bed. The habit of rising early had been instilled in him since his youth.
Back when Li Chengyun was still around, young Yan Shixun had to get up at five every morning to practice boxing and swordsmanship with him in the courtyard—whether it was cold winter or hot summer, in heavy rain or fierce winds.
There were times when little Yan Shixun had wanted to slack off, but Li Chengyun would cheerfully pull off his covers, teasing him about raising a little piglet.
Once Yan Shixun sheepishly got up, Li Chengyun would grow serious and tell him that all the training and preparation he endured now were for the sake of protecting life in the future.
“Xiao Xun, most ghosts are unreasonable. You can’t just kill or banish them blindly, but you also can’t naively trust their words and think they’re kind.”
“If you want them to speak the truth, there’s only one way.”
Li Chengyun would smile and raise the demon-repelling sword in his hand, instructing his only disciple: “You have to be strong enough to beat them into submission. Only then will they tell the truth.”
“Whether you don’t have power, or you have power but choose not to use it—those are two completely different things. Even evil ghosts will bully the weak, Xiao Xun.”
At that time, young Yan Shixun didn’t fully understand. He only vaguely grasped what was being said.
But under Li Chengyun’s strict and almost harsh tutelage, he quickly came to understand his master’s meaning.
While other disciples were still acting cute to avoid chores, Li Chengyun had already confidently thrown Yan Shixun into a lair of vengeful spirits, casually standing outside with his sword in hand, waiting patiently.
Waiting for Yan Shixun to ask for help—
Or walk out on his own.
Little Yan Shixun had once trusted the one-sided words of a vengeful ghost and nearly made a wrong judgment. He had also been deceived by a living person and almost harmed a ghost bound by karmic cause.
Through these repeated trials and tribulations, he grew rapidly, soon becoming an exorcist capable of taking on tasks independently.
Yan Shixun never forgot his master’s teachings.
From then until now, he never once slacked in refining himself.
The habit of rising at five in the morning to train had lasted many years, but today was clearly an exception.
Last night, he had barely slept. His lashes trembled, but instead of responding to the radiant morning light beckoning him to rise, he rolled over, turning his back to the sun, and prepared to continue sleeping.
A soft chuckle came from beside him, low and filled with affection.
Then, someone gently pulled the blanket higher, carefully tucking him in at the corners.
“Go ahead and sleep, it’s okay.”
Yan Shixun wanted to say something, but in the end, he couldn’t resist the heavy pull of sleep and drifted off again.
By the time he slowly opened his eyes again, it took him quite a while to realize that the noisy commotion outside was what had woken him up.
His groggy mind lagged by two beats before recognizing that the voices belonged to Jing Xiaobao and Zhang Wubing.
But there was a third voice as well—
It was Lu Xingxing.
Clearly, on the very first morning of the New Year, Lu Xingxing had already been kicked out of Haiyun Temple and sent to pay a visit to Yan Shixun.
After all, not only was Yan Shixun Lu Xingxing’s master uncle, but for Yan Shixun—who had yet to officially return to Haiyun Temple—Lu Xingxing was the only disciple-nephew he acknowledged.
Regardless of whether it was out of genuine care for Yan Shixun himself or deep respect and gratitude for how he had turned the tide during the crisis threatening Heaven and Earth, Haiyun Temple placed great importance on Yan Shixun.
When Haiyun Temple held their New Year rituals last night, quite a few Taoists had thought Yan Shixun would attend. When he didn’t show up in the end, there was a bit of disappointment.
But Taoist Wang snapped at them, “Why would he come? Why do you all insist on dragging Junior Brother Yan here? You bunch of old single men? My Junior Brother Yan actually has a family, got it?”
“It’s the New Year, and you expect him to leave his lover behind and hang around with you lonely bachelors?”
Taoist Wang gave the others a disdainful look, shook his head, clasped his hands behind his back, and walked off. “Hmph, a bunch of single guys, and you even have the nerve to do relationship readings for visitors.”
The other Taoists: “…………”
That was a serious insult!!!
However, after the events in Jiangbei, the core Taoists of Haiyun Temple had already learned the identity of Yan Shixun’s lover—it was none other than the mysterious and enigmatic Lord of Fengdu.
“To think the Fengdu everyone had searched for over centuries, yet could never find, turned out to be right beside Fellow Taoist Yan.”
One of the Taoists sighed with emotion. “It’s lively around Taoist Yan, isn’t it? Not only Fengdu, but even the newly appointed King of Hell is with him. Well, he does have a family now, so there’s really no reason for him to be spending time with us.”
He shook his head, and as he left, there was even a trace of melancholy in his figure.
His disciple stood there dumbfounded, then quickly chased after him. “Master! You forgot about me! If… if you don’t mind, you can treat me like your son too.”
“…Get lost! You ungrateful brat, here to settle debts, are you?”
The other Taoists couldn’t help but laugh, but Taoist Wang had reminded them of something important. They quickly dragged Lu Xingxing out of bed—he was still snoring away—shoved gifts into his arms, and kicked him out the door.
“Go pay a visit to your master uncle!”
Lu Xingxing: “???”
Lu Xingxing had been having a sweet dream—he dreamt he’d become the abbot of Haiyun Temple, summoning wind and rain, casting spells with the flick of a wrist. Just as he was relishing it, his blanket was ripped off, clothes shoved on in a flash, gifts stuffed in his arms, and he was thrown down the mountain.
He stood in the biting cold wind, utterly confused and shivering. He looked left and right until some temple visitors came up to offer incense and recognized him. Only then, surrounded by their enthusiasm, did he finally start to come to his senses.
And then he realized—he might’ve just been sold off by Haiyun Temple.
“Xingxing, are you going to see Brother Yan?”
A girl with bright eyes came over cheerfully and said in a very familiar tone, “I’m a fan of Brother Yan! A senior Yan Mai! Can you help me say thank you to Brother Yan?”
“I used to be pretty rebellious and never wanted to go home. But after watching your variety show, something Brother Yan said really touched me, and I suddenly felt homesick. So I secretly went home. And…”
The girl looked a bit guilty and gave a bitter smile. “When I got home, I saw my mom having a heart attack and collapsing on the ground. I was so scared I almost passed out. Luckily, we managed to get her help in time, and she survived… If it weren’t for Brother Yan making me want to go home that day, I might have lived with regret for the rest of my life.”
She had come with her mother. The two walked hand in hand, clearly very close.
Hearing her daughter say this, the mother sighed too, but smiled and patted her daughter’s hand to reassure her that she was okay.
“I heard that Mr. Yan is a remarkable master. He gave my daughter back to me. Little Taoist, if you see Mr. Yan, please help me thank him too.”
As she spoke, the mother bowed sincerely to Lu Xingxing.
Startled, Lu Xingxing quickly returned the bow and solemnly promised he would deliver their thanks.
As he spoke, he awkwardly freed his hand from the pile of gifts, pulled out a crumpled talisman from inside his clothes, and handed it to the girl.
“I drew this myself, a blessing talisman. It’s definitely not as good as Brother Yan’s, but if you don’t mind, please keep it. Happy New Year.”
The girl looked surprised and grateful. Lu Xingxing gave a small bow with a smile, wishing both mother and daughter happiness and joy.
Then, with pillow marks still faintly visible on his face, Lu Xingxing sleepily got into the car and woodenly offered New Year blessings to every fan and viewer who recognized him.
When the familiar alley from his memory finally appeared, Lu Xingxing was at last able to breathe a sigh of relief.
Seeing no one around, he quickly ran to the wall beside the courtyard, clutching his racing heart, unable to calm down for a long moment.
Everything that had happened since he woke up felt surreal to him.
In the past, no one had believed in him. People thought he was unreliable, never entrusted him with important tasks, and always treated him like a child.
Though Lu Xingxing never said anything and always acted carefree and cheerful, deep down, he cared. He had always had a stubborn streak—he wanted people to see him, to rely on him.
All he lacked was a reason to return to Haiyun Temple.
His youthful defiance had made it impossible for him to swallow his pride and go back empty-handed after failing to make any mark in music.
In Lu Xingxing’s imagination, he would at least win a few golden awards first, then smugly tell everyone he didn’t care about music anyway, that all his talent was nothing special. And then, shocking everyone, he would return to Haiyun Temple in glory, take up his master’s and seniors’ legacy, and become a guardian Taoist.
—Of course, this was only a dream he’d had. He never dared tell anyone. He’d just laugh foolishly to himself whenever he imagined it.
But now, Yan Shixun had given him that reason.
Though Lu Xingxing hadn’t yet realized it, it was his own unwavering sense of responsibility that had earned everyone’s recognition and changed how they saw him. His gratitude toward Yan Shixun was absolutely sincere.
Especially when that girl expressed her thanks to Yan Shixun, Lu Xingxing felt like a voice echoed deep in his soul.
He wanted to become someone like Yan Shixun too—someone everyone could trust and depend on.
Just as Lu Xingxing clenched his fists and tried to psych himself up, he suddenly heard a “creak!” as the door behind him opened.
Startled, he quickly straightened his expression and turned around seriously. “I wasn’t thinking about anything just now…”
He had only spoken halfway when he saw, standing behind the door, the majestic lead wolf.
The wolf shook its ears and looked at him with an indifferent expression, as if it saw through everything. After giving Lu Xingxing a glance, it turned and walked back into the courtyard.
Young ones these days… so hard to manage. Tsk.
When Yan Shixun woke up, Lu Xingxing was already in the courtyard, arguing defiantly with Jing Xiaobao.
Jing Xiaobao had gotten used to being forced to recite scriptures by Yan Shixun. Over time, it had become routine.
Meanwhile, Lu Xingxing was being pushed to study by Taoist Song Yi, who had been overly worried after Lu Xingxing’s last close call. His approach was practically overkill, causing Lu Xingxing’s progress to skyrocket.
These two, both suffering the same fate, started by complaining to each other, venting about how miserable they’d been lately, how they didn’t even have time to have fun.
At first, everything was harmonious.
Until Lu Xingxing said that Yan Shixun’s teaching style was way too extreme—far beyond what a normal person could handle—and that his own master was still the best.
That set Jing Xiaobao off.
He instantly got upset, put his hands on his hips, and started arguing with Lu Xingxing about whose master was better.
One insisted Taoist Song Yi was the best, the other declared that “Yan Yan is number one in the world!”
“Brother Yan is great and all, but he’s not my master—my master is the best!”
“Yan Yan is!”
“No, it’s mine!”
“Mine!”
With a dark expression, Yan Shixun stood up and yanked open the window to look outside. The two people who had been arguing turned their heads when they heard the noise and immediately shut their mouths, not daring to say another word.
“No matter who it actually is, there’s one thing I do know.”
Yan Shixun sneered coldly: “You two are even noisier than firecrackers—keep it up, and I’ll throw you both out.”
Beside him, Zhang Wubing instantly straightened his posture, wearing a look that practically begged for praise.
But Ye Li, who caught this scene out of the corner of his eye, thought: …this looked awfully familiar.
It seemed like back in Jiangbei and the Southwest, the King of Hell had done the exact same thing—reaping the benefits while others fought.
Ye Li: …Sure enough, it was still the same soul. Some things never changed.
But just as Ye Li smiled and took a step toward Yan Shixun, he froze in place the moment Yan Shixun glanced at him.
“Ye Li, have you been too idle lately? If you’ve got so much energy, why don’t you go patrol a few more rounds instead of sticking to me all day?”
After sobering up, Yan Shixun seemed especially cold.
—Especially after he felt a sharp sting and reached up to touch the back of his neck, only to discover a row of fresh red bite marks there.
He needed to burn off some of Ye Li’s energy.
Yan Shixun gritted his teeth and thought darkly.
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