Chapter 40
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Zhuyou stayed on the mountain for so long, and Pei Yunshu’s lips were swollen for just as long.
Zhuyou personally set up the barrier halfway up the mountain, and the Grandmaster didn’t come searching for him. It was as if he hadn’t detected the demonic energy in that area. Pei Yunshu secretly admired Zhuyou’s cultivation level, but he couldn’t help but feel helpless about his closeness.
During these days, even talking caused him pain. Zhuyou seemed to like the way his lips swelled. If they returned to normal, he would kiss him until they swelled again while he slept. But even when they were swollen, Zhuyou didn’t hold back. Pei Yunshu felt that his lips were no longer his own.
He had avoided, he had been angry, but Zhuyou was still the same. Pei Yunshu had no choice but to accept it.
As the eve of the disciple recruitment ceremony approached, Pei Yunshu moved away when Zhuyou tried to kiss him again. With a serious expression, he said, “No more kissing.”
Zhuyou nodded and replied, “Alright.”
But Pei Yunshu was not fooled by this simple nod. He continued, “You’re participating in the disciple recruitment ceremony tomorrow, and I will be there as well, following the Grandmaster. So, today, you really can’t kiss me anymore.”
Zhuyou looked at his swollen lips, which were now attracting attention like ripe fruit that one could bite into and taste the juicy sweetness. He just stared at them, wanting to lean in and kiss and bite them, never getting enough. But Pei Yunshu’s expression was serious. After thinking for a while, Zhuyou nodded reluctantly.
Pei Yunshu finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Then he started worrying, “If you transform into a human, will those daoist masters recognize you?”
If Zhuyou entered the Shanshui Sect, he couldn’t do so with his current appearance. Since he only wanted to stay by Pei Yunshu’s side and was a formidable flood dragon, the Shanshui Sect couldn’t contain him. Pei Yunshu also didn’t want him to be constrained here, so he had to use a false identity to keep him by his side.
If he ever wanted to leave, he could do so freely.
Zhuyou casually replied, “Their cultivation levels are not high enough.”
His tone was arrogant, but Pei Yunshu felt that he was speaking the truth. So he smiled and asked, “So, out of all the Shanshui Sect, only the Grandmaster can detect the demonic energy on you?”
Zhuyou nodded and replied with a dissatisfied expression, “Yes.”
Pei Yunshu was amused by his annoyed expression. He took his hand and applied medicine to his swollen lips. “The Senior Brothers of Wuqi Peak are not inferior to the Azure Moon Sect. There should be something that can conceal your demonic energy. I’ll go find one.”
After applying the medicine, Pei Yunshu’s lips looked even more pitiful and cute, like a tempting fruit waiting to be tasted. Zhuyou was tempted to lean in, but he restrained himself, keeping his promise. However, the look in his eyes as he gazed at Pei Yunshu’s swollen lips was ominously ambiguous.
Pei Yunshu’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly applied the medicine before turning to leave.
Zhuyou transformed into a bracelet again and was worn on Pei Yunshu’s fair wrist. He insisted on accompanying him as they rode Qingyue Sword and flew towards Wuqi Peak.
In the study, Bai Lige, who was reading a book, watched the two leave. After some contemplation, he turned to Hua Yue beside him and asked, “Have they forgotten about the two of us?”
Hua Yue covered his eyes with his tail, hiding the watery eyes filled with grievances.
***
On Wuqi Peak, Pei Yunshu found a Senior Brother he knew. The Senior Brother took him to the storage room. “Junior Brother, you’ve come to the right person. There’s plenty of stuff here, and I guarantee you’ll find whatever you need.”
Pei Yunshu thanked him and was led to the storage room. The Senior Brother told him to pick whatever he wanted and only needed to inform him before leaving. He left Pei Yunshu alone in the room.
Inside, he saw an array of dazzling magical treasures. He averted his eyes from the golden light that pierced through them and lowered his robe sleeves. He turned to Zhuyou and asked, “Zhuyou, do you sense anything that can conceal your demonic energy?”
Zhuyou flew out from his wrist and instantly dove into a group of magical treasures.
While he searched, Pei Yunshu had nothing to do but look around one by one.
The storage room was filled with numerous cabinets, and in the center, there were tables and chairs. As he approached, he saw a pile of red powder on the table. This red powder looked like rouge, exceptionally beautiful in color. He couldn’t resist dipping his finger into it and gently sniffed it at his nose.
A fragrance wafted up, penetrating deep into his mind. It was rich and fragrant, sweet but not overwhelming, like an enticing hidden fragrance.
Pei Yunshu couldn’t help but take another sniff. Suddenly, he felt a light tap on his shoulder. He turned around and saw Zhuyou with an aloof expression.
Zhuyou lowered his gaze and looked at him, saying, “I found it.”
Pei Yunshu’s face suddenly turned red.
He stared at Zhuyou blankly, feeling his heart pounding rapidly. His exposed skin seemed to flush with a rosy hue. He looked into Zhuyou’s eyes, which held a blend of shyness and fiery passion, as if he were looking at his beloved. He couldn’t take his eyes off him.
As the heat rose and desire grew in his heart, Pei Yunshu realized he was staring at Zhuyou with such a handsome face. He couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed, and his heart raced as if he were sick.
Zhuyou sensed that something was amiss with Pei Yunshu’s reaction and furrowed his brows. “Wife?”
Pei Yunshu’s eyes fluttered, and he lowered his gaze to the ground, whispering softly, “Yes.”
His arm trembled, and the blush on his face deepened.
He had actually responded to that “Wife.”
Zhuyou’s eyes dimmed, and he leaned closer to Pei Yunshu. But before he could kiss him, Pei Yunshu closed his eyes and lifted his chin, parting his lips slightly, displaying an anxious yet expectant look, inviting Zhuyou to kiss him.
Zhuyou’s demonic patterns on his face appeared in an instant. His eyes showed a hint of crimson, and he suppressed the urge to swallow hard. The spiritual energy around him formed tiny whirlwinds due to his suppression, creating low whistling sounds. Zhuyou’s blood-red eyes couldn’t be contained any longer, and the magical item beside him trembled slightly under his intense presence.
He stared at Pei Yunshu as if he wanted to devour him whole.
The commotion in the storage room drew the Senior Brother’s attention. “Junior Brother?”
As the voice approached, Zhuyou concealed his crimson eyes, gently planted a kiss on Pei Yunshu’s trembling eyelids, and transformed back into a bracelet, flying onto Pei Yunshu’s wrist.
Pei Yunshu’s heart was now pounding even more fiercely. His earlobes had turned as red as blood jade. He covered the bracelet on his wrist, standing there in a state of confusion.
The magical treasures stopped trembling, and as the Senior Brother from Wuqi Peak entered the room, he saw Pei Yunshu standing there in a daze. Puzzled, he asked, “Junior Brother, what happened?”
Pei Yunshu quickly shook his head and noticed the red powder on the table. He pointed to it and asked, “Senior Brother, what is this?”
“Oh,” Senior Brother scratched his head. “I almost forgot to tell you. Junior Brother, this is the powder I’m making for some senior sisters. It will be used to craft a sachet for dao companions, allowing them to be as close as a pair of lovebirds. Junior Brother, you didn’t touch it, did you? It’s my fault for forgetting to tell you.”
Pei Yunshu’s sleeves trembled slightly, and he replied in a low voice, “I didn’t touch it.”
“That’s good,” the Senior Brother said casually. “But even if you did touch it, it wouldn’t matter. This stuff can only last for a dozen days or so, so it’s harmless.”
While he said this, Pei Yunshu should have felt relieved and happy. He did feel relieved, but more than that, he felt a sense of loss and unwillingness.
Pei Yunshu quickly suppressed these emotions and moved away from the red powder, which he found terrifying.
Since Zhuyou had already found what he needed, Pei Yunshu didn’t dare to linger any longer. After bidding farewell to the Senior Brother, he hurried back to Three Days Peak.
In the study, the two foxes were figuring out how to hunt some wild chickens when Pei Yunshu burst into the room in a state of panic.
Bai Lige’s expression turned serious. He was about to ask what had happened when Zhuyou flew out from Pei Yunshu’s sleeve and instantly transformed into human form.
Pei Yunshu had no resistance left in him. The overwhelming joy had clouded his judgment. He whispered softly, “Did you find something to conceal the demonic energy?”
His voice was trembling, and even speaking was a challenge.
“Yes,” Zhuyou stared at him intently, his gaze unwavering for a moment. “I found it.”
Pei Yunshu felt his gaze and the heat on his face intensified. He said, “Change your appearance to see.”
“Don’t keep looking at me.”
Zhuyou responded with a low hum, but he continued to watch Pei Yunshu. His gaze slid from Pei Yunshu’s face slowly. With a swift transformation, he changed into a different appearance.
His features were still exceptionally handsome, but now in a human form. He had cold and distant eyebrows, a high nose bridge, and his eyes, when he looked at Pei Yunshu, were still as fiery as ever.
Pei Yunshu glanced at him twice before restraining himself and averting his gaze. He then turned and walked toward the bedroom. “This appearance is perfect. You don’t need to worry anymore. I’m a bit tired, so I’ll take a nap. Tomorrow, don’t forget to go to Shanshui Sect for the new disciples’ qualifications assessment. Join them as they come up the mountain.”
His figure seemed to convey a sense of fleeing in haste.
Zhuyou didn’t stop him, merely watching his retreating back, and after a moment, he couldn’t help but curl his lips.
***
Early the next morning, Pei Yunshu waited in front of Ling Qing Daoist Spiritual Master.
The peach blossoms were in full bloom, but his mind was elsewhere.
“Junior Brother,” Eldest Senior Brother next to him asked, “Is there something bothering you?”
Pei Yunshu snapped back to reality, shaking his head. “Nothing.”
When he woke up this morning, the swelling on his lips had subsided. He no longer worried about anyone noticing anything unusual. However, after leaving Zhuyou in the morning, he began to worry. He was afraid that Zhuyou, being unfamiliar with the mortal world, might cause some trouble.
This constant feeling of concern for someone else was truly terrifying. Pei Yunshu had to put in great effort to suppress these thoughts.
But because all his attention was focused on these worries, his expression appeared distant and indifferent.
As cold as frost in February, as deep as midnight snow, it pierced straight through to the heart.
Eldest Senior Brother fell silent, watching Pei Yunshu. However, Junior Brother Yunshu seemed to be in his own world, paying no attention to outsiders.
After sealing Junior Brother Yunshu’s memories and the recent conversation with him, Yunjing had only exchanged a few sentences with him.
Even though they were fellow disciples, they seemed more distant than strangers.
Yunjing sighed, then suddenly grabbed Pei Yunshu’s hand and pulled him behind him. “Junior Brother, there’s a snake on the peach blossom tree. Don’t get too close.”
Pei Yunshu heard him and followed his gaze towards the peach blossom tree.
Sure enough, there was a slender snake coiled around the branches. The snake was staring straight ahead, and at a glance, it looked like a winding branch, making it difficult to spot.
Pei Yunshu’s face darkened, and his thoughts about Zhuyou were momentarily suppressed. However, he didn’t appear frightened. Instead, he withdrew his hand, maintaining a calm expression. “Thank you, Senior Brother.”
Eldest Senior Brother was taken aback for a moment, then turned to look at Pei Yunshu.
Junior Brother Yunshu, on the other hand, seemed unfazed by the presence of the snake.
Eldest Senior Brother withdrew his gaze and smiled, saying nothing more.
As they followed their Master out of Wuzhi Peak, Second Senior Brother walked up to Eldest Senior Brother and said with a meaningful tone, “Senior Brother, that snake’s appearance was quite convenient.”
Eldest Senior Brother nodded. “Indeed.”
Yuncheng raised an eyebrow and looked back at the peach blossom tree. There was no sign of a snake; there was only a winding branch that resembled one.
***
When they arrived at the main hall with their Master, it was already crowded with people.
The disciples sent up by the wandering cultivators were standing in the front, while those recruited from the foot of the mountain stood in the back.
Pei Yunshu followed Ling Qing Daoist Spiritual Master, and after their Master took his seat, he stood behind him and began scanning the crowd.
This morning was the final time for accepting new disciples. Even if one was selected, they would be placed at the back. But Pei Yunshu had confidence in Zhuyou’s strength. He believed that Zhuyou would not be placed at the back.
Sure enough, among the disciples standing in the front row after the ones sent by the wandering cultivators, there was a figure that resembled Zhuyou.
Zhuyou noticed Pei Yunshu’s gaze, and he looked over from a distance. When he saw Pei Yunshu, a smile formed on his lips.
Pei Yunshu suddenly lowered his head, his face flushed with embarrassment.
Third Senior Brother, who stood to the side, noticed him suddenly lower his head and playfully bent down as well, teasing Pei Yunshu about his expression. “Junior Brother, are you feeling shy in front of our new junior brothers?”
But as soon as he bent down, he caught sight of Pei Yunshu’s expression and couldn’t help but freeze.
Pei Yunshu took a few deep breaths, forcibly suppressing the fluttering in his heart. He raised his face, maintaining a calm demeanor, but the flush on his face remained, revealing the radiant blush of excitement.
He didn’t notice the stunned Third Senior Brother. Instead, he took a step forward, whispering to their Master, “Master, will you accept new disciples today?”
He was standing quite close to Ling Qing Daoist Spiritual Master, and it was the same familiar demeanor he had from before. Ling Qing Daoist Spiritual Master hadn’t spoken to him like this in a long time, and his expression softened slightly. He replied, “We’ll see.”
On the day he brought Yunwang from the mortal world to Shanshui Sect, Ling Qing Daoist Spiritual Master had said that Yunwang would be his last disciple.
However, Yunwang had become Venerable Wuwang, and Pei Yunshu didn’t remember that. Ling Qing Daoist Spiritual Master knew in his heart that this time he wouldn’t be accepting any new disciples, but he couldn’t tell his Fourth Disciple openly.
When Pei Yunshu heard this, he felt a sense of anticipation rising within him. He took a step back, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips, revealing a look of excitement.
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