In the flowing hot spring water, Chu Hanjin’s skin glistened with a layer of pearly sheen, like white jade under the sunlight.

Only then did he notice Yue Lin. Just as he was about to look for his clothes, he saw them hanging on a tree branch not far away, and a mix of embarrassment and frustration crossed his face.

However, he controlled his frustration well. With a wave of his hand, his clothes flew over, and he slipped into a thin layer of clothing. Then he looked directly at Yue Lin and asked, “What are you doing?”

Yue Lin replied, “I was just wandering around the forest and thought I’d wash the deer meat in the spring, and then I happened to run into you.”

“Hmph.”

“I’ve explained the whole situation, so don’t think I’m following you again.”

Whether he was being followed or not was unclear, but Chu Hanjin’s face definitely didn’t look good, filled with displeasure.

He only wore a thin layer of clothing as he walked to the edge of the water.

Yue Lin tossed him his clothes and casually remarked, “Next time, don’t just pick any random pool to bathe in. Seeing something unintentionally like this makes me bear more than you.”

After saying that, Yue Lin turned around quickly.

His mind was still filled with the image of those delicate collarbones and the wet skin, glistening as if covered in a thin layer of sweat in the heat.

Weird. Why would he have such thoughts about this ice-cold, pure Lord Immortal?

Just one look at his body, and Yue Lin was already imagining what their child’s name would be.

Yue Lin quickly disappeared into the forest.

After he left, Chu Hanjin slowly picked up his clothes, gazing down at the fabric for a moment before sighing softly.

It was a bit strange.

Normally, when Chu Hanjin was offended, he would only feel anger. He always valued propriety over personal feelings, and anyone who was disrespectful to him would have no room to speak. But when he saw Yue Lin behind him just now, his first reaction wasn’t anger at being offended but rather an inexplicable sense of shame for being seen while bathing.

His relationship with Yue Lin was already quite familiar, so it wasn’t a matter of propriety being breached; instead, the sense of embarrassment was much stronger.

Chu Hanjin’s heart was beating a bit fast.

Although Yue Lin’s words were perfectly normal, the look in his eyes when Chu Hanjin turned around was very interesting.

Like a wolf eyeing its prey, a fierce and greedy gaze, just like in the countless dreams Chu Hanjin had confirmed before.

…He actually dared to show such an impolite gaze right in front of him.

Normally, Chu Hanjin would have been furious, indifferent at best, and if things were serious, he might have lashed out with a whip. But strangely, when facing Yue Lin, his ears and neck turned red.

After pondering for a while, Chu Hanjin finally got dressed and returned to the tomb.

Yue Lin was busy setting up a rack of wood to roast meat.

When he saw Chu Hanjin, his eyebrows twitched slightly, probably reminded of what had just happened. He shifted his position by the fire, seemingly leaving a spot for Chu Hanjin to sit.

Chu Hanjin sat down, his clothes dry now, with his damp hair hanging slightly by his neck, still not fully dry.

Yue Lin stoked the fire even more.

“Was the water nice for bathing?” Yue Lin asked.

After being fiercely glared at by Chu Hanjin, he chuckled, “I’m just concerned for you, worried you might be cold, and also worried about the baby in your belly.”

Baby after baby… Chu Hanjin couldn’t help but retort, “It’s not yours anyway.”

His tone sounded like a wife angry, saying in a fit of pique that the child wasn’t his.

Yue Lin thought it was strange how his mind went in that direction.

“If the water’s good, maybe I’ll bathe there next time,” Yue Lin said. “Maybe we can bathe together.”

Chu Hanjin threw a log into the fire. “No chance. It’s never happening.”

“That absolute, huh?” Yue Lin changed the topic. “Aren’t you tired of just eating roasted meat and fruit every day?”

What difference did it make if he was tired of it?

“And this roasted meat is so bland, no flavor at all. If only we had salt and cumin. Imagine sprinkling a layer of seasoning on it while it’s roasting, getting that crispy, fragrant aroma. Just thinking about it makes me lose interest in this plain stuff.”

Chu Hanjin just listened to him talk. “Well, there’s nothing you can do. This is the middle of nowhere.”

“I wandered around today and found that some parts of the land are quite fertile. If we cultivate it, we might be able to grow vegetables and trees with good yields. If we transplant some low-toxicity fruit trees, we wouldn’t have to go so far every day to find food. It would be so convenient.”

Chu Hanjin looked at him in surprise. “It takes decades for a tree to grow, even rice only yields once a year. How long are you planning to stay here?”

“As long as I can stay, I will,” Yue Lin smiled, looking very friendly. “I’m not planning on leaving. I’ll plant the trees and vegetables, and even if you don’t get to eat them, I will.”

“……”

Chu Hanjin thought of Yue Lin’s reason for not wanting to leave but said nothing.

Suddenly, Yue Lin looked at him and asked, “Why don’t you stay and keep me company?”

Chu Hanjin: “?”

“Stay with me. I’ll roast meat for you every day, and if there’s anything good, I’ll share it with you. After all, being here alone is kind of boring.”

Chu Hanjin had distant paths to follow and senior brothers to meet. How could he casually stay in this place for the rest of his life?

Chu Hanjin replied, “I won’t stay.”

After saying that, he thought of the child in his belly.

If Yue Lin stayed in this wild mountain forever, and the child was born here, wouldn’t the child have to stay in the mountains too?

He imagined Yue Lin describing it: making a skirt out of leaves for the child to wear, carrying a fishing spear every day to catch fish and plant trees, without ever learning proper manners. Then, when they met outsiders, they’d jump out of the bushes baring their teeth and shouting, “This mountain is mine, this tree was planted by me…”

That was too much!

How could such a clean and beautiful child live such a life?

Chu Hanjin frowned, pushed away the roasted meat Yue Lin handed over, and coldly said, “You’re not allowed to stay in the mountains.”

Yue Lin: “Why not?”

“Why not?” Chu Hanjin glared at him coldly. “Because this place is unfit for people to live in.”

Yue Lin thought for a moment and then nodded in understanding. “You’re afraid I won’t help you find a way out? Don’t worry, if I find a way, I’ll definitely let you know.”

“……”

Let him think whatever he wanted.

Chu Hanjin sat half-heartedly on the steps and took the roasted meat Yue Lin handed him, slowly bringing it to his mouth.

He ate in a very refined and elegant manner. Even though the deer leg he was holding had a big bone sticking out, clearly not the easiest thing to eat, he still managed to eat it delicately and gracefully.

But his white, immortal-like robes, holding a deer leg in his hands, sitting in this dusty and dim tomb—it all seemed out of place, like placing a jade harp in a shabby room.

Yue Lin glanced around. “Doesn’t this tomb seem a bit too crude?”

Chu Hanjin swallowed a bite of deer meat. “Hmm?”

Yue Lin smiled and said, “It just feels like it doesn’t quite match your temperament.”

“So?”

“I was thinking, if there’s a chance, we could clean up the tomb a bit.”

“……”

What could possibly be done to clean up this broken tomb?

Don’t waste time—

Chu Hanjin thought for a moment but didn’t say anything, letting out a slight snort as he continued eating the deer meat.

But Yue Lin was already planning it out. He tapped his chin with his fingers and said, “The walls here are peeling badly, so we’ll need some mud to fix that. That wall over there has collapsed, so maybe we could plant some flowers and trees, then clean up the inside of the tomb. To repair the door, we’ll need to see what wood is available. This mountain has plenty of pine and sandalwood…”

His voice suddenly paused.

Pine and sandalwood.

The trees he had discovered earlier in the day were mostly pine and sandalwood.

These types of wood were dense, sturdy, and emitted a faint, calming fragrance, often used by royalty and nobles for building houses and for structural support.

Yue Lin stopped talking halfway, and even though Chu Hanjin had looked uninterested the entire time, he still turned his gaze toward him.

Yue Lin smiled. “Nothing, just that these trees are hard to cut down. Pine trees are full of resin, and they usually need to be soaked in water for years before they can be used. It’s quite troublesome to harvest.”

He didn’t want to mention that he had discovered signs of human habitation.

If someone else was living nearby, it meant there was a way out. Then his little Immortal Lord would soon leave, and that would be boring. Yue Lin thought to himself as he brushed the dust from his fingers, pretending it was nothing.

Chu Hanjin, meanwhile, was thinking about something else.

If Yue Lin insisted on living in this wild mountain for the rest of his life…

Then sorry, the child would have to be taken away.

Studying and learning at Yuanshan Sect, pursuing the path of immortality, would definitely be better than living as a savage in the mountains.

Yue Lin gnawed on the last piece of meat on the deer leg, tossed the bone aside, and said, full of thought, “Time to get to work.”

Chu Hanjin: “Hmm?”

“We don’t even have cups for drinking water, no pots for cooking soup. We eat roasted meat every day; I’m sick of it. I need to make some utensils.”

With that, he wandered around the forest again, finding a particularly hard stone, about the size of a tree trunk, that made a “thump thump” sound when struck, proving how solid it was.

He said, “I’ll carve it into a cup.”

“……”

Chu Hanjin watched him expressionlessly for a moment.

Yue Lin summoned spiritual energy into his palm, and with a buzzing sound, the solid stone began to crack and chip away. His technique was precise and forceful, and the stone quickly took on a new shape, becoming a cylinder, though still solid in the middle.

He changed his grip and used his fingers to dig, his fingers harder than refined iron. It seemed effortless, like digging through sand, as he hollowed out the stone.

He handed it to Chu Hanjin and said, “You take care of the rest.”

It looked like a cup, but the surface was rough, and the inside was uneven.

Chu Hanjin glanced at it, then infused it with spiritual energy, smoothing the inside of the stone. After some time, the stone finally resembled a proper cup.

But besides the cup, they still needed a pot. Yue Lin worked meticulously, splitting open a massive rock the size of half a mountain. He extracted what he called “the best part of the material” and shaped it into a round ball before hollowing it out.

It was usable, but when they used the cup to collect water, it ended up with a mouthful of sand. Yue Lin held the cup thoughtfully for a moment and said, “It needs to be glazed.”

“……”

Chu Hanjin watched in amazement as Yue Lin searched the soil, examining the composition, and after a while, he found several different-colored clays, which he mixed in various proportions and infused with spiritual energy until they formed a molten, lava-like liquid.

All afternoon, Yue Lin was busy firing pottery, while Chu Hanjin, in his white robes, quietly sat on a nearby dirt slope, watching him.

The sun gradually began to set.

Chu Hanjin gazed at the horizon, poked the fire to let it die down, and walked toward the river. Yue Lin squatted by the water, pulling out several items. When he turned and saw Chu Hanjin, he smiled and said, “The cups are done. You can use them to fetch water later.”

“……”

With his eyebrows slightly relaxed, Yue Lin seemed a little smug.

Chu Hanjin couldn’t help but think to himself, Yue Lin was quite talented. Just by observing him experiment with the proportions and temperatures for glazing and pottery, it was clear that he would be excellent at refining pills and forging swords.

But spending an entire afternoon just to make him a convenient drinking cup…

It made Chu Hanjin feel a little warmth in his heart.

Yue Lin walked over with a water cup in hand, casually placing it in Chu Hanjin’s hand. “I even added a design. I know you like things simple and elegant, so I made this one look nice just for you.”

He had drawn an orchid blooming amidst the grass, the brushstrokes lively and free, exuding a sense of elegance and grace.

“How’s it look?” Yue Lin asked, clearly fishing for compliments.

Chu Hanjin nodded. He noticed Yue Lin had two other cups in his hand: one larger, and one smaller. Yue Lin shook the larger one. “This one’s mine, to match yours.”

Then he shook the smaller one. “And this is for your child. Although the baby isn’t born yet, I thought I’d prepare it in advance, just in case he gets jealous later.”

Chu Hanjin: “……”

He pursed his lips and turned toward the tomb entrance, saying, “The meat is ready. Come back and eat dinner.”

The two of them returned to the tomb, where the roasted meat was being kept warm by a low fire. It wasn’t burnt, nor had it gotten cold.

Chu Hanjin had barely eaten a small piece when he heard rustling sounds outside. His first reaction was to think the Nightshade had come again, but it was still early for sunset. Just as he was about to stand up, Yue Lin stopped him.

“Don’t worry, it’s just going to rain.”

“Rain making such a racket?” It sounded like thunder rolling in, as if someone was about to undergo a tribulation.

“This place sits on ley lines and is surrounded by formations. Whenever it rains, lightning and thunder tend to gather here. A few years ago, lightning even split the tree above my grave.”

That powerful?

Chu Hanjin thought he must be referring to the stump he had been passing by frequently on his way in and out recently.

Since it was only rain, Chu Hanjin didn’t think much of it. But as soon as he finished eating, he realized his shoes were getting wet. The rain was so heavy that it was pouring down the steps into the tomb, forming a pool of water.

“……” Chu Hanjin couldn’t take it anymore. “How is there water leaking in?”

Yue Lin, however, didn’t seem to mind. “This isn’t even the worst.”

By “the worst,” Chu Hanjin finally witnessed it in the middle of the night when the tomb had flooded more than halfway. Grass and sand floated on the surface, and with no other place to go, the two of them had to sit on the slightly elevated coffin.

Chu Hanjin looked around the pitch-black tomb.

How desolate.

This place wasn’t fit for humans.

Yue Lin, on the other hand, seemed quite at ease, counting the dead rats scurrying in the corners. His aura of killing intent was so strong that any creature that saw him immediately turned and ran.

Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled outside the tomb. Chu Hanjin gently covered his abdomen, not sure if the baby had been disturbed, but he himself felt a bit stifled.

In the days at Yuanshan Sect, he had never been spoiled, but at least he was well-fed and clothed. Now, he found himself reduced to sitting in a tomb, listening to the rain in this desolate wilderness.

Yue Lin looked around and said, “It’s time to sleep. The rain isn’t too heavy tonight, so it shouldn’t flood over the coffin.”

…Who could sleep under these conditions?

The thunder rolled in waves, occasionally illuminating the cold tomb with flashes of light.

Yue Lin asked, “Want a bedtime story again tonight?”

Chu Hanjin replied, “No need.”

It was too gory, completely unsuitable for children.

Yue Lin paced around for a while, then picked up a leaf and wiped it clean. He said, “Then I’ll play you a tune.”

His movements were practiced, but his words caused a momentary explosion in Chu Hanjin’s mind. Not long ago, Yue Lin had told him that he had once learned to play tunes to help someone sleep.

Yue Lin had already begun playing, adding, “I’ve been lying around for decades, so I’ve forgotten a lot of things. Don’t blame me if it doesn’t sound good.”

With that, the melody flowed from his lips, a lively tune, like birds singing in the forest. It was a tune from Jiangnan, filled with blossoming trees.

Yue Lin was playing quietly when he noticed Chu Hanjin staring intently at him. He stopped and asked, “What is it?”

“……”

Chu Hanjin shook his head. “Nothing.”

So Yue Lin really had learned these tunes just to help him sleep. He wasn’t lying.

In this desolate tomb deep in the mountains, only the two of them were there to keep each other company.

After finishing the tune, Yue Lin said, “Go to sleep. This tomb isn’t livable anymore; tomorrow, we’ll need to find a better spot to build a house.”

The rain continued to fall, mixed with gusts of cold wind, making the air inside the tomb damp and chilly. When Chu Hanjin returned to the coffin, he let out a small sneeze.

Yue Lin made a sound of acknowledgment and sat down next to him, asking, “Caught a cold?”

Not really.

It was just a bit cold with the wind blowing.

Chu Hanjin thought about clearing all the rainwater from the tomb and starting a fire in an open space, but the rain would only keep falling, soaking the firewood, which would mean no sleep for the whole night.

Yue Lin pondered for a moment, then dug a small recess in the wall, piling some firewood inside and lighting it. “This should help keep things warmer.”

But just as he finished speaking, there was a loud crash as part of the tomb wall collapsed!

It collapsed!

Chu Hanjin: “……”

Yue Lin: “……”

They exchanged a look.

It seemed like fate didn’t want them to light a fire.

Yue Lin chuckled. “Looks like we’ll have to keep each other warm.”

Hearing these frivolous words, Chu Hanjin knew nothing good was coming. Sure enough, as soon as he lay down in the coffin, Yue Lin deftly reached out, pulling him into his arms. His hand gently supported the back of Chu Hanjin’s head as he said, “You can sleep now.”

A slightly heated breath brushed past his ear.

Chu Hanjin muttered, “Don’t you think this is a bit much?”

“It’s fine,” Yue Lin said with a straight face. “It’s all for the baby. Adults can get cold, but the baby can’t, right?”

There was a playful tone in his voice.

Excuses! Always excuses!

But Chu Hanjin didn’t know how to refute him at that moment. His back was pressed against Yue Lin’s arm, and he was gently pulled forward, his body now pressed tightly against Yue Lin’s warm waist and abdomen, sharing the warmth.

Yue Lin said, “I run hot, even in the coldest winter. If it really bothers you, just close your eyes and think of me as a walking heater. Don’t think too much.”

Chu Hanjin couldn’t help but laugh. “Even if you say that, I can’t exactly treat you like a heater.”

Yue Lin’s tone was nonchalant. “Then just accept your fate. You’re being hugged tightly by a living person.”

“……”

Such careless pretense.

Chu Hanjin replied, “But—”

“No more ‘buts.’ You people from the righteous path talk too much,” Yue Lin tightened his grip on the back of Chu Hanjin’s head, pressing his face into his chest, almost like holding a cat. “No more talking, just feel it quietly, and go to sleep.”

“……”

Chu Hanjin’s face was buried in Yue Lin’s chest, feeling a bit suffocated. He tried to wriggle free.

But Yue Lin pressed him back against his chest.

Yue Lin whispered, “Sleep.”

A wave of drowsiness hit him. He felt like he was falling into a long dream, hearing the sound of chaotic footsteps, as if he was walking through a desolate wilderness.

He had no awareness of himself, moving like a puppet over the mountains until he arrived at a tomb. There were two guardian beasts outside the tomb, and giant trees were planted on the grave. The tombstone bore clearly inscribed words, detailing the life of the person buried there.

But at that time, Chu Hanjin couldn’t see or read anything. He was about to move forward when a voice came from inside the tomb.

“Hey.”

Chu Hanjin stopped in his tracks.

His snow-white robe gleamed in the sunlight, and his side profile was cold and handsome, like a god walking on earth. He tilted his head slightly.

The voice came again, “Hey. Are you alive?”

Chu Hanjin scanned the steps inside the tomb and saw a head and a broken chest standing in the mud, with no face. It must have been the one speaking.

The voice said, “I haven’t seen a living person in a long time.”

There seemed to be a hint of amusement. “Can you help me?”

……

……

Can you help me?

Chu Hanjin woke up with a start.

His forehead was covered in cold sweat, and he heard the steady, strong heartbeat next to his ear. He looked up to see Yue Lin lying peacefully by his side.

That tomb… was this tomb.

And the person in that tomb…

Why was Yue Lin’s body perfectly intact when he woke up, but the corpse in that tomb was so terribly broken, so sad and terrifying?

Chu Hanjin’s heart pounded wildly.

He understood now.

The place where he had lost his memory was this place.

And that was when he had first met Yue Lin.

•

A new day began as Yue Lin woke up as usual.

The sun was shining brightly. He had chopped a lot of bamboo from the foot of the mountain and was hauling it up, trimming the branches before starting to build a canopy. Once it was taking shape, he said, “I’ll be working here for the day. You can sit by the side, drinking tea and sunbathing to pass the time.”

The tomb was too damp, and sitting in it all the time wasn’t good for one’s health.

After that, he picked up a piece of wood, his hands turning into sharp blades, and began carving it, seemingly making a bench.

“……”

Watching him, Chu Hanjin couldn’t help but feel that Yue Lin was planning for the future.

Chu Hanjin lowered his eyelashes, and for some reason, a thought crossed his mind: perhaps Yue Lin had suffered a serious injury in the past.

He’d rather spend the rest of his life in this desolate wilderness than return to the mortal world.

But… Chu Hanjin suddenly remembered something. Why had Yue Lin come out later?

After thinking for a moment, he recalled the reason.

—If one day he met someone who liked him, someone he liked, and he gained a sense of expectation for the world outside, he might come out.

Chu Hanjin recalled the time when Yue Lin had said he was searching for his beloved wife.

So, in the end, was Yue Lin willing to come out because of him?

It wasn’t just about finding someone he liked, but also someone who liked him. Otherwise, it would all be one-sided and meaningless. So what kind of promise had he made back then? To what extent had he expressed his love to give Yue Lin such determination to search for him after his departure?

Chu Hanjin couldn’t remember.

Beside him, Yue Lin stood up and said, “I’m still missing something. I’ll go wander around the mountain.”

Chu Hanjin also stood up. “I’ll go with you.”

Yue Lin had spent the whole morning weaving a basket, which he now carried in his hand. “Let’s go. It rained all night last night, so we should find some wild produce today.”

The two of them walked into the forest together. The rain had almost completely dried, leaving only the ground beneath the fallen leaves soft and damp. Chu Hanjin walked unevenly, a step at a time, while Yue Lin walked a few steps ahead of him.

Suddenly, Yue Lin said, “Come here, take a look at this.”

Chu Hanjin walked over and saw a few white, tender tips poking out of the rotting leaves, still covered in dew.

“Mushrooms?” Chu Hanjin asked.

Yue Lin used a small shovel to dig them out, shaking off the dirt before putting them in the basket. “Looks like we’ll have a feast tonight.”

“……”

They wandered through the forest, with Yue Lin moving fast, eagerly hurrying forward as if driven by excitement. Chu Hanjin walked a bit slower, stopping to call out, “Yue Lin.”

Yue Lin turned back. “Hmm?”

“There’s a mushroom here too,” Chu Hanjin said.

Yue Lin came back and handed him the small shovel, which was triangular and covered in dirt. “You dig it.”

“……”

Chu Hanjin had never dug mushrooms before. He had only ever gathered spiritual herbs, and the method for gathering those was entirely different from ordinary farming. Spiritual roots didn’t touch the soil, and neither did he. Usually, he used spiritual energy to guide them out. This was completely different from farming.

Basically, Chu Hanjin had never gotten his hands dirty. His fingers were pale and clean. He stood for a moment, then squatted down and inserted the shovel into the ground.

The plump, white mushroom.

As he dug it up, part of the stem broke off, releasing a fragrant, earthy aroma.

“……”

It was kind of fun.

So this is what mushroom picking is like?

Chu Hanjin’s expression grew complex as he held the mushroom, standing up. Yue Lin, who was a short distance away, was poking through the weeds, searching for something. After a while, he held up a plant. “Houttuynia.”

Chu Hanjin only had to smell it for a second before gagging. “Ugh.”

“……”

He had just gotten pregnant not long ago, and the morning sickness was hitting him hard. If he smelled anything even slightly off, he’d start feeling nauseous. He raised his hand, gently covering his mouth, his face turning red with discomfort.

Yue Lin tossed the wild herb away. “Sorry, sorry.”

Chu Hanjin’s expression remained tense.

They continued walking forward. The spring sunlight stretched long across the forest, and maybe because things were a bit dull, Yue Lin casually picked a leaf and said, “Let me play you a little tune.”

He played as he walked through the grassy fields, and when they reached a bamboo grove, Yue Lin stopped and called out again, “Look at the bamboo shoots.”

Chu Hanjin stopped and saw that around the bamboo roots, many purplish-red tips had sprouted. Once the outer shell was peeled away, the shoots inside were a pale greenish-white.

Yue Lin used the shovel to dig, but since it was too small, he switched to using spiritual energy, pulling the shoots out and tossing them into the basket.

Chu Hanjin glanced at the basket. “There’s too much; we won’t be able to finish it all.”

“Whatever we can’t eat now, we’ll save for later. This is the last batch of spring shoots, and if they grow any bigger, they’ll become bitter and inedible.”

Chu Hanjin looked at him. “You sure know your food.”

Yue Lin replied, “I was quite refined in my past life. Back then, as a youth, I wanted to be the best in martial arts and the best in literature. I wanted to learn everything, know everything.”

“……”

It felt like if they continued talking, the conversation would take a depressing turn.

But Yue Lin quickly moved on, brushing it off casually. “Nice weather today.”

As they emerged from the bamboo grove, they came across a small stream.

Yue Lin walked across a wooden bridge and suddenly exclaimed, “How is there a bridge here?”

Chu Hanjin stepped onto the wooden planks and looked up to see a vast expanse of deep green fields.

And within that deep green field grew an abundance of pink flowers, swaying like snowflakes in the wind, incredibly beautiful.

At first glance, Chu Hanjin’s gaze was immediately captivated.

The flowers were called Buddleja, and they bloomed from April to August. As soon as they blossomed, butterflies would emerge, and by summer, fireflies would come out as well. This plant was particularly attractive to both of these beautiful creatures.

A few early butterflies were already fluttering among the flowers, resting on the blooms with graceful elegance.

Yue Lin said, “It’s beautiful.”

Chu Hanjin quietly admired the scene.

“The river nearby is full of water hyacinths, a plant with such strong parasitic abilities, yet it hasn’t invaded this sea of flowers,” Yue Lin mused. “This flower field must have been cultivated by someone. It couldn’t have grown wild.”

Chu Hanjin agreed. “Right.”

“Who would plant such a large flower field in the middle of nowhere, and why?”

Chu Hanjin remained silent for a while.

Yue Lin chuckled inexplicably. “Usually, only someone trying to impress their beloved would go to such lengths, creating something so extravagant in such a desolate place.”

Chu Hanjin nodded in agreement, but his heart was not at peace.

During the Battle of Hate Jade, he had been eight or nine years old. On a summer night, he had waited in the courtyard for his mother to return from a meeting so they could go see the fireflies in the woods. But he waited and waited, only to be met with his father’s ironclad order: All the elderly, women, and children of Yuanshan Sect, along with those who hadn’t formed their cores, were to evacuate to Rongku Sect by nightfall.

As for the core-formed cultivators, they were to hold their ground and fight to the death against the demon sect.

He never saw the fireflies that night, nor did he ever see his father and mother again.

The wind blew again, carrying the delicate fragrance of the Buddleja.

Chu Hanjin glanced at Yue Lin and asked, “You don’t know who planted these?”

“No idea.”

Yue Lin squinted, seemingly intrigued. “What, do you know?”

Chu Hanjin snorted. “I don’t know either.”

“……”

So, what was the point of this exchange?

After standing by the flower field for a while, Yue Lin said, “Alright, let’s head back and cook some mushroom soup.”

As Chu Hanjin watched Yue Lin’s tall figure walking away, for some reason, images floated into his mind of someone walking through these fields, weeding, and planting crops.

And on the other side, Chu Hanjin would be sitting on the bridge, resting his chin on his hand as he watched. Occasionally, he would stand up, walk over, and wipe Yue Lin’s sweat or offer him some water.

He wasn’t sure if this memory was real, but it felt incredibly vivid.

They walked back the way they came and returned to the tomb. Yue Lin dumped out the day’s harvest.

The mushrooms weren’t just one type. In addition to the round ones, there were some with tall, slender stems and others that were deep red, like bamboo fungi found in the bamboo grove.

They also caught a wild rabbit.

After cleaning everything, they began preparing the meal.

Chu Hanjin felt a bit awkward just watching, so he helped by rinsing the mushrooms in clear water. The slippery texture of the mushrooms between his fingers was oddly satisfying.

If it were a child, they’d probably enjoy playing with this.

A child?

Would the one in his belly enjoy this?

They had been without salt for a while, and not eating salt for too long would leave the body feeling weak. But a few days ago, Yue Lin had discovered some white powder near a cliff, which was actually cliff salt.

Before long, the aroma of mushrooms began to fill the air.

Chu Hanjin wasn’t someone who easily got hungry, but ever since getting pregnant, he occasionally felt nauseous and didn’t want to eat anything. At other times, he’d feel so hungry he could eat anything.

The smell of mushroom soup made Chu Hanjin’s stomach churn with acid.

He was hungry again.

He was really hungry.

Chu Hanjin kept a calm expression as he added more wood to the fire under the pot.

Finally, when the soup had thickened and become fragrant, the mushrooms, known for their intense umami, were scooped into bowls. Yue Lin took a sip first. “Let me check if it’s poisonous.”

“……”

Chu Hanjin wasn’t too worried about the poison. His inner core could quickly purge any toxins from a mushroom.

But since he was pregnant, it was better to be safe than sorry.

After a short while, Yue Lin finished running his internal energy to check and said, “All good.” He then served Chu Hanjin a bowl.

These were the mushrooms Chu Hanjin had dug with his own hands!

When he drank the soup, it put him in a great mood.

However, as he secretly enjoyed his good mood, he also felt that spending time with Yue Lin in this desolate mountain forest had somehow made him a little lighter, a bit more frivolous.

But the mushroom soup really was delicious.

After finishing his second bowl, Chu Hanjin noticed Yue Lin watching him with a faint smile, seemingly observing how much he could eat. Instantly, his expression became more composed, maintaining his usual upright demeanor. “I’m done.”

Yue Lin laughed. “How about another bowl?”

Chu Hanjin replied, “No more.”

If he ate more, this guy would definitely tease him about being pregnant and how much he could eat.

But Yue Lin had already taken his bowl and ladled another spoonful into it. “There’s still so much left in the pot. Don’t waste it; eat a little more.”

Under his insistence and politeness, Chu Hanjin finally accepted the bowl, lowering his head and sipping the soup in small, delicate sips. His eyelashes almost brushed his cheeks, and even though he was sitting in the middle of the wilderness, drinking a bowl of freshly gathered mushroom soup, he still ate with an air of cleanliness and elegance.

And, it seemed, he cared a little about others’ opinions, only agreeing to eat more after Yue Lin insisted a few times.

No matter how you looked at it, it was just adorable.

However, after Chu Hanjin finished part of the bowl, he put it down again, gazing down at his abdomen with a helpless expression, using his sleeve to cover his face.

Sure enough, it was the pregnancy nausea kicking in again.

Yue Lin grew annoyed, muttering, “Which beast did this?”

But every time Yue Lin cursed the bastard who knocked up Chu Hanjin, Chu Hanjin would glare at him fiercely.

What was the meaning of that fierce glare?

Did he like that person and didn’t want him to be cursed?

Yue Lin shook his head, placing the sliced meat strips onto the plate in front of Chu Hanjin. “Take your time. I’ll see if I can smelt some iron this afternoon.”

Yue Lin had his tasks, and Chu Hanjin had his.

Yue Lin was dead set on transforming this tomb into a home, but Chu Hanjin’s goal was the opposite—he had to find a way to leave.

After finishing the last sip of mushroom soup, Chu Hanjin stood up and said, “I’m going out for a walk.”

Yue Lin: “What for?”

“To find a way out,” Chu Hanjin answered bluntly.

“Alright,” Yue Lin didn’t say much. “We’ll each do our thing.”

Just as Chu Hanjin was about to leave, a wave of nausea rose from his abdomen.

It was coming again.

It was coming again…

Resigned, he stopped in his tracks and stood still, using his sleeve to cover his face.

Sometimes it was just a feeling of nausea without actually vomiting anything.

So every time Chu Hanjin felt the nausea coming on, he would hold his breath and concentrate, trying to suppress the urge.

He stood still, not moving forward, and Yue Lin, noticing something, approached him to check his reaction.

Chu Hanjin’s delicate brows furrowed slightly, his body uncomfortable but trying hard to endure, a faint red blush spreading behind his ears.

Such a beautiful and dignified person, someone who should have been sitting on a high platform discussing the path to immortality, was now pregnant, suffering from nausea, and looking so vulnerable.

Chu Hanjin’s feelings were complicated.

He finally understood how hard pregnancy could be. For most people, when they were pregnant, their husbands would pamper and comfort them, treating them like precious treasures.

If there had been someone who truly understood him, someone to accompany him through this time, it wouldn’t have been so bad. But although there was such a person, he couldn’t recognize him. So, no matter how difficult it was, he kept silent, refusing to tell him.

Chu Hanjin couldn’t help but feel a bit pitiful.

But beside him, a tall figure lowered his head slightly, his golden eyes meeting Chu Hanjin’s gaze. “Feeling very unwell?”

Of course, he was very unwell.

Yue Lin frowned, thinking back. “What can help with pregnancy nausea? How do you alleviate it…”

Eating something sour might help.

But they didn’t have any of that here. Yue Lin made a mental note. “I’ll go out and find some fruit this afternoon.”

What else?

Yue Lin moved closer, his golden eyes locking onto Chu Hanjin’s. “Should I give you a massage?”

At this point, Chu Hanjin was exhausted from the nausea, his eyes welling up with tears of frustration. His reddened eyes, moist and full of grievance, glanced at Yue Lin.

Every time he felt nauseous, it reminded him of the debt this man owed.

And as Yue Lin caught a glimpse of Chu Hanjin’s reddened eyes, his entire back stiffened for a moment. Then, almost uncontrollably, he grabbed Chu Hanjin’s wrist.

“Can I hold you?” His voice was soft, almost asking for permission.

Chu Hanjin didn’t say yes or no.

“I’ll give you a little massage.” Yue Lin wrapped his arms around Chu Hanjin’s shoulders, pulling him into his embrace.

Severe nausea could indeed make someone feel exhausted, and Chu Hanjin’s legs were already weak. As soon as Yue Lin hugged him, he collapsed into his arms.

Yue Lin’s hand rubbed against his wrist, gradually moving down to his abdomen, gently massaging. “There, there, it’s okay now.”

Chu Hanjin, nestled in Yue Lin’s arms, exuded a faint, fresh fragrance. His hands, too weak to support themselves, rested on Yue Lin’s shoulders, and his whole body emitted a warm, delicate scent, like a flower just beginning to bloom.

It was said that pregnant people would emit a special scent.

And Chu Hanjin had that rich, mature fragrance, one that was incredibly enticing.

Chu Hanjin’s long, narrow eyes were now softened, flushed with an unbelievable red. His half-closed eyes, like a sleeping begonia, and his slightly pale lips made him look stunningly beautiful.

As Yue Lin held his waist, he realized that even through the silk fabric, his waist was still narrow. After feeling around for a while, there was still no sign of a baby bump.

So beautiful. If Yue Lin were the one with him, he’d probably want to get him pregnant too.

As he continued holding him, comforting him, Yue Lin had a sudden thought.

Pregnancy?

There was something familiar about the memory. It was as if, at some point in the past, a fervent soul had awakened, grasping his shoulders, and asked with deep, unwavering passion: Do you want to have my child?

…Do you want to carry my seed?

There were many vulgar ways to mark this flawless body, but there was also a more enduring one.

That was to have a child together.

The more Yue Lin thought about it, the more he realized that maybe his feelings were the same as that man’s back then.

How could they express their love to its fullest?

…For a while, the dizziness passed.

Chu Hanjin finally managed to catch his breath.

When he looked up, he found Yue Lin gazing down at him, deep in thought.

---

Yue Lin’s playful remarks about bathing and the baby, which may seem frivolous but I actually think that it is a display of the growing fondness towards Chu Hanjin~

Next chapter will be more long~ (6.8K)
Instead of cutting the chapter to multiple parts, I will keep the chapter as it is

If the chapter is too expensive, gomenasai (๑´>᎑<)~*