“What are you looking at?”

This look was very unsettling, as if the person staring wanted to devour him whole.

Chu Hanjin shot a glance at him, “Didn’t you say that person was a beast?”

Yue Lin nodded, “Yes, I did say that.”

Then he smiled, adding, “But what’s wrong with being a beast?”

“…”

Men’s mouths are full of lies.

Chu Hanjin’s mind inexplicably recalled this line from some storybook. But by now, he was used to Yue Lin’s shameless and flirtatious behavior, and could mostly just turn a blind eye. Feeling that the odd sensation in his stomach had lessened, Chu Hanjin continued down the mountain path.

Yue Lin asked, “You’re still trying to find the way?”

Of course. Chu Hanjin nodded slightly.

Yue Lin looked at the equipment he hadn’t finished fiddling with yet and sighed, “Alright then, I’ll go with you.”

But while they had been heading down the mountain earlier, now they were heading up. The sun had fully emerged from behind the clouds, casting a bright light over the muddy road. Yue Lin somehow procured a large pu leaf and handed it to him. “Here, to block the sun for you. Don’t want you getting a tan.”

Water dripped from the underside of the leaf, splashing onto Chu Hanjin’s hair.

“…” Chu Hanjin glared at him angrily.

Yue Lin chuckled and strode confidently down the muddy path, clearly in a good mood.

Chu Hanjin planned to reach the top of the opposite mountain to see what was hidden there and whether there was another way. The journey was long, but fortunately, the scenery along the way was quite charming and wild.

When they reached a swamp that was bubbling with black froth, Chu Hanjin was at a loss.

Yue Lin, however, casually took off his shoes, rolled up his pants to his knees, and stepped in, turning back to call, “Come on, come on.”

“…” Chu Hanjin stared at the foul-smelling water and mud.

It was too filthy.

Rotting leaves and animal carcasses had accumulated in the swamp, creating a stench. The black water looked greasy, and imagining the slippery sensation underfoot made Chu Hanjin frown. He stopped at the edge of the grass, refusing to continue.

Yue Lin waited for him, “What’s wrong?”

“Dirty,” Chu Hanjin said concisely.

Yue Lin looked at him as if he were gazing at a moon that had fallen to earth. “So what’s your plan?”

Chu Hanjin replied casually, “Find another way.”

With that, he turned leisurely to head in another direction.

But his leisurely attitude didn’t last long. Yue Lin watched him silently, counting to himself, “One, two, three—”

“Ah!”

A low cry of frustration and embarrassment came from nearby. The corners of Yue Lin’s lips lifted slightly as he walked over to see Chu Hanjin, one shoe stuck in the mud, holding onto a tree branch to keep from falling. But the tree shook, sending leaves cascading onto him, and his snow-white robe was smeared with mud.

Yue Lin clicked his tongue in mock sympathy, “You see? You’re too stubborn. This whole area is a swamp. I took this path because at least you can see where the mud is. The other direction may look grassy, but it’s all thick mud underneath. Now you’ve learned the hard way.”

Chu Hanjin was furious and glared at him, “Why didn’t you say so earlier?!”

It was rare to hear even his voice change slightly in irritation.

Yue Lin smiled, “I didn’t have the chance. Sorry.” He extended his hand, “Let me pull you up.”

Grabbing Chu Hanjin’s jade-like hand, he pulled him up. Chu Hanjin managed to get free, but his shoes were caked in mud, his clothes were damp, and even his chin had a few spots of dirt.

“Your face is dirty,” Yue Lin commented.

Chu Hanjin was brushing the leaves off his clothes when he heard that. As he lifted his head, his chin was gently cupped by Yue Lin’s well-defined fingers.

“…”

The faint warmth lingered on his skin, gently rubbing.

Chu Hanjin tried to turn his head away, but Yue Lin held his chin firmly, wiping off the dirt near his lips with a quick motion.

“…”

Chu Hanjin turned his head and pulled away from his grip.

After breaking free, he glared at Yue Lin with thinly veiled anger, his face slightly flushed with embarrassment.

Yue Lin lowered his gaze, chuckled, and then stepped back into the mud.

The sensation on Chu Hanjin’s chin lingered, and combined with Yue Lin’s inexplicable smile, Chu Hanjin’s gaze grew complicated. After a moment of hesitation, he followed behind.

The road from there to the mountaintop was long, and as they walked through the forest, it became more and more apparent just how quiet the surroundings were. It felt like a land in deep slumber, devoid of any human presence. The occasional bird calls and wild animal roars only heightened the eerie silence.

If someone lived in a place like this for a long time, how lonely would they feel?

Chu Hanjin looked at Yue Lin’s back and asked, “If I manage to leave, are you really planning to stay here forever?”

Yue Lin replied, “No.”

“Hm?”

A faint smile played on his lips, “Maybe I’ll die tomorrow.”

“…”

Can you even say something like that?

Chu Hanjin quietly pondered for a while before saying, “You’re really quite a pessimist.”

“Pessimist, so be it. Living or dying doesn’t make much difference to me. I’ve lived long enough, grown tired of it. Every day I stay alive is just another day; I don’t bother thinking about much else.”

Hearing that, Chu Hanjin raised an eyebrow.

“Only those with a strong will to live can survive. If you really wanted to die, why did you stay conscious for eighteen years inside the tomb without finding a way to end it?”

Yue Lin glanced at him in surprise, smiled, and nodded.

“Good question,” he said, but then changed the subject, “But I’m not telling you right now.”

Chu Hanjin huffed in response.

From what he could recall, when Yue Lin had come back to life, he had been nothing more than a broken body. Now, he was completely restored. Something was definitely strange about him.

This man was a complete mystery.

But compared to figuring out Yue Lin’s past, finding a way out was much more important.

“There,” Yue Lin pointed, “there’s a path to the mountaintop.”

Chu Hanjin followed his gesture and saw a steep path squeezed between two cliff walls, worn smooth by a stream of water.

…Is that supposed to be a path?

At best, it was lucky not to be overgrown with grass and trees.

Chu Hanjin tried to leap up. The gravity here was heavier than in other places, consuming spiritual energy faster. When he finally reached the mountaintop, the distant view was still an endless sea of mountains and forests, vast enough to take one’s breath away.

He felt a bit disappointed.

Yue Lin came up behind him, “How is it?”

Chu Hanjin replied, “No path here.”

“Then let’s check somewhere else.”

As they walked, Yue Lin suddenly turned to glance at Chu Hanjin, “Have you ever learned to use a teleportation talisman?”

Teleportation talismans are used to transport people from one place to another, a high-level spell that consumes a great deal of spiritual energy, with the consumption increasing the further the distance.

Chu Hanjin responded, looking at him, “I can use them. Why?”

“Want to try teleporting out?”

It was a good idea but had a fatal flaw. Chu Hanjin said, “The problem is, we don’t know where this place is.”

Without knowing their current location and the corresponding directions, aligned with the constellations, even if they knew their destination, they wouldn’t be able to successfully teleport.

Yue Lin’s eyes glimmered with thought, “Then how did you end up here?”

“…”

That question stumped Chu Hanjin.

At that time, he had felt something hit him, and during that period, he briefly lost consciousness. No one knew what had happened during that gap.

Seeing Chu Hanjin troubled by his inability to leave, Yue Lin’s golden eyes squinted slightly, a trace of amusement flickering in them. “Looks like you’ll be stuck with me for a while longer. It’s just as well; the mountains are boring, and we could use some company.”

“…”

Chu Hanjin sighed inwardly. He realized that in addition to finding a way out, he might also need to deal with this troublesome fool, Yue Lin.

Having made the journey in vain, Chu Hanjin started down the mountain again, his face serious as he declared, “I need a bath.”

His obsession with cleanliness made him eager to change out of his soiled clothes and shoes and take a thorough wash.

It was midday, and the sun was blazing hot, warming the surface of the water. Chu Hanjin returned to the pool where he had bathed before, with Yue Lin following behind. Unable to hold back, Chu Hanjin shot a glance at him. “What are you doing?”

Yue Lin replied, “I’m dirty too.”

The moment he hinted at wanting to bathe together, Chu Hanjin frowned, visibly displeased. After a moment of standing still, he suggested, “Why don’t you go first?”

Though he said it, both of them knew it was just a polite gesture. Cultivators of the righteous path valued etiquette, and politeness meant putting others first. If Yue Lin took it seriously, this young cultivator would likely feel a bit wronged.

Yue Lin chuckled, “Never mind, never mind, you go ahead. I’ll just wash off some mud, no need to compete.” With that, he dipped his legs into the spring water, splashed them clean, and turned around. “I’ll be off now.”

His swift departure made Chu Hanjin suspicious.

He stared intently at Yue Lin, waiting until he disappeared down the mountain path before relaxing slightly. Only then did he begin to undo his robe.

His long, slender fingers, as white as jade, deftly untied the robe, revealing his cold, pale skin in the sunlight. When the robe slid from his shoulders, it revealed his delicate complexion, smooth like polished marble.

Chu Hanjin sat by the rock wall, letting the water dampen his black hair, his eyes half-closed in relaxation.

Then, he heard footsteps again, and Yue Lin’s voice rang out, “Little Bodhisattva, have you finished bathing? What? You’ve already undressed?”

He sounded surprised.

“…” Chu Hanjin’s gaze turned icy as he looked at him.

Yue Lin held a string of fruit, explaining, “I saw some fruit on the way and thought you’ve been craving sour things lately, so I brought it for you. I even sped up so I could deliver it before you started bathing, but I didn’t expect you’d already be undressed.”

Standing two or three steps away, Yue Lin smiled while explaining.

The more he spoke, the more deliberate it seemed.

Chu Hanjin took a deep breath. He heard Yue Lin continue, “I’ll put the fruit in the water. You can take it yourself. I’ll be off.”

He seemed obedient enough.

With a plop, the fruit landed in the water, slowly drifting towards Chu Hanjin. The fruit was brightly colored and fresh, with a sweet and sour scent.

Chu Hanjin pinched one between his jade-like fingers, about to pop it into his mouth when Yue Lin’s voice rang out again, “Little Bodhisattva, I picked a few flowers…”

Chu Hanjin, seething with rage, flicked the fruit back in the direction of the voice.

“Hey!” Yue Lin caught it, popped it into his mouth, sucked the flesh, and spat out the seed. He waved the flower branch in his hand, “I saw some beautiful flowers with a fragrant scent and thought they’d make the spring water smell nicer for your bath.”

Chu Hanjin yelled angrily, “Why are you here again?”

“Why so worked up?” Yue Lin’s voice carried a hint of laughter. “I figured since I already saw you earlier, it doesn’t matter now, so I came back.”

“…”

You really know how to justify things for yourself.

Fuming, Chu Hanjin glared at him. His dark brows, and the lips tinged with red visible through the faint mist, looked stunning.

Still upset, Chu Hanjin suddenly felt something fall on his shoulder.

“Plop—”

“Plop, plop, plop—”

One, two, three…

Yue Lin sat lazily on a slope nearby, tossing flower petals at him. “One petal, two petals, three petals…”

In no time, the pool was covered in pink petals.

“…”

Chu Hanjin was too angry to speak. He looked up to see Yue Lin lying on his side in a carefree, relaxed posture, tossing petals into the water, his voice carrying a teasing note, “Little Bodhisattva is truly beautiful.”

There was probably no one else in the world who enjoyed teasing him as much as this guy.

If he paid Yue Lin any attention, it would only encourage him. Chu Hanjin decided to ignore him and focused instead on seriously scrubbing the dirt off his body.

Being someone who loved cleanliness, Chu Hanjin wasn’t actually that dirty. Still, he always felt refreshed and more at ease after a bath. So, while soaking in the spring, he also washed the grime off his clothes.

After hanging his wet clothes to dry, he relaxed, letting the sunlight warm the fabric bit by bit.

Yue Lin, lying on the slope, held a blade of grass between his lips, squinting slightly as the sunlight shone on the distant mountains and forests, casting a faint glow over everything.

What a peaceful life.

Compared to the blood-soaked days he had lived through, this leisurely lifestyle suited Yue Lin just fine. The only downside was that the beautiful young cultivator didn’t want to stay and kept thinking of leaving.

Even though Chu Hanjin hadn’t left yet, Yue Lin was already starting to feel lonely.

It seemed like Chu Hanjin had soaked long enough. He stood up, casually summoned his now-dry clothes, put them on, and stepped out of the pool.

Yue Lin asked, “What’s for dinner tonight?”

His tone was so familiar, like a couple who had been married for years.

The food choices were limited, and Chu Hanjin glanced at him, “Whatever, we’ll eat whatever we have.”

That response was also a classic couple exchange.

The two of them walked home together, picking wild vegetables along the way. They also managed to catch a wild chicken as it flew out of its nest, collecting a few eggs as well.

They steamed a bowl of egg custard, with a dipping sauce made from wild green onions fried in hot oil, emitting a tender and fragrant aroma. The dish was meant to nourish Chu Hanjin’s body. Meanwhile, Yue Lin sat nearby plucking the chicken feathers, and after cleaning it, skewered it to roast.

Wild chicken was nutritious and the meat was firm. They left half of it to simmer with the mushrooms left over from the morning. Since it needed to cook for a long time, Yue Lin used real fire, almost blowing up the pot.

In the end, they made a delicious pot of soup. The broth was rich, although the chicken was a bit bland, it paired well with the dipping sauce from the egg custard. And so, they had dinner.

After eating, Chu Hanjin planned to take a stroll in the forest, but he noticed that thunder was rumbling in the distance.

This time, Chu Hanjin wasn’t as surprised. He returned to the tomb, and sure enough, outside, the thunder was accompanied by lightning, echoing throughout the mountains and forests.

He stood beside Yue Lin, chatting casually about how big the storm might be.

Then, Yue Lin suddenly remembered, “I left some things in my shed.”

He had recently made tools like hammers and axes for building a shelter.

Now, with the rain pouring down, they could easily be washed away to the foot of the mountain. The things he had just made could be lost.

Yue Lin quickly placed a protective spiritual barrier over his bamboo shelter, glowing faintly blue, to shield it from the storm. But in an instant, a tree-like bolt of lightning struck from the sky with a “boom,” shattering Yue Lin’s barrier.

It was as if the lightning was targeting anything with spiritual energy.

Yue Lin frowned slightly and stepped out into the rain.

“What are you doing?” Chu Hanjin asked just as Yue Lin began to gather spiritual energy in his palm, holding it up to the rain, seemingly waiting for something.

Within moments, a bright white bolt of lightning descended from the sky.

It struck his arm with force—

Not just one bolt.

Two, three bolts gathered, striking him furiously.

Chu Hanjin was stunned, “What are you doing? Stop gathering spiritual energy!”

He rushed out of the tomb, grabbing Yue Lin’s wrist to pull him back. The heat radiating from Yue Lin’s skin was almost unbearable, scorching his palm, but as soon as Chu Hanjin touched him, Yue Lin ceased channeling spiritual energy.

The lightning continued to rumble above, but it no longer struck him.

Chu Hanjin couldn’t help but say, “Even if there’s something strange about the lightning, you can’t just risk your life.”

Yue Lin lowered his lashes, quietly raising his right hand. His right arm had been charred black by the lightning, the flesh beneath the wound raw, but he showed no sign of pain. Instead, he smiled at Chu Hanjin, “I’m fine.”

“This is what you call fine?!”

Chu Hanjin was genuinely angry now.

Yue Lin wasn’t reckless—he was downright ruthless. Even to himself, he was frighteningly cruel.

Yue Lin muttered, “There’s definitely something wrong with this place…”

With that, he returned to the tomb to bandage his wounds.

But as he moved around, searching for something, he realized that the tomb was utterly barren. There was nothing in it besides a coffin, a few gravestones, and some crumbling walls.

“Tsk.” He frowned in frustration.

In the corner, Chu Hanjin watched him coldly for a while before saying, “Come here.”

His tone was laced with displeasure.

Few people had ever dared to speak to Yue Lin like that in his entire life. But when he looked at Chu Hanjin, clearly angry, with his dark brows slightly furrowed, Yue Lin chuckled and approached, “Does the Little Bodhisattva have some advice for me?”

Chu Hanjin simply lowered his gaze and tore off a strip of white cloth from his robe, coldly saying, “Give me your hand.”

Yue Lin extended his injured hand.

Though Chu Hanjin’s face was stern, his actions were careful, gently wrapping Yue Lin’s wound with meticulous care. When the cloth wasn’t enough, he tore another strip from his robe.

Chu Hanjin, who always took great care with his appearance, had now torn his robe to bandage Yue Lin’s wound. This made Yue Lin’s feelings a bit complicated.

Chu Hanjin’s face remained icy as he said, “Tomorrow at dawn, I’ll go out and find some herbs to treat your wound. In the meantime, don’t move recklessly, and don’t let it get wet.”

Yue Lin chuckled, “Alright, Little Bodhisattva.”

Surprisingly, the usually unresponsive Chu Hanjin raised his eyes to glare at him, “Don’t call me Little Bodhisattva.”

With that, he flicked his sleeves and sat back down inside the coffin, ignoring Yue Lin.

It seemed like he was really angry.

Normally, if someone else had done something so reckless, Chu Hanjin might disapprove, but he wouldn’t show much emotion. After all, it wasn’t his problem.

But seeing Yue Lin like this made him a bit more upset than usual.

Chu Hanjin sat on the coffin lid, resting his head on his hand, listening to the storm outside, as if trying to calm his mind.

Yue Lin looked down at the cloth wrapped around his hand. The fabric was soft, and the embroidery delicate—this was probably one of Chu Hanjin’s favorite robes.

Now that he was angry, there wasn’t much to say or scold. He simply sat there, meditating in silence.

But it was clear that his mind wasn’t completely at peace. His brow furrowed slightly, perhaps without him even realizing it.

Yue Lin sat down next to him, “How much did that robe cost? I’ll replace it for you.”

Chu Hanjin let out a soft huff, “I don’t need you to replace it.”

So, he wasn’t just any ordinary young cultivator; he was from a noble background.

Yue Lin leaned back against the coffin lid, stretching out his long legs lazily, “You don’t need to worry about me. My body has an excellent ability to recover.”

A human body only had so many bones and so much flesh. But when Yue Lin said his recovery ability was strong, Chu Hanjin didn’t even need to think twice before saying:

“Dark arts.”

“…”

Well, he wasn’t wrong.

Yue Lin’s smile deepened. Righteous cultivators could be quite endearing.

He rested his bandaged arm on the wooden plank and glanced lazily at Chu Hanjin. The dim light of the tomb flickered, casting a shadow on half of Chu Hanjin’s face.

His nose was sharp, his profile finely sculpted, and his lips were thinly pressed together.

His appearance was rare and exceptional. Even if he let loose and acted shamelessly, it would seem out of place against his refined and noble bearing. But everyone who saw this icy exterior couldn’t help but imagine him acting out of character.

Yue Lin often wondered why, though he had never experienced romantic love in his previous life, he found himself feeling parched and his lips dry whenever he looked at Chu Hanjin.

The softness he sought seemed only attainable through Chu Hanjin.

As the candle flickered, Yue Lin was starting to lose himself in his thoughts when Chu Hanjin tapped the coffin and said, “Time for sleep.”

“…”

With that, he lay down flat and added, “Your hand is injured, so tomorrow I’ll take care of the hunting and cooking.”

Having assigned the tasks, Chu Hanjin closed his eyes.

Yue Lin watched him for a moment, said nothing, and awkwardly lay down as well.

–

A brand new day.

Chu Hanjin rose early, as promised, to go hunting. Yue Lin got up from the coffin too, earning a glance from Chu Hanjin, “You can keep resting.”

“I’m not sleeping anymore,” Yue Lin said, shaking his uninjured left hand. “I’ll go with you.”

Chu Hanjin huffed in response, picking up a heavy bow from the corner and ascending the steps.

That huff made Yue Lin chuckle softly.

Still mad?

He followed closely behind Chu Hanjin.

Dressed in white, Chu Hanjin had a refined, ethereal aura, but his martial training was solid from a young age. The bow in Yue Lin’s hand had a draw weight of several hundred pounds, but Chu Hanjin tested the string with his jade-like fingers and then released an arrow that pierced straight through a bamboo pole a hundred meters away.

With a loud crack, birds and animals scattered.

Yue Lin couldn’t help but praise, “Impressive.”

Chu Hanjin huffed again.

“…”

Yue Lin’s smile widened as he hurried to catch up, carrying a small basket.

Chu Hanjin shot a wild chicken with one arrow and didn’t fire again. They returned to the spot where they had gathered mushrooms the day before and found some more sprouting beneath the damp, rotting leaves. The mushrooms were plump and white, though slightly smaller than the previous ones. Mixed with the remaining bamboo shoots from the day before, they would make a perfect stew.

As they washed the meat and vegetables by the spring, a serious question occurred to them.

Yue Lin asked, “Who’s going to cook?”

Cooking required handling water.

Yue Lin’s injured hand wasn’t fit for the task.

And while Chu Hanjin had never been the type to do kitchen work, not to mention he rarely touched cooking utensils back at Far Mountain Sect, someone had to cook now.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Chu Hanjin calmly said, “I’ll cook.”

This is going to be a disaster!

He didn’t look like someone who knew how to cook.

He didn’t even look like someone who knew how to eat!

But Chu Hanjin had already taken the wild chicken they caught and walked over to the makeshift kitchen area with an air of seriousness. Luckily, they had made this dish the night before, so he could follow along, boiling water to pluck the feathers…

The process of plucking the feathers was quite complicated. You had to scald the chicken with boiling water first to ensure even the tiny down feathers came off cleanly, or else the chicken wouldn’t be properly defeathered.

Chu Hanjin, with his flowing robes, had just dunked the chicken into the boiling water when part of his sleeve slipped into the pot. He frowned slightly and retrieved it with the same graceful movement he’d use for tea or the zither, carefully scalding the chicken.

Despite his lack of experience, he was extremely thorough.

After scalding the chicken, Yue Lin, with one good hand, helped pluck the feathers.

The scene was quite amusing, especially when Chu Hanjin, catching the smell of blood and raw chicken, abruptly turned away to stave off his morning sickness.

——A heavenly figure brought down to the mundane world.

It took half an hour to finish plucking the feathers, and at last, they cut the chicken into pieces to blanch it.

Chu Hanjin rolled up his sleeves just a bit, his expression serious, adding herbs and spices to remove the gamey smell.

Once the chicken was slightly cooked, he transferred it to cold water, then placed it in a clay pot to simmer.

Everything seemed to be going smoothly.

He even stir-fried some wild greens. But after heating the oil, he didn’t quite know how to stir-fry them, and soon, the smell of burning filled the air.

“…”

About an hour later, Chu Hanjin finally announced, “Dinner’s ready.”

Several dishes were laid out on the table. The chicken soup in the clay pot had somehow turned slightly black. Half of the stir-fried greens were burnt, while the other half was raw. And the kudzu root starch, which was supposed to be the main course, had turned into a watery soup.

Yue Lin didn’t comment. He skillfully used his left hand to pick up a piece of the blackened bamboo shoot, chewed it thoughtfully, and said, “Hmm, it’s pretty good.”

Chu Hanjin lowered his gaze, his expression somewhat unsure.

But hearing Yue Lin’s words, he also picked up a piece of bamboo shoot.

After chewing on it for a moment, he set down his bowl and chopsticks.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t eat it.

He was just worried about the baby in his belly not being able to handle it.

Seeing that Chu Hanjin was about to start doubting his cooking abilities, Yue Lin reassured him, “It’s actually not bad. After all, you don’t cook often. The more you cook, the better you’ll get.”

But Chu Hanjin wasn’t thinking about that. He was more concerned about how his cooking skills would affect caring for his child in the future.

Yue Lin took another bite of chicken and said, “It’s well-cooked. The chicken is tender; that’s a success.”

He then tasted the mushrooms, “Though the texture is soft, and the flavor’s gone, it’s still… cooked.”

He picked up some of the stir-fried greens, “It’s seasoned. Not bad.”

“…”

Compliments. Pure compliments.

Yue Lin looked at Chu Hanjin with a half-smile, “You’re already doing great.”

His voice was full of praise.

Chu Hanjin’s lips twitched slightly. Though his face remained calm, the look in his eyes clearly showed a bit of improvement in his mood.

Chu Hanjin continued eating in silence, but after a while, he remembered there was a dish of steamed fish head with chopped chili in the steamer. He brought it out, tasted it himself, and, finding it decent, picked up a piece and placed it in Yue Lin’s bowl. “Try it.”

After doing so, he froze for a second.

He… just gave Yue Lin food?

Huh?

How did that happen?

It seemed he was seeking approval, but perhaps after spending the last few days together, they had grown used to each other.

However, Yue Lin didn’t seem to notice. He casually picked up the piece of fish Chu Hanjin had given him, tasted it, and said, “Hmm, the flavor is fresh. You’re really good at this. Here, have this.”

He placed the fattest, most tender part of the fish head into Chu Hanjin’s bowl.

Chu Hanjin’s eyes widened.

Because… those were the chopsticks Yue Lin had just eaten with!

He hadn’t even rinsed them in water before giving him food.

With his cleanliness obsession, it was surprising that Chu Hanjin didn’t flip the table right then. He stared at the tender fish in his bowl, noting the marks left by Yue Lin’s chopsticks.

Eat? Or don’t eat?

It had been ages since anyone had put food in his bowl.

It felt like… it would taste like Yue Lin.

Chu Hanjin thought intensely about this piece of fish.

Yue Lin raised an eyebrow, “What’s wrong?”

…Just eat it. Chu Hanjin remained expressionless.

After all, Yue Lin had eaten what he had put in his bowl without a second thought. If Chu Hanjin didn’t eat this, it would feel rude.

Chu Hanjin picked up the fish, carefully placing it in his mouth, then said indifferently, “Nothing.”

Yue Lin found it amusing but pretended not to notice. He nonchalantly added another piece of fish to Chu Hanjin’s bowl, “The fish is good, right? Have some more.”

“…Again?”

This time, Chu Hanjin was a little unwilling to continue. He stared at Yue Lin intently.

Sensing his reluctance, Yue Lin chuckled and picked the fish back out of Chu Hanjin’s bowl, eating it himself, “Not hungry anymore? Alright, I’ll eat it.”

You…

You have no sense of boundaries.

Chu Hanjin’s bowl was now in disarray, but even so, he calmly resumed eating.

His movements were slow and graceful, occasionally flicking out his red tongue to lightly lick his lips, then quickly pulling it back in, like a dragonfly skimming the water. Unintentionally, this caught Yue Lin’s gaze.

That red tongue, as red as his lips, looked… very soft.

It made Yue Lin think of things completely opposite in nature to that softness.

Imagining the way they would entwine.

…Yue Lin snapped himself out of those thoughts.

No matter how much he let his mind wander, Chu Hanjin had never once let his composure slip in front of him. Even the time Yue Lin accidentally caught him bathing didn’t count. Chu Hanjin carried himself with an upright, dignified air. Among all the righteous cultivators Yue Lin had met, Chu Hanjin was unquestionably pure and noble.

It often made Yue Lin wonder if the baby in Chu Hanjin’s belly even existed because he didn’t seem like someone who could be pregnant.

If it weren’t for the very real symptoms of morning sickness.

Yue Lin couldn’t help but watch Chu Hanjin’s face, until Chu Hanjin became aware of it, lifting his gaze to meet Yue Lin’s with a puzzled look.

“…”

Yue Lin lowered his head, saying nothing.

He was too curious about this man.

This must be what it feels like to be the luckiest man alive.

Since Chu Hanjin wasn’t very skilled at cooking, they finished the afternoon’s tasks earlier than usual and went hunting again in the evening. By nightfall, they had skinned their prey, chopped the necessary meat, and set it on the wooden skewers they had built over the fire.

In the end, grilled meat was the easiest dish for Chu Hanjin to handle. The method was simple, and it only required controlling the heat and seasoning.

The forest began to fill with a faint black mist as night fell.

By now, they had become so familiar with each other that they exchanged a glance and headed back to the tomb. Chu Hanjin, who was a bit shy, always went to bed first, followed by Yue Lin.

At that point, Chu Hanjin had already lain down in the coffin. His white robes were clean, and he lay on his side, propping his chin up with one hand. The curve of his body dipped at the waist, but his hips rose slightly, making his figure more pronounced.

Yue Lin lay down next to him. His frame was broader and more muscular than Chu Hanjin’s, and almost unconsciously, he reached out to pull him closer, “Come closer, don’t sleep all the way on the edge.”

“…”

Chu Hanjin, feeling offended, swatted his hand away and lay flat on his back.

His tied-up hair fell loosely around him, carrying a faint scent. It was said that he mixed some kind of flower with soapwort when he bathed, giving him this pleasant aroma.

With the distance between them, Chu Hanjin didn’t notice when Yue Lin quietly inhaled the fragrance of his hair.

Chu Hanjin said, “Tomorrow, we’ll search again to see if there’s another way out.” He was certain there had to be a way, or how else had Yue Lin and he gotten here in the first place?

However, the Yue Lin beside him responded with a low hum, as if tired, his voice slightly slurred and unclear, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with the plan.

Chu Hanjin assumed he was sleepy and said, “Go to sleep.”

With that, he closed his eyes.

As he sank into the darkness, Chu Hanjin realized it had been a long time since he last had a dream.

But tonight, as soon as he lay down, he had a feeling. And then, he heard a soft breathing sound next to him.

It was low, raspy, like wind scraping across a burning desert.

He couldn’t tell if it was the real sound by his ear or a murmur in his dream, but that person was speaking to him in a low voice:

“If you’re tired, you don’t have to stay with me.”

“I can handle it myself.”

…

But…

He said, “You have to watch me closely, don’t close your eyes.”

He saw the person’s hands, wrists, fingers, and the faint blue veins rising under the skin.

Was he tired back then? Or was it something else? His whole body felt weak, as if he were out of control, yet somehow, despite his exhaustion, he was compelled by those words, lowering his lashes…

Chu Hanjin couldn’t remember how that felt. It wasn’t the tomb anymore—it was a clean, bright cabin, with blue skies and sunlight pouring through an open window.

The only thing he could be sure of was that the person talking to him was Yue Lin.

Those thin, muscular wrists shaped by years of martial arts, those gestures and movements were so familiar to Chu Hanjin that they made his heart race and breath falter.

It was as if he were walking a tightrope over a cliff, feeling constantly on edge, never able to come down because Yue Lin wouldn’t let him, leaving him stuck in an impossible place, almost begging softly…

The dream was vague, but every sensation was disturbingly familiar. It felt like a nightmare, slowly trapping him in sleep paralysis…

The tomb was quiet, with only the softest of breathing sounds.

But gradually, that breathing became strained, as if someone were unwell, with the faint, muffled murmurs of someone in a feverish daze.

“Plop—”

Yue Lin was roused by the murmuring. His hearing was sharp, and even the slightest sound of a voice could wake him.

He turned to see that Chu Hanjin’s sleeping posture wasn’t as neat as usual. Normally, Chu Hanjin slept rigidly, so still and orderly that Yue Lin sometimes wondered if he were looking at a corpse. But now, his arm was lightly draped, revealing a pale wrist and forearm from under his wide sleeve, as if he were too hot.

His face was turned towards Yue Lin, his black hair disheveled, half-covering his nose and cheek, but leaving his nose, lips, and chin exposed. This was one of Chu Hanjin’s most sensual features because his nose exuded an arrogance, while his slightly full lips softened that coldness, and his chin was delicate and tempting.

He was breathing irregularly, his chest rising and falling as if caught in a terrible nightmare. His collarbone and Adam’s apple were taut, and faint, hurried breaths escaped from between his lips.

He must be feeling uncomfortable.

Yue Lin could even hear the soft, nervous sounds coming from his throat.

Small, barely audible.

Was he trapped in a nightmare?

Yue Lin noticed that under the loose white robe, Chu Hanjin’s legs were lightly shifting.

His face burrowed further into his arm, as if trying to hide.

Seeing someone else’s fear was fascinating in its own way. For Yue Lin, watching Chu Hanjin in this state—half frightened, half vulnerable—ignited a strange desire to protect him.

Should he wake him up?

In the darkness, Yue Lin thought for a moment and then spoke softly, “Little Bodhisattva?”

“…”

“Little Celestial Lord?”

“…”

“Chu Hanjin?”

“…”

Still no response.

Chu Hanjin’s outstretched fingers curled slightly, his nails digging into his palm.

His pale pink nails had turned a deep red from the pressure, and it wasn’t hard to imagine how much pain he was in from this nightmare.

Perhaps he wouldn’t wake up right away. Yue Lin pursed his lips slightly, and after a brief consideration, he slipped his hand into Chu Hanjin’s, gently holding his fingers, whispering softly, “It’s alright, it’s alright.”

A gesture of comfort.

The man before him seemed to hear the words. After a tense moment, his face slowly relaxed, his pale forehead glistening with a thin sheen of sweat, his lips slightly pale, and his disheveled hair made him look as if he had been through some torment.

This made Yue Lin incredibly curious about just what kind of nightmare had disturbed the usually composed and calm Chu Hanjin so much.

Intertwining his fingers with Chu Hanjin’s, Yue Lin lightly patted his shoulder, soothing him.

He waited patiently for Chu Hanjin to return to his senses. When he woke up and realized that Yue Lin had been there, warmly watching over him, he would probably feel touched, right?

The flickering light in the tomb cast shadows across the walls. A gust of wind blew in, and Yue Lin felt the fingers in his palm stir slightly.

Chu Hanjin was waking up.

Yue Lin’s gaze softened as he looked into Chu Hanjin’s eyes, offering comfort, “It seemed like you had a nightmare earlier. Are you alright?”

The young cultivator slowly woke, his expression dazed, lifting his eyelids to see Yue Lin in that instant—

“Smack—”

Yue Lin saw Chu Hanjin’s gaze filled with confusion… and fear.

---

Finally the loong chapter ended~
Next chapter will be back to the normal length ૮ ⸝⸝o̴̶̷᷄ ·̭ o̴̶̷̥᷅⸝⸝ ྀིა