Chu Hanjin carried Chu Zhaoyang down the mountain.

They still had a long way to go.

They passed by a village, where, in the evening, every household lit oil lamps, and the smoke from the stove fires swirled in the dusk, creating a serene pastoral atmosphere.

For the first time, Chu Zhaoyang, who had never paid attention to such things before, was now intently observing everything.

A little girl with braided pigtails came out of her house, carrying a bamboo basket to the well to wash vegetables. Although Chu Zhaoyang knew she wasn’t Yaya, he still felt a natural closeness and took small steps toward her.

However, upon seeing him and the two adults behind him, the little girl hurriedly ran back into her house, seemingly very afraid of strangers.

Chu Zhaoyang, feeling a bit disappointed, lowered his head and returned to Chu Hanjin’s side.

They continued toward the border of the demon territory.

After walking for some time, small calluses began to form on Chu Zhaoyang’s feet. Chu Hanjin examined his little feet and said, “We should buy you a pair of shoes.”

Yue Lin agreed, “Sure.”

“I have some spare silver,” Chu Hanjin said. “We’ll look for a city when we get there and buy some other things too.”

Upon arriving at a city, there were usually guards at the gates. They would try to avoid questions from the cultivators as much as possible, but as they got closer to the demon border, the guards seemed to become more and more lax. By the time they reached this particular city, there wasn’t a single guard in sight.

Chu Hanjin exchanged glances with Yue Lin before heading toward the city gate.

A cultivator was doing a check nearby: “Should we let this person in?”

“I don’t know.”

“Should we ask for permission—”

“Ask for what? Just let them in!”

“…”

Nearby, a commoner asked in confusion, “Daozhang, why are you all so slack with guarding the city?”

The cultivator replied, “What’s wrong with being slack? Our leader ran away, leaving us behind, so of course, we’re going to slack off!”

“Why did he run away?”

“You have no idea. Recently, a demon came to Yushui City, threatening to kill any defending cultivator who appeared. He’s already killed three. Our new leader got scared, packed his bags, and ran away, leaving us to fend for ourselves. Since he doesn’t care, neither do I. Anyone who wants to come into the city can do as they please.”

After saying that, the cultivator threw down his paperwork and actually turned around to leave.

The other cultivators looked at each other, called out, “Brother Xu, wait for us!” and followed him.

Yue Lin commented, “Lucky break.”

Chu Hanjin sighed, “I wouldn’t call it luck. The closer you get to the border, the harder it is for the sects to maintain control. It’s a place where all sorts of people mix together, making it difficult to govern. Since no one’s in charge, let’s head in.”

The city was bustling with a market in full swing, with people from all walks of life mingling together, making the streets lively and crowded.

Chu Hanjin took out the silver in his pocket and calculated their budget before heading to a clothing store. Fabrics of all colors and pre-made garments hung from bamboo racks, catching the eye.

Chu Zhaoyang, who had never seen so many clothes before, widened his eyes in surprise and delight.

Chu Hanjin said, “Pick the one you like.”

Chu Zhaoyang blinked, took one down, and tried it on, but the shoulders and sleeves were too big, making it look a bit loose on him.

An elderly man took the garment in his hands and said, “Let this old man make some adjustments for you.”

While waiting for the clothes to be altered, Chu Hanjin noticed several cultivators swaggering through the streets with ghost-headed blades at their waists. He couldn’t help but ask, “Are those cultivators from the demonic path?”

The old man nodded, “Daozhang, how would this old man know who they are? All I know is that they’re people you don’t want to mess with.”

“But this is still a town under the control of Rongku Sect. Why are there so many demonic cultivators walking around?”

The old man explained, “Because no one is in charge! The immortal lords shut down the Daoist offices, leaving us to fend for ourselves. I’ve heard that many rebellious cultivators come here to rest and recuperate, and no one stops them. Yushui City is a lawless battleground, but even here, there’s an unspoken rule. While there may be no rules of the righteous path, Yushui City has its own set of rules.”

Chu Hanjin lowered his head and remained silent for a moment.

Once Chu Zhaoyang’s clothes were adjusted, Chu Hanjin paid the old man and was about to leave when he stopped to ask, “Is there a place we can stay for a while?”

The old man replied, “There’s a place in the east of the city where a family rents out courtyard houses. If you’re planning to stay long-term, you can inquire there.”

“Thank you,” Chu Hanjin said, and then he stepped out of the shop.

The marketplace was no different from a typical city, except that along the riverbank, there were numerous stalls openly trading treasures. According to the rules, spirit stones and treasures should be traded in designated areas, but here, people casually laid down a cloth and sold their goods. Both cultivators and commoners mingled freely, getting along well.

Chu Hanjin, dressed in white and as elegant as the moon, walked gracefully down the muddy streets. The people around him barely gave him a second glance, continuing with their own business.

“Looks like there are quite a few runaway righteous path cultivators here, so it’s no surprise anymore,” Yue Lin commented.

Chu Hanjin replied, “That’s good. It’s safer to blend in with the crowd.”

“Maybe not that safe.”

Yue Lin’s warning made Chu Hanjin notice that in the corners of the marketplace, there were people standing, dressed in black armor, pretending to chat while keeping a vigilant eye on their surroundings. They could be part of the organization controlling the city. Outside the Six Sects, there were always rising powers, and Yushui City clearly had one of its own.

“Every place has its own rules. We should follow theirs,” Yue Lin said as he gently pulled Chu Hanjin behind him.

Not far from the east side of the city was a courtyard surrounded by apricot trees. In the hot summer, the thick branches and leaves shielded most of the harsh sunlight, making the courtyard pleasantly cool. There was even a jujube tree growing near an ancient well.

Chu Zhaoyang ran around the courtyard, then found a wooden bucket half-filled with water by the well and started splashing himself.

Sunlight fell on his tiny frame, making his fair hands and feet look pinkish and cute.

Chu Hanjin strolled around the courtyard, then turned to look at Yue Lin.

Yue Lin glanced at him and nodded.

“Let’s take this place,” Chu Hanjin said, handing the money to the landlord.

The landlord seemed quite pleased and even brought over a watermelon as a gift.

As Chu Hanjin silently counted the few remaining coins in his pouch, Yue Lin scooped some water from the well and placed the watermelon in it to chill. Once it was cool, he cut it open, revealing its red flesh and juice. He gave Chu Zhaoyang a slice first, then handed another piece to Chu Hanjin.

Chu Hanjin put away his money pouch, and the watermelon was placed in his hand.

Yue Lin sat next to him, saying, “It’s quite sweet.”

Chu Hanjin nodded. His refined features and long fingers made even the simple act of eating a watermelon look elegant.

Yue Lin watched him with a faint smile on his lips. “How much money do we have left?”

“Not much,” Chu Hanjin said. “We didn’t bring much when we left. Renting this courtyard was expensive, so we probably have enough to last two more days.”

“No rush,” Yue Lin said, turning a handkerchief in his palm as if wanting to wipe the juice from Chu Hanjin’s hands, but Chu Hanjin ate so gracefully that it wasn’t necessary. So, Yue Lin tucked the handkerchief back into his hand. “I saw many people trading treasures by the river earlier. I can sell some things to earn money.”

“Will that work?”

“Their spirit talismans and tools aren’t expensive to make. Simple materials with the right spells can easily sell for several times the cost. It’s easy for me. I’ll try it later.”

Chu Hanjin squeezed his almost-empty money pouch and nodded. “Alright.”

Beside them, Chu Zhaoyang was still staring at his watermelon slice, making strange noises.

It was hard to tell if he was scared, surprised, or confused. From the moment Yue Lin swiftly cut the watermelon into balls, his eyes had widened in shock, and now, watching the red juice drip from the fruit, he seemed even more bewildered.

“Uh oh,” Yue Lin suddenly realized. “Zhaoyang is a little ball too, and cutting up the watermelon might have scared him.”

Chu Hanjin turned around as well.

Chu Zhaoyang stared at the fruit balls but clearly understood that he was different from them. After a moment of serious thought, he brought the watermelon to his lips and took a small bite.

His golden hair was tousled, and after a moment, he seemed to realize that it was quite sweet, so he took another bite.

He then lifted his head and flashed a small, toothy grin, as if feeling like a “bad guy” for eating the fruit balls.

“…”

Yue Lin couldn’t help but chuckle.

Chu Hanjin also smiled slightly.

After laughing, Chu Hanjin turned his head, only to find Yue Lin gazing down at him with those deep golden eyes, a soft light flickering within them.

“He looks a lot like you.”

The breeze stirred the ripples on the lake, and Yue Lin’s voice grew lower.

“He’s very cute.”

Chu Hanjin felt his heart soften inexplicably. He stayed silent, lowering his head to take another bite of watermelon. But his hand was gently taken, fingers intertwining slowly.

Yue Lin’s hand was hot, rough at the fingertips, and when he held Chu Hanjin’s hand, it felt like iron locking onto jade.

A strange sense of nervousness grew between them, but Chu Hanjin didn’t pull his hand away. Instead, Yue Lin spoke up, “Shall we go inside and check out the hall and side rooms?”

Chu Zhaoyang was happily sitting on a small stool, gnawing on his watermelon, now fully embracing the deliciousness of the small fruits. He was excitedly devouring the watermelon balls with loud “crunch, crunch” sounds.

Feeling more at ease, Chu Hanjin followed Yue Lin into the house. After a brief glance around, he remarked, “Not bad. The furniture is a bit old, but everything is clean and sturdy, and the rooms are well-lit.”

He walked behind a screen, but suddenly, his wrist was grabbed.

He turned to meet Yue Lin’s dark gaze, which seemed to be alight with fire.

Just as Chu Hanjin was about to step back, his wrist was held tightly, and Yue Lin leaned in to kiss him.

The first sensation was heat.

Yue Lin’s body temperature was always high.

Chu Hanjin’s back stiffened, and a cool shiver ran down his spine, but his lips felt incredibly warm. His fingers groped around anxiously, gently tugging at Yue Lin’s sleeve. He didn’t push him away, which was a very good sign.

Understanding Chu Hanjin’s feelings, Yue Lin became more fervent, almost crushing Chu Hanjin’s fingers in his grasp as his kiss became rougher, turning from a simple seal of lips to gentle bites and sucking.

It… began to feel a bit tingly.

Chu Hanjin closed his eyes slightly, a faint flush of red creeping up to the corners of his eyes, while his clenched teeth started to relax, and his breathing became uneven.

Yue Lin’s hand caressed from his arm to his neck, then seemed to venture deeper inside.

“Mm…” Chu Hanjin let out a soft, questioning sound.

He was adjusting to Yue Lin’s heat and intensity, but that heat was slowly seeping into his lips.

Yue Lin’s voice was hoarse. “Open your mouth.”

Chu Hanjin’s cheeks reddened even more, his fingers trembling like ripples on water. He lifted his eyelids, his gaze as gentle as spring water, looking at Yue Lin.

It was as if a breeze stirred the lake, bringing with it a shy touch of fear. The immortal, now moved by emotions, opened the door for Yue Lin.

A simple kiss turned into a provocative tease.

“Clang—” Yue Lin shifted his position, pulling the door half-closed and hugging Chu Hanjin tightly.

His grip had never been this strong, his fingers gripping Chu Hanjin’s waist so tightly that Chu Hanjin’s heart felt as if it were suspended in midair, almost making it difficult to breathe.

But Yue Lin’s fingers were surprisingly gentle.

He whispered, “Don’t be afraid.”

The sound of their lips parting was sticky, as if something was being sucked fervently.

Chu Hanjin’s face turned red with embarrassment, trying to push Yue Lin away by grabbing his collar. But the back of his head was held firmly, leaving him no choice but to accept it.

It was a kiss of conquest.

A kiss of possession.

A kiss that was almost sacrilegious.

Chu Hanjin felt a bit dizzy, as if a tingly sensation was rising from every spot Yue Lin licked, crawling all the way down his already tense spine…

By the time the kiss ended, Chu Hanjin felt like he had been through a dream. He was covered in sweat, his head slightly light, and his lips were red and swollen, tingling with a lingering numbness.

His pristine white robe had been undone at some point. In Yue Lin’s passionate grip, it had been rumpled beyond recognition, leaving his collarbones exposed, and his fair skin was tinged with a faint blush, like the evening sunset.

Yue Lin’s eyes were veiled with mist. He stuck out his tongue and lightly licked Chu Hanjin’s lips.

In a low voice, he asked, “Do you hate it?”

Chu Hanjin shook his head.

Yue Lin grew a bit more urgent, “Do you like it?”

At that moment, Chu Hanjin didn’t know what to say. He turned to leave.

But his wrist was held tightly, warm and damp with sweat. Yue Lin’s voice, just as damp, asked, “Tell me. It’s important.”

Chu Hanjin closed his thin eyelids.

Like a deity being beseeched by a devotee.

After a long time.

Finally, he nodded, “I like it.”

But his voice was so soft it was barely audible.

After saying that, Chu Hanjin left the room. He wandered through the courtyard, making sure his face had returned to normal before coming back outside.

In one corner, a pile of wood was stacked, and Yue Lin was sitting with a small carving knife, whittling toys. Chu Zhaoyang was sitting obediently beside him, looking up at his father with admiration.

When Yue Lin saw him, he said, “Come sit here.”

“…”

Maybe it was because that kiss had been too intense earlier, but Chu Hanjin hesitated for a moment before pulling up a stool and sitting beside him.

Even conversation felt a bit awkward. After a long while, Chu Hanjin lightly coughed and said, “Shouldn’t we be preparing dinner?”

Yue Lin paused his carving and looked up at him.

The light of the setting sun cast shadows in his eyes, giving them a mesmerizing glow, full of depth and mystery. Chu Hanjin’s heart inexplicably skipped a beat.

Yue Lin stood up, “Alright, I’ll go check out the market and buy some meat and vegetables.”

Chu Hanjin counted out a string of copper coins for him and, still avoiding eye contact, said, “Go ahead.”

Yue Lin seemed to chuckle softly but didn’t say anything. He took the coins and stepped out of the courtyard.

It wasn’t long before he returned, carrying not only meat and vegetables but also some paper and cinnabar, the simplest materials for creating talismans. After setting the paper and cinnabar on the table, he went into the kitchen to prepare the meal.

Chu Hanjin sat under a tree. It was evening, and a cool breeze blew, scattering a few strands of his hair. Chu Zhaoyang sat on his lap, playing with a wooden puppet.

Before long, Yue Lin came out with the dishes, and Chu Hanjin stood up to go into the kitchen to help with the bowls and plates.

Unexpectedly, the moment he stepped in, Yue Lin grabbed his wrist and leaned in for a quick kiss.

“…”

His actions had become more skillful, more confident.

The aroma of the food drifted to his nose as Yue Lin lowered his head and looked at him. “What was wrong earlier?”

“…”

Chu Hanjin wasn’t sure how to explain it.

Now, when he looked at Yue Lin, it wasn’t the same as before.

How to put it…

It felt like after a wedding.

Yue Lin wanted to kiss him again, but at that moment, they heard the sound of small footsteps—Chu Zhaoyang came running over.

“Not now…”

Chu Hanjin pushed him away.

Yue Lin didn’t say anything, but his lips pressed together, clearly feeling a bit interrupted, though he couldn’t complain about the child.

Chu Zhaoyang reached out to grab the food on the plate.

But Chu Hanjin grabbed his hand and placed it back down. “You can’t do that. It’s impolite.”

Chu Zhaoyang stuck out his tongue, obediently following Chu Hanjin to wash his hands.

It was his first time eating food cooked in a pot. The smell made him incredibly excited, and after getting Chu Hanjin’s approval, he once again tried to grab it with his hands.

Chu Hanjin handed him a spoon, “Use this to eat.”

He clumsily grasped it in his hand but didn’t seem to know how to use it.

Chu Hanjin found it amusing and patiently helped him. “Hold the spoon with your thumb and index finger like this, press the handle with your palm, and slowly lift the spoonful of food. Got it?”

He let Chu Zhaoyang try again.

This time, Chu Zhaoyang, although shaky, managed to keep most of the food in the bowl, except for a small cabbage leaf.

He brought the food to his mouth, hesitating for a moment as he inspected the “vegetable’s remains,” then, with a serious look, stuffed it into his mouth, chewing happily before looking up at Chu Hanjin and then over at Yue Lin.

“Is it good?”

Chu Zhaoyang nodded vigorously.

Chu Hanjin smiled softly. Then he glanced over and noticed that Yue Lin had been watching him the entire time.

Yue Lin, with a half-smile, placed a piece of pork belly into Chu Hanjin’s bowl and said, “You should eat too.”

The deep color of the pork, glistening with sauce, smelled incredibly fragrant. Chu Hanjin took a bite, finding it tender and soft, melting in his mouth.

He nodded in approval and was about to grab some vegetables when another piece of food appeared in his bowl.

Yue Lin said, “Eat.”

Chu Hanjin glanced at him but didn’t say anything, slowly eating the food. However, as more and more food piled into his bowl, he found it hard to keep up. Just as he was about to eat everything at once, Yue Lin’s chopsticks reached over and took the cold vegetables from his bowl, placing them in his own.

He didn’t seem to mind that Chu Hanjin had already eaten from it, as he put it directly into his mouth.

“…”

Chu Hanjin lowered his head and ate his rice quietly.

After so much traveling, it was nice to finally have a normal meal. Zhaoyang seemed exhausted after a long day of playing and quickly fell asleep under the stars, instead of needing to sleep in his father’s arms.

Chu Hanjin walked over and carried him to a rattan chair.

Zhaoyang soon began to snore softly, falling into a deep sleep.

As Chu Hanjin sat down beside him, his hand was gently taken by Yue Lin.

“Is he asleep?” Yue Lin asked in a low voice.

Just as Chu Hanjin nodded, Yue Lin’s hand carefully untangled Chu Zhaoyang’s fingers from his father’s hand.

“…”

Chu Hanjin suddenly had a realization.

Yue Lin’s breath was warm, with a hint of thirst, and after untangling the small hand, he kissed Chu Hanjin on the cheek.

Then, their lips met again.

The night was like water, and who does such things in the courtyard? Chu Hanjin lowered his gaze, and after some thought, pushed him away.

Yue Lin’s eyes darkened, as if confused, with a flash of dissatisfaction. “Ah Chu…”

Chu Hanjin turned to pat Zhaoyang’s back. After a long pause, he softly said, “…wait until midnight.”

His voice was so low it was like water dripping from a bamboo leaf.

Yue Lin quietly nodded, no longer making any untimely moves, and sat down beside him, watching Zhaoyang sleep.

Children slept a lot, often waking and sleeping at odd hours. When they traveled early in the morning, Zhaoyang would often drowsily follow behind his father, half-asleep and occasionally bumping into his back, until he was picked up and carried, only then able to sleep soundly. But sometimes he would wake up in the middle of the night, curiously crawling around, making it hard for them to sleep in peace.

Tonight was the same. Even though he was asleep, Zhaoyang would occasionally open his eyes to check if his father was still nearby. Only after confirming his presence would he pat his little hand down and drift back into a sweet dream.

“It’s cold at night. Should we take him inside?” Yue Lin suggested.

Chu Hanjin agreed, “Alright.”

Yue Lin then carried the child into the inner room.

They had rented a small courtyard with three rooms. Besides the main hall, there were two adjoining side rooms, but the walls had been knocked through, with only a beaded curtain hanging between them for easy access.

One of the side rooms had been converted into a study, with only a bamboo bed, while the other room had a large bed and a smaller accompanying one beside it.

After laying Zhaoyang down, Yue Lin said, “I’ll finish the talismans I bought today, and tomorrow I’ll go to the riverbank to sell them and supplement our household expenses.” His tone was calm. “You should coax Zhaoyang to sleep; he won’t sleep without you.”

After a pause, he added, “Once he’s asleep, come help me with my work?”

For some reason, a simple and ordinary sentence seemed to carry an inexplicable suggestion, causing Chu Hanjin’s heart to skip a beat.

Lowering his head, he replied without looking at him, “Mm, you go ahead.”

It seemed like Yue Lin wanted to say more, but he pursed his lips and lifted the curtain, heading next door.

Zhaoyang liked listening to stories. He probably didn’t understand them very well, but he enjoyed hearing Chu Hanjin talk to him. Although Chu Hanjin wasn’t a talkative person, he recalled the stories his mother used to tell him and, after organizing his thoughts, began to tell Zhaoyang.

“Later, the sister and brother tricked the bear into the cupboard, boiled a pot of water, and poured it down through a small hole, scalding the bear pretending to be their grandmother to death…”

“…”

Chu Hanjin pressed his lips together, thinking it was a bit too gruesome. But his mother had always enjoyed these morbid stories, scaring him until he turned pale and clung to her, begging her to protect him.

After finishing the story, Chu Hanjin looked down and saw Zhaoyang sprawled out, already fast asleep.

His heart inexplicably began to race.

After a brief hesitation, Chu Hanjin stood up and lifted the beaded curtain to the adjoining room.

The table was covered with talismans, and the brush, still soaked in cinnabar, looked as red as blood. However, Yue Lin had stopped painting at some point, seemingly waiting for Chu Hanjin after hearing his movement.

Chu Hanjin tried to act casual as he asked, “Are you done?”

Yue Lin replied, “Almost.”

His breathing was a bit uneven, clearly distracted.

In the silence of the room, the two stood facing each other, the atmosphere tense.

Chu Hanjin, feeling awkward, turned to leave. “I’ll go check on…”

But as soon as he tried to leave, Yue Lin pulled him into a warm embrace, a heated breath rolling past his ear.

“The night is already deep, Ah Chu.”

Chu Hanjin’s heart was a mess, knowing exactly what Yue Lin wanted. He nodded, “Alright.”

It’s just another kiss, right?

He could accept that.

But unexpectedly, Yue Lin’s hand pressed firmly against his waist, his voice trembling with heat. “…Is it okay?”

The urgency in his words clearly implied something else.