“Hehuan’s incense” was obviously related to the Hehuan Sect. Thinking about the twelve female disciples’ tragic deaths at Xiao Xun’s hands, Xie Shuci’s expression couldn’t help but stiffen.

Wenfeng’s expression turned serious, adopting a defensive posture in front of the man in the wheelchair, staring at Xie An intently.

Xie Shuci immediately stood in front of Xie An, glaring back at Wenfeng.

“Stop it,” the man scolded and pushed Wenfeng away.

“But…” Wenfeng seemed like he wanted to say something.

The man frowned and reprimanded, “Don’t be disrespectful.”

Although Wenfeng was dissatisfied, he obeyed the man’s words and after glaring at Xie Shuci for a while he silently retreated behind the man.

“I apologize,” the man nodded apologetically to Xie Shuci.

Xie Shuci waved it off casually, “We’ve only known each other for a short time, and you’ve apologized three times already. But I understand, after all, you’re taking care of this child.”

Wenfeng was angered, “You…”

“Wenfeng!”

The man said helplessly, “Young Master, please forgive him.”

“It’s fine. I have a great stomach and can digest everything. I never stoop to the level of arguing with children,” Xie Shuci replied confidently. 

“One day this same stomach will bring your demise,” Wenfeng muttered under his breath.

The man smiled gently and turned to Xie Shuci, asking, “Did your friend encounter any disciples of the Hehuan Sect before arriving here?”

Xie Shuci glanced at Xie An, who seemed disinterested in their conversation, gazing aimlessly at the ground, lost in his own thoughts.

“No, not really… Wait a minute, what color clothes do the disciples of the Hehuan Sect wear?” Xie Shuci had a sudden realization.

The man explained, “It is said that the former master of the Hehuan Sect favored a type of fabric from Hanzhou called ‘Cinnabar Silk.’ It is red like fresh blood and as thin as light gauze. All the disciples in the sect wear Cinnabar Silk.”

Xie Shuci nodded belatedly and said, “When we entered the city, we did encounter a group of women in red clothes. Xie An must have picked up the fragrance there. By the way, is this Hehuan incense dangerous?”

The man replied, “Hehuan incense is used as a medium in alchemy to induce feelings. It seems that the female disciples of the Hehuan Sect wanted… to refine him into a furnace.”

Xie Shuci looked confusedly at Xie An, recalling the man’s words. Refine him into a furnace?

Furnace…

A furnace?!

Xie Shuci had read this word in books before. As he recalled, his face turned from pale to red, and the blush spread to his ears, making his transparent skin look rosy.

Those despicable bastards! Little Blind is only sixteen! How could they think of making him into a furnace just because he looked good?

“Let’s go back to the inn!” 

Xie Shuci’s cheeks were burning, and his head felt like it was emitting smoke. He grabbed Xie An’s hand and walked towards the inn, thanking the two men before leaving.

Xie An, who didn’t know anything, was dragged back by him.

Halfway there, Xie An pulled back his hand, and Xie Shuci turned to look at him, the heat on his ears still not completely gone.

“Xie Shuci, what is a furnace?” Xie An’s face showed confusion.

“…”

Beasts!

Little Blind doesn’t even know what a furnace is?

Those despicable people wanted to turn the innocent Little blind who knows nothing about the world into a furnace?

It’s simply inhuman!

How was Xie Shuci supposed to explain this to him? He couldn’t just tell Xie An that a furnace was meant for this and that, and extracting essence…

Damn it! He couldn’t say it out loud!

Seeing Xie An still waiting for an answer, Xie Shuci mumbled, “It’s used for alchemy…”

After a moment, Xie An smiled strangely as if he understood and said, “I see, so that’s the case. That should be a good thing. So why are you so nervous?”

Xie Shuci almost wanted to spit blood, “It’s not good for your body. Let’s go back and wash off the scent!”

With the matter temporarily put aside, Xie Shuci momentarily forgot about the murderous Xiao Xun hiding in the city.

Back at the inn, Xie An went to bathe behind the folding screen.

The sound of water dripping filled the quiet room.

Xie Shuci lay on the bed, contemplating about Xiao Xun. No matter for what reason Xiao Xun came here, for his own safety, he thought it would be better to stay away from him. Perhaps it was better to leave Luofang City as soon as possible.

At some point, the sound of water behind the folding screen ceased.

“Are you done bathing? I have something to tell you…”

Xie Shuci immediately jumped off the bed and quickly walked to the other side of the folding screen. However, as he saw the scene before him, his voice suddenly choked up.

Xie An was standing with his back turned, the wet ink-like hair cascading like a waterfall, spread across his strong and fair back. The hair’s tips brushed against the area below his waist. The water on his skin traced down along his white and jade-like texture, sliding over his toned arms and straight, slender legs. He seemed to have heard the sound behind him and turned his head abruptly, his exquisite side profile taking on a hint of moisture, his eyes were hazy, like a mountain after rain—mysterious and captivating.

Xie Shuci even noticed a crystal-clear droplet of water sliding down his slender chin and clavicle, looking too damn enticing!

To refine such a perfect body into a furnace… Perhaps the room was too misty, but Xie Shuci felt a rush of heat to his head. Damn it, Xie Shuci! Get your mind out of the gutter!

“Xie Shuci?”

He saw Xie An’s lips moving slightly.

Xie Shuci quickly covered his mouth and nose, afraid of being caught peeping by Xie An. After all, they were both men, but he felt guilty and didn’t want to be found out.

Not hearing any response, thinking that Xie Shuci wasn’t there, Xie An turned his head back.

Xie Shuci carefully and stealthily took a step back. However, as soon as his right foot touched the ground, Xie An keenly looked over. Xie Shuci immediately froze in place, not daring to move at all.

He forgot that Xie An had an extremely keen sense of hearing.

So, reluctantly and under compulsion, Xie Shuci held his breath, standing still and watching as Xie An slowly dressed. During this time, his gaze wandered, but it always returned to Xie An.

Every inch of his body was so beautiful, every movement like a painting, making Xie Shuci’s heart beat like a drum. He was so nervous that his scalp felt like it would explode.

Xie Shuci’s heart was in turmoil, and he didn’t notice that Xie An, with his head lowered, had a mischievous smile on his lips.

In the evening, the two of them had their dinner in the inn’s hall.

Xie Shuci changed from his usual chatterbox self and didn’t play any childish tricks, appearing unusually quiet.

Xie An followed him, equally silent.

At the dining table, Xie Shuci picked at his food gloomily. He felt that he was being influenced by the memories of the original host. The moment he saw Xie An’s bare back, many unsavory images flashed in his mind…

Of course, it could also be that he had read too many BL novels.

Now, facing Xie An, he felt somewhat uncomfortable.

He didn’t eat much before putting down his chopsticks. At the same time, Xie An held his hand, and he instinctively tried to pull back. But Xie An didn’t let go; instead, he held on tighter, causing him some discomfort.

With his ice-cold fingertips, Xie An wrote in his palm, “Why are you not speaking?”

Xie Shuci replied, “I’ve decided to be a person of few words. Don’t you know that great heroes like to be mysterious?”

Xie An’s face slightly darkened, “Do you still want to be a great hero?”

Seeing his sudden change in expression, Xie Shuci remembered the time he sent Xie An away and guessed that Xie An might think that once he want to become a great hero, he would abandon him.

Forget it, Xie Shuci scolded himself for overthinking. Little Blind doesn’t know anything; Look how innocent he is.

Xie Shuci was an emotional person, and his moods came and went quickly. He smiled and said, “I don’t want to be a great hero, nor do I want to be a man of few words. It’s not suitable for me. I think being a rascal who brags is just fine.”

Xie An lowered his eyes and smiled, “Your idea is not bad.”

Xie Shuci didn’t sense his teasing and thought he was praising him. He said rather arrogantly, “Of course. By the way, there’s something I want to tell you.”

Xie An looked up, “What is it?”

“We’re not going to the secret realm anymore…”

Before Xie Shuci finished speaking, a voice suddenly rang out in the hall, “You again? Senior Brother, let’s change to another inn.”

Xie Shuci turned to see that the person who spoke was none other than Wenfeng, whom they had met not long ago.

Xie Shuci felt unhappy when he heard this, “Change? You better change! Whoever doesn’t change is a loser.”

“Senior Brother, let’s go!” Wenfeng rolled his eyes at Xie Shuci.

The man in the wheelchair slowly shook his head, propping himself up with his arms on the armrests, and stood up from the chair. Wenfeng immediately wanted to step forward to help him, but he was politely declined by the man.

“Wenfeng, meeting each other is fate,  it seems that you and this young master have similar interests. Perhaps you could be friends,” the man said, standing upright with a warm and gentle smile while holding onto the door frame for support.

Xie Shuci and Wenfeng almost said in unison, “Him? Who has similar interests with him?”

The man smiled and shook his head, using the doorframe for support as he moved inside. Wenfeng wanted to help, but he held back, not daring to move until the man’s two feet safely touched the ground inside. Only then did he subtly exhale a sigh of relief as he brought the wooden wheelchair inside.

The man settled back into the wheelchair, then smiled apologetically, saying, “I made you see my joke.”

Xie Shuci shook his head, “It’s nothing.”

He had a good impression of this man who helped him resolve the situation earlier, a man with a gentle demeanor but a resilient spirit. Seeing that there were no available seats in the hall, Xie Shuci simply squeezed himself next to Xie An and invited the man to sit with them.

Xie An remained his usual self, uninterested in his surroundings.

“I am Chu Guiyi, and this is my junior brother, Chu Wenfeng,” the man introduced himself.

“Oh, I’m Xie Shuci, and this is my… younger brother, Xie An.”

Xie An’s long eyelashes lowered slightly, and Xie Shuci reached under the table to pat his hand gently, trying to comfort him.

Xie An’s lips curved slightly.

Chu Guiyi nodded and asked, “Are you here for the secret realm?”

“Yes, why else would we come all the way here?” Xie Shuci replied.

Just as he finished speaking, Chu Wenfeng mocked, “You, an alchemist, bringing a blind boy to compete for treasures with disciples from major sects?”

“Why not? Who says we can’t? We came here because we wanted to. Besides, your senior brother also brought a brat to do the same,” Xie Shuci retorted defiantly.

“Can you compare yourself to my senior brother? He is the number one…” 

“Enough, Wenfeng!”

Before Chu Wenfeng finished speaking, Chu Guiyi interrupted loudly, and he, who has always been friendly to others, looked a little sullen.

Chu Wenfeng seemed to remember something, his face turned pale, and his eyes revealed a trace of melancholy as he lowered his head.

Chu Guiyi regained his composure and spoke calmly, “Excuse my junior brother. We came here just to try our luck.”

Xie Shuci sensed that something was amiss with their emotions after Chu Wenfeng’s remark.

Although he was curious, he didn’t want to pry into their private matters, so he pretended not to have heard anything and reminded them, “Young Master Chu, I advise you both to go back. That guy Xiao Xun is in the city, and he is a notorious murderer. He won’t spare anyone who crosses his path. He must be here to snatch treasures from the secret realm, coming here to compete for treasures with him is risking your lives.”

Moreover, Xiao Xun was protected by the protagonist’s halo, and even the foolish protagonist gong couldn’t take away what he wanted.

As soon as he finished speaking, Xie An, who had been silent and still, slowly raised his head. His empty eyes looked at Xie Shuci.

Xie Shuci had no idea about the situation and continued, “In the face of life and death, treasures are just fleeting clouds. Young Master Chu, I don’t think you’re someone who’s after treasures either. It’s better for you to take your junior brother and leave quickly.”

Chu Wenfeng glared at him but didn’t retort. He just had a heavy expression and said, “No, no matter what, we must enter the secret realm.”

After hearing this, Chu Guiyi looked down, and the smile on his lips became somewhat bitter. “I’m not after treasures either, but…”

“You all heard it. Xiao Xun is in the city, and he killed the female disciples of the Hehuan Sect. He is a scum who has no limits or principles, you will just be risking your lives!” Xie Shuci tried to persuade them but he completely failed to notice that Xie An’s face had already turned so dark that it could drip ink.

Chu Guiyi smiled and said, “Thank you for your concern, but Wenfeng and I have reasons, so we must go in. As you said, Xiao Xun is a treacherous murderer, and you and Young Master Xie An should leave as soon as possible.”

Sighing, Xie Shuci said helplessly, “You really have a death wish? Xiao Xun is…”

When Xie Shuci mentioned Xiao Xun, his eyes and expression couldn’t hide his fear.

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