The next day, when Yun Ye opened his eyes, his master was already gone.

“Master?” He sat up, instinctively glancing around.

The room was empty—no sign of anyone else, no lingering presence of his master. Just him and… a rabbit, still fast asleep.

Yun Ye nudged Bai Tu uncertainly. “Bai Xiao Ruan, did my master come by last night?”

Disturbed from his slumber, Bai Tu yawned and swatted Yun Ye’s hand away with a paw. Then, without a care, he rolled over in the crook of Yun Ye’s arm and continued sleeping.

Foolish disciple.

Bai Tu had been sleeping more and more these days. By the time he finally woke up properly, he was already tucked inside a cloth pouch, being carried back to Tianyan Sect.

Outside, the air buzzed with noise for some reason. Annoyed, Bai Tu flattened his ears and curled up tighter, but the clamoring still reached him.

Poking a small gap in the fabric, he peeked outside. Yun Ye was just stepping through Tianyan Sect’s mountain gate.

The place was nothing like its usual quiet state. Instead, it was bustling with activity. Disciples from various sects, clad in different robes, filled the entrance. People moved about in a lively crowd, making the atmosphere unusually lively.

Bai Tu blinked, momentarily dazed, before realization struck.

Ah. Ling Weijun had mentioned it before—half a month from then, the major cultivation sects would gather at Tianyan Sect to discuss how to deal with the Demon Abyss.

Had half a month already passed so quickly?

Bai Tu’s ears drooped as he pulled back into the pouch.

Previously, Xun Yi had mentioned that the elixir he gave him would only be enough to conceal things for a little over half a month.

Bai Tu absentmindedly touched his slightly rounded belly. In his human form, it remained flat, but once the effects of the elixir wore off, any cultivator with a decent level of mastery would be able to see through the deception at a glance.

He probably wouldn’t be able to stay much longer.

Suddenly, Yun Ye came to a halt.

A familiar voice rang out. “Well, if it isn’t Yun Ye! It’s been so long, and you’re not even going to say hello?”

Xun Yi.

Yun Ye’s expression tensed. Stiffly, he bowed and greeted, “Disciple greets Martial Uncle.”

Huddled inside the cloth pouch, Bai Tu played dead. But in the next instant, a surge of spiritual energy slipped in, lifting him up and out of the pouch. Before he could react, Xun Yi reached out and caught him.

Bai Tu: “……”

What the hell was this guy doing???

But Xun Yi simply stroked Bai Tu’s head lightly and chuckled. “This is my first time seeing this rabbit. Quite the hobby you have, Nephew—raising such an adorable little creature.”

Yun Ye’s eyes darkened slightly. Without a trace of hesitation, he smoothly reclaimed the rabbit from Xun Yi’s hands. “He’s timid, Martial Uncle. Best not to scare him.”

Xun Yi merely smiled without saying a word.

“Master.” A soft voice called from behind him. Pei Ran stepped forward and said, “The Sect Master requests your presence in the main hall.”

“Understood.” Xun Yi nodded, then turned to Yun Ye. “Nephew, I’ll be off for now. I’ll drop by Luoxia Peak for a visit sometime.”

Yun Ye responded coolly, “Safe travels, Martial Uncle.”

As Xun Yi departed with Pei Ran, Yun Ye watched his retreating figure and let out a quiet scoff.

Bai Tu couldn’t help but laugh.

He knew Yun Ye had never liked Xun Yi. The reason was simple—Bai Tu and Xun Yi had grown up together as senior and junior disciples, sharing a close bond.

This little vinegar jar was even jealous of his senior brother.

Bai Tu was brought back to Luoxia Peak by Yun Ye. Later that day, Ling Weijun sent someone over.

Previously, Bai Tu had written to inform Ling Weijun that he was entering seclusion. He had also made it clear that he had no interest in joining the sects in their campaign against the Demon Abyss. So, now that the major sects had gathered at Tianyan Sect, Ling Weijun merely sent someone to inquire whether Immortal Lord Zhaohua had emerged from seclusion.

Upon learning that Zhaohua was not at Luoxia Peak, they didn’t press further and soon left.

By dusk, Bai Tu was leaning against the desk, watching Yun Ye write.

Yun Ye’s handwriting was completely different from his own.

Bai Tu’s calligraphy was bold and powerful, yet carried a refined restraint. Yun Ye’s, on the other hand, was expressive and unrestrained—free-spirited, unpolished, yet uniquely his own, with a charm that was impossible to overlook.

As Bai Tu watched, his gaze gradually drifted from the paper to Yun Ye’s profile.

For once, Yun Ye was completely focused, his brow unconsciously furrowed. His long hair was tied back with a pale ribbon, though a few loose strands occasionally slipped down his temple, adding to his sharp and effortless handsomeness.

Noticing Bai Tu staring at him, Yun Ye paused slightly before taking a blade of dried grass in his left hand and holding it up to Bai Tu’s mouth.

He constantly complained about Bai Tu getting chubby, yet never once forgot to prepare his favorite snacks.

Bai Tu took the dried grass from Yun Ye’s fingers, holding it in his paws as he slowly chewed.

Each piece had been cut to the perfect size, and every strand was from the variety Bai Tu liked best.

Lately, Yun Ye had been taking care of him with an almost meticulous attentiveness. Bai Tu had never imagined that the once-clingy, dependent disciple would, one day, give him a sense of security in return.

Since arriving here, it had been a long time since he had felt this kind of careful, quiet care.

Lost in thought, Bai Tu hugged his dried grass absentmindedly. Yun Ye looked up, tilting his head slightly to gaze at the little rabbit, who was staring blankly at him.

Yun Ye chuckled. “Am I that good-looking? You’re completely mesmerized.”

Bai Tu’s ears twitched. He quickly lowered his head, avoiding Yun Ye’s gaze.

Smiling, Yun Ye reached out and lightly tapped the round little belly of the rabbit.

Bai Tu obediently rolled over under his touch, exposing his soft underside.

Yun Ye loved rubbing his belly.

No matter how many times he did, the thought that a tiny life was growing beneath this layer of soft fur never failed to amaze him.

What was even stranger—whenever he felt the faint presence of that little being beneath the thin skin, a deep, indescribable sense of familiarity and warmth filled his heart.

Gently stroking Bai Tu’s belly, Yun Ye mused with a grin, “You’ve been pregnant for so long. Why haven’t you given birth yet?”

If the baby was born, it would surely be an unbearably adorable little thing. The mere thought of it made Yun Ye feel an unexpected sense of anticipation.

Lowering his head, he buried his face in the rabbit’s fur, his nose brushing against the soft fluff. His voice was warm, almost coaxing.

“It must be tiring carrying it around. Hurry up and bring it into the world—I’ll help you take care of it.”

Bai Tu’s heart trembled ever so slightly.

A feeling he had never experienced before surged up from the depths of his heart, sudden and unstoppable.

For the first time, Bai Tu didn’t want to keep pretending.

He wanted to tell Yun Ye everything.

He wanted—

Just then, a knock sounded at the door.

Yun Ye frowned slightly, setting Bai Tu back into his little nest before rising to answer.

Outside stood Xun Yi, raising a wine flask with a casual grin. “Your master isn’t here. How about you keep me company for a drink, Nephew?”

At the lakeside pavilion, Xun Yi poured Yun Ye a cup of wine. “This is a rare find from Penglai. You won’t come across it often—consider yourself lucky today.”

Yun Ye, exercising patience, accepted the drink with a distant nod. “Thank you, Martial Uncle.”

As they drank, Xun Yi chuckled. “You’re much easier to deal with than Zhaohua. He’s always so dull. Whenever I invite him for a drink, he just sits there with that icy face. And if I have one cup too many, he lectures me. Tch, if I had to spend every waking moment with him, I’d suffocate from boredom.”

Yun Ye’s grip on his cup tightened slightly. His voice was low. “Master only does it for your own good.”

“Well, that’s true,” Xun Yi admitted with a lazy smile. “I am his senior brother, after all. We grew up together, so naturally, he cares for me more than others.”

Yun Ye’s expression darkened completely.

Xun Yi, oblivious, continued sipping his wine, cheerfully reminiscing about their childhood training days.

Before long, Xun Yi had emptied the entire flask of wine.

He swirled the empty bottle in his hand and said to Yun Ye, “If I remember correctly, your master still has a few jars of wine I gifted him. Fetch me one, will you? I’ll bring him more later to make up for it.”

Yun Ye closed his eyes briefly, forcing down his irritation before replying obediently, “Understood.”

As Yun Ye left, Xun Yi set the empty flask aside and chuckled softly. “Had your fill of eavesdropping?”

From the bushes near the pavilion, a small rabbit emerged.

Bai Tu sighed helplessly. “Senior Brother, why are you deliberately provoking him?”

Resting his chin on one hand, Xun Yi smirked. “What, feeling sorry for him now?”

“I’m not—”

Xun Yi’s expression turned serious. “Are you really planning to stay hidden here as a rabbit? The righteous sects are scouring the land for the entrance to the Demon Abyss. War is coming. Tianyan Sect won’t stay peaceful for long. In your current state, how do you plan to protect yourself? Are you really counting on that little disciple of yours to keep you safe?”

Bai Tu remained silent.

“And another thing,” Xun Yi continued lazily, “I know you’re reluctant to leave, but look at yourself—what can you possibly do like this? Be good and listen to your senior brother. Leave with me while you still can. Everyone has their own fate, and you—an ascended immortal—why are you still running yourself ragged like this?”

Bai Tu was quiet for a long time. His ears drooped slightly. “…I understand.”

Xun Yi nodded. “You’ve already told everyone you’re in seclusion. Tomorrow, I’ll take you away. Once the child is born, we’ll figure things out. And don’t call me heartless—if you won’t think of yourself, at least think of the child.”

Night had fallen. Bai Tu sat in his small nest, staring into space.

Inside the room, Yun Ye blew out the oil lamp and lay down on his bed.

Just as he closed his eyes, he felt something soft and furry brush against his arm—a ticklish sensation that made him stir.

Sitting up, he reached out and grabbed the tiny fluff ball that was struggling to climb onto him.

Holding the small rabbit in his hands, he placed it gently back into its nest.

“No,” Yun Ye said firmly. “You’re too small to sleep on the bed. I might roll over and crush you in my sleep.”

The little rabbit blinked up at him with wide, ruby-red eyes, staring in confusion.

Seeing that it had stopped moving, Yun Ye tucked the silk handkerchief snugly around it before lying back down.

Not even a moment later, that familiar soft, fluffy sensation brushed against his ear.

Yun Ye turned his head—only to find the little rabbit sitting on his pillow, still gazing at him with those round, unblinking red eyes.

He sighed, scooping the rabbit up and holding it in front of him. “Rou Rou, you really can’t sleep here. What if I roll over and hurt you?”

The little rabbit remained motionless, staring at him with an expectant look.

Yun Ye’s heart softened. With a helpless sigh, he muttered, “You’re impossible. Fine, but be careful, alright?”

Shifting slightly to the inner side of the bed, he nestled the little rabbit in the space between his shoulder and neck, letting it rest against him.

Yun Ye gently stroked its head twice, his voice thick with drowsiness. “There. Now you can sleep, okay?”

The room was silent, and Yun Ye’s breathing gradually evened out.

Bai Tu rested his head on Yun Ye’s shoulder, turning slightly to study his sleeping face. After a long while, he sighed, gently nudging his head against Yun Ye’s neck before settling down, not moving again.

“Goodnight.”

…

^_^