Steam rose from the pool, covering the two intertwined figures.

Hints of cold, pale skin peeked through the red haze, though most of it was obscured, leaving only blurred shades visible.

Outside the window, the rain was fast and chaotic, weaving into a rhythmic sound as the raindrops soaked deeper into the muddy ground, forming a thick, entangled downpour…

…

By the time daylight fully broke, Chu Hanjin slowly woke up.

His arm was resting beneath his chin, and his mind hadn’t fully cleared. He had slept deeply, to the point where it felt incredibly comfortable—like his entire body had been replenished, a slight itch running through his bones, leaving him feeling unusually refreshed.

If it weren’t for turning his head and seeing Yue Lin lying beside him, Chu Hanjin might not have remembered what happened last night.

Last night…

Because of the child, he and Yue Lin had XXXXXXX.

Chu Hanjin paused for a moment, lifting his clothes briefly to sense his body. Nothing felt out of the ordinary—it was like he had just had a good night’s sleep.

He glanced at Yue Lin, still peacefully asleep.

Chu Hanjin took a deep breath, fingers hooking onto the hem of his clothes and slowly sliding them down, his eyes quickly scanning his skin, which was clean and unmarked, still showing no signs of XXXXXX.

He pulled his clothes back on, and at that moment, Yue Lin opened his eyes, lying on the pillow and looking at him.

Chu Hanjin asked, “Last night, you didn’t XXX?”

Yue Lin’s thin eyelids drooped slightly, as if exhausted. His lips parted, and he said in a mildly surprised tone, “Why?”

“XXXXX?” Chu Hanjin asked, feeling strange about bringing it up, but equally odd if he didn’t mention it.

Yue Lin’s gaze flickered slightly, his voice carrying a subtle, eerie undertone, “Why are you asking that?”

Chu Hanjin replied honestly, “XXXX.”

Yue Lin coughed lightly, averting his gaze, “XXXXXXXXXX,” pausing before adding, “XXXXXXXXCXXXXXX.”

So that’s how it was.

No wonder he looked a bit worn out, as if especially tired.

Chu Hanjin wasn’t an ordinary body—his physique had undergone extensive tempering, and restoring it consumed a lot of spiritual energy. Yue Lin must have worked hard until late, which would explain why he seemed so drained now.

Chu Hanjin stood up. He reached for the snow-white outer robe hanging on the rack. Because of XXXXXXXXXXXXXX, he was XXXXXXX but found himself quite curious. Pausing, he asked, “Then how did you do it?”

Yue Lin’s face remained calm for a moment before he slightly inclined his head and said, “…Hmm.”

Recalling last night’s XXXXXXX, Yue Lin’s eyebrows lowered subtly, and he smiled warmly at “I XXXXXX, XXXXXXXXXXX, XXXXXXXXXX.”

Chu Hanjin sighed in relief, “That’s good.”

He thought for a moment, then nodded slowly, “Let’s keep it that way from now on.”

“…”

Yue Lin’s smile deepened.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Now that Chu Hanjin was awake, Yue Lin didn’t go back to sleep either. He watched as Chu Hanjin stepped outside into the courtyard to bask in the morning sun, and he followed.

“Hungry? I’ll have someone bring breakfast over.”

Chu Hanjin nodded.

The two of them sat at the stone table in the courtyard, where a few small dishes and congee were laid out. Chu Hanjin quietly ate while Yue Lin placed a few pieces of food on his plate, saying, “Eat more, we’ve got a lot of activities lately, you might get hungry faster.”

Chu Hanjin gripped his chopsticks a bit tighter.

While they ate, a servant approached and said, “My Lord, this is a braised goose the Holy Lady sent this morning. The meat is tender, the skin crispy, and the fragrance is mouthwatering—perfect to go with rice. She said it’s to help you recover, as she heard you weren’t feeling well.”

Yue Lin casually waved his chopsticks, not even looking up, “She’s got time to spare? Since she sent it, take it. The whole city’s treasures are hidden in her estate, living in a world of wine and extravagance.”

The servant nodded, “As you command.”

Chu Hanjin looked up briefly, “She’s that good to you?”

Yue Lin shook his head, “The factions in the city have been stagnant, like a pool of dead water, for years. Ever since I returned, things have started to stir again. I’m sure they’ll begin fighting soon. She’s trying to win my favor in her own way.”

Chu Hanjin put down his chopsticks, “People’s hearts are hard to predict.”

Yue Lin nodded in agreement, “In cultivation, the first thing we’re taught is to let go of worldly desires, yet some pursue cultivation for the sake of worldly desires.”

He picked up a piece of goose soaked in sauce and placed it on Chu Hanjin’s plate, saying, “Try it? It’s pretty good.”

As Chu Hanjin accepted the goose, he caught a whiff of the warm scent that clung to Yue Lin. It was like the fragrance of fresh leaves, calming and soothing to the spirit.

Perhaps it was the result of last night’s bond—they now shared a unique scent, something only the two of them could understand, and it was quite pleasant.

After finishing the goose, Yue Lin continued placing small dishes into his bowl, as if determined to fill him up.

Chu Hanjin’s stomach became slightly rounded from the meal, and Yue Lin crouched down, gently placing his hand on his abdomen, “It does seem a bit bigger.”

Chu Hanjin nodded, thinking it was because he had eaten too much that morning.

In reality, he didn’t know that last night Yue Lin had left XXXXXXX inside him, nourishing his body and expanding his abdomen, without letting a drop escape.

After they put down their chopsticks, Chu Hanjin said, “I’m heading out for a walk later.”

Yue Lin nodded, “You’ve been cooped up in the courtyard for too long—it must be boring. Go ahead, but I’m not in a position to show my face, so I won’t join you.”

Chu Hanjin nodded and left the courtyard. Just as he reached the back gate, a familiar childlike voice called out.

“Hey~”

Chu Hanjin turned his head and saw the smiling face of Xiao Jiu perched on the wall.

“…”

Chu Hanjin felt a little exasperated. Just as he stepped outside the gate, Xiao Jiu grabbed his finger, and at the same time, Chu Hanjin caught a familiar scent on him.

Yue Lin was right.

Does he really need to keep pretending like this?

Xiao Jiu asked, “Where are we going to play today?”

“Just strolling around the streets,” Chu Hanjin replied, then asked in return, “And you?”

“I’ll walk with you,” Xiao Jiu said in a cute voice, “I get so bored every day, so it’s perfect to hang out with you.”

“Aren’t you afraid I’m boring?”

Xiao Jiu shook his head, “No, it’s fun being with you.”

Chu Hanjin couldn’t help but reach out and gently rub Xiao Jiu’s nose. Xiao Jiu immediately covered his face, but then released his hands and smiled at him, “Am I your first friend since you came here?”

Chu Hanjin chuckled, as if understanding why Yue Lin insisted on pretending like this, and nodded, “Yes, you are.”

Xiao Jiu, “Yay!”

Chu Hanjin laughed softly, gently patting Xiao Jiu’s head like he was petting a small dog.

This gesture came so naturally—if it were Yue Lin in his normal form, he wouldn’t have been able to pull it off.

The two of them hadn’t walked far when they encountered a broad avenue, flanked by tall white walls, with a towering pagoda-like structure in the middle. It was clearly a Daoist palace, grand and magnificent, with clouds swirling around it, giving off a mysterious aura.

Carriages were lined up below the vermilion walls, and young children dressed in gold and silver entered and exited.

Xiao Jiu said, “This is Cangming Academy, where cultivators are sent to study. They’re sorted into classes based on their abilities, starting from the age of three.”

Chu Hanjin glanced at the young “little devils” coming and going and deliberately asked, “So why aren’t you going to school? Always looking for me instead?”

Xiao Jiu scratched his head and stammered, “My aptitude’s too poor, so I got kicked out. Oh well, nothing I can do.” He blinked, “You won’t stop being friends with me just because I’m dumb, right?”

“…”

Chu Hanjin raised his eyebrows slightly.

Just then, a grand eight-person palanquin approached, with cultivators sweeping the way, making quite a spectacle. A richly dressed youth squatted down, forming a human bench, and bowed low to the ground.

Seeing this scene, Chu Hanjin thought of the Holy Lady.

But when the curtain lifted, it was only a child of about ten, exuding an air of nobility, stepping down onto the human bench and gazing arrogantly around.

On the other side, another similarly grand palanquin arrived. A second child, also around ten years old, descended, matching the first child’s arrogance.

The two children faced off in the middle of the road, exchanging glances.

Xiao Jiu clicked his tongue lightly, “Interesting. A fight’s about to break out.”

“What do you mean?”

Xiao Jiu explained, “The one on the left is the Holy Lady’s eldest son, and the one on the right is her second son. She’s exactly like her father—loves pomp, beauty, and having lots of children, but doesn’t care about them at all. She raises a bunch of male lovers and has a heap of kids, but leaves them to fend for themselves.”

Chu Hanjin silently watched the scene ahead.

“She had all these children, but only one can inherit, so they’re always fighting. Just look at them now.”

Sure enough.

In the demonic world, the strong-willed were rampant, and these two young children, both proud and spoiled, were no exception. They quickly began hurling insults at each other, “You lowly brat born from a brothel! How dare you block my path? I let you go yesterday, but today it’s your turn to let me through!”

The other child retorted, “Dream on! I’m the firstborn and should go first. Who do you think you are, the child of a disgraced courtesan, daring to call yourself royalty in front of me?”

Chu Hanjin frowned slightly.

How vulgar.

Xiao Jiu, however, was unperturbed and tugged at Chu Hanjin’s sleeve, “Let’s go watch from a shady spot.”

They watched the two children argue for a while in the middle of the road, blocking the royal carriages of those on their way to school. All that could be heard was the endless shouting and cursing—a truly lively scene.

Suddenly, something crossed Chu Hanjin’s mind, and a ripple passed through his eyes, “These children are pitiful.”

Xiao Jiu snorted softly, “Pitiful? They have food, clothes, silk, and satin—hardly pitiful. At least their mothers are still alive and favored. Unlike some kids whose mothers die right after they’re born, left to grow up like wild weeds, with no one to care for them, no mother, no one at all.”

Chu Hanjin detected something in his words and glanced down at him.

Xiao Jiu’s dark eyes were focused on the crowd, his profile stubborn and determined.

After a moment of thought, Chu Hanjin asked, “Are you talking about the current Demon Lord, Yue Lin?”

Xiao Jiu’s voice was clear, “Yes. His mother wasn’t even a cultivator—just a young maidservant who got pregnant with the Demon Lord’s child and died in childbirth before she could even give birth.”

Chu Hanjin sighed softly, reaching out a clean, pale finger to tap Xiao Jiu’s head lightly, “How sad.”

One poke, and Xiao Jiu yelped, turning to look at him.

The man standing before him was bathed in sunlight, his features impossibly clean and gentle. He reached out again and gently tapped Xiao Jiu’s forehead, “How sad.”

Xiao Jiu froze for a moment, his face turning red as he held his head, turning away, “I think he’s pitiful too.”

Not willing to admit it, Chu Hanjin chuckled softly again.

The two of them turned back, walking the way they came. Chu Hanjin glanced at the sun, realizing it was getting hot and decided to hurry back. But midway, feeling the heat, he stopped in front of a bookstore.

It was a narrow shop, its wooden door tightly squeezed with books, and inside, a small desk where a young scholar sat, holding a brush.

The scholar looked up at him with a smile, “Daoist, here to buy a book?”

“Just getting out of the sun.”

The scholar nodded, “Feel free to stay.”

His hand continued writing on the paper, and Chu Hanjin glanced around the shop. He didn’t see any books on virtue or righteousness, only titles like The King and His Enchantress, The Dao Companion’s Betrayal, Heartless Jade Lover, One Night of Spring Wine—all kinds of colorful and suggestive names.

Among them, there were even some with titles like Secrets of the Bedroom and Hidden Chronicles of Erotic Paintings, which seemed like collections of erotic illustrations.

Chu Hanjin only glanced once before turning away, feeling a bit uncomfortable, tugging Xiao Jiu along, “Let’s go.”

Xiao Jiu, however, took a few more glances, seemingly intrigued, “Hey, I even saw one about a Daoist and a Demon Lord—”

But Chu Hanjin didn’t look back, grabbing the back of Xiao Jiu’s clothes and half-dragging him out of the bookstore and back onto the street. Seeing that Xiao Jiu kept looking back, Chu Hanjin covered his eyes with his clean, pale hands, blocking his view.

“That’s enough.”

Xiao Jiu, “No—”

“Enough.”

Finally, Xiao Jiu wiggled a bit and asked, “Are you going home?”

Chu Hanjin lowered his head, his gaze shifting, “Yes.”

Xiao Jiu grinned, “Alright then, I’ll be off. I’ll come find you to play another day.”

With that, he hugged his bamboo-made toy doll, kicked his little feet, and without hesitation, darted off down the street.

Watching him leave so swiftly, Chu Hanjin guessed he was going to change forms again.

Sure enough, when Chu Hanjin arrived at the courtyard corridor, just as he rounded a corner, he saw the figure of a young man standing among the shadows of the trees. Sunlight spilled onto his shoulders as he held a freshly bloomed lotus in one hand, his voice casual, “Back already?”

“…”

He wanted to ask, aren’t you tired?

Yue Lin, with his head slightly lowered, walked out from beneath the green leaves and said, “The weather’s been hot lately, so I built a little pavilion by the lotus pond for you to cool off in. After lunch, you can nap there.”

“Mm,” Chu Hanjin stood for a moment, “You didn’t go out this morning?”

“No, I stayed in to catch up on some sleep. Last night was pretty exhausting.” His voice carried a laugh, “But you probably don’t know—I took great care to restore you, so you wouldn’t feel sore or tired.”

Otherwise, if Chu Hanjin had woken up covered in kiss marks, bites, handprints, and with an aching waist, not to mention other messy places, he wouldn’t know how to face him.

The more he thought about it, the more Yue Lin was convinced that taking care of his beloved was never a mistake.

Having believed Yue Lin’s words and seeing him speak so casually, Chu Hanjin felt a bit embarrassed but not too guarded anymore. He replied straightforwardly, “If it’s not necessary, there’s no need to go through the trouble. I’m fine.”

“…”

Yue Lin vaguely agreed.

He picked up his chopsticks and placed a slice of bamboo shoot into Chu Hanjin’s bowl. After a moment, he looked into his eyes and said, “When you take a nap later…”

“What?”

Yue Lin put down his chopsticks, the corners of his lips curling slightly, his eyes bright and full of spirit, yet his voice remained restrained and soft, “Can I do it again?”