Since leaving the Celestial Burial Pit, Chu Hanjin’s mindset had undergone numerous changes.

“So many issues, on the surface, seem to be about rules and etiquette, but in reality, they’re about power and resources, just like how someone wants us dead,” he said.

“Let’s keep moving.”

They walked for a whole day and finally reached the foot of the mountain.

They couldn’t approach the post station near Mist Ridge since it was frequented by people from the Rongku Sect, making it easy to be discovered. Chu Hanjin chose a secluded path far from the main road, where only sporadic villages and signs of human life could be seen.

In the evening, smoke rose from the eaves of each household as fires were lit for cooking, mixing the scents of various dishes with the aroma of sauerkraut stewed pork.

Unexpectedly, Chu Hanjin’s belt was tugged on; QQ refused to move.

His face, hidden inside a nutshell, turned towards the direction of the sauerkraut stewed pork. His hands on his hips, he looked longingly towards it.

Chu Hanjin, “…”

QQ stamped his feet, then looked at Chu Hanjin with what would surely be a pair of sparkling, greedy eyes if they could be seen.

His desire to eat was palpable!

Yue Lin clicked his tongue, “The kid’s hungry.”

Really hungry, pulling on Chu Hanjin’s fingers, heading towards a farmhouse, anxious enough that his outer layer began to wrinkle.

Chu Hanjin paused for a moment, realizing something different, “This is the first time he’s shown interest in normal food; before, he would just draw nutrients from the nutshell.”

“His nutshell is in such a state, hunger was inevitable,” Yue Lin commented, touching his tender little hand, “What do we do now? We can’t make sauerkraut stewed pork.”

Chu Hanjin nodded, “We can’t approach the cottage. The local Taoist temple must have been warned by the villagers. As soon as we show up, they’ll secretly send messages to the Dao Palace, and our tracks will be exposed again.”

But QQ, looking up, the cracks in his nutshell seemed to be continuously chanting: Hungry~~ Hungry~~ Hungry~~~~~

Hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, howl~

Chu Hanjin patted him, “Let’s find a place to rest temporarily and see if we can find something to eat.”

He carried QQ by the legs without further ado, continuing on their way, and eventually found an abandoned earth god temple a few miles away. The door was dilapidated and weeds overgrown, but luckily, there was an earth house sheltered by some wooden planks. Despite the light rain, the ground below was soft and dry, barely suitable for a night’s rest.

Chu Hanjin was worried about Yue Lin’s health and put down QQ, “How’s the wound?”

“It’s nothing serious.” Yue Lin unbuckled his sword, sighing as if relieved, and slowly sat down against the corner.

Surrounded by darkness, Chu Hanjin went to the yard and turned over the abandoned wooden beams. Many of the wood pieces were damp from the rain and unusable. It took him a while to pull out a crossbeam from the bottom, split it, and then started a fire. By the light of the fire, he checked Yue Lin’s injuries.

Yue Lin tried to stop him, “I’ll do it myself.”

He grabbed Chu Hanjin’s wrist, but his hand did not stop as he unwound the tightly bound cloth around his shoulder.

In the dark and chilly surroundings, the moonlight-like shadows bathed Chu Hanjin’s brows, and his cool fingers rested on his shoulder, the touch like droplets of clean water, yet dry and gentle.

They were very close, and Yue Lin could smell the faint scent on him, making his shoulders slowly relax, though his hand still held onto his wrist.

The warmth between their touching hands was very apparent. Chu Hanjin noticed it, turned his head to look at him, and said nothing. He replaced the blood-soaked cloth with a clean one, rewrapped it, and prepared to stand up while his wrist was still being held.

Yue Lin’s eyes were profound, “It hurts.”

“…”

Not like last night, his condition now seemed much better, playful enough to tease him.

“I still have things to do,” Chu Hanjin said.

Yue Lin caressed the back of his hand several times reluctantly, then let go, “Should we go get some food? QQ still seems to be thinking about the sauerkraut stewed pork.”

“I’ll check.”

Chu Hanjin left the decrepit earth god temple, and after a while, he caught a rabbit in the woods. After washing it clean, he skewered the rabbit with a peeled branch and placed it on a makeshift grill over a pile of wood.

The fat sizzled.

After a day on the road, the family of three was somewhat tired, especially QQ, who smelled the roasted rabbit and trembled slightly, wanting to touch the grill.

Yue Lin pulled his hand back, “It’s hot.”

QQ stopped his hand, but his little head turned unwaveringly towards the grill.

Again, the overwhelming hunger — hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry.

Chu Hanjin now knew what it felt like to be a father, sighed, and when the rabbit was finally roasted, he tore off a piece of meat, cooled it, and handed it to him.

QQ took it and stuffed it into the crack of his nutshell.

Then he made a low purring sound, finding it delicious!

“It’s just plain meat, and he’s eating it with such relish,” Yue Lin touched his head, “In a few days when your dad’s wound is better, I’ll take you to eat something really tasty.”

QQ rarely rubbed his head against his palm and bounced around looking at Yue Lin, seemingly saying, “Want — want —”

Chu Hanjin tore off a rabbit leg, but who knew that after he took it, he stuffed the whole thing into the nutshell. After a while, with half a bone stuck out, he stood there dazed.

Chu Hanjin laughed and removed the bone, “You can’t eat the bone.”

But his teeth were quite sharp; he had chewed half of the bone to bits.

In the dark wilderness, although they were fleeing, the mood was surprisingly good. Yue Lin occasionally coughed a few times, but his complexion had already improved a lot.

Chu Hanjin watched QQ’s peeling nutshell, always feeling that the child was about to completely bounce out and didn’t seem to like this shell much anymore, occasionally picking at it, scratching it, and the skin connected to the nutshell was red from his scratching.

He now disliked hiding inside the nutshell and instead liked to boldly expose his legs and arms, sometimes even stretching out a leg.

…He’s a little boy.

It was necessary to sew him some trousers, Chu Hanjin thought, otherwise, when he jumps out of the nutshell, naked, it wouldn’t be good to be seen by others.

But now he had nothing on him; the packages in the inn had been seized, and all the prepared clothes and trousers were gone. Chu Hanjin could only tear another piece of cloth, use a jade hairpin to thread a needle and roughly make a pair of trousers.

It wasn’t too difficult, but they didn’t look very nice.

Chu Hanjin picked up QQ to put on the trousers, threading his feet through, but QQ seemed not to like them, jumping around in his arms, and after the trousers were on, he still looked a bit bewildered and tried to take them off.

QQ took a step forward.

Thud.

He fell to the ground.

Getting up, his legs were caught by the trousers.

“Thud,” he fell again.

Yue Lin tapped his chin with his finger, watching and laughing, “He can’t walk after putting on trousers.”

QQ held up his trousers with a puzzled face.

Chu Hanjin also found it funny, stood up, and walked around the earth god temple. After a while, he discovered a dried-up well, covered with wild grass, but filled with clean water.

This was a neglected earth god temple. After the Six Sects took over the civil affairs, other divine statues were destroyed, and the incense became weaker. This earth god temple had obviously not been maintained for many years.

Chu Hanjin found a wooden bucket in the wasteland.

He drew a bucket of water from the well, wrung out a cloth, and stripped to wash the unclean parts of his body. After undressing, his body felt a bit cold from the wind.

He was clearly aware of his own wrists.

And legs.

It seemed there was a gaze on his back.

Chu Hanjin turned around and saw it was Yue Lin, so he casually draped his clothes over his shoulders. The damp droplets fell along his hair to the side of his neck, his nape like warm white jade, but his lips were a deep red.

“Do you want to wash up? The water in the well is very clean.”

Yue Lin’s eyes seemed dimly lit by fire, his gaze falling from his face, and nodded, “Okay.”

“I’ll go check on QQ,” Chu Hanjin said and was about to leave.

But Yue Lin held him back, “He just played for a while and got tired, he’s lying down asleep now.”

“Alright, I’ll go check.” Chu Hanjin prepared to leave.

But as he passed by Yue Lin, he was pulled back by the wrist, hearing him ask, “Could you help me wipe down too?”

Chu Hanjin then realized he wanted him to stay.

Given the state of Yue Lin’s wound healing, a simple wipe down seemed manageable. But Chu Hanjin looked at him clearly yet did not argue, nodded, “Okay.”

He wrung out a cloth from the cold water, and Yue Lin also took off his clothes.

From shoulder to chest wrapped in white gauze, muscles restrained under the thin cloth, a typical solid external body, chest muscles full and firm, a powerful waist, shrouded in a very light shadow by the dim sky.

Chu Hanjin’s undressing always reminded one of warm lard, smooth and clean, but when Yue Lin undressed, his body was steaming, making him seem vigorous.

The cloth was cold.

Once it touched his skin, it was warmed by his body heat, transferring the warmth through the fabric to Chu Hanjin’s fingertips, as if ignited.

Yue Lin’s fingers played with a strand of Chu Hanjin’s hair, gently stroking, the sandalwood scent spreading with the body heat into the tree shadows.

Chu Hanjin wiped his back, placing the heated cloth back in the bucket to wring out another cloth, spreading it in his palm before raising his head, his vision collided with a series of undulating mountains.

This was…

Chu Hanjin pinched the cloth and paused for a moment.

Yue Lin’s dark eyes watched him, seemingly also feeling a bit awkward, but unable to restrain himself, his teeth lightly biting, showing a tolerant expression.

A thin resentment rose behind Chu Hanjin’s ears.

They looked at each other.

…Strangely, neither of them spoke first about this issue.

From the time Chu Hanjin was pregnant, Yue Lin would deliver his dues every night, and it had been a long time since Chu Hanjin had seen him so out of control. Witnessing this scene after such a long time, holding the cloth, he didn’t know what to say for a moment, his ears slightly feverish.

But he tried to speak calmly, “Put it back… take off your trousers, and I’ll wipe down your lower body now.”

He tried to handle it as a matter of fact.

But the latter half of the sentence wasn’t very serious either.

Although he still spoke righteously, dignified and elegant, only his earlobes were red as if heavily kneaded.

Yue Lin was already unbearable, his voice more hoarse, “Spare me…”

Chu Hanjin hurriedly said, “Then let’s not wipe it—”

But just as he finished speaking, before he could throw the cloth into the bucket, his wrist was hastily grabbed.

Flowers blurred, two figures overlapped.

Yue Lin’s gaze fell into his eyes, his thin bones pinching his wrist, the force very heavy, as if suppressing something, the heat slightly emanating from his shoulders and neck, becoming a very pressing breath.

He held Chu Hanjin’s hand, trembling.

His voice was like a plea.

“Don’t go.”

Chu Hanjin’s mind exploded for a moment, his heart suddenly in chaos, and for an instant, floating in mid-air, it felt like everything was a dream.

When his consciousness slightly cleared up, he knew Yue Lin had turned towards him, one hand tightly holding his wrist, the other holding his own **.

Chu Hanjin, although practiced in martial arts, had a well-built and handsome frame, but his skin was always how it was born, white and clean, skin like congealed fat. His hand was rubbed by Yue Lin’s rough fingertips, almost rubbing the skin off the back of his hand, the redness darkening, then deepening, like spread blood, also like a blooming peony, being played with to the extreme.

He seemed afraid to touch Chu Hanjin too much, only daring to hold his hand, putting the minute experience to his utmost imagination.

When Yue Lin tightened his grip, through the veins and bones, he could feel the movements of Yue Lin’s other hand.

Tightening.

Then loosening.

Chu Hanjin stiffened in place, his gaze passing over his shoulder, looking towards the courtyard where QQ was alone.

The door was open, revealing a faint light, and QQ could be seen lying on his back, sound asleep, his little feet casually spread, very relaxed and cheerful.

And not far away, by the well, their two figures were half-hidden by the bushes, Yue Lin, this tender father, had his underpants undone, in unbearable yet hurried relief of his bestial nature.

Behind the child.

But in front of the child’s other father.

The free hand and his fingers intertwined, violating his hand.

Chu Hanjin broke out in a cold sweat on his back, swallowing dryly, feeling thirsty. He did not have Yue Lin’s sudden sensations, but at that moment also felt burning.

His back was very stiff, but he didn’t say anything.

Yue Lin’s released words, breath, warmth, his pleading… made him feel Yue Lin was probably in extreme pain, longing, heat, and pitifully so.

Chu Hanjin hadn’t felt such intense desires himself, but he understood his psychological feelings at that moment.

His arm was stiff, held tightly by Yue Lin.

He didn’t leave with a sweep of his sleeves.

He didn’t leave angrily.

He didn’t look at him with eyes that saw something dirty.

This was a very good sign for Yue Lin.

Chu Hanjin’s only resistance was not knowing where to place his eyes, and after being at a loss, he glanced at him thinly, his noble eyes then looking away.

…So cute.

Yue Lin’s heart burned even hotter.

He wasn’t sure, but his feelings began to clarify.

Chu Hanjin had feelings for him.

He couldn’t help but, tightly seeking his eyes, wanted to give his true heart, “A-Chu…”

Chu Hanjin’s head hung even lower, not looking at him.

Yue Lin said, “I love you.”

This one word made Chu Hanjin’s fingers tremble slightly, seemingly wanting to pull away, but was grabbed even tighter.

Yue Lin looked at him as if looking at something beloved, unable to resist moving closer to his earlobe, “I love you…”

His voice was low and hot.

Chu Hanjin’s heart was in chaos, touched by the heat, and finally, his chin lifted, looking into his eyes.

Chu Hanjin’s eyes were clear, like a pool of moonlight, for the first time openly and clearly looking at him.

Although he said nothing, Yue Lin had already felt it.

He drew Chu Hanjin’s hand closer to his own **.

But Chu Hanjin struggled a bit, his fingers retracting, a flash of panic in his eyes, his eyes complex and turbulent.

As if it was too sudden.

He wasn’t ready yet.

Yue Lin knew their hearts were connected, his gaze hot, softly said, “Just touch it…”

His voice was very light, coaxing him, “Just a touch…”

Chu Hanjin heard him almost begging himself.

“…A-Chu.”

Bound by the flames of hell, only he was redemption.

Chu Hanjin’s mind became chaotic, his eyes were the concrete form of Yue Lin, his mind seemed a sea of swords and flames, a vague white fog constantly churning, something almost breaking free from his reason—

Chu Hanjin’s rational edifice collapsed thunderously.

His arm softened.

Like a soft vine.

Yue Lin, as if pardoned, led the vine onto the burning branch.

Bit by bit, like sweet rain, filling the parched cracks, becoming moist, rainwater meticulously planned.

Chu Hanjin hung his head, turned to the side, ignoring everything, his slender white finger roots gently contracting, continuously trembling.

The ground was slippery, constantly bubbling up black water bubbles, stirring, making his fingers very wet.

Very dirty.

Becoming tainted.

Meanwhile, Yue Lin was experiencing a thorough pleasure.

…

…

…

The wet cloth sank to the bottom of the bucket.

The deep night bird calls echoed by his ears.

Chu Hanjin lowered his head, the dampness on his hands dried by the wind, faintly sticky, and beyond that, the air carried a faintly dispersing fishy scent.

“Shall we wash our hands?” Yue Lin’s somewhat hoarse voice asked him.

Chu Hanjin, as if waking from a dream, looked up, unintentionally glanced at him.

His eye corners were a bit wet, his eye tails red, hastily emerged.

But just quietly looked at Yue Lin once, yet seemed as if there were thousands of words.

Yue Lin bent down halfway, picked up the cloth to wipe his hands, meticulously cleaning every inch of his skin, white and tidy, without a trace of stickiness.

But this hand had been rubbed too long, red, dark, and white, nails upturned, the dark red color ambiguously unbelievable.

Yue Lin washed his hands clean, brought them to his lips, and kissed them, “A-Chu.”

He had regained his reason, not like just now, so uncontrollable and dangerous.

But no matter what, without Chu Hanjin’s consent, he had always been too presumptuous, as if always a lion that had bitten onto the neck, patiently licking his prey’s fur, desperately enduring the natural desire to tear and bite.

Even if he was just like that, he could still be considered respectful, polite, even if the details were filthy, but he also did not force Chu Hanjin down to act.

Chu Hanjin withdrew his hand, shook his head, turned back under the eaves.

In the room, QQ’s nutshell had peeled off another piece while he slept, revealing half of his small belly, white, with a little belly button.

Worried he’d catch a cold, wanting to hold him in his arms, but Yue Lin moved first.

He picked up the child, glanced at Chu Hanjin, “You should rest.”

“…”

Chu Hanjin said nothing, leaning against the wall, his palm still burning, blown by the wind, seeming to still hold the feel of his **.

Hard.

Rough.

Like some kind of monster, pulsing in his palm.

Chu Hanjin’s fingers curled slightly, turning his head, Yue Lin was holding the child to sleep, a few strands of hair falling over his handsome and sharp brow, his lips bearing a deep scar.

Yue Lin died in his early twenties, very young. If you didn’t count the years he spent dead, he might still be younger than Chu Hanjin by a few years.

Occasionally, he seemed a bit youthful, holding the child, more like a brother than a father.

…He looked very different from when he was in heat.

As Chu Hanjin was lost in thought, his fingers were lightly touched.

At some point, Yue Lin had held his hand again.

Their eyes met, Yue Lin’s dark golden eyes deep and affectionate, gently rubbing his palm, “Can we just hold hands like this?”

“…”

He liked him a lot.

He was very clingy.

Chu Hanjin didn’t know what to say, after a long while, he lightly nodded.

Yue Lin, holding QQ, slowly leaned closer, and their shoulders gently touched.

He softly said, “Sleep.”

Outside the window, the sound of wind and rain grew louder, pouring down on the ground, hitting the leaves and wooden frames, faintly blowing some wind inside.

The walls were hard, the ground damp, occasionally ants and insects crawled by, the sound of rain almost lifting the roof, and somehow, Chu Hanjin had a dream.

It was still the calamity of Yuanshan Sect in his childhood. He and the other children hurried to the Rongku Sect, rushed on the road, and stayed in such a wild, broken temple. He had just lost his parents, blankly staring at everything around him.

A little friend came over, holding a bamboo doll.

Xiao Jiu pulled him, whispering, “I’ll sleep with you.”

So on that straw pile, young Chu Hanjin had a good night’s sleep.

In the dream, Xiao Jiu always held him.

When Chu Hanjin woke up, his shoulder felt heavy, as if draped with an arm, and he realized at some point Yue Lin had embraced him, shielding him from the wind and rain.

In their arms, QQ was drowsily waking up.

…No wonder he had such a dream.

Chu Hanjin rubbed his temples and stood up, intending to go to the well to wash his face again, to shake off the discomfort of sleeping in the wild.

When he walked into the weeds, he saw a small path in the grass, trampled by someone, probably made last night by him and Yue Lin.

Chu Hanjin didn’t think much of it, walking to the well, only to find the bucket missing.

At the same time, the rabbit bones he’d thrown in the grass last night were also gone.

Chu Hanjin froze for a second, hearing a panting sound.

Huff huff huff, like the breathing of a wild beast.

He turned around and saw a wild dog standing in the grass, pitch black like a thunderbolt, with an iron collar around its neck, baring fangs almost the length of fingers, growling and barking wildly at him.

A dog?

So fat and strong, much larger than a normal dog!

Chu Hanjin’s eyelids twitched violently, knowing what this was.

It was the “Yin Dog” of Lord Bao Yang, skilled at sniffing out blood, loving to tear and bite. And now, it had tracked them here.

That meant the pursuers from the Yin-Yang Sect were nearby!