Chapter 49
They played until the water in the tub was ice-cold. Gu Wenzhu then guided all the water to flow into the ditch outside.
Xia Yi buried himself in Gu Wenzhu’s embrace, looking up at him with admiration. “Brother Zhu, you’re amazing!”
Gu Wenzhu smiled, “I just wanted to make you happy.”
“It’s not just about making me happy. I’m telling you, your skills shouldn’t be used just for tricks; they can be put to great practical use!” Xia Yi said seriously.
That night, the air was cool as water, with a crescent moon hanging in the sky, casting soft beams of light.
Xia Yi lay on a couch in the courtyard, a layer of cucumber juice, which Gu Wenzhu had controlled, forming a film of water tightly adhering to his skin.
No matter how much he jumped, ran, laughed, or cried, it wouldn’t fall off. The film adjusted its shape to conform to Xia Yi’s facial changes.
In his hand was a small plate of raisins, dried mangoes, and beef jerky, which he slowly chewed.
These dried fruits and jerky were all made by Gu Wenzhu extracting moisture for him.
Xia Yi crossed his legs, lazily swinging his fair feet, and proudly said to Gu Wenzhu, who sat nearby, “Brother Zhu, I told you, your abilities aren’t just for making little cats and dogs; their practicality is particularly strong.”
Gu Wenzhu smiled and patted his head, getting up to say, “I’ll go grab some apples and freshly squeeze you a bowl of apple juice.”
The term “freshly squeezed” was something Xia Yi had taught him, and Gu Wenzhu felt it was quite fitting.
Watching Gu Wenzhu’s tall figure disappear into the kitchen, Xia Yi returned his gaze, humming a tune while popping raisins into his mouth.
“Ying.” 179 suddenly made a whimpering sound in his mind.
“Don’t whimper; the technical system will be fine. You can’t eat that raisin,” Xia Yi said lazily, knowing it was about the same two things again.
“Ying.” 179 whined again, sounding a bit teary.
“What’s wrong?” Xia Yi put down the raisin. “If something’s up, just say it properly, don’t just hum.”
“There’s a ghost.” 179’s voice trembled.
“A ghost?” Xia Yi quickly sat up, looking around. “Where’s the ghost? Where?”
There wasn’t even a shadow in the courtyard, let alone a ghost.
“It’s in the bamboo forest outside the courtyard.” 179 whispered, as if afraid a loud sound would alert the ghost.
Outside was a vast bamboo forest, swaying gently in the breeze, producing a soft rustling sound. The bamboo shadows were mottled, casting a serene ambiance on the ground.
Following 179’s guidance, Xia Yi looked toward the bamboo forest and was taken aback.
He saw a person standing at the top of the bamboo, tall and slender, standing with hands clasped behind his back, facing away from the courtyard.
The person wore flowing robes that seemed to float effortlessly, his entire being appearing weightless, gently swaying with the bamboo leaves.
There really was a ghost.
Ying.
Xia Yi felt a chill run down his back, his scalp tightening, and all the hair on his body standing on end. Just as he was about to shout for Gu Wenzhu, the clouds parted and the moon rose, casting a halo over the bamboo forest. The figure slowly turned, revealing himself from the shadows.
Upon closer inspection, he was wearing a Qishan uniform that fluttered gently in the wind, and his face, which resembled Gu Wenzhu’s, was expressionless as he stared blandly toward the courtyard.
It was Cang Yi.
What the hell? What was this immortal doing? Already in Qishan Sect but not visiting his disciples? Sneaking around in the middle of the night to spy on someone else’s courtyard?
As Xia Yi pondered whether to wave and greet him, he suddenly recalled their last encounter in the barrier.
After falling off a cliff and being rescued by him, not only did I fail to repay his life-saving kindness, but when I returned to the farming world, I punched him in the face and even flipped him off.
I’m doomed, I need to hide. How can I even face him and greet him now?
Xia Yi quickly turned around, his heart pounding.
He didn’t recognize me, right? After all, it’s nighttime, and the lighting isn’t great.
But if even I, someone at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, can see clearly like an owl, how could Cang Yi, an immortal lord, not see me clearly?
What if he comes over to confront me?
But I did punch him for no reason; the poor guy must be confused. If he comes, I’ll sincerely apologize, and if he wants to hit me back, that’s fine.
I’ll even offer several pounds of carrots and onions as compensation.
Thinking this, Xia Yi gritted his teeth, turned to face Cang Yi, his face slightly flushed, bowed, and loudly called out, “Immortal Lord, would you like to come in and sit for a while?”
However, Cang Yi didn’t respond. He merely glanced at Xia Yi with indifference, then averted his gaze, looking up at the crescent moon in the sky.
Awkwardly, Xia Yi scratched his head, not daring to sit down. He stood there obediently in the courtyard, facing Cang Yi from afar.
“179, he’s not a ghost; he’s the Cang Yi I told you about before—the Immortal Lord I mistook for Brother Zhu. See? I wasn’t lying to you, they’re not the same person.” Xia Yi explained to the system.
“Well, that’s not necessarily true. Gu Wenzhu isn’t here right now, so how do you know he didn’t sneak into the kitchen, change his clothes, and climb onto the bamboo to spy on you?” 179 had now become an expert in nitpicking.
“How did you become so unreasonable?” Xia Yi said in frustration. “You’re becoming more and more unfamiliar to me. The cute and single system I knew has turned into a sharp-tongued one.”
179, feeling attacked, began to shout indignantly, “That’s Gu Wenzhu, definitely Gu Wenzhu! Prove me wrong if you can!”
“Brother Zhu, Brother Zhu!” Xia Yi called out softly toward the kitchen, his voice just loud enough to be heard in the courtyard. “Come out quickly!”
After calling, he glanced back at Cang Yi, who remained motionless.
But there was no response from the kitchen.
179 chuckled twice.
“Brother Zhu, Brother Zhu!” Xia Yi raised his voice slightly, “If you hear me, answer!”
The courtyard remained silent, without any response.
179 began to giggle gleefully.
Xia Yi started feeling uneasy. Gu Wenzhu had gone to the kitchen to make apple juice, hadn’t he? Why wasn’t he answering? Where did he go?
He wasn’t really thinking that Gu Wenzhu was Cang Yi; he was more concerned that, after the recent confrontation with the people from the sect, someone might hold a grudge and secretly cause trouble for Gu Wenzhu.
The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he became. He sat up, searched for his shoes under the couch, and prepared to head to the kitchen to check.
“See? You can’t trust men. You think Gu Wenzhu is good to you? He just wants your body.”
“Better to believe in ghosts than to trust a man’s promises.”
“Back when it was just the two of us, we were so happy, but now you’ve chosen this heartless man and are left to suffer alone.”
Xia Yi couldn’t take it anymore and shouted angrily, “179, enough! If you keep badmouthing him, I’ll stop being friends with you.”
“Who said we’re friends? Who wants to be friends with you?” 179 shouted back, equally furious. “I won’t talk to you anymore. I’m shutting down.”
Despite saying that, 179 began playing a song in Xia Yi’s mind, a lively Minnan tune.
“Turns out your sweet words
Were just a plan to leave me behind
Turns out your honeyed promises
Were just a game to you
Ah… let me ask you
Ah… let me ask you
Where is your conscience?”
Xia Yi frowned. He had just finished pulling on his shoes when Gu Wenzhu emerged from the kitchen, carefully holding a bowl. “Xiao Yi, come drink some apple juice.”
“Why didn’t you answer when I called you just now?” Xia Yi asked loudly, his face tense and filled with anger.
Nothing happened, and yet you didn’t respond, making me lose face in front of 179. Now that tune is stuck in my head on repeat.
Damn it, I wish there was a way to block it.
So annoying.
“I went out the back door of the kitchen to the backyard. I saw a pear tree there earlier today, and the pears were ripe, so I was going to make you some pear juice,” Gu Wenzhu explained.
“What’s wrong? Just a short absence and you’re upset?” Seeing Xia Yi’s expression, Gu Wenzhu couldn’t help but laugh. “You haven’t gained weight, but your temper’s certainly grown.”
“I wasn’t upset, I was worried about you when you didn’t answer,” Xia Yi huffed angrily, raising his voice. “Who has a temper? I’m a loving husband, always spoiling my wife!”
After saying that, he stomped back to the couch and sat down heavily, kicking off his shoes. They flew a few meters away in opposite directions.
“Alright, alright, you don’t have a temper. You’re just a little sweet melon.” Gu Wenzhu placed the bowl on the small table, then went to pick up the shoes, gently brushing off the dust. He returned to kneel in front of Xia Yi, holding his foot to put the shoes back on.
Xia Yi sat there, his chest heaving from anger, but gradually calming down. As he watched Gu Wenzhu carefully put his shoes back on, a wave of guilt surged within him.
I was mad at 179 and took it out on him. How can I still call myself a loving husband?
Before marriage, he had vowed to be the perfect, devoted husband, but now, is this how he treats his beloved wife?
Gu Wenzhu lowered his head without saying a word. Because of the way he was putting on the shoes, a strand of his jet-black hair slipped down his neck and clung to his cheek.
His eyelashes drooped, his expression calm, and his demeanor soft and focused.
Xia Yi couldn’t resist reaching out to brush that bothersome strand of hair back into place.
Gu Wenzhu had already finished putting on his shoes but remained in a crouched position, lifting his head to look quietly at Xia Yi.
His eyes, deep like obsidian, were filled with a tenderness that could make anyone fall into them, shimmering faintly under the moonlight.
Xia Yi’s heart was hit instantly by that gaze, feeling both sour and soft. Damn, how could I be such a jerk?
His hand, still lingering near Gu Wenzhu’s ear, moved to the back of his head, gently pulling him into his embrace.
Gu Wenzhu followed along, wrapping his arms around Xia Yi’s waist and burying his head in Xia Yi’s chest.
Xia Yi leaned down, planting soft kisses on Gu Wenzhu’s dark hair, murmuring lovingly, “Baby, I’m sorry. I wasn’t angry at you.”
Gu Wenzhu nodded in his arms.
Xia Yi continued, “I was upset about something else, not you. No matter what, I’ll always be your little sweet melon.”
It seemed like Gu Wenzhu chuckled, as Xia Yi felt his shoulders tremble twice.
“Whimper,” came the trembling voice of 179 again.
What the hell are you whimpering about now? Laugh, go on, laugh! Laugh all you want.
Almost caused a rift between me and my husband, Xia Yi thought, giving the system no response.
“Host, I’m sorry,” 179 said cautiously when Xia Yi ignored him. “You apologized to Gu Wenzhu, and he forgave you. I’m apologizing to you now, could you forgive me too?”
“I admit it, I was jealous. I’m a bitter system. Cang Yi and Gu Wenzhu aren’t the same person,” 179 said, feeling wronged as Xia Yi continued to hold Gu Wenzhu. “If you hadn’t attacked me for being single, I wouldn’t have laughed at you like that.”
“I won’t do it again. I was wrong, I’m sorry.”
“Alright, I apologize too. I shouldn’t have called you a single system first,” Xia Yi said, realizing 179 was almost on the verge of tears.
“Then we’re good, right? We’re best friends again,” 179 said, instantly perking up, sounding eager to please.
After hearing 179’s words, Xia Yi suddenly remembered Cang Yi. He quickly pushed Gu Wenzhu away and stood up. “Brother Zhu, Immortal Lord Cang Yi is in the bamboo grove outside the courtyard.”
Saying that, he turned toward the bamboo grove.
But as the bamboo shadows swayed, there was no sign of anyone at the top of the bamboo, only the quiet crescent moon hanging in the sky.
There was no Cang Yi in sight.
