Xue Laohu's eyes were bloodshot, weighed down by dark bags from his sleepless night. He sat stiffly, his back aching, every nerve alight with tension. He hadn't dared to close his eyes—not even for a moment. The thought of Yin Huli making a move on a sleeping Li Zhameng filled him with a paranoia that gnawed at his sanity. Across the bed, the young disciple lay fast asleep, his breathing soft and rhythmic.
Li Zhameng's snores were faint, a gentle rise and fall like a lullaby. His head rested against Yin Huli's shoulder, the fox demon nestled close to him. Yin Huli's tail occasionally twitched, brushing against Li Zhameng's cheek, but otherwise, he seemed at rest, his sharp ears swiveling faintly at the subtlest noise.
In Li Zhameng's dream, the scene was vivid, warm, and laced with the fragrance of peach blossoms. Under a blooming tree, his Shizun stood before him, his expression shadowed by regret.
"Meng Meng," Xue Laohu murmured, his voice trembling as he knelt, taking Li Zhameng's hand with reverence. His touch was light, almost hesitant, as though afraid it might shatter in the moment. "Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?"
Li Zhameng's face flushed a delicate pink, the color of spring petals. He opened his mouth to speak but hesitated, his words lost to the ache in his chest.
"I was reckless," Xue Laohu continued, his voice cracking. He pressed Li Zhameng's hand to his cheek, his eyes shimmering with unspoken pain. "I hurt you… I was selfish. Please, forgive me."
"Shizun…" Li Zhameng's voice was tender, yet filled with conflict. He dropped to his knees, bringing himself at eye level with Xue Laohu. "Shizun mustn't ask for forgiveness. You did nothing wrong."
"But I did!" Xue Laohu exclaimed, his voice rising as emotion overwhelmed him. His hands trembled as he pulled away, his gaze falling to the ground. "I caused you pain. I am unfit to be your master…"
"Shizun!" Li Zhameng interrupted, his tone rising in desperation. Before Xue Laohu could say more, Li Zhameng leaned in and captured his lips in a kiss. Time seemed to halt as they collapsed into the bed of soft petals beneath the peach blossom tree, the world dissolving into a haze of color and warmth.
Reality was far less serene.
Li Zhameng stirred, his lips puckered as they sucked gently on something soft. The texture was warm and fluffy, and the faintest hint of a salty taste lingered. Yin Huli's eyes snapped open, his golden irises gleaming in the dim light. He tilted his head to see Li Zhameng sleepily mouthing his tail, the fur damp from his attention. A smirk curved his lips.
"Such a bold move, Li Meng," Yin Huli murmured, his voice smooth and low, laced with amusement. He gently began turning Li Zhameng's face toward his own, his breath teasingly close to the young man's lips.
Before anything else could happen, a cold, piercing gaze interrupted them. Xue Laohu loomed over the pair like a specter, his face pale, his dark eyes sunken from exhaustion. "Don't. You. Dare," he growled, his voice dripping with venom.
Li Zhameng's lashes fluttered as he woke, stretching his arms lazily. His hair was a tousled mess, strands sticking out in every direction. Rubbing his jade-like eyes, he yawned. "Shizun… Yin Gongzi… good morning."
"Daddy," Yin Huli corrected, his tone light and teasing. He reached forward, using his thumb to wipe a droplet of drool from Li Zhameng's lips.
"He is not calling you that!" Xue Laohu barked, his voice cracking with indignation.
"Daddy…" Li Zhameng repeated softly, his tone curious as though testing the word on his tongue.
Yin Huli's ears perked up, his tail wagging with enthusiasm. A delighted smile spread across his face.
"Meng Meng, you're not serious, are you?" Xue Laohu exclaimed, his voice laced with irritation. His fists clenched, his fingers digging into the fabric of the bed sheets.
"Shizun, I… I don't mind," Li Zhameng replied, his voice casual yet sincere.
Yin Huli leaned closer, his lips brushing against the shell of Li Zhameng's ear as he whispered, "Li Meng, would you like to bathe with Daddy?" His tone was sultry, his tail swaying playfully behind him.
Xue Laohu's face went ghost white. Panic surged through him, his mind racing with all the terrible implications of that suggestion. "Absolutely not!" he snapped, his voice shaking as he shot to his feet.
Li Zhameng blinked in confusion. "But Shizun…"
"I'm not allowing you to bathe with that sly fox!" Xue Laohu declared, crossing his arms in front of his chest as his gaze sharpened, practically drilling holes into Yin Huli's smirking face.
"I wasn't aware a master had that much possession over his disciple," Yin Huli remarked smoothly, rolling his eyes. His tail flicked lazily behind him, his composure unshaken.
Xue Laohu's jaw tightened, his teeth grinding audibly. Great, he thought bitterly. Now Meng Meng probably thinks I'm being overbearing… but this fox is dangerous. He's just waiting for Meng Meng to let his guard down so he can… Xue Laohu shuddered, the mental image of Yin Huli mounting Li Zhameng sending a surge of cold fury through him.
"It's only right for me to care for the well-being of my disciples!" Xue Laohu exclaimed, his voice rising as he nodded firmly, feeling proud of his excuse. "Meng Meng, go bathe. I'll stand guard."
"But—" Li Zhameng started to object.
"No buts!" Xue Laohu cut him off, shoving him gently toward the door. As Li Zhameng shuffled away reluctantly, Xue Laohu spun around to glare daggers at Yin Huli, whose golden eyes gleamed with amusement.
Yin Huli leaned back, resting his hands behind his head. A gust of wind from the open door ruffled his hair, and his ears twitched lazily. "You're going to tire yourself out at this rate," he said with a smirk. "But don't worry. I'll take good care of him… eventually."
Xue Laohu's hands trembled, his vision going red. This damn fox…
In the morning glow of Xue Tuzi's bedchamber, the beauty lay nestled against Shudu's broad chest. His delicate face was pressed against the demon's firm, sculpted muscles, his hand resting unconsciously on the hard ridges of Shudu's abdomen. The room was silent, save for the soft rustle of sheets and the faint sound of their breathing.
Shudu's fiery red eye glinted as the first rays of sun consumed the room, he gazed down at the smaller man in his arms. A low, amused chuckle escaped his lips, his hand sliding around Xue Tuzi's slender waist. "Tch," he muttered, his voice a mix of mockery and satisfaction. "What happened to all that righteous talk about hating me? About how you 'detested' me warming your bed?" He tilted his head closer, his smirk deepening. "Yet here you are, nuzzling into me like you can't live without my touch."
His fingers trailed down, sliding beneath the loose folds of Xue Tuzi's robes. His rough palm traced slow, deliberate circles against the soft skin of the beauty's thigh, eliciting a small, breathy whine from Xue Tuzi's slightly parted lips.
"Master!" A sharp, hissing voice broke the charged silence.
Xiao Zongzi, perched on the ornate headboard. Her many legs tapped against the wood with a rhythmic disapproval, her narrowed crimson eyes glaring at Shudu.
Shudu's smirk didn't falter. If anything, it widened. "What is it, Xiao Zongzi?" he asked lazily, his free hand reaching to tilt Xue Tuzi's delicate chin upward. The beauty's sleeping face was serene, though a faint blush dusted his cheeks from the demon's wandering touch.
With no hesitation, Shudu leaned down, capturing Xue Tuzi's lips in a deep, possessive kiss. The sudden intrusion made Xue Tuzi's eyes fly open, wide with shock. He stiffened, his hands weakly pushing against Shudu's chest.
"Stop—!" Xue Tuzi managed to gasp between kisses, but Shudu silenced him with a growl, holding him firmly. His grip on the beauty's thigh tightened as his other hand slid to the bottom of Xue Tuzi's back, pulling him even closer.
The struggle woke Jiao Jiao, the small Gu worm resting nearby.
The little Gu worm blinked blearily, taking in the sight before him. Xue Tuzi was squirming, his face flushed with tears brimming in his wide, panicked eyes as he struggled against Shudu's advances. Jiao Jiao's tiny body stiffened, his round, bulging eyes narrowing into thin, furious slits.
With a loud thwip, Jiao Jiao flicked his tail, delivering a sharp slap to Shudu's cheek. The first hit made Shudu grunt, but the second and third slaps forced him to release his hold on Xue Tuzi.
Xue Tuzi coughed and scrambled back, wiping his lips with trembling fingers. His brows furrowed deeply, and a few strands of his hair clung to the dampness of his tear-streaked face.
"Disgusting!" Xue Tuzi barked, his voice shaking with anger. He clenched his fists, ready to strike, but Shudu was faster.
The demon jumped gracefully out of bed, a low chuckle rumbling in his throat. His movements were unhurried as he crossed the room, grabbing a loose shirt and throwing it over his bare torso. The fabric hung loosely over his powerful frame, just barely covering the sharp lines of his rippling muscles.
"Don't act coy around me," Shudu said smugly, his voice dripping with arrogance. "You thoroughly enjoyed it. Deny it all you want, but your body doesn't lie."
"You're vile," Xue Tuzi snapped, his voice cracking slightly as he furiously brushed the tears from his cheeks. His breath hitched as his trembling fingers struggled to smooth the hair sticking to his lips. "Absolutely disgusting!"
Shudu's smirk didn't waver. He leaned casually against the doorway, his eyes flicking lazily as he looked Xue Tuzi up and down. "And yet, you're still blushing. Perhaps next time, you won't put up so much resistance."
Xue Tuzi's jaw clenched, his chest heaving as he fought the mix of rage and embarrassment coursing through him. Jiao Jiao, still puffed up with indignation, scuttled onto Xue Tuzi's shoulder, his tail whipping menacingly toward Shudu.
"Get out!" Xue Tuzi finally shouted, his voice cracking with fury. He pointed toward the door, his hand trembling.
"As you wish," Shudu replied smoothly, turning on his heel. He paused just before leaving, his crimson eye gleaming with wicked amusement. "But don't forget, I'm always just a step away. Sweet little rabbit."
The door shut softly behind him, leaving Xue Tuzi trembling in the aftermath of the encounter. His hands balled into fists at his sides as Jiao Jiao nuzzled him comfortingly, letting out small chirps of concern.
The room fell silent once more, save for the faint rustle of the wind outside. But the lingering heat of Shudu's presence seemed to cling to the air, leaving Xue Tuzi unable to calm his racing heart.
The group gathered outside the inn, ready to set off. Xue Laohu lagged behind, his steps heavy and his brows furrowed as he grumbled under his breath. "Wasted silver for a room no one even used," he muttered, glaring at Yin Huli from the corner of his eye.
Yin Huli, unbothered, adjusted the hood over his head, making sure it concealed his fox ears. He'd also taken the extra precaution of hiding the lower half of his face with a mask, leaving only his sharp, golden eyes visible. Beneath his robes, his tail swished restlessly.
"Daddy…" Li Zhameng's soft voice broke through the chatter of the busy street.
Yin Huli froze mid-step, his tail flicking excitedly beneath the fabric of his robes at the sound of the endearing word. His lips, hidden by the mask, curved into a pleased smile.
Xue Laohu, walking just ahead, stopped abruptly. His nose wrinkled in disgust, his expression souring further as his brows drew together in a scowl. He clenched his fists, wanting to say something to Li Zhameng—anything—but his pride held him back. He didn't want to sound like a jealous idiot. Instead, he bit his tongue, the words dying in his throat, while Shudu and Xue Tuzi exchanged bemused glances.
"How come you conceal yourself like that?" Li Zhameng asked, his voice tinged with curiosity as he watched the fox demon tuck his tail discreetly under his robes.
Yin Huli turned his gaze to the disciple, his eyes softening. "Because this village isn't kind to demons," he said quietly, his tone unusually subdued. His golden eyes flickered downward, shadowed with something that looked like sorrow.
"Hmph," Shudu snorted, the sound sharp and disdainful. His chest puffed out as he raised one hand, his ink-stained nails catching the light as he cracked his knuckles. "If they're unkind, they die."
"Shudu!" Xue Laohu hissed in reproach, "Absolutely no killing!"
"What? It's true," Shudu replied with a smug grin, flexing his fingers as though ready for a fight.
They continued walking through the bustling village, the air thick with the scent of fresh buns and the occasional whiff of livestock. Villagers bustled about, their chatter filling the air.
As they passed through the market, a woman carrying a basket of vegetables paused, her gaze catching on Li Zhameng. The sunlight hit his face just right, illuminating his golden eyes flecked with emerald hues. Her lips parted in shock, and the basket slipped from her hands, vegetables scattering across the dirt road.
"Da Jie!" she cried, her voice trembling with emotion as tears spilled down her cheeks.
Before anyone could react, the woman ran toward Li Zhameng and threw her arms around him, sobbing uncontrollably into his chest.
Li Zhameng stood frozen, his arms awkwardly raised in surprise. He blinked down at her, completely at a loss. "Ayi," he said gently, his voice soft and calming as he patted her back. "I think you have mistaken me for someone else."
The woman pulled back just enough to look up at him, her face streaked with tears. Her eyes locked onto his, searching desperately. "No… no, I haven't," she murmured, her voice breaking as she reached up to touch his cheek. "Those eyes… Yunwu…"
Li Zhameng's breath hitched, his heart skipping a beat. His golden eyes widened, and he took a step back, his voice trembling. "How—how do you know my mother's name?" he stuttered, his usually calm demeanor shattered.
The group exchanged startled glances, the weight of her words hanging heavy in the air.
Blah Blah Blah
I'm so sorry this is such a long tedious Arc. I had originally never planned to give Meng Meng a back story but here we are. I'm so sorry.