The crescent moon hung low over the still waters of the lake, its pale light casting a silver sheen across the rippling surface. A cool wind rustled through the reeds, whispering across the tall grass where two figures clashed in the night. Xue Tuzi's breath came in sharp bursts, his frustration igniting into rage as he lunged at Shudu, fists flying.
"This is all your fault!" he snarled, his voice raw with emotion as he threw a wild punch.
Shudu, who had been lying peacefully in the grass, barely tilted his head in time to avoid the strike. The punch skimmed past his temple, ruffling a few strands of his dark hair. Without hesitation, Shudu retaliated, his fist sinking into Xue Tuzi's ribs with a satisfying thud.
Xue Tuzi gasped, pain shooting through his side, but he recovered quickly, driving his knee up into Shudu's jaw. The force of the blow snapped Shudu's head to the side, momentarily staggering him. Yet, instead of faltering, Shudu pressed forward, delivering another punishing strike to Xue Tuzi's ribs.
Perched on a gnarled tree branch above Xiao Zongzi, watched intently as Shudu and Xue Tuzi clashed, their movements swift and relentless. Her eyes gleamed in the dim light, reflecting the chaos below, while her sharp jaws clattered in disapproval. She had chosen to remain behind, unwilling to test the bridge's judgment. Every instinct in her told her what she already knew—like her master, she lacked the purity of heart required to cross.
For a moment, they stilled. Heavy breaths mingled in the cool night air, sweat glistening under the moonlight. Their eyes locked—Xue Tuzi's dark and smoldering with defiance, Shudu's sharp and unreadable.
"I give up," Xue Tuzi gasped, his voice strained with exhaustion. His chest rose and fell beneath Shudu's weight, the fight draining out of him. "I don't want to fight anymore."
Shudu didn't loosen his grip. His fingers dug into Xue Tuzi's wrists, his crimson eye studied the beauty beneath him. "You don't want to fight anymore?" he echoed, his voice low, almost teasing.
Xue Tuzi gave a weak nod, his head sinking back into the grass.
Shudu's lips curled into a smirk. "I win?"
Another nod.
Before Xue Tuzi could utter a word, his breath was stolen away—Shudu's lips crashed against his own, warm and insistent. Xue Tuzi's eyes widened in shock, but his body betrayed him, melting under the kiss. Xiao Zongzi rolled her eyes, exasperation flickering across her face as she watched her master seize the opportunity with practiced ease.
Shudu didn't stop. Realizing there was no resistance, his kisses grew bolder, more demanding. He trailed his lips from Xue Tuzi's mouth to his jaw, then down the column of his neck, planting heated kisses along every inch of bare skin he could reach. His hands loosened their grip on Xue Tuzi's wrists, sliding down his arms, feeling the warmth beneath his fingers.
"Why aren't you fighting back?" Shudu murmured, his breath ghosting over Xue Tuzi's lips before diving in for another deep kiss. His fingers traced slow, lazy patterns against the fabric of Xue Tuzi's robe, tugging it loose. "Could it be that you like it?"
Xue Tuzi groaned, his lips swollen and pink from Shudu's relentless attention. "No," he mumbled in between kisses, though his protests lacked conviction. Unable to bear it any longer, Xiao Zongzi covered her eyes with her spindly spider legs, shielding herself from the sight before her.
"Then why aren't you resisting?" Shudu chuckled against his ear, nipping at the delicate skin. A shiver ran down Xue Tuzi's spine, his ears flushing red at the intimate touch.
"I'm tired," he complained, half-heartedly pushing at Shudu's chest. His efforts were weak, his body betraying him as the demon continued his assault of kisses.
Shudu smirked, biting down playfully on the shell of Xue Tuzi's ear, earning a sharp gasp "you're hurting me" Xue Tuzi cried. "I'm hurting you?" Shudu mused, his tone dripping with amusement. He licked over the same spot he had just bitten, soothing the sting with the warmth of his tongue.
Xue Tuzi whimpered softly, his hands clutching at Shudu's robes, unsure whether to push him away or pull him closer. His breath hitched as demon's mouth trailed downward, his tongue brushing over the jewels hanging from Xue Tuzi's nipples.
"Stop," Xue Tuzi moaned, his brows furrowing, frustration mingling with pleasure. His glare was half-hearted, his body betraying the words his lips tried to form. "Master!" Xiao Zongzi snapped, her voice sharp with anger and disapproval.
Shudu only chuckled "I have to indulge in this sweetness before it sours," his lips brushed over the beauty mark at the corner of Xue Tuzi's mouth. He kissed it once. Then again and again.
Xue Tuzi rolled his eyes, turning his face away in an attempt to escape the feverish kisses. "You're insufferable," he muttered.
Shudu hummed, pressing a final lingering kiss against his jaw before pulling back slightly. "What's wrong, little bunny?" he teased, tilting his head as he gazed down at the sulky beauty beneath him. "Why so sad?"
"I miss Xiao Jiao," Xue Tuzi murmured, his brows knitting together in a pout.
Xue Tuzi had grown deeply attached to Jiao Jiao; they were inseparable. Despite Jiao Jiao's lack of demonic prowess, he had Xue Tuzi utterly under his control. They say demonic Gu worms erode their host's mind until the host becomes nothing more than a puppet to the one who planted the Gu, but Xue Tuzi was different. His devotion belonged solely to Jiao Jiao, and Jiao Jiao had no intention of yielding to any of Shudu's demands.
Shudu paused, his lips idly tracing over the faint red marks on Xue Tuzi's chest left behind from Jiao Jiao's feeding. His lips curled into a knowing smirk. "You miss Xiao Jiao?"
"Mmm," Xue Tuzi nodded, looking away.
Shudu's gaze was sharp, his presence looming over Xue Tuzi, who lay sprawled beneath him. His expression was unreadable, but his crimson eye trembled ever so slightly as it bore into the man beneath him. "What are your plans for Xiao Jiao's future?" His voice was low, edged with steel, each word deliberate, pressing down like an unsheathed blade against Xue Tuzi's throat.
Xue Tuzi's lips parted slightly, his breath hitching. "Plans for the future…?" he murmured, the words slipping past his lips as if they belonged to someone else. A memory, long buried yet never truly forgotten, stirred within him.
"Xiao Tuzi, what are your plans for the future?"
A soft voice, warm as a spring breeze, echoed in his ears. The world around him blurred, colors fading into muted tones of nostalgia. He tilted his head upward, and in the haze of recollection, he saw a young man—handsome, his features delicate yet striking. His ink-dark hair was tied into a high bun, with loose strands cascading down the sides of his face, framing sharp phoenix eyes that gleamed with quiet amusement. Dressed in simple yet elegant robes, he knelt before Xue Tuzi, the corners of his lips curling into a gentle smile.
"Huh?" Xue Tuzi had blinked up at him, momentarily entranced by the man's graceful presence.
The young man chuckled, his laughter light and unhurried, like ripples across a still pond. He crouched down, bringing himself to the child's level, his hand resting lightly on his knee. "What do you want to be when you grow up?" he asked, his voice laced with genuine curiosity, his eyes soft with affection.
Xue Tuzi's small chest puffed up with excitement, his face lighting up with determination. "I want to be the number one martial artist!" he declared, his tiny fists punching the air with exaggerated movements. "That way, no one will ever bully me again!" With a sharp "hiya!" he mimicked the techniques he had seen martial artists practice, his movements clumsy but filled with youthful enthusiasm.
The young man sighed, shaking his head fondly before reaching out, his fingers brushing against the boy's cheek with a featherlight touch. "But my Xiao Tuzi is a lover, not a fighter," he murmured, his eyes filled with a quiet tenderness that Xue Tuzi could not yet understand.
Xue Tuzi's lower lip jutted out, his cheeks puffing indignantly, making the small mole beneath his lip even more pronounced. "But Gege," he whined, clutching the hems of the young man's robes, "I don't want to get picked on anymore…"
The young man's hand cupped his face, his thumb ghosting over the mole, tracing the shape of Xue Tuzi's pout with absent-minded affection. His voice was impossibly gentle as he whispered, "My Xiao Tuzi is kind and gentle, like a meek little rabbit."
Xue Tuzi furrowed his brows, shaking his head stubbornly. "But I want to be cold and poisonous like a snake," he argued, bobbing his head from side to side in an exaggerated mimicry of a serpent, a soft hiss escaping his lips.
A quiet chuckle escaped the young man as he lifted his hand to cover his mouth, his shoulders shaking slightly with mirth. "Xiao Tuzi," he said, his voice laced with indulgence, "why not a scholar? You're a smart boy." His fingers trailed along Xue Tuzi's jawline before resting once more at the corner of his lips, his thumb brushing lightly over the mole, as if memorizing the shape of it.
Xue Tuzi blinked up at him, hesitating. "Does Gege want me to be a scholar?" His voice had softened, uncertainty creeping into his tone as he cast his gaze downward, staring at his muddied feet.
The young man exhaled slowly, his expression growing more solemn. "I would rather you not fight," he admitted, his voice firmer, though no less gentle.
Xue Tuzi's brows knit together in frustration. He scuffed his foot against the dirt, kicking a stray rock, his pout deepening. "Oh… kay…" he mumbled reluctantly.
The young man reached out, tilting Xue Tuzi's face up once more, their eyes meeting in the dimming afternoon light. His gaze was unreadable, something unspoken lingering in the space between them.
"Xiao Tuzi…" His voice was softer now, almost hesitant. "Would you like to come live with me?"
The memory flickered, dissolving like ink bleeding into water, and Xue Tuzi was abruptly yanked back into the present. His breath came shallow and uneven, his vision unfocused as he stared past Shudu, through him, into a past that no longer existed. The warmth of that day, the gentle touch against his cheek, the quiet promise hidden in those words—gone, long gone.
His fingers twitched.
"Hey!" Shudu's voice rang out, sharp with frustration, his brows knitting together as he seized Xue Tuzi's arms in a firm grip. His fingers dug into the thin fabric of Xue Tuzi's robes, his irritation obvious.
Xue Tuzi's breath hitched, his round eyes blinking rapidly as he surfaced from the depths of his reverie. The ghost of the past dissolved like mist in the morning light, leaving him momentarily disoriented. "Huh?" His voice came out uncertain, distant, as if he had forgotten where he was.
Shudu exhaled sharply, his patience wearing thin. "What do you intend to do with Xiao Jiao?" he demanded, his grip loosening just enough to be a warning rather than a restraint. "He won't be a Gu worm forever, you know."
A flicker of hesitation passed over Xue Tuzi's face before he straightened, his voice steadier this time. "I… I want him to become a scholar."
Shudu stilled. Then, without warning, he threw his head back and burst into laughter. His whole body shook as he clutched his stomach, the sheer absurdity of the statement sending him into a fit of hysterics. The mental image was too much—Jiao Jiao, the tiny Gu worm, draped in flowing black scholar's robes, a matching hat perched atop his squirming jelly like head, one of his nubs clutching a delicate scroll. The more Shudu imagined it, the harder he laughed, tears pricking at the corners of his eyes.
He swiped at them, still breathless, but as his gaze returned to Xue Tuzi, the humor drained from his face. The beauty before him was rigid, his hands clenched into tight fists, his brows furrowed with a rare intensity. His lips, usually curved in a smirk or drawn in an unreadable line, were now pressed together with quiet determination.
"You're… not joking," Shudu murmured, his amusement fading entirely.
Xue Tuzi's sharp gaze flicked to him, unwavering. "Xiao Jiao is not a fighter. He's a lover." His voice was firm, conviction burning behind his words. "Besides, what's wrong with wanting him not to fight?"
Shudu scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "He's a demonic Gu worm, fighting is in his blood." His voice was edged with certainty, as if the very idea of defying nature was laughable.
"I—" Xue Tuzi faltered, the words catching in his throat. His fingers twitched at his sides, his expression wavering for the first time. His eyes, usually so unreadable, now glimmered with something raw, something fragile. "I don't want him to fight." His voice was quieter now, almost pleading.
Shudu's eyes narrowed, catching the tremor in Xue Tuzi's tone. He took a step closer, leaning in, his presence suffocating, his gaze locking onto the other man's. Their faces were mere inches apart, Shudu's breath warm against Xue Tuzi's skin.
"Are you scared?" His voice was low. Xue Tuzi swallowed. His throat was dry. His lips parted, but no words came. Then, slowly, he gave the smallest nod.
"Do you want another one?" Shudu asked, his voice a playful whisper against Xue Tuzi's ear.
Xue Tuzi turned back, curiosity flashing in his gaze. "Can you spawn another at will?"
Shudu snickered, tapping a finger against Xue Tuzi's nose. "Only if we fornicate."
Before he could steal another kiss, Xue Tuzi shoved him back with enough force to send him toppling into the grass.
"Is sex all you care about?" Xue Tuzi snapped, his voice dripping with exasperation.
Before Shudu could answer, the sound of footsteps approaching caught their attention.
Xue Laohu, perched indignantly on Li Zhameng's back like a nobleman atop a mule, had arrived. Behind him, Huo Yi and Jiao Jiao trailed along, the latter nestled tightly in Huo Yi's breast.
Shudu sighed, rolling onto his back and staring up at the night sky. "Looks like my fun is over," he muttered.
Xue Tuzi, still sprawled beneath him, glared. "Good."
Xue Laohu slid gracefully from Li Zhameng's back, his boots hitting the packed earth with a soft thud. His sharp gaze flickered between Xue Tuzi and Shudu, assessing the tension that hung thick in the air between them. Ugh. Xue Laohu sighed inwardly. I guess nothing happened between these two.
"Shizun," Xue Tuzi began, cradling the wriggling Jiao Jiao in his arms as the little Gu worm finally settled against his chest, "were you successful in retrieving the Celestial Compass?" His fingers absently stroked the creature's segmented back, a nervous habit that betrayed his calm tone.
"You bet!" Xue Laohu declared, lifting his hand to reveal the ancient artifact.
With the guidance of the Celestial Compass, they navigated past lurking demons with ease, reaching the foot of Mount Dingbu in no time. The sacred artifact pulsed faintly in Xue Laohu's grip, its energy warding off any creatures bold enough to stray too close.
Shudu, moving at a steady pace, carried Huo Yi effortlessly in his arms. The woman, lacking any martial arts training, would have been unable to match their speed, and so he had taken it upon himself to bear her weight as though she were nothing more than a feather. Xue Tuzi's sharp gaze flickered to them from the corner of his eye, his lips pressed into a thin line. What is this that I'm feeling? He tightened his grip on Jiao Jiao and continued to ignore the pair of insect demons.
Shudu, unbothered by the undercurrents of tension, finally approached Xue Laohu with Huo Yi still cradled in his arms. "This venerable one will be departing to the Great Sage's abode," he announced.
Xue Laohu's head snapped around so fast he nearly gave himself whiplash.
No, no, no! he screamed internally. Not good! If Shudu left now, all his careful planning would go to waste. He had to make an excuse!
"You must be exhausted from the journey," he said swiftly, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Besides, wasn't I the one who warned you? The Great Sage is wary of demons. Let us rest. We'll depart tomorrow."
Shudu's crimson gaze flickered with amusement as he considered the suggestion. "Is that alright with you?" he asked, his expression softening as he turned to Huo Yi.
She nodded, her smile small and polite. "Of course."
Soon, they arrived at Mount Dingbu. The gate loomed tall in the dim pre-dawn light, flanked by a pair of disciples hunched over in their sleep, drool pooling at the corners of their mouths.
"Ahem!" Xue Laohu cleared his throat loudly.
The disciples jolted awake, their bodies snapping upright as they wiped at their faces in embarrassment before bowing hastily.
Inside, they had only a few hours to rest before their journey continued.
Xue Tuzi turned to Xue Laohu with a deep bow, his tone icy. "Shizun, this disciple shall take his leave."
Xue Laohu nodded he turned around to see Shudu holding Huo Yi's hand. "Let's go," he said, effortlessly guiding her toward his quarters.
His heart lurched. Alarm bells rang in his head.
"Where do you think you're taking her!" Xue Laohu demanded, his voice rising in panic as he watched Shudu stride off with Huo Yi in tow.
"To my bedroom. Where else?" Shudu replied smoothly, not even glancing back. His nonchalance was maddening.
Xue Laohu clutched at the sides of his hair, his mind racing. Not good, not good at all! If Shudu took her to his chambers he thought to himself, a slew of improper scenarios unfolded in his head—I cannot allow that! His eyes darted around wildly as he scrambled to come up with an excuse, a reason, anything to stop this disaster from happening.
"Shizun this disciple will be departing as well." Li Zhameng bowed before taking his leave. Xue Loahu gave him a curt nod and watched him depart but anxiety still bubbled within him.
"I think we can arrange a separate bedroom for her," Xue Laohu interjected as he caught up, stepping in front of Shudu in a last-ditch attempt to stall him.
Shudu halted, raising an amused eyebrow. "Hmmm, could it be…?" His lips curled into a sly smirk. "Is Grandmaster Xue jealous?"
His deep crimson eye locked onto Xue Laohu's, unreadable yet undeniably entertained.
"Jealous?" Xue Laohu scoffed, forcing out a laugh. "No, I just think it's not proper—"
But before he could finish, Huo Yi stepped forward, her expression gentle yet resolute. "It's alright, Grandmaster Xue," she said earnestly, bowing to him in gratitude. "You have already done so much for me. I cannot possibly burden you any further. I shall spend the night with Lord Shudu."
Xue Laohu felt as if someone had doused him in ice-cold water.
If I insist, I'll look jealous. But if I let them spend the night together… Dread slithered into his chest, tightening like a noose. This woman is ruining everything!
His mind paced back and forth, panicked thoughts colliding in a whirlwind. What do I do? What do I do?