Since that night's rejection, Shudu hadn't so much as grazed the boundary stones of Sect Mount Dingbu—no moonlit prowls along its walls, no stolen glances through Xue Tuzi's window. Instead, he haunted the taverns of the brothel, drinking until the burn of cheap liquor out scorched the memory of Xue Tuzi's hands pushing him away. The warmth of transient lovers against his skin only made the hollowness worse; their sighs sounded wrong, their touches landing like echoes where Xue Tuzi's had been lightning.
Meanwhile, atop the silent mountain, Xue Laohu paced the length of his chamber, fingers twitching toward a system interface that refused to materialize. No chimes, no screens—just a void where divine guidance should be.
"Typical," he snarled to the empty room, kicking a discarded robe across the floor. "One thing goes right, ten catastrophes come knocking." The bed creaked in protest as he threw himself onto it, limbs splayed like a defeated warrior's. A jaw-cracking yawn overtook him mid-grumble, "I'll... figure it... tomorrow..." The words slurred into the pillows as sleep claimed him, though the tension never left his shoulders.
Xue Tuzi's restlessness had only deepened after his second intimate encounter with the demon. The memory lingered on his skin like a phantom touch—an unbearable heat blooming beneath the surface, an insistent, maddening itch that no idle distraction could soothe.
When he was certain Jiao Jiao had fallen into a deep sleep, he slipped silently from his room, bare feet carrying him swiftly through the forest as though drawn by an invisible thread. His chest rose and fell with quiet urgency, the cool night air doing nothing to quell the fire smoldering in his veins. At last, he reached the river, moonlight glinting off its glassy surface, and knelt at the bank to face the torment head-on.
In his hand, he held a piece of polished jade, smooth and cool to the touch. Pressing it to the fevered flesh between his thighs, he eased it into his aching crevice, chasing the promise of relief. The contrast of chill against heat made him shiver, yet the itch persisted—gnawing, taunting.
Not enough.
A soft pant escaped him as he pushed the jade deeper, twisting it within himself, each motion sending ripples of pleasure laced with frustration. Still, the hunger would not abate. The craving was sharp, biting at the edges of his sanity.
From the shadows, nearby demons watched, drawn to the intoxicating ritual. Some dared to approach, emboldened by their own desires—only to meet the full force of his wrath. The riverbank became a graveyard for those foolish enough to test him, his unfulfilled need sharpening into lethal fury.
Breathless and unsated, he plunged his hands into the water, splashing it over his burning skin. The ripples caught the starlight, distorting the reflection of his flushed face. Under that fractured image, a single, depraved murmur slipped past his lips degenerate before he flung the jade into the dark pool, letting it vanish into the depths.
Each day stretched the distance between Shudu and Xue Tuzi Xue Loahu could feel his patience wearing thinner by the second.
Meanwhile, in the hollowed-out quiet of his chambers, he paced his floorboards. His footsteps struck, each one echoing sharper than the last as if the room itself amplified his agitation. The absence was a living thing now, gnawing at the edges of his focus, turning seconds into quicksand beneath his feet.
Then—
A ping like a needle dropped in the dark.
His head snapped up as electric blue light flooded his vision. The system screen flickered to life before him, neon characters bleeding into existence like ink in water:
NEW QUEST:
12 HOUR EMBER'S EMBRACE: IGNITE LOVE'S FLAMES
+1000 LIFE POINTS
His eyes nearly popped out of their sockets when he saw the point value of the quest—one thousand points. His fingers trembled as he clicked on the notification, heart hammering in anticipation.
"System, tell me more," he ordered, voice tense.
The system eagerly complied, spewing out the terms and conditions in its usual croaky voice.
IN THIS QUEST, USER WILL HAVE FULL CONTROL OF THE SETTING FOR THE NEXT 12 HOURS. FAILURE TO IGNITE ANY ROMANCE BETWEEN THE SHOU AND GONG WILL RESULT IN -1000 LIFE POINTS.
Xue Laohu gasped, his hands flying to his chest. His gaze shot down to the life points displayed in the corner of his vision. A drop like that could—no, would—be catastrophic!
For days now, Shudu and Xue Tuzi had grown distant, their interactions non existent. It was as if they were actively avoiding each other. Shudu no longer spent his nights at Mount Dingbu's sect grounds, instead choosing to drown himself in wine and vice at the brothel, gambling away fortunes without a care in the world. And what did Xue Tuzi do? Nothing.Not a glance, not a word. It was as though Shudu's absence meant less than the dust beneath his boots.
Xue Laohu paced in his chambers, his silken robes swishing with each anxious step. His fingers twitched at his sides, mind racing for a plan—any plan—to ignite a spark between the two. Surely, there must be a way to fix this disastrous trajectory!
A knock at the door made him pause mid-step. He exhaled sharply, quickly composing himself. "Come in," he called.
The door creaked open, and Sect Leader Mao entered with his usual measured grace. His presence alone carried an air of quiet authority, his flowing silver hair tied into an immaculate high bun, glinting like polished moonlight beneath the candlelight. His long, sharp brows arched in contemplation as his piercing gaze settled on Xue Laohu.
"Grandmaster Xue, what worries you?" Sect Leader Mao inquired, his voice rich and deliberate as he absently stroked his long, flowing beard, the motion slow and methodical.
Xue Laohu forced a nonchalant wave of his hand. "It's nothing, really."
"Come now," Lord Mao pressed, stepping further into the room, his robes gliding over the floor like liquid silk. "You can tell this venerable one the truth. Something is clearly plaguing your mind."
Xue Laohu sighed deeply. How could he possibly explain that his greatest concern at this moment was forcing Shudu and Xue Tuzi to tie a romantic knot?! Utterly impossible! He would take this secret to his grave.
"It's truly nothing," he insisted, voice deceptively calm. "I'm merely concerned about my disciples, that's all."
Sect Leader Mao's brows lifted slightly. "Worried?" he echoed. "But I thought both of your disciples had transcended. Is that not the case?"
Xue Laohu hesitated for the briefest second before straightening his posture, summoning the aura of a wise and ambitious grandmaster. "Eh… well, yes, they have transcended," he admitted, flicking open his fan with practiced ease, letting it hide the lower half of his face. "But can't a grandmaster such as myself expect more?" His tone turned lofty, as though he were a venerable master lamenting the mediocre accomplishments of his pupils.
Sect Leader Mao chuckled knowingly. "Indeed, I suppose one can always expect more." He paused, stroking his beard again, before settling himself onto the cushioned seat beside the low table. "Actually, I came here in hopes of bothering you with a request."
"A quest?" Xue Laohu's head snapped toward him, his fan pausing mid-air.
Sect Leader Mao remained composed, his posture regal yet at ease. He clasped his hands over his knee, fingers tapping thoughtfully against the embroidered fabric of his robes.
"Well," Sect Leader Mao began, his voice smooth and deliberate, letting the word linger in the air like a carefully placed chess piece. He watched Xue Laohu with the patience of a man accustomed to waiting for others to catch up to his schemes. "One might call it a quest, yes."
His sharp eyes flicked upward, catching the dim light of the candle flames, glinting like polished steel as they locked onto Xue Laohu. "But I was hoping Grandmaster Xue could retrieve a potion for me—from Da Ge at Sect Mount Dingfeng."
At the name Da Ge, his lips pressed into a thin line, his fingers pausing briefly in their rhythmic stroking of his beard. "You know what a scoundrel he is," he added, irritation curling at the edges of his words. "Even now, I suspect he's scheming to cheat me out of my money."
Sect Leader Mao leaned forward slightly, the shadows flickering across his face as his voice dropped to a more pointed tone. "The potion… it's a strong poison. Deadly, in fact." He let the words settle between them, heavy and deliberate, watching Xue Laohu's reaction.
He exhaled through his nose, expression hardening. "I am sending over a thousand tael for it," he continued, his voice tinged with both resignation and determination. "In the past, Da Ge has swapped medicine for water and poisons for harmless tonics." His fingers halted mid-stroke against his beard, his gaze narrowing. "He's a snake, through and through. And I do not wish to be deceived."
He inhaled slowly, regaining his usual composed demeanor. "This is why I am issuing you this request."
Xue Laohu's fan twitched in his hand, his sharp mind already weaving a plan. A journey to retrieve a deadly poison? This was the perfect setup for Xue Tuzi and Shudu's romantic encounter! He could already envision the tension, the forced proximity, the inevitable moments of begrudging closeness—ah, fate was on his side today.
His lips curled slightly, but he quickly lifted his fan to mask his amusement. "It is as Sect Leader Mao wishes," he said smoothly, letting his fan snap shut in a sharp, elegant motion. "I'll have Xue Tuzi retrieve it."
Sect Leader Mao nodded, rising to his feet with the slow, deliberate grace of a man who carried years of wisdom—and grudges. He bowed slightly. "I am in your debt." With that, he turned and departed, his dark robes billowing behind him like a midnight storm.
As soon as the door shut, Xue Laohu let out a long breath, flicking his fan open again to briskly fan himself. His eyes gleamed with scheming delight. All I have to do is get Xue Tuzi and Shudu to agree to go on this journey together.
His smile faltered.
Ah.
His shoulders slumped, and he groaned loudly, dragging a hand down his face. "Why can't I have control of the characters?" he lamented, exasperation dripping from his voice. "Things would be so much easier if I could just—" He motioned his hands together in frustration, clasping them as if physically shaping his will into reality. "Aren't I the narrator?"
He huffed, snapping his fan shut with a flick of his wrist. No matter. He would make it work.
Xue Laohu had no time to waste. With a flick of his fingers, he pulled up the GPS navigator, his eyes narrowing as he selected Shudu's location.
The brothel. Again.
He exhaled sharply, snapping the system shut with a muttered, "Great." His fan clicked open, and he fanned himself slowly, his expression caught somewhere between exasperation and reluctant understanding. "Some faithful man you are," he murmured under his breath, but truthfully, he couldn't be too mad.
After all, Shudu had been rejected by Xue Tuzi. It was only natural for him to seek comfort in the warm embrace of beautiful women and alcohol.
With a resigned sigh, Xue Laohu pinched the bridge of his nose and reached out telepathically. Shudu, can you hear me?
In the dim glow of dawn, Shudu sat at the edge of a high windowsill, a jar of wine balanced loosely in his hand. His long, dark hair was in disarray, strands falling over his half-lidded crimson eye as he gazed out into the window below.
At the sound of the familiar voice echoing in his mind, his ears twitched ever so slightly. He took another slow sip of wine before dragging the back of his hand across his lips, wiping away a stray drop. Although his heart ached he still wore a shameless mask a lazy smile stretched across his face, his sharp canines catching the morning light.
This venerable one is honored to receive a private telepathic communication from Grandmaster Xue, he purred, his voice dripping with amusement.
Xue Laohu rolled his eyes. He didn't have time for Shudu's theatrics. I need you to meet me at Sect Mount Dingbu. I have an assignment for you.
Shudu's brow lifted, his grin widening at the no-nonsense tone. "Oh?" he muttered aloud, shifting his posture. And what will Grandmaster Xue reward me with? His voice dipped lower, rich and teasing, laced with that signature arrogance that always made Xue Laohu want to hit him over the head with his fan.
You'll be rewarded handsomely. Now hurry up.
Xue Laohu didn't give him a chance to retort before cutting off the connection with a sharp mental snap.
"Tch," he muttered, already regretting this entire plan as he stalked down the hallway, his fan tapping irritably against his palm. Now, for the more difficult task—finding and convincing Xue Tuzi.
Xue Tuzi stood, carefully combing through Jiao Jiao's tangled locks, his movements gentle but efficient. Jiao Jiao sat in front of him, legs swinging as he hummed to himself, completely unbothered by the knots that had formed overnight. Xue Tuzi, on the other hand, sighed softly as he worked through each tangle with practiced ease, his fingers deft and gentle.
"Hold still," he murmured, tilting Jiao Jiao's head slightly to the side as he smoothed down a particularly stubborn section.
Jiao Jiao let out a small, dramatic sigh but obeyed, his tiny hands gripping the hem of his robes.
After a few more careful strokes, Xue Tuzi gathered the child's hair and twisted it into a small, neat braid at the nape of his neck. Satisfied, he tied it off with a thin red ribbon, patting Jiao Jiao's head when he was finished.
"There. Now you won't look like a wild little dog," he said, though there was no real bite to his words.
Jiao Jiao turned his head from side to side, reaching up to touch the braid with his chubby fingers. "Mama is best," he declared proudly, flashing a wide, toothy grin.
"A-Tuzi," Xue Laohu called, flicking his fan open as he entered the room. His long bangs shifted slightly as he brushed them aside, his sharp gaze landing on his disciple. "I have an assignment for you."
Xue Tuzi glanced up, his hands still lingering in Jiao Jiao's hair. At his Shizun's tone, a hint of wariness flickered in his eyes.
Xue Laohu hesitated for the briefest moment, pressing his lips together as he quickly considered his approach. He needed to frame this carefully.
"Sect Leader Mao has entrusted me with retrieving a potion from Sect Mount Dingfeng." He turned away slightly, fanning himself as if trying to ease nonexistent nerves. "Meng Meng is sick—he can't go. I'll be staying behind to take care of him."
A half-truth. Yes, Li Zhameng had gotten food poisoning the day before, but it wasn't that bad. He certainly didn't need Xue Laohu personally looking after him. But Xue Laohu prayed to the heavens that Li Zhameng wouldn't suddenly appear, all bright-eyed and voice sultry, whispering, "Shizun" right into his ear and ruining everything.
"This disciple is honored to carry out Shizun's request," he said bowing deeply.
Xue Laohu let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. Alright. Step one, complete.
Now for the truly impossible task—getting Xue Tuzi to travel with Shudu.
Before he could even concoct a proper excuse, a familiar presence swept into the room.
With an air of effortless arrogance, Shudu strode past Xue Tuzi without sparing him so much as a glance. His crimson eye were fixed solely on Xue Laohu as he reached forward, grasping the grandmaster's hands with a tenderness that was entirely at odds with his usual destructive nature.
"Did Grandmaster Xue call for this venerable one?" he murmured, a mischievous smirk playing at his lips.
Xue Tuzi's expression soured instantly. He exhaled sharply through his nose, rolling his eyes as if just the sight of Shudu had ruined his entire morning.
Xue Laohu pulled his hands away, straightening his robes as he took a deep breath.
Here goes nothing.
"I'd like you to accompany Xue Tuzi to Sect Mount Dingfeng."
Silence.
Shudu's grin widened, a predatory gleam flickering in his gaze.
Xue Tuzi's brow twitched, his fingers curling at his sides.
Xue Laohu closed his fan with a sharp snap, steeling himself for the inevitable explosion.