Chapter 67: The Little Dog Shivers

He Mu waved his hand and knocked Duoxiren unconscious.

Wenren Sheng insisted on leaving the city, Yi Jinxiang couldn’t get away at the moment, and He Mu couldn’t think of a better solution for the time being, so he could only agree for now.

On the other side, the teahouse owner refused Ye Lan’s request to take her to the Splendid Palace for treatment and soon vanished from sight. He returned empty-handed and took the initiative to shoulder the responsibility of carrying Duoxiren.

The group of four thus walked to the barrier exit at the city gate, carrying Duoxiren, right under the watchful eyes of the crowd.

The enthusiastic heckler from earlier furrowed his brows. Seeing them stop at the barrier entrance, he couldn’t help but urge, “Aren’t you supposed to throw him out of the city? Hurry up!”

Wenren Sheng’s expression soured, and he replied coldly, “We’re leaving the city to find a way to cure him, not to kill him. We’ll be going with him.”

The man tsked, waved his hand dismissively, and said impatiently, “Who cares what you do? This rat demon went mad and bit people. Keeping him in the city is a disaster—he has to be driven out!”

Wenren Sheng felt indignant too. Although Duoxiren was indeed wrong for biting someone, the victim wasn’t this troublemaker. Why was he shouting so vigorously?

Besides, “biting” wasn’t uncommon among demons. Those in their heat period naturally had oral cravings and wanted to bite things they liked.

Wenren Sheng himself often bit He Mu—when happy, when angry, or when things felt too good. He Mu’s arms bore many of his teeth marks.

But with Cangzhou City in turmoil and no other options, they had no choice but to follow the crowd’s demands for now to calm the agitated masses.

Wenren Sheng sheathed Heavenly Heart and said solemnly, “We’ll take Brother Xu outside the city to a clinic to find the cause of his condition. Once he’s fully cured, we’ll bring him back. With that settled, I hope everyone won’t make things difficult for my master.”

A demon with a milder tone stepped forward and said, “Young hero, rest assured. No one will trouble the city lord. We’ve all received life-saving grace from her. What happened today was just our worry that Cangzhou City might descend into chaos—we had no choice.”

The troublemaker glanced at the demon and sneered, “Locked up in dog cages like this, if something really happens in the city, we won’t even be able to run. See if you’re the obedient dog then.”

With that, he slung his sickle back over his shoulder and shouted at Wenren Sheng and the others, “Enough talk—throw out this disaster already.”

Wenren Sheng’s face darkened at the repeated use of “disaster.”

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his anger, and chose not to engage the man further.

He turned and exchanged a glance with He Mu and the others. Understanding each other, they stepped through the transparent barrier.

The Immortal Registry of the Heavenly Court cultivated different dao hearts, so the barriers set by different immortals varied. Yi Jinxiang didn’t possess He Mu’s heaven-defying dao arts; her barrier mainly served to conceal traces.

The moment Wenren Sheng’s foot touched the ground outside the city, the massive Cangzhou City behind him, along with the onlookers, dissipated like a mirage.

Ye Lan, bowed under the enormous Duoxiren on his back, said laboriously, “Everyone, rest easy. I bear the city lord’s mark, so I can find a way back into Cangzhou City.”

Wenren Sheng sighed, hugged his sword, and leaned against a nearby tree trunk, fretting. “But now, where do we find a clinic that treats demons?”

He Mu pondered for a moment and suggested, “The closest is Central Province. The Night Touring Gods’ influence hasn’t reached there yet, and there are plenty of immortal sects and great clans. There should be renowned healers.”

“Central Province?”

Wenren Sheng tapped his chin thoughtfully.

During his five years in seclusion at Fragrant Ze Mountain, his soul had wandered freely, so he knew a bit about Central Province. It was indeed full of sects and experts, one of the few places where demons and humans coexisted.

He nodded, approving He Mu’s suggestion. “Then let’s not delay. We’ll head to Central Province right away. The city only has my master now—I’m worried something might happen, and she won’t be able to handle it alone.”

Ye Lan wiped his sweat and finally set Duoxiren down from his back. He formed hand seals with his freed hands and summoned his Amber Gold Sword.

Ever the sensible one, he said, “Young master and Lord Cangyu can go together. I can handle carrying Brother Xu alone.”

He Mu said nothing. With a wave of his hand, he summoned his sword. Color Kill emerged with a whoosh, spun once in the air, and landed before them, widening its blade several inches on its own.

Wenren Sheng looked down at Color Kill, his expression turning tense.

Wenren Sheng disliked sword flight.

Or rather, he disliked flying at great heights on a sword. At fifteen, the first time He Mu took him flying, he got flung off and nearly crashed into a mountainside. Though He Mu caught him in time without injury, the memory still made him shudder.

Wenren Sheng cautiously stepped onto Color Kill, then quickly turned and hugged He Mu, his face paling.

He Mu stroked Wenren Sheng’s hair soothingly. “Don’t be scared. I won’t let you fall this time.”

Wenren Sheng thought, Last time the Mountain God was just as confident, and he still got thrown down.

But right now, he wasn’t even in the mood to whine. He buried his face in He Mu’s chest and whispered, “Hurry up, brother.”

Better a short pain than a long one. He’d rather fly fast and reach the destination sooner than drift slowly through the air.

He Mu wrapped one arm around his back. “From here to Central Province takes at least a day and a night at full speed. Better not to go too fast—I might make you sick.”

Wenren Sheng pouted and muttered, “Then why not use the Earth Shrinking Technique? It’s so convenient.”

He Mu chuckled helplessly. “The Earth Shrinking Technique requires divine graven power. I’m mortal now—I can’t use it.”

And even if he could, he didn’t particularly want to right now. Opportunities to have Wenren Sheng clinging to him like this weren’t common.

Wenren Sheng had been about to throw a little tantrum at He Mu, but considering how He Mu’s loss of his divine graven was partly his fault, he fell silent and hugged He Mu even tighter instead.

Color Kill gradually rose into the air. Wenren Sheng felt the surrounding air begin to flow as whistling winds battered his face. Piercing cold seeped into his sleeves, making his body tremble slightly.

…So high.

How high were they now? A hundred zhang? A thousand? Falling from here would shatter him to pieces.

If he were flying on his own, he’d be shaking like a sieve at this height.

“So scary…” he couldn’t help murmuring.

He Mu wrapped his other arm around Wenren Sheng’s waist. His embrace was strong, nearly enveloping Wenren Sheng entirely.

“Shengsheng,” He Mu kissed his hair. “Don’t worry. Even if we fall, I’ll catch you.”

With those words, He Mu couldn’t help feeling a bit emotional.

Back in Cangzhou City, facing all those demons, Wenren Sheng had drawn his sword without hesitation. He Mu had almost been stunned— the weak, crybaby child in his memories had grown into a hero who could stand on his own, brave enough to face anything with his sword.

Only in moments like this did He Mu feel that Wenren Sheng was still that same kid, clinging to him tearfully whenever he encountered something he wasn’t good at, begging for help.

Seeing Wenren Sheng too tense to speak, He Mu continued to soothe him. “Next time, I’ll take you from a lower height to get used to it. Soon, you’ll be soaring tens of thousands of li on your sword—like a true great hero, right?”

Wenren Sheng lifted his gaze slightly to meet He Mu’s eyes.

“What if I’m too dumb and can’t learn?”

“No problem,” He Mu smiled, eyes narrowing. “If you can’t learn, I’ll always carry you. I’ll be your sword.”

Wenren Sheng’s heart trembled. He wrapped his arms around He Mu’s neck and shyly kissed him.

“I like brother.”

“Hey,” He Mu tightened his hold on Wenren Sheng’s waist. “You have too many brothers. I don’t want to hear that.”

Wenren Sheng had to tiptoe, feeling awkward. “Where are there too many? You’re my only brother…”

“Is that so?” He Mu interrupted, pretending to ponder. “Then who was calling ‘Brother Ye Lan’ earlier? Was it my ears, or some silly little dog?”

Wenren Sheng never imagined He Mu would bring that up. He opened his mouth to retort, but suddenly felt a force on his legs. His feet left the ground, and He Mu scooped him up entirely.

Caught off guard, Wenren Sheng glimpsed the hundred-zhang drop below and panicked, hooking his legs around He Mu and clinging with all four limbs.

“So high! I’m gonna fall to my death!”

“What are you afraid of? Think I can’t hold you steady?” He Mu pinched his butt. “Now, answer me properly, or I’ll drop you.”

Wenren Sheng shuddered and clutched He Mu’s neck, pleading, “Good brother, good brother, sorry! I won’t call anyone else—put me down quick…”

He Mu didn’t let up. “Heard that last night. Say something new.”

With a sob in his voice, Wenren Sheng cried, “Then what do you want me to call you!!”

He Mu drawled leisurely, “Husband, darling, my lord. If nothing else, call me Murong Brother. I don’t want to be the same as the others.”

He paused, leaning to Wenren Sheng’s ear with intent. “Don’t those idle books you read… have plenty of names?”

Wenren Sheng jolted like he’d been shocked, momentarily forgetting his fear of heights as he jerked his head up to stare at He Mu.

“You… what do you mean?”

He Mu smiled. “Exactly that.”

“Shengsheng, you’ve read so many books. Time to put them to use, no?”

“…………”

Wenren Sheng sucked in a cold breath.

…No way.

Those… those Spring Palace Diagrams, those storybooks hidden under his bed—

Had He Mu seen them all?!

The realization hit him like a thunderbolt. His face flushed crimson, shame threatening to swallow him whole.

He instinctively reached to cover his face but forgot he was being held. Losing balance, he toppled backward!

He Mu’s expression shifted, and he leaned forward with him.

“Hey, don’t squirm!”

“Ah!”

After a few clatters, they both tumbled onto Color Kill’s blade.

Though enlarged, the sword surface remained cramped. They ended up one atop the other, frozen in place—He Mu’s hand still gripping Wenren Sheng’s waist, his knee wedged between Wenren Sheng’s legs.

Wenren Sheng panted in panic. His shoulders hung over empty air; any movement could send him plummeting.

“Brother!” Wenren Sheng grabbed He Mu in terror. “D-don’t move, or I’ll fall to my death!”

He Mu felt a bit awkward too but stayed calmer. He gripped Wenren Sheng’s waist tighter, stabilizing them precariously.

“Alright, stay still,” He Mu said. “We’ll adjust slowly.”

Wenren Sheng was on the verge of tears. The short fur on his wolf ears stood on end, his fingers white-knuckled, as if he’d revert to his original form and curl up any second.

He Mu inwardly chuckled at him—a Soul Formation Realm sword cultivator with a heavenly spiritual root, yet so terrified of heights.

But for some reason, the more he saw Wenren Sheng trembling in fear, the more wicked urges stirred in He Mu. He wanted to tease him, make him break down crying.

What if he pinned Wenren Sheng here and did him? Would he tremble in terror while crying out in pleasure nonstop?

He Mu felt his heart split between good and evil—one side urging him to cherish Wenren Sheng like a precious pearl, the other tempting him that such chances were rare.

That dilemma of advance or retreat, scratching at his heart, was probably this.

He Mu felt utterly tormented.