Chapter 74: Don’t Be Mad Anymore

The next day at Mao hour, Wenren Sheng arrived at the medicine hall right on time.

“Divine Doctor Sister, you’ve worked hard,” Wenren Sheng handed a bulging package of oil paper to Shan Yue. “These are some red lotuses from Cangzhou City that haven’t bloomed yet. The toxicity isn’t strong. I wonder if they can help you.”

“Thank you, Young Hero,” Shan Yue took the oil paper, her brows and eyes curved in a smile. “Did you rest well last night?”

Wenren Sheng scratched his face and said guiltily, “Mm… pretty good. The bed was very comfortable, and it was quiet all around.”

He lied.

After being angered by He Mu the night before, he had wrapped himself into a roll with the quilt. In the end, he bound himself instead, leaving his hands and feet unable to move.

He Mu took the chance to scoop him up—quilt and all—into his arms. He coaxed him with all sorts of sweet talk until he was dizzy and confused, and he ended up falling asleep in a daze.

Even so, when Wenren Sheng woke up that morning, he still felt very angry.

He hadn’t even given He Mu a good morning kiss. He silently dressed and left the room without a word.

“Young Hero, come inside first. This tea has medicine for treating cold injuries,” Shan Yue smilingly stuffed a cup of hot tea into Wenren Sheng’s hand. “Last night, I took a look at Brother Xu’s condition and made some discoveries.”

“Really?”

The gloom in Wenren Sheng’s eyes finally lifted a little. Delight showed on his face, and he hurriedly took the teacup.

“Thank you, Sister. Once we have the antidote formula, we’ll head straight back to Cangzhou. The sooner, the better!”

Shan Yue unhurriedly helped him to the table. Seeing that he was dressed too thinly, she found a white fur cloak and draped it over him.

“Young Hero, don’t rush,” she said in a warm, gentle voice. “This red lotus poison comes from the Eastern Ocean and is called ‘calamity essence.’ The antidote isn’t hard to prepare, but a few ingredients on the formula are tricky to find. I’ll have to trouble you and Lord Murong to help track them down.”

Wenren Sheng nodded at once. “Okay, Divine Doctor Sister. As long as it can cure Duoxiren’s illness, I’ll find however many we need.”

“Eh,” Shan Yue said, puzzled. “Speaking of which, why didn’t Lord Murong come with you today, Young Hero?”

Wenren Sheng let out a soft hum and muttered, “I don’t know.”

He was afraid He Mu would sweet-talk him into softening up again, so the moment he woke up that morning, he threw on his clothes and bolted. He had barely glanced at He Mu the whole time.

Wenren Sheng’s anger hadn’t faded at all, so he had no idea where He Mu had gone—and he didn’t… care!

“Never mind him,” Wenren Sheng said. “Divine Doctor Sister, besides the formula, is there anything else you need me to handle? Tell me all at once. I’ll go today.”

“There is one more thing…” Shan Yue’s face showed conflict. “This formula is based on my own medical experience. It uses very potent drugs, and I still don’t know if it’ll work. I need to find a demon to test it on—one that has ingested the red lotus.”

At that point, Shan Yue bashfully tugged at her collar and said, “I’m a rat demon myself, so I’d be the most suitable to test it. But I’ve been frail and sickly since I was little. This heart palpitation problem hasn’t gotten any better either. I’m afraid I couldn’t even last the first day.”

She paused, then said softly, “If I collapse during the test, please take the formula to Cangzhou City and deliver it to my benefactor in person…”

“No need. I’ll test it,” Wenren Sheng said with a brilliant smile at her. “My spirit root is very strong. This sort of thing won’t affect me.”

The moment Shan Yue heard that, terror flashed across her face. “Young Hero, you’re Benefactor’s closed-door disciple. That absolutely won’t do!”

“Then let me do it!”

No sooner had the words fallen than Ye Lan’s voice came from outside the room. He had changed into casual clothes that day and held a sword in hand. He saluted Shan Yue and Wenren Sheng.

“The Young Lord is still young and might not be able to endure it. This subordinate is over a hundred years old already and is more suitable to test the medicine for you, Divine Doctor.”

Ye Lan’s words only made Wenren Sheng feel more embarrassed.

Over the past few days in Central Province, he had dumped plenty of dirty, tiring work on Ye Lan. Now he was asking him to risk his body on a formula with unknown effects? That was too much.

And this was his master’s dharma protector. If his health broke down, how could he properly protect his master’s safety?

Wenren Sheng refused on the spot. “No, I’ll do it.”

Ye Lan insisted, “Young Lord, let this subordinate handle it! The City Lord said you’ve been frail since childhood. You’re probably not suited for this.”

“My current cultivation and realm aren’t low at all,” Wenren Sheng said, displeased. “I was only frail as a youth because my spirit root was incomplete. Now that it’s fully restored, I’m not that fragile.”

“Young Lord, that’s too risky.”

“I’m a sword cultivator. This doesn’t count as a risk.”

“But—”

“Enough. Stop arguing.”

Just as the two of them were deadlocked, a voice suddenly cut in from the doorway, interrupting their argument.

Wenren Sheng looked over. The newcomer was He Mu.

He stepped across the threshold and headed straight for Wenren Sheng’s side. Casually, he set down the bracelet and earring that Wenren Sheng had left behind that morning. Then he pulled a small packet of dried leaves from inside his collar and pushed it in front of Wenren Sheng.

What was that? It carried a sweet, sugary scent.

Wenren Sheng hesitated for a moment before reaching out to open the packet. Inside were fresh preserved plums—his favorite.

So he had gone out early that morning to buy these and cheer him up.

Wenren Sheng didn’t look up at He Mu. He just flicked his tail, his ear tips turning red as he closed up the leaves again. He didn’t touch a single plum.

Don’t think a little favor like this will make me forgive you!

Wenren Sheng said to himself.

He Mu saw that he wasn’t eating but didn’t press. He glanced at Shan Yue and Ye Lan before speaking. “For the medicine test, let me do it.”

Wenren Sheng froze at those words. The wolf tail behind him went still.

Hesitation flickered across Shan Yue’s face. “Lord Murong, it’s most suitable to test this on a demon. You’re human, so I’m afraid…”

“The difference between demons and humans boils down to the spirit root,” He Mu said as he leaned against the table with his arms crossed, unhurried. “Demons are born with powerful spirit roots that support the function of their organs. That’s why they have such strong drug resistance—which is why you’re using even more potent medicines, right?”

Shan Yue nodded. “That’s correct.”

“Then there’s no problem,” He Mu said flatly. “I went through qi deviation before. Heart demons invaded my organs, and they lost their natural functions. I’ve been sustaining them with my spiritual power ever since. It’s very close to a demon’s physique.”

“Qi deviation?” Shan Yue looked shocked. “Then right now…”

He Mu waved a hand. “You don’t need to worry about that. In any case, I’m not a demon, so the ‘calamity essence’ won’t drive me mad. I’m the most suitable to test it on.”

With that, Shan Yue didn’t know how to respond. She looked worriedly at Wenren Sheng beside her, about to speak up and ask.

But Wenren Sheng beat her to it. He stood with an unhappy expression, grabbed He Mu’s hand, and dragged him toward the door.

As he passed Ye Lan, Wenren Sheng shot him a look, signaling him to follow. Then he hauled He Mu right out of the medicine hall.

The three of them walked to the corner before stopping.

“Night Dharma Protector,” Wenren Sheng said as he crossed his arms, his tone stiff. “Ask him for me if everything he just said is true.”

Ye Lan said blankly, “Me…?”

He had anticipated a moment like this, but not under these circumstances.

He wasn’t even as close to these two as they were to each other. Exaggerating a little, he could hear their breathing. So why did he need to play messenger?

He Mu looked helplessly at Wenren Sheng. “Shengsheng, you’re really not going to talk to me anymore?”

Wenren Sheng pursed his lips in refusal to communicate and gave Ye Lan’s arm a light shove.

Ye Lan didn’t want to go against Wenren Sheng’s wishes, so he repeated his words to He Mu.

“Lord Cangyu, the Young Lord asks if what you just said is true.”

After hearing him out, He Mu replied, “Then tell him that we already talked the qi deviation thing out ages ago, right?”

Ye Lan saluted Wenren Sheng and repeated it back to him word for word.

“That isn’t what I’m talking about!” Wenren Sheng said urgently. “I mean the testing! Why did he suddenly step up and take it all on himself without even discussing it with me?”

He Mu hurriedly explained, “You’re a demon. This poison carries risks for you. I don’t want you getting hurt, so I figured I’d…”

Wenren Sheng stomped his foot in anger. “And that’s exactly what I don’t want!”

At those words, something shifted in He Mu’s eyes.

In that moment, he finally pieced it together.

Why Wenren Sheng always stewed in silence, why he would suddenly get upset—these moods weren’t random flare-ups. They came from He Mu failing to “read” his heart.

He had gotten angry the night before because he hated hearing He Mu blame himself. But He Mu had thought it was proper repentance and gone on and on about it.

He was angry today because he didn’t like He Mu making decisions on his own without consulting him. And yet He Mu had gone ahead and taken the testing job by himself.

On closer reflection, nearly every instance of anger had stemmed from the exact same thing.

Wenren Sheng was a reserved child. He only showed his full range of emotions to those he was close to and trusted. But those emotions’ origins had to be guessed at. If He Mu guessed wrong, Wenren Sheng—poor at expressing himself—would just start sulking on his own.

It was as if He Mu had been suddenly enlightened. He ignored any rules about messengers and stepped forward to grab Wenren Sheng’s hand.

“Shengsheng, I’m sorry,” he said. “I get it now. Next time, I’ll discuss it with you before deciding. Don’t be mad this time, okay?”

Wenren Sheng jumped in surprise. He tried to yank his hand free while yelling at Ye Lan, “Tell him quick: he’s not allowed to touch me. I don’t want to talk to him!”

Ye Lan nodded and turned to He Mu. “The Young Lord says—”

“I know what he says. You’re done here.”

With a wave of He Mu’s hand, Color Kill answered the summons in an instant and landed in front of Ye Lan.

He said darkly, “If you don’t leave, my sword will see you off.”

“…”

Ye Lan looked troubled as he turned to Wenren Sheng and recited verbatim, “Young Lord, Lord Cangyu says if I don’t leave, he’s going to kill me.”

“…Fine, go on,” Wenren Sheng said, covering his face in embarrassment. “And close the door behind you.”

Ye Lan received his orders, gave a simple salute, and bolted back into the medicine hall like his feet were oiled. With a bang, he slammed the door shut.

Wenren Sheng took a deep breath at the click of the latch falling into place. Finally, he mustered the courage to turn around and face He Mu.

He deliberately scowled and asked coldly, “What else does Brother have to say?”

There was no joking on He Mu’s face. Earnestly, he said, “I keep assuming I’m doing what’s best for you on my own initiative. Shengsheng, from now on, I’ll check with you first. Don’t be mad this time, okay?”

Wenren Sheng’s heart skipped. He panicked and looked away, stammering,

“Wh-who said I was mad about that?! Brother wants to play big hero and sacrifice himself—hurt himself—in my place. I don’t… don’t care one bit! Do whatever you want!”

“I only wanted to get your attention. I used this clumsy method. If it disappoints you, I’ll come up with something else.”

He Mu pulled Wenren Sheng straight into a hug and said muffled against him,

“Every minute you ignore me… hurts ten thousand times worse than qi deviation.”

Wenren Sheng’s face burned. He struggled a little and shouted, “Who would believe that?!”

“You do,” He Mu said with certainty.

“…………”

…This damn Mountain God!

Wenren Sheng had no more strength to struggle. He was hugged until he could barely breathe, his whole body like a ball of cotton fluff on the verge of being pulled apart and melting into He Mu’s arms.

A long while later, Wenren Sheng finally parted his lips.

“Then… swear.”

“Mm, I swear,” He Mu said. He kissed Wenren Sheng’s temple and murmured low, “You tell me. What should I swear?”

Wenren Sheng tilted his head up. His hand clenched slightly in He Mu’s robe.

“Swear…” His voice trembled a little. “That we’ll always be honest with each other. That there’ll never be any gaps between us. That neither of us will ever sacrifice ourselves without a word.”

He Mu pressed his face close to his and said, word by word, “I swear we’ll always be honest with each other. There’ll be no gaps. No one will sacrifice themselves—not me, and not you.”

“…………”

With a promise like that, it seemed he had no reason left to stay angry.

Wenren Sheng’s thoughts were delicate and sensitive. He knew that the bond between him and the Mountain God stemmed from their deep love for each other, which led them to unconsciously make sacrifices, protecting one another.

Yet he couldn’t help but wonder: Was this love, built on silent “self-sacrifice,” truly fair to both of them? Was it noble, or selfish?

Wenren Sheng didn’t approve of this kind of love. He believed that it was precisely because of his deep love for the other that he needed to cherish his own life even more.

Such a promise held immense importance for him.

After calming his emotions a little, Wenren Sheng silently hugged He Mu back, conveying his reconciliation.

The weight finally lifted from He Mu’s heart. He let out a sigh of relief and couldn’t resist lightly patting Wenren Sheng’s back as he sighed, “Shengsheng, in the future, lose your temper with me more often, okay?”

Wenren Sheng gave him a light smack. “Who asks for something like that…?”

He Mu smiled and said, “That way, I can tell you’re not sulking.”

Wenren Sheng “tch”ed and hugged He Mu even tighter.

Bubbles seemed to rise all over his body now, and his mind kept replaying He Mu’s recent promise over and over.

Every word had been clear and devout, like a sincere vow.

Wenren Sheng blushed furiously. He buried his face in He Mu’s shoulder, thinking to himself that although he’d been the one to make him say it, why did it sound so…

“Shengsheng.”

Lost in thought, He Mu suddenly called out to him.

“Hm?”

He Mu paused, then said, “Let’s head back to Fragrant Ze Mountain tomorrow.”