Chapter 65 Part 1
Shi Xuan’s grip was strong, his arms like steel around Wu Heng’s waist, his head resting on his shoulder as if exhausted, filled with unspoken grievances, like a pitiful wet puppy.
Wu Heng, stunned, finally processed the situation. How did he get here?
People were passing by, and Wu Heng wasn’t sure if he should push him away, when Shi Xuan released him.
[!!! Who the hell is that?! Who allowed him to hug my Wu Heng?!]
[I’m too timid! I just visited Chengde Medical Clinic today, but I only dared to take a photo from half a meter away, afraid of disturbing him.]
[The brave enjoy the world first. I wonder if Doctor Wu smells nice, I always smell herbs on him.]
[So, definitely a patient. Seeing Doctor Wu is like seeing a savior, understandable.]
[They look like a couple, okay?] Tang Xueshan, despite the discomfort, typed passionately on her phone.
Yang Xing, holding a textbook on welding from Beijing University of Science and Technology, couldn’t help but remark, ‘Miss Tang, they can’t see your comments.’
Unless specifically connected, ordinary people couldn’t see comments from the ghost internet.
‘And do you know what they’re doing with that Nuo dance? They’re trying to exorcise us! Put down my phone! Phones are for studying, not watching live streams!’
Tang Xueshan sullenly returned the phone, feeling envious.
Only after arriving in the underworld did she realize how slow things were there. Ordinary ghosts were still living in the 80s and 90s technologically. Smartphones and computers existed, but only for high-ranking ghosts. Forget about cars, even a paper horse was a luxury.
Xi Xi was right, having a phone in the underworld was difficult. As a writer, she had to return to basics, writing her manuscripts by hand, submitting them to the underworld newspaper, waiting for a computer or phone to be assigned.
‘Why are you studying rocket welding? Don’t tell me you’re planning on building a rocket to escape?’
Yang Xing said a little sheepishly, ‘Just trying to learn. Maybe Beijing University of Science and Technology will burn a graduation certificate for me.’
A graduate was a true university student.
It was too dark to see clearly, but He Yunxiao and Li Hao instantly recognized him and frantically tagged Shi Xuan in their group chat.
[Group Owner – Li Hao: @SX, why are you in Nan Nuo village alone? Weren’t we all too busy with school? Backstabber! @He Yunxiao, did you also go secretly?]
[He Yunxiao: …Are you crazy? We had lunch together. How could I possibly be there already?]
He Yunxiao felt a pang of jealousy, it seemed he was the only one who hadn’t visited Wu Heng’s village.
That sneaky Shi Xuan, doing things behind their backs!
Li Hao, his face contorted by envy, typed furiously.
[Group Owner – Li Hao: @SX, Classmate Shi, do you even understand photography? Bros take photos with their arms around each other’s shoulders, not hugging waists! That’s for couples! Real men do it like this. [picture]]
But then, remembering Shi Xuan’s solitary nature, he relented slightly, he probably didn’t know any better.
The photo showed Li Hao, Wang Dong, and the three Black Hairs with their colorful dyed hair, arms around each other’s shoulders, grinning.
[He Yunxiao: …Impressive.]
“Let’s go back.” Wu Heng pulled down his mask and, grabbing Shi Xuan’s wrist, led him away on a less-traveled path, hidden from the tourists.
In Nan Nuo, both men and women performing in the Nuo opera wore dark blue, homespun skirts. As they walked quickly, Wu Heng’s skirt brushed against Shi Xuan’s exposed calf, where his pants were torn, the rough cloth strangely comforting.
Shi Xuan, turning, grasped his wrist, and they stopped on the deserted path.
Wu Heng lifted his mask slightly, his brow furrowed as he noticed the scratches covering Shi Xuan, his entire being emanating a gloomy aura, like a mistreated puppy.
“How… how did you get here?”
Shi Xuan simply said, “I jumped into the well.”
Wu Heng, moving closer, his voice filled with disbelief, “What? You… jumped? Into your well? And… and you’re here?”
Seeing him nod, Wu Heng was stunned. He could travel through wells because, firstly, he was an ancient shaman doctor, and secondly, he had the Well Dragon King’s scale as a token. Both were essential.
How did Shi Xuan get here without either?
“How… how did you do it? What spell did you use?” Wu Heng, both surprised and curious, leaned closer.
Shi Xuan lifted his hand, his cold fingers not touching his face, but gently tracing the large silver earring. “It’s beautiful.”
Wu Heng’s ears burned, and Shi Xuan continued, his voice low, “I just wanted to find you.”
He didn’t know any spells, only his desire to see Wu Heng.
“I jumped after school today, I’ve been looking for you…” He raised his arm, showing the snake bite marks, “And I was bitten by a snake.”
Wu Heng: “…”
So he wasn’t drowning for the entire afternoon?
Wu Heng looked him up and down, this enigmatic friend was truly something, he could only guess.
Well water was groundwater, extremely Yin. Perhaps it was because of his strong Yin qi? Recognized as one of its own?
Noticing his gaze on the bite marks, Wu Heng said, “…Well Dragon Kings are non-venomous water snakes or Jiao Dragons, don’t worry about poison.”
Shi Xuan said softly, “But it hurts.”
His gaze intense, Wu Heng didn’t know how to respond.
“…Then, come with me to the clinic, I’ll treat it,” he said, pulling Shi Xuan towards the clinic through a back path.
The little white snake and Xi Xi hadn’t gone to watch the Nuo opera rehearsal, it was a ritual to dispel evil, and as spirit snakes, they were still susceptible.
The little white snake was lying on the consultation table. ‘Xi Xi, I’m craving chicken. Do you think Godfather will bring us some Orleans fried chicken if we ask?‘
Wu Heng’s voice came from behind, “No.”
The little white snake looked up to protest, its eyes widening. “Godfather?”
Xi Xi was also surprised, “Second Godfather?”
How did he get here? Wasn’t he supposed to be at school?
The little white snake, looking at his empty hands, sulked, “Godfather, don’t you know you should bring a gift when visiting?”
He brought himself, but not the fried chicken.
Wu Heng took the medical kit and treated his wounds, telling Xi Xi, “Xi Xi, get me a set of clothes from my room, the one Mother Zhou made is a bit too big.”
Xi Xi nodded obediently, “Okay.”
Shi Xuan’s injuries were minor, easily treated. Seeing him looking around the clinic, Wu Heng said, “I’ll prepare a guest room for you, you can stay the night.”
Xi Xi, a set of clothes balanced on her head, asked curiously, “Godfather, can Second Godfather only stay one night?”
He was a high school senior, he had to go to school, right?
Xi Xi said, her voice sweet, “I smell well water on him, he came through the well, right? Then… he can stay and be a… day student.”
The little white snake was shocked, Xi Xi noticed too?! It slithered over and sniffed, a strong scent of Yin qi from well water.
‘Yes! Godfather, stay at the clinic! The well is only a ten-minute walk! And the one near your school is also very close!’
And more importantly, there were so many restaurants and street food stalls near the school! He could bring them food!
Wu Heng, meeting Shi Xuan’s gaze, looked away, feeling his ears burn. “…That’s not a good idea.”
“There are too many tourists now, it would be difficult to explain.”
And wouldn’t that be like living together?
Besides, Shi Xuan was lucky to have arrived here safely this time, there was no guarantee he could do it again, and who commuted three thousand kilometers every day?!
Shi Xuan took out his phone, which, inexplicably, wasn’t damaged by the well water, and made a call.
Steward Wu sat alone by the well, dejected, having waited all afternoon. His heart sank when the call connected, a familiar, cold voice on the other end. “Steward Wu.”
Silence. Shi Xuan checked his phone, it was working fine, why wasn’t he speaking? “Steward Wu?”
A wail suddenly came from the other end. “Young Master! You really drowned?! How tragic! I’ll fold some joss paper ingots for you! Where’s your body? I’ll find it!”
Shi Xuan: “…”
Wu Su was truly heartbroken. Shi Xuan must be dead, the internet here was connected to the underworld, he couldn’t receive normal calls, this must be a call from a ghost.
And his first thought was to call him, someone unrelated by blood.
Overcome with emotion, Wu Su said, his voice choked with tears, “That old bastard definitely won’t burn any offerings for you! Young Master, if you don’t mind us being poor, how about… how about becoming my godson? Then my father, my son, our whole family will burn joss paper for you! Old Man Zhou said that Heng Heng’s ingots are valuable in the underworld. I’ll have him fold some for you.”
Shi Xuan: “…Steward Wu, I’m not dead.”
Not only was he not dead, he had even arrived at the place Steward Wu longed to return to.
After repeated confirmations, Wu Su finally believed him but still worried. Where was he? Was he suffering somewhere?
Wu Su, after hanging up, no longer staying by the well, went inside and saw Mr. Shi pacing anxiously, he coughed and said, “Extinct One, I need money for funeral arrangements.”
Mr. Shi looked at him incredulously. “What did you call me?”
Wu Su, his face close to Mr. Shi’s, repeated, “Extinct One.”
Mr. Shi: “…”
Extinct?! This country bumpkin from the southwest, his Mandarin still atrocious after all these years!
Mr. Shi’s heart sank. Funeral arrangements? So Shi Xuan, along with the choker, was really gone, and Wu Su was no longer holding back.
“Why are you so happy?” Wu Heng, seeing that Shi Xuan had changed into the local ethnic clothing, his eyes still scanning the clinic, asked.
