Chapter 25: The One in My Heart

After spring began, Wenren Sheng officially started his cultivation.

He scheduled his daily cultivation tasks very full, from the beginning of Mao hour to the third quarter of You hour, leaving almost no intervals for rest.

During the day, he first helped the clan leader feed the rabbits, then dragged the clan leader to watch him practice swordsmanship, continuing until noon.

After eating and resting for half a shichen, Wenren Sheng went to the Scripture Pavilion to listen to Wenqu Star lecture, meditating with her to refine his enlightenment ability.

At night, after the Mountain God returned home, Wenren Sheng pestered him for sparring matches to test his progress.

In this way, he devoted himself entirely to cultivation all day long. Most nights, he fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow, barely even flipping through the storybooks He Mu had recently bought.

But precisely because of this, his efforts were not in vain, and his cultivation results were quite impressive.

Moreover, after fully integrating a heavenly spiritual root into his body, Wenren Sheng’s learning speed took a huge leap forward.

His sword strikes grew faster and steadier. In less than three months, he could already defeat many martial arts experts.

“I can now take three moves from the Mountain God! And I’m using an iron sword while he’s using divine weapons. Pretty impressive, right?”

Inside the Scripture Pavilion, after class ended, Wenren Sheng immediately latched onto Yi Jinxiang to show off his recent progress.

He demonstrated a handsome sword stance for Yi Jinxiang to see, chattering nonstop.

“The Mountain God said that in a few more months of practice, there won’t be anyone in the jianghu who can match me. Then, after my birthday this year passes, I can start cultivating immortality. Hmm… I’ll need to prepare to learn some spells…”

Yi Jinxiang listened while fighting off drowsiness. She hummed a few responses while slowly fanning herself.

Once Wenren Sheng finished his excited babble, she finally spoke unhurriedly. “Have you ever thought about what kind of ‘Dao’ you want to cultivate in the future?”

Hearing this question, Wenren Sheng paused his movements.

“What kind of ‘Dao’?” Wenren Sheng tilted his head. “Is there a difference?”

Yi Jinxiang chuckled lightly. “Of course there is. Look at the difference between me and Cangyu.”

Wenren Sheng tapped his chin thoughtfully before saying, “Master is knowledgeable and well-read, while the Mountain God is illiterate?”

Yi Jinxiang covered her smile with her fan. “Not wrong, but our dao hearts differ, so the divine graven we obtain after ascension are also different.”

Wenren Sheng asked, “What is the Mountain God’s dao heart?”

“It cannot be spoken,” Yi Jinxiang said. “Everyone’s dao heart is known only to themselves, but you can guess what kind of dao heart he cultivates.”

“Only guess?” Wenren Sheng guessed, “The Mountain God is the Martial God. He even needs to request approval from the Heavenly Court before killing. Probably something like the Asura Dao or the Emotionless Dao.”

Yi Jinxiang laughed. “I guess the same. So what do you want to do? As long as you set your heart on one thing, you’ll develop your own dao heart.”

“Ah—”

Wenren Sheng dragged out the sound, showing a conflicted expression. “But I have so many things I want to do. I want to be a hero who protects the people I like, uphold justice, become the world’s greatest… It’s so hard to choose…”

“This isn’t something you can just choose,” Yi Jinxiang sighed lightly. “You’ll understand when you grow up. Alright, it’s too cold here. I’m going back.”

“Ah? Master, just a bit more—”

Before Wenren Sheng could finish, Yi Jinxiang dispersed into the air before him like a puff of smoke, just as she always did.

“…longer.”

Wenren Sheng softly finished the second word, spreading his hands with a sigh. “Adults always talk in such mysterious and cryptic ways.”

However, after all the fussing with her, Wenren Sheng felt tired.

“After waking up, spar with the Mountain God, then say goodnight to the clan leader and Master.”

Muttering to himself, he yawned and walked out of the Scripture Pavilion, planning to head back to his room for a nap.

As he reached the corridor, a flash of blue light caught the corner of his eye.

Wenren Sheng looked over and saw a blue-black patterned blue butterfly fluttering its wings, hovering at eye level in his line of sight outside the corridor.

“…A butterfly?”

No sooner had he spoken than a sharp pain stabbed the back of his neck, like being pierced by a needle.

He squinted in pain, thinking some insect had bitten him, and reached back to touch it.

“Nothing there,” Wenren Sheng muttered to himself. “Maybe the wound hasn’t fully healed?”

As he turned back to look for the blue butterfly, it had vanished without a trace in the blink of an eye.

“Huh?”

Wenren Sheng looked around and spotted the blue butterfly again not far away.

It fluttered up and down in place, as if beckoning him to follow.

Wenren Sheng frowned, his hand instinctively going to the Amber Gold Sword at his waist.

He had lived on Fragrant Ze Mountain for so many years and had a hobby of catching butterflies on the mountain. He knew almost every species on Fragrant Ze Mountain.

He had never seen one this color.

His pupils narrowed to slits as he cautiously followed the blue butterfly.

Sure enough, the blue butterfly was leading Wenren Sheng. It flew through the corridor, past the mountain gate, and into the path leading to the mountain spring.

Wenren Sheng followed closely, gripping his sword tightly, his heart filled with both curiosity and tension.

If this blue butterfly was just a newly formed little demon, that would be fine. But if it was some great demon, wouldn’t all the animals on Fragrant Ze Mountain be in danger?

He had to follow and check it out.

Wenren Sheng tailed it closely all the way down to the mountain spring. When he parted the bamboo leaves and stepped inside, the blue butterfly evaporated like mist, vanishing instantly.

At the same time, Wenren Sheng spotted a figure standing on the waterside pavilion in the center of the spring.

The person wore all white, with several fiery red long tails behind them, like a fox demon that had only half-shapeshifted.

There weren’t many demons on Fragrant Ze Mountain that could shapeshift, and even fewer with multiple tails. This clearly wasn’t a local demon.

Wenren Sheng’s brows furrowed. With a “ching,” he drew the Amber Gold Sword at his side and pointed it at the figure’s back.

“Who are you?”

The fox demon’s ears twitched slightly at Wenren Sheng’s call before it slowly turned around.

Only then did Wenren Sheng see it: a blank white face without any facial features!

He shuddered instantly.

“No face…?”

Before he finished speaking, another red-faced fox mask suddenly emerged from beneath his feet, startling him badly.

“Ah!”

He leaped back several steps, raising his sword in a defensive stance, staring tensely at the red-faced fox.

“What demon are you? Why have you come to Fragrant Ze Mountain!”

The fox mask spun upside down once, narrowing its eyes as it leaned in closer, as if sniffing Wenren Sheng’s scent.

“Don’t come closer!” Wenren Sheng’s expression tightened as he shouted. “Any closer, and I’ll strike!”

Unsure of the demon’s strength, he shouted to build momentum while inwardly plotting an escape route.

The Mountain God wasn’t back yet. Master’s room was the closest; fleeing there for help was best.

Seeing Wenren Sheng pondering seriously, the red-faced fox actually giggled, its mouth splitting wide to its ears.

“You’ve grown up, huh?”

It spun around once more, circling behind Wenren Sheng and pressing close to his ear, whispering lowly,

“How is the one in your heart?”

The one in his heart?

Wenren Sheng froze for a moment before quickly dodging in another direction.

He swallowed and said, “What do you mean?”

It curved its eyes. “The one in your heart is the most powerful god here. Six years ago, he took you in, found your heavenly spiritual root for you, and helped you cultivate and learn martial arts. Isn’t that right?”

This was referring to… the Mountain God?

It even knew about the heavenly spiritual root!

“He’s not the one in my heart,” Wenren Sheng pursed his lips. “We’re family. Don’t stir up trouble. Tell me who you are.”

The red-faced fox still didn’t answer. Its eyes suddenly spun like bells, as if deep in thought.

A moment later, the fox mask’s pupils fixed sharply, staring straight at Wenren Sheng as it chuckled lowly.

“Then, have you ever had intimate contact with him?”

…Intimate contact?

Wenren Sheng’s face instantly flushed red. “Of course not! What nonsense!”

“But I clearly saw you sharing a bed with your Mountain God Brother night after night. Could it be you never—”

“Ah! I get it now.”

The red-faced fox’s words cut off abruptly, then slithered like a snake back onto the face of the multi-tailed fox spirit from before.

“If that’s the case, tonight I gift you a dream.”

As the red face retracted, the voice suddenly grew distant, like an echo in a dream.

“When you wake, if doubts arise, come find me here…”

“Hey!” Wenren Sheng rushed forward. “Don’t go! You haven’t said what kind of demon you are!”

But the fox spirit left in a hurry. After leaving those strange words, it vanished into the thick fog.

“What a weirdo…!”

Wenren Sheng pulled a face and sheathed the Amber Gold Sword with a flick.

Talking about the one in his heart, intimate contact… utter nonsense!

How could his feelings for the Mountain God be like that?

He just greatly admired the Mountain God, loved sticking to him, wanted to be kissed and hugged by him, wanted to curl up small in his palm. That’s all.

Did that mean the Mountain God was the one in his heart?

Wenren Sheng kicked pebbles irritably in place, grumbling under his breath.

“Annoying. Always lying out of their mouth!”

Wenren Sheng thought to wait here a bit; maybe the fox demon would return to the mountain spring.

But after waiting over an hour with no one else appearing, Wenren Sheng sighed and headed back dejectedly.

He dragged his feet all the way to his door, only to look up and see He Mu already waiting there.

He Mu leaned his head against the doorframe. “Where’d you go play?”

“Ah…”

Wenren Sheng swallowed secretly and told a little lie.

“Just… wandered around, found a quiet spot to practice swordsmanship.”

“Practice swordsmanship?” He Mu eyed him skeptically. “The direction you came from should only lead to the mountain spring, right?”

Wenren Sheng stammered, “I practiced a bit on the way to the mountain spring. N-not for long! By the way, why is the Mountain God still out so late?”

“There’s still some business outside to handle,” He Mu straightened up, continuing his words. “I have to go out again tonight and won’t be back until late. Go to sleep early.”

Wenren Sheng’s expression fell visibly. “Out again? I wanted to show you my new moves.”

He Mu bent down and ruffled Wenren Sheng’s hair, smiling. “Show them all to me during tomorrow’s sparring, okay?”

Wenren Sheng wasn’t really angry, and after today’s events, he actually wanted some alone time tonight to sort his thoughts.

He put on a generous face, waving his hand. “Fine, fine. I forgive you then.”

He Mu pinched his cheek. “I’m leaving. No goodnight kiss?”

At those words, Wenren Sheng guiltily glanced at He Mu.

Of course he wanted to give He Mu their usual goodnight kiss, but after running into that fox spirit today and hearing its weird words, his mind was full of “the one in my heart.”

For the moment, he lacked the courage to kiss.

Wenren Sheng poked at his hand. “Uh… no kiss tonight. I’ll make it up tomorrow when you get back, okay?”

He Mu wasn’t pleased. He gently pinched Wenren Sheng’s little face, dissatisfied. “Really no kiss?”

Wenren Sheng braced himself. “No kiss!”

He Mu huffed coldly, muttering, “If you won’t kiss me, I’ll kiss you,” then cupped Wenren Sheng’s cheeks and planted a solid smooch.

“………………”

Wenren Sheng stared blankly, his face flushing red only after it registered.

“Y-you!”

He Mu crossed his arms, acting entitled. “What about me?”

“…I-I’m going to bed!”

Wenren Sheng didn’t want to talk to him anymore. He covered the kissed side of his face and hurriedly ran inside, slamming the door shut.

To stop himself from overthinking, he dove under the covers right after closing the door, wrapping himself up tight.

He touched the kissed cheek, mumbling, “What was that? Doesn’t listen to me at all.”

Whatever. It was just a cheek kiss. Hero Wenren Sheng was used to it by now.

Wenren Sheng quickly let it go, silently reciting the Pure Heart Incantation Yi Jinxiang had taught him several times in his mind.

The Pure Heart Incantation was complex and sleep-inducing. Soon, he was hugging the quilt and snoring away.

That night, however, Wenren Sheng had a strange dream.

In the dream, he returned to the mountain spring on Fragrant Ze Mountain.

This time, the mountain spring felt somewhat different. The originally ethereal and thin mountain mist had become extremely damp and hazy, while a strange smell permeated the air, leaving him feeling uncomfortable all over.

Not only that, Wenren Sheng also felt a strong dryness in his throat, as if he had caught a cold, making even swallowing somewhat painful.

He looked down and saw that he was only wearing a thin middle garment, with the clothes below his waistband all immersed in the water and completely soaked.