It must be because of that stinky fox!
Wenren Sheng scrubbed his underclothes while fuming inwardly.
All that talk of sweethearts and intimate contact kept swirling in his mind, which was why he had such a dream!
After half a shichen passed, Wenren Sheng’s sorrow had turned into intense anger.
He was determined to catch that fox demon later and beat it flat into a pancake and stuff it in his mouth.
But he no longer had the courage to go to the mountain spring right now.
Just thinking of that place brought last night’s dream vividly to mind, and the sensation of his tail being fondled instantly returned.
Wenren Sheng shuddered in fright and quickly shook his head to dispel the thought.
No, he could not think about it anymore.
It was just a ridiculous dream. The He Mu in it was not real at all; it was something he had fantasized out of a stray thought.
How could the real Mountain God possibly treat him like that, hold him in his arms, ignore his moans, and fondle his tail over and over?
It was too unreasonable.
He frowned as he lifted his dripping clothes from the copper basin and fell into another worry.
But why did his body react like this after having such a dream?
Wenren Sheng was very curious, but no one had taught him about such things. The clan leader was too old, and his master was a woman, so she certainly would not understand…
Did that mean he could only ask the Mountain God?
But the person in yesterday’s dream was him!
Wenren Sheng gritted his teeth in frustration and continued scrubbing his clothes aggrievedly, wishing he could wash the memory right out of his mind.
“I clearly don’t!”
He muttered, his hands scrubbing harder and harder until he nearly tore the clothes.
He clearly did not have those kinds of thoughts about the Mountain God!
He Mu was the immortal he had worshipped since childhood. He had always treated him like family. How could he inexplicably become his sweetheart?
“…………”
Halfway through scrubbing, he wilted and stopped.
Though unwilling deep down, Wenren Sheng did not dare swear that he had not a single improper thought toward He Mu.
In that dream, when He Mu first kissed his ear, his body had tensed up a bit.
But because it was He Mu, he did not resist. He let him whisper in his ear and even allowed him to touch his tail.
And… it was not just a lack of resistance.
Wenren Sheng pursed his lips slightly. His cheeks grew hotter and hotter, mist rising in his eyes.
He felt like he kind of liked it, kind of craved that feeling.
For a demon, the tail was an extremely sensitive and private place, to be touched only by the most intimate partner.
If anyone else touched it carelessly, Wenren Sheng would fight them to the death.
But when He Mu held him and stroked his tail, Wenren Sheng felt no disgust at all. On the contrary, it felt so good it was a bit overwhelming.
His resistance was only because he could not bear such intense stimulation and subconsciously wanted to escape, not because he disliked it.
If he could indulge even in that, did it not mean he had subconsciously already regarded He Mu as… as a partner?
Th-this was not…
The meaning of a sweetheart?
Wenren Sheng’s thoughts were a jumbled mess. He could not figure out the dream at all, so even his daytime sword practice lacked vigor and ended hastily.
During afternoon study time, he still lay sprawled on the desk, absentmindedly playing with his brush.
Yi Jinxiang had been lecturing him, but after posing a question, she got no response from Wenren Sheng for a long time.
She thus set down her book and glanced at him.
“Wenren Sheng.”
“Ah!”
Wenren Sheng jolted upright, quickly straightened his posture, and apologized repeatedly.
“Sorry, Master. I was distracted just now.”
Yi Jinxiang lowered her gaze and put away the book. “How many times have you been distracted today? If something is on your mind, why not tell me?”
Wenren Sheng rested his hands on his knees and curled his fingers, stammering, “N-no, Master…”
Yi Jinxiang raised a brow. “No?”
Wenren Sheng pursed his lips and did not dare make a sound.
He knew Yi Jinxiang read people well. Lying to her would definitely be exposed.
But Wenren Sheng really could not bring himself to lay bare his inner thoughts. After hesitating, he finally beat around the bush.
“Master, you’re so beautiful. Back in the mortal world, did anyone ever like you?”
Yi Jinxiang’s expression froze as she looked at him in confusion.
“What brings this up?”
Wenren Sheng finally raised his head and met Yi Jinxiang’s gaze.
Though Yi Jinxiang usually painted her face like a clown’s, Wenren Sheng had seen her true appearance a few times. Her bone structure was sharp and exquisite; she was a very beautiful woman.
She was a demon too. Perhaps he could find answers from her?
“I’m just curious. When a demon likes someone, what kind of reaction do they have?” Wenren Sheng cupped his face with both hands. “Can Master tell me about it?”
Yi Jinxiang looked at Wenren Sheng for a moment before saying faintly, “I have never loved anyone, but my mother is the White Snake. She once fell in love with a mortal.”
Wenren Sheng perked up at this and leaned forward. “And then? And then? Did they end up together?”
Yi Jinxiang said, “It did not end well.”
“Ah—” Wenren Sheng said disappointedly. “Not romantic at all.”
“It was never anything romantic,” Yi Jinxiang said. “If you like someone, your joys and sorrows are all swayed by that one person. Sleepless with longing, tossing and turning, not even dreams offer escape. How could it be good?”
She paused and asked, “What about you? Do you have someone you like?”
Wenren Sheng jumped at the sudden question and denied it vehemently. “No!”
With that, he abruptly stood, hastily packed his things into his small bundle.
“I-I have something to do today. I’m leaving first, Master. See you!”
He grabbed the bundle and fled the Scripture Pavilion like the wind, leaving only a gust behind.
Yi Jinxiang’s bangs fluttered. Her gaze followed Wenren Sheng until he vanished from sight.
“Oh.”
The corner of her lips curved up.
“So you do, huh?”
Wenren Sheng decided to go find that fox demon again.
What Yi Jinxiang had said earlier only made his thoughts more chaotic—joys and sorrows swayed by one person, dreams offering no escape…
Was that not exactly describing him?
He had to find that fox and make it explain clearly what trick it had played on him!
Taking advantage of the lack of people around, Wenren Sheng hurried to the mountain spring.
As soon as he stepped into the bamboo grove, he saw the Red-Faced Fox standing at the entrance, seemingly waiting for him for a long time.
Wenren Sheng flared up at the sight of it. He drew the dagger from his waist, gripped it reversed, and stepped forward to press it against the Red-Faced Fox’s neck.
“What kind of demon are you exactly!”
The Red-Faced Fox narrowed its eyes into slits and smiled at Wenren Sheng.
“How was it? Did you enjoy last night’s dream?”
Wenren Sheng had no mood for banter. He was truly angry now. If those dreams were all because of this fox, he might really beat it senseless.
The Red-Faced Fox showed no fear of the dagger’s edge. It kept its playful smile and even tilted its head slightly to sniff the scent on Wenren Sheng.
“You have a strand of primordial yang leaking out,” it said slowly. “Looks like you had quite the time, huh?”
“You!”
Wenren Sheng flushed with shame and anger. He withdrew the dagger and shoved the Red-Faced Fox hard.
“Don’t pull these tricks on me anymore. So what if you made me have those dreams? They’re fake. I won’t believe them!”
The Red-Faced Fox stepped aside and said calmly, “The dreams are fake, but the feelings are not… I merely awakened your heart for you. When did I ever force you to do anything?”
Wenren Sheng was stumped by the retort.
He fell silent for a moment, then gripped his dagger tighter and gritted out, “Even if I do like him, what benefit is that to you?”
The Red-Faced Fox finally stopped smiling. It opened its eyes, its dark red pupils staring straight at Wenren Sheng.
“No benefit,” it paused and said. “But no harm either. I simply do not wish for lovers to meet a bad end.”
Wenren Sheng retorted, “You’re not the Moon Elder who ties red threads. Why meddle in my affairs?”
The Red-Faced Fox did not answer. Instead, it said, “Since you still refuse to admit it, how about I gift you another dream tonight to help you see your feelings clearly?”
“What?” Wenren Sheng refused immediately. “No, I don’t want it. Don’t make me have those kinds of dreams!”
But it ignored his protests entirely, covering its face and chuckling lowly twice. Then, in the next instant, like last time, it vanished into the thick mist of the mountain spring, leaving no trace.
“Running again?!”
Wenren Sheng stood there and stomped his foot in anger.
“Coward…” he gritted out. “Next time, I’ll beat you! I won’t let you go!!”
His shout was so loud it startled birds from the nearby mountain woods.
A streak of black shadow swept through the dusk, drawing the sky into night.
At the third quarter of the You hour.
He Mu used a tree branch to flick away the sword in Wenren Sheng’s hand and caught it smoothly.
“That’s enough for today,” he sheathed the sword and frowned. “You’ve been distracted all evening. No point continuing; you won’t improve. Go back and rest.”
Wenren Sheng did not argue and nodded somewhat dejectedly.
“Sorry, Mountain God,” he said softly, head lowered. “I don’t feel well today.”
He Mu placed the sword on the weapon rack, then walked over, squatted down in front of Wenren Sheng, and took his hand.
“Where do you not feel well?” he asked with concern. “Want me to take a look?”
Wenren Sheng had wanted to shake his head, but once He Mu took his hand, the refusal stuck in his throat.
After confronting the fox demon today, Wenren Sheng had pent-up grievances that stagnated in his chest, impossible to vent.
Usually, when unhappy, he would throw himself into He Mu’s arms, act spoiled, and let him coax him. But this time, he did not know how to broach it with He Mu.
Wenren Sheng hesitated for a bit before nodding.
“Mm,” he said. “Thank you, Mountain God.”
Seeing Wenren Sheng willing to interact with him eased He Mu’s somewhat tense heart.
Ever since the morning incident, Wenren Sheng had been quiet and often nowhere to be found. He Mu had wanted to give him space.
But he could not hold back. He had spent the whole day without mood to handle Heavenly Court matters, staying near the Scripture Pavilion to wait for Wenren Sheng to finish class.
Fortunately, Wenren Sheng was still willing to be close to him.
Back in the room, He Mu checked Wenren Sheng’s pulse and found nothing unusual, so he offered to reapply medicine to his wounds.
Wenren Sheng took off his clothes and sat bare-chested on the bed’s edge, absentmindedly playing with his fingers.
The bruises on his back had mostly healed. His skin was as smooth and fair as before, reddening at the slightest pinch.
He Mu applied the ointment bit by bit from behind.
Though he said he felt unwell, Wenren Sheng actually felt fine. He just wanted an excuse to be alone with the Mountain God.
After seeing the fox demon again today, Wenren Sheng was even more confused about his feelings. He desperately wanted to confirm if his emotions toward the Mountain God were different.
Had he stopped seeing the Mountain God as family?
In Wenren Sheng’s heart, family always came first. He could not imagine life without the Mountain God.
But his feelings for the Mountain God seemed different from those for his master or clan leader…
“Has the Mountain God ever had dreams?”
Wenren Sheng suddenly broke the silence.
He Mu’s hand paused, then continued gently rubbing the cool ointment into Wenren Sheng’s back.
“Yes.”
Wenren Sheng asked, “What did the Mountain God dream about?”
After applying the medicine, He Mu blew on it carefully before answering.
“I dreamed of you.”
