Chapter 107: Stronger

By the time the words had left his mouth, Chang Xu realized what he had just said. He pursed his lips tightly and lowered his head.

How could he have said something like that?

It was so embarrassing.

Normally, when he was in his beast form, it didn’t matter. Chen Ji’s penchant for hugs and kisses was just fondness for animals—he did the same with every creature he liked, not just him.

But saying those kinds of words… it was too unseemly.

Suddenly, Chen Ji pinched his chin and lifted his face. The young man had a smile brimming in his eyes as he leaned down and planted a kiss on the tip of Chang Xu’s nose. His warm lips brushed past in a flash, and then Chen Ji stroked the back of his neck, chuckling as he said, “Such a good boy, Xiangxiang.”

Chang Xu stared at him in a daze, momentarily at a loss for words. Should he respond or not? All he could hear was the pounding of his own heartbeat, thump-thump-thump, like something about to burst out of his chest. He pressed a hand to his chest and finally couldn’t hold back a soft murmur. “…Mm.”

In the next instant, a spoonful of that cat-killingly sweet little cake was held to his lips.

Chen Ji coaxed, “Good boy, Xiangxiang. Give it a sniff—isn’t it not quite so awful now?”

Chang Xu instinctively leaned in as Chen Ji suggested and took a whiff. His high-bridged nose accidentally brushed against a bit of cream, but Chen Ji stayed still, letting him explore.

Perhaps because his senses had broadened after transforming into human form, that overpowering stench now carried a hint of something fragrant. Hesitating, Chang Xu parted his lips and took the spoonful of cake into his mouth. It wouldn’t kill him, after all. Since Chen Ji meant well, he didn’t want to rebuff the gesture.

A honey-sweet flavor flooded his mouth, the light-as-cloud cream laced with soft, fluffy cake. The disguised stench had nearly vanished, and a unique fragrance spread from his tongue to every nerve.

Seeing that Chang Xu neither spat it out nor grimaced in endurance, Chen Ji’s spirits soared. He raised a brow with a grin. “Tasty, right?”

“I wouldn’t lie to you about this, Baobao.” As he spoke, Chen Ji leaned in and planted another kiss on Chang Xu’s cheek—just like he did with the white tiger.

Chang Xu’s stiffness was all too obvious, but Chen Ji had already settled against him, relaxed and at ease. He pushed the little cake into Chang Xu’s hands. “I saved you a big piece. Eat up… If you like it, I’ll buy more next time.”

“…Mm.” Chang Xu shifted his position slightly to make Chen Ji more comfortable.

Chen Ji pulled out his phone and opened a small game. Chang Xu ate the cake bite by bite. When he finished the last morsel, Chen Ji had just cleared the level. Naturally, Chang Xu took the plastic knife and fork and tossed them into a nearby bag, then Chen Ji resumed leaning against Chang Xu.

“…” Chang Xu felt the weight settle back onto him. His hand, resting on a rock, lifted slightly—only to drop halfway.

It wouldn’t be right.

Chen Ji just saw him as a white tiger. For him to reach out and hug Chen Ji would be taking advantage.

After a pause, Chang Xu said, “Should I shift back to beast form?”

In beast form, Chen Ji would be more comfortable.

“Up to you.” Chen Ji reached out and wrapped an arm around Chang Xu’s waist, rubbing it through his coarse hempen shirt. “This is nice too… No rush. There’s something I need to tell you first.”

“Mm.” Chang Xu acknowledged.

Chen Ji started a new round of the game, playing one-handed. “Remember that friend who came a few days ago? The one always on his phone… He works in advertising. He might not have processed it yet, but in a few days, there’ll definitely be tourists coming up Little Azure Mountain. Regular tourists… Chang Xu, keep an eye on them, make sure nothing happens to them.”

“Mm.” Chang Xu murmured softly. “I understand.”

Chen Ji nodded. He glanced down at the jade jue hanging on his chest, confirming that the Mountain Lord was blocked out, then continued, “Don’t worry about the one in the temple… Whatever It wants to do, I’ll handle It.”

“…” After a moment’s silence, Chang Xu said, “It’s dangerous.”

Chen Ji replied airily, “It’s fine.”

Chang Xu stressed, “Don’t bargain with a tiger for its pelt.”

At that, Chen Ji pocketed his phone and pounced onto him. “Bargain with a tiger for its pelt? Which tiger? Yours, Xiangxiang?”

“Come on, let me feel it! See how fine this pelt is.” With that, Chen Ji grabbed the hem of Chang Xu’s shirt and tugged it up, slipping his hand inside. Chang Xu froze. “…Don’t!”

Chen Ji burst into laughter. He groped playfully at Chang Xu’s tense waist and abdomen a few times. Chang Xu squirmed to get away. His strength far outmatched Chen Ji’s—if he got serious, Chen Ji wouldn’t stand a chance. But precisely because Chen Ji was so weak, Chang Xu held back.

Chang Xu grabbed for Chen Ji’s wrist. Chen Ji dodged, of course, and pinched his waist again. Chang Xu’s breath hitched. In his fluster, he finally caught Chen Ji’s hand and gathered both of them into his palms. His chest heaved, a faint flush creeping up his neck. Gazing at Chen Ji, his voice came out barely audible. “Don’t… don’t touch like that.”

Chen Ji held the pose, half-seriously complaining, “Xiangxiang, you won’t even let me touch anymore.”

“…It’s not…” Chang Xu opened his mouth, struggling. “I… I-I’m not…”

“Not letting me touch?” Chen Ji asked.

Chang Xu nodded, then frantically shook his head. His earlobes burned bright red. Suddenly, Chen Ji laughed. He easily slipped his hands free from Chang Xu’s loosened grip and ruffled his hair instead. “How is our Baobao so earnest?”

Chang Xu: “…”

Chen Ji’s hand slid down and accurately pinched his ear, kneading it idly. “If you don’t like it, just say no. Don’t feel embarrassed.”

“Got it?”

The scorching heat from the ear faithfully transmitted to Chen Ji’s fingertips.

Chang Xu’s eyes lowered. “…Got it.”

“Good.” Chen Ji smiled, his tone gentle. “So, Xiangxiang, do you like it when I touch you?”

Chang Xu fell silent. “…”

Chen Ji kneaded his ear again. “Do you? If you say you don’t like it, I’ll stop right now—and I’ll make sure not to touch you again.”

“…”

Chen Ji waited patiently for a response, but Chang Xu kept his head down. It went on so long that Chen Ji was about to give up.

He had pushed a bit too hard, perhaps.

Chen Ji let go.

Abruptly, Chang Xu reached up and pressed Chen Ji’s hand back. His burning-hot ear slipped back into Chen Ji’s palm. He looked up at Chen Ji, only to avert his gaze again, mumbling, “…I like it.”

Chen Ji’s brows relaxed into a broad smile. He openly kneaded Chang Xu’s ear and said with a smile, “One more question—next time.”

“…Mm.”

Chen Ji finally released Chang Xu’s ear. Leaning against him, he continued, “But It needs a little sweetener… You’ve shown up in the livestreams, so lots of people will recognize you. Next, there might be government folks, private interests… No matter their motives, plenty will try to catch you.”

“Xiangxiang, I know you’re not easy to catch,” Chen Ji said with a smile. “But still, stay safe. Don’t let them take you.”

“…They won’t see me,” Chang Xu said quietly.

“There’s always accidents.” Chen Ji cautioned, “Be careful—careful, careful, and then careful some more.”

He teased, almost, “I don’t want you showing up in my dreams someday, telling me they’ve hauled you off to some lab, stuffing you with salmon and tuna every day, feeding you beef and lamb… Spoil your palate, and I won’t be able to afford you anymore.”

“…” Chang Xu paused, then said firmly, “That won’t happen.”

Chen Ji ruffled his hair wildly and laughed heartily. “What a good boy our Xiangxiang is!”

The red-furred fox in the basket had already clapped its paws over its ears, trembling—good heavens, it didn’t want to hear this!

Second Master Huang shot the red-furred fox a disdainful look and scratched behind his own ear with a hind leg—ugh, so sappy, it made his ears itch.

Once Chen Ji finished laughing, he couldn’t suppress a yawn. Chang Xu suggested, “Head back to sleep?”

“No way.” Now it was Chen Ji’s turn to sound resolute. “I want to go hunting!”

Chang Xu didn’t quite get what “hunting” meant here, but it was probably one of two things—likely wanting to catch some game for dinner?

He said, “You sleep. I’ll go.”

With Second Master Huang around, bugs and other feeble lives like candle flames would steer clear on their own. Even sleeping in the wild, Chen Ji wouldn’t wake up drained dry. Just find a clean spot.

Chen Ji shook his head and grabbed Chang Xu’s arm. “No, I want to go myself.”

Chang Xu felt a touch helpless. Go by himself in the dead of night… just with Chen Ji?

Not that he doubted Chen Ji, but prey wasn’t easy to catch at this hour.

Though Chen Ji said that, he yawned again and began dozing against Chang Xu. Seeing this, Chang Xu silently shifted back into white tiger form. With a gentle flick of his ringed tiger tail, he scooped Chen Ji onto his back.

The mountain breeze carried a slight chill, but hugging the white tiger’s toasty warmth was just right. Chen Ji surrendered to sleep without resistance, whisked off by Duke Zhou to play chess. The white tiger rose, glanced back at the basket, then headed into the woods.

Chen Ji had stuffed the basket with all sorts of things—fire starters, water gear, even hot pot base. Leaving it behind, who knew what mischief Chen Ji would get up to.

Fine, at the critical moment, it was Second Grandpa Huang who was thoughtful and considerate!

Second Master Huang hopped out of the bamboo basket, manifested his dharma image to carry it in his jaws, and followed the white tiger.

Under the moonlight, the mountain spring bubbled and trickled, blending with the chirp of insects into a soothing symphony. Chen Ji slept soundly atop Second Grandpa’s back, Huang Er’s sleek tail serving perfectly as his blanket. The white tiger slipped into the water pool, flinging out bizarrely shaped fish one after another.

A few crabs came up too, amid them.

Not long after, the white tiger surfaced from the Water Pool and lightly leaped onto the giant rock with elegant grace. Azure-blue flames enveloped it for a brief moment before vanishing completely. Its fur turned dry and warm in an instant. With one paw, it pinned down the crab that was trying to scuttle away, then carefully tossed it into the bamboo basket. On second thought, it threw the fish in there too.

The contents of the bamboo basket were emptied onto the shore, and the basket itself was submerged in the water as a makeshift fish trap to keep the fish, shrimp, and crabs alive. The white tiger settled down beside Second Grandpa Huang, its tail swishing rhythmically to block the wind blowing from the other side.

Second Grandpa Huang watched the white tiger and couldn’t help but snort with laughter. Then he shifted into his true form. The white tiger immediately took his place, wrapping Chen Ji protectively in its embrace.

Unconsciously clutching at the snow-white fur, Chen Ji rolled over and kept sleeping.

Second Master Huang hopped onto Chen Ji and curled up into a fuzzy ball.

…

Wasn’t there some saying about this?

Oh, right—he’d seen it on his phone. They called this kind of thing a “power bottom.”