Chen Ji was first surprised, then his eyes crinkled with laughter as he reached out to help Chang Xu to his feet. “How did you trip like that? That shocked?”
Well, after all, the Grandpa Mountain Lord in Chang Xu’s eyes should be the same majestic and powerful deity as the one in the City God Temple Daoist’s eyes. How could a mere mortal profane such a god?
—He’d have to tell the Daoist about this later, too.
A mischievous thought flashed through Chen Ji’s mind.
Slender fingers rested in Chen Ji’s palm, cool to the touch. Chen Ji tightened his grip, fully enclosing that hand within his own, and hauled Chang Xu upright with a firm pull.
These hands were beautiful, too.
The thought struck him at an utterly inappropriate moment.
This was clearly a man who could wield a Tang sword and hack through a rampaging giant python like it was some minor beast, yet his hands were fair and elegant, with smooth knuckles free of calluses or scars. The pores were barely visible. Compared to Chen Ji’s own hands, their owner seemed far more like someone raised in luxury.
The flicker of astonishment had yet to fade from Chang Xu’s features when Chen Ji casually released his hand. He brushed the dust from Chang Xu’s clothes and asked, “Didn’t hurt yourself when you fell, did you?”
Chang Xu shook his head. He seemed aware that tripping on flat ground was rather embarrassing and offered an explanation. “No, it’s nothing. It’s just… hard to imagine.”
Chen Ji teased, “People’s tastes are their own business. You know there’s a white tiger up on Little Azure Mountain? I really like it…”
Before he could finish, Chang Xu froze like a statue. He turned his head toward Chen Ji with the stiff rigidity of a marionette, his lips twitching as he forced out a single syllable. “…Huh?”
Chen Ji nearly burst out laughing. “Don’t get the wrong idea. What I mean is, at least it’s alive. It’s good-looking and incredibly powerful—majestic and awe-inspiring. You’ve seen it yourself, right? Who wouldn’t like such a magnificent tiger?”
If he absolutely had to choose between spending the rest of his life with Grandpa White Tiger or Grandpa Mountain Lord, Chen Ji wouldn’t even hesitate—he’d smash the White Tiger option to pieces. He could forgo romance altogether, but he doubted he had the devotion or endurance to tend to a lifeless statue of clay or wood until his dying day. That sort of thing was called faith, not love.
Chen Ji, however, put his faith in science.
Relief washed visibly over Chang Xu’s face. He nodded. “I’ve seen it, too.”
“Right? Grandpa White Tiger even saved my life once.” Chen Ji brushed it off with a grin and went on praising the tiger. “The first time we met, I thought it was going to eat me, but it didn’t attack at all. The second time, it saved me from a snake spirit. The third time, it thought I’d gotten lost and insisted on leading me out of the woods. It even dug up bamboo shoots for me to eat… It’s just so adorable.”
Chang Xu said nothing, listening quietly.
Chen Ji turned to look at him. “Next time there’s a chance, I’ll introduce you to Grandpa White Tiger. You wander Little Azure Mountain often—it wouldn’t hurt to be on good terms with him. Sound good?”
“…” After a moment’s silence, Chang Xu replied, “No need.”
Chen Ji pressed on. “Grandpa White Tiger has a great personality! You know the saying—those who walk by the river are bound to get their feet wet. Life’s only got one shot, Chang Xu. Don’t think it’s too much trouble.”
“…” Chang Xu paused. Seeing that Chen Ji was about to argue further, he said, “…I have a grudge against the White Tiger.”
Chen Ji blinked. “…Pardon?”
Chang Xu met Chen Ji’s eyes, full of curiosity and confusion, then turned to gaze down the mountain path. “It’s not convenient to go into details, but it’s best if we don’t meet.”
As a reasonable adult, Chen Ji knew when to drop it. No point preaching about reconciling with old foes now. He kept smiling brightly. “Alright then. Be careful up on the mountain by yourself. If you can’t find a place to stay, come to the Mountain Lord Temple. It’s not big, but there’s always a roof over your head.”
Chang Xu nodded. “Thank you.”
The words sounded like he had no intention of showing up—polite, but lacking sincerity. Chen Ji didn’t mind. To him, Chang Xu had saved his life. To Chang Xu, he was probably just some vaguely familiar face. It was the thought that counted; whether Chang Xu accepted the offer was up to him.
…Why did this suddenly feel like he was secretly pining after Chang Xu?
Ridiculous.
Maybe it was just that he’d been single too long. Chang Xu’s face hit all his preferences—like a rare flower on a high peak, breathtakingly beautiful and tempting him to pluck it just to see.
Chen Ji chuckled easily and shifted to other bits of village gossip. Chang Xu responded now and then to show he was listening, keeping things from getting too awkward. Before they knew it, they’d reached the base of the mountain. Chang Xu stopped and asked, “When are you heading back?”
“Soon. Just picking up a delivery and I’m gone.” Chen Ji thought for a moment. There wasn’t much in the village to linger for beyond the express station. Even if he suddenly wanted a free-range chicken, it’d take all of five minutes.
“I’ll wait here for you,” Chang Xu said with a nod.
Chen Ji’s brows lifted slightly as he extended the invitation. “Why not come with? We can have lunch at my place.”
Chang Xu’s lips parted, poised to refuse. Chen Ji pressed his palms together in plea. “I ordered so many packages—I can’t carry them all alone. Help me out this once, Chang Xu? I’ll stew some ginseng chicken soup for lunch to build your strength. I’ve got a big pork knuckle, too; it’ll go bad if I don’t cook it soon. Perfect timing to share it with you.”
Chang Xu had no choice but to nod. “Alright.”
Chen Ji beamed. “Great! Thanks!”
With that, he led Chang Xu into the village, naturally drawing stares from the locals. Plenty of elders waved at him with kindly smiles. “Master Chen, you’re down from the mountain?”
“Master Chen, have you eaten? I’ve just made some side dishes—come try them!”
Chen Ji smiled and replied to each one. “Grandpa Zhang, no need to call me ‘Master’—just Xiao Chen is fine!”
“Thanks, Grandma Li, but I’m good—I ate before coming down! Just here for a delivery…”
The village was small, only about twenty-odd households from end to end. At this hour, folks were either working the fields or cooking. Those greeting Chen Ji were mostly the elders who couldn’t do heavy labor anymore, and there weren’t many of them. Seeing Grandpa Zhang and Grandma Li approaching, clearly eager for a chat, Chen Ji grabbed Chang Xu’s arm and quickened his pace, calling out as they went. “Got things to do up the mountain—grabbing the delivery and heading straight back!”
Chang Xu was tall with long legs; even at Chen Ji’s brisk stride, he kept up effortlessly. They soon reached the express station, where the Delivery Little Bro was already waiting. He called out at once, “Chen Ji, over here!”
The Delivery Little Bro remembered this recent big customer well, especially with today’s hefty insurance fees on the packages. He hadn’t felt right handing them over without Chen Ji there in person, so seeing him now brought a sigh of relief.
The handover was swift. Neither Chen Ji nor the Delivery Little Bro cared for unnecessary hassle. As long as nothing was damaged or missing, it was fine. Chen Ji signed off quickly, then rummaged through the unattended station for his other parcels. A few were too heavy to manage alone, so he left them be.
He stuffed the packages into two burlap sacks, handing the bulky-but-light one to Chang Xu while slinging the heavy one over his own back. There was simple joy in receiving deliveries. Chen Ji said lightly, “Let’s go.”
“Mm.” Chang Xu acknowledged and followed along.
—Like a robot he’d built himself, following step for step.
The notion popped into Chen Ji’s head unbidden. He quickly dismissed it. As they left Shangyang Village, he spotted Grandma Zhang still sunning herself. Remembering Uncle Liu mentioning her fine chickens, Chen Ji called out, “Grandma Zhang, got any more free-range chickens? Selling? If so, I’ll take two!”
Grandma Zhang’s daughter happened to step out just then and replied, “We’ve got some! I’ll grab them now!”
Grandma Zhang chimed in from the side, “Pick the plump ones!”
“Got it!” came the shout from inside. Moments later, Grandma Zhang’s daughter emerged with two trussed-up chickens. Grandma Zhang insisted on giving them for free, but Chen Ji waved her off. “Can’t do that—we’re all neighbors here!”
Grandma Zhang stopped protesting at once. Chen Ji paid up neatly, picked up the chickens, and took his leave. Grandma Zhang called after him, “Xiao Chen, can you manage all that alone? Want me to have Shunzi walk you back?”
Chen Ji waved it off. “I’m good—can handle it. Next time I can’t, I’ll ask Shunzi for help! Bye, Grandma Zhang!”
Grandma Zhang didn’t press further. Chen Ji had a burlap sack in his right hand, the chickens in his left, and a bamboo basket strapped to his back full of packages. Chang Xu silently reached out to take the sack from his right hand. Chen Ji dodged away. “No need, really. I won’t stand on ceremony if I can’t manage.”
“What about the bamboo basket?” Chang Xu asked.
“Nah, it just looks big—it’s light.” Chen Ji grinned. “You’ve already got one sack; that’s plenty. Otherwise, I’d have to borrow a shoulder pole from the neighbors.”
“Mm.” Chang Xu fell silent after that.
Some people were just naturally quiet. Chen Ji, drained from exertion, spoke less too. They walked the mountain path for over an hour before Chen Ji’s strength gave out. He sat on a rock to rest.
Mountain winds rustled through the bamboo, and Chen Ji squinted in enjoyment as they dried the sweat from his skin. No wonder his health had improved since returning home—climbing the mountain every few days was bound to do the body good.
A figure emerged from the nearby bamboo grove: a villager from Shangyang Village whom Chen Ji had seen a couple of times before. He was there gathering wild goods, his bamboo basket brimming. He greeted Chen Ji with a smile. “Xiao Chen, heading back up?”
“Yeah, Uncle Yang!” Chen Ji smiled back. Wild goods needed prompt preserving, so Uncle Yang didn’t chat long. He waved farewell, adding before he left, “Be careful going up alone—call if you need anything!”
Watching Uncle Yang’s retreating back, Chen Ji turned to Chang Xu with a grin. “I’m not alone…”
The smile faded from Chen Ji’s face before the words fully trailed off.
Chang Xu turned to look at him, his eyes dark and unnerving.
Chen Ji suddenly recalled Grandma Zhang calling him “alone” with all those packages. Thinking back, not a single person in the village had acknowledged Chang Xu since they arrived.
A man like Chang Xu couldn’t possibly be overlooked.
So…
Chang Xu’s lips twitched slightly. Suddenly, Chen Ji patted his shoulder. “No worries, bro! I was the one who got ahead of myself… With a meal like this, don’t you need to light three sticks of incense first before you can dig in?”
“Pfft, it’s just a ghost. I even know a red-clothed one named Zhang Cheng. Brother Zhang’s got a real bold, straightforward personality. How about I introduce you two later so you can hit it off?”
Chang Xu hesitated. “…No need. Thanks.”
