Chapter 57: Milk Scent in the Courtyard

Xuan Yang’s gaze had always been one of compassion and mercy, treating all living beings equally. Only when he looked at Qixue did it take on a different hue, filled with affection and indulgence that nearly overflowed.

Qixue, already aware of Xuan Yang’s feelings, met his eyes and couldn’t help but feel shy. He lowered his lashes gracefully and paid his respects. “Greetings, Xuan Yang Daoist.”

Helan Ji also gave a slight nod in greeting. “Thank you for personally coming down the mountain to welcome us, Daoist.”

Xuan Yang smiled. “Your Majesty is too kind. Welcoming you is my duty. How could it be any trouble?”

He swung his whisk, making an inviting gesture, and led Helan Ji and Qixue up the stone steps along the mountain path.

Qixue hadn’t walked more than a few steps before he felt unwell, listless and weak. He tugged at Helan Ji’s sleeve. “Your Majesty, I can’t walk anymore…”

Helan Ji immediately supported his arm. “I’ll carry you up.”

Xuan Yang advised against it. “Your Majesty, if you carry the consort up the mountain yourself, it might not align with the temple’s rules. Why not let me take the consort ahead first? I can prepare a bowl of talisman water for him quickly. The consort’s discomfort is due to the mountain’s array. Only drinking the talisman water will exempt him from the array’s erosion.”

To relieve Qixue’s discomfort as soon as possible, Helan Ji naturally didn’t insist. He entrusted Qixue to Xuan Yang. “Thank you, Xuan Yang Daoist.”

Xuan Yang supported Qixue and gently waved his whisk. A wisp of white mist rose, blocking the palace servants’ view. He said tenderly to Qixue, “Change back to your original form. I’ll take you up the mountain.”

Qixue obediently transformed back into Rabbit Tuan. Xuan Yang tucked him into his robe’s front and turned the whisk into a massive Spirit Peng. They flew toward the mountaintop on the Spirit Peng’s back.

Once they left the ground, the array’s effect weakened considerably. Rabbit Tuan felt much better. He poked his little head out from Xuan Yang’s robe and gazed down at the beautiful, serene scenery of Cang Mountain from high above, exclaiming in admiration. “So pretty!”

Xuan Yang tapped Rabbit Tuan’s little head. “Do you like it?”

“I like it!”

Excited, Rabbit Tuan rubbed against Xuan Yang’s fingertip. “This is the highest I’ve ever flown. Holy Monarch, do you know the Flight Technique? Can you teach me? I really want to learn.”

Ever since dual cultivating with Helan Ji, his demon power had grown significantly, allowing him to cultivate more spells now.

“Alright.” Xuan Yang smiled in agreement. “You’re staying in the temple lately anyway. Whenever I have free time, I can teach you.”

The Spirit Peng flew swiftly. In no time, they reached the mountaintop and landed at the cloud steps of Cloud Moon Temple.

Cloud Moon Temple stood atop steps as white as jade. Its gates were plain white, the stone walls light gray, shrouded in faint mist as if floating in the clouds—majestic and spectacular.

Xuan Yang cradled Rabbit Tuan and ascended the cloud steps step by step to the imposing temple gates. Two guarding disciples saw it was him and immediately drew their swords in salute. “Greetings, Eldest Senior Brother.”

As Xie Shu’s chief disciple acting as Palace Lord, Xuan Yang held the highest status in the temple, second only to Xie Shu. He merely smiled at the juniors and paid them no further mind, carrying Rabbit Tuan into Cloud Moon Temple.

Inside, Rabbit Tuan found the temple serene and solemn, so quiet that not a human voice could be heard—only the chirping of birds.

He looked around curiously. Towering ancient trees rose straight into the sky, their green canopies blocking out the sun. Clock and drum towers flanked the sides, while ahead lay a dharma altar with incense burning, emitting thick fragrant mist.

Xuan Yang explained, “Cloud Moon Temple is usually very lively, always crowded with pilgrims. But today, with the Emperor’s arrival, we’ve stopped receiving guests. The guest hall has been cleared, and the pilgrims staying here have been temporarily moved downslope. It’s reserved only for you and the imperial consorts.”

He walked briskly inward, giving Rabbit Tuan a simple introduction. “This is the main hall, with side halls on either side. The three great halls enshrine different deities. The guest hall where you’ll stay is right beside the left side hall. My quarters are very close—just through this small door.”

Xuan Yang arrived at a locked wooden door, waved his whisk to lift the seal, and entered a secluded courtyard.

“This is my residence. Since I’m acting as Palace Lord and often deal with outsiders on various matters, I don’t live in the disciples’ hall with the others.”

The courtyard was modest, with only one side room, but it was elegantly furnished—fresh and simple. It had flowering trees, tea trees, orchids, and a picturesque rockery fish pond. Several colorful koi swam leisurely in the pond. When they saw Xuan Yang, they immediately gathered, begging for food.

Rabbit Tuan jumped out from his embrace and circled the tea trees, his little tail wagging happily. “Were the tea leaves Holy Monarch gave me picked from these tea trees?”

“Yes.”

Xuan Yang laughed. “The spring new tea is almost ready. Once it’s mature, I’ll pick some for you.”

Rabbit Tuan nibbled a tender leaf from the tea tree, chewed with his three-petaled mouth, and wrinkled his pink nose in distress. “Bitter.”

He forced down the bitterness and swallowed the leaf. Xuan Yang couldn’t help but chuckle and picked him up from the ground. “Why didn’t you spit it out?”

Rabbit Tuan replied, “These are tea leaves you worked so hard to grow, Holy Monarch. How could I spit them out?”

“A Xue is so well-behaved.” Xuan Yang stroked the rabbit fur on his back and said gently, “But in front of me, you don’t need to be so obedient. Be willful if you want—I like seeing your playful side.”

He carried Rabbit Tuan into the room, set down his whisk, and brewed a cup of talisman water. Rabbit Tuan hopped to the ground and shifted back to human form. He picked up the cup and drained it in one gulp, immediately feeling refreshed with no trace of discomfort left.

Xuan Yang said, “The talisman water is mixed with some spiritual herbs to alleviate your pregnancy discomfort…”

Halfway through his words, he paused, lifted the hem of his Daoist robe, and sniffed lightly. “Why is there a milky fragrance?”

The courtyard had been filled with floral scents earlier, so the milky aroma hadn’t stood out. But inside the room, it became much clearer. Xuan Yang touched his pristine robe front. “It’s wet.”

He looked up at Qixue. Qixue nearly dropped the cup, his face flushing crimson as he stammered, “Sorry, Holy Monarch… Did I accidentally get it on you?”

“What got on my clothes?” Xuan Yang gazed at Qixue, his tone gentle. “A Xue, tell me clearly. I won’t blame you.”

Qixue’s face felt like it was smoking; he wished he could burrow into the ground. “It’s… it’s my milk…”

“So it’s A Xue’s milk.”

Xuan Yang rubbed his slightly damp fingers, lowering his eyes with a smile. “I was negligent. You’re pregnant, so producing milk is only natural.”

“Does your chest hurt? Is the milk abundant? If you need my help, just tell me. I’m very willing to help you with the milk issue.”

Qixue embarrassedly covered his robe front. “My chest doesn’t hurt now, but there’s too much milk. It keeps soaking my clothes… Holy Monarch, do you have any prescription to stop the milk? I really need something like that…”

Xuan Yang replied, “I do have milk-stopping pills, but taking them would harm the fetus’s health. Do you really want to use them?”

Qixue shook his head immediately. “No, that won’t do. I won’t take any medicine. Let it flow then…”

“I think you shouldn’t use medicine either.”

Xuan Yang smiled faintly. “Your current appearance is clearly very cute—like a little rabbit covered in milk, shy about it.”

Qixue was so embarrassed that his rabbit ears popped out. “Holy Monarch… please don’t say any more…”

“Why not?”

Amusement danced in Xuan Yang’s eyes. He stepped closer instead, lifting a hand to stroke Qixue’s feverish cheek, asking softly, “Does A Xue dislike hearing me speak?”

Qixue’s soft rabbit ears draped over Xuan Yang’s hand. “I don’t…”

Xuan Yang drew gradually closer, their breaths mingling, noses nearly touching. “May I kiss you? A Xue, I really want to kiss you, but I hope to get your consent. Are you willing?”

“I…”

Tears welled in Qixue’s eyes; he didn’t know whether to agree or refuse.

Truthfully, he didn’t want to complicate things with the Holy Monarch. He truly adored him, but it wasn’t romantic love. He had always seen the Holy Monarch as a revered deity, a fatherly or brotherly elder. Yet the Holy Monarch admired him and sought his affection—how could he refuse his god?

“A Xue, have you decided?”

Xuan Yang held him in his arms, coaxing gently. “I know you’re shy. If you don’t want to agree but find it hard to say, you can just push me away. I won’t force you.”

“If you don’t speak or push me away, I’ll take it as consent, alright?”

“…”

Qixue truly couldn’t voice a refusal and couldn’t bear to push Xuan Yang away. Xuan Yang half-closed his eyes, on the verge of kissing Qixue’s lips, when suddenly a voice came from outside. “Is Eldest Senior Brother here? I have an urgent matter to consult you on. It’s really urgent—please, Senior Brother, open the door!”

The hurried knocking startled Qixue. He instinctively stepped back, and since Xuan Yang wasn’t holding his waist tightly, Qixue slipped out of his embrace.

A flicker of coldness passed through Xuan Yang’s eyes, quickly turning to regret. He sighed softly.

Qixue inexplicably felt guilty, his rabbit ears twitching uneasily. “Sorry…”

“It’s not your fault.”

Xuan Yang touched his ears and said mildly, “It seems the time hasn’t come yet. No matter— we have plenty of time. I’ll wait for you.”

“I’ll handle some temple affairs. You can rest in my room or wander the temple freely. I’ve instructed the disciples—they won’t chase you away. Every part of the temple is open to you.”

“Just one thing: don’t leave the temple grounds easily, and especially avoid the Back Mountain. It’s a forbidden area and Xie Shu’s Dao Field. The dangers there are unimaginable. I don’t want you in peril.”

“Don’t worry, Holy Monarch. I understand.” Qixue replied shyly and obediently. “I won’t go to the Back Mountain alone.”

“Good.”

Xuan Yang turned to leave. Before stepping out, he looked back at Qixue with deep meaning. “I’m looking forward to the day you agree coming soon.”