Wu Yingzong instinctively said, “To… to my shame, my cultivation is still shallow. I can’t be called an ‘Immortal.’ You’re Chaosheng? Chaosheng, you smell so good.”
Just as Xiao Kun was about to tell Chaosheng to get down to avoid embarrassing Wu Yingzong, Xiang Xian’s face showed shock.
“Ah—ah—” Seeing no rejection to his advances, Chaosheng hugged Wu Yingzong’s waist with both arms and buried his face in him. “I like you so much! So much!”
“Old Wu, what did you just say?” Xiang Xian thought he’d misheard.
Wu Yingzong: “…………..”
Wu Yingzong blushed furiously and said, “Chaosheng, you…”
“You’re blushing too!” Xiang Xian burst out laughing.
Xiao Kun understood at once. “He’s an Ape Immortal, and Chaosheng is the Green Wood Fruit. It’s the apes’ instinct.”
“Oh!” Xiang Xian got it. Though Wu Yingzong had cultivated a human form, his ape nature still craved immortal fruits—and Chaosheng was the reincarnation of one. No wonder the housekeeper blushed and spoke carelessly.
“Please don’t mention the word ‘Immortal’ again,” Wu Yingzong said hastily.
Xiang Xian added, “Chaosheng is the Master of White Jade Palace, from that Kunlun Mountain you’ve always longed for.”
Wu Yingzong: “!!!”
Wu Yingzong was stunned, visibly tensing. “Really?” He could hardly believe it. “White Jade Palace?”
“Yes!” Chaosheng said. “It’s not that big a deal. How do you know White Jade Palace?”
Wu Yingzong began trembling unconsciously. “That’s the Immortal Realm! I… my mother told me stories about it when I was little.”
Chaosheng asked, “Are you okay?”
Xiang Xian said, “He’s just too nervous.”
Chaosheng understood, stroking Wu Yingzong’s hand and then his face. The soothing worked wonders; Wu Yingzong gradually calmed. Soon, Chaosheng was eagerly pulling him along, asking all sorts of questions.
Xiao Kun’s mood lightened from Chaosheng’s antics, momentarily forgetting their situation.
“What about the boatman?” Xiao Kun asked.
“He’s on the way,” Chaosheng said. “Ape, carry me quick! Let me ride on your shoulders!”
Wu Yingzong could barely resist Chaosheng’s enthusiastic advances. The boy radiated immortal aura, intoxicating the ape-turned Wu Yingzong. He mustered all his cultivation to restrain himself, avoiding revealing his ape form in broad daylight to devour the immortal fruit with licks and nuzzles.
Chaosheng wriggled against him, forcing Wu Yingzong to awkwardly carry him at an angle while walking and attending to Xiang Xian’s words.
“Get along well with Chaosheng,” Xiang Xian instructed. “Taking care of Little Brother is on you now.”
“Good, good.” Wu Yingzong hoisted Chaosheng onto his back. Chaosheng was overjoyed, wrapping around him fully. “I like furry, big-bodied monsters the most. You’ll definitely be great friends with Chang Ge.”
Xiang Xian and Xiao Kun walked ahead, speechless.
Wu Yingzong asked, “Don’t you like scaly ones?”
“They’re okay too. Ah! You’re so handsome! You’re the perfect ape!” Held by Wu Yingzong, Chaosheng resumed his effusive praise.
As Chaosheng went full throttle behind, heating Wu Yingzong up, the group encountered the boatman coming from the mountain path.
The boatman had been terrified out of his wits. Xiao Kun immediately comforted him and gave him forty taels of silver, telling him to return by land. The boat attack had left the man panicked for a while, but with forty taels—enough to start a new business—he no longer needed to ferry passengers. The boatman thanked them profusely and took the land route back.
“Let’s find a place to rest first,” Xiang Xian said. A Huang perched on his shoulder, his clothes now dry. Xiao Kun was still soaked through, shivering in the wind. His energy depleted fighting the chill, he had no strength left for decisions—whatever Xiang Xian said went.
Seeing how cold Xiao Kun was, Xiang Xian reached to embrace him, but Xiao Kun signaled to keep distance, as if they weren’t that close. Xiang Xian picked up A Huang and placed it on Xiao Kun’s shoulder instead. Xiao Kun warmed slightly at once. But A Huang was displeased, flapping to escape.
“It doesn’t want to. Don’t force it,” Xiao Kun said.
“A Huang,” Xiang Xian said.
A Huang relented, staying on Xiao Kun briefly and releasing its fiery power. Xiao Kun’s clothes steamed half-dry.
“We’re already close to the Wushan Mountains,” Wu Yingzong said, carrying Chaosheng. “We can rest in Wu Town tonight.”
“The Three Gorges is your old home,” Xiang Xian said. “We’ll follow your lead.”
The Wu Gorge stretch of the Yangtze was filled with mountains rising from flatlands and sheer cliffs. Wu Town was a key hub for goods in the Ba Region, known since ancient times as the gateway to Ba. Due to its perilous terrain at a strategic choke point, it had avoided war since Meng Tian entered Shu in the Qin era—over fourteen hundred years of prosperity.
On the day of the Winter Solstice, Wu Yingzong brought Xiang Xian, Xiao Kun, and Chaosheng to Wu Town, where they checked into the nearest local inn. With the housekeeper present, the trio’s days became noticeably more relaxed. Xiang Xian took a bath and lay down on the couch, leaving all matters to the housekeeper.
Wu Yingzong moved with practiced ease. He instructed the innkeeper to prepare food and went into town to wash clothes and find a tailor for repairs. In the evening, Xiao Kun arrived at the elegant private room on the inn’s second floor.
A large pot stewed the local winter folk dish of braised yellow lamb, with flatbreads stuck to the sides of the pot.
Wu Yingzong knelt in the corner, waiting for Xiang Xian’s instructions. Chaosheng had changed clothes and was clinging to Wu Yingzong’s arm, making him wrap it around himself as he rubbed and nuzzled coquettishly in his embrace. Before Xiang Xian arrived, Wu Yingzong’s face had been slightly flushed, clearly enjoying it; but the moment Xiang Xian appeared, Wu Yingzong immediately looked embarrassed.
Xiang Xian’s hair was still half-wet as he sat cross-legged by the low table. He said to Wu Yingzong, “We’re all out traveling together—let’s eat as a group. Chaosheng… you’re just too… this is too weird. You two shouldn’t be so affectionate in public. Aren’t you embarrassed? You’re practically kissing!”
“I like him so much!” Chaosheng professed his feelings on the spot, then turned Wu Yingzong’s face toward his own and gazed into his eyes. “I really like you so much!”
