Chapter 110

Chapter 110

◎The Yang Energy-Absorbing Demon◎

Having a whole roasted lamb and a bunch of food and drinks was a source of great joy for everyone in the archaeological camp.

Descending into the tomb was a strenuous task, no less demanding than laboring on a construction site. Naturally, everyone was thrilled to have a good meal. In no time, many had warmed up to Xiao Ye, even more so than Ji Nanxing, who had been there for over a week.

Amid the lively atmosphere of the camp, Ji Nanxing took a roasted lamb leg and delivered it to the tent where the top officials from the Management Bureau were staying.

They usually kept their distance from the archaeological team. Although not classified as top-secret, it wasn’t something to broadcast openly. So, apart from some top archaeologists and their direct students, the rest of the archaeological team was unaware of Yan Beisheng and the others’ true identities, assuming they were also archaeology professors.

Xiao Ye, with his naturally outgoing personality, followed Ji Nanxing into the tent and greeted everyone with ease, showing no signs of nervousness in front of the Management Bureau’s top officials. He even approached Yan Beisheng and introduced himself: "Master! I’m Xiao Ye, the one who almost became Nanxing’s neighbor. Now we’re classmates again. Don’t worry, Master, I’ll take good care of Nanxing at school and make sure no one bullies him!"

Yan Beisheng was taken aback by the repeated calls of "Master." Looking at Xiao Ye, he thought, "Well, isn’t this the kid with the overwhelming Yang Energy?"

Before Yan Beisheng could respond, Xiao Ye continued, "I brought a lot of food when I came, and I’ve already had it delivered to your tent. I heard from Nanxing that you’ll be staying here for a while. Master, let’s add each other on WeChat! If there’s anything you want to eat or need to buy, just let me know! Nanxing taught me how to draw talismans, so my allowance is partly his. It’s only right that I take care of you too!"

After saying this, Xiao Ye placed the iron plate with the roasted lamb leg on the central table and eagerly sliced off a few pieces of meat, offering them to Yan Beisheng: "Master, try the roasted lamb! Do you drink? I also brought some alcohol, both white and beer!"

Ji Nanxing rubbed his forehead, watching Xiao Ye flit around like a social butterfly, not only fawning over his master but also attending to the other top officials from the Management Bureau.

Ji Yuanting, who had quietly entered at some point, stood beside him and remarked, "Since when did I get another junior brother?"

Ji Nanxing replied, "He’s just calling you that randomly. He’s not part of the mystical arts community."

Ji Yuanting: "But you taught him how to draw talismans."

Ji Nanxing explained, "It’s because he’s brimming with Yang Energy. It’d be a waste not to use it. However, his talent is limited to drawing talismans. He’s not suited for anything else. His Yang Energy is too strong, making it exhausting to open the Third Eye, and he’s not sensitive to Yin entities. He’s just not cut out for practicing mystical arts."

Yan Beisheng, overwhelmed by the constant "Master" calls, took a closer look at Xiao Ye’s face and his expression turned complicated. Despite all the precautions, they still couldn’t prevent this. Was this the power of a destined romantic connection?

Turning to his disciple, Yan Beisheng noticed the barely concealed amusement in Ji Nanxing’s eyes. The aura he had picked up from the ancient tomb seemed to dissipate instantly. With a soft sigh, Yan Beisheng gestured to Xiao Ye, who was listening to the old-timers from the Management Bureau tell stories.

Xiao Ye hurried over: "Master, what do you need?"

Yan Beisheng pointed to his empty glass: "Pour me a drink."

Xiao Ye quickly picked up a bottle of beer and filled Yan Beisheng’s glass: "Master, would you like anything else to eat? Besides the roasted lamb, there are some skewers outside—pork, rabbit, and grilled fish. Should I bring some in for you?"

Yan Beisheng took a sip from his glass and looked at the bright-eyed young man crouching beside him. He chuckled: "So eager to take care of my precious disciple, huh?"

Xiao Ye grinned: "Absolutely! Don’t worry, Master, I’m great at taking care of people."

Yan Beisheng laughed again: "Alright then, I’ll give you this chance. If my precious disciple ever feels unhappy, angry, sad, or has a hard time, I’ll hold you accountable."

Xiao Ye glanced back discreetly, seeing Ji Nanxing chatting with his brother. He whispered: "Don’t worry, Master. I’ll make sure Ji Naonao is well taken care of, keeping him happy, well-fed, and entertained."

When Xiao Ye returned to the tent with Ji Nanxing, he still carried the scent of alcohol. He hadn’t drunk much himself, but the top officials from the Management Bureau had gotten carried away, pulling the younger ones into their revelry, so he had joined in for a few drinks.

Xiao Ye wasn’t fond of alcohol, and the smell on him made him uncomfortable. He sniffed his clothes and looked up at Ji Nanxing: "Do I smell bad?"

After a few hours on the plane and some drinking, he was worried Ji Nanxing might find him unpleasant.

Ji Nanxing said: "There’s a water hose here, but the water supply is limited. If you’re feeling uncomfortable, you can use a damp towel to wipe yourself down. Did you bring a change of clothes?"

Xiao Ye turned to look for his backpack: "Yes, I did."

Worried that Ji Nanxing might wait too long, Xiao Ye quickly wiped himself down and changed his clothes, thinking he smelled a bit better. Then he carried his dirty clothes back to the tent and saw Ji Nanxing was already in bed. Xiao Ye quickly tossed the dirty clothes aside and climbed into bed.

Ji Nanxing moved over a bit to make space for him. They had been living together for several months now and had already gotten used to each other.

When Xiao Ye lay down, the warmth around him made Ji Nanxing feel a sense of calm wash over him.

Xiao Ye really wanted to talk to him. He was too awake to sleep, but he could see the exhaustion in Ji Nanxing’s eyes. He pulled him close and gently patted him: "Sleep. What do you want for breakfast tomorrow, or should I choose?"

Ji Nanxing murmured, eyes closed: "Anything is fine."

Xiao Ye didn’t say anything more, gently patting him to lull him to sleep.

But the person who was so sleepy moments ago suddenly couldn’t sleep. He opened his eyes and looked at the patterns on the tent, asking: "Did you finish handling the Lin family matter?"

Xiao Ye propped himself up on one elbow, resting his head on his hand as he looked at Ji Nanxing: "Want to hear about it? Close your eyes, and I’ll tell you."

Ji Nanxing closed his eyes without a word.

Xiao Ye said: "That day, Lin Chengyi came to my house with his grandfather and sat next to me. The talisman in my phone case began to heat up..."

Xiao Ye’s voice was deliberately soft, and he didn’t try to create any suspense. He spoke softly, like he was telling a story. Before the story was even finished, the listener had fallen asleep.

Once sure he was asleep, Xiao Ye fell silent, his eyes carefully tracing Ji Nanxing’s features. His eyelashes were long and thick, his nose high and straight. Those beautiful phoenix eyes were now gently closed, looking soft and gentle, unlike his usual cool expression.

Xiao Ye’s gaze slowly drifted downward, finally settling on Ji Nanxing’s slightly red lips. His lips had a faint lip bead, making Xiao Ye want to touch them, to see if they were as soft as he imagined.

Afraid he might do something inappropriate if he kept looking, Xiao Ye forced himself to look away and slowly lay back down.

But with his eyes closed, his hearing and sense of smell seemed heightened, especially in the silence of the desert at night.

He could clearly hear every soft breath from the person beside him and could smell the faint scent emanating from him.

With his eyes open, it was Ji Nanxing. With his eyes closed, it was still Ji Nanxing. So, this was what a crush felt like—so overwhelming he couldn’t calm down.

Xiao Ye didn’t fall asleep until almost dawn, but Ji Nanxing woke up not long after.

When he opened his eyes, he felt the weight on him. Turning his head, he saw Xiao Ye, who seemed to want to bury himself in his neck. Despite his tall frame, Xiao Ye always liked to curl up next to him when sleeping, either wrapping his arms around him or pressing his legs against him.

Ji Nanxing moved the arm off him, got up, and left the bed.

The morning in the desert was beautiful, with a light that pierced through the darkness, instantly dispelling the silence of the night, as if the whole world had awakened.

After washing up, Ji Nanxing saw a lizard burrowing in the sand and squatted down to watch it for a while.

Yan Beisheng came out and, seeing him observing the lizard like he used to watch ants as a child, couldn’t help but laugh: "Starting your day early by observing the world, huh?"

Ji Nanxing stood up and called out, "Master."

Yan Beisheng stretched and yawned: "Did you book the flight tickets?"

Ji Nanxing nodded: "I booked them for tomorrow afternoon. That’s the only flight available."

Yan Beisheng nodded: "Your senior brother saw that your little friend had come, so he figured you’d have company and decided to leave this afternoon."

Ji Nanxing hummed in acknowledgment, then asked: "Master, why did we move back then?"

Yan Beisheng crossed his arms and looked at his young disciple: "What, do you regret not growing up with him as childhood sweethearts?"

Ji Nanxing shook his head: "I’m just curious. I can’t quite see his fate line. I’m worried that if I stay close to him, it might have a negative impact on him. If that’s the case, I’ll keep my distance in the future."

Yan Beisheng ruffled Ji Nanxing's hair: "Are you happy spending time with him?"

At this moment, being together didn’t hold any special meaning for Ji Nanxing; it was purely about spending time as classmates and friends. After some thought, he replied: "Sometimes it’s pretty fun."

Xiao Ye is super lively. He doesn’t need a crowd around him; sometimes, even when it’s just the two of them at home, Xiao Ye can make it feel as if there’s a whole group of people playing along.

Ji Nanxing used to think he preferred quiet, but since getting to know Xiao Ye, he’s come to appreciate a certain level of lively noise that isn’t too overwhelming.

Yan Beisheng said: "Back then, you were both just kids. He had a strong Yang Energy, and you had a strong Yin Energy. You couldn’t control your abilities yet and would instinctively seek warmth from him. If we hadn’t moved, his Yang Energy wouldn’t have been enough for you to draw from."

These two kids were meant to meet. Yan Beisheng knew it the moment he saw Xiao Ye. But back then, Ji Nanxing was too young, and everything was driven by instinct. Xiao Ye was also young, and if he had lost too much Yang Energy, he might not have grown into the person he is today.

Now that they’re older, Ji Nanxing has mastered his abilities, and Xiao Ye has grown up just fine. Their reunion now means a brighter future.

Ji Nanxing looked at his master: "Really? It’s not because our destinies clash or we’re incompatible with each other?"

Yan Beisheng pinched his cheek: "You watch too many TV shows. It’s not that complicated. We were just worried you’d sap him dry. Now that his Yang Energy is steady, and you can keep yourself in check, it’s just right."

Ji Nanxing bit his lip a little. So he really is some kind of creature that absorbs Yang Energy.

Yan Beisheng rested his hand on Ji Nanxing’s head and ruffled his hair again: "Make sure to rest up when you get back tomorrow. You’ve been away for a while this time, and you’ll likely need some time to recover."

Yan Beisheng didn’t say more. He knew his young disciple was strong-willed and always tried not to worry his family, often sharing only good news. But with Xiao Ye being so attached, this time he didn’t have to worry about his young disciple being by himself.

With his questions answered, Ji Nanxing walked back to his tent, only to find Xiao Ye rushing out with messy hair. As soon as Xiao Ye saw him, he pounced: "Why didn’t you wake me when you got up? Waking up in a strange place without you would freak me out."

Ji Nanxing looked at him expressionlessly. Given how smooth Xiao Ye was last night, it was hard to believe he’d be scared of a new place.

Today was the last ritual and prayer session. The tomb was closed for the day. After figuring out the timing, Yan Beisheng, along with a few from the bureau and Ji Yuanting, went down into the tomb.

Xiao Ye had asked Ji Nanxing if his presence would have any impact. Ji Nanxing said it wouldn’t, so Xiao Ye naturally followed them down.

The tomb had special lighting installed. It wasn’t completely dark, but the light was kept dim to protect the artifacts, just enough to see.

Xiao Ye held Ji Nanxing’s hand as they walked deeper inside, the air filled with the scent of earth. Curious, he asked: "Do you do rituals in here every day?"

Ji Nanxing nodded.

Xiao Ye tightened his grip on Ji Nanxing’s hand: "Aren’t you scared?"

Ji Nanxing shook his head: "What’s to be afraid of? This is what I do."

What might scare people in such places are the unknown malevolent forces. Since Ji Nanxing’s job is to deal with these things, there’s nothing for him to fear.

Soon, the group arrived at the main hall of the tomb. The ritual altar was all set up, with offerings of three animals, five fruits, and two incense sticks as thick as an arm.

One of the members from the bureau donned a Taoist robe and stood in front of the altar, waiting. When the last grain of sand fell in the hourglass and the compass needle on the table moved one notch, he immediately began to act.

He chanted words that made sense on their own but were gibberish together. The talismans he burned weren’t ordinary; they were large sheets filled with scriptures.

Xiao Ye was curious but didn’t dare speak up as everyone remained silent.

Noticing his gaze, Ji Nanxing whispered in his ear: "Those are ritual scriptures, written on mother and child paper, with a specific size of three feet six and a half inches. It’s not the usual talisman paper we use."

Xiao Ye nodded in understanding.

The Taoist priest lightly tapped the scripture paper with his peach wood sword, lifting a long roll of yellow paper. With a gentle wave in the air, the scripture-covered paper stuck to a wall in a specific direction. The scroll unfurled and began to burn on its own.

After burning seven sheets and covering seven directions, the Taoist priest stopped and turned to Ji Nanxing: "You come forward to offer incense."

Offering the first incense to the gods also brings personal benefits. Ji Nanxing didn’t hesitate and stepped forward, knelt on the cushion, kowtowed three times, and then inserted three incense sticks into the incense burner.

A gentle breeze swept through, making the incense burn more vigorously. Ji Nanxing had been conducting rituals here over the past few days, so the ceremony acknowledged his efforts, a sign of recognition for his offering.

Someone whispered to Yan Beisheng, "Your disciple is quite spiritually attuned."

In their practice, whether it’s offering sacrifices to gods or other rituals, most of the time it’s just a ceremony and doesn’t receive a response from nature. A breeze like this signifies a response, a mutual understanding between both parties. As long as those who enter the tomb don’t do anything taboo, the tomb allows them entry.

Yan Beisheng looked at Ji Nanxing with pride. His young disciple was born in an era that was both wrong and right for him. If it were a few decades earlier, given his talents and insight, he would surely have a place among the top figures in the mystical world.

But being born in this era, where the hardships of war have been swept away by predecessors, being able to live simply as a Young Celestial Master might be a form of happiness.

Xiao Ye obediently watched from the side. The entire ceremony was grand and imbued with mysterious energy, especially the breeze that swept in at the moment of offering incense, leaving one feeling refreshed and clear-headed.

After the ceremony, he expected everyone to leave with great dignity, but unexpectedly, once the incense burned out, the spectators started to move.

The three sacrificial animals were uncooked, but the five fruits could be eaten directly after being offered. Yan Beisheng took the offered apples and gave one to each of his two disciples and Xiao Ye: "These are blessed fruits; eating them is good for you, so go ahead."

Ji Yuanting took a bite immediately, and Ji Nanxing followed suit. Xiao Ye was somewhat taken aback, then saw Yan Beisheng go over and pour out the layer of incense ash that had just settled on the incense burner into a small wooden box, which he casually stuffed into Ji Nanxing’s pocket.

"Share this with your senior brother when you get back."

Ji Nanxing nodded, then turned to see Xiao Ye’s puzzled look and explained, "This is sacred incense with some exorcising properties. If you have incense ashes from offerings to ancestors at home, collecting them and scattering them in dangerous situations can ward off ordinary lingering spirits."

Xiao Ye nodded in realization, learning something new.

Just as he was marveling, the Taoist priest took off his robe, stretching and said, "I’m getting old, almost couldn’t manage it. Let the young ones take over in the future."

Someone of similar age said, "Young people might not be able to handle the grand tomb rituals. You’ll have to hold on for a few more years. It’s almost noon, let’s go have a drink."

Someone called out to Yan Beisheng, and then Xiao Ye watched as the group of masters went off arm in arm for a drink.

Ji Nanxing lifted his chin, helping him close his mouth: "Why so surprised?"

Xiao Ye said, "It’s a bit different from what I imagined."

Ji Nanxing laughed, "What’s different? Everyone is human, they all need to eat and sleep."

Xiao Ye thought these mystical masters should be mysterious, aloof, looking down on the world with an air of unpredictability, but now it seems they’re no different from ordinary people. He even saw those uncles playing cards together yesterday.

Ji Nanxing smiled, "Let’s go, we’re leaving tomorrow morning. My brother is leaving this afternoon."

Xiao Ye said, "Let’s watch the sunrise tomorrow morning. I’ve never seen a desert sunrise."

Ji Nanxing looked at him, "Are you a sunrise collector? Wherever you go, you want to see the sunrise."

Xiao Ye put his arm around Ji Nanxing’s shoulder as they walked out, saying, "Because sunsets are easy to see, but sunrises aren’t something you can see with just anyone."

It’s like dinner can be had with anyone, but breakfast, only with the one who shares your pillow.

In the afternoon, Ji Nanxing and Xiao Ye saw Ji Yuanting off at the airport. As the tool man for this trip, Ji Yuanting instructed, "I’m flying straight to work. Remember to send me a message when you get home tomorrow."

Ji Nanxing nodded, "Got it, be careful on your way."

Ji Yuanting looked at Xiao Ye, "Take care of my brother, and be safe on your way back."

Xiao Ye assured, "Don’t worry, Second Brother, I’ll bring Naonao home without a single hair missing."

Although Ji Yuanting was somewhat displeased with someone coveting his precious younger brother, he had to admit that Xiao Ye’s appearance and temperament matched well with his brother. After all, good-looking people are indeed pleasing to the eye.

Ji Yuanting gave Xiao Ye a pat on the shoulder and wheeled his luggage inside.

It wasn’t until Ji Yuanting’s figure disappeared from sight that Xiao Ye let out a sigh of relief: "Both your brothers have such strong auras."

Perhaps it was the guilt of coveting someone else’s younger brother. Even though he had been tempered under his own elder brother’s aura for so many years, facing the Ji family’s brothers still made him feel a bit lacking in confidence.

Ji Nanxing said, "My second brother has been dealing with fewer matters these past two years, so his aura has softened quite a bit. In the past, he and Ye Junxing, the captain of the third team, were both known as 'ghost dreads.' Just standing there, he exuded a sharpness that made him quite formidable."

Xiao Ye: "It’s a shame I met you two years later, otherwise I could have witnessed our second brother’s 'ghost dreads' glory."

The two of them walked out of the airport. Just as Ji Nanxing was about to give the address, Xiao Ye mentioned a shopping mall.

Ji Nanxing didn’t stop him. He only asked after the car started moving, "What are we going to the mall for? To pick up some gifts?"

Xiao Ye: "We have to bring something back after this trip. Besides, our master is still here. Let’s buy some food and drinks for him, and maybe a new tablet. I noticed the one he’s using is cracked at the corner. Let’s also get a data plan so he doesn’t have to keep borrowing others’ internet."

Ji Nanxing couldn’t help but laugh when he saw how attentive Xiao Ye was to such small details: "Don’t give the food to the master; give it to Hu Jia instead. And don’t add data to the master’s account; add it to Hu Jia’s instead."

Xiao Ye was puzzled: "Why?"

Ji Nanxing: "Because the master can’t be too wealthy. If he’s too wealthy, he’ll have bad luck."

This is what it means to have a tough fate and be poor. Not only can he not have too much money on him, but he also can’t have too many possessions in his name. Even the cracked tablet he uses is an old one of mine because any new tablet he gets would end up shattered within half a day.

Even if it’s just sitting flat on the table, the table might collapse, and the tablet would fall.

Xiao Ye opened his mouth in astonishment, once again directly experiencing what it means to be fated not to carry wealth.

Author’s Note:

Master: I may not be destined for wealth, but having a little wallet that is is enough for me.