Chapter 282: Fluctuation

Chapter 282: Turmoil

Xiao Wu trembled violently, as if utterly wronged. Xie Shu hesitated for a moment before raising his hand and embracing him.

He wrapped his arms around Xiao Wu’s back, patting him gently, his chin resting against Xiao Wu’s cheek, brushing against his hair. Then, he lifted his hand again to ruffle the short strands at the nape of Xiao Wu’s neck.

As if indulging a beloved lover.

Xie Shu whispered, “What’s wrong?”

Held tightly in his embrace and soothed with gentle words, Xiao Wu suddenly remembered that beyond this dream, Xie Chunshan had already become a soulless living corpse—unable to embrace him, unable to tousle his hair. A bitter ache surged in his chest, an emotion called sorrow churning endlessly, rendering him speechless.

The world always said Lord Pingwu was an immortal as cold as frost. Xiao Wu had never known he could feel such sorrow.

Yet Xie Shu remained completely unaware, patting his back and running fingers through his hair, still coaxing him patiently, “What’s the matter?”

The warmth of their skin pressed together in the embrace seemed to be the only thing Xiao Wu could cling to. Silently, he tightened his hold, wanting to say, *Xie Chunshan, don’t die.* Wanting to say, *Xie Chunshan, come back to me.* Wanting to say, *Xie Chunshan, I miss you so much.*

But his throat was too hoarse, and not a single word would come out.

Xie Shu rubbed his back, asking softly, “Haven't you been doing well?”

“……”

How could he possibly be well?

But Xie Shu didn’t know why he was dreaming of Xiao Wu, nor why Xiao Wu was so distraught. He could only ask, “Did you return to the Shangling Sect?”

After the Immortal-Demon Grand Tournament, Xiao Wu first restructured the demonic sects, then returned to the Shangling Sect. After discussing with his senior brother, he revealed Daoist Cangshan’s crimes to the world, executed him, and became the Mystic Leader of the Righteous Path.

Wuwang Palace was demonic territory, which Xiao Wu disliked. After traveling extensively, he still resided within the Shangling Sect’s domain, living among mountains, forests, and birds. Once everything was settled, he planned to seclude himself in Zhongnan Mountain.

Xiao Wu only shook his head.

Xie Shu asked, “Why not go back? Daoist Cangshan is dead, and I’ve passed away. You can smoothly take over both the immortal and demonic factions, becoming the Mystic Leader of both paths.”

This was the fate Lord Pingwu was destined for.

His tone was calm, mentioning “I’ve passed away” as lightly as if commenting on the pleasant weather—just like all the times before when the Pharmacist asked Xiao Wu if he wanted to kill Xie Chunshan.

“……”

Xiao Wu had never known he could feel both sorrow and anger at the same time.

Emotions in dreams were always more intense than reality. Xiao Wu, having gone days without rest, was already pushed to his limit. He was heartbroken and enraged, yet his voice was too hoarse to even curse. In the end, he opened his mouth and bit Xie Shu’s shoulder fiercely.

But after biting him, he seemed to regret it, gripping Xie Shu’s robe to check on him.

Even through two layers of fabric, Xie Shu drew a sharp breath. He pushed Xiao Wu away, amused, “How have I wronged you this time, Little Immortal Lord?”

Xiao Wu: “…I never wanted you to kill Daoist Cangshan.”

Xie Shu attempted to explain, “Killing Daoist Cangshan would let you ascend as the supreme leader of both factions.”

Xiao Wu’s brows knitted even tighter. “I don’t want to rule over both factions.”

Xie Shu paused. “Well… Then what do you want?”

Xiao Wu gazed at him wordlessly.

Lord Pingwu was typically composed, rarely losing control. But now the pain in his eyes was so vivid, so intense that Xie Shu couldn't ignore it.

Xiao Wu lowered his gaze, his voice thick: "I don’t want to be the Dual Mystic Leader, I..."

He whispered: "I just want someone to go to the temple fair with me."

Someone cherished, someone beloved, someone willing to accompany him to the temple fair.

Xie Shu hesitated. "Your senior brother, Xiao Xu? He would probably be willing to go with you. In fact, if you extended the invitation, many would gladly accompany you."

The Dual Mystic Leader—what an exalted position. If Xiao Wu showed even the slightest inclination, hordes would clamor to serve him.

Xiao Wu stared fixedly at Xie Shu, his pupils holding only Xie Shu's image. His expression was blank as he spoke, word by word: "What if I only want you to go with me?"

The raw honesty laid his heart bare. Even Xie Shu, who was indifferent by nature and had never entertained the idea of building a life with anyone, felt his resolve waver.

Xiao Wu: "I just want you to wake up, then go to the temple fair with me."

Year after year, from the one in the town below Wuwang Mountain, to those in Qingzhou, Shangling, Yunzhou—temple fairs spanning every province.

He wanted to press a fox mask onto Xie Chunshan’s face, stand with him atop city walls or at street corners, and watch fireworks paint the heavens.

"..."

Xie Shu paused, unable to meet his gaze. He averted his eyes as if fleeing, then gave a self-deprecating smile. "Little Immortal Lord, I’m Xie Chunshan. Xie Chunshan is the Demon Sect Sovereign—a disgraced one, no less, with no value left to exploit. If you walk beside me, you’ll court disgrace."

Xie Shu had grown up too soon and become a merchant. He was a hardcore pragmatist, one who believed the world moved solely for profit. Even if Xie Chunshan woke, he’d be a broken has-been, devoid of any worth. For Xiao Wu to want to attend temple fairs with him was, by all accounts, bad business.

Xie Shu never made bad business.

He tried to advise Xiao Wu from the perspective of an elder: "Little Immortal Lord, once you become the Dual Mystic Leader, vultures will circle your throne. From then on, you must never trust others easily. Keep your guard up even with those closest to you. Never repeat what happened before—Song Xiaoyu was kind to you, so you returned the kindness; the Pharmacist gave you an Art, so you practiced it. The world is full of people with ulterior motives. You must protect yourself. As for the temple fair in Yunzhou with the Immortal Lord, write it off as a fever dream. Tarnishing your reputation for Xie Chunshan isn’t worth it. Someone like him—a washed-up demon lord—should never be mentioned again."

As if treating Xiao Wu like a child in need of guidance.

Xiao Wu abruptly lifted his gaze. "When you brought me home, I was a cripple too."

Xie Shu faltered. "How is that the same?"

Xiao Wu: "Why isn’t it?"

He stepped closer. "When I was a cripple, when I had no value at all—why were you so good to me?"

If Xie Chunshan hadn’t been so kind, he wouldn’t be where he was now.

Lord Pingwu’s expression was grave as a tomb. Xie Shu fell silent for a long moment before suddenly feeling dazed.

Why had he treated Xiao Wu so differently?

He didn’t know.

The mission was the mission, so why had he gone out of his way to do so many unnecessary things? Why had he wiped him down yourself? Why had he fed him sweetmeats to chase the bitterness after medicine? Why couldn’t he bear to see Xiao Wu suffer even a little? None of it had anything to do with the mission.

In that moment of clarity, Xie Shu suddenly remembered why he had designed Xiao Wu in the first place.

Back then, a stack of character concepts had been laid before him—domineering, icy, tortured, smoldering—every popular archetype the market favored. Yet Xie Shu had chosen the gentle-hearted Xiao Wu at a glance.

Such a character was all harmony, no edge, and wasn’t the best setting. But Xie Shu had liked it.

He was the game’s first playtester, the world’s original architect. When he pushed open the door to that new world alone, he had wanted to meet someone gentle and warm.

Unlike his father, mother, business partners, and all those around him who only cared about profit, he had suffered yet remained soft-hearted, still kind to everyone around him.

So in his mind, Lord Pingwu, icy as frost and snow, possessed the softest and gentlest core.

Xie Shu couldn’t stand to see someone like that suffer.

He protected Xiao Wu carefully, secretly wishing someone like that had appeared during his own poor, helpless childhood—someone willing to be kind to the weak and worthless.

Xie Shu stayed quiet too long, making Xiao Wu snap, demanding impatiently, "Talk."

"……"

Now the Demon Sect Palace Master, Xiao Wu’s aura was even stronger. Xie Shu was almost overwhelmed by his relentless pressure, instinctively backing up until he hit the wall.

Xiao Wu: "When I first arrived, my meridians were half-ruined, nearly on the verge of death. Everyone knew Lord Pingwu was done for—mocked, laughed at, and scorned. Why bring me porridge, cooling it and feeding me spoonfuls?"

Having navigated the treacherous waters of business for years, Xie Shu’s sharp instincts sensed danger. Goosebumps rose as he defended, "…I never fed you porridge. That was Song Xiaoyu."

Xiao Wu kept staring, then suddenly laughed, his eyes filled with an emotion Xie Shu couldn’t decipher. "At Baibuting, my meridians were completely ruined, worse than useless—I couldn’t even stand or clean myself. Why did you carry me to the hot spring, wring out the cloth, and wipe the filth from my body?"

Xie Shu got goosebumps out of nowhere. "…When did that happen? I never did such a thing. You mean the medicine hall’s Pharmacist? What does he have to do with me?"

Xiao Wu’s tone was ambiguous. "Is that so?"

Xie Shu: "Ah… yes."

Xie Shu had a hunch from Xiao Wu’s questions, but he was accustomed to evasion. In business, he could twist black into white with silver-tongued eloquence, smooth-talking and leaving no gaps—the type who’d deny it till the bitter end. Even if evidence were laid before him, he’d spin it to his advantage.

But the next moment, he found himself speechless.

Xiao Wu grabbed his collar, yanked him forward, and kissed him straight on the lips.

The kiss was rough and messy, splitting Xie Shu’s lip. When Xie Shu kept his teeth clenched, Xiao Wu refused to relent. Clumsily, he nibbled at Xie Shu’s lips, as if trying to force his way in.

Xie Shu couldn’t help but protest, "Little Immortal Lord, what are you—"

Before he could finish, he was kissed properly.

Neither had any experience, and Xie Shu’s current body was weaker. The kiss left him lightheaded from lack of air. Lightheaded, he shoved Xiao Wu back, only to hear the Little Immortal Lord mutter, "It’s only a dream. Still worth it."

"……"

Do dream people know they’re dreaming?

Before Xie Shu could ponder further, Xiao Wu embraced him again.

He tucked his chin back onto Xie Shu’s shoulder, finding a comfortable spot before closing his eyes, clearly treating Xie Shu as the perfect pillow.

"……"

After getting grilled, kissed out of nowhere, and turned into a pillow, even someone as unflappable as Xie Shu was momentarily stunned. But seeing the dark circles under Xiao Wu’s eyes—clearly exhausted—Xie Shu let him be, just rubbing his back soothingly.

Lowering his gaze, Xie Shu also felt dazed.

Between adults, a kiss could only mean two things.

Desire—or love.

Lord Pingwu, cold and untouchable as frost, would not indulge in desire. Xie Shu, too, was not a man ruled by lust. Which meant only one thing: love.

Did Xiao Wu in the dream have feelings for him?

Xie Shu still hadn’t figured out the origin of the dream. He fell asleep as Xiao Wu did. The smoke from the Boshan incense burner by the bedside grew thicker, white smoke curling like mist, gradually enveloping the entire room. Xie Shu’s consciousness blurred, and he, too, fell asleep.

Then, he opened his eyes.

His eyes met the hospital ceiling. An IV bag hung from a metal stand nearby. Xie Shu raised his hand and glanced at his watch: 8:45 p.m.

He had slept the entire afternoon.

The nurse, noticing he was awake, handed him a bowl of warmed plain porridge. Xie Shu removed the IV needle and got out of bed. Without thinking, he lifted his fingers and brushed them lightly over his lips.

Here—where Xiao Wu in the dream had kissed him.

The moist, soft sensation was so vivid that Xie Shu found it somewhat funny. He shook his head slightly and began eating.

So, what was that? A subconscious erotic dream?

In the dream, did he wish for Xiao Wu to like him?

Xie Shu was long past craving love and didn’t believe he would have teenage wet dreams. Yet, upon waking, he felt oddly empty in his chest, as though something were missing.

Just then, 66, who had been resting nearby, yawned and floated over.

While Xie Shu slept, it had been asleep too.

66 landed on Xie Shu’s shoulder and greeted him, "Evening, Su Zhu... Wait—"

It drifted up, circling the room suspiciously. "Why’s it feel weird?"

Xie Shu picked up a pair of disposable chopsticks and began sipping the porridge. His dietary options were limited, and the bland porridge held little appeal. After just two spoonfuls, he lost interest.

Xie Shu: "What feels off?"

66: "The space... Do you understand, Su Zhu? Space feels... off."

66 was a system from an advanced civilization, exceptionally sensitive to disturbances in space and time.

Xie Shu: "Not really. What do you mean?"

66: "It’s like... this space has been artificially invaded. You know, certain special methods can connect multiple spaces, creating fluctuations... For example, I once visited an elven realm where their deity could cross dimensions. And the cultivation world you came back from—some techniques there could interfere with other spaces too. Strange..."

It studied the disturbance, deep in thought.

Meanwhile, in a place beyond its perception, Xie Shu’s chopsticks paused mid-motion.

He looked down, thoughtful.

Spatial... fluctuations?