Chapter 287: Extra: Daily Life, Learning the Art

Chapter 287 Extra: Daily Life – Practicing the Art

Xiao Wu stared at the faint pink tint and suddenly reached out, touching Xie Shu’s lips.

He thought, *Soft.*

In his dreams, Xiao Wu had kissed this very spot, with the faint bitterness of medicinal herbs.

As if bewitched, he couldn’t help but lean closer. Brushing aside long strands of hair, he bent down and placed a feather-light peck on Xie Shu’s lips.

The herbal scent had faded, replaced by the pungent bite of alcohol, leaving him dizzy—until he abruptly met a pair of eyes.

Xie Shu had woken at some point, his amber eyes slightly open, reflecting Xiao Wu’s face.

Xiao Wu: “…”

He instantly retreated three steps back, his spine hitting the wall as he went rigid.

Xie Shu let out a quiet sigh. “Little Immortal Lord, I was only drunk, not passed out. Besides… haven’t you already kissed me?”

Xiao Wu: “Wh-when?”

Xie Shu: “In your dreams.”

Having abandoned the human realm to come this far, Xie Shu had long since accepted that if they were to be partners for life, what’s the big deal about a kiss?

Xie Shu tried to sit up, but his body was still sluggish from the alcohol. He patted the bed lightly. “Little Immortal Lord, come here.”

The bed was large enough for two.

Xiao Wu stayed rooted in place.

Xie Shu: “Not coming? There’s plenty of space.”

Xiao Wu: “…Coming.”

He edged toward the bedside, climbed onto the bed, and lay down fully clothed, keeping a careful fist’s width apart—only for Xie Shu to sit up and brush against his arm.

Xie Shu’s hair, unbound, spilled like ink, casting a shadow over Xiao Wu and blocking the moonlight from the window. Xiao Wu stiffened inexplicably, but then the man leaned down, slipping a hand under the pillow to cradle the back of his head.

And then, Xie Shu kissed him.

“Mmph—”

Xie Shu: “*This* is what a real kiss is, understand, young lord?”

He parted Xiao Wu’s lips, tracing the sensitive roof of his mouth, the fiery kick of the immortal wine stimulating every sense until Xiao Wu felt drunk on the sensation.

When the kiss ended, Xie Shu pulled him into his arms, closing the last bit of distance between them. Xiao Wu burrowed closer, recognizing the familiar warmth, and relaxed, settling into a comfortable position.

Eyes half-closed, he murmured, “Xie Shu, you’re warm.”

Lord Wuwang’s internal energy was cold, leaving his body chilled most of the time—but Xie Shu was so warm to hold.

Satisfied, Xiao Wu pulled him closer.

Xie Shu: “…Mm.”

He was already half-asleep.

Xiao Wu: "But, have you lost all your cultivation?"

Xie Shu: "...Hmm?"

The joy of reunion was so overwhelming that Xiao Wu nearly forgot. As he spoke, he found Xie Shu's arm and lightly touched it—only to find his dantian energy core completely empty, devoid of anything.

This won't work.

Xie Chunshan had so many enemies back then; it was inevitable that one or two might seek revenge on Xie Shu. What if Xiao Wu wasn’t by his side when something happened?

Xiao Wu: "Will you practice cultivation with me tomorrow morning?"

Xie Shu opened his eyes to look at him: "Little Immortal Lord, I'm retired."

Xiao Wu: "?"

Xie Shu sighed: "I was due to retire anyway."

Xie Shu was never one to cling to fame or material pursuits. In his life in the Previous Dynasty, he worked tirelessly—partly because he had no one to rely on and had to fend for himself, and partly to distract himself from the boredom and hardship of idle time. There was also a stubborn competitive streak, a desire to make his neglectful mother or father regret their actions.

But when he finally reached that position, his mother arrived with his half-brother, and his father with his half-sister, serving him tea with bowed heads and groveling as "President Xie." Seeing their fawning faces, Xie Shu found it all rather dull.

By the time the game’s public release, he was already due for retirement.

Fortunately, there was still Xiao Wu—his only remaining attachment in this world. After settling his assets, donating or selling all his shares, and leaving only a basic allowance for his parents, Xie Shu simply left without looking back.

Xiao Wu nudged him again: "What does retirement mean?"

Xie Shu: "It means no work, no early mornings, waking up naturally, and spending my days fishing, gardening, and tinkering with recipes—a lazy old man’s life."

Xiao Wu: "?"

He added: "I have flowers in my courtyard at Zhongnan Mountain. You can tend to them. There’s a mountain stream nearby where you can fish."

Xie Shu: "Hmm, not bad."

Xiao Wu paused: "But you still have to wake up early to cultivate."

The early bird catches the worm. At sunrise, when the dawn’s purple energy rises, the world’s spiritual energy is at its peak—the perfect time for cultivation.

Xie Shu didn’t respond. He pulled Xiao Wu into his arms, ruffling his lover’s long hair as he mumbled sleepily, "We’ll talk about it tomorrow."

The next day, Xie Shu indeed did not wake up early.

After staying by Xiao Wu’s side, Xie Shu—who had been on high alert for so long—finally relaxed. In just one day, he transformed from a workaholic burning the candle at both ends into a laid-back loafer who strolled and shopped. By the time Xiao Wu finished his meditation, Xie Shu had just woken up.

Xiao Wu silently pushed open the window. Xie Shu looked outside—the street was lined with breakfast stalls, steam curling from bamboo baskets of buns and dumplings. He snapped his fan open: "Come, Little Immortal Lord, let’s try some breakfast."

They sat across from each other, ordering a steaming basket of soup dumplings. Xiao Wu hesitated, puzzled by the soup-filled dumplings. Xie Shu passed him a soup straw and demonstrated.

Resting his chin on his hand, Xie Shu watched Xiao Wu. As Xiao Wu took a bite, he asked: "Little Immortal Lord, have you settled in Zhongnan Mountain?"

Xiao Wu: "Yes."

He poked at the dumpling and said slowly: "Because you said Wuwang Palace was too high—you couldn’t climb up."

Xie Shu chuckled, his chest warmed: "Show me?"

Xiao Wu: "It was built just for you."

At noon, a jade-green sword soared from outside Yunzhou City toward Zhongnan Mountain.

Xie Shu curiously glanced at the sword beneath his feet: "Changed your sword?"

Xiao Wu: "Still the same one. It broke when my meridians were severed. Later, I retrieved it from the Shangling Sect and had it remade. I also kept your sword at home—I’ll return it to you later."

He was referring to Xie Chunshan’s former sword, "Abyss."

Xie Shu wasn’t interested in Abyss but was quite curious about Xiao Wu’s sword. He tapped it lightly with his foot and asked, "Remade? Then it should have a new name. What’s it called now?"

The game never gave it a name for Xiao Wu’s sword.

"..."

Xiao Wu’s expression shifted: "No name."

Xie Shu: "No name?"

A swordsman’s bonded sword was a treasure—how could it not have a name?

He bent down to inspect it, checking for an engraved name. As they flew high in the sky, Xiao Wu grabbed him abruptly: "Careful, don’t fall."

Xie Shu could only reply: "Alright."

Even after landing, he still hadn’t figured out its name.

Xiao Wu flicked his wrist, and with a sharp *clang*, the sword slid back into its sheath. Then, brushing past Xie Shu, he pushed open the door to their home.

The room was bursting with spring blooms.

Xie Shu took in the sight—the trumpet vines climbing the trellises, the winter jasmine spilling from the corners, orchids and jasmine dotted here and there, adding color. The irises and gardenias hadn’t yet bloomed, tucked into the floral chaos, requiring a closer look to distinguish.

He strolled through the courtyard: "You’ve learned to tend flowers?"

Xiao Wu: "Mhm. And I’ve done quite well."

They settled into the small cottage.

Ever since entering this so-called "retirement" phase, Xie Shu had become idle and lazy, fully embracing a leisurely, homebody routine. He lost interest in cultivation, instead developing a fondness for fishing and studying recipes.

There was a pond in the back mountains. During peach blossom season, the water’s surface would be covered in fallen petals, earning it the local name "Peach Blossom Pond." The fish there were big and fat—coincidentally, Xiao Wu’s favorite food. So Xie Shu spent his days fishing and flipping through cookbooks.

Squirrel Fish, steamed fish, fish head stewed with tofu—he tried every variation.

Xie Shu learned everything quickly, and cooking was no exception. The fish soup he made was clear broth, rich in flavor, delicious no matter how it was prepared. Yet Xiao Wu poked at it with his chopsticks, looking a bit glum.

Xie Shu: "What’s wrong?"

Xiao Wu: "Do you really dislike cultivation that much?"

Xie Shu paused his chopsticks: "It’s alright."

In the cultivation world, cultivation was somewhat akin to working to get rich in the Previous Dynasty—just one of many paths to fame and fortune. Once Xie Shu no longer faced survival pressures, he relaxed considerably, letting his cultivation slide.

With Xiao Wu by his side, he felt safe—perhaps too safe, missing the drive he once had.

So this was how it felt to have someone to rely on.

Xie Shu picked up the tenderest piece of fish belly and lifted it to Xiao Wu’s mouth: "Let’s drop that for now. Try this—how is it?"

Every time cultivation came up, Xie Shu always dodged the question like this.

Xiao Wu gave two disgruntled snorts, still wanting to continue the conversation about cultivation, so he turned his head away and ignored Xie Shu.

His sidelong glance kept straying toward the fish meat.

Xie Shu teased: "Not hungry?"

He waved the chopsticks in front of Xiao Wu: "Mandarin fish, from Peach Blossom Pond. Fresh. Picked up fresh scallions and soft tofu just yesterday. The fish broth's been stewing since dawn. Really not eating?"

"......"

Xie Shu faked disappointment: "Fine, guess I'll have to eat it myself then."

Xiao Wu: "...Eat."

Xie Shu: "What?"

Xiao Wu swiveled back, cheeks burning: "Eat!"

Xie Shu smiled and fed him the fish.

Xiao Wu gave him a deep look, as if thinking of something, then dove into his rice bowl.

In the afternoon, Xiao Wu returned to Wuwang Palace.

He went to the medicine hall, yanked Wu Buke to the main hall, opened his mouth twice, then pressed his lips shut again, his face cycling through emotions and looking quite unpleasant.

Wu Buke broke out in nervous sweat, running through everything he'd done recently in his mind, but couldn't figure out how he might have offended this ancestor. He cautiously asked: "What's the matter?"

Xiao Wu muttered: "Do you have... that type of cultivation manual here?"

Half an hour later, Xiao Wu left Wuwang Palace with a thin booklet in hand, his expression grim.

Wu Buke wiped cold sweat from his brow.

After Xiao Wu left, Xue Sui grew curious and came to ask. Wu Buke shot him an ominous glare: "Envoy Xue, trust me, you don’t want to know the details. Otherwise, when the Palace Lord starts eliminating loose ends, neither of us will escape."

Xue Sui: "...?"

"That serious?"

His itch to know grew unbearable, but he didn’t dare ask further.

Meanwhile, Xiao Wu returned home and, unusually, didn’t join Xie Shu for sunbathing or napping in the yard. Instead, he avoided Xie Shu and slipped into his room alone, even drawing the curtains before flipping through the booklet.

Such booklets always used lush, borderline vulgar prose. As Xiao Wu read on, his ears burned crimson. He tried imagining the actions described, then imagined Xie Shu performing them—his chiseled, devastating features, his well-proportioned arms and waist—and couldn’t help shoving his face into the blanket.

Just then, Xie Shu rapped lightly on the window: "Immortal Lord? What are you doing hiding away in there?"

Near panic, Xiao Wu jammed the manual beneath his pillow: "N-nothing!"

He looked up and, through the thin window paper, could clearly see Xie Shu’s curled fingers. Those hands had never lifted heavy objects, nor even held a sword much—elegant and refined. The thought of what they could do set Xiao Wu squirming.

Xie Shu: "Alright, then why not come out... Any dinner requests?"

In his current state, how could Xiao Wu possibly think about food?

He could only stammer: "Wh-whatever you want."

Xie Shu: "All right."

He turned and left.

Xiao Wu sighed in relief and quietly retrieved the book from under the blanket, studying it carefully.

Once he felt he had memorized most of it, he put the book away in the cabinet, then drifted through the afternoon in a daze—even while Xie Shu was feeding him, his expression remained distant.

Xie Shu chuckled. "What's wrong?"

Xiao Wu muttered, "Nothing."

After dinner, they went for a short walk, and soon the moon rose high.

Since "retiring," Xie Shu had been sleeping earlier than usual, getting a full four or five *shichen* each night. He went to bed first, while Xiao Wu bathed.

The small courtyard drew mountain spring water from the rear hills. Feeling restless, Xiao Wu opted for cold water. Only when his skin was thoroughly chilled did he pull his clothes together and sit on the edge of the bed.

Xie Shu touched his arm, hesitated, then pulled him into an embrace, warming him with his own body heat. He laughed softly. "What's with you today? Using cold water for no good reason."

Xiao Wu replied stiffly, "I learned a new Art and need to teach it to you."

Xie Shu blinked. "Now?"

He smiled. "Immortal Lord, it’s so late. Who learns an Art at this hour?"

But the next second, he fell silent.

Xiao Wu’s icy fingers undid his sash and pressed against his skin.

He commanded: "Learn!"