Chapter 68

Chapter 68

"Shixiong" slowly pressed his forehead against Rong Yu's and continued in a low voice, "I get heart palpitations when you're not in my sight."

Only then did Rong Yu truly grasp it: when one's eyes are blind, the other senses indeed become exceptionally... acute. The rustle of robes, the sound of breathing, the warmth, and the unique scent of "Shixiong."

Just a moment ago, his mind had been heavy with worries, but now Rong Yu felt his own heart begin to beat erratically, as if under a spell, his breathing becoming somewhat labored.

Hesitantly, he reached out and gently stroked "Shixiong's" back. This action, however, again felt profoundly familiar, as though he had performed it a thousand times.

"Shixiong" seemed to smile, then affectionately nuzzled Rong Yu's nose and asked hoarsely, "What did she tell you just now?"

"She said... everything I've seen since losing my memory might be a lie. That you... are here to harm me, that I am your prey. She told me to stay as far away from you as possible."

"Shixiong" softly acknowledged with an "Mm" and asked, "Shidi... what do you think?"

Rong Yu grew serious, gently pushing "Shixiong" to signal him to stand properly before speaking. Once they had returned to a normal distance, Rong Yu said earnestly, "I suspect this place is an illusion created by miasma. If we work together, it will be easier to break through this barrier. That's why the so-called Qing Qing just now tried to sow discord between us."

Previously, the Medical Cultivator had mentioned that in the Eastern Continent, there was a belief that those infected by miasma remained in a deep slumber because they were lost in an illusion, unwilling to awaken. However, since no one had ever truly recovered after being infected, the veracity of this claim was questionable. Still, Rong Yu found it familiar the moment he heard it and subconsciously accepted it as plausible.

"Shixiong" agreed, "I think so too. Just before we entered, we both used the jade rings on us, and then we arrived. This doesn't feel like we were infected by miasma; it's more like we used this method to enter an illusion constructed by the miasma. In that case, this is likely the Crown Princess's illusion."

Rong Yu was somewhat surprised: "You... also used the jade ring? Why? Do you know its purpose?" He had only acted on instinct. Did "Shixiong" know something?

"Shixiong" paused before speaking, "I... was afraid for you..."

Rong Yu: ...

Alright, he understood now.

Somehow, he felt an inexplicably awkward tension spread between them with "Shixiong's" words, making his ears burn and leaving him momentarily unsure of what to say.

It was "Shixiong" who first broke the uncomfortable silence: "You said the Qing Qing just now was problematic?"

"Yes," Rong Yu frowned, "She seemed like a completely different person, not at all like the feisty young child from before. Most importantly, how did she know about my memory loss? That happened before we entered the illusion, and logically, only the two of us should know. That's why I thought of the legend about miasma. In that legend, the first layer of miasma manifests a person's deepest fears, the second layer their greatest desires, and the third layer what they most refuse to confront. This suggests that miasma can expose a person's innermost thoughts."

"Shixiong" said gently, "So, was that likely a trick played by the miasma to trap us?"

Rong Yu replied, "Yes. Since it can create different scenes based on people's inner thoughts to keep them here, it can naturally also use this method to separate us and prevent us from leaving. That's why I suspect we've entered Qing Qing's illusion, and this illusion has adapted because we joined. For example, both of us have identities here, and our acquaintance Lao Xu has appeared. Moreover, we've changed Qing Qing and the little crown prince's lives. I feel like this must also have meaning..."

"Shixiong" said, "Mm. Let's take it slow. We'll ask them more tomorrow and gather more clues."

Rong Yu sighed, "That's all we can do. Let's rest tonight and talk tomorrow." After all the events of the day, he was truly exhausted in body and mind.

"Shixiong" then helped Rong Yu wash up and settle into bed, then lay down beside him.

Rong Yu had initially thought that sharing a bed with another man would make him extremely uncomfortable. Strangely, not only did he not feel awkward, but he once again felt a sense of profound familiarity.

At this point, even if Rong Yu didn't want to admit it, there seemed to be only one reasonable possibility: the two of them were originally cultivation partners.

Rong Yu even had an instinctive reaction: he wanted to pull the person beside him into his arms and hold him while sleeping.

This was just too...

While Rong Yu was still reeling from shock, "Shixiong" suddenly spoke, "Shidi, about that matter earlier, I actually have another question."

Rong Yu immediately set aside his jumbled thoughts and asked, "Hm?"

"Shixiong" slowly moved closer, his warm breath brushing against Rong Yu's face, his tone ambiguous, "You... trust me that much?"

Rong Yu was stunned for a moment, about to answer, when "Shixiong" moved even closer, almost pressing Rong Yu into the bed, and chuckled softly, "How do you know I haven't got my sights set on you?"

Rong Yu swallowed the reply he had prepared. Finally, he understood: he was really being teased, wasn't he??

"Shixiong" leaned down and gently pecked Rong Yu's cheek, then retreated to a normal distance and said softly, "Goodnight."

Rong Yu: ...

Well, well. Tease and run? How typical!

But in truth, he couldn't give a definite answer to "Shixiong's" question. Although he would definitely choose to trust "Shixiong" over Qing Qing, he truly couldn't prove that everything "Shixiong" said was true or that he wasn't trapped in a deception.

Even his trust, familiarity, and closeness toward "Shixiong" could indeed have been manipulated by something. This feeling might be illusory, and he was fully aware of it.

But he vaguely sensed that if this person was illusory, there might not be much left in his world that was real.

So, if all of this was a deception, then nothing else seemed to matter.

Early the next morning, when Rong Yu woke up, he found himself tangled up with "Shixiong" again, as if they had been entwined all night, in an extremely intimate position.

To make matters worse, both of them had the typical morning arousal, and their members were in uncomfortable proximity, creating an extremely awkward situation.

"Shixiong" didn't seem to be awake yet. Rong Yu could feel his long, steady breaths brushing against his face.

After a moment of silence, Rong Yu decided to just swallow his conscience and be a scoundrel.

So he carefully released "Shixiong" and tried to pull away the arm wrapped around him, intending to play it off like nothing happened.

Somehow, "Shixiong's" arm was incredibly heavy, and Rong Yu was reluctant to wake him, so he pulled away extremely slowly. Just as he finally managed to lift it halfway, "Shixiong's" arm suddenly tightened and pulled him back.

Thus, Rong Yu was pulled back into "Shixiong's" embrace and held tightly.

"Shixiong's" voice carried a hint of laughter as he whispered close to his ear, "Shidi..."

Rong Yu: ...

Understood. He was being caught in the act, wasn't he?

Had "Shixiong" really been awake all along, pretending to be asleep and watching him for a while, just waiting to see his awkward attempt?

But since he had also been holding the other person tightly, he couldn't deny it. So, trying to destroy the evidence right after waking up did make him feel guilty.

So he guiltily lay there, allowing "Shixiong" to lean in again and place another kiss on his cheek.

Rong Yu didn't realize that, unconsciously, his attention had been completely captured by "Shixiong." "Shixiong's" voice still carried a sleepy magnetism that seemed to drill into one's ears, making them burn.

His kiss was also very light, as gentle as a falling leaf, yet enough to stir lingering ripples on the water.

After breakfast, they went to see the little crown prince and Qing Qing.

The two children were already awake, tinkering with something in the room. As soon as Rong Yu and "Shixiong" entered, they heard the children scrambling to hide things in panic with clattering sounds.

Rong Yu found it amusing internally and was about to say something when "Shixiong" suddenly squeezed his hand tightly.

Rong Yu's heart gave an alarm: what was wrong?

And it clearly couldn't be a small issue, otherwise "Shixiong" wouldn't have reacted so strongly. He was usually a calm and steady-minded person.

Rong Yu immediately grew wary, quietly placing his hand on the Qiankun Bag, ready to draw his sword if anything went wrong.

"Shixiong's" tone was gentle as a spring breeze, softly asking them, "Are you settling in alright here?"

As he spoke, "Shixiong" secretly traced characters into Rong Yu's palm. Rong Yu recognized them as two words: "grown up."

What had grown up?? They were here to see the two children—could "Shixiong" mean that the two children had... grown up??

This deduction made sense, because what "Shixiong" had noticed but Rong Yu himself hadn't must be a visual issue. And the fact that the two children had grown taller fit perfectly.

Qing Qing said, "What do you want with us, capturing us here?! Let us out quickly, we have very important things to do!"

"Shixiong" smiled and said, "If there's something, you might as well tell us. We can help you."

Qing Qing hesitated for a moment, then snapped, "No way! You want to eat us, you're the bad guys! Why should I believe you?!"

Rong Yu pressed "Shixiong's" hand, signaling that he would take over the questioning. He spoke up, "What did you mean by what you told me last night?"

Qing Qing's tone suddenly changed, becoming evasive as she said, "Exactly what I meant."

Rong Yu then said, "Then let me tell you, we came to save you. Actually, we're all inside your illusion—everything here is fake. In the real world, the boy next to you has already become crown prince, and you're about to become the crown princess."

Qing Qing's voice suddenly turned shy: "What nonsense are you talking?! If you're going to make up a story, at least make it convincing—how could Doggy possibly be the crown prince! Right, Doggy?"

The young crown prince didn't answer immediately. After a long pause, he stammered, "Qing Qing is right..."

Rong Yu fell silent. He tugged at "Shixiong," signaling for them to step outside and talk.

After they left the room, "Shixiong" supported Rong Yu as they walked slowly. Rong Yu said, "I just vaguely recalled something—I think we’ve entered someone’s illusion before."

"Shixiong's" voice sounded somewhat strange: "Mm, I remember a little too. I think it was an island, with a bonfire burning on the beach..."

He trailed off mid-sentence and suddenly stopped speaking. Rong Yu found it a bit odd but didn’t press further. He said, "I only vaguely recall that, to break out of the illusion, Qing Qing needs to realize that this place is fake. Only when she wakes up on her own can we leave. That’s why I tested it just now, but as expected, it didn’t work. By the way, what did you mean by 'grown up' earlier?"

Author's Note: I really am seriously delivering the sweet moments!