Chapter 146

Chapter 146

Shen Qichi slipped back into Anmen Village under the cover of night. His yard was small, with a main room that opened into a living area and study, a kitchen on one side and a storehouse on the other, all fenced in with bamboo and a bamboo gate.

The house had been empty for a while, so a thin layer of dust had settled. Shen Qichi told Su Ying to sit in the main room while he went to get water, a duster, and a palm brush to clean up.

Su Ying had just taken human form, wearing a black robe that had been his scales. Shen Qichi lit an oil lamp, and by its light, Su Ying looked around, his eyes wide with curiosity. He touched the teapot on the table, then the scroll hanging on the wall, and after sitting for a bit, he got up and followed into the other room to find Shen Qichi.

Shen Qichi was bent over changing the sheets when a body pressed against him from behind, shoving him forward. He steadied himself on the bed and turned around. "Not used to it?"

Su Ying wrapped his arms around Shen Qichi's waist and buried his face in his neck, breathing in his cool scent. "Something stinks in here."

Shen Qichi looked up and spotted two bundles of mugwort tied to the walls on either side of the bedroom door. He patted Su Ying's back, motioning for him to let go, then walked over and untied them. At the foot of the mountain, mosquitoes were everywhere; when the weather got warm, every household in the village hung mugwort and sprinkled bug powder. His yard had a bunch of them too, and Shen Qichi took them all down and tossed them outside. When he came back to the room, the young man was gone.

Shen Qichi walked over and, sure enough, found a black snake curled up in the fresh bedding. The bedding was made from cotton that had been fluffed in early spring, soft and fluffy. The black snake had coiled itself to about the thickness of a wrist, half-sunk into the mattress. When it saw Shen Qichi approach, it poked its head out and slowly flicked its tongue.

The room, which had been dusty, was now spotless. Shen Qichi gently tapped the black snake's head. "Didn't I tell you not to use magic so casually?"

The black snake lifted the tip of its tail to hook Shen Qichi's index finger, then lowered its head to nudge his palm. Shen Qichi chuckled and stroked the head under his hand. The snake slithered up his arm, coiled around his neck, and settled its head in the hollow of his collarbone, its tongue flicking back and forth, seemingly on purpose, across his porcelain-like skin.

Shen Qichi, tickled by the feeling, pulled the black snake down and put it back on the bedding, tapping its head. "Don't let it happen again." Then he turned to go wash up.

The black snake coiled up, raised its head, and watched him leave.

The washroom was behind the kitchen, and it took him a while to clean up. Shen Qichi changed out of the clothes he'd been wearing for months, feeling a wave of lightness wash over him. He went back to the room, where the doors and windows were still ajar, the flame of the oil lamp flickered in the night breeze. In the distance, the chirping of autumn insects was light and pleasant. Shen Qichi came in with the lamp, its light filtering through the gauze bed curtains and illuminating the faint, glossy black scales in the bedding.

He blew out the lamp, walked over in the moonlight, picked up the black snake, and got into bed.

...

The next day, before dawn, the village roosters started crowing, along with the chirping of birds. Some households got up early, and as the eastern sky began to lighten, they set out for the day's work—some into the mountains for game, others to the fields to harvest rice.

Li Qiao, carrying a hoe, passed by Shen Qichi's small yard and glanced inside out of habit. He saw a gentleman, bright as the moon, rolling up his sleeves to wash clothes in the yard, with a unfamiliar black-clad young man crouching nearby.

Li Qiao beamed and called out, "Mr. Shen, you're back from your trip?"

Shen Qichi looked up and smiled. "Yes. How is Man'er?"

"He's doing great, full of energy. Just a few days ago, he was asking where you'd gone. It's all thanks to you going up the mountain in the rain to gather herbs that he survived." Li Qiao's face showed a trace of lingering fear. "When we heard the knock and opened the door to find only the medicine and not you, it scared us. It wasn't until the doctor found your house and saw the letter that we knew you'd gone."

"I left in a hurry. Sorry for worrying you. A Ying, go get the stuff."

"Oh." Su Ying got up and went inside, then came back with a straw raincoat and hat. Shen Qichi dried his hands, took them, and walked to the gate to give them to Li Qiao. "I didn't have time to return these back then. Sorry."

"No problem, no problem. I should be thanking you." Li Qiao glanced at Su Ying, noticing the young man's handsome features and extraordinary bearing, but he seemed cold and aloof. Curious, he asked, "And who is this?"

"He's my younger brother." Shen Qichi waved to Su Ying. "A Ying, come here."

Su Ying hesitated for a moment, then walked over to Shen Qichi's side, but stayed half-hidden behind him.

"This is the father of the child I mentioned to you. Do you remember?"

Shen Qichi had mentioned it twice—once when explaining his need to save someone, and once when asking about the kingfisher spirit's child. Su Ying had some recollection, and now hearing Shen Qichi bring it up again, he gave Li Qiao a slight nod as a greeting.

"So this is Mr. Shen's younger brother. In all these years, this is the first time I've seen any of your family members. You went on this trip just to pick him up, didn't you?"

Shen Qichi nodded. "Something like that."

The two chatted for a while longer, then Li Qiao, needing to get to the fields, took his leave. After that, villagers passed by the yard one after another, greeting Shen Qichi warmly upon seeing his return. Shen Qichi took the opportunity to introduce Su Ying, and before long, everyone in the village knew that the reclusive Mr. Shen had a relative visiting—a handsome young man.

After washing the clothes, Shen Qichi heated some eggs on the stove. He peeled one, let it cool, and handed it to Su Ying. "Try it."

Su Ying had never eaten cooked food before. He took the egg, examined it in his hand, then looked up at Shen Qichi. "Is this also a rule of the human world?"

"Morning and evening meals, three meals a day—that's the foundation of mortal survival."

Su Ying lowered his head and swallowed the egg whole, his cheeks bulging for a moment before his throat moved. He looked up, finding no difference between cooked and raw eggs, and met Shen Qichi's smiling eyes.

"Did you taste anything?"

Su Ying tilted his head. "No taste."

Shen Qichi took out another peeled, cooled egg. "Bite it and chew slowly."

Su Ying did as told, and this time, he tasted something different, though he couldn't quite describe it.

"Alright, come with me to the fields."

Anmen Village was a sizable settlement in the Nanfu Mountain area, with neatly arranged houses, fertile fields, beautiful ponds, small bridges, and flowing streams. The villagers lived against the mountain, so most of the crops were on terraced fields. As they walked toward the farmland, the sounds of roosters crowing and dogs barking intertwined, occasionally interrupted by children reciting from books and women chatting and laughing.

Shen Qichi had changed into different attire—high boots, fitted sleeves, a curved knife at his waist, and a bamboo basket in his left hand. Su Ying followed beside him, watching his narrow, upright waist and sharp waistline, feeling the urge to coil around it. But in human form, he had to settle for hooking his arm around it instead.

Shen Qichi slapped his arm away. "Not when we're outside."

Su Ying was displeased. "Is this another rule of the human world?"

"This is my rule."

"It's not in the three rules."

"No, it isn't." Shen Qichi glanced at him sideways. "So, will you follow it or not?"

The mortal's gaze always carried a faint, elusive smile, the corners of his eyes slightly curved when he spoke. The small, light pink mole near his eye trembled with his smile, like a dewdrop on a peach blossom petal in a light rain. His lips also held a smile, his voice low, clear, and gentle, like spring night rain, reluctant to disturb a sleeping cub.

Su Ying's heart skipped a beat. He stopped in his tracks, covering his chest, a hint of confusion flashing across his face. The mortal walked a few steps ahead, then, sensing he hadn't followed, turned back. "A Ying, the paths here are tricky. Don't get lost."

He wouldn't. The mortal's scent was unique, still carrying the lingering odor from the friction during his heat. He wouldn't lose him.

Su Ying slowly lowered his hand and caught up, walking beside the mortal. The mortal glanced at him, then reached out his right hand to grasp Su Ying's left, saying nothing more as they walked on.

Su Ying looked down at their intertwined hands. The mortal's thumb pressed firmly into his tiger's mouth, holding tight, a steady warmth flowing from the mortal's palm, seeping into his cold blood. He curled his fingers, gripping back, and after a moment, still unsatisfied, he parted his fingers and wove them between the mortal's, until their palms were fully pressed together.

He was so focused on studying how their hands fit together that he didn't notice Shen Qichi glance at him, then tighten his grip, silently allowing the interlocking of fingers.

Su Ying shook their joined hands, finding he couldn't shake them loose—much like when he was in snake form, coiled around the mortal. Satisfied, he looked at the mortal, and a sudden, inexplicable impulse surged within him, forcing him to speak. "A Chi."

"Hmm?" Shen Qichi didn't turn back, walking slowly along the mountain stream that wound through the village, only pulling Su Ying closer, using his wide sleeve to conceal their tightly clasped hands.

Su Ying said nothing, but a strange joy welled up in his heart.

As they passed a stone bridge, two or three women were gathered below washing clothes. Spotting Shen Qichi from afar, they called out cheerfully. When he drew near, they said, "So this is Mr. Shen's younger brother? Everyone who passed by this morning said Mr. Shen's house had a handsome young man as handsome as Mr. Shen himself. We didn't believe it—how could there be anyone more handsome than Mr. Shen? But now we see, he's truly a top-notch beauty."

Before they approached, Shen Qichi had already pulled his hand free. Now, he drew Su Ying out from behind him. The latter was still displeased by the sudden withdrawal, his face showing it plainly. Shen Qichi said, "A Ying just arrived, so I'm taking him out for a stroll. He's reserved and not good with words, and a bit shy with strangers. Please don't mind him, aunties."

"A quiet one is good—men who talk less are steady and reliable. When they marry, they're good at managing a household." The woman smiled warmly at Su Ying. "How old are you this year? Are you married?"

Su Ying looked at Shen Qichi, confused.

"He's still young. Marriage isn't urgent," Shen Qichi said.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Shen Qichi excused himself, using the autumn harvest as an excuse, and they continued on their way.

Su Ying glanced back at the woman by the river and asked Shen Qichi, "What is marriage?"

"You'll understand in time," Shen Qichi said. "Look, we've reached the fields."

Su Ying followed his gaze and saw vast golden waves of grain rolling over the hillside, terraced fields layered in green and yellow, where irrigated and dry fields met. Amid the golden rice and wheat, emerald vegetable plots were interspersed. As the mountain breeze swept through, the leaves and grain ears rustled with a crisp, faint sound. The mountain ridges traced gray-blue lines against the azure sky, hiding the fluffy clouds. Gulls and herons flitted over the fields, unbothered by the working villagers.

"Let's go." Shen Qichi stepped forward, climbing the narrow path up the terraces. Su Ying looked away and followed behind him. Soon, they reached the edge of a central field.

"I only have one field in the village," Shen Qichi said, pinching a wheat head. "Half is planted with wheat, the other half with some vegetables and fruits—enough for the two of us." He had thought that, after months of not tending it, this year's wheat wouldn't be doing well, but to his surprise, the grains were plump and the stalks were sturdy.

Just then, a man popped his head and shoulders out from the wheat field above, shouting down, "Mr. Shen, you've been gone for months without a word, leaving your field unattended. We took the liberty of watering and fertilizing your plot along with ours. Ha, how does it look? Pretty good, right?"

Shen Qichi sincerely thanked him: "It looks excellent. I'm grateful to you folks."

"No need to thank us, Mr. Shen. You've helped the village so much; this little bit is nothing," the man said. "My boy, Stone, is a handful, but thanks to your patient teaching, he's actually made some progress in his studies. Oh, Mr. Shen, you don't know—while you were away these months, no one could rein him in. He started getting into trouble again, giving us a real headache."

Shen Qichi smiled. "Stone's lively and sharp. It's only natural for a child his age to be fond of play."

The man was delighted to hear this. "Only you, Mr. Shen, would say that about him."

Shen Qichi responded with a smile and was about to end the small talk when his sleeve was suddenly tugged. Turning back, he saw Su Ying staring at him expressionlessly. Shen Qichi offered an apologetic smile to the man above and, using the wheat for cover, led Su Ying into the field. "What's wrong?"

Su Ying leaned in, nuzzling his forehead against Shen Qichi's cheek.

He nuzzled for a long time without stopping, pressing his body closer. Shen Qichi's ears got hot as he pushed him away. "Let's get the wheat harvested first."

Su Ying thought for a moment and said, "We can come back tonight when nobody's around. I'll use magic to harvest it."

"At night, we're supposed to sleep," Shen Qichi said. "Besides, what did you just promise me? Have you forgotten?"

He hadn't forgotten: no using magic carelessly.

Su Ying's cheeks puffed out just barely, but he said no more.

Shen Qichi led him to the other half of the vegetable plot and gestured for him to raise his hands. He took out a cloth strip to tie up his sleeves. "Our wheat isn't much; we'll finish harvesting it today. Tomorrow, we'll take it to the threshing ground, and this year's farm work will be done."

Su Ying obediently held up his hands, staring at the tip of Shen Qichi's nose as he bent down. "And next year?"

"Next year will bring its own farm work." Shen Qichi handed him the vegetable basket. "I'll harvest the wheat. You pick whatever vegetables look good to you, and we'll take them home." He bent down, pulled up a cabbage from the ground, shook off the dirt from its roots, and placed it in the basket. "Like this. Be careful when pulling them up—don't cut your hands."

Su Ying nodded, picked up the basket, walked to the center of the vegetable plot, and bent down to carefully select.

Shen Qichi watched him for a while, then went to the wheat field, drew his blade, and bent to cut the wheat heads. Halfway through, a rustling sound came from the field's edge near the mountain. Stone's father parted the wheat ears, poking his head and shoulders out from the terrace above, and said to Shen Qichi, "Mr. Shen, your brother's not much of a farmer, is he?" He nodded toward the vegetable plot. Through the dense wheat, Shen Qichi could only see a tall figure moving back and forth in the field, sometimes crouching, sometimes standing.

"I can see it clearly from here," Stone's father said with a pained expression. "Your brother has trampled quite a few vegetables. Oh dear, those were all watered and fertilized by the villagers, drop by drop. In spring, the weeding, harrowing, and planting—you did it all yourself, Mr. Shen. These vegetables didn't grow easily; they shouldn't be wasted like this."

To his surprise, Shen Qichi didn't seem regretful. Instead, he let out a light laugh as if amused.

"It's fine. My brother comes from the north, where he's always lived a nomadic life, moving with the water and grass. He doesn't know much about farming."

"I see. No wonder his eyes don't look like those of someone from the Central Plains," Stone's father said, his attention shifting to Su Ying's origins. "But Mr. Shen, I've never heard you mention a brother from the north. Are you from the north too?"

Shen Qichi nodded. "Yes. We hadn't seen each other for years, and I missed him, so I brought him here to catch up."

Stone's father understood. "Brotherly bonds—toughest thing to let go of since ancient times. I have siblings too, so I get it. But no matter how deep the bond between brothers, you can't let him waste food."

Shen Qichi smiled in agreement. "I'll explain it to him."

Stone's father was about to say more when he saw Mr. Shen's brother approaching. Catching a glimpse of those unusual violet-gray eyes, he felt a chill in his heart, so he withdrew and went back to tending his own field.

The wheat ears closed again, separating the two terraces. A cool presence pressed close behind him. Shen Qichi turned to see Su Ying empty-handed. Pushing aside the wheat beside him, he spotted the vegetable basket abandoned alone on the ridge. It was full, but a single glance showed it was mixed with wild grass, wildflowers, and some radish leaves.

"Done picking?" he asked.

"Mm," Su Ying said, pursing his lips. He voluntarily confessed, "I used magic just now."

Shen Qichi wasn't angry, only asked, "Why?"

"There were bugs." The moment he saw them, he instinctively flicked them away.

As the lord of all creatures in this land, no bug had ever dared approach him before. The slow-moving vegetable bugs hadn't even had time to crawl out of the leaves and escape before being uprooted and sent flying.

Shen Qichi hadn't expected that a great demon like him would be afraid of bugs. Then he recalled that in his past life, when Su Ying followed him to live in the village, he must have worked in the fields but never showed any dislike for bugs. Or had he shown it, and Shen Qichi just brushed it off without paying attention?

He opened his mouth, momentarily at a loss for words. Su Ying, thinking he was displeased, hesitated for a few moments before saying, "I won't use it again from now on."

Shen Qichi snapped back to reality. "No, this is my oversight. From now on, you can make an exception for bugs."

"Really?"

"Why would I lie to you?"

Su Ying happily hugged him.

Shen Qichi patted his waist, his heart filled with indescribable emotion.