“What kind of restaurant is this?” Fu Qingzhou asked.
The innkeeper felt unfairly accused and said, “Sir, our restaurants are all like this. If you don’t want to order, you don’t have to, but why break our things?”
Fu Qingzhou’s face turned livid, and after holding back for a while, he muttered, “I’ve never heard of such a thing…”
He sighed and glared at Gu Yunkai and Lu Ran, who were the only ones in the hall, before finally sheathing his sword.
The innkeeper had never seen a customer who not only refused to pay for the meal but also damaged the establishment. However, Fu Qingzhou appeared to be a formidable and mysterious individual—someone not to be trifled with. So the innkeeper had no choice but to accept his misfortune.
Gu Yunkai felt unjustly judged by his own disciple’s disdain. Lu Ran, on the other hand, was unfazed by the incident happening at this side and just looked at Gu Yunkai. “Master.”
At that moment, a group of young men wearing the Floating Light Sect’s attire, white robes with blue stripes, entered the restaurant. They exuded a grand, sect-like atmosphere.
“Fellow disciple Fu, what’s going on here?”
The young man at the front, with his handsome features and distinctive appearance, was completely unfamiliar to Gu Yunkai .
Fu Qingzhou’s expression remained gloomy, and he uttered two words, “It’s fine.”
Gu Yunkai overheard their conversation and learned that a ruthless and bloodthirsty demon had been causing havoc in the human realm and had fled to this border area. The Floating Light Sect had sent their disciples here, primarily to eliminate the threat in the human realm and, secondly, as a trial for the new generation of disciples.
Lu Ran noticed that Gu Yunkai had been staring in Fu Qingzhou’s direction the whole time, and his expression looked quite unpleasant.
In fact, it had been like this since he was a child. Whenever Gu Yunkai glanced at Fu Qingzhou a few times, he would feel a sense of discomfort deep within. However, when he was a child, he naturally wouldn’t show it. But now, these emotions were even stronger, and he sensed that in his master’s heart, he was far more important than he had originally imagined.
On the other side, it seemed that Fu Qingzhou had sensed something. His gaze pierced through the crowd and landed on Gu Yunkai. He stared at him for quite some time before finally shifting his gaze away.
Gu Yunkai withdrew his gaze and seemed to have not noticed the displeasure on Lu Ran’s face. He said, “Since that’s the case, let’s stay here for the night.”
That night, the bright moon hung high in the sky.
Gu Yunkai had just prepared to go to sleep when he noticed something suspicious bulging in his blanket. It seemed to have sensed his presence, and the bulge in the blanket moved slightly.
“Meow…”
The suspicious bulge finally wiggled out of the blanket on its own. First, it revealed a furry little head with beautiful, deep black pupils reflecting Gu Yunkai’s image. The young white tiger made low, growling noises from its throat.
Ever since Lu Ran’s demonic bloodline awakened completely within his body a year ago, his strength and cultivation have improved significantly. Even the most powerful form of the ancient demonic race appeared.
Lu Ran’s adult white tiger form was fierce and imposing, but he somehow managed to turn himself into this cute and silly appearance. It had none of the ancient demonic aura.
Perhaps he knew that this would make Gu Yunkai like him more. The young white tiger version of Lu Ran extended one of his front paws to gently touch Gu Yunkai’s wrist. His tail swayed slowly, and his black pupils were like pure black crystals, making him look adorable and obedient.
Acting cute was quite shameful…
Gu Yunkai touched Lu Ran’s ear with his hand and then said mercilessly, “Go back to your room and sleep.”
The slightly cool sensation of his fingertips on Lu Ran’s ear caused a tingling feeling. The young white tiger’s ears twitched slightly, but its tail involuntarily curled as it tilted its head and gently rubbed Gu Yunkai’s palm.
Gu Yunkai sighed. He hadn’t said anything when he heard the young tiger’s throat emit a very soft, almost plaintive growl, as if it were coaxing and being affectionate.
In fact, this method had been used countless times, but he couldn’t resist Lu Ran’s current appearance, which was incredibly cute and adorable. Refusing would make him feel guilty for mistreating a little animal.
Gu Yunkai couldn’t imagine what expression Lu Ran would have in this situation. Ultimately, he smiled helplessly and said, “I have no choice…”
In response to his words, the young white tiger, lying down, shifted aside significantly, clearly indicating that it was making more room for Gu Yunkai.
As Gu Yunkai lay down, the young white tiger, which had originally been lying obediently on the other side, snuggled up again. It lifted its front paw and gently touched Gu Yunkai’s cheek, tilting its head slightly. Its dark pupils locked onto Gu Yunkai’s eyes.
Gu Yunkai lightly touched its ear tip and commanded, “Go to sleep.”
The young white tiger, in its juvenile form, lowered its head and nuzzled against Gu Yunkai’s fair neck before obediently lying down next to him.
*
Gu Yunkai and Lu Ran stayed in this place for a few days, and after eliminating the wicked demon in the Red Cloud City, they departed once again. They have traveled to many different locations. Lu Ran understands that his master’s intention is for him to let go of his bias and resentment towards the immortal sects and to comprehend the righteous path through their experiences.
The path of cultivation is arduous and seemingly endless, but Lu Ran feels that the love and hatred of the past thousand years are mostly related to his master. He doesn’t care much about others. As long as it’s something his master likes, he’s willing to do it.
On this day, the two of them arrived at a vast sea area. The sea stretched far and wide, and in the distance, the setting sun merged with the undulating waves, creating a seamless horizon. The sea breeze swept over them, bringing a salty and humid scent.
There was only a small fishing village by the sea, and the sparse population gave it a somewhat desolate appearance.
“The spiritual energy here is so abundant, yet it hasn’t been discovered by anyone. Perhaps it’s the burial place of ancient powerhouses, and they’ve set up a barrier here,” Gu Yunkai remarked as he gazed at the calm sea. He smiled, thinking about the places they had visited on their journey, where treasures and spiritual veins were abundant, almost as if they were everywhere.
As the protagonist, Lu Ran indeed had enviable good luck.
Lu Ran looked at Gu Yunkai’s profile and smiled as well. “Master, do you want to eat some fish?”
Gu Yunkai turned around and replied with a simple “Yes.” Just then, a wave crashed violently ashore. When the tide receded, it left behind many disoriented fish and shrimps, now flipping their tails frantically on the shallow shore.
Gu Yunkai hadn’t even spoken when they heard intermittent cries for help in the distance, quickly drowned out by the roaring waves.
In the distant sea, dark clouds covered the sky, and the rolling waves seemed like froth spewed by a sea monster, continuously crashing against the giant rocks along the coast.
“There are people.”
While Lu Ran was contemplating whether to cook the fish as a braised dish, a steamed dish, or a boiled one, Gu Yunkai leaped over the rolling waves with great speed, and his figure soon disappeared.
Lu Ran furrowed his brow and immediately followed suit.
Gu Yunkai pulled the person out of the water and placed them on the shallow shore. The young man coughed several times, expelling the water that had entered his throat and chest. He slowly opened his eyes to see a man leaning over him. Although his appearance was only moderately handsome, in that moment, he felt as though he was in the presence of a deity.
The young man was soaking wet, and he shivered from the damp cold that clung to his body.
After a long pause, the young man finally heard the voice of the man before him, which was as melodious as a clear spring: “Are you okay?”
The voice was so pleasant to the ear. After a few more coughs, the young man replied in a broken tone, “I’m… cough… fine.”
“Thank you…”
He slowly sat up and noticed another man beside him, a tall man with a stern and emotionless countenance. His presence exuded an imposing and cold aura.
The young man felt somewhat intimidated by the tall man but turned his gaze to the man sitting beside him. Despite the cold and distant expression, he didn’t inspire fear in the young man. In fact, there was an inexplicable desire to get closer to him.
“Thank you,” the young man said. “I was just trying to collect some fish and shrimp on the beach, but the waves were too strong, and I was swept away before I knew it.”
Feeling a bit embarrassed, he looked at the wet man next to him.
The young man thought for a moment, and then his eyes brightened. “My home is nearby. Would you like to come to my place, warm up by the fire, and change your clothes?”
Initially, Lu Ran was about to decline, but he saw Gu Yunkai tilt his head and smile. Gu Yunkai said, “Sure.”
The young man also smiled in response. He had a feeling that these two individuals had an extraordinary background. He hadn’t expected them to agree so readily, and it felt like a pleasant surprise.
*
By now, it was already evening. In the small fishing village, nearly every household had fishing nets in front of their doors. Several children and teenagers were playing games at the village entrance, and the smell of warm food wafted through the air, signaling the dinner preparations.
Lu Ran observed Gu Yunkai talking and laughing with the young man and felt his face darkening with an imminent downpour.
“What’s wrong?” Gu Yunkai turned to look at Lu Ran and asked.
Lu Ran watched his master in high spirits and replied in a low voice, “Nothing.”
“Could you two wait here for a moment? I’ll go and talk to my parents,” the young man asked.
Gu Yunkai nodded, “Sure.”
Not long after, a middle-aged man of shorter stature with a kind and honest appearance emerged from the door. He first expressed profuse gratitude to Gu Yunkai and Lu Ran and then very politely invited them into the house, showing extraordinary warmth.
“It’s getting late, and our fishing village doesn’t have any inns or hotels nearby. Would you two gentlemen consider staying here for the night? However, our home is quite humble, and I’m afraid you might find it lacking,” the man explained.
Lu Ran, accustomed to the harsh treatment and aggression, was taken aback when addressed as “gentlemen.” He found it quite refreshing.
Gu Yunkai smiled slightly and responded, “Not at all. In fact, we were just thinking about where to stay tonight.”
Inside the dimly lit wooden house, illuminated by a kerosene lamp, the faint scent of the sea mingled with the aroma of the hot food wafting in from the kitchen. Accompanied by the wind’s mournful howl outside, it created an unexpectedly heartwarming atmosphere.
Lu Ran’s previous frustration had somewhat dissipated. He turned to look at Gu Yunkai, who was sitting next to him, drinking water with his head down. In the dim light, half of Gu Yunkai’s face was hidden in the shadows, making his profile appear somewhat blurred. Despite having an ordinary appearance and not his true form, Lu Ran found himself feeling strangely moved, and a subtle sense of contentment began to spread within him.
Before long, the food arrived. Due to the arrival of the two guests, the hostess had prepared three additional dishes. There was a dish of fish slices cooked with pickled hot peppers and preserved sour vegetables, another with small golden-brown pan-fried fish, and a soup with creamy fish head and tofu. In addition to these, there were various side dishes like wild vegetables and shrimp.
While not extravagant, the meal was undoubtedly prepared with care.
After the meal, the young boy continued to engage Gu Yunkai in conversation, asking questions about what lay beyond the fishing village. Gu Yunkai answered his inquiries patiently, and the boy couldn’t help but admire him, his admiration evident in his eyes, impossible to conceal.
“Master, do you really like that kid?”
Lu Ran’s voice was filled with sourness, even more so than the pickled fish they had just eaten. Gu Yunkai nodded and said, “Yes, he’s quite adorable.”
Lu Ran sighed, “He’s so small, how can he be adorable?”
Gu Yunkai walked over to him and smiled, saying, “Just like you when you were a child.”
Lu Ran’s eyes immediately brightened as he looked at Gu Yunkai. Their eyes met, and for a moment, he couldn’t even breathe.
“Master…”
Gu Yunkai smiled and said, “Do you like it here? If you do, we can stay a few more days…”
But before he could finish his sentence, he was embraced by Lu Ran. Lu Ran closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them, trying to control the emotions surging in his chest. He whispered, “Master, I understand… but I don’t need all of that anymore. I only need you, and that’s enough for me. None of those things matter, really…”
He held Gu Yunkai for a while, and Gu Yunkai patted his back. “Lu Ran…”
Before Gu Yunkai could finish his sentence, he saw Lu Ran slowly shrinking into a silver-black striped young white tiger, falling straight down in front of him.
Gu Yunkai was momentarily stunned but quickly used his divine power to catch him and prevent the young white tiger from falling to the ground.
The young white tiger seemed confident that Gu Yunkai would catch him and showed no signs of panic. He skillfully reached out his front paw to touch Gu Yunkai’s hand and then used his tail to curl around Gu Yunkai’s wrist. With his head tilted, he looked at Gu Yunkai and made a soft purring sound from his throat.
I’m translating this while reading a silly sweet novel, so it’s bitter and then sweet; it’s bittersweet; i recommend this experience. Next is the Intersellar ABO world!!
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