Chapter Six: Mutual Longing

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Yu Huan lowered his gaze to the small wooden box that wasn’t very wet and remained silent.

The old man finished speaking, then sighed as he looked at Yu Huan’s dull expression. “Go back inside and change into some dry clothes quickly, or you might catch a cold.”

Yu Huan nodded and turned to head upstairs.

The old man stared at that somewhat familiar figure and eventually added, “That young man just now was from the Shen Mansion. If you want to live peacefully in the imperial city, it’s best to keep your distance from him.”

Shen Mansion? Yu Huan’s steps paused for a moment upon hearing this, then he strode briskly back to his room.

After changing into dry clothes and drying his hair, hearing the rain outside had lessened, Yu Huan thought to retrieve the items he had left behind in the street as soon as possible. He hurried downstairs, only to find that the things he wanted had already been moved back to the inn.

Yu Huan was puzzled. The old man, unusually stern-faced, said gravely, “It was someone from the Shen Mansion who brought them back.”

Yu Huan’s face remained expressionless as he frowned and went upstairs again. Whether it was because of Shen Xunqing’s behavior or the eerie tone of the old man at the inn, he couldn’t tell.

The Shen Prince’s Residence.

Shen Xunqing, hands clasped behind his back, silently entered with the black servant following behind. Bai Lian, who was squatting by the doorway, quickly stood up with a smiling face to greet them. Unintentionally, Bai Lian’s wagging fox tail flicked out again. “Master, where have you been?”

Shen Xunqing seemed not to hear and passed by Bai Lian. Bai Lian glanced curiously at the black servant, who, expressionless like Shen Xunqing, glanced briefly at the wagging joyous tail and quietly said, “Tail…”

Bai Lian was startled. “What did you say?”

The black servant repeated helplessly, “Your tail is showing. Hurry and hide it.”

“Oh? Oh.” Bai Lian blushed deeply and hurriedly tucked the tail back in.

The black servant looked silently at the little heavenly fox before him. The fox clan had always been gifted in cultivation, so how had such a peculiar little one appeared—especially royal fox lineage—was truly perplexing.

Ignoring the blushing Bai Lian, the black servant followed Shen Xunqing inside.

Inside the inner room, Shen Xunqing was searching through a bookshelf filled with books. His face was expressionless, but his hands moved swiftly, pulling out book after book and stacking them on the desk.

After a moment of contemplation, the black servant spoke, “Master, what are you doing?”

Shen Xunqing placed a few more books on the desk and sat down. The black servant leaned over and saw most of the books were about customs, scenic spots, and miscellaneous records of the imperial city. The black servant fell silent again. He had thought Shen Xunqing’s invitation to that person to go sightseeing was merely polite talk.

Then, the sudden appearance of the little master, the multiple reincarnations of the master, and the years of waiting and planning in the mortal realm—the soul-pursuing tassel now pointing to the little master’s aura—all these revealed a truth that made the black servant’s face darken sharply.

Since the Asura Hall gained a little master, and in such a short time, another lady is to be added? Moreover, that mortal in this life is a man—when did the master develop such a preference?

The scandal in the heavenly realm, the disdain and contempt from high cultivation so-called immortals and the leaders of the other four realms toward romantic relations between men were still vivid in his mind. The black servant’s eyes dimmed. He trusted the master’s choice; for such a fastidious master to be enamored, there must be something extraordinary about her. Given the master’s temperament, he would openly acknowledge the lady’s identity without any concealment.

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The master’s influence across the five realms was formidable; no one would dare object. If anyone dared to gossip behind his back, the master and the four monsters would simply wipe them out. In the cultivation world, might makes right—who dares to oppose?

Shen Xunqing propped his chin with one hand while flipping through the books with the other. “What are you dawdling for? Help me find some interesting places in this lousy spot!” Over these years, busy with Shen Mansion affairs and no news of the little Yama King, how could he have the leisure to stroll around this shabby place for fun?

Compared to the resplendent heavenly realm, the free and lively demon domain, and the distinctive underworld, this small imperial city was truly a lousy place.

A mere small imperial city in the human realm was hardly worth the ghost lord’s attention.

The black servant snapped back to reality, frowning at the lack of progress between the master and that person. He suggested, “Why not ask the local Earth God?”

Shen Xunqing looked coldly at the black servant. “Those little gods are the biggest gossips. If you ask them, are you trying to let those old ghosts know I’ve reincarnated into the mortal world?”

Now that Shen Xunqing was a mere mortal in this realm, he had no imposing aura. Yet the black servant felt sweat break out on his brow from that one glance. He silently picked up a book on the desk and started reading.

The room grew much quieter. Shen Xunqing browsed through descriptions of various places. The more he read, the deeper his frown became: the largest pleasure district of Yan Kingdom, the acrobatic troupes beyond the frontier, the world’s top restaurant…

After skimming a few books, Shen Xunqing lost interest. What a mess—mortal world is such a nuisance.

The black servant quietly turned the pages and paused on one. “Master, why not go somewhere with better scenery and more tranquility? That way, you and the lady can have some private time—surely there will be progress.”

Honestly, matters of emotion should be left to Chi to advise; he had the most experience and could surely help. As for himself, he seemed to have no affections. Yet a bright smiling face flashed through his mind…

The black servant’s heart suddenly turned bitter—Hua Shang...

At these words, Shen Xunqing looked up. “Tell me, where in this lousy place is there better scenery and some peace?”

The black servant handed over the page he had stopped at. Shen Xunqing read the bold characters aloud: “Drunken Sun Lake?” Beside the words was a painting of the lake, the sunset’s afterglow reflected on the water forming a seamless whole. Though not perfect, it was the best available.

The black servant continued, “The lake’s surface is vast, and there’s an island in the middle…”

“An island in the lake?” Shen Xunqing raised an eyebrow, lightly tapping the desk. “That’s it.”

Shen Xunqing glanced around and noticed Bai Lian’s white tail poking out. He sighed and rubbed his forehead. “Xiao Bai, come out!”

Hearing his master’s voice, Bai Lian trembled and stepped out with quick little feet, blushing as he stammered, “Master, I-I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I just wanted to help.”

Shen Xunqing smiled faintly, eyes narrowed. “What can you do to help? Tell me.” Bai Lian’s human form looked about eleven or twelve, but was even frailer than children that age—delicately carved like jade. If dressed up in girls’ clothes, no one would guess he was a boy.

Bai Lian nervously clenched his sleeves and stuttered, “Whatever you say, I…I can do it.”

“Oh? Really?” Shen Xunqing’s eyes glinted with amusement as he coaxed, “Xiao Bai, is that true?”

Bai Lian bit his lip, “A gentleman’s word is his bond.”

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“Then dress up as a girl for me to see.” Shen Xunqing propped his chin on his hands.

Bai Lian’s face flushed even deeper; his eyes reddened. The fox clan forbade boys from wearing girls’ clothes, but he had promised his master. After hesitating, he nodded and looked up at Shen Xunqing’s teasing gaze.

Bai Lian retreated a little and ran off.

Shen Xunqing chuckled softly. How did such a simpleton emerge from the clever heavenly fox clan? His mood lightened as he looked out at the now clear sky, azure and spotless. He stood and said, “Slave, tomorrow will be a fine day.”

The black servant responded, “Yes,” and withdrew. Weather in the mortal realm was usually controlled by those from the heavenly realm. If needed, they could summon thunder, lightning, wind, or rain, then rest for a few days.

The next day, just as Shen Xunqing hoped, the sky was clear and bright.

Dressed in what he considered his finest white robes and adorned with a prized jade hairpin, Shen Xunqing was about to leave when he saw several eunuchs in official attire carrying a sedan chair approaching. In the blink of an eye, they arrived before him.

The lead eunuch, with a face covered in wrinkles but smiling like a chrysanthemum, spoke in a sharp voice. Shen Xunqing’s expression instantly soured. “Oh, Prince Shen, you’ve come at just the right time! Hurry and change into your court robes! The emperor and all the civil and military officials are waiting!”

Shen Xunqing forced a smile, cold beneath, and said, “Eunuchs, wait here a moment. Xunqing will change and come out shortly.”

He turned and entered the mansion, followed by the black servant. The black servant swore he could see black mist constantly swirling around the master. Though the time was nearly ripe, why was it stuck at this crucial moment? What would become of the lady?

Rarely foregoing the use of a puppet, Shen Xunqing donned a pale purple court robe and boarded the sedan chair outside the mansion. He lifted the curtain and said to the black servant, “Wait at the mansion.” His tone was chillingly grim to the black servant’s ears.

The black servant swallowed silently and replied, “Yes.”

Meanwhile, at the old man’s inn, Yu Huan—uncertain why—felt a flicker of hope despite suspecting the young man’s words were just an excuse. He gazed out at the boundless blue sky, leaning by the window and watching the passersby below.

Around noon, Yu Huan closed the window and sighed softly. It was just an excuse after all. He had waited so many hours; it was too late to set up his stall now. On the wooden table in his room, he spread out paper and took up a brush.

A gentle dot, then a slow stroke—the outline gradually emerged. Moments passed by as a handsome young man in white robes took shape on the paper. It was none other than the Shen family young master who had sheltered him from the rain yesterday.

Yu Huan smiled helplessly, gently laid down the brush, and stepped outside.

The wind softly stirred the paper on the table. The Shen family young master on the page smiled gently, eyes full of warmth, truly embodying the saying:

“A stranger on the path, as refined as jade; a peerless young gentleman.”