FI CH102: Extra

The spectator stood silent for just a moment before it was as if a tidal wave had been unleashed.

“Is that… President Lin!?”

“The only one Vice President Yan would give up his seat for has to be ‘that one’! The all-S-rank master—”

“He actually came!”

“I’m seeing the legendary master, ahhh! He looks so young, but his presence is just different. President He came with him too…”

“The prestige of this year’s competition is off the charts!!”

…

The roar of discussion nearly overwhelmed the entire open-air venue.

On the main platform, Lin Su nodded. “Everyone, please be seated.”

Yan Guanyue greeted He Zhenling before he and Yin Lin took their seats to the side.

Lin Su lightly flicked the hem of his robes and sat in the center.

He Zhenling and Bai Jiang sat on his left and right. Lin Su looked up; his position was at the very center of the entire competition grounds, with the Alliance’s banner hanging high behind him.

Indeed, no one was more suited to sit here than him.

In the enthusiastic pre-competition area, the trainees’ eyes were also shining with pride.

“The president is personally overseeing this!”

“Yeah, I thought he was just making an undercover visit to take a look…”

The surrounding contestants were completely stunned.

“The person who just came over was President Lin!?”

“The historical distance between me and the master was less than ten meters!”

“Ahhh! I actually got to listen to President Lin’s lecture, if I hadn’t been interrupted just now—”

As soon as the words were spoken, everyone remembered Hu Xutong.

All eyes in the vicinity turned towards him in unison.

From the moment Lin Su had walked onto the stage, Hu Xutong’s brain had completely shut down. Now, under everyone’s gaze, his face was beet red. He couldn’t leave, so he could only sit there with his head buried.

“Well… so impatient, this young man…”

“‘Didn’t get into headquarters, is it because you don’t want to?’ ‘Yes.’ It-it was really him…”

“‘You’re nothing special either,’ I have to admire his courage.”

Amidst the chorus of comments that were like flogging a dead horse, Yi Shui merely glanced at him before looking away. She recalled scenes from the past and shook her head gently.

“It’s been seven years. Some things have changed, but some things still haven’t.”

The trainee next to her looked up. “Senior Sister, what are you talking about?”

Yi Shui’s gaze fell on the figure in the center of the main platform, and the corners of her mouth curved slightly. “Nothing.”

…

The commotion throughout the venue gradually subsided after the opening music ended.

After Bai Jiang gave the opening speech, the competition began.

Teams of contestants entered the field in an orderly fashion, and there were dedicated judges to adjudicate the matches. The three of them only needed to observe and ensure the fairness of the judging.

Lin Su watched from the main platform for a while, gratified. “The younger generation is truly formidable. Each generation is more impressive than the last.”

A voice from his side said, “With Teacher overseeing things, the celestial master world will naturally get better and better~”

Lin Su turned his head to see Bai Jiang’s determined profile, his features steady and composed, possessing more of a clan leader’s air than years ago. “Xiao Bai, you’ve also matured.”

Bai Jiang couldn’t hold back a brilliant smile. “Teacher, I… ^▽^”

Lin Su said nostalgically, “I remember back then, I watched your father, your grandfather, and your great-grandfather grow up just like this.”

Bai Jiang, “…”

He Zhenling let out an unsubtle laugh. “Heh…”

Bai Jiang turned his head gloomily. “I grew up under Teacher’s watch. Does President He have a problem with that?”

“No problem. He also grew up under my watch…”

“▼口▼#…Huh?”

Lin Su quickly pressed down on He Zhenling’s arm, shyly saying, “Hey, alright, alright, don’t say things that sound so perverted when we’re outside.”

The topic was stopped, but the sniping from his left and right had not ended.

Sitting in the middle, Lin Su observed the competition while cheerfully speaking in his mind: Nima, after so many years, they still have endless things to say when father and son meet.

Xuenima nested comfortably: [Perhaps.]

The first round of the competition lasted for four hours.

The entire process was mostly smooth, and Bai Jiang even jotted down the names of several promising contestants.

Except for a small explosion that occurred midway—

It was said that a contestant’s operational error had detonated a thunder-fire talisman, but thankfully, it was quickly brought under control.

As the familiar figure was led away, Lin Su glanced over. He Zhenling noticed. “What’s wrong?”

Lin Su sighed. “This consecrated mouth of mine.”

Xuenima chimed in: [Lin Guang (Lin the Light).]

He Zhenling, “?”

“Nothing. Just a small incident. All smoke, no injuries.”

After the first match ended, the spectators were still looking on, reluctant to leave.

But the figures on the main platform had already returned backstage.

The New Tianshi Selection has always prohibited filming.

The backstage surveillance footage would also be collected by the Alliance in the end. Bai Jiang, with his hands in his sleeves, said steadily, “Don’t worry, Teacher’s information will remain confidential to the public.”

Lin Su nodded. “Thoughtful of you, Xiao Bai.”

As they were talking, the lights in the corridor suddenly flickered with a “crackle.”

Turning their heads, they saw a tall figure appear at the entrance of the hallway. Long hair was tied back, and sleeve robes trailed on the floor. What should have been a somewhat frightening scene made the group fall silent for several seconds.

—The Ghost King had just appeared so brazenly in a venue filled with celestial masters.

Yan Guanyue was taken aback. “Why did you come up?”

The Ghost King shot him a resentful glare. “It has been three minutes past our appointed time. I was waiting impatiently.”

“…Alright, the President and the others are still here.”

Only then did the Ghost King notice the other two. “My two officials, long time no see.” After speaking, he turned back to Yan Guanyue. “No matter, the Supervision Official will understand.”

Lin Su, “…”

He Zhenling, “…”

A gaze as tangible as a physical object fell upon the Ghost King.

Yan Guanyue stopped the bold Ghost King and said as calmly as possible, “Apologies, President. I had a prior appointment with him.”

Lin Su waved his hand. “It’s fine, you can get off work.”

The Ghost King, having been buried for several hundred years, knew no shame. Hearing this, he nodded. “Many thanks, because we agreed to do the ‘hole’ every day…”

“Activity—” Yan Guanyue swiftly cut him off, a blush rising on his face behind his lenses. He grabbed the Ghost King’s sleeve and pushed up his glasses. “…To exercise and be active every day.”

He Zhenling, with his sharp senses, tilted his head. “?”

Then he frowned slightly, said nothing, and his deep gaze shifted to Lin Su.

Lin Su had not yet noticed his gaze.

He was talking to Xuenima in his mind. Xuenima praised: [The Ghost King must have won over Guanyue with his shamelessness back then.]

Lin Su agreed: Just like how He Zhenling won me over.

Xuenima: [?]

A short “Ha!” erupted in his consciousness.

…

Once the competition ended, everyone went their separate ways.

By the time they got home, the city lights were just beginning to glow.

The night view was reflected in the floor-to-ceiling windows. Lin Su curled up on the sofa. “There are more and more outstanding juniors.”

He Zhenling went over and drew the curtains. “Mm.”

“Guanyue and Yin Lin have also become more and more independent.”

“Mm.”

Lin Su paused, turning his head and narrowing his eyes. Ever since they left the venue, He Zhenling had been unusually quiet. He said with deep meaning, “…So what you gave me to live in was Howl’s Moving Heart-Chamber.”

The person was back, but the heart was still drifting outside.

A soft laugh seemed to come from the window.

Then He Zhenling turned around, walked over, and gave him a kiss on the lips, licking past their seam. “…What nonsense are you talking about.”

Lin Su’s face grew hot as he touched his chest. “Alright, I missed when I touched just now. Then what were you spacing out about?”

“I was just thinking about our wedding night.”

“What was so special about that day?”

Before He Zhenling could answer, Lin Su recalled. “Ah, it was especially bright that day.” He lowered his eyes. “After all, the sun was already high in the sky.”

“…” He Zhenling’s gaze deepened. “Are you flirting with me?”

Lin Su said seriously, “What were you thinking about?”

A large hand lifted the hem of his shirt and pressed near his navel. He Zhenling looked directly at him. “Here.”

Lin Su, “?”

He held his breath as his body slowly grew hot. Their gazes met, and then a kiss landed by his ear. “Want to?”

“Didn’t we just do it yesterday…”

“Is today not allowed?”

After just two seconds of hesitation, Lin Su hooked his arms around He Zhenling’s neck. A passionate kiss pressed down, stealing his breath, patiently sealing his lips and bit by bit, igniting a scorching fire.

A pile of fresh snow lay on the floor by the sofa.

Lin Su pulled back slightly, remembering. “…Shower.”

He Zhenling paused for a moment, then scooped him up, carrying him and kissing him without interruption towards the bathroom. “Alright.”

…

Steam fogged up the glass door, and the sound of rushing water was muffled from behind it. The floor outside the tub was soaked.

After the long sound of water stopped, the trail continued all the way to the bedroom.

The bed beneath him was large and soft, almost making one sink into it, unable to find a point of support to push up from. He could only hang onto the shoulders and back in front of him, letting the waves of heat wash over.

The silver hoop on his earlobe was brushed past, sending a paralyzing tingle through his entire body as if he were electrocuted.

The canopy above swayed in his blurry vision. Just as Lin Su tightened his grip on the arm beside him, he heard He Zhenling whisper, “…The seven-year itch. Should we also have a ‘marital change’?”

He was dazed. “Hmm?”

He Zhenling’s deep-set eyes were damp, making the ink-black of his pupils seem to bleed. His gaze was fixed on him, as if holding a bright flame. “From three times, to every day.”

“…?”

Lin Su regained some clarity. “No…” His words were quickly muffled, becoming fragmented. A current of electricity shot through his scalp, almost robbing him of his senses.

He Zhenling kissed him, then sat up. “You can’t do it?”

Lin Su’s head shot up to look at him.

His vision was still blurry, but the person before him was deliberately unhurried. His fingertips dug in, and he blinked away a drop of moisture. “H-How is that possible? I was afraid you’d be exhausted…”

“You worry too much.”

He Zhenling seemed to curve his lips, leaning down to kiss him. “Then it’s settled.”

“…” A muffled “mm” came from between his lips.

The next day, bright light fell into the room.

Stripes of light and shadow moved from the floor into the canopy. The person sitting on the edge of the bed had just pulled down his shirt when he turned his head sharply. “You’re awake?”

Lin Su nearly fell back when he tried to sit up.

He took a breath, steadied himself, and calmly emerged from the covers, pursing his lips as he stared at the bewitching face. “Didn’t I say… no electricity in the bathtub.”

He Zhenling admitted his mistake. “I won’t today.”

“…”

The sudden change of date brought Lin Su’s thoughts back.

He tried to bluff his way out. “Yesterday, that was…”

He Zhenling looked at him. “You wouldn’t wake up, realize you still can’t do it, and go back on your word…” He said, taking Lin Su’s hand and touching his lips to it. “Would you, my wise President Kunkun?”

Lin Su: .

He said, as gentle as water, “…How could I.”

He Zhenling smiled. “That’s good then.”

What was done was done. Lin Su simply adopted a calm mindset and curled himself up at the edge of the bed. He Zhenling got up and pushed open the window, letting in bright light mixed with the chirping of birds from outside.

It made him think of the day after their grand wedding too.

Lin Su sighed, looking at He Zhenling with pointed meaning. “I never thought we would have this kind of ‘marital change.’”

He Zhenling walked back, smoothing down his clever hair. “Is this not good?”

Lin Su tilted his head back contentedly. “…Forget it, it’s not so bad.”

Sunlight fell between his fingers onto his brow.

Seven years have passed, or perhaps countless seven years. Some things have changed, but some things will never change.

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