UCTOOT CH102

“You’re walking me?”

“I’m worried. I’ll walk you a little further.”

The guard had to remind him: “My Lord, it’s dangerous ahead!”

Xie Wuchi: “I know. You don’t need to follow me. Wait here.”

Despite their repeated attempts to dissuade him, Xie Wuchi took Shi Shu’s bundle and said, “Let’s go.”

Shi Shu: “Then just ten more minutes. I was a little guilty just entering; maybe I’ll be fine after walking for a few minutes.”

Shi Shu looked left and right. A stream flowed before them, and an abandoned bridge spanned the river. Wild grass grew as tall as a person; the path was desolate. This was likely the route people used for smuggling. Shi Shu walked toward the bridge, and Xie Wuchi went with him.

The ropes on the wall were worn. Creak. Shi Shu stepped on it and it swayed, making him go “Eh?” Only Xie Wuchi was beside him. In a daze, Shi Shu suddenly remembered the countless times he had walked on the road in the past, Xie Wuchi leading a donkey behind him. Shi Shu would run back and forth in the mountains, stopping to drink water whenever he saw a stream, the sunlight white and warm.

Shi Shu’s brows were clean and his eyes bright: “Xie Wuchi, don’t you think this is like when I accompanied you on the road to Shukang Prefecture to manage the plague qi?”

Xie Wuchi: “It is.”

Shi Shu was happy. Looking back, the numerous guards at the head of the road looked worriedly at Xie Wuchi. He was stunned again, then looking at their reflections in the river, he actually felt a sense of roles reversed and times changed.

Shi Shu jumped off the bridge: “Xie Wuchi, you should go back when we reach the front. Even if you walk me a thousand miles, we must part eventually. Sooner or later I have to walk this road myself. You also have a lot of official duties to handle; it wouldn’t be good to delay.”

Xie Wuchi: “If it’s delayed, then it’s delayed.”

“Hehe, so generous.” Shi Shu stepped onto the land of Northern Min. In a lush forest, occasionally women, children, and other pedestrians walked past, pushing carts or carrying hoes.

Shi Shu had entered the border once at Baijia Village, but that was as a soldier. Now he was a commoner. As long as he kept a low profile and acted a bit muddled, he might not attract attention. Shi Shu walked on the road, looking around curiously, when he suddenly heard the sound of horse hooves. A patrol squad was coming from the end of the road.

“…”

Shi Shu’s back tensed up instantly. He and Xie Wuchi retreated to the side of the road. The generals of this squad rode large horses and wore long swords at their waists, while Shi Shu and Xie Wuchi, to avoid suspicion, only had their clothes and were almost unarmed.

The carriages and horses got closer and closer. Shi Shu sensed the gaze observing them from above, staring unblinkingly. However, the other party was probably in a hurry for something, urged the horses on, asked nothing, and quickly disappeared at the end of the road.

Shi Shu breathed a sigh of relief: “Scared me.”

Xie Wuchi said: “This small path is remote. Young men appearing here easily arouse suspicion. Once we get to the main road ahead, there will be more pedestrians, and it will be better.”

Shi Shu: “Then while they’re just gone, why don’t you go back?”

Xie Wuchi: “I’ll walk you to the main road, then go back.”

“Aiya.” Shi Shu turned around and continued along the small path. The mountains, rivers, and trees were exactly the same. Approaching August, he could occasionally see the rice fields of the Min area commoners. From time to time, old men and women stood on the ridges, clearing ditches or working.

These people mostly had mixed-blood faces, some pure Min faces, and some Jing faces. In short, they were all ordinary-looking. Shi Shu was also wearing very plain clothes, trying not to attract attention.

After walking a while longer, the intersection leading to the main road appeared before them. There was also a checkpoint, where several Min soldiers were sitting and fanning themselves. There were indeed many more people on the main road, but when Shi Shu and Xie Wuchi approached, they were noticed as unfamiliar faces.

“Where are you from?” the other party questioned.

Shi Shu said: “We lowly ones are servants of Master Xu, a Juren from Ning County. Because it’s Master’s eightieth birthday, he sent us to Yuan County to deliver an invitation to Master Chishan.”

Several Min soldiers checked against each other and said: “Let’s see the invitation.”

Shi Shu presented the forged invitation. The men inspected it; they were probably rough people and couldn’t read it very well. Having nothing to say, they said: “Go.”

After speaking, the men sat back under the shed, lifting their clothes to cool off, discussing not far away: “Yunzhou lost?” “It’s said they are withdrawing troops. Those stragglers, don’t know when they’ll retreat to our side.” “Sigh.”

Shi Shu listened to a couple of sentences. The man looked at him, so he hurriedly walked forward. Only when he was out of their sight did Shi Shu suddenly breathe a sigh of relief, feeling his back tight and legs weak.

The psychological pressure of this matter was truly not small!

Reaching the woods, Shi Shu stopped: “Go back, Xie Wuchi. I can walk by myself. If you don’t go back now, your dangerous journey will be long.”

Xie Wuchi still followed behind him and hadn’t spoken the whole time, observing Shi Shu’s ability to adapt. So far, he couldn’t pick out any faults; Shi Shu had also performed bravely. He raised an eyebrow slightly.

In the forest that blotted out the sky and sun, pines and cypresses were ever-green. Owl calls occasionally rose from the mountains. A few strands of cool wind blew through the forest, brushing up strands of black hair. Xie Wuchi’s Adam’s apple rolled once. His black eyes looked at him; standing in the forest, he didn’t seem to want to leave.

Shi Shu smiled and said: “Xie Wuchi, don’t worry! I’ll eat when hungry, drink when thirsty, run when in danger, sleep soundly when tired, and I’ve learned to lie. You can return with peace of mind. I’ll reach the foot of Mount Meng very soon. And if you don’t go back now, it will be inconvenient.”

After a long while, Xie Wuchi finally spoke: “Shi Shu, I don’t want to go back.”

Shi Shu was stunned: “Huh?”

“I want to walk with you as long as possible.”

A warm current surged in Shi Shu’s heart. He raised his eyes, actually somewhat surprised, and said: “But, Xie Wuchi, you are now the commander-in-chief of the Northern Army. At such a critical moment, shouldn’t you consider the big picture?”

Xie Wuchi: “Are you considering my big picture?”

Shi Shu’s heart seemed to be hit by something. He turned his face away: “Only you have the ability to create a better country. Although your motives may be impure, simply enjoying the game of manipulating power, your results are always just. Haven’t you been working painstakingly day and night for these past few years? You can’t just run around with me before becoming emperor, and we both end up dying together, right?”

Shi Shu looked at him grinning, his tone frivolous.

But speaking of this, the dagger tied to Shi Shu’s thigh felt very uncomfortable, maybe too tight.

Shi Shu knew what the demon in his heart was. He turned his face away. Under the scorching sun, having walked for a while, he sat on a clean rock to drink water. Sunlight shone on his fair face. For some reason, he didn’t look up at him.

After finishing, Shi Shu handed the water flask to Xie Wuchi: “You drink.”

Xie Wuchi took it: “Shi Shu, you really want to facilitate this plan? Divide the enemy internally, end the war as soon as possible with fewer casualties, achieve unification, and finally have peace and prosperity for the country?”

Shi Shu: “Yeah. I helped Lin Yangchun practice medicine in Yunzhou. There were too many corpses, countless. I have nightmares every night, dreaming of gunfire and war ashes… I don’t like fighting wars…”

Xie Wuchi drank water and screwed the cap on tight. Shi Shu reached out to take it and put it in the bundle, touching his hand. The temperature of his hand was high: “This is your wish. People persist for their beliefs, and can harvest happiness and joy on the way.”

Shi Shu turned to look at the grassy forest. A main road rose and fell between the mountains, disappearing to the other side. On this strange land within enemy territory, there were only two small figures, his and Xie Wuchi’s.

Xie Wuchi’s voice came with the wind: “So, Shi Shu, besides for me.”

“—I hope you can also pursue your own invincibility.”

Shi Shu’s fingers suddenly tightened. His back lost its warmth in the wind. His Adam’s apple rolled, and his brown eyes looked over: “Xie Wuchi.”

“Since you chose this path, I want to accompany you a while longer.”

Amidst the mountains, the pine wind echoed. Shi Shu’s hand gripping the water flask went numb, his heart beating at a strange frequency. When he first met Xie Wuchi, he almost lived only for his own interests; no one else could enter his eyes.

After sitting down, the poking sensation of the dagger on his leg became stronger. Shi Shu slowly stood up: “I…”

An indescribable frustration washed over him: “I’m really bad.”

Xie Wuchi, however, didn’t know if he heard this sentence; his back was already moving forward: “Let’s go. Although you passed during the day, the night has its own risks. I’ll walk you a bit further.”

The Min area was also in the sweltering heat of summer. Approaching evening, there were more people on the road. Occasionally passing some villages, seeing many people living there, all speaking the Han language and adopting Han habits.

These prefectures had been occupied for more than twenty years, but most were originally Jing people. Although Min intentionally moved in their own people, the presence of Jing people was still significant.

“They rarely slaughter Jing gentry who are influential in the hearts of the people, as it easily incites rebellion. Instead, they generally adopt a cooperative attitude, uniting with these Jing gentry to rule the lower-class Jing commoners.”

Walking on the main road, willows swayed gently. Occasionally, they could see white walls and gray tiles, building eaves, tall and magnificent manors. In the large patches of gray-brown fields, sallow and emaciated slaves were farming.

Shi Shu followed closely. The sky gradually darkened. He asked: “Should we find a place to rest?”

“Mn. There’s a town not far away, quite comfortable, but places with high control require real-name registration, easily leaving clues and traces. It’s also hard to escape if we suddenly encounter danger.” Xie Wuchi’s gaze swept over the patches of fields, mountain villages, and scattered strongholds. “Staying with villagers isn’t realistic. The border area is geographically sensitive; villagers could easily be accused of treason for communicating with the enemy, so they won’t take us in. We’ll find another place to rest.”

Shi Shu had walked all day, wiping sweat from his forehead, truly exhausted. Xie Wuchi stepped on the messy grass and disorderly stones on the ground, traveling through the wilderness.

Unknown how much later, Shi Shu noticed small piles of mound graves in his line of sight and said: “Xie Wuchi, we’ve walked into a graveyard again. Every time we can accurately find a graveyard!”

Xie Wuchi: “Graveyards are good. Few people dare to come to graveyards at night; on the contrary, it’s safer. When you walk alone later, you can sleep on the spot if you encounter a graveyard.”

“…”

Shi Shu: “Then are we sleeping here tonight?”

Shi Shu maneuvered around the messy potholes, terrified of stepping on someone’s head, saying “sorry, sorry” several times, shuttling between graves with Xie Wuchi.

Xie Wuchi’s clothes occasionally brushed against the thick thatch on the graves, his steps steady and calm, until a dilapidated little City God Temple appeared before his eyes. He walked in. There was a table, the god’s body mottled and worn away. The stone slab under the pedestal was clean after sweeping. He sat down: “We can rest here tonight.”

The sun set in the west, and terrifying darkness quickly swallowed this deep night. Shi Shu said: “Okay.”

They had to walk a distance to find a well by the stream. Shi Shu filled the water flask and found a simple container. While getting water, a patrol squad quickly ran past on the main road not far away.

Xie Wuchi stood behind him and said softly: “Don’t rush at night in the future. It’s easier to be suspected if discovered. Find a place to sleep properly at night.”

“Mm-hmm.”

After putting the water inside the door, neither went out again. Shi Shu sat under the Buddhist platform and opened the bundle. He brought dry rations and bought steamed buns on the way. In the dim night, he ate the rough meal with Xie Wuchi. After enjoying good fortune with Xie Wuchi for so long, eating steamed buns again tasted just as sweet.

Pale blue moonlight shone through the window lattice into the room. Shi Shu looked up and saw the god statue covered in spiderwebs, its face ferocious and worn, staring at people. It felt creepy.

“Xie Wuchi…”

Shi Shu looked up. Xie Wuchi unbuttoned his clothes and threw his outer garment into the wooden basin to wash, his muscular and powerful upper body bare. Conditions on the road were crude. Shi Shu suddenly realized he hadn’t seen him in this shirtless, wild state for a long time.

Shi Shu took out a handkerchief from the bundle and handed it to him: “Take a wash.”

Xie Wuchi reached out to take it. Shi Shu saw his hand illuminated by moonlight, veins floating on the thin but strong large hand. The fingers were slender, joints distinct, seemingly able to easily hold a knife handle or stroke human skin, inciting lust.

“…” Shi Shu rummaged in the bundle again and found a pair of shorts with strings. “Xie Wuchi, this pair is loose and the waistband has elastic, more suitable for you. It’s hot now; wash the clothes and pants, wring them dry, and they’ll be dry in a few hours.”

“You have more?”

Shi Shu: “Yes, I brought several pairs of underpants.”

Xie Wuchi then used the handkerchief to scoop up water, wiping away the sweat from walking all day. Shi Shu also took the opportunity to wash up. Logically, he had known Xie Wuchi for a long time, and seeing him bathe was commonplace; they even had more intimate contact. But to this day, Shi Shu still didn’t dare look sideways; one more glance and his eyelids would burn.

Shi Shu took off his clothes and also untied the dagger, throwing it aside.

While Shi Shu was debating “look” or “don’t look,” “would looking be impolite” versus “but isn’t he my boyfriend if I look?”, a shadow fell on his shoulder. Xie Wuchi held the wet handkerchief in his palm, wiping Shi Shu’s back under the moonlight.

Cold water flowed over the tender flesh that had just healed, bringing a tingling itch. But the fingers wrapped in the water film were rough and hot like a fire stick. Xie Wuchi broke the ice first. Only then did Shi Shu look at him naturally and find something to say: “Was the pace today normal? Should I speed up tomorrow? Just so I know.”

Xie Wuchi said: “Want to do it?”

“…”

Although Shi Shu had anticipated it, Xie Wuchi really started with zero frames. Shi Shu had a vague expectation in his heart. Before he nodded, he was pulled into an embrace by a strong, trained arm.

Shi Shu looked up. Breath descended. Xie Wuchi licked and kissed him directly, one hand pinching his jaw, fingers inserting inside, like prying open a shell to taste the soft sweet meat within, swift and fervent.

Shi Shu held him, glancing out the door, directly facing a wild grave. Looking up, it was the god statue again. He had to lower his gaze back to the present, gripping his shoulders with both hands, breathing trembling.

Shi Shu initially didn’t like the smell of men, but at this moment, smelling Xie Wuchi’s scent, he felt his existence, his desire, and his thirst. Xie Wuchi’s hand held Shi Shu’s cheek, licking and kissing into his mouth, throat rolling up and down, finger pads rubbing with restraint.

That touch seemed to be measuring his possession, his beloved treasure. Seeing those hands again, Shi Shu thought, Xie Wuchi’s hands are really too erotic.

Shi Shu was pulled into his arms, bodies tightly pressed together. Xie Wuchi’s hands stroked from his shoulders and back to below his lumbar dimples, ravaging and kneading that fair, firm soft flesh, pinching red marks.

Shi Shu was kissed breathless. The young man’s fair, handsome face had eyes closed, brows slightly furrowed. He also hugged Xie Wuchi’s dripping neck, throwing himself into this sudden storm of lust.

Shi Shu’s knees went weak and trembled, but his fulcrum was in Xie Wuchi’s arms. Shi Shu hugged his shoulders, palms stroking the rising scapula on his back, the spinous process on his neck under thick hair, feeling the man’s rough, wild animal instinct tide.

Shi Shu’s legs were brought together. His face was terribly red. In the mess, he suddenly buried his head in Xie Wuchi’s shoulder, simultaneously opening his mouth unyieldingly, sharp little canine teeth biting onto his shoulder.

Shi Shu scratched him hard several times. When Xie Wuchi sobered from the madness of the rush, clarity returning to his pupils, he leaned in to kiss Shi Shu’s earlobe again.

Shi Shu couldn’t describe the feeling at this moment. Slender fingers clung to Xie Wuchi’s shoulders. Light and dark, everything he leaned on was scalding hot. Also male, the Xie Wuchi before him was like a shockingly wild hawk or beast in the forest. Shi Shu stroked his breathing neck, the skin below the collarbone, every inch radiating health, vigor, and abundant energy.

Shi Shu reached out to touch him instinctively, relieving the thirst of the skin, while raising his chin to lick with Xie Wuchi, tongues sucking and entwining. A very sticky, warm, moist touch, but Shi Shu liked it very much, panting unconsciously.

Shi Shu lowered his head, hiding his face in his shoulder: “We, we two right now… seem to be acting in an outdoor… that kind of movie…”

Xie Wuchi: “This only counts as foreplay. There are still forty minutes.”

Shi Shu: “Do you think you’re a fire stick?”

Silence in the darkness. Moonlight moved from the ground to the roof beam, illuminating the patterns carved on the mud wall. The writing was mottled, patterns faded; only some outlines and colors could be glimpsed.

Two overlapping shadows were elongated, cast on the ground. Shi Shu sat face-to-face in Xie Wuchi’s lap, a thin quilt simply spread beneath them. Xie Wuchi bent his waist slightly, holding Shi Shu’s entire body in his arms.

Under the light and shadow, that finger disappeared into a muddy place, probing several times.

Shi Shu leaned against his forehead, ears red as if with a high fever, speaking intermittently: “Xie Wuchi, what medicine did you take when you were little? …Why? Where am I worse than you…”

Xie Wuchi kissed the corner of his lips, finger root entering lightly: “Being fucked by me is also very good.”

Shi Shu bit him: “I hate you.”

Shi Shu felt everything was crazy. In this twisted world, he buried his head to attack Xie Wuchi’s Adam’s apple, wanting to bite, but exhaled a breath and kissed him gently.

The muddy place was being rubbed repeatedly and gently eaten into. Cold sweat broke out on Shi Shu’s forehead: “No, can’t…”

Xie Wuchi stopped his hand, stroking his face and kissing lightly: “No rush, get used to my finger first.”

Shi Shu bit him again: “Ointment and sheep intestine, I didn’t bring either…”

“It will take a long time to adapt. Today is already very good.”

Shi Shu let him hold him. Xie Wuchi pricked gently, like some kind of amusement. Shi Shu frowned in his arms, expression somewhat strange: “Xie Wuchi… how long are you going to do this?”

“Tonight is still long. I can keep it in.”

Shi Shu’s handsome brow furrowed, seemingly embarrassed to say loudly: “…Do you treat this as a toy?”

Xie Wuchi kissed him again, a hot kiss full of lust: “I like it very much.”

“…”

Xie Wuchi had a strong libido, and his interest in this aspect was lasting and passionate. Shi Shu lay in his arms, already very dependent on him, and could tolerate Xie Wuchi’s kinks, so he let him explore and play deeply.

It was just that Shi Shu’s face remained very red. He endured as best he could, hugging him too. Only when it became truly unbearable did he say: “Bro…”

Xie Wuchi: “Can’t take it?”

Shi Shu said: “No, we have to travel tomorrow. There will be chances later, let you play deeper, okay…”

Xie Wuchi withdrew his finger and kissed Shi Shu’s lips again. The hot kiss made Shi Shu’s brain dizzy, as if paralyzed. When his consciousness cleared a bit, Xie Wuchi had already placed him properly, got up to wash the sweat and stains off both of them, and was dealing with the other mess.

Shi Shu endured that abnormal feeling, sitting awkwardly on the clean bedding with his handsome face, hair messy. Looking at Xie Wuchi from behind, he felt scene after scene was exactly like the memories of before they parted.

Shi Shu almost felt a sense of temporal dislocation.

Shi Shu looked at him for a long while, lying on the hard ground: “Xie Wuchi, you really are a capable man who sees work to be done. Whoever follows you is blessed.”

Xie Wuchi: “All along, it’s only been you and me.”

Shi Shu smiled: “Then my luck is pretty good, meeting you shortly after arriving here.”

Shi Shu looked through the window at the moon and stars in the dark blue night sky outside, suddenly feeling in a very good mood. The battle in Yunzhou was over; next, he was going to do something full of hope.

Shi Shu muttered in his heart: “Wait until this matter is facilitated, Bro will wash his hands of it. Heroes of the world are like carp crossing the river! I can’t do all the work alone; gotta let others succeed too, right?”

Shi Shu’s starry eyes turned, suddenly feeling something poking under his arm. Looking, it was that annoying dagger again.

Shi Shu’s heart thumped. Seeing Xie Wuchi coming over, he said: “That thing I’m sorry for, I’ll tell you when I get back. Because it’s a serious matter, it might take a long time to explain. We have to separate temporarily. I’ll tell you after the big matter is done.”

Xie Wuchi’s shoulders and chest were dripping with water. He was drying his hair with a towel, walking closer: “Arrange it yourself. As long as you’re willing to find time to confess, it’s fine.”

Shi Shu turned his face, fingertips tapping his brow lightly. He straightened his waist, took the towel, and helped him wipe his damp black hair.

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