UCTOOT CH108

Deep in the night of the Min Region, the chirping of cicadas and frogs and the scurrying sounds of unknown animals could be heard from time to time in the grass. Here, away from the safety of Great Jing, there was a sense of danger lurking on all sides.

It seemed as if torches could light up all around at any moment, signaling a great escape in the night.

Inside the room, Shi Shu buried his face entirely in Xie Wuchi’s lap, feeling a very strange aura coming from him.

Wherever he was, the atmosphere was bound to be oppressive; everyone had to watch his expression and guess his mood while he sat quietly. And after he left, the oppression wouldn’t ease but would instead turn into fear of him.

Shi Shu panted: “Xie Wuchi…”

Shi Shu’s hair was tightly gripped by a large hand, overlapping completely with images from his nightmares. Looking up, he could only see the man’s naturally indifferent jawline, feeling two distinct, forceful thrusts. In an instant, heat quickly stained his face and lips. Shi Shu closed his eyes, that heat remaining on his face until his consciousness completely cleared.

Shi Shu’s back felt drained of strength, resting on his knee, extremely close to the tattoo pattern, carefully observing every stroke of the engraving, the crisscrossing lines of scars.

…

In the morning, snow-white sunlight spilled into the wing room through the window lattice.

Shi Shu opened his eyes to blinding sunlight and dancing dust motes.

Shi Shu jumped off the bed abruptly, realizing where he was. Running to the door, his steps paused.

In the clean, bright courtyard, clad in moon-white robes, Xie Wuchi sat in a bamboo chair holding a book in one hand. The morning sun, neither hot nor dry, shone perfectly on him. A lush gourd trellis beside him blocked the direct sunlight from his eyes.

How long has Xie Wuchi been up? Why do I always wake up later than him? Reading as soon as he wakes up, what kind of superhuman is he? Just as Shi Shu was thinking, Xin Bin came from the field ridges carrying a basket on his back. He put down half a load of books and half a load of daily necessities like firewood, rice, oil, and salt, including herbs for repelling mosquitoes.

Shi Shu: “And when did Xin Bin get up? Already made a trip to the market.”

Seeing Xin Bin moving nimbly: “My Lord, this half box contains the most popular books in Yong’an Prefecture, including agricultural manuals, military books, current affairs commentaries, strategy books, writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, as well as some tales of the strange recording local customs. This lowly one bought them from the largest market in the prefecture.”

“This basket contains local specialty foods and novelties, bought for the Second Young Master.”

Shi Shu walked grinning into the sunlight, his brows and eyes black, face illuminated snow-white: “Brother Xin, busy?”

Not far away, guards delivered clothes and other items. Xie Wuchi placed the book in his hand on the small table aside: “Have the people from the Cyan Light Department arrived? Contacted everyone?”

The Cyan Light Department was a spy agency established by Xie Wuchi, specifically responsible for gathering intelligence, not entirely the same as military scouts.

“Contacted. Distributed among the five great kings of Northern Min, they are secretly sending letters over.”

Xie Wuchi: “Sent to travel various parts of Northern Min for a long time, checking bridges, strongholds, mountains, city locations, etc. It’s time for some reply.”

Xie Wuchi flipped through the book: “Go cut a few water bamboos in the mountains, over one zhang and five chi tall.”

Although puzzled, Xin Bin said: “Yes.”

Shi Shu sat down aside and asked: “What for cutting bamboo?”

“Take a turn by the river.” Xie Wuchi checked the scroll and stood up. “Get some river fresh to cook for you.”

Xin Bin was somewhat astonished. Although his martial arts were high and his heart hard as iron, he only felt fear and respect for this Commander Xie. His life, wealth, value, and power were all tied to Xie Wuchi. Although trusted and occasionally able to speak a few words, he had always been respectful. As his confidant, he knew best what kind of person Commander Xie was.

Xie Wuchi was a typical power holder—calm on the surface, but actually deep, ruthless, and calculating in every scheme!

Bodhisattva appearance, Demon King heart.

Following him for nearly two years, he had only seen him treat this own brother like this.

Not… own brother.

Xin Bin had also heard early on that some royal nobles had twisted family relationships, though of course, he shouldn’t speculate.

Shi Shu lingered on the book Xie Wuchi was reading: “Why so many books to read?”

Xie Wuchi: “Read more books. Many pieces of information and rules are in books. Although not all, at least you can have a basis, answer appropriately, and not be easily deceived. Reading is good; you can see a farther world.”

Shi Shu: “I can’t read; I only know how to run.”

Seeing Xin Bin go to cut bamboo, Shi Shu said: “I’ll go too.”

Xin Bin was troubled: “Second Young Master.” Looking at Xie Wuchi’s face.

Xie Wuchi never stopped him: “Go, together.”

“My Lord is going too?” Xin Bin’s work pressure increased again: “Yes.”

A desolate village, spiderwebs knotting between leaves. Brushing aside flowers and grass, the three walked forward among the overgrown field ridges. This mountain grew almost everything. Shi Shu looked carefully at the ground, often finding mushrooms under dead leaves. It was said that walking a bit further would reveal different vegetation and climate; who knew how interesting it would be.

After cutting the bamboo, Xin Bin carried it on his shoulder for the return trip. Shi Shu suddenly saw a very tall plum tree, perhaps wild, standing by the field. Asked: “Do you want to taste?”

Xin Bin: “Second Young Master wants to eat? Wait a moment, this general will go pick them.”

“No need, no need,” Shi Shu said.

Xin Bin blinked and saw their Second Young Master gesturing in front of the tree, starting to climb. In a few moves, he scurried into the thick shade of the treetop, breaking branches laden with wild plums and throwing them down: “Eat, eat, eat! Want more? Where are the biggest ones growing?”

Xin Bin: “…………Second Young Master!”

Noisy and lively, filled with laughter.

Under the green tree shade, Xie Wuchi stood in a long robe, narrowing his eyes slightly, looking up at the person straddling the branch in the thick shade.

Xin Bin didn’t dare catch plums; he was preparing to catch the person under the tree, uneasy.

Xie Wuchi: “Don’t be nervous. My brother and I lost our father young and lived in mountain temples all along—fishing, woodcutting, farming, and studying. Cutting grass and planting fields for many years, he is very good at climbing trees.”

Shi Shu thought Xie Wuchi was lying again.

Xin Bin: “So that’s it. This general was worried for nothing.”

Real brothers, lived in a temple together since childhood, raised by hand, never seen other female patrons, so they became like this?

“Enough?” Shi Shu threw down a lot.

Shi Shu climbed to the top again to pick a bunch of the plumpest and sweetest fruits, held the branch in his teeth, climbed down the tree, ran to Xie Wuchi, and handed him the plums: “For you.”

In the sunlight, Shi Shu’s face was full of boyish spirit, seemingly emitting a glowing light.

Xie Wuchi took them in his hand, feeling very tolerant, thinking: Raising a child really requires indulging his nature.

However, on the way back, Shi Shu climbed every tree he saw and picked every fruit he encountered. Xin Bin watched from the side with fear and trepidation: “My Lord? My Lord! This—”

This is the real Monkey King.

“…”

Xie Wuchi’s hands could barely hold the branches. After a moment of silence, he said: “Forget it, let him be.”

Xin Bin: “…………”

Shi Shu finally got tired of climbing, returned to the courtyard, and sat down to rest for a while, watching Xin Bin strip the leaves off the water bamboo and attach fishing line and hooks. He went to the corner, took out a hoe to dig soil, looking for earthworms.

With a small jar nearly half full, they marched grandly to the stream, finding a spot to put down small stools. Sunlight shone on the entire river area; water plants sparkled, reeds swaying in the wind. Shi Shu was watching the whirlpools on the river surface, while Xie Wuchi sat aside reading a book.

Beautiful sunlight, gentle summer breeze. Xin Bin squatted aside, heard artificial bird calls, and returned to the temple. Shi Shu stared at the river surface for a long time, then sat next to Xie Wuchi, glanced at the book he was reading, and brought a washed plum to his lips.

Xie Wuchi: “I don’t eat. Except for main meals, I don’t eat things.”

Shi Shu found this sentence very familiar, seemingly heard three times: “This time I really remember.”

Shi Shu sat watching the fish, recalling the journey from Xiangnan Temple, and the road of exile. It was rare to have such leisurely and comfortable time with Xie Wuchi: “We haven’t fished before.”

“If you’re happy, we can live here for a while, wait for me to meet them and discuss the grand plan.” Xie Wuchi pressed the page to turn it, replying to him: “What do you want to eat for lunch?”

“You fish, I’ll catch crabs. You eat fish, I eat crab.”

Xie Wuchi was focused when reading, holding an ink brush between his fingers to mark lines. Shi Shu stayed beside him for a while, ran to the river ditch, turning over stones everywhere to feel for crabs and crayfish, putting what he caught into the basket.

Min epic, the Five Kings’ reform, understanding a country’s cultural background, understanding the other party’s thinking mode, family power distribution, even secret history and unofficial history. Of course, many things wouldn’t be recorded in books, or even glossed over and distorted, but an experienced person could recognize where things were hidden at a glance… Xie Wuchi read for a long time before putting down the book and looking up at the shallow beach down the river.

Shi Shu was arching his back, squatting near a stone, seemingly waiting to catch a big crab inside, motionless.

“Splash!” As soon as the crab showed its head, Shi Shu reached out and grabbed it instantly.

Xie Wuchi lowered his eyes. Shi Shu caught the crab and subconsciously looked up toward where Xie Wuchi was, unexpectedly meeting his gaze, then climbed up carrying the cage.

Shi Shu: “I caught a lot, enough for lunch. But are crabs better braised or steamed? or soup? These seem to be ordinary crabs, not hairy crabs.”

Xie Wuchi said: “Don’t know why, seeing you makes me hard.”

Shi Shu was still mumbling: “Also caught a few mother crabs spawning, put them all back—Wait, what?”

What?

“………………”

“?”

Shi Shu glanced left and right. At this time, some villagers occasionally passed by. Shi Shu: “Bro, what are you doing?”

Xie Wuchi: “Caught two fish too, enough to eat. Let’s go back.”

“…”

Needless to say what they went back for. Shi Shu: “Bro, said it before, no daytime lewdness.”

“You remembered that sentence wrong. I said doors can’t be closed during the day.”

Shi Shu picked up the bamboo basket and walked back to the courtyard with him: “No.”

When Xin Bin returned from contacting other secret guards, he saw two figures walking side by side. One in a moon-white long robe, tall and elegant posture; the other with pant legs rolled up to the knees, exposing fair calves, smiling, handsome and clean.

Xie Wuchi said a simple word: “Speak.”

Xin Bin swallowed his words: “Nothing important, came to accompany My Lord fishing.”

Xie Wuchi signaled he could leave, so Xin Bin left. Returning to the courtyard, they poured fish and crabs into a water basin, watching the fish swim around.

Gate closed, window shut. Shi Shu sat on the bed, watching Xie Wuchi close the wing room door. As he walked over, he undid the ties and lapels on his body, hanging them on the clothes rack aside.

“…”

In modern times, this would be undoing a suit and watch. Shi Shu picked up a book pretending to scan it twice, couldn’t keep pretending and put it aside. Coming back to his senses, he had already been lifted onto the lap to sit. A kiss fell on his lips.

…

A moment later, the main gate opened wide. Shi Shu walked out, sitting in the courtyard watching Xie Wuchi cook.

Xin Bin finally snuck over again: “My Lord, news came from Yuan Guan. Taoist Tianwei on Mount Wanglong next door, the bandit group that has always raised the Jing banner, is willing to raise troops with us. It’s said that upon hearing this news, he cried loudly with joy.”

Xin Bin was somewhat moved: “Drank three cups wildly, bowed to the south, face covered in tears, saying family finally came to take them back!”

“Yong’an Prefecture is Jing’s lost territory, also the homeland of these people.” Xie Wuchi washed the crabs clean on the chopping board, breaking them open to remove the gills. “Back then, the peace treaty ceded Yong’an, Dasheng, and Chuituo, equivalent to directly abandoning these commoners, handing them over to foreigners as slaves.”

“Whitewashing peace, coveting pleasure, singing and dancing to celebrate peace and prosperity. The actions of the Eastern Capital palace are a betrayal of the people.”

Imagine, one’s own country makes a peace treaty, ceding oneself to become a citizen of another country, and an invader at that—who could tolerate this?!

How many committed suicide, how many fled south.

And other generals, indifferent, who truly worried for the commoners, for the world?

Crunch, cutting the crab in half again. Xie Wuchi said: “They would rather die than be Min people, rather be bandits in the mountains. So, this group of people relies on the motherland most sincerely. Hearing our intention, they actively moved closer. How many troops and horses?”

Xin Bin said: “Three thousand troops, plus family members, probably ten thousand people!”

Xie Wuchi: “Send ten thousand taels of silver notes over, add more compensation. Arrange a date with this Taoist Tianwei; I want to meet him personally.”

“Yes.” Xin Bin turned and left.

Xie Wuchi put the crabs in the pot, boiling soup.

Shi Shu had watched some TV dramas and knew what Xie Wuchi was doing now—conducting work behind enemy lines to instigate defection. If Xie Wuchi hadn’t come, the one going to see this Taoist Tianwei would be himself.

Shi Shu walked under the shed to help wash the fish. Suddenly, Crack! a muffled thunder sounded in the sky. The weather here in August alternated between sun and rain. Dark ink clouds gathered overhead, lightning turning within.

Shi Shu asked: “Besides those who truly want to return to their homeland, are there also people taking the opportunity to get rich among them?”

Xie Wuchi: “Definitely.”

Shi Shu: “Xie Wuchi, you fear no one.”

“To carry out huge changes, all kinds of people must be united. There are sincere people, and there are opportunists.” Xie Wuchi ladled crab soup into a bowl, placing it in the steamer aside to keep warm.

Shi Shu still sighed with emotion: “Other generals either enjoy pleasure or only care about their private armies, never considering these commoners.”

“After all, doing things is troublesome—running around, toiling, working from dawn to dusk, connecting various undertakings, running oneself ragged. A horse standing at the manger. Especially when an official reaches a certain level, doing more means more mistakes. They know many rights and wrongs, just don’t act. People live for themselves; how many live for the commoners.”

Shi Shu blinked. But regardless of whether Xie Wuchi did it for himself or enjoyed the thrill of pursuing fame and conquering the world, he was running around for the commoners; this was a fact.

An extraordinary person could not have such firm will to execute the path of unifying the world.

Shi Shu: “Xie Wuchi, if I had your mentality, what couldn’t I succeed in?”

Shouldering the life and death of the world’s people this time also required such will to bear the mandate of heaven.

Shi Shu scratched his head. Honestly, lucky he transmigrated as a farmer. If he really transmigrated as a general or regent, he might have brought disaster to the country and people.

They ate together. The rain poured heavily, a vast expanse of white mist in sight. Curtains of rain fell from the grooves of the eaves tiles, dripping into the drainage ditch under the wooden planks, water sounding splash splash, occasionally seeing purple or yellow-white lightning exploding in the clouds.

Shi Shu sat under the eaves watching the rain; Xie Wuchi read a book aside.

Amidst the storm-covered mountains, even that ruined temple not far away was hidden. Between heaven and earth, only he and Xie Wuchi existed.

Shi Shu sat for a while, eventually getting sleepy, thinking of taking a nap. When he returned to the wing room to nap, Xie Wuchi also entered, sleeping with him.

Shi Shu closed his eyes. Half-dreaming, half-awake, he sensed someone getting into bed beside him.

Shi Shu vaguely knew who it was. By the time he reacted, his lips were already blocked, tongue tip probing in to entangle with his. Scent drilled into his nose. Shi Shu opened his eyes to glance, realizing it was Xie Wuchi, and didn’t block him much.

“What’s wrong?”

His clothes were all stripped off, body fair, stroked gently by Xie Wuchi’s hand. Shi Shu felt Xie Wuchi’s desire was too heavy. He wanted to speak, but not only his lips and teeth, even his earlobe was bitten hard by him.

Because Shi Shu was a bit groggy, he ignored him, letting Xie Wuchi bite for a while. When he came to his senses, his face was pressed near his tattoo again.

“Xie Wuchi…”

Clearly daytime, but due to the storm, the room was pitch black. Xie Wuchi leaned back against the wardrobe. His moon-white robe lapels were also loose, revealing a tanned, firm chest and abs, while other places were dressed extremely neatly. His palm with raised veins held the back of Shi Shu’s head, gripping hair tight, shallowly thrusting up for him to eat.

“Good child.” Xie Wuchi voice was hoarse.

Shi Shu punched the bed hard, wishing he could scratch bloody marks: “Xie Wuchi, do you… like… this position so much?”

“I like it very much. Before, many times, fantasized. Repeatedly emphasized when expressing to the psychologist, perhaps after having a lover, I want to wake up in his mouth every morning.”

“…”

Is this acting in some crime documentary?

Xie Wuchi, what nationality are you? Not like people from around here.

“Xie Wuchi!” Shi Shu couldn’t understand sick people, but at this moment, spoke with difficulty.

“I—”

Irrelevant to comfort, this action was full of the feeling of conquering the lover. Shi Shu interlaced fingers tightly with him: “I, I’ll do it myself…”

Physiological tears welled up in Shi Shu. He had to lick mouthful by mouthful like eating ice cream. Being with Xie Wuchi during this time, Shi Shu could occasionally reflect that he was straight.

Things like licking a guy often made his ears turn completely red when recalled.

If time could turn back, that night just entering Xiangnan Temple, he would never have imagined today.

Shi Shu licked until his jaw was sore. Xie Wuchi leaned his back against the bed rail, fingers gently stroking Shi Shu’s earlobe, enjoying this pleasure and thrill. In the dim room on a stormy night, two figures on the bed.

Xie Wuchi had good patience. Between pants, his voice was hoarse: “Shi Shu, I easily objectify myself, and have some fetish tendencies.”

“Hmm?”

“I like this position with you very much. Kissing it seems like kissing me too, making me feel loved by you.”

“…”

Shi Shu’s eyes were red, staring at him. Although he always knew Xie Wuchi was perverted, sometimes it really crashed violently against his worldview, simply shattering a person. Shi Shu didn’t know what to say, really couldn’t deal with him, so had to continue.

“Very comfortable…”

Xie Wuchi liked Shi Shu blowing him very much.

Shi Shu had his hair held down by him: “Deeper.”

Wrapped in a warm, moist place.

“Shi Shu, I hope you are obsessed with me.”

Shi Shu heard his hoarse voice.

Shi Shu was a bit dazed. Finally, it ended with a mouthful of ejaculate. Xie Wuchi wanted Shi Shu to be obsessed with him—not just obsessed with him as a person, but also obsessed with his body, obsessed with his dick.

Shi Shu kissed his tattoo, then looked up. Xie Wuchi leaned lazily against the bed rail, propping himself up, black eyes staring at him unblinkingly, like an emperor being served.

Shi Shu reached out to touch his face. Although sometimes he couldn’t understand what Xie Wuchi was saying, he could feel that he seemed to want a lot of love.

Don’t want money, want love, right? Rich bro.

Shi Shu discovered that days of eating dick but not bitterness weren’t easy either, huh?

No, is this kind of life easy?

Shi Shu soothed his emotions and finally lay down to continue his nap.

Rain continued outside the window. Xie Wuchi leaned on the pillow, holding Shi Shu in his arms, listening to the sound of the storm outside.

Shi Shu’s sleep quality was very good; he could sleep as soon as he lay down. But for most of the time, Xie Wuchi closed his eyes and sorted through a pile of things in his mind; thinking through everything completely took ten minutes. Before sleep, he would also ruminate on the books he had read.

Thinking exhaustively.

Xie Wuchi kissed the top of Shi Shu’s head lightly. Shi Shu was already asleep and snoring.

Don’t know why, perhaps the storm outside, the gloomy weather, plus having nothing to do, Xie Wuchi’s gaze was also very gloomy. Maybe too idle; people like Xie Wuchi weren’t suitable for being idle.

The air still held the scent of the quiet night.

After thinking for a moment, he finally fell asleep. The storm outside pattered, seeming to turn into another sound.

Water currents converged, gradually turning into a huge ocean current, freezing seawater.

—Neatly trimmed green lawns, snow-white walls extending to a cylindrical dome, endless climbing roses hanging from the villa walls. White doves flew from the roof, landing on the empty window lattice on the other side.

Separated by a wall, laughter and chatter, cups clinking, luxurious jewelry, flashing magnesium lights.

Piano performance continued, expensive champagne sprayed everywhere. Following the rhythm of the notes, the crowd danced along, bursting into waves of cheers.

On the other side, inside the azure pool, water shimmered.

A soft thud sounded sinking into the pool.

Cold water quickly stole the skin’s temperature; the exquisite fabric of the suit was soaked.

Water pressure caused a blockage in front of the eardrums, emitting a slight ringing sound, then all sounds became lighter—

The water film was close at hand. Everything seen through the water was broken and flowing, light and shadow changing, five senses deprived.

Drowning in water, like floating in the sky.

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