UCTOOT CH8
Shi Shu blinked his peach blossom eyes. Watching this shockingly intelligent, absurdly strong, overachieving big boss, he almost wanted to applaud.
Feeling grateful, he followed behind as they walked.
But Xie Wuchi’s expression was dark, and neither of them spoke the entire way back to the temple. Xie Wuchi walked quickly, while Shi Shu, still sore and uncomfortable, lagged behind. “Xie Wuchi, slow down.”
The first time, Xie Wuchi ignored him.
Shi Shu tried again. “Xie Wuchi.“
Xie Wuchi was lost in thought, staring at the blood dripping from his hands, leaving a trail along the path. His monk’s robe, stained with crimson, was entirely at odds with the serene air of a temple. There was no compassion, no sorrow—he didn’t look like a monk at all. He looked like a demon wearing a monk’s robes, hiding among them only to destroy Buddhism from within.
Xie Wuchi finally spoke, his voice slightly cold. “How much longer do you plan to keep calling me by that wrong name?”
Shi Shu: “It’s wrong? Then… Xie Wu…chi?”1The original Chinese text has “謝無恥” (Xiè Wúchǐ) instead of “謝無熾” (Xiè Wùchì).
“無熾” (Wùchì) is Xie Wuchi’s real name. “熾” means burning or blazing, which might hint at his intense or powerful nature.
“無恥” (Wúchǐ) sounds similar but means shameless or without shame, which is clearly an insult.
Standing on a step higher than him, Xie Wuchi took notice of his uneven steps. “You’re injured?”
Shi Shu: “Yeah. I ran a marathon yesterday—hurts like hell. Still not recovered. Then today, I ran again while helping that girl escape. Now the pain’s even worse—I don’t want to take another step.”
Xie Wuchi: “So you got into trouble with those soldiers because you were saving the girl?”
Shi Shu froze. “—They were soldiers?”
“You don’t realize how serious this is.”
Xie Wuchi turned and continued up the steps.
By now, Xiangnan Temple had fallen into silence. The monks followed strict nightly curfews. Xie Wuchi and Shi Shu walked up the long staircase, one ahead, one behind. The towering Guanyin Hall loomed before them, yet somehow, it felt impossibly far away.
Xie Wuchi: “I trained in martial arts. The Imperial Guards’ instructors once demonstrated the standard combat techniques of the Great Jing army. The way that man fought—it was textbook military form, with coordinated teamwork. It’s obvious they come from a military background.”
Shi Shu was shocked. “Then how could they be assaulting women in broad daylight?!”
Xie Wuchi let out a short scoff. “Naïve.”
Shi Shu wasn’t convinced. “What’s wrong with being naïve? I’m only eighteen. Besides, you saved me that day—so clearly, saving people isn’t wrong.”
Xie Wuchi lifted his gaze slightly. “I saved you once. I can’t save you every time.”
Then, he continued, “The men you provoked today are Xuanfeng Troops—brought in from Hedong Nanlu after they put down the Huainan rebellion. They’re still burning with aggression, spending their time in brothels and theaters in the capital, flaunting their ‘heroic’ status. Their arrogance is at its peak, and if they go berserk, there’s no telling what they might do.”
Shi Shu frowned. “Xuanfeng Troops? How do you know that?”
Xie Wuchi: “Northern Jing soldiers emphasize the final syllables when they speak; southerners stress the beginning. Right now, only one unit is stationed outside the city that matches that pattern. Fortunately, they’re bound by military discipline. If we can overpower them in a fight, they won’t dare escalate the situation. Otherwise, they’d be stirring up real trouble.”
Xie Wuchi’s mind was sharp—his judgments were precise, his logic clear, his actions decisive. Without extensive knowledge, experience, and an innate sense of observation, such assessments would have been impossible.
Shi Shu hadn’t spent much time with him, but it was easy to see—this was the kind of person who naturally became a leader. Someone others followed instinctively.
Standing at the bottom of the steps, Shi Shu’s youthful face was bright, full of passion and conviction. He could see the reasoning in Xie Wuchi’s words, yet a lingering sense of injustice remained.
“You’re not convinced?”
“…”
He was still young. No one could suppress the fire in a young man’s heart.
Xie Wuchi stood still for a moment, as if he had just found the answer to something he had been pondering.
The gloom in his expression faded, replaced by a calm gentleness. But the sharp edge beneath that calmness did not dull.
He descended a step. “Is it difficult for you to walk? Want me to help?”
Shi Shu didn’t pay much attention to his change in tone, shaking his head. “No need. We’re almost there.”
Xie Wuchi: “It’s fine. Your arms and legs are sore, and there’s still some distance ahead. Let’s walk together.”
As he spoke, Xie Wuchi reached out and steadied Shi Shu by the arm.
The moment Shi Shu leaned against him, he realized—this was no frail, trembling arm, but a strong, solid one, radiating warmth.
…This guy had an overwhelming presence.
Shi Shu muttered, “…Thanks. Thanks, brother.”
Their shoulders brushed, body heat transferring through the fabric. Shi Shu felt like he was being warmed by a furnace. He had never in his life met someone this hot—literally.
But since the other person was also a man, and given everything that had just been said, Shi Shu suddenly fell silent. He had no idea what to say and simply focused on walking.
Xie Wuchi finally spoke. “When the young monk came to find me, I guessed you were in trouble. I was worried, so I came out immediately.”
Shi Shu shrugged. “It’s fine. Life always throws unexpected situations at you.”
Xie Wuchi: “I know you have a strong sense of justice. That’s a rare and admirable trait. But promise me—protecting yourself comes first.”
That made sense. Worth considering. Whether he’d actually follow through—well, that depended.
Shi Shu nodded vaguely. “Alright, next time, I’ll discuss things with you first. Sorry for dragging you into this. That fight earlier—do your hands hurt?”
Xie Wuchi: “I train often. It doesn’t hurt.”
The night was quiet as Xie Wuchi helped Shi Shu step by step up the stairs. His grip around Shi Shu’s wrist was well-intentioned, but from the moment he had moved closer, Shi Shu felt an inexplicable discomfort—a physical tension creeping up his spine.
Holy shit. My scalp is tingling.
Xie Wuchi was too male.
Tall. Strong. Sharply defined features. There was nothing soft or androgynous about him—no middle ground. He was like a lone warrior facing down a lion on the open plains.
Why haven’t we reached the courtyard yet…?
When can I escape this walking furnace?
As they passed an abandoned courtyard, a dilapidated bridge stood in disrepair, a collapsed fence half-covered in overgrown weeds and tangled flower branches.
The monks of Xiangnan Temple retired early and rose at dawn to begin their daily chores. By now—around eight or nine at night—the temple was completely silent.
Shi Shu and Xie Wuchi were just stepping past the courtyard’s sloping wall when a faint sound broke through the stillness.
A soft, breathless moan.
“Mm… ahh…”
“Ah! Xie Wuchi, what the hell was that—”
Shi Shu jumped, startled by the unexpected noises. Before he could react further, a hot, slightly rough palm covered his mouth. At the same time, the sharp scent of blood hit his nose.
“Keep your voice down,” Xie Wuchi’s voice murmured against his ear.
Shi Shu’s entire body stiffened. His back bristled with goosebumps as he forcefully pried Xie Wuchi’s hand off his mouth, his ears burning red. He stared at him, wide-eyed, disbelief clear in his gaze.
Xie Wuchi let out a low chuckle, then spoke with his usual indifferent tone. “Heard this kind of sound before?”
Shi Shu: “…It’s not what I think it is, right? Someone’s… doing that?”
Am I in some kind of BL novel?!
Neither of them moved. Neither of them left.
The longer they stood still, the clearer the noises became.
There was a rhythm to it—faster, slower, urgent, breathless. Emotion fluctuated in every rise and fall.
They were surrounded by trees, the sounds echoing from within the enclosed courtyard.
Shi Shu couldn’t take it anymore. “Let’s go. Let’s leave the stage to these wild mandarin ducks.”
Xie Wuchi: “No rush. I haven’t seen who they are yet.”
Shi Shu: “Why the hell do you need to see who they are?”
Xie Wuchi: “Curiosity. Also, I might find it useful.”
The courtyard wall wasn’t high. Standing where he was, Xie Wuchi could easily see over it.
His bloodstained monk’s robe brushed against the flower branches, momentarily lifting in the breeze.
The night was dark, and he could barely make out two pale figures tangled together. Everything else was obscured in shadows.
Xie Wuchi held his breath, listening.
Shi Shu, on the other hand, was on the verge of losing his mind. His face was burning, his heart pounding. “Bro, this is weird. I don’t want to hear this—can we leave?!”
Xie Wuchi: “Wait.”
Shi Shu fell silent.
And the longer he stayed silent, the clearer the words became.
One of the voices sounded impatient, breath huffing sharply between words.
“Huh? You think you can throw seductive glances at other men? That scripture-copying monk in the Sutra Repository—he’s handsome, isn’t he?”
A sweet, teasing laugh followed. “So what if I looked at him? You’re jealous?”
“You little slut! You still dare to act coy? Who saved you from that brothel, huh? If it weren’t for me, you’d still be spreading your legs for men in the pleasure house!”
The second voice only giggled. “All that over a couple of glances? How possessive.”
“I ought to kill you! See if you can still flirt now! Speak!”
“You beast—slow down! I’m going to die—!”
Slap. Slap. Slap.
A series of sharp smacks filled the air.
Each followed by more gasps, more ragged breaths.
So obscene.
So utterly filthy.
Shi Shu’s face turned red in an instant. He clamped his hands over his ears, the noises burrowing into his brain. “Brother, I’m only eighteen! I’m still a child! Can we not do this? I am not ready for adult life!”
Xie Wuchi: “Relax. The guy doesn’t have much stamina.”
A few moments later, he confirmed flatly, “Alright. They’re done.”
Sure enough, the sounds and breathing from the other side gradually returned to normal. After the moaning and panting, there were now whispers, affectionate murmurs, and the sticky noises of kissing and embracing.
Xie Wuchi lowered his gaze in thought. Standing before Shi Shu—who was now crouched on the ground in utter mental collapse—he seemed to have reached a conclusion. His posture was upright, steady. “Let’s go. I know who they are.”
As if this whole spectacle had nothing to do with him.
As if witnessing others having illicit s3x was as natural as eating or breathing.
What kind of psychological resilience was this?!
“Xie Wuchi! I have to say something about this—this is a terrible habit! Squatting behind a wall to eavesdrop on people hooking up—”
Shi Shu stood up abruptly, only to be struck by a wave of dizziness from his sore, numb legs. His vision went black for a second, and before he could react, his entire body collapsed to the ground—
Shit…
His knee hit the soft earth, and in a desperate reflex, he grabbed onto the closest thing for support—Xie Wuchi’s leg.
When his vision cleared, his face was already buried in something warm and soft.
Right between Xie Wuchi’s thighs.
His face was pressed there.
He couldn’t breathe.
“Hm?” Xie Wuchi let out a low sound, a muffled grunt from the unexpected impact.
Shi Shu: “…………………”
“Ack—I suddenly got lightheaded—!” The second the words left his mouth, a large, hot hand pressed down on the back of his head.
A slow, deliberate stroke slid behind his ear, bringing with it an undeniable heat.
Xie Wuchi’s voice was right at his ear, deep and husky. “Shh. Keep your voice down. Don’t speak.”
“…”
Shi Shu’s heartbeat clenched.
The warmth of Xie Wuchi’s breath lingered on his skin.
Shi Shu didn’t dare make a sound, remaining frozen in place, still clutching onto his leg.
In the silence, the conversation from the courtyard stopped.
“Hmm? Did you hear something?” The man’s voice carried suspicion.
“It’s the middle of the night. Who’d be out here? Probably just some stray cats or rats.”
“…Ah, it’s getting late. We should head back. There’ll be guests at the temple tomorrow.”
Fabric rustled as they dressed. Their only way out was through the path where Shi Shu and Xie Wuchi were hiding.
Shi Shu’s back broke out in a cold sweat.
But what made him even more nervous was—his face was still buried between Xie Wuchi’s legs.
Which meant his head was…
The monk’s robe smelled of soapberry, carrying a faint, clean fragrance. Shi Shu didn’t dare take a deep breath. Slowly, he shifted his face to the side.
Xie Wuchi remained motionless, his large hand still resting at the back of Shi Shu’s head, fingertips brushing against his earlobe.
His body temperature was too high. Even through layers of fabric, the warmth was impossible to ignore. Shi Shu felt like he was about to be burned alive.
On the other side, the men hesitated.
“Coward. When you’re the one doing it, you act like you’re trying to wring the last drop out of a meal. But the second you hear a noise, you run like a scared rabbit. Wouldn’t it be more exciting to be caught?”
“Ha! You shameless bastard—”
Just like that, their desires reignited.
The unmistakable sounds of movement started up again.
Shi Shu: “…I am shocked. Today I found out Xiangnan Temple owns vast lands and properties. What I didn’t expect was that the monks here were also out here doing it in the wild.”
Xie Wuchi: “If you’ve read Dream of the Red Chamber or Three Words, Two Beats, you’d know that monks and nuns experience lust like everyone else. Books talk about severing the seven emotions and six desires, but when it comes to real people, is that even possible? Those who truly achieve enlightenment are rare; the ones who muddle through are the majority. How much can willpower really conquer?”
Shi Shu’s expression shifted. He quickly folded his hands together in a mock bow. “I’m really sorry—I didn’t mean to crash into you just now. I suddenly got dizzy.”
“It’s fine,” Xie Wuchi’s voice was low, almost indistinct in the night. “Are you not in good health?”
“No, I’ve always been pretty healthy,” Shi Shu hesitated. “But for the past three months, I worked as a laborer in the Zhou family estate. Every day, I ate nothing but porridge and plain mantou. Occasionally, they’d fry vegetables, but oil was rare—only for festivals or when the master was in a good mood. So maybe I’m a little malnourished.”
Xie Wuchi listened intently, then said, “Anything else? Tell me everything so I can figure out how to keep you from starving to death.”
Shi Shu: “…I’m fine. I don’t need you to feed me!”
Xie Wuchi turned, his loose hair brushing against the night breeze. “Let’s go.”
They slipped away from the abandoned courtyard, stepping lightly to avoid drawing attention.
Shi Shu rubbed his face, still processing everything that had just happened. Curiosity got the better of him. “Xie Wuchi, you said you know who they are. Who?”
Xie Wuchi: “The two monks we saw in the dining hall at lunch today.”
Shi Shu: “What? Those two?”
“They’re young. Strong. Full of energy. Naturally, there comes a time when desire burns too hot to ignore—when self-control collapses entirely.”
“Immorality is punished the most severely by the heavens. For them to engage in this inside a temple… they really don’t fear karmic retribution.”
“…Damn. That serious?”
Shi Shu muttered all the way back to their living quarters.
The courtyard was cool and quiet.
Xie Wuchi went straight to the well, drawing up a bucket of water. Under the dim sky, he removed his monk’s robe.
The bloodstained prayer beads and fabric were tossed into the water. Red slowly bloomed in the ripples, swirling beneath the moonlight.
After washing up inside, Shi Shu stepped out of his room just in time to see Xie Wuchi’s back.
His Adam’s apple bobbed.
Broad shoulders. A body honed through constant training. His undershirt had been removed, leaving only a pair of loose-fitting trousers tied at the waist.
Firm, lean muscles wrapped around bone, shifting subtly with every movement.
His back and waistline—though narrow—were sharply defined, powerful, every inch of him carrying a restrained intensity.
Shi Shu stared, dazed.
Bro, how is a monk this damn sexy?
It was almost exactly like those muscle-bound men Shi Shu occasionally saw in videos online—the kind that would have hundreds of thousands of comments underneath saying, “I want to lick the sweat off this man.”
Xie Wuchi—the man among men.
Unacceptable.
That uncomfortable feeling crept up again. A prickling irritation, a tingling scalp—dangerous.
So weird. Shi Shu was secretly jealous. That’s right—straight guys only break down when they see another man who’s even manlier.
It made him feel like he was playing the role of the shou in front of Xie Wuchi. What a humiliating thought!
Shi Shu hesitated before heading inside. He paced back and forth a few times, then stopped at the door and looked at him. “How did you train those muscles?”
Xie Wuchi scooped the prayer beads from the water. “Skiing, horseback riding, playing ball.”
Shi Shu: “Horseback riding? You’ve already ridden a horse?”
Xie Wuchi: “No, my horse ranch.”
Shi Shu: “…”
Shi Shu: “Xie Wuchi, your transmigration must have been way more painful than mine, huh?”
“It was rough for a few days. But now? I’m quite comfortable here.”
Xie Wuchi lifted the prayer beads, water dripping rhythmically from his hands. Bare-chested, he walked toward Shi Shu, the pale moonlight casting a faint sheen over his collarbones, making his tanned skin glow ever so slightly. Droplets of water clung to his broad chest.
Only then did Shi Shu snap out of it—realizing that they were about to share a room. And a bed.
A shiver ran down his spine.
First of all, he had nothing against Xie Wuchi as a person. Secondly, the guy was ridiculously handsome, and obsessively clean. But his sheer presence—his overwhelming sense of control and authority—made Shi Shu’s knees feel weak, like he was constantly on the verge of being disciplined. It was terrifying.
Shi Shu blurted out, “Right—Xie Wuchi, did you ask the abbot about where I’ll be staying?”
Xie Wuchi: “The abbot considers you my brother. He agreed to let you stay here for now. Nothing else was mentioned.”
Shi Shu: “Oh… okay.”
“Not comfortable with that?” Xie Wuchi’s voice was calm, his dark eyes deep and unreadable. “Limited conditions. We’ll make do.”
Shi Shu: “No, no, it’s fine. Really.”
Creak—
Xie Wuchi shut the door.
And with a casual flick of his wrist, he bolted the latch.
The room instantly became a sealed space, the kind where even if you had wings, you weren’t getting out.
The air thickened, saturated with Xie Wuchi’s presence.
Shi Shu’s nerves bristled. He had the sudden urge to explode, feeling trapped under the sheer weight of Xie Wuchi’s gaze. The man swept his eyes over him, head to toe, then said—completely unbothered—
“Get in bed. Oh, do you still want to hear that story?”
Shi Shu wasn’t just mentally breaking down—his entire body was on the verge of short-circuiting. “What story?”
Xie Wuchi: “Brotherly In—“
“AHHHH!!!”
Shi Shu dove onto the bed, face buried deep into the pillow. “BRO, WHY IS THE ATMOSPHERE SO WEIRD ALL OF A SUDDEN?!”
Xie Wuchi: “What atmosphere?”
Man on top of man…?
I don’t know! But it’s REALLY WEIRD!!!
Footnotes:
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