UCTOOT CH9

The courtyard, having bustled all day, finally returned to silence.

In the dead of night, Shi Shu, who had been curled up in the corner of the bed with a heavy sense of stealth, finally stretched out his limbs after falling asleep. A corner of the quilt draped over his belly, and one leg was sprawled wide open, carelessly.

He seemed to be having a nightmare: “I want to go home, go home…”

Shi Shu was born very fair and clean. With his clothes hiked up, exposing half of his white belly, and his hair grown long after the time travel, his sunny and lively boyish charm hadn’t diminished in the slightest.

Xie Wuchi withdrew his gaze. Just as he was about to sleep, he was kicked in the knee by a foot Shi Shu had thrusted over.

“Mm-ngh…”

Shi Shu mumbled in his sleep.

Xie Wuchi’s eyes darkened. When no one was around, there wasn’t a trace of a smile at the corner of his lips. He retreated slightly, but unexpectedly, once that foot found empty space, it encroached even more excessively in his direction.

After retreating for a moment like this, Xie Wuchi lowered his gaze, reached out to grab Shi Shu’s right ankle, and adjusted his sleeping posture to something slightly more proper.

Xie Wuchi leaned half-way back against the pillow, put down the scroll, and closed his eyes.

The sun was three poles high!

It was another brand new day. When Shi Shu woke up, the head of the bed opposite him was empty. He guessed Xie Wuchi had gone to the martial arts hall to work out again. He was quite a disciplined person; last night, after Shi Shu had lain down, Xie Wuchi hadn’t slept, but instead read by the dim lamplight.

Lights on at the third watch, rooster crowing at the fifth; this is the time for men to study. Xie Wuchi read at the third watch, rose at the fifth to practice martial arts at the hall, and still had to organize scriptures and read in the library during the day. He was extremely competitive—so much so that Shi Shu looked at him sideways.

“Once my body is a bit better in a few days, maybe I should go out with him to take a look? Gotta keep up with Big Daddy’s pace, otherwise, it’s pretty tough for him to do everything alone.”

The sunlight outside the door was just right. Shi Shu rubbed Laifu the dog’s head: ” Zuo zuo zuo, the sun is burning your butt, get up!”

“What’s for breakfast?”

Shi Shu saw a figure winding around the small path by the courtyard. Xie Wuchi, dressed in a wide-sleeved Haiqing monk’s robe, had his head lowered, seemingly deep in thought.

He held a lotus leaf package in his hand and looked up when he saw Shi Shu.

“Awake?”

Shi Shu: “You’re back? What’s this?”

“Braised pork liver. Go to the canteen and get some steamed buns and porridge to eat with it. Be careful not to be seen; selling meat to monks is strictly forbidden in this area. I asked someone for a favor to get it.”

Shi Shu: “Brother, I really have nothing to say; you’re too good to me.”

Xie Wuchi went inside and picked up the book on the table: “I have a rest day in two days, not my shift. I’ll take you to see a traditional Chinese doctor and get some medicine prescribed.”

While Shi Shu went to get the porridge and buns, Xie Wuchi stood by the well, wiping off the sweat from his martial arts practice. When dressed, one really couldn’t tell he had such a robust physique. Putting on a fresh monk’s robe gave him an air of austere scholarship. Just then, the old woman who washed clothes for the temple came by, so he paid three coins a piece to have his dirty clothes washed.

Opening the lotus leaf, Shi Shu discovered there was not only braised pork liver but also braised chicken legs. While watching Xie Wuchi change, he thought to himself, This guy is truly handsome. He gives off a ‘suit thug’ vibe—the kind of person who could punch someone to death and then smile while covered in blood.

He ate leisurely, the sunlight at its peak.

From a distance, he heard a shout: “Junior Brother!”

Shi Shu turned his head. Yesterday’s Monk Hui Jue was walking over, leaning on a bamboo staff: “Eating breakfast?”

Xie Wuchi shot Shi Shu a glance. Shi Shu understood instantly, quickly wrapping up the meat and stuffing it back into the room. He stood there with half a steamed bun in his mouth, his face the picture of innocence: “…”

Unknowingly, he and Xie Wuchi had formed this tacit understanding.

Xie Wuchi: “Yes, just returned from the martial arts hall. I’m about to go on duty at the Scripture Library.”

Hui Jue: “Something has come up today. See if you can find someone to cover for you and skip that duty.”

Xie Wuchi: “Is there somewhere I can be of use?”

Hui Jue: “The Heir Apparent is coming to the temple this afternoon to tour the Bamboo Sea. Last time you accompanied the Heir to Jianan Temple, he heard you expounding on Buddhism and was quite impressed. He’s here today and lacks people to keep him company and add to the fun. If you aren’t busy, go and tour with the Heir.”

Having finished, Hui Jue stroked his beard with a gratified look.

Xie Wuchi: “To be a companion to the Heir is my honor, but my talent is shallow and my learning thin—”

“Don’t decline. You came specifically from Jiming Temple to stay at Xiangnan Temple, studying hard every day and cultivating both civil and martial arts. I greatly admire your talent. In this day and age, who doesn’t understand the meaning of a ‘knocking brick’ (stepping stone)? Hahaha. Since you have ambition, and I am recommending you, it can be counted as fulfilling a beauty—a beautiful deed.”

“Then I thank Senior Brother in advance.”

“Let’s not speak of these empty words. I only hope you can bring some clarity to this world of Great Jing.” Hui Jue turned around, reciting, “Bamboo staff and straw sandals are lighter than a horse. Who is afraid? With a misty rain cape, I shall live out my life,” and left leisurely.

When Xie Wuchi turned back, he saw Shi Shu looking at him with a scrutinizing gaze.

Xie Wuchi: “?”

Shi Shu: “What kind of shady backdoor deal do you have with that bad Heir? You’d make a move on that kind of person?”

“Shady deal?” Xie Wuchi closed the brushwood gate and headed toward the Scripture Library.

“Then what was that recommendation he just talked about?”

Shi Shu walked step by step, blocking his path so Xie Wuchi couldn’t walk, forcing him to stop: “Do you never read history books?”

Shi Shu: “…I read them rarely. Why?”

Xie Wuchi: “In certain dynasties, candidates participating in the imperial examinations had to visit the examiners beforehand, calling themselves ‘students’ and waiting for patronage. From ancient times to the present, finding channels to get close to powerful and influential people has always been the path to promotion. If you don’t read history books, you surely read web novels?”

Shi Shu: “That, I do read.”

“The cold-blooded killer concubine assassinates the male lead. The first thing she does is get close to him, win his favor, and then strike—simply put, she climbs into his bed. Correct?”

Shi Shu: “…Xie Wuchi, just how wide is your range of knowledge?”

Xie Wuchi: “If I had traveled to ancient times as a child, I could have tried to enter officialdom through the imperial exams and risen rapidly. But we transmigrated as adults. I can’t finish reading the Four Books and Five Classics, let alone out-test those old scholars who have read poetry and books their whole lives. So, I can only take the crooked path and look for shortcuts to promotion.”

Shi Shu: “So you’re deliberately getting close to that Heir?”

Xie Wuchi: “Of course. The first thing a powerless person who wants to rise must do is borrow power.”

Laifu started barking wang wang wang again. Xie Wuchi walked toward the Scripture Library, his pace still unhurried, his posture sharp and clean. Being about to meet a powerful figure whose single sentence could kill tens of thousands of people didn’t seem to make him nervous at all.

Shi Shu looked at his back and felt he had been somewhat out-cooled.

Shi Shu stepped up and walked shoulder to shoulder with him: “If that Heir sees me, will he try to kill me again?”

“Unlikely. He just glanced casually back then; he probably didn’t even see your face clearly.”

“…Alright.”

Shi Shu felt reassured. He rounded a large Bodhi tree with him, and suddenly, a figure bumped into view on the left.

It was the handsome monk seen yesterday noon, the very same one from the pair of wild mandarin ducks in the deserted courtyard last night. The handsome monk was cracking sunflower seeds, tossing the shells onto the lake surface, revealing a set of small white teeth.

Seeing the two of them, he smiled generously and threw a wink: “Morning. Where are you going?”

Shi Shu: “Is he talking to us?”

Xie Wuchi: “Yes.”

“Should we reply?”

“Up to you.”

Shi Shu hesitated again and again, nodded at him, and after bypassing him, was driven by a feeling of creepiness crawling up his spine. He couldn’t help reaching out and tugging at Xie Wuchi’s sleeve: “So weird, so weird, I can’t look straight at him!”

Xie Wuchi spoke indifferently: “Why can’t you look straight at him?”

Shi Shu: “Don’t you think this feeling is strange? Who would have thought that while he looks proper on the surface, he was actually doing that with someone in the wild the night before?”

Xie Wuchi lowered his eyes, his gaze sweeping over him: “First, you are too proper; you have sexual shame. Second, you feel psychologically uncomfortable only because you saw him doing it with your own eyes last night. Right now, there are many people around us, many monks. Can you guarantee that among this crowd, no one took off their clothes last night and did that kind of thing with someone?”

Shi Shu: “……………………”

Xie Wuchi’s expression could even be considered serious; he said these words with absolutely no emotion. Shi Shu felt blood rush straight to his forehead: “Bro, some things don’t need to be said so clearly, right?”

Xie Wuchi: “If I don’t speak clearly, I’m afraid you won’t understand. If you masturbated at night, wouldn’t you still go to school normally the next day?”

“You, you, you!”

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I can’t stand it!”

“I don’t masturbate,” Shi Shu corrected him seriously, his small face bright red. “Also, I don’t want to talk to you anymore!”

Shi Shu held his head and charged forward, dizzy from blushing. Under the bright sunshine, the boy’s figure ran all the way toward the ancient, austere buildings. The wide-sleeved monk’s robe was slightly too large and ill-fitting, making his shoulders appear thin. Xie Wuchi narrowed his eyes slightly; this scene was surprisingly warm.

Shi Shu ran with his head down for a dozen meters before stopping, nearly bumping into a procession. He halted his steps. An old monk wearing a gorgeous kasaya and a Five-Buddha crown, holding a dharma staff, was walking away briskly, surrounded by others. Wherever he passed, all the monks had to stop, bow, and call out “Abbot,” maintaining a respectful demeanor.

However, no matter how magnificent the clothing, he was just an aged old man. It couldn’t hide his dim eyes, his stiffly held back, and his hands that were no longer steady.

“That’s the boss of the temple? …”

He didn’t look for long. By the time Xie Wuchi approached from behind, Shi Shu had already withdrawn his gaze.

“He is the Abbot of Xiangnan Temple.”

“Meaning the owner of those thousands of properties in the eastern capital and thirty thousand acres of land?”

Xie Wuchi: “You found out?”

“I tried to find work yesterday and was rejected everywhere,” Shi Shu said. “To tell the truth, if monks are all like this, then I don’t want to be a monk. I don’t even want to be a fake one.”

Xie Wuchi: “Even in this situation, your principles are quite firm.”

Shi Shu crossed his arms: “Even in this situation… how much worse can it get? I don’t want to do it.”

The air in the Scripture Library was too stuffy, full of the smell of mothballs, paper, and ink. Shi Shu stayed with Xie Wuchi for over half an hour, reading a book until he almost kowtowed on the spot from drowsiness, waking up with a start: “Hm?”

Upon meeting Xie Wuchi’s gaze, Shi Shu immediately propped up his forehead, pretending his eyes just hurt.

Xie Wuchi said faintly: “Are you holding on for dear life in front of me because we aren’t close yet?”

“…” Shi Shu said, “Leave me alone.”

Rubbing his sleepy eyes, he walked to the main hall outside the library. A temple was indeed a temple; every day there were so many devout people, or people with requests in their hearts, coming and going, burning incense, praying for happiness or wealth and honor.

This was also holding out hope for the future, wasn’t it?

Shi Shu walked around randomly. Unexpectedly, he heard a melodious voice from behind: “Little Monk.”

“?” Who are you calling? I’m not a monk.

The moment Shi Shu turned his head, his eyes went wide: “It’s you?”

A girl of about fourteen or fifteen, hair wrapped in a cloth scarf and dressed plainly, stood there with a flower basket on her arm: “It’s me, I am Xiao Shu (Little Tree).”

Shi Shu: “You came to pray too?”

“No,” Xiao Shu walked up to him and lifted the cover of the basket in her hand. “You helped me yesterday, and I am grateful in my heart. My mother steamed Sophora flower cakes and asked me to bring them. I’ve been looking for you in the temple, but I didn’t know your name, so I searched for a long time.”

The lotus leaf-wrapped cakes transferred a gentle warmth. Shi Shu took them in his hands: “Thank you, no need to be so polite. Drawing a sword to help when seeing injustice is a virtue of us Chinese people.”

Xiao Shu was nervous and didn’t speak.

Behind them, a shadow attacked from behind the door: “Who is she?”

In the voice, there seemed to be a faint sense of restraint and tightening.

Shi Shu turned around, and Xie Wuchi’s gaze fell right on them. Perhaps because he wasn’t smiling, the moment his towering figure appeared and Xiao Shu saw him, she was actually scared enough to take a few steps back.

Shi Shu: “She’s the little girl I helped yesterday. This is my… older brother.”

Xie Wuchi: “Oh.”

Xiao Shu stole a glance at him, her face full of nervousness: “I’ll go back first.”

Shi Shu: “Okay, be careful on the road.”

“Wait a moment.” Xie Wuchi spoke again.

“This young lady was harassed by those men last night, yet you have such courage to come wandering in a crowded place. I will escort you home today; do not go out recently.”

Shi Shu turned to look at Xie Wuchi. He placed the horsetail whisk in his hand back onto the wooden cabinet and stepped out the door: “I’ll escort her with you.”

__

Author’s Note:

Woo woo woo, I really want to see Brother Shameless (Wuchi) go crazy and have an episode later, holding Xiao Shu and calling him ‘baby’. Who are you showing that stinking face of yours to now (acting ‘strong’)?

Posting a paragraph from today:
The persona I gave Xie Wuchi is one of contrast. Everyone might think he takes good care of Shi Shu and looks like a good person, but actually, he isn’t gentle, isn’t kind, and lacks empathy. He has a Cluster B personality (NPD), meaning dramatic, confusing, and manipulative towards others, as well as disregarding others. He has this tendency to perform and a severe narcissistic personality.

Shi Xiao Shu is set as absolutely righteous. Perhaps initially, in Xie Wuchi’s eyes, Shi Shu is just a stupid baby, but Shi Shu is a bright star peeking into the universe!

Also, Xie Wuchi has a sex addiction, but I write sweet stories and am a “Double Clean” (both leads are virgins/loyal) writer, so hope everyone doesn’t misunderstand.

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