THNWO 110

Chapter 110 

Soon, the door was pushed open.

Footsteps approached, circling around the folding screen, stopping at the edge of the bathtub.

Fang Chaozhou, still biting his arm, caught a glimpse of a pair of boots in his peripheral vision. The boots were pure white, devoid of any embellishments. He glanced at the boots, released his lips, and lifted his head.

The newcomer was indeed Zhongli Yueshui.

In contrast to his disheveled appearance, Zhongli Yueshui was dressed neatly. However, his expression seemed less than pleasant, with long lashes drooping as he looked at Fang Chaozhou in the water.

Seeing Zhongli Yueshui, Fang Chaozhou couldn’t help but exhale in relief. As the head of the Tian Shui Sect, Zhongli Yueshui should have some water-based magical tools.

“Master, do you have water-based magical tools? Can you lend me some? I will definitely return them later.” Due to the discomfort in his body, his tone was somewhat unsteady.

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Zhongli Yueshui also looked at Fang Chaozhou, releasing the grip on Fang Chaozhou’s arm and grabbing the red hairband instead. With a gentle tug, the red hairband completely came off from the long hair.

“Water-based magical tools treat symptoms but not the root cause,” Zhongli Yueshui whispered, “Your sea of consciousness vines have been completely drawn out by the medicine. We need to use other methods to thoroughly cure your condition.”

He took the red hairband in his hand and wrapped it around Fang Chaozhou’s left wrist, one loop at a time.

Fang Chaozhou was stunned, and it wasn’t until the hairband was tied around his left wrist that he seemed to suddenly react and asked, “What method?”

Zhongli Yueshui stared at Fang Chaozhou’s wrist. Fang Chaozhou, naturally fair-skinned, had spent most of his time indoors, avoiding sunlight. Even after five years of sleeping in a cave, he had gained some color in his skin, but he was still very pale.

Red and white intertwined, with water droplets still dripping from the sleeves, making a “drip” sound as they hit the ground.

“I will dual cultivate with you, and the vines inside you. Once they taste sweetness, they will naturally come out, and then we can completely eradicate them,” Zhongli Yueshui said this while lifting his eyes. He stared at Fang Chaozhou, seemingly wanting to see his reaction.

As these words were spoken, Fang Chaozhou quickly pulled back his hand and even took a step back. Sitting on the floor, his hand pressed against the cold tiles, his consciousness clearing up a bit due to Zhongli Yueshui’s words.

He understood Zhongli Yueshui’s meaning.

“No, it’s not possible,” Fang Chaozhou said, pursing his lips. He shook his head forcefully and turned his gaze to the bathtub. Almost without hesitation, he was ready to jump in, but he was stopped by someone.

Zhongli Yueshui first grabbed Fang Chaozhou, dragging him closer. When he saw the fear in Fang Chaozhou’s eyes, he loosened his grip slightly. Frowning, he then stretched and tried to ease his tone, “With the elimination of the vines in your body, your memories will return. Fang Chaozhou, after tonight, you will be my Dao companion. I will choose an auspicious day to hold our Daoist union ceremony.”

At this point, his tone became even more solemn. “Sharing the bed, sharing the coffin. Fang Chaozhou, I will not fail you.”

With these words, he lightly bit his lip and flashed a very shallow smile at Fang Chaozhou.

Zhongli Yueshui rarely smiled, and when he did, there was still a hint of awkwardness in his eyes, but more importantly, seriousness.

Fang Chaozhou, upon hearing these words, not only had a stiff expression, but even his body stiffened. He remained stunned for a moment before tremblingly speaking, “Master, even if you don’t have water-based magical tools, please don’t tease me like this. I’ll go soak in water.”

He tried to pull his hand away from Zhongli Yueshui, but the hand grabbing his arm suddenly exerted force, just like in the afternoon.

Zhongli Yueshui furrowed his brow. “I am not joking with you, Fang Chaozhou.” He turned his face slightly, then turned back, “If you feel that the matter of becoming Dao companions hasn’t been considered well, you still have time to think about it. Today, let’s focus on curing the illness.”

After saying this, he leaned towards Fang Chaozhou, but Fang Chaozhou, using the hand that wasn’t caught, abruptly blocked his face.

With his sleeve covering himself, Fang Chaozhou was already feeling quite unwell. His consciousness was not very clear, but he knew his own thoughts.

“Thank you for your kindness, Master, but please leave,” Fang Chaozhou said as he bit his lip. He used the hand that wasn’t caught to touch his face, seemingly trying to distract himself from the discomfort.

Zhongli Yueshui’s movements paused. He looked at Fang Chaozhou resisting him, and his expression involuntarily darkened. “Is it because of Xue Danrong? Do you really believe the nonsense that chicken told you, thinking that you and Xue Danrong were already Dao companions?”

But Fang Chaozhou didn’t answer that question. Zhongli Yueshui’s expression grew colder, and he grabbed the hand that Fang Chaozhou had lifted, only to find that after the hand was pulled down, Fang Chaozhou’s face turned to the other side.

His gaze became even colder. One hand held Fang Chaozhou’s wrists, and the other hand’s four fingers separated from the thumb, gripping Fang Chaozhou’s cheek and forcibly turning his head.

Fang Chaozhou naturally resisted, but he couldn’t match Zhongli Yueshui’s strength. His cultivation was usually completely suppressed, not to mention at this moment. He was like an injured beast caught by a skilled hunter.

“Answer me, Fang Chaozhou,” Zhongli Yueshui seemed angered.

Fang Chaozhou’s long eyelashes trembled. He bit his teeth, but it wasn’t painful enough. He forcefully bit his lip until he tasted blood, then softly said, “It has nothing to do with him, Master doesn’t need to worry about my minor issues. I can endure it.”

In fact, he could barely endure it. If there was anything on his body, he would have wanted to use a dagger to stab his thigh, using pain to distract from the current discomfort.

Seeing the blood seeping from Fang Chaozhou’s lips, a dan red color staining his slightly pale lips, Zhongli Yueshui lightly rubbed it with his thumb. As soon as he touched it, he sensed Fang Chaozhou’s resistance, so he tightened his grip.

But after a short while, he released Fang Chaozhou. At the same time, he placed a barrier in this room, preventing Fang Chaozhou from leaving.

Fang Chaozhou, released from the grip, immediately got up. He first rushed to the door, but upon finding the barrier, he circled back behind the folding screen. Zhongli Yueshui had already sat on the beauty couch, just sitting there without speaking or making any movements.

Fang Chaozhou looked at Zhongli Yueshui, seeming to understand his intentions. He turned his head to look at the bathtub, without pausing or hesitating, he jumped into the water.

He immersed himself in the water, enduring what he couldn’t bear.

In fact, when Zhongli Yueshui entered, Fang Chaozhou had already sensitively detected that the other party was a Water Spirit Root cultivator. He smelled the fragrance, and for him now, cultivators with Water Spirit Roots exuded a sweet scent.

Xue Danrong did, and so did Zhongli Yueshui.

What kind of person was Zhongli Yueshui? Even without his previous memories, he knew the other party was remarkable – the number one in the world, with cultivation so high that he couldn’t hope to compare. In comparison, he might be just an ant. To receive a bit of pity would already be fortunate, especially since cultivating with such a powerhouse would definitely elevate his cultivation level significantly. Not to mention, the other party wanted to form Dao companionship with him.

What kind of glory would it be to become Zhongli Yueshui’s Dao companion? People would probably envy him.

But he didn’t want to, not even for a single dual cultivation, even if the other party could completely cure his condition.

His heart was rejecting.

As time trickled away, Zhongli Yueshui watched as Fang Chaozhou emerged from the water several times, only to sink back in. The last time he surfaced, Fang Chaozhou’s face had turned frighteningly pale, and he trembled incessantly, continuously touching his own neck.

Zhongli Yueshui’s complexion was no better than Fang Chaozhou’s, even more terrifying. If anyone saw them, they would likely collapse in shock.

After an unknown amount of time passed, Zhongli Yueshui suddenly stood up. Following the stone steps of the bath, he stepped into the water, submerging himself, and brought out Fang Chaozhou, who was submerged in the bath.

Zhongli Yueshui did not leave the bath. He sat on the stone steps, allowing half of Fang Chaozhou’s body to remain submerged in the water. At this point, Fang Chaozhou’s face was as white as paper, with lips so pale that they seemed white. Due to continuously biting his lip, small fragmented wounds adorned it, and the blood that oozed out stained his lips. The water washed it away, only for it to be dyed again.

Zhongli Yueshui noticed the lips Fang Chaozhou had bitten. His expression stiffened, and his voice was low but filled with suppressed anger, “Reluctant even in dual cultivation? Are you unwilling even to heal?”

Fang Chaozhou furrowed his brows, continuously trying to pull Zhongli Yueshui’s hand away, struggling to get out of his embrace.

Apparently, this behavior angered Zhongli Yueshui.

Zhongli Yueshui directly lifted the person out of the water, pressing him down by the pool. He leaned over to look at the person he had grabbed, wanting to say something. However, the anger that had pressed on his chest scattered when he met Fang Chaozhou’s eyes.

The anger disappeared, leaving only frustration. This wasn’t the first time he felt powerless. It happened five years ago, then a month ago, and now for the third time.

Zhongli Yueshui closed his eyes, gripping Fang Chaozhou’s shoulders with a fluctuating hold. After a while, he uttered three words, “Why is that?”

These three words were directed at Fang Chaozhou, perhaps also questioning himself.

Fang Chaozhou trembled violently, more agonizing without the water. Yet, despite this, he didn’t actively approach Zhongli Yueshui. He just tried to curl up as much as possible.

Because his lips were already numb from biting, he could only bite the back of his hand to numb the pain.

Suddenly, he heard a sound.

It was the sound of many things being placed on the ground.

Then he felt himself being released, and a cool breeze entered through the doorway. Eventually, the cool breeze vanished, leaving the room in silence.

Fang Chaozhou absorbed spiritual energy from the water, recovering gradually. He dragged his steps back to his room and changed clothes. Just as he finished changing, he saw Tu Bai in the bronze mirror.

Tu Bai had squatted behind him silently at some point, never making a sound.

Fang Chaozhou paused, turned his head to look at Tu Bai, and Tu Bai softly meowed.

By this time, dawn was approaching. Fang Chaozhou stared at Tu Bai for a moment and suddenly said, “Tu Bai, let’s go watch the sunrise.”

Sitting on a giant rock, they observed as the distant horizon shifted from a deep blue to a pale white, then gradually surrendered to warm red hues. The sun, resembling a golden crow, rose from the point where the sky met the earth, dispersing the thick fog and bringing clarity to everything.

Fang Chaozhou’s hand, which had been petting the cat, gradually came to a stop. He stared straight at the golden crow without blinking, his eyes becoming sore. He seemed to mutter to himself, “Actually, I miss him.”

As soon as he spoke these words, he suddenly heard a roar.

Simultaneously, Tu Bai leaped off his lap. It was only when he saw Tu Bai that he belatedly realized the roar had come from Tu Bai.

Tu Bai had never looked at him with such eyes. Its pupils were almost vertical lines, staring at him with anger. It growled, arching its back, raising its tail high, and even the fur on its tail bristled.

“Tu Bai?” Fang Chaozhou was startled by Tu Bai’s reaction.

But as soon as Tu Bai heard him call its name, it turned and ran. It ran so fast that it disappeared without a trace.