After washing his feet, when Chi Muyao hesitated over whether to stay, Xi Huai put on his coat alone and said, “I'll go to the drum tower."

"You will?" Chi Muyao was very surprised. According to Xi Huai's temperament, he should dispute this to the end. How come he wanted to leave on his own initiative? 

“En, you'll be mine sooner or later, so I won't make you do anything you don't like from now on.”

Chi Muyao quickly put on clean socks and said, "Then I'll help you pack up." 

"No, I don't need you to do those things for me, I can do it myself."

Xi Huai walked towards the door and looked back. In the end, he took the stone basin and poured it out before leaving.

Chi Muyao sat on the bed hugging his knees, watching this happen. He didn't know what to feel.

Who would've expected the almighty Lord Demon Venerable to help him wipe his body and pour out his bath water? 

He fell on the bed with his face in his hands, and lay there dumbly for a while. Then he grabbed his blanket and rolled around the bed.

What happened today after leaving the pure land was too shameful! 

It still made him blush when he thought about it.

He pushed himself up to a sitting position, thinking about if he should go check on Xi Huai. He was still worried that a pampered young master like him wouldn't know how to clean up.

Yet he lay down again, forcing himself to endure. No wonder Xi Huai didn't give up on him yet. He said he didn't care about him but kept fussing after him.

Thinking of this, he lay face up again.

Did he like Xi Huai? 

Have...his feelings changed?

He put a hand on his chest and felt his heartbeat. Inexplicably, he blushed. 

The corners of his mouth rose uncontrollably, as emotion washed over his heart. 

He realised that after knowing Xi Huai would come, he was worried but also looking forward to it.

From the frequency he looked out into the forest and the joy he felt after Xi Huai's arrival, he could distinguish his own emotions,

If he wasn't trapped here, would he go into seclusion at the Qing Ze Sect? 

Probably...

Although it would hurt, it would be scalding, and some nights would be sleepless...he would be surrounded and nourished by love. 

This was also illustrated by his actions after leaving the pure land.

What he wanted most was to see kittens, which he hadn't seen in a long time. Then he wanted to share them with Xi Huai.

He did not reject the kiss that followed.

If he didn't like Xi Huai deep down, it would've been shown in the miasma. He would push Xi Huai away and show extreme disgust, but he didn't. In fact, he even cooperated...

It meant he didn't hate it...

No matter how dull he may be , Chi Muyao could realise that. 

The weather was slightly cool at night, but the breeze from the pure land was gentle and of an ambiguous temperature.

The mediation rooms were quiet, and the wind came in through the shoddily closed windows, like a hint of sweet love slipping into the heart.

This love was domineering, much like Xi Huai himself. It called out to him from the bottom of his heart, making him pay attention to it.

What he was once afraid of, what he once hid from, he actually began to care about.

He once thought about going their separate ways after repaying all debts, but now he thought—I'm yours.

Would Xi Huai be his?

Would they become cultivation partners?

Would flowers bloom across his back for Xi Huai?

All these questions prevented him from sleeping that night. 

The next morning, Chi Muyao and Yi Qianxi set up a fire and cooked food together. He did not know whether Xi Huai liked fish, but many cultivators here were unwilling to eat fish due to the many bones. They have been practicing inedia for so long that they didn't even know to spit those out at first. 

He suddenly remembered the saying of how the tongues of fish eaters wereSahl: I couldn't find anything about this, but I assume their tongues are dextrous and therefore useful when it comes to sexy times. *winks exaggeratedly*...He suddenly paused in his movements.

Darn it, his thoughts became so corrupted after entering the He Huan Sect!

“What are you thinking about so intently?” Yi Qianxi cut a piece of raw meat and fed it to the blue fox, who actually didn't take it. She had to give it a piece of cooked meat.

What a spoiled animal. 

Chi Muyao hesitated. "Shijie."

“En?”

"If I..one day..." 

"Hurry up, I don't have time to listen to you mumble." 

"If I converted to the Demonic Faction later on..."

Yi Qianxi laughed. After looking around, she whispered to him, "What, have you made your choice?" 

"Choice?"

"En, between Xi Huai and Yu Yanshu."

"There is nothing between me and Yu-shixiong!"

"So you have something with Xi Huai?"

"..." Chi Muyao was a little uncomfortable and continued to grill fish. "I'm just asking you—what if we end up on opposing sides..." 

"You would still be my shidi. Shifu and Dad won't mind either. Our Sect is already sitting on the edge of Demonic and Righteous, so this isn't a big deal." 

When he heard this answer, Chi Muyao felt relieved.

People were not grass and trees. How could they be emotionless?

Chi Muyao had been in the Yu Chong School for a while. He didn't care what other people thought of him. However, he still cared about everyone in the School.

If they didn't hate him for this, he would feel better about this choice. 

He made a note to bring some roasted fish to Xi Huai, afraid he would be hungry. Maybe tall people ate a lot too. Chi Muyao also reminded himself to hunt more prey to feed Xi Huai. He was too occupied to notice the eyes of the blue fox.

Yi Qianxi was handling cleaning out the fish, so she did not look at the blue fox either.

Its gaze stayed on Chi Muyao for a long time. Finally, it looked at Yi Qianxi and curled into a ball at her side, burying its head for a nap. 

Chi Muyao took the roasted fish and went to look for Xi Huai. He spotted the man sitting on the roof of the drum tower looking far away.

He took a few steps back, and then leapt up quickly. With the light footsteps skill he cultivated in He Huan Sect, he easily ascended the drum tower.

However, the bricks atop the drum tower were loose, and he lost his footing. Fortunately, Xi Huai caught his hand and dragged to safety at his side.

Chi Muyao sat beside him and handed over the grilled fish. "Do you know how to eat fish?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Because there are bones in the fish. I'm afraid they'll get caught in your throat if you don't know to spit them out."

"Is there any food that is not this troublesome?"

“The other meats are all eaten so only bones are left. If you don't know how to eat fish, I'll pick out the bones and feed it to you. Let me wash my hands." Chi Muyao took the grilled fish, pulled off a piece of meat, and carefully picked out the bones inside. Then he fed Xi Huai. "Open up."

Xi Huai wasn't that delicate, but he liked being taken care of by Chi Muyao. He naturally let Chi Muyao feed him. 

Chi Muyao was always a very patient person. He also did things in a very meticulous way. Piece by piece, he fed Xi Huai like a kind grandfather feeding his grandchildren.

"Look at the scarecrow over there." Xi Huai gestured with his chin after eating a few bites.

Chi Muyao looked up and noticed that Su You's scarecrow was outside the bell tower opposite them, seemingly napping against the wall and sunbathing.

"What is he doing?" Chi Muyao looked down and continued to pick out bones.

"We're in a stalemate. He thinks he has located the treasure, but I've been staring at him so it's not convenient for him to go get it. Otherwise, there's a chance I can snatch it from him."

Su You was an old fox who lived for a thousand years. Who could have imagined he would be stifled by a little fox in his twenties one day.

How the tables turn.

Xi Huai continued to observe this pure land and said, “There is a Buddhist artefact here. How should it be used? Could it be that it can purify all attacks...?" 

"Chi Muyao came over to feed him another piece. "Open your mouth."

"Oh." Xi Hui obediently paused his analysis and ate fish.

“Su You is a Nascent Soul stage Heavenly Venerable after all, with peak Nascent Soul stage cultivation. Why are you keeping such a close eye on him like this? What if he gets angry and really wants you dead?" Chi Muyao said as he picked out bones.

"Su You has his eyes on you. Your cultivation is too low, and you don't have any fighting ability. If you can get this kind of artefact and use it to nullify attacks, even if you can't defeat Su You, you can at least not be harmed."

Chi Muyao was somewhat surprised. "Are you keeping an eye out for me?"

"Why else? Do you think I lack artefacts?"

"Oh..." Chi Muyao picked up another piece of meat and brought it to Xi Huai's mouth. He smiled suddenly. "Thank you, Young Sect Master."

Xi Huai had been staring at Su You, but at this moment, his gaze was unwittingly attracted by Chi Muyao. He couldn't look away for a long time. THe sight of his smiling face seemed to make this whole trip worth it.

The scarecrow in the bell tower across from them glanced this way. It seemed to disdain the lovey-dovey duo and turned around so it didn't have to look at them. 

The two of them did not care. They continued to sit side by side. Xi Huai ate the entire grilled fish.

After Xi Huai was full, he still had to watch Su You. So Chi Muyao descended the drum tower alone. He still had a lot of things to deal with.

On the way to find Yi Qianxi, Yu Yanshu walked towards him and asked, “Is that Young Sect Master bullying you?”

"En? No!"

"I saw how you even had to feed him from afar. If he causes you any trouble, you can let me know. I will give him a warning on your behalf." 

Chi Muyao understood and smiled, "Yu-shixiong, thank you for your concern. I was willing, and I don't think he is trouble."

"Oh..."

“Besides, he knows who I am, and I have a better relationship with him than you think. He won't bully me, and I know he's a good person, so you don't have to worry anymore.” 

Since Chi Muyao made his choice, he needed to give Yu Yanshu a gentle hint.

If his guess was right, Yu Yanshu was a perceptive person who would know at once and cease such thoughts from now on.

If his guess was wrong, Yu Yanshu wouldn't hear anything off right now. He would probably think that Chi Muyao was expressing how his relationship with Xi Huai wasn't bad, and he would not think about it too much.

Since Chi Muyao had confirmed his intentions, he should act accordingly. 

Yu Yanshu was surprised for a moment. A few complex emotions flashed in his eyes. 

A bit of grievance, reluctance, and finally acceptance.

However, Yu Yanshu was ever the gentleman. He immediately acquiesced. "Okay, I understand. It seems that I was overly worried." 

After that, he left without overstaying.

Thoughtful, Chi Muyao arrived at Yi Qianxi's side again. Only then did he get the chance to look at the blue fox.

His attention in these two days was all focused on Xi Huai.

Chi Muyao squatted beside the blue fox and stretched out his hand. Then he paused. The blue fox also looked up at him at this time.

Both were silent, but they seemed to feel the other person's aura.

He opened his eyes in shock before quickly recovering his composure and withdrawing his hand. He turned and said to Yi Qianxi, "Shijie, I will take the blue fox inside to check it over."

“I already did that. It's not hurt, just a bit skinny." Yi Qianxi replied casually.

"I also want to play with it for a while."

“Alright, go ahead.” Yi Qianxi didn't pay much mind, still busy with her work.

Instead of carrying the blue fox like Yi Qianxi, Chi Muyao stood up and walked directly toward his mediation room. The blue fox stood up and followed behind him silently. 

They entered Chi Muyao's mediation room. Chi Muyao closed the door.

He looked at the blue fox sitting on the ground and asked respectfully, "Are you injured?"

 The blue fox didn't move.

“You are willing to come in with me because you sense the Colourless Yunni Deer's aura on me, right? Do you agree that a person chosen by the Colourless Yunni Deer would not have bad intentions?"

The Colourless Yunni Deer was an exceptional judge of character. How could anyone chosen by it be bad?

The blue fox looked at him with its head tilted. It still looked calm and quiet, as if it could not understand a word he said. 

Chi Muyao was not in a hurry. He placed his hands on his knees and gently looked at it, asking again, "I want to help you. Are you willing to trust me?"