A Secret Shared and a Perilous Outing

“So, you told her everything?” Luo Guanjing asked, disbelief coloring his voice.

He Suosi’s expression was grave. “Ah, yes, I did.”

Luo Guanjing studied He Suosi intently for a few moments before speaking. “I apologize for ever thinking you were a scumbag.”

He Suosi shot him a sidelong glance. “Oh, so you did think I was a scumbag.”

Luo Guanjing looked exasperated. “That’s not the main point! The main point is, you told such a crucial secret to someone who easily leaks them—all because you were moved by her!”

He Suosi pondered for a moment. “There’s nothing really to leak, though. Isn’t she always staying within the Guangyu Immortal Sect?”

Luo Guanjing almost rolled up his sleeves to hit him. “You trust her so much, but why not trust me? Hurry up and release me!”

He Suosi let out a scoff. “Sure, if you also happened to like me.”

Luo Guanjing choked on his words. “Do you have to flirt with everyone you meet?”

He Suosi considered this. “I think I really do flirt with everyone.”

Luo Guanjing once again felt the urge to hit him. He forced himself to ignore the rising tide of anger and asked, “What if Guangyu Immortal Monarch finds out?”

He Suosi didn’t mention his suspicion that Yuan Zhigong already knew. Instead, he replied, “Actually, I wasn’t even sure I would tell her. It was mainly because the shock was too great.”

“What shock?” Luo Guanjing was baffled. “Why didn’t I notice any shock? Is your own death shocking to you?”

He Suosi grew agitated. “Yunrou! She said Yunrou is going to be taken in by Yuan Zhigong!”

“So what? You don’t even like her,” Luo Guanjing said, still mystified. He had always known that while He Suosi had many admirers, he had never truly favored one to the exclusion of all others.

He Suosi slapped the table and rose to his feet. “Of course, I like her!”

“Are you going to marry her?” Luo Guanjing eyed him askance.

“…Uh, no, not that…”

“Then why are you arguing so vehemently?”

“Alas—” He Suosi let out a deep sigh. Like a father lecturing his son, he cast a wistful glance at Luo Guanjing. “It seems you truly don’t understand.”

“Hmm?”

“She’s the junior sister! As a man, how can one not have fantasies about their junior sister? And my junior sister is going to marry her sworn enemy—that’s just too tragic!” What’s more, the enemy is undoubtedly queer.

Luo Guanjing overturned the table and turned to leave.

He Suosi shed his exaggerated expression. He mused that if he were to say Wang Zhongge’s distraught expression was what truly moved him, Luo Guanjing would probably mock him even more relentlessly.

He Suosi had angered Luo Guanjing to the point where he refused to speak, yet He Suosi himself genuinely felt Luo Guanjing lacked appreciation for romance and thus had no desire to speak with him either. His heart was filled with wistfulness as he pondered how to prevent his junior sister from being sent to Yuan Zhigong.

Just then, Yuan Zhigong suddenly arrived.

It was a clear afternoon, the sunlight brilliant, as if the heavens and earth were about to melt under its splendor. He Suosi, who usually only saw Yuan Zhigong late at night or in the evening, was somewhat surprised.

Yuan Zhigong, resplendent in a white, wide-sleeved long robe, entered with an elegant bearing and a striking appearance. He said to He Suosi, “Let me take you somewhere.”

“Eh?”

He Suosi cautiously considered refusing, suspecting that Yuan Zhigong had already discovered his true identity. He might be waiting for He Suosi to expose himself so he could engage in “saucy” acts. Thus, going out alone with him would be incredibly dangerous. After a brief thought, he pressed a hand to his forehead and feigned weakness, “My head… my head aches terribly.”

Whether it was an illusion or not, He Suosi felt that Yuan Zhigong seemed to show a hurt expression.

However, since He Suosi had already refused with such a clumsy excuse, Yuan Zhigong did not insist. Instead, he walked over, offering to massage He Suosi’s forehead.

He Suosi refused once more. ‘How important is the head as an organ? What if he did something terrible to me?’ He felt this wasn’t judging a gentleman by a villain’s heart, but rather ‘an ounce of caution is worth a pound of cure.’

Yuan Zhigong indeed felt quite hurt. Without further ado, he firmly grasped He Suosi’s shoulders and resolutely began to massage his head. The warm current soothed his tense nerves, and slender, cool fingers rested on his forehead. He Suosi felt the gentle and appropriate pressure, infused with tenderness, filling him with both surprise and apprehension.

‘Has Yuan Zhigong recognized me? Has he confirmed that I am He Suosi? Does he like men, or does he like me specifically? And is the matter with Yunrou truly real?’

As he pondered these questions, his head truly began to ache.

Finally, he couldn’t resist asking, “Immortal Monarch, speaking of which, Qianqiu Daojun’s fate is currently unknown. What is the Cloud Sky Sect’s reaction to this?”

Yuan Zhigong’s fingers paused, then quickly resumed as if nothing had happened. “His master has passed on, so he has returned to the sect to observe mourning, as is proper. He has secluded himself in cultivation and will not emerge for the time being. The matter of the marriage alliance has naturally been settled.”

‘It’s! Really! True!’

He Suosi’s heart constricted. A strange, almost pleasant sensation welled up within him. He teased, “Then, regarding the matter of Fairy Yunrou entering the manor, which you mentioned a few days ago, has that also been settled?”

Yuan Zhigong undid the hair bun on He Suosi’s head, letting his hair cascade down. His slender fingers threaded through the thick strands. He was displeased by He Suosi’s question. “You don’t need to worry about that.”

He Suosi sneered inwardly. ‘He’s truly a pervert, always trying to snatch away what’s mine.’

Yet, he feigned hurt, saying, “Why say it like that? I was merely thinking that with a new person entering the manor, I should prepare accordingly.”

He Suosi was basically ready for Yuan Zhigong to either continue their facade or completely tear off his mask. However, he didn’t expect the other party to ignore him entirely. Yuan Zhigong silently rustled behind him for a while, then suddenly stood up, took a small mirror from the dressing table drawer, and handed it to him, saying gently, “See if you like how it looks.”

He Suosi looked bewildered. He picked up the bronze mirror and saw the innocent, confused expression of a young girl. Upon closer inspection, he noticed an exquisite hair bun, with long front strands braided and coiled around it. A string of wisteria-shaped pearl flowers adorned her temple, making her look incredibly charming. He Suosi was almost mesmerized by Pei Nishang’s appearance, then he reacted with surprise, “You can do hair?”

Yuan Zhigong pressed his shoulder. “When you were little, you couldn’t tie your hair. Didn’t I always help you?”

He Suosi was startled. ‘Was he talking about his and Pei Nishang’s past? Did Yuan Zhigong truly believe I’m Pei Nishang? But that’s not right, he gets aroused by men!’

His gaze swept over Yuan Zhigong’s smiling face, and he concluded that the man was indeed insane.

When dealing with a madman, no amount of caution was too much. He Suosi swallowed, then nodded.

He tried to suppress the strange feeling in his heart. As he reached the door, he saw Lan Jun blocking Wang Zhongge, her body forming a large ‘X.’ Wang Zhongge was pushing at Lan Jun’s arm, trying to get in, her delicate face both imperious and aggrieved, looking both pitiful and charming.

The moment she saw He Suosi, her eyes lit up. Just as she was about to speak, her gaze sharpened, her smile froze for half a second, and she released Lan Jun’s arm. She curtsied, saying, “Immortal Monarch is here as well.”

Lan Jun looked so angry she was almost in tears. “I told you the Immortal Monarch was here!”

Wang Zhongge didn’t seem to care much. “Oh, I thought you were joking.”

As she spoke, she had already taken the opportunity to slip past Lan Jun and hurried towards He Suosi. She then took his arm and said in a sweet voice, “The weather is lovely today. I saw that the flowers in the Glorious Green Garden are exceptionally beautiful. Shall we go and see them?”

She spoke so naturally that He Suosi glanced at Yuan Zhigong from the corner of his eye, unsure how to respond.

Yuan Zhigong’s face was devoid of expression, appearing stern and indifferent. “Nishang, you should tell Wang Jiaren that you have a headache.”

He Suosi suddenly remembered this detail about his current persona. He awkwardly said to Wang Zhongge, “Yes, yes, I have a bit of a headache.”

Wang Zhongge immediately showed a pitiful and concerned expression. “Oh, why would you have a headache?”

She raised her hand to touch He Suosi’s forehead, but he felt his arm being pulled forcefully, and he was instantly moved to a new position, behind Yuan Zhigong.

Wang Zhongge’s hand, which had been grasping his arm, was suddenly pulled away. She froze for a moment, then looked at Yuan Zhigong with a puzzled expression. Unwilling to give up, she said, “Perhaps you’ve been cooped up indoors. Moving around more might help.”

He Suosi felt a bit awkward. He hadn’t truly considered agreeing to Wang Zhongge’s suggestion, but the scene of her crying in his arms yesterday was still vivid in his memory. To refuse her request the very next day felt rather inappropriate.

However, he caught a glimpse of Yuan Zhigong’s tightly clenched, pale fingers out of the corner of his eye. He knew that he absolutely could not agree. Sighing inwardly, he was about to refuse when Yuan Zhigong suddenly spoke. “Wang Jiaren has a point. Then let us all go together.”

He Suosi: “…”

Thus, He Suosi was led out of the courtyard and toward the Glorious Green Garden. Lan Jun, feeling uneasy, followed behind. Soon, he was surrounded by three people, all expressing their concern.

“Does your head still ache?” This was Wang Zhongge.

“Actually, if your head aches, you should rest.” This was Lan Jun.

“…” This was Yuan Zhigong. He said nothing, but his gaze constantly swept over He Suosi, making him feel uncomfortable all over.

‘This scene isn’t right,’ He Suosi thought. ‘Why does someone else’s harem feel like my own Asura Field?’

For the sake of his chastity and his life, he eventually ignored everyone, focusing intently on the surrounding scenery. Due to the lack of distinct seasons within the sect’s barrier, the garden bloomed with whatever flowers it pleased. Thus, along the path, one’s eyes were first met with vibrant, lush clusters of flowers, then quickly shifted to cool, elegant blossoms that seemed to admire their own reflection.

Upon reaching the lakeside, they suddenly saw a cluster of breathtakingly vibrant wisteria, blooming so profusely that it seemed to blot out the sky, creating a riotous display. The sight was a veritable purple ocean, gently swaying in the breeze, perfectly complementing the emerald waves and warm sunshine nearby.