The Lake’s Lament and a Demon Lord’s Peculiar Affections

Bai Yu learned of Jade Mastiff’s dramatic leap upon his return to the Qianyu Sect.

Reportedly, numerous disciples had witnessed a rainbow flash before them. Before they could even comprehend its nature, Dan Fusheng and Chen Gui burst forth from behind it, pursuing something. They called out to “Jade Mastiff,” imploring him to calm down, but their pleas were cut short by a resounding splash.

Jade Mastiff had plunged into the newly dug lake. He had sunk to the very bottom.

‘Oh no,’ Bai Yu thought, a sense of foreboding washing over him. He quickly made his way to the back mountain, where a circle of people had already formed.

Dan Fusheng squatted by the lake. “Doggy, don’t be sad.”

“Don’t be sad?! You listen to everything he says! How much more miserable do you want me to be?!” Jade Mastiff bellowed, his voice resounding in everyone’s ears from the depths. “Every time I open my mouth, I swallow a mouthful of water! I’m utterly miserable!”

Dan Fusheng offered a kind word of comfort. “Good doggy, why don’t you transform into your human form? A dog’s mouth is too big; you’ll drink less water as a human.”

“Bastard!! You don’t care about me at all! I’m going to drown myself!” Jade Mastiff’s struggles must have been quite vigorous, for waves began to ripple across the lake’s surface.

Dan Fusheng’s heart ached. “Doggy, come out. You won’t drown.” It was incredibly difficult for a cultivator of Jade Mastiff’s level to drown.

“You saved this life of mine! I’m returning it to you!” Jade Mastiff refused to listen. “I let you kiss me, I let you dye my fur, I tried every way to please you! Yet, with just a single word from Chen Gui, you cast me aside!”

‘Wait, was the fur dyeing and cuddling truly forced?’ Dan Fusheng pondered.

“Now I am completely disheartened! Between him and me, you still chose him in the end!” Jade Mastiff wailed uncontrollably.

Chen Gui, who had remained silent nearby, felt that something was amiss.

Jade Mastiff continued, “Since this is the case! I hope we never meet again, for all eternity!”

Dan Fusheng exclaimed, “Huh?” The lines sounded remarkably familiar.

Jade Mastiff was still shouting, “You heartless Demon Lord! You will forever stand alone on the peak, enjoying your solitude! But you don’t deserve even that!”

“Is ‘the peak’ referring to being the park’s lead aerobics instructor?” Chen Gui couldn’t help but ask. If collecting supermarket coupons counted as a skill, Dan Fusheng was indeed at an insurmountable peak.

“One day you’ll realize who truly cared for you! You’ll turn me into a specimen! You’ll gaze upon me day and night!” Jade Mastiff sniffled, a loud, exaggerated sound. No one knew how he was managing to sniffle at the bottom of the lake. “Look into my eyes! But there is no light left in my eyes! Go on, regret it!”

Chen Gui confirmed his suspicion: besides Dan Fusheng, there was a second person who read those melodramatic little stories.

“Don’t be like this, doggy! Come out, please!” Dan Fusheng patted the water’s surface. He had originally intended to dive in and retrieve the fox, but Jade Mastiff had threatened to bite off his own tongue if Dan Fusheng dared to enter the lake.

Dan Fusheng had no choice. “How about I pet you from now on? And we’ll keep kissing your face, alright? You can dye your fur any color you want.”

The lake surface calmed. Jade Mastiff seemed to be swayed. However, he couldn’t be so spineless. Could he just admit defeat the moment Dan Fusheng softened? What would that make him?

He had to assert his authority. “You’re giving in, but what about your junior brother? Isn’t he more important than me?”

Dan Fusheng felt a headache coming on. Yet, Chen Gui wasn’t bothered by such trivial matters. “This was always a minor issue; there’s no need to overthink it.”

Dan Fusheng looked at him with gratitude. Chen Gui continued, “Since he’s making a fuss, just go along with him.”

The lake water began to ripple once more.

“But I only promised you yesterday that I would treat you well,” Dan Fusheng said, finally understanding what it meant for a crying child to get candy. Jade Mastiff had stewed over their conflict all day before jumping into the lake. Chen Gui, however, had remained calm throughout.

“You didn’t need to placate me,” Chen Gui said simply.

Splash. A colorful object breached the water, opening its mouth to snap at Chen Gui. Chen Gui pressed its head down, submerging it again.

“Who are you trying to fool?! Ah?! You were the one who started this!” Jade Mastiff struggled to break free from Chen Gui’s grasp but was always precisely pinned down.

Chen Gui’s brow furrowed slightly. “You should be more mature!”

Jade Mastiff retorted, “I’m not mature? I’m going to bite you!!”

Seeing Jade Mastiff on the verge of exploding, Dan Fusheng quickly stepped between them. Seizing the opportunity, Jade Mastiff shot out of the water and bit down on Dan Fusheng’s arm. The fox’s long fur obscured his eyes, making him resemble a living rainbow seaweed. After biting, he quickly released his grip and widened his eyes innocently. Then he realized his eyes were covered by fur. He used a paw to push it aside, resuming his innocent gaze.

“Can you come out now?” Dan Fusheng asked him.

Jade Mastiff nodded. He then scampered over to Chen Gui’s side, preparing to shake his fur dry. Dan Fusheng stepped between them. They went back and forth like this for several rounds until Dan Fusheng finally used a spell to dry the fox.

“Alright, let’s go back,” Chen Gui said.

Jade Mastiff let out a low growl, but in the end, Dan Fusheng simply scooped him up.

Bai Yu, who had witnessed the entire spectacle, exclaimed, “Wow! Is this the world of the mighty?”

However, Chen Gui didn’t need to be coaxed. He felt that he had caused trouble for Dan Fusheng.

“Hmph, green tea!” Jade Mastiff rolled his eyes, finding Chen Gui far too adept at feigning innocence.

“Chen Gui isn’t faking it; that’s truly his personality,” Dan Fusheng said. He knew his junior brother was genuinely single-minded; it was just that his demeanor sometimes appeared peculiar to others.

Chen Gui didn’t demand Dan Fusheng kiss his face all day, nor did he ask for food or toys. After receiving a satisfactory answer from Dan Fusheng, his mood noticeably improved. He even incubated the eggs with greater enthusiasm.

Meanwhile, within Dan Fusheng’s barrier, Si Fenglang learned that Chen Gui had sent his junior brother, Si Chen, to the detention center, and he grew anxious. He had originally come to find Dan Fusheng alone, a rare occurrence, hoping to persuade his “master” to confine his “junior brother” for his own safety. Yet, Si Chen still got entangled.

Si Fenglang demanded a guarantee from Dan Fusheng. After all, Si Chen was Dan Fusheng’s close friend; Dan Fusheng couldn’t possibly harm him again.

“I’ve told you countless times, while I did have intentions to use him, in our past life, he truly brought it upon himself,” Dan Fusheng said, spreading his hands.

Si Fenglang didn’t believe him, as he hadn’t yet recalled that memory. “I don’t know what you’re trying to do! But if you dare to lay a hand on Si Chen, I will make you pay, even if it costs me my life!”

Chen Gui, standing beside them, couldn’t help but interject. “You can’t kill him, even if you sacrifice your life.” Mutual destruction required a certain level of cultivation.

“Shut up!” Si Fenglang gritted his teeth. He couldn’t understand why Dan Fusheng could make him recall petty arguments, but not the truth of what had transpired.

Dan Fusheng claimed that if Si Fenglang knew the full picture, he would die. How arrogant!

Chen Gui didn’t believe Si Fenglang had the right to silence him. “I truly don’t understand what you’re thinking. You say you like Dan Fusheng, but I honestly can’t see it.”

“Oh! I’ve researched it!” Dan Fusheng already knew the specifics. “His affection is very strange. He seems to have unilaterally imagined me as some kind of free spirit.” He added, “He also puts me on quite a pedestal; he can’t accept me sleeping with him.”

Chen Gui: ??? He looked at Dan Fusheng in shock.

Si Fenglang retorted, “I just don’t like you so flippantly speaking of such matters without any emotional foundation!”

“Oh, alright, alright,” Dan Fusheng nodded.

“What did you do?” Chen Gui asked.

“Nothing much, I just found his liking for me quite amusing.” Dan Fusheng’s secret to stress relief was teasing such earnest individuals.

“Liking you means a lifetime of misfortune! And to have you know about it—that’s the most terrifying nightmare in this world!” Si Fenglang condemned.

Dan Fusheng chuckled. “I merely asked you to wiggle your backside a bit; don’t make it sound as if I’ve defiled your soul.”

“You call this not defiling?! Dan Fusheng, how much of a scoundrel are you?!” Si Fenglang cursed.

Dan Fusheng put down the food and early childhood education comics he had brought for Si Fenglang, then led Chen Gui out of the barrier. He sensed that Chen Gui’s mood wasn’t quite right. “Junior brother, don’t overthink it; I was just teasing him.”

“I know.” Chen Gui had simply realized a sudden truth—Dan Fusheng’s attitude toward him was indeed different from his attitude towards others. He also enjoyed joking with him, but what if he, like Si Fenglang, were to suddenly utter the word “like”? Speaking of which, how exactly did Si Fenglang fall for Dan Fusheng? This demon was truly wicked.

“Are you really alright?” Dan Fusheng waved a hand in front of Chen Gui. “What are you thinking about?”

Chen Gui clasped Dan Fusheng’s wrist, then placed his hand on Dan Fusheng’s cheek. Dan Fusheng showed no reaction, no discomfort. They were both accustomed to such physical contact.

‘Oh, it turns out I’m not much better than Jade Mastiff after all.’ Chen Gui gazed at Dan Fusheng’s face: slender brows and eyes, thin lips curled in a smile. His skin was fair, and sunlight, passing through the red gem in Dan Fusheng’s earring, cast a reddish glow upon his face. He was beautiful, as beautiful as ever. But Chen Gui was too familiar with this face; was there truly nothing special about it anymore?

“I’m going to incubate the eggs.” Chen Gui untied the cloth pouch from his waist and sat back down on the stone stool.

Dan Fusheng, whose face had been inexplicably touched by his junior brother, was a little bewildered. However, he didn’t dwell on it, merely reaching out and similarly stroking Chen Gui’s cheek twice. That way, he wouldn’t be at a disadvantage.

Some children came to the courtyard to play with Dan Fusheng. Chen Gui stared at the eggs, his gaze unwavering. His fingers pressed against an egg, rolling it back and forth. His inner demon had quieted considerably after Dan Fusheng’s promise. But now, he sensed it stirring once more. After a brief satisfaction came a prolonged emptiness.

He desired more privilege; he wanted to see Dan Fusheng’s panicked, helpless expression.

[It doesn’t matter if there’s no love. You can deceive him, make him value you more.]

Chen Gui’s movements paused.

[Ultimately, as long as you don’t soul-search, who would know if your love is true or false? You can do it, can’t you? Caress your senior brother, kiss him—you won’t resist. You can do it.]

[Oh, perhaps you’ve been hoping for this all along. You want your senior brother to be more intimate with you, to go a little further.]

Thump, thump. It was a heartbeat. Was there already a heartbeat in the egg?

Jade Mastiff had originally intended to pick a fight, hoping to seize the chance to smash the eggs. But after approaching, he noticed something was off. “Why are you looking at the eggs with such a deep expression?” Not just deep, but also very grave.

Chen Gui replied, “It’s too absurd.”

“Who? The egg?”