Chapter 34: I Want to Go Back to My Rabbit Burrow
Bai Xuzi was indignant at the suggestion, but for a moment, he couldn’t find the right words to retort.
What did he mean, he should ride in the sedan chair?
He wasn’t some delicate young bride waiting to be married off…
Just as he was grumbling to himself, a knock came at the door.
“Esteemed guests, the auspicious hour is almost upon us. The master sent this servant to summon you,” a maidservant said in a low voice, without entering the room.
Bai Xuzi peeked his head out from behind Fan Yue’s robes to look in her direction.
Why did her voice sound like it was trembling?
“Alright, thank you,” Bai Xuzi replied. Only then did the dark figure outside the door scurry away.
She seemed terrified.
He shifted his gaze to the window and saw that not only were there red lanterns, but also red “double happiness” characters pasted on the panes, setting the mood perfectly.
The candlelight flickered, and the shadow of a happiness character was cast perfectly on the headboard of the bed.
Bai Xuzi swallowed. He had to admire Shen Yuanzhi’s audacity—to come up with such a “fight fire with fire” plan and to use his own wedding to carry it out.
In a way, he was a truly dedicated “parent official.”
“Are you ready?” a voice from above reminded him.
Bai Xuzi looked up, only then realizing that the other man had been waiting for him the whole time. His face flushed with embarrassment, and he quickly scrambled off the bed.
He looked down, patting his clothes and his cheeks, then announced in a clear voice:
“I’m ready, Your Majesty.”
…
Dressed in his wedding attire, Shen Yuanzhi felt a persistent unease.
Although this was all for show, for the common people and the imperial court, the moment the suona began to play, his composure completely crumbled.
When he had first taken office, he’d heard all sorts of strange tales about Yunde Town, the most common of which was the story of “the bridegroom who went up Linshan.”
Tales of corpses littering the mountainside and men driven mad overnight were all based on real events.
It was impossible for Shen Yuanzhi not to be afraid.
But there was no turning back now; the arrow was already on the bowstring.
He sat on his horse and glanced back. A group of Azure Cloud Sect disciples, now changed into different clothes, followed behind him.
They looked relaxed, some even chatting in low voices.
Shen Yuanzhi instantly felt a wave of relief. If even the disciples of the Azure Cloud Sect weren’t concerned, then Linshan couldn’t be that terrifying.
Besides, he glanced back again.
Those two esteemed guests had also arrived and were now walking toward him.
With double protection, there would surely be no problem, Shen Yuanzhi reassured himself.
Bai Xuzi had indeed been quite frightened at first, but when he saw that the courtyard was filled with the same people from the Azure Cloud Sect, the terrifying atmosphere lessened considerably.
Especially after he saw a few of them cracking melon seeds and chatting.
“…”
They probably really didn’t take it seriously.
Bai Xuzi followed behind Fan Yue, looking left and right.
He confirmed that Xiao Yunhe was not among the crowd. It seemed he had indeed been ostracized.
He felt a strange pang of regret.
This was the protagonist’s only truly loyal junior brother in the entire sect…
He glanced at the group of disciples not far away, a look of pity in his eyes.
You all are doomed, sooner or later.
“Hey.” Bai Xuzi wasn’t paying attention and tripped on a stone, his body lurching forward.
His head bumped right into Fan Yue’s arm.
It made a solid thud.
Fan Yue: “…”
Is his eyesight also poor?
Fan Yue simply grabbed the little demon by the collar from behind and lifted him to stand in front of him.
“Stand properly.”
Bai Xuzi was instantly filled with shame and indignation. There were so many people around, and he was just lifted up like that.
It was so humiliating.
“Let’s go,” Fan Yue reminded him, not thinking there was anything inappropriate about what he had done.
He had to keep him close anyway. It would be troublesome if he bumped into something or got hurt.
It was a pity they were in the human world.
An image of the rabbit sleeping sprawled out on the tray flashed through his mind, and his expression softened imperceptibly.
But it quickly returned to normal.
Bai Xuzi pressed his lips together, trying his best to ignore the stares of the nearby servants, and walked forward with his back straight.
What are you looking at? If you came over here, you’d be lifted up just the same.
It’s not my fault!
He was fuming.
Shen Yuanzhi was currently on his horse, a large red silk ball tied around his waist. He looked the part.
“Esteemed guests, you’ve arrived.” His tone became incredibly polite, as if he wasn’t the one who had been trembling with fear just moments ago.
Bai Xuzi looked up at the magistrate, and that sense of admiration rose in him again.
This spirit of risking one’s own life—he truly was a “parent official.”
Fan Yue glanced up at him, his expression unchanging, which made Shen Yuanzhi feel a little awkward.
So he had to shift his gaze to the young man beside him.
“Young master, has your stay at the residence been comfortable?”
Hearing this, the corner of Bai Xuzi’s mouth twitched. That was a really good question, he thought. He hadn’t had a chance to enjoy himself at all these past three days.
First, at the tavern, he ate until he was stuffed.
Then, at the bun shop, his food was intercepted by a dog.
Finally, at the Shen residence, he slept like the dead.
These three days had passed as if they had never happened.
“Ah, yes, very comfortable, very comfortable.” Bai Xuzi, upholding the fine virtues of his culture, didn’t embarrass his host and replied with equal politeness.
A hint of pride appeared on Shen Yuanzhi’s face, suppressing his initial anxiety.
Perhaps because everyone had arrived and he had handled everything properly, he felt a rare surge of confidence.
A servant ran over from the front and cupped his hands.
“Master, the auspicious hour has arrived. We can depart.”
Hearing this, Shen Yuanzhi waved his hand in the air. The servant understood and shouted at the top of his lungs:
“Depart!”
Instantly, the suonas began to play, their high-pitched notes seeming to pierce the night sky.
Goosebumps rose on Bai Xuzi’s skin.
The procession slowly began to move, and Bai Xuzi had no choice but to walk beside the sedan chair, following at a slow pace.
The sound of the suonas was so loud that he wanted to cover his ears more than once.
But with others around, he had to endure it.
Bai Xuzi thought about the ancient wedding process. Usually, the groom would go to the bride’s house to pick her up.
Which meant this sedan chair should be empty.
What did the bride look like?
He would probably see her soon.
Fan Yue was not on his side but on the other, a short distance away, walking with his hands behind his back.
His posture was tall and straight, making him look more imposing than the groom.
Bai Xuzi pulled his gaze back and returned to watching the small stones on the road, walking his own path obediently.
But not long after—
“Achoo!”
A sneeze was lost amidst the sound of drums and suonas.
Fan Yue, up ahead, glanced back slightly, his expression unchanged.
Bai Xuzi shook his head, trying to clear it, and pulled his sleeves in tighter.
On a night like this, with gusts of cold wind, even a warm-blooded animal like him felt a little chilly.
Just as Bai Xuzi looked up, he happened to see Fan Yue, who was staring at him nonchalantly.
[You are a demon.] The thought was transmitted directly to him.
Bai Xuzi was stunned for a moment, not understanding.
[Ah, yes, I am.] He confirmed his identity, but he was still confused.
Why did he suddenly have to remind him of his identity?
Was something wrong?
He frowned, thinking hard, but couldn’t figure it out. However, a casual glance revealed the abnormality of the cultivators in the procession.
Their Daoist robes were also thin, but they showed no signs of being cold.
A sudden realization dawned on Bai Xuzi, and he understood.
He happily looked back at Fan Yue, and was about to communicate with his mind when he felt the air around him suddenly slow down.
The cold wind seemed to be blocked out.
[You don’t even know such a simple spell?] Fan Yue’s expression was one of complete bewilderment, unable to understand how this little demon had survived.
Hearing this, Bai Xuzi was instantly displeased.
What did he mean, “even”?
No one had ever taught him…
[I don’t.] Bai Xuzi answered honestly, a little dejected.
Were all demons born with magical abilities? He thought about it carefully and realized that the demons of Linshan didn’t seem to have any “teachers.”
Only the Azure Cloud Sect did.
Bai Xuzi was puzzled. Could it be that the demons of Linshan were all self-taught?
If that were the case, then he should be able to do it too, right?
[Your Majesty, can you teach me?] Bai Xuzi trotted forward a little, reaching the front of the sedan chair, and made a face at Fan Yue.
The burly men carrying the sedan chair had strange expressions on their faces. They wondered why this person had suddenly run to the front, but in this situation, they didn’t dare say anything.
They could only keep their eyes fixed ahead, suppressing the growing fear in their hearts.
Fan Yue glanced at the little demon. He wanted to lift him over, but it was inconvenient right now, so he replied:
[In a few days.]
Bai Xuzi nodded like a little garlic bulb, feeling a sense of having latched onto a powerful backer.
Even if his innate development was lacking, he could make up for it with acquired training!
If he studied hard, maybe he could become an outstanding demon too.
A burly man in the corner of his eye saw him nodding in one direction, and a chill ran down his spine.
But thinking that he might just be greeting an acquaintance, he tried to tell himself not to be so jumpy.
The man glanced to his side, wanting to see who this person was greeting.
But as soon as he turned his head—
There was no one there!
Instantly, one side of the sedan chair collapsed, and the man carrying it fell to the ground in a heap.
The suonas were forced to stop, and a commotion ran through the procession. On the market street, an eerie wind kicked up a swirl of fallen leaves.
Bai Xuzi was instantly scared. He backed away and grabbed onto Fan Yue’s clothes.
Just after he had successfully latched onto his backer, he had gotten a little carried away and, for the second time, tripped on a stone on the road.
If Fan Yue hadn’t grabbed him by the back of his collar, he might have really face-planted…
Shen Yuanzhi was instantly flustered. For the sedan chair to touch the ground midway through the procession was a major taboo!
“How do you do your jobs! All of you, do you still want your wages! This official, this official will definitely—” Although Shen Yuanzhi’s tone was harsh, he was also terrified, and his voice trembled as he spoke.
Especially now that the music had stopped and the procession was halted on this street.
That burly man was terrified, cold sweat beading on his face, his eyes filled with panic as he looked around…
Finally, he saw Bai Xuzi beside him.
“It was him, it was him!” He shrank back in fear, his broad back hitting the sedan chair with a loud “thud.”
Before Bai Xuzi could recover from the shock of being pointed at, he saw a straw dummy covered in red cloth tumble out of the sedan chair.
His pupils constricted, and he gripped Fan Yue’s clothes tightly.
After the straw dummy fell out, everyone in the procession was startled and moved away.
The originally neat procession instantly became chaotic.
Bai Xuzi’s heart pounded, and he couldn’t tear his eyes away.
The straw dummy on the ground even had lipstick smeared on it and eyes drawn with charcoal. It was crudely made.
But it created an uncanny valley effect, making one feel deeply uncomfortable.
Fan Yue looked down at the little demon, finding the burly man in front of him an eyesore.
So he raised his hand, intending to—
“Brother.” Bai Xuzi turned his head, his expression still pale, a hint of helplessness in it.
He had no choice but to lower his hand.
“What’s wrong with him? Why is he pointing at me…” Bai Xuzi genuinely didn’t know, and he looked up and asked in a small voice.
But before he could get an answer, the man on the ground shouted again.
“Why did you have to scare me for no reason! I was carrying the sedan chair just fine, why were you smiling at thin air?!” The man was helped up by his companions, still cursing.
The surrounding people all turned to look in this direction, and Bai Xuzi was instantly baffled.
“I-I wasn’t.”
When Shen Yuanzhi heard this, it was as if a pre-programmed response was triggered in his mind, and he automatically began to defend him:
“You peasant, don’t speak nonsense! It’s clear you were seeing things, why blame others!”
“But my lord, I—”
“You failed in your duties and caused trouble on top of that. This official will deal with you properly…”
Shen Yuanzhi had been sent from above, so he had some authority in this kind of situation. He managed to handle it by putting on a brave face.
The cold wind was still blowing. Bai Xuzi had almost completely disappeared, having moved entirely behind Fan Yue.
His brows were tightly furrowed. He didn’t want to be here at all.
He wanted to go back to his rabbit burrow.
The group of disciples from the Azure Cloud Sect were purely watching the show from the shadows, their faces showing no fear, especially their leader, the senior disciple—Wang Huan.
“He’s quite good-looking,” he said, sizing up the young man who had been pointed at, muttering to himself.
To think he could run into someone of this quality in this broken place.
He raised his hand and stroked his chin, a lecherous look in his eyes.
A slightly thinner disciple beside him stepped forward and said timidly:
“Senior Brother, I heard that Xiao Yunhe went to find the Crescent Moon Fish by himself. He won’t really take all the credit for the mission, will he? We’re here…” He didn’t finish his sentence, but his tone was clearly reluctant.
After all, they were cultivators. They should be handling important matters, not escorting a minor county magistrate.
If the Sect Master found out about this…
“Alright, shut up. I have my own plans. When we get to the mountain, you and a few others take the junior brothers and go. Make sure you bring that Xiao Yunhe kid back!” Wang Huan said, his eyes still fixed on the front as he gave his orders.
The junior brother had wanted to leave, but out of concern, he asked:
“Then what about you, Senior Brother? Aren’t we leaving together?”
Hearing this, Wang Huan looked very relaxed and said nonchalantly, “I’ll leave a little later. I’ll have some fun first.”
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