TDSDE 3

3. The Disguise Is Gone!?

Bai Yuanxiu squinted up at the glaring sun, then turned around with a worried look.

“How about we just go buy a carriage?”

Xiao Qing’s cheeks were flushed red at this point, looking like he was about to get heatstroke. Bai Yuanxiu’s heart ached just looking at him, regretting how impulsively he’d set out without even preparing a horse—just dragging the other along like this.

Not long ago, they’d run into a middle-aged couple who had been caught in a storm while traveling. The horse had slipped, the woman had fallen and broken her leg, and both their mounts had run off. With no way to ride, the husband had carried his wife through the rain for a long time, and had ended up catching a chill from the downpour.

Seeing how difficult it was for them to move, Xiao Qing had suggested giving the carriage to them.

He’d said they weren’t far from their destination anyway, and a bit of walking wouldn’t hurt. Bai Yuanxiu hadn’t thought much of it then—truth be told, with Xiao Qing holding his hand like that, his brain had already stopped functioning.

This wasn’t the first time Bai Yuanxiu had brought up the carriage. Xiao Qing, a bit helpless, said:

“I’m really fine. Not tired at all.”

But the more Bai Yuanxiu thought about it, the more regret he felt. Just as he was about to say something else, the young man in front of him suddenly shifted behind him—and a chill hit his back.

“Let’s go, my gallant hero Bai.”

That tone, that fond nickname—Bai Yuanxiu couldn’t even hold back the grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. He let Xiao Qing guide him forward, then reached back to grab the other’s hand so they could walk side by side.

—

Summer weather changed in the blink of an eye. Just moments ago, the sun had been blazing—now, thunder was rumbling in the distance.

Bai Yuanxiu sat before a fire, a freshly-plucked and bled pheasant beside him. He was debating whether to add a few more twigs when something cool brushed against his lips.

His hands were full. He gave the thing a quick glance, then instinctively bit down—only for his face to crumple from the sourness.

“Ugh, that’s so sour!”

At his reaction, a hint of laughter flickered in Xiao Qing’s eyes—but Bai Yuanxiu didn’t notice. He only heard the other ask,

“What about this one?”

Bai Yuanxiu leaned in, expecting another peeled fruit like before. But this time, his tongue brushed something cool and sweet—tinged with honey.

He instinctively curled his tongue around it, trying to taste more—but the treat was already pulled away.

He looked to the side and saw the pale, snow-like youth looking back at him with an expression of complete innocence, as though he hadn’t just dipped his finger in honey and placed it in Bai Yuanxiu’s mouth.

Bai Yuanxiu dragged his tongue across his canines hard, the sting helping him recover a sliver of reason. He put on a bright, carefree smile, pretending nothing had happened.

“Much better. Thanks, Ah Qing.”

But inside, Bai Yuanxiu was suffering.

Getting teased like this by the person he loved—how could he not react at all?!

And yet—

He looked down at the young man sleeping peacefully against his shoulder, and guilt crept in.

His Ah Qing was so pure—how could he possibly have been trying to seduce him?

It had to be summer’s fault! It was just too hot today!

Bai Yuanxiu stared up at the ruined temple’s roof, counting the spiderwebs on the beams with help from the lightning flashes. Following the threads, his thoughts scattered into all sorts of nonsense… but always circled back to Xiao Qing.

Thinking on it, Bai Yuanxiu realized it had only been two years since they met.

Back then, his so-called “brothers” had dumped his dead-drunk self at the foot of a mountain. When he woke up, he was completely lost, with nothing on him but his sword and a letter.

The letter was from the sect leader himself, telling him to find a nice, sunny spot with good scenery where he could feel the changing seasons.

Bai Yuanxiu: …

Was this… some kind of spiritual retreat?

He’d looked at his sword and wanted to scream. Couldn’t they at least have left him some travel funds?

Too scared to go back without completing the mission—because if he did, those bastards would laugh at him for a whole year—Bai Yuanxiu came up with a very efficient way to make money: robbery.

Now, most people robbed travelers. But Bai Yuanxiu was too lazy for that. He went straight for bandits.

And once he started, he realized he really enjoyed robbing bandits. So he just kept doing it, heading toward the Central Plains while unknowingly building quite a reputation for himself.

One day, after stealing a pile of still-warm silver from a group of bandits, he was lounging in a tree, ready for a nap—when he heard a greasy voice below.

“C’mon, sweetheart, come with us. We’ll treat you like a queen.”

Bai Yuanxiu didn’t even need to look to know—this was a bunch of thugs trying to snatch a pretty face.

He wasn’t usually the righteous hero type and was about to roll over and ignore it—until he sat up and saw a snowy figure.

It was the peak of summer, but Bai Yuanxiu felt like he was seeing a flake of ice.

He could tell it was a man, but still had to admire how beautiful he was—not handsome, but genuinely pretty.

Dressed in white, with long black hair loosely tied by a white ribbon, he should’ve looked unkempt and wild. But on him, it gave off a fragile, ethereal beauty.

Even faced with a few burly bandits, his expression didn’t change. He just stared straight ahead, indifferent to everything around him.

Bai Yuanxiu suddenly felt something strange in his heart. Before he could figure out what it was, he had already sent the three road bandits to meet the King of Hell.

The young man seemed startled by the scene. Bai Yuanxiu saw his pale face and suddenly had an epiphany. He blurted out, “Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. I’m just a passing swordsman.”

In the martial world, there was a term called “hero,” typically used to describe those righteous people who upheld justice. Given the sect Bai Yuanxiu belonged to, that title had nothing to do with him.

However, when the young man heard Bai Yuanxiu claim to be a swordsman, he seemed to relax, bowing to thank him. Bai Yuanxiu, nervous for some reason, even fumbled with his hands while trying to return the gesture, making the man’s lips curl into a slight smile.

And that smile—Bai Yuanxiu felt as if something had struck his chest.

It was like witnessing an iceberg melt, or spring blossoming.

Later—

A loud bang interrupted Bai Yuanxiu’s thoughts. Reflexively, he raised his right hand to shield the young man on his right. His eyes were filled with a chilling coldness—nothing like the warmth one would expect from a hero.

The intruder hadn’t noticed anyone inside the temple and stumbled to his feet, running straight inside.

A few moments later, a pair of moon-white boots crossed the broken threshold.

With a crash of thunder, a flash of lightning illuminated the figure of a handsome young man.

Like shadows, several men in black surrounded him, their heads lowered, waiting for instructions.

“Search!”

With the command, the black-clad men immediately dispersed, moving without a sound.

Bai Yuanxiu’s left hand reached for his sword at his waist, waiting for the black-clad man approaching him to get closer…

Bai Yuanxiu didn’t necessarily want to kill them, but he also didn’t mind if their heads stayed here. The only problem for him was how to explain it to Ah Qing.

“Don’t move.” A breathy voice suddenly sounded on his left side. Bai Yuanxiu turned his eyes, seeing someone crouched next to a broken mud statue.

After the thunder rumbled, and the flash of lightning lit up the ruined temple, Bai Yuanxiu saw the person holding a crossbow with a glowing blue arrow aimed directly at Xiao Qing behind him.

“Ah—!”

A scream echoed through the rainy night, followed by soft sobs from inside the temple, illuminated by flickering pale light—reminiscent of a ghostly scene from a tale.

The group of black-clad men and their leader stood silently, watching.

In front of them, a young man in light blue tight clothing had his right hand clenched into a fist as he viciously struck the man on the ground with his left hand. Another figure, beautiful like an immortal, crouched in the corner, covering his eyes as if trembling with fear.

Bai Yuanxiu felt like he was about to explode. Every day, it seemed someone was trying to harm Xiao Qing.

He’d let that sword-wielding boy get away earlier, but now he finally had someone in his grasp—of course, he’d take out his frustrations with a good beating.

After a while, Bai Yuanxiu felt it was enough. Mainly because he was worried if he kept hitting, this guy might actually die, and then his persona would be totally ruined.

Bai Yuanxiu took a deep breath, moved closer to Xiao Qing, and softened his tone. “It’s okay now. Don’t be scared.”

The onlookers:

Is this the same person??

The man in the golden-thread embroidered robe coughed lightly and cupped his hands to Bai Yuanxiu. “This brother, if you don’t mind, I’ll take this man away now?”

Bai Yuanxiu casually returned the gesture. “Please, go ahead.”

The group arrived quickly and left just as fast, leaving the broken temple empty once more.

“Does it hurt?” Xiao Qing grasped Bai Yuanxiu’s hand, his expression still unchanged, but his movements were careful as he touched the small wound on Bai Yuanxiu’s hand. He then lowered his head, leaning in to gently blow on it.

Bai Yuanxiu looked at the minor scratch on his hand, thinking that if the Azure Dragon Hall Master saw this, he’d probably say, “Wait a little longer, it’ll heal on its own.”

Unable to resist, Bai Yuanxiu turned his head to look at Xiao Qing’s expression. When he saw how serious the young man was, he couldn’t help but laugh.

Xiao Qing looked up in confusion, and Bai Yuanxiu didn’t hide his smile. “I just remembered when I got hurt.”

Xiao Qing froze for a moment, turning away without saying anything. However, his flushed ear was completely exposed to Bai Yuanxiu’s gaze.

Bai Yuanxiu knew he couldn’t tease any longer, so he quickly changed the subject. “I wonder where those people came from.”

Xiao Qing shook his head, indicating he didn’t know. He glanced at the sword at Bai Yuanxiu’s waist and casually asked, “Yuanxiu, was that move just now… the rumored left-handed sword technique?”