TDSDE 33

33. Don’t come any closer!

Bai Yuanxiu had just been feeling a rare moment of relief—finally, he no longer had to juggle the dual identities of “Hero Bai” and “Demonic Sect Protector.” A strange sense of freedom bloomed in his chest, and he even found himself anticipating the looks on those righteous Sect folks’ faces when they uncovered the truth.

He turned around to face the bearded middle-aged man, flashing a bright, easygoing smile. “I—”

Puh-puh! A few Demonic Sect members nearby suddenly coughed up blood and collapsed to the ground, groaning in pain. One of them pointed a trembling finger at Bai Yuanxiu. “As expected of a renowned swordsman of this era…”

Off in the distance, a few more collapsed—two even tumbled from a rooftop, cushioning their falls with inner energy before clutching their chests and glaring viciously at Bai Yuanxiu. “You actually sensed us… You really are extraordinary.”

Bai Yuanxiu: “???”

Lowering his gaze, Bai Yuanxiu caught sight of a disciple who had his back to the newcomers. The man licked the blood off the corner of his mouth and made a face like he’d just sucked on a lemon.

Ah. Now Bai Yuanxiu understood.

These guys planned this whole thing.

So you’re gonna screw with me, huh?!

Just as Bai Yuanxiu raised his hand, the middle-aged man shouted, “Hero Bai! Please, have mercy!”

There was an unspoken rule in the martial world: unless there was serious enmity or one side was truly evil, you weren’t supposed to kill in a normal fight.

Though everyone called it the “Demonic Sect,” most people knew they weren’t really wicked—just a bit unorthodox.

The man grabbed Bai Yuanxiu’s wrist, stopping him from drawing the sword at his waist, and earnestly pleaded, “Hero Bai, they’ve already admitted defeat. Let them go.”

Bai Yuanxiu felt like laughing from sheer frustration. But the moment his lips twitched into a smile, the man breathed a sigh of relief and barked at the cultists scattered on the ground, “What are you waiting for? Go!”

As Bai Yuanxiu watched the cultists flee and glanced at the righteous-looking man beside him, a wave of exhaustion washed over him.

“Young man, are you alright?”

The middle-aged man’s kind words prompted Bai Yuanxiu to instantly put on his signature “Hero Bai” smile. He stepped closer and echoed, “Yeah, are you hurt anywhere?”

He stared dead at Zhou Xiaoxiao, gaze so chilling it looked like the Reaper himself had arrived. Zhou Xiaoxiao quickly shook his head like mad.

The man said he’d escort Zhou Xiaoxiao to safety, but the boy wouldn’t hear of it. He just thanked them both and ran off.

Bai Yuanxiu used his inner energy, quietly counting to himself. Sure enough, two beats later—thump, the faintest of sounds.

He exhaled in relief and turned back to the man. “Brother Xu, what brings you here?”

The bearded man—Xu—hesitated, clearly unsure of how to answer.

That pause immediately set off alarm bells in Bai Yuanxiu’s head. He cupped his hands in a hasty salute. “Thanks, Brother Xu. I’ll be going now.”

Too late.

“Hero Bai, where are you off to?”

The voice was soft, warm—even flirtatious. Goosebumps exploded across Bai Yuanxiu’s skin.

He turned around. At some point, a gaunt, pale young man had appeared behind him. Though his complexion had a sickly greenish cast, two faint blushes suddenly bloomed on his cheeks when their eyes met. “Hero Bai, it’s been so long.”

Bai Yuanxiu took half a step back, forcing a smile. “Yes… it really has been a while.”

The youth darted around him in a quick circle, eyes sparkling. “Oh my, Hero Bai… where’s that little young master who’s always by your side?”

“The clinic,” Bai Yuanxiu answered. But the youth’s expression instantly twisted, and his voice rasped like it had been squeezed through clenched teeth: “Oh? Did you hurt him?”

Bai Yuanxiu felt his brain throb. He silently told himself not to get angry, not to lash out, then kicked off the ground and leapt onto the rooftop.

He flashed a charming, friendly smile. “Sorry to disappoint you—we’re doing just fine. Farewell!”

And then he ran. No hesitation.

That creepy young man was known as The Ghost Groom, ranked consistently in the top forty on the martial world’s Mysterious Talents list. A troublesome character, to say the least.

But… that wasn’t the reason Bai Yuanxiu was so terrified.

As he turned a corner, a hand suddenly lunged out of the shadows—holding a broadsword. The edge gleamed, barely an inch from his face.

Instinct kicked in. Bai Yuanxiu immediately leaned back and punched the attacker’s wrist.

His blow was powerful and reinforced with internal energy—normally enough to smash through a wall. But the young man simply let out a low, pleased groan.

The slender youth stepped out of the shadows. His wrist had been bent into an unnatural angle, and the oversized broadsword clattered to the ground.

Cradling his face with his uninjured hand, he wore an expression of sheer ecstasy. “Yes… yes! That’s the feeling!”

Every hair on Bai Yuanxiu’s body stood on end. He turned and bolted.

Behind him, the ghoul-like youth followed closely, neither fast nor slow, just staying right at his side. Bloodshot eyes locked onto him without blinking.

Bai Yuanxiu was instantly reminded of the horror story picture books he’d read as a kid. His blood ran cold. He sped up, yelling as he ran:

“STAY AWAY FROM ME!!!”

Bai Yuanxiu’s footwork was above average, but The Ghost Groom… was a master.

They ended up circling the town twice. The Ghost Groom stuck to him like glue, wearing an expression of infatuated bliss. Bai Yuanxiu was on the brink of losing it.

He finally vaulted high into the air and drew his sword, pointing it straight at the man.

But The Ghost Groom just squealed with delight. “Yes! Come on! Slash me, cut me—bleed me dry!”

Bai Yuanxiu was this close to losing his mind.

The Ghost Groom’s origins were a mystery. His body was… strange. Pain turned into something else for him—something pleasurable. And the weaker he became, the more monstrous his resistance to damage grew.

It was said that someone had once put out a bounty on The Ghost Groom’s corpse. But no matter how many fatal attacks those people launched at him, in the end, they all died at the hands of the completely deranged The Ghost Groom.

To this day, even though The Ghost Groom’s ranking on the Jianghu’s Mysterious Talents List wasn’t particularly high, no one wanted to cross paths with him.

Back then, Bai Yuanxiu got so fed up with this guy pestering him that he waited until Xiao Qing was away and gave the man a full-force beating. But that only made things worse—The Ghost Groom ended up clinging to him like a hyena that had caught the scent of meat.

If Bai Yuanxiu didn’t fight, he’d be driven mad by the guy’s behavior and attitude. But if he did fight, he’d just be giving the man exactly what he wanted.

In short—don’t hit him and you’ll go crazy, hit him and he gets happy.

A mess of thoughts scrambled around in Bai Yuanxiu’s head, making him feel a bit dizzy.

Suddenly, a flash of white appeared in front of The Ghost Groom, blocking his path.

The white robe fluttered, the hem sweeping up a sharp chill as it moved. This figure looked like someone carved from snow and ice—but at the moment, their eyes were red, tear tracks streaking their face.

The Ghost Groom froze instantly. He looked at the young man in front of him, then at Bai Yuanxiu in the distance, confused.

“Hero Bai, this must be that young master who’s always with you, right?”

Bai Yuanxiu, who’d overshot his sprint, turned back and took one look—and understood immediately.

Most likely, Xiao Qing’s wind rash hadn’t fully cleared up yet, and the breeze made his eyes water uncontrollably.

Before Bai Yuanxiu could say a word, Xiao Qing flung himself into his arms. He turned his head slightly, brows furrowed, tearful eyes gazing toward The Ghost Groom.

“Can you not take Yuanxiu away from me?”

The Ghost Groom: ???

Bai Yuanxiu: ……

The Ghost Groom wanted to say I wasn’t trying to take him, I just wanted him to hit me, but looking at that frail and pitiful young man, he felt like that would be a really bad thing to say right now.

As for Bai Yuanxiu… he chose to shut up.

The Ghost Groom wasn’t always in that insane state. Most of the time, he looked perfectly normal on the surface.

Back when Bai Yuanxiu and Xiao Qing were still pretending not to be a couple, The Ghost Groom would occasionally show up in front of the two of them. But whenever Xiao Qing wasn’t there, The Ghost Groom would instantly switch modes—like a street performer flipping masks.

Now that Xiao Qing had said something like that, The Ghost Groom was clearly feeling miserable. After all, he really didn’t have that kind of interest in Bai Yuanxiu.

Looking at Xiao Qing’s pitiful, tense little face, The Ghost Groom finally squeezed out a frustrated, “Farewell,” then melted into the shadows like a ghost—his presence vanishing completely within moments.

Once they were sure no one was nearby, Xiao Qing wiped his eyes expressionlessly and stepped half a pace back.

Bai Yuanxiu didn’t even notice. He, still reeling from the near escape, threw his arms around Xiao Qing with a sudden, tight hug.

“Thank god you showed up.”

He hunched slightly, resting his chin on Xiao Qing’s shoulder like he used to a long time ago, rubbing his head gently against the side of Xiao Qing’s neck.

“I’m so tired. I want to go home.”

Xiao Qing quietly placed a hand on his back and replied,

“Okay. We’ll go back tomorrow.”

One speaking, one answering—just like before.

No… maybe not quite like before.

After holding on for about two breaths, Xiao Qing suddenly sneezed. His voice was muffled.

“Alright, get up. You’re heavy.”

Bai Yuanxiu groaned dramatically and reluctantly straightened up, then grabbed Xiao Qing’s hand and headed west.

After a few steps, Xiao Qing frowned slightly and asked,

“Aren’t we going home?”

The city gates were to the south, and judging by the time, they could probably still buy two horses at the southern courier post before the market closed.

Bai Yuanxiu didn’t turn around, just kept dragging him forward.

“You’re still not fully better. Of course, we need to get you medicine first.”

Xiao Qing’s fingers twitched inward slightly.

“…Resting is enough. I don’t need medicine.”

“No—way—” Bai Yuanxiu chanted, then suddenly paused and turned around with a serious expression.

“Ah Qing, don’t tell me you’re afraid the medicine’s bitter?”

Xiao Qing shook his head without hesitation. “No.”

But that night, when the medicine bowl was brought over… there was also a bowl of candied fruits beside it.

The candied fruit was amber-colored, sweet and fragrant—jujubes preserved in honey.

—

—Five nights later, in the middle of the night, inside the White Tiger Hall of the Demonic Sect—

The kitchen, lit with candles all around, was nearly as bright as daytime. The cook preparing the midnight meal paused to take a breath, then resumed kneading the oil-slicked dough.

In the stillness of the night, under the flickering candlelight, a second shadow silently appeared beside her own.