WPCID 50: Don’t Come Near Me Again, Lu Buzhuo

Shen Zhou dragged the person back into the room but didn’t interrogate him. He placed him and the paper sword aside and ignored them, then returned to the door, squatted down, and pressed his ears tightly against the door panel, his brow furrowed.

Lu Buzhuo felt a little neglected.

In truth, Shen Zhou hadn’t done much. No matter how unhappy he was last night, he only gave a couple of shoves and was still willing to be lulled to sleep, not at all like an angry Dao companion.

But it was precisely this lack of action that created an inexplicable sense of empty panic in his heart. If he were to leave one day and never come to Shuyu Peak again, would Shen Zhou continue on as if nothing had happened?

At this thought, Lu Buzhuo immediately spoke up, “Shen Zhou…”

“Shh,” Shen Zhou said without turning his head. 

“Don’t be noisy.”

Lu Buzhuo: “…”

He fell silent for a moment, got off the paper sword, and walked to the door to squat face-to-face with Shen Zhou.

Shen Zhou was completely engrossed in listening. Even face-to-face like this, he didn’t spare him a glance, his full attention on the commotion outside the door.

Lu Buzhuo felt neglected again.

He listened absently to the noise outside. When it quieted down a bit, he finally opened his mouth, “Last night, I…”

“I think I hurt Xie Xianqing’s feelings,” Shen Zhou said uncertainly. He had never been good at guessing what others were thinking. He glanced at Lu Buzhuo, seeking confirmation. 

“Is Xie Xianqing hurt?”

“…A little,” Lu Buzhuo had no choice but to answer patiently, discussing someone else’s affairs. 

“He probably didn’t expect that Chu Xuan knew all along.”

“Chu Xuan doesn’t seem very happy either,” Shen Zhou continued to speculate. 

“Chu Xuan said they needed to find a place to talk, so they left. Something is going to happen.”

“Those two will be fine.” Lu Buzhuo’s legs were getting numb from squatting. He stood up, wanting to pull Shen Zhou up. 

“Weren’t you just angry about last night…”

Just as he grabbed the sleeve, the soft black fabric slipped through his fingers like a live fish diving into water.

Shen Zhou pushed the door open and chased after them.

Lu Buzhuo stood rooted to the spot, the soft touch of the fabric still lingering in his palm.

The “swish” sound as the cloth was pulled from his palm was very light, yet it landed heavily in his ears. It sounded so crisp and decisive, so fast that it left him unable to react.

After a moment, he followed him out.

The medicinal bath tub in Xie Xianqing’s room had not yet been removed. Because it was left unattended, it had even started to boil. Steam billowed and swirled, filling the entire room with a hazy mist, as if covered by a layer of gauze.

As soon as Xie Xianqing returned, he hurriedly turned off the fire and opened the windows.

“You want to talk here?” Chu Xuan confirmed.

Xie Xianqing came back after opening the windows, his face cold. 

“What difference does it make where we talk?”

The mist wouldn’t dissipate so quickly. Looking at someone through this thin veil, even an angry expression was softened, resembling a pout.

Chu Xuan had to get closer to see him, but it was still indistinct. His features were like smudged ink wash, dissolving at a single touch.

How strange, Chu Xuan thought. Why was there always a barrier between him and Xie Xianqing? Sometimes a wall, sometimes mist, as if they had never truly faced each other.

As he was thinking, the mist before him was parted as the figure surged forward.

Xie Xianqing opened his folding fan and fanned himself, his expression slightly agitated, hiding a trace of imperceptible panic. He decisively snapped the fan shut with a “thwack” and preemptively demanded, “Explain!”

“Explain what?” Chu Xuan was calm.

Xie Xianqing clutched the fan even tighter. 

“You eavesdropped on my sleep-talking. Aren’t you going to give me an explanation?”

Chu Xuan said, “Oh,” and stated flatly, “I don’t know what kind of Dao companion I like, and I’m not getting married. I’m not interested in women, nor in men… I’ve forgotten some of the other sleep-talking.”

Xie Xianqing: “…”

What kind of nonsensical things had he been saying in his sleep?

Xie Xianqing felt as if he were already dead.

The other party was still pressing relentlessly, “Speaking of which, it was you who insisted I stay at Shuyu Peak that day, and it was also you who arranged the room. Xie Xianqing, what’s your explanation?”

Xie Xianqing: “…”

Chu Xuan waited for a while, then glanced at him again. 

“If there’s nothing to explain, I’ll be leaving. I still have many sect affairs to attend to.”

He feigned turning to leave.

Before he reached the door, his wrist was grabbed from behind with a force that could almost break it.

Turning back, he saw the desperate, all-or-nothing look in Xie Xianqing’s eyes.

“You—what do you really think?” Xie Xianqing’s brow was tightly furrowed, as if it took a great deal of effort to speak. 

“About that—a Dao companion, what do you really think?”

Chu Xuan looked at him for a while. His gaze was like a piercing sword qi, focused and sharp, sizing him up and down as if to dissect him.

After a long moment, he said, “I don’t plan on finding a Dao companion.”

Xie Xianqing slowly released his hand and blinked, as if just waking from a dream. 

“…Oh.”

After a moment of silence, he said again, “Oh.”

The mist had almost completely dissipated, so thin it had nearly vanished.

He thought Chu Xuan was about to leave, but unexpectedly, not only did he not leave, he took the initiative to approach and offer an explanation. 

“I truly have never thought about finding a Dao companion. Dao companions are troublesome. My senior brother is an example.”

Xie Xianqing: “…Oh.”

Chu Xuan: “What about you?”

“What about me?” Xie Xianqing was utterly crestfallen at the moment, only wishing for him to leave quickly so he could be alone. He answered casually, “I—of course I want a Dao companion. I’m not becoming a monk.”

“Would anyone do?” Chu Xuan said. 

“I have a list here. It was originally a list of potential Dao companions for my senior brother, but it wasn’t used. If you want it, come back to Little Yin Peak with me.”

Xie Xianqing froze.

A crack seemed to split open in his heart. Humiliation, shame, and his pulverized self-esteem boiled like magma within it, finally erupting into flames of anger.

“Anyone would do? What do you take me for, Sect Master Chu? I used to think you were just naturally emotionally detached, but now I see you’re completely devoid of human understanding! I’m at least half an elder to you, and in terms of seniority, I’m even higher than your grandmaster. Do you think being the Sect Master gives you the right to walk around with a sour face all day and not speak like a human being? You’re even worse than Shen Zhou! At least his ears are good and he understands things!”

Under the window.

Shen Zhou, having been inexplicably called out, tensed up and grabbed Lu Buzhuo’s arm, whispering, “Lu Buzhuo, for Dao companions, it’s either you are or you aren’t. Why are they talking so much nonsense?”

Lu Buzhuo: “…”

“So are they or aren’t they? Lu Buzhuo, why did Xie Xianqing suddenly get angry? Chu Xuan didn’t say anything harsh. Lu Buzhuo, Lu Buzhuo…”

Lu Buzhuo: “…”

Suddenly, a loud crash of a table and chair overturning came from inside the room.

Both of them were startled and turned in unison, peering over the windowsill to take a look.

It was unclear what had happened inside the room.

Xie Xianqing was supporting himself unsteadily on the edge of the bath tub, his cheeks flushed red from the steam. A small, low stool was overturned beside him.

“You… you… you you… mmph…”

Chu Xuan had him practically pinned against the wooden tub. Hearing the sound, he slightly released his lips and whispered in the thin mist, “Since you insist on having a Dao companion, and no one else will do, then it has to be me.”

Xie Xianqing was completely stunned.

When Chu Xuan pried open his teeth and kissed him, his mind was filled with thoughts like, “Wait, this doesn’t seem right, does it? We’re separated by who knows how many generations.” “What is he saying? Why does it sound like I forced him?” “A dog’s mouth can’t spit out ivory—no, where did Chu Xuan learn these things??” “…This is actually quite comfortable, maybe I’ll just stay dazed for a bit longer.”

And other such random thoughts.

In short, there was no resistance. He was pressed against the side of the bath tub and kissed for a long time.

After a moment, he was released. He stood up, panting, his eyes a little wet. He wiped his lips forcefully with his fingers, unable to tell if it was out of anger or shame, and asked sheepishly, “What exactly do you mean?”

“I truly never thought of finding a Dao companion, but you want one.” Chu Xuan’s expression seemed unchanged, but the light in his eyes was much brighter. 

“I just gave you one. Not enough?”

Shen Zhou didn’t get to see the rest.

After Chu Xuan said the words “not enough,” Lu Buzhuo jumped up as if his butt was on fire, grabbed Shen Zhou, and dragged him away.

Shen Zhou was being dragged along, thinking, “Lu Buzhuo, are they Dao companions now?”

Lu Buzhuo said hastily, “Yes.”

“Then…”

“You haven’t listened to a word I’ve said since just now.” Lu Buzhuo rarely interrupted, then paused, feeling his emotions had been somewhat affected by what had just happened in the room. He took a slightly calmer breath. 

“Shen Zhou, let’s talk too.”

“Talk about what?” Shen Zhou finally looked up from a series of deep thoughts like “Xie Xianqing and Chu Xuan are Dao companions, so what should I do?” and “Does this mean I can’t go to Xie Xianqing for pastries anymore?” He looked at Lu Buzhuo, his tone seven parts confusion and three parts coldness. 

“Are you talking about the little paper figurine? Just don’t come again tonight.”

“…Is there truly no room for reconciliation between us?” Lu Buzhuo’s Adam’s apple bobbed. There were many things he wanted to say, but they were all stuck in his throat, out of order. 

“Many things… were not actually my intention…”

“I’ve already forgiven you for many things, from this life, and the last,” Shen Zhou said, shaking his wolf ears and looking back in the direction they came from. 

“No one was ever good to me before, so when you touched my ears, I thought you were the best Dao companion in the world.”

“It’s different now. Xie Xianqing touches my ears too, and so does Chu Xuan. So I won’t forgive you this time. Although Shuyu Peak isn’t as beautiful as the Bamboo Retreat, it’s prettier than Little Yin Peak.”

“…Then why did you keep that little paper figurine, carefully pressed under your pillow?”

As they spoke, they had already arrived back at the house where Shen Zhou was staying.

Shen Zhou pulled his hand back, pushed the door open to go inside, and came out again quickly, holding the medical book, the little paper figurine, and the storage ring. He placed them one by one back into Lu Buzhuo’s palm.

“I’m returning everything to you.” Shen Zhou thought for a moment, then took off the silver ornament on his wolf ear. 

“This is yours too.”

Lu Buzhuo looked at the things in his hand, unable to say a word.

“I originally wanted to keep these things. But you’re always using them as an excuse to try and reconcile, just like how you secretly slept in the little paper figurine last night. So I can only return them all to you.”

Shen Zhou didn’t look at him again, simply saying, “Don’t come near me again, Lu Buzhuo.”

The door closed softly, and suddenly, the courtyard was empty.

So empty it was frightening.