RIIDMDR chapter 70

 

After washing his face, Nan Xu decided he didn’t want to stay in the courtyard anymore. He slunk into the bedroom. He usually didn’t care about his image, but this face was really hard to show to others. He also wondered how Ting Chuan had managed to keep a straight face during their interactions over the past few days.

He was truly an experienced old demon, with a kind of composure that comes from seeing too much of the world.

Fortunately, Ting Chuan, who had listened to You An talk about his journey in the main hall, didn’t know what Nan Xu was thinking. Otherwise, even the word “old” would have made Ting Chuan uneasy.

Even while hiding in the bedroom, traces of wind and sun were visible on Nan Xu’s face—marks that couldn’t be cleaned with just a basin of water. They had to be slowly nurtured while waiting for the cracked skin to heal and grow new flesh, which would be replaced by a layer of new skin. Nan Xu roughly estimated that it would take a long time.

Recalling the last time he saw the Luo Yi sisters and Ting Chuan after leaving the formation, he noted that their clothing was slightly disheveled but their appearances were largely unchanged. Compared to demons, humans entering formations seemed to be at a disadvantage.

He had truly miscalculated.

Nan Xu envied the demons’ self-repairing abilities and sighed inwardly. Spiritual power was truly remarkable. His body moved unconsciously around the room. Now, the room had more furniture than before. Compared to the previously empty room with only a bed, it now felt more lived in. His hand accidentally touched a glass bottle on a cabinet. Seeing the label that read “Baby Cream,” a spark flashed in his mind.

Right, in the human world, he would buy medicine to treat injuries, so why, after living in this mountain for so long, hadn’t he thought to put something on his face to speed up the peeling process? The longer he lived here, the rougher he became.

When he opened the store, he found that the medicine section only sold outrageously priced human emergency medicine. There wasn’t a single ointment for facial care. Nan Xu felt regretful. Looking at the few thousand silver coins in the top left corner, he felt frustrated for the first time at having money he couldn’t spend.

Since the system couldn’t help, he still had to find a local doctor. Nan Xu opened the door and found Zhi Xing holding a small ceramic bowl and about to knock.

Nan Xu paused and stepped aside. “Looking for me?”

Zhi Xing nodded. The gaze behind him made him uncomfortable. He quickly slipped into the innkeeper’s bedroom using the space Nan Xu made.

After Nan Xu closed the door, Zhi Xing finally exhaled. He had spent three days with You An in the shop and was all too familiar with that kind of blatant gaze, but he was usually timid around people and unable to endure such intense eyes.

His heart pounded for a while before calming down. Remembering his purpose, he held the small ceramic bowl and said to Nan Xu, “I made some ointment. It’s rough, but it should help with the innkeeper’s injuries. Would you like me to apply some?”

It was like offering a pillow when someone is feeling sleepy. Zhi Xing had already prepared the ointment without Nan Xu even asking. How could there be such a thoughtful child in the world?

The smile in Nan Xu’s eyes couldn’t be hidden. He quickly replied, “Yes, of course I want it.”

The ointment was made from herbs that Zhi Xing had prepared outside the courtyard. The juice didn’t look appetizing, but it didn’t smell as bad as expected. Without a mirror, Nan Xu closed his eyes and applied the ointment to his face. His whole face was unrecognizable anyway. The ointment felt icy and cool on his skin, and the burning sensation gradually subsided. It felt very comfortable.

Outside the room, You An looked away and said to his uncle, “Did even the frightening little demon come here to work? Would such a timid innkeeper really take him in?”

After speaking, You An had a sudden realization. If the young innkeeper would accept a lazy demon like his uncle, then timidity could hardly be considered a flaw. Considering the mountain was remote and few demons stayed there, the innkeeper had no choice.

“That’s the direct descendant of the Xishan Bai family, the next head of the Xishan family,” Tingchuan said calmly.

You An understood his uncle’s meaning just by hearing the other’s identity. He would surely provoke the Fox Clan in the future. Offending the Bai family of West Mountain would be unwise.

You An’s shoulders slumped, and disappointment showed on his face as if he had lost an interesting toy. He muttered softly, “With such a soft personality, how could he become family head?”

Ting Chuan smiled, feeling that the temperament had truly been passed down.

He remembered saying a similar thing in his youth, though it was about Ting Shu. Later, after hearing it, Yun Yi suddenly challenged him, and they fought repeatedly until dusk and dawn. It was only Xiao Yao who had to pull Jingyuan apart to separate them.

Even if neither of them intended to kill the other, they could only manage not to actually kill each other. Yun Yi’s cultivation was still somewhat weak, and he was badly injured. Yet the one two hundred years older than Yun Yi didn’t fare much better—he was bruised all over. At that time, Tingchuan still thought Yun Yi’s sudden attack was completely baffling. It wasn’t until Ting Shu hurried over to tend to their wounds that Nan Xu noticed the lingering, tender look Yun Yi gave Ting Shu, and his obedient, head-lowered demeanor as he let himself be scolded—and it seemed he finally understood.

Now, with his own nephew saying such things, who knows who might come to give him a beating next.

An didn’t know what his uncle was thinking. After complaining, he remembered his own business. After his transformation, he traveled far and wide, returning only once every hundred years to pay his respects to his parents. This time, he passed through Zhuyu Mountain and saw the enormous, unique billboard outside. He turned and entered.

It was said that his father had resisted a great calamity in this area and died shortly after recovering from severe injuries. He had come here secretly before, but the traces of that calamity were gone. A new mountain had risen that looked no different from other mountains, just broader. Shortly after entering, he accidentally wandered into a maze and got lost. It wasn’t particularly interesting, and afterward, he lost interest in exploring.

The demon world had spread mysterious tales about this mountain, but You An didn’t care much. This time, as he was passing by, he learned that a demon had opened an inn in the mountain. He was curious who could be so daring and wanted to see.

Unexpectedly, entering this time wasn’t as dangerous as before. There were signs to guide him along the way, leading him smoothly to the small courtyard.

In the courtyard, there were no powerful demons like his uncle. Only a timid little hedgehog demon and a high-and-mighty, yet empty, wild boar demon were there.

“I’ll descend the mountain tomorrow. Will you come with me back to East Sea Mountain, Uncle?” You An asked.

The hundred-year ritual was not to be missed, and as the younger brother, he naturally had to attend. Ting Chuan nodded slightly. “Stay two more days. We’ll descend together.”

You’an wondered why his uncle wanted to stay two more days. Since there was still time before the centennial, however, there wasn’t any urgency, so You’an didn’t ask any further questions. Besides, the main peak had abundant spiritual energy and was very comfortable to live in. It was no wonder his uncle had left East Sea Mountain to come work here, probably to recover. He had just checked his uncle’s spiritual sea. After being depleted for thousands of years, it now showed signs of repair, much to his surprise.

After applying the ointment, he ate the dinner Zhi Xing had prepared. Nan Xu was still energetic, but his body was exhausted from days in the formation, so he went to bed early. Ting Chuan naturally followed.

You An watched his uncle enter the innkeeper’s room and felt strange. He glanced at Zhi Xing, who was sitting on a bamboo chair reading under the light of the night pearl, and brought a small stool closer.

The story in the book was captivating. Zhi Xing was engrossed and unaware that someone was approaching until a head appeared near his book. Startled, he dropped the book.

He quickly reached to catch it, but he was too slow. Fortunately, the other person caught it in time. Caring for the book, Zhi Xing smoothed the wrinkles and felt sorry. This must be a precious book.

You An raised his brows at Zhi Xing’s careful movements, wondering why such an unremarkable book was so precious.

Zhi Xing hugged the book to his chest and finally looked at the person who caused it to fall. You An, lazy as ever, didn’t notice Zhi Xing’s displeasure. When Zhi Xing finally noticed him, You An asked, “Why is my uncle staying in the same room as the innkeeper?”

Zhi Xing glared at You An for a moment, frustrated by his ignorance, and said irritably, “Of course they share a room. Not only that, but they also sleep in the same bed!”

You An was shocked and couldn’t believe it. He repeated, “Same bed? How is that possible?”

Zhi Xing’s anger lessened slightly at his astonishment. Seemingly retaliating for You An’s lack of insight, he said, “The innkeeper and Ting Chuan share a deep bond. Of course they share a bed.”

You An looked toward Nan Xu’s bedroom, the dreamy feeling from that evening returned. Deep bond? What kind of deep bond?

“My uncle hasn’t bloomed in thousands of years. Where’s the deep bond? You must be mistaken,” You An said.

Zhi Xing hugged the book and turned away. “Believe it or not, their love is strong. Senior Ting Chuan attends to the innkeeper every day and cares deeply for him. You’ll see tomorrow!”

He said, quickly going to his room and not giving You An a chance to stop him. The door slammed, leaving You An stunned in the courtyard.

His uncle actually cared deeply for someone? And tended to them every day? You An understood every word, yet he felt like he didn’t understand.

Was the innkeeper in the mountains extraordinary, so his uncle had no choice? Or did he have a unique charm? You An recalled the innkeeper’s face. His features were average, but his face had seen something. It had a beauty that was indifferent to others. You An couldn’t understand why his uncle would fall in love.

But seeing them naturally enter a bedroom made it believable. He had been away for decades. Could there already be a little aunt?

Probably influenced by the little hedgehog’s words from last night, You An woke up early the next day. At dawn, the innkeeper hadn’t risen yet. You An watched his uncle water the flowers, clean up, cut the grass, and feed the chickens and sheep. That “attending every day” was indeed true.

 

---

**Author’s note:**

Zhi Xing: Your uncle has a Crush! He doesn’t need you anymore!

You An: ?!