RIIDMDR chapter 98

 

Nan Xu was stunned. He hadn’t expected that to be the reason.

The mountain range was vast, and the path was long. Initially, he had also felt frustrated and trapped, unable to leave the mountains. Later, when the system rewarded him with a temporary residence—three uses of a resting cabin—he thought about going out to see the world beyond. But before he knew it, he had used all three chances within the small formation. Still, Nan Xu didn’t feel any regret. Given the situation inside the formation at the time, survival was more important than leaving the mountain. Besides, even without the system’s reward, he knew he would eventually find a way out.

Only, the repeated rebuilding of the cabin required his effort and care. He had cultivated the large stretch of land behind the house little by little. Now, the vegetables were ripe, and the fruit was abundant. He had stayed in these mountains for such a long time without realizing it. The friends who came to rest and heal and the guests who stayed at the inn occasionally had all become part of his life.

From the farthest point where he had first started, to the path where he met Tingchuan, and then carrying the bamboo basket to the stone houses of the canine tribe beneath the main peak, he knew he would be able to go even farther in the future.

He no longer felt imprisoned by the mountains. As he walked across the land and gathered all kinds of wild fruits, he began to feel that eventually, he would grasp the whole mountain range.

This change in mood was influenced by Ting Chuan—his silent companionship, his willingness to share daily chores that would have otherwise kept Nan Xu confined to the courtyard, and his habit of bringing back things he thought Nan Xu would like.

Thinking of this, Nan Xu couldn’t help but feel that this fox was quite low-key, quietly showing kindness in his own way.

“Let’s go back,” Nan Xu said.

Ting Chuan softly murmured “mm” and naturally took the bamboo basket from him. Nan Xu thought Ting Chuan’s long robe shouldn’t be stained by even a speck of dust. He unconsciously recalled the graceful, unrestrained figure he’d once seen on the opposite cliff. Yet, this behavior, so unlike that image, felt oddly familiar, as if he’d seen it long ago.

After walking a few steps, Ting Chuan realized that he couldn’t hear Nan Xu’s footsteps. He turned and asked, “Why aren’t you coming?”

“Coming,” Nan Xu replied, snapping out of his thoughts and matching Ting Chuan’s pace.

The mountain path was narrow; they walked behind each other. Ting Chuan brushed aside the branches and vines reaching onto the trail. Following behind him, Nan Xu squeezed the persimmon in his hand until it was soft and squishy.

Staring at Ting Chuan’s back, Nan Xu thought again of the scene in his dream—those few young men. He had already heard the story from more than three thousand years ago, yet Ting Chuan’s figure had been absent from the vision within the formation for some reason.

Now, Nan Xu wasn’t even sure if the dream, which seemed to take place before the vision, came from the memory that came with signing ownership of Zhu Yu Mountain or if it came from the mountain range itself, which held the remnants of an obsession from when they had parted. Perhaps it came from an inextricable connection to him and that story.

Nan Xu tended to believe it was one of the first two reasons. Yet the voice he had heard while unconscious inside the formation sounded as though it had come from deep within his own heart. Who could speak from inside his heart?

And then there were the intricate markings on the cliff. Some of them felt strangely familiar, though he couldn’t recall where from. Suddenly, he remembered that the little section in the corner was exactly like the pattern that appeared when he formed a spirit contract with the Canine Tribe.

After Xu Ji signed the contract, a tattoo-like mark appeared on his arm. Later, when Xu Le came to play, he saw the same mark on his arm. However, although he was the one who signed the contract, his arm remained clean and unmarked.

Nan Xu was lost in thought, his expression serious—so unlike his usual easygoing, smiling self that Ting Chuan felt a bit unsettled.

“What are you thinking about?” Ting Chuan asked.

Caught off guard, Nan Xu squeezed the persimmon too hard, crushing it. The juice trickled out of the split, so he quickly brought it to his mouth. The sweet, cool taste cleared his mind a little.

Maybe he was just overthinking things. After all, the affairs of the demon world couldn’t always be judged by human reasoning.

“Do demons have a next life?” Nan Xu asked.

“Of course not,” Ting Chuan replied. “When a demon dies, their soul and spirit scatter. Their spiritual power returns to the demon realm and their body returns to dust and soil. That’s the end.”

Nan Xu frowned. If Ting Chuan was right and everything vanished when a demon died, then there shouldn’t be any lingering obsessions in the demon world. Nor should he have received another demon’s memories.

Unless those fragments of memory had been his own all along.

“Some humans believe in reincarnation. I have memories that don’t belong to me. Is it because I’m human?” Nan Xu asked, looking at Ting Chuan’s back.

Ting Chuan’s body stiffened. He suddenly turned around. “You have memories that don’t belong to you?”

Nan Xu didn’t know why he reacted so strongly, but he still nodded. “Yes, but they’re fragmented. It’s hard to piece them together.”

Ting Chuan thought quietly for a few seconds. “When did it start?”

“Since I came to the demon realm,” Nan Xu replied.

Ting Chuan stared at him for so long that Nan Xu didn’t know how to stand anymore. Finally, Ting Chuan reminded him, “The persimmon juice is about to drip onto your clothes.”

Nan Xu: “?”

Nan Xu: “Oh, right.”

He quickly licked it again, but Ting Chuan didn’t answer his question. Still, Nan Xu could clearly feel Ting Chuan’s mood improving.

Ting Chuan led the way, and Nan Xu followed easily behind. After finishing the persimmon, Nan Xu reached into Ting Chuan’s basket, grabbed a handful of jujubes, and began to munch on them as he walked, spitting out the pits along the path and joking that maybe jujube trees would grow there someday.

When they came out of the mountains and reached the open land behind the house, Nan Xu saw a little deer running wildly in circles on the cleared land. He was about to tell Ting Chuan to catch it for meat when he had a sudden realization—

Wait a minute! That fur color, those markings, and the tiny horns on its head—wasn’t that his little deer demon guest?!

Nan Xu grabbed Ting Chuan’s sleeve, a look of panic on his face. “What’s wrong with him? Maybe he’s gone crazy from staying here? We don’t have much money left, and we can’t afford to compensate him!”

His panic was genuine, making Ting Chuan want to laugh and sigh at the same time. After all, he was a great demon, and even with damaged spiritual power, he was far stronger than ordinary demons. Hearing the commotion, Ting Chuan pointed toward an elderly deer demon sitting under the goat shed not far away. “It’s fine. Look—his elder brother doesn’t seem worried.”

Nan Xu followed his gaze. Sure enough, the older deer demon was calmly sharing a watermelon with the goat, not at all alarmed by the younger demon’s behavior.

Relieved, Nan Xu and Ting Chuan walked toward the courtyard. “I wonder what upset him. He was fine just a few days ago.”

No sooner had he said that than he heard a commotion—arguing, barking dogs, and something like a bamboo pole hitting the ground.

Nan Xu: …

A bad feeling struck him. He remembered leaving the cloud demon and Yao Lin in the courtyard. So that meant…

He quickened his steps into a run. Ting Chuan followed closely behind. When they pushed open the gate, Nan Xu froze at the sight of the mess before him.

The ground was half dry and half wet, covered in straw, brooms, and bamboo baskets. It no longer looked like his courtyard; it resembled a pigsty.

Even the flowers in the garden had pulled their petals back, trembling and huddled together as if trying to avoid getting involved. Zhi Xing had once said that the plants in the courtyard had spirits. Nan Xu had only believed this of the loquat tree, but now he realized that the flowers and plants were indeed quite sentient.

In the corner, Guan’er barked frantically, ringing his ears. There was a dry patch on the damp ground in the shape of its body.

When the dog saw Nan Xu return, it tucked its tail between its legs and ran to his feet, looking pitiful.

Nan Xu ignored it, staring instead at the frail-looking half-human cloud demon who grabbed Yao Lin, hiding behind a winnowing basket, by the leg and dragged him out. The scene had the dramatic flair of a petite girl displaying immense strength. Nan Xu turned to Ting Chuan and asked, “Didn’t you say cloud demons have low cultivation?”

This doesn’t look low at all!”

“Well… maybe something went wrong during the differentiation process,” Ting Chuan said expressionlessly.

Nan Xu: “Oh.”

His gaze shifted again just in time to see the cloud demon girl clench her fist and swing at Yao Lin. Yao Lin picked up his beloved winnowing basket to use as a shield. Finally, Nan Xu shouted, “What are you two doing?!”

They both froze and turned to look at him. Nan Xu’s face was stern. “Put down my winnowing basket!”

Yao Lin blinked, stunned for a few seconds, before seeming to realize what was happening. He lowered the basket and, in a flash, darted to Nan Xu’s side. He glared defensively at the girl. “We can talk this out! I just said you’re short! Why are you hitting me?!”

His tone carried the arrogance of someone hiding behind protection, especially considering how he had been running around in a panic just moments before.

As if to confirm Nan Xu’s thoughts, Guan’er barked twice in the direction of the cloud demon girl.

Nan Xu: …

“Pfft!” He couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

But his smile froze immediately when the cloud demon girl burst into tears.

The last time Nan Xu saw Luo Yi cry, his scalp went numb. He couldn’t handle crying demons. So, he immediately pushed Yao Lin forward. “A girl doesn’t cry easily. If you’re upset, just hit Yao Lin. Whatever happens, as long as you don’t break my stuff, I won’t say a word.”

Yao Lin looked at him in disbelief because he betrayed his teammate so easily. The girl stopped crying, clenched her fists, and lunged at him. Yao Lin sensed danger, turned, and ran out of the courtyard.

A strong gust swept past. Nan Xu was pulled back two steps, and a flash of color streaked past him. If Ting Chuan hadn’t reacted quickly, the girl would have crashed into Nan Xu.

“Thank you, thank you!” Nan Xu said repeatedly to his savior.

Ting Chuan looked at him; there wasn’t the slightest trace of fear on his face, only mischievous delight. Unable to help himself, Ting Chuan smiled. “That’s all the thanks I get?”

Nan Xu blinked. “Then what should I do?”

Ting Chuan’s lips curved slightly, and his peach-blossom eyes tilted upward. His gaze was unreadable. The sight made Nan Xu swallow—his inner pervert couldn’t help it. Assuming he was already Ting Chuan’s man, Nan Xu leaned forward and pecked Ting Chuan’s lips.

Apparently, Ting Chuan still found that perfunctory. He raised a hand and pulled Nan Xu back close, chest to chest, their faces only inches apart. He lowered his eyes, lingering briefly on Nan Xu’s lips before kissing him again.

Two minutes later, Nan Xu’s face was flushed. He blurted, “I’m going to call the little deer demon back!”

He dashed out. This time, Ting Chuan didn’t stop him. Guan’er shook the water off its fur and ran after him.

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