RIIDMDR chapter 72

 

On ordinary days, Ting Chuan rarely spoke so much on his own unless Nan Xu asked him to. Nan Xu thought that human hearts are made of flesh, so demon hearts should be similar. Perhaps because they had spent so much time together and developed feelings for each other, leaving also carried a tiny bit of reluctance.

“Why aren’t you speaking?” After waiting a while for a reply from Nan Xu, who remained silent, Ting Chuan tilted his head and asked.

Nan Xu slowly pulled his thoughts back and nodded. “Oh, okay.”

He looked wooden and silly, like a dull goose: dazed and somewhat out of sorts. Ting Chuan assumed that Nan Xu hadn’t rested well after exiting the formation, so he didn’t say anything more. He simply accompanied Nan Xu to sit on the threshold and watch the sunset.

They sat in silence for about ten minutes. Nan Xu grew restless, stood up, and said, “I’ll go cook. Since you’re going down the mountain tomorrow, you can decide tonight’s menu.”

Ting Chuan looked up at him and smiled. “You’re willing to cook whatever I order?”

Nan Xu nodded almost without hesitation, saying, “You tell me. As long as I can cook it, I’ll make it.”

After all, the mountain was remote, and he would probably have difficulty leaving these continuous ranges. Whether they could meet again in the future was uncertain. Demons could live long lives, and a hundred years was just a fleeting moment to them.

Seeing the determined expression on Nan Xu’s face, Ting Chuan felt reassured, as if Nan Xu were seriously considering ordering a rare delicacy. Yet, he knew Nan Xu wouldn’t truly trouble him. “Then I’ll order braised mushrooms with chicken!”

Nan Xu nodded, expecting him to list a few more dishes. After a few seconds passed without another dish being mentioned, he asked, “That’s it?”

Ting Chuan smiled and nodded. “That’s it.”

Nan Xu said, “Oh,” and walked toward the kitchen, muttering, “You didn’t tell me last night that you were leaving the mountain. All the preserved pickles and syrup in the shop have been sold to Ren Ci. Otherwise, I could have made some for you to take with you tomorrow. Carrying a few watermelons isn’t a big deal.”

He felt that Ting Chuan should take some local specialties with him when he left after staying on the mountain for a few months.

Ting Chuan was puzzled. “Why take those down the mountain?”

Nan Xu paused upon hearing this question. Could it be that Ting Chuan had no attachment to the mountain? Not even a trace of sentiment to leave behind?

Depressed, he replied, “Of course, to take them back and eat them. Didn’t you say last time that you liked the taste of chili oil?”

Ting Chuan couldn’t understand why Nan Xu got so angry over a single sentence. His cheeks puffed out, and he glared at him.

“Taking them back is just for the little creatures on Donghai Mountain. It’s not like I won’t be back. I’ll eat it when I get back.”

Nan Xu blinked a few times and asked, “You’re coming back?”

The question made no sense. Ting Chuan opened his mouth but stopped when a thought flashed through his mind. Today, Nan Xu’s behavior could be explained.

Ting Chuan sighed with amusement and said, “I’ll just go back for a while. It won’t be long. Do you want to dismiss me?”

Nan Xu’s irritation vanished as his mood shifted like a roller coaster. “How would I know? You didn’t say.”

Ting Chuan nodded toward a pile of wild game in the corner of the yard and said, “If I didn’t come back, why would I hunt enough game for you to eat for a while?”

Without hesitation, Nan Xu replied, “A parting gift.”

Amused by his expression, Ting Chuan felt happy realizing that Nan Xu was reluctant for him to leave. “I didn’t explain well, but you have many misunderstandings about me. If I were leaving, would I only give you these mountain creatures?”

“What will you give? Gold? Jade?” Nan Xu asked.

Ting Chuan’s gaze deepened. “Naturally, my most treasured things.”

Nan Xu didn’t understand and assumed Ting Chuan was teasing him. He walked to the kitchen and, since a burden had been lifted from his heart, he hummed a little tune as he went.

Ting Chuan leaned against the doorframe and watched Nan Xu’s back, a faint smile forming at the corners of his eyes.

At night, the meal was served. The large wooden table was crowded with dishes. Among them was the braised wild mushrooms with chicken Ting Chuan had ordered. This was the first proper meal at the inn today. Just as it was set, You An smelled it and came over.

“So fragrant.” His gaze swept over the table. He didn’t usually eat much and was unfamiliar with many ingredients, yet the aroma enchanted him.

The four of them sat around the table. Nan Xu looked at everyone and suddenly decided that the inn should brew some wine. Otherwise, it always seemed like something was missing.

Facing the abundant dishes, no one felt like chatting. After exchanging a few words, they picked up their chopsticks. Ting Chuan and Zhi Xing were accustomed to eating Nan Xu’s cooking daily and ate slowly. You An, however, didn’t stop eating, which formed a stark contrast with his uncle’s graceful and composed manner. Nan Xu wondered if You An had really been raised by Ting Chuan. Otherwise, how could he have inherited the exquisite appearance of the Nine-Tailed Fox clan while displaying a completely different, carefree, and straightforward temperament?

“Aunt…” After finishing the last piece of meat, You An put down his chopsticks. He nearly blurted out “Auntie,” but he stopped in time because his mind was still clear. “The innkeeper’s cooking is excellent. I’ve traveled the demon realm for thousands of years, yet I’ve rarely tasted such delicious food. No wonder my lazy uncle willingly stays on this mountain.”

He added to himself that he finally understood where his uncle’s affection for his aunt originated.

Ting Chuan couldn’t stand seeing his nephew show off in front of Nan Xu, so he told him to help Zhi Xing clean the dishes.

It was a completely dark night, but the moonlight was beautiful. Nan Xu was full from eating and not yet sleepy. He walked to the yard gate and turned to Ting Chuan under the loquat tree and asked, “Want to take a walk?”

It was the first time Nan Xu had invited him, so Ting Chuan naturally accepted. He got up and followed Nan Xu. Much of the flat land behind the house had been developed, especially since the Zhuang brothers worked in the watermelon and rice fields daily. Nan Xu’s burden was lightened, and they seldom walked this path.

They simply walked, using the bright moonlight to digest their food. At most, they exchanged a few words about farming, never mentioning Ting Chuan’s departure the next day.

After more than an hour, the food in their stomachs was mostly digested. Nan Xu took a shower and went to bed. Ting Chuan was already lying down with his eyes closed, unsure if he was asleep.

Nan Xu liked chatting with Ting Chuan before going to sleep. Sometimes they talked about shop guests; other times, they discussed demon realm gossip. Tonight, Nan Xu didn’t intend to go to sleep right away, so he asked Ting Chuan about You An.

No one knew You An better than Ting Chuan. He opened his eyes to see Nan Xu’s bright, curious gaze. Then he closed his eyes again and calmly said, “After You An was born, the demon realm was in chaos less than a year later. My elder brother and sister-in-law passed away, leaving You An in my care.
You An was a small, palm-sized fox cub with mixed fur. His fur turned white when he was in his thirties, and he transformed at sixty-six. He was impatient, even more so than the other demons. He couldn’t wait to try his transformation before he had fully mastered it.
The few strands of white hair he has now are the result of forcing himself to transform too soon.”

Listening to him, Nan Xu pictured the few strands of faint white hair on You An’s head and finally understood.

“I let him stay in the mountains until he was a hundred before letting him out. In the second year outside, he got into a fight, got his head bloodied, and returned to the mountains for another twenty years. For the next four or five hundred years, this repeated endlessly.”

Nan Xu clicked his tongue, admiring You An’s courage. The more setbacks he faced, the stronger he became. Suddenly, he asked, “Were your elder brother and sister-in-law like that, too?”

“Not at all. My elder brother was upright and my sister-in-law was gentle,” Ting Chuan said. After pausing for a few seconds, he continued, “His impatience is innate. The rest might relate to frequently visiting Ting Shu.”

Nan Xu instinctively objected, “Ting Shu’s temperament is so gentle!”

Ting Chuan fell silent for a moment, then said, “Yes, but over the course of hundreds of years, Ting Shu’s spiritual power has depleted. As he approached the end, he deeply missed the late Yun Yi.”

Nan Xu was stunned as he connected the dots. He had heard that Ting Shu had devoted all his power to saving Yun Yi, but had failed. Afterwards, Ting Shu gradually weakened and passed away hundreds of years later. Previously, Nan Xu had only thought it was a deep friendship, not this kind of feeling.

Ting Shu endured the pain of living alone for hundreds of years. Seeing a reflection of Yun Yi in You An must have moved him. Though unrestrained in action, Young You An was sensitive. Day after day, he heard countless stories about Yun Yi from Ting Shu and gradually developed an admiration for his carefree life.

Nan Xu fell asleep thinking of this. When he opened his eyes, it was morning. He glanced at the empty bed beside him, regretting how quickly he had fallen asleep the night before.

After breakfast, as promised, You An carried a few watermelons. Nan Xu watched them go down the mountain and stop only at a flat riverside. Though he wanted to accompany them further, this was far enough.

Nan Xu stopped, and Ting Chuan smiled at him. “Enough. Stop here. Go back early.”

Nan Xu looked around and said, “I’m on my way to catch some fish for extra meals.”

Ting Chuan nodded, accepting the explanation. “Then I’ll go.”

Nan Xu looked at him and said, “Mm,” but didn’t retract his gaze.

A faint sweetness surged in Ting Chuan’s heart as he felt noticed. Though he knew Nan Xu’s feelings might not be what he imagined—perhaps just dependency from being alone on the mountain—he still felt comfortable.

“I’ll be back in two months at most. Don’t worry,” Ting Chuan said. He hurriedly left due to You An’s urging.

Nan Xu muttered, “Who’s worried,” as he watched them go. He sat on a large rock and wove a hat from the surrounding grass and vines.

After a while, he saw the uncle and nephew appear on the opposite mountain path. You An walked ahead, head held high, looking domineering. Ting Chuan followed not far behind with a composed and leisurely demeanor. Nan Xu looked that way. Ting Chuan seemed to sense it and turned to look in his direction.

Though they were so far apart, Nan Xu couldn’t see Ting Chuan’s expression clearly. Yet, his mind automatically filled in the picture, imagining that Ting Chuan must be smiling at him.