Day: June 27, 2024

Chapter 41

 

It’s really strange.

 

Could it be a bewitching method of the Spirit Charm Clan, intentionally using fragrance to seduce people?

 

Thinking of this, Haowei furrowed his brow and his gaze carried a hint of warning. “Don’t attempt to use sorcery on me.”

 

With these words, Haowei withdrew his hand and distanced himself from Si Lan, though the fragrance lingering in the cave still permeated his breath.

 

Si Lan looked at him puzzled, not understanding why he suddenly got angry. He reached out to touch him, but Haowei recoiled as if avoiding a venomous snake, stepping back from Si Lan.

 

Although Si Lan was unfamiliar with worldly matters, he vaguely understood at this moment that Haowei disliked himself. Si Lan slowly withdrew his hand and moved a few steps back, curling up in a corner alone like a sulking child.

 

Seeing him like this, Haowei suddenly felt a twinge of regret.

 

Did he speak too harshly just now?

 

Could that fragrance be his natural scent rather than sorcery?

 

In fact, when Si Lan nestled in his arms last night, he faintly smelled that fragrance too, but it wasn’t as strong as today.

 

The more Haowei thought about it, the more regretful he felt. Unsure of what to do, he noticed Si Lan in the corner seeming unsettled, body trembling slightly.

 

He walked over to Si Lan, frowning. “What’s wrong?”

 

Si Lan’s eyes suddenly widened, unfocused, almost as if having a seizure, his body contorting.

 

Haowei quickly crouched down and saw Si Lan’s body becoming transparent, reminiscent of their first meeting, faintly visible as if about to vanish.

 

Grabbing onto Haowei’s sleeve tightly, Si Lan seemed in great discomfort, his features contorted with pain, eyes reddened, tears falling onto Haowei’s chest.

 

Haowei’s heart tightened at once, watching the figure in his arms gradually fading away, unable to help but hold him tighter. “What’s wrong with you? Are you in pain somewhere?”

 

At this moment, Si Lan whimpered softly, as weak as a mosquito, yet it tore at Haowei’s heartstrings.

 

Fortunately, after a moment, Si Lan’s almost fading figure gradually became clear again, his body calming down from severe convulsions.

 

His breathing also steadied, his two black eyes seemingly veiled with moisture, wet, delicate sweat seeping from his small and exquisite nose, as if he had just bathed.

 

Haowei didn’t know what was happening to him, but sensing that his condition was stabilizing, he frowned and asked, “Are you… feeling better?”

 

Si Lan didn’t speak, his long eyelashes fluttered lightly, having just heard a strange voice in his head, someone kept saying “soul come, soul come,” causing him great pain. He buried his head in Haowei’s arms, one hand gripping Haowei’s arm, closing his eyes, as if snuggling closer to Haowei could bring him comfort.

 

Because of the earlier convulsions, the grass covering his shame had been thrown aside, leaving him completely exposed.

 

Haowei was only wearing a pair of underpants himself. As the two pressed together, he keenly felt the warmth from Si Lan’s body seeping into his bloodstream.

 

Haowei’s blood seemed to ignite like a hot fire, burning his whole body red-hot.

 

He wanted to push him away, but seeing how clingy he was, he endured it. He stiffened his neck, staring straight ahead, forcing himself not to look or think too much.

 

Only when the breathing in his arms gradually calmed down did he slightly lower his head and glance at Si Lan.

 

Si Lan’s tension eased, his black hair falling behind him, a few strands mixed with rain or sweat, sticking to his body, contrasting sharply with his fair skin.

 

Haowei’s throat bobbed involuntarily, thinking this little spirit was truly naive.

 

Does he really believe in him like this?

 

Sleeping naked in his arms so directly…

 

Isn’t he afraid he might be a bad person?

 

Haowei gently released him, covered him with the grass again, then went to the cave entrance to catch a wild chicken and two sparrows, quickly draining their blood and gutting them before roasting them over a fire.

 

Si Lan was awakened by a wave of fragrance, slowly opening his eyes and sitting up from the ground. His gaze fell on the fire, gradually focusing on the wild chicken being roasted over it, his face suddenly turning pale.

 

He shrunk his shoulders and moved a bit away from the fire.

 

The heavy rain outside had stopped. When Haowei returned, he saw Si Lan staring fixedly at the roasting chicken. Remembering Si Lan’s reaction to the chicken yesterday, he said, “If you don’t like roasted chicken, how about trying roasted sparrows?” These two small sparrows were specially roasted for him.

 

However, Si Lan was even more frightened by these words, clutching the grass and retreating all the way to the corner.

 

He mistook those sparrows for baby chickens.

 

This person is really hateful.

 

Killing the chicken mother and roasting the baby chickens together.

 

Haowei hadn’t expected him to be averse to sparrows as well, hesitated for a moment, then turned and walked out.

 

Confused, Si Lan watched Haowei leave. After waiting for a while with no sign of his return, he began to feel that Haowei didn’t want him anymore, feeling instantly sad.

 

Remembering his modesty, he put on a loose shirt, slowly walked out, and stood at the cave entrance, looking around.

 

He didn’t know where to find Haowei. Just as he hesitated, a low growl suddenly came from beside him.

 

In the next moment, a fierce beast with earthy yellow fur and black stripes lunged at him from the forest.

 

Terrified, he quickly retreated into the cave, and the beast followed, growling lowly, as if intimidating its prey, slowly approaching him.

 

Stepping into a depression, he accidentally fell to the ground. The beast immediately pounced towards him.

He rolled over in panic, evading the beast’s pounce, but the tiger swiftly adjusted its body and charged at him again. Just as it was about to harm him, Haowei’s tense voice came from behind.

 

“Little spirit!”

 

The tiger beast turned its head towards Haowei upon hearing the voice.

 

Haowei picked up a piece of wood from the ground, engaging the tiger while gesturing towards the torch, indicating for Si Lan to use it to fend off the beast.

 

Although Si Lan was bewildered, he surprisingly grasped Haowei’s meaning at this moment and quietly approached the torch.

 

Sensing Si Lan’s intention, the tiger roared angrily and lunged towards Si Lan.

 

Before Si Lan could reach the torch, the tiger bit him.

 

Seeing this, Haowei had no time to think, rushing forward and striking the tiger’s head with the wooden stick.

 

However, the tiger seemed impervious to pain, tightly clamping down on Si Lan’s arm.

 

Haowei had to grab the torch and thrust it towards the tiger’s eyes. Only then did it sense fear, roaring in reluctance as it reluctantly released its grip.

 

Haowei advanced on it step by step, intent on capturing this fierce beast and selling it for a good price in town.

 

The tiger retreated under his pressure, its eyes evasive, glancing around as if seeking an opportunity to escape, but Haowei had no intention of letting it go.

 

Capturing this tiger could fetch quite a sum in town.

 

Glancing towards the cave entrance, Haowei spotted a depression. As expected, when the tiger retreated there, its footing became unsteady, stumbling and falling askew.

 

In the next instant, Haowei rushed over, lifting the torch and smashing it fiercely at the tiger. The beast’s head cracked open, blood flowing, and its fur singed from the fire.

 

Just as Haowei was about to deliver a final blow to the tiger’s head, Si Lan suddenly cried out from inside the cave.

 

He immediately abandoned the idea of hunting the tiger, turning back to check on Si Lan.

 

Si Lan was pulling at his sleeve, which was already soaked with blood. Some of the fabric had been bitten into by the tiger’s teeth, embedded in his flesh.

 

Si Lan couldn’t pull his clothes off, his face pale with pain, tears welling up in his eyes, looking pitiful and helpless.

 

“Don’t move, I’ll help you.”

 

Hearing Haowei’s voice from the cave entrance and estimating that the tiger had fled, he put down the torch and reached out to help Si Lan remove his clothes.

 

Si Lan’s entire right arm was soaked with blood, several puncture wounds oozing blood continuously.

 

Haowei watched this tragic sight, his heart wrenching as if those puncture wounds were on his own arm, feeling the pain.

 

Trembling slightly, he wiped away the blood stains from Si Lan, eyes tinged with crimson. “You’re supposed to be a spirit, but you can’t even handle a tiger.”

 

Si Lan looked quite aggrieved, his delicate brows furrowed, eyes fixed on the four puncture wounds on his elbow.

 

That tiger was so big and charged right at him, how could he fight it!

 

Haowei was about to carry him down the mountain to see a physician when he suddenly noticed the puncture wounds on Si Lan’s arm spontaneously stopping bleeding, gradually healing until there was no trace left.

 

His arm’s skin was fair and clean, without a single scar.

 

It was as if those four puncture wounds had never existed!

 

If Haowei hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn’t have believed what was happening before him. He looked at Si Lan in astonishment.

 

Si Lan, however, seemed unfazed by the unusual occurrence, touching his arm and then carefully tucking it into his chest.

 

The four bloody puncture wounds hurt so much.

 

Haowei hadn’t expected this spirit to have such abilities.

 

While he might be naive, his body was indeed extraordinary.

 

“Does it still hurt?” Haowei asked.

 

Si Lan tilted his head, as if understanding Haowei’s words.

 

Haowei shook his head, feeling a mix of emotions. He reached into his arms and handed Si Lan some wild berries. “If you don’t want to eat roasted chicken or sparrows, try these wild berries.”

 

He had gone out just now to pick these berries for Si Lan.

 

Si Lan took the wild berries. They were dark and didn’t look very appetizing. He tentatively took a bite, smacking his lips as he tasted.

 

Fortunately, they were sweet and juicy.

 

Seeing Si Lan smacking his lips, Haowei couldn’t help but smile.

 

Truly a silly little spirit.

 

He reached out and rubbed Si Lan’s head. At that moment, Si Lan looked up at him with wet eyes, causing Haowei to pause, slowly withdrawing his hand.

 

After the house collapsed in the strong wind, it would take some time to repair, so Haowei decided to stay with Si Lan temporarily in a cave.

 

During this period, Chong Mingwei’s men found Haowei.

 

When Chong Mingwei was killed at the palace banquet, his three vice-generals were all dismissed. Over the years, these three vice-generals had ostensibly withdrawn from court politics but secretly strategized, intending to avenge Chong Mingwei.

 

They had kept in touch with Haowei, hoping that during the Yu Dynasty’s campaign against the Li Dynasty, Haowei could join the army, build military achievements, establish his prestige in the military, cultivate his own subordinates, and eventually clear Chong’s name.

 

Haowei knew that gaining power required military achievements. Now, he faced a problem: how to handle the imp he had picked up. He couldn’t possibly take the imp with him into the army.

 

Meanwhile, he noticed something strange in the village recently—a sorcerer in gray robes who constantly wandered around with a bell.

 

He paid two wild chickens to have the sorcerer help locate where the imp’s home was nearby.

 

Finding the imp’s home would allow him to return it.

 

Unexpectedly, after examining the area, the sorcerer told Haowei that this mountain used to be teeming with mountain spirits and demons, but they had all vanished three years ago, likely scared off by some ominous presence. Haowei remembered that three years ago was exactly when he arrived in the village.

 

“…”

 

So, this imp wasn’t some kind of monster, and thus wasn’t scared away?

 

Then what was it?

 

Haowei had no choice but to give the sorcerer two more wild chickens to check on Si Lan. However, the unreliable sorcerer took the chickens and promised to return in the evening but disappeared.

 

Later, Haowei heard from the village laborers that Lanlan had driven the sorcerer out of the village. Lanlan had spent a lot of silver to have the sorcerer summon spirits, but instead of achieving anything, he had just swindled her, nearly emptying Lanlan’s household.

 

“That Laner, I wonder if she’s gone mad, rejecting Wang Xiaozhi and insisting on a pretty boy.”

 

“Have you seen this pretty boy?”

 

“Never seen him, but he must look good, or else Lanlan wouldn’t have refused Wang Xiaozhi’s proposal.”

 

…

 

Haowei wasn’t interested in village gossip and didn’t continue listening. He bought some items at the market and also brought a jug of peach blossom wine.

 

During this time, he and Si Lan had been living in the cave. When the weather was good, the cave temperature was comfortable, but when it turned bad, the cave became bitterly cold.

 

Drinking some wine helped ward off the chill.

 

Si Lan seemed frightened since the incident with the tiger, and when Haowei wasn’t around, Si Lan didn’t dare to venture out.

 

When he returned, he saw Si Lan wearing a large hemp robe, sitting cross-legged on the ground, carving wood with a small knife.

 

He placed the wild fruits and peach blossom wine on a rock, approached Si Lan, and noticed that Si Lan had carved out a piece of wood into a flute.

 

He couldn’t help but marvel at Si Lan. Si Lan didn’t understand anything, so how could he carve a flute? Had he seen one before?

 

“Xiaoqi.” Haowei had picked Si Lan up on the seventh day, so he called him Xiaoqi. “Do you remember anything?”

 

Si Lan handed the wooden flute to Haowei. Seeing that Si Lan didn’t react to his words, Haowei wasn’t angry.

 

During this time, he had already gotten used to Si Lan’s simplicity. Looking at the wooden flute, he fell silent and said, “Are you giving this to me?”

 

Si Lan was like a child lost in his own world, distracted by other things. He turned around curiously to look at the peach blossom wine, missing Haowei’s reddening eyes.

 

This was the first time in seventeen years of his life that someone cared about him.

 

After arriving in this strange village, although no one knew his past, he still didn’t dare to interact too much with others.

 

Once, the matchmaker in the village saw that he looked good and came to propose marriage, but he just drove her away with a cold face. The matchmaker was offended and spread rumors in the village that he was eccentric and difficult to deal with, causing people in the village to avoid him.

 

But this suited him just fine.

 

And Si Lan was the only one who stayed with him and wasn’t affected by misfortune.

 

Perhaps because Si Lan wasn’t human.

 

Haowei picked up the flute and put it to his lips, tentatively blowing into it. He didn’t expect the flute to actually produce sound.

 

He then played a tune called “Thoughts of Birds.”

 

After finishing, he noticed that Si Lan, who had been distracted by other things, was now staring at him intently with his chin in his hands.

 

Si Lan even waved his hand, as if to indicate that he played it beautifully.

 

Haowei smiled and picked up the small knife from the ground. “I’ll give you something too.”

 

He glanced at Si Lan and then lowered his head, concentrating on carving.

 

Si Lan leaned closer to him, his eyes fixed, with a blank expression.

 

Soon, he carved a wooden puppet that resembled Si Lan. He placed it next to Si Lan’s face and gestured. The puppet looked like Si Lan, but not as handsome as the real person.

 

He handed the puppet to Si Lan, who joyfully caressed it and carefully tucked it into his pocket.

 

Seeing Si Lan cherish it so much, Haowei’s heart stirred slightly, and he lifted his eyes to look at Si Lan.

 

Si Lan happened to be looking at him too, and when their eyes met, it felt like threads of silk tightly binding them together—one thread burning hot, the other thread oblivious.

 

Suddenly, Haowei said, “If we meet again in the next life, I want to be the silent one, letting you pamper me every day.”

 

But he didn’t know if there would be a next life for him.

 

Born under an unlucky star, he was fated to harm his father, mother, and everyone around him. Even when he came to live in these mountains, the monsters here were scared away. So would someone like him have another life?

 

Even if there were a next life, this imp probably wouldn’t recognize him.

 

Unlike Haowei, burdened with sorrow and regrets, Si Lan’s essence of spirit didn’t seem to carry such weight.

 

He liked the scent of peach blossom wine, leaning over the wine jug to sniff it, gently extending his tongue to lick along the edge of the jug like a greedy little pig.

 

Haowei hadn’t expected Si Lan to love drinking so much. Most other children would cry from the spiciness of alcohol the first time they tasted it.

 

So, half jokingly and half seriously, Haowei said, “Since you love this peach blossom wine so much, why don’t we use wine to recognize each other in the next life?”

 

Upon hearing this, Si Lan suddenly turned around, his black eyes blinking, as if responding to Haowei’s words.

 

Unable to resist, Haowei reached out and ruffled Si Lan’s head.

 

His hair was surprisingly soft and smooth, nothing like what one would expect from a monster’s fur.

 

—

 

As the days drew closer to joining the army, Haowei still didn’t know how to settle Si Lan, but fortunately, Si Lan was a monster and monsters weren’t so easily killed.

 

Moreover, Si Lan could recover quickly from injuries, so as long as Haowei taught him the basics of survival, Si Lan could manage to live among humans.

 

The mountain they lived on faced south on one side and north on the other, with vastly different temperatures above and below. Therefore, wild fruits and grasses grew there throughout the year.

 

Haowei took Si Lan’s hand and led him up the mountain, demonstrating which wild fruits were edible and which were not. Later, fearing Si Lan might forget, Haowei simply cut down all the poisonous fruit trees and replaced them with edible ones.

 

He also taught Si Lan how to hunt, though Si Lan seemed uninterested in eating meat and instead got along well with mountain chickens and sparrows. Haowei didn’t force Si Lan to eat meat either.

 

He also instructed Si Lan to avoid the villagers. Even though Si Lan looks like an ordinary person, the more he interacts with the villagers, the easier it is for his abnormality to be discovered.

 

After gesturing a few times, Si Lan vaguely understood his meaning. From then on, not only did Si Lan avoid the villagers, but even the birds, beasts, and insects on the mountain also avoided him.

 

Haowei was astonished by his single-mindedness, “This world ultimately isn’t where you should stay. You should quickly remember how to return.”

 

Si Lan felt confused, thinking Haowei no longer wanted him.

 

During this period, Haowei always made him pick wild fruits and collect dew by himself. If he didn’t do well, Haowei would furrow his brow, looking serious.

 

Si Lan felt a bit sad and somewhat angry, thinking Haowei was rejecting him. So he shrugged off Haowei’s sleeve and walked into the cave.

 

Haowei noticed his sulking and reluctantly followed to explain.

 

“I will be joining the army in half a month. I can’t take you with me. By then, you’ll have to rely on yourself to survive here on earth.”

 

Whether it was from staying in the mortal realm for too long, Haowei felt that although Si Lan still couldn’t speak, he could understand and respond promptly to what was said to him.

 

Si Lan didn’t know what he saw in the cave, and suddenly stopped in his tracks.

 

Haowei thought he saw another wild animal and quickly pulled Si Lan behind him, only to find an old man with white beard leaning on a cane in front of them in the cave.

 

The old man wore a gray robe, his hair snow-white, tied simply with a headband behind his head. He couldn’t stop coughing, moving his shaky body slowly, and raised his head to look at the two of them.

 

Upon seeing Haowei’s face, the old man froze for a moment. “Ahem… Your Majesty.”

 

Haowei didn’t catch the “Your Majesty” clearly, just considering him as someone like them, living outside with difficulty.

 

Haowei asked, “Sir, are you here in the cave to seek refuge?”

 

The Old Man of the Tai Xu, slightly stunned, pointed to the mountain path. “This is Mount Tai Xu.” It was named in the mortal realm in his honor, dedicated to him.

 

Every thousand years, he would come here to rest.

 

The cave where Haowei and Si Lan lived was dug out by him twenty thousand years ago.

 

Haowei frowned, not understanding his meaning. Why did this old man suddenly mention “Mount Tai Xu”?

 

What’s wrong with Mount Tai Xu?

 

Although the Old Man of Tai Xu had dim eyes, he also sensed that something was wrong at this moment. The person in front of him looked exactly like Haowei, but he was a mortal.

 

The Old Man of Tai Xu stepped forward, approached Haowei, bent his back, and looked up at Haowei with difficulty.

 

Still the true Majesty Haowei.

 

Just, he had descended into the mortal realm and turned into a mortal.

 

In the Nine Heavens, Haowei’s descent into the mortal realm must be a big event, which would certainly be announced to the hundreds of immortals. Why didn’t it this

---

T/N: Hey there! There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

If you like my translations, feel free to donate to my ko-fi!

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Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!

If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield

If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’

How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection

What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love

How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

 

Thank you for all your support <3 Leave a comment if you like 🙂 I love reading them!

 

Chapter 40

 

Haowei glanced at Lanlan and the physician, not catching their conversation. He only vaguely heard words like “young master” and “soul,” but didn’t think much of it.

 

That night, just as he was falling asleep, a heavy rain suddenly poured down outside, with raindrops hitting the roof and ground like stones, making it hard for anyone to sleep.

 

Haowei sat up in bed and closed the window tightly. Somehow, he thought of the spirit on the mountainside.

 

In such heavy rain, would the spirit get soaked?

 

But what did that have to do with him?

 

He lay back down and closed his eyes, but couldn’t stop thinking about that thin, green figure. In the desolate thorns, the green figure was sometimes clear and bright, and sometimes faint, almost nonexistent…

 

Haowei knew he shouldn’t be thinking about the spirit, but the more he tried not to, the more he did.

 

That seemingly silly spirit, would he even know to avoid the rain? Even if he got soaked, it shouldn’t be a big deal…

 

Forget it, he might as well go take a look.

 

At least the spirit hadn’t done anything harmful yet.

 

The heavy rain continued as Haowei donned a straw hat and raincoat, carefully shielding the lantern’s flame as he walked into the deep mountains. The mountains were often shrouded in thick fog and inhabited by wild beasts and ghosts, so villagers rarely ventured there.

 

Haowei usually only dared to go during the day, and this was his first time climbing the mountain at night.

 

When he found the spirit, he saw that the green figure was indeed still there, unmoving.

 

The rain fell continuously, drenching him. His hair stuck to his face in strands, making him look even more pale and helpless under the moonlight.

 

Haowei’s heart suddenly ached, thinking he should have come earlier, before the rain started.

 

He stepped forward and reached out to the spirit. In the darkness, the spirit’s face wasn’t clear, but seemed attracted by his gesture. Then, like a curious child, the spirit slowly extended his hand and grasped Haowei’s.

 

Earlier, Haowei thought the spirit wouldn’t have a physical form, but to his surprise, the spirit did, though his body temperature was unusually low, his fingers wet and chilling.

 

Haowei tightened his grip and led him down the mountain.

 

Cold rain pelted their faces, and the night wind roared in their ears. The lantern had long been extinguished by the wind and rain, but fortunately, the moonlight was bright enough to illuminate their path.

 

Back home, the spirit sat dazedly on a small stool, his green robe clinging to his body, revealing his slender frame. Water dripped continuously from the hem of his clothes.

 

Haowei brought hot water and placed it in front of the spirit.

 

“Wash up first. Leave the village tomorrow morning.”

 

Such a foolish spirit wouldn’t be able to deceive the villagers, so he should leave early.

 

That’s what Haowei thought.

 

Si Lan, the spirit, looked up at him upon hearing this. His eyes were wet, with a hint of redness, as if he had cried.

 

Haowei met his gaze, his heart softening and feeling a bit of pity.

 

A fleeting thought crossed his mind—maybe he should share some of his own spirit energy with him, just as an act of kindness.

 

But he quickly dismissed this absurd idea, thinking he must be crazy, being swayed by this spirit.

 

“Aren’t you going to wash?” Haowei’s face turned stern as he spoke harshly.

 

Si Lan moved his feet, looking at Haowei with confusion, as if he didn’t understand.

 

Haowei suspected this was a newly born spirit, possibly not understanding human language at all, feeling a bit helpless, realizing he had brought back trouble.

 

Why had he felt soft-hearted earlier?

 

He approached the spirit, mimicking the action of taking off clothes. “Understand?”

 

Si Lan didn’t speak, tilting his head slightly, his eyes dull. Then, he slowly and tentatively placed his hands on his clothes.

 

Haowei nodded, showing approval.

 

Seeing this, Si Lan immediately untied his robe, letting the green outer garment fall to the ground.

 

The white inner clothes clung to Si Lan’s body, who continued to undress, revealing his fair and clean body. Haowei couldn’t avert his eyes in time, and saw him completely undressed, making Haowei’s ears turn red. Just as he was about to say something, he saw Si Lan pick up the wooden basin and pour the entire basin of water over himself.

 

“…” Haowei.

 

Because of the rain, the room was already damp, and now with Si Lan’s action, the floor became a wet mess.

 

Outside, the rain continued, with the night wind bringing large raindrops through the door and window cracks.

 

Haowei felt a chill in his heart at that moment.

 

And the culprit, after making a mess, looked at Haowei with an innocent and confused expression. Probably feeling a bit cold, Si Lan shivered, his brows slightly furrowed.

 

Haowei took a deep breath to calm down.

 

No need to wait for tomorrow, as soon as the rain stopped, he would throw this spirit out.

 

However, he still couldn’t bear to see the spirit naked and shivering, so he found a rough cloth outfit for him to change into.

 

But Si Lan didn’t know how to dress, wrapping the clothes around his waist, only covering the front, leaving the back exposed.

 

Two white, tender cheeks, firm and round, swayed slightly with Si Lan’s movements, inexplicably making Haowei feel parched.

 

Haowei’s face turned red, gritting his teeth, and snatched the clothes, averting his gaze, stiffly wrapping them around Si Lan.

 

He was a head taller than Si Lan, so the clothes were loose, making Si Lan look like a child wearing an adult’s clothes.

 

After dressing, Haowei noticed Si Lan extending his hand, gazing at him, and touching Haowei’s chin with his fingers. Haowei instinctively grabbed his hand to stop him, realizing something when he met Si Lan’s “innocent” eyes.

 

If there were fools in the human world, there must be fools among the spirits too.

 

Si Lan might not be a newly born spirit, but a fool.

 

Because no matter how ignorant someone was, they wouldn’t be this foolish.

 

Understanding this, Haowei felt helpless, never expecting to bring back a fool.

 

Fine, just consider it an act of kindness.

 

His sleeping arrangement was simple, a bed made of stacked wood covered with a grass mat. Fortunately, it was large enough for two.

 

He was quite tired, so after tucking the little fool into the bed, he closed his eyes and quickly fell asleep.

 

When he woke up the next day, he found Si Lan curled up in his arms, sleeping lightly.

 

Si Lan was sleeping soundly, his eyebrows relaxed, breathing steady. His legs were bent, knees pressed tightly against Haowei’s abdomen.

 

“……”

 

Haowei’s face changed slightly as he pulled away from Si Lan. The sound woke Si Lan, who opened his eyes halfway, looking drowsy and a bit innocent.

 

“Awake? Do you know how to get back?” Haowei asked.

 

Si Lan blinked and quietly looked at Haowei.

 

Haowei felt a pause in his heart and frowned, “Don’t tell me you don’t know where you came from?”

 

Si Lan tilted his head and moved closer to Haowei, resting his head on Haowei’s chest.

 

He had no memory at all.

 

He was just a soul manifested from the three souls and seven spirits, lacking the emotions and rationality of a normal person.

 

Haowei hadn’t expected that his moment of kindness would lead to this situation. This spirit had no idea where he came from and couldn’t return.

 

If he threw him back into the deep mountains, it seemed a bit unethical. Haowei looked down at the spirit sleeping soundly in his arms and sighed helplessly.

 

In the morning, Haowei cooked some porridge and placed it in front of Si Lan, curious if he would eat it.

 

Si Lan looked at the porridge, picked up the bowl, and just as he was about to pour it over his head, Haowei quickly snatched it away.

 

“What are you doing?”

 

Si Lan looked at Haowei in confusion, thinking that the “porridge” was also meant for washing.

 

Haowei was a bit exasperated, suspecting that this spirit was so foolish that he had been driven out of his tribe and ended up in the human world.

 

Haowei picked up the porridge, scooped a spoonful, and demonstrated to Si Lan how to eat.

 

Although Si Lan was slow, he quickly learned by watching Haowei. He imitated Haowei, scooping porridge into his mouth, but he wasn’t used to the taste and his brow furrowed, showing a pitiful expression.

 

Seeing this, Haowei murmured, “So you need to absorb human essence?”

 

He had only read about spirits in ancient books and knew little about how they absorbed human energy. Moreover, the spirits in the books were all female, preying on passing men.

 

Did this male spirit also prey on men?

 

Haowei’s face turned slightly red.

 

Si Lan didn’t understand what Haowei was saying and just looked at him blankly, his gaze falling on Haowei’s red lips.

 

Curious, he tiptoed closer to Haowei.

 

Haowei held his breath, staring at him intently.

 

Was he going to absorb his yang energy?

 

This spirit didn’t even bother to disguise his intentions?

 

Shouldn’t he wait until he was asleep to absorb it?

 

Si Lan gently touched Haowei’s lips. Haowei’s lips were well-shaped, full, and the color of wilted roses. Si Lan was curious about how sound came from those lips.

 

He tried to pry Haowei’s lips apart, but Haowei grabbed his hand.

 

Haowei’s eyes flickered slightly, “What are you doing?”

 

The other person still looked curious, not speaking, just staring at him with dark eyes.

 

Haowei let go of his hand, wanting to say something, but in the end, he only said, “I’ll go hunting on the mountain. You stay here and wait for me.”

 

After a pause, Haowei added, “If you remember the way back, just go back. Don’t stay among humans; no fool here will let you absorb their energy!”

 

However, Haowei hadn’t been gone long before he started worrying about Si Lan and his hut.

 

Would Si Lan wreck his two small huts?

 

He lost the mood for hunting and quickly returned with just a wild chicken and rabbit. Because it had rained all night, the mountain path was slippery. On the way down, he slipped, scraping a large piece of skin off his elbow.

 

Wincing in pain, he glanced at his arm and continued rushing back, only to find Si Lan gone when he returned.

 

There was no trace of Si Lan left in the room, as if he had never existed, making Haowei feel like it was all just his imagination.

 

Haowei felt a sudden pang of melancholy but forced a smile, “I hope that foolish spirit finds his way back soon.”

 

He bled the rabbit, skinned it, cleaned it, and set up a small fire to roast it.

 

While roasting the rabbit, he chopped wood nearby.

 

The crackling sound made him oblivious to the movements behind him. When he finally sensed something was off and turned around, he saw that the spirit who had left was back, and he was gnawing on his rabbit contentedly.

 

“……” Haowei.

 

Haowei was both astonished and inexplicably pleased, though he didn’t realize it himself.

 

He walked up to Si Lan, who seemed to realize that stealing someone else’s rabbit was not right, so he meekly returned it.

 

Seeing the rabbit that Si Lan had chewed up, Haowei couldn’t help but laugh, “Aren’t you a spirit? Why are you eating wild rabbit?”

 

Si Lan didn’t say anything. Seeing Haowei wouldn’t take the rabbit back, he withdrew his hand, looking pale and pitiful.

 

Haowei sighed, “I still have a wild chicken, so you can have the rabbit.”

 

Si Lan’s usually wooden face showed a bit of expression, his eyes like a fawn’s, shimmering.

 

Haowei avoided his gaze and resumed cooking. He plucked the chicken, cleaned it, and set it on the small fire to roast.

 

Si Lan seemed curious about the chicken, frowning and watching it intently as it roasted.

 

Haowei thought Si Lan was still hungry, so when the chicken was done, he tore off a drumstick for Si Lan, “Want more?”

 

Si Lan stumbled backward, looking scared, eyes wide.

 

Haowei raised an eyebrow, thinking he was disdainful of the chicken, and said, “Roast chicken is just as tasty as rabbit. Won’t you try some?”

 

Si Lan suddenly stood up, still wearing Haowei’s loose black robe that dr4p3d generously around him. His eyes revealed a chilly refusal as he turned and stormed back into the room, seemingly throwing a tantrum.

 

  Haowei clicked his tongue. Why did this little mischief suddenly get angry?

 

  Could it be because he was mad that I only gave him one chicken leg?

 

  After filling his stomach, Haowei entered the room and saw Si Lan still sulking. His eyes, like two dark gr4p3s, held resentment as they stared straight at him.

 

  Haowei suddenly felt like he had committed some grave mistake. Hesitatingly, he said, “Next time… shall I give you the whole roasted chicken?”

 

  At these words, Si Lan’s eyes filled with even more resentment.

 

  Haowei couldn’t resist and changed the subject, “Where did you go earlier?”

 

  This little mischief had an exceptionally handsome face but wasn’t very bright. If he wandered around the village, he might attract the attention of ill-intentioned people. Moreover, with the ongoing conflicts, if he were kidnapped by bandit leaders, Haowei wouldn’t be able to rescue him.

 

  After asking, Haowei remembered that this little mischief couldn’t speak, so he cautioned again, “Don’t wander outside. It’s dangerous out there.”

 

  Just last night, Haowei thought the danger was the mischief that sucked away people’s vitality.

 

  Now, in the blink of an eye, it seemed the villagers were the dangerous ones.

 

  There was a slight movement in Si Lan’s furrowed brows, a response to Haowei’s words.

 

  Haowei hadn’t expected much of a reaction from him.

 

  Last night, the wind had lifted a part of the roof, so Haowei had woven thatch and stacked it on the ground. Si Lan saw this and tried to help, but only made things messier.

 

  He didn’t know how to tie thatch properly, and it ended up everywhere. Haowei shook his head helplessly and told him to sit aside.

 

  However, in no time, he seemed to find something amusing. He grabbed a handful of thatch and presented it to Haowei as if offering a treasure.

 

  Haowei focused and noticed a small green snake in Si Lan’s hands.

 

  “…”

 

  The little green snake seemed frozen with fear, trembling in his hand and forgetting to escape.

 

  Haowei’s expression froze slightly. He was somewhat afraid of such slender creatures and quickly knocked the small snake out of Si Lan’s hand.

 

  As the small green snake fell to the ground, it dashed away, hitting the leg of the table and knocking over Haowei’s only piece of guest furniture.

 

  The wooden table made a cracking sound as one leg broke off.

 

  Haowei’s gaze darkened instantly. Moreover, the little green snake continued to flee, not going out the door but along the wall, through the paper-covered window, leaping into the back mountain and disappearing.

 

  “…”

 

  Haowei rubbed his forehead. Last night, the strong wind had already broken several places in the paper-covered window. Now, with the small green snake’s disturbance, he would probably need to reapply the paper.

 

  Truly, when it rains, it pours.

 

  The roof, the window, and now the table—all had issues.

 

  He looked at the precarious thatched house and couldn’t help but sigh.

 

  Si Lan probably felt he had caused trouble and stood awkwardly in place, glancing gently at Haowei.

 

  Meeting his uneasy gaze, Haowei couldn’t help but laugh and cry, “You didn’t get bitten by the snake, did you?”

 

That small green snake was venomous.

 

Si Lan blinked, unable to understand Haowei’s words. Haowei walked over and took the initiative to check Si Lan’s body. When he lifted the oversized robe, he discovered that Si Lan had developed some red bumps, more like an allergic reaction than poisoning.

 

“You went to the edge earlier, didn’t you?”

 

Strange woods and wild creatures were everywhere in the village, even more so in the mountains. It was easy for ordinary people to have allergic reactions if they weren’t careful.

 

Si Lan gestured, and Haowei roughly understood. Shortly after Haowei left, Si Lan went out to look for him. However, he probably didn’t find him and returned.

 

This little mischief wasn’t bad with directions.

 

Haowei instructed Si Lan, “Wait for me at home. I’ll go buy some ointment for you.”

 

Si Lan blinked again, a response to Haowei.

 

The sky darkened further, layers of dark clouds gathering. The mountain wind rustled through the leaves, with raindrops starting to fall. Haowei quickened his pace, encountering two people head-on. Upon closer inspection, one was Lan Lan, the girl who had stolen his wild chicken last time. The other was a stranger dressed as a sorcerer, holding two bronze bells in his hands.

 

Their conversation floated faintly in the windy air.

 

“Since he was discovered nearby, his lingering spirit might also be nearby. After the rain stops, I’ll perform a soul summoning spell to see if I can guide his soul back.”

 

“Thank you, Master.”

 

…

 

Haowei reached the village entrance and went to the house of the old physician, where he got a bottle of ointment for treating allergies on credit. Just as he finished purchasing the medicine, heavy rain suddenly poured down outside, forming a misty curtain that obscured the surroundings.

 

“Chongying, you should wait until it clears up.” The old physician advised.

 

Thinking of the person’s discomfort, Haowei didn’t delay, thanked the old physician, and rushed into the pouring rain.

 

The ground, now wet from the rain, was unusually slippery. The rain pattered down, creating puddles of varying sizes. Haowei had to tread carefully, enduring gusts of wind that shook his clothes and distorted his features.

 

As a tall man, he nearly got blown over by the wind.

 

He couldn’t help worrying about Si Lan at home. He wondered if the mischief would be frightened by such strong winds.

 

His house was at the village’s end, a thatched cottage nestled at the foot of the mountain, the terrain sloping downward and ruggedly muddy. Therefore, apart from him, no one else lived here in the village.

 

The reason he lived here was that he had picked up this abandoned house and temporarily settled down.

 

As he descended a steep slope, he saw Si Lan standing in the pouring rain. Both of his small houses had their roofs blown off, and one side of a wall had collapsed. The remaining three walls looked precarious in the heavy rain.

 

“…” Haowei.

 

Seeing him, Si Lan seemed uneasy, gesturing with his hands as if trying to indicate that he hadn’t pushed the house over.

He didn’t have time to think about anything else; Haowei pulled Si Lan out of the house. If the remaining three walls collapsed, they might have been hit.

 

Luckily, Haowei paid attention to the situation on the mountain every time he went hunting, knowing that there was a cave where he could temporarily shelter from the rain.

 

He grabbed Si Lan’s hand, and the two stumbled into the deep mountains.

 

The branches were rustling loudly in the strong wind, like the tentacles of wild beasts waving ahead. Si Lan felt a little scared when he saw them and stayed close to Haowei.

 

Haowei noticed his fear. Initially holding his hand, he now wrapped his arm around Si Lan’s waist, and Si Lan snuggled into Haowei’s embrace.

 

Halfway up the mountain, Haowei pulled aside some wild grass, revealing a cave entrance about a person’s height.

 

Dim light filtered in, and inside the cave, there were small animals also seeking shelter from the rain—wild chickens, hedgehogs, sparrows, and the like.

 

The animals were taken by surprise at the sudden appearance of two people and issued warnings, but given the vast difference in size, they reluctantly made way.

 

Haowei squeezed Si Lan’s hand and cautioned, “Be careful; the cave floor is a bit uneven.”

 

Si Lan moved his fingers slightly, a response to Haowei’s words.

 

The end of the cave widened a bit, with a huge rock inside that Haowei had smoothed out and covered with thatch. On days when Haowei got tired from hunting in the mountains, he would rest here.

 

Haowei picked up a flint and struck it, soon sparking a fire torch. He took off his clothes, wearing only a small garment on his lower body, and placed his wet clothes near the fire torch to dry.

 

Si Lan followed Haowei’s lead, taking off all his clothes as well. Unlike the day before, perhaps after a day of learning about human affairs, he seemed less naive. He awkwardly shifted his legs, trying to cover up.

 

Haowei coughed lightly and handed the bundled thatch to Si Lan. “Use this to cover up first; your clothes will dry soon.”

 

Si Lan seemed to understand vaguely, clutching the thatch and curling up. His exposed back and neck formed smooth lines, and his fair skin had patches of allergic reactions.

 

Haowei’s face tensed as he took out the ointment and walked behind Si Lan, applying it to the allergic spots on his back. When he touched Si Lan’s skin, Haowei’s fingertips paused; the other’s skin was as smooth as jade, delicate and soft.

 

Haowei even wondered if a little more pressure might break the other’s skin. However, when he slowed down, he could clearly feel every inch of the other’s skin texture.

 

It seemed this mischief had never suffered. His exceptionally fair skin aside, it was also exceptionally soft, softer than freshly steamed tofu.

 

After a while, Haowei sensed a faint fragrance spreading throughout the cave. He suspected he had smelled it wrong and sniffed again, confirming the presence of a scent in the air.

 

And this fragrance…

 

It seemed to come from Si Lan.

 

Unable to resist, Haowei lowered his head, approaching Si Lan’s back where the ointment had just been applied. His skin was white with a touch of red, and the tiny pores seemed to emit a fragrance.

 

He leaned in closer, wanting to investigate further, but at that moment, Si Lan turned around suddenly.

 

Caught off guard, Haowei’s face collided with Si Lan’s, their noses lightly touching. In an instant, the fragrance became stronger, so intense that it made his heart race.

 

And the breath that Si Lan exhaled seemed even sweeter…

---

T/N: Hey there! There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

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Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!

If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield

If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’

How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection

What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love

How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

 

Thank you for all your support <3 Leave a comment if you like 🙂 I love reading them!