Xue Laohu paced back and forth, his steps quick and uneven, as if trying to outrun the spiraling anxiety tightening its grip on his chest. "Where are they?!" he exclaimed, his voice cracking with frustration. He released a deep, shuddering breath, running a hand through his disheveled hair. The cold night air seeped through the walls, but it did little to cool the fire of his growing unease.
Shudu had wandered off to a brothel, of all places, with motives too cryptic for even Xue Laohu to decipher. And then there was Xue Tuzi, snatched away by some self-proclaimed "artist," whose arrogance was only matched by his pretentious flair. It was the dead of night, and instead of his Gong and Shou growing closer, wrapping in the romantic fervor Xue Laohu had dreamed of fostering, they were likely tangled up in someone else's arms. The thought churned in his stomach like spoiled milk.
He clenched his fists and yanked at his hair in quiet desperation. He had no words, no solutions, only the bitter taste of helplessness pooling in his throat.
"Shizun…" A soft voice cut through the suffocating silence.
Xue Laohu froze mid-step, his gaze snapping to Li Zhameng, who stood hesitantly at the threshold of the room. The younger man took a cautious step forward, his dark eyes brimming with concern. Xue Laohu turned toward him, his face a mess of raw emotion—tears clinging to his lashes, cheeks blotchy with despair, and a single strand of snot dangling precariously from his nose. He looked utterly pitiful, a stark contrast to the composed Grandmaster Li Zhameng idolized.
Li Zhameng hesitated only a moment before stepping closer, pulling out a clean handkerchief. "Shizun…" he said again, his tone low and soothing, as though speaking to a frightened child. "There is no need to worry."
With a tenderness, Li Zhameng dabbed at the tears streaking his Shizun's face, carefully wiping away the snot as well. His hands were steady, but his touch was gentle, as if afraid Xue Laohu might shatter under the weight of his own despair. Xue Laohu sniffled loudly, his broad shoulders shaking as he tried and failed to regain his composure.
"I… I can't help it," Xue Laohu stammered, his voice thick with emotion. "What if something's happened to them? What if—"
Li Zhameng interrupted, his voice firm but kind. "Shizun, they are capable. Shudu is cunning, and Xue Tuzi is resourceful. They will return. You must trust them."
"Easy for you to say, Meng Meng! My life is on the line here!" Xue Laohu exclaimed, his voice cracking under the weight of his panic. He was still hunched over on the floor, arms wrapped tightly around his knees like they were the only thing keeping him together. His disheveled hair fell into his eyes, and his shoulders shook with a tension that refused to dissipate.
Li Zhameng sighed softly, kneeling down beside him. "Shizun…" he murmured, before leaning forward and pulling Xue Laohu into a firm embrace. His arms wrapped around the Xue Laohu with tenderness. "My poor Shizun overworks himself," he said, his voice tinged with gentle reproach.
Li Zhameng's hand came up to cup his Shizun's face, his thumb brushing over his cheek with a soothing rhythm. But Xue Laohu frowned, his hand reaching up to grasp Li Zhameng's wrist. The touch was firm, almost commanding, and when he looked up, his eyes burned with a strange intensity. "Meng Meng, there's something I need to tell you…" His voice was low, almost hesitant, but resolute.
Li Zhameng froze. The words sent his mind spiraling into overdrive, his breath hitching as his cheeks grew warm. Is Shizun… about to confess his love for me? The thought burst forth like fireworks in his mind, scattering all sense of reality.
In a vivid daydream, the scene unfolded before him: his Shizun would grasp his hand tenderly, pulling it to his lips for a gentle kiss. "Meng Meng," Xue Laohu would say, his voice as smooth as silk. "Since the day I laid eyes on you, I have never been the same."
Li Zhameng could almost feel the touch of his Shizun's warm hand sliding behind his head, pulling a flower from seemingly nowhere and tucking it gently behind his ear. The fragrance would linger as their robes billowed in an ethereal wind, tangling them together like fate itself had tied their threads.
"Shizun…" he would murmur shyly, his cheeks flushing scarlet as Xue Laohu's strong arms wrapped around him. His Shizun would lean in, their faces mere inches apart, his breath brushing against Li Zhameng's ear as he whispered, "I want you to bear my children, Meng Meng."
Li Zhameng's heart would race wildly, his pulse hammering in his throat. "But Shizun…" he'd protest coyly, only to be silenced by a calloused finger pressing gently against his lips. "I will find a way to impregnate you," his Shizun would assure him in a low, husky growl, eyes smoldering with determination. And then, their lips would meet in a kiss so heated, it would leave his head spinning.
Li Zhameng's heart fluttered in real time, his face now thoroughly flushed, as he smiled to himself, basking in the glow of his imagined future. The thought of little ones running around, a mix of himself and Shizun, made his chest swell with anticipation.
Meanwhile, Xue Laohu was completely unaware of the vivid fantasy playing out in Li Zhameng's mind. His brows furrowed as he leaned closer, his voice filled with urgency. "Meng Meng, did you hear me? This is serious! Do you understand?"
Snapped out of his reverie, Li Zhameng blinked rapidly, the fantasy scattering like petals in the wind. He focused on Xue Laohu's face, still half-lost in the imagined scene of their offspring, and nodded with enthusiasm, his eyes lighting up. "Yes, Shizun!" he said, smiling so brightly it startled Xue Laohu.
Xue Laohu paused, narrowing his eyes at Li Zhameng's oddly radiant expression. "You… You actually understood that?"
"Of course, Shizun," Li Zhameng said, his tone brimming with confidence, though his thoughts remained entirely detached from reality. He looked so pleased, so content, that Xue Laohu hesitated to press further.
"…Good," Xue Laohu said at last, though his confusion lingered. Shaking his head, he decided to let it go, unaware that his disciple was already envisioning their blossoming family tree. Without hesitation, Xue Laohu and Li Zhameng darted into the dark night, their robes billowing behind Them. The faint light of the crescent moon barely illuminated their path as they ran, Xue Laohu's heart pounded with urgency. He would find Shudu or Xue Tuzi—no matter the cost.
Shudu reclined on the velvet pillow, though his body was rigid with unease. His golden eyes flicked toward the door as he anxiously awaited Madam Hua's arrival. The air in the room was heavy with the scent of incense, cloying and oppressive. He adjusted the hem of his robe, feigning calm, though every muscle in his body tensed at the faint sound of approaching footsteps.
The ornate doors creaked open, and Madam Hua swept into the room like a sinister specter. Her wings—translucent and insect-like—fluttered behind her. As she advanced, Shudu's gaze shifted momentarily to Xiao Zongzi, who lingered by the door, her spindly spider legs tapping nervously against the floor. Without a word, she scurried out of the room, her hunched form disappearing into the shadows.
Madam Hua's long arms wrapped around Shudu as she leaned in close, her tongue darting out to tease his earlobe before plunging into his mouth. Though revulsion churned in his stomach, Shudu kissed her back, forcing his lips to curve into a semblance of desire. His hand slid around her waist, pulling her closer until her body was flush against his. Her nails, long and black as midnight, dragged down his abdomen, tracing the ridges of his toned muscles with practiced care.
"You know," she purred, her voice sickly sweet, "I never wanted Xiao Hua for you. I'm rather glad you're not fond of her." Her tongue flicked over his lips, biting down just hard enough to sting.
"Yeah…" Shudu replied, a malevolent smile curving his lips. "You have no idea how much I had to control my rage when you dual-cultivated with her."
Madam Hua sighed, pressing her cheek against his chest, her breath warm against his skin. "Oh, my dear child," she murmured. "Tell me… who do you prefer? Me or that little brat?" Her long fingers curled under his chin, tilting his face down so his eyes met hers.
He smiled, his gaze dark. "The answer might enrage you."
Her crimson, bug-like eyes narrowed as anger flared within them. She clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging into her palms. "Don't tell me… you prefer that bitch?" she hissed, her voice venomous.
"No," Shudu whispered, his voice dropping to a dangerous calm as he leaned into her ear. "I prefer this."
Before she could react, his fist drove through her abdomen with brutal precision. The room filled with the sickening sound of tearing flesh as blood spilled onto the floor in an inky torrent.
"You…" she gasped, black blood bubbling from her lips. "You insolent traitor!" Her proboscis unfurled, lashing out like a serpent, but Shudu's reflexes were sharper. He caught the writhing appendage effortlessly, his grip unyielding.
"Back then, I didn't have the courage," he said, his voice low and filled with malice. His sharp, canine teeth glinted in the dim light as he flexed his bloodstained fingers, his claws dripping with her essence. "But now? Now, I know you're nothing more than a pathetic old hag."
Madam Hua stumbled, her hands clutching at her spilling intestines. "I fed you! I taught you! I gave you a place to call home!" she spat, desperation cracking her voice.
"And I've repaid you with what you deserve," Shudu replied coldly. In one swift motion, he drew a threaded needle—a weapon stolen from Xue Tuzi during one of their many spats—and with surgical precision, severed her head.
Her head hit the floor with a wet thud, her mouth twisted into a snarl. "You will pay dearly for this!" she shrieked as her body crumbled into ash, her demonic core pulsing faintly in the carnage. Shudu plucked the core from the remains, its dark energy swirling ominously in his palm.
Behind him, Xiao Zongzi reappeared, scuttling into the room with an unsettling glee. She carried a small torch, her many legs jittering with anticipation. The brothel's fate was sealed.
"Burn it," Shudu ordered, his voice devoid of emotion.
With a sinister grin, Xiao Zongzi skittered through the halls, lighting every corner of the opulent establishment. Flames roared to life, devouring silk curtains, polished wood, and the demons who called it home.
Shudu stood outside, watching as the inferno consumed the building. Screams echoed from within as panicked demons clawed at the windows, their faces blackened by the fire. He remained motionless, his expression devoid of pity. Xiao Zongzi perched on his shoulder, her gleaming eyes fixed on the blazing scene before them.
The brothel burned to the ground, its ashes carried away by the sea breeze. As the last ember flickered out, Shudu turned on his heel, the demonic core tucked into his robes. Tonight, vengeance was his, and there would be no survivors.
CONGRATULATIONS! ECHOES OF THE FALLEN: GONG ML'S FORGOTTEN PAST
300 LIFE POINTS ACHIEVED
The system announcement reverberated through Yi Ming's mind, accompanied by the sound of crackling fireworks and a raucous round of applause. He flinched. What now? he thought irritably, rubbing his temples. A fleeting suspicion crossed his mind: Did Shudu get laid? The system did have a twisted sense of humor, after all.
Shaking off the thought, Yi Ming checked his balance. The small pile of coins in his possession gleamed faintly, hardly enough to sustain his aimless life. For hours, he'd scoured the village in search of a "brothel" or the elusive home of a so-called "renowned artist." All his efforts so far had led him to dead ends and a lingering sense of frustration.
Exhaling sharply, Xue Laohu pressed two fingers to his temples and attempted to reach Xue Tuzi telepathically.
"Xue Tuzi?" he called. Silence answered him.
Dammit. The signal was weak, as if his disciple had vanished into the void. He tried again, this time calling Shudu. A sharp furrow formed between his brows as he focused.
"Hey, where are you?" Xue Laohu's voice crackled into the ether.
Far away, Shudu sat on the edge of a jagged cliff, a jug of wine in hand. The wind tugged at his shirt as he stared into the shimmering horizon, where the image of the brothel faded like mist under the blazing fire. He tilted his head slightly, his sharp eyes narrowing.
"Grandmaster Xue?" Shudu responded, his voice calm but laced with hesitation. He turned his head, scanning the area instinctively, though he knew no one was nearby.
"Ah, you can hear me! Great, great!" Xue Laohu's voice was suddenly cheery, an obvious shift from his earlier annoyance.
"Where are you currently?" Xue Laohu asked, pacing as he flicked open his fan with a sharp snap of his wrist.
Shudu smirked, raising the jug to his lips. "Enjoying the fireworks," he said coolly, his tone almost dismissive. After a pause, he added, with an edge of sensuality, "Would Grandmaster Xue care to join me?"
Xue Laohu stopped mid-step, his fan frozen in his hand. "Ehhh… I was actually hoping you'd come to me," he admitted, his tone slightly strained. "Xue Tuzi has gone missing, and I can't locate him."
Shudu barked out a laugh, his voice rich and unrestrained. "Good riddance. Hope he turns out dead."
Xue Laohu's jaw clenched, his teeth grinding audibly. He rolled his eyes in exasperation. "He ran off with some sketchy artist," Xue Laohu snapped, trying to keep his temper in check. "And I can't find him anywhere. Who knows—he might've been kidnapped by human traffickers!"
The words hung in the air. Xue Laohu held his breath, hoping the hint of danger might tug at Shudu's conscience. But Shudu simply tipped the jug back again, savoring the wine.
"Good," Shudu said with a snicker, tipping back his jug to down the last few drops of wine. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, the flickering light of the distant "fireworks" glinting in his dark eyes. "He'll feel right at home. Isn't that what he likes anyway? Receiving."
Xue Laohu's grip tightened around his fan, his knuckles white as he snapped it shut with a sharp clack. His fist shook in the air, trembling with restrained fury. "Don't you care?" he shouted, his voice cutting through the telepathic connection like a blade.
Shudu tilted his head lazily, a playful smirk curling at his lips. He leaned back, resting an elbow on his knee, and shrugged as if the matter were trivial. "Why should I care?" His tone was nonchalant, almost mocking.
Then, as if struck by sudden inspiration, his smirk deepened. The gleam of his sharp canine teeth caught the moonlight, making them appear almost wolfish. "But if Grandmaster Xue is lonely," he drawled, his voice low and suggestive, "and requires the touch of a man… I'd be more than willing to oblige." His voice lingered, challenging, as though daring Xue Laohu to react.
Xue Laohu's eyes narrowed, the flicker of annoyance in them quickly hardening into icy disdain. His breath came sharp and controlled as he wrestled down the flare of anger rising in his chest. He refused to let Shudu get the better of him.
Without a word, he severed the telepathic link, his mind snapping shut like a door slammed in anger. See if I care, he thought bitterly, pivoting on his heel. The hem of his robes swirled around him, catching the night wind as he marched away from the conversation, his silhouette cutting a sharp figure against the moonlit landscape.
Shudu chuckled softly, the sound lingering in the cool night air like a shadow. He reclined against the rocky outcrop, the empty jug dangling from his fingers, thoroughly entertained "So you've been kidnapped" he murmured as a soft smile played on his face.