Xue Zhengyong was still smiling, but that smile remained cold. “Not unreasonable? From what I hear, that prison cave never sees the light of the sun or the moon. It’s where you lock up criminals who’ve been proven guilty. The Elder Immortal’s choice to go and call it ‘not unreasonable’ is pure lip service.”
“Xue-zunzhu,” a feathered tribe guard by the side said sternly. “Please watch your tongue!”
“What, have I said something rude? I’m not humiliating or insulting your Elder Immortal, and I’ve said nothing but the truth. Maybe my words aren’t courteous, but they’re not unreasonable.”
This response left the feathered tribe guard even more enraged. “You!”
A hand, pale as jade, reached out and stopped him. The Elder Immortal raised her head and smiled coolly at Xue Zhengyong. “Rumor from the mortal realm had it that Xue-zunzhu of Sisheng Peak was just a pretty face, with strength to spare but rather short on wits—certainly not one for wordplay. Now this venerable one sees that the rumors were rather misleading, for Xue-zunzhu is in truth quite the well-reasoned individual.”
Xue Zhengyong also flashed her a smile, but there was no more mirth left in his eyes. “I’m but a vulgar man. Please don’t mind me, Elder Immortal.”
The Elder Immortal of the feathered tribe grinned, raised her hand, and picked a tangerine. She peeled it with great care before holding the peeled fruit out to Xue Zhengyong. “Then why don’t you and I both take a step back? It will not be possible to grant your disciples the same freedoms as before, but leaving them in prison certainly isn’t appropriate either. This venerable one will order Xia Sini’s immediate release, and Mo Ran and Xia Sini will hence be lodged in the Campsis Pavilion, which is a place for receiving guests. The only concessions I require: that people be sent to watch them, and that they be forbidden from taking even half a step out of the pavilion. Is this agreeable?”
Xue Zhengyong was silent for a bit. Then he raised his hand. It hovered in midair for a long moment, but eventually, he accepted the tangerine.
Campsis Pavilion might have been accommodations meant for guests, but Peach Blossom Springs didn’t receive guests all that often. As such, the interior of the pavilion had been neglected for a long time. Since the Elder Immortal had permitted them to move in, Mo Ran decided to go over and clean, then return to pick up Xia Sini once everything was tidy.
Xue Zhengyong and Xuanji still had things to discuss, so under the watch of several members of the feathered tribe, Mo Ran and Shi Mei went to Campsis Pavilion first.
Campsis Pavilion was situated in the northwest area of Peach Blossom Springs. A veritable forest of flowers bloomed around it, making for a brilliant, glowing haze lit by the setting sun.
“This is a good place. It won’t be so bad to stay here,” Mo Ran said happily.
Shi Mei sighed. “How is this a good place? The two of you are innocent. You didn’t kill anybody, yet you’ve been accused of doing so. Too bad Shizun couldn’t come. If he had, then he could use Tianwen to interrogate you, and there wouldn’t be any use for purity pills in order to reveal the truth.”
“Ha ha, if only it were that straightforward. Tianwen is a holy weapon, but while it has the ability to eke out the truth, its effectiveness is entirely dependent on whether the user really intends to interrogate someone. Do you think those birds would be willing to let my shizun interrogate me? Do you think they’d believe him?”
“That’s true…”
As the sun was about to set, Mo Ran set about tidying the house with Shi Mei’s assistance.
It certainly was strange. Only when Mo Ran finished cleaning the pavilion and sat down to rest and drink tea did he realize that he didn’t feel any secret joy in being able to spend time alone with Shi Mei. Nor was he having any flirtatious thoughts.
Mo Ran choked at the realization and almost spat out his tea.
Shi Mei jumped in surprise. “What’s wrong?”
“N-nothing.” Mo Ran waved his hands frantically, but internally he was swearing.
Had he been training under Chu Wanning for so long that he’d also turned into Liuxia Hui?18 Behold: Campsis Pavilion, a desolate place with not a soul around, where the peach blossoms swayed and two single men had been left alone with only each other for company. At any point in the past, Mo Ran absolutely would’ve taken the opportunity to get all lovey-dovey with Shi Mei before actually getting down to business.
What was with him recently? Acting all pure and frigid, who even was he anymore?
Mo Ran scratched his head.
Shi Mei blinked.
Eyes met eyes, and Mo Ran cracked a dopey smile, his dimples precious and cute. “The peach blossoms outside are beautiful. I’ll go pick a branch for you to bring with you.”
“Plants are sentient—just let them bloom properly on their branches,” Shi Mei said.
“Mn… You’re too right. Then—then I won’t pick them!”
They sat there in silence, and Mo Ran dug through everything he could find in his mind that could start a conversation. He soon realized that having only been able to meet up infrequently as of late, they didn’t have anything worth talking about.
When he looked up, he realized that Shi Mei had a thin sheen of sweat from helping him clean. Heart twinging in sympathy, he took out a handkerchief from his robes and handed it to him. “For you to wipe yourself.”
Shi Mei lowered his lashes, glancing over, and when he saw that Mo Ran was squeezing the handkerchief nervously, he could only smile. “Thank you,” he gently replied.
He then took the handkerchief and lightly dabbed his forehead. The feel of the cloth was light and soft, as it had been sewn with the best of silk. After Shi Mei used it, he said, “I’ll take the handkerchief back and wash it before I return it to you.”
“Okey dokey,” Mo Ran answered promptly. His receptiveness to whatever Shi Mei wanted was practically ingrained by this point. “If you like it, it’s okay if you don’t return it either.”
Shi Mei laughed. “That wouldn’t be right, look how well-made this handkerchief is…” He opened it, smoothing out the creases to fold it again. Yet as his slender, delicate fingers felt over the spread handkerchief, Shi Mei paused, taken aback, and let out a soft sound of surprise.
“What is it?”
Shi Mei hesitated and looked up with a smile. “A-Ran really wants to give me this handkerchief?”
“If you like it, then take it. What’s mine is yours.” Mo Ran was very generous.
There was laughter in the depths of Shi Mei’s gaze. “Borrowing flowers from others to worship the Buddha. Aren’t you afraid that Shizun will find out and whip you?”
“Huh?” This time it was Mo Ran’s turn to be taken aback. “What do you mean by ‘borrowing flowers to worship the Buddha’? What does Shizun have to do with this?”
“Take a look yourself.” Shi Mei’s tone was a little unreadable. “Such a large haitang blossom. When did Shizun give you his own handkerchief?”