After the Stand-in Hugged the White Moonlight's Thigh Tightly - Chapter 18

Chapter 18: “Simple Boys Like You…”

Song Chenxi went to the secret realm, and Ruan Mingyu could finally sleep alone. Feeling the empty bed, he still felt a little unaccustomed to it.

Ruan Mingyu’s health was poor, requiring the elixirs refined by his Master. Old Man Sanqing would not give them to him for free, demanding spiritual stones in exchange every month. Over time, Ruan Mingyu didn’t have much of the spiritual stones given by the sect left, so he decided to try refining the elixirs himself.

True Lord Sanqing was not stingy and generously wrote down the pill recipe for him. He patted his chest and said, “If you can refine it, I’ll acknowledge you as my master. I haven’t cultivated for hundreds of years for nothing.”

Ruan Mingyu began trying to refine elixirs himself, taking the spiritual stones he had saved up for several months to buy medicinal ingredients, and then started refining according to the old man’s recipe.

To save effort, Ruan Mingyu placed the pill furnace in his room so he could lie down and sleep directly when he was tired from watching the furnace.

However, after several failures, he felt a bit defeated.

Ruan Mingyu was busy refining pills and didn’t have the time to worry about whether Song Chenxi was doing well in the secret realm. Half a year later, when it was snowing heavily again, someone delivered a package to him, saying it was from Song Chenxi.

Naturally, the secret realm could not be contacted from the outside, but people were occasionally eliminated and returned to the sect. Song Chenxi would catch those who were about to be eliminated and have them deliver the item to Ruan Mingyu.

Ruan Mingyu didn’t have time to read the letter. The elixirs he had been focusing on for the past two days were finally about to be released from the furnace. If he succeeded, he wouldn’t have to spend a fortune buying his Master’s medicine. He casually placed the jade pendant and the letter on the table and went to tend to his furnace. If the heat was insufficient, he would add some spiritual energy; if it was too strong, he would withdraw some.

Pill refining was quite troublesome, and Ruan Mingyu couldn’t spare a moment for anything else.

Finally, the furnace made two loud bangs. Ruan Mingyu initially thought fresh elixirs were about to emerge, and he excitedly put his hands on his hips, believing he had succeeded. Unexpectedly, a moment later, a plume of thick smoke billowed out of the furnace. Ruan Mingyu thought, This is bad, and scrambled out as fast as he could.

Just as he crawled out the door, a huge “boom” echoed from inside. He turned his head and saw, good heavens, his entire room had exploded!

Good news: he was fine. Bad news: his house was gone!

Ruan Mingyu’s face was completely covered in black soot, and he ran out with messy hair.

The loud noise startled the whole sect. Senior Sister was the first to arrive. Seeing his appearance, she couldn’t help but burst into laughter: “Did you go into the stove to warm up, like my cat? Look how dirty you are all over. Hurry up and wash up.”

Senior Brother Ji Ying, who was properly embroidering, heard the sound and also came over, asking Ruan Mingyu: “Did you used to work in the Lightning Hall?”

Master also came over, looking heartbroken. He walked up to Ruan Mingyu and said, “Next time you come to me for elixirs, remember to pay for the house repairs too.”

Ruan Mingyu: “Can I just feel the warmth of the sect for once, please…”

Seeing that he was unharmed, the Master and the others stopped worrying about him and went back to their respective homes to sleep.

Ruan Mingyu found a place to wash himself clean and changed into a new set of clothes. Suddenly remembering something, he immediately ran back and rushed into the ruined house, finding the items Song Chenxi had sent him amidst a pile of ash.

The house had become a ruin. The jade pendant Song Chenxi had sent him was broken into two halves. As for the letter he wrote, it was definitely gone, long turned to ashes.

The jade pendant was made of excellent jade, and Ruan Mingyu felt a pang of heartache seeing it broken like this.

Moreover, if Song Chenxi returned from the secret realm and saw the jade pendant he sent shattered into two, wouldn’t he feel estranged and think Ruan Mingyu didn’t care about him?

Ruan Mingyu thought, This won’t do. He had finally secured a powerful ally; he couldn’t let his feelings be hurt. He took advantage of a day off and went down the mountain to find someone to repair the jade pendant.

It had gotten cold recently. Although the bracelet on his wrist offered some protection from the cold, Ruan Mingyu still dressed warmly, wearing a fluffy white scarf, and rushed down the mountain.

Down the mountain, Ruan Mingyu inquired everywhere for someone who could repair jade pendants and finally found a shop.

The shopkeeper picked up the jade pendant, carefully weighing it, and said: “The jade is good, but the cost of repair is too great. You might as well buy a new one from me. I’ll give you a discount.”

Ruan Mingyu asked him: “How much is the repair?”

The shopkeeper quoted a price.

“That expensive?” Ruan Mingyu’s spiritual stones combined wouldn’t be enough.

Shopkeeper: “If you ask anywhere else, it will be the same price, if not more.”

Ruan Mingyu checked two more shops, and indeed, the price was the same. He sat outside the shop, propping his head up with one hand, looking worried.

How could he get some money? Refining pills and buying medicinal ingredients required spiritual stones, and repairing the jade pendant also required spiritual stones. Without spiritual stones, he couldn’t take a single step. After thinking for a long time, he remembered the elixirs he had refined earlier. If he could sell them, he might be able to gather enough money.

The elixirs he refined weren’t exceptionally good, but they at least had some medicinal effect. Ruan Mingyu was about to rely on his silver tongue to sell some elixirs when, before he had walked two steps, someone chased him from behind, grabbed his shoulder, and shouted:

“Well, look who I’ve caught! I haven’t settled the score with you from the secret realm yet! You see me and you’re not even blushing. Hand over my demon beast core!”

Ruan Mingyu turned around and saw a young master. The person was fanning himself, dressed in gold and silver. He was quite handsome, but looked like a nouveau riche.

Ruan Mingyu was puzzled. He had never seen this person before. Was this person trying to scam him?

Ruan Mingyu pointed to himself, his large eyes filled with confusion: “Are you talking to me?”

“Is there anyone else here besides you?” Gu Xiaoxiao said. “Return the demon beast core, and I won’t hold it against you.”

Ruan Mingyu: “What core? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Gu Xiaoxiao: “Song Chenxi, are you trying to deny it!”

Oh, so he was mistaken for Song Chenxi.

Ruan Mingyu: “You’ve got the wrong person. I’m not Song Chenxi.” He was already worrying about where to get money and didn’t have time to mess around with this person.

Gu Xiaoxiao stubbornly held his wrist, preventing him from leaving.

Ruan Mingyu: “Are you going to let go or not?”

“You’re really not Song Chenxi?” Gu Xiaoxiao was starting to become unsure. He felt that although the person in front of him looked very much like Song Chenxi, his eyes were a bit larger, and his voice carried the gentle accent of Jiangnan. Unlike Song Chenxi, who could make people furious in just a few words.

Gu Xiaoxiao scrutinized him carefully, his eyes almost glued to his face.

Ruan Mingyu pulled his head back and, suspecting this person might be another admirer from the book, asked him: “What is your name?”

Gu Xiaoxiao: “This young master is the dignified Young Master of the Gu family. When out and about, I keep a low profile. I won’t announce my other titles.”

Ruan Mingyu recalled. There really was a person named Gu Xiaoxiao in the book. He was called the “Money-Scattering Boy” in the book, always solving problems with money, and was considered the fourth male lead on the sidelines of the main story.

Ruan Mingyu looked at him and a plan formed in his mind.

He changed his attitude, smiling sweetly at him: “Young Master, you have mistaken me. I am not Song Chenxi.”

Gu Xiaoxiao rubbed his chin: “It seems so. If it were Song Chenxi, there’s no way I could catch up to him.”

“To be honest, Song Chenxi and I are fellow disciples,” Ruan Mingyu added.

“Wow, you’re his fellow disciple? Then I must tell you all about his atrocious deeds. You should tell your Senior Brother, Junior Brother, Senior Sister, Junior Sister, Shishu, and Shibo all about it when you return.”

“Oh, did he do something that harms the natural order?”

“Not exactly,” he gritted his teeth, “but close enough.”

“I entered the secret realm with him. He started out smiling and friendly, just like you are now. After two days, once he tricked me out of the demon beast core, he immediately gave me the cold shoulder.”

Ruan Mingyu thought, That shouldn’t be right. This person’s cultivation was mediocre. With Song Chenxi’s style, he should have just outright snatched it.

Ruan Mingyu said, “Is that true? I don’t think Song Chenxi is that kind of person.”

Seeing Ruan Mingyu didn’t believe him, Gu Xiaoxiao anxiously said: “You are so naive; you’d help someone count their money after they cheated you. I’m telling you, only I knew the entrance to the demon beast’s cave. I only agreed to partner with him because he looked amiable. As soon as we entered, he immediately abandoned me, killing the demon beast himself. Not only did he kill the demon beast, but when I confronted him about it, he actually beat me up! It caused me to be eliminated after barely half a month in the secret realm!”

As he spoke, he rolled up his sleeve to show Ruan Mingyu his bruises.

Ruan Mingyu thought, What’s so strange about that? Given this person’s cultivation, he was probably chased and beaten by the demon beast anyway, so talking about the core was irrelevant. Even if Song Chenxi hadn’t gone with him, he wouldn’t have gotten the core.

However, Ruan Mingyu also wanted to trick this person, so he feigned great distress:

“Then he is very wicked.”

Gu Xiaoxiao looked as if he had met a kindred spirit, putting his arm around Ruan Mingyu’s shoulder: “You understand me.”

“I do.”

Gu Xiaoxiao’s eyes were moist with emotion, feeling a sense of familiarity with Ruan Mingyu as one would with an old acquaintance in a foreign land.

“Good fellow cultivator, I’ll treat you to a meal today.”

Ruan Mingyu followed him into a restaurant. At the table, he feigned mystery and said: “Do you know why his cultivation is so high at such a young age?”

Gu Xiaoxiao looked left and right, confirming no one was listening, and whispered: “Could it be… he cultivates demonic arts!”

Ruan Mingyu’s eyelid twitched. He had sworn a poisonous oath not to reveal this matter to anyone.

Although Gu Xiaoxiao’s guess, by accident, was close to the truth.

He shook his head, lowering his voice to Gu Xiaoxiao:

“That’s not it. The secret to his rapid cultivation growth is…” Ruan Mingyu paused for dramatic effect.

Gu Xiaoxiao cooperatively asked: “What is it?”

Ruan Mingyu took out the elixirs he had refined earlier, as if presenting a treasure. He had bought a luxurious box for them, making them look quite legitimate.

“Look at this medicine,” Ruan Mingyu held it in front of him. “The secret to Song Chenxi’s rapid cultivation growth lies right here.”

Gu Xiaoxiao: “Is that true?”

Ruan Mingyu: “I’m his fellow disciple, would I lie to you?”

Gu Xiaoxiao: “Precisely because you are his fellow disciple, I must be wary of you. Otherwise, I would be begging you to sell me some.”

Ruan Mingyu sensed a good opportunity and quickly continued to entice him. “I’ll give you one for free. You can try it, and if you feel a difference, then come back and buy from me.”

“No rush. Let me tell you more about Song Chenxi’s bad deeds,” Gu Xiaoxiao said. “I fought him and lost. Losing wasn’t enough; he even insulted me.”

Ruan Mingyu controlled the upward curl of his lips, asking him: “What did he call you?”

Gu Xiaoxiao imitated Song Chenxi’s tone: “A useless ornamental straw bag, an unmotivated quail. Even my Junior Brother is better than you!”

Ruan Mingyu’s raised lips flattened.

What did that mean? Was he implying he was stupid?

Ruan Mingyu listened to him for a long time, providing energetic reactions. It would be impolite not to buy anything after chatting for so long. Ruan Mingyu planned to fleece this simpleton a few times.

“Are you really not going to try? One pill refreshes your mind, two pills increase your cultivation, and three pills give you hope of ascension.”

“Is it really that good?”

Ruan Mingyu didn’t know if it was good, but it certainly wouldn’t kill anyone.

“If it wasn’t good, would I sell it to you?”

“How many spiritual stones?”

Ruan Mingyu held up two fingers. He originally intended to ask for twenty spiritual stones, which would be enough to repair the jade pendant. Unexpectedly, the big fool in front of him said: “Two hundred spiritual stones? That’s very cheap.”

Ruan Mingyu’s eyes sparkled: “If you want it, I can give you a little more discount.”

“No need, it’s already very cheap.” He pulled out a money pouch and tossed it to Ruan Mingyu. “Take it.”

Ruan Mingyu beamed with joy, his beautiful eyes crinkling into a smile, nodding at him.

Gu Xiaoxiao blushed looking at him: “You’re so happy just for two hundred spiritual stones. You’re simply too naive. Fellow cultivator, you must be careful when traveling outside. Simple and pretty boys like you are easily deceived, especially when you encounter people like Song Chenxi. He is truly a master of effortless deception.”

He had paid the money, so everything he said was right. Ruan Mingyu nodded in agreement, his heart filled with delight.

Two hundred spiritual stones was equivalent to his annual disciple allowance!

Ruan Mingyu took the money and was about to go back to the shopkeeper to repair the jade pendant.

Gu Xiaoxiao: “Wait, don’t rush off. What’s your name?”

When traveling, one could give any name. Ruan Mingyu: “Just call me Ruan Qiang (Strong).”

Gu Xiaoxiao: “A good name…”