After the Stand-in Hugged the White Moonlight's Thigh Tightly - Chapter 33

Chapter 33: Who is the White Moonlight?

Song Chenxi had been giving Ruan Mingyu the cold shoulder recently, and since he was also participating in the competition, Ruan Mingyu hadn’t seen him for several consecutive days due to the extended duration of the matches.

Because of the demon infiltration last time, personnel control within the sect had become much stricter. A token was required to leave the sect, and only a limited number of people could get a token each day.

Ruan Mingyu queued for several days and finally got a token to go down the mountain. The first thing he wanted to do was check on his spirit field.

He also needed to gather more herbs. He had recently improved a pill formula, and if this batch of pills succeeded, it should significantly help treat the “delusion.” He wanted to cure Song Chenxi as soon as possible, so he wouldn’t owe him anything and could travel the world freely and unrestrained.

Ruan Mingyu went down the mountain. Everything was fine until he was about to turn into a small alley, and suddenly someone clapped a hand over his mouth and nose.

Ruan Mingyu struggled, but the person tightly embraced him from behind, making him unable to move. The man’s warm breath sprayed onto the side of his neck.

“Song Chenxi, I finally caught you! After all these years, you didn’t even leave me your name. Luckily, I found you.”

Ruan Mingyu’s heart sank. Is this the third suitor from the book who fell for Song Chenxi at first sight during the competition?

Ruan Mingyu wanted to speak, but only muffled noises came out. After a long while, the person behind him finally released his hand, allowing him to speak.

He immediately said: “I am not Song Chenxi, you have the wrong person!” Why did this scenario happen to him twice? He was unjustly carrying so many burdens for Song Chenxi! It was always someone falling for Song Chenxi and grabbing the wrong person—him.

Qiu Shi looked incredulous. He pressed Ruan Mingyu’s shoulders, forcing him to turn around and face him.

“How can you look exactly the same! You’re lying to me, you must be lying to me!”

This guy not only had a screw loose but also had vision problems. While he and Song Chenxi looked similar, they were not identical. Any clear-sighted person could tell the difference.

“If you’re looking for Song Chenxi, I can take you to him. Will you let me go?” Ruan Mingyu tried the same trick again.

The world in Qiu Shi’s eyes was already different from normal people’s. He wondered who was the person he met back then—Song Chenxi or the person in front of him?

In the next moment, he realized that the person in front of him was not Song Chenxi. If it were Song Chenxi, how could he be caught so easily?

But Qiu Shi didn’t let him go either.

He was burly and tall, carrying Ruan Mingyu like a little chick. He carried him to an abandoned temple with no one around and didn’t even bother tying him up. He wasn’t afraid of Ruan Mingyu running away, as the other party had no strength to fight back at all.

Qiu Shi smelled a unique scent on Ruan Mingyu. He sniffed around Ruan Mingyu like a dog.

“You have a scent of medicine on you.”

He’s an alchemist who is constantly near a furnace. How could he not smell like medicine?

Ruan Mingyu secretly pulled a yellow talisman from behind his back, quickly wrote a few characters, and was about to cast a spell to summon Song Chenxi for help. Although Song Chenxi had a terrible personality, he was reliable in a crisis.

However, Qiu Shi easily saw through his plan. He grasped Ruan Mingyu’s wrist with one hand. Ruan Mingyu winced in pain and frowned.

“You want to call for help?”

He snatched the talisman from Ruan Mingyu’s hand. Despite Ruan Mingyu’s desperate attempts to stop him, the talisman fell into his hand.

Qiu Shi picked up the talisman and read the words written on it.

“Senior Brother, come quickly to save me, at the abandoned temple down the mountain.”

He crushed the yellow paper into fragments with one hand and told him: “No one can save you.”

Ruan Mingyu backed away while earnestly persuading him.

“Look, I don’t affect you in any way, and we have no great enmity. Why kill me?”

The more he backed away, the more Qiu Shi pressed forward. He said: “Even a mosquito’s leg is meat. Though your cultivation is low, draining your blood is better than nothing.”

Ruan Mingyu lamented internally. Is this the tragedy of the villain? Am I doomed to die no matter what?

Qiu Shi’s hand clamped onto Ruan Mingyu’s neck. He leaned his head forward, exposing his sharp fangs, seemingly debating where to bite first.

This scene felt strangely familiar.

Qiu Shi frowned, as if recalling something. But after a moment, he shook his head. The person who escaped from him years ago was definitely not Ruan Mingyu. With such low cultivation, he probably couldn’t even wield a sword. How could he have performed such exquisite swordplay?

Ruan Mingyu’s heart was in his throat. He really didn’t want to die like this, and certainly not by being sucked dry. The hand on his neck was tightening, and he could barely breathe.

Ruan Mingyu, in a moment of desperation, quickly said: “Song Chenxi and I grew up together. We have the best relationship. If you kill me, he will never forgive you.”

Qiu Shi said jealously: “Do you really think you mean that much to him?” Although he said this, the pressure in his hand eased slightly.

Seeing that it worked, Ruan Mingyu quickly said: “Big Brother, why resort to fighting and violence? I know you fell for him at first sight. I know what he likes best. Why don’t we sit down and talk? I can help you pursue him. Wouldn’t that be a happy outcome for everyone?”

Qiu Shi shook his head, his gaze resolute: “It wasn’t love at first sight. I met him decades ago.”

Ruan Mingyu paused. This is different from what the book said.

Qiu Shi looked menacing: “Are you negotiating with me? I hate you cultivators the most. You’re all untrustworthy, each one more cunning than the last.”

Ruan Mingyu weakly interjected: “Song Chenxi is also a cultivator…”

Qiu Shi: “He’s different!”

“Yes, yes, he’s different.” Ruan Mingyu scoffed internally. Love truly makes people blind. If Song Chenxi is a saint, there are no villains in the world.

Ruan Mingyu’s strategy worked. Qiu Shi thought of something and abandoned the idea of killing him. However, while capital punishment was avoided, lesser punishment was not. He pried open Ruan Mingyu’s mouth and forced a pill inside.

“You must take the antidote for this pill once a month, or you will go mad and die. You can doubt that I gave you poison, but when the poison acts at the end of the month, you’ll experience a taste you won’t forget for the rest of your life.”

This beast is too vicious.

Ruan Mingyu really wanted to punch him, but he didn’t dare.

He poisoned me instead of killing me. What exactly does Qiu Shi want to do?

Qiu Shi seemed to read his mind and said: “I need you to constantly monitor him. You must tell me his every move, especially the people he gets close to!”

The people Song Chenxi gets close to? Ruan Mingyu thought about it. There was really no one else besides him.

To save his life, he still nodded: “Leave it to me. I’ll dig up everything, what he likes and what he doesn’t.”

Qiu Shi added: “Also, you are forbidden to tell him what happened today. If I find out, you’ll regret it.”

Ruan Mingyu now felt that Song Chenxi was a great benefactor; at least he had never done anything harmful to him.

Ruan Mingyu nodded: “Got it.”

He thought Qiu Shi would let him go just like that, but he was too naive.

He had walked halfway when Qiu Shi grabbed his arm and pulled him back.

Qiu Shi wavered as he looked at Ruan Mingyu’s back. The figure gradually overlapped with the person from many years ago, so he grabbed Ruan Mingyu without thinking.

He bared his sharp teeth, intending to bite his neck.

Ruan Mingyu panicked and said: “Song Chenxi will find out! If you bite me, he will definitely know!”

Qiu Shi stopped moving, staring intensely at him with some reluctance.

Seeing no further movement, Ruan Mingyu scrambled away.

Qiu Shi looked at his cowardly manner and thought, The person from years ago would never be him.

“Get out,” he hissed in a low voice, punching the wall of the dilapidated temple. The wall immediately cracked.

Ruan Mingyu ran away quickly. Thank goodness the punch didn’t land on me, or I’d be crippled. He decided to embrace his cowardice, as he had saved his life.

…

The past few days were busy with the competition, and Song Chenxi had no time to check on Ruan Mingyu. Furthermore, he was truly bothered in his heart. Why couldn’t Ruan Mingyu just stay quietly by his side? Why did he have to get involved with others?

He couldn’t lock Ruan Mingyu up; that would frighten him. Song Chenxi thought, Then I’ll just drive away everyone around Ruan Mingyu in the future.

Song Chenxi was thinking of Ruan Mingyu when he suddenly appeared before him.

In truth, Ruan Mingyu didn’t want to run to Song Chenxi either, but he had no choice. Qiu Shi behind the scenes kept demanding that he spy on Song Chenxi.

Song Chenxi was instantly overjoyed to see him, even more excited than winning a match.

Since the Immortal Gate Grand Competition, Song Chenxi’s reputation had soared. Almost everyone in the sect knew him. More people came to ask for his guidance. Song Chenxi was an impatient person. At first, he would be polite and make excuses about being busy. Later, he stopped pretending, simply saying, “Don’t bother me,” with a cold face.

However, seeing Ruan Mingyu today, he was completely different, smiling sweetly: “I’ve gained a new insight into a sword technique. I’ll perform it for you.”

Ruan Mingyu saw that he was excited. Although he wasn’t interested in swordplay, he didn’t want to dismiss him, so he nodded.

After watching his swordsmanship, Ruan Mingyu said: “How come it looks so much like the set you taught me years ago?”

Song Chenxi said: “Are you talking about the Star Moon Kill? This sword technique is derived from that one, but it’s simpler and more practical in combat.”

He tossed his sword to Ruan Mingyu: “Do you still remember the moves of the Star Moon Kill? Perform it for me.”

After so many years, Ruan Mingyu only remembered the general outline. He took the sword and moved based on muscle memory, managing to perform most of the moves.

Song Chenxi nodded and commented: “Lazy Little Sparrow, if you were willing to practice diligently, your cultivation wouldn’t be where it is now. You’re already much smarter than others.”

Ruan Mingyu said: “I’m an alchemist, not a swordsman.”

“However, you got a few moves wrong just now,” Song Chenxi held Ruan Mingyu’s hand from behind and guided him through the practice again.

“Did you remember it?” he asked.

Ruan Mingyu nodded, but he didn’t take it to heart.

“Are you keeping something from me recently?” Song Chenxi asked.

Ruan Mingyu really wanted to tell him about Qiu Shi, but he was wary of the poison he had taken and couldn’t produce an antidote yet. He hesitated for a moment and shook his head.

“No.”

Song Chenxi: “Yes, you are.”

Ruan Mingyu was startled. Was he that obvious? Song Chenxi could tell right away?

Ruan Mingyu stammered: “I…”

Song Chenxi pulled out a Ganoderma from behind his back. It was carefully wrapped in silk.

“For you.”

So, this was his concern? Ruan Mingyu was both amused and speechless after taking it.

…

When the end of the month arrived, Ruan Mingyu initially didn’t want to go down the mountain to find Qiu Shi, but the poison was indeed as vicious as Qiu Shi had described.

Even before it fully acted, Ruan Mingyu felt unwell all over, wishing he could stab himself and sleep forever.

Once it took hold, it was worse than death. He forced himself to go down the mountain to see Qiu Shi.

Qiu Shi, that bastard, looked down at him as if looking at a small ant.

Ruan Mingyu clutched at his clothes.

“The antidote…”

“First, tell me his whereabouts this month,” Qiu Shi said.

Ruan Mingyu couldn’t speak clearly: “I can’t talk. Give me the medicine first…”

Qiu Shi tossed a medicine bottle at him and mocked: “Eat it.”

Ruan Mingyu tremblingly shook the pill out of the bottle, swallowed it whole, and finally felt comfortable.

He knelt on the ground, resting for a while.

Qiu Shi lightly kicked him: “Get up.”

Ruan Mingyu didn’t move: “I have no strength.” He drooped his eyebrows, looking completely harmless. Qiu Shi remembered the rabbit he once kept. It looked docile but could still bite.

Qiu Shi lifted him up like a small eagle carrying a chick: “Don’t test my patience.”

He seemed to despise people like Ruan Mingyu, never looking at him directly. To be honest, Ruan Mingyu also looked down on him. If it weren’t for the poison controlling him, he would curse him out even if he had to take a beating.

Ruan Mingyu told him what Song Chenxi had done this month, although some parts were exaggerated and others were omitted entirely.

For example, when asked what Song Chenxi liked, Ruan Mingyu said: “Medicinal herbs. He loves the finest herbs the most. Every time I give him high-quality elixirs, he smiles brightly.”

Qiu Shi nodded. “I’ll buy some herbs. You take them up the mountain for him.”

Ruan Mingyu’s eyes lit up at this. What does Song Chenxi know about herbs? Ruan Mingyu would definitely embezzle this and take it for himself.

Qiu Shi saw his expression: “I’m giving it to him, not you. If you dare to swallow it yourself, I’ll make sure you never see tomorrow’s sun.”

Ruan Mingyu quickly nodded: “How dare I?”

Qiu Shi only had a vague understanding of herbs, so he brought Ruan Mingyu along when buying.

Ruan Mingyu thought about which herbs he needed for his refining and pointed to them.

“That’s Purple Mist Leaf. It nourishes the liver and brightens the eyes. Good stuff. Buy it quickly.”

“And this bag of Heavenly Thunder Rain. This stuff is expensive! He’ll definitely be happy if you buy it for him.”

Qiu Shi, who was burly with a wide back and narrow waist, glanced at him, exuding strong deterrence.

“Are you telling me what to do?”

Ruan Mingyu: “I’m just offering suggestions. Trust me, you won’t go wrong.”

Qiu Shi still listened to him and, with a wave of his hand, bought everything. The Purple Mist Leaf had a strong fragrance. Qiu Shi, who was very sensitive to scents, frowned. “Take it all.”

Ruan Mingyu suppressed the smile on his face and accepted it: “I’ll handle this. Don’t worry, he’ll get all of it.”

Qiu Shi saw his money-grubbing look and couldn’t help but smile, then quickly cleared his throat and became serious again: “Don’t think that I won’t know what you’re doing just because you’re in the sect.”

Ruan Mingyu: “You are immensely powerful, Elder. How would I dare to deceive you?”

Qiu Shi: “How does Song Chenxi end up with a Junior Brother like you?”

Ruan Mingyu had just gained a large bag of medicinal herbs for free, so he didn’t argue with him anymore.

“Then I, this kind of Junior Brother, will head back now.”

Qiu Shi: “Next month, at this time. If I don’t see you, you’re finished.”

…

After returning, Ruan Mingyu presented the valuable herbs to Song Chenxi, feigning sincerity.

“I bought some for you. Do you want them?”

Song Chenxi said casually: “Is my little sparrow asking for a favor recently?”

Ruan Mingyu: “No. Heaven can be my witness. I simply wanted to give something to Senior Brother.”

Song Chenxi: “Fine, keep it yourself. If you insist on owing me, consider it a gift from me to you.”

Ruan Mingyu chuckled: “Thank you, Senior Brother.” He was eager to refine pills and tried to leave after saying goodbye.

Song Chenxi called out to him. He unbuckled his personal sword from his waist and placed it in Ruan Mingyu’s hand.

“This sword has been with me for many years. It’s time for a new one. Although it’s old, it’s still as sharp as ever.”

Ruan Mingyu couldn’t understand why he suddenly gave him his sword. For a swordsman, their sword was practically a part of their life.

Song Chenxi stroked his head: “This sword is imbued with my aura. Carry it with you. If you encounter danger, I can sense it immediately.”

Ruan Mingyu’s gaze softened slightly.

Ruan Mingyu didn’t fear Song Chenxi’s madness, but he feared when he suddenly played the emotional card and showed genuine care. Ruan Mingyu couldn’t resist these things; he would inevitably succumb.

“Keep it,” Song Chenxi said, leaving no room for argument.

Ruan Mingyu: “I really will keep it, Senior Brother. Don’t regret it and cry, asking me to give the sword back later.”

Song Chenxi’s lips curved into a faint smile: “Everything I have is yours. We will become Dao Companions eventually anyway.”

Ruan Mingyu: “…”

No wonder he gave me the sword. It was ill-intentioned. Can I return this sword?

…

Qiu Shi had never felt a month stretch so long. He lay in an inn down the mountain, mentally calculating how much time Ruan Mingyu had left before he was supposed to meet him.

But no matter how he calculated, why did the time seem so long? He thought for a moment, pushed open the inn door, and walked towards the mountain.

Ruan Mingyu had just finished refining a batch of pills. He stretched, went out for a walk, picked up the sword Song Chenxi had given him, made a quick sword flourish, and casually performed some moves.

All of this was seen by Qiu Shi, who was hiding in the trees not far away.

He stared intently at the person in front of him. The person’s sword-wielding posture gradually overlapped with the person from years ago.

He jumped out of the tree without thinking and rushed over.

Ruan Mingyu was practicing his sword when he was suddenly embraced from behind. The person’s face pressed intimately against his, and their lips moved close to his ear.

“Song Chenxi, come with me.”

Ruan Mingyu stiffened: “You… you’ve got the wrong person again.”

Qiu Shi snapped out of his trance, frowned, and pushed him away: “Why is it you!”

Ruan Mingyu: “Isn’t that obvious? This is my pill room. Who else would it be?”

Qiu Shi looked as if he had been struck a heavy blow. His eyes were filled with deep conflict as he looked at Ruan Mingyu, grabbing his arm and questioning: “Did you go to a Mist Forest decades ago?”

Although Ruan Mingyu’s memory wasn’t great, he vaguely remembered this incident. But he didn’t admit it: “Why would I run there for no reason?”

Qiu Shi flung his hand away. For some reason, he felt a wave of irritation. He smelled a fragrance—the scent of the Purple Mist Leaf he had bought earlier.

Qiu Shi seized upon it like leverage: “I told you to give the herbs to Song Chenxi! You used them yourself!”

Ruan Mingyu wasn’t flustered at all: “He gifted them to me.”

Not knowing which word had angered him, Qiu Shi violently gripped his neck: “Do you think you mean a lot to him?”

Ruan Mingyu was willing to placate Song Chenxi because he at least respected him. But against someone like Qiu Shi, he became more defiant. Ruan Mingyu fearlessly met his gaze: “Yes, he cares about me immensely. The prize for the Immortal Gate Grand Competition, the Nine-Curved Ganoderma, he gave it to me! Do you want me to show you? Oh, he never gives you anything.”

Qiu Shi squeezed his neck with all his might. Ruan Mingyu’s face was flushed red from lack of air. He suddenly regretted his actions. Why argue with him? I used to know how to save myself.

Just when he thought he was about to die, Qiu Shi finally let go of him.

Ruan Mingyu gasped for air, feeling reborn.

“Have you learned your lesson?” Qiu Shi clamped his chin. His face was cold, but a different emotion flickered in the depths of his eyes.

Ruan Mingyu was truly exhausted and didn’t have the strength to fight back. He struggled to speak: “Fine, I’m a coward who fears death. I won’t contradict you anymore.”

Qiu Shi was deep in thought. He vaguely felt that Ruan Mingyu was the old acquaintance, but a voice deep in his heart forbade him from admitting it.

How could his White Moonlight be such a self-serving little coward?

Ruan Mingyu felt a rough hand touch his face. He looked up and met Qiu Shi’s intoxicated gaze. Ruan Mingyu was greatly shocked and froze in place.

Qiu Shi also realized his lapse in control, but he was unwilling to withdraw his hand. The skin under his palm was fair and delicate; it felt as if a little more pressure would break his skin.

Ruan Mingyu shivered: “Let go of me.”

But his resistance was so insignificant. Qiu Shi finally let go only after he had touched enough. Ruan Mingyu ran away like a startled rabbit, never looking back.

Qiu Shi stared at his empty hand and then at Ruan Mingyu’s departing back, deep in thought.

…

Since returning last time, Ruan Mingyu felt unlucky and too weak, so he started running to Song Chenxi every day, wanting to learn from him and improve his cultivation so he could one day stab Qiu Shi through.

Song Chenxi was amazed: “Are you still Ruan Mingyu? Have you been possessed by some ancient demon?”

“Senior Brother gave me his sword last time. I can’t let his kindness go to waste,” Ruan Mingyu said when he saw Song Chenxi’s disbelief. “I just suddenly felt like learning. Senior Brother wouldn’t be hiding his skills and refusing to teach me, would he?”

Song Chenxi snorted with laughter: “If you want to learn, I will teach you, even if I have to guide you hand-by-hand.”

Although Ruan Mingyu usually acted cheerful and unconcerned, Song Chenxi had recently sensed his distress.

When Ruan Mingyu was lying on the ground, panting after practicing his sword again.

Song Chenxi asked: “Has someone bullied you, making you suddenly want to learn the sword and become so diligent?” Song Chenxi stroked his head. This time, his tone was completely normal, without any sarcasm.

Ruan Mingyu closed his eyes: “I just feel too weak and incapable of protecting myself.”

Song Chenxi said earnestly: “With me by your side, that won’t be a problem.”

Ruan Mingyu: “You have your life, and I have mine. I can’t rely on you forever.”

Song Chenxi’s expression immediately changed upon hearing this: “You haven’t included me in your future? Then everything you said about only having me in your heart was a lie?”

He had been acting too normal lately. Ruan Mingyu almost forgot that he was also a psychopath. He quickly corrected himself: “What I meant is that I can’t be by Senior Brother’s side all the time. I’ll always encounter unexpected situations, so I must constantly improve my cultivation.”

Song Chenxi’s expression softened after hearing his explanation.

It had been a while since they last kissed, after the last Grand Competition incident.

Song Chenxi wrapped his arms around Ruan Mingyu’s waist, pulling him into his embrace.

“You don’t need to think so much.” His voice became low and hoarse. Perhaps his deepest desire was triggered. He tilted Ruan Mingyu’s chin and kissed him.

“Mmm…” Ruan Mingyu was truly exasperated with him. Why does he start acting up during conversation?

“Be serious,” Song Chenxi murmured.

His entire body weight pressed down on Ruan Mingyu, making him slightly uncomfortable. He had to wrap his arms around Song Chenxi’s neck to feel a little better. Perhaps due to the frequent kissing, he could now kiss Song Chenxi without blushing or his heart racing. When Song Chenxi was too rough, Ruan Mingyu would gently bite his lip.

At this moment, the moonlight had climbed onto the pitch-black night sky. In the hazy night, some were passionately kissing. And some were traversing one mountain after another, just to catch a glimpse of the White Moonlight in their heart.

Qiu Shi stealthily infiltrated the Seven Stars Sect again. He came here to confirm one thing. Was the White Moonlight in his heart Song Chenxi, or someone else?

However, when he saw the two people embracing and kissing under the moonlight, his blood rushed to his head. An uncontrollable rage shot straight to his crown.

No wonder Ruan Mingyu was so fearless. It turned out these two had secretly gotten together long ago.

Qiu Shi couldn’t tell who he was angry at. He deliberately created a loud noise and shouted: “So even disciples of your so-called righteous sects engage in illicit affairs in private!”

Song Chenxi shielded Ruan Mingyu behind him.

He sneered mockingly: “Isn’t this the coward who fled in defeat after I beat him the other day? I think you’re just sour because you can’t have what you want. My Junior Brother and I are in love. Let alone kissing, we can engage in other activities with a clear conscience. This is no place for a petty villain like you to cause a ruckus!” Saying this, he summoned his sword. Before long, other disciples who heard the commotion rushed toward them.

Qiu Shi was smart enough to know that causing trouble on someone else’s territory would lead to no good. He tucked his tail between his legs and ran.

Once he was gone, Song Chenxi asked Ruan Mingyu: “What exactly is going on between you and him?”