After the Stand-in Hugged the White Moonlight's Thigh Tightly - Chapter 36(2.2)

Chapter 36(2.2): Don’t Speak Ill of My Senior Brother in Front of Me…

The young monk should have been chanting scriptures in his room, but he couldn’t sit still and came out for some fresh air, only to bump into Ruan Mingyu.

Seeing Ruan Mingyu, he shouted: “Who are you?”

Ruan Mingyu quickly covered his mouth, afraid he would call for help.

“I mean no harm. I’m looking for someone,” Ruan Mingyu explained his purpose.

He unfolded a portrait of his cousin for the young monk: “Do you recognize him?”

The young monk nodded, signaling Ruan Mingyu to release him.

“Ah, I know him. He was one of the monks who came last time, but he didn’t stay at the temple a while ago, choosing to go out alone. Now that the disease is so rampant, the abbot told us all to stay in our rooms and not come out, but he wouldn’t listen.”

“Do you know where he went?”

“I don’t know that.”

“Those who contract the strange illness will fester all over, eventually becoming neither human nor ghost. They will grow a monstrous mouth and devour their own kind,” the young monk described vividly, as if he had suffered from the disease himself. He seemed to realize he had spoken too much and quickly corrected: “Don’t worry, I haven’t caught the disease.”

After searching for so long, there was still no result. Ruan Mingyu was frustrated. He had promised Yusheng to bring her father back, but he didn’t even know if his cousin was still in the city.

Gu Xiaoxiao finally struggled to climb over the wall. He saw Ruan Mingyu talking to a young monk.

The young monk talked with him for a bit, confirmed he wasn’t malicious, and then suddenly lowered his voice and asked Ruan Mingyu: “Can you save my Martial Uncle? Martial Uncle… he seems to be failing.”

Ruan Mingyu: “Why ask me for help?”

Young monk: “You smell of medicine.”

Ruan Mingyu asked him to lead the way.

Upon entering the room, he was greeted by a foul odor. A monk was tied up on the bed. He seemed to still have some consciousness, but he was not far from becoming a walking corpse.

Ruan Mingyu felt his pulse, and his face turned serious. He voiced his question: “He’s this severe, then you…”

The young monk said to him: “I’m sorry, I lied to you. Actually…” He rolled up his sleeve. Ruan Mingyu saw that the skin on his arm was already beginning to fester.

Gu Xiaoxiao gasped, involuntarily retreating a few steps.

“I’m sorry. If it’s too difficult… you guys… please leave quickly…”

Ruan Mingyu was in a dilemma. On the one hand, he wanted to find his cousin as soon as possible. On the other hand, he couldn’t bear to see so many people suffering from the disease.

He hesitated for a long time, finally sighed, and said to the young monk: “Find me an empty room.”

The young monk asked: “You mean to?”

Ruan Mingyu: “Set up the furnace and refine pills. It’s a last resort, but if I can save one, it’s worth it.”

“Aren’t you looking for someone anymore?”

“I’ll look for him after I finish refining the pills.”

The young monk found an empty room for Ruan Mingyu. Ruan Mingyu took out the cauldron from his storage ring.

Although he wasn’t completely confident, he couldn’t stand by and watch so many people suffer.

Ruan Mingyu prepared to start the pill refinement. Gu Xiaoxiao, standing by, asked: “What about me? What should I do?”

Ruan Mingyu closed the door and said: “Just guard the door for me. Don’t let anyone in to disturb me.”

Gu Xiaoxiao: “Okay, don’t worry. With me guarding, absolutely no one will enter.”

Ruan Mingyu closed the door, only to realize his palms were sweating. To be honest, he wasn’t sure if he could succeed.

Refining a batch of medicine would take at least three days. If Song Chenxi couldn’t find him during that time… Sigh, I can’t worry about that now.

Soon, the moon climbed the night sky.

Gu Xiaoxiao, outside the door, sneezed from the cold wind. He initially wanted to find a place to sleep, but remembering his promise to Ruan Mingyu, he leaned against the door and didn’t leave.

Ruan Mingyu wasn’t having an easy time inside either. To save time, he was using nearly all his spiritual power. This reckless use of spiritual energy made Ruan Mingyu break out in a cold sweat, but he couldn’t worry about it and gritted his teeth to persevere.

After two hours, he suddenly heard an argument outside the door. However, Ruan Mingyu was busy refining pills and couldn’t spare the energy to do anything else.

Gu Xiaoxiao dozed off, his nose twitching. He smelled the scent of medicine and figured Ruan Mingyu was working hard at the refinement inside.

Suddenly, a figure flashed past him.

Gu Xiaoxiao blocked the door, preventing anyone from entering: “Who are you?”

When he saw the person’s face clearly, Gu Xiaoxiao was shocked: “It’s you! The guy who conned me out of a pill in the secret realm and gave me a good beating!”

Song Chenxi couldn’t be bothered with small talk. He flicked his sleeve and threw Gu Xiaoxiao aside.

“You can’t go in!” Gu Xiaoxiao rushed forward and hugged his leg, preventing him from moving.

Song Chenxi opened the door and glanced inside. He knew Ruan Mingyu was refining pills and didn’t want to be disturbed, so he backed out.

He kicked Gu Xiaoxiao and then leaned against the door, saying to him: “You can scram. You’re not needed here anymore.”

Although Gu Xiaoxiao couldn’t defeat him, he wasn’t afraid of him. He had a bit of a reckless streak.

“Little Ruan asked me to guard it! Who are you? You should be the one to leave!”

“Little Ruan? Calling him so intimately? What are you to him?”

Gu Xiaoxiao was about to shout back, but Song Chenxi, losing patience, struck him unconscious and casually threw him into a random room.

It was three days later when Ruan Mingyu finished refining the pills. Song Chenxi had guarded him the entire time. Seeing him stumble out weakly, he quickly went forward to support him.

“Are you alright?” His voice subconsciously softened.

Ruan Mingyu initially thought it was Gu Xiaoxiao and shook his head: “I’m fine.”

When he saw clearly that it was Song Chenxi, Ruan Mingyu’s tightly wound nerves finally relaxed. His tone carried a subtle joy he hadn’t noticed: “Senior Brother, when did you arrive?”

Song Chenxi said: “I went to the government office and found the list of moving residents from the past few months. After several inquiries, I learned your cousin is currently at the temple.”

Ruan Mingyu: “I was a step too late. He’s not here anymore.”

“What are your plans now?”

“First, to save people… I hope Cousin will have good fortune…”

Ruan Mingyu distributed the refined pills to the others in the temple.

Then he vaguely felt he had forgotten something. He asked: “Where is Gu Xiaoxiao?”

Song Chenxi said coldly: “He’s dead.”

Ruan Mingyu: “…”

“Senior Brother, release him. Although he’s a bit foolish, his nature isn’t bad.”

“You understand him now too?”

Ruan Mingyu’s expression froze for a moment. What kind of talk is that?

“Senior Brother, I only met him briefly. He was kind enough to guide me and bring me to the temple. I should at least ensure he gets back safely.”

After much earnest persuasion, Ruan Mingyu finally convinced Song Chenxi.

Soon, Song Chenxi appeared, holding a person, and threw him onto the ground.

Gu Xiaoxiao climbed up from the ground, pointed at Ruan Mingyu, and then at Song Chenxi: “You two know each other?”

Song Chenxi sneered: “He is my Junior Brother. Do you think we know each other?”

Gu Xiaoxiao retreated two steps and whispered to Ruan Mingyu: “Your Senior Brother is no good. Be careful of him.”

Song Chenxi shot him a glance and pulled out his sword. Seeing this, Ruan Mingyu quickly played peacemaker, stepping between them.

Ruan Mingyu said without batting an eyelid: “My Senior Brother is incomparably clever, incredibly brave, and kind to others. He is a great benefactor. Don’t speak ill of my Senior Brother in front of me.”

Gu Xiaoxiao anxiously said: “He’s the one who conned me in the secret realm! Don’t be fooled by him and help him count the money he took from you!”

Ruan Mingyu desperately wanted to cover the young man’s mouth. Song Chenxi was not an easy person to deal with. If he angered him, getting slapped twice would be a light punishment.

Ruan Mingyu quickly pulled Song Chenxi aside, signaling Gu Xiaoxiao to shut up.

Song Chenxi, deep in thought, suddenly picked Ruan Mingyu up in a bridal carry and flew away.

“Where are we going?” Ruan Mingyu was caught off guard, cradled in his arms.

Song Chenxi: “Leaving this place.”

Ruan Mingyu: “No, I haven’t found my cousin yet.”

Song Chenxi: “I will find him for you. You leave here first.”

Ruan Mingyu: “Even if I find my cousin, I can’t leave this place right away. The people here are suffering from the strange illness. I have the ability to cure them. I can’t leave.”

Song Chenxi looked down at him, his dark eyes swirling with hidden currents: “Are you not even listening to my words now?”

Ruan Mingyu met his gaze: “Senior Brother, I don’t want to leave.”

They stared at each other for a long time. Song Chenxi was the first to withdraw his gaze: “Fine. I respect your decision. Don’t regret it.”

Ruan Mingyu breathed a sigh of relief, but later he realized he sighed too soon.

Song Chenxi landed with him beneath a tree, then leaned in close. Ruan Mingyu’s back was against the trunk; there was no escape.

Song Chenxi began to cross-examine him: “Ruan Mingyu, tell me, what’s the deal with that blockhead? It seems you two knew each other before?”

Ruan Mingyu: “I sold him medicine a few times.”

Song Chenxi: “Is that all the relationship there is?”

Ruan Mingyu swallowed: “What other relationship could there be?”

Song Chenxi chuckled softly. He lowered his head and bit Ruan Mingyu’s lip, saying ambiguously: “For example, a relationship like ours.”

A sharp pain shot through Ruan Mingyu’s lip. His heart constricted, and he went all in: “He previously said he wanted to settle scores with me, mistaking me for you, Senior Brother. I thought it was better for him to come after me. I can do anything as long as he doesn’t harass you, Senior Brother.”

Saying this, Ruan Mingyu secretly pinched himself. His eyes were watering, and his words sounded completely sincere.

Song Chenxi didn’t speak, but the intensity in his gaze deepened. His hand slowly moved up, touching the back of Ruan Mingyu’s neck. He applied slight pressure, forcing Ruan Mingyu to tilt his head back. Ruan Mingyu had no defense, seemingly completely at his mercy.

Song Chenxi’s breath was close to his, intertwining until it was impossible to tell whose was whose. Ruan Mingyu couldn’t help but blink, and the next second, Song Chenxi kissed him deeply.

Ruan Mingyu’s head spun. He couldn’t muster any strength in his body. When he tried to push Song Chenxi away, his hands only rested softly on his shoulders, an act that seemed like a subtle invitation, provoking Song Chenxi to become more forceful.

Ruan Mingyu was oblivious to the world, his mind deprived of oxygen. All he saw was Song Chenxi’s magnified face.

After an unknown amount of time, Song Chenxi finally released him.

Ruan Mingyu leaned against the tree trunk, panting.

If he kept playing this game, he would lose himself completely! After being kissed so many times, Ruan Mingyu could no longer say that Song Chenxi was just his Senior Brother.

Song Chenxi looked satisfied, even though both their faces were flushed.

However, each of them was preoccupied with their own thoughts. Ruan Mingyu secretly decided that he must find a time to distance himself from Song Chenxi. If they continued like this, he would truly be bound to him for life.

“Where do you want to go now?” Song Chenxi asked him.

Ruan Mingyu wiped the suspicious moisture from his lips, took a breath, and said: “Let’s go back to the camp. There are more patients there. We can test the efficacy of the medicine.”

Song Chenxi nodded and carried him back to the area.

Upon returning, Gu Xiaoxiao was already sitting in the tent. Seeing Ruan Mingyu return, he crept over to him.

“He didn’t do anything inappropriate to you, did he?”

Thinking of what just happened, Ruan Mingyu blushed. He lowered his head to hide the faint flush on his face and asked Gu Xiaoxiao: “Where is your sister?”

Gu Xiaoxiao: “My sister is busy brewing medicine for the patients. I’ll take you to her.”

Meeting Gu Yashao, Ruan Mingyu gave her the pills he had just refined.

Gu Yashao squeezed the pill open and tasted it: “You refined this?”

Ruan Mingyu nodded.

Gu Yashao said with emotion: “I didn’t expect Seven Stars Sect to have such hidden talent. Not only are you good with the sword, but you’re also competing with alchemists.”

She administered the pills to some people to observe the effects. Within two days, the festering of the patients’ skin stopped.

Gu Yashao sought out Ruan Mingyu to discuss the next steps. Song Chenxi guarded them nearby. Gu Yashao said: “Please excuse us for a moment, young man.”

Song Chenxi stood his ground. With a polite demeanor, he said firmly: “Is there anything I cannot hear?”

Ruan Mingyu smoothed things over: “Senior Brother, please wait outside. I’ll come find you soon.” Only then did Song Chenxi step out of the tent, but he stayed close, guarding the outside.

The sound of their conversation occasionally drifted out from inside. When they reached an exciting point, Ruan Mingyu would let out a joyful laugh, which Song Chenxi found unpleasant to hear.

Ruan Mingyu got along well with everyone.

He thought darkly: I want to lock him up… so he can only talk to me.

Finally, their conversation ended.

Ruan Mingyu came out to find Song Chenxi, who was holding his sword and wiping dust from the blade.

Ruan Mingyu sat beside him: “Senior Brother, I think we’ve found a way to cure the illness.”

Song Chenxi responded with an indifferent “Mm.”

“You’re angry.”

“No.”

“It’s written all over your face.”

“I was born with a serious disposition.”

“…”

…

Later, after several rounds of refinement, the pill was finally distributed widely. To ensure that everyone in the city had access to the medicine, Ruan Mingyu was so busy that he kept ten furnaces running simultaneously. Although tiring, it was worth it.

Ruan Mingyu wiped the sweat from his forehead. If things continued this way, the epidemic in the city could be controlled within three months. During this time, he also didn’t give up on searching for his cousin. He had a portrait drawn and posted throughout the city.

It was then that Ruan Mingyu finally met the legendary City Lord.

The City Lord was a somewhat portly middle-aged man, who looked amiable. He immediately grasped Ruan Mingyu’s hand and enthusiastically said: “Oh, it’s this hero who saved our Cangzhou city from disaster.”

Ruan Mingyu: “It’s nothing, nothing…”

Song Chenxi, standing nearby, had a terrible expression: “Take your hand away.”

The City Lord withdrew his hand: “If the hero needs anything, just ask.”

Ruan Mingyu took out his cousin’s portrait and handed it to him: “Could you help me find the person in this picture?”

The City Lord’s expression flickered slightly when he saw the person in the portrait, but he quickly masked it. His smile was honest and kind: “I will immediately order my subordinates to post a notice. This person will definitely be found for you!”

Then he added: “I will arrange for manpower and supplies in the next two days. You two can take a rest.”

Ruan Mingyu didn’t think much of it. It would be great to have a chance to relax.

But the trouble started right here. Before this, the medicine that passed through Ruan Mingyu’s hands hadn’t caused any problems. However, after the people sent by the City Lord took over, people started reporting that the illness worsened after taking the medicine every two or three days.

Ruan Mingyu couldn’t help but be suspicious.

Song Chenxi saw through his thoughts and said: “Tonight, I will go and capture that old man for you. We’ll know once we question him.”

Ruan Mingyu quickly grabbed his hand: “Don’t tip him off. I have a feeling that old man is not simple. It would be bad if he destroyed the evidence. We need to plan carefully.”

Song Chenxi nodded: “Your business is my business.”

Ruan Mingyu immediately said: “My business is my business. How dare I trouble Senior Brother?”

Song Chenxi smiled faintly: “We’ve reached this point. Why must you and I keep such a clear distinction?”

Hearing his words, Ruan Mingyu’s head doubled in size. This point? What point? We’ve only kissed a few times!

Recalling Song Chenxi constantly mentioning becoming Dao Companions, Ruan Mingyu’s face turned pale. However, he quickly calmed himself. Zhao Ziping’s manual mentioned a Pill of Absolute Emotion. If absolutely necessary, he would refine that and trick Song Chenxi into taking it.

Seeing that Ruan Mingyu was slow to respond, Song Chenxi’s mood immediately shifted from sunny to cloudy. Although he was smiling gently, Ruan Mingyu felt a chill down his spine.

“Mingyu seems unwilling?”

“Haha… I was just thinking. I’m so grateful for Senior Brother doing all this for me, I barely have time to feel anything else.”

Song Chenxi’s expression finally improved.