After the Stand-in Hugged the White Moonlight's Thigh Tightly - Chapter 46

Chapter 46: Coward

After just one trip, the two inexplicably ended up with a tag-along.

The child looked young and was very cute. Ruan Mingyu couldn’t resist patting her head and pinching her cheek.

The child called Ruan Mingyu “Gege” (Older Brother).

Song Chenxi, standing nearby, frowned and said: “No need to call him Gege.”

Ruan Mingyu: “Why are you so strict with the little sister? Let her call me whatever she wants. Gege will back you up.”

Song Chenxi mocked: “Ask her how old she is. She could be your grandmother.”

Ruan Mingyu: “Really?” He asked the girl, “Child, how old are you?”

The girl held up six fingers.

Ruan Mingyu looked back at Song Chenxi: “She’s only six.”

The girl shook her head: “Six hundred.”

Ruan Mingyu: “…”

He was truly defeated.

Although her age was much greater than Ruan Mingyu’s, her behavior was still like a child, so Ruan Mingyu treated her as such.

The little girl was completely unaware of what had happened. She held Ruan Mingyu’s hand on the left and Song Chenxi’s hand on the right, skipping and hopping as they walked.

On the way, she asked: “Where is that uncle from earlier?”

Ruan Mingyu genuinely didn’t know how to answer this. After thinking, he said: “He’s trapped under the Five Finger Mountain. Maybe you’ll see him in five hundred years.”

The little girl was confused: “Five hundred years. That’s not too long, not too short.”

Ruan Mingyu chimed in: “Five hundred years? That’s super long, enough for me to live a few lifetimes.”

She seemed to understand and yet not understand. She nodded and said: “I want to go back and see my mother.”

Ruan Mingyu: “We’re taking you back now.”

…

The two brought the child back to the Deer Woman. The Deer Woman rushed forward and hugged her daughter tightly. The mother and daughter embraced and wept.

Although it was impolite to discuss business right now, their goal for the trip had not yet been achieved. Ruan Mingyu hurriedly pressed: “What about your promise to us?”

The Deer Woman calmly wiped away her tears and asked: “And Mu Chengzhou? Is he alright?”

Song Chenxi told her the truth directly: “He’s been locked up and can never come out again.”

The Deer Woman fell silent. Although she didn’t react strongly, it was clear she was very sad.

Song Chenxi urged her to fulfill her promise. The Deer Woman nodded.

She gave her daughter a look: “You go out first.” Ruan Mingyu felt a bit strange about this but didn’t say anything.

The Deer Woman looked at the two of them and said: “Both of you are infected with the Delusion. I do know the cure, but I can only save one person. You choose who to save.”

Ruan Mingyu pointed to himself: “Wait, does that include me too?”

The Deer Woman nodded: “I can smell the blood on you. Although your symptoms are not obvious now, given enough time, it will take root and sprout in your body as well.”

“Save him first,” Ruan Mingyu pointed to Song Chenxi, “He’s severely ill.”

Song Chenxi frowned. The Deer Woman motioned for him to come over, but he stayed rooted to the spot.

Ruan Mingyu pushed him: “She told you to go over. What are you standing there for?”

The footsteps outside had faded away. The Deer Woman beckoned Song Chenxi to come over, intending to begin the treatment, but Song Chenxi hesitated in place.

In that slight lapse of attention, the Deer Woman’s figure suddenly vanished from sight. In an instant, she was gone.

“She just ran off!” Ruan Mingyu was furious. He wanted to chase after her and catch her, but he realized that with his cultivation, he didn’t even know where she had gone. He couldn’t help but feel dejected.

How could the hope they had finally found disappear so easily?

Song Chenxi stood nearby, looking like nothing happened, seemingly still lost in thought.

Ruan Mingyu nearly cried, grabbing his arm: “I said, Brother, what are you doing? Still spacing out at a time like this?”

Song Chenxi: “She meant that only one of us can live.”

Ruan Mingyu was stunned: “Don’t talk nonsense. I’m fine. You just need to be cured.”

Song Chenxi didn’t speak, but his pupils were faintly turning red.

Logically, his symptoms should have been suppressed and wouldn’t flare up these days. Ruan Mingyu saw the faint blood-red color in his pupils, and without a word, he pulled out a packet of medicine and shoved it into his mouth.

Ruan Mingyu: “What’s bothering you these past two days? Your illness is acting up again.”

Song Chenxi didn’t answer.

Ruan Mingyu mumbled to himself: “We have to find her quickly. Do you think she might be a liar and actually knows nothing?”

After thinking for a moment, he added: “No, that’s wrong. Mu Chengzhou could live for so long, so she must have a way. Maybe the price is too high. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have suddenly backed out.”

Ruan Mingyu plucked a roadside weed and played with it in his hand.

“What do we do? I’m truly out of ideas.”

Song Chenxi could still smile at this moment. He said: “I’m not worried, why are you?”

Ruan Mingyu: “Yes, the emperor isn’t worried, but the eunuch is. I just love to worry about others, okay?” A hint of resentment unintentionally crept into his tone. In truth, he was utterly distraught himself.

The plot has changed, so why can the ending not be changed?

If he doesn’t die, Song Chenxi must die. There is no solution!

Seeing his expression, Song Chenxi chuckled and rubbed his head.

“Mingyu, I will be fine.” Song Chenxi held him in his arms, a trace of tenderness in his eyes. He lowered his head and whispered in his ear, “We will both be fine.”

Ruan Mingyu was stunned by his sudden display of affection and stammered: “Okay…”

…

Staying put wasn’t a solution, so the two went to a nearby town.

Ruan Mingyu recently had a bad premonition. Thinking of his tragic end in the book, he took out the spirit stones in his bag and counted them over and over, making a decision that went against his ancestors’ nature.

He actually took out all the spirit stones he had accumulated. He was so extravagant that he bought three skewers of candied hawthorns at once: one for Song Chenxi, one for himself, and the other to give to a child on the street.

This was the first time he had been so generous. Song Chenxi looked at him in shock: “Are you crazy?”

Ruan Mingyu: “I’m much more normal than you. Since you’re not crazy, how could I be?”

Song Chenxi thought for a moment, then nodded: “That’s true.”

Along the way, Ruan Mingyu could be described as utterly lavish, swinging to the opposite extreme.

Sensing Ruan Mingyu’s odd behavior, Song Chenxi finally said: “I think I can find the Deer Woman’s whereabouts.”

Ruan Mingyu was surprised: “Why didn’t you say so earlier!”

Why didn’t he say so earlier? Song Chenxi still hadn’t figured out how to face the fact that only one of them could live.

The town was crowded with people. The two went outside the city, where it was deserted, with not a soul in sight.

Song Chenxi: “Wait for me to perform a divination.”

Ruan Mingyu saw him pull out a compass. Song Chenxi chanted incantations, but Ruan Mingyu didn’t know what he was saying.

Song Chenxi was busy with his work. Ruan Mingyu didn’t disturb him and sat waiting beside him, but he couldn’t sit still. There was a pond not far away. Bored, he rolled up his sleeves and went down to catch two fish.

By the time he skewered the fish and cooked them on a rack, Song Chenxi was finally finished. His lips looked a little pale.

Ruan Mingyu handed him the grilled fish: “Here, eat a fish to replenish your strength.”

Song Chenxi took it. Ruan Mingyu asked him: “Do you have a lead?”

Song Chenxi nodded: “I have a faint clue.”

The fish was slightly burnt and didn’t taste very good. Moreover, no seasoning was added. Ruan Mingyu tasted two bites and spat them out.

Yet, Song Chenxi managed to eat the entire fish without changing his expression. Ruan Mingyu was somewhat impressed by him.

While catching the fish, Ruan Mingyu had accidentally gotten his sleeve wet. He took off his jacket and held it by the fire to dry.

At first, everything was fine. The two talked while warming themselves by the fire. The cool breeze from the river blew gently, making their mood very relaxed.

Song Chenxi inadvertently looked down and saw a red mark on Ruan Mingyu’s arm. He lifted his hand and asked: “What is this?”

Ruan Mingyu certainly wouldn’t tell him truthfully that Gong Lingdeng had crazily placed a Cinnabar Chastity Mark on him. He gave a forced laugh and said: “It’s nothing, just a red mole.”

Song Chenxi didn’t believe him. He pulled his hand closer to examine it carefully, and his face suddenly darkened: “Who placed a Cinnabar Chastity Mark on you! Was it that wretch from the Joyous Union Sect before!”

Ruan Mingyu: “…” What could he say? Did he want this?

Then he thought, Why am I feeling guilty? It’s not my fault. Besides, it’s not a big deal.

Song Chenxi raised his arm, his expression even nastier. He seemed offended by the red mark, pulled out a small knife, and looked as if he was about to cut away his skin.

Ruan Mingyu was terrified and quickly snatched his hand back: “No, no, no! Senior Brother, you don’t need to get angry at me over a red dot!”

Song Chenxi smiled, his mischievous streak resurfacing. He threatened: “Don’t be afraid. It’ll be quick. It won’t hurt at all.”

Ruan Mingyu genuinely thought he was going to cut off his flesh. His face turned pale with fright. He got up and backed away using his hands and feet: “No need, no need! I think having this is quite good. At least it proves I’m a virtuous man who upholds male chastity.”

Song Chenxi didn’t let him off, saying coldly: “Give me your hand.”

In a blink, his hand was grasped by Song Chenxi. Ruan Mingyu closed his eyes in fear, but after a moment, nothing happened.

He squinted at his arm and saw that Song Chenxi had simply touched his arm, and the Cinnabar Chastity Mark instantly vanished.

Ruan Mingyu gave a dry laugh: “You scared me.”

Song Chenxi snorted: “Coward.”

Ruan Mingyu: “It’s not that I’m timid. It’s because you keep scaring me all the time!”

“Where did I scare you?” Song Chenxi suddenly became serious. “Who is behind you? Come out!”

Ruan Mingyu jumped in fright: “What’s behind me? Don’t scare me!”

“Don’t turn around!” Song Chenxi shouted.

His words made Ruan Mingyu even more terrified. He was scared but turned back anyway, wanting to see what it was. Before he fully turned around, he felt something furry on his neck. He screamed and lunged forward, clinging to Song Chenxi tightly.

Seeing him like this, Song Chenxi couldn’t help but laugh out loud. He reached behind Ruan Mingyu’s neck and pulled out a piece of fluff that had drifted from the reeds, showing it to Ruan Mingyu.

“Still saying you’re not a coward?”

Ruan Mingyu was exasperated: “You scared me again!”

“Hahahahahaha!” Song Chenxi laughed freely, his laughter echoing in the reed marsh.

…

Since divining the Deer Woman’s whereabouts, the two had been rushing in that direction.

After several days of travel, Ruan Mingyu looked at the surrounding environment and said: “I think I’ve been to this place before.”

His memory was hazy and not very clear.

Song Chenxi said: “Of course you have. You and I fell into a cave near here back then.”

Ruan Mingyu: “…”

Song Chenxi walked ahead of him, a few meters apart.

As he walked, Ruan Mingyu increasingly felt that something was wrong. He always had this feeling whenever something bad was about to happen.

Sure enough, before they even walked out of the woods, an uninvited guest suddenly appeared before him.

Ruan Mingyu looked closely. Wasn’t that Gong Lingdeng?

He didn’t expect such a complication to pop up midway!

In fact, as soon as Ruan Mingyu stepped into this area, Gong Lingdeng sensed it and rushed toward Ruan Mingyu’s location immediately.

He rushed up and grabbed Ruan Mingyu’s hand, his face frenzied: “Did you come here to see me?”

After saying that, he tugged Ruan Mingyu’s sleeve up.

Ruan Mingyu screamed in panic: “Song Chenxi, save me, save me!”

Gong Lingdeng saw nothing on his arm: “You… you and him!” He was too angry to speak. He grabbed Ruan Mingyu’s hand and tried to pull him away.

Song Chenxi turned around, saw Gong Lingdeng, and pulled Ruan Mingyu out of his grasp.

He sneered.

“I’ve been meaning to settle the score with you.”

Gong Lingdeng didn’t back down: “That should be what I say to you. Now, let’s settle both the old and new grievances!”

Ruan Mingyu’s eyebrow twitched. Was this… a fight again?

Song Chenxi was now full of resentment, and his martial prowess had risen to another level. His attacks were ruthless, prioritizing direct blows over spells. He punched Gong Lingdeng until his face was bruised and swollen, showing no respect for the Young Master of the Joyous Union Sect.

Ruan Mingyu watched the spectacle from the side, feeling that such behavior was unrefined for a cultivator. He feigned concern: “Oh, dear… stop fighting. Why don’t you sit down and talk things out? This isn’t good…”

Later, Gong Lingdeng was beaten until he couldn’t move, yet his mouth remained sharp.

He cursed viciously: “I’ve never seen such a malicious person!”

Song Chenxi was about to go up and teach him another lesson, but Ruan Mingyu pulled him away: “It’s enough, it’s enough. He’s not a truly heinous person.”

Ruan Mingyu originally planned to leave it at that, urging Song Chenxi to hurry away. However, Gong Lingdeng, like a sticky plaster, called his name and begged him not to leave.

Ruan Mingyu turned back, wanting to extinguish his hopes.

He squatted down and said to Gong Lingdeng:

“Palace Master, look. This is the Muscle Growth Pill. We’re old acquaintances, so I’ll give you a half-price discount, ten spirit stones a bottle.”

Gong Lingdeng grabbed his sleeve: “Come back with me. I’ll give you all the spirit stones you want.”

Ruan Mingyu smiled: “I’m a bit stubborn. It’s better to earn money myself. I don’t care for money that’s just handed to me.”

Ruan Mingyu happily pulled his hand away.

“I won’t be going back with you. And you, please don’t worry about me anymore.”

Gong Lingdeng cried out in despair: “What bewitching potion did he give you? Why are you so devoted to him?”

Ruan Mingyu: “Devoted? Can that word even be used for me? I’m leaving. And don’t come looking for me again.”

Gong Lingdeng called out to him: “Ruan Ruan…”

Ruan Mingyu did not respond to him again.