After the Stand-in Hugged the White Moonlight's Thigh Tightly - Chapter 47

Chapter 47: Call Your Mom

The two continued to walk forward.

“The divination ends at this location,” Song Chenxi said as he put the compass back into his robe. This meant the Deer Woman was likely inside.

Ruan Mingyu glanced at the surroundings and said: “This is Silver Moon Valley.”

Song Chenxi asked: “When did you come here?”

Ruan Mingyu smiled without answering. He had been here when collecting herbs, and the memory was quite deep, but he didn’t tell Song Chenxi the truth, using a smile to gloss over it.

However, last time he had only wandered around the island. The place they were at now was the actual sect location of Silver Moon Valley.

Their sect buildings floated in the air like clouds, which was incredibly marvelous.

When the two tried to enter, they found a barrier set up on the perimeter. Rashly trespassing would definitely lead to discovery.

A mere barrier would be manageable, but the area was also filled with poisonous flowers. Getting close would result in an unbearable full-body itch.

It was truly strange. So many rare medicinal herbs on the island were free for anyone to collect, but did this sect location hold something even more valuable than medicine? Something so hidden?

Ruan Mingyu paced outside, thinking about how to get in.

He thought for a long time without a solution, when unexpectedly, he saw Gu Xiaoxiao flying by on his sword in the sky.

Gu Xiaoxiao was sharp-eyed and spotted him immediately. He quickly put away his sword and landed in front of Ruan Mingyu.

Gu Xiaoxiao seemed quite happy to see him and asked Ruan Mingyu: “Did you come here specifically to find me?”

Ruan Mingyu was momentarily surprised. He hadn’t expected Gu Xiaoxiao to be from Silver Moon Valley. He must have a way to get in.

So, he replied: “I… did indeed come looking for you.”

“I’ve wanted to bring you over to visit for a long time. I didn’t expect you to feel the same way,” Gu Xiaoxiao exclaimed joyfully.

“I’ve heard that Silver Moon Valley’s architecture is peerless and rare in the world. I truly wish I could go up and admire its glory…” Ruan Mingyu hinted.

“I can take you up,” Gu Xiaoxiao’s gaze drifted toward Song Chenxi, “But I can only take one person.”

Song Chenxi’s face darkened considerably. Ruan Mingyu squeezed his hand and said: “Senior Brother, just wait for me outside. I’ll just go in for a look and come right out. You should go back first.”

Song Chenxi neither nodded nor spoke.

Gu Xiaoxiao happily took Ruan Mingyu’s hand, while Song Chenxi’s expression was incredibly gloomy. Ruan Mingyu just hoped Gu Xiaoxiao would be quick, for fear that Song Chenxi might start acting crazy.

Ruan Mingyu followed Gu Xiaoxiao inside.

The path was lined with exotic flowers and rare herbs. This Silver Moon Valley was truly wealthy, with more money than they knew what to do with.

Gu Xiaoxiao introduced Silver Moon Valley to him while asking: “How did you find your way here? Oh, are you also here to seek medicine? Which medicinal herb do you need? Tell me, and I’ll give it to you directly.”

If Ruan Mingyu said he wasn’t looking for medicine, it would appear he had ulterior motives. Ruan Mingyu casually mentioned a medicinal name. Gu Xiaoxiao said: “Wait a few days, and I’ll get it for you.”

Ruan Mingyu said: “Then I’ll trouble you for these few days. I’ll leave as soon as I get the medicine. But where should I wait for you…”

Gu Xiaoxiao: “Just stay here! Silver Moon Valley has plenty of empty rooms!”

This was exactly what Ruan Mingyu wanted, but he still pretended to object: “How can I impose like that?”

“Don’t be polite with me,” Gu Xiaoxiao replied cheerfully.

Gu Xiaoxiao found him a place to stay. However, Gu Xiaoxiao talked a lot—Ruan Mingyu thought he talked more than he did—chatting about everything under the sun, so engrossed that he forgot how much time had passed.

Ruan Mingyu patiently responded with forced smiles, but he kept feeling something kicking him inside his sleeve.

After finally seeing Gu Xiaoxiao off, he quickly locked the door, took off his outer robe, and checked to see what was on him.

He saw Song Chenxi transformed into a tiny ball, tucked inside his sleeve. Ruan Mingyu was stunned, then burst into laughter.

“Senior Brother, how did you end up like this?”

Ruan Mingyu couldn’t stop laughing. He lifted him up with a single palm.

“Senior Brother, you look so cute like this.” Ruan Mingyu stroked the little person’s head. It was finally his turn to tease Song Chenxi.

“Is that so?” The tiny Song Chenxi was still as arrogant as ever.

Ruan Mingyu thought, Since I’m so much bigger than him now, what can he possibly do to me? So, he wasn’t afraid at all and poked Song Chenxi’s face with his finger.

“Senior Brother, you can’t reach me right now, eh?” Ruan Mingyu couldn’t help being mischievous.

Unexpectedly, in the next second, Song Chenxi returned to his normal size. Ruan Mingyu was suddenly tackled onto the bed by him.

Song Chenxi’s enlarged face was right in front of him.

Song Chenxi smiled menacingly: “My dear Junior Brother, you truly worry me. You send away one scumbag and immediately greet another.”

Ruan Mingyu: “Misunderstanding, it’s all a misunderstanding…”

Song Chenxi challenged him: “I saw it with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears. And you call it a misunderstanding?”

His hand slowly moved to Ruan Mingyu’s neck. Ruan Mingyu looked at him aggrievedly: “It’s not my fault. Is there really a need to kill me to silence me?”

Song Chenxi stared at him without speaking. After a while, he blinked his eyelashes, looking utterly exhausted.

He buried his head in Ruan Mingyu’s shoulder and held him without moving.

Ruan Mingyu called out a few times.

“You’re crushing me.”

There was no response.

Ruan Mingyu looked down and saw that Song Chenxi had closed his eyes and had actually fallen asleep right there on his shoulder.

Ruan Mingyu was speechless, not sure if he was really asleep.

He didn’t push Song Chenxi away or try to wake him up. Perhaps Song Chenxi had been using too much spiritual power for divination recently, which was why he fell asleep so quickly.

Ruan Mingyu stared at Song Chenxi, counting his breaths. In this defenseless state, he might not even react if Ruan Mingyu stabbed him.

Lying in bed, unable to move with Song Chenxi pressing down on him, Ruan Mingyu could only stare blankly at the ceiling.

Only Song Chenxi’s breathing remained in the empty room.

Ruan Mingyu stared at the ceiling in frustration, unable to fall asleep.

Why couldn’t he sleep?

He felt his heart beating perhaps two beats faster. It must be because Senior Brother was crushing him. Yes, it must be that.

…

When Song Chenxi woke up, Ruan Mingyu was no longer beside him. He touched the spot next to him, which still held residual warmth.

Song Chenxi’s first reaction was to look for Ruan Mingyu. However, as soon as he reached the door, he heard the sound of someone practicing the sword.

He looked up, and the person practicing the sword was none other than Ruan Mingyu!

The sun must have risen from the west. Ruan Mingyu was actually proactively practicing his sword.

In truth, Ruan Mingyu just wanted to stop overthinking and find something to do.

Song Chenxi leaned against the door, evaluating his sword moves: “There’s improvement. Practice for another hundred years, and you might catch up to me.”

Ruan Mingyu: “Why would I want to catch up to you? I don’t enjoy fighting and killing.”

“If you catch up to me, then I’ll call you Senior Brother,” he joked.

Ruan Mingyu: “Then I really need to work harder!”

Song Chenxi stood quietly on the side, watching Ruan Mingyu’s movements become increasingly fluid and seamless. In fact, after all these years, the only set of sword moves Ruan Mingyu knew was the one Song Chenxi had taught him back then.

Song Chenxi watched Ruan Mingyu, his mind filled with a myriad of thoughts. He desperately wanted to resolve everything so that he could do anything with Ruan Mingyu without worry. All his life, he had been pursuing something, exhausting himself. Sometimes he felt lucky to have Ruan Mingyu by his side. All those feelings of frustration vanished the moment he saw him.

Ruan Mingyu’s feelings were no different.

But his thoughts were much simpler: cure Song Chenxi and let him live.

Ruan Mingyu stopped practicing and couldn’t help but ask Song Chenxi again: “The Deer Woman’s whereabouts…”

Song Chenxi: “I’ve used up too much spiritual power. I’ll search for her whereabouts after I recover for a few days.”

Ruan Mingyu nodded: “Rest well.”

The two spent a few days in this small courtyard.

These were rare days of leisure. The two had nothing to do but stay huddled in the room, waiting for the sunrise and sunset, and the day would pass.

Another day, Ruan Mingyu was attempting to use the Wind Manipulation technique to pile the fallen leaves in the courtyard into a small hill when the back of his head suddenly felt a sharp pain. Ruan Mingyu winced and cursed: “Which thoughtless idiot intentionally threw a stone at me!”

He quickly climbed onto the roof, pulled a child out from behind, and upon closer look, realized it was the Deer Woman’s child!

Crap! They had spent so much effort searching, and the person was right here! She delivered herself right to their doorstep!

Ruan Mingyu asked her: “Where is your mother? Tell her to come redeem you, or I won’t let you go.”

The child unexpectedly burst into tears: “She was caught and locked up by bad guys!”

She cried for a long time, then said: “Gege, if you help me rescue my mother, I’ll tell you the cure.”

Ruan Mingyu: “One lie is enough. We’re not fools to be tricked by a child like you.”

The child said: “Then… then I’ll tell you. You can cure the Delusion with the heart blood of our Divine Deer race. I’ll give you my heart blood. Will you help me save my mother?”

Their commotion was loud enough that Song Chenxi in the house noticed and came over.

Ruan Mingyu quickly told the child to be quiet: “You shut up first. He’s not as kind as I am to negotiate terms with a child like you.”

“What are you doing there?” Song Chenxi asked.

Ruan Mingyu blocked the child and said: “Just caught a naughty kid.”

Song Chenxi smiled coldly: “Ruan Mingyu, move aside. I already heard what you said.”

Song Chenxi said coldly: “We don’t need to make this deal with you. Your mother broke her promise first. Wouldn’t it be simpler for me to just take your heart blood directly? What does your mother’s life or death have to do with us?”

The child stepped back a few paces, realizing something was wrong, and tried to run, but Song Chenxi grabbed her in two steps.

Ruan Mingyu tried to mediate: “How about we help her find her mother…” If such a small child gave them her heart blood, the impact would likely be significant.

The child knew she couldn’t escape and immediately knelt down: “Gege, please save my mother! I’ll give you my heart blood right now!”

She looked at Song Chenxi, tugging his trousers: “Please!”

Song Chenxi frowned. He highly disliked people begging him for things. He had always believed that the lives and deaths of others were none of his concern.

The child just kept staring at him.

Song Chenxi glanced at Ruan Mingyu, saw his anxious expression, and finally nodded.

Ruan Mingyu sighed with relief. It was just one extra step to save someone. It shouldn’t be too difficult, right?

Ruan Mingyu helped her up and asked: “If you give us your heart blood, will you die?”

“Not the first time, but I will the second time.”

“Will there be any lasting effects?”

“Just a drop in cultivation. I’m not afraid of that.”

“Okay, then let’s make a pinky promise.”

“We have a deal.”

She was too nervous and still held onto Song Chenxi’s trousers tightly.

Ruan Mingyu was always good at engaging with children: “How can this Gege save your mother if you hold onto his trousers? What is your name? Don’t be nervous. We don’t eat children.”

“My name is Xiaoxiao (Smile).”

“Good, then Xiaoxiao let go first, and then we can proceed with the next step of the plan.”

After they finished talking, Song Chenxi said from the side: “Savior, let’s go.”

…

Xiaoxiao led them to a hidden hall entrance. She pointed to the large hall and said: “Mom is inside. I saw them take her in with my own eyes.”

There were guards at the door, and patrols around. It was going to be difficult.

They watched from a distance. Soon, they saw Gu Xiaoxiao pacing over. He took out a token-like object from his robe and showed it to the guards at the door. He was then allowed inside.

Ruan Mingyu thought, I need to find a way to steal that token.

They waited for a long time, and Gu Xiaoxiao finally came out.

Song Chenxi was about to go forward and act, but Ruan Mingyu stopped him and whispered: “Let me do it.”

Gu Xiaoxiao walked back from the hall entrance. Not long after, he saw Ruan Mingyu sitting alone by a flower bed.

Gu Xiaoxiao quickly went up to him and asked: “Are you here to relax too?”

Ruan Mingyu nodded.

Gu Xiaoxiao pulled him: “Let’s have a heart-to-heart chat.”

Ruan Mingyu said: “Actually, I came here specifically to find you.”

Hearing this, Gu Xiaoxiao looked delighted: “I’m so happy you came to find me. I haven’t been this happy in a long time. Everyone in the sect calls me useless, but I know you’re different.”

Ruan Mingyu had indeed not seen him as useless before; he saw him as a cash cow.

He handed a pill to Gu Xiaoxiao: “This is a new pill I refined. Would you like to try it?”

Gu Xiaoxiao rubbed his head: “What is it?”

Ruan Mingyu: “It’s for soothing the liver and brightening the eyes.”

Gu Xiaoxiao swallowed it in one gulp: “Thank you. You are too good to me.”

Ruan Mingyu counted silently in his mind: three, two, one, down!

Gu Xiaoxiao swayed and fell down. Before completely fainting, he still looked confused: “Why does my head feel a bit dizzy…”

Gu Xiaoxiao was definitely the easiest person Ruan Mingyu had ever dealt with.

The pill Ruan Mingyu gave Gu Xiaoxiao ensured he wouldn’t wake up for at least three to five days. Ruan Mingyu stole the token from him, tied him up, and hid him in his room.

Ruan Mingyu proudly showed the token in his hand to Song Chenxi, but Song Chenxi looked rather displeased.

The next day, Ruan Mingyu disguised himself as Gu Xiaoxiao, entered with the token, while Song Chenxi used his old trick, shrinking and sitting inside his sleeve.

They didn’t bring the child along, fearing she might mess things up. Instead, they sent her out of Silver Moon Valley.

With the token, they passed through unimpeded. However, the inside was not what they imagined. There were no private prisons or anything. It was filled entirely with books.

Ruan Mingyu searched the first floor, found nothing suspicious, and proceeded to the second floor.

The second floor was emptier than the first. Ruan Mingyu searched around and finally found a fork in the path in a corner.

“Left or right?” Ruan Mingyu asked Song Chenxi for help.

Song Chenxi performed a divination and transmitted his voice: “Go right.”

Ruan Mingyu followed the right path forward. Soon, the path ended, blocked by cabinets.

Making sure no one was around, Ruan Mingyu quickly called Song Chenxi out.

“Senior Brother, the path ends here,” he whispered.

Song Chenxi crawled out of his sleeve and returned to his normal size.

“She should be right inside here,” Song Chenxi picked up the compass again. The needle spun constantly, indicating that the person they were looking for was indeed right here.

The two searched for a long time and finally found the mechanism. Ruan Mingyu pressed the mechanism. Soon, the cabinet door slid open. They went inside and then restored the lock. Inside was a narrow, long passage. Why would there be such a place inside a library?

Continuing inward, Ruan Mingyu indeed saw the Deer Woman!

The Deer Woman was bound by iron chains, and needle-like tubes were stuck into her body. Blood continuously flowed out of her body.

What were they using the Deer Woman’s blood for?

Ruan Mingyu was about to step forward when Song Chenxi suddenly shouted loudly: “Wait!”

Unfortunately, it was already too late.