Back To When The Demon Lord Was A Beggar - Chapter 25

So, he applied a bit more pressure, yet Zhi Shiyi remained unmoved. It was impossible to tell if he was lost in a trance or deep in thought, but he simply wasn’t responding, which only made the suspicion in Chu Nanzhen’s heart feel more certain.

Having spent all this time together, it took Yun Guitu mentioning it for Shen Shangli to notice, but now that she looked, the resemblance was indeed striking. The atmosphere turned deathly silent for a moment. Finally, Wuxiang, unable to stand it any longer, took the initiative to break the deadlock. Forcing a smile, he said, “Is it possible you two were from the same hometown? I remember hearing that people from the same place often share similar features. Maybe that’s why you look alike. Anyway, anyway, when townsfolk meet townsfolk, their eyes well with tears, right?”

He blinked his large eyes, looking left and right, but no one acknowledged him. This made Wuxiang feel a bit slighted. He thought to himself that if he’d known they were going to ignore him, he wouldn’t have said anything at all; now it looked like he was just desperate to talk.

“I think the dirty cat has a point,” Lin Fengye suddenly spoke up, spreading his hands with an air of indifference. “You just look alike, you aren’t the same person. Why dwell on it?”

Hearing this, Wuxiang nodded his little cat head vigorously.

“I’d actually love for someone to look just like me, preferably so much that people couldn’t tell us apart. That way, his money would be mine, and my money would still be mine. Why wouldn’t I want that?”

Thinking about it that way, it actually sounded pretty great.

Chu Nanzhen looked at him with a look of speechlessness, this guy really couldn’t go a single sentence without mentioning “money.” He muttered under his breath, “The day you actually pull a stunt like that, I’m reporting you immediately. I might even get a reward, which is much more honest than your method.”

Lin Fengye: “?”

You think I can’t hear you?

After a long pause, Yun Guitu’s gaze finally shifted away from Chu Nanzhen. He lowered his head with a smile and said, “These two gentlemen are right. No matter how similar, there are always differences.” Sensing someone staring at him, he turned his head slightly and locked eyes with Zhi Shiyi. He asked with some confusion, “Why does this gentleman keep looking at me? Surely there isn’t something on my face.”

More than confusion, his tone carried a sense of curiosity.

At this, Zhi Shiyi finally blinked and snapped back to reality. He answered honestly, “You just look familiar.”

Tch.

“You just look familiar~”

Chu Nanzhen couldn’t help himself. He turned away and muttered a sarcastic remark under his breath. There was no other noise around, so his voice reached Zhi Shiyi perfectly.

Zhi Shiyi didn’t understand why he’d suddenly said that. He lightly brushed his fingers against Chu Nanzhen’s hand and whispered, “Why the attitude?”

Asking the obvious. Chu Nanzhen shifted his body away and crossed his arms. “Your hands aren’t just for show. If your ears can’t hear people talking, use your fingers to clean them out.”

“I was spaced out and didn’t hear you. It won’t happen again,” Zhi Shiyi apologized, his eyes downcast. His hand beneath the table gave Chu Nanzhen a tiny poke, as if saying, “Forgive me this once, okay?”

Chu Nanzhen remained still and silent.

Seeing the atmosphere about to go cold again, Wuxiang hurriedly tugged at Zhi Shiyi’s leg to change the subject. “Shi, Shiyi-er, didn’t you say we came here for a reason? Let’s get to business first.”

At those words, Shen Shangli immediately spoke up, “Guitu, we have quite a few matters to attend to this time. We might have to trouble you.”

“Trouble? Don’t mention it. If A-Li asks, even the biggest trouble doesn’t count as trouble.”

Lin Fengye couldn’t stand the sight of it any longer and simply turned his head away. Out of sight, out of mind.

“Since you’ve all come, you are guests. Why don’t you head inside and sit for a while? I’ll explain everything in detail when I return, how does that sound?”

Shen Shangli asked, “Where are you going? Do you need me to come with you?”

“There are thousands of mouths in the sect waiting to eat. I have to go to the canteen. If the meals aren’t served on time and the disciples go hungry, that won’t do.” He thought for a moment, then turned to her with a slightly embarrassed look. “A-Li doesn’t need to come. I’m still not very good at it, the thick smoke will make you cough.”

“I’m a bit curious, since you’re the next Sect Leader of the Yunshan Sect, why do you have to learn these things?” Lin Fengye asked, his ears perked up for gossip.

Normally, sects had specific disciples for these tasks; a Sect Leader wouldn’t need to do it personally. This hands-on behavior made Lin Fengye smell a story.

Yun Guitu seemed to think of something because of his question and smiled unconsciously. “If I meet a girl I like in the future, she won’t have to worry about these chores. Master told me that to woo a girl, you have to capture her stomach first, and then things will develop.”

“So you’re using your fellow disciples as practice?” Lin Fengye asked, shocked.

He really isn’t afraid of poisoning them to death…

“Not at all.” Yun Guitu frowned slightly, looking displeased. “How can you call it practice? Some of my brothers really like my cooking. The Sect Leader even praised me recently for how much my skills have improved.”

The group fell into a stunned silence. Remembering what the disciple who led them here had said earlier, they couldn’t help but feel a chill, thinking those disciples were truly tough souls.

Chu Nanzhen asked, “Can I ask what the sect is eating today?”

He was truly starving. As long as it wasn’t a random mess thrown together, he could probably eat it.

“Radish stir-fried with peaches, and green vegetables boiled with sweet rice balls.”

Chu Nanzhen: “…”

Yun Guitu added, “If you’re hungry, I can have someone bring some over once I’m done. You can help me test the quality.”

“No thanks!”

They all blurted it out at once, their faces full of horror. Eating that might not kill them, but they’d likely be miserable for days.

Yun Guitu didn’t ask further and nodded thoughtfully. A memory of the clear river he’d seen upon arrival popped into Chu Nanzhen’s mind. Thinking of the fish inside, he swallowed his saliva and pointed randomly. “Um… I’ve never seen the grandeur of a cultivation sect before. Could I go wander around by myself to see the sights?”

“Of course.”

Yun Guitu didn’t have any concerns. There were people all over the sect, so if anything happened, someone would handle it. There was no need for him to worry.

Taking the excuse, Chu Nanzhen hurried away, retracing his steps until he reached the edge of the clear river. The “Clear River” lived up to its name, the water was so transparent you could see the bottom. Even if a person waded in, the water only reached their thighs. There were fewer fish now than when they arrived, likely because the disciples didn’t want to eat the canteen food and had caught some to fill their bellies.

Chu Nanzhen had never caught fish before and thought it would be incredibly difficult, but to his surprise, he caught them on every try. The fish were slippery, thrashing in his hands, and almost fell back into the water. Looking at the two large fish in his hands with “pride,” he was about to go find a hidden spot on the bank to deal with them when he turned and locked eyes with Zhi Shiyi.

The faint smile on his face vanished, turning cold as he remembered Zhi Shiyi ignoring him earlier. He gave a low “hmpf,” looked away, and climbed onto the bank.

As they passed each other, Zhi Shiyi grabbed the corner of his sleeve and said with a hint of grievance, “Don’t ignore me.”

This was the first time he had heard Zhi Shiyi speak to him in such a tone, and he couldn’t help but feel surprised. He cleared his throat and asked with a look of confusion, “Is this the City Lord? What brings you here to find me? I thought you’d be following Young Sect Leader Yun to the canteen.”

That said, he actually quite liked Zhi Shiyi like this. The corners of his mouth twitched up unconsciously.

Zhi Shiyi maintained his aggrieved expression, looking at him cautiously and gently tugging his sleeve. “I’m looking for you, not him. Don’t ignore me.”

This clearly charmed Chu Nanzhen, and most of the fire in his heart dissipated, though that nagging feeling remained. He decided to just be blunt and asked, “Then tell me, why were you staring at Young Sect Leader Yun so much?”

Zhi Shiyi paused, seemingly realizing something. A cryptic smile played on his lips. Seeing this, Chu Nanzhen frowned and asked suspiciously, “What are you laughing at?”

“Little Chu, you’re jealous.”

“?”

He pointed at himself in disbelief, nearly laughed to death by the statement. “Jealous? Why on earth would I be jealous? You aren’t even the one I like, why would I need to be jealous?”

“Little Chu thinks he’s a ‘stand-in,’ right?” Zhi Shiyi didn’t follow his words, but continued, “Looking familiar truly just meant looking familiar, there was no other meaning. As long as Little Chu doesn’t treat me like a stand-in, it’s fine. If Little Chu really falls for someone else in the future, I can even be your third wheel or your concubine.”

“Wow”

Chu Nanzhen was speechless with anger. The first part of that sentence had truly hit home, but what did the second part mean? It made him sound like some heartless person.

Hearing the explanation, his anger cooled, and he decided not to dwell on it, lest he make himself sick with rage. He tossed him a fish and said flatly, “Here’s one for you. You haven’t eaten this whole way either. Even if you’re a cultivator, you still need to eat, or you’ll starve.”

Staring at the fish in his hands, Zhi Shiyi smiled and gave a soft “Mm.” He felt delighted, thinking to himself that his husband was so kind, out of two fish, he’d given him a whole one. Did that mean he occupied half of Little Chu’s heart? As for who the other half belonged to… whatever, things were good for now.

Chu Nanzhen sat on the slope. Seeing him standing there without coming over, he shouted, “Why aren’t you coming? Do you want to eat it raw?”

Guitu Pavilion wasn’t actually a pavilion, but a very ordinary hall that was even somewhat dilapidated. Having eaten and drunk their fill, the group had just sat down when Yun Guitu pushed the door open and walked in. He was covered in varying amounts of dust, his face included, and he gave off a strong smell of smoke.

There were many wooden chairs around the circular table, seemingly set up specifically for guests. He sat down next to Shen Shangli, resting his chin on his hand. “A-Li, is there anything I can help with?”

Shen Shangli asked, “I wanted to know, what’s been going on with the Yunshan Sect lately? Why have the medicinal herbs on the mountain disappeared?”

Hearing the question about herbs, Yun Guitu gave a nonchalant “Ah,” and explained, “Herbs need a good environment to grow. Yunshan has been very dry the last few months, and those spiritual plants aren’t suitable for planting, so the mountain is bare.”

So that was it.

She had been worried that something else, other than the brain-snatching, was going on.

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