Xie Shuci felt as if the scene had frozen.
He stared at the thing in the water for at least ten seconds, like they were playing a game of "Red Light, Green Light," where whoever moved first would lose.
The problem is, Xie Shuci dares not make a move.
He felt as if every muscle in his body was sewn together, and that if he moved even slightly, his body would be covered in blood and gore.
Xie Shuci remained motionless, and neither did the creature in the water.
An unidentified creature floated in the water with short silver hair and pupils that were different from those of a normal person. Its silver pupils almost filled its entire eye sockets, and its face was frighteningly pale.
But its face looks almost like that of a seven or eight-year-old human child.
Xie Shuci stared at "it" for a long time. The boat slid forward a little, and "it" drifted forward with it. Xie Shuci's eyes were so dry that he finally couldn't help but blink. The thing in the water stared at him intently and actually blinked back.
It showed no hostility towards Xie Shuci, its face revealing a strange innocence and curiosity.
"Xie Shuci, what are you doing?" Liu Dazhuang walked up from behind and stood next to Xie Shuci.
The creature in the water opened its eyes wide in bewilderment, as if startled, and sank into the lake with a whoosh, leaving a small ripple on the surface.
Xie Shuci watched helplessly as the thing disappeared. He took a deep breath, stiffly forced a smile, and said in a low voice, "I might have been too excited and hallucinating. I need to go back and calm down."
"What are you so excited about?" Liu Dazhuang asked, puzzled.
Xie Shuci said earnestly, "You don't understand these complicated things. Be good, go play with your axe."
After saying that, Xie Shuci turned around and tried to run into the cabin. Halfway there, he suddenly heard a "plop" sound from the lake. Unable to suppress his curiosity, before his mind could react, his body had already moved and looked at the lake.
A deathly pale face appeared on the water's surface, surrounded by its own hair, like a silver sunflower blooming in the water.
Xie Shuci: "..."
The scene was actually a little bit comical.
Seeing Xie Shuci looking over, it raised its head and, with a "plop," spat out a small stream of water from its mouth, like a fountain.
After spitting out the water, it lowered its head, its mouth and nose submerged underwater, revealing only its eyes, which looked at Xie Shuci timidly yet expectantly.
Okay, it wasn't an illusion.
Xie Shuci looked at the creature in the water with suspicion. Having witnessed the comical scene just now, he was no longer afraid. He took two steps forward and leaned over the gunwale to see what "it" was up to.
"flutter--"
It raised its head again, spat out a small stream of water into the air, then looked down at Xie Shuci with a "it's your turn" expression.
Xie Shuci: "..."
He was a little incredulous. Could this little thing be... playing a game with him?
Seeing that Xie Shuci did not respond to "its" invitation, the little thing lowered its eyes in disappointment, with two water droplets hanging on its eyelashes, like tears.
Xie Shuci's heart, which was as hard as steel, was immediately pierced with a small hole. This poor thing was like the one who was often ignored when everyone played games together as a child. Xie Shuci, this hot-blooded young man, suddenly couldn't hold back.
"I can't spit out water," Xie Shuci said, touching his neck.
It seemed to understand, and looked up at Xie Shuci with hope. Then, it opened its pale lips, blew a bubble, and looked at Xie Shuci again.
Xie Shuci: "..."
Damn, I actually feel a little guilty!
"I can't blow bubbles either."
After he finished speaking, the little creature in the water lowered its eyes, glanced timidly at Xie Shuci, and shook its head, as if to say, "It" only knows how to play these two games.
Xie Shuci's steely heart ached. He didn't care what "it" actually was; he just couldn't bear to see "it" looking so pitiful. So he whispered to "it," "Don't go, wait for me."
I don't know if the little thing understood or not, it just looked at me.
He made no move.
Xie Shuci was worried and added, "Wait for me, don't go."
After saying that, he turned and ran into the cabin, took out a packet of candied fruit from his bundle, and when he looked up, he was facing Xie An, who was sitting on the couch.
"What are you doing?" Xie An asked.
"Huh? I...I'm hungry. I'll go find something to eat. You should rest!"
Before Xie An could respond, he hurriedly ran out of the cabin.
When he ran back to where he had been, he saw the little creature still floating on the surface of the water, waiting for him expectantly.
Xie Shuci breathed a sigh of relief, unwrapped the candied fruit, and gestured to the little thing to open its mouth.
The little creature nodded blankly and slowly opened its mouth. Xie Shuci was stunned when he saw it. There was no tongue in its mouth, or rather, only a very short piece of tongue remained. Judging from the wound, it looked as if it had been cut off with a knife.
Xie Shuci was startled, but he didn't show it. He picked up a candied fruit and aimed it at the little thing's mouth, but it missed and fell into the water.
"Sorry, sorry, let's try again."
Xie Shuci picked up another one, and this time he threw it a little off course, but "it" suddenly popped out a little and caught the flying candied fruit.
"Wow, you're amazing!" Xie Shuci gave "it" a thumbs up.
It chewed the sweet and sour candied fruit, swallowed it, and then looked at Xie Shuci.
"Aww!"
The king appeared outside the cabin at some point, and with a light leap, landed on the ship's side.
When the little guy saw the strange thing that suddenly appeared, he was so frightened that he immediately shrank into the water.
"What are you doing?"
At this moment, Xie An also walked up behind him.
Xie Shuci quickly turned around and saw Sikong Xin and Liu Dazhuang not far away. He shook his head and said, "Where's the water...?"
Xie An pursed her lips, walked to his side, glanced at the lake surface as if by chance, and asked, "Is it beautiful?"
"It looks good, it looks good," Xie Shuci said with a dry laugh.
"Why did you come out? Aren't you going to rest for a while?" Xie Shuci quickly changed the subject, afraid that he would continue to ask questions.
Xie An said casually, "I can't sleep."
Perhaps because he had said those shameless things not long ago, Xie Shuci subconsciously interpreted his three words as "I can't sleep without you."
Xie Shuci was a little embarrassed, "Then... shall I stay with you for a while?"
The blind man said with a half-smile, "Weren't you supposed to keep your distance from me?"
Upon hearing this, Xie Shuci muttered, "Keep your distance when there are other people around. If you can't fool yourself, you have to fool others."
"Awooo!"
You can't lie to me, you're falling down.
"Besides, we're brothers to outsiders. Is there a problem with brothers sleeping together? Absolutely no problem." Xie Shuci immediately became righteous and confident.
Xie An didn't take it to heart. Just then, Sikong Xin and another person walked over. Xie Shuci grabbed one of Xie An's arms, put it on his shoulder, and said loudly, "My dear brother, are you having many dreams at night? Are you having sleepless nights? Why don't you let your older brother keep you company while you sleep, just like when you were a child!"
Xie An: "..."
"Oh, little brother, don't be shy, this is what I should do as your elder brother. Brothers are like limbs, women are like..."
Xie An finally couldn't listen anymore and said, "Shut up."
Sikong Xin squinted and glanced at him twice. Xie Shuci was someone who couldn't hide anything; everything was written all over his face. Coupled with such an obvious attempt to cover up his misdeeds, it was hard for anyone not to notice the clues.
"you……"
"We are brothers, we are all brothers, even if we are not blood brothers, we are closer than blood brothers!"
Xie Shuci preemptively cut him off, speaking righteously and firmly.
"That's right!" Liu Dazhuang echoed loudly. "We've been through thick and thin together, so why don't we take this opportunity to become sworn brothers?"
Xie Shuci: "..."
Sikong Xin shrugged. "I have no objection."
Xie Shuci glanced at the little blind man, whose expression was meaningful, and did not directly refuse.
Good heavens, if we become sworn brothers, we'll really be brothers. How can that be allowed?
"Dazhuang, come here." Xie Shuci beckoned to him.
Liu Dazhuang walked up to him. He tried to hook his arm around Dazhuang's neck, but it was too high for him to reach. So he pulled Liu Dazhuang around and made him lean against the gunwale. He said, "Are you really willing to become sworn brothers with people as ugly as us? Think about it, when you go out with us and say we're your brothers, what will people think of you? What will they think of us?"
After considering his words, Liu Dazhuang thought it made sense. "Then let's forget it. You guys are too ugly, and the difference between you and me is too great. I won't bow to you."
“That’s right.” Xie Shuci nodded in agreement.
Sikong Xin: "..."
Shut your dog mouth!
"Xie An, let's go, I'll accompany you to rest."
After saying that, he pulled the expressionless little blind man into the cabin, and the king followed behind them.
Sikong Xin stood there, gazing thoughtfully at the two figures as they walked away, his eyes deep and unfathomable.
"What are you looking at?" Liu Dazhuang asked curiously.
Sikong Xin snapped out of his daze, glanced at him, and felt a headache coming on just looking at this big, clumsy, and dim-witted fellow, so he simply turned and left.
Liu Dazhuang didn't take it too seriously, stretched, and planned to take a nap on the deck.
After three days on the water, Xie Shuci felt nourished by love. Sikong Xin and Liu Dazhuang were usually not in the cabin. He and the little blind man spent a few days lying together, not doing anything else. When Xie Shuci got excited, he would keep talking to him, even wanting to tell him about his childhood when he was a toddler.
The blind man didn't seem impatient at all. Xie Shuci kept talking, but he just listened quietly. Even though Xie Shuci was unwilling, he didn't do anything out of line.
For the first time, Xie Shuci felt that being in love was such a sweet thing. Even if he did nothing but chat with the little blind girl, he would be so excited that he couldn't sleep before going to bed, recalling what he had said with her that day.
However, over the past few days, Xie An's spirits have been declining. Although he doesn't show any other signs, his face is always pale. In the end, Xie Shuci also felt a little uneasy.
He lay on the bed, leaning against the little blind boy who was half-leaning against the headboard, looking somewhat uneasy, and asked, "Little blind boy, am I being too annoying?"
Xie An was taken aback. "No."
Xie Shuci observed his expression. "I keep bothering you with talking, don't you want to listen? Then, then I'll talk less in the future, okay?"
Xie An shook his head, took one of his hands, placed it in his own palm, and gently stroked the back of his hand. "I'm not impatient. I really enjoy listening to you talk."
"Really?" Xie Shuci looked at his pale face. "You look really bad. Are you feeling unwell? I heard from Dazhuang that there's a small town nearby. Should we go in and see a doctor?"
Xie Shuci's voice was filled with undisguised concern.
Xie An lowered his eyes, raised the corners of his lips, and said, "I'm fine, maybe I just didn't sleep well."
"You're not so excited as to be unable to sleep like me, are you?"
Upon hearing this, Xie An raised an eyebrow. "You tossed and turned all night because you were excited?"
"Ah." Xie Shuci nodded frankly, "It's my first time, just like my first time going on a school trip when I was a child."
"A spring outing?" Xie An asked, somewhat puzzled.
"How come you don't even know what a spring outing is? It's just a spring outing."
Xie Shuci's attention is really easy to be diverted.
"You've never been there?" Xie Shuci asked curiously.
"No," Xie An shook his head.
What did you do when you were a child?
This question stumped Xie An.
He remained silent for a long time before saying softly, "I've forgotten."
"Oh..." Xie Shuci nodded.
After a moment, he suddenly asked, "Xie An, are you really happy being with me?"
After reflecting on it, Xie Shuci felt a little uneasy.
Although the little blind boy had a strange temper and was prone to tantrums, he was very kind to Xie.
Shuci has always been a good person. Xie Shuci is worried that he said and did those things because he was considering her feelings.
Xie An lowered his eyes, his deep gaze seeming to be looking at Xie Shuci, and nodded. "Why do you ask that?"
Xie Shuci scratched his head and said, "Ever since we had our conversation that day, you've been acting very strangely."
Xie An was silent for a moment, his expression becoming somewhat complicated. "Perhaps he caught a cold and is a little tired. He'll be fine after a few days of rest."
Xie Shuci thought it made sense. He had stayed by the ice coffin for so long that day, and the little blind man was now an ordinary person. He might have caught a chill.
"I'm very happy to be with you," Xie An said.
It was clearly Xie Shuci who wanted to ask this question, but the little blind man said it so openly, which made him feel a little embarrassed.
He slowly got out of bed, and with lightning speed, leaned forward and kissed Xie An on the cheek. "I'm very happy to be with you!"
The momentary friction and warmth on his cheek surprised Xie An.
Just as he was about to say something, Xie Shuci had already climbed off the bed using both hands and feet, and hurriedly said, "You, you should rest well, I'll go make you some ginger soup."
After saying that, Xie Shuci ran out in a flash.
Xie An watched his retreating figure and couldn't help but twitch the corners of his lips.
At the same time, he also felt a sharp pain in his heart that connected to his internal organs, which eased the moment Xie Shuci left.
Xie Shuci left the cabin and rummaged through the ship's chests and cabinets, finding a stove and some ginger, but no pot. He had a flash of inspiration and transformed the bronze medicine cauldron into the size of a pot, using the bronze cauldron to boil soup.
Sikong Xin passed by and asked in surprise, "What are you going to do?"
"Xie An caught a cold, I'll make him some ginger soup."
Sikong Xin was stunned. "Him? He caught a cold?" His tone was full of disbelief.
“Yes.” Xie Shuci nodded.
"Don't you have some pills? Give him one."
"Every medicine has some toxicity, and he is an ordinary person. I've heard that his body might not be able to handle pills of too high a grade."
Sikong Xin stood behind him, his expression complex. Xie Shuci truly hadn't doubted Xiao Xun at all. He wondered if Xiao Xun was hiding his true intentions too well, or if he was just too naive. He clearly treated Xiao Xun with the utmost avoidance, so how could this be…
However, this matter has nothing to do with him, and he doesn't want to get involved.
Despite these thoughts, Sikong Xin stepped forward, looked at Xie Shuci, and asked, "Are you brothers with him?"
"Huh? No." Xie Shuci used his spiritual power to slice the ginger and put it into the bronze cauldron along with the water.
"How long have you known him?"
Xie Shuci thought for a moment, "It's been a few months."
Sikong Xin was speechless. "You trust him that much after knowing him for only a few months?"
Xie Shuci gave him a strange look and said, "What's so strange about that? I've spent so much time with him and we've been through so much together. I know him very well. Besides, isn't there a saying that goes, 'It's like meeting someone you wish you hadn't met sooner'? Maybe that's what it is between us."
Although it was their first meeting, Xie Shuci was almost killed by his glare.
Sikong Xin frowned. "Then do you know who he is? What was his original name?"
This question stumped Xie Shuci.
He thought for a moment and said, "He is a disciple of the Xiaoyao Sect. He was implicated by Xiao Xun and was hunted down by his fellow disciples. As for his name, I promised him that I would not ask about his past. As long as he follows me, he is just an ordinary person."
“You…” Sikong Xin was certain that Xie Shuci was indeed a bit dim-witted.
"Brother Shuci, you haven't known him for very long, so you should be more vigilant."
Xie Shuci laughed upon hearing this. "If that's the case, then I've known you for even less time. Shouldn't I also be wary? Brother Sikong, making friends requires empathy. If someone is wary of someone else, what's the point of making friends? They might as well just grow old alone."
However, they meant well and reminded me that this world is indeed different from the modern world, so being vigilant is not a bad thing.
Xie Shuci said again, "Thank you, I understand what you mean. I will definitely be wary of others, but Xie An is my brother, and you are also friends who have been through these things with me. I don't want to be on guard against you."
Upon hearing Xie Shuci's words, Sikong Xin sighed almost imperceptibly. Rather than saying that Xie Shuci was naive, it would be more accurate to say that he was inexperienced in the ways of the world and did not fully understand how to survive in the cultivation world.
Sikong Xin stood there for a moment, pondering what he had decided. Just as he was about to speak to Xie Shuci, a presence approached from behind.
Sikong Xin froze and immediately shut his mouth.
What are you talking about?
Xie An's voice suddenly rang out behind him, and Xie Shuci turned around abruptly, "Why did you come out? It's windy outside, you should go inside quickly."
Xie An stood not far away, his face somewhat gloomy. His gaze lingered for a moment behind Sikong Xin, who immediately straightened up, a chill running down his back, instantly dispelling the thought that had just crossed his mind.
Is he crazy? He actually wants to risk offending Xiao Xun to help someone he's only known for half a month?
Xie An said casually, "I came out to get some fresh air."
Xie Shuci thought for a moment, "That's true, you stay in the cabin all day, it's very damp. Come here, get closer to the stove."
Xie An nodded and sat down next to Xie Shuci.
Before long, Liu Dazhuang also came over, and the four of them sat together chatting.
Xie Shuci suddenly remembered the "little child" he had seen in the water a few days ago. Since that day, Xie Shuci had rarely approached the ship's side and had never seen "it" again.
"I have a question for you. Do you know anything about water ghosts?" Xie Shuci asked.
"A water ghost?" Sikong Xin asked, puzzled.
Liu Dazhuang also looked at him suspiciously.
Xie Shuci explained: "These are water ghosts who die accidentally in the water or commit suicide in the water. They cannot be reincarnated after death and wander at the bottom of the water. They must find someone else to take their place in order to be reincarnated."
Upon hearing this, all three showed varying degrees of confusion on their faces.
Xie Shuci's heart skipped a beat. "Don't you have this custom here?"
Sikong Xin shook his head. "I've never heard of water ghosts. Water is the source of all things and the source of human survival. Even if someone's soul coexists with water after death, they are a water god and cannot be called a 'water ghost'."
Xie Shuci was stunned after hearing this. "Really? The rules here are so strange."
"Whether it's the Floating Pagoda Realm or the Cultivation World, there has never been a legend about water ghosts. Shuci, where exactly is your immortal sect?" Sikong Xin asked suspiciously.
"Huh? It's just a small place. I only heard about it from others. If it's not there, it's not there either," Xie Shuci said awkwardly.
Xie An asked, "Why are you suddenly asking about water ghosts?"
Xie Shuci didn't know whether he should tell them what he saw in the water. It looked like a little child and even invited him to play games. The main thing was that "it" wasn't hostile and seemed quite timid. Besides, so many days had passed, maybe "it" was already gone.
Thinking this, Xie Shuci shook his head. "I just suddenly remembered."
The three did not press the matter further.
Xie Shuci finished making the ginger soup and served a bowl to Xie An.
Xie An brought the sniff to his nose, then immediately frowned, looking visibly uncomfortable.
"What's wrong? Don't you like the taste of ginger?"
Xie An nodded. "Mm."
"You have to drink it even if you don't like it. You've caught a cold. After you finish the ginger soup, go lie down in bed."
Seeing Xie An's reluctance, Xie Shuci took out a package from his small pouch and said mysteriously, "Good medicine tastes bitter, drink it quickly, there will be a reward after you finish."
Xie An: "..."
Remembering that this was the soup Xie Shuci had painstakingly prepared, and recalling the lie he had casually told, Xie An frowned, forced himself to endure the discomfort, and drank the ginger soup in the bowl.
Sikong Xin watched in astonishment. In all of Heaven and Earth, Xie Shuci was probably the first person to make Xiao Xun do something he didn't want to do.
After finishing the ginger soup, he had just put the bowl down when Xie Shuci suddenly placed a candied fruit to his lips. "Ah—"
Xie An paused for a moment, then slightly parted his lips, allowing Xie Shuci to push the candied fruit into his mouth.
"Alright, I'll go back to bed with you."
Xie Shuci pulled Xie An back to the cabin. The king had been growing a lot these past few days and was very sleepy, spending most of his time sleeping.
Xie Shuci told Xie An to take off his outer garment and lie down inside. He then found a black cloth to cover the jade stone for illumination and lay down inside as well.
Whether it was Xie Shuci's ginger soup or not, Xie An fell asleep after lying in bed for a short while.
Xie Shuci got up and glanced at him. He was breathing evenly and seemed to be sleeping quite soundly.
Xie Shuci was quite worried about the little blind boy's condition these past few days.
He propped himself up, stared at the little blind boy's face for a long time, then suddenly leaned down and gently kissed the tip of his nose, muttering softly, "Get well soon, don't break my heart."
After completing a series of actions, Xie Shuci was about to lie back down when he suddenly heard the sound of dripping water coming from the room.
In the darkness, it seemed as if someone was slowly approaching the bedside.
The king woke up almost instantly, stood up, and glared fiercely at the doorway.
"Awooo!" it barked forward.
Xie Shuci looked down at Xie An. He was a light sleeper and was easily awakened by the slightest noise around him, but now, probably because he was feeling unwell and had drunk ginger soup, he was not disturbed.
Xie Shuci looked into the darkness with a puzzled expression. Upon hearing the king's cry, the thing immediately stopped approaching them.
Worried about potential danger, Xie Shuci tiptoed off the bed, took out a small pearl from his pouch, and shone it around.
There were many water stains on the floor of the room, which looked like children's footprints.
Xie Shuci followed the water stains, with the king closely following beside him. The two eventually reached the wooden table.
Xie Shuci suddenly saw a pair of pale, deathly white feet under the table. When the light shone on them, the feet retracted.
Xie Shuci's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately squatted down. Looking down, he saw a silver-haired child curled up, his thin body hidden under a wooden table.
"It's you?" Xie Shuci asked in surprise.
The person under the wooden table was the same guy Xie Shuci mistook for a water ghost.
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