Large ear fins, fish scales on the back of his hands, a fish tail on his lower body, sharp fingernails... all those unusual features on his body quickly faded away under the nourishment of spiritual energy.
"Alright. Follow me." A moment later, Long Xun withdrew his slightly transparent right hand, hiding it under his robe, and the faint silver light extinguished.
The young man, who had transformed from a stunningly handsome mermaid into a bewitching figure, returned to being a handsome and reserved young man. He didn't say much, but followed Long Xun out of the alley and into Long Xun's home, which had a half-closed door.
The young man finally breathed a sigh of relief and gratefully clasped his hands in thanks to Long Xun, saying, "This junior, Xia Yize, thanks you for saving my life, senior. I was rude just now, please forgive me, senior."
“Xia Yize…I’ll remember that.” Long Xun’s deep, slightly cool voice slowly rang out. After a pause, he added, “I am Long Xun. Xun as in searching.”
“Senior Long, I have a favor to ask. It is late and the city gates are closed. Please allow me to stay for the night. I will leave immediately tomorrow morning,” Xia Yize said sincerely.
Long Xun didn't speak; he seemed a little unaccustomed to Xia Yize's distant and polite attitude.
Xia Yize was slightly taken aback, then quickly said, "I apologize for my rudeness. If it is inconvenient for you, senior, I will take my leave now!"
Shao Gong, who was practicing acupuncture in his room in front of a bronze puppet, heard the noise outside the door and shook his head with amusement.
His adoptive father was not good with words, and was probably struggling with how to keep the man there without startling that young master Xia. In that case, let his eloquent adopted son lend him a hand.
Shao Gong composed himself, pushed open the door, and walked out, calling out, "Godfather, you're back?"
Xia Yize heard a clear and gentle voice, turned his head and saw a handsome young man in an apricot-yellow robe approaching. The young man was slightly taken aback when he saw him, then smiled politely and said, "So a guest has arrived. My name is Shao Gong, and I am the adopted son of my godfather."
Xia Yize instinctively returned the greeting, saying, "I am Xia Yize, a disciple of Elder Jue Wei of Taihua Mountain."
"So it's Young Master Xia." Shao Gong said with a gentle and friendly smile, "My father is a dull and unsociable man. Please forgive him if he has slighted you."
Before Xia Yize could speak, his eyes were filled with simple joy as he said, "This is the first time I've seen my father invite a friend over."
"I am not..." not a friend of Senior Long.
Before he could finish speaking, Shao Gong continued as if he hadn't heard him, "I'm always out seeing patients and haven't been able to spend much time with him in a long time. I imagine my godfather must be lonely. Now that Young Master Xia has arrived, my godfather finally has someone to keep him company. I hope Young Master Xia can stay a little longer."
"I'm afraid I can't stay any longer."
"Alas... My godfather suffers from a hidden illness and is always shrouded in a black robe. Outsiders often say he is strange and are unwilling to associate with him. As a junior, I am also worried about him. Now that Young Master Xia disregards my godfather's appearance and is willing to become friends with him and come to my home as a guest, I am very relieved... Oh, by the way, Young Master Xia, what were you trying to say just now?"
Xia Yize looked at the gentle young man who was simply worried about his father and happy to see his father make a good friend, and then at the savior who was covered by a black robe and was indeed strange, mysterious and taciturn, so much so that people did not want to get close to him... He could not bring himself to say the words of farewell that he originally wanted to say.
Seeing that Xia Yize had fallen silent, Shao Gong glanced at Long Xun without making a sound.
Long Xun, who had been completely dumbfounded when Shao Gong uttered his first words, suddenly had a flash of inspiration and blurted out, "You... don't need to care about what Shao Gong said."
Xia Yize sighed inwardly and clasped his hands in greeting, saying, "That's not the case. I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you two."
Shao Gong smiled and said, "How could that be? I am more than grateful... I will go and prepare a guest room for you right away."
Long Xun subconsciously started to tidy up the house, but Shao Gong's glare froze him in place. Then, Shao Gong, with a refined smile on his face and without moving his lips, squeezed out a whispered sentence: "You—stay here—to keep—Young Master Xia company—I'll take care of the rest—understand—?"
As someone who practices martial arts and Taoist cultivation, Xia Yize, whose hearing is extremely sharp, raised his hand, clenched his fist, and covered his lips with a light cough.
For some reason, he felt that this senior who caused his son so much worry seemed a bit silly... and also a bit cute.
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