Chapter 20

Maybe because of the bundle of hair that Wen Feng Jin dreamt of the past. 

Cloaked in red with a beautiful yet icy appearance, Wen Feng Jin hovered above and looked at the little boy watching his father being paraded through the street to the beheading ground. Once the prince regent of the Northern Empire, assisting the king to his throne and regarded as the incarnation of a god amongst the people, now was charged with the crime of colluding with an enemy state….

“His Majesty decreed, the son of the guilty minister will be sent to Xuan Feng Academy. However, the next three generations shall not be given any status…”

A groundless yet ironclad proof of the regent’s crimes was pinned on the several hundred people residing in the regent estate. The storytellers spread the words with indignation and the public who wanted to carve his father’s name on a monument now swore at him as a traitorous dog.

They praised the emperor for his benevolence in leaving the dog a descendant to light his incense stick.

But was that mercy or malice…

Leaving a four-year-old boy to watch his family beheaded one by one?

And what kind of mercy was it to send the boy to Xuan Feng Academy where one could learn all the knowledge but would never be able to excel for three generations.

Wen Feng Jin looked at the four-year-old boy that could only cry when watching his parents being cut under the rise and fall of the blade as the crowd cheered and threw dirty things at him.

Later, the despised child was sent to Xuan Feng Academy deep in the mountains.

A place for academics achievement? The four-year-old was called a traitor the very first day. Someone pressed him down and tried to push his head into the latrine. A group of students not much older than him was clapping and laughing.

“Make him drink! Hahaha make him drink! Look at his eyes. How can humans have such eyes?!”

“That’s why he’s the traitorous dog’s son hahaha….”

And that was how the young child lived for half a year. His bed was always splashed with dirty water or something else. His food was always knocked over and the teachers would always punish him to stand outside the classroom during lectures. But the skinny and dirty child still attached his ears to the wall to secretly learn….

And when he was caught, it was punishment with a bamboo stick….

Black hair drifting like a waterfall, Wen Feng Jin watched the scene without any emotion, not even a trace of anger. The child lived a stumbling life until the age of seven. When he went to the back mountain secretly to collect wild fruits to fill his stomach, he saw the dean and their Da Shixiong.

This Shixiong the child had only seen once because he did not study in the same group.

But their Shixiong was gentle as jade and even at such a young age, he had the reputation of being an unrivaled gentleman. The person was always carrying a smile and wearing robes of sky blue like a cloud floating along the mountainside.

When they first met, Little Feng Jin was blushing for a long time.

He heard the dean said: “How is the plan coming?”

Da Shixiong smirked: “It’s already been three years. That child is quite lucky. But I’ve already instructed the other children and teachers. Mentor, you can rest assured. He will never be better nor will he ever rise above.”

“…..”

Watching this scene, the adult Feng Jin gazed at the smiling Mian Deng with a look of disgust. An unexplainable sneer appeared in his face.

Since then, the small little Feng Jin turned cruel and isolated. He was no longer tolerant and would retaliate even if it would cost him an arm and a leg!

And then a year later, he once again met the ‘jade-like gentleman’ Da Shixiong.

It was under the newly planted ginkgo tree that he saw Da Shixiong sitting on the stone stool, smiling as he admired the tree. And when he turned around and saw him, there was a dumbfounded look on his face….

The wind rose and the long black hair and light blue clothes fluttered gently. There was a radiant smile on the handsome face and an untainted sparkle in the pair of clear eyes. This time, he was not like the clouds on the mountainside but like the wind after the rain.

Witnessing the whole scene, the red mark between Wen Feng Jin’s brows glowed brilliantly and the indifference in his eyes and face was swept away. He raised his hand and nostalgically wanted to touch the lighthearted youth….

Shixiong said: “Little one, who are you….”

The child clenched his fist and glared at him with the eyes of a wolf cub: “Don’t you already know who I am?”

He was stumped and there was a little embarrassment on his face: “Ah….ha, there are so many children in this place, er, isn’t it normal for me not to remember? Let’s get to know each other one more time. I’m Mian Deng. What about you? What’s your name…..”

After asking, he then stood up and under the child’s guarded look, bent forward. The smell of pinewood engulfed the surrounding air as he put his hand on the child’s head and rubbed with a bright smile.

“I did hear they were saying that there’s a child in the outer court who has very peculiar eyes.”

Little Feng Jin slapped his hand away heatedly. He covered his eyes in shame and abasement but in the next second, his hand was pulled back. In front of him was the person who had been the root of his nightmares for three years. But now he seemed to have changed into someone else. He said: “What a pair of unusual pupils….”

“Throughout history, many outstanding figures had things that were different from ordinary people.”

“You will definitely be an exceptional person in the future….”

Maybe the sun was too dazzling that day, maybe the air was too fresh, or maybe that person’s smile was overly gentle….

“Come on~ tell me your name one more time. This time I will never forget.”

Little Feng Jin was stunned for a long time. The red-robed adult Feng Jin stood behind him and smiled.

In unison they said: “Mian Deng Shixiong, you remember well, my name is Wen Fen Jin…..”

And with that, a special person fell into a dark abyss and at the bottom, he found a child named Wen Feng Jin and became the eternal light in his heart.

There is a person who resides my heart.

He likes people who can smile, so I often smiled.

He likes people who are kind, so I mastered my disguise to become one.

He likes people who are strong, so I put on my armor.

He likes people who are righteous, so I stripped off my wolf skin and replaced it with that of a pure lamb.

But I was born to drink blood and eat meat, so I could only cover his eyes with lies, time and time again, to experience the warmth of being loved by him.

I’ve never pitied myself. I’m very blissful. I love him, but the lies will one day be torn down.

So I did everything, regardless of means, even if the light will be stained with dirt, I will still want to firmly imprison it in my heart.

Wen Feng Jin woke and turned to look at the person beside him. His white skin was firm and a radiant line could be drawn from the smooth forehead to the tip of his nose, giving his face a soft delicate look. His closed eyes were covered with thick and curly eyelashes.

A pair of tender lips whispered: “Mian Deng, it’s already a new day on earth.”

From the moment you opened your eyes and disconcertingly said that your name was Wang Xiao Mie with pristine eyes; when you called me Feng Jin as I requested, it was then that I knew.

You have returned….

Wen Feng Jin lowered his head and held on to the person’s lips with extreme care as if it was a melting treasure until the act woke the sleeping person.

Wang Xiao Mie agitatedly opened his eyelids with some difficulty.

“Uhm…. what are you doing! Trying to seduce me into a dream!?”

“Mian Deng.”

“Ah?”

“I want it.”

“…..”

Wang Xiao Mie with a wooden face: Want what? Do you want to die?

What the hell is an undead like you thinking?!

But Wen Feng Jin glued to him tightly. There was a new expression on his face. It was neither psychotic nor gentle but like a cat putting aside its ego and trying to please its master for the first time. Other than rubbing his body close, he was also silently grabbing at his clothes.

Can’t you at least meow.

Furthermore, I don’t think you’re a cat, more like a big wolf!

Why does it seem like the boss has gained another personality?! Could it be that I’ve slept for another year?!

And can’t you read the mood? I was giving you the cold shoulder before I slept!

Wang Xiao Mie’s hand and feet struggled to press down his clothes that were being messed up by Wen Feng Jin.

“Did I miss an episode or you had deliberately fast forward?! Stop pulling damn it! I know you’re a beast that loves your shixiong Mian Deng! I’m Wang Xiao Mie! This geek refuses to be oppressed— if you keep this up I will scream!”

“I refuse to be a stand-in!” Wang Xiao Dumpling was having his leaves stripped off as he made one last roar for his integrity!

But it was of no use…

The undead big dumpling remained uncooperative and continued with his birds and bees thoughts. There was no expression on his face but his eyes were filled with sparkling stars as he devoted himself to removing the dumpling’s wrapping.

And at the moment he was bitten, Wang Xiao Mie raised his hand and with a pa hit him hard in the face.

His clothes were disarray, his face showed anger, and his fist clenched tightly. 

“You’re a big liar! You said you can accept us starting from the beginning but the one you miss when looking at me is your Shixiong!”

“Wen Feng Jin, you clear your head and decide who I am!”

Wang Xiao Mie did not want to be unreasonable but he was firm about this. If Wen Feng Jin could accept this entirely new him, then he was willing to start afresh with him. But if the other party was only looking for the Mian Deng from his past using his body, then he could not allow that!

We men have dignities too you know!

I would rather starve to death than pick up what others have eaten!

“Ha, ha ha ha…..” Wen Feng Jin tilted his head and started laughing. There was a twinkle of excitement in his eyes, “It’s the same. This slap was the same as back then!”

“……”

Oh no, I’ve broken him with my fist.

Wang Xiao Mie swallowed his saliva. The person on top of him suddenly turned gentle again. His lips were bent and the strange pupils were densely filled with affection.

Just as Wang Xiao Mie’s hair was standing on end, Wen Feng Jin lowered his eyes and they both looked straight at each other. He said: “This outer form, I have never liked it. But ever since you entered this body, everything was different.”

“Since this is bothering you so much and even affected our relationship, then let me tell you this, there was never a past or present life, the one I love has always been you….”

The unruly devil vigorously reeled in their line of sight.

Wang Xiao Mie looked at his reflection in the man’s eyes. A finger was placed on his chest.

His lips moved as he said: “More than a thousand years ago the man I loved was called Wang Xiao Mie.”

“You said I’m a liar, but you’re the biggest liar!”

“…..”

“You…. what do you mean?”

“Ah?”

Wen Feng Jin pulled him up and opened the coffin. He reached for the box by the pillow. It was unknown what he did but the box opened with a click. Still in a daze, Wang Xiao Mie saw their hair along with several other little things and also two old and tattered books.

Wen Feng Jin removed the top book and quickly closed the box. He then handed the booklet to him.

“Have a look.”

“This… this is….”

Wang Xiao Mie blankly took the book that could easily be ripped apart with little force.

He turned to the first page and after reading the words on top, he was immediately taken aback!

“This… how is this possible?!!!”

Chapter 19

Back underground, Wang Xiao Mie was leaning against the tree with a dampened spirit. There was a conflict in his mind.

And a strange sense of unease.

His rationality and sensibility were like two little people arguing in his head.

Little White said: Does he like me as I am or that I’m Mian Deng’s reincarnation?

Little Black said: That’s a stupid question. Isn’t the answer obvious? What are you? His painstaking pursuit that eventually turned into an obsession was all for his shixiong Mian Deng, not you Wang Xiao Mie!

Little White said pitifully: But Mian Deng is me, and I’m also Mian Deng…. This is making me feel like I’m a substitute.

Little Black rolled its eyes: Heh! How is that the same? Even if you are him, have you experienced the intense feelings they have for each other? Can you replace that?

What Wen Feng Jin sees in you are past memories, not the present …

The sentence was like a knife piercing his heart. The knife was attached with barbs and when pulled out, his broken heart was bleeding profusely.

The unwilling Little White said: But Feng Jin always smiles at us tenderly, so are his eyes when looking at us.

Little Black sneered: Feng Jin? Why are using such an intimate way to address him?! Wang Xiao Mie, you have seen the fickleness of human nature. Are you used to acting dumb that you can’t see that he’s cruel and dark? Smile? It’s all fake, ok?

Don’t say that you can’t see it! His smile was even faker than those of your pretentious relatives. Who knows he might be hiding his dislike of you behind your back. Idiot!

Little White was admonished till he cried. Little Black dominated and was arrogant.

Wang Xiao Mie with his back against the tree dropped his head and smiled bitterly.

Whoever said that people who often smiled will not feel pain when they were hurt. Whoever said that cheerful people will stay strong even after a loss.

Nonsense. I’m so sad I could die….

“Mian Deng, what’s wrong? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?” The overly beautiful face came into view and the glowing red mark on his forehead sobered up Wang Xiao Mie.

Seeing Wen Feng Jin frowned in concern, Wang Xiao Mie answered habitually: “Oh, it’s nothing.”

Wang Xiao Mie said hypocritically in his heart: I’m only heartbroken and want to hang myself and die. You don’t have to worry about me. Smiling ironically.

“How can it be nothing? Mian Deng, what’s the matter? You look like you’re about to cry….” Wen Feng Jin took his hand. He moved closer and placed a loving kiss on Wang Xiao Mie’s forehead.

“Is it something that I shouldn’t know?” He paused momentarily, then lowered his voice and asked: “Mian Deng, did you remember something else?”

Looking at the overflowing love in his eyes and the caring touch of his hand, Wang Xiao Mie shook his head: “I don’t remember anything.”

“Is that so? It’s alright, don’t be impatient. Even if it’s a memory, it could still be false. If you remember anything else, you have to tell me ok?” Wen Feng Jin said with a faint smile.

“Got it…”

Wang Xiao Mie felt that Wen Feng Jin’s attitude towards him recovering his memories was somewhat queer and contradicting. Sometimes he was happy, sometimes he was on alert.

Seeing his smiling face, Wang Xiao Mie felt irritated for some reason. It was like that face was a cast that he put on. He had a feeling the real Wen Feng Jin was not like this person who was gentle, caring, and never angered…

His feelings took over and Wang Xiao Mie said: “Don’t smile anymore. Your smile is so fake…”

As soon as he said the sentence, he regretted it right after. And Wen Feng Jin’s widened eyes and frozen smile further made him shudder!

The two were silent for a moment, turning the atmosphere heavy and hard to breathe. Wen Feng Jin lowered his head and Wang Xiao Mie could not see his expression….

He seemed to be quite upset….

It’s over, it’s over! Which brain circuit of mine went haywire?!

Wang Xiao Mie quickly said: “Sorry … that was….my brain was offline. Don’t take it to heart….” He frantically shifted the topic and said loudly, “Oh that’s right! Where’s our hair braid? You didn’t lose it, did you?”

Wen Feng Jin lifted his head and showed a fading smile. His eyes were deep and cold, so cold that Wang Xiao Mie was in jitters. 

Then suddenly, he laughed heartily: “Shixiong don’t have to be afraid, today is our happy day, how could I be angry with you?”

“……” Then can your highness retract your fangs when you say that?

Not angry? You always call me ‘Shixiong’ when you’re angry. Wang Xiao Mie complained internally.

“I stored it in the box inside the coffin. That box contains my most precious items.” At the mention of the box, the boss’s flare simmered down. 

The most precious items…..Wang Xiao Mie’s eyes sparkled.

Wen Feng Jin said: “Shixiong, do you want to see it?”

Wang Xiao Mie: “Uhm, I do want to see it….”

He smiled and nodded: “Alright then, I won’t show it to you.”

Wang Xiao Mie: “……”

Boss, are you that vengeful?! Or are you keeping a private safe from your spouse! I’ll make you kneel on the washboard if it’s true!

Don’t you know that money is only safe in the hands of the wife?! You just exchanged solemn vows with me and now you’re hiding a secret stash. Weep, I’m so miserable. Big dumpling is heartless, hmph!

When Wen Feng Jin had laughed enough, he reverted back to being a good man. He went to fetch water to wipe Wang Xiao Mie’s face and hands, then to his feet. The big hands rubbed his sole with a cloth and when Wang Xiao Mie was ticklish, Wen Feng Jin let go.

“Go to sleep. I’ll always be by your side.”

Wen Feng Jin tidied himself up and laid in the coffin with Wang Xiao Mie. The precious box was on Wen Feng Jin’s side of the coffin. 

Because there was no entertainment in the underground palace and also Wang Xiao Mie’s frequent lethargic state, they mostly spent their time in the coffin sleeping.

When he was enveloped by the waft of bitter fragrance, Wang Xiao Mie positively thought: Who is this embrace for? It might actually be for me.

After Wang Xiao Mie gradually dozed off in the pearl-lit coffin, Wen Feng Jin slowly opened his eyes. Using the faint light, Wen Feng Jin propped up and positioned himself on top of Wang Xiao Mie. He supported himself with one arm and raised the other to his mouth and bit down on his wrist. He then gently placed it on the mouth of the person below him.

The body that was used to receiving blood as its lifeforce began swallowing.

After a while, Wen Feng Jin took back his hand and dotingly brushed his beloved’s face. His infatuated eyes depicted the yearn to kiss his nose and forehead. He lovingly rubbed his lips using his thumb.

The mask that carried the fake smile was pulled off and revealed a cold expression, making the pretty face all the more cruel and tough. But the pair of strange pupils retained its gentleness without any pretense or hypocrisy. He was like a fallen devil who had switched to the good side.

Cold, ruthless, and forever obsessed with the only one person who could give him warmth, this was the real Wen Feng Jin.

“Shixiong, did you remember something else today?”

When he was with Wang Xiao Mie, he would raise his voice, trying to make it sound cheerful. But due to the influence of his personality, this became contradicting and made him somewhat of a perverted clown whose laughter was scalp-numbing.

Wen Feng Jin’s voice when alone was hoarse and deep. His speech was neither fast nor slow, capable of making one feel enticed. 

After he stopped talking, the sleeping Wang Xiao Mie instantly opened his eyes which had turned blood red. His pupils stared motionlessly at the ceiling. He answered slowly, word by word: “No.” 

“Then why wasn’t Shixiong happy today? What are you hiding from me?”

“I was… worried… the person… you like… is Mian Deng.”

“I want…the person…you like…to be Wang… Xiao Mie….”

Wen Feng Jin shook his head, “You’re wrong. The person I like has always been you. Shixiong you don’t understand. It wasn’t because there was a Mian Deng that you’re here, but because of you that there was the Mian Deng that I loved.”

“The one I love is you, it has always been you….”

But I’ve said too many lies and did too many things that I don’t dare to tell you. So now I’m trying my best to be the kind of person you like, so you won’t be able to leave me first…

“Oh one more thing,” Wen Feng Jin touched his face and said with a strange expression: “Is my smile really that fake?”

“Yes.”

“But didn’t Shixiong say you like people who are always smiling? ….you liar…” 

Wen Feng Jin slightly hooked his lips. He put his hand over Wang Xiao Mie’s face to close those scarlet red eyes.

“Shixiong, go back to sleep. I’m truly happy today.” 

Wen Feng Jin laid down on his side. He put his hand on top of his heart and calmly closed his eyes.

Chapter 18

The round moon was hanging in the dark blue sky with the sparkling stars of the Milky Way sprinkling across, and unlike the sunbeam, these lights gently existed with the coolness in the air…

Thick mists and clouds surrounded the mountains and a black building was covered with dew droplets from the deep night. They wore flaming red clothes embedded with gold thread that reflected in the moonlight. Tiny dew droplets formed on the glittering fabric and slid off.

Wang Xiao Mie stared in a daze at the overgrown stone path that led to a structure made of rotten wood which could still be recognized as an age-old building.

“Mian Deng, what’s wrong?” Someone enveloped him from behind and tightly embraced him in his arms.

It was Wen Feng Jin. He was also looking at the abandoned ancient ruins. His eyes were at peace with a smile.

“Nothing. I just feel a sense of familiarity with this scene…I didn’t expect there was such a historical building on top of our tomb.” Wang Xiao Mie looked at the burned marks left on it and felt an unexplainable sadness.

A stream of emotions was stuck in his throat, it wouldn’t come out or go down. It was a sense of hurt.

“This place is similar to the one in my dream….”

“You’re overthinking. Shixiong, have you forgotten? When we were killed, our sect was still fine. How could they be in any trouble?” He faced Wang Xiao Mie and said: “This place is surrounded by powerful auras and situated on a dragon vein. Pity, it was originally occupied by a group of scums. Later, I took care of them and built the underground palace here.”

“Shixiong, do you think I did a good thing? Well?”

Wang Xiao Mie glanced at the dilapidated building and nodded absentmindedly: “….it’s indeed a good thing.”

Wen Feng Jin slowly widened the corner of his lips. A ferocious and morbid smile appeared on the pretty face. His eyes fixated on Wang Xiao Mie’s frown. He could see his sadness but Wen Feng Jin could only feel a sense of satisfaction when looking at the ruins!

Shixiong, look. Those scums who went against us are dead. I burned those filthy things to ashes. I built the underground palace here so they will have to witness our happy-ever-after even in their deaths…

“Mian Deng, don’t look anymore.” The dark night hid the devil’s proud expression. Using an evil look to express the most gentle words, he said: “There’s nothing to see here, it’s dirty and messy. Shall we wait for the sunrise over there?”

“Hm? Ok.” Wang Xiao Mie rubbed his chest and was beckoned towards a big tree by Wen Feng Jin. Under the tree were several stone benches and a broken stone table.

Wen Feng Jin took out his handkerchief and wiped the dust. They both then sat side by side.

The big tree at one point was flourishing but now it was left in a withering state. The branches were widespread and thick, most likely able to withstand the weight of someone climbing it.

The wind from the mountains drifted over. Wang Xiao Mie breathed in the fresh scent of vegetation and the depression gradually vanished, returning him to his uplifted spirit.

For some reason, sitting under this tree was very cooling, as if air-conditioning was pouring out from it.

“Feng Jin, what kind of tree is this? It’s giving off a cool and refreshing aroma like a mint tree!”

Wen Feng Jin thought for a while and a flickering smile flashed by as he swept a glance at Wang Xiao Mie. He raised his finger to his chin and the wide sleeves fell to reveal the pale bony wrist.

He replied in a soft tone: “This is just an ordinary tree. The cold sensation that Shixiong is feeling is probably because…”

Wang Xiao Mie: “Because?” 

“Because this tree was where I hanged the group of scums……all one hundred and seventy-three of them were hanging here, drifting in the wind. There was another gigantic branch but it broke due to the weight. Oh yes, at that time, after their necks were broken, their head would droop and look down at the people below the tree. Umm, it was quite an interesting sight. Hah~”

Wang Xiao Mie: “……”

I, I…… Damn!

A cold breeze blew from behind and he felt a gaze on his back.

Wang Xiao Mie screamed and gave a jump. He was already in a sprinting position when Wen Feng Jin stretched out to grab his waist into his arms. Wang Xiao Mie wanted to break free when he heard Wen Feng Jin laughing out loud.

“That was a lie.” He said.

The large black pupils were focused on the man in his embrace acting like a panicking fawn. A strong sense of sympathy and love surged inside.

“Ha ha, you’re so cute.”

Cute my ass! Wang Xiao Mie rubbed down the goosebumps popping up all over his body.

“You know that people can be scared to their deaths!”

“But Shixiong, you’re already dead.”

“…..believe it or not I’m gonna bite you to death.” What the hell is wrong with that mouth of yours?!

Woof Woof Woof!

Wang Xiao Mie bared his fangs and grinned at him, waving his fist which was caught by Wen Feng Jin. Wen Feng Jin kissed the jade green and cold fingertips with interest and blinked at him.

“That’s fine. Where do you want to bite?”

Why are you looking forward to it?!

He could not break free from Wen Feng Jin’s arm. He laid in his embrace and heard his voice rang through his head: “Mian Deng, there’s another reason why I brought you here. Look at this.”

A pair of scissors and a red hairband was placed on Wang Xiao Mie’s hand.

“Have you heard of jia fa?” (TN: hair binding to signify marriage)

“An endless life was not what I wanted. What I want has always been to be your one and only spouse….”

“….to be inseparable from you. No matter what we become, we will not abandon each other. We’ll always have the other person in our hearts. Shixiong I told you to wait for me, I will certainly come back to marry you.”

“I made it. Now, are you willing to fulfill your promise and marry me?”

The thick mountain fog was dancing like the turbulent seawater. The stars in the night sky began to fade with the moon.

A few rays of orange light dispelled the coldness and illuminated their red wedding clothes.

The Wen Feng Jin at this moment was showing a face filled with warmth and the cruelty in his eyes was replaced with a beauty that could bedazzle anyone.

Wang Xiao Mie was in a trance. It was as if he saw in him the child in the classroom insisting on marrying his Shixiong. At this moment, he had an illusion that he had loved this man for a long time….

“You must’ve planned this from the start.” Wang Xiao Mie sighed and received the pair of scissors.

“It’s my obsession to openly marry you under the sun. Everything I did was for the day that you will wake up and fulfill our promises.”

Wen Feng Jin lowered his eyes and for the first time, Wang Xiao Mie saw him showing a genuine smile that was almost filled with sadness. He looked at Wang Xiao Mie like he was about to cry.

In fact, Wen Feng Jin may not even be aware that his expressions, even when they were hugging or kissing, always carried a tint of aggression. This was also true when he smiled.

It was as if he was preparing for the next second should the illusion disappear and ready to plunge himself into despair again.

Wang Xiao Mie knew from the start that this was not a gentle person but he was helplessly addicted to the crazy infatuation in his eyes when Wen Feng Jin looked at him.

I’m just a face fanatic longing for love.

Wang Xiao Mie had a bitter smile. He gathered a few of their long hair and tied them with the hairband, intertwining the crow black strands.

Wang Xiao Mie’s hair was soft and thin and Wen Feng Jin’s was harder to the touch.

There’s a common belief that people with soft hair have good temperament while those with stiff hair are more domineering.

The sun finally rose and revitalized the earth. The leaves and grass shone jade green as dewdrops were like pearls slipping, off the surface. The clean fresh air carried across the clear chirping of the birds…

Golden orange light lit up the sky….

A man was hugging the person sitting on his lap, burying his head deep in the nook of his neck. He swayed his body slowly and sang an old tune in a low hoarse voice. His eyes stayed on the person in his embrace who was using his thin fingers to twirl around the locks of hair, braiding them together.

Golden scissors snipped off the hair and the thin fingers tied it with the red ribbon.

The singing stopped. Wen Feng Jin wrapped one hand around his body and the other grasped the braid tightly.

“Mian Deng, call me Feng Jin…”

Wang Xiao Mie was a little shy but he still complied: “Feng Jin….”

“Mian Deng, say you love me….” the hoarse voice seemed to have changed its tune.

Wang Xiao Mie swallowed his words for a long time before spitting out the sentence: “I, hmm, that hmm……I love you.”

The last two words were not audible. The other person did not respond for quite some time. When Wang Xiao Mie thought that Wen Feng Jin couldn’t hear him, a droplet and another fell on his face and shoulder.

Hm? Rain?

Wang Xiao Mie opened his palm to test the rain and said: “Feng jin, it’s rai——ning.”

“Don’t look!”

A cold hand covered Wang Xiao Mie’s eyes.

Wang Xiao Mie bowed his head. The visage just now replayed in his head over and over. The face that no matter the circumstance, would show an indifference had lost its usual camouflage. Instead, there was a look of grief and despair of being pushed into a cliff. And those dark black eyes were filled with transparent liquid…

Wen Feng Jin cried.

But those weren’t tears of joy.

Why? 

He had clearly said it, didn’t he? Why?

After a good while, the man finally let him go and stood up. He placed the braid carefully into his clothes. He once again put on the look of tenderness and said: “Shixiong, let’s go. We should be heading back now….”

After being led back for a while, Wang Xiao Mie bit his lips and asked softly: “Do you want Mian Deng’s feelings…… or mine…..”

The person in front stopped and strengthened his grip on Wang Xiao Mie’s hand.

“What are you saying. You are you, Mian Deng. We’re home.”

Looking at the broad shoulders in front, Wang Xiao Mie sighed.

His heart had turned completely cold.

Chapter 17

Wang Xiao Mie sat up and took the cold outstretched hand. He stepped out of the coffin and started stretching his back, following behind Wen Feng Jin. He was then carried across the metal chain into one of the side halls.

Standing in front of the bronze mirror, Wang Xiao Mie stood still and let Wen Feng Jin tie his waistband and groom his clothes. He smacked his lips and sighed with satisfaction: “What a good man!”

Next, he was seated on a stool. The man’s robe was loose as he stood behind him to skillfully comb his hair. After a few strokes, his hair was perfectly styled. Wang Xiao Mie rubbed his thumb and forefinger to show the figure behind him.

“Honey, let’s make a heart shape.”

Wen Feng Jin spread his lips and chuckled with the mesmerizing pale blue face. He then returned his focus to tying Wang Xiao Mie’s hair. The slender fingers wound around his hair with meticulous care for fear that it would hurt him.

Heh, heh~~

What luck to have met such a handsome and considerate husband in this life. This was definitely unobtainable when he was alive, he did not even dare to dream. Unexpectedly after his death, he could live in a big house loaded with gold and silver and someone to care for him….

Weep I can die a happy death…. Oh wait, I’m already dead….

Wang Xiao Mie sat happily on the round stool and said: “Oh that’s right. If it wasn’t for the man named Zhen Bei, I wouldn’t know that the beads on this hairband are so precious. It’s better to put them away lest I lose them.”

He then asked: “Did you not know about their value?”

Wen Feng Jin: “Of course I know what they are.”

Wang Xiao Mie: “Then why do you use it as an ornament for a hairband?”

Wen Feng Jin: “Fish pearls are usually worn to bless the wearer with clear sight.”

Wang Xiao Mie: “….. you’re wasting away precious treasure.” Boss, I have perfect eyesight, I don’t need this thing.

“Shixiong deserves the best.” As Feng Wen Jin said this with no second thought. He was done tying the red hairband inlaid with gold dust and proceeded to put a jade crown on him.

“…..”

Wang Xiao Mie sat on the stool with a straight face. 

Awww…. I think I’m in love.

Wang Xiao Mie stood up after his hair was done. Wen Feng Jin did not go on to dress himself but hugged him from the back with his chest bared.

From the bronze mirror, he could see the man sentimentally latched himself to him and buried his head on his shoulder.

“By the way, do you remember what happened that day with the tomb robber?”

Wang Xiao Mie was feeling itchy on his shoulder and was tempted to touch the hair on the other person’s head. He responded in surprise: “Why are you asking about this? Of course I remember. I was using the latrine and suddenly a man dropped down. Umm… he did not look like a bad person. In order to restore his brother’s eyesight, he came to look for the fish pearls which I gave to him in the end. But I know outsiders are not allowed in the tomb palace so I wanted Muyi to send him away….”

“Something wrong?”

“No. It’s nothing” 

“To tell you the truth, I was quite touched …. That day when we ate hotpot, although I said I’ll stay with you, I did not expect you to trust me unconditionally. I know the tomb palace is our house, they may have their difficulties but it is still stealing after all. And yet you weren’t even mad at me when I let him off….”

“Thank you Feng Jin.”

“It’s nothing. Whatever it is that you want, I will never refuse.”

Wen Feng Jin’s gentle face that was hidden behind Wang Xiao Mie’s shoulder showed a sinister smile. The black ominous pupils were filled with delight….

And I thought he was a big dumpling with a gloomy disposition, turns out he’s unexpectedly kind….Wang Xiao Mie thought with a tinge of guilt.

Because Wang Xiao Mie felt that he had wronged Wen Feng Jin by siding with outsiders, and also giving away the treasure Wen Feng Jin gave him, he was very accepting of Wen Feng Jin’s advances for the following days.

And the face fanatic Wang Xiao Mie was never shy to begin with. He couldn’t wait to get intimate with Wen Feng Jin on a daily basis. Before the day even ended, he would heh heh heh and hid in the coffin, waiting for Wen Feng Jin to ‘tackle’ him. 

A good husband with a good face, understanding, compliant, and super indulgence. I’m an idiot if I let him go!

After all, we’re both grown men, what’s there to be shy about?

Wang Xiao Mie thought in his heart: So we are at the dating stage now?

Wen Feng Jin: In my heart, we’re already at the stage of having babies (smirk).

“By the way, Mian Deng, what did you dream about today?” Wen Feng Jin asked out of the blue.

Wang Xiao Mie recounted the entire dream for him, then asked with uncertainty: “Say… will I really turn into someone else?”

“You won’t turn into someone else, you’ve always been you.” Wen Feng Jin said with unshakeable faith. “You’re only remembering the little parts. Later, more memories of our past will come back.”

“…”

Wang Xiao Mie nodded but was still carrying a frown. The dream was too realistic. He was conflicted whether it was his past memories or the memories of this body.

Wen Feng Jin: “But today is indeed my birthday….”

Wang Xiao Mie: “Ha?!!! Why didn’t you tell me earlier?!! A birthday …. Ai, we can’t get a cake now and there’s nothing to eat in the tomb palace….” let alone do something romantic.

Want to blow a candle and make a wish? Haha, sorry but the lights in our tomb are all mermaid lamps that have not been burned out even after more than a thousand years!

Seeing Wang Xiao Mie’s disappointed look, Wen Feng Jin said: “Since today is my birthday and you’ve also been cooped up in here for too long, I planned to take you outside to have a look.”

“Go out!?” Wang Xiao Mie widened his eyes. “Boss we’re zombies now! Big dumplings! The kind that bites and kills people in movies. What if we’re caught and experimented on?!”

Even if they weren’t caught, both of them have been living on a mountain of treasures, what if someone came and took away their home when they were out….

But he did want to go…

“Above our tomb is an expanse of mountain ranges with dangerous terrains. Also, the surroundings should now be covered with dense desolated forests. We’ll only go for a couple of hours…” Wen Feng Jin slowly combed his fingers through the hair of the person in front of him.

“Besides, I really want to watch the sunrise with you again…. Is that ok?” he smiled gently at Wang Xiao Mie.

Wang Xiao Mie: yes yes yes!

Gasp~ this dumpling is just too beautiful!

Chapter 16

Mists and clouds hovered over a mountain ridge, passing through a black pagoda covered in fog. A handsome and bright youth in light blue clothes was holding a rolled-up book. His gentle eyes looked at the radish heads spinning in their seats as they recited from their textbooks.

As he swept his gaze across and paused on one of them, the child’s evasive eyes and face turning blue caused him to smile helplessly.

“That’s it for today.” He put down his book and the short radish heads became rambunctious and started to gather around his feet, calling: “Da Shixiong, Da Shixiong.”

After he coaxed the mischievous children away, the light blue sleeves scented with pine wood, drifted towards the remaining boy who was older than the rest of the other children.

The expressionless boy was packing his books. Because of his soft features and special pupils that gave off a gloomy feel, he was particularly unsociable. His eyes would carry a demonic vibe as he looked at anyone, making them feel queasy. At such a young age, he was isolated even in this secluded mountain school. 

But the Da Shixiong who was approaching adolescence was not at all repulsed by the boy. He looked at the scrawny boy with his head down and once again smiled uncontrollably.

The boy continued to act indifferent but his cheeks were gradually turning red. He blinked twice and murmured in low voice: “I won in that fight….”

“Right, right, right, but you didn’t even gain anything.”

“Mian Deng Shixiong!”

The child finally raised his head and yelled angrily, revealing his one black eye like a panda.

“…”

“…”

“Ha haha haa!”

“Shixiong!”

The little boy was angry with embarrassment. He clenched his fist and lunged right into the embrace of the youth with the warm and gentle smile, clutching his slender waist. The lighthearted youth was tightly hugged by the small arms.

“I hate Shixiong the most!”

Although these were the words of the little brat who buried his head into Mian Deng’s chest, the way he rubbed his cheeks against Mian Deng and the reddening ears said otherwise. 

“It’s almost your eleventh birthday, what do you want? Hm?” 

Mian Deng lowered his eyes on the kid. His jade white face was filled with tenderness as he dotingly combed through the back of the boy’s head, picking out the bits of leaves sticking on it.

No doubt, he must’ve been rolling on the ground during the fight….

“I can ask for anything?” the boy in his arms raised his head and asked. His narrow and long eyes with the large black pupils were bright and full of hope. “I can really have anything I want?!”

“Of course.” He said.

The little boy was instantly jubilant as if he had just received everything in the world. He said: “Then I want Shixiong to be my wife! I must marry Shixiong when I grow up. Mian Deng Shixiong, is that ok?”

The stunned Shixiong started laughing again.

“There has to be Yin and Yang in everything. Little fool, two men cannot get married. Do not speak such unorthodox things again, got it? Don’t make Shifu angry and punish you again.”

The furious boy yelled: “Shixiong is a liar. Shixiong said I can wish for anything! If the world doesn’t allow it, I will change the rules to my liking in the future.”

The smiling Shixiong turned pale, “Quiet! Anyone can say that in private but you can’t. Do you hear me? You absolutely cannot say such things!”

Tears began to swell up in the boy’s eyes. Mian Deng only saw those evil looking eyes as those of a deer, he couldn’t help but feel tender towards it.

“Shixiong lied…” The boy did not cry when he was bullied for his weak appearance and background. He did not cry when pressed on the ground and hit till he bled. Every time that he was humiliated or punished, he would only stare obstinately. 

And yet at this moment, he silently let the golden droplets fall.

Mian Deng’s heart melted into a pool, he held him close and said helplessly: “Fine, fine, I agree. Happy now?” When you grow up, see if I don’t use this to make fun of you.

The boy was happy again. He rubbed his tears with his sleeve and said with a serious face: “Mian Deng you have to wait for me! I will definitely marry you in the future!”

Shixiong knocked on his head: “Little rascal, address me as Shixiong!”

“I don’t care! Mian Deng, promise me quickly!” 

“Fine fine fine, I promise you…”

“I will wait for you, Feng Jin…”

I will always wait for you. Until you grow up, until you have the power to protect the ones important to you…

Until then, I will continue to open my arms for you. 

You have to live on…

Feng Jin.

In the coffin, Wang Xiao Mie’s two-tone wedding clothes were loosened and pulled down to his elbow. Red love marks were imprinted on his skin from behind the ears to the chest and even lower…

The bare shoulder was covered with kisses from the beautiful lips. The long hair scattered and intertwined with each other.

Wang Xiao Mie woke up in a daze from the pain of being bitten. For a moment, he was confused as to where he was.

“Feng Jin… I think I just had a dream.”

The person on top of him paused and spoke in a low hoarse voice that tickled his ears: “I also had a dream. And it was a good dream….”

Wang Xiao Mie could not stand the man’s smile and shrugged his shoulders to gently push him away.

“Stop doing that….”

Wen Feng Jin responded with an ambiguous ‘uhm’. Every time the flat abdomen was pressed, this person would make minute trembles, arousing his interest to continue. 

The view below the neckline was even more beautiful but Wen Feng Jin did not continue. For today, this was the limit that Wang Xiao Mie could accept him.

He neatly closed the loosened collar.

“This will be the last one….”

Any other sound from Wang Xiao Mie was muffled as Wen Feng Jin raised his head and used his lips to gently pinch Wang Xiao Mie’s lower lip. The act was filled with an unwillingness to let go.

The shuffling sounds from the clothes eventually died down. The man pressing on him turned the mechanism inside the coffin and the huge lid slid open. The tree with the bright burning blossoms loomed into view and its charming fragrance wafted in. 

Wang Xiao Mie raised his hand to cover his mouth. He was most alike a living person the closer he was to the tree. His eyes were spirited and his face was blushing red from the afterglow of the intimacy.

The beautiful man who had undressed him before was getting unruly by the minute. He stepped out of the coffin and turned back to Wang Xiao Mie with a full-bloomed smile, reaching out to him inside the coffin.

“Come, Mian Deng, I’ll help you tie your hair.”

Chapter 15

In the tomb passageway, several cylindrical light beams were shining on the ground. A group of people who had just chased away a long-haired monster was leaning against the tomb wall to rest. All of them were wounded to some degree and the one with the heaviest injuries had already blacked out, lying on the ground and breathing heavily.

The man who had accompanied them knelt down on one knee. His hand gripped the handle of an ancient bronze sword, plunging it into the ground to support his weight. If it wasn’t for the ancient sword that was normally used to repel evil spirits, he wouldn’t be able to chase away the terrible monster that attacked them just now. But when the monster was pushed back, his brother Zhen Bei had also fallen into a trap door!

His fingers groped the ground and an anxious look took over the cold face.

“Second brother, Xiao Ju Zi’s treatment cannot be delayed any longer…” Another wounded man said impatiently: “This is only the tomb palace’s entrance and already we’ve met with such danger. It’s already not a job for only a few men like us. If we stay here any longer, I don’t know what else will come out!”

The second brother, namely Zhen Mu, frowned and said: “So we’ll just let Zhen Bei wait here for his death?”

“…..of course that’s not what I meant. But …” but this place is so dangerous, can you even survive after falling into a trap door?!

But he could not be so blunt with his words. The strong-looking man sighed as a hint. He then squatted down next to the seriously injured Xiao Ju Zi to feed him some water.

Looking at the youngest guy of the group, Zhen Mu clenched his fist and punched the ground. He mulled over the matter for a while before standing up with his sword in hand, he said to his underlings: “….alright, let’s go. We’ll send Xiao Ju Zi out for treatment. Then I’ll come back here with the people above the ground. No matter what, even if he’s dead I still have to see his corpse.”

The group was a little relieved. They packed in a hurry, carrying their injured ones and prepared to leave. Zhen Mu carried his backpack and followed behind with a sullen look.

Suddenly, a succession of clicking sounds like someone was being choked encroached from the tomb pathway!

“Something is coming!” Zhen Mu shouted, his sword was already drawn. When the group was frozen in panic, a red lizard-like monster hurled a humanoid object towards them!

Before Zhen Mu could react, the monster had turned and left.

“Ow my waist—!” the thing on the ground cried out in pain and tried to stand up with some difficulty. He hugged his waist and spat. “Pei pei! I swallowed a mouthful of dirt! Oh? Second brother! I finally get to see you!”

“Zhen Bei?! Why are you here!?”

Zhen Mu helped his brother up with a surprised look. Before he could say anything else, Zhen Bei became excited like a child and took out a small bead from his bag, “Brother! I found the fish pearl!”

“What?!”

…

“This is the punishment you were talking about?”

Wang Xiao Mie was wearing a white unlined garment and his pants were removed and left to one side. He squatted and dipped his butt in the basin. All he needed now was a bottle of feminine wash and he could finish his hygiene care in the span of a song. 

Wang Xiao Mie who had thought that he was going to be beaten or hanged was washing his buttocks with an expression he would use to attend a funeral.

Damn it! What the hell?!

“Why? Shixiong feels this is not enough? Do I have to do something to you so you will feel satisfied?” Wen Feng Jin laughed with ridicule and assumed a posture like he was going to grab his clothes, “since it’s Shixiong who wanted this, I will comply…”

“…”

The moment he put down his hand, Wang Xiao Mie’s whole body gave a slight startle. Because he was scared silly by Wen Feng Jin before, even when he smiled now, the fear still lingered in his heart, preventing Wang Xiao Mie from acting mischievously in front of him like always.

The peaceful interactions between the two disappeared in a flash. In fact, Wang Xiao Mie was now much more fearful towards Wen Feng Jin than when they first met.

Seeing Wang Xiao Mie’s listless look as he dropped his head. Wen Feng Jin took back his smile and the hand that was lowered clenched into a fist…..

The Wang Xiao Dumpling who was squatting and scrubbing was suddenly embraced by the other person. He kneeled close and held the back of his head with one hand and the other slid into the water basin and pressed on the cold and soft place where the water was bubbling.

Uhm???

Uhm!!!

“There’s no need. No need! I’ll do it myself—damn it, don’t touch me! I’ll do it myself— Aaah!” Wang Xiao Dumpling gave out a pathetic cry. My god, the big dumpling is acting up!

He flopped like a mud fish in the arms of the big dumpling but he could not slide away from the iron-like shoulders. In the end, he gave up and laid like a salted fish, obediently letting the paws of the big dumpling gently scrub him clean.

After washing for a long time, every part of him was scrubbed over by the big dumpling. He pulled the little dumpling up like a child and gently wiped the water droplets on him with a cloth. 

“I don’t want Mian Deng to be touched by anyone. I also do not allow anyone to see your body. If Mian Deng was seen, then his body will be stained….”

“The dirty parts have to be cleaned up.”

“If the stain is on the skin, then we’ll wash it off. If it’s in the flesh and bones, then we’ll tear it down, if it’s in the heart …..then we’ll pull it out and throw it away…”

“Alright, you’re clean now Mian Deng….”

Wen Feng Jin threw aside the cloth and hugged the pantless Wang Xiao Mie. He loosened his outer garment and lunged forward to paste his chest close. Through the thin white fabric, they could feel the cool temperatures transmitting where their skin touched.

“Mian Deng, you smell so good, I want to eat you up. Can I have a bite?”

“…..”

“Ha~ I’m just kidding….”

Wang Xiao Mie’s chest was a degree colder. Wen Feng Jin’s chest was also cold but there was a weak series of heartbeat underneath.

Wang Xiao Mie looked at the crazy infatuation and stubbornness in Wen Feng Jin’s eyes and swallowed hard.

Whoever tells me that this guy ain’t’ sick I’ll have a bone to pick with him! How is this normal? This is clearly the last stage of an incurable mental disease!

“Shixiong, are you hungry?”

“I…. I’m not hungry. I just ate….”

“No, you’re hungry. You need me.” Wen Feng Jin shifted his head and looked at him with a smile. The black pupils dilated and the blood-red symbol in between his brows dazzled, inducing a sense of dizziness.

Wang Xiao Mie’s head swayed back and forth, feeling incredibly sleepy. He couldn’t help dropping his eyelids. In his daze, he vaguely saw Wen Feng Jin pulled down his collar and revealed his neck. The long fingernails cut deep into the skin…..

Isn’t that painful…..

“Mian Deng, go ahead and eat. Look at you, you never speak your mind. You keep saying things to provoke my anger. Ha~ but I can never be mad at you. When you wake up, you will once again accept me like before….”

Wang Xiao Mie’s lips touched the soft skin and he gave it a lick.

Hmm, it’s bitter….

Chapter 14

“Wait! Feng Jin just wait! He only came here to find something! Look! It’s this…” Wang Xiao Mie raised his hand and shook the end of the hairband. He barely managed to stop him just in time before the click click sounded. And once again, Zhen Bei, in a bubble of ignorance, escaped death’s door.

He did not know why his new little friend would quarrel with his partner but human instincts told him that the newcomer was not someone to trifle with. Zhen Bei stuffed the fish pearl into his bag and hid behind Wang Xiao Mie, poking out half a head to observe the commotion.

Wen Feng Jin saw Wang Xiao Mie waving his hairband and instead of calming down, his expression was all the more horrifying.

According to the customs of ages ago, from whence Wen Feng Jin came from, a man giving away his hairband, a woman giving away her handkerchief or hairpin, all represented a show of affection. On the contrary, asking for such items also implied an active pursuit.

But this, Wang Xiao Mie was clueless about. He looked at Wen Feng Jin in horror as he suddenly smiled. He said in a low voice: “Shixiong, I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want Mu Yi to kill him….”

Wang Xiao Mie was relieved: “As long as you underst…..”

Wen Feng Jin tilted his head and widened his grin: “Um, don’t worry Shixiong, I’ll do it myself.”

Phew~ then I don’t have to worry —— my ass!

Wang Xiao Mie saw Wen Feng Jin lifted his hand and the two-toned sleeves puffed even without a blowing wind. His red clothes fluttered, his ink-black hair was adrift, flowing across the pale white face, giving off a spellbinding sense of beauty.

Even at a time like this, Wang Xiao Mie was thinking to himself: Damn…..he’s so dreamy!

In the next second, before Wang Xiao Mie could even react, he was pushed back by a sudden gust of air. Before today, he never believed that anyone could actually hurl a person against the wall with a wave of his hand.

In the blink of an eye, he was sitting on the ground and Wen Feng Jin had appeared between them, grabbing Zhen Bei’s neck!

Woooww! Flash?!

“You think you’re worthy of my Shixiong’s hairband?!” Wen Feng Jin pinched Zhen Bei’s neck and could break it with little effort. Zhen Bei was now writhing painfully in mid-air as he tried desperately to pull off Wen Feng Jin’s arm.

“Shixiong, don’t be scared, I know you hate him too. I will finish him off for you, alright?” When he asked ‘alright’, the end tone was of a higher pitch, like that of a youth asking ‘can I eat this candy?’

He could kill someone on one hand and turn to smile at Wang Xiao Mie on the other. Wang Xiao Mie was scared silly by the powerful murderous intent yet in Wen Feng Jin’s mouth sounded like it was nothing. He leaned against the wall in a daze and watched Zhen Bei struggling.

Such a broad man struggling with all his might yet was unable to do him any damage!

He was not joking, he will kill Zhen Bei, this fact Wang Xiao Mie could clearly perceive.

“Er…”

Wang Xiao Mie snapped back to his senses when Zhen Bei’s throat gave out a painful groan. He quickly got up and hugged Wen Feng Jin’s arm vigorously with his trembling body, screaming: “It’s not the hairband! It’s the beads on it! Look! It’s these…”

Wang Xiao Mie showed Wen Feng Jin the beads in his hand frantically. 

Wen Feng Jin frowned as he looked at the beads on the bluish-white palm.

“He said that his brother’s eyes were blinded and needed the fish pearl, that’s why he came here to search for it! Please let him go! Let him go……I beg you…..please…..”

Wang Xiao Mie is an ordinary man, this point he admits.

He was scared of dying, of murder, death, and also of criminals…..

Even if he was regarded as a coward, he refused to witness a human life being snuffed out like this.

I’m just an ordinary man……

Zhen Bei’s resolve was beginning to weaken. Wang Xiao Mie quivered and his voice was close to crying, he begged the man that had seemed so ordinary the day before.

When Wen Feng Jin bared his fangs, Wang Xiao Mie then understood what Wen Feng Jin was, what he himself was…..

They couldn’t be considered humans anymore…..

His eyes could no longer shed tears. How could a body which had lost it’s life force and abandoned by time have tears?

Wen Feng Jin’s eyes widened. He was overwhelmed facing the man who was about to cry. A Mian Deng who was in tears begging him…..this scene overlaps with the one from the past. 

It was the same as that year. He had killed his hypocritical clansmen one by one, and his Shixiong, with the same look of despair, was begging by his feet.

And then what happened? He still turned those people into ice-cold corpses. And Shixiong never came back. Wen Feng Jin never again saw him….

Wen Feng Jin panicked. He threw Zhen Bei aside and like an entirely different person, his face turned fear-stricken and despondent. He kneeled on the ground and hugged Wang Xiao Mie.

Wang Xiao Mie was slightly trembling being hugged, but Wen Feng Jin only held him tighter.

“Don’t be afraid Mian Deng, don’t be afraid….I misunderstood you, I was wrong. Please don’t be mad at me, alright? Please don’t leave me. I’ll let him live, I’ll let him go, alright? I’ll give you anything you want, don’t go..…”

“You will definitely forgive me, right? You’ve always been so understanding. You’re also soft-hearted……. Mian Deng, I was wrong, I’ll carry you back….”

“Mian Deng, why aren’t you talking to me?”

Wang Xiao Mie’s horror could not be concealed even with his expressionless face. He was like a lamb feigning death due to extreme fright. As for Wen Feng Jin, there seemed to be a filter in his brain that had removed the previous occurrence. He smiled, then picked Wang Xiao Mie up and carried him back.

On the way back, he occasionally dropped his head intimately to rub Wang Xiao Mie’s hair and used the tip of his nose to sniff.

Wang Xiao Mie laid in his cold embrace, swallowed his saliva, and dared not move.

“……see, you’re angry with me again. Why aren’t you talking to me for so long.” Wen Feng Jin bowed his head and complained softly and a few strands of hair slid down as the two beautiful faces got close to each other. The black pupils then twitched, and after he pulled his lips into a grin, his eyes had turned blood red….

“….”

“I, I….” Wang Xiao Mie could not control his shivering. The “I” was stuttered between his trembling lips and clattering teeth for a long time and nothing else was said.

But Wen Feng Jin replied as if he did hear something: “I know, I know. I will let Mu Yi escort him back to the tomb’s passageway. He came with others and I will tell Mu Yi to drive them out as well. You don’t have to be concerned. Ha ha ~ Mian Deng, wasn’t my work good?”

“…..”

I’m certain now, the big guy is definitely sick! And his sickness belongs to the psychiatric department! But how would Wang Xiao Mie dare to refute, he quickly went along and replied: “Yes.”

The frown on Wen Feng Jin eased up completely as he strode on happily. The road continued for a long while, and Wen Feng Jin was holding onto him tightly the whole time like he was fearful Wang Xiao Mie would run off.

Just as the jittering Wang Xiao Mie who dared not even breath saw the familiar palace, Wen Feng Jin froze on his tracks.

Wang Xiao Mie looked up. He saw Wen Feng Jin’s perfect chin and the psychotic smile had disappeared. In its place was a cold look of indifference.

Wen Feng Jin lowered his head and asked: “By the way, Shixiong, did he come in when you were using the toilet?”

“Yes…..”

“At that time, was Shixiong covered?”

“Not everything….”

“That won’t do…..I will be fatally jealous if Shixiong was seen by someone….” When every strand of hair on Wang Xiao Mie’s body was standing up, Wen Feng Jin continued: “Therefore….. I have to give Shixiong a small little punishment oh~…..”

Chapter 13

And your name is Zhen Bei, how unfortunate. Buddy, with such a name, you still have the guts to be a tomb robber. (TN: Zhen Bei’s name is 贞北, it sounds the same as 真背, which means very unlucky.)

“…..whatever. Just treat me as a grave robber.” Wang Xiao Mie sighed. He had not forgotten about the little monster Mu Yi drooling above Zhen Bei’s head. “Let’s talk somewhere else.”

Wang Xiao Mie led him out of the room and advised him carefully: “Zhen Bei buddy, I see you’re still young, you shouldn’t be disturbing the graves of the ancestors. There will be retribution. Later when my hus.. cough.. my friend comes back and tells you the way out, you should leave quickly.”

“You have a partner?” Zhen Bei’s black face lit up. “But that won’t do. My brother’s eyes were poisoned and blinded. Only the legendary fish pearl from this tomb palace can save him. Thank you for the warning but I have to get the fish pearl for my brother.”

“Blinded by poison?” Wang Xiao Mie eyed the valuable equipment and props that he was carrying. Many of them looked professional. Most likely this was a family business.

“That’s…” Sure enough, Zhen Bei stuttered and couldn’t go on explaining. He gave a dry laugh and stopped talking.

Wang Xiao Mie knew that everyone has secrets and so he did not ask further. He then began to rummage his memories.

Fish pearls? Wen Feng Jin had let him play with every priceless artifact and treasure there was in the tomb but why had he never heard of fish pearls that could restore one’s sight?

“Do you even know what it looks like and yet you came to such a dangerous place to look for it?” Wang Xiao Mie asked.

“Of course I know! I’m not an idiot!” He pulled out a picture from his backpack and showed it to Wang Xiao Mie. “Look, I secretly copied this photo from my second brother. This is the pearl we found last time, but it’d been used by someone.”

We’ve only met and you’re already showing me important information… Do your brothers know that you’re this trusting?

Wang Xiao Mie squinted at the picture. The pearl in the photo was not very big, it was white and about the size of a mung bean. Its only distinctive feature was a black dot in the center which made it look like fish eyes.

This thing……why does it look so familiar?

Oh, that’s it!

Wang Xiao Mie’s left hand hammered into his right palm. He pulled the long embroidered red ribbon that was used as his hair tie up to their eye level. At the end of the ribbon was a string of beads looking just like the one in the photo.

“…..”

“…..”

Zhen Bei’s mouth was agape and his eyes almost popped out. He pointed excitedly at the hairband in Wang Xiao Mie’s hand, unable to utter a word!

Wang Xiao Mie was tidying up his hair because pulling down the band had caused it to fall loose from the crown. He twitched his mouth and said: “You’re sure these little things can save your brother’s eyes?”

Aren’t these just decorations for his hairband? 

“That’s it! That’s the fish pearls! Aaaaahhhhh! My god my god!” Zhen Bei jumped wildly. “This is my family business, how could I not know! These are fish pearls! And there are so many of them! My god! My brother’s eyes are saved! Hahaha. And why do you have so many of them? Can I have one? Can I can I? I’m desperately begging you, the kind that people would go down on their knees to beg!”

Heh~ Then go on, kneel down and beg. Wang Xiao Mie was laughing inside when he saw him clasped his hand and prayed to him with pitiful eyes, like a puppy begging for food.

There was no way he could refuse.

Besides….. I have a whole trove of these hairbands! Wang Xiao Mie thought of the huge trunk of hair ornaments, from jade crowns to men’s hairpins, that Wen Feng Jin would open when he helped him to comb his hair every day.

But seeing Zhen Bei’s hysteria over just the one bead, he decided to mute the sentence.

Under Zhen Bei’s yearning eyes, Wang Xiao Mie broke the string and the beads fell into his palm. He picked the biggest one and gave it to Zhen Bei.

Why didn’t he give more?

Because he knew the saying “the precious stone will land its innocent possessor in trouble.” with Zhen Bei’s character, having too many of these will cause him more harm than good.

Fortunately, Zhen Bei was a cute little silly. He was not at all dissatisfied with Wang Xiao Mie only giving him one. Instead, he was happy as a dog that got thrown a bone, he held the bead happily and his face was full of gratitude.

“Thank you Xiao Mie! If you ever go to S City, come to look for me, I’ll definitely take you to have fun! Really!” 

As if. Wang Xiao Mie silently thought: you’re such an innocent idiot, the only place we’ll end up in is the dustbin.

Just when his thought wandered, the overly excited Zhen Bei came over and gave him a big bear hug!

As fate would have it, before Wang Xiao Mie could push him away, he saw Wen Feng Jin standing opposite in the tomb passageway with a twisted and murderous look. He would make a forced smile but the other side’s eyes were already bloodshot and the black pupils were looking even more distorted!

Wang Xiao Mie almost peed due to fear. He numbly looked at Zhen Bei clinging on him.

Ooohhh, sh*t. The big scene of catching the adulterate wife in bed!

Wang Xiao Mie: “Feng Jin ah…….you, you have to hear my explanation…..”

Zhen Bei got down from his body and looked back in confusion: “Xiao Mie, who are you talking to … wow! When did that man come in? You know him? Then that means he’s your friend?” 

After saying that, he even had to give it one last stab: “haha, your friend’s expression is so strange!”

It’s strange, right? It’ll even be stranger when he chops us both up into minced meat dumpling’s fillings…..Wang Xiao Mie covered his face.

Wen Feng Jin sneered coldly and said: “Friend? Oh, is that how Shixiong addresses me? Shixiong is ever as eloquent with everyone. But did you forget that we’re already married? Even in this tomb, you’re getting intimate with others, how improper for a spouse!”

Wang Xiao Mie: “……” The hell is improper for a spouse!?

Zhen Bei (stupid and cute emoticon): “What? What just happened?”

Looking at the cheating wife (did no such thing!) and the damned third party (I’m the most innocent here), Wen Feng Jin decided to shut the door and release the beast: “Mu Yi, what are you waiting for?! Tear that thing into pieces!”

Chapter 12

A woman’s weeping sound like none other erupted from the side hall. It was the same as the last time the graverobbers intruded. This came from one of the creatures Wen Feng Jin kept. Every time a graverobber managed to enter the tomb, she would issue this warning from the position of the intruder.

Hearing the woman’s cry, Wen Feng Jin was able to quickly deduce location from the sound. His face turned murderously dangerous!

Mian Deng!

The graverobbers are heading for Mian Deng!

In the meantime, Wang Xiao Mie was staring speechless at the man sitting on the ground and waving a black donkey’s hoof at him. He was screaming and crying excessively.

Buddy, you’ve been doing that for ten minutes already, aren’t you tired?

Wang Xiao Mie opened his mouth and was about to say: “I….” I’m not a bad guy.

But before he could finish his sentence, the other party cried: “Don’t come any closer! Ah—!”

Wang Xiao Mie: “…..”

Wang Xiao Mie was squatting awkwardly. He tried to adjust his position and at the same time pulled down his clothes to cover up. Although we’re all men, he still couldn’t let him see.

Perhaps his action caused the other person to misunderstand. The man with a dirt-stained face yelled out a battle cry ‘I’m gonna get you’, then sent out an intimidating attack with the donkey’s hoof right on Wang Xiao Mie’s forehead!

Dong!

“…..”

The absolutely fine Wang Xiao Mie stared back at him with dead fish eyes.

The attacker started shaking: “How’s this possible?! Why is this zombie not affected?! It must be because I haven’t used enough strength!” with that, he raised the weapon high and made a skull-splitting chop!

Wang Xiao Mie who was close by could even hear the swish of the wind made from the incoming donkey’s hoof!

What the f**k! Are you trying to impale or smash this innocent dumpling?!!

His facial expression changed drastically. Even though as a zombie, his skin was hardened considerably and could withstand a beating, and also resistant to pain, this did not mean that he would be immune to the impact from the hoof!

What if his skin wasn’t thick enough and his head was punctured. Wouldn’t he be disfigured?!!

In his horror, the donkey’s hoof even looked like it was shining with a cold light.

The lizard man Mu Yi was waiting for his command that did not come in time. Seeing the man’s assault, its eyes flashed red and in a split second, with its wide-open jaws, pounced forward to chomp off the man’s head!

When Wang Xiao Mie saw the creature’s movement, he grabbed the donkey hoof and unexpectedly, was strong enough to pull it out of the man’s hand!

“Don’t move!” Wang Xiao Mie yelled.

The monster crawling at the top stopped. The man, oblivious to the fact that he had just barely escaped death’s door, looked at his empty hand and turned pale.

I’m done for. This dumpling’s cultivation is too high. Even the hoof was taken away!

Seeing that the graverobber was about to faint, Wang Xiao Mie, who still had no paper to wipe his butt, announced in a loud voice: “Don’t panic! You don’t have to fear me! Rest assured, I won’t hurt you. I was just using the toilet and god knows how you fell from above and came here. Buddy, I’m very much in need of toilet paper at this moment. Give me some toilet paper and I’ll give you back the donkey’s hoof! I’ll even tell you the way out of here! How about that?”

The man’s mind was blown away. He glanced at Wang Xiao Mie’s standard squatting posture and the obviously abnormal clothes and skin color, then asked with some difficulty: “Zombie….still needs to use the toilet?”

Wang Xiao Mie: “…..why not. Don’t you discriminate against zombies!”

The man was speechless for a long time reconditioning his mentality. He wiped his dirtied face with his hand, making it even blacker.

At last, he opened his backpack and pulled out a brand new bag of tissue and passed it to Wang Xiao Mie.

“Thank you!” This dude is not bad, he actually believed me. Wang Xiao Mie took the tissue with immense gratitude.

The grave robber who saw a dumpling opening the packaging with proficiency and preparing to use it: “…..”

If his face was big enough, the words “Who am I? Where am I? Why does a zombie know how to use toilet paper?” would be written all over it.

Wang Xiao Mie was finally about to clean himself when he felt awkward from the unblinking gaze. “Buddy, with you staring at me like that, I’m a little embarrassed. Can you turn around?”

“Oh ok!” the man turned quickly, also with a little embarrassment. 

Wang Xiao Mie was relieved. When it was finally done, he stood up with the hoof and walked out of the doorless latrine towards the man.

One good thing about being turned into a zombie: no leg cramps even after squatting for so long.

After some deep thinking, the man suddenly patted Wang Xiao Mie’s shoulder and laughed: “I finally got it! You were hired by my brother to scare me in the tomb, isn’t that right?! This is to prevent me from exploring the tomb with them, right?! Hahaha, I’m so clever!”

How can a zombie speak so fluently? How can a zombie have a bowel movement? How can a zombie not attack a live person?

Therefore this guy must be my brother’s lackey hired to scare me off.

“Haha, you’re someone from my brother’s shop, aren’t you? It must’ve been hard on you, having to squat here all this time. Give me back the donkey’s hoof, I have to find the fish pearl.”

Wang Xiao Mie laughed with his white teeth showing, wondering what the man had supplemented his brains with. But now that he thought Wang Xiao Mie was human, things should be less complicated. He gave the man back his donkey’s hoof.

After he passed over the item, Wang Xiao Mie noticed that his hand was smudged with black paint!

“What the! Your black donkey’s hoof was dyed? And I was wondering why your face would get blacker the more you wiped it.” Wang Xiao Mie had black lines over his head: “Buddy, no matter how poor we are, we shouldn’t dye a donkey’s hoof black to deceive others.”

Tut tut, who are you trying to fool? Do you think that zombies are stupid? 

The man was stumped for a while before scratching his head and smiled: “I, I’m also not sure about this. We’re out of stock at home so I ordered it from Bing Xi Xi…” (TN: the actual name is Pin Duo Duo, it’s something like Amazon.)

Wang Xiao Mie: “…..” Hehe, you’re quite amusing.

Wang Xiao Mie discerned that this guy was still young and with one look, he could tell that he was a gullible one. 

“By the way, are you my brother’s new employee? How come I’ve never met you?” He asked casually.

“I don’t work for your brother. I’m Wang Xiao Mie, and I don’t know your brother either.”

“Oh, I’m Zhen Bei. if you’re not sent by my brother then who are you? Could it be…..” he became alert and said: “Could it be that you’re also a graverobber?!”

No, I’m the unfortunate homeowner who’s being robbed….

Chapter 11

Wang Xiao Mie’s diary: How should I say this….sigh….

…as a zombie, I can still have diarrhea. Who would have thought…

Wang Xiao Mie was lying in his coffin, snoring and snoozing on the solid jade pillow. Until midnight, a familiar pain suddenly burst from his stomach!

Wang Xiao Mie sat up with a twisted face and his hand covering his stomach.

“Mian Deng, what’s wrong?” Wen Feng Jin never slept. Every time he laid down, it was just for show. Hence, with the slightest movement, he would react immediately.

“I, I, I…think I’ve spoilt my stomach! Sh*t! Why do zombies still have to go through this?!” Wang Xiao Mie hugged his stomach and cried without tears, “quickly, open the coffin lid!”

Wang Xiao Mie couldn’t wait to climb out. 

Yet after opening the coffin, Wen Feng Jin frowned and said to him: “But there’s no toilet in the entire underground palace.”

Wang Xiao Mie: “…….”

Oh, that’s right, who would build a toilet inside their tomb. Let’s not even talk about the building of the ancient latrines in an underground palace, who would actually use the toilet in a grave underground?!

How were they to know that the tomb owner might wake up in the middle of the night to use the toilet when they’re already buried in the ground?!

“Then…then what to do…” Wang Xiao Mie just wanted to cry. He was covering his butt and clamping his legs. The pretty face was scrunched together. “Boss, do something!”

He was almost at his wit’s end if they didn’t solve this soon…

This was also the first time that Wen Feng Jin encountered such a situation. He looked at Wang Xiao Mie’s ‘savage’ expression and coughed gently, pinched his chin, and said: “There are too many contraptions here. We can take a look at the outermost areas of the tomb. The craftsmen of that time should’ve built a latrine near the tomb passageway to…cough, cleanse their system.”

Damn you! Did you think that I wouldn’t see your gloating smile when you covered your mouth…

Wang Xiao Mie ground his teeth and said: “Then what are we waiting for?! Hurry!”

“But…..because the palace is extremely vast, even with a horse carriage at full speed, it still takes two hours. As for human walking speed…” At this point, Wen Feng Jin saw that in Wang Xiao Mie’s eyes, he had turned into a life-saving beam of hope. He then changed the topic: “Although the palace is that big, I can personally escort you and it will only take half an hour.”

“…..”

Wang Xiao Mie did not know if he was shaking due to anger or him trying to hold in. “Why do you even make this place so big?! Quickly! Take me there! I’m almost—” speaking to this point, Wang Xiao Mie could not go one. He clamped his legs as Wen Feng Jin picked him up in a princess carry and dashed out.

The surrounding landscapes passed them by exceedingly fast. Wang Xiao Mie’s hair was blown in disarray as he laid in Wen Feng Jin’s embrace.

When he was put down, he patted Wen Feng Jin on the shoulder and supported himself against the wall.

“Boss, you’re a great driver…..ughh….” the speed was 200 miles per hour! My mood was in a mess—ugghh I feel like throwing up—!

After vomiting, Wang Xiao Mie waved at Wen Feng Jin’s confused expression and said: “Boss, you can go now. I’m going to have a ‘squat meeting’. In case I can’t find anything to wipe my butt, can you go to those graverobber brothers’ backpacks and see if there’s any white paper?”

“Alright.” Wen Feng Jin nodded and turned to leave when he froze on his tracks. He turned his neck and looked at Wang Xiao Mie with a smile: “Shixiong, you wouldn’t do things like pretending to have abdominal pain to deceive me and leave the tomb, right?”

Wang Xiao Mie who was frantically pulling up his clothes and gathering them into his waist was stunned for a while before he shot back an expressionless look and gave him the middle finger.

“Get lost! Or I’ll do my business in front of you! Believe it or not, that’s how I can actually get out of here! By disgusting you to death!”

Wen Feng Jin chuckled and left. But before leaving he said: “It’s dangerous everywhere in the tomb, I’ll call Mu Yi to accompany you. Don’t worry, he’s one of the tomb keepers. Amongst the little things that I keep, he can be considered the cutest.”

Wang Xiao Mie began squatting as he chattered.

What bs?! That’s just because you just don’t trust me! Hmph!

But what’s with this cute little Mu Yi? Can he be as cute as me? The shameless Wang Xiao Mie babbled away. A few seconds later, his body turned stiff as he remembered something ….

Didn’t Wen Feng Jin mention that there are no normal living creatures in this tomb… and what kind of pet can a big dumpling keep? Is it a knight?

That’s actually scary! Wang Xiao Mie gathered himself into a ball in fear. He gave out a silent scream in his heart, calling back the big boss.

But even after ten minutes, boss Wen did not return. At this time, the big guy was being held up by the toilet rolls wrapped in waterproof bags. Please excuse him, he had never seen what a toilet paper roll looked like.

Meanwhile, Wang Xiao Mie was in a cold sweat. He had to pinch his arm to stop himself from screaming. One of his special abilities came into play at this very moment: the more terrified he was, the calmer he would look. 

And at this moment, it could be said that he was scared sh*tless.

In front of him was the blood-red lizard man known as the ‘cutest’ whose skin looked like it had been peeled off. He stared at it and fell into a deep meditation. Even his ‘business’ was put on hold.

After half a beat of silence, he looked towards the lizardman who had climbed up the wall above him. With clattering teeth, he whispered timidly: “Mu Yi?”

The lizard man’s smile extended from the left ear to the right, splitting its face in half. It then let out a laughter that sounded like clicks and swung its tail happily….

This is cute?! 

The f**k this is cute!

Your house pet is frightening!!!

But this was not the most frightening. When he was shivering from being scared by the thing in front and the struggle with the problem at his backdoor, there came a loud noise from overhead and the whole place began to tremble!

Mu Yi the little cutie on the ceiling was making a creepy howl like the female ghost from The Grudge. It was wiggling around on the ceiling while staring at Wang Xiao Mie with a meaningful look, as if trying to tell him something.

It roughly translates to: Hey buddy! Why aren’t you getting up? Can’t you see there’s danger?!

Wang Xiao Mie who was squatting with his buttocks bare: “…….” 

Buddy, it’s not that I don’t want to get up, it’s that I don’t have any paper.

Wang Xiao Mie grabbed his belt. He was hesitating whether to be killed by an earthquake or by his own stench.

When Wang Xiao Mie had decided to abandon his integrity and was about to stand up, a loud bang from above came increasingly close. At this moment, a stone slab half a meter away suddenly opened up. A hole appeared as a light shone into the darkness, and the shrill cries of a strange man could be heard.

A big brother rolled down from the hole and landed less than twenty centimeters from Wang Xiao Mie!

“Ow…..why are there even traps on the side of the tomb….” that big brother had a strong built, he did not pass out from the drop. He squinted his eyes, then propped his body up. As a result, he came face to face with a certain dumpling that was about to pull up his pants.

The two faced each other.

They started a staring contest.

He stared at me, and I at him….

They kept on staring….

Wang Xiao Mie awkwardly grabbed his pants: “hey…. Big buddy there, do you have any paper?”

The handsome looking brother: “……”

They then continued to stare at each other in silence for half a day before the stranger suddenly issued a deafening scream!

“My dear mother! A dumpling wearing red clothes! It even speaks—! Brother save me!!!”

“…”

Wang Xiao Mie whose eardrums almost burst: I was using the toilet in my grave when a big brother came down from above. He started screaming and whining, scaring me to the point that I can’t carry out my business anymore. Tell me, who should be the one in distress???