Author: 梦溪石 / Meng Xi Shi

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 157

Dong Zhi found that the place where they emerged from was one of the positions in the Eight Direction Demon Sealing Array.

Beneath the Dragon Cave of Sansha in the South China Sea. This position was hit by a torpedo during World War II, damaging the stone tablet below and thus becoming a little-known weak point of the Demon Sealing Array. It was exploited by Otowa Yasuhiko, eventually triggering the array’s core.

Yet, after all was said and done, this abyssal gap became their lifeline. It truly resonated with the saying, “In the unknown, there’s cause and effect*.”

*Basically means fate works in mysterious ways and everything happens for a reason.

They drifted at sea for a long time. Later on, Dong Zhi lost consciousness and couldn’t remember what happened. He didn’t know how Long Shen contacted the Special Administration Bureau to rescue them.

By the time he woke up, he was already in a hospital. This hospital stay lasted three full months. Although Dong Zhi was out of danger, he was seriously injured and needed to be hospitalized for observation.

Long Shen was in slightly better condition, remaining conscious and only needed rest and self-cultivation for recovery.

Yu Buhui and Liu Si were hospitalized with them. Besides various internal and external injuries, Yu Buhui had a broken arm, and Liu Si had a broken leg. The two of them, one with an arm in a cast and the other limping, were jokingly referred to as “the heavenly handicapped” by He Yu.

Several other figures, such as Sect Master Zhang and Xin, also suffered various injuries while defending the Kunlun formation’s core. However, they didn’t stay in the hospital, choosing to return to their respective sects instead.

It was rumored that Sect Master Zhang resigned from his position at Longhu Mountain and went into seclusion for healing, estimated not to come out for several years. Shortly after, there was news that Sect Master Xin had passed his position to his senior disciple. He Yu even went to congratulate, and as a nominal disciple, Dong Zhi should have gone too, but he was still weak, sleeping half the day, and even if he wanted to go, Long Shen wouldn’t let him.

During Dong Zhi’s hospitalization, many came to visit him. Even William, whom he met at the World Exchange Conference, flew to China to visit him upon hearing of his severe injuries. However, Dong Zhi felt that William’s visit was mainly for Li Han’er.

Besides him, there were also old friends like Ba Sang and Gu Meiren. There’s also Mu Duo and Zhang Chong from the Lucheng office, as well as Lao Zheng and Wang Jie from the Northeast branch and Shu He from the East China branch. Due to their inability to leave their posts, they could only send their greetings via the internet. Some even sent elixirs and snacks.

Since regaining consciousness, Dong Zhi realized for the first time that he seemed to be quite popular.

This hospital was affiliated with the Special Administration Bureau, with one building specifically allocated for its use. During the hospitalization, doctors and nurses were unfazed by seeing patients sitting cross-legged instead of lying down or animals coming and going, like a fat yellow cat nibbling on a patient’s apples. As long as the patient didn’t protest, they wouldn’t stop them.

For instance, right now, Dong Zhi was speechlessly watching at the foot of the bed, where on one side lay a fat yellow cat and on the other, an octopus. The former was playing a game with its paw, while the latter was using all eight of its tentacles with four mobile phones in front of it: its own, Dong Zhi’s, He Yu’s, and Zhong Yuyi’s. They were playing a team battle on all four devices, with one of the accounts taking on the role of team captain. The octopus managed all four simultaneously without any difficulty.

“You were supposed to teach it Chinese, but you taught it to play games?” he asked Kan Chaosheng.

“I did teach it!” Kan Chaosheng replied without lifting his head, focusing intently on following the octopus Meika’s in-game movements. “It’s precisely because I taught it Chinese that it can now understand the prompts in the game!”

Dong Zhi: “…”

The two of them were so engrossed in their game that they lost themselves in it. However, Kan Chaosheng was terrible at gaming. No matter whether He Yu or Dong Zhi teamed up with him, after playing for so long, his skills were still mediocre. On the other hand, the octopus, which was introduced to the gaming world by him only a few days ago, was already much better than Kan Chaosheng and could now even multi-task in four games simultaneously.

Dong Zhi, exasperated, said, “Meika, I didn’t ban you from playing games. But if you want to cultivate and transform, and become an apprentice to Senior Wuzhiqi, just learning game terms isn’t useful and won’t help your Chinese. There’s a saying in China, ‘obsession leads to loss of purpose*’. Look at Chaosheng; because he plays games all day, even when he turns into a human, he still looks like a child.”

*(玩物丧志) Idiom referring to blindly enjoying and appreciating useless things, thus killing one’s ambition.

“Okay,” Meika replied obediently, managing to glance and wink at Dong Zhi while still engrossed in the game.

“I’m not a child! I’m just a bit short!” The fat yellow cat meowed, dropping the phone and pouncing at Dong Zhi. The impact almost made Dong Zhi spit blood.

Just then, Dong Zhi saw the octopus activate the voice chat feature on one of its game accounts and berate a teammate. “Fuck, do you even know how to play? I told you to aggro, and you got yourself killed?”

The teammate replied apologetically, “Sorry, captain. I lost connection for a moment. It’s okay now; the network’s fine!”

Dong Zhi: ‘…Brother, do you even know your captain is an octopus?’

Octopus: “Never mind, follow my lead next time. Don’t rush ahead!”

The teammate eagerly agreed, “Sure captain, you’re so kind! But your accent is strange. Are you a foreigner?”

Seemingly confused, the octopus looked at Dong Zhi and Kan Chaosheng for guidance.

Kan Chaosheng: “Just say you’re an international student. Name any country.”

The octopus responded on voice chat, “Yes, I’m an international student from the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe!”

It said the country’s name in English.

Dong Zhi was exasperated. “…Where did you get that name? Is that even a real country?”

“This is the result of you teaching it Chinese? Do you think the Wuzhiqi would want such a disciple when he sees it? Letting it play games all day for your amusement?” Dong Zhi angrily said to Kan Chaosheng.

The fat yellow cat, speaking softer, said, “The Wuzhiqi has been underwater for thousands of years; he lacks entertainment. Maybe he would be fond of a disciple who can play games…” There was a trace of guilty conscience.

Just then, there was a knock on the door, and Long Shen entered. Seeing Kan Chaosheng squatting on Dong Zhi, he frowned.

“Boss!” The fat yellow cat quickly jumped to the foot of the bed and tapped the octopus’s head. “Greet the boss!”

“Hello, boss,” the octopus obediently said.

“You’re not from the Special Administration Bureau.” Long Shen paused. “Fish, you don’t need to call me boss.”

Dong Zhi couldn’t help but laugh, which turned into a cough due to his injuries.

Placing a bowl of porridge down, Long Shen turned to Kan Chaosheng. “Haven’t you been assigned any missions lately?”

Kan Chaosheng sat upright, tail stiff, stuttering. “Boss Wu asked me to guard the General Administration.”

Long Shen: “Is this how you guard?”

Even though Dong Zhi knew that Kan Chaosheng’s original form was a dragon serpent, he also knew that Kan Chaosheng wasn’t too fond of his human form, which resembled a short-limbed child. This form made it inconvenient for him in many situations, so he would often transform into a cat. However, after spending so much time as a cat, Kan Chaosheng unknowingly started to behave more and more like one, not only in temperament but also in certain small gestures and movements.

Unmoved by Kan Chaosheng’s pitiful look, Long Shen instructed, “Take Meika to the Wuzhiqi. Ensure he reaches safely within ten days.”

Kan Chaosheng’s ears perked into airplane ears. “Ten days is too short!”

Long Shen: “How many days do you want?”

Kan Chaosheng: “At least a month!”

Long Shen was unyielding. “You’re just looking for an excuse to play, aren’t you?”

Kan Chaosheng chuckled. “How could that be? Seeking a master to learn from is serious business; I never procrastinate on important matters! How about this: is twenty days alright?”

Long Shen: “Nine days.”

Kan Chaosheng protested, “Fifteen days should do, right?”

Long Shen: “Eight days.”

Kan Chaosheng: “Fine… ten days it is.”

Long Shen: “Before you come back, your phone will be confiscated, and you’re not allowed to play games on the road.”

Kan Chaosheng’s eyes widened in surprise. “What if I need to contact you all?”

Long Shen: “I still have a Nokia 1280 in my drawer; you can use it to make calls.”

Kan Chaosheng: “…”

He quickly rolled his eyes and put on an obedient expression. “Alright, I’ll return within ten days.”

Long Shen: “Meika cannot transform right now. On the way, ensure you don’t alarm the common people. I’ll have someone book round-trip tickets for you both. In places without stops, just walk. This way, you don’t need to carry money.”

Kan Chaosheng felt like crying—first not being allowed to play with his phone, and now even money!

“What will we eat on the way?”

Long Shen: “Unless you promise not to go to illegal internet cafes to play games with the money.”

Kan Chaosheng: “…”

He felt as if his innermost thoughts were transparent. The fat yellow cat was momentarily choked on its yowling, while Dong Zhi almost died laughing.

Even when Kan Chaosheng turned human, he still behaved like a child. Regular internet cafes now required ID for entry, which he couldn’t provide. However, in small towns, illegal cafes didn’t have such restrictions. Long Shen’s understanding of him pinpointed every one of his weaknesses.

“I promise,” the fat yellow cat said dejectedly. “I swear in the name of the Goddess Nuwa, I won’t go to illegal internet cafes to play games on the way, nor will I indulge in gluttony or leisure. I’ll make sure Meika reaches the destination within ten days, meet the Wuzhiqi, and then return.”

Though Kan Chaosheng was naive, impulsive, and playful, once he made a vow, he would stick to it. Most importantly, he couldn’t muster the courage to oppose Long Shen, unlike how he’d react fiercely towards He Yu.

Long Shen nodded. “Then, you both prepare now.”

The octopus has a keen sense of danger and a powerful presence. As soon as Long Shen entered, it exited the game and hung motionless at the end of the bed like a lucky charm. When Kan Chaosheng jumped off the bed and walked out, it quickly jumped onto Kan Chaosheng’s back, also sneaking out.

Finally, peace was restored in the room. Long Shen closed the door and said to Dong Zhi, “What you need most now is rest.”

He knew without Dong Zhi’s indulgence, Kan Chaosheng and others wouldn’t have caused a ruckus in the sickroom for so long.

Hearing the disapproval in Long Shen’s tone, Dong Zhi touched his nose. “Lying down all day is boring. Chatting with them is quite fun.”

Originally, Dong Zhi shared a room with Long Shen. However, Long Shen woke up earlier and due to his responsibilities, inevitably got busy. Once Long Shen recovered a bit, the influx of people and documents increased. Only then did Dong Zhi truly realize how hectic Long Shen’s daily work was. However, to avoid disturbing Dong Zhi, Long Shen often went out to handle matters.

Dong Zhi didn’t agree with him diving back into work so soon.

“Master, how have you been feeling lately?”

“I’m alright now.” Long Shen sat next to Dong Zhi’s bed and offered his wrist for a pulse check.

Dong Zhi felt the steady pulse but knew it didn’t reveal everything. He suddenly pulled Long Shen closer, sealing their lips in a long-missed kiss.

Long Shen didn’t resist, and they shared a passionate, lingering kiss.

“I still have a feeling that it’s all unreal, as if I haven’t escaped the illusion,” Dong Zhi murmured, wrapping his arms around Long Shen’s waist and resting his chin on his collarbone.

By rights, when Dong Zhi confronted Mara, he should’ve died. Similarly, after Long Shen absorbed so much demonic qi and was possessed by the demon, his survival seemed unlikely. The reason both were still alive was that half of the divine soul Long Shen infused into the Changshou Sword reinvigorated them at the moment of death. Their lives now stemmed from that half of Long Shen’s divine soul. Essentially, they shared the same life force, making their fates interwoven.

Thankfully, Mara, suppressed by the Eight-Directions Demon-Sealing Array for so long, had diminished powers upon awakening. Coupled with sacrifices by Che Bai and Zong Ling that weakened some of the demonic qi, the situation was salvageable. Otherwise, even if a hundred Dong Zhis were willing to sacrifice themselves, it would’ve been in vain.

“I sometimes feel that we’re still in the abyssal hell, and all this is just a dream I’m having.” He looked at Long Shen, his gaze becoming hazy and distant.

“It’s real, not a dream.” Long Shen was familiar with this feeling. With an iron will, having faced countless trials without wavering, he had achieved a semi-immortal body. Dong Zhi, despite his exceptional talent, had only recently entered the world of cultivation and could easily become confused and lost.

Long Shen reached out and touched Dong Zhi’s forehead; the slight coldness made Dong Zhi shiver.

“All the life force in you now comes from my divine soul. If I say it’s real, then it is.”

“Like that pot of Yulu plant?” Dong Zhi curiously asked.

“Somewhat, but not quite,” Long Shen replied, leaning down to nuzzle Dong Zhi’s nose. “I wouldn’t kiss a pot of Yulu.”

A thought seemed to strike Dong Zhi, and he burst into laughter, hugging Long Shen tightly.

“So being with me now, aren’t you just hurting yourself?”

Long Shen: …

Dong Zhi: “So, calling me ‘Master’ would be appropriate, right?”

Long Shen: “…If I call you that, would you dare to respond?”

Dong Zhi chuckled. “Why wouldn’t I? Let me hear it.”

Keeping a straight face, Long Shen said, “Master.”

Dong Zhi grinned from ear to ear. “Ah, good disciple!”

But in the next moment, he immediately experienced the consequences of his own mischief, finding himself pinned down on the sickbed and overwhelmed with affection. He was playfully touched from head to toe, even being teased at sensitive areas to the point he couldn’t break free. In the end, with tearful eyes, he had to beg for mercy, continuously calling out “Master” a hundred times before the playful torment was over.

After their playful interaction, Dong Zhi, wrapped in a blanket with only his head exposed, complained, “Master, that was a sneaky move!”

Long Shen raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t you enjoy it too?”

Dong Zhi was taken aback, noticing that Long Shen’s slight gesture was a bit different from before, carrying a hint of an indescribable mischievous aura. However, it wasn’t the malicious aura like that of a demon, but more like a person playfully up to some harmless mischief.

Yet, this didn’t seem like something that would typically manifest in Long Shen.

“Master, having merged with Mara for so long, did it have any effects on your body?”

Long Shen contemplated for a moment. “Recently, I’ve been busy handling transitions, aiming to resign from my deputy director position.”

Dong Zhi was taken aback. “Why?”

Long Shen: “I feel that the demonic qi inside me hasn’t been completely purged. While it may not impair my judgment, it will likely affect me in the short term. After all that’s happened, I’m tired and want to rest, spending more time with you.”

Hearing him admit that he was “tired”, Dong Zhi felt a surge of emotion. This man, who had always been tirelessly working for the world, seldom admitted his weariness.

“So when I recover and return to Lucheng, will you come with me?”

Long Shen smiled faintly. “Of course.”

Perhaps by then, Dong Zhi might get promoted. But to allow him to rest peacefully, Long Shen decided not to tell him just yet.

“There’s one more thing,” Dong Zhi said, pulling out a notebook from beneath his pillow and waving it. “You wrote about many things in here that you’ve never told me. If it weren’t for the incident at Kunlun Mountain, were you planning to never let me see this?”

Looking at the notebook, Long Shen slowly said, “For every book I write, I burn one. I intended to burn this one as well.”

The reason he didn’t was that this notebook was different from the others. It marked his transformation into a “human” and held unique memories different from the rest. Because of his attachment, he kept it.

Dong Zhi understood that, strictly speaking, there were many details related to the Special Administration Bureau’s operations inside the notebook, which weren’t suitable for outsiders to see. Although it was written in waste text, there were few in the world who understood it, but not none. If someone with malicious intent got hold of this notebook, there would be many ways to exploit it.

Yet, for Dong Zhi, this notebook held a different significance.

Within it, there were many sentiments that Long Shen wouldn’t ordinarily express aloud. Only through his writing, in unseen corners, would Long Shen open up slightly. Dong Zhi even felt that such a version of Long Shen was a bit reserved, but that was just Long Shen’s nature.

This made the notebook even more precious. Dong Zhi thought that even if he read it once a year, he could do so for many years without getting tired of it.

“I will cut out and burn all the work-related parts inside and keep only the parts related to me. Is that okay?”

Long Shen nodded, sighed, and gently touched Dong Zhi’s face, which had become even more gaunt due to injuries and illnesses.

“In the past, I hoped you could soar high and grow stronger than anyone else. Later on, I hoped you could live in peace, even if it meant living like an ordinary person without risking your life, so I wouldn’t have to worry. But now,” he said with a rare hint of concern and self-doubt, “I hope to always stand behind you, so no matter where you go or what you face, I’ll always have your back. Maybe this is also a manifestation of the lingering demonic qi within me.”

Unable to hold back his laughter, Dong Zhi hugged him and gave him a big kiss.

“Congratulations, Boss Long, this means you really, really like me now!”

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