After receiving the medicine, Mo Xi naturally had to take Gu Mang back.
He and Jiang Fuli returned to the main hall side by side. There, they saw Gu Mang sitting cross-legged on the floor, talking with little Lan’er.
More accurately, it was little Lan’er teaching Gu Mang how to speak.
“Dragonfly.”
She held the bamboo dragonfly in her hand and spoke softly to him.
Gu Mang nodded and repeated after her.
“Dragonfly.”
“Dragonflies flying low means rain is coming.”
Gu Mang nodded again, his blue eyes staring at the bamboo dragonfly without blinking.
Seeing the longing in his eyes, little Lan’er tilted her head and thought for a moment.
Then she handed the bamboo dragonfly to him.
“Big brother, if you like it, I’ll give this to you.”
Gu Mang’s eyes widened.
“Give it to me?”
The little girl had not spoken with anyone for a long time either. A gentle and shy smile appeared on her young face, revealing two small dimples.
“Mm-hm. I’ll give it to you.”
Gu Mang’s eyes lit up.
Surprised and delighted, he accepted the bamboo dragonfly as if he had received some priceless treasure.
He held it carefully in his palms and looked at it lovingly for a long while.
Then he raised it and made it fly back and forth in front of Lan’er.
One big and one small, both of them laughed.
They were so absorbed in playing that they did not notice Jiang Fuli and Mo Xi had already returned.
Gu Mang smiled and placed the bamboo dragonfly beside Lan’er’s hair.
“This way, it looks very pretty.”
“It also looks pretty on Big Brother’s head.”
Gu Mang actually placed it on his own head.
The two of them laughed and played for a while longer.
After thinking about it, Gu Mang still put the bamboo dragonfly back into Lan’er’s hands.
“I’m done playing with it. I’m returning it to you.”
Lan’er looked startled.
“Why?”
“I can’t casually accept other people’s things.”
Gu Mang paused.
“There is someone very fierce… very, very fierce… very fierce in my home.”
He waved his hands around several times, seemingly trying to prove just how terrifying that person was with his extremely limited vocabulary and gestures.
“He’s very fierce.”
“I’m in his territory, so I have to listen to him.”
“If I don’t listen, he makes me drink very spicy medicine.”
“He also yells at me.”
Mo Xi:
“…”
Lan’er immediately showed a sympathetic expression.
She reached out her small hand and touched Gu Mang’s head.
“Big brother is so pitiful.”
After a pause, she added:
“But this dragonfly is very small. It isn’t expensive. He won’t blame you.”
“I’m giving it to you.”
“Next time… um…”
“Next time, can you come play with me again?”
Gu Mang answered seriously:
“I like playing with you.”
“But I cannot take the dragonfly.”
The little girl was happy after hearing the first half of his sentence.
But after hearing the second half, disappointment appeared on her face.
She whispered:
“It really isn’t expensive…”
“You have to do something to exchange for things.”
Gu Mang said:
“That is the rule of Xi He Residence.”
“Or…”
“You have to prostitute yourself to me before—”
Before he could finish speaking, Mo Xi had already grabbed him and pulled him up.
Mo Xi glared furiously at him.
“You want a seven-year-old girl to prostitute herself to you?”
“Do you have any shame?”
“Come on. We’re leaving.”
Behind them, Jiang Fuli stood with his sleeves covering his hands and leisurely said:
“Lord Xi He, don’t forget what I told you.”
The year-end ceremony of Chonghua referred to worshipping the heroic martyrs who had sacrificed themselves throughout the generations.
At Chonghua’s southeastern border, there was a deep abyss.
At the bottom of the abyss flowed a silent river, its waters quietly traveling all the way toward the White Emperor City of Western Shu.
People said this river would continue flowing forward, crossing the Nine Provinces Continent, eventually extending into the depths of the Soul River in the underworld.
It was the only connection between the realm of the dead and the world of the living.
Chonghua was a nation that valued honor and mourning above all else.
Its rules were strict.
Every year before New Year’s Eve, the ruler would personally lead his officials to this abyss river to perform the memorial ceremony.
This year was no exception.
The night before departure, Li Wei followed regulations and took out Mo Xi’s ceremonial robes.
He carried them to Mo Xi’s study and knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
Li Wei entered the room.
By the round moonlit purple bamboo window, Mo Xi was reading a scroll.
No matter how many times Li Wei saw him, he always felt that his lord was truly an exceptionally beautiful man.
Mo Xi was undoubtedly tall and heroic.
The sharpness refined from his very bones carried an intimidating presence.
But putting that aside, when it came to his facial features alone, Mo Xi’s appearance was actually delicate and elegant.
Although he was already thirty years old, once he removed his military uniform and wore ordinary clothes while reading beneath the lamp, he looked scholarly and youthful.
But this was not surprising.
He was the empire’s God of War.
He maintained the most effective training throughout the years and disciplined himself strictly.
The temptations of indulgence and pleasure had never entered his eyes.
Therefore, he always possessed abundant energy, a clear mind, and stood as upright as pine and cypress trees.
This man gave others the feeling that he was at the absolute peak of his life—
and that he would remain there forever.
Li Wei did not admire men.
Yet whenever he looked at Mo Xi, he still occasionally found himself distracted by his beauty.
Mo Xi turned another page of the book and read two more lines.
When Li Wei still did not speak, Mo Xi finally turned his face and frowned slightly.
“What is it?”
“Oh! Oh, oh, oh!”
Li Wei hurriedly shook his head and returned to his senses.
“My lord, it is getting late. Tomorrow you must wake at the hour of Yin. You should bathe earlier.”
Mo Xi glanced at the water clock.
Indeed, it was late.
He closed the book and stood up.
“Alright.”
After a pause, he suddenly remembered something.
“Where is Gu Mang?”
“Doesn’t my lord plan to bring him to the year-end ceremony?”
“So I sent him to clean himself up. I told him to make himself presentable as well.”
Mo Xi nodded.
Li Wei had always been careful and thoughtful in handling matters.
Because of that, he saved Mo Xi from worrying about many things.
The deepest courtyard of Xi He Residence contained a pool of hot spring water.
That was where Mo Xi usually bathed.
Chonghua had many natural hot springs.
Almost every noble residence had a pool like this.
It was said that Wangshu Residence’s hot spring was the most extravagant.
It had sleeping couches, foot stones, beauty treatment platforms, and everything imaginable.
Even the edge of the pool was carved with bat designs and filled with melted gold, shining brilliantly.
Mo Xi, however, had no such desire for luxury.
His hot spring was the most natural one in all of Chonghua.
Stone cliffs, mountain springs, flowers and trees growing nearby.
Whatever it looked like when it was dug out was how it remained.
He had never bothered rebuilding it.
Moreover, Xi He Residence’s hot spring had the greatest difference from other noble residences—
servants.
Other nobles would have maids, healers, even musicians accompanying them while bathing.
But Mo Xi had never allowed anyone to enter and serve him.
Years of military campaigns had caused him to develop an instinctive wariness toward people.
As long as someone was beside him, he could never completely relax.
Even loyal servants who had served him for many years were no exception.
The hot spring courtyard was filled with mist.
Fallen flowers drifted across the green stone path.
Mo Xi walked into the purple bamboo pavilion.
This was where he changed clothes.
The pavilion’s furnishings were extremely simple.
There was only a raised-edge table, a stone stool, and a bamboo rack for clothing.
The only other thing was a large bronze mirror made by the Yue Residence.
It was tall enough to reflect a whole person.
Mo Xi raised his hand and removed his clothes one piece at a time.
He folded them neatly on the table.
Then he loosened his black hair, tied it high into a ponytail, and walked toward the hot spring.
The water was clear.
The night was quiet.
The moon was pale, and the flowers smelled fragrant.
He entered the pool.
Ripples spread outward.
The hot spring was nourished by spiritual energy, allowing lotus flowers to bloom within it.
Some flowers were crimson like sunset clouds.
Others were pure white like jade.
Yet none could compare with Xi He Jun’s reflection in the water.
Especially now, with steam surrounding him, making his features appear even clearer and more refined.
He slowly relaxed his muscles.
Leaning against the warm stone beside the pool, he closed his eyes halfway.
The surroundings were peaceful.
Only the sound of flowing water could be heard.
The soft sound of flowers falling onto the surface.
And then—
“Gurgle gurgle gurgle—PFFT!”
Mo Xi suddenly opened his eyes.
Before he could react, water splashed all over his face.
He stared in disbelief at what he was seeing.
Gu Mang had somehow swum over from somewhere.
With a splash, he emerged from the water.
His blue eyes were wet and deep like silk.
And on top of his head…
was a lotus leaf.
Seeing Mo Xi’s pale and handsome face, Gu Mang wiped the water from his face and calmly said:
“My lord is bathing too?”
“……”
“You…!”
Mo Xi felt his chest tighten.
For a moment, he could not say a single word.
He stared at the man before him.
His ears buzzed.
He was furious beyond words, yet completely at a loss.
After a long while, he finally gritted his teeth.
“How are you here?!”
“Li Wei told me to bathe.”
Gu Mang answered.
“So I found somewhere to wash.”
“And I found this place.”
“Get out immediately!”
“But I’m not clean yet…”
“Get out!”
A person under another’s roof had no choice but to lower their head.
Gu Mang knew Mo Xi was angry and did not want to argue.
So he said nothing more.
Still wearing the lotus leaf on his head, he stood up from the pool and walked toward the steps.
Unlike Mo Xi, who usually kept one inner garment on while soaking in the hot spring, Gu Mang had removed everything.
When he stepped out of the water, Mo Xi glanced over.
In the warm mist, he saw those long, firm legs.
As if burned by something, Mo Xi immediately turned his face away.
Even the tips of his ears turned red.
“Put your clothes on already!”
“Oh.”
Gu Mang climbed out.
His footsteps gradually faded into the distance.
Because his mind was incomplete, Gu Mang often forgot things.
After leaving the pool, he forgot where he had thrown his clothes.
He looked around.
Then he saw the ceremonial robes Mo Xi had neatly placed inside the purple bamboo pavilion.
His own clothes were clothes.
Mo Xi’s clothes were also clothes.
Since he could not find his own, why not just wear something convenient?
Gu Mang thought this way, scratched his head, and walked over.
The white robes unfolded.
One piece after another, he put them on.
Inner robe.
Waist sash.
Silk belt.
After everything was worn, his gaze fell onto the silk belt.
Holding it in his hand, he froze.
He did not know where it should go.
Silk belt…
Silk belt…
Where was it supposed to be worn?
Standing before the dim bronze mirror, he tried placing the strip around his waist.
Too thin.
He tried tying it around his hair.
It seemed too thick.
He stood there blankly for a long time.
Suddenly, pain stabbed through the side of his head.
Gu Mang raised his hand to hold his forehead.
But before his eyes, fragments related to this silk belt flashed rapidly.
A familiar scene.
On a ship’s deck, a man whose face was blurred stood before him.
The man’s voice was hoarse.
“Gu Mang, turn back.”
Turn back…
He did not know why such a strange scene suddenly appeared in his mind.
But vaguely, he felt that he seemed to have been wearing this kind of blue-gold forehead ribbon crookedly at his brow.
He heard himself laugh coldly.
Facing that desperate man who had come searching for him, he said:
“This kind of pure-blood noble’s ribbon…”
“No matter how I fought for your country, no matter how many great achievements and fame I earned…”
“Because of my birth, I will never be qualified to possess one.”
The man’s voice was filled with bloodshed, sorrow, and anger.
Strange.
How could someone endure so many emotions?
Carry so many contradictions?
Yet still speak so calmly?
Still stubbornly continue?
That person said:
“That is the honor ribbon worn only by the descendants of heroic martyrs who sacrificed themselves for generations.”
“Take it off.”
“Is that so?”
“This belongs to a very young cultivator.”
“My subordinate cut off his head with one strike.”
“I thought the craftsmanship of this ribbon was exquisite and beautiful.”
“It was a waste to leave it on a dead person’s head, so…”
So what?
How did the sentence continue?
The image suddenly disappeared.
Gu Mang returned to his senses.
One part of him was shocked by the strange conversation that had appeared in his mind.
Another part of him was stunned by how familiar this silk ribbon felt.
He stared at himself in the full-length bronze mirror.
After hesitating for a long time, he finally raised the ribbon.
In front of the mirror, he placed the strip of blue-gold fabric crookedly across his forehead.
Yes.
This was the right position.
For some reason, deep inside his heart, there seemed to be a sleeping desire.
A kind of indescribable ache.
A kind of urgent longing.
It felt as if he had been waiting to wear this ribbon…
for a very, very long time.
Throughout the entire process, Mo Xi never turned around.
Only after Gu Mang finished dressing and walked back to the edge of the pool did he hear him ask:
“I’m done. Should I wait for you?”
Only then did Mo Xi tightly press his lips together and turn his face over with a dark expression.
Just one glance.
And he froze.
Immediately afterward, a blazing torrent of anger and hatred mixed with emotions he could not describe surged violently into his mind.
“Gu Mang…”
Under the moonlight and flower shadows, Gu Mang stood there wearing the ceremonial robes.
The long white robe looked as if it had been carved from snow.
Golden threads hung from the sleeves.
Three layers of waist bindings wrapped around him.
The hem of the robe dragged along the ground.
But none of that mattered.
What made Mo Xi’s eyes turn red was the blue-gold ribbon worn on Gu Mang’s forehead.
That was…
That was the ceremonial ornament of Chonghua’s heroic martyrs’ descendants.
The Essence Soul Ornament.
And the Mo family had generations of military achievements.
Naturally, this item was indispensable during the sacrificial ceremony.
The one Gu Mang had casually placed on himself…
was the relic left behind by Mo Xi’s father.
Mo Xi’s heart felt as though it had been pierced apart by a sharp blade.
The pain of blood and flesh being torn apart came rushing back from years ago.
Mo Xi almost shouted in rage:
“You…”
“You have some nerve!”
Gu Mang froze.
“What?”
“Who allowed you to touch those things?”
Mo Xi’s voice was cold and furious.
“Take off the Essence Soul Ornament from your head!”
But for some unknown reason…
Gu Mang felt an intense resistance rise within him for the first time.
He suddenly stepped backward.
Facing the man standing in the hot spring mist, he spoke two words.
“No.”
Those two words were like a spark thrown into boiling oil.
Boom.
Everything exploded.
Gu Mang clearly saw Mo Xi’s eyes instantly become blazing.
The fury inside them burned like it could consume the heavens and swallow the sun.
It made Mo Xi’s handsome face become terrifyingly frightening.
Gu Mang almost felt as if he could see the city of reason inside Mo Xi’s eyes collapse into ruins.
Burning wood fell through those eyes.
Flames erupted.
With a splash, Mo Xi rose from the water.
His snow-white inner robe hung open.
Water droplets rolled across his strong chest, steaming in the heat.
His gaze was unbearably hot.
His entire body was surrounded by an indescribable killing aura.
Like dark clouds pressing down upon a city before its destruction.
Gu Mang turned and wanted to run.
But Mo Xi had not even stepped out of the pool.
He only raised his hand.
With one movement, he grabbed Gu Mang’s wrist.
Then—
Splash!
The water scattered everywhere.
Gu Mang was pulled back and pushed completely into the hot spring pool.