Chapter 39: If You’re Afraid Someone Will Hear Us Here, There’s Always Beneath the Cold Pond

“Wowo, Nangnang!” Meng Baixu suddenly called.

Wen Tingshu abruptly discovered the drawback of those names. Whenever his conscience was guilty, he could not tell whether Meng Baixu was calling their sons or insulting his Shizun.

“They’re about to run away.”

Meng Baixu rushed outside and coughed once.

Meng Wowo and Meng Nangnang, whose bottoms had just lifted from their little stools, obediently sat back down. Their small hands rested on their knees, looking exceedingly innocent.

What are you pretending to be so well-behaved for? The moment your bottoms lift, this sect leader knows exactly what you’re planning.

“Where are you two going?”

Meng Nangnang said, “To find Dongyang-gege.”

Meng Wowo said, “Dongyang-gege has no food to eat.”

After spending time with him over the past several days, the little cubs discovered that Dongyang-gege was always alone. If they did not bring him little steamed buns, Dongyang-gege would have nothing to eat.

So pitiful, oh.

It was like raising a little rabbit living in a cave. Every day, they had to go feed it green vegetables and radishes.

Meng Baixu could tell at a glance that Wowo and Nangnang’s saintly-father hearts were acting up. Hengxue Sect’s educational environment was terrible.

Meng Baixu asked, “Then what are you giving Dongyang-gege to eat?”

Meng Nangnang patted his qiankun pouch. “Daddy’s egg rolls, egg waffles, cornmeal buns, and roujiamo!”

Meng Wowo added, “And soup.”

Meng Baixu asked, “Are those the leftovers from your meals?”

Meng Wowo and Meng Nangnang froze.

Could they not give Dongyang-gege leftovers?

Meng Nangnang raised his head and defended himself. “Dongyang-gege eats the ones Baby hasn’t bitten.”

Meng Wowo nodded. “Wowo hasn’t bitten them either.”

Wen Tingshu liked making an entire table of food at once, while the little cubs liked packing it away to feed “people.” They were a perfect match.

The cold and aloof banished immortal Wen Tingshu had begun providing meals for the Peak Masters under him. Who could still tell whether he was a Sect Master or a cook?

Meng Baixu said, “I’ll go with you today.”

Meng Wowo said excitedly, “Daddy, Dongyang-gege tells stories. Daddy likes listening to stories.”

“Mn.”

Meng Baixu held one cub’s hand in each of his and walked toward the heavenly stairs.

Stories Dongyang told children? This sect leader would not enjoy those.

The father and sons walked in front, while Wen Tingshu slowly followed behind them. When they reached the snow line, Wen Tingshu stopped and silently watched the backs of his wife and children.

He knew perfectly well that they were only going to play with Dongyang, yet Wen Tingshu could not help feeling an anticipatory anxiety, as if this were a rehearsal for them returning to Fuguang Sect.

The wind was strong at the snow line. His white hair floated in the air, blurring his vision.

The solitary figure looked even lonelier.

Meng Baixu stopped and turned around. “I’ll come back for lunch.”

Wowo and Nangnang had nearly forgotten their manners.

“Goodbye, Immortal Daddy.”

Wen Tingshu said, “Be careful on the road.”

Meng Baixu almost wanted to leave Wowo behind to accompany the old thing, letting the twins take turns delivering food.

***

When Meng Baixu had been da-shixiong of Hengxue Sect, he had attended the classes of every Peak Master except Peak Master Dongyang.

Dongyang’s classes consisted of reading books and comprehending them oneself.

Meng Baixu had high comprehension and could understand the teaching materials Dongyang had written. He had answered many questions for struggling students on Dongyang’s behalf and had fully deserved his position as class representative.

“Dongyang-gege,” Wowo and Nangnang called from the entrance.

Someone walked out from inside, making the sound of footsteps on sand.

Dongyang had assumed it was only Wowo and Nangnang. After growing familiar with them, he no longer wore his hat. When he came out and saw there was also an adult, he visibly stepped backward.

Meng Baixu had not merely betrayed Wen Tingshu’s school. Every Peak Master in Hengxue Sect had also been one of his minor Shizun.

Seeing his former teacher’s reaction, Meng Baixu raised a brow.

Frightened by this sect leader’s demonic identity, were you?

Dongyang said, “Baixu, l-long time no see.”

Meng Baixu said, “Wowo and Nangnang are my children. They’ve troubled you these past few days.”

Hearing this, Dongyang carefully looked at Wowo and Nangnang. Shock visibly appeared on his face.

Weren’t they the Sect Master’s sons? Every day, Wowo and Nangnang walked toward Hengxue Mountain.

“I had them with your Sect Master.”

Meng Baixu tirelessly began poaching again. “Peak Master Dongyang, your cultivation is profound. Why not take an important position in Fuguang Sect? Our Fuguang Sect doesn’t require you to teach classes. You wouldn’t even have to speak.”

To be honest, Meng Baixu did not manage sect affairs and did not know what he would do with the talent after poaching them.

He would poach them first and figure it out later. It would severely weaken Hengxue Sect.

Dongyang was visibly tempted, but after considering that he would have to move to a new residence and meet new people, he abandoned the idea.

“Thank you for Sect Leader’s high regard.”

Meng Baixu puffed up his cheeks. The benefits were this good, yet he still would not go. Then Dongyang could not blame the Demon Sect for coming in full force and occupying Hengxue Sect.

Once he occupied Hengxue Sect, he would make Dongyang take attendance for students every day and anger him to death.

“Wowo and Nangnang said they wanted to find you for a meal. May we come inside?”

Dongyang moved aside. “Please.”

Meng Baixu entered. It was not his first time inside, but it was the first time he had seen a table and chairs in the sandpit. Judging by their height, they had been prepared for Wowo and Nangnang.

There were also two vats of water beside them for mixing with the sand. The little cubs liked using wet sand to mold various shapes.

No wonder they returned so dirty every day.

Meng Wowo and Meng Nangnang skillfully took out buns and arranged them on the table.

Sharp-eyed Meng Nangnang noticed that one bun had a bite mark. Guiltily, he hurriedly hugged it and ate it himself.

Baby did not deliberately mix in a bun he had already eaten.

Meng Baixu saw Meng Nangnang seamlessly begin eating again.

He could really eat too much. If he continued eating like this, he would eventually become fatter than Wowo. Then the old thing would start blaming himself again for failing to notice that Wowo had gone hungry.

“Nangnang, I want the one in your hand.”

“Okay, oh.”

Meng Nangnang was already full, so he obediently handed the bun to Daddy.

Meng Baixu waited until Dongyang had taken a bite of his bun before saying, “I have an unreasonable request.”

Dongyang: “…”

Meng Baixu said, “The Sect Master and I will be leaving for some time. I’ll place a restriction on Wowo and Nangnang so they can only stay on Hengxue Mountain. But they’ll always want to come down and find you, so I’d like to ask you to go up the mountain once every day and eat a meal with them.”

The fewer people who knew about the heavenly pillar, the better. Otherwise, someone might deliberately lure Wowo and Nangnang down the mountain.

This was not difficult. Dongyang nodded and agreed.

Hengxue Mountain had only ever had Wen Tingshu throughout the year. Once Wen Tingshu left, only Wowo and Nangnang would remain.

The two little cubs, who were skilled at eavesdropping, immediately spoke without restraint.

“Daddy is going to Xiling Mountain, oh?”

Meng Baixu nodded and did not deceive them. “The Immortal Venerable and I are going to rescue your grandpa. Your grandpa is trapped in a secret realm west of Xiling Mountain.”

Meng Wowo asked, “A secret realm?”

The elder grandpas, uncles, and geges of Fuguang Sect often mentioned secret realms, but Wowo still could not understand exactly what they were.

Meng Baixu said, “It’s above a very, very large desert.”

Meng Wowo asked, “Bigger than Dongyang-gege’s desert?”

Meng Baixu said, “Several hundred times bigger.”

Dongyang’s expression changed slightly. For the first time, he voluntarily joined the conversation.

“Is your father trapped alone?”

Meng Baixu said, “No, there are two people. That secret realm requires two people to enter simultaneously, which is why I need to bring the Sect Master.”

Dongyang asked, “Have you ever read the ancient histories of the Thousand Lakes Kingdom? They record that one thousand years ago, the kingdom’s second prince was abducted by a Questioning Heaven cultivator before his wedding and imprisoned in the Western Wastes.”

Meng Baixu’s eyes brightened. “Something like that could even leave its name in history?”

Wasn’t this exactly what he wanted to do to Shizun?

Dongyang paused, then continued.

“Secret realms are all formed from the obsessions of great cultivators who died a thousand years ago. If my guess is correct, the secret realm you mentioned belongs to this person.”

“The prince had a mortal body. The cultivator built a formation using mirages above the desert, blurring reality and illusion so the prince would no longer age.”

“That place is now a secret realm layered with mirages. Because its entrance is difficult to locate, it is also extremely difficult to destroy. The secret realm’s master was also at the Questioning Heaven realm. If you and the Sect Master enter, the original pair may escape, but what will happen to you two is difficult to say.”

Meng Baixu’s eyes turned. “Then I’ll capture another married couple and send them inside. Wouldn’t the Sect Master and I be able to come out?”

Dongyang looked at him. “They would have to be more loving than you and the Sect Master.”

Meng Baixu found himself in difficulty.

The old thing could not bear to be separated from this sect leader for even a moment. Where could he find a more loving married couple?

It would be better if Wen Tingshu liked him a little less.

Meng Baixu asked, “Do you have a solution?”

“The ancient history says…” Dongyang glanced at the little cubs who were listening with great interest and motioned for Meng Baixu to come closer.

Meng Baixu said, “Just send me a private voice transmission.”

Why was he whispering like a mortal?

Dongyang looked slightly embarrassed and compiled a secret transmission for Meng Baixu.

“The ancient history says that the prince was unwilling to become the cultivator’s lover, which was why the cultivator abducted him. If the prince had actively fled his wedding at the last moment, the cultivator probably would have been overjoyed, and the prince would not have suffered imprisonment.”

“The secret realm master had two obsessions. First, only the two of them would exist between heaven and earth. Second, the prince would voluntarily flee his wedding to be with him.”

Meng Baixu had been Dongyang’s class representative for three months and instantly comprehended the deeper meaning.

“In other words, if I capture a pair of wild mandarin ducks eloping after fleeing a wedding along the road, they would be the secret realm’s preferred match? Even if they aren’t as loving as Shizun and me, they might still fool it.”

Dongyang said, “That would be the conduct of a demon. The righteous path cannot do such a thing.”

Meng Baixu said, “Of course, of course.”

No wonder Shizun loved reading mortal histories. The books recorded traces of the cultivation world from a thousand years ago, and those traces were often connected to the obsessions within secret realms.

This was how Wen Tingshu had cleared his secret realms one after another.

Wowo and Nangnang had truly gained something from seeking out Dongyang for stories.

Feeling more confident about rescuing his father from the secret realm, Meng Baixu could not help humming a few lines from the Book of Songs while leading the cubs back to Hengxue Mountain.

“The reeds are green, the white dew turns to frost. The Shizun I seek is on the other side of the mountain.”

“Were you happy spending time with Dongyang?” Wen Tingshu was waiting at the snow line.

Meng Baixu said, “Happy.”

Wen Tingshu could not understand. Dongyang spoke even less than he did, so why did Meng Baixu enjoy spending time with him?

“The meal is ready.”

Jia Liance had never known that his good brother was such a skilled cook. He had assumed Wen Tingshu could at most knead a bun, but the table also held braised ribs, red-braised chicken, fish with pickled vegetables, and stir-fried shrimp.

Jia Liance had eaten lightly all these years because he believed he was old.

Could it be that he found cultivation dull because his food was too bland?

Jia Liance tore off the two drumsticks and wings from the red-braised chicken and gave them to his two virtuous nephews. Then he held the chicken carcass and gnawed on it.

Cultivation was truly interesting.

Wowo and Nangnang had originally followed Wen Tingshu’s elegant eating manners, but the moment they saw Jia Liance, they went astray.

Uncle Jia tore off a large mouthful of meat and gulped down wine. Wowo and Nangnang also tore off large mouthfuls of meat and gulped down soup.

By the time Jia Liance noticed that his virtuous nephews were imitating his every bite, the two little cubs already had oily faces.

“Uh…”

Jia Liance did not quite dare face the demon. Had he embarrassed his brother?

Meng Baixu propped up his chin and smilingly watched his sons. “That’s more like it.”

Little demons should eat meat and drink wine like this.

Jia Liance breathed a sigh of relief.

Sister-in-law was truly kind.

At night, Jia Liance rested in the West Hall, while Wen Tingshu’s family of four crowded into the East Hall.

Meng Baixu did not intend to do anything with Shizun tonight. After all, they had a guest. He planned to lie down with the two children between himself and Wen Tingshu.

Wen Tingshu waited, then discovered that Lanshe was not acting as he had the previous night.

Lanshe had clearly prepared an aphrodisiac pill. According to his personality, once it had warmed in his hand, he should have already drugged him.

Wen Tingshu sat beside the bed. His white hair fell obediently, and his brows and eyes were surrounded by the faint glow of candlelight.

“Brother Jia is in the West Hall tonight. We cannot do anything discourteous.”

The old thing was actually maliciously speculating about this sect leader.

Meng Baixu’s rebellious nature was immediately provoked. If he was forbidden from doing it, then this sect leader insisted on doing it.

What he enjoyed seeing most was Wen Tingshu’s face turning bright red as he struggled helplessly in a moral dilemma.

Meng Baixu raised a brow. “Discourteous? Then we might as well not become Dao companions!”

“If you’re afraid someone will hear us here, there’s always beneath the cold pond. What are you afraid of? Coward.”

Wen Tingshu said, “All right.”