The Light of the Righteous Path 10

Du Chengying was stunned. This was the first time he had seen Lin Qi truly drunk. Wine didn't intoxicate a person, but matters of the heart did. Had he been so obvious that Lin Qi had already noticed?

Du Chengying slowly tightened his palm and said coldly, "Junior Brother, you're drunk."

Lin Qi blinked slowly and mumbled like he was sleepwalking, "Don't like me..." His hand went limp, and just as his head was about to tilt down, Du Chengying caught him with his large palm, quick of eye and deft of hand.

The scorching hot skin pressed against his palm, and those delicate brows were furrowed in distress. Du Chengying's heart slowly sank. In Lin Qi's heart, his kindness towards him seemed to be a burden. Suppressing the bitterness in his heart, he gently moved the person into his arms and, with a slight exertion of force, picked him up.

Du Chengying lowered his eyes and stared fixedly at Lin Qi. The person in his arms had his eyes tightly closed, cheeks flushed, and breathing evenly, having completely fallen into a deep sleep.

He was quite at ease.

Du Chengying curled his lips into a bitter smile and carried him toward the cave dwelling.

The Water Qilin smelled their auras and had already run out to greet them. It shook its head and wagged its tail, circling around Du Chengying's feet, wanting to touch his clothes with its single horn. Meeting Du Chengying's cold gaze, it instantly froze.

By coincidence, Xiao Mo hurried over and called out, "Junior Brother Du."

With his back to Xiao Mo, Du Chengying said faintly, "Senior Brother, if there's anything, let's talk about it tomorrow."

The Water Qilin whimpered twice and quietly took a step back. Seeing this, Xiao Mo tactfully said, "Alright, you and Junior Brother Lin rest well."

Xiao Mo turned and left. In that brief moment just now, he tasted a hint of soul-stirring danger from Du Chengying's back. His instinctive sense of danger made him decisively choose to leave.

The person in Du Chengying's arms... was Junior Brother Lin, right? Xiao Mo's shoulders trembled. Everyone had their own karma; it would be best for him to mind his own business.

Placing the person on the soft couch, Du Chengying stood with his hands behind his back and lowered his eyes. The Water Qilin silently walked to its master's side, crossed its front paws, and obediently rubbed against the back of Du Chengying's feet. Du Chengying looked around. The room had been arranged by him personally, filled with all kinds of treasures he had meticulously collected.

Three months ago, after his rebirth, he immediately ascended Mount Yuelu. After finding Sanyue Zhenren to acknowledge as his master, the Water Qilin ran out from the Mountain Shadow Heaven Pavilion to find him. After awakening his Spirit Seed and regaining his cultivation, he rushed non-stop to the Huayuan Lin Clan to find Lin Qi.

Under the green tiles and red eaves, that person was smiling, but it wasn't the appearance he knew.

It wasn't him yet.

Du Chengying didn't linger. He left behind a wisp of his divine sense to protect 'Lin Qi's' physical shell and departed.

He had too many expectations for their reunion; he wanted to give his senior brother the very best.

But he had overlooked one point: was what he thought to be 'the best' truly the best for Lin Qi?

Those precious items lying around hadn't been moved from their spots, and some had even gathered a thin layer of dust. It was evident how much the master of the cave dwelling turned a blind eye to these treasures, to the point of being reluctant to even touch them.

The person sleeping soundly on the soft couch was frowning in his dreams, looking quite unsettled. Even the softest Luoxia couldn't bring Lin Qi a good sleep.

His wishful pouring of affection did not make Lin Qi feel happy.

When Lin Qi woke up, he felt a splitting headache. His eyelids felt as if they were glued together, heavily pasted over his eyes and difficult to open. Just then, something cold was offered to his lips. "Take this, it's a hangover cure."

Lin Qi subconsciously opened his lips. The medicinal pill melted instantly in his mouth, and a refreshing and soothing sensation spread to his limbs and bones. Only then did Lin Qi open his eyes.

Du Chengying was sitting by the couch looking at him. The hill-like Water Qilin lying to the side let out a 'meow'.

The System thoughtfully said, "He stared at you all night."

Lin Qi: "..."

"Junior Brother is awake," Du Chengying said softly. "Do you still feel unwell?"

Lin Qi propped himself up, avoiding Du Chengying's focused gaze. "I'm alright."

Du Chengying remained silent, and a stagnant quietness permeated the room.

After a long while, Du Chengying finally said slowly, "Does Junior Brother still remember what you said last night?"

Lin Qi's face reddened slightly. When he said those words, he actually wasn't completely wasted and still retained some reason. He had used his drunkenness as an excuse to speak his mind, just so it wouldn't be too awkward between them.

Seeing his flushed cheeks and dodging gaze, Du Chengying knew he remembered. This saved them from a game of cat and mouse. He took a deep breath.

"Junior Brother Lin, Junior Brother Du, are you awake?"

Xiao Mo's vigorous shout came from outside the cave dwelling.

A moment later, the Water Qilin slowly walked out of the cave dwelling and glared fiercely at the smiling Xiao Mo. Xiao Mo sheepishly withdrew his waving hand and said to Wan Zhufeng beside him, "Let's wait, wait a bit more."

After resting for a night, Wan Zhufeng had finally recovered some energy. His handsome face was full of curiosity toward the Water Qilin. The Water Qilin let out a yawn and sat down cross-legged, acting just like a guard dog at the entrance of a splendid cave dwelling, making one inadvertently think of the stone lions in front of an imperial palace.

Inside the cave dwelling, Lin Qi gave a light cough. "Senior Brother Xiao is here. I'll go out and take a look." He had just placed his feet on the ground, but his propped-up arm was grabbed by Du Chengying.

Du Chengying's palm was broad, and his palm was cool to the touch. On the contrary, Lin Qi's body was slightly warm. Du Chengying noticed it as soon as he grabbed him and furrowed his brows slightly. "Why are you running a fever?"

"It's nothing," Lin Qi turned his face away. "Just a hangover." Even though he said that, his neck was entirely red. He gently struggled with his arm, not even daring to look Du Chengying in the eye.

Let it be.

Don't push him too hard.

Du Chengying loosened his grip. Lin Qi withdrew his arm from his palm as if fleeing. Keeping his head down with his eyes darting everywhere, he stammered, "I-I'll go see Senior Brother Xiao." Turning his face away, he ran out very unnaturally.

Du Chengying sat on the soft couch. His eyes blinked lightly as they followed Lin Qi's flustered back. His brows slowly relaxed, and the corners of his lips curved up. Compared to pure distress, Lin Qi seemed more like he was showing an overwhelmed shyness.

When Lin Qi went out, the door was blocked by the Water Qilin's massive body. He simply lay on the Water Qilin's soft back and climbed up. Only when he climbed to the top of the Water Qilin's head did he see the familiar youth in green bending over, meowing at the Water Qilin.

Beside him, Xiao Mo narrowed his eyes and held back his laughter, saying, "Second Junior Brother, there's a problem with your pronunciation. Wuxia can't understand it."

Wan Zhufeng changed his tone. "Meow meow meow~?"

Lin Qi: "..." Ah, Senior Brother Wan was still as innocent and gullible as ever.

After meowing for a long time without a response, Wan Zhufeng straightened up, his back and waist aching. Meeting Lin Qi, who was lying on top of the Water Qilin's head with a complicated expression, he opened his mouth and, possessed by some strange impulse, let out a 'meow'.

Xiao Mo: "Hahahahaha!"

Lin Qi said helplessly, "Senior Brother Xiao, you..." He looked honest, but he was truly wicked on the inside.

Wan Zhufeng also smiled. "You must be Junior Brother Lin. I'm your Second Senior Brother, Wan Zhufeng. I heard your great name as soon as I came back. Truly, heroes emerge from the youth."

Lin Qi said embarrassedly, "Senior Brother Wan is too polite. In fact, I don't have any skills. It was all luck." Du Chengying had told him to keep the secret; even in front of Xiao Mo, they only said that Lin Qi had stumbled upon the Water Qilin by pure chance.

"Luck is also a part of strength," Wan Zhufeng said, not flattering him but speaking with a warm smile. "The darling of the Heavenly Dao is the true winner."

Lin Qi's face grew redder and redder as he was praised.

The System said, "Heh, it's not that you're some darling of the Heavenly Dao. You're just doted on by Du Chengying, that's all."

Lin Qi: "...Just go watch your variety shows."

The System: "It's on a commercial break. Otherwise, who would have the free time to chat with you?"

Lin Qi: "..."

In his past life, Lin Qi had a good relationship with Sanyue Zhenren's two disciples. Both of them had gentle temperaments. After the three of them chatted for a bit, the resting Water Qilin suddenly stood up and carried Lin Qi to the side.

Du Chengying walked out from behind the Water Qilin. Wan Zhufeng hurriedly stood straight and respectfully said, "Junior Brother Du." Treating this junior brother, Du Chengying, he didn't dare to be the slightest bit negligent. Who could blame him when this junior brother's aura was simply too overwhelming? He was practically an anomaly under Sanyue Zhenren's tutelage.

"Senior Brother Wan," Du Chengying cupped his hands. "Why did you come back so quickly this time?"

Wan Zhufeng's face slumped, and he said helplessly, "It's a long story."

"How about this? Junior Brother Lin will go freshen up and eat. The two senior brothers can come inside, and we'll sit down to discuss in detail." Du Chengying raised his hand, gesturing for the two to enter.

Xiao Mo said, "Very well." He turned his head to look at Lin Qi, who was lying on the Water Qilin. "Junior Brother Lin, go quickly and return quickly."

Hiding in the Water Qilin's fluffy fur, Lin Qi gave a soft 'mhm'.

Du Chengying didn't even look at him. The three of them, with solemn expressions, entered Lin Qi's cave dwelling together.

Lin Qi, the master of the place, was thus arranged with absolute clarity. Even the Water Qilin, right after Du Chengying's words fell, nonchalantly carried Lin Qi towards the stream.

Lin Qi lay in its soft fur and whispered, "Actually, you still listen to him, don't you?"

The Water Qilin shook the long hair cascading from the tips of its ears, pretending not to understand.

Lin Qi buried his five fingers into the Water Qilin's fluffy fur, using them as a comb to gently groom the Water Qilin, sighing repeatedly.

The System asked, "What are you sighing for? Didn't you already reject him? Are you reluctant to part with him?"

Lin Qi: "...There's no reluctance. We're not people from the same world."

The System: "Is that so?"

Lin Qi pursed his lips and didn't speak. It wasn't that he felt he was superior to Du Chengying; it was just the undeniable truth in front of him. The distance between him and Du Chengying was further than the ends of the earth. He admitted that being wholeheartedly loved by someone was indeed a warm experience that made one unable to resist wanting to surrender to it.

But he couldn't. It was best if he didn't even think about it.

This was his job.

The cautionary tales of Moderators getting lost in small worlds were key points the teacher had knocked on the blackboard to emphasize during pre-job training.

"All preparatory Moderators, you must firmly remember this: no matter how attractive the characters in the small worlds are, you cannot truly become infatuated with them. They have their own scripts to follow, and you have your own lives to live. A brief intersection, followed by a permanent farewell—this is your relationship with them."

The Water Qilin lowered its head to the ground and let out a soft 'meow'. Pulled from his memories, Lin Qi roused his spirits and slid down from the Water Qilin's back.

The Water Qilin's radiant emerald eyes gazed gently at him, and it lightly rubbed its head against his shoulder.

Lin Qi reached out and rubbed the Water Qilin's soft ears. The sensation was wonderfully exquisite, but to him, it was ultimately fake. Once the mission ended and he left this world, he would never be able to touch it again.

Lin Qi withdrew his hand and looked toward the calm, unrippled surface of the stream. The Water Qilin also leaned close. One person and one Spirit Beast gazed at each other on the mirror-like surface of the stream. Lin Qi smiled slightly. "Wuxia, you're very cute."

The Water Qilin twitched the tips of its ears, and an expression resembling a smile appeared on its dragon-like face.

Lin Qi patted its head and said in a low voice, "I can't like you too much."

The Water Qilin looked quietly at him through the water's surface. After seeing the gloominess in Lin Qi's eyes, it lowered its head, buried its face into the stream, and then raised its head, shaking the water off toward Lin Qi with a splash.

Water droplets continuously splashed onto Lin Qi. Lin Qi shielded himself while laughing, "Wuxia, you're too naughty!"

"Junior Brother, what are you smiling at?" Wan Zhufeng didn't know what was so funny about the news of Demonic Cultivators wreaking havoc at the foot of the mountain to make the originally stern-faced Du Chengying suddenly curl his lips into a smile.

Du Chengying withdrew his gaze, his smile faint. "It's nothing."

He still liked it when Lin Qi smiled. Even if Lin Qi told him 'don't like me', he still liked him anyway. How could he bear to let go of the person he had fallen for at first sight?