Chapter 3149: My Wife and I Enacting Daily Life 34/35

Jin Chen was still in a stage where his memory and consciousness were somewhat confused; looking at Chenshu before him, he actually didn't quite understand why he couldn't call Master, but if it's not allowed then it's not allowed.

He is quite good at listening to Chenshu's words when he feels uncomfortable, without needing to think.

So Jin Chen tilted his head to look at Chenshu, with a slightly dazed, misty look, and said softly, "Senior Brother."

After saying that, he turned his face back to lean on Chenshu's shoulder, his hair tips brushing against the neck side, quiet and still.

The senior brothers and sisters suffered another spiritual blow!

Qian Duoduo clutched his chest, "Who can bear this?"

Jin Chen rested on Chenshu's shoulder for a while, hooking his fingers around the hand hanging at his side and gently shaking it, complaining, "This place reeks."

A smell? Everyone was puzzled. Su Wan Zhao sniffed the air hard, "No smell at all—Chen'er, haven't you recovered yet? Even returning to simplicity shouldn't affect the sense of smell, right?"

... it does affect. Chenshu pondered, placing his palm on Jin Chen's dantian nascent soul, his spiritual power slowly seeping in to feel it over, and after a moment he realized.

The wood spirit drove Jin Chen's soul source power to the extreme; for the agarwood divine tree, this place is no longer the divine realm, and a gathering of human cultivators naturally has turbid qi.

After all, Chenshu's anger at this secret realm finally dissipated a bit; he rubbed Jin Chen's earlobe, "Let's leave as soon as possible."

The senior brothers and sisters gathered around, taking turns teasing Jin Chen into speaking, like teasing a child.

Such an opportunity doesn't come often. Usually Jin Chen's mouth either defies heaven and earth or speaks in yin-yang oddities; when has he ever been this agreeable?

Ye Xiao Man came over and squatted beside the stone bed, looking at Jin Chen half-closed eyes, leaning on Chenshu's shoulder, couldn't resist reaching out to lightly poke his dangling hair tip: "Chen'er? Do you still remember me?"

Jin Chen lifted his eyelids, glanced at her, "Senior Sister Ye."

"I still recognize you!" Ye Xiao Man satisfiedly withdrew her hand, then gave Su Wan Zhao a wink. Su Wan Zhao also came over, pulling a round, green fruit from his sleeve and offering it to Jin Chen: "Want to eat a clear-heart fruit?"

Jin Chen shook his head, then shoved himself further into Chenshu's embrace.

Several senior brothers and sisters surrounded Jin Chen, asking all sorts of questions, loudly enjoying themselves, wishing to settle in one go all the scores they'd accumulated over the past years from being contradicted by Jin Chen.

Jin Chen frowned slightly from the questioning, lifted his eyes to look at Chenshu, as if seeking help.

"Alright," finally the senior brother Shen Guiyan spoke up, "Let him take it easy."

Exiting the cave cliff, the outside light was bright and open.

The disciples of the Free and Easy Immortal Sect had already been waiting outside for half a day; He Yun stood at the front of the crowd, and upon seeing Jin Chen being led out embraced by Chenshu, immediately went up to him, "Senior Brother, how do you feel now?"

Jin Chen arrogantly nodded, his earring swaying slightly, "Not bad."

Then in the next instant, he was overwhelmed by the smell of so many people gathered, held his breath, raised a hand to block below his nostrils, turned his body and buried himself into Chenshu's neck crook.

He Yun looked worriedly at Chenshu: "Chenshu senior brother, our senior brother still hasn't cultivated his temperament, huh?"

Chenshu embraced Jin Chen's waist, his other hand palm resting on the back of his head, smoothing it, and said to He Yun: "Don't worry, I'll take him to rest. You all continue to recuperate here."

Shen Guiyan heard that, thought for a moment, and said: "The secret realm probably won't reopen these few days. Ten li to the east there's a waterfall with fresh, living water; take Chen'er there to rest a while."

Chenshu hummed in acknowledgment, embraced Jin Chen, and headed east.

The waterfall lay between a broken cliff ten li out, its water roaring, mist pervasive.

Here the air was damp and chilly, lacking the turbid qi of many people gathered; Jin Chen felt much more comfortable, and seeing Chenshu lost in thought, he turned his head to play with the water himself.

That waterfall poured down from a height, in sunlight gleaming like white silk, falling into the deep pool below, sending up layers of spray. Occasionally a few spirit beasts drank at the bank; seeing someone approach, they weren't frightened.

Jin Chen crouched by the pool, reached out to splash the water, found it fun and splashed a few more times, then simply took off his shoes and socks and put his feet in the water.

Chenshu glanced a few breaths, then withdrew his gaze and sat cross-legged.

He had no patience to continue wasting time in this secret realm; no matter why the secret realm's closure was delayed, today it must be broken open.

Chenshu's brows slightly furrowed, he turned his wrist, turned his wrist again, and a thread of extremely fine golden divine power seeped from his fingertip.

Just a breath, and this secret realm began to loosen.

From the sky came a deep, muffled roar; the clouds churned, as if something were tearing the sky from within. Moments later, a huge light array reappeared in the clouds, slowly rotating, casting a soft glow.

Within two hours, the transport light array could be fully projected.

Inside the secret realm, many cultivators stared up in shock, not knowing what had happened.

How fickle this secret realm is! One moment it delays closing, the next it wants to open—what on earth is going on!

Chenshu lifted his eyes to the sky; a thread of golden light flashed in his pupils. The speed at which the light array descended increased a bit; before long it would be fully formed, at which point all cultivators could choose to pass through the light array and leave on their own.

Only then did he finish the spell gesture, turning his gaze to Jin Chen playing by the pool, and called: "Jin Chen, come over."

Hearing his voice, Jin Chen pulled his feet from the water, not drying them, and walked over with his wet steps.

He refused to sit by himself, insisting on squeezing together with Chenshu, embracing him like a big doll, and continued to rub his nose tip against Chenshu's neck crook, sniffing carefully; each time his nose brushed the neck side, his breath came out in puffs.

"I want to leave this place; it's too smelly."

Jin Chen's memory and consciousness were gradually merging with this world's plot memories, but he wasn't very clear-headed now.

He felt he should be in a beautiful pavilion in the upper realm, where opening the window would reveal clouds of sea and celestial cranes, the air filled with the fresh fragrance of flowers and grasses.

But memory told Jin Chen that he was a person of this place, a disciple of this sect, with his fellow brothers and sisters here. The two memories intertwined and collided in his mind, leaving him confused and somewhat at a loss.

Chenshu let out a soft grunt from being rubbed all over by him haphazardly; although he had just undergone three days of dual cultivation, and though his body cultivation recovers quickly, the spot that Jin Chen had sucked too much was still somewhat sensitive. Now being rubbed again, the fabric chafing past was really somewhat unbearable.

He wanted to scoop Jin Chen out of his embrace to speak.

But Jin Chen paused, as if he had dug up a useful fragment from some corner of his memory, his eyes brightening, preparing to dive back in.

Chenshu started, realizing this wasn't the time to let Jin Chen run wild; leaving the secret realm was the priority. He hurriedly scooped Jin Chen's head from his embrace, cupped his face, and said: "Let's talk later; I now need to seal away part of your wood spirit divine power, otherwise this world will become unsuitable for your survival, okay?"

Jin Chen, his face held, blinked and nodded twice.

Chenshu again covered his dantian with his palm; the golden divine power circulated once in his spiritual abode, gently gathering the overflowing wood spirit power from the outer layer, sealing it with a thin film, leaving only the amount suitable for this world. As the sealing proceeded, the dissipated qi was drawn back, and together with Jin Chen's overly keen perception, it was pressed back into the normal range, his expression gradually relaxing.

Jin Chen finally didn't feel that everywhere here stank; the air became fresh and fragrant, and feeling relaxed and delighted, he comfortably narrowed his eyes.

Unlike 00 and 11, who had been scared silent by Chenshu's display of divine power earlier, in Jin Chen's sea of consciousness they could no longer understand any of the current story developments.

But it was eager to give it a try, feeling this was a good opportunity; now the task executor seemed not too bright, and could easily be duped into continuing the nemesis mission.

This is the true way!

11 cleared his throat, "Task executor! Do you still remember your mission? You and that person named Chenshu are sworn enemies! You should oppose him! You shouldn't be so close to him!"

Jin Chen froze for a moment.

11 continued: "Think about it—how does he usually treat you? He must have bullied you. You should get revenge! Let him know how strong you are."

Jin Chen furrowed his brow.

Then he suddenly covered his ears solemnly, frowned at Chenshu and said, "Someone's talking in my head. Is it a demon?"

11: "…Ahhhhh! How could you give me away?!"

Chenshu narrowed his eyes slightly, kissed the corner of Jin Chen's lips, then pulled him back into his embrace, pressing him against his chest, "It's fine. Close your eyes."

Jin Chen hummed, closed his eyes, obediently nestled in, and even took hold of the skin at Chenshu's collarbone, sucking gently, as if that would make him feel more at ease.

Chenshu placed his fingertip on Jin Chen's crown and exerted a little force.

After a few breaths, 11 was forcibly ejected from Jin Chen's sea of consciousness, spinning wildly in the air.

Chenshu reached out and pinched it in his palm.

11 cried out in fright.

No! Wait a second—the highest permission that was just removed… is… is…

11 was about to crash.

Chenshu didn't give it a chance to think, shut down the system, tossed it together with 00 into his own sea of consciousness, stuck it in a random corner, then flicked Jin Chen's earring, forbidding him from continuing to nibble and bite.

"All right, get up."

——

Leaving the secret realm, they returned to the sect laden with spoils.

The spirit boat glided through the clouds, carrying the disciples of the Free and Easy Immortal Sect and their haul, heading toward the sect.

Shen Guiyan had already sent back an urgent report via talisman during the journey, detailing what happened in the secret realm, the inheritance gained, and the mishap involving Jin Chen.

On the day of returning to the sect, Linwang Dao Venerable rarely appeared on the welcoming platform, clearly still worried about this personal disciple of his.

Usually he spends most of his time holed up in Myriad Phenomena Peak researching his new hobby, or avoids people due to social anxiety, but today he not only showed up, he stood sternly beside the Sect Leader, waiting for the spirit boat to land.

…Although the venerable Linwang Dao Venerable stood slightly further back, with his hands clasped in his sleeves and a wandering gaze, he clearly wasn't used to such a crowded, scrutinizing setting.

Zhao Wugou had sharp eyes; he spotted the spirit boat and saw Linwang at once, then smiled at Jin Chen and said, "You kept saying you wanted to see your master—sure enough, Linwang, your martial uncle, came specially today to greet you."

Jin Chen followed his gaze and saw a middle‑aged man in plain Daoist robes, his features gaunt, his manner gentle, looking over at him.

Nine people led the disciples to meet the Sect Leader; after the rites were completed,

Linwang waved at Jin Chen, motioning him over, and smiled indulgently: "Hey, good disciple, I heard you got hurt in the secret realm and still miss your master?"

Jin Chen pressed his lips, stared at Linwang, but couldn't force out the word "master" for a long time.

In his jumbled memory, the master was someone else—not this person before him.

He knew this person ought to be his master in this life, but he just couldn't utter the two words "master."

Chenshu stood at his side, gently patted him from the waist, and whispered, "Follow your memory, be good."

Jin Chen exhaled softly, walked up to Linwang, and called out, "Master."

Linwang nodded in satisfaction.

Jin Chen shook his head again and said, "I'm exhausted; I want to go back to bathe and rest."

The socially anxious Dao Venerable Linwang deeply felt the same; he too thought staying in a crowd too long was tiring, so he nodded in agreement: "Good suggestion, disciple! I also wanted to go rest—let's go, let's go."

——

That night, Myriad Phenomena Peak.

After bathing, Jin Chen sat at the vanity, his long hair blown dry and left loose, hanging over his shoulders and waist; his nightclothes were trimmed with pale blue, so beautiful they seemed otherworldly.

He sat a while, then rose and walked to the window to gaze at the moon, wondering what he was thinking.

Half an hour passed.

The disciples guarding outside felt puzzled—Senior Brother Jin Chen had taken a bath but showed no sign of coming out.

He went to find He Yun and said, "Senior Brother He Yun, Senior Brother Jin Chen has been bathing for two hours and still hasn't come out—could something have happened?"

He Yun frowned, glanced into Jin Chen's chambers, and found the room empty.

The window was open; night wind streamed in, fluttering the curtains, but the person was nowhere to be seen.

He Yun skillfully sent a voice talisman to Hao Ha. Moments later, on Indestructible Peak, Hao Ha ran off to look for Chenshu.

"Senior Brother! Senior Brother Jin Chen is missing!"

Moon‑viewing Cliff.

Moon‑viewing Cliff lies at the northern foot of a small hill; atop the cliff stands a little pavilion with upturned eaves on four corners, from which copper bells hang. Few people come here ordinarily, but when the moonlight is good one can see the outlines of the sect's peaks drifting in the sea of clouds—only the occasional patrol of the guard squad passes by.

At this moment, a person sat on the eaves of the pavilion.

Jin Chen drew his knees up, sat solemnly, eyes closed, drinking in the moon's essence. For the Agarwood Divine Tree, this is how it sleeps: bathing in moonlight to let the lunar radiance soak in, drawing heavenly and earthly spiritual energy, slowly entering a dormant state.

Even if someone approached, he paid no heed.

Shen Zhang was the guard on duty today for patrolling Moon‑viewing Cliff; from afar he saw a figure on the eaves, his hand already clenched on the sword at his waist, but when he drew nearer and realized it was Jin Chen, his grip loosened while his heart beat faster than before.

He leapt up, landing lightly three steps from Jin Chen, then shuffled forward half a step.

Gazing at a beauty under the moon is truly heart‑pounding.

What's more, to Shen Zhang, Jin Chen is essentially a person made of moonlight.

Shen Zhang traced his features in the air—brow bone, eye sockets, nose bridge, lips—his breathing unconsciously softened.

Jin Chen suddenly opened his eyes, turned his head toward him, and asked, "Who are you?"

Shen Zhang tensed up under that stare, his Adam's apple bobbing once before he managed, "I… I'm the patrol disciple of the guard squad, Shen Zhang."

He paused, seeing that Jin Chen had no intention of sending him away, then gathered courage to add, "When I first joined the sect, I was trapped by a mountain spirit in the rear hills; a senior brother passing by rescued me. That senior brother probably doesn't remember…"

Jin Chen looked at him, his gaze unruffled, then turned back to the moon.

Perhaps the moonlight was too gentle, or perhaps having heard that Senior Brother Jin Chen's personality had changed after returning from the secret realm, Shen Zhang somehow found the courage, fixed his eyes on Jin Chen's brows and eyes, and slowly confessed his admiration for him.

He spoke at length, from the scene of his first day entering the sect to how he felt each time he later spotted Jin Chen from afar in the rear hills, and also to how worried he had been when he heard that Senior Brother Jin Chen had been injured in the secret realm.

Jin Chen…… I feel weirdly sleepy.

At first I was still wondering how this person could talk so much, but listening, listening, I began to wander off, nodding absentmindedly, my gaze somewhat scattered—clearly not really listening.

Shen Zhang saw that he seemed not offended, so his courage grew a bit more; he wanted to move closer to Jin Chen, and then he saw his senior brother's eyes suddenly brighten.

Shen Zhang followed his gaze and froze in place.

Chenshu stood at the edge of the cliff not far away, wearing dark ordinary clothes, his hair simply tied back, looking as if he had rushed over in a hurry.

"Senior Brother Chenshu……" Shen Zhang hurriedly rose, clasped his hands in salute, and said, "I, I'm on patrol."

Chenshu glanced at him, gave a faint nod, and didn't expose anything.

He then looked toward Jin Chen, his tone tinged with helplessness and indulgence, saying, "I knew you'd be here. Are you going to keep watching the moon, or come back to sleep with me?"

Jin Chen rose from the eaves, the hem of his moon-white nightclothes brushing over the tiles, and without hesitation jumped down.

Chenshu reached out to catch him, but was pushed back half a step by the impact; Jin Chen buried his face in the crook of his shoulder and said, muffled, "Sleep. I'm so sleepy."

Chenshu raised his arm to encircle his shoulders, leading him to turn and walk down the stone steps of Moon-Viewing Cliff. After a few steps, he tilted his head and glanced toward the eaves; his gaze lingered on Shen Zhang's face for a moment, and Shen Zhang, startled, quickly turned his head away.

——

Chenshu helped Jin Chen step over the threshold of the Ten Thousand Phenomena Peak's sleeping hall.

Jin Chen was so sleepy he could barely stand; his heel caught on the threshold, he pitched forward, and Chenshu, quick-eyed and quick-handed, grabbed his waist, pulled him into his embrace, and brought him to the bedside.

Jin Chen was pressed and pushed by him, his whole body falling into the laid-out bedding, lying face up; he blinked, his hair spreading to cover half the pillow, and the collar of his moon-white nightclothes, loosened from the earlier tussle, hung open.

He Yunliu's little lamp still glowed on the table, its soft halo gathering over this part of the bed.

Chenshu sat on the bedside, pulled a corner of the blanket over to cover Jin Chen's chest, and then, as an afterthought, gathered the long hair scattered on his pillow and tucked it behind his ear.

Jin Chen lay still, then after a while he turned his head slightly toward Chenshu and said, "I feel like I've gotten stupid."

He naturally meant himself. Those memories take a moment to react; things that used to be clear with a single thought now require three times the effort to sort out, and between consciousness and memory lies a thin veil of fog—you can feel its edge but can't see through it.

"You haven't gotten stupid." Chenshu slipped his hand under the blanket, found the hand Jin Chen had placed on his lower abdomen, hooked his fingertips between Jin Chen's fingers, gave a light squeeze, and said, "It'll be fine after a while."

Jin Chen's fingers, held by him, twitched, then he hooked them around Chenshu's knuckles, pulled his hand out, and rubbed it against his own cheek. Chenshu's palm pressed against Jin Chen's cheekbone, his fingertips lightly brushing below Jin Chen's eye.

Jin Chen pressed that hand against his cheek for a moment, then released it, propped himself up on the bed, and leaned in to kiss Chenshu's lips.

But as they kissed, he suddenly stopped, lifted his eyes to look at Chenshu, pressed his lips together as if a little dissatisfied.

Chenshu naturally understood, but there was nothing he could do about Jin Chen's current state; he lifted his chin to gently tilt Jin Chen's face up, raised his other free hand, unfastened the tie of his own collar, opened the lapels to both sides, and lifted his jaw a bit to bring that spot closer to Jin Chen's lips.

Jin Chen leaned in, his lips meeting, gradually grew focused, no longer fidgeting, simply holding still, his tongue tip occasionally touching the surface and slowly rolling inward, the tip of his nose pressing against the nearby skin and sinking in slightly.

Chenshu lowered his eyes to look at him; after holding it, Jin Chen's whole body relaxed, but Chenshu himself gradually felt a reaction—this pose was too intimate, and with Jin Chen not letting go, the warm, wet sensation kept rubbing against that spot of skin, over and over; he closed his eyes briefly, his Adam's apple twitched slightly, yet he still didn't push Jin Chen away.