Chapter 109: The Roofless Crypt 01
Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations
Editor: Karai
When Chen Yang left the mountain, he received a dragon scale as a gift from the dragon. The scale was hard and smooth, shimmering with a faint light, very beautiful. Kui Xuan, curious, asked, “What is the use of a dragon scale?”
Chen Yang shook his head, “I don’t know.”
Yi Wuchang said, “It must have its use. Every part of a dragon is valuable. In recent years, foreign dragon-hunting teams have realized that every part of the Chinese dragon is a treasure, not just the dragon’s horn, but also its meat, blood, and dragon balls. That’s why the foreign magician earlier sent a helicopter to capture the dragon instead of killing it on the spot and cutting off the newly grown dragon horn.”
Chen Yang showed a look of disgust, “They should be banned from entering China.”
Yi Wuchang replied, “I will submit a report requesting that.”
Kui Xuan tilted his head and said, “The magician just now had four deformed human heads growing on his back, and it seemed like he wasn’t afraid of the Taoist attack from the Tianshi. What was he?”
Chen Yang explained, “There’s a belief abroad about demons, where people use forbidden arts to summon demons, allowing them to possess their bodies and help them achieve their goals. As payment, they must constantly provide food for the demon. Demons feed on humans; they are evil and cunning, skilled at deceiving people and dragging them away to devour them.”
“Alright, I understand now,” Kui Xuan nodded and then skipped down the dragon canyon while holding a doll. Yi Wuchang, on the other hand, observed the terrain of the canyon and the Dragon’s Prison, thoughtfully stroking her chin.
Chen Yang asked what she was thinking. Yi Wuchang said, “The neighboring scenic area has always been bustling with business. I think Dragon Canyon and the Dragon’s Prison have great scenery too. Most importantly, the Dragon’s Prison once really housed a dragon. So, I’m thinking of repairing the suspension bridge and opening Dragon Canyon as a tourist spot to earn some small money to support the Wu Clan.”
Chen Yang asked, “Didn’t you say repairs can only be done once a year?”
Yi Wuchang waved her hand, “With our current relationship with the dragons, we can always negotiate and make everyone happy. Besides, the original bridge was long destroyed and only the ropes remain. We should rebuild a new bridge—what do you think about a glass bridge?” She stopped and gazed at the towering mountains, “Before, we weren’t sure about the existence of dragons. We were worried about angering the gods and feared the Yin-Yang Ghost Butterflies might eat innocent passersby. But now those concerns are gone. The Wu Clan should communicate more with the outside world.”
Chen Yang said, “Aren’t you worried that too much integration with the outside world will speed up the Wu Clan’s extinction?”
“Development is inevitable in history. If we stay isolated, we will bring about our own destruction,” Yi Wuchang said with a sly smile. “The most important thing is that the Wu Clan can hardly find anyone suitable to learn Ghost arts, so it’s better to bring people in from the outside.”
Experience speaks volumes. Chen Yang admired her and then said, “Have we missed the start time for the Taoist exchange conference?”
Yi Wuchang continued walking and said, “Yes, we missed it. But we can still make it. We’ll take a flight there today. I’ve already had my disciple arrange the flight. Let’s go back down the mountain, eat, and shower first. I’m all wet and it feels uncomfortable.”
So the group headed back, and Ma Shanfeng and his wife had already prepared breakfast, waiting for them. “I figured you’d be back soon, so we got breakfast ready. Go wash up and change, then come downstairs to eat.”
Everyone, seeing the rich spread of breakfast on the table, were too eager to talk and quickly went to their respective rooms to wash up and change. When Chen Yang entered his room and opened the bathroom door, he turned around to find Du Shuo had followed him in. After pausing for a moment, seeing Du Shuo’s clothes were completely dry, he pulled him into the bathroom. “Let’s wash together.” Without hesitation, he started pulling off Du Shuo’s clothes, saying, “Wet clothes stick to your body and get dried by the wind, it’s dirty. Take them off and let’s wash them.”
Du Shuo wrapped his hands around Chen Yang’s and lifted him up onto the sink. Chen Yang pushed against his shoulders and pulled back, “Stop fooling around, Ma Shanfeng and the others are waiting downstairs.”
Du Shuo chuckled, showing no intention of letting go. He said, “I want to hold you.” Chen Yang’s face flushed, and he scolded softly, but the action only made their bodies press closer together. Du Shuo bit his earlobe, “When I saw you soaking wet in the lake, I wanted to hold you.” He nipped at his neck, “When I saw you summon the dragon, I wanted to pin you down.” He kissed his collarbone, “I was silent all the way here, just thinking about how I wanted to hold you.”
Chen Yang gasped, Du Shuo’s low, husky voice was incredibly sensual as he whispered in his ear and against his bones, making his knees weak. It felt even more intense than anything physical, his heart raced, his cheeks flushed, and his eyes shimmered with moisture.
Chen Yang clung to Du Shuo’s shoulders, hearing his soft laugh and feeling the vibration from his chest. Annoyed, he punched Du Shuo’s back, then immediately felt guilty and bit him instead. Du Shuo bit his collarbone, and Chen Yang bit his shoulder in return, saying, “We’ll be the laughing stock.”
“They won’t. They don’t dare.”
Chen Yang huffed, “They don’t dare with you.”
“If they laugh at you, I’ll deal with them.”
The voices gradually faded, and the bathroom door clicked shut, the sound of water filling the air.
When everyone came downstairs, Ma Shanfeng noticed that only Chen Yang and Du Shuo hadn’t come down yet and asked, “Are director Du and director Chen not coming down?”
Kou Xuanling handed a steamed bun and milk to Lu Xiuzhi, and after receiving a warm, affectionate smile from him, she took a bite of the bun with satisfaction. “They probably won’t come down.”
Ma Shanfeng immediately understood, and Kui Xuan, who had been focused on her bun, looked up curiously and asked, “Is Chen Xiaoyang too tired?”
The doll nodded and said, “He must be tired, now he’s resting. Should we go see him later?”
Kui Xuan nodded, “Alright.”
Ma Shanfeng immediately explained to the two little ones, “Chen Yang really is tired, and if you go see him, it might disturb his rest. Let’s eat our fill and sleep first. After that, we can catch the flight to the Tianshi’s residence.”
Kui Xuan thought for a moment, then nodded decisively, “Okay, we won’t go.”
“Good.”
The others at the table continued to eat and drink calmly, occasionally showing affection. Zhang Qiudao was video chatting with Mao Xiaoli, “You didn’t sleep last night either, go get some rest now.”
Mao Xiaoli gave an ‘OK’ gesture and said, “Say hi to everyone for me, and make sure you get enough rest too.”
Zhang Qiudao replied, “Mn.”
The others at the table couldn’t keep their curiosity in check, their expressions turning to those of eager gossip. Ma Shanfeng pressed his thumbs together and asked, “Qiudao, are you and Xiaoli…?”
Zhang Qiudao quickly replied, “No, you’re overthinking it. Xiaoli is focused on her cultivation right now, not interested in dating.”
Kou Xuanling propped his face up on his left hand and said, “Qiudao, you’re not very efficient, are you?” He began counting on her fingers, “You’ve worked with Mao Xiaoli for four or five years, and yet nothing more than friendship has developed? You’re really not moving quickly enough.” He raised an eyebrow. “Want me to share some experience?”
Zhang Qiudao smirked and scoffed, “No need.” He definitely didn’t need advice from a ‘steel straight man’. His relationship with Mao Xiaoli wasn’t a case of love at first sight. Over four or five years of working together, he’d come to realize that the once-annoying chatterbox that was Mao Xiaoli was actually quite adorable. When he started to find her cute, his feelings shifted, and he started liking her a little. Of course, he thought this minor affection wouldn’t get in the way.
It wasn’t until he came to his realization that he understood how much those small feelings had grown, to the point where he couldn’t imagine anyone other than Mao Xiaoli as his future wife.
Kou Xuanling shrugged and said, “Suit yourself.”
After breakfast, everyone went back to their rooms to rest. After a nap, they woke up feeling refreshed, only to find it was already two or three in the afternoon. The sun outside was still quite intense, so they all quickly retreated back to the hall and began leisurely brewing tea, adopting a laid-back, retired old-timer vibe.
Chen Yang yawned and buried his face in Du Shuo’s shoulder, asking him to rub his back.
Yi Wuchang walked in and asked, “Is everyone’s luggage packed?” Everyone nodded and showed him their bags. Yi Wuchang gave a satisfied nod. “Alright, then it’s time to head to the Tianshi’s residence. Luckily, it’s not too far away in the neighboring province.”
Kou Xuanling raised her hand and suggested, “Can we leave a little later? It’s really hot outside right now.”
“No,” Yi Wuchang immediately rejected. “I borrowed a plane from someone, and I can’t delay.”
At those words, everyone’s lazy mood evaporated, and they quickly stood up, eager to ask, “A private plane?”
“Yes.” Yi Wuchang turned and began walking. “Hurry up, follow me.” Curious, everyone grabbed their luggage and followed Yi Wuchang, walking a short distance until they reached an expansive open area that resembled a soccer field, where a private jet was parked.
A businessperson stood by the plane’s ladder, and upon seeing Yi Wuchang, they greeted him with great enthusiasm, personally leading the group up the stairs and providing a thorough tour of the private jet. The interior of the plane was opulent, with a game room and a small cinema. Chen Yang and Kou Xuanling nestled together, whispering to each other, before glancing up in unison to look at the calm Yi Wuchang across from them.
Yi Wuchang, as if used to this, waved dismissively at the businessperson to leave, then turned to the group and said, “You can leave now.”
Chen Yang asked, “Is this private plane one you rented?”
“No, it’s borrowed,” Yi Wuchang corrected him. “I once helped out a local entrepreneur in this province. He has several private planes. Since we’re in a hurry, I borrowed one. Otherwise, he would’ve pestered me with gratitude, and that’s just too annoying.”
Chen Yang, Kou Xuanling, and Zhang Qiudao all admired Yi Wuchang’s composed attitude. Then Yi Wuchang added, “If my own private plane weren’t already with my disciple, I wouldn’t have needed to borrow this one. It’s a hassle.”
The three of them fell silent, and Chen Yang asked, “Was the grassy area where the plane was parked a soccer field?”
“No,” Yi Wuchang replied. “That’s just the designated place for parking planes. I’m not the only one in my clan with a private plane. Planes take up too much space, so they just cleared a patch of lawn to park them.”
The group couldn’t help but recall the warm, simple smiles of the villagers from Wuzhu Village, remembering how every evening they would gather at Yi Wuchang’s doorstep for their square dancing routine. They even nearly argued over a sound system. It was hard for them to imagine that some of these villagers might actually own a private plane. Chen Yang still remembered what Yi Wuchang had said this morning about “subsidizing the villagers.”
Chen Yang hesitantly asked, “The Wu clan is really rich?”
Yi Wuchang responded nonchalantly, “Middle-class level.”
“Who has a private plane with a middle-class income?!” Chen Yang thought to himself, as he mentally criticized Yi Wuchang for being completely out of touch and setting herself up for failure by stubbornly refusing to recruit external talent. However, Yi Wuchang innocently shrugged and explained, “We don’t really have a clear concept of money. We just happen to have mineral resources.”
Chen Yang and the others turned their backs to Yi Wuchang, refusing to engage with her. Meanwhile, Kui Xuan, who also didn’t have much of a concept of money, noticed that Chen Yang seemed interested and tugged at his sleeve. “Chen Xiaoyang, I can buy you a private jet too,” she offered, casually mentioning her vast wealth—36 ancient tombs, countless treasures, and invaluable antiques—since she was a millennium-old feijiang.
Chen Yang twitched his lips, “Seems like I’m the poorest one here.” Kou Xuanling and Zhang Qiudao chimed in, indicating that they were also still in the running.
Du Shuo, seeing Chen Yang’s reluctance, quickly stepped in to reject Kui Xuan’s offer. “Whatever Yang Yang wants, I’ll buy for him.” He then inquired about the price of a private jet, calculated his savings, and furrowed his brow in a rare moment of uncertainty. The Emperor of Fengdu, who never accepted wages, was suddenly aware of just how poor he was.
Chen Yang stifled a chuckle, “Well? Can you afford it?”
Du Shuo looked at him seriously, his gaze unwavering. “As long as you want it, I can afford it.”
Chen Yang suddenly threw himself into Du Shuo’s arms, so giddy he nearly squirmed with joy. In a quiet voice, he whispered, “I like you, not a private plane.” Du Shuo tenderly pushed back a strand of Chen Yang’s short hair, catching the sparkles in his dark eyes. He was about to say something when a sudden jolt interrupted him.
Kui Xuan had dashed into Chen Yang’s arms, mimicking his actions, rolling around and loudly chanting, “I like Chen Xiaoyang, buying, buying, buying for Chen Xiaoyang!” The little doll, clearly enjoying the spectacle, jumped into Kui Xuan’s arms and joined in, shouting, “Doll has money, doll can buy, buy, buy!”
Chen Yang, “…”
Suddenly, Chen Yang felt the chest behind him vibrating with laughter. He looked up and saw Du Shuo grinning broadly. He froze for a moment, realizing he had been completely enveloped in Du Shuo’s embrace. Without thinking, he instinctively wrapped his arms around Kui Xuan, while Kui Xuan, holding the doll, rolled around happily.
Zhang Qiudao, quick to capture the moment, snapped a picture with a click. He handed the photo to Chen Yang and asked, “Want me to develop this for you?”
In the photo, it looked like a picture of a happy family. Du Shuo’s gaze, as he looked down, seemed to overflow with tenderness. Chen Yang, stunned for a moment, realized it was likely because he was worried Kui Xuan might fall. Meanwhile, Kui Xuan and the doll were carefree, happily playing. It was one of those photos that made you smile just by looking at it.
Chen Yang said, “Send it to me, I’ll get it developed.”
Kou Xuanling came over, saw the picture, and nodded approvingly. “Nice shot,” he said to Zhang Qiudao, “Qiudao, can you take one for the two of us as well?”
Afterward, Kou Xuanling pulled Lu Xiuzhi over and took a photo. He looked at it and wasn’t quite satisfied, so he brought Kui Xuan and the doll into the frame. Even after another shot, it still didn’t feel right. After messing around for a while, he finally sighed in frustration and collapsed onto the sofa, dejected. Kui Xuan and the doll, relieved, sprawled out on Kou Xuanling’s body, all four limbs splayed out in a matching expression.
Lu Xiuzhi sat beside them, smiling gently, watching them with affectionate indulgence.
Zhang Qiudao snapped the moment. Kou Xuanling couldn’t help but chuckle as he looked at the picture, “An unintentional outcome becomes a masterpiece.” He sent the photo to the family group chat, where his phone quickly filled with numerous notifications. He chose to ignore them all.
Kou’s father, after looking at the photo, fell into deep thought. Kou’s uncle, on the other hand, smiled broadly, “Kui Xuan and the doll are so cute.” This left Kou’s father pondering whether he should kill his son first or his brother.
Author’s Note:
Chen Yang: I’m the poorest.
Kou Xuanling/Zhang Qiudao: Good brothers, let’s go together.
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