BW Chapter 175

Chen City (1)

When the last heavy snowfall of the northwest fell, Ning Buwei and Chu Jun brought several children back to Chen City in Xun Prefecture, Shangzhou.

Although Ning Buwei was born here and spent five years of his life in this place, his memories of it were quite vague except for Ning Gu and Li Xiaohan.

But looking at it now, this city that wasn’t particularly large was still preserved quite well, with black tiles, white walls, and bluestone roads, carrying the artistic atmosphere of the human realm’s Jiangnan region. And because of the Rejuvenation Array, the originally withered earth had long since recovered its vitality. While the northwest was still experiencing snowfall, here it was already spring with warm weather and blooming flowers.

Under the azure sky, the gentle breeze flowed smoothly, and green grass grew luxuriantly. Cui Yuanbai held a kite in his hand and ran frantically forward, while Little Black in the sky competed with the kite to see who could fly higher. Ning Xiu followed behind with his little short legs pattering along, about to fall, when the big yellow dog running beside him picked him up in its mouth and threw him onto its back.

Thanks to Shang Nuanwei’s provocation, Big Yellow had finally turned back into a dog in a fit of anger and firmly refused Ning Buwei’s request to trade himself for black iron.

Jiang Yizheng was helping Yang Lingzhu weave flower crowns with willow branches when Feng Zizhang jumped down from his flying sword and excitedly said, “Father! Venerable! Chen City should be just ahead!”

Ning Buwei stretched lazily and turned his head to Chu Jun, saying, “I told you,

this place is very close to Chen City, we don’t need to take the flying boat anymore.”

Chu Jun picked off the willow leaves stuck in his hair, “Can you still remember where your home is?”

“Of course I remember my home.” Ning Buwei declared confidently. “After all, I lived here for five years.”

A quarter of an hour later, Ning Buwei stood at a crossroads in the city, staring blankly at the surrounding houses that looked almost identical.

“Dad, where is our home? Where is it?” Cui Yuanbai asked him impatiently.

Ning Xiu patted Big Yellow’s head and also became anxious, “Home home, where is it, where is it?”

Big Yellow shook his furry big ears, “How would I know? Ask your father.”

So Ning Xiu obediently twisted his little body to look at Ning Buwei, “Father~ where is it?”

Ning Buwei silently turned his head to look at Chu Jun.

Chu Jun said leisurely, “Although I’m old and my memory isn’t good, it should be this way.”

After speaking, he walked toward the intersection on the right with his hands behind his back.

“…………” Ning Buwei just knew it.

The Ning family’s residence was considered the most luxurious courtyard in Chen City. Although it couldn’t compare at all with the main family in Ning City, and was barely the size of the Danhuai Courtyard, it was particularly comforting.

In a certain sense, this was truly Ning Buwei’s own real residence.

He stood in front of the main gate, the Nine-Leaf Lotus at his brow glowing slightly, and a faint blue restriction appeared on the door, after which the main gate slowly opened to both sides, welcoming their master who hadn’t returned for many years.

A group of troublesome kids rushed in before Ning Buwei could speak.

“If you don’t want to be here, the residence in Li City is still empty, and Yijian Peak of Wushi Sect is also there——” Chu Jun grasped his hand, “or any place you want to go is fine.”

Ning Buwei’s gaze fell on the threshold that was perfectly preserved by the formation, “Let’s stay here. Other places have too many people with prying eyes, but this place is desolate and quiet.”

It was indeed quiet, but for several restless children, it became somewhat unbearable.

“Ah——Zizhang, I really miss going to classes at Wanxuan Academy.” Jiang Yizheng hung upside down from a pomegranate tree, her eyes reflecting the big white clouds in the sky, “There are no snack vendors, nothing fun to do, only the homework our father assigned.”

Feng Zizhang sat cross-legged on the grass trying to plant the restless treasure-hunting mushroom into the soil, his face marked with several red prints from the little mushroom’s slaps. Upon hearing this, he said, “Wanxuan Academy doesn’t start for another month, and I haven’t even had time to do the homework the head teacher assigned… Hey, Dabao, come back, this is the most fertile soil in our home!”

(TL: Dabao=Big Treasure)

The little mushroom was so angry it was smoking, kicked his tiger’s mouth hard, and disappeared into the courtyard in a puff of smoke.

“Little Black seemed to have just buried some droppings here yesterday.” Jiang Yizheng said leisurely.

Feng Zizhang, who had been digging the hole with his bare hands. “What!? Why didn’t you say so earlier!”

“I just remembered.” Jiang Yizheng flipped over and sat on the tree branch, touching her nose guiltily.

Feng Zizhang looked at his hands full of black mud, wanting to cry but having no tears.

In the room, Big Yellow was playing games with Ning Xiu, Little Black, and a few others. Yang Lingzhu and Cui Yuanbai kept winning, while Ning Xiu and Little Black, who only half-understood the rules, quickly couldn’t sit still and tried to redefine the rules, only to be protested by Cui Yuanbai. Soon the little ones were crying and the big ones were making a fuss.

Ning Buwei and Chu Jun sat on the couch playing chess.

“Sound-barrier formations are really wonderful things.” Ning Buwei placed the black piece in his hand, and a little mushroom accidentally bounced onto his boot.

Ning Buwei had a sudden whim, “How about mushroom stewed chicken tonight?”

The little mushroom on his boot shuddered and quickly bounced into the house, with Feng Zizhang, his sleeves rolled up and looking disheveled, chasing behind shouting, “Dabao come back!”

Ning Buwei placed another piece and complained dissatisfiedly, “What terrible names they came up with.”

Xiao Shan, Big Yellow, Little Black, Dabao – even hundreds of years ago, no one would have given such vulgar names, yet each one was extremely satisfied with theirs.

Chu Jun had just placed his white piece when a burning letter appeared before his eyes.

Ning Buwei grabbed the letter and tore it open, quickly scanned it twice and handed it to Chu Jun, “Hao Zheng is asking you how to arrange Fang Wanchen.”

When the Heaven-Piercing Blood Formation had descended, Pei Heguang had originally wanted to use Fang Wanchen as a shield in the blood formation, but unexpectedly it was Xie Jiu who had taken Fang Wanchen’s appearance. In the end, Fang Wanchen was found in a pile of vines at the bottom of Chenyue Mountain, and after being unconscious for a long time, he had only awakened at Wanxuan Academy these past two days.

Chu Jun took the letter and read it carefully once, then folded it and put it in his sleeve.

“The new restrictions have also sealed the entrance from Li City to the mortal realm, and it will need half a year before it can be opened for the first time.” Chu Jun said, “Fang Wanchen is, after all, a person from the mortal realm. It’s not appropriate for him to stay long in the cultivation world. Hao Zheng’s meaning is to temporarily let him come to our place.”

Ning Buwei paused with the chess piece in his hand, “Come to our place?”

“He is, after all, the reincarnation of Pei Heguang’s younger brother.” Chu Jun placed his piece, “Each major sect and family lost many people because of the Heaven-Piercing Blood Formation. Even if he was innocent in all this, it’s inevitable that some people will find him displeasing to the eye.”

“Don’t you also find him displeasing to the eye?” Ning Buwei said with a half-smile. “Back then in the Mass Resentment Illusion Realm, you were quite jealous.”

“Since you brought it up,” Chu Jun threw the white piece into the chess box, assuming a lecturing posture.

“Stop right there.” Ning Buwei held up his hand in front of him, “Don’t you dare settle accounts with me. You can’t out-argue me anyway. You calculate for yourself how many things you’ve hidden from me before.”

Chu Jun immediately fell silent.

Ning Buwei sighed, lightly tapping Chu Jun’s hand with one finger, “It’s only because I have a good temper and indulge you. If it were any cultivator with a bit of backbone, they would have stopped living with you long ago.”

“……What do you intend to do?” Chu Jun watched Ning Buwei’s finger slowly and methodically caressing the back of his hand without showing any expression, feeling slightly itchy.

Ning Buwei tried to show a gentle and kind smile, but that handsome face looked mischievous no matter how you looked at it.

The cool fingertip landed on the small protruding bone at Chu Jun’s wrist and tapped it.

“Big Senior Brother said that sleeping in separate rooms isn’t good for cultivating feelings between dao companions.”

Although they would occasionally engage in shenjiao dual cultivation, shenjiao dual cultivation was ultimately different from true dual cultivation between dao companions.

Ning Buwei had secretly looked through a stack of picture books during his recent convalescence, but with all the people and distractions at Wanxuan Academy, he had never found a suitable opportunity to properly seduce his rather unromantic dao companion.

Chu Jun said indifferently, “Chu Yi’s words are not to be trusted.”

Ning Buwei narrowed his eyes.

“However, this statement is quite correct.” Seeing his expression change, Chu Jun promptly corrected himself.

Only then did Ning Buwei nod with satisfaction.

In the middle of the night, cool moonlight streamed through the window into the room, the dim candlelight flickered gently, occasionally making soft crackling sounds, and the burning incense slowly rose and dispersed, creating a perfectly tranquil and peaceful atmosphere.

Ning Buwei wore only a thin layer of undergarments. He raised his arm, the garment fell open, and his lean waist was bathed in a hazy glow under the dim candlelight.

Chu Jun leaned against the headboard wearing an outer robe, his gaze calm as he looked toward him, his pale slender neck disappearing into the collar, revealing only half a kiss mark that was quite……provocative.

Ning Buwei took a deep breath, hugged his arms, and sat on the bed, staring with bitter resentment at Ning Xiu who was positioned between them.

Ning Xiu stood on the bed and bounced hard once, then continued happily telling them about how he had won the game today, “……Xiao Shan and Little Black~ are the most amazing~ defeated Big Yellow and Brother Huanhuan~ using the invincible big sword!”

Ning Buwei irritably pinched his little cheeks and said fiercely, “Weren’t you supposed to sleep with Big Yellow tonight? How did you break through the barrier?”

“Sister?” Ning Xiu tilted his little head, hands on his hips as he said to Ning Buwei. “Xiao Shan didn’t~ hit sister~”

Chu Jun reached out and poked his lower back, “Xiao Shan, aren’t you sleepy?”

“Not sleepy! Xiao Shan isn’t sleepy at all!” Ning Xiu enthusiastically threw himself into Chu Jun’s embrace, saying softly, “Mother~ play with me~”

Ning Buwei grabbed his collar with two fingers and placed him on the ground, saying irritably, “No, your mother is busy tonight.”

Ning Xiu stood on the ground, opening his little mouth with a confused expression. “Why~”

“Of course it’s because——” Ning Buwei ground his teeth hard, “I said he’s busy, so he’s busy. Where do you get all these whys from?”

Ning Xiu disappointedly lowered his little head, thought seriously for a moment, then said obediently, “Then Father can play with Xiao Shan~”

“Your father is also busy.” Chu Jun touched his little head, “Be good, go sleep with Big Yellow.”

Ning Xiu looked up at them with teary eyes, refusing softly and sweetly, “No~ I want to sleep with Father and Mother~”

Ning Buwei narrowed his eyes threateningly. “Ning Xiao Xiu, you’re already a big boy of two years old. When I was your age, I already slept by myself. Now you even have Big Yellow to keep you company, be content.”

Ning Xiu sniffled and turned to look at Chu Jun, “When Mother was two years old~ did you also sleep alone?”

Chu Jun nodded seriously, “I slept alone when I was one year old.”

Ning Xiu clutched his little pillow and stayed stunned for a while, “Then~ why do Father and Mother~ who are so many, many years old, still sleep together?”

Ning Buwei and Chu Jun were speechless.

Ning Xiu raised his hand to rub his eyes and said disappointedly, “Father likes to sleep with Mother~ Mother likes to sleep with Father~ Father and Mother don’t like to sleep with me~”

Ning Buwei raised his hand. “That’s not how you should understand it.”

Chu Jun said, “You’re still too young now. When you grow up, you’ll understand.”

“But Father~ said I’m already a big boy of two years old~” Ning Xiu sighed sadly.

“Anyway, not tonight.” Ning Buwei wouldn’t budge an inch.

Ning Xiu stared blankly, tried hard to think but couldn’t figure it out, so he could only hold his little pillow, turn around with his back to them, squat down, and vigorously rub his little face while talking to himself to comfort himself. “I can sleep alone too~ good boy~ I’m not sad~ I’m leaving~”

Then, under the puzzled gazes of Ning Buwei and Chu Jun, he stood up holding his little pillow and walked dejectedly toward the door, his lonely little figure looking as pitiful as could be.

Ning Buwei clicked his tongue.

Chu Jun smiled helplessly.

Ning Xiu sadly hugged his little pillow and prepared to push the door, but found that both he and his little pillow were floating up. He flailed around once, then in the blink of an eye fell into Ning Buwei’s embrace.

“Father~” Ning Xiu pursed his little lips and called him softly, with little teardrops still hanging under his red eyes.

“Just this once.” Ning Buwei said seriously, “Starting tomorrow night, you can only sleep by yourself.”

Ning Xiu’s eyes immediately lit up, and he threw himself along with his little pillow into Ning Buwei’s embrace, nuzzling vigorously, then bounced into Chu Jun’s embrace, where Chu Jun tickled his little belly.

Ning Xiu happily rolled around on the bed with his little pillow, lay down between Chu Jun and Ning Buwei, and even wanted them to place their hands on his little belly before he was satisfied and hummed contentedly.

“Father~ I beat Yellow Yellow and Brother Huanhuan today~”

“Mm, you already said that once.”

“Mother~ I used the invincible big sword today~ and beat Yellow Yellow and Brother Huanhuan~”

“Mm, very impressive.”

“I was very happy today~ just now I fought with Father~ wasn’t happy~”

“Heh.”

“But I still like Father the most!”

“Tsk, then I’ll reluctantly forgive you.”

“I like Mother the most too!”

“Mm.”

“Father~ were you happy today?”

“……Thank you ancestor, I was hap-py-to-death today.”