ITOTIABSAM | The Immortal on Liuyun Mountain | 163
While 0028 sat in solitary confinement, focusing on its punishment for being offline, the once bright sky had turned pitch black by the time it was released.
As an old system with an early bureau number, it had guided many hosts and should have been accustomed to various situations. However, it was surprised by the rapid progress between Gu Cong and Xie Ye.
Because in its view, its new host should not have been driven by hormones or become love-struck.
Indeed, Gu Cong was young and came from a privileged background, fostering a relatively pure character. But purity didn't mean foolishness. Courage, attentiveness, and rationality were the underlying traits of Gu Cong's character.
Just like when he faced the head of the Song family alone, even though Gu Cong felt guilty, his instinct was still faster than his rationality. He clearly drew a line between the indigenous people and the quick-travelers members, quietly wary of his "father."
But with Xie Ye, things happened too quickly, almost making 0028 doubt its judgment.
At first, lacking experience, Gu Cong could restrain himself, but later he gradually lost control, charging forward recklessly.
Outer garments were haphazardly piled on the ground, while the young man, wearing only his inner shirt, slept with his eyes closed, his black hair scattered, leaning against the other's chest. His porcelain-like pale and smooth skin was adorned with cherry-red marks, deep and shallow.
And there were teeth marks.
Slightly annoyed, Gu Cong reached out to confirm that Xie Ye hadn't been bitten by him. Playing with the puppet strings wrapped around their fingers absentmindedly, Gu Cong's gaze remained focused, exuding a strong presence around Xie Ye.
Suddenly, the voice of 0028 resounded in his mind: "Do you know? Right now, you look particularly like a large dog waiting for its owner to wake up."
Before he could respond, Gu Cong abruptly pulled the quilt over, covering Xie Ye completely.
This action made Xie Ye furrow his brows in a drowsy confusion, holding Gu Cong even tighter.
"Don't worry, I didn't see anything, and I have no interest in human mating," 0028 invoked privacy regulations to demonstrate its innocence. After a few moments of silence, it became serious:
"Are you really going to be with Xie Ye?"
With a satisfied expression, Gu Cong didn't respond immediately, just raised an eyebrow as if to say, "Is that even a question?"
"He's an NPC, no matter how high his cultivation is, there will come a day when his life ends," the well-intentioned reminder was met with a mouthful of dog food, 0028 retorted with irritation, "What will you do then?"
"Die for love?"
"In the world of 'Xie Ye', he is everything, but you have infinite possibilities. Spending hundreds or thousands of years here, won't you get tired of it?"
Having guided many hosts, 0028 had seen its fair share of hosts ensnared by emotions, even more deeply than Gu Cong, immersed in romantic entanglements, willing to give up their identity as Quick Transmigration Agents to stay in one small world forever.
But what was the outcome? Regret, most likely, but without the opportunity to regret.
That's why it always emphasized Xie Ye's identity as a villain NPC, hoping that Gu Cong wouldn't get too deeply involved and trap himself.
"I'm not sure," Gu Cong answered honestly after some thought, "But before this affection fades away, I want to be with Xie Ye."
0028: …
If Gu Cong had directly said that he would love Xie Ye for a lifetime and would accompany him to the end, 0028 would have been reassured. However, it was this kind of answer that didn't sound so resolute that actually proved that Gu Cong wasn't acting on impulse or whim.
"In fact, I hesitated too," considering his once ordinary but peaceful life, which was still vivid in his mind, as if it were just yesterday.
"But I had a dream not long ago," unconsciously, Gu Cong traced the shallow mole on the outer side of Xie Ye's middle finger, "If I missed him, I might regret it forever."
In the long, unmeasurable years of being a Quick Transmigration Agent, he still remembers Xie Ye for a lifetime.
"Are you able to forget him now?" realizing that his words were like talking to a wall, 0028 huffed and retreated into Gu Cong's consciousness, "I don't care anymore."
If worse comes to worst, it can always find another host, it won't lose out either way.
---
With the strange immortal living in the house, countless cultivators had come to visit in just a few short days, almost breaking down the door. It was causing a headache for Mr. Song, so he simply claimed to be in seclusion to avoid the disturbance.
He was generally indifferent to cultivation and ascension, so he had time to worry about these trivial matters that outsiders cared about. When Gu Cong went missing previously, the patriarch personally interrupted his seclusion to search for him.
Although no one had expected that Gu Cong would eventually show up on his own, Mr. Song still showed his concern, paying daily visits.
Unexpectedly, today there was an additional person in the secluded mountain where the patriarch resided alone. A young man dressed in white, who seemed to have awakened at some point, was playing chess with the patriarch.
Mr. Song's ancestor, Song Yujing, was also a genius in his time. In terms of seniority, he was Mr. Song's great-great-uncle. Despite his appearance, he looked younger than Mr. Song.
Although they were playing chess, the faint aura between the two great figures had already made the small chessboard into its own world. The grass and trees moved without wind, and there seemed to be flashes of swords and shadows, making people reluctant to approach easily.
Mr. Song stopped outside the courtyard, thinking to himself: What's going on here? Is the old man taking advantage of the young man? It seemed like Xie Ye had brought back a new ancestor.
Although the patriarch's friend had become his son's partner, the generations were too confusing. Even if Xie Ye really regarded him as a respected elder, he wouldn't dare to acknowledge it.
Xie Ye didn't think much about it. After all, among the entire Song family, the only one who could spar with him was this so-called ancestor, Gu Cong.
After one round without a clear winner, Song Yujing brushed off the fallen petals and looked up, asking, "What's the matter?"
Mr. Song honestly replied, "Greetings."
—Having been looked after by the other party since childhood, even if the patriarch's appearance was youthful, he was still the patriarch, and respect was necessary.
"And, here's the wedding invitation." Never would Mr. Song have expected to meet the main character today. A hint of embarrassment flashed across Mr. Song's face, but he quickly regained his composure. "In half a month, on an auspicious day, it's suitable for a wedding."
Although it was a bit rushed, becoming partners without any ceremony? What kind of talk was that? Of course, they needed to hold a proper ceremony as soon as possible.
Unable to make too many expressions by nature, Song Yujing reached out and took the red invitation with golden characters, looking at Xie Ye with a cold face. "He’er and you?"
Anyone who didn't know might think he was picking a fight, but Xie Ye remained calm. "With me."
"Good," he nodded, expressing his agreement with a frosty demeanor. "I will attend."
As the officiant.
It must be quite interesting.
"Up to you." His ring finger on the left hand trembled slightly, and Xie Ye immediately lost interest in the chessboard, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
Leaving Mr. Song and the patriarch to exchange glances.
"He’er is back," solemnly explained Song Yujing with a mix of coldness and warmth, "He went to look for him."
Mr. Song: ...
He knew, of course he knew, but the matter of the strange immortal being his son's partner, it seemed he needed some time to adjust.
"In the world of cultivation novels, things are so convenient, saving a lot of teleportation scrolls," exclaimed 1101 excitedly, "I never realized the patriarch of the Song family, mentioned only in passing in the books, could be so interesting."
It thought he would be like Shen Qingshu's master, a dignified "grandfather."
In the midst of conversation, Xie Ye was already inches away and appeared in the secluded courtyard where he and Gu Cong resided on ordinary days. This was a spot of his own choosing, distant enough and quiet enough.
Pushing open the door, Gu Cong immediately spotted his husband standing under the tree and greeted him with a smile, "Xie Ye."
With their relationship taking another step closer, Xie Ye's courage seemed to grow. Under the scorching afternoon sun, he lazily gestured for Gu Cong to come inside with a flick of his puppet strings.
"I just went to write the wedding invitations," Gu Cong said as he poured himself a cup of tea, trying to bolster his courage.
Seating himself, Xie Ye nodded. "The seventh of next month."
Gu Cong was surprised. "You know?"
"Just passing the time, I went to the back mountain to play chess with Song Yujing," Xie Ye chuckled, glancing at Gu Cong. "And happened to meet your father."
"After careful consideration for almost half a month, it should be an auspicious day."
"It's my first marriage," Gu Cong relaxed a bit under Xie Ye's calm demeanor, setting down the porcelain cup that almost got crushed in his hand. He sat beside Xie Ye, half playfully and half with a hint of complaint. "Why is my husband so calm?"
But as they drew closer, he realized that the seemingly calm and composed young man had a faint blush on his ears, which the other party seemed unaware of.
He tentatively held the other's hand and indeed, the warmth of their fingertips felt cooler than usual.
He chuckled softly. "So even the esteemed immortal is nervous."
Nervous.
Indeed, Xie Ye was nervous.
Even though he and Gu Cong could be considered as an old married couple, even if the other didn't remember, he should have been adept at handling this situation. But strangely, every time he faced Gu Cong, his affection and excitement only grew stronger, settling into a deeper love that seemed to never fade.
Or perhaps, it was precisely because of the countless lifetimes they spent together that he had the opportunity to gradually understand various facets of Gu Cong, to truly comprehend the other person, and to affirm his own feelings.
He loved not a specific person who could save him in a certain identity, appearance, or environment, but rather the soul named Gu Cong.
Even if the other transformed into star grass, or into a plump bird, he would still be able to recognize him instinctively.
"Have you thought about it?" Instinctively returning the grip, Xie Ye absorbed the warmth that surpassed his own, and asked, "By merging our souls, we'll be bound together. When the time comes, you'll have to wait for my demise before you can leave this world."
"Of course," Gu Cong responded firmly. "Perhaps you may think I'm just being impulsive, but Xie Ye, my feelings for you seem to have been suppressed for a long time."
It was a strange way to put it, wasn't it? But when he realized this, those surging emotions had already filled his entire heart.
"It's a strange way to put it, isn't it?" Gu Cong raised his eyebrows, seeing that Xie Ye didn't mind his sudden declaration of affection. "But I just feel that if I'm going to like someone, it must be you."
Like a large dog, he enveloped the young man in a bear hug. "Xie Ye, I really like you."
It was like an obsession.
—— This is the illusion constructed based on Gu Cong's memories.
So, does the future Gu Cong also harbor the same feelings for him?
During the time they have yet to reunite.
"On the seventh day of next month," abruptly, Xie Ye remarked, "I hope it's a cloudy day without rain."
But Gu Cong understood.
His amber-colored pupils melted like honey, and he lowered his head, affectionately nuzzling Xie Ye's nose, and kissed those rose-red yet soft lips: "It will be."
He was equally looking forward to it.
Author's Note:
The six worlds are nearing their conclusion, with just a little left for the next chapter.
Next up is the final small world, an infinite stream, also a past illusion. It features the top-ranked Gu Cong from the Quick Transmigration Bureau and the NPC Xie Ye (in his youth) mistaken for a player who has yet to awaken awareness.
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