CH 52

What was the force behind a person growing, becoming stronger?

Bai Zhi wasn’t clear on the emotions of the human world, and he couldn’t understand many actions of humankind. But right now, he felt that he had never been this clear-headed.

The person in front, the person he loved. His every change, every growth, every unhesitating act towards invincibility, ultimately originated from that person’s affections towards himself.

Because of his affections, he had misgivings.

Because of his affections, he had a bottom line.

As long as the person who needed protection was behind him on the battlefield, he would not, could not retreat.

“…Nephew?”

The system saw that Bai Zhi’s mood was not quite right, so it spoke a bit worriedly.

Only after a while did Bai Zhi slowly shake his head: “I’m fine.”

Gesius sword was swift as lightning, his silhouette flashed by, smooth and graceful like a wandering dragon. The witch was beaten into losing ground, the pain in her right arm was hard to bear, and her eyes revealed several hints of viciousness. Gesius keenly noticed this, and immediately withdrew while showing a weakness. Seeing this, the witch rejoiced inside, walked into Gesius’s trap, and prepared to cast a spell. With a face devoid of expression, Gesius’s blade shone. With a flick of the wrist he cleanly caught his sword in his left hand and directly stabbed through the witch’s chest.

The battle was over.

The witch fell to the ground in disbelief, both her eyes wide open, staring at the knight in front of her.

Gesius watched her fall down expressionlessly, narrowed his eyes slightly, and lifted his sword.

“Anything else to say?”

The witch had to breathe deeply many times, and in a hoarse voice: “Heh…”

Gesius coldly glanced at her, turned around and withdrew his sword, then started walking, step by step, in Bai Zhi’s direction.

The witch’s voice suddenly sounded from behind, her words full of dissatisfaction:

“Since I lost, don’t wish for an easy time either…”

The witch’s voice carried an eerie pleasantness. Word for word, she said slowly: “To the person who defeated me, I use the life of the forest witch to curse you. Love will become your grave, you will die…at the hands of your beloved.”

Gesius’s footsteps paused. The fallen witch let out a shrill scream of misery. Bai Zhi looked around for the sound, and saw that the witch’s face that originally had a few traces of life instantly become withered. A black cloud spread over her entire body, and the originally beautiful woman slowly became a skeleton.

“This..this is–”

“Don’t look.”

Gesius took a few steps forward suddenly, ran in front of Bai Zhi, and covered his eyes: “Let’s go.”

Bai Zhi suddenly felt a kind of inexplicable dread stain his heart. He couldn’t help turning around to glance back, yet Gesius was unyielding for once, dragging Bai Zhi to leave this region at once.

Bai Zhi followed him forward the whole way confusedly. Only after leaving the forest far behind did Gesius slow down slightly. Bai Zhi sighed in relief, and hurriedly walked around Gesius several times:

“Gesius Gesius, did you get hurt?”

Gesius smiled slightly: “I didn’t.”

Bai Zhi looked him over very carefully, and he indeed didn’t notice any places with injury. Only then did he let out a breath and jump towards Gesius to snuggle in his arms. The tenderness in Gesius’s eyes almost overflowed, he reached out and hugged this noisy dragon tightly, buried his head in his shoulder. His voice carried a few hints of helplessness:

“I’m tired, let me lean on you okay?”

Gesius couldn’t help laughing, closed his eyes, and secretly rested a few seconds before opening them again quickly and loosening his embrace:

“Done resting, let’s go.”

Bai Zhi had a face full of worry: “You’re lying, how could there be anyone who’s not tired anymore after a few seconds?”

“That’s right, how could there be?” Gesius humored him and instantly received a smack from the little demon.

Bai Zhi lightly punched Gesius’s arm, saying: “I’m talking about you!”

“Hey!” Gesius replied: “I’m listening!”

Bai Zhi was teased until he couldn’t help smiling. He silently lowered his head and reached out to hook the corner of Gesius’s clothes. Gesius keenly sensed this, yet he didn’t say any more and reached out to hold Bai Zhi’s hand, holding it very tightly.

Bai Zhi felt the familiar touch, he couldn’t suppress his smile even if he wanted to. Gesius reached out to rub his head:

“You’re this proud?”

Bai Zhi nodded vigorously.

If you are not reading this at mosstranslations(.)wordpress(.)com, this is a stolen version of my translations. .

The two of them walked like this for a while. Bai Zhi resolutely didn’t forget Gesius’s words just now, trying to find a place the whole way for him to rest.

With great difficulty they found a dilapidated temple. Bai Zhi went in and took a look, then took off his outer layer for Gesius to sit on. Gesius’s eyes moved, yet he didn’t refuse.

When the two of them had settled down, Bai Zhi got up and lit the lamps in the temple. The creamy rice-colored light shone softly throughout the room. Gesius leaned against the wall, looking at the evil dragon in the temple going back and forth. After a long time, he waved at him:

“Come here.”

Bai Zhi was momentarily dazed. After coming to his senses he instantly trotted over.

Gesius simply got up nimbly and  pulled him into his own embrace to sit against the wall.

Bai Zhi followed his motions, but when it was over it felt a bit strange.

Even though Gesius also liked him before, it seemed he was still pretty shy. It took half a day of mental preparation to hug him lightly, how come now it was like he took the wrong medicine, hugging him the entire time and refusing to let go?

As he thought and thought, he simply poked Gesius’s chest, tilted his head up, and questioned:

“Gesius, how come you aren’t shy anymore?”

“En?”

“Before, you…” Bai Zhi thought about it: “weren’t this enthusiastic.”

Gesius didn’t reply, only hugged him more tightly. Only after waiting a very long time did Bai Zhi hear the other’s voice:

“Want to hug you.”

The little demon who originally still had some doubts was instantly surprised.

Ge– Gesius, was he trying to act spoiled towards him?

Bai Zhi spent quite a while before he could process it. He suddenly felt a part of his heart heat up and soften. 

The target was acting spoiled towards him!

Oh god!

He’s so cute!

So satisfying!

A certain demon whose head was filled with love to the point of feeling faint crawled up dizzily, rubbing the knight’s head and saying foolishly:

“Let you hug let you hug, I like you the most.”

Saying this he fiercely gave Gesius a big kiss.

Yet the one who was kissed didn’t react much, he expressionlessly looked at Bai Zhi for half a day. Just as his gaze started to make the little demon feel a little strange, Gesius suddenly reached out.

Bai Zhi was pressed down by the nape of the neck, and the man’s slightly chapped lips then pressed down from above.

Breaths intertwined, breathing entangled. Like a fish in water, like glue and paint.

Gesius’s forehead pressed against Bai Zhi’s forehead, the corners of his lips smiled, and his voice was tender:

“Do you like it?”

“I do.”

Bai Zhi lifted his eyes to look at him. His eyes shone with brightness.

Bai Zhi’s shadow was reflected in Gesius’s eyes. Only after a very long time did he say:

“….I…I’m hungry all of a sudden.”

“I will find something for you!”

Hearing this, Bai Zhi jumped up, every three steps becoming two [1] as he ran towards the temple entrance. He turned his head back and smiled towards Gesius:

“Wait for me!”

Gesius nodded while smiling, and Bai Zhi simply ran out.

That string of quick footsteps gradually faded in the distance. Gesius motionlessly gazed towards the direction Bai Zhi left, stood up using the wall as support, walked to a secluded corner, and suddenly spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.

The smell of blood quickly followed. Gesius inhaled deeply, dug up a few chunks of dirt and buried it, then took out a water jug and rinsed his mouth.

Only until he felt that something abnormal wouldn’t happen again did he exhale, walk back to his original position and sit down, his eyes overcast.

He underestimated the witch.

That sword strike was not fatal.

What killed the witch was the curse she planted herself.

“Love will become your grave. You will die at the hands of your beloved.”

Gesius closed his eyes. He thought, he probably understands now.

If you are not reading this at mosstranslations(.)wordpress(.)com, this is a stolen version of my translations. .

Very soon Bai Zhi returned, hugging a large paper box. Inside was filled with a pile of colorful snacks, and he simply placed all of it in front of Gesius.

Gesius squinted slightly at it a few times, and only after half a day did he say: “You didn’t…rob a town, did you?”

Bai Zhi immediately widened both his eyes: “How could that be! This is all stuff I bought!”

He very proudly pointed at the display:, saying: “I have a lot of precious gold and silver treasures, it would be enough to buy a town even.”

Gesius was stunned, and he couldn’t help smiling: “Then you could say I’ve caught a gold mine?”

“That’s right.” Bai Zhi scooted in front of him: “You better hold on tight, hold on for a lifetime.”

Gesius’s expression froze for a moment, but it recovered instantly: “A lifetime…how long is that?”

“Very very very long.” Bai Zhi simply sat down, and counted on his fingers: “One, two, three…no, it’s too short like this.”

He thought for a while, suddenly had an epiphany, said exciedtely: “I know! Until I finish counting all the stars in this huge region, then a lifetime will be over.”

The evil dragon crossed his legs and sat on the ground, chin resting on one hand, his eyes full of yearning for the future. At the sight of this, Gesius’s heart felt as if it had been stabbed, hurting bit by bit.

“Bai Zhi…” He thought a while about the wording, and slowly said: “If…I can’t be with you until you’re old…if, and I’m saying if, I grow old first, and leave, what would you do?”

It seemed like Bai Zhi hadn’t thought he would say these words, he froze for quite a while, and only then did he reply: “Gesius, are you…hiding something from me?”

“…You’re overthinking.” Gesius smiled slightly: “That’s right, what did you bring back?”

“Things to eat and drink, I bought those first.” Bai Zhi lowered his head, unwrapped a cake, and sent it in front of Gesius:

“See if you like it or not.”

Gesius en’d in reply, accepted the cake, and took a bite: “Too sweet, I’ll take you to eat the cake in the palace, it’s much tastier than this.”

Yet Bai Zhi hadn’t let his change of topic distract his attention. He fixed his both his eyes on him unwaveringly, and said:

“We can discuss the matter of the cake later. Gesius, you’re definitely hiding something from me.”

“En?”

“You suddenly became enthusiastic today, that’s one. You sent me to help you with tasks, that’s two. You started to lose confidence in our future, that’s three.” Bai Zhi listed out Gesius’s atypical behaviors one by one, and his expression became unkind:

“Gesius, honestly explain to me what exactly happened. Otherwise, you can go back to the kingdom to get married alone.”

Hey this is your translator moss! The website title should have my name in it, I don’t allow reposting my tl’s

[1] 三步并两步: just an expression for him taking large strides