CH 16

The stag was well aware of its owner’s disapproval regarding its impulsive flight in the face of a catastrophe. It readily admitted its mistake, but it would never repent.

Slowly, Si Di climbed up from Xiao Zhenyun’s body, his disbelief evident: “You actually… managed to pull me out.”

“Not bad, wasn’t too hard,” Xiao Zhenyun replied, not trying to exaggerate. Despite his lack of skill, he navigated surprisingly well in the role of a makeshift guide, leading the way to Si Di’s location. As the noble rescuer, he naturally lifted his hand, indicating for Si Di to sit back on the stag’s back.

Si Di, still immersed in shock, unconsciously lifted Xiao Zhenyun, and the stag took it all in stride, briskly guiding the path ahead.

When they reached the boundary between light and darkness, the sentry couldn’t help but comment, “Our compatibility… should be quite high, maybe around… eighty.”

Finishing his words, he pretended to be nonchalant but rather awkwardly added, “… Little Uncle.”

Xiao Zhenyun was amused, “You even remember I’m your Little Uncle now? Why didn’t you call me that when you had a gun pointed at me? What was it, impotent old pervert?”

The mention of the gun wiped the embarrassment and awkwardness off Si Di’s face in an instant, replaced by a thorny demeanor.

Xiao Zhenyun intended to have a chat with him, not to completely absolve himself but to at least shift some of the blame that the novel’s ‘Xiao Zhenyun’ had never done. Yet, after a tiring day and considering Si Di’s current state of exhaustion, he suggested, “Let’s rest for now, you’ve had a tough day.”

Si Di didn’t speak, placing Xiao Zhenyun back on the stag’s back, quietly watching them cross the border into the brighter side, while he remained in the darkness. Guide’s entry into the sentry’s spiritual domain was mostly for healing purposes, whereas the sentry’s entry into guide’s spiritual domain typically held a different meaning… one that Si Di wasn’t yet willing to explore.

Xiao Zhenyun, however, didn’t ponder that much. Whether Si Di embraced the connection or not, right now he was focused on something else—during the dream, the sentry had weaker control over his senses. During the day, they could venture into noisy places, but at night, they would undoubtedly seek quiet and comfortable spots to sleep.

A cave amidst a fierce storm was definitely not a place where Si Di could sleep well. They had established a mental link, Xiao Zhenyun could assist the sentry in regulating his senses, but due to his lack of skill and combat experience, to ensure an unbroken link, he couldn’t sleep tonight.

He owed it to him, truly owed it.

With a sigh, Xiao Zhenyun thought about how Si Di had carried him for a whole day, provided food and shelter, and now he was taking the night watch, which was only fair.

He turned around, looking at Si Di, who was barely holding up as he sat down on the ground, “Get some sleep, I’m here.”

Before closing his eyes, Si Di recalled a day when he was around six years old.

The memory was fuzzy, but it had to be a sunny afternoon. Back then, Si Chu hadn’t been adopted yet, and he was the only child in the family. His mother, looking lovely, happily informed him that they would have a brother visiting soon, and he should address him as ‘Little Uncle’ because of his higher seniority.

Shortly after, guests arrived, a very harmonious family of three. The mother was a sentry, the father a guide, and their child was a boy with awakening tendencies. His black hair reached his shoulders, his legs were long and straight under light-colored jeans, and his features were exquisite and handsome, an embodiment of grace.

The elders chatted for a while as Si Di played with the pretty young brother.

That day, Si Di had a rather pleasant time. The young brother’s speech was gentle and unhurried, and he had a special fondness for smiling.

Thinking back now, there was actually a surprisingly pleasant interaction between him and Xiao Zhenyun. Although it was the only instance of such, shortly thereafter, Xiao Zhenyun fell victim to the retaliation of sinister forces. He was kidnapped, tortured, and awakened in freezing waters. His parents, driven by a sense of duty, had to abandon him, ultimately sacrificing themselves for the country’s cause. He barely escaped death, but the awakening had failed, leaving him devoid of guide power and consciousness, as well as the sensation in his lower body.

When they met again, Xiao Zhenyun had already spent many years in a wheelchair.

At that time, Si Di had awakened as a sentinel, studying within the tower. He spent little time with his parents, not to mention his Little Uncle who lived alone and emotionally detached.

It’s said that while still in his mother’s womb, Si’s mother was carrying twins. Later, one of the infants died in the amniotic fluid, becoming nourishment for Si Di, resulting in the birth of just him. Seeing Si Di awaken with a wolf-like spirit, half white and half black, his mother’s regret for the lost twin reached its peak.

Perhaps Si Di’s lost sibling was a sentinel with a white wolf spirit?

And so, they soon adopted a twelve-year-old newly awakened sentinel, whose spirit took the form of a Czechoslovakian Wolfdog, and named him Si Chu.

Si Chu was full of energy, naturally optimistic, and his parents adored him. He was also liked by Ye Feiran, who was originally Si Di’s ‘guide.’ Of course, Si Di liked Si Chu too. Due to the tower’s enforced cohabitation, Si Di and Si Chu had more opportunities for interaction, and without any competition between brothers for parental attention, they got along pleasantly. Si Di always portrayed an image of loyalty, integrity, and purity to the outside world, and he was naturally a gentle older brother in front of his sibling.

Sometimes, Si Di would hear rumors about Si Chu being bullied by classmates due to his adopted status. He intended to support his younger brother, but Si Chu just brushed it off with a smile, never taking it to heart.

Until one day, a sentinel who had a crush on Ye Feiran crossed the line, saying that the Si family had two dogs: the little brother was a lapdog, and the older brother was a wolf that would wag its tail and stick out its tongue, even more dog-like than a dog.

On that day, both Si Chu and the other sentinel ended up in the school’s disciplinary office. Si Chu won the fight, but he cried more fiercely than the other sentinel.

Si Di was both amused and touched, overwhelmed by mixed emotions.

Later on, this warm and harmonious ambiance was shattered on an ordinary day. A boy found him and revealed an incredible story: Their Little Uncle, who had nothing to do with the world, frequently visited the ‘Sex Club.’ The last time he was there, it was that boy who had received him. Because of his resemblance to Si Chu, Si Di had given him some attention. Precisely because of this resemblance, Xiao Zhenyun had also taken special interest in him, and he played very hard that night.

Though the boy was often lazy, preferring an easy way to earn money, he still had a heart that recognized kindness, or perhaps he had been struck by Xiao Zhenyun to an extent that fueled revenge. He informed Si Di that Xiao Zhenyun often visited there and, during intense moments of using props for pleasure, would inadvertently utter Si Chu’s name.

Si Di’s initial reaction was disbelief, but as he pursued this lead, he uncovered many unusual occurrences he had previously overlooked.

For instance, Xiao Zhenyun, who was typically against socializing, began frequently visiting their home. He also had an inclination for physical contact with Si Chu. His gaze, too, became sticky and cold, akin to that of a snake.

Furthermore, he once noticed someone secretly following Si Chu to take pictures. Upon confronting and questioning the person in the act, the man refused to reveal his employer and chose to face a fine and detention instead. 

Being youthful and full of energy, Si Di’s blood was boiling. Without much contemplation, he decided to conceal the matter without thinking much, and went to Xiao Zhenyun alone to question him face to face.

He thought, ‘After all, he was their nominal Uncle.’

At the very least, they all address him as ‘Uncle’.

Si Di slowly faded from the spiritual domain, falling asleep. Like a wounded little creature, despite lingering unease, he couldn’t resist the warmth and comfort enveloping him. He curled up and nestled in the soft nest.

After a while, Xiao Zhenyun’s consciousness emerged. Now he was entirely wrapped in fur: fur on his back, fur on his belly, and a tail fur covering another tail. Soon, even the Tai Ji was beginning to snore as it slept.

Listening to Si Di’s relaxed breathing, Xiao Zhenyun said, “Wake up, take off your pants before sleeping. Do you want to get cold legs when you grow old?”

Si Di: “……Zzzz”

Xiao Zhenyun: “……”

The stag leaped out of his spiritual domain, shaking its head and circling around the two humans and one wolf cuddled together, finding a cozy spot behind Si Di. It was about to lie down and join this warming family gathering.

“Wait a moment, help me get Si Di’s pants and shoes off,” Xiao Zhenyun struggled to retract one hand, reaching blindly to unbutton Si Di’s pants and unzip them. “You pull down there.”

Stag: “……”

The stag was quite dissatisfied as it used its teeth and hooves to tug and pull for a while. It finally got the two shoes off, then it grabbed one pant leg of Si Di’s and while its owner tried to keep Si Di from moving too much, the stag down below tugged and pulled on the damp, freezing pants leg with its wet, cold teeth. The combined efforts of a man and a stag created a spectacular scene, yet somehow Si Di remained asleep, quite a letdown for a sentinel famed for his alertness.

Finally, the sentinel was stripped down to just a pair of boxers. Xiao Zhenyun contentedly covered him with Tai Ji’s tail.

In the meantime, the diligent laundry stag dragged over the two humans’ crumpled wet clothes, carefully laying them out in the cave with its teeth, to prevent them from souring overnight due to fermentation. Having done all this, it stamped its hooves in satisfaction, then went happily to Si Di’s back, finally able to lie down and rest.

“Don’t sleep, chat with me.”

Stag: “……Yo!”

The stag was annoyed; the stag wanted to sleep too!

“When do you think Xiao Nian will find us?”

“Yo……”

“I’m worried that others will only see him as a child. Even if he uses his administrator powers to trace me, what if others don’t listen to him?”

“Yo.”

“I’m so hungry.”

“Yo……”

“And a bit thirsty.”

“Yo!”

“…Actually, I have no idea what you’re saying.” Xiao Zhenyun chuckled, “Deer’s calls are so amusing.”

Stag: “……”

It was so angry that it immediately rolled over, pointing its ass to the darned owner, its white and yellow tail wagging rapidly.

Xiao Zhenyun figured it out; The behavior of the spiritual body follows the master, but not its temperament. So—this deer was a silly one, what did it have to do with him, Xiao Zhenyun?

Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters.  (๑>ᴗ