With a sharp inhale, Tao Hua coughed a few times; the medicinal scent was stronger than it ever had been before. And worse! It tasted AWFUL.
He reached down to his towel and frantically tightened it as his face twisted with disgust. Despite this, it was still completely flustered, and his attempts at keeping down any more coughing were futile and pathetic.
Though he was hesitant to look over, given the circumstances. This made the red extend to his ears amid the thought. However, he couldn't help it, and his irrational thoughts got the better of him.
Side-glancing, his heart nearly stopped.
Standing there, looking more lost than ever, was Shan Si. He was undressed down to the waist, and like Tao Hua, he only had a towel on.
Seems wishes are easily granted! But whoever the fairy, they fucking sucked at settings. When I said I wanted to see him, I didn't think it would be like this!
Tao Hua immediately turned his head back toward the ground, every bone in his body locking in place.
"You…" Shan Si's brows knitted. His head darted toward the door, and in a furious tone, he said, "That fucking old man! I told him to get you ready for later—why the hell are you here?!"
By old man, Tao Hua had to assume he meant Wan Mie—now it all made sense. His being in the Ancestral Hall wasn't just happenstance.
Stammering, Tao Hua tried to come up with an answer; anything to appease Shan Si, but he couldn't think of anything because he knew he was completely in the wrong. All for reasons he still didn't understand.
So, he lied!
"My…bath is broken."
Perfect!
Shan Si squinted at him. "How is your bath broken?"
Good question. There weren't many ways a stone bath could break—it wasn't as weak as a wooden basin by any margin. So, he was at a loss for how to answer, just as Shan Si's eyebrow seemed to rise higher and higher.
However, after it reached its peak, Tao Hua shook his head and finally came to his senses.
Was there any specific reason he couldn't leave?! Shan Si promised he could live a better life here, so he was doing just that! He shot his up and stared straight at Shan Si, but the moment he laid eyes on him once more, he had to look away.
There was no chance he could keep his composure and remain straight-faced staring at someone with little to no clothes on.
He fumbled with his hands, rubbing his thumb to the point of nearly bruising it.
"I'll answer when we get dressed," Tao Hua mumbled, but it was difficult for Shan Si to even hear him.
"What?"
At this point, Tao Hua was steaming as much as the water. At the exact same volume, and perhaps a bit quicker, he repeated exactly what he had said before, and yet Shan Si still couldn't seem to make him out.
What a likely reunion!
"You know what? It's not your fault," Shan Si said, which made Tao Hua look off to the side, guilty. It technically was his fault; he convinced Suo Han to bring him here all thanks to his own boredom.
"It's that old man's fault. I gave him explicit orders to bring you to my palace later," Shan Si seethed. Though Tao Hua had to wonder, What does he mean bring him to his palace…?
His heart practically skipped a beat.
"Why is he doing this?" Shan Si muttered. "Wan Mie doesn't do things unless there's something in it for him. What is he up to?"
Just as Shan Si had his hand to his mouth, trying to figure things out, muffled shouts sounded from the paper door. Then, banging, and a cry.
Tao Hua's eyes widened as he turned to look over his shoulder, and immediately, he knew exactly the cause of the problem. All that flustered excitement of wonders and whys dissipated instantly.
While Tao Hua fretted, Shan Si glanced up, first examining Tao Hua and then the door.
"Your servant?"
"Yes," Tao Hua answered, his voice heightened with anxiety. "Um, and others."
"Others? Wan Mie?"
"Yes…and another." Tao Hua grimaced, his face falling into disgust at the mere thought of "another." However, Shan Si couldn't seem to figure out who else would follow them, but it would finally hit him at the sound of whoever's voice, terribly hidden by the paper door.
"I can, and I will!" they said, their hand placed against the door. But they couldn't seem to reach the door, all thanks to whoever it was pulling him back frantically. "The Guard Dog left! If he's not worried, then why should you?! Leave! I do not need his nor your permission anyhow! What do you take me for?!"
Completely confused, Shan Si said, "Daoist Master Weng…?"
Tao Hua immediately turned to look around, his eyes falling on each red pillar surrounding the edges of the room. Great! Perfect! That was exactly where he'd go.
"I'm not here!" he told Shan Si before running off toward the furthest one.
Shan Si watched this, a realization suddenly dawning. Before he followed Tao Hua to that pillar, he said, "How reminiscent."
As the two hid behind the pillar, they both peeked past to witness what happened next. Though Shan Si had no issue, Tao Hua was a complete mess of anxiety, disgust, and embarrassment.
The paper door slid open and in popped Weng Jing, wearing nothing but a towel. Behind him was Suo Han, and the look on his face was the exact look of someone reaching a breakdown.
Shan Si squeezed in uncomfortably close to Tao Hua, placing his arm atop his head and the other on his shoulder. His chest was pressed against Tao Hua's back, yet all his attention was cast on Weng Jing and Suo Han, the look on his face unimpressed.
"You've made friends," he whispered.
But Tao Hua only nodded. He had his hands pressed against the red pillar, and they trembled violently at the proximity. Even if he wanted to, there was no scooting left or right. All options would reveal him to the exact person he wanted to avoid.
So, he rammed his forehead against the wood—lightly, not to make a sound—and let out a long, winded sigh.
"Relaxing? There is not even a hint of Daoist Master Zhuan in sight. All I feel is dirty energy, tainted black," said Weng Jing, crossing his arms. He turned his head to look over his shoulders, veins popping on his hands. "Did you lie to me, Servant Boy?"
Shan Si looked down at Tao Hua, who had closed his eyes, leaning further away from Shan Si and toward the pillar.
"Daoist Master Zhuan, huh?" he asked. Tao Hua didn't respond; his fingers just curled, and he banged his forehead a few times before the wood somehow turned into a hand.
Shan Si had blocked it, his attention returning to the show ahead.
"No! I didn't, but why does it matter?! You shouldn't—" Suo Han paused. Leaning sideways, he looked past Weng Jing and toward the bath.
Nothing. No one. Just an empty bath, a stool with folded-up clothes, and a strong medicinal scent floating through the air. There was absolutely no sign of his young master in sight, or anything that could be traced back to him.
His entire face fell in horror. Shoving Weng Jing aside, he ran toward it, hysterically looking around, his head moving at speeds a head shouldn't move.
"He was just here?! I left him here! I—Oh, no. Oh, shoot! No, no, no, no, no, no, no!" He gripped the sides of his head. Looking around, he shouted, "Young Master?! I swear he was just in here—MMF?!"
"Cease your crying and calm down." Weng Jing approached Suo Han, shoving the tip of his horsetail whisk into his mouth. Suo Han was so worked up, his eyes flooded with tears, and his cheeks puffed out like a squirrel's. "The spirits say he is nearby. Why must you always jump to conclusions? Such a grating voice, my head might split."
Spitting out the horsetail whisk, Suo Han rushed to the door, sliding it open with a bang!
"Now, where are you going in such a hurry?" Weng Jing turned to face the door, somehow unbothered by the fact that his dear future wife was missing. "All this fussing for what, exactly?"
"You don't get it!" cried Suo Han. "If I fail my duty, then Lord Shengkai will put me back out there! I don't want to be out there! Please, Daoist Master Zhuan! Please—OH, forget it!"
Pursing his lips, Shan Si glanced up for a moment before shrugging. "I probably would do that."
He turned his attention back to the room, while Tao Hua was still far too flustered to react, lest his voice crack in many different octaves.
Suo Han rushed out of the room, leaving Weng Jing to stand there alone. He waited a bit before deciding to follow behind. Before he left, however, he shook his head, picked up his horsetail whisk, and said, "Tsk. Testy boy. How do you lose a person?"
The door slammed, causing the room to vibrate and then fall silent. All that was left was the heavy breathing of Tao Hua, who tried to inch further away from Shan Si with each small, baby step.
But before he could, a hand grabbed his waist, pulling him back in, much closer than before. The heat was obnoxious and far too much to bear. Slumping against the pillar, he smothered his cheek against the wood and let out a loud, exhaustive groan.
With a light laugh—one that Tao Hua couldn't tell was either mocking or playful—Shan Si placed his other hand on his hip and bent forward, reaching Tao Hua's height as he stared at his side profile.
"Care to explain, Daoist Master Zhuan?"
Tao Hua refused to look at him. He closed his eyes, every part of him sinking into the worst, most embarrassing sensation possible.
The worst of it was he didn't know if he wanted to rip Shan Si's hand from his waist, or curl into it and hide away from all other things.
Chapter end.