Mist over Wutong Mountain

With great difficulty, the two finally climbed out of the bathtub. Fan Qiulin hastily grabbed a towel and wrapped herself up. Fan Qiuming stood to the side, coughing uncontrollably, having swallowed a considerable amount of bathwater—albeit unwillingly.

“Cough… cough… cough…”

As he caught his breath, Fan Qiuming gasped for air—he’d narrowly escaped drowning in bathwater, a fate unbefitting a former Immortal King.

Fan Qiulin’s face was flushed red. She hadn’t expected things to turn out this way; she’d only wanted to tease Fan Qiuming, but ended up having her chest grabbed by him—even if it had been unintentional.

Five minutes later…

Fan Qiulin sat on the sofa, dressed in a white dress, her expression full of apology. Fan Qiuming, having changed clothes, was toweling his damp hair.

“Brother… I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to…”

“Stop it. I’m not your brother—you’re my sister. I can’t accept the title ‘brother.’ Are you trying to usurp my place or something?” Fan Qiuming replied irritably.

“But… brother, I really know I was wrong. Please forgive me! Besides, you already touched everything you wanted to…”

Her voice trailed off to a whisper, her head dropping lower and her cheeks turning crimson.

Fan Qiuming felt as though he’d just returned from the brink of death, still shaken by how close he’d come to dying so absurdly.

“Forget it. I won’t blame you. Just don’t do that again.”

After all, he wasn’t entirely blameless himself and saw no point in pursuing the matter further.

“The feeling of a new lease on life is truly wonderful.”

Fan Qiuming sprawled on the sofa, savoring the beauty of the world.

By coincidence, Fan Qiulin turned on the TV, which was playing the day’s news from Peng City.

“In recent days, heavy fog has enveloped Wutong Mountain. Several tourists have gone missing, and rescue teams are searching tirelessly…”

“It seems the Divine Ruins are most likely on Wutong Mountain,” he murmured.

“Hm? Kidney deficiency? What kidney deficiency? Brother, do you have kidney problems?” Fan Qiulin eyed him suspiciously, her gaze full of disdain.

“Who said I have kidney problems? What nonsense are you spouting? And what’s with that look?”

Fan Qiuming could barely contain his indignation. A man’s reputation could not tolerate such accusations.

“Who told you that?”

“Then what were you just saying? I thought I heard you mention Wutong Mountain. Are you going there, brother?”

Her eyes shone with curiosity.

“Take me with you! I want to go too…”

“How does she have such sharp ears?” Fan Qiuming thought helplessly. A few words spoken at random, and she’d caught on.

“Who said I’m going to Wutong Mountain? I was just saying that things like this are hard to tell—Wutong Mountain is a tourist spot. It’s probably just hype.”

At this point, Fan Qiuming could only play along, leaving it to her whether to believe him or not.

“That’s possible… How boring. Brother, I’m hungry again…”

After all the commotion, Fan Qiulin’s stomach was rumbling.

“All you do is laze around all day, and you still get hungry so easily. Is your stomach a bottomless pit?”

Fan Qiuming was puzzled.

“But I barely ate at lunch! Just one piece of steak,” she replied, a little aggrieved.

Thinking back, Fan Qiuming realized she’d only had a single steak since morning. Perhaps he’d been too harsh.

“All right. Stay home and behave yourself. I’ll go buy groceries.”

Fan Qiuming got ready to leave.

“Don’t open the door to strangers, you understand?”

“I know, I’m not a child anymore.”

Fan Qiulin settled comfortably on the sofa, waiting for Fan Qiuming to return. Little Mian, the cat, emerged from the room and leaped onto the sofa.

Imitating Fan Qiulin, the cat stretched out lazily.

“Meow~”

Little Mian stretched and began grooming its fur.

Fan Qiulin stroked the cat, and it nestled into her embrace.

“Hehe, Mian, stop it, that tickles!”

She cuddled the cat, running her fingers through its fur as it purred contentedly.

Meanwhile, Fan Qiuming didn’t head for the market but instead arrived at the foot of Wutong Mountain.

The mountain’s peak was shrouded in dense fog, with faint signs of the mist creeping down the slopes. The concentration of spiritual energy here was several times that of the city, leaving Fan Qiuming feeling clear-headed and invigorated.

“This is the place—the Divine Ruins must be somewhere in this mountain.”

However, the entrance was now cordoned off by the police, with officers standing guard, so entering from the front was impossible.

Today, Fan Qiuming had no intention of going in—he was only scouting the area.

Just as he was about to leave, a furtive figure dashed through the woods, moving too quickly for the average eye to detect.

Fan Qiuming extended his spiritual sense, but the figure was moving so fast he had to expand his perception further and further—until, at 800 meters, he had to stop. This body could not support any wider range; pushing further would render him unconscious.

Within an 800-meter radius, nothing escaped his awareness—not even a falling leaf.

The figure paused briefly in a tree, then vanished. Even Fan Qiuming couldn’t pinpoint their position, but he was certain their destination was Wutong Mountain.

“It seems the families and wandering martial artists have found their way here.”

Withdrawing his spiritual sense, Fan Qiuming nearly lost his balance.

“I must train harder, or I won’t be able to stand firm in this world.”

With that, he turned away, buying groceries on his way home.

Back at the apartment, he found Fan Qiulin playing with Little Mian—girl and cat tumbling over each other on the sofa in a scene of utter chaos.

“All right, that’s enough. Settle down.”

Carrying vegetables in one hand and a sack of rice on his shoulder, Fan Qiuming headed into the kitchen. Preparing meals always fell to him.

In the living room, the two little troublemakers finally quieted down. By the time Fan Qiuming emerged from the kitchen, both were fast asleep on the sofa.

He shook his head in exasperation.

“They’ll catch a cold…”

He fetched a blanket from the room and draped it over Fan Qiulin.

Returning to the kitchen, he cooked rice, selected vegetables, cut meat, stir-fried dishes, and stewed soup…

Soon, the aroma of food wafted from the kitchen. Starving, Fan Qiulin awoke instantly at the delicious scent.

“Oh, you’re awake. I was just about to call you.”

“Can’t help it—your cooking always smells so good.”

“Always with the sweet talk. Go wash your hands, dinner’s almost ready.”

Fan Qiuming urged her.

“Okay! Hehe…”

With swift movements, Fan Qiulin transferred herself to her wheelchair and rolled off to the bathroom. Her paralyzed legs seemed no hindrance, though she only revealed this side to Fan Qiuming.

At the table, Fan Qiulin wasted no time piling meat into her mouth.

“Mmm… delicious…”

Her face radiated satisfaction. When she couldn’t reach a dish, Fan Qiuming placed it in her bowl himself.

“Slow down—no one’s going to take it from you.”

He smiled helplessly, unable to scold her for eating so ravenously.

“Girls should eat gracefully…”

“There’s no one else here—why hide my true nature? I just like eating big chunks of meat and rice.”

Fan Qiulin replied earnestly.

Fan Qiuming had to admit she had a point.

“By the way, I have some things to take care of over the next few days, so I might not be able to show you around Peng City.”

He put down his chopsticks, speaking seriously.

“And I might not return for several days, so I’d like to leave you in Cat Shiyi’s care. I want to hear your thoughts…”

Fan Qiulin froze, setting her bowl aside.

“Is it important?”

A hint of complaint and reluctance tinged her voice.

“Yes. Five days at most, then I’ll be back. After that, I’ll take you wherever you want.”

Fan Qiuming felt dispirited himself—they’d agreed he would accompany her, yet now he had to break his promise. But the figure he’d seen today forced him into action; if he delayed and the Divine Ruins truly were his Mingxuan Palace, the loss would be irreparable.

“Just come back soon, and be careful. And don’t go flirting around outside.”

She knew he probably had real business—after seeing his messages last time, she’d had her doubts, but now she couldn’t help but believe.

The brother before her was so different from the one she’d known.

“It’s all right, I’m not leaving tonight. Tomorrow morning, I’ll take you to Cat Shiyi’s.”

Fan Qiuming picked up his chopsticks again, smiling.

“Come on, eat up before it gets cold.”

“Okay!”

Fan Qiulin didn’t ask further—she trusted her brother’s judgment.

After dinner, Fan Qiulin sat on the sofa, holding Little Mian, her mood subdued as if lost in thought.

Fan Qiuming, having finished the dishes, noticed her expression and sat beside her, a little worried.

“Are you worried about me?”

“Who’s worried about you? Don’t flatter yourself…”

She turned her head away, puffing out her cheeks.

“Then what’s bothering you?”

“Hmph… I just don’t like it when you break your promises.”

Seeing her stubbornness, Fan Qiuming couldn’t help but find her adorable.

“I… never mind, I’m sure you’ll understand.”

He didn’t say more.

Night fell. Fan Qiuming was exercising, now able to do over five hundred push-ups in a row. When he could go no further, he sat cross-legged on the bed, practicing breath control, expelling impurities, nourishing his energy, and tempering his body.

Just then, there was a knock at his door.

“Brother… can I come in?”

Fan Qiulin’s voice came from outside.

“Yes, come in.”

She rolled in slowly in her wheelchair.

“What is it now? Afraid of something again?”

Fan Qiuming didn’t move, remaining seated.

“No, just not used to a new environment.”

“You always have an excuse.”

Fan Qiulin came to the bedside in her wheelchair and climbed directly into bed.

“Your bed always feels softer…”

“It’s just your imagination.”

Fan Qiuming stayed where he was, but Fan Qiulin suddenly hugged him from behind.

“Hugging my brother makes me feel safe.”

She wore only a nightgown; Fan Qiuming felt the softness against his back but remained unmoved.

“Go to sleep. Staying up late is bad for you—you might grow a mustache.”

“Mm.”

Fan Qiulin let go, lying on the bed with a sense of relief and soon drifting off.

In her sleep, she unconsciously rolled over behind Fan Qiuming. When he tried to move her back toward the head of the bed, she suddenly wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, mumbling, “Brother… don’t leave… I know… I’ll tell you… a secret, actually… I…”

He didn’t pay her sleep talk any mind. Now he couldn’t sleep, nor could he meditate with someone clinging to him.

He sighed. “Forget it. A good night’s sleep will do me good for what’s to come.”

Fan Qiuming lay down, leaving enough space for Fan Qiulin and taking the edge of the bed for himself.

The next morning, when Fan Qiuming awoke, he found himself on the floor while Fan Qiulin had nearly taken over the entire bed.

Checking the time—Monday, already past nine—he guessed Cat Shiyi had gone to class. Although the college entrance exams were over, high school students still had final exams and had to attend school.

With no choice, he decided to wait until she returned at noon.