Chapter 465 – My Master Is Not Human – We Are Dao Companions (12)
Bai Tang’s confusion did not last long, because he soon noticed the many delicacies stored inside the little pouch’s storage space. Among them, the thing he loved most—pine nuts—appeared in the greatest quantity, prepared in all kinds of ways. Just looking at them was enough to make one’s mouth water.
He found a tree stump to sit on, pulled out some pine nuts from the pouch, and began munching on them. The rich fragrance lingering on his lips and teeth made him narrow his eyes in satisfaction with a cheerful smile. “Do you two want some as well?” Although Bai Tang was reluctant to share, seeing how the two of them had cried like children earlier made him want to comfort them a little.
Stop crying already. He really did not like people clinging to his legs.
The two had more or less calmed down from their excitement. The moment they saw what Bai Tang was offering, they both shook their heads at the same time. They had already taken fasting pills and no longer needed ordinary food. Moreover, cultivators who consumed too much mortal food would easily accumulate impurities in their bodies. Besides, it was obvious at a glance that the roasted tea-flavored pine nuts had been specially made by Junior Brother Pei for master. How could they waste Junior Brother Pei’s heartfelt effort?
Since they refused, Bai Tang did not insist. If they did not eat any, that just meant he could eat a few more himself. Hehe, delicious. There just was not enough of them. He did not know how to make them either, so he had to savor them sparingly.
None of them felt there was anything strange about eating and chatting merrily beneath the suspended demonic cultivators. Bai Tang simply did not know any better—after all, ignorance breeds fearlessness. The fact that those demonic cultivators had remained tied up this whole time without being able to break free showed that their abilities were mediocre at best. As for the other two disciples, they blindly trusted Bai Tang. With master present, what threat could a few minor demonic cultivators possibly pose?
Although Bai Tang had lost his past memories, he had still transmigrated through several worlds before. In every world, he had stayed by the side of the male protagonist, one of heaven’s favored sons. Through constant exposure, he had naturally picked up a thing or two. For example, he now tried to fish for information. His skills at coaxing information out of people were admittedly terrible, but the two disciples did not suspect anything. For their usually aloof master—who had only recently developed an interest in delicious food—they carefully selected a few major events that had taken place in the cultivation world and within the Le’an Immortal Sect over recent years.
As the two spoke, they became emotional again. Master treated them far too well. A man who had never cared for gossip or worldly affairs was now actually asking about mortal matters. Once they left this place, they would definitely cultivate diligently and repay master for his kindness.
Bai Tang: “…”
What was wrong with these two kids?!
Through their explanations, Bai Tang finally gained a basic understanding of this world. However, he still did not know his own name. The two disciples did not dare address him by name, while he himself was too cowardly to ask.
They did not remain there for long. The secret realm only stayed open for a limited time. Rather than standing around reminiscing, it was better to walk while talking. Who knew—they might come across heavenly spiritual herbs left behind by ancient seniors or growing naturally within the secret realm.
Yes, under Bai Tang’s leadership, Medicine Peak had become increasingly disinterested in fighting. Their hearts were devoted solely to growing herbs and refining pills. While others cultivated, they cultivated. While others trained through combat, they farmed. There were countless ways to cultivate—who could say that farming and tending medicinal herbs was not a form of cultivation as well?
Cultivation was not solely dependent on one’s level of power; one’s state of mind was equally important. The medicine cultivators of Medicine Peak possessed the calmest temperaments among all the disciples of the Le’an Immortal Sect. They were also the least entangled in karma and encountered fewer obstacles in their cultivation. Their only flaw was that they stayed cooped up for too long and rarely ventured outside, causing their experience and knowledge to grow rather slowly.
Not long after Bai Tang and the others left, a man in black robes arrived before the three suspended demonic cultivators and used a Black Demon Blade to cut through the vines.
The three crashed heavily onto the ground, yet none of them dared cry out in pain before the black-robed man. Their trembling bodies were caused not only by the pain of the fall, but also by their fear of him.
“Trash,” the black-robed man cursed disdainfully.
The three opposite him cowered like quails, not daring to utter a single word in protest.
The black-robed man picked up one of the vines from the ground and glanced at it before letting out a sinister laugh.
Le’an Immortal Sect. Medicine Peak.
He would definitely repay the humiliation of being driven away that day.
Bai Tang and the other two walked from dawn until nightfall. The disciples following him did not think there was anything strange about master choosing to travel on foot instead of flying on swords. Cultivation tempered the heart as well as the body—perhaps this was another lesson master wished to teach them.
If Bai Tang still had his memories and learned what they were thinking, he would definitely tell them they were overthinking things. He had been using a free-range teaching policy these past few years anyway, so what exactly had he taught them? He was simply wandering around because he did not know the way.
Fortunately, they found a stone cave. With the night growing deep and heavy with dew, the three decided to rest there for the night and continue their journey at dawn.
Late at night, while the two disciples still slept soundly, Bai Tang quietly slipped out of the cave on tiptoe. He took a deep breath. The air was thick with moisture, and the sky held neither stars nor moon. Large clouds drifted overhead, signaling that a violent storm was about to arrive.
Bai Tang shivered.
He did not understand why he had suddenly run outside in the middle of the night instead of sleeping peacefully, but he felt an inexplicable sense of anticipation—a joyful feeling pulling at him. Following that instinctive sensation, he had unconsciously walked out of the cave.
But there was nothing outside.
It was not even as good as the cave, which at least sheltered them from the wind and rain.
Bai Tang could not make sense of his own strange behavior no matter how much he thought about it. Forget it. He should just go back to sleep.
Just as he turned around to reenter the cave, someone suddenly embraced him from behind. An intoxicating wave of hormones washed over him—familiar, reassuring, and filled with safety. The joy deep within his heart instantly swelled to its peak.
Pei Boyi let out a soft sigh. His deep, magnetic voice brushed against Bai Tang’s ears like feathers, tickling all the way to his heart.
“Tang Tang, I’ve found you.”
Tang Tang, I’ve found you.
The man held tightly onto the treasure he had once lost and finally regained. Filling his senses was Tang Tang’s unique scent—a sweet, milky pine nut fragrance.
But in the very next second, the young man’s soft and gentle voice shattered Pei Boyi’s joy.
Bai Tang asked, “Who are you?”
Who are you?
Who… was he?
Pei Boyi’s body stiffened. He loosened his hold slightly, allowing Bai Tang to turn around. A shy blush still lingered on the young man’s face as he looked at him carefully, confusion and unease flickering in his eyes.
“Young Master… did you mistake me for someone else?”
Bai Tang did feel something for Pei Boyi. The moment he had been embraced from behind, his heartbeat had started racing uncontrollably. Even without seeing the man’s face, he knew he had already fallen for the man behind him.
But he remembered nothing.
And now, with the night so dark, it was possible someone had mistaken him for another person… right?
What if Pei Boyi really had the wrong person?
Pei Boyi, however, was certain the youth before him was his Tang Tang. There was joy and affection in Bai Tang’s eyes, mixed with a trace of nervousness.
As long as Tang Tang still loved him, that was enough.
Pei Boyi’s expression softened as he said gently, “Relax. Trust me. Let me take a look, alright?”
Bai Tang nodded and truly relaxed his mind, allowing Pei Boyi to enter his spiritual domain.
Pei Boyi carefully examined Bai Tang’s spiritual sea and soon discovered a barrier within his mind. All of Tang Tang’s memories had been sealed behind it.
Fortunately, he himself was unharmed.
Pei Boyi wrapped his arms around Bai Tang once more.
“It’s enough that you’re safe. If you can’t remember, then don’t force yourself to. Let’s get to know each other again. My name is Pei Boyi. Your name is Bai Tang… and we are dao companions about to be bonded.”
Bai Tang was no longer the ignorant person who had just awakened a few days ago knowing nothing. Naturally, he understood what dao companion meant.
He shyly turned his face away. The joy in his heart spread across his cheeks like flowing water, quickly staining them red with blush, yet his words remained stubbornly contrary to his feelings.
“How do I know whether what you’re saying is true or false?”
No one understood Bai Tang better than Pei Boyi. How could he doubt Bai Tang’s trust in him over a single questioning sentence?
He leaned closer to Bai Tang. The suddenly enlarged handsome face before him left Bai Tang momentarily dazed, followed immediately by an even fiercer pounding of his heart.
S-so useless…
Why was his heart beating this fast?
The surroundings were utterly silent. Bai Tang could hear the thunderous pounding of his own heartbeat so clearly that it felt as though the burning organ would leap straight out of his chest in the next moment.
Pei Boyi slowly moved closer and gently brushed against Bai Tang’s lips.
“Tang Tang, we are dao companions.”
What followed was a lingering, tender kiss.
At some point, the wind had quieted. Moonlight broke through the thick clouds, spilling down in faint silver rays. Borrowing the moonlight to witness the scene below, the Heavenly Dao immediately covered its face with both hands and hid back inside the clouds.
It was still just a child—why did it have to witness something like this?
Before they had officially held a wedding ceremony, Pei Boyi was unwilling to wrong Bai Tang in any way. After lingering tenderly with him for a long while, he finally carried the bashful little squirrel Tang Tang back into the stone cave.
When he noticed the other two people inside the cave, Pei Boyi raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly but said nothing. He simply turned around and selected the best spot in the cave. From his storage space, he took out fine bedding and layered several thick quilts before gently placing the little squirrel on top of them.
The moment the little squirrel touched the blankets, he instinctively rolled toward the inner side, leaving the outer edge for his husband.
Watching Bai Tang’s smooth and familiar actions, Pei Boyi let out a low chuckle. Even if Tang Tang had forgotten everything, the habits etched deep into his bones could not be changed.
“Sleep. I won’t leave,” Pei Boyi said as his fingers gently stroked along the little squirrel’s back.
The little squirrel closed his eyes in satisfaction and drifted off to sleep, thinking that today had truly been an incredibly lucky day. He had rescued his companions, learned more about the cultivation world, and reunited with the dao companion from whom he had been separated. Most importantly, his dao companion genuinely liked him—not the kind of dao companion from those legends who merely paired up to improve their cultivation.
The little squirrel covered his face.
His dao companion had even kissed him.
Three times.
It was simply too embarrassing for a little squirrel.
The blankets were warm and soft, far better than sleeping out in the open exposed to the elements. Before long, the little squirrel fell into a deep sleep, the occasional smile curving his lips revealing that he was having a wonderful dream.
A heavy rainstorm fell during the latter half of the night. The dark clouds lingered stubbornly, and even after dawn, the sky showed no sign of clearing.
The two disciples woke up refreshed and energetic. But the moment they saw their little junior brother resting while holding master in his arms, they were so shocked that they stood there dumbfounded.
Were they still dreaming, or was the Daji Secret Realm simply too fantastical?
How could they possibly be seeing Little Junior Brother sleeping while embracing master? This was utter disrespect! And when had Little Junior Brother even arrived? He had not been there before they fell asleep last night.
Sure enough, they must still be dreaming.
Unfortunately, that belief did not last long.
The moment Bai Tang turned over, Pei Boyi woke up as well. He slowly sat up and casually cast a spell, erasing the scene they had just witnessed from the two disciples’ memories. Then he ordered them to wait outside the cave.
Pei Boyi lovingly kissed Bai Tang’s forehead.
Thankfully, he had the foresight last night to dress Tang Tang when he had transformed back into human form while half-asleep. Otherwise, if the two disciples had seen Tang Tang’s body, he would not merely have erased their memories—he would have killed them on the spot.