Chapter 64: Dark Alley
"‘Chronicles of Demons and Wonders in Guanzhong,’ ‘Literature of the Han River,’ ‘Beilin Collection’..." Jiang Hong noticed some books didn’t even have covers.
"How did you find them? Did you use the All-Encompassing Book?" Lu Xiu asked.
"Yes," Jiang Hong replied. "Shouldn’t I have used it?"
Jiang Hong was also worried that the enemy might trace the usage of the All-Encompassing Book, a magic treasure, and that could bring trouble if they attracted enemies. Lu Xiu then said, "Try to use it less when you’re not with me. Look around, are there any more?"
"That's all." Jiang Hong used the All-Encompassing Book to search the entire documentation center, finding only these eleven books in the end.
The two of them, carrying the stack of books, went to the library's rest area. In the café, where only they were present, Lu Xiu ordered coffee and sandwiches, and they carefully examined the old books together.
Why do these emit a faint glow? Jiang Hong, holding the fragile pages with utmost care, spread them out and took photos.
"Looking at their types," Lu Xiu mused to himself, "there’s nothing particularly unusual."
They quickly skimmed through the contents of the eleven books, ranging from geomancy and ghost stories to local chronicles, biographies of minor figures, and even a book on astrology. The only commonality, if any, was a hint of metaphysics.
"Could it be the authors?" Jiang Hong suggested.
"Quite possible," Lu Xiu replied, glancing at the authors' names and then connecting to the university's database on his phone to search their lives. "This Zhang Da was once an exorcist."
"And this one?" Jiang Hong flipped to another.
Lu Xiu: "Also."
"This?"
"All of them," Lu Xiu replied, comparing the authors' names.
So the conclusion was obvious, Jiang Hong said: "The only commonality is that they were written by exorcists."
"Hmm," Lu Xiu agreed.
Jiang Hong looked seriously at the books while Lu Xiu quietly watched him. After flipping back and forth, Jiang Hong couldn’t find any useful information and had to give up.
Lu Xiu suggested, "Let's stop thinking about it and do something else."
"No," Jiang Hong persisted, still looking at the book "Beilin Collection," while Lu Xiu began to gather the books to return them.
"Instead of wasting time here, we might as well go for a walk," Lu Xiu clearly didn't want to dwell on this matter any longer.
"Let me look a bit more..." Jiang Hong said.
Lu Xiu, holding Jiang Hong's hand, said, "Let’s go!"
Jiang Hong was still sitting, and Lu Xiu was standing. They were holding hands in a strange stalemate. Jiang Hong said, "Let go... let go of my hand..."
Suddenly, a group of elementary school students led by a teacher burst into the library. Seeing the two in this state, Lu Xiu immediately let go of Jiang Hong's hand. Jiang Hong had no choice but to pack up the books, complete the borrowing process, and obediently follow Lu Xiu out.
On the vast lawn behind the library, the sunlight was brilliant in early summer. Many people were already wearing short sleeves, and there was a gentle breeze.
"Where do you want to go?" Jiang Hong asked.
"Anywhere is fine," Lu Xiu replied.
Jiang Hong: "Then why not stay in the library?"
Lu Xiu: "No reason."
Jiang Hong stepped forward to pinch Lu Xiu's ear, but Lu Xiu turned his head to avoid it, then suddenly scooped Jiang Hong into his arms.
"Ah..." Just as Jiang Hong was about to ask "What are you doing?" Lu Xiu tightened his hold, pressing Jiang Hong close to his body, with both of them clinging tightly together.
Before Jiang Hong could speak, Lu Xiu transformed into a black dragon and soared into the sky!
In the shadow of the massive library building, the black dragon appeared only for an instant before vanishing into the blue sky, turning into a black dot that disappeared into the white clouds. It wasn't until the mist brushed past his face that Jiang Hong began to scream.
"Aaaahhh—"
"We only have five minutes."
The black dragon flipped in the air, letting Jiang Hong ride atop its head. Jiang Hong, already accustomed to such experiences and using skateboard skills learned from Lianjiang, slightly leaned to the side for balance and held onto the dragon's horns, gliding through the clouds like surfing.
"There!" Jiang Hong shouted, "Let's go there!"
The black dragon, carrying Jiang Hong, flew towards the TV tower. Mid-air, Jiang Hong looked down upon the vast lands of Xi'an, the majestic Qinling Mountains, the city on the plains, and the surrounding villages—all so tiny, illustrating the insignificance of the world humans have carved out in nature.
As they descended towards the TV tower, the black dragon transformed back into human form. Lu Xiu, holding Jiang Hong, landed gracefully on the top of the broadcasting tower.
Birds flew by as the two sat atop the TV tower, with Lu Xiu lying down and Jiang Hong sitting beside him.
The wind blew in gusts, at times strong enough to lift Jiang Hong’s coat.
Lu Xiu, facing the sky, stretched out his hand and said, "Doesn’t it feel like we’re close to the sky here?"
"Yeah," Jiang Hong replied, "just like in Tibet, as if you could touch the sky by simply reaching out."
Lu Xiu turned to look at Jiang Hong and said, "I didn’t want you to spend more time in the library because I want to cherish every day we have together."
Hearing this, Jiang Hong’s ears turned red, thinking: Ahh, what kind of sweet talk is this?
Lu Xiu continued, "If the inevitable battle comes, it’s destined. I will fight with all my might."
Jiang Hong said, "You will definitely defeat him."
Lu Xiu, as if he hadn’t heard, stared into the sky, lost in thought. Jiang Hong added, "We will find a way. I think he must have a weakness, maybe his weakness is also your weakness?"
Lu Xiu: "......"
Lu Xiu remained distracted, staring at the sky.
"Lu Xiu?" Jiang Hong said, "Are you listening? You can definitely defeat him!"
"Who?" Lu Xiu came back to reality and asked, "Him?"
Jiang Hong said, "Yes, we're talking about the same person, right? The clone of yourself."
Lu Xiu hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then just nodded.
At that moment, his phone rang with a message. Lu Xiu took out his phone to reply, while Jiang Hong took out the book to read atop the tower, being extremely careful not to let the pages scatter in the wind.
"Still reading, what are you researching?" Lu Xiu asked after replying to the message.
Jiang Hong seriously replied, "I found a term 'inner demon.' The author, in this section's annotation, also mentioned 'overcoming another self,' so I thought it might be useful?"
"What conclusion have you reached?"
"The birth of the 'inner demon' originates from one’s own obsessions."
"That’s the same principle Chen Zhen and Principal Cao often talk about."
"Without obsessions, there will be no inner demons," Jiang Hong answered. "That makes sense, the stronger the obsession, the stronger the inner demon it creates, so strong that even oneself cannot defeat it... Hmm, it seems logical."
Lu Xiu stopped talking and sent another message.
Jiang Hong said, "So, overcoming oneself is also about defeating the inner demon, especially when the inner demon takes a physical form. The author believes that the demon race is more accustomed to battling inner demons than the human race."
"Why?" Lu Xiu didn't look up, typing rapidly, and asked.
"Because the demon race is more willing to acknowledge the existence of inner demons, they tend to accept that there is an inherently evil aspect in their souls. This evil is innate and coexists with their cultivation," Jiang Hong said after a long look. "But it’s not necessarily the same with humans, maybe because of the burden of maintaining a virtuous image? It's a long story if I go into details..."
Lu Xiu: "I'd like to hear more."
Jiang Hong: "The author believes it's a historical phenomenon left over from human cultural teachings. For example, Confucianism promotes noble morals, rejecting negative character traits, aiming to be saint-like. Humans are seen as a blank slate at birth, and discussing desires is shameful... Such notions lead to the idea that acknowledging the 'evil' in one's character is also shameful. Generally, people are reluctant to admit the existence of inner demons... Like asking about obsessions? I don't have any... Who are you texting?"
"To my master," Lu Xiu answered succinctly, then casually took a photo and sent it to the person he was contacting.
Jiang Hong made an "Oh" sound and asked, "What's he doing?"
Lu Xiu said, "He's asking where we are."
Jiang Hong laughed: "He must be quite bored."
When Jiang Hong and Lu Xiu were together, the only person Lu Xiu would text back was Cao Bin.
"Doesn't he usually go out for fun?" Jiang Hong was curious, thinking someone like Cao Bin, an elder brother figure, should have many good friends.
"He does," Lu Xiu put his phone aside and replied, "On holidays in the past, he used to take me out."
"Oh, so it's because of me," Jiang Hong realized.
Lu Xiu said, "He doesn’t mind, he won't take it to heart. He and Teacher Keda have gone out. Continue, I'm listening."
Jiang Hong forgot where he had left off and asked, "What does he need from you?"
"He wants me to help him find a fox that escaped from the demon race's sacred land," Lu Xiu replied, "They suspect it's related to some recent incidents."
"Shall we go check it out?" Jiang Hong suggested.
"If you want to go, we can," Lu Xiu hadn't yet agreed to Cao Bin's request, "They find it inconvenient to intervene."
Jiang Hong understood; Cao Bin was human, while Lu Xiu was a dragon. Logically, Cao Bin shouldn't get involved in matters of the demon race.
"Let's go," Jiang Hong said, "Where is it?"
Lu Xiu showed Jiang Hong the message on his phone, which included a photo and the last known location of the fox. He said, "We’ll go after nightfall. The demon race's guard will be lowered when it gets dark. Let’s go find a place for dinner first."
At dusk, Xi'an welcomed its busiest time of the year. The climate was pleasant and the night sky clear. The sun had not yet completely set, but stars were already twinkling in the purplish sky. On a whim, Jiang Hong decided to buy shoes for Lu Xiu, and they tried on shoes in a shop. He noticed that Lu Xiu often liked things of the human race, including but not limited to clothes, sports shoes, headphones – things that college guys typically fancied.
Sometimes, Jiang Hong completely forgot that Lu Xiu was actually a dragon. He was no different from a young college student.
"Can I buy the same color as yours?" Jiang Hong also liked the sports shoes Lu Xiu had chosen.
"Of course, you can," Lu Xiu said, puzzled, "Why not?"
Jiang Hong hesitated, saying, "Because they’re like couple shoes, but there’s a discount, the second pair is 30% off... If you mind, I can buy another model, though the red and blue one looks pretty good..."
Lu Xiu: "......"
Lu Xiu glanced at Jiang Hong in confusion, and after a moment, both of their faces turned a bit red. Lu Xiu suddenly said, "That's great, I want to wear couple shoes with you."
So, Jiang Hong happily went to pay. At the counter, his mind wandered. He had wanted this model since last year, the couple's version in red and blue, just like his and Lu Xiu's headphones. Back then, he had dreamt of getting into college, finding a cute and pretty girlfriend, and buying her couple sports shoes.
It turned out he ended up buying them with another guy.
Jiang Hong mused on life's unpredictability. After going back to the hotel with Lu Xiu to organize their things, they headed out to eat.
He noticed that Lu Xiu really cherished the things he gave him, whether it was the headphones or the shoes. Lu Xiu used them very carefully, filled with fondness.
What was Lu Xiu’s inner demon?
The first step in overcoming an inner demon is to confront it head-on – Jiang Hong now believed that their trip to the library had been very fruitful; at least he had learned a lot.
"Do you have any weaknesses?" Jiang Hong asked.
Lu Xiu: "..."
As the crawfish was served, Jiang Hong started peeling them, while Lu Xiu simply poked them with chopsticks, separating the shell from the meat.
"Eating crawfish is best when you do it yourself!" Jiang Hong said. "This way is just too lazy!"
So Lu Xiu began using his hands.
"What's your weakness?" Jiang Hong asked again.
Lu Xiu's weakness would naturally be the same as the replicated Lu Xiu’s. Jiang Hong assumed that the Blinding Faction, in creating another him, would also replicate his weaknesses.
Lu Xiu glanced at Jiang Hong. Just as Jiang Hong was about to explain the theory, Lu Xiu interrupted him.
Lu Xiu said, "What's your weakness?"
Realizing his impulsiveness, Jiang Hong said, "Actually, I don't really need to ask... I mean, revealing one's weaknesses to others is indeed a challenge for even the mightiest. My weakness is probably just being too weak."
Jiang Hong felt that from head to toe, he was all weaknesses; his life was a collection of vulnerabilities.
Suddenly, a heavy rain started during dinner, turning the rainwater into a curtain hanging over the big tent where they were eating crawfish. After settling the bill, Lu Xiu and Jiang Hong couldn't leave, so they sat under the waterfall-like rain curtain to watch the rain. As more people came in to take shelter, Jiang Hong gave up his chair for them and sat on Lu Xiu's lap.
"Clouds gather to bring rain, dew forms frost," Jiang Hong mused, recalling a Thousand Character Classic he learned in childhood. He casually brushed Lu Xiu's cheek, asking, "They say 'clouds follow the dragon,' can dragons really summon or stop the rain? Can you stop it?"
Lu Xiu: "?"
"Dragons can bring rain, but can they stop it too?" Jiang Hong began to expand on his theoretical knowledge.
"No," Lu Xiu seriously answered Jiang Hong's question, saying, "They can only bring rain, not stop it."
"Uh," Jiang Hong thought. But isn't rain a natural phenomenon caused by water vapor condensing upon cooling? How does a dragon bringing rain fit into this?
Seeming to sense his confusion, Lu Xiu explained, "Dragons can use their spiritual power to condense the water vapor in clouds, like a magnetic field. But this rain won’t last too long; it will stop soon."
Jiang Hong asked, "Oh, can you communicate with the rain?"
Lu Xiu: "My phone has a weather forecast pop-up."
Jiang Hong: "..."
As predicted, the rain stopped. After nightfall, Xi'an's vibrancy truly began. The streets were dotted with puddles, like mirrors shattered into countless pieces, reflecting the twinkling neon lights. In the bar street, the colorful lights danced and refracted across the mirror surfaces, creating a kaleidoscopic dream.
Following the location sent to his phone, Lu Xiu led Jiang Hong into a dark alley.
Jiang Hong looked around curiously, visiting such a place for the first time, as if entering a wholly different Xi'an.
"What are you looking at?" Lu Xiu asked.
"Nothing much," Jiang Hong observed the surroundings and remarked, "Some places in Xi'an are even more cyberpunk than Chongqing."
Just a few streets away was the Great Tang All Day Mall, but the dark alleys of the bar street were lined with internet and electrical cables, internet cafes on the second floor, and street vendors pushing carts selling stir-fried noodles.
Lu Xiu said, "It should be this place. The last known location of our target is here, according to the display."
Jiang Hong glanced at the photo showing a handsome young man with slightly fox-like features in his eyes. Below was a resume sent by Cao Bin — a little fox that had escaped from a sacred place.
"Let's go in and check," Lu Xiu pushed open the door, and Jiang Hong followed closely. They entered the bar through the back door, greeted by roaring music. The lights dimmed and then brightened, sweeping across them as they walked onto the stage.
Jiang Hong had been to bars in Chongqing a few times, mostly with classmates, and also to dance clubs. He lost interest after a few visits due to the noise and lack of activities, preferring escape rooms, immersive theatre, or movies.
A waiter noticed them and said something to Lu Xiu, who waved his hand dismissively.
"No reservation, we'll have to share a table!" Lu Xiu told Jiang Hong.
Jiang Hong indicated it was fine, understanding that it was normal to be crowded during the holiday season. The bar was incredibly busy, teeming with people and buzzing with an exceptionally lively atmosphere.
The waiter looked around, picked up a menu board, and started searching for a spot for them.
"Jiang Hong—" Suddenly a voice called out, "Is that Jiang Hong?"
"Ah!" Jiang Hong turned around and immediately recognized an old acquaintance, Lian Jiang! Lian Jiang stood up from a circular booth, waving at them to come over.
Lu Xiu, who had been on a mission with Lian Jiang, nodded at him, and Jiang Hong excitedly said, "Didn't expect to see you here! Are you alone?"
Lian Jiang shouted back, "I'm waiting for a friend! He's gone to the restroom."
Lu Xiu handed the menu board to Jiang Hong, signaling him to order drinks, while scanning the crowd for someone.
Lian Jiang gestured to his ear, and Jiang Hong leaned in to hear better. Lu Xiu pulled him back to his side, signaling not to lean in too far. Jiang Hong ordered a light drink for himself and a whiskey for Lu Xiu, then asked Lian Jiang, "Do you come here often?"
"Not that often."
The music then stopped, and Jiang Hong could converse normally, saying, "It's our first time here."
"How did you find this place?" asked Lian Jiang.
Jiang Hong glanced at Lu Xiu, uncertain whether to disclose their mission. Lian Jiang, assuming Lu Xiu had brought him, nodded in understanding.
The drinks were served.
Jiang Hong said, "This bar..."
Lian Jiang raised his glass towards Jiang Hong and smiled ambiguously.
Jiang Hong was about to comment on the bar's ambiance, but as he turned his head, he suddenly noticed two guys hugging each other in another booth.
Jiang Hong: "???"
Curiously, Jiang Hong stared at them, his gaze drifting past Lu Xiu. Meanwhile, Lu Xiu, looking bemused, clinked his whiskey glass with Jiang Hong's.
Jiang Hong gestured to Lu Xiu, "What are they doing?"
Lian Jiang glanced over and said, "Kissing."
Lu Xiu: "Kissing, what about it?"
Jiang Hong: "..."
The music started again, and three shirtless men took to the stage, beginning a ladder-climbing performance.
Jiang Hong: "………………"
At that moment, Lian Jiang's friend returned, a young man about his age. Surprised to see two more people, he greeted them warmly after Lian Jiang whispered an explanation in his ear, and kissed Lian Jiang on the cheek.
Jiang Hong: "！！！！！！"
While greeting them, Jiang Hong witnessed this scene and was visibly shocked.
Jiang Hong exclaimed, "This is a gay bar! This is a gay bar, isn't it?!"
He turned to Lu Xiu, "I can't believe this is a gay bar..."
Lu Xiu: "I know it's a gay bar."
Jiang Hong stammered, "This this this... a gay bar is..."
Lu Xiu: "I know this is a gay bar! And I know what a gay bar is!"
Jiang Hong: "Oh, you actually know? Well, that's okay then... wait, Lian Jiang, you're gay? Oh, but that's fine..." Jiang Hong glanced again at Lian Jiang, who was now playing dice, seemingly indifferent to his "friend".
Jiang Hong thought to himself, I had no idea!
Lu Xiu continued his search for someone, the dim lights of the bar obscuring most of his view from the booth. He didn't want to stand up and was deep in thought.
Jiang Hong quickly calmed down, realizing that everyone else seemed normal and it was only he who was overreacting, standing out awkwardly. It felt like, "There's a straight guy, no, two straight guys among us." Now he was the minority, and as such, needed to be tactful.
He took another look at Lian Jiang and his "friend." Lian Jiang asked, "When did you return to Xi'an?"
"Friend" appeared to be an ordinary person, so Lian Jiang refrained from discussing exorcists and school matters with Jiang Hong. "Last week," replied Jiang Hong. "I totally didn't realize it!"
"Didn't realize what?" Lian Jiang asked.
Jiang Hong pointed at Lian Jiang, raising his eyebrows suggestively. Understanding, Lian Jiang laughed, "You and Teacher Lu... I did have my... suspicions about you two!"
"Uh," Jiang Hong said, "No, no, it's not what you think, I'll explain when we go back..."
Lu Xiu, exuding a commanding presence, rested one hand on the back of the sofa behind Jiang Hong, while holding a whiskey glass in the other. His attention was clearly elsewhere.
"Wow," said the "friend," "Are you... a teacher?"
Jiang Hong asked, "Who's the teacher?"
The music was so loud, interspersed with the host's boisterous cheers, that Jiang Hong couldn't hear clearly. He pointed at Lu Xiu, causing Lian Jiang to burst into laughter. Jiang Hong added, "Him?"
The music stopped abruptly, bringing a sudden silence.
The other person exclaimed, "Your husband!"
Jiang Hong almost simultaneously responded, "Yes!"
His answer was meant for the previous question, "Is he a teacher?" but it inadvertently followed the latter, "Your husband?" This is why sudden silences can be so tricky.
Lu Xiu glanced at Jiang Hong.
Jiang Hong: "……………………"
Jiang Hong immediately tried to explain, but the deafening music resumed.
Lian Jiang gestured for Jiang Hong to join in dice rolling. Jiang Hong leaned in toward Lu Xiu, whispering, "I didn't hear what he was saying..."
Lu Xiu, with one arm around Jiang Hong, whispered back into his ear, "I can't see the target, but I can sense their presence. They're nearby."
As Jiang Hong turned his head, he almost kissed Lu Xiu. They were too close, and Jiang Hong quickly pulled back, his heart racing and feeling unexpectedly nervous.
"Should I... should I use the Book of Everything?"
"No need for that," replied Lu Xiu.
The music stopped again, and Lian Jiang said with a smile, "Won't you join in and kiss too? After all, this is a gay bar!"
Lu Xiu remained silent, merely glancing at Lian Jiang, whose 'friendly' gaze was fixed solely on Jiang Hong.
"We don't need to conform here," Jiang Hong responded, but seeing the intimate behavior of the boys around, he felt surprisingly at ease.
Jiang Hong never found it awkward for two men to love each other, especially clean and handsome ones, finding a unique beauty in it.
"We could join in," Jiang Hong suddenly laughed, a silly idea striking him. He leaned in, and Lu Xiu, thinking he was going to say something, turned his ear, only for Jiang Hong to gently kiss it.
Lu Xiu: "!!!"
Lu Xiu's face turned red instantly, while Jiang Hong laughed heartily, lying on the table and shyly turning to look at Lu Xiu. He indeed liked Lu Xiu very much, a feeling of admiration stemming from his teenage years for a handsome boy who was also a powerful dragon, which started anew when they met again in Chongqing.
Sometimes emotions are hard to express, and Jiang Hong would cling and fumble, acting like a little brother seeking affection.
The feeling of the kiss was that Lu Xiu's ear was very warm.
Lu Xiu didn't react much, just pinched his ear a couple of times, acting as if nothing had happened, treating it as one of Jiang Hong's pranks.
Lian Jiang suggested, "Let's play Truth or Dare!"
Lu Xiu waved his hand, saying, "Next time, I have some things to do."
The dance floor cleared, lights started flashing, and the DJ played music, prompting everyone to start dancing.
Lu Xiu pulled Jiang Hong's hand, signaling him to follow, and Jiang Hong followed him onto the dance floor.
As the music started, Jiang Hong asked, "Can you dance?"
Lu Xiu replied, "No, will you teach me?"
Jiang Hong said, "Dancing with a dragon, that’s so weird!"
Lu Xiu wrapped his arms around Jiang Hong to prevent him from being bumped into and said in a low voice, "Keep it down!"
Lian Jiang also came in, but Jiang Hong noticed that Lu Xiu turned his head, focusing on something in the distance — he had found their target. Jiang Hong followed Lu Xiu's gaze and saw the demon they were looking for, talking with someone else at the bar.
At that moment, Lu Xiu turned around, allowing Jiang Hong to clearly see the target.
"He's leaving," Jiang Hong said.
Lu Xiu whispered, "Let’s go too, from the other side."
The "fox boy" seemed a bit upset, leaving the bar. The man who was originally at the bar tried to hold his hand but was shrugged off, and the target exited through the back door.
Jiang Hong immediately grabbed Lu Xiu's hand and followed the target out of the bar.
Back in the dark alley, there were several couples, some buying fried noodles at the snack stand, others smoking and chatting in the alley.
The target boy ran a few steps and stopped near the exit of the alley. The man caught up, quietly explaining something, repeatedly reaching out to hold his hand but was brushed off.
At the same time, Jiang Hong and Lu Xiu also ran out.
Hearing the noise, the man turned his head. Lu Xiu immediately wrapped his arms around Jiang Hong, turned around, and executed a wall slam, pressing him against the wall.
Jiang Hong: "..."
Jiang Hong was sneakily glancing at the target with the corner of his eye, but Lu Xiu covered his cheek with his other hand, forcefully turning him to face himself.
Jiang Hong tilted his head slightly to meet Lu Xiu's gaze, their breaths mingling.
"Foxes are very alert," Lu Xiu whispered softly, "don't look at him, I'm watching."
Jiang Hong nodded, his mind suddenly blank, unsure if it was the alcohol or Lu Xiu's overwhelming presence, but at that moment, he found himself unable to move.
His only thought was: Lu Xiu's lips look so nice, they must be soft, red and white like pearls...
Jiang Hong instinctively raised his hand but didn't know where to place it; resting it on Lu Xiu's shoulder seemed too intimate, and around his waist wasn't right either.
In the end, he could only place it on Lu Xiu's collar.
"Unbutton the second button," Lu Xiu said quietly.
Jiang Hong asked, "What's wrong?"
"Do you see it?" Lu Xiu whispered, his breath sweet with the scent of whiskey, both slightly tipsy, "This is my weak spot."
Jiang Hong looked down, their lips only three centimeters apart, and saw the scar on his chest, revealed after removing the scale.
He looked up at Lu Xiu again, feeling a complex mix of emotions.
At that moment, their target nearby said angrily, "Give me a time, when are you leaving?"
Jiang Hong couldn't help but glance over, and almost simultaneously, the target noticed and frowned alertly, looking past the man in front of him towards Jiang Hong.
Lu Xiu immediately made Jiang Hong turn his head back and leaned down for a kiss.
Jiang Hong: "!!!!"
Ahhh—Jiang Hong's heart was like an erupting volcano! He momentarily forgot what he was supposed to do.
Then, Lu Xiu kissed Jiang Hong on the cheek, almost as a response to the earlier mischief. Afterward, they separated, and Jiang Hong, with his face burning red, pressed his forehead and turned towards the wall.
Lu Xiu also withdrew his hand from the wall slam and stood quietly, silently watching Jiang Hong's back.
Jiang Hong felt like he was about to have a nosebleed. He touched his lips, relieved to find nothing there, but embarrassingly, he had reacted to Lu Xiu's kiss!
After a moment of silence, Lu Xiu said, "Hey."
Jiang Hong raised his hand, signaling for a moment to collect himself, still needing to calm down.
Lu Xiu said, "They've left."
Jiang Hong immediately turned to search for their target, but the alley was empty. He then followed Lu Xiu out of the alley.
Chapter 64: Dark Alley
"‘Chronicles of Demons and Wonders in Guanzhong,’ ‘Literature of the Han River,’ ‘Beilin Collection’..." Jiang Hong noticed some books didn’t even have covers.
"How did you find them? Did you use the All-Encompassing Book?" Lu Xiu asked.
"Yes," Jiang Hong replied. "Shouldn’t I have used it?"
Jiang Hong was also worried that the enemy might trace the usage of the All-Encompassing Book, a magic treasure, and that could bring trouble if they attracted enemies. Lu Xiu then said, "Try to use it less when you’re not with me. Look around, are there any more?"
"That's all." Jiang Hong used the All-Encompassing Book to search the entire documentation center, finding only these eleven books in the end.
The two of them, carrying the stack of books, went to the library's rest area. In the café, where only they were present, Lu Xiu ordered coffee and sandwiches, and they carefully examined the old books together.
Why do these emit a faint glow? Jiang Hong, holding the fragile pages with utmost care, spread them out and took photos.
"Looking at their types," Lu Xiu mused to himself, "there’s nothing particularly unusual."
They quickly skimmed through the contents of the eleven books, ranging from geomancy and ghost stories to local chronicles, biographies of minor figures, and even a book on astrology. The only commonality, if any, was a hint of metaphysics.
"Could it be the authors?" Jiang Hong suggested.
"Quite possible," Lu Xiu replied, glancing at the authors' names and then connecting to the university's database on his phone to search their lives. "This Zhang Da was once an exorcist."
"And this one?" Jiang Hong flipped to another.
Lu Xiu: "Also."
"This?"
"All of them," Lu Xiu replied, comparing the authors' names.
So the conclusion was obvious, Jiang Hong said: "The only commonality is that they were written by exorcists."
"Hmm," Lu Xiu agreed.
Jiang Hong looked seriously at the books while Lu Xiu quietly watched him. After flipping back and forth, Jiang Hong couldn’t find any useful information and had to give up.
Lu Xiu suggested, "Let's stop thinking about it and do something else."
"No," Jiang Hong persisted, still looking at the book "Beilin Collection," while Lu Xiu began to gather the books to return them.
"Instead of wasting time here, we might as well go for a walk," Lu Xiu clearly didn't want to dwell on this matter any longer.
"Let me look a bit more..." Jiang Hong said.
Lu Xiu, holding Jiang Hong's hand, said, "Let’s go!"
Jiang Hong was still sitting, and Lu Xiu was standing. They were holding hands in a strange stalemate. Jiang Hong said, "Let go... let go of my hand..."
Suddenly, a group of elementary school students led by a teacher burst into the library. Seeing the two in this state, Lu Xiu immediately let go of Jiang Hong's hand. Jiang Hong had no choice but to pack up the books, complete the borrowing process, and obediently follow Lu Xiu out.
On the vast lawn behind the library, the sunlight was brilliant in early summer. Many people were already wearing short sleeves, and there was a gentle breeze.
"Where do you want to go?" Jiang Hong asked.
"Anywhere is fine," Lu Xiu replied.
Jiang Hong: "Then why not stay in the library?"
Lu Xiu: "No reason."
Jiang Hong stepped forward to pinch Lu Xiu's ear, but Lu Xiu turned his head to avoid it, then suddenly scooped Jiang Hong into his arms.
"Ah..." Just as Jiang Hong was about to ask "What are you doing?" Lu Xiu tightened his hold, pressing Jiang Hong close to his body, with both of them clinging tightly together.
Before Jiang Hong could speak, Lu Xiu transformed into a black dragon and soared into the sky!
In the shadow of the massive library building, the black dragon appeared only for an instant before vanishing into the blue sky, turning into a black dot that disappeared into the white clouds. It wasn't until the mist brushed past his face that Jiang Hong began to scream.
"Aaaahhh—"
"We only have five minutes."
The black dragon flipped in the air, letting Jiang Hong ride atop its head. Jiang Hong, already accustomed to such experiences and using skateboard skills learned from Lianjiang, slightly leaned to the side for balance and held onto the dragon's horns, gliding through the clouds like surfing.
"There!" Jiang Hong shouted, "Let's go there!"
The black dragon, carrying Jiang Hong, flew towards the TV tower. Mid-air, Jiang Hong looked down upon the vast lands of Xi'an, the majestic Qinling Mountains, the city on the plains, and the surrounding villages—all so tiny, illustrating the insignificance of the world humans have carved out in nature.
As they descended towards the TV tower, the black dragon transformed back into human form. Lu Xiu, holding Jiang Hong, landed gracefully on the top of the broadcasting tower.
Birds flew by as the two sat atop the TV tower, with Lu Xiu lying down and Jiang Hong sitting beside him.
The wind blew in gusts, at times strong enough to lift Jiang Hong’s coat.
Lu Xiu, facing the sky, stretched out his hand and said, "Doesn’t it feel like we’re close to the sky here?"
"Yeah," Jiang Hong replied, "just like in Tibet, as if you could touch the sky by simply reaching out."
Lu Xiu turned to look at Jiang Hong and said, "I didn’t want you to spend more time in the library because I want to cherish every day we have together."
Hearing this, Jiang Hong’s ears turned red, thinking: Ahh, what kind of sweet talk is this?
Lu Xiu continued, "If the inevitable battle comes, it’s destined. I will fight with all my might."
Jiang Hong said, "You will definitely defeat him."
Lu Xiu, as if he hadn’t heard, stared into the sky, lost in thought. Jiang Hong added, "We will find a way. I think he must have a weakness, maybe his weakness is also your weakness?"
Lu Xiu: "......"
Lu Xiu remained distracted, staring at the sky.
"Lu Xiu?" Jiang Hong said, "Are you listening? You can definitely defeat him!"
"Who?" Lu Xiu came back to reality and asked, "Him?"
Jiang Hong said, "Yes, we're talking about the same person, right? The clone of yourself."
Lu Xiu hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then just nodded.
At that moment, his phone rang with a message. Lu Xiu took out his phone to reply, while Jiang Hong took out the book to read atop the tower, being extremely careful not to let the pages scatter in the wind.
"Still reading, what are you researching?" Lu Xiu asked after replying to the message.
Jiang Hong seriously replied, "I found a term 'inner demon.' The author, in this section's annotation, also mentioned 'overcoming another self,' so I thought it might be useful?"
"What conclusion have you reached?"
"The birth of the 'inner demon' originates from one’s own obsessions."
"That’s the same principle Chen Zhen and Principal Cao often talk about."
"Without obsessions, there will be no inner demons," Jiang Hong answered. "That makes sense, the stronger the obsession, the stronger the inner demon it creates, so strong that even oneself cannot defeat it... Hmm, it seems logical."
Lu Xiu stopped talking and sent another message.
Jiang Hong said, "So, overcoming oneself is also about defeating the inner demon, especially when the inner demon takes a physical form. The author believes that the demon race is more accustomed to battling inner demons than the human race."
"Why?" Lu Xiu didn't look up, typing rapidly, and asked.
"Because the demon race is more willing to acknowledge the existence of inner demons, they tend to accept that there is an inherently evil aspect in their souls. This evil is innate and coexists with their cultivation," Jiang Hong said after a long look. "But it’s not necessarily the same with humans, maybe because of the burden of maintaining a virtuous image? It's a long story if I go into details..."
Lu Xiu: "I'd like to hear more."
Jiang Hong: "The author believes it's a historical phenomenon left over from human cultural teachings. For example, Confucianism promotes noble morals, rejecting negative character traits, aiming to be saint-like. Humans are seen as a blank slate at birth, and discussing desires is shameful... Such notions lead to the idea that acknowledging the 'evil' in one's character is also shameful. Generally, people are reluctant to admit the existence of inner demons... Like asking about obsessions? I don't have any... Who are you texting?"
"To my master," Lu Xiu answered succinctly, then casually took a photo and sent it to the person he was contacting.
Jiang Hong made an "Oh" sound and asked, "What's he doing?"
Lu Xiu said, "He's asking where we are."
Jiang Hong laughed: "He must be quite bored."
When Jiang Hong and Lu Xiu were together, the only person Lu Xiu would text back was Cao Bin.
"Doesn't he usually go out for fun?" Jiang Hong was curious, thinking someone like Cao Bin, an elder brother figure, should have many good friends.
"He does," Lu Xiu put his phone aside and replied, "On holidays in the past, he used to take me out."
"Oh, so it's because of me," Jiang Hong realized.
Lu Xiu said, "He doesn’t mind, he won't take it to heart. He and Teacher Keda have gone out. Continue, I'm listening."
Jiang Hong forgot where he had left off and asked, "What does he need from you?"
"He wants me to help him find a fox that escaped from the demon race's sacred land," Lu Xiu replied, "They suspect it's related to some recent incidents."
"Shall we go check it out?" Jiang Hong suggested.
"If you want to go, we can," Lu Xiu hadn't yet agreed to Cao Bin's request, "They find it inconvenient to intervene."
Jiang Hong understood; Cao Bin was human, while Lu Xiu was a dragon. Logically, Cao Bin shouldn't get involved in matters of the demon race.
"Let's go," Jiang Hong said, "Where is it?"
Lu Xiu showed Jiang Hong the message on his phone, which included a photo and the last known location of the fox. He said, "We’ll go after nightfall. The demon race's guard will be lowered when it gets dark. Let’s go find a place for dinner first."
At dusk, Xi'an welcomed its busiest time of the year. The climate was pleasant and the night sky clear. The sun had not yet completely set, but stars were already twinkling in the purplish sky. On a whim, Jiang Hong decided to buy shoes for Lu Xiu, and they tried on shoes in a shop. He noticed that Lu Xiu often liked things of the human race, including but not limited to clothes, sports shoes, headphones – things that college guys typically fancied.
Sometimes, Jiang Hong completely forgot that Lu Xiu was actually a dragon. He was no different from a young college student.
"Can I buy the same color as yours?" Jiang Hong also liked the sports shoes Lu Xiu had chosen.
"Of course, you can," Lu Xiu said, puzzled, "Why not?"
Jiang Hong hesitated, saying, "Because they’re like couple shoes, but there’s a discount, the second pair is 30% off... If you mind, I can buy another model, though the red and blue one looks pretty good..."
Lu Xiu: "......"
Lu Xiu glanced at Jiang Hong in confusion, and after a moment, both of their faces turned a bit red. Lu Xiu suddenly said, "That's great, I want to wear couple shoes with you."
So, Jiang Hong happily went to pay. At the counter, his mind wandered. He had wanted this model since last year, the couple's version in red and blue, just like his and Lu Xiu's headphones. Back then, he had dreamt of getting into college, finding a cute and pretty girlfriend, and buying her couple sports shoes.
It turned out he ended up buying them with another guy.
Jiang Hong mused on life's unpredictability. After going back to the hotel with Lu Xiu to organize their things, they headed out to eat.
He noticed that Lu Xiu really cherished the things he gave him, whether it was the headphones or the shoes. Lu Xiu used them very carefully, filled with fondness.
What was Lu Xiu’s inner demon?
The first step in overcoming an inner demon is to confront it head-on – Jiang Hong now believed that their trip to the library had been very fruitful; at least he had learned a lot.
"Do you have any weaknesses?" Jiang Hong asked.
Lu Xiu: "..."
As the crawfish was served, Jiang Hong started peeling them, while Lu Xiu simply poked them with chopsticks, separating the shell from the meat.
"Eating crawfish is best when you do it yourself!" Jiang Hong said. "This way is just too lazy!"
So Lu Xiu began using his hands.
"What's your weakness?" Jiang Hong asked again.
Lu Xiu's weakness would naturally be the same as the replicated Lu Xiu’s. Jiang Hong assumed that the Blinding Faction, in creating another him, would also replicate his weaknesses.
Lu Xiu glanced at Jiang Hong. Just as Jiang Hong was about to explain the theory, Lu Xiu interrupted him.
Lu Xiu said, "What's your weakness?"
Realizing his impulsiveness, Jiang Hong said, "Actually, I don't really need to ask... I mean, revealing one's weaknesses to others is indeed a challenge for even the mightiest. My weakness is probably just being too weak."
Jiang Hong felt that from head to toe, he was all weaknesses; his life was a collection of vulnerabilities.
Suddenly, a heavy rain started during dinner, turning the rainwater into a curtain hanging over the big tent where they were eating crawfish. After settling the bill, Lu Xiu and Jiang Hong couldn't leave, so they sat under the waterfall-like rain curtain to watch the rain. As more people came in to take shelter, Jiang Hong gave up his chair for them and sat on Lu Xiu's lap.
"Clouds gather to bring rain, dew forms frost," Jiang Hong mused, recalling a Thousand Character Classic he learned in childhood. He casually brushed Lu Xiu's cheek, asking, "They say 'clouds follow the dragon,' can dragons really summon or stop the rain? Can you stop it?"
Lu Xiu: "?"
"Dragons can bring rain, but can they stop it too?" Jiang Hong began to expand on his theoretical knowledge.
"No," Lu Xiu seriously answered Jiang Hong's question, saying, "They can only bring rain, not stop it."
"Uh," Jiang Hong thought. But isn't rain a natural phenomenon caused by water vapor condensing upon cooling? How does a dragon bringing rain fit into this?
Seeming to sense his confusion, Lu Xiu explained, "Dragons can use their spiritual power to condense the water vapor in clouds, like a magnetic field. But this rain won’t last too long; it will stop soon."
Jiang Hong asked, "Oh, can you communicate with the rain?"
Lu Xiu: "My phone has a weather forecast pop-up."
Jiang Hong: "..."
As predicted, the rain stopped. After nightfall, Xi'an's vibrancy truly began. The streets were dotted with puddles, like mirrors shattered into countless pieces, reflecting the twinkling neon lights. In the bar street, the colorful lights danced and refracted across the mirror surfaces, creating a kaleidoscopic dream.
Following the location sent to his phone, Lu Xiu led Jiang Hong into a dark alley.
Jiang Hong looked around curiously, visiting such a place for the first time, as if entering a wholly different Xi'an.
"What are you looking at?" Lu Xiu asked.
"Nothing much," Jiang Hong observed the surroundings and remarked, "Some places in Xi'an are even more cyberpunk than Chongqing."
Just a few streets away was the Great Tang All Day Mall, but the dark alleys of the bar street were lined with internet and electrical cables, internet cafes on the second floor, and street vendors pushing carts selling stir-fried noodles.
Lu Xiu said, "It should be this place. The last known location of our target is here, according to the display."
Jiang Hong glanced at the photo showing a handsome young man with slightly fox-like features in his eyes. Below was a resume sent by Cao Bin — a little fox that had escaped from a sacred place.
"Let's go in and check," Lu Xiu pushed open the door, and Jiang Hong followed closely. They entered the bar through the back door, greeted by roaring music. The lights dimmed and then brightened, sweeping across them as they walked onto the stage.
Jiang Hong had been to bars in Chongqing a few times, mostly with classmates, and also to dance clubs. He lost interest after a few visits due to the noise and lack of activities, preferring escape rooms, immersive theatre, or movies.
A waiter noticed them and said something to Lu Xiu, who waved his hand dismissively.
"No reservation, we'll have to share a table!" Lu Xiu told Jiang Hong.
Jiang Hong indicated it was fine, understanding that it was normal to be crowded during the holiday season. The bar was incredibly busy, teeming with people and buzzing with an exceptionally lively atmosphere.
The waiter looked around, picked up a menu board, and started searching for a spot for them.
"Jiang Hong—" Suddenly a voice called out, "Is that Jiang Hong?"
"Ah!" Jiang Hong turned around and immediately recognized an old acquaintance, Lian Jiang! Lian Jiang stood up from a circular booth, waving at them to come over.
Lu Xiu, who had been on a mission with Lian Jiang, nodded at him, and Jiang Hong excitedly said, "Didn't expect to see you here! Are you alone?"
Lian Jiang shouted back, "I'm waiting for a friend! He's gone to the restroom."
Lu Xiu handed the menu board to Jiang Hong, signaling him to order drinks, while scanning the crowd for someone.
Lian Jiang gestured to his ear, and Jiang Hong leaned in to hear better. Lu Xiu pulled him back to his side, signaling not to lean in too far. Jiang Hong ordered a light drink for himself and a whiskey for Lu Xiu, then asked Lian Jiang, "Do you come here often?"
"Not that often."
The music then stopped, and Jiang Hong could converse normally, saying, "It's our first time here."
"How did you find this place?" asked Lian Jiang.
Jiang Hong glanced at Lu Xiu, uncertain whether to disclose their mission. Lian Jiang, assuming Lu Xiu had brought him, nodded in understanding.
The drinks were served.
Jiang Hong said, "This bar..."
Lian Jiang raised his glass towards Jiang Hong and smiled ambiguously.
Jiang Hong was about to comment on the bar's ambiance, but as he turned his head, he suddenly noticed two guys hugging each other in another booth.
Jiang Hong: "???"
Curiously, Jiang Hong stared at them, his gaze drifting past Lu Xiu. Meanwhile, Lu Xiu, looking bemused, clinked his whiskey glass with Jiang Hong's.
Jiang Hong gestured to Lu Xiu, "What are they doing?"
Lian Jiang glanced over and said, "Kissing."
Lu Xiu: "Kissing, what about it?"
Jiang Hong: "..."
The music started again, and three shirtless men took to the stage, beginning a ladder-climbing performance.
Jiang Hong: "………………"
At that moment, Lian Jiang's friend returned, a young man about his age. Surprised to see two more people, he greeted them warmly after Lian Jiang whispered an explanation in his ear, and kissed Lian Jiang on the cheek.
Jiang Hong: "！！！！！！"
While greeting them, Jiang Hong witnessed this scene and was visibly shocked.
Jiang Hong exclaimed, "This is a gay bar! This is a gay bar, isn't it?!"
He turned to Lu Xiu, "I can't believe this is a gay bar..."
Lu Xiu: "I know it's a gay bar."
Jiang Hong stammered, "This this this... a gay bar is..."
Lu Xiu: "I know this is a gay bar! And I know what a gay bar is!"
Jiang Hong: "Oh, you actually know? Well, that's okay then... wait, Lian Jiang, you're gay? Oh, but that's fine..." Jiang Hong glanced again at Lian Jiang, who was now playing dice, seemingly indifferent to his "friend".
Jiang Hong thought to himself, I had no idea!
Lu Xiu continued his search for someone, the dim lights of the bar obscuring most of his view from the booth. He didn't want to stand up and was deep in thought.
Jiang Hong quickly calmed down, realizing that everyone else seemed normal and it was only he who was overreacting, standing out awkwardly. It felt like, "There's a straight guy, no, two straight guys among us." Now he was the minority, and as such, needed to be tactful.
He took another look at Lian Jiang and his "friend." Lian Jiang asked, "When did you return to Xi'an?"
"Friend" appeared to be an ordinary person, so Lian Jiang refrained from discussing exorcists and school matters with Jiang Hong. "Last week," replied Jiang Hong. "I totally didn't realize it!"
"Didn't realize what?" Lian Jiang asked.
Jiang Hong pointed at Lian Jiang, raising his eyebrows suggestively. Understanding, Lian Jiang laughed, "You and Teacher Lu... I did have my... suspicions about you two!"
"Uh," Jiang Hong said, "No, no, it's not what you think, I'll explain when we go back..."
Lu Xiu, exuding a commanding presence, rested one hand on the back of the sofa behind Jiang Hong, while holding a whiskey glass in the other. His attention was clearly elsewhere.
"Wow," said the "friend," "Are you... a teacher?"
Jiang Hong asked, "Who's the teacher?"
The music was so loud, interspersed with the host's boisterous cheers, that Jiang Hong couldn't hear clearly. He pointed at Lu Xiu, causing Lian Jiang to burst into laughter. Jiang Hong added, "Him?"
The music stopped abruptly, bringing a sudden silence.
The other person exclaimed, "Your husband!"
Jiang Hong almost simultaneously responded, "Yes!"
His answer was meant for the previous question, "Is he a teacher?" but it inadvertently followed the latter, "Your husband?" This is why sudden silences can be so tricky.
Lu Xiu glanced at Jiang Hong.
Jiang Hong: "……………………"
Jiang Hong immediately tried to explain, but the deafening music resumed.
Lian Jiang gestured for Jiang Hong to join in dice rolling. Jiang Hong leaned in toward Lu Xiu, whispering, "I didn't hear what he was saying..."
Lu Xiu, with one arm around Jiang Hong, whispered back into his ear, "I can't see the target, but I can sense their presence. They're nearby."
As Jiang Hong turned his head, he almost kissed Lu Xiu. They were too close, and Jiang Hong quickly pulled back, his heart racing and feeling unexpectedly nervous.
"Should I... should I use the Book of Everything?"
"No need for that," replied Lu Xiu.
The music stopped again, and Lian Jiang said with a smile, "Won't you join in and kiss too? After all, this is a gay bar!"
Lu Xiu remained silent, merely glancing at Lian Jiang, whose 'friendly' gaze was fixed solely on Jiang Hong.
"We don't need to conform here," Jiang Hong responded, but seeing the intimate behavior of the boys around, he felt surprisingly at ease.
Jiang Hong never found it awkward for two men to love each other, especially clean and handsome ones, finding a unique beauty in it.
"We could join in," Jiang Hong suddenly laughed, a silly idea striking him. He leaned in, and Lu Xiu, thinking he was going to say something, turned his ear, only for Jiang Hong to gently kiss it.
Lu Xiu: "!!!"
Lu Xiu's face turned red instantly, while Jiang Hong laughed heartily, lying on the table and shyly turning to look at Lu Xiu. He indeed liked Lu Xiu very much, a feeling of admiration stemming from his teenage years for a handsome boy who was also a powerful dragon, which started anew when they met again in Chongqing.
Sometimes emotions are hard to express, and Jiang Hong would cling and fumble, acting like a little brother seeking affection.
The feeling of the kiss was that Lu Xiu's ear was very warm.
Lu Xiu didn't react much, just pinched his ear a couple of times, acting as if nothing had happened, treating it as one of Jiang Hong's pranks.
Lian Jiang suggested, "Let's play Truth or Dare!"
Lu Xiu waved his hand, saying, "Next time, I have some things to do."
The dance floor cleared, lights started flashing, and the DJ played music, prompting everyone to start dancing.
Lu Xiu pulled Jiang Hong's hand, signaling him to follow, and Jiang Hong followed him onto the dance floor.
As the music started, Jiang Hong asked, "Can you dance?"
Lu Xiu replied, "No, will you teach me?"
Jiang Hong said, "Dancing with a dragon, that’s so weird!"
Lu Xiu wrapped his arms around Jiang Hong to prevent him from being bumped into and said in a low voice, "Keep it down!"
Lian Jiang also came in, but Jiang Hong noticed that Lu Xiu turned his head, focusing on something in the distance — he had found their target. Jiang Hong followed Lu Xiu's gaze and saw the demon they were looking for, talking with someone else at the bar.
At that moment, Lu Xiu turned around, allowing Jiang Hong to clearly see the target.
"He's leaving," Jiang Hong said.
Lu Xiu whispered, "Let’s go too, from the other side."
The "fox boy" seemed a bit upset, leaving the bar. The man who was originally at the bar tried to hold his hand but was shrugged off, and the target exited through the back door.
Jiang Hong immediately grabbed Lu Xiu's hand and followed the target out of the bar.
Back in the dark alley, there were several couples, some buying fried noodles at the snack stand, others smoking and chatting in the alley.
The target boy ran a few steps and stopped near the exit of the alley. The man caught up, quietly explaining something, repeatedly reaching out to hold his hand but was brushed off.
At the same time, Jiang Hong and Lu Xiu also ran out.
Hearing the noise, the man turned his head. Lu Xiu immediately wrapped his arms around Jiang Hong, turned around, and executed a wall slam, pressing him against the wall.
Jiang Hong: "..."
Jiang Hong was sneakily glancing at the target with the corner of his eye, but Lu Xiu covered his cheek with his other hand, forcefully turning him to face himself.
Jiang Hong tilted his head slightly to meet Lu Xiu's gaze, their breaths mingling.
"Foxes are very alert," Lu Xiu whispered softly, "don't look at him, I'm watching."
Jiang Hong nodded, his mind suddenly blank, unsure if it was the alcohol or Lu Xiu's overwhelming presence, but at that moment, he found himself unable to move.
His only thought was: Lu Xiu's lips look so nice, they must be soft, red and white like pearls...
Jiang Hong instinctively raised his hand but didn't know where to place it; resting it on Lu Xiu's shoulder seemed too intimate, and around his waist wasn't right either.
In the end, he could only place it on Lu Xiu's collar.
"Unbutton the second button," Lu Xiu said quietly.
Jiang Hong asked, "What's wrong?"
"Do you see it?" Lu Xiu whispered, his breath sweet with the scent of whiskey, both slightly tipsy, "This is my weak spot."
Jiang Hong looked down, their lips only three centimeters apart, and saw the scar on his chest, revealed after removing the scale.
He looked up at Lu Xiu again, feeling a complex mix of emotions.
At that moment, their target nearby said angrily, "Give me a time, when are you leaving?"
Jiang Hong couldn't help but glance over, and almost simultaneously, the target noticed and frowned alertly, looking past the man in front of him towards Jiang Hong.
Lu Xiu immediately made Jiang Hong turn his head back and leaned down for a kiss.
Jiang Hong: "!!!!"
Ahhh—Jiang Hong's heart was like an erupting volcano! He momentarily forgot what he was supposed to do.
Then, Lu Xiu kissed Jiang Hong on the cheek, almost as a response to the earlier mischief. Afterward, they separated, and Jiang Hong, with his face burning red, pressed his forehead and turned towards the wall.
Lu Xiu also withdrew his hand from the wall slam and stood quietly, silently watching Jiang Hong's back.
Jiang Hong felt like he was about to have a nosebleed. He touched his lips, relieved to find nothing there, but embarrassingly, he had reacted to Lu Xiu's kiss!
After a moment of silence, Lu Xiu said, "Hey."
Jiang Hong raised his hand, signaling for a moment to collect himself, still needing to calm down.
Lu Xiu said, "They've left."
Jiang Hong immediately turned to search for their target, but the alley was empty. He then followed Lu Xiu out of the alley.
