“Shizun, you lied to me!”
Gui Yin caught Shan Yu before the child could fall flat on her face.
“Shan Yu! Shizun just got back, don’t bother him!” Qin Siyi was already running down the path after her. When she saw that it was already too late, she skidded to a stop with embarrassment written on her face. “Shizun, you’re back?”
Gui Yin glanced at the crying child he held at arm’s length and the awkward expression on Qin Siyi’s face.
Shan Yu was shocked into silence. After a moment, she began bawling again. “Shizun doesn’t want Shan Yu anymore! Shizun won’t even hug Shan Yu!”
“No, no, no,” Gui Yin quickly comforted. “It’s not that I don’t want to hug Shan Yu, it’s because Shizun is really dirty right now. Shizun doesn’t want to get Shan Yu dirty too.”
Shan Yu sniffled. She took a closer look at Gui Yin and backed up on her own volition. She wrinkled her nose and hid behind Qin Siyi. “Shizun, why do you smell like a toilet?”
Qin Siyi clicked her tongue. “Shan Yu!”
“It’s fine. I…I do smell really bad,” Gui Yin awkwardly cleared his throat. “Then, I’m going to take a bath first. You two…you two go eat dinner without me. I’ll be in there for a while.”
Shan Yu moved around Qin Siyi as Gui Yin walked past. She wrinkled her nose before tugging on Qin Siyi’s sleeve. “Shijie, do you think I hurt Shizun’s feelings?”
Qin Siyi pinched Shan Yu’s nose, causing the child to cry out. “Don’t you think it’s a little too late to think about that?”
Gui Yin chuckled as he listened to Shan Yu protest against her shijie’s teasing. He looked at the maple trees that lined the path and found some comfort in seeing such a familiar view. Along the way, he ran into a few servants, who had come to deliver some necessities, but only caught a glimpse of Gui Linghuo when he neared the bathhouse.
Gui Linghuo looked at Gui Yin in surprise. He nearly dropped the clothes he was bringing back in from the clothesline.
“Shizun, you’re back!” Gui Linghuo hurried over. Before he could greet Gui Yin properly, he was quickly stopped. “Shizun, what’s wrong?”
“I smell really bad,” Gui Yin said, a slight whine to his voice. “Even Shan Yu avoided me.”
Gui Linghuo laughed. “Shan Yu has the temperament of a little princess—of course, she would avoid you. Is Shizun on his way to take a bath?”
“Mn.”
“Then, I’ll quickly put these clothes away and come back to help Shizun bathe!”
“Ah, wait.”
Gui Linghuo stopped and looked back.
“There’s no need to do that. Just go eat,” Gui Yin said. “I’m going to be a while.”
Gui Linghuo frowned slightly. “Shizun really doesn’t need my help?”
“No help needed,” Gui Yin nodded. “If anything, could you just get me some food from the dining hall? I’m too tired to go by myself.”
Gui Linghuo’s eyes lit up. He nodded and happily bid Gui Yin a farewell before running off. Gui Yin’s smile widened. He turned and continued down the cobbled path until he reached the bathhouse.
The bathhouse was rarely used by the disciples, who preferred to bathe with their own tubs. On rare occasions, Gui Yin would use the bathhouse. Despite this, the bath house was still full stocked with the perfumes and soaps a normal bathhouse would use. The water, which was perpetually warmed, was ready as well.
Gui Yin pulled off his robes, removed his crown, set his fan to the side, and slipped into the water. He shivered in pleasure and sank in even deeper. A long, comfortable sigh left his lips. His eyes narrowed sleepily in the mist. He reached behind him for the bar of soap. He massaged it gently into his hair and moved on to clean the rest of his body.
Although he had been able to take baths back at Qi Du Cult, they were all unsatisfactory. He had to guard against that annoying centipede demon, making him unable to enjoy even a cold bath. If he were in there for too long, the door would be knocked on, and the annoying demon would force his way in, claiming that he also wanted to bathe with him.
Just the thought of it made Gui Yin slap the water a few times. Honestly, what was wrong with that man? It had just been two weeks, so why was he so attached? Were feelings that cheap? Could they develop that quickly?
A soft scoff left his lips as Gui Yin leaned his head back on the edge of the water and closed his eyes.
Home was much better. There was no one watching over him hungrily and no one could boss him around. He also didn’t have to pretend to fear for his life. Here, he was the ruler. Not even Lin Cangyuan would argue with him.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
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“So good,” Gui Yin gasped.
As expected, Auntie Mu’s cooking was the best!
He decided. He would never leave Yunjing Pavilion ever again. This place was the best. Home was the best!
Gui Yin abandoned any thought he had of starting on his report tonight and focused solely on enjoying the simple home cooked dishes in front of him. Once he finished, he stacked the used plates back into the lunch box and personally walked it back to the kitchen.
“Oh! Lord Ninglan, you’re back! I was wondering who Xiao Guo was giving all that food to,” Auntie Mu said with a bright laugh. “Was it to your taste today?”
Gui Yin placed the lunch box at the edge of the counter with a smile. “Auntie Mu’s cooking is always to my taste. I missed it so much while I was away.”
Auntie Mu puffed out her chest with pride and said teasingly, “Then, you’ll have to stay longer this time around, okay?”
“I definitely will,” Gui Yin said laughingly.
Once he left the kitchen, he went to find his three little disciples.
The rascals had yet to sleep. When Gui Yin knocked on the door, Qin Siyi and Shan Yu were arguing again. The silence that followed made Gui Yin smile. The door opened and Gui Linghuo welcomed Gui Yin in.
“Shizun!” Shan Yu let out a tearful whine as she threw herself into Gui Yin’s arms.
Gui Yin readily hoisted her up and sat down with her on his lap. “What’s wrong? Why are you two arguing again?”
“Shijie always tells me I’m being disrespectful,” Shan Yu pouted as she wiggled closer to Gui Yin. “Where am I being disrespectful?”
“I—Shizun, she—”
“Alright, alright,” Gui Yin looked between them helplessly. He held out his free arm. “Come here.”
Qin Siyi hesitated a moment before walking into his embrace. Gui Yin peered over their heads at Gui Linghuo. “Huo’er, you too.”
Gui Linghuo’s eyes widened but he stepped forward and hugged the three people in front of him. The kids glanced at each other worriedly as their shizun let out a long, content sigh. Gui Yin squished them a little more and placed his cheek on top of Shan Yu’s head.
“Um, Shizun,” Shan Yu tilted her head up slightly. “Did something happen?”
“Nothing really,” Gui Yin said with a gentle smile. “I just missed you three.”
Qin Siyi lowered her gaze. Her grip on Gui Yin tightened as her lips pursed tightly. Gui Linghuo’s expression didn’t change, but his heart hammered against his chest.
Shan Yu’s reaction was much more straightforward. She sat up and grabbed the front of Gui Yin’s robes. “Did someone bully you, Shizun?!”
That was what all three children thought. Otherwise, why would their shizun, who normally valued cleanliness above all else, return with smelly robes? Why would he be so hungry that he asked for Gui Linghuo to prepare food ahead of time? And why would he come to their dorms so late at night just to get a few hugs in? The only reasonable explanation was that Gui Yin had been bullied out there!
Seeing the fiery eyes of the three children, Gui Yin almost couldn’t hold back his cute aggression. He gathered them into a tight hug again and shook his head, his laugh lighting up the room and lightening up the children’s worries.
“I wasn’t bullied. The case was just a little tedious,” Gui Yin said.
Shan Yu looked at Gui Yin’s face, as if she could tell if he was lying just by observing his expression. After a while, Shan Yu puffed her chest out.
“I know what will make Shizun feel better!”
“And what is that?” Gui Yin asked patiently.
“If all four of us sleep together,” Shan Yu said confidently.
Qin Siyi stared at Shan Yu. “How is that going to help? Shizun’s tired from his travels. He’s going to need his rest. If we sleep with him, he’ll feel obligated to look after us!”
“That’s right, Shan Yu. I know you missed him, but let’s not bother Shizun tonight, okay?” Gui Linghuo said.
Shan Yu pouted at her older martial siblings. “Shizun hasn’t even said anything! How do you know he doesn’t want to sleep with us? He said he missed us. Right, Shizun?”
Gui Yin listened to the children bicker with a small smile on his face. He pinched Shan Yu’s cheeks. “That’s right, I did say I missed you, didn’t I?”
“Shizun, you’re spoiling her again,” Qin Siyi said with a hint of exasperation.
Gui Yin laughed. “What’s wrong? Are you two too old to sleep with your shizun?”
Gui Linghuo and Qin Siyi glanced at each other.
“Alright, alright,” Gui Yin stood. He patted Gui Linghuo’s head offhandedly. “I actually don’t mind if you three stay in my room tonight, but that’s up to you. If you don’t feel comfortable, you don’t have to come along.”
After Gui Yin said this, he left the dorm rooms.
Shan Yu propped her chin against Gui Yin’s shoulder and looked at the two older children who followed after. She scoffed. “Your mouth says one thing but your heart says another. Be careful you can’t find someone to marry you.”
“Shan Yu!” Qin Siyi glared at the child in Gui Yin’s arms.
“Blegh!”
“Shan Yu, be good,” Gui Yin lightly patted her back. “Don’t tease your martial siblings.”
Shan Yu gave a harrumph. Still, she conceded and obediently rested her head against Gui Yin’s shoulder, her eyes closing as sleepiness began to tug at her.
Gui Yin’s bed was large enough to fit one adult and three children. Once they arrived, Gui Yin placed the half-awake Shan Yu onto the bed and went into his wardrobe to dig out a few more pillows and blankets.
Gui Linghuo sat on the edge of the bed, waiting for Gui Yin to give him a task to do.
“What are you looking at me for?” Gui Yin asked in amusement. He set the pillows and blankets down before crouching in front of Gui Linghuo and Qin Siyi. He glanced at Shan Yu, who was already drowning in the blankets, and whispered to the two children, “Good job looking after each other while I was gone.”
Gui Linghuo shook his head. “I was only doing what I should.”
Qin Siyi agreed. “Me too.”
“It’s good that you two think that way,” Gui Yin said. Because they had already gotten ready for bed, their hair fell loosely down their backs. Gui Yin happily tousled their hair as he took a seat next to them. “But you should know that it’s rare for kids your age to be so good and obedient. That’s why I’m praising you.”
He looked at the two children seriously. “Did anything happen while I was gone? Or was there anything you were unhappy about?”
Gui Linghuo fiddled with his sleeves. He and Qin Siyi thought about it for a long time before shaking their heads.
“Nothing happened. Shan Yu was actually very good until she saw that Shizun was back. She didn’t throw any tantrums,” Gui Linghuo said.
Gui Yin looked to Qin Siyi.
“Da-shixiong is telling the truth,” Qin Siyi said.
“Then, what about you two?”
“Us?” Gui Linghuo stared at Gui Yin blankly.
“There was nothing you two were unhappy about?”
Qin Siyi shook her head, but Gui Linghuo somewhat avoided his gaze.
“Hm?”
“Just…I wish Shizun would have sent us a letter or two,” Gui Linghuo mumbled.
The boy was cutely fiddling with the edges of his sleeves. After saying this statement, his face immediately flushed with embarrassment. He wanted to take the words and shove it back down his throat. His shimei haven’t even said anything, but he actually whined and said such a thing? He was supposed to be the oldest and the most responsible.
Gui Linghuo opened his mouth to take back his words, but his actions were stopped short by a bone crushing hug. His eyes widened at the sudden warmth. He could feel Gui Yin’s laughter through his chest, making his face heat up even more.
“You’re so cute!” Gui Yin exclaimed, the volume of his voice suppressed so he wouldn’t wake Shan Yu. “My cute little son!”
Gui Linghuo’s face warmed even more. He looked to Qin Siyi for help, but the little girl obviously found the scene amusing. She watched on with a cheerful smile and tilted her head innocently when she met Gui Linghuo’s gaze. Well, it wasn’t as if she could actually do anything.
“You’re right. Next time I go out on a long mission, I’ll be sure to write to you three,” Gui Yin pulled back with a grave nod. “That was my bad. Is there anything else?”
Gui Linghuo shook his head. Smoke was practically seeping out of his ears.
Gui Yin looked to Qin Siyi. The girl happily shook her head. She was just glad to see her da-shixiong embarrassed.
“It’s good if there’s nothing,” Gui Yin said.
He stood and tucked Shan Yu into bed. He waited for Qin Siyi and Gui Linghuo to lie down before doing the same to them. Gui Linghuo tried to protest, but when he saw Gui Yin’s raised brow, he quickly closed his mouth and let his shizun do as he wanted.
Once the three children were tucked into bed, Gui Linghuo put out most of the candles in the room, save for two. He had never liked sleeping in complete darkness. Because Qin Siyi and Gui Linghuo were still wide awake, Gui Yin remained sitting at the headboard, with a storybook in hand. Tales of cultivators of the past began to slowly fill the two children’s ears. Gui Yin’s gentle voice swathed them in a comforting warmth. Soon, they were sent off to dreamland, with thoughts and hopes of the grand adventures they would go through when they were older.
Gui Yin set the book aside. He gently brushed back the loose strands tickling Qin Siyi’s face. The irritation and anger in his chest had settled down exponentially after seeing his three disciples. He remained where he was, head against the bedpost, as he watched the three children sleep.
A few moments passed before Gui Yin stood to change out of his clothes and into suitable sleepwear.
He threw his robes over the rack and opened the wardrobe. He reached in for a set of his sleeping robes. When the robes were dragged out, a sudden movement caught Gui Yin’s eye. His brows furrowed, but he bent down and lifted the note.
He looked into his closet and then back down at the note. He draped his robes over his forearm and unfolded the piece of paper. On this piece of paper was a short, neatly written letter.
To my dearest Lord Immortal,
I appreciate your involvement and help in dealing with Qi Du Tower. As you predicated, it was indeed I who pulled Young Palace Lord Li into this case. I offer my sincerest apologies as to the events that took place during your investigation. As a repayment for your efforts and sacrifices, this note is proof that I now owe you a favor. No matter what it is you request, I will fulfill it with my utmost effort.
Signed,
Huigu Palace’s Palace Lord
Gui Yin stared at the note for a long time.
“Shizun?” a soft call from the bed broke Gui Yin from his thoughts.
He quickly put his robes back on. “I’m here. I was just reading over some things.”
“Mn…” the soft voice faded off again. Gui Linghuo had fallen back asleep.
After he put his clothes back on, Gui Yin turned back to the note. He stared at it with a dark expression. This was not just a sincere thank you note, but it was also Huigu Palace’s Palace Lord offering Gui Yin direct confirmation to his previous assumptions.
A scoff left Gui Yin. He walked to the nearest candle and held the note over the flame. Once the fire latched onto an edge, he walked over to the incense burner he had and tossed it in. He put the lid back on and got into bed, his irritation slowly on the rise again.
Owe you a favor? Fulfill it with my utmost effort?
Don’t make him laugh!
“You owe someone a favor but you don’t even bother to properly introduce yourself,” Gui Yin grumbled angrily. He turned on his side and closed his eyes. “If you’re so grateful, at least leave a name!”
Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous.
Gui Yin didn’t care what this Huigu Palace’s Palace Lord had to offer. He just didn’t want to get involved with that man ever again!
i need to squish all their cheeks (๑˃ᴗ˂)
also at the Owe a Favor note, i giggled and kicked my legs, bUT THEN WHEN GUI YIN BURNED IT!! GASP!!! i get what youre saying sir, but to have someone strong in your debt!! well, i have a feeling Huigu Palace’s Palace Lord / Mystranger will do what you say anyways, even without a note (except probably “leave me and my ducklings alone” >.>)
mama gui yin is already strong, he doesn’t need anyone in his debt 😤 – is probably what he’s thinking LOL
thanks for reading!!
I think my favorite thing is the mc calling Gui Linghuo his son, and cute!! 🥺
Lol I like when Gui Yin said that he was dirty and then a few seconds later Shan Yu just realized he was dirty.
Thanks for the chapter (^O^)