Chapter 34: Could it be that since your hair turned white, that part of you doesn’t work anymore either?

Wen Tingshu was the master of Hengxue Mountain. During all these years he had replaced the heavenly pillar, the Hengxue mountain range had also continuously supplied him with spiritual energy.

Unless someone’s cultivation was higher than his, the heavenly pillar would not easily change masters—except in the case of a direct bloodline.

Ever since Yu Gong moved the mountains, even the tallest mountain feared endless generations of bloodline descendants.

Wen Tingshu could strip away a portion of his spiritual energy and place it in Hengxue Mountain ahead of time, then have Wowo and Nangnang replace his physical body. That would be enough to handle one month.

It was just that, as a father, he could not bear to leave Wowo and Nangnang alone on Hengxue Mountain.

Wen Tingshu said, “As long as I am on Hengxue Mountain, the secret realm will remain stable, and Sect Leader Meng’s life will not be in danger. I will first teach Wowo and Nangnang my cultivation method, and do my best to make them no different from me. Then we can leave. If we leave now, they will miss you.”

Meng Baixu also could not bear it. These two little cubs had gone all the way to Hengxue Mountain to find their daddy. They had only just met again. If he left, they would cry again.

However, he was a demon after all. How could he be indecisive? So he stubbornly said, “A loving father raises spoiled sons.”

Wen Tingshu said, “I know.”

Meng Baixu said, “Since my sons are staying on your Hengxue Mountain, I’m not at ease either. You have to promise me that I can send a few people over to protect them.”

This sounded so righteous, but in truth, he was afraid Hengxue Sect would completely raise Wowo and Nangnang into little saintly fathers. Wouldn’t all his previous efforts be wasted?

He had to bring a few people to watch them, to prevent Hengxue Sect from brainwashing Wowo and Nangnang.

Wen Tingshu’s Hengxue Mountain had never allowed demons inside. Even people from Hengxue Sect rarely went up. Back then, when Meng Fuguang wanted to send Shi Wumi to seduce Wen Tingshu, he could not even get through the door.

Wen Tingshu said, “All right.”

Being single and having children were different situations. Hengxue Mountain also had to open its doors to guests.

Meng Baixu narrowed his eyes. Since Wen Tingshu agreed so readily, he could not be blamed for bringing all the demons in and occupying the magpie’s nest.

He immediately sent a message to Fuguang Sect, telling everyone who could come to come. They would simply occupy the white moonlight cultivation site in every cultivator’s heart.

Night fell. Wen Tingshu slept at sunset, and the moment Meng Baixu arrived here, he automatically approached the old thing’s schedule. He said to Wowo and Nangnang, “Ride the wooden horses a little longer, then go to sleep.”

While they were bathing, Wen Tingshu had made a pair of wooden horses.

Meng Wowo and Meng Nangnang looked at Daddy with bright, energetic eyes.

Sleep this early?

Fuguang Sect people were night owls. They often caught fireflies in the middle of the night.

Wen Tingshu also did not want to restrain the father and sons. “You can keep playing. It’s fine.”

Meng Baixu said, “Sleeping early prevents white hair.”

Wen Tingshu: “…”

Meng Baixu crossed his arms. “How are we sleeping? One person takes one?”

Wowo and Nangnang shook their heads immediately and hurriedly hugged each other, their two round cheeks pressed close together.

Wen Tingshu said, “That is not good.”

Meng Baixu said, “Then you take both.”

Meng Wowo and Meng Nangnang continued shaking their heads. “Want to sleep with Daddy.”

Wen Tingshu said, “They haven’t seen you for so long. They missed you—”

Meng Baixu raised his brow. “I’m taking two by myself?!”

Wen Tingshu said, “I’ll be right beside you.”

Meng Baixu was pleased. He touched the little cubs’ heads one by one. They had cooperated well. With just a few words, they had tricked the Immortal Venerable into bed.

The bed Meng Baixu often slept on in the East Hall was very large, enough for four or five adults. Meng Baixu lay on one side, the cubs slept in the middle, and Wen Tingshu sat by the bed, gently patting Wowo and Nangnang’s backs. His white hair fell down, swaying in the candlelight.

Meng Baixu did not speak. He had one hundred and eight methods to tease Shizun, but he had to wait until his sons were asleep.

Previously, Wen Tingshu had only taken care of Meng Nangnang while he slept. He had made all kinds of “food” pillows for him, nearly attracting mice, before finally managing to coax the child to sleep.

He had thought children all had to fuss for a while before sleeping. Only now did he know that it was because Meng Nangnang had been missing his brother and Daddy. With the whole family reunited, Meng Nangnang fell asleep as soon as he touched the bed.

Wen Tingshu felt sorry for Meng Nangnang, then looked at Wowo. He carefully compared the curve of their baby fat cheeks. No matter how he looked, Wowo seemed one percent thinner.

As he watched, the two little cubs automatically hugged each other in their sleep, their cheeks fitting tightly together like two little plump birds huddling for warmth in a nest.

Wen Tingshu was speechless. Did this sleeping posture mean Wowo and Nangnang were deeply uneasy, so much so that they held each other even in their sleep?

Had he not given them enough protection?

“Wowo and Nangnang, they—”

Meng Baixu said, “Oh, they’ve always slept like this.”

He absolutely would not say that it was because he always rolled away the entire blanket, causing the two little cubs to miserably huddle together. Over time, it had become a habit.

Wen Tingshu said, “It’s late. You should sleep too. I’ll watch them.”

Meng Baixu stretched out his hand and tugged Shizun’s white hair. “I didn’t inform you of the risk in advance, so I have to take responsibility for your white hair. Tell me, do you think dual cultivation can turn white hair black?”

Although Wen Tingshu had not said it outright, even thinking with his toes, Meng Baixu knew the white hair was related to the twins absorbing his spiritual power.

Wen Tingshu’s breath paused slightly. “Lanshe, it cannot.”

Meng Baixu said, “I don’t believe you. Let me try.”

Wen Tingshu subconsciously glanced at their two sleeping sons. “That kind of thing is not compensation. You have traveled all day. Rest first.”

Meng Baixu’s black hair was unbound. He crossed over and sat on Wen Tingshu’s lap, his hair tangling with Wen Tingshu’s white hair. He lowered his eyes and glanced at it, feeling that the sharp contrast was very irritating.

“Could it be that since your hair turned white, that part of you doesn’t work anymore either?” Meng Baixu pressed against his lower abdomen.

Wen Tingshu: “…”

Meng Baixu immediately sensed that Wen Tingshu could still work.

The only thing that did not work was probably that the old thing still could not get past the hurdle of sleeping with his disciple.

That was fine. For someone who had not gone out for hundreds of years, being a little conservative was normal. This sect leader loved forcing saintly fathers into difficult positions.

Satisfied, he propped himself up on Wen Tingshu’s shoulders, stood up, strode over the two little cubs, and curled back into the inner side of the bed.

With children present, they could not do anything anyway.

The demon sect leader closed his eyes and listened to the righteous saintly father’s gradually quickening breaths.

He slept well.

Meng Baixu did not know when Wen Tingshu managed to regulate himself last night. In any case, when he opened his eyes, Shizun once again looked like a virtuous wife as he made buns.

The two little cubs sat by the small table, solemnly following the Immortal Venerable in wrapping red bean buns and taro paste buns.

Wen Tingshu taught them very patiently. The red bean paste and taro paste had been frozen ahead of time, forming firm little balls that were easy to wrap.

Meng Baixu stretched as he came out, walking around to inspect Wowo and Nangnang’s results. Tsk, tsk. To learn cooking, one really did have to come to Hengxue Mountain.

“The prettiest one is for me.”

Meng Wowo and Meng Nangnang hurriedly recommended the prettiest buns they had made. “This one!”

Meng Baixu dipped his finger in a little red bean paste and smeared it on the little cub’s bun. “Marking it. This one is mine.”

The buns went into the steamer. After a while, hot steam rose as they came out.

While the father and sons ate buns with flower soup, Wen Tingshu sat at the side drawing a map of Hengxue Mountain. Starting today, he would familiarize Wowo and Nangnang with every place here.

When Zhongli Yun came up, what he saw was the Sect Master acting like a husband and teaching children.

“Good morning, Uncle Zhongli, oh!”

“Good morning, Uncle Zhongli, oh!”

The two little cubs stopped eating and spoke in soft, milky voices in perfect unison.

Zhongli Yun froze. Why were there two identical ones? What forbidden technique had Wen Tingshu used now?

When he saw Meng Baixu, however, he was not surprised. He would come sooner or later.

Meng Baixu took a bite of his bun. He was not going to greet Zhongli Yun. Things were different now. He was now the demon sect leader.

Only when the two cubs pounced over and each stuffed a bun into his hand, and he touched their warm little faces, did Zhongli Yun understand.

So the demon sect leader had given the Sect Master a pair of twins!

“I have something to discuss with you,” Wen Tingshu stood up and invited Zhongli Yun to the West Hall.

What were the righteous path people scheming?

Meng Baixu disdained listening. He also pressed down the two little cubs, who were eager to eavesdrop, onto the table. “Little babies can’t listen when adults are talking.”

Wen Tingshu was probably going to tell Zhongli Yun that he needed to leave, and Wowo and Nangnang would stay behind to guard Hengxue Mountain. If the little cubs heard in advance, they might not cooperate later.

Inside the hall.

When Zhongli Yun heard that Wen Tingshu was going out to save Meng Fuguang, he was already unshaken.

Wen Tingshu said, “During the days I am not here, Wowo and Nangnang will be the little Sect Masters. Aside from them, Fuguang Sect will send people to care for them. You can decide everything else.”

Zhongli Yun said, “Two little Sect Masters whose ages add up to three. Are you sure they can shoulder the responsibility of the heavenly pillar?”

Wen Tingshu said, “I will leave enough spiritual power behind.”

Zhongli Yun was speechless. “If I had known you two already had children, why did we even hold that cultivation conference? It exhausted me.”

Wen Tingshu said, “You worked hard.”

Zhongli Yun smiled. Could one sentence of “you worked hard” smooth everything over?

However, Wen Tingshu’s excuse for holding the cultivation conference was to promote exchanges between the sects and jointly maintain peace in the cultivation world. It was so sacred and grand that no one could criticize it.

For some reason, every time he came to Hengxue Mountain, which was full of awe-inspiring righteousness, it was the moment Zhongli Yun felt the most resentment.

He wanted to curse.

If he could not criticize Wen Tingshu for holding the cultivation conference, he could criticize something else to vent.

Zhongli Yun sharply asked, “May I ask, Sect Master, what exactly is your current relationship with Meng Baixu? Master and disciple, or something else?”

Wen Tingshu fell silent.

He did not know how to answer Zhongli Yun’s question.

Master and disciple—naturally not. Lanshe did not acknowledge it.

Dao companions? Also not. They had not formed a bond.

The moment the Sect Master fell silent, Zhongli Yun seized the chance to scold him.

“With all due respect, Sect Master, you are truly cowardly!”

Wen Tingshu’s expression stiffened slightly. “Why do you say that?”

Zhongli Yun had managed Hengxue Sect for over a hundred years. Aside from Meng Baixu and the earlier Xie Tongchen, he was the person who had interacted with Wen Tingshu the most over all these years.

Zhongli Yun could see Wen Tingshu’s moral sore spot at a glance.

He scolded him very satisfyingly. “The sect leader has already given birth to two babies for you, yet you are still here tangled over a master-disciple relationship, not daring to clearly give him the title of dao companion. You’re letting him live on Hengxue Mountain without name or status while raising children. Even I can’t stand watching it!”

“You neither take the initiative nor refuse. Scum!”

“Sometimes Fuguang Sect curses us as hypocrites chasing fame, and honestly, in this case, they’re not wrong.”

“You are the Shizun. Because you are older, you don’t dare act according to your heart. Are you waiting for your disciple to risk universal condemnation to love you?”

“You, the leader of the righteous path, do not dare bear the infamy of defying the classics and betraying the Dao. Does that mean the demon sect leader, just because he doesn’t care, deserves to bear it?”

“You are his Shizun. At a time like this, shouldn’t you protect your disciple’s reputation?”

After this tirade, Wen Tingshu’s face was paler than his hair.

Zhongli Yun immediately felt refreshed, as if his hands and feet had regained strength and he could hold another cultivation conference.

“Sect Master, do you still remember Hengxue Sect’s rule forbidding master-disciple romance?”

Wen Tingshu had questioned the heavens for five hundred years and had always believed his Dao heart was like a clear mirror. It turned out that was not true. He had been thoroughly wrong. Once he made a decision, he instead became calm and composed.

“I accept punishment.”

Accepting punishment meant everyone in Hengxue Sect would know.

The lofty Immortal Venerable would also have to accept the sect rule’s whipping punishment, losing all face.

Wen Tingshu was not afraid.

He had never cut off his possessiveness toward Lanshe. He could no longer deceive himself with the name of master and disciple.

From the start, from the moment of apprenticeship, it had been Lanshe who approached him. He sat upright on Hengxue Mountain, acting as a noble, upright gentleman. He was sanctimonious and insincere.

He was the one who truly had a guilty conscience.

Zhongli Yun said, “Oh, no need to punish. Your precious disciple refused to let that rule be engraved back then. He insisted it be changed to ‘romance is forbidden while the master-disciple relationship still exists.’”

Wen Tingshu’s chest tightened. Back then, he had wanted to use the sect rule to restrain his improper thoughts toward his disciple. He had not considered any way out.

Lanshe had left him a way out.

Seeing Wen Tingshu’s expression, Zhongli Yun became even more certain that Meng Baixu had falsely passed on an imperial order when changing the rule.

“Farewell.”

Zhongli Yun flicked his sleeves. When it came to love, one really had to let a saintly father do it. Just a few words could make him ashamed beyond measure.

If the Immortal Venerable never moved his mortal heart, who would ever find the moral high ground over Wen Tingshu?

The moment he stepped out, he met three pairs of dark, round eyes.

Zhongli Yun’s heart softened. He crouched down and pinched the new little Sect Masters’ cheeks.

Wen Tingshu might as well marry into Fuguang Sect and never come back. In any case, the little Sect Masters would not make him hold a cultivation conference every three years.

“Sect Leader.”

“Mn.” Meng Baixu was satisfied with Zhongli Yun’s tact.

Zhongli Yun, eager to watch the drama grow, said, “Sect Leader, have you ever heard of keeping someone at arm’s length, or capturing by pretending to let go?”

“Mn?” Meng Baixu looked thoughtful. What did that mean? Leave Wen Tingshu hanging? Make that old thing regret it too late?

That seemed to make sense.

As expected of Hengxue Sect’s acting sect master, deeply trusted by Wen Tingshu. A rare talent in the cultivation world, full of great wisdom! Why had he never noticed how pleasing Zhongli Yun was before? If only he could dig him over to serve Fuguang Sect!

Zhongli Yun knew at a glance that he did not understand. Meng Baixu only knew how to throw straight balls and embarrass Wen Tingshu. How would he understand twists and turns?

“I only mentioned it casually,” Zhongli Yun said with a smile. “May I ask, Sect Leader, what position does Liu Xishi hold in Fuguang Sect?”

What kind of high-ranking official would willingly grind tofu pudding at Hengxue Sect for twenty years?

Meng Baixu said, “Deputy Sect Leader.”

Zhongli Yun: ???

You mean to tell me that the dignified Deputy Sect Leader only needed to grind some tofu pudding every morning, and then no one knew where he went in the afternoon?

Then what was he, getting up early and working late to manage Hengxue Sect?

He felt a little tempted to seek another enlightened master.