RIIDMDR chapter 149

As the great array behind him completely collapsed, Nan Xu finally came to his senses. Glancing back at the seemingly unchanged scenery, a certain part of his heart suddenly felt empty.

Nan Xu had spent over a month with Ting Shu in the array. The array had deliberately faded his past memories. Although he always knew it was just Ting Shu in his memories, when he truly returned to the real demon realm and saw the great array related to Ting Shu disappear, he felt a sense of loss.

That was someone he knew who would never return.

His mental energy, suppressed by the array, returned and stabilized as the array disappeared. The faded images in his mind gradually became clearer, and all his memories merged together in the depths of his brain.

His physical state inside and outside the array was separated by three thousand years. The longer he stayed in the array, the more pronounced his discomfort upon returning to reality became. After standing there for only fifteen minutes, Nan Xu was utterly exhausted. He swayed slightly, and the next second, Tingchuan grabbed him and supported him. The strong, firm arm brought Nan Xu back to his senses.

“Tingchuan, I’m so tired. I can’t walk back,” he said. His voice was gentle and somewhat similar to Ting Shu’s, though Ting Shu would never act so coquettishly.

Tingchuan stared at him for two seconds, confirming that he was merely exhausted. He sighed, grabbed Nan Xu’s arm, and, with slight effort, hoisted him onto his shoulder.

Nan Xu had expected Tingchuan to carry him as usual, but in the blink of an eye, his feet left the ground, and he found himself being carried like a sack of potatoes. His already ravenous stomach was pressed against Tingchuan’s shoulder. Nan Xu’s head hung down and his arms hung naturally, like a boneless cat.

All the blood in his body rushed to his head because of this position. Nan Xu was stunned for a moment before realizing how awkward the position was.

“Tingchuan, how could you carry me like this?” He tried to jump down, but Tingchuan pressed his hand against his waist, using just enough force to keep him from moving. Helpless, Nan Xu could only cry out in distress.

Tingchuan continued walking down the mountain, seemingly oblivious to the situation. “You’ve been lingering in the formation, refusing to come out. You must be getting along extremely well with Tingshu. Since you’ve forgotten that there are demons waiting for you outside, why can’t I just carry you like this?”

Nanxu’s vision was blurring. After hearing this, he managed to grasp the main point. Tingchuan was jealous and impatient while waiting outside. He retorted, “I didn’t stay in the formation. I just couldn’t find the exit. My feelings for you are as clear as day and night; don’t slander me.”

Tingchuan chuckled. “As clear as day and night? What kind of feelings are those? Tell me in detail.”

Nanxu’s face turned as red as a boiled shrimp, either from the rush of blood to his head or from Tingchuan joking about his own explanation.

He wouldn’t say, and Tingchuan didn’t press him. He simply continued walking forward. Finally feeling uncomfortable, Nanxu softened and said, “Tingchuan, my stomach hurts.”

He sounded aggrieved and exhausted from being in the formation for so long, making him appear even more pitiful.

Tingchuan stopped and put him down. His arms and legs were weak, and his head was still spinning. He couldn’t stand steadily, so he let Tingchuan carry him on his back.

Nanxu felt much better being carried on Tingchuan’s back. He slumped weakly against Tingchuan’s back. After a while, he fell asleep on the slightly bumpy mountain path, unable to resist the exhaustion.

Still half-asleep, Nanxu knew that they had arrived at the canine tribe’s settlement. Tingchuan asked if he wanted to see it, but Nanxu mumbled that he was too sleepy. When he opened his eyes again, Tingchuan had brought him back to the courtyard.

Zhixing was playing with Guan’er. Thanks to Zhixing’s help, the canine tribe had successfully welcomed a new litter of pups. They had prepared many valuable items to thank Zhixing, but the canine tribe had only fled to Zhuyu Mountain and didn’t have much wealth. This token of gratitude had emptied their coffers. Although they offered it sincerely, how could Zhixing possibly accept it?

He was usually quiet and awkward with words, and he always rejected gifts in the same way. In the end, when he saw a basket of small, hand-carved wooden toys by the door—each about palm-sized and delicately made—he said those toys would suffice.

The wooden toys were made by the canine demons themselves and weren’t valuable, so they were reluctant to give them to him. However, Zhixing insisted on having those toys. They were both innocent demons, so the canine demons finally had to compromise, feeling quite embarrassed. Fortunately, after seeing that Zhixing genuinely liked the toys, they felt a little better.

Zhixing brought the toys back up the mountain to share with Guan’er. Guan’er had seen toys like these when he was young, but it had been so long that he had forgotten about them. Seeing them again felt entirely new, and he was delighted. He wagged his tail and played happily with Zhixing. They were still playing when Tingchuan returned with Nan Xu, who drew Guan’er’s attention.

Nan Xu had just woken up and Tingchuan placed him on the swing in the courtyard. Instinctively, Nan Xu gripped the ropes on both sides of the swing. Seeing Nan Xu, Guan’er got so excited that he jumped up with the wooden ball still in his mouth. He placed his front paws on Nan Xu’s knees, almost tipping the swing over.

Fortunately, although Nan Xu was still groggy, he still had an instinctive reaction to danger, preventing him from falling face-first.

Seeing that he had almost caused a disaster, Guan’er’s tail, which had been wagging furiously, stopped abruptly. He slumped down, his ears drooping, looking remorseful.

Sprawled listlessly on the swing, Nan Xu couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of the dog. He took a wooden ball from the dog’s mouth and tossed it straight out.

Still bewildered, the dog looked up and saw Nan Xu laughing. Realizing that Nan Xu was playing with him, Guan’er’s mood brightened, and he happily went to retrieve the ball.

After playing with the dog for a while, Nan Xu became much more alert. Zhixing also came over. Seeing Nan Xu’s listless expression, Zhixing asked, “Owner, did you encounter any danger in the formation? Were you injured?”

Nan Xu shook his head. “I didn’t encounter any real danger. Everything is fine.”

He spoke lightly, but his expression didn’t reflect that, so Zhixing wasn’t entirely convinced.

Tingchuan brought out a bowl of hot porridge from the kitchen. Nan Xu took the bowl and saw that it contained yams and goji berries. The rice had been cooked until soft, and the thick broth clearly indicated that it had been simmering for a long time.

Nanxu was very hungry. After testing the temperature, he took large bites and put them in his mouth. After only two bites, he knew it was Zhixing’s cooking. He couldn’t help but smile at Zhixing while eating.

Zhixing sat to one side, continuing to play with Guan’er. After Nan Xu finished his bowl of porridge and showed no sign of wanting to rest, Zhixing said, “Would you like a couple more bowls? There’s still plenty left in the pot.”

Nan Xu waved his hand and immediately asked a string of questions. “How long was I inside the array this time? When did you return to the mountain? How did you know I’d be back today?”

Zhixing replied, “Owner, you’ve been in the array for over a month. Half a month ago, the wife of the canine tribe chief gave birth to a daughter. She cried loudly and strongly, and she has smooth spiritual veins. It won’t take her more than a few decades to take human form. After giving the lady a few prescriptions to strengthen her body, I heard you still hadn’t come out, so I went to the western peak to check. I saw Senior Tingchuan waiting outside the array, but he told me to return to the main peak and prepare food to replenish your strength. I didn’t know when you’d return, so I cooked a pot of porridge every day. The wild boar demons helped eat whatever I couldn’t finish—it wasn’t wasted.”

Nan Xu thought that time inside the formation was different from time outside, but they were actually the same. No wonder Tingchuan was angry. He was so attached to the people and things inside the formation that he refused to leave. Anyone would feel uncomfortable waiting over a month.

But halfway through listening, Nan Xu’s eyes lit up. He vaguely recalled that when they’d reached the foot of the mountain earlier, Tingchuan had asked if he wanted to “go take a look.” At the time, Nan Xu hadn’t understood what he meant, but now he realized—and regretted being too dazed to go.

After resting for a few days, Nanxu decided he would take gifts to visit the newborn canine demon at the foot of the mountain. He had never seen a demon cub before!

“Thank you for making porridge for me every day. After I rest for a couple days, I’ll make you some Tuckahoe cake,” he said with a smile.

Zhixing quickly said that making porridge was just a matter of time and effort. However, he was surprised by Nanxu’s sudden mention of Poria cocos cake. Tuckahoe cake was a Bai family delicacy passed down through generations of the Xishan family. Although the method wasn’t particularly mysterious, it held special meaning for them.

Zhixing didn’t think Nanxu was thinking of Xishan. He had already noticed Nanxu’s lack of knowledge about the demon realm’s customs and culture. Perhaps the owner had suddenly remembered; after all, he frequently made all sorts of strange and wonderful dishes.

After chatting with Zhixing for a while, Nan Xu felt sleepy. He recited a purification incantation that Zhixing had taught him. It was convenient, but he still felt that something was missing without a hot bath.

But he was too tired to care. Yawning, he entered the room. Zhixing had only stepped out to wash his hands. When he came back in to check Nan Xu’s pulse, he found him fast asleep, hugging his blanket tightly—a picture of deep exhaustion.

After taking his pulse, Zhixing frowned slightly. Tingchuan, who had finished clearing the dishes, entered the room and looked at Zhixing. “Is something wrong?”

Zhixing replied, “The owner’s spiritual power seems to have been somewhat restricted. He’ll probably need to rest for a while.”

Tingchuan was relieved; this news was much better than he had expected.

Nanxu was unaware that Zhixing had also taken his pulse. Even if he had known, it wouldn’t have mattered. During his time in the formation, Tingshu provided him with meticulous daily care, along with the love of his aunt. The myriad medicinal plants in Xishan were beautiful, and he had unknowingly become engrossed in them.

Had he not realized later that his memory was being tampered with and become wary, he might never have escaped the illusion. Without the plate of crayfish that broke the array, he would have been sent back to the day he first arrived, walking the same mountain path over and over, trapped in an endless loop.

Nan Xu slept for two whole days. If not for the bowl of porridge that filled his stomach, he would have probably fainted from hunger in his sleep.

Seeing that he had finally slept enough, Tingchuan sat down by the bed and asked, “What would you like to eat today? Chicken from the mountain or fish from the water?”

Nan Xu felt the first part of the question was very familiar. When he was in the formation, Ting Shu always asked this question. In their eyes, this glutton didn’t care about anything but eating. Nan Xu chuckled at the thought and a slight smile crept onto his lips unconsciously. Receiving no reply, Tingchuan watched as Nan Xu grinned foolishly at him and reached out to touch his forehead.

Nan Xu asked, puzzled, “What’s wrong?”

Tingchuan replied helplessly, “I’m checking if Ting Shu trapped your soul in the formation. Why are you acting so silly?”

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