"Dad, don't you trust me at all?" Due to Shu Yao's coldness, Shu Yue's eyes turned red with grievance.
Shu Yao was briefly shaken by the pain in those eyes. But when he saw his own disheveled appearance, he steeled himself to remain cold.
He waved his hand, his pale and exhausted face showing his weariness. "Stop talking. Just go."
"Dad..."
"I told you to go!" The emotionless expulsion completely broke Shu Yue's heart.
He used to think that there was no gap between him and his dad, and their trust in each other was as unshakable as a copper wall and an iron fort.
But now, a small misunderstanding had instantly shattered their trust into pieces.
Shu Yue put on his clothes. The black color made his resolute face look even gloomier. He covered his injured right hand with his sleeve, and also hid the desolation in his eyes.
When he turned around, he choked out a sentence from his throat. "Dad, take care of yourself when I'm gone."
He took one last deep look at that elegant back, held back the tears in his eyes, and ran out of the tree - house biting his lip.
As the sound of the fading footsteps echoed, Shu Yao's heart ached.
He closed his eyes and then opened them again. He had promised to be heartless, but his eyes still got wet.
He looked up at the empty tree - house. All the warmth and happiness had now turned into coldness and loneliness.
Even though there were a thousand kinds of helplessness and sorrow in his heart, Shu Yue never left the deep mountains.
He had been secretly guarding his dad. When he saw Shu Yao leave the tree - house, he followed him.
In the bustling market, there were carriages coming and going, peddlers shouting at the top of their voices, and street food stalls.
But all the passers - by were attracted by a handsome man. His white clothes were as spotless as snow, and his proud and solitary demeanor was like frost. His black hair was simply tied up with a snow - white ribbon, and a few strands of hair hung down by his ears, adding a touch of elegance and pity to his peerless appearance.
His beauty had transcended the worldly standards. There was just a hint of melancholy in his picturesque eyebrows.
He walked lightly, and wherever he went, people's eyes followed him. His eyes suddenly stopped on a small stall on the street with the words 'Peach Kernel Pastries' written on it.
His eyes froze for a moment, and without thinking, he walked over. The vendor was a young girl in her twenties. Her freckled face blushed with shyness and surprise at the arrival of this celestial beauty.
Every look in her eyes was full of admiration. "Sir, do you want to buy some peach kernel pastries?"
Shu Yao just gave a gentle smile. His hand, more beautiful than a woman's, picked up a peach kernel pastry, and the memories of a few days ago came to mind.
He spoke softly, his voice clear and melodious. He looked up at the girl. "Can I have a taste first?"
"Of, of course, sir. Please help yourself." Just being able to talk to such a heavenly man made the girl so excited that she didn't know what to do.
Shu Yao slightly opened his cherry - like mouth and gently took a bite of the pastry. Every move of his was noble and elegant.
Even the girl couldn't help but marvel. She never thought that someone could look so pleasing to the eye while eating.
It was clearly sweet, but in Shu Yao's mouth, it tasted like a mixture of different flavors. He remembered that when Shu Yue had given it to him the other day, he had been in a bad mood and hadn't eaten it.
Now, he couldn't tell whether the taste was sweet or bitter.
Shu Yue, who was following secretly, saw this scene and suddenly had an urge to cry. But he firmly suppressed the thought of rushing over to hug his dad.
He felt a bit more relieved. At least, his dad still remembered the memories associated with the peach kernel pastries.
"Wrap it up for me. I'll take it." Shu Yao pointed at a box of pastries and paid the silver without hesitation.
Looking at the back that wasn't too far away and seeing that his dad was okay, Shu Yue let out a sigh of relief, but also felt a bit disappointed. He silently left the spot.
Feeling a gentle gaze on his back, Shu Yao suddenly stopped in his tracks. He subconsciously turned around sharply. Hoping to see that tall figure, but he was disappointed again. He lowered his eyes, shook his head, and thought he was just overthinking.
Not far away, two young Taoist priests were staring straight at this beautiful back. They were surprised by the fleeting beauty and then sneered at each other. They quietly followed closely...
Shu Yao, preoccupied with his thoughts, returned to the tree - house without any vigilance.
But just as he stepped into the tree - house, a rustling sound behind him made him stop. His elegant eyebrows frowned, and he coldly turned around.
"Who's there? Come out!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, two heads popped out from behind a giant tree, followed by two young Taoist priests in Taoist robes. They were of medium height, with thin faces, and their smiles were extremely lewd. Their eyes on Shu Yao were like those of greedy wolves, glowing with a green light.
Shu Yao immediately became more vigilant and took a step back, because this kind of look was so similar to the incident with the hunter last time.
"Who are you? Why are you following me?"
"Pretty boy, we just want to get to know you," one of the young Taoist priests showed his thin and dark hand from his sleeve and rubbed his hands eagerly. He scanned Shu Yao from head to toe. "Tsk tsk, you're really a peerless beauty. It's so rare."
It seemed like he was talking to himself and also to his companion.
The other young Taoist priest nodded repeatedly, his eyes glowing with green light and drooling with desire. "Yes, brother, we're really lucky today. Hehe..."
"I don't want to get to know you." Shu Yao wanted to leave these two dangerous people as soon as possible, but unexpectedly, he was grabbed by the arms by the two of them and blocked from leaving.
"Don't be afraid, pretty boy. We just want you to accompany us," the young Taoist priest slid his hand down along Shu Yao's arm, showing a lewd expression from time to time. "Wow, your skin is so smooth."
"If you don't let go, don't blame me for being rude to you!" Shu Yao's stern warning only made the young Taoist priests more excited.
"Yo, this beauty has a fiery temper."
"What do you know? That's what makes it interesting. We'll show him our strength later."
The two of them talked to each other, exchanged a knowing smile, and suddenly lifted Shu Yao up from the front and back, laughing wildly.
"You beasts, let me go!" The peach kernel pastries in his hand had already fallen to the ground. He was lifted off the ground and struggled desperately, but all he got was the unrestrained laughter of the Taoist priests.
Shu Yao wanted to use magic to escape, but since this was the mortal world, he didn't want to cause trouble like last time.
His limbs were completely restrained. Even though he kicked his feet and waved his hands, he couldn't break free from this terrible confinement.
In the silent forest, only the lewd laughter of the Taoist priests and Shu Yao's struggling cries echoed...
...
At this time, Shu Yue was worried about his dad. Unable to contain himself, he returned to the tree - house. But outside the tree - house, he found the box of peach kernel pastries that Shu Yao had bought on the street.
The pastries in the box were scattered all over the ground, and some were even broken. Shu Yue's eyes darkened. He ran into the tree - house calling for Shu Yao, but there was no one there.
An uneasy feeling welled up in his heart. The frightening experience he had just gone through a few days ago came back to haunt him.
He was afraid that Shu Yao would be in danger again like last time!