The venerable elder nodded gravely. At that moment, the sky seemed to darken and the earth to turn gray for Shu Yue. His heart sank into the abyss, never to rise again.
"How could it end up like this?" he murmured to himself, his whole body trembling slightly and his hands and feet ice - cold.
"This one has long advised Shu Yao, but he wouldn't listen. He was still so stubbornly insistent on saving you," the venerable elder looked at the unconscious Shu Yao with full concern and sighed helplessly, "The price is just too high."
Shu Yue was expressionless, his eyes empty and no longer shining. He fixed his tender and pained gaze on Shu Yao on the ice platform. That pale - as - frost face deeply stabbed his heart.
Rather than watching Shu Yao lifeless, it would have been better if he had just let himself perish from the poison in the first place.
"Venerable elder, isn't there any other way?" he still clung to a faint hope, even if it was just a glimmer.
The venerable elder stroked his long beard, frowned in thought for a while, then his bright eyes dimmed and he said, "There's only one way now to restore Shu Yao to his former self. However, it will take a very long time. I'm not sure if you can wait."
"As long as it can make father return to normal, I'll wait no matter how long it takes." Shu Yue's eyes welled up with tears of joy. He always believed that there was always a way out.
"This one can first harmonize the five elements for Shu Yao and transfer half of my cultivation base to him to integrate with his remaining half. But the outcome of this process depends on his fortune."
"Okay. Thank you, venerable elder."
"You may step back." The venerable elder gently waved his sleeve, signaling Shu Yue to retreat.
To avoid disturbing the venerable elder's spell - casting, Shu Yue stepped outside. His worry far outweighed his physical weakness. He paced back and forth, rubbing his hands, which clearly showed his restlessness and anxiety.
"Don't worry. Our venerable elder has boundless magic power and will surely cure your father," a young tree fairy said slowly in a soothing voice, which calmed Shu Yue's heart a bit.
Suddenly, a plump and round peach was thrust into his sight. He looked up and saw the tree fairy's bright eyes and a kind smile like a crescent moon. "This little fairy sees that you're physically weak. This celestial peach can harmonize your body and mind. It should do you good."
"But this is a celestial peach. I'm just a mortal. I can't eat it," Shu Yue politely waved his hand and declined.
"So what if you're a mortal? This celestial peach is all good. There's no harm in it," the young tree fairy insisted on stuffing the peach into Shu Yue's hand. "It's very sweet. Just take a bite."
Given the young tree fairy's warm hospitality, Shu Yue didn't want to refuse anymore. He was just thirsty and his mouth was bitter, so he decided to use this celestial peach to moisten his stomach.
He took it politely. Looking at the plump and rosy peach, it was just like a shy young girl. It was so beautiful that he couldn't bear to take a bite.
Finally, he opened his mouth and took a bite. The peach was sweet and moist in his mouth, dry but not astringent. After swallowing, he couldn't help but want to take a second bite.
"How is it?"
"Um, it's good." Even though the peach was delicious, Shu Yue had no more appetite. He put the remaining peach in his bosom. All he cared about was Shu Yao's safety.
The young tree fairy just smiled but said nothing, pursing her lips as if laughing at Shu Yue's silly look.
At this moment, a white figure slowly approached. As soon as Shu Yue saw it, he immediately ran forward and asked, "Venerable elder, how is it?"
"This one has done all that can be done. The rest depends on him." The venerable elder took the white handkerchief handed by the tree fairy and wiped the fine sweat on his forehead. Then he waved his long robe and said, "Take a rest and then take him away. This one must go into seclusion for cultivation."
"Thank you for your hard work, venerable elder." After respectfully seeing off the retreating figure of the venerable elder, Shu Yue immediately rushed to Shu Yao's side.
Even he himself could feel that after eating the celestial peach, he was instantly refreshed and full of energy. All the previous physical weakness had disappeared.
It was truly a celestial peach. The effect was extraordinary. He even seemed more radiant than usual, and his whole body was filled with strong power.
"Father? Father?" he gently called out, hoping that Shu Yao could hear his voice and then open his eyes to look at him.
After several calls with no response, he drooped his eyes dejectedly. His eyelashes covered his eyelids, hiding the sadness in his eyes.
Taking advantage of his current vitality, he carried Shu Yao on his back, just as Shu Yao had done before. Filled with eagerness, he carried Shu Yao back to the tree - house.
For some reason, perhaps due to the celestial peach, Shu Yue walked much faster than usual. He arrived at the tree - house in just half an hour.
Shu Yao's moon - colored white robe was stained with blood. Shu Yue felt heart - wrenching. He took off the stained white robe and changed him into a red robe instead.
The red silk shrouded his willow - like slender body. His jade - like arms were covered by the transparent red silk, faintly showing their delicate beauty. His eyebrows were like painted strokes, under his straight and elegant nose, his lips were as red as cherries, showing a bit of color.
Even though he looked so frail, there was an extra touch of cold and elegant beauty on Shu Yao.
In Shu Yue's heart, Shu Yao was always the snow lotus on the Tianshan Mountain that remained unstained by the mortal world, and also his eternal white moonlight.
He suddenly felt grateful that he could meet him in this lifetime. Even though there was a gap between human and demon, he was willing to find the same destination on different paths.
It was cold. Since Shu Yao had been lying on the ice platform just now, his body was bone - chilling cold. So Shu Yue lit a fire, filling the room with warmth.
"Father, can you hear me?" He simply lay down beside Shu Yao and pulled him into his arms. Letting the long black hair twine around his arm, he murmured softly, "Father, do you know that I was almost scared to death when I saw you risking your life to save me?"
"At the same time, I felt very happy, because at least in your heart, I was worth risking your life for. Even if it's to the ends of the earth, I have no regrets."
He hugged him even tighter, but very carefully. His lips just touched Shu Yao's smooth forehead, and his heart skipped a beat.
"Shu Yao, may I kiss you?" After a while, he softly said.
It was as if he was asking for permission. The next second, his thin lips hesitantly touched Shu Yao's forehead. The cold and real feeling touched his heart again.
Slowly, mustering up his courage, as a real man, he gave the person he loved a tender kiss.
But it was just a momentary touch, like a dragonfly skimming the water. There was no over - stepping.
After the kiss, the person in his arms still didn't respond. Only a steady breathing sound came. Shu Yue was glad that he hadn't been discovered.
"Shu Yao, I..." He hesitated again and swallowed back the words that had been hidden in his heart for a long time.
He suddenly thought it was ridiculous. He had just had the courage to kiss, but why didn't he have the courage to say those words?
Forget it. He'd just hide it for now. Burying this feeling in his heart. Maybe silence was the best way for both of them.
Just like this, with the firelight flickering and the room filled with tenderness, Shu Yue fell asleep holding Shu Yao in his arms.
When he woke up, it was already Chenshi (7 - 9 a.m.).
A ray of morning light appeared on the horizon again, washing away the horror of last night and covering the world with a warm golden glow.
Shu Yao was still in a coma. Shu Yue cooked breakfast, filled a bowl of porridge, and brought it to the wooden bed.
Although Shu Yao was unconscious, Shu Yue couldn't bear to let him starve. Helplessly, he took a mouthful of porridge and tried to pass it into Shu Yao's mouth.