“Waaah! A monster!” The three people screamed and scurried away in a panic.
Fortunately, this place was rather remote, so this commotion didn't cause too much trouble.
“Shuyue, you...” Shuyao hesitated when seeing the vine - covered hands. Or perhaps, he was avoiding something.
He knew that Shuyue would learn the truth one day, but he didn't expect it to come so soon.
“Father, why have I become like this?” Shuyue's voice trembled slightly. He looked at Shuyao with a lost expression.
Facing his current monster - like appearance, he was not only panicked but also unable to accept it.
What on earth had happened that made him grow those terrifying green vines just like Shuyao?
Shuyao only felt heartache. He suppressed the bitterness deep in his heart and was also filled with a sense of guilt.
“Let's go. Let's go home first.” He reached out to help Shuyue, but Shuyue pushed him away and then ran quickly in one direction.
“Shuyue, where are you going! Shuyue!” Shuyao chased after him, shuttling through the alleys, afraid that something might happen to Shuyue.
However, after running for a long time, Shuyao began to lose sight of him. He shouted Shuyue's name while looking around, hoping to see that black figure.
The night was like a curtain, with the stars and the moon intertwined. Only the bright moon poured down a cool stream of moonlight, adding a touch of purity and tranquility.
After much searching, Shuyao finally found a lonely and slender figure by a river, under the hanging lanterns in the night sky.
The moonlight cast a glow on his body, adding a desolate color to his black clothes.
His long black hair fluttered, and his eyebrows and eyelashes were clearly defined. In the sparse moonlight, his poetic and picturesque face was outlined.
He raised his head and looked at the countless lanterns hanging in the night sky. His handsome profile flickered in the light.
Shuyao stepped lightly and walked towards him step by step.
Shuyao in his white and black long robe, standing with Shuyue in his night - like black clothes, became the most beautiful scenery by the wishing river.
He and Shuyue looked up at the lanterns, which were like ripples floating on the water, calm and motionless.
Looking back at Shuyue, he saw that Shuyue was still staring intently, but there was desolation in his eyes.
In Shuyue's dark eyes, a rising lantern was soon reflected. The candlelight curled, dyeing a red glow in the bottom of his eyes.
“This one is ours.” Suddenly, a spiritual voice came from beside him. Shuyue looked back in surprise and just met those beautiful, misty eyes.
Even though there were countless dazzling lanterns, they were no match for the elegance, holiness, and purity of these eyes and this man.
“Make a wish.” Shuyao smiled faintly, then closed his eyes, folded his hands, and silently made a wish in his heart.
Seeing his father do this, Shuyue also raised his restored hand and made a wish under their lantern with Shuyao.
There were many lanterns around, with couples gathering. But in front of these two men, everything seemed dull.
People's eyes were all attracted by these two peerless beauties. Against the gentle breeze and the moonlight, the black - and - white combination merged perfectly.
“I've made my wish. I wonder if the lantern can help me fulfill it.” Shuyao seemed to be talking to himself as he stared at the man beside him.
At this moment, leaving aside their father - son relationship, he really regarded Shuyue just as a man.
Shuyue stared into his eyes for a long time. His eyes were full of affection, and his heroic eyebrows were relaxed. He looked at this man's graceful and elegant appearance.
Suddenly, he hugged Shuyao tightly. His strong arms held Shuyao so tightly that there was no room for Shuyao to breathe.
Even if the wind was strong, it couldn't separate them.
Shuyao was shocked. He struggled to break free and scold, because all the people around were looking at them in surprise.
He couldn't stand these strange looks, let alone Shuyue hugging him in public!
“Just for a while, just for a while...” Suddenly, a weak and pale voice came from his shoulder, and then it murmured, “Don't reject me, Shuyao.”
This voice was on the verge of breaking, and its weakness made Shuyao's heart waver.
Finally, he softened. Thinking that Shuyao had just experienced that terrifying event and just wanting to comfort him, he compromised. Ignoring others' looks, he even stretched out his hands and gently hugged Shuyue's trembling and broad back.
Although the man in front of him was tall and seemed as steady as a mountain, no one understood better than he did that this man was vulnerable and helpless at this moment.
“I'll be with you.” Anyway, at least during the time I can be with you, I'll always be by your side.
If my leaving can bring you peace, why not do it?
It's just that suddenly, for no reason, he felt a little heartache.
The lanterns and the bright moon set off the two men hugging tightly by the wishing river. Their elegant appearance outshone all the prosperity.
They ignored the disgusting looks from the secular world and all the gossips, just to keep this moment of tenderness.
When they got back to the tree - house, at Shuyue's request, Shuyao accompanied him to sleep.
Without his usual coldness, Shuyue's innocent sleeping face made Shuyao seem to return to the past, when he watched over the little Shuyue as he fell asleep.
At this moment, Shuyao only felt a warm current flowing in his body, passing through every corner. It was very much like the feeling when he was practicing before, but much stronger.
To avoid disturbing Shuyue, he left the inner room and came outside the tree - house.
Perhaps it was fate. The full moon in the sky suddenly emitted a holy moonlight, as if gathering thousands of kinds of energy and converging into a clear light that shone directly on Shuyao.
The bright moon dyed his snow - white long robe. He exuded a beautiful and radiant aura from inside out. A white mist surrounded his body, mixed with a little green mist, and transformed into a transparent light that circled around him.
He was spotless, like a floating immortal. Even the mottled shadows were reluctant to leave on him. A ray of light sparkled on his eyebrows. There seemed to be a huge power hidden in his handsome figure.
Suddenly, the demonic mist remaining around his body was dissipated by the moonlight. He let out a low roar. As the night wind blew and the tree shadows swayed, only a white mist lingered around him.
The momentary rustling also returned to calm with the fading moonlight.
It was as if nothing had happened just now, as if it was just an invisible passer - by.
Perhaps after the baptism of the moonlight, Shuyao, who was weak before, was now full of energy. His black hair set off his eyebrows and eyes like a high - mountain stream, as if all the light of thousands of colored glasses was concentrated on him.
Surprised, he suddenly saw a white mist floating in the air. A vicissitudinous and hoarse voice came from it:
“Shuyao, congratulations. You have absorbed the immortal technique I gave you and merged with it.”
“Honorable Elder, I'm confused. Please enlighten me.” Shuyao was completely at a loss. When did the honorable elder give him the immortal technique?