Liu Buli finished speaking and left the courtyard of Shen Muzhi and You Siqi.
Shen Muzhi stood there, watching the courtyard gate close again. After a long while, he turned back to You Siqi behind him and said, "Siqi, is it my illusion? Why do I always feel that Daoist Liu's words just now made quite a bit of sense?"
"It does make sense, but for you, who is the important person?" You Siqi sighed and said, "In Liu Buli's eyes, Lu Wuming is the most important existence in this world. Even if the world were to be destroyed, as long as Lu Wuming is alive, Liu Buli would be happy. For you, is there such an existence?"
Shen Muzhi pursed his lips.
He fell silent and thought seriously for a moment, but all that appeared in his mind was You Siqi's silly smiling face.
For this smile, could he overturn everything?
Shen Muzhi didn't know.
He only felt that such a thought seemed somewhat terrifying, yet amidst the terror, it was also somewhat tempting.
What kind of deep affection could reach such a point?
Shen Muzhi didn't know.
He found that for a moment, he seemed to envy Liu Buli a little.
Looking at You Siqi again, the latter completely misunderstood his meaning. He even reached out and patted Shen Muzhi's shoulder, grinning, "If you want to be like him, I can tell you where to find your confidantes. Just like in novels, they'll most likely fall for you. And they'll all be stunningly beautiful. Are you interested?"
Shen Muzhi shook his head.
He said with a smile, "Perhaps even the protagonist with the same name as me in the novel you wrote doesn't truly like those so-called confidantes. Or rather, he likes them, but it's not love."
These words were indeed rather profound, and You Siqi didn't understand.
He looked at Shen Muzhi blankly.
Shen Muzhi didn't explain further. He simply reached out and ruffled You Siqi's hair, saying, "I'm going to wash up and change my clothes. This is all blood, it's uncomfortable sticking to me."
After speaking, he went to fetch water by himself.
Actually, he had really wanted to tell You Siqi that if it were true love, perhaps the protagonist in the story would, like Liu Buli now, become a Buddha or a demon for just one person.
But based on their brief descriptions, the protagonist in the story had a great sense of righteousness and, like himself now, had his mind filled with notions of good and evil.
Doesn't that mean that the existence of those confidantes wasn't actually that important?
If that were the case, why should he go and see them? What would be the point of meeting them?
It would be better to stay by You Siqi's side. Perhaps this way, he might see the world that Liu Buli saw a little faster.
Shen Muzhi lowered his head, fetching water, and let out a soft sigh.
He was truly envious...
Regardless of any changes in Shen Muzhi's mood, Liu Buli returned directly to his and Lu Wuming's courtyard after leaving their yard.
As he entered, he glanced inside and saw Lu Wuming sitting obediently under a large tree, meditating and cultivating. He looked quite proper, as if he were extremely obedient.
Liu Buli snorted and sat down in front of Lu Wuming.
Seeing that the latter still had his eyes closed as if in a trance, he couldn't help but reach out and tap Lu Wuming's forehead. Then, facing Lu Wuming's wronged gaze, he said, "Still pretending? Weren't you quite eager when you were eavesdropping on our conversation just now? Do you think I didn't know?"
Lu Wuming was startled and asked nervously, "So Master knew?"
"I didn't know originally. I thought you had really left," Liu Buli pouted and said, "When I walked to the door, I saw a drop of blood stuck to the outside of the door. That blood carried a faint trace of ghostly energy, very weak, but after spending so much time with you, I can distinguish it. I still remember you telling me that your flesh and blood can sense your surroundings and transmit what you sense to you. So I immediately understood why you left so decisively. You left an ear behind to listen, didn't you?"
Saying this, Liu Buli reached out and pinched Lu Wuming's ear.
Watching the latter cover his ear, his eyes red and crying out in pain, Liu Buli finally relented and withdrew his hand. He glared at Lu Wuming again and said, "You brat, you're becoming more and more disobedient."
Lu Wuming chuckled.
He stood up, extended his arms, and hugged Liu Buli. Like a large dog trying to please its owner, he gently nuzzled Liu Buli's neck and then whispered, "Master, what is this '套' you spoke of? If you need a substitute, tell Wuming, and Wuming will help you find it."
"Find what? I'm not looking anymore!" Liu Buli slapped Lu Wuming's hand away and turned to go inside.
Lu Wuming wagged his tail and followed.
However, at the doorway, Liu Buli blocked him directly. He glared at him again and said, "Because you eavesdropped, you're punished to stay outside. You can come in when I'm no longer angry."
Lu Wuming looked at Liu Buli with a wronged expression.
This time, Liu Buli did not relent and closed the door without hesitation.
He returned to the bedside and sat down, stroking his chin and thinking seriously. Looking at Lu Wuming's current state, he felt that the other party might not be able to endure much longer. But without preparation, wouldn't his stomach really hurt?
Liu Buli was almost driven to despair.