Shizun - 005 - Test of endurance

Mo Changkong is about 195 cm tall, without an ounce of extra fat.

Lu Yunzhen dug around the closet for quite a while before he retrieved a shirt he got at his part time job a while ago. It was two sizes too big on him with the slogan “Shut up and live good” printed on the front.

It fit Mo Changkong pretty well.

He also dug up some unworn underwear and some dorky paisley print pants. They didn’t quite fit but it was good enough.

Lu Yunzhen was a little embarrassed, “I’ll buy you new clothes tomorrow.”

He paid for school with scholarships, bursaries, and student loans, while his living expenses were paid with part time jobs. He was quite good with hands and could fix things like phones and computers. The income wasn’t bad, but his luck was just too awful. No matter how hard he tried to save up some accident or another would happen.

His belly was full and the household didn’t starve... and he wasn’t so poor that it was a big burden...

He was used to his bad luck, and was frugal in his day to his day life. But he wasn’t stingy when money needed to be spent.

A while ago, Lu Yunzhen’s ancient computer finally kicked the bucket. Thinking that he’d need it for his capstone project and job hunting, he saved up money for laptop with pretty good specs. He has about 2800 yet left. Between his repairs income, and part time job, it’s enough to live off of...

But it won’t be enough now that Mo Changkong is here.

Water bill, electricity bell, phone bill, toothpaste, towels, soap, underwear, clothes, rice, vegetables, meat...

Everything costs money.

Lu Yunzhen glanced at the clock and saw that it was almost 4 am. The night was thrilling, soul shaking even. It was almost dawn, but thankfully he’s an optimistic person. There’s no class anyway, if there’s anything to worry about he’d think about it after he wakes up.

He grabbed the old folding bed, put on clean bedding, and put it beside his own bed.

A battered pink teddy bear fell out of the bedding...

It was too late for Lu Yunzhen to hide it.

Mo Changkong picked up the small toy and looked at him in confusion.

It was a little awkard...

“This was a gift grandpa gave when I was little.” Lu Yunzhen was flushing to his ears from the embarrassment. He was worried he would be mocked and hurried to explain, “the toys in that store were very expensive, I stared at the display every day but didn’t dare to ask for it... Grandpa noticed, and ate nothing but plain buns and water for three months to have the money to buy it for me... But grandpa got it wrong, I was looking at the toy helicopter beside it...”

All his toys were discarded junk, only this bear was something that grandpa had bought with money. It was too expensive, so expensive that he couldn’t bear it... so he hugged it to sleep every night, and now more than a decade later he can’t sleep without it.

It’s just a small habit, he’s definitely not a girl!

Normally when he has guests over, he hides it!

Lu Yunzhen was fully in a panic, a rattled things off nonstop. From kindergarten to recent times, he just couldn’t stop himself...

Mo Changkong couldn’t help but laugh. Ten thousand years, countless reincarnations, but Shizun’s personality hasn’t changed at all. Whenever he was embarrassed or guilty, he would gain the gift of gab. Especially when he’s in front of his disciples, he would desperately struggle to maintain a master’s dignity, even to the point of doing ridiculous things. It was very cute...

Shizun’s dignity were torn apart in his own hands. Step by step, cruelly, he forced Shizun into the path of no return. So that there was nowhere he could accept himself, there was nowhere he could be accepted.

Mo Changkong suppressed his smile and passed the bear back, replying softly, ‘You’re nostalgic”.

Back then on Wujian peak, Shizun had a tattered old sword tassel. He loved it to bits and could only sleep at night holding it in his palms. One day A-Sui accidentally destroyed it, and Shizun had been sad for a long time before finally changing his habit.

Now, Shizun has become this immature young man, and his personality has also returned that when they first met, back during those halcyon days... How lovely...

In this life, he will never destroy this loveliness again.

...

Lu Yunzhen saw that he understood his little habits without laughing, and finally calmed down.

The folding bed was too small and Mo Changkong was too tall. It was just not comfortable.

Lu Yunzhen wanted to take the folding bed himself, but was met with Mo Changkong’s stern rejection. He pressed him into the bed and said that there was no reason for Shizun to suffer while a disciple enjoys things. Lu Yunzhen saw how stubborn he was and didn’t push it.

He so sleepy that he just shook off his shirt and short and crawled into bed in just his underwear.

Mo Changkong took a single glance and felt immensely unwell.

Shizun has never challenge his endurance like this. Is this a test?

Lu Yunzhen didn’t think anything of sleeping half naked. It was a normal habit for men. He saw the shock on Mo Changkong’s face, thought about it for quite a while, and finally realized the other man wasn’t used to modern living. He explained with passion, “Try it, it feels good.”

Mo Changkong was in a daze, “Fe-feels good?”

SHIZUN WANTS HIM TO FEEL GOOD?

Lu Yunzhen responded, “sleeping naked feels great, and it’s good for your health.”

“No.” Mo Changkong finally grasped the situation and rejected the idea immediately. He secretly cursed this shamless era which has ruined his good Shizun. He didn’t dare to look at the scene for a second longer and quickly got into the folding bed facing the other direction. After closing his eyes for quite a while he quietly muttered “This is no good....”

Lu Yunzhen noticed that he was bothered and put on a large t shirt.

Mo Changkong’s senses were keen, and finally released the breath he was holding after hearing the rustling of clothes behind him.

“Good night.”

Lu Yunzhen thought that he might have a hard time sleeping after all that happened, but he was really too tired. After just a little while, he sleepily drifted off while holding onto the ears of the little bear.

The old windows weren’t tightly closed and quietly creaked in the cold wind.

Mo Changkong had too many thoughts in his head and couldn’t sleep. He got up to close the windows only to see that Shizun had kicked off the blanket under the moonlight...

Shizun had always had bad sleeping posture, but with his conservative night clothes the most he’d reveal are his collarbones and calves. Now his loose shirt was rucked up.... his white skin, tight waist, shapely legs, everything was on top of the peonie red sheets, unguarded and spread out, as if inviting him to have a taste of the feast...

So careless!

Mo Changkong’s throat was parched.

He was anxious and angry.

Shizun doesn’t know what kind of beast he was, doesn’t know what can happen betwen men. That’s why he let his evil disciple get his way in his last life.

And he still haven’t learned his lesson in this life!

But he didn’t dare say that...

Mo Changkong swallowed the cup of cold water on the table in one gulp, calmed the burning and anxiety in his body somewhat, and tried not to think about the dazzling scene in front of him.

Then, he grabbed the blanket and covered Shizun properly again.

It’s a chilly night, he might catch a chill.

...

When Lu Yunzhen woke up, it was already past nine. He felt exhausted still and wanted to go back to sleep. He wiggled around the bed a little but suddenly remembered the events of the previous night. He immediately opened his eyes only to see Mo Changkong holding the plastic wash basin and standing by his bed like a javalin...

Mo Changkong said sincerely, “Good morning, Shizun.”

Lu Yunzhen replied in a daze, “Good morning...”

Back in the day, the sects valued respect. All the disciples had the duty to tend to their masters. But Wujian peak didn’t have many disciples, and Shizun didn’t fuss over rules. Mo Changkong was used to be left to do whatever he want, little shidi was used to being spoiled, and only the old fashioned second shidi He Jinnian would fuss over the little things. He would say that “a teacher for a day, a father for a lifetime.”

Shizun always said that He Jinnian was filial, was a good disciple.

Now, Mo Changkong also decided that he was going to be a good disciple. He woke up early, stood by the bed, prepared breakfast, and then politely handed Shizun a hot towel.

Lu Yunzhen grabbed the towel sleepily, gave his face a quick wash, then climbed off the bed, dressed, brushed... He also gave a spare toothbruth to Mo Changkong and told him to brush his teeth.

After he cleaned up he was led to the desk. It was filled with all kinds of breakfast foods. There was porrige, pickles, fried noodles, youtiao, soy milk, mantou, baozi, jianbing, tea eggs... everything smelled fantastic. He hasn’t seen such a spread in a long time and could feel his stomach yearning for the food.

Lu Yunzhen ate the baozi and felt moved. The taste was familiar and must have been from Chen-jie from the street corner. Her and her partner were both good good people. They used good ingredients and the food was tasty. The entire street loved their stuff and Lu Yunzhen would also buy it when he had some spare money.

“Don’t just stand there like a dummy, eat with me”, he exclaimed while eating excitedly. “Thanks for the treat, this is so embarrassing. Tomorrow I’ll get food for you instead. Just tell me what you like and don’t be too polite to say it.”

“En.” Mo Changkong saw that he was happy and sat down to sip at the porridge.

Lu Yunchen passed him a chopstick-full of pickles, then suddenly remembered something important. Last night... Mo Changkong’s rags were all thrown away and he didn’t seem to have a phone or wallet?

How did he pay for breakfast?

Mo Changkong saw his doubts and opened his palm. There’s a small black totem there which led to his seed space. It was about the size of a small palace and could be opened with a little bit of demon energy.

Unfortunately, there was nothing that he held desire for other than Shizun. The seed space can’t hold living things, and he didn’t have many treasures. There was all kinds of junk in there, mostly beast corpses and garbage.

When he was defeated and sent to the demon slaying platform, all his artifacts other than his sword self was broken. The chain that he now wields was the demon sealing chain. After ten thousand years of company, endless quenching, and the assimilation of the soul, it has now become his own artifact after leaving the peison.

This detestable chain...

If it hadn’t sealed his powers and prevented him from opening the seed space, he wouldn’t have to watch as Shizun’s corpse crumbled into dust in front of his eyes.

Luckly, he found him again.

Mo Changkong grabbed a handful of spirit stones from the seed space, “I have money.”

He’s a famous demon after all, even if he didn’t care that much for money he isn’t poor. There was no need for Shizun to worry about his livelihood.

Lu Yunzhen stared at as he seemed to do a magic trick and pulled out.... a bunch of... teal... round... pebbles. He was so scared he dropped his baozi.

This rock might be pretty, and he couldn’t tell what it was, but it definitely wasn’t jade! And not a jewel either! It looks just like rocks you can pick up on the riverside!

Lu Yunzhen asked while stuttering, “Yo-you used these rocks to buy breakfast? They sold it to you?”

Mo Changkong replied sincerely, “Yes.”

Shizun had taught him, you have to pay to buy things.

He remembered that stuff in the moral realm were all very cheap. Whenever he wanted anything he’d just throw out a spirit stone and the sellers would smile happily and let him take whatever he wanted.

For this breakfast, the seller seemed a little frightened of him... but still smiled, took the spirit stone, and politely gave him the food.

Lu Yunzhen asked a bunch of questions and finally figured out what’s going on.

He looked up in despair. He saw Mo Changkong’s face, the evil aura that couldn’t be hidden by his beach trunks... With the scary face tattoo, when he isn’t speaking he looked like some kind of gangster, the type where you couldn’t wait to just hand over your wallet if you met him in the middle of the night somewhere.

To forcibly buy breakfast with pebbles...

Chen-jie must have thought he was shaking her down for protection money!

Lu Yunzhen quickly jumped up, grabbed his phone and wallet, and dashed towards the street corner...

This is a lawful society! Extortion is punishable by law!