Little Pink Starfish

Gu Bai: …Not riding! We’re not riding!
Nima, what time is it already and you’re still teasing me—don’t you know it’ll collapse your persona, you pervert!

But!
Gu Bai also knew that his own damned pervert had already been very restrained and tolerant. If he couldn’t properly appease him, then this world was on the verge of collapse—that’s right, he figured it out! The damned pervert’s body right now—Nima, it was his original body! Weren’t we talking about possession? How come it’s the original body this time!
How can the original body come through, this isn’t scientific! Laozi’s shell had even been changed, dammit!

After taking a deep breath, Gu Bai calmed down.
With a paralyzed face, he said: “Wait until tonight.”
Qiguan Rui then gently asked: “Gege compromised with that guy? If only gege used to treat Xiaoshan like this… Xiaoshan is so sad.”

Gu Bai: Get lost you mada! Do it if you want!
↑
This kind of situation—clearly got the upper hand but still acts pitiful, obeying him is no good, not obeying and he’ll throw a tantrum—he really wanted to beat him up! But if he beat him up, this bastard would say Nima gege hit him, doesn’t love him, doesn’t dote on him anymore, right? Dammit! The pervert’s brain every time he gets jealous just turns into pig intestines—twisting and tangled all around, even Laozi couldn’t keep up, okay!

Qiguan Rui leaned in closer to him: “Gege, why not just kill him… After killing him, we can directly leave this world… Xiaoshan has already come in with the original body… can shatter and go anytime… Gege, why do you always help him, won’t you look at Xiaoshan? Xiaoshan is so sad… Gege… Xiaoshan wants to…”

“Pa!”
The back of Qiguan Rui’s head got smacked.

Gu Bai couldn’t take it anymore, and finally hit him.
A bit satisfying.
Keep pestering like that and I’ll hit you again, you damned pervert ah ah!

Qiguan Rui finally settled down.
At first he had planned to take the chance to go crazy and just finish off this world’s protagonist Ling Feng, but before he could do it, Gu Bai stopped him. At that time, he already knew that he couldn’t kill the protagonist anymore… at least not in front of Gu Bai.
He wasn’t an idiot, how could he not understand?
Back then because it was also Gu Bai who brought out that protagonist, plus their childhood friendship, that he could still get a HE ending even after forcing Gu Bai later on. After so many years, they had worked through all the possible knots and barriers, reaching a close intimate couple relationship, so no matter how much he hated the protagonist or how jealous he was, he couldn’t really let Gu Bai see him kill the other.

Qiguan Rui very clearly knew, if he killed the protagonist, Gu Bai might be very unhappy at first, but would still tolerate him. But that would be a time bomb. For now it wouldn’t seem to have any deadly effect, but after many years, who knows if Gu Bai might suddenly recall something about the way he does things, and while thinking about it, develop another emotional knot? Their lifespans… were still so long…

Anything that might possibly lead to a BE between him and Gu Bai, Qiguan Rui wouldn’t do.
As for the protagonist Ling Feng?
Because Gu Bai also sympathized with his devotion, he had already promised that Qiguan Rui could mess with him as much as he wanted—just don’t take his little life… this way, he could still use some methods.
Anyway, it was just tempering, right?

Having thought it through, Qiguan Rui then started dawdling, asking Gu Bai for benefits. But just now he got a bit too excessive by accident, which made Gu Bai angry.
So he behaved.

The younger generation disciples, no longer suppressed by demonic aura, could already stand up. Though trembling in their hearts, they still couldn’t help but sneak a peek at what that never-heard-of old ancestor’s mount and the old ancestor were doing. What they saw was that previously so fierce mount being all intimate with the old ancestor, and later for some unknown reason got the old ancestor mad and was beaten up by the old ancestor—suddenly they felt, there really wasn’t much to be afraid of! The old ancestor was the best!

Immediately, their previously shaken sword hearts stabilized—wasn’t it true?
Pursuing the sword path still had a bright future, wasn’t it true?
Old ancestor, please protect us! If old ancestor isn’t available, the mount Snake Emperor is fine too!

As for the other person…
Ling “lightbulb” Feng’s face collapsed.
Although he hadn’t understood what Shizun and Shishu were whispering about, you guys talking so privately and leaving your disciple all alone on the side—disciple felt very uneasy.
Didn’t know what to do or say.
Shizun, please assign tasks, please guide!
As for Shishu… just forget it.

But things weren’t over yet.
When Gu Bai and Qiguan Rui were still being sticky, and the disciples were each thinking their own thoughts, far outside Tianxiao Mountain came a long stretch of flaming clouds—on top stood several real-persons and old ancestors kind of figures, okay.

No doubt, this massive ruckus was what brought them, but like how in crime dramas the cops always arrive last, in cultivation stories those who show up after the chaos are always either when half are already dead or the survivors barely hanging on.
If it weren’t for Gu Bai being reliable, then probably the great formation of Tianxiao Mountain would’ve shattered, the disciples wiped out, only the master heavily injured and even Gu Bai’s foundation damaged.

But now!
Then those real-person old ancestors…

Gu Bai acted like an iceberg—yes, based on character setting, this Tianxiao old ancestor, a sword cultivator, was like frost and snow every day, cherishing words like gold. Usually if you ask ten sentences, he’d answer one; if one word could solve it, never two; if three words could do, he definitely wouldn’t use punctuation (not even commas)—the combat-ice among all icebergs.

So now Gu Bai just kept a straight face, slightly raised his eyes, and only after those people finished their BLABLABLA of concern, did he open his mouth: “My mount.”
Those real-person old ancestors began displaying their Level 8 Chinese comprehension: “Oh, you mean this invading demon emperor is your mount? But we haven’t heard of your mount before? Where’s it from?”

Gu Bai with a paralyzed face: “Childhood.”
Continue Chinese Level 8 comprehension: “…Oh, you mean you’ve known each other since childhood? Tianxiao old ancestor, you have good fortune, we admire, we admire, thumbs up. But you still haven’t finished answering the question…”

Gu Bai expressionless: “Breakthrough.”
Real-person old ancestors suddenly enlightened: “So that’s it! You got separated in the middle because your mount went to break through? Came to find you after breaking through? That’s great, that’s great, very loyal! Just a bit too flashy and scary. But Tianxiao, can you guarantee he’ll be absolutely loyal to you?”

Gu Bai was brief and to the point: “Can.”
Real-person old ancestors: “Then how do you guarantee it?”
Gu Bai: “Blood contract.”

So the real-person old ancestors all nodded: “Very good, very good, since Tianxiao old ancestor you’ve said so, the sect still supports you, hahaha…”

At this moment, Qiguan Rui also spoke. His body twisted, and his two legs turned into long python tails. With a coil, he wrapped around Gu Bai’s waist, his whole person also pressed close to Gu Bai. Then he raised his head, hissing with his snake tongue: “Everyone, please rest assured, Qiguan only has Tianxiao in his heart. As long as Tianxiao is well, Qiguan is well. Tianxiao is loyal to the sect, so Qiguan will never do anything that would harm the sect…”

The real-person old ancestors kept nodding: “Oh~~~~ very good, very good, then our sect has gained another demon emperor level figh—no, strong person, which is great for us. In that case, we won’t disturb your reunion, we’ll take our leave now. Come visit our peaks often, wave~!”

Then in their hearts they thought:
That mount is really loyal, even after all these years he could still come find him, so enviable! The bond between them is so deep, didn’t expect Tianxiao to have this side too! Just that the Snake Emperor probably isn’t very good at speaking human language, sounds a bit weird hahaha… Mm, as long as Tianxiao’s fine with it.
Anyway, it’s not us listening! Hahaha!

Then, whoosh, they were all gone.
Suddenly, Tianxiao Mountain returned to a clear and bright sky.

The rest of the disciples were astonished and amazed.
Old ancestor speaks so little! Clearly earlier he said… okay maybe not that much.
But compared to usual, it was a lot!
As expected, old ancestor is gentler (not) with us now!
Swear loyalty to old ancestor!

—Sometimes, loyalty points get raised from some weird angles.
Such skills… should they get a like or not?

Anyway, the matter had basically been settled. Gu Bai brought—oh no, actually dragged—his Qiguan Rui, along with his newly taken registered disciple Ling Feng, and the group quickly returned to the palace.

Ling Feng, seeing the cold and silent surroundings, couldn’t help but shiver.
Oh no, from now on this bro has to live in this empty, lonely, cold ice cave-like place? So tragic! The place is cold, whatever, but Nima, the master I’ve apprenticed to is like an ice sculpture—colder still, okay! This bro’s heart fears cold by nature—how to live here! Just like joining the Ancient Tomb Sect!
—No, wait.
Even if this bro joined the Ancient Tomb Sect, and faced an ancestor master like Xiaolongnü, this bro definitely wouldn’t be Yang Guo.

Ling Feng secretly glanced out the corner of his eye at that half-human, half-snake figure.
This one’s more like it.
This bro better just honestly be Granny Sun…

Maybe because of the protagonist’s intuition, Ling Feng already realized the hardships ahead within the first hour after becoming a disciple, and quickly adjusted his attitude.
He really wasn’t having it easy ╮(╯▽╰)╭

Gu Bai saw his little brat’s subtly tragic face, as if he had sensed his feelings at the moment. Then he thought of the little brat’s future, where daylight would never be seen… in his heart, he silently lit a [candle] for him.

Little brat, I’m sorry!
If I help you, I’d be harming you!
Hang in there, you can still be an awesome protagonist!
Believe in Laozi—life may be full of tragedy, but perseverance will lead to victory!

Little brat, I’m sorry!
People’s hearts are always biased! Laozi’s heart, it was already biased 800 years ago…

Feeling guilty, Gu Bai raised his hand and sent out a sword aura.
In an instant, the sword aura entered Ling Feng’s brow, giving him a full-on sword technique download.

Little brat! Study hard!