Little Pink Starfish

The Ageless Mo Wen

“I really don’t think Xiao Gu is in any danger,” Yuxiaoxiao said to Gu Xingnuo. With injuries, fatigue was normal—at least from the princess’s perspective.

“Gu Xinglang,” Emperor Xianzong brought Mo Wen over to Gu Xinglang and introduced, “Linglong’s husband.”

Mo Wen looked at Gu Xinglang with the gentle, kind gaze of an elder toward a junior. But since he had the exact same face as her drill instructor, that kind of look made Yuxiaoxiao want to die from secondhand embarrassment.

Gu Xingnuo stood up, stepping in front of his younger brother. He bowed deeply to Mo Wen and said, “Gu Xingnuo greets the Master.”

Mo Wen accepted the gesture and smiled. “Brothers are truly alike. Xingnuo, your younger brother looks just like you.”

Xianzong glanced between the two brothers and thought they didn’t look alike at all.

Mo Wen reached out and gave Gu Xingnuo a pat on the shoulder. “I was very concerned when I heard you had been imprisoned.”

Gu Xingnuo instinctively moved to dodge, but since it was Mo Wen in front of him, he didn’t dare shake the man’s hand off his shoulder.

“Ning Sheng,” Mo Wen turned to Xianzong, “I once wanted to take Xingnuo as a disciple. But unfortunately, fate denied us that teacher-student bond.”

Xianzong broke into a cold sweat. There was such a thing? Gu Xingnuo had never mentioned it to him!

“Even if not for the monk, at least consider the Buddha,” Mo Wen said calmly. “Treat him well. Loyal and capable ministers are rare. You should cherish them.”

“Yes,” Xianzong lowered his head. “Your words are enlightening, Master.”

“Xinglang,” Mo Wen called out.

Gu Xinglang looked up.

His eyes were clear and pure, not like a seasoned general’s, but rather with a childlike innocence. Mo Wen reached out, attempting to touch his eyes.

“Master,” Gu Xingnuo didn’t hold back. He stepped forward and blocked Mo Wen’s hand. “My younger brother is still recovering. He’s avoided water these past days. Since you value cleanliness, perhaps it’s best if he withdraws.”

Mo Wen looked at him.

Gu Xingnuo stood his ground, his expression tinged with a stubborn resolve.

Yuxiaoxiao stood nearby, sensing there’s definitely a backstory here.

Mo Wen withdrew his hand, lifted Gu Xingnuo’s chin slightly, and quietly asked, “You’ve seen Wuhuan?”

A master of immense internal power, yet his fingers were icy cold, like snow. The chill seeped into Gu Xingnuo’s bones, all the way to his heart.

“Where did you place Wuhuan?” Mo Wen then asked Xianzong.

Xianzong silently prayed to the ancestors, How the hell am I supposed to answer this?

After his question, Mo Wen’s eyes turned to Yuxiaoxiao. “Does the Princess know?”

“Uh… about that…” Yuxiaoxiao looked at her father. Thinking of Wuhuan’s tragic love story, she decided she probably couldn’t tell the truth right now.

Xianzong let out a forced laugh. “Master, Wuhuan is the National Preceptor of Zhuri. How could he be in my Feng Tian?”

“You’re saying Wuhuan isn’t here?” Mo Wen asked.

Xianzong turned to Gu Xingnuo. “Has the National Preceptor Wuhuan arrived in Feng Tian?”

“I don’t know,” Gu Xingnuo replied. “I haven’t seen him in many years.”

“Master,” Xianzong smiled stiffly at Mo Wen. “Even your arrival was unknown to me. If Wuhuan had truly come, and no one reported it, then how would I ever know?”

“Exactly,” Yuxiaoxiao chimed in. “Who’s Wuhuan? Never met him. No clue.”

Mo Wen let go of Gu Xingnuo. “Seems I was mistaken.”

Xianzong quickly soothed him. “Master, if you miss the National Preceptor, perhaps go visit Zhuri. Or have him return to the temple to see you. All of that is possible.”

“Yes,” Mo Wen nodded. “It’s been years. I do miss him dearly.”

“You came to Feng Tian this time because of the Young Master?” Xianzong asked.

“Why?” Mo Wen replied with a smile. “Did you know Fenglin would be harmed?”

“No!” Xianzong replied quickly. “I truly didn’t expect anyone would dare assassinate the Young Master. But rest assured, I won’t let the culprit off lightly.”

“Then hand them over to me,” Mo Wen said. “To dare wound someone of Eternal Life Temple—I want to see what kind of person this is.”

“I’ll follow the Master’s will,” Xianzong agreed without hesitation. Zhao Qiuming’s fate didn’t concern him, let alone Zhao Qiuming’s daughter. “Master, let us talk in the main hall.”

“Here?” Mo Wen pointed to the fallen tree and the people still lying around.

“It’s a minor matter,” Xianzong waved forward, inviting Mo Wen to walk first. “Please, Master. It’s been many years since I last saw you, and you haven’t changed a bit.”

Walking beside Xianzong, Mo Wen smiled and said, “Time spares no one. How could I not age?”

Xianzong glanced at the head of Eternal Life Temple. I saw him when I was five—he looked like this. Now I’m the Emperor and my daughter is married, and he still looks exactly the same. The word “eternal life” echoed in his heart. Could this man really be immortal?

“Your Majesty?” Gu Xingnuo called after the Emperor. If you’re going with Mo Wen, what about us?

“Linglong and Qinghui, return to the palace,” Xianzong said. “Xingnuo, you take charge here.”

“I obey,” Gu Xingnuo accepted the decree.

Mo Wen glanced back at Gu Xinglang once more.

At that moment, Gu Xinglang was rubbing his aching temple, visibly exhausted.

Gu Xingnuo subtly stepped in front of him again.

Mo Wen followed Xianzong southward without looking back.

Yuxiaoxiao watched her useless father fawn over Mo Wen and muttered to Gu Xingnuo, “My dad’s acting like Mo Wen’s grandson. Do you think Mo Wen might kill him?”

Gu Xingnuo forced a smile and crouched beside Gu Xinglang. “How do you feel? Any discomfort?”

Gu Xinglang said, “Big Brother, I’m really fine. But why didn’t you ever tell me Mo Wen wanted to take you as a disciple?”

“It’s not exactly something to brag about,” Gu Xingnuo replied quietly. “What’s the point of saying it?”

“Exactly,” Yuxiaoxiao crouched beside them. “That guy’s clearly a poser. Being his disciple would probably suck.” Wuhuan’s tragedy is living proof of that.

“Xinglang,” Gu Xingnuo placed both hands on his brother’s knees. “Go to the study. Xiao Wei is waiting. You two need to leave the palace immediately.”

“Okay,” Gu Xinglang agreed.

“Let’s go eat,” Yuxiaoxiao suggested at once.

“Princess,” Gu Xingnuo lowered his voice almost to a whisper, “Tell Wuhuan to leave quickly. Mo Wen’s arrived in Feng Tian. He needs to go now.”

“He’s still after Wuhuan?” Yuxiaoxiao exclaimed.

“If he catches him, Wuhuan will die,” Gu Xingnuo said seriously, eyes filled with urgency. “Mo Wen’s people are powerful. You absolutely cannot let them follow you to Wuhuan.”