The Protagonist is Always Intimidating Me - Chapter 42

“If there’s a way to fulfill this…

I would rather be buried in dreams, never to awaken…”

But in this world, how could there truly be such a wondrous thing…

Lan Wei, with practiced ease, took out a talisman and drew a white eagle. In an instant, the ink-stained white eagle on the paper transformed into a real creature, its wings flapping with strength.

“Go, get some good tobacco and bring it back.”

Casually tossing a silver tael to it, Lan Wei watched as the white eagle gave a knowing call before taking the silver tael and flying out the front door.

“This is so sad, having to rely on my own strength just to buy tobacco,” Lan Wei muttered, covering his face with a hand, shadows cast over his brows, blurring his expression. “Lan Wei, you really are miserable without a disciple—like a pitiful dog.”

Bai Meng returned upstairs and gently knocked on Mo Hankui’s door. After a long while, the room remained silent, so Bai Meng pushed the door open and saw that sunlight was already streaming across the floor, but the bedcovers had been neatly folded.

“…Did he go discuss matters with Jiuge?” Bai Meng wandered to the window, sunlight illuminating his face, his eyes gleaming like obsidian.

“…Huh?”

From the window ledge, Bai Meng spotted the white eagle clutching a silver tael. Reflecting on the extraordinary nature of modern chickens, he impulsively leapt from the ledge, catching the eagle just as it was foolishly searching for a tobacco stall.

“——!!!——”

The white eagle flapped its wings in shock a few times, then suddenly dissolved into a puddle of ink, dripping onto Bai Meng’s hand.

Bai Meng: “……” ???

What the heck?! Did I just see a ghost in broad daylight?

The silver tael fell to the ground, producing a crisp, clear sound against the stone floor. Picking up the silver tael, Bai Meng glanced toward the front door.

“…Strange, why isn’t it back yet?”

Impatiently tapping on the table, Lan Wei’s roguishly handsome face showed irritation, a far cry from his previous carefree demeanor. These days, the word “delayed” seemed to make him especially sensitive.

Hearing movement at the door, Lan Wei lifted his gaze, but upon seeing it was only Bai Meng, his face turned listless again as he rested his head on one hand.

“…I found a silver tael outside,” Bai Meng coughed twice as he approached Lan Wei, placing the tael in front of him. “After all, you’re a patient now. Take this and get yourself something to nourish your brain…”

Lan Wei glanced at Bai Meng’s hand as he offered the silver tael—fair, slender, with distinct joints. Narrowing his eyes, the complexity in his sea-blue gaze deepened, “…Did you do something to my eagle?”

“Cough, cough, cough!” Bai Meng coughed even harder. “What white eagle… Cough, cough… I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“……” Lan Wei looked at Bai Meng’s feigned ignorance with a deadpan expression. “Where. Is. My. Big. Bird?”

Just then, Mo Hankui descended the stairs, frowning at Bai Meng’s persistent cough, intending to call Mo Lengsui to take a look. The next second, he overheard Lan Wei saying to Bai Meng, “My big bird…”

Mo Hankui: “……”

Now, it was Mo Hankui’s turn to coldly stare at Lan Wei, while Bai Meng found a quick excuse to slip away.

Bai Meng: “Hehehe.”

Lan Wei: “…Hall Master Mo, let me explain… Please, don’t misunderstand…”

As time passed, evening hues gradually spread outside. Today was the beastmen’s Qixi Festival, and lanterns lined both sides of the street as vendors set up stalls in the bustling night market. Bai Meng, who had come out with Mo Hankui, casually bought some snacks from a street vendor. He strolled alongside Mo Hankui, noticing that most people were heading in one direction, so he turned his head in curiosity and asked, “Where are they all going?”

“Upstream along the Soul River.”

Bai Meng made a small sound of acknowledgment. Mo Hankui brushed away some crumbs from the corner of Bai Meng’s mouth, explaining slowly, “If you release lotus lanterns upstream, you can receive the blessing of the Beast God.”

“Sounds interesting…” Bai Meng stroked his chin, then clenched his fist in one hand and lightly tapped it with the other. “Let’s join in on the fun.”

Midway there, the two ran into Mo Yu, who was wandering around alone. The latter, oblivious to the situation, eagerly tagged along with Bai Meng and Mo Hankui on their way upstream.

Bai Meng observed Mo Yu’s eager expression for a few seconds, then withdrew his gaze with a meaningful smile. “I take it, Mo Yu, that you don’t have a romantic partner?”

“Ah? Uh…” Startled that Bai Meng had addressed him, Mo Yu’s handsome face turned bright red, failing to catch Bai Meng’s last words.

Mo Hankui: “……”

The atmosphere seemed to shift a bit, something that the oblivious “straight as a steel pipe” Mo Yu vaguely sensed as he followed along.

As they wove through the thick crowds, Bai Meng was guided by Mo Hankui, with occasional glimpses of Yinchen Hall guards among the people, wearing their official tokens. Mo Yu, on the side, bought two lotus lanterns and hurriedly handed one to Bai Meng, saying, “Let’s grab a good spot.”

Moving through countless people along the way, Bai Meng barely had time to observe the lively street scenery before he was handed a lotus lantern and guided to the riverbank.

Mo Hankui had no particular interest in the lantern ceremony and simply stood aside, arms crossed, watching as Bai Meng smiled at the lantern in his hands.

Bai Meng and Mo Yu moved to the riverbank, surrounded by couples—heterosexual and same-sex alike. As two single men (at least in Mo Yu’s eyes), they felt too self-conscious to push any further into the crowd.

Mo Yu coughed. “How about we move forward a bit? There’s more space.”

They kept walking until they nearly reached the upper end of the river, where the crowd had thinned considerably. Mo Yu, clutching his lantern, turned his back and muttered continuously, “Nobody’s allowed to peek, especially you, Bai Meng…”

Bai Meng, however, remained where he was, his gaze fixed on Mo Hankui, who had followed them.

More people crowded downstream, the throngs slowly pushing their way upriver. Mo Yu wanted to quickly write down his wish, but he suddenly froze. “Oh no! I forgot to borrow paper and ink from the vendor.”

Mo Hankui: “……”

Bai Meng: “……”

If he went back now, by the time he returned, there might not be any space left here. He cast an inquiring look at Bai Meng, who gave him a mischievous smile and softly mouthed a few words.

“Can’t you use blood?”

Mo Yu: “……”

The thought of his lantern inscribed in blood gave Mo Yu chills. Nodding to Mo Hankui, signaling that he’d be back soon. He disappeared in an instant.

“That guy is hilarious!” Bai Meng burst out laughing.

Mo Hankui, standing beside him, sighed in helplessness, though his eyes held a warmth as thick and sweet as honey.

Mo Yu wasn’t lacking in ability and made it back quickly. He returned to the same spot, holding the ink and paper, only to see Bai Meng standing empty-handed, his lantern already set afloat.

“Did you just release a blank lantern? What a waste…” Mo Yu shook his head, then, after a pause, quietly offered, “Want another one? You can have mine.”

“Who said my lantern was blank?” Bai Meng raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk curving his lips. “I may not have had a brush, but I had a mouth.”

Mo Yu: “Hmm?”

“So, I borrowed someone else’s.”

Mo Yu: “……”

“Pfft—Hahahahaha!”