Chapter 56

“Be good, little wolf. Don’t be angry.”

The light from the lamp swayed gently with the breeze that came as the door closed, and Ning Shiting's shadow disappeared behind it. With a soft "kādá," the lingering fragrance in the air vanished as well, leaving only the sense that Ning Shiting had walked away.

This place had always been quiet, but it was only now that Gu Tingshuang realised the true depth of its silence. Unknowingly, the two of them had spent an entire afternoon and half the night in that room together.

Gu Tingshuang stood still, wordlessly staring at the now-empty doorway.

Although Ning Shiting was the one who had left, his words seemed to have left no mark on him, yet they pierced straight into Gu Tingshuang's heart.

His thoughts were in disarray. The little wolf had been wandering around him for a while and finally jumped onto his lap, startling him slightly.

"...I was just talking. You don't need to take it seriously."

Gu Tingshuang mumbled as he looked in the direction where Ning Shiting had disappeared. "If you're so indifferent, who would believe you when you say you want to kill my father? Ning Shiting, it's fine if you deceive yourself, but don't try to fool me."

He wasn’t sure if Ning Shiting had gotten angry—likely not, because Ning Shiting always treated him like a child.

Thinking of this, he reached out and gently tapped the little wolf on the forehead. With a touch of his spiritual energy, a golden flame flared and then extinguished in the wolf's eyes before it jumped down from "Gu Tingshuang."

Controlling the wolf's body, Gu Tingshuang moved its paws with light taps across the floor, following the trail of Ning Shiting's scent.

Ning Shiting hadn't gone far. He had simply brought the ground walnut powder to a small kitchen in the side courtyard of the Fragrance Pavilion, preparing to slowly roast it over a low flame in the proper vessel.

This small kitchen wasn’t used often. Ning Shiting had repurposed it to prepare some of the semi-finished ingredients he used for making fragrances, and occasionally, Fenlü would watch him work. Sometimes, when Ning Shiting took an afternoon nap in the Fragrance Pavilion, the servants would use the kitchen to prepare snacks or brew tea for him.’

In general, the kitchen saw little use. Ning Shiting, being meticulous, always ensured it stayed spotless. Although the servants cleaned it regularly, he often worried that dust might settle on the cookware and stove if they were left untouched for a few days. So, he grabbed a clean cloth and began wiping everything down himself.

He was the first person Gu Tingshuang had ever seen who needed to clean up after himself, much like an ordinary person. But unlike Gu Tingshuang during the time when his spiritual roots were newly disabled and he fumbled awkwardly through tasks, Ning Shiting was far more efficient.

Perhaps it was because Ning Shiting had lived like this his whole life—doing everything himself, even though he couldn’t match the speed of those who used magic. This self-reliance had honed a swift, methodical way of doing things. He never created trouble for others or held anyone back.

Gu Tingshuang crouched by the door for a while, watching as Ning Shiting finished cleaning, rekindled the fire, and placed the ingredients and snacks into the oven to slowly bake. The process required constant attention, and Ning Shiting, used to such waiting, sat on a chair nearby, staring blankly into space.

He wasn’t angry. That much was clear. However, it was also apparent that Ning Shiting was lost in thought, his mind wandering elsewhere.

Gu Tingshuang remained crouched by the door for quite some time, initially planning to sneak away quietly. Since Ning Shiting wasn’t upset with him, Gu Tingshuang didn’t feel obligated to stay. He rationalized it to himself: if the fragile, delicate Jiaoren were to injure himself due to anger, it would take ten days or half a month to recover, and in the end, it would still be Gu Tingshuang who’d have to tend to him. The little wolf would also be whining and causing a fuss.

Gu Tingshuang swayed his tail, but just then, Ning Shiting noticed him and waved, "Come here, little wolf."

So, Gu Tingshuang went over.

He leaped onto Ning Shiting’s lap, and Ning Shiting grabbed his front paws, pulling him closer, holding him against his chest, rubbing him gently.

The little wolf's nose was damp and pressed against Ning Shiting’s chest, just as warm as usual.

Ning Shiting softly said, "Be good, little wolf. Don’t be angry."

Gu Tingshuang lifted his gaze, puzzled, and looked at him. Ning Shiting patted his head, "Go back and tell Yinbing not to be upset."

Then he sighed, looking down at the little wolf again, "Forget it, I’ll tell him myself. You, little one, probably can’t tell the difference and might just forget about it while playing."

The wolf in his arms let out a soft growl, wagging his tail once more.

Ning Shiting said, "Sit with me for a while, ba."

He held the little wolf with such care, speaking to him as if talking to an adult.

Through the layers of fabric, Gu Tingshuang could feel Ning Shiting’s scent and his warm body, but he also sensed a subtle hint of loneliness from him.

The phoenix fire crackled quietly, casting its intense light. Amid the shifting brightness and shadows, Ning Shiting’s expression gained a depth that made it hard to read.

The words Gu Tingshuang had said earlier, Ning Shiting had already understood the outcome, perhaps even before. Some things he had already come to terms with in his previous life, even before his death.

It wasn't that he didn’t know.

When he thought about these things again, besides the overwhelming hatred—hatred that could rival the fervent admiration and loyalty he once had—there was only an endless void left inside him.

The only connection he had to this world was Gu Feiyin. Ning Shiting’s name was bound to the title of the Qing Wang; they flourished or withered together. He was the blade that Ning Shiting had raised and forged, sharpened with blood, poisonous and cold. Once the blade turned against its master, after the master’s death, the blade would lose its purpose.

The Jiaoren clan had long ceased to exist, and all of his fellow disciples had completed their training and left. He himself was a latecomer to his Shifu, different from those who had trained since childhood, and he hadn’t formed any close bonds with his fellow disciples. He knew his own mild and introverted nature, quiet and unassuming, didn't make him particularly likeable, and he probably wouldn’t bother them in the future either.

As for Bu Cangqiong himself, he had always been a reclusive figure, rarely seen and difficult to locate. The last time Gu Tingshuang sent a letter, there had been no response. One of his Da-Shijie had told him that even she couldn't contact Bu Cangqiong. It seemed his master had already withdrawn from the mortal world, no longer wanting to be involved in its affairs. Gu Tingshuang couldn't bring himself to trouble him further.

If he could kill the Qing Wang, and if he survived after doing so, where would he go next?

His name had been given to him by that man. In his past life, he had grown into the person the Qing Wang had wanted him to be. If he could end it all in this life, could he finally escape the shadow of the "Qing Wang"?

His thoughts began to drift away. The nightmares that had been dormant for so many days seemed to resurface.

He had been so busy lately that he rarely had time to think. Now, with a rare moment of peace, he found himself unaccustomed to the quiet.

"What are you thinking about?" Gu Tingshuang asked.

Ning Shiting heard the soft growl of the little wolf in his lap. Sensing his puzzlement, Ning Shiting actually answered, "Nothing, don't worry about me."

Gu Tingshuang didn’t bother to explain. He wasn’t concerned about Ning Shiting; he had only come to check if his prey was still qualified, whether or not it was angry.

Thinking about how the only sound he could make right now was a soft growl, Gu Tingshuang lost interest in continuing the conversation. In a fleeting moment, he let down his guard, allowing the little wolf's instincts to take over. The wolf lowered its head and gently licked Ning Shiting’s fingers.

Even through the gloves, Ning Shiting’s fingers were cool, and the contrast of the warm wolf’s tongue against them made the coolness even more pronounced.

Initially, Gu Tingshuang was annoyed that the wolf had acted without his permission, licking Ning Shiting’s fingers. But in that instant, the peculiar sensation stunned him. From his spine to the tip of his tail, his fur bristled. Almost involuntarily, the wolf’s tongue pressed harder against Ning Shiting’s fingers, even grazing them lightly with his teeth, nearly drawing blood.

Sensing something off, Ning Shiting’s attention shifted. "Little wolf?"

He held the wolf's paw, pulling it closer to inspect for any abnormalities. But Gu Tingshuang suddenly struggled, and before Ning Shiting could react, he slipped from his grasp with a thud, rolling onto the ground and then darting away in a panic.

Gu Tingshuang didn’t dare to approach Ning Shiting again.

He withdrew his consciousness from the little wolf’s body, returning to his own, feeling a sudden flush of heat and a parched throat.

He couldn’t understand this strange restlessness or the unprecedented turmoil within him.

Ning Shiting wasn’t angry, didn’t offer any defense, and said nothing. He simply moved to another room and continued preparing the Nine Treasures Pastries.

Gu Tingshuang couldn’t comprehend it. He was born with a spiritual sense that allowed him to see through everyone’s emotions, yet Ning Shiting remained an enigma to him. After their last encounter, Ning Shiting had become wary, and Gu Tingshuang could no longer knock him out to uncover his true thoughts like before.

This situation filled Gu Tingshuang with anxiety. Something had slipped from his control. He could feel it slipping through his fingers, something he couldn’t grasp, something he couldn’t name. It was as if, when Ning Shiting left, a part of his heart had left with him.

...What was that?

The sound of rustling outside drew his attention. Gu Tingshuang looked up to see a large wolf with a golden back pawing at the window, trying to push its head through.

Just as he was about to go over and let it in, he saw that the wolf had already skillfully nudged open a corner of the window with its nose, then shrunk down and slipped inside, casually leaping to his side.

Gu Tingshuang muttered, "...You can take human form now. Why go through all that trouble?"

But he was only saying that. Gu Tingshuang himself often preferred staying as a white wolf, living wild in the mountains, so long as he could be one with the wind and moon.

The golden-backed wolf obediently took his words seriously and transformed into human form. It was still the same appearance of a young boy dressed in white, with golden threads running through his heavy robes.

Gu Tingshuang asked, "What brings you here so suddenly?"

The golden-backed wolf replied, "I sensed that the Wang was troubled, so I came to relieve your worries."

Gu Tingshuang fell silent for a moment.

After a while, he said, "There’s someone who constantly distracts me. Now, I... I don’t know what to do with him."

The golden-backed wolf pondered for a moment before asking, "What does the Wang think?"

Gu Tingshuang said, "I can't see through him. He’s mysterious, complex, and... dangerous."

The golden-backed wolf tilted his head, thinking. Wolves, even in human form, retained their animal habits. When puzzled, they would tilt their heads like this.

Gu Tingshuang said, "He’s my prey. You don’t need to interfere in this matter. I will... I will kill him myself."