Of Mountains and Rivers Extra 2

This was a typical dirt road in the rural town, lined with trees on the sides and some strategically placed sheep droppings, which were nothing out of the ordinary except for the occasional extra bump.

Chu Huan gently applied the brakes, smoothly pulling over to the side of the road. Despite the car's modest speed and his adept driving skills, a cloud of dust was stirred up by the abrupt stop.

Sitting somewhat rigidly, Chu Huan reached for the windshield wipers to clear the dust from the glass before turning to Nanshan. "Is it nearby?"

The car had been loaned to Chu Huan by Old Wang, a semi-old mid-range SUV.

For Nanshan, who was more accustomed to mountain buses as the pinnacle of transportation, this was his first time in a private car, especially in the passenger seat. Ordinarily, he would have been marveling at the experience, but for some reason, his attention was elsewhere, and he didn't pay much heed to the vehicle. His focus remained fixed on Chu Huan.

In response to Chu Huan's throat-clearing, Nanshan blinked, refocusing his bright eyes with dark pupils away from Chu Huan, scanning the surroundings. However, his gaze inevitably returned to Chu Huan's face, refusing to stray. Nanshan cleared his throat, his voice hoarse. "Um, sorry, what did you say?"

Their eyes met briefly, and Chu Huan let out a sigh before gently nudging Nanshan's chin to the side. "Could you perhaps not stare at me so intently?"

Nanshan instinctively averted his gaze, unable to settle on a resting spot for his eyes, restlessly shifting them around. It seemed he recalled something, a faint twitch of his lips betraying a suppressed reaction before he quickly composed himself, trying to maintain his composure.

With his hair tied back, Nanshan's ears were a vivid shade of red, exemplifying the saying "blushing to the ears" for Chu Huan.

Chu Huan prided himself on having thick skin, but in this confined space, he couldn't help but feel uneasy under Nanshan's gaze, especially with his muscles feeling sore and his thigh on the brink of cramping.

Dealing with young people… could be challenging in certain aspects.

Oddly, as they approached the border, Nanshan, who had been eager to explore the outside world, found himself unexpectedly hesitant to leave the car. Despite being forced to avert his gaze, he found solace in knowing that Chu Huan was right beside him, feeling his warmth and hearing his every breath.

As Nanshan floated in a state of excitement, seemingly under a spell, his feet hadn't touched the ground since the previous night, as if he were floating on cotton, trying to hobble about. His inexplicable excitement heightened with every movement Chu Huan made, even the slightest gesture stirring his emotions to the maximum.

The beads hanging from the rearview mirror and the amulet swayed on their own, as if an invisible current flowed through the car, occasionally brushing against Chu Huan's face and neck.

Chu Huan found himself covered in goosebumps for no apparent reason. If this continued, he suspected he wouldn't be able to tolerate various types of fans and blowers anymore.

In an attempt to bring Nanshan back to reality, Chu Huan grabbed his wrist, causing the gentle breeze in the car to dissipate. "Alright, no harassing the driver."

Nanshan remained silent, his gaze burning into Chu Huan.

Feeling a bit irritated by the intense stare, Chu Huan unfastened his seatbelt, leaned over, and planted a kiss on Nanshan's forehead. He then reached over Nanshan and opened the car door on his side. "You've always wanted to try crossing the border…"

Suddenly, Nanshan pulled him down, and the breeze that had dissipated before gathered again, forming an invisible rope that seemed to tie Chu Huan firmly from head to toe.

The Mountain Keepers were indeed a passionate clan, despite their reserved Patriarch.

Chu Huan spoke, "…The door is still open, Patriarch."

Barely maintaining his sanity, Nanshan refrained from reaching into Chu Huan's clothes. Instead, he clung to him like an animal marking its territory, sniffing around and murmuring softly, "You are mine."

Surprised by the intensity of Nanshan's affection, Chu Huan felt a warmth in his heart. No one would refuse to be valued, especially not by someone like Nanshan, who saw him as a precious gem.

However, the way Nanshan expressed his passion was somewhat different from what Chu Huan had anticipated, making his feelings somewhat complicated.

Finally managing to free himself from Nanshan's embrace, Chu Huan straightened his clothes and tried to steer the conversation back on track. "Don't you want to get out and take a look?"

Nanshan responded, "Hmm. No need."

Chu Huan was surprised. "Why?"

"Because we've already passed it," Nanshan admitted sheepishly, "I… I was too focused on… um, didn't notice."

Chu Huan didn't know what to say. In their moment of intense connection, they had unknowingly bypassed the border, a feat the Liyi Clan had struggled with for generations, leaving them in a state of subtle complexity.

"…Let's go. I'll figure out a way to get you an ID."

Nanshan had thought the county town near the border was lively, but it wasn't until he stepped into the bustling city that he realized his ignorance.

The clamor overwhelmed him, followed by the sight of towering buildings and the thronging crowd at the airport.

Particularly surprising was seeing Chu Huan holding a cellphone he had picked up along the way, casually chatting on it. "Hmm, alright, I'll bring him over—oh, it's not a holiday, so it's not too crowded…"

"There weren’t many people…" 

Nanshan gripped Chu Huan's hand as they navigated through the bustling crowd. He felt his resilience being tested.

Chu Huan ended the call and asked, "Want a drink?"

Before Nanshan could respond, money had already been inserted into the vending machine—another aspect of Chu Huan's spending habits that startled Nanshan.

It wasn't entirely Chu Huan's fault. Nanshan realized that everything in this unfamiliar place required money: water, food, transportation, even entry fees—everything!

When Chu Huan had taken two kids to sell cured meat previously, Nanshan hadn't paid much attention due to his preoccupation with the Fallen Land. But now, every expense on the road seemed to equate to cured meat in Nanshan's mind.

Although skilled in battle, Mountain Guardians weren't adept at math. Large sums were challenging for Nanshan to calculate, but anything under ten yuan posed no problem. So when he accepted the drink from Chu Huan, he felt the weight of "Ah, one and a half kilograms of cured meat."

They boarded the plane, and Chu Huan secured Nanshan's seatbelt. After enduring the flight, Nanshan couldn't resist asking, "Do we have to pay to fly?"

Chu Huan replied, "Yes."

Nanshan inquired further, "How much does it cost?"

Chu Huan glanced at him, teasingly responding, "How many kilograms of cured meat? About 400 to 500 kilograms."

Nanshan's eyes widened in disbelief, taking a moment to process. Then, he cautiously asked, "Did you ever struggle financially living here before?"

In truth, Chu Huan never lacked money. He lived modestly, with minimal expenses for necessities. With no financial burden from Chu Aiguo and only minimal monthly expenses for his cats, Chu Huan always stayed within his means. Plus, he owned two properties and a car that had been parked for ages. 

Over the years, although Chu Huan hadn't been particularly diligent in managing his assets, he knew he wasn't destitute.

But with a chuckle, he remarked to Nanshan, "Well, let's just say making ends meet wasn't always smooth sailing."

Nanshan shot him a skeptical glance. He hadn't realized Chu Huan had faced such financial struggles. It left him with the impression that Chu Huan was somewhat oblivious when it came to worldly possessions, sparking a twinge of concern.

The harsh realities of the outside world made Nanshan reluctant to see Chu Huan return. Despite his own reservations, he didn't want to oppose Chu Huan's wishes.

As the plane smoothly touched down on the runway, amidst the Patriarch of the Mountain Keepers' concerns, Chu Huan instinctively held Nanshan's hand at the sudden loud noise and turbulence. The sensation of weightlessness followed, and as the ground outside the window gradually shrank from view, Nanshan was astonished. He had imagined a "plane" akin to a bird skimming treetops or, at best, soaring like an eagle. The reality of this white metal bird ascending straight into the sky, rendering the world below into a blur of whiteness, caught him off guard.

With a faint ringing in his ears and lingering fear, Nanshan withdrew his gaze, finding a thin film of cold sweat on his palm. Glancing around, he noticed the calm demeanor of the other passengers, leaving him bewildered.

Suddenly, a hand reached out to smooth his furrowed brow.

Chu Huan whispered softly, "Why so serious?"

Nanshan responded gravely, "It's too high, and there are too many people. If something were to happen, I fear I couldn't save them all."

Chu Huan nearly burst into laughter.

Nanshan remained tense until the plane landed safely. Throughout the flight, he had mulled over various crash scenarios, formulating rescue plans.

As the flight attendant opened the cabin door, the still-drowsy passengers began to disembark, unaware that they had been escorted throughout.

Chu Huan dozed off, waking up with the earlier joke forgotten. As he hailed a taxi, he turned to Nanshan, saying, "My house has been empty for a while. I'll arrange for someone to tidy up later. Let's grab a bite first. What are you in the mood for?"

Familiar with the area, he led Nanshan through the bustling streets and towering buildings with an air of ease, as if returning home. Suddenly, Nanshan's heart skipped a beat, and he gripped Chu Huan's wrist tightly, "But what if we run out of money…"

Chu Huan chuckled, "You're still thinking about that? It was just a joke…"

Nanshan clung to him, his expression earnest. "Apart from cured meat, is there anything else we can sell for money? You mentioned last time that the green stone on the staff could also be valuable, right?"

Chu Huan was taken aback.

Quickly, Nanshan reassured him, "It's alright, don't worry. There should be more of those stones. If we're short on cash here, it's okay. I'll help you earn money in the future. I won't let you struggle."

Chu Huan remained silent for a long moment. His expression was a mix of emotions as he softly asked, "So, you're planning to support me?"

Nanshan nodded without hesitation.

Chu Huan's voice softened, "If I come back and still need your financial help, what's the point of returning?"

"I'm not sure," Nanshan replied honestly, "But do you enjoy it?"

As long as it's something I enjoy, will you support me unconditionally, regardless of whether it's right or wrong, reasonable or not?

Chu Huan was momentarily speechless. For the first time, he saw the potential for his Patriarch to become a tyrant.