The Burning Flames at Huo Mountain Chapter 15

In the distance, Li Zhameng aimed his gun at a line of porcelain jars, each shot ringing through the air with increasing accuracy. He had crafted various bullets, each with unique effects: some released a fine, poisonous powder, while others emitted a piercing screech, enough to shred the eardrums of anyone nearby. His precision was nearing perfection, and now it was time to take on moving targets.

Meanwhile, Xue Tuzi, who sparred daily with Shudu, wielded his ribbon like a lethal, sharp whip. He had mastered the art of manipulating it, twisting it around Shudu in countless encounters, nearly emerging victorious each time—only for Xue Laohu to step in and separate them. Though the poison in the ribbon had no effect on Shudu, the razor-edged lashes left cuts along his skin with each strike. Xue Tuzi's large, doe-like eyes sparked with intensity every time he swung the ribbon and watched it make contact.

Jiao Jiao, observing from the side, blew bubbles in a display of affection toward his Mama, his wide mouth puffing as he watched Xue Tuzi's ribbon at work. "Hey, what's the big idea? I'm getting whipped left and right, and you're over there singing praises to that bitch," Shudu muttered, grabbing Jiao Jiao by his tail as he squirmed in protest. "Mama!" Jiao Jiao cried, stretching his tiny, pink, fleshy nubs toward Xue Tuzi, who rolled his eyes in exasperation.

"Maybe if you didn't run your mouth so much, I wouldn't have to whip you," Xue Tuzi retorted, cracking his ribbon on the ground, the sound echoing like thunder.

"Fuck you, bitch!" Shudu growled, his teeth clenched, canines bared. But just as they were about to lunge at each other, Xue Laohu stepped in with an exasperated sigh. "Enough! Can we go one day—just one day—without this? Is that too much to ask?" he snapped, glancing between the two. Shudu and Xue Tuzi both turned their heads, letting out an indignant "hmph" in unison, each refusing to back down.

"This venerable one was simply basking in the sunlight when your lowly disciple decided to hurl Xiao Jiao at me," Shudu explained, clasping Xue Laohu's hands with an exaggerated tenderness, only to receive a sharp flick of Xue Laohu's fan across his knuckles.

"Shizun, I found his little parasite latched onto me while I was bathing," Xue Tuzi interrupted, voice laced with annoyance. "He's lucky I didn't crush him on the spot."

"Bitch! If you ever lay a finger on Xiao Jiao with intent to kill, I swear I will—" Shudu's voice rose, his eyes flashing with fury, but Xue Tuzi cut him off sharply.

"Oh? You will what?"

"ENOUGH!" Xue Laohu's voice boomed as he pushed Shudu and Xue Tuzi apart just as they were about to lunge at each other. Their rivalry simmered, held back only by Xue Laohu's stern gaze. Jiao Jiao was the very cause of Shudu's constant frustration. No matter how many times Shudu tried to keep him in check, Jiao Jiao's playful antics left him in endless arguments and heated bickering with Xue Tuzi. 

A prolonged, irritated coughing fit started echoing in Yi Ming's head, the harsh, rasping sound seeming to claw its way into his ears. Grimacing, he pressed his hands tightly against his ears as the voice tried to steady itself, pausing to hack a few more times. Finally, with a loud, wet sound, something was spat out, ending the fit in a series of wheezes.

The screen flickered to life before him, flashing in bold letters: 

NEW MISSION: THE BLAZING HEART IN HUO MOUNTAIN - THE EMBERS OF DEVOTION

Yi Ming groaned as he read it. The mission was worth 500 life points—a substantial reward, especially since he'd been losing points lately thanks to Xue Tuzi and Shudu constantly bickering and dragging him into their petty disputes.

"Alright," he muttered, eyeing the flickering words on the screen with reluctance. "So what exactly is this mission about?"

The screen buzzed to life again, each word arriving with a finality that made Yi Ming's stomach sink.

THE SHOU AND GONG MUST HAVE THEIR FIRST ROMANTIC ENCOUNTER ON THEIR JOURNEY TO HUO MOUNTAIN. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN A DEDUCTION OF 500 LIFE POINTS.

"Five hundred life points?" Yi Ming muttered in alarm, feeling the weight of impending doom settle on his shoulders. He couldn't afford to lose that many. Tapping his foot impatiently in the endless, dark void of his mind, he sighed. "Alright, so what else? How do I even get there?"

USER WILL BE GIVEN THIS MISSION BY THE QUEST GIVER.

"Quest giver?" Yi Ming raised an eyebrow. "Who the hell is that supposed to be?" But before he could demand answers, the screen went blank, leaving him in silence. He opened his eyes, the faint glow of reality blurring back into focus.

Frustrated, he slammed his hand against his forehead. Just the thought of getting Xue Tuzi and Shudu to even look at each other without snarling, let alone be romantic, felt like an impossible feat. They barely managed to hold back from clawing each other's throats out.

"How am I going to make this work?" he groaned inwardly, a silent cry echoing in the recesses of his mind. His face fell. Convincing the two to have a "romantic encounter" was bound to be a nightmare, given how they couldn't go five minutes without attempting to throttle each other. But with his life points on the line, he knew he had little choice but to find a way to make it happen.

Lord Mao had summoned Xue Laohu with urgent news: the emperor himself had issued a request for Sect Mount Dingbu. Their task was to eliminate an illegal underground gambling den on Huo Mountain, a place notorious for its fiery landscape and perilous terrain. Situated just a few thousand li from Sect Mount Dingbu, Huo Mountain was engulfed in perpetual flames, maintained by the demons who inhabited its depths. They used the mountain's underground tunnels to come and go undetected, warding off intruders with the scorching heat.

The lord of this gambling den was a demon named Yanhua, who had amassed a fortune in the heart of the mountain, drawing demons and humans alike with the promise of wealth. Hidden within his hoard were three mystical items of immense power: The Scroll of Recurring Nightmares, which forced the user to delve into nightmares buried in his subconscious; The Mirror of Reflection, which unveiled the true essence of a person's character and intentions; and The Celestial Compass, a guiding artifact that led its holder toward their ultimate destiny. Each item was highly coveted, guarded closely by Yanhua in the heart of the mountain.

Rumors whispered of another treasure, too—a beautiful human male, whom Yanhua had taken as his wife after seeing him in a nearby village. This young man, reportedly held against his will, was the pride of his family and community.

Xue Laohu's mission was clear: extinguish the fires engulfing Huo Mountain, rescue any humans who had been deceived into entering Yanhua's den, and bring the young man back to his family. 

"Lord Mao, I gladly accept this assignment." Xue Laohu bowed respectfully before turning to leave the Mao Residence. As he stepped out, he gathered his disciples, preparing them for departure. "Meng Meng, A-Tuzi, we have our first mission," he announced, his voice steady.

Xue Tuzi's eyes gleamed with excitement, his anticipation barely contained, while beside him, Li Zhameng's face betrayed a tinge of anxiety. "We are to enter Huo Mountain via an underground tunnel, extinguish the flames, and rescue any humans trapped within," Xue Laohu explained. Both disciples nodded in unison, ready to follow his lead.

"We depart today," Xue Laohu continued, his gaze shifting to the pond where he spotted Shudu lounging in the sunlight, soaking up its warmth. "Shudu," he called out, "you're coming with us."

"Shizun!" Xue Tuzi protested instantly, his voice sharp with indignation. "Why bring that vermin along? Do you doubt our strength so much that you feel compelled to bring a demon with us?" Xue Tuzi's tone was scornful as he glanced over at Li Zhameng, who had begun looking elsewhere, his foot idly kicking up dust as if trying to avoid the tension.

"My word is final," Xue Laohu replied firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Shudu has invaluable knowledge of the demon world. His presence will be an asset to us on this journey."

With a slow, confident stride, Shudu rose from his place by the pond and approached the trio, his usual sly smile playing at his lips. Taking Xue Laohu's hand in his own, he leaned forward, his lips barely brushing the back of Xue Laohu's hand. "It is as the Grandmaster wishes," Shudu murmured, his voice low and smooth. "This venerable one is at your service."

Before Shudu could finish the gesture, Xue Laohu swiftly withdrew his hand, unfolding his fan in a sweeping motion. "Excellent. We meet at dusk," he declared, waving the group away with a flick of his fan as he strode off, his form tall and commanding against the fading light.

Xue Tuzi grinded his teeth, his gaze cutting sharply toward Shudu. "Vermin," he spat. "Keep your pest on a leash." His voice was laced with barely-contained contempt as he clenched his fists.

Shudu only chuckled, entirely unfazed. "I'm only here because Grandmaster Xue insisted," he replied smugly, brushing imaginary dust from his robes. "After all, who can resist my devilishly good looks and invaluable assistance?" With a casual laugh, Shudu turned, striding away with Jiao Jiao cradled in his arms. The little creature was fast asleep, blissfully unaware, having overindulged on Xue Tuzi's simmering negative energy.

They reconvened at dusk at the foot of Mount Dingbu, where the dense forest swallowed them in its shadows. Silently, they trekked into the thick underbrush until they arrived at an inconspicuous entrance to an underground tunnel, hidden by the sprawling branches and leaves of the forest. As each lit a torch, the tunnel yawned open before them, dark and foreboding.

Xue Laohu unrolled a map, spreading it out in the torchlight. "This tunnel is a maze," he explained. "But it has several exit points. Even if we're separated, each of us should be able to find our way back."

No sooner had he said this than Li Zhameng grabbed the hem of his robe, trembling. "Shizun, I don't want to get lost," he whimpered, his voice barely audible.

Before Xue Laohu could respond, Shudu extended his hand with a graceful smile, slipping his fingers into Xue Laohu's. "Grandmaster Xue," he murmured, his voice soft and warm, "please allow this venerable one to hold your hand so that I could never lose you." A flash of his canine caught in the dim light as he gave a sly, knowing smile.

Xue Tuzi, watching with a mix of irritation and resolve, rolled his eyes and then cleared his throat. "Shizun," he spoke softly, his tone respectful yet intense, "allow me to tie this thread around your wrist. If the thread breaks, it will mean that either one of us is in trouble. I want you to have it in case of an emergency." Reaching into his hair, he pulled a fine, silver-threaded needle and carefully wrapped the delicate string around Xue Laohu's wrist.

In a swift motion, Xue Tuzi plucked a single hair from Xue Laohu's head. A surprised "ow" escaped Xue Laohu's lips, but he let it slide as Xue Tuzi skillfully braided the hair with his silver thread to create a simple but sturdy wristband.

"If this wristband were to break, I'll come to Shizun's aid without hesitation," Xue Tuzi said, his gaze lingering on Xue Laohu, unwavering and sincere. Xue Laohu placed a hand on Xue Tuzi's head in a quiet gesture of gratitude. "Thank you," he said, his voice low but warm, as he met Xue Tuzi's eyes.

Fucking great, what is wrong with them? Yi Ming thought, exasperation bubbling beneath the surface. Li Zhameng was practically glued to the hem of his robe, a ball of anxious energy, while Shudu and Xue Tuzi were locked in a silent battle for his attention. Instead of fostering any semblance of romance, they were merely competing, each tugging at his arm in an attempt to claim him for themselves.

As they moved deeper into the tunnel, Shudu perked up, his ears twitching as he picked up on some faint chatter that only he seemed to hear. "This tunnel is home to bats that produce a highly sought-after poison," he declared with a hint of mischief in his voice.

"Wow, really? What kind of poison is it?" Xue Laohu asked, his curiosity genuine and innocent.

Shudu leaned in closer, a wide grin spreading across his face as he whispered conspiratorially into Xue Laohu's ear, "The kind that drives a man insane."

"Ugh, I shouldn't have asked," Xue Laohu said, forcing a smile as he fanned himself nervously. A shiver ran down his spine at the thought. 

Xue Tuzi shot Shudu a scornful glare, rolling his eyes dramatically. "Shizun should stay close to me," he insisted, pulling Xue Laohu's arm possessively toward himself. The tension was obvious, and Xue Laohu could feel his plans slipping away.

As Xue Laohu tapped the fan to his lips, contemplating how to facilitate some alone time between Shudu and Xue Tuzi, inspiration struck him. He glanced up at the ceiling of the tunnel, where stalactites hung like jagged teeth. If there were a cave-in, they would be forced to rely on one another, providing the perfect opportunity for romance to bloom. 

With a swift determination, he pulled his hand away from Xue Tuzi and, using his fan with precision, struck down a stalactite, sending it crashing to the ground. The echoing rumble filled the air as debris rained down, creating a barricade that separated Shudu and Xue Tuzi from himself and Li Zhameng. 

As the dust settled and panic rose, Yi Ming couldn't help but feel a mix of hope and dread. If this worked, he might just earn those 500 life points after all.