Hei Xiazi: Xiao Yu, where on earth are you!

"Blind Man, I'm getting married. Hurry back." Zhang Qiling took out the communication jade slip from around his neck and sent Hei Xiazi a voice message. This was the first time he had used it. He had always worn it close to his body, with his qilin tattoo and A Li's portrait on it, and had very deliberately kept the side with the portrait against his skin.

"Have you fucking slept yourself crazy, Mute? I knew something was off with you lately. Who are you marrying in the middle of the night?" Maybe Hei Xiazi wasn't fully awake; whatever was on his mind came straight out of his mouth.

"Yu Zhi." Zhang Qiling paused for a few seconds, then continued, "I have no experience, so come back and help me. And spread the word about this. I want that whole bunch to come and witness the ceremony."

Those words struck Hei Xiazi like a blast, leaving him scorched on the outside and tender on the inside. His voice was full of delighted surprise. "Xiao Yu? Xiao Yu's alive? That's great! I'm coming back right now!"

"...No."

"No? If he's not, then you're fucking messing with me again. What, are you marrying a corpse?" Hei Xiazi said, unable to keep his mouth in check.

"Yes!"

"Fuck, you're serious? No way! I'm telling you, get your fucking hands off Xiao Yu's body right now. I'm warning you, don't do something that'll make your brother look down on you. I'll be there in a minute." Without caring what he was wearing, Hei Xiazi ran so fast he left afterimages, panic flooding his heart. Fuck, if I'm too late, Mute won't have already... done something to Yu Zhi's body, will he...? Mute might be his brother, but Xiao Yu was the one who had saved his life!

He, Hei Xiazi, really didn't have much sense of decency, but he had a bottom line. Mute now had neither decency nor a bottom line.

"Zhang Qiling, get your ass out here! Fuck, even if it costs me my life today, I won't let you trample all over Xiao Yu's body like this!" Hei Xiazi kicked the front gate open. His earth-shaking roar in the middle of the night sent the sparrows resting nearby fluttering off in every direction. He charged up to Zhang Qiling and punched him squarely in the face.

Zhang Qiling neither dodged nor blocked, taking the blow head-on. Fortunately, Blind Man hadn't used spiritual power.

The onlookers spying from nearby all shuddered! Th-this was earth-shattering gossip! None of them were sleepy anymore. Their ears stood up like antennae, afraid they might miss a scrap of information.

Zhang Qiling sat quietly in the rocking chair. Apart from a sidelong glance when Hei Xiazi came in, he didn't so much as look at him, even when he was hit. Without saying a word, he carefully smoothed the stray strands of hair on Yu Zhi's forehead.

"Zhang Qiling, what the hell do you mean by this? Say something!" Hei Xiazi was at his wits' end. What was he supposed to do with this brother of his? He had been fine before, so what fit was he throwing now? Hei Xiazi felt as though this past stretch of time had aged him. He was no longer the carefree, unrestrained Hei Xiazi!

"The wedding. Go arrange it!" This time, Zhang Qiling looked at him, his gaze firm. He had made up his mind to do it. Blind Man wanted to scratch his ears and cheeks in frustration now, too. He understood why Xiao Yu sometimes did that!

"Mute, let's talk this through. Things were fine before, so why get married? If you have any other plans, give me a hint beforehand. Don't make me worry about you like this!" This time, Hei Xiazi lowered his voice to a mosquito-sized whisper.

"I have no plans. Blind Man, I want to marry Xiao Yu. I want everyone to know about it. Help me. You're the only brother I have!" Zhang Qiling spoke earnestly, his gaze sincere, but every fucking word stabbed Blind Man to death.

"I... you... I..." Hei Xiazi could see that he really couldn't stop him. If he didn't help, there was no telling what bizarre thing this guy might do. "You really are my best brother. Mute, you sure know how to play me. Fine, I can agree, but on one condition. If you accept it, I'll take care of everything for you properly."

Zhang Qiling looked at him, signaling for him to continue.

"I'm telling you, you can get married, but you can't touch Xiao Yu's body. You know what I mean! Otherwise, don't blame me for cutting ties with you!" Hei Xiazi threatened. He had no other options now. He couldn't beat Zhang Qiling, and he couldn't take Xiao Yu's body away from him. All he could do was threaten him with this. At least it counted as an answer to Xiao Yu!

"Fine. You'll always be my brother!" Zhang Qiling promised. The meaning behind his words went without saying.

"Mute, I trust you. Don't do anything wrong!"

"Mm."

"When are you setting it for?"

"Three days from now."

"Three days from now? Why the fuck not tomorrow? Are you even human? Did you have a nightmare in the middle of the night that got you in such a rush? Even someone with diarrhea isn't as rushed as you, you fucking..." Hei Xiazi decided to forget it. There was no point in saying more. Three days it was. For all he knew, this damned Mute had set it three days from now precisely so he could notify people and have them hurry over!

Hei Xiazi was absolutely right. If it weren't for getting that bunch to come, Zhang Qiling would have set it for tomorrow.

"Having you around is such a blessing! Xiao Yu, where on earth are you? How far have you gotten on your way to reincarnate? Why don't you come back instead? Come back and see Mute! I'll never run my mouth again. Please, come back soon! I miss you so much too!" Hei Xiazi shouted at the sky. It was the truest reflection of what was in his heart! He didn't want this Mute one bit anymore! He had thought he was finally going to be rid of him, but who could have guessed! He was stuck with him again!

"You can't miss him. He can only be mine! Hurry and make the arrangements. It's a happy occasion, so don't get it wrong when you notify people." The outrageous words out of Zhang Qiling's mouth made Hei Xiazi laugh in anger. The damned Mute had even remembered to remind him it was a happy occasion. Hei Xiazi had thought he was going to hold a ghost marriage.

"I can't be bothered arguing with you anymore. I'm warning you one more time: don't touch Xiao Yu's body." Hei Xiazi rolled his eyes so hard they nearly went up to the heavens. When someone was both extremely angry and utterly speechless, they couldn't be bothered to talk. He had to leave quickly. If he didn't, he really would explode on the spot.

The front gate slammed heavily shut again with a bang.

Zhang Qiling's sea of consciousness was filled with Yu Zhi's laughter. "Hahahaha, Zhang Qiling, honestly, if I had a brother like you, you'd make me half-dead with anger. Hei Xiazi has some conscience, at least. I didn't treat him well for nothing."

"See? Even Hei Xiazi thinks you have designs on my body. What will everyone else think? It'll only be more outrageous. After all that commotion just now, before tomorrow morning, the news that you, Zhang Qiling, are marrying a corpse will be flying everywhere." Yu Zhi was a little worried, worried that Zhang Qiling would be hurt. Not even a little would do.

"Then I'll have gotten what I wanted. I'm just afraid they won't find out!" Zhang Qiling's complete disregard made Yu Zhi feel both heartsick and happy. To tell the truth, deep down, he also wanted to put his own mark on Zhang Qiling.

"How are we going to go through the ceremony, with me like this?" Yu Zhi had thought of the complicated, tedious proceedings. His body simply couldn't go through them.

"We don't need to. I just thought of it: we'll do it Western-style and have Blind Man officiate." Zhang Qiling had studied abroad, so he knew about Western weddings.

"That works. Then what will my body wear?" This was what Yu Zhi cared about!

"The jade burial suit. There'll be too many people that day, so I'll put your face covering on too. You can only be seen by me." Zhang Qiling sounded somewhat domineering. He wasn't discussing it at all.

Yu Zhi was happy to play along. "A god's possessive love. I like it!"

"Good. As long as you like it." Zhang Qiling's smiling voice first sent a tingle through Yu Zhi's soul. Then Yu Zhi realized what he had said, and another wave of helplessness washed over him.

He really had to get back into his own body quickly!