Feng Shui Chapter 135: Emotions with Nowhere to Go

By the time morning broke, the streets of Jin City were already bustling with pedestrians. It was hard to imagine that just two or three years ago, both inside and outside the city had been caught in the crossfire of a fierce magical battle. The city’s main roads followed a five-by-five grid, with small lanes and alleys criss crossing between. They had come out early, just as many shopkeepers were removing their wooden doors, and restaurants had yet to open for breakfast.

Chen Xiao wasn’t looking for any large establishments this time. Instead, he headed into the smaller streets. Like a radar, his nose led him to a breakfast stall located at the entrance of an alleyway.

This little street sat just across from one of the main roads. Many of the big shops had back doors that opened here, and porters and shop assistants who came to unload goods made up a considerable portion of the breakfast crowd. Compared to the brick-and-mortar eateries at the corner, this roadside stall was far more popular.

Chen Xiao had sharp eyes. Just as four people stood up to leave, he instinctively reached out and grabbed Xi Yunqing’s hand, quickly walking toward the table.

“Boss, clear the table for us." Chen Xiao said, letting go and swiftly taking a seat on the long bench. He turned and saw Xi Yunqing pause slightly before sitting down next to him. Chen Xiao hesitated for a moment before saying sheepishly, “Big Brother, is this your first time at a street stall like this? Don’t be fooled by how plain it looks, these places may seem low-end, but many stall owners have real skills. Their food is often full of local flavor and seriously tasty. Judging by how busy this one is, the flavor is bound to be good.”

Just then, the stall worker came over to clear the table and chuckled when he heard them. “This customer is absolutely right. Our family’s been running this business for thirty years now. My grandfather passed it down to my father, and my father passed it to his son. The current owner is the third generation. If it weren’t for our old regulars on this street, we’d have moved into a proper storefront long ago.”

Chen Xiao smiled. “What do you recommend? Don’t worry about overwhelming us, just give us the whole rundown.”

The worker replied, “Our shredded chicken noodles, fresh pork noodles, and assorted vegetable noodles are staples, nearly every customer orders one of those. We also have a variety of soup dumplings, with fillings like winter bamboo shoots, fresh mushrooms, triple delight, and fresh pork…” He rattled off eight or nine types of dumplings in a single breath, it was clear the soup dumplings were their specialty.

“I’ll take a bowl of shredded chicken noodles." Chen Xiao said. “And a basket of each of the winter bamboo shoots and fresh pork dumplings.” Then he turned to Xi Yunqing. “Big Brother, what do you want?”

“Assorted vegetable noodles, and a basket of mushroom dumplings." Xi Yunqing said.

“Alright, just a moment, sirs.”

Before long, their food arrived, steaming hot. As soon as Chen Xiao saw it, his appetite surged. The cook clearly had skill, the fine noodles were gathered into a neat mound, floating in a large, deep bowl. The broth was golden, dotted with bright green scallions, and its rich aroma filled the air.

He leaned over to peek at Xi Yunqing’s bowl. It was similar, except the broth was a warm amber color, topped with red carrots, yellow bean sprouts, and green vegetables, a feast for the eyes as much as the palate. The vibrant presentation alone was enough to make one’s mouth water.

Then came the dumplings, perfectly plump and snow-white, not too big or small. The dough was springy and fragrant with a hint of sweetness. Each bite released a burst of flavorful broth that was almost too hot to handle but too delicious to resist. They had to inhale quickly to avoid burning their tongues while shoveling more into their mouths.

No wonder this stall had survived in the same spot for thirty years across three generations, the taste was remarkable. Chen Xiao felt it was a pity to stop at just one round. After finishing his bowl of noodles and two baskets of dumplings, he ordered another round, the same as Xi Yunqing's.

“So good." Chen Xiao said in satisfaction. “Honestly, I’m really glad I can cultivate now, my appetite’s way bigger than before.”

Xi Yunqing couldn’t help but laugh. Most people sought cultivation to gain immortality or increase their power. But here was Chen Xiao, just grateful he could eat more. Still, it was very much in line with his younger brother’s style.

“Mm." Chen Xiao mumbled with his cheeks full of dumplings, chewing happily. Just watching him eat, with such genuine delight on his face, made one feel as if they could taste the happiness too. Unconsciously, Xi Yunqing’s own appetite was stirred, and he ordered another bowl of noodles.

Chen Xiao gave him a thumbs-up. “Exactly! When something’s this good, we cultivators have to take advantage of our bottomless stomachs.”

Xi Yunqing let out a low chuckle. Chen Xiao was stunned. This was the first time he’d heard Xi Yunqing laugh out loud, his voice was deep, and even his laughter had a rich undertone, each note striking the eardrum like a gentle drumbeat, sending a shiver down Chen Xiao’s spine.

Normally, Xi Yunqing’s expressions and emotions were subtle, barely changing. Even when he smiled, it was usually just a faint curve of the lips. But now, his eyes crinkled, his mouth lifted into a full arc, revealing white teeth. That rare, open smile completely transformed him.

He was already handsome and carried a strong, masculine presence, but when he smiled, it was like sunlight breaking through a cloudy sky, bright, comforting, and full of life.

Chen Xiao stared, momentarily forgetting to chew. Realizing this, Xi Yunqing gave a light cough and reined in his smile. Chen Xiao swallowed his dumpling and said regretfully, “Big Brother, you should smile more often. It really brings you to life. And smiling is good for your health, great for both body and mind.”

To his surprise, Xi Yunqing looked a little embarrassed. His eyes flickered slightly as he murmured, “That’s the first time I’ve heard that.”

Chen Xiao said with a perfectly straight face, “Huh? You really didn’t know, big brother? Laughing trains your abs and lungs.”

As soon as he finished, he burst out laughing at his own joke.

Xi Yunqing gave him a helpless look, but his eyes were especially gentle. “Mischievous.”

By the end of breakfast, Chen Xiao rubbed his slightly rounded stomach with regret. “I really can’t eat another bite…”

Xi Yunqing didn’t know what to do with him anymore. He could only say, “If you want more, I’ll bring you again tomorrow. No need to push yourself like this.”

Chen Xiao immediately brightened. “It’s a deal! We’ll come again tomorrow to try all the flavors we missed today.”

After calling the waiter to settle the bill, the two got ready to leave. As they stood, it was easy to notice the defined curve of Chen Xiao’s waist and abdomen, taut and tight. Xi Yunqing, in contrast, had a flat, toned stomach. For reasons even he didn’t fully understand, Chen Xiao suddenly reached out and touched Xi Yunqing’s lower abdomen.

Xi Yunqing’s abdominal muscles flinched slightly at the contact. He suppressed his instinct to pull away and looked at Chen Xiao in surprise. Chen Xiao looked just as startled as he was, blurting out in amazement, “Wow, no wonder you don’t look like you’ve eaten anything, there’s not much fat, but you’ve got abs!”

As if one touch weren’t enough, his mischievous fingers gave an extra squeeze. Beneath the surface, Xi Yunqing’s abs felt like iron wrapped in soft velvet, firm yet pliant. Chen Xiao’s eyes filled with envy. “I wonder when I’ll finally train my body to look like yours.”

That hand of his seemed to carry some kind of magic. With every light touch, a strange sensation spread from Xi Yunqing’s abdomen to his waist and spine, shooting all the way up to the crown of his head. Waves of electric tingles exploded in his mind like bursts of white light. The intense stimulation, paired with an overwhelming rush of pleasure, surged through his bloodstream and across his entire body, making his muscles tense involuntarily. He nearly shivered from the feeling.

Xi Yunqing couldn’t let this continue. He raised his hand and firmly pressed down on Chen Xiao’s. Terrified that his wildly pounding heart would give him away, he forced himself to move that misbehaving hand away, no matter how reluctant he felt to lose that contact.

“Xiao." he called softly. When Chen Xiao looked up at him, he said, “As long as you keep up with your physical training, you’ll have muscles too.”

His face was stiff, making his expression and tone a bit awkward. Chen Xiao instantly realized his actions had been over the line. He quickly apologized. “Sorry, Big Brother. I shouldn’t have touched you like that.”

This wasn’t his previous life, where casual horseplay and physical teasing were the norm. Someone like Xi Yunqing might see this as a serious breach of etiquette. “It’s my fault. I ate too much and my brain stopped working. Please forgive my rudeness.”

Their interaction was already starting to draw attention from others nearby. Xi Yunqing let go of his hand and said gently, “It’s fine. Just be more mindful of the setting next time.”

But Chen Xiao was too busy scolding himself to notice the subtle undertone in Xi Yunqing’s words. His mood deflated, and he walked silently beside him, head down.

Xi Yunqing glanced at him. His heart was a storm of emotions, words surging up that he didn’t know how to say aloud.

How could he tell Chen Xiao that not only did he not mind the touch, he’d actually enjoyed it? His heart had pounded like a war drum, his mouth had gone dry, his blood nearly boiling over. In that moment, if it hadn’t been for the setting, or for his own self-restraint, he might have… he might have wanted to strip away the thin layer of clothing and feel that touch against bare skin.

That feeling even reminded him of that night in the wind-sheltered mountain hollow, when he’d lost control beside a sleeping Chen Xiao. But this was even more intense.

As his thoughts drifted, self-disgust surged through Xi Yunqing like a wave. Chen Xiao’s touch had been innocent, purely mischievous curiosity. And yet here he was, reacting with dark, shameful desires. How filthy, how disgraceful.

The suffocating weight settled over his chest once again, squeezing tight like some terminal illness gnawing at his soul.

The mood had been so good, and he’d gone and ruined it. Chen Xiao glanced secretly at Xi Yunqing’s stony, unreadable face and felt even more disheartened.

Sure, it had been a moment of impulsive playfulness, not meant as any sort of test. But looking back on Xi Yunqing’s reaction, it was clear he didn’t like physical contact with other men. That realization hit Chen Xiao like a bucket of cold water.

Fine then, he thought. From now on, I’ll just be a proper little brother. I won’t cross any lines or make Big Brother uncomfortable.

That was what he told himself. But deep inside, he still felt a heavy, inexplicable sadness. Something twisted and aching clung to his chest, and in that haze of sorrow, he faintly realized that the way he saw Xi Yunqing had started to change.

But he didn’t dare examine it. Didn’t dare think too deeply. He feared that if he truly faced those feelings, he wouldn’t know where to put them, and that would make everything even more painful.

Not wanting to touch that dangerous thread of thought, Chen Xiao, ever the stealthy foodie, forced himself to refocus on the breakfast they’d just eaten. After savoring the memory for a moment, he subconsciously glanced at Xi Yunqing’s still-cold expression.

I made him mad, didn’t I?

Will he still keep his promise and come with me for breakfast tomorrow?