Nonsense! How could my adopted son be a villain?

The enormous Chenghuang lay gently before him, its carefully maintained, silky-white fur cascading to the ground, some of it even covering the hem of Xu Lingguang's robe.

Although Xu Lingguang had indeed fantasized about riding Huang a long time ago, he became hesitant and awkward when the scene actually came true.

Reaching out to touch her boyfriend's wonderfully soft fur, Xu Lingguang muttered softly, "You guys can ride yellow bikes whenever you want, right?"

Lan Jian stared at him with puzzled eyes, thought for a moment and said, "You can't just ride it whenever you want, but you're not just anyone."

Of course, your partner can ride it.

Hearing him say that, Xu Lingguang was eager to climb onto his back.

However, Chenghuang was too big, and Xu Lingguang was not very good at riding horses. He was reluctant to use his carefully maintained fur for leverage. After trying for a long time, he frowned and said with difficulty, "Maybe I should just give up. What if I can't sit still and I pull your fur off?"

Xu Lingguang was genuinely worried. After all, as a professional fur caretaker, he knew best how much Lan Jian valued this fur.

If he accidentally rips a bald patch off, Lan Jian definitely won't be angry with him, but he might hide away and be secretly sad for a long time.

He's already quite content with just looking at things occasionally and masturbating occasionally; he shouldn't do such high-risk things lightly.

But seeing his earnest worry, Lan Jian found his partner's furrowed brows and troubled expression particularly endearing. He didn't say anything more, but stood up, slightly lowered his head, and skillfully and gently bit Xu Lingguang's lower back, placing him on his back before Xu Lingguang could react.

Xu Lingguang sat down in a daze, not knowing where to grab on, and finally could only lie down and stretch out his arms to hug Cheng Huang's neck.

This position buried half of his cheek in thick, smooth fur, and his voice became muffled: "Why hasn't anything changed?"

Lan Jian carried him steadily forward. Hearing this, she felt that Xu Lingguang had some strange ideas in his head again, and asked in confusion, "What kind of change do you want?"

"Want to go for a drive in the mountains?"

Xu Lingguang muttered, "Didn't they say that Chenghuang Chengzhi would live to be two thousand years old?"

He wondered if he would feel something if his lifespan increased.

Or is the Classic of Mountains and Seas actually a hoax?

But the *Chenghuang* is a species that does actually exist.

Xu Lingguang fell into thought when he heard Lan Jian ask in a puzzled tone, "Where did you hear this rumor from?"

It's a lie, after all. If riding a Chenghuang horse could make you live to be two thousand years old, then there would be countless mortals and cultivators rushing to ride it. Why bother with the hard work of cultivation?

Xu Lingguang managed to free one hand to scratch his face: "There's a book in my hometown that says that, but it turns out it's false."

Lan Jian tilted his head and thought for a moment, then said, "Actually, it's not entirely untrue."

Xu Lingguang sat up abruptly and peered at him from above: "Does it really work?"

Lan Jian said, "Ordinary people might never even see a yellow horse, let alone ride one. But it's different if it's a companion riding a yellow horse."

Xu Lingguang was confused. What's different about a partner?

Lan Jian continued, "After we hold the Dao-Signing Ceremony, I will take you to the Clan's Bond Cave to meet the other elders. After you are recognized in the Bond Cave, you can share my lifespan, which can also be considered as extending your lifespan. According to Cheng Huang's lifespan, it will be more than two thousand."

"The author of that book from your hometown may have met other Daoist partners who are also Chenghuang, which led to this misunderstanding."

Xu Lingguang's eyes widened in astonishment: "There's such a thing?"

Lan Jian turned to look at him and softly hummed in agreement: "There are thousands of races in this world, and not every race has a long lifespan like Cheng Huang. There are always exceptions among Cheng Huang. When they find a partner from another race, they will have the problem of different lifespans. That's why we finally came up with this method."

He said in a slightly coaxing tone, "So we'd better finish the Dao Ceremony as soon as possible so I can take you to the Bond Cave."

Xu Lingguang pondered: "I've covered the advantages, but what about the disadvantages? Doesn't this method have any side effects?"

Lan Jian calmly replied, "No."

Yes, it is true. Once you enter the Bond Cave and sign the Soul Contract, your souls will merge and you will share lifespans, be bound together in life and death, and never be separated again.

If either party regrets it in the future, the soul contract can never be broken.

Therefore, not many Chenghuang go to the Bond Cave. Even when members of the same clan form a Daoist couple, they rarely go to the Bond Cave to ask the spirits of their elders to witness the union.

After all, it's hard to guarantee that people's hearts won't change over such a long period of time.

But for Lan Jian, this is by no means a drawback.

Once he's made up his mind, he'll never let go.

Xu Lingguang said, "That's pretty good. It actually solved the biggest pain point of interracial marriage."

After that, there was no further explanation.

Lan Jian turned to look at him upon seeing this, her bright golden eyes filled with anticipation.

Xu Lingguang thought for a moment, reached out and touched his beautiful ears, and said in a serious tone, "I will give serious consideration to the matter of becoming Daoist partners. According to the customs of my hometown, marriage is a very serious matter and cannot be rushed."

Lan Jian knew he was right. She rubbed her nose against his palm, then lifted him into the air and headed towards the hibiscus tree at the end of the corridor.

The hibiscus tree is like a giant umbrella, with countless thick branches extending in all directions, and dense leaves overlapping to form a canopy that shelters the mountains.

Xu Lingguang remembers the first time he saw this tree from afar. He felt that such a huge tree looked unreal and even suspected that it was just a mirage.

It was only later, when Lan Jian was injured and recuperating on the bluestone platform under the tree, that he went to help treat her injuries and learned that the giant hibiscus tree was actually real.

Now, the enormous Chenghuang rode the wind upwards, its claws treading on the branches of the Fusang tree, carrying him into the air.

The wind whistled past my ears, rustling against the leaves.

Xu Lingguang had flown before, but the feeling was completely different from now. At first, Xu Lingguang was still a little reserved and didn't dare to straighten up. He just held Cheng Huang's neck tightly and looked around. He didn't dare to use his hands too much, worried that he would really pull off a handful of fur.

But Lan Jian's speed increased and the altitude he reached increased. Xu Lingguang finally couldn't help but grab the fur beneath him and tentatively straighten up to look around.

The view from the hibiscus tree is completely different.

He saw the enormous sun hanging on the branches of the hibiscus tree, its overly dazzling golden rays filtered through the emerald green leaves, turning into a gentle red.

Occasionally, a huge bluebird would flutter its wings and fly through the gaps in the branches, but by the time Xu Lingguang could focus his gaze, the bluebird had already disappeared, leaving only scattered feathers.

And in the distance, a continuous range of mountains, towering and majestic, unlike anything seen in the present world, standing like giants between heaven and earth, their peaks reaching the sky and their bases connecting to the earth.

This is a scene beyond all imagination.