Striving for Science C80 pt1

Another bustling day came to an end. Shen Chang'an lay in bed, reaching out to poke the star-shaped lamp Dao Nian had given him on his birthday. The light flickered, but it wasn't harsh. He lay on his stomach, starting to sort through the events of the past few days.

He had sent Dao Nian a blessing, but was struck by lightning and ended up falling into a big pit.

The memories after that were blurry. When he opened his eyes again, he was already on Dao Nian's private plane. Shen Tu said he was sick, so they brought him back.

But he clearly remembered being struck by lightning. There were still a few craters in the courtyard. Did Dao Nian not see them when he came to pick him up?

Or... did Shen Tu cover it up for him?

Thinking about Shen Tu's abilities, Shen Chang'an felt he could do it.

But he just wanted Dao Nian to have a better life. Why did Heaven react so strongly, as if he were a criminal escaping execution? Dao Nian didn't do anything wrong. Why was Heaven so unfair to him?

People's hearts are naturally biased. When others encounter injustice, Shen Chang'an would stand up and be indignant, but he wouldn't feel wronged. But Dao Nian was different. Dao Nian was someone close to him. Thinking about the hardships Dao Nian had endured all these years, he couldn't help but feel wronged, feeling wronged for Dao Nian.

Knock, knock.

The door was knocked on. Shen Chang'an opened the door and saw Shen Tu standing outside. He was stunned: "Shen Tu?"

"You forgot about our agreement?" Shen Tu asked.

"What agreement?" Shen Chang'an was taken aback. What kind of agreement did he have with Shen Tu that he couldn't forget?

"In the Imperial Capital, didn't we agree to practice Daoist arts with me every night?" Shen Tu saw that Shen Chang'an was wearing pajamas and looked completely bewildered. He knew that Shen Chang'an had already forgotten about it. He sighed helplessly, "You really forgot?"

Shen Chang'an chuckled nervously.

"Alright." Shen Tu walked into the room. His gaze suddenly fell on the star-shaped lamp on the bedside table, then quickly moved away. "I won't teach you Daoist arts tonight. I need to assess your foundation."

"Sit cross-legged on the rug, clear your mind."

Shen Chang'an sat down as instructed and turned to ask Shen Tu, "Do I need to take off my clothes?"

"Take, take off your clothes?!" Shen Tu shook his head repeatedly, "No, no."

If the Master knew that he had let Shen Chang'an stay alone with him in a room and asked him to take off his clothes, this Divine Mansion might need a new guardian.

"I saw it in TV dramas. They say taking off your upper body is more conducive to absorbing the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth."

"That's just a narrow-minded human idea. Spiritual energy is everywhere. How can mere clothing block it?" Shen Tu said solemnly, "Sit properly, clear your mind, don't think about anything. I'll cleanse your meridians and refine your essence."

After Shen Tu infused Shen Chang'an with spiritual energy, he discovered that Shen Chang'an's spiritual consciousness had inexplicably opened up. He could actually absorb the spiritual energy in the air unconsciously. The spiritual energy he had infused was like a cup of water poured into the ocean, disappearing without a trace.

What's going on?

Shen Tu was secretly alarmed. Such a powerful spiritual consciousness, if it had existed thousands of years ago, it would have surely ascended to immortality and become a great immortal. He couldn't help but infuse more spiritual energy, but it was still absorbed completely.

This isn't a spiritual consciousness, it's a bottomless pit, and a very hungry one at that.

Shen Tu was very distressed, but Shen Chang'an felt very comfortable all over. It was like a tender sprout that had been parched for a long time finally received a refreshing rain. He could feel that comfortable energy flowing through his body. He couldn't help but want to grab hold of it and prevent it from escaping.

After a while, he noticed that Shen Tu had stopped channeling spiritual energy into his body. He looked at him with a hint of disappointment, "This feels pretty good, should we continue?"

"You might want to continue, but I can't handle it anymore." Shen Tu shook his head repeatedly, "Your body is too much of a bottomless pit, I can't take it."

"Oh, I see..." Shen Chang'an looked at Shen Tu with sympathy. No wonder he wasn't content with being a yao, he had to come work for humans. Apparently, his abilities were lacking, so he had to come to the human realm to make a living.

"What kind of look is that? Doubting my abilities?" A dignified door god, who had rolled around in countless human circles and witnessed countless human schemes, what did Shen Chang'an's look mean? He could see through it at a glance.

"No, no." Shen Chang'an shook his head, "I mean, you've worked hard. Do you want to recharge your energy and continue tomorrow?"

"What do you mean tomorrow, right now!" Shen Tu rolled up his sleeves, gritting his teeth, "You won't know what true power is until you see it."

"What are you two doing?" The room door creaked open at some point, Dao Nian, wearing a light-colored thin sweater, stood expressionlessly in the hallway. He looked at Shen Tu, who was about to reach out to Shen Chang'an, his eyes cold as if coated with frost.

Shen Tu: ...

Oh dear, he's run into a ghost. How is he going to explain to his master that he was just engaging in pure and friendly teaching activities with Chang'an?

"Dao Nian, you're still awake?" Shen Chang'an was also surprised. He looked at Dao Nian standing at the door, "It's late, you should go to sleep."

Shen Tu: I advise you to be careful with your words, this is a loaded question.

"Am I disturbing you two?" Dao Nian seemed to have taken root, standing motionless.

"I'm just worried about your sleep." Shen Chang'an wouldn't tell Dao Nian that he was learning magic from a yao. He glanced at Shen Tu, "Actually, we're practicing boxing."

In the dead of night, two men alone practicing boxing?" Dao Nian snorted, "Shen Chang'an, I never knew you had such a hobby."

Shen Tu: It's over, it's over, the master is starting to use his full name, this is the rhythm of anger.

He secretly peeked out the window, in a little while, there might be thunder and lightning.

"I just talked to Shen Tu about boxing, so I tried it out." Shen Chang'an felt that Dao Nian's expression was a bit off, "Dao Nian, what's wrong?"

Shen Tu: He's angry at you, ahhhhh!

"Nothing." Dao Nian's words were squeezed out from between his teeth: "Shen Tu, you go back to sleep. You're so old, why don't you teach Chang'an good living habits? What kind of boxing are you practicing late at night? You like boxing so much, practice it slowly tomorrow morning, don't disturb Chang'an's sleep."

Shen Tu: I didn't, I didn't, I'm innocent.

"Actually, I wanted to learn…"

Shen Tu: Please, just stop talking.

Shen Tu said, "Master is right, I shouldn't have corrupted Chang'an's sleep schedule. I'll go back and reflect on my mistakes, and properly reflect on my wrong actions tonight." After saying that, he scrambled to his feet and ran out of Shen Chang'an's room without looking back.

Shen Chang'an: "..."

As a yao, he's so flexible to keep his job. It's not easy, it's really not easy...

Seeing Shen Chang'an still staring at the door, Dao Nian raised his eyebrows, as if even the corners of his eyes held a hint of displeasure. "Seeing you so down, should I call him back for you?"

Shen Chang'an's mouth wanted to say yes, but his brain wisely chose to shake his head. "No need, I can learn boxing anytime. I'll listen to you and go to bed early and wake up early."

"Good to know you're listening." Dao Nian pointed to the bed. "Go lie down."

Shen Chang'an obediently curled up in the covers.

Dao Nian helped him turn off the room's lights.

In the darkness, Shen Chang'an saw Dao Nian's blurry figure standing at the door. He hadn't left yet.

"Chang'an…"

Dao Nian's figure moved forward, as if wanting to approach Shen Chang'an, but then retreated. After a moment of silence, Dao Nian stepped back outside the door. "Good night."

"Good night." Shen Chang'an stared at the door, watching Dao Nian gently close the door for him. He felt a strange sensation in his heart, a desire to hold him back and say something.

But he didn't know what to say to Dao Nian.

It was so late, perhaps the only thing he could say was "good night."

***

The next day, shortly after Shen Chang'an arrived at the office, a delivery person brought him a lavish breakfast. He didn't know who bought it for him, so he didn't dare eat it, nor did he dare give it to his colleagues.

Less than half an hour later, another delivery person brought him a pile of unopened snacks. Shen Chang'an piled the snacks in a corner.

Not long after, someone brought him a bouquet of white roses, which he refused.

Half an hour later, someone brought him a bouquet of blue roses, which he still refused.

The colleagues were stunned by the morning's events. Even Aunt Juan, who had changed her small curls into big curls, couldn't help but say: "Chang'an, where did you pick up this romantic debt?"

Shen Chang'an: "..."

How would he know?

His phone rang, the caller ID was Dao Nian, he quickly picked up.

"Chang'an, someone is treating us to seafood at noon, I'll take you there."

"Would it be inappropriate for me to go along?" He had known Dao Nian for so long, and he had never seen Dao Nian attend a dinner party. At most, he had seen things delivered to the house by others.

"It's appropriate." Dao Nian said on the other end of the phone. "Besides you, no one else is suitable to sit beside me."

Those words...

Shen Chang'an rubbed his earlobes, feeling his cheeks burn.

"I'll pick you up at lunchtime, okay?"

Shen Chang'an: "Okay, okay."

"Chang'an." Ding Yang leaned in, his smile suggestive. "Who are you talking to on the phone? Your ears are all red."

"So nosy?" Shen Chang'an pushed his head back. "Stop thinking about it. It's my good buddy calling, he wants to take me to a free meal."

"I want a good buddy like that too." Ding Yang looked at Xu Ze. "Brother, when are you going to take me out to eat and drink for free?"

Xu Ze looked at him and rolled his eyes, elegant and restrained.

As soon as it was lunchtime, Shen Chang'an shut down his computer and ran downstairs without looking back.