Xie Ciyou’s gaze lingered heavily on the side of his neck…
Zhong Ling resumed leading the way, leaving behind one last sentence: “Young Master only needs to know that the Pavilion Master acts out of kindness. There is truly no need to avoid him as if he were a venomous scorpion.”
Kindness…
The doors to the Sword Pavilion opened. Zhong Ling made a respectful “after you” gesture. Shi Qing pulled his mink fur cloak tighter and stepped inside.
The wind and snow he brought in swirled through the layers of light gauze on the high platform. Behind him, the heavy doors closed, shutting out the storm. One by one, the glazed lamps on both sides of the hall lit up, revealing a silhouette sitting cross-legged beside the South-Pointing Compass behind the curtains.
Through the multiple layers of gauze, the upright posture was faintly visible. Even without looking, Shi Qing could picture the man’s celestial appearance in his white robes.
Shi Qing took a deep breath, suppressing his unease and confusion. He collected his thoughts and ascended the steps toward the curtains.
Passing through the gauze, he saw the massive Compass embedded in the center like a stone table. Beside it was a wide, soft couch where Xie Ciyou sat facing the Compass, eyes closed in meditation.
The glazed lamps inside the curtains were not lit. The light from the outer lamps filtered through the gauze, casting flickering shadows across his exquisite, porcelain-white profile.
The meditator’s thick lashes lifted, revealing eyes like frozen frost. As he turned his head to look, there was a trace of exhaustion between his brows—a look Shi Qing had never seen on Xie Ciyou’s usually strategic, indifferent, and calm face.
Yet, the man himself seemed not to care. He raised a finger toward the couch on the other side of the Compass, gesturing for Shi Qing to sit.
Xie Ciyou did not resume the interrogation; he didn’t even mention the many lingering questions from that day. He simply stated calmly that he would soothe the Immortal Gate Token within Shi Qing’s body. Even now, his gaze was indifferent, his beautiful face as cold and detached as ever, revealing no emotion.
But Shi Qing knew something was wrong. It shouldn’t be like this. Xie Ciyou shouldn’t be this… gentle.
That was right. Toward an unidentified person who absorbed demonic energy, Xie Ciyou should be decisive and ruthless.
Shi Qing did not move, standing like a wary cat ready to bolt at any moment.
Xie Ciyou’s downcast eyes lifted slightly. He said flatly, “The demonic energy in your body is too potent, and the rejection from the Immortal Gate Token is too severe. You need the Compass to soothe it twice more, at seven-day intervals.”
Xie Ciyou was… patiently explaining things to him. The sun must have risen from the west today.
As Shi Qing hesitated, Xie Ciyou’s patience seemed to run out. He looked away and said, “Or would you prefer I extract the Immortal Gate Token from your body right now?”
That absolutely won’t do!
Shi Qing had read the book; if it were taken out now, he would explode and die.
“Thank you, Immortal Master, for your rescue! You truly possess a magnanimous heart, a kind nature, and boundless compassion…”
As expected, the cold-hearted and intimidating Xie Ciyou was the normal one. Shi Qing felt an immediate sense of relief. He rattled off every flattering phrase he could think of—pure nonsense without a script—while scurrying over to sit on the couch opposite Xie Ciyou.
Whatever. Survival came first. It was a rare occasion for Xie Ciyou to show mercy.
Xie Ciyou remained expressionless. He only flicked a glance at Shi Qing when he heard “magnanimous heart” and “kind nature” before looking down at the Compass, as if seeking peace by closing his eyes to the sight.
Once Shi Qing was seated, Xie Ciyou looked up. The youth had been wearing a broad, fawning grin, but the moment their eyes met, the smile vanished, replaced by an expression of obedient docility.
Seeing Xie Ciyou look at him, Shi Qing tactfully shut his mouth. Up close, the fatigue on Xie Ciyou’s face was even more apparent. Shi Qing’s anxiety and panic were momentarily forgotten, replaced by sheer curiosity.
It seemed the Dongfang Yuqing affair had truly taken a toll, exhausting even a peak Transformation Stage cultivator like Xie Ciyou.
Technically, it was because of him that Xie Ciyou was burdened. Shi Qing silently noted this great debt of gratitude in his heart. Regardless of whether Xie Ciyou knew who he was, at the very least, he was currently trying to suppress the unabsorbable demonic energy. Xie Ciyou was saving him.
The wind and snow on the summit surged and then subsided. Under the setting sun, the snowy mountains reflected a brilliant golden light. The ice crystals hanging from the purple crystal bells on the Sword Pavilion’s eaves were dyed gold, pointing toward the ground like daggers.
Inside the pavilion, behind the curtains, Shi Qing sat cross-legged on the inner side of the couch with his eyes closed. As the last sliver of golden light dissipated, he opened his eyes. They were bright with spirit, and his body felt significantly lighter.
Xie Ciyou had long since left the Compass. He was at a desk on the other side, leaning over to process communication jade butterflies. The butterflies flitted between his long, slender, pale fingers, dissolving into flashes of light as he worked through them. The fatigue on his face had not faded.
Has he been working without rest since he finished helping me with the Compass?
Sensing Shi Qing’s gaze, Xie Ciyou looked up. After their eyes met, he immediately returned to his work, his fingers moving non-stop as the fluorescent lights of the messages flickered. He asked without emotion, “How does your body feel?”
“I feel much lighter,” Shi Qing replied. He decided to come clean about his physical condition; it might help Xie Ciyou’s investigation into the Demon God’s divine sense. He considered it a small repayment for the rescue, even if it wasn’t enough. “My physical situation is… a bit complicated.”
Xie Ciyou didn’t look up, but he stopped working on the jade butterflies, indicating he was listening.
Shi Qing continued, “I don’t know why I absorb demonic energy, but every time I do, it merges into my body. Not only does it improve my cultivation, but it also mends my heart vessels and my divine soul.”
Xie Ciyou nodded. “When I arrived at the Qingyun Sect’s back mountain that day, I checked your heart vessels and soul. They are indeed much better than before.”
So the plum blossom scent I smelled that night was indeed Xie Ciyou. That was his style—checking the soul immediately.
Shi Qing went on, “I feel like the demonic energy turns into spiritual power when it enters me. But my body is weak and my spiritual veins are narrow. In the illusion, I likely absorbed too much for my body to handle.”
Shi Qing peeked at Xie Ciyou’s expression. The man remained as calm as an ancient well, his eyes downcast as if in deep thought.
After a moment, Xie Ciyou spoke: “I am still investigating the absorption of demonic energy. The Immortal Gate Token cannot stay in your body for long. You need to reconstruct your bones and widen your spiritual veins.”
This was exactly what Shi Qing had been thinking. With his current ability, he could only hope to participate in the Grand Competition to get tempering herbs from the secret realm. As for reconstructing bones and widening veins, only the Physique-Forging Pill he took in his previous life could achieve that.
Shi Qing said tentatively, “Every word I have spoken is the truth. My current situation is critical. Immortal Master, could you let me return to the Qingyun Sect first?”
He stared at Xie Ciyou, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the fabric on his knees.
Xie Ciyou still didn’t lift his head. “In such a critical state, you are still obsessed with returning to the Qingyun Sect. Your ‘sect loyalty’ is quite profound.”
Shi Qing couldn’t tell if it was his imagination, but Xie Ciyou spoke the words “sect loyalty” very slowly, and his tone grew increasingly cold.
? I’m doing this for my own body, what does it have to do with sect loyalty?
Shi Qing had never understood why this “ice beauty”—who was always direct and preferred action over words in front of the various sects—would always use cryptic, cold, and loaded words with him. Even though his identity had changed, Xie Ciyou was still talking to him like this.
In the past, Shi Qing would have treated such confusing words as pure sarcasm, leading to an inevitable fight. Now, he didn’t dare fight; he could only submissively try to decipher the “imperial decree.”
Shi Qing explained, “I only want to participate in the Grand Competition to obtain spiritual plants for body tempering. Please do not take the Immortal Gate Token away from me yet.”
“Oh? I heard Gu Zhanyue has returned to the Qingyun Sect and intends to take you as his disciple.” Xie Ciyou looked up, his gaze icy and his voice freezing. “Could it be that you are in a hurry to find him and confess your secrets?”
The words “confess” and “secrets” were spoken almost through gritted teeth, making Shi Qing shiver. Xie Ciyou was indeed keeping a close eye on him; he knew the news so quickly.
But Xie Ciyou had wronged him. The thought of facing Gu Yan made him want to stay away forever, if not for the tempering herbs. Furthermore, because Gu Yan’s family had been slaughtered by demons during his childhood, he loathed demons and demonic energy more than anyone.
If Shi Qing told Gu Yan he absorbed demonic energy, Gu Yan would hack him down on the spot.
“Speak.” A cold command. Seeing Shi Qing’s silence, Xie Ciyou’s expression turned very ugly, clearly believing his suspicion was correct.
Frightened, Shi Qing blurted out the truth: “No! I’m only going for the tempering plants! I don’t want to see any ‘Immortal Master Zhanyue’ at all!” He covered his mouth, but seeing Xie Ciyou still staring, he quickly lowered his hand. “Immortal Master Zhanyue is not like you! He hates demons the most. If he knew I absorbed demonic energy, I’d lose my life! Please, Immortal Master, protect me!”
Right, right. Xie Ciyou was keeping him because he was still useful. He had to seize this chance to show loyalty; it might work.
“How is he ‘not like me’?” Xie Ciyou’s expression softened slightly.
? Was that the main point? I’m pledging loyalty, why is Xie Ciyou comparing himself to Gu Yan?
“He isn’t like you… so calm and self-possessed, discerning of right and wrong, righteous and brave, benevolent and kind, gentle and friendly, with a peerless grace…”
“Enough.”
None of it was what he wanted to hear.
Shi Qing looked at Xie Ciyou trepidatiously. “My little life is a small matter, but keeping me around might be useful.”
“Useful?”
Exactly. Otherwise, why would Xie Ciyou keep him? But Shi Qing felt he truly wasn’t very useful. His face heated up, but he pushed on. “Yes! I’m not a demon, yet I can absorb the Demon God’s energy without being harmed. My body is full of mysteries. I am willing to cooperate with you.” Shi Qing racked his brain to think of any other use besides this strange body, but found none. So he said, “You can use this body for research. I only ask that you believe my words are true. Let me return to the Qingyun Sect to get the tempering plants before you take back the Immortal Gate Token.”
“If you still don’t trust me, you can carve a Soul-Locking Curse on me!” Seeing that Xie Ciyou seemed slightly moved, Shi Qing added, “As long as you spare my life, I am willing to serve you heart and soul.”
“A Soul-Locking Curse,” Xie Ciyou’s eyes grew darker, yet his expression remained exceptionally cold. “If the curse is applied, you become mine. Are you truly willing?”
In the cultivation world, it wasn’t uncommon to keep spiritual beasts or servants. A Soul-Locking Curse could be understood as a master-servant contract; the master gained unilateral control over the servant’s soul. Once carved, it was an undeniable declaration of ownership. If the cursed person disobeyed, the master could activate the spell to make them wish they were dead.
Xie Ciyou had saved his life; being carved with a curse wasn’t unacceptable. Besides, Shi Qing was well-read and knew the curse wasn’t unbreakable—one just had to endure pain beyond human limits. He had suffered plenty of pain before; he could take it.
Shi Qing met Xie Ciyou’s freezing gaze sincerely, hoping to move this iceberg. “I am absolutely willing.”
But the “iceberg” didn’t seem happy. He stood up abruptly and appeared before Shi Qing in an instant. He leaned down, staring at him with eyes like frost, scanning Shi Qing’s face before settling on his slender, white neck.
Is he looking for the best place to brand me?
Being stared at by this face from such close proximity was quite a shock. Shi Qing’s fingers curled on his knees. He kept his back straight, allowing Xie Ciyou to examine him like prey.
Xie Ciyou’s gaze lingered heavily on the side of his neck. Suddenly, he raised his hand. His long, pale finger lightly touched the skin of Shi Qing’s neck.
It was a bit cool. Shi Qing’s body tensed. His throat felt dry, and he swallowed involuntarily.
Xie Ciyou frowned. “Are you that afraid of me?”
“?” Seeing Xie Ciyou’s expression turn even more displeased, Shi Qing didn’t know how he had offended him again. He could only force a weak smile. “I’m just a little nervous.”
“You are going back only for the tempering plants in the Qingyun Secret Realm?” Xie Ciyou’s gaze remained on his face. His finger didn’t pull away, looking as if he were about to cast the curse and leave a brand at any moment.
“Truly!”
“Not for anything else?”
“Nothing else!”
It was normal for Xie Ciyou to doubt him—his identity was suspicious and his body was bizarre.
The two remained in a stalemate for a while. Shi Qing didn’t feel the expected pain of a brand. Instead, the fingertip touching his neck slid gently down the line of his throat before pulling away. The movement was slow, carrying a subtle, lingering reluctance.
If this person weren’t Xie Ciyou, Shi Qing would have thought he was being flirted with.
Xie Ciyou withdrew his hand and straightened up. “No need to go back.”
“But my body…”
“Did I say I wouldn’t help you?” Xie Ciyou interrupted.