Oh no! Don’t tell me Xie Ciyou has lost his mind?
Shi Qing pulled back the gauze curtains, the scent of blood growing several times stronger than before.
“Immortal Venerable, I…” Shi Qing spoke hesitantly, but he soon froze at the sight before him.
Xie Ciyou sat upright on the soft couch. The candlelight, flickering through the light gauze, reflected off his loosened robes.
His usually meticulous snow-white robes were now gathered in a pile at his waist. Beneath the fabric, his skin looked like cold white jade, with broad shoulder lines and lean, firm muscles that tapered toward his abdomen.
What was truly startling was the ghastly wound stretching from his left shoulder to his chest, with the flesh torn open like a crack in flawless jade. Yet the injured man seemed indifferent to it. When Shi Qing entered, he simply looked up with a calm gaze.
Meeting Xie Ciyou’s tranquil eyes, Shi Qing took a few steps to his side.
“Why hasn’t the wound healed? What caused this?”
Shi Qing leaned in close to inspect the injury, his warm breath fanning across Xie Ciyou’s chest.
Xie Ciyou watched Shi Qing intently and said softly, “It was the Spirit-Devouring Vine.”
“Then what should we do?” Shi Qing had studied many spells and arrays, but he knew little about spiritual plants and beasts. Seeing that even someone at the Soul Transformation stage like Xie Ciyou could not self-heal, he couldn’t help but frown.
The wound from the Spirit-Devouring Vine looked horrific, but it wasn’t actually deep. It carried a corrosive toxin that hindered healing, which made it look particularly terrifying. Throughout the journey back, the toxin had already been mostly absorbed by his body. Xie Ciyou had been preparing to use his spiritual power to completely purge the poison, after which the wound would heal naturally.
Xie Ciyou watched the concerned youth before him without blinking. He withdrew the spiritual power circulating through his body and pulled a bottle of medicine from his storage bag, slowly handing it to Shi Qing.
“Use this?” Seeing Xie Ciyou’s slow movements and silence, Shi Qing assumed he must be gravely injured. He hurriedly took the bottle, opened the cap, and sniffed it; it seemed to be a common spiritual medicine for stopping bleeding and healing wounds.
Knowing little else, he didn’t give it a second thought. He scooped out some ointment with his fingertip and said softly to Xie Ciyou, “I will help you apply the medicine.”
After a moment, Xie Ciyou did not refuse. Shi Qing gently began to apply the ointment to the frightening wound. The moment the cool cream touched his skin, Xie Ciyou’s Adam’s apple rolled uncontrollably. Shi Qing looked up to see Xie Ciyou’s cold face, his long lashes lowered, casting a shadow of suppressed emotion beneath his eyes.
Shi Qing thought: For Xie Ciyou to make such an expression, the pain must be unbearable.
The hall was exceptionally quiet. After his initial panic, Shi Qing was now meticulously applying the ointment. He felt as though he could hear a heartbeat vibrating through the firm muscles beneath his fingers.
Having calmed down, Shi Qing realized their distance was a bit too close. The way Xie Ciyou looked down at him made him feel inexplicably nervous. He sped up his movements, finished coating the wound, and straightened his back.
Xie Ciyou reached out to take the bottle back. Although his expression remained unreadable, he must have been dazed by the pain. He couldn’t even seem to see clearly when reaching for the bottle, as his long fingers accidentally wrapped around Shi Qing’s hand.
Shi Qing jerked his hand back, intending to retreat.
However, a frown creased Xie Ciyou’s beautiful face, and he let out a muffled groan. Startled, Shi Qing immediately stopped. He hadn’t used much force; could he have pulled on the wound?
That must be it! He was so badly injured that even external wounds wouldn’t heal, so perhaps his internal spiritual meridians were also damaged. Shi Qing stopped retreating and pressed closer to the couch again, stiffly allowing Xie Ciyou to clumsily hold his hand.
Filled with doubt and alarm, he asked weakly, “Immortal Venerable, are your spiritual meridians injured too?”
Xie Ciyou didn’t answer. He continued to stare at him without moving, making Shi Qing’s heart race. Avoiding the other man’s gaze, Shi Qing added, “Shall I check for you?”
He raised his other hand, but before he could touch Xie Ciyou’s wrist, it was swiftly grabbed.
Great. Now both of his hands were being held by Xie Ciyou.
He struggled slightly, his voice regaining its composure as he said, “Immortal Venerable, you must be dazed from the injury. Please let go of my hands first.”
The grip loosened, and Shi Qing took the opportunity to pull his hands away, turning back to carefully examine Xie Ciyou’s state.
He wasn’t sure if it was an illusion, but at the moment he turned back, Xie Ciyou’s pupils suddenly became misty. He really didn’t seem sober. Had it become more serious?
Shi Qing stared at him. Indeed, the usual cold, icy mountain demeanor was gone, replaced by a dazed expression and blurred eyes. He quietly looked up at Shi Qing, his coldness fading away to leave only a breathtaking, vivid beauty.
Shi Qing froze on the spot, then snapped out of it and reached out to press his fingers to Xie Ciyou’s wrist.
The spiritual meridians were only slightly weak, likely due to overexertion, but they weren’t damaged.
Shi Qing exhaled, his heart finally settling. He let go immediately, but seeing Xie Ciyou in this state, he still couldn’t feel at ease. He asked tentatively, “Immortal Venerable, are you still conscious?”
There was no reply, only a slightly slow gaze that lingered on Shi Qing’s face before traveling downward, eventually stopping on Shi Qing’s naturally hanging hand. As if testing the waters, Xie Ciyou slowly raised his hand and reached toward Shi Qing’s side, but Shi Qing moved away just as he was about to touch him.
Shi Qing hid his hand behind his back, his fingers curling slightly of their own accord.
Xie Ciyou’s handsome features twisted into a frown of displeasure. Unable to figure him out, Shi Qing hesitated before raising a finger in front of Xie Ciyou’s eyes and asking seriously, “How many is this?”
“1.”
He was disoriented, not an idiot.
The corner of Xie Ciyou’s pressed lips twitched imperceptibly. He looked at Shi Qing with a somewhat complex expression and said nothing.
Shi Qing, however, was terrified. Oh no! Don’t tell me Xie Ciyou has lost his mind and gone senile!
That Spirit-Devouring Vine is terrifying!
As Shi Qing was debating whether to run out and scream for help, he suddenly felt a weight on his hand. The world spun, and as he tumbled onto the soft couch, something cushioned the back of his head—it was Xie Ciyou’s hand.
A handsome face magnified before his eyes. Shi Qing’s breath hitched. He instinctively reached out to push him away, but stopped when he saw the ghastly wound on his chest. Instead, he gripped Xie Ciyou’s arms which were braced on either side of him. Trying to keep his voice steady, he asked, “What is the Immortal Venerable doing?”
Xie Ciyou’s black hair fell, tangling with Shi Qing’s on the couch. A single strand landed on Shi Qing’s cheek, swaying slightly with Xie Ciyou’s breath, feeling a bit itchy.
Shi Qing blinked. The candlelight flickered, and his heart was pounding fiercely.
He couldn’t quite grasp what was going on with Xie Ciyou right now, but having him look at him like this was more than he could handle. He turned his head away. “Immortal Venerable…”
Suddenly, his chin was pinched. Shi Qing dazed as his whole face was forced back. Before him, Xie Ciyou was frowning with a cold expression.
Xie Ciyou wouldn’t try to hit me while he’s unconscious, would he?
If it were anyone else, he would have kicked them away long ago. But this was Xie Ciyou, who had just been injured for his sake. He wanted to push him but feared touching the wound. Besides, he couldn’t kick him away anyway.
Feeling somewhat helpless, Shi Qing fearfully withdrew his hands and lightly patted the hand still pinching his chin, soothing him softly, “Immortal Venerable, please wake up. I’m not a bad person, so please don’t hit me.”
Not only was Xie Ciyou’s face and aura cold, but his body temperature also seemed a bit colder than a normal person’s. The fingers pinching Shi Qing’s chin were slightly cool. With their bodies so close together in this warm hall, it was like being pressed against a piece of cool jade.
But “Cool Jade” Xie Ciyou remained completely unmoved after hearing this. Instead, he leaned in a bit closer, his gaze dropping.
They grew closer and closer, until their breaths were intertwined. It was so close that Shi Qing could only see his long lashes and a tiny mole at the end of his eyebrow, hidden under the thick hair. Shi Qing figured even Xie Ciyou himself might not know it was there.
He couldn’t take it anymore. Shi Qing felt his cheeks burning and his heart drumming. Hardening his heart, he tried to use both his hands and feet to push Xie Ciyou off him.
He gave a hard shove! His leg also bumped into something.
It was useless; Xie Ciyou remained as steady as a mountain. But perhaps it did work, because with that shove, Xie Ciyou’s movements suddenly paused.
His body felt a bit hot. Shi Qing swallowed unconsciously, gritted his teeth, and shoved again. To his surprise, he pushed him away with ease this time. As soon as Xie Ciyou rose slightly, Shi Qing nimbly slipped out from under him, slid off the couch, and bolted for the exit.
Just as he reached the gauze curtains, an invisible force suddenly came from behind him. Shi Qing was frozen in place, unable to move.
“Why are you running?” A cold voice sounded from behind.
Except for being slightly raspy, it sounded just as indifferent as usual.
“Immortal Venerable, weren’t you out of your mind just now?” Shi Qing stayed where he was, completely puzzled.
The rustling of fabric came from behind. After a moment, Xie Ciyou’s voice spoke quite plainly, “I don’t remember.”
?
The force holding him vanished. Shi Qing turned around hesitatingly and looked at Xie Ciyou with suspicion. He saw that the other man’s clothes were already properly put on, and he was calmly adjusting his bracers.
He had returned to that ascetic and cold appearance.
“So, the Immortal Venerable is fine now? You don’t remember being dazed just now? This Spirit-Devouring Vine is truly powerful. I must look into it when I have time; I can’t believe it can make even a Soul Transformation cultivator lose their mind.”
“Why were you looking for me?” Xie Ciyou’s expression was normal, though his movements were relatively slow. It seemed there was no major issue.
Shi Qing’s eyes shifted. He said, “I saw that the Immortal Venerable left in a hurry and was worried about your injuries. I didn’t mean to disturb your healing.”
Hearing this, Xie Ciyou looked up. He didn’t seem displeased at being disturbed. Shi Qing breathed a sigh of relief, then remembered the news Zhong Ling mentioned when he left. He asked, “I ran into Zhong Ling just now. Is there any new information?”
“Mm.” Xie Ciyou glanced almost imperceptibly at the jade box on the couch.
He picked up the jade box and said to Shi Qing, “Come here.”
Shi Qing walked closer and heard Xie Ciyou ask, “Do you still remember the third thing I mentioned?”
“I remember.” Shi Qing nodded. Looking at the jade box in Xie Ciyou’s hand, he naturally asked, “Are we forming the contract now?”
Xie Ciyou didn’t answer immediately. He lightly stroked the jade box with his thumb and suddenly asked, “Do you have no doubts?”
Shi Qing blanked for a moment, thought about it, and said, “I do.”
Xie Ciyou looked up. “What?”
“If the matter isn’t fully investigated within three months, the Immortal Venerable will still help me remove the Immortal Sect Order, right?”
“Naturally.”
“Okay.” Shi Qing nodded. From Xie Ciyou’s attitude and behavior, it seemed he at least believed Shi Qing wasn’t someone with ulterior motives.
However, his body, which absorbed demonic energy, was indeed strange. So, Xie Ciyou found medicinal herbs for him to preserve this body that needed study, yet he couldn’t fully trust him either. Using a contract to prevent Shi Qing from running away was actually a very mild method.
Shi Qing thought about his current “persona” and felt he should express gratitude, so he timely added, “Thank you, Immortal Venerable!”