Xian Yuzhu had no idea that he had been schemed against by a mortal who appeared honest and harmless. All along the way back from Xie Shurong’s courtyard, he was beaming with triumph.
Perhaps good things never come in succession, and luck always runs out eventually. Before he had walked many steps, he encountered Huo Yan at the stairs leading up and down the mountain, who was returning from an exorcism mission outside the sect.
Huo Yan’s expression was cold. He held a silver longsword in its sheath, and a set of capable black martial attire tightly wrapped around his broad, powerful, and tall frame. Compared to Yuzhu’s image of long flowing sleeves and loose dark hair, Huo Yan’s outfit today was exceptionally ascetic and carried a heavy sense of oppression.
His dark, lightless eyes swept over the small figure on the steps preparing to flee, and he spoke coldly, “Xian Yuzhu, stand still.”
Xian Yuzhu’s body stiffened upon hearing the voice. Just a moment ago, he had been plotting with Xie Shurong on how to scheme against Huo Yan, and the next second, he ran into the very person who was supposed to be the victim. However, he could not ignore him, as that would make Huo Yan think he was afraid. Thus, the ever face conscious Yuzhu could only turn around reluctantly.
His elegant brows furrowed slightly as he spoke with some impatience, “I heard you. Why are you calling me?”
The strange thing was that the moment he saw Huo Yan’s deadpan face, Xian Yuzhu’s original guilt miraculously vanished. After all, at the thought of Huo Yan suffering a setback, he could not suppress the gloating smile at the corner of his mouth.
Haha, it could not be helped; that was just the kind of bad person Yuzhu was!
“…”
The expression of the person before him was so obvious that Huo Yan did not even want to expose him. Instead, he asked indifferently, “What were you doing on my peak?”
Xian Yuzhu paused. Under the pressure of Huo Yan’s gaze, he found himself inexplicably tongue tied. “I.”
Before he could concoct a fooling answer, Huo Yan acted as if it were a casual question and walked straight past Yuzhu. It was only when he was two steps higher than Xian Yuzhu that he stopped, turned around, and looked down from above.
“Have you thought of another way to harm me?”
Xian Yuzhu’s internal alarm bells rang instantly, and he immediately jumped up to deny it. “I did not! What nonsense are you talking about?”
He was deathly guilty and dared not look directly at Huo Yan, his mouth chattering incessantly. “Who do you think you are? Is everything I do related to you? Huo Yan, stop dreaming! And do not judge my gentlemanly heart with your petty mind, okay?”
Being stared at by Huo Yan, Yuzhu’s heart pounded wildly; he was the very picture of a paper tiger. However, Xian Yuzhu did not yet know that he had a specific trait: whenever he lied, he became talkative and easily agitated.
“Is that so?”
After hearing this, Huo Yan’s lips curled slightly. He said expressionlessly, “Since you are a gentleman, then do not let a petty person like me catch you doing anything wrong.”
His gaze swept over the area below the youth’s waist. “Xian Yuzhu, if I find you making trouble again, what awaits you will not be as simple as thirty hits.”
With that, he turned and walked away without another word.
So fierce.
Xian Yuzhu opened his mouth, his lips quivering. The other’s cold warning was so intimidating that Yuzhu could not help but wonder in a panic: Could Huo Yan already know about the matter he discussed with Xie Shurong?
Impossible.
He had carefully confirmed during the day that there were no people monitoring Xie Shurong’s house, nor were there any eavesdropping artifacts nearby or on his person. In that case, how could Huo Yan know what he and Xie Shurong had talked about?
Until that annoying figure disappeared into the teleportation formation, Xian Yuzhu still had not figured out the deeper meaning of Huo Yan’s words. After thinking it over, he concluded that the man was deliberately bluffing.
Heh. “Dead Huo Yan.” Xian Yuzhu stomped his foot hard. “Who are you threatening? We shall see!”
Nightfall
Huo Yan was practicing his sword at the cliffside, the sword light fierce and merciless. As if sensing something, he suddenly stopped his movements and gave a light wave of his hand.
A half height water mirror immediately appeared before him. The slender figure in the mirror shifted from blurry to clear, turning around to reveal Xian Yuzhu’s soul snatching, beautiful face.
Yuzhu had unusually tied back half of his hair at the side. His dark mane was adorned only with a single pink bead flower, and he wore a thin, light crescent colored garment. His figure was elegant and petite, and the style of the clothes was somewhat like the celestial robes favored by female cultivators, so much so that the belt easily cinched his thin waist.
That thin sliver of a waist had a curve that could be held in one’s palms, but looking further down, it filled out into round and full lines.
“Do you see? You should dress like me tonight!”
The beauty with red lips and white teeth raised his pointed chin, his eyes filled with contempt and pride as he spoke to Xie Shurong. “I guarantee that pervert Huo Yan will look at you in a whole new light.”
“…”
The pervert expressionlessly shifted his gaze away from Xian Yuzhu, not missing the fleeting flash of greed and lust on Xie Shurong’s face as he stared at Yuzhu.
Crack.
Almost instantly, the water mirror burst open from the center without warning, hideous cracks tearing through it and cutting Yuzhu’s beautiful face in the image into countless fragments.
Splash.
The mirror shattered to the ground, turning back into water and silently seeping into the earth. Huo Yan’s expression remained cold as usual. However, the sinister emotion in the depths of his eyes betrayed his terrible mood at this moment.
Huo Yan was not a good person. He viewed Yuzhu as a beautiful but ill tempered pet he was raising, so he could indulge whatever tantrums Yuzhu threw. If Yuzhu made him unhappy, he could also discipline him.
But Xie Shurong; how dare a mere mortal of unknown origin have the guts to lay a finger on his things?
Until Huo Yan simultaneously lost interest in his Junior Brother’s stunning face and arrogant personality, he would absolutely not allow anyone to interfere.
Meanwhile, at Zangjing Peak, Xian Yuzhu still did not know that his every move was being monitored by Huo Yan. He sat on the only chair, crossing his slender, straight legs, and ordered Xie Shurong to hurry up and change into another set of clothes.
Xie Shurong was somewhat unwilling in his heart, but for the sake of the providence points and to spend more time with Xian Yuzhu, he endured it.
Half an hour later, at the summit of Zangjing Peak.
With Xian Yuzhu’s disciple token, that annoying barrier no longer functioned, and Xie Shurong finally stepped foot here again.
Detection: The protagonist will end his cultivation in half an hour. Host, please pay attention.
Mission 1: Please make the protagonist Huo Yan acknowledge your identity as his “fiancé” as soon as possible or have a moment of physical contact. Success gains 1 providence point; failure results in 1 electric shock. Time remaining until mission ends: 24h.
The mechanical voice in his mind rang out ruthlessly. Xie Shurong gritted his teeth and walked into the house.
Xian Yuzhu was satisfied seeing him go in. At this moment, Xie Shurong did not forget to reinforce his persona as a mortal, saying timidly, “Young Sect Leader, I am afraid. Can you stay with me for a bit?”
Of course, he had his own selfish motives.
Xian Yuzhu suspected nothing and let out a contemptuous scoff. “Mortals are such a hassle.” If it were not for the fact that this matter also benefited him, he would not stay here.
“I will be right outside. If Huo Yan comes back, I will tap on the window to warn you.” Xian Yuzhu seemed to hate Huo Yan’s bedroom and was unwilling to stay even a second longer. “Remember, do not expose me, or else.”
Xie Shurong’s body trembled slightly as he nodded weakly and incompetently. “I know. Do not worry, Young Sect Leader.”
Xian Yuzhu snorted coldly and hid his figure.
The night wind in the sect was cold. Xian Yuzhu wrapped himself in fox fur and hid in a tree. The cursed astral wind blew his beautiful dark hair into a mess. Xian Yuzhu sneezed and swung his dangling long legs irritably.
Why was Huo Yan not back yet?
After waiting for an unknown amount of time, just as Xian Yuzhu was feeling drowsy, he finally heard familiar and steady footsteps. He jolted awake and peeked down from the tree. It was indeed Huo Yan, slowly returning under the moonlight.
He seemed to have just finished bathing; his long hair was loose, and he carried the unique chill of a cold spring. Xian Yuzhu wrinkled his nose.
“Deadpan face.”
When no one was around, Huo Yan’s expression was even colder, looking as if someone owed him millions of spirit stones. One could easily believe he was made of ice.
As he passed the tree where Xian Yuzhu was hiding, Huo Yan’s pace did not falter for a moment, as if he did not smell the floating fragrance or hear the slight movement in the tree.
Leaves rustled overhead, the moonlight behind him was slowly obscured by dark clouds, and the cold wind swept up the long hair at the man’s temples. Huo Yan’s upper face was hidden in the darkness, showing no expression, though his thin lips curled imperceptibly.
His footsteps lightened considerably, and he seemed to be in a good mood. After all, the prey had already stepped into the trap. As for when to close the net, was that not entirely in his hands?
“Xian Yuzhu.”
A faint murmur dissipated in the wind. Yuzhu, up in the tree, raised his head alertly, but Huo Yan had already entered the courtyard. That voice just now seemed more like an illusion.
I must be overthinking it. Xian Yuzhu shook his head and quickly jumped down from the tree.
He was going to watch Huo Yan suffer now. Did the man not like recording things? Coincidentally, he had also brought a Recording Stone today.