Meng Huaize opened his eyes and glanced at Wu Yue beside him. In the dim light, some details of his face were obscured, but the sharp, handsome outline of his features stood out, as though crafted by the heavens—so perfectly beautiful it didn’t seem human.
Meng Huaize found himself staring a little too long, and suddenly the sleeping demon spoke, “What are you looking at?”
As if bewitched by some unseen force, Meng Huaize quietly asked, “Earlier, when I said your powers were almost fully restored, you didn’t deny it…”
Wu Yue lazily hummed in agreement.
“Then…,” Meng Huaize’s voice trembled slightly as he continued, still staring at Wu Yue, “Does that mean you’re planning to retrieve your inner core?”
Wu Yue loosened his arm from around Meng Huaize, propping his head on one hand. His golden eyes gleamed faintly in the darkness as he gazed down at Meng Huaize.
Feeling uneasy, Meng Huaize was about to speak when Wu Yue casually replied, “Yes.”
A jolt ran through Meng Huaize’s body. The color drained from his face, and he nervously murmured an “oh” in response. It took him a moment to process the situation before he abruptly turned away, shutting his eyes tightly, though his eyelashes still trembled.
Meng Huaize was overwhelmed with anxiety, regretting his earlier curiosity. What had possessed him to ask Wu Yue about his inner core? Maybe if he hadn’t brought it up, Wu Yue would have forgotten. Feeling both foolish and scared, Meng Huaize stammered, “It’s… getting late. Let’s just sleep.”
“Sleep?” Wu Yue scoffed lightly. “That won’t do.”
Meng Huaize’s eyes flew open in panic, only to find Wu Yue suddenly looming over him. Instinctively, Meng Huaize raised his hands in defense, but Wu Yue easily pinned them down with a forceful impatience. In the next moment, cool lips pressed against Meng Huaize’s.
Stunned, Meng Huaize’s mind went blank. He stared wide-eyed at Wu Yue, too shocked to move.
Wu Yue kissed him casually, prying Meng Huaize’s lips apart with his tongue, though he didn’t go deeper. His tongue simply rested there, lightly brushing against Meng Huaize’s. At the same time, Wu Yue’s hand was placed over Meng Huaize’s chest, feeling the disturbance of the inner core within.
After a short moment, Wu Yue pulled away, lifting himself slightly while tilting his head in thought.
Finally, Meng Huaize’s brain kicked into gear. His face flushed bright red as the blood rushed back into his cheeks. Clutching his mouth in disbelief, he tried to sit up, shouting angrily at Wu Yue, “What are you doing?!”
“Don’t move!” Wu Yue frowned, his voice commanding.
“What—?” Meng Huaize’s protest died on his lips as he looked down at his chest. To his shock, he saw a soft glow emanating from his skin. It wasn’t superficial; it was as if the light was seeping out from deep within his flesh. Inside his chest, something was stirring, like it was trying to break free. A delayed wave of searing pain followed the sensation. This chapter is updated first at NovelPing.
“What’s happening to me?” Meng Huaize’s anger was quickly replaced by terror. His eyes filled with tears as he looked at Wu Yue, his voice trembling, “Am I going to die?”
“Are you scared?” Wu Yue asked.
Meng Huaize nodded honestly.
“Then stay still,” Wu Yue commanded.
Without waiting for a response, Wu Yue leaned in again, pressing his lips to Meng Huaize’s once more.
Meng Huaize’s limbs felt numb. He struggled briefly, but quickly stopped, his right hand clutching Wu Yue’s arm tightly.
Despite everything, despite knowing that Wu Yue was the one threatening his life, Meng Huaize found himself gripping Wu Yue as if the spirit were his only lifeline in a desperate situation.
Wu Yue’s kiss was absent of desire or tenderness. It was almost mechanical, like he was simply silencing Meng Huaize. His real focus was on the stirring inner core within Meng Huaize, which was growing increasingly agitated.
“Are you going to extract it from my throat?” Meng Huaize’s mind was racing in terror, imagining all sorts of brutal scenarios. Wouldn’t that be too cruel…
His forehead was covered in cold sweat, and his face had turned pale. Before he could figure out that dreadful question, a sudden pain shot through his lips. He snapped back to reality and met Wu Yue’s slightly amused gaze.
Then, Wu Yue let him go. At the same time, the glowing light in Meng Huaize’s chest and the unsettling agitation below his chest disappeared, and the room fell into darkness.
Meng Huaize began to cough violently, his chest still faintly burning with a lingering pain.
Wu Yue, having finished as if nothing had happened, leisurely lay back down on the bed, casually closing his eyes, looking like he was about to sleep.
Meng Huaize coughed for a while before finally catching his breath. Holding his mouth, he cautiously moved away from Wu Yue and asked in a trembling voice, “What were you doing just now?”
Wu Yue answered matter-of-factly, “Retrieving the inner essence, of course.”
“Then,” Meng Huaize hesitated, “did you manage to retrieve it?”
Wu Yue raised his hand, and Meng Huaize flinched, only to see faint strands of golden light seeping out of his chest and drifting into Wu Yue’s fingers. Clearly, the inner essence was still there.
“Forget it,” Wu Yue said. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
Meng Huaize was stunned. He lowered his hand from his numb mouth, and in disbelief, he asked with joy, “You’re not taking the inner essence anymore?”
Wu Yue scoffed. “You wish.”
Meng Huaize’s joy froze on his face. “Then what’s going on?”
“My spiritual power has mostly recovered, but it’s still not enough,” Wu Yue said, eyes closed. “Forcibly taking it out would kill you.”
Even Wu Yue found it strange. The inner essence was a part of him, and normally, even if another spirit took it, they wouldn’t be able to refine or fully possess it. Like the snake spirit before, it was futile. Meng Huaize, as a mere human, should have died from being unable to withstand the immense power when the essence entered his body. But not only had he survived swallowing it, he’d coexisted with it for days without issue.
Wu Yue didn’t know why, and while he’d tried before to pull the essence directly from Meng Huaize’s chest, doing so would have killed him instantly. This time was better—he could feel the inner essence’s strong desire to return to him, but also sensed a strange force of reluctance and resistance. He could take it out, but he couldn’t guarantee Meng Huaize would survive afterward.
“Once your spiritual power is fully restored,” Meng Huaize asked hopefully, “will you be able to take it out without killing me?”
“Maybe,” Wu Yue replied.
“Let’s leave it for later then,” Meng Huaize said hurriedly, afraid Wu Yue might change his mind. “Take your time, no rush!”
He lifted Wu Yue’s arm and burrowed into his embrace, for the first time willingly allowing Wu Yue to hold him. Lying down obediently, he urged, “You should absorb more spiritual energy.”
Wu Yue glanced at him, accepting his initiative, and tightened his grip, holding him securely.
After lying quietly for a moment, Meng Huaize couldn’t resist asking, “When your power is fully restored, will you still have to extract the essence through my throat?”
“Ugh,” Wu Yue replied with disgust, “That’s gross.”
Somehow, Meng Huaize had become the vulgar one. He was stunned. “Then what were you doing earlier?”
“It was fun,” Wu Yue said casually.
Meng Huaize: …
He felt like… he had just been taken advantage of by a spirit.