A rainy night, the sound of slaughter.
Two groups of people moved like ghosts in the dark. Blades clashed and shadows flickered; one could only hear the violence, not see the perpetrators.
Piercing screams finally reached the ruined temple. The youth, who was still surprised by the man suddenly donning a hideous ghost mask, looked toward the temple entrance with suspicion, wondering if he had misheard.
However, the approaching shouts and the sounds of fighting made the youth stiffen; he had not been mistaken.
“Scared?”
The man’s teasing voice drifted over.
The youth paused, then shook his head.
There was no panic or cowardice on his face. Instead, he seemed to have made a resolution. His eyes fixed intently on the roast chicken sizzling over the fire. His lips parted as if to speak, but before he could, his empty stomach betrayed him with a loud growl that echoed particularly clearly in the silent temple.
The air seemed to freeze for two seconds.
The youth went blank for a moment. His fair face instantly flushed a deep red, and even the tips of his ears peeking out from beneath his hair turned crimson. It was easy to imagine his intense embarrassment.
“Oh—so you’re just hungry.”
The man’s amused remark made the youth’s cheeks burn even hotter. He fidgeted helplessly before finally giving up on his dignity, saying, “Please don’t tease me, sir. I truly haven’t eaten a single grain of rice all day. I’m famished. If you could spare some food, I would be forever grateful!”
“Grateful enough to offer yourself in marriage?”
“…” The youth blinked slowly, glancing at the stern black-clad men standing guard around them, then at the man’s ghost mask. He seemed deeply conflicted. But between starving to death and “offering himself,” there was also a hint of confusion about what to do next. Finally, he gritted his teeth and said, “If you do not mind, sir, I am willing to follow you!”
He seemed to interpret “offering himself” as simply “following the man.” He truly was a reserved and naive young master.
Beneath the mask, the corners of the man’s mouth curled up. He didn’t explain the double meaning, only asking: “Do you know what I do for a living?”
“My teacher once said: ‘A drop of kindness should be repaid with a surging spring.'”
“You gave me food and saved my life. Why should I care what you do?”
The youth spoke candidly, with the carefree spirit of a young man. As he spoke, his eyes sparkled with an irrepressible radiance. He looked like a budding young hero with a heart set on wandering the martial world.
The man’s fingertips twitched. His heart suddenly felt an itch, as if scratched by a kitten’s paw.
…
[Host, not bad. You’re killing two birds with one stone.]
Even the system seemed surprised by Chu Ling’s performance; he was acting the part perfectly.
By now, Chu Ling had finally gotten his wish and was happily gnawing on a chicken leg.
As he filled his stomach, he stole glances at the man. Whenever he was caught, he gave the man a bright, star-eyed smile. His fair face was inevitably stained with a bit of grease, making him look like a little calico cat.
Little did anyone know, Chu Ling was multitasking, talking to the system in his head: [So he is Ji Wuyuan, the Leader of the Demonic Sect and the big villain of the story?]
[Yes, Host.]
[What’s his ultimate ending? I remember him being entangled in the protagonist’s ‘harem’ as… Male Lead Number N?]
[That’s the early-to-mid plot. Later, the protagonist couple discovers that the Demonic Sect was actually responsible for the death of the former Alliance Leader. After a great war between the righteous sects and the Demonic Sect, the True ML finds an opening and stabs Ji Wuyuan through the heart. He falls into a bottomless abyss, his fate unknown,] the system explained dutifully.
[Sys… System…] Chu Ling suddenly sounded a bit shy.
[What is it?] The system had a bad premonition.
[He’s totally my type…] Chu Ling blinked bashfully. [Besides, he’s the one who seduced me first, talking about ‘offering myself’ and all that.]
System: […]
I’m pretty sure he was just mocking you.
[As long as it doesn’t affect the normal development of the plot, do whatever you want,] the system is compromised.
After all, when they first bonded, the system had promised Chu Ling he could seek romance, as that was his main motivation for taking the mission. And this Great Villain currently on stage perfectly matched Chu Ling’s criteria for a “tall, handsome, and powerful ‘1’.”
However, the system reminded him: [Host, our priority is plot maintenance. We absolutely cannot let the story deviate from its normal course.]
The system suggested: [Host, I think you should keep your options open. This BL world has many men who fit your taste. There’s no need to tie yourself to one tree so soon.]
True. Chu Ling had only met this one villain so far. Based on the plot description, there were likely many powerful “tops” to be found. Even if they weren’t major characters, there would be plenty—unlike the real world where they were rare and the competition was fierce. He had been a “disgrace to succubi” for eighteen years, after all.
In this BL world, powerful men were as common as clouds; he just needed to go find them.
Chu Ling pondered and agreed: [True. I’ll keep looking.]
He wasn’t picky about who the person was, as long as they met his standards. If this one didn’t work out, he’d find another. There was always a better one out there.
Chu Ling licked the grease from his fingertips. His pink tongue flickered between his teeth for a split second, an unconscious act of seduction.
The gaze from the side darkened. Chu Ling looked up to see another chicken leg being offered to him on a leaf. The man’s deep, amused voice reached his ears.
“Eat more. Look how hungry you are.”
Chu Ling dazed for a moment, then his eyes crinkled into a smile. He tilted his head, his silky black hair sliding off his shoulder to reveal a snowy-white neck, where a tiny, crimson petal-shaped mark peeked out from beneath his collar.
The man’s gaze locked onto it. In a flash, he moved. Before Chu Ling could react, the distance between them closed, and the man grabbed his collar, pulling it down.
In an instant, Chu Ling’s entire shoulder was exposed. His smooth, lotus-root-like skin and perfect collarbone were revealed, along with a vivid, crimson petal-shaped mark that looked natural to the bone.
The man’s eyes turned dark. His thumb pressed against the petal mark, his voice turning low and husky with an indescribable intensity.
“Where did this come from?”
Chu Ling was bewildered. He looked down and realized it was his old tattoo from when he was following a trend in his previous life.
He had replaced the character of the “Original Host” directly; he wasn’t using the original body. Had the system failed to “clean up” properly, resulting in a physical trait that didn’t match the original character?
But given the situation, Ji Wuyuan couldn’t possibly know everything about him. Moreover, this “tattoo” was in a private place rarely seen by outsiders, so there had to be another reason for his reaction.
Thus, Chu Ling kept his eyes wide and vacant, waiting for the other man to provide his own explanation.
As expected, the man’s next words were: “Born with it?”
The man’s expression behind the mask was unclear, but a low, vibrating chuckle sounded near Chu Ling’s ear—a laugh filled with a strange sense of joy that made Chu Ling’s skin crawl.
[System, does this villain have some kind of mental illness?] First the weird move, now the creepy laughing.
Soon, Chu Ling got his answer.
The man said in a magnetic, deep voice: “The ‘Pure Yin Body,’ a once-in-a-millennium find…”
[Huh?] Chu Ling was genuinely stunned. He quickly asked the system: [Did the original character have this setting?]
The system replied: [Yes, Host. Look closely at the original host’s identity.]
The young master of the Sword Casting Villa. He had an older brother to inherit the family business, so he had lived a carefree, sheltered life, rarely appearing in public.
Because the Sword Casting Villa was on good terms with the Martial Arts Alliance, the True ML, Jun Yichen, would occasionally visit. The original host had seen his noble and gallant figure and fallen hopelessly in love.
[Host, look closer. Why did the original host live such a sheltered life and rarely appear in public?]
Chu Ling realized: [Because of this ‘Pure Yin Body’?]
[Yes. The Pure Yin Body is also known as a ‘Cauldron Body.’ Those who cultivate with such a person can significantly increase their internal power and break through bottlenecks. It is a prize coveted by everyone in the martial world.]
No wonder the original host was so protected. It was only this time, to help his beloved Jun Yichen, that he had snuck out of his home to infiltrate the Demonic Sect. Or rather, he was about to, but then Chu Ling took over.
[Host, that petal tattoo on your collarbone is the hallmark of the Pure Yin Body. It’s natural. Furthermore, it has fused with your Succubus physique, upgrading you to a ‘Supreme Cauldron.’]
Chu Ling: […]
His face turned pale.
The system added matter-of-factly: [Host, exposing your Pure Yin Body increases the probability of you successfully infiltrating the Demonic Sect to over 90%. This is a good thing.]
Chu Ling knew that. Judging by the burning gaze coming from the man in front of him—heat that could be felt even through the mask—he was definitely going to be taken back to the Demonic Sect.
But if that happened, he would lose his initiative. He didn’t want to be used simply as a tool for cultivation. That would be a major restriction on completing his missions, almost like being imprisoned. That wasn’t what he wanted.
Besides, in the original plot, the host infiltrated the Demonic Sect without exposing his physique. Why had it changed for him?
Chu Ling sighed inwardly, unable to find an answer.
Regardless, he had to change the situation—at least tweak it so he could turn his passive position into an active one.
With that thought, Chu Ling gently placed his hand over the man’s hand that was gripping his collar. His misty eyes, full of pure innocence, looked up at him, but his lips curved into a trusting smile.
“Sir… what is a ‘Pure Yin Body’?”
The youth, who had been lured away by a single meal, tilted his head. The firelight danced on his long, trembling lashes like butterfly wings. His expression was one of total, unwavering trust.
Without a doubt, the youth had an exquisitely beautiful face. With his soft black hair framing his cheeks, the claim that he was a seducing spirit from the mountains seemed entirely accurate.
Truly worthy of the Pure Yin Body.
Ji Wuyuan’s gaze deepened. His fingers lingered on the delicate skin of the collarbone and the smooth shoulder exposed to the air. Under the firelight, it was an indescribable temptation that drew the eye.
“Sir?”
Ji Wuyuan snapped back to reality. He gave a soft laugh behind his mask and reached out to pull the youth’s collar back together, slowly covering the fair skin.
He looked down into the youth’s confused, vacant eyes and said meaningfully: “In that case, you must keep your word.”
The youth blinked, realizing the man was referring to his promise to repay the “drop of kindness.” He replied proudly, “Of course.”
As soon as he spoke, a loud BANG echoed.
The doors of the temple were blown apart. Amidst the debris, a figure flew backward into the temple courtyard, crashing heavily onto the stone floor and coughing up blood.
The two sides fighting in the rain had, as expected, burst into the temple.
The side clearly at a disadvantage needed help. They couldn’t survive outside, so entering the temple was their only sliver of hope.
“Yan Shuangfei of the Diamond Iron Hands! I beg you all to save my life!”
At the doorway, three more figures appeared, shouting: “A debt of blood for blood! This is our private grudge. We hope our friends here will not interfere!”
However, a moment later, the faces of those three figures changed simultaneously. Their eyes widened as they stared at the man in the ghost mask sitting by the fire beneath the Buddha statue, looking as if they had truly seen a ghost.
“Could it be… the Ghost Mask Excellency of the Demonic Sect?”
“What? The Demonic Sect?!” The man named Yan Shuangfei was shocked and cursed his bad luck.
But as his gaze shifted, he saw a youth who looked completely out of place in this ruined temple. His beauty was unforgettable.
Yan Shuangfei froze, then remembered in a flash that he had seen this person once at the Sword Casting Villa. It was the youngest son dearly loved by Old Master Chu, who never appeared in public. He gasped, “Young Master Chu? Why are you here?!”
As soon as he spoke, he recalled the frantic search the Sword Casting Villa had been conducting for the past few days. Yan Shuangfei’s eyes darted quickly across the black-clad men. Looking at the man in the ghost mask, he understood instantly.
So it was the Demonic Sect that had kidnapped Young Master Chu! Was the Demonic Sect planning to move against the Sword Casting Villa?
Yan Shuangfei frowned, his eyes filled with dread. He looked back and forth between the Ghost Mask and his enemies. He was caught between a wolf and a tiger. Forget saving Young Master Chu; he doubted he could even save himself.
As Yan Shuangfei agonized and the other three figures trembled in fear…
“Demonic Sect?”
Into the suffocating, murderous atmosphere, the youth’s confused voice suddenly interjected. His dark lashes blinked, revealing an intoxicating gaze.
The youth arched his slender, graceful neck and looked at the ghost-masked man who terrified everyone present, appearing as if he didn’t know the meaning of fear.
“Sir, are you part of the Demonic Sect?”
Aside from the cold men in black, everyone was shocked by the youth’s boldness.
However, what truly made their jaws drop was when the ghost-masked man looked down and replied with surprising gentleness: “Yes. Does your promise still stand?”
The youth frowned in conflict, seemingly remembering that the man had asked about his profession earlier. But he hadn’t listened then and had said he didn’t care. To go back on his word now would be ungentlemanly.
The youth thought about how the man had shared his food without hesitation, which was clearly different from the rumors of the “vile and irredeemable” people of the Demonic Sect. Hearsay was never as reliable as seeing for oneself.
After weighing his options, he finally said hesitantly to the man, “Then… can you let these people go?”
“Haha, why not?”
Ji Wuyuan relaxed his tightened grip and smiled pleasantly.