“Only once a day.”
Little Shi Li was completely bent on seeking death. Jun Yanye stared into his hollow, dried-up eyes, his mind racing with lightning-fast thoughts.
He had to pull little Shi Li out of this despairing state; they could not afford to waste away like this.
“By the way, I have not told you who I am yet,” Jun Yanye said.
“What?”
Jun Yanye unbuttoned his upper garment, showing little Shi Li the soul brand over his heart. “Do you recognize this?”
Shi Li’s soul brand closely resembled an open eye, with the shape of a brush serving as its pupil. The entire soul brand emitted a brilliant red glow right over the center of his chest.
Little Shi Li’s attention was instantly captured, and he asked in astonishment, “This, this is mine.”
“That is correct. Your soul brand. Why do you think it appeared on my body?” Jun Yanye continued to divert the topic.
“Why?” Little Shi Li blinked his eyes, his eyelashes exceptionally long.
“Because I am your future Dao companion. This was left behind by you.”
Little Shi Li fell into a daze for a short while before stammering with difficulty, “My Dao companion is a man.”
Jun Yanye found it a bit difficult to explain. “Ahem. In any case, that is the reality. You will form a Dao partnership with me in the future, so you must have made it out of here alive. You will not die in this place.”
“Is that true?” Little Shi Li stared at his soul brand again. “Can I touch it?”
“You may.”
The moment little Shi Li’s fingertips gently brushed against it, the soul brand glowed even more intensely, enveloping the tip of his finger.
Little Shi Li closed his eyes, and a hexagram actually manifested inside his mind!
“I see it… the Kun Hexagram, Hexagram of Oppression,” he said.
“Imprisonment and oppression. Does that not match your current predicament perfectly?” Jun Yanye guided him.
“Yes! Oppression corresponds to two and six.” Little Shi Li rapidly traced his fingers along the compass, discerning the orientations.
He stood up once more, first locking his gaze onto the wall where the mechanism was located, then determining the position, before finally fixing his eyes upon a single wall brick.
Even though he was shrouded in total darkness, Shi Li’s mind was extraordinarily clear. Even without relying on any light source, he could see perfectly.
“The outer hexagram is Dui, and the inner hexagram is Kan.” Little Shi Li traced the form of the Kun Hexagram with his finger, his small hand trembling.
The moment his small finger drew the final line using the slots of the mechanism, the entire secret room instantly resounded with the overlapping, heavy grinding sounds of shifting gears. The main door swung wide open!
Little Shi Li was bathed in the blinding light, and unable to adapt immediately, he raised his arm to shield his eyes.
Jun Yanye stepped forward, leaning down slightly to block the harsh glare for him. “You succeeded.”
“I- I did it.” Huge tears rolled down little Shi Li’s face. He threw himself into Jun Yanye’s embrace, sobbing uncontrollably.
Jun Yanye reached out to wipe away the tears on Shi Li’s cheeks. “Yes. You are not a waste.”
Hearing those words, little Shi Li froze blankly in place for a long time before a smile finally broke across his face. “What is your name?”
“Jun Yanye.”
Little Shi Li nodded. His smile and his figure grew brighter and brighter, gradually dissolving into one with the external light.
A warm current carrying a soft glow drifted through the sea of consciousness. Following this light, Jun Yanye located where the fracture lay.
He figured that he must have dissolved a small fraction of Shi Li’s inner demon.
Estimating the time, he rested inside for a bit longer before withdrawing his consciousness right before the mist scattered and the light began to dim.
“Comfortable, so comfortable.” Shi Li rubbed his own chest, smiling contentedly. “My entire body feels warm and cozy. You made me feel so comfortable…”
Jun Yanye began to miss the innocent little Shi Li from just moments ago; this adult version of Shi Li only knew how to tease him.
“Oh,” Shi Li took advantage of the momentum to hug Jun Yanye. “Let us do this a few more times. I will take another dose of medicine.”
Jun Yanye truly did not know what Shi Li took this healing process for, actually wanting to take medicine and do it all over again. Did he think this was some sort of bedroom intimacy? Doing it once, taking a pill, and then going for another round?
“Only once a day,” Jun Yanye said solemnly. “Having one’s sea of consciousness entered and exited so frequently not only risks leaking one’s vital qi, but it can also cause the primordial spirit to become unhinged.”
“Woo.”
“Acting spoiled will not work. Get up.”
“How is your recovery progressing now?” Shi Li lounged on top of him, changing the subject.
“Quite well.”
“Hahaha,” Shi Li laughed with wild abandon. “Then we can do even more outrageous things. Excellent, I am going to nurture your cultivation back to its peak.”
“And then?”
“Naturally, to stir up the storm clouds and bring havoc upon the world!”
“Uh.” Jun Yanye found it difficult to believe that such words could come from the young master of a righteous sect. “No thank you, I have no interest.”
“Then protect me.”
Jun Yanye did not deny it.
The sleeping quarters of the Changming Sect.
Yan Moxiao stared at Shi Chen, who remained fast asleep upon the bed, his brow tightly furrowed in worry.
The door opened, and Yan Moxiao’s eldest disciple, Gao Ruoxi, walked inside. Bowing in greeting, he reported, “Master, your disciple has indeed confirmed the rumors. Shi Li and the demon Jun Yanye are currently nursing their injuries within the territory of the Ghost Dragon. A few days ago, Shi Li nearly lost his life. That demon suffered severe trauma; his cultivation has a mere ten or twenty percent remaining, and there are no demonic generals accompanying him.”
“It seems their situation is not optimistic either.” Yan Moxiao’s brow relaxed slightly. “What a pity for Shi Chen. His venture met with disaster right at the start, and he has still not woken up yet.”
Gao Ruoxi cast a glance at Shi Chen. “Master, the Young Sect Master’s condition must not be delayed any longer. If his primordial spirit does not return to his body within seven days, I am afraid he will.”
“I am well aware.” Yan Moxiao pinched the space between his eyebrows. “He suffered this downfall because of Shi Li. To save him, I fear we must bring Shi Li back after all.”
Yan Moxiao pondered silently for a good while before saying, “Ruoxi, go to the Wanyou Valley yourself. Help me invite Shi Li back. You must act with absolute secrecy.”
Gao Ruoxi’s eyes flickered. “But Master, we have already completely fallen out with him, and the entire world knows it. Furthermore, he has that demon backing him up. Will he still be willing to return?”
Yan Moxiao pulled out a sword from his universe pouch; it was precisely Shi Li’s personal sword, Qintan.
“Take this sword to him. Just say that I am requesting his return,” Yan Moxiao instructed.
“What if he resolutely refuses to return?”
“Do not exchange blows with them; you are no match for that demon.” Yan Moxiao patted his eldest disciple’s wrist, handing him a talisman paper glowing with golden light. “This talisman can return you to the Changming Sect in an instant. Be absolutely certain to grasp the right moment to use it.”
“Thank you, Master. I will certainly not disgrace your mission, and I shall bring Junior Brother back.”
Rising in the morning, Jun Yanye opened his eyes only to behold a sight that left him dumbfounded, causing his heart to skip a beat.
Even a demon could not withstand this kind of sudden fright!
Shi Li was propping his hands on either side of Jun Yanye’s body, looking down at him from above. His ink-black hair cascaded down past his ears like silk, his long brows framing beautiful eyes. His already striking appearance, paired with his crimson robes, possessed an even more breathtaking, soul-capturing beauty.
The moment Jun Yanye opened his eyes to see this image, he promptly closed them again, appearing incredibly peaceful.
“Wake up!” Shi Li laughed, patting Jun Yanye’s face.
“Uh…” Jun Yanye opened his eyes helplessly. “What kind of day is it today? You dressed up so brightly.”
“An honored guest is arriving today. I specifically borrowed this outfit from the little demons. How do I look?”
“An honored guest?”
“Get out of bed quickly. I am going to braid your hair.” Shi Li pushed Jun Yanye up.
Jun Yanye was accustomed to weaving a small braid about the thickness of a pinky finger on the left side of his hair. He had already forgotten why he always did this, but his body remembered the habit, repeating it every single day.
“What difference does it make whether you braid it or I braid it?” Jun Yanye watched Shi Li’s red-clothed figure swaying back and forth.
“You wouldn’t understand. The way I weave braids is highly meticulous! You usually weave a three-strand braid, but today, the number three is highly inauspicious. Therefore, I shall weave a four-strand braid for you, which will turn your luck around.”
“Uh.”
“All done.” Shi Li held up a mirror for him to look.
“The braid you made looks like a worm,” Jun Yanye resisted.
“You are not allowed to undo it!”
Jun Yanye was pulled along by Shi Li to the banquet hall, where the little demons were instructed to set out wine and dishes.
Just as the food and wine were fully laid out, Shi Li spoke toward the outside of the hall, “Since our honored guest has arrived, please take a seat at the table.”
There was no movement.
Shi Li smiled and poured a cup of wine. “Do not hesitate. You might as well come inside; I will be here all day.”
Jun Yanye looked outward, only to see a tall, upright, and honest-looking Changming Sect disciple walking inside.
Gao Ruoxi was thoroughly perplexed. He had snuck into the cavern today using an invisibility spell, originally intending to wait until Shi Li was completely alone before speaking with him.
He had not expected Shi Li to behave as if he already knew he was coming today, preparing a banquet in advance and even calling him out by name.
Since his presence had been seen through, lingering any longer would be pointless, so Gao Ruoxi revealed himself.
“Junior Brother.” Gao Ruoxi looked at Shi Li, feeling that Shi Li seemed vastly different from before.
The Shi Li of the past had been as emaciated as a withered piece of wood, entirely devoid of any desire to live. The Shi Li of today was glowing with health, thoroughly calm and self-assured.
Gao Ruoxi cast another glance at Jun Yanye. Lacking the confidence to ask the great demon to excuse himself, he could only secretly tighten his grip on the talisman hidden inside his sleeve.
“Eldest Senior Brother, how have you been lately?” Shi Li’s tone sounded exactly like casual small talk. “What brings you here to find me today?”
“Junior Brother, the Sect Master sent me to invite you back,” Gao Ruoxi said with a smile on his face. “The Sect Master misses you dearly. He knows you were severely injured.”
“So, he wishes to bring me back to nurse my injuries?”
“Yes, that is precisely what the Sect Master means,” Gao Ruoxi nodded repeatedly. “You know that the Sect Master has always regarded you as his own flesh-and-blood son. Had you not drawn your sword to kill him that day, he would never have had the heart to imprison you, let alone punish you in public. Seeing you leap off the cliff that day, the Sect Master truly felt as if a knife were twisting in his heart…”
“Oh,” Shi Li nodded. “But regarding the matter of me impersonating the young master, does the Sect Master completely look past that as well?”
“Ah?” Gao Ruoxi had not expected Shi Li to actively bring up this particular subject, pausing for a moment. “This-”
Gao Ruoxi had merely heard rumors about Shi Li impersonating the young master. Although Shi Li had admitted to it with his own mouth, there was absolutely no proof.
He was left somewhat dazed by Shi Li’s question.
Seeing Gao Ruoxi stammering, Shi Li could not help but laugh. “Eldest Senior Brother, I merely wish to know: in what capacity would I be returning to the Changming Sect?”
“Naturally, as the Sect Master’s adoptive son.” Gao Ruoxi carefully avoided using the words “Young Sect Master.”
“The Sect Master’s adoptive son. That status is considerably higher than that of ordinary disciples,” Shi Li remarked.
“Of course. It is even higher than that of the sect elders.” Gao Ruoxi felt his hopes rising higher and higher. Shi Li truly still held affection for the Sect Master after all, and simply could not let go of this identity.
“Very well. Then first take out the treasure hidden inside your sleeve and let me have a look.” Shi Li extended his hand.
“Uh!” Gao Ruoxi’s breath hitched, a layer of cold sweat breaking out across his palm.
Watching the spectacle from the side, Jun Yanye also revealed a mocking look in his eyes.
“You said it yourself. I am the adoptive son of the Sect Master, possessing an incredibly lofty status. In that case, you ought to obey my commands.” Shi Li’s expression turned dead serious, bearing no trace of a joke. “If you cannot even manage this much, I highly doubt the sincerity of your visit, Eldest Senior Brother.”