The City Lord of Tongzhou City had not yet reached the age of twenty. He was young, frail, and naive, completely defenseless against greedy malice.
Years ago, the dirt-smudged youth had nowhere to go. Following the stranger Jian Guichi to the Jian family, he only knew how to timidly tug at Jian Guichi’s sleeve whenever he was bullied. From that moment on, Jian Guichi had protected him, shielding him for two full years and never letting him suffer the slightest grievance.
Jian Guichi turned slightly, his calm gaze falling upon the disheveled youth.
The Tianfeng physique was priceless, and the generals had quickly recovered their habitual flattering smiles to approach the hopeless City Lord. They could force the former City Lord’s daughter into an unwanted marriage without a second thought; turning the City Lord’s adopted son into a transactional commodity was even easier and completely without scruple.
The youth backed away frantically, but his limbs were bound, meaning that despite putting his all into it, he barely moved an inch. His terrified, wide eyes looked past the generals, fixing a hopeful, longing gaze on the man outside the door. Realizing that the past was gone and no help would come, tears welled up and flooded his eyes.
Just as he was about to be grabbed, Jian Guichi finally made a move.
Out, all of you.
With a single sentence, everyone froze.
A few still hesitated, reluctant to give up. But upon meeting Jian Guichi’s warning gaze, cold sweat broke out down their spines. Intimidated by his formidable family background and power, they suppressed their resentment, held back their fury, and exited the room, closing the door behind them. Once again, only Mo Zhi and Jian Guichi remained inside.
Jian Guichi walked step by step toward Mo Zhi. As the tall man stood over him, the curled-up youth looked even more fragile.
He reached out to pull him up, but Mo Zhi, still shaken with lingering fear, shuddered and leaned backward, dodging his hand entirely.
Jian Guichi paused, his upper body slightly leaning forward. His hand hung suspended in mid-air right above the other’s head, before slowly pulling back. Thinking for a moment, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving the youth time and space to gather his emotions.
Mistaking this to mean the man was abandoning him, Mo Zhi used all the strength in his waist, lunged forward, and collapsed right at the man’s feet, pleading, Help me.
Jian Guichi stopped in his tracks. After a long moment, he spoke to the youth below: Speak.
Can you help me change back? You must have a way!
City Lord Mo, you overestimate me.
There is nothing you cannot do!
The youth wasn’t deliberately flattering him; from the bottom of his heart, he firmly believed Jian Guichi was omnipotent. Jian Guichi paused. If it had been within the first three days of transforming into the Tianfeng physique, perhaps there would have been a way.
The youth’s face turned ashen as he muttered, It’s been nearly a month.
If he hadn’t stubbornly thrown a tantrum back then out of jealousy because the woman he admired had confessed her true feelings to Jian Guichi, he would have told Jian Guichi about his predicament right away, and Jian Guichi certainly would have helped him. The youth helplessly dropped to his knees.
Seeing his vulnerability and breakdown, Jian Guichi finally crouched down and untied the ropes for him.
Gritting his teeth, the youth made up his mind. I want to follow you.
This physique would forever be a curse, with countless cultivators in the immortal realm hungrily eyeing it to make it their own. Only by seeking the protection of a powerhouse who stood at the very peak of the cultivation world, someone strong enough to sweep away all covetous predators, could he escape the turbulence of being hunted and seized.
When all was said and done, Mo Zhi was merely the master of a small-scale city, at best coming into contact with mid-to-high-tier cultivators. Therefore, the only powerhouse he could currently turn to for help was Jian Guichi.
Now that things were set and the secret of the Tianfeng physique was out, his top priority was self-preservation. If he had to depend on a powerhouse to survive, at least Jian Guichi was someone he knew well and wasn’t a villain.
The youth resigned himself to his fate, seemingly completely oblivious to the massive temptation a top-tier cultivation cauldron willingly submitting himself posed to cultivators eager to grow stronger. The system clicked its tongue: So shameless.
Gently, Jian Guichi tucked the messy strands of hair behind the youth’s ear. Do you have any idea how many people will covet you? Granted, Jian Guichi’s talent in the cultivation world was unmatched, but that couldn’t stop people from banding together to take him down.
I am very useful. Mo Zhi grabbed Jian Guichi’s hand.
The youth was clumsy at controlling his abilities, pouring out the energy others dreamed of as if it were worthless, completely focused and earning a sweat from pure earnestness.
Jian Guichi glanced indifferently at his hand, completely unmoved. I do not like relying on external forces.
Besides, cultivation was divided into four stages: Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and Mahayana. The Tianfeng physique held little use for a Mahayana powerhouse.
Not needed? Then what is the point of this trashy physique existing? It means I forged a garbage body that can’t attract butterflies, only bugs.
Mo Zhi looked as devastated as if he were mourning the dead.
I have no choice. Mo Zhi hugged himself tightly. I’m really scared.
The Tianfeng physique was a good hand of cards, but it didn’t guarantee a smooth victory.
Once, a woman with the Tianfeng physique had become entangled with several world-shaking powerhouses. Unfortunately, the ending was not pretty: one powerhouse, unable to compete and losing his mind over failing to possess the Tianfeng physique, had alive-and-well torn off the woman’s limbs and head, calling it sharing blessings, and delivered them one by one to the others before getting hacked to death out of pure frustration.
That woman’s tragic death was no isolated incident, it might well be Mo Zhi’s own ending.
Jian Guichi lowered his gaze. His cold treatment earlier had merely been an attempt to make the youth admit his mistake, but seeing him truly terrified, he instantly regretted it.
Lessons could wait; soothing the frightened child came first.
He stood up, intending to pull Mo Zhi up so they could sit and talk. Not knowing what the man was thinking and assuming he was leaving, Mo Zhi lunged forward with all his might.
Jian Guichi was tall, strong, and powerful, but he was knocked right over by the sudden tackle.
Mo Zhi hadn’t expected to pin the man to the ground. Giving in to his instincts, he sprawled right on top of the person he held dear in his heart, feeling an unprecedented sense of satisfaction. He wanted to let out a long sigh of relief, his mouth curling up wildly into a grin, which he then forcefully forced flat.
He had already braced himself to be violently flung off, but Jian Guichi’s reaction wasn’t fierce at all. Mo Zhi lifted his gaze to find a stern, handsome face, and faintly detected a look of dumbfounded blankness beneath the cold demeanor.
Don’t go.
…Get up first. Jian Guichi slowly uttered a few words, then raised his arms to hoist the person up. But the youth was like a thoroughly boiled rice cake, refusing to use an ounce of strength, completely limp. Back and forth, he ended up wrapping his arms around him even tighter.
With Jian Guichi’s strength, he could easily have shaken him off, but Mo Zhi hadn’t cuddled enough and certainly wouldn’t let him run away, so he pressed his palms flat against Jian Guichi’s shoulders.
The man rarely had such intimate physical contact with anyone, and Mo Zhi could feel his resistance, assuming he must hate it to the core.
In the book, the male protagonist had no feelings for Tian Ying, whom he had never even met. Driven purely by a sense of responsibility, he had decided to marry her properly and treat her well. Therefore, the male protagonist harbored deep misgivings regarding his friend’s actions, a friend’s wife should not be violated. If the friend had truly been deeply in love, he should have confessed openly and honestly instead of resorting to underhanded tricks.
After this incident, whatever friendship the male protagonist had left for his friend was reduced to nothing, turning them into strangers.
Since the temptation of the Tianfeng physique failed, Mo Zhi unhooked the jade pendant from his waist. The pendant swayed in the air, its color warm and clear like water, its patterns delicate and fine. Yet, the moment Jian Guichi saw the pendant, his heart sank.
You gave this to me.
Back then, the male protagonist saved and gave him this keepsake as a promise to repay the kindness. Later, the two became friends, and the male protagonist took care of him everywhere of his own accord. There had never been a time in his life when this jade pendant would actually have a chance to be used.
Mo Zhi stated bluntly, You said that if I saved your life, you would remember the favor forever. Now, I want you to keep your promise and guarantee my safety for a lifetime.
From Jian Guichi’s waist to his own, an accessory he had worn for several years, he couldn’t bear to return it. Mo Zhi bit his lower lip, then thought better of it: he had only said that if there was an unsolvable problem, he could take the jade pendant to find the Jian family; he never said the pendant had to be returned.
Jian Guichi looked at the jade pendant, his gaze dark and obscure. He reached out, only to grab empty air as Mo Zhi stowed it back into his storage ring, so fast it was as if he had never taken it out at all.
The youth said with unblushing confidence: You have to help me.
First risking his life, and now extortion through kindness. In his eyes, how ruthless must he think Jian Guichi was to be willing to deal a fatal blow or abandon him to his fate? Jian Guichi wore a blank expression. My natal dharma artifact. Take it.
The natal dharma artifact of the current head of the Jian family was world-famous and extraordinary. It was a good item indeed, but unfortunately, what Mo Zhi was after was the person himself. An object always malfunctions sometimes. How can it be one hundred percent safe?
That was a fair point. With Mo Zhi’s Foundation Establishment cultivation level, holding a dharma artifact in combat would count as an exceptional performance if he didn’t end up hacking himself to death.
Jian Guichi: I will seal off the news and conceal your Tianfeng…
Before he could finish, the youth retorted, There’s no airtight wall in this world.
Jian Guichi: Externally, you will still be my friend. No one will dare touch you.
Jian Guichi was letting bygones be bygones, truly a good person. Too much of a good person to get a good reward, running right into a shameless, lovesick stalker, the system clicked its tongue.
The youth stubbornly insisted, If we’re just friends, why wouldn’t they dare?
Even out of respect for Jian Guichi, various factions might not dare to forcibly seize him, but they could pursue him fair and square. And Jian Guichi, acting merely as a friend, wouldn’t be in a position to meddle.
Since the hard approach wouldn’t work, he’d try the soft one. A starving wolf with glowing green eyes would trail closely behind, putting on the airs of a proper gentleman until it finally managed to bite off a piece of meat.
In short, high-grade dharma artifacts, concealing the news, and issuing declarations of protection, none of these solutions worked.
This wouldn’t do, and that wouldn’t do either. He didn’t look like someone asking for a favor; he acted just like an ancestral master.
The youth curled his fingers, his nails rubbing against his clothes and causing an itchy sensation. Jian Guichi’s tone turned stiff: What do you want me to do?
Patrician Jian, your family is wealthy and powerful. One more mouth to feed won’t hurt… and I am willing, too.
Jian Guichi instantly understood his meaning, his perpetually composed eyes widening slightly.
If Jian Guichi could publicly claim ownership and give Mo Zhi a suitable status, the vast majority of people, even though they felt unwilling when discovering Mo Zhi’s physique, would be deterred by Jian Guichi’s strength and forced to suppress their covetous desires. Naturally, such a status wouldn’t be as simple as friends.
After all, under the guise of pursuit, Jian Guichi, as a friend, wouldn’t be able to interfere too much. But anyone bold enough to harass Jian Guichi’s lover would first have to weigh their own abilities.
Hearing the change in how he was addressed, Jian Guichi immediately understood his intent. Have you thought this through?
Just do your best. When you run into someone too tough to handle, I won’t ask you to actually risk your life to protect me and repay this debt. How could Mo Zhi bear to see Jian Guichi besieged and bullied? If he couldn’t beat them, he’d just toss him out and secretly change back to his original form to smash them to death.
The youth sat astride him, his hands pressed against his solid chest. The spots where their palms touched suddenly grew scorching hot. Jian Guichi fell silent for a long moment before answering, Alright.
It was the first time Mo Zhi felt a single word could sound so melodious. Hearing it warmed his heart, and the world suddenly became beautiful.
The system conceded complete defeat. It finally understood the absolute advantage of having the proximity of a familiar location. The male protagonist had a nature of repaying every kindness, and since he was completely devoid of interest in romance, partners were optional to him. Mo Zhi proposing the status of a lover actually wouldn’t cause the male protagonist any aversion.
Countless people desperately wanted to conquer the cultivation world’s male god, yet he ended up being eaten by a neighbor’s rabbit.
Wasn’t this way too smooth?
Outside, the waiting generals were pulling out their hair in anxiety. They had secured a fine marriage, and with the City Lord turning out to be so promising and possessing the Tianfeng physique, Tongzhou City’s soaring success was just around the corner. When the door finally opened, several of them grinned from ear to ear, smiling blissfully.
Clan Leader Jian, the City Lord is feeling unwell. This subordinate will take him to see a medical practitioner. Anyone with eyes could see through his little scheme, and the others were also scheming to get close to the City Lord to boost their cultivation.
Jian Guichi said indifferently, No need to trouble yourselves. From now on, I will take care of him.
The general’s smile stiffened, a bad premonition dawning on him. Are you planning to have the Jian family’s medical cultivators take a look at the City Lord?
Without answering, Jian Guichi shifted the topic: I have no feelings for Tian Ying. Sacrificing our personal feelings for the sake of a family alliance is unfair. Sensing his intent to call off the wedding, the generals panicked and began chattering noisily. Jian Guichi raised a hand to signal for quiet, and the generals instantly zipped their mouths.
The Jian family has always kept its word. As it happens, Mo Zhi and I are kindred spirits who have known each other well for a long time. It would be better to replace the match with him; the marriage alliance will proceed as scheduled.
Everyone stood in absolute silence, their faces instantly turning ashen like the bottom of a pot.
Lover turning into the rightful spouse? The system stared anxiously at Mo Zhi, terrified he might burst out laughing.