Shen Yu was gone.
Gu Qingyi was covered in cold sweat, breathing heavily. He reached out to touch Wu Youqi’s arm, and only after feeling the warmth on the back of his hand did he finally relax: Thank goodness, Brother Youqi is alright.
He closed his eyes, listening quietly to the rhythm of his own heartbeat in the darkness until it wasn’t quite so chaotic, before turning to look at Wu Youqi from head to toe, studying him carefully.
As he examined him, Wu Youqi stared right back at him with his brows deeply furrowed.
The blood-red color faded from Wu Youqi’s pupils, but it was quickly replaced by a deep, pitch-black darkness. He watched this face, this person, this little fool, and the unmasked worry and concern in his eyes, without moving a muscle.
Finally, Wu Youqi closed his eyes and tugged at the corners of his lips. He wanted to scoff as usual, but his lips trembled; he tried with all his might, yet he couldn’t pull them into a smile. He couldn’t help but bite his lip, then bit down heavily several more times.
“Brother…?” Gu Qingyi was frightened by his distorted expression. He climbed onto his chest and rubbed it gently. “Are you in pain again?”
Wu Youqi lowered his gaze. Suddenly, he raised a hand to touch Gu Qingyi’s face, and then, looking at those phoenix eyes filled with concern, he burst into laughter.
He laughed, but Gu Qingyi’s face went pale, his eyes reddened, and he became flustered and clumsy with his hands and feet.
A dark red tint stained Wu Youqi’s lips, followed by more blood spilling over, dyeing his entire chin and neck a deep, indelible crimson. He giggled to himself, while Gu Qingyi’s tears fell pitter-patter.
After laughing silently for a while, Wu Youqi finally let out a soft chuckle and lowered his hand from stroking the other’s face:
How ridiculous. This little fool, whose three souls and seven spirits were incomplete and who was destined to have a cold constitution, actually had tears that were burning hot.
The little fool had not yet awakened his wisdom, a mere mortal. He had only met him once, yet just because he was enamored with his appearance, he could do this much for him—
Fearless of life, unafraid of death, without considering who the opponent was or if he could handle it, he had just rushed forward so recklessly to block the blow in front of him.
Passionate, frank, and single-minded.
These were all things he had longed for but never saw in that person. His master was heartless and emotionless; even if the sky were to crumble before his eyes, he wouldn’t blink.
In the past, he believed his master was merely composed and that his cultivation realm was too high, making him unaccustomed to expressing himself and disinclined to reveal his emotions.
His master would buy him the “Duqing” sword, take him to visit old friends, travel through various realms, and debate the Tao in the Western Buddhist Realm… In his heart, he must have been thinking of him.
But,
Not long after the Senior Martial Brother’s wedding, the dark undercurrents erupted repeatedly, and the Demon Clan began attacking the Human Realm frequently, abducting many cultivators. The six major sects of the continent, the Medicine King Valley, and several well-known rogue cultivators held an alliance at Qing-shuang Mountain to discuss countermeasures.
However, shortly after the meeting began, dark undercurrents erupted at the foot of the mountain. Everyone threw themselves into saving the people in the lower realms, and Wu Youqi naturally participated. He hadn’t thought much of it at the time; he only cared about saving as many people as possible, so he didn’t hide his ability to travel through the dark undercurrents.
At first, the common people were very grateful to him, and cultivators from various sects were willing to fight side-by-side with him. But as the undercurrents were sealed and the Demon Clan was pushed back, the common people were still fine—they continued to call him “Immortal Gentleman” and “Benefactor”—but the Cultivation World…
Wu Youqi had achieved fame as a youth and was under the tutelage of the Qingyi Immortal Venerable, so naturally, countless eyes were fixed upon him: those of jealousy, resentment, and those who attributed their own incompetence to his brilliance…
Gradually, rumors spread that he was the reincarnation of the Demon Star. They dug up the old events of Yinghu Lake, claiming that his ability to traverse the dark undercurrents must be proof of demonic cultivation. These remarks became rampant. Qing-shuang Mountain originally paid them no mind, but when Wu Youqi broke through to the Refining Void stage and a crescent moon mark suddenly appeared on his forehead, the Sect Leader could no longer sit still.
Cultivators rarely had dark patterns on their foreheads; they usually appeared only when inner demons were born or upon falling into the demonic path, most often in the shape of a blood-red sword or cone pointing downward. Wu Youqi’s was not; its hue was dark, crescent-shaped, and did not remain visible at all times, appearing only when his spiritual power was agitated.
He didn’t pay it much mind either, but not long after, Qing-shuang Mountain was surrounded by several cultivation clans led by the Shu family, along with rogue cultivators and small sects.
Young Master Shu Linfeng of the Shu family had been pampered by his family since childhood. He was arrogant and lived a debauched, absurd life, bullying men and women and committing all sorts of evil. Earlier, when Wu Youqi was out on a mission, he had accidentally encountered Shu Linfeng molesting a junior sister from their Qing-shuang Mountain; he had acted to teach him a lesson, which left Shu Linfeng injured.
The Shu family knew they were in the wrong at the time and said nothing, but they secretly kept a grudge. Upon hearing that a moon mark had appeared on his forehead, they gathered a group to surround the mountain.
The Shu family Elder acted as the negotiator, respectful and polite, claiming they had concerns and wished to invite Wu Youqi to walk across the “Heart-Verifying Platform.”
At that time, the Senior Martial Brother had not yet turned against him and even led the disciples to argue fiercely in his defense against the Shu family—
“If he is not the Demon Star, why does he have the mark of a fallen demon on his forehead?! If he is not a demonic cultivator, how could he walk safely through the dark undercurrents?!”
Shen Yu sneered, “There are countless strange people and events in this world. Just because you have never seen them doesn’t mean they don’t exist; it only proves you are like frogs in a well with little experience.”
The Shu family Elder’s cheeks flushed red, but Shu Linfeng stepped forward and retorted, “Since you insist he is not of the Demon Clan, why don’t you dare to let him try the Heart-Verifying Platform?!”
“Or perhaps you knew all along he was a demon, but you insist on shielding him and hiding his sins, disregarding the justice of the world!”
Qingxiao Peak was over a thousand feet high. Wu Youqi naturally couldn’t hear Shu Linfeng and the others making a racket in the Taiji Plaza. But as the argument heated up, it was inevitable that they would resort to force. The group the Shu family brought was merely a mob; the only Elder among them was only at the Golden Core stage, not even enough for Shen Yu to practice with.
Seeing that he was going to lose face again, Shu Linfeng hurriedly channeled his spiritual energy and shouted via sound transmission—
“Is this how you, Qing-shuang Mountain, bully the weak?! Even if we are killed today, your actions will surely be mocked by the world!”
“The dignified ‘Number One Sect in the World’ is actually a place that harbors demons and hides filth; it is truly ridiculous! Absolutely ridiculous! If I can leave alive, I will expose the evil deeds of you and Wu Youqi to the world!”
Shen Yu and the others never intended to kill them. Shu Linfeng’s brazen distortion of the truth incited the other cultivators who had followed them up the mountain:
“Indeed, justice can never be killed off! Even if you kill us today, can you kill everyone in the world?!”
With such a commotion, the Sect Leader and the Masters of all the peaks were alerted, and Wu Youqi also used his spiritual sense to figure out the cause. He thought Shu Linfeng was ridiculous and even told his master about it as a joke.
“Mm,” Qingyi nodded.
But Shu Linfeng was, after all, backed by the Shu family. If this continued, it wouldn’t be easy to settle. Moreover, although Shu Linfeng was a rascal, what he said was not entirely unreasonable—
Since ancient times, villains were difficult to deal with, and petty people were hard to manage.
No matter how upright Qing-shuang Mountain was, they couldn’t withstand the malicious slander of so many people.
Wu Youqi’s family had been destroyed when he was fourteen; he had experienced the warmth and coldness of the human world. Qing-shuang Mountain was like his second home; he didn’t want to implicate everyone. Seeing Shu Linfeng and the others surrounding the base of the mountain, refusing to leave even at sunset like mangy dogs, he whispered to his master:
“Master, why don’t I just go and walk across the Heart-Verifying Platform?”
Qingyi frowned, “Shu Linfeng is seeking revenge for personal reasons.”
The implication was that there was no need to pay him any mind.
But Wu Youqi scratched his head and insisted, “Just—just let me walk across it once. It’s not complicated. It will stop the rumors, and also make him give up so he won’t come to cause trouble in the future.”
Yet, because of these words, his master’s expression grew even gloomier. After staring at him for a long time, his master turned away. “You… insist on going?”
Seeing his master looked angry, Wu Youqi felt uneasy, yet he persisted, “Mm, disciple… wants to go.”
His response was Qingyi taking a deep breath and then laying a restriction over Qingxiao Peak. “Then go tomorrow.”
“…Ah?”
Qingyi did not offer a detailed explanation, saying only: “It is late.”
Wu Youqi remained muddled. After sleeping soundly on the mountain peak, he descended the mountain the next day and stepped onto the Heart-Verifying Platform. Nothing happened:
He was not a demon.
Shu Linfeng and the Shu family Elder were unconvinced and brought out their own “Yongzui Banner” to test him again and again, but still, they found nothing. The other cultivators were deeply disappointed by the result and left one after another, and the Shu family could only apologize once more, ending the farce.
However, after he returned to the top of Qingxiao Peak, Qingyi suddenly went into secluded meditation, not even leaving him a single word.
Looking at Gu Qingyi, whose eyes were red from crying for him, Wu Youqi understood for the first time: So, this is what it feels like to be truly protected.
He opened his mouth, just about to say something, when Yun Yue Xing Shi’s voice came from behind him.
“How is the Venerable Lord?”
Wu Youqi’s expression froze. He turned his head to see the High Priestess, Mo Yiyao, Xizhu, and Huanyi Jun, who had been missing for many days, stepping into the hall.
He paused, then suddenly used a hand-chop to knock Gu Qingyi unconscious and tossed him to Xizhu as usual: “Take him away. I don’t want to see him right now.”
Xizhu was stunned for a moment after catching him; she wanted to say something but was stopped by Yun Yue Xing Shi, so she could only take Gu Qingyi and retreat.
After they left, Wu Youqi wiped the blood from his chin with an indifferent expression. He slumped onto the golden chair, crossing his long legs and resting them on the armrest:
“What do you want, Ministers?”
“Xizhu said you were assassinated and injured,” Yun Yue Xing Shi said.
“Hmph, merely a defeated opponent.”
“Let me take a look at you, Venerable Lord?” The white-bearded old man behind Yun Yue Xing Shi took a step forward. “Lest you develop some hidden ailment.”
Wu Youqi shrugged, revealing one of his hands to signal Mo Yiyao to come forward. Then he tilted his chin, looking at the person in red at the very end of the group:
“And you, Huanyi Jun? What are you here for?”
Huanyi Jun was the last Succubus of the Demon Clan, born with red lips, white teeth, and a lithe, boneless grace. His eyes were as seductive as silk, capable of hooking one’s soul.
“Is this not… because I was negligent and allowed the humans to exploit a loophole? I came specifically… to ask for the Venerable Lord’s forgiveness.”
After speaking, he dropped to his knees with a thud, but his body leaned to one side. He wore a look of natural, romantic grace that made it hard for one to bear to punish him.
But Wu Youqi didn’t even look at him; he only cast a glance at Yun Yue Xing Shi, who stood nearby without saying a word.
Huanyi Jun pursed his lips and knelt properly.
“Then I punish you to repair the Gate of the Livingless and the Jimi cages. Ten days is the deadline; the High Priestess will supervise,” Wu Youqi withdrew his hand. “I am weary.”
Mo Yiyao shrugged and shot a look at Yun Yue Xing Shi, who paused before tapping her star staff. “Yes.”
Only Huanyi Jun wore a bitter face. After coming out of the Blood Flame Flowing Cloud Palace, he kicked a bronze beast at the entrance in deep grievance.
“Stop brooding,” Yun Yue Xing Shi shook her head. “Being punished is better than losing your life. Besides, the Venerable Lord knew it was I who told you to take the initiative to plead guilty.”
Huanyi Jun pursed his lips, then turned and laughed again. “But in all honesty, that soul-less puppet really looks like the Qingyi Immortal Venerable. Not only are they similar in appearance, but even their temperaments are the same both protect those they care for, to the point of throwing their lives away for our Venerable Lord. Back at Qing-shuang Mountain, if it hadn’t been for me…”
“Huanyi Jun!” Yun Yue Xing Shi interrupted, “Mind your words.”
Huanyi Jun shrugged, finally making a gesture to seal his mouth, and sauntered off to work at the Gate of the Livingless.
After Wu Youqi finished handling the trivial matters brought about by the cultivators’ attack, he took advantage of the night and went to the West Courtyard—
The Blood Moon was already at its zenith. Xizhu happened to be at the door, cloaked and ready to lock it. Seeing Wu Youqi arrive, she hurriedly cleaned up and let him in:
“Venerable Lord, the Young Master has just fallen asleep.”
Wu Youqi nodded halfway. “Just asleep?”
It had been over two hours since he had knocked him unconscious and sent him away.
“…Yes,” Xizhu said, feeling somewhat ashamed. She turned and went into the room to retrieve a small mortar and a folded piece of paper. “Ever since the Young Master woke up, he has been busy with this in the back of the courtyard, saying it was for you.”
For him?
Wu Youqi lowered his brow and took it, only to find that the mortar contained crushed “Spirit Pill Grass” an inconspicuous but highly potent hemostatic herbal medicine.
And the remaining paper, when unfolded, contained a line of scrawled, uneven characters written with varying ink depths:
Brother Youqi isn’t in pain anymore. From now on, I will stay with you.