Lin Qing performed a spell to clean the desk and then picked up the little dog, placing it on the surface. While he stroked the puppy, which was still wagging its tail happily, he flipped it onto its back and drew a short sword. Although he had never performed this kind of surgery, his swordsmanship was famously precise and swift. He could guarantee the cut would be made before the pain registered or a drop of blood fell. After applying some analgesic and hemostatic medicine, the operation would be complete.
Lin Qing’s hand rose and the sword fell so quickly it left no afterimage. After seeing what he had done, the Demon King could not hide his shock. “Disciple, you”
Only after Lin Qing had sheathed the short sword did the puppy belatedly let out a painful whimper. It rolled around on the desk and its eyes seemingly welled with tears. Lin Qing applied the hemostatic and healing powders. He then took the puppy into his arms and gently stroked its head. “It is alright. Be good. Only a neutered dog is an excellent dog.”
Even the Demon King felt a cold sweat. “Disciple, where did you learn this technique?”
Lin Qing stroked the dog’s head to comfort it. “In our world, pets must be neutered. Otherwise, they go into heat everywhere, which makes the pets uncomfortable and causes a lot of trouble.”
The Demon King wondered what kind of world would require neutering because of heat. “What about humans?” he could not help but ask.
Lin Qing said wistfully, “Our world is very free. If a couple does not want children, they can also undergo a sterilization procedure.” However, the methods were different and did not involve being cut off.
Before Lin Qing could explain the complexities, the Demon King interrupted. “Fine, say no more. I understand.” He had absolutely no desire to hear about the process of a man’s sterilization. Although Lin Qing had applied medicine, he had no experience with post operative care. Worried about infection, he wrapped a layer of gauze around the puppy’s lower abdomen.
As expected, A-Man came looking for the dog the next morning. Seeing the puppy in Lin Qing’s arms with its stomach wrapped in white cloth and looking quite listless, he asked, “Master, is the puppy injured?”
Lin Qing replied calmly, “No, I neutered him. He might not be used to it for the first few days, but he will be fine later.”
“Neutered?” A-Man doubted his own ears. In the world of this story, those words were more terrifying than a terminal illness.
“Yes. My technique is very good and A-Huang did not feel any pain.”
Next, under A-Man’s stunned gaze, Lin Qing gave a detailed lecture on the benefits of neutering dogs. Lin Qing stroked the dog’s head and looked at A-Man meaningfully. “If I am to raise something, it must be neutered. Only then will it be loyal and obedient. Do you not agree, A-Man?”
“Master is right,” A-Man stammered. “Master, I suddenly remembered I have something to do. I shall take my leave.” A-Man left almost tripping over his own feet. As expected, he did not come to harass Lin Qing again.
As for Yun Fan, he was the star candidate most likely to win the first prize in the grand competition. These past few days, many peers were busy visiting and befriending him. He wanted to harass Lin Qing, but he simply lacked the time.
The seven days passed quickly and the results of the individual matches were announced. “Master, I won first place in the competition!” Yun Fan shared his achievement with delight.
Lin Qing nodded. “Good.”
It was no surprise that Yun Fan took first place, but Lin Qing was surprised that A-Man and A-Xiong took second and third. Having the top three spots occupied by his disciples brought too much attention, which was not necessarily a good thing.
Yun Fan hinted with his eyes and his tone practically demanded it. “Master, since I performed so well, can you not reward me?”
Lin Qing shut him out of the room. “I reward you with the task of hosting the guests for me.” Since his disciples took the top three spots, the cultivators coming to offer congratulations were nearly breaking down the threshold of Lin Qing’s courtyard.
Next was the team competition in the secret realm. Lin Qing’s team consisted of his three disciples led by Yun Fan. As the champions of the individual matches, they were the team that every other group feared and targeted most. With the other disciples focused on Yun Fan, Lin Qing could finally relax. His only fear was Yun Fan suddenly appearing in the secret realm to ruin his plans. Although the realm was vast and the probability of an encounter was low, the power of the main plot was irreversible and he might actually run into him.
Once Yun Fan entered the realm, Lin Qing confirmed his location and then set off in the opposite direction. This secret realm could only accommodate cultivators at the fifth level because higher cultivation would destabilize it. Lin Qing suppressed his cultivation to the fifth level before sneaking inside.
In the original plot, the protagonist fought with his disciple, the Demon King, and the Demon Lord in a cave for seven days and nights before running into the Ghost King. Those seven days were closely tied to the main plot, meaning Lin Qing had to earn at least three thousand Passion Points daily. Lin Qing grew worried about how he was supposed to get three thousand points.
The Demon King suggested, “Disciple, there is an illusionary formation in the demonic arts that can trigger a person’s deepest desires. You can set the formation in a place where cultivators pass through to collect energy.”
Lin Qing was speechless. Formations were usually meant to show one’s fears or greatest dreams to affect their state of mind, so he wondered why there were such strange formations here. But then he remembered this was the world of an adult novel where even divine artifacts were improper and he felt better. “Master, how do they break the formation?”
Lin Qing was actually asking if there was a risk to their lives. He wanted Passion Points but he did not want to kill innocent people.
“Once they have had enough in the realm and are exhausted, they will walk out on their own,” the Demon King replied. “They will only think they fell into a natural illusion of the secret realm and they will not suspect you.”
Lin Qing felt this plan was viable and immediately asked the Demon King for the method to study the formation. The Demon King laughed. “I have many fun formations here. When you have time, I will teach you how to play with them.”
Lin Qing looked completely resistant. “I appreciate your kindness, Master, but I will pass.”
Doing this was as unscrupulous as drugging someone. To avoid being recognized, Lin Qing wanted to use a generic face again, but he remembered the Dragon Young Master who identified him by scent and hesitated.
“Master, what should I look like to avoid attention?”
The Demon King joked, “Why not dress as a woman? No one would recognize you then.”
Lin Qing rubbed his chin and thought. Cross dressing was not out of the question. He remembered that among the competing sects, there was one composed entirely of female disciples that was hostile toward men. Disguising himself as a female disciple from another sect would be an excellent cover. Furthermore, since this novel focused on male to male relationships, the risk of attracting interest from strangers while dressed as a woman would be greatly reduced.
He had no female clothing in his storage ring, so he had to exchange a set from the System Mall. The items in the System Mall were never proper and this dress was no different. There were bunny suits, maid outfits, and torn on impact dresses. After a long search, Lin Qing found a backless outfit that was somewhat wearable.
From the front, the dress looked respectable, but from the back, it was held together by only a few thin strings from the shoulders to the waist. Lin Qing pulled out his hairpin and his long hair cascaded down like a waterfall, covering the large area of white skin exposed on his back.