The two of them lingered in intimacy for a while. Once Yun Lie’s emotions had settled, Xu Ziqing straightened his clothes and turned his attention to the twin lotus brothers. The two lotus spirits didn’t dare show any disrespect. Having seen Yun Lie press Xu Ziqing beneath him earlier, they had each returned to the twin lotus buds. They only erged once everything had quieted down.
Xu Ziqing felt a little embarrassed but quickly brushed it off. “If my Shixiong and I are to leave, how should we proceed?”
Yan Hua and Yue Hua exchanged a glance before replying, “Please have the master retrieve the Cold Jade Pool. That will allow for direct transport to the White Jade Hall.”
Xu Ziqing thought for a mont, unsurprised. Since the Cold Jade Pool was the eye of the formation, removing it would break the formation, a logical outco. So, he didn’t dwell on it and instead beca preoccupied with another concern—his Shixiong, who had now fallen into demonic influence.
Thinking of this, Xu Ziqing couldn’t help but frown slightly. His Shixiong had now refined the Seven Emotions Demonic Flower, absorbing all of its demonic energy, greatly enhancing his power. However, the demonic thoughts still lingered, and Xu Ziqing didn’t know what catalyst would help suppress them and restore his Shixiong to his original self. Although he didn’t mind and was confident he could patiently wait for his Shixiong’s return, once they left, they were bound to encounter others seeking treasure in the secret realm. Given that Yun Lie had made a na for himself on the Tianlong Rankings, whether they encountered cultivators from the righteous path or the demonic path, it would be inconvenient. Xu Ziqing sighed softly.
If his Shixiong were still enveloped in demonic energy, he would simply take him and flee, disregarding all the treasures and promises they had made here. But now, his Shixiong’s aura was no different from before, except for those terrifying eyes. If they stayed, it would certainly be dangerous; if they left, it wouldn’t feel right. This made his emotions conflicted. After a mont of thought, Xu Ziqing turned to Yun Lie and asked, “Shixiong, are you aware of your current situation?”
Yun Lie looked at him, his pitch-black eyes reflecting only Xu Ziqing’s image. “You said I have fallen into demonic influence.”
Xu Ziqing nodded. “You must have noticed as well, right?”
Yun Lie responded, “Indeed.” Although he hadn’t regained his mories and was still heavily influenced by demonic thoughts, after unleashing the nascent form of his Small Universe, Yun Lie faintly sensed that his behavior differed from how it had been before. However, now everything he did felt perfectly natural, so he couldn’t discern any differences and didn’t care to. He simply acted on instinct, finding joy in doing so.
Xu Ziqing felt so relief hearing Yun Lie’s response. If his Shixiong had been completely unaware of the changes, it would have been even harder to suppress the demonic thoughts in the future. But… it truly was his strong-willed Shixiong—sharp and perceptive even in his demonic state. Now, it was only a matter of ti.
Yun Lie walked over, pulling Xu Ziqing into his embrace, and sliding a hand inside his clothing.
Xu Ziqing froze for a mont. “Shixiong?”
Yun Lie tilted his head. “What is it?”
Xu Ziqing couldn’t help but smile wryly.
Well, who knew where his Shixiong got this interest from, always wanting to act like this? It left Xu Ziqing both happy to be close to him and helpless at the sa ti.
If this continued, he feared he would lose all sense of sha in front of his Shixiong.
But even with that thought, when Yun Lie licked his neck, Xu Ziqing still tilted his head back, letting him continue. Panting softly, he said, “S-Shixiong, we… we need to leave. Please stop…”
Yun Lie didn’t stop, but after a mont, he pressed his cheek against Xu Ziqing’s. “Where are we going?”
Xu Ziqing then recounted everything—how they had entered the dense forest, undergone trials, how they were pulled into this place of inheritance, why his Shixiong had fallen into demonic influence, and why they now needed to leave. He told the entire story in detail, without hiding anything.
Since Yun Lie had finished refining all the petals of the Demon Lotus, his initial emotional reactions had been as childlike as an infant’s. But as ti passed, his responses gradually beca similar to those of an adult. Thus, Xu Ziqing was able to discuss things with him and didn’t need to act on his own.
After listening, Yun Lie nodded slightly. “I’ll follow your lead.”
Xu Ziqing was montarily taken aback. In the past, he always listened to his Shixiong, but now, his Shixiong was saying he should listen to him… After entering the demonic state, his Shixiong’s many actions were quite straightforward, and compared to before, the feeling of intimacy toward him had increased significantly. At that mont, Xu Ziqing suddenly felt a pang of lancholy. Once his Shixiong suppressed the demonic thoughts and regained his mory, he would surely not be the sa as he was now.
He had been so close to his Shixiong, to the point that they felt like true companions, inseparable, as if they were one. His feelings for his Shixiong had also grown increasingly fervent… If in the future he had to restrain himself and could no longer be as intimate with his Shixiong, he feared he would find it quite difficult. However, these thoughts flashed through his mind, and Xu Ziqing chose not to dwell on them.
Ultimately, it was more important for his Shixiong to regain his mory and acquire the Celestial-Demon Body; as for other trivial thoughts, it was better not to ntion them. Besides, he had a lot of patience and wasn’t afraid of accompanying his Shixiong like before. Moreover, even if his Shixiong hadn’t entered the demonic state, he was still very good to him; it was just that they wouldn’t be as intimately close.
Cultivators tend to be indifferent to desires, so this… could hardly be considered anything.
Since his Shixiong wanted to “listen to him,” Xu Ziqing said, “Now that you know you’re in a demonic state, these demonic eyes cannot be seen by others. I wonder if you have any way to conceal them?”
If he were to go out with those black eyes filled with demonic energy, even a Qi Refinent stage cultivator would recognize him as a demon, which would lead to significant trouble.
Yun Lie heard this and slightly closed his eyes. After a breath, he opened them again. When Xu Ziqing looked again, he saw that they indeed looked like ordinary human eyes, only the pupils were dark to the extre, unfathomable. However, if one didn’t look closely, they wouldn’t be able to detect anything unusual.
Xu Ziqing felt relieved and smiled slightly, “That’s good; you’re just like before you entered the demonic state.”
Yun Lie gazed at him intently and suddenly spoke, “You’re very good to .”
Xu Ziqing understood the implication behind Yun Lie’s words and nodded with a smile, “Of course, I’m very good to you.”
Yun Lie continued, “Am I not good now?”
Xu Ziqing was surprised, then shook his head, “You’re still very good now.”
Yun Lie frowned slightly, seemingly dissatisfied.
Xu Ziqing then explained, “To , you haven’t changed at all; it’s just that there are so minor differences. However, since you’re a disciple of an Immortal Sect, if you can’t regain all your mories, many past experiences will be of no use to you, which is indeed detrintal. Plus, there are always short-sighted onlookers who may harm you, which is unavoidable. If you can suppress your demonic thoughts and return to your true self, then you can quickly achieve the Celestial-Demon Body, maximizing your potential, which would give you a better chance of becoming an immortal in the future.” Every word he said was for Yun Lie’s sake, with no trace of selfishness.
After hearing this, Yun Lie finally relaxed his brow, “You must not leave my side.”
Xu Ziqing’s gaze softened, “That’s only natural.” He paused and added, “These days, the way you’ve treated , perhaps you don’t quite understand the aning behind it. I’m even more uncertain if you’ll rember this situation once you return to your true self… But no matter what, I just wish for you to get through this tribulation; that is enough for .” He had already hinted at his feelings, and while Yun Lie might not comprehend these words when his emotions were frozen, now, filled with demonic thoughts, he might understand but could not discern them.
Expressing his heart without directly declaring his affection was enough for Xu Ziqing to alleviate his own burdens.
Hearing this, Yun Lie said, “If you don’t like it, you don’t have to do this.”
Xu Ziqing shook his head, “I’m genuinely very happy.”
Yun Lie’s aura seed to relax a bit, as if he was also sowhat pleased.
Xu Ziqing smiled and chose not to dwell on those feelings. Instead, he said, “We need to collect the double lotus to leave this place. I wonder how to collect it properly?”
Yan Hua and Yue Hua imdiately responded, “The master just needs to treat this item as a magical treasure, perform the collection technique, and we won’t resist, and you can collect it imdiately.”
Xu Ziqing nodded, “If that’s the case, you two step back.”
The two glowing orbs of red and white moved back as instructed, no longer obstructing his line of sight.
Xu Ziqing then bent his fingers to chant a spell, flicking out a strand of green light.
The green light shot into the Cold Jade Pool like a swift ribbon, transforming into a curtain of light that enveloped the pool from top to bottom.
Then, with a swift motion, the curtain rolled up, and the entire Cold Jade Pool was collected back.
At that mont, Xu Ziqing opened his palm, and there lay a small object about two inches square, quietly resting there. A bone-chilling cold emanated from within, and a pair of tiny double lotuses nestled inside, looking particularly delicate and adorable. He exhaled another breath of green energy, and the Cold Jade Pool transford into a piece of jade sculpture, representing the original form of this treasure. The double lotuses were sealed within the treasure, safely stored away.
After Xu Ziqing collected the Cold Jade Pool, the world suddenly shook, as if this realm were made of glass, shattering into countless pieces that collapsed everywhere.
Yun Lie was quick to react and imdiately wrapped his arms around Xu Ziqing’s waist. The two then transford into a streak of light, instantly appearing in a place filled with brightness. At the sa ti, behind them, the red and white lights closely followed, breaking through the barrier in an instant.
When Xu Ziqing opened his eyes, he was greeted by a scene of pure white jade. The ground beneath him was precisely where the White Jade Pool had originally been placed.
The White Jade Pool was no longer there, naturally because its original form, the Cold Jade Pool, had been collected.
Yun Lie still held Xu Ziqing tightly, not letting go.
However, Xu Ziqing shook himself free and, before Yun Lie could show his anger, grasped his hands and said, “Shixiong, now that we are out, we shouldn’t act recklessly like before.”
Yun Lie looked displeased, “Why not?”
Xu Ziqing was at a loss for words. Indeed, he had initially planned to comply with his Shixiong’s every whim to help him vent his demonic thoughts and regain control, but now he was suddenly asking his Shixiong to self-regulate, which couldn’t possibly satisfy him. Furthermore, with his Shixiong’s domineering demonic thoughts, he wouldn’t care about the opinions of others when it ca to restrictions. However… that might be acceptable in private, but to behave the sa way in public would be too shaful. Even the greatest demon would not openly flaunt private matters unless they were those who acted recklessly in the demonic path!
What kind of cold and solemn person was his Shixiong? If Xu Ziqing acted recklessly now and then his Shixiong returned to his true self, and he would undoubtedly be reprimanded. How could he let his Shixiong down?
Xu Ziqing said, “What happens between us in private… should not be displayed in front of others. I hope you can allow this once. If it’s just the two of us, I—I…” His face flushed slightly as he said seriously, “I will definitely ensure you have no grievances.”
Translator: Lynn
Translations are not 100% correct. Please let know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.
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