Chapter 7 Part 2

Lian Yunzhi: “Scar Healing Ointment is expensive now. I’m not buying it for you.”

Mu Cheng: “…Mm.”

Mu Cheng began wiping Lian Yunzhi’s face, neck, and hands with the damp cloth. Then he cleaned his injured calf and applied the Detoxifying Flesh-Regenerating Cream.

Unlike the Quick Healing Cream Mu Cheng had used on his own face, the Detoxifying Flesh-Regenerating Cream cleared the mild toxins left by the Demon Beast and smoothed the wounds without scarring. Its drawback was slower effect, so Mu Cheng bandaged Lian Yunzhi’s calf after applying it.

But as Mu Cheng held Lian Yunzhi’s calf to redress his shoe and sock, he suddenly sensed something amiss.

Lian Yunzhi’s skin felt… a bit too hot.

Mu Cheng looked up and found Lian Yunzhi had reverted to the state from when he first found him: cheeks flushed, lips parted, breathing slightly rapid.

Mu Cheng touched Lian Yunzhi’s forehead—indeed, it burned.

Lian Yunzhi involuntarily tilted his head back, as if pressing his forehead into Mu Cheng’s palm.

But in the next instant, Lian Yunzhi regained his senses. He slapped Mu Cheng’s hand away again and rasped, “It’s nothing… When I first had trouble breathing, I thought I was dying too, but it passed soon after.”

…Though it recurred.

Mu Cheng’s expression did not relax. “Why is this happening?”

The Yellow Mist Demon Beast’s mist poison wouldn’t cause this, nor would the mild toxins on Lian Yunzhi’s leg.

“I mistook a spiritual herb and ate it,” Lian Yunzhi closed his eyes and gasped, then described the herb’s appearance to Mu Cheng. “Do you know what it is?”

Mu Cheng shook his head.

Lian Yunzhi gasped a few more times and cursed, “…Useless.”

Mu Cheng rewetted the cloth and placed it on Lian Yunzhi’s forehead. He looked up at the pitch-black, impossibly high treetop and pondered the feasibility of climbing out while carrying Lian Yunzhi.

Lian Yunzhi yanked the cloth down to his cheek and closed his eyes. “Don’t even think about it… I don’t want to fall again. Go forward.”

Mu Cheng asked, “What’s ahead?”

Lian Yunzhi said, “That Immortal Pill… I found it there.”

Mu Cheng asked no more. He hoisted Lian Yunzhi onto his back and proceeded forward.

Lian Yunzhi’s feverish cheek pressed against Mu Cheng’s neck. “Give me another Qi-Gathering Spirit-Replenishing Pill.”

The Qi-Gathering Spirit-Replenishing Pill was the one Mu Cheng fed Lian Yunzhi upon arrival. An advanced version of the ordinary Spirit Replenishing Pill, each required hundreds or thousands of stalks of Spirit Capturing Grass.

Lian Yunzhi felt his condition had improved earlier because of it, so he wanted another.

But Mu Cheng refused. “One is enough. The effects are still active; your spiritual energy will replenish gradually. Taking more could damage your Meridians.”

Lian Yunzhi bristled at his restriction. “Give it to me!”

Mu Cheng still didn’t.

Lian Yunzhi grew furious. “Who do you think you are? I want it now!”

Mu Cheng remained silent, his steps unwavering as he pressed forward.

In rage, Lian Yunzhi bit Mu Cheng’s neck. The metallic tang of blood filled his mouth.

Mu Cheng frowned, endured the pain, and said, “How about in a bit? Too soon otherwise.”

But after a long while, no response came.

Mu Cheng glanced sideways and saw Lian Yunzhi had fallen asleep against his shoulder. His cheeks remained flushed, but the scorching heat on his body showed faint signs of receding—he seemed much better.

Mu Cheng adjusted him higher and continued onward.

.

Mu Cheng traversed the narrow path for a full three days. During that time, Lian Yunzhi mostly slumbered in a coma, waking only occasionally, but each awakening intensified his fever symptoms.

His skin grew scorching, his breathing labored, his mind clouded. Fortunately, after each bite on Mu Cheng, he passed out again, making Mu Cheng wonder if his blood held some sedative property.

Finally, after Lian Yunzhi’s seventh collapse into slumber, Mu Cheng spotted the cave at the path’s end.

The sight of the cave brought immense relief to Mu Cheng, followed by dizziness and a sudden stumble—he nearly dropped Lian Yunzhi!

Clutching Lian Yunzhi tightly, Mu Cheng’s mind grew heavy, his vision blurred, his temples throbbing. He had reached his limit.

For three days, he hadn’t rested a moment, eaten a bite, paused his steps, or slept. Only a Fasting Pill and some Refreshing Pills sustained him.

Even so, he was now utterly spent—he was merely a mortal, after all.

After confirming the cave held no dangers, Mu Cheng carried Lian Yunzhi with unsteady steps to the stone bed in the corner.

He probed the stone bed with his palm and found it infused with faint spiritual energy, capable of nourishing both mortals and cultivators. Relaxing further, he held Lian Yunzhi and sank into deep sleep.

He was exhausted.

.

Mu Cheng awoke to movement in his arms. He opened his eyes to find Lian Yunzhi “flaring up” again—and this time, more fiercely than ever.

Lian Yunzhi lifted his head from Mu Cheng’s embrace. His lips bore traces of the fresh blood from Mu Cheng’s neck, but instead of settling into sleep, he grew even more restless and feverish.

His eyes grew misty, indistinct murmurs escaped his lips, and his scorching cheek pressed toward Mu Cheng.

Mu Cheng closed his eyes, his throat parched, his heart inexplicably racing.

He loosely held Lian Yunzhi, sensing the man press his cheek fully against his own face and his body fully against his.

“Mmm…”

A strange moan rose from Lian Yunzhi’s throat. Mu Cheng finally noticed what was wrong.

He snapped his eyes open.

This was…

Mu Cheng shoved Lian Yunzhi away and leaped from the bed.

An unhappy sound issued from Lian Yunzhi’s throat. He ignored Mu Cheng, didn’t open his eyes, and reached a hand toward his lower body…

“No!”

Mu Cheng lunged forward and pinned Lian Yunzhi’s hands. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he leaned down and said, “Don’t do this, Lian Yunzhi. You’ll regret it. Before Golden Core, it’s best to Guarding Primal Essence. Don’t you want to break through to Golden Core?”

The statement was somewhat exaggerated, but Breaking Yang indeed hindered Golden Core breakthrough—and he knew Lian Yunzhi’s obsession with Ascension.

Sure enough, Lian Yunzhi’s movements halted.

Mu Cheng exhaled in relief and continued, “Be good. Just endure it, and it’ll pass. I’ll fetch a Clear Heart Pill right now…”

Mu Cheng’s words cut off, for in the next instant, Lian Yunzhi flung him flying.

Lian Yunzhi: “Get out!”

Mu Cheng crashed hard to the ground, his head striking a stone. He fell unconscious at once.

.

Mu Cheng didn’t know how long he lay insensate, but when he awoke on the ground, everything had ended.

A rich, fragrant aroma permeated the air. Lian Yunzhi lounged half-reclined on the stone bed in disheveled robes, head slightly tilted back. Fine sweat beaded in the jade-like hollow of his neck, while his fingertips dangled limply over the bed’s edge.

He appeared sated, yet craving.

Sensing the movement, Lian Yunzhi turned his head lazily toward him.

Mu Cheng had never seen Lian Yunzhi like this.

His gaze was hazy as if drunk, lips vividly red, voice hoarse with an utterly languid tone.

Come here.

His voice echoed both in Mu Cheng’s ear and mind.

This time, he used the Forced Command from the Beast Taming Contract.