Chapter 25: I’ve Been Fed Up with That Old Geezer for Ages!

Waterside Residence.

Dragged into the room, Gu Changhuai still had the leisure to bite into the half-eaten spirit fruit he held. The crisp ‘crunch crunch’ sound drew a sidelong glance from Rong Ye.

The air fell silent.

Sensing the low pressure, Gu Changhuai froze. For a moment, he neither swallowed nor spat it out, and he resentfully lifted his eyes to look at Rong Ye.

…He wasn’t even allowed to eat the fruit?

Rong Ye’s fingers tapped on the table in front of him, breaking the room’s silence with his words. “What did you do to Xuan Yao? Explain.” His deep, calm voice betrayed no emotion.

Gu Changhuai: “…”

He admitted that the scene had looked rather indecent at the time—a disheveled young manor lord who looked like some innocent youth who’d been bullied.

Though he had bullied him, it wasn’t that kind of bullying.

He hesitated for a moment, swallowed the spirit fruit during the pause, and blurted out something he’d once read. “L-Looking at… abs?”

…

Dead silence.

The pressure seemed to drop even lower.

Gu Changhuai shifted uneasily, suddenly feeling a chill run down his spine.

A moment later.

“Good-looking?” Rong Ye’s flat, emotionless voice echoed in the room as his dark amber eyes met Gu Changhuai’s, instantly setting off alarm bells in the latter’s head.

Danger!

He waved his hands frantically and said sheepishly, “Not good-looking, not at all—I was just talking nonsense.” He paused, then flashed a shallow smile. “I was just lending a little hand, that’s all.”

With that, he recounted how the Soul Severing Thread had been implanted in Xuan Yao’s knife scar, describing every detail without omission.

The oppressive atmosphere in the room quietly dissipated.

Rong Ye let out a low “Mm,” seemingly unconcerned about Xuan Yao’s issue. Instead, he reached out to Gu Changhuai. “Come here.”

Gu Changhuai tilted his head, unsure of what Rong Ye intended, but he approached as instructed and sat beside him. In the next instant, his right hand was grasped and held in Rong Ye’s palm.

…Rong Ye’s palm was a bit cold.

That was Gu Changhuai’s instinctive thought, but he quickly realized what was happening and looked up in confusion. “…?”

Hm?

Rong Ye lowered his head slightly, holding a warm, damp cloth in his other hand. He meticulously wiped the hand cradled in his palm, down to every finger.

The cloth’s temperature was just right—not too hot—and Gu Changhuai comfortably narrowed his eyes, feeling no embarrassment whatsoever.

Once the left hand was done, he automatically offered the right one.

The Immortal Lord, who should have been served by his attendant, was instead serving the attendant in a complete reversal.

With both hands occupied, Gu Changhuai grew bored and casually asked, “Why did the Immortal Lord suddenly return to Pill Peak?”

“To retrieve the Soul Severing Thread,” Rong Ye replied concisely. “The fewer people who know about this, the better.”

Gu Changhuai understood.

So Rong Ye had noticed it while dispelling the demonic energy, which explained his sudden return. He hadn’t expected Rong Ye to extract it.

But Gu Changhuai soon realized the danger.

Wait.

The elders of Pill Peak and even the sect master hadn’t detected it, but he had! Would Rong Ye suspect him? He subtly observed Rong Ye’s expression without drawing attention.

The Immortal Lord, radiant and unparalleled, was earnestly wiping his hands, cradling them in his palm like the world’s most precious treasure.

Gu Changhuai stared and stared until he zoned out without realizing it.

A moment later.

Rong Ye suddenly looked up, meeting Gu Changhuai’s gaze. A hint of amusement flickered in his eyes as he said in a measured tone, “What, do you want to help me undress too?”

Gu Changhuai: “…”

He snapped back to reality.

“Of course not,” Gu Changhuai yanked his hand back and smiled as if nothing had happened. “The Immortal Lord is so handsome, that’s what left me dazed for a moment.”

“Oh?” Rong Ye’s expression didn’t change as he gazed at Gu Changhuai and remarked casually, “Lately, there’s been a crow cawing around Waterside Residence, stealing quite a few Silver Fish. Do you know where it came from?”

Gu Changhuai proceeded cautiously. “Does it eat a lot?”

He recalled that Han Ya had concealed its demonic energy, making it indistinguishable from any other crow in the Cultivation World—aside from its unpleasant caw.

But Han Ya had dared to steal food behind his back.

Outrageous! He leaned close to Rong Ye’s ear and whispered, “That crow is mine. Next time you see it stealing, just beat it.”

His warm breath brushed Rong Ye’s earlobe, causing the latter’s eyes to darken. Rong Ye lowered his gaze toward Gu Changhuai.

The one who had leaned in remained oblivious, his brows furrowed in indignation. His jade-like, exquisitely beautiful face was full of righteous anger, his figure wrapped in loose moon-white robes, the hem scattered casually on the floor.

Sitting beside him yet still restless, he extended a slender, pale wrist from his wide sleeve, propping himself up as he leaned forward.

Though not touching at all, it felt as if he were about to nestle against Rong Ye’s shoulder—like he was acting spoiled rather than angry. All Rong Ye had to do was reach out to pull him into his arms.

A shadow passed through Rong Ye’s eyes, his gaze on Gu Changhuai growing increasingly predatory. His fingers, still holding Gu Changhuai’s, rubbed gently against them.

Noticing Rong Ye’s stare, Gu Changhuai looked up.

In that instant, the strange tension in the air vanished. Rong Ye’s face calm, he said to Gu Changhuai, “Since it’s yours, keep raising it.”

Gu Changhuai: “…Alright.”

Once again, he felt that Rong Ye wasn’t as terrifying as the rumors made him out to be.

He even thought.

Rong Ye’s vigilance was remarkably low.

Low enough that it seemed he really could kill him.

Hm…

He began to ponder.

When should he schedule the next assassination attempt? Maybe tomorrow.

As he stepped out of the room to go fishing again, a hoarse “caw caw” sounded in his ear. He looked up to see Han Ya, missing for several days, circling overhead.

…

Speak of the devil.

He raised his hand toward the sky, his crescent-wide sleeve fluttering in the wind. Han Ya landed on his finger, flapping its wings to preen its feathers.

“Vanished for days—what have you been up to?” Gu Changhuai poked it. “I heard you stole fish from the lake? How many? Confess!”

Han Ya twisted its neck. “About ten, burp! Not even enough to pick my teeth with.” It paused, then added, “By the way, be careful—the Demon Venerable seems to have sent more people this way. He didn’t give me specifics.”

Then, out of nowhere, it said, “How about we stage a coup? I’ve been fed up with that old geezer for ages!”

Gu Changhuai choked, silently staring at Han Ya.

The Demon Venerable, whose appearance was unrivaled in the Demon Clan, had become “old geezer” in Han Ya’s mouth. Clearly, Han Ya harbored deep resentment toward him.

Han Ya’s raspy voice continued sinisterly, “Just give the order, and I’ll support you as the new Demon Venerable…”

Before it finished, Gu Changhuai pinched its beak to shut it up. “Enough with the coup talk. If I had the skills for that, I could make a name for myself anywhere.”

After some thought.

The Demon Venerable was scheming something new in secret, details unknown. Though he could guess it wasn’t anything good, it still made Gu Changhuai’s heart race.

This current leisure and peace felt like the calm before the storm.