Chapter 81 Part 2

It was in that instant that she finally understood why Qixue hadn’t sensed that terrifying aura.

Because he was the predator’s most beloved prey, the sacrificial lamb step by step lured into the trap. To make him willingly offer himself up, the horrifying monster naturally wouldn’t alarm him but would lurk silently, watching as he walked into the net.

As for them, they were seen as rivals coveting Qixue. The monster was warning them not to lay a finger on Qixue, or they would surely be devoured by him, and afterward… left without a burial place.

“Moo…”

Tears welled up in the mother cow’s eyes as she charged out of the courtyard. At this point, all she could do was wish that her lord wouldn’t give birth to too many children for the monster…!

…

Qixue was dragged into the room, and the door shut with a “bang” on its own without any wind, completely isolating the inside from the outside.

The incense burner in his arms clattered to the ground. Qixue felt in a daze as he was scooped up by a strong arm around his waist. His breath grew hot and humid, and his voice turned sweet and soft like honey: “Dao Qing?”

He pillowed his head against the thick, firm chest, one hand hooking around the other’s nape, his fingertips trembling sensitively.

Only at such close range did he clearly see that the one holding him had silver hair, his hair crown already removed, with the silver strands cascading over his shoulders and the tips teasing Qixue’s skin itchily.

Qixue squinted up, vaguely making out Dao Qing’s exceedingly handsome features. He was a bit stunned and softly asked, “What about Xie Shu? Did he leave?”

Xie Shu set him down on a chair. “He didn’t leave.”

“Then…” Qixue started losing himself the moment he smelled that scent, his gaze turning a little scattered. “Then call him over. I still have things to say to him. What are you doing here? Hurry up and leave. Don’t ruin my plans. I still need to save His Majesty…”

Xie Shu stood over him, lifting his chin. “What do you want to say?”

“It’s not you…” Qixue waved him off. “It’s Xie Shu I’m looking for.”

“What do you need from me?” Xie Shu asked again.

“Why can’t you understand me?” Qixue got angry and slapped away Xie Shu’s hand. “I’m looking for Xie Shu! Xie Shu! Not Dao Qing!”

“The one who doesn’t understand is you, Qixue.”

Xie Shu’s tone was calm, but his gaze was extremely dark. Obvious dragon scales emerged on his skin.

His hand caressed Qixue’s cheek, ear, and the side of his neck, eliciting a shiver from Qixue. Then, he pulled out Qixue’s hair clasp, letting his jet-black locks tumble down like a waterfall.

“The person you’re looking for is me. I am Dao Qing, and I am also Xie Shu. Dao Qing is my Dharma name, and Xie Shu is my true name.”

“The one you loathe and fear is me, and the one you like and depend on is also me. I know it’s hard for you to believe, but that’s the truth, Qixue. You must accept it.”

“…”

Qixue was completely dumbfounded. His mind was already sluggish, and now with this massive shock, it ground to a halt entirely. “Wh-what…? You’re Xie Shu?”

“Yes.”

Xie Shu picked up the teapot and poured himself a cup, bringing it to his lips to sip.

This pot of tea was the one Qixue had drugged. Though Qixue hadn’t yet digested this astonishing revelation, seeing Xie Shu drink the tea again triggered his instinct, and he grabbed his wrist. “Don’t drink it…”

“How come?” Xie Shu asked. “Wasn’t it you who wanted me to drink it?”

“You… I…”

Qixue was badly startled, his tongue tying itself in knots, but he had no mind to worry about the tea for the moment. “You lied to me. How could you possibly be Xie Shu? Isn’t Xie Shu human? But you’re clearly Dragon Clan…”

“For a hundred years, I’ve kept my identity secret from the outside world. Aside from the Dragon Clan, you’re the only one who knows.” Xie Shu said, “I never lie. I never denied being a demon; it’s just that no one ever questioned my identity to my face.”

“Of course, because you took human form. No one could have imagined it…” Qixue murmured. “So you’ve always been Dragon Clan, never human?”

“Yes.” Xie Shu replied, draining the cup of tea.

“But…”

Qixue was truly confused and found it hard to accept. His fondness for Dao Qing wasn’t fake; he truly depended on him greatly. But his hatred for Xie Shu was also real. He couldn’t forgive Xie Shu for killing the Cave Abyss God Spirit in the future and exterminating all demons. If Xie Shu truly hated demons that much, then he himself wouldn’t escape death in the future—Xie Shu would kill him too.

The mere thought of that possibility snapped Qixue awake instantly. Reason pulled free from the heat of passion, and a chill spread through his body.

He couldn’t accept his lover potentially killing him in the future, so he had to clarify this. He wasn’t immortal; death would come eventually. He could die, but not by his lover’s hand.

“Fine… Even if you’re Xie Shu, I need Xie Shu to answer my question.”

He lowered his eyes and asked, “In the future, will you kill the Cave Abyss God Spirit and exterminate all demons? Including me?”

Xie Shu’s movements paused, his long brows furrowing. “You doubt me?”

“So what if I do? Answer me.”

Qixue’s heart raced in panic, aching deeply. As he slowly accepted reality, an overwhelming sour grievance welled up.

He’d been utterly ruined by Xie Shu. How had he fallen for him? If they ended up on opposing sides in the future, what would Xie Shu have him do? He couldn’t bear to kill him…

“I swear to you, I won’t exterminate the demons, and I certainly won’t kill you.”

Xie Shu pulled Qixue over, seating him on his lap. “As for the Cave Abyss God, I won’t take the initiative to kill It. As long as It doesn’t target the Dragon Clan, we can coexist peacefully. But if It tries to kill me, I must defend myself. You can’t blame me for that.”

“Why do you worry that I’ll kill you? You’re my Fated Dao Companion. I’ll protect you with my life.”

“You’ve seen everything I’ve done, Qixue. Your suspicions of me are baseless. Whether I’m Dao Qing or Xie Shu, my feelings for you won’t change. You shouldn’t doubt my sincerity.”

Qixue’s heart trembled. He cupped Xie Shu’s face, leaning in close to finally see his expression clearly.

He saw a hint of anger in Xie Shu’s eyes, but more than that was calm, profound affection—like an unfathomable sea, as immovable as a mountain.

“…”

Qixue gazed into Xie Shu’s eyes, mist gathering in his own.

Their first meeting hadn’t been pleasant, but through trials and companionship, feelings had grown until they were mutual. Xie Shu was willing to give his life for him, so shouldn’t he trust Xie Shu more? Trust himself more?

He’d come to Shangjing precisely to change the book’s ending. He believed he could alter the outcome and that Ji Yuheng loved him. So why couldn’t he believe in Xie Shu’s love for him?

“Don’t lie to me… Xie Shu, don’t lie to me.”

Gathering his courage, he said to Xie Shu, “Whether you’re Dao Qing or Xie Shu, I won’t doubt you anymore. So you must love me. Don’t let me down, or I’ll really die…”

“You won’t die.” Xie Shu kissed his lips lightly and whispered, “I love you. I won’t let you down.”

He was clearly of a cool, aloof nature, yet he spoke such straightforward words of love. Qixue’s spine tingled sweetly, and he started getting dazed again. “Alright, alright, I get it. You…”

But before he could finish, Xie Shu abruptly changed tack. “You won’t die, but you won’t have it easy these next few days either.”

Xie Shu held Qixue with one arm while pouring out the last of the tea from the pot with the other, drinking it down right in front of him. “The trouble you made is yours to bear.”

“Wait—”

Qixue suddenly realized something and grabbed frantically, but caught nothing. “Don’t drink it! Spit it out… Spit it out!”

He’d smelled the medicinal powder Xie Shu had given him and knew it was no fake—potent stuff. Just the dragon scent filling the room proved it. Xie Shu knew the drug was real, so why drink it?

“Why spit it out? I’m fulfilling your wish.”

Xie Shu pinched Qixue’s chin, forcing him to turn and kiss. “Didn’t you want me to enjoy it?”

His kiss was aggressively dominant, a barbaric plunder. Qixue’s tongue went numb, breathing grew difficult, and saliva dripped uncontrollably from the corner of his mouth. “Mm… Nn…”

Xie Shu lifted Qixue by the thighs, making him cling as he carried him into the bedroom. The room was filled with a clear fragrance, the pill furnace’s flame burning slowly, heating the space so that even a short stay brought a layer of sweat.

Xie Shu tossed Qixue into the soft bedding. Before Qixue could scramble up, Xie Shu pinned him down, one hand pressing lightly on his soft abdomen—just enough to keep him from rising.

Thin sweat beaded on Xie Shu’s forehead, his eyes faintly red as he stared intently at Qixue.

His gaze was terrifying, as if it alone could fuck Qixue to death. Just being watched like that made Qixue tremble all over. And with all the drug Xie Shu had consumed, would he really end up paralyzed from the waist down?

“Xie Shu, I…”

As Qixue tried to beg for mercy, Xie Shu gave him no chance to speak. A slender silver-white dragon tail directly stuffed into his mouth. “Lick.”

“Mm… Mm!”

Xie Shu had softened the scales so they wouldn’t cut Qixue’s lips or tongue. Tears in his eyes, Qixue kept his mouth plugged, the cool scales pressing against his feverish cheeks, glistening more from saliva and tears.

He had no choice but to obediently please Xie Shu, servicing the beautiful dragon tail. His slender fingers traced the silver-white scales, even tending to the gaps between, leaving trails of moisture.

With a “rip,” Xie Shu tore open Qixue’s clothes. He’d grown extremely impatient, opting for the roughest way even to undress, shredding both Qixue’s and his own garments.

The only thing left intact was Qixue’s milk-scented bellyband, soaked full from before. Xie Shu held it in hand; a gentle squeeze made milk drip down.

Xie Shu raised his arm and sucked clean the milk that had flowed onto it, then took a corner of the bellyband into his mouth, suckling the milk.

Qixue couldn’t see clearly what Xie Shu was doing but heard the sipping sounds and guessed immediately, his face flushing crimson. He couldn’t speak, only making muffled noises. “No…”

Ignoring Qixue’s protest, Xie Shu drank every drop until nothing remained, then tossed the bellyband aside and lowered his head.

“!”

Qixue’s misty eyes flew wide. His jade-like skin flushed pale pink all over, his long legs twisting tightly together.

Only after draining it all did Xie Shu lift his head and withdraw his dragon tail.

The tail was covered in bite marks from when Qixue couldn’t endure. It stung a little, but that only ignited Xie Shu’s stronger urges to torment and dominate.

He said, “Qixue, look at me.”

Qixue dazedly raised his head, seeing only the red glow of the pill flame reflecting off the silver hair, casting a shimmering silver-red light. He heard Xie Shu say, “Five days. Refining this furnace of pills will take five days. It can save Helan Ji’s life.”

“You’ll refine pills with me. For these five days, don’t think of going anywhere. I won’t let you out.”

“Enjoy the five days you gave me, together.”