Chapter 8: Seizing His Primordial Yang – I Can Help If Necessary…

Stars twinkled, with shooting stars occasionally streaking across the sky, while a crescent moon hung high, casting silver frost over the ground.

A cool night breeze rustled the tree shadows. In the courtyard, Gu Changhuai paced slowly back and forth and said, “Apologize to me. Say you’re sorry.”

His lazy, drawling voice rose at the end, carrying a hint of delighted smugness.

And he had every reason to be smug. Taking down the top figure in the Cultivation World was something he could brag about in the Demon Realm for three generations in endless variations.

Plus, this was the male lead’s golden finger, someone destined to ascend to immortality. That made it even more heavyweight!

Rong Ye gazed at Gu Changhuai and said word by word, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have used you as bait.”

Gu Changhuai, meeting his gaze, froze for a moment.

After being poisoned by the Obedient Mushroom, all of Rong Ye’s sword intent had been fully retracted, turning inward and serene.

This made his profound, handsome face under the moonlight particularly striking, like a dust-sealed ancient sword.

Being stared at by those emotionless, deep eyes gave the illusion of peering straight into his heart.

An illusion…

He had almost been bewitched!

Careless!

Gu Changhuai snapped back to his senses and reached out to cover Rong Ye’s eyes, muttering softly, “Good thing… good thing…”

He had nearly thought Rong Ye was apologizing sincerely.

But with the effect not yet worn off, he should command Rong Ye to do something else.

Gu Changhuai looked down at Rong Ye, whose eyes were covered, raised an eyebrow, and leaned in to slide his fingers downward.

His fingertips slowly traced from Rong Ye’s nose tip, paused on his lips, then dropped to the sharp line of his jaw, hooking gently to lift Rong Ye’s entire face.

Hey, what a rare opportunity.

His lips curved slightly as he examined him intently.

With his jaw lifted, Rong Ye’s neck was fully exposed to the air. Gu Changhuai’s gaze drifted lower to the tightly fastened collar.

Gu Changhuai said warmly, “Don’t move.”

Rong Ye indeed held the pose, staring at him without stirring.

Under the mushroom’s effect, his gaze was dull and calm, unfocused, yet it exuded a forbidden, obedient allure.

The Immortal Lord, usually aloof and commanding, unapproachable, now obeyed like a helpless, soft lamb. The feeling was indescribably exhilarating.

“So obedient.” Gu Changhuai coaxed in a low voice, his eyelids drooping as his fingertip hovered and slowly slid toward the prominent Adam’s apple, tapping it teasingly.

The vulnerable spot rolled up and down uncontrollably.

Gu Changhuai narrowed his eyes, his gaze sharpening as he scrutinized Rong Ye’s pupils.

The deep purple signifying the poison’s persistence remained; the Obedient Mushroom hadn’t worn off.

Under the stars, all was silent, an indefinable atmosphere spreading wordlessly. Gu Changhuai’s doubts lingered, so he kept still, staring intently at Rong Ye’s eyes.

Until a deliberately muffled exclamation came from the nearby wall: “Holy shit?!”

“You really took down Qing Lian Immortal Lord?? Awesome!”

It abruptly shattered the tense stillness.

Gu Changhuai’s expression returned to normal as he turned toward the source on the wall.

Hua Mei, perched on the wall, was frantically patting sparks off his clothes. He flipped over into the courtyard, still muttering, “Those Fire Lotuses outside can only be looked at, not touched. What bad luck.”

Gu Changhuai stood up in disbelief. “This is Supreme Peak’s Waterside Residence, Rong Ye’s turf. Sneaking in is one thing, but you dared to go fishing for Fire Lotuses? Why didn’t they just burn you to death!”

Though he said that, he still hurried over in a few steps to help extinguish the flames about to ignite on Hua Mei.

Once the fire was out, Hua Mei sighed in relief and said to Gu Changhuai, “The outer sect is full of rules. I couldn’t stand it and was worried about you. Who knows if that black-hearted guy transferred you here to covet your beauty? So I snuck over in the middle of the night to check.”

He glanced at Rong Ye nearby. Though he knew Rong Ye was poisoned, he still shuddered in fear and scooted two steps away. “Too close to the Demon Clan’s baleful star. It gives me the creeps.”

Gu Changhuai smiled at him. “And that’s your excuse for getting backlash from the Fire Lotus?”

“I’m poor.” Hua Mei declared righteously, touching his blackened face and whining, “Poor me, a peerless beauty, with no money in my pockets. I can’t get anywhere in the Cultivation World. I can’t even scrape together three Spirit Stones for some rouge and powder to cover this up.”

“But…” He changed tack, looking at Gu Changhuai oddly and hesitating. “What were you just trying to do, getting so close to him? Hm?”

Hua Mei didn’t know how to describe the scene he’d witnessed. Afraid of making noise, he’d barely shaken off the Fire Lotus that had latched onto him and climbed the wall with effort, only to see the oddly intimate situation in the courtyard.

The distance was ambiguous enough, but the atmosphere felt off—more like a silent standoff upon closer inspection.

At that moment.

Under the starry night sky, tree shadows swayed in the courtyard. In the pavilion, one sat and one stood.

One looked up, the other leaned slightly down. Hua Mei would bet their noses were no more than three inches apart.

Gu Changhuai’s jade hairpin held his ink-black hair behind his head. His already loose bun shed a few strands after leaning forward, draping from his side onto Rong Ye.

His raised fingertip naturally pressed lightly onto the bulge on Rong Ye’s neck. Meeting his gaze, his lips held a smile, but his usually mild eyes held no emotion.

Shadows hooded his eyelids, his usual laziness gone, replaced by a chilling indifference.

And Rong Ye—though his pupils confirmed the Obedient Mushroom—still had a chill seeping from the corners of his eyes, like danger lurking under deep, cold pool water, ready to surge forth.

Such people forming this clinging, intimate scene.

Silver frost bathed them, adding a sharp, clashing edge.

A beautiful sight, yet it made the witnessing Hua Mei shiver.

Hua Mei mused, “I just felt like you two were either about to kiss or fight in the next second.”

Gu Changhuai: “…”

Gu Changhuai rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, I was about to kiss him.”

No sooner had he spoken than Rong Ye, sitting nearby, suddenly stood. His dark cyan figure blurred, and Gu Changhuai sensed trouble. Before he could speak, he instinctively raised a hand to block his lips.

In the next instant, the figure was before him, a cool touch pressing into his palm. His pupils shrank in shock as he stared at the approaching Rong Ye. If he hadn’t blocked in time, they might have actually kissed!

“Fuck…” The sudden scene made Hua Mei’s eyes bulge. “The Obedient Mushroom is that effective?”

Now the distance was even closer, close enough to feel the faint breath on his palm. Gu Changhuai lingered in shocked aftershocks, finally snapping out of it and gruffly saying, “Back off!”

Rong Ye stepped back, gazing at him quietly.

Gu Changhuai, still shaken, pursed his lips. “Further back.”

Rong Ye took another step.

Gu Changhuai said, “Not enough. Keep going! Don’t stop.”

Rong Ye retreated several more steps until under another tree in the courtyard. Only then did Gu Changhuai call out, “Stop! Stay there. Don’t come over.”

The figure under the tree stood tall and straight, obediently still after the command.

Hua Mei was in awe. “This mushroom… is badass!” He poked Gu Changhuai and gave him a meaningful look. “Seize the moment. Do something to make it worth it.”

Gu Changhuai didn’t get it. “…Do what?”

Hua Mei leaned in and whispered, “Seize his primordial yang.”

Gu Changhuai: “…”

Gu Changhuai choked, silently turning to look at Rong Ye under the tree. Meeting those dull, deep eyes, knowing he wouldn’t remember this, Gu Changhuai still inexplicably averted his gaze guiltily.

“No.” Gu Changhuai rejected Hua Mei’s suggestion.

Hua Mei persisted, “Do you know how many people in the Cultivation World or even Demon Realm want his primordial yang? Absorbing it once boosts decades of cultivation. Drain him dry and kill him!” He rolled up his sleeves with a fierce grin. “If needed, I can help hold his hands down.”

Decades of cultivation… Gu Changhuai admitted shamefully that he was tempted. But he quickly shook his head firmly. “No, no, I can’t do it.” He paused, warning, “And don’t you get any ideas about him.”

That made Hua Mei stamp his feet in anger. “You’ll be the death of me!”

“Get out and find a room next door to sleep in.” Gu Changhuai shoved the remaining big pot of porridge into Hua Mei’s hands and shooed him. “Finish eating and sleep. I’ll get a Pass Token to transfer you to Supreme Peak.”

Supreme Peak disliked disciples wandering in. Even for cleaning or errands, an engraved Pass Token was required.

Hua Mei huffed off with the pot of porridge, lips pursed. Gu Changhuai sighed helplessly. The interruption had killed his mood to tease Rong Ye further.

He walked over to Rong Ye and said, “Tomorrow, you’ll remember agreeing to transfer another attendant for me.”

Rong Ye: “Okay.”

A wooden token was handed to Gu Changhuai. He glanced down; it was simpler patterned than his own. Apparently, there were different versions of Pass Tokens.

What else… After thinking, Gu Changhuai murmured, “Give me one Fire Lotus from the lake.”

Rong Ye: “Okay.”

Gu Changhuai smiled faintly. “Immortal Lord, return to your room and rest early. Tomorrow morning, you’ll only remember agreeing to the transfer order and giving me one Fire Lotus.”

The Obedient Mushroom’s effect ensured the poisoned person remembered nothing from the duration unless specifically told to remember certain things, in which case they’d rationalize a logical sequence.

Rong Ye: “Okay.”

He then walked step by step back to his room as instructed. Gu Changhuai stayed put. A night breeze lifted a stray lock of hair by his temple. He raised a hand to tuck it back.

At that moment, the door closed under spiritual power. Rong Ye stood behind it. The instant it shut, he glanced up. Gu Changhuai happened to look skyward.

The door fully closed, leaving the room silent.

Clarity shone in Rong Ye’s amber eyes, no trace of poison or dullness.

After a moment, he turned, melting into the shadows. Only a sliver of moonlight pierced the window onto him. His expression was inscrutable, save for a peculiar, dangerous smile tugging at his lips.

Interesting ones had arrived.

Meanwhile.

At the lakeside, Gu Changhuai picked through the pile of Fire Lotuses, selecting the largest one before reaching to pluck it.

As his hand neared, flames laced with lightning lashed out!

Gu Changhuai’s expression didn’t change as he continued toward the root.

Just as the lightning flames closed in, a silver light coiled around his slender, pale fingertips, which glowed faintly pink like pearls and shells.

Silver nail guards appeared as if grown from the flesh, connected by chains to silver bracelets hugging his wrists.

The guards and bracelets linked seamlessly along the back of his hand’s bones, intricate yet razor-sharp patterns glinting coldly, poised to kill casually, radiating lethal menace.

On his fair hand, it amplified a cold, eerie beauty.

Or rather, this was his bonded life weapon, Shattered Shadow.

With Shattered Shadow equipped, Gu Changhuai swung casually, repelling the retaliatory flames and lightning. A chilling aura instantly permeated the surroundings.

Unfazed, he sliced the Fire Lotus’s root, unafraid of the scorching Three-Taste Lotus Fire. He weighed it in his hand and grinned. “Oh, five hundred high-grade Spirit Stones. Nice.”

Big score this time!

His worth doubled instantly.

Gu Changhuai happily pulled out a box, stored it, and as the lid closed, his hands returned pristine and harmless.

He hugged the box contentedly back to his room to sleep.