Chapter 10

Wei Huai’s iron cavalry turned from the western border to head south, advancing along the southwestern frontier. They passed through three commanderies, sweeping away countless man-eating demons, and it took nearly two months.

Qixue had descended the mountain in late August, and now more than two months had passed. It was already deep autumn, but the weather showed no sign of cooling. Instead, it grew warmer and more humid. By the time they reached the south, it was so hot that Qixue sometimes found it stifling to sleep entwined with Wei Huai every night.

Wei Huai’s wounds had long since healed. He remained busy every day, but he always tried to return to the camp at night to keep Qixue company. Whenever he had time, he took Qixue out to play, letting him see the diverse customs and scenery of the various places.

The landscapes everywhere differed vastly, but Qixue discovered one common thread.

The temples and Daoist temples in every place had exceedingly prosperous incense offerings. Many common folk, beset by hardships in this life, pinned their hopes on the next, donating large sums of silver.

Most temples and Daoist temples did indeed possess real abilities, protecting the locals from demon incursions. Qixue didn’t like entering such places.

Though they couldn’t detect his demon form, the chanting of scriptures always made his head ache and his stomach churn. At the most powerful Daoist temple, Qixue nearly fainted the moment he stepped through the gate. To avoid revealing anything amiss, he forced himself to stay conscious. When he finally emerged, his palms were pierced from clenching them so hard.

This Daoist temple was called Cloud Moon Temple and was actually divided into southern and northern branches. The southern Cloud Moon Temple was the one Qixue visited, while the northern one was far away in Shangjing—and that was the original, most ancient and orthodox branch. The southern one had been built later.

Cloud Moon Temple was the most renowned Daoist temple in Dayong Kingdom with the most flourishing incense offerings, because its Palace Lord was the State Preceptor of Dayong, Xie Shu. This man was said to be the existence closest to divinity.

Even back when Qixue was still on Dali Mountain, he had heard of Xie Shu’s great name.

Legend held that Xie Shu was the reincarnation of an immortal. On the day of his birth, heavenly anomalies descended: dragons soared in the sky, purple qi stretched for ten thousand zhang. Three immortals came from the highest heavens to bestow blessings upon him—one granted him heavenly eyes, another longevity, and the last unparalleled immortal arts.

No one knew if the legend was true, but Xie Shu’s prowess was undeniable to all.

He did possess heavenly eyes and was ageless. For over a century, he had been revered as the State Preceptor of Dayong, aiding several generations of rulers.

In the turbulent chaos of the age, Xie Shu shielded Dayong from wind and rain, becoming the guardian deity of the masses. The people worshipped him as a god.

But Qixue disliked Xie Shu—in fact, he even hated him.

After reading Jade Heng Chronicles, he discovered that Xie Shu was the other protagonist in the book.

Over these two months, Qixue had read more than half of the original novel in bits and pieces. His hatred for the two protagonists had reached new heights.

One was Ji Yuheng, the most important protagonist. The entire novel was named after him. In the future, it was he who personally shot the Emperor Helan Ji with an arrow straight through the heart.

The other was Xie Shu. He was the one who cast Lady Shanyin into the dark Cave Abyss, dooming her to eternal darkness without seeing the light of day. He also led the cultivators to exterminate the demons, slaughtering even peaceful demon mountains like Dali Mountain until nothing remained.

Though Qixue had come to terms with life and death, Helan Ji’s death was too tragic, and Dali Mountain was his cherished homeland. Reading those chapters left him heartbroken; he cried uncontrollably. Even when Wei Huai returned, he was still hiccupping with sobs, his eyes swollen.

“Who bullied you?”

Wei Huai didn’t even have time to remove his armor. He strode forward, pulled Qixue onto his lap, kissing and coaxing him. “What’s wrong? Tell me, and I’ll stand up for you. No one can bully my A Xue.”

“No one bullied me…”

Qixue wiped his reddened eyes and said softly, “I was just reading a book.”

“Which one?” Wei Huai asked. “One that could make you cry this hard?”

Qixue rummaged through the pile of books and picked out a touching tale of worldly emotions. Fortunately, he liked reading and had plenty of books on hand, so he could find a suitable one to fob off Wei Huai.

Wei Huai glanced at the title—it was indeed the sort of book that could bring tears. Still, he wasn’t entirely convinced. “You’re really not lying to me?”

“Why would I lie? With you backing me up, I wouldn’t wrong myself. It really was just from reading.” Qixue tugged at his sleeve coquettishly.

Wei Huai fell for this every time and said no more. He only cautioned, “If there’s anything making you unhappy, you must tell me. Don’t force yourself.”

“What if it’s you making me unhappy?” Qixue asked deliberately.

“Then you should tell me all the more, so I can change.” Wei Huai kissed his forehead. “I don’t want to upset you.”

Qixue hugged him proactively. “Seventh Brother is so good to me.”

“You know it.” Wei Huai playfully swatted his backside, not entirely seriously.

…

Late at night.

Wei Huai was uncharacteristically absent from the camp that night. Qixue tossed and turned on the soft couch, unable to fall asleep. He hadn’t realized he had grown so accustomed to sleeping in Wei Huai’s arms. Without him there, his heart felt unsettled. No matter how tired he was, sleep wouldn’t come.

Luxiangqiu on the bird perch was woken by his movements. She yawned and muttered, “You still not asleep?”

Over a month ago, Luxiangqiu had finally successfully infiltrated the camp and stayed by Qixue’s side legitimately.

The process had been somewhat complicated. With demon qi on her, she couldn’t hide her identity as a demon and pretend to be an ordinary parrot. So, at Qixue’s suggestion, she took a different approach: she scouted out several nests of man-eating demons and traded information on her own kind to earn Wei Huai’s trust, becoming a scout in the army.

Qixue and Luxiangqiu pretended not to know each other at first, but they quickly became fast friends, one “human” and one demon.

When not working, Luxiangqiu either stayed in the general’s tent or went to play with Apricot. Apricot liked her very much, and she enjoyed children too, so she was happy to play with her.

Seeing that he had disturbed Luxiangqiu’s sleep, Qixue said a bit apologetically, “I’ll just go out for a walk then.”

“Better not.” Luxiangqiu disagreed. “It’s the middle of the night. It’s too dangerous for you to go out alone.”

Qixue: “I’m just wandering around the camp. What could happen?”

“Oh, you wouldn’t know.”

Luxiangqiu clicked her beak. “The danger I’m talking about isn’t man-eating demons—it’s the soldiers in the camp!”

“You rarely go out, so you don’t know that your fame for beauty has spread throughout the entire camp. Those hot-blooded young soldiers are always talking about you in private, praising how stunningly gorgeous you are, saying even the Great General is under your skirt. They’ve made up all sorts of erotic little stories—vivid ones, too. Tsk, not a whit less scandalous than Yichun Fragrance Essence. I’m really afraid you’d get attacked if you went out alone…”

After hearing this, Qixue truly didn’t dare go out anymore. Thanks to the trauma of every spring, he feared such things the most.

But Qixue had another question: “‘Yichun Fragrance Essence’—what’s that?”

Luxiangqiu: “? You don’t know?”

Qixue shook his head. “A book title?”

Luxiangqiu: “It is… What about Hairpin in the Collar? Spring Competition Scroll? Six Wonders of the Flower Formation? You don’t know any of them?”

Qixue looked baffled. Luxiangqiu trembled as she raised a wing to clutch her chest. “You don’t know! How can you not know! Wait—tomorrow I’ll bring all the books over!”

The next day, Luxiangqiu indeed brought back a huge stack of books. Qixue had no idea how she managed it; her tiny body was completely disproportionate to the heavy pile.

Qixue flipped open one at random. After just a few pages, he was utterly shocked. Talk about a bigger world out there—this stuff went far beyond Wei Huai’s perversions!

At least Wei Huai never used all sorts of weird things on him: long needles, ropes, candles, clapper bells… Ginger and fish? And a dozen people…? Wouldn’t that kill someone?

Luxiangqiu spoke in an old-soul tone. “Read carefully, learn well. Aren’t you trying to enter the palace to repay a favor? Master these, and Helan Ji won’t be able to leave you alone.”

Qixue was silent for a long time. When he finally spoke, he sounded hesitant. “Will my benefactor really not kill me?”

“If you don’t believe me, try it on Wei Huai and see if he likes it.” Luxiangqiu egged him on.

Qixue pondered all afternoon and decided she had a point. He had beauty, sure, but beauty alone didn’t guarantee Helan Ji’s favor. To become a favored consort, he needed skills beyond the ordinary.

He’d practice on Wei Huai. Wei Huai doted on him and wouldn’t do anything even if angry. A little coquetry would smooth it over.

A few days later, at dusk.

Wei Huai had some rare leisure time and wanted to take Qixue out for a stroll that evening, but Qixue stopped him. “I’ve prepared a gift for Seventh Brother.”

“What gift?” Wei Huai’s interest piqued instantly, his peach-blossom eyes lighting up. “Show it to me quick.”

Qixue acted mysterious. “I need Seventh Brother to cooperate. I have to tie up your hands.”

“Fine.”

Wei Huai agreed readily. He followed Qixue’s directions, lying relaxed on the soft couch as Qixue bound his hands to the wooden frame.

Qixue removed his outer robe and draped it over Wei Huai’s face, covering his eyes. He rustled about changing clothes, then removed the robe.

Wei Huai opened his eyes and fixed his gaze on Qixue. He froze. His breathing quickened, hands gripping the frame, faint blue veins emerging on the back of his hands.

Qixue wore a Western Regions dancer’s skirt, fiery red, exposing his arms, shoulders, and slender snow-white waist. A ruby nestled in his dainty navel, with several slender golden chains draping down, shimmering beautifully as his waist swayed.

The lower skirt reached his ankles but was sheer gauze, doing nothing to hide his long legs—instead enhancing their alluring beauty.

Qixue held a riding crop and tapped it lightly against his palm. He gave Wei Huai a painless flick. “Good Seventh Brother, do you like the gift I gave you?”

Without waiting for an answer, he flicked again. “Even if you don’t like it, you can’t say ‘no.’ You’re just a slave for my amusement—you have no right to refuse.”

Wei Huai stared intently, his voice turning hoarse. “I’ll do whatever you say.”

Qixue tilted his head, thought for a moment, then lifted one foot to his lips. “Please me.”

…

Luxiangqiu slept in Apricot’s small tent that night. Early the next morning, she flew a circle near the general’s tent and discovered that Wei Huai, breaking all precedent, hadn’t risen for morning sword practice. He didn’t even appear for the daily drills.

She had some guesses but wasn’t in a hurry to find Qixue. She flew out of the camp to scout man-eating demon movements and didn’t return until dusk.

To her shock, Wei Huai hadn’t left the general’s tent all day. He only issued a few instructions to his trusted aides through the curtain. When Apricot wanted to enter and serve Qixue, Wei Huai refused her at the door, saying Qixue had him to care for.

Luxiangqiu’s curiosity got the better of her. She couldn’t resist squeezing through a gap in the curtain. A cloyingly sweet fragrance hit her at once.

The tent was utterly quiet. Qixue slept deeply, his body covered in marks too indecent to describe—like he’d been ravaged by a wild beast.

The binding ropes were snapped, the couch’s wooden frame broken, scraps of fabric scattered everywhere. Luxiangqiu’s heart ached when she saw the ruby gold chain had been torn apart too—that had cost her a pretty penny!

Wei Huai sat by the couch, eyes downcast as he gazed at Qixue. His fingers trailed slowly over Qixue’s soft cheek, full of cherishing tenderness.

Suddenly, he noticed Luxiangqiu. He looked up, meeting her gaze.

In that moment of eye contact, Luxiangqiu was pinned by his stare, her body stiffening.

Those were not human eyes.

The eerie green vertical pupils belonging only to certain man-eating demons had appeared in Wei Huai.

Last night, Qixue had excited him to the extreme. He lost control of himself, revealing these terrifying pupils.

Terror filled Luxiangqiu. The dark gaze left her breathless, her feathers bristling. “Y-y-you… what the hell are you?!”

Man-eating demons couldn’t take human form.

Moreover, Wei Huai had no demon qi at all. He was neither human nor man-eating demon—but something very strange.

A true monster.

Wei Huai didn’t answer. He merely smiled and made a silencing gesture.

“Don’t wake A Xue.”