Chapter 16: Buried his face directly in his chest.
Who wants to throw themselves at you?!
Yan Jingyu could almost no longer feel if his wrist still existed; he was practically being crushed. A mist of water gradually rose in his eyes. He emphasized again, “I was really just joking… Can you let go first…”
Tears welled up in his eyes, gradually soaking his eyelashes. The scene inside the nest once again uncontrollably flooded his mind. Liao Chen abruptly released his hand, his voice cold and sinister. “You’d better be joking.”
Yan Jingyu’s wrist was completely limp, hanging down as if broken. He trembled all over, glaring at Liao Chen. “You should know I’m saying these things just to annoy you! How could I possibly want to be your male pet?! If I had a knife in my hand, I would stab it into your chest without hesitation!”
Amidst the Qiwu flowers, the dagger that had been forcefully thrust across his chest—the sharp pain seemed to return from the already healed wound. Liao Chen’s face was ashen.
Yan Jingyu propped himself up with one hand and moved away from the couch, far away from him. “It’s you who’s been acting very strange lately. Every time I touch you, it’s as if I’m going to defile you… I think you’re the one who needs to reflect on yourself. You probably fell for a man at some point without realizing it. If that’s the case, I will definitely keep my distance from you in the future!”
Seeing Liao Chen’s face grow uglier and uglier, Yan Jingyu turned and went behind the screen without hesitation.
He couldn’t win in a fight, but he had to get some verbal revenge.
Otherwise, he would really think he was deliberately trying to seduce him…
He must have a brain disease.
Liao Chen sat outside, his face a fluctuating mix of green and white.
He had sealed Yan Jingyu’s memory, but he couldn’t seal his own. Everything that had happened inside the nest—the fragile sobs, the messy wounds, the fierce bites, the slender white fingers digging into his wound, and the soul-destroying, dense entanglement… all of it haunted him like a nightmare. As long as Yan Jingyu was present, those memories would surface.
He took a restrained breath. His divine sense could clearly see Yan Jingyu behind the screen, gently blowing on his own wrist.
He had indeed been a bit ruthless just now, but he was sure he hadn’t used too much force. But Yan Jingyu was now a mortal, so it was probably hard for him to bear.
An exquisite jade box floated out of the Qiankun Pouch, passed through the screen, and stopped steadily in front of Yan Jingyu. A light fragrance wafted out. Yan Jingyu realized it was a healing ointment for bruises.
He glanced at it, still angry. “What, does the great benefactor Liao know he was wrong and wants to apologize to me?”
There was no sound from outside. The ointment floated quietly. In the end, Yan Jingyu snorted, and as he took it, he frowned again. “I can’t use one of my hands. I can’t open it.”
The ointment obediently opened itself. Yan Jingyu lifted his finger, took some, and carefully applied it to the wound. His wrist hurt just to touch it. Yan Jingyu gently rubbed it himself, his expression one of forbearance.
There was a sound from outside. Through the screen, he could see that Liao Chen seemed to want to go out.
Yan Jingyu was still holding a grudge. “This spiritual medicine is best absorbed with the help of spiritual energy.”
After a few moments, Liao Chen turned his head to look at him, his expression cold, his eyes dark. Yan Jingyu was quite sensible and lowered his head to continue rubbing his wrist. “Forget it. I’ll allow you to go out and get me something to eat.”
Footsteps approached. Yan Jingyu held his breath for a moment, uncontrollably shrinking back.
Unsure of what Liao Chen was thinking, he didn’t dare to look up for a moment.
The black robe rustled. The man sat down on the edge of the bed. Then, a slender hand reached out to him, gently supporting his injured hand. The other hand covered his wound. Under the nourishment of the spiritual energy, the ointment on his wrist gradually seeped into his skin.
Yan Jingyu tentatively tilted his head, lifting one eye to observe him.
Liao Chen’s expression showed no joy or anger. He took out some more ointment and applied it to his wrist, his fingertips rubbing the bruised area. “Is this okay?”
Yan Jingyu paused, then pursed his lips. “It’s alright.”
There was a hint of victorious joy in his eyes.
After applying the medicine, Liao Chen intertwined their fingers and tentatively pushed his wrist upwards. Yan Jingyu frowned. There was still a slight pain in his wrist bone. Liao Chen gently put his wrist down. “I will help you apply the medicine on time for the next two days, until it is fully recovered.”
Yan Jingyu’s eyes held a hint of surprise, but he quickly responded with a cold, “Oh.”
“Do you want to go out for a walk? I heard there is a very famous fine wine in this Lingyun City. I think it’s called…”
“Wenjun Lüyi!” Yan Jingyu suddenly smiled. “If you buy me five, six, seven, or eighty jars to carry with me, I will reluctantly accept your apology!”
Lingyun City was not a large city on the Cangzhou continent, but because it was guarded by an immortal sect, the common people lived and worked in peace and contentment, and the city was lively and harmonious.
If it weren’t for Liao Chen being unwilling to give him a Dust-Cleansing Pearl, he would have changed into clean clothes and gone out for a stroll last night.
Yan Jingyu was wrapped in that heavy black robe. As he passed a certain place, his eyes suddenly lit up. “What a beautiful clothing store!”
Liao Chen followed his gaze. “You still like buying clothes so much.”
“How do you know I like it?” Yan Jingyu’s original intention was that he felt Liao Chen’s black robe was too dark in color and wanted to get a nice new cloak for himself. But as soon as he walked in, his eyes were still drawn to the dazzling array of clothes.
He was different from Liao Chen. In his youth, he had loved all kinds of magnificent clothes and decorations. He never mistreated himself on the road of slaying demons and monsters.
Back then, in their four-person team, even Ling Dannan, a woman, had criticized him for this, saying that he was not like an immortal lord dedicated to eradicating evil, but rather like a profligate son of the mortal world.
But Yan Jingyu was not ashamed at all. Every time he tried on clothes, his friends would either lean or lie outside, all looking listless. But Yan Jingyu completely ignored their thoughts, pulled open the door of the fitting room, and spun around in front of them with great enthusiasm. “Is it beautiful?” he would ask happily.
But friends were friends, after all. Even if they were reluctant, they would still patiently offer suggestions. Qin Zhongyou would subconsciously stand up straight to look at him, Ling Dannan would even prop herself up to come over and personally tidy his collar, and Zeng Huacai would clap his hands at the side. “Beautiful, beautiful! Our young master Yan is as radiant as ever. Can we go eat now? At the very least, can we eat our fill and then come back to shop?”
Liao Chen stood outside, watching as Yan Jingyu took the clothes into the fitting room, which was screened by a bamboo door.
Yan Jingyu’s preferences hadn’t changed. But at this moment, he was also like the young demon lord who had accidentally witnessed this scene back then, standing alone and desolate.
The surroundings were noisy, the crowd like a river. Liao Chen stood for a few moments, just about to leave—
The door of the fitting room was suddenly pulled open. Yan Jingyu poked his head out. “You’re not coming in to wait and pay? What are you standing there for?”
“…”
Yan Jingyu stared at him until he sat down on a chair in the store, then he closed the fitting room door again. His old clothes were hung on the bamboo door. He muttered inside, “Really, you said you were going to apologize, but you have no self-awareness at all. Don’t think you can get rid of me with just a few jars of wine… You’re not using your divine sense to spy on me, are you?”
“…” Liao Chen turned his face away, forcefully withdrawing his divine sense, his expression cold.
Between him and Yan Jingyu, there was only life and death. There should not be such a peaceful side, to have him stay here and wait for him to try on clothes… What was he thinking?
“Aiyo!” The voice of the female shopkeeper suddenly came to his ears. “Young master, you must have been an immortal in your past life! This is the first time I’ve seen someone who can wear ordinary clothes so beautifully!”
Yan Jingyu was pleased with the compliment, his eyes immediately curving. He turned his face to look at Liao Chen, then put on a straight face again. “Well? Is it beautiful or not?”
“…” Liao Chen’s gaze settled. He casually took out a bag of gold and silver. “Whichever you like, I’ll buy them all.”
Of course, Yan Jingyu knew that the yellow and white objects of the mortal world meant nothing to him. He walked directly in front of Liao Chen and said stubbornly, “Is it beautiful or not?”
Liao Chen knew he was deliberately trying to make him uncomfortable.
He was currently wearing a moon-white silk outer garment with quilted cotton and embroidered gold auspicious cloud patterns. At his waist was a gold-rimmed agate buckle. The clothes were well-tailored, with a narrow waist, making his figure look exceptionally graceful. How could the simple word “beautiful” possibly describe it?
In the end, Liao Chen spoke. “Mm.”
Yan Jingyu immediately smiled. He knew that to make Liao Qi Mei say this word against his conscience was his limit. If he pushed any further, he would probably explode again. “Then I’ll pick this one. Pay up.”
He went to the bronze mirror to tidy his collar. Not only did the shopkeeper show a look of regret, but even Liao Chen was stunned for a moment. “You’re not trying on the others?”
“No.” Yan Jingyu fastened his belt and tidied his sleeves. “Just get me a light-colored cloak. I’m really tired of that black fur coat of yours.”
A quarter of an hour later, he came out of the clothing store wrapped in a white cloak with a thick fur collar and gold embroidery. Liao Chen left with him. The shopkeeper behind them was packing up the rest of the clothes when she suddenly saw the black-clothed customer who had just left return. “Are there any more in his size in the store? I’ll buy them all.”
On this side, Yan Jingyu went straight to the restaurant that sold Wenjun Lüyi. As he was about to step through the door, a wisp of crimson and black demonic energy flowed into Liao Chen’s body. It was the elemental clone he had sent out to pack the clothes just now.
“If Immortal Lord Dufang were still alive, how would I not know?!” Just as Yan Jingyu’s foot was about to cross the threshold of the restaurant, he suddenly heard a young man’s arrogant voice. “I think you’re just spouting nonsense! You were probably sent by the Demon Realm to spread confusion!”
He reflexively pulled his foot back and turned around. Liao Chen, who was following behind him, was caught off guard and bumped right into him.
Yan Jingyu took the opportunity to pull up his fur collar and buried his face directly in his chest, whispering, “It’s that little apprentice of Qin Zhongyou… Hurry up and help me hide. Don’t let him recognize me.”
Liao Chen froze in place.
Yan Jingyu didn’t dare to lift his face. He subconsciously reached for his sleeve, but his fingers accidentally brushed past his head, directly sliding from his wrist to the back of his hand, and then back along the back of his hand, grabbing his sleeve and tugging. “Hurry up and put an illusion on me.”
He knew that Liao Chen always used illusions when he went out. At his level, illusions were no longer just about confusing people, but could directly interfere with their thoughts, allowing people to clearly distinguish his features while looking at him, but at the same time, not associating him with the identity of a demon lord. Once they looked away, they would forget what he looked like, but they could immediately remember when they saw him again.
His movements were extremely natural, but the skin on Liao Chen’s hand where he had touched it suddenly became hot.
He remembered the other’s fingers, soft and delicate. A single touch of a pinion would immediately break the skin, yet he had stubbornly pushed his fingers deep into the open pinions on the side of his neck, and even maliciously bent his feathers. It was a slight pain, but when the soft flesh pushed aside the layers of pinions and rubbed against the skin at the base of the feathers, it brought a dense, hair-raising shiver.
He looked at the clueless enemy in his chest, his fingers slightly contracting.
Of course, he was one to wish for chaos under heaven. It would be best if Ruan Qixi recognized this face. His purpose was to let everyone know that he was still alive, to let the entire Hutian, and Qin Zhongyou, also know this—
He should send him back to Qin Zhongyou. Only under the care of those people would he be reluctant to die. Only with them would he possibly cultivate seriously. If he dared not to work hard, then he would just wait and watch a good show, to see how those people of Hutian gained something only to lose it again, how they would be heartbroken.
To prevent him from always looking like a dead pig that’s not afraid of boiling water in front of him.
“Great benefactor Liao, please help…”
People were coming in and out of the restaurant, casting curious glances at them.
Yan Jingyu had to bury his face even deeper, his forehead pressed against his chest. Just as he was hesitating whether he should give up on entering the restaurant, Liao Chen said faintly, “It’s done.”
Yan Jingyu immediately lifted his face and craned his neck to get closer to him. “It’s done?”
Not only did he get close to Liao Chen, but he was like a newly hatched quail, constantly poking his head out, deliberately putting his face close to the other customers, as if to confirm whether his face was really blurred.
Not until Liao Chen grabbed the back of his neck and pressed him down into a seat.
Yan Jingyu stretched his bones and observed Ruan Qixi’s side with great interest, happily listening to the gossip.
To his surprise, the one arguing with Ruan Qixi was actually an acquaintance. “Stop spouting nonsense here! Immortal Lord Dufang did indeed appear with the old demon Liao, but I can confirm that he is definitely the Immortal Lord himself!”
“You’re sure?” Ruan Qixi sneered. “My senior uncle is still alive, and my master Qin Zhongyou doesn’t know, the entire Hutian doesn’t know, but you, a ninth-rate rogue cultivator from who knows where, know so clearly?”
“Who knows about that,” Qi Mufang was not afraid of him at all. “But you don’t have to be so intimate. I think some people are right. With your aptitude and character, you are indeed not worthy of inheriting the Immortal Lord’s mantle. If he were really here…”
“You are truly audacious!” Ruan Qixi suddenly struck out. Qi Mufang was not afraid at all and directly blocked his attack with the longsword beside him. The surrounding cultivators immediately put up their protective shields. The shopkeeper’s face, however, was pale and he cowered.
“Everyone in Hutian knows that I have a deep connection with Immortal Lord Dufang. My appearance is similar to his, my voice is similar to his, and I can learn his sword techniques with a single try! I can master his heart techniques without a teacher! Master has not only decided to pass the Du Fang Sword to me, but in the future, even Yaoguang Valley will be mine!” In fact, there were also people in Hutian who complimented him on being the reincarnation of Immortal Lord Dufang, but his master didn’t like this saying and had even said bluntly that he was far from that person.
But these words could be said by Qin Zhongyou, and all the elders around him could say them, but the mouths of the world could not!
“As for that impostor with Liao Chen, I have had the honor of seeing him. He is just a dying ant. Since the Demon Realm wants to create a new Yan Jingyu, they should have at least asked Yu Qiuye to redraw the skin. To grow up to look like that and still dare to come out and embarrass himself, when my master arrives, he will surely have his soul scattered!”
“You are indeed similar to him, but it is only a resemblance in form, not in bone. A clumsy imitation, a laughingstock.”
“You—!”
Ruan Qixi suddenly became fierce. But Qi Mufang sneered, and a wave of killing intent surged from his body. “With your aptitude, you dare to call yourself the little Dufang?!”
Liao Chen sat in the back, the corners of his lips curling, looking very appreciative.
Ruan Qixi was caught off guard and was sent flying by his palm. An old man behind him caught him in time and at the same time, placed a palm on his back, regulating his surging blood and vital energy.
Ruan Qixi coughed heavily, his expression stunned. “You’re actually at the early Huiyang stage?!”
“We rogue cultivators don’t have a family to fall back on. When we travel the martial world, we always have to hide some things.” Qi Mufang’s friend beside him quickly pulled him a few times. Qi Mufang naturally also saw the old man behind him. He was wary in his heart. “This senior, surely you wouldn’t get involved in the affairs of us juniors?”
The old man’s gaze was heavy, and the look in his eyes as he looked at him was as if he were looking at a dead man. His face was a mask of a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “This little friend, it seems you are indeed a supporter of the Immortal Lord, to even risk offending the Zuoqiu family to speak up for the Immortal Lord. Lord Qin should be very appreciative of you.”
Qi Mufang raised an eyebrow. His friend beside him immediately said, “That’s right, that’s right. This kid always gets anxious when it comes to Immortal Lord Dufang. Senior, please forgive us. Brother Ruan, please forgive us. For the sake of us all being supporters of the Immortal Lord, we will drink first as a sign of respect.”
He quickly went to pour wine. Qi Mufang also seemed to realize something and tacitly allowed his friend’s display of weakness. But Ruan Qixi cursed, “Who’s your brother?! Old Scorpion, what are you wasting words with them for? Hurry up and kill these two demonic bugs!”
“Young master, rest assured.” The old man smiled slightly, his gaze once again falling on Qi Mufang, his expression suddenly fierce. Qi Mufang instantly felt something pierce deep into his soul. The intense pain brought on a neurological ringing in his ears. A huge suction force suddenly came from his back, and he fell on his butt in front of someone’s table.
The old man’s face changed. Qi Mufang was suddenly soaked in cold sweat. He realized that the old man’s cultivation was far beyond his own. Just now, he had directly used pressure to shatter his soul.
“This…” Old Scorpion smiled again. He tried to discern Liao Chen’s face, realizing that the other was by no means an ordinary person. But after thinking for a long time, he still couldn’t match him with anyone on the Immortal Registry. “May I ask this senior, how should I address you?”
Noticing his display of goodwill, Ruan Qixi became wary and subconsciously clenched his fist. The next instant, he heard a voice: “The one who will take your life.”
“The one who will take your life.” A clear voice followed. He saw a slender hand, with a silent thunderous power, gently pat Qi Mufang on the back.
Liao Chen lifted his slender hand, with a silent thunderous power, and gently patted Qi Mufang on the back.
Qi Mufang suddenly flew up.
Qi Mufang only felt as if he were being controlled by someone. The longsword in his hand hummed and vibrated, carrying him as he pounced.
A single sword thrust pierced through the left chest of the old man beside him.
“Watch out!” Ruan Qixi warned.
Old Scorpion reflexively moved his body. Qi Mufang’s longsword pierced through his right chest.
Everything happened too fast. Not only was Qi Mufang completely bewildered, but Old Scorpion was also stunned.
“Hmm?” Liao Chen was surprised. Old Scorpion suddenly reacted, throwing out an earth escape talisman and grabbing Ruan Qixi beside him.
Ruan Qixi tightly clutched the bead in his hand, watching as the old man beside him coughed heavily several times, blood spurting out. His face was pale. The old man used three earth escape talismans in a row. After leaping out of the ground again, he finally collapsed to the ground, hastily sealing his wounds, and said with difficulty, “Young master…”
Ruan Qixi’s expression was dazed, as if he were experiencing something terrifying, his pupils contracted to the extreme.
Old Scorpion quickly took the bead from his hand. Only then did Ruan Qixi suddenly come back to his senses. He reflexively lifted his hand to touch his own face, his fingertips trembling, his eyes red.
“That person’s cultivation just now was truly remarkable. It’s all thanks to this Myriad Phenomena Pearl… What did you see?”
“That was Liao Chen…” Ruan Qixi covered his face, his expression panicked, tears streaming down. “I saw him kill you… and, and I saw myself being, being skinned alive by him.”
