Chapter 17: Don’t worry, I won’t climb into your bed.
Some of the people in the tavern hall had run out when the crisis was over. Qi Mufang went to pay for the broken tables and chairs, then turned back and looked blankly at the two who were still in their original seats.
The man in black was pouring wine for the man in white, while the man in white frowned slightly, as if troubled by something.
“You also think it’s strange?” Liao Chen spoke. Yan Jingyu nodded.
Liao Chen said, “That Ruan Qixi is only at the Cloud-Soaring Realm. Even that old Formless Realm codger didn’t react, yet he was able to give a warning in advance. Could it be that he has some kind of disaster-avoiding artifact on him?”
“I’m just wondering how Qin Zhongyou raised his apprentice to be like this. If it were me, I’d definitely beat him three times a day, and each beating would be different!”
“Seniors, thank you for your help just now.” A person carefully approached them from the side. It was Qi Mufang’s inseparable friend. He said, “This friend of mine has been obsessed with Immortal Lord Dufang since he was a child. Today, he was talking about the resurrection of Immortal Lord Dufang and unexpectedly got into an argument with the young master of the Zuoqiu family, almost losing his life here.”
He looked at Qi Mufang with disapproval in his eyes.
But Qi Mufang said, “I don’t regret it. It’s just… I almost implicated Brother Ming. I’m really sorry.”
Ming Zelin quickly waved his hands. “You must not be so impulsive next time. That is the Zuoqiu family, after all, and he is also the apprentice of the Tianyi Sword Master. If the Sword Master were here today, I’m afraid even these two seniors couldn’t have saved us.”
The illusion cast by Liao Chen was still in effect. Qi Mufang clearly hadn’t recognized the two of them. Hearing his best friend’s name again, Yan Jingyu couldn’t help but say, “The Tianyi Sword Master is his master. He has the responsibility of teaching him. If he were here, he would definitely not condone Ruan Qixi being so arrogant and bullying others.”
Liao Chen’s eyelids tightened, and a sarcastic curve appeared on his lips.
Ming Zelin had already said, “It’s not that we don’t believe in the Sword Master’s fairness, but this Ruan Qixi has always been known as the ‘little Dufang’ of Hutian. It’s also well-known that the Tianyi Sword Master dotes on him…”
Qi Mufang’s words were much sharper. “If it were the Tianyi Sword Master of a hundred years ago, we would naturally believe in his fairness and impartiality. But who doesn’t know that after Immortal Lord Dufang fell, the Tianyi Sword Master became sick with grief for his friend and fell into demonic deviation? His temperament has long since changed. That Ruan Qixi was raised to have such a character, besides the indulgence of the Zuoqiu family, he, as the master, is also undeniably to blame.”
“Mediocre aptitude, arrogant personality, with no redeeming qualities besides his face. He doesn’t even know how to keep his tail between his legs when he leaves Hutian.” Yan Jingyu noticed that every time Liao Chen mentioned Ruan Qixi, he would become particularly talkative and extremely harsh. “This Qin Zhongyou is really desperate, to actually treat such a thing as a treasure.”
Qi Mufang and Ming Zelin exchanged a glance, both realizing that the two people in front of them were not simple. Not only did they call the Tianyi Sword Master by his name directly, but they also clearly showed mockery and hostility.
Even though their thoughts were interfered with by the illusion, they couldn’t help but think of a certain person.
But Liao Chen had already looked at Qi Mufang again. “I’ll give you a chance to get rid of those two yourself. Are you willing?”
Not only Qi Mufang and his friend, but even Yan Jingyu raised an eyebrow. Qi Mufang had already subconsciously said what he was thinking. “That Old Scorpion is clearly an elder of the Zuoqiu Clan… How could I possibly be his opponent?”
“This Lord has his ways to help you.” Liao Chen held out his hand. “If you are willing, I will grant you peak power. Not to mention killing an old Formless Realm codger, within twelve hours, even if you want to slaughter a sect or two, it will be no problem.”
Ming Zelin suddenly held his breath, his eyes flickering. But Qi Mufang immediately waved his hand. “No, I, I don’t want to make an enemy of the Zuoqiu family…”
At this point, they already knew that the person in front of them must have already ascended to immortality. Before ascending to immortality, one only improved their personal cultivation, whether it was moving mountains and seas or stopping rivers with a palm. Although their energy was boundless, it was ultimately difficult to contend with the Heavenly Dao. Only after ascending to immortality could one establish a connection with the Heavenly Dao, control some of its laws and authority, and truly have the ability of a Daluo Golden Immortal to bring the dead back to life and defy fate.
Liao Chen seemed disappointed. But Qi Mufang felt a sense of fear. After thanking them again, he also paid for all their wine and food to thank them for saving his life, and quickly dragged his friend away.
The two of them rode their swords to the outskirts of the city. Ming Zelin said, “That senior must already be a Daluo Golden Immortal. You have such an opportunity, why not take the opportunity to become his disciple? In the future, you will no longer have to worry about traveling alone and being bullied.”
Qi Mufang shook his head. “What falls from the sky is not necessarily a pie, it could also be a trap. To rashly force a promotion will surely bring heavenly punishment. The path of cultivation in the future might be even more difficult. And that person looks to have a very heavy killing aura… According to the laws of storybooks, a person who makes a deal with you with a huge temptation is not necessarily a Daluo Golden Immortal, but more likely a demon from a demonic cave.”
Ming Zelin smiled and nodded in agreement. “That’s not wrong. But that senior in white does indeed look like an immortal. Although he didn’t say much, I feel that he is exceptionally reassuring.”
Qi Mufang nodded repeatedly. Just as he was about to say something more, two jade slips wreathed in crimson and black demonic energy suddenly appeared in front of them. Ming Zelin looked at the small seal script on the jade slips with a grave expression. “A guide to the nether path, the Demon Realm invites you… This is the Demon Realm’s invitation order! The person just now was Liao Chen!!!”
His face changed dramatically, and he took two steps back. But the two jade slips still hung quietly in the air.
Qi Mufang’s expression was dazed. He suddenly thought of something and his face also changed. “Then the senior in white beside him, isn’t he Immortal Lord Dufang? Heavens! What did I miss!!!”
After the meal, Liao Chen packed the Wenjun Lüyi into his Qiankun Pouch. As they were leaving the inn, he glanced at Yan Jingyu, who was yawning repeatedly after eating his fill, and casually summoned the small wooden boat.
Yan Jingyu tilted his head and said deliberately, “You’re getting the hang of it.”
Liao Chen couldn’t be bothered with him. Yan Jingyu stepped in himself, stretched with an ‘ah’, and after lying down, said, “It’s just that this wooden boat is bare and looks a bit shabby. The pomp and circumstance your master had when he went out back then, I was very envious.”
Liao Chen glanced at him. In an instant, countless bouquets of flowers suddenly grew around the small wooden boat, arranged neatly in a circle, making the peacefully lying Yan Jingyu look like a corpse about to set sail on a long journey.
Yan Jingyu glanced at the passersby who were frequently casting glances at him, and suddenly sat up from inside. “Are you trying to be mean?!”
Liao Chen was at ease. “What, you don’t like it? Then how about this?”
The long, narrow wooden boat suddenly widened. The surrounding flower vines rearranged themselves, quickly turning into a giant flower basket. Yan Jingyu sat cross-legged inside and immediately felt more gazes on him. The children were full of envy, looking like they really wanted to come up and play. The adults, on the other hand, were secretly whispering about him. From their mischievous smiles, it was clear that they weren’t saying anything good.
Yan Jingyu sat in the flower basket and kicked Liao Chen with his foot. Liao Chen also had a mischievous look. “Like a flower fairy.”
“…” He really couldn’t enjoy this scene. Yan Jingyu had to say, “Can you bring the small wooden boat back?”
But Liao Chen didn’t listen to him. He walked slowly with his hands behind his back. “It’s quite beautiful. Let’s just leave it like this.”
Yan Jingyu’s face wasn’t that thick after all. He embarrassedly climbed out of the flower basket and walked side by side with him. Liao Chen suddenly smiled again. Yan Jingyu was angry from embarrassment. “What’s so funny!”
“Just now, I sent an invitation order to those two. That Qi Mufang realized my identity and ran back to the inn to find you.”
“…” Yan Jingyu said, “Is this how your Demon Realm selects talent?”
“If this Lord wants someone to fall into the demonic path, to be rejected by the world, I have plenty of ways,” Liao Chen said. “That Qi Mufang likes you so much. If I can get him back to the Demon Palace, it will surely be interesting.”
Despicable. Yan Jingyu said, “From what I heard from Ruan Qixi just now, it seems Qin Zhongyou is also heading this way?”
“It seems you miss him.”
“That’s natural.” While being frank, he didn’t forget to deliberately disgust him. “No matter what, he is my beloved. Besides, you said before that when I recover my appearance, you will let me go back to be lovey-dovey with him. I wonder when the great benefactor plans to fulfill his promise?”
In Yan Jingyu’s eyes, a relationship between men was not something that was unacceptable to the world. After all, the path of seeking immortality was already outside the secular world. It didn’t matter if one’s dual cultivation partner was a man or a woman. In this world, as long as you were strong enough, whatever you did was a beautiful story.
But from Liao Chen’s reaction this morning when he misunderstood him throwing himself at him, he was clearly very uncomfortable with this kind of thing.
Everything that Liao Chen hated and detested was Yan Jingyu’s happy place!
After saying that, he lifted his chin to sneak a peek at his reaction.
Although Liao Chen’s expression was calm, he could clearly feel that his state was not quite right. He was quiet for a moment. “You finally admit it.”
“I originally didn’t want to reveal these things to you. After all, so many years have passed. I don’t know what he’s thinking either… So, Liao Xiao Mei, you don’t have to worry about me wanting to climb into your bed. I have a beloved.”
In the end, he also insinuated that he was being self-important, which was also a way to vent his anger for his almost-crushed wrist.
Liao Chen’s hands were clasped behind his back again. His previously calm expression had changed, but his tone was still calm. “Did you two ever form a Three-Life Stone Pact back then?”
“Almost,” Yan Jingyu said, making things up. “You know, his parents died from a failed immortal ascension when he was very young. We were originally thinking of having my father prepare our wedding after his successful immortal ascension… You know what happened later. This delay has been over a hundred and thirty years, almost a separation of life and death.”
When he mentioned his father’s immortal ascension, the end of Yan Jingyu’s voice became light, like the thin mist of an autumn morning, suffused with a hint of sorrow.
Liao Chen’s fingers tightened behind his back. His long lashes were lowered, his lips slightly pursed.
The body inside the nest flashed in his mind repeatedly. He vaguely realized that everything that had happened when he was demonized had not only changed the relationship between the two of them, but had also affected a third person…
And he was the third party in this relationship.
“Then you two…” Just as Yan Jingyu thought he was going to avoid this topic, he heard his voice again. “You… have you ever had physical intimacy?”
His long lashes lifted. Liao Chen looked at him. The crimson-gold in his dark eyes was covered by a thin layer of mist. His gaze was no longer as deep as usual, but shallow, as if something was about to overflow.
Yan Jingyu hadn’t expected that he would be so disgusted by the matter of cut-sleeves, yet still insist on asking so deeply.
He frowned. “There’s no need to report this kind of thing to you, is there?”
Liao Chen turned his face away. Of course, he knew he shouldn’t have asked this.
But that was the first time in his life he had built a nest with someone else… Liao Chen gazed ahead and said coldly, “This Lord will not go back on his word. But I also said before that you must stay in the Demon Palace until you return to your peak. I will watch you draw in spiritual energy, watch you ascend to immortality, until the score between us is settled.”
“By the time the score is settled, it might be the day I die…”
“It could also be the day I die.”
“Why don’t you just let me go back and be lovey-dovey with Qin Zhongyou, and then watch us be in agonizing pain two years later?”
Yan Jingyu’s face wrinkled. But Liao Chen’s breath hitched.
A hand suddenly pressed on the back of Yan Jingyu’s neck. He stumbled towards Liao Chen, caught off guard, and reflexively placed his hands on the other’s chest, his eyes wide.
Liao Chen stared straight behind him. “Now, I’ve changed my mind.”
