Chapter 66: Ungrateful Heartless Immortal Venerable

Demon creatures, like cultivators, had long transcended the illnesses and pains of the mortal world. They should not have fallen ill with something as simple as a fever.

Was it the snake venom?

He had already given Hu Wu so much cultivation base, yet the fox showed no sign of using any of it. It was as if he had completely abandoned all resistance and was content to curl up here sleeping.

Zhou Si’s brows furrowed tightly.

Was he deliberately pretending to be pitiful?

This fox demon. Did he truly believe he could manipulate him like this?

“Get up. Circulate your energy.”

Zhou Si called out several times, but Hu Wu remained unconscious. His face burned bright red with fever, and even those fluffy fox ears had drooped limply, too weak to maintain his human form.

With no other choice, Zhou Si placed his hand on Hu Wu’s chest. Pure spiritual power flowed slowly into the fox’s body, guiding the chaotic energy within and helping him refine the snake venom.

The fox leaned into his embrace, seeming a little more comfortable. He nuzzled closer on instinct and let out a faint, muddled murmur.

“Zhou Si…”

Zhou Si struggled to keep his expression cold as he continued channeling spiritual power. “Who gave you permission to address me by name?”

“Zhou Si…”

Hu Wu seemed to plunge into a nightmare. His fox ears drooped even lower.

“Zhou Si… my legs hurt.”

Legs? How could his legs hurt?

Zhou Si glanced down. They were merely shackled. At worst, it was uncomfortable.

So he really was putting on an act?

Or was he scheming some way to escape?

“I can tell you plainly—it’s impossible.”

Zhou Si’s face grew icy.

“You will never remove this ankle chain.”

Hu Wu seemed pierced by the finality in those words. Even in his delirium, he shrank back and fell silent.

Earlier, Zhou Si had presented a demon beast’s corpse to the Sect Master as proof.

He suspected the Sect Master had seen Hu Wu’s human form before. But demons always reverted to their true shapes upon death, leaving no way to verify authenticity.

Zhou Si insisted the demon was dead. When it seemed they might clash irreconcilably, the Sect Master relented for the moment and dropped the matter.

Yet the infiltration of a demon creature into the sect stood exposed. Ji Huai’s crime of harboring one was now unavoidable.

The Sect Master even interrogated Ji Huai personally.

Ji Huai’s master, Perfected Jingyi, intervened vigorously on his behalf. She argued that her disciple had been deceived by the demon creature—yes, he bore fault, but not one worthy of death.

Ji Huai, however, clung stubbornly to his questions. “Is he truly dead?”

His gaze locked onto Zhou Si’s face. “He’s really… dead?”

Especially slain by Zhou Si’s own hand?

Ji Huai simply could not accept it.

Zhou Si promptly hurled the impostor fox corpse at Ji Huai’s feet.

He sensed that Ji Huai had seen through it—that it was not 05.

Once Ji Huai examined the body, the despair in his eyes eased slightly. An odd calm settled over him.

Perfected Jingyi sternly demanded he admit his wrongs at once, insisting he had merely been tricked by the demon creature.

Had Hu Wu truly died, Ji Huai might have burned with indignation on the fox’s behalf, hating them all and refusing to condemn him. But in that moment, he suspected 05 lived…

So he chose compromise. He bowed his head and confessed his guilt.

Even then, Zhou Si had spoken up for him.

In the vast Xuanxiao Sect, only he and Ji Huai—despite their opposing stances—believed this fox should not die.

The Sect Master had effectively reconfirmed the fox demon’s death through Ji Huai. And Ji Huai, ever clever, had covered for Zhou Si.

In the end, the Sect Master merely expelled Ji Huai from the sect without crippling his cultivation.

Zhou Si’s thoughts had been a whirlwind back then. He could not fathom why he would betray the sect—deceive the Sect Master, who was like a father to him—merely to spare the fox demon’s life.

So he sought out Ji Huai once more.

Upon confirming Hu Wu was in his custody, Ji Huai pleaded instantly. “Let him come with me.”

“Why would I?” Zhou Si shot back.

“He’s in too much danger here in the sect! He could die at any moment.”

“He deceived me. Does he think he can just walk away scot-free?”

“Never! He stays with me.”

Ji Huai stared at Zhou Si, struck speechless.

In that instant, enlightenment struck Zhou Si.

Yes. He spared the fox not out of mercy, but to bind this fox demon to his side. To punish him properly. To torment him…

That was how it should be.

By midnight, Hu Wu’s fever had finally broken.

He opened his eyes to find himself still in the secret chamber.

The space had been tidied, transformed from a stark storage room into something resembling a bedroom. A narrow stone bed had even been added.

Zhou Si held him close, lying beside him.

This was unprecedented. An Immortal Venerable of his caliber required no mortal sleep; he typically meditated in a seated posture, regulating his breath.

Seeing Zhou Si there beside him, Hu Wu froze, memories of old times flooding back.

He stealthily extended a finger toward Zhou Si’s belly.

But before it made contact, Zhou Si’s eyes snapped open.

No trace of drowsiness clouded them—only his usual piercing clarity.

The silent stare was intimidating.

Hu Wu’s ears drooped at once. In a soft voice, he asked, “Does your belly still hurt?”

Zhou Si nearly laughed. As if his earlier outburst stemmed from a sore stomach.

He released Hu Wu and sat up.

He assumed this display of vulnerability was just another ploy to wheedle more cultivation from him.

His expression hardened. “No need for more schemes. More cultivation won’t save you.”

He turned aside. “To the world outside, you’re a ‘dead demon’ now. You’ll remain in this secret chamber forever, never to see daylight again.”

This was his punishment.

The fox had scampered about the secret realm, admiring every vista. This news would surely enrage him.

Perhaps at last, the Demon Clan’s vicious nature would surface.

Hu Wu blinked and bowed his head, showing little reaction.

“Oh,” he murmured softly. Then he raised his gaze, sincere as ever, toward Zhou Si. “I just… was worried your belly still hurt.”

He paused, his tone laced with pure, stubborn resolve—as if it were his sole concern.

“I want to cure your problem quickly.”

Zhou Si: “…”

What a charmer.

Hu Wu considered, then leaned in for a kiss, his tongue flicking out to lick Zhou Si’s lips.

Zhou Si tilted his head slightly, ears flushing red, but made no move to push him away.

Bit by bit, his clothes came undone.

He figured Hu Wu remained undeterred, craving cultivation, convinced escape lay in his future.

…Very well, then.

The higher his cultivation, the longer he’d live—and the longer Zhou Si could keep him imprisoned here.

All for the sake of punishment.

This fox was saying all those sweet words of affection, kissing him so tenderly, fawning over him…

Fine, if he wanted to play pretend, so be it. At least it was pleasing.

Zhou Si just needed to stay clear-headed himself.

With that, Zhou Si kept finding excuses for himself, step by step, until he relaxed his body and let the sly fox climb on top of him.

“Mm…” Hu Wu thrust forward, and his handsome face honestly lit up with pleasure. His tail even swished back and forth.

Zhou Si pursed his lips and watched him.

“Put away that demonic look of yours.” What a sight that was…

Hu Wu looked a little aggrieved but didn’t obey. Instead, he thrust harder and pulled Zhou Si’s hand over to touch his ears. “You like it.”

“Uh…” Nonsense…

Zhou Si turned his head away as a flush spread from the tips of his ears. Before long, his breathing grew erratic, and he had no attention left for words.

~~~

Zhou Si announced to the outside world that he was entering secluded cultivation.

In truth, he spent most of his time in this secret chamber.

There was no helping it—this storage chamber in his palace was the most secure and best-defended place he had.

He had no choice but to keep the fox here.

But whenever Zhou Si wasn’t inside, Hu Wu would fall into a deep sleep, drowsy and oblivious, with no inclination to cultivate on his own.

Zhou Si couldn’t help thinking that this fox demon was far too good at playing pitiful.

At the same time, he reasoned that since the creature was confined to such a cramped stone room, leaving him alone all the time would be a bit too harsh.

It didn’t matter where he went into seclusion anyway. He could do it here just as well.

The only issue was that whenever Zhou Si sat in meditation here, Hu Wu would always sidle up to him.

Zhou Si would frown and tell him not to make trouble every time, but he never actually refused in the end.

They said these sorts of things were only fresh with different partners, yet these two grew more in sync with each passing encounter, more addicted to each other.

In the end, they did nothing but cultivate and make love, losing all track of time…

Days slipped by like this, and before they knew it, another year had passed.

One day, while the fox was moving on top of him, he suddenly stopped. In his excitement, he even asked,

“Immortal Venerable, sense it—there’s no Demon Qi left in your dantian, right? I’ve cleaned it all out for you.”

Zhou Si was still holding onto the fox. He paused at the words and turned his divine sense inward to check.

Sure enough, the Demon Power that had plagued him for so long had been completely absorbed by Hu Wu. Now his dantian was pristine, with his Spiritual Power flowing smoothly without obstruction.

Zhou Si pursed his lips. His arms subconsciously pulled Hu Wu closer. He only hummed in response: “Mm.”

He wanted to keep going.

But the fox dodged away.

“No, we can’t. What if more Demon Power builds up…”

Zhou Si: “?”

What was this fox playing at?

Watching the fox actually pull away, Zhou Si suddenly felt empty. His face flushed red.

Did this fox really think he would beg for it?

Impossible.

He angrily straightened his robes, intending to sit in meditation.

But… it still felt unbearably hollow. He hadn’t been sitting for long before Zhou Si’s face darkened, and he abruptly stood up.

He said nothing, simply forcing the fox back down.

The fox looked dazed and panicked.

“Ah? No, we can’t.”

“We have to stop for the Demon Seal to fade.”

Was this something you stopped in the middle of?

Zhou Si didn’t speak. He just kept pressing down.

Keep pretending, go on.

“Ah…”

After a tug-of-war, the fox was forced back inside. His face turned red too, and he had no choice but to give in.

Zhou Si was driven into a haze of pleasure and finally found satisfaction.

But now the fox clung to him and wouldn’t let go. “No, I have to draw out this bit of Demon Power too.”

Zhou Si looked at him, sweat beading at his temples, but he didn’t refuse.

And so the two of them fell into a ridiculous cycle, like adding flour and then water over and over.

It wasn’t until they finally struck a balance that the fox raised his hands in surrender and declared that no, really, they couldn’t do it anymore!

Zhou Si was speechless. He straightened his robes and ignored him.

Was this fox putting on an act, or testing him?

Didn’t he want cultivation anymore?

As Zhou Si sat in meditation, he stole glances at the fox now and then.

Hu Wu seemed truly content. After a moment of silence, he suddenly lifted his head, eyes sparkling.

“Zhou Si… I want candy.”

“Candy?” Zhou Si raised a brow.

“You know, the kind humans make—sweet pastries, and those sugar figures shaped like all sorts of things…”

Hu Wu gestured animatedly, lost in fond memories. A smile tugged at his lips, but his eyes reddened involuntarily, glistening with a thin sheen of moisture.

“And… those meat pies that feel like biting into a tongue…”

He murmured, his voice trailing off. “I really want to eat them.”

Zhou Si stared at him. His first thought was that this demon was getting more and more brazen.

The fox’s cultivation had been forcibly pushed to Late Foundation Establishment. He was long past the need for inedia—why would he crave mortal food? It was clearly just an excuse, a roundabout way of making demands.

But this request… it had nothing to do with escaping or gaining power. It was so innocent it bordered on foolish.

Zhou Si didn’t agree. He simply looked away, expressionless.

Yet the next time he had to leave the secret chamber briefly, almost without thinking…

He suppressed all traces of his Immortal Venerable aura, disguised himself as an ordinary mortal, and deigned to step into the noisiest, most bustling town in the Human Realm.

Standing amid the market’s overflowing aromas and endless hawking cries, surrounded by dazzling arrays of street foods…

A strange, familiar warmth laced with the scent of everyday life washed over him, leaving Zhou Si momentarily dazed.

Following Hu Wu’s vague description, he silently bought armfuls of sugar figures, candied fruits, soft cakes, and spicy meat pies. Even when the vendors gawked and insisted his payment was far too much—he had no smaller currency to offer.

When he returned, his lofty Storage Ring was stuffed full of mundane mortal trinkets.

Just as he prepared to head back to the secret chamber, the Sect Master intercepted him.

Ever since he’d “killed” Hu Wu last time, a barrier had formed between master and disciple.

The Sect Master could clearly sense Zhou Si’s growing distance. Lately, he hardly involved himself in sect affairs, remaining in long seclusion, which was cause for concern.

Determined to mend things, the Sect Master found an excuse to stop him.

“Si’er,” the Sect Master said mildly, “an Ancient Great Demon perished in the Northern Border. As its corpse’s spiritual energy dissipates, it’s birthing many heavenly treasures that would greatly aid your breakthrough to the Soul Transformation Realm.

But Demon Beasts now infest the area—it’s fraught with danger. You should go with companions. Do you have anyone in mind?”

“Your master can go with you as well.”

Zhou Si’s hand in his sleeve unconsciously rubbed the Storage Ring. His thoughts had already flown back to the Back Mountain secret chamber, and he had little patience for the Sect Master’s words.

After all, the Sect Master was inviting him to hunt treasures together.

At this moment, all the Demon Qi had been purged from Zhou Si’s body, and the Snake Venom was completely under control. His condition had nearly returned to its peak—it was indeed time to prepare for his Soul Transformation breakthrough.

However, no sooner had this thought arisen than another worry immediately surfaced.

If he went on a long journey, what would happen to the fox?

Leaving him alone in the Secret Chamber… What if someone discovered him, or he managed to slip away? It was impossible to feel at ease about that.

Irritation churned within Zhou Si’s heart, but his expression remained utterly composed. He merely said faintly, “This disciple needs some time to consider.”

Once back in the Secret Chamber, he immediately shoved a haphazard assortment of mortal snacks in front of Hu Wu.

Hu Wu froze for a moment, then his eyes burst with incredulous joy.

He carefully picked up a piece of sugar cake and took a tiny bite. As the sweetness melted across his tongue, he squinted his eyes in delight.

“Ah, this is it. So delicious…” he sighed softly.

“Feels so happy.”

He lifted his head and gazed at Zhou Si with a dopey grin, but his words made Zhou Si’s heart plummet.

“Now, even if I died, I wouldn’t have any regrets.”

“What nonsense!” Zhou Si’s brows snapped together, an inexplicable unease surging in his chest.

He still had to take him along. Zhou Si made the decision on the spot.

Leaving Hu Wu here made him far too uneasy.

It was better for them to stay together.