Chapter 14: A Kiss

December 3rd, 2022

Fang Li sat in his room alone, fiddling with the amber bead in his fingertips, pensive.

Before he’d left, the Hehuan Sect sect master had informed him of all of the uses of the Entangling Threads Love Parasite. According to the Hehuan Sect sect master, there was absolutely no one in the world who could withstand this thing. As long as they ingested the child love parasite, even if they were cultivating the path of apathy, even the most ascetic, iron-willed person would be transformed into cough cough cough cough cough.

Aside from flaring up at a fixed interval once a month, any time the owner wanted, it would also be sure to take effect on the person who had ingested the child parasite……and only the owner could relieve it.

And, the owner could control the other party’s life or death, etc., etc., etc.

Tsk.

One hundred percent the kind of tool for a PWP setting.

In the original story, Yan Sui had made Xie Huai take the child parasite and had threatened that he was going to make him cry and beg, but the result of course was—a total bust.

Relying on his extraordinary, otherworldly willpower, Xie Huai had thoroughly restrained himself; and even after using those kinds of methods, Yan Sui wasn’t able to exchange for a single plea or compromise from Xie Huai. The significance of this plot point was to display Xie Huai’s tenacity and unyielding, henceforth leading Yan Sui one step closer to being subdued by him.

Fang Li, on the other hand, wasn’t surprised. Although this Entangling Threads Love Parasite was powerful to the extreme, you still had to take a look at just what kind of person Xie Huai was—he was the original story’s protagonist shou, okay?!

Even if no one in the entire world could withstand this love parasite, Xie Huai, who had the main character halo, would be able to withstand it.

He was someone who, even if you broke every bone in his body and used the most needlessly vicious, extreme methods, was still impossible to subdue. Toward Xie Huai, Yan Sui naturally both loved and hated him, and then there were more swaths and swaths of forceful love scenes.

Put simply: this Hehuan Sect sect master’s so-called all-powerful signature sect treasure, the Entangling Threads Love Parasite, to Xie Huai, was nothing more than a crappy that sort of drug without much effect. Its only purpose was to give Yan Sui even more opportunities to eat lots of meat……

At least, this once a month couldn’t be skipped.

It looked like yet another useless, nutritionless plot point…… but Fang Li didn’t intend to cut it this time.

On the contrary, this was a very important tool.

Fang Li’s fingers tapped lightly against the tabletop. To him, the usage of the love parasite naturally wasn’t for eating meat.

During this period of time, for the sake of his own convenience, he’d cut out quite a few plot points, and his relationship with Xie Huai could be considered decent.

Xie Huai was an honest and upright righteous cultivator. Although it wasn’t too likely that he’d give up on killing him because of this, and it was even more impossible for him to change his standpoint of exterminating demons to defend justice, even a few small changes could affect the plot……

The butterfly effect couldn’t be looked down on.

But with this love parasite, it would be different.

Once Xie Huai ingested the love parasite, he was bound to experience lust toward Fang Li, someone he despised. And for Xie Huai, no matter how shockingly strong his willpower or how well he was able to restrain himself, simply experiencing this kind of feeling would be enough to disgust him.

How proud and aloof of a person was Xie Huai? Even just the thought that someone like him would suffer from being controlled by desire, would be stirred by a devil with whom his sect had a blood feud, would have someone manipulating his feelings and desires, as if he were a wooden puppet on strings, unable to control himself…… Compared to breaking all of his bones, no, compared to killing him, that was even harder to endure, a hundred times more humiliating!

A fate worse than death was no more than this.

Moreover, every new day that the owner of the mother parasite lived was another day that he couldn’t break free from those bonds. The only way to free himself—was to kill the owner of the mother parasite.

Wasn’t the issue of drawing aggro settled, then?

Even if he threw the game in other matters, as long as Xie Huai was still under the control of the love parasite, he would have to kill him to find release.

This was the escape route he’d prepared for himself.

………………………………………………

Xie Huai slowly opened his eyes, his brows creased. He’d been attacking the Soul-Sealing Pins without end, and it had already loosened somewhat, but recently, he’d reached a bottleneck, and he hadn’t made any progress in several days.

But that wasn’t outside of his expectations.

Slow and steady was the key. Xie Huai got up from the bed and poured himself a cup of tea. The tea was already cold, but Xie Huai didn’t mind.

He lowered his eyes and sipped the tea.

Ever since they’d separated that day, Fang Li hadn’t come by in some time.

What was he doing?

Was he together with Wu Yimei?

But his expression immediately became full of self-ridicule. Whatever Fang Li was doing, whether he came or not, what concern was that of his?

Xie Huai put down the tea cup and prepared to continue meditating when he suddenly heard a gust of wind fly past his ear, exceeding soft.

With a creak, the window opened and then closed again.

Xie Huai looked at the black-clothed man who had suddenly appeared, and understanding dawned on his face. Du Meng was going to set out tomorrow to represent the demonic sects in marching against Heaven’s Summit……

If he didn’t make any move before leaving, that would be stranger.

Du Meng’s expression was heavy. He sighed and said, “This one is afraid he will have to leave for a time. Before leaving, this one wanted to ask if Yuyi-jun has considered the suggestion from before?”

Xie Huai’s expression was apathetic, and he didn’t speak.

Upon seeing this, Du Meng gave a helpless look, sighing, “The way that brat has been closing in on me at every step, Yuyi-jun has seen as well. This one is afraid that this time, it will be a narrow escape from death. If this one is unable to return, that brat will be even more out of control, and there will be no one able to help Yuyi-jun…… Forget it, although this one has good intentions, Yuyi-jun’s misgivings are understandable. You are unwilling to associate with a demonic cultivator like me……”

Shaking his head, he made as if he were about to leave.

Xie Huai watched Du Meng’s back figure, a mocking look appearing in the depths of his eyes. He didn’t believe a single one of Du Meng’s words, and he believed even less that Du Meng would give up so easily, but……

Xie Huai suddenly spoke up. “Wait.”

Du Meng’s footsteps halted, and he said, puzzled, “What else does Yuyi-jun want to speak of?”

Xie Huai slowly reached out his hand.

Du Meng seemed extremely pleasantly surprised. He held out a small, white porcelain bottle and placed it in the palm of Xie Huai’s hand, saying in a heavy voice, “Then this one will be troubling Yuyi-jun.”

After saying that, he left hastily.

Xie Huai lowered his eyes and fixed his gaze on the small, white porcelain bottle in his palm.

He certainly wouldn’t lower himself to using these kinds of methods. Even if he wanted to kill that person, he would have a proper and honest battle with him. He was an opponent worth his respect……

But he still kept the poison Du Meng left him. At this point, Du Meng was in a state where he could erupt at any time, and it was hard to predict his next actions. He might strike out at Fang Li at any time…… But if Xie Huai accepted his poison, Du Meng would place his hopes on him and would instead choose to continue lying in wait for the time being……

This way, Du Meng could be stabilized for now.

Thinking up to here, Xie Huai couldn’t help but startle. Why was he doing this? Fang Li didn’t even care about it himself, nor was he willing to be honest, and he was considerably on guard against Xie Huai…… What need was there for these unnecessary actions?

Xie Huai closed his eyes and breathed deeply. That’s right, he naturally wasn’t doing this for Fang Li’s sake.

It was only because Du Meng was an exceedingly unstable element, and an untrustworthy one. If he was left alone to do as he pleased, perhaps the demonic sects would stir up chaos and bring tragedy to the world…… On the other hand, Fang Li at least listened to him on the surface. If he had to leave one, he should leave the one that was easier to control, shouldn’t he?

Therefore, leaving Fang Li was the most favorable option at present.

That was all.

With a sweep of his hand, Xie Huai put away the small bottle, got up, and walked out the door.

By now, the night sky had already become dark, and all was dead silent. Xie Huai looked far into the distance and said blandly, “Seen enough?”

After a brief moment.

Wu Yimei slowly walked out of the darkness.

The day that Fang Li had ordered Du Meng to attack Heaven’s Summit, Wu Yimel had also had his doubts, not understanding why His Excellency wanted to beat the grass and startle the snake, closing in on Du Meng at every step. But Fang Li hadn’t been willing to explain further, and Wu Yimei had been worried that Du Meng would have some unusual behaviors, so he’d been watching Du Meng closely during this period of time. Even more so for Xie Huai’s side, Wu Yimei had always arranged for a secret guard to shadow him.

After receiving word that Du Meng had come by, Wu Yimei had immediately rushed over, but he didn’t dare to get too close for fear of startling Du Meng, so he could only watch from afar.

Du Meng had met with Xie Huai again. What had they talked about this time?

Although His Excellency kept saying that his heart hadn’t been moved, he had paid out too much for Xie Huai’s sake……

Wu Yimei instinctually felt that there would eventually come a day when Xie Huai would harm His Excellency, and as for him, he definitely wouldn’t allow something like that to happen……

Wu Yimei’s voice was hoarse, his dark red eyes gloomy and cold. “His Excellency hasn’t treated you poorly. If I find out that you’ve done anything that would let down His Excellency, I will definitely kill you.”

Xie Huai watched Wu Yimei’s gloomy expression and was dazed for a second, but he found it laughable in his heart. Fang Li didn’t feel the least bit of affection for him. Fooling others was one thing, but Wu Yimei was his closest confidante, yet even he believed it……

Why would Wu Yimei believe that Fang Li actually liked him?

Truly absurd.

Wu Yimei furrowed his brow as he looked at Xie Huai. He was clearly threatening him, but instead of getting angry, he had actually laughed. Xie Huai’s completely uncaring attitude infuriated Wu Yimei.

Wu Yimei stepped forward, his expression venomous as a snake’s, and he enunciated, “I won’t give you the chance to harm His Excellency.”

Originally, Xie Huai had no desire to squabble with Wu Yimei, but looking at Wu Yimei’s serious appearance, as if he was truly certain that Fang Li liked him, certain that Fang Li would be harmed because of liking him……

Ridiculous.

Don’t forget, from the start, we’ve stood on opposing sides.

Xie Huai lifted the corner of his mouth and laughed softly. “Oh, how do you plan to prevent me from harming him, then?”

Wu Yimei was floored.

Xie Huai looked into his eyes, his expression derisive, and said slowly, “Why don’t you simply have him kill me?”

Wu Yimei’s expression immediately became cold, gritting his teeth with hatred. If His Excellency would let him kill Xie Huai, why would he need to come secretly give a warning? Not only could he not touch Xie Huai, he couldn’t even speak a single ill word of Xie Huai in front of His Excellency……

Xie Huai’s reckless and wilfullness, his lack of fear, it was all based on His Excellency’s affection for him, and nothing more!

Wu Yimei’s rage was past the point of restraint, his chest heaving. His gaze as he looked at Xie Huai looked as if he wanted to slice him into a thousand pieces, and his voice was frosty and dark. “Don’t celebrate too soon. I’ll be keeping an eye on you.”

Xie Huai watched Wu Yimei leave, his expression not moved by a ripple, and the look in his eyes was indifferent. To him, this kind of argument was absolutely meaningless.

Even if he won, there was no meaning to it.

Because…… that person didn’t like him at all.

………………………………………………

【 System: Host, you haven’t met with Xie Huai in thirteen days already. When do you plan to go see Xie Huai? 】

Ever since the Hehuan Sect sect master had presented him with the love parasite, the System had been asking every day, host, when are you going to go give Xie Huai the love parasite? It was even more precise than an alarm clock.

Fang Li pressed a hand to his forehead, saying, “No rush.”

The System was in as much of a rush as ants on a burning pot, how could it not be in a rush! It still remembered that the host had said he was straight and definitely wouldn’t force another man. Did he even intend to use the love parasite or not? Was it appropriate to cut such an important plot point?

The System’s heart was tired.

Fang Li suddenly said, “Be quiet, someone’s coming.”

As expected, not too long after, a demonic servant came to announce that Wu Yimei was seeking an audience.

Fang Li had Wu Yimei enter and gestured for the servant to leave, saying with a smile, “Has Du Meng already left?”

Wu Yimei lowered his eyes deferentially. “Yes, he’s already taken the over eight hundred and ninety members of Zenith Sky Creed away with him, toward the direction of Heaven’s Summit.”

Du Meng had numerous subordinates under his Zenith Sky Creed’s banner, and the majority weren’t at Hollow Ridge, but the eight hundred plus who remained at Hollow Ridge were his elite troops. This time, he’d brought them all with them, putting on a good show of things. But this was also within Fang Li’s expectations.

That day in the great hall, Du Meng had restrained himself and hadn’t openly fallen out with him, so reasonably speaking, he wouldn’t do so now. But that was no more than his conjecture, and Du Meng might very well not play his cards according to reason…… Looking at things now, Du Meng was still proceeding according to the original script. At this, Fang Li finally relaxed.

Wu Yimei watched Fang Li, but after pondering back and forth, he still couldn’t understand Fang Li’s intentions. If things continued like this, it would be like asking a tiger for its skin…… rather than waiting for Du Meng to act, it would be better to take the initiative to strike, directly seizing the opportunity to eliminate Du Meng.

Wu Yimei murmured to himself briefly, a cold and decisive look in his eyes, saying hoarsely, “Your Excellency, this subordinate is willing to intercept and kill Du Meng, ensuring that he won’t come back from this trip.”

Fang Li started slightly, then laughed, saying, “No need, let him leave.”

Du Meng would definitely be on guard at all times right now, and Wu Yimei’s cultivation wasn’t as high as Du Meng’s, so really asking him to go would be like sending him to his death…… That he could make this kind of suggestion meant that he had already tossed the matter of life and death outside of his considerations. Truly loyal and devoted. This was Fang Li’s own business, there was no reason in letting Wu Yimei go to his death.

Wu Yimei saw Fang Li’s uncaring appearance and said anxiously, “Your Excellency……”

At that, Fang Li felt a bit of guilt for once. Wu Yimei was thinking after him in every way, but he couldn’t treat him honestly in turn. He lapsed into thought for a long time, then smiled consolingly. “It’s just Du Meng, he won’t be able to kill this lord. Don’t worry.”

He still had the black jade talisman, so he truly wasn’t afraid of Du Meng. Besides, he still had to leave this life of his for Xie Huai. No matter what, Du Meng wouldn’t get his turn……

But Wu Yimei’s heart was still full of unease……

Fang Li stood up, asking, “Is there anything else?”

Wu Yimei was silent for a moment, then said slowly, “Before leaving, Du Meng went to go see Yuyi-jun.”

Fang Li raised an eyebrow and nodded. “This lord understands.”

………………………………………………

Xie Huai’s expression was detached as he sat in the middle of the room, rolling a go stone between his fingers. Before him was a go board, the pieces arranged in the final turns of a game.

Three days had already passed since Du Meng had left.

He should have been attacking the seal with a clear mind, but these days, what kept floating into his mind was those words Wu Yimei had said……

Whether a person liked someone or not was impossible to conceal. Even the most competent pretender should leave some traces and clues……

Fang Li seemed to comply with him in every way, but from start to finish, he kept his manners as well as his distance. When the two of them were alone, he was even more cautious, as if only fearing that Xie Huai might misunderstand that he was trying anything……

Although he said over and over that he was going to make Xie Huai obey him, he had never had a trace of affection or desire in his eyes. Xie Huai wouldn’t be unable to see this much.

But despite such clumsy and perfunctory acting skills, Wu Yimei still thought he liked him and would be harmed by him. How ridiculous…… No matter how many times a lie was repeated, it wouldn’t become truth.

Du Meng had already left and taken all his people.

Fang Li also hadn’t come in several days……

Xie Huai lowered his eyes and gave a low laugh. He didn’t care, anyways. It was better if he didn’t come.

He could get some peace and quiet.

He didn’t have to have his thoughts disturbed by some meaningless person……

The top priority right now was to break through the seal. He’d been stuck at the peak of Soul Formation for several years, but while being trapped here this time, through attacking the Soul-Sealing Pins and thus continuously condensing the energy in his veins, he could faintly sense that on the day that he broke through the seal, he would also be able to break through to the Void Refining stage.

When the time came, he would be sure to personally end that devil—

Just then,

Xie Huai’s expression suddenly changed, and he saw Fang Li push open the door and enter.

For a rare moment, his expression froze, then recovered its usual indifferent, tranquil state. His voice was cool and clear. “Why is Your Excellency here?”

Fang Li was just about to speak to Xie Huai when his gaze swept through the room and noticed a small porcelain bottle on the low table in the corner. The little white porcelain bottle was casually placed there without the slightest intent of concealment…… Was this the poison Du Meng had brought? Just what kind of poison was it? After all, something that could poison Yan Sui definitely couldn’t be some ordinary goods! Fang Li gave it another glance with some curiosity.

Moreover, in the original story, Xie Huai hadn’t taken it. How come he’d accepted Du Meng’s poison this time?

The corner of Xie Huai’s lips quirked, the look in his eyes uncaring.

He’d intentionally placed it there and hadn’t had any thoughts of hiding it from Fang Li from the start. Of course he wasn’t afraid Fang Li would misunderstand…… It was only that these days were a critical period for breaking through the seal, and he didn’t want outside matters to cause any trouble, that was all. He hated all kinds of meaningless things.

Fang Li only glanced at it before withdrawing his gaze. Asking Xie Huai about it definitely wouldn’t be suitable. As for whether Xie Huai would use the poison…… What a joke, asking Xie Huai to poison someone was less promising than waiting for pigs to fly. Besides, since he dared to put it there, he obviously had a clear conscience.

Wu Yimei had been so deeply worried and had entreated him to be careful of Xie Huai. He had really been overthinking things.

Fang Li placed his hands behind his back and strolled forward. Looking at the go board on the table, he laughed leisurely. “Yuyi-jun is in good spirits.”

With a sweep of his sleeves, Xie Huai knocked the board on the table into disarray.

This person hadn’t come in such a long time. Was he really only here to say this?

Xie Huai had always known the other’s intentions and hadn’t minded playing along with his act, wanting to understand his true thoughts…… But today, right now, he suddenly felt a bit like he didn’t want to continue.

Didn’t want to continue this pretense of civility, didn’t want to see his empty displays of emotion and fake thoughts……

Du Meng has already left. Who are you still acting for?

An ice-cold distance appeared in the depths of Xie Huai’s pitch-black eyes. He said slowly, “I’m tired. If Your Excellency doesn’t have anything else to discuss, please return.”

Fang Li sighed. How could he do that? He really did have an important matter today.

The issue of the love parasite couldn’t be put off any further. It was just that the method of planting the love parasite made things a bit awkward for Fang Li, so he’d kept delaying it all these days……

But thinking on it again, it wasn’t actually such a big deal, he was the one who couldn’t open his mind.

Fang Li covered his mouth with his hand and coughed lightly. “There is something.”

Xie Huai lifted his eyes to look at him.

Fang Li said, “This lord has given you a considerable amount of time. Today, this lord came to ask if Yuyi-jun is done thinking things over?”

Xie Huai drew a blank for once. Thinking over what?

As soon as Fang Li saw Xie Huai’s expression, he thought, great, alright! These days had gone by so casually that Xie Huai couldn’t even remember the reason Fang Li was keeping him in the demonic palace!

If he didn’t fix things up now, it would be too late.

Fang Li said in a deep tone, “Being this lord’s—this matter, are you done thinking it over?”

Xie Huai, “……”

Oh, so it was about that…… If you hadn’t brought it up, I’d have thought you didn’t even remember it yourself.

Truly ridiculous to the extreme. You’ve never even once thought about making me answer, so what are you bringing it up today for? It couldn’t be that you’ve been so unbearably bored these days that you’ve come to look for entertainment?

Xie Huai’s expression became more and more frigid. He stood up abruptly and was just about to open his mouth to send this visitor away, when he saw Fang Li suddenly step forward.

The ashen, pale-faced man pressed closer, unexpectedly closing the distance between them and making Xie Huai’s entire body tense. His fingertips curled slightly for a moment, and he thoroughly held back the instinct to strike out. There was no killing intent, Fang Li wasn’t trying to kill him……

Xie Huai lowered his eyes. At such a close distance…… He could almost see the bluish-green veins under his pale, wan skin, seemingly containing a sort of translucent fragility. Those lips were almost devoid of blood, like faded rose petals waiting to be soaked by the rain and dew, awaiting the moment they could blossom again……

The man’s long, delicate eyelashes quivered softly, his murky eyes fixed steadily on him. His mouth opened and closed, the light, fluttering voice falling into Xie Huai’s ears. “This lord’s patience has a limit.”

Is that so?

Xie Huai’s eyes darkened, and his throat rolled. It looks to me like you have patience to spare.

What kind of act was this today?

Since there’s no affection, then don’t keep getting close, don’t do things that would make others misunderstand……

Xie Huai suddenly felt a trace of irritation in the depths of his heart. He had always been tolerant and accommodating, but right now, he didn’t want to concede anymore. Aren’t you pretending to like me?

Xie Huai lowered his eyes and stepped close, his voice hoarse and seemingly with a bit of teasing. “Oh? So what?”

If I don’t agree, what do you even plan to do?

A hint of derision appeared in the depths of Xie Huai’s eyes. He was already certain that Fang Li wouldn’t do anything. It would only be another set of lies for the sake of putting on a show of things, and then leaving. It had been like that every time before, and Xie Huai was already accustomed to Fang Li’s routine, never anything new……

He calmly waited for this person to leave, but just at that moment, a faintly cool kiss landed softly on his lips.

Xie Huai’s pupils shrank in disbelief.

………………………………………………

The Author Has Something to Say:

Xie Huai: (Pupils shaking) I thought he wouldn’t dare!

Fang Li: Caught off guard GET✓