Pei QianYue acted provocatively. The hidden implication in his words were also very blatant.

These vulgar rouge-covered courtesans, he disdained; he has always been only interested in one person. 

Who was right in front of him.

The smile on Feng Ci’s face faded slightly.

Discussing him in the same breath as brothel prostitutes? Who gave this asshole the nerve?

However, when facing Pei QianYue’s almost offensive conduct, Feng Ci didn’t evade or speak. As if noticing his lack of resistance, Pei QianYue lowered his head and leaned even closer. 

The place where they stood currently was special. There were plenty of people behaving intimately on this street. As a result, even though Feng Ci and Pei QianYue were standing together so closely, they did not attract the attention of any bystanders.

A sweet and honeyed fragrance of rouge permeated in the air. The courtesan, who had thrown the flower branch from upstairs, had already disappeared unknowing,  leaving only the view of bright red window curtains fluttering in the wind. A quick and lively JiangNan jive could be heard coming from the inside of the parlor.

Amidst red-light alleys and willow trees, life was like an intoxicated dream.

Pei QianYue has always been shameless. Trying to save face in front of him meant an automatic loss.

Therefore, as if competing with him in obstinance, Feng Ci stopped dodging and evading and just calmly watched as the other leaned closer and closer.

So close they were an inch apart. So close that their breaths mingled.

Pei QianYue’s breathing turned slightly chaotic.

A smile reappeared in Feng Ci’s eyes again. 

—He wanted to kiss him.

Demons(妖) were different from humans. Humans knew reservation and understood etiquette. The more they faced people they wanted to get close to, the more restrained and polite they became. But demons(妖) wouldn’t do that. Yao(妖) and Mo(魔) have heavy desires and lusted very straightforwardly.

From the initial approach, to the intensifying acts of intimacy, to the sex that’s bound to follow in the end.

This snake hatchling had pretended to be sanctimonious for a long time, but now he finally couldn’t take it anymore. 

Yet Pei QianYue didn’t continue to move closer.

He stopped at a distance only half an inch away from Feng Ci and said, voice soft and hoarse: “Not evading?”

Feng Ci, calm and unruffled: “You dare?”

“It’s not really if I dare or not……” Pei QianYue backed up slightly and raised Feng Ci’s chin with one hand. His fingers softly stroked Feng Ci’s cheek: “This face is not worthy of Master.” 

Feng Ci could hear the implication in his words.

— It’s also not worthy of being kissed by him.

To actually be disdained.

Feng Ci suddenly recalled back then, by the cold-water pool, when Pei QianYue was under the effects of the demon(妖) poison, he had also suppressed his basic instincts. 

At that time, Feng Ci had thought it was because this person didn’t completely lose his mind, knew Feng Ci’s true identity, and got scared at the last minute.

In reality, he was probably feeling scornful that this physical body wasn’t Feng Ci’s real body.

“Then get lost.” Feng Ci removed the flower branch in his hair and threw it at Pei QianYue, scolding: “Stay far away from me. How inappropriate if someone sees us?”

After saying this, he turned around and walked off. 

Pei QianYue didn’t catch that flower. The flower branch smacked him on the chest and then fell, rolling to the ground. He chuckled softly and crushed the flower branch into pieces beneath his feet before finally giving chase.

Feng Ci and Pei QianYue decided to visit the Broken Sword Manor. However, since they had bothered the Xue estate for many days, they originally planned to bid farewell to old Master Xue tomorrow first and then set out on their journey.

Yet news from the cultivation world already reached them bright and early in the morning.

When that piece of news arrived, Feng Ci didn’t even get up yet. 

Right now in the mortal realm, it was the transition period between Autumn and Winter. It had rained a bit during the night. The skies were still cloudy after the rain, so this was really a good time to sleep in.

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The body behind him, which was slightly cold all year round, seemed to have been warmed up after an entire night of mutual embrace. The warm and cozy sensation passed through the thin layer of garments between them, and felt exceptionally distinctive. As if afraid that he might run away, this person had also taken advantage of his larger size to wrap an arm around Feng Ci’s slim waist. His palm gripped Feng Ci’s wrist loosely.

Carefully enveloping Feng Ci completely within his arms.

Pei QianYue was really a very outrageous person.

During these days of sharing residence, naturally they couldn’t avoid the experience of sharing the bed. 

However, no matter how far apart the two people began before going to bed, Feng Ci always found himself in Pei QianYue’s arms the next day; and this embrace grew tighter and tighter by the day. Once during his afternoon nap, Feng Ci even specifically escaped to sleep on the little couch outside. Yet when he woke up from the nap, he had still been carried back to bed by this person.

Over time, he got tired of bothering with it and simply allowed Pei QianYue to do whatever.

It’s not like Xiao Hei hasn’t climbed his bed plenty of times previously already.

The sound outside the window still didn’t stop. Without even opening his eyes, Feng Ci called out quietly: “Pei QianYue.” 

“En?”

……This person was actually awake.

“Go open the window.” Feng Ci’s voice was filled with a heavy sense of drowsiness: “Your stupid bird is about to break the window pecking it.”

Pei QianYue didn’t seem too happy, but he still acknowledged: “Okay.” 

He only raised his hand slightly and the window blew open with a gust of wind. The messenger bird flew inside and landed directly on the head of the bed.

The little wooden bird raised its head and spat out words; it was Wen HuaiYu’s voice.

While Feng Ci and Pei QianYue avoided trouble in the last few days inside the mortal realm, the major and minor events within the cultivation world continued to occur unceasingly. The previous Immortal Alliance rebellion had just come to an end. Immediately afterwards, Pei QianYue commanded for the dissemination of the truth behind the massacre of the cultivation sects. For some cultivation sects, to call this a ground-shaking change was not even an exaggeration.

Under such circumstances, Wen HuaiYu naturally had plenty of things to report. 

Yet the messenger bird sent here to report important business was blocked outside the window while the grand and majestic Immortal Alliance Leader himself pretended to be asleep inside the room. How very outrageous as well.

However the person involved didn’t seem to feel like there was any problems in his behavior. While the messenger bird transmitted the refined and calm voice of a young man, Pei QianYue was busy drawing Feng Ci back into his arms., even nuzzling his head affectionately against the back of Feng Ci’s neck.

Giving off quite a “with a warm and soft beauty in his arms, this sovereign will not hold early court henceforth” kind of feeling.

“Stop playing around……” Still not fully awake from being disturbed by the noise, Feng Ci felt somewhat ticklish at being nuzzled by Pei QianYue: “Can’t you be humane?” 

As the revered and esteemed Saint Sovereign QianQiu, not only did he have to suffer being woken up bright and early in the morning; he also needed to do his best to concentrate and listen to the Wen HuaiYu’s message while dealing with such a clingy snake baby next to him.

Have you ever seen anyone as tragic as he?

“But I’m not even human.” Pei QianYue spoke right next to the base of Feng Ci’s ear, sonorous and tender.

Sending a jolt of numbness to Feng Ci’s scalp and waking him up completely. 

He grinded his teeth and sneered, saying: “Oh, then it looks like you don’t need to continue being a human either. How about I give you a hand and you can go back to being a snake?”

The head leaning against the back of his neck stopped moving and then withdrew.

Feng Ci said: “Tell it to repeat.”

The two people finally began to listen attentively to Wen HuaiYu’s news. 

The only humane thing that Pei QianYue did recently, was perhaps, to hand things over to Wen HuaiYu to manage.

After the past few days, Feng Ci discovered that this person was really quite capable. He handled things in a subtle yet appropriate manner, and with extremely high efficiency. Take the mess that resulted from the Immortal Alliance rebellion for example. Pei QianYue gave him half a month to deal with it, yet it’s only been a few days and he has already settled everything properly.

His skill was evident.

At the same time, Wen HuaiYu not only disseminated the information regarding the list of cultivation sects, he also sent people to contact the various cultivation sects on the list to discuss countermeasures together. 

“…… Currently, there are already 11 cultivation sects that intend to join the Immortal Alliance. 8 sects have decided to dismiss their disciples to lay low and avoid the spotlight for the time being. The rest are still observing, their attitudes are temporarily unknown.”

The occurrence of this kind of situation really wasn’t out of Feng Ci’s expectations.

Although the entire world knew that someone was actively opposing the cultivation sects right now, to make a list of cultivation sects and kill according to the sequence of names— this was really unimaginable and hard to believe. Moreover, it has only been one day since the news spread. Many cultivation sects were still in a wait-and-see state, which was extremely normal.

On the contrary, those sects that made their decisions in such a short time, they probably had plans already and were just seizing the opportunity to implement them. 

“However……” Wen HuaiYu suddenly said: “One of the cultivation sects made an announcement to the world today, that they absolutely won’t yield to that ominous force; that they want to call a gathering of all cultivation sects who wish to resist and discuss a unified investigation on the mysterious murderer.”

Feng Ci was stunned. A name abruptly appeared in his head.

“—It’s GuangLing’s Broken Sword Manor.”

Not surprising. 

Feng Ci thought.

This was truly something that young Manor Master would do.

This declaration from Broken Sword Manor was undoubtedly a statement of challenge to that murderer. However Broken Sword Manor has also already expressed clearly that they definitely won’t be joining the Immortal Alliance. Therefore, Wen HuaiYu sent this message over to ask Pei QianYue if the Immortal Alliance should intervene.

Wen HuaiYu’s report ended here. The little wooden bird perched on the head of the bed and waited for Pei QianYue’s reply. 

Pei QianYue was not in a hurry to speak. On the contrary, it was Feng Ci who said leisurely: “As expected of Manor Master Xiao Jue’s successor. This zealous and headstrong impulsiveness he has learned 100%.”

The Broken Sword Manor’s reputation was indeed prestigious. However, most of the cultivation sects that were targeted were small and weak. Even if they grouped up, it would still be hard to compete in strength with the Immortal Alliance.

Not to mention, how many of those cultivation sects will choose self-preservation instead was still unknown.

While everything was still uncertain, it really wasn’t smart for them to use such an announcement to elevate themselves into the limelight. 

Pei QianYue said: “But I don’t think this is a bad thing.”

Still held within Pei QianYue’s arms, Feng Ci felt slightly uncomfortable hearing the other speak so closely to his ear; he scooted slightly to the side before finally saying: “Of course this doesn’t count as a bad thing.”

When they were discussing the announcement of the list, this was only one drawback.

If all of the cultivation sects decided to save their own hide, not only would the murderer lose their target, Feng Ci and Pei QianYue would also lose their bait, as well as the opportunity to catch the murderer. 

This was also why Pei QianYue had a slight objection to the plan previously.

Although he was pretending to be very well-behaved in front of Feng Ci, he had a naturally coldblooded personality. With his personality, he really didn’t care how many people he needed to sacrifice or how many cultivation sects would get destroyed in the process to reach his objective.

If it were him, he’d probably have chosen to hide the information and use the innocent cultivation sects as bait.

However right now, Broken Sword Manor’s decision to step forth, undoubtedly, transformed themselves back into a bait once again. 

And they did it willingly.

Pei QianYue asked: “Master doesn’t seem to be surprised at this?”

“En?” Feng Ci was startled slightly, before hearing the implications beneath Pei QianYue’s words. He said with a smile: “What are you thinking? It’s not like I can predict the future. How could I have guessed that the Broken Sword Manor would do this? However…… there was bound to be someone who’d step forth amongst these cultivation sects. This isn’t too strange.”

Within this immense world, if everyone was only concerned with self-preservation and making compromises, then the cultivation world back then wouldn’t have been able to assemble a meager force to fight back against the demon(魔) clan and ultimately seize victory. 

When facing an undefeatable foe, some people might feel afraid. Some people might choose to escape. Some people might resign themselves to fate. This was all human nature.

However, there also must be some people, who’d straighten their spines, refuse to yield even in the face of death, and use their body and flesh to battle against fate.

This is why the human race can survive for centuries without extinguishing.

“In any case, we need to get to Broken Sword Manor as soon as possible.” Feng Ci looked down and said quietly: “What happened to Hanshan Mountain… once is enough.” 

Repeatedly slaughtering lives right under his eyes, did they take him for a fake Saint Sovereign QianQiu?

“En.” Pei QianYue agreed softly, saying: “We’ll go today.”

Although he said this, he didn’t move at all and on the contrary, pressed himself even closer against Feng Ci. The transitional nights of Autumn to Winter were cold. The two people were still covered by a blanket. The smallest movements were completely hidden beneath the thin blanket, yet the surrounding temperature seemed to increase unceasingly.

Feng Ci strangely felt it was hard to breathe. He turned his head and almost thought the heat was about to burn onto his face. 

But the more he evaded, the more Pei QianYue went for the mile. The latter clung to him calmly, without batting an eye, fingertips caressing Feng Ci’s smooth, fair white wrist.

Feng Ci: “…..”

He really knew how to torment people.

Feng Ci pressed his head against the pillow and spoke, voice slightly muffled: “Wen HuaiYu is still waiting for your reply.” 

That little wooden bird, which had been carved remarkably lifelike, was still perched on the head of the bed, a pair of pitch-black eyes staring at them unblinkingly. Yet Pei QianYue was still making sneaky little movements as if nothing was happening.

Feng Ci lamented, he was still far inferior to Pei QianYue’s level of shamelessness.

Pei QianYue said ‘oh’ and raised his hand to have the messenger bird fly onto his hand. He stated: “This Venerable One will personally head to Broken Sword Manor to deal with the matter. The Immortal Alliance has no need to intervene. As for the other cultivation sects, it’s fine for Sect Leader Wen to deal with them all.”

When he spoke seriously, his voice was no longer that purposely softened and obedient tone. It was both deep and heavy, sounding exceptionally pleasing to hear. 

Feng Ci has always liked this timber of his. Hearing it made his heart frisky like a monkey and his thoughts race like a cantering horse. However, immediately he heard Pei QianYue’s topic of discussion turn: “In the future, reports must not be earlier than 9am in the morning, and no later than 8pm at night. 1-3pm is not allowed either. Otherwise there will be consequences.”

Feng Ci: “……”

Before 9am, he couldn’t get out of bed. 1-3pm in the afternoon was when he needed his afternoon nap. Both of these he could understand.

But what’s going on with 8pm at night? The City Master didn’t even want to bother working after sunset??? 

However, Pei QianYue didn’t give Feng Ci a chance to question this. He made a hand gesture and sent that messenger bird off directly.

Then he turned around, wanting to wrap his arms Feng Ci again.

How could Feng Ci continue to allow him to take this advantage here? Rolling up the blankets and shrinking back, he said: “Shouldn’t you be getting up? You need to hurry and bid farewell to old Master Xue.”

Pei QianYue only gave a faint smile and said: “How come Master is not getting up?” 

Ha.

Asking a question that you know the answer to.

The most troublesome thing about this body was that it was young and vigorous, a properly developing youth. After being caressed and touched all over so bright and early by Pei QianYue, and then spoken to right against the base of his ears for so long, how could there be no reaction at all?

If it were his real physical body, perhaps he’d be able to control himself slightly. 

Feng Ci took a deep breath and didn’t want to argue with him: “You get up first. I will in a—”

Before he finished speaking, his voice suddenly trailed off to a stop.

Under the blanket, there seemed to be something touching him.

Ice cold and soft, it pressed directly against his scorching flesh, so chilly that Feng Ci almost bit his tongue. 

“Pei. Qian. Yue!”

He looked at the other. The other was still laying obediently in the same place, looking completely calm and unruffled amidst the chaos.

Feng Ci reached down to check, but didn’t grab anything.

That ice-cold feeling was like an invisible little snake, ignoring his clothes as it slid directly over his skin and flesh, causing a wave of tremors every time it passed a certain area. 

This was the trick Pei QianYue used on him the first time he visited LinXian Terrace.

“Isn’t it comfortable?” Pei QianYue’s voice actually still sounded very innocent: “Master…… is extremely hot. I want to help Master.”

Feng Ci grinded his teeth and forcibly squeezed out a slight smile: “Oh, is that so?”

The next second, there was a huge sound inside the room. 

The wooden folding screen not too far away was knocked over. After the green smoke faded, only a several meters long black snake remained on the floor.

The snake shook its head and slowly lifted it, as if slightly stunned from the crash.