Chapter 82

Chapter 82

It was common knowledge in the capital city that the Taicang Sect had an army of Yin soldiers under their command. Moreover, they had over seven hundred of them, making any location they were in a prime target for both the Daoist and Buddhist associations to crack down on.

Therefore, when faced with fellow Daoists from out of town who labeled them as heretics, the local Daoist priests felt a bitter sting in their hearts. What could they do? They were just as helpless. While the Cultivation Teaching was being relentlessly suppressed in Xin Nan, the Taicang Sect had become an officially recognized public institution. Despite how much their values were being challenged, they still had to go through the proper procedures and review the sect's application for membership.

Enough said, enough said; it was all too painful to dwell on.

After coordinating with the local police department, both parties registered this spontaneous anti-heresy campaign and, as time was running out, boarded buses arranged by the local Daoist Association to head to a hotel for rest.

Wei Xi was exhausted. Wrapped in the warmth of his down jacket, he felt even more drowsy and yawned several times during the journey. Before he knew it, he had fallen asleep with his head leaning against his disciple's chest.

He lifted the large hood off his head and glanced outside the window. "Have we arrived?"

His second disciple responded with a soft "Mm-hmm" from above.

The disciple wasn't wearing a coat either, only a plain black sweater. The combination of his yang energy and the fluffy softness of the wool against Wei Xi's cheek made him feel lazy. Leaning against his disciple, he asked, "Where are we?"

His tousled hair was gently combed, and Unity Yi's eager answer came from the front. "Whoa, Master, it's a hot spring resort! The Xin Nan Daoist Association is loaded. Should we form a group to soak in the springs later?"

Xin Nan is located southwest of the capital city. Despite its modest size, its economy doesn't lag behind, mainly driven by tourism. Apart from its picturesque mountains and rivers, the city's numerous hot spring resorts are the biggest draw for visitors.

Upon hearing "hot springs," Wei Xi's gaze immediately shifted to the window. Sure enough, he spotted the hotel's signboard adorned with large letters advertising this feature.

Unlike the deserted Mount Maohua, this place was bustling with tourists even in winter, regardless of holidays. The guests in the lobby were momentarily confused as they witnessed a group of identically dressed Taoist priests alight from a bus at the entrance.

They promptly whipped out their phones to snap photos and share on social media: "LOL, times have changed! Monasteries now offer such luxurious perks; the masters are on a collective hot spring retreat!"

"Wow, I'm envious! In our miserable workplace, not only have we never been treated to hot springs, but we haven't even had a foot bath. What's the point of staying? I might as well become a Taoist priest!"

The bizarre yet amusing scene immediately sparked a flurry of discussion online. Unity Yi soon stumbled upon it on Weibo, where he liked the post and passed the screen to the Taoist priests around him. "We've been secretly filmed, and we're even on the trending topics list!"

The Daoist priests from the Capital's Daoist Association were speechless at netizens' speculation about the good treatment in their temples: "What group tours to hot springs? When has our association ever organized a travel activity?"

"Scholars of cultivation lead a frugal existence. With the modest membership fees our association collects, and without any government funding, we barely have enough to cover the expenses for a few annual gatherings. Let alone traveling, we've never even indulged in something as simple as foot baths."

Having vented, he then grew wary: "This isn't good. Our movements might now be completely exposed to the eyes of the Cultivation Sect."

Elder Nian from Xin Nan waved his hand dismissively. "Don't overthink it. The Recluse Sect is well-informed. In previous years, no matter how covert our local law enforcement's crackdown operations were, they always found out beforehand. This time is likely no different. From the moment you set foot in Xin Nan, they've had eyes on you."

The Daoist masters from the capital found it inconceivable. "How is that possible? Could it be those Yin soldiers they've been raising? But Yin soldiers shouldn't be able to approach Yang Realm enforcers, right?"

Daoist Master Nian shook his head. "Who knows? They're just inexplicably peculiar."

Little Fatty couldn't help but huff. "Or did you think my master's years of multi-level marketing were for nothing?"

Everyone: "......."

Oh, so it seems you take pride in engaging in pyramid schemes.

The group ignored him and, amidst the subtle gazes of the hotel staff and guests, they went to their respective rooms. As usual, the strongest among them, Unity Yi, took on the responsibility of keeping an eye on Little Fatty.

Despite his plumpness, Little Fatty was two heads shorter than Unity Yi. With one wrist cuffed by him, he was reluctantly pulled into the room. Before closing the door, Unity Yi called out to Wei Xi, "Master, we've been traveling all day. Why don't you come back after soaking in the hot springs for some rest!"

The room was decorated in traditional Japanese style, with two futons laid out on a raised tatami mat. Seeing the two futons that were mere inches apart, Wei Xi heard his second disciple's low voice behind him, "Are you planning to soak in the hot springs?"

Wei Xi had been invigorated by the cold wind when he got off the vehicle and wasn't feeling too sleepy now. He hummed in response as he began to remove his coat. He had never tried hot spring bathing before, and given how popular it was among tourists, he was naturally curious. "Que'er, would you like to join me?"

There was no answer from behind. Struggling with his coat, Wei Xi turned around only to find his disciple undressing as well. His movements were casual, effortlessly pulling off his black sweater to reveal the well-defined abdominal muscles and V-line hidden beneath.

The soft and fluffy cashmere fabric nestled in the slender fingers of his disciple, creating a stark contrast between the black cloth and the skin. With a casual toss, the garment landed on a nearby shelf. The bulging muscles on his arm and the blue veins beneath the skin rippled with his movement, imbuing the grotesque scars with a sense of vitality. "Let's go together."

Wei Xi found himself mesmerized by the silhouette of his disciple, illuminated by the light.

Tall and lithe, the disciple appeared lean when dressed, his exquisite face accentuating a youthful elegance that hovered between adolescence and young adulthood. Standing there motionless, he could almost give the illusion of being non-threatening.

But Wei Xi was well aware that it was merely an illusion. Beneath those clothes, every pore of his bare skin seemed to exude an unexpressed aggression.

Noticing Wei Xi's gaze, the disciple approached after discarding the garment and reached out to fix the stuck zipper. "Lift your arm."

Wei Xi lowered his gaze, his eyes grazing over the loose pants hanging loosely on the other's hips. Suddenly, he reached out to hook his finger around the belt.

The disciple's movement paused, and he reached out to gently press against the back of his hand, "Don't move around randomly."

Wei Xi lifted his gaze into the depths of the other's bottomless eyes, inexplicably recalling their intimate moment under the blanket on the plane. His breathing quickened slightly. "Que'er... I want..."

His fingers obediently traced along the curve of the other's waist, then lingered on the distinct muscles, gently outlining their shape.

The disciple gazed at him, his hand resting gently on the master's wrist, allowing him to move freely. Slowly, he leaned in, pressing the master against the wall bit by bit. With his other hand, he brushed aside the strands of hair that had fallen across the master's forehead, obscuring his eyes, and whispered, "What do you intend to do? Siphon my yang energy?"

Wei Xi gazed into his eyes, swallowing dryly as he involuntarily increased the pressure with his fingertips. He didn't know what he was doing, but instinctively knew, "No..."

"Not absorbing yang energy?" The disciple's head sank lower at the sound of his voice, his nose slowly brushing against Wei Xi's hair. Warm breath grazed his ear, "Hm? Then what do you want?"

Wei Xi shrank back from the heat, and in the next moment, a scorching and moist kiss landed on the nape of his neck. It was a series of tiny, dense kisses that traveled down to his collarbone, then upward to his throat. The disciple seemed to be interrogating him with his firm teeth and slippery tongue, sliding down to his chin, "Tell me, what do you want?"

Wei Xi was anxious, unsure of what he truly desired yet instinctively wanting more from the other. He could only squint and let out a confused moan amidst the disciple's bites, "Mmm..."

The disciple lifted his eyelids, raising his gaze. His tongue darted out, lightly tracing Wei Xi's lips. His stare was sharp and ruthless, "Say it."

Sweat trickled down Wei Xi's forehead, the heat in the room unbearable, making it hard for him to breathe.

Wei Xi wanted to answer, "I don't know."

Suddenly, a commotion erupted outside, a familiar cry piercing through the air, "Grab it!"

Like dousing a blazing flame with a bucket of cold water, his senses were partially restored from their entangled state.

Something seemed to have gone wrong outside!

Sure enough, someone immediately began knocking on the door. "Fellow Daoist Wei! Fellow Daoist Wei? Are you in there?"

The voice belonged to Daoist Feng from Fengnian Temple.

Wei Xi recognized it but didn't move. His disciple in front of him also paid no attention to the knocking and only gazed intently at him.

Their eyes met, and both of their breathing inexplicably quickened.

In the next second, Wei Xi felt his body lift weightlessly, as if his feet had left the ground.

His coat was roughly torn open and slid down to the floor with a soft rustling sound, blending with the sticky slurping noises. A fire ignited within his body, and he groaned softly as he clutched his disciple's neck, whose sudden loss of control was inexplicable. He opened his lips, allowing the other person to suckle deeply.

*****

Daoist Feng knocked on the door for two minutes before it finally opened. The one who answered was Wei Daoist's second disciple, who wore the same black sweater as before. His expression was cold, and his voice was unusually hoarse. "What is it?"

"Eh..." Daoist Feng felt somewhat intimidated by the disciple's sharp aura. He peered inside. "Where's your master?"

Just then, Wei Xi emerged from behind the disciple. "You're looking for me?"

Master Feng gazed at Wei Xi's appearance - he wasn't wearing a coat, his hair was slightly disheveled, his eyes were dazed, his cheeks flushed, and as he spoke, he used his fingers to wipe the corners of his mouth. His voice held a slight nasal tone, and every move exuded an indescribable laziness.

This laziness wasn't ordinary; it seemed infused with a sticky syrup, carrying a sweet, ambiguous aroma.

How... how did he suddenly become like this? Master Feng's face flushed inexplicably. "Wei, Wei Fellow Daoist, were you just taking a bath?"

Why did he look as if he was about to melt from being soaked in water?

Wei Xi licked his lips and shook his head. He walked over to his disciple and leaned his body lazily against his back. "What exactly happened?"

Only then did Master Feng realize the situation, and his expression changed. "It's like this, Fellow Daoist Quan was just about to go downstairs for a bath. When he was changing, he suddenly noticed someone peeping through his window!"

Wei Xi: "????"

Tuan Jieyi also emerged from his room at that moment, alarmed by the news. "Peeping... peeping on Elder Quan? Does this pervert have such peculiar tastes?!!"

Master Feng: "......."

"No!" Master Feng slapped his thigh. "Fellow Daoist Wei! We're on the third floor, the third floor!"

Wei Xi also reacted, "From the third floor window? That probably isn't a human."

Unity Yi whispered, "Anyway, whether it's human or not, their taste is quite heavy."

Feng Daoist thought of Old Quan Daoist's face and, for a moment, found the idea strangely reasonable. After dismissing the strange notion, he couldn't help but look at the tightly attached master and disciple pair before him, as if they were conjoined twins.

After Wei Xi leaned in, his cold-faced disciple's expression softened significantly. He had already gone back inside to fetch an overcoat and was carefully draping it over his master.

With one looking down and the other up, their gazes intertwined, creating an inexplicable aura that excluded everyone else. Something about the scene felt odd to Feng Daoist, though there was no time for further contemplation. The most important thing was still to find the thing that had been spying on Old Quan Daoist.

The commotion among the guests naturally drew the attention of the hot spring hotel. Many guests who didn't know what was going on became anxious when they heard about the peeping incident and rushed to the lobby. "What happened? Did they catch the peeping Tom? Who did it?"

Some guests who had arrived earlier answered them with subtle expressions, "It's said that a group of cult members were spying on the Taoists here for fun today. Have you heard of the Self-Cultivation Sect?"

There were locals present as well. Xin Nan was the headquarters of the Self-Cultivation Sect, and many locals were believers. They were disbelief upon hearing this. "How could that be?! How can the Self-Cultivation Sect be a cult?! Who were they spying on?!"

As they spoke, their gazes turned to Taicang Sect members, who had hurriedly come down from upstairs. Their eyes swept over Wei Xi and his striking second disciple standing behind him.

Suddenly, an angry old voice boomed from the lobby, "How dare they! I was almost completely undressed at the time! If I hadn't reacted quickly, I would've been seen completely naked!"

The believers' gazes swiftly shifted.

They saw Elder Quan, the Daoist priest, sitting in the hall, trembling with anger. Even the whiskers on his face were quivering wildly. "The Self-Cultivation Sect is clearly provoking us!"

Wrapped in a bathrobe, he seemed to be defending the innocence of a young maiden, his furry legs graceful in the moonlight.

The local believers of the Self-Cultivation Sect present: ".................."

Okay, this was too heavy a taste for them to swallow. They'd start by un-following this cult.

*****

It was evident that the one peeping at Elder Quan from the third-story window wasn't human. Elder Quan himself mentioned that when he threw a talisman, the figure let out a scream and fell from the windowsill. He quickly looked down and only caught sight of a tiny black shadow dashing away swiftly.

Everyone was certain now that it was the doing of the Self-Cultivation Sect. Little Fatty, the hostage, initially denied it, but after being beaten up by Unity and Righteousness, he wailed, "No, it wasn't a ghost soldier. What you guys mentioned... it should be... my master's spy..."

The Self-Cultivation Sect indeed had spies outside!

Everyone immediately pressed for more information, and from Little Fatty's mouth, they learned that the sect leader had somehow acquired a group of sentient demons and, after taming them, kept them under his command to gather news from Xin Nan's various regions.

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately saw the light. Initially, they had suspected that the undead soldiers were responsible, but they hadn't considered the possibility of it being supernatural creatures. However, these creatures, with their various forms and species, often possessed the ability to communicate with animals similar to themselves. With so many ubiquitous animals in the city – stray cats and dogs, wild birds, rats in the sewers, and insects in every household – their capacity to convey information far exceeded that of the undead soldiers. This also explained why the members of the Cultivation Sect were so well-informed, even able to anticipate the police's clearance operations.

No matter how impervious the police station was to malevolent spirits, it couldn't eradicate cockroaches with mere righteousness alone.

Immediately, everyone asked, "What method did you use to subdue them?"

Sobbing, Little Fatty said, "These monsters have attained sentience and wish to live as humans. My master helps them find jobs and prepare their identities. In return, they provide us with information."

These informants were like time bombs; how could the Taoist priests tolerate them? They immediately rose to confront him, demanding, "Tell us, where have you placed all these supernatural creatures?"

Little Fatty didn't know much either, only vaguely aware of a few. Sobbing, he said, "I, I'll take you to find it."

Thirty minutes later, the group escorted Little Fatty in silence, gazing at the construction site before them.

The construction site was bustling with activity even at night, with lights illuminating the area as workers toiled away. Amidst the noisy crowd, a thin, dirty-faced teenager was diligently lifting a large pile of bricks and carefully placing them onto a wheelbarrow.

Behind him, the foreman's urging could still be heard: "Dog Egg! Hurry up!"

The young man responded with a meek 'ah', adjusting his safety helmet as he did so. He then raised a hand to wipe away the sweat, revealing a delicate and beautiful face.

The Daoist masters present observed the aura of demonic energy surrounding it: "..."

Little Fatty explained, "This is a stray dog demon. It's stronger than an ordinary human, which is why it managed to get such a well-paid job. The wages here are much higher than those for other service staff or cleaners! That's why it's especially grateful to my master and works the hardest in providing intelligence."

Many of the Daoist masters who had experienced the exorcism ritual at Hua Maoshan silently turned their gaze towards Taicang Sect: "..."

Indeed, this was the most pitiful demon they had ever encountered.