Chapter 49: Is the Forbidden Curse Malfunctioning?

Chapter 49: Is There a Problem with the Forbidden Curse?

Chi Yu had no reason to refuse Xie Xiyi’s request; ultimately, it stemmed from his concern for Chi Yu’s strength.

Such active and strict supervision also contained the Crown Prince's sincere encouragement.

Having agreed, Chi Yu faithfully carried out his duties, not wishing to disappoint Brother Xuan Ji.

As a result, their progress slowed.

Several days had passed since they left Mulian Town, and they hadn't encountered a single demon.

This was understandable, as they were accompanied by a Foundation Establishment stage demon, and Wu Yunsu still carried the strong, lingering scent of his mother, which showed no signs of fading, thus serving as a deterrent.

Xiao Qiu felt somewhat dissatisfied. More and more unfamiliar beings were joining the group, and Brother Aotian’s limited free time, apart from cultivation, was being divided among them. Now, the one often in Brother Aotian’s arms was that large insect!

Why?!

Just because it was small and had an infant-like face—no, it wasn’t actually a baby. Demons grow very quickly, and it had even eaten that greater demon. Even if it were only two years old, it could easily transform into a ten-year-old child like him, right? But it was extremely cunning, actually remaining an infant. Since the Crown Prince wouldn’t hold it, it could only be held by him or Brother Aotian.

Xiao Qiu hated how kind-hearted he was, not daring to secretly cause trouble for this demon—of course, he was also afraid of being discovered by Brother Aotian.

If a spirit beast competed for favor, that was one thing—a mere lantern was nothing to worry about.

But this demon was truly infuriating.

He was full of complaints but didn’t dare voice them, afraid that Brother Aotian would think he was petty.

In his limited time, Chi Yu would set aside a little to make a few extra changes of clothes for this creature. Considering that Wu Yunsu would later enjoy cross-dressing, he catered to its preferences by making it many colorful floral dresses. For the tops, he followed its future attire, crafting sleeveless, button-front garments. When passing through cities, he even bought it a pair of silver bracelets for its wrists and a silver necklace with a red-corded lock pendant to wear around its neck.

If one ignored the pale, soft insect-like body beneath the dress, from the outside, it truly looked like a wealthy family’s infant.

Xie Xiyi, who had initially suggested keeping this demon, now felt a vague displeasure and offhandedly remarked to Chi Yu, "There’s no need to spend too much effort on it."

To this, Chi Yu replied, "No, Brother Xuan Ji, you were the one who suggested taking it in. If you hadn’t spoken up, I would have killed it long ago. Since that’s the case, you must also take responsibility. I’ll handle its food, clothing, and shelter, and you can teach it some human ways, instill proper values in it so that its words and actions match those of ordinary humans. Only then can we truly reform it."

Xie Xiyi hadn’t expected that such a question would add to his responsibilities, so he said coldly, "It is unworthy of such effort from me."

Chi Yu said, "Brother Xuan Ji, just teach it. You can teach Xiao Qiu at the same time. Xiao Qiu is so young and has accompanied you to Zizai Continent—he probably hasn’t had much schooling, right?"

Seizing the opportunity to highlight Xiao Qiu’s presence, he didn’t wait for Xie Xiyi to respond and answered first, "Brother Aotian, His Highness has been teaching me whenever he has time."

To capture Brother Aotian’s attention, Xiao Qiu was giving it his all. He boasted, "‘The truly extraordinary are not the supreme ones; the supreme ones are merely ordinary.’ [1] This means that the more talented and gifted someone is, the more humble they are. Those who like to flaunt their uniqueness usually lack real ability."

"‘Those whose achievements overshadow their lord face danger; those whose fame fills the world receive no rewards. In places of fame and profit, taking a step back ensures safety, while pressing forward brings danger. There was a man named Tantai Mingmie who never took shortcuts.’ [2] In all matters, one should leave some room for others and not push things too far, otherwise, when faced with backlash, one will only lose more."

"‘It is impossible for humans to transcend delusions because everyone has base instincts. Food and desire are part of human nature. A clear mind and delusions are like the bright moon and dark clouds—they coexist. Sometimes the moon is obscured by clouds, but it isn’t always hidden. There will always be times when the clouds part and the moon shines brightly, illuminating the world. Thus, the process of cultivation is one of clearing clouds to reveal the sun.’ [3]"

"‘Even if one cannot cultivate to a very high level, one should still strive to be a person of highest virtue. The perfected person is selfless, the divine person has no achievements, and the sage has no fame.’ [4]"

He went on and on, making Chi Yu’s eyes shine with admiration—

Brother Xuan Ji truly was unmatched when it came to his own people. He was just as sincere with Xiao Qiu.

His initial impression had indeed been correct—how could someone who brought a child all the way to Zizai Continent be a bad person?

Moreover, he had really taken the time to carefully teach Xiao Qiu. Some of these principles sounded like things Brother Xuan Ji himself wouldn’t necessarily follow, so there was only one possibility: he was adapting his teachings to Xiao Qiu’s needs, and many of these principles weren’t necessarily about cultivation but about being a good person.

He had considered Xiao Qiu’s future after returning home and had prepared for both possibilities. If Xiao Qiu truly had no talent and couldn’t learn much in Zizai Continent, he would still be able to be independent when he returned home.

The more Chi Yu learned about the Crown Prince from the sidelines, the more he felt his image was unexpectedly noble.

Chi Yu’s gaze toward Xie Xiyi couldn’t help but sparkle with flickering light, filled with evident admiration and reverence.

Xie Xiyi was subtly pleased by his expression. Controlling the upward curve of his lips, he said coldly, "Xiao Qiu, stop showing off."

But Xiao Qiu quickly revealed his true nature, saying, "So His Highness doesn’t need to teach me. That way, we won’t waste his time—he needs to cultivate too! In my opinion, why not leave Wu Yunsu in a mortal city and hire a cultivator to take care of it? We can pick it up again after we finish our training. Brother Aotian, what do you think?"

Xie Xiyi couldn’t help but glance at him again. His mind had become quite sharp, but he was using it all for jealousy, which ultimately made him seem petty.

Chi Yu actually gave it some serious thought, but under Xiao Qiu’s eager gaze, he still shook his head and said, "No, that won’t work. After all, it’s a demon, and everyone would want to kill it. We can’t just leave it in a mortal city."

Although he wasn’t the one who suggested keeping Wu Yunsu, Chi Yu, who knew Wu Yunsu’s future, already felt a sense of responsibility toward this half-demon.

Xiao Qiu showed a disappointed expression, his plan having failed.

Chi Yu noticed this and reached out to rub Xiao Qiu’s little face, smiling as he said, "Xiao Qiu, are you jealous?"

Xiao Qiu’s face was squished out of shape, but he wasn’t angry. Mumbling, he asked, "What’s jealousy?"

Chi Yu said, "Jealousy is like feeling sour—it’s envy. It’s a common human emotion, but to me, you are definitely very important, so there’s no need for that. I will always like you."

As he said this, he leaned down and kissed Xiao Qiu on the forehead.

Xiao Qiu was stunned. He touched his forehead, and his face instantly turned red. Stammering, he said, "Brother Aotian, you kissed me? Why did you kiss me?"

Chi Yu said, "Naturally, it’s because I like you. Kissing is a way of expressing affection. I kissed you because I like you."

All of Xiao Qiu’s dissatisfaction instantly turned to dust. A joyful smile spread across his face as he said, "Brother Aotian, I like you too!"

Chi Yu bent down, smiled, and pointed to his own cheek. Xiao Qiu leaned in and gave him a loud, smacking kiss.

Xie Xiyi’s voice rang out, "Are you two free? If you are, go practice sword fighting."

Chi Yu glanced at him and suddenly laughed.

Xie Xiyi said with a straight face, "What are you laughing at?"

Chi Yu smiled and said, "Logically, I should share the affection equally and give Brother Xuan Ji a kiss too, but we’re both adults now, so it would feel a bit strange. So, I can only say it with words—Brother Xuan Ji, I like you too!"

Xie Xiyi responded coldly, "You like too many people. Such words don’t seem to carry much weight."

Chi Yu scratched his head, feeling as if he detected a hint of sourness, and couldn’t help but defend himself, "It’s not that many, is it? Brother Xuan Ji, you make it sound like I’m some heartless scoundrel."

Xie Xiyi refused to accept the unjust accusation, saying, "I never said that."

Chi Yu’s lips curved upward, revealing that deep dimple that seemed capable of holding a sip of wine. "The implied meaning can only be sensed, not put into words."

Xie Xiyi remained silent, his face cold.

Chi Yu thought to himself, well, even an older brother needs to be coaxed. He couldn’t show favoritism; he had to let Brother Xuan Ji know how much he admired and respected him.

He reached out and tugged on Xie Xiyi’s sleeve, saying, "Brother Xuan Ji."

Xie Xiyi said, "What is it?"

Chi Yu thought for a moment, then smiled again. He lifted Xie Xiyi’s sleeve and, under his gaze, gently kissed it. Raising his beautiful, captivating eyes to meet Xie Xiyi’s, he said with sincere clarity, "Brother Xuan Ji, I like you very much too. You have to believe me. I absolutely, absolutely mean it from the bottom of my heart, without a single false word."

In the past, Xie Xiyi wouldn’t have felt any stir in his heart from such words, but now, with his newfound discernment, every word and action of Long Aotian stood out vividly in his eyes.

The unsettling urge in his heart stirred once again, faintly. The consumed female demon seemed to have left behind some lingering side effects. With such nourishment, the Demon Heart was gradually growing almost uncontrollable—

His golden eyes darkened slightly. Without conscious intent, a slender, jade-like hand reached out and pinched Long Aotian’s cheek.

His cheeks were plump—incredibly soft, smooth, and delicate, softer than the finest silk. The sunlight shimmered, casting a faint golden glow across his face, making even the finest peach fuzz clearly visible.

His gaze drifted, settling on those tender red lips. His fingers still held a lingering memory of that subtle, moist sensation from before. His thumb moved to caress the full curve of his lip, then gently slipped inside…

“Brother Xuan Ji?” Chi Yu, his face being pinched, felt puzzled and called out. But seeing him motionless and solemn, as if engaged in something profoundly important, he awkwardly fell silent and voluntarily opened his mouth.

The finger, which had been testing the edge of his lips, accepted the invitation and naturally slipped inside.

Nearby, Xiaoqiu felt strangely uneasy. He glanced down at Wu Yunsu—the strange half-human, half-insect demon was also staring intently at them—and reached out to cover its eyes.

Xie Xiyi abruptly snapped back to awareness. A flicker of imperceptible confusion flashed through his cold eyes. He immediately turned his focus inward to his spiritual realm: it was the Demon Heart tugging at that aberrant impulse, stirring restlessly. The Buddha Bone within emitted a golden light, suppressing the Demon Heart once more.

“Brother Xuan Ji?” Chi Yu, with Xie Xiyi’s finger in his mouth, murmured, his eyes filled with bewilderment. “Hurry up, my saliva’s about to drip, you know.”

Xie Xiyi resisted the urge to pull away. Instead, he pressed forward, calmly probing for that forbidden curse.

His finger felt as if submerged in a hot spring—soft, slick, wet. Under his golden gaze, he could clearly see the other’s white teeth and tender pink tongue. The contrast of red and white held an indescribable, intoxicating allure.

It seemed… it made one want to bite?

The Demon Heart had already been suppressed—so why did he still feel such primal urges?

Xie Xiyi felt slightly perplexed but continued his exploration calmly, observing from within.

Under the influence of discernment, what strange thought made Long Aotian stand out so distinctly from others, every movement slowed, worthy of deep contemplation, like the essence of the Dao itself?

Xie Xiyi suddenly found it fascinating. Once discernment arose, it allowed him to perceive things he would normally never notice.

This experience was rather novel.

Chi Yu mumbled again, “Brother Xuan Ji, is it done?”

Xie Xiyi leaned closer, his golden eyes blazing with solar intensity, as if carrying a hint of feral desire to bite through his throat. He smiled faintly, the coldness in his eyes melting away, replaced by a subtle, soft coaxing tone. “Not yet. Be patient… Long Aotian.”

He pulled out a handkerchief and carefully wiped the drool from Chi Yu’s neck. Then, he wrapped the cloth around his chin and the corner of his mouth to catch any further spill.

Meanwhile, his other finger continued exploring, stroking the forbidden curse that floated up from the root of the tongue, then slowly moving downward. Two fingers slipped in, gently pinching the soft, wet tip of the tongue.

“Brother Xuan Ji…?” Chi Yu felt uneasy. “Is there something wrong with the forbidden curse?”

Xie Xiyi’s voice sounded again. “Don’t speak.”

He whispered, “It’s not the curse. It’s me. Let me contemplate for a moment, Long Aotian.”

Chi Yu: “?”

Huh?

Author’s Note:

1: “Let me contemplate for a moment”

(Translator's Note: The author is making a pun here, as Visualization sounds similar to a vulgar phrase in Chinese.)