Chapter 47 Dark and Despicable

Chapter 47: Sinister and Underhanded

“Why am I not dead yet?!”

Chu Ji had been entangled with Jun Xueyi on this bed for three days now. Three days ago, he felt like he only had two days left to live, and now, three days later, he still felt like he had two days left!

These three days had been utter chaos. His clothes were on and off, over and over again.

And none of them were his own clothes—they were all Jun Xueyi’s.

One set after another.

At first, he wouldn’t let Jun Xueyi kiss his face, but later, Jun Xueyi kissed him everywhere, even his lips, and by then, Chu Ji was beyond caring.

The fur at the base of his tail was soaked in foamy water. At first, Jun Xueyi washed it for him, but after a patch of fur came out, he stopped. Now the water had dried, matting the soft fur into clumps.

Jun Xueyi had even bitten the ears on his head a few times.

He hadn’t bitten Jun Xueyi, yet Jun Xueyi had bitten him.

Now, he was too weak to even bite Jun Xueyi. All he wanted was to sleep. He kicked and pushed, trying to get the man off him, but his ankle was grabbed, and he was dragged back.

Chu Ji bristled with anger, “Jun Xueyi, I’ll kill you.”

Jun Xueyi touched the bell on Chu Ji’s ankle, producing a clear, ringing sound. The moment Chu Ji heard it, his entire body trembled uncontrollably.

Only Jun Xueyi could make this bell ring. It had been silent the entire time it was on him, and since it had little presence, he hadn’t paid it much attention.

But whenever Jun Xueyi got close to him, especially when Jun Xueyi was particularly worked up, the bell would ring. Every time it rang, Chu Ji knew that Jun Xueyi, that damn bastard, was up to no good.

He tried to shrink back, but he couldn’t get far. His legs were still in Jun Xueyi’s grasp. Staring at the other’s muscular body and a certain persistently energetic part, he lifted his foot and kicked with a personal grudge.

He was rewarded with a muffled groan from Jun Xueyi.

That damn bastard—his cultivation was so high that his body had been tempered by spiritual energy countless times. Chu Ji couldn’t break him, but he could make him hurt. He warned the man, “Jun Xueyi, don’t be a bad dog.”

He never used to dislike dogs, but now he hated bad dogs.

Especially a certain one that went crazy and wouldn't obey him.

Jun Xueyi kissed the Young Master’s thigh, the pain making him breathe heavily. Chu Ji had held back—if the Young Master, whose body had mostly recovered, had kicked with full force, he would have been sent flying off the bed.

But even with restraint, the kick was only softened enough not to kill him. It still hurt so much that sweat rolled down his temples. Jun Xueyi gripped the other’s calf tightly, dragging him back again, then mercilessly bound him with a ring of solidified spiritual energy.

Chu Ji struggled briefly, but without his spiritual power, he couldn’t break free at all.

He couldn’t even melt this ring!

Gritting his teeth, he shouted, “Jun Xueyi!”

Jun Xueyi kissed him gently. “Less release is better for you.”

Chu Ji kicked wildly, not caring where his feet landed—legs, waist, face, wherever he could reach. In a moment of impulsiveness, he blurted out, “Why don’t you block yourself?!”

Jun Xueyi grabbed Chu Ji’s foot and rested it on his shoulder, then leaned down to kiss Chu Ji’s lips, agreeing readily, “Alright, I’ll block it.”

Chu Ji snapped back to his senses. “...”

He trembled for a while, lips quivering, and backtracked, “N-no, don’t.”

This man was insane, a complete lunatic. He could hold back, and over the past three days, he hadn’t hesitated to use spiritual energy to suppress himself, torturing both of them in the process.

The more he held back, the more aggressive he became, leaving Chu Ji with no peace.

His tailbone had been numb for three days, and he couldn’t even lift his tail. Jun Xueyi loved playing with his tail.

He had no idea what kind of array was set up in the room, but it had restored most of his body. Otherwise, it wouldn’t just be numbness—he’d have lost all sensation.

Jun Xueyi rubbed the back of Chu Ji’s neck, pressing his cheek against Chu Ji’s as he coaxed, “Bear with it a little longer. It’ll be better in a couple of days.”

He didn’t want Chu Ji to suffer either, but Chu Ji’s body hadn’t fully recovered yet. They just needed to wait a bit longer.

Chu Ji didn’t know what they were waiting for. The first taste of this had been sweet, but endless pleasure with no relief turned it into a mix of ecstasy and agony. He bit Jun Xueyi’s shoulder hard enough to draw blood, but it still didn’t quell his anger.

He was furious.

Lifting his hand, devoid of cultivation, he resorted to the most primal method—unsheathing his claws and using Jun Xueyi’s shoulders and back as a scratching post.

Red marks streaked across the skin.

Jun Xueyi didn’t make a sound, his kisses remaining gentle and slow.

Chu Ji grew tired of scratching and asked, “What exactly have we been cultivating through dual cultivation?”

His meridians had been repaired on the first day by two spiritual flowers that bloom once every hundred years. So why, after three days of dual cultivation, did he still have no spiritual energy at all?

And why wasn’t he dead yet?

Would another three days pass, and he’d still have three more days to live?

Wasn’t Jun Xueyi a pure Yin constitution, the perfect cultivation vessel?

After three days, there were still no results.

Meanwhile, there wasn’t a spot on his body left untouched—Jun Xueyi had truly kissed him everywhere.

Chu Ji grabbed Jun Xueyi’s chin. “I’m asking you.”

Jun Xueyi knew Chu Ji wasn’t truly angry about the act itself—the Young Master simply despised the uncertainty of death.

After three days of indulgence, he was no longer willing to cooperate.

He kissed Chu Ji tenderly, offering no explanation that the other wouldn’t die.

If the Young Master knew his life depended on someone else, he would be unhappy. They just needed to wait a little longer.

He lowered his head and asked earnestly, “Little Demon Lord, do you like me a little more today?”

Chu Ji froze, momentarily speechless.

Jun Xueyi gazed into Chu Ji’s eyes, meeting his impatience and the deep-seated confusion about death lurking within.

He lowered his head submissively, rubbing his cheek against Chu Ji’s chin, and whispered softly, “It’s alright if not. I’ll ask again next time.”

Chu Ji used to think Jun Xueyi’s affected, nauseatingly sweet and gentle tone deserved death, but now, Jun Xueyi’s voice was genuinely tender—so tender it felt as though Chu Ji’s affection was something immensely important to him.

Jun Xueyi didn’t move, holding him quietly as they lay together.

Lying in the other’s embrace, uncertainty flickered in Chu Ji’s eyes.

Does it really matter whether Chu Ji likes Jun Xueyi or not?

If he likes Jun Xueyi, what will happen?

If he doesn’t like Jun Xueyi, can Jun Xueyi not dual cultivate with him? Impossible. Jun Xueyi clearly won’t let him go.

Jun Xueyi had said long ago that they were inseparable, destined to be entangled.

But... he was going to die.

He should be dying soon.

Originally, he knew he only had two days left to live, but now he had survived the third day. Checking his lifespan again, he still had two days left—though he didn’t know when those two days would truly end.

Does liking or not liking even matter anymore?

He couldn’t figure it out. His hand was grabbed by Jun Xueyi, and the Red Thread of Fate between them was revealed. Jun Xueyi touched the bell on his hand and said, "I beg you, like me, even a little."

Chu Ji thought to himself that as someone so wicked, if he hated someone, he would naturally do the opposite of whatever they wanted.

"No," he leaned into Jun Xueyi’s grip and refused without hesitation. "I won’t. I just don’t like you, and I don’t want to like you."

After saying this, he felt the back of his neck being gently squeezed—not hard.

He waited for Jun Xueyi to beg him, or for Jun Xueyi to sneer coldly as he did when they first met, saying, "Whether you like me or not doesn’t matter."

But Jun Xueyi didn’t say anything. He just gently pinched him, pulled him into his arms, and pulled the blanket over them.

Chu Ji was held with his back to Jun Xueyi. He couldn’t see Jun Xueyi’s face, only feel the hand around his waist stroking his abdomen.

He frowned. "Aren’t you annoying? Stop touching me."

Jun Xueyi didn’t speak, nor did he let go.

Suddenly irritated, Chu Ji swatted Jun Xueyi’s hand away, sat up, and dug his fingers into him without restraint. "Jun Xueyi, you’re really detestable."

He saw Jun Xueyi looking at him, an unreadable expression in his eyes.

After a moment, he released his grip. "Get lost. I don’t want you anymore."

So damn annoying.

Day after day, asking about liking or not liking—even if he didn’t like him, hadn’t he still practiced dual cultivation with Jun Xueyi? It wasn’t that he’d been fickle; he just didn’t have long to live. He didn’t even know when he would die. He didn’t have the chance to be fickle.

If he had known earlier that Jun Xueyi liked him, he would have found a new pretty face every day just to make Jun Xueyi secretly eat his heart out with jealousy.

Chu Ji was dissatisfied. Three days of acceptance had exhausted his patience.

He glared coldly at Jun Xueyi’s face.

In his heart, he blamed the heavens. Since it had destined him to be Jun Xueyi’s rival, the final stepping stone, why give Jun Xueyi such a handsome face?

Without that face...

Jun Xueyi moved, interrupting Chu Ji’s train of thought. His hand under the blanket tightened.

Seeing Chu Ji tense, Jun Xueyi didn’t comfort him. Instead, he gently lowered his head and buried his face against Chu Ji’s waist.

Chu Ji: "!"

Jun Xueyi’s nose was pressing into his stomach.

"What are you doing?" His tone softened involuntarily.

Jun Xueyi’s voice was muffled. "Don’t be mad. I just want a little bit of affection, just a little is enough."

Chu Ji was silent for a moment, then laughed. "Do you even believe that yourself?"

Didn’t he know Jun Xueyi all too well?

This person’s possessiveness was already at full force, and what he hadn’t shown was a hundred times more than that. He couldn’t even stand a mere illusion, and now he was saying he only wanted a little affection? Did Jun Xueyi even laugh when he said it?

Jun Xueyi quirked his lips slightly but continued in that muffled voice, "I don’t believe it. Will you give me a little more?"

Chu Ji: "In your dreams."

Jun Xueyi looked up, the smile on his lips already hidden. He gazed at the person before him. "What would make you like me a little?"

"What do I need to do for there to be something other than hatred between us? There’s already enough hatred to go around. I want your love."

Chu Ji repeated the same words: "In your dreams."

"You ought to be satisfied with hatred." Before meeting Jun Xueyi, he had never hated anyone. As the future Demon Lord, anyone he disliked was already dead—why waste energy hating?

But this one before him couldn’t be killed, so he could only hate.

He lifted his chin, looking down on him. "If you weren’t the protagonist, you wouldn’t even have my hatred."

Hearing this, Jun Xueyi counted himself lucky to be the protagonist.

The very thing he once loathed had now become the only special thing he had in Chu Ji’s eyes.

Indeed, if he weren’t the protagonist, Chu Ji wouldn’t have sought him out.

But he was wretched—he wanted both hatred and love.

He would never be satisfied with this person.

Jun Xueyi liked Chu Ji like this. After all, from the very beginning, Chu Ji had looked down on him from such heights.

This was the Little Demon Lord.

He fought to keep a straight face and asked, "What would it take for you to give me a little love?"

Acting humble and pleading, begging for love.

Chu Ji happened to be won over by this act. "Ask me again when I’m in a good mood."

Jun Xueyi reached out to trace Chu Ji’s palm. "When will you be happy?"

Chu Ji glanced at him. "You ask too many questions."

Jun Xueyi couldn’t resist planting a kiss on his fingertip. When transformed into a human, the fingertips weren’t particularly long, just level with the finger pad. How was it that the claws hidden in the pads of his paws were so long when he transformed?

It wasn’t that he wanted to trim Chu Ji’s nails—he was just curious. How did his claws change?

Could it be that the demon form and human form weren’t interchangeable?

Jun Xueyi held his hand. "Then what would make you happy?"

Chu Ji remained silent, keeping a stony face that left Jun Xueyi to ponder by himself.

Jun Xueyi lowered his head again, this time kissing Chu Ji's palm. "What if I were to die?"

Chu Ji snorted coldly, thinking Jun Xueyi’s words could scare him. "Go ahead and die then."

He wanted to see how this wicked dog would actually die.

As for his destiny, even when completely dead last time, he revived.

Jun Xueyi lowered his eyelids and smiled. After talking for a while, the Young Master had calmed down and no longer felt upset. Jun Xueyi withdrew his restraining spiritual power and asked, "Shall we sleep?"

Chu Ji: "No."

Jun Xueyi nodded obediently. "Then let’s continue."

Chu Ji: "......"

"Fine, let’s sleep!"

Jun Xueyi grinned, lying down and signaling for Chu Ji to use him as a cushion.

Chu Ji lay down slowly. "Can you even fall asleep?"

That struck a nerve.

Jun Xueyi said leisurely, "I can sleep. Let’s rest."

Chu Ji stayed silent for a long moment before closing his eyes. Fine, I'll sleep!

After rolling around in Jun Xueyi’s arms, he transformed into his demon form, curling up into a ball to sleep.

What if he didn’t survive the night? He didn’t want to die naked.

The Little Demon Lord, who had been refined, beauty-loving, and clean his entire life, refused to entertain the idea. If he died, Jun Xueyi would have to dress and cleanse his body, and send him back to the demon realm... But if he really died, that madman Jun Xueyi would probably keep his corpse.

He’d preserve it by any means necessary, maybe even sleep with it every day. Chu Ji had shattered the jade pendant in that dead space, and it had been three days since they left with no demons showing up. That meant the jade pendant’s signal was trapped in that dead space and couldn’t transmit back.

If he died, he doubted the demon clan would even find out.

His parents had only him as their child. Better they didn’t know—let them think he was in secluded cultivation in the ancient secret realm for life.

The more he thought about it, the more he felt it was better to stay in his demon form. At least it was more dignified.

Just in case he really died and Jun Xueyi went off the deep end.

Seeing Chu Ji transform, Jun Xueyi picked up the cub and placed it on his chest. He gently held its tail—though the body was small, the tail was as long as in his human form, long enough to wrap around Chu Ji several times.

The white fur at the tip of the tail was snow-like.

The ears, however, were much smaller, matching Chu Ji’s current size.

Jun Xueyi wrapped Chu Ji’s tail around his wrist and rested his hand lightly on Chu Ji, earning a dissatisfied glare from those liquid gold eyes.

He removed his hand from Chu Ji and instead let one of Chu Ji’s paws rest on his own hand.

Noticing the Young Master was still displeased, he whispered, "I’m scared."

Chu Ji blinked, snorted, and closed his eyes.

Afraid of what?

Scared he’d die?

He didn’t believe someone of Jun Xueyi’s cultivation level couldn’t sense his life was at its end.

If he died, he wouldn’t become a ghost. Once you embark on the path of cultivation, you sever all connection with ghosts.

If he could become a ghost, he’d find a way to kill Jun Xueyi and make him become a ghost too, just to keep him company.

With these thoughts, he drifted into a hazy sleep.

Unaware, the array in the room glowed with a faint dark light.

Jun Xueyi remained still for a long time. He was greedy—he didn't just want hatred, he wanted love too.

So Chu Ji wouldn't escape.

Gently stroking the fur between Chu Ji’s tail, Jun Xueyi watched as moonlight streamed in, illuminating the very tip.

He lifted his hand, kissed it, then slit his wrist. A trickle of blood was drawn out, entering the small cub lying on his chest.

As he did this, he reflected on what debts he still owed.

After careful thought, he realized he’d even delivered the poisonous flower he promised to the grandson of the mayor of Bu Luo Town right after his resurrection.

Recalling everything, the only one left owed was his master.

Jun Xueyi placed Chu Ji on the bed. The array had already activated; there was no waking him now.

He summoned water to clean himself and tidied the room.

Finally, he gazed at the sleeping cub, turned it over, and buried his face in its belly, taking a deep breath. An opportunity like this was once in a lifetime.

He took another breath before fetching water to wash Chu Ji clean. The fur at the base of the tail was the hardest to clean, taking considerable effort to smooth out again.

Holding Chu Ji, Jun Xueyi retrieved a mask and put it on.

With no Chu Ji to look at him, he had no mood to show his face.

Carrying Chu Ji, he returned to the ancient secret realm.

The collapse of the three-story tower had clearly caused a huge commotion—the ruins were now surrounded by people.

Jun Xueyi’s appearance instantly sparked hope among the crowd.

"It’s Young Hero Jun! Young Hero Jun is here!"

"Please, Jun Xueyi, save people!"

Behind the mask, Jun Xueyi’s expression didn't change at all. He replied indifferently, "Oh."

He entered the three-story tower and found that many had forced their way inside.

Without the Divine Essence, the tower’s energy was chaotic. Entering was no longer as safe as before—the first floor could be a killing array, or one might be thrown into some unknown corner of the ancient secret realm, facing beasts of unpredictable strength.

Jun Xueyi spotted Lin Xu.

Lin Xu was currently trapped in a killing array.

He raised his hand to save the person; he didn't care if Lin Xu lived or died, but if this man truly died in the Triple-Layer Tower, Young Master would blame himself, right?

He might look like a demon, yet his heart is kind.

Lin Xu thought he was doomed. Staring at Jun Xueyi, still shaken, and then, seeing no one behind Jun Xueyi, his expression instantly changed. "You haven't seen Chu Ji?"

When the tower collapsed, he and Lin Yun came over and didn't see Chu Ji outside. From what he knew of Chu Ji, no matter how important the Divine Essence was, Chu Ji wouldn't leave his parents behind in the Triple-Layer Tower. He'd tried to contact Chu Ji through a messaging talisman but received no response.

There was only one possibility: Chu Ji had been captured by Jun Xueyi.

But Jun Xueyi had entered alone.

Tightening his grip on his sword, he asked again, "Where is Chu Ji?"

Jun Xueyi stroked the little creature in his arms, his tone casual. "Haven't seen him. Didn't he leave already?"

Lin Xu widened his eyes, torn between choices.

He stared at the small, all-black creature in Jun Xueyi's arms, unable to tell what kind of beast it was. It had a round head and body, with a white tip on its tail. His gaze swept over it, and he asked the next moment, "Is Young Hero Jun here to save the people in the Triple-Layer Tower?"

Jun Xueyi: "Yeah."

Lin Xu immediately cupped his hands. "The Linshui Sect has offended you before. I hope Young Hero Jun won't hold it against us. Please save those outside the Clear Wind Sect as well. I'm begging you."

Jun Xueyi looked up. "What about you?"

Lin Xu was simultaneously sending a voice transmission to Lin Yun, telling him to continue searching inside the Triple-Layer Tower while he went to find Chu Ji.

On one side were his parents, on the other his little brother.

With Jun Xueyi here, his parents should be fine. But if Chu Ji couldn't be reached through the transmission talisman, it meant he was either captured by Jun Xueyi or definitely in danger.

What Chu Ji was searching for was the Divine Essence, which was surely guarded by an extremely powerful demon beast.

His face turned pale—Chu Ji was definitely in trouble.

"I'm going to find my little brother." With that, Lin Xu left the Triple-Layer Tower.

Lin Xu had been pulled out of the formation by Jun Xueyi; leaving was easy.

Those who couldn't leave were the ones trapped in the trials inside the Triple-Layer Tower.

Seeing that the person had left, Jun Xueyi remained expressionless and began rescuing people, all the while drawing his own blood to sustain Chu Ji's body.

He saved over a hundred people, even unintentionally saving Ji Ling and Ji Yin.

Ji Ling pulled Ji Yin aside, both looking battered, and said, "Thank you..."

Jun Xueyi: "I didn't save you. No need to thank me."

Ji Ling's words caught in his throat.

Jun Xueyi grew impatient. Anything not involving Chu Ji annoyed him.

With one hand, he drew his sword, releasing the spiritual power of a Demigod. Sword energy stirred up gusts of wind, violently destroying everything inside the Triple-Layer Tower. Without the support of the Divine Essence, completely obliterating this place was not difficult for Jun Xueyi.

The whirling winds became a vortex, violently leveling the Triple-Layer Tower and throwing everyone inside out.

After confirming there were no living beings left in the Triple-Layer Tower, Jun Xueyi pulled out his sword and plunged it into the ground.

The moment the sword landed, a Sword Formation rose from the ground, making sure no one could enter the Triple-Layer Tower again.

After landing, he didn't even glance at the unconscious people on the ground. With his master's cultivation, they wouldn't die. As for the people of the Linshui Sect, he saw Lin Yun, now conscious, rushing over.

He turned to leave, using his spiritual power to project his voice throughout the secret realm. "The ancient secret realm will only stay open for two more weeks. Once the time is up, those who haven't left will bear the consequences."

As he finished speaking, someone grabbed his ankle.

He looked down—it was Lang Yue. He said tonelessly, "Eldest Senior Brother."

Lang Yue's first question was, "Have you become a god?"

Otherwise, why would the Triple-Layer Tower collapse? Why would the secret realm close?

Jun Xueyi yanked his boot away. "Not your concern."

As he was about to leave, he remembered something and took out a box from his storage ring. "For Master."

Now we're even.

The box had a restriction he placed on it; no one but his master could open it.

After saying this, he left decisively, holding Chu Ji.

Lang Yue stared at Jun Xueyi's figure, demonic energy flickering in his eyes, then fixed his gaze on the cub in the other's arms.

That demon again.

......

Jun Xueyi returned to his courtyard. The formation in the room was complete, and he brought Young Master inside.

He was despicable and twisted.

He wanted to use such a method to exchange for a possibility of love.

"Young Master, you can't escape me. You can only be entangled with me."