Chapter 41

Chapter 41

A gentle breeze sent leaves twirling down. Auspicious Snow initially wanted to fly over but sensed the atmosphere between them was off, and decided to keep her distance, landing on the farthest branch.

Qi Wuyu reached out and caught a leaf. Holding it up against the sunlight, the veins shone amber in the light. He waited patiently for Liu Nanzhou to speak.

Liu Nanzhou still hadn't figured out when Qi Wuyu had learned the truth.

But now, that no longer seemed to matter.

He met Qi Wuyu's gaze. "I... can't say."

Qi Wuyu nodded. "Alright."

He got up and went back to his room. Liu Nanzhou watched his retreating back, feeling a hollow emptiness inside. He had a vague sense that Qi Wuyu was... angry.

This time, Liu Nanzhou couldn't make it right. Guessing that Qi Wuyu probably didn't want to see him right now, he spent the next few days avoiding him. Remarkably, they didn't see each other for three days despite sharing the same courtyard.

Qi Wuyu of course noticed Liu Nanzhou deliberately avoiding him. He was indeed a bit angry, but not at Liu Nanzhou—he was angry at himself for being unable to help Liu Nanzhou.

He wandered out of Fengsheng Wutong and went to find Shen You. "Well, Changxian, did you find anything?"

Yesterday, he had brought a small porcelain vial to Shen You, asking her to check what was in the sedative.

Shen You replied, "I do."

"What is it?"

"Frostweed."

"What is that?"

Shen You explained, "It's a demonic plant that only grows in the Demon Cave City, used to activate Demon Seeds." She asked, "Where did you get this medicine?"

"Pingyan Market." He tapped his fingers on the table, lost in thought.

"The Yanlu Clan again?"

Qi Wuyu shook his head. "No." He stood up. "Thank you. I'll take my leave."

Shen You's curiosity was piqued by his words, but before she could ask further, he was already gone.

Feeling pent-up, Qi Wuyu went to find Ying Nianling to spar. Ying Nianling was quite surprised; it had been a long time since they last sparred. They didn't use spiritual power, fighting hand-to-hand instead.

After a few rounds, Ying Nianling was having a hard time. Without using spiritual power, indeed no one in the Tianyao Sect was Qi Wuyu's match—not even Xie Yongdao.

Ying Nianling initially thought they would stop once they'd had enough. Who knew Qi Wuyu seemed to have taken the wrong medicine? Unable to hold his ground, Ying Nianling called for a halt. He realized Qi Wuyu had come to vent his anger, using him as a punching bag.

"What's wrong with you?" Ying Nianling handed him a jar of wine. "What's troubling you so much?"

Qi Wuyu took the wine and drank a large gulp. "Nothing."

Ying Nianling scoffed. "Suit yourself."

He drank with Qi Wuyu all afternoon. By the time Qi Wuyu returned to Fengsheng Wutong, it was nearly dark. The flowers in the courtyard shimmered with a cold light under the moonlight. He saw Liu Nanzhou feeding Auspicious Snow in the yard. Moonlight filtered through his hair, casting a long shadow on the ground.

Hearing Qi Wuyu return, Auspicious Snow flapped her wings and flew over. Liu Nanzhou turned to leave.

Qi Wuyu called out, "Stop."

Liu Nanzhou halted his steps.

"Turn around. How long are you going to avoid me?"

Liu Nanzhou turned around and looked up at him. Qi Wuyu was momentarily stunned, realizing that after not seeing him for a few days, he actually missed him a little.

"Why are you avoiding me?"

Liu Nanzhou said softly, "I thought you were angry."

Qi Wuyu shot back unreasonably, "When did I say I was angry? Besides, if I'm angry, you avoid me?"

Liu Nanzhou: "I was afraid you'd find me annoying."

Qi Wuyu: "..."

He was left speechless, knowing he was in the wrong. So he sat down and remained silent for a moment. "I'm not angry at you. I just feel like I didn't take good care of you."

Liu Nanzhou's eyes flickered slightly.

Qi Wuyu resignedly said, "But what's done is done. I don't have the ability to go back ten years and raise you all over again."

Just as Liu Nanzhou was about to speak, Qi Wuyu raised a hand to stop him. "You don't need to comfort me. I know what I'm like."

Liu Nanzhou promptly closed his mouth.

Qi Wuyu leaned back in his chair and asked, "Do you think your Heart Demon..." He searched for the right words. "...appeared on its own? Or is it possible that something external catalyzed it?"

Liu Nanzhou fell silent for a moment. He had thought about this question because he believed he harbored not a single improper thought toward Qi Wuyu. He didn't expect any outcome nor crave any response. He only wanted to stay peacefully by Qi Wuyu's side. Such a modest wish shouldn't be enough to form a Heart Demon.

But even if it was due to an external force, so what? It was indeed his own improper thoughts that led to the Heart Demon. Ultimately, it was his own flawed mentality that gave others an opportunity.

Seeing that Liu Nanzhou hadn't spoken for a long time, Qi Wuyu looked up at him. "Hmm?"

Liu Nanzhou snapped back to reality and nodded. "Yes."

"You started having trouble sleeping after we descended the mountain and entered Golden Que Valley, right? So you were probably tampered with around that time. I suspect it was that Horn-tailed Red Spirit. It had demonic energy inside it. It touched your blood, likely planting a Demon Seed in your body then." Qi Wuyu closed his eyes, as if recalling something, his tone carrying a hint of weariness as he spoke bit by bit. "But a Demon Seed needs nourishment. If it cannot grow for a long time, it will feed on the spiritual veins and essence-blood within your body until you die."

Liu Nanzhou had also considered all this.

"At that time, someone 'coincidentally' came to deliver nourishment to you. Thus, the Demon Seed in your body was stimulated, amplifying the emotions in your heart and turning into your Heart Demon."

Liu Nanzhou looked at him, somewhat incredulous. "You mean... Mo Chen?"

Qi Wuyu opened his eyes and smiled. "From this perspective, it seems he even saved your life. It's just unclear whether he had a hand in the Demon Seed matter."

Liu Nanzhou wasn't foolish either. Upon careful consideration, this made sense and could better explain why Mo Chen was unaffected after drinking the Pepper Flower Wine.

For some reason, Liu Nanzhou felt an inexplicable reluctance to admit this. "He's a demon?" He shook his head. "But I never sensed any demonic aura from him."

Qi Wuyu said, "Perhaps he isn't, but he's definitely working for the demon race. I asked Changxian. The calming medicine he gave you contained the demonic Frostweed."

After saying this, he let out a self-mocking laugh. "And I was the one who made you take it. You really should hate me."

Liu Nanzhou said, "That's not true!"

Qi Wuyu didn't know about it back then. How could it be blamed on him? Even if Qi Wuyu had done it intentionally, he wouldn't hate him.

Qi Wuyu stood up, raised his hand hesitantly, then still ruffled Liu Nanzhou's hair. "It's my mistake, but you're the one who has to suffer."

Liu Nanzhou shook his head. "You're not wrong." He said, a bit urgently, "Not consuming it would also kill me. The Heart Demon formed because I myself had... had delusional thoughts. It's not your fault."

Qi Wuyu found it a bit funny that the two of them were stuck arguing over whose fault it was. He chuckled, "Alright, neither of us is at fault. The fault lies with the demons. Next time we encounter them, your master will avenge you, stuffing them all back into their mothers' wombs to be remade from scratch."

Liu Nanzhou: "..."

"It's getting late. Go get some rest."

"Mm."

The two returned to their respective rooms. That night, Qi Wuyu slept restlessly. He faintly heard noises coming from Liu Nanzhou's room. Grabbing his outer robe and draping it over his shoulders, bathed in moonlight like water, he knocked on Liu Nanzhou's door.

There was no response. Qi Wuyu pressed his ear against the door and heard Liu Nanzhou sounded off.

His expression darkened. "If you don't answer, I'm coming in."

Qi Wuyu pushed the door open abruptly and saw Liu Nanzhou sitting in meditation on the bed, covered in a light sheen of sweat, spiritual energy circulating rapidly around him, the mark on his forehead flickering in and out of sight.

Qi Wuyu was startled. What was going on? Hadn't he been perfectly fine since returning? Had something he said today triggered him?

"Xiao Zhou!" Qi Wuyu gently shook Liu Nanzhou.

Liu Nanzhou showed little reaction, only muttering, "No!"

Qi Wuyu frowned. No to what? Was he talking to the Heart Demon?

At that moment, Liu Nanzhou's Spiritual Platform was utter chaos. The Heart Demon had conjured various versions of Qi Wuyu surrounding Liu Nanzhou—with hair loose, with hair tied up, leisurely as usual, dressed like a young nobleman when going out... and even one with clothes half-undone.

As soon as the Heart Demon spoke, all these "Qi Wuyus" chimed in together. Liu Nanzhou was both furious and unable to strike them down.

"See, he even knows you have a Heart Demon. Wouldn't he know that his own image is the source of it?"

Liu Nanzhou closed his eyes, refusing to look at them. "Shut up!"

Liu Nanzhou's mind wavered. "No!"

"You don't want to?" The Heart Demon leaned close to his ear, whispering against it, "Then why don't you dare look at me?"

Liu Nanzhou's eyes snapped open, and Shejiang Sword thrust out. The Heart Demon dodged as if anticipating it, laughing, "Why so angry? I look exactly like him. You can pretend I am him. I can give you anything."

"You're not worthy."

Qi Wuyu watched as Liu Nanzhou seemed to grow increasingly agitated, his body becoming scalding hot. Qi Wuyu's own soothing spiritual energy was utterly useless.

Qi Wuyu was seething. He was determined to see what mischief that Heart Demon, which looked exactly like him, was up to!

A wisp of Qi Wuyu's Divine Sense entered Liu Nanzhou's Spiritual Platform. Liu Nanzhou was so focused on the Heart Demon that he didn't even notice an uninvited guest had arrived.

Upon entering, Qi Wuyu took a sharp breath at the sight of this group of bizarrely shaped "versions of himself," nearly forgetting his purpose for a moment.

What was this?

Qi Wuyu spotted one "himself" with the upper garment open, exposing the chest. He singled it out for criticism: "You there, not wearing your clothes properly! You're being indecent, acting like a pervert in someone else's Spiritual Platform. Have you no manners?"

As soon as he finished criticizing, he heard his own voice say, "He doesn't know what you're thinking. Why torment yourself like this?"

He knows now, thank you very much.

Qi Wuyu turned and saw the Heart Demon gripping Liu Nanzhou's sword with one hand and pinching Liu Nanzhou's chin with the other. He immediately recalled the scene he had witnessed in the Wenhai Illusionary Realm and felt utterly unsettled.

He flew forward, kicking out. The Heart Demon seemed unprepared for anyone else's arrival. It released its grip and dodged. Qi Wuyu pulled Liu Nanzhou behind him. "What are you so proud of, you counterfeit?"

Hearing his voice, Liu Nanzhou's pupils contracted violently. The Spiritual Platform shook intensely, nearly causing Qi Wuyu to lose his footing.

"Mas... Master."

Qi Wuyu hadn't yet figured out how to face him and responded vaguely. Seeing the chaotic state of his Spiritual Platform, he knew Liu Nanzhou wasn't in good condition. "Focus your spirit. I'm here."

Seeing him, the Heart Demon laughed as if delighting in the chaos. "Ha, interesting. It's precisely because you're here that he can't focus."

Qi Wuyu: "..."

Liu Nanzhou desperately wanted to sew its mouth shut. Suppressing his anger, he said to Qi Wuyu, "Master, please go out and wait for me first."

Qi Wuyu didn't respond. Liu Nanzhou said helplessly, "Don't worry, I know my limits."

What a joke. How could Qi Wuyu possibly be at ease after seeing this scene? What kind of peace of mind was that?

Liu Nanzhou understood his expression and was momentarily speechless.

But with Qi Wuyu present, Liu Nanzhou's heart was focused on him, and the Heart Demon truly couldn't cause further trouble. It lost interest. "I'll come find you next time, Xiao Nanzhou."

As soon as the words fell, the Heart Demon vanished, along with all the other "Qi Wuyus." Qi Wuyu couldn't bear to look. He closed his eyes, said nothing, and withdrew from Liu Nanzhou's Spiritual Platform.

Even a fool could understand what was going on now.

Qi Wuyu stood to the side, his heart pounding strangely fast, unsure whether from shock, joy, or anger.

Liu Nanzhou hardly dared to open his eyes. For the first time during meditation, he felt his limbs go numb.

Both men harbored their own thoughts in silence. No one spoke.

After nearly the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Qi Wuyu finally spoke. "How are you feeling?"

Liu Nanzhou resignedly opened his eyes. "I'm fine now."

He stood up and knelt cleanly and decisively before Qi Wuyu. Qi Wuyu didn't even react in time, reaching out to help him up. "What are you doing?"

Liu Nanzhou stubbornly refused to rise. "I'm sorry, Master. I... I shouldn't have..." He didn't dare say it, only adding, "I'll accept any punishment you give, just... please don't drive me away?"

As he spoke, his voice choked. The cloth he had desperately tried to conceal had been torn away, revealing a despicable face. Being cast out would be deserved, yet here he was, shamelessly begging for a chance to stay. His hands clenched into fists at his sides.

"When did I ever say I would drive you away?" Qi Wuyu asked. "Have I ever beaten or punished you since you were little?"

Liu Nanzhou was stunned, his eyes red as he looked up at him. Qi Wuyu crouched down, and Liu Nanzhou's gaze followed his movement downward.

"But... I..."

Qi Wuyu's throat moved. He raised his hand to wipe the tear from the corner of Liu Nanzhou's eye.

"But what?" Qi Wuyu said. "If you leave, who exactly is being punished—you or me?"

Liu Nanzhou didn't understand his meaning, momentarily confused.

Qi Wuyu's hand cupped his face, his thumb stroking it twice. He sighed. "Why would you rather bottle things up until a Heart Demon forms than talk to me? The Heart Demon... can it possibly care for you more than I do?"

Liu Nanzhou wanted to say he didn't dare, but Qi Wuyu didn't give him the chance to speak. He only felt a wave of agarwood scent wash over him, and a cool touch on his lips before he realized what was happening.

All his senses were drawn to the sensation on his lips. His body was burning hot, making Qi Wuyu's lips feel cool, yet it seemed to set his entire body ablaze, even causing him to tremble slightly.

Qi Wuyu only lightly touched him before pulling back. Liu Nanzhou stared at him in a daze: "Master, you..."

Qi Wuyu whispered, "If the Great Dao does not tolerate this, and countless tribulations descend upon us hereafter, are you scared?"

"I'm not afraid," Liu Nanzhou said.

Qi Wuyu huffed a quiet laugh.

Just a joke. How could he ever bear to?

He was the one who took this step first; any tribulation should fall upon him.

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Author's Note: Ahhhh! Let's give a round of applause! Today is the day both the author and 751 have our day! [Heart] [Thumbs up]