Chapter 30 The Scheming Disciple and the Charming Master 30

Chapter 30: The Scheming Disciple and the Alluring Master 30

Qin Du had been holed up in his room in seclusion for days.

Ever since he almost got taken down by that Admonishing Elder, he'd realized his cultivation level was way too low.

Any random elder could kill him easily, and here he was, still needing his master to protect him.

He needed to become stronger.

He needed to break through to Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and Spirit Transformation.

So he threw himself into cultivation.

Who knows how long it had been when Qin Du vaguely felt warmth slowly rising in his dantian.

At first, he figured it was just the cultivation method from the book starting to pay off.

But instead, the warmth kept building, hotter and hotter, until it turned into a raging blaze.

Back when he was the Demon Lord, he'd heard that if a cultivator's focus slipped during seclusion, they could fall into qi deviation.

Was he... going into qi deviation?!

The realization hit him, but it was already too late.

Lin Huaiqing, meditating cross-legged on a cushion, suddenly heard a sharp crash from the next room—like teacups smashing on the floor.

Ever since he'd lost his sight, his hearing had gotten sharper.

They were the only two on Lingxiao Peak, so something had to be wrong with Qin Du.

Just as he thought that, the noise from next door got even louder, making it impossible not to worry.

He got up and headed to the side hall, only to find the door locked.

Along with the crashing sounds, there was heavy breathing and barely muffled groans of pain.

"Xiaodu! What's wrong with you! Why would you lock the door in broad daylight? Come out!" Lin Huaiqing stood outside, pounding on the door anxiously.

"Master, I'm fine..." Qin Du's voice was clearly wrong. The only rational part of his mind screamed that he absolutely couldn't let Lin Huaiqing see him like this.

If Lin Huaiqing found out he'd been cultivating demonic arts, he'd probably get kicked off the mountain.

"Open the door! I'm counting to three—if you don't open it, I'm kicking it down!"

"Three... BANG!"

Lin Huaiqing kicked the door open in one go. Using his spiritual sense, he took in the room—total chaos, stuff scattered everywhere—but no sign of Qin Du.

Following the sound, he rushed to the inner chamber and caught sight of Qin Du on the bed, hair a mess, clothes in tatters.

His usually fair face was flushed bright red, like something inside him was about to blow at any second.

His whole body was burning hot, like a boiled shrimp.

He'd never seen Qin Du like this.

Anyone who'd read cultivation novels would recognize this as qi deviation.

Maybe because his skin temperature was so high it triggered the demon race's defense mechanism, the demonic markings on Qin Du's body started to emerge.

Dark, intricate patterns bloomed across his face and chest.

Lin Huaiqing could actually smell a trace of demonic qi in the scorching air.

Meanwhile, Qin Du, out of his mind, was completely unaware, his burning body writhing restlessly on the bed.

He'd already shredded his disciple robes, leaving large swaths of light wheat-colored skin exposed for Lin Huaiqing to see.

Lin Huaiqing was at a loss. He wasn't a medical cultivator, but he couldn't call his junior sister over either—otherwise, Qin Du's demon identity would never stay hidden.

But what the hell was he supposed to do in a situation like this?

Qi deviation either ended in exploding to death, or—if you were lucky enough to survive—becoming a crippled fool for the rest of your life.

He couldn't accept either outcome. Qin Du was someone he'd raised with his own hands. He'd mistaken him for the male lead and taken him in, so he had to take responsibility for him!

His handsome brows knitted tightly as he reached out to touch Qin Du's burning cheeks.

"Xiaodu, how can I help you?"

Qin Du, delirious and feeling like his whole body was being scorched by flames, suddenly felt a pair of ice-cold, jade-like hands on his face.

Like rain after a drought, Qin Du latched onto them like a lifeline, grabbing those cool hands and rubbing his face against them desperately.

Wherever they touched, it felt like the fire was being put out.

He dragged the hands down his body.

But the hands hesitated, and their owner's face flushed red. He refused to let Qin Du keep pulling him lower.

Even blind, Lin Huaiqing knew exactly what was happening.

So this was what qi deviation looked like?!

In his panic, he'd forgotten—in those male-oriented cultivation novels, how many times did the male lead fall into qi deviation and the female lead have to offer herself up to relieve him?

As for the specifics, he could reference those slightly risqué cultivation novels he'd read—they went into great detail.

But they were both men. Would that even work?

And in this kind of emergency, where was he supposed to find a female cultivator?

Even if he could find one, he couldn't just let some innocent woman be defiled for no reason?!

"Ma... Master!"

Just as Lin Huaiqing was lost in thought, Qin Du's low, drawn-out voice called out to him, making his heart skip.

It was Qin Du calling him.

"Xiaodu, I'm here. How are you feeling? Where does it hurt?"

"Master... this disciple feels awful. Master..."

Lin Huaiqing reached out and touched Qin Du's forehead—it was scalding.

A massive amount of spiritual energy and demonic qi were clashing and fighting each other inside his body.

If he didn't find an outlet to release it soon, Qin Du wouldn't even have the chance to become a fool—he'd just blow up and die.

At this point, he couldn't afford to worry about propriety or shame!

Saving him was what mattered most!

Lin Huaiqing steeled his resolve, throwing his pride out the window.

He sealed the side hall's doors with a spell, making sure no one could barge in.

Then he peeled off his outer robe.

A faint, cool scent drifted into Qin Du's nose. He took a deep breath, and it felt like the raging fire inside him died down a little.

What is this scent? So sweet, so familiar—it's like his master's.

Suddenly, a cool feeling filled his arms. Qin Du was shocked and thrilled, clinging to Lin Huaiqing like he was holding a piece of warm jade, refusing to let go for anything.

Lin Huaiqing was already blind, and this was his first time being this close to anyone. Halfway in, he had no idea what to do next.

Fortunately, the delirious Qin Du suddenly seemed to snap out of it, and in the chaos, he took the lead.

In the solemn Qingming Hall, under the cover of night, the atmosphere grew more and more intimate.

Things didn't finally die down until dawn the next morning.

In the hazy morning mist, Lin Huaiqing wrapped his clothes around himself, looking disheveled, and hurried out of his disciple's room.

Limping slightly, he hurried back to his own main hall.

This was hands down the craziest thing he'd ever done, in this life or any other.

He, an Immortal Venerable of all people, had been reduced to sneaking back from his own disciple's room looking like a mess.

Good thing Lingxiao Peak was empty. If anyone else had seen him, he'd have to go downstairs for a smoke in the middle of the night.

No stairs, no elevator.

The discomfort in a certain place made him uneasy, so he quickly went to the hot spring at the back mountain to wash up.

He scrubbed himself clean, inside and out.

In broad daylight, the Qingyu Hall was empty. Lin Huaiqing leaned against the edge of the pool, and once he calmed down, his mind was filled with nothing but the madness of the previous night.