Editor: Sahloknir
Three days later…
It was easier to leave the capital with Chang Ye’s assistance than expected. Free of the scandalous title of His Highness Prince Rui, Jiang Yinghe felt both his body and mind relax.
The royal family and all the earthly attachments that came with it had trapped him here, like a cage.
In addition, another problem was the memories that flashed past in his mind from time to time. Some were vague and unclear, but the majority were crystal clear. More pleasant memories gradually awakened as he spent time with Chang Ye.
But he still didn’t understand this unification system. He also felt that there was something important that he had overlooked, as if he actually had more than one disciple…
Jiang Yinghe contemplated this under the bright moon in the sky. The giant eagle they were travelling on stopped at Chang Ye’s command. It kept to itself as it rested to the side.
“Shizun,” Chang Ye gathered the hair that fell to his temples, “your body isn’t suited to long periods of travel. Why don’t we rest for a while?”
This body was still mortal. Even though Jiang Yinghe’s soul was condensed to an incredible degree, he was unable to exert his true strength now. That would have to wait until he returned to Peng Lai and rebuilt his foundation.
Although he had studied the teachings of Peng Lai, Chang Ye was still a devil at heart. All he could think about when training under Shizun was how beautiful he was… That was why he was hesitant to teach him now. What if he did something wrong? No need to mention the other two-thirds, even his usually kind Peng Lai shishus would probably skin him alive if he tried to impart knowledge to Shizun.
Jiang Yinghe followed suit and tidied his hair as well. He did indeed feel a headache coming on from being exposed to the cold wind for so long, so he nodded in response.
This was the most vulnerable he had even been since he started cultivating, but he didn’t act like it. Instead, it was Chang Ye who tiptoed around him.
The two of them rested in the town surrounding the He Huan Sect. Jiang Yinghe read some books related to the cultivation world in his room, while Chang Ye changed back to his cat form and with dark eyes fixed on Shizun laid down next to the candle.
The moonlight shone down in water-like ripples.
The cool air of early spring was still present. Jiang Yinghe wore a soft fur cloak that was on the thicker side to stave off the chill. He only managed to get through two or three lines of his book before a fluffy tail hooked his fingers.
His hand absentmindedly closed over the cat’s tail as his fingers rubbed it. The tail immediately retreated as if it had been electrocuted, but it returned in the next instant, intimately caressing the back of his hand.
Jiang Yinghe didn’t know what he had done yet.
He was busy puzzling out the locations of the various sects in the cultivation world. The blurry memories in his head slowly filled in the missing pieces.
He devoted all of his attention to remembering, so he was completely unaware of what he was rubbing. It would be a shame not to rub the fluffy bundle by his hand, especially since it felt so soft…
Until he heard a raspy cat mewl.
…En?
Jiang Yinghe lifted his eyes to see the little white cat that had been obediently lying down staring at him. Those eyes showed an almost feral desire. The kitten’s sharp canines peeked out as he licked them with his barbed tongue.
…What did he want?
It was a moment before Jiang Yinghe remembered that the transition from winter and spring to spring was when cats went into heat.
“Aren’t you…” he paused to consider his words, “Aren’t you Tianhou?”
He wasn’t really a cat…?
The kitten in front of him tilted its head and looked at him before nuzzling his hand with his soft, fluffy chin. Jiang Yinghe couldn’t resist. His hand reflexively rose to pat him before he remembered the need to act stern.
…He didn’t recall Chang Ye ever going into heat in his fuzzy and chaotic memories. The only thing he remembered was that big fluffy tail circling around his waist and immobilizing him.
Jiang Yinghe was still thinking when the cat’s barbed tongue licked his fingertip. The sensation was akin to sandpaper… His instincts warned him too late.
In the next instant, the good little white cat by the table grew big and pounced on him, sending them both to the floor. Snow white fur covered his entire body. That big tail wagged a few times before circling Jiang Yinghe’s waist again.
“…Ye-er?” He whispered.
His words seemed to further excite this big cat. His large paws pressed down on Jiang Yinghe’s shoulders. The claws were fully retracted, but the paws themselves had enough strength to easily secure someone.
The big cat lowered his head and let his barbed tongue gently glide across Jiang Yinghe’s collarbone. The motion seemed like he was licking…a tiny piece of butter cake.
The skin that had been licked immediately reddened. No matter how slight the pressure, Jiang Yinghe’s current body was still overly weak. A body that had been pampered for a long time was easily bruised, but it actually didn’t hurt too much.
Chang Ye licked him fervently and randomly. His warm breath scattered against the other person’s neck.
Trapped under a giant ball of fluff, Jiang Yinghe could only pat his paws and ask, “…You really couldn’t resist?”
“No, thanks to you.” Chang Ye thought.
The big cat nuzzled against him, using the tip of his nimble tail to undo the front of his coat. He whined, aggrieved and spoiled, “Shizun…”
Speaking exposed the deep emotions hidden in his raspy voice. His seduction was almost powerful enough to bring ruin to a country. Entranced by the pleasant voice echoing in his ears, Jiang Yinghe silently sighed in admiration.
As expected of a Devil…
“Shizun, help me…”
If this was the tone and shape that Da Ji took before King Zhou to lead him into corruption, then the monarch couldn’t be blamed.
Jiang Yinghe had to ask as he was randomly nuzzled by a lowered head. “How am I supposed to help you?”
Once again, he failed to realize exactly what he was being asked of him.
Chang Ye seemed to take his words as implicit permission, trust and reward, all at once. His tail flicked open Jiang Yinghe’s tunic and silently crept further in.
Something that was the opposite of soft seemed to emerge from the fluffy exterior of the big cat.
Jiang Yinghe didn’t realize at first what it was. In fact, his knee actually jerked up and brushed past it until the paws on his shoulder suddenly pressed down harder.
He definitely felt slightly standing barbs there.
…Damn it.
He regretted his previous words very much.
No, how was he supposed to help with this? Was this something anyone could help with??
More memories began to surface. Jiang Yinghe tried to touch it again as images that would definitely be censored came to mind.
“Shizun…”
His little disciple’s voice just had to be the perfect balance of soft obedience as he whispered into Jiang Yinghe’s ear. His fur was also so silky and pleasant to touch. “Do you not like Ye-er?”
It was very pitiful.
Jiang Yinghe momentarily softened and hesitated for a moment before saying, “No, that’s not—”
“So you like me then.”
The big cat’s tail wrapped around his narrow waist again as that barbed thing began to rub against his leg. However, it did so very lightly, like it was afraid of hurting him.
Jiang Yinghe patted his paws, which loosened their grasp. He rose to a half sitting position and looked at the big cat. After a moment of silence, he said in frustration, “…I guess pet cats do need to be neutered.”
Chang Ye didn’t take this statement to heart at all. Instead, he leaned in to lick him with extreme pleasure. Just as the atmosphere grew more intimate and heated, there was a sudden boom outside the door, as if someone was fighting nearby.
Then the door to their room crumbled as an evil cultivator radiating demonic energy stormed in. There was quite a ruckus behind him, as if an entire crowd of people had cornered him here.
The evil cultivator was completely taken aback by the devil in the room. He suddenly felt a rush of joy. After all, the enemy of your enemy is your friend. He shouted, “Your Excellency, please help a fellow cultivator of the…”
Before he could finish his sentence, a violent wave of devilish energy sent him tumbling head over heels, crashing through several walls in the process.
Dust flew through the air.
The big cat in front of him seemed to be enraged by this intrusion, but he didn’t kill the person responsible. Instead, he morphed into his human form and embraced his Shizun, burying his nose in the crook of his shoulder for a while before quietly muttering, “Who is his ‘fellow cultivator’…”
Instead of directly killing the man, he continued huddling against his shizun as though highly aggrieved.
Jiang Yinghe let out a sigh of relief and comforted the red-clothed boy in his arms, “Alright, alright. Ye-er isn’t a devil cultivator, he’s a pillar of the righteous path.”
After the dust had settled, Jiang Yinghe looked up to see a man in pale pink cultivator robes standing amongst the broken walls.
“He Huan Sect was pursuing this traitor. It was thanks to this immortal comrade that we…” Protector He’s eyes widened as his words trailed off. He stared at Jiang Yinghe, who was comforting a youth, for some time before he managed to speak. “Jiang Xianjun?”
Jiang Yinghe couldn’t recall who he was. “And you are?”
Protector He recovered his wits and said, “This one is the He Huan Sect Protector, He Chu. I am here to hunt down a traitor and settle Sect affairs on behalf of Deputy Sect Master Hun Yuan Xianjun.”
He looked down in disbelief at the evil cultivator who had been thrown back by devilish energy. Then he looked up at Jiang Yinghe who was gradually calming the archdevil. He cautiously asked, “Has Jiang Xianjun exited seclusion then?”
Naturally, Jiang Yinghe didn’t know what had happened after he had reincarnated. He just looked at Protector He quietly.
Protector He shivered at that look as he filled in all the holes himself. He quickly said, “It has been 370 years since we last met. The Deputy Sect Master has always been looking forward to your return. What a strange fortune to meet you here. Xianjun must have other pressing matters, so this junior will not take up more of your time.”
With what he had made up in his head, he picked up the traitor who had fainted by his feet and left after bidding farewell again.
All that was left was the precarious and crumbling inn, and the aggrieved, sobbing devil in Jiang Yinghe’s arms.
Jiang Yinghe couldn’t understand Chang Ye’s desire for intimacy, but he was an empathetic and good-natured individual, and this was his own disciple. So he let Chang Ye fuss in his arms while he stroked his hair. “What are you crying for? Are you this sad over someone seeing you in heat?”
Chang Ye blinked. This isn’t sadness…
Chang Ye’s long, dark hair was thrown into disarray by Jiang Yinghe’s ministrations. He leaned in and placed a line of delicate kisses from Shizun’s neck up to his lips before saying, “I’m only upset because we were interrupted.”
Jiang Yinghe found his sulky and pouty look to be rather cute. He couldn’t help but chuckle.
“You might scare me if you’re that big. The way you look now is better… Do you still need Shizun to help you?”
Chang Ye completely recovered from his momentary depression. He raised his glittering eyes sharply as that tail that was not quite under control came around again. He changed track to acting cute and obedient, giving off the refreshing air of a youngster.
Something seemed to click into place in Jiang Yinghe’s heart, like the minute hand of a clock that once again accurately displayed the time.
He suddenly realized that he had always liked this person.
‘Always’…
Exactly how long ago was that?
—-
At around the same time at the He Huan Sect…
The He Huan Sect specialized in dual cultivation, so its cultivators were encouraged to seek out cultivation partners. In fact, the faction that valued passion over romance would keep an entire harem of pets and cauldrons. Many here were well versed in the Sect’s practised techniques.
When Protector He returned, Tong Guiyu was reading the latest illustrated version of a book released by the Blue Hill Publishing House. He cast it aside when he was halfway through and spoke languidly, “Their quality is declining with every new novel. The main writer of Blue Hill must be getting lazy…”
Protector He bowed and truthfully reported the events that had transpired during the capture of the traitor, only to be stopped by Tong Guiyu mid-sentence with a wave of his hand.
“All right. This master is aware.” Tong Guiyu closed the book, “Ever since Jiang Yinghe entered closed door cultivation, his disciples have been harder and harder to find. Even the people this story is based on are scarce.”
Protector He was silent for a moment as he took in how tired Tong Guiyu looked. He hesitantly asked, “Deputy Sect Master, this subordinate was about to report that, while tracking down the traitor, I encountered…Jiang Xianjun.”
Tong Guiyu’s gaze immediately bore into him. After confirming that the Protector wasn’t lying, he suddenly laughed. “Why did he suddenly appear here after three hundred years of seclusion? Did anything happen to you guys?”
Protector He recalled that moment, “This subordinate saw a…a devil in red by Jiang Xianjun’s side. He was in the form of a young adult. Also…”
Tong Guiyu already had an idea of who it was by now. He massaged his knees and said, “What else?”
“I couldn’t sense any spiritual energy from Xianjun’s body.”
A sudden silence descended upon the room.
Tong Guiyu waved his hand. “You’re dismissed.”
He watched as Protector He turned away, his mind quickly recalling several major events over the years… Wasn’t Jiang Yinghe’s youngest disciple a young man dressed in red?
Had Jiang Yinghe met with an accident? Did Peng Lai cover up him losing his cultivation for some reason by claiming he went into seclusion? Also, why did Jiang Yinghe appear near the He Huan Sect now?
Hmm, the fastest route to Peng Lai from here is nearby…
Tong Guiyu pondered for a long time, but he couldn’t come to any concrete conclusions. He summoned Hongyan and wiped the blade as he continued to think.
The sword was razor sharp and gleaming under the light.
Tong Guiyu looked at the sword. To be more specific, his gaze was fixed upon the light pink sword pendant on its hilt. He muttered to himself, “After he entered seclusion… Guang Han Palace’s Li Yue Zhenren fell in Luo City. Guang Han Palace and the Ying Zhou School even quarreled about it…”
“But Peng Lai remained suspiciously silent on the matter.”
“…Then Yan Caiwei entered seclusion in order to break through to the Hollowed Cave stage. Yun Buxiu followed suit a hundred years later. Now only Sect Master Zhou watches over Peng Lai…along with…”
“Li Huanhan and Qin Jun. Although the two of them rarely show themselves, they are truly unfathomable and extraordinary in battle. One hundred and twenty-four years ago, the Ying Zhou School had tried to take advantage of Peng Lai’s weakened state and came to challenge the sect, only to be repelled by a single sword strike from Li Huanhan. The challengers were never heard from again.”
What he didn’t say was that, after Jiang Yinghe’s seclusion, the Tian Mo School that was once again unified, the Nether Realm that had reclaimed their Patriarch, and the Devil Race led by their revived King all remained restrained and minimized conflicts. One could almost be fooled into thinking they were at peace.
And the news of there being three Half-step Golden Immortals had been thoroughly suppressed.
Tong Guiyu thought for a moment and suddenly said, “The red-clothed youth…is a devil?”
His gaze became thoughtful as he beckoned to his pet servant waiting nearby. “Call Protector He back and tell him that I have two letters for him to deliver. One is to be handed over to the Celestial Pavilion and sent to the Tian Mo School. The other he is to personally take to the Nether Realm.”
Author’s Corner
Tong Guiyu: New book material is here!
