Editor: Sahloknir
In the wake of Jiang Yinghe’s words, the two people in front of him both held their breaths and glanced at each other.
There were some worries remaining in Jiang Yinghe’s heart, but he felt that his disciples had the right to know. He thought about where to start. Slowly, he said, “The world I originally lived in was very different from this one. I was just an average person who was somehow transported here.”
“The reason I have been cultivating diligently for a millennia, other than to prolong my life, was to…”
“A system came with me to this world. It told me that if I could become one with the Dao, I would be able to return to my original world.”
Jiang Yinghe was afraid they wouldn’t understand a modern term like ‘system’. He quickly added, “It’s like an intelligent artifact.”
The way Li Huanhan looked at him did not change. The man nodded gently, but it was impossible to tell if he truly understood. His eyes remained fixed on Jiang Yinghe’s face the whole time, without even the slightest tremor.
Jiang Yinghe was already a little ashamed. He found it even harder to continue after being looked at like that. He took a moment to speak, “The other way I could go home would be to take you all as my disciples and raise you to become talents.”
Qin Jun repeated his words thoughtfully, “Raise us…to become talents?”
Jiang Yinghe realized how ridiculous this system’s selections were once he said that aloud. The people it had chosen were already peerless geniuses, with achievements that were unparalleled in the past and present. It seemed that the so-called ‘lack of qualifications’ was just a superficial excuse, and that the system was after the three of them all along.
Not to mention ‘the education of sex, love and death’ it once talked about, as well as the changes to the system after Jiang Yinghe’s reincarnation.
It was like this thing wasn’t here to be of service to him. Its true goal was more likely facilitating the reunification of the split souls…
Could the system be one of the arrangements left by the one who had created the world?
After connecting the dots, Jiang Yinghe coldly called for the system in his mind. That damned thing continued to play dead.
He sighed and continued to explain, “That’s right. This was part of the reason I took you all as my disciples in the first place.”
He had confessed all his secrets now. As he waited for the duo’s reactions, he heard the soft and cute purr of a cat.
When Jiang Yinghe looked down at what he thought would be a small white cat, a red-robed youth jumped into his arms, asking warmly, “What were the other reasons?”
Jiang Yinghe didn’t expect him to have listened so carefully. When he tried to speak, Chang Ye sealed his lips with a kiss.
The words Jiang Yinghe wanted to say became stuck in his throat. Then this little beast circled his arms around his waist. Chang Ye’s lips parted an inch, and the surroundings became flooded with a luscious fragrance.
“Was it because you liked me that you—”
Kitty Chang Ye also only got half a sentence out before a hand jerked him back by his collar.
With a smile on his lips, Qin Jun grabbed his collar and pulled him off Shizun. Qin Jun then let go, making sure to step on that mischievous and fluffy tail in the process. Although he didn’t use much force, it was enough so that his little shidi couldn’t break free.
With a jerk of his tail, Chang Ye sat down and stared up into a pair of grey eyes. He unconsciously licked his sharp devil beast canines. “What are you trying to do?”
Qin Jun said casually, “Like Shizun once said, I’m being morally responsible and keeping it PG. Actually, I’m doing you a favour. Any further and Li Huanhan’s going to beat you up.”
Chang Ye turned to look at Li Huanhan, who was seated on the other chair. The heavenly demon really was surrounded by demonic energy and tapping his fingers on the armrests, his expression cold and flat. There was even a bit of frustration and unexplainable hostility in his furrowed brows.
After cutting his devil core in two, Chang Ye’s cultivation had fallen by two minor realms. This tiny difference was enough for the two to manhandle him, throwing him around by his collar or the scruff of his neck in his cat form.
It was way too humiliating.
Chang Ye secretly grit his teeth and pulled his tail out from under Qin Jun’s feet. As he held his plush tail to clean it and comb the fluffy fur, he heard Jiang Yinghe’s voice.
“En…it wasn’t because I liked you guys.”
The atmosphere became slightly stagnant, and even Chang Ye could see Li Huanhan’s red eyes starting to glow with an overwhelmingly bloodthirsty and cold light.
He didn’t doubt for a moment that if Shizun were to say a few words about disliking him, Li Huanhan’s fragile heart and brain would immediately start to lose control. He definitely wouldn’t be able to stop this guy alone.
Chang Ye glanced at Qin Jun. He was slightly relieved to see that Qin-shixiong was also keeping an eye on Li Huanhan.
Normal people like us shouldn’t underestimate lunatics.
Jiang Yinghe didn’t speak again until Chang Ye became slightly nervous. Taking a sip of his tea, he said, “The other reason was because of how pitiable you all were.”
The sharp aura surrounding Li Huanhan immediately subsided. Even the other two froze as well for a moment.
“The cultivation of those with the heavenly demon physique is full of hardships. I also heard that the other disciples of our sect were picking on you. En, how pitiful.” Jiang Yinghe thought back to those days, his thoughts slowly clearing as he looked out the window at the light rain.
“Those who are corrupted by countless spirits have extremely weakened bodies. It is widely known that they are prone to dying an early death. En, how pitiful.”
Li Huanhan’s expression changed slightly. He no longer gave off an oppressive feeling, leaving only silent contemplation.
Qin Jun even raised a hand to cover his face, coughing gently a few times. He looked down at his feet.
The same thought surfaced in the minds of both people—
I’m screwed. Why is Shizun bringing up my past deceptions? How am I supposed to make it up to him?
Jiang Yinghe slowly took another sip of tea before looking at Chang Ye, who was planning to turn into a cat when he realized what was happening. Shizun took hold of his tail and began to roll the big fluffy thing between his fingers. “You were captured and kept captive in a half-dead state inside a frozen cave with half your face disfigured and your meridians damaged. How very pitiful.”
Chang Ye let him play with his tail. He felt even more awkward than the other two. He whispered, “But I really was half-dead…”
Luckily, he only offered a single retort before obediently closing his mouth. Chang Ye padded over and used his beast ears and plush tail to nuzzle and charm Shizun.
Jiang Yinghe nodded and continued to ask, “That disfigurement of yours, care to explain?”
According to Jiang Yinghe’s guess, this level of disfigurement should have originated from a fierce battle.
Chang Ye touched his mask. “It’s a curse from the previous battle with the Demon God. Actually…it’s not a wound.”
Jiang Yinghe was stunned for a moment, not expecting that to be the cause. He subconsciously inquired, “What kind of curse?”
Chang Ye’s tail slowly hooked around Shizun’s wrist as he recalled, “At that time, Hundun was already at his limits with one foot in the grave. His apocalyptic rage led him to casting this curse. With it, I can only…receive half of the love I otherwise would.”
In a way, the curse and his disfigurement were very closely related. Only half of his beauty remained, making his face the most perfect and cruel contrast in the world.
Jiang Yinghe was silent. He was about to comfort him when he heard Chang Ye muttering in a low voice, “He’s obviously not practiced casting this curse. He only took away a third…“
Jiang Yinghe stared. “…”
The bit of heartache and affection that welled up in his heart was immediately swept away. He pulled off the tail wrapped around his wrist, saying expressionlessly, “So it seems that none of you are pitiful. Every one of you is stronger than the last, but you decided to keep me in the dark. Even if you have the face to call me Shizun, I do not have the face to respond.”
As a shizun, he didn’t focus much on imparting swordsmanship. Instead, he sought to improve the moral character of his disciples through literature, potentially changing evil cultivators into pillars of the righteous path.
As Jiang Yinghe thought of this, he took another glance at the progress of this unification system in his mind. Unsurprisingly, it remained at 11%, as if the time he had spent with his disciples recently was all for naught.
This wasn’t only a matter of whether he could go home at this point, but also a matter of whether he could accept his lovers’ advances openly… Three was definitely impossible for sure. Doing it once was enough to leave him half-dead, and that was with Qin Jun fortifying his body with spells.
While Jiang Yinghe was thinking about this, a cold hand suddenly grasped his fingers.
He looked up and saw that Qin Jun had come closer to him at some point. The wraith had a serious look in his eyes. “Jun-er has never forgotten the kindness Shizun showed by taking him in. Why don’t I help you in recovering your cultivation?”
“You…?”
One word was enough for Jiang Yinghe to read the answer in the other party’s eyes—dual cultivation. The only way he could get help from others was through dual cultivation, and the more powerful his partner was, the better.
Jiang Yinghe stopped talking to give him a look. “What help is that? Even if I have condensed my foundation, I still can’t afford to toss around with you guys.”
Qin Jun came over and kissed him, whispering, “Just me.”
Just…him?
Jiang Yinghe easily faltered.
He thought for a moment before asking again, “Can you manage the other two?”
Qin Jun gently squeezed his shoulders and sealed his following questions with a kiss. He waited until Jiang Yinghe needed to catch his breath before licking those slightly reddened lips. His voice was quiet and hoarse. “I can. Don’t be afraid.”
Just as Jiang Yinghe was hesitating, he was picked up by Qin Jun by his waist and brought from the table straight over to the bed.
A few steps away, Li Huanhan remained sitting and even rewarmed the cold tea, mixing it with throat soothing medicine.
Chang Ye looked at Qin Jun’s back and then at Li Huanhan beside him. He couldn’t help but send his divine sense over, “What did he say to you?”
Li Huanhan continued to add medicine without change. “We’re all part of the same person, yet you don’t even have this level of tacit understanding?”
Chang Ye choked, feeling very oppressed.
—-
Rather than suppressed, Jiang Yinghe felt like he was being very much bullied.
What was it Qin Jun said? That it would be ‘just him’?
Bullshit. The three of them were originally one person.
By the time Jiang Yinghe thought of this, it was already the next morning.
He reflected deeply on how he was lured into bed again.
The other party obviously didn’t want to give him time to think. He shifted to hug Jiang Yinghe another way while slowly massaging his waist and leaning in to kiss the corner of his lips.
Jiang Yinghe’s mind hadn’t caught up yet. Thinking back on it, he’s spent much of his time lately doing nothing but resting. Then after recuperating for several days, he would be injured again in a moment.
Hiss…how painful.
The skin must have broken there.
As a strong, independent, millennia-old sword cultivator…
He couldn’t take it anymore, again.
All the strength had left his body as he lay in bed and choked back tears.
Someone gently kissed away the tear stains from the corners of his eyes.
“Jun, Jun-er…” Jiang Yinghe whimpered with his eyes closed. Before he could utter a full sentence, he was kissed again on the corner of his lips.
“It’s me.”
…That was Li Huanhan’s voice.
How dare you speak up now?! Out of all my insolent disciples, you’re the one who uses way too much force!!
Jiang Yinghe didn’t even have the energy to scold him. He raised a hand to cover his eyes. He sensed that big fluffy tail coming over to cushion his waist and felt slightly better.
That thing with backward barbs slowly and somewhat pitifully rubbed against him for a while.
There was some confusion in Jiang Yinghe’s mind.
Why am I feeling sorry for Chang Ye???
People are all out to take advantage of kindness, wu…
Jiang Yinghe’s lips were a little red and swollen. The place that he had applied a lot of spiritual medicines to heal seemed to have been injured again.
He couldn’t take it anymore, so he ducked into a corner while calling out for ‘’Jun-er’. As expected, Qin Jun took his hand and half-cradled him in a gesture of comfort.
“Tell him to slow, slow down a little…” Jiang Yinghe was kissed on the brow by the other person, who said hoarsely, “The more I say that, the more he…won’t listen.”
With Jiang Yinghe’s current appearance and voice, every one of his actions were filled with temptation. The cold fragrance emitting from his body was simply bewitching, almost to the point of being an aphrodisiac.
This scent was clearly reminiscent of pine, cypress and red plums under a snowy sky, but it made people’s hearts flush with intense desire.
Qin Jun gently kissed him and coaxed him patiently for a long time while also arguing with Li Huanhan using his divine sense, scolding him for having less restraint than even Chang Ye in this regard.
At that moment, a crane suddenly called outside the White Crane Jade Manor. A disciple’s voice came from outside.
“Is Shixiong here? The Sect Master asked me to send over a pair of blank soul lamps and life plates. He said Shixiong needed them.”
While Jiang Yinghe was away, the White Crane Jade Manor was tended to by Li Huanhan and Qin Jun. It made sense for this junior disciple to ask for them. The soul lamp and life plates, on the other hand, were meant for Jiang Yinghe and had arrived only now.
Jiang Yinghe’s not-so-lucid mind instantly ground to a halt. He clutched at Qin Jun’s sleeve, trying to catch his breath.
He looked at Qin Jun with teary eyes.
Jiang Yinghe had already retreated to the edge of the bed, but he was pulled over by the ankle and taken into his arms.
Not to mention now, he wasn’t even to resist when Jun-er did this at the beginning…
“I’ll go out later.” Li Huanhan quietly said as he kissed the tip of his ear, “Shizun, relax.”
That was all he said before he raised his head to look at Qin Jun. “Don’t let Chang Ye shift into his beast form.”
Qin Jun glanced at his shidi who was clearly rearing to try, then at his seemingly calm shixiong.
“Pah…I was wrong, you’re still a bit more reastrained than Chang Ye.”
“I appreciate the compliment. The same to you.”
How could Qin Jun selectively forget who went first this time?
—-
The two disciples outside the door holding the soul lamp and the life plate didn’t hear anything for a long time. They looked at each other.
“Looking at the spirit cranes, there does seem to be someone in the White Crance Jade Manor, ah.” The disciple who spoke up just now said, “What’s going on here?”
“Who knows.” Another male disciple said, “I heard that Qin-shixiong’s temper has gotten much better over the years. I hope it’s him staying here, or else…”
Before he could finish his words, he saw the dark entrance gate slightly open. Li Huanhan appeared in front of the two of them with dark robes and blood red eyes. He collected the soul lamp and life plate in an instant.
Then the entranceway shut once again. All of it had happened too suddenly. After a long time, the disciple from before said dully, “Do you…smell something?”
“Smell what?”
“…The scent of plum blossoms.”
Author’s Corner
Qin Jun: He’s pretending to be cute and obedient, and the other one’s calm and measured appearance is a lie! Only Jun-er is dependable!! Believe in Jun-er, believe in love!!!
HeHe: …Shut up, you liar! QAQ
