Chapter 94
TW: Dubcon, drugs
Editor: Sahloknir
Rong Jue could feel his shizun was trembling.
His frail body was soaked in sweat and shivering uncontrollably.
The supreme elder’s watery eyes looked straight at Rong Jue as he shook his head. For the first time, Shi Qing’s gaze was saturated with fear.
“Don’t...Rong Jue, don’t—”
He looked terrified, pale, as if he was about to faint from overstimulation.
But in reality...
[Yes! Check it out! Give me an entire set of Charm Pills!]
Shi Qing was on cloud nine. [What are you standing around for, Baby Rong? Feed me already!]
Rong Jue was indeed standing around in a daze.
As he looked at the teary-eyed supreme elder, whose clothes and hair were all in disarray, shaking his head and pleading for mercy, Rong Jue almost felt some pity.
After spending the past few days together, no one could be more aware of Shi Qing’s prideful nature than Rong Jue.
There was a time when he thought that Shi Qing was like a wallflower, a hypocrite who wanted to save face and had no backbone.
But no matter how much he humiliated the other recently, the powerless supreme elder refused to submit to Rong Jue and say the words he wanted to hear.
Rong Jue thought he hated Shi Qing to the bone.
During those hundred years, every time he thought he couldn’t go on, he would just chant Shi Qing’s name in his heart and pull through.
When he took up the position of demon lord, Rong Jue’s first thought was to return to Shi Qing all the pain that he had inflicted in the past.
Now, Rong Jue lowered his eyes and looked at the Charm Pill he was holding.
He knew how to refine pills as well.
When he first entered the demon realm, he had often disguised himself as a pill refinement master in the foreign environment.
The pills in the demon realm were different than those in the cultivation world. Basically, the majority were poisons and all of them had strange names.
Rong Jue had refined this Charm Pill during the first few days of Shi Qing’s imprisonment, but he waited until now to use it.
The effects of the Charm Pill were very clear. No matter what gender they were, you would be unable to leave the person you dual cultivate with after taking this pill.
After, if you don’t dual cultivate with that person once every three days, an indescribably intense itch would affect your entire body and force you to lose all reason and seek help.
No matter how arrogant, distant or prideful they were in the past, they would be like a different person once the medicine takes effect.
Rong Jue did not know what he wanted from Shi Qing, but he was sure that he did not want to kill him.
But why?
For the admiration he once held in his youth for this man?
Or for the warmth and care he received for the first time in his life?
Even if it was false, even if it was only for a moment...
Rong Jue didn’t want to let go.
The demon lord looked up at the trembling person who was staring at him fearfully. He grit his teeth.
“Shizun, I won’t make you take the Charm Pill if you promise me one thing—that you will return to the demon realm with me to be my queen and stay by my side for the rest of your life.”
Shi Qing: [...]
Shi Qing: [...Don’t be soft-hearted at a time like this! Hurry up and shove that thing in my mouth!!]
He forced his eyes to close. This Rong Jue, whose appearance had been enhanced quite a bit by his blackening, was exactly Shi Qing’s type.
If he didn’t close his eyes, Shi Qing was afraid that he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from jumping on him.
However, to the demon lord, his shizun’s actions screamed disgust. His rejection was written clearly across his jade white face.
Outside, Shang Lu was still shouting, “Shizun, Disciple Shang Lu requests to see you!”
Qiao Lingyu’s voice came next, “Er-shixiong, what should we do?
Shang Lu clenched his teeth, “Let’s just force our way in. I have a spiritual treasure here from Shizun, it should be able to break these restrictions!”
“But wouldn’t Shizun be angry with us if we break in while he’s cultivating?”
“Don’t worry Shimei, you don’t have to say a word if that happens. I’ll take full responsibility.”
Shang Lu’s resounding voice reached the room.
“Shizun has always doted on me. Even if I do break in, I doubt he’ll blame me.”
Always...doted on.
The originally somewhat hesitant Rong Jue was immediately provoked by those words. There was a sinister look in his eyes as he glanced at the door. Then, he grabbed Shi Qing’s chin and shoved the Charm Pill into his mouth, forcing him to swallow.
“Wu&#k2026;cough cough cough!”
Caught off guard, the supreme elder could only gulp before covering his throat and coughing violently, his chest heaving up and down as he struggled to catch his breath.
“Shizun...”
Rong Jue crashed into Shi Qing’s arms, just as he did when Shi Qing protected him last time.
He hid the ruthlessness in his eyes. The corners of his lips curled up into a smile.
As to whether it was due to success, sadism or satisfaction...
Even the demon lord himself couldn’t tell.
He just hugged Shi Qing tighter and murmured, “You can’t leave me anymore...”
A hundred years was no match for the few days they had spent together.
Rong Jue no longer knew if he wanted Shi Qing to love or hate him.
But it didn’t matter.
A smile slowly blossomed on his face as he held the other’s trembling body.
At the very least, Shizun could no longer leave him.
He finally managed to ensnare this tiny bit of warmth.
****
Shang Lu broke through the restrictions.
He cautiously walked forward, making sure to shield his shimei. “Shizun, disciple Shang Lu requests to see you.”
The door that had been tightly closed, opened.
The two were startled. Then a violent wave of relief washed over them as they saw the person standing there.
“Disciples Shang Lu and Lingyu greets Shizun.”
“Rise.”
The two had all but relaxed by now and got up at their Shizun’s words.
Shang Lu raised his eyes and saw that Shizun had an outer garment draped over his shoulders. His hair also seemed to be a little dishevelled and damp.
Shang Lu was puzzled.
“Shizun, your appearance...”
Shi Qing blinked. “I was just bathing.”
With an outer garment draped over him, the supreme elder seemed less distant then usual, even when he frowned and asked in a cold voice, “What could possibly be so important for the two of you to resolve the restrictions I set?”
Now that the two of them saw that their Shizun was fine, most of their worries have been resolved. Shang Lu didn’t dare to say outright, “We suspected that something had happened to you and Shixiong, so we decided to break in because our brains’ hole filling abilities were too strong.”
“The Sect Master sent someone yesterday regarding the Wei Xuan secret realm. This disciple came to ask Shizun if you planned on bringing someone along this time.”
The supreme elder who had a coat draped across his shoulders was silent for a few seconds. “This master...”
“Shizun has decided to bring me.”
Another man stepped out of the room. It was none other than Rong Jue.
He had sword brows and starry eyes, still as handsome and valiant as ever. In response to the looks of joyful surprise from his younger martial siblings, he smiled lightly at them, like always.
“My apologies to Shidi and Shimei. Although I am now a mortal, Shizun said that he would take me to the Wei Xuan secret realm to soak in the spiritual spring so that I would be free from all diseases. He’ll have to take you two there later.”
Shang Lu was just making up an excuse earlier. How could he be jealous that the Da-shixiong he admired the most would be going with Shizun to the secret realm? He shook his head rapidly at once.
“What is Shixiong saying? This disciple was just curious. In that case, Lingyu and I will take our leave.”
Worried that Shizun was really angry with them for resolving the restrictions, Shang Lu pulled Lingyu away and hurriedly excused himself.
Rong Jue stayed by the door and watched from afar as the two descended the mountain. With a slightly raised eyebrow and a wave of his hand, all the restrictions were restored.
The supreme elder’s barely restrained gasp came from beside him, “Have they left?”
“As Shizun wished, they have already gone down the mountain. Isn’t Shizun relieved?”
The supreme elder, who was barely holding on, immediately went limp and fell into Rong Jue’s waiting arms.
“Rong Jue...” He panted, his fair and slender fingers clenching to the point that his tendons were visible.
“Has Shizun reached his limits?”
The demon lord held in his laughter as he reached out to ruffle a strand of the supreme elder’s hair. He clearly felt Shi Qing trying to get close to him under the pill’s influence, but Rong Jue didn’t want to play along. He deliberately pulled away.
“If you want something, Shizun should do it yours—– Ugh!!”
—–Bang!
The demon lord’s head hit the hard ground with a heavy thud.
If he was really a mortal now, he would probably be severely injured, if not dead.
Rong Jue had been pounced on and fell to the ground. It wasn’t until the supreme elder began to strip his clothes that Rong Jue reacted to what had happened.
This Charm Pill...
What a powerful effect it has.
As he responded to Shi Qing with one hand, his other hand struggled free and pointed at the door, summoning a strand of demonic energy to close it.
—Squeak.
The door closed.
On his way back down the mountain, Shang Lu looked back at the flowers and grasses on the roadside.
He sighed.
“What a beautiful garden filled with springtime vigour.”
****
Rong Jue was able to thoroughly experience how powerful the Charm Pill was.
Even though he was the one who refined it, he thought the advertisements in the demon world were quite exaggerated. However, the pill had an incredible effect when used on Shi Qing, enough to leave him somewhat bewildered.
For five days in a row, the two of them stayed in the room.
In the entrance hall, on the table, on the bed...
It was not until the sun shone into the room on the fifth day that Shi Qing, who had eaten his fill, heard his system announce in a dead inside monotone:
[Ding! Rong Jue’s animosity value: 540/100]
The System, who had already decided to silently wait for the World’s Consciousness to kick them out, said: [Host, it’s no use. Even if it fell by 60 points, there’s still 540 left.]
Shi Qing’s entire body was still in Rong Jue’s tight embrace. His eyes narrowed like he was half asleep. [Who said it was useless? 540 is nothing.]
System: ....Nothing??
It felt like it should remind the Host: [Host, it took you five days to reduce the animosity value by 59. There’s only one day left now so there’s no time.]
Shi Qing raised his eyebrows: [Just wait and see.]
Today, the demon lord was finally willing to leave the arms of his beauty.
Visiting the Wei Xuan secret realm was a must. After all, this key was very rare and the Sect Master openly gave it to Shi Qing. If he didn’t go, it would certainly arouse suspicion in Chi Yun Sect.
Although Rong Jue was not afraid of Chi Yun Sect anymore, he did not mind living on Qing Jian Peak with Shi Qing in his arms for a while.
What’s more, he also wanted to go to the Wei Xuan Secret Realm to check out that spirit stone.
As for what he wanted to ask...
Rong Jue glanced at the bloodless face of the supreme elder at his side. He slightly tightened the fist hidden in his sleeve.
These days, Shi Qing refused to divulge the reason he treated Rong Jue so harshly before, or why he protected Rong Jue behind the scene while also destroying his spiritual root, no matter how he was humiliated.
Before, the demon lord didn’t care about these things.
No matter what the reason was, it could not diminish his hatred for Shi Qing.
But now...
The demon lord’s phoenixsword eyes slightly narrowed. As he watched as Shi Qing brought the key close to the stone door, and his gaze gradually darkened.
He wanted to know.
He wanted to know everything about this shizun who was forced to stay by his side.
—Rumble.
The stone door slowly opened.
Before the others could react, Rong Jue reached out, grabbed Shi Qing around the waist and leapt straight in.
He landed in front of a spirit stone that resembled a mirror made of water.
The supreme elder was disoriented by the sudden change in location. After he realized where they were, his face paled again.
Subconsciously, he grabbed Rong Jue’s sleeve. “Aren’t we going to the spiritual spring?”
Rong Jue smirked and shook off the supreme elder’s hand.
“Since Shizun refuses to tell me, I’ll have to take a look myself.”
He stepped forward, ignoring the supreme elder’s futile efforts to stop him.
Rong Jue lowered his hand onto the surface of the water mirror.
The spirit stone rippled a few times, sucking the person who came to ask questions directly into its inner realm.
Seeing this, Shi Qing didn’t panic. He rummaged around in his sleeve.
A pill landed in his palm before he threw it at the water mirror.
The System asked curiously: [Host, what is that?]
Shi Qing: [It’s a Spirit Interference Pill.]
System: [???]
Shi Qing: [En, do you not know what that is? I thought you’d know what I was doing the moment I started learning pill refinement.]
System: [...I thought Host was trying to slap faces.]
Shi Qing: [Why do I need to slap the face of Passerby A? If it wasn’t for this moment, why would I, a bonafide supreme elder, practice pill refinement? Tongtong, I can’t believe you can’t identify such a simple operation after being with me for so long.]
System: [...]
After teasing his system, Shi Qing got down to business.
The Spirit Interference Pill, as its name implied, could interfere with the memories of spiritually active creatures.
Although it was only for a short period of time, that was all Shi Qing needed.
He raised his eyebrows slightly and began to connect to the spirit stone’s inner workings.
At the same time, in the spirit stone’s inner realm, Rong Jue heard a gentle voice.
”Child, I heard your question, and now I will answer you.”
”You are loved.”
“Loved?”
Rong Jue snorted.
He had never felt a shred of that growing up.
Even the admiration that Shang Lu and Qiao Lingyu showed towards him vanished once he joined the demon realm.
After what he had experienced, Rong Jue would believe it if the voice said he was hated.
But love?
Who in this world could possibly love him.
Perhaps because it sensed his disbelief, the space inside the mirror gradually faded away, revealing a scene of carnage.
Rong Jue’s pupils tightly constricted.
Even after a hundred years, this scene was still fresh in his mind.
It was what he had woken up to after the Rong family was annihilated and he had lost most of his memories.
Underneath a curtain of rain so dense that the road ahead was obscured, he awoke amidst a field of corpses. He was very young then, but luckily a kind passerby saw him and dropped him off in a warm, yet dilapidated temple.
For a long time after that, Rong Jue wandered around, haunted by nightmares of opening his eyes to the pouring rain and those ruins again. He wailed incessantly, unable to escape from cold and hunger.
It was only when he entered Qing Jian Peak and separated himself from the mortal world that he was able to escape from that nightmare.
But what appeared before him now was a little different from what he remembered.
Beside the unconscious child, there was a young man in blue robes holding a bamboo umbrella above him.
Was there such a person in his memory?
He tried hard to remember.
But all he could recall was the helplessness and fear he felt after waking up in the chilling downpour, surrounded by rubble.
From where he was, he watched as the person holding the umbrella crouched down slightly. He placed his fair and beautiful hand on the child Rong Jue’s forehead and injected a stream of spiritual energy. Gradually, the wounds on the child’s body began to mend as colour returned to his pale face.
Seeing this, the man let out a sigh.
This sigh...
Rong Jue found the sound very familiar.
He stopped himself from thinking more about it.
His fists shaking from how hard he was clenching them, he stepped further into the illusionary realm.
Finally, he could see the face hidden under the umbrella.
Exquisite and stunning, with an expression of compassion.
The demon lord’s mind instantly went blank.
That face.
It was none other than Shi Qing’s.
Rain: Guess the author’s borrowing ideas from 2ha too XD.
Sahl: I agree. * Not mentioning wantons... 😢 *
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