The maid saw Bai Ying and immediately stopped, bowing her head. “Xianzhang.”
Li Lanxiu sat half the way up, still striking the drum with the same rhythm. He didn’t spare Bai Ying a glance. “Go on and finish. He can wait.”
The maid belonged to Violetstage Peak and naturally obeyed Li Lanxiu.
Bai Ying turned their head slightly and watched with great interest.
Li Lanxiu made it very clear—even if you were the sect master’s personal disciple, held in the highest esteem within the sect, worshipped by all and desired by everyone—for me, you’re just someone who needs something.
If I tell you to wait, you’ll wait.
A light laugh escaped their throat. They sat in the nearby chair.
They waited quietly like a guest seeking Li Lanxiu’s favor.
The maid only knew Bai Ying as Li Lanxiu’s friend. If she had known they were Bai Zhenchuan, she wouldn’t have danced so freely.
When the dance ended, she closed the door and quietly withdrew.
Li Lanxiu casually tossed the drumsticks aside, leaned back against the pillar and lazily curled a finger at them.
Bai Ying suddenly hesitated. If they allowed themselves to be summoned so easily with just a gesture, they would end up like Chu Yue.
Bowing to Li Lanxiu was nothing. But staying by his side, not allowed to touch or taste at will, only given chances when he felt like it—
Wouldn’t that make them just a domesticated dog?
Li Lanxiu didn’t rush him to decide. He rested his arm on his bent knee, his toes tapping lightly on the carpet, utterly at ease.
Bai Ying stared down at him from above.
The mask he wore was his only act of kindness. At least it allowed Bai Ying a moment of resistance before they finally stood and walked toward him.
With practiced grace, Bai Ying lifted a corner of their snowy white robe, knelt smoothly on one knee beside him, leaned into the damp hollow of his neck and took in a deep breath. “Are you satisfied?”
Li Lanxiu reached out and pinched both their cheeks, forcibly turning their face. He asked knowingly, “Satisfied with what?”
Bai Ying wanted to bite him to death. They stared at him. “Satisfied that I need something from you.”
“Hm? What are you asking me for?”
“…Help me.”
“Be specific.”
“…”
Li Lanxiu looked down at the faint red in their eyes and asked gently, “If you don’t explain, how can I help you?”
Bai Ying was stirred by the scent on his body, their blood surging. They licked their lips lightly and rasped, “I’m asking you to help me get through this heat.”
Li Lanxiu raised an eyebrow. Just as he suspected. No wonder every time Bai Ying saw him, they looked like they could barely hold back from devouring him.
He always attracted demons and yao for some strange reason. They either wanted to eat him or sleep with him.
“How should I help you?”
Bai Ying fell silent for a moment, then answered frankly, “It eases when I’m close to you.”
Li Lanxiu let go of their face. If it was just about being sniffed, licked and watched as someone burned with lust for him, it wasn’t a bad deal. “I can help you, but you’ll have to behave.”
“Yes, I’ll stop whenever you say.” Bai Ying remembered.
Li Lanxiu patted their face. What he meant by “behave” was to obey. From now on, they would have to follow his orders and serve his purposes.
Bai Ying’s identity was different from Gu Zhengxing’s.
Gu Zhengxing had fallen into the ghost realm after taking his own life. In that place of brutal survival, weaker ghosts were devoured by stronger ones. Only those with deep, burning resentment could survive as fierce spirits.
Before his death, Gu Zhengxing had been a prodigy of his generation, wrongfully accused and killed, his rage erupting to the heavens. After death, he turned into a vicious, terrifying ghost.
To one day return to the human world and take his revenge, he fought and devoured relentlessly, day after day, until he became the strongest ghost in the realm. Eventually, a yin god took notice of him and, impressed by his power and drive, chose him to be the next ghost king, granting him dominion over the powers of the ghost path.
In short, he built his empire from nothing.
But Bai Ying had already been a yao king before he was even born.
His bloodline came from the ancient dragon clan, and was the purest of its kind, the highest among demons and yao. He was born with an innate bloodline suppression, able to compel obedience from any yao who crossed him.
If someone could make Bai Ying obey, it would be no different than holding an emperor hostage to control the world.
This was exactly what Conundrum Sect’s sect master, Master Meixue, intended.
Yet even with the dual status of master and father figure, even after a century of teaching and kindness, he still couldn’t get Bai Ying to follow orders.
If he saw what was happening now—Bai Ying kneeling on one knee beside Li Lanxiu, slowly becoming addicted to the scent of his hair, eyes fixed deeply on his neck, his voice hoarse as he asked, “Can I have a taste?”—
And Li Lanxiu casually lifted his hand.
Bai Ying leaned in, stuck out his tongue and licked his slender, pale fingers, meticulously tasting them from the tips down to the palm, not missing a single spot.
With how obedient and tame he looked, Master Mei Xue would have coughed up blood on the spot.
***
Meanwhile, Chu Yue found himself once again face to face with Elder Shen.
In the courtyard, where the moon hung high and the stars were sparse, he had just finished a set of blade techniques. With a smooth, practiced motion, he sheathed his saber single-handedly and nodded slightly toward the old man standing at the foot of the stairs. “Elder Shen.”
Elder Shen’s eyes shone with approval as he nodded in return. “I heard you defeated the senior disciple I sent you with a single move. At first, I thought they were exaggerating out of laziness—but now I see it was no lie.”
Chu Yue clasped one hand behind his back and looked at him calmly. The sect’s grand competition was tomorrow. At a time like this, Elder Shen wouldn’t come just to admire his saber skills.
Elder Shen stepped down from the stairs and took a seat on the stone bench beneath the pavilion. Smiling pleasantly, he said, “Come, sit. I’m only here for a little heart-to-heart.”
Chu Yue sat down at a distance, posture straight and composed.
Elder Shen stroked his white beard, his demeanor as serene and refined as always. He studied Chu Yue and said, “I heard you came from the country of Dongyue and met Li Lanxiu in Wei City at the foot of the mountain. He was the one who recommended you to the sect. That’s no small favor.”
Chu Yue’s lips curved faintly as he nodded.
Elder Shen watched his expression closely, sighing inwardly. A moment later, his tone subtly shifted.
“Chu Yue, to speak frankly—your talent is unmatched throughout the entire sect.”
A flicker of amusement showed in Chu Yue’s eyes. Unmatched—that meant he was the only one.
Elder Shen saw the change in his expression and thought, A promising youth indeed.
He went on, “In the future, the sect will spare no resource to support you. We’ll provide the rarest herbs and treasures to refine your cultivation. You’ll wield the most precious artifacts, making you invincible in battle. You’ll even have the opportunity to learn our most profound secret techniques, pushing your power to new heights.”
“You are like a fine blade,” Elder Shen said, “and the sect will wipe away all dust and sharpen your edge.”
“So don’t resign yourself to being beneath someone else, to serving as someone’s lackey.”
Chu Yue nodded thoughtfully, his tone calm. “I’m willing to be the blade.”
He seemed genuinely considering Elder Shen’s words.
Elder Shen, pleased by his apparent clearness of mind, chuckled. “You’ll earn the reverence of countless disciples, become the pillar of our sect and perhaps even lead a domain of your own one day.”
“You’ll enjoy endless glory, and bask in the praise and devotion of the world. Wherever you go, paths will be cleared for you. The best of all things will be offered to you.”
Suddenly, Chu Yue’s slight smile vanished. His expression turned cool, indifferent. “Yes.”
Elder Shen couldn’t quite read his thoughts. This should’ve been cause for excitement—why was he so unmoved?
He added, “I believe it won’t be many years before your name is known across the land. When that day comes, you’ll be the pride of our sect. Everyone here will speak of you with honor…”
“Pride…” Chu Yue murmured under his breath, then broke into a brilliant smile and rose to his feet, cupping his hands. “Thank you for your guidance, Elder.”
Elder Shen smiled in satisfaction, nodding. “The sect competition lasts three days. Rest well and prepare. I look forward to seeing your brilliance!”
Chu Yue watched him go, then turned and flew toward the direction of Violetstage Peak.
Under the moonlight, the place flickered with the warm glow of lanterns. The grand hall’s doors were left half-ajar. A streak of golden light spilled through the crack and slanted across the stone steps.
Inside, Bai Ying knelt on one knee beside Li Lanxiu, his long silver hair trailing onto the floor. He was carefully, intently licking the hand raised before him.
The scene wasn’t quite one of seduction, nor was it exactly elegant. Bai Ying’s eyes glowed faintly red, and his tongue—forked at the tip like that of a serpent—curled and flexed like two soft, wet tendrils, sliding over the pale slender fingers. He licked from fingertip to palm, leaving Li Lanxiu’s skin damp and glistening.
Li Lanxiu, visibly annoyed by the sensation, squinted and endured it, occasionally reaching out with his other hand to stroke Bai Ying’s hair as if bestowing a favor.
Bai Ying never looked up, not until his spiritual sense caught the approach of another presence. His tongue stilled mid-lick, and he looked to Li Lanxiu, silently seeking instruction.
Tomorrow marked the start of the sect’s grand competition. Li Lanxiu, well aware of who might appear here, furrowed his brow in thought for a moment, then tilted his chin toward Bai Ying in a gesture: go on, don’t mind it.
Bai Ying, deep in the throes of heat, couldn’t be bothered with things like propriety. He lowered his head and continued drinking in the scent that consumed his senses.
Chu Yue stepped through the palace doors—and froze.
A moment later, he strode forward and accidentally bumped into the nearby antique shelf. Bang—a loud crash jolted the two in the center of the room.
Lowering his gaze, Chu Yue said calmly, “Young Master.”
Li Lanxiu, seated casually on the carpet, leisurely stroked Bai Ying’s hair as if soothing a pet. “Ignore him.”
Chu Yue circled around to the other side, crouching down slowly. From the corner of his eye, he could see the silver-haired man in white lightly licking Li Lanxiu’s fingers. He turned his hand behind his back, fingers tightening around the hilt of his blade.
Li Lanxiu raised the hand stroking Bai Ying and gently rested it on Chu Yue’s head as well, the gesture falling equally upon them like dew and rain. “Here to talk about tomorrow’s competition?”
Unhappy with having his attention stolen, Bai Ying deliberately made a wet, obscene noise as he licked, tongue sliding with exaggerated zeal.
Chu Yue leaned in closer, the corner of his lips lifting into a clean, decisive smile—bright, youthful. “Yes. The competition lasts three days. Now that I’ve seen you tonight, I’ll be able to focus.”
“Do your best,” Li Lanxiu said softly. He began to lift his hand away from Chu Yue’s head, but Chu Yue suddenly straightened up, nudging his head slightly into the palm in a subtly pleasing motion.
Li Lanxiu chuckled aloud and pinched his cheek. “Good boy.”
Chu Yue glanced at Bai Ying and, as if casually, asked, “And this is—?”
Li Lanxiu drew back the hand Bai Ying had drenched with saliva and casually wiped it, palm up and down, against Bai Ying’s chest.
Chu Yue opened his palm to Chu Yue and took out a brocade handkerchief with the other hand.
Bai Ying discreetly suppressed the bloodlust surging in his eyes, wiped the corner of his mouth with lingering satisfaction, and pressed his tongue to the roof of his mouth, deliberately clicking it with a savoring sound.
Li Lanxiu lightly extended his hand toward Chu Yue. “We were just playing.”
Chu Yue calmly took his fingers and began to carefully wipe them one by one with the handkerchief, slow and precise.
His grip was tight enough that his knuckles whitened, veins crisscrossing starkly along his wrist. “Yes, I see.”
“You’ll know me when you see me again,” Bai Ying said hoarsely, edging closer to Li Lanxiu’s side.
Chu Yue kept his head lowered, dutifully wiping down each of Li Lanxiu’s fingers. “No need to wait. I’ve already heard of the white-haired, white-robed inner disciple with the bearing of an immortal. Now that I’ve seen you—”
Li Lanxiu lifted his hand, and Chu Yue caught it again with the handkerchief, wrapping it fully around his palm. “It’s still dirty. I didn’t clean it properly.”
The mockery in his tone was barely veiled.
Bai Ying’s expression darkened, a flicker of shame flashing through him—he’d even once lashed out at Li Lanxiu for Chu Yue’s sake.
Chu Yue made sure Li Lanxiu’s hand was thoroughly cleaned before letting go. Ignoring the sect’s honored Bai Zhenchuan entirely, he lowered his head beside Li Lanxiu again. “Young Master, may I have a little more encouragement?”
Li Lanxiu stroked the top of his head, fingers earnestly combing down to the ends of his hair.
Bai Ying leaned in close, deliberately speaking up, “What about me?”
Still stroking Chu Yue’s hair, Li Lanxiu reached out his other hand and gave Bai Ying’s cheek a perfunctory pat. “What about you? Are you as obedient as he is?”
Chu Yue smiled with closed eyes, the curve of his lips pure and harmless.
Bai Ying was left speechless. With that face and that act, Chu Yue really was a good dog.
Li Lanxiu lifted the hand resting on Chu Yue’s head and said gently, “Tomorrow’s an important day. Go back and prepare.”
With that, he rose slowly to his feet, bare feet sinking into the carpet as he walked deeper into the hall at an unhurried pace.
Once his figure disappeared from view, both Chu Yue and Bai Ying stood up at the same time.
The smile on Chu Yue’s lips vanished completely. He stared at Bai Ying, expression blank.
Bai Ying’s face returned to its usual cool composure. The two of them looked at each other for a few moments, not saying a single word. Then they turned and left in opposite directions.
***
The next day, the sect-wide competition was about to begin. On the vast plaza, banners flapped fiercely in the wind, and the solemn atmosphere carried a faint hint of killing intent.
The plaza itself was still empty, but several massive iron cages stood tall at its center. Each cage was draped with a thick black cloth that trembled slightly—as if something alive was breathing beneath.
Tens of thousands of disciples gathered on the floating islands where the people from each peak were stationed. Heads swarmed like waves, all waiting eagerly for the event to begin.
The contestants were assembled on the floating island of Cloudwater Hall. Each peak had sent their best to compete: Senior Brother Lian from Surfoot Peak, Jiang Jiusi from Thousandchance Peak and Senior Brother Yu from Resonance Peak. From Violetstage Peak, Chu Xuan led his group into battle.
Among the crowd, two figures on the Cloudwater Hall island were the most striking.
One sat in the spectators’ section: Bai Zhenchuan, the personal disciple of Master Meixue. Born as a Dao Seed, now at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage, his expression was aloof and detached, untouched by mortal dust. His silver hair shimmered like that of an immortal watching from above.
Though seated with the elders, he alone sat at his own table—elevated, overlooking the masses.
The other man stood among the contestants: the rising star of the sect, bearer of the Immaculate Spiritual Physique. Dressed in fitted black robes with a narrow blade at his hip, Chu Yue’s sharp and cold eyes made him look like an unsheathed weapon in a crowd of mortals, gleaming with deadly brilliance.
The area around him remained conspicuously empty. His presence was so intense, no one dared to stand too close.
“Bai Zhenchuan is a born Dao Seed, while Chu Yue has the Immaculate Spiritual Physique… How fortunate our sect is to have both of them!”
“No wonder they’re so untouchable. With talents like that, they’re destined to be admired by all.”
The disciples across the floating islands looked on with envy and reverence in their eyes.
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