Chapter 100: Xuanhuan Cultivation BL (XVI)

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Chapter 100: Xuanhuan Cultivation BL (XVI)

“Hand him over to you?” Miao Lichen raised an eyebrow, a hint of scrutiny flickering through his eyes as he slowly looked Jiang Lingwen up and down, as though evaluating just how much value he possessed. The faint curve of his lips made him seem even more dangerous than when he was expressionless. The Phoenix was the child of flame, but that did not mean it shared fire’s gentleness. Besides, fire was only gentle to those suffering in bitter cold. To everyone else, all it brought was scorching heat. “Are you offering your own body as collateral, Jiang Lingwen? I never expected you to be so… self-sacrificing. Or was this your purpose for coming here all along?”

“Your Majesty.” Hè Liancheng finally managed to speak. As a member of the Scarlet Serpent Tribe, he had never understood what Miao Lichen meant by “instinct.” Just as he had never understood why other spirits questioned whether his true form was really a Scarlet Serpent, he had never associated a Scarlet Serpent’s instinct with such base behavior. They were, after all, the sacred attendants of the phoenix. But after hearing so much of the conversation, if he still failed to understand, he would truly be a fool.

Had His Majesty originally intended to personally help him complete his evolution? Then that meant… His hand unconsciously rose to the phoenix tail feather marking on his collarbone, where he could still faintly feel the lingering warmth of Phoenix Flame. Since he had already resolved to dedicate everything to His Majesty, then even if their relationship became physical, it seemed only natural. Yet his heartbeat still refused to obey him, pounding wildly as a faint blush spread across his fair face.

∇ Capture Target Hè Liancheng Favorability: 75.

“A’Chen, you can’t wrong me like that. I’ve remained chaste for you for a very long time. No, I’ve remained chaste from the very beginning. This body has existed only to wait for you.” Jiang Lingwen let the blood continue flowing down his back without any intention of taking healing pills. The warm trickle ran down his spine before cooling in the breeze. The stinging pain continuously sharpened his mind. He did not think he had ever been more clear-headed than he was now. Every feature of Miao Lichen’s face stood out with perfect clarity. He could not remember the last time he had focused so completely on anyone. “Even if it’s to help your subordinate evolve, I have no intention of offering my body. Besides, there are ways to stimulate desire besides that .”

His gaze swept across Hè Liancheng’s slightly dazed eyes. He had seen that dreamy, worshipful expression countless times before. Yet seeing someone else look at Miao Lichen that way made him… unconsciously clench his fingers as the smile on his lips grew even brighter. “Using drugs may not be an honorable method, but it’s far better than solving everything with your body. A’chen, you only want your subordinate to complete his evolution. Surely you don’t want to leave psychological scars on a child who hasn’t even reached adulthood.”

“Very well. Then I’ll leave A’cheng in your care for now. If the result isn’t what I want… you know the consequences.” Miao Lichen met Hè Liancheng’s gaze before finally looking away. His red robe rustled softly in the wind, yet the sound seemed to reach everyone’s ears.

“Mm. Anything I promise you, I’ll accomplish no matter the cost.” Jiang Lingwen lowered his eyes slightly. The words had barely left his mouth before he froze for a moment. No matter the cost? What if that price were his life? Would he still be willing? Jiang Lingwen had always been a selfish man. Giving up his life for someone… that simply wasn’t who he was…

As though trying to hide his thoughts, he took a step forward and bumped into something soft. Looking down at Kong Xuan, whom he had knocked unconscious and brought along, he finally remembered why he had come here in the first place. “A’chen, this peacock…”

“I more or less understand his ability. As for the rest… kill him.” Miao Lichen’s voice remained calm. “A spirit who overestimates himself and only wants to cause me trouble deserves no tolerance.”

The moment the words left his mouth, the red whip sliced across the man lying on the ground’s neck. Blood, as red as the whip itself, slowly flowed from the wound, staining the earth crimson. Kong Xuan probably never even realized who had ultimately killed him. Dying peacefully in his sleep was perhaps a form of mercy.

Hè Liancheng glanced at Jiang Lingwen with his red eyes. His expression was unusually complicated, though his emotionless face concealed every trace of it.

A slight smile curled Jiang Lingwen’s lips. Disappointed? Good. He wanted him to be disappointed. More accurately, he wanted everyone who coveted Miao Lichen to be disappointed. Because this phoenix was destined to become his prey. His eyes narrowed as he looked at Hè Liancheng. This snake truly was an eyesore. Though he did not entirely believe that proximity guaranteed success, Hè Liancheng undeniably had far more opportunities than he did to remain by Miao Lichen’s side. For the first time, he felt genuine jealousy.

In that case… helping Hè Liancheng evolve would make for a rather satisfying opportunity for revenge. He had only promised Miao Lichen to turn his subordinate into a fully matured Scarlet Serpent. He had never promised to use the most appropriate medicine.

Although drugging someone to obtain their body was considered the lowest form of conduct for a Dom, he knew such methods all too well. As an exceptionally handsome Dom, he had often needed to guard against his own Subs turning the tables on him. Some aphrodisiacs merely stirred desire and were easily endured. Others, however, could drive a person completely mad. He wondered, if this little snake lost his virginity to someone else under the influence of such a drug, would Miao Lichen still want him? Phoenixes were renowned for their purity. Perhaps they would reject anything tainted.

All he needed to do was ensure that the medicine itself produced no lasting side effects. The smile on his lips remained unchanged as his fingers brushed across the disheveled peacock corpse lying on the ground. Scarlet blood stained his fingertips. He rubbed them together gently, watching the vivid red disappear between them. His voice was as soft as a sigh. “The blood of a peacock spirit is excellent material. It may prove useful in preparing the medicine.”

Hè Liancheng was a spirit, while most of the aphrodisiacs Jiang Lingwen had researched were made from ordinary human ingredients. That clearly would not do. He would have to replace every ingredient with spiritual herbs. Only then could he truly demonstrate how seriously he was taking the matter. He only hoped the little snake would be able to withstand his good intentions.

Hè Liancheng tightened his grip on the whip in his hand and flicked it lightly, but ultimately did not attack. He watched Miao Lichen brushed past him. The red robes carried a fragrance that drew him in even more deeply. As a subject, he should never yearn for his king’s affection. His Majesty regarded him only as a loyal subject… The only reason His Majesty had originally intended to help him reach adulthood personally was because he wished for his subordinate to become stronger.

Yet another voice quietly whispered within him. This was the Spirit Emperor he had protected all this time, the one he had watched grow with his own eyes. Naturally, he had the right to share in His Majesty’s future. But he forcefully suppressed the thought. Such irreverent and blasphemous desires could never be known by His Majesty.

∇ Capture Target Hè Liancheng Favorability: 85.

Miao Lichen walked over to Bai Yingqi and rested a hand lightly on her shoulder, his tone softening instantly. “The wind is strong outside. Go back and rest for a while. The cultivation environment in the Spirit Realm is even better than that of the Heavenly Sword Sect. If your cultivation remains at this level, I won’t be able to stop worrying.”

“Hah, A’chen has become so unlovable now. You’re actually looking down on my cultivation. When I first picked you up, you were only at the Qi Refining stage, and I never looked down on you.” Bai Yingqi wrapped her arms around Miao Lichen’s neck, nearly hanging off him completely, though her flushed cheeks radiated happiness. “A’chen is making me so sad. Really, really sad.”

“…Forget it. I shouldn’t expect too much from you. Just stay as you are. I’ll protect you.” Miao Lichen lifted Bai Yingqi off his neck with one hand and sighed softly. He straightened her slightly disheveled hair before allowing her to cling to his arm as they walked back toward the cave dwelling.

Behind them came the faint sound of trees snapping. Hearing it, Bai Yingqi shamelessly snuggled even closer to Miao Lichen, all traces of her previous shy, lovestruck demeanor vanishing. After worrying for so long because of the protagonist, now that she no longer had to fear for her own safety, teasing him a little felt rather satisfying. Besides, in a few days she planned to tell Jiang Lingwen how she truly felt about Miao Lichen.

Turning her head to glance at Miao Lichen, Bai Yingqi knew she was acting spoiled, but she had no desire to remain a princess protected inside a tower forever. In the original novel, Bai Yingqi had been capable of supporting the entire Heavenly Sword Sect through her own strength. This was not some palace intrigue. There was no reason she should be inferior to someone from ancient times. She wanted to help Miao Lichen too, to protect him with her own strength.

Before Jiang Lingwen changed his heart, nothing would happen to her. And judging from the current situation, the protagonist would not be changing his heart anytime soon. “A’chen, are you really sure nothing will happen if you leave that snake spirit with Elder Jiang? The aura around Elder Jiang just now was… terrifying.” Hè Liancheng was undoubtedly the perfect loyal, adorable, stoic character. Although he had remained the most detached person in the original novel, that had been because he was merely one of Jiang Lingwen’s discipline targets. Now, however, he seemed to have become Jiang Lingwen’s romantic rival.

Wasn’t the standard approach to treat the person you liked as gently as a spring breeze while treating your rival with the merciless force of a raging storm? Jiang Lingwen might be a little deranged, but that trait probably would not change. If anything, it would become even stronger. And now Miao Lichen actually wanted Jiang Lingwen to help Hè Liancheng reach adulthood. By this point, Bai Yingqi had already imagined the Ten Great Tortures of the Qing Dynasty being inflicted on Hè Liancheng and silently drew a cross for him in her heart.

“With the way Jiang Lingwen currently feels about me, he won’t harm my subordinate. Even if A’cheng has to endure some pain, he’ll still achieve the result I want.” Miao Lichen glanced back toward the cliff they had just descended, where dust still drifted through the air. “If Hè Liancheng can’t endure even this much suffering, then he isn’t Hè Liancheng.” As the only Scarlet Serpent in existence, the strength he possessed today had been forged through countless hardships.

“So A’chen is actually the scariest one after all. I thought you didn’t understand how Jiang Lingwen felt about you. But… this version of you is the best.” Bai Yingqi’s eyes lit up as she wrapped her arms around Miao Lichen’s neck once more, her fingers brushing through his silver-white hair. It was better that he was not innocent. Innocent people rarely survived long in this world. She did not want Miao Lichen to remain naïve. She wanted him to see everyone as pieces on a chessboard, paving the path for his own future. And for that, she was willing to become one of those pieces herself.

She silently prayed that Hè Liancheng could survive Jiang Lingwen’s tempering and return to Miao Lichen’s side. ‘Because I will eventually leave, and I do not want A’chen to be left alone. At least for now, Hè Liancheng has earned the right to stand beside him.’

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