Chapter 44: The Villain Senior Brother Is About to Turn Dark, the Psychotic Junior Brother Pretends to Be Blind [End]

Ye Beiyu paused mid-sentence, then let out a low chuckle, murmuring to himself as if in soliloquy,

"Even if Shixiong doesn't like me, it doesn't matter. You're mine now—there's no getting away."

It was a shame, though.

He had thought Bai Yan would surely seize this chance to flee—after all, he knew his Shixiong all too well.

He wouldn't just cave like that, wouldn't willingly accept being his prisoner.

Yet, he hadn't expected that even after leaving such an opening right before Bai Yan's eyes, the man still showed no intention of running.

Ye Beiyu's eyes darkened.

Unfortunately, the things he had specially prepared while reading those illustrated novels these past few days would go unused...

If Bai Yan had tried to escape, he could have conveniently carried out some "punishment."

Then he could have used all those things on Bai Yan.

It wouldn't have been a bad plan, really.

But Bai Yan didn't flee—instead, he chose to stay by his side.

Even though things hadn't gone as he wished, Ye Beiyu was still in high spirits.

For days on end, Bai Yan could tell Ye Beiyu was in a good mood. He even stopped keeping him locked in the bedchamber, taking him out to stretch his legs instead.

Ye Beiyu would cast a spell to hide the chains on his wrists and ankles, then carry him out the door.

At first, Bai Yan was reluctant—he was rarely held like that, let alone carried out in public.

But Ye Beiyu smiled and said, "Shixiong should get used to this sooner or later. After all, everyone knows by now that your most beloved little fox has taken human form, and you've even made a marriage contract with him."

Bai Yan clutched Ye Beiyu's robes tightly, his breath catching at those words.

Though he was trapped in the bedchamber, with 717's help, he knew everything Ye Beiyu was doing in the outside world.

Naturally, he also knew what Ye Beiyu had been telling others.

But having to be carried out in front of people—that he couldn't accept.

Bai Yan kept his patience, softening his tone as he spoke quietly,

"Put me down. With the Soul-locking Chain and the Twin Gu Worm, I won't get away. You don't have to do this."

Ye Beiyu gazed at him, his eyes brimming with laughter, and said meaningfully,

"Shixiong once taught me that if you want something, you have to give something first..."

Before Ye Beiyu could finish, a soft, slightly warm pressure pressed against his lips.

"Is that enough?"

The gentle kiss was gone in an instant.

Ye Beiyu fell silent for a moment, then finally set him down, quietly taking his hand instead.

The two walked side by side, a breeze stirring the falling petals—a scene as beautiful as a painting.

Yet they both knew clearly that this was nothing but a mere facade.

Bai Yan did the math on how much time he had left in this world.

[Almost there—half a month more, and it'll be time for you to be sealed by the protagonist in the original plot, and for us to complete the mission and leave.]

717's tone was light. Ever since Bai Yan had refused to leave last time, its guilt had only deepened, and it was now counting down the days.

Bai Yan lowered his gaze, sensing the fortune within him.

During this time, he had been trying to convert that mass of fortune more efficiently, binding it all to his soul.

That way, when he left this world, he could bring more of it with him.

But oddly enough, this was the first time he had encountered a protagonist with fortune as concentrated as Ye Beiyu's.

So concentrated that he even wondered if Ye Beiyu was an incarnation of the Heavenly Dao itself—otherwise, even the heavens' favorite shouldn't be like this.

Thinking back to how he had originally planned to drain Ye Beiyu dry,

Bai Yan now felt nothing but helplessness and a throbbing headache.

After all that going at it, he could barely take it anymore, and had wondered more than once whether he might leave this world early because of that kind of activity.

Yet Ye Beiyu's fortune seemed not to have diminished in the slightest, and it hadn't taken a toll on him at all.

"What's on Shixiong's mind?"

Ye Beiyu squeezed his hand slightly, snapping Bai Yan back to reality.

Meeting those deep, dark eyes, Bai Yan pursed his lips,

"It's nothing."

"Is that so..."

Ye Beiyu stared at him again, his gaze heavy and unreadable, yet unable to hide the faint trace of panic in his eyes.

He never believed Bai Yan would be someone who'd just accept his situation, nor did he think Bai Yan would willingly become his prisoner.

Even after the last time he tested him, when Bai Yan had chosen not to leave.

Ye Beiyu pinched the soft part of his palm, then suddenly spoke,

"Shixiong, what if I stay here in the demon realm with you?"

Bai Yan turned his head to look at him, his attention drawn away from Ye Beiyu's hand by those words.

[717, what's gotten into him?]

[Oh, he contacted the Divine Sword Sect people a while back. The demon realm's seal is broken now, and all the demons suppressed for years have poured out.]

[And those sect members were already prepared—the moment those demons came out, they were massacred by the cultivators lying in wait.]

717 let out a sigh as it spoke, [Those who aren't our kind will always have different intentions.]

[They won't wait for the demons to act before retaliating, and they certainly don't care whether the demons might harm them.]

The mere mention of "demon race" was enough to ensure they would show no mercy.

[But the demons were not to be trifled with either. Those cultivators who sought to kill them would naturally face resistance, and now chaos had erupted everywhere.]

[The leaders of several major sects were still in discussion, hoping to seal the demon realm once more.]

[The ancient formation that sealed the demon realm—Ye Beiyu had obtained it before he ever met you, and it remained within the Divine Sword Sect.]

[Even if he did not seal you, under the drive of the heavenly plot, the demon realm would still be sealed by them.]

Bai Yan furrowed his brow. [In the end, they struck first.]

717 nodded in agreement but merely shrugged.

[No help for it. After all, in their minds, demons are just like that. They won't truly wait until demons commit evil before dealing with them.]

Bai Yan said no more. Years of prejudice could not be changed in a few words.

Besides, this was not his mission, nor what he had come to this world to do.

With an ending already predetermined, what could he possibly do?

Bai Yan turned his gaze back to Ye Beiyu.

Ye Beiyu, feeling that stare, was struck with unease, reminded again of the nightmares that had plagued him repeatedly these past days.

In those dreams, Bai Yan turned and walked away without looking back.

No matter how he chased or struggled, he could never touch that figure.

Ye Beiyu suddenly pulled the man into an embrace, resting his head against Bai Yan's shoulder and neck, his voice low.

"Senior brother."

"Alright."

Bai Yan blinked lightly, a faint curve forming at the corner of his lips.

"Since you like me so much... then stay here with me."

If he left, Ye Beiyu would surely go mad.

A shadow flickered through Bai Yan's eyes. In that case, they would stay here together.

[Big Shot, are you planning to seal the male lead inside the demon realm too?] 717 was curious, and somewhat puzzled.

[He chose to stay willingly. That has nothing to do with me.] Bai Yan chuckled inwardly.

717's mouth twitched, then fell silent.

During this period, Ye Beiyu had grown increasingly good to Bai Yan, as if he wished to present every treasure in the world at his feet.

Bai Yan's attitude toward him remained as indifferent as ever, with no hint of attempting to flee.

Yet that only made Ye Beiyu more restless, wishing he could keep the man trapped in his arms and before his eyes at all times.

"What is this?"

Bai Yan looked at the fruit before him. It was only the size of a palm, already red to the point of turning black, yet strangely alluring—as if a voice deep within his heart was tempting him to eat it.

He looked up at Ye Beiyu, who, unlike his restless demeanor of recent days, sat down beside Bai Yan naturally.

"A soul fruit. Eat it, and combined with a special secret technique, I can forge a soul pact with you, senior brother."

Neither the Soul-locking Chain nor the Twin Gu Worm had been enough for him.

He wanted to be directly connected to Bai Yan's soul, so that even if Bai Yan perished, even if he entered reincarnation, as long as his soul did not scatter or extinguish, he would be able to find him once more.

Ye Beiyu's gaze burned hot. Bai Yan held the soul fruit, a hint of unreadable emotion surfacing in his eyes.

Perhaps it was the habit of playing the villain—always being cast aside at the final moment, or betrayed by those he trusted.

Now, counting the time, at this point in the plot Ye Beiyu should have been locked in a death feud with him, yet here he was, speaking of forming a soul pact.

Bai Yan suddenly found it amusing. Even if they formed a soul pact, so what? Once he left this world, Ye Beiyu would never find him again.

"Little Yuer, if we form a soul pact, then if I die, you die too."

The dark red fruit was already pressed against his lips, but Bai Yan paused and suddenly spoke.

Ye Beiyu merely wrapped his arms around Bai Yan's waist and closed his eyes. His voice was soft, yet firm and stubborn.

"I know. But if it's you, senior brother... I will naturally accompany you."

In that instant, Bai Yan felt an unusual stir in some corner of his heart.

But he could not name what it was, and in the end, he suppressed that emotion.

"Since you have no regrets, then fine."

A faint curve lifted the corner of Bai Yan's lips, and a trace of amusement surfaced in his eyes.

Wasn't it just a soul pact?

To him, it was nothing more than optional. Even if he formed a soul pact with this man, so what?

Could he go chasing him across other worlds?

Besides, his time was running out anyway.

717 had said those people were fully prepared, wanting to seal the demon realm.

It had also told him that Yue Qingxian had originally sneaked into the demon realm, but before he could even meet Bai Yan, Ye Beiyu had sent him back out.

Every time someone from the Spirit Mountain Sect entered the demon realm, they were sent right back out.

It had enraged Yue Qingxian so much that after returning, he spent a full three days cursing Ye Beiyu.

Bai Yan found nothing remarkable about it.

He was now not only a demon but also the Demon Sovereign. It was best that the Spirit Mountain Sect severed ties with him completely, just as the plot dictated.

That was their best choice—otherwise, they could not establish themselves in the cultivation world, nor maintain good relations with the demon realm, and would only fall into an impossible dilemma.

But soon, it would all be over.

Forming a soul contract isn't all that hard.

It's just that Bai Yan kind of suspected Ye Beiyu did it on purpose—how did something as simple as a soul contract end up in bed?

Even though he had his doubts, Bai Yan didn't stop him.

Maybe it was because of the contract that Ye Beiyu seemed to sense something.

He really went overboard this time.

Bai Yan didn't even know when it ended.

He was held in Ye Beiyu's arms, one hand resting on his slightly swollen belly, his mind wandering.

His mind was full of those wild, fragmented memories.

It was almost too much to think about how he'd gotten through it.

Bai Yan's eyes were red-rimmed, his gaze dark and locked on Ye Beiyu's face as he seriously considered one question.

The possibility of killing Ye Beiyu before leaving this world without bringing down heaven's punishment.

After mulling it over for a while, Bai Yan dropped the idea.

He was leaving soon anyway, and when that time came, Ye Beiyu wouldn't survive either...

Two more days passed, and Bai Yan finally felt well enough to get up and move around.

He threw on a moon-white robe, and in his head, 717's excited voice rang out:

[Big Shot! We can leave this world today!]

[Want to leave now? While Ye Beiyu's away.]

717 asked.

Bai Yan looked at the peach blossoms in full bloom before him—this spirit peach tree was something Ye Beiyu had specially found for him.

Ye Beiyu had really been good to him; it'd be impossible to say there wasn't a flicker of attraction.

But in the end, they weren't meant to walk the same path. He still had his own things to take care of.

Back in his original world, there was someone who'd treated him just as well.

He had to go back.

Bai Yan watched the peach blossom land on his fingertip, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"Let's go."

[Ding—task complete, leaving this world.]

As a cold, mechanical voice rang out, Bai Yan felt his consciousness start to blur.

At that very moment, Ye Beiyu seemed to sense something too. His heart jolted hard, and without a second thought, he turned and left right away.

He rushed back to the bedchamber as fast as he could, but all that met his eyes was the figure lying quietly under the peach blossom tree.

Ye Beiyu's steps were soft and slow, his deep, ink-dark eyes churning with complicated emotions.

He stopped under the peach blossom tree, staring at the person almost buried in petals, and stayed silent for a long time.

He lifted him into his arms, sat down with him under the peach blossom tree, and gently kissed his forehead and eyes.

Ye Beiyu rested his head against his shoulder and neck, and the wind seemed to carry a soft sigh.

"Senior Brother, you really did leave me behind after all."

"But it's okay. I'll find you. Just wait for me a little longer—I'll find you soon..."

Volume Two: "The Crazy Young Master vs. The Villain Fake Young Master"