Yue Wuhuan was practicing his swordsmanship, which was becoming increasingly exquisite.
Cultivation was never a challenge for him; he grasped esoteric scriptures and cultivation methods at a glance. His spiritual power flowed as naturally as breathing. He was a born cultivator, hindered only by the frail meridians and dantian of a mortal body, which made conventional training insufficient for breaking his constraints. That's why he sought the pinnacle of swordsmanship.
Events in the illusionary world were vivid in his memory.
After calming down, he suddenly realized that the sword techniques from the illusion had become part of him, as if he had practiced them countless times. He looked at his sword pointing diagonally upwards; this simple move could break three common protective artifacts in the celestial realm. Then, by pressing the blade downwards, it could pierce a heart... He had never killed anyone with a sword, so why did it all feel so familiar, as if he had experienced it firsthand?
An illusionary gu (insect used in magic) couldn't possibly have such effects; otherwise, it would be the world's most extraordinary gu, not a mere toy.
Yue Wuhuan stared blankly at his sword-holding hand. He wanted to continue pondering, but a headache ensued. It seemed as if an invisible force was suppressing him, forbidding him from finding the answer to his question, forcing it out of his mind, and making him settle for a barely logical conclusion.
The celestial realm is full of various wonders; perhaps the illusionary gu is his unique encounter.
The figure of Song Qingshi peeked out from the depths of the corridor, having watched for an unknown amount of time.
Yue Wuhuan quickly sheathed his sword as he saw Song Qingshi approach with a notebook and homemade charcoal pencil. He gestured for Yue Wuhuan to sit on a nearby stone bench, struggled for a while, and then finally opened the notebook. On the blank first page were large characters that read "Interest and Hobbies Chart."
Yue Wuhuan was puzzled: "What is this?"
Song Qingshi held back his embarrassment. He didn't want to do something as immature as fangirling, but Yue Wuhuan had concealed himself too well. With his own poor social skills, Song Qingshi couldn't guess what Yue Wuhuan was thinking.
Being a man who didn't like keeping secrets, Song Qingshi decided to be straightforward. He would create a list, ask questions directly, fill in the information one by one, and compile it into a medical case file to eliminate any errors.
"You mustn't lie; answer the questions truthfully," said Song Qingshi, striving to maintain a doctor's dignity as he picked up the charcoal pencil and began questioning earnestly, "Wuhuan, what do you like to eat?"
Yue Wuhuan stifled a laugh and jokingly replied: "I love sweets."
Song Qingshi looked at him helplessly and muttered, "Be serious, don't mention what I like to eat." Back in Lecheng, he had assumed that Yue Wuhuan liked milk cakes and had bought them, only to find out they were for himself. The same happened with the ice cream later on.
"I don't have any particular food preferences," Yue Wuhuan thought for a moment before saying earnestly, "I used to have many dietary restrictions that ruined my stomach, so now I can't eat much. I prefer 'Bi Gu Dan'—fasting pills—since they save time."
Song Qingshi noted down "stomach medicine" and continued to ask, "What do you like?"
Yue Wuhuan paused for a moment, the smile in his eyes intensifying. "I like my master; you treat me the best."
Flattered, Song Qingshi clarified, "I meant objects, material things."
Yue Wuhuan chuckled, "There's nothing in particular that I desire because my master has already provided me with everything." The sparkling gems were now gone, and he didn't need them. His master had already spent so much on him; there was no need to trouble him further.
"Favorite color?" "White." "Favorite activities?" "Swordsmanship, concocting medicine, reading, learning."
Yue Wuhuan's answers were seamless, leaving no room for scrutiny.
Lastly, Song Qingshi asked, "When is your birthday?"
"February 14th," replied Yue Wuhuan.
Hearing this unique date, Song Qingshi paused, his pen suspended in the air.
Yue Wuhuan queried, "Is there something strange about this date?"
Holding back a smile, Song Qingshi shook his head. In this world, Valentine's Day did not exist. He was simply reminded of his old world, where he spent every Valentine's Day covering shifts for dating colleagues, accepting roses and gifts on behalf of his sister, booking candlelit dinners and opera tickets for his parents, and eating instant noodles in the lab with lab rats. People joked that his future lover would undoubtedly be a lab rat, which he found amusing.
Seeing Song Qingshi's stifled laugh, Yue Wuhuan grew increasingly perplexed, wondering what had delighted his master.
Song Qingshi closed the notebook cheerfully. He had gathered quite a bit of information. Next month would be Yue Wuhuan's birthday, and he had already sent numerous urgent letters to Ye Yu Ge. With the "Wan Ling Sui" now at hand and a clue about Xie Que's whereabouts, he could prepare a grand surprise that might lift Yue Wuhuan's spirits and make him forget the troubling illusion.
Of course, this all hinged on Yue Wuhuan not experiencing another episode.
Yue Wuhuan's facial wound had mostly healed, but strangely, the mole that was clearly removed had regrown in its original spot. Suspecting that it was not thoroughly eliminated, Song Qingshi personally performed another mole removal surgery. However, upon changing the bandage this morning, he found that the mole had stubbornly reappeared, more radiant and beautiful than before.
Song Qingshi had never encountered such a phenomenon. After much research, he still couldn't determine anything unusual about the mole.
The celestial realm had its share of unexplainable phenomena. Perhaps it was an indelible mark, resistant to removal?
Seeing his master's concern, Yue Wuhuan repeatedly insisted that he was willing to leave the mole alone, promising that he would not have another episode under the control of the "Lock of Emotion." Song Qingshi was not convinced; even a YuanYing stage cultivator's spiritual sense, though strong, could not be maintained at a distance 24/7.
Therefore, these days, he remained by Yue Wuhuan's side, even forgoing sleep. He resorted to laying a makeshift bed next to Yue Wuhuan—a 'family bedside' arrangement. Though it was embarrassing, it was still better than dozing off in his own chamber, oblivious to any emergency that might occur.
Yue Wuhuan woke up in the middle of the night and was stunned to see Song Qingshi on the floor beside him.
Never in his wildest dreams did Yue Wuhuan imagine that his own master would do something so absurd! He deliberated on whether to feign ignorance or wake Song Qingshi up, only to find that both options were unbearably awkward. Gritting his teeth, he woke Song Qingshi and tried to give him an out: "Master, you must be exhausted. You've fallen asleep here; you should be cautious of the cold floor."
Song Qingshi stubbornly refused the offered escape route, staying put on the ground: "No, I have to stay right here."
Yue Wuhuan felt an intense sense of helplessness; he knew it was his fault. "In that case, Master, please sleep on the bed..." He had initially wanted to suggest that he sleep on the floor himself.
To his surprise, Song Qingshi's eyes lit up as he took full advantage of the invitation. Accustomed to comfort, sleeping on the floor for several nights had been difficult for him. The invitation to share the bed thrilled him. It indicated that his little angel harbored no mistrust toward him; appropriate physical contact would aid in his emotional recovery!
Song Qingshi saw himself as an upright man and Yue Wuhuan as the story's protagonist. Sharing the bed, therefore, would present no issues.
Beds in the celestial realm are notably spacious, easily accommodating two or three people.
Filled with gratitude, Song Qingshi climbed into bed, clutching the blanket, and assured Yue Wuhuan, "Don't worry; I'm an exceptionally still sleeper. I won't disturb you or take advantage in any way."
Yue Wuhuan found himself at a loss for words.
Song Qingshi, who had spent several restless nights, quickly wrapped himself in the blanket and drifted into sleep without a hint of caution. His tousled hair spilled across the bed; his icy silk nightgown was hitched up, exposing his soft waist and pale abdomen...
It took several activations of the "Lock of Emotion" for Yue Wuhuan to control his rising desires. He tucked the blanket around Song Qingshi and lay down, unable to sleep. With his dark past and deceptive handsome face, no one could fathom the innate aggression deep within him, nor could they understand his deep aversion to being a submissive partner.
The truth was, his attraction to men stemmed from a desire for conquest, for control, for complete possession, to saturate every fiber of their being with his own essence—only then did he derive unending pleasure.
Song Qingshi, naïve in these matters, had simply been trusting and caring.
Such unclean thoughts must not be entertained.
Sleep was meant for rest, not for entertaining other intentions, for inappropriate touching, or for wrongdoing.
Lying beside the man he coveted, Yue Wuhuan found the restraint agonizing.
His body temperature was already naturally higher than most, and it surged further when fueled by desire.
Song Qingshi, practicing the "Cold Jade Technique" to regulate the twin fires within him, generally had a low body temperature. Sensing the warm furnace beside him, he groggily shifted closer, slipping under the adjacent blanket to envelop the source of warmth, rubbing contentedly against it.
Yue Wuhuan smelled deliciously of medicinal herbs. His warm, moist breath cascaded across Song Qingshi's neck. His lips, delicately uplifted, seemed to invite a taste. His arms and legs entangled like an octopus, refusing to let go, binding them from chest to waist.
The loose icy silk nightgown rode up with Song Qingshi's movements, revealing tantalizing glimpses beyond the collarbone. Aside from a disturbing bite mark on his neck, it was an exquisite feast for the eyes. Yue Wuhuan could no longer control his lecherous thoughts, and his physical response became intolerable. When he tried to escape, he found himself trapped by Song Qingshi's inadvertently tightening limbs.
"Master, don't touch. It's unclean..."
Yue Wu Huan was fearful of being discovered and dared not push away with force, resorting only to softly pleading. He felt like he was being tortured to death, unable to vent his feelings. In the end, he could only close his eyes, clinging to the "Lock Emotion" technique to endure...
It was a long night. Finally, as dawn broke, he saw Song Qing Shi gradually retract his hands and feet, then curl back under his own blanket, resuming the exact posture in which he had initially gone to sleep, unchanged in the slightest.
Yue Wu Huan's eyelids twitched involuntarily. He was entirely certain that Song Qing Shi had remained asleep from start to finish during his sleep-shifting routine. That was clearly where his self-assuredness about his sleep posture came from...
Roughly another half hour passed, and the day fully dawned.
Song Qing Shi opened his eyes, verified that he was still in his original sleeping position, and cheerfully said, "See? I told you I'm a well-behaved sleeper, didn't I?"
Yue Wu Huan looked at him wearily, pondered for a moment, took a deep breath, and gritted his teeth: "Yes!"
The Master must always be right. Even if the Master is wrong, he must be corrected to be right!
Song Qing Shi happily asked, "Can I sleep here again tomorrow?" He felt that since Yue Wu Huan could accept it, they could continue their arrangement to help him overcome his fear of physical contact. He wanted Yue Wu Huan to know that it was safe to sleep beside another man because there are many good men in the world without ulterior motives like himself.
Yue Wu Huan took another deep breath and continued to grit his teeth: "Fine."
His spiritual journey might need some tests of willpower.
First, a cold shower.