Song Qingshi's alcohol tolerance was pitifully poor, and he drifted into a deep slumber.
Wu Huan carried him back to the inn, washed his face, removed his robe, and tucked him into bed. He sat beside the bed, wrestling with his thoughts for quite some time. On one hand, he found Song Qingshi's drunken state endearing; on the other, the lack of self-control when drunk challenged his own restraint. Ultimately, he decided that it would be wiser for Song Qingshi to drink less.
Tonight's events were unexpected.
A few glowing insects flew past the window, signaling from that person.
Since the master had already fallen asleep and everyone had shown their true colors, it was time to deal with this happy affair.
Wu Huan gathered his long hair, straightened his clothes, and followed the markings set by the insects to reach the designated location.
In the outskirts of Nanhai City, within an abandoned temple to the mountain god, the place was crawling with swarms of insects and venomous snakes. It was as unsettling and horrifying as the legendary Chuipen torture, saturated with the scent of death. Haolong had been sent off to a barren hill to avoid detection when his demonic tendencies flared up.
An Long sat silently in the center of the Chuipen, his elongated, bloody eyes devoid of emotion.
Wu Huan walked unhesitatingly into the temple governed by dread, stepping into the pile of insects. Snakes and bugs crawled up his legs, causing unbearable itching and stinging pains. It was a road to hell that even the worst nightmares could not conjure. Yet, he seemed as if he was walking through a field of flowers or floating on clouds, utterly devoid of fear.
Finally, An Long spoke, his voice hoarse and grating: "You're a madman."
Wu Huan smiled tenderly: "And you're a half-demon."
The young Qi Cultivation practitioner, covered in insects, defiantly stared into the eyes of the dark figure who controlled his life.
He knew neither fear nor the terror of death; he relished scheming and even more, he loved to gamble big.
An Long had carefully investigated Wu Huan's experiences over the past decade. No one had ever been as audacious as him—using his own life and vulnerabilities to set trap after trap. Just when you think you have the upper hand, that's when he bares his real fangs, delivering a painful bite to your weakest point.
The most terrifying poison...
An Long coldly asked, "When did you begin to suspect my identity?"
"Initially, I thought your acquaintance with the master was too deliberate," Wu Huan said, revealing An Long's thoughts while patiently explaining. "You caught his attention intentionally and aligned perfectly with his interests to become 'friends.' The master is a man of few words, he never proactively shares his preferences, and the outside world often misunderstands him. So how could you understand him so well?"
Of course, this was just a small suspicion...
Many coincidences occur in the world, such as two people just happening to be a perfect match.
But once doubt creeps in, it multiplies and expands.
Song Qingshi had a good habit of keeping medical records for every patient. Over the past decade, he had reviewed all these documents but found nothing suspicious.
He also investigated An Long's past, discovering a blank slate before he entered the Wan Gu Sect. No parents, no friends, no history whatsoever. As if he had appeared out of thin air, he was adopted by the former sect leader of the Wan Gu Sect due to his innate ability to control insects, and became his direct disciple.
In the end, he unintentionally stumbled upon the medical records of the half-demon.
Due to the controversy surrounding half-demons in the Immortal Realm, this record was carefully hidden and sealed in a corner of the study.
Song Qingshi's medical records contained no traces of emotion, only cold data, including daily medication and the progression of conditions. Back then, he seemed to be an inexperienced physician; many of his treatment methods were imprecise, and his records incomplete. Yet it was clear that the two spent nearly two years alone together, day and night, enough to reveal the tender heart behind the outwardly aloof man and understand his true preferences.
But still, that wasn't enough...
"How dare I associate a lowly, filthy half-demon with the noble and powerful master of Wan Gu Sect?" Wu Huan said, sarcasm lacing his voice. "However, when the master discussed half-demons at the Mountain God Temple, you seemed rather uncomfortable with the topic. It was subtly off. Then, during the Nightmare Devouring Array, the master thought it was my nightmare. But I knew it wasn't. So it must've been yours. Why would the illustrious Gu King have his deepest memories rooted in a foul swamp?"
Half-demons and Song Qingshi had their encounter in a swamp; An Long's nightmarish memory also involved a swamp.
Yet, a sliver of evidence was still missing.
Suddenly, An Long detected a faint fragrance. He quickly sealed off his aura, but it was too late. The scent agitated the demonic blood within him. His crimson eyes narrowed into vertical slits, dark scales started to manifest on his face, and his body began to change. His arm, tattooed with symbols of the Five Venoms, transformed into a black carapace. His fingers elongated, taking on the form of insect-like appendages, their tips sharp as blades.
Spines protruded from his back, and a long scorpion tail emerged, its tip brandishing a venomous barb.
Wu Huan exclaimed, "Your true form is as hideous as I had imagined."
An Long coldly inquired, "Enticing Scent? What did you add to it?"
Enticing Scent was not inherently harmful; it was merely an aphrodisiac used to stimulate passion.
However, its effect on a half-demon was incredibly potent, akin to realgar's effect on snakes.
Wu Huan's specially formulated Enticing Scent was even more intense.
By virtue of his cultivation level, An Long could have suppressed this frenzy. But today, his emotions were unstable. The Enticing Scent amplified his passions, making it impossible for him to control his physical transformation, revealing a side he never wished to expose.
"Oh mighty Gu King of Xilin," Wu Huan spread his arms wide and smiled jubilantly, "if you kill me, my will shall inform the master, the Night Rain Pavilion, the Wan Gu Sect, and every single person in the realm."
In the cultivation world, half-demons were universally considered kill-on-sight.
No one would tolerate him occupying the throne of Xilin.
No matter how strong the Gu King of Xilin was, could he withstand the world's collective hunt?
Wu Huan was a madman. He had nothing and feared losing nothing. He was unafraid of torture, torment, death, or anything at all. His mutual destruction would only plunge his opponent into excruciating decisions.
Taking a deep breath, An Long forcibly suppressed the chaos within his mind stirred up by the Enticing Scent, stood up, and murderous intent spread across his being: "He will never be swayed by you."
He has made his choice.
"So you'd kill me even if it meant losing everything? The Gu King's love for my lord is truly deep and uncontrolled," Wu Huan revealed an even more captivating smile. Just as quickly, his smile vanished, replaced by the cold, terrifying visage of a madman. All the Blood King Vines erupted, and his sword was unsheathed as he spat out each word, "But... why did you try to kill him at Jin Feng Mountain Villa?"
An Long's killing intent froze. After a long pause, he finally asked, "How do you know about that?"
In a flash, he understood. Wu Huan was the mortal slave who was with Gui Yuan Immortal Lord at that time. He had made a mistake, and in his panicked state of mind, only focused on Gui Yuan Immortal Lord's scrutiny. To completely erase this matter, he killed Gui Yuan Immortal Lord and eradicated the Can Tong Sect, but couldn't find that lowly, blindfolded slave.
There were too many slaves in Jin Feng Mountain Villa, and mortals couldn't perceive what he had done.
Therefore, once he confirmed that Gui Yuan Immortal Lord had not found out what he had done, he let the matter go.
That incident was the largest thorn in his heart, the deepest pain.
"Let me guess," Wu Huan said, taking steps forward with a smile, "Did you confess your feelings to my lord? And after he rejected you, the killing and rage in your half-demon blood exploded, and you accidentally killed him? You suspected Gui Yuan Immortal Lord saw your half-demon form, so you silenced him by killing him?"
"No," An Long murmured, as if explaining to himself, "I didn't know what happened at that time; it was chaotic. When I regained consciousness, he was already dead..."
"Yes," Wu Huan pressed, "you lost control, and it was your Gu bugs that killed him."
An Long countered, "He did not die!"
"I saw with my own eyes that he was breathless. You also thought he was dead at that time, didn't you? So you placed him in his favorite herb garden," Wu Huan's expression was deeply saddened, "Poor master had no signs of struggle on him; he probably never thought his 'good friend' would be so ruthless and was caught off guard."
An Long felt his head start to ache again, "I don't remember, but he didn't die; he came back to life..."
Wu Huan consoled, "My lord's survival was his own fortune, not your mercy."
An Long took a deep breath, "Qingshi has forgiven me."
"He forgave you?" Wu Huan burst into laughter as if he had just heard the world's funniest joke. He seemed like a demon from hell who had found the most foolish prey, one he could claim without any effort.
An Long suddenly felt fear, realizing something was terribly wrong. Perhaps he should kill this man right now to avoid facing the truth...
But it was too late.
Wu Huan spoke the cruelest truth in the gentlest tone, "My lord has forgotten that memory; he forgot you killed him."
An Long roared, "Impossible! That Gu bug wouldn't attack the Sea of Consciousness!"
"Unfortunately, there was an anomaly with his soul, which led to the loss of some memories," Wu Huan looked at him pitifully, "What forgiveness was he talking about? Did he ever mention anything that happened that day? Don't be foolish; how could anyone forgive their own murderer?"
An Long retreated step by step, his head throbbing even more painfully.
He had lost some control when he saw Song Qingshi, remembering only that he had confessed his feelings, pleading desperately for even a modicum of affection, only to be cruelly rejected. Then, he spiraled into rage and despair, losing all rationality. When he came to, Song Qingshi lay lifeless beneath his swarm of Gu insects.
His psyche completely shattered, he left Jin Feng Mountain Villa in a panic. Learning that Song Qingshi had survived brought him some relief. Aware of the grievous mistake he'd made and not daring to seek forgiveness, he meandered through life like a walking corpse for some time. Then he received a letter from Song Qingshi that was business as usual, solving some dilemma and not mentioning that day's events, as if they hadn't weighed on him.
Song Qingshi agreed to let him visit Yao Wang Valley.
Song Qingshi smiled and said he had forgiven him.
Song Qingshi never again mentioned the events of that fateful day.
The euphoria of reclaiming what was lost nearly overwhelmed him...
He dared not think of that day any longer, striving to bury his sins like an ostrich hiding its head in the sand.
A subtle joy remained in his heart; that Qingshi knew of his feelings and was willing to forgive such a transgression. Did this indicate he held a unique place in his affections? Was there something different in their relationship? That night, when he knocked on his door for the first time wearing only a single garment, he nearly fainted with joy, thinking it was an acceptance of his request.
Misunderstanding or not, reverting to being friends was good enough...
To atone for his sins, he was willing to do anything.
Even if it meant having blades thrust directly into his heart...
He would gladly accept it.
Due to his half-demon lineage, his urge to kill was stronger than most. No one had ever provoked him and lived, except for Wu Huan. Time and again, he suppressed his murderous intent, allowing this frail mortal to survive in his sea of rage. For he feared that another mistake would cost him everything.
Had he already been mistaken?
Had he never been forgiven after all?
An Long pressed his hand to his throbbing head. The effects of the Hook Soul Fragrance deepened, and he felt the buzzing in his mind grow louder, as if hallucinations were about to manifest.
"Could you let my lord go?" Wu Huan slowly approached, his beautiful eyes full of pleading. His voice was frail and pitiable, "I won't harm him. I just want to spend peaceful days with him in Yao Wang Valley, living a tranquil life, free from the world's strife. Will you grant us that?"
A few Blood King Vines silently grew in the shadows, tipped with a potent poison prepared long ago, creeping closer to this mentally frazzled, near-collapsing prey.
"You've already hurt him; he can never forgive you," Wu Huan spoke the cruelest words, each one a blade severing An Long's heart and lacerating his soul, "How can you shamelessly return to his side? How can you have the audacity to call yourselves friends? You surely don't think, do you, that his forgiveness indicates a special place in his heart for you?"
The sword in his hand drew closer, its blade emanating a blue glow tinged with poison.
An Long gasped for air, pleading, "Stop talking, just stop talking..."
"You really are pathetic," Yue Wu Huan shook his head gently, his voice filled with pity, "You killed the person you loved. How can you beg for forgiveness? Maybe... you should go to hell to confess?"
Before the words even settled, the sword thrust forward like a swimming dragon, and the Blood King Vines launched their attack aimed at his vulnerabilities.
An Long's body quickly sprouted hard scales, acting like an impenetrable shield, automatically blocking the poisonous assault.
Yue Wu Huan sheathed his sword and retreated two steps, scoffing, "The half-demon lineage, truly troublesome."
He had successfully disrupted An Long's mental defenses, targeting every vulnerable spot. Yet, due to his insufficient cultivation level, he couldn't pierce the half-demon's primordial defense—a most vexing dilemma.
An Long knelt on the ground, the cacophony in his mind intensifying, driving him to the brink of collapse, disrupting his ability to think.
The Gu insects on the ground, deprived of direction, started attacking all living creatures indiscriminately.
Missing this opportunity would mean no more chances. Despite being bitten and stung by venomous snakes and insects, Yue Wu Huan swallowed an antidote to delay the poison's effects and took out the Death Butterfly—a creature carrying potent toxins that could seep through the skin. He had already tagged his prey with information for the Death Butterfly using the Blood King Vines.
He threw out a spirit talisman, laying out several magical formations that linked to form a trapping array, sealing off all of An Long's escape routes.
Numerous black butterflies flew out of a sealed bamboo tube, rushing toward the marked enemy, ready to drag his soul into the abyss.
Yue Wu Huan smiled contentedly, awaiting the harvest of long-anticipated joy.
An Long lifted his head, looking at the black butterflies, and said slowly, "Qingshi cultivates the Path of Heartlessness."
Yue Wu Huan paused, his smile growing even brighter, "That suits me perfectly."
While there were some deviations, he would find ways to correct them.
He never wanted his lord to be ruled by desires.
An Long couldn't help but curse, "Madman."
He stood up, dark demonic energy spreading across his body, and a scorpion tail extended, ready to tear through the magical array.
Suddenly, a rumble of thunder resonated in the sky...
Lightning wriggled like a possessed serpent. A bolt of furious lightning struck the roof of the Mountain God Temple, disrupting the magical array and separating the two. Following that, a torrential downpour drenched everything, clipping the wings of the Death Butterfly and halting the lethal attack.
Yue Wu Huan looked up in astonishment at the inexplicable change in the weather.
He felt as if he had returned to a day when fate had made a fool of him, unable to understand what was happening.
An Long vanished in the torrential downpour, taking with him all the Gu insects and venomous snakes.
The battle was interrupted, and his objectives remained unachieved.
"Why? Why? Why?"
Consumed by rage, Yue Wu Huan's Blood King Vines lashed out wildly, striking the pelting rain, the broken eaves, and anything else within reach. Trees were sliced apart, boulders shattered. He wished he could destroy everything in the world.
Rain blurred his vision; his body was soaked, and a foul odor permeated the air.
He harbored a bone-deep hatred for this world.
...
An Long retreated to a dense forest, collapsing into the muck.
The auditory hallucinations in his mind intensified; he could no longer think or fight.
"Despair. Even if you crawl out of this filthy mud and achieve a status worthy of him, what's the point?"
"Despair. He'd rather die than accept your affection..."
"Despair. The façade is torn away; your true face is hideously ugly, and your heart is corrupt..."
"Despair. He has never forgiven you..."
"..."
As An Long listened numbly to these endlessly repeating words, the vision that appeared before him was of a young man who had once lifted him out of a filthy swamp. That youth had placed a fragrant, white robe over his reeking body, then painstakingly carried him back, washed his festering wounds, neutralized the painful toxins, and cured all his ailments—only to then send him away without a second thought.
At that time, he was young and did not understand what that kind of attention meant.
He was angry, frustrated, and discontent.
Yet every day, he remembered and thought about that young man.
During their next chance encounter in the mystical realm, he deliberately released an exceptionally ugly bug, hoping to irritate the young man.
The youth picked up the insect, studied it for a while, and then approached him, smiling as he said, "Insects are quite adorable, you know."
At that moment, he understood what it meant to care for someone.
He intentionally caused disruptions, played the fool, and sought attention; he donned a mask of decency and climbed to positions of power, all to be worthy of him.
Even though he knew the young man practiced the Path of Heartlessness, he couldn't let go, not even after despairing.
He wished to deceive everyone—the world, the young man's emotions, and even his own feelings...
But he had failed.
It was over, all over.
The filthy bug must inevitably return to the squalid mire.
...
"Despair, forsake human emotions, and become a complete demon."
"What...are you?"
"I am your destiny."