Song Qing Shi had stayed in this world for many years.
The dark fire within him would intensify as his cultivation level increased. To better suppress the venomous flame, he abandoned his previous martial arts practice and took up the Cold Jade Technique anew. In addition, he was tasked with healing the numerous injuries Wu Huan seemed to accrue from his various altercations.
It was only when Wu Huan was already challenging Yuan Ying-level cultivators that he barely reached the Golden Core stage himself.
In Mo Yuan Sword Sovereign's world, there were many medicinal herbs that would eventually become extinct. Wu Huan discovered his interest in collecting these, often gifting him with rare herbs and strange recipes. He would also pose intriguing questions, consistently poking at the areas of Mo Yuan's insatiable curiosity, thereby leading him deeper into various rabbit holes.
Song Qing Shi felt like a silly cat lured by a toy wand. Every time he intended to crawl out of his research and seek Qu Yu Rong for missions, he would be captivated by something even more interesting from Wu Huan, plummeting back into the abyss of research, so engrossed that he'd forget the mission altogether.
Life was passing by joyfully.
He witnessed Wu Huan's growth from a mere mortal to the renowned Mo Yuan Sword Sovereign, a figure holding a three-foot blade, who wouldn't tolerate even a speck of dust in his eyes. He had killed countless evildoers, forcing the reputable sects to change their rules and disallow the enslavement of mortals at the Foundation Establishment stage.
Wu Huan yearned for even more.
More than once, he said to Song Qing Shi, "I wish that mortals and cultivators could have the same opportunities. But this world is disgusting. It reeks everywhere, overwhelmed by trash. Qing Shi, can you smell the rot in the air?"
He didn't know if it was because he had once been blind, but his sense of smell was extraordinarily sensitive. He struggled to adapt to the various odors and always sought comfort in the clean scent of his partner whenever he returned home.
Song Qing Shi shook his head, feeling somewhat obtuse, unable to smell anything.
Wu Huan enjoyed gifting him presents, from medicinal herbs and pill recipes to all sorts of shiny objects. If he saw a beautiful stone or jewel, he would find a way to acquire it, and then tuck it into Song Qing Shi's arms. Eventually, Song Qing Shi had amassed a large box full of precious stones and jewelry, including dragon jade, mermaid pearls, and celestial azure stones.
As Mo Yuan Sword Sovereign's fearsome reputation spread, Wu Huan's striking beauty became increasingly apparent—astoundingly gifted and gorgeous, unparalleled in his era, blessed with the demeanor of dragons and phoenixes. He became the most likely sword cultivator to form the Heart Sword, garnering countless admirations and awe-stricken gazes.
Many cultivators who considered themselves good-looking boldly confessed their feelings or made amorous advances.
Wu Huan found these affairs bothersome and greeted them with icy detachment. Using the partner mark on the back of his hand, he would coolly turn down these nuisances. He reserved all his tenderness for that one person in Peach Blossom Valley. Only in the presence of Song Qing Shi would he smile, his dark-gold phoenix eyes seeming to sparkle with an entire galaxy.
The owner of Zhu Yu Tower, who was known for his romantic flair and connoisseurship of beauty, once glimpsed Mo Yuan Sword Sovereign's smile and was smitten for life, declaring that all other beauties paled in comparison.
After learning of this assessment, Wu Huan donned a half-mask, isolating himself from prying and covetous eyes. Over time, people in the cultivation world learned that, in Mo Yuan Sword Sovereign's heart and eyes, there was room for nothing but his sword and his partner.
He would venture into dangerous secret realms to gather herbs, present various exotic gifts, and delve into all sorts of odd research, all to make his partner smile. Song Qing Shi, however, kept a low profile and wasn't good at socializing, so not many people knew about him.
At first, everyone assumed that the partner whom Mo Yuan Sword Sovereign treasured so deeply must be some exceptional cultivator from a noble family. When they eventually met Song Qing Shi, they found out...
Oh, he's mute?
Song Qing Shi was decent-looking, but in a world full of stunning cultivators, he seemed rather ordinary and definitely not a match for Wu Huan's extraordinary beauty. With only a Golden Core-level cultivation, a quirky personality, and virtually no charisma, how did he manage to utterly captivate Mo Yuan Sword Sovereign? So much so that the Sovereign even rejected numerous beautiful aspirants, willingly branding himself with a soul-mark that would last for eternities?
Wu Huan keenly sensed this ill-will and despised it. He dealt with a few audacious individuals and also clarified multiple times that his partner had been with him since the humble beginnings and even saved his life. While people were moved by his devotion, they couldn't help but feel that Song Qing Shi didn't deserve it—that he was just lucky. But as Mo Yuan Sword Sovereign stood protectively by his partner, their opinions mattered little. They could only offer begrudging congratulations.
Song Qing Shi was not good at interacting with others. His mind was full of research and missions, completely oblivious to these undercurrents of petty jealousy. Occasionally, some beautiful women would sidestep Wu Huan to talk to him, asking how he managed to win over Mo Yuan Sword Sovereign. Was it perhaps his performance in bed that had left the Sovereign so utterly infatuated?
He thought that anyone willing to converse with a mute must be kind-hearted. After much consideration, he answered the question earnestly with pen and paper:
First, Mo Yuan says everything about me is perfect, but he particularly loves how engrossed I get when I read. So, if you want to attract him, you should devote yourself to studying.
Second, I've rigorously studied and researched techniques for the bedroom. Mo Yuan has praised my aptitude, saying it leaves him spellbound.
And then...that's it.
The beauties stormed off in a huff for some reason, declaring he was shameless and they'd never speak to him again.
Song Qing Shi wondered if he had answered something incorrectly and felt slightly aggrieved.
The word got out, and Wu Huan found it both amusing and irritating that suddenly everyone seemed to be reading books in front of him. Once he understood what was going on, he became even more dismissive of these frivolous admirers. He came home and meticulously quizzed Song Qing Shi on his understanding of the literature concerning bedroom techniques, insisting on a practical examination.
Song Qing Shi took the test very seriously, applying every knowledge point he had learned. The 'exam' took place in multiple 'venues' and consisted of several 'rounds.' He felt he had scored at least a 90.
The 10 points he lost were due to his inability to verbally respond to questions during the process, which was a minor regret.
...
Song Qing Shi's days were quite joyful, and Wu Huan's mood also became increasingly delightful.
Finally, the battle against the demons arrived.
A blood moon suddenly appeared in the sky, stirring demonic energies and awakening the demon blood in many, transforming them into crazed monsters. In the world of cultivators, pure-blooded individuals were rare. Most had mixed lineage, including demonic heritage.
Normally, a cultivator with a slight demonic lineage might exhibit some cold characteristics but wouldn't lose their sanity. Through generations of intermarriage, it had become unclear who might carry demonic blood.
But after the night of the blood moon, this latent demonic essence began to erupt.
Some people woke up in the middle of the night to find their spouses transformed into man-eating creatures. Loving couples turned on each other, with tender words one moment and literal heartbreak the next. Master killed disciple, disciple killed master—such phenomena became commonplace. Governed by primal urges, the demons perpetrated all manner of atrocities, plunging the cultivation world into chaos and mistrust.
Mo Yuan Sword Sovereign, with his mortal background, gained everyone's trust and esteem.
He slew numerous demons, emerging as a hero in the campaign against the demonic invasion.
Song Qing Shi realized that a historical turning point had arrived. Yet, he couldn't prevent the unfolding of this drama; everyone was swept into the conflict.
Wu Huan was not one to back down in the face of adversity. He was a perfectionist, with dreams and ambitions of his own. He sought to challenge formidable foes, to advance in his swordsmanship, and to elevate his status. He yearned to prove his worth to both the world and his partner.
Song Qing Shi was also a man and understood such desires. Knowing that Mo Yuan Sword Sovereign's participation in the battle against the demons was inevitable, he decided to get involved in logistics and medical support. His hope was to stem the tide of tragedy, offering at least a slightly better ending to the tale within the magical formation.
It was during this time that he found Qu Yu Rong.
Over the years, Qu Yu Rong had become a puppet of desire, passed around various men. He had lost his sense of self, shame, and resistance. In times of peace, he could be a caged canary, leading a seemingly "happy" life. Now, as chaos and darkness reigned, everyone was under tremendous pressure, and the weak became the best outlets for venting. Qu Yu Rong couldn't even comprehend why he was being mistreated, spending his days awash in tears.
Qu Yu Rong's condition was severe; he had developed a strong dependency on sexual acts and these so-called "lovers."
It took a great deal of effort for Song Qing Shi to bring him under his wing for psychological therapy. Qu Yu Rong assumed he was required for sexual service, leading to several awkward situations.
Before long, Qu Yu Rong stumbled upon the truth behind his family's annihilation among Mo Yuan Sword Sovereign's extensive collection of documents. Realizing that one of his 'lovers' was actually an enemy from the past, he stole away, leading the culprit into the battlefield and to mutual destruction amidst a swarm of demons.
By the time Song Qing Shi discovered this, it was already too late to save him.
Before he died, Qu Yu Rong smiled and said, "Thank you. It's okay; my life had no meaning anyway."
The words "Mission Failed. Accept Punishment" flashed across Song Qing Shi's mind.
His face began to sprout black spots, his spiritual power went awry, and uncontrolled spectral fire spread all around him.
In such a sensitive period, these changes led him to be perceived as a demonic creature.
Song Qing Shi gestured desperately, trying to convey that he was sane, had no killing intent, and that the facial markings were merely a result of mission failure. He signaled that he needed time to regain control over his spiritual power and suppress the spectral fire. But no one was willing to hear out an explanation from a mute covered in lethal toxins. Fueled by jealousy, disgust, and hatred, they executed him before Mo Yuan Sword Sovereign could return.
The only saving grace was that this was a tale spun from Mo Yuan Sword Sovereign's memories. Unwilling to harm the person he cherished, he pulled Song Qing Shi out of the intense emotional narrative just before the fatal blow. What followed was like watching an old movie for Song Qing Shi, a movie that didn't have a happy ending.
Mo Yuan Sword Sovereign returned victorious, having slain countless demons and saved multiple towns. Amidst everyone's acclaim, he returned bearing the world's most beautiful red gem, intending to gift it to his beloved. But what he found was a partner on the brink of death, stricken with countless magical weapons.
Everyone was trying to explain, to claim credit, telling him they had killed this poisonous demon.
Wu Huan heard none of it. He rushed straight toward the bloodied young man.
The young man looked up, and the spectral flames parted, creating a path for him.
From beginning to end, the lethal flames hadn't harmed anyone.
Everyone fell silent, realizing that no demonic creature could maintain such rationality. But the irreversible mistake had already been made.
Holding the increasingly cold body of the young man, Wu Huan exhausted every method trying to reverse the ebbing life, all in vain.
Tears fell, drop by drop, landing on the young man's face.
The young man could no longer lift his hand to write comforting words. Overwhelmed with urgency, he fought to convey his feelings. With immense effort, he finally broke through his psychological barrier and spoke the most important name in his life: "Wu, Wu Huan..."
He had learned to speak, and his heart was bursting with words and affection that he wanted to share. But it was too late.
For the last time, the young man clutched his hand, holding on until his own grew cold.
A nightmare consumed his heart, and he never woke up again.
...