Chapter 8
...
Just before dawn.
Fei Xing knelt on the ground, his face deathly pale, his chest rising and falling with weak breaths.
Sweat had soaked the floor beneath him. The Drunken Immortal's Passion Flower had already hidden itself within his body.
He looked down at his chest, confirming the red light was gone. Just as he tried to get up, he found he couldn't muster a single bit of strength in his limbs. He then collapsed to the ground with a thud, his vision blacking out as he fell unconscious.
On the bed, Yu Shuang's body was naked. Her hair which had once been tightly coiled in a bun, had long since come undone. Beneath her was a mess of semi-sticky, half-dried fluids. Her expression was wooden and vacant, like a young lady who had just been violated.
However, what she had endured last night was not much different from being violated. It was just that Fei Xing was a quick learner with good technique, so her experience was better. And Fei Xing had regained his senses at the last moment and didn't cross the final line, allowing her to preserve her virginity.
After Fei Xing passed out, the red mist that had filled the entire hut quickly dissipated. Not long after, Yu Shuang was able to mobilize the sword essence and immortal qi within her, and her strength returned.
She sat up, her expressionless gaze falling upon Fei Xing, who was also naked and lying collapsed before the bed.
The long sword leaning against the wall automatically left its sheath. A flash of sword-fire swept across the jade bed, incinerating the stains on her body, the fluids on the bed, and the clothes soaked by them.
The long sword fell into her hand.
Sharp sword essence and immortal qi swirled around the cold, keen blade.
She slightly raised her hand, pointing the sword's tip at Fei Xing's chest.
She didn't even need to use force. A slight nudge of her sword essence would be enough to split open his chest and pluck out his hot, beating heart!
The sword tip descended, coming to rest on Fei Xing's chest.
Thump-thump
Through the blade, Fei Xing's every heartbeat was transmitted to Yu Shuang's palm.
What he said about the red light the other day was true; it wasn't a hallucination caused by some mushroom.
Yu Shuang closed her eyes.
It was only because I was arrogant that I suffered last night's ordeal...
She opened her eyes, feeling regret and a hint of confusion.
Why did he have the Evil Demon's demonic flower in his body? I had scanned him with my immortal senses before. Judging by his behavior, he didn't seem to be deliberately hiding it. Besides, how could a mere mortal like him deceive my immortal senses?
Yu Shuang once again extended her immortal senses into Fei Xing's body, searching inside and out, but still found nothing.
But she confirmed again that Fei Xing's body contained no trace of immortal or demonic qi. And demonic artifacts are born from the essence of heaven and earth; why would they be willing to reside in a mortal's body?
Could the target be me?
Yu Shuang pondered for a moment, then looked at Fei Xing again.
She saw her jade-like hand rise, immortal qi flowing, as she suddenly struck towards Fei Xing's chest—
...
When Fei Xing woke up again, he found himself lying on Yu Shuang's jade bed.
He was wearing new clothes, presumably put on him by Yu Shuang herself. He sat up, his entire body aching sorely. However, it seemed a warm current was flowing within him, continuously alleviating the pain throughout his body.
He turned his head and saw Yu Shuang sitting at a table not far away.
Her eyes were closed, her flying sword floating behind her. She was already clothed in a neat dress, and she had returned to her usual otherworldly and cold demeanor, as if untouched by the mortal world.
The image of her from last night, her lost and moaning, tongue-rolling out, drooling appearance surfaced in his mind.
It was truly hard to imagine that these two personas belonged to the same person.
Because there was a possibility that Fei Xing was innocent, she had resisted the urge to kill the man who had defiled her.
If Fei Xing hadn't held back last night and had taken her virginity, he would certainly not be lying on the jade bed now, but at the bottom of the sea, or perhaps simply disintegrated into a wisp of green smoke.
Fei Xing spoke, "Master..."
"I have channeled a stream of immortal qi into your body."
Yu Shuang cut him off, her voice devoid of any emotion.
"Next, you will answer my questions honestly."
"Please ask, Master."
"How did that demonic flower get into your body?"
"I don't know," Fei Xing said softly. "For the past few days, it has been disturbing my mind. I only saw its true form last night."
Was it that after the Demon of Evil Desire died, the unbound demonic flower chose him as its host?
Yu Shuang thought to herself. She could never have imagined that the Drunken Immortal Demonic Flower had actively left the Demon of Evil Desire to choose Fei Xing as its master.
She asked, "Can you summon it out?"
Fei Xing shook his head.
This was not unexpected. Without immortal or demonic qi, how could one command an immortal or demonic artifact?
He asked, "Master, do you have a way to remove it?"
Yu Shuang was silent for a moment, then said:
"Once a demonic artifact chooses a master, it is difficult to separate them, unless—"
She paused, turning to look into Fei Xing's eyes.
"You die and your soul is extinguished."
Fei Xing's eyes widened at her words.
"You have experienced for yourself the ability of that demonic flower to captivate the heart. Even I was affected by it..."
Mentioning last night's experience, Yu Shuang's hands secretly clenched, though her face remained impassive.
"Your mortal body cannot resist it. It won't be long before you are controlled by that demonic flower. By then, the flower will feed on your essence and blood, bringing disaster to the area. After it drains you dry, it will go find another host."
"What should I do then, master?"
"You will do as I say?"
"Master is more knowledgeable and experienced than I am. Naturally, I will listen to you."
Yu Shuang glanced at him and suddenly changed her tone, speaking with a casual indifference, as if it had nothing to do with her:
"Well, you could listen to that demonic flower, live on in a daze for a while, and then die in a daze. Or... you could kill yourself now, and I can conveniently get rid of that demonic flower as well."
Fei Xing was stunned for a moment. His eyes lowered, and his expression dimmed.
Yu Shuang waited for his answer.
Fei Xing looked out the window at the snowy scene, his expression gradually returning to calm.
After a few breaths, he got out of bed, bowed, and clasped his hands towards Yu Shuang.
"I am grateful for your care over the past three months. I ask that the Master help me find release."
Yu Shuang turned to look at him.
"You want me to kill you?"
Fei Xing said sincerely, "I'm afraid I won't be able to bring myself to do it."
Yu Shuang was silent for a moment, then said:
"Demonic artifacts are all different. Perhaps that demonic flower won't take your life."
Fei Xing straightened up and said seriously,
"I have read many stories in books about evil demons and heretics bringing disaster to the land. Although I have not personally experienced those tragedies, I feel sorrow just reading about them. If I were to be controlled by a demonic artifact, and by some stroke of luck manage to keep my life, I fear it would be a fate worse than death. To bring calamity to living beings would be an unforgivable crime against the heavens."
Hearing this, Yu Shuang turned away without a word.
Fei Xing said calmly, "I'm a bit afraid of pain. I hope you will make your strike swift and clean."
After speaking, he stared at Yu Shuang for a while, as if wanting to imprint her face into his memory, and then closed his eyes.
Perhaps because he hadn't formed many connections with this world, he was quite calm in the face of life and death.
This is good. No screaming or shouting saves me the trouble of getting annoyed...
Yu Shuang looked at him, her hand moving to the hilt of her sword.
She did not draw her sword.
He wasn't screaming or shouting, but she was still annoyed.
Clearly, killing him right now is the most secure option. Clearly, he has defiled my body...
Is it because we've spent time together that I can't bring myself to do it?
Or is it because his kind nature makes me reluctant?
Outside, there was no wind or snow, but Yu Shuang's heart was far from calm.
Looking at Fei Xing's face, so calm and peaceful even as he faced his death, her cold eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of complex emotion flashing in their depths.
"Actually, I just remembered, there is another way."
Fei Xing opened his eyes. Yu Shuang was standing with her hands behind her back, facing away from him.
"If you were to embark on the path of immortality and use immortal qi to nourish that demonic artifact, perhaps you could refine it into your life-bound immortal artifact."
"What are the chances?"
"Naturally, they are extremely low."
"Then..." The hope that had just risen in Fei Xing's eyes dimmed again.
"Even an ant clings to life. Do you wish for death so badly?" Yu Shuang glanced at him from the corner of her eye. "Just give it a try. If you fail, it won't be too late to die then."
Fei Xing asked, "Master, does this mean you want me to join the Lingsu Sword Sect?"
"My sect only accepts female disciples. You will naturally have to find another sect."
"With a demonic artifact inside me, which sect would be willing to take me in?"
Yu Shuang fell silent.
This was indeed a problem.
Before she could think it through, she suddenly sensed something and turned to look towards the main door.
A crane's cry sounded from outside the house. The next moment, a figure strode in with thunderous efficiency.
In white clothes that fluttered like a sword, the newcomer was none other than Master Guang Cha Master.
"Elder Sister, today is the sect's council meeting. Why have you not yet set out?"
As she spoke, she saw that Fei Xing was also in Yu Shuang's hut.
"I was just about to." Yu Shuang said to Fei Xing, "You, come with me."
Fei Xing was still worried about the demonic artifact inside him and answered with a heavy heart, "En."
As Yu Shuang passed by him, a sound like immortal bells entered his ear.
"The matter of the demonic artifact cannot be told to others for now, otherwise your life will be in danger."
Fei Xing blinked and slowly nodded.
Guang Cha glanced at him, then she frowned suddenly, and waved a hand in front of her nose.
"Elder Sister, there seems to be a strange smell in your room."
Although the sword-fire had burned away the stains on Yu Shuang's body and the bed, some scent still seemed to linger in the air.
Yu Shuang's mind had been elsewhere before, so she hadn't noticed. Now, hearing this, her expression changed.
"What-what smell..."
"It's just a strange..."
"Never mind that. Let's hurry and go." Yu Shuang cut off her words, saying, "If we're late, that girl Yang Chun will start gossiping again."
At the mention of Yang Chun, Guang Cha's already stern face grew even more unpleasant.
The three of them mounted a crane and flew towards the Lingsu Sword Sect.
Naturally, Fei Xing still shared a crane with Yu Shuang.
Having not ridden a crane for a long time, he subconsciously wrapped his arms around Yu Shuang's waist. Unexpectedly, Yu Shuang's eyebrows shot up, and she slapped his arm.
Slap—
Fei Xing's hands stung. He let go and saw several red finger marks on his arm.
"Master?"
Yu Shuang said in a low, cold voice, "Do not touch my waist."
"Oh." Fei Xing replied, placing his hands on her shoulders.
Slap—
"Master?"
"Do not touch my shoulders."
"Oh." Fei Xing replied again. After thinking for a moment, he grabbed the hem of her clothes.
Slap—
"Do not pull on my clothes."
Fei Xing blinked. After thinking for a moment, he grabbed a feather from the crane's wing.
The crane let out a soft cry, as if it had some objections.
*****
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