Chapter 84

When Cheng Qian regains his consciousness, he sees that he is surrounded by darkness, as if the light in the sky were extinguished.

His first sensation is pain. Then it’s the cold.

In theory, he once lived by an ice lake for fifty years. Every bone in his body has been forged by the ice lake, so he no longer had the sensation of ‘cold’ for quite a while. However, this place is eerie.

Unlike the usual cold of winter, the cold of this place is subtle but persistent. It seeps into one’s bones, as if to draw out one’s lifeforce.

It’s the gentlest killing aura, one that even a body made of rock cannot resist.

When in this place, a person would feel their body become heavy. With just a dip in alertness, they would be pulled down by that sensation of fatigue and listlessness.

Cheng Qian frowns. Where the heck is this place?

Shuang Ren is still by his side. Cheng Qian wriggles his frozen fingers and realizes that the lance already transformed back into the dragon spine. The dragon soul too returned to the True Dragon Flag, which he is holding tightly in his hand.

Seeing that he still has the two most important things, he feels somewhat assured.

Cheng Qian uses his arms to support himself as he rises up, but a terrible burning sensation surges in his palm. It isn’t until this point that he remembers he caught the ‘eye’ of the Demon Execution Array with his hand.

However, when he raises his hand to have a look, there is no sign of gruesome burn and injury like he imagined. There isn’t even a small scratch.

This is really strange.

Cheng Qian recites a spell. White light flares from his palm. A crest with a curved shape, which looks like an ear upon a closer look, appears then goes away in the blink of an eye.

Besides the lingering sensation of burn and the strange crest, there is nothing abnormal. Cheng Qian has to put it aside for the time being.

As soon as he moves, the countless wounds on his back immediately burst. He lets out a soft groan and tries to sit up to heal himself, planning to settle this injury first before thinking of anything else.

At that moment, Cheng Qian hears Yan Zhengming’s voice.

“You must not touch your spiritual energy,” Yan Zhenging is sitting a good distance from him. His voice is a bit hoarse. “If I get it correctly, we are at the bottom of the Abyss of the Heart Demon, near the Tower of No Regret. Do you have any medicine for external injuries with you?”

“No, I’m no traveller,” Cheng Qian uses the dragon spine as support and stands up. “What’s going on? Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. Sit where you are. Stop moving around,” Yan Zhengming says, “The power of the Demon Execution Array was too much. We summoned the divine dragon soul to break it. Then that dumbass Han Yuan burnt the cursed peach blossoms. So “heavenly dragon”, “earthly demon”, “humanly desire” were all there, which happened to tear off a piece of the seal over the Tower of No Regret. We two were close by, so we ended up here.”

Cheng Qian: “…”

This must be because they forgot to consult the calendar of fortune before leaving home, so they have had nothing but bad luck.

As if to suppress something, Yan Zhengming takes a deep breath, then exhales slowly but heavily. He says weakly in a small voice, “No need to worry. Our Fuyao Sect has been guarding the Valley of Heart Demon for many generations. I still have the Sect Leader seal with me. It definitely contains the way to get out of here. Don’t recklessly stir up your spiritual energy. Take care of the injuries by yourself first.”

Cheng Qian’s injuries are mostly on his back, so the mortal healing method would be very inconvenient. He moves his shoulders a bit. Seeing that the injuries aren’t to the bones, he considers himself lucky and ignores the matter.

The injuries on his own body don’t bother Cheng Qian. On the other hand, he can sense that Yan Zhengming is acting strange. When they were teenagers, he fought with some rogue cultivators and got hit only once in the back with a demon vanquishing baton. After that incident, his most senior brother was gung-ho about personally treating his injuries. This time, after he was just cut up nearly into a pulp by the Demon Execution Array, the tone is ‘take care of it yourself’?

Cheng Qian stands up and approaches Yan Zhengming. “Senior brother, what’s the matter?”

Yan Zhengming angrily growls, “Don’t come here!”

He yells so loudly that his voice is off. Cheng Qian hesitates a little, then he decides to ignore it and strides forward.

Yan Zhengming curls up in a corner that is even darker than the surrounding. Had it not been for a cultivator’s sharp sense, it would be nearly impossible to find him. The darkness is like a veil over Yan Zhengming’s features, but the demon of the heart’s mark, which faded for a while, has reappeared on his forehead. The stark red of the mark makes it stand out like a beautiful scar.

Astonished, Cheng Qian raises his hand to touch the mark. “This… Are you affected by the Valley of the Heart Demon?”

Having nowhere else to hide, Yan Zhengming has no other choice but closes his eyes and keeps his silence like an old monk immersed in medication. If there weren’t the aggressive energy that seems about to bite on his face, one may think he is really that.

As Cheng Qian comes near, Yan Zhengming’s eyebrows spasm, as if he is in great pain.

In the end, he can’t resist it anymore and seizes Cheng Qian’s wrist.

Yan Zhengming’s grip is like a steel vise. His palm is so hot that it seems to be burning. The demon of the heart’s mark becomes even more vividly red, like a bloodstain.

Holding Cheng Qian’s hand, Yan Zhengming painfully curls into himself. He speaks in a low voice, his tone like a sleep talker, “Don’t… Cheng Qian… I beg you…”

Cheng Qian knows what ‘demon of the heart’ is, but this is the first time he learns that a person can be tormented by their demon of the heart to this extent.

So what on earth is in Yan Zhengming’s heart?

Cheng Qian carefully watches Yan Zhengming in silence for a while. Though he feels it’s probably not nice to snoop like this, in the present he can’t afford such niceties.

He thinks to himself, “Most senior brother, sorry.”

Then he gets his spiritual awareness to connect with the primordial spirit piece inside the wooden sword.

The strange sensation of seeing two places at the same time happens again, as Cheng Qian looks at Yan Zhengming’s ravaged inner mind through the primordial spirit piece inside the wooden sword. Spiritual energy swirls chaotically everywhere, which also affects the sword energy. Had it not been for the strained protection of the wooden sword, there is no telling what would happen.

The demon of the heart clings like black clouds to Yan Zhengming’s primordial spirit, who is in the meditative stance with his eyes closed, and viciously taunts him.

At that moment, Cheng Qian sees the face of the person in that crimson demon of the heart and freezes on the spot.

The person in the heart demon is none other than Cheng Qian himself.

Just a second later, the heart demon that has been swirling like black smoke falls down and takes human form. As if sensing something, that person looks at the wooden sword with a sarcastic expression, which is familiar yet strange at the same time, then slowly walks towards the sitting form of Yan Zhengming’s primordial spirit. The person lightly kneels down and places his head on Yan Zhengming’s lap.

Cheng Qian: “…”

This is the first time he sees ‘himself’ behave in such a flirtatious manner, so he doesn’t know how he should react.

In Cheng Qian’s guise, the heart demon lifts Yan Zhengming’s chin and watches him intently in silence for a moment. Seeing that Yan Zhengming refuses to open his eyes, the heart demon laughs softly and caresses the lips of the meditating primordial spirit with its pale finger, whispering, “Senior Brother, why are you refusing to look at me?”

In the outside world, the fingers of Yan Zhengming, which are still holding onto Cheng Qian’s wrists, suddenly squeeze. A cracking sound can be heard.

Cheng Qian withdraws his awareness with some difficulty. His heart feels hollow as he half kneels on the ground.

He stays dazedly in that position for a long while, as his mind traces back every symptom that he witnessed. He recalls his most senior brother’s violent reaction in that little library, when he asked that question in ignorance. Unbelievable.

“His demon of the heart is me?” Cheng Qian dazedly thinks, “It can’t be.”

Yan Zhengming slumps, as blood seeps out from his mouth corner.

Cheng Qian comes back to his senses. He realizes that he can’t leave Yan Zhengming in this state.

“Most senior brother,” Cheng Qian uses one hand to press Yan Zhengming’s shoulder. He says in a soft voice, “Calm your spirit. This is the Valley of the Heart Demon. You must not let it have the chance to cause trouble.”

Hearing that, Yan Zhengming opens his eyes and dreamily stares at Cheng Qian with a dazed expression.

Cheng Qian’s heart suddenly beats madly.

As if possessed, Cheng Qian asks in a low voice, “Senior Brother, what exactly is your heart demon about?”

For a fleeting moment, he sees that Yan Zhengming’s lips move, and the answer is about to come out.

Cold sweats break out on Cheng Qian’s back, causing his wounds to be both painful and itchy. In all of his life, he has never experienced so much tension.

In just a split second later, Yan Zhengming’s gaze becomes sober again during the struggle. He lets go of Cheng Qian’s hand and pushes him away to no avail.

Yan Zhengming can’t control his shaking hands after being tormented by the heart demon. His fingers on Cheng Qian’s shoulders slide through a sword cut on the arm and get stained by the blood that has not completely dried up. Yan Zhengming hastily takes his hands back. “You…”

Cheng Qian ignores his bleeding shoulders. His eyes become darker than ink as the pain only spurs him on. He knows he shouldn’t act like this but he can’t resist his boiling passion.

He presses closer to Yan Zhengming. “You know that the more you try to hide, the bigger problem your heart demon becomes. Why can’t you tell me? What do you have to hide?”

Yan Zhengming says, “Let go…”

Cheng Qian replies, “Senior brother!”

His eyes red, Yan Zhengming growls, “Cheng Qian, are you trying to usurp…”

He can’t finish his line. Cheng Qian suddenly pins him onto the wall, then kisses his still open lips like it’s something that must be done at all cost.

That move blocks everything Yan Zhengming is about to say.

Cheng Qian is by nature someone who isn’t very knowledgeable about affairs of the heart, much less desires of the body. He also conscientiously stays away from all indecency, such that he dared not even look closely into the fake Scripture of Serenity. His so-called kiss isn’t even a kiss, just a faint touch like a dragonfly sliding over the pond. However, it is like an explosion in Yan Zhengming’s head that shakes his very soul.

With a gasp, Yan Chengming unconsciously tightens his grips on Cheng Qian’s robe.

“Forgive my insolence, senior brother,” Cheng Qian is taut like a bowstring, but from the outside, he still looks calm. Using the reckless tone of a doomed man who is beyond all threats, he says, “What are you going to do? Lock me up to make me repent? Execute me according to sect rules? I won’t resist, I promise.”

Yan Zhengming: “…”

This shock is so great that even the heart demon that has been causing trouble is shaken too.

Having spoken out loud such outrageous, rebellious ideas, Cheng Qian suddenly feels relieved. He doesn’t hold back anymore, and holds Yan Zhengming’s hands that have been gripping his robe. “In the Demon Execution Array, you asked me who I had romantic entanglements with. Senior brother, I am telling you now. Do you dare to hear it?”

At that moment, inside Yan Zhengming’s mind, the heart demon once again takes Cheng Qian’s form. Embracing his primordial spirit from behind, the heart demon whispers in his ear, “Senior brother, I will grant you whatever you wish. Do you dare to want me?”

Being attacked from two sides, Yan Zhengming cannot tell which one is the real anymore.

The heart demon in his mind gently caresses his primordial spirit with its fingers and whispers, “Senior brother, I’ve been focussed on my cultivation for a hundred years. Even heavenly tribulations couldn’t make me waver. Now, all of that is ruined in your hand. Are you happy?”

That line is like a bucket of ice poured right on his head. Mixed with the relentless cold in the Valley of the Heart Demon, those words seep into every part of his body.

His face white as a sheet, Yan Zhengming can’t find a reply.

The heart demon takes many tacks. There are times it smiles softly and says, “Senior brother, you’ve wanted me for a long time. Why are you pretending to be righteous now?” Other times it scolds him coldly, “Sect Leader Yan, how immoral must you be to violate what is under your watch?”. It even turns into Cheng Qian in his adolescence with a gaping hole in the chest and mournfully looks at Yan Zhengming, “Senior brother, didn’t you tell me not to worry about anything, because you would take care of it?”

“Senior brother…”

Yan Zhengming’s body swings between extreme heat and extreme cold. Sweats drench his forehead, as his eyes are red from bloodshot.

Because Cheng Qian didn’t expect that his words could have such an effect on his sect leader and senior brother, he is at a loss. Then he notices the mark of the heart demon on Yan Zhengming’s forehead, which is so red that it seems about to bleed.

Frowning a little, Cheng Qian once again takes advantage of the piece of primordial spirit on the wooden sword and sends his awareness into Yan Zhengming’s mind.

As soon as Cheng Qian gets in, he is shaken to the core. All of the heart demons are taking his form, but wearing different expressions. The thick black energy in the mind gets thicker and thicker, as it hungrily absorbs the spiritual energy and creates even more illusions.

In the beginning, Cheng Qian only feels a bit creeped out. It’s natural to feel unsettled to see countless copies of oneself all in one place like this. Then he hears what the heart demons are saying.

Cheng Qian’s gaze grows cold, as an unexplainable anger erupts in his heart.

He waves his hand and calls up the wooden sword in Yan Zhengming’s mind through the piece of his primordial spirit in it. The wooden sword soars, covered in white frost, and attacks the heart demons, causing them to quickly disperse.

The heart demons run away, but then gather and turn into a thick black cloud, which stubbornly clings onto Yan Zhengming’s mind.

Yan Zhengming’s spiritual energy swirls around madly. A mouthful of blood rises in his throat, which he unsteadily suppresses.

His mind, being clear for a moment, he resignedly says to Cheng Qian, “Stop causing trouble.”

“I’m not causing trouble,” Cheng Qian looks at him with blazingly bright eyes, “Most senior brother, as long as I’m not dead, I won’t give up.”

Yan Zhengming frowns as he searches for words.

Cheng Qian suddenly looks away a little. A faint smile blooms on his face. “If you kick me out of the sect, it’ll only be more convenient for me.”

Yan Zhengming: “…”

He himself has had similar thoughts, that if he weren’t the sect leader, if he could switch places with Cheng Qian, he would be able to face the inappropriate feelings in his heart without guilt. Even if he were kicked out of the sect, it’d be even better because the taboo no longer applied. And now Cheng Qian unexpectedly speaks out loud those same ideas.

He doesn’t know whether he should laugh or cry at this kind of ‘resonance of minds’ situation.

However, after the initial shock, Yan Zhengming realises that something is not right. Cheng Qian is only truly straight forward when he fights. Otherwise, he is actually the secretive sort who keeps all of his emotions and thoughts to himself. What he seems to reveal is mostly a farce. Even if he is sincere, it’s only in his heart. He would never just go and say it out loud like this.

Especially now, as they fell into the Valley of the Heart Demon and still haven’t found a way out.

His mind now fully awakened and back to its usual speed, Yan Zhengming suddenly recalls the strange frost on the wooden sword in the Demon Execution Array. He immediately pushes aside everything and asks forcefully, “What have you found out? Cheng Qian, I ask you once again, what is inside that wooden sword.”

Cheng Qian: “…”

If he hadn’t seen with his own eyes the form the countless heart demons in Yan Zhengming’s mind took, he would think that it was just his delusion.

Yan Zhengming asks, “How did you imbue the wooden sword with the Fuyao sword will?”

Cheng Qian, who has been talking so eloquently, can’t find anything to say.

The two of them are in that push and pull state for a while. Feeling at his limit, Yan Zhengming pushes Cheng Qian away and shakily stands up.

Yan Zhengming says, “Well, keep your secret. I don’t care how you found out. It’s just the demon of the heart. When a sword cultivator enters the ‘divine realm’ level, they will be haunted by their hearts’ demons in every step. So what? I’ve come this far. Everything is still within my control. You… there is no need for you to pity me.”

Cheng Qian is speechless. He suddenly wants to crack open his most senior brother’s pretty but useless head to see if the inside has been chewed up into scraps by the heart demon.

Glancing at him, Yan Zhengming takes from his robe a marble seal the size of a thumb. As he closes his hand around the seal, it gives off a soft white light that brightens the gloomy abyss inside the Valley of the Heart Demon. He turns his back to Cheng Qian and assumes a jovial tone. “I won’t squabble with you today. Let’s go. We’ll find a way out…”

Cheng Qian suddenly hugs him from behind. Yan Zhengming’s back stiffens. As soon as he is about to yell at Cheng Qian, he hears Cheng Qian says through gritted teeth, “You’re a spoiled brat who is only good at preening and causing trouble. Who can be bothered to pity you? I like you! I want you! What else do I have to say?”