Ch63 - Dual Cultivation

Editor: Sahloknir

After Jiang Yinghe’s thinly veiled threat, Tong Guiyu naturally did not dare to tease him any more. Instead, he picked up the book on the table and flipped through it. “Are you interested in him? Sword Saint Taichu…there are many anecdotes about him in He Huan Sect.”

Jiang Yinghe asked, “What kind of anecdotes?”

Tong Guiyu looked at the kitten in his arms and said, “Did you know that he was already married when he became famous and that his cultivation partner died soon after?”

Jiang Yinghe nodded and unconsciously patted the cat’s ears in his arms, rubbing his fingertips against the soft, fluffy fur.

“But most people only know half the story.” Tong Guiyu paused on an illustrated page. “His cultivation partner was also a man of high status. Also, he didn’t die young. Rather…”

He trailed off before slowly continuing. “He was like your three disciples, who were plagued with problems despite reaching the peak.”

Jiang Yinghe was silent for a moment. Something about that statement seemed to resonate within his heart. He slowly covered his chest and wondered where this feeling came from. As he was about to ask further questions, Tong Guiyu spoke again.

“The so-called problems weren’t related to cultivation. Actually, it was that he was unable to stay with the Sword Saint for long.”

“…And why was that?”

Tong Guiyu shook his head and said, “That’s all I know. The man’s name is unknown and he disappeared quietly. If he hadn’t left He Huan Sect as one of his legacies, few people would even know the man’s gender.”

Jiang Yinghe pondered for a moment. The tail of the white cat in his arms wrapped softly around his wrist, its fluff gently pressing against his palm.

As Jiang Yinghe slowly brushed the tail and sorted out the thoughts in his mind, he heard Tong Guiyu ask, “So what do you think?”

“What?”

“You and your disciple.” Tong Guiyu couldn’t help but take a look at the cat that was acting spoiled in his arms. It was hard to imagine that this was the famous devil king who had shaken the world ten thousand years ago…

He tactfully asked, “Do you really want to…do it…with three people…”

“You’re mistaken.”

Tong Guiyu was relieved, but at the same time he felt like his question missed the mark. He nodded, “That’s what I thought. With your personality, there’s no way you can accept three—”

“They are one person.”

Tong Guiyu’s eyes widened. He stared blankly at Jiang Yinghe, who looked calm before shifting his gaze to the cat.

Jiang Yinghe patiently explained the whole story.

Tong Guiyu’s expression changed unpredictably as he listened. He went through several emotions before he understood everything. He sighed, “No wonder you hesitated. After their fusion, their memories might not remain. And if this really is the creator of the world we’re talking about, he likely has his own goals and won’t be so susceptible to the influence of others.”

He paused there, carefully observing Jiang Yinghe’s expression before comforting him. “But if you can’t figure out this matter, you will still fail to answer the Dao’s questions, even if you cultivate again. It will not be as easy to harden your mind like you harden your body.”

This was like taking your university entrance exams again. Even though you’ve already done it once and know how things go, it’s still difficult to score higher than before without a breakthrough.

Jiang Yinghe knew this, but he was much more determined than before. “Even if there’s the slightest chance, I’ll take it. So be it if I fail to pass my heavenly tribulation.”

Tong Guiyu sighed, “The world is really unpredictable. I never thought that a sword cultivator like you, with a clear mind and few desires, would be so troubled by love.”

Halfway through, Jiang Yinghe sensed keenly that Tong Guiyu’s words were tinged with his own sorrow. He pondered for a moment before asking, “How is your relationship with the cultivator from Yao Wang Valley?”

He was referring to Chou Yonghe, who had once entrusted a sword pendant to Tong Guiyu. When Jiang Yinghe met him, that man was dressed in turquoise robes and had a gentle demeanour, like a willow branch that could softly brush by a person’s sleeve in the spring breeze.

Tong Guiyu looked at him and drew out the Hongyan sword.

There was a sharply contrasting pale pink peach crystal pendant on the hilt of this dual cultivation sword.

Hongyan loved beauty, so when it was presented to Jiang Yinghe, the blade chimed and trembled, emitting a feeling of endless joy.

Jiang Yinghe swept a glance at the hilt of the sword and said, “It seems that you’ve met him.”

“…With the way I cultivate, how could I not?” Tong Guiyu said, “But we have just crossed paths and nothing more.”

Jiang Yinghe knew why he was so worried. Tong Guiyu practiced the dual cultivation method of He Huan Sect. It involved balancing restraint and indulgence.

If he couldn’t reciprocate Chou Yonghe’s interest, it might be kinder to both of them if they didn’t get together, rather than enjoying a brief moment of passion and being left with deep grudges.

Jiang Yinghe was exactly right.

The two of them, each with their own difficulties, were silent for a while. The only sound was the mewls of a cat, as his soft, prickly tongue licked Jiang Yinghe’s fingers comfortingly.

Jiang Yinghe lowered his head and stroked the little white cat.

At the same time, the crane spirit outside the entrance door chirped leisurely again. The main door opened a sliver as a He Huan Sect disciple cupped his fists with a lowered head. “Acting Sect Master, this disciple comes on behalf of the sect. Elder Lin has exited seclusion and has matters to discuss with you.”

“It’s probably about some blessed lands and how to guide the disciples again. He’s always going into seclusion with nothing to show for it.” Tong Guiyu muttered impatiently. However, he still got up to take his leave.

Smiling at Jiang Yinghe, he said, “I will seek out Xuan Wei Xianjun for a spar once you have recovered your cultivation. Abbot Chan Qing is off limits, and you’ve been gone so long… Oh right, I’ll send someone over with some toys from the books later.”

“That’s not necessary…”

“Don’t be shy.” Tong Guiyu said meaningfully, “You’ll thank me when you get the chance to use them.”

—-

He was true to his word.

Within half a day of Tong Guiyu’s departure, He Huan Sect really did send some “gifts” to Qing Jing Peak in the name of cultural exchange. In addition to what he promised, the contents included a very high quality book on dual cultivation.

Jiang Yinghe was still nominally in seclusion because he hadn’t recovered his cultivation yet, so he couldn’t go out. So all these things were piled up in front of the White Crane Jade Manor until Jun-er returned and put them away.

This friend of his really made Jiang Yinghe’s blood pressure shoot up and down like a rocket.

Not to mention the fact that Qin Jun seemed to be interested in those things. He took the book and studied it carefully for a long time… However, as the sky grew darker, some problems popped up in the Nether Realm, Qin Jun had to leave the White Crane Jade Manor to deal with them.

It was getting late. The remaining haze in the sky was the colour of blood.

In addition to cultivating, Jiang Yinghe also had to study the many techniques he had learned before reincarnating. He studied late into the night.

The little white cat beside him had already fallen sound asleep. His current body was more prone to getting tired, so Jiang Yinghe was close to dozing off too.

In his half-awake state, he didn’t hear any footsteps, but he could detect a familiar presence approaching. Even the temperature around him warmed by a few degrees.

The candlelight brightened.

Jiang Yinghe looked up and saw that the candlewick had been trimmed. The flame now stood upright and gave off more light.

The warm light overflowed, illuminating the dark sleeves of the visitor and his gradually heating gaze.

“I told you it was harmful to your eyes.” He said, “You never listen.”

Since he was now a mortal, reading in the dark might actually hurt his eyes.

The candlelight reflected on the floor overlapped with the moonlight seeping in through the window.

Li Huanhan spoke calmly as usual, without any intention of blaming him. He stepped closer and slowly removed the book from Jiang Yinghe’s hands. Marking the page he was on, he said, “Don’t force yourself and rest on time.”

Jiang Yinghe was feeling sleepy. But for some reason he felt like the other person was more and more like a virtuous wife. He gazed at him for a moment and said, “I’m not forcing myself and I’m not tired. I was just waiting for you.”

Li Huanhan lowered his head, dark eyes the colour of blood regarded him, their depths as unfathomable as the sea.

“You’re not tired? Is there something urgent to talk about then?”

Jiang Yinghe said, “Actually there are some, but I don’t want to sleep because I have something to ask you.”

Li Huanhan was taken aback, as if he couldn’t think of any topic to ask so solemnly and specifically.

“What’s wrong?”

Jiang Yinghe gazed into his eyes and said, “Is there any damage from…splitting your heart?”

Li Huanhan knew at once that he had seen Wangchen. He subconsciously replied, “No.”

The other person immediately asked back, “Is that the truth?”

“…”

His slight silence told Jiang Yinghe everything he needed to know. He sighed and said, “I don’t like your over willingness to sacrifice yourself, you know?”

Li Huanhan didn’t reply immediately. Instead, he slowly came around and smoothed Jiang Yinghe’s hair down.

“Sorry, I…”

His tone of voice was too soft, like melting ice.

Jiang Yinghe turned and loosely hugged him as he explained, “Just as you don’t want to see me hurt, I don’t want to see you hurt either, especially if it’s because of me. There are many things that happened due to my late response, and I already feel guilty…”

Before he could finish, Li Huanhan took his wrist and pressed him down on the soft bed, silencing his lips with his own.

He always was the type to prefer expressing his emotions with actions than with words, just like right now. Jiang Yinghe could feel his unquenchable desire and fervour in the slow roll of his hips. He could also feel the subdued gentleness with which Li Huanhan enveloped his lips. Most of all, he could feel the other’s desire to ravage him that was almost suppressed into nonexistence.

The world said Li Huanhan was a cruel tyrant with no regard for the sanctity of human lives.

But when he lowered his head for a kiss, it was both deep and passionate, gradually shifting from a tender starting point until Jiang Yinghe couldn’t breathe.

A finger fondled his upper lip.

Jiang Yinghe looked at him, not knowing what to think for a moment.

Perhaps he really was tired from reading, or perhaps he was caught up in the moment after that dizzying kiss, but he gently took the initiative to kiss the finger placed between his lips.

While Li Huanhan was startled, Jiang Yinghe wrapped his arms behind the other man’s neck and leaned in to plant a trail of kisses from his neck to the corner of his lips. It wasn’t clear whether this was out of a desire to comfort or become intimate.

The purification status bar provided by the system was the least of Jiang Yinghe’s worries right now. Naturally, he didn’t notice the instantaneous changes in Li Huanhan’s status bar.

He was indeed very easy to coax.

Jiang Yinghe kissed him and whispered, “Don’t do this kind of thing again.”

He was referring to splitting his heart. Although it allowed him to protect Jiang Yinghe and come to his side, it harmed Li Huanhan as well.

“…Alright.”

The voice delivered to his ears was low, hoarse, and stilted. Li Huanhan pressed Jiang Yinghe tightly against the bed with his hard, heated body, like he intended to go further.

Jiang Yinghe wasn’t prepared for this development. He grew embarrassed at the extended contact. Clutching his lapels, he hid behind a very appropriate excuse.

“The condition of my body…isn’t good.” He implored, “It’s only mortal. You’ll break it.”

Just as he finished speaking, the system that has been silently observing the whole time popped up with a voice message.

“You can use your hands or your legs.”

…What a dirty-minded system.

Jiang Yinghe was surprised to suddenly receive a new task from the unification system.

“Unification Task 1: Dual cultivate with the Innate True Nature.”

Jiang Yinghe blinked. “…D-dual cultivate?”

Unfortunately, he was so astonished that he said those two words out loud.

Li Huanhan lowered his head, his breath warming Jiang Yinghe’s neck. His vividly red eyes stared at Shizun as he spoke in a low and raspy voice.

“…What did you just say?”

Author’s Corner

Tongtong: See, I told you you’ll thank me later! Aren’t I a little genius?!

HeHe: …Take your little yellow book and get the hell out.

Rain: That system is looking real sus

Sahl: Well then. That escalated quickly.