He looked at Xie Huaiās face that was cold and serene as a celestial. Huh, such a perfect, flawless protagonistā¦ā¦
It was very difficult to feel disgusted by him, to the point that when actually doing the act, it turned out that it wasnāt that hard to acceptā¦ā¦
It was all because the method for using this love parasite was too bothersome. It had to be nurtured with blood from the heart, then transferred to the target with spiritual energy, and the time frame for using it was super precise, and it had to be fed mouth to mouth. As expected of a plot device from a novel of a certain genreā¦ā¦
Brother, just think of it as getting bitten by a dog, okay!
Fang Li thought a little bit ruefully, who couldāve thought that there would come a day when heād have to go kiss a straight manā¦ā¦ He was actually making quite a few sacrifices too, okay?
Taking advantage of the fact that Xie Huai hadnāt managed to react yet, he hurriedly completed the task.
Xie Huai looked at Fang Li in disbelief, forgetting to move for a momentā¦ā¦
Getting kissed by a cruel, cold-blooded devil, this sort of thingā¦ā¦ It should have been as nauseating as swallowing a fly, but Xie Huai dazedly lowered his eyes. What was reflected in his eyes was a fragile, ashy pale, delicate face, and a pair of apologetic, embarrassed, gentle eyesā¦ā¦
He was looking at him in that way.
As if heād gathered up an extremely large amount of resolve before carefully, tremblingly getting closer.
Clearly, the one being kissed forcefully was himself, but it seemed like he was the one who had no choiceā¦ā¦
This was another side to this person that Xie Huai had never seen before.
The person before him was no longer that languid, easygoing, fathomless cold-blooded devil, but merely a tangled, nervous, uneasy, and inexperienced young man.
Two faces as different as night and day, yet Xie Huai somehow felt that this was that personās true face, as if stripped of all pretenses. The interior that was revealed when all defenses were gone, a soft and genuine sideā¦ā¦
Compared to his disguise, it was even more bewildering to the heart.
It seemed like something had been passed over, and Xie Huai unconsciously swallowed it. Immediately after, the person before him suddenly pushed him away.
The sensation of faint coolness went awayā¦ā¦
Xie Huaiās expression darkened. He spoke, his voice low and hoarse. āWhat did you feed me?ā
Having just done something along the lines of harassing a beauty, Fang Li was a bit contrite for once. Saying something like āJust wait until you come begging this lordā probably wasnāt necessary, right? It was really too awkward, if he acted it out, it would just be super cringe.
Fang Li coughed lightly and pretended to be mysterious. āSomething to make you like me.ā
Saying that, he hurriedly turned and left.
Xie Huai stood completely still where he was, his gaze fixed on Fang Liās back figure leaving in a rush.
If he hadnāt been certain that Fang Li wouldnāt dare to do anything, he wouldnāt have given him the chance to catch him off guard, but why hadnāt he pushed him away at the first secondā¦ā¦? Heād obviously had the chanceā¦ā¦
To the point that that faintly quivering, slightly cool, soft touch hadnāt aroused the tiniest feeling of loathingā¦ā¦
Xie Huai tightly pursed his lips, a conflicted look briefly flashing through his eyes.
Something to make him like him?
What was it?
Or rather, did he really like him?
Before, Xie Huai had maintained that Fang Li was simply putting on an act and didnāt have the least bit of sincere affection for him, which was why he stayed at respectful distance. But at this moment, he suddenly wavered a bit.
The gentle, apologetic look in Fang Liās eyes hadnāt been fake, and that fumbling, cautious kiss was even less soā¦ā¦
And it definitely wasnāt pretend.
It couldnāt be that the reason heād never touched him wasnāt because he didnāt like him, but because he was embarrassed? Heād intentionally put on a frightening, callous appearance, but it was actually just to hide his anxiety?
It was because he liked him that he sought his approval in so many ways, maintaining both his manners and his distance, not willing to show the least bit of disrespect.
Like pure, clueless youth who didnāt understand anything and was completely helpless during his first time liking someone.
This was truly even more absurd than the idea that he liked him in itselfā¦ā¦
But even more absurd wasā¦ā¦
Xie Huai closed his eyes.
He actually cared about it a little.
ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦
Fang Liās footsteps hastily left from there, and he let out a breath.
Luckily, his interactions with Xie Huai before had been fairly peaceful, so heād fed him the love parasite without any problems. During this period of time, heād have to keep his distance from Xie Huai. Xie Huai still didnāt know what it was, but when he realized in a few days, mnā¦ā¦ heād want to kill him.
So Fang Li needed to hide from the storm.
As for whether the love parasite would hurt Xie Huai, Fang Li wasnāt too worried about that. In the original story, Xie Huai bore it without even changing his expression. You couldnāt even tell he was under the effect of the love parasite, which had fiercely slapped Yan Sui in the face, so these trifling matters werenāt even worth bringing up to Xie Huai, and Fang Li didnāt need to worry for him.
He also wouldnāt intentionally manipulate the love parasite, and even less would he use it to harm his life, so aside from bearing with it a bit once a month, it wouldnāt have too much of an impact on Xie Huaiā¦ā¦
Using a trick like this on someone who hated you truly wasnāt very honest or upright, and Xie Huai had previously even helped him, so Fang Li couldnāt help feeling a bit apologetic.
But in order for the plot to progress smoothly, I can only wrong you for a bit.
Donāt worry, I only have a few months left to live, anyway.
To cultivators, a few months would pass in the blink of an eye. Youāll be free of me very soon.
The only thing he had to pay attention to was to stay away from Xie Huai during the flare-up period. After all, Xie Huai was under the effect of the love parasite, so Xie Huai would suffer from an attraction to him. If he were nearby, it would make it even harder to bear, but without him, it would be much simplerā¦ā¦
Just like if someone were starving, and you placed an extravagant feast in front of them but didnāt permit them to eat, compared to putting nothing at all in front of them, the difficulty of bearing the former would be much higher.
As long as he didnāt appear, he had faith that Xie Huaiās willpower would definitely let him make it through!
After finishing this, Fang Li started living the leisurely, idle days of a couch potato again. According to the script of the original book, he graciously rewarded the Hehuan Sect sect master.
The Hehuan Sect sect master seemed to have become the demon lordās favorite.
Ever since Xie Huai had arrived at Hollow Ridge, His Excellency had been acting like he was under a spell. He didnāt bother with official matters, didnāt do anything wicked, and he spent all day hanging around Xie Huai. Nobody could even get a word in, which made everyone distressed without endā¦ā¦
Just when everybody was at a loss as to what to do, the Hehuan Sect sect master went from being an unassuming little sect master with no chance to show his face before His Excellency to His Excellencyās closest, most beloved confidante in a single leap. His Excellencyās rewards flowed out like a river, and he would often even allow the Hehuan Sect sect master to stand close to himā¦ā¦
Seeing this, everyoneās envy and jealousy were ceaseless. Bah, this old sex fiendās cultivation wasnāt much, but he understood better than anyone those filthy things between men and women and so on, and he had more underhanded tricks than anyone else. Who knew what kind of treasures heād offered or what methods heād used to make His Excellency honorable heart so pleased?
Unfortunately, no matter who asked, he refused to answer, not letting the slightest clue slip out.
The Hehuan Sect sect masterās cave abode was luxurious to the extreme. Hundreds of night pearls were inlaid at the top of the cave, and His Excellencyās rewards were displayed in the most eye-catching location. Just the sparkling, translucent top-quality spirit stones alone were enough to fill an entire chest.
Show-off, what a show-off!
The Broken Blade Sect sect master had come to pay his greetings to the Hehuan Sect sect master, and seeing the piles and piles of goods, he was so jealous his eyes were practically dripping blood. What a waste, what a waste! The Hehuan Sect sect master, that old sex fiend, was steeped in licentious matters of passion his entire life, and his cultivation was really only average. Even piling these top-quality spirit stones on him probably wasnāt enough to get him to Soul Formationā¦ā¦ If it wasnāt for the fact that this old sex fiend was His Excellencyās favorite recently, the Broken Blade Sect sect master wouldāve even considered killing him to take these treasures.
The Broken Blade Sect sect master inhaled deeply, then plastered a smile onto his face and went in to pay his greetings.
The Hehuan Sect sect master nested within a pile of beauties. Seeing the Broken Blade Sect sect master come in, he didnāt even move a muscle, but raised an eyebrow and smiled in a deliberately cryptic way. āOh, isnāt this the Broken Blade Sect sect master? How is it that you have time to visit my humble abode today?ā
The Broken Blade Sect sect masterās eyelid twitched, and he suppressed the heat flaring up in his chest. Normally, he didnāt have much respect for the Hehuan Sect sect master and didnāt have much interaction with him. If not for the sake of consulting him on how to seek favor with His Excellency, why would he personally come here?
āHave someone come, bring Sect Master Hu some tea,ā the Hehuan Sect sect master said.
Very quickly, a beauty came over presenting a cup of tea. The Broken Blade Sect sect master took a sip, then spat it out. Pah, to think it was cold tea! He looked at the Hehuan Sect sect master, the look on that arrogant little rat, and was so infuriated that he nearly twisted his neck right on the spot! Youād best pray that His Excellency keeps on protecting you, or youāll be sure to die without a grave!
But the Hehuan Sect sect master wasnāt intimidated in the least. Heād already planned out in advance that His Excellency would protect him. This was only the beginning; after a while, when His Excellency had tasted sweetness, he would be sure to bestow him with even more rewards. And as for Xie Huaiā¦ā¦ From now on, heād be nothing to fear.
The look in his eyes was insidious. The reason heād presented the Entangling Threads Love Parasite to Fang Li was to kill two birds with one stone. The first was to seek favor with His Excellency, and the second was to smoothly remove the hindrance that was Xie Huai. As long as Xie Huai was controlled by the love parasite, his proud backbone broken, thoroughly falling to become a plaything, he would never again be able to disturb His Excellency and spoil their matters.
These days, plenty of people had come to visit him. The Broken Blade Sect sect master wasnāt the first, nor would he be the last. They only wanted to seek out some clues from him and learn how to earn His Excellencyās favor, but why would the Hehuan Sect sect master tell them?
These people had always looked down on him in the past, thinking that he was vulgar and base, but these days, didnāt they all have to plead with him courteously and politely?
The Hehuan Sect sect master raised an eyebrow, saying, āWhat business does Sect Master Hu have to come here today?ā
The Broken Blade Sect sect master forcefully endured his fury, stiffly giving a dry laugh. āThis old Hu recently collected some good eggs, all extremely high-quality virgin men and women. You can take them and raise another flock of fine furnacesā¦ā¦ā
The Hehuan Sect sect master smiled, saying, āOh, then thank you very much.ā
The Broken Blade Sect sect master stroked his beard with a smile. āNo need, no need. Then, that is, this old Hu has something puzzling me, I wonder ifā¦ā¦ā
The Hehuan Sect sect master cut short his words, giving a smile that didnāt reach his eyes. āSomething that Sect Master Hu doesnāt even understand, how could this sect master know? Someone come, see Sect Master Hu out.ā
The Broken Blade Sect sect master was swollen to the shade of a pigās liver, enraged to the point of laughter. āFine, fine, fine.ā
This old sex fiend with no sense of shame. Receiving his benefits without letting slip a single clueāhe didnāt even want to save face! Donāt think that youāll be able to go on with this arrogance. When His Excellency is no longer protecting you, this one is going to rip you limb from limb!
ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦
Xie Huai sat in his room. News from the outside world flowed in without end, and he lowered his eyes, the paper talisman in his fingertips burning away.
The rumors from outside said that the Hehuan Sect sect master had offered up a treasure to please His Excellency in order to win his favor and receive numerous rewards. The Hehuan Sect sect master was relying on His Majesty to prop himself up and had seized plenty of benefits recently, strutting around Hollow Ridge extremely pleased with himselfā¦ā¦
Exactly what had the Hehuan Sect sect master offered up? Could it be the thing that Fang Li had fed him that day?
Something to make him like himā¦ā¦
Xie Huai tightly furrowed his brow.
Ridiculous. How could there be something in this world that could make someone like another? The human heart was impossible to control, yet he had stubbornly taken whatever the Hehuan Sect sect master had said as truth. Did Fang Li wish for him to like him that much?
But if he liked him that much, why was Fang Li avoiding him?
That person was like a splendid butterfly full of deadly toxin, softly fluttering its wings to land on his heart, flitting away as soon as it landed, neither close yet far and impossible to fathomā¦ā¦
He would approach all on his own, then leave without a single warning.
Yet he wouldnāt even give Xie Huai the chance to ask.
As for himself, his every emotion was pulled along on a string without any self-control.
It shouldnāt be like this. Xie Huai tightly pursed his lips, the look in his eyes as heavy as the ocean depths. His emotions shouldnāt be under the control of anyone.
Especially not a ruthless, cold-blooded devil.
ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦
Fang Li sat leisurely in the study. These days, heād given the Hehuan Sect sect master plenty of rewards. Whatever he wanted, he would give, indulging him to the utmost. But seeing the Hehuan Sect sect master basking in his success, Fang Li gave a pitying sigh.
He wouldnāt be able to celebrate much longer.
In the original book, Yan Sui had tried to use the love parasite to control Xie Huai, but heād found that it was unable to make Xie Huai surrender. In his fury, heād killed the Hehuan Sect sect master straight off.
He was just a cannon fodder brimming with evil and past crimes. Fang Li didnāt pay much mind to the Hehuan Sect sect masterās fate. With the Hehuan Sect sect masterās actions and conduct, even if he died a hundred times, it wouldnāt make up for his sins.
Rather than a little clown gleefully hopping around, Fang Li was more concerned about Xie Huaiās circumstances.
Today was the start of the first flare-up period.
The original story said that Xie Huaiās willpower was exceedingly strong and had restrained the effects of the Entangling Threads Love Parasite, holding back the symptoms internally, treating it as if it were no big deal. But still, this was the Hehuan Sectās signature treasure. If it were really so easy to resist, the Hehuan Sect sect master wouldnāt offer it up to him as if presenting something priceless. He knew that Yan Sui was cold-blooded and ruthless, and he definitely wouldnāt dare to take out some ordinary thing to trick Yan Sui with. After all, it wasnāt like he was tired of living.
Thus, even knowing that nothing would happen to Xie Huai, and even knowing it wouldnāt have much of an effect on Xie Huai, when the time actually came, Fang Li couldnāt help taking some precautions and instructing someone to watch over things at all times, in order to prevent any accidents.
After all, he couldnāt have any mishaps happening to the protagonist.
At nighttime, the demonic servants from the side palace come over to report, saying that Yuyi-jun hadnāt had dinner that night yet. Theyād gone over to ask for instructions and had been ordered not to disturb him, and it had been through a closed door, so they hadnāt seen Yuyi-jun in person.
Fang Li reckoned it had already started. At this point, Xie Huai definitely wouldnāt want to be disturbed, so that was normal.
Another quarter hour passed, and another demonic servant came to report, saying that the room was quiet and peaceful with no movement at all. Yuyi-jun might have gone to sleep.
So quiet? It looked like it was just as the book had written after all. Xie Huai had already gotten a handle on things, and everything would be fine after tonight had passed. Fang Li thought there shouldnāt be anything else that would come up and finally relaxed, turning over to get into bed and go to sleep.
ć The System hesitated: Host, do you really not plan to go over and take a look? ć
Fang Liās hands were pillowed before him, his sleeping posture completely serene. He said lazily, āWhat is there to see? In any case, heās still the pride of the heavens. Leave him some face.ā
Having someone see him like that would be embarrassing to death!
Heād probably even start to feel a little murderousā¦ā¦
Putting himself in Xie Huaiās shoes, Fang Li could understand very well Xie Huaiās feelings right now. It would be better to let him quietly face it himself as he stewed in hostility. Fang Li wouldnāt go over to add oil to the file.
ć System: But only the owner can relieve the love parasiteā¦ā¦ ć
Fang Li said with complete confidence, āYouāre really underestimating the protagonist. What is the protagonist for? To create miracles and smash preconceptions.ā
In the original story, Xie Huai hadnāt reacted to it even a bit.
ć System: Butā¦ā¦ ć
Fang Li raised his eyes lethargically, his tone bland. āOr else? You want me to go top a man?ā
The System immediately shut its mouth. It was afraid the host would just throw his hands up and give up. Forget it, forget it, what the host said was probably rightā¦ā¦ It had to have faith in Xie Huai!
Fang Li slept all the way until noon the next day.
The demonic servants waiting in attendance outside immediately came up to report, saying that Yuyi-jun hadnāt had breakfast yet that morning, and there still wasnāt any movement in the room.
Fang Li was a bit surprised, but his worries quickly vanished. After having something like that happen last night, it was normal for Xie Huai to want some peace and quiet alone, after all.
Fang Li instructed the servants not to disturb him, then went off by himself to mind his own business.
Eating and drinking his fill, the day quickly passed by.
When Fang Li woke up the third day, the demonic servants came to report, saying that Yuyi-jun still hadnāt come out.
Fang Li didnāt think there was any problem. Who knew, maybe Xie Huai was pushing himself to the extreme in his efforts and didnāt want to see Fang Li at all, only thinking about how to break through the seal in the shortest possible time to kill him. If he didnāt come out, then he didnāt come out.
ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦
All the way up until the seventh day.
When the demonic servants came to tell Fang Li that Xie Huai still hadnāt taken a single step out of the room, and the room still hadnāt had any signs of movement, Fang Li finally felt some unease.
No signs of movement for seven days and nightsā¦ā¦ Although this matter was kind of difficult to bring up, and the proud Xie Huai definitely wouldnāt be able to accept it, he was the protagonistĀ shouĀ with a will of iron, after all. In the original story, heād suffered more than a hundred kinds of torment and still hadnāt given up on himself and had even broken through in his cultivation in the midst of adversity to kill Yan Suiā¦ā¦
He wouldnāt go as far as to shut himself in his room and give up on himself because of a little thing like this, would he?
Not coming out for seven whole days was a bit unusualā¦ā¦
The System was making a serious ruckus in his ears. Since a few days ago, it had kept bugging him to go take a look, worried that something had happened to Xie Huai. Fang Li hadnāt paid it much mind the whole time, thinking that it was just worried that the sky was falling. He had plenty of confidence in Xie Huai, after all, but at this moment, he suddenly wavered a bitā¦ā¦
Something couldnāt really have happened to Xie Huai, could it?
Fang Li creased his brow and lapsed into thought for a long time, reviewing all his actions again, but he still hadnāt discovered any slip-ups. Then why was this different from the original story?
Fang Li was a bit worried and decided to go take a look in the end.
He arrived at the side palace in the middle of the night. The demonic servants attending outside paid their respects, saying as they bowed, āThis subordinate has been on watch this whole time. Yuyi-jun hasnāt come out yet, nor has he had any orders.ā
Fang gave an inattentive āmnā sound, then went directly through the doors in large strides.
The room was completely pitch-black.
There wasnāt any candlelight.
The night pearls on the frames were covered by brocade, not letting a single ray slip through.
The door hadnāt been opened in seven days.
As soon as Fang Li stepped inside, a dense and heavy scent permeated his nose. It seemed like wine that had been brewing for many years, and it was so strong that it made one choke a bitā¦ā¦
There wasnāt a trace of movement in the darkness. No, wait. Fang Li gathered his senses to listen closely. Behind the curtains of the bed in front was a very, very lowā¦ā¦ it seemed like the sound of stifled, restrained breathingā¦ā¦
Thank goodness, at least he was still alive!
There was something off about the circumstances. Fang Li wasnāt able to put too much thought into things and stepped forward quickly, pulling up the curtains swiftly to examine things. But as soon as he reached out his hand, the world spun around him, and a hand as scorching hot as a pair of heated iron tongs tightly grasped his wrist, firmly pressing down!
His back crashed heavily against the side of the bed. Fang Liās face paled, and he looked up with a bit of astonishment, directly meeting a pair of murky, reddened eyes.
ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦
The Author Has Something to Say:
Fang Li: He detests me this much, and heās the all-capable protagonist, restraining the love~ parasite is a piece of cake, no problem~ (100% confidence)