Chapter 13: Love Parasite

November 29th, 2022

TL Note: As mentioned, I’ll be switching to bi-weekly releases after this, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, starting this weekend.

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Your trip this time, wasn’t it precisely for the purpose of misleading Du Meng? You couldn’t possibly not know that Du Meng has visited. Why haven’t you asked?

Wasn’t this precisely your goal?

Xie Huai fixed his gaze on Fang Li’s eyes, as if he wanted to see through to his genuine thoughts through that pair of eyes.

Fang Li fell silent.

He’d intentionally pretended that nothing had happened specifically because he hadn’t wanted to go through with this useless plot point that was just for the sake of eating meat. He hadn’t in a million years thought that even if he didn’t bring it up, Xie Huai would actually bring it up himself……

You had to know that in the original story, when facing Yan Sui’s interrogation, Xie Huai hadn’t deigned to answer even a single sentence. He disdained Du Meng, and he also disdained Yan Sui. From his point of view, there was no difference between them, and their life and death struggles had nothing to do with him. From start to finish, he stood detached from the matter, coldly looking on.

According to reason, if he himself didn’t ask, Xie Huai wouldn’t speak up.

But, what was the meaning of his actions right now?

Why had he brought up this matter himself?

Fang Li had his misgivings, but he feigned ignorance on the surface. He raised his eyebrows and laughed lightly, “What should I be asking you?”

Xie Huai saw through him at a glance and didn’t have the slightest intention of letting him muddle through. Blandly, he said, “Du Meng came to see me and wanted me to join hands with him to kill you.”

Fang Li, “……”

Oh, he couldn’t muddle through……

Fang Li simply leaned back indolently and gave a teasing laugh, “What, you want to kill me together with Du Meng? You won’t even deign to consider me, it can’t be that you’ve actually developed an interest in Du Meng?”

Xie Huai pursed his thin lips, looking into his eyes.

The pale, wan man with long, narrow eyes had a smile hanging off his lips beheld the whole world in a frivolous manner, but underneath his careless, egotistical words was a visceral certainty. To reflexively speak those kinds of words…… He had absolute certainty in Xie Huai’s conduct, that there was no way he’d sink into the mire with Du Meng. Perhaps even he himself wasn’t aware of how much he trusted Xie Huai.

Even without asking or looking, he trusted him.

Could this also count as a kind of trust?

Xie Huai suddenly laughed softly. Something even Fang Li was sure he wouldn’t do, he’d still felt the need to bring up unnecessarily. To think that he wasn’t even as at ease as Fang Li.

Seeing as everything is within your expectations, then you……

Xie Huai was silent for a long time, then slowly opened his mouth. “Then do you know, Du Meng’s real intentions?”

Fang Li’s entire body immediately stiffened. He furrowed his brow, and his expression became grave. The conversation had gone in a direction that was completely out of his expectations! Everyone knew about Du Meng’s wild ambitions, so discussing that was no big deal, but you’re even going to talk to me about the fact that Du Meng likes you?

What kind of relationship do we have?

It’s not to the point where we can talk about such private topics, is it?!

In the midst of his daze, he even suddenly had a kind of illusion of drinking beer and eating skewers with his bros as they discussed how so and so was pursuing so and so……

Fang Li’s eyebrows were knit tightly, and he deliberated back and forth. He thought there was only one possibility—because he had thrown the game somewhat, it had caused the relationship between him and Xie Huai to be less on edge than the original story. Although it hadn’t changed the you-live-I-die type of hostile relationship between them, at least on the surface, things seemed alright, and they could even civilly exchange a couple of sentences. They weren’t on such bad terms as to get along like fire and water at a single glance.

With Xie Huai’s proud and aloof personality, after knowing that Du Meng liked him, he must be disgusted, right? So this was him giving a roundabout reminder……  that he didn’t want Du Meng to keep coming over to bother him?

As for him, as an obedient puppy dog, an unrequited pursuer, and an exceedingly possessive, tyrannical demon lord……  When hearing that the person he liked had other pursuers, what reaction should he have?

Fang Li abruptly stood up and laughed coldly. “Even if he has any intentions towards you, so what? Don’t think you can escape from this lord’s grasp. In this entire lifetime, you can only belong to this lord.”

Xie Huai, “……”

Seeing that Xie Huai seemed to have been knocked flat, Fang Li finally felt like he’d won a round in this conversation. He raised his chin and added, “If he really dares make a move on you, this lord will be sure to give him a fate worse than death.”

Xie Huai thoroughly sank into silence.

He stared blankly at the man in front of him, who appeared truly very angry and indignant over the fact that Du Meng was interested in him…… But at this moment, Xie Huai only felt absurd to the extreme. This person had a thousand stratagems and saw the whole battlefield as clearly as a blaze of fire, and even Du Meng’s every move was within his predictions, as if there was nothing that was outside of his calculations. Yet solely on this matter, he was completely baffled, and he couldn’t even tell that the one Du Meng was interested in was himself……

After a long time, Xie Huai lowered his eyes and gave a low laugh.

Forget it. Those dirty and ugly thoughts—it’s fine if you don’t know them.

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Fang Li leisurely returned to his own residential palace. Everything outside was great, except that he couldn’t get used to the beds; his bed in the demonic palace was still the most comfortable.

The System hesitated for a long time, finally haltingly opening its mouth.

【 System: I feel that Xie Huai’s behavior isn’t quite right. I’m worried that the plot is starting to deviate. 】

But Fang Li didn’t pay it much mind and only said carelessly, “No need to worry. Even if he’s in no rush to kill me at the moment because I’ve been treating him fairly well, don’t forget, he’s had his cultivation sealed by me and is being imprisoned here…… The peace right now is only superficial. The process isn’t important; as long as the result at the end doesn’t change, then it’s fine.”

Xie Huai definitely wasn’t the kind of person who could fall in love because of “force.”

【 System: But how can you guarantee that the result won’t change…… 】

Fang Li laughed. “Wanting to make someone love you is hard, but wanting to make someone hate you is easy. So just relax.”

System: ……? Was that true?

The System wanted to keep asking, but Fang Li didn’t intend to keep explaining and simply lay down on the bed and went to sleep.

This sleep lasted until late the next morning.

The demonic servants began standing in attendance outside early in the morning, not daring to make the slightest noise. Only when Fang Li got up did they respectfully bow their heads and say, “Your Excellency.”

Before returning last night, he’d given out the order for all the sects to convene today for official business.

By this time, all of the demonic cultivators should have arrived already.

But Fang Li wasn’t in even a bit of a rush. Under the two demonic servants’ attendance, he washed his face and rinsed his mouth and dressed, then finally headed toward the side palace, neither quickly nor slowly, to invite Xie Huai to come along.

In the great hall of the demonic palace, the crowd stood in the lower area, their expressions complicated as they murmured in low voices.

They’d already been waiting for several shichen, was His Excellency going to come today or not? Wasn’t His Excellency the one who had gathered them? Ever since Yuyi-jun had come to the demonic palace, His Excellency hadn’t been in the mood for official matters for a long time and had never taken the initiative to summon them. Who knew what important issue this was about……?

Just as they were in the midst of their discussions, they saw His Excellency arrive with Yuyi-jun in tow.

By now, this strange scene was already commonplace to them. Who would think that just a month ago, they’d still been furious and enraged? These days, if someday Xie Huai wasn’t around, they would actually be more unaccustomed to it……

They recalled that as long as Xie Huai was at the scene, they wouldn’t be able to get anything done, so what was His Excellency summoning them for? It couldn’t be that he was bored and just looking for entertainment?

It wasn’t impossible……

Fang Li reclined languidly in the chair, his gaze sweeping around the room, flitting past Du Meng who was standing in the front, and hooked his lips.

Du Meng’s expression was indifferent as he stood there, his back straight as a mountain ridge, his sharp gaze not hiding or evading.

Fang Li retrieved his gaze, leaning to the side, and spoke coolly, “When this lord left the mountain recently, I heard that those old cows at Heaven’s Summit1 don’t quite know their place. They’ve been traveling around and visiting the various sects to try to unite the righteous cultivators and attack Hollow Ridge, and they’re even bragging that they’re going to destroy all the demons at my Hollow Ridge.”

The horde of demonic cultivators below immediately revealed indignant or derisive faces, expressing that those old cows were tired of living and were asking to be wiped out to the last.

For a while, the hall was full of filthy curses and jeering, each more extreme than the last.

Fang Li nodded with satisfaction, saying, “Since Heaven’s Summit has openly challenged Hollow Ridge, if we don’t teach them a lesson, they’ll think that my Hollow Ridge is scared.”

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Xie Huai furrowed his brow tightly, his expression grave. He looked at Fang Li, not understanding.

Du Meng’s expression also became heavy.

Seeing that the jeering was coming to a close, Fang Li raised his hand, gesturing for silence.  Then he turned his gaze, full of smiles as he looked at Du Meng, his tone lifting slightly. “The Right Adjutant is still the one this lord relies on the most. The matter of exterminating Heaven’s Summit will be left to the Right Adjutant. Certainly, you won’t disappoint this lord, will you?”

As soon as Fang Li’s words settled, the entire crowd held its breath, fearful and complicated gazes drifting between Du Meng and Fang Li. The hall was so silent that even a pin drop could be heard.

Heaven’s Summit was one of the world’s five great righteous sects, and its strength could not be looked down upon. Furthermore, they were Zenith Sky Creed’s sworn nemesis…… If His Excellency were to lead the demonic horde to battle himself, amassing the hundreds of demonic sects to attack Heaven’s Summit with the strength of numbers, there was hope of conquering them, just like last time at Cloudbank Keep……

But if Du Meng alone was sent on this mission, then it was no easy task.

Du Meng’s Zenith Sky Creed hadn’t been able to take out Heaven’s Summon in the last few hundred years, so how were they going to be able to do it now all of sudden? Besides, the righteous sects were on high alert these days, jumping at the slightest movement. If they were really allowed to unite, and the righteous sect cultivators won in numbers…… it was hard to say which side would be the one to be eliminated!

Taking into consideration how His Excellency had just wiped out Rending Heart Gate a few days ago and had seized the spirit stone quarry, perhaps he really did mean to strike at Du Meng, and he was purposefully sending the members of Zenith Sky Creed to their deaths in order to weaken Du Meng’s influence at Hollow Ridge?

For a while, everyone was afraid to make a sound, cautiously peeking at Du Meng.

Fearful of drawing disaster upon their heads.

Du Meng tightly clenched the blade at his waist, his eyes frigid as an abyss. His gaze swept past Fang Li’s throat, infuriated to the point of laughter. Hah……

Xie Huai’s brow furrowed tighter and tighter. He knew Du Meng and Fang Li’s relationship was conflicted, but if Fang Li wanted to continue to make use of Du Meng, he should be using conciliatory methods to appease him; if he didn’t intend to leave Du Meng around, he should temporarily stabilize Du Meng on the surface, then give him a fatal strike and eliminate him at the root, not…… Go about things like this, in such a high-profile manner, closing in on him at every step without leaving any breathing room.

Previously, Fang Li had pretended to dote on him to get Du Meng to take the bait, so Xie Huai had thought Fang Li’s purpose was the latter. But today, Fang Li’s actions once again overturned his conjectures.

Continuously provoking Du Meng yet not striking the fatal blow like this was truly akin to raising a dangerous beast. If he were arrogant and conceited enough to think that he could play around with Du Meng, he could easily end up burning himself.

Xie Huai didn’t think Fang Li was that kind of fool. Making such decisions with absolutely no benefit, to the point that they’re self-contradicting—why are you doing so? Could you really not know how dangerous this is……?

Seeing that the atmosphere in the hall was becoming more and more stagnant, Xie Huai spoke with his brow creased. “You……”

But Fang Li suddenly clasped his hand, interrupting his words, his tone relaxed yet brooking no dispute. “I’ve already made my decision on this matter, no need to continue speaking on it.”

This was the first time Fang Li had refused him.

Xie Huai looked into the other’s pitch-black eyes. The expression in them was firm, and the rest of Xie Huai’s words halted. In the end, they remained unspoken.

At this, Fang Li finally smiled at Xie Huai.

He knew what Xie Huai was worried about. Xie Huai was the protagonist shou whose heart was full of mercy! He definitely wouldn’t want the righteous and demonic sects to go to war, bringing tragedy to the world. But you needn’t worry even a hair, this battle can’t be fought! Du Meng isn’t an idiot who can be toyed around with. Fully aware that he was being sent to his death, how could he really obediently go forth?

Before killing Fang Li, Du Meng would definitely reserve his forces and wouldn’t rashly go to war with the righteous sects.

Moreover, Xie Huai had just hinted to him yesterday that Du Meng had intentions toward him. As a madman who loved to get jealous, if he didn’t teach Du Meng a lesson, wouldn’t he be a rather cowardly, good-for-nothing demon lord?

Fang Li turned his head, looking at Du Meng without the slightest trace of fear, ignoring the murderous aura in his eyes, and waited for his response with a smile hanging from his lips.

Du Meng narrowed his eyes as he looked at Fang Li. After a long time, he slowly loosened his grip on his blade and grinned broadly, his eyes ice-cold like a viper’s. “Very, well.”

Fang Li let out a satisfied smile, then stood up. “Then we’ll await the Right Adjutant’s good news.”

The crowd watched Fang Li’s back as he departed, their expressions complicated. In their hearts, they thought, this time His Excellency wouldn’t even listen to Xie Huai, stubbornly going down his own path. It seemed like things were about to get serious, and who knew how Du Meng was planning to respond……

They were afraid Hollow Ridge was about to see a new day!

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On the other hand, Fang Li was in a pretty good mood, his footsteps light. This part of the script was advancing rather smoothly.

In the original story, Yan Sui had ordered Du Meng to attack Heaven’s Summit in this way. Although Du Meng had agreed on the surface, he’d quietly seethed in his heart, and his patience had reached its limit. When the time came, he hadn’t hesitated to collude with the righteous sects to deal with him. He was only giving Du Meng an opportunity. Hopefully Du Meng wouldn’t disappoint him and his hard work and would properly follow the script……

Now that today’s official business was over, was it time to go make up for lost sleep, or to have a meal? Fang Li was a little bit lost in thought when he suddenly felt a grip on his wrist. At the scorching warmth, he turned his head in astonishment and saw Xie Huai tightly gripping his wrist, his brows furrowed as he looked at him steadily.

Xie Huai’s thin lips moved slightly, and he slowly spoke. “Why are you doing this?”

Don’t you know that you’re playing with fire? Or are you really so certain, so unafraid of Du Meng’s retaliation and revenge?

Fang Li’s expression became a bit astounded. Xie Huai never took the initiative to touch him, what was up with him today? It couldn’t be that he was angry over his decision? Maybe so…… After all, he was ordering Du Meng to destroy Heaven’s Summit! The demonic sects were going to mindlessly slaughter innocents again…… No righteous cultivator could tolerate it.

But it wasn’t like he could say, don’t worry, Du Meng and Heaven’s Summit won’t be able to go to war. He murmured to himself for a moment, then revealed a disdainful, arrogant expression, saying, “This lord will do whatever he pleases. Besides, since Heaven’s Summit dares to utter such mad ravings, then they should know the consequences.”

Oh? Is that really so?

Xie Huai was almost angered to the point of laughter. He glanced at Fang Li coldly. Do you even believe your own words?

But…… What kind of relationship did they even have? On what grounds could he even demand Fang Li to tell the truth?

Xie Huai inhaled deeply and closed his eyes. He suddenly let go, then turned and left with brisk strides.

Fang Li watched Xie Huai’s silhouette depart, lifting his hand to rub at his reddened wrist. Ah, Xie Huai had used quite a bit of strength. Oh…… But……

Anger was good, anger was fantastic!

He’d really killed two birds with one stone today. Fang Li was even more satisfied.

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Because Xie Huai was unhappy, Fang Li simply didn’t go over to Xie Huai’s these days to avoid adding to his displeasure and to give him some peace and quiet alone.

Seeing that its host was becoming a couch potato again, the System was full of worry every day. Before, the host had said he was going to make Xie Huai hate him, but exactly what was he talking about? It couldn’t be that he meant the matter with Heaven’s Summit? But every time it asked, the host would always say wait a bit, wait a bit longer……

So in the end, was the host thinking about the plot or not?

Fang Li was extremely idle these days, living a life of luxury at the demonic palace. Occasionally, he would wander around the mountain, inspecting the state of Hollow Ridge’s affairs a bit, or going to the seaside cliff at the back of the mountain to fish……

Today, Fang Li had in his grip a fierce demonic fish with round, thoroughly red eyes and a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth when halfway along the road, a man with a head full of white hair but a handsome complexion stopped him.

Fang Li pondered for just a moment before he recognized that this was the Hehuan Sect sect master. He immediately reinvigorated himself, knowing that an important plot point was about to happen.

The Hehuan Sect sect master smiled flatteringly and bowed. “This subordinate pays respects to His Excellency.”

Fang Li had on an impatient appearance, walking as he spoke. “Is something the matter?”

The Hehuan Sect sect master had bribed one of the guards on the mountain in order to get word of Fang Li’s whereabouts. He had put in quite a bit of effort to wait for Fang Li here, and he knew he only had this one chance. Without any hesitation, he said, “This subordinate has a precious treasure to present to His Excellency!”

“Oh?” At this, Fang Li finally stopped his feet, looking at him pensively.

The Hehuan Sect sect master bent at the waist, raising up his hands high above his head. Cupped in his hands was a transparent bead, and inside the amber-like bead was a pair of beautiful golden insects.

The Hehuan Sect sect master said, “This is our sect’s signature treasure—the Entangling Threads Love Parasite.2 It’s different from ordinary love parasites, and only our sect’s generations of sect masters can raise them. This subordinate has used much blood and sweat and has only been able to rear this one pair. It can make the person who ingests the child parasite develop an unwavering heart toward the owner of the mother parasite, obeying his every command. Even the most stubborn, unyielding fellow will become obedient and well-behaved, allowing the owner to do with him as he pleases.”

The Hehuan Sect sect master paused slightly, carefully peeking at Fang Li’s expression. Seeing Fang Li’s interested expression, he thought delightedly, those fellows just don’t understand matters of love. They can’t see that His Excellency’s feelings toward Yuyi-jun are unrequited…… But even if they were able to tell, they wouldn’t be able to do anything about it. Previously, the Broken Blade Sect sect master had wanted to suck up to Xie Huai, but hadn’t he also been beaten back?

In order for the flattery to hit the target, one had to know what His Excellency really wanted.

For this matter, other than himself, no one could help His Excellency.

At this thought, the Hehuan Sect sect master’s heart blazed even hotter. His eyes revealed an ingratiating look, and he smiled meaningfully. “His Excellency only needs to have Yuyi-jun ingest the child parasite, and as the owner of the mother parasite, Yuyi-jun will be unable to defy you, powerless to leave you.”

Fang Li beckoned, grasping the pearl in his hand, and let out a slow, low laugh. “Good! If this thing truly works, this lord will be sure to reward you heavily.”

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1 Heaven’s Summit – 九霄山, lit. 9th heaven, the highest layer of heaven

2 Parasite here refers to the practice of gu

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