Chapter 8: Rival in Love

November 16th, 2022

Fang Li slightly narrowed his eyes.

Saying these kinds of provocative things as a prisoner under someone else’s roof…… He really didn’t have the slightest self-awareness of being a fish on a cutting block.

Could it be that he really thought Fang Li wouldn’t become enraged and do anything to him?

Fang Li suddenly turned his head, his lips nearly brushing past Xie Huai’s ears, and he gave a low, humorous laugh. “What is it? Is Yuyi-jun looking forward to this lord doing a little something? Could it be that you’ve finally realized that belonging to this lord feels pretty good?”

Even the temperature of the man’s lips seemed to be cool, but only his breath brought a scorching warmth, softly flitting past the ears. The suggestive and enchanting laugh, like a lover’s whisper in one’s ear, really did seem to carry a lingering affection…… to the point that Xie Huai felt a moment of alarm.

But in just that split second’s effort, Fang Li pushed him into the room and closed the door in passing.

He fixed his gaze on Xie Huai and said in a slow voice, “Have you really, thought it through?”

Giving! You! A! Chance! To! Back! Out!

Think! Carefully! Before! Speaking! Again!

Xie Huai raised his eyes to look at the person before him. The man’s pale, ashen face was stretched taut, and his eyes were grave for once, but he couldn’t see any kind of happy emotions in them. It looked more like he was bit hard-pressed, as if only fearing that Xie Huai would agree……

Seeing as he was trying to sound out this person, now was a perfect opportunity.

But Xie Huai looked at the nervousness in the other’s eyes…… He suddenly shook his head and said blandly, “Your Excellency misunderstands.”

Fang Li swiftly let out a breath in relief. Of course Xie Huai couldn’t possibly comply with him. It had to be that his recent actions had given Xie Huai some suspicions, so he’d tried to sound him out like this. Luckily, Xie Huai hadn’t pressed too hard, or he would really have been in a bit of a tight spot……

He let out a cold snort and flicked his sleeves. “Next time, think before you speak. This lord’s patience is limited. Don’t think this lord won’t do anything with you.”

The corner of Xie Huai’s mouth lifted minutely. The person before his eyes had a proper and solemn appearance, and he knew how to speak vicious words, but he didn’t have much of an air of aggression.

Judging a person was based not on what they said, but what they did.

Ever since Xie Huai had arrived here, Fang Li had said plenty of vicious things…… yet he’d never done a single thing that had truly harmed him.

Did he really believe he could strike fear this way?

Even the prestigious righteous sects like his wouldn’t be naive enough to believe that they could intimidate others this way, or maybe…… he knew it clearly in his heart, but he couldn’t bring himself to do anything more excessive.

Perhaps it was precisely for this reason that Xie Huai hadn’t continued.

Xie Huai turned around and sat down as if nothing had happened, pouring himself a cup of tea.

At this, Fang Li finally thoroughly relaxed. At least Xie Huai hadn’t asked, “What exactly will you do with me,” which could still be considered tactful.

Although Xie Huai had backtracked under his “threat,” the people outside didn’t know of this. Since he’d already entered the room, it wouldn’t be too suitable to go outside right now, but since he hadn’t come here in several days, he hadn’t replenished the sedative incense after using it up……

Xie Huai sat upright at the table. Without lifting his head, his fingertips the color of white jade pinched the edge of his cup, and he said indifferently, “My cultivation has already been sealed. What is Your Excellency still worried about?”

Don’t mention it, but this sentence really did make Fang Li’s worries disappear. He and Xie Huai had been living harmoniously in domestic bliss under the same roof and bed for several days…… Right now, it still wasn’t the best time for Xie Huai to kill him. From his perspective, the risks and the potential benefits of making a move right now weren’t proportional, and Xie Huai had always been an intelligent person who weighed his options. He wouldn’t do something foolish on a momentary impulse.

So, the odds that Xie Huai would strike right now were actually very low.

As long as he himself didn’t feel awkward, then it was everyone else who was awkward!

Fang Li sauntered brazenly toward the bed and lay down. A hundred or thousand reasons weren’t worth as much as going to sleep right now.

【 The System immediately started to fret: Host, host! Wake up! Are you really just going to sleep like this? 】

【 Fang Li: What else? 】

【 System: Xie Huai is still awake…… 】

【 Fang Li: Oh. If he wants to kill, then let him. Stop shouting. 】

【 System: …… 】But if you die, then where am I supposed to find another host? QAQ

The tea inside the cup was already cold.

The man’s eyes were closed shut, his long and delicate eyelashes casting shadows onto his pale, wan skin. His dense, inky hair draped loosely and freely, covering half of his face, which was barely discernible in the candlelight.

Although he always wore layers upon layers of thick and heavy black robes, as long as you got close enough to touch, you would notice that the body underneath his thick and heavy clothes was thin and frail, as if his life had long been sucked dry, leaving only a walking husk of a corpse.

When he slept, those long and narrow dark eyes covered, completely unmoving, he seemed like…… a delicate porcelain doll.

One that would shatter at a touch.

Someone like this was an existence who had brought terror to the entire world. If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, Xie Huai wouldn’t believe it.

Everyone in this world, whether they were good or evil, man or woman, old or young…… Aside from a lunatic, anyone doing anything would leave traces to follow.

But your purpose… what is it?

………………………………………

It was already late by the time Fang Li woke up, and warm sunlight spilled into the room.

He propped himself into a sitting position and realized that Xie Huai was still seated by the table, his posture exactly the same as last night.

Xie Huai wouldn’t sleep together with him—this didn’t surprise Fang Li in the least. Even less did he feel any guilt about monopolizing the huge bed; Xie Huai was a cultivator after all, “experiencing labor with the muscles and bones, experiencing hunger with the body and flesh, therefore stirring the heart, toughening one’s nature, and improving what one lacks.”1 Compared to achieving the heavenly Dao, what was this little bit of hardship? He trusted Xie Huai wouldn’t mind either.

Fang Li didn’t have anything to say to Xie Huai. He patted his somewhat wrinkled robe and walked straight past.

As soon as he arrived back at his own residential palace, he saw Wu Yimei keeping watch by the door.

Wu Yimei lowered his eyes and bowed. “Your Excellency was with Xie Huai again last night?”

During this period, even those in the rear court could see Fang Li’s favoritism toward Xie Huai, so Wu Yimei was naturally even more aware. Because Fang Li had spoken with him before, Wu Yimei hadn’t asked again, but he had heard about the orders that Fang Li had given last night—if anyone dared disrespect Xie Huai, death without mercy.

The unease in Wu Yimei’s heart rose up again…… If it was really only to humiliate the righteous sects, was there a need to go this far?

Previously, the person nearest to His Excellency’s side had been him, and no one else could even approach. But ever since Xie Huai had arrived, His Excellency lived with Xie Huai night after night. This was the first time there had been a person who could stay with His Excellency day and night like this……

Was His Excellency really not moved, even by a hair?

“Your Excellency……” Wu Yimei’s voice was low and hoarse. “There are all kinds of rumors about the way you favor Xie Huai. If this continues…… I’m afraid it would be disadvantageous to you.”

Toying with and humiliating was one thing, doting on and falling for was another.

As the demon lord, one shouldn’t have this kind of weakness.

“No need to pay attention to it. Let them say whatever they want to say,” Fang Li laughed indifferently.

Wu Yimei lifted his eyes to look at him. His thoughts stirred, and he could vaguely guess Fang Li’s intentions, but he still didn’t dare to be certain.

The corner of Fang Li’s mouth curved faintly upwards. “If the whole world knows that he’s my weakness, but I know that he isn’t, is that a bad thing?”

Wu Yimei suddenly understood, and his expression relaxed. It looked like he’d been overthinking. He changed the topic. “This subordinate came here to report that Du Meng has returned, and he will arrive at Hollow Ridge tonight.”

Fang Li laughed. “Then arrange for a feast tonight at this lord’s palace. This lord plans to reward him handsomely.”

………………………………………

It was finally time to follow the plot in the book again. Fang Li had a rare moment of invigoration, a little bit expectant. His number one rival in love was about to take the stage.

Du Meng, the great demonic cultivator second only to Yan Sui in the book and a peak Void Refining-level expert.

Before Yan Sui took the world by storm, the Zenith Sky Creed that Du Meng commanded was the strongest force among the demonic sects. He vaguely had the influence of head of the demonic sects, and he rampaged throughout the counties and provinces. He was a thorn in the sides of the righteous sects, a devil whose name struck terror in the hearts of the whole world, a considerably ruthless and formidable character.

But it just so happened that in this book, such a grand character was a stepping stone used to complement the main characters, a tool used to move the plot along.

First, using the power of his jade talisman, Yan Sui had defeated Du Meng in one strike in their appointed duel. Du Meng could only surrender to Yan Sui and command the entirety of the Zenith Sky Creed to enter Hollow Ridge.

After the news spread that Yan Sui had defeated Du Meng in one strike, there was almost no one left in the entire demonic path who dared to resist, paying allegiance one by one. And with the addition of the might of the Zenith Sky Creed, the road was smooth as butter, becoming a critical juncture in Yan Sui’s unification of the demonic path.

In order to win over Du Meng to become his number one general, Yan Sui appointed Du Meng as his Right Adjutant2, one of his right-hand men.

But unlike the ever-faithful Wu Yimei, Du Meng was filled with wild ambition. As the leader of the Zenith Sky Creed who had once been number one of the demonic path, how could he be content to truly pledge allegiance to someone else? It was only because he couldn’t see through Yan Sui’s abilities at the moment that he’d pretended to bow his head, but he’d always wanted to kill Yan Sui and take his place.

As for Yan Sui, other than Wu Yimei, he didn’t really have anyone he could trust, nor did he have any forces that he’d raised himself; he’d only relied on absolute power to terrorize his subordinates. Of the horde of demons gathered at Hollow Ridge, Du Meng was the leader of the strongest force, Zenith Sky Creed, so even if Yan Sui knew of Du Meng’s intentions, he pretended not to see. As long as Du Meng followed orders on the surface, Yan Sui couldn’t easily do anything to him, and he even had to make use of him to command that horde of demons and stabilize Hollow Ridge.

According to the plot.

Tonight, Yan Sui would bring Xie Huai to the banquet, where Du Meng would fall in love with him at first sight. And because of Yan Sui’s special favor towards Xie Huai, Du Meng would begin to scheme, thinking Xie Huai had utilization value, and thus approach him. But instead, he’d become gradually more and more attracted to Xie Huai, and later, in order to obtain him, he would work even harder to oppose Yan Sui.

Thinking up to this point, Fang Li couldn’t hold back a laugh.

Du Meng definitely wouldn’t be able to imagine that not only had he been Yan Sui’s stepping stone to uniting the demonic sect, but he’d once again become a stepping stone for Xie Huai’s name to shake the earth and heavens.

Near the end of the story, the Thousand Immortals’ Alliance united to attack Hollow Ridge, and Xie Huai’s sword took Yan Sui’s life. Hollow Ridge crumbled apart and split, and Du Meng was able to become the demon lord just as he’d wished. But his obsession with Xie Huai hadn’t changed, and he kept pursuing him without rest. Sadly, Xie Huai remained unmoved from start to finish, and Du Meng finally lost patience and tried to use force, walking Yan Sui’s old path…… But this time, Xie Huai didn’t give him the chance and merely had a formal and proper battle with him, finishing him off under his blade.

Unlike the Yan Sui who’d had no will to live and had basically offered himself up to die…… Xie Huai’s battle with Du Meng shook the earth and sky and made the whole world tremble.

The whole world finally realized that Xie Huai could actually easily defeat a peak Void Refining stage expert like Du Ming and saw firsthand his blade that could split mountains and sever rivers. Everyone guessed that Xie Huai had already become a Unified Dao true immortal, becoming even more powerful than the past demon lord Yan Sui, or else how could he have been able to kill Yan Sui back then?

Du Meng’s death thoroughly solidified Xie Huai’s place as the number one under the heavens. His death was truly no trifling matter.

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This plot device of a character could also be counted as someone who’d reached the pinnacle. Thinking about it, even Fang Li let out a pitying sigh. After all, Du Meng hadn’t even gotten to taste any meat.

On the contrary, it was Xie Huai—

First killing Yan Sui, then killing Du Meng, getting rid of the two biggest demons in two blows, becoming the final winner!

Reality proved that seizing by force never got you a good ending.

Fang Li leisurely ran through the script. Today, his mission was to bring Xie Huai in front of Du Meng. Based on Xie Huai’s peerless looks, what chance was there that Du Meng wouldn’t be moved?

Du Meng had already been discontented with Fang Li for a long time, and with Xie Huai as an added incentive, he would definitely start to have disloyal thoughts. Fang Li just had to agitate things a little, and there was no way he wouldn’t make a move.

Night descended, and the bright moon hung high in the hair.

A demonic servant scurried inside and bowed. “Your Excellency, the guests have all arrived.”

Fang Li stood up and smiled faintly. “Good, go invite Yuyi-jun over as well.”

The servant said, “Understood.”

The anterior palace hall of the demonic palace was expansive and grand. The ice-cold black stone surface reflected dim light, and on both sides, candlelight flickered atop golden daises. The walls were inlaid with brilliant pearls, and scantily-clad beauties waited upon the guests. Sumptuous delicacies and wine flowed in like water, the whole scene extravagant and degenerate. Fang Li slowly ambled onto the high dais from the back, sitting upright on the seat in the very middle.

Below, the demonic cultivators on both sides saw that Fang Li had arrived, and they all stood up to bow.

All of the demonic cultivators who could enter the grand palace to attend the feast had some fame. To the left, Wu Yimei stood at their head, and to the right, Du Meng led.

Fang Li lowered his eyes and looked at the man standing on the right side, sizing him up curiously.

The man was built tall and sturdy, probably even two meters tall, looking about thirty years old. He had a head of mismatched short hair, bronze-colored skin, and stern features. He had a high brow and deep-set eyes, and he wore agile, tight-fitting black robes, closely wrapped around his rugged stature. To the side of his neck, a light plating of black scales could faintly be made out, and the joints on his fingers were coarse, tinged with a metallic shade. It was rumored that he had the bloodline of a flood dragon, and he had the strength to split boulders and slice through mountains.

Although he was standing in the lower part of the hall, when he raised his eyes and looked over, his expression was reckless and unrestrained. The invasive nature of his gloomy black eyes was intense, and he quirked the corner of his lips as he said in a clear voice, “Greetings to Your Excellency.”

When he was done speaking, he rearranged his robes and sat down with a grandiose air, as if no one else was around.

It was clear that he wasn’t too respectful, unlike Wu Yimei…… But of all present, only Du Meng dared to act this way, because Yan Sui needed him.

Fang Li didn’t mind Du Meng “disposing with trivialities.” He waved his hand, and everyone else sat down one by one.

He propped one arm on the armrest of his seat and slouched back lazily, giving a faint smile. “The Right Adjutant has gone to great troubles this time. This lord raises a toast to you.”

Du Meng said with a laugh, “Thank you, Your Excellency.”

He lifted the cup of fine wine before him and tipped it all down.

The beauties in the hall began a fluttering dance. Everyone seated was a demonic cultivator, and more than a few of them had beauties in their laps, young women and men both, all of them playthings or slaves…… There were even some who started doing that in front of everyone. It was truly a difficult sight to bear.

The brightly lit black hall was lively and colorful, delicate laughter and mournful cries intermingling. It was hard to tell if it was a blissful paradise or an endless hell……

Fang Li retracted his gaze. Just at that moment, two demonic servants brought Xie Huai in from the back of the hall.

The cool and tranquil white-robed man ambled slowly, his manner unhurried, his appearance unparalleled. As soon as he stepped foot inside, wherever he passed, like a handful of ice-cold snow falling into boiling water, all of the unbearable filth seemed to have nowhere to hide.

The hall fell silent for a moment, and all of the gazes swept over in that direction.

There was curiosity, there was lust, there was malice, there was infatuation……

This was the rumored bearer of an innate Dao physique, the most beautiful under the heavens, Yuyi-jun.

Fang Li slightly narrowed his eyes. Perhaps it was because of the backdrop of the demonic horde’s chaos, but Xie Huai’s existence was even harder to move one’s gaze away from…… He let out a light cough and recovered from his daze. Revealing a drunk, infatuated appearance, he pulled Xie Huai to sit beside him.

The man’s cold, clear aura permeated the air, driving away the greasy, rotten atmosphere, penetrating and cleansing his heart. Fang Li’s mood improved a bit; he still preferred Xie Huai’s smell.

Following Fang Li’s movements, the clamor in the hall resumed, and the crowd moved away their gazes one by one. No matter how beautiful, he belonged to His Excellency, and looking for a second too long could result in your eyes getting scooped out.

Fang Li shifted slightly to sit closer to Xie Huai. He was very pleased with the effect of Xie Huai’s stage entrance.

Du Meng would definitely have noticed Xie Huai.

It just so happened that Fang Li had no intention of exchanging pleasantries with that crowd of demons. In order to display his special treatment toward Xie Huai, he simply approached him even more wantonly, his sleeve draping over Xie Huai’s lap as he wound over and lightly pinched Xie Huai’s chin. He fixed his gaze on Xie Huai’s suddenly cold and sharp gaze, lifting the corners of his mouth and laughing fearlessly as he said, “What kind of expression is that? You’ve been here this long and you still don’t know how to serve someone. You’ve truly been spoiled with favor.”

Xie Huai lowered his eyes to look at the man in front of him. Fang Li was leaning over to approach him, putting him just slightly below Xie Huai in height, and the expression in his eyes as he looked up carried an affectionate smile. Truly an impressive talent for acting.

But Xie Huai’s mood right now was just like this person’s fingertips, a freezing cold that seeped into the heart.

So this was your true purpose.

Your goal was never to humiliate the righteous sects, but to use this phony affection to make everyone believe that you favored me, to make me the bait to lure your prey into a trap. And if I haven’t guessed incorrectly, it’s Du Meng who is your true goal.

It was well known that Du Meng had always eyed the position of demon lord covetously. If he knew that you had this kind of weakness, he definitely wouldn’t let it go.

But I was never your weakness.

The love and affection had always been acted out for others to see.

Only the value of being used was real.

Xie Huai had always wanted to understand this person’s true motives…… Now he finally knew, but there wasn’t the least bit of surprise or anything else. He only felt…… So it was no more than this, after all.

From the start, he shouldn’t have had any unrealistic thoughts about a devil.

Yet he’d almost been led astray by a pretense……

Xie Huai lowered his eyes, concealing his ice-cold expression. He allowed Fang Li to approach until he had almost completely sunk into Xie Huai, as if Xie Huai could simply reach out his hand and pen this person into his lap, but it was a pity……

In the end, he had to kill him.

Fang Li wasn’t the least bit surprised by Xie Huai’s indifference. As the lofty pride of the heavens, being treated so profanely in public like this, what difference was it from all the other demonic cultivators and their playthings below? This was a disgrace of heaven-defying proportions! It was already beyond restrained of him to maintain this level of calm instead of getting angered to the point of directly stabbing Fang Li through with his sword.

But he wasn’t too concerned about angering Xie Huai. For Xie Huai to loathe him a little could only be advantageous and not detrimental to the plot.

And today, he was nothing but a muddle-headed ruler who’d lost his head to lust.

The horde of demons below each had hearts full of conjecture. It was rumored that these days, His Excellency doted solely on Yuyi-jun, favoring him night after night…… They didn’t believe it before, but after seeing it with their own eyes today, they realized it was true. Sure enough, His Excellency treated Yuyi-jun unlike the rest……

And among the crowd, only Du Meng looked directly up at the raised dais, his gaze unwavering, reckless and flamboyant.

The man robed in white had a stature that was straight as a pine tree, his appearance elegant and handsome, his expression indifferent, like an unprofanable deity or an ancient glacier. He truly lived up to his name, but…… Du Meng’s eyes shifted to the person sitting beside Xie Huai.

The pale, wan man in the black brocade gown had had a bit of wine, and his pale lips were currently tinted with a faint, enticing luster. A hint of pink permeated his fair, translucent skin, and he slouched indolently against the white-robed man. His sickly pair of eyes weren’t dead and lifeless as in the past but languid and willful. Flashes of clear light reflected against his brows and eyes, and a faintly discernible leisurely affection gentled the previous sharpness of his face. Unexpectedly, it had an unusual appeal, just like—a corpse flower blooming atop a decaying carcass.

To think that previously, he’d never discovered that this person could be this enticing.

In that moment, he couldn’t tell which was more beautiful between the two.

Du Meng stroked the cup in his hands. The fragrance of wine seeped out from the cup, yet this priceless wine wasn’t even as intoxicating as the person on the dais.

At that time, Yan Sui had only just begun to show his face, a nobody from who knows where who had dared to challenge him to battle. Du Meng had hid his cards up his sleeve and had planned to kill this arrogant fellow, but he hadn’t imagined that he’d be defeated by Yan Sui in one strike. This person clearly looked like he already had one foot in the grave, like a ghost who’d crawled out from the underworld, yet he possessed some indiscernible skill. Was it his own strength…… or did he have some other tricks?

Unfortunately, Yan Sui rarely personally acted, and his methods were mysterious. Even until now, Du Meng hadn’t seen through them.

But the day that he did was the day that Yan Sui would die. He would kill this kid who didn’t understand his place in the world, crush his bones and scatter his ashes and make him understand the consequences of arrogance…… That had been Du Meng’s plan before.

But today he suddenly thought, killing him straight away was a bit of a pity……

If he were to watch him kneel before him and plead for mercy, to submit beneath him, or to sweetly sob and cry, wouldn’t that be more interesting?

The look in Du Meng’s eyes grew deeper and deeper, and his throat rolled. As soon as this thought appeared, it spread madly and uncontrollably like crawling vines.

Fang Li seemed to feel the other’s gaze. He lowered his eyes and glanced downwards, meeting Du Meng’s eyes. He only saw that the other party was still and unmoving, his expression like a wild beast that was about to pounce and devour its prey, carrying a ferocity that wanted to plunder everything, making one tremble with fear.

This was falling for Xie Huai? Demonic cultivators were really something, were they all like this when they liked someone? No wonder none of them met a good end.

Seeing that his goal had already been accomplished, Fang Li didn’t have any intention of wasting more time here. He lifted his head lazily from Xie Huai’s side as if he’d finally recalled something and gave Du Meng a slight smile. “Right, this lord prepared a gift for the Right Adjutant.”

As he spoke, a demonic servant walked in with his head lowered, carrying a square box and presenting it before Du Meng.

Du Meng concealed the desire in his eyes and reached out his hand to open the box. After just one glance, his face changed drastically, and he suddenly raised his eyes to look at Fang Li.

The corner of Fang Li’s lips hooked upwards, and he gave an indolent laugh. “This lord’s gift—does the Right Adjutant like it?”

………………………………………

The Author Has Something to Say:

Xie Huai: As I thought, he doesn’t love me, he’s only using me. deserted.jpg

Fang Li: Was the fact that I don’t love you not expressed clearly enough?

Xie Huai: …… (I’m angry but I won’t say it.)

Note: “Experiencing labor with the muscles and bones, experiencing hunger with the body and flesh, experiencing poverty on one’s person, and experiencing failure in all one does, thereby stirring the heart, toughening one’s nature, and improving what one lacks” —Mencius

………………………………………

1 See author’s note above. Specifically, this is from Mencius‘ book Gaozi

2 Du Meng and Wu Yimei have the exact same title, 右使. For some reason when I first read it I kept thinking that one of them was “left” even though they both say “right” so I differentiated their titles, and now I’m too lazy to stop. But, just know they’re the same.

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