In Public

Under the hazy, translucent moonlight, Bai Yujing rested his chin comfortably on Xuan Lie’s shoulder. He was the very picture of someone pushing his luck, appearing utterly unconcerned that the man might strike him dead for poking at his sore spots.

It might actually be better if he did strike, Bai Yujing thought nonchalantly. The goal was to provoke a loss of composure. Once he escaped through a faked death, no one in the world would ever know about his recent humiliations.

Thus, his priorities had shifted from one task to two: first, uncover the anomaly within Shen Fenglin; second, enrage Xuan Lie until he lashed out, providing the perfect window for a “death” and an escape.

Perfect.

While Bai Yujing was busy envisioning his beautiful, free future, Xuan Lie didn’t get angry. Instead, he explained with total composure: “Only those who have cultivated a Spirit Heart suffer from inner demons.”

…He’s actually explaining it to me? Did the sun rise in the west?

Bai Yujing was baffled, but he continued to fan the flames. “With your strength, Immortal Venerable, I’m sure you cultivated a Spirit Heart long ago.”

—As if.

Bai Yujing had once used the excuse of a provocation to sneak his tail into Xuan Lie’s “Heaven and Earth Domain” to search for it. He’d been pinned to the ground by his throat for his troubles, nearly losing the fight. But despite the effort, he hadn’t found even the shadow of a Spirit Heart.

That meant… the man simply didn’t have one back then.

That day, Bai Yujing had laughed wildly while pinned under Xuan Lie, flicking his empty snake tail playfully. “My dear Immortal, ten thousand years of cultivation and not even a sprout of a Spirit Heart? What kind of immortality are you practicing?”

“What, does the Great Immortal Venerable intend to follow in the footsteps of the First Spirit Lord?” Under the crushing pressure of the man’s furious aura, Bai Yujing had hooked his tail-tip around the man’s neck and whispered into his ear, “Then I suppose this Seat could be persuaded… to perform a Shamanic Dance for you?”

Legend said the First Spirit Lord died at the hands of his wife; after the dance of sacrifice concluded, he was hollowed out by the Great Shaman to appease the heavens—a truly gruesome end.

Bai Yujing’s words were no different from cursing Xuan Lie to a violent death. Consequently, he had been grabbed by the tail and hung upside down in the sleeping hall by the cold, enraged man. That was the first time he’d seen Xuan Lie truly lose his temper, and he still chuckled at the memory.

Logically, the topic of the Spirit Heart should have been a guaranteed trigger. Yet, Xuan Lie merely shook his head. “My Spirit Heart is incomplete; therefore, I have no inner demons for the time being.”

Incomplete, rather than unformed. For the time being, rather than never.

Bai Yujing froze. His first reaction wasn’t to ask why it was incomplete, but: We’ve only been apart for ten years—when the hell did this Stone grow a Spirit Heart, and why didn’t I know?

Xuan Lie turned his head through the mist. Seeing Bai Yujing stunned, he studied him for a long moment before speaking with an unreadable tone: “If the Inner Demon Tribulation truly descends one day, would you be willing to lend me your demon core?”

The question was bizarre. A Tribulation-stage Spirit cultivator would never have a use for the core of a Golden Core snake. Bai Yujing was ready to snap back, but looking at the face so close to his—partially obscured by the mist—he felt a familiar, dizzying sense of trance.

Benefactor…

He stared up blankly. In that split second, he felt he would give up not just his core, but his very self.

…No!

Bai Yujing snapped back. His benefactor was long dead, and the Spirit Race has no afterlife. Even if there was a reincarnation, that man could never be Xuan Lie. Moreover, Shen Fenglin’s betrayal was fresh in his mind; no matter how deep the feelings were in a past life, once reincarnated, they were no longer the same person.

He squeezed his eyes shut. When he opened them, the mist had cleared, revealing Xuan Lie’s handsome, yet utterly annoying face.

You bastard, wanting this Seat’s core… Heh, just you wait.

“Of course I’m willing,” Bai Yujing smiled, leaning his body down and coiling around Xuan Lie’s arm like he had no bones. He whispered softly: “But—the Immortal Venerable has to trade the remaining half of his Spirit Heart for it. How about that?”

As he spoke, he suggestively traced his finger around the scar on Xuan Lie’s chest that would never heal. “I only want half a heart. Isn’t that a bargain?”

For a Golden Core snake to demand the heart of a Tribulation-stage Immortal was the height of insolence. Yet, Xuan Lie didn’t get angry. He simply closed his eyes and said no more.

You hollow-hearted Stone, Bai Yujing gnashed his teeth internally while clinging to his arm. I’ll see how long you can keep this up.

The Next Day: The Main Hall of the Linglong Palace, Su Family.

Su Qiantang, the head of the Su family, stood trembling below the dais. To his side sat Jinyu, the Sect Leader of Changming; directly in front of him sat the Great Deity whose name could not be spoken. Behind him stood a pale Su Jiu-shao, followed by a crowd of Su disciples who were outwardly nervous but secretly waiting to see Su Jiu-shao fall from grace.

“Reporting to Sect Leader Jinyu,” Su Qiantang bowed so low he nearly touched the floor. “According to your orders, I have brought the unworthy descendant of the Su family, Su Jiu-shao.” He stepped aside, shooting her a vicious glare.

Su Jiu-shao had prepared herself, but standing there, the overwhelming pressure of a Tribulation cultivator made Jinyu’s presence seem like a mere firefly. She felt like kneeling just to end it all and escape the mocking stares of her kin.

However, as she glanced at the dais and saw only Jinyu and Xuan Lie, she froze. Her fear faded slightly. Where is Bai Yujing? Has the Immortal already executed him? A wave of sorrow washed over her, and her legs suddenly felt steadier.

Xuan Lie got straight to the point. “What exactly did Shen Fenglin tell you?”

Mocking whispers and sneers from the other disciples immediately focused on Su Jiu-shao. She took a deep breath and braved it: “In response to the Immortal… he first gave me the scales of his Master—that young Sky-Reaching serpent. Then he ordered me to tell Sect Leader Jinyu that he wished to trade the core and scales for a position as an inner disciple of Changming. There was nothing else.”

Seeing that Su Jiu-shao had purposefully omitted the Su family’s involvement to take all the blame herself, Su Qiantang paused.

Xuan Lie, who knew the whole truth, didn’t press her on the family’s role. “How many artifacts did Shen Fenglin possess? How many arrays? Detail everything you saw.”

…Shen Fenglin is dead. Why is the Immortal asking this? The question echoed in everyone’s mind. Su Jiu-shao shared the confusion but simply listed every artifact and array she’d seen him use like she was reading off a menu.

Xuan Lie listened, tapping his finger on the table. But everything Su Jiu-shao listed were Bai Yujing’s old treasures. There were no anomalies.

This stupid snake really went to great lengths to raise that disciple.

Under the confused and terrified gazes of the crowd, Xuan Lie’s expression cooled. He asked a few more strange questions, and Su Jiu-shao answered them all. When he found nothing bizarre, he pondered for a moment before saying: “You may all leave.”

The Su family breathed a collective sigh of relief. Everyone except Su Jiu-shao. Xuan Lie hadn’t specified her punishment, which meant her fate was sealed—the Su family would never keep someone who was a potential liability.

Sensing her end, Su Jiu-shao closed her eyes. As the family head bowed to lead them away, she opened them and blurted out: “Dare I ask the Immortal… about that snake demon…”

The hall went into an uproar. No one expected her to bring up the very source of the trouble. Su Qiantang’s face twisted in rage: “Jiu-shao!”

She bit her lip but stood her ground. Xuan Lie’s eyes shifted; he wasn’t annoyed. “Why do you ask for him?”

“That snake demon is not…” Under the burning gaze of her patriarch, she changed her phrasing. “That demon was kind to me. I only wish to know if he is unharmed.”

“…”

Su Qiantang felt the world go dark. He nearly fainted. The other disciples glared at her, terrified she’d bring the Immortal’s wrath down on all of them.

However, in that eerie silence, the clear clinking of jewels echoed from outside the hall.

Su Jiu-shao turned. A beauty draped in magnificent robes and surrounded by jewels strolled into the hall as if he owned the place. Under her stunned gaze, he smiled and waved. “Are you looking for me, Miss Jiu-shao?”

“Sen—” Su Jiu-shao started to say “Senior,” but stopped herself, unsure what to call him.

Bai Yujing scanned the room. Seeing Jinyu looking like a wooden statue, he smiled at Su Qiantang. “I have heard much of the Great Patriarch’s name. Meeting you today is truly… an experience.”

Su Qiantang froze. He was the one who had actually sent the scales out. Seeing the snake demon alive and well was a shock to his system.

Xuan Lie suddenly spoke: “Qingqing.“

Before the crowd could process who he was talking to, Bai Yujing turned his head like someone had stepped on his tail. Su Jiu-shao realized who Xuan Lie was addressing, and her expression became incredibly complicated.

Xuan Lie said flatly: “Come here.”

The others finally snapped out of it, looking at the two in shock.

Bai Yujing: “…”

His face felt like it was on fire under the weight of their gazes. What the hell is this bastard shouting in front of outsiders?!

He didn’t want to move a muscle. But then, a flash of inspiration hit him. Only Su Jiu-shao knew his real identity, but he wasn’t in his true form. She couldn’t possibly link him to the Demon Emperor of old.

In other words, no one here knew who he really was, but everyone knew the Xuantian Immortal Venerable… This was a golden opportunity.

In an instant, his humiliation vanished, replaced by a wicked delight. He walked over, sat down next to Xuan Lie, and naturally hooked his arm around the man’s, leaning into him.

Jinyu, who had been trying to blend into the scenery, stared in disbelief.

Bai Yujing was a snake, after all; he made himself as soft as possible, coiling around Xuan Lie as if he were boneless. Under the dumbfounded stares of the entire hall, he spoke in a voice so sweet it made even him feel sick:

“Master, why did you call for me?“