A Harem Struggle and a Sudden Confession

Surprisingly, despite the awkwardness of their previous encounter, Guangyu Immortal Monarch returned to He Suosi’s residence the very next day.

Upon his arrival, He Suosi was still deeply troubled by something he had learned that morning.

Lan Jun had revealed that none of the female cultivators who had entered the inner residence had ever left the estate. This complete deprivation of freedom and blatant disregard for their autonomy profoundly shocked He Suosi.

“What kind of joke is this? We’re all cultivators!”

After his outburst, Lan Jun gravely stated, “Once sent to the inner residence, unless one’s cultivation truly surpasses that of the Immortal Monarch, they are first and foremost the Immortal Monarch’s concubines.”

This truly aligned with the cultivation world’s ‘might makes right’ philosophy. After careful consideration, He Suosi realized that if one were confined to the inner residence, surpassing Guangyu Immortal Monarch’s cultivation would be an impossible feat. Still unwilling to give up, he asked, “So, they truly cannot leave the estate?”

“Unless the Immortal Monarch permits it, perhaps.”

Upon receiving this answer, He Suosi fell into deep thought. While he was pondering, Lan Jun informed him that Guangyu Immortal Monarch had returned.

This time, the Immortal Monarch had changed into a more comfortable and convenient wide-sleeved robe, his long hair loosely tied back. He appeared even more transcendent and graceful. Yet, after he sat down, He Suosi still detected an underlying tension in him.

The two gazed at each other for a long moment before Guangyu Immortal Monarch finally spoke. “You were injured yesterday. Are you feeling better today?”

To a cultivator, that degree of injury was hardly significant. However, He Suosi quickly assessed the situation, realizing this was an opportune moment to feign fragility. He furrowed his brows and forced a faint, weary smile. “I’m feeling much better already.”

Guangyu Immortal Monarch merely uttered an “Oh” and made no further moves.

He Suosi: ‘…Is this guy even a man? Why isn’t he following the script? Forget asking about my well-being with concern, does he not even have a special healing ointment to offer?’ He Suosi spent a long time mentally preparing himself, finally swallowing the sarcastic remark that had nearly escaped his lips.

‘Forget it, I won’t bother with a virgin.’

While grumbling inwardly, he displayed a gentle smile, as warm as a spring breeze. “Has the Immortal Monarch been within the estate these past few days?”

Guangyu Immortal Monarch twirled a small wine cup in his hand, his gaze fixed upon it. He hummed in affirmation.

‘This won’t do,’ He Suosi thought.

The other party seemed to be an overly reserved and introverted individual. A conversation devoid of topics would likely only lead to retreat and annoyance. Moreover, He Suosi had no desire to expend so much effort in a heart-to-heart with a man. Yet, if he were to act completely uninhibited, he would likely be exposed as an imposter, leading to even more “exciting” complications.

He Suosi gazed at the other’s exquisite profile, then shifted his attention to the wine cup constantly being toyed with by those slender fingers. Finally, summoning his courage, he leaned forward and grasped the other’s wrist.

Visibly, Guangyu Immortal Monarch’s fingers trembled abruptly. His eyelashes fluttered, and his dark pupils finally emerged from beneath those long lashes. As their eyes met, He Suosi exerted all his effort to display his most benevolent and sincere smile.

“Since you are free, let us share some wine,” He Suosi said, using his other hand to take the small wine cup. Then, he released the Immortal Monarch’s hand, returned to his seat, and poured wine until the cup was full.

“Although it is thanks to the Immortal Monarch that I can enjoy such fine wine, please allow this concubine to repay your kindness with a small gesture.” Holding the wine cup with one hand, He Suosi placed it back into the Immortal Monarch’s hand.

As their fingers touched, He Suosi noticed that the other’s fingers were icy cold.

‘…Are you serious? My acting is at its peak, and you’re even more nervous than I am! Is Yu Anlin truly your goddess?’ He Suosi suppressed the urge to roll his eyes, instead gazing at the equally watchful Guangyu Immortal Monarch with eyes full of affectionate tenderness.

The other finally spoke.

“You don’t have to be like this.”

Although his lips seemed to move, his expression remained largely unchanged, and his words were so nonsensical that He Suosi wondered if he had imagined it.

Guangyu Immortal Monarch reiterated, “You don’t have to be like this—perhaps I don’t have to be like this either.”

He Suosi blinked. He roughly guessed what the other was trying to say, yet he was also somewhat bewildered as to how he should respond in such a situation.

So he said, “Immortal… Immortal Monarch, what are you saying?”

He truly hoped the other would get to the point, but it was clear that Guangyu Immortal Monarch was not one for conventional pleasantries.

“I heard,” he said, “that the person you love is He Suosi.”

“…!” He Suosi slammed his hand on the table and rose. “Absolutely not!”

As a man himself, He Suosi understood that when confronted with such a question, the answer must be immediate, firm, and resolute. He felt his expression was quite satisfactory. When he glanced at the Monarch from the corner of his eye, he saw the other actually sporting a natural smile.

It was a faint smile, like ripples stirred by a gentle breeze across a calm lake, gracing that ethereal face and making it even more dazzlingly beautiful. While astonished that the other was not, in fact, expressionless, He Suosi instinctively felt that this smile was not born of satisfaction with his answer.

Indeed, Guangyu Immortal Monarch then said, “You’re lying.”

His heart finally began to pound uncontrollably. After all, this wasn’t his own body. Even if he wished for this currently tumultuous heart to calm down, it seemed an impossible task. If it continued to beat so rapidly, his face would surely flush, revealing his guilty conscience for all to see.

He Suosi struggled to keep his gaze steady. He looked directly at this seemingly formidable boss, furrowing his brows and displaying a troubled expression. “Who, exactly, told the Immortal Monarch such a thing? Even if there was some affection once, that was all in the past.”

Guangyu Immortal Monarch appeared nonchalant. “But Wang Jiaren told me you still keep a token of your affection.”

“…”

‘This… is… what… they… call… a… harem… struggle?!’

Unconsciously, sweat beaded on He Suosi’s back. To conceal the physiological changes in his expression and complexion that he could no longer control, He Suosi lowered his head.

So, Guangyu Immortal Monarch wasn’t acting unpredictably at all, but rather because he had already been poisoned by Wang Zhongge’s words! Although he himself wasn’t interested, as a man, he certainly couldn’t tolerate being cuckolded!

In this critical moment, countless plans flashed through He Suosi’s mind, only to be rejected one by one. Finally, with lightning speed, he suddenly lunged forward, collapsing before Guangyu Immortal Monarch, and then—

He burst into tears.

“You, you, you…” Guangyu Immortal Monarch, who was inexplicably innocent, indeed showed a flustered expression. He seemed to want to wipe He Suosi’s tears with his sleeve, but his hand stopped midway and recoiled, looking utterly conflicted.

However, He Suosi didn’t care whether the other was willing to wipe his tears. His eyes welled up, presenting a pitiful and miserable sight.

“Immortal Monarch, do you not believe me?” He gazed at the Monarch, tears like morning dew clinging to his long eyelashes, making his eyes appear even more captivating, like crystals. His flushed face at this moment was certainly not a sign of nervousness; it was perfectly normal for a beauty’s face to redden when crying.

‘This time, it must work. If this still doesn’t, then this guy definitely isn’t a man,’ He Suosi thought. He watched as the Monarch’s face shifted from initial panic to later bewilderment, then settled into—

Fear?

Though hard to believe, He Suosi somehow felt that the Guangyu Immortal Monarch before him, whose face had gone blank again and whose eyes were dull, truly wore an expression of having ‘seen a ghost’.

For a moment, He Suosi, who was striving to look delicate and frail, felt a pang of awkwardness. But when Guangyu Immortal Monarch suddenly reached out, wiped away his forced tears with a finger, and then pressed his palm against his face, that awkwardness vanished, replaced by tension.

‘Al-although I thought he was impotent yesterday, such things are hard to be certain of. What if he becomes ravenous today?’ Thinking this, He Suosi swallowed hard and forced another sincere smile.

Guangyu Immortal Monarch abruptly withdrew his hand. He looked at He Suosi, then at his own hand. After a good while, he seemed to finally make a decision, reaching out to pull He Suosi up.

Once He Suosi was successfully standing, he let out a sigh of relief.

“It’s actually true…” the Monarch murmured to himself. He Suosi looked at him quizzically, and he then said, “I’ll come to see you again tomorrow.”

“…Eh?” He Suosi momentarily lost control of his expression, revealing a look of astonishment, which he quickly adjusted into one of pleasant surprise.

Guangyu Immortal Monarch smiled.

“May I call you Anlin from now on? You can also call me by my name—my name is Yuan Zhigong.”

“…Alright.” Although He Suosi didn’t know what had just transpired, exchanging names should symbolize a step forward in their relationship.

Only after watching Yuan Zhigong leave his room did He Suosi suddenly realize, ‘What the hell use is a deeper relationship to me?!’

Guangyu Immortal Monarch certainly kept his word. The following evening, he appeared punctually in He Suosi’s courtyard.

This time, he brought some gifts.

“Do you like elixirs? I’ve brought a variety of them.”

He Suosi: ‘…’

‘This guy, without a doubt, must be utterly dark if you cut him open.’

He Suosi felt the immense power emanating from this Immortal Realm sovereign. He lowered his gaze submissively. “Thank you, Immortal Monarch.”

Yuan Zhigong seemed to want to reach out and touch He Suosi’s face. His hand lingered in mid-air for a long moment before retracting. He merely cast a smiling glance at He Suosi with his eyes, then entered the room.

The room was filled with incense specially prepared by Lan Jun. He Suosi disliked this incense because, with a rough sniff, he knew it had some aphrodisiac effects. However, Lan Jun was surprisingly resolute on this matter, practically impervious to persuasion. If He Suosi tried to gently implore her, she would only give him an even more respectful and timid look, gazing at him with her heterochromatic eyes until He Suosi gave up.

In truth, this incense was entirely useless. How could a cultivator like Guangyu Immortal Monarch be disturbed by it? Indeed, that evening, the Monarch calmly sat in He Suosi’s room, drinking tea and reading a book, without even glancing at the bed. It was He Suosi who felt parched, drinking several pots of cooling tea and visiting the lavatory multiple times. More alarmingly, he found Yuan Zhigong growing more beautiful with every look.

While the other was indeed a beauty, he was also a man! This was undoubtedly an illusion caused by the aphrodisiac incense!

That day, Yuan Zhigong still did not stay the night, departing when the moon was at its zenith.

By daytime, He Suosi, who had not yet recovered from the shadow of Yuan Zhigong, was greeted by a throng of vibrant, chattering women.