Hunger

The moment the words left his mouth, a deathly silence fell over the Xiaoyao Pool.

The Xuantian Immortal Venerable stood there, motionless and silent. It seemed that after being assaulted by that gaudy, flirtatious face, he was now thoroughly revolted by the sickeningly sweet name.

Bai Yujing lowered his head, feigning submissiveness, but in reality, he was using every ounce of strength to suppress the laughter bubbling in his gut. He wanted nothing more than to roll around in the water with joy.

—That’s what you get for yanking someone’s tail so recklessly. Let’s see if I can’t disgust you to death today, you dog.

He was reveling in his internal triumph when the silent man in front of him suddenly raised a hand.

“…?”

Bai Yujing froze. He understood immediately—this man, as always, couldn’t tolerate such things. When he loses control and strikes me down, I’ll fake my death, and this whole affair will vanish like smoke in the wind. No one will ever be able to mock me for this again…

“…!”

Under the moonlight, Xuan Lie pinched Bai Yujing’s chin and gently tilted his face upward. The shock in the snake’s eyes hadn’t had time to fade, and it was captured entirely by the man’s gaze.

The thinly-clad beauty froze, unable to move a muscle. It was easy to imagine his blank, wide-eyed expression as a snake when he was caught off guard. A nearly imperceptible flash of amusement flickered in Xuan Lie’s eyes, but he quickly regained his composure and whispered:

“Qingqing.“

“…”

Amidst the swirling mist, the beauty’s eyes widened, and his face instantly flushed crimson. No… has this Stone’s ‘Spirit Heart’ been polluted?! Who dared offend the Xuantian Immortal Venerable? Do they have a death wish—

At that moment, a cold light flashed before Bai Yujing’s eyes. His eyelashes fluttered, and he nearly failed to suppress his demonic aura. However, the cold blade didn’t touch a single strand of his hair; instead, it opened a small slit on the man’s own wrist.

Most Spirit Race beings are born from inanimate objects like jade, artifacts, wind, or thunder. Once they gain sapience and transform, they do not possess normal blood—which was why there was no blood at the scar on Xuan Lie’s chest.

But now, a trickle of fresh blood flowed from the wound on his wrist, gathering in his palm into a concentrated, vibrant bead of life-essence.

Bai Yujing stared fixedly at that orb of blood. His Adam’s apple bobbed uncontrollably as his nature as a snake demon immediately identified the scent.

—It was Xuan Lie’s Heart’s Blood.

In a daze, Bai Yujing felt the urge to lick it. Just as the tip of his tongue peeked out, he snapped back to his senses. Wait… “The weasel greets the chicken with bad intentions.” This dog is trying to force me into a Spirit Pet contract!

The momentary fluttering in his heart vanished. Bai Yujing looked at the blood with a mixture of shock and fury. Xuan Lie met his eyes—bright with rage—and deliberately misinterpreted the look:

“Don’t be impatient.”

…Who’s impatient?!

Just as Bai Yujing felt thoroughly humiliated and wanted to sink his fangs into the man, the previously silent golden light in his belly suddenly became restless.

“—!”

Bai Yujing’s breath hitched. His pupils constricted as a familiar, hazy sense of enchantment enveloped him.

[Want… want to eat…]

It was the voice of the child that had vanished into the wine. Listening closely, it seemed a bit louder than before. He could finally discern a gender; it was the milky, tender voice of a little girl.

[Hungry… so hungry…]

“…”

Xuan Lie, who had been standing there with easy composure, suddenly stiffened. The “beauty” before him had bowed his head, cupping the man’s wrist and extending the tip of his tongue to lick the blood with a terrifyingly “obedient” grace.

The Spirit Race has no physical heart, so Heart’s Blood is exceedingly rare; even at the Tribulation Transcendence stage, it takes a thousand years to produce a single drop. However, compared to other races, their essence is far more concentrated. For the “Three Paths of Destruction”—Demons, Ghosts, and Asuras—it is the ultimate tonic.

After swallowing the orb of blood from the palm, Bai Yujing impatiently licked his way to the source, biting down on the wrist and sucking greedily.

The Heart’s Blood accumulated over ten thousand years was drained in less than three breaths. Feeling a suffocating chill spread from his chest, Xuan Lie remained unmoved. He only watched the person before him with darkening eyes.

The obedience Bai Yujing had been faking was quickly replaced by instinct. His fangs tore at the wound as he consumed the blood with pure greed. Because he was eating so fast, droplets of blood splashed onto his cheek and hung from his eyelashes, eventually trailing down his snowy-white neck.

That vivid, lush face was now stained with a disorienting ferocity. Like a splash of crimson ink on a white canvas, he radiated an indescribable, eerie allure.

At that moment, Xuan Lie changed the decision he had made before descending to this realm. He raised a hand and brushed a stray lock of hair behind Bai Yujing’s ear.

Bai Yujing paused, the movement seemingly restoring a sliver of his clarity. Without changing his expression, Xuan Lie used his spiritual energy to force out another surge of Heart’s Blood, enticing the snake demon’s pupils to dilate and his head to drop once more.

Xuan Lie watched him unblinkingly, then pressed his hand against the back of the other’s head:

“Keep eating.”

The beauty, with his disheveled robes, submissively lowered his head and took that searing heat into his mouth. In the silent night, the only sound was the wet rhythm of swallowing.

After an unknown amount of time, the snake’s tongue licked away the final trace of blood. The droplets—a hundred times hotter than a mortal’s lifeblood—burned a path down his throat into his abdomen. The golden light, which had been starving for so long it refused to harm the “mother body,” finally consumed the vast spiritual power. Like a seedling receiving rain after a long drought, it danced joyfully in his belly for a moment before falling back into a deep slumber.

Only after the last drop was gone and the “donor” was drained dry did Bai Yujing lick the parched, white wound with a hint of regret, finally regaining his senses.

…Wait, no!

Bai Yujing snapped out of it. He released his teeth and scrambled backward, his eyes wide and fierce with suspicion. His speed in turning hostile was staggering; it looked as if he was the one who had just been drained dry, not Xuan Lie.

However, after a moment, the master-servant contract Bai Yujing expected did not appear in his dantian. Although he wasn’t actually a Golden Core demon and was strong enough to rival Xuan Lie, this ancient contract—crafted by the Witch Ancestor and triggered by Heart’s Blood—was nothing to scoff at. Theoretically, if someone knows a demon’s name and gets them to drink their Heart’s Blood, there is a chance of forced soul-binding even if they are a full realm apart.

Strictly speaking, given how greedily Bai Yujing had sucked Xuan Lie dry, if his luck had been any worse, he might currently be kneeling in the pool wagging his snake tail and calling the man “Master.”

The thought sent a shiver of disgust through him. He wanted to slap his past self for being so easily entranced. Thank goodness my luck held out, or else…

Before he could finish the thought, he paused. The demonic energy in his body was overflowing to an unprecedented degree. Minor realms were generally spiritually impoverished; in the ten years since he had found Shen Fenglin, Bai Yujing had never felt power this immense.

The Heart’s Blood used for a forced contract would never have this kind of nourishing effect on the meridians. This meant that the blood Xuan Lie had fed him was “pure”—untouched by any spells or curses.

“…”

Bai Yujing blinked in a daze. Because he had eaten so fast, blood droplets still clung to his eyelashes. He raised a hand to rub his eyes. Under the moonlight, the “beauty” looked a bit lost, a far cry from the predator who had nearly bitten Xuan Lie’s arm off moments ago.

The wound on Xuan Lie’s wrist was jagged and bloodless, looking particularly hideous. But the Xuantian Immortal Venerable lived up to his name; facing such a scene, he simply withdrew his hand as if offering up his life-essence just to satisfy a snake’s hunger was the most natural thing in the world.

Before Bai Yujing could lose himself in this rare act of kindness or wonder if the man’s Spirit Heart had been replaced, Xuan Lie spoke flatly:

“Are you Shen Fenglin’s spirit pet?”

“…”

Ten years apart, and this man still knows exactly how to talk.

Bai Yujing was so incensed he nearly bared his fangs. But before a string of curses could fly out, he remembered the “image” he was currently projecting. …No. If I reveal myself now, this Stone will have even more things to mock me for.

Bai Yujing took a deep breath, swallowed his insults, and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. He transformed instantly into a piteous, fragile snake demon. “…The Immortal Venerable mocks me.”

He lowered his gaze with a look of desolation. “I am not his pet. I am his Master.”

To annoy Xuan Lie earlier, Bai Yujing had made sure his clothes were disheveled. Now, the light pink robes were stained a vivid crimson by the spiritual blood, and the cold night mist had dampened his hair, making him look exceptionally bedraggled. A “poor little snake demon” who hadn’t even finished shedding his scales yet was already playing the role of a master, only to be used as a bargaining chip by an ungrateful wolf.

If anyone else had seen his earlier ferocity, they wouldn’t be fooled. But now, anyone would surely feel a pang of pity.

Xuan Lie, however, having witnessed the entire “face-changing” performance, felt a different, more subtle emotion. He looked down at the top of the other’s head. “Since you were his Master, why aren’t you angry that I killed him?”

Master your head, you pretentious, stinking Stone.

Bai Yujing gnashed his teeth internally. He was trapped by his own lies; one lie required ten more to cover it. “The Immortal Venerable jokes. This little snake is more than grateful; how could I be angry?”

“That traitorous disciple offered his master for glory—it was a failure of my own teaching. It was only by your grace that I escaped being gutted for my core. As for his life… that was his retribution.”

The “pitiful beauty” looked up timidly. “Our fate as master and disciple is severed. How could I dare resent the Immortal Venerable?”

The steam from the spring soaked through his gauzy robes, causing the fabric to cling stickily to his skin. It was a rare, erotic sight. Xuan Lie waited a long beat before speaking again.

“Do you truly believe Shen Fenglin is dead?”

“With your strength, once you acted, he naturally had no chance of survival,” Bai Yujing said quickly. “I have no desire to save him; please, believe me.”

Xuan Lie replied, “I am not testing your loyalty.”

…You shameless thing, what loyalty would I have for you?! If you aren’t testing me, then what do you mean? Would it kill you to use more than ten words?

Bai Yujing cursed Xuan Lie for being as cryptic as he was ten years ago. But the man’s next sentence made him shut his mouth instantly.

“Have you heard of the Human Emperor, Song Qingyu?”

—Qingyu!

Bai Yujing’s pupils shrank. He immediately shifted his tone, speaking softly: “I have long heard of the Empress’s name. While I was in the cage, I heard she had ascended…”

Worry, blame, and anxiety flooded his heart, but he feared saying too much. Eventually, he settled on one question: “Why does the Immortal Venerable mention her?”

At the mention of the “cage,” Xuan Lie’s breath hitched. A dark, shadowy look flashed through his eyes—so fast Bai Yujing thought he had imagined it. But soon, the man turned and walked deeper into the pool. “I have a history with her. After her ascension, she sent down a ‘Secret Word.'”

—A history?! You beat her until she was crawling on the ground when she practiced swordplay as a child, and you mocked her for being as stupid and stubborn as her ‘Little Dad’ when she took the throne. What ‘history’ could you possibly have?

Bai Yujing was stunned by Xuan Lie’s audacity. But for the sake of his “daughter’s” safety, he forgot his current act. Without even changing his clothes, he followed Xuan Lie into the spring and sat close to him.

“Dare I ask, what did the Human Emperor say?”

Xuan Lie looked at his water-soaked robes for a moment before turning away. “She said only three words.”

Bai Yujing was so anxious he wanted to punch him. “Which three?”

Xuan Lie said: “Shen Fenglin.“

Why mention him again? …Wait.

Bai Yujing froze. The realization hit him, and his face paled. Qingyu wasn’t talking about anything else; she was warning about the man himself.

His fingers unconsciously gripped the hem of Xuan Lie’s robe. Bai Yujing looked down at the reflection of the silver galaxy in the water. —What did you see after you ascended, Qingyu? If you were in trouble, why didn’t you come to me?

Thinking of this, he felt a spark of resentment toward the man next to him. If this bastard knew Shen Fenglin was a problem and wouldn’t die easily, why did he strike so directly? Wasn’t he afraid of ‘alerting the snake by beating the grass’?

As if reading his mind, the “bastard” spoke: “Knowing what you know now, do you still believe your ‘dear disciple’ is truly dead?”

Bai Yujing blurted out, “Since you knew he could fake his death, why bother with the effort? You should have detained him. With your strength, you could have forced him to confess everything.”

The resentment in his voice was no longer hidden by his act. Xuan Lie turned to look at him for three seconds before speaking in a tone Bai Yujing knew all too well:

“It’s no wonder he managed to sell you out.”

Bai Yujing: “…”

Before he could explode in shame, Xuan Lie gave a rare explanation. “If he were willing to confess everything, Song Qingyu wouldn’t have had to go through such trouble.”

Bai Yujing snapped back, “But now that he’s alive, aren’t we in the light while he’s in the dark? What was the point of your unnecessary move?”

At the word “we,” Xuan Lie paused. His tone shifted, tilting upward slightly. “You think he is in the dark while we are in the light? It is the opposite. Only a situation of absolute despair can force out the truly bizarre anomalies.”

On the point of driving Shen Fenglin into a corner, Bai Yujing and Xuan Lie actually agreed. But before Bai Yujing could think further, Xuan Lie added:

“If I had confronted him directly as you suggested, that would have been ‘beating the grass and alerting the snake.'”

…Fine, fine. I’m short-sighted, I’m an idiot, and you’re the most brilliant strategist in the universe. But if you’re so smart, how have you lived this long without growing a Spirit Heart? What a waste of such a ‘large’ manifest form—a useless, pretty Stone!

Bai Yujing cursed him thoroughly in his mind. But knowing Song Qingyu could still send messages down meant that while Ascension was indeed strange, she was likely safe for now.

As his worry eased, his old grudges resurfaced. He looked at the man’s handsome profile under the moonlight, getting more irritated the longer he looked. After finishing his explanation, Xuan Lie closed his eyes. His arrogant, aloof demeanor was even more annoying than it was ten years ago.

Fury rose in Bai Yujing’s heart, and a wicked idea took hold. The spring water had completely soaked his robes, making the fabric cling to every curve of his body. He leaned into Xuan Lie, whispering softly:

“So… the Immortal Venerable kept me… as bait to lure Shen Fenglin out?”

“No,” Xuan Lie denied, eyes still closed.

“Then why did you keep me?” The disheveled beauty saw that the man refused to even look at him, so he grabbed the man’s arm and leaned in close to his ear. “Did you keep me for my demon core?”

As he spoke, his fingertips “accidentally” brushed against the wound that refused to heal. Xuan Lie’s breath hitched. He finally opened his eyes to look at him. There was no warmth in his gaze—it was a clear warning.

But the more he acted like that, the more Bai Yujing’s blood sang. He wanted to bite. The urge to devour was the nature of the Sky-Reaching Serpent, and the nature of all demons. They admire the strong, but they love to slay the strong even more.

His chest, fully visible due to the wet fabric, pressed softly and intimately against the pale wound on Xuan Lie’s wrist. It was hard to tell if he was acting coy or deliberately torturing the man.

Xuan Lie looked down at the other’s chest. It was exceptionally pale—and exceptionally empty. The jade snake pendant that Bai Yujing always wore was nowhere to be seen. Xuan Lie’s gaze darkened.

Bai Yujing thought the man was simply disgusted by his lack of boundaries. He found it hilarious and leaned even more heavily onto the man’s shoulder. His sweet scent drifted into Xuan Lie’s ear as his snake-tongue flickered near the man’s lobe.

“Immortal Venerable… does a person like you also suffer from inner demons?”

“What is your inner demon?” Amidst his vivid, enchanting features, there was a touch of inhuman innocence. “Tell me, won’t you?”

“Perhaps… I can help you?”