ATAVID CH94

When it came to Wei Xun’s insatiable, utterly rapacious nature during moments of intimacy, Jiang Qunyu had now officially and thoroughly learned his lesson.

He lay completely limp on the bed, his muscles aching with a profound soreness. Yet, the man behind him still held him locked in a relentless embrace, possessing a terrifyingly inexhaustible reservoir of energy. Drowsiness rolled over Jiang Qunyu in heavy waves, making his eyelids feel as though they were glued shut. But right then, without warning, Wei Xun sank his teeth into the side of his neck. The fine, nipping bites sent a prickling numbness radiating through him, forcibly dragging him right back out of his stupor.

“My living ancestor, what exactly do you want from me now?” Jiang Qunyu was truly at the absolute end of his tether. He had felt thoroughly mortified the entire day, and right now, he didn’t want to give Wei Xun the time of day. “If you honestly can’t sleep, go light that damn incense of yours and drug yourself into a coma.”

Wei Xun was currently in an exceptionally magnificent mood. He lightly pinched Jiang Qunyu’s soft, pliable cheek with his fingertips, his deep baritone trailing close against his ear as he asked, “Jiang Qunyu, tell me honestly. Do you prefer the seventeen-year-old me, or the me from later on?”

“…” Jiang Qunyu had never expected this absolute bastard to shake him awake just to pose such a seemingly random, completely contextless question.

However, considering how he had answered the previous question incorrectly and nearly died within the hot springs—the mere memory of that suffocating, utterly uncontrolled spiral sent a wave of residual soreness rippling through his entire body.

Thus, he wisely resolved to deliver a proper answer. Forcing himself to be patient, he murmured, “I like both.”

Once the words left his mouth, Jiang Qunyu felt incredibly pleased with his own response. It brought back memories of the online threads he used to browse back in his world, where netizens detailed tactics for straight men whenever they managed to enrage their girlfriends. The golden rule was simple: no matter how angry she was, always validate her logic.

If she asked whether she looked better with or without makeup, you say both look beautiful. If she asked which of two outfits suited her better, you say both look perfect—because in reality, she had already made up her mind, and if you accidentally picked the wrong one, you were bound to trigger another massive argument.

Granted, he wasn’t dealing with a girlfriend here, but a boyfriend instead. Yet, the underlying operational logic was ultimately identical. A stellar response like this should easily be enough to coax the man into letting him rest, right?

But in the very next second, the temperature in the room plummeted by several degrees.

The arm locked around his waist tightened with a violent, crushing force, heavy enough to feel as though it meant to embed him directly into the man’s flesh and bone.

Wei Xun lowered his gaze, his long eyelashes casting a shadow over the dark, turbulent possessiveness churning in his eyes. His usually crisp, detached voice carried a dense, unshakeable layer of pure gloom as he enunciated each syllable with low, menacing intent: “You like both?”

Sensing a sudden flash of imminent danger, Jiang Qunyu jolted slightly more awake. In his mind, he thoroughly cursed every piece of absolute nonsense he had ever read in those relationship threads before cautiously testing the waters: “…The current you?”

Catching a glimpse of Wei Xun’s features softening ever so slightly out of the corner of his eye, he realized that this was precisely the exact validation the man had been fishing for. Left entirely clueless as to what had prompted the question in the first place, he simply closed his eyes and played dead: “I’m exhausted. I’m going to sleep. Shut your mouth.”

Wei Xun didn’t press the matter any further. Instead, he pulled Jiang Qunyu into an incredibly intimate, tighter embrace, his warm breath settling gently against the crown of Jiang Qunyu’s head with a rare, submissive tenderness as he slowly let his own eyes drift closed into a light slumber.

In the blink of an eye, half a month slipped away. Seizing a rare window where Wei Xun was absent, Jiang Qunyu quietly slipped away to the West Palace to check on Wen Xingyao. Seeing that the man’s wounds had healed beautifully and his color had returned significantly, he inquired, “Now that your injuries are essentially managed, do you plan on leaving Jiuyou?”

Having not seen Jiang Qunyu for days, Wen Xingyao instantly rolled his eyes, his gaze brimming with an immense sense of abandonment as he spat out with dripping sarcasm, “Heh, then I wouldn’t presume to trouble Fellow Daoist Jiang to waste your precious thoughts on me.”

Jiang Qunyu: “…”

He flashed a thoroughly artificial smile. “Speak like a normal human being.”

Wen Xingyao instantly bristled, glaring at him. “Jiang Qunyu! You are the absolute definition of someone who abandons his friends the moment he gets some action! It has been an entire half a month, and you are only now coming to see me?!”

Jiang Qunyu felt a brief, inexplicable wave of guilt wash over him. But truthfully, this matter couldn’t be blamed on him at all; the fault lay entirely with Wei Xun.

The moment he so much as breathed Wen Xingyao’s name, Wei Xun would freeze him in place with a gaze radiating pure polar ice for half a day, before the two of them would somehow invariably end up tangled in an intense kiss. He had never seen anyone capable of consuming that much jealousy in his entire life; had Wei Xun been a jar of premium vinegar in his past incarnation?

“I had to sneak around just to come see you today,” Jiang Qunyu pointed out.

At those words, Wen Xingyao fell entirely silent. He shook his head, reaching out to pat Jiang Qunyu’s shoulder with a newfound layer of deep, empathetic understanding: “It must be incredibly tough on you.”

The two sighed and lamented back and forth for a good while before Wen Xingyao pivoted back to the core matter at hand, asking, “I intend to depart tomorrow. Are you truly not coming along with me?”

Jiang Qunyu shook his head. “No. Once you return to the Immortal Alliance, just pass a message to Shen Peiqiu on my behalf.”

“My Master?” Wen Xingyao arched an eyebrow, a flash of pure curiosity leaping into his eyes. “What business do you have with him?”

“Just a private matter.”

Jiang Qunyu didn’t offer any details, and Wen Xingyao possessed enough discretion not to pry further when he saw the lack of willingness to elaborate. He nodded readily: “Fine, once I arrive back at the Immortal Alliance, I will deliver the message to Master for you.”

“If your Master displays any skepticism, tell him that it is Wei Xun who wishes to speak with him.”

“Got it!”

With his instructions fully conveyed, Jiang Qunyu didn’t linger any longer.

Utilizing Wei Xun’s name served a dual purpose. For one, back when Shen Peiqiu had suffered devastating injuries that shattered his Dao core, it was Wei Xun who had poured out countless spirit stones and incredibly rare medicinal herbs just to barely stabilize his failing condition. In a manner of speaking, Wei Xun was effectively Shen Peiqiu’s savior, so hearing that Wei Xun sought him out meant Shen Peiqiu wouldn’t dream of refusing.

Secondly, having crossed paths with Shen Peiqiu before, Jiang Qunyu knew intimately that the man possessed a gentle, mild temperament and was by no means difficult to approach.

Beyond wanting to question Shen Peiqiu regarding the history of the Spiritual Deer Clan, Jiang Qunyu was also intensely curious about whether he and Wei Xun had struck some sort of underlying bargain years ago.

Wei Xun explicitly disliked Shen Peiqiu, yet he had gone to monumental lengths to track down herbs capable of reconstructing his meridians. Jiang Qunyu didn’t believe for a single second that Wei Xun possessed that brand of altruism.

That left only a singular possibility: Shen Peiqiu possessed something that Wei Xun desperately desired.

What exactly did Wei Xun want?

He had spent so many grueling years finally cementing his position as the absolute Demon Venerable, so why on earth did he abandon it the moment he secured it?

Thinking about it gave Jiang Qunyu a massive headache. If Wei Xun hadn’t stubbornly refused to utter a single word on the matter, he wouldn’t be left here completely bereft of clues.

For a brief moment, he felt a sudden urge to strangle Wei Xun all over again.

Particularly when he recalled the previous night—Wei Xun apparently had matters that required him to leave the Nether Abyss for a few days, and because of that, he had held him close, kissing and tangling with him through the entire night in an absolute display of pure, unbridled absurdity until daybreak. Even now, the base of his thighs throbbed with a dull, persistent ache. The mere thought of it made the irritation flare even hotter within his chest.

If the man hadn’t left on business, Jiang Qunyu wouldn’t have been able to see Wen Xingyao alone. Otherwise, if a certain someone caught wind of it, he would bound to drown in jealousy for days on end.

And ultimately, the one left to suffer the consequences would be none other than himself, likely trapped in a state of absolute paralysis on the bed for several days.

Realizing his train of thought was veering dangerously off-course into incredibly scandalous, intimate imagery, Jiang Qunyu fiercely scolded himself in his mind.

Why on earth is my brain constantly occupied by these chaotic, sensual thoughts lately?

It was entirely Wei Xun’s fault.

But with Wei Xun possessing such a heavy, insatiable libido, would he truly be capable of keeping up with him in the long run?

For a rare moment, he felt a fleeting shred of doubt regarding his own capabilities. It couldn’t possibly turn out that he would be the one relegated to the bottom down the line, right?

But a real man never admits defeat. The moment that terrifying thought reared its head, he forcibly cast it into the absolute back of his mind.

Having taken only a few steps outside the West Palace, Jiang Qunyu suddenly came to a dead halt.

As if guided by a sudden spike of pure intuition, he instinctively walked over to the massive, ancient tree standing outside the palace gates. Tilting his head upward, his gaze locked instantly with Xie Chuan, who was currently crouched high up on a thick branch, peering straight down at him.

Jiang Qunyu: “…”

The two engaged in a silent staring contest for a long moment before Jiang Qunyu spoke up irritably, “Get down here.”

Xie Chuan hesitated for a couple of seconds before gracefully leaping down from the branch.

“What are you doing lurking around here?” Jiang Qunyu demanded.

Xie Chuan tilted his head, pressing his lips tightly together without uttering a single word.

Jiang Qunyu felt a sudden urge to box his ears. “You stubborn kid.”

As he spoke, he focused his intent. Ominous demonic energy coalesced rapidly within the palm of his hand, instantiating into a brilliant crimson scythe. The body of the weapon shimmered with a gentle yet terrifyingly sharp pale-red aura, presenting a stunning visual display.

With a light flick of his wrist, the crimson scythe transformed into a sharp streak of red light, slicing a beautiful arc through the air before embedding itself into the branch of the ancient tree with a resounding clack.

The leaves rustled violently, causing a massive cascade of falling blossoms to blanket the ground, mirroring a scene straight out of their shared past.

Xie Chuan froze instantly.

Jiang Qunyu tilted his chin up. “Care to speak now?”

Xie Chuan remained silent for a good while before he finally opened his mouth, his voice carrying a dry, raspy edge. He lowered his gaze, answering with absolute obedience: “Master ordered me to keep watch here.”

Jiang Qunyu’s face went entirely blank as his irritation spiked even higher.

So it turned out that even though Wei Xun had physically departed, he had still left a loyal watchdog behind to keep tabs on him, terrified that he might bolt with Wen Xingyao?

“What did he tell you to keep watch for?” Jiang Qunyu frowned.

Xie Chuan didn’t attempt to hide a single detail, reporting with absolute candor: “He said that the moment you lay eyes on anyone who looks innocent, pure, and pitiful, your heart immediately turns soft. He noted that the occupant inside the West Palace is an absolute piece of garbage, so he tasked me to keep a strict eye on him and find an opportunistic window to throw him out.”

Jiang Qunyu was left entirely speechless. Raising a hand to rub at his throbbing temples, he found himself caught in a space between sheer exasperation and genuine amusement. Ultimately, he could only wave his hand: “Fine, then carry on with your watch.”

He turned to depart, but after taking a single step, another thought struck him. Turning back, he asked, “Have you seen me before?”

Xie Chuan kept his eyes lowered, offering a soft, single-word confirmation: “Mm.”

“Where did you see me?” Jiang Qunyu pressed.

Xie Chuan replied, “Yujing Pavilion.”

“I see.” Jiang Qunyu nodded, choosing not to press further. Recalling his crimson scythe with a wave of his hand, he turned to continue forward.

Suddenly, Xie Chuan called out, “Master.”

Jiang Qunyu’s movements paused. He kept his eyes half-lowered as the warm sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, casting a fragmented, dappled shadow beneath his thick eyelashes.

Slowly turning his body, he raised his gaze to meet Xie Chuan’s, whose eyes were currently rimmed with a distinct layer of red. A loose, incredibly gentle smile graced the corners of Jiang Qunyu’s lips as he teased, “Tsk, I told you exactly last time that I am your true master, yet you stubbornly refused to believe me.”

He arched an eyebrow. “Wei Xun is merely riding on my coattails, taking complete advantage of you, yet your loyalty still sways toward him. Silly.”

Xie Chuan was indeed a bit slow—not truly foolish, but simply straight-laced and single-minded. However, he wasn’t stupid. He let out a slight pout: “…He is bad.”

Jiang Qunyu couldn’t help but let out a clear laugh, his eyes brimming with amusement as he nodded in absolute agreement: “He is indeed exceptionally bad.”

Securing his master’s validation, Xie Chuan instantly lost all desire to continue his assigned watch duty. His eyes locked onto Jiang Qunyu with intense, puppy-like yearning, his tone thick with pure anticipation: “Master, can I follow you from now on?”

Unfortunately, Jiang Qunyu still had critical matters to attend to, forcing him to temporarily suppress the questions swirling within his mind. Knowing Xie Chuan’s simple nature, the fact that the boy had managed to recognize him solely through the crimson scythe was no small feat; he likely only possessed a surface-level understanding of the grander situation anyway. Thus, he spoke softly, “Alright, next time. I have proper business to take care of right now.”

“Oh.” Xie Chuan’s shoulders slumped in disappointment.

Seeing the boy’s reaction, Jiang Qunyu found it rather endearing, tossing out a casual reassurance to coax him: “Next time, I’ll take you out to race horses again.”

Hearing those words, the disappointment vanishing from Xie Chuan’s face in an instant, replaced by a radiant, joyful expression: “Deal!”

After parting ways with Xie Chuan, Jiang Qunyu turned and left the perimeter of the West Palace. Twirling the key he had covertly swiped from Wei Xun between his fingertips, he walked directly toward the Lock-Up Palace.

The ghost cultivators stationed outside the Lock-Up Palace were all Qin Shiyue’s personal subordinates. Recognizing his identity, none of them dared to step forward to block his path, allowing Jiang Qunyu to stroll inside with absolute leisure.

Up at the top of the pavilion, Qin Shiyue caught the sound of Jiang Qunyu’s approaching footsteps. Raising her eyelids toward the stairwell, the corners of her lips curved into a beautiful smile as she spoke, “You’ve finally arrived. I was beginning to think you had completely cast me to the back of your mind.”