ISWTDB Ch16

Chapter 16: The Disfigured and Blind Sect Leader (16)

Ying Zhao looked at Wen Renming, who had a worried expression, and shook his head, pretending he had also passed through the Heart Demon Realm. After all, he didn’t know how to explain to Wen Renming why he wasn’t affected by this place at all.

Ying Zhao grabbed Wen Renming’s arm, ignoring the disciples of the Piaomiao Pavilion who were still trapped in their heart demons, deciding it was best to leave here first with Wen Renming.

Wen Renming turned his arm and tightly gripped Ying Zhao’s hand, following his steps from behind. However, when he lowered his head, a shadow of darkness flashed across his face.

Wen Renming could confirm that he had indeed just passed through a heart demon in this Heart Demon Realm. Although this secret realm had been passed down through generations of his Wen Ren family, and his bloodline gave him some control over it, he had never actually been to this cave. He had been living like a walking corpse for years, with no interest in anything. But why, as a demonic cultivator, was he still affected by heart demons?

Wen Renming fell into deep thought, recalling how countless painful experiences from his past flashed before his eyes in the Heart Demon Realm. Yet, his heart no longer had any waves.

Until a voice deep inside him said that he was just a crippled, ugly person that no one would love. His mind then flashed back to the day he first met Ying Zhao and heard the conversation between Ying Zhao and Xiao Lie.

Although Yunping had immediately refuted Xiao Lie’s plan, in the Heart Demon Realm, someone kept whispering in his ear that it was just a deceit.

Wen Renming found himself unable to suppress the sadness in his heart, the inner pain seemed to be magnified a thousand times. He wanted to monopolize Yunping, to question him, and to forcibly possess him no matter the result. But he was also afraid of hurting him.

Even though he wanted to be ruthless, he couldn’t bear to see Yunping hurt in the slightest, or to lose the smile on his face.

Thus, Wen Renming felt heartache and hesitated. Until he numbly shrank back into his shell, trying to block out all the voices, but Yunping suddenly appeared before him.

He remembered that he seemed unable to control himself from revealing his demonic cultivator side to Yunping, obsessively wanting to keep him forever.

However, Yunping spoke of love to him first. Although he couldn’t be sure if it was true or false, Wen Renming couldn’t stop savoring the feeling of that moment.

Savoring their kisses and the loving words Yunping had said to him, he wished he could stay in that dream forever.

Yet, just as he wanted to completely possess the other, Yunping told him it was all fake and urged him to wake up quickly, to return to reality and reunite with him.

Seeing the urgency in Yunping’s eyes, Wen Renming finally heeded his words. After waking up, he desperately wanted to ask Ying Zhao if all of it was true. 

Did he really want to be with him? Did he truly fall in love with him?

But suddenly, Wen Renming grew timid. He feared that it was all just a dream, merely an illusion crafted by the Heart Demon Realm.

If it was just a dream, so be it. But if it wasn’t, and Yunping had truly entered his sea of consciousness, he would have seen his inner darkness and his wretched self.

Facing such a self, no amount of fervent love could endure, right? Wen Renming chuckled bitterly, feeling myriad emotions welling up in his heart.

No matter how much suffering he had endured in the past, it wasn’t as agonizingly tangled as it was today. Sensing the warmth of the person beside him, breathing in his scent, he desperately wanted to merge with him…

Wen Renming lowered his head, thinking deeply about how to truly possess Ying Zhao. Previously, he only thought that if he couldn’t keep his heart, keeping the person would suffice.

But now, Wen Renming was no longer satisfied; he wanted to completely possess Ying Zhao, body and soul. It was precisely because of this that he meticulously schemed, even bringing the people of the Piaomiao Pavilion to this secret realm.

Those who schemed against him wouldn’t be spared. But Yunping was different; he wanted to know Ying Zhao’s true feelings. However, even if the other had deceived him, Wen Renming wouldn’t let him go.

He would lock Ying Zhao by his side forever, so that he could only face him, kiss him, and bear him every day.

Thinking of this, Wen Renming recalled how in the Heart Demon Realm, Yunping Ying Zhao had said he wanted to mate with him. That adorable, blushing look was something Wen Renming would never forget.

Indeed, even in an illusion, his Yunping was irresistibly sweet!

Unable to restrain himself, Wen Renming took a deep breath and pretended to stagger forward weakly. Sure enough, Ying Zhao immediately turned around to support him, asking worriedly:

“Wen Renming, what’s wrong with you? Are you alright?”

Wen Renming weakly shook his head and said to Ying Zhao:

“Yunping, I’m fine. I just feel a bit weak.”

Ying Zhao thought it might be a side effect of just passing through the Heart Demon Realm and decided they needed to leave this cave quickly. But the cave was dark, making it impossible to fly with their swords.

Thus, Ying Zhao had Wen Renming lean on his shoulder, gently saying to him:

“It’s okay, I’ll support you, just lean on me.”

Wen Renming nodded and leaned apologetically on Ying Zhao’s shoulder. In an unseen angle, Wen Renming smiled slightly, deeply inhaling Ying Zhao’s scent.

He gently kissed the hair that fell to his mouth, a trace of obsession flashing across his face. Silently, he thought to himself:

‘It’s okay, Yunping, whether your feelings for me are genuine or false, it doesn’t matter. I’ll always cherish you, love you! We’ll be together forever, always…’

As Ying Zhao supported Wen Renming, he couldn’t help but shiver, feeling a vague sense of being watched by something dangerous.

Ying Zhao had always trusted his instincts, so he quickened his pace, heading hurriedly towards the faintly lit area ahead.

Stumbling and staggering, the two finally reached the cave’s exit and left. But upon exiting, they were met with another scene entirely.

Unexpectedly, the cave led to a vast, crystal-clear lake. The shimmering water and the clear skies, combined with the surrounding scenery, created a serene and delightful atmosphere.

Seeing this, Ying Zhao felt a wave of relaxation. He helped Wen Renming to the grassy lakeshore to rest. But before they could catch their breath, a series of clattering noises came from the cave they had just left.

Ying Zhao frowned, instantly tensing up and watching the cave entrance warily. Soon, he saw the disciples of the Piaomiao Pavilion emerging one after another.

Initially puzzled, Ying Zhao wondered how they, with their lower cultivation levels compared to Wen Renming and without his help, had managed to escape the Heart Demon Realm so quickly.

But he soon realized that while the Heart Demon Realm was indeed dangerous, it was also a barrier set by the enchantment. By helping Wen Renming pass through his heart demon, they had broken the enchantment, causing the Heart Demon Realm to dissipate. So, as the Realm’s influence weakened and vanished, the disciples of the Piaomiao Pavilion also woke up.

However, unlike Wen Renming, who had actively overcome his heart demon, the seeds of their heart demons were firmly planted. It was just a matter of time before these seeds took root and sprouted.

The disciples of the Piaomiao Pavilion, looking lost and exhausted, collapsed onto the grassy lakeshore. Even Xiao Lie didn’t rush to confront Wen Renming, clearly spent from confronting his heart demon.

Ignoring them, Ying Zhao focused solely on Wen Renming. After all, he came to this world for Wen Renming.

Although he was determined to avenge the original host, having just witnessed Wen Renming’s experiences, Ying Zhao couldn’t divert his attention from him.

After resting for a while, Xiao Lie mustered his strength and approached Wen Renming. As the leader of this expedition, he had a mission to fulfill and couldn’t forget the purpose of their suffering.

Weary, Xiao Lie asked Wen Renming, “Wen Renming, where exactly is the ‘Qingyuan Jue’?”

Facing Xiao Lie, Wen Renming said, “It should be nearby. I sense it is within this lake. In fact, there has always been a legend in my family that the ‘Qingyuan Jue’ lies in a lake within a secret realm. However, there is a fierce water beast guarding it. We can’t easily take it down. Everyone is exhausted today. Why not rest well and prepare to retrieve the Jue tomorrow?”

Xiao Lie nodded, turning to stare at the vast lake. The lake was so expansive that if the ‘Qingyuan Jue’ was indeed within it, finding it by sheer effort would be difficult.

But recalling how Wen Renming had effortlessly undone the illusionary barrier before entering the cave, Xiao Lie believed he must have a way to locate the treasure in the lake.