Na Lian set down the Spirit-Suppressing Lamp and continued to himself, “This time I used demonic energy. Unlike a human soul, which dissipates after a while when probed into the lamp, I’ve gained a general idea... Buwei? What’s wrong with you?”
Ming Zhu’s waist felt a bit weak. His eyes remained fixed on Zhou Fuxue’s expression.
Zhou Fuxue looked at him helplessly. “I’m truly curious—what kind of person am I in your heart that you would be this afraid of me?”
Ming Zhu stammered, “When... when did you find out?”
Zhou Fuxue answered truthfully, “I knew the moment we returned from the outskirts of Shuoyu City.”
Ming Zhu said dryly, “Then you... I...”
Zhou Fuxue reached out to stroke the side of his face, whispering, “I remember saying many times that no matter what you become, I don’t care. I only want you.”
Ming Zhu looked at him in a daze, and after a moment, he nodded blankly.
Previously, Ming Zhu hadn’t believed a single word of such promises. He had been convinced that once Zhou Fuxue learned his true identity, he would surely abandon him without a second thought, regarding him with wariness and loathing—just as Ming Fuhua had.
It was only now, seeing Zhou Fuxue’s expression free of any resentment or prejudice, that he finally began to believe.
Na Lian let out an impatient click of his tongue. “My apologies, you two, but I’m still barely alive over here. Could you spare me some attention?”
Feeling somewhat awkward, Ming Zhu climbed down from the bed and walked to the table. He casually flicked a strand of spiritual energy into the Spirit-Suppressing Lamp. The exquisite lamp immediately flickered with a faint light, and illusory green vines began to spread from the wick, reaching outward like grasping claws.
Ming Zhu’s hand instinctively recoiled. Previously, when his heart was like dead ashes, he had dared to reach out and touch even the soul-snatching spiritual threads of the lamp. Now, however, he valued his life enough to step back.
Na Lian said, “I had someone look into it. The Spirit-Suppressing Lamp was never a spiritual tool meant for humans. That talk of bringing the dead back to life is nothing more than drinking poison to quench thirst. There is too much death energy within the lamp; I’ve been doing my best to purge it. If it can be restored to its original state, it will be of immense use.”
Ming Zhu nodded. “You knew the use of the Spirit-Suppressing Lamp long ago, which is why you gathered so many powerful cultivators at Luoyue Tower?”
Na Lian gave a half-smile. “This is their retribution. No matter their end, they have no one to blame but themselves.”
Ming Zhu didn't comment further on that. After discussing the events at Luoyue Tower scheduled for the day after tomorrow with Na Lian, the latter took his leave.
Ming Zhu closed the door. Turning around, he saw Zhou Fuxue sitting on the small couch by the window, seemingly connecting his divine sense with someone.
Zhou Fuxue was well aware of his position. He knew that what Na Lian and Ming Zhu discussed surely concerned the affairs of Luoyue Tower, yet he didn't ask a single question. In his view, even if Ming Zhu and Na Lian shared a close relationship, he had no intention of interfering in the tower's business. Thus, even though the matter involved Guining and Zhou Mingzhong, he chose not to ask or listen.
Ming Zhu watched him and did not interrupt his divine sense connection. Taking a deep breath, he walked over to Zhou Fuxue’s side and sat down, staring at the younger man’s face in a daze.
Zhou Fuxue had entered Mount Rizhao as a child; one could say Ming Zhu had raised him. Having grown accustomed to his face, Ming Zhu had never truly realized how striking he was. They had been separated for fifty years, and it was only now that Ming Zhu took the time to seriously observe Zhou Fuxue.
A face capable of making Ming Zhu’s heart flutter was naturally of the highest quality. Zhou Fuxue’s expression was cold and his aura crisp, making him seem like the last person anyone would want to approach at first glance. Yet, when facing Ming Zhu, even if his face remained expressionless, his eyes held a tenderness that contradicted his temperament, as if he wished to drown Ming Zhu within them.
Ming Zhu thought to himself, *How did I never notice before? Shisan has grown to be so handsome.*
Ming Zhu had always been narcissistic, believing that in all the world, only his own skin and bones could be called beautiful, while everyone else possessed mediocre, average looks not worth admiring.
But perhaps because he had finally accepted Zhou Fuxue, the more he looked at his junior brother, the more handsome he found him. He actually cupped his face in his hands and stared for a full fifteen minutes.
It wasn't until Zhou Fuxue withdrew his divine sense from the jade slip and opened his eyes that he saw Ming Zhu leaning in close, staring at him intently. Unknowingly, Ming Zhu’s face had drawn near, his head tilted slightly upward. Originally, Ming Zhu only wanted to get a good look at him, but from Zhou Fuxue’s perspective, this posture was an open invitation for a kiss.
Zhou Fuxue raised an eyebrow slightly. Without a word, he leaned down.
A moment later, Ming Zhu’s breathing became unsteady. A flush of crimson appeared at the corners of his eyes, which were now misty with unshed moisture as he panted weakly.
His features were already breathtakingly beautiful; this display caused Zhou Fuxue to take a sharp breath. He released Ming Zhu and turned his head away, not daring to look at him further. He changed the subject: “You left so suddenly the day before yesterday. Fifth Senior Brother and the others were very worried. I just sent word to them that you are safe.”
Ming Zhu gave a dazed “Oh,” clearly not having heard a word he said.
Zhou Fuxue summoned his courage to glance at him, then immediately looked away. After repeating this several times, he finally spoke. “Kua Yu... what happened? Did something go wrong?”
At the mention of Kua Yu, Ming Zhu’s expression turned somber. He lowered his head and said hoarsely, “He’s gone.”
“Gone?”
Ming Zhu clearly didn't want to elaborate. He shook his head, refusing to speak further. He had already decided to visit the Abandoned Sword Mound once the matters at Luoyue Tower were settled. If Kua Yu truly was reborn within the mound, even if his soul was incomplete, Ming Zhu would protect him from being bullied by anyone.
Not wanting to dwell on it, Ming Zhu knelt on the soft couch and wrapped his arms around Zhou Fuxue’s neck, murmuring, “That felt good just now. Kiss me again.”
Zhou Fuxue was stunned. Before he could react, Ming Zhu pressed his lips against his, mimicking Zhou Fuxue by taking his lower lip into his mouth and even giving it a light nip with his teeth.
Because Ming Zhu had pressed half his body against Zhou Fuxue, he could clearly feel the scorching heat of the other’s body. Ming Zhu’s true form was a snake, and his body temperature was always cold, so he was particularly fond of warmth.
Perhaps having tasted the sweetness of it, as they kissed, he ended up hanging himself off Zhou Fuxue, straddling his legs around Zhou Fuxue’s waist and showering his lips with a chaotic flurry of kisses.
Only then did Zhou Fuxue snap back to his senses. He hurriedly reached out to support Ming Zhu’s lower back for fear he might fall. He took a few sharp, quiet breaths and said helplessly, “Senior Brother...”
********
In the neighboring courtyard, Na Lian was preparing to bathe Xi Chu. Before he could even put the little bundle into the water, he heard a loud crash at the door. He turned to see Ming Zhu rushing in, his clothes in complete disarray.
Na Lian asked in surprise, “Why are you...”
Ming Zhu was panting heavily, his face a mask of panic. Catching sight of the bathtub nearby, he dove headfirst into it with a loud *splash*.
Na Lian: “...”
He stared blankly at the bubbling surface of the water before finishing his sentence, “...here?”
Na Lian placed the struggling Xi Chu, who wanted to go find Ming Zhu, onto the bed. He walked to the edge of the tub and said helplessly, “My dear ancestor, haven't you and Zhou Fuxue already cleared the air? Shouldn't you be all lovey-dovey and inseparable right now? Why did you run to my place?”
Ming Zhu sat at the bottom of the tub, hugging his knees. His long white hair floated in the water. No matter what Na Lian said, he refused to come out.
Soon enough, Zhou Fuxue followed him to the courtyard. He looked at Na Lian with a resigned expression. “I’ve come to take him back.”
A jet of water suddenly shot out from the bathtub, hitting Zhou Fuxue square in the chest—a clear signal for him to get lost.
Zhou Fuxue took a step forward. “Senior Brother, I was wrong.”
Ming Zhu suddenly broke the surface, glaring at him while soaking wet. “Get out!”
Zhou Fuxue opened his mouth to say more, but Ming Zhu said in a muffled voice, “Na Lian, throw him out!”
With that, he sat back down in the water, refusing to emerge again.
Though Xi Chu didn't know what was happening, he supported Ming Zhu unconditionally. Hearing this, he immediately clapped his hands and shouted, “Out! Out!”
Na Lian gave Zhou Fuxue a helpless look. Zhou Fuxue also knew he had been too reckless tonight. Seeing that Ming Zhu was in a state where he couldn't handle it, he didn't dare push too hard. After a moment’s thought, he left.
Na Lian tapped on the side of the tub. “Come out. He’s gone.”
A moment later, Ming Zhu emerged from the bathtub, though his expression looked even worse than before.
“He’s really gone?”
Na Lian replied, “He left very quickly, no hesitation at all.”
Ming Zhu: “...”
Ming Zhu grew even angrier.
Na Lian was intensely curious. “What did he do to you? Is it worth being this furious?”
Ming Zhu still felt as though his entire body was burning, especially his right hand; that scorching heat seemed to linger in his palm, making him simultaneously want to chop his own hand off and feel a strange, inexplicable anger.
Ming Zhu gritted his teeth. “He... he... is shameless!”
Na Lian instantly became excited. “He took you to bed?”
Ming Zhu: “...”
Ming Zhu looked at him in disbelief. “Can you not be so base? You keep such lewd talk on the tip of your tongue—do you have no sense of shame?”
Na Lian looked perfectly innocent. “I’m a demon cultivator; what do I know of shame? For demon cultivators, mating is a matter of instinct. If there is desire, why hide it? As long as it feels good, isn't that enough? Tsk, you humans are so troublesome. It’s just a matter of going to bed, yet you make such a huge fuss over it.”
Ming Zhu was stifled for a long time, unable to find a retort.
Na Lian asked dubiously, “By all logic, snakes are lustful by nature. How come I never see you having any desire for such things?”
Ming Zhu was nearly driven mad. “Can you be a bit more subtle when you speak?!”
Na Lian, having been shouted at, felt quite innocent. He decided to follow the suggestion and be more subtle. “Fine. Have you ever... pleasured yourself?”
Ming Zhu stared at him as if he were looking at a monster.
Na Lian truly couldn't understand the overly sensitive affectations of humans. He threw up his hands. “I was already being very subtle.”
Ming Zhu was so angry he couldn't speak. Na Lian comforted him, “Really, that business is very pleasurable. You’ll know once you try it. Besides, you and Zhou Fuxue share mutual feelings. Since you’ve already laid everything out, according to the ways of demon cultivators, the next step should be going straight to bed without delay. Why are you still so prudish? What, do you plan on only talking about feelings?”
This demon cultivator, whose head was filled with nothing but copulation, simply did not understand the meaning of subtlety.
Ming Zhu gave up entirely. He lifted his sleeve and splashed a face full of water at Na Lian, roaring, “Shut up!”
Enjoying the story? Rate this novel:
Is Everyone Else's Eldest Disciple Like This? | Chapter 111 | Utterly Shameless | Novela.app | Novela.app
