He was a hybrid, how could he be worthy?
From the moment he was forced to face this blood-soaked fact head-on, his consciousness seemed to sink into darkness.
When he came back to himself, he was already within his own sea of consciousness.
Below were raging waves; above were dark clouds rolling in, lightning flashing and thunder roaring, a scene of utter apocalypse.
Mo Xuanli stared at everything with vacant eyes, almost unwilling to make any change. He curled himself up, just like when he was a child abandoned by everyone in the world, so long as he curled up in a tiny corner, no matter how bad things were outside, he could pretend not to know, not to see. That way… that way he could fall asleep.
But very quickly, two figures of light appeared before him.
One black, one white.
They were almost identical to him in form, as if waiting for him to make a decision. The black one extended a strand of black smoke that slowly reached toward his body. In an instant, the pain lessened greatly, his body filled with power, as if hinting that he could do whatever he pleased.
What did he want?
The power to trample all beings underfoot, to take revenge on old enemies, to make everyone who belittled him or refused to accept him shut their mouths, to define right and wrong between heaven and earth himself?
No. He wanted nothing at all. He only wanted his master to stay by his side, to gaze at him with those eyes adorned like starry elms. Love wasn’t even necessary, so long as there was no hatred.
Could that be done?
His rational mind felt it couldn’t be, so it resisted this power. But his body felt it could be done, so it accepted this power.
While his consciousness struggled, faint sounds came from outside the sea of consciousness.
It was Master speaking.
Mo Xuanli blankly raised his head and listened, hearing Master say… that he had long known he was a hybrid? And even apologized… until warm contact came to his lips.
In the sea of consciousness, a tempestuous surge erupted, instantly sweeping his spiritual form into it.
In that instant, he saw countless scenes drift past within the sea of consciousness.
All the memories lost after demonization were stored here.
Each time, Master had gone to great lengths to maneuver. Each time, Master had indulged his rude infringements. So it turned out that even that long ago, he had already harbored such feelings toward Master…
And Master had long known who he was, always striving to protect him, helping him keep the secret.
…
“Xuanli, if I minded, could I… be like this?”
…
Master… Master… Master…
In an instant, the blackness in the sea of consciousness dissipated, gradually calming.
Outside, Mo Xuanli had already fiercely kissed Gu Baiqing, wishing he could immediately merge into one with the person held in his arms.
This was his Master, the best master in the entire world. How could he be so fortunate, to encounter such a master?
Sure enough… all suffering had its reward. Heaven would not always be so cruel to one person.
Meeting Master was the greatest reward of his life.
At this very moment, Mo Xuanli no longer cared about anything else. He only wanted Master to know just how important he was in his heart.
“Master… Master… I like you… I like you… I truly… like you.”
The kisses trailed down from his ear, until they reached the rolling Adam’s apple.
The threatening sensation of teeth touching the Adam’s apple stimulated Gu Baiqing’s nerves, snapping him awake from the repeated confessions of liking.
“E-enough… enough! Xuanli.” Gu Baiqing’s hands pushed about in panic at the large dog pressing down on him.
Mo Xuanli’s movements stopped. He lifted his head somewhat aggrieved, a layer of misty moisture veiling the pitch-black depths of his eyes, brimming with emotions that were hard to suppress. Being forcibly stopped was extremely unpleasant. On the surface he obediently listened, but his hand was already sliding down along the mermaid line.
Right, how could he possibly stop? He needed to prove it. To prove that what Master had just said about not despising him was true, to prove that everything he had seen in the sea of consciousness was not a dream.
Gu Baiqing jolted violently. His waist went weak, and his elbow barely propped him up on the white fur blanket. His jet-black long hair slid softly down from his shoulder.
Mo Xuanli shuddered. Everything within his sight made his heart tremble.
Bit by bit, plum blossoms began to bloom shyly upon snow-white skin. On the clear, moon-bright face, a flush spread everywhere. Pale blue lightning patterns dotted his forehead, was it… because he had just used too much spiritual power, causing the disguise pill to fail?
The person before Mo Xuanli now was Gu Baiqing’s original appearance.
That face which should have been lofty and aloof like an immortal now had reddened eye corners, as if he had been bullied by someone. Moisture still lingered on his lips, his whole face filled with shame and indignation, yet also helplessness.
Mo Xuanli felt as if he had been shocked by electricity. All the blood in his body seemed ready to burst from his veins, finally converging in one place.
Mo Xuanli’s eyes burned with torment. “Master… is it not allowed? Last night, clearly…”
Gu Baiqing was just reaching out to press down on Mo Xuanli’s unruly hand, about to scold him, when he heard that sentence. He immediately lifted his gaze in shock, only to feel as though he had been burned by the other’s look. “You… you remember…”
“Yes, I remember everything now. All of it…” Mo Xuanli’s gaze grew darker and darker, and his hand ignored the obstruction, trying to move downward.
Gu Baiqing became even more flustered. He was unbearably embarrassed, this little mad dog had truly gone insane. He wasn’t even demonized anymore, already clear-headed, yet he still dared to act like this. Absolutely lawless, this was outright rebellion! Even if he was going to go mad, couldn’t he pick the time and place?
“Y-you don’t actually think those were all my willing acts, do you?” As soon as Gu Baiqing said this, Mo Xuanli’s hand froze.
Just as Gu Baiqing let out a breath of relief, suddenly Mo Xuanli’s hand struck directly, making Gu Baiqing suck in a sharp breath. Mo Xuanli leaned in and kissed the stiff corner of Gu Baiqing’s mouth, wearing a completely reckless, smash-the-pot-and-go-all-in expression, summoning all his courage to go mad just once, and pounced toward Gu Baiqing again.
This time, Gu Baiqing did not indulge him and directly summoned lightning!
Yuxin, who had been outside the white mist the whole time, was listening to the strange sounds with a look of astonishment. Just as her thoughts began to wander, a bolt of lightning struck down, startling her. She immediately reacted. “As expected, they still fought! This is how it should be, they should fight!”
Inside the white mist, Mo Xuanli was smoking all over, wide-eyed with innocent, pure black puppy eyes, kneeling obediently to the side. He looked pitiful as he said, “Master…”
Gu Baiqing was gathering his clothes while angrily saying, “Are you awake now? Calmed down now? Can you talk properly now?”
Mo Xuanli looked extremely aggrieved, yet he dared not overstep again. What he had done just now had indeed been driven by pent-up emotion, more or less borrowing the lingering momentum after demonization.
Now, once again facing a master who was strict enough to strike him directly, how would he dare to act recklessly?
Gu Baiqing sat on the white fur blanket and moved his feet slightly. The clinking sound urged Mo Xuanli to hurry and help untie them.
Mo Xuanli quickly went over obediently. The iron chains, which had already been close to being shattered by Gu Baiqing’s spiritual power, were completely undone very quickly with the help of God Nine Transformations.
Although his limbs were finally free, Gu Baiqing was extremely irritated, because after being tossed about twice, his clothes had finally reached the end of their life. His own storage pouch was in the mist, so he could only look toward the storage pouch at Mo Xuanli’s waist.
“Clothes.” Gu Baiqing held out his hand and asked.
Mo Xuanli looked at his unconscious handiwork from earlier, his face flushing slightly. He hurriedly and flusteredly searched for clothes for Gu Baiqing.
But once he took them out, both of them froze. Mo Xuanli quickly stuffed that set of black clothes back in and took out a set of white clothes instead.
That cover-your-ears-while-stealing-a-bell gesture made it seem as if the Gu Baiqing in front of him were blind.
“You…” Gu Baiqing was both embarrassed and angry, unable to even say it out loud. Mo Xuanli probably also knew he had done something shameful. After all, secretly keeping someone else’s clothes to remember them by, only to confess on the spot, there was hardly anything stupider. He could only lower his head, wearing the look of obediently accepting a scolding.
“I want my clothes.” Gu Baiqing said irritably, looking at the white set in Mo Xuanli’s hands. Those were clearly his clothes, there was no way he would wear them.
Wait. His clothes, Mo Xuanli had carried them around for so long. He wouldn’t have done anything strange with them, would he? Although it was impossible for them to be unclean, once that possibility came to mind, he suddenly couldn’t tell which would be more awkward compared to wearing Mo Xuanli’s white clothes.
Still, Mo Xuanli was obedient. Hearing his master say this, he reached out, ready to change them.
And just at this moment, Yuxin outside got no response. Hearing that it had gone quiet inside, she assumed they hadn’t fought, and immediately felt dissatisfied. If they didn’t fight, how could she manage to eat one and let the other go? They had to wound each other badly for it to work.
So Yuxin casually dropped another secret.
“Oh right, Immortal Venerable, have you heard of the Primordial Demon?”
The movements of the two inside halted.
Gu Baiqing frowned slightly, while Mo Xuanli couldn’t help tightening his grip on the clothes in his hands. Right, not just the hybrid issue, but also… this obstacle.
“Why does the cultivation world insist on killing hybrids? Have you heard the legend that Primordial Demons can arise from hybrids? You say the disciple by your side is so powerful, could it be that he might become one in the future…”
Mo Xuanli sucked in a sharp breath. This time, he didn’t lose consciousness like before. Instead, he clearly felt fear slicing at his soul like a blade. He didn’t dare lift his head to look at Gu Baiqing, only acutely feeling his heart pounding like thunder.
Master accepts hybrids… does he only know that hybrids represent humiliation and are prone to demonization? Does he not know about the Primordial Demon?
Suddenly, a soft laugh sounded. Mo Xuanli froze, was Master laughing? He saw a slender, fair hand reach over and directly take the white clothes he had been about to change into. When Mo Xuanli looked over, he saw Gu Baiqing glare at him, signaling him not to peek. Mo Xuanli mechanically turned his head back, and then heard the faint rustling sounds of changing clothes.
“Do you think I didn’t know all this when I took him as my disciple?” Gu Baiqing said coldly. Well, in truth, he had only just learned it. Once someone here introduced such an overpowered setting, how could Mo Xuanli, the original novel’s ultimate villain, have no connection to it at all? If Half-Step Mad planned for the Primordial Demon to eventually confront the protagonist instead of remaining just a legend, then Mo Xuanli would inevitably be the number one candidate. So it was not surprising at all.
But since both he and Half-Step Mad were here, that situation would never come to pass.
“You… then you know he might evolve into a Primordial Demon, and yet as a cultivator, you don’t care at all about the Primordial Demon’s emergence?” Yuxin’s voice outside finally lost its composure.
Gu Baiqing said disdainfully, “The disciple I teach is naturally under my care. There’s no need for an outsider like you to worry.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw that Mo Xuanli had turned back to look at him at some point. He had changed clothes thoroughly, inside and out, when had he started watching?
Just as Gu Baiqing was feeling awkward, he noticed Mo Xuanli’s eyes were unfocused, clearly stunned. After a moment’s thought, he understood. Gu Baiqing stepped forward and patted Mo Xuanli’s head, smiling. “Don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Mo Xuanli’s eyes flickered, as if his soul had been shaken. His eye sockets instantly grew hot and sore. He had been kneeling the whole time, and now he was looking up at Gu Baiqing.
He felt dazed, almost suspecting he had misheard.
Not mishearing that Gu Baiqing didn’t mind the possibility of the Primordial Demon.
But the last sentence Gu Baiqing had said.
Everyone… everyone who knew he might become a Primordial Demon, there were those who resented him, those who feared him, those who felt guilty, those who threatened him, and even good brothers like Li Xiuran who vowed to stop him with absolute loyalty.
Yet no one… no one had ever said to him like Master did… that he would be fine, as if comforting him, promising him, that he would be protected and would never be forced to face that problem.
He… was also afraid of becoming…
But only Master…
Gu Baiqing finished speaking without thinking much, and was suddenly pulled into Mo Xuanli’s arms as he stood up, smothered by a breath-stealing, forceful kiss. He had only just calmed down enough to catch his breath, had this one turned back into a mad dog again?
Is this ever going to end? Am I someone you can just kiss whenever you want?! Where is my dignity as a master?! I haven’t agreed to anything at all! Sure enough, if a dog isn’t trained, it will push its luck!
At once, another surge of electric current passed through. This time it only numbed Mo Xuanli’s legs, successfully stopping him.
Gu Baiqing unhappily pushed someone away, wiped his mouth, then glared at him and warned in a low voice, “Don’t go too far! Go out first… we’ll talk later!”
Mo Xuanli pressed his lips together and could only nod obediently.
This time, master and disciple cooperated smoothly, joining forces to break the remaining two formations.
Yuxin, unwilling and ready to keep fanning the flames, saw the white mist suddenly thin and immediately sensed trouble. She hurried to flee, but two streaks of light sped after her, followed closely by the figures of the master and disciple.
Flying in front were naturally God Nine Transformations and Morning Snow. The two seemed to have been stifled for too long, charging straight at Yuxin and injuring her in an instant, forcing her to immediately change form. But Yuxin was also quite clever, she didn’t fight, only ran. With this place full of caves connected by tunnels, the two spiritual weapons were toyed with until they spun in circles, able only to destroy things everywhere, causing rumbling cave-ins and falling rocks within the cavern.
With no other choice, the two could only recall their spiritual weapons, when a voice came from a side tunnel.
“Forget it, forget it, I won’t play with you anymore. Gu Baiqing, you smelled so good beneath me… so delicious. I’ll never forget that bite. You must remember me! One day, we’ll continue what we were just doing!”
As soon as these words were spoken, Gu Baiqing’s mind was filled with question marks. Only when he chased into another cavern and saw countless tunnels, along with the demonic aura being concealed once more, did he stop in frustration. Sure enough, an elder-level demon, truly troublesome.
Gu Baiqing was just recalling Morning Snow when his wrist was suddenly grabbed by the usually silent Mo Xuanli beside him.
By now, Gu Baiqing was almost reflexively tense at Mo Xuanli’s sudden movements. He stiffened his arm, afraid that the next moment he’d be pulled into an embrace again.
“W-what are you doing?” Gu Baiqing asked uncomfortably. Whenever he faced Mo Xuanli now, he inexplicably always found himself at a disadvantage.
“Master, just now Yuxin said you and her…”
Seeing Mo Xuanli’s expression shift in shock, almost tinged with killing intent, Gu Baiqing immediately understood Yuxin’s intention in saying that. It was truly malicious, still had to dig one last pit before leaving.
“Master, did she do anything to you…”
Gu Baiqing tried to shake off his hand but couldn’t, and could only shout helplessly, “You believe whatever she says? How can you be so stupid! Even though there were a few dangerous moments, even if you hadn’t come, I could’ve handled it myself. What kind of person do you think your master is? Without my consent, who in this world could force themselves on me or take liberties with me?”
After Gu Baiqing finished shouting, both of them froze.
Mo Xuanli stared blankly at Gu Baiqing’s gradually reddening cheeks. Did the implication mean that anyone who could force himself on his master was someone permitted to get close?
Mo Xuanli’s heart stirred. He suddenly exerted force and pulled him into his arms. Even though Gu Baiqing was so unwilling, he was still held by him. Sure enough… the only person who could force himself on his master was the one who had been allowed.
But it seemed… not entirely voluntary either.
Mo Xuanli’s heart softened unbearably. He understood that his master was yielding for his sake.
How far could that yielding go?
Thinking of the scene he had seen earlier, Yuxin seeming about to bite his master’s shoulder—
Mo Xuanli’s gaze turned cold, his tone probing and coaxing. “Master, is it that only I can…”
Gu Baiqing was awkwardly trying to push Mo Xuanli away when his collar was suddenly pulled open a bit, a pain and itch blooming at his shoulder.
Gu Baiqing let out a low groan, his body seeming to have all its strength drained in an instant, leaving him unable to stand steadily.
Again!
That little mad dog is asking for a beating!
Another surge of electricity passed through, directly numbing him.
Gu Baiqing pushed someone away and turned around angrily, but was still pounced on and hugged from behind.
Just as Gu Baiqing was about to break free, he heard a hoarse voice say, “Master, I like you.”
Gu Baiqing stiffened. “You…”
“I like you, there’s respect and reverence for my master, and also… affection for Gu Baiqing… Is that not allowed?”
Gu Baiqing fell silent.
“I like you. I want to love and stay with you through lifetime after lifetime, year after year, day and night. Is that okay?”
Gu Baiqing remained silent.
Mo Xuanli tightly wrapped his arms around his master, as if he had no intention of letting go even if the other refused. As he spoke, his breath brushed close to the slender, fair neck, and his lips couldn’t help but touch it lightly, instantly leaving the master’s neck flushed red.
“You are a noble immortal venerable, and I am a lowly hybrid. But you said you don’t mind then prove it to me. Tell me… can I like you?”
Gu Baiqing panicked, his heart panicked. His mind felt like it had crashed. “I… I…” After a long while, Gu Baiqing finally forced out, “You are not a lowly hybrid. You are Mo Xuanli, you are my… most important person. I just… right now…”
Before Gu Baiqing could finish speaking, his neck suddenly hurt again, as if it had been caught between teeth.
“It’s okay. If Master can’t give an answer for now, that’s fine too. No need to rush. As long as Master can worry about me and no longer sees me as just a disciple, that’s enough.”
Mo Xuanli spoke so obediently and aggrievedly that Gu Baiqing felt his own hesitation made him seem unmanly. But things were moving far too fast, he was truly a bit panicked. He had originally planned to give himself some time to think it through slowly, to seriously face the possibility that he might have to bend himself for Mo Xuanli and do some mental preparation. Instead, Yuxin’s interference had thrown everything into chaos. Gu Baiqing could no longer control the pace of events, especially now that Mo Xuanli had no more reservations.
He naturally understood Mo Xuanli’s sincerity and wanted to cherish it properly, but… he was still a bit conflicted and bashful, his heart in turmoil.
At this moment, Mo Xuanli added, “As long as Master trusts me and no longer doubts my feelings for you, I’ll be very happy.”
It’s over, now I feel even more guilty. Gu Baiqing hurriedly said, “I… I believe you now, I really do. S-sorry… Did what I did before hurt you? I only wanted you to be well, I didn’t mean to…”
“I know, Master, I know…” Mo Xuanli’s voice sounded softly, but gradually the tone shifted, still gentle, yet a dangerous aura pressed in. “Master, you can be even worse to me, hurt my heart, strike me with lightning, make me wait forever, I won’t be angry. I only have one request: you can’t abandon me. You gave me hope, gave me a promise, and I believed it. So if you throw me away, this disciple will retaliate fiercely.”
Gu Baiqing froze. That line somehow didn’t feel very threatening like a love confession, yet… also a bit different, inexplicably making his heart tremble.
But then he thought about it again. Just earlier, this disciple had been eagerly hinting that he was willing to be his dog, stuffing a leash into his hand, talking as if being chained to his side was the greatest happiness. What kind of retaliation could such a disciple even have? At most, some harsh words, right?
Gu Baiqing agreed easily. “Alright. I definitely won’t abandon you.”
But Gu Baiqing probably hadn’t thought that this so-called “not abandoning” meant not abandoning in every sense of the word. By the time he realized it later, it would already be too late for regret.
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