“Many thanks, Senior, for saving me.”
He had only been returning to the Hidden Gods Clan, but halfway there, he was ambushed by demons. If not for the help of Nan Zhi from Zixiao Sect, he and Ji Chuling would probably have perished on the road.
But because of him, Nan Zhi and Yun Yue were both injured. Li Xiuran felt deeply guilty—he had been the one to invite them on this journey.
“No need to thank me. You’ve already grasped the first level of the God-Slaying Sword’s intent—your strength has risen naturally. I merely happened to intervene when I saw injustice,” said the eccentric old man before him, Half-Step Mad.
Half-Step Mad had made a dramatic entrance at the critical moment, riding an Ascending-Cloud Stork and roaring to scatter the pursuers, giving Li Xiuran the opening he needed to escape death.
Now, Li Xiuran stood before the captured demon girl—a Gu demon, called Le Xi.
He pointed his sword at her, but Half-Step Mad suddenly grew alarmed and stepped forward to block him.
“Senior?” Li Xiuran looked at him, puzzled.
Half-Step Mad looked back, equally confused. Why was the kid attacking right away? Hadn’t he wanted a wife?
“They came to ambush you, but don’t you want to find out why first?” Half-Step Mad reminded him.
Li Xiuran frowned. “Most likely for the God-Slaying Sword’s intent. Otherwise, there’s no reason to hunt me. And Gu demons are extremely dangerous—they can’t be left alive.”
“If she were truly that powerful, would you have captured her so easily?” Half-Step Mad chuckled. “The real Gu Demon died years ago alongside the Demon Lord. This little one’s just a minor Gu demon. After you trapped her with your spell, she’s nothing more than a weak little girl.”
Li Xiuran was rendered speechless by Half-Step Mad’s soft heart. At that moment, Ji Chuling, who had been gravely injured, slowly regained consciousness. Just earlier, she had taken a fatal blow for Li Xiuran and passed out. Yun Yue, also wounded, had been tending to her. Perhaps hearing their conversation, Ji Chuling spoke weakly: “Don’t kill them. Since they know about the God-Slaying Sword, this matter isn’t that simple. Take her back too.”
Li Xiuran immediately stepped forward to support her. “Alright, we’ll do as you say. Don’t move around—you’re badly hurt.”
Then he turned to Nan Zhi and said, “I know—we should have gone our separate ways. But since you were injured saving us and even fought the demons, why not come with us to the Hidden God Clan for now? Heal up first, then we can talk.”
Nan Zhi, clutching her greatsword and enduring the pain of her wounds, glanced at Yun Yue, who was also badly hurt. Only then did she nod. “Alright.”
“Senior, you…” Li Xiuran asked, turning to Half-Step Mad.
Half-Step Mad said, “I won’t go to the Hidden God Clan. I’ll part ways with you up ahead.”
So, for now, the group continued their journey together. When they passed through the last town, they happened to run into members of the Immortal Sect.
That was how they learned what had happened in Linxun Town.
Because the incident involved both the Spirit Gathering Formation and Rufeng Sect, word spread quickly.
“It seems Brother Xuanli and the others have run into serious trouble too. Why are the demons so active lately?” Li Xiuran frowned.
“I told you—the emergence of the God-Slaying Sword would definitely stir up chaos,” Ji Chuling said. “I just hope their master and disciple pair are all right.”
“With Fourth Martial Uncle there, Junior Brother will be fine. Besides, he’s strong on his own,” Nan Zhi said confidently.
“Mm. It’s thanks to them that an entire town of people was saved. That’s a great deed,” Yun Yue said with a smile.
Inside the carriage, the captured Le Xi rolled over with a clattering sound, her face full of disdain. “That’s only because the demons they ran into were weak—a mere puppet master who had only recently fallen into demonic cultivation, not a trueborn demon. How strong could he be? Useless. Just cannon fodder for our kind.”
“You’re a prisoner yourself. Doesn’t that make you useless too?” Li Xiuran shot back bluntly.
“You—! What’s wrong with you? You’re awful!” Le Xi huffed, turning away and rolling to the other side of the carriage.
Li Xiuran still found it hard to believe that such a girl was a demon. But he remembered clearly how vicious she had been in battle. She was a pure-blooded demon—not one who had merely fallen later on.
Outside the carriage, the old man who had been dozing off woke up. He turned to look at the dim-witted Ascending-Cloud Stork beside him, then suddenly grabbed it and said softly: “Old friend, how has the plot changed again? …But hmm, this time, it seems better—works in my favor.”
If in Star-Stepping City, Mo Xuanli had still been walking the righteous path, then Linxun Town marked the beginning of his fall into both demonic and immortal cultivation.
Mo Xuanli had long since been numbed by his earlier experiences. He had risked himself to save people and complete missions—though half of those he saved still died in the end. That wasn’t something he could control. At least he’d saved the other half.
Yet, instead of gratitude, he was resented. When he fought the puppet master, those same people hindered him, even turned against him. They couldn’t harm him physically, but their stubborn, unreasonable hostility had nearly driven him into a demonic frenzy. If not for the Spirit Gathering Formation erupting at that exact time—flooding him with spiritual power he had to absorb—he might have lost control completely.
Later, the puppet master escaped. Mo Xuanli managed to save Xie Qingrong, but he would later become a hidden threat. Though he’d rescued him from the puppet master’s hands, his enemies twisted the story into evidence against him. Mo Xuanli couldn’t bear it.
One thing after another finally pushed him to fully embrace his demonic side and sever ties with the righteous sects.
That was how the original story went.
Could it be that because Gu Baiqing had stayed by his disciple’s side all along, things had changed? The demon puppet master was dead, the conspiracy had failed, and Xie Qingrong—who should have turned into a calamity—was now safe and sound?
So Mo Xuanli wouldn’t fall into demonic cultivation this time.
Maybe that last time’s warning had actually worked. That kid’s not bad. Good to get along with. He actually believed everything I said.
If only he could stay this innocent forever.
But unfortunately, what lay ahead was the tragedy of the Eastern Sea—the “Lament of the Merfolk.”
Because the upcoming trial was so difficult, disciples from the Zixiao Sect would be joining forces. There, Mo Xuanli would once again face betrayal and brush with death. The seal suppressing his demonic bloodline would be half destroyed, leaving him barely able to control his demonic nature.
And with the power boost he would gain afterward, his strength would skyrocket—unstoppable.
He would go on to destroy an immortal sect, slaughtering thousands—his most d*mning and unforgivable deed.
The awakening of his demonic bloodline would then be beyond all redemption.
Still… Half-Step Mad thought about how the plot had shifted. With that master constantly following him around—and remembering the time he first met them, when Mo Xuanli actually acted cute toward his master—it had shocked Half-Step Mad so much he nearly lost it.
With a disciple like that, he thought, maybe the story will change again this time.
…
The carriage rocked gently along the narrow road. The air grew heavy with the scent of salt—the sea was near.
Their trial mission from the sect was to reach a small fishing village under Zixiao Sect’s jurisdiction at the coast of the Eastern Sea and repair the barrier there.
Gu Baiqing looked at the mission scroll, thinking of the voice lines he’d once recorded for this part of the story. The memory made him cringe.
The Eastern Sea arc might be full of trouble, but its real purpose was to grant Mo Xuanli his “golden finger”—and serve as their luxurious seaside honeymoon trip.
In the original novel, this was where the master’s feelings finally underwent a true transformation. He stopped pretending everything was just about suppressing the Gu-poison spell, stopped responding out of mere physical instinct. Their atmosphere became completely tender and intimate. Even without the poison acting up, the master would now want to kiss his disciple.
And here, at last, he fulfilled one of his disciple’s long-cherished wishes—letting the master be on top—symbolizing the master’s active surrender and emotional acceptance.
There was no need for any confession—his master’s feelings were already unmistakably clear. The stimulation nearly drove the disciple mad; he forcibly prolonged the duration of their mission, staying there for an extra month of “honeymoon.” It was the most indulgent, unrestrained period of Mo Xuanli’s life. During that time, it was said that his master hardly ever looked at the sea in a conscious state.
That arc had also been the hardest for Gu Baiqing to record. After all, he had to take the initiative this time—not half-hearted resistance, but full-on forwardness—completely shattering the limits of shame. The plot itself was excessive, constantly skirting the edge of indecency; if the tone was too explicit, it had to be rerecorded, and if it wasn’t suggestive enough, it had to be done again. The endless repetitions tormented Gu Baiqing’s nerves.
After a while, he started to feel spiritually defiled—ashamed to the point of questioning his own orientation.
“Master… Master!”
Gu Baiqing abruptly came back to his senses, just as the curtain was lifted and Mo Xuanli appeared, looking like he was about to step inside.
“What is it?” Gu Baiqing cleared his throat and asked evenly.
Mo Xuanli’s face was full of concern. He reached out and touched Gu Baiqing’s cheek. “Why is your face so red? Are you feeling unwell?”
Gu Baiqing froze, staring blankly at him. Mo Xuanli suddenly seemed to realize he had overstepped, quickly withdrawing his hand with a slightly uneasy expression.
Gu Baiqing looked at him in mild surprise. He thought he had already returned to his usual cold, aloof, and lofty demeanor—serious-faced every day, lecturing without smiles or warmth. When had Mo Xuanli become so forward with him again?
“I’m fine. Why did you stop the carriage?” Gu Baiqing asked.
“The coast of the Eastern Sea is close,” Mo Xuanli said softly. “Should we ride through the night to the fishing village, or rest here for the night?”
Lately, his master had seemed distant—surely, he was still angry.
That day, when he had been entangled by that woman, he should’ve stepped away immediately, even if it meant breaking decorum. And when that minor sect had tried to arrange a marriage match for him, he shouldn’t have let them in. Then there was that time he saved a man possessed by an evil spirit—when the man confessed his feelings, his master’s face had turned dark. He should have comforted him, should have made it clear that he’d never get involved with anyone else. But his master hadn’t given him the chance.
He’d made his master jealous all along the journey—how foolish.
And yet, even so, he still deeply respected his master. Since their relationship was unspoken, he didn’t really know how to make amends.
Maybe tonight he could pretend to be asleep… or drunk… let his master draw close without psychological burden, do whatever he wished, and he’d never “wake up.”
But then again, there had been similar chances before, and his master hadn’t done anything for a long time. Sigh…
Gu Baiqing didn’t notice the swirl of emotions in his disciple’s heart. He lifted the curtain and saw that the carriage had stopped beside a small lake. The sky was scattered with countless stars, reflected in the water so that it looked like another Milky Way below. Clusters of flowers surrounded the shore, and now and then a fish leapt, rippling the mirror-like surface. It was quiet and beautiful—an ideal place to rest. They hadn’t bathed or changed clothes in days, so it made sense Mo Xuanli would suggest stopping.
Gu Baiqing let the curtain fall and said expressionlessly, “We continue through the night.”
As if he’d fall for that! In the original story, this scene had no “plot” except for one thing—open sky, lakeside, and wilderness trysts.
A scene practically dripping with innuendo—he was not stepping into that again.
All along this journey, he’d avoided every setup that could lead to such ambiguous encounters. No chance for suggestive atmosphere—none at all.
Who cared if the moonlight was beautiful, or the night breeze gentle—he saw nothing, nothing at all.
Mo Xuanli looked a little surprised, and a little disappointed, but obeyed. However, Three Bean immediately protested.
“You’re not even the one driving! You’ve been sleeping comfortably inside while Xuanli’s been doing all the work. And we’re not even in a rush—why go overnight?”
Mo Xuanli tapped Three Bean on the head. “Don’t be rude to Master.”
“I… I just want to rest! My injury hasn’t fully healed—I don’t want to rush anymore,” Three Bean grumbled, silenced but stubborn.
Gu Baiqing frowned slightly and looked toward Mo Xuanli.
Mo Xuanli could only give him a helpless, puzzled look in return.
Truth be told, Three Bean had been acting strangely this entire trip—always looking for excuses to delay, even suggesting that Mo Xuanli swap trial assignments with someone else. But this was the mission where Mo Xuanli would get his golden opportunity—there was no way they’d skip it.
And now the cat was pretending to be sick.
Mo Xuanli petted him, saying, “I’ve checked you several times—your wounds are already healed.”
“You’re not a veterinarian,” Three Bean retorted immediately.
“Fine,” Gu Baiqing cut in coldly, “The coast of the Eastern Sea is full of beasts and beast-tamers. Naturally, there will be healers for spirit beasts. We’ll find you the best one there.”
“I—! You—!”
There really was something wrong. Ever since arriving here, Three Bean’s temper had gotten worse.
Gu Baiqing thought for a moment, then asked the critical question: “Three Bean… could it be—you’re entering your mating season?”
At once, both man and cat froze and stared at him. Gu Baiqing instantly felt awkward—perhaps he’d been too blunt.
“I am not! How could you say that!” Three Bean cried, leaping onto Gu Baiqing and pawing at his clothes in outrage.
Gu Baiqing looked innocent. What? It’s perfectly normal for an unneutered cat to get restless during that time.
“No, I mean—if you really are in that special period, I can let you out. If you want to find a partner and… reproduce or whatever, that’s fine. We can talk about it.”
Most masters wouldn’t let their contract beasts wander freely, but Gu Baiqing didn’t care.
“I said I’m not! I don’t want a partner, and I don’t want to reproduce!” Three Bean yelled.
“Enough,” Mo Xuanli said, pulling the cat back. “Just be honest. Why don’t you want to go to the coast of the Eastern Sea? Did you cause trouble there before?”
As expected, Mo Xuanli hit the mark. After all, Three Bean had once been a beast of the wild—he’d surely wandered before and done who knew what, things none of them yet knew about.
“No, of course not! How could I possibly cause trouble? I just… I’m afraid of the sea, that’s all,” Three Bean said quickly, then looked rather displeased.
A kitten afraid of water—well, that wasn’t entirely incomprehensible. But with all the seafood by the shore, shouldn’t it be more tempting than frightening?
“I absolutely, absolutely cannot go into the sea. I’ll die if I do,” Three Bean said with utmost seriousness.
Even if they didn’t fully understand, Gu Baiqing and Mo Xuanli now had a sense of the situation.
Gu Baiqing nodded. “Don’t worry. It’s fine if you don’t come with us when the time comes. I approve.”
Only then did Three Bean finally let out a breath of relief—though he looked a bit embarrassed right after. After all, there probably wasn’t another master in the world who indulged their contracted beast like this. Three Bean couldn’t help but feel guilty… but he truly couldn’t go to the coast of the Eastern Sea.
Regardless of Three Bean’s gloomy mood, the carriage continued forward under the night sky.
When dawn had just begun to break, they arrived at a small fishing village by the coast of the Eastern Sea.
There were disciples stationed there to keep watch. One of them was a young man named Gong Zixing. It was rare to see someone so young who had given up cultivation. Gu Baiqing had expected him to be a lazy type, but the youth turned out to be bright and energetic—dressed neatly like a fisherman, looking every bit the diligent worker.
When they arrived, he was just about to go out to fish. Seeing the visitors, he immediately welcomed them into his home with warm enthusiasm.
He explained that his father had also been a cultivator, though he had only made it into the outer sect and never advanced further. Gong Zixing had followed in his father’s footsteps, joining the Zixiao Sect’s outer gate, but after failing to enter the inner sect, he returned home to inherit his father’s post as a village guardian.
“Senior Brother Mo! I’ve seen you before! I watched your match before I left the sect—it was incredible! I can’t believe it’s really you. I’m so happy you came!” Gong Zixing said with an expression full of admiration.
Mo Xuanli and Gu Baiqing exchanged a glance—they had both noticed something peculiar.
This young man… had a good spiritual root. He shouldn’t be limited to the outer sect level. Even if he couldn’t become a personal disciple of an elder, he should have at least been qualified to enter the inner sect. And at his age, there was no reason to have given up cultivation. Why would he…?
As the two of them were still pondering this, a woman’s voice called from inside one of the rooms: “Husband, are there guests at home?”
“Ah, yes—yes, they’re two senior brothers from Zixiao Sect, here on official business. You’re not feeling well, don’t come out,” Gong Zixing replied quickly.
The woman inside was silent for a moment, then, perhaps nervous at the presence of unfamiliar men, said politely, “Apologies for not greeting you in person. Please, make yourselves at home.”
Mo Xuanli responded courteously.
Gong Zixing scratched his nose with a bashful smile and explained, “My wife is pregnant—she’s a bit heavy with child, so please excuse her.”
“No problem,” Gu Baiqing said with a nod. “Is your wife also a cultivator—”
“No, she’s an ordinary person, but she knows about my background. My wife’s seafood dishes are the best—and she’s really beautiful too…” Gong Zixing trailed off, realizing his words sounded a little too forward, and rubbed his head sheepishly. But the sweetness in his eyes couldn’t be hidden—it was enough to make anyone around him smile.
In an instant, the earlier question was answered. They had been wondering whether some accident had caused him to abandon cultivation so young, thinking they might help him return.
But now…
Some people simply didn’t wish for eternal life. They only wished to live side by side with the one they loved.
Gong Zixing had given up the path of cultivation for the sake of his wife—and for the small family they shared.
Meanwhile, Three Bean, nestled in Mo Xuanli’s arms, twitched his nose. His cat eyes stared fixedly toward the inside of the house.
wheres chap 97 ❓😭