After Being Adopted by the Obsessive Male Lead - Chapter 10

“Don’t pay him any mind,” Jun Wang said.

“Mhm.” Chang Le had just sat down when he heard another commotion outside the window.

“Oh dear, how did the Tangli Orchard catch fire!” The female innkeeper sounded like she was on the verge of tears. In the garden, three of the largest crabapple trees had been reduced to charred husks, naked and black, severely marring the beauty of the orchard. Heartbroken, the innkeeper pointed at the red-haired youth, her body trembling as she shrieked in a voice that cracked from the strain, “You people from the Beast Taming Sect are truly lawless!”

Someone seemed to be offering a persuasion afterward, but the voices were muffled. Chang Le didn’t open the window again. Their priority for this trip was the Streamer Flowers, so it was best to stay out of idle trouble.

Only, he was so hungry.

His stomach gave a timely growl. Chang Le quickly drank a cup of plain tea to quell it.

Being alone in a cultivation world and penniless was rough. He didn’t have a single spirit stone. All their expenses for supplies and lodging were being covered by the Great Demon. He felt embarrassed to speak up. Is this demon hungry yet?

Hurry up and get hungry, you demon!

Jun Wang could hear those faint stomach rumbles. After traveling on the Cloud Boat for half a day, the young master hadn’t had a drop of water or a bite of food. It was normal to be hungry, but if he starved, it would only cause more trouble.

Beside him, Jun Wang suddenly put on his veiled hat and stood up to head out. Chang Le prayed fervently in his heart that the man was going for food.

After a short wait, a knock sounded at the door.

Hoping Jun Wang had returned with a meal, Chang Le sprang up to open it.

The person outside was dressed in white with a golden crown securing his hair. His features were open and bright, carrying an air of extraordinary nobility.

“I am Shuo Jinglin of the Beast Taming Sect. My younger brother, Yanfang, offended you earlier. He was truly lacking in manners. I have already disciplined him and have come specifically to offer my apologies.”

Shuo Jinglin was momentarily stunned by Chang Le’s appearance. No wonder Yanfang had acted like a fool under the window. However, he knew his brother was merely a lover of beauty and didn’t actually have “cut-sleeve” inclinations.

Shuo Yanfang hopped out from behind Shuo Jinglin. His wicked eyes showed a rare flicker of sheepishness as he muttered awkwardly, “Sorry.”

The moment Chang Le saw Shuo Yanfang, he took several steps back, terrified he might catch fire. “It’s no big deal.”

“Since you’ve forgiven me, would you be willing to share a drink and chat?”

Shuo Jinglin’s face darkened, and he slapped Shuo Yanfang on the head. “You’ve ruined the reputation of the Beast Taming Sect. I brought you here to apologize and make amends, and you start acting up again!” Shuo Jinglin was fuming.

“Since the apology has been made, you two may leave.” Chang Le closed the door, having no desire to talk further.

But in the next heartbeat, his own hand reached out and opened the door again, and he began walking toward the Shuo brothers as they headed away.

Chang Le: ?

Why am I walking toward them? Why won’t my body listen to me?

He couldn’t even make a sound.

The Shuo brothers were walking side by side ahead. Shuo Yanfang glanced back to see the youth following them and curled his lips into a mischievous smile.

Crap, I can’t get any closer, I’m going to burn up.

Chang Le couldn’t even manage an anxious expression. He watched helplessly as he drew nearer and nearer. The scorching heat intensified. When he was just inches from the brothers, his legs suddenly gave out, and he began to fall forward toward Shuo Yanfang.

In an instant, Chang Le felt his waist being pulled back. He fell against a cool, firm body, and Jun Wang’s voice rang out in his ear, “Why aren’t you staying in the room?”

Chang Le almost cried. In this moment, that voice was more beautiful than a school bell.

Shuo Jinglin retracted his outstretched hand, observing the sudden arrival in the veiled hat. Although the man only had one arm around the youth’s waist, the posture was full of possessiveness.

What is the relationship between these two?

Chang Le remained silent, his face stiff. What on earth? Am I possessed?

Jun Wang frowned, scanning Chang Le’s body. Beneath the layers of his black hair, a hint of yellow was visible.

“A Body-Control Talisman?”

Jun Wang tore the talisman off, and Chang Le instantly regained control.

Seeing the talisman, Shuo Jinglin’s expression changed. “Yanfang, what have you done now?”

“I just wanted him to have a drink with me.”

Shuo Jinglin was so angry he felt dizzy. He shouldn’t have brought this brat along. “Apologize, right now!”

“I won’t! It’s not like it hurts anyone,” Shuo Yanfang said, shaking off his brother’s hand and preparing to leave.

The talisman between Jun Wang’s fingertips suddenly glowed with a golden light and shot straight after Shuo Yanfang.

Shuo Yanfang’s movements came to a grinding halt.

The fact that this man could use a Body-Control Talisman to stop Yanfang meant his spiritual power was higher than his brother’s. Shuo Jinglin couldn’t just stand by. He immediately said, “Please show mercy, fellow Daoist. Yanfang is young and stubborn. Would ten bottles of high-grade Spirit-Refining Pills suffice as compensation?”

Spirit-Refining Pills were useless for cultivators above the Golden Core stage, so the man in the veiled hat wouldn’t need them. However, the person beside him had no spiritual fluctuations, so he would surely find them useful.

He offered a storage ring to Chang Le.

This sounded like something very beneficial for cultivation that he could give to Qiu He, but in this situation, he still had to ask for Jun Wang’s opinion.

“Take it,” Jun Wang said.

Chang Le accepted the storage ring.

Shuo Jinglin breathed a sigh of relief when he saw them accept the item. But before he could fully exhale, a loud crash echoed.

Shuo Yanfang had jumped straight from the second-floor corridor, landing hard on the empty floor of the tavern below.

Shuo Jinglin was furious. “Why did you go back on your word?”

Jun Wang chuckled. “Why be angry? The pills bought his life, but he still needs to learn a lesson. He can’t hide behind his brother like a spoiled child forever.”

Speechless, Shuo Jinglin didn’t linger and hurried down to check on his brother.

The yellow talisman flew back to Chang Le’s hand.

Chang Le caught it and examined the pattern, which was complex and eerie. Just a single piece of paper could make a person feel possessed, losing all self-control. Despite his lingering fear, he couldn’t help but wonder how the talisman was activated.

The yellow paper fluttered gently, and the vermilion ink suddenly glowed gold.

Chang Le immediately let go.

The paper flew into the air and slapped onto Jun Wang’s firm chest with a “snap.”

Jun Wang didn’t look panicked. Instead, he raised an eyebrow in surprise. “You can activate spiritual talismans?”

As he spoke, his tall frame suddenly stiffened.

Jun Wang couldn’t believe it. This young master could not only activate the talisman but also suppress him, yet there was clearly no spiritual energy in his body.

“What?” Chang Le was confused.

He had indeed thought about testing the talisman on Jun Wang in his mind, but he had no spiritual power, he shouldn’t be able to move it. But why was Jun Wang frozen?

As a modern person who had transmigrated, where would he get spiritual energy? Besides, his role was supposed to be the innocent and fragile one. If Jun Wang perceived even a shred of threat, it would mean a death sentence. Chang Le hurried to tear the talisman off.

Jun Wang narrowed his sharp phoenix eyes, a probing light flickering within them. The young master’s pale face lacked color, and his dark eyes were wide as he tried to remain calm, though the panic wasn’t entirely hidden. He said lamely, “The talisman must be broken.”

Chang Le’s hand was suddenly enveloped by a cool palm, and the talisman was taken away.

“Broken?” Jun Wang studied the paper for a moment. With a flick of his finger, spiritual energy surged, and the vermilion ink glowed gold again.

Seeing this, Chang Le’s right eyelid twitched. Suddenly, Jun Wang turned toward him. A large palm snaked around to his back and pressed down firmly.

Chang Le was caught off guard and crashed into the white mesh of the veiled hat. In that cramped space, Jun Wang’s devastatingly beautiful face became even clearer.

Chang Le’s pupils contracted. They were so close their breaths seemed to intertwine. He instinctively tried to retreat, but the hand on his back was like a stone wall, refusing to let him go and pressing him closer to the man’s chest.

Chang Le snapped, “What are you doing!”

Then, his vision went dark as Jun Wang lowered his head, pressing his cool forehead against Chang Le’s.

Chang Le froze as something burrowed into the center of his brow.

It hurt…

The intruding force felt like a blade slicing into his spiritual sea. Chang Le furrowed his brow, his eyes filling with tears of pain. He looked into the eyes that were too close to his own. Those pupils were like deep, dark pools, terrifying to behold.

Is this demon trying to probe my spiritual sea?

He truly had never practiced cultivation. If letting him probe would set his mind at ease, then so be it.

Chang Le tried to cooperate, but the sensation of the intrusion was too intense. His vision began to fail. He closed his eyes and felt a sharp pang in his heart.

He had no strength left…

“Ugh.” Chang Le couldn’t withstand the pain and collapsed.

His head fell against Jun Wang’s shoulder. Jun Wang held the unconscious Chang Le, his gaze filled with a fierce, dark energy. Deep within the young master’s spiritual sea, there was a trace of spiritual power, and around that power was a familiar aura.

An aura identical to his own.

Jun Wang gripped the body leaning against him tightly.

Chang Le’s consciousness was hazy. He could vaguely feel a dull pain. It felt as if a giant python was coiled tightly around his waist, squeezing with such force that he couldn’t move an inch. It felt as if it wanted to snap his bones, crush them, and swallow him whole.

So scary… Lin Yu, Lin Man, it’s useless to count on you. Someone save me…

Chang Le curled up and jolted awake. He found himself in a soft bed. No python.

A cool breeze had dried his cold sweat, and the tightness in his chest was gone. It was dark outside. He was alone in the bed. Where was Jun Wang?

Chang Le looked up and saw Jun Wang sitting at the small round table by the window. The moonlight shone on his face, which was devoid of expression as he stared at him. The overlapping shadows of the crabapple branches flickered across Jun Wang’s face with the wind, looking like living tattoos.

Chang Le’s heart skipped a beat. “Brother Jun?”

“There is food on the table.”

The candle in the room suddenly flared to life, revealing a plate of delicate pastries on the square table.

This demon. Just a moment ago, he looked like he wanted to kill me, and now he’s being kind enough to give me food?

Did he finally confirm I have no spiritual power?

Chang Le got up and took a pastry. The soft, white treat had the faint fragrance of crabapple blossoms, sweet and sour. By the time he finished the last one, Jun Wang still hadn’t spoken.

Knowing the detoxification pills were still in his hand, he figured the demon wouldn’t risk his own life. Chang Le relaxed and yawned. Being full made him sleepy, a natural human reaction. He fended off the drowsiness just long enough to take a mouth-rinsing pill.

Chang Le returned to the bed and removed his hair tie, his black hair spilling out like silk. Not forgetting the mission for the Streamer Flowers, he spoke in a sleepy voice, “Brother Jun, we have the Hundred Path Sword Debate tomorrow. Get some rest early.”

He was truly exhausted and sank into a dream the moment his head hit the pillow.

The candle went out, leaving only the moonlight. Jun Wang stood up. The round table behind him was revealed, and on it sat a bottle of high-grade Spirit-Refining Pills, the contents already crushed into white powder. The young master had eaten the pastries containing the pills and was sleeping deeply.

If Chang Le had opened his eyes, he would have seen Jun Wang pressing his forehead against his once more. In the darkness, a faint golden light flickered between them. Chang Le let out a muffled groan of pain and turned his head, but he didn’t wake up.

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