After Marrying the Disabled Demon Lord as a Substitute, I Ran Away with His Child - Chapter 32

Chapter 32

Xuan Mo had no intention of doing anything untoward. Although he was the Sovereign of the Demonic Cult and rumors in the cultivation world painted him as unpardonably wicked—adept at every vice from debauchery to pillaging those were merely fabrications. He refused to touch things that disgusted him; for instance, the deeds Bimu had committed were beneath even a Demon Sovereign’s notice.

But the person on top of him was becoming increasingly excessive, pulling at his ceremonial robes, her hands wandering…

She even murmured in his ear with a voice as sweet and soft as syrup: “Quick, give it to me…”

He had always been generous toward Zuo Siqiu, so… he gave in.

…

The next day, the Demonic Physician arrived at Xuan Mo’s cave dwelling, trembling as he asked if the Sovereign’s body felt strange again.

“Venerable One, when you and the Madam cultivated together previously, her Fire Root alleviated the influence of the Ice Poison on your body. If you find anything unusual before I can arrive, dual cultivation with the Madam is the best solution.”

As he spoke, he checked Xuan Mo’s pulse. After a long while, he found no abnormalities; in fact, the Sovereign’s constitution seemed even more robust.

Little did he know that Xuan Mo hadn’t called him to treat himself. “This seat summoned you to examine Zuo Siqiu. The pill toxins in her body may not have been fully purged.”

The physician was puzzled. “That’s impossible. Previous diagnoses confirmed the toxins were gone; that medicine didn’t leave a lasting impact.”

“Is it because the Venerable One noticed something strange recently? Please call the Madam here so I can check her pulse.”

Xuan Mo paused, his gaze drifting to a random spot on the floor, pointedly avoiding the physician’s eyes. “It’s not exactly an ailment… it’s just that last night, she acted as if she were poisoned again…”

The physician’s eyes widened. “Is the Venerable One saying… the Madam ‘begged’ for dual cultivation again last night?”

Xuan Mo’s nod was infinitesimally slow. Seeing the faint crimson tint on the Sovereign’s earlobes, the physician felt his life span shortening. As the one who knew the most secrets about the Sect Leader’s bedroom, he wasn’t like Yan Jiaojiao; he didn’t find this interesting at all. He felt that the more he knew, the more likely he was to be silenced forever.

He suppressed a toothache-inducing sigh. “Venerable One, this is perfectly normal. If the Madam likes you, naturally she wishes to cultivate with you. In this world, whether human, demon, ghost, or beast, if they feel affection or wish to leave offspring, they will seek intimacy.”

Xuan Mo remained expressionless, his eyes still wandering. “This… this seat is aware.”

Aware, my foot, the physician thought. But he maintained a professional smile. “Since your body is improving, you could try to collect certain rare herbs. If Madam is willing, she could refine them into pills. Once completed, they could fuse with the frost poison in your veins, allowing you to walk and stand like a normal cultivator.”

He handed over a jade slip listing the necessary ingredients. Xuan Mo noted them and notified the “Black Shop” to purchase them at high prices. However, these were legendary materials; almost no one was willing to sell them.

Xuan Mo didn’t seem panicked. After all, Zuo Siqiu’s frequent “requests” were already keeping him busy enough. He felt the need to emphasize to himself that this “busyness” was not due to the “kidney deficiency” Zuo Siqiu joked about. Even if he were stuck in a wheelchair, he could hold his own for forty-nine days straight if need be.

The real exhaustion came from the cleanup. After every session, he had to meticulously clear the traces from Zuo Siqiu’s body, creating the illusion that nothing had happened. Thus, Zuo Siqiu simply believed she was having frequent, absurdly vivid dreams.

She had gone from shy and annoyed to accustomed, and finally, she was just numb to it. Though, every time she woke up and saw Xuan Mo, her heart still skipped a beat.

She even began proactively refining better pills for him. Now a mid-stage Golden Core, she could refine Grade 4 Qi-Recovery Pills which contained thousands of times more spiritual energy than Grade 3. These would finally be more than just “sugar beans” for Xuan Mo.

She refined them with utmost care. She kept his favorite “Big Three” flavors: Peach, Lemon, and Mint, but added special effects:

Peach: Induces a sense of sweetness in the heart; perfect for a bad mood.

Lemon: Makes one prone to jealousy; perfect for partners who hide their emotions—one pill and the “vinegar jar” in their heart is overturned.

Mint: Best for fights; it provides a rush of coolness to clear a heated mind instantly.

When she handed the bottles to Xuan Mo, he was surprised, but his reaction annoyed her. “You’re actually willing to give this seat Grade 4 pills? Trying to clear your debt faster?”

The image of him gratefully accepting them vanished. Zuo Siqiu gripped the bottle, anger rising. But then she noticed a faint smile at the corners of his eyes. With his face gaining a bit of color, his lower eyelids were tinged pink, making him look dangerously alluring.

Her heart raced. She turned her gaze away if she looked longer, her heart might explode. “Just made them randomly,” she grumbled, throwing the bottles into his lap. “Deduct it from the tab as you see fit.”

She stomped out and sat on the steps in a huff. I worked so hard, and all he thinks about is money! Does he think I’m a deadbeat? And he dared to use his beauty to seduce me!

Behind her, Xuan Mo’s smile didn’t fade. He took a Peach pill. The rich spiritual energy actually filled a portion of his vast dantian, and the pure peach flavor lingered, making his heart feel inexplicably sweet.

He drove his wheelchair to the door. Seeing Zuo Siqiu meticulously counting her meager assets on the steps looking pained as she set things aside, his mood improved further. It seemed the Grade 4 Peach pill really did increase one’s happiness.

“Why are you counting that junk? It looks like there’s even less in your pouch than last time.”

Zuo Siqiu gnashed her teeth. That’s because I used all my materials making pills for you! “I’m clearing out my inventory to pay you back! I’m never borrowing from you again!”

Xuan Mo replied, “This seat never told you to hurry. If you don’t want to pay now, it doesn’t matter. I don’t charge interest.”

Zuo Siqiu looked up. The warm morning light touched his “ice sculpture” features, softening his sharp edges. His gentle expression felt like a hook, tugging at her heart. Her face flushed, and though she tried to sound fierce, her voice was soft. “I don’t need your charity! I give you Grade 4 pills and you just talk about debt. If you want your money, just say it. I’m not a borrower who disappears.”

She pushed a pile of spirit stones and treasures toward him. “Take these. Calculate how much is left. I’m going to the Black Shop to settle the accounts and I’ll bring back more to pay the rest.”

Xuan Mo raised an eyebrow. “Since you insist, I’ll take them?”

Zuo Siqiu was fuming. Even his heavenly looks couldn’t cool her anger. “You… you really are a demonic cultivator! Greed incarnate!”

Xuan Mo realized that perhaps only someone “wicked” like him would find making someone angry so delightful. Once the fun was over, he pushed the pile back. “Keep them. They are useless to this seat.”

Zuo Siqiu’s eyes softened a bit. “I didn’t say I wouldn’t pay. You’re the one pushing it back.”

“Indeed. This seat won’t go back on his word. I don’t want these items, and I won’t rush you. As for these Grade 4 pills… They are much better than the old ones. I’ll give you a higher credit for them.”

Seeing her expression fully relaxed, Xuan Mo pulled out a Supreme Sky-Fire Stone from his storage. “I found this while looking through my things. It’s useless to me, so I’ll give it to you.”

A Sky-Fire Stone was a legendary tool for alchemists; it could significantly boost pill quality. Zuo Siqiu’s eyes lit up. “How much are you charging me for this? I already owe you so much…”

“It’s a gift,” Xuan Mo said. “Why would I charge you?”

Zuo Siqiu was so happy her face turned red. “A gift? For real? No strings attached?”

Xuan Mo laughed at her disbelief. “Is this seat so stingy in your eyes?”

Yes, you’re a total miser in my head, she thought, clutching the stone like a treasure. But she didn’t dare say it.

…

That afternoon, while “walking” her rooster, Zuo Siqiu ran into Yan Jiaojiao and couldn’t help showing off the stone. Her face glowed with a sweetness she hadn’t noticed. “Look, the Venerable One gave this to me.”

Yan Jiaojiao gasped. “A Supreme Sky-Fire Stone! That’s an alchemist’s holy grail! The Sovereign is truly pampering you!”

Zuo Siqiu beamed. “Well, I made him lots of high-quality pills too. Better than the ones in the shop.”

Yan Jiaojiao’s heart melted at her cuteness. “You two are the most loving couple in the cultivation world! But Madam… why haven’t I seen any… ‘marks’ on you lately?”

Zuo Siqiu froze for a second, then improvised. “The Venerable One pities me. Actually, there are more marks than before, but every time after we cultivate, he uses his power to clear them for me and gives me pills to restore my energy.”

She didn’t realize that her nonsense had accidentally hit the bullseye of the truth. Yan Jiaojiao bit her sleeve in excitement: Reading novels is nothing compared to watching these two!

Zuo Siqiu was satisfied. Another day of building the Sovereign’s “loving husband” persona!

…

Meanwhile, at the Long family—a prestigious clan with deep ties to the Bixia Sect tensions were high. They had secretly brought the “charcoal” Bimu back to their estate.

“The Bixia Sect is gone. The disciples have scattered, and the grounds are occupied by those ‘cauldrons,'” an elder sneered. “And our own eldest son, Long Xiaotian, is leading them to start a new sect! How should we choose?”

Long Xiaotian’s father, the current head, had a massive headache. Bimu’s crimes had cost him his wife and children’s respect, but he couldn’t bear to let go of Bimu’s alchemy skills. “If we save him, he must sign a soul contract to be our slave alchemist. We won’t waste resources on ‘gratitude’ alone.”

As the elders plotted to turn Bimu into a slave, Bimu himself lay on a bed, his body scorched and his soul fractured. He was more wretched than a common beggar. But he refused to die. He wanted to climb back to the top and trample the world under his feet.

Suddenly, his Second Disciple entered the room. Bimu’s voice was a mangled croak, his eyes full of desperate hate. “Disciple… save me…”

The Second Senior Brother looked down at him with cold, dark eyes and a cruel smile. “Master, remember when you locked me in the Black Cell? Do you know how I suffered? You want me to save you now? What can you give me to make me forget the past?”

Bimu’s throat gurgled, a name barely escaping: “Bi… Zhian… my daughter…”

The disciple burst into laughter. “So you finally know I want her? You’re willing to give her to me now?” The laughter stopped abruptly. “But Master, she has no one but me now anyway. Besides her, don’t you have anything else worth saving? Or do you plan to take your secrets to the grave and try to restart from the beginning after reincarnation?”

“But Master,” he leaned in, his gaze mocking. “A man like you will surely be reborn into the Animal Path. I wonder if I’ll ever have the chance to taste your meat in my next meal?”

Bimu began to shake like a leaf, the terror in his eyes impossible to hide.