The Aloof Master Is Secretly Kissed Every Night by the Paranoid Villain - Chapter 9

So, this man could actually smile like that.

It was not a look of contemptuous mockery, let alone a freezing sneer filled with disgust. Instead, it was a bright and gentle smile, a warm smile that made people want to draw close to him.

The same went for the powerful Peak Master of the Medicine Peak. Although his words were harsh, he actually protected Xiao Heng fiercely.

It was because he had them backing him up that Xiao Heng could utter those words without any fear, defending himself. Furthermore, Xie Yuan understood that even if this matter were truly Xiao Heng’s fault, given Wen Shiqing’s temperament, he would not allow the other party to suffer any harm. He certainly would not raise a hand to punish Xiao Heng. He would only do everything in his power to protect Xiao Heng.

Xie Yuan could not help but recall his own childhood. To fill his stomach, he had once stolen some food from the kitchen. When the palace servants discovered it, they beat him severely with a whip soaked in saltwater, giving him twenty lashes. Xie Xiao happened to pass by, and that was the first time he had ever seen his father.

At that time, although he always heard his mother cursing his father, he still harbored a faint longing for paternal love. With reddened eyes, he wanted to tell his father that he did not have enough food or clothing and that the servants all bullied him.

However, Xie Xiao only gave him a cold and disgusted look, saying to the servants, “If you want to punish him, take him somewhere else. Do not dirty the newly laid bluestone path of the Plum Garden.”

Different people had different fates. It was truly so cruel.

Xie Yuan’s fingers, hanging at his side, curled and tightened, pressing into his palm until it stung. Suddenly, a thought struck him. The corners of his lips curved into a cold sneer, which he slowly adjusted into a submissive and bright smile. He stepped forward toward Xiao Heng.

To the youth who was half a head taller than him, he spoke in a gentle voice, “Hello, Senior Brother Xiao. My name is Xie Yuan, and I am the new personal disciple Master has accepted. I have long heard that you are very formidable. Seeing you today, you truly possess an extraordinary bearing. I hope we can get along well in the future.”

Since it felt eyesore, he might as well destroy it. A dirty rat putting on a human skin and crawling into the great water vat of the Wentian Sect; who was pure and who was muddy would be hard to tell.

“Ah?” Xiao Heng’s attention was drawn to Xie Yuan.

Seeing the beautiful youth with red lips and white teeth, he could not help but gasp. Then, he asked Wen Shiqing excitedly, “Master, you have finally accepted another personal disciple?! Does that mean he can live with us in the Qinglan Courtyard from now on? I told you earlier that the Qinglan Courtyard was too quiet, and you actually listened to my words!”

Without waiting for Wen Shiqing to speak, he asked Xie Yuan again, “Junior Brother Xie, are you also very formidable? What realm are you in? Do you use a sword or a saber? Do you want to practice a few moves with me first?”

He stood too close, his hot breath brushing against Xie Yuan’s face, making Xie Yuan feel somewhat uncomfortable. When he spoke again, his voice dropped two degrees colder. “I am sorry, Senior Brother. My spiritual root has been destroyed, and my realm has not yet entered the Qi Refining Realm.”

“…” Xiao Heng’s smile froze instantly on his face, replaced by an expression of deep regret.

He had grown up in the Wentian Sect, and the people he dealt with over the years were all young geniuses from major sects. Therefore, he naturally assumed that his Master’s standard for accepting disciples was a formidable young genius. Looking at Xie Yuan’s age of eleven or twelve, he felt the boy should at least have the strength of the Qi Refining Realm. He had not expected the other party’s spiritual root to be destroyed. If no way could be found to heal it, he might even have to remain an ordinary mortal for the rest of his life.

The words he had just spoken clearly poked at the other party’s painful spot. He truly deserved to die!

“I am sorry, Junior Brother.”

“No matter.” Xie Yuan lowered his eyes, his long, curled eyelashes trembling slightly. “The only reason I could be accepted as a disciple by Master is because of Master’s pity. I do not ask for much. I only wish to stay by Master’s side and serve him. That is my greatest happiness.”

Hearing this, Wen Shiqing’s heart softened. He did not understand why he had been so fierce to Xie Yuan, yet this child was still so sensible. How could a child like this become the villain who killed so many people to refine souls in the future?

“Master, Junior Brother is truly too pitiful.” Xiao Heng was also fooled by Xie Yuan’s expression, feeling even more guilty. He could not help but ask Wen Shiqing, “Do you have a way to help him repair his spiritual root?”

“The price to pay for repairing a spiritual root is too high.” Beside them, Lin Xiu frowned. He wanted to say something but held it back, turning to tap Xiao Heng on the head instead. “Stupid brat, do not make things difficult for your Master.”

Wen Shiqing understood Lin Xiu’s meaning. In this novel, the method for repairing a spiritual root was documented. It required the use of the Samsara Pill. Refining the Samsara Pill required not only three extremely precious medicinal ingredients, the Meridian Fruit, the Soul-Nurturing Grass, and the Thousand-Year Penglai Branch but also the heart blood of a cultivator who was at least in the Lower Divinity Realm to act as a catalyst before it could be consumed. Furthermore, because the medicinal power was too fierce, it also required a powerful cultivator to expend half of their cultivation base to regulate it for the recipient to ensure absolute safety.

It was precisely because the method for repairing a spiritual root was so difficult and known to so few that the rule of a cultivator being reduced to a mortal once their spiritual root was destroyed had always been widely circulated. Lin Xiu chose to conceal it because he did not want Wen Shiqing to make such a grand sacrifice.

However, Wen Shiqing was actually thinking that the persona he played would die sooner or later anyway, so he might as well help Xie Yuan out. Of course, this matter absolutely could not be known by Xie Yuan.

Thus, he told Xiao Heng, “There is no rush to repair the spiritual root. Let Xie Yuan recover his health first.”

Even though Xiao Heng was simple-minded, he could see that Lin Xiu’s expression was off, so he nodded and said no more.

Afterward, the three flew via sword toward the Sword Peak.

Wen Shiqing originally intended to bring Xie Yuan to the Qinglan Courtyard at the peak, but he heard System 00’s reminder from the side: [Host, in the novel, you actually despise Xie Yuan getting close to Xiao Heng. You will not arrange for Xie Yuan to live in the Qinglan Courtyard either. Furthermore, when you are alone with Xie Yuan, you will warn him not to have any designs on Xiao Heng, threatening to kill him if he exposes anything.]

[…]

Wen Shiqing truly wanted to curse. However, he could only stop his footsteps and say to Xiao Heng, “Go back to the Qinglan Courtyard by yourself. Xie Yuan’s body has not recovered yet and cannot withstand the dense spiritual energy of the Qinglan Courtyard. I will arrange for him to stay in the villa halfway up the mountain, which is more beneficial for his recovery.”

Xiao Heng was somewhat disappointed, but he still accepted Wen Shiqing’s reasoning. Before leaving, he even waved his hand at Xie Yuan. “Junior Brother Xie, recover well. I will visit you whenever I have time. Remember, your Senior Brother will cover for you in the future!”

Looking at the youth’s sincere face, Xie Yuan also looked up with a smile and waved his hand. “Mm, Senior Brother, I will wait for you!”

The Jingfeng Sword descended, landing at the Spring Scenery Villa halfway up the mountain, and Xie Yuan’s fake smile slowly faded. He raised his eyes and, as expected, saw Wen Shiqing staring at him with a cold expression. He looked like an entirely different person compared to how he behaved in front of Xiao Heng.

“Do not do anything unnecessary.” Wen Shiqing tried his best to put on a fierce appearance. “Remember your identity, and do not get too close to Heng’er. Do not let him perceive the relationship between you and me either. Otherwise, I do not mind killing you right now.”

Hearing these words, Xie Yuan suddenly felt an urge to ask Wen Shiqing if he ever grew tired of acting like this every day. He had found himself as a substitute, yet he was still afraid of Xiao Heng finding out.

However, for some reason, after witnessing Wen Shiqing’s behavior in front of Xiao Heng and the others, and now seeing this side of Wen Shiqing, a twisted sense of pleasure arose in his heart. After all, he was the only one who had witnessed the other party’s wretched, dark side. In front of others, he was a high and mighty Daoist Master. Yet in private, he possessed this filthy, dark, and shameful appearance that was exactly like his own.

Just thinking about it was amusing.

With his thoughts reaching this point, Xie Yuan tried hard to control the upward curve of his lips. He assumed a terrified posture and said with a trembling voice, “I am sorry, Master. This disciple will definitely be careful in the future. I will never get close to Senior Brother Xiao again, and I will not reveal a single word about the matter between you and me. I beg Master not to be angry with me.”

Wen Shiqing instantly felt his conscience sting even harder.