The Beautiful Pariah Thought He Could Be Loved - Chapter 32

Chapter 32: His Demon Day is Approaching

The words had barely left his lips when the bedroom door was pushed open with a violent force.

He Lvqing stormed in, his expression thunderous. His light green eyes shimmered with a sinister, chilling light, and the immense pressure of his presence radiated throughout the room, making it difficult to breathe.

Xin Qishu’s hand tightened instantly, and he stood up as a reflex.

The door slammed against the wall and bounced back. He Lvqing grabbed Duan Shi by the collar and shoved him aside.

Xin Qishu looked at him in shock. Impossible. He had clearly sensed He Lvqing was far away just moments ago. How did he return in an instant?

As if reading his thoughts, He Lvqing looked down and met his eyes. His expression was profound, his eyes like a thousand-foot-deep pool where the bottom remained hidden.

Has He Lvqing broken through again? This was terrible news for Xin Qishu. Now, with He Lvqing on his left, Duan Shi on his right, Dan Yu in front, and other suspicious disciples behind, he felt like a cornered beast.

Duan Shi, despite having his collar seized, did not fight back. Lvqing seemed consumed by his own emotions. Xin Qishu tried to step tentatively toward the door behind He Lvqing, but suddenly, he was frozen.

The door was right there, yet he could not take another step. The voices of the two men behind him rang out.

“Senior He,” Duan Shi regained his composed, gentlemanly persona, saying slowly, “could you be less crude next time?”

Lvqing’s voice was icy: “What were you two doing just now?”

“Don’t look at me like that. I was just asking Xin… a question.”

“Please believe me, I have no ill intent toward your spouse.”

He let out a cold sneer, clearly not believing a word. “No ill intent? Then what about the rest?”

Duan Shi acted playfully: “No killing intent, either, of course.”

“Why don’t we sit down and discuss? I’ve confirmed that the Qingrong Flute was stolen by the pure-bloods. Our previous actions startled the snake; now the pure-bloods have vanished without a trace. How should we find the flute now?”

“Does the Senior have any ideas?”

Pure-bloods vanished without a trace? Had they fled long ago? Xin Qishu stared at the door. There was a mole in the Immortal Alliance, or perhaps this entire ordeal was a scheme by the pure-blood demons to return to the stage.

Looking at the results, the disappearance of the Blood Glory Palace benefited the Immortal Alliance first, and the pure-bloods second.

He hadn’t suspected the pure-bloods before because, first, he thought they had been annihilated as well. Second, he held the internal belief that pure-bloods lacked combat strength. Because of this, even when he broke his engagement with Xu Qiyao and caused him great humiliation, Xin Qishu never imagined the pure-bloods would retaliate.

How ridiculous. Two camps both thought the third was weak and exploitable, only to be played like fools. One of those camps had even ceased to exist.

Xin Qishu’s heart was a mess. He desperately wanted to see He Lvqing’s face. You thought you were sacrificing for the greater good, but you stepped right into someone else’s trap. You, who are so high and mighty—what is your expression now?

His life was already in someone else’s hands. To save himself, he needed a lucky break. He didn’t need to look for one; He Lvqing’s own immaturity would surely create one for him.

…

Demonic energy began to circulate unconsciously within his body. It felt as if something was being awakened, pouring out endlessly to fill his frame.

The hairband at the back of his head finally slid off, allowing his long black hair to cascade down to his waist like a waterfall. Xin Qishu pulled himself out of that sensation of growth and began to forcefully suppress the circulating demonic energy.

“There’s no need to discuss these matters with me anymore,” He Lvqing said.

A rough hand grasped Xin Qishu’s. Miraculously, He Lvqing’s mood seemed to have calmed: “He is feeling unwell. You should leave.”

“Stay away from him.”

“If you could protect him all the time, how would I have the chance to get close?” Duan Shi taunted.

Duan Shi stared at the two for a long time before finally departing.

He Lvqing turned the immobile Xin Qishu around.

“Is your Demon Day coming?” He Lvqing lifted Xin Qishu into a princess carry with a theatrical flourish, holding him close. He released the immobilization spell and leaned down to claim a kiss, but Xin Qishu turned his face away.

He Lvqing was still acting! The thin veil of deception had already been pierced—what was the point of the performance?

How did I ever fall for such a hypocritical man?

“Did something happen this morning?” He Lvqing guessed.

“Dan Yu said I stole his things and wanted to take me back to Fayu Court for interrogation. When he questioned Han Wan’s existence, Duan Shi helped me out,” Xin Qishu said calmly after breaking free from his embrace. He wasn’t complaining or asking for He Lvqing to settle the score.

He knew exactly what kind of sickening response he would get if he let the mastermind of the plot handle it. He didn’t want to maintain the current atmosphere of intimacy, so he answered the question to break the mood.

“How did Duan Shi know we were here?” It was a temporary resting spot.

“I will report to the Sect Master. Perhaps the Sect Master told him, or perhaps he calculated it himself.”

He Lvqing thought for a moment and said, “Dan Yu was the candidate the Sect Master suggested. The Sect Master’s attitude is ambiguous; he might have other ideas. I will handle it.”

Xin Qishu listened silently. “The ‘result’ of your handling is always me bearing the consequences. And yet you still act as if you can solve everything and take responsibility for everything.”

“I explained your situation to them,” He Lvqing looked into his eyes. One gaze was deep, the other sharp.

He Lvqing continued: “I gave up resources that should have been mine. They have acknowledged ‘Han Wan.’ Even if Dan Yu makes a fuss back at the sect, you will be fine.”

“The Sect Master’s position is complex, but he will never openly defy me.”

Xin Qishu still didn’t look at him. The bed hadn’t been made yet, the sheets in a mess. He said, “Have you noticed? You only ever explain things to me after the fact.”

He Lvqing rubbed his cheek against Xin Qishu’s shoulder. “Now I know… I went to an old friend this morning to get a pill for Dan Yu. When we return, I plan to step down from some of my previous duties. The Sect Master’s final requirement for me is to ensure Dan Yu takes first place in this Immortal Competition.”

Xin Qishu wasn’t trying to discuss “relationship dynamics” with him. He didn’t care about the answer and wasn’t really listening. He felt they were no longer in a romantic relationship, but something far more twisted.

In this kind of relationship, both parties only need to persist in being themselves.

“How do you plan to handle the theft accusation? After he pointed out the truth of Han Wan’s existence, he also questioned your authority,” Xin Qishu asked.

“…I will get justice for you.” He Lvqing tilted his head slightly to find his lips. Their bodies overlapped, He Lvqing’s hair sliding onto Xin Qishu’s shoulder.

“…” Xin Qishu blocked him with his palm, watching him with silent caution.

“Let’s leave a little suspense for the matter. I will make you satisfied,” He Lvqing said, his tongue brushing Xin Qishu’s palm, whether intentionally or not.

Xin Qishu neither agreed nor disagreed, silently breaking away from the embrace.

Lvqing opened his mouth to say something, but then a knock came at the door.

“Elder He, are you inside? It’s time to set out.”

Xin Qishu leaned down and picked up the hairband with two fingers. Under He Lvqing’s gaze, he somberly reached back and tied his hair into a ponytail.

…

It had been an unpleasant morning, and the atmosphere during the journey was incredibly tense. Elder He, likely knowing of Dan Yu’s disrespectful words, wore an expression so dark it seemed it might drip ink. The Fayu Court group, plus Duan Shi, landed in Xiangjiang in this low-spirited mood.

Surprisingly, Dan Yu said nothing more along the way. Xin Qishu suspected he wanted to wait until they returned to the sect to erupt.

This Immortal Competition was hosted by a sect in Xiangjiang called Han Shuang Villa. Although not very famous, the villa was extremely wealthy. Every guest was provided with their own small courtyard.

Men and women stayed on opposite sides of the mountain. At the parting, He Lvqing looked back at him deeply.

Xin Qishu followed the crowd toward his assigned courtyard. Around him, young girls in their teens were chatting, looking bright and youthful.

Only he felt like a shadow.

Suddenly, someone tapped his shoulder. Xin Qishu jumped and threw an elbow back as a reflex.

“Oops!” A girl with two “ox-horn” buns jumped aside. “Sister, you’re so fierce.”

Sister?

Xin Qishu’s face contorted for a moment at the title, but knowing she meant no harm, he asked in a low, polite voice: “Is something the matter?”

“Sister, you are so pretty. Want to be friends?” The girl wore violet clothing and looked lively and cute.

“It’s not convenient,” Xin Qishu said, walking past her.

These bright, shining people would have nothing to do with him.

…

The courtyards were filled with a milky white mist. Without the owner’s permission, no one could enter except for blood relatives and Dao companions, ensuring maximum privacy.

Xin Qishu breathed a sigh of relief. He undid his clothes and lay back on the bed, his cheeks flushed.

Black demonic energy began to seep uncontrollably from his skin.

His Demon Day was here.

Compared to the sense of fullness he felt before, this time there was an added touch of… heat.

Xin Qishu surrendered to the sensations of his body and eventually drifted into a light sleep.

When he regained consciousness, the room was in darkness. His clothes had been removed, a brocade quilt covered him, and a source of heat behind him held him in an embrace.

“Where is my rabbit?” As he moved, He Lvqing also woke up.

“What?” Xin Qishu didn’t react immediately.

“The one I gave you.”

“I left it at the inn.”

“It’s not with Duan Shi?” Lvqing suddenly asked. He immediately regretted it and quickly asked another: “Your Demon Day is within these few days, isn’t it?”

He Lvqing kept asking this because Xin Qishu knew he viewed the Demon Day as a turning point for their relationship.

He was wrong. There would be no more turning points between them.

Xin Qishu didn’t answer. “Don’t you even dare to seek proof anymore, He Lvqing?” He felt it was ironic; their bodies were pressed tightly together, but their hearts were worlds apart.

Neither could pick up enough hatred to kill, yet neither could let go of the affection.

“Don’t you plan to let me help you?” The bed beside him sank slightly, and He Lvqing’s face appeared before him again.

It was still that same cold, handsome face. Xin Qishu’s thick lashes fluttered. He shrunk back an inch, leaning against He Lvqing’s propped-up arm.

He Lvqing leaned further down, his eyelids half-lidded, his green eyes staring with a paranoid, dangerous intensity, like a gathering storm: “Hmm?”

In the moonlight, Xin Qishu’s face was pale and so small it seemed a single hand could cover it. On such a small face were exquisite features; his long eyeliner flicked up as he gave He Lvqing a cold, unsympathetic look.

Suddenly, He Lvqing became somewhat agitated.

As Xin Qishu lay on the bed, the temperature of the skin behind him grew scorching, the contact suddenly becoming closer.

“Why wouldn’t I use you?” Xin Qishu said indifferently. “Why wouldn’t I use something that is being offered for free?”