The Beautiful Pariah Thought He Could Be Loved - Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Each with Their Own Hidden Agenda

Xin Qishu leaned against He Lüqing’s shoulder, his eyes sparkling with a sweet light as small dimples appeared on his cheeks.

Lüqing’s voice was very low. “Are you really this happy despite being slandered?”

“But you believe me,” Xin Qishu murmured, pressing his face against the fabric of He Lüqing’s robes, inhaling the man’s scent.

A strong, fishy smell overpowered He Lüqing’s usual natural fragrance.

“Don’t overthink it. I believe you because, with your capabilities, there’s simply no need to steal. Going in broad daylight and using something else to threaten people is more your style.”

“The Glazed Lamp is boring. I don’t even want it.” Xin Qishu sat up straight, his slender white arms peeking out from his sleeves. “So, will you help me explain it to them?”

“Of course. As long as the lamp isn’t on you, they are just wasting time focusing on you. How else will they find the real one?” Lüqing gazed at him.

“The Cheng family has many connections. This incident has moved five sects, including the Fayu Pavilion.”

“Tomorrow morning, I will find the elders of each sect and tell them the truth.”

“I’m afraid they’ll try to drag you to the dungeons tonight. Once you enter the Mo Sect dungeons, you’re as good as dead. Even if the case is overturned later, it’s nearly impossible to get out. Xin Qishu… remember this: no matter the situation, no matter the means, never let yourself be taken to the dungeons.”

Xin Qishu gave a soft “oh.” Being cornered for the first time, he couldn’t help but feel a bit apprehensive. “Will they believe you?”

“…I will do my best. Regardless, I believe you.” Lüqing’s voice sounded like it was soaking in warm water, swaying gently with the ripples, making it impossible to see the true face of his emotions.

Xin Qishu lowered his head and licked his lips; they were pale red and moist. His left hand instinctively moved to his neck.

There was a red ring on his fair skin—chafed by his collar earlier.

As his soft hand stroked his neck, Xin Qishu complained in a low voice, “It hurts so much. Next time, can you just carry me? Don’t pull me.”

“That would make it harder to move quickly.”

“How so? You know, a bridal carry. Fei Jia used to carry me like that; it didn’t hinder his movement at all.”

Lüqing reached the limit of his patience and grabbed the boy’s hand. The touch was cool and soft. He frowned. “Your hands are covered in dust, yet you’re touching yourself everywhere.”

“If I’m covered in soot, no one will recognize me. Isn’t that better for escaping?”

He Lüqing performed a cleansing spell and stripped away the rags. “Unnecessary. Tomorrow, I will clear your name.”

Xin Qishu was restored to how he looked when he was first pulled from his bed.

Clean and soft.

“I will leave first tomorrow. You stay here and wait. Do not go out; I will set up a barrier. Return to the Yunzi River after 5:45 AM (Mao-shi, 3rd quarter).” Lüqing pointed in a direction for him to take.

Xin Qishu agreed. “You still haven’t told me—why exactly do they suspect me? There are so many people at the river; I can’t be the only demon there.”

“Is it because I’m famous? Are they just targeting me while the lamp is actually sitting safely in the Cheng house?”

He Lüqing said, “I don’t know. I wasn’t part of the initial search. I only hurried over after receiving word that they were going to arrest you.”

Xin Qishu: “Then who from the Fayu Pavilion came this time? Is it Yang Li? Does he believe me…”

He Lüqing: “No, it’s Elder Han of Fan-Hua Peak. Yang Li didn’t come.”

Xin Qishu remembered the letter still in his possession and handed it to He Lüqing. “I almost forgot. What did Yang Li write to me? Let me see.”

“I burned it.”

“I saw you put it away.”

“And then I burned it. There was nothing important; you needn’t worry about it.”

He Lüqing began his meditative trance, and Xin Qishu sat obediently by his side, watching He Lüqing’s calm, stern face with harmless, admiring eyes.

…

At the crack of dawn, He Lüqing used his light-body skills to depart. Xin Qishu remained leaned against the wall, fast asleep.

By mid-morning, the sound of scattered footsteps came from outside. Three young men in azure robes arrived. They didn’t look like they were just passing through; they wandered aimlessly through the village, chatting.

One youth had his hair in a small top-knot (jiu-jiu), one looked more studious, and the oldest held a strangely designed compass.

“Why did He Lüqing suddenly pop up yesterday? Hasn’t this been our responsibility?” said the top-knot youth, his hair swaying.

“Who knows,” the studious one replied, his aura shifting the moment he spoke.

“What’s there to ‘know’? He’s clearly developed real feelings for that little demon.”

“Why did Senior Brother have us bring the compass here? He Lüqing probably made off with Xin Qishu ages ago.”

“Could Junior Brother be wrong? Just listen and follow,” the eldest, presumably their Senior Brother, said. “Wait! There’s a fluctuation of spiritual energy over there!”

The compass pointed toward the flat-roofed house. The three rushed to the building. The Senior Brother cautiously threw a small stone; it hit an elastic barrier and bounced back to the ground.

“Tsk, they really are here. Blast it open!”

The top-knot youth stuck several talismans onto the barrier and began forming hand signs. A crisp male voice startled him so much his hand twitched. He opened his eyes.

A lively youth had emerged from the side, a blade tucked into his waist. He watched them warily with round, almond eyes. “What are you doing?”

The top-knot youth was stunned. “Where did you come from?” They had just circled the village and hadn’t seen a soul.

“I just came back from out of town to visit relatives,” Xin Qishu said, peeling off the talismans. “What are you doing to my house?”

“Visit relatives?” The studious youth looked at the half-collapsed house. “Where are the relatives?”

Xin Qishu looked indignant. “What do you mean by that?!”

The Senior Brother, being older, understood the “situation.” A child goes off to cultivate, and after achieving success, returns to share the joy, only to find their parents long dead.

He sighed. This barrier was likely set up by the boy during a previous visit to protect his parents, though it couldn’t stop the passage of time. He cast a silence spell on the studious youth.

“We made a mistake. Sorry, little brother. We’re leaving.”

Xin Qishu said, “Wait, I just heard you mention some Sword Master. What happened?”

The Senior Brother looked him over; he looked like a rogue cultivator. “A few days ago, the Cheng family’s Glazed Lamp was stolen. They commissioned our Mo Sect to find it. We found a witness who saw Xin Qishu near the Cheng residence. They said he was acting suspiciously, hiding something in his shirt…”

Xin Qishu interrupted. He hadn’t been anywhere near the Cheng residence these past few days. “Is that person so sure it was Xin Qishu? Couldn’t it have been an imposter?”

“Impossible. We have a special magical treasure that can reconstruct scenes. That person was definitely Xin Qishu!” the Senior Brother insisted.

Xin Qishu gripped the hilt of his blade and remained silent.

“Then the Fayu Pavilion suddenly meddled!” The Senior Brother slapped his hands together in anger. “The moment the news broke, He Lüqing immediately kidnapped Xin Qishu.”

“We searched all night! The Fayu Pavilion people said He Lüqing would definitely bring him back. He did come back this morning, but he was alone.”

“I wanted to say this when you asked—He Lüqing is harboring a demon. What kind of ‘Sword Master’ is that?”

Xin Qishu’s expression grew colder. Hearing this, he shot the man a sidelong glance. “If he’s not the Sword Master, are you?”

“Of course I’m not, but my Junior Brother will be soon. We’re from the Mo Sect—ever heard of it, friend?”

The man had a reckless air about him. Not knowing his intentions, Xin Qishu stepped back.

“My Junior Brother is exceptionally handsome, heroic, and powerful. Little brother, would you like to get to know him?”

Feeling a wave of panic, Xin Qishu pushed him. “What are you babbling about? Just get out of here!”

Fortunately, the other two couldn’t stand it either and dragged their Senior Brother out of the village.

Xin Qishu breathed a sigh of relief.

…

At 5:45 AM, just as Xin Qishu was about to leave, He Lüqing returned.

Hearing the movement, Xin Qishu turned around. Lüqing was holding his sword, his eyes bloodshot, his rims red, and his thick eyelashes wet with tears. Upon closer look, his entire body was trembling.

Xin Qishu stood up in shock, reaching into his storage ring. “What happened?”

“Why are you back?”

The powerful, perfect He Lüqing looked fragile, as if cracks had appeared on his jade-like form.

Lüqing suddenly lunged forward and embraced Xin Qishu. Xin Qishu’s eyes widened as He Lüqing’s cool lips brushed against his cheek, leaving a slight itch. Xin Qishu’s hands hung awkwardly at his sides.

With He Lüqing’s high bridge of his nose pressed against his cheek and the sound of suppressed sobbing in his ear, Xin Qishu’s heart broke. He tilted his face to press against He Lüqing’s, the unfamiliar sensation stirring his nerves.

He tentatively placed his hands on He Lüqing’s broad back, offering himself up. Surrounded by an unfamiliar body temperature and the scent of soap.

Xin Qishu patted his back gently. He couldn’t see He Lüqing’s face, but he felt relieved when the breathing became steady. Suddenly, his feet left the ground. He let out a gasp as He Lüqing lifted him in a bridal carry. “I’m taking you back to the Demon Abyss.”

Xin Qishu buried his face in the man’s chest. “They don’t believe me, do they?”

Lüqing remained silent.

Xin Qishu pushed gently against He Lüqing’s chest. “Then I’ll go on my own. You should go back.”

“…They discovered that a cultivator helped in the theft of the Glazed Lamp. They suspect… me,” Lüqing’s voice shook slightly.

“What?! How could they suspect you?” After the incident this morning, Xin Qishu had a bad feeling, and now it has come true. He Lüqing had always been the leader of the cultivators; why would the sects turn on him?

Xin Qishu immediately realized it was because of the forced marriage. But He Lüqing had agreed for the sake of the greater good, not for personal feelings. How could they…!

Xin Qishu said suddenly, “Let’s find the real thief. We’ll clear your name.”

“I will send you back to the Demon Abyss first. I will prove our innocence to them.”

“Why do they think there was an inside job?”

He Lüqing said, “They didn’t tell me.”

…

The Yunzi River had no fish, and the locals generally didn’t like eating it. Yet, yesterday He Lüqing had smelled strongly of fish; he must have spent a long time in a place related to fish. Someone who very much liked eating fish… Xin Qishu happened to know one: Chen Fei, the head of the Cheng family.

The Glazed Lamp should also have been in his care.

Before seeing him, He Lüqing must have spent some time at the Cheng residence.

“By the time you get back, the thief and the lamp will be long gone. How will you prove it then?” Xin Qishu said softly. “Why don’t you drop me off at Willow Mountain up ahead? Once you’ve explained everything, you can take me back to the Demon Abyss.”

“The terrain of Willow Mountain is complex. Even if they chase me, they won’t catch me.”

“…” He Lüqing looked down. Xin Qishu’s dark head was buried in his chest. He could feel the boy’s warm breath on his skin.

“There are too many monsters on Willow Mountain,” He Lüqing said. “I’ll take you to Little Qinghe County.”

…

Lüqing brought him to an inn. Xin Qishu climbed out of his arms, smiling and waving. “Your embrace is really warm. Come back soon.”

Xin Qishu watched He Lüqing leave, then propped himself up and flipped out of the window.

It wasn’t that he suspected He Lüqing of wanting to harm him; he was just curious about who the person impersonating him was.

Perhaps… not a person?

There were fox-demons in the Southern Forest, though they rarely showed their faces.