The Wicked Disciple Has Fallen Into Demonic Possession, And The Master Can No Longer Withstand It! - Chapter 14

Yan Jue could not help but recall the rumors he had heard from the villagers. They said A-Ye was a freak and a madman. The stories about him were more numerous and spanned more years than he had been alive. However, Yan Jue always believed in what he saw with his own eyes. A-Ye was not a freak; he was his dear friend with whom he shared a life of hardship.

He assumed A-Ye was hesitating because of those rumors. “It does not matter. No matter what you look like, you are still my A-Ye. I need to see your complexion now so that I can treat you better.”

His words of comfort did not move A-Ye. Those deep, dark eyes seemed to hold something unspeakable. “No,” the youth replied.

Yan Jue’s heart softened, and he did not push him further. He turned to Lu Wu and said, “Please find me a few medicinal herbs.”

Lu Wu tucked away his folding fan and rolled up his sleeves. “A request from Fuchen is never a trouble. It seems I have become a pharmacy apprentice.”

The youth had a small frame and had lost quite a bit of blood. Yan Jue picked him up easily, though he was terrified of hurting him further and moved with extreme caution. The moment he was lifted, the youth struggled as if startled. “No need. I can do it myself.”

Yan Jue exerted his strength, nearly losing his balance. “Do not move. You are injured. This way is easier for both of us.”

Although they saw each other often, they usually maintained a certain distance. This was the first time Yan Jue had been so close to him. He caught a faint, familiar scent on the boy. It was a cold fragrance, very pleasant, and unlike the smell of a wanderer who traveled the world.

Yan Jue found a smooth stone by the river and carefully placed the boy on it before turning to fetch water. Watching his busy figure and anxious movements, the eyes behind the mask grew vacant as his thoughts drifted.

Qi Yelan had wished countless times that he could just be an ordinary, average youth. This was true now and in his previous life. If he were ordinary, there would not be so much trouble and hesitation.

His transformation was only temporary, and the price he paid was far greater than the transformation itself. The mask on his face was both a disguise and a magical tool. It could isolate everything and hide his demonic energy, allowing him to become a mortal to a certain extent. Even an immortal could not see through his true identity beneath the mask, but it also meant he was destined to remain hidden behind it.

He knew his identity as the Demon Lord was inescapable, so he had tried to interact with Yan Jue using that identity. It turned out the two roles were incompatible. When Yan Jue recognized him as Qi Yelan, he knew they might not be destined to walk the same path. Qi Yelan was reviled by the world. He had feigned ruthlessness and hidden his true self, nearly terrifying Yan Jue.

He had no intention of forcing Yan Jue, but he truly needed the purification power of that body. Only by shedding his identity as a member of the Demon Race could he achieve everything he wanted to do.

Soon, Yan Jue returned with a gourd shell filled with clean river water. “A-Ye, bear with it for a moment. I will bandage your wounds immediately.”

As he spoke, he set the water on some pebbles and reached out to untie A-Ye’s belt. He felt the body beneath his hands shudder violently. Yan Jue took a sharp breath and slowed his movements.

Beneath the coarse black robe was a lean body that appeared well maintained. The skin was smoother than that of an average person. Yan Jue’s gaze fell on the wound. A bloodied hole about the width of a thumb was steadily oozing dark red blood. A-Ye lay there quietly, but the rapid rising of his chest and the tension in his muscles betrayed his suffering.

After thinking for a few seconds, Yan Jue tore a clean strip of fabric from his own clothes, dampened it, and quickly cleaned the wound. Lu Wu returned with the herbs to stop the bleeding. Yan Jue crushed them and applied them to the wound, looking up to check A-Ye’s status.

The boy remained quiet. Occasionally, when the pain became too much, he let out a soft, muffled groan. A vibrant, vivid red flush had spread from his neck to his chest, looking strikingly beautiful.

Their eyes met. Yan Jue’s brow was knit tight as he looked into the reddened eyes visible through the mask. He was filled with heartache and felt helpless, wishing he were the one injured instead. “It will be over soon, very soon.”

He tried his best to remain calm while applying the medicine and bandaging. It took him quite some time to finish dressing the two wounds. When he was done, he took a deep breath. His hair was already soaked with sweat. He was so nervous during his first time treating such a wound that he had broken out in a sweat, and as the wind blew, a chill ran through his body.

Coming back to his senses, Yan Jue prepared to help A-Ye fasten his clothes. Just as his hand was about to touch that smooth skin again, he felt the person beneath him shudder once more. A slender hand reached out and pressed down on his.

Confronted by Yan Jue’s touch, Qi Yelan took a sharp breath. The bandaging was one thing, and he had tolerated those hands touching him then, but he could not endure it anymore. Compared to the pain of the wound, this accidental touch was far more difficult to bear.

In the middle of the wilderness, with clothes loosened and hands lingering, it felt like blatant provocation. This was true even though a senseless idiot was standing right right next to them. “It is cold,” A-Ye said.

His answer did not make Yan Jue suspect anything. Yan Jue rubbed his own fingers. The night wind was strong, and his limbs were inevitably cold. “I am sorry. It is finished now. I will help you dress.”

When Yan Jue reached out again, A-Ye had already pulled his clothes together himself, his body shifting back to avoid the contact. “No need,” he said.

His voice was as thin and cold as the late autumn wind, carrying a natural sense of detachment. Yan Jue had no choice but to withdraw his hand awkwardly. He noticed the boy’s earlobes were flushed bright red, leaving him somewhat at a loss.

Is A-Ye shy? Did I overstep my bounds? He was usually a careless person who did not focus on small details. Furthermore, they were both men. He had never thought about it much, especially since this was A-Ye. They had shared a bowl of noodles and slept on the same straw mat before. This was the first time he realized there might be an issue with the distance between them.

The sky was getting dark, and they could not stay long, so they had to continue their journey. Yan Jue originally wanted to carry A-Ye on his back, but since the wounds were on the boy’s abdomen, he made a different suggestion. “A-Ye, let me carry you in my arms.”

He reached out to scoop up the boy’s legs, but A-Ye pushed him away subtly. “No need. I can do it.”

It was a minor injury, not paralysis. Being carried like that would be a blow to his dignity. If his identity were ever exposed, the majestic Demon Lord would have no face left. He refused decisively.

The three traveled west and finally chose a path down the mountain. Before the night turned pitch black, they found an abandoned temple. It was a wild temple in the mountains, and it was impossible to tell which deity it belonged to, but it was at least a place to stay.

Yan Jue helped A-Ye to a pillar and let him lean against it, then brought him a prayer mat. He gave a kind instruction, “Rest here for a moment. Tell me if you need anything.”

He then went to organize their things for the night. Lu Wu stood in the courtyard with his hands behind his back, staring at the sky beneath the shade of the trees as if lost in thought. Yan Jue walked over and followed his gaze. Above them was a hundred-year-old Bodhi tree. It was too late to see the tree clearly, but he could vaguely see several red talismans hanging from the tips of the branches, fluttering in the wind.

It was rare to see Lu Wu with a heavy frown. Yan Jue asked, “Immortal Lu, is there something wrong with this place?”