X
Join our Discord server and get release updates for every novel you follow.
Join the Server“No! You lie!” Mu An refuted in terror.
“Whether I lie or not, you know very well.” With those words, Qing Ya’s fingers swiftly struck Mu An’s acupoints.
With a few swishing sounds, he released Mu An from his restraints.
Mu An immediately felt unwell, nearly vomiting. He leaned against the wall, barely managing to keep his sliding body under control.
Suddenly, a flicker of terror passed through his eyes. He could clearly sense a wisp of demonic energy seeping out of his dantian.
In that instant, like a bolt from the blue, he stood frozen in place.
“You are a half-breed of human and demon, the lowest rank of demonkind. Though I don’t know who sealed your demonic bloodline, a half-breed remains a half-breed—not human.”
A malicious smile appeared in Qing Ya’s eyes. “If your Wanghua Immortal Lord were to learn of your bloodline, do you think he would brand you a demon spy and cut you down with a single stroke?”
“What exactly do you want from me!” Mu An glared in fury, the corners of his eyes bloodshot, his handsome face twisted with hatred.
The sight stirred something in Qing Ya’s heart. [I truly want a taste of this beautiful face. What a pity—I still need him for something.]
“I told you, I’m here to help you.” Qing Ya tossed him a medicine bottle. “Take this, and your demonic bloodline will fully awaken.”
Mu An caught the bottle, bewildered. “I won’t take it.”
“You will. After all, someday soon, the human world will have no place for you.” Qing Ya curled his lips in a smile and vanished on the spot.
Mu An loosened his grip on the bottle slightly and casually tossed it into his storage space.
“That demon smiled all creepy-like, as if afraid people wouldn’t know he had ill intentions. He went through all the trouble of changing his face for nothing,” Mu An remarked.
[Maybe he’s done so many bad things he’s afraid of being hunted down, so he changed his face.]
“Mm… that makes sense.”
[Host, there are red marks on your neck from where you were strangled. Please deal with them quickly, so there are no misunderstandings.]
“Got it.” Mu An used the last of his spiritual energy to erase the red marks on his neck and let out a soft sigh.
He limped back to his room and sat in meditation to heal his injuries.
***
No matter how golden the nest or silver the nest, none beats one’s own shabby home.
Mu An locked the door and stripped off all his bloodstained clothes.
His bare body now only covered by a pair of square-cut shorts. During the healing process, the wounds might still seep blood, so he couldn’t be bothered to put on sleepwear.
After casually casting a cleansing spell, he got into bed and sat cross-legged to meditate.
[No one can see me anyway, and the system has automatically gone into its little dark room.]
After taking a few healing pills, Mu An began to meditate and cultivate.
Before long, he suddenly felt something press against his lips.
He snapped his eyes open and unexpectedly met a pair of deep, cold eyes.
“M-Master!”
Shen Shengqing pushed the pill into his mouth and said coldly, “Swallow.”
Instinctively, Mu An closed his lips, inadvertently brushing his soft lips lightly against the tips of his master’s fingers.
Shen Shengqing withdrew his hand with an unchanged expression. His wide sleeve hid his fingers, but inside the cuff, his hand trembled slightly, fingers rubbing against each other as if trying to coat every digit with that marvelous sensation.
“Master, how did you—”
“Focus your mind.” Shen Shengqing coldly interrupted Mu An, his gaze sweeping over the youth’s body.
He turned and sat behind Mu An, assuming a meditative posture.
He channeled spiritual energy into his hands and pressed them against Mu An’s smooth, soft back. The warm, tender skin against his palms nearly made him lose control, longing to lean down and lick it.
But now, this back no longer bore the whip marks he had left yesterday. Instead, it was covered with sword wounds left by another.
This was unforgivable.
Whether it was the disciple who had deliberately thrown the match, or Yunnan You who had seduced his disciple.
Neither could be let off lightly.
Feeling the spiritual energy coming from behind, Mu An felt a warmth in his heart. [Shen Shengqing actually cares about me quite a bit—he’s even taking the initiative to heal my wounds.]
[But if that’s the case, won’t he stop resenting me for losing the match?]
[Then how am I supposed to complete my mission?]
Just as he was thinking this, he heard his master’s cold voice. “Focus your mind.”
Mu An stopped thinking about other things and calmed his heart and breath. He could feel a gentle, cool spiritual energy slowly flowing into his body, helping him straighten out the chaotic energy inside.
Before he knew it, when he opened his eyes again, the sky had turned dark as ink. His injuries had all healed. He was about to kneel and thank his master when he was abruptly met with a questioning voice.
“Why do you have demonic energy on you?”
Mu An’s heartbeat stuttered. [I absolutely cannot let Master discover my identity now, or how will I secretly poison him and follow the plot later?]
His lashes trembled rapidly. He slowly rose and moved to kneel on the cold floor.
Shen Shengqing firmly grasped his arm, stopping him from kneeling. Mu An’s lashes fluttered, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
“Master, after I was injured, in order to heal as quickly as possible, I took a demonic pill.”
Mu An kept his head slightly lowered, not daring to meet his master’s eyes, but his voice grew increasingly sincere. “I acquired that pill at an auction. It might contain spirit demon grass. Perhaps that’s where the demonic energy came from.”
“If that is the case, why kneel?” Shen Shengqing commanded coldly. “Rise.”
Relieved, Mu An slowly stood up. A trace of morbid delight colored his brows and eyes. “Thank you, Master, for believing me.”
“Shizun~ Is it because you were worried about this disciple’s injuries that you specially came to treat me?” His pretty peach-blossom eyes shone with anticipation, looking like a little cat begging to be petted.
Yet the man on the couch bore not a single ripple of emotion on his face as Shen Shengqing’s cold gaze lingered on his eyes.
They were too alluring, and far too restless. Did Mu An use this very pair of eyes to ingratiate himself with that fellow from Yunhe Peak?
He really ought to gouge those eyes out so that he could never use them to seduce anyone ever again.
“During today’s sect grand competition, why did you lose?” he asked in a deep voice, hoping that Mu An would state the truth honestly and stop making him angry.
The plot is here, Mu An thought to himself as a trace of reluctance immediately surfaced on his face.
He dropped to one knee, saying with feigned unwillingness, “This disciple’s mastery is lacking; please forgive me, Shizun. This disciple will definitely not lose the next time.”
Shen Shengqing sneered inwardly. Mu An actually still refused to speak the truth even now.
This lying mouth and these acting eyes really ought to be locked away so that he could only ever act for him and only ever lie to him.
“You and the senior disciple of Yunhe Peak—do you have deep private interactions?” Shen Shengqing asked.
Mu An met his master’s unsmiling expression, feeling somewhat at a loss. “Shizun, Senior Brother Yun and I have no association with each other.”
Still lying. If they had no association, why would he deliberately cede first place to the other, giving the first-place prize—the Profound-Breaking Condensation Pill—to someone else?
Mu An and Yunnan You were both at the peak of the Golden Core stage, and both clearly had an urgent need for that pill to break through.
“Mu An, do you know the consequences of deceiving your master?” Shen Shengqing asked coldly.
Mu An’s eyelid twitched slightly. Again? Could it be that he’s going to whip me?
Should I give that sinister, shadowy smile like yesterday then?
He immediately lowered his eyelashes, putting on an obedient and gentle appearance. “Shizun, this disciple will never deceive Shizun.”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than his chin was gently tilted up by someone.
Meeting his master’s icy gaze, his heart skipped a beat.
Shen Shengqing’s cool, pale fingers lightly rubbed against his lips.
Over and over again, as if trying to wipe away some filthy thing, scrubbing until his lips were engorged with blood and a burning, searing pain began to bloom.
“Ma… Master?” Mu An spoke with a tremor, his warm breath spilling across the other’s knuckles.
Shen Shengqing’s eyes darkened gradually, and he abruptly rose from the bed and walked toward the exit.
“Shizun!” Mu An’s pupils trembled slightly as he quickly chased after the figure about to depart.
Shen Shengqing’s figure paused. “Mu An.”
“Go to Reflection Cliff to reflect on your mistakes behind closed doors for two months; you are not permitted to step out without an order.”
Mu An’s heart tightened, his peach-blossom eyes tinged with moisture, looking both wronged and resilient.
He took a step back and respectfully accepted the order. “This disciple obeys the command.”
Reflection Cliff suppressed the spiritual energy of cultivators below the Nascent Soul stage, and the mountain was plagued by bitter cold snow year-round, with extremely harsh weather. It was typically a place reserved for those who had committed offenses.
Hearing his disciple’s slightly dejected voice, Shen Shengqing’s expression cleared up somewhat.
Was he being too harsh on Mu An? Clearly, the one in the wrong was that ungrateful Yunhe Peak brat who had tried to seduce Mu An.
Mu An was lowering his head when a cyan robe was suddenly draped over the crown of his head. He hurriedly pulled the robe down, revealing his face.
Where in front of him was there any sign of his master? There was only a tightly closed wooden door.
He lowered his eyes to look at the cyan robe in his hands, feeling somewhat baffled.
After changing into his own clothes, he urgently called out to the system, “System, System, stop sleeping on the job, come out and help me analyze this.”
Your next favorite story awaits! Don't miss out on Star Switch Scandal – click to dive in!
Read : Star Switch Scandal
If You Notice any translation issues or inconsistency in names, genders, or POV etc? Let us know here in the comments or on our Discord server, and we’ll fix it in current and future chapters. Thanks for helping us to improve! 🙂