Chapter 52: A Painful Yearning

No one expected that someone as celestial as that would pull such a stunt before leaving. The flames erupted too suddenly.

The swordsman who was raising his bowl to drink only had time to let out a cry before a tongue of fire licked away half his eyebrow, startling everyone at the table.

These people grabbed the knives at hand and were about to charge out to chop the noble young master. Ji Wushuang saw this, and a bone-chilling murderous intent surfaced in his eyes.

To avoid Ji Wushuang starting a massacre in the inn and courting unnecessary trouble, Jin Haofeng had no choice but to step forward to placate these people.

Through a mix of threats and cajoling, he finally settled the matter. But when he turned around, he saw that Ji Wushuang had already disappeared, presumably chasing after the red-clad young master.

Ji Wushuang’s martial arts were unparalleled. If he wanted to tail someone, even a top expert like Shui Jingxuan could not detect his presence.

He followed Shui Jingxuan all the way through the small town, his eagle-like eyes greedily drinking in the other’s figure, etching it into his heart.

As his heart throbbed, the headache that had not troubled him for a long time came back with a vengeance.

However, even as the excruciating pain in his head intensified, he still did not want to leave the handsome young man’s side. He felt that being able to follow him at a distance, even if it meant dying from the pain on the spot, would be worth it.

Although he did not notice anyone following, Shui Jingxuan’s five senses were far beyond ordinary. Ji Wushuang’s gaze was too focused, almost tangible.

Shui Jingxuan paused mid-step and turned to look in the direction of the stare, but saw only the bustling street with people coming and going, no suspicious figure.

He frowned slightly. Originally intending to head to the Demon Palace to investigate, he now changed his mind and glanced at the girl dressed as a maid beside him.

The girl understood his intent. She excused herself, saying she wanted to browse cosmetics and local snacks alone.

Upon receiving his nod, she tightened her grip on the small silver flute used to summon the scent-seeking snake and walked toward a quiet alley.

Shui Jingxuan also turned and headed straight back to the inn with Black Tiger and Azhuang to rest.

“Did you find out their origins?” Ji Wushuang asked, summoning the assassin from the shadow organization after listening and confirming that the person across the way had entered the room and gone silent.

“Reporting to master, your subordinate has been ineffective. So far, we have not found out the origins of these four people.” The assassin knelt on one knee and reported.

“Keep investigating if you haven’t! Change your approach. Start from well-known figures in the martial world. His eyes are clear, his breathing deep and long – he’s a top expert. That merchant disguise might fool others, but it will never fool me.”

Not knowing the other’s background made Ji Wushuang anxious, as if he might lose the person in an instant.

They had only met once, and he didn’t know where this intense possessiveness came from, but he knew that his whole being was screaming with the desire to possess the other.

That was not surprising. Ji Wushuang had always been extremely arrogant. Even when he was the Demon Sect Master, only a few people could catch his eye.

Black Tiger and Azhuang were then mere nobodies in the sect, not worth his notice. Moreover, five years had passed. The two had long shed their immaturity, their features maturing. Naturally, Ji Wushuang did not recognize them.

Having seen all sorts of people in five years, if Ji Wushuang could not remember, he simply let it go. After all, the person was still before him, only a few steps away.

He paced in his room, ears attuned to the light, long breaths from across the hall, feeling an unprecedented peace and joy.

But the joy was followed by a violent headache. This time, the pain crashed over him like a tidal wave, more severe than any before. Even the incomparably powerful Ji Wushuang could not help but clutch his head and groan.

Shui Jingxuan woke from his meditation, hearing the groaning from the opposite room.

Across from this inn was the red-light district. Pleasure houses stood in close rows, red lanterns hung high in lines, and from time to time, decorated boats drifted on the river, carrying clearly audible sounds of debauchery.

Immersed in such an extravagant and indulgent atmosphere, it was inevitable for guests to bring back a courtesan for pleasure. So when he heard the groans that seemed both pained and pleasurable, Shui Jingxuan naturally misunderstood.

But this was not his own territory. He couldn’t control what others did. He could only frown and endure it. Just then, there came a knocking on the door.

Knowing it was the girl who had left alone returning, he smoothed his robes and walked over to open the door. His gaze, however, was caught by a red-clad boy standing at the door of the room opposite.

The boy had red lips and white teeth, with a feminine appearance. His jade-like face was carefully made up with a light layer of powder and rouge, his brows carrying a hint of allure.

He wore a translucent bright red gauze robe, loosely tied with a sash of the same color. The hem was slit high, revealing half of a bare calf. He was wearing nothing underneath. The boy’s attire made it clear he was from the pleasure quarters.

At that moment, the boy was also raising his hand to knock lightly on the door.

Having just indulged in the warm comfort of a woman, yet not fully satisfied, he called for a male prostitute. It seemed his lower half ruled him. He curled his thin lips in amusement.

Just as he was about to nod to the girl to signal her to enter, a low, impatient roar came from the opposite room. Then the door flew open. Ji Wushuang stood there, veins bulging on his forehead, bloodshot eyes fixed on the boy, his voice dripping with hostility. “Disturbing me for no reason! Do you want to die?”

Seeing that his expression seemed to be suppressing pain and his clothes were neatly worn, Shui Jingxuan realized he had misunderstood him earlier. And hearing him refer to himself as ‘this lord’, and catching sight of his bloodshot eyes filled with a murderous aura, Shui Jingxuan’s heart stirred.

He actually saw a shadow of his master in the man across the way.

As soon as this thought emerged, his gaze swept from the hairline to the features, then to the jaw and behind the ears, searching for any flaw.

However, Ji Wushuang’s disguise technique was, like his name, unmatched in the world. The human-skin masks he made were as thin as cicada wings, soft and breathable, fitting as naturally as a second layer of skin.

Therefore, Shui Jingxuan’s hasty inspection could not detect the slightest flaw.

Noticing the concentrated gaze from across, Ji Wushuang snapped out of his pain.

Realizing his disheveled state, he immediately wiped the grimace off his face, straightened the wrinkles on his lapel, and said, “Get lost!” For some reason, he extremely did not want to show his unsightly side to that person. Therefore, he suppressed his urge to kill.

That boy, having mingled in the pleasure quarters, naturally had some discernment. Under Ji Wushuang’s intimidating aura, his legs were already trembling with fear. Once he came to his senses, he immediately fled, running for his life.

Ji Wushuang had driven the boy away without even knowing why he had come. Seeing that the man who had captured his full attention was staring fixedly at him, he felt a bit flustered and unconsciously revealed a slightly fawning smile.

That ingratiating smile instantly dispelled his previously fearsome aura, as if the imposing man from before had been an illusion.

Shui Jingxuan sneered inwardly, cast him a sidelong glance, then turned to let the girl into the room and closed the door without hesitation.

“Damn!” It was already midnight, why let a woman enter the room? Ji Wushuang thought, unable to suppress a low curse. His dark eyes held a hint of gloom. He focused all his attention to listen to the sounds from across the way. At this distance, with his century-old internal energy, he could fully control the situation.

In the room, the girl did not expect that there existed a peerless master who could hear a pin drop from a li away. She knelt behind the door and reported in a low voice,

“Reporting to Sect Master, the scent-seeking snake has been released. In a couple of days, Wolf Girl will receive the invitation card.”

Five years had passed, and people’s hearts could change. Shui Jingxuan was not sure if Wolf Girl was still the same as before, whether she would still harbor goodwill toward him.

So he released the scent-seeking snake to test her. If she saw the snake and gladly sent someone to meet him, things would be much easier. He was not afraid of being ambushed by Wolf Girl after entering the Demon Palace.

No matter how Wolf Girl changed, the pride etched into her bones would not change. Scheming and underhanded tactics were something she would never learn in a lifetime.

If she did not respond for a long time, sneaking into the Demon Palace and abducting Chen Yuanyuan would not be difficult for Shui Jingxuan.

After consideration, Shui Jingxuan nodded.

“Mm, in the next few days, keep an eye on the movements of the Demon Palace. Wolf Girl may send someone to meet us at any time. Also, have the branch master in Sichuan investigate the identity of the person across the way. This lord feels that his background is not ordinary.” And there was a strange sense of familiarity.

Omitting the last half of the sentence, he saw the girl nod in acknowledgment. Shui Jingxuan waved his sleeve to dismiss her.

After the girl left the room and walked away, Ji Wushuang’s restless heart gradually calmed down. He thought with relief: So they were discussing business.

But that person was so young and yet honored as a sect master, and could command the scent-seeking snake to send a message to Wolf Girl. He must be from the Demon Sect.

Thinking of the news reported by his subordinate not long ago that the Demon Sect had been inherited by an unknown junior, Ji Wushuang massaged his throbbing temples and smiled faintly.

He did not know where this surge of pride came from. He felt at ease entrusting the Demon Sect to the man before him, as if deep down he had already decided that this person should be his successor and should enjoy such honor and glory.

On one side, Ji Wushuang endured the torment of his headache while desperately trying to recall the past. On the other side, the fleeing pleasure boy had been brought to Jin Haofeng’s room to collect his due reward.

“You mean he didn’t even touch you and just drove you away?” Jin Haofeng narrowed his eyes and lifted his chin to ask the boy.

“Yes, if the person across hadn’t happened to open the door and seen our entanglement, he would definitely have killed me on the spot!” The boy recalled Ji Wushuang’s bloodshot eyes full of murder and couldn’t help shuddering.

“Tsk, so that young master saw it. No wonder Ji Wushuang didn’t kill you. It seems he is smitten!” Jin Haofeng stroked his chin and mused.

His original intention was to use the boy to test whether Ji Wushuang had a taste for male partners, but he did not expect an even greater gain.

For Ji Wushuang, who always followed his whims and killed without blinking, to suppress his murderous intent in front of someone was extremely unusual in itself.

If he said he had no feelings for the red-clad young master, Jin Haofeng would be the first to disbelieve.

Having confirmed the value of that noble young master, Jin Haofeng was satisfied. He tossed a few silver ingots and sent the pleasure boy away.

In recent years, Ji Wushuang had become increasingly difficult for him to control, and his unease grew day by day. To avoid being overthrown, he would try any method to control Ji Wushuang.

Only today did Linglong Gongzi deeply understand the saying, ‘It’s easy to invite a god but hard to send one away.’

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