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nEditor: Casey

nShi Qing was brimming with so much confidence that Lin Xingzhi was at a loss for words.

nHe didn’t know what this Steel Bones Sect Master was up to, so he could only close his eyes and accept his death at the hands of the puppet. “Don’t listen to him! This disciple will never allow myself to be used to threaten you.”

nSmiling, Shi Qing applauded him. “Good, good. You really are the eldest third-generation disciple of the Heavenly Derivation Sect. You’re willing to live and die by your own rules! I, Shi Qing, admire you!”

nAfter praising him, Shi Qing changed his tune so fast that people got whiplash. He snapped his fingers. “Do it.”

nThe puppet acted swiftly, immediately placing a hand on Lin Xingzhi’s neck.

nLin Xingzhi reflexively shut his eyes tightly.

n“Stop.”

nA cold, unfettered voice uttered. Shi Qing raised an eyebrow as he turned to meet the gaze of the frowning Gu Qiushu.

nHis lips curled into a smirk as he waved his hand once more.

nThe puppet wordlessly lowered its hand at his command.

nOnly then did Lin Xingzhi gasp for breath. The dungeons were impervious to wind, but he felt a chill settling into his body. The disciple trembled with cold sweat dotting his forehead.

nShi Qing didn’t even spare him a glance. He only smiled and took a few steps forward, circling around Gu Qiushu a few times.

nGu Qiushu remained motionless throughout. Despite someone looking at him like he was some sort of attraction, he looked forward into the distance with disinterest. His ice sculpture-like face remained emotionless.

n“Peipeipei. You’re so amusing, Gu Qiushu. You act like nothing can get under your skin, that you’re oh so cold and aloof. Turns out barely threatening a third-generation disciple of your Heavenly Derivation Sect is all it takes to make you squirm.”

nThe previously motionless man’s sword-wielding hand tightened slightly, but he maintained his silence.

nHowever, that didn’t escape Shi Qing’s notice.

nThe young Sect Master of the Steel Bones Sect who only took on the mantle five days ago smirked lightly. A pair of clear, bright peach blossom eyes were very incongruent with his current actions. He circled around to face Gu Qiushu.

n“Looks like I just need to detain those little disciples from the Heavenly Derivation Sect to make you play along.”

nHe didn’t get angry when Gu Qiushu ignored him. Instead, he humorously sized up the person in front of him. “Your demeanour isn’t bad for a man trapped in the dungeons. Commendable that you refuse to show weakness even now.”

nThen Shi Qing’s gaze stilled for a moment on his shoulder. “You’re injured?”

nBut before he could touch Gu Qiushu there, the frowning man had already stepped back to avoid his hand.

nThis left Shi Qing’s well-maintained, fair, and slender fingers hovering not so awkwardly in midair.

n“Impudent! How dare you treat the Sect Master with such disrespect!”

nThe disciples of the Steel Bones Sect all drew their swords at what they perceived to be an insult to their Sect Master.

nGu Qiushu remained as cold as ever with no intention of backing down.

nBut Shi Qing didn’t seem to mind. He withdrew his hand without even a trace of humiliation, even admonishing his subordinates:

n“Aiya, why are you guys always like this? We’re all cultivators here. Haven’t I told you so many times that we should try to use our words first before hastily resorting to violence? My dad was in charge before, but not anymore. With a kind person like me as the Sect Master, our Steel Bones Sect needs to follow everyone else’s lead and become a force of good.”

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nThe disciples of the Steel Bones Sect: “…”

nAlthough Shi Qing had only been in charge for five days, based on that perverted smile of his and his order to arrest the inner circle disciples of all the major sects, well…

nKind was definitely not the word to describe him.

nShi Qing continued to smile at their befuddled faces. “Understand?”

n“Yes, Sect Master.”

nHis gentle tone made the Steel Bones Sect disciples shudder. They quickly sheathed their swords, lowered their heads, and played dead.

nHowever, they would still sooner believe that demonic cultivators can ascend than believe their Sect Master was kind.

nShi Qing continued, “Rest easy, Xianzhang. Violence is never the first option for our Steel Bones Sect. If you don’t want me to touch you, then of course I will respect your decision.”

nSaying that, he glanced at Lin Xingzhi, who was still being held by the puppet. His tone was very light, “I’m a kind and soft-hearted person who can’t bear the sight of blood. Take little Lin-xianzhang away and strangle him.”

nThe disciples of the Steel Bones Sect: “…”

nLin Xingzhi: “…”

nOnly the puppet didn’t show any reaction towards Shi Qing’s words. It immediately grabbed Lin Xingzhi and walked out as ordered.

nThe white-robed Xianzhang fiercely clenched his sword and stepped in front of Lin Xingzhi. His seemingly frozen eyes coldly stared at Shi Qing

nWith a smile on his face, Shi Qing played with a strand of his inky black hair. He met Gu Qiushu’s gaze with nothing but amusement in his eyes.

n“Has Xianzhang changed his mind?”

nContinuing to shield Lin Xingzhi, Gu Qiushu coldly asked, “What are you trying to do?”

n“Nothing really. I just wanted to get closer to Xianzhang since you have exceptional potential and a high level of cultivation.”

nThe new Sect Master of the Steel Bones Sect, whose body was as delicate as a pampered little master born into wealth, approached Gu Qiushu with a smile on his face.

nThis time when he reached out, the white-robed Xianzhang wavered, but he didn’t avoid the touch.

nSo Shi Qing finally got his wish to touch the still bleeding shoulder. The white robes had already been dyed red there.

nIt was painful just to look at, but Gu Qiushu’s expression betrayed no hint of suffering.

nShi Qing raised his voice, which was slightly mocking. “How did this happen? Didn’t I give you specific orders to avoid harming Gu-xianzhang?”

nThe puppet replied respectfully: “He was already injured when we arrived.”

n“How strange… At your level, who could’ve hurt you in that secret realm?” Shi Qing murmured as he approached and gently sniffed the injury.

nGu Qiushu had been cultivating in the Heavenly Derivation Sect since he was a child. He was of high seniority, and his shixiong was always busy with sect affairs. No one had ever dared to get this close to him before.

nAt this moment, when he felt the breath of this person gently spray the aroma of wine on his clothes as he moved about, Gu Qiushu’s eyebrows knitted even tighter together. His body subconsciously tensed up, but he could only be still and endure.

n“The smell of True Spring Ginseng…”

nShi Qing sniffed again before raising an eyebrow at Gu Qiushu. “Did one of the spirit beasts guarding it injure you while you were foraging?”

nGu Qiushu looked down slightly without saying a word.

nYet Shi Qing remained congenial despite that.

n“Go. Take Lin Xingzhi outside and kill him with poison.”

nFinally, some ripples disturbed the calm pond that was Gu Qiushu’s demeanor. He glared at Shi Qing. “How shameless.”

n“Hey, as long as it works.”

nThe Steel Bones Sect Master was basically like ‘hehehe, I care more about results than honour’.

n“For the sake of Lin Xingzhi’s little life, I suggest you be a bit more cooperative. You should reply properly when I ask you questions. Otherwise, I fear he’s not going to see the sun rise tomorrow.”

nGu Qiushu gripped the hilt of his sword tighter and tighter.

nShi Qing suspected that he would’ve drawn it already if this dungeon wasn’t suppressing everyone’s power.

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nAfter all, Gu Qiushu was a well-known genius immortal cultivator in the cultivation world. Despite only being at the Demigod stage, he could overcome the difference in cultivation and fight with someone of the Immortalization stage.

nSuch a shame he can’t use his spiritual power right now.

nThis is my chance to do whatever I want.

n“Hm, I’ll take that as an agreement. I ask, you answer. If you stay silent or lie to me…”

nShi Qing raised an eyebrow and smiled. He silently pointed at Lin Xingzhi before dragging a finger across his neck.

nLin Xingzhi, who was teetering on the brink of death: “…”

n“Alright, alright. My first question is: why were you collecting True Spring Ginseng? Isn’t that stuff used to suppress spiritual energy?”

n“Oh…I get it now. Did some girl catch your eye? Were you planning on using this on her before doing you know what?”

nThere was a limit to what even Gu Qiushu could endure. Shi Qing’s increasingly ridiculous behaviour incensed him. “That is utter nonsense!”

n“Four words, ah. How stingy. Xianzhang only deigned to say two more words after I’ve said so much.”

nShi Qing shook his head. “Peipeipei. Then since it’s not for a girl, can Xianzhang tell me who this True Spring Ginseng is meant for?”

nGu Qiushu looked away for a moment, the fire mostly gone from his eyes. He spoke plainly, “It’s only meant for me.”

n“Five words! That’s one more than just now!”

nAfter a round of applause, Shi Qing continued to ask, “But Xianzhang, you seem fine and dandy. What do you need True Spring Ginseng for? Don’t you know that it causes people to be in excruciating pain?”

n“Ah, that’s not true. You knew very well that it did.”

nShi Qing moved closer to Gu Qiushu, his long fingers hovering slightly off the waist of the white-robed Xianzhang. He could feel a slight trembling even through the layers of clothing. Then his eyes fell on Gu Qiushu’s seemingly normal but pale face.

nHis words were filled with conviction. “You’ve already taken the True Spring Ginseng.”

nGu Qiushu was expressionless. “Yes.”

n“No wonder I saw you sitting down and resting before. Not many can remain conscious after taking True Spring Ginseng. Yet here you are, talking with me so naturally. As expected of Gu Qiushu, ah.”

nLin Xingzhi was still listening nearby with suppressed anger, but the new revelation made him panic. “Shishu, you took the True Spring Ginseng?? Why?? Everyone knows that it makes you feel as if tens of thousands of knives are carving you from the inside out! Why did you–”

n“Why are you being so noisy?”

nShi Qing impatiently leaned on Gu Qiushu’s shoulder and waved at the puppet. “Take him away. Don’t let him see the sun rise tomorrow.”

nGu Qiushu’s pupils shrank. He stepped forward to put a stop to this.

nBut the puppet moved very quickly this time. It grabbed Lin Xingzhi and immediately left.

nShi Qing’s hand landed on Gu Qiushu’s shoulder. He didn’t lose his cool when the man reacted and drew his sword. As the Steel Bones Sect disciples rushed to protect him, Shi Qing’s index finger pressed a certain spot on Gu Qiushu’s waist.

nThe white-robed Xianzhang lost all of his momentum in an instant. He seemed to be frozen in place.

n“What did you do?”

nShi Qing withdrew his index finger and sighed. “Nothing really. It’s not like there isn’t a way to alleviate the pain of those who’ve taken True Spring Ginseng. Pressing on this acupoint, for example. However, it has the side effect of taking away your ability to move.”

nSaying that, he smiled and helped put Gu Qiushu’s arm down like it was normal. Then he carefully helped the man resheath his sword. “I wasn’t sure whether you took True Spring Ginseng or not earlier, but who told you to be such an honest guy? Now you’ve landed in the palm of this Sect Master’s hand.”

nGu Qiushu could not move, he could only look at Shi Qing coldly.

nBut Shi Qing didn’t mind at all. He stepped back and considered the man with crossed arms.

nGu Qiushu appeared to be taller than him at first glance, but closer inspection revealed that the difference in height was only due to the other’s hair crown.

nSo Shi Qing reached up and started to remove it.

nThe white-robed Xianzhang, who had been like: ‘I’m not going to react no matter what happened’, widened his eyes again. He subconsciously tried to shrink back but he couldn’t due to his acupoint being tapped.

n“Get off.”

nShi Qing’s hands stopped fiddling with the hair crown. He looked at the person in front of him with a smile on his face. “You don’t want me to touch it, huh? At least give a reason first.”

nGu Qiushu grit his teeth and coldly replied, “Etiquette demands that hair remains tied in front of others.”

n“Oh, I see.”

nShi Qing glanced at the disciples behind him. “Didn’t you hear what Xianzhang just said? All of you should leave so that Gu-xianzhang can follow proper etiquette.”

nThe Steel Bones Sect disciples rushed off after some hasty bows.

nThus, only Shi Qing and Gu Qiushu were left in the Heavenly Word Dungeon.

n“There’s no one here now, okay? Come on, I’ll help you take off your hair crown so you can get some sleep. You won’t have to suffer the pain of the True Spring Ginseng anymore when you wake up. Sigh. This Sect Master’s sometimes too kind for my own good.”

nGu Qiushu’s chest heaved with rage as he felt Shi Qing actually remove his hair crown.

n“The hair crown is supposed to be private. How could you do that.”

n“Alright, alright. I was wrong, okay? Big deal. You can touch mine so we’ll be even.”

nSaying that, Shi Qing good-naturedly picked up Gu Qiushu’s long, slender hand and let him touch his own hair crown.”

n“There, happy? Sigh. I don’t even know what to say. Why are you so petty?”

nGu Qiushu: “…”

nHe wanted nothing more than to cut down the person in front of him. Unfortunately, he couldn’t move right now. He could only watch as Shi Qing moved him to the bed and laid him down. After that, this shameless wretch even laid beside him.

nGu Qiushu’s expression was cold. His eyes were already brimming with killing intent. “You killed a disciple of my Heavenly Derivation Sect. If you don’t kill me today, I will one day make you pay for it with your life.”

n“I say Xianzhang, you should take more care when speaking. When have I ever killed a disciple of your Heavenly Derivation Sect??”

nShi Qing sat up and looked down at Gu Qiushu who was glaring at him with fury in his eyes.

nHe exclaimed while undoing the man’s belt. “Xianzhang, you look better like this. It makes you seem more approachable.”

nGu Qiushu’s anger intensified. “What are you doing?!”

n“Can’t you see? I’m undressing you.”

nThe thin, pure white material of the belt was easily undone by Shi Qing, who picked it up and waved it at the immobile white-robed Xianzhang.

n“Okay, I’m going to start taking off your outer layer now.”

nGu Qiushu: “…How indecent! Let go of me!”

n“Why are you so upset? On to the inner layer we go!”

nGu Qiushu’s expression became colder and colder. He could only grit his teeth and close his eyes, intending to forcefully reopen the acupoint.

nShi Qing reminded him, “Xianzhang, don’t try to force open the acupoint. You have no spiritual energy to use right now, remember?”

n“…There. The inner layer’s done too.”

nGu Qiushu turned a deaf ear to his words. With closed eyes, he said icily, “You killed my shizhi and humiliated me so. I will cut your corpse into thousands of pieces.”

n“Who killed your shizhi? Don’t slander people like that.”

nShi Qing pulled open the many layers of clothing. Leaning down, he looked at the fair and flawless face in front of him. The long eyelashes attached to those closed eyes were slightly curled, making his features seem a bit less frosty and distant.

nHe blew gently on them and smiled when those long, thick eyelashes twitched subconsciously.

n“I just said that he won’t get to see the sun tomorrow. Have you forgotten that you’re in the dungeons? Do you see a sun anywhere around here?”

nSaying that, he smeared the ointment he had taken out earlier on Gu Qiushu’s injury.

n“Also, what do you mean by ‘humiliating you so’? I’m just helping you treat your wound. How am I supposed to do that without undressing you?”

nGu Qiushu furrowed his brow. He slowly opened his eyes and met the gaze of the Steel Bones Sect Master above him. The corner of Shi Qing’s mouth curled up as he leaned in closer and closer.

nTheir faces were so close to each other that they could see themselves reflected in the other’s eyes.

n“Xianzhang…”

nShi Qing deliberately moved even closer. He lowered his voice and asked softly: “Were you so nervous just now because you thought I was going to do something to you?”

n“You and I are both men, so what could I possibly have done? What, do you think I took off your clothes for fun instead of applying medicine?”

nHe raised an eyebrow and leaned back, propping himself up with one hand. The other went to pull down his shirt. This made his pale and slender neck stand out more and more.

nHis eyes darted around with a natural flirtatious charm.

n“Xianzhang was worried for nothing. Compared to a cold and distant cultivator like you, I think I’m the more alluring one here.”

nThe two of them were so close, and Gu Qiushu could not move. He was forced to have a front-row view of the way Shi Qing moved.

nHis expression remained cold, but Shi Qing clearly noted his words making the white-robed Xianzhang’s pale earlobes flush pink.

nGu Qiushu tried to endure for quite some time before he snapped his eyes shut.

n“Behave yourself.”

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nAuthor’s Corner

n4.6k!

nThat’s 1.6k more than usual!

nAnd I updated so early too!

nI’m so, so awesome!

nAn author this awesome deserves some nutrient fluid, no?

nRandomly sending out red pockets!

nG-good night!

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