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n“Behave myself?”

nThis young and very shameless new Sect Master of the Steel Bones Sect laughed before fixing his robes.

n“Fine Gu-xianzhang, I’ve covered up. You can open your eyes now.”

nGu Qiushu’s eyelashes twitched, but he eventually opened his eyes.

nHe looked at Shi Qing with distant and emotionless eyes.

nBut Shi Qing didn’t mind at all. He continued to loom over Gu Qiushu and chatter as he applied the medicine with his slender, long fingers.

nHe incessantly teased the young Xianzhang. “I say, are all the disciples of your Heavenly Derivation Sect as straightlaced as you? Your ears turned so red after I showed just a bit of skin. We’re both men here! Why are you embarrassed if I’m not?”

nGu Qiushu’s eyelashes lightly trembled again. His thin lips pursed slightly, in a clear refusal to reply.

nShi Qing didn’t mind him not playing along. He continued where he left off. “Or perhaps your ears aren’t flushed out of embarrassment? Gu-xianzhang, could it be that you like men?”

nThis time, anger flashed by Gu Qiushu’s eyes.

nHe gave the person on top of him a stern look. His voice was cold enough to freeze water into ice. “Nonsense.”

n“What are you so tense for? Are you scared because I got it right? I say, I don’t remember your Heavenly Derivation Sect having a rule prohibiting two men from being together, ah. You don’t need to fret. Even if the Heavenly Derivation Sect really is against it, I’m a real generous guy who happens to be the Steel Bones Sect’s Sect Master. I make the rules here. So if I say that liking men is okay…”

nAs he spoke, Shi Qing smiled and deliberately lifted a strand of Gu Qiushu’s hair. There was a teasing look in his eyes. “Then it’s fine. You can like whoever you like.”

nGu Qiushu’s eyebrows furrowed more and more.

nHe coldly rebuked Shi Qing. “Since Sect Master Shi is aware that you are the leader of a sect, aren’t you concerned about the reckoning coming for the Steel Bones Sect now that you’ve sent people to capture and imprison us here?”

nHe thought Shi Qing was going to say something like, “With the three puppets at the Ascension stage here, the Steel Bones Sect has no reason to fear the rest of the cultivation world.”

nHowever, contrary to his expectations, the person above him only raised an eyebrow. That charming face that could’ve belonged to a fox spirit deliberately showed a trace of innocence.

n“What is Gu-xianzhang talking about? What have I done to deserve their wrath? I just noticed that you poor immortal sect disciples had all these hidden injuries in your bodies. I only sent people to capture you because I was afraid that you wouldn’t live long otherwise. Oh wait no, I invited you all here.”

nGu Qiushu glanced around this dungeon that could suppress one’s cultivation. The chill in his eyes only sharpened. “Then the Steel Bones Sect’s way of showing hospitality leaves much to be desired.”

n“Are you talking about the dungeon? You don’t like it? But I’ve been showing you special favour! You’re the only one with a cell to yourself. All the other little disciples are locked up together.”

nShi Qing smiled cheekily. He didn’t seem embarrassed at all.

n“Gu-xianzhang, aren’t you going to repay me for being kind enough to save you? That sword of yours doesn’t look half bad.”

nSaying that, his hand landed on the sword that Gu Qiushu had always been holding tightly.

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nGu Qiushu couldn’t move his body, but the frost in his gaze was building up. He expressionlessly felt Shi Qing try and fail to pull his sword out of his hand.

n“Huh? How strange. Is your grip really that tight?”

nShi Qing gave up after trying a bit longer without success.

nHe returned to hovering above Gu Qiushu. Looking down at him, he brought a lock of the man’s black hair to touch his cold, fair cheek. “Xianzhang, is there a restriction on your sword? Why can’t I pull it out even though you’re immobilized?”

nGu Qiushu gave him a cold glance. Ignoring those little gestures of his, he closed his eyes and started to meditate.

n“Ignoring me, huh? I think you’ve forgotten what I said earlier. Watch out or that shizhi of yours really won’t see tomorrow’s sun, oh.” The smug note that Shi Qing ended his words on didn’t make Gu Qiushu open his eyes, they managed to make his brow furrow deeper.

nHe asked in a cold voice, “Is this the only trick up your sleeve?”

nShi Qing giggled as he used the hair of the person beneath him to tickle his tall rose ridge. His smile grew more and more rampant as he noted the man’s tightly furrowed brows. “He’s not the only Heavenly Derivation Sect disciple imprisoned in these dungeons.”

n“If one isn’t enough to threaten you, then I still have a bunch left.”

nGu Qiushu couldn’t stand it anymore. He opened his eyes. “Shameless!”

nShi Qing didn’t mind at all. He even reminded him, “You just said that.”

nAs he noted the man’s chest heaving with anger, Shi Qing decided to not push him off the edge. He shrugged and sat up properly. “Fine, fine. I won’t say anymore since you’re so angry. Sigh. Sometimes I’m too kind for my own good.”

nGu Qiushu coldly looked on as he praised himself to high heaven.”

n“What exactly are you trying to do.”

n“Didn’t I tell you that already? I’m a good person. I’m just trying to cure you guys. Look at you. You have such profound cultivation, but your meridians are in such a poor state. Look at how severe these breakages are! I say, doesn’t it hurt when you train everyday?”

nThe anger in Gu Qiushu’s eyes gradually faded to wary vigilance.

n“How do you know this.”

nShi Qing chuckled. “Wanna take a guess?”

nThe white-robed Xianzhang took a deep breath and coldly stared hm down.

n“Fine, fine. I’ll tell you. How do I know, you ask? It’s simple. Because I’m a pharmacist. I know, I know, you’re going to ask me what a pharmacist is now. Well, it’s the cultivation technique I created.”

nShi Qing’s finger slowly approached the side of Gu Qiushu’s wound and tapped.

nHis beautiful eyes framed by double eyelashes met the man’s straight on.

nShi Qing’s lips slowly curled up into a smirk. He leaned over to the man’s ear and whispered, “You’re sick and I’m your medicine, ah.”

nHe chuckled at the ensuing tension in Gu Qiushu’s body.

nShi Qing laughed louder and louder, until he eventually couldn’t even sit properly anymore. He fell right on top of Gu Qiushu.

n“Xianzhang, your ears are red again. I say, what in the world is the Heavenly Derivation Sect teaching you guys, ah. They’ve turned perfectly fine people into the type that blushes at everything. What happens when you get married and don’t know what to do on your wedding night?”

nAt his teasing, Gu Qiushu’s flushed ears gradually returned to their normal colour.

nHe even retorted this time, “The teachings of my Heavenly Derivation Sect are not for you to worry about. You clearly need to pay more attention to the conduct of your own sect. How can a renowned major sect act so frivolously?”

nHe said these words with the utmost severity and a chilling expression on his face. If the other person had even a modicum of self respect, they would be ashamed of themselves right now.

nAlas, the person listening to him happened to be Shi Qing.

nAnd Shi Qing was utterly shameless!

n“Was I frivolous?”

nHe asked before looking down at his fully clothed body. His clothes were only slightly wrinkled due to his previous actions.

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n“Pei, pei. You call this frivolous? Xianzhang, looks like you haven’t seen what a truly frivolous person is like, ah.”

n“How about I take off my clothes and let you see how frivolous I am?”

nGu Qiushu: “…”

nHe watched in disbelief as Shi Qing actually started taking off his clothes. He felt like he had never seen such a shameless person in his whole life.

nAs he was about to close his eyes, that guy giggled and said, “Don’t close your eyes, ah. If you dare to try and ignore me, who knows what’ll happen to those little disciples of the Heavenly Derivation Sect.”

nGu Qiushu: “…”

nHe had always been a calm person of few desires. Because of his high seniority, no one dared to act out like this in front of him in the Heavenly Derivation Sect. Those disciples would all be more obedient than little kittens as soon as he appeared.

nThis was not just a testimonial as to how scary his cold expression could be.

nIt also demonstrated why Gu Qiushu had no experience dealing with his current situation.

nHe couldn’t shut his eyes.

nIf he did, who knew what this abnormal person would say to the Heavenly Derivation Sect disciples.

nBut if he kept his eyes open, didn’t that mean he would have to watch the person in front of him undress?

nShi Qing threw away the clothes he was wearing. He noted how Gu Qiushu’s ears were completely red now and smirked a little. Then his hand suddenly reached over and pressed where his heart should be.

nHe could feel the body beneath his fingers stiffen even more than before. He raised an eyebrow and nodded, pleased. “Very good. It’s beating much faster than earlier.”

nThe young man rolled off the bed. He retrieved his outer layer from the ground and started to put it back on.

nThe smile on his face became more and more wicked in the face of Gu Qiushu’s relieved and puzzled gaze, but his words were benign.

n“Xianzhang, did you really think I was going to strip in front of you? Don’t fool yourself. You’re not some cute beauty so you don’t need to worry about that. I am interested in both men and women, but you’re not my type. I only took off my clothes to test if your meridians would open up as your heart rate increased.”

nOnly then did Gu Qiushu actually breathe a sigh of relief.

nHowever, the cold edge in his eyes had yet to fade.

nSeeing that he still seemed doubtful, Shi Qing shrugged. “I knew you wouldn’t believe me. But that doesn’t matter. I’m a good-hearted pharmacist, after all. I’ll cure you whether you believe in me or not.”

nSince it didn’t sound like he was lying, the white-robed Xianzhang lightly said, “I have my own methods of healing my hidden injuries. There is no need to trouble yourself over them.”

n“What method can you possibly have? Let me tell you something: your illness is actually very simple. The hidden injuries on you are due to your spiritual root being too exceptional. It lead to your increase in cultivation outpacing what your meridians can handle, leading to them painfully fracturing.”

n“And your solution to that is to suppress your cultivation? Even if you find some spiritual medicine that can do that, you’re still just treating the symptoms instead of the cause. It will only cause you more pain in the long run.”

nHis smile widened a bit as he finished putting on his clothes. “Why not try things my way? I’ll help you find things that can make your heart beat faster. Then your meridians will naturally expand after a time and your illness will be cured.”

nWhat he said made a lot of sense, but it didn’t matter in the end. Gu Qiushu didn’t trust him.

nThe white-robed Xianzhang couldn’t move, but his voice was as cold as ever. “It’s no use. I don’t believe you.”

nShi Qing came over to him. With a brilliant smile on his face, he leaned down so he was eye to eye with Gu Qiushu. “I don’t care if you believe me or not. You’ve already fallen into the palm of my hand anyway so I’m going to treat you regardless.”

nThen the brightly smiling young man suddenly lowered his head. A pair of soft, tender lips fell on the other person’s forehead, brushing it as lightly as a dragonfly landing on water.

nGu Qiushu’s body stiffened. He felt Shi Qing’s hand land on his chest again.

nThat lilting voice was lazy and oddly enough, kind of charming. “Wu. I knew it would quicken again.”

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nAuthor’s Corner

nI thought about what would happen if this illness existed in modern times.

nShi Qing: You’re sick. You need to do something stimulating to make your heart beat faster.

nThe patient: Okay, I’ll go ride a roller coaster or go bungee jumping then.

nShi Qing: (Slaps them across the face)

nRandomly sending out red pockets~

nNight night!

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