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nEditor: SimoB

nShi Qing however, was not afraid at all. He even laid down slowly on the bed with his right hand supporting his head. His fox-like face was full of laughter.

n“Does lacking a heartbeat prove I’m a demon? Didn’t your master teach you, little cultivator, that other creatures lack heartbeats as well?”

nMeng Qing was not as weak and easy to bully as he was moments before, but after confirming that this big beauty here was a demon, he immediately found an explanation in his heart for his reaction just now.

nDemons usually compelled people, so he must have been compelled into blushing just now!

nThat’s right! That had to be it!

nThe young cultivator’s jade-like face grew even more resolute, and his words grew harsher.

n“This is Qingzhen Temple! It’s not a place for the likes of you to run amok! If you insist on staying then I will have to take drastic measures!”

n“Go right ahead~”

nShi Qing seemed like he was looking forward to it. He dragged his voice out and sprawled out on Meng Qing’s bed with his head resting on the man’s pillow. He acted like he was on his own territory. “Come on, show me how drastic you can get.”

n“You!”

nIt wasn’t like Meng Qing hadn’t followed his martial brothers down the mountain to catch troublemaking demons before. There were all kinds out there, but none of them were like Shi Qing, unafraid of their Qingzhen Temple.

nHe was annoyed and somehow felt like he was being underestimated, so he threw the talisman in his hand.

nBut Shi Qing intercepted it from midair as it flew towards him.

nThe talisman that should have packed quite a punch fell lightly into the demon king’s palm, as obedient as a kitten.

nMeng Qing: “……”

nThis couldn’t be. That was the best talisman he had ever drawn.

n“Do you have any other tricks up your sleeve, little cultivator? Otherwise I’m going to bed.”

nMeng Qing was further infuriated by the demon king’s dismissive tone.

nHe gritted his teeth, “Just you wait!”

nAfter saying that, he ran to his talisman box and rummaged through for the one given by his master. After touching it with reluctance, he also took his wooden sword off the wall. With a few strokes, he unleashed a maelstrom on the yawning demon on the bed.

nThe talisman failed once again. There was no effect.

n“What in the world…?!”

nThe young cultivator, who had seen how impressive talismans could be since he was a child, couldn’t believe his eyes. He stared at Shi Qing in disbelief as he played with the talisman.

n“I told you already that I’m not a demon. Of course something to be used against demons wouldn’t work on me.”

nShi Qing turned over and leaned closer to Meng Qing. His charming eyes looked at him as his white fingertips beckoned him.

n“If you’re done with your little tantrum, come rest awhile with me.”

nHow could a cultivator sleep with a demon?

nThe befuddled cultivator hesitantly looked at the demon king on the bed. He took a step backward before turning around and running.

n&#k2014; “-“

nHe hit the invisible boundary. The impact wasn’t painful, but an incredible amount of force bounced him back.

nAs soon as he landed on the bed, Shi Qing grasped him from behind and rolled with him into the comfort of the blanket.

nThe young cultivator felt a burning heat behind him. His face became an even darker shade of red. He desperately wanted to break away, but the demon behind him was able to secure him with a wave of his hand and an unseen force . All of his struggles were futile.

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n“Demon! Let go of me! This is Qingzhen Temple! If you dare to attack me, my master will definitely not let you go!”

n“Your master? The supposedly ‘righteous’ cultivator with a big beard and less, guts than a mouse?”

nMeng Qing struggled even more, “Don’t slander my master like that! He is a profound and seasoned elder! He will definitely kill you once he discovers your intrusion!”

n“Your master’s against ending the lives of living beings so he wouldn’t kill me.”

nShi Qing gently leaned down beside this little cultivator’s ear and whispered.

n“He doesn’t have what it takes to kill me anyways. But little cultivator, wasn’t it you who kept chasing me before? Why are you hiding now that I came?”

nPerhaps it was because he spoke in his ear, but even if they weren’t touching, the warm breath that spilled over made people uncomfortable. The young priest blushed even more.

n“When have I ever chased after you?!”

n“Did you not?”

nShi Qing slowly released the power that was shackling Meng Qing.

nMeng Qing was thrilled and tried to rise, only to find that he could no longer move his limbs. He could only stay in his original position.

nHe felt his body being shifted so that he was lying on his back on the bed. Above him was the demon who resembled a demon in every way, smiling with pride.

nThe demon played with him like he was an amusing toy. His white fingertips gently pressed on Meng Qing’s chin.

n“Did you forget how many times you threw a wrench in my plans? Last time there was a human willing to trade his conscience for a chance to win the lottery. That would’ve been a done deal had you not interfered.”

nShi Qing looked down at the young cultivator underneath him whose pupils constricted sharply at his words. His smile became even more gleeful.

n“Does any of this ring a bell?”

nMeng Qing glared at Shi Qing, “It’s you! You’re the demonic fiend!”

n“How impolite of you to always call me demon or demonic fiend.”

nShi Qing slowly leaned down on the young cultivator. Taking advantage of his immobility, he pinched the tip of his nose repeatedly.

n“Call me Shi Qing, or His Demonic Highness if you want.”

nMeng Qing: “Demonic fiend!”

n“How tenacious.”

nThe demon king didn’t get angry. Instead, he slowly crawled forward and lowered his body onto the young cultivator. He looked at the other’s moist, red lips, and a red light flashed by his eyes.

n“I’ve heard that you grew up in Qingzhen Temple without any contact with outsiders. In other words, this spot…”

nHe tapped a finger to his chin under Meng Qing’s intense gaze, “I’m the first one to touch it, aren’t I?”

nShi Qing made a friendly suggestion.

n“Little cultivator, have you ever been kissed? Why don’t I help you out and let you experience something new.”

nHe smiled and leisurely continued his downward descent.

nThe demon deliberately slowed down his movements. Bit by bit, his face approached Meng Qing’s.

nCloser.

nAnd closer.

nUntil there was only a single centimeter left. The slightest of movements would cause them to make contact.

n“Shi Qing!”

nThe young cultivator finally shouted his name. Only after Meng Qing watched the demon king get off him with a smug smile did he realize that he had fallen for his scheme. The flames of anger in him burned white-hot.

nHe closed his eyes tightly, determined not to repeat his mistakes. He spoke with determination. “If you want to kill or torture me then be my guest. Even if I die by your hands, my master will definitely avenge me!”

nThen he began to mutter a mantra under his breath.

n“Why would I kill you? Didn’t you realize after pursuing me for so long that I don’t kill people?”

nShi Qing rolled over and laid next to Meng Qing, “You don’t know yet do you? That man came to me again. This time he traded away his own voice.”

nThe sound of Meng Qing’s scripture reading paused.

nShi Qing continued, “At first he wanted to trade his mother’s life, but I didn’t accept. That’s why he traded his voice. Tell me, is it worth it to help a man like that?”

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nThe young cultivator exhaled. “They were all misled by you.”

n“Misled by me? He pushed his own mother down the stairs before I even found him!”

nMeng Qing couldn’t come up with a retort to that.

nShi Qing’s hand fell on the young cultivator’s body.

nIt was early autumn, so Meng Qing wore Daoist robes during the day and looser clothing at night. His nighttime garments were breathable and comfortable, but anyone could slide their hands inside if they wanted to.

nAnd now, the demon king’s hand was eagerly moving towards the edge of his clothes.

nShi Qing could feel Meng Qing’s heart beating fast.

nHis face exposed no clues as to whether it was out of nervousness or fear.

nShi Qing: “It’s great that you like to save people, but sometimes you have to figure out if the ones you want to save can be considered human beings.”

nMeng Qing gritted his teeth: “He’s wrong for harming people, and you’re wrong for harming people too.”

n“I harmed people? Who exactly am I harming?”

nShi Qing raised his eyebrows very self-righteously: “I’m always willing to trade with willing participants. It’s not like I forced them to do anything. I’m just a merchant exchanging my goods for money. As for what happens to them afterwards, well, that’s none of my business.”

n“You’re twisting the truth!” The young cultivator opened and shut his mouth in utter disbelief. He could only squeeze out that short sentence. “Everyone has their own fate. You shouldn’t interfere with their lives.”

n“I’m interfering with them because they feel pain.”

nShi Qing’s hand drew circles on Meng Qing’s clothes. A pair of charming eyes looked up slightly at the young cultivator whose face had been red throughout.

n“Mister cultivator, I’m a good person doing good deeds.”

n“This demon has always been fair. I’ve never forced anyone into a deal against their will. Every one of my transactions only involve consenting parties.”

nShi Qing then stretched out his hand and condensed a piece of paper out of thin air.

n“Alright little cultivator, it’s time for you to sign.”

n“I helped you cure your cold before, so it’s time for you to give me something in exchange.”

nMeng Qing: “…You just said you always require both parties to consent in your deals. I have no intentions of giving anything to you! None at all!”

n“Yeah, both parties need to consent.”

n“With the exception of you.”

nShi Qing smiled happily and stretched out his hand again. Some imprint clay appeared in his palm.

nStill smiling, the Great Demon King picked up the young cultivator’s hand and pressed the imprint clay onto his index finger, before placing it onto the piece of paper.

nAfter the fingerprint was recorded, the contract slowly disappeared before them.

n“All done.”

nOnly then did Shi Qing comfortably settle in Meng Qing’s arms, pulling his hand and placing it over his own chest. He savored the heartbeat that gradually became louder from a near silence.

n“Little cultivator, you’re mine now.”

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nOkay, I forgot to say this last time but this arc is kind of darker in a way… Like there’s homophobia and suicide and other stuff too. I’ll put a warning on top, but please don’t force yourself to read if you feel uncomfortable.

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