One was a powerhouse now; the other would be one in the future.
Their eyes met, sparks flying.
Invisible blades clashed between them.
Xiao Qinghe was relieved that Xie Jun's charm poison had been cured and the demon marks on his face had faded. Otherwise, his identity would have been exposed in seconds under his master's razor-sharp scrutiny.
Even so, Bai Yuqing remained on high alert around Xie Jun.
His instincts told him that this seemingly frail youth would one day plunge the world into chaos and bloodshed.
If he was not eliminated, there would be endless trouble ahead.
"This one cannot be allowed to live." Bai Yuqing raised his sword again. "Stand aside, my disciple!"
Xiao Qinghe steeled himself, leaped up, and threw his arms around Bai Yuqing's neck, wrapping both legs around his waist. Like a koala, he clung to his front without leaving the slightest gap. "Master, take me home..."
Outsiders knew only that Bai Yuqing was the exalted Chief Seat of the Demon-Slaying Sect, an untouchable beauty far above their reach. No one knew he had an incredible weakness-
He could not withstand anyone acting cute and pleading with him.
Had Xiao Qinghe not read the original novel, he could never have believed Bai Yuqing had this side to him.
Sure enough, Bai Yuqing went rigid, and his murderous aura quietly dissipated.
He lowered his gaze to Xiao Qinghe, his handsome face stiff as he scolded, "Clinging to me like this-where is your decorum?"
Xiao Qinghe's voice was barely a whisper. "Master, I'm so cold... take me away... achoo!"
Unlike these two overpowered bastards protected by their true energy, he really was about to freeze his ass off.
Xie Jun stared fixedly at the pair pressed together like conjoined twins, his expression icy.
Why could someone who had been tangled up with him a moment ago now cling to someone else?
It hurt his eyes.
This sight truly hurt his eyes!
That fighting spirit rekindled Bai Yuqing's killing intent.
But his disciple's face was pale and bluish, his eyes unfocused. He could no longer hold on.
"For the sake of my disciple's plea, I will spare your life. Conduct yourself wisely, and do not harm my disciple again. Otherwise, do not blame my sword for showing no mercy!"
With that, Bai Yuqing gathered Xiao Qinghe into his arms and flew away on his sword.
Xiao Qinghe had passed out from the cold.
Then he was choked awake.
A thick cloud of smoke forcibly smoked him out of unconsciousness.
Xiao Qinghe barely opened his eyes and turned to look beside him.
Whoa!
The Chief Seat of the Demon-Slaying Sect, who had never lifted a finger for household chores, who had only ever been waited on and never served anyone himself, was now crouched before a stove, his face grim as though confronting a formidable enemy.
Several medicine pots lay tilted and toppled beside him, leaking an unidentified, thick black liquid.
My untouchable beauty, the Demon-Slaying Sect's most overpowered badass, the esteemed Master Yu Qing-what are you doing?!
Though your disciple is moved to tears and can never repay you for lowering yourself to enter the kitchen and brew medicine for him-
Please, spare me!
What the hell have you brewed?!
Bai Yuqing brought over the Cold-Repelling Medicine.
The liquid was thick and black, bubbling with black bubbles.
"I have questions for you. Drink the medicine first." Bai Yuqing's expression was solemn, as though he had not just handed Xiao Qinghe a bowl of medicine whose appearance and smell rivaled deadly poison.
Was he trying to poison me?
Xiao Qinghe's face fell. "Master, can I not drink it?"
"Good medicine tastes bitter." Bai Yuqing frowned and took out a few pieces of candied fruit.
Xiao Qinghe froze.
His master held an exalted position and was obsessed with cultivation. He had never known the first thing about looking after anyone. Brewing medicine for him was already an unprecedented marvel, yet he had even prepared candied fruit?
Had Master ever done this in the original novel?
There seemed to have been one occasion.
His master had brewed medicine for the Female Lead. She had whined about the bitterness and clamored for candied fruit. How had he answered her again?
"If you cannot endure even a little bitter medicine, how will you shoulder great responsibilities and slay demons in the future?"
So was this Master who offered candied fruit really the genuine article?
Could he be possessed?
Or had he broken character?
[Ding-dong! Ding-dong!]
The readers were getting excited.
What was there to get excited about when Master was breaking character?
Xiao Qinghe found it utterly baffling. Still, the sound reminded him of something, and he asked cautiously, "Master, after your disciple passed out, that youth... he didn't die, did he?"
That was the powerful backer he needed to cling to for dear life. He could not die!
Bai Yuqing narrowed his eyes. "Who is he? What is his relationship with you? Did he touch your body?"
"Cough, cough, cough!" Xiao Qinghe nearly choked to death on the medicine.
What did he mean, touch my body?
"He's an old childhood acquaintance. We were separated for many years." Xiao Qinghe racked his brains and spouted nonsense. "He came to take the Sect Examination, but fell victim to someone's plot and was gravely poisoned. He couldn't move, so I helped him..."
Bai Yuqing remained expressionless, his piercing gaze seeming to bore straight through him.
Xiao Qinghe kept perfectly quiet, though inwardly he was panicking like mad.
His master was not only powerful in magic; his perception was also far beyond an ordinary person's. Deceiving him would be harder than reaching the heavens.
Silence.
Deathly silence.
Xiao Qinghe secretly swallowed, on the verge of cracking.
Just as he was about to lose his composure, Bai Yuqing finally spoke in a deep voice. "This person is no good. You are no match for him. Do not associate with him again."
That was absolutely impossible.
Not only would Xiao Qinghe have to associate with Xie Jun, but his master would inevitably have to do so as well.
According to the original plot, Xie Jun would soon become his master's disciple. Eventually, they would become romantic rivals and fight to the death over the Female Lead.
That would come later. For now, Xiao Qinghe needed to improve his master's opinion of Xie Jun in advance. Getting him accepted came first.
"Master, actually, Xie Jun is a pitiful soul..."
"Do not mention him again."
Bai Yuqing had no desire to hear more. He rose and left.
Xiao Qinghe grew anxious.
Two days later, Xiao Qinghe was frantic.
After the Sect Examination ended, Xie Jun had made the list of successful candidates, but he insisted on becoming his master's disciple.
Everyone knew his master preferred peace and quiet and had explicitly stated that he would accept no more disciples.
Make an exception for Xie Jun?
Impossible.
Just then, the hellish system issued a mission:
[Host, please choose one of the following two options to persuade Master to change his mind and accept Xie Jun as his disciple: A. Scrub Master's back. B. Sleep with Master.]
Neither option looked like something a normal person would do.
Xiao Qinghe's face turned green. "What if I choose neither?"
[This is the readers' wish. If you defy it, the plot in which Bai Yuqing kills you will occur ahead of schedule and cannot be changed!]
Xiao Qinghe: "..."
He could not expect this system to have even the slightest shred of conscience!
It was just scrubbing someone's back, right?
What red-blooded northeastern man hadn't scrubbed someone else's back before?!
The Demon-Slaying Sect had been established for a hundred years and had numerous branches, from the First Sect to the Thirteenth Sect. Each branch generally kept to itself and performed its own duties.
The other branches had many disciples. Only the Thirteenth Sect was sparsely populated, with just Bai Yuqing and his disciple, Xiao Qinghe.
Wisps of steam rose within the Natural Hot Spring.
A man rested at the edge of the spring, his ink-black hair loose and his skin white as snow.
His taut, sleek contours and strikingly handsome profile appeared and disappeared amid the curling steam.
Such beauty belonged only in the heavens. Every earthly vista would lose its splendor before him.
He truly deserved to be the only man in the original novel who could rival Xie Jun in both fighting prowess and looks.
He leaned against the stone wall, his head tilted slightly back, adding a languid allure to his cool demeanor.
When he heard someone enter the water, he did not open his half-closed eyes.
Ripples spread across the water.
The newcomer parted the water and swam toward him.
The next second, a warm, wet cloth settled on his shoulder.
Bai Yuqing's eyes snapped open, his gaze dark. "My disciple, what are you doing?"
Before you continue