An accidental kiss

"Qinghe, you've grown up..."

Nothing like his usual noble, aloof self, he spoke softly, a quiet smile in his voice, as though some long wait had finally borne sweet fruit.

Xiao Qinghe was utterly confused. Unable to make sense of his current state, he simply helped him toward the bed.

Drunk people had no control over their bodies, either.

With one sudden stumble, they both fell beside the bed.

Then Xiao Qinghe felt something soft and warm against his lips.

His eyes widened in horror.

That feeling was...

Holy shit!

Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit!

Would Master kill me to keep me quiet once he sobered up?

"I didn't mean to offend you! It was an accident, really!" His scalp prickling, Xiao Qinghe hurriedly tried to push him away.

But Bai Yuqing refused to let him.

Instead, he spread his arms and held him tight. "Where are you going now? To find that demon?"

"No, but Master, please let go of me first..."

I'm afraid you'll remember this once you sober up and settle the score. Then I'll be dead before I can even scrape my way to the later plot!

How unfair would that be?!

You're the Female Lead's unattainable love! Even if you let this slide, what if she finds out someday that you gave your first kiss to a man? Wouldn't she cut me down in a heartbeat?

"I won't..." The drunken man was unexpectedly childish, and his grip was astonishingly strong. "Don't move, or I'll kiss you..."

Xiao Qinghe instantly went stiff as a rock, not daring to so much as twitch a finger.

"If only you were this obedient about everything else..." Bai Yuqing murmured.

He was so close that the rich aroma of wine mingled with his own faint, cool fragrance, leaving Xiao Qinghe a little dizzy.

No wonder the Female Lead ignored every other potential lover and devoted herself entirely to him.

This man truly had what it took to drive people wild.

Too bad I'm a man!

Why am I being pinned beneath another man?! Aaaah!

Xiao Qinghe nearly coughed up blood.

But the alcohol had caught up with Bai Yuqing, and he was already fast asleep.

Fine, sleep! But why is your grip still so strong? I can't get free!

Xiao Qinghe was going mad, lying rigid and unable to move.

He did not sleep a wink all night.

At first light, Bai Yuqing's arms finally loosened a little after holding him tight all night.

At last, Xiao Qinghe broke free. He flipped over, scrambled on top of Bai Yuqing, and was about to get up.

He looked up, only to meet Bai Yuqing's expressionless face.

Bai Yuqing's eyes were open, his expression cool and his gaze clear. Not a trace of last night's dazed state remained.

Had he sobered up?

Xiao Qinghe was about to speak, but Bai Yuqing spoke first. "My disciple, could you get off me now?"

Xiao Qinghe: "..."

Bai Yuqing's white outer robe lay off to one side, while he himself lay disheveled on the floor beside the bed, pinned beneath Xiao Qinghe.

That scene alone could inspire a hundred thousand words of all sorts of scandalous imaginings!

Xiao Qinghe could not clear his name even if he jumped into the Yellow River!

"Master, it's not what you think! Last night, you..."

Bai Yuqing narrowed his eyes. "Are you saying that I pinned you beneath me all night?"

Xiao Qinghe: "..."

That explanation sounds terrible, too!

Bai Yuqing stood and straightened his clothes, looking thoughtful. "I was drunk last night. Did I do anything else improper?"

Xiao Qinghe shook his head frantically, then carefully studied his master's expression. "You don't remember anything, Master?"

Bai Yuqing's gaze flickered. "Why do you ask? Did I really do something?"

"No! Absolutely not!"

I can't mention that accidental kiss, even if it kills me!

No, wait!

There was no kiss. We just bumped into each other by accident, that's all!

Just then, the familiar system notification sounded.

[Main quest! Find Bai Yulou and resolve Bai Yuqing's hatred of the Demon Clan.]

Xiao Qinghe nearly coughed up blood.

Resolving Master's hatred is clearly the Female Lead's quest line. Why am I being sent in?

System: [This is required to meet readers' needs. Thank you for your understanding.]

"What if I don't understand?"

System: [The plot in which Bai Yuqing puts righteousness before personal ties and slays Xiao Qinghe will be brought forward.]

Well, damn!

Disobey and die!

You're threatening me, aren't you?

Fine, I'll do it! Happy now?

Xiao Qinghe gritted his teeth. "What does Bai Yulou look like?"

System: [An excerpt from the original novel is available for the host's reference:

Bai Yulou stood facing the wind, a graceful youth with a face as fine as jade. Clad in green, he cut a spirited figure, a handsome young man rarely found in this world. The young women passing by blushed, their hearts racing. Even Ouyang Susu, who had seen countless peerless beauties, could not help marveling-

Such a youth was a rare sight indeed.]

The corner of Xiao Qinghe's mouth twitched. "That's it?"

System: [That's it.]

"Other than telling me he wears green and is extremely good-looking, do you have any useful information?"

There were at least eighty, if not a hundred, handsome men dressed in green in the original novel. Searching for him in that vast sea of people would be like looking for a needle in the ocean.

System: [Hint: Someone who has met Bai Yulou is right in front of the host.]

In other words, he could only ask his master.

Xiao Qinghe secretly glanced at Bai Yuqing.

Bai Yuqing was currently leafing through ancient texts.

Every single one concerned methods of tracking demons.

His face was expressionless, his gaze sharp and icy, with dangerous undercurrents that made Xiao Qinghe's heart pound.

If his master caught that demon again, there was no chance of a peaceful end.

Only after carefully weighing his words did Xiao Qinghe speak. "Master, last night I took the liberty of asking the sect leader about your past, and learned of a young man named Bai Yulou..."

At the name Bai Yulou, Bai Yuqing abruptly raised his head, his dark gaze filled with murderous intent.

Xiao Qinghe started.

His master's fixation on Bai Yulou's death ran so deep that merely mentioning him brought a trace of ruthlessness to that serene face, which never betrayed its emotions.

The stronger that reaction was, the more important it was to find Bai Yulou.

If doing so could dissolve his master's hatred of the Demon Clan, then even if he accidentally became a demon someday, his master would not kill him in the name of righteousness!

It would treat both the symptoms and the cause-far more effective than simply clinging to a powerful protector!

Energized, Xiao Qinghe said, "What if there was more to what happened back then, and Xiao Lou didn't die..."

"Xiao Lou..." Bai Yuqing murmured, wistfulness creeping into his cold, stern expression. "I haven't heard that name in so many years. Sadly, he'll never hear me call him that again."

Xiao Qinghe grew earnest. "Master, please hear me out. Xiao Lou must still be alive somewhere in this world. There must be some reason he hasn't come to see you!"

"If he truly is alive, what reason could keep him from contacting me or coming to see me for over a decade?"

"..."

Bai Yuqing raised a hand and stroked his head. "I saw Xiao Lou die with my own eyes. There's no need to say such things to comfort me. The dead cannot return to life. All I can do is slay monsters and demons to bring solace to his departed soul."

His master was certain Bai Yulou was dead. Saying more would accomplish nothing.

In that case...

An idea flashed through Xiao Qinghe's mind.