The chaotic images in his mind kept appearing, one after another, in a tangled flood.
He let out a muffled groan, and his glazed sword heart shattered on the spot.
The heart demon surged up from the depths of his heart once more.
And this time, it was even more violent than before.
He discovered that, within those images, the Princess Consort's face was gradually fading, blurring.
It seemed to be twisting continuously.
Until, at last, it changed completely.
The instant that figure turned around, his pupils contracted, and horror filled his face.
Thud, thud, thud-he stumbled backward several steps.
Because that face belonged to none other than himself.
Boom!
A thunderbolt out of a clear sky. It was as though lightning had struck him.
Ye Qinghong nearly broke down.
Yet those images kept churning, leaving his mind utterly blank, with no idea what was happening.
A demonic voice kept ringing out.
"It's all right. Such affairs of the mortal world are perfectly natural. He is your master, after all..."
"No! You bear a blood-deep hatred for this fiend. How could you let him humiliate you again?"
"Of course you can flee, but what about your junior sisters? This fiend is sinister and cunning. Could you bear to let them fall into his demonic clutches?"
"..."
All manner of voices seeped into his heart.
In the end, Ye Qinghong could no longer control himself.
In a daze, he walked toward the chair and soon reached the Demon Venerable's throne.
He bent over and lay across it.
His body trembled.
His voice, too, quivered like a nightingale's.
"I, Ye Qinghong, ask Master to punish me."
"..."
Fang Yang froze in place, staring at the scene with his mouth agape, astonishment written all over his face.
Ever since his eldest disciple had returned to the Demon Cult, he had lingered instead of leaving. Clearly, he had already grown suspicious of Fang Yang.
That was why Fang Yang had swallowed the Charm Pill today and unleashed that god-shocking sword strike!
It had all been to intimidate him!
And thereby dispel some of his suspicions.
Even so, Fang Yang had still thought today would be difficult.
After all, everyone knew the temperament of Ye Qinghong, the God-Shocking Sword, and Fang Yang did not possess the Demon Venerable's overwhelming strength to force him into submission.
To be honest, he had even prepared himself for failure. Never, under any circumstances, had he expected events to take such a turn.
Even he was surprised.
But...
Once an arrow left the bow, there was no taking it back.
Since things had already reached this point, he naturally could not retreat.
With that thought, Fang Yang took a deep breath and walked toward him, step by step.
Chapter 36: The Fiend Has Changed
[The dim hall, the flickering lamplight, and your obedient disciple instantly ignite the flames in your heart. You remember the Princess Consort's undergarment in your sleeve. Why not stuff it into his mouth...]
"..."
Fang Yang's face darkened with exasperation. That unreliable narration had completely ruined his nervous mood.
With a flash of movement, he flew straight to the throne.
He looked at Ye Qinghong lying across it.
And raised his hand.
Smack!
Smack!
With two crisp sounds, his hand struck down hard.
Ye Qinghong shuddered and remained draped over the throne for a long while.
Only after a long time did he abruptly lift his head, his cheeks scarlet and his gaze rippling with emotion. He did not even dare glance at Fang Yang.
Just as he was about to flee, a voice rang out beside his ear.
"Wait!"
"Merit is merit, and fault is fault. I have always been clear in my rewards and punishments. Since you've been so obedient, I shall give you the complete God-Shocking Sword Technique. I hope you won't disappoint me!"
Whoosh!
Fang Yang flicked his sleeve, and a jade slip flew straight into Ye Qinghong's hand.
Holding the cool jade slip, Ye Qinghong froze for a moment.
His mind reeled.
He seemed unable to believe it.
For a moment, he even thought he was hallucinating.
But he soon bit his lip and swiftly tucked the jade slip into his sleeve.
He did not even spare the time to say thank you.
Instead, he hurriedly flew toward the Back Mountain.
His figure blurred into the distance, looking very much as though he was fleeing in defeat.
And that was precisely the direction of the Hot Spring.
As Ye Qinghong disappeared from the Demon Venerable Pavilion, Fang Yang watched his retreating figure and could not help breathing a small sigh of relief.
The stone suspended in his heart finally dropped, and he was no longer as tense as before.
That was too dangerous!
I finally made it through!
Over the past few days, he had learned something of Ye Qinghong's temperament from the scattered remarks of the Demon Cult's disciples.
A born swordsman, devoted to the sword!
Aside from the sword in his hand!
Nothing else in this world could catch his eye.
Most importantly, Ye Qinghong truly hated him to the marrow of his bones. There was absolutely no faking that.
Although he did not know why Ye Qinghong had so obediently lain across the throne just now, there was one thing he could be certain of.
In Ye Qinghong's mind, the cruelest punishment was probably that slap.
If Fang Yang had pushed his luck even a little further, it would likely have backfired, directly stirring up his rebellious streak.
He would have fought Fang Yang to the death.
And then...
Fang Yang could only have used his last Demon Venerable Card, which would not have been worth it at all!
"Give him a slap, then offer him a sweet date. That's the true art of PUA."
"The fiend doesn't need affection points, but I still do. Hopefully, this wayward disciple will hate me a little less."
"That way, I won't have to do things that violate my conscience so badly in the future, and I'll get more chances to draw prizes."
Muttering to himself, Fang Yang returned to the throne. He gazed at the vast darkness around him and sighed.
"I'm good-hearted by nature, but this world simply won't let an innocent man like me survive."
The night was fading.
At the Demon Cult's Back Mountain Hot Spring, a figure came flying over like a blue falcon.
He shot into the Hot Spring in an instant.
He moved swiftly, practically as fast as lightning.
Yet the instant he entered the water, he did not raise so much as a splash, proof of how finely he controlled his own strength.
One could even say he had reached the very pinnacle.
Splash!
The spring water rippled.
Ye Qinghong submerged his entire body in the pool.
The bamboo Hairpin fell loose.
Before you continue