Half a year later.
"Little immortal lord... once you get out... you really won't kill me with your sword?" Gu Yi asked.
Lin Yuan frowned. "I won't!"
Lin Yuan silently calculated that, by all ordinary reckoning, Gu Yi should still have a few years left to live.
At that thought, he decided that as soon as they left this place, he would take Gu Yi back to the Qingling Sword Sect.
Although Gu Yi had once been a member of the Demonic Cult, so what?
The Demon Venerable was already dead. As long as he hid Gu Yi in his cave abode, no one would discover him.
Besides, Gu Yi's meridians had returned to normal, which meant he could study orthodox cultivation techniques and become a true cultivator.
That way, Gu Yi could stay by his side forever.
"When did I ever say I would kill you?" Lin Yuan asked softly, holding Gu Yi tightly as their bodies pressed even closer together.
He loved listening to Gu Yi's heartbeat, as though that sound alone could put his heart at ease.
"You didn't..." But once you get out, you'll meet the female lead. You'll fall madly in love with her and fight the male lead over her.
And I'm a stain on Lin Yuan's life!
No matter how I look at it, you couldn't possibly keep a stain like me around, could you?
Besides, you don't know I'm the Demon Venerable, but your grandfather and those orthodox sects all do!
Even if you don't kill me, there's no guarantee they won't.
Then it'll be: Gu Yi, the Demon Venerable, defiled the Qingling Sword Sect leader's youngest grandson!
That old man Lin Hai is so stubborn. How could he possibly let me off?
My cultivation is only at Qi Refining now. Wouldn't the Tianling Sword Sect hunt me to the ends of the earth?
If I explained to Lin Hai then that his grandson forced me, would he believe me?
I wouldn't be able to clear my name even if I jumped into the Yellow River.
Lin Yuan cast a cleansing spell and held Gu Yi without letting go.
Since Lin Yuan had ruined several sets of his clothes, Gu Yi simply stopped wearing any and burrowed straight under the covers.
"What exactly are you trying to say?" Although Lin Yuan could not see, his imposing presence had not diminished in the slightest.
"Nothing. Just like you said before, once we get out, we'll stay out of each other's way. I'll take this to my grave. I won't tell anyone."
Gu Yi yawned and spoke indistinctly.
Lin Yuan remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, "If you want an official place by my side, once we get out, I'll take you home and become your Dao Companion."
However, Gu Yi did not respond immediately. Lin Yuan could not help feeling puzzled. Had he guessed wrong? He asked tentatively, "Why aren't you saying anything? Do you disdain me because I'm blind?"
When Gu Yi still did not react, Lin Yuan hurriedly explained, "Don't worry. Once we return to the sect, I should be able to regain my sight. Besides, after reaching the Tribulation Transcendence Stage, even without eyes, I can perceive the world through divine sense and live like a normal person."
He continued reassuring him. "Perhaps you're worried my family won't agree to us being together, but I have a way to persuade them, too. All you need to do is come home with me without worrying."
After saying this, Lin Yuan sighed softly, then carefully turned onto his side, pressed his lips to Gu Yi's, and gave him a gentle kiss. He quietly listened to Gu Yi's steady breathing, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly as he chuckled softly. "Asleep?"
He gently buried his head against Gu Yi's neck and shoulder and took a deep breath, taking in his scent. Then he murmured in a low, husky voice, "Gu Yi... Gu Yi... I think I'm starting to understand a little of what my senior brother meant by romantic love."
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