I really can't stand virgins

"I give up!"

Lin Qingyang sat on the steps outside the bedroom, cursing as he pressed a piece of gauze against the wound on his neck.

At the bottom of the steps, Qi Mo knelt by his feet, trussed up with a wad of cloth stuffed in his mouth, listening to Lin Qingyang's tirade with a dark expression.

"Lying in the same bed means we had sex? Even if you've never done it, haven't you seen how it works? You can't even tell whether someone fucked you!"

"I took your clothes off to treat your injuries and apply medicine. If I'd really fucked you, would you have been lively enough to bite me just now?"

"I really can't stand virgins! Hiss!"

Lin Qingyang grew worked up as he spoke, the wound on his neck throbbing with pain, only to see Qi Mo craning his neck with an expression that practically begged for a beating.

"Still glaring?" Lin Qingyang glared back irritably.

Qi Mo frowned, regarding the man before him with lingering doubt. If he hadn't had those intentions, why would an elder have shared a bed with a demon slave?

Feng Shu and Feng Yi listened from the side and exchanged a discreet glance.

"So last night, Master slept with him..." Feng Yi whispered, only for Feng Shu to cover his mouth halfway through.

Feng Shu frowned and glanced at Qi Mo. "Master, how should we deal with this demon slave?"

By the rules, a demon slave who injured someone had committed a capital offense, just as a dog that bit people had to be beaten to death. Qi Mo listened without any change in expression, clearly having anticipated his fate long ago.

But Lin Qingyang merely fell silent for a while before telling Feng Shu and Feng Yi, "You two, go invite Xue Lanyuan and Jin Buhuan over."

"What about Elder Mo?" Feng Shu asked. After all, Ink Cloud Hall oversaw discipline and punishment in the Nine Skies Sect.

"No need to invite him," Lin Qingyang said.

Feng Shu and Feng Yi found this a little strange, but since Lin Qingyang had said so, they could only comply.

"Master, be careful of this demon slave," Feng Shu cautioned, still somewhat worried, before leaving with Feng Yi.

The courtyard fell quiet. Lin Qingyang's gaze returned to the youth at his feet, studying him. When Qi Mo noticed him looking, he glared fiercely back. The other demon slaves in the Nine Skies Sect were terrified whenever they saw anyone, all but wishing they could knock their heads into the ground. This little ungrateful wolf, on the other hand, was ferocious. The main villain really was something else.

Still, the brat was quite a looker, with a high nose, thin lips, and skin as fair as a girl's, yet his wolfish eyes were terribly fierce. His medium-length black wolf cut hung loose and slightly disheveled, a pair of wolf ears poking out through his hair, and a black collar still encircled his neck. Kneeling there, he could easily give people improper ideas. What on earth had Lin Yao been thinking, designing a villain like this? Good thing he didn't have any strange tastes.

Lin Qingyang picked up the curved saber from the ground and toyed with it for a moment, then rose, descended the steps, and walked up to Qi Mo.

The cold blade reflected in those amber eyes, but there was not a trace of fear in them. He simply stared fixedly at Lin Qingyang, his gaze still looking as though he wanted to bite him to death.

Seeing him like this, Lin Qingyang gave a teasing smile. "Kid, I wasn't interested in you before, but if you keep looking at me like that, I just might change my mind."

His words made Qi Mo falter, his expression freezing as he found himself unsure whether to keep looking fierce.

Lin Qingyang couldn't help chuckling at his comical expression.

"All right, I'll stop teasing you." With that, he flicked his hand and cut through the ropes binding Qi Mo, then turned and returned to the steps.

Qi Mo froze for a moment, removed the cloth from his mouth, and looked questioningly at Lin Qingyang, only to see him open the food box beside him. The aroma of food drifted out. Qi Mo's nose twitched as he stared at the box. He had barely eaten anything in the several days since his capture and was already ravenous.

"Want something to eat?" Lin Qingyang asked him.

Qi Mo stared at the food box and swallowed involuntarily, but he didn't move, remaining wary.

Lin Qingyang said helplessly, "Stop staring. You think I'd poison you?"

Qi Mo's expression paused. He considered Lin Qingyang's words; there did indeed seem to be no need for that. The wariness in his eyes finally softened under his hunger, and he rose and approached with some hesitation.

The plump white steamed buns in the food box gave off waves of fragrance. Once his gaze landed on the food, he forgot everything else, grabbing a bun and stuffing it into his mouth, swallowing with barely a chew. Only after wolfing down several did he slow his eating.

Watching him eat with such relish, Lin Qingyang grew curious about what food in ancient times tasted like and wanted to try a bun. But as soon as his hand approached the food box, Qi Mo suddenly gave a low growl, baring his teeth at Lin Qingyang in warning.

The little ungrateful wolf even guarded his food!

Lin Qingyang shot him a murderous glare. Qi Mo froze, remembered his situation, blinked several times, then lowered his head and continued gnawing on the bun in his hand, pretending nothing had happened.

Lin Qingyang rolled his eyes, took a bun from the box, and bit into it, then immediately frowned. To a modern man like him, it tasted far too bland, as though no salt had been added. When he looked up again, the box was already empty. Qi Mo was stuffing the last mouthful of bun into his mouth, watching him with bulging cheeks.

Eating that fast-how long had he been starving? Seeing Qi Mo's eyes still fixed on the one remaining bun in his hand, Lin Qingyang helplessly held it out to him.

Qi Mo looked at him in surprise. Only after a long while did he hesitantly reach out to accept the bun, but instead of swallowing it whole as he had earlier, he stared blankly at Lin Qingyang. Just then, the furry ears atop his head suddenly twitched. Qi Mo looked warily into the courtyard, and then a sudden thunderclap exploded there, kicking up a cloud of dust as Mo Yan appeared in a fury.

"Lin Qingyang!" Mo Yan shouted angrily. He strode forward and glared at Lin Qingyang, then paused and said disapprovingly, "You're an elder! What do you think you look like, dressed like that?"

Lin Qingyang had come straight outside after climbing out of bed that morning, wearing only a close-fitting white nightgown that had been torn in several places during their earlier scuffle. As a modern man, Lin Qingyang thought nothing of it, but to Mo Yan, he might as well have been sitting by the door in his underpants. Combined with his disheveled hair and unshaven face, an uninformed passerby might have wanted to toss him a few Spirit Stones.

"That's what you wanted to say?" Lin Qingyang casually brushed aside the hair blocking his eyes.

Mo Yan closed his eyes briefly, then looked at Qi Mo crouching beside Lin Qingyang, his anger returning.

"Lin Qingyang, what is the meaning of this, breaking this beast out of the Forbidden Abyss?" Mo Yan demanded loudly, pointing at Qi Mo.

"No need to shout. I'm not deaf." Lin Qingyang rubbed his ear.

Just then, seven or eight Ink Cloud Hall disciples hurried in through the main gate and stood behind Mo Yan, awaiting orders.

Lin Qingyang glanced over them. "Making such a big fuss. Anyone who didn't know better would think you'd come to arrest me."

"You won't escape answering for what you've done! Trespassing in the Forbidden Abyss, injuring people, and breaking out a prisoner! Do you really think being an elder means you can do whatever you please?" Mo Yan said coldly.

Lin Qingyang frowned. "Looks like Lei Guang and Lei Chen didn't tell you what they'd been up to."

Perhaps because he'd suffered from Lin Qingyang's nonsense last time, Mo Yan couldn't be bothered to hear him out this time. He waved at the disciples behind him. "Seize that beast!"

Among the Ink Cloud Hall disciples behind him, a stern-looking disciple led several others forward. But before they could approach, Lin Qingyang suddenly swept his hand, sending a powerful gust that pushed them two steps back.

Lin Qingyang rose and stood in front of Qi Mo, looking ready to challenge Mo Yan.

"Lin Qingyang, what exactly do you mean by shielding him over and over again?" Mo Yan demanded angrily.

"What else should I do, watch those fine disciples of yours kill him?" Lin Qingyang shot back.

"Stop twisting the truth! Hand that beast over!" Mo Yan snapped.

Lin Qingyang gave a cold snort and raised an eyebrow. "And if I don't?"

Behind him, Qi Mo's expression shifted slightly at those words, and he raised his eyes to look at Lin Qingyang standing in front of him.

Mo Yan seemed to have finally reached the end of his patience. He glared at Lin Qingyang in anger, lightning lighting up his palm.

Lin Qingyang frowned but did not move aside. The atmosphere in the courtyard grew tense, a fight ready to break out at any moment.