Chapter 64: Approach

June 22nd, 2023

Content warning: Contains elements of nonconsent.

…………………

Hearing this, Wu Yimei couldn’t help but be startled. He suddenly recalled how, although His Excellency had always protected Xie Huai while on Hollow Ridge and had never allowed him to act against Xie Huai, His Excellency had never actually said that he liked Xie Huai, either, to the point that he’d said over and over that he was only using Xie Huai, and he’d even told Wu Yimei not to overthink it.

But at the time, Wu Yimei hadn’t believed it, taking it to be an excuse His Excellency was making to protect Xie Huai. When a person was in love, their words and actions and bearing couldn’t lie. His Excellency had dug his very heart out with such sincerity. How could making use of someone explain such actions?

But now, Xie Huai was willing to become Dao companions with His Excellency. According to reason, His Excellency should be happy that his wish was being fulfilled, but on the contrary, he seemed to be troubled. Was there any need to lie now?

Could it be that His Excellency didn’t like Xie Huai after all, and he really had misunderstood?

When he realized this, Wu Yimei suddenly felt a sliver of hope. If His Excellency didn’t like Xie Huai, then he wouldn’t get dragged into danger by Xie Huai, nor would he alienate himself from Wu Yimei because of Xie Huai. He and His Excellency could still be just like before……

He was still the most important person by His Excellency’s side.

Although he was overjoyed inside, His Excellency was evidently not in a good mood, so Wu Yimei tactfully refrained from pursuing the matter, instead changing the topic. “I’ve prepared spirit stones for Your Excellency to recover your cultivation with. If Your Excellency requires anything else, please give the order.”

As he spoke, he respectfully presented a storage bracelet.

Fang Li was a bit moved. This was the benefit of having a considerate subordinate. But right now, recovering his cultivation was of the utmost importance, so Fang Li didn’t refuse and accepted Wu Yumei’s bracelet.

Wu Yimei then said icily, “I only regret that there were traitors among my subordinates, allowing Du Meng to find out about the treasure vault……”

Fang Li had a good grasp on the matter and smiled, saying, “There’s no harm. There wasn’t anything especially important there. If he took it, then so be it. We’ll simply take it back in the future.”

Wu Yimei said, “Understood.”

They would let Du Meng be pleased with himself for a time. Now that His Excellency was back, they would teach him a lesson sooner or later!

Fang Li pondered for a moment, then said, “There’s one more thing that this lord would have you do.”

Wu Yimei didn’t hesitate. “Please give the command, Your Excellency.”

Fang Li’s eyes were deep as he slowly opened his mouth. “Go to Mount Xingyang and retrieve a certain thing for this lord.”

He was going to see just who was stirring up trouble behind his back.

……………

After Wu Yimei left. 

Fang Li went back to shutting himself inside to cultivate. Other than taking his meals every day and visiting his mother and father every few days, he was practically always inside his room.

Xie Huai had been alright during this period of time and hadn’t pressured him too much, focusing whole-heartedly on discussing the wedding.

Watching Xie Huai obstinately carry out his plans, Fang Li could only let him do as he pleased.

He had already said everything he could say. He’d expressed clearly that he didn’t want to become Dao companions, but not only had Xie Huai not listened, he’d even acted as if he’d gone mad, wanting to dual cultivate and leaving him with no choice but to temporarily agree. There was no point in discussing it further right now. He could only take things step by step.

Besides, the person behind the scenes was watching for a chance to strike. There was no telling when they would try their hand. Fang Li didn’t have much attention to spare for the wedding.

The news that Yuyi-jun and the Fang family’s young master were about to become Dao companions spread all over. 

All of Hualin Town was abuzz.

Whenever Fang Mingyuan went outside these days, he would be surrounded by people asking this and that. At first, some suspected that he’d lost his mind. How could he speak nonsense like this? Was he making up tales for the sake of showing off? But later, there were those who’d seen Xie Huai at the Fang estate and received affirmation straight from Xie Huai’s mouth.

But people still thought it was far too unimaginable.

There were so many immortal ladies in the world, but none of them had caught Yuyi-jun’s eye. Instead, it had to be the Fang family’s foolish young master? Even if Yuyi-jun, cough, liked men, there were also plenty of young prodigies in the world! Regardless, it shouldn’t have come down to the Fang family, right?

Preposterous, just preposterous.

Up until the disciples of Cloudbank Keep came to offer their congratulations, with the representatives of many other cultivation sects following close behind, and the ordinary little town was suddenly crammed full of powerful experts.

When all of the great figures of the cultivation world with a reputation to speak of had squeezed into the tiny little inn of Hualin Town, here to give their blessings Yuyi-jun and the Fang family.

No one dared doubt it any longer.

To think it was true.

Yuyi-jun was really going to become Dao companions with the Fang family’s foolish young master!!!

The residents of Hualin town were dazed.

Borrowing from Fang Li’s good fortune, Lu Hongdao was also giddy from success these days. At present, Hualin Town was full of cultivators, and Fang Mingyuan, who was only a mortal, had never seen such a grand spectacle before. Looking at all these cultivators had him on tenterhooks, so he invited his only cultivator friend—Lu Hongdao—to help.

Lu Hongdao was only an ordinary and plain Golden Core cultivator, and the very lowest type at that. At his age, he had only just managed to pull together a coarse grade of a golden core, and that was about as far as he would get in his lifetime. Being able to get acquainted with all these big figures in the cultivation world had him practically laughing himself awake in his dreams. All of these were connections, okay, connections!

He recalled how when he’d gone to Grieving Wind Valley with Fang Li, he’d somehow blindly gotten ahold of a bag of spirit stones, and now, he was getting to know all of these personages of the cultivation world. Sure enough, this child was his lucky star!

The threshold of the Fang household was about to be trampled flat.

When had those normally lofty and aloof cultivators ever come to a place like this? But on Yuyi-jun’s behalf, they put away the airs of a big personage and treated the Fang family politely and courteously. 

Everyone was whispering in their hearts. 

Plenty of people had attended the Ascension Conference not long ago. At the time, Xie Huai had brought along this fool, calling him his destined Dao companion, his fated union. At the time, everyone had thought it absurd, but they hadn’t imagined that Yuyi-jun would settle on a wedding date so quickly. It looked like he was serious. 

Nobody could understand. 

Just what about this fool had caught Yuyi-jun’s eye?

It couldn’t have really been because of some vague, meaningless talk of destiny?

Tao Lu had come with the rest of the party from Cloudbank Keep. When he arrived at the Fang household again, his feelings were extremely complicated. 

The others only felt the matter shocking and absurd. 

But Tao Lu had experienced the whole thing from start to finish, and he…… still thought it was shocking and absurd!

At the head was an elder from Cloudbank Keep who said politely to Xie Huai, “The sect master was overjoyed for you when he heard the news. With his age, it’s not convenient for him to travel, so he especially had me come to congratulate you. On the day of the wedding, the sect master will be sure to come personally, and he is willing to host the ceremony.”

Xie Huai said with a nod, “Please give my thanks to Master for his concern.”

The elder said with a smile, “It’s natural for the sect master to be thinking about you. There’s no need to be so polite. Speaking of which, the sect master was happy from the bottom of his heart that you were able to find a Dao companion of one heart and mind as you.”

In truth, everyone at Cloudbank Keep was happy for Xie Huai. 

Originally, they had all thought that Xie Huai probably wasn’t able to walk out of the shadow of being seized by the demon lord. These years, he’d kept to himself more and more. But now Xie Huai was willing to start over and was even willing to find a Dao companion. It was wonderful news! Even if his partner was a mortal, so what? It wasn’t like he couldn’t cultivate, and it wasn’t a big deal even if he wasn’t very talented.

The elder left after exchanging some greetings. Tao Lu hung behind, carefully looking at Xie Huai as he asked, “Shixiong, are you serious about this?”

Xie Huai looked down at Tao Lu, saying blandly, “Where does it look like I’m not serious?”

Tao Lu was choked silent.

He really did seem serious to the extreme.

Not only had he announced it to the whole world, he wasn’t treating the other party with the least bit of neglect even though he was a mortal. On the contrary, he was following etiquette and giving the other party the utmost respect so that nobody could pick out even the slightest fault. But the more perfect and flawless things were, the more unreal they seemed to Tao Lu……

Speaking of which, that Shixiong had been willing to save the fool and had even given out three sword talismans and a promise, could it have been…… that Shixiong had already been able to tell that it was his destined partner, and that was why he’d brought him away in such a grand manner?

No way, right?

You could even tell something like that?

Tao Lu sucked in a cold breath. He really couldn’t see through Shixiong’s matters, but Tao Lu’s impression of Fang Li was that of a dazed, ignorant fool. It was said that Shixiong had asked for the Nine-Turns Wisdom Pill from Black Star Tower and had already cured Fang Li, but Tao Lu still had no way to imagine how Shixiong could fall in love with a fool who was like a blank sheet of paper in just a few days’ time. 

It wasn’t like they were planning to get married first and develop feelings afterwards, were they?

Speaking of which, after so long, Tao Lu missed Fang Li a little, too, so he said as he looked around, “Shixiong, where’s Young Master Fang?”

Xie Huai spoke blandly. “You want to see him?”

Tao Lu smiled bashfully.

He actually did like Fang Li quite a bit. In the future, they would be family, and he hadn’t seen Fang Li yet since his recovery!

………………

Fang Li was conversing with his parents in his room. 

Fang Mingyuan and Xin Ruiyan had come to discuss the wedding with their son. After all, they were only mortals and had never experienced something like this, so they were at a bit of a loss. Moreover, they didn’t really understand exactly how to arrange things when it came to two men becoming Dao companions. In the end, they still had a son, didn’t they? Wouldn’t it be unsuitable to marry him off in the fashion of a daughter?

Besides, they really didn’t have anything worth bringing out. Even if they were to empty out all of their possessions, Yuyi-jun probably wouldn’t spare any of it a glance. It was truly worrisome. They fretted that their son wouldn’t have any face during the wedding. 

Originally, they weren’t supposed to count on Fang Li for this matter. Just a month earlier, he had still been a fool who didn’t know a thing, but although their son had only just recovered his wits not too long ago, he seemed extremely clear-minded, so after a bit of contemplation, they had come to discuss with him. After all, it was their son’s wedding, so they had to get his opinion!

Seeing his cheaply-gotten mother and father put in so much effort, Fang Li felt a bit guilty. He said there was no need to prepare anything, Yuyi-jun would handle it all.

But his parents still weren’t at ease. Fang Li was just debating whether to reveal a thing or two to them in order to let them mentally prepare themselves when Xie Huai brought Tao Lu over.

Fang Li shivered and promptly didn’t dare say a single extra word.

He thought, it would be better to find another chance in the future to tell them.

Seeing Fang Li, Tao Lu immediately said cheerfully, “It’s been a while. Do you still remember me?”

Fang Li had a very good impression of Tao Lu and said with a nod, “Of course I remember. I’ve received much care from you in the past.”

When he’d been pretending to be a fool, it’d been this silly child who’d toiled without end to look after him!

Tao Lu was a proper sect disciple with manners and remembered to greet Fang Li’s parents first. Only then did he scoot over to Fang Li and pull at his hand, looking him up and down. No matter how he looked, Fang Li seemed normal. He couldn’t resist asking in a quiet voice, “How…… cough, did you and Shixiong get together?”

He really was curious beyond belief to the point that his insides itched, but he didn’t dare ask Xie Huai, so he could only ask Fang Li.

Fang Li’s parents pricked up their ears as well.

Xie Huai held back a smile, his black eyes watching them impassively.

Fang Li’s expression froze slightly. Tao Lu, this kid, was fine in everything else, but he just couldn’t read the room. Was that something you could ask so casually?

He stammered for a long time, not knowing how to start.

At this, Xie Huai walked over and picked up his hand, looking down tenderly as he said, “After his illness was cured, he was moved by my help, and after learning that we had a fated union from a previous life, he decided to fulfill that promise in this life. Moreover, we were mutually in love, so we naturally decided to be together.”

Tao Lu and Fang Li’s parents were all looking at Fang Li.

Fang Li slowly and solemnly gave a nod, squeezing out a rigid smile.

Only he could hear the threat within those words. How was “fated union from a previous life” a torment for Xie Huai? Looking at it now, it was clearly a torment for himself! He could only lie in the bed he’d made.

Fang Li’s parents watched the couple’s affectionate display. When he’d seen that their son had been too embarrassed to answer, Yuyi-jun had immediately stepped up to help. With how tender, attentive, and considerate he was, it was clear that their son truly did have a place in his heart. How could they still be the least bit dissatisfied? With their son going off with Yuyi-jun, they couldn’t be more at ease!

What a heavenly pair of lovers, how wonderful!

Tao Lu was still curious and wanted to keep asking for details, but after receiving a warning look from Xie Huai, he immediately choked and resentfully shut his mouth.

Only Fang Li was full of suffering he couldn’t voice.

He had been forced to put on a display of affection with Xie Huai, and by the time Xie Huai left, his palms were sweaty from anxiety. Now his parents had even more faith in Xie Huai. How was he to explain things in the future?

Fang Li was full of worries.

Forget it, only cultivating could clear away his worries!

……………………

Fang Li poured all of his attention into cultivating, never leaving his room.

Every couple of days, he would receive a message from Wu Yimei informing him of the progress on his side. It seemed like they would be able to reel in the net very soon.

Hualin Town was so full of cultivators from all of the big sects that not even the little inn and the Fang household could fit them all. More than a few people simply set up their own tents and stayed nearby.

Xie Huai had already announced the wedding date to the public. They would hold the union ceremony a month from now on Hollow Ridge.

When the time came, all of the cultivation sects would formally offer their congratulations, but what kind of person was Xie Huai? He was the uncontested number one in the world right now. Everyone wanted to establish a good relationship with Xie Huai. If they were to wait until then to arrive, how could they display their closeness? These days, Xie Huai was staying at the Fang household, giving the Fang family plenty of face, and the rest of them also arrived bright and early to sing their praises.

Although there was a jubilant and festive atmosphere on the surface, there was many a person singing a different tune underneath.

After all, the difference between the two parties was truly too large.

Inside the teahouse in the little town, a group of cultivators were sitting and chatting. They’d come from all the big cultivation sects and had already been staying here for a few days.

A cultivator from the Flying Moon Sect said, “What kind of incense did the Fang household burn in their last life for their foolish son to be able to catch Yuyi-jun’s eye? Now that’s what they mean by rags to riches.”

A Black Star Tower cultivator said, “Really, I truly don’t know what Yuyi-jun sees in him.”

“Aren’t they saying that he’s Yuyi-jun’s destined partner?”

“Something like a destined partner…… If a bored cultivator cultivating the path of passion were to believe it, that’d be one thing, but would Yuyi-jun care about some destined partner?”

“But he really is about to become Dao companions with that foolish young master.”

The crowd let out a peal of sighs, all of them finding it difficult to believe.

Fang Li had succeeded in breaking through to Nascent Soul a few days ago, but breaking through to Soul Formation would take more than a few days’ time. Rushing would only slow him down, so he went outside to clear his mind and get an idea of the situation outside along the way.

The teahouse was precisely where information gathered the best.

At this moment, Fang Li was sitting right next to them, listening to their conversation. Despite listening for a good while, he didn’t obtain any useful information. Recently, the headlines of all the gossip all around were about him and Xie Huai.

“Hey, do you think this thing will work out or not? I think it’s quite a stretch.”

“I think it will work out. Whatever the case may be, Yuyi-jun has already announced it to the whole world. If he hasn’t already made up his mind, why would he do such a thing?”

“If you ask me, Yuyi-jun is going to regret it in the future. When the time comes, that fool will be a sight to see.”

On the topic of whether it would work out or not, everyone expressed their own opinion, the conversation heating up to a blaze.

Fang Li deeply approved and couldn’t resist jumping into the conversation, saying, “I don’t think it will work out, either.”

Although the group didn’t recognize Fang Li, when they saw that Fang Li was also a cultivator, and seemingly one with a pretty high cultivation level, they took him to be another cultivator who’d come to offer congratulations. They said, “You also think so, right?”

Fang Li nodded.

He was just about to give a thorough and logical analysis about just why it wouldn’t work out when they suddenly heard a cool, clear voice coming from beside them. “If I say it can be done, then it will be.”

Now who was joining in?

The crowd turned their heads and immediately froze on the spot.

Xie Huai was standing there impassively in his white robes. He looked over at Fang Li, revealing a tender smile, his tone of voice meaningful as he said, “Don’t mess around. Are my feelings still not clear to you?”

The crowd: ???!!!

It couldn’t be that this person was the Fang family’s foolish young master?

Everyone stared at Fang Li with jaws agape.

He didn’t look the least bit like a fool. Not being a fool could be explained, since there was the Nine-Turns Wisdom Pill, after all, but since when was he a cultivator?

He’d just recovered his wits a few days ago! A month earlier, at the Ascension Conference, he had still been a mortal through and through! Normally, it would take at least a year to reach Foundation Building, but he’d become a high-level cultivator in less than a month? He looked to be at least Golden Core or above!

What kind of cultivation speed was this?

At the time, Yuyi-jun had been a prodigy blessed by the heavens, and even he hadn’t cultivated this quickly?

The crowd was full of terror and astonishment.

Had Xie Huai noticed his unusualness and unparalleled aptitude a long time ago, and that was why he was willing to become Dao companions? If that was the case, then it was also reasonable! Although Fang Li hadn’t been cultivating for a long time, with his aptitude, he was indeed a match for Yuyi-jun!

So that was the case.

Moreover, Xie Huai’s attitude was also very shocking!

Previously, everyone had thought that the Fang family had been the one who’d stumbled upon a stroke of luck, and this foolish young master had seized upon this destined union to obtain this marriage, but who knew if he would be abandoned at some point? After all, Yuyi-jun wasn’t someone who would care about so-called destiny. Perhaps it was only a fleeting interest. But looking at it now…… Yuyi-jun seemed to be full of single-minded devotion for him, and on the contrary, it was Young Master Fang who didn’t pay it much mind?

Just who was pursuing who?

Fang Li’s smile was bitter as he met everyone’s probing gazes.

He’d taken the rare opportunity to come out and clear his mind, so when had Xie Huai started following him? It couldn’t have been from the very beginning, could it?

Xie Huai was right beside him. A loose tongue was a source of calamity. Right now, he didn’t dare speak rashly.

Xie Huai clasped the young man’s wrist, his eyes lowered impassively at him. With the person behind the scenes stalking them, he knew Fang Li was in a rush to recover his cultivation, so he’d given Fang Li plenty of time these days and hadn’t disturbed him, but that didn’t mean that he would allow Fang Li to ruin this wedding.

There are some things that I can indulge you in, but when it comes to leaving me, there’s absolutely no room for discussion. Even showing a single hint of it isn’t allowed.

Fang Li was docile as Xie Huai led him back.

Having been caught red-handed running his mouth today, Fang Li felt a bit guilty and uneasy. As soon as they arrived home, he wanted to shake off Xie Huai’s hand, but Xie Huai pushed him straight into his room and pressed him against the wall.

Xie Huai lowered his head and bent close, and Fang Li’s entire body immediately stretched taut. He said nervously, “I, I’m going to rest.”

Xie Huai glanced mildly at Fang Li’s face and laughed softly. “We’re about to become Dao companions. What are you acting like such a stranger for?”

Fang Li fell into Xie Huai’s deep, murky eyes and immediately felt a sense of foreboding. Xie Huai couldn’t once again be…… He rushed to say, “But we’re not Dao companions yet. You agreed to wait until after we became Dao companions to……”

He couldn’t get the word “dual cultivate” out. His face warmed.

Xie Huai helped him finish his sentence, his voice slow, dragging out the last syllable. “Dual cultivate.”

Fang Li: “……”

Xie Huai could wait until after the ceremony to dual cultivate, but he’d had enough of Fang Li’s evasion. He’d already endured for this long. It was time to collect a little interest, wasn’t it?

His fingertips lightly caressed the young man’s lips. The sensation of the petals of his lips traveled through Xie Huai’s fingertips, as if inviting him for a taste. This was the person he’d thought about day and night for so long, but he’d taken him to be so precious that he hadn’t dared touch him. But actually, there was no need for that. This person was cruel and heartless, his mouth full of lies. He wasn’t worth such careful treatment……

As soon as the thought crossed his mind, Xie Huai acted, lowering his head to kiss him.

Fang Li dodged reflexively. As soon as he turned his head, the kiss landed on the corner of his lips.

Xie Huai’s movements paused.

Then, he revealed a very faint smile. He’d almost forgotten, he wasn’t Fang Li’s Shixiong, so of course Fang Li didn’t want his intimacy. If it were that person, how happy would you be right now to welcome him……

Right?

Fang Li’s heart was still racing after having evaded the kiss. He turned back to see that Xie Huai was actually smiling, but those gloomy black eyes were cold as ice, causing him to shiver faintly.

Fang Li’s heart skipped a beat.

Had his evasion made Xie Huai angry? But you suddenly decided to kiss me, and you didn’t ask my opinion. Isn’t it normal for me to dodge? Kissing is something done between two people with mutual feelings. What do we count for……

Just then, the sound of knocking came from the door, and Huang Tao’s voice sounded. “Young Master, Master Fang had me come find you to have you go over. Are you in your room?”

Fang Li thought the girl had arrived with perfect timing. He was just about to make an excuse and leave when he felt the grip on his wrist tighten. Xie Huai suddenly pressed closer, encircling Fang Li’s entire body in his arms, his arm wrapped suggestively and without restraint around his waist, whispering very softly beside his ear, “Don’t move. Do you want to be seen by someone else?”

Fang Li: ?

Of course I don’t want to be seen, so let go of me!

But Xie Huai gripped his chin with two fingers, his black eyes fathomless, and bent down and kissed without any hesitation.

Fang Li’s eyes abruptly widened.

Xie Huai’s fingers were like steel pincers, leaving him no way to move at all. With just a little bit of strength, he was forced to open his mouth.

Fang Li finally understood what Xie Huai’s words just now had meant.

He’d told him not to be discovered.

Because he didn’t intend to stop at all.

Huang Tao was still outside knocking on the door, saying with puzzlement, “A’Hong said just now that the young master had returned to his courtyard. Did she see wrong?”

Fang Li didn’t dare move at all.

Xie Huai was clearly doing it on purpose.

If he didn’t want to be discovered by some mere commoners, he could do it with any old concealing spell, but he insisted on not doing so. Fang Li was kissed until he couldn’t breathe, the corners of his eyes reddening, his only fear that he would attract the attention of the people outside.

If he were to be discovered, that would just be too embarrassing!

……………………

The Author Has Something to Say:

Author: May I ask what being forcefully kissed feels like? (Holds up mic

Fang Li: I can’t be seen by others, I want my dignity!

Author: ??? Just that? You, a straight man? (Hurry and wake up!