《Rest in a Demon's Embrace》


 Chapter 1 - Luo Xiao

    The sun cast down its fiery red rays upon the clouds in the sky. Half the sun had sunk under the horizon, and as the sun''s rays were cast over the village of Jinwei, the entire place seemed dyed a beautiful shade of red.


    A bustle of activity could be seen throughout the small village. Men were coming back from their trips into the forest to hunt for beasts and search for magical herbs.


    Although it was a small forest, there were still beasts within some who were even capable of cultivating and had managed to form their own inner cores. These types of beasts were especially difficult to deal with. Even when the villagers attacked in groups, there were risks with trying to kill an enlightened beast.


    Inside the village of Jinwei, women walked with their children in tow to pick up food for their meal later in the evening after having tended to their fields all day or harvesting fruits and berries at the edge of the forest.


    It was a warm summer evening, and in one of the smaller houses, a young boy was sitting in a bed. A blanket was covering his fragile body and his head was turned towards the window.


    This boy seemed otherworldly as he was simply breathtakingly beautiful. His face was oval and perfectly shaped, his phoenix-like eyes were slanted upwards, and his jet black hair was neatly tied up in a bun on top of his head.


    He was wearing simple linen clothes, but these did not seem to do justice to his otherworldly appearance.


    His eyes were like two bottomless pits, as they stared outside the window observing everyone who passed by.


    From time to time some of the passing people would wave to him, but the majority completely ignored the delicate boy that was seated in bed.


    This was the Kingdom of Zhanshi, in the continent of Tiandi. It was a small kingdom on the outskirts of the continent, and as its name implied, it was the place where every man wished to become a warrior.


    In the continent of Tiandi, there were two methods of cultivating: one was a Qi cultivation, the other was Soul Cultivation. While both were equally admired, cultivating one¡¯s Qi was much more widespread than cultivating the soul. Normally poor people could only hope to cultivate their Qi, whereas their souls would almost always be their weak point.


    Every man in the village of Jinwei was able to cultivate to the first tier in the Qi cultivation system usually called the Earth rank. There were seven stars within each rank, and the villagers knew of the Earth, Sky, Star, and Moon rankings.


    To these commoners, the Moon rank was already a mythic feat that none of them could even dream of, yet legend had it that there were ranks even higher than it!


    On the continent of Tiandi, there were humans, demons, spirits, and beasts. The beasts and humans flourished reproducing rapidly and were both capable of cultivating. This was the reason that the majority of the inhabitants on the continent were humans and beasts.


    Spirits were much rarer. They were created by nature and took thousands and thousands of years to form. Spirits were ethereal and beautiful; they were naturally gifted when it came to cultivation, but the ones endowed with the greatest gifts were the demons.


    Demons were blessed with the most outstanding natural talent for cultivation. Whereas beasts could only cultivate Qi, spirits could only cultivate their soul, humans and demons, however, could pick between soul or body to cultivate their strength.


    Luo Xiao sighed. He had been thinking about many things while looking out the window, but when he heard the door to his house open, he straightened his posture and slowly climbed out of bed.


    "Little Xiao!" a middle-aged man exclaimed when he saw him. "My dear, why are you out of bed? You should hurry back under the covers before you get a cold. You know you are weak, and you had the flu last week. If you do not stay in bed, you will become sick again!"


    The man sounded harsh, but Luo Xiao knew that he was not too serious. This man was his father, Luo Guang. There was no one else than these two within their family. Luo Xiao had never heard anything about his mother, and although he had asked his father twice, he dared not ask again after seeing the expression his father made.


    "Father, do you think that I can try cultivating with the other children?" Luo Xiao asked gently, but upon hearing his words, his father immediately shook his head. "You are not strong enough!" he exclaimed, and Luo Xiao knew that his father was probably correct so he couldn¡¯t really disagree.


    Sighing, Luo Xiao went to eat the food that his father had made for him, and after talking about how his harvest had gone today, he returned to bed. Once more he was staring out at the village, watching the lights outside slowly being lit as the day came to an end.


    Luo Xiao was weak from birth. He was lithe, and although he was fifteen years old already, his body was fragile and looked as if it had been carved from beautiful jade. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    As he sat still in his bed a majority of the time, everyone felt that he was more akin to a jade figurine than a real person.


    Luo Xiao was well liked in the village. This was the village where his father had grown up, and the elders had watched his father since the days he was a child until he set out on an adventure.


    One day, years later, Luo Guang returned with a child in his arms, claiming that it was his son, and settled down once more. No one knew anything about his mother, but when one took a glimpse at Luo Xiao, they could tell that she had to be a woman whose beauty could destroy nations.


    It was a typical day like any other, one where Luo Xiao had nothing to do. Up until now, he had spent just about every day of his life in bed and only went out walking now and then whenever his father was not around.


    Previously, he had been walking around borrowing books from all over the village. He had long since read every book in the whole village, and when new merchants came by the village of Jinwei, he would use his meager pocket money to buy new ones.


    It was a day like all the others until a person walked into the small village. The person seemed human, yet not. It was two meters tall with red eyes and skin that was purple. It was continually growling while looking from side to side, and seeing the villagers, a smirk appeared on its lips, displaying a set of sharp teeth.


    When people noticed this thing, a deathly fear crept into their eyes; they were horrified. This was clearly a corpse puppet! This was a creation of a demon! Demons had the ability to make corpse puppets out of either dead or living humans and beasts that had cultivated their Qi.


    These villagers had never before seen a demon, let alone a corpse puppet. Corpse puppets were generally forbidden, since if the owner died, they would run rampant in the world, killing and absorbing the flesh of others mindlessly.


    The more flesh they absorbed, the stronger they would become, and with one look at those blazing red eyes, they could see that it was nothing like the dumb, unintelligent corpse puppets that they had heard about in the past.


    Seeing these humans, suddenly, it moved with a speed so fast that no one could see it until it appeared behind the first citizen, taking a big bite of his neck.


    Blood splashed everywhere as the poor villager¡¯s neck snapped and his throat was ripped open.


    The corpse puppet stopped for a second, as it savored the warmth of fresh blood to the horror of all who were there to witness the gruesome scene, and right after it moved on to the next person.


    A commotion could be heard, even in the house where Luo Xiao was sitting, and a curious gleam appeared in his eyes. What could have caused them all to be so loud, he thought.


    Luo Xiao was about to leave his bed when his father came towards him with a stern look on his face. "Stay there, I will go take a look," he said with a voice that offered no room for discussion.


    Luo Xiao sighed but said nothing and accepted his fate. Having done so, he looked out the window again. Right after, he heard the door open then close, indicating that his father had indeed gone out.


    At first, Luo Xiao was excited. He wanted to know what exactly was happening, but after a brief moment, he smelled a metallic scent waft towards him from the outside.


    Frowning, Luo Xiao knew this scent all too well. It was blood!


    Without any time to contemplate, the only one thought that ran through his mind was what had happened to his father? Had bandits come or was this something else? He was frightened and unsure of what to do, but after a moment of hesitation, he bolted up from the bed. As he moved to fast he felt a dizzy spell appear, but he could not be bothered by it right now, so he slowly made his way to the door and left.


    He found that everywhere he walked was covered in blood. His house was not near the outskirts of the village but in the middle, yet it seemed as if not one living soul could be seen.


    The scent of blood became stronger and stronger, and Luo Xiao felt nauseous. Although he had seen blood before it was not a lot. It was his blood from when he cut himself trying to cook for his father.


    Luo Xiao was brought up in a sheltered family. He was not rich, but he had never encountered hardships either. This was the first time he feared that something had happened to his father. Even when he went into the forest to hunt, Luo Xiao had not worried about his well being, but right now he was very fearful.


    Luo Xiao started out walking on shaking legs, yet moments after, he was running as fast as he could. Although Jinwei village was considered rather big for a village, it was after all still a village, so he reached the place where it seemed like the smell was the worst.


    His eyes widened in horror as he saw everyone from the village stacked into a mountain. Some had their throats ripped open others had large chunks missing on their legs and arms.


    Seated right next to this mountain was the corpse puppet. Its eyes blazed with a red light, and it was eating a person. This scene would be remembered by Luo Xiao for the rest of his life and was the most terrifying thing he would ever encounter. He felt like time had stopped, and he was stuck in place from fear; he was utterly horrified at the scene, and his whole body was tense.


    The next second, what Luo Xiao feared the most happened, and those terrifying red eyes lifted and stared right at Luo Xiao. He was so frightened that he kept backing up. Tears welled up in his eyes, and he tripped, falling on his butt, yet still trying to retreat as fast as he could from the fiend in front of him.


    The corpse puppet smirked when it saw Luo Xiao and rose to its feet. It started to slowly walk towards him like a lion walking towards its prey that it had caught in a trap.


    "Stay away!" Luo Xiao yelled out with his voice that was filled with fear. The corpse puppet just continued to snicker as if it had not heard his words, and then took one step after another towards him.


    Just before it got to Luo Xiao, it reached out its hand as the fiends blazing red eyes shown with greed. Right after, Luo Xiao''s vision went black for a moment.


    He felt as if he was spiraling down a long, narrow black tunnel. Suddenly something within him seemed to break, and a massive power exploded outwards from within his body.


    The world seemed to flip upside down for Luo Xiao. He was seated on the ground, and when he finally regained his vision, he found that thick, hot blood was covering his whole body. The corpse puppet was nowhere to be seen, but a deep crater had appeared right in front of him. Luo Xiao was petrified, staring in front of him blankly. What just happened?


    Despite the deathly stillness around him, he suddenly heard an alluring, masculine voice come from behind him that was filled with a sense of majesty. "Did you do this?"

 Chapter 2 - The Alluring Immortal

    Despite his petrified state, Luo Xiao couldn''t help but turn around to see the source of the voice.


    Behind him stood¡­ No, not standing, Luo Xiao noted instantly. The man was actually floating in the air a few centimeters off the ground not standing on it.


    He had regal, black colored long robes with embroideries of dragons, made with golden thread on them. While these clothes would look extremely extravagant on Luo Xiao, on this man, they fit perfectly.


    However, it wasn''t the clothing that stood out to Luo Xiao, neither was it his long black hair tied up in a ponytail on top of his head. The man''s face was perfect. His youthful handsome and refined air radiated from him, and yet there was more than just that.


    His dark, deep phoenix eyes exuded a charm and allure that was unlike anything Luo Xiao had seen so far in his life, leaving him completely awe-struck.


    The handsome man, with the likeness of an immortal, also found himself looking closely at Luo Xiao''s features. The perfection and pure white skin of the other''s face did not escape him, and neither did the deep black eyes that the boy in front of him had.


    He could tell that Luo Xiao wasn''t as simple as his naive appearance suggested.


    His perfect smile slightly widened, and while it seemed warm, Luo Xiao could somewhat sense that there was something more profound behind it.


    "I repeat, did you do that?" the man spoke once more, sending a tremor through Luo Xiao''s body. The regality and the power contained in his voice was too overwhelming for him to handle easily.


    His already weak body was suddenly overcome with waves of exhaustion. His arms, which were his support until this moment gave out as he fell into the dirt on his face causing him to start breathing heavily.


    The smile on the alluring man''s face didn''t fade from seeing Luo Xiao¡¯s exhaustion; instead, it became even wider as his gaze was filled with interest.


    One of his hands, jade white and as perfect as the god of beauty''s, reached over. It touched the blood on Luo Xiao''s body before grabbing the weak boy''s arm and forcefully lifting him up.


    "Indeed, it was you. How could you do such a thing? That corpse puppet was comparable to a Heaven cultivator! And Fourth Brother had even grown it for years. Such a shame," he spoke while he shook Luo Xiao, whom he was holding by the arm almost it seemed to lament the loss of the puppet.


    His eyes which looked as deep as an abyss seemed to say the opposite. Within traces of a mocking glimmer coupled with some sick joy could be perceived as he looked at Luo Xiao, studying the other carefully.


    "Your body seems fragile... And your soul is quite weak too! Did you exhaust all your power killing Fourth Brother''s corpse puppet?"


    Luo Xiao could find no way to reply. He, himself had no idea what had actually happened, as his vision had deserted him just as the corpse puppet disappeared.


    He could feel that the man had an unusual interest in him, and despite his weak instinctive attempts to try and wriggle free, he knew he would not be able to get away.


    "It seems you did use all your soul power to destroy the puppet. That means you actually have quite some strength, and maybe you could be of some use to me?" speaking like this, the expression on his perfect face gained an almost sadistic feel to it, though it was quickly hidden.


    Luo Xiao''s body froze as soon as he noticed the fleeting expression, fear, and terror once more rose in him. It was more profound now than even the desperate need he felt to escape the man that had him in a tight hold.


    "Well, since the puppet was destroyed, I no longer have a reason to linger," the man said as he surveyed the destroyed village. His smile was just as perfect as before, "But of course, since I''ve found you, you''re coming with me!"


    Effortlessly holding the fifteen-year-old boy in his hand, the seemingly immortal man chuckled as he lightly tapped the air he was standing on, and he suddenly flew off in a direction to Luo Xiao''s shock.


    He was too weak to protest. He was only able to watch as his home village vanished far into the distance seconds later. Endless forests soon replaced the bloody scenery, and the cries of beasts occasionally passed the flying duo.


    As the handsome man flew with Luo Xiao over the forests, the sun continued to disappear behind the horizon in the distance, leaving the youth with just the last memories of his father and his destroyed home.


    Just like that, it became night. While Luo Xiao weakly stared into the distance, his tired mind was still reliving the shock and horror of the corpse puppet. Meanwhile, the man holding him kept moving, flying through the air with ease as the darkness enveloped them and the stars began to show above them.


    Luo Xiao slowly began to regain some strength because he was literally being carried by a gorgeous immortal without any effort whatsoever. He knew that he was powerless against this person, so he didn''t resist but just watched the spot where his already disappeared Jinwei village had been.


    Suddenly, lights sprung to life in the distance, making the handsome man''s smile widened slightly, "And we finally arrived at Xiyang City!" A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    The name grabbed Luo Xiao''s attention, making him finally move his gaze away from the direction they came to in front of them. Seeing this massive city, even in his current mood couldn''t help but make him feel a tiny bit better.


    He had never been outside of Jinwei village, at most to the edge of the forest. Therefore he had never seen the outside world, and so the sight of Xiyang City in front of him made his eyes widen with surprise and curiosity.


    In the darkness of the night, an enormous city, hundreds of times more massive than his small village, was built through the middle of the forest that covered a large part of the kingdom. As the immortal descended towards the city gates, Luo Xiao could make out more and more of the buildings and the people living within.


    Xiyang City had at least ten million inhabitants. It truly was a vast city considering the size of the Zhanshi Kingdom. Luo Xiao''s eyes were wide as he took in the sounds and lights of the city at night, almost letting him forget that his hometown had just been slaughtered down to every last man.


    As that thought crossed his mind, his mood instantly dropped, and he looked away. Any interest and excitement from seeing Xiyang City was gone.


    Naturally, the handsome man that was carrying him around like a bag of potatoes noticed, but did not say anything. He knew it would be useless to say anything anyways.


    A few long seconds later, the immortal stepped on the ground, and suddenly, without any prior warning, Luo Xiao found himself falling to the ground. Waving his hands almost desperately as he made a surprised sound, he barely managed to keep his balance, and his arms spread wide as he struggled to stand up straight.


    "Follow me, and don''t try anything," the dark-clothed man spoke as he began walking, and as before, a perfect smile adorned his face.


    Luo Xiao was just about to turn around and try to flee into the darkness, but the words spoken by the older man forced him to realize that his actions would be pointless. Defeated, he followed the other, his gaze dark and lacking any sort of joy.


    The two landed around a bit away from the road, mostly unnoticed, but the moment this alluring immortal stepped on the stone road, leading into Xiyang City, everyone seemed to take note.


    As the two made their way towards the gates silently, various people gazed at them from late-night arrivals to what seemed to be rogue cultivators. The taller man was too perfect - in fact, both of them were, however, the blood covering Luo Xiao''s face and clothes hid his beauty, making him seem almost normal.


    Naturally, blood covered part of the immortal''s clothing, but the darker colors made it harder to spot, especially at night. His confident, perfect smile made Luo Xiao even less noticeable, as everyone¡¯s gaze was focused on this seemingly otherworldly cultivator, and even the women appeared to be fawning over him.


    After a few suspicious glances from the city guard and casually paying the fee for entering with a flick of the taller man''s sleeve, the two were allowed inside the city. Immediately, Luo Xiao''s senses were bombarded with even more noise and sights than before.


    Vendors, even late into the evening, were still open doing their best to sell their products and treasures to mortals and cultivators alike.


    Naturally, Luo Xiao couldn''t help but look around a few times as the tall man lead the way deeper into Xiyang City, and twice he even attempted to escape amidst the crowds. However, every time he tried to take a step away, the man instantly looked at him. His gaze was both cold and slightly amused, making Luo Xiao¡¯s blood freeze from fear before he gave up.


    He would have to find a different way to escape from this man, yet even though he should have been thinking about this, he couldn''t help but be distracted by the city¡¯s sights. His mood once more improved after the man stopped watching him, and his eyes hungrily took in everything saw.


    His deep eyes didn''t miss the many men and women shooting glances at the handsome man he was following, and while many of their gazes were filled with adoration and fawning, some were brimming with jealousy. Luo Xiao naturally knew why, however, as he thought of the man''s perfectly handsome face, he was suddenly reminded once more of his village and his expression darkened.


    As they walked deeper and deeper into the city, Luo Xiao''s thoughts were interrupted as he suddenly ran right into the immortal that had forced him here. His eyes instantly widened with fear as he backed off. Thankfully, the man didn''t spare as much as a glance as he walked into what looked like a luxurious inn.


    Luo Xiao''s breath almost stopped from how much extravagance was displayed on the outside of this building. Precious gems that spanned the colors of the rainbow and the purest jade decorated the building''s facade.


    "A room on the top floor with one bed," hearing the man''s voice faintly from inside the inn awakened Luo Xiao from his dumbfounded gaze at the beautifully decorated exterior.


    Momentarily, he thought about running away once more, however, remembering the cold gaze of the man every time he had attempted to do so, his body shivered before he walked into the inn.


    The innkeeper''s nodding and bowing at the handsome man stopped as he noticed the dried blood on this commoner who had just entered. His eyes moved between the man and Luo Xiao as if unsure whether the two were together. However, a simple smiling nod from the alluring immortal was enough to clear any doubts right after the innkeeper gave them the key before going back to his other tasks.


    After the man received the key, Luo Xiao noticed that he flipped it between his fingers for a bit before he turned around to face him. Once more, he felt in awe at how perfect the man''s face was, and once more was reminded of the fate of his village. His body instinctively moved backward as he tried to escape from the man in front of him.


    Predicting his movements, the man''s arm shot out, grabbing Luo Xiao''s hand as his smile became dangerous, for a moment. Seeing this was enough to erase any thoughts of trying to escape entirely for Luo Xiao. The fifteen-year-old boy let himself be half-dragged up beautifully decorated stairs, up to the highest floor, where only three doors revealed themselves.


    Opening the leftmost door, the scene inside revealed itself to Luo Xiao. Inside was a gorgeous, luxurious room with perfect decorations, intricate murals on the walls, and a breathtaking sight of the city, despite it being not a very tall building.


    However, he had no time to marvel at this as the handsome man dismissively tossed him onto the bed after closing the door. A weak and surprised yelp escaped from Luo Xiao.


    "Go sleep," the handsome man nearly sounded as if he were giving a command, expecting it to be immediately executed. Luo Xiao''s eyes briefly moved to meet the other man''s gaze, but a second later he flinched away, as far into the bed as he could doing his best to stay away from the man.


    He didn''t even bother to cover himself with the sheets.


    Flicking his sleeve, the man sat down on the floor cross-legged, and all orbs that provided light were instantly extinguished. The room was now only lit by the darkness and mild light from the window.


    That night, the immortal could hear Luo Xiao''s quiet sobs. The youth had been unable to fall asleep until the sun began rising for a new day, and he could swear that his own chest felt heavy - despite no apparent cause for such a phenomenon.

 Chapter 3 - Attempted Escape

    It was quite late in the morning of the following day that Luo Xiao woke up. With slightly swollen cheeks and a stiff, cold body, it took him a moment to remember where he was.


    His village had been devastated, and an unfamiliar man had taken him halfway across  the country to a city he didn''t know. On top of everything, his father was gone as well. The mere thought of that pile of corpses, all his dead friends, and the evil corpse puppet that was responsible for it all caused a quiet whimper to escape his lips as he hugged himself.


    He looked down and saw that his simple linen clothes were stiff from coagulated blood which had turned completely black. He felt disgusting. This was the corpse puppet¡¯s blood.


    Although Luo Xiao was not aware of what exactly had happened, he had no doubt that the corpse puppet was dead and that its blood had sprayed everywhere even drenching himself as well. This was because there had been nothing left of the puppet when he came to.


    A shiver ran through his body, and he was starting to feel sick again. He felt like thousands of insects were crawling on his body, digging into his skin and corroding him.


    The Immortal looked at him with curiosity. He had listened to him cry all night, and now he saw Luo Xiao¡¯s expression change from despair to disgust and fear.


    He frowned and left the room, returning shortly afterward with a servant that brought a large barrel. The barrel was placed in the middle of the room and soon filled with steaming hot water.


    Looking at the child, he saw that he was still stuck staring at himself, and the Immortal sighed before he went towards him.


    "You there," he said, finally dragging the child from his deep thoughts. Luo Xiao jolted when he heard his voice, and his eyes darted from side to side like a small rabbit looking for a way to escape.


    Seeing his reaction, the Immortal chuckled. "Go take a bath," he said with a sigh, "You¡¯re dirty."


    After those few words, he left the room. He closed the door behind him, and Luo Xiao''s eyes widened in surprise. Had he finally been left alone? This was his time to escape! Yet, when he looked at the warm water in the middle of the room, he hesitated.


    He felt disgusting right now, and he was aware that if he left the room, then he would easily be spotted or more probably smelled.


    "I will wash, and then I can run away," Luo Xiao whispered to himself, half convincing himself that he had a chance to leave even if he took a bath first.


    He stripped off his clothes that were so stiff from the dried up blood that they could almost stand on their own, and then he sank into the warm water. His frail body quickly slumped against the tub, and he felt the warm water washed away the blood and dirt on his body, but even after rubbing the rest of the blood off, he still felt disgusting, even dirty inside.


    He had no urge to soak in the water as it was no longer clean, and he quickly stepped out. Next to the barrel was a chair with a towel that he used to dry himself, and not far away from the chair was a mirror.


    Accidentally glancing at himself in the mirror, Luo Xiao was shocked. Although he looked as frail and weak as ever, his skin, which was previously almost wax-like was now a much healthier color; in fact, it had a pink hue to it due to the warm water.


    He also felt that he was no longer as weak as he had been before. Although still not strong, he did not feel the constant exhaustion he had felt back in his village.


    "I guess it¡¯s due to the all the things that have happened to me," Luo Xiao shook his head and looked at the clothes in front of him. He was not willing to wear them again, but he had nothing else, so he did not know what to do.


    With a towel wrapped around his body, he looked at the clothes with narrowed eyes debating what to do. At that moment though, the door opened, and the Immortal stepped in.


    He sent one glance at Luo Xiao before he looked away. He then dropped a bundle onto the bed. "Change into this," he said and left the room again.


    Stunned, Luo Xiao turned around and looked at the bundle. It was a set of clothes, with inner robes and everything.


    Luo Xiao was not used to wearing robes. Back in his village, he wore pants and shirts, but it was clear that this robe was of a much better quality than his usual clothes. Still, these clothes were not on the same level as the clothes the Immortal was using.


    Changing into the robe, Luo Xiao looked at it and found that it was a white robe with a silver lining. It had no embroideries and was very simple. It was clean and made Luo Xiao much more attractive than he had been before.


    Although he was a handsome boy, he had not known how to dress. Just the addition of these clothes alone, coupled with the fact that he had gained a bit of color to his skin, meant that he no longer looked like a wax figurine and was now much more beautiful than before. Even women would be jealous of his appearance were they to see him now.


    Just as he finished fastening the belt, the door opened once more. This made him wonder if the Immortal had been waiting for this moment intentionally, but he quickly dismissed such thoughts. This Immortal didn¡¯t seem to be the considerate type, staying outside for the sake of his privacy did not seem to be his style. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    When he entered, he was followed in by a servant who brought plates of food that he placed on the table opposite the bed. He then summoned three other servants who carried away the barrel with the dirty water.


    "Come eat," the Immortal ordered Luo Xiao, and although the young man had no appetite, he could hear the voice would not accept no for an answer.


    He slowly inched towards the table and sat down. His head was lowered, and he did not dare to look at the incredibly handsome man opposite him. He knew that this man had some sort of interest in him, but knew himself to be utterly useless. He was so useless that his body was too weak to even cultivate.


    The Immortal did not touch the food. Instead, he rested his head on his hands with his elbows on the table. He was not interested in the food; he was interested in the mysterious boy in front of him.


    "Tell me your age," he asked, his voice soft like velvet and gentle like the spring breeze, but at the same time filled with such a power that no one dared go against his wishes.


    "Fifteen," Luo Xiao answered almost instantly with fear in his voice. Perhaps he would be able to leave if the Immortal realized how useless he really was.


    "Fifteen? That¡¯s quite young," the Immortal''s smile widened. "So you are fifteen years old but already capable of killing a Corpse Puppet with the strength of a Heaven ranked cultivator."


    "How long have you been cultivating?" he asked again, but this time Luo Xiao lifted his head in confusion and looked at him with puzzlement.


    "I have never cultivated," he said while cocking his head to the side, "I¡¯m weak and useless. I have spent my life stuck in bed because of how useless my physical body is; I haven¡¯t  been able to cultivate."


    Hearing this, the face of the Immortal turned slightly stern as if he did not believe the child, and the atmosphere turned chilly.


    "My lord Immortal, I truly have never cultivated before," Luo Xiao said somewhat panicked; his eyes widened when he felt the threatening atmosphere.


    The Immortal was quiet for quite some time.  His face was no longer filled with a gentle smile, but looked somewhat menacing, as if things had gone out of hand, but then the smile returned to his face, He leaned forward, causing Luo Xiao to back up.


    "What is the rank of your soul then?" He asked as if he had suddenly found something interesting.


    "Rank of my soul?" Luo Xiao was puzzled. "I don''t know? What about my soul?"


    Was this man thinking of stealing his soul? Suddenly something appeared in his mind. When he was a child, he had heard about the demons. Demons lived on the same continent as the humans, but they generally occupied the center of the continent, not bothering to visit the outskirts.


    Demons were the most beautiful creatures alive, but they were cruel and callous. They would take the soul of others and refine it into their own strength. Was this dazzling man perhaps a demon?


    When this thought struck him, he could not get it out of his head, and the expression on his face turned to one of utter fear. Was this man going to kill him and pull out his soul, refine it, and consume it?


    Seeing Luo Xiao''s reaction, the Immortal could not help but chuckle. "Stay here, and eat the food!" he ordered him with laughter as he vanished again from the room.


    Luo Xiao hesitated for a moment before he tiptoed towards the door. He pressed his ear against the door to hear if there was anyone outside but he only heard the bustling sounds that came from the restaurant on the first floor.


    He then opened the door and looked around with hesitation before he nimbly snuck down the stairs and into the restaurant.


    The restaurant was packed. It was one of the most upscale restaurants in town, so it was always busy, and during this busy period Luo Xiao snuck out.


    When he was outside, he heaved a massive sigh of relief and started running away. Yet, not long after, he accidentally ran into a large burly man causing him to fall to the ground.


    When he fell to the ground, a small yelp escaped his lips, and he felt a bit of pain on his rear from falling.


    "You disgusting bottomfeeder, did you just try to rob me of my gold coins?!" the man yelled out loud when he saw that someone ran into him, and his loud words caused Luo Xiao to flinch back from fear.


    "No, sir! Sorry, I was just inattentive and ran into you; I am very sorry," he apologized while standing up.


    His soft voice and his beautiful appearance caused the upset man to hesitate for a moment, but then greed appeared in his eyes. Such a lovely little boy could be sold for a lot of money to a noblewoman or even a demon as a boy toy.


    "Little boy, you have injured me and tried to rob me! If you cannot compensate me, then don''t blame me for making you pay by making you a slave!"


    Luo Xiao was petrified. He had no money to pay with, and he was unaware of what he should do. He had only bumped into the man, but now it had caused such a big disturbance. He even started to regret leaving the inn.


    Luo Xiao dropped his head; he did not know what to do. His family was gone, his friends were dead, the life he had known would never to be the same again, and now he was caught in one disaster after another.


    Tears welled up in his eyes, and his nose felt stuffy, but he forced the tears back.


    Just as the burly man took a step forward to grab him and claim his slave, a ray of light shone out. Suddenly a blood-curdling scream was heard.


    The burly man who had reached out for Luo Xiao shot backward as fast as lightning, and then he saw his hand was missing; it had been cleanly sliced off.


    "Who dares?!" he exclaimed with a roar, but then his eyes landed on a man that seemed as if a god had descended to the mundane world. This man was leisurely walking forward, and his eyes were dark and unfathomable.


    "I told you to stay at the inn, did I not?" he asked with a soft, gentle voice, yet every word caused Luo Xiao''s hairs to stand on end. This man was obviously upset with him.


    "My lord, do you know this kid?" the man who had lost his hand was unwilling to let it go just like this, but he also knew that if he were not careful, then he would lose more than his hand..


    "He belongs to me, do you have a problem?" the Immortal replied, raising an eyebrow when he looked at the handless man.


    "No! No problem at all," the one-handed man said as he retreated even further.


    Without paying any attention to them, the Immortal hoisted up the young boy and draped him over his shoulder before he returned to the inn. All along the way, he said nothing, making Luo Xiao feel even more uneasy than before.

 Chapter 4 - Astral Soul

    As soon as they got back to the room, the immortal dropped Luo Xiao onto a chair, and his dark eyes flashed dangerously.


    ¡°I told you not to leave!¡± he said while his smile turned into a frown. The man''s beautiful face now radiated coldness, ¡°Why can''t you listen?¡±


    His stern tone made Luo Xiao shiver. His arms instinctively closed around himself to fend off any harm that might come. The man in front of him was scary, and he couldn''t help but try to run away, even if he had just seen how dangerous this world was to those without any strength.


    ¡°I won¡¯t escape again, immortal,¡± he whispered weakly.


    By now he had figured out that the man in front of him was a cultivator and a very strong one at that. The effortless fight and how easily he had cut off someone''s arm both spoke to this fact. As for what Heaven Rank meant, Luo Xiao had no idea.


    Sighing, the handsome man straightened up. His hand went into his inner robe and took out a small crystal from a simple looking pouch.


    ¡°Take this,¡± he said while placing it into Luo Xiao''s palm. ¡°Focus your spiritual energy and push it into this crystal.¡±


    Luo Xiao''s fingers closed around the cold surface of the crystal before looking down at it. It had a milky shine to it and was almost too cold to hold. Listening to the immortal''s directions, Luo Xiao frowned.


    What did the man mean by focus his spiritual energy and push it? He had never cultivated, after all, so he didn''t know even the most basic things even though he had read many books.


    ¡°You don''t even know how to do that?¡± the immortal''s smile had returned as he noticed that Luo Xiao was confused about what was required of him.


    ¡°I don''t know how to focus spiritual energy, Sir Immortal,¡± Luo Xiao whispered, holding the crystal carefully.


    The handsome man''s smile waned a bit as he looked at Luo Xiao for a few long, tedious seconds.


    ¡°My name is Jiang Yao, not Sir Immortal,¡± he said with some annoyance in his voice, ¡°and this is a soul-testing stone.¡±


    ¡°The soul-testing stone checks the quality of your soul. Ninety-nine percent of all humans have a Mortal Soul, but there are a few with Spiritual Souls or even Heavenly Souls.¡±


    ¡°You were able to kill that corpse puppet, even if you deny it, and therefore, your soul has to be special. You just might be of use to me after all.¡± His dashing smile had returned, and his eyes seemed to have pinned Luo Xiao down making it impossible for him to move an inch or even speak.


    ¡°Now close your eyes and focus on your inner self. There you will find your soul power, also known as spiritual energy. This spiritual energy can be used with but a thought, though it requires some training.¡±


    Luo Xiao dared not hesitate and closed his eyes as he searched within. When he closed his eyes, everything was dark, but slowly, he found a bright, golden light source that shone brightly.


    It was a small orb of light between his eyebrows, deep within his mind. This had to be the special spiritual energy that Jiang Yao was talking about.


    Luo Xiao hesitated for a moment, not sure how to use this light orb. But after some consideration, he remembered that Jiang Yao said that it was moved with his will.


    He then willed a strand of energy to leave his mind and enter the stone in his hand. He tried to make it leave his mind through his head and enter the stone, but found that it was incapable of leaving his head. It seemed this light strand was only capable of moving through his body.


    Frowning, the young man didn¡¯t panic, but instead, started guiding it through his body and into his palm. From there it was sucked towards the stone.


    When he opened his eyes, he was instantly blinded by a bright golden light. The light was so strong that he was incapable of keeping his eyes open and tears got caught in his long eyelashes as he quickly turned his head away.


    Lou Xiao was stumped, and Jiang Yao was also surprised. His usually controlled expressions displayed an instant of complete shock then joy. Afterwards, a sly smile formed as he lifted his hand and gently rubbed his chin.


    Luo Xiao was blinded for a few moments. He also felt weak after losing that strand of energy, but at the same time, he felt that his mind was much clearer than ever before.


    The stone in his hand had cracked. When Luo Xiao noticed this, his eyes widened in horror, and he glanced at Jiang Yao with fear.


    ¡°Sir... Mister Jiang, I¡¯m afraid I did something wrong,¡± he said with a trembling voice. ¡°The stone... the stone cracked!¡± This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    His voice was filled with horror. He didn¡¯t have many positive impressions of the handsome man by his side. Although he had saved him from slavery, the young man was still unsure whether or not he was going to have his soul refined and eaten by this assumed to be immortal demon.


    ¡°Throw it away, it''s useless,¡± Jiang Yao said. He had completely disregarded the now useless stone as he watched Luo Xiao with his calculating, sinister gaze.


    ¡°But, Mister Jiang!¡± Luo Xiao barely managed to gasp. His hand tightened around the broken crystal as he almost trembled with terror.


    ¡°I said to throw it away. Did you not hear me?¡± Jiang Yao asked impatiently with a frown. He was clearly displeased with Luo Xiao who quickly nodded his head like a chicken pecking grains.


    Seeing this spineless behavior, Jiang Yao felt a bit better. At least this child listened to him, even though he was deathly afraid of him.


    ¡°What¡¯s your name, kid?¡± He suddenly asked. So far he had just called him kid within his mind, but seeing that he had some value, he decided to learn his name.


    ¡°Luo Xiao,¡± Luo Xiao answered timidly while looking at the cracked soul-testing stone in his hand. He felt it was such a pity to throw out such a treasure. It had displayed such a magnificent golden light before, and now, he wanted to see it once more.


    ¡°Well then Xiaoxiao, you are going to follow me in the future,¡± Jiang Yao said with a grin on his face, but although he seemed to be in a great mood, Luo Xiao knew better than to trust his deceiving smile. He knew that Jiang Yao was almost always smiling even when he was in a bad mood. Luo Xiao didn¡¯t even notice his name had been changed to Xiaoxiao.


    He kept his mouth shut, but he refused to nod his head. Although he was spineless and scared of this person in front of him, he was not going to just forfeit his life.


    Seemingly understanding what was happening in the mind of the child, Jiang Yao snickered. He usually hated spineless, easily scared people, but for some reason, this child amused him and caused him to feel a breath of fresh air.


    ¡°I need you to do something for me,¡± the handsome man said with a smile on his face as if it was everyone''s honor to do something for him. Though hearing this, Luo Xiao''s expression clearly showed that it wasn¡¯t his honor, he did not want this task.


    Sighing, Jiang Yao realized that he had to do things differently, if he wished to motivate this child.


    ¡°Did you lose someone dear to you in the attack of that corpse puppet?¡± he asked and felt a pang in his heart the moment tears welled up in Luo Xiao''s eyes. The young boy nodded his head and wiped away his tears.


    He said nothing, but it was clear that he had lost someone important. When Jiang Yao arrived at the village, he saw that there were no survivors other than Luo Xiao. For this reason, he could guess that this child had lost everyone he had ever depended on.


    ¡°Don''t you want revenge?¡± he asked. Hearing this, Luo Xiao''s head jerked up, and he looked at Jiang Yao with big eyes filled with slight hope but also grief.


    Knowing that he had hooked the young man''s attention, Jiang Yao smirked, satisfied with himself.


    ¡°Well, I guess you would want revenge. Listen up, souls are ranked from Mortal, Spiritual, and Heavenly all the way to the peak of Astral, the highest rank of a soul.


    ¡°Just like how we cultivate Qi, our inner energies, others cultivate their soul or their spiritual energy.¡±


    ¡°Your soul is an Astral Soul. I have been looking for such a person for some years now, but people with such souls are very hard to come by, and those that I had found were already claimed by others,¡± Jiang Yao said.


    Once again, Luo Xiao stiffened. Was it really true that his soul was to be refined and consumed now that he had an Astral Soul? He feared the worst.


    Jiang Yao chuckled at the boy¡¯s expression. He could easily guess the thoughts of this young boy. In fact, the boy was so bad at hiding his feelings, that they might as well be written on his forehead.


    ¡°What I need is for you to do something for me when you reach a specific rank,¡± Jiang Yao explained, ¡°I am going to do everything in my power to assist you in reaching said rank as soon as possible, but in return, you will become mine.¡±


    Luo Xiao''s heart beat rapidly at those words. Although he knew that Jiang Yao meant that his life would become his, he had never heard anyone say such suggestive things to him before, and his face flushed red.


    Noticing his strange reaction, Jiang Yao''s eyebrows rose, and he felt a strange joy within. Teasing this little soul cultivator seemed to be rather entertaining.


    ¡°How do you know that you can trust me?¡± Luo Xiao asked tentatively, but a bright smile appeared on Jiang Yao''s face. ¡°I will place a soul seal on you so as long as you don¡¯t betray me, nothing will happen, but should you betray me, then you will have your soul destroyed by the heavens,¡± he said with a laugh.


    Luo Xiao''s eyes widened in surprise and fear. Have his soul destroyed? This was not something he wanted to experience.


    ¡°Don''t worry, when you have done the things I need you to do for me, then I will release you,¡± he said. Luo Xiao understood that, at least for now, he had no other option than to accept his offer. He knew that should he decline then he would be dead in seconds.


    ¡°In return for your support, I will help you gain vengeance against the person who created the corpse puppet that killed your village.¡±


    Gritting his teeth, Luo Xiao nodded his head and accepted his fate. It seemed like he was attached to this handsome, strong immortal cultivator, but since he had promised to help him take revenge, it was not all that bad.


    Luo Xiao hung his head dejectedly, and seeing that he accepted his fate, the smile on Jiang Yao''s face grew larger.


    ¡°Come here,¡± he called out, and Luo Xiao hesitated for a moment before he slowly walked towards the handsome man.


    He stopped three meters away from Jiang Yao, but it seemed like it was not close enough as Jiang Yao lifted a hand and beckoned him even closer.


    He moved another meter closer, then another after Jiang Yao told him to keep coming closer, until he finally stood in front of him. Luo Xiao was slightly nervous as Jiang Yao had been carefully and curiously observing him the whole time.


    ¡°Close your eyes,¡± he ordered, and Luo Xiao did that again, hesitatingly. When he did, Jiang Yao realized that this boy had eyelashes longer than most women and that his face was simply charming when it was held high with closed eyes as it was now.


    Jiang Yao felt odd. He had seen many beauties in his time, been with many of them before as they threw themselves at his feet, but right now he felt that he had never before seen a creature as beautiful as this human boy.

 Chapter 5 - Soul Seal

    Luo Xiao had his eyes shut, unsure of what was happening. He was completely unaware of the fact that his appearance had entranced Jiang Yao.


    Jiang Yao shook his head and frowned, but he did not waste any time. He formed marks in the air with his finger as Qi flowed out from his body and into the seal.


    This seal shot towards Luo Xiao''s forehead and landed right between his eyes. It then entered into his body and went towards his mind.


    Soon the seal surrounded the golden orb within his head and they seemed to merge together.


    Luo Xiao felt a shiver run through his body, and he suddenly felt incredibly weak. The golden orb that had previously shone incredibly bright had dimmed, and Luo Xiao staggered before he was caught in the arms of Jiang Yao.


    ¡°Ah right,¡± Jiang Yao said, ¡°you haven''t cultivated before, so it¡¯s only natural for you to feel weak when the seal merges with your soul.¡±


    Luo Xiao shuddered. He felt uncomfortable about the fact that he had made such a deal, but when the images of everyone he knew, half eaten and dead appeared in his mind, he steeled his resolve.


    This handsome man had promised him revenge. There was no reason for him to promise Luo Xiao anything as the latter''s life was already in his hands, so if he promised something, he must actually mean it.


    Selling his soul for the sake of a chance at revenge... Was that really such a bad trade? While thinking about it, Luo Xiao¡¯s hands clenched tightly. His nails dug into his flesh, so deep that blood started to drip from his fingers.


    Seeing this reaction from Luo Xiao, Jiang Yao smirked evilly. He needed an Astral Soul for that specific task, but he had never expected to find one in such a manner.


    Although this Luo Xiao was weak, he could be trained, and it was likely that this method would yield even better results than any other random Astral Soul he would come across.


    Jiang Yao was in a great mood since having come across Luo Xiao, but he said nothing of the sort to the younger man.


    ¡°Stay here,¡± he ordered again before he left the room and vanished. Luo Xiao had no clue where he had gone, but considering that he had already sold his soul for the sake of revenge, he knew that if he ran away, his soul would shatter.


    In fact, the soul seal was not as horrifying as Luo Xiao imagined. Although it would shatter his soul if he betrayed Jiang Yao, it wouldn¡¯t do anything if he just left the room. Leaving the room was not the same as betrayal, but Luo Xiao was unaware of this.


    He sat down on the bed and before he knew it, his eyelids turned heavy, and he fell into a sleep plagued by nightmares.


    Images of his dead friends and the horrifying purple corpse puppet with its blood-red eyes and thick, nauseating scent of blood chasing after him haunted his dreams. Time after time, the terrifying creature forced him into a corner. He found his hands covered in the blood of the puppet and his vision went black more than once.


    He tossed and turned in bed while whimpering and crying out loud when Jiang Yao returned to the room. For the first time in many years, Jiang Yao was unsure of what to do.


    Should he wake the child up or let him sleep? Both sides had advantages and disadvantages. In the end, when he saw the agonized expressions on the boy¡¯s face, he could no longer wait and moved to the bed where he lightly shook the younger man¡¯s body.


    Luo Xiao jolted awake. Tears streamed from his eyes as they slowly focused on the person in front of him.


    ¡°Mister Jiang,¡± He said, but Jiang Yao lifted his hand. ¡°Stop calling me Mister, it sounds weird,¡± he said with a frown on his face.


    ¡°Then what should I call you?¡± Luo Xiao asked hesitantly while wiping his tears and trying to overcome his feelings of loneliness. He tried to do his best to not think of the nightmares he just had.


    He knew that he was all alone in the world now. All he had was this strange man that clearly wanted to use him for something, and this made him even more depressed. As for what this something was, he had not the faintest idea.


    He felt terrible, but he dared not let it show on his face. He didn¡¯t want to display his sadness out of fear of the immortal in front of him.


    ¡°Just call me Jiang Yao,¡± he said after a bit of consideration. Not many were given the honor of using his name, but for some reason he wanted this child to do so.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    Luo Xiao was petrified, was this not considered too rude? But since the immortal said so, he had no other options than to comply. So he nodded his head with hesitation still evident on his beautiful face.


    Seeing him agree, Jiang Yao''s smile turned even wider. This caused Luo Xiao to be petrified.


    Seeing the young boy''s honest feelings entertained the older man, but he said nothing. He just chuckled and waved his hand. Suddenly a book of unknown origin appeared within it.


    Jiang Yao then handed the book to Luo Xiao who picked it up carefully. Although it was old, it had been well maintained. But he could tell that the pages were fragile from extensive use over the years.


    ¡°This is one of the best soul cultivation manuals in this world,¡± Jiang Yao said, clearly immensely satisfied with himself. ¡°Start reading it and cultivate in accordance with what is written.¡±


    Luo Xiao had never expected things to proceed this fast, but he nodded his head rapidly. After which he sat down on the floor with the book in his lap.


    The calligraphy of the book was exquisite. It was unlike any book Luo Xiao had read before. But he still managed to understand what it said, although it took him longer to read it than it typically would have.


    It took a full day to read the rather small book, but when he finished, he felt enlightened.


    Warriors had Qi, and their Qi was a type of inner energy that would increase when one absorbed and refined the essence of the heavens and the earth. However, to cultivate Qi, one needed a healthy body and physical strength.


    Similarly, there were people with strong souls. They could take the same essence, but instead of strengthening their inner energy, they could use it to create spiritual energy, the energy of the soul.


    The book explained how one should breathe and absorb the essence of the heavens and the earth. Then how one should merge this energy with their golden orb, which he now knew that it was called the Soul Palace. It was here, in the Soul Palace, where one¡¯s soul resided.


    Having understood the method of cultivation, Luo Xiao wasted no time. He gently placed the book by his side before closing his eyes. Afterwards, he put his hands in his lap and began breathing according to the description in the book.


    The whole time, Jiang Yao sat by his side, ready to assist him should any issues with understanding the book or other hardships arise.


    Unfortunately, he was disappointed when he found that the child had managed to understand everything on his own, but he was also thrilled. The stronger the boy¡¯s Astral Soul became, the better it was for him.


    He waited by his side the whole day for Luo Xiao to understand and comprehend the book''s content. Now, he watched the youngster throughout the night as he cultivated.


    When he realized that he was just sitting there, doing nothing other than staring at the young boy who was almost glowing with energy, he realized that this was not like him at all. People waited for him; he didn¡¯t wait for others.


    Still, he didn¡¯t get upset; instead, he found it amusing and interesting. This child made him more and more curious.


    ¡°How lucky that he was an Astral Soul, so I didn¡¯t have to kill him,¡± Jiang Yao suddenly muttered to himself in delight, but the moment the words escaped his lips, Luo Xiao opened his eyes.


    Jiang Yao thought he had heard him and felt slightly guilty, but moments after, he noticed a clueless look in Luo Xiao''s eyes as if he was completely unaware of what was going on.


    ¡°How¡¯d it go?¡± Jiang Yao asked, and Luo Xiao pondered for a moment, ¡°I should officially be a soul cultivator now. My spiritual energy has reached the Low Earth Rank for now.¡±


    The energy of soul cultivators was split up the same way as Qi cultivators into Earth, Sky, Star, Moon, and those above that Luo Xiao still didn¡¯t know of.


    But where the Qi cultivators had seven stars to each rank, soul cultivators only had Low, Middle, and High classifications: they had just these three per rank.


    Jiang Yao''s eyes flickered when he heard that he had already stepped into the Low Earth Rank, and he was very pleased.


    ¡°Go get some sleep,¡± Jiang Yao ordered him, and Luo Xiao, although having cultivated, felt rather tired. Therefore, he did exactly as instructed and headed to the bed where he laid down.


    Just as he laid down, a thought suddenly occurred in his mind, ¡°Mi... Jiang Yao, are you not going to sleep?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I don''t need to sleep anymore,¡± Jiang Yao stated, but then his eyes gleamed sadistically, ¡°don''t tell me that you want me to sleep with you? Are you afraid of the nightmares?¡±


    Luo Xiao froze in the middle of his movement, and he shook his head fiercely, the horror evident on his face.


    Although he was horrified by the nightmares, he was even more scared of sleeping next to this person. Although he was strong and treated him quite nicely, he had a feeling that something was odd. There was no reason for him to suddenly take such interest in him, even if he had an Astral Soul.


    As if he feared that Jiang Yao would really do what he had said, Luo Xiao took the blanket on the bed and rolled himself up in it. Then he scuttled to the far end of the bed. He was as far as he could be and would fall off if he were to move in his sleep.


    Seeing his reaction, Jiang Yao couldn¡¯t help but laugh. Joking with this child was definitely the most fun he had in a very long time.


    Jiang Yao waited until Luo Xiao was completely asleep before he went to look at him. It wasn''t until he knew he was in a deep sleep with no signs of nightmares, that he left the room.


    The sun was rising in the sky by the time Jiang Yao exited the magnificent inn. Although one usually gained energy from cultivating, one had to remember that Luo Xiao had just fused with a soul seal. He was weak through and through.


    A couple of hours went by before Jiang Yao returned to the room, only to find that Luo Xiao was now sleeping on the floor. It was clear that he had fallen from the bed, but the impact had not been enough to wake him.


    Chuckling, Jiang Yao picked him up and gently laid him down on the bed again. Looking at the young soul cultivator, he was once more entranced by his stunning appearance.

 Chapter 6 - Moon Anise

    Jiang Yao spent the next couple of hours observing Luo Xiao, his face completely expressionless with narrowed eyes. No one could guess what he was thinking.


    When Luo Xiao finally awoke an energy that had never been there before rushed through his body.


    He had always been incredibly weak and sickly, but this energy let him experience strength for the first time.


    Lou Xiao sat on the bed, rubbing his eyes, and trying to wake up when he discovered that there was no one else in the room. He knew that Jiang Yao had left a few times before, so he didn¡¯t think anything of it and just patiently waited.


    Not long after, Jiang Yao returned with a maid who brought a basin with water and a servant who carried plates of food.


    ¡°Wash your face,¡± Jiang Yao ordered as soon as the maid set the basin on a table. ¡°Also, eat your breakfast. We¡¯re going out today, so you¡¯ll need some energy.¡±


    Luo Xiao had accepted that his life was now in the hands of this handsome immortal. He nodded and went to wash his face and eat.


    As soon as he finished washing his face, he started getting dressed. He had slept in his undergarments, and now he wore the new robe that Jiang Yao had brought him.


    If he were at home, then he would alternate between different sets of clothes, but right now he only had one set, and it was one that had been given to him. He didn¡¯t mention his displeasure with wearing the same clothes two days in a row though, as he knew that Jiang Yao wouldn¡¯t care.


    Jiang Yao observed his every move. He was like a hawk watching its prey, and Luo Xiao was more fumbling and clumsy than ever before because he was incredibly self-conscious due to this stare that was cast his way.


    Seeing his fumbling hands, Jiang Yao smirked. But he kept observing Luo Xiao who was trying to eat his breakfast. The food was high-grade spiritual food. It was made with medicinal herbs and cultivating beast¡¯s meat, yet even so, it was still almost impossible for Luo Xiao to eat it.


    The flavor which was known to be the best in Xiyang City was like sand in Luo Xiao''s mouth as he felt guilty for just being alive. If he had followed his father out earlier, perhaps whatever killed the corpse puppet could have activated sooner, saving both of their lives.


    Everyone and everything was gone, and he was left alone. The thought was so heart-rending that he even forgot that the handsome immortal was waiting for him - Luo Xiao sunk deep into his thoughts filled with agonizing guilt.


    Jiang Yao could guess what was happening with the child in front of him, and he felt a strange unrest in his body. Thinking that it was because he was growing impatient, he stood up and hoisted the child up by his arm, instantly waking him from his self-hatred.


    ¡°We¡¯re going out since you don''t seem to want to eat anymore,¡± Jiang Yao said with a smile on his face, and his expression was that of a royal that was never to be opposed.


    Luo Xiao stumbled to his feet and nodded his head. He had eaten around a third of the food that was ordered for him, but he didn¡¯t have the urge to eat more.


    It would be better to leave the inn and his depressing thoughts behind. He knew he had to keep living until he got his revenge. After that... Whatever happened would happen, he didn¡¯t care if he died taking vengeance.


    Jiang Yao did not wait for Luo Xiao to finish his thoughts, but instead, started walking out of the room. Therefore, Luo Xiao was left to run after him.


    Luo Xiao walked behind Jiang Yao. He dared not walk by his side, so he walked a few steps behind him, and he didn¡¯t dare get too far behind either. If he got lost, things would become very troublesome again.


    While walking, Luo Xiao kept his head low and just kept an eye on Jiang Yao''s boots. His boots were exquisite, and their embroidery was made from the finest silks that perfectly matched his outfit.


    Jiang Yao could feel Luo Xiao''s gaze on his feet, and when he looked back, he saw how the young boy had lowered his head. His bangs hid his beautiful face, and as a result, the one who got all the attention was Jiang Yao.


    The women who passed by all fawned over this handsome man, while the men were jealous but also admired him. Even the common person without any cultivation could feel the majestic aura of this person as he showed complete disregard for all the people who looked at him.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Soon hostile looks were sent towards Luo Xiao who was walking behind him. Who was fortunate enough to be this person''s servant? Why didn¡¯t they have this honor? Thoughts like these went through the minds of many present. For this reason, they blamed the young man walking behind the one that looked like a descended god.


    Luo Xiao was startled by the many gazes that were cast his way, and he felt uncomfortable with the hostility that was hidden within so he lifted his head causing many to gasp in shock.


    They all had expected that this servant was ugly and disgusting, yet when looking at him, they found that he was very loveable. He was even more beautiful than a woman. He had perfect white skin that was almost translucent like jade.


    He had a pair of feminine phoenix eyes, and his face was perfectly oval. He was so beautiful that many had their breath taken away and only then could they shake their heads in disappointment. It seemed their luck in life was just too bad. Of course, this regal expert had a servant with appearances above average. It would be such a disgrace if he walked around with an ugly servant.


    Luo Xiao could not understand the thoughts of these people, but after lifting his head, he found that many girls sent him hateful glares and unhappy expressions. They clearly felt threatened.


    The corners of Jiang Yao''s lips twitched slightly as he saw the puzzled and uncomfortable expression on Luo Xiao''s face. For some reason, he enjoyed these expressions that his Astral Soul showed him.


    It was clear that previously Luo Xiao had lived a sheltered life. His thoughts were always on his face, easy to read. This made it so anyone could easily see what he was thinking, and most of the time he seemed completely clueless about people''s treacherous and evil schemes. It was clear he had grown up in a home filled with love and affection.


    For some reason, this thought made Jiang Yao happy. He enjoyed the clueless expressions and the helplessness that Luo Xiao was feeling. It would only be a matter of time before the small young man would solely rely on Jiang Yao for everything.


    Jiang Yao did not stop and explain where he was going to Luo Xiao; instead, he continued to walk forward towards his destination. Seeing the confused expression on Luo Xiao¡¯s face about why women were glaring at him was extremely amusing to Jiang Yao.


    Suddenly, Jiang Yao came to a stop. It was so abrupt that Luo Xiao walked straight into him, but just when he was about to ask what was wrong, he glanced at Jiang Yao''s face. He saw a very unpleasant expression on his face as this immensely beautiful immortal intently observed their surroundings.


    Everyone his eyes landed on lowered their gaze. Some of them blushed, while others scowled, but none dared say a thing.


    ¡°Come here,¡± Jiang Yao said to Luo Xiao with annoyance. Before the young man could react, Jiang Yao grabbed him and hoisted him up over his shoulder.


    His bangs covered his face, and he could see nothing but Jiang Yao''s back. Why had the immortal suddenly gotten angry with him?


    Although Luo Xiao could not figure it out, a few of the more attentive observers noticed that he turned angry the moment he saw the men''s extra glances at the young man. It was clear that he didn¡¯t enjoy others looking at what belonged to him.


    Having been hoisted on top of his shoulder once more, Luo Xiao didn¡¯t say anything, he just turned quiet and accepted his fate. He assumed that he had been walking so slowly that he had annoyed his newfound master somehow.


    If he were to speak, he was likely to make the situation worse, so he stayed quiet.


    Jiang Yao was clearly satisfied with the fact that he said nothing and soon his lips had curled into a smile once more. He then continued their journey to a more deserted part of Xiyang City as he used one arm to hold the young man on his shoulder.


    Soon, they reached an area so close to the city wall that everything was bathed in shadows, and a few small, shabby houses were placed in the shadows of the massive wall.


    Jiang Yao entered one of the houses. He did not knock first, he just stepped inside and brought Luo Xiao with him. When they were inside, he finally put down the young man.


    ¡°Your high¡­¡± someone spoke out, yet before he could finish what he was about to say, Jiang Yao silenced him with a long, hard glare.


    ¡°I am Jiang Yao,¡± he said, and the man nodded his head as if he were a chicken pecking rice. ¡°Yes, yes, yes!¡± he exclaimed, ¡°Sir Jiang, please come in. I have been waiting for you!¡±


    Luo Xiao frowned and cocked his head in confusion. Jiang Yao had needed to introduce himself, but the man said he had waited for him. What was going on?


    Still, he didn''t question anything, he just accepted it and shrugged his shoulders. He knew he wasn¡¯t the one who should care about such things, so instead, he just waited behind Jiang Yao.


    Jiang Yao sat down on a shabby chair, and the man sat down across from him. He sent a glance at Luo Xiao that was filled with curiosity, but he didn¡¯t ask about this person he knew nothing of.


    ¡°I have found the Moon Anise,¡± he said after a bit of time passed as they shared pleasantries. ¡°It¡¯s in the Chengzi Empire.¡±


    ¡°Our neighbor, the Chengzi Empire, is as deserted as our kingdom, but unlike us, they have many herbs and spiritual fruits.¡±


    ¡°The Moon Anise is a shapeshifting herb capable of moving around, and you can only find it if you team up with a soul cultivator. They need to use their spiritual energy to locate it, but I can tell you its rough location. It cannot leave the valley it is located within, nor I have I told anyone else about it, so as long as no one finds it before you, it is yours.¡±


    Jiang Yao nodded, seemingly deep in thought. ¡°Thank you,¡± he said, and then he took out an embroidered bag from which he threw three bars of something that looked like gold to the man who had just spoken.


    Luo Xiao had not spoken at all, but he understood that Jiang Yao was seemingly looking for some herb called the Moon Anise. Perhaps he could be of use to him this time? He thought to himself before he was utterly surprised. Why did he want to be of use to this immortal?

 Chapter 7 - Ling Mo

    ¡°Are you going to work together with Ling Mo?¡± the man asked as he accepted the gold. Jiang Yao frowned for a bit before he glanced at Luo Xiao and then nodded his head.


    Seeing the glance he sent Luo Xiao, the man raised an eyebrow. Finally, his curiosity got the better of him, and he couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Who is this handsome young man?¡±


    Jiang Yao narrowed his eyes when he heard the question, but he didn''t get mad; Instead, he observed the man before sighing deeply. ¡°Don''t worry about him,¡± he said after some hesitation.


    The man was surprised by this answer, but he understood that Jiang Yao was unwilling to talk about him, and thus, he didn¡¯t ask any more questions.


    ¡°Ling Mo has already arrived in Xiyang City,¡± the man said, ¡°he came a week ago. He¡¯s waiting at Sunset Tower in the middle of the city. You might as well meet up with him ahead of time and head off to find the Moon Anise as soon as possible.¡±


    This man didn¡¯t hide the fact that Jiang Yao was looking for a Moon Anise. Although there was one more person here, the fact that Jiang Yao brought him led the man to believe that he would not spread this news.


    Nodding, Jiang Yao rose to his feet and gestured for Luo Xiao to follow. The young boy instantly nodded his head and rushed after him. Before he left the room, he turned around and bowed to the man. His dad always taught him to be polite, and although he had not been spoken to, he had still been inside his home.


    Seeing the gesture, the man¡¯s lips turned upwards into a smile, and he couldn¡¯t help but laugh.


    Jiang Yao, on the other hand, became rather annoyed. This youngster should not be so friendly towards people he didn¡¯t know. He would be easily tricked in the future if he did not change his personality.


    ¡°Come on!¡± he urged, and Luo Xiao quickly followed behind him. ¡°Walk by my side,¡± Jiang Yao ordered, and after some hesitation, Luo Xiao sped up arriving next to him.


    He was incredibly conscious of himself while walking next to Jiang Yao, so he looked down at the ground, not daring to speak at all. So far he was still terrified by this person by his side.


    They didn¡¯t return the way they had come but walked straight to the middle of the city. At the city¡¯s center, there was a massive hotel. Hotels were different from inns, much more luxurious, and this hotel seemed almost as magnificent as the inn they had stayed at so far.


    Without waiting, Jiang Yao entered and went straight to the counter, and after being stunned, Luo Xiao followed behind him.


    ¡°We are looking for Ling Mo, I imagine he is waiting for me,¡± Jiang Yao said in a voice that left no room for disagreement. The servant behind the counter was stumped by his handsome appearance and his majestic voice, so he stumbled for quite some time before he managed to find the room belonging to Ling Mo.


    ¡°He is on the third floor, room seven,¡± he said with a shaking voice. Jiang Yao nodded and threw a gold coin at the server then headed up the stairs.


    Luo Xiao hesitated. ¡°Should I follow?¡± he asked whilst slowing down. Maybe Jiang Yao wanted to talk with this Ling Mo person alone; he did not know.


    But moments after he stopped walking, Jiang Yao also came to a stop and turned to look at him with annoyance in his eyes, ¡°Everywhere I go, you will follow!¡± he ordered, and Luo Xiao nodded in fear.


    When thinking about it, he realized that it was, in fact, not too big a deal to go with him. He already had a soul seal branded into his soul; therefore, it was impossible for him to betray this immortal, so being with him was only natural.


    They reached the room, Jiang Yao knocked a few times before opening the door. ¡°Ling Mo, you in?¡± he asked as he went into the room, not waiting for someone to answer.


    ¡°Your hi¡­¡±, this man was also silenced with a single glare, and he frowned looking at the young man at Jiang Yao''s side.


    ¡°He is?¡± he asked with disdain in his eyes and arrogance in his voice.


    ¡°He¡¯s with me,¡± Jiang Yao said, not going into details; not even mentioning his name.


    ¡°Is he coming with us?¡± Ling Mo asked again, clearly displeased but Jiang Yao completely ignored the obvious displeasure and just nodded. ¡°He will follow me wherever I go,¡± he said casually.


    Luo Xiao was puzzled. He felt a sense of crisis when he looked at this Ling Mo, and he couldn¡¯t help but hide behind Jiang Yao. Although Jiang Yao was also rather scary, he had after all displayed an interest in him. Jiang Yao treated him fairly well, although he also treated him like something he owned. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    Seeing his reaction Jiang Yao could not help but chuckle, but he didn¡¯t push him away, instead, he stayed protectively in front of him.


    ¡°What should I call you?¡± Ling Mo asked with a sigh. Jiang Yao thought for a moment before answering, ¡°Sir Jiang works,¡± he said casually as if he were doing him a great favor.


    ¡°Sir Jiang, you want to find the item soon, so I suggest that you do not bring useless garbage along. It will just slow us down.¡± Ling Mo clearly didn¡¯t care that Luo Xiao heard what he thought of him, he was straightforward and harsh.


    ¡°Why does it matter to you?¡± Jiang Yao asked with amusement in his voice, ¡°I will be the one carrying him, so it won¡¯t cause us to lose time.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s below your status to carry anyone much less a commoner!¡± the man exclaimed, shocked and filled with disbelief, but Jiang Yao just shrugged his shoulders. It was indeed true that he would never carry other experts or commoners, he wouldn¡¯t even carry his brothers or sisters, but there was something about this young child that made him not mind his actions.


    ¡°It¡¯s preposterous!¡± Ling Mo fumed with anger. His eyes seemed as if they would eat Luo Xiao alive, chew on him, and then spit him out for the beasts to eat.


    ¡°I cannot accept this! He is but a Low Earth soul cultivator. What can he do for you? What merits does he possibly have apart from his slutty appearance?¡± Ling Mo was beset with anger. He had been looking forward to traveling with Jiang Yao and trying to integrate himself with this man of high birth, but now it seemed that he had already found himself some little plaything.


    Looking at Luo Xiao, he couldn¡¯t see any of his positive points, other than his appearance, resulting in him thinking that he had seduced Jiang Yao. Luo Xiao was, after all, more delicate than even most women, and his appearance was as beautiful as a fairy.


    Luo Xiao was naive and very innocent. He had no way of understanding Ling Mo''s thoughts, but Jiang Yao understood perfectly well from the words spoken, but he didn¡¯t care. His face didn¡¯t even twitch, he just completely ignored Ling Mo.


    ¡°We are leaving tomorrow at dawn,¡± Jiang Yao finally said after sighing. ¡°You¡¯re welcome to come with us if you want. We¡¯re at the Seven Star Inn, and you can find us in the room on the top floor.¡±


    ¡°Are you sharing a room?¡± Ling Mo asked while gnashing his teeth, but Jiang Yao just smiled and reached behind him after which he locked his hands with Luo Xiao''s.


    Luo Xiao was stunned by this gesture and didn¡¯t understand it. He had not held hands with anyone since he was a small child and held his father''s hand. He tried to withdraw his hand, only to find that Jiang Yao had a grip of iron and wasn¡¯t willing to let go.


    ¡°Let''s go Xiaoxiao,¡± he said with a smile on his face as he dragged the stunned Luo Xiao from the room.


    When they left, a loud crash was heard from within, and although Luo Xiao craned his neck and looked behind him, he didn¡¯t see anything as the door was closed.


    ¡°Uh, Sir Jiang, shouldn¡¯t we see if he is okay?¡± Luo Xiao asked nervously, ¡°That was quite a loud crash; I fear he might have injured himself and then he would be unable to join us tomorrow!¡±


    Jiang Yao looked at Luo Xiao, ¡°Why are you calling me Sir Jiang?¡±


    ¡°You told that Sir Ling to call you Sir Jiang. He seemed to be someone of status, so how can I not do the same?¡± He asked puzzled, but Jiang Yao was clearly displeased again.


    ¡°I told you to call me Jiang Yao,¡± he said, completely ignoring the loud crash they heard from within the room they just left.


    Luo Xiao sensed that if he didn¡¯t agree, then he would be in for a world of pain, so he quickly nodded his head.


    ¡°Jiang Yao. Jiang Yao,¡± he muttered to himself, and Jiang Yao started laughing heartily, clearly happy with how Luo Xiao took his words seriously.


    Back in the room, Ling Mo had destroyed all the furniture in the room. Now, only fragments remained, lying in heaps on the ground.


    His eyes had turned blood-red. He gnashed his teeth and clenched his fists so hard that the nails dug into his palms.


    ¡°His Highness has never taken an interest in someone before! Why has he suddenly taken an interest in such a weak, pathetic soul cultivator with no merits apart from his appearance? If he were stronger, then I would have been sure that he was a fox spirit or succubus, but he isn¡¯t! His strength is not enough to have any effect on his Highness.¡±


    ¡°Could it be that his appearance has bewitched his Highness? He is used to seeing the most handsome men and most beautiful women in the world all fawning over him, so it¡¯s strange to expect one person''s appearance could make such a difference in his behavior. Could it be he has some sort of treasure that his Highness wants?¡±


    Ling Mo spent the rest of the day contemplating this matter, but the more he thought about it, the more annoyed and angry he became.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see if he can survive this trip!¡± Ling Mo finally said with gritted teeth and a gleam of madness in his eyes.


    ¡°When he is dead, I am sure that his Highness will spend the rest of his time together with me, and then we can finally become closer. Of course, he must never know that I am the cause of that little toy''s death.¡±


    While Ling Mo was busy planning such things, Jiang Yao brought Luo Xiao back to their room at the Seven Star Inn. Here, he ordered some food and for once shared a meal together with Luo Xiao. Although he didn''t need to eat, he felt that it could be enjoyable to eat along with this young boy.


    After they finished their meal, Luo Xiao started to once again cultivate his spiritual energy. He understood that if this Fourth Brother of Jiang Yao was the creator of the corpse puppet, then he had to be frighteningly strong.


    He, who had just started cultivating, knew that he had a long road in front of him, but he didn¡¯t give up because of this; instead, he was eager to improve.


    Jiang Yao saw how diligently Luo Xiao cultivated, and he nodded his head in approval. Without waking him, he ordered some maids and servers to clear the table of food, and once more sat down to observe Luo Xiao cultivate. His Astral Soul could be consider the peak amongst all Astral Souls, of this Jiang Yao had no doubt.

 Chapter 8 - Setting Out

    The following morning, Luo Xiao awoke from his cultivation. He didn¡¯t feel tired, instead, he felt filled with energy and his mind was particularly sharp.


    The moment he awoke from cultivation, Jiang Yao also awoke from his stupor of watching him.


    ¡°Get ready, we¡¯re going to head out soon,¡± Jiang Yao said gently. This was the most tender voice he had heard from him so far, but his tone scared Luo Xiao even more than when he was angry. Why would this immortal suddenly be friendly with him?


    Just as Jiang Yao had thought, the moment he spoke softly to Luo Xiao, his entire body froze and turned stiff with fright. Hearing his voice, the young boy looked at him with undisguised fear in his eyes.


    Seeing such an expression, Jiang Yao couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud.


    ¡°Come now,¡± he said as he went to check out of the inn, and Luo Xiao followed him carefully. The truth was that he wasn¡¯t eager to meet up with Mister Ling Mo again.


    It was clear that Ling Mo had something against him, but he didn¡¯t know why or how he could hate him when they had never met before. It was for this reason that he felt uncomfortable. But despite his feelings about the other man, he knew that he was Jiang Yao''s travel partner, and he didn¡¯t wish to cause any problems.


    In the end, Luo Xiao pouted slightly but said nothing. His pouty appearance was incredibly adorable and caused something within Jiang Yao to stir.


    It was impossible for Luo Xiao to know what Jiang Yao was thinking, so he just kept walking beside him. Together, the two walked out of the inn, only to find that Ling Mo was waiting for them outside.


    ¡°Sir Jiang,¡± Ling Mo called out with a broad smile on his face, but when his eyes landed on the one who walked beside Jiang Yao his smile faltered and hatred burned in his eyes.


    It only lasted for a brief moment, but both Luo Xiao and Jiang Yao noticed it. Neither of them mentioned it; they just kept it in their hearts.


    Luo Xiao was quiet and lowered his head; he dared not look at either Jiang Yao or Ling Mo as in his eyes they were both terrifying cultivators.


    ¡°Let¡¯s set out,¡± Jiang Yao said and then started walking down the street. Luo Xiao quickly fell into his position by his side, but before he realized it, Jiang Yao had grabbed his hand and held it in an iron grip while walking forward.


    By his side, Ling Mo''s eyes seemed as if they were shooting out fire. He was so upset and annoyed with Luo Xiao, but dared not say anything as it was clear that this child mattered to his Highness.


    The three walked together in silence through the city. Ling Mo was quite attractive as well, but he paled in comparison to Jiang Mo and Luo Xiao.


    Many looked at them, and Luo Xiao was incredibly embarrassed. His face was beet-red from having his hand held by Jiang Yao. He tried to retract it a few times, only to see Jiang Yao''s lips twitch in amusement, but he said nothing and did nothing apart from holding onto him with an iron grip.


    ¡°We should hurry,¡± Ling Mo said, unhappy with how they were slowly walking through town, but Jiang Yao just shrugged his shoulders, ¡°We will speed up when we leave town.¡±


    Seeing that Jiang Yao had made his decision, he didn¡¯t say anything else. He just glared fiercely at Luo Xiao, blaming everything on him.


    ¡°Xiaoxiao, do you have a fever?¡± Jiang Yao asked tentatively as he leaned forward and looked at the red face of Luo Xiao while smiling gently.


    Luo Xiao had been called Xiaoxiao a few times now, and every time he felt rather embarrassed. Xiaoxiao sounded like a name you would call a small girl, not something you would call a young man.


    But right now he had no time to ponder the nickname that Jiang Yao had given him; instead, he was being closely stared at by a face so handsome that it could belong to a god.


    ¡°I''m okay,¡± Luo Xiao said timidly, but Jiang Yao ignored him, reached out, and swept him up in his arms.


    ¡°Jiang Yao what are you doing?!¡± Luo Xiao exclaimed, completely forgetting about his fear of the other man. Being carried like a princess was just too shocking and went against everything he knew.


    When he exclaimed, Ling Mo grinned sinisterly while watching. To think that he would be so impetuous and call his Highness¡¯ real name out in such a manner! That he dared to even question his actions, it was clear that he would be badly scolded. But just as he thought this, Jiang Yao started laughing out loud. Such a reaction was something that Ling Mo had never seen before. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    ¡°Xiaoxiao, are you telling me that you don¡¯t like being carried like a princess? Aren¡¯t you as beautiful as a woman?¡±


    Luo Xiao was uncomfortable. His eyes seemed as if he had been unjustly accused of something, and he wanted to continue complaining, but when he saw a sinister smile on Jiang Yao¡¯s face, he instantly shut his mouth.


    Although his mouth was shut, his eyes continued to show his anger.


    Then Jiang Yao leaned forward and whispered into Luo Xiao¡¯s ears, ¡°Look how jealous Ling Mo is, don''t you feel special being treated like this from me?¡±


    Up until now, Luo Xiao hadn¡¯t understood what exactly Jiang Yao was doing by holding his hand and now carrying him like a princess. So it turns out, he was trying to make Ling Mo so jealous that he would leave.


    It seemed that Ling Mo was a truly unwanted guest. Although he had asked for him in the beginning, he hadn¡¯t expected to find a person who had an Astral Soul during his trip. Now he no longer had any use for Ling Mo.


    To get rid of him, Jiang Yao would even use Luo Xiao as a means to make him jealous. It seemed he was merely a tool. Realizing this, Luo Xiao was partly relieved, but at the same time, he also felt a bit of sadness that he couldn¡¯t explain.


    Things were a bit different from what Luo Xiao expected. If Ling Mo had been a normal soul cultivator, then Jiang Yao would have gotten rid of him long ago, but he had connections with his father, brothers, and sisters, so he had to consider his family relations before chasing Ling Mo away.


    Although he knew that Jiang Yao was using him, Luo Xiao¡¯s face was still red like a beetroot.


    Ling Mo gnashed his teeth, Jiang Yao was having lots of fun, and Luo Xiao wished that he had died in the hands of the corpse puppet instead. Right now he was so embarrassed that he could not even show his face. He buried it in the chest of Jiang Yao, who suddenly felt much better.


    Ling Mo, seeing the gesture of Luo Xiao, didn¡¯t think that it was because of embarrassment, but simply a sign of intimacy, something he didn¡¯t enjoy watching.


    Unfortunately, Ling Mo was many times more stubborn than Jiang Yao expected. He said nothing but stuck to Jiang Yao like a leech.


    As they left Xiyang city, Jiang Yao sped up and started flying through the air. His current speed was not as fast as when he flew with Luo Xiao, but it was still quite quick.


    Although he was moving fast, Ling Mo had no problems following. He showed strength far above what Luo Xiao expected. Seeing this, his eyes widened at the sight. When Ling Mo noticed his glance, he snorted and stared at the young man in Jiang Yao¡¯s arms as if to tell him that he was worth nothing in comparison to him.


    Jiang Yao didn¡¯t travel too fast because he had Luo Xiao in his arms. He knew that the child couldn¡¯t handle too rapid a speed, and the wind was causing tears to appear in Luo Xiao¡¯s eyes, so he buried his face in Jiang Yao''s chest.


    He had noticed it some time ago, but there was a soft scent of sandalwood accompanied by a gentle and refined smell whenever he breathed in. The scent was calming and soothing, and soon Luo Xiao drifted off to dreamland while laying in Jiang Yao''s arms. It was as if nothing evil could reach him there. He felt so much at peace that he was unable to stay awake.


    Seeing that the young man in his arms had fallen asleep, Jiang Yao smiled gently. His smile was much more gentle than Ling Mo had ever seen from his Highness before.


    Jiang Yao was unaware of why he had taken such an interest in this young boy he had found in a random village. He knew that he was partly interested in him because of his Astral Soul, and partly because this kid was clearly afraid of him. Though oddly enough at the same time he found him to be his rock.


    ¡°Sir Jiang,¡± Ling Mo called out when he saw that Luo Xiao had fallen asleep. ¡°What is so special about this young child? I know his appearance could be considered outstanding, in fact, as beautiful as most spirits, but at the same time, you are no foreigner to those with beautiful features. For you to have taken a liking to this child, there has to be some sort of reason?¡±


    Jiang Yao looked at Ling Mo with disdain in his eyes. Did he really think that he would say something to expose Luo Xiao''s secret?


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± Jiang Yao asked while lifting the child up and kissing his forehead, ¡°I am smitten with the child. He is different from all the others, so I want to keep him with me.¡±


    Jiang Yao was not lying; he was indeed curious about the child, but not in the way Ling Mo thought. It was merely an interest he felt towards the child. Teasing him was fun, looking at him was fun, but it was nothing more than this.


    Fortunately, Ling Mo was unaware of this. He thought that Jiang Yao was truly and utterly in love with this child and his eyes seemed as if they would shoot out rays of fire. He gnashed his teeth and didn¡¯t ask any more questions.


    The trio moved forward for hours on end until Luo Xiao woke up once more. He rubbed his eyes calmly and looked around only to see that they were currently above a dense forest.


    Sounds of animals and the wind could be heard beneath him. They were flying over the treetops, and it appeared as if they were walking on the trees.


    ¡°Are you hungry Xiaoxiao?¡± Jiang Yao asked gently, but Luo Xiao shook his head not daring to delay their trip further. It was a fact that Luo Xiao needed to eat, but he could easily handle a day without eating. He dared not have both Ling Mo and Jiang Yao stop solely for his sake.


    Since Luo Xiao shook his head, Jiang Yao accepted his decision. They continued forward until the sun was setting in the sky and night was quickly approaching.


    At this point, Jiang Yao descended from the heavens and started walking towards a smaller town.


    ¡°Are we going to stop for the night?¡± Ling Mo asked with sarcasm in his voice, ¡°We wouldn¡¯t have to pause at all if it were not for that bag of garbage you brought along.¡±


    ¡°I am fine with us taking a bit longer than normal,¡± Jiang Yao laughed as if he hadn¡¯t heard the insult. ¡°In the end, this little boy is possibly even more important than the Moon Anise.¡±


    Having said this, Jiang Yao gently let Luo Xiao down and ruffled his hair. After which he carefully helped him tidy it up again. The gesture was so intimate and gentle that Ling Mo was ready to kill Luo Xiao on the spot, had he not feared Jiang Yao''s reaction.

 Chapter 9 - Attempted Murder

    Ling Mo was still fuming as they walked into the inn. His mood got even worse when Jiang Yao threw some gold coins onto the desk. ¡°Two of your best rooms,¡± he ordered and handed over a few gold coins.


    The many people within the inn looked at Jiang Yao, Ling Mo, and Luo Xiao with curiosity but also veneration. To see such handsome men was very rare in their small village.


    The servant looked at them puzzled when he saw the gold coins and couldn¡¯t help but speak out, ¡°My lordship, this is enough to rent three rooms. I see that there are three esteemed guests, are you sure you want two rooms and not three?¡±


    ¡°I want two rooms,¡± Jiang Yao said with certainty causing the servant to frown in confusion. ¡°The best rooms only have one bed each; I am afraid you would have to share a bed,¡± the servant said again.


    Jiang Yao, on the other hand, flashed a grin to the servant, placed his arm on Luo Xiao''s shoulder, and leaned forward causing Luo Xiao''s eyes to widen in surprise. He tried to step back, but Jiang Yao¡¯s arm didn¡¯t allow him to move an inch.


    Jiang Yao¡¯s lips neared Luo Xiao''s ear, and his hot breath tickled the younger man, making his face flare red in embarrassment.


    ¡°You are mine, so act like my lover for a bit,¡± Jiang Yao muttered into his ear, and his words caused a shiver to run through Luo Xiao.


    No one could hear what was said, but they saw the beautiful young boy flush red from embarrassment and not know where to hide. This caused the servant behind the counter to finally understand what was going on.


    Realizing this, his face also turned slightly red. Relationships between men were very rare in Tiandi, but there were a few who indulged in such relationships, though they were few and far between. Most ordinary people looked upon such relationships with skeptical eyes.


    Suddenly, the entire inn was utterly silent. Luo Xiao wished that he could hide somewhere while Jiang Yao was amused by his reaction. Ling Mo was so jealous that he almost shattered his teeth from grinding them too hard.


    ¡°Two rooms it is,¡± the servant said with a slight cough as he wiped the sweat off his forehead. ¡°Room one and room two are at your disposal. They¡¯re on the fourth floor; please head upstairs.¡±


    ¡°Bring us some of your finest quality dishes,¡± Jiang Yao said with a grin as he kept his arm over Luo Xiao¡¯s shoulder and went upstairs.


    Luo Xiao was eager to reach the stairs and disappear from the many glances that were being cast his way. He was utterly embarrassed and didn¡¯t know how to react.


    His father had always taught him about true love, that one day he would meet a woman that would complete him. Now he was playing the fake lover of the most handsome man he had ever encountered. He was even more handsome than he thought possible and he couldn¡¯t protest.


    When they finally reached the room, Luo Xiao swatted Jiang Yao''s hand off his shoulder. He turned to look at him. His face was still red from embarrassment. Now, he was clearly mad.


    His appearance was utterly amusing for Jiang Yao who went to the bed, laid down on the side, and observed the angry Luo Xiao.


    ¡°Why did you do that?¡± Luo Xiao asked after taking a deep breath to steady himself, ¡°I understand that you want to get rid of Ling Mo, but don''t you have other methods? This is just making him hate me even more than he already did.¡±


    Jiang Yao shrugged and rolled onto his back. He gestured for Luo Xiao to come closer. Hesitating a bit, Luo Xiao didn¡¯t continue to stay away as he knew that they were alone and Jiang Yao had no reason to continue their act.


    ¡°It¡¯s more fun like this,¡± Jiang Yao said, ¡°I can annoy you and Ling Mo at the same time. I have never before seen anyone as embarrassed as you are! It is truly very fun.¡±


    Luo Xiao¡¯s blood boiled. He was not some plaything that existed to entertain Jiang Yao, so instead of listening to the handsome immortal, he found a patch on the floor and sat down, beginning to cultivate his soul once more.


    Seeing the anger on Luo Xiao''s face, Jiang Yao''s eyes glistened with excitement. This child did not know who he was, so he was completely honest with him. This attitude was a refreshing change of pace, a welcome change, but it was also the first time he saw someone mad at him to his face for so long.


    Unfortunately, he managed to control his anger and just sat down on the floor to cultivate. This almost made Jiang Yao pout.


    He stood up and looked at Luo Xiao. He was very tempted to knock him on his head and awaken him from cultivation, but after realizing that it was indeed beneficial for him that this child cultivated, he decided against this action.


    ¡°He is my Astral Soul; I guess it won''t be boring having him by my side for a bit,¡± he muttered to himself as he went to the door, opened it, and found that a maid was coming with plates of food. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    The smell that wafted from the food was enticing. They weren¡¯t as delicious as the ones from the Seven Star Inn back in Xiyang City, but they couldn¡¯t be considered bad. The moment the food entered the room, Luo Xiao was awakened by the smell.


    He had not eaten all day. His stomach growled when the food was brought in, and Jiang Yao laughed lightly when he saw the glances the young man was sending the food.


    ¡°Come eat,¡± he said when the maid left. Jiang Yao had completely ignored the maid as his eyes were glued to the young boy the entire time, watching his reactions.


    Luo Xiao did not hesitate. Since he was now this man''s servant, he had decided that he would not say no to the things he was given. Especially not since he was being used as a tool to chase Ling Mo away.


    He was not pleased to play Jiang Yao''s lover. His heart couldn¡¯t handle this scary man speaking softly to him, neither could he handle the intimate gestures.


    But he had no choice, and since he had no choice, he decided to take every advantage he could.


    Luo Xiao had spent most of the day asleep in Jiang Yao''s arms, so he was not tired. He quickly finished eating the meal together with Jiang Yao before he sat on the floor once more and continued cultivating.


    Seeing him deep in cultivation, Jiang Yao left the room. He had finally noticed that Luo Xiao only had one set of clothes and wanted to get him some more.


    ¡°Hey you,¡± Ling Mo said as he saw Jiang Yao leave, and his eyes lit up with excitement. He turned to look at a Qi cultivator that had been talking with him for a long time.


    ¡°Do you want to earn some money and a Moon Rank martial art skill?¡± Ling Mo asked in a low voice causing the Qi cultivator''s eyes to widen in surprise. The things he offered were truly magnificent. A Moon Rank martial art skill? That was the dream of every cultivator; in fact, he had no idea how powerful such a skill would be.


    ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± He asked breathlessly. He was not stupid, he knew that it would be dangerous, but danger and rewards went hand in hand. If he missed this opportunity, he would never again get such a chance.


    ¡°In room number one there is a Low Earth Rank soul cultivator who is not very strong. I want you to kill him. Make sure to flee as soon as you are done,¡± Ling Mo handed over a scroll and a bag of gold, ¡°Now hurry!¡±


    The man was stunned to see that he was paid beforehand, but he grinned and made his way towards the stairs.


    He had been in the room when the experts arrived from outside, and he had seen how Jiang Yao treated the young soul cultivator. He was aware that this handsome man was indeed frighteningly strong. He understood that if he wanted a chance to take down the young man then now was his best opportunity.


    He snuck up the stairs and reached the room then took a deep breath and opened the door.


    Unbeknownst to him, Jiang Yao had left a barrier around the room, so that if someone were to enter or exit, he would know right away.


    Sensing that someone had entered the room, Jiang Yao''s eyes glistened with a dangerous light. He instantly turned around. He vanished from where he was and arrived right next to the inn a moment later as if having teleported.


    Seeing Jiang Yao return to the inn, Ling Mo''s eyes displayed extreme hatred and jealousy. He had never expected that he would lay down a barrier, but seeing how fast he had returned, that could be the only reason.


    Jiang Yao¡¯s face was filled with suppressed anger as he rushed up the stairs.


    When he reached the third floor, he heard a scream coming from the level above him, and he rushed even faster. The heart in his chest beat rapidly, and he felt a bit of fear. Was that Astral Soul cultivator still alive?


    When he reached the room, he found that Luo Xiao was laying on the ground. A Qi cultivator was on top of him with a dagger that was about to descend into his heart.


    Luo Xiao¡¯s big black eyes were open wide, and blood welled up from a gaping wound on his arm. Obviously, he had tried to protect himself from the first slash and had gotten wounded.


    Jiang Yao''s eyes were filled with anger. He took one large stride into the room before he dragged the assailant back.


    Qi overflowed from his body, and with a flick of his hand, the man was cut a thousand times, but he had yet to die.


    Blood dripped to the floor, and the man was horrified by how easy it was for Jiang Yao to make him experience the most excruciating pain with only a flick of his wrist.


    When he finally died, his bones were ground to dust; his body had experienced thousands of cuts, and his eyes had been blinded.


    When he was finished, Jiang Yao tossed the no longer intact corpse to the ground. He turned to look at Luo Xiao, only to see that he had frozen stiff. His eyes were filled with horror and his complexion completely pale.


    He felt sick, but he didn¡¯t seem to notice the wound on his arm. Instead, he was staring at the corpse, and then he collapsed.


    Jiang Yao frowned. Why had he collapsed? Had he lost too much blood from the wound on his arm? He did not know, but he quickly made a makeshift bandage with some fabric he found in his bag. Afterwards, he carried Luo Xiao down the stairs.


    ¡°I need a new room,¡± Jiang Yao said casually to the servant behind the counter. ¡°There is a corpse in my old room. He tried to ambush us. I¡¯ll leave the cleanup to you. Get me the key for another room,¡± he said as he threw ten gold coins on the table.


    The servant¡¯s face turned ashen. Had someone tried to assassinate their guest? That had never happened before, but ten gold coins was a fortune for a small inn like this. He rushed to do precisely what he had been ordered to do.


    He quickly gave the key to room three to Jiang Yao. He then bolted up the stairs before he ran to find the owner of the inn and explain the situation.


    That night the inn was bustling with life as the servants cleaned room one. The moment they touched the sliced up corpse, it turned into a puddle of blood, and they were stuck cleaning the entire night. While they were busy cleaning, Ling Mo was in his room feeling terrible. He feared that Jiang Yao knew it was him who planned the murder, but even more, he feared that he wouldn¡¯t have another chance to kill Luo Xiao.


    Luo Xiao, on the other hand, lay in bed. His face was pale, and sweat beaded on his forehead. Jiang Yao stood and observed him the whole night, waiting for him to wake up.

 Chapter 10 - Trauma

    Halfway into the night, Luo Xiao woke up. He was incredibly pale, and his entire body was shaking. His eyes were unfocused but wide open as sweat beaded on his forehead.


    Jiang Yao jolted up the moment Luo Xiao opened his eyes. His face displayed worry and uncertainty. Although he knew that this Astral Soul was very important to him, he could not understand why he was feeling so many emotions. He was acting uncharacteristically kind, something he hadn¡¯t ever done before.


    Jiang Yao frowned as he looked at Luo Xiao. His eyes suddenly turned solemn but also soft. Though he wasn¡¯t his usual self, he didn¡¯t hate this feeling. This was what Jiang Yao thought as he gently rubbed Luo Xiao''s head.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay now,¡± he said gently. He could not figure out why he was being so tender towards this child, but he felt good; therefore, he decided to keep doing it.


    ¡°Is he gone?¡± Luo Xiao asked with a trembling voice as he closed his eyes, clearly fearful of what happened earlier.


    ¡°I killed him,¡± Jiang Yao said with the same, gentle voice as he sat down next to Luo Xiao on the bed. But, unexpectedly, his words caused Luo Xiao to shiver even more uncontrollably as he was reminded of the scene that occurred before he collapsed.


    Just thinking about that scene made Luo Xiao nauseous. Seeing someone die in front of him reminded him of all the things he had seen back in Jinwei village.


    It was also the reason for his first collapse. He had not been able to handle seeing someone die in front of him as it reminded him of the bloody scene of the corpse puppet eating his fellow villagers and friends.


    Jiang Yao was unaware of the real reason for Luo Xiao''s collapse. He thought it was caused by his loss of blood from the wound on his arm, not because he was traumatized by the sight of his entire village being slaughtered in front of him.


    Luo Xiao opened his eyes once more and looked at the worried face of Jiang Yao. He was relieved that this strong expert was by his side, but at the same time, he also continued to tell himself that Jiang Yao only saw him as an Astral Soul that he could use. This thought made him feel slightly depressed for no apparent reason.


    Shaking his head, Luo Xiao looked at Jiang Yao, feeling complicated. He wanted to say something, but he didn¡¯t know what to say. He opened his mouth a few times, but no words came out.


    Jiang Yao was worried. Was there something wrong with Luo Xiao? Had he gained some sort of serious after-effect from the assassin?


    Thinking of this, Jiang Yao''s eyes turned sharp, and a dense killing intent permeated out from his body, shocking Luo Xiao and causing the younger boy to retreat.


    Seeing the fearful and frightened expression on Luo Xiao''s face, his killing intent was quickly extinguished. He reached out and grabbed Luo Xiao''s healthy arm and dragged him into a tight embrace, stroking his back gently and apologizing.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to frighten you,¡± he said gently, but the more gentle he was, the more scared Luo Xiao became. This man was no different from the corpse puppet! Although he didn¡¯t eat humans, he could kill them with but a flick of his wrist!


    This realization made Luo Xiao¡¯s body tremble within Jiang Yao¡¯s embrace. He tried to pull away, but Jiang Yao¡¯s arms held him tightly, not allowing him to move an inch.


    Luo Xiao was puzzled. Why was he treating him so nicely all of a sudden? Was he truly frightened about losing his Astral Soul he had just met to the point that he would go to such lengths to soothe him?


    Strangely, Luo Xiao soon found that he felt better. He stopped shaking, and his erratic heartbeat slowly calmed down as well.


    He heaved a heavy sigh and leaned his head against Jiang Yao''s chest. He was not sure why he felt so at peace in another man''s arms, but he accepted the gesture.


    Jiang Yao felt his heartbeat quicken. He felt the weight of Luo Xiao¡¯s head against his chest, and it felt as if lightning had struck him. He¡¯d never felt anything like this before.


    He started to wonder why he felt like this. It clearly brought him joy and amusement, much more than he had ever felt before, but as for the reason he had no idea.


    While Luo Xiao leaned against Jiang Yao, Jiang Yao felt his heart grow restless. He was reminded of the sight that met him when he rushed up the stairs and found another man trying to take the life of his Astral Soul. Once more, anger was aroused in his chest. His eyes glistened dangerously as he thought about the only person who could be behind this.


    ¡°I will be more careful in the future,¡± Jiang Yao muttered, but his voice was so low that Luo Xiao did not hear him. At the current time, Jiang Yao even regretted that he had used Luo Xiao as a fake lover to chase away Ling Mo. Stolen novel; please report.


    Still, when one was riding a tiger, it was hard to get off. If Jiang Yao started treating Luo Xiao as a servant now, Ling Mo would not believe him.


    If he did such a thing, then Ling Mo would be sure that Jiang Yao knew he had tried to kill Luo Xiao and that now he was trying his hardest to hide his infatuation by pretending it was all a farce.


    So Jiang Yao could only continue to treat Luo Xiao as his lover. Jiang Yao looked down at the young man in his arms. He had stopped trembling and was now fast asleep.


    Seeing that he had been able to fall asleep in his arms once again, Jiang Yao smiled gently. He laid down on the bed, not releasing the young man in his arms.


    He wanted to sleep, but as soon as he laid down, he found that because Luo Xiao was laying in his arms, his scent was there whenever he breathed in.


    He soon felt restless and unable to sleep, but he dared not move either. He feared any movement would wake the young man in his arms. Luo Xiao slept completely still. He didn¡¯t move at all, and to Jiang Yao''s relief, he didn¡¯t seem to be having a nightmare.


    The following morning, Luo Xiao awoke from a dreamless sleep. He had slept much calmer than he had since the corpse puppet incident. This night he did not have any nightmares; instead, he experienced a deep sleep. It was for this reason that he felt so energized as he opened his eyes, yet as soon as his eyes fluttered open, he tried to scream.


    Jiang Yao reacted faster than the eye could see and placed his hand on Luo Xiao''s mouth, muffling the scream before it could come out.


    ¡°This... This... Why am I in your arms?!¡± Luo Xiao asked. He had never had much skinship with anyone before, let alone a man as handsome and alluring as this immortal, so to be held in someone''s arms when he woke up was clearly not something he had ever expected.


    Thinking back, he remembered what had happened last night, and his face quickly flushed red from embarrassment. He had let Jiang Yao pamper him again, something that made him both frightened and embarrassed.


    Luo Xiao saw himself as a man through and through. He was a young man who once had the same wishes as any other man: to be strong, have a loving wife, and live an ordinary life.


    Now he was being treated like a child, perhaps even like a girl, and he felt extremely uncomfortable about it.


    ¡°Uh, please release me,¡± Luo Xiao muttered under his breath, and Jiang Yao only now realized that his arms were hooked around the younger male''s waist, holding him against his chest that was used as a pillow all night.


    Jiang Yao let go of Luo Xiao as if he were a hot stone, and Luo Xiao jumped backward as if he feared that the intimate contact would in some way corrupt him. He hated the fact that he didn¡¯t dislike the feeling of being held in Jiang Yao''s strong arms.


    Luo Xiao''s face was so red that it seemed as if blood would drip from it, and Jiang Yao was unsure of what he should say. After an awkward silence, Jiang Yao gestured at his wounded arm. ¡°Are you okay?¡± he asked, his voice filled with worry.


    Luo Xiao was surprised as he looked at his arm. It was neatly wrapped with a white gauze bandage, but he hadn¡¯t sensed any pain from the wound. In fact, he hadn¡¯t even realized that he was hurt.


    During the assault, he had been too frightened to notice, and afterward, he had been traumatized after seeing the death of his assassin.


    Seeing the surprised expression on Luo Xiao''s face, Jiang Yao was equally surprised as well. ¡°I¡¯m fine, I can¡¯t even feel it,¡± Luo Xiao said as a smile bloomed on his face. The smile made Jiang Yao¡¯s heartbeat increase, and he couldn¡¯t help but turn his head and look away. Truthfully he could feel the pain. Now that he no longer diverted his focus away from it, he felt a stabbing pain, but he wasn¡¯t willing to worry the older male.


    Another awkward silence filled the room before suddenly a loud series of knocks startled both Jiang Yao and Luo Xiao.


    Luo Xiao rushed to open the door only to see Ling Mo standing outside. The atmosphere suddenly turned chilly when he looked into the room and saw Jiang Yao laying on the bed, and Luo Xiao standing in front of the door with a burning red face.


    ¡°We should get going,¡± Ling Mo said with a sneer. His voice was filled with annoyance, and his eyes burned with anger when they looked at Luo Xiao who quickly ducked under his penetrating gaze.


    Jiang Yao lazily stood up from the bed and calmly walked towards the door. He straightened his clothes and then placed an arm on Luo Xiao''s shoulder. ¡°Let¡¯s go then,¡± he said as he protectively pulled Luo Xiao closer to him.


    When they checked out of the inn, Jiang Yao bought a few steamed buns for Luo Xiao¡¯s breakfast. He also took the time to go to a clothing shop and pick out a few sets of clothes for Luo Xiao.


    These clothes were all ordinary linen clothes, but they were better than wearing the same thing every day.


    Ling Mo grit his teeth when he saw how Jiang Yao was wasting time on such trivial things for Luo Xiao, and even more so when he saw that the clothes were placed in Jiang Yao¡¯s embroidered bag.


    When Jiang Yao felt that he had purchased all that needed to be bought, the trio walked out of the village. As soon as they reached the outskirts, a grin spread on his handsome face, and he swept Luo Xiao up into his arms.


    Soon the two strong cultivators once more flew, at the highest speed that Luo Xiao could tolerate towards their destination.


    During that day of travel, nothing much happened. They ran through forests, plains, and deserts; their speed was so fast that mortals only saw a blur flash by before they were gone again.


    Luo Xiao hid his face in Jiang Yao¡¯s chest again, playing the role of a weak lover, but his heart fumed with indignation and embarrassment.


    Luo Xiao was not dumb. He knew that he had only insulted one person, Ling Mo, so the one behind the attack on him the previous day was also likely to be due to this strong soul cultivator.


    He knew that the closer he appeared to be to Jiang Yao, the more likely he was to be in danger.


    ¡°Well nothing will change now,¡± he muttered to himself so low that no one heard it, ¡°Ling Mo already hates me, so I might as well piss him off for good.¡±


    Luo Xiao wasn¡¯t a petty person, but he wasn¡¯t a saint either. Seeing that Ling Mo had tried to kill him, he knew that as long as he stayed close to Jiang Yao, he would be safe. Therefore, he was going to use this unwanted skinship to get his revenge on Ling Mo.