Lin Fuqing really wanted to explain to Zhiyuan that he didn’t have a harem in his previous life as he’d imagined.
He certainly had no intention of taking Fang Zhiyuan as a concubine in his supposed harem.
But this person wouldn’t listen.
When Lin Fuqing tried to explain, Fang Zhiyuan would say, “Don’t say it, “No need to coax me,” and “I don’t want to hear it.”
When Lin Fuqing insisted on explaining, Fang Zhiyuan covered his mouth with his hand.
Until Lin Fuqing was at last exhausted both physically and mentally.
Why? Why was this happening?
He thought to himself, forget it. When they returned to Xuyun, he would take this man to kneel before their master, and they would worship Heaven and Earth and become a Daoist couple.
Then they would practice dual cultivation to their damn heart’s content.
Let’s see how he could think wildly then.
A few leisurely days passed like this.
Given Lin Fuqing’s current condition, he was unable to continue his participation in the Golden Osmanthus Challenge.
The main reason was that he himself didn’t care about the rankings and was happy to occupy the big bed in the Golden Osmanthus Palace, recuperating leisurely. But when Fang Zhiyuan wanted to accompany him, he said unhappily, “No, you have to get first place.”
That day, Lin Fuqing explained clearly to several people what happened to Wang Zhe on the cliff.
It must be said that it was very convenient to have multiple reborn souls. There was no need to beat around the bush. Just one sentence, “That person was the True God with the golden eyes” was enough to make everything clear.
Shentu crossed his legs and said with a smile, “Your Majesty’s forbidden technique is really powerful. How come it could even bring back the gods from outer space?”
Lin Fuqing was used to the little demon boy’s blunt way of speaking to people, so he wasn’t annoyed. He calmly admitted, “The forbidden technique involves the most fundamental Daoist rules between heaven and earth. There are many things I don’t understand about it. If the outer gods are also affected, I’m afraid there might be unexpected changes. You should all be more careful.”
In the end, he never told Fang Zhiyuan that Wang Zhe was the celestial being who had killed him at the foot of Xuyun Mountain in his previous life.
At that time, Fang Zhiyuan was already at the end of his rope. After 80,000 miles of bloody escape, the divine sword Huangyang, which symbolized the dignity of the Immortal Sovereign, was broken, and the five-clawed golden dragon he had soul-contracted with was dead. His spiritual power was exhausted, and he was seriously injured, resulting in severe blood loss. He was probably so disoriented that he likely wouldn’t remember much of anything else, much less who ultimately killed him.
Lin Fuqing thought that if he told Zhiyuan the truth, he would probably become angry again, angry that he’d died at the hands of such a stupid god.
Lin Fuqing still remembered the pouring rain that was unable to wash away the thick cloying scent of blood. At the foot of Xuyun, Fang Zhiyuan was covered in blood while Mu Hong was close in pursuit.
Fang Zhiyuan held him tightly in his arms, letting him remain clean, smeared by neither blood nor mud. His little star covered his eyes with a corner of his black robe, and in the sightless darkness, he could hear so distinctly the man’s increasingly disordered breathing and the sound of choking blood.
Lin Fuqing softly said, “Put me down.:
Fang Zhiyuan replied, “We’re almost there. You rest… We’re almost there.”
But later on, Fang Zhiyuan could no longer carry him.
Lin Fuqing’s last immortal weapon was a green staff called Wu’che Qingming (Five-Foot Luminous). He used the staff to support himself, prepared to walk up the mountain alone. Fang Zhiyuan reluctantly straightened his collar for him.
The last words Zhiyuan had said to him were hoarse and weak.
“It’s raining heavily. Please walk slower on the mountain road…slower.”
With a powerful enemy behind him, this man who had already decided to risk his life to cover the remaining enemies did not urge him to “hurry up”, but instead coaxed him to slow down.
Afraid that he might slip and get hurt.
It wouldn’t be good if he became tired.
Fang Zhiyuan protected him with such care until his death.
=========
A few days later, the Golden Osmanthus Challenge was nearing the end.
The evening competition was cancelled and only two final competitions were held, one in the morning and one at noon.
At night, there were some miscellaneous gatherings instead.
There were martial arts challenges between cultivators, a grand auction at the Golden Toad House, bets placed on the final ranking, gatherings of exchanges between cultivators of various specializations, and so on. The main thoroughfare was bright and lively.
That night, Fang Zhiyuan entered and his eyes fell on Lin Fuqing’s hand, who was sitting beside the bed. “What are you holding?”
After a few days of recuperation, Lin Fuqing was almost fully recovered. He had just come out of the Golden Osmanthus Palace’s water bath, with his hair loosely tied up, wearing a white fur coat, and was sitting, playing with a small object in his hand.
“Hidden Stone.” Seeing Fang Zhiyuan approaching, Lin Fuqing’s eyebrows softened and he shook the gadget in his hand. “Little Fifth went out to compete with a tool cultivator today and came up with this new idea. You know that he likes to give me a copy of whatever thing he comes up with.”
The Hidden Stone is a high-level universal magic weapon, used to conceal one’s cultivation and avoid being seen. Most of the powerful people in the immortal sect would prepare one when they go out for a “secret visit.”
However, Song Youdu had replaced the runes inside. The newly modified hidden stone could not only conceal, but also camouflage one’s cultivation level.
He’d dragged Shen Xiaojiang out, and made the kid in the Foundation Establishment Stage suddenly possess the spiritual power fluctuations of the Golden Core Stage in front of everyone, which scared a group of people and earned tens of thousands of spirit stones in one go.
Fang Zhiyuan took it in hand and studied it. It was indeed very skillfully made.
Lin Fuqing smiled and said, “Huaguo went to learn medical skills from Fairy Xia of Furong Pavilion, and Mingsi… was kidnapped by the little demon boy. These guys are having fun. It was really a good decision to bring them to Liuhua Continent.”
He leaned against the window and looked outside. “It’s been really busy these past few days.”
Fang Zhiyuan supported his shoulders from behind. “Are you bored staying in Golden Osmanthus Palace? I’ll go out for a walk with you.”
Lin Fuqing’s eyes lit up slightly, and he stood up and said, “Okay.”
He tied up his long hair and followed Fang Zhiyuan out.
The depths of the Golden Osmanthus Palace were also hung with bright lights. Towering osmanthus trees grew in the courtyard, and one had to crane one’s neck to see the top when walking below.
Lu Kuifu had already dismissed the attendants for Lin Fuqing, so there was no one here. The moonlight in the courtyard was as clear as water, and the atmosphere was heavy with the fragrance of osmanthus.
Lin Fuqing pointed at the osmanthus tree and asked, “Did you sneak into the Golden Osmanthus Palace that day and steal the osmanthus flowers from here?”
Fang Zhiyuan said, “This place has high restrictions. The osmanthus flowers I picked that day were still a little outside.”
Lin Fuqing guessed that Zhiyuan was just teasing him. They walked a few more steps, and their shadows gradually intertwined.
When they arrived under the golden osmanthus tree, trees and flowers cast shadows, making it appear as if moonlight was sprinkled on Lin Fuqing’s white clothes. Lin Fuqing looked back and smiled. “What a nice fragrance.”
Fang Zhiyuan suddenly stopped and grabbed Lin Fuqing’s wrist.
“Shige.”
He looked at Lin Fuqing, and asked in a deep voice, “Since you want…do you want me to be close to you?”
Without waiting for a response, he took two steps forward, pushed Lin Fuqing against the osmanthus tree and held his wrist tightly.
Then he leaned over.
The soft touch on his lips——
Lin Fuqing opened his eyes slightly, realizing that he’d just been kissed.
But the moment their lips touched, Fang Zhiyuan was already pulling away almost immediately.
However, he didn’t let go of Lin Fuqing, and his knuckles trembled slightly.
He…actually kissed him.
This person that he’d been longing for for so many years.
Perhaps it was that the moonlight was too bright, but Lin Fuqing felt momentarily dizzy. The kiss had come too abruptly, and he struggled a bit, calling out, “Zhiyuan…”
Fang Zhiyuan looked at him, his eyes as deep as the sea. Gradually, he frowned again, staring at the white-robed demon lord in front of him, and he said in a low voice as if he was talking to himself, “How many people have kissed you?”
Fang Zhiyuan moved closer to him again in irritation. He kissed him hard and bit his lower lip neither too hard nor too softly, as if to vent his anger.
“You… um…” Lin Fuqing was completely confused and subconsciously pushed him away a little, but Fang Zhiyuan, who was angered, grabbed his wrist and pressed it against the tree trunk, continuing to kiss him.
“So you like this. Why didn’t you tell me earlier that you like it? I…”
Fang Zhiyuan panted softly, sighing in half intoxication, and stroked Lin Fuqing’s slender neck with his fingers.
“What am I not willing to give you…?”
Lin Fuqing felt as if the world was spinning around him. He was neither angry nor happy??????????, so he simply allowed Fang Zhiyuan to kiss him to his heart’s content.
The two of them continued to kiss as the osmanthus flowers drifted over their bodies, and Lin Fuqing’s clothes became somewhat messy. Only then did Fang Zhiyuan release him.
Fang Zhiyuan was obviously not a man who would not recognize a person after kissing him. He even rubbed Lin Fuqing’s lips with his index finger and said coldly, “What are you thinking? It’s just kissing and hugging. What’s the point of looking for so many beauties? Do kisses taste different from person to person?”
Lin Fuqing’s heart was pounding so fast that he could hardly speak, so he could only wave his hands in silence.
No, you’re overthinking it. Apart from you, Lord Fang, what other concubines in any harem would be so fierce and press their masters down and kiss them so thoroughly that they become dizzy?
Fang Zhiyuan raised his lips and asked, “Do you want more in the future?”
Lin Fuqing suppressed the frustration in his chest and said, “Yes… yes. I want more.”
After a while, they stopped dallying. Fang Zhiyuan carefully straightened his clothes, and they continued to walk out.
They walked along the Broken Gold Path and left the palace gate. But before reaching the main street, Lin Fuqing raised his eyebrows slightly.
Outside the Golden Osmanthus Palace, where the lights were dim, there stood a figure in purple clothes with wide sleeves.
It was Ji Na.
Lin Fuqing and Fang Zhiyuan exchanged a glance, and the charming atmosphere disappeared in an instant. The latter stepped forward, frowned and said in a cold voice. “What are you doing here, Saint Ziwei? Are you looking at the lights?”
Ji Na glanced at Fang Zhiyuan with a frown, a hint of undisguised hatred flashing across his indifferent expression.
The Saint of Ziwei avoided the calamity star and turned his gaze over to Lin Fuqing and said, “Ji Na came to thank Little Immortal Lord Lin.”
He bowed deeply and said, “Thank you, little immortal, for being willing to guarantee Ziwei Pavillion’s innocence. Ji Na is grateful.”
Lin Fuqing knew it was because he’d privately told Lu Kuifu that Wang Zhe was the incarnation of the True God and that he believed the Holy Son of Ziwei likely knew nothing. Only then was Ji Na able to escape from house arrest.
Lin Fuqing opened his mouth to speak, but before he could make a sound, Fang Zhiyuan’s cold, mocking words interrupted, “No need to thank him, Holy Son. You should instead focus on finding out how Wang Zhe became an elder of your sect.”
He pulled Lin Fuqing, wanting to take him away. “Excuse us.”
Ji Na looked at Fang Zhiyuan cautiously and whispered to Lin Fuqing, “Can I have a word with you?”
It would be fine if he didn’t look for Lin Fuqing alone, but as soon as he said this, Fang Zhiyuan immediately became alert. He pushed his senior brother behind him, and said sternly, “No.”
“Zhiyuan.”
Lin Fuqing stopped him gently and firmly pulled his wrist back.
He saw the flash of shock on Fang Zhiyuan’s face, but he still suppressed the discomfort in his heart and said in a deep voice. “It’s business only. Wait here.”
There were things he had to do. Just as he’d said when he knelt in front of Yin Changxin after his rebirth. Some roads are difficult to walk but must be walked.
Silence pervaded.
Fang Zhiyuan let go of his hand and took a step back.
His Adam’s apple rolled. He lowered his eyes and said, “Okay.”
Lin Fuqing hardened his heart, turned around and left with Ji Na. Fang Zhiyuan watched their departing backs. Then he glanced at the bustling crowd and lively lights in the distance, and finally let out a silent breath after a long time.
He stood alone and waited, gradually leaning against the palace gate.
After a while, he reached out and touched his lips. Frowning, he thought: My shige thinks too highly of Ji Na. He couldn’t be attracted by Ji Na’s beauty…?
Shocked by the strange thought, he quickly thought to himself, no way.
A bit while later, he couldn’t help but think: Who knows. Ji Na had died early in their previous lives, before Shige had become the Demon Lord with three thousand concubines. Who knew if…
Fang Zhiyuan sighed and rubbed his eyebrows heavily twice.
How could he become so anxious and worried?
……….
When Lin Fuqing came back, he saw Fang Zhiyuan looking into the distance in a daze, not even noticing that he had returned.
A few tiny points of light from the street lights in the distance fell on his eyelashes, making him appear a little lonely.
“…Zhiyuan?” Lin Fuqing couldn’t bear to go closer and just called him softly.
Fang Zhiyuan didn’t move, staring straight ahead without looking at him. “Are you going to accompany Ji Na to Ziwei Pavilion?”
Lin Fuqing was silent for a moment, but still told the truth. “Ji Na just said that he wanted to express his gratitude and he also wanted to ask me a favor, so he invited me to the Mountain, Sea, and Star Terrace for a chat. I accepted.”
It was indeed the same as in the previous life.
Fang Zhiyuan paused and asked, “Can I do it for you instead?”
Lin Fuqing shook his head and said softly, “You can’t do this for me.”
Fang Zhiyuan’s eyes dimmed, and he thought: Yes, he is a star of misfortune, and Ji Na, who came from Ziwei Pavilion, would never trust him.
“Then I’ll accompany you…”
Fang Zhiyuan paused before he finished speaking.
He wanted to say he would accompany him, but he knew Lin Fuqing would not agree, so he changed his words and said, “I’ll wait for you.”
I can’t catch up with you, so I’ll wait here for you to look back at me.
I believe you will look back at me.
Lin Fuqing whispered, “…I’m sorry.”
Fang Zhiyuan sighed and put his arm around him. “No need.”
“But,” Fang Zhiyuan closed his eyes and rubbed his hair, muttering, “Third times is still better than more, shige… don’t drive me crazy.”
“.…..” Lin Fuqing saw the swaying lanterns and human figures in the distance through Fang Zhiyuan’s shoulder.
Originally Zhiyuan wanted to accompany him to play.
It was supposed to be a very happy night.
Lin Fuqing touched Fang Zhiyuan’s face and said, “Don’t be afraid. I’ll be safe.”
Unexpectedly, Fang Zhiyuan suddenly looked up, and it was unknown whether he was stimulated by something or his patience had reached its limit – he grabbed Lin Fuqing’s shoulder, turned him around and pressed him against the red wall in front of the palace gate.
“—So what’s so good about it that you have to look for so many people!?”
Fang Zhiyuan’s eyes were red, and he said angrily and unreasonably, “Is it really that kissing feels different with different people? Or is it different when practicing together?”
Lin Fuqing was at a loss.
—Forgive him, why is he here again?!