But after taking a few steps, Mei Man stopped again.
She remembered Qiu Yingling saying earlier that if his two younger siblings happened to run into him right now, they might take the opportunity to kill him.
Though she thought he was talking nonsense, she could also tell that Qiu Yingling did not want Qiu Heyang to find out about this.
After hesitating for a long while, she chose to turn back.
What Mei Man had not expected was to run into Fan Zilang nearby.
Fan Zilang was walking with a group of cultivators, chatting and laughing, looking perfectly at ease.
He had clearly seen her as well. His gaze was like a breeze sweeping over a lake—it paused for an instant, then quickly drifted away.
“Ugh!” he suddenly let out a heavy sigh and said to the people beside him, “What a nuisance. If I’d known I was going out, I would’ve consulted the divination first.”
One of them asked with a grin, “What’s so troublesome? You’ve met the Sect Master in person. That’s an opportunity others would beg for.”
“That’s right, Zilang. What did the Sect Master want with you? Why all the secrecy?”
The corners of Fan Zilang’s lips lifted, looking rather pleased with himself, but he immediately suppressed it and put on an expression of feigned distress.
He said, “The Sect Master said he’d be assigning me a mission next month, so he wants me to focus on my cultivation this month and, ideally, break through to the second level of Foundation Establishment.”
“Really?! What kind of mission? Come on, tell us! And aren’t you only at Foundation Establishment? With so many powerful senior brothers and sisters around, why choose you?”
Fan Zilang clicked his tongue. “He chose me. What about it? The Sect Master didn’t say what the mission was, only that I wouldn’t be making the trip for nothing.”
“Then there must be some treasure involved! Besides, aren’t you already close to breaking through? What are you fretting about? Fan Zilang, if you keep pretending, you’re going to look ridiculous.”
“It’s not because of that.” Fan Zilang glanced at Mei Man, seemingly intentionally or otherwise, then let out a long sigh. “It’s just that on such a fine day, I had to run into some vile, unlucky wretch. Talk about bad luck.”
“Who?” The others all looked at him, excitement shining in their eyes as they waited for some gossip.
“Hard to say. But that person ought to know they’re not fit to show their face in public. Otherwise, they wouldn’t spend every day hiding like a rat.”
As he finished speaking, he and Mei Man happened to pass each other.
She suddenly said, “You’re a half-demon?”
Her voice was so soft that it was almost inaudible. Fan Zilang came to an abrupt halt, spun around, and grabbed her by the collar.
“What did you say?!” he demanded angrily.
“What?” Mei Man looked utterly bewildered, pretending not to understand. “Senior Brother Fan, did I say something?”
The others turned to look as well.
“Zilang, what’s wrong?”
“Senior Brother Fan?” Mei Man’s voice trembled. She looked at him in panic, then at the others. “I…I was only walking by.”
“You!” Fan Zilang knitted his brows and glared furiously. His expression was filled with both humiliation and rage as he lowered his voice and pressed her, “Who told you? Who told you? Speak! Are you going to tell me or not? Are you?”
He suddenly struck out. A streak of spiritual energy shot forth and slammed into Mei Man’s shoulder.
She was forced back several steps and clutched her aching shoulder, yet still forced herself to lift her head and say helplessly, “I don’t know. I really don’t know.”
“You!” Fan Zilang was about to advance again, but the other cultivators grabbed hold of him.
“Zilang, are you out of your mind?! This is inside the sect! If you start a private fight, do you not want to cultivate anymore?”
“Exactly. Whatever it is, talk it out. Why resort to violence?”
“Let go! Let go! She’s only a mortal. So what if I beat her to death? Is anyone even going to bury her?” Fan Zilang was enraged, and chaotic spiritual energy flew in every direction. “Ha! She’s just a mortal, and you’re actually defending her? Why does she get to stand here? I could crush her with one hand!”
Four or five cultivators pinned him down. They had never met Mei Man, but all of them had heard that Shen Shushi had taken a mortal as his disciple, so they quickly guessed who she was.
One of them turned to Mei Man and said, “You’re Junior Sister Mei, right? Leave quickly. He’s not in his right mind.”
Mei Man nodded and hurried away.
Even after she had gone a long distance, she could still hear Fan Zilang shouting behind her. She glanced back and met his gaze from afar.
He had shoved one person away and struck another with spiritual energy. Several others then joined forces to cast a spell, trapping him in place.
He was practically a mad dog that no one could restrain.
Mei Man smiled. She watched as he froze upon seeing it, then abruptly flew into a rage. Only then, satisfied, did she leave.
It was a pity she had other things to attend to and could not stay to enjoy the rest of the show.
Once she had gone far away, Fan Zilang suddenly fell silent. If not for the bulging veins in his neck, no one would have been able to tell how furious he was.
“Let go, let go! I’m not going after her. Move aside. All of you, get lost!” He shook off the others with sudden force, then turned and walked in another direction.
He went straight to Yu Guiya’s cave dwelling. The moment he saw him, he angrily flung out a spiritual spell.
Spiritual energy transformed into dozens of thin arrows that shot toward Yu Guiya.
Yu Guiya formed a hand seal and deflected them. “Zilang, what’s gotten into you? Even if you want to spar, you should give me some warning first.”
“Yu Guiya!” Fan Zilang hurried forward and shouted furiously, “What did you say to that Mei girl? Huh? What did you say to her?!”
Yu Guiya blocked the fist he swung at him, the smile fading from his face. “What did I say to her? Don’t be so hotheaded. If you have something to say, explain it clearly.”
“How did she find out that I’m…that I’m a half-demon? You must have told her. You’re the only one who knew. It was you, wasn’t it? Speak!”
Yu Guiya frowned. “I didn’t—though you did go looking for her, didn’t you? Why didn’t you discuss it with me first? You’re always acting on your own. This time, and the last time too, and that letter—”
“Shut up! If it wasn’t you, then who was it? Who else could it be? If she tells everyone, where am I supposed to put my reputation?”
“So what if you’re a half-demon? I’m one too.” Yu Guiya was completely unconcerned. He even tried to console him. “It doesn’t affect your cultivation. So what if people find out?”
“Don’t compare me to you!” Fan Zilang was panting like an enraged bull. He glared fiercely at Yu Guiya and spat out without thinking, “You’re a bastard with no father or mother, living off charity from my Fan family. What makes you think you’re fit to compare yourself to me? Yu Guiya, don’t tell me you deliberately told her, thinking you could use it to put yourself above me? Dream on!”
Yu Guiya’s expression gradually hardened, and his eyes turned cold.
“Zilang, think before you speak. Besides, you’re not the only one I know to be a half-demon. With Master’s cultivation, he could tell even if you never said a word.”
“Enough!” Fan Zilang already suspected him. His breathing slowly steadied, but his eyes remained dark with fury. “Fine. If it wasn’t you, then prove it to me. That wretch dared mock me like that because she clearly doesn’t take me seriously. So what if she became someone’s disciple? I still have ways to kill her.”
At those words, a powerful wave of irritation suddenly surged through Yu Guiya.
He had always found Fan Zilang irritating, but now it was different. Along with his disgust came something more—hatred.
Suppressing his feelings, he asked, “What are you planning to do?”
“I’m not telling you.” Fan Zilang stared at him coldly. “When the time comes, just do as I say. Don’t ask about anything else.”
Meanwhile, Mei Man returned to Qiu Yingling’s cave dwelling with one hand pressed to her aching shoulder.
Her shoulder hurt terribly, but her heart was light with satisfaction.
By now, Fan Zilang had most likely gone to confront Yu Guiya. She did not expect the two of them to actually fight, but once a seed of suspicion had been planted, there would always come a day when it took root and began to grow.
She opened the study door, and a pale red mist surged toward her.
There was also a rich fragrance that made her head swim.
She closed the door and saw Qiu Yingling’s figure through the hazy red fog.
He was kneeling on the bed, breathing rapidly. Blood-red scales covered his shoulders and neck, slowly flexing as they opened and closed.
Perhaps hearing the sound, he raised his head. His jade-pale face was flushed, and his slit-pupiled eyes were somewhat unfocused.
“Manman…” He pushed himself unsteadily upright, then lazily leaned against the wall. His voice was slightly slurred. “Why have you gone there again? Come closer. Mm… come sit.”
Thinking he had regained some clarity, Mei Man stepped forward. “I’ve already drawn all the demonic energy out, but there are still many things in your sea of consciousness that resemble demonic energy. They’re beneath the water.”
“No hurry, no hurry, Manman…” Qiu Yingling smiled and seized her hand, pressing it against his chest. “That demonic energy… is it like this?”
As he spoke, he pushed her hand downward, guiding her fingers and curling them slightly before beginning to move them in circles, as though kneading dough.
Aside from the icy, bone-piercing aura of a demon, Mei Man could feel the firm, taut muscles beneath his skin, as well as his racing heartbeat—so fast that it was startling.
“Mm… mm…” Qiu Yingling let out a muffled groan. His slanted eyes narrowed halfway, and even the tips of his ears had grown hot and red.
Mei Man understood.
He hadn’t recovered at all. He had instead revealed his true nature—a shameless, lecherous beast.
“Can you feel it?” he asked.
Perhaps because she thought he was not in his right mind, Mei Man did not conceal herself as she usually did. She spoke honestly. “I can feel some dragon scales. They’re a little disgusting.”
Qiu Yingling laughed and pulled her toward him, leaning forward as well.
“Already disgusted by this, Manman? Then wouldn’t this make you feel even more disgusted?” As he spoke, he parted his lips slightly, revealing a scarlet tongue. It looked normal at first, but the tip was thinner and faintly forked.
!!
Mei Man was startled. Her eyelids twitched several times in succession.
She knew this was probably another part of his demonic form. Once he suppressed the demonic energy, he would return to normal. She tried to control her expression, but ultimately could not stop herself from frowning and looking away.
Yet the fragrance in the room was too strong, making her head swim. His breathing was also heavy and deep, lingering beside her ears until they grew hot and strangely itchy.
Suddenly, she felt extremely irritated. Restlessness crashed through her chest, urgently seeking an outlet.
At last, she could bear it no longer. She yanked her hand away and clapped it over his mouth. “You really are a lewd beast. Can’t you stop panting?”
Unexpectedly, he did not stop. Instead, he parted his lips slightly, and his damp, cold tongue pressed against her palm and began to lick it slowly.
Mei Man knitted her brows.
What a shameless pervert, she cursed inwardly.
“Manman…” he called indistinctly, his breathing muffled beneath her palm and thus sounding even deeper. His eyes, however, remained fixed on her, as if beckoning her to come closer.
Absolutely shameless.
“Mm…”
He had no sense of shame at all!
The agitation within her reached its peak. Mei Man abruptly pulled her hand away, bent down, and bit his lips, silencing his chaotic, suppressed panting completely.
Though Qiu Yingling looked so debauched, he was actually inexperienced. After she bit his lips hard, he let out a muffled groan of pain and froze, clearly unsure what to do.
Only when Mei Man released him and began slowly sucking and kissing his lips did he imitate her, licking and kissing her in return.
He wrapped his arms around her and made her sit on his lap, his palm clamping firmly around her from behind.
The irritation gradually eased. Mei Man hooked her arms around his neck, her tongue brushing against the tip of his as it emerged, slowly rubbing against it.
The sensation was indeed strange. His tongue was like a snake’s, though larger, and the cleft at its tip fit perfectly around hers. Whenever he moved, a tingling, ticklish sensation spread through her.
The fragrance in the study grew even stronger. Mei Man felt utterly comfortable, as light and carefree as a drifting cloud.
She became carried away, casting aside all her usual fear. She even took his hand and said, “Use your hand.”
Qiu Yingling’s eyes were unfocused and his expression dazed, so he did not understand. “My hand?”
Mei Man nodded slowly, hazily, and sat directly on his hand.
“Touch me a little and it’ll be fine,” she said, as though teaching him how to treat an injury.
She began guiding him hand over hand, burying her head against his shoulder while her eyes drooped halfway closed. Whenever he called her name and urged her on, she would lift her head and kiss him, lazily licking and caressing his lips.
At first, Qiu Yingling was extremely clumsy. Wherever she guided him, he pressed. Gradually, he became more familiar with it, learning how to apply just the right amount of pressure, how to circle and knead, and how to stroke and rub.
Mei Man thought the fragrance must certainly be affecting her. It had made her lose all restraint—not only allowing her to indulge in a little pleasure with Qiu Yingling, but also emboldening her when she felt the hardness beneath her growing more pronounced. She boldly took out her dagger and pressed its sheath against him.
Qiu Yingling let out a muffled gasp and seemed to try to stop her, but she brushed his hand away.
When she realized that grinding the sheath against him caused his breathing to change, she became even more absorbed, as though she personally controlled every moment of his pain and pleasure.
Qiu Yingling leaned against the wall. His pupils gradually grew unfocused and vacant. The piercing ecstasy spread through every part of him, and he could no longer suppress the tremors coursing through his body.
After a long while, Mei Man lifted the sheath. Its tip pointed downward, dripping with a somewhat viscous, watery fluid.
She tossed it back onto him, but at that moment, the heightened emotions surging through her suddenly settled.
The demonic features on Qiu Yingling’s body were rapidly fading. The red mist was gradually dispersing, and Mei Man was regaining her senses as well.
When her eyes met Qiu Yingling’s half-open gaze, her mind suddenly shook violently, and her scalp went numb.
What had she—what had she done?!
Mei Man hurriedly straightened her clothes, rolled off the bed, and staggered into her shoes.
All the while, she kept her eyes fixed on Qiu Yingling, watching him sprawled there in such a debauched state. Traces still clung to his hand, while the sheath she had thrown at him—now filthy—rested on his leg.
Seeing that his eyes were gradually clearing, Mei Man had no time to deal with the scene. She turned and ran outside.
It was over.
It was completely, utterly over.
Mei Man’s mind was blank. This was more terrifying than any trouble she had caused before. Her eyelids kept twitching, and her hands trembled uncontrollably. Instinctively, she began searching for somewhere to hide, lest Qiu Yingling regain consciousness and come after her to settle the score.
Mei Man hurried toward Shen Shushi’s cave dwelling, but the next moment she realized that this was something she could never speak of. If Qiu Yingling came looking for her, Shen Shushi would have no way to help.
Then where could she go?
She glanced left and right, frantically searching for a place to hide, when she heard someone call out to her.
“Little Mei?”
