Ch 47: How To Be A Good Lackey

Wan Qian first suspected that Shao Ye had taken the wrong medicine. After checking and confirming there was nothing wrong with what he had used, he then wondered if something was wrong with his own hearing and asked, “What did you say?”

Shao Ye gave him a strange look. Do demonic cultivators go hard of hearing too? So he repeated himself, “I asked if your Xiaoyao Palace is still recruiting people.”

So that really was what he said!

Curious, Wan Qian asked again, “Why are you asking that?”

“What else could it be for? I want to join!” Shao Ye replied as if it were obvious. Wasn’t that already clear enough?

“Why?” Wan Qian couldn’t understand.

Over the years, Xiaoyao Palace had often used worldly temptations such as beauty, power, and status to lure the talented disciples of righteous sects into the demonic path, and they took great pleasure in it. But someone who had just been beaten, not even badly, and immediately declared that he wanted to join them, this was the first time Wan Qian had ever seen such a thing.

He was so baffled that he felt no sense of accomplishment at all, only suspicion toward this person’s motives.

Shao Ye said, “Nothing much. I just suddenly feel like joining Xiaoyao Palace would give me a better future.”

A better future? What kind of future?

A future where he could lose weight quickly?

With his build, he would indeed keep their lord busy for quite some time.

Wan Qian narrowed his eyes and looked Shao Ye up and down twice, but couldn’t make sense of it no matter how hard he tried.

If he remembered correctly, this was the Kunlun Sect’s senior disciple, wasn’t he?

The senior disciple they were proud of?

The one everyone praised?

There had to be a trick!

Wan Qian pressed his lips together and said cautiously, “Xiaoyao Palace isn’t somewhere you can just join whenever you feel like it.”

“Then how can I join?” Shao Ye asked sincerely.

So eager? Wan Qian grew even more suspicious. With a cold face, he said, “Let’s find Song Heming first.”

Shao Ye let out a disappointed “ah,” cast a reluctant glance at the entrance where Xue Du had disappeared earlier, then followed Wan Qian out of the ghost prison toward Black Mountain.

To prevent Shao Ye from escaping midway, Wan Qian placed a spirit-locking ring around his neck, completely sealing his spiritual power. Shao Ye tugged uncomfortably at the black ring and asked, “It’s a bit tight. Can you loosen it a little?”

Wan Qian ignored him. It was already generous enough not to tighten it further, and he still wanted it loosened?

Seeing no response, Shao Ye changed the subject and asked, “By the way, why did you capture my junior brother?”

“Why are you asking that?” Wan Qian’s tone was full of caution.

“Just asking casually,” Shao Ye said. “If Xiaoyao Palace needs people, you could just capture me. There’s no need to take my junior brother.”

Wan Qian: “……”

“Does Xiaoyao Palace really not need people? I can even do chores,” Shao Ye added. Although doing chores was far from his goal, he believed that as long as he could stay, with his talent and effort, he would definitely become the most trusted confidant of their lord. At that point, Wan Qian would be nothing in front of him.

Just imagining that scene made Shao Ye want to laugh out loud, which startled Wan Qian beside him.

What kind of laugh was that? It sounded full of ill intent. Was something wrong with this guy’s head? Wan Qian quietly moved a bit farther away.

Shao Ye didn’t notice and continued asking, “Oh right, who went down with the lord just now?”

“That was Mr. Jinchan, Chen Tongming,” one of the Four Demon Kings of Xiaoyao Palace, Wan Qian answered. Then he suddenly froze, looked up in shock, and asked, “Wait, you’re calling him ‘lord’ too?”

What was wrong with that? Everyone else could say it, so why couldn’t he?

Shao Ye widened his eyes. “If I don’t call him ‘lord,’ what should I call him?”

“You should call him Demon Lord,” Wan Qian corrected in a low voice.

Shao Ye said righteously, “Doesn’t calling him ‘lord’ show that I’ve admired him for a long time? Calling him ‘Demon Lord’ sounds too distant.”

The problem was, why would the Kunlun Sect’s senior disciple admire their lord for a long time?!

Wan Qian was too tired to complain. He listened to Shao Ye chatter the whole way, and by the time they reached Luosi Cave, even he began to doubt himself. Translated on Hololo novels. Could it be that Xiaoyao Palace really had some extraordinary quality he had failed to notice, enough to make this Kunlun Sect disciple so eager to defect?

Deep within Luosi Cave, Song Heming was sitting alone in meditation, healing his injuries. His leg was wounded, and the spirit-locking ring on him hadn’t been removed. Below the mountain was the territory of demonic cultivators, so for now he had no way to leave. He could only wait for his sect to come rescue him.

Hearing a slight noise from outside, Song Heming opened his eyes and gripped the sword beside him. When he saw that it was Shao Ye, his face immediately lit up with joy as he called out, “Senior Brother!”

But the expression didn’t last long. As Wan Qian stepped forward from behind Shao Ye, the smile on Song Heming’s face instantly froze.

Wan Qian nodded in approval. “Not bad. You didn’t trick me. Song Heming really is here.”

At least he wouldn’t have to keep the old Demon Lord company.

Seeing the dazed and helpless look on Song Heming’s face, Shao Ye felt a bit sorry for him and sighed. “Junior brother, I didn’t have a choice.”

That old bastard hit way too hard. One day, he’d definitely get his revenge.

Song Heming stood frozen. After a moment, his mind, shaken by what he had just seen, finally began to function again. Why would his senior brother betray him for no reason? He thought there must be something else. These evil demonic cultivators must have threatened his senior brother with the lives of their fellow disciples, forcing him to bring them here.

So before Shao Ye could say anything else, Song Heming braced himself against the rock wall, staggered to his feet, and said on his own initiative, “Senior brother, you don’t need to explain. I understand your difficulties. I understand everything. I’ll go back with them.”

Although Shao Ye had no idea what exactly Song Heming thought he understood, having that kind of awareness was good enough. He reached out and patted Song Heming on the shoulder, affirming, “Good, as long as you understand.”

Wan Qian was a bit stunned. Were all the Kunlun Sect disciples like this? Song Heming, your senior brother just sold you out, and you still ‘understand’?

It had to be said, the righteous sect disciples were far more broad-minded than their demonic counterparts.

With a wave of his hand, Wan Qian took both Song Heming and Shao Ye back to Xiaoyao Palace.

On the way, Wan Qian was already thinking about how to deal with the remaining Kunlun disciples. What their lord needed was only Song Heming’s blood. The others were useless. Killing them would be a bit of a waste, so perhaps they could be used as hostages to extort some treasures from the Kunlun Sect.

As for Shao Ye…

How to deal with him would require some thought. For now, the priority was to bring Song Heming before their lord.

After returning to Xiaoyao Palace, Shao Ye watched as his junior brother Song Heming was taken away to be cleaned up, about to be brought before the Demon Lord, while he himself was about to be sent back to the ghost prison to listen to all those wailing cries below. It felt like a profound betrayal. Filled with indignation, he stared at Wan Qian in shock and demanded, “Why?”

Wan Qian had just finished arranging matters related to Song Heming and would soon personally escort him to the Demon Lord. Hearing Shao Ye’s question, he turned around in confusion. “Why what?”

“Why does my junior brother get to see the lord?” Shao Ye asked.

Wan Qian had already grown used to Shao Ye calling him “lord” like they did. It was honestly unsettling. He replied, “Because the lord wants to see him.”

“I want to see the lord too,” Shao Ye said.

Wan Qian let out a cold laugh. “The lord isn’t someone you can see just because you want to. Behave yourself. Since you helped me find Song Heming, I’ll let you have a good meal tonight.”

A good meal was supposed to satisfy him? If he got to the lord’s side, what good things wouldn’t he have access to?

Shao Ye thought that maybe he should try bribing Wan Qian, but when he reached for himself, he remembered all his valuables had already been confiscated by the demonic cultivators. He could only lower his voice and say to Wan Qian, “How about this? Let me see the lord, and when I make it big in the future, I definitely won’t forget you.”

Though that whipping, he would absolutely return.

Wan Qian didn’t feel like responding. What gave this guy the illusion that meeting the lord would lead to success?

Wait… this guy was so eager to see the lord. Could it be he intended to assassinate him?

That was exactly the kind of thing righteous disciples might do.

His eyes shifted slightly as a plan formed in his mind. But some things couldn’t be said openly. If the lord pursued the matter later, he’d end up thrown into the oil cauldron.

He would have to think it through carefully later. Calling over his subordinates, Wan Qian ordered, “Throw him back into the ghost prison.”

Shao Ye was dragged into the ghost prison, shouting, “Just you wait! You’ll regret this!”

Hearing this familiar kind of threat, Wan Qian couldn’t help but sigh again. How did such a person come from the Kunlun Sect? It really shouldn’t be possible.

Turning to his subordinate, he added, “Forget that meal tonight.”

For cultivators, fasting was nothing unusual, and Shao Ye didn’t really care about missing a meal. But Wan Qian’s attitude still displeased him.

Shao Ye sat in the corner, drawing circles on the ground. When his junior brother met the lord, would he mention him?

At least a little, right? After all, he had been the one to lead him out of Luosi Cave.

Outside, the sky gradually darkened, though the prisoners in the ghost prison could not sense it at all. Translated on Hololo novels. Shao Ye had long since lost track of how many circles he had drawn on the ground. He yawned, feeling drowsy, and was just about to close his eyes for a nap when he suddenly heard someone unlocking the cell door from outside and calling out, “Senior brother, hurry and go!”

Shao Ye shot up from the ground and rushed to the door. He cautiously pushed it open, but saw no one. It was as if that voice had only been his imagination, yet the door was undeniably open.

He crept along the dim corridor, surveying the surroundings. Saving the other disciples right now was impossible. Shao Ye consoled them silently, Once your senior brother makes a name for himself in Xiaoyao Palace, I’ll have the lord release all of you.

The guards in the ghost prison were unusually lax today. Shao Ye was almost at the exit before he encountered two demonic cultivators. They, however, were neglecting their duties as well, gossiping about happenings within Xiaoyao Palace. Shao Ye was about to slip away quietly when he suddenly heard them mention the Demon Lord. He paused and listened a bit longer.

The two of them were saying that every night at midnight, when the Demon Lord’s condition flared up, he would soak in the pool north of Changchun Hall for an hour or two.

A flare-up? Is the lord ill? Shao Ye felt both anxious and worried. What were Wan Qian and the others even doing!

He easily escaped the ghost prison. Moonlight poured down like water. Standing beneath the palace walls, he scratched his head. Good. A new problem had arrived. Where was Changchun Hall? And which direction was north?

Xiaoyao Palace was built along the mountainside, vast in scale, with countless halls standing in orderly rows. Shao Ye sighed in distress. If he had to search on his own, he might not find it even after an entire night.

Just then, another demonic cultivator passed by him without even glancing his way, muttering that he was heading to Changchun Hall to deliver incense. Shao Ye inwardly marveled at his good luck tonight and followed him without hesitation.

From a distance, Wan Qian watched Shao Ye’s departing figure. The spirit-locking ring was still around his neck, so he shouldn’t be able to use spiritual power. Could he have some other hidden method?

Well, he would find out tomorrow.

With unhurried steps, Wan Qian strolled leisurely back toward the ghost prison.

By the Seven-Star Pool, Xue Du stood tall and solitary, austere and composed.

The moonlight was bright, mist drifting across the water’s surface. It was not yet midnight, and the poison within Xue Du had not fully taken effect. Leaning against a wutong tree, he closed his eyes.

As midnight approached, the poison in his body began to stir. Just as he raised a hand to remove his clothes, he heard somewhat heavy footsteps coming from ahead.

Xue Du opened his eyes beneath the tree and looked up. A young man in his twenties approached, tall and well-built, with a handsome face. Judging by his attire, he appeared to be a disciple of the Kunlun Sect. After a glance, Xue Du withdrew his gaze and asked calmly, “Here to kill me?”

As soon as he finished speaking, the newcomer dropped to one knee with a thud and declared loudly, “Lord, this subordinate Shao Ye is willing to serve you with complete loyalty!”

The nearly drowsy Xue Du was startled fully awake by this declaration. He lifted his head and studied the young man again.

Around the youth’s neck was a black spirit-locking ring, no wonder his footsteps had sounded so heavy. His clothing bore signs of having been torn and crudely mended, even unsightly.

Xue Du was certain it was indeed the attire of a Kunlun Sect disciple.

Though in the end, it was only clothing. It proved nothing.

“Who are you?” Xue Du asked.

Shao Ye raised his head, his eyes bright and shining as if glowing. He straightened proudly and said, “This subordinate is Shao Ye, senior disciple under Elder Shouyi of Chaoyang Peak in the Kunlun Sect, known as the ‘Heaven-Shaking Sword.’ I’m good at fighting.”

Xue Du: “……”

He heard every word clearly, yet somehow, when put together, it made no sense.

He straightened slightly and rubbed his temple. Midnight had arrived. The poison in his body flared, as if his organs were being scorched by fire. Intense pain spread along his meridians to every part of his flesh.

“A disciple of the Kunlun Sect?” Xue Du’s expression remained calm as he asked, “Instead of cultivating properly on Kunlun Mountain, why have you come here to me?”

It wasn’t exactly by choice, but now wasn’t the time to bring that up. Shao Ye lifted his chin and said with utmost sincerity, “This subordinate has long admired your bearing, my lord, and has come especially to pledge allegiance. I humbly ask that you accept me.”

Xue Du chuckled softly. Since becoming the master of Xiaoyao Palace, this was the first time he had seen someone from the righteous path voluntarily come to join him.

And a senior disciple of the Kunlun Sect, no less?

Even the former Demon Lord below had never witnessed such a thing.

Lowering his gaze, Xue Du observed him. Translated on Hololo novels. The young man’s eyes were dark and bright, his shoulders broad, waist slim. His chest seemed slightly raised. Was he hiding some concealed weapon?

He didn’t care. Whether this man had come to assassinate him or had other intentions, tonight he was in a good mood and willing to play along.

Xue Du turned around, presenting his back to Shao Ye, and spread his arms. In a low voice, he ordered, “Come. Help me undress.”

—

Author’s note:

[The lord didn’t take Xiao Song’s blood. Is it because he couldn’t bear to hurt him?]

: Or maybe the lord doesn’t eat it raw. He’s waiting to find someone who can cook maoxuewang first

: …

: I’m hungry now. I want maoxuewang

: It doesn’t have to be that. Northeastern blood sausage would work too

: If you put it that way, the old Demon Lord below could contribute a plate of sauerkraut and pork too

: That’s dark…

: Only Xiao Song’s blood can ease the lord’s suffering. This totally has the setup of a classic melodramatic romance

: Xiao Song is a guy

: Sorry, forgot. Classic melodramatic danmei setup

: My homepage is still full of straight guys who thought this was a male-protagonist cultivation story. They’re howling every day

: Farewell to them

: I thought so too at first, but since the lord is the boss that No. 6 has chosen, I don’t think shipping Xiao Song with the lord has much future

: He treats the lord as his boss, not his husband

: Be honest, is there really a difference for No. 6?

: …

: But Xiaoyao Palace is kind of trendy, giving prisoners chokers and all

: “Choker,” seriously?

: By the way, when the lord bathes, does he have attendants nearby?

: Who are you asking? The official content never shows it

: Probably not. Not just bathing, there’s no one attending him at other times either

: Oh~~~~

: “Come, help me undress”

: No. 6, why are you hesitating? You should answer “Yes, my lord.” Have you forgotten how to do your job?

: Hahahahahaha

: After this undressing scene, who would still doubt No. 6’s identity as the chief eunuch

: We might not even get to see it

: Haven’t seen the koi in a while. Kinda miss it

: Wait, how did they build a ship thread for the lord and No. 6 so fast?

: The young master already picked his man. What are we waiting for?

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