Warning: mild oral sex scene.

Xi Huai wanted to buy a lot of things, all of which were for Chi Muyao.

Chi Muyao couldn't refuse, otherwise he was refusing Xi Huai's repayment to him as his saviour.

After buying the flying artefacts for Chi Muyao, they went to pick out defensive and offensive artefacts. Finally, they bought a Thousand Treasure Bell at a high price. 

The Thousand Treasure Bell could be considered a high-end consumer product in the cultivation world. It was a hundred times more expensive than the Hundred Item Brocade and generally needed to be ordered in advance because the refining time was very long.

This Thousand Treasure Bell was originally custom ordered by another cultivator a year ago. Before they could come to pick it up, it was intercepted by Xi Huai.

Xi Huai first asked who ordered it, and then sent a Sound Transmission Talisman to the Sect Master of that Sect. It wasn't known what he said, but the other party happily parted with the Thousand Treasure Bell.

Come to think of it, it's not a loss for that cultivator to get acquainted with the Young Qing Ze Sect Master like this.

Originally, Xi Huai wanted to make another Myriad Treasure Bell, but Chi Muyao didn't want it.

Chi Muyao said with a straight face, "Putting aside how the Myriad Treasure Bell takes two years to refine, I don't have that many items to put in it. Wouldn't it be disappointing for thieves that target me because of my Bell to only find a small blanket, a writing brush and other things like that inside?

"Are you implying I should fill it up?"

He panicked immediately. "That's not what I meant!"

Yet back at the cave residence, Chi Muyao laid down with his small blanket for a nap while Xi Huai sat in front of the stone table and earnestly took things out of his Myriad Treasure Bell.

Chi Muyao watched Xi Huai meticulously place two rows of medicinal herbs for healing and some ointments for wounds. He couldn't help but sigh. He had no use for these things, but he couldn't say anything.

Chi Muyao fell asleep after lying on the stone bed for a while. In his dreams, he dreamed that Xi Huai insisted on buying him a little pink dress no matter how he refused. He even made him wear it. Chi Muyao startled awake.

When he opened his eyes again, Xi Huai was still putting things into his Thousand Treasure Bell. The item in his hand right now was a two-meter long spear.

Chi Muyao leaned back subconsciously after seeing that. He didn't know how to use things like that!

In the end, he couldn't bear it anymore. He came over and took the Thousand Treasure Bell, using his divine sense to see all the strange things inside. He took out one of them and asked, "What is this?"

"If you stab this into a person's head, the mercury inside will be injected into their body. You can then peel all of their skin off."

"Keep it for yourself." He immediately threw it back to Xi Huai.

He would probably never use such a terrifying thing in his life.

He took out another thing and asked, "A belt?"

"When your legs curl up during dual cultivation we can bind your thighs and calves together. Then your legs can't be straight."

He tossed the thing to the ground. "Burn it."

His old arms and legs wouldn't be able to stand this thing.

 Xi Huai refused outright, "No."

 "I don't want it!"

 "Then I'll keep it myself." Xi Huai said as he picked it up.

Chi Muyao hurriedly snatched it back. It would probably be safer to keep this with him instead of letting Xi Huai have it.

After that, he took out the spear and put it back into Xi Huai's Myriad Treasure Bell.

He didn't even know why Xi Huai gave it to him in the first place. Did he want it to be a centrepiece of sorts? 

Rummaging further, he took out and returned a lot of things. Those things did nothing for him other than taking up space.

After clearing out everything, Chi Muyao took a look at the Thousand Treasure Bell itself. The silver-white bell was really intricate and beautiful with bluegrass carved on it and fine blue gems serving as embellishment.

Xi Huai didn't even have time to preen before he saw Chi Muyao place the Thousand Treasure Bell inside his Qiankun bag. His expression immediately collapsed. "Why did you put it in there? Do you not want other people to see what I bought for you?"

Chi Muyao replied, "There are too many thieves willing to kill in the cultivation world. My cultivation is not high and I only know how to use concealed weapons, illusions and a little bit of formations. If I really ran into an expert who wanted to kill me, there is absolutely no way I could deal with them. You are different from me because you're the Young Qing Ze Sect Master. Even if someone really stole your Myriad Treasure Bell, they would not dare to use anything inside lest they get burned."

"If you become a member of the Qing Ze Sect with me, no one will dare to touch your things either."

"Before I can even set foot in the Qing Ze Sect, your Dad would squash me to death with a hand."

Xi Huai lowered his eyes in thought for a moment. "I will handle this matter."

"No need. I don't want to be your cultivation partner. I'm a man, a disciple of the He Huan Sect at that. We're not compatible. Being with me will also affect your reputation—"

Chi Muyao noticed halfway in that Xi Huai was staring at him. His pupils gradually turned red. Although they quickly faded back to black, it was a sign he was about to go berserk.

The sadness in his eyes couldn't be concealed. Even a little emotional fluctuation was visible.

Then Chi Muyao thought about Xi Huai's berserker state after going mad, killing endlessly and setting fires wantonly. Right now, the Thousand Sect Conference was being held and there were many people around. If Xi Huai went berserk, it would definitely cause a great commotion.

He suddenly changed his tone. "You're the best!"

"..." Xi Huai was still trying to endure his inner discomfort. He was startled to hear that.

Immediately afterwards, he saw Chi Muyao staring into his eyes, and reaching out to touch the top of his head, as if he was taking his emotional state seriously.

He quickly understood that Chi Muyao loved him.

However, Chi Muyao didn't want to strain the relationship between him and his father too much, which was why he had been on the run for so long. 

Even his rejection now was for Xi Huai's good. If he didn't love him, why would he comfort Xi Huai after saying such heartless words?

That's right.

Just like this.

When he was injured, Chi Muyao risked his life to save him.

When he was being ridiculed by the Nascent Soul stage Heavenly Venerable, Chi Muyao took the risk again to break him out.

He was still thinking of him now.

It was his fault Chi Muyao had to run away for two years. Just think about all he'd suffered during that time.

At this time, Chi Muyao was a little worried. Xi Huai almost went mad because Chi Muyao said one sentence refusing him. If he directly said that he didn't like Xi Huai, didn't want to be his cultivation partner and it would be best for the two of them to not be close, would Xi Huai play the part of a mad villain and go on a killing spree?

He would definitely be the first one killed.

He would also drag other cultivators into danger.

Just as he was thinking, he was suddenly embraced by Xi Huai. He could only hold Xi Huai's shoulder, unsure what was going on.

What happened? 

Xi Huai buried his face in his neck and said a heavy oath, "I will never let you suffer again in the future."

Xi Huai took a deep breath in like he wanted his nose to be filled with Chi Muyao's scent.

Not the scent of He Huan Sect fragrance beads, but Chi Muyao's original scent. The one he smelled when hugging Chi Muyao at the Yu Chong School.

Chi Muyao looked down at Xi Huai and silently cursed, Are you sniffing a cat?

Before Chi Muyao could make sense of what was going on, he was set on the stone bed. He tried to push Xi Huai away, but Xi Huai caught his wrist and guided his arm to drape across his own shoulder.

What came next was a kiss so tender it surprised him. He didn't think Xi Huai was capable of being this gentle.

He gradually became dis-regulated as the other man moved down his body, and after removing his pants, took him into the warmth of his mouth until he was hard. The He Huan Sect's cultivation method gave him a feeling of immersion.

One of the He Huan Sect's cultivation methods involved being nourished by love.

Xi Huai's current smooth movement, sliding and sucking, licking and stroking until the pleasure reached a peak, was the best form of nourishment for them, especially beneficial for consolidating their cultivation—like a refreshing spring breeze.

Chi Muyao tugged at his clothes, rolled over and curled up, breaking down inside.

They didn't dual cultivate this time.

However...the big villain Xi Huai actually helped him out!

And even swallowed!

His internal world seemed to have experienced a massive earthquake that shattered everything inside.

The memory of meeting eyes with Xi Huai when he looked down, especially the look in Xi Huai's eyes as he did that to him, simply made people's heads explode and their blood flow backwards.

AAAHHHHH. Was this reality?!

How did this happen?! Did times when they didn't cultivate and Xi Huai purely serviced him exist?

And the most damning thing of all...he didn't dislike it?

Xi Huai seemed to have left the stone bed to rearrange something.

He didn't dare to look at Xi Huai. He clutched his clothes, unsure whether he should tidy them up first or put on his pants.

While he was quietly using the Control Object Technique to put on his pants, Xi Huai said from not far away, "After you buy what you want, I'll take you back to the Qing Ze Sect to meet my Dad."

He was shocked. "What?!' 

Xi Huai knew he was nervous, so he comforted, "Don't worry. I definitely won't let him hurt you. I'll take full responsibility for everything. You just need to remain within my cave residence."

"Can I not go? I think—"

"No. There's no way I'll allow you to go back to wandering around miserable and homeless."

"That's not true! I was very free and happy."

"You don't need to comfort me. I am resolved."

Chi Muyao sat up, propping his body up on both hands as he tried to persuade Xi Huai. He never thought that Xi Huai had already re-dressed and walked to the entrance of the cave residence. "I'll go discuss this matter with my two seniors. You can just wait in the cave residence for me."

"Wait—"

Chi Muyao had no way of making Xi Huai stay. The other person quickly walked out of the cave residence.

He felt a sense of despair. He shouldn't have let a moment's indulgence ruin everything. He couldn't let Xi Huai's happiness for the rest of his life be jeopardised.

He quickly rose and straightened his clothes. Taking his things with him, he planned on leaving the cave residence.

He's not buying anything!

It was not wise to stay here for long.

Yet none of the dozen or so methods he tried could open the restriction Xi Huai left. He sunk into despair once more.

He could only wait for Xi Huai to return.

Suddenly, he felt like a wife waiting late at night alone at home for her husband to come home.

He waited all the way until the next morning before Xi Huai came back. The other person looked at him in astonishment. "Why didn't you sleep?"

He was a little sleepy and confused. "Oh...I was waiting for you."

Xi Huai softened instantly. He walked over, leaned down and kissed his forehead. "Sorry I was away for so long this time. I'll take you along in the future."

"That's not necessary. Just don't lock me up. "

"No, for you will surely leave again. The thought of you scraping by for two years makes my heart ache."

"It was actually quite comfortable..."

"Don't console me. Let's go, I'll take you to the auction."

Since it has already come to this, I should go and try to get the Yixian Grass and Huanwu Jade, Chi Muyao thought.

He stood up and walked out with Xi Huai. Xi Huai glanced at his collarbone and asked, "Why are the red marks gone?"

"I applied ointment." 

"It works on this too?"

"En."

Xi Huai paid it no more attention. He reached for Chi Muyao's hand, and interlocked all ten fingers.

Chi Muyao was a little uncomfortable. He protested, "What if other people see?"

"Then let them see." Xi Huai said, bringing him onto a two person flying artefact and heading straight for the auction.

The auction house had a very unique look—an enclosed market circle.

The horizontal house was the auction house, and it was surrounded by other stores arranged in a half-circle. It was surrounded by three of these circles. 

When they arrived at the auction house, Song Weiyue and Zong Sichen were already waiting, accompanied by Xu Ranzhu and Lou Qiongchi.

The He Huan Sect disciples were worried about Chi Muyao's safety. When they saw that Chi Muyao was safe and he arrived hand in hand with Xi Huai, they realised they had been overly worried.

After they all gathered, Chi Muyao wanted to go see the goods being auctioned first. He found the Yixian Grass seeds in the market circle and held them up for a close inspection to verify their genuineness.

The quality of Yixian Grass seeds matter a lot. Their shape wasn't unique enough, so low grade Huoyun Grass seeds could be passed off as Yixian Grass seeds. You could also use stale seeds to pass muster. However, these stale seeds wouldn't grow properly.

Xi Huai looked at him as he picked out the seeds. He asked, "Does your He Huan Sect need to grow Yixian Grass to feed spirit beasts?"

Chi Muyao was so frightened that he raised his head abruptly to look at Xi Huai. After a long while, he hesitantly answered, "We need...flowers and plants for the He Huan Sect courtyard."

"As far as I know, there are many peach blossoms in the He Huan Sect. Their appearance doesn't match the Yixian Grass."

"We wanted to change the style."

"Oh—" Xi Huai drawled, "Okay, I believe you."

"Thank you then."

Zong Sichen and Song Weiyue snickered.

Xu Ranzhu rubbed her forehead, knowing her Shidi couldn't hide it much longer.

Lou Qiongzhi pouted, "Look, it's like teasing a child. The two of them really have their roles reversed."

Xu Ranzhu spoke on Chi Muyao's behalf, "A-Jiu rarely left the He Huan Sect. He hasn't experienced the troubles of the world, so it's natural for him to be childlike."

After making sure there was no problem with the Yixian Grass seeds, Chi Muyao apprehensively followed Xi Huai to the seating area of the auction house.

He was going to walk towards the seats on the first floor, but he was dragged away by Xi Huai directly to the second floor.

There were several compartments on the second floor. The windows were blocked with bamboo curtains. After setting down a boundary, the people on the first floor would be unable to see who was inside.

Chi Muyao only discovered after taking a seat in a compartment that the bamboo curtains could somehow be clearly seen out of. His field of vision was completely undisturbed.

Rarely running into something so mysterious, Chi Muyao stared at the bamboo curtains for a long time.

At this moment, he suddenly heard the sound of a bell.

Xi Huai hadn't moved, so his Myriad Treasure Bell wouldn't have rung. Chi Muyao's Thousand Treasure Bell was in his Qiankun bag, so it wouldn't have rung either.

He looked at the compartment next to his subconsciously. Suddenly, a voice transmission came to his ear. "Long time no see, little cultivator friend."

The youth's voice was pleasant, but the power contained within belied its lightness.

Chi Muyao was shocked. He quickly turned to look at Xi Huai, who didn't seem to notice anything wrong. He was still examining what was being auctioned today through the bamboo slip in his hand.

Then he went to look at the two Nascent Soul stage Heavenly Venerables in the same compartment. They didn't seem to hear anything either, but they looked at him suspiciously.

It seemed like only he heard anything.

Chi Muyao's heart skipped a beat. He was so nervous that he stiffened. He knew that since this person could send a voice transmission to him along without two Nascent Soul stage Heavenly Venerables noticing, he must be more powerful than them.

He didn't dare to act rashly because he knew who the sender was. 

Su You.

The two Nascent Soul stage Heavenly Venerables could fend off someone like Su You, who was only a step away from the Demigod stage, but only the Qing Ze Sect Master, Xi Lin, was truly his opponent.

Even though Su You was injured, it was unknown whether these two Heavenly Venerables could be his match.

Su You seemed to be able to guess what he was thinking. He sent another voice transmission. '"They can't beat me."

Chi Muyao's heart seemed to be hit by a heavy hammer, the thump made his three spirits and seven souls tremble.

Su You sighed and asked again, "I am indeed injured. Can the little cultivator friend help me heal my wounds?"

Did Su You come to look for him?

He continued to remain still. He was so nervous his fingers dug into the armrests of the chair.

He couldn't heal Su You, or else he would end up like the farmer who helped the snake.

"You really don't want to..." Su You looked very sad again. His voice was clearly that of a teenager, but it made people shudder.

Chi Muyao still didn't respond.

Su You, "You can answer with your divine sense. I've made it so only I can hear."

Chi Muyao finally responded, "If you really fight against these two seniors, I can work hard to heal them and buy enough time for the Qing Ze Sect Master to arrive."

Su You laughed uproariously. "Old Dragon Xi, ah. He is troublesome. Not too smart but very good at fighting. I've exchanged blows with him a couple of times, and I was put on the defensive every time."

Su You waited a while longer until he realised Chi Muyao wasn't going to respond. He sighed again. "Do you normally talk so little? Or are you just unwilling to speak with me?"

Chi Muyao didn't answer.

Su started muttering to himself again, "Is that Old Dragon Xi's son by your side?

"This dragon horn is very characteristic. Looks like it is him... Do you know who his mother is? Do you know under what circumstances she agreed to bear a child for Old Dragon Xi? Father and son really are alike. They're both scumbags."

"Help me heal and I'll help you kill this kid so he won't be able to pester you again. I'm not afraid of Old Dragon Xi's revenge. When the time comes, you just have to focus on healing me. That way I can kill even him."

There wasn't much in the original novel regarding Xi Huai's birth mother, but the outside world agreed that Xi Huai's parents didn't have feelings for each other. Xi Huai was only born to help divert a portion of Xi Lin's suffering.

He was just a tool.

After Chi Muyao heard Su You's words, he quickly reached out and grabbed Xi Huai's hand, causing the bamboo slip in Xi Huai's hand to fall on his lap.

Xi Huai looked up at Chi Muyao and suddenly smiled softly. He clasped their fingers tightly together.

He looked at Xi Huai, as if holding hands with Xi Huai at this time would give him a sense of security.

He knew trouble would come after he inherited the power of the Colourless Yunni Deer.

However, he never thought this trouble would come in the form of Su You, an existence he didn't even have the qualifications to challenge.

The gap between their strengths was like Heaven and Earth, after all.

Su You chuckled again and asked, "So you care for the stinky brat?"

Chi Muyao sent a rare reply with his divine sense, "He's innocent. He didn't do anything, so you shouldn't hurt him.” 

"But don't you want him to stop bothering you?"

"That doesn't mean I want to see him hurt. I just don't like him, that's all."

"En—" Su You replied in a nasal tone, several meanings hidden in his words. "Then I won't kill him if you help me heal."

Chi Muyao stopped talking again.

Su You said something astonishing once more, "Don't follow this kid anymore. Come with me. My cultivation is higher than his. If you don't like my current form, I can turn into a twenty-year-old in appearance. How about it?"

A wave of displeasure washed over Chi Muyao. "I am a He Huan Sect disciple, but not the type you're thinking of."

"Then what type are you?"

"I won't go with you. I'm also not going to dual-cultivate with just anyone."

"By my side, you'll be able to reach the Nascent Soul stage in a couple of years. I have also accumulated enough wealth for you to live leisurely, much more than what he has to offer."

"No need."

Su You finally lost his patience. "So troublesome. You know I'm not willing to kill you because you're too valuable. However, my patience is limited. Don't try to drag this out with me."

"I won't help you." Chi Muyao replied with his divine sense.

Su You laughed out of anger. "It seems like the little cultivator friend has a backbone. If you don't help, I'll slaughter the He Huan Sect and destroy the Yu Chong School. What do you think?"