Chi Muyao's breathing became measured. He frowned slightly. Su You really targeted the things he cared about most.

It was like falling into the closed and narrow bottom of a dark and dry well. A sense of depression filled his limbs, making him sweat.

In the end, he could only pretend to be calm and answer as evenly as possible. "Then I'll kill myself before you kill them. It's not a big deal for everyone to die. I won't help you regardless."

"Heh, quite a strong temper there, eh? Is it worth it to go so far just to not heal me?"

"But is it really just healing?" Chi Muyao knew very well that things weren't that simple. Su You wasn't such an easy person to deal with.

"..." Su You asked after another moment of silence, "What have you guessed?" 

"I can't treat internal demons, and I can't cure other people. You don't have to pester me.” 

Su You finally stopped talking.

The reason Su You couldn't cultivate to the Demigod stage was because of his internal demon.

His internal demon was extremely entrenched, persisting despite his best efforts for the past millennia. And the demon inside him was caused by the corpse stored in the bell on his hair.

He wanted to revive that person by any means necessary. For the sake of this goal, he killed, threatened and even sacrificed thousands of corpses. Still, he failed to revive that person. 

Now that he noticed the spirit contract between Chi Muyao and the Colourless Yunni Deer, he was probably coveting Chi Muyao's ability.

Naturally, Chi Muyao would not cure his internal demon. If Su You successfully ascended to the Demigod stage, there would be endless troubles. And who knew what kind of person Su You kept at his side? What if they too become a scourge after being resurrected?

In the original novel, Xi Huai's insanity was due to being controlled in an unconscious state by the Hui Dragon Flames. His blackening came about gradually.

Su You was also insane, but he had been this way since his first appearance. He committed all sorts of evil deeds for the sake of one person, slaughtering so many innocents.

If Chi Muyao helped him, he would be harming thousands of people. He couldn't do that.

After a long while, Su You suddenly laughed, "Old Dragon Xi's son found me. He's sending a sound transmission to his friends to buy something for you. Still thinking about Yixian Grass at this time... Doesn't he realise that I want to kill him? "

Chi Muyao was a little surprised. He turned to look at Xi Huai.

Xi Huai was just rolling up the bamboo slip unhurriedly. He comforted Chi Muyao after noticing his gaze. "It'll be fine."

His voice was quiet and gentle, as if he had experienced so many things that nothing could surprise him anymore.

Xi Huai understood Chi Muyao. He also liked to stare at him. Naturally, he noticed Chi Muyao's unnatural state.

When he immediately used his divine sense to probe the surroundings, he soon discovered something wrong in the neighbouring compartment. He could perceive that the person there had unfathomable depths.

The two Nascent Soul stage Heavenly Venerables also noticed and investigated as well. Sure enough, they detected something off as well.

Xi Huai took out a teleportation artefact from his Myriad Treasure Bell. He activated it and took Chi Muyao's hand, leading him inside.

Chi Muyao was a little worried about the others, so he hesitated. Then he heard Xi Huai say to him, "There are two seniors here, and the other seniors of the Qing Ze Sect are coming over. If they can't resolve the situation, there's no point in you staying."

Since he couldn't tell others about his spirit contract with the Colourless Yunni Deer, he could only leave with Xi Huai.

After they stepped into the artefact, it closed. They instantly arrived at another place.

Chi Muyao was looking around when he heard Xi Huai say, "This is my cave residence in the Qing Ze Sect."

"Ah?" They really came to the Qing Ze Sect?

"En. I'll go tell my father about this. Go into the cave residence and don't wander around."

"Oh, okay."

Chi Muyao was somewhat uneasy being left outside Xi Huai's cave residence. He wrung his hands, kneading his fingers back and forth. 

He's played games before, so he knew the strategy of killing the healer first during group battles. In an actual battle, he would probably be the 'healer' character. He couldn't guarantee that he could perform his role well and not cause trouble.

He only had Foundation Building stage cultivation. Even the residual spiritual energy from Nascent Soul stage cultivators fighting was enough to seriously injure him. Even if he stayed there, he would've been a sitting duck who couldn't even heal himself.

Sure enough, he was still too weak…

He knew that it was pointless to ruminate over it now, so he looked at Xi Huai's cave residence, deciding to wait there for now. When the time came, there would always be a solution.

He walked to the entrance of the cave residence and tried using his spiritual energy to open the door. He found that he could easily open the restrictions of Xi Huai's cave residence as expected. 

With the restrictions lifted, he had an unimpeded view of the inside. He couldn't help but gasp in amazement.

How stylish was this?

A black lacquer gate, four door handles and eight maintenance nails.

The four door handles were like their mortal equivalent. The human realm used strength to open doors, so two would do for an ordinary door. Only extremely heavy and tall doors required four. The cultivation world used spiritual energy to open doors, so the four handles were only for show.

The eight maintenance nails meant that this mountain was rich in spiritual energy. Cave residences were even more so places where spiritual energy gathered, so maintenance nails were needed to capture the spiritual energy. 

These maintenance nails could gather spiritual energy and hold it within the cave residence. It was a common item used in the cultivation world. Normal cave residences were fine with just two maintenance nails. Only when the amount of energy was overflowing would more be added.

The best cave residence in the He Huan Sect only used four nails.

As for the Yu Chong School...there were no nails.

He walked into the cave residence, wanting to find a place to rest. Two steps in, he saw the night pearl inlaid on the wall. He couldn't help but stop and fall into contemplation.

Fortunately, the decoration of the cave residence was on the normal side. However, all the artefacts placed around the cave residence were Heaven grade. Even the chairs were made of Spirit Assembling Jade.

Actually, he felt like this was pretty low-key already.

Chi Muyao sat on a chair made of Spirit Assembling Jade, with his back tightly pressed against the back of the chair as he stared off in a daze. 

He liked sitting like this. The feeling of his back against the chair's back made him feel at ease.

Then he started to stare off into the distance. He wasn't looking at anything in particular. In fact, what he was seeing didn't even register for him. He was just sitting idly.

After transmigrating, he found out he couldn't escape the fate of being cannon fodder. He lived seriously in the Sect, thinking that living a few years more was already a fortunate thing. He lived happily without any worries.

Since he knew his aptitude wasn't good, he earnestly studied formations, illusions, concealed weapons, and swift movement techniques in hopes that they will come in handy one day.

However, he happened to run into the Colourless Yunni Deer when it was about to die and formed an emergency spirit contract with the big deer.

And now, because of this healing ability, he's attracted the attention of Su You, which made him fall into an abyss of despair.

He really was too weak.

In the future, even if he obtained the core forming pill in question and ascended to the Golden Core stage with the Goldeneyed Heavenly Wolf's devil core, he still wouldn't be Su You's match.

Just why did he have to encounter Su You...

Su You was already the ceiling of combat power in this book, right?

The main villain of the book hadn't grown up or even blackened yet! Even the male and female leads were only at Foundation Building stage, how could the ceiling level boss appear so suddenly!

Chi Muyao waited in Xi Huai's cave for a long time, but Xi Huai didn't come back. 

His thoughts couldn't help but drift to all sorts of scenarios. He even imagined the Thousand Sect Conference becoming a bloodbath with no survivors.

Could it be that Xi Lin was also not Su You's opponent?

If the head of the Qing Ze Sect entered closed door cultivation after being seriously injured and Xi Huai was defeated as well, who could defeat Su You?

Finally, after three hours, sounds came from outside the cave. It was Zong Sichen and Song Weiyue who came over.

Chi Muyao hurried out of the cave, even using a swift movement technique to greet them. "How are things going?"

Zong Sichen handed him a Qiankun bag. "I bought out all the Yixian Grass seeds and Huanwu Jade. Have you heard of Pointing Sky Lanterns?"

Chi Muyao looked at the bag he had taken subconsciously. "These things weren't bid very high, right?"

"They weren't. As long as our Qing Ze Sect wants to buy it, no one else dares to bid."

Chi Muyao was actually led astray by that line of thinking. After coming back to his senses, he quickly asked, "Has there been any trouble at the Thousand Sect Conference?"

"Nope!" Song Weiyue answered very directly. He seemed a little puzzled. Why would there be trouble?

 Chi Muyao quickly added, "When I came here, the two Nascent Soul stage seniors seemed to be going to fight someone."

"Oh!" Song Weiyue finally understood. "They didn't catch anyone. That person ran so fast no one saw them. However, my Dad said the other party was definitely an expert. He and Zong Sichen's Dad together might not be their match."

Chi Muyao was dumbfounded. He had thought so much in the past few hours. He'd doubted his life, denied himself, and felt like he was a complete waste of space.

After thinking too much, people become pessimistic and start to have ideas about going out in a blaze of glory. He even thought about dying for his ideals, but that would be a disservice to the Colourless Yunni Deer.

But now he'd learned that nothing happened. He was overthinking things.

It was hard to come to terms with that.

Then again, Su You was injured. He must not want to fight with others in this state, and he didn't have to. His goal was Chi Muyao alone, after all.

He took things too seriously.

Chi Muyao finally breathed a sigh of relief. He asked, "Why hasn't Xi Huai returned?"

Song Weiyue replied carelessly, "Him? He was being beaten."

Chi Muyao was taken aback. "Beaten?!"

His emotional fluctuations over the past few moments were really something.

Song Weiyue nodded. "That's right. He told the Sect Master he was going to marry you officially, which made the Sect Master furious. My Dad, Zong Sichen's Dad and some other seniors couldn't stop him. The Young Sect Master probably still got whipped a couple of times." 

After hearing this, he was so anxious that he forgot to put away the Qiankun bag in his hand as he hurriedly walked out. Because he was so anxious he spoke much faster, "Then what should we do? We have to think of something! Can we go to plead for mercy now?” 

Zong Sichen quickly stopped him. "Don't go, you'll make the Sect Master even angrier. He never thought that two men could become cultivation partners."

Xi Lin was a man as straight as steel. He couldn't understand at all how Xi Huai could fall in love with a man?!

He thought Xi Huai was searching for that person before to exact vengeance, but now they're suddenly 'in love'?

How outrageous! How preposterous!

Xi Lin couldn't take it anymore. Xi Lin was going crazy.

Chi Muyao paced back and forth anxiously. "Then what should we do? Continue to let him be beaten?"

Zong Sichen and Song Weiyue looked at each other, exchanging a helpless gaze.

Zong Sichen shrugged and said, "If even my Dad and the others can't stop it, we can't do anything about it either."

Song Weiyue also said, "The Sect Master has always felt that he owes the Young Sect Master because of the matter of the Hui. He normally indulges him a lot. I think he will only be angry for a while this time. His heart will soften as times goes on. Who knows? Maybe he'll approve of the two of you being together."

Chi Muyao was a little conflicted. He never thought that Xi Huai would tell his Dad so directly. Wasn't this asking to be beaten?!

Besides, he never wanted to be Xi Huai's cultivation partner!

Now that Xi Huai has been beaten, and he doesn't like Xi Huai either...wasn't Xi Huai very pitiful?

He was so pitiful that Chi Muyao's heart ached, like it was being constricted by an artefact. It tightened again and again, disrupting his blood flow, making his chest hurt and his head swell.

He was so uncomfortable that his feet became sluggish and he almost fell. Luckily, Zong Sichen supported him with his sword before that happened.

Seeing how worried he was, Zong Sichen quickly comforted him, "Don't worry, our Sect Master is very reasonable. He will only teach his son a lesson and won't find trouble with you."

Song Weiyue nodded along and said hurriedly, "Yep. Also you're so good looking that I think the Sect Master will be surprised. Maybe he'll agree when the time comes.” 

Chi Muyao looked at them. "..."

He was wearing the peach blossom mask, so how could they know he was good-looking?

He felt like this disguise of his was gradually growing transparent, and all he could do right now was double down and hide behind multiple layers of protection that served no purpose but to make him feel better.

Everyone else had the misfortune of playing along and pretending they never found out.

Zong Sichen and Song Weiyue didn't stay much longer. They went down the mountain after delivering the goods, probably to inquire about news.

Chi Muyao probed the Qiankun bag with his divine sense. Everything he wanted was inside, and in astonishing quantities. He couldn't help but be surprised.

After putting away the Qiankun bag, he went back into the cave and waited for Xi Huai to come back.

Xi Huai came back the next morning, supported by Song Weiyue. It seemed that his wounds had been treated, but he was still a little unwell.

Chi Muyao greeted them at the door. Song Weiyue handed Xi Huai off to him, and he helped Xi Huai inside. Song Weiyue slipped away very fast, probably because he didn't want to disturb their two-person world.

Chi Muyao helped Xi Huai inside the cave.

Before, he only sat in the chair and waited, so he was unfamiliar with the structure of the cave residence. He only entered the inner room at Xi Huai's command.

When he saw the absurdly large bed, he couldn't help but stop walking.

This bed was a round bed with a diameter of five meters. It occupied the centre of the room, with a circle of curtains hanging down from above, covering it entirely.

Layers upon layers of drapery, including gauze and brocade curtains, made it so you could only see a vague outline of the bed from outside.

There were various furniture cabinets around the bed, neatly arranged tables and chairs, and some vertical candlesticks.

The Dust Removal Formation had always been active in the cave residence, so it was always neat and clean. The air was fresh and free of mould.

After hesitating for a while, he lifted the curtain and helped Xi Huai to the bed. He let Xi Huai lie down before leaning over and asking, "Where are you injured? Show me." 

Xi Huai turned away, not planning on showing him anything. "You don't need to worry. These are all minor injuries that have been treated already."

"Then let me see how they're healing." He tugged at Xi Huai's clothes, having noticed Xi Huai avoiding the subject.

Chi Muyao knelt down beside the bed and stubbornly tugged at Xi Huai's coat. He said with a strong attitude, "Xi Huai, show me!"

Xi Huai looked up at him, hesitant, but he didn't press down so hard anymore.

Chi Muyao immediately opened his shirt for a look. Even though he was mentally prepared, he still inhaled a breath of cold air when he saw the wounds.

They were all cultivators that have trained their bodies to be strong. Paired with ointment, ordinary wounds could generally recover quickly.

Naturally, Xi Lin knew this. After being enraged, the weapon he used was unusual. The whip he used was the Five Thunder Thorn Vine.

Every lash delivered by this artefact was imbued with spiritual energy, so the wounds it caused wouldn't immediately heal but deliver an eclectic shock and burn for quite a while. Even the best ointment was useless. Only when all the lightning on the wound dissipated could it start to heal.

And this lightning could last for months.

Imagine how painful it would be to have your flesh torn apart by the whip. Now imagine being tormented by electricity dancing on those wounds constantly. Just how painful would that be?

Chi Muyao's fingertips trembled, and his eyes became red-rimmed. He asked, "How could your Dad do this? How could he bear to?"

"He's really angry this time..."

After all, the Young Qing Ze Sect Master becoming the furnace of a He Huan Sect disciple brought great shame to the Qing Ze Sect.

"What should we do about these wounds?" Saying that, he reached out to help Xi Huai extract the lightning from the wounds, but Xi Huai grabbed his wrist.

"Don't touch. The lightning will hurt you."

The lightning contained in this kind of wound was very difficult to deal with. Not only would it torture the injured person, it would also lash out at anyone who touched the wound.

If people with intact skin felt like a hundred needles were jabbing into their skin when they touch lightning, just think about how a wounded person would feel.

Chi Muyao's heart ached. He felt even more guilty.

After hesitating for a while, he took out some Peach Essence Brew and gave it to Xi Huai. "Why don't you get drunk for a while so you have a break from the pain?"

When Xi Huai saw the Peach Essence Brew, he suddenly smiled and asked, "Are you going to run away again?"

"If I wanted to run, I would've run away while you were being beaten. You wouldn't be in the mood to care at that time. Drink some first."

"When I fall asleep after drinking, you won't be foolish enough to help heal me, will you?"

"How can I have the ability to do that?!"

Xi Huai thought about it for a while. Then he sat up and took two sips of Peach Essence Brew. He wanted to hand the bamboo tube back to Chi Muyao, but he fell into a drunken daze soon after and lay back on the bed.

Drunk as fast as ever.

Chi Muyao put away the Peach Essence Brew and came over to examine Xi Huai's wounds.

This kind of injury was very troublesome. If it was just an ordinary injury, he could cure it in an instant. The ointment in Xi Huai's Myriad Treasure Bell could probably do the same.

However, if he wanted to treat this kind of injury, he has to deal with the lightning around the wound first.

He reached out and tried to draw out the purple electricity, but the moment he touched the wound, his body trembled.

He quickly withdrew his hand and looked at Xi Huai again. Even though he was drunk, he was still frowning. His pain must be worse.

Finally, Chi Muyao made up his mind and used the absorption technique of the He Huan Sect and the Colourless Yunni Deer's ability at the same time in order to absorb the purple electricity into his body and then transfer it out.

In an instant, sparks flew.

The lightning from Xi Huai's body was continuously channeled into Chi Muyao through his two outstretched fingers.

Purple thunder and lightning gathered on him, colliding and cracking. Soon, a burst of bright electricity was generated. The purple light circled around him, spinning recklessly, exploding and disappearing, as if he was experiencing a continuous thunderstorm.

He gritted his teeth and forcibly endured the pain. In the later stages, he growled due to the pain.

It wasn't until he couldn't hold on anymore that his eyes darkened and he fainted beside Xi Huai.

The room became quiet again.

Just like when Chi Muyao rescued Xi Huai when he was in the cave, Xi Huai lay on his back, and Chi Muyao lay on his stomach. The two were side by side.

Silent.