At the foot of Mount Jiao, there was a secluded path that was covered by layers of overlapping vines. Going up this path, one would find Qingtan Palace, where the Nangong family would rest during the worship of their ancestors. The palace wasn’t big, but the winding corridors intersected, and the scenery changed as one walked.

     In the garden, there was a kind of dragon blood flower that emitted a fluorescent light in the night. At this moment, the flowering period had passed, and only a few scattered clusters were still in full bloom. From afar, it looked like falling stars adorning the night sky.

     Shi Mei walked to the depths of the flowers, where there was a hot spring. He took off his robe, stepped onto the shore with his jade-white toes, and looked down at himself in the pool.

     The water in the hot spring pool was very hot, but his eyes were cold. He stretched out his hand and slowly touched his heart—

     There was a large area festering because of the backlash of the forbidden technique, but now he no longer needed to worry about it; everything was going according to plan, and everything would be fine.

     He stepped into the spring water. The hot springs of Mount Jiao were mixed with the demonic dragon’s breath, making them very comfortable to soak in. Shi Mei leaned against the edge of the pool and closed his eyes.

     Suddenly, there was a rustling sound not far away. Shi Mei didn’t even open his eyes, and only said calmly, “Who is it?”

     Nangong Liu came out of the bushes with a dragon blood flower in his hair.

     When he saw Shi Mei, he smiled happily. “Dear Friend-gege is bathing? Is there anything I can do to help?”

     Shi Mei replied, “No.”

     Nangong Liu scratched his head. “Then I won’t stand here anymore. I’ll leave first. Otherwise, if you’re naked and I’m wearing clothes, you’ll be at a disadvantage.”

     In the steaming mist, Shi Mei smiled. His face became clearer and clearer under the moisture of the spring water, like the thin ice in the early winter in Jiangnan, crystal clear and fragile but also cold and bone-piercing.

     He opened his pair of peach blossom eyes and looked at Nangong Liu with a thin smile. “Why am I at a disadvantage?”

     Nangong Liu was very straightforward. “Because you look good.”

     “Oh… You’re just a child; how do you know what’s beautiful and what’s ugly?

     Nangong Liu said angrily, “I’m already five years old. I’m not a child.”

     Shi Mei’s interest was piqued, and his smile deepened. “Okay, then gege is wrong. Come, let gege ask you—between me and Emperor Taxian-Jun, which do you like more?”

     “Of course it’s my Dear Friend-gege,” Nangong Liu said without any hesitation. “Who is Emperor Taxian-Jun? I don’t know him.”

     “Then let’s put it another way,” Shi Mei said. “Me and Mo Ran… You remember, right? He said hello to you.”

     Nangong Liu held his fingers together and thought seriously for a moment before nodding his head.

     “Who do you like more, me or him? Don’t make a choice based on whether we are familiar with you or not. I just want to know what’s beautiful and ugly in your eyes.”

     This time, Nangong Liu didn’t answer immediately. He tilted his head and thought for a while before saying, “I still prefer my Dear Friend-gege.”

     Shi Mei seemed to be pleased. “Oh? Tell me, what’s not good about him?”

     “...I can’t say.”

     “Then why do you like me more?”

     Nangong Liu actually looked a little aggrieved. “I don’t know either... I think he’s more beautiful, so he’s more beautiful.”

     Shi Mei was silent for a while, then suddenly walked out from the depths of the hot spring to a place where the mist was a little lighter. He lay on the edge of the pool with his hands folded, revealing his soft, curved back.

     He smiled and said, “Come here.” As he spoke, he waved his wet hand at Nangong Liu. When Nangong Liu came closer, Shi Mei stood up straight from the hot spring.

     “Aiya—”

     Shi Mei laughed and said with amusement, “What are you shouting for? We’re both men, what’s there to be shy about?”

     Nangong Liu used his hand to wipe his eyes and muttered, “I’m not shy. You got water in my eyes.”

     Shi Mei didn’t care whether he had water in his eyes. He pulled Nangong Liu’s wrist and forced him to look directly at him. The ferocious blemish on his chest appeared completely before Nangong Liu’s eyes.

     “Look here. Are you scared?”

     The wound was festering so badly that it was leaking pus. Nangong Liu only glanced at it before turning his head away in disgust. He was a childish person after all and said without restraint, “It’s disgusting.”

     Shi Mei’s smile remained unchanged, but his eyes turned a little cold. “Do you still think I’m beautiful now?”

     “...” Nangong Liu tried his best to break free from his grip, but Shi Mei’s strength was too great, and it was useless no matter how hard he tried. In the end, his eyes were filled with moisture, and he was scared and trembling. “You, you please let go of me. I don’t like this.”

     “Look carefully.”

     “I don’t want—ouch!”

     There was a crisp cracking sound. Due to the excessive force, Shi Mei had actually squeezed the bones of Nangong Liu’s hand until they were dislocated. His eyes flashed, and it was unclear whether it was with anger or unwillingness, but he was almost paranoid. “Didn’t you just say that I’m beautiful? What’s the matter? Just a little wound, and it turned from beautiful to ugly?”

     “No…”

     “Do you think that if a beauty has even the slightest flaw, he should be detested by others?” Shi Mei approached him. “The old affection will become disgust, and the old longing will become a thorn in one’s throat.”

     Nangong Liu finally couldn’t help it anymore and cried loudly. “I don’t understand. I don’t understand! Let me go. I don’t want to stay here anymore.”

     His noise made Shi Mei’s originally somewhat irritable mood darken even more. Dark clouds seemed to be rolling in his eyes. He suddenly raised his hand and slapped Nangong Liu’s cheek.

     He finally let go of Nangong Liu and said coldly, “You trash, get lost.”

     After Nangong Liu left, crying, Shi Mei once again returned to the depths of the hot spring. The scenery around him was still pleasant. The dragon blood flowers were blooming, and the air was filled with a faint fragrance. However, his initial joy had completely vanished, and there was only anger in his heart, boundless anger.

     He suddenly slapped the surface of the water, causing water to splash everywhere, before calming down again.

     The ripples dispersed, once again revealing the gentle reflection, but with a festering chest.

     Shi Mei’s anger suddenly gave rise to a sense of loss and powerlessness. He leaned back against the edge of the pool again, lifted his curtain of eyelashes, and looked at the sky.

     “People change.”

     He murmured.

     Just like how seeds would germinate, buds would turn dark green, flowers would bloom from green leaves, flowers would wither and fall, and fallen flowers would be crushed into mud.

     Time could not be seen or touched, but everyone was being quietly worn down by it. Some people had their claws sharpened, and some people had their edges worn away.

     “Everything will change…”

     He wearily cupped a handful of water and wiped his face.

     Comparing his past life with his current life would prove this. But at what point did he start to walk down the wrong path and never look back?

     After bathing and changing clothes, Shi Mei loosely tied his ink-black hair up into a bun and returned to the secret room on Mount Jiao from the fragrant path. He stood at the door for a while, and then reached out to push the door open.

     It was already deep into the night at this time, and almost all the candles in the secret room were extinguished, leaving only a single flame burning behind the curtain.

     Shi Mei entered the room quietly, without making any noise, only bringing with him the unique fragrance of soap after taking a bath. But it was this scent that alarmed the man lying behind the bed curtains.

     Taxian-Jun’s slow and hoarse voice sounded. “Who is it?”

     Shi Mei said gloomily, “...Me.”

     There was a momentary silence, followed by the sound of clothes rustling. Taxian-Jun’s voice sneered through the curtains, “...Master really is elegant. You’re awake in the middle of the night, so you come to my room and eavesdrop from the corner? …Aren’t you ashamed?”

     Shi Mei’s expression became even colder. “You should stop it. If you kill him, no one will have any fun.”

     Taxian-Jun’s voice was languid and low, with a trace of tiredness. “Master, please be at ease. This Venerable One doesn’t have any perverted hobbies in bed. I have always been practical. I’m not interested in idle chatter, stinging people with snakes, or playing guessing games while blindfolded. Rest assured, no one is dying.”

     “...”

     Idle chatter, stinging people with snakes, and playing guessing games while blindfolded—no matter the size of one’s heart, he would know who he was talking about.

     Anger rose in Shi Mei’s heart. He stepped forward and opened the curtains with a loud noise. It was as if sword blades had clashed and sparks were flying everywhere. Shi Mei’s gentle face met Emperor Taxian-Jun’s handsome face.

     “You—!” Before he could finish his words, he suddenly stopped.

     He had thought that after Taxian-Jun reunited with Chu Wanning after such a long time apart, he would be starved, eager, and impatient, being intimate with him in every possible way.

     But the scene behind the drawn curtains truly surprised him.

     He saw that Chu Wanning was sleeping soundly, his cheeks slightly red from the heat, and he was running a fever. As for Taxian-Jun, his clothes were slightly open, revealing his smooth and well-proportioned chest. He held the person in his arms, his face solemn, as his broad hands stroked his hair. He looked like he despised him but would never let him go.

     Shi Mei said, “...What are you doing?”

     Taxian-Jun looked at him disdainfully. “What do you think This Venerable One is capable of doing?”

     “...”

     Forget it. Why bother with a dead man?

     Shi Mei closed his eyes and forced himself to suppress the anger in his heart, but the small flame in his heart was burning and couldn’t be extinguished. Finally, he couldn’t help but retort coldly, “I didn’t expect that Emperor Taxian-Jun would need Shizun to accompany him to sleep at your age. I think if it’s not because he’s afraid of the dark, then it’s probably because you want to be coy with Shizun.”

     It had to be said that Shi Mei’s words were very effective. Taxian-Jun immediately narrowed his eyes dangerously. He subconsciously wanted to raise his hand and push the unconscious Chu Wanning in his arms away, or simply kick him off the bed. This way, he would seem very imposing.

     But seeing Shi Mei approaching, the last thing he did was to hold the man in his arms even tighter and wave his wide sleeves to cover Chu Wanning’s face.

     After doing this, Taxian-Jun raised his eyes gloomily. “What does my business have to do with you?”

     Shi Mei gritted his teeth and said, “You should have a certain temper when speaking. Why don’t you think about who made you?”

     “Hanlin-shengshou only has one sentence to intimidate me,” Taxian-Jun said coldly. “You really have great potential.”

     “You—!”

     Shi Mei was continuously talked back to by him. In the end, he couldn’t bear it anymore. He raised his hand and sharply poked Emperor Taxian-Jun’s forehead, transferring some spiritual power.

     “Soul Gather!”

     He recited the incantation between his rounded lips, but Taxian-Jun’s eyes still persisted fiercely for a long time, so long that Shi Mei’s heart trembled, and he even felt that this man was about to break free from his control completely.

     Sweat dripped from his forehead, and he was locked in a stalemate with Taxian-Jun. Finally, he exhausted almost all of his spiritual energy and shouted in a low voice, “Soul Gather!”

     This time, Taxian-Jun’s body trembled slightly, and his eyes finally lost focus.

     Shi Mei retracted his spiritual power and gasped for breath. He held his aching chest, feeling dizziness in front of his eyes.

     Because of his physique, his spiritual core and spiritual power were inferior. No matter how diligently he practiced, he still couldn’t compare to others. Normally, he was powerful with medicine, but once it involved something that required spiritual energy, his body simply couldn’t withstand it.

     Shi Mei closed his eyes and rested for a while, then looked at Emperor Taxian-Jun again. “Let me ask you again. What were you doing just now?”

     Since he was already under control, Emperor Taxian-Jun said emotionlessly, “He has a fever and is afraid of the cold.”

     “...So?”

     This living-dead corpse, who only had a trace of his past life’s consciousness left, said calmly, “With me holding him, he will be warmer.”

     “...”

     Shi Mei stared at Taxian-Jun for a long time.

     “Warmer?” His pale lips moved, and he suddenly laughed, although there was no smile in his peach blossom eyes. “Mo Ran, have you gone mad? Feel your own body temperature—what are you? Your entire body is as cold as ice; you are already dead and have no heart, no lungs, and no body temperature. You’re as cold as ice yourself, and you still want to keep him warm?”

     A hint of pain seemed to flash through Taxian-Jun’s empty black eyes, but it only lasted for a moment—he was still a corpse after all.

     Shi Mei said, “Get up.”

     Taxian-Jun didn’t get up immediately after hearing the order. His black brows were tightly knitted, as if he was struggling between his own will and Shi Mei’s control.

     “You get up!”

     This order was stronger, and under such a fierce tone, Emperor Taxian-Jun finally obeyed.

     He slowly got up from the bed. His robe was still open, and Chu Wanning’s body temperature remained on his chest, which had long since stopped rising.

     Shi Mei said gloomily, “Get out.”

     Taxian-Jun took a few steps before he suddenly stopped and said in a low voice, “Yes.”

     “...What?”

     Taxian-Jun repeated stiffly, “Yes, I do.”

     Shi Mei didn’t react for a moment, then asked, “You what?”

     “Have temperature.” The man slowly raised his hand and touched his chest, feeling the warmth left by Chu Wanning. “It’s warm here.”

     Shi Mei seemed as if he’d been pricked by the tip of a needle and became furious. There was nothing more annoying than a puppet in his palm being disobedient. He shouted in a low voice, “Get out of here.”

     Taxian-Jun took two more steps, but this time it was really only two steps before his expression suddenly became painful.

     “No…” He clutched his head, and the meridians on his palms bulged. His entire body trembled, and a low gasp came from his throat. “This Venerable One… is unwilling… How, how can this be…? How can it be like this…?”

     His eyes were closed, his will strong but weak, his memory far and near. He was struggling and persisting, experiencing several ups and downs—the torture of two lifetimes.

     “...It’s… you… insolent…!!”

     The murmuring suddenly stopped as the trembling came to an abrupt halt.

     Shi Mei let out a muffled groan and clutched his chest. When Taxian-Jun broke from the restraint, the backlash struck him with a powerful force. He almost staggered back a step. Then, he saw Emperor Taxian-Jun suddenly open his eyes, a bloodthirsty and menacing fog appearing in his eyes.

     “...”

     Those falcon-like black eyes no longer held any trace of confusion, only reflecting his own cold face.

     Shi Mei’s face was pale, and he said slowly, “You’re recovering faster and faster.”

     Taxian-Jun remained silent, his eyes flashing with a bright light. He panted slightly and raised his hand to summon Bu’gui.

     Shi Mei raised his chin slightly, his eyes moving up to the handle of the saber and falling on Mo Ran’s face, which was akin to a tiger or leopard. “What, are you angry? Do you want to kill me?”

     The pitch-black blade was lifted, and in the blink of an eye, it hung above Shi Mei’s snow-white neck. The force was so strong that it even scratched the skin and caused a thin line of blood to seep out.

     Shi Mei didn’t retreat and said with a sneer, “Your Majesty, the reason you can walk and move now is because of my spiritual power. If you kill me, you will also die. There’s no way you don’t understand this.”

     “...”

      Shi Mei continued, “In terms of strength, I really can’t beat you. But you should think about it carefully. Do you want to die? Or do you want to continue living in this world?”

     Taxian-Jun’s hand was very steady and did not shake.

     But after a long moment, he suddenly withdrew his hand and recalled Bu’gui.

     Seeing him put away the saber, Shi Mei raised his hand and slowly touched the blood on his neck, then said, “Fortunately, you’re not too stupid.”

     “...”

     “In the future, don’t shout about killing. In any case, you know the relationship between us very well.” Shi Mei glanced at Taxian-Jun and said, “You’re like a rusty sword. I want to restore you to your former state of being useful, for you to continue to be my blade. As for you, however, I’m afraid you want to completely remove my control and take my head after you recover.”

     Taxian-Jun’s dark eyes turned towards him, looking at him coldly.

     “All these years, you have continued to follow my orders in the other world. The remaining gap in the Gate of Life and Death is very narrow, and it is very difficult for people to pass through. Usually, I sent messages to you through carrier pigeons, but occasionally, we would also use gu bugs to connect our hearts and communicate with each other, so I certainly know what you’re thinking. There’s no need to be surprised.”

     Taxian-Jun finally spoke and said coldly, “You must be not too far from being blind. Which of your eyes saw my surprise?”

     “...” Shi Mei pursed his lips, and his expression became even darker before he said, “Alright. Since you know the pros and cons of this matter, you should endure it until then. Let’s work together and wait for the day one of us succeeds. Then we’ll see if you can kill me or if I can obtain an invincible weapon.”

     Taxian-Jun said, “We’ll see.”

     Shi Mei was just about to say something more, when suddenly, Chu Wanning, who was lying on the bed, let out a soft groan. With just this brief sound, the two men who were in the midst of an altercation immediately turned their heads.

     “Wanning?”

     “Shizun—”

     “...” Former martial brothers looked at each other, and Taxian-Jun was grimly silent. After a while, his eyes moved from Shi Mei to the unconscious Chu Wanning.

     After a moment, he said in a seemingly indifferent tone, “This person has been feverish for many days now, but he doesn’t seem to be getting better. If this continues, will he…”

     After these words, he said nothing else. The murderous Emperor Taxian-Jun, who killed people like flies, stopped when he reached a certain word. His long eyelashes fluttered, and he closed his eyes.

     Shi Mei, on the other hand, was indifferent. “What do you want to ask? You want to ask if he’ll die?”

     He didn’t know if it was an illusion, but Emperor Taxian-Jun’s already pale face became even paler. He pursed his lips as if he loathed the word “death” and only said concisely, “Will he?”

     “Of course he won’t die. You are underestimating Beidou Immortal too much. But you still have the nerve to ask me about this?” Shi Mei raised his eyebrows. “Who caused his fever? Isn’t it because you’re as ruthless as a wolf?”

     Emperor Taxian-Jun’s expression became even worse. He said gloomily, “He is not me. Don’t confuse me with that trash.”

     Hearing him say this, Shi Mei looked him up and down, then finally said, “What a coincidence. I also think he’s trash. You know very well that I spent a lot of effort tearing a huge space-time rift and inviting you here, so that trash could disappear and you could ascend to the top of the mortal world again.”

     “Your Majesty.” He suddenly called Taxian-Jun with amusement. “Just a little more, and our goal will be achieved. You also want to have complete power and a surging spiritual core, right?”

     “...”

     Shi Mei was like a snake hunting for its prey with a scarlet tongue, seducing and enticing the other party.

     He could see the desire in Taxian-Jun’s eyes.

     So he smiled, determined to win.

     “If you want to regain your full power, then be more obedient.” His white teeth were dripping with poison, his eyes shining. “If you are obedient, things will be easier for us.”

     Taxian-Jun was silent for a moment, then flicked his sleeves and said, “Let’s not talk about this for now.”

     Then he pointed at Chu Wanning and said, “Talk about this.”

     “Him? His body has only suffered too much stimulation from his soul fusing,” Shi Mei said lightly. “There’s nothing to talk about. But if you really want to make him feel better, you should leave first.”

     Taxian-Jun’s eyes immediately became alert. “What do you want to do?”

     Shi Mei smiled faintly and said, “Treat his wounds.”

     “I also want to be here.”

     “That won’t do,” Shi Mei said. “Cold Scale Sacred Hand is performing spells to save someone, and no one is allowed to watch.”

     “...”

     Seeing that Taxian-Jun still had no intention of leaving, Shi Mei said, “It’s fine if you don’t want to leave. Then I’ll go out, and you stay. Anyway, the emperor has the ability to transcend the heavens, so you will definitely be able to take good care of him.”

     After hearing Shi Mei’s words, Taxian-Jun’s face became even uglier. His spiritual power was fierce and domineering, and the most unsuitable skill for him to learn was healing techniques. In his previous life, there were so many people in the palace and no shortage of medical experts, so he had never studied it in detail.

     Shi Mei regained his composure and looked at him with a smile.

     Emperor Taxian-Jun was obviously disgusted by this smile. He suddenly turned his head and tightly gritted his teeth, unwilling to look at Shi Mei again.

     After a while, he said, “...Okay. This Venerable One will leave, and you will heal him.” He paused, then said fiercely, “But I will be at the door. If you dare…”

     Even before he finished his words, the coldness on his face was almost enough to kill.

     “If you dare to do anything to him, This Venerable One will immediately take your dog life.”

     This kind of threat didn’t have much of an effect on Shi Mei. He smiled again and made a “please leave” gesture towards Taxian-Jun.

     Taxian-Jun went out, lingering at the door with a sullen face for a long time before leaving. Shi Mei stood in the quiet secret room and looked at the stone door that had finally closed. After a while, he turned around and walked to the side of the white-clothed man on the bed.

     “...” The mocking smile on Shi Mei’s face disappeared, and it was replaced by an extremely peaceful yet crazed expression. “Shizun.”

     He walked over, step by step.

     Now that Chu Wanning was finally lying in the palm of his hand, what did it matter if Taxian-Jun was standing outside? He had plenty of ways to prevent Chu Wanning from making a sound.

     When the emperor of the mortal world came in, no matter how angry or fierce he was, there was nothing he could do. He could only blame himself for being too naïve and incompetent. He had no other choice but to leave his lover in the snake cave with him.

     Slender, white fingers opened the curtain, and Shi Mei stared at the man on the bed with a high fever, a tender and greedy gaze in his eyes. “This time, no one will disturb us again.”

     He slowly sat down and raised his hand to touch Chu Wanning’s cheek.

     “...Come, Consort Chu. Let me teach you in this place just a wall away from your husband, hm?”