Yue Wuhuan noticed that his master had become clingy, always following him, wanting to engage in small talk about today's weather, the peonies in the garden, birds flying overhead, or delicious food. Was it related to that hidden book on master-disciple relations he had kept from him?
He lightly pressed Yan Yuan Xianjun for answers.
Not daring to provoke the madman, Yan Yuan Xianjun promptly divulged everything.
Upon knowing the full story, Yue Wuhuan found it incredibly amusing. He enthusiastically played the role of the obedient disciple, enjoying games with his master.
Song Qingshi was actually terrible at small talk. Regardless of the topic, he would run out of things to say within three sentences.
Yue Wuhuan found it irresistibly adorable to watch Song Qingshi rack his brains, desperately searching for something to talk about with her. On occasion, when he seemed to hit a conversational dead-end, she would gracefully change the topic to minimize any awkward silences.
Before going to sleep, Yue Wuhuan saw Song Qingshi climb onto the bed once more. He sat beside her pillow, holding a copy of "Legends of Kangqu," and earnestly proposed, "Let's read a bedtime story."
Yue Wuhuan lay on her pillow, listening to him read a fable about a big tiger and a little rabbit. She felt a sense of nostalgia, as though transported back to her childhood when her mother would softly read stories to her.
After reading a few pages, Song Qingshi concluded, "I think I picked the wrong book."
He had casually chosen one of the most popular bedtime stories among the disciples of the Chi Long Sect. Believing it to be a wholesome and enriching choice based on the title, he hadn't paid much attention to its content. What he hadn't anticipated was that the book seemed to be more suitable for much younger disciples.
At least the children's book had healthy morals. He was a bit curious about how the little rabbit managed to outsmart the big tiger.
Song Qingshi had excellent reading habits and disliked leaving things unfinished. Despite his reservations, he persevered and read the story to its conclusion.
Yue Wuhuan buried her head in the blankets, struggling to contain her laughter.
"I'll get a different book tomorrow," Song Qingshi said. Although he felt a bit foolish, he was pleased that he had made her happy.
Yue Wuhuan chuckled for a while before emerging from the covers, curious about what Song Qingshi would do next.
Seeing that she couldn't sleep, Song Qingshi reluctantly suggested, "Since we're both awake, how about we solve some advanced math problems?"
"Sure," Yue Wuhuan's smile widened, "Nothing pleases me more than doing this kind of activity in bed with my Lord."
Delighted by her enthusiasm, Song Qingshi brought out pen and paper, and enthusiastically tackled more than twenty problems, going through numerous mathematical formulas.
Yue Wuhuan immersed herself in the sea of problems, deriving immense joy from the learning experience.
Finally, she noticed that Song Qingshi had once again fallen asleep beside her, completely unguarded.
The Blood King Vine couldn't help but slowly extend from all directions, hovering like a vast spider web. It prodded gently, yearning to ensnare him. She greedily admired her sleeping treasure for a long moment, before reluctantly retracting all but one vine, which softly wrapped around his ankle.
There was no rush.
...
The next day, Song Qingshi pondered long and hard, reviewing all the bedtime stories he knew. He felt that neither "Snow White" nor "The Ugly Duckling" would be appropriate for Wu Huan. Doing math problems every night wasn't a solution either; Wu Huan was even more enthusiastic about studying than he was. Song Qingshi would fall asleep, and Wu Huan would still be wide awake.
He decided to find a book suitable for adults and try again.
Wu Huan had already finished reading "The Three Tiger-Slaying Brothers" and had even composed some insightful reflections on it.
He needed to find another interesting bedtime book...
After pondering for a long while, Song Qingshi seized the opportunity to search for books while Wu Huan was busy studying talismans with the Red Dragon Sect disciples. However, the libraries of the various sects were off-limits without permission. Being a rule-abiding person, he intended to seek permission from Yan Yuanxianjun but ran into Nian Nian on the way.
Nian Nian was a child with a playful and outgoing personality.
Despite Yan Yuanxianjun's repeated warnings to his disciples about the eccentric temperament of the Medicine King Immortal Master, Nian Nian didn't really believe it. She found the cultivator who had saved her to be quite gentle-natured, nothing like the ferocious figure of rumors.
She liked this brotherly figure very much.
Nian Nian took the initiative to greet Song Qingshi and curiously asked what he was looking for.
Song Qingshi, more comfortable talking to the cheerful young girl, asked Nian Nian, "Do you know of any bedtime stories suitable for adults? The kind that your senior brothers and sisters can't put down before sleep? Could you lend me a few?"
"I know," Nian Nian immediately understood, "Sister Lan has many; she reads them every night, and other sisters often borrow them. She's generous and lets everyone take what they like. But lately, she's been acting strange, as if afraid of being scolded by the master for not focusing on her studies? She hid the books, but I know where they are. I'll fetch a few for you."
Song Qingshi was delighted, expressing his gratitude repeatedly. He returned to his room and brewed some spiritual tea, preparing to select a book carefully.
Not long after, Nian Nian came running with more than a dozen books and hastily handed them to Song Qingshi before scampering off.
Song Qingshi took a sip of his spiritual tea and opened the first book, "The Chronicles of Imprisoned Love." He found that the main character, Qing Shi, seemed somewhat similar to him. This character was also an Yuan Ying-level master specializing in both medicine and poison and had kidnapped a mortal beauty named Yue Huan. The book began with a passionate kissing scene where Qing Shi forcefully pressed Yue Huan against a stone wall, their breaths mingling, tasting sweetness, experiencing worldly ecstasy...
Sipping his spiritual tea, he felt something was amiss. After pondering for a long while, a realization dawned on him, and he was stunned.
Was this book indirectly describing his relationship with Wu Huan?
When had he ever done such shameless things to Wu Huan?
Song Qingshi hastily flipped through a few more pages and realized that this was an extremely inappropriate book, detailing activities that should be censored, inappropriate for children and causing one's face to flush with embarrassment. He threw the book onto the floor in shock, picked up the others, and discovered that they were all of a similar vein, featuring characters unmistakably resembling him and Wu Huan.
Although each book changed the names of the main characters, it was clear that they were all referring to him and Wu Huan.
Song Qingshi was completely stunned; he had no idea that people perceived him as such a beast.
The door opened, and Wu Huan walked in, his eyes landing on the books on the table. He slightly furrowed his brows.
Song Qingshi wanted to burn the books, but it was already too late.
On the verge of tears, he stammered, "Wu, Wu Huan, let me explain. I didn't know anything; I've done nothing..."
"I'm aware," Wu Huan picked up one of the books, glanced at its cover, and flipped through a few pages. "People have an innate curiosity. My reputation is too grand, which has unfairly tainted yours." He saw Song Qingshi's puzzled expression and added, "My past is unsavory. People believe that I won your favor by offering my body, so they've made up these scandalous stories. These tales are well-known to be fabrications. Many famous figures in the Immortal Realm have been written about in such a manner. You shouldn't take it to heart."
He had burned many books and reprimanded numerous bookstore owners.
Bookstores in the Immortal Realm were not a lucrative business, and the owners had no influential backgrounds, so they dared not offend the unpredictable Wu Huan.
Nowadays, towns near Yao Wang Valley dare not openly sell such distasteful volumes about him. However, pseudonymously written books were commonplace, created by minor authors using the shadows of real people or stories while clearly stating that the narratives were fictional. The bigwigs of the Immortal Realm often laughed them off and did not take them personally.
Song Qingshi never read novels, let alone those of a risqué nature.
Therefore, he had not paid much attention to these books.
After Wu Huan's lengthy explanation, Song Qingshi finally understood, but he still felt aggrieved.
He had never harbored lustful thoughts about Wu Huan nor had he done anything inappropriate to him. Moreover, he had practiced the Way of Indifference for years, so he had always been chaste. Why would someone write him as a beast?
Tongue entwined, sweet as honey...
Was it really that sweet and delicious?
Song Qingshi lifted his eyes to Wu Huan's stunning lips and, for some reason, the phrases from the books and strange thoughts surfaced in his mind. Startled by his own indecent thoughts, he quickly shook his head to dispel them.
He couldn't afford to have such thoughts.
Wu Huan tidied up the pile of questionable books, planning to hand them over to Yan Yuanxianjun for disposal. Then, sitting before Song Qingshi, he said solemnly, "Master, the events in these books are exaggerated. People fantasize that it's joyful for men to engage in these acts, but the reality is far from it; it's quite repugnant."
Feeling as though he'd been caught red-handed, Song Qingshi obediently sat, listening intently to the lesson.
"The anatomy of men and women is different, making them ill-suited for such activities," Wu Huan continued, providing explicit education with utmost seriousness. "It's much more painful than you'd imagine, and your dignity will be shredded bit by bit. It's a terrible experience. Once, there was a slave who..."
Wu Huan used extensive medical terminology and impassive descriptions, but the impact was strong due to his personal experience. The scenario he portrayed was akin to the torments of hell.
Song Qingshi felt sick to his stomach, his face draining of color.
He thought it was merely a matter of physical injuries, but it turned out to be far more horrifying and disgusting than he had imagined.
"Don't be curious, don't attempt it," Wu Huan said, noticing his palpable fear. He gently stroked the loose strands of hair on Song Qingshi's head and pulled him into a warm embrace. "Master, you can remain as you are now. Don't think or engage in such things, okay? It would pain me deeply if you were hurt."
The world is filled with unsavory elements that can exploit the slightest lapse in vigilance.
What if these things stirred desires in his master?
It's utterly intolerable.
...
Song Qingshi looked into Wu Huan's content eyes, and the uneasy feelings inside him became even more pronounced. Wu Huan had spoken from painful experience, and the raw wounds he had torn open were real. Why, then, did his expression hint at contradictory emotions? As if suppressing a myriad of feelings, his emotional state appeared confused—sadness and joy intermingling, displaying only the side he wished to show, seemingly unbeknownst to himself.
There were other anomalies, such as the poison he had found on a deer he'd picked up from a farmer. He also discovered lethal toxin residues hidden near the mountain's base. Du Ou, a malicious entity designed for assassination, was usually stored in a mustard pouch. Why had it been released? Also, the marks on Wu Huan's wrist were clearly not accidental scrapes; they looked more like self-inflicted injuries. How could he, a skilled physician, not recognize the difference?
After noticing these anomalies, Song Qingshi did his best to accompany Wu Huan and engage him in conversation, trying to figure out what was going on.
Now, he began to discern the answer—Wu Huan's mental health was deteriorating.
Song Qingshi was lost in thought for quite some time...
Wu Huan noticed his distraction and chuckled, "Master, what's on your mind?"
Snapping back to reality, Song Qingshi quickly promised, "Fine, I will neither think about nor do anything that Wu Huan dislikes."
Wu Huan was utterly delighted. "Master is the best."
Softly, Song Qingshi inquired, "What would Wu Huan like for me to do?"
"I'd like to raise lab rats with you, conduct experiments, learn together, and watch the clouds," Wu Huan responded.
Song Qingshi nodded, "Alright."
That night, lacking a pretext to stay with Wu Huan, he returned to his own room. After pondering for a while, he took a deep breath. Then, glancing at the Blood King Vine that had crawled over, he picked it up and tied it around his own ankle.