In the evening, Baili Zhen returned from his errands.
Upon receiving the news, Mu Congyun and his companions went to the main hall to pay their respects once more.
They also brought a hastily prepared congratulatory gift:
“We were unaware of Sect Leader Baili’s recent marriage and could only prepare a modest gift in such short notice. Once we return to Profound Ridge and report to Shizun, we will surely send a more substantial gift.”
“Guanyin has been nurtured by Profound Ridge, and your Shizun and I became friends through a fight. There’s no need for such formalities, Nephew.”
Baili Zhen waved his hand graciously.
With refined and scholarly features, dressed in a deep blue Daoist robe and wearing a jade crown, he appeared to be in his early thirties, exuding the air of an elegant and cultured scholar from the mortal world.
Had it not been for Mu Congyun’s account of his deeds, it would have been difficult to associate him with the infamous “Poison Lord of the Eastern Border,” who was said to be obsessed with venom and devoid of humanity.
“Madam mentioned that your purpose here is to take Guanyin back to your sect?”
Mu Congyun nodded: “Indeed. Our junior sister has been away from the sect for a long time, and Shizun misses her dearly, so he sent my junior brother and me to escort her back to Profound Ridge.”
“Unfortunately, your timing is a bit off. Guanyin left two days ago to invite some of our sect’s venerable ancestors on my behalf. It will likely take a few more days before she returns.”
Baili Zhen’s explanation aligned with Madam Liu’s, and neither showed any signs of concealment or peculiarity.
Mu Congyun momentarily wondered if he was overthinking things and steered the conversation toward another purpose of their visit:
“With the sect leader’s marriage, our junior sister, as your adopted daughter, naturally should assist with the preparations. There’s no rush for her return to the sect. However, we have another matter we’d like to request your help with.”
Baili Zhen did not immediately agree: “Nephew, what is this matter you speak of?”
Mu Congyun briefly recounted Jiang Ling’s encounter with the ambush but deliberately omitted the part about the infiltration of the Netherworld demons into Profound Ridge: “We wish to borrow the ‘Cleansing Sin’ from Sect Leader Baili and hope for your consent.”
Upon hearing this, Baili Zhen showed a troubled expression:
“Our Poison Sect practices venom and poison arts. ‘Cleansing Sin’ can only strip away the cultivation of those who have not practiced our sect’s heart techniques. But for disciples who have cultivated our sect’s heart techniques, it is a sacred aid to their practice.
‘Cleansing Sin’ is a treasure passed down by our ancestors. With each use, its efficacy diminishes. It has always been reserved only for disciples who have made significant contributions to the sect…”
“Nephew, if you wish to borrow ‘Cleansing Sin,’ naturally, we cannot let the Poison Sect bear the loss without compensation.”
Jiang Ling took out a lacquered box from his storage pouch and presented it:
“This is a small compensation prepared by my grandfather. Once the matter is settled, the Inquiry Sword Sect will present further generous gifts.”
A maid took the box and opened it, revealing it to be filled to the brim with spirit stones.
It was said that before the “Corrosive Mist Calamity,” the cultivation world used spirit stones as currency for transactions.
But after the calamity, spiritual veins were polluted and depleted, making spirit stones increasingly rare.
Nowadays, the cultivation world mostly uses silver coins like the mortal world, with spirit stones primarily used to channel spiritual energy during cultivation.
Only the most precious items are exchanged for spirit stones.
Baili Zhen’s expression visibly softened: “This matter is not for me alone to decide. The sect must deliberate on it.”
With that, he asked Mu Congyun and the others to wait while he and his wife retreated to the inner hall.
After about a quarter of an hour, Baili Zhen returned and agreed to lend them “Cleansing Sin.”
“Using ‘Cleansing Sin’ to purify the body and wash away cultivation requires seven days. I will arrange it after the wedding ceremony.”
Mu Congyun and Jiang Ling exchanged a glance, shaking their heads slightly.
Jiang Ling bowed again, clutching his chest with a pained expression.
“Sect Leader, you may not know, but my nephew is currently tormented by the Corrosive Mist, suffering daily as if under torture. Any delay risks the mist eroding his mind…”
As he spoke, he covered his face with his hand, appearing as though he wouldn’t survive without the use of “Cleansing Sin.”
Jinni promptly supported him, chiming in, “Indeed, Junior Brother Jiang has been enduring the journey these past few days through sheer willpower. Please show him some mercy.”
Their coordinated act left Baili Zhen with no choice but to relent.
“Very well, we’ll proceed tomorrow morning. I’ll have someone prepare everything.”
Jiang Ling straightened and bowed.
“Then we’ll trouble the Sect Leader.”
*
With the matter of borrowing “Cleansing Sin” settled, the group took their leave and returned to the Red Rose Courtyard.
Night had fallen, and no one was in the mood for further activities, so they retired to their respective rooms.
Mu Congyun gazed at the Message Transmission jade token, still silent, his worry deepening.
Yet, since everything had gone smoothly so far, his concerns seemed almost unfounded.
He suppressed them for now, planning to gather more information during their sightseeing the next day.
Just then, a maid entered to announce that hot water for bathing had been prepared.
With two people sharing a room, they had to take turns washing.
Shen Qi followed the maid’s guidance to the bathing chamber, discovering that though the Red Rose Courtyard was small, it was fully equipped-even boasting a bathing pool.
The pool was already filled with hot water, fine streams cascading from butterfly-shaped nozzles, filling the room with steam.
As Shen Qi moved behind the screen and began to remove his outer robe, he noticed the maid had followed him inside.
He turned to look at her, narrowing his eyes slightly, though his expression remained one of naive innocence.
Blushing, he said awkwardly, “I can manage on my own.”
The maid was quite beautiful, dressed in a thin, pink gauze dress due to the heat.
The steam clung to her, accentuating her curves.
She smiled at Shen Qi and reached out to help him undress, her soft voice laced with allure in the misty air.
“Allow this servant to assist the young immortal in bathing.”
Shen Qi met her gaze, his eyes gradually glazing over as his hand grasped her arm.
The maid smiled faintly, about to slip her hand into his robes, when suddenly the boy’s eyes cleared.
He shoved her away and cried out in a trembling voice, “Senior Brother, save me!”
Hearing the call, Mu Congyun rushed to the bathing chamber and pushed the door open.
There, he found Shen Qi huddled in a corner, clutching his clothes in panic, his face pale.
Pointing at the maid, he seemed unable to articulate his distress, only gazing at Mu Congyun with pitiful eyes before calling out again, “Senior Brother…”
“What happened?”
Mu Congyun strode forward, shielding Shen Qi.
The maid, however, remained composed, curtsying gracefully as she explained softly, “This servant merely wished to assist the young immortal with his bath. He might have been startled by the unfamiliarity.”
Mu Congyun turned back to see Shen Qi shaking his head, his face flushed as he stammered, “Sh-She tried to undress me… and wanted to t- touch me…”
“…..”
The maidservant widened her eyes, wanting to argue, but she saw Mu Congyun’s expression had already turned cold: “Leave!”
The maidservant immediately dared not say more and could only bow before retreating.
Only then did Mu Congyun turn to help Shen Qi up.
Seeing that his clothes were merely disheveled and nothing was amiss, he said unhappily, “The maidservants of the Poison Sect are too—”
The words reached his lips but ultimately couldn’t be spoken, so he swallowed them back forcefully.
“Wash up quickly. I’ll stand guard outside; no one else will barge in.”
Mu Congyun offered this reassurance and was about to leave to guard the door when, before he could turn, his sleeve was tugged.
Shen Qi pursed his lips and looked at him cautiously: “Shixiong, why don’t you bathe with me?”
His lowered eyes still carried a trace of fear as he muttered softly, “I feel like she wasn’t human. Everyone here seems strange-it’s a bit frightening.”
These words struck a chord with Mu Congyun.
Although everything had gone smoothly since their arrival at the Poison Sect, perhaps because there had been no news of his junior sister, he couldn’t shake a lingering sense of danger.
After a moment’s hesitation, Mu Congyun nodded.
They were both men, after all, and he wasn’t overly fastidious. Sharing a bath wasn’t a big deal.
The two removed their outer robes and entered the water wearing only their inner garments.
But Mu Congyun soon realized he had underestimated the simplicity of bathing together.
Shen Qi held up a washcloth and said eagerly, “Let me scrub your back, Shixiong?”
He had staged this act not only to plant a seed on the maidservant unnoticed but also to test the waters for greater intimacy.
In the past, when he saw the debauchery and revelry of those in Fengdu, he had found it disgusting. How could one cultivate if they couldn’t even control their desires?
He had never been one for closeness with others, but that night when he held Mu Congyun as he slept, he had felt a craving to draw even nearer.
Skin against skin, warmth merging with warmth.
It had nothing to do with vulgar, worldly desires. Instead, it was the cozy warmth of another’s body and the clean scent of Mu Congyun that he found himself addicted to.
Just like the time before he had hatched, it made him feel safe and at peace.
And so, he couldn’t help but crave more.
Shen Qi’s eyes shone with anticipation.
Mu Congyun: “…”
Absolutely not!
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