The Eastern Border Poison Sect was located at the easternmost edge of Shu Province, near the boundary of the Ten Directions Barrier, facing the distant Fengdu with only a narrow stretch of Corrosive Mist Sea and countless mutated monsters and living corpses separating them.
Due to its proximity to Fengdu and the sect’s expertise in poisons and gu sorcery-rumored to cultivate gu insects using the sea’s monsters as hosts through questionable methods-the Western Border sects maintained little contact with them beyond major regional affairs.
Their occasional secret dealings with Fengdu’s demons further strained relations.
Were it not for the fact that one of the Ten Directions Grand Array’s “Gates of Life and Death”—the Blazing Gate-stood near the Poison Sect’s territory under their ancestral guardianship, most sects would have severed ties entirely.
The Wuwang Peak only maintained connections because their junior disciple Xiao Guanyin happened to be the Poison Sect’s “Sacred Gu.”
This time, Xie Cifeng had no certainty about borrowing the “Sin Cleansing” artifact from them.
The current sect leader, Baili Zhen, known as the “Poison Sovereign of the Eastern Border,” was obsessed with gu research to the point of feeding his adopted daughter Xiao Guanyin on gu insects and toxic brews, forcibly transforming her into a “Human Gu.”
When he first succeeded, having reached the Great Perfection of the Boundless Heaven Realm, he arrogantly challenged Xie Cifeng as the latter passed through Shu Province, bringing Xiao Guanyin to battle.
It became Xie Cifeng’s most frustrating fight-Baili Zhen’s gu techniques approached divinity, and Xiao Guanyin, raised as a gu since childhood, feared neither death nor pain while exuding lethal toxins.
Had Xie Cifeng shown even a trace of misplaced mercy, he might never have left Shu Province alive.
The battle ended with Baili Zhen retreating wounded, abandoning the critically injured Xiao Guanyin on the battlefield.
Though thirteen at the time, gu poisoning had stunted Xiao Guanyin’s growth to a six-year-old’s stature.
Left dying on the battlefield, she lay motionless like a true gu insect awaiting orders.
Only when Mu Congyun detected faint signs of life did Xie Cifeng bring her back to Xuanling for treatment.
After her recovery, Baili Zhen demanded her return, claiming her status as the sect’s “Sacred Gu” and heir.
Though reluctant, Xie Cifeng conceded when Baili Zhen invoked his paternal and sect authority, reaching a compromise-Xiao Guanyin would train at Xuanling but spend three months annually at the Poison Sect to learn its affairs.
Capricious and gu-obsessed, Baili Zhen seemed to have given up creating another “Sacred Gu.”
In recent years, he treated Xiao Guanyin with apparent affection as his successor, even fostering ties with Xuanling.
Yet Xie Cifeng remained wary.
“Exercise utmost caution during this visit. If Baili Zhen refuses to lend ‘Sin Cleansing,’ prioritize bringing your junior sister back safely. The elders will handle subsequent negotiations.”
Mu Congyun solemnly agreed.
With Jiang Ling’s corrosive mist requiring urgent purification, Mu Congyun and Jin Ni would depart the next day.
After leaving the Obscure Star Pavilion, he began packing for the journey as night fell.
Just as he was about to rest, a knock suddenly sounded at his door.
Mu Congyun opened it to find Shen Qi standing there in sleeping robes, clutching a pillow.
Those deep black eyes stared fixedly at him, filled with a trace of unease: “I want to stay with shixiong tonight.”
After speaking, his lips pressed together nervously, and the hand at his side clenched tightly, as if afraid Mu Congyun would refuse.
Mu Congyun, who had intended to say no, sighed and stepped aside: “Come in.”
Shen Qi bit his lip hard to suppress a smile, following closely behind like a little tail.
When Mu Congyun closed the door and entered the room, he saw Shen Qi had already carefully placed his pillow on the bed right next to his own.
The boy stood obediently by the bedside, looking at him with hopeful eyes.
“…”
Having already let him in, he couldn’t very well make him sleep on the floor.
There would probably be no sleep tonight.
Mu Congyun sighed quietly to himself and sat on the edge of the bed, patting the space beside him in invitation.
Shen Qi swiftly removed his shoes and climbed in, the gloomy expression from earlier now animated.
Those moist eyes gazed up at him like a comforted little animal, full of trust and joy.
So well-behaved.
Mu Congyun subtly flexed his fingers, suppressing the urge to reach out.
Keeping a stern face, he assigned homework: “My trip will take ten days at fastest, half a month at most. You must practice your sword diligently on Wuwang Peak-I’ll check when I return.”
“But sword practice is so hard.”
Shen Qi extended his hands.
“I got blisters, but still can’t get it right.”
His expression carried a hint of coquetry—an intimacy and dependence he never showed others.
Mu Congyun examined them and indeed found blisters at the base of his thumbs, already broken.
The rough handling had even exposed tender red flesh beneath.
Against Shen Qi’s unhealthy pallor, the wounds looked particularly gruesome.
Mu Congyun frowned.
“Why didn’t you apply medicine?”
Without waiting for a response, he fetched ointment and carefully tended to the injuries.
When he’d first learned swordplay, he too had gotten blisters.
Too embarrassed to tell his master, he’d waited for them to heal on their own -until his master noticed and applied medicine for him.
Shen Qi had originally planned to use minor injuries as proof of his “incompetence” with swords, hoping to avoid further practice.
He hadn’t expected Mu Congyun to personally treat him, leaving him momentarily stunned.
The young man’s eyes were lowered; from this angle, Shen Qi could see their slightly upturned shape.
He had ruifeng eyes-sharp at the corners with narrow creases that tapered outward, lending his features a colder, more unapproachable air.
But those who knew him well understood he was both soft-hearted and easily fooled.
Shen Qi meant to smirk derisively, but for some reason, his lips remained tightly pressed together.
Mu Congyun’s movements were gentle, as if afraid to hurt him.
He even mimicked human parents comforting children, occasionally blowing softly on the wounds.
It was clearly his first attempt-clumsy and awkward, almost comical.
Yet no matter how comical, this was the first time someone had tended to his injuries.
He bore many scars, but no one had ever applied medicine for him before.
Shen Qi looked at him with an inscrutable expression.
That urgent desire to draw closer rose from the depths of his heart again, gnawing at him like ants, making him fixate on Mu Congyun’s exposed neck as he bowed his head he wanted to press against it and feel the warmth of that skin.
This was a lingering aftereffect from before.
He realized not only did he not dislike Mu Congyun’s proximity, but he even occasionally harbored greedy thoughts, as if addicted.
And he had never been one to deny himself.
Leaning in, Shen Qi rested his head against Mu Congyun’s neck, his nose brushing the side of it, breathing in the crisp scent of grass and trees.
Mu Congyun was startled by the sudden closeness, his body stiffening abruptly, muscles tensing, goosebumps rising where their skin touched.
“Shixiong?”
Shen Qi’s voice lifted in a questioning call.
Mu Congyun snapped out of it, suppressing his instinctive resistance with effort as he continued applying medicine.
“Rest for two days until your injuries heal.”
But that wasn’t Shen Qi’s goal.
Narrowing his eyes in contentment at the other’s warmth, he continued pitifully, “Can’t I go to Shu Province with Shixiong? I’ve never met Fourth Shijie.”
Without waiting for an answer, he nuzzled against him pleadingly, his voice dropping low.
“I want to go with Shixiong.”
“This trip to the Poison Sect: may not go smoothly.”
Mu Congyun had some idea of what he feared, but this journey to Shu Province might be dangerous-it was safer for Shen Qi to remain on Wuwang Peak.
“I won’t hold Shixiong back.”
Shen Qi buried his face in the crook of his neck, tightening his arms around Mu Congyun’s waist as if afraid of being left behind.
Mu Congyun was nearly suffocated by the grip.
After a long hesitation, he sighed in resignation and patted Shen Qi’s back.
“Let go first. Tomorrow, I’ll ask Shizun for permission. Only if he agrees.”
“If Shixiong asks, Shizun will definitely agree.”
Shen Qi lifted his head, eyes bright as he gazed at him.
Mu Congyun found it hard to refuse that look.
He could only nod sternly and urge, “Go to sleep. We’ll talk more tomorrow morning.”
With this assurance, Shen Qi obediently lay down beside him.
Noticing Mu Congyun showed no intention of resting, he peeked out from under the blankets in confusion.
With another person in the bed, Mu Congyun naturally couldn’t sleep.
But voicing this reason might make Shen Qi overthink and feel hurt, so he made up an excuse.
“I’ll meditate to recuperate.”
Shen Qi understood the principle of measured restraint-pushing too hard would backfire.
He didn’t press further, merely shifting his pillow closer to Mu Congyun’s legs, feigning attachment before pretending to close his eyes.