After three attempts—each ending with Yu Qingtang fleeing with his tail tucked between his legs—Ye Chenyan finally ran out of patience. He picked up Yu Qingtang’s meditation cushion and moved it to the corner of the cultivation chamber.
“Sit here.”
He stood over him and pressed him down without leaving room for refusal.
Yu Qingtang obediently sat with his back against the wall.
He felt guilty, too.
It was not as though he wanted to run away. But he was like someone who was ticklish being poked in all the worst places. Even if he wanted to endure it, it was hard not to squirm.
Now his back was against the wall, both hands trapped in Ye Chenyan’s grasp. He was cornered with nowhere to run.
Only then did Yu Qingtang realize—
Long Aotian had him pinned against the wall.
He stared bleakly at the ceiling.
What a spectacular life. How many ordinary men ever got the honor of being wall-pinned by a Long Aotian?
...Not that it was anything to brag about.
Ye Chenyan sat down in front of him. Their knees nearly touched as he lowered his voice and reminded him, “Clear your mind and focus. Feel it properly.”
Yu Qingtang sucked in a breath. “I have to feel it properly too?”
“Ahem.” Ye Chenyan’s expression shifted slightly as he looked away. “Not feel anything in particular. You at least need to sense whether the black energy in your body has been fully dissolved.”
Yu Qingtang took a deep breath, lifted his chin, and nodded. “Then I’ll do my best!”
He did his best and still failed to last three seconds.
Fortunately—or unfortunately—he had nowhere to escape to this time.
Scorching, domineering spiritual power poured into his meridians. Ye Chenyan was probably being as gentle as he knew how to be, but Yu Qingtang still could not stop himself from trembling.
Especially when he felt the black energy clinging to his meridians being forcefully swept away by Ye Chenyan’s spiritual power.
His entire body seemed to have been lowered into a hot spring, steadily heating until his cheeks flushed red and sweat gathered on his forehead.
The circulation of spiritual power seemed to take an especially long time.
When Ye Chenyan finally withdrew it, Yu Qingtang had curled up in the corner like a boiled shrimp. His face and neck were bright red, and even the fingers clasped in Ye Chenyan’s hand had taken on a rosy flush.
Ye Chenyan froze.
He had assumed Yu Qingtang kept running because he could not bear the pain of having the black energy removed.
But now...
His ears reddened as the realization dawned on him. Somewhat at a loss, he gently brushed Yu Qingtang’s cheek with his fingers.
“Your face is so hot. Are you all right?”
Yu Qingtang slowly opened his exhausted eyes, then silently tipped over onto the meditation cushion.
“Hey!” Ye Chenyan startled and hurriedly caught him. “You—”
Yu Qingtang lay facedown. “Leave me alone. Let me rest for a while.”
“Are you really all right?” Ye Chenyan gently brushed aside the damp strands of hair stuck to his forehead. “Circulate your cultivation method once and see whether there’s any black energy left inside you.”
Yu Qingtang shakily turned his head. “I’m already like this, and you still want me to cultivate?”
“Ahem.” Ye Chenyan coughed lightly. “That senior said black energy harms ordinary cultivators without benefiting them in the slightest. I have to make sure it’s all gone from your body.”
“Run your cultivation and feel for it.”
He coaxed him softly. “Once it’s gone, I’ll let you rest.”
Yu Qingtang opened his eyes warily. “And if it isn’t gone? You aren’t planning to do that again, are you?”
Ye Chenyan blinked at him.
Yu Qingtang flopped backward like an idle cultivator escaping disaster, pressing his back against the wall as he shook his head frantically.
“It’s gone! It’s all gone! What black energy? What demonic energy? There isn’t any left at all! I feel incredibly clean right now!”
Ye Chenyan narrowed his eyes and mercilessly hauled him upright, arranging him back into a meditating position.
“You just want to run away. You didn’t honestly feel for it at all.”
“I did!” Yu Qingtang struggled desperately. “Really, I felt for it just now! There’s nothing left! Not one wisp!”
Ye Chenyan raised his brows and pinned him back into the corner.
“But I don’t believe you now.”
“Wait!” Yu Qingtang was on the verge of tears. He grabbed Ye Chenyan’s lapels and tried to beg for mercy. “Then at least let me rest for a while.”
If Yu Qingtang had not looked genuinely exhausted, Ye Chenyan might have suspected that he was acting sweet and pitiful just to escape.
After all...
That was one of his ultimate techniques.
Yu Qingtang secretly lifted his head and looked at him with pleading eyes.
“You really don’t feel anything at all?”
Why was he the only one reacting so strongly? The situation had already been embarrassing enough, and this only made it worse.
Ye Chenyan’s gaze flickered. His ears turned red, and he cleared his throat before looking away.
“No.”
“Don’t let your thoughts run wild.”
“This...”
Yu Qingtang suddenly scrambled upright and held out his hands to him.
“You put your hands on mine too.”
Ye Chenyan raised an eyebrow. “Why?”
“I’ll take a stroll through yours.” Yu Qingtang lifted his chin, clearly determined to return the favor. “Then you’ll understand why I reacted so strongly!”
Ye Chenyan gave a soft laugh and placed his hands over Yu Qingtang’s.
“Fine. Go ahead.”
Yu Qingtang took a deep breath and shoved his spiritual power over in one fierce push. Then he cracked one eye open to peek at Ye Chenyan.
Ye Chenyan looked down at their ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) clasped hands, met his gaze, and even raised an eyebrow at him.
Calm and unruffled. Immovable as a mountain.
Yu Qingtang: “...”
He silently withdrew his hands.
Ye Chenyan looked a little surprised. “You’re not cultivating anymore?”
“No.” Yu Qingtang turned his back on him. “I’m done.”
Why was he competing with Long Aotian in the first place?
“Uh...” Seeing that Yu Qingtang’s pride had taken a blow, Ye Chenyan tried to salvage the situation. “Actually, actually, I did feel something. Your spiritual power is clear and cool. In the summer...”
Yu Qingtang turned his head slowly. “Very refreshing, is it?”
Ye Chenyan looked at his expression and nodded slightly.
“Heh.” Yu Qingtang turned back around and lay down. “I’m tired. I’m going to sleep for a while.”
“What’s wrong?” Ye Chenyan carefully poked his shoulder. “You’re not cultivating anymore?”
“I’ve accepted it.” Yu Qingtang’s expression was calm and numb. “The world was never fair.”
He covered his face and wailed, “Some people’s spiritual power is domineering and oppressive, scorching and searing. Other people’s spiritual power can only cool you down in summer...”
Ye Chenyan: “...”
He rubbed his nose awkwardly. He had probably never had to rack his brains this hard to comfort anyone before.
“Actually, it might not necessarily be your problem,” Ye Chenyan said quietly. “Maybe it has something to do with my special constitution.”
Yu Qingtang’s ears perked up. He turned his head to look at him hopefully.
“Is that possible?”
“Mm.” Seeing that Yu Qingtang was listening, Ye Chenyan continued smoothly. “Didn’t that senior say so too? My constitution is special. It may be related to that.”
“Hm.” Yu Qingtang rubbed his chin. “That does make sense.”
So it was not that he was too weak.
Long Aotian was simply too strong.
And Long Aotian being strong was perfectly normal.
Yu Qingtang made peace with it again.
Ye Chenyan let out a quiet breath of relief and casually added, “After all, I’ve never heard of anyone reacting that strongly to dual cultivation...”
Yu Qingtang’s eyes flew open.
“What cultivation?”
Ye Chenyan froze. “Uh...”
Yu Qingtang’s finger trembled as he pointed at him in disbelief.
“Dual what?”
“What kind of dual cultivation did you just say?”
He slowly drew back. The redness that had only just faded returned to his face.
“Y-you...”
“No, not that kind of dual cultivation.” Ye Chenyan’s ears reddened too as he hurriedly tried to explain. “Ahem. This is cultivation practiced by two people. Just ordinary assistance with cultivation.”
Yu Qingtang remained on guard, staring at him with wide eyes. “But it felt strange just now!”
“I let you pass spiritual power into me just now.” Ye Chenyan looked at him. “I didn’t think it felt strange.”
Yu Qingtang narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “Really?”
“You’re not trying to trick me, are you?”
“I’m not that easy to fool.”
Ye Chenyan instinctively raised an eyebrow. But he knew that if he laughed now, he would definitely anger him. He cleared his throat and restrained himself, looking Yu Qingtang straight in the eye.
“Really.”
“Sometimes, when disciples cannot grasp a cultivation method, their masters guide them through a full circulation with spiritual power.”
“There’s something like that?” Yu Qingtang looked lost. “Then did your master guide you that way too?”
“No,” Ye Chenyan denied automatically.
Yu Qingtang’s eyes widened.
Ye Chenyan hurriedly corrected himself. “That was because I understood it quickly. There was never any need for it.”
A burst of noise came from outside. Ye Chenyan’s expression shifted.
“It sounds like Chi Yantian came upstairs.”
“If you don’t believe me, I’ll take you to ask him.”
“Wait!” Yu Qingtang grabbed him, his eyes widening in horror. “How are you going to ask? Are you going to tell him that you did this and that to me, then ask whether it counts as dual cultivation?”
“I obviously wouldn’t ask it that way.” Ye Chenyan raised a hand and opened the cultivation chamber door.
The red-haired Chi Yantian happened to be passing by outside. He brightened when he saw them.
“There you are! I was looking for you two!”
He strode inside without ceremony, Flamelet following behind him.
“I’ll cultivate with you!”
“We’ll talk about that in a moment.” Ye Chenyan greeted him with a smile. “Brother Chi, how do you use the Fire God Art to dissolve black energy for your disciples?”
“Roast it a little!” Chi Yantian raised a hand, kindling a lotus of flame in his palm. “You send spiritual power into their bodies, then—”
Ye Chenyan turned to Yu Qingtang. “See?”
Yu Qingtang believed him halfway. “And then?”
“Then they circulate their spiritual power through their meridians.” Ye Chenyan smiled at him. “Right?”
“Right.” Chi Yantian was about to continue when Ye Chenyan nodded.
“You see? That’s all it is.”
Yu Qingtang blinked uncertainly as Ye Chenyan stood and pushed Chi Yantian and Flamelet toward the door.
“The technique that man gave me is unusual. I’m worried something might go wrong. I need you to cover for me outside.”
Chi Yantian did not suspect a thing. “Oh. All right, then. I’ll cultivate in another room.”
Only after the cultivation chamber door closed behind him did he scratch his head in confusion.
“Wait, what did he mean just now?”
“I send spiritual power over, and then of course they have to circulate it themselves to dissolve the black energy. What else could they do?”
He lowered his head and locked eyes with Flamelet.
Both were completely baffled.
Inside the cultivation chamber, Ye Chenyan sat down again and looked at Yu Qingtang.
“See?”
He leaned closer, looking almost a little pitiful.
“You don’t still distrust me, do you?”
Yu Qingtang hesitated for a moment. Then he narrowed his eyes and leaned closer too.
“What if you’re lying to me?”
Ye Chenyan blinked.
“If I am lying to you...” His gaze flickered, and he gave a low laugh. “Then I can only apologize properly. I’ll treat you to delicious food, come whenever you call, stay by your side, and keep you safe wherever we go...”
Yu Qingtang scratched his chin. “Hm. That does sound fairly sincere.”
Ye Chenyan’s eyes curved with a smile. Then he suddenly asked, “What about you?”
Yu Qingtang tilted his head in confusion. “Hm?”
Still smiling, Ye Chenyan looked directly into his eyes.
“What if you lie to me?”
Yu Qingtang guiltily looked away.
He did not dare meet Ye Chenyan’s eyes as he answered in a small voice, “Then... then I’ll treat you to something delicious too?”
“And... I probably can’t keep you safe. So I’ll apologize, and I’ll try to make you happy?”
He secretly looked up at him.
“Will that do?”
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