70 I’m not going to rate him! (1/2)

Chen Leike was atop a horse. The grass swayed, pressed flat with the gusting winds. The valley was vast and Xinlei stood like a tiny dark jewel in the distance, calm and eerie. The demon city was flanked by two tall cliffs and a thickness of foul energy that could be scented at even a great distance. His horse neighed, muscles twitching in protest but Chen Leike urged it on.

He alone was brave enough to venture out to get a closer look at the ominous city, where rumored that no decent man had stepped foot within in centuries. From a safer distance, it was difficult to glimmer any evidence of defensive arrays around it.

It had been Peng Zhugen who eventually talked them into caution and Chen Leike was the first to throw it out the window. The wind howled as he approached, prickling his skin with a chill that did not belong in summer.

At first, he felt an itch in his ear that made him flinch and tilt his head. His hand came up instinctively to scratch it. And at that very moment a dark arrow, as swift as a falcon and silent as still water, shot right by his face, taking with it a scrape of skin and flicks of loose hair.

Chen Leike blinked. If he hadn't moved to scratch the itch, his skull would have been pierced through and his brain splattered upon the plains. Those who were unfamiliar with Chen Leike watched with stunned and horror-stricken faces. But Chen Leike himself only smiled. This devilish fortune was simply a constant in his life.

He was sure that in his past life he had been some sort of Buddha or saint and for whatever reason did not ascend to the Heavens. There was a reason why he was called the Immortal of Luck.

And thus he had not a single flick of fear or worry in his heart. He looked back over his shoulder and urged his horse towards the dark arrow pulsing with vile energy. Wrapping his hands in a silken handkerchief, he plucked the thing from the ground and waved it at the city that loomed in the distance.

Chen Leike chuckled, ”Thanks for this!” And galloped back the cultivator's camp.

…

”It would be of great benefit for you,” the little phoenix said.

Of course, Liu Sumeng knew that but what kind of person actually followed through with doing everything that was helpful to them? Mediating was beneficial as well, so he decided to meditate.

Huo Tang continued to chirp, ”Now, isn't the great Ivory Sword Saint acting like a child?”

Liu Sumeng felt his focus falter and his eyes blink open. Though his expression appeared calm, both shame and annoyance welled within him. He didn't like being accused of acting childish but for some reason, it felt difficult to refute. ”…”

”Be good and do what the rude boy said.” Huo Tang huffed at him from atop a hanging lantern. There was no doubt that she was upset over being flicked and was now protesting against head pets and nagging him with annoying words.

But his tumultuous heart was not easily appeased and he continued to glare at the bathrobes as though they offended him.

”Don't tell me you're shy!” Huo Tang squawked from afar, each word followed with little bursts of fire.

Liu Sumeng felt the urge to take the comb he'd been using and volt it at the phoenix. The only reason why he didn't was that the following words coming out of her tiny beak were actually quite sound, ”You might come across a great foe on this journey of yours. An enemy that has the power to capture Sect Leader Zhao should not be taken lightly. Do you think it not wise to ensure that your body is in tip-top condition?”

”...” Liu Sumeng could not argue again her. If Huo Tang had donned her human form, there was no doubt she would be smirking. She knew that she won.

Reluctantly, he slowly changed out of his regular clothes. Perhaps at this point, Yuan Xuelan already had this fill of soaking in the springs and left. Maybe there was hope for his anxious heart.

In reality, Liu Sumeng understood he couldn't escape. He needed to deal with his own twisted feelings and endure the suffering brought about by his own weakness. There was no other way to go about this.

Steeling himself, he finally stepped out of his room and made way for the springs.

But as he approached he could hear voices that came from around the bend. One was male and identifiable as Yuan Xuelan. The other was female, familiar, but Liu Sumeng struggled to come up with a face.

But wait, weren't the baths separated by gender? A strange feeling slithered in his stomach and Liu Sumeng quickened his pace. He rounded the corner and froze.

There, next to the springs, Yuan Xuelan was sprawled on the ground and a woman was straddled on top of him.

”Stop moving around!” She giggled her hands boldly groped his stomach and Liu Sumeng could see the outline of Yuan Xuelan's muscles from the wet, clinging robes. ”Let me see how much your body has developed over the last two weeks!”

Yuan Xuelan bit back laughter, ticklish beneath Nan Chang's fingers, ”Get off me you fiend!” He said without any urgency or bite.

Liu Sumeng felt his entire world turn cold.

What was this woman doing here? On top of Yuan Xuelan--

Liu Sumeng stumbled backward and only then did the two who were play fighting on the ground notice his presence.

But Liu Sumeng made a quick retreat back into the hallway, too terrified to see their reaction, too stricken to face his own emotions. He dashed back to his room and slammed the sliding door closed. His entire body was trembling from shock.

There were not many people that Liu Sumeng hated from the depth of his soul but Nan Chang made it on that list. A favored consort. A twisted, scheming bitch. Liu Sumeng had not a single good memory of her no matter how fond Yuan Xuelan was towards that woman.

Liu Sumeng held his temple and tried to steady his breathing to cast away the horrible recollections of Consort Nan. But his spirit still shook, both fearful and angry at the very sight of her.

He tried to erase the image of a cruel sneering woman. The one that he witnessed now only watched him with wide eyes of surprise. Perhaps in this incarnation, she was yet a pure thing, uncorrupted by power. Perhaps this was a chance for Liu Sumeng to understand what Yuan Xuelan liked about her…

But Liu Sumeng felt even more nauseous and cradled his abdomen at the thought.