Slag Shou Cultivating Manual - Chapter 54

He Lang’s attitude was amiable, and his submissive demeanor made Ao Li’s expression somewhat better, but he still admonished, “If you behave like this again, there’s no need for you to be the protector; naturally, someone else will take your place.”

He was alluding to the red-clad woman who had just been standing in his place. She had been specially assigned to attend to him by the left protector. In just a few hours, she had been pouring tea, serving water, and showing concern, occasionally flashing a charming smile. If the person in front of him could be as proactive in flattering him, he wouldn’t have been sulking for half a day.

He Lang was indifferent, repeatedly agreeing and placing his recently purchased items aside before brewing a pot of tea to help calm him down. He subtly teased, “But I feel that the sect leader might prefer staying with me.”

Although the woman earlier was very beautiful, Ao Li showed little interest. He was known to be so engrossed in reading boring scriptures when He Lang was nearby that it was quite peculiar.

Seeing through He Lang, Ao Li’s authority was momentarily shattered, and he deliberately gave him a cold look: “My side is adorned with beautiful women, including those skilled in both literature and martial arts. How do you know that I can’t do without you? You are just a man serving by my side; how can you compare with having warm, fragrant, and soft beauty in one’s embrace?”

He Lang was struck by this blow, touched his nose, and immediately denied it. Moreover, his choice of words was somewhat ambiguous, causing He Lang’s face to change slightly. “This subordinate has no intention of climbing too high. Furthermore, I already have someone I admire and would never dare to have other thoughts about the sect leader.”

He thought that this statement would lead Ao Li to snort coldly and let the matter drop. However, his reaction was quite strong, and the anger that had just subsided seemed to rise again.

Ao Li tried to suppress this nameless anger, not showing it, but the internal energy he spontaneously mobilized caused the wooden table beneath his hand to shatter instantly.

Unable to endure any longer, he asked in a hoarse voice, “Who is it?”

Who…? He Lang broke into a sweat for himself. Was Ao Li referring to the person he admired? He had randomly made up a statement, so why did Ao Li so keenly notice this detail?

“Thank you for your concern, sect leader, but this is a personal matter for me. I must—”

Ao Li was not in the mood to listen to his explanation. A gust of wind swept by, and in the blink of an eye, he was in front of He Lang, effortlessly grabbing his collar. Although his eyes were usually calm, they now flashed with a fierce light.

“Will you tell me or not?”

He didn’t understand why he had such a strong, unfamiliar emotion, but the thought of this person’s admired individual made his chest tighten. He couldn’t help but wonder about their appearance, figure, knowledge, martial skills, and why they had won his favor. He also wondered where they were now and whether they had already become close.

These questions made his head spin, and he had no desire to ponder further. Instead, he felt an overwhelming rage and a desire to destroy.

He Lang knew Ao Li’s temperament was erratic and feared that saying too much might only anger him further. He lowered his gaze and avoided direct eye contact, waiting for Ao Li to calm down on his own.

After a long while, Ao Li took a deep breath and managed to calm the demonic thoughts in his heart.

Releasing He Lang, he looked at him with guilt. Since He Lang had been keeping his head down, his brows and eyes appeared somewhat weak, and his long eyelashes fluttered under Ao Li’s gaze, as if brushing against his heart.

Ao Li immediately loosened his grip on his collar and spoke in a noticeably softer voice, “You’d better give up any thoughts about that person… or anyone else. Our sect does not permit disciples to indulge in love; personal feelings will ultimately disrupt important matters.”

He Lang had no response and could only comply, taking out some odd gadgets from his package to amuse Ao Li, hoping to cheer him up.

Seeing He Lang’s effort to please him, Ao Li felt somewhat relieved and became interested in listening to his explanations.

However, some toys were indeed more suited for children, such as the rattle drum in front of him. Not wanting to disappoint He Lang’s good intentions, Ao Li patiently played with it for a while before hesitantly asking, “Do you like it?”

He Lang was also taken aback, looking troubled and speaking softly, “This subordinate thought the sect leader would like it.”

He had seen Ao Li shaking the rattle drum for a long time and thought he genuinely liked it, so he didn’t dare to mention that it was a mistake he had made.

“…I am considering throwing you out.”

“Cough cough.” He Lang clenched his fist to his lips, suppressing his genuine laughter. “This subordinate will leave on his own, so as not to offend the sect leader’s eyes.”

His smiling eyes, which resembled starry skies, captivated Ao Li for a moment, causing him to be momentarily stunned. He then remembered to command before He Lang left, “You, move to my hall.”

This order surprised He Lang.

Ao Li, lying half-reclined, picked up the rattle drum and shook it, producing a crisp sound. “The things you said on the arena… about protecting me and so on… I’m giving you an opportunity to be with me constantly.” His tone was nonchalant, with an air of arrogance, as if this demonic leader was finally showing some mercy.

He Lang was slightly stunned and noticed something else. “So the sect leader watched my arena match? And remembers it so clearly?”

“…It’s none of your business. Get out.”

Ao Li shot a glare at He Lang. After he left, Ao Li turned away and rubbed his heated ears.

Despite He Lang’s lack of martial skills, he was still too dangerous.

…

When He Lang moved into Ao Li’s quarters, the lights in Ao Li’s room had already been turned off. With no disciples guarding the door, He Lang assumed Ao Li was asleep. He took a bath and then went to bed immediately.

Unfamiliar with the new courtyard, He Lang did not notice that the side door was left ajar, allowing his bathing scene to be observed from another location.

When the courtyard was silent, Ao Li appeared like a ghost, materializing at He Lang’s bedside, rubbing his nose which still carried the scent of blood.

He had only intended to satisfy his curiosity by taking a quick look, but he unexpectedly witnessed He Lang bathing. His curiosity had become almost perverse, as he had secretly watched the entire process from the shadows and now sat by his bed.

Ao Li despised his own actions but still remained by the bed, staring at He Lang for half an hour.

During that time, Ao Li was still troubled, feeling the same frustration he had experienced during his first attempts at cultivating demonic skills, almost falling into a state of madness. His senses were disordered, and his breath was erratic, all because of the person before him who was unarmed and vulnerable enough to be easily killed.

Ao Li’s eyes narrowed, and he slowly extended his hand toward He Lang’s neck.

He wanted to resolve the issue by eliminating He Lang, thinking that would make his troubles disappear. He would then return to being the high and mighty, emotionless sect leader everyone spoke of, without yearning for the scenery described by He Lang, without being swayed by his few words, and without being bothered by his admired person.

He had never anticipated that He Lang would have such an impact on him, and by the time he realized it, he was already in this state.

Having been controlled by his father with the strict standards of a soldier for over a decade, he had curled himself up like a hedgehog. Whenever someone tried to open his heart, he would intentionally hurt them, showing his irritable and unpleasant side to drive them away.

Yet, a deeper, more profound desire emerged within him, continually expressing his reluctance. His mind was filled with fleeting images of every scene He Lang had described, his every smile and frown, and the vividly sensual scene from earlier—his slender waist and narrow hips, leaving Ao Li’s vision filled only with He Lang’s beautiful form.

With a heavy sigh, Ao Li withdrew his hand and awkwardly did something he had never done before—he adjusted the blankets for He Lang.

Although he was no longer a young man, he was experiencing the kind of youthful turmoil for the first time, feeling both exhilarated and troubled, unable to resolve the conflict within him.

Ao Li, usually expressionless, showed a rare look of distress in the still of the night as he faced the source of his troubles.

“Although you insisted on getting close, do you know? If you don’t leave now… there will be no retreat. I won’t allow it.”

The person already asleep could not sense his fluctuating emotions and was unable to respond.

…

On his first night after moving, He Lang didn’t sleep well. He left feeling drowsy and encountered many people pointing and whispering. From a distance, he saw Master Gè, who didn’t greet him but gave him a strange look and a nod.

By chance, he met the Ghost Doctor, who was carrying a large bamboo sieve with medicine. Seeing He Lang, he immediately approached him, saying flattering words that left He Lang puzzled.

“Hey! You didn’t know?” The Ghost Doctor clapped his thigh, put down the sieve, and explained.

It turned out that news of He Lang moving to the sect leader’s quarters had spread throughout the sect. Everyone was praising his methods today.

Even the left protector, who had been in the sect for many years, didn’t receive such treatment. Recently, he had been assigned numerous tasks and couldn’t even get close to the sect leader.

He Lang, who had been in the sect for less than half a year, had gone from a fugitive to a low-ranking disciple and then rapidly risen to the position of right protector, becoming the focus of everyone’s attention. It was envied by many. If it were purely based on martial skills, it was impossible—there must be other means involved.

He Lang was sweating nervously, repeatedly shaking his head in denial.

He wasn’t worried about others causing trouble; at worst, he would just stay close to Ao Li. Who would dare to make trouble under his watch?

What concerned him most was the matter from the previous day. Unexpectedly, before he could find an opportunity to investigate his previous suspicions in detail, an anomaly arose in the sect.

**Author’s Note:** There is still a lot of plot to unfold. I’m suddenly anxious; every time I aim to write tens of thousands of words to finish a story, my ear always prefers to write the slow and gradual interaction process. Now, I’ve already accelerated the pace, but if I don’t manage it, this book will indeed be the eighty thousand words the editor mentioned. I’m not suited for writing quick transmigration stories.