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2.1% Rest in a Demon's Embrace [BL] / Chapter 5: Soul Seal

Chapter 5: Soul Seal

Luo Xiao had his eyes shut, unsure of what was happening. He was completely unaware of the fact that his appearance had entranced Jiang Yao.

Jiang Yao shook his head and frowned, but he did not waste any time. He formed marks in the air with his finger as Qi flowed out from his body and into the seal.

This seal shot towards Luo Xiao's forehead and landed right between his eyes. It then entered into his body and went towards his mind.

Soon the seal surrounded the golden orb within his head and they seemed to merge together.

Luo Xiao felt a shiver run through his body, and he suddenly felt incredibly weak. The golden orb that had previously shone incredibly bright had dimmed, and Luo Xiao staggered before he was caught in the arms of Jiang Yao.

“Ah right,” Jiang Yao said, “you haven't cultivated before, so it’s only natural for you to feel weak when the seal merges with your soul.”

Luo Xiao shuddered. He felt uncomfortable about the fact that he had made such a deal, but when the images of everyone he knew, half eaten and dead appeared in his mind, he steeled his resolve.

This handsome man had promised him revenge. There was no reason for him to promise Luo Xiao anything as the latter's life was already in his hands, so if he promised something, he must actually mean it.

Selling his soul for the sake of a chance at revenge... Was that really such a bad trade? While thinking about it, Luo Xiao’s hands clenched tightly. His nails dug into his flesh, so deep that blood started to drip from his fingers.

Seeing this reaction from Luo Xiao, Jiang Yao smirked evilly. He needed an Astral Soul for that specific task, but he had never expected to find one in such a manner.

Although this Luo Xiao was weak, he could be trained, and it was likely that this method would yield even better results than any other random Astral Soul he would come across.

Jiang Yao was in a great mood since having come across Luo Xiao, but he said nothing of the sort to the younger man.

“Stay here,” he ordered again before he left the room and vanished. Luo Xiao had no clue where he had gone, but considering that he had already sold his soul for the sake of revenge, he knew that if he ran away, his soul would shatter.

In fact, the soul seal was not as horrifying as Luo Xiao imagined. Although it would shatter his soul if he betrayed Jiang Yao, it wouldn’t do anything if he just left the room. Leaving the room was not the same as betrayal, but Luo Xiao was unaware of this.

He sat down on the bed and before he knew it, his eyelids turned heavy, and he fell into a sleep plagued by nightmares.

Images of his dead friends and the horrifying purple corpse puppet with its blood-red eyes and thick, nauseating scent of blood chasing after him haunted his dreams. Time after time, the terrifying creature forced him into a corner. He found his hands covered in the blood of the puppet and his vision went black more than once.

He tossed and turned in bed while whimpering and crying out loud when Jiang Yao returned to the room. For the first time in many years, Jiang Yao was unsure of what to do.

Should he wake the child up or let him sleep? Both sides had advantages and disadvantages. In the end, when he saw the agonized expressions on the boy’s face, he could no longer wait and moved to the bed where he lightly shook the younger man’s body.

Luo Xiao jolted awake. Tears streamed from his eyes as they slowly focused on the person in front of him.

“Mister Jiang,” He said, but Jiang Yao lifted his hand. “Stop calling me Mister, it sounds weird,” he said with a frown on his face.

“Then what should I call you?” Luo Xiao asked hesitantly while wiping his tears and trying to overcome his feelings of loneliness. He tried to do his best to not think of the nightmares he just had.

He knew that he was all alone in the world now. All he had was this strange man that clearly wanted to use him for something, and this made him even more depressed. As for what this something was, he had not the faintest idea.

He felt terrible, but he dared not let it show on his face. He didn’t want to display his sadness out of fear of the immortal in front of him.

“Just call me Jiang Yao,” he said after a bit of consideration. Not many were given the honor of using his name, but for some reason he wanted this child to do so.

Luo Xiao was petrified, was this not considered too rude? But since the immortal said so, he had no other options than to comply. So he nodded his head with hesitation still evident on his beautiful face.

Seeing him agree, Jiang Yao's smile turned even wider. This caused Luo Xiao to be petrified.

Seeing the young boy's honest feelings entertained the older man, but he said nothing. He just chuckled and waved his hand. Suddenly a book of unknown origin appeared within it.

Jiang Yao then handed the book to Luo Xiao who picked it up carefully. Although it was old, it had been well maintained. But he could tell that the pages were fragile from extensive use over the years.

“This is one of the best soul cultivation manuals in this world,” Jiang Yao said, clearly immensely satisfied with himself. “Start reading it and cultivate in accordance with what is written.”

Luo Xiao had never expected things to proceed this fast, but he nodded his head rapidly. After which he sat down on the floor with the book in his lap.

The calligraphy of the book was exquisite. It was unlike any book Luo Xiao had read before. But he still managed to understand what it said, although it took him longer to read it than it typically would have.

It took a full day to read the rather small book, but when he finished, he felt enlightened.

Warriors had Qi, and their Qi was a type of inner energy that would increase when one absorbed and refined the essence of the heavens and the earth. However, to cultivate Qi, one needed a healthy body and physical strength.

Similarly, there were people with strong souls. They could take the same essence, but instead of strengthening their inner energy, they could use it to create spiritual energy, the energy of the soul.

The book explained how one should breathe and absorb the essence of the heavens and the earth. Then how one should merge this energy with their golden orb, which he now knew that it was called the Soul Palace. It was here, in the Soul Palace, where one’s soul resided.

Having understood the method of cultivation, Luo Xiao wasted no time. He gently placed the book by his side before closing his eyes. Afterwards, he put his hands in his lap and began breathing according to the description in the book.

The whole time, Jiang Yao sat by his side, ready to assist him should any issues with understanding the book or other hardships arise.

Unfortunately, he was disappointed when he found that the child had managed to understand everything on his own, but he was also thrilled. The stronger the boy’s Astral Soul became, the better it was for him.

He waited by his side the whole day for Luo Xiao to understand and comprehend the book's content. Now, he watched the youngster throughout the night as he cultivated.

When he realized that he was just sitting there, doing nothing other than staring at the young boy who was almost glowing with energy, he realized that this was not like him at all. People waited for him; he didn’t wait for others.

Still, he didn’t get upset; instead, he found it amusing and interesting. This child made him more and more curious.

“How lucky that he was an Astral Soul, so I didn’t have to kill him,” Jiang Yao suddenly muttered to himself in delight, but the moment the words escaped his lips, Luo Xiao opened his eyes.

Jiang Yao thought he had heard him and felt slightly guilty, but moments after, he noticed a clueless look in Luo Xiao's eyes as if he was completely unaware of what was going on.

“How’d it go?” Jiang Yao asked, and Luo Xiao pondered for a moment, “I should officially be a soul cultivator now. My spiritual energy has reached the Low Earth Rank for now.”

The energy of soul cultivators was split up the same way as Qi cultivators into Earth, Sky, Star, Moon, and those above that Luo Xiao still didn’t know of.

But where the Qi cultivators had seven stars to each rank, soul cultivators only had Low, Middle, and High classifications: they had just these three per rank.

Jiang Yao's eyes flickered when he heard that he had already stepped into the Low Earth Rank, and he was very pleased.

“Go get some sleep,” Jiang Yao ordered him, and Luo Xiao, although having cultivated, felt rather tired. Therefore, he did exactly as instructed and headed to the bed where he laid down.

Just as he laid down, a thought suddenly occurred in his mind, “Mi... Jiang Yao, are you not going to sleep?” he asked.

“I don't need to sleep anymore,” Jiang Yao stated, but then his eyes gleamed sadistically, “don't tell me that you want me to sleep with you? Are you afraid of the nightmares?”

Luo Xiao froze in the middle of his movement, and he shook his head fiercely, the horror evident on his face.

Although he was horrified by the nightmares, he was even more scared of sleeping next to this person. Although he was strong and treated him quite nicely, he had a feeling that something was odd. There was no reason for him to suddenly take such interest in him, even if he had an Astral Soul.

As if he feared that Jiang Yao would really do what he had said, Luo Xiao took the blanket on the bed and rolled himself up in it. Then he scuttled to the far end of the bed. He was as far as he could be and would fall off if he were to move in his sleep.

Seeing his reaction, Jiang Yao couldn’t help but laugh. Joking with this child was definitely the most fun he had in a very long time.

Jiang Yao waited until Luo Xiao was completely asleep before he went to look at him. It wasn't until he knew he was in a deep sleep with no signs of nightmares, that he left the room.

The sun was rising in the sky by the time Jiang Yao exited the magnificent inn. Although one usually gained energy from cultivating, one had to remember that Luo Xiao had just fused with a soul seal. He was weak through and through.

A couple of hours went by before Jiang Yao returned to the room, only to find that Luo Xiao was now sleeping on the floor. It was clear that he had fallen from the bed, but the impact had not been enough to wake him.

Chuckling, Jiang Yao picked him up and gently laid him down on the bed again. Looking at the young soul cultivator, he was once more entranced by his stunning appearance.


Chapter 6: Moon Anise

Jiang Yao spent the next couple of hours observing Luo Xiao, his face completely expressionless with narrowed eyes. No one could guess what he was thinking.

When Luo Xiao finally awoke an energy that had never been there before rushed through his body.

He had always been incredibly weak and sickly, but this energy let him experience strength for the first time.

Lou Xiao sat on the bed, rubbing his eyes, and trying to wake up when he discovered that there was no one else in the room. He knew that Jiang Yao had left a few times before, so he didn’t think anything of it and just patiently waited.

Not long after, Jiang Yao returned with a maid who brought a basin with water and a servant who carried plates of food.

“Wash your face,” Jiang Yao ordered as soon as the maid set the basin on a table. “Also, eat your breakfast. We’re going out today, so you’ll need some energy.”

Luo Xiao had accepted that his life was now in the hands of this handsome immortal. He nodded and went to wash his face and eat.

As soon as he finished washing his face, he started getting dressed. He had slept in his undergarments, and now he wore the new robe that Jiang Yao had brought him.

If he were at home, then he would alternate between different sets of clothes, but right now he only had one set, and it was one that had been given to him. He didn’t mention his displeasure with wearing the same clothes two days in a row though, as he knew that Jiang Yao wouldn’t care.

Jiang Yao observed his every move. He was like a hawk watching its prey, and Luo Xiao was more fumbling and clumsy than ever before because he was incredibly self-conscious due to this stare that was cast his way.

Seeing his fumbling hands, Jiang Yao smirked. But he kept observing Luo Xiao who was trying to eat his breakfast. The food was high-grade spiritual food. It was made with medicinal herbs and cultivating beast’s meat, yet even so, it was still almost impossible for Luo Xiao to eat it.

The flavor which was known to be the best in Xiyang City was like sand in Luo Xiao's mouth as he felt guilty for just being alive. If he had followed his father out earlier, perhaps whatever killed the corpse puppet could have activated sooner, saving both of their lives.

Everyone and everything was gone, and he was left alone. The thought was so heart-rending that he even forgot that the handsome immortal was waiting for him - Luo Xiao sunk deep into his thoughts filled with agonizing guilt.

Jiang Yao could guess what was happening with the child in front of him, and he felt a strange unrest in his body. Thinking that it was because he was growing impatient, he stood up and hoisted the child up by his arm, instantly waking him from his self-hatred.

“We’re going out since you don't seem to want to eat anymore,” Jiang Yao said with a smile on his face, and his expression was that of a royal that was never to be opposed.

Luo Xiao stumbled to his feet and nodded his head. He had eaten around a third of the food that was ordered for him, but he didn’t have the urge to eat more.

It would be better to leave the inn and his depressing thoughts behind. He knew he had to keep living until he got his revenge. After that... Whatever happened would happen, he didn’t care if he died taking vengeance.

Jiang Yao did not wait for Luo Xiao to finish his thoughts, but instead, started walking out of the room. Therefore, Luo Xiao was left to run after him.

Luo Xiao walked behind Jiang Yao. He dared not walk by his side, so he walked a few steps behind him, and he didn’t dare get too far behind either. If he got lost, things would become very troublesome again.

While walking, Luo Xiao kept his head low and just kept an eye on Jiang Yao's boots. His boots were exquisite, and their embroidery was made from the finest silks that perfectly matched his outfit.

Jiang Yao could feel Luo Xiao's gaze on his feet, and when he looked back, he saw how the young boy had lowered his head. His bangs hid his beautiful face, and as a result, the one who got all the attention was Jiang Yao.

The women who passed by all fawned over this handsome man, while the men were jealous but also admired him. Even the common person without any cultivation could feel the majestic aura of this person as he showed complete disregard for all the people who looked at him.

Soon hostile looks were sent towards Luo Xiao who was walking behind him. Who was fortunate enough to be this person's servant? Why didn’t they have this honor? Thoughts like these went through the minds of many present. For this reason, they blamed the young man walking behind the one that looked like a descended god.

Luo Xiao was startled by the many gazes that were cast his way, and he felt uncomfortable with the hostility that was hidden within so he lifted his head causing many to gasp in shock.

They all had expected that this servant was ugly and disgusting, yet when looking at him, they found that he was very loveable. He was even more beautiful than a woman. He had perfect white skin that was almost translucent like jade.

He had a pair of feminine phoenix eyes, and his face was perfectly oval. He was so beautiful that many had their breath taken away and only then could they shake their heads in disappointment. It seemed their luck in life was just too bad. Of course, this regal expert had a servant with appearances above average. It would be such a disgrace if he walked around with an ugly servant.

Luo Xiao could not understand the thoughts of these people, but after lifting his head, he found that many girls sent him hateful glares and unhappy expressions. They clearly felt threatened.

The corners of Jiang Yao's lips twitched slightly as he saw the puzzled and uncomfortable expression on Luo Xiao's face. For some reason, he enjoyed these expressions that his Astral Soul showed him.

It was clear that previously Luo Xiao had lived a sheltered life. His thoughts were always on his face, easy to read. This made it so anyone could easily see what he was thinking, and most of the time he seemed completely clueless about people's treacherous and evil schemes. It was clear he had grown up in a home filled with love and affection.

For some reason, this thought made Jiang Yao happy. He enjoyed the clueless expressions and the helplessness that Luo Xiao was feeling. It would only be a matter of time before the small young man would solely rely on Jiang Yao for everything.

Jiang Yao did not stop and explain where he was going to Luo Xiao; instead, he continued to walk forward towards his destination. Seeing the confused expression on Luo Xiao’s face about why women were glaring at him was extremely amusing to Jiang Yao.

Suddenly, Jiang Yao came to a stop. It was so abrupt that Luo Xiao walked straight into him, but just when he was about to ask what was wrong, he glanced at Jiang Yao's face. He saw a very unpleasant expression on his face as this immensely beautiful immortal intently observed their surroundings.

Everyone his eyes landed on lowered their gaze. Some of them blushed, while others scowled, but none dared say a thing.

“Come here,” Jiang Yao said to Luo Xiao with annoyance. Before the young man could react, Jiang Yao grabbed him and hoisted him up over his shoulder.

His bangs covered his face, and he could see nothing but Jiang Yao's back. Why had the immortal suddenly gotten angry with him?

Although Luo Xiao could not figure it out, a few of the more attentive observers noticed that he turned angry the moment he saw the men's extra glances at the young man. It was clear that he didn’t enjoy others looking at what belonged to him.

Having been hoisted on top of his shoulder once more, Luo Xiao didn’t say anything, he just turned quiet and accepted his fate. He assumed that he had been walking so slowly that he had annoyed his newfound master somehow.

If he were to speak, he was likely to make the situation worse, so he stayed quiet.

Jiang Yao was clearly satisfied with the fact that he said nothing and soon his lips had curled into a smile once more. He then continued their journey to a more deserted part of Xiyang City as he used one arm to hold the young man on his shoulder.

Soon, they reached an area so close to the city wall that everything was bathed in shadows, and a few small, shabby houses were placed in the shadows of the massive wall.

Jiang Yao entered one of the houses. He did not knock first, he just stepped inside and brought Luo Xiao with him. When they were inside, he finally put down the young man.

“Your high…” someone spoke out, yet before he could finish what he was about to say, Jiang Yao silenced him with a long, hard glare.

“I am Jiang Yao,” he said, and the man nodded his head as if he were a chicken pecking rice. “Yes, yes, yes!” he exclaimed, “Sir Jiang, please come in. I have been waiting for you!”

Luo Xiao frowned and cocked his head in confusion. Jiang Yao had needed to introduce himself, but the man said he had waited for him. What was going on?

Still, he didn't question anything, he just accepted it and shrugged his shoulders. He knew he wasn’t the one who should care about such things, so instead, he just waited behind Jiang Yao.

Jiang Yao sat down on a shabby chair, and the man sat down across from him. He sent a glance at Luo Xiao that was filled with curiosity, but he didn’t ask about this person he knew nothing of.

“I have found the Moon Anise,” he said after a bit of time passed as they shared pleasantries. “It’s in the Chengzi Empire.”

“Our neighbor, the Chengzi Empire, is as deserted as our kingdom, but unlike us, they have many herbs and spiritual fruits.”

“The Moon Anise is a shapeshifting herb capable of moving around, and you can only find it if you team up with a soul cultivator. They need to use their spiritual energy to locate it, but I can tell you its rough location. It cannot leave the valley it is located within, nor I have I told anyone else about it, so as long as no one finds it before you, it is yours.”

Jiang Yao nodded, seemingly deep in thought. “Thank you,” he said, and then he took out an embroidered bag from which he threw three bars of something that looked like gold to the man who had just spoken.

Luo Xiao had not spoken at all, but he understood that Jiang Yao was seemingly looking for some herb called the Moon Anise. Perhaps he could be of use to him this time? He thought to himself before he was utterly surprised. Why did he want to be of use to this immortal?


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