Capítulo 36: Cultivation of the Immortal in Black| Pt.6

Li Weisheng didn't shy away from stripping naked. He was quick to remove and neatly place them atop the partition.

Tora was in a state of stupor. She blankly stared at the two naked men who were a little too close to her liking.

Never once in my life would I have imagined being skin-to-skin with two naked men.

Li Weisheng was slightly disappointed when he noticed that Jing Yi had cleanse the drug. He had seen the maid sneakily add a few drops of something into Jing Yi's drink but chose to remain silent and observe them instead.

The aphrodisiac within the drug was popular amongst the Demonic Cultivators. During his past regressions, Li Weisheng had become familiar with the use. He used them frequently as a form of blackmail by drugging his victims and watching them descend into obscenity.

His eyes glimmered with interest as he compared the Jing Yi of his past regressions to the one in front of him. He had never been interested in men before. The mere thought of sleeping with a man made him nauseous.

Even the Jing Yi of his past needed to use a gender-changing artifact. He had prepared the artifact in advance but it seems there's no use this time. He felt for this man, more than he cared to admit.

He had to cast a cooling spell on his body to suppress the dangerous desires that plagued his consciousness. Those inviting lips and sensual eyes drove Li Weisheng crazy.

I want to monopolize him. He's mine.

Tora could feel the lust from Li Weisheng. His gaze made her feel sick and disgusted, so much so, that she started to feel physically ill.

Yu Qingyang didn't miss the paling of her complexion. His fingers tapped softly against the edge of the bath to bring her attention back to him.

"Let's take a walk." His lips grazed her cheeks softly as he whispered. Whether on purpose or not, this action woke Tora from the dangers of her thoughts.

It was only then that she noticed something in her hand. Asier had sent her a note, but it disappeared before she could read it.

What did you send?

He didn't reply to her question. Her chest felt tight and her paled complexion heated up from the frustration that brewed in her heart.

Are you ignoring me?

"I'm leaving." Seeing that they stood up to follow her out, Tora sternly said, "Alone." Tora was so focused on leaving that she missed the clenching of Yu Qingyang's fist and the dangerous glow of his gaze.

Her head was spinning from the heat that grew in her chest. It was tight and uncomfortable. She could barely breathe. Even the breeze of the night couldn't bring it down.

Was she angry? Was she disappointed? She didn't have the answer to those questions. She didn't even know why she cared so much about an entity that forced her into these stupid scenarios.

"Will all this end once I finish the last story? I should just speed run these." The light in her eyes dimmed and her expressions were plagued with dangerous thoughts.

I don't want to play along with these scenarios anymore...

I just want to go home.

Why can't I go home?

The courtyard was empty, free of living beings other than the plants that swayed with the gentle breeze. The lonely figure of a young gentleman floated through the landscape. Every step he took left a trail of blues and greys, the indents of depression and anxiety.

His damp hair that stuck to his face and neck, and his wet skin that dampened the clothes made him look wickedly handsome. Regretfully, there was no one to witness the sight. The sizzling of water could be heard after the person casts a spell.

The storage room had a compartment filled with exotic and mystical weapons. It was guarded by a rune that would kill unauthorized personnel instantly. Tora wasn't bothered by this. The runes would only activate when those under the Middle Golden Core Realm are near. Only an expert at the level of Nascent Soul Realm could craft a rune that injures a Golden Core Realm.

The easiest way to deconstruct a rune is by blood. Blood alone does not contain qi, but if the person injects some qi into the blood, it can be a unique form of spell-casting.

This is a popular practice amongst the Demonic Cultivators. They often write talismans or cancel an active spell with their blood.

The practice is not demonic nor unorthodox, but public perception made it seem so.

This was something Li Weisheng found out after his 28th regression. He had witnessed Wei Ziyang secretly using this practice at Mount Duanqi and came to understand the significance of such a practice.

Although he became the Demon Lord, Li Weisheng prided himself on his virtue. He hated Wei Ziyang even more after learning of his secret practices. "How dare a fraud like him act morally superior!? Our Shizun is so hateful. Don't you agree, Shixiong?"

Li Weisheng's glowing red eyes gazed at the only other person he felt some form of hatred towards. His perfect posture and playful grin were an eyesore.

"Why bother with small talk? Let's get to the killings."

"Don't worry. I'll kill you kindly."

Tora's finger created a tiny sharp qi. Her eyebrows flinched and her hand twitched briefly. The qi had cut into her skin, drawing blood as she scattered it across the now glowing rune. With the formation disrupted, Tora chose the sword of her liking.

It was lightweight and a few inches shorter than a normal sword. The blade was made from soft steel, causing it to bend and twist without breaking.

The handle was thin and short, barely fitting into her male hands. It was made with the same soft steel, which was covered by a beautiful piece of cloth.

The sword was famous for its Master, the Fairy of Luoyang, who was the wife of the late Li Patriarch and also the one who assassinated him.

The sword was awkward in her hands, but that was the least of her concerns. Her steps were heavy as she headed towards Jing Qinru's room.

It was fairly easy for her to get in. The window was wide open, giving access instantly to the dimly lit room. The figure of a young female, illuminated by the soft candle lights, was romantic. Her body was delicate, and her soft sobbing pulled at the hearts of those who witnessed it. She looked pitiful.

The large hands that grip the sword shook slightly. The grinding of her teeth was audible, alarming the beauty. "Who...? A-Yi?"

Fucking hell.

Tora hardened her softened heart, slashing at the person before her with the force of a Nascent Soul Cultivator. She poured her full strength into that strike, cracking the house and solid ground with her status alone.

She aims to obliterate the other, turning her into fine dust, never to be reincarnated ever again. The frightened gaze was filled with shock and confusion.

Then the world paused.

She felt the sword slip through Qinru, striking at nothing but air. Tora stumbled slightly, unsure of what was happening. The sound of life had long been silenced, leaving behind a bone-chilling quietness that echoed in the frozen world.

Tora wanted to speak, but no sound escaped her.

What is happening?

A sudden shiver crept up her spine, causing her skin to crawl with anxiety. The world was cracking, she could see it.

A large figure crawled out of the cracks, slowly creeping towards her with its lifeless gaze. The figure was made from dark smoke, coiling and twisting into a figure of dominance.

It had a shape but was shapeless. It had a mouth but was mouthless. It had eyes but was eyeless.

Tora could see them all, but they weren't physically there. The figure glared at her with uncertainty. Its lips shaped words but never spoke anything.

'Unnecessary actions will lead to death. Do not attempt this again, or else your very existence will be wiped clean.'

The voice echoed in her mind, striking it with so much force, she felt it crumbling. Her skin was being ripped. Her bones were being cracked and ground into dust. Her muscles pulled and savagely toyed with.

Although she stood there, physically fine to the eyes, her mind and soul were struck with immense pain. The world was punishing her for striking the protagonist.

She felt her soul being ripped apart, and then it spoke again.

'Every action has to have a reason. Remember this.'

The encounter was brief, but she felt like an eternity had passed. In the blink of an eye, she returned to the moment she was about to enter Jing Qinru's room. Time had stopped and reversed, but the release of her powerful strike still carried its momentum.

The ground cracked from the intensity of the strike. She was further enough from the window to avoid striking through it.

"AHHHH!" Jing Qinru screamed from the sudden attack that had incurred. She felt like her legs were turning into jelly. The pressure of a Nascent Soul Cultivator was too much for someone who had yet to form a golden core.

"YOUNG LADY! HELP! SOMEONE!"

It was like the Gods were punishing her for attempting to end the story early. Jing Qinru's courtyard was soon filled with guards and people.

Tora glanced at the maids that supported Jing Qinru out of her quarters. Tsk! I can't kill a bitch too early, and I can't allow them to kill me either. What the fuck do they want!?

"JING YI! EXPLAIN THIS INSTANT!" The Patriarch was quick to arrive. The entire banquet had felt the rumbles of the Nascent Soul Realm. Their face paled from the sudden display of status, causing them to shiver in fear.

"I was strolling and stumbled upon a demonic cultivator sneaking into Shijie's courtyard. To stop the demon, I had to break into the treasury. I apologize if I caused a disturbance." Tora was quick to make up bullshit. She bowed to show her sincerity to the guests and people present.

"Demonic Cultivator?" Li Weisheng had arrived just in time to hear her excuse. His face slightly contorted in confusion, eyeing her with suspicion.

It seems he hasn't regressed enough to be able to control his expressions.

"Yes. Luckily, the Demon was low-level. I dealt with it swiftly, obliterating him instantly. I'm sure you would do the same, Shixiong." Tora didn't leave Li Weisheng any room for questions.

"Of course." Li Weisheng knew the Demonic Cultivators better than anyone. They would never foolishly attempt something like this, but he couldn't question Jing Yi's story either. The Jing Yi he knew was obsessed with Jing Qinru and would never allow a hair on her body to be hurt.

He couldn't afford to be linked to the Demonic Cultivators just yet. All he could do was to keep quiet about his suspicion of this incident.

"Thank the Heavens that the Young Master was nearby, otherwise the Young Lady..." The whispers of the bystanders echoed beneath the starless night.

"Please, increase security. I will take my leave first." She cupped her hands and bowed a farewell.

Everyone watched Jing Yi depart with a slight daze on their face. His tall figure seemed to hold a slight fury in them. His hair, free of ornaments, swayed like the waves in the ocean.

Their hearts tickled, and their stomachs cringed. Whether it was because of the alcohol they happily drowned earlier or not, it was clear that the Young Master of the Jing Clan was someone fearsome. I should find a chance to form a closer bond with the Jing Clan.

Their minds spun with antics, trying to come up with something they could offer for a chance at clinging onto the coattails of such people. Their eyes were fixated on the large crack and the obliteration of life in the garden. If only I could also reach Nascent Soul Realm...

"Triple the patrol! Make sure anything suspicious gets reported immediately!" The Patriarch acted quickly, ordering his most trusted aide and guiding the guests back to the banquet hall. "Thankfully, the issue has been resolved. Please, allow me to pour a drink for everyone."

"How dare we ask of that? Let us pour the Patriarch a drink instead!" Everyone used this opportunity to curry favor with the Lord. They chatted and spent the entire night partying to their heart's content.

The party was mere buildings away, yet Tora's heart sank into a deep depression. She had returned to her room, finding it empty with only a note from Yu Qingyang that said, "Master has summoned me back. I will return sometime within the week. Do not cause trouble."

Do not cause trouble?

Tora felt annoyed. She cast a spell to prevent people from eavesdropping. The way Li Weisheng looked at her was concerning. She knew he would take this opportunity to spy on her after becoming suspicious earlier.

"The thing clearly said that unnecessary acts would lead to death. What does that mean?" The more she thought about it, the weirder it was.

"It can't be that killing the main protagonists is not allowed. I would have faced this issue already since I inadvertently killed Sarah and Freya, and directly killed Julie in the last world."

What was that thing? The world's consciousness? A God?

Is it stronger than Asier? Or maybe stronger than both Creation and Death?

Asier, haven't you been too quiet lately?

After waiting a little while, she still hadn't gotten a reply. "Of course."

What does this protagonist have that the others lack? "I don't get it."

Tora wanted to reread the novel, but Asier wasn't here to give it to her, so she could only recount events from memory.

The Jing Qinru in the novel is extremely manipulative, so much so, that she manages to manipulate Li Weisheng without him knowing. She was also why he woke up as the Demon Lord in the first regression.

"Jing Qinru deserves death just as much as Sarah, Freya, and Julie." She felt her head pounding from the abundance of information she tried to pull from memory. "If Jing Yi was the cause of the regressions, Jing Qinru was the master manipulator behind Jing Yi."

Jing Qinru was subtle in her approach. She used virtue and weakness to manipulate public opinion and perception of situations. She knew how to speak in a way that painted the other person in a bad light. She was the definition of a biased narrative.

Within the thousands of pages that decorated the novel, one stood out to Tora. It was short, a mere few words occupied the space.

It read,

If a person is perceived as being good, how can you condemn them for evil?

Morality relies on outward perception. That is the way of the immortals.

At the time of reading it, Tora didn't think much of the weird sentence.