บท 36: Already passed the point

[ 12.115% ]

This was the progress percentage that now decorated the main quest page of his system.

Zhang Wang had no more words for this ridiculous system of his and decided it was best to ignore it altogether. Perhaps he should have been more startled, upset or disgusted. Blowjobs were one thing, but sticking your XXX into a man's XXX was already passed the point excusable with 'no homo.'

Yup, Zhang Wang had definitely landed himself in homo-ness, and he was…

Conflicted.

But not conflicted enough to be robbed of his sleep. He had stumbled back to the campsite with Yu Yanlin, still drunk and dizzy off the joys and pleasures that made his body feel soft. Couldn't even stop himself from stealing a final kiss before dropping down into a boneless heap. The pleasures won off this demon king was, to put simply, out of this world.

Body compatibility was no joke.

When he woke up nestled in Yu Yanlin's arm, covered with his scent, he thought that maybe, just maybe, he'd done something wrong.

He always had that weird nagging feeling in the back of his mind when he woke up with some girl in his arms, or kissed a friend a few times too many. For some reason, they always seemed to get the wrong idea.

Awkwardly, he wiggled out of Yu Yanlin's hold, amused that the demon was sleeping so quietly and peacefully like this. It was probably the first time he woke up before the other since that time in the cave. The tiger king grumbled a little his sleep, arms pulled closer to his chest now that Zhang Wang was no longer there for him to hold.

Adorable.

Zhang Wang wanted to know this person better. It wasn't like he was interested in romance or anything, but he did enjoy the 'friend' part of 'friends with benefit.'

Did Yu Yanlin count as a friend? Probably not. Maybe Zhang Wang should try better at becoming his friend. But it seemed so complicated. He sighed and absently reached down to part the hair away from Yu Yanlin's eyes.

He was cute like this. And Zhang Wang could not imagine him being the Cruel White King at all. He almost felt crazy for even wanting to kill such a person, an odd dread curled in his heart, making him feel a bit nauseous.

Alas, nothing in this world was ever as simple as it seemed.

When Chu Changying woke up, she refused to meet Zhang Wang's eyes and only barked at them to get a move on. He simply assumed it was because she was still angry at him with the thing about the Dawn Star getting eaten by a giant worm. It wasn't his fault though! At least, not entirely, so he wished she could at least cut him some slack.

The shorter girl that followed them was in no better mood and was scowling at them the entire way. And whenever they made eye contact, her little face would turn red. Strange. He kind of hoped that she didn't randomly fall in love with him or something weird.

They continued to trek across the grassland. Now that they had conquered the Blue North Summits, nothing else too dangerous impeded their journey.

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In the Virtuous Phoenix manor, Sect Leader Sikong Yong was having grapes fed to him by a few exotic birds. He was reclined pleasantly on a satin covered pillows on a bench in his favorite Peach Pavilion. There was the soft sound of water trickling, and a blurry vision could be seen in the pond of his only and beloved adopted son. It was a pity that Zhang Wang yet refused to call him Yifu.

He chuckled lazily at the thought, plucking another grape from the crane's beak.

The north was both cold and dry, with long winters biting and harsh. It was no place for a sprawling garden filled with delicate beasts from the south. Yet Sikong Yong built precisely that within the confines of his magnificent manor. There were many pleasant changes he made to the place ever since his dreadful brother died, and he was able to take over.

Now, if only his nephew and heir could just drop dead as well, perhaps he'd have an excuse to name his cute Zhang Wang as heir instead, now wouldn't that be wonderful?

It was a pity that Sikong Ren would be returning from the war unscathed. Indeed, a shame.

Shaking his head with a sigh, Sikong Yong rose to his feet. For his years, he looked as young and energetic any youth in their mid-twenties, but he was old. Old enough to use his age as an excuse for the sprained hip and retirement from the front lines. He was just recovering his strengths, was what he'd tell others.

But Sikong Yong was a person with a decently thick skin and did not care about the fleeting rumors about his bad personality. He was never raised to be Sect Leader after all, and he was doing a mighty good job for someone who wasn't, if he were to say so himself.

The birds fluttered, chasing after him to fix his hair as he walked. He needed to look presentable after all. It'd been months since his cute adopted son set foot in his halls, and he seemed to have brought quite a following with him.

Sikong Yong needed to be sure he seemed at least a little intimidating. A few exotic birds held up a mirror for him to check his appearance. He tried a smile and then a smirk and nodded, "Good."

There was an audience waiting for him.

…

"Don't disrespect Uncle Sikong Yong," Zhang Wang was giving Yu Yanlin the drill as they made it up Xunfeng Peak, "he's a weird guy and I think he's obsessed with me because of my mother…anyway. Just try to avoid him if you can."

"Avoid Sikong Yong, alright." Yu Yanlin nodded thoughtfully.

Chu Changying, who walked in front, rolled her eyes, "As if you'll be able to ignore him."

"Avoid Chu-jiejie while you're at it." Zhang Wang added casually, which earned him kick to the heel.

Xunfeng Peak was a tall mountain though barren of any tall trees. The Virtuous Phoenix Sect Manor could be seen from afar, like a red jewel nestled in the gray mountain top. The road up was a steep one, but no one was complaining. This was hardly considered traitorous in comparison to the North Blue Summits.

"Other people you should avoid includes the Jade Flower Elder and Sikong Ren as well. But from what I've heard, they're not around."

Chu Changying huffed, "Avoiding your Shidi is one thing, but how do you go about telling your so-called lover to avoid your Shizun? That's just poor manners."

"The Jade Flower Elder is your Shizun?" Yu Yanlin asked.

"I know," the little princess suddenly spoke up, "She's that Elder." And made an indecent motion in front of her chest.

Zhang Wang laughed awkwardly, "That Elder, yes. Do you know her?"

Ariunbayar shrugged, "I fought her once for a side-… for fun. She's pretty strong."

"Yes," Zhang Wang agreed as he shuddered. "Strong like a gorilla."

"Stop disrespecting Shizun!" Chu Changying shouted at them and stomped on ahead, her mood had been exceptionally irritable of late and made the Immortal of a Thousand Blossoms sigh. He decided it best just to avoid her in the end.

"Anyway, what was I saying again…" Zhang Wang hummed.

"Avoid Sikong Yong, avoid the Master of the Strays, avoid the Jade Flower Elder…" Yu Yanlin listed the names.

"Ah right!" Struck with the reminder, Zhang Wang continued to list off names, and the demon king was beginning to wonder if he was supposed to avoid the entire sect altogether. It was slowly seeming that way, and he was having trouble remembering all the names.

Then they reached the summit. Gates opened upon their arrival. There was no time to rest from their travels as summons came for them to greet the Sect Leader.

Zhang Wang sighed as he looked around. Somehow, the Sect Leader had managed to make this place even more green and gaudier since his absence. Where Sikong Yong got the time, and money was something that continued to elude him. Gold paint now decorated the eaves and pillars with little statuettes found here and there, many bearing facing with a striking semblance to Sikong Yong and few to himself.

Zhang Wang shuddered.

Some vines crawled up the pillars and a courtyard filled with exotic plants that were not acclimated to the northern climate. It was a stark contrast to the barren mountainside they had climbed up earlier.

The interior of the manor had gotten some refurbishing() as well, with old shipped paintings restored in vibrancy and bright lanterns and multicolored fliers and strung across the walls. It made the space almost unrecognizable, so different from the cold gray halls he'd grown used to in his childhood. It was as if someone had taken Sikong Yong's private study and expanded it to the entirety of the manor. Seriously strange.

But there was no time to dawdle on the thought. They were being led to the main hall. Sikong Yong was seated, perched upon his cushioned throne, in his most embellished robes; white matched with gold. Since when was his seat elevated so high that he had to look down on the audience?

Zhang Wang decided not to ask questions about that and instead followed Chu Changying's lead and knelt. "Greetings, Honorable Sect Leader."

He dared to peek up through lowered eyes and saw Sikong Yong's sly and thin smile. He was staring directly at him.

"A-Yun, A-Xia. Welcome home, there is no need to be so stiff with me. We are practically family, are we not? And to our guests, I, Sikong Yong, welcome you to my humble home."