If Er’er had been a bit smarter, she would have realized that when Li Ye said “connecting the seven meridians and eight vessels is equivalent to intimacy between mortals,” he merely meant “equivalent,” not that they truly needed to consummate their relationship.
Although this method did allow her to take away half of his immortal and resentment energy, the process was far from easy.
By the time she recovered, several days and nights had passed. The flush had just faded from her skin as Er’er lay on the soft pillow, her dark hair spread across the bed. The moisture in her eyes had not yet dispersed, making her look like a drenched cat as she pitifully raised her eyes to look at the person sitting beside her.
This person, however, seemed not to have taken what had just happened to heart at all. His cold eyelids lowered as he grunted, asking her: “Is there nothing else you want to explain to me?”
Er’er wanted to cry: “Explain what?”
“Why did you…” He lowered his gaze, swept a glance at her neck, and said no more.
Er’er understood that he was settling accounts after the fact. She drooped her head and sniffled.
Although she had harbored ill intentions and ultimately failed to return half of his cultivation to him, she was still a young woman after all. How could he interrogate her like this?
Glancing at his eyes that showed not the slightest affection, Er’er pressed her lips together, put on a set of clothes, pushed aside the bedding, and sat up.
…
…
“The resentment energy in your body was too heavy. I feared something would happen if I didn’t take some away,” she said, feeling less confident as she spoke. “Really.”
Li Ye coldly looked at her without answering, merely letting out a light snort.
This sound seemed too contemptuous. Er’er clenched her hands and forced herself to continue: “I know this half of cultivation is no small matter. I won’t touch it, just keep it safe. When you find another way, you can ask for it back, and I definitely won’t keep it for myself.”
With the seven meridians and eight vessels now connected, along with whatever method he had used, she now felt warm all over. Her meridians were extremely smooth, and the acupoints that stored spiritual energy seemed boundless and sufficient.
Li Ye turned his head, his tone still harsh: “No other reason?”
Slightly startled, Er’er instinctively raised her hand to swear: “Absolutely none!”
Coldly withdrawing his gaze, Li Ye swept his sleeve and got out of bed.
Er’er thought he didn’t believe her. She hurriedly followed, stumbling a few steps to grab his hand, anxiously saying: “I would never harm you.”
His hand, which had been warm just moments ago, was now inexplicably cold, like it had just been dug out of snow when she touched his wrist.
Li Ye stopped, suddenly feeling that he was being quite unreasonable. He was the one who had deceived her; he was the one who had given her the cultivation, yet now he was haggling over a few words with her. With that little brain of hers, it would be strange if she could react quickly enough to say something pleasing to him.
Sighing lightly, he softened his expression and turned back: “If today, my position were exchanged with your senior martial brother, would you use this method to save him too?”
Huh?
Er’er shook her head in confusion: “Probably not, he’s my senior martial brother.”
“What about Xin Wu?”
She frowned: “Even less likely. I’m not that familiar with him.”
So, it was because it was him.
Having received a satisfactory answer, Li Ye reached out, drew her close, and covered the back of her hand: “It’s fine now.”
“…”
Her head full of question marks, Er’er looked up at him, about to speak but then stopping herself. But the boss seemed to be in a good mood now, holding her as they walked out the door.
“Supreme God,” Zhu Yan was still waiting outside. Seeing him emerge, he cupped his hands in greeting: “About Zhong You’s side…”
“I’m hungry,” interrupting him, Li Ye said, “Let’s go eat.”
Zhu Yan was startled. He looked up slightly and only then noticed that the little lady had somehow nestled into Li Ye’s arms, staring at him like a foolish cat.
He didn’t quite approve of the Supreme God being with her at this time, but if the Supreme God insisted, he couldn’t stop him.
Sighing lightly, Zhu Yan stepped aside, and Li Ye followed him to the side hall.
Er’er was dazed when he held her in his arms, and even after finishing a meal, her eyes were still full of confusion.
The boss was truly unpredictable; who knew what he was thinking? One moment he was stern-faced, the next he was embracing her.
To say he was pleased—nothing could be discerned from that tense face of his. But to say he disliked her—he was still serving her food, using silver chopsticks to place slices of meat in her bowl, and even glanced at her: “Full?”
Quickly eating the piece of meat, Er’er put down her chopsticks and wiped her mouth: “There’s one more thing I’d like to ask for your help with.”
Knowing what she was thinking, Li Ye didn’t look up: “I’ve already had Zhu Yan send your senior martial brother out of the netherworld.”
Opening her mouth in surprise, Er’er smiled: “As expected of the Supreme God.”
It was a simple matter, or rather, he had been eager to do it.
Li Ye snorted with a smile. Meng Wan’s cultivation level couldn’t have lasted long in the netherworld anyway. It was just a moment of hot-headedness to follow her recklessness. If he hadn’t ordered someone to throw him out, and his soul was truly injured, she would only worry more.
Putting down his chopsticks as well, he said, “You stay here in the Western Palace. If you get bored, you can have someone bring Long Xu to keep you company.”
Er’er brightened, then her face fell: “Are you going to continue cultivation?”
“No,” he quickly denied, turning his head away. “I have some matters to deal with that old scoundrel Zhong You.”
So that was it. Er’er nodded obediently: “Perfect, I also have something I want to discuss with Long Xu.”
The Hundred Paintings Bottle was lost somewhere, and the boss seemed unusually busy. She might as well go find it with Long Xu.
Although the death resentment near the Western Palace had quieted down, Zhong Su was still reluctant to let Long Xu wander around. Long Xu was so bored she was about to grow two horns, thinking of ways to pass the time, when suddenly someone brought her to the Western Palace.
She was initially somewhat wary, but upon seeing Er’er’s bright face, her tense shoulders relaxed.
“It’s been so many days,” Long Xu said irritably. “You could have at least sent word that you were still alive.”
In the netherworld, without sun or moon, Er’er didn’t know how much time had passed. She sheepishly scratched the back of Long Xu’s hand, then pulled her along to help find the item.
“The netherworld is so vast that the bottle might have already been privately taken,” Long Xu said. “You’re with the Supreme God—what treasure can’t you have?”
“This is different,” Er’er said, looking around as they walked. “That bottle was requested from Tai Shang Lao Jun, and for that, he even swallowed his pride and agreed to come to the mortal realm to find the Gate of Life and Death.”
Swallowed his pride? Long Xu pressed her lips together and frowned, then, after a long while, said: “You seem to have some misunderstandings about Li Ye.”
“Hm?” Er’er turned her head. “What misunderstandings?”
“Li Ye has long desired the Gate of Life and Death. Considering he and Xin Wu have had some interactions and share a bit of camaraderie, he didn’t forcibly take it.” Long Xu gave her a deep look. “The Gate of Life and Death descending to the mortal realm is inherently connected to him. He was bound to go down to seek it and take the opportunity to cultivate. How could he be swallowing his pride and helping the divination master of the Heavenly Way?”
Er’er: “…”
Belatedly hitting her forehead, she frowned: “I thought he wanted the Hundred Paintings Bottle truly for me.”
“It was for you, but also to extort Tai Shang Lao Jun in passing,” Long Xu sighed, unable to help patting her shoulder. “You should be more cautious around him. Don’t end up being sold and still helping to count the money.”