In the bedroom, beside the bed, several candle flames cast warm halos of firelight.
Half of Luo Yuheng’s face was bathed in a gentle orange glow, the other half shrouded in shadow, just like the intertwining image of a temptress and a fairy that she presented at that moment.
In Xu Qi’an’s eyes, it was irresistibly alluring.
Luo Yuheng’s shock and anger mingled with a sense of panic.
She knew just how much temptation Xu Qi’an’s appearance at this time would bring.
At the same time, as she struggled to fight against the karmic fire, she had no strength left to carry this brat thousands of miles away on her flying sword. It was not that she could not do it, but if she did, she would no longer be able to suppress the karmic fire.
By then, with no one by her side with whom to dual cultivate, she would meet certain death.
Luo Yuheng gritted her teeth and said, “Xu Qi’an, are you trying to force me?”
What nonsense is that? If you flatter me like that the moment you walk in, I’ll get myself killed… Xu Qi’an closed the door, moved closer to the bed, and stopped under Luo Yuheng’s tense and wary gaze.
“National Teacher, what I want to ask is: if we don’t dual cultivate tonight, you’ll inevitably have to do it with me tomorrow, or else you won’t be able to withstand the karmic fire…”
Luo Yuheng looked at him coldly, without responding.
“Tomorrow, which of the Seven Emotions will it be?” Xu Qi’an asked.
“There is no pattern to which of the Seven Emotions will appear.”
She glanced at him, her gaze, uncontrollably, drifted down from Xu Qi’an’s handsome face, skimming across his chest and abdomen… She quickly pulled her eyes away, forcing herself not to look.
Xu Qi’an nodded and sat down at the edge of the bed, adopting a serious tone for discussion:
“In that case, how can you be sure that the next personality will be willing to dual cultivate with me? What if she refuses, determinedly and stubbornly, what then?”
Upon hearing this, Luo Yuheng’s long, straight, elegant brows furrowed gently. After a moment’s thought, she replied coldly, “Between life and death, I will make the right choice.”
Xu Qi’an suddenly placed his hand on Luo Yuheng’s thigh. “In that case, why are you unwilling to dual cultivate with me now?”
Luo Yuheng’s delicate body trembled. As they were very close, Xu Qi’an could clearly see the goosebumps rising on her neck.
“I would rather die than dual cultivate with you.”
Her brows were raised in anger.
“See, see!” Xu Qi’an reproached.
“How can you be sure the other personalities wouldn’t be just like you, refusing to dual cultivate even if it cost them their lives?”
“…Get out.” Luo Yuheng, lost for words, could only lose her temper.
Xu Qi’an believed that under normal circumstances, Luo Yuheng was willing to dual cultivate with him. First, because she had some fondness for him, as between men and women; second, because the dual cultivation was a necessity.
But during an outbreak of karmic fire, her personality underwent drastic changes, one could even treat it as another personality altogether so dramatic was the shift.
This “anger” personality, for example, was tough, irritable, and quick-tempered, amplifying Luo Yuheng’s inner resistance to the extreme.
She stubbornly refused to dual cultivate with him.
When Xu Qi’an had been outside, he suddenly realised that yesterday, Luo Yuheng had told him that in the “Seven Emotions” state, she would lose control and behave out of character.
Was this her way of tactfully telling him not to be swayed by the personalities that emerged during the Seven Emotions state, but to stick to the plan, dual cultivate for seven days straight, without missing a day?
With the National Teacher’s personality, she would never openly say: “No matter what, we must persist with dual cultivation.”
“National Teacher, the night is long, time to dual cultivate.”
Ignoring her scolding, Xu Qi’an began undressing at his own pace.
He took off his robe and tossed it aside, then quickly removed his undergarments as well, revealing his strong, masculine upper body to Luo Yuheng’s eyes.
Her breathing suddenly quickened with anger. She sprang up. “If you don’t leave, I will!”
With that, she got straight out of bed without even putting on her shoes, stumbling towards the door.
Xu Qi’an grabbed her arm. In the struggle, the two of them fell together onto the bed.
Amidst Luo Yuheng’s delicate cry, Xu Qi’an felt a soft, firm pressure against his chest.
“Slap!”
Luo Yuheng swung a crisp, ringing slap.
In the darkness, the two of them remained in their fallen position, man above, woman below, their eyes meeting.
An ambiguous air congealed between them. Luo Yuheng breathed in the male scent, feeling his hot breath. Her cheeks burned, her gaze gradually growing hazy.
She could not go against her own body. She needed dual cultivation to dispel the karmic fire.
To resist the urge of her body, Luo Yuheng bit her lip, drawing blood for a brief moment of clarity, then raised her hand to slap him again.
But this time she failed, her wrist caught by Xu Qi’an and pinned above her head. Then her other hand was pinned as well.
Xu Qi’an lowered his head and gently kissed Luo Yuheng’s cheek, her skin delicate and fragrant.
Nibbling her cheek a few times, he buried his mouth in the National Teacher’s neck, licking, sucking, kissing.
Luo Yuheng’s delicate body went rigid, goosebumps rising all over her.
She stared blankly at the bed canopy above, her eyes showing confusion, shame, resistance, and a hint of infatuation.
Even last night, she had never experienced such intimate and thorough affection.
This novel sensation was both shameful and intoxicating. Slowly, she gave in to her heart’s desire and stopped resisting.
At this moment, Xu Qi’an’s voice sounded by her ear: “National Teacher, relax. The first time is unfamiliar, but it gets much easier after. Tomorrow, I’ll just lie in bed not moving, your turn.”
Luo Yuheng grew furious and reached out to tear at his mouth.
They began struggling fiercely, the bed rocking beneath them, nearly breaking into a real fight.
Luckily, at this moment, Luo Yuheng was suffering terribly from the karmic fire and unable to use her cultivation. Otherwise, Xu Qi’an would have found himself blasted eight hundred miles away by a shooting star sword.
Xu Qi’an grabbed a neatly folded quilt and pulled it over them. The two continued to grapple under the covers.
Gradually, Luo Yuheng’s resistance weakened. At the foot of the bed, a pair of delicate, fair feet peeked out, soon covered by a pair of large feet.
As those little feet suddenly tensed, arching like a bow, all of Luo Yuheng’s struggles abruptly stopped.
She gripped the bedsheet with both hands, her red lips slightly parted, dazed eyes staring blankly at the bed canopy, lying motionless in seeming resignation.
No one knew how much time had passed before that shameless brat, unsatisfied with his gains, said without any sense of shame:
“National Teacher, come, turn over.”
“Xu Qi’an, don’t you go too far…” Luo Yuheng gritted her teeth.
They started grappling again.
“National Teacher, don’t you want to see whether your knees can touch your shoulders?”
“Xu Qi’an, are you begging for death?”
“Let’s give it a try.”
“…”
…
The next day, early morning.
By the bed, skirts, white undergarments, a plain chest wrapping embroidered with lotus flowers, and a belt were strewn messily across the floor…
Xu Qi’an felt something soft and damp brushing across his face again and again, making it impossible for him to fall back asleep.
He opened his eyes drowsily and found Luo Yuheng’s stunning face right before his eyes. Her gaze was filled with affection as she kissed his cheeks, neck, and lips gently.
Xu Qi’an’s mind flashed with a giant question mark, and he called out uncertainly, “National Teacher?”
Is this the National Teacher I know?
That cold and aloof figure, otherworldly like an immortal, proud and strong?
Thinking back to the Luo Yuheng he used to know, Xu Qi’an truly couldn’t equate the woman lost in desire before his eyes with the National Teacher of the Great Feng.
Luo Yuheng pursed her lips and chuckled softly, “Weren’t you very happy kissing me last night? Hmm, it did feel rather good.”
”…”
Xu Qi’an lay there stiffly, not moving a muscle.
Luo Yuheng’s snowy white arms emerged from under the quilt and hooked around his neck. She coyly said,
“You did work hard last night, but it isn’t enough. I want more.”
The “Desire” persona? Xu Qi’an felt a flash of inspiration, suspecting as much.
Or perhaps it’s something else. Among the seven emotions, there’s also the “Joy” persona, another extremely positive emotion… he mused inwardly.
Faced with the advances of a nation-destroying beauty, Xu Qi’an naturally would not refuse. With a turn, he flipped her beneath him, and soon the quilt began to rise and fall rhythmically.
“I want more.”
“Alright.”
“I want more.”
It really is the “Desire” persona.
“Alright.”
“I want more.”
“National Teacher, let’s at least have some lunch first.”
“With our cultivation, we haven’t needed to eat for a long time.”
“No, I still need proper meals, I’m a martial artist after all.”
“Are you running out of stamina?” Luo Yuheng said angrily.
“Heh, you have no idea how resilient a martial artist can be.”
…
“I want more.”
“Nati… National Teacher, it’s already dusk…”
“I don’t care, I don’t care, are you not up to it?”
“Hmph, you’re underestimating a martial artist’s stamina.”
…
“National Teacher, it’s nighttime now. Let me at least get a bite.”
“One last time.”
”…Alright.”
“National Teacher, aren’t you tired?”
“Less nattering, you’re not allowed out of bed today.”
…
“National Teacher… it’s morning…”
At some point, he poked his head out from under the covers and saw daylight pouring in through the window.
At that instant, Xu Qi’an was overwhelmed with joy to the point of tears.
Once it was morning, the persona would shift, the “Desire” persona would leave, and he could finally crawl out of this wolf’s den.
From midnight yesterday until now, two whole nights and a day, he had not left the bed.
It’s finally over. No one’s keeping me here today. Even if Jesus arrives, it won’t matter, I swear… Xu Qi’an thought with determination.
The desire in Luo Yuheng’s eyes gradually faded, signifying the shift in persona.
She sat up hugging the quilt, face tinged with red, eyes full of shyness, taking in the utter disarray of the bed.
“National Teacher, I have things I need to take care of. If you’re tired, you should rest a little longer.”
Enduring the soreness in his waist, Xu Qi’an lifted the quilt and climbed out of bed, just about to bend down and pick up the scattered clothes on the floor.
“Wait.”
Luo Yuheng suddenly grabbed his hand.
Xu Qi’an turned his head stiffly and saw terror in the beautiful eyes of the National Teacher as she spoke in fear:
“My karmic fire is overwhelming me. I could be burned to death at any moment. Please, dual cultivate with me just once, otherwise I’m afraid that—”
Xu Qi’an’s heart sank, and with effort he forced a smile, “But we’ve already spent a whole day and two nights cultivating. You’ll be fine.”
Luo Yuheng shook her head slightly, biting her lip, her appearance pitiful and fragile. “There’s still a chance of the fire breaking out of control. Unless I’m absolutely sure, I just can’t feel at ease.”
My National Teacher is just too cautious… Xu Qi’an’s expression became a little twisted.
Once again, the curtains swayed gently for a long time.
…
By noon, Xu Qi’an arrived at an empty room, summoned the Stupa tower, and ascended directly to the third floor.
Mu Nanzhi thought this damned man was here to coax her, so she purposely put on a cold face, folded her hands together, and posed as if about to join a monastery.
Unexpectedly, Xu Qi’an didn’t even look at her. He strode straight to the tower spirit, the elderly monk, sat cross-legged on the floor, and said in a solemn voice:
“Master, I have comprehended something.”
The elderly monk was taken aback and looked rather pleased. “What have you comprehended?”
Xu Qi’an displayed no joy or sorrow on his face. “Colour is emptiness”1
The monk was ever more surprised, nodding and smiling. “Good!”
Mu Nanzhi’s eyes widened in disbelief.
…
Yongzhou City, Liubo Gambling House.
Miao Youfang walked into the gambling house, a tanghulu2 in his mouth. His looks were unremarkable, his skin tanned, eyes bright and spirited, which gave him a trim, shrewd appearance.
But there was none of the slickness found in city rabble. Instead, he carried an intense and upright air.
After looking around, Miao Youfang strode towards the dice table.
He had two reasons for coming to the gambling house: one, to see the owner, Liu Lang; two, he was nearly out of silver and needed to earn some travel money.
The dice master yelled, “Place your bets, no more bets!”
Gamblers around the table each placed their bets, hot gazes fixed on the dice cup as they excitedly shouted for “big” or “small”.
Miao Youfang’s ears twitched slightly. He could tell they were cheating with the dice.
All gambling houses were like this. They were here to do business after all, how could they leave everything to luck? Sooner or later, there would always be some trickery involved.
But it did not matter. No matter how the gambling house cheated, he couldn’t lose.
This was something he had learned after many past experiences.
About a month ago, Miao Youfang had noticed that his luck had suddenly improved.
Wherever he went, good fortune seemed to find him. At first, even the wealthy daughters back in his hometown inexplicably showed affection for him.
But Miao Youfang was an ambitious young man. He resolutely rejected the affections of rich girls and continued his travels across the jianghu.
On his journeys, he often befriended renowned heroes, received guidance from respected seniors, and found favour with all kinds of celestial beauties.
During one particularly wild night out with young heroes, he let his guard down for a moment and lost his virginity to an Oiran. Miao Youfang was mortified and angry, he had meant to save himself for his future wife.
Thus, he swore never to drink again.
Then, the very next day, he ended up in bed with the Oiran again…
His good fortune did not last long. While travelling in Qingzhou, he ran into a group of experts. Unlike before, when he could always befriend such people, this lot were eccentric and aggressive, resorting to violence at the slightest provocation.
Fortunately, a few friends happened to pass by and came to his aid. Together with his own skills, they managed to escape, just barely.
Afterwards, thanks to a series of lucky coincidences, he successfully dodged pursuit and made it to Yongzhou.
In just the time it took for two sticks of incense to burn, he had won four hundred taels of silver at the gambling house, the pile before him growing ever larger.
By the time he had six hundred taels, a burly bouncer from the gambling house walked over and said in a low voice, “Brother, the boss wants to see you.”
Here we go… Miao Youfang glanced at him expressionlessly, nodded, scooped up his silver fragments and ingots, grabbed his bulging purse, and said,
“Lead the way!”
“Colour is emptiness” Quote from the Heart Sutra. Colour (色) in chinese also has another meaning of sex or desire, a lecher literally is someone who “loves colour”. ↩
Candied hawthorn, usually several on a skewer. Closest western analogue is toffee apple. (Chinese hawthorn is quite a large fruit, about the size of a medium plum) ↩
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