"Pff—cough, cough, cough!"
Xie Zhaolin, who had just lifted her tea cup to wet her throat, nearly sprayed the tea everywhere when she heard Mo Yan's last words, despite her usually ironclad composure.
She quickly set the cup down, covering her mouth as she coughed a few times, staring at Mo Yan in disbelief. Her voice carried a mixture of astonishment and incredulity:
"You… you said what?" She lifted her head, her gaze strange and piercing as she looked at him. "Elder Chou… wants to dual cultivate with you? Say that again."
Mo Yan's usually expressionless face now showed rare embarrassment and helplessness. His lips twitched, and he forced himself to repeat it more clearly:
"Master… it's… it's Elder Chou… she… she's approached me… multiple times with a request to dual cultivate."
This time Xie Zhaolin caught every word. She slowly swallowed the tea in her mouth, her initial shock twisting into something utterly strange. She scanned Mo Yan from head to toe as if seeing him for the first time.
Back in her previous life at the Hehuan Sect, intimate dual cultivation was as common as eating or drinking, hardly anything noteworthy.
But sect rules were strict, especially about consent and personal choice. And as the Young Sect Master, her position was untouchable. With a strong dao heart, she had no interest in such matters, and no one around her would dare bring such things up.
Yet now, in the seemingly proper Qingxi Sect, one of her subordinates had actually received multiple dual cultivation proposals from an inner sect elder?
And judging by Mo Yan's reaction… Xie Zhaolin's eyes glinted with amusement as she deliberately dragged her tone.
"Oh? Judging by how you say it… were you forced? Did Elder Chou… push too hard?"
Mo Yan's lip twitched violently, his embarrassment deepening. He shook his head. "N… not forced. Elder Chou just… just… speaks rather… frankly and passionately… she invited me multiple times." He seemed to recall some unpleasant memories, his voice dropping slightly. "She said that if I agreed, I could also be granted pills, techniques, and other benefits…"
Xie Zhaolin's expression twisted further.
"Frank and passionate… multiple invitations… and promising rewards? Wow… Elder Chou really went all out to 'win' Mo Yan. Quite the pursuer, huh?"
Even back in the Hehuan Sect, someone this aggressive, almost clingy, was rare. Their sect emphasized mutual consent, after all—force never sweetened the fruit.
So in this seemingly proper Qingxi Sect, there was actually a "passionate soul" hiding here?
A mischievous smile crept onto her face. She leaned back slightly, fingertips tapping the table lightly, her voice carrying teasing amusement:
"Oh? If a beauty actively invites you, even offering great rewards, why not go? The intimate dual cultivation path, if done properly, benefits both parties' cultivation, not to mention the other party is a peak lord. Mo Yan, you're really missing out on a fine opportunity."
Mo Yan's lips twitched again, his head lowering further, helplessness lacing his voice. "Master… please don't tease me. Dual cultivation blends one's qi and connects our Primordial Souls. Even with a magical artifact from the Demon Sovereign to conceal it, once it goes deep, the origin of my demonic power… can hardly be fully hidden.
If my identity were exposed, the consequences would be catastrophic. Not only would it endanger you, Master, I would have no grave to be buried in. And moreover…" He paused, his voice lowering, embarrassed to speak. "Elder Chou's… manner is… unrestrained… I simply couldn't endure it."
"Unrestrained?" Xie Zhaolin raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised this time.
Demons were born from chaos, growing in desire, and were usually uninhibited in matters of love—almost taboo-free. For even a well-traveled demon like Mo Yan to describe someone as unrestrained… this Elder Chou had seemed so composed before. How could she be like that…?
Curiosity flickered in her eyes, though now wasn't the time to dwell on it.
She subdued her teasing expression, regaining calm, and asked, "Hmm, caution is wise. Do you know why Elder Chou singled you out? There must be a reason."
That was the key question.
Was it coincidence? Or did Mo Yan possess some quality that drew her? If it was the latter, what was it, and would it expose his identity?
Mo Yan relaxed when Xie Zhaolin stopped joking, quickly lifting his head, his face thoughtful.
He nodded, then shook his head.
"Master, I've considered it carefully. Elder Chou… seems very interested in my physical strength.
She said… that intimate dual cultivating with me would greatly aid her in breaking through bottlenecks. I can't say for sure why, but…" Mo Yan's tone shifted slightly, a trace of doubt in his eyes. "I feel… she might have another motive. In her testing, she vaguely mentioned the Primordial Soul… but very obscurely. I can't be certain."
Xie Zhaolin's eyes narrowed.
"Interested in physical strength… believes intimate dual cultivation aids breakthroughs… even hinting at the Primordial Soul…
It seemed Elder Chou's cultivation method might rely on special physiques or refined Yuan Yang or Yuan Yin, likely an auxiliary or replenishing technique."
As a high-rank demon, Mo Yan's physical body and life essence far exceeded human cultivators of the same level, making him a perfect supplement for such techniques. After all, to a cultivator, an excellent "furnace" is extremely tempting.
But even with many strong elders in Qingxi Sect, couldn't she find someone else with a strong body or high power? Why target Mo Yan specifically?
Or… did she have some other plan, using this as a pretext? Whatever it was, they couldn't act recklessly without understanding the situation.
Xie Zhaolin pondered for a moment, then looked at Mo Yan. "Until her true intentions are clear, don't act rashly. Keep things as they are. If she continues to pester you, handle it with avoidance and tact."
Mo Yan's face instantly turned into an expression worse than crying.
Dealing with that unrestrained Elder Chou? Torture! But he couldn't disobey his Master, and her analysis was sound.
"Y… yes, Master. Understood." He replied bitterly, already calculating how to "naturally" escape the next encounter with Elder Chou.
Just then—
Knock, knock, knock.
The courtyard gate was lightly tapped.
A slightly cold, yet inexplicably alluring female voice called from outside:
"Is Elder Mo present? I heard Junior Nephew Xie has returned today, and I've come to pay my respects."