Chapter 84
Shen Qi had always been puzzled about how Ru Deng, who spent all day meditating in his cave, could know about the outside world. He was especially curious about how Ru Deng managed to track Zhuang Shan and Sang Yunyan without being noticed, despite watching him 24/7. Later, he discovered the truth: it was all because of Zhen Heng.
For the cultivators of the Nine Provinces, besides obtaining free paired true artifacts from the Thousand Layer Tower, they could also forge their own magical tools. After all, not everyone's true artifact was of the highest quality, nor could it satisfy every cultivator. Thus, various magical tools became popular.
One such tool was the puppet. This type of magic was always considered heretical and was mostly controlled by demonic cultivators. However, Ru Deng had secretly acquired the method to forge puppets and created Zhen Heng.
If it were an ordinary puppet, it wouldn't be a big deal. Ordinary puppets, although they looked human, lacked self-awareness and were not as agile. They could only follow their master's commands, performing one action at a time. Zhen Heng, on the other hand, was different. Apart from having a weak presence, he was like an independent, normal person.
This was because Ru Deng had split his own consciousness, or rather, his soul. In this world, there was no concept of a soul, only spiritual consciousness. He used some unknown method to divide his spiritual consciousness and created Zhen Heng from the separated part. As a result, Zhen Heng had basic self-awareness but still completely obeyed Ru Deng's commands, making him a perfect clone.
When Shen Qi learned the truth, he was amazed by Ru Deng's ingenuity and boldness. He marveled at how ruthless Ru Deng was to himself, let alone to others. Splitting one's soul was extremely dangerous and could have unimaginable consequences.
At least Shen Qi understood why Ru Deng was so indifferent to emotions. Soul splitting didn't just cut off part of the soul. However, he also knew that persuading Ru Deng to stop was impossible. Ru Deng needed Zhen Heng to handle matters he couldn't deal with personally. Moreover, Zhen Heng was now publicly known as Ru Deng's first disciple, making it even harder to retrieve him.
Fortunately, Ru Deng understood the risks and didn't create a second Zhen Heng. According to him, he would eventually reclaim Zhen Heng. Shen Qi didn't dislike Zhen Heng; in fact, he liked him a lot. Although Zhen Heng was also Ru Deng, he was cuter and often in a dazed state, appearing to outsiders as a cultivation fanatic who ignored everything else.
Since they were essentially the same person, Zhen Heng could see Shen Qi even when he wasn't visible to others. To avoid exposing Zhen Heng's identity, Ru Deng arranged for him to live with them. Whenever Ru Deng went into seclusion, Shen Qi would occasionally take Zhen Heng out to play.
"Quick, catch it, catch it!" Shen Qi pointed at a spirit cat running swiftly in the distance. Zhen Heng darted out and, in a flash, returned with a snow-white spirit cat in his hand. He handed it to Shen Qi, saying, "Here you go."
The little spirit cat, held by the scruff of its neck, trembled all over, its blue eyes filled with fear. Shen Qi took it with a smile and gently tapped its forehead. "Pretty little thing, you'll follow me from now on."
The spirit cat immediately calmed down, snuggling into Shen Qi's arms and even nuzzling his chest affectionately. Stroking the cat's white fur, Shen Qi said to Zhen Heng, "Zhen Heng, you're amazing. Thank you."
Zhen Heng stared at him without blinking. "You're welcome. As long as you're happy, Xiao Qi."
Look at that expression, that posture, and those words. Ru Deng could learn a thing or two about being likable. Shen Qi sighed inwardly, looking at Zhen Heng with even more warmth. "Since Zhen Heng caught it, he should name it."
Zhen Heng tilted his head and thought for a moment. "Let's call it Ah Heng."
"Ah Heng? As in Zhen Heng?" Shen Qi laughed.
"Yes," Zhen Heng nodded. "That way, when you see it, it'll be like seeing me!"
Listen to that! So honest and endearing. Shen Qi felt that all the frustration he experienced with Ru Deng could be made up for with Zhen Heng. For the first time, he thought Ru Deng's decision to split his spiritual consciousness was the right one.
He teased Zhen Heng with a smile, "Why?"
Zhen Heng poked the little spirit cat, causing it to shrink back into Shen Qi's arms in fear. He looked at Shen Qi and said matter-of-factly, "Because I like Xiao Qi!"
After saying this, he lowered his eyes, looking a bit unhappy. "I like Xiao Qi, but Master doesn't like that I like Xiao Qi. I want to see Xiao Qi all the time, but I'm afraid Master will be unhappy."
"But I like Xiao Qi because Master likes Xiao Qi. Why would Master be unhappy?"
He seemed utterly confused by Ru Deng's thoughts, his face full of bewilderment.
Silly child, it's precisely because he likes you that he's unhappy.
Shen Qi chuckled and tapped his bald head. "If you can't figure it out, don't think about it. Just know that Zhen Heng likes me, and I like Zhen Heng too."
Zhen Heng was a part of Ru Deng's spiritual consciousness. He honestly reflected Ru Deng's feelings towards people and things. Zhen Heng liked and was close to him because Ru Deng subconsciously liked him. Ru Deng might hide his emotions, but Zhen Heng wouldn't.
"As long as our Zhen Heng is happy every day, that's all that matters," Shen Qi said with a smile.
If he saw Ru Deng as a teenager, he saw Zhen Heng as a child.
He had traveled through many worlds, especially with his new mission, living a full life in each one. His mindset had become that of an older person, even though he looked like a teenager. So, he viewed Ru Deng, even the 300-year-old Dragon Chi, as a junior.
He considered himself the elder, so he habitually tolerated his younger lover, as long as his bottom line wasn't crossed. Being an old monster of unknown age, why bother with a child who wasn't even a fraction of his age?
So, whether it was Ru Deng's initial wariness or later manipulation, he didn't mind. After all, to Ru Deng, he was just a stranger. He couldn't expect Ru Deng to suddenly fall madly in love with a stranger. If that happened, he would have to reconsider if he should change partners.
He now understood that feelings required mutual effort. If he didn't put in the effort, how could he expect to receive the other's affection?
Moreover, he came with a mission to make the other person happy. It was his job to take the initiative. Expecting to complete the mission while maintaining his pride and waiting for the other to pursue him was unrealistic.
Taking the first step wasn't a big deal. It wasn't a matter of life and death. Besides, he wasn't the one who took the first step; the other person did. Otherwise, he wouldn't have received this mission. He just didn't know what the other person had done to make their leader willing to set up this mission specifically for him.
Thinking about the leader's behavior before he entered the mission, it seemed the benefits were significant enough to make him very satisfied, at least satisfied enough to let go of his top subordinate.
Shen Qi brought Zhen Heng back to the cave from the back mountain. Ru Deng had already awakened from his meditation. This was his third seclusion since entering the Shendong Realm, to consolidate his realm. After this, he would need to go out and seek opportunities for enlightenment.
Seeing the two of them walk in together, Ru Deng frowned and directly instructed Zhen Heng, "You go first. I'll call you if I need anything."
Zhen Heng reluctantly glanced at Shen Qi before turning to his small courtyard.
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Ru Deng's cave was no longer the small courtyard it used to be. It had been replaced with a larger mountain. A temple was built halfway up the mountain for the servant disciples to live in and for a few disciples to chant and worship. Ru Deng lived at the top, like Master Pu Zhi, directly opening up a cave and digging out five chambers. The middle one served as a reception hall, with two on each side, divided into a pill room, a refining room, a storage room, and a bedroom.
Shen Qi didn't like it. Despite his cultivation advancing, his living conditions worsened. So, when Ru Deng was in seclusion, he either stayed in the Rushi Laiqu Map or went to Zhen Heng's small courtyard next door.
He didn't expect Ru Deng to come out of seclusion today. Shen Qi was delighted and approached with the little spirit cat in his arms. "Why did you finish early? Is everything okay?"
Based on his calculations, Ru Deng should have had two more days before waking up. He hoped nothing had gone wrong.
"It's fine," Ru Deng said, pulling him onto his lap. "I just had an early realization." His gaze paused on the spirit cat in Shen Qi's hands.
Shen Qi followed his gaze and brought the spirit cat closer, smiling. "It's a spirit cat. I had Zhen Heng catch it for me. Isn't it beautiful?"
Ru Deng squinted at the cat and said nonchalantly, "It is beautiful. Do you want to keep it?"
"Yes." Shen Qi stroked the spirit cat's white fur, his fingers emitting spiritual energy. The cat purred contentedly, its eyes half-closed, looking extremely cute. "Since I have nothing else to do, keeping a cat will keep me entertained." He couldn't help but pinch the cat's little nose. "Ah Heng is so cute."
"Ah Heng?" Ru Deng's long fingers touched the cat's tail, causing it to tremble.
"Yes, its name is Ah Heng," Shen Qi said with a smile. "Because Zhen Heng gave it to me."
Ru Deng's expression darkened. Suddenly, he picked Shen Qi up in their familiar position. Shen Qi, caught off guard, was startled and clung to Ru Deng with one arm while holding the cat with the other.
"It's my fault." Ru Deng grabbed the cat by the scruff and tossed it aside. The cat landed gracefully, quickly hiding in a corner.
With an apologetic look and gentle eyes, Ru Deng stroked Shen Qi's cheek. "It's my fault for making you feel bored."
"I'm very sorry." His fingers moved down, his thumb brushing Shen Qi's lips, his index finger tracing his neck, finally grabbing his robe's tie. With a gentle pull, the wide red robe slipped off, draping over his arm before sliding to the ground.
Holding Shen Qi, Ru Deng walked towards the cave entrance. "It's my fault. I'll make it up to you. From now on, I'll make sure you never feel bored again."
The red robe scattered along the way.
"What are you doing?" Shen Qi frowned. Was Ru Deng really so jealous that he lost his mind? Was he planning to take him to Zhen Heng like this?
Ru Deng, displeased, stopped at the cave entrance and pressed Shen Qi against the wall, biting his lip with a hint of grievance. "I just want to apologize and correct my mistake." He paused, surprised. "What did you think I was going to do?"
He then looked enlightened, as if realizing Shen Qi had misunderstood him.
Shen Qi was speechless.
Ru Deng sighed, seemingly helpless. Reluctantly, he said, "If you insist, I... can try."
"No, thank you!" Shen Qi gritted his teeth. "Either do it or let go!"
Of course, Ru Deng wouldn't let go. He pressed against Shen Qi, glancing at the figure standing at the cave entrance. With a steady gaze, he bit Shen Qi's white shoulder.
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Chapter 85
Shen Qi never expected Ru Deng to be so "crazy." He didn't send Zhen Heng away but ordered him to wait at the cave entrance, listening to everything clearly.
He underestimated Ru Deng's desire for control and possessiveness. Even if Ru Deng had no feelings for him, he wouldn't allow anyone else to touch what was his, not even his own clone!
Moreover, Ru Deng did have feelings for him. If he didn't, the happiness value wouldn't have increased over the past ten years. Although it only increased by ten points, it was much better than the previous five points, which were always on the verge of turning dark.
Ru Deng's desire for control wasn't just directed at Shen Qi but also at Zhen Heng. He couldn't allow Zhen Heng to deviate from his planned path. Since there was no precedent for splitting spiritual consciousness, he had to be extra cautious.
Ru Deng never underestimated emotions, so he wouldn't allow Zhen Heng to develop extra feelings and escape his control.
Shen Qi didn't realize this at first, but after spending ten years with Ru Deng, he became familiar with his every expression and movement. Once he recovered from the initial chaos, he quickly sensed something was wrong.
"You..." He widened his eyes in shock and reflexively pushed Ru Deng. "Zhen..." The word "Zhen Heng" was on the tip of his tongue but stopped abruptly. He turned to look outside the cave and indeed saw a piece of clothing.
Ru Deng raised an eyebrow, smoothly grasping his hand and pinning it against the wall. Their fingers interlocked as his other hand tightly encircled his waist. “How about this?” he asked.
Shen Qi furrowed his brows and lowered his voice, “Send Zhen Heng back!”
Ru Deng's hand around his waist tightened, and a muffled groan escaped from Shen Qi's throat. His legs softened and he slid down. Ru Deng kissed the corner of his lips, and kissed lightly along his cheek. He turn to his ear, licking and biting bit by bit. His actions brought out the ambiguous sound of water, and his low and hoarse voice carried an undeniable determination: "No!"
"You are mine. Like Zhen Heng? Ha, you clearly said you only liked me. Yet, in the blink of an eye, you tell someone else you like them. Isn't your affection a bit too generous?"
Shen Qi's voice trembled, "Zhen Heng... uh! Zhen Heng is you... you both, um, you are the same person..."
"The same person?" Ru Deng's chest shook, and he smiled sarcastically. He finally let go of Shen Qi's ear, turned to his lips, and took a hard bite, "Can he do this to you?" The tip of his tongue opened his mouth and reached in. It was an almost suffocating kiss, as if he was going to suck out Shen Qi's soul.
After what felt like an eternity, he finally let go of him, breathing heavily. "Is this still the case with you"
He gripped his hand tightly. "Is this still the case?"
"Or..." His expression suddenly darkened. "Are you actually hoping he would do these things to you? Hmm?"
Shen Qi hadn't yet recovered from the suffocating kiss. He gasped for air, shaking his head unconsciously.
"Do you want me to call him in?" Ru Deng's face, usually angelic, now looked like a tempting demon's, dark and sinister. His deep, black eyes glinted with a strange light. "Let him see what you look like now, see what we're doing. Or maybe let him treat you the way I do. Don't you think we're the same person? If we're the same, why refuse?"
"Look, don't you like this?" He glanced down at Shen Qi's waist, a cryptic smile on his face, his voice hoarse. "Should I call him in?"
Shen Qi was on the verge of breaking down, but fortunately, he hadn't lost his sanity. The more provoked he was, the clearer his mind became. He gritted his teeth and kicked at Ru Deng. "No!"
"Shut up!" He glanced outside the cave, lowering his voice as much as possible. "Quickly, send Zhen Heng back."
"Why?" Ru Deng looked innocent and confused. He leaned down and kissed Shen Qi's lips. "Don't you like Zhen Heng? You like him, and we are the same person. Why send him back?" He curled his lips into a slightly malicious smile. "Since that's the case, why not call him to join us... wouldn't that be better?"
There was a two-second pause between "join" and "us." He didn't say it out loud, but his eyes conveyed his meaning.
Shen Qi's expression finally darkened.
Ru Deng's pupils slightly contracted.
This was the first time in ten years that Shen Qi showed him such an expression. He frowned uncomfortably, feeling a strange sensation in his heart.
The boy's face, as white as snow, now seemed frosty. Even the red mark between his brows had lost its luster, revealing a hint of coldness. His gaze was calm. "I'll say this once. I like you, in a romantic way. I like Zhen Heng as a brother, as a junior. I don't like what you just said. Don't say it again, or else..."
He paused, restraining himself from finishing the sentence. However, his eyes clearly conveyed the unspoken meaning.
After speaking, he pushed Ru Deng away and walked naked to the scattered clothes. He bent down, grabbed the fiery red robe, and disappeared.
Ru Deng stood there, stunned. After a moment, he came to his senses and laughed softly. His smile grew wider, and his laughter louder, as his once dark eyes sparkled with a dazzling light.
"Happiness +10."
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For the first time in ten years, Shen Qi and Ru Deng had a cold war.
To be precise, it was Shen Qi who was giving the cold shoulder. Ru Deng acted as if nothing had happened. He was even more affectionate towards Shen Qi, as if trying to make up for the time they missed while he was in seclusion. He kept Shen Qi by his side at all times, chatting with him whenever possible.
Shen Qi remained indifferent, not saying a word to him.
Previously, Shen Qi could tolerate everything Ru Deng did, but this time was different. Ru Deng had crossed his bottom line, and forgiving him wouldn't be easy. Besides, it was time to teach him a lesson.
Shen Qi refused to acknowledge Ru Deng. When Ru Deng spoke, Shen Qi acted as if he didn't hear him, making Zhen Heng the messenger between them.
Even though the three of them sat face to face, it felt like they were in three different worlds.
"Baiyan Island will open in a month. I plan to go there to seek opportunities and will leave in three days," Ru Deng said as he brewed spiritual tea, pouring three cups and placing them in front of Shen Qi and Zhen Heng. Since Shen Qi had expressed his feelings towards Zhen Heng, Ru Deng no longer treated Zhen Heng like a subordinate but more like a true disciple.
Zhen Heng held his teacup, nodded to show he understood, and turned to Shen Qi. "Master said he plans to go to Baiyan Island in three days."
Shen Qi pushed the teacup aside, took out a wine flask, and poured himself a cup. Seeing Zhen Heng's curious gaze, he said gently, "This is wine. It's not suitable for you. You should stick to tea."
Although Zhen Heng didn't understand why it wasn't suitable for him, he always obediently followed Shen Qi's words. "Oh."
Satisfied, Shen Qi glanced at Ru Deng, his expression turning cold. "Tell your master that whatever he does or wherever he goes has nothing to do with me. He doesn't need to inform me. I'm just his true spirit."
As his true spirit, he followed him everywhere. Did Ru Deng think he wouldn't know if he didn't tell him? It was unnecessary.
Zhen Heng immediately repeated Shen Qi's words to Ru Deng.
Ru Deng looked helpless, took a sip of tea, but only tasted bitterness instead of the tea's fragrance. He frowned and sighed. "This time, when I go to Baiyan Island, I will deal with Zhuang Liang. So I'm telling you in advance. No matter what happens, don't be surprised."
Shen Qi's eyes flickered.
It was finally happening.
The journey to the Baiyan Island secret realm marked the beginning of Ru Deng's revenge. In the original timeline, this year saw the exposure of Sang Yunyan and Zhuang Shan's affair. Ru Deng had no choice but to kill Sang Yunyan himself. Using the opening of Baiyan Island, he took the first step in his revenge.
Yes, the first step.
Unlike Sang Yunyan, Ru Deng didn't see Zhuang Liang as his only enemy. To him, the entire righteous path was flawed. The corrupt system and the unfairness from top to bottom made Zhuang Liang merely the most direct person responsible. The righteous path, which allowed Zhuang Liang to view mortals as ants and kill them at will, was the true culprit.
Moreover, over the decades, Ru Deng had seen and learned about hypocrisy and falsehoods, even within the Wanfo Sect. Other sects were no different.
So, what he wanted was to change the world.
It might sound a bit idealistic, but that's what he believed.
In his mind, there was no distinction between the righteous and demonic paths. As long as he ruled the entire cultivation world, there would be no such division.
He wanted to create a utopia of his own vision.
Shen Qi had nothing to say about this. Villain bosses always had their own twisted logic. Convincing them with words was never easy. This wasn't a TV drama where the protagonist's speech would make the villain surrender at a critical moment. If Shen Qi tried to argue with Ru Deng, it would be futile. Ru Deng had studied Buddhist scriptures for years. He could make you cry and join his cause in minutes.
So, Shen Qi didn't bother commenting on Ru Deng's dreams. Dragon Chi had no dreams, but Ru Deng had too many.
Shen Qi didn't know the specifics of what would happen on Baiyan Island. He only knew that during this trip, nearly two-thirds of the disciples from the three righteous sects and nine factions, including Zhuang Liang, would perish. Only a handful would come out unscathed.
Those who could enter Baiyan Island were cultivators at the Shendong Realm, considered the backbone of their sects. In some small sects, the strongest were at this stage.
Training a cultivator to the Shendong Realm wasn't easy. Those who entered the three sects and nine factions were exceptionally talented. Losing so many at once was a heavy blow, even for the largest sects.
This incident led to the outbreak of the righteous-demonic war.
Baiyan Island was just the beginning. Ru Deng orchestrated a series of events that followed, each one escalating the conflict between the righteous and demonic paths, leading to the war.
In the end, Ru Deng became the ultimate victor, crushing the righteous path, leading the demonic path, and unifying the entire cultivation world.
Shen Qi had no interest in what Ru Deng planned to do. He watched coldly as Ru Deng manipulated the righteous prodigies entering Baiyan Island, making them fight to the death over so-called spiritual medicine that could double their cultivation.
Zhuang Liang, who received special attention from Ru Deng, suffered twice as much. Betrayal, humiliation, and the loss of his cultivation led to his silent, miserable death.
Then Ru Deng appeared, smiling, and collected his body, turning him into a puppet. He even recited two sutras for him with a look of pity.
"Too bad I can't fully control him," Ru Deng said regretfully, his gaze falling on Zhen Heng, as if considering something.
Shen Qi's face turned cold. "Zhen Heng, let's go."
Zhen Heng looked at Ru Deng, then at Shen Qi, and instinctively moved towards Shen Qi.
Ru Deng's expression was a mix of amusement and helplessness. "Don't worry, I don't have that intention. No matter what, I won't become like Zhuang Liang."
Shen Qi ignored him, took Zhen Heng's hand, and said, "Stay by my side."
Without looking back, they left the cave.
The smile faded from Ru Deng's face. With a crack, Zhuang Liang's puppet arm shattered into powder.
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