As usual, Yun Ye accompanied Bai Tu for a short walk before fetching a chessboard to keep him entertained. Yun Ye had learned to play from Bai Tu himself, but despite his efforts, he lost three rounds in a row, utterly defeated without a chance to turn the tide.

Bai Tu tossed the chess pieces back into the box, checked the time, and asked, “Aren’t you going to the Demon Lord’s Hall to handle affairs?”

Yun Ye replied softly, “I just want to spend more time with Master. I’ll go in a bit.”

Bai Tu frowned. “That’s hardly the way a Demon Lord should act. The Abyss of Demons has many matters that need tending to—you mustn’t grow complacent.”

Yun Ye nodded. “I understand, Master.”

Bai Tu studied him closely before adding, “But you don’t look well these past two days. Did something troublesome happen?”

“No, there’s nothing to worry about.” Yun Ye averted his gaze and murmured, “Master, are you tired? Let me help you inside to rest.”

Bai Tu eyed him suspiciously, sensing that something was off. However, Yun Ye offered no further explanation—he simply supported Bai Tu back to his room.

After settling Bai Tu in, Yun Ye quickly left the courtyard.

Leaning against the bedside, Bai Tu closed his eyes for a short rest. But as night fell, Yun Ye still hadn’t returned. Instead, he sent someone to deliver medicine and relay a message: affairs in the Abyss of Demons were keeping him busy, and he wouldn’t be able to visit for the time being.

The subordinate Yun Ye had sent watched over Bai Tu as he drank the medicine, then helped him settle in for the night.

For the next two or three days, the same routine repeated.

A vague sense of unease crept into Bai Tu’s heart.

Just how overwhelming could these so-called affairs be that Yun Ye hadn’t shown up for three days straight?

What was that foolish boy hiding from him?

Perhaps it was because Yun Ye had been by his side constantly these past days, but now that he had suddenly disappeared, Bai Tu couldn’t shake his restlessness.

He wanted to see him.

Desperately.

Bai Tu was never one to sit still. Without hesitation, he slipped out of the small house.

After being nourished with spiritual medicine for days, his cultivation had recovered considerably. With a flick of his fingers, he cast an illusion spell, transforming himself into the appearance of a Demon Abyss guard. Concealing his aura, he made his way toward the Demon Lord’s Hall with practiced ease.

But Yun Ye was nowhere to be found.

Bai Tu peeked into the Demon Lord’s Hall for a while, making sure there was no trace of Yun Ye’s presence. Then, he casually grabbed a patrolling guard and asked in confusion, “Where is His Lordship? Why isn’t he in the hall?”

The guard looked even more puzzled than he was. “His Lordship hasn’t been to the hall for three days. He’s left all affairs in the hands of Lord Zhi Feng and Lord Nan Qiao. How are you only realizing this now?”

Bai Tu pressed further, “Then where did he go?”

The guard replied, “He’s with the Witch Doctor.”

“The Witch Doctor?” Bai Tu’s brows furrowed. “Is he injured?”

“Shh, keep your voice down,” the guard warned, looking serious. “His Lordship doesn’t want this news spreading. If the Demon Consort finds out, we’ll all be in trouble.”

Bai Tu: “…”

The Witch Doctor was the most skilled healer in the Abyss of Demons, the very one who had prepared Bai Tu’s medicinal soups and tonics. Worry gnawed at him as he made his way toward the side hall where the Witch Doctor resided. There were noticeably more guards stationed outside than usual, and as soon as Bai Tu stepped into the courtyard, he was stopped.

“What’s your business here? The Witch Doctor is treating His Lordship’s injuries—no unauthorized personnel allowed.”

Without missing a beat, Bai Tu lied with a straight face. “I’m delivering a message from the Demon Consort. He has urgent business with His Lordship.”

After spending so much time in the Abyss of Demons, Bai Tu had long grown used to everyone instinctively addressing him as the Demon Consort.

At his words, the guard hesitated, uncertainty flashing across his face. “You wish to see him now? But His Lordship… Never mind, just wait here for a bit. Once the people inside come out, you can speak to him yourself.”

Bai Tu quickly agreed, seizing the opportunity to ask, “What exactly is wrong with His Lordship?”

“It’s not an illness—it’s a loss of vitality.” The guard sighed and shook his head. “It’s all because of the heart’s blood he draws every day. Fortunately, His Lordship’s mastery of demonic arts is profound, or the consequences would have been dire. But the Witch Doctor said he needs complete rest and has confined him for the past few days.”

Bai Tu froze. “What did you just say?”

Before the guard could explain further, the hall doors suddenly swung open. A group of people stepped out, surrounding the Witch Doctor.

The Witch Doctor, a man past fifty, had long white hair loosely tied behind him, lending him an air of otherworldly wisdom.

The guard stepped forward and explained Bai Tu’s request to the Witch Doctor.

The Witch Doctor cast a cold glance at Bai Tu and flatly refused, “He is not allowed in. Go back and tell him—His Lordship has no time to see him.”

After what he had just heard from the guard, Bai Tu could no longer keep calm. At this moment, he was tempted to drop the disguise altogether.

His fingers curled slightly at his side, but he forced himself to remain patient. “The Immortal Lord truly has urgent matters to discuss with His Lordship. Even if I can’t see him, could you at least allow me to pass on a message?”

The Witch Doctor considered for a moment before relenting. “Fine. You may go in—but take this medicine to His Lordship as well. Make sure he drinks it, then leave. Don’t stay too long.”

With that, he signaled to a waiting attendant, who handed the bowl of medicine to Bai Tu.

Bai Tu quickly took the bowl and walked toward the main hall. As he approached the doors, he heard the Witch Doctor grumbling behind him, his tone full of frustration.

“I’ve said it before—His Lordship cannot keep spoiling that person like this. Tell me, is he truly an Immortal Lord, or some bewitching little vixen who has ensnared His Lordship so completely that he’d even risk his life?”

Inside the hall, the dim lighting cast long shadows, and the faint scent of medicine lingered in the air. Through the sheer curtains, a figure lay on the bed in the inner chamber.

Bai Tu felt a pang in his chest.

He closed the door behind him and stepped into the room.

Yun Ye lay on the bed dressed only in his inner robes, his half-exposed chest pierced with several silver needles. A faint sheen of sweat lingered on his forehead.

Bai Tu’s throat tightened. In a low voice, he said, “Your Lordship should drink your medicine.”

Yun Ye opened his eyes.

He adjusted his clothing slightly and sat up, asking casually, “The Witch Doctor still won’t let me go?”

Bai Tu hesitated before replying, “The Witch Doctor said Your Lordship needs to rest and recover.”

“Rest? Haven’t I been resting all this time?” Yun Ye’s complexion was a little pale, but his energy seemed fine. He clicked his tongue in irritation. “Go back and tell your Witch Doctor to give me a straight answer—when exactly does he plan to let me out? Or at least allow me to see Master. It’s been three days. If I don’t go see him soon and he gets angry, how do you all plan to make it up to me?”

A sudden flare of anger rose in Bai Tu’s chest. His voice turned stiff. “You don’t need to worry about that.”

Yun Ye paused mid-movement and lifted his gaze to him. “You…”

Without a word, Bai Tu set the bowl of medicine down beside the bed. Without waiting for permission, he grabbed Yun Ye’s wrist and sent his spiritual energy into his meridians to examine his condition.

Yun Ye instinctively tried to pull back, but Bai Tu held his wrist firmly, his grip unyielding. For a moment, Yun Ye found himself unable to break free.

The hall fell into a dead silence. Yun Ye stole a glance at Bai Tu’s expression, then let out a small cough. “Well… I just remembered I have something to take care of, so I’ll—”

“Yun Ye.” Bai Tu cut him off. “What have you done?”

Yun Ye immediately wilted. “Master…”

Bai Tu took a deep breath, picked up the bowl of medicine again, and scooped a spoonful to Yun Ye’s lips. “Drink this first.”

“I can do it myse—” Yun Ye started, but one sharp look from Bai Tu silenced him. Reluctantly, he let himself be fed.

Bai Tu patiently spooned the medicine into his mouth until the bowl was empty. Setting it aside, he finally spoke, his tone calm but laced with restrained anger. “You’ve been depleting your own blood essence, severely injuring your vitality. Were you planning to hide this from me forever?”

Yun Ye lowered his head and said nothing.

“I asked you a question.” Bai Tu’s breath came unsteady with frustration. “If I hadn’t come today, were you just going to keep this a secret?”

Still, Yun Ye remained silent. Instead, he reached out and tentatively grasped Bai Tu’s hand, gently tugging him closer. “Is Master… feeling sorry for me?”

“You—”

“It’s nothing serious. The Witch Doctor is just making a fuss over nothing,” Yun Ye said gently. “Look at me—I’m perfectly fine, aren’t I?”

Bai Tu’s voice was hoarse. “That medicine you gave me…”

He should have realized it sooner. No earthly treasure or miraculous elixir could have increased his cultivation so drastically in such a short time.

Especially in the Abyss of Demons, where spiritual energy had long since declined—how could there possibly be so many rare medicines?

The fastest way to boost one’s cultivation in the short term… was to refine medicine using heart’s blood.

“Master.” Yun Ye reached out and placed a hand on Bai Tu’s lower abdomen. In his current disguised form, there was no visible sign of pregnancy.

His hand gently brushed over Bai Tu’s stomach as he murmured, “That child is absorbing your spiritual energy, causing your cultivation to weaken. I just wanted to share some of the burden with you.”

Bai Tu asked, “Why are you treating me so well?”

“Because I like you.” Yun Ye lifted his gaze, his eyes as soft and affectionate as ever. “Haven’t you known that for a long time?”

Something in Bai Tu’s chest trembled, as if a light knock had struck his heart.

Yun Ye leaned in closer, his voice low and coaxing. “Master… Change back first, okay?”

“Alright.” Bai Tu nodded. A faint glow flickered through the hall, and in the next instant, he returned to his original form.

Yun Ye gazed deeply into his eyes, his voice soft and tender. “Master, I’m not as open-hearted as I might seem. Just the thought that you might have someone else in your heart makes me upset, makes me ache. That’s why I want to do more for you—so that whenever you think of me, you’ll always remember my kindness.”

“I want to treat you better than anyone else ever could… so that you’ll never be able to forget me.”

A sour yet warm sensation welled up in Bai Tu’s heart. “With all that you’ve done, I don’t know how I could ever repay you, I—”

“I don’t need repayment,” Yun Ye interrupted. Then, after a brief pause, a mischievous smile tugged at his lips. His tone turned teasing, laced with ambiguity. “But… if Master truly feels guilty, then perhaps you could—”

Before he could finish, Bai Tu suddenly leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to the corner of his lips.

Yun Ye froze, momentarily stunned. The words that had been on the tip of his tongue—hold me for a while—were swallowed back in silence.

=^_^=