Chapter 98#

Seven Times Means Seven Times#

Bai Ruoye excused herself from the banquet, claiming she felt unwell. The voices of the two children she had hallucinated hearing in the palace corridors still weighed heavily on her mind. She questioned the surrounding demon attendants, asking if they had seen two children, but they all replied that they hadn’t. It was too strange; Bai Ruoye felt a faint sense of unease in her heart.

Returning to the Stone Nest, a demon attendant held a bronze basin, a towel, and a comb to assist her with washing. She stood before the bronze basin, her reflection cast in the shallow, clear water. Just as she was about to lower her face to wash, she discovered that the reflection was not her own at all. The person in the reflection had light gray hair, deep gray eyes, and a face highly similar to Tantai Jing. She could not be called a stranger, for even though Bai Ruoye had never met her, she recognized her.

She was Tantai Xun.

Bai Ruoye stared blankly at the reflection in the water. Blinking again, the shadow returned to being herself, as if the Tantai Xun she had just seen was merely an illusion.

“Did you see anything in the water just now?” she looked up and asked the demon attendant holding the basin.

The demon attendant said blankly, “I didn’t see anything?”

“Did you see a gray-haired woman?”

The demon attendant shook her head. “No… Your Highness, what is wrong?”

Bai Ruoye pressed her temples. “It’s nothing, probably because I’ve been too tired these past few days.”

She thought she indeed was tired. Having just returned to the Border Capital from the front lines, she had to deal with those loathsome court officials again. Most of the demon ministers were ferocious, vigorously advocating for bloody warfare and wanting to turn the captured prefectures and counties into “pastures” for the demon race. These so-called “pastures” meant stripping mortals of their clothes, forcing them to live like livestock, and serving as game for the demons to hunt and feed on. She strongly opposed this, lobbying the ministers to implement a policy of conciliation and coexisting with mortals as equals. The public and the court criticized her more and more, saying her heart leaned toward the human race, despite her having just captured Xuzhou for the demon race.

Fortunately, King Luofu considered that the alliance with Yunzhou and Youzhou was still in place. Establishing pastures at this moment would surely alienate their allies. King Luofu vetoed the ministers’ proposal and promoted Bai Ruoye once again, which silenced the officials. However, Bai Ruoye knew in her heart that to King Luofu, mortals were no different from livestock. If the demon race conquered the world in the future, humanity would have nowhere left to survive.

Looking at herself in the water, she recalled what Yingzhao had said: “In your heart, do you ultimately resemble a human more, or a demon?”

She had answered so decisively back then, but only she knew the true answer.

She did not know.

Pushing away the basin, she went to the stone tower and climbed the steps. Tantai Jing was still sitting by the window, gazing out at the Border Capital under the night sky. His long gray hair trailed on the ground, cascading like a waterfall. Even when he heard Bai Ruoye’s footsteps, he did not turn his head. He always ignored Bai Ruoye like this, as if she were merely a wisp of air that required no attention.

Bai Ruoye did not mind his rudeness. She knew he hated her, so she did not disturb him often.

Only today, she had something to ask.

“Sang Chiyu has already become a demon,” Bai Ruoye said. “Father performed the ‘Soul-Heart Telepathy’ on him. From the inside out, he is now a demon.”

Tantai Jing remained silent, without making a sound.

“Do you want to see him?” Bai Ruoye said. “I can bring him to see you. It’s just that you might need to make some disguises so that he doesn’t recognize you as Tantai Jing.”

Tantai Jing still did not answer.

To tell the truth, he didn’t want to see Sang Chiyu, that fat cat. Hui’er was a plague-like figure; whoever associated with him would end up just as messy. Tantai Jing had taught Sang Chiyu self-discipline and self-cultivation, but who could have known that after following Hui’er, this child would also become so undisciplined, eating until he was so fat, looking practically like a ball of fur. Becoming a fat cat was one thing, but he had even been captured by the demon race and brought to the Border Capital.

Seeing him would only bring vexation; it was better not to see him.

Seeing Tantai Jing’s unwilling attitude, Bai Ruoye stopped delaying and finally got to the point. “Tantai Jing, what kind of person was Tantai Xun?”

The man by the window finally moved, like a dead sculpture coming to life. He slowly turned his face, which was as cold as if it were frozen in ice.

“Do not mention her name again,” Tantai Jing said. “My twin sister is my glory. And you are my disgrace.”

Su Ruhui let out a low whimper, but did not dare to make too much noise. There were cat-servants guarding outside with keen hearing; if they heard a man’s voice coming from “Zhou Xiaosu’s” small courtyard, they would definitely grow suspicious. He was enduring with great difficulty, his forehead covered in sweat. Sang Chiyu wiped the sweat for him, pressing against his neck as they finished the second round.

“I can’t do this anymore.” Tears pooled in the corners of Su Ruhui’s eyes. “I’m going to die.”

The initial pleasure had long since faded, leaving only torment now. Yet, Sang Chiyu was bursting with energy, making it incredibly hard for him to endure.

The system reminded him mercilessly: 【The task description states that it must be seven times. If the count is insufficient, the task cannot be judged as successful.】

“Fuck your ancestors,” Su Ruhui cursed.

“What’s wrong?” Sang Chiyu kissed his earlobe.

“The system says it has to be seven times for the task to count as complete,” Su Ruhui felt anxious. “Brother Sang, can you still do it? Will you be able to hold out?”

Sang Chiyu fell silent for a moment, then said, “I can. You cannot.”

Su Ruhui sat up in anger. “Don’t look down on me. If you weren’t unwilling to be on the bottom, ten times would be a piece of cake for me, Su Ruhui.”

As he spoke, he scrambled up to vindicate himself. Sang Chiyu pressed him back down and said, “I meant that your body won’t be able to take seven times.”

Su Ruhui was left speechless.

The task had to be completed, not only to send Sang Chiyu out of the Hyper-Meta Realm, but also because of Su Guanyu. Su Guanyu was too powerful, and they were at a disadvantage. A virus could not exist independently; Su Guanyu must be harboring within a certain object or character, but they had no idea where his true body was. Generally speaking, to clear a virus from a computer, one simply needed to delete the infected files and programs. The Hyper-Meta Realm followed the same principle: as long as they eliminated the object harboring Su Guanyu, they could eliminate Su Guanyu.

But if they wanted to perform a full-system scan, their current permissions were still far from enough.

The system cheered them on: 【Go for it!】

Why can’t you modify the completion conditions of the task? Su Ruhui cursed inwardly.

The system was completely impartial: 【Once a task is issued, it cannot be changed, otherwise, what kind of task would it be? This system will absolutely not help you cheat! In addition, I have already recorded your activities tonight and put them in your inventory. If the host wants to reminisce in the future, you can open it at any time. It’s a 360-degree, zero-blind-spot recording, you know! No need to thank me, muah!】

Su Ruhui: “…”

…For—for the sake of the recording, he wouldn’t argue with the system.

Su Ruhui scrambled up again and made a solemn proposal: “The system said seven times, but it didn’t say who gets those seven times. How about we share the burden? You take four times, and I take three times. That way, my body won’t collapse.”

Sang Chiyu patted his head. His movement was gentle, but his tone was exceptionally overbearing. “No.”

Su Ruhui was out of options. “Then tell me what to do.”

Sang Chiyu pulled him down to lie down, his voice turning low and husky. “Help me with your hand.”

After the seven times were completed, the system’s notification sound rang in Su Ruhui’s ear.

【Congratulations to the host for completing “Seducing the Cold-Hearted Husband.” System permissions unlocked by 10%; current host permissions at 75%. Acquired the function “Copy Another’s Secret Technique x1.” The secret technique can be transferred, but this function can only be used once. Please choose the secret technique carefully, Host.】

Exhausted, Su Ruhui collapsed on the bed like a dead dog. Sang Chiyu got out of bed to fetch water to wash his hands and wipe his body. Su Ruhui’s hands ached, so Sang Chiyu gently massaged them for him. The moonlight was quiet, and the night was silent and peaceful. Su Ruhui turned his face to the side, looking at his calm features.

“Have you been doing well these past few days? How did you dodge King Luofu’s Soul-Heart Telepathy?” Su Ruhui asked.

Sang Chiyu gave a brief account of how Su Guanyu had tried to persuade and entice him, intentionally omitting his experience of having his human bones stripped and replaced with demon blood. His human form was exactly the same as before; as long as he didn’t say anything, Su Ruhui wouldn’t be able to spot any clues.

“Tantai Jing is still alive,” Sang Chiyu said.

Su Ruhui was stunned for a moment and murmured, “I knew it. Senior Sister wouldn’t be so cruel. She must have prepared a super-grade flesh puppet in advance. But where is my share?”

“Su Guanyu,” Sang Chiyu said succinctly.

In an instant, Su Ruhui understood. Right, it was highly likely destroyed by Su Guanyu. Since he wanted to play the hypocritical good guy saving the throat-slit Su Ruhui, he naturally couldn’t allow Su Ruhui’s consciousness to be restored by the flesh puppet prepared by Bai Ruoye.

“All demons who have undergone Soul-Heart Telepathy suffer from headaches and need to take ‘Soul-Breathing Pills’.” Sang Chiyu showed the pill to Su Ruhui. “Bai Ruoye also takes this medicine daily.”

“Senior Sister has also undergone ‘Soul-Heart Telepathy’?” Su Ruhui said.

“Yes,” Sang Chiyu said, “I swapped her pills.”

King Luofu had used Soul-Heart Telepathy on Senior Sister. Did she know? She was probably kept in the dark too, just like Shentu. If Senior Sister knew the truth, maybe she could still turn back.

“But…” Su Ruhui frowned. “If King Luofu used Soul-Heart Telepathy on Senior Sister, it means he can see where she has been and who she has met through her eyes. Why didn’t King Luofu discover that Senior Sister was hiding Uncle?”

Sang Chiyu shook his head.

He too was completely baffled.

【New task triggered! Please choose one of the following tasks to complete, Host.】

The system suddenly spoke up, its loud voice piercing through Su Ruhui’s brain. Su Ruhui deeply regretted letting the system learn his personality; running into a guy even noisier than himself was indeed a headache.

Beep—

Task 1

Task Release: Rescue Tantai Jing.

Task Description: Former Grand Sect Master, now a caged bird—how… exciting! I wonder if the Grand Sect Master and Bai Ruoye have done some ’this and that’?

Task Reward: 10% system permissions unlocked.

Task 2

Task Release: Find, find, find daddy, find a bad daddy.

Task Description: The virus Su Guanyu is threatening the Hyper-Meta Realm. Host, please assist the system in scanning and killing the virus, and find the virus!

Task Reward: 10% system permissions unlocked.

The difficulty of Task 2 was indeed too high. They had absolutely no clue where Su Guanyu was, and wouldn’t be able to find out anytime soon. They would have to investigate thoroughly first.

Su Ruhui made a prompt decision. “Brother Sang, let’s go rescue my uncle! He has a fierce and unyielding temperament; being imprisoned must be such a humiliating disgrace. We can’t just stand by and watch him die.”

Sang Chiyu recalled how yesterday in the Stone Nest, Tantai Jing had meanly evaluated his figure as a cat:

“One who eats too much becomes fat.”

His body was well-proportioned with no excess fat. He looked plump only because cats grow a thick coat of winter fur to ward off the cold. Did that ignorant Grand Sect Master not know about cats puffing up their fur in the winter?

Sang Chiyu’s face was expressionless as he said, “No rescue.”

The author has something to say:

System: 【Selling high-definition lossless video in the front row, price: 100 Starfish.】