Chapter 27#

The courtyard was quiet, with peach branches outside blooming in tender colors, crowded together.

Xue Jingci reached for a waist sash to tie for Pei Huang. Lowering his head revealed tender white skin on his neck marked with an ambiguous red mark.

Pei Huang hadn’t actually wanted to bite him, hesitating long before only leaving a red mark.

But the warmth from his lips still seemed to linger. Pei Huang avoided looking, reaching to snatch the sash, stammering: “I’ll do it myself.”

Xue Jingci gently moved his hand away, making a gesture for silence, indicating the handmaiden was still outside.

Pei Huang felt like his hand had been burned. He pulled back, remaining frozen in place.

He’d roamed everywhere since childhood, roughing it, yet never been dressed by anyone before.

Pei Huang watched helplessly as Xue Jingci extended his arms around his waist, wound the sash around once, then carefully tied it in front.

Those beautiful, clean hands brushed lightly against his side as they passed.

An electric current surged through him instantly, racing along his meridians in all directions, shorting his mind like a struck pressure point.

Pei Huang knew continuing like this, he’d soon reveal something improper. He pressed the sash again, forcing composure: “As long as we stay close, won’t that fool the handmaiden? This knot is something you tied—I can’t untie it.”

He paused, finally finding a perfect excuse: “You’ll have to untie it tonight.”

Xue Jingci’s mind went blank. His entire heart inexplicably grew agitated, about to leap from his chest.

Xue Jingci worked quickly, tying a beautiful knot.

The handmaiden outside, seeing their intimate behavior, didn’t enter to disturb them.

Xue Jingci thought briefly, then asked: “We need to keep performing outside. Should we hold hands?”

But waiting a moment, Xue Jingci heard no response from Pei Huang, so he gently called his name again.

Pei Huang finally recovered his senses. He vaguely heard Xue Jingci ask something, but couldn’t remember the specifics.

Not wanting to show weakness before Xue Jingci, he struggled to recall while calmly saying: “Okay.”

They walked toward the exit. Pei Huang still hadn’t remembered what Xue Jingci had asked about—something about performing…

Wait! Xue Jingci said to hold hands!

Pei Huang’s ears immediately flushed red. Fortunately, though the outdoor sunlight was bright, the temperature remained cold, and wind reddened people’s cheeks anyway.

So Xue Jingci couldn’t notice his embarrassment.

Otherwise, how would Xue Jingci think of him, blushing from the slightest touch?

Just as they neared the study, Pei Huang steeled himself and directly extended his left hand, tentatively hooking Xue Jingci’s finger.

Before he could grip tightly, Jiang Chengyi suddenly rushed over.

Cold sweat beaded on his forehead, his expression unusual—displaying anxiety and panic Xue Jingci had never seen before.

Xue Jingci withdrew his hand and pushed open the study door, saying: “We’ll discuss inside.”

Jiang Chengyi took a deep breath, realizing outside wasn’t the place for conversation. He swallowed the words at his lips.

Inside, Xue Jingci shut the windows and deliberately lit candles before asking what had happened.

Jiang Chengyi clenched his fists, his eyes slightly reddened: “Someone died.”

Xue Jingci immediately became serious, pressing: “How?”

“Last night, strange things multiplied. Several people couldn’t bear it, planning to escape beyond the city gates.”

“But the moment they stepped through, they shrieked piercingly, blood pouring from all seven orifices. More terrifying—within mere seconds, their corpses vanished.”

Jiang Chengyi recalling last night, his expression became extremely grave: “I’m not sure what happened, but you must remember—never set foot outside the city gates!”

Xue Jingci nodded, explaining his own situation. As they talked, others arrived to discuss matters, forcing Jiang Chengyi to remain.

Pei Huang, seeing Jiang Chengyi distressed and Xue Jingci similarly distracted, leaned close: “I’ll inform the others.”

Xue Jingci trusted him completely, his expression immediately returning to normal.

With many affairs in the city, by the time discussions ended, it was nearly noon.

The tall handmaiden pushed the door open, smiling: “City Master, the kitchen says we received much fresh meat today. Why not let us prepare a meal for everyone?”

Jiang Chengyi’s face blanched instantly, almost immediately standing to leave.

But remembering Xue Jingci was still present, he forced himself to sit back, secretly mouthing something to Xue Jingci without sound.

Others laughed and cheered: “Thank you, City Master, for treating us to such delicious food!”

Several outside-sect cultivators, mingling in the group and worried about exposure, joined the cheering, eager to taste the food.

Jiang Chengyi felt anxious internally, but the situation happened suddenly. He had no way to inform everyone of last night’s deaths.

Seeing Xue Jingci silent, the handmaiden giggled, her voice shrill as she asked: “City Master wouldn’t begrudge us a few ounces of meat, would you?”

“Of course not,” Xue Jingci replied flatly, his gaze fixed on the flickering candlelight.

The brief flash of eerie blue light he’d glimpsed told him he could only agree.

The handmaiden led the way as everyone moved toward the front hall.

Jiang Chengyi finally found a chance to inform the other cultivators.

Several cultivators blanched, their steps becoming unsteady. They lingered at the back of the group, trying to slip away. But as soon as they turned, the handmaiden and servants stared directly at them, so they had to obediently return to formation.

The path wasn’t long. Xue Jingci sat at the main seat, others following suit.

Jiang Chengyi kept his head lowered. He’d been hungry for a while, but when a young servant passed with a dish before him, his heart completely sank.

On the plate was braised meat. Though already stewed until soft, one could still discern several human fingers with fingernails attached.

He nearly retched, gripping the table so hard his fingers nearly broke through.

The servant paused before Xue Jingci. The handmaiden immediately stepped forward to serve.

Several household guests stretched their necks, squinting as they sighed: “Smells wonderful, wonderful…”

Xue Jingci had already made up his mind.

He stood, raising his wine cup with a long sigh: “Gentlemen, do you truly wish to eat this meat?”

The hall fell completely silent at his words.

The previously clear weather suddenly darkened, as if black clouds were pressing down.

Candlelight flickered across everyone’s faces, illuminating their paper-white complexions and sinister eyes, spine-chilling.

Xue Jingci didn’t look at the wavering pale-blue candlelight. He walked around the table to the human meat dish, leaning down to sniff it without care.

“Now that fighting has begun, the common folk outside the city suffer. How can we indulge here?” He spoke calmly. “Take this outside, distribute it to the townspeople. We will set an example by eating vegetarian instead.”

Jiang Chengyi understood that Xue Jingci feared the cultivators eating human flesh would damage their hearts’ intentions. He was willing to defy the ghost’s demands.

He was moved, standing to support: “The City Master’s righteousness is admirable. Our victory against demons is assured.”

Several other cultivators also recovered from their terror, looking gratefully at Xue Jingci and immediately supporting him.

The handmaiden giggled, her laughter triggering a sudden thunderclap outside mixed with pouring rain, making everyone jump in fright.

The tension stretched. Xue Jingci’s gaze didn’t waver or dodge, actually commanding authority like a city master.

The handmaiden’s laughter faded. She stared at Xue Jingci with poisonous intent, praising: “The City Master truly exemplifies righteousness. I’ll order the kitchen to send the remaining meat outside.”

Jiang Chengyi relaxed, only now realizing his clothes were drenched.

But before he could fully exhale, the handmaiden brought a small bowl, ladling meat directly before Xue Jingci.

She spoke word by word: “Only, the City Master manages countless affairs, laboring tirelessly. Others may abstain, but you must eat several more bites, lest you exhaust yourself.”

Jiang Chengyi’s lips moved, wanting to speak.

He could see that Xue Jingci had disrupted the ghost’s plans, and they were now venting all their anger on him.

Xue Jingci blinked at Jiang Chengyi, taking the meat bowl and saying flatly: “You’re considerate. I’ll eat.”

He picked up chopsticks, just about to grab a piece when someone rushed from the rain, pressing his hand down.

Pei Huang lowered his eyes at the bowl of severed fingers, his hand muscles tensing, veins bulging.

These people were just going to watch Xue Jingci eat human flesh?

If he hadn’t arrived in time…

Pei Huang’s gaze swept coldly across Jiang Chengyi and the others, his expression calm when falling on the handmaiden as he said flatly: “The City Master cannot eat this.”

The candlelight flickered with cold blue light. The servants gathered closer, no longer hiding the murderous intent in their eyes.

“Why not?” the lead handmaiden, tallest of them all, asked with a sinister smile at Pei Huang and Xue Jingci.

Pei Huang’s expression was composed. He laughed briefly, turning his gaze away and wrapping an arm around Xue Jingci’s waist.

After a moment, he sighed: “Actually, I hadn’t planned to announce this so soon.”

“My wife is pregnant. Recently, she’s had poor appetite. Eating meat makes her nauseous.”

The handmaiden couldn’t respond for a long time, furious: “Absurd! When did the City Master become pregnant!”

Not knowing what Pei Huang did, he somehow twisted Xue Jingci’s wrist pulse and disrupted the pulse signature, calling the handmaiden to verify.

The handmaiden was stunned momentarily. Her poisonous expression became calm. She bowed: “The City Master is indeed with child.”

Unknown time passed. The wind and rain suddenly ceased, the wavering candlelight stilled.

She seemed frozen in place for a long while before stiffly straightening, gesturing to the servants: “Clear this away. Bring something lighter.”

The crisis ended. Pei Huang naturally sat beside Xue Jingci, remaining vigilant, examining each new dish before giving it to him.

Once dinner finally finished, Pei Huang naturally took Xue Jingci’s hand returning to their room.

With no one around, Xue Jingci touched his own wrist. His pulse had already returned to normal. He thought this little rascal knew some devilish tricks, teasing as he stared at Pei Huang: “When did I become pregnant?”

Pei Huang smiled, originally intending to say he’d been forced to improvise in emergency.

But seeing Xue Jingci’s serious expression, he couldn’t resist teasing him. He actually reached over and gently touched Xue Jingci’s belly, saying seriously: “That, I don’t know. Calculating time, it could be from melon seeds? Or perhaps longans… or maybe rice cakes?”

Xue Jingci, recalling how much he’d eaten these days, couldn’t help smiling slightly.

Pei Huang was dazzled by that smile. After a long moment, he seriously explained: “I was somewhat reckless today, nearly angering them. But thinking of you being forced to eat human flesh, I couldn’t care about anything else.”

Late into the night, as they were about to continue in bed, someone suddenly knocked urgently.

Xue Jingci’s eyes flashed with surprise. Thinking they’d been exposed, he quickly pulled Pei Huang down onto the bed and went to open the door.

Outside stood not a handmaiden, but a soldier in full armor.

“City Master… something’s wrong!”

The soldier spoke urgently: “The demon envoy sent for peace talks hasn’t arrived at the relay station. They’ve been killed. The demons are furious, gathering forces to attack the city.”

His words barely finished when wild wind suddenly swept outside, nearly snapping half the courtyard’s peach branches.

Window paper rattled loudly. The candlelight flickered uncertainly. For a moment, the entire world seemed upturned.

When Xue Jingci regained awareness, he found himself sitting in the flower sedan again.

The sedan swayed. Pipes shrieked past his ears. Xue Jingci’s thoughts, however, grew increasingly cold.

He carefully considered what went wrong.

In recent days handling city affairs, he’d grasped the military situation fairly well.

Humanity was weakening now, needing to accumulate strength before facing demons. Originally, both sides had negotiated peace, broken now by the envoy’s death.

This time, he must protect the envoy to continue forward.

But the envoy was outside the city, and leaving meant death.

This seemed an unsolvable puzzle. Xue Jingci couldn’t immediately think of a solution.

The sedan stopped at the city master’s residence. This time, Xue Jingci jumped onto Pei Huang’s back without waiting for the ceremonial attendant to speak, urging him to hurry inside.

After so many repetitions, Xue Jingci’s patience was nearly exhausted.

The two crossed the fire barrier, heading straight to the main hall. Several people rushed to congratulate them mid-sentence, but other cultivators beat them to it, speaking rapidly about what they wanted to say.

Entering the hall, familiar wedding ceremony, they didn’t wait for the officiant before washing hands and completing their hair binding.

Until the three-bow ceremony.

Xue Jingci still wanted to hurry through it, but Pei Huang’s expression grew tender.

His movements suddenly slowed. His expression became serious as he looked toward Xue Jingci.

Then, with the most complete ceremony of his life, he bowed to Xue Jingci.