Chapter 79: Ch78 - Papaya Flavored Senior Brother Gong (16)

Ch78 - Papaya Flavored Senior Brother Gong (16)

Translated by Hua Li ^_~

“That person, you must have heard of him. He was the former Gu Master of the Medical Valley, Hua Huichun,” Gou Liang recounted the long-buried past from the memories of the original host.

“Hua Huichun was already over a hundred years old at that time and a bit confused. When he saw me, he mistook me for someone he knew in the past, the wife of the former old Lord of Jiuming Tower, Leader Tang. He claimed that I bore seven points of resemblance to her. This lady was a famous figure in the martial world when she was young, causing many young men’s hearts to flutter. Hua Huichun was one of her admirers. She was, in fact, my father’s great-grandmother, so it’s not surprising that I resemble her.”

“When Hua Huichun heard about my purpose of coming, he wasn’t in a rush and instead confirmed my identity.”

As it turned out, this was not the first time Hua Huichun had been “invited” to the demonic sect by Bao Shi.

After the battle with his master, although Bao Shi used deceit to kill him, the difference in strength between them was significant. Despite using old affections to confuse his master before, he was also heavily injured during the final showdown.

After betraying the Northern Sect, he sought refuge in the Hehuan Sect. With his attractive appearance, he caught the attention of the former Hehuan Sect leader, Lou Huan, who became enamored with him and made him one of her lovers. In a short time, she treated him as her beloved for life.

Lou Huan saved him on this occasion as well. Later, seeing him injured and unable to practice martial arts, she couldn’t bear it and kidnapped Hua Huichun to treat him.

Due to Medical Valley’s unique status in the martial world, Hua Huichun was saved from Hehuan Sect after three years.

However, Bao Shi later abducted him again, this time after he unified the demonic sect.

At that time, Lou Huan’s life was in danger, and Hua Huichun couldn’t go back to the valley. So, Bao Shi asked him to find a way to lure both Lou Huan’s and his, Mother-Child Gu out of their bodies. The head of the Myriad Poison Sect had a deep infatuation with Lou Huan, so he sought help from Wan Huan, a member of the Poison Sect, to plant the Child-Mother Lover Gu on both of them. If one of them died, the other would have to follow them to the afterlife.

Bao Shi still had feelings for Lou Huan, but not to the extent of being willing to die with her.

Hua Huichun had been coerced by Bao Shi, so he had to rack his brains to find a way to save him. It took him a year to help Lou Huan get rid of the aftermath of the Gu worm. Unfortunately, Lou Huan, who had been struggling to hold on, turned into bones instantly after the Mother-Child Gu was broken.

Afterward, Bao Shi didn’t go overboard and, after confirming that Lou Huan was really dead, sent him back to the Valley of Medicine. Even Bao Shi, who was unhesitant in killing others, dared not take Hua Huichun’s life easily. Who knew if he might be useful in the future? Killing Hua Huichun was akin to killing the goose that laid the golden eggs, cutting off his own source of potential aid.

During that year, Hua Huichun was taken care of by several children, and he accidentally discovered that one of them was a descendant of a renowned martial arts family.

He questioned Bao Shi, who saw nothing wrong with his actions and didn’t hide anything from him.

It turned out that both Bao Shi and Lou Huan had practiced the Poison Secret Technique of the Myriad Poison Sect, which allowed them to maintain their youthful appearance but made them unable to have children.

Lou Huan loved children very much, and initially, Bao Shi kidnapped some babies just to amuse her. However, once these children grew older and were no longer innocent and ignorant, Lou Huan developed extreme hatred towards them. Bao Shi would then send some of them, who had unfavorable traits, to Wandu Sect to make use of them in various ways. On the other hand, those with excellent potential would be trained by Bao Shi himself, and he would accept them as his apprentices, teaching them martial arts.

His words to Hua Huichun were, “I want to create even greater chaos. Otherwise, won’t the martial world be lonely after I die?”

He often engaged in massacres, and Bao Shi frequently killed people just for the sake of it. The bloodline was a mysterious thing, and the abducted children from martial arts families would usually possess slightly better aptitudes for cultivation. Bao Shi believed that his actions ensured the continuity of threats in the martial world. He adopted these children and raised them into killing machines. The tragic fate of the children was indeed ironic.

After Ye Gui’s family was wiped out, Hua Huichun, driven by old feelings, inquired about Ye Gui’s whereabouts from Bao Shi. Bao Shi casually dismissed him, claiming that the child had died along with his parents.

However, Bao Shi didn’t want Hua Huichun to recognize the original owner of the body after so many years.

“You can never imagine the kind of life I lived since I was a child.”

“I was confined to a dark room for three hours every day. It was our favorite time, as each of us had a small enclosed space of our own, and we couldn’t get out, nor could others get in. It felt safe.”

“But as soon as we left that place, we became like those other children. Every day, we had to choose to kill one of our companions or be killed ourselves. Bao Shi always provided one less meal, and if no one died that day, then one of us wouldn’t get to eat. You probably can’t fathom what it’s like to be hungry—having only one meal a day, a meal that’s never enough, even if you eat it all. At the age of three or five, we already knew what we had to do, without any need for threats or coercion.”

“We couldn’t afford to slack off, and everyone lived in fear. Otherwise, death awaited us.”

We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.

“After ten people were killed, Bao Shi would send us to a high-end prison-like place, where the competition was among older children. If we survived this ordeal, we would get better and more plentiful food. But this time, Bao Shi wouldn’t use food as bait; instead, he would gamble with our lives. He taught us martial arts and then threw a group of ten of us into a small forest, where only one of us was allowed to live. If two of us survived after a month, he would kill the rest of us.”

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“Originally, we were just like them, or even had better backgrounds. But in the end, we were nurtured into killers. Isn’t that laughable?”

“I became Bao Jiu at the age of fifteen. At twenty, I became the Right Guardian of the demonic sect. At that time, I watched Hua Huichun crying in front of me like a child, but I didn’t feel any sympathy.”

“Why should I be angry? Why should I fight desperately for people I don’t even remember, just to die at Bao Shi’s hands? So what if Bao Shi loves killing people? If I can’t defeat him and lose my life, what right do I have to complain?”

“I don’t believe in fate, nor do I think I’m such a pitiful person as he claims. Even if I weren’t Bao Jiu and miraculously lived as Ye Gui, the rules of survival wouldn’t change. This world is already full of slaughter.”

“Whoever lives does so to survive.”

“Ye Gui…”

[Ding, Target’s favorability updated, current favorability: +95!]

Although it was a tragic past, he spoke with a smile, as if telling an intriguing story.

Yue Qian’s heart broke listening to him, and several times, he wanted to interrupt him and ask him to stop talking, but Gou Liang didn’t pay attention and continued on as if he thought that tearing open the wounds would be beautiful, and he continued telling the story on his own.

“Listen to me till the end, and then decide whether you want to pity me or not,” Gou Liang lazily rested his head on Yue Qian’s shoulder while paddling his legs in the water, like a carefree fish frolicking in the pool.

He continued, “After I heard my background from Hua Huichun, I asked him why he still repeatedly saved Bao Shi if he believed Bao Shi deserved to die. The old man was caught off guard by my question, and though he didn’t dare say it, I knew the reason.”

“He was afraid of death too, even though he had lived much longer than most people.”

“Compared to genuine scoundrels like Bao Shi, I detest those hypocritical gentlemen even more. So, I told him, ‘If you didn’t remove the Mother Gu and Child Gu back then, Bao Shi would have died long ago, and there wouldn’t have been the later massacre of the Tang family. So, aren’t you also my father’s murderer?'”

“Then I asked him, ‘Medical Valley has strict rules for saving people, but how many lives have you saved compared to the number Bao Shi killed? By saving Bao Shi, you saved your own life, but in doing so, you caused the deaths of even more people. So, does that make you virtuous and above reproach? Shouldn’t those who died because of you seek revenge as well? Just because you didn’t personally kill them, does that make you innocent?'”

“That old man, who’s old in age and spirit, had thinner skin than a flower’s petal. I merely said a few words, and he went crazy, banging his head against the wall, trying to kill himself.”

“Fine, if he wants to die, then let him. But he doesn’t have to wail and cry so loudly before dying, almost getting me killed by his good grandsons and granddaughters at Medical Valley.”

“You say, isn’t this person extremely annoying?”

“Yeah, very annoying.”

Yue Qian tightly hugged him, his voice choking with emotion.

However, Gou Liang still smiled, “In my eyes, he didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Shouldn’t everyone value their own life more than others’? It’s just human nature.”

“Among the countless deaths, if I have to choose between dying or making someone else survive, some fools might choose to die to let others live, but not me. Forcing someone else to die while living for others is the greatest evil in my eyes, even if it’s adorned with countless moral justifications. I wonder if those who died receive their annual offerings and gratitude, will they find it nauseating to come out of their graves.”

“I think Bao Shi is much more straightforward than Hua Huichun or many self-proclaimed righteous individuals.”

“I’m not killing him for revenge; I just want his position and the peerless secret techniques he obtained by killing my parents, your parents, and many others. I want to be the one who decides others’ life and death, not the one being hurt and manipulated by others.”

Gou Liang looked up at Yue Qian, “You see, if not for that, I would have been killed by righteous individuals a long time ago. Now, they hate me but fear me as well. They want to kill me, but they can’t. Instead, they fear that I’ll kill them, so they always nervously hold onto their companions and put on a show of force in front of me. Heh, do you think it’s fun?”

Yue Qian nodded and leaned into Gou Liang’s neck.

Gou Liang felt Yue Qian’s breath was heavy, and he stiffened, “Are you… are you going to cry?”

“No.”

Yue Qian said.

At the same time…

[Ding, target’s favorability updated! Current favorability: +99!]

[Ding! Mission progress bar advanced. Current mission progress: 99%!]

A teardrop fell into the pool, and dense spiritual energy surged towards Gou Liang. He was greatly alarmed and his heart almost jumped out of his chest, flying up!

“Ye Gui?”

“Don’t come over!!” Gou Liang yelled, “If you dare to cry again, I’ll strangle you!”

Damn, that was a close call!!

If that tear had fallen directly on him, they would have truly bid farewell to each other in the next life!

Seeing him about to chase after him, Gou Liang stopped him, frowning, and said, “What are you crying for? It doesn’t suit you. Without my permission, you better not shed another tear, or I’ll kill you right away!”

Yue Qian looked like a cat with its tail stepped on, all flustered and bewildered, which made him not know whether to laugh or cry.

He flew up from the water and landed beside Gou Liang, embracing him tightly. “I always thought Master Ye was fearless, but it seems that he’s afraid after all—”

“Shut up!” Gou Liang cut in fiercely. “I hate it when men cry. If you dare to cry casually again, I won’t like you anymore.”

Yue Qian’s smile froze, seeing the seriousness in Gou Liang’s eyes, unsure whether to cry or laugh.

Sighing helplessly, Yue Qian patted Gou Liang’s head and said, “Don’t talk nonsense.”

Gou Liang snorted, indicating that he wasn’t just talking nonsense, and then looked at him with curiosity. “The other day, when you found out I was from the Devil’s Cult, you thought I killed your entire family, but I didn’t see you cry. Now, you’re not embarrassed to cry.”

He thought Yue Qian’s tears just now were really unexpected and nearly disrupted the mission progress. It’s truly inconvenient if you can’t hold them back!

Naturally, Yue Qian felt distressed, and now he felt a bit uncomfortable. He tried to change the subject and said, “I would have forgotten if you didn’t remind me. I asked you the other day… why did you say you didn’t know?”

— —Of course, it was to provoke you. The goal was significant!

Gou Liang said straightforwardly, “If you don’t think about it afterward, who would remember such a thing?”

“I didn’t personally kill your relatives, but I’ve committed many evils. The people I killed are probably waiting on the road to the afterlife, and they might not even be in the queue for reincarnation now… Why aren’t you angry at all? Sword Hero Yue Qian vowed to kill all members of the Devil’s Cult. So why, as such a despicable person, do you still hold me so tightly? Aren’t you afraid that your master and younger brothers will be disappointed if they find out?”

Seeing the mischievous look in Gou Liang’s eyes, Yue Qian wanted to laugh for some reason.

He did indeed laugh, and his once cold and profound face regained the warmth of his smile, unlike any time before— he had never so openly revealed his tenderness, completely unreserved, not even when they were alone and carefree in the valley.

“No matter how the world blames me, I simply don’t want to hurt you.”

Yue Qian said.

Gou Liang froze for a while, blushing, and muttered, “You talk so nicely.”

Yue Qian laughed and helped him back to the bed to dress him, and then changed his own clothes.

Just as he was about to put on his deep robe, Gou Liang crawled up onto his shoulder. His pale fingers traced the red marks left by the iron chain on Yue Qian’s arm. With one hand wrapped around Yue Qian’s neck, he whispered in his ear, “Yesterday, you were so alluring that I almost couldn’t wait for you to wake up so I could have my way with you. Who knew you would still give me cold treatment, making me say so many useless words.”

He kissed Yue Qian’s blushing face and playfully said, “Next time, can we play like this again? Is that okay?”

Yue Qian glanced at him and didn’t respond.

Gou Liang was persistent, and even though Yue Qian pinned him down on the bed and disciplined him for a long time, he couldn’t help but soften his smile. He hugged him tightly with his arms and legs and said desperately, “You clearly enjoyed it a lot. Yesterday, I thought… I was going to die under you.”

“Don’t say such things.”

“Hmm, I’m serious.”

Gou Liang playfully bit him, and in response, Yue Qian kissed him back. The two of them entangled together, refusing to part.

Perhaps because they finally let go of all the burdens in their hearts and the favorability was nearing its maximum, Yue Qian was more open than ever before. He couldn’t get enough of caressing Gou Liang’s smooth body. When the sword was about to be sheathed, Gou Liang didn’t say anything, but Yue Qian noticed him frowning and suddenly remembered their wild activities from the night before, which had caused some injuries there.

He quickly stopped, and Gou Liang was still unsatisfied.

Yue Qian lifted Gou Liang, patted his butt, and said in a hoarse voice, “Stop messing around, don’t you know pain?”

Gou Liang’s eyes were misty, filled with a seductive charm.

“A little pain doesn’t matter, Yue Qian… you don’t know how much joy you bring me.”

His voice carried a teasing tone, and saying such things made Yue Qian, who had experienced countless battles, blush and feel flustered. To vent his suppressed feelings towards him, Yue Qian helped Gou Liang resolve an important life-and-death matter using his hands.

Yue Qian couldn’t resist Gou Liang’s charm. He kept kissing him, feeling like he couldn’t get enough. He left numerous marks on Gou Liang’s neck, shoulders, and chest. When the two finally stopped, Yue Qian regained his composure and said, “Let someone open the door; I’ll give you some medicine.”

Gou Liang wasn’t quite willing yet. Looking at the iron chains scattered on the ground, he felt regretful. He said, “If we leave here, and you run away, what will I do?”

Yue Qian glared at Gou Liang, pretending to be stern, but in truth, he didn’t want to leave. They both got dressed and held each other close.

Gou Liang didn’t intend to keep him locked up for too long, so he blew the whistle to open the door, to Yue Qian’s surprise, the entire wall was removed. No wonder Yue Qian couldn’t find the exit.

Ignoring the kneeling demon cult members, Gou Liang was carried back to the room by Yue Qian.

Unexpectedly, as soon as they entered the room, they heard a little baby crying loudly. Gou Liang ignored it, but Yue Qian’s heart softened, and he picked up the pitiful little baby crying in his arms, asking Gou Liang, “Whose child is this? How did it end up in your room?”

“In my room, of course, it’s my son.”

Seeing Yue Qian completely stiffen, Gou Liang burst into laughter.

Only then did Yue Qian realize that the baby looked only a few months old, and Gou Liang had no chance to conceive a child. Annoyed, he put the picky little one, who was still crying in his arms, back into the cradle and grabbed Gou Liang, asking, “When did Xiao Keng’er give birth to a chubby baby for me? Why didn’t you tell your husband, huh?”

Gou Liang laughed and glared at him, about to speak when someone hurriedly pushed open the door and quickly picked up the crying baby.

About to scold Gou Liang for his actions, Jiang Suxi looked up and exclaimed, “Senior Brother!”