The Villainous Shizun Is As Beautiful As A Flower

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The restaurant’s hall became unusually quiet, with only the repeated exchange of words between the couple.

Shen Liuxiang’s lips twitched, and he stood up, adjusted his sleeves, and took the longer chopsticks from Zhou Xuanlan’s hand. Then he turned to say, “Xu Xingchen, open your mouth.”

Xu Xingchen was still deeply engrossed in his profound worries. He realized that if the two of them revealed their feelings, and Shen Liuxiang truly had feelings for the Demon King, then this situation could go awry.

He had meticulously planned everything to the end, but now he felt like he was lifting a stone to smash his own feet.

Upon hearing Shen Liuxiang call him, he snapped back to reality and looked up, asking, “What did you say?”

As he opened his mouth to speak, a small piece of fish fin soup was pushed into it.

Xu Xingchen’s eyes widened in surprise, and he looked confused and bewildered.

Why was Shen Liuxiang feeding him?

He had been eating by himself since he was little, and he had never let anyone else feed him. Now that he was an adult, having his elder brother feed him like this, it would be a shame if this got out. His reputation as the son of the Emperor would be ruined!

Sensing the gazes from all around, Xu Xingchen’s face turned red. He took out a handkerchief and was about to spit out the food.

Shen Liuxiang’s lips curled slightly, imitating the conversation from the nearby table, “I’ll feed you! I’ll feed you! For my second brother, I have a thousand, ten thousand likes!”

Xu Xingchen choked, and his body leaned back, staring at Shen Liuxiang in disbelief.

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He had actually said such things in public. His shamelessness had reached new heights!

“You, you—”

His hand holding the handkerchief trembled uncontrollably, and his ears turned red. With the taste of the fish fin soup still spreading in his mouth, he found himself unable to speak.

Shen Liuxiang continued, “Swallow it. Swallowing means you like me, not swallowing means you don’t like me, your elder brother.”

Xu Xingchen didn’t hesitate, he raised the handkerchief as if he was about to spit out the food, but Shen Liuxiang swiftly patted his back, making him forcibly swallow it down.

In the end, Shen Liuxiang affectionately patted his back as if he were deeply moved. “Don’t wolf it down like that. You’re in such a hurry to express yourself. I understand your intentions. If His Majesty or His Excellency the Emperor were to see how harmoniously we brothers get along, they would surely be pleased.”

Xu Xingchen almost flipped the dining table.

He felt so utterly shameless! From top to bottom, he had no intentions whatsoever!

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Unable to stomach the meal any further, Xu Xingchen took out spirit stones, paid the bill, and without even turning his head to acknowledge anyone, he indignantly left the restaurant.

Shen Liuxiang accompanied Zhou Xuanlan back to Crossing Spirits Sect, with Luo Yu following closely behind. In the blink of an eye, the previously crowded table was now only occupied by Wenren Qin.

Without a care in the world, he picked up his chopsticks and leisurely began to eat his meal.

A nearby person said, “City Lord, the dishes have gone cold. Would you like us to prepare a fresh batch?”

Wenren Qin replied in a calm voice, “Just taste them, there’s no need to go to such trouble.”

He waved his hand, indicating for the person to step back. He tasted each of the dishes, seeming to have a good appetite at the moment.

As the others in the hall noticed this, they began to relax. They started whispering amongst themselves.

“Wasn’t that Lord Shen Yu just now?”

Yes, it was him. I thought he had left Qilin City, but he’s back after only a few days. Lord Shen seems to be even more handsome now.”

“I couldn’t get a portrait of Lord Shen earlier, and it’s made me upset for quite some time. I didn’t expect to meet him here. The real person is even more exquisite and beautiful than the painting.”

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Wenren Qin put down his chopsticks, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and remembered when he had reached the door earlier. He also recalled that there was another person at the table. Shen Liuxiang turned back for a brief moment, waved his hand in a farewell gesture, and then left with Zhou Xuanlan.

The lantern hanging high above cast its light, showering him in its glow. In that moment, his lips curved like a demon flower that blooms at night, dazzling and captivating.

Wenren Qin’s eyes held a hint of amusement. The courtyard’s pagoda trees were in full bloom, and he had been watching them all afternoon. The knot of uneasiness in his heart was hard to untangle. As evening approached, he had plucked a string of flowers, treating poison with poison. Staring at the delicate white blossoms, he inexplicably thought of an exquisite face.

So he had sent someone.

And now, it seemed he had made the right decision.

Wenren Qin’s fingertip traced along the rim of his cup, and a faint smile curved his lips.

Wenren Qin sensed something off with Zhou Xuanlan. For some reason, his sense of threat from Zhou Xuanlan had diminished. While he still maintained a tight watch on the man, it seemed he was now easier to catch off guard.

Setting down his teacup, Wenren Qin left the restaurant in a cheerful mood.

…

A bright moon hung in the sky, surrounded by a red hue.

Walking down the street, Shen Liuxiang looked up and noticed that the moon was even redder than it had been the previous day.

Luo Yu explained, “In a few days, the entire demon realm will have no daylight. Only a blood-red full moon will hang in the sky.”

Shen Liuxiang was surprised. “Is it the Blood Moon Night?”

He had heard the emperor mention it. The Blood Moon was a unique phenomenon in the demon realm. During this time, the realm would be at its most vigorous, and the strength of various demons would increase significantly, making them more powerful. It was a night of revelry for the demon race.

Luo Yu nodded. “During that time, every part of the demon realm will be bustling with activity, and Qilin City will be no exception. Your Excellency can go out and enjoy.”

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Shen Liuxiang nodded slightly and turned to look at Zhou Xuanlan. Since leaving the restaurant, Zhou Xuanlan had been silent, his eyes downcast, his gaze flickering uncertainly.

“Sneaking off to tattle to the master again?”

Zhou Xuanlan snapped out of his thoughts. “I was seeking guidance.”

Shen Liuxiang asked, “Guidance about what?”

Zhou Xuanlan fell silent for a moment. “I can’t say.”

His main body didn’t allow him to reveal his thoughts prematurely. It wasn’t the right time, and he was afraid it might scare away his Master.

Shen Liuxiang raised an eyebrow playfully. “You have another secret, I see.”

At the entrance of the courtyard, Luo Yu bumped into Shi Fang and Lu Wuwhen. The three of them left together, acting mysteriously as they mentioned that they had completed the tasks given to them by the Demon King.

Shen Liuxiang let them leave and then returned to the room with Zhou Xuanlan. They sat within the array formation.

Zhou Xuanlan extended his hand to hold Shen Liuxiang’s, but the latter avoided it.

Shen Liuxiang untied a hairband, and his black hair fell. A few playful strands of hair stuck to his cheek, which he tucked behind his ear. “This hairband is also a magical tool, a kind of spirit rope. Just make do with it.”

Zhou Xuanlan looked at the red hairband that was offered to him but didn’t reach out. “Why?”

Shen Liuxiang extended slender fingers, twirling the hairband between them. With a teasing smile, he said, “Why? Have you become addicted to holding my hand?”

Zhou Xuanlan widened his eyes slightly, then wordlessly took the other end of the hairband.

Had he been exposed?

Shen Liuxiang noticed and his lips curved more noticeably. But his eyes were slightly clouded, as if veiled by a thin mist, making it hard to decipher the depth of his smile.

He felt that Xu Xingchen had been overly anxious.

Inside the restaurant, before Shen Liuxiang took the chopsticks, Zhou Xuanlan’s wrist pressed down slightly. It was a subtle movement, almost unnoticeable, but Shen Liuxiang caught it. It seemed that Zhou Xuanlan had instinctively placed the fish fin soup back into the dish.

Shen Liuxiang’s grip on the hairband tightened slightly as he infused it with his spiritual energy.

For half an hour, silence filled the room. Zhou Xuanlan retracted his hand and opened his pitch-black eyes.

Shen Liuxiang lifted his hand, brushing aside his scattered long hair. His sleeve slid up, revealing his fair and jade-like forearm, the wound now fully healed.

Using the hairband, he tied his hair back, stood up, and dusted off his robe. “If there’s nothing urgent, I’ll be heading back.”

Zhou Xuanlan was taken aback. “You’re leaving, Master?”

Shen Liuxiang explained, “I’ve been in Qilin City for too long. I need to find a way to get hold of the scroll quickly.”

Zhou Xuanlan looked at him and then glanced at the bed. After a moment, he nodded. “Alright.”

After Shen Liuxiang left, Zhou Xuanlan continued to meditate with his eyes closed. Before long, he opened his eyes again and looked towards the bed.

He had ordered someone to change the bed curtains and replace the pillows and blankets with the finest ones.

But his Master wasn’t going to sleep there.

Zhou Xuanlan pondered alone for a long time, wondering why Shen Liuxiang had changed his mind. Unfortunately, he was only a fragment of his consciousness. Apart from protecting his mentor being his absolute priority, his other thoughts were quite weak.

After much thought, dawn arrived, and he still hadn’t figured out the reason behind the change.

Shen Liuxiang also spent the night sleepless. Early in the morning, Xu Xingchen smelled the scent of elixirs and hurried to the alchemy room. “Did you manage to refine it?!”

Shen Liuxiang held a black pill in his hand and examined it. “Yes, I refined it, but it’s not the Illusory Pill.”

Illusory Pill was something that allowed demon cultivators to control their aura. The pill Shen Liuxiang held didn’t help with aura control; instead, it emitted a peculiar smell.

It shouldn’t have turned out this way even if it were an unfinished product.

After some thought, Shen Liuxiang attributed it to the addition of spices.

Xu Xingchen saw the bloodshot in his eyes and took the black pill from his hand. “Alright, take a rest.”

After a night, he had already forgiven Shen Liuxiang’s impoliteness at the dinner table the previous night. Moreover, he had good news.

“I had the palace’s imperial teacher investigate the Illusory Pill. It turns out that several decades ago, an Illusory Pill appeared in the world. It was refined by Lan Linlang. However, not long after the pill was circulated, she retrieved it. She claimed that the Illusory Pill was still imperfect. But on its way back to her, the pill was intercepted, and its whereabouts became unknown.”

Shen Liuxiang sat cross-legged on the ground, resting his chin on his hand, his brow slightly furrowed.

Wenren Qin had mentioned visiting many alchemists, but there was no way he couldn’t have known about Lan Linlang’s production of the Illusory Pill. Why hadn’t he mentioned it?

Xu Xingchen said, “A carrier pigeon should have come back by now. Could it be that there’s a grudge between you and Sword Sect? Sect Master Lan intentionally delayed, holding off on delivering it to you.”

Shen Liuxiang choked. “There’s no grudge, it shouldn’t be like this.”

Xu Xingchen was worried. “I’ll write another letter, this time in the name of the Imperial Palace’s Young Lord.”

Shen Liuxiang narrowed his eyes slightly. “Wait for another two days.”

As he spoke, Jin Xiaojiu burst into the room, excitement on his face. As the Blood Moon was approaching, he was brimming with energy and enthusiasm.

“Young Master, a beautiful young lady is here to see you.”

Shen Liuxiang’s expression changed subtly, and he glanced at Xu Xingchen.

Xu Xingchen widened his eyes in shock. “What’s with that expression? Besides Xinglian, I don’t know any beautiful young ladies. Don’t project your baseless thoughts onto me!”

Shen Liuxiang rolled his eyes at him. “It’s a common reaction. Come on, let’s see who this beautiful young lady looking for you is.”

“Wait, wait,” Jin Xiaojiu listened to their conversation and shook his head, “She’s looking for Young Master Shen.”

Xu Xingchen quickly grasped the situation and changed the focus, playfully pointing at Shen Liuxiang. “Calling the thief to catch the thief, I want to see where else you’ve been wandering when one Demon King isn’t enough for you.”

With a flick of his sleeve, he strode off energetically.