Chapter 121 – Adjustment

After ordering the meal, Wei Yang didn’t rush back to the study. Instead, he quietly slipped onto the balcony, opened the window, and squatted there to catch some fresh air. In truth, the series of events he had encountered today were enough to keep him processing for a while—whether it was the epic-level formation in his dream, the spiritual aperture diagram hidden in the painting, the truth behind the Wang Village incident from years ago, or the enemy who used sinister formations… If someone experienced all this in a single day, their head would likely feel like it was about to explode.

Surprisingly, though, Wei Yang felt calmer than he had expected. Or rather, he had mentally prepared himself for this long ago. He had recalled the cause of his parents’ deaths, learned about Zhang Xiuqi’s background, and now there was Master Zeng, who had spent twenty years searching for the murderer. Reaching this point felt almost inevitable. Compared to risking his life to seek revenge, he was actually more afraid of being forgotten or left behind. Adventures like this depended on who you were with. Thinking back on everything he had experienced these past two months, it felt like he had been living in a grand dream.

Now that he had a clear goal, had secured his Little Celestial Master, and even somehow managed to gain Master Zeng’s approval, Wei Yang felt a sense of weightlessness instead. It was as if he couldn’t quite figure out where he stood, unable to distinguish whether he was excited or anxious. This feeling wasn’t pleasant; it made his head spin and forced him to come out here to catch his breath and steady his emotions.

As he squatted there lost in thought, a rustling sound suddenly came from beside him. Wei Yang turned his head and saw Lao Ye, who had been sleeping for most of the day, slowly climbing over the fake mountain in the water basin, seemingly ready to get up and eat. Seeing the old turtle’s leisurely demeanor, Wei Yang chuckled. But then he remembered something crucial and quickly leaned over, smiling apologetically, “Lao Ye, I’m afraid you’ll have to accompany me on a business trip in a little while. We’ve got a big job this time…”

A job big enough to risk his life. At the time, he had been so focused on getting Master Zeng to agree that he had essentially sold Lao Ye out. But now, thinking about it, even if they couldn’t deal with those people, the turtle could always escape on its own. It would be like returning to the wild, which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Reaching out to touch the shell on Lao Ye’s back, Wei Yang forced a bitter smile. “I really don’t know what you saw in me to stick around like this. But this time, the place we’re going is really dangerous. If something happens, don’t worry about me. Just leave…”

Lao Ye seemed to sense that its caretaker was in a strange mood. Its beady eyes stared for a long moment before it gently nibbled on Wei Yang’s hand and let out a soft “Ah,” whether as a scolding or simply a gesture of comfort. Wei Yang was amused and tapped the turtle’s head. “You’re worried about me? Don’t be. I’m tough!”

Stretching, he stopped teasing the turtle and stood up. Yes, this limbo wasn’t sustainable. He needed something more concrete. Touching the fading bite mark on his lower lip, he smiled.

For the rest of the day, Master Zeng showed no intention of going out. He stayed in the study with the Little Celestial Master, continuing to prepare talismans and ritual instruments. After dinner, Wei Yang also obediently reported for duty, helping out and taking the opportunity to learn from the Little Celestial Master during breaks in his talisman drawing. However, since he was still recovering, there wasn’t much he could do. From dawn till dusk, Wei Yang managed to recognize most of the talismans on the table and helped Master Zeng inventory the items they had brought back. He even received a sandalwood bead bracelet, which supposedly contained an evil-warding talisman left by a former Quanzhen Sect leader, allowing passage through areas dense with yin energy.

The ghost yin wood they had brought back from his hometown also proved useful. This type of soul-attaching wood was an excellent material for creating substitute dolls. In ancient times, only nobles of the highest rank could afford such things. Now, the broken fox statue was cut into three small doll figures. They were activated with a drop of blood mixed with ash from a talisman inscribed with the eight characters of Wei Yang’s birth date and placed in a pouch with a substitute talisman, creating a high-quality substitute doll.

“Don’t let this leave your body,” Master Zeng warned after Wei Yang finished. “It may not be as powerful as the talisman jade from Longhu Mountain, but a substitute doll can take the fall for its owner once. It could save your life in a critical moment.”

Wei Yang could sense the gravity in Master Zeng’s words and nodded solemnly, hanging the pouch around his neck. He glanced at the Little Celestial Master, who was still bent over the table drawing talismans, and smiled apologetically at Master Zeng. “Master Zeng, after working all day, I’m really exhausted. Maybe we should call it a day. I’ll go to bed now and see how I’m recovering tomorrow before we consider using my Wu family blood for the talismans.”

The use of Wu family blood in talismans had been a point of focus for all of them, but Wei Yang’s recovery had been slow, and they were worried about causing further harm to his body. Master Zeng glanced at his nephew, who was still drawing talismans, and nodded. “It’s good to rest early. Tomorrow, both of you will need to come with me to retrieve some items.”

Now that they were no longer keeping secrets from Wei Yang, their efficiency had improved significantly. Wei Yang smiled and nodded. “I understand, Master Zeng. Don’t worry.”

With that, he glanced at Zhang Xiuqi once more but didn’t disturb him, quietly leaving the room.

However, as soon as Wei Yang left, Master Zeng spoke up. “Xiao Qi, we can’t avoid using Wu family blood in the talismans. Instead of worrying about it, focus on how to increase the power of the talismans. We don’t have much time to waste.”

Zhang Xiuqi didn’t respond. Instead, he crumpled the ruined talisman in front of him and tossed it into the wastebasket. He had never truly accepted the idea of using Wei Yang’s Wu family blood. It was too difficult to control and could easily lead to trouble. He didn’t want Wei Yang to frequently use this power, which was like a ticking time bomb. Unfortunately, he wasn’t strong enough yet—far from being able to protect Wei Yang.

Seeing his nephew’s furrowed brow, Master Zeng sighed softly. Over the course of the afternoon, the two young men had finally returned to normal, no longer awkwardly avoiding each other. However, the undercurrent between them still hadn’t been fully resolved. The issue of Wu family blood stood between them, both a source of strength and a potential danger. If Zhang Xiuqi were a colder person, he might not have been so troubled. Unfortunately, he wasn’t that kind of person.

After a moment of silence, Master Zeng finally spoke. “We’re facing the people who killed your father, Xiao Qi. Your talent and Taoist skills have already surpassed your father’s at his peak, but you’re far behind in experience and wisdom. If you can’t remain calm, we’ll all be in even greater danger. Don’t try to shoulder everything alone. Wei Yang and I are here. You need to learn to trust us—enough to turn your back to us.”

Zhang Xiuqi closed his eyes briefly. He understood what his uncle was trying to say, but deep down, something was gnawing at him, stirring up anxiety. The image of his father walking away kept flashing in his mind. Perhaps he hadn’t truly accepted the decision to bring Wei Yang along—not because of the pressure, but because of fear. A fear he had only just come to understand, one that came from the depths of his heart.

“Don’t think too much. Finish these two talismans, then go to bed,” Master Zeng instructed. Dwelling on things only made it harder to escape them. Instead of letting Xiao Qi worry alone, he might as well talk to Wei Yang and let him figure out a solution. If nothing else, that little charlatan had a knack for such things, not to mention his unique “qualifications.”

Zhang Xiuqi nodded, pushing aside his thoughts and continuing to draw talismans. Half an hour later, he put down his brush, finally completing the batch of yin ghost talismans. The Three Corpses worms were extremely rare materials, and they could significantly enhance the power of the talismans. However, after finishing these, he would have to move on to others.

Clenching his fist, Zhang Xiuqi suppressed the irritation in his heart and said to Master Zeng, “Uncle, I’m going to rest now.”

Master Zeng didn’t say anything, simply waving his hand slightly as he continued grinding something. Zhang Xiuqi didn’t waste words, pushing open the study door and heading to the bathroom to wash up before bed. However, as he entered the bathroom, he frowned slightly. Wei Yang must have taken a shower before bed, as the small room was still filled with lingering steam and the faint scent of shower gel. Since their sleeping schedules had been out of sync these past few days, this was the first time he had stepped into a damp, humid bathroom.

Zhang Xiuqi’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly as a memory etched into his skin surfaced. He stiffened slightly, walking over to the sink and splashing cold water on his face. Now wasn’t the time to think about such things. Steadying his mind, Zhang Xiuqi quickly finished washing up. After some thought, he changed into his usual pajamas, turned off the bathroom light, and walked into the adjacent bedroom.

The bedroom was now pitch dark, with even the balcony door tightly shut. The figure on the bed was just a faint outline. Zhang Xiuqi silently walked to the bed and lay down on the other side, taking a light breath. A faint, refreshing scent of shower gel wafted into his nostrils. Involuntarily, he wanted to turn away, forcing himself to ignore it. But before he could move, a warm, dry hand reached through the thin blanket and rested on his waist.

Zhang Xiuqi’s shoulders tensed instantly, but the owner of that arm didn’t give him a chance to pull away. A warm body pressed tightly against him. That body was naked.

“Brother Qi, you’re sleeping early tonight,” a soft, amused voice whispered in his ear. Realizing that the person beside him had been pretending to sleep, Zhang Xiuqi’s heart raced. He grabbed the hand that was trying to slide under his pajamas, but a pair of even hotter lips had already pressed against his neck, a tongue lightly licking his skin.

“I’ve been thinking all day, and I feel like words aren’t enough. We need to seal the deal,” Wei Yang was clearly prepared. The hand that had been grabbed didn’t struggle but instead scratched Zhang Xiuqi’s abdomen, where the muscles had already tightened, hard as stone and slightly damp with sweat. He chuckled softly.

“Wei Yang, you…” Zhang Xiuqi didn’t know what to say. His entire body was heating up, but that mischievous mouth was stubbornly fanning the flames. His arms were trembling slightly, and his heartbeat had already exceeded normal limits.

“What about me? Don’t like it?” The wet tongue licked the sensitive skin behind his ear, gently biting his earlobe.

Zhang Xiuqi let out a low gasp, no longer able to hold back. He flipped over, pinning the other man beneath him. In the darkness, his eyes gleamed with something akin to desire. Wei Yang twitched slightly, finding it hard to break free from the other’s control. This was completely different from the obedient Little Celestial Master he had known before. He was no longer easily fooled, no longer openly expressing himself. Instead, he had learned to wrap himself in a layer of disguise. Unfortunately, for a professional conman like Wei Yang, that disguise was still too crude.

Just like now.

Wei Yang chuckled softly, one leg breaking free and bending slightly, pressing against something. “I thought it would take more effort. Brother Qi, you really don’t seem like you ‘don’t like it.'”

Zhang Xiuqi’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he struggled to control the urge to either pull away or lean in. He shook his head. “It’s not the right time.”

“Then when is the right time?” Wei Yang asked calmly. “When we come back? Are you completely confident?”

Zhang Xiuqi didn’t answer. This was a question he couldn’t answer. So Wei Yang laughed again, propping himself up and planting a kiss on those lips so close to his. “So I’ve thought it through. Nothing is more important than seizing the moment. Brother Qi, I like you, and I want you—not at some safe moment in the future, but now, at this very moment. I need something to settle my heart.”

His voice wasn’t loud, even deliberately lowered, but there was something in that whisper that carried far more weight than his words. Zhang Xiuqi’s back was taut, as if still struggling, but the other didn’t give him much time. The bent knee brushed against the already erect member once more, and another kiss came up.

This was no longer a gentle kiss but one filled with heat and desire, enough to make one boil. Zhang Xiuqi only froze for a moment before leaning down and kissing back deeply.

Wei Yang was completely pressed into the mattress. This was different from any of their previous physical interactions. The innocence and naivety of the person on top of him were completely gone. He was no longer docile or reserved but had instead revealed the fervor hidden beneath that cold exterior. His hands were firmly pinned to the bed by another pair of hands, every inch of their bodies pressed tightly together. The tongue that invaded his mouth moved recklessly and aggressively. This wasn’t the kind of intimacy Wei Yang was used to—it was too urgent, too aggressive, making him instinctively want to escape. Yet, this fear of being dominated turned into a new kind of stimulation. He struggled to lift his head, wanting to kiss back more deeply, but the suction on his tongue weakened his bones, sending an uncontrollable shiver up his spine.

“Fuck… let me touch you…” Amid the relentless kiss, Wei Yang finally couldn’t take it anymore and began to struggle. His hand broke free from the restraint and grabbed the back of Zhang Xiuqi’s head, wanting to pull him into an embrace and also to flip over and take control. However, another calloused hand slid down his waistline, firmly gripping his hip, the thumb resting near his pubic bone, gently rubbing, less than half an inch away from his erect member.

Wei Yang gasped, his lower abdomen tightening in pain. He had never gotten hard so quickly before, but his entire body was screaming for more touch. That hand didn’t disappoint him. When the warm, wet palm grasped his fully awakened penis, Wei Yang felt like stars were about to burst before his eyes. He let out a low moan, chuckling as he whispered by Zhang Xiuqi’s lips, “Brother Qi, you remembered…”

Years of wielding a knife had made that palm rough, and it now tightened slightly, using a skillful motion to stroke up and down. Occasionally, the calloused fingertip would reach the tip, rubbing the exposed corona. The sweat on the palm and the pre-cum that had seeped out made the skin moist, creating a wet kind of pleasure. Zhang Xiuqi’s technique wasn’t clumsy, and all of this had been taught to him by Wei Yang himself.

However, it seemed the lessons hadn’t been thorough enough. Another hand joined in, freeing the fully awakened desire from the damp pajama pants. Wei Yang’s palm, though not as rough, was soft enough to provide a completely different sensation. The two hard members were pressed together, and the rhythm of the stroking changed. Zhang Xiuqi’s back tensed, and he bit down on Wei Yang’s neck.

The sensation was painful but equally pleasurable. Wei Yang stuck out his tongue, licking the other’s earlobe, but the movement of his hands only grew faster. The two hands moved in unison, tightly pressed together yet blending seamlessly. But this still wasn’t enough. Wei Yang almost hated the cotton pajamas. He should have taken them off earlier. He wanted to feel the other’s bare skin, to rub their chests together, not just grind against the soft fabric.

In the midst of this fervent desire, his hands moved even faster, his nails grazing the sensitive slit at the tip. He knew how stimulating that was and how much it would please the other. The liquid that had seeped out had already wet his fingers, and in this mix of wetness and gasps, Wei Yang suddenly remembered something he should have thought of earlier.

“Ah… right, Brother Qi, your Primordial Yang… shouldn’t we preserve it…” Wei Yang’s mind was already a mess, trying to regain some rationality amidst the desire. However, Zhang Xiuqi only stiffened slightly before kissing his lips again. This wasn’t a kiss of conquest but one of need, filled with longing and a strange intimacy.

In the brief pause between kisses, a voice whispered in his ear, “This won’t be Primordial Yang. I… dreamed of you…”

In moments like this, it was hard for a man to focus on anything else, but strangely, Wei Yang instantly understood what the other meant. He remembered that strange cold shower from that morning. His Brother Qi had truly grown up, and from now on, his first, second, and every time after would belong to him alone!

These words were more moving than the sweetest love confession and more arousing than the strongest aphrodisiac. Wei Yang let out a soft moan, his back arching as he came, not even lasting as long as a virgin experiencing intimacy for the first time.

However, what spilled into his hand wasn’t just his own hot liquid. Zhang Xiuqi’s back arched slightly, and he also stopped, pressing his sweaty forehead against Wei Yang’s shoulder. The amount that had spilled into his hand wasn’t small—thick, sticky, and slippery enough to form strands. Wei Yang let out a light gasp, pulling his hand out from between their stomachs. Liquid dripped from his fingers, already indistinguishable from whose it was.

He smiled slightly, putting his wet fingers into his mouth. The faintly bitter and musky taste lingered on his tongue. He didn’t keep it to himself, kissing the man on top of him again. Their tongues intertwined, savoring and claiming each other.

Without bothering with the other liquids, Wei Yang lazily licked the other’s lips, a mischievous smile on his face. “Just a warm-up. Let’s continue, Brother Qi. I still have a lot to teach you…”

His fingers didn’t stop, starting to tug at that annoying shirt. Zhang Xiuqi cooperatively lifted his body slightly, and their lips met once more…