Chapter 71: Ninety-Nine Percent of Redemption Value - I Only Like You

Xiao Bumian's breath was like a cold, venomous snake coiling around his neck. Mingjian was startled by the sudden sound, his hair standing on end. But before Xiao Bumian's voice, he first smelled the cool, sweet fragrance of crabapple blossoms coming from behind him.

The familiar scent made Mingjian's tense nerves relax a little. "Let me go first."

Cheating...cheating his grandpa's love.

Mingjian raised his hand to try to pull away the hand covering his eyes, but Xiao Bumian grabbed it even more tightly and held it captive in front of him.

"Junior brother, does she know about our relationship?" Xiao Bumian asked with a smile in his voice, which was terrifyingly soft.

His lips were moist, lingering between Mingjian's neck and collarbone, leaving clear yet ambiguous crimson marks like stamps.

“Tell me,” Xiao Bumian said in a low voice, his breath brushing over the fresh marks, “if she sees these red marks I left on you tomorrow morning, will she think you’re deceiving her?”

"Or do you think she'd be as magnanimous as I am, willing to accept that you might like someone else?"

Mingjian was still trying to break free from Xiao Bumian's restraints, but Xiao Bumian's fingertips pressed precisely on a sensitive spot on his waist, and a strange tingling sensation instantly spread throughout his body.

Mingjian felt as if all his strength had been drained away, his body as limp as a ball of cotton, or as if he were floating on a cloud. He could only lean helplessly against the person behind him, letting him do as he pleased.

Xiao Bumian's gaze darkened completely.

Unfortunately, Mingjian couldn't see it, otherwise he would have been able to see the thick, inky emotions surging in Xiao Bumian's unfathomable eyes.

He spent several days searching for the so-called Burning Love Gu in various sects, trying to overturn Ye Tanzhou's conclusion.

How could the Gu worm inside his body be the Burning Love Gu?

Perhaps Ye Tanzhou's medical skills were simply lacking, and he made a mistake. The Love-Longing Gu and the Burning Passion Gu are both among the four great Gu worms in ancient books, and they look almost identical. It's not impossible that he would mistake one for the other.

How could the Burning Love Gu possibly still possess feelings?

Didn't his mother say that he was born emotionally detached?

If the burning passion gu in his body is truly present, why does he still feel involuntarily happy when he sees Mingjian? Why does he uncontrollably want to kill the person who covets Mingjian? Why does he frantically want to hide Mingjian away, so that Mingjian only has eyes and heart for him, and is forever only with him?

This is so strange.

Since Mingjian disliked him, betrayed him, and chose to marry someone else, according to his past code of conduct, he should have killed him without hesitation.

But he searched through the ancient books of the Five Realms, and the books said that the mother Gu of the Burning Passion Gu could sense the emotions of her offspring Gu, the Burning Passion Gu could suppress emotions, and the Burning Passion Gu could burn away emotions...

The only inexplicable exception, contrary to the records, is that he still, uncontrollably, liked Mingjian.

These surging emotions were not destroyed; instead, they became clearer, more painful, and more desperate after the truth was revealed.

He loved her so much that whenever he thought about Mingjian wearing a bright red wedding dress and marrying Yun Hanyi, his heart felt like it was being ripped apart with a dull knife, and he could hardly breathe from the pain.

That shouldn't be the case.

He should have let all the false emotions, such as liking, that arose from the Gu worm vanish the moment it was removed.

But it just didn't happen.

That emotion did not disappear; instead, it roared more clearly, like a wild beast freed from its restraints, proving its existence.

The moon outside was cold and clear. Xiao Bumian remained silent, letting its icy light envelop him. He even thought with a touch of despair that since Mingjian was always so fickle, he might as well let him be.

As long as it's clear that he's the most important person in your heart, that's enough.

If that still doesn't work...

Xiao Bumian's fingertips unconsciously twitched, and a dark thought began to form.

At worst, he could just peel off Yun Hanyi's face.

Doesn't Mingjian like pretty faces?

The moist lips gradually moved downwards, and when the cool air touched the more private area, a chill from under the clothes made Mingjian jolt, and his scattered consciousness instantly cleared up.

"Xie Hanwei!" Mingjian gasped for breath, calling out Xiao Bumian's name, trying to stop him from taking any further action.

However, the delicate and burning kisses did not stop; instead, they seemed to continue downwards.

Ming felt a chill run down his spine; a terrible premonition arose within him. For some reason, he felt that Xiao Bumian before him was different from before. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but something churning deep within his eyes made his heart pound.

He had a strong intuition that if he didn't say something to interrupt him now, he would be devoured by Xiao Bumian until there was nothing left.

Then he can forget about his back and legs; it's questionable whether he'll even be able to get out of bed tomorrow!

Mingjian absolutely did not want to become the first host in history to die in a mission world due to overly intense sexual activity! That would be too embarrassing!

"I don't like two people at the same time!" Mingjian's body trembled slightly as he raised his voice, hurriedly revealing his feelings, "I only like you!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Bumian behind him paused almost imperceptibly.

Although he quickly resumed the kiss, Akemi keenly noticed the brief pause. It worked!

"Really, I don't like Yun Hanyi. I have absolutely no feelings for her." Mingjian's brain was working at lightning speed, and he continued to explain almost without thinking. "It's all fake between us, really. Please believe me one more time."

They're all fake.

Xiao Bumian chuckled softly, but there was little joy in his laughter; instead, it carried a sense of all-knowing melancholy.

"But you want to say yes to her, don't you?"

Mingjian was speechless. "I..."

"Don't you still want to marry her? You two will definitely get married." Xiao Bumian's tone was gentle and certain, as if stating an indisputable fact. "You said you would seriously consider Yun Hanyi's proposal, that you would agree to it, right?"

Taking advantage of Xiao Bumian's distraction while he was talking, Mingjian suddenly exerted force and finally broke free from the hands that were covering his eyes and restraining his wrists.

He quickly turned around and looked at Xiao Bumian face to face. In the close eye contact, he clearly saw that Xiao Bumian's eyes, which were always smiling, were now shrouded in a lingering mist, hiding unspeakable pain and struggle deep within.

Looking at Xiao Bumian like this, Mingjian felt a sudden, sharp pain in his heart, as if something had tugged at it.

He thought he probably liked Xiao Bumian a little more than he thought.

Seeing him like this, Mingjian felt bad too.

"I'm sorry." Mingjian softened his voice, filled with apology and sincerity. "I don't know how to explain this to you, but the only person I've ever loved is you. Yun Hanyi and I only had to put on an act for reasons I can't say. Once this act is over and everything has settled down, whatever you want to do, wherever you want to go, I'll agree to go with you, okay?"

Xiao Bumian did not answer immediately. He simply looked deeply into Mingjian's eyes, as if trying to confirm the truth or falsehood of his words.

Then, he leaned forward again, with an almost pious yet desperate gesture, and gently kissed Mingjian's lips.

"Yes, it's all an act," Xiao Bumian repeated softly, as if trying to convince himself, or perhaps savoring the insignificant comfort that those two words brought.

Is it all an act?

Xiao Bumian suddenly felt that the Burning Passion Gu might still have some use. If he hadn't let Ye Tanzhou forcibly remove the Gu worm, would he still be feeling this excruciating pain as if his heart were being torn apart?

"I believe you." Xiao Bumian smiled desperately. He desperately needed to grasp something, to confirm Mingjian's existence in a more direct and intimate way, to fill the huge unease and emptiness in his heart.

His lips and teeth, with a hint of punishment, gently nibbled at the skin on Mingjian's neck. Then he raised his eyes, wet with desire and pain, and stared intently at Mingjian: "You'll agree to whatever I want, right?"

Before Mingjian could answer, he reached out and pulled Mingjian's ankle closer to him, his voice low and pleading, "I want you to touch me, Mingjian."

Mingjian should have refused, but Xiao Bumian's current state was clearly abnormal, bordering on madness and on the verge of losing control. He even felt a slight fear of Xiao Bumian tonight.

However, when he saw the barely maintained smile on Xiao Bumian's face, his heart felt as if it had been twisted violently. Almost unconsciously, he nodded and replied in a hoarse voice, "...Okay."

The air became exceptionally hot.

Mingjian felt as if he were being slowly roasted over a simmering fire, with nowhere to escape and no desire to escape. The ambiguous temperature, like rising steam, enveloped him hotly, climbing up his spine and eroding his reason.

Xiao Bumian's low breathing echoed in his ears, his hot breath spraying onto his sensitive skin. Those few white bone chains had appeared out of nowhere, winding around the bed as if they had a life of their own, even trying to climb onto Mingjian's wrists and ankles.

"I believe you," Xiao Bumian repeated to Mingjian for what seemed like the umpteenth time.

"You only love me, you just have to marry someone else." He muttered to himself as he moved, as if he were talking to Mingjian, or as if he was desperately trying to convince himself.

Mingjian accidentally touched the cool, slippery bone chains, and a strange and unfamiliar sensation came from the soles of his feet. It wasn't comfortable; in fact, it was a little itchy. He couldn't help but tremble slightly, forcibly suppressing the surging heat within him. He felt as if all his strength had been drained, leaving him as limp as a pool of spring water.

After an unknown amount of time, Xiao Bumian let out a muffled groan.

Mingjian's mind went blank; the sensory shock temporarily robbed him of his ability to think.

Xiao Bumian leaned in again, forcefully kissing Mingjian's slightly parted lips. The kiss carried an almost humble plea, as he murmured indistinctly between Mingjian's lips, "You said you only like me..."

It was as if only in this way, through repeated confirmation and possession, could he draw a faint sense of security from that suffocating despair.

Mingjian was dazed by his kiss, her consciousness swaying, and following her instincts and feelings, she responded intermittently, "I...I only like you."

Upon hearing this reply, Xiao Bumian seemed to have finally found some kind of salvation. His tense body relaxed slightly, and he let out a satisfied sigh.

He held Mingjian tightly, with such force that he almost wanted to meld him into his very bones. The two were entangled together, like inseparable tree roots, seeking a brief moment of solace amidst the chaos and turmoil of passion.

—

When Mingjian woke up the next day, the sunlight outside the window was just right, but the spot next to him was empty, leaving only a slightly cool depression.

If it weren't for the slight chafing on the soles of his feet, the stinging pain, and the ambiguous bluish-purple marks all over his body, he might have really thought that last night's entanglement was just an overly realistic dream.

Mingjian didn't know how long Shunmao could last this time, but it was better than Xiao Bumian suddenly disappearing like last time, disappearing for so many days.

His mood improved considerably, and even Furuichi noticed it. "Akimi, you seem to be in a very good mood today!"

"It's alright." Mingjian grinned and casually offered an excuse, "Maybe it's because we're about to reach the Hehuan Sect."

Gu Zhi nodded in deep agreement, “That’s true. The sect leader’s body can only last another month. Half a month has already passed. If we can’t get the Pure Lotus Heart, I’m afraid the various sects in the cultivation world will inevitably have a fierce battle to compete for resources and status. Once we get to the Joyful Union Sect, Xie Linzhao and Miss Yun get married, and we get the sacred object, we will immediately rush back to the sect.”

Mingjian could only manage a couple of dry laughs as he listened, silently praying that the plot wouldn't go awry.

As evening approached, the cloud boat finally stopped in front of the Hehuan Sect.

The sound of the Hehuan Sect disciples' unified voices rang out from outside: "Welcome back to the sect, Holy Maiden!"

The group disembarked from the cloud boat one by one.

A woman dressed in the robes of a high-ranking disciple of the Hehuan Sect immediately stepped forward and bowed respectfully to Yun Hanyi, saying, "Your Highness, the Sect Master has instructed that you go to see her immediately upon your return."

Yun Hanyi, holding her guqin, responded lightly and then instructed, "Ling Gu, these are distinguished guests from Jianming Immortal Mountain. Please take them down and make sure they are settled in and rested properly."

Upon hearing this, the woman known as Ling Gu quickly glanced at Ming Jian and the others, a perfectly measured gentle smile appearing on her face, and replied, "Yes, Your Highness, rest assured."

Yun Hanyi nodded slightly and turned to leave in the direction of the sect's main hall.

After she walked away, Ling Gu gestured to Ming Jian and the others, speaking in a polite but distant tone: "You have come from afar, you must be tired. Please come with me to the inn to rest."

After saying that, she turned around and led the way with a calm and composed gait.

The group followed behind her, taking in the scenery of the Hehuan Sect as they walked.

The Hehuan Sect differs slightly from Jianming Immortal Mountain; compared to Jianming Immortal Mountain, the Hehuan Sect is more refined. Its pavilions and towers are adorned with carved beams and painted rafters, and its winding corridors and waterside terraces lead to secluded spots, the air filled with the fragrance of unknown flowers. Along the way, one often sees pairs of disciples, practicing swordsmanship under flowering trees or playing the zither by the pond, their behavior intimate and the atmosphere harmonious.

Ling Gu led them to a relatively quiet courtyard and stopped, saying, "Please stay here for now. If you need anything, just let the servants in the courtyard know."

Song Heyu bowed to Linggu and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Linggu."

Ling Gu returned the greeting and then quietly withdrew.

That night, while Mingjian was still lying in bed, the system gave him another task.

[Host, according to the original storyline, after arriving at the Hehuan Sect, you need to personally make a pastry and deliver it to Yun Hanyi to increase her favorability towards you.]

Mingjian: "...I said, I'm exhausted, can't I rest for a while?"

The system remained silent.

Mingjian sighed and resignedly said, "Alright, alright, I'll go to the kitchen to make it tomorrow morning, okay?"

Seeing that he agreed, the system finally stopped pressuring him: [Okay]

Mingjian closed his eyes, wanting to sleep.

But then I heard the system stammering again.

[Host... there's something 051 doesn't know if I should tell you.]

Mingjian yawned. "Just say it. What are you trying to do by stammering? You can't have kidnapped the wrong person again, can you?"

The system replied: "No, it's related to Xiao Bumian."

Mingjian was mostly awake now. He opened his eyes and asked, "What's wrong?"

The system remained silent for a long while before finally saying in a complex tone: "The villain's redemption value has reached 99%."

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Author's note: I didn't actually do it... [doge]