Chapter 88 Doesn't Senior Brother hate me? (30) Born of love...
I steeled my resolve and stubbornly held my neck.
However, the expected death did not come.
A slender, white hand grasped his chin, lifting his face and raising her gaze, which immediately met his golden eyes.
The immortal's face was deep and mysterious, with a dazzling and sacred golden light floating on the surface of his pupils, but beneath it seemed to surge a kind of somber and oppressive aura, which made Fu Li's heart tremble with fear.
With a slight exertion, Fu Li cried out in pain, her voice soft and delicate, like a coquettish whimper, making one's heart tighten.
Chongjingge seemed to grit his teeth slightly, a dangerous glint flashing in his eyes, as if conveying a warning, or as if he had made a certain decision.
The system notification followed immediately: [Host, the male protagonist's murderous intent level has exceeded the limit. Preparing to jump to the next world.]
Before Fu Li could even say "okay," the immortal's slender fingertips lightly touched her forehead, and she immediately fainted.
---
Fu Li opened his eyes to a deathly blackness. He moved his body and found that he was completely unrestrained, but his meridians were sluggish, just like an ordinary person. He then assumed that he had died at the hands of Chongjing Pavilion.
That makes sense, really. No one could forgive such a deeply painful betrayal, especially one that showed no remorse whatsoever. At least this time, he died without pain. Compared to the agonizing struggles he endured in the previous two worlds, that's a significant improvement.
"System, have we arrived at the fourth minor world? System? System?!"
Just as Fu Li was feeling a little smug, the system's long-absent voice rang out:
[Host, don't panic... We haven't arrived at the next small world yet. This is the mustard seed space created by the male protagonist. He didn't kill you; he forcibly made you unconscious before bringing you in. So... the mission isn't over yet.]
Fu Li was somewhat bewildered upon hearing this. He looked down at what should have been his palm and tried to gather the spiritual power in his spiritual root to form a ball of flame, but all he could see was pitch black darkness.
"Why can't I sense the spiritual veins anymore?"
"The male lead has sealed your spiritual root," the system said with some reluctance. "You have now returned to being a mortal."
Fu Li was speechless: "What good does he get out of treating me like this? Is he planning to lock me up first and then slowly torture and take revenge?"
This does seem to be the most likely scenario at the moment. The system can't provide an answer either.
Fu Li tried shouting a few times, but the mustard seed space was not only devoid of light, but even sound was absorbed by the darkness. Deathly silence, dullness, and emptiness were the feelings this place gave Fu Li. He didn't want to stay here a moment longer, but it seemed that Chongjing Pavilion hadn't remembered him for a long time, leaving him alone in this place to wait.
After an unknown amount of time, a sliver of light finally appeared directly overhead. Fu Li felt a surge of spiritual energy flowing into him, and then he was pulled out.
The blinding light made his pupils, which had been in darkness for so long, uncomfortable for a moment. When he came to his senses, he found himself in the inner hall of an elegantly decorated palace, with the familiar scenery of Longque Mountain outside the window.
Fu Lixu collapsed to the ground, his body even weaker after losing his spiritual power. A pair of white boots were reflected in his eyes, intricate cloud patterns spreading from the boots to the hem of his robe. His collar jutted out slightly, exuding an air of noble elegance, aloofness, and serene tranquility.
"I've given you another day. What do you want to say this time?"
The immortal's face was serene as water, clear and bright like the moon in the sky. His body had been reshaped, giving birth to a pair of radiant golden eyes, which still could not reflect anything, coldly gazing in the direction of Fu Li.
Fu Li was puzzled.
At this moment, he had no means of resistance and had lost all his support. He knew that the crimes he had committed could not be forgiven by the other party, and he figured that even if Chongjing Pavilion killed him immediately and left his body exposed to the public, no one would object.
So why---
"You're not going to kill me?" The boy, kneeling on the ground, tilted his head in confusion.
Those eyes held just the right amount of confusion, like a child's.
There was no remorse, no explanation, no tearful pleas; he simply asked a question in a calm and collected manner. Yet, this stirred up a monstrous wave within the man's heart, a wave powerful enough to destroy the world.
Fu Li, his junior brother, his former beloved, was also the one who threw him off the Thousand Miasma Cliff. His methods were extremely ruthless and vicious, which made him wonder for a long time whether what he saw that day was really his junior brother.
The dark light in the immortal's eyes gradually surged, and no one knew what twisted and dark emotions were accumulating in his heart, which should have been vast and boundless.
How ridiculous! The Ali he remembered was innocent and pure, and even though she was occasionally spoiled and willful, she was still adorable. How could she possibly disregard the lives of others and commit such a vicious and despicable act?
Therefore, even though he had been intimate with Fu Li that day, and was so familiar with her aura, spiritual power, and divine sense that he could confirm her true identity, Chongjing Pavilion was unwilling to face it.
It wasn't until he captured the little demon who had escaped from the Dragon Crystal Palace and heard the true name of the new Demon Queen appointed by the Four Seas Demon Lord from his mouth, until he pieced together the truth of what happened back then from Zhongli Qianye and Xiao Yue, until... Fu Li personally admitted that he never regretted it. What he wanted was his senior brother's life, and he wanted Chongjing Pavilion to never be able to take revenge again.
That faint glimmer of hope vanished completely.
What's even more ridiculous is that even after all this, he still couldn't bring himself to harm Fu Li. He had imagined countless times before his tribulation that if Fu Li was truly not innocent, he would personally eliminate her and end this ill-fated relationship.
However, upon seeing the boy standing upright before the gates of the Dragon Crystal Palace, the immortal's solid and hardened defenses immediately crumbled.
He had already become a demigod; his heart should only hold the Great Dao. Any other past grievances should be resolved in time, so as to sever any so-called obsessions and prepare for ascension.
But when he actually faced Fu Li, this former young lover showed no regret whatsoever, only a dazed and relieved expression of having given up.
Because of this twisted mentality, Chongjingge convinced himself to spare Fu Li's life.
He wanted to ask again, to confirm with Fu Li what he had been thinking at that time.
However, the boy calmly asked, "I just want to die quickly. Are you planning to torture me before killing me?"
Chongjing Pavilion, who had thought there was no more turmoil, felt a sudden tremor in his heart. He heard himself say:
"Zhongli Qianye is dead."
Fu Li lowered her eyes slightly and nodded: "I know. Didn't I see you kill him with my own eyes?"
The immortal stared intently into his eyes, not missing a single emotional fluctuation.
"I also killed Xiao Yue."
Upon hearing this news, Fu Li suddenly raised her head, her brows furrowing slightly as if in disapproval:
"Fourth Senior Brother did make a big mistake, but he didn't directly harm you. Even for the sake of the Sect Leader, hmm!"
A large hand suddenly reached out and grabbed his throat, preventing him from saying the rest of his words.
The immense pressure emanated from the powerful being, creating a suffocating atmosphere around them. Fu Li felt as if he were about to be compressed into a meat patty, and his death might be exactly the same as Zhongli Qianye's.
Just as he was about to force a self-deprecating smile, the oppressive aura suddenly dissipated. The hands that had been gripping his neck abruptly released him, and he fell to the ground, coughing violently.
The person in front of her had cold eyes and an expression that showed neither joy nor anger, as if the sudden outburst just now was merely Fu Li's hallucination.
This is the second time.
Faced with death, though fearful, he was not without temper, and angrily said:
"What exactly do you want?! Just kill me if you're going to, what's the point of all this nonsense?!"
His righteous and self-righteous accusations were exactly the same as his previous arrogant and willful behavior on Xiaoyao Peak.
A sarcastic smile curled at the corner of his lips: "Anyway, you've killed just as many people as I have. If I were dead, you wouldn't have to see me every day and get annoyed, would you? Since Senior Brother wants to achieve the Great Dao and ascend to immortality in one step, executing my former Daoist partner would be a way to prove your Dao by killing your wife, and maybe you could even ascend faster!"
Fu Li deliberately provoked the other party with her words, hoping that he would give her a quick death.
A fleeting look of annoyance and confusion flashed across the immortal's pale golden eyes.
He actually told him to kill him!
How dare he!
Wasn't he the one who valued his life most? Why didn't he run away this time?! Didn't Zhongli Qianye prepare a way out for him? Why didn't he take it?!
Last time, he acted so decisively and resolutely, mercilessly gouging out his eyes and destroying his nascent soul, leaving him to fend for himself. Why is this time an exception?!
In an instant, a thought arose in Chongjing Pavilion's mind—Fu Li didn't leave because he was Zhongli Qianye's Daoist partner, and whether in life or death, he wanted to go with the one he loved.
This speculation is enough to drive Chongjing Pavilion mad!
If it's true, doesn't this prove that Fu Li had absolutely no feelings for him when she attacked him? It's ridiculous that she developed love for someone else who tormented and humiliated him. This makes it even harder for him to understand.
Don't you value your life? Don't you only care about yourself? Then kneel down before me and beg for forgiveness. I can spare your life, but I will never accept that you have someone else in your heart.
He was determined to prove that neither Zhongli Qianye, nor himself, nor Xiao Yue had ever truly entered Fu Li's heart. He had always been a cold-blooded, ruthless, and selfish person; his heart was unwarmable, and his love would not be shared with anyone. It was as if confirming this fact would bring him some peace of mind.
Thus, Fu Li saw that the immortal remained unmoved by his provocation, his indifferent expression like the unyielding ice and snow on Mount Tian, unmoved by anything external. He looked down at him condescendingly, as if looking at an ant.
"Letting you die so easily is too good for you."
His voice was deep and clear: "Didn't Zhongli Qianye say that you were born with a seductive body and even used you as a furnace for a while? Then why can't I?"
"Yue Fuli, just make the most of your last bit of use!"
Thus, they announced their judgment against him with an air of superiority. Something seemed to be crumbling and rebuilding in their cold and ruthless gaze, radiating a dark and ominous light, but Fu Li couldn't figure it out.
The next moment, the serene immortal swept him up with one hand around the waist. Before Fu Li could even resist, half of his body was back in the dark and lightless mustard seed space. However, the part below his waist remained outside, separated from his navel, as if he were firmly stuck in a wall.
Fu Li panicked immediately. This awe and fear of the unknown filled him with terror. However, no matter how desperately he struggled with his legs, his clothes were mercilessly torn open by the large hands outside.
Fu Li immediately understood what Chongjing Pavilion was trying to do. This was the kind of treatment only the lowest prostitutes in brothels received, and yet Chongjing Pavilion was using it on him!
Feeling the cool, sticky liquid on her buttocks, Fu Li could no longer contain her shame and anger, and shouted:
"No, you can't do this! Aren't you a Celestial Venerable? What Celestial Venerable acts like this! You might as well just kill me!"
"Aaaaaah! Don't come in! Mmm!"
Fu Li braced himself against the ground of the mustard seed space, his eyes met with an endless expanse of darkness. Tears of humiliation welled in his eyes. No matter what he said or what meaningless groans he uttered, they were all absorbed by the darkness of the mustard seed space, like a stone falling into an abyss, unable to stir up any ripples.
Chongjing Pavilion's "use" is different from Zhongli Qianye's. He seems to have no idea how to cultivate with a furnace, and Fu Li's spiritual veins have been sealed, so it's impossible for him to help regulate the spiritual power in his meridians.
Humiliated and helpless, in pain and numb. Although he knew who he was having sex with, the unknown brought by the surrounding darkness numbed Fu Li's mind. In a daze, he felt as if he was really being treated as a thing embedded in the wall of the most despicable and filthy brothel, not needing to make a sound or see anything, and not even knowing who the customer behind him was.
Occasionally, when he struggled with his legs in frustration, Chong Jingge would slap him hard on his sensitive buttocks, making him too painful to move again.
Amidst intermittent sobs, Fu Li finally fainted.
Chongjing Pavilion seemed quite satisfied with this way of tormenting him, and for a long time afterward, he repeated this process, and Fu Li's treatment remained unchanged.
He was usually kept in a mustard seed space. His only contact with the outside world was when the man's large, dust-free hand would grab his ankles and drag him out from time to time, his waist wedged at the junction of the two spaces. Darkness eroded his consciousness, and the torment of pleasure and pain intertwined below gradually became numb.
Fu Li gradually understood that this was what Chongjing Pavilion wanted.
Darkness was a cage built specifically for him, and the furnace was a tool to make him experience humiliation. Didn't he want to survive? Isn't living like this a form of suffering?
He wanted to make him regret his choices and feel guilty about them.
Within the territory of Chongjing Pavilion, he was the lowest of slaves, even less than a concubine.
When driven to the brink of madness, the boy would let out a low moan, repent for his actions, and beg the other person not to treat him any longer.
But no one could hear his voice.
Fu Li has become a mortal. The place where he is imprisoned has no water or rice, only a few fasting pills that are occasionally thrown in.
In rebellion, starting one day, Fu Li threw away the fasting pills and endured hunger and weakness while waiting for that moment to arrive.
"Starving to death is such a painful way to die..." He quipped to the system before losing consciousness.
He thought Chongjing Pavilion hated him to the core and wouldn't care whether he lived or died, no matter what happened to him. However, when he opened his eyes, he saw the long-lost sunlight and unfamiliar furnishings.
Seeing that he was awake, Meng Liyue quickly brought the medicine bowl to the bedside and asked with concern, "Ali, how are you feeling? We fed you five fasting pills with white porridge, and used our spiritual power to dispel the stagnation in your internal organs, which is how we saved you. Are you alright?"
Fu Li lowered his head and stroked the silk brocade quilt. He hadn't seen or touched such things outside for a long time.
With a hoarse voice, he asked, "Elder Meng, where is my spiritual power?"
A look of reluctance immediately appeared on the other person's face, and he hesitated before saying, "Jingge... no, it is the Immortal Venerable who is unwilling to remove the seal on your spiritual root."
Upon hearing this, Fu Li's face showed little emotion, and even a hint of sarcasm, as if to say "I knew it," flashed across her face.
Seeing the child she had watched grow up with such a sorrowful expression, Meng Liyue felt a pang of pity.
She softened her voice and asked cautiously, "Ah Li, about what happened at Jingge back then, was it really you...?"
Fu Li curled up her limbs, hugged her legs tightly, and answered her question with silence.
Seeing this, Meng Liyue sighed deeply.
At this moment, Fu Li spoke up: "I know my sins are unforgivable. But if possible, please persuade the Immortal Venerable to kill me and give me a quick death." His voice was soft and calm, yet it carried a utter numbness. It made one's heart tremble.
After pondering for a moment, Meng Liyue said, "I will... try to persuade them."
"There's something else I'm very sorry about. It was because of me that my fourth senior brother was implicated, which led him to kill A-Yue. Please convey my apologies to the sect leader..."
But Meng Liyue said in surprise, "A-Yue is not dead. That day, when Jingge went to attack Sihai Immortal Palace, A-Yue was also rescued by the sect leader. He is currently cleansing his demonic energy in the spirit pool, and he should be able to turn back into a human in about half a year."
Fu Li was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, and then realized that Chongjing Pavilion had lied to him.
A relieved smile appeared on his face as he murmured softly, "So that's how it is. He wasn't implicated by me. That's wonderful."
Looking at the small and pitiful boy, Meng Liyue found it hard to imagine that such a kind child had committed such a heinous crime of harming his fellow disciple. But what's done is done, and no amount of pity or sorrow for his lack of resolve could change anything.
She handed the medicine bowl to Fu Li, gave him a pitying look, and then turned and left.
Fu Li held the bowl and looked around. This place was not the palace he had seen on Longque Mountain before. It must have been built specifically for Chongjing Pavilion after he ascended to the level of a half-immortal.
Although it is not as extravagant and bustling as the Four Seas Immortal Palace, it has its own unique grand and simple beauty. The furnishings are simple, and there is a sense of coolness everywhere. If there is any immortal palace, it is nothing more than this.
Fu Li glanced around, then lowered her eyelashes, whispering as if deep in thought. Actually, she was discussing something with the system.
"I've been used as a scapegoat by Chongjing Pavilion for so long, it's about time I died."
System: [Hard to say.]
[Didn't you realize that the male lead didn't want to kill you?]
[Could it be that he... harbored hatred because of love, yet couldn't let go because of that hatred?]
The system provided its own analysis.
After hearing this, Fu Li considered the other party's behavior of trying to "make enemies" with her over the past few days and thought it was very likely.
He took a small sip of the bitter medicine from the bowl and said calmly, "Looks like I'll have to rely on myself again this time."
---
Outside the Immortal Pavilion, Meng Liyue ran into Chongjing Pavilion, who was returning from the council hall.
"Jingge!" she called out to the person who was walking past her without looking to the side. The other person turned around, revealing a pair of golden eyes filled with a calm and serene light.
Meng Liyue hesitated for a moment before finally saying, "Ah Li has already woken up. As for what happened to him... if you really can't forgive him, you might as well let him go in peace."
"Letting him go is also letting yourself go." She said this sincerely. In the days that followed, the sect had already learned of Chongjing Pavilion's actions, and this was the sentiment of many people, including Fu Li.
But Chongjingge scoffed, "Uncle-Master, I let you in to take care of him, not so that you would be bewitched by him."
"Have you forgotten? Yue Fuli is naturally alluring, capable of captivating hearts and making you act according to his desires without your noticing. Shouldn't Xiao Yue's matter have alerted you?"
In his words, Fu Li seemed to have become a demon that specifically lured people's souls, and needed to be guarded against.
Meng Liyue, however, did not think so. She felt that the other party seemed to have gone somewhat mad about Fu Li's matter.
So he advised, "Jingge, Immortal Venerable... A'Li's condition is not his own intention. Moreover, it is precisely because of his innate alluring body that he was coerced and imprisoned by the Four Seas Demon Lord, suffering greatly. Now that he is determined to die, it would be better to let him go. Or, if you are determined to sever ties with the past, you could grant him a quick death..."
Upon hearing this, Chong Jingge remained calm: "You've been fooled by his acting. Yue Fuli has always been adept at using his advantages to manipulate people's hearts. He's doing this simply to gain others' pity so that he can escape."
As he spoke, a sarcastic smile seemed to appear on his lips.
"What he cares about most is his own life. In the past, in order to survive under Zhongli Qianye, he not only plotted against me but was also willing to become his furnace. He is no exception now. You should put away your kindness and send it to those who are truly in need."
His voice was as cold and undisturbed as the ice and snow of Drinking Water Peak. After speaking, he walked into the palace without looking back.
Meng Liyue turned around and watched the powerful figure walk into Fu Li's bedroom, then sighed with difficulty.
Inside the hall, Fu Li had already fallen into a deep sleep.
Her pale, beautiful face was gentle and calm, her lips slightly pursed, concealing the dimples on either side.
In the past, Chongjing Pavilion loved to stand quietly by the bedside and gaze at his junior brother's peaceful and serene sleeping face, as if his tired and weary body could be purified.
But now, he can't bear to see the other party so at peace.
He walked to the bedside and roughly woke the person up with his hand.
Fu Li had barely opened his eyes when he was grabbed by the neck and lifted up. Chong Jingge held a translucent pill in his hand and threw it into his throat. Fu Li coughed twice, clutching his neck, before swallowing it.
Chongjingge said, "If you want to play the victim, try a different approach next time. This is the Kunwu Immortal Pill. Once you eat one, you can abstain from food and never need to eat again. Just stay here and be your furnace, just like you were with Zhongli Qianye. I won't kill you until you're completely useless."
His tone was icy and cruel.
Fu Li lay on the bed and gave a cold, twitching smile.
How do you know I don't really want to die?
Chongjingge's cold voice carried a hint of sarcasm: "Do you still want to lie to me? You and I both know that even if you have to live like a dog, you would be willing to do it as long as you can survive. Just like when you were willing to give yourself to Zhongli Qianye before."
"However, I am different from him. I will no longer be fooled by your pretense. So whatever you are thinking, give up now. From today onwards, you will never see anyone but me. You can only serve as my furnace, enjoying the taste of life before I get tired of you."
"This is the grace I bestow upon you."
Sunlight filtered through the trees and window frames, casting shadows that divided Chongjing Pavilion's face into two opposing parts. The lower half, with the movement of his lips, was bright and arrogant, exuding an unquestionable superiority. His brows and eyes were shrouded in shadow, and his pupils, which should have been radiant, seemed to flow with a deep, dark hue.
Fu Li looked at him against the light, her expression dimmed considerably, and suddenly let out a soft laugh.
"You wouldn't be reluctant to part with me, would you, Senior Brother?"
A glint flashed in his golden eyes. Fu Li smiled and continued:
"Punishment and grace are just excuses. You don't actually want me to die, do you? You want me to suffer with you, that's why you're clinging to me so tightly. What Immaculate Immortal, what Mortal Immortal Venerable, you're just a coward!"
His words thoroughly enraged Chongjing Pavilion.
The light in his eyes suddenly turned fierce, and he leaned forward, tearing open the boy's neatly straightened clothes.
"Liar!" Ignoring Fu Li's struggles, he lunged forward. His movements were merciless, his strength so great it seemed he wanted to kill him.
"Chongjing Pavilion, get out of here! I just don't want to live anymore! If you don't believe me... ah... go ahead and kill me!"
"You're already a demigod, yet you're still so indecisive and self-deceiving. I look down on you! Hmph!"
Fu Li cursed vehemently, but his body was firmly pinned to the bed. A soft pillow was placed under his waist, not to prevent him from falling or getting hurt, but to make it easier for the man to move around.
Chong Jingge's eyes were red-rimmed, and blood vessels gathered from the edges of his golden pupils toward the center. He occasionally let out angry growls from his throat, like the sound of a wild beast.
"You're a liar. You lied to Zhongli Qianye, making you his empress and then dying for you. You lied to Xiao Yue, who gave you her heart to save you. And now you're trying to lie to me!"
"I will no longer be deceived by you, and I will no longer believe any of your words. You are nothing but a furnace, destined to spend the rest of your life on my bed!"
A powerful aura of immortality emanated from the man, almost completely obliterating the air around Fu Li. He struggled to breathe, gradually losing track of the other man's frantic voice.
Author's Note: There is still one more chapter in this world.
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