The Desire of Nocturnal City

The air suddenly fell silent.

Ye Xuan stopped what he was doing, slowly lowered his head, and looked at the woman humbly begging for his affection before him.

Ye Qingcheng's heart beat violently, as if it was going to jump out of her throat.

She waited nervously, full of anticipation.

She possessed peerless beauty, heaven-reaching cultivation, and a special human cauldron physique... Senior Brother had no reason to refuse, right?

"Is Junior Sister... offering herself to me?"

Ye Xuan's voice was light and airy, devoid of any discernible joy or anger.

Ye Qingcheng's face was so red it looked like it might bleed, yet she bravely nodded, her voice urgent. "Senior Brother, I am different. I possess the Nine Yin Profound Charm Physique, which is the most top-tier dual cultivation physique in the world. If Senior Brother is willing to dual cultivate with me, I am willing to pass all the pure primal yin I have accumulated for years over to Senior Brother... to help Senior Brother achieve the Great Dao sooner!"

To make him accept, she didn't even hesitate to place herself in the position of a human cauldron.

As long as she could be with him, even if she was just being used, she would gladly endure it.

"The Nine Yin Profound Charm Physique, huh..."

Ye Xuan repeated the name, the smile on his lips gradually turning cold and mocking.

He leaned forward slightly, drawing close to Ye Qingcheng's ear, and spoke in an incredibly vicious tone that only the two of them could hear:

"Since it's such a special and top-grade physique... Junior Sister must have dual cultivated with quite a few people over the years, right?"

Ye Qingcheng trembled violently, as if struck by lightning.

The blush on her face faded completely in an instant, replaced by a deathly pallor.

She opened her mouth, wanting to retort, wanting to explain, but it felt like a wad of cotton was stuck in her throat, preventing her from making a single sound.

Must have dual cultivated with quite a few people...

These words were like a poisoned dagger, ruthlessly stabbing into the scar she was most afraid to face.

"Why aren't you speaking?"

Ye Xuan looked at her pale face, the smile in his eyes growing even colder as he pressed on step by step. "Did I hit the mark? It makes sense. Such a good physique, wouldn't it be a waste of God's gifts if it wasn't used for dual cultivation? I presume Junior Sister's many intimate guests were all full of praise for your taste, weren't they?"

"No... that's not it..."

Ye Qingcheng trembled all over, tears welling up in her eyes. She shook her head desperately, defending herself incoherently, "Senior Brother... stop talking... please stop talking..."

"What? You dare to do it but don't dare to admit it?"

Ye Xuan snorted coldly, leaning back and pulling away from her, a look of undisguised disgust appearing on his face. "I heard that the female disciples of the Hehuan Sect love to pluck yang to nourish yin, absorbing men's vital essence to cultivate. Since Junior Sister is an outstanding talent of the sect, your methods must be highly perfected, right?"

"I haven't!"

Ye Qingcheng abruptly raised her head, shouting hoarsely, "I would never pluck from Senior Brother! Absolutely never! If it's Senior Brother... I would willingly give my life to nourish you! How could I harm you!"

She could accept Ye Xuan scolding her for anything, but she absolutely could not accept him thinking she would harm him.

"Oh—"

Ye Xuan dragged out the syllable, his eyes as sharp as knives, piercing straight into her heart. "You would never pluck from me. Does that mean... you have plucked from other men?"

Ye Qingcheng instantly froze.

Looking at Ye Xuan's penetrating eyes, she felt as if all the blood in her body had congealed.

"Senior Brother... if you have something to say, just say it directly..."

"Why must you hurt me like this?"

Ye Qingcheng slumped to the ground dejectedly, as if her spine had been pulled out.

Tears blurred her vision. She looked desperately at the man in front of her, her heart filled with endless sorrow and regret.

Why... why bring this up at a time like this?

Why force her back to reality at what she thought was the happiest moment?

Ye Xuan looked at her grief-stricken appearance, feeling not a trace of pity in his heart, only disdain.

"Say it directly?"

Ye Xuan stood up, looking down at her from above, his eyes as cold as if he were looking at a pile of unrecyclable trash.

"Fine, then I'll say it directly."

"Although my, Ye Xuan's, cultivation is currently low, although I am in desperate need of resources, and although I am no righteous gentleman."

He paused, speaking word by word with absolute clarity:

"But I am not yet so starved that I would wear another man's worn-out shoes."

"Even if these shoes are incredibly precious and useful... I still find them dirty!"

Hearing these words, Ye Qingcheng felt her heart completely shatter in that moment. It broke into pieces, never to be put back together again.

She didn't know how she left the Listening Rain Pavilion.

She walked along the sect's pathways like a walking corpse, utterly devastated.

She couldn't hear any of the greetings or salutations from the surrounding disciples.

In her mind, there was only Ye Xuan's cold gaze and his heartless phrase, "I find them dirty."

It turns out... no matter what I do, no matter how strong I become, even if I tear out my heart and give it to you... in your eyes, I am still just a dirty thing.

Inside the Listening Rain Pavilion.

Watching Ye Qingcheng's staggering figure disappear through the doorway, the coldness and mockery on Ye Xuan's face slowly faded, ultimately settling into a calm indifference.

He sat back down on the jade couch, looked at his slender hands, and let out a faint sigh.

"Sigh..."

Actually, he knew very well in his heart.

Dual cultivating with Ye Qingcheng was indeed the fastest, most effective, and perhaps even the only shortcut for him to improve his cultivation at present.

Given Ye Qingcheng's cultivation and her guilt towards him, as long as he nodded, that woman would absolutely offer everything without reservation, even at the cost of damaging her own foundation to help him succeed.

This was ten thousand times faster than exploring some secret realm or fighting for opportunities in some dangerous land, and it carried zero risks.

This was the choice any rational immortal cultivator would make.

It was also the choice that best aligned with maximizing benefits.

But...

"I just can't do it..."

He murmured softly.

This was an issue of psychological cleanliness, and it was also his final bottom line.

He could use their guilt without any psychological burden, drain their resources dry, and scam them out of their fortunes.

He could treat them as ATMs, as bodyguards, as mere tools.

But when it came to the physical body...

He just couldn't get past that hurdle in his heart.

Whenever he thought about having physical intimacy with them, about dual cultivating with women who had once betrayed him or had been entangled with other men...

He felt a strong wave of physiological nausea.

This disgust was worse than death.

"I want the resources, and I want the cultivation base."

Ye Xuan opened his eyes, a paranoid yet resolute cold light flickering in their depths.

"But you want to sleep with me? You want to use this method to make up for your mistakes? You want to rekindle our past romance?"

"Dream on."

He would rather spend ten times the time and suffer ten times the hardships than become stronger in this way.

This was his punishment for those women.

And it was his final defense of his own dignity.

"Ying'er," Ye Xuan suddenly spoke.

"Master!" Ying'er, who had been too frightened to speak by the side, immediately jumped out.

"Wipe the floor." Ye Xuan pointed to the spot where Ye Qingcheng had just been kneeling, his tone indifferent. "Wipe it a few more times. Scrub away that nauseating perfume smell completely."

"Yes!"

Midnight, Tingyu Pavilion.

"Knock, knock."

Two extremely light knocks, carrying a probing tremble, broke the dead silence.

Ye Xuan, sitting cross-legged in the darkness, slowly opened his eyes. He didn't get up. A cold, expectant smirk merely curled on his lips as he said flatly,

"Come in."

The door was pushed open a crack.

Ye Qingcheng walked in.

But this time, she was not alone.

She was leading a young girl behind her.

By the cold moonlight, Ye Xuan saw the girl's appearance clearly. In that instant, even he couldn't help but raise his eyebrows slightly.

The girl looked no older than sixteen, dressed in a snow-white gown, her facial features as exquisite as heaven's most perfect masterpiece.

The most shocking thing was that her brows and eyes were seventy or eighty percent similar to Ye Qingcheng's. Yet, compared to the current Ye Qingcheng, she lacked mature charm and instead possessed an otherworldly, ethereal coldness.

Ye Qingcheng stood in the shadows, her face somewhat pale, but her eyes were terrifyingly bright.

She pushed the girl in front of Ye Xuan, her voice trembling slightly, carrying an almost sickly fawning and anticipation:

"Senior Brother... this is my distant cousin, named Ye Ling."

She swallowed hard, staring fixedly at Ye Xuan's face to observe every subtle change in his expression, eagerly adding:

"She has been raised in seclusion since childhood, untouched by the world, and has never had contact with any man. She is a true virgin, her Primal Yin unspilled, pure and flawless."

When she said the word "virgin," Ye Qingcheng's voice pitched up weirdly for a moment, as if emphasizing something, or perhaps trying to cover up some tearing sensation in her own heart.

Ye Ling stood quietly, her head slightly bowed, not saying a word.

Her eyes were hollow and dull; although extremely beautiful, she looked like a soulless, exquisite porcelain doll.

Ye Xuan sat on the bed, his cold gaze sweeping over the girl before landing on Ye Qingcheng's face.

"An external avatar?"

He sneered, his tone full of merciless exposure and mockery: "Just to sleep with me, you even resorted to a method that depletes your origin and splits your divine soul?"

Ye Qingcheng's body suddenly stiffened.

She had been seen through.

Yes, this was no cousin at all.

This was an external avatar she had forged using a hundred years of her cultivation, the most precious heavenly materials and earthly treasures, combined with a wisp of her divided soul.

This was a perfect body, one that had never been touched by anyone.

It was a gift she had specially prepared to cater to Ye Xuan's excuse of finding her "dirty."

Since Senior Brother despises my body as dirty... then I will give you a clean one.

This body is also me, the soul is also me, but she is clean!

This way, Senior Brother would have no reason to refuse, right?

Ye Qingcheng no longer bothered to disguise it. She took a step forward, her breathing becoming rapid and scorching.

She looked at Ye Xuan, her eyes surging with crazy love and twisted possessiveness:

"So... so what if it's an avatar? Senior Brother, this body is clean! No one has ever touched it! Only you can touch it!"

She pointed at the dull girl, her voice nearing a plea: "As long as Senior Brother is willing, I can immediately transfer my main soul into this body... Then, dual cultivating with her will be no different from dual cultivating with me! Not only will it help Senior Brother's cultivation increase greatly, but... but it won't dirty Senior Brother's body..."

Towards the end, her voice actually took on a crying tone.

Humble.

Humble into the dust.

She, a dignified Tribulation Stage female emperor, actually didn't hesitate to go this far just to seek his intimacy.

However, looking at the scene before him, Ye Xuan felt no ripples in his heart; he even felt a trace of annoyance.

He waved his hand, as if shooing away a buzzing fly, his face indifferent:

"I have no interest in playing with this self-deceiving puppet. Take your cousin and get the hell out of here right now."

"Why?"

Ye Qingcheng's emotions instantly lost control.

She suddenly lunged to the edge of the bed, her hands gripping the bedframe tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force.

She tilted her head up, that incredibly beautiful face written full of unwillingness and pain, the flames in the depths of her eyes almost burning her reason to ashes:

"Why not? Senior Brother, you need Primal Yin, you need to cultivate! ...I have already done as you said, why is it still not enough?!"

Roaring, she tremblingly unfastened the frog buttons at her collar.

Her clothes slipped down, revealing a large expanse of snow-white, delicate skin, exuding a breathtaking allure under the pale moonlight.

She had endured for too, too long.

Hundreds of years.

Ever since she took in four Dao companions for the sake of the so-called Grand Dao of Joyous Union, Ye Xuan had never touched her again.

This bone-deep emptiness and longing had been torturing her every moment since their reunion.

Especially watching Ying'er, that cheap maidservant, being able to receive his favors in his arms, while she could only listen from the corner of the wall...

She was going mad. She was really going mad.

"Senior Brother..."

Ye Qingcheng trembled all over, tears bursting from her eyes, her voice hoarse and full of lust: "Just grant my wish."

She climbed onto the bed, wrapping around Ye Xuan like a beautiful snake, exhaling breath like orchids, her eyes hazy:

"I will definitely satisfy you... I will use every method I know to make you happy..."

Ye Xuan didn't dodge.

He let Ye Qingcheng approach, let her breath with its scalding body temperature spray on his face.

He even reached out and gently lifted Ye Qingcheng's chin.

Ye Qingcheng felt a burst of joy in her heart, thinking he had finally wavered, and closed her eyes, just about to lean in and offer a kiss.

However, Ye Xuan's next words left her stunned.

"You've served so many people. You are experienced and highly skilled."

Ye Xuan's fingers gently rubbed her face, but his eyes were as cold as ice:

"Using the tricks you used to serve your four Dao companions on me would definitely satisfy me, wouldn't it?"

Boom!

All the blood in Ye Qingcheng's body instantly flowed backward.

All her lust turned into endless shame and agonizing pain in this moment.

She opened her eyes, staring in disbelief at the man in front of her who was smiling so gently.

Murdering the heart.

He was taking a knife and gouging out the flesh of her heart.

"Senior Brother..." Ye Qingcheng's eyes were full of pain, her lips trembling, tears falling like broken pearls.

She slowly lowered her head, her voice completely shattered: "Why... why must you say such hurtful words..."

Why must you keep bringing it up?

Why must you keep reminding me of my unbearable past?

Am I really that lowly?

Ye Xuan looked at her tottering appearance; the smile on his lips didn't diminish but grew even brighter:

"Oh? Did I say something wrong?"

He retracted his hand, took out a handkerchief from his chest, and slowly wiped the fingers that had just touched Ye Qingcheng, as if they had been tainted by something filthy.

After wiping, he casually tossed the handkerchief onto the floor and said flatly:

"Alright, this matter ends here."

"I am tired as well. You may leave."

This action of utmost disgust completely crushed Ye Qingcheng's final shred of reason.

Leave?

Driving me away again?

Making me go back alone to that cold, empty palace chamber to spend the long night embracing endless regret?

"I won't leave!"

Ye Qingcheng jerked her head up, the resentment in her eyes transforming into tangible flames.

Her gaze was scorching, paranoid, and mad, as if she wanted to swallow Ye Xuan alive.

"I am yours! I am yours in this life, and I will be in the next! What right do you have to reject me?!"

Losing all control, she lunged for Ye Xuan's collar, wanting to force a kiss on him. Even if she was scolded, even if she was hated, she would have him tonight!

"Slap!"

A crisp, resounding slap suddenly echoed in the silent room.

Ye Qingcheng's head was knocked to the side, a few strands of hair falling messily across her cheek.

Five clear red finger marks instantly appeared on her originally pale cheek.

Holding her face, she froze there, a look of absolute shock and bewilderment in her eyes.

Ye Xuan retracted his hand and looked down at her from above, his eyes filled with undisguised anger and brutality.

"I told you to get lost, didn't you hear me?"

His voice was not loud, but it carried a chilling coercion. "Don't force me to use the Love of Qingcheng. You know I'll do it."

Love of Qingcheng.

These words acted like a tightening spell, instantly snuffing out all of Ye Qingcheng's madness.

Fear regained the upper hand.

She held her face, her body trembling violently. Looking into Ye Xuan's cold, merciless eyes, she finally understood that he was serious.

If she dared to move another inch, he really would die right in front of her.

"I... I'm sorry..."

Ye Qingcheng backed away trembling, her tears flowing silently. She took a deep look at Ye Xuan, her eyes containing far too many emotions—love, remorse, despair, and that trace of unbreakable obsession.

"Senior brother... rest early."

She scrambled off the bed in a sorry state, straightening her messy clothes.

When she reached the door, her fingers twitched, and the puppet-like girl "Ye Ling" obediently followed behind her.

The door was closed once again.

The footsteps gradually faded away until they completely disappeared.

The room returned to a deathly silence.

Ye Xuan maintained his previous posture, sitting on the edge of the bed, completely expressionless.

A long time passed.

"Phew..."

He let out a long breath of stale air. As if suddenly relieved of a thousand-pound burden, he slumped backward, collapsing limply onto the bed.

He raised his hand, looking at the palm that had just delivered the slap.

He felt incredibly flustered.

An inexplicable restlessness rampaged in his chest, making it impossible for him to calm down.

"How strange..."

Ye Xuan stared at the pitch-black ceiling beams, his brows furrowed tightly, his eyes full of confusion and self-doubt.

"Why is it that the closer I get to her, the more these random images automatically pop into my head?"

Those images included their youthful and sweet past from his previous life, as well as the alluring sight of Ye Qingcheng just now, with her clothes half-undone and tears in her eyes, begging for his affection.

Not only that, but his body... actually had a reaction.

This made him feel ashamed, and even more so, angry.

"I'm clearly just playing a game..."

He rolled over and pulled the quilt over his head, trying to isolate himself from everything outside, and also trying to convince himself.

"This is a game. I am a player, and she is an NPC. The 'Ye Xuan' who got cuckolded is just a poor bastard in the background lore, not the current me."

"I only have his memories; I'm not really him."

"I just need to use her, squeeze her dry, and finally become stronger."

"Yes, that's right... This is just a game..."

He muttered to himself in the dark, repeating these words over and over again.