Chapter 1
Edward Quan ·
When I awakened the ability to read minds, I discovered my cold disciple was a scheming serpent—with thoughts about me he had no business having.
【The elders say no eggs have hatched in the Mystic Serpent clan for a hundred years.】
【I wonder if Master would make Fertility Pills for us.】
【If she won’t, I’ll take her home as my wife.】
1
Five years ago, I went down the mountain to destroy demons, found an orphan, and took him as my disciple.
His skin was snow-white, his beauty striking. But he was quiet and so melancholy that my heart ached.
I cared for him and raised him devotedly.
Gradually, he opened up. Every day, he clung to me, acting sweet and affectionate, perfectly obedient.
Until I gained mind-reading and discovered he was a scheming serpent with forbidden designs on me.
“Mặc, today I’ll teach you to refine Essence-Nurturing Pills.”
I set out the herbs and explained the secrets of alchemy.
“Master, isn’t Prosperity Grass used in Fertility Pills?”
Mặc Thanh lifted a pale pink herb, his handsome face flushed with shy curiosity.
“No. A forbidden pill like that has nothing to do with Prosperity Grass…”
I was about to explain when a familiar low voice sounded beside my ear.
【The elders say no eggs have hatched in the Mystic Serpent clan for a hundred years.】
【I wonder if Master would make Fertility Pills for us.】
【If she won’t, I’ll take her home as my wife.】
“What did you say?”
I looked up in confusion.
He looked even more confused.
“I didn’t say anything!”
True.
He had been listening intently without opening his mouth. I must have misheard.
“Very well. Essence-Nurturing Pills first. Make a batch for me.”
I went to the table and sipped Jade Ridge tea.
The voice returned.
【Master’s lips are so red. Like ripe cherries.】
【Five days until the full moon. I want to show her how magnificent my true form is.】
I watched him seriously refining pills, utterly bewildered.
Who was using my disciple’s voice to say such strange things?
An inner demon?
I needed Heart-Clearing Pills and seclusion.
He was surprised to hear I would enter retreat, but obediently promised to cultivate diligently.
【Why so suddenly? Was she injured fighting that fox demon last time?】
【Our clan’s spinal marrow is a sacred remedy. She’d certainly recover if she took some.】
【But I can’t reveal myself. Perhaps extract it and put it in soup?】
This was bad. My inner demon was getting worse.
Rubbing my forehead, I repeated the Heart-Clearing Mantra and entered seclusion that very night.
2
Five days later, disaster struck the sect.
A female disciple died after being drained of her primal yin. A powerful demon was suspected.
I emerged early, but Mặc Thanh was gone. Apparently, he had disappeared soon after my retreat began.
The full moon shone over the land.
The Law Enforcement team laid an ambush and drew the demon out.
Its face was covered, its black enchanted robe concealing its aura. Badly wounded, it fled toward the rear mountain.
We pursued—and found Mặc Thanh emerging from a hidden cave.
He wore a black robe carrying the demon’s aura.
Highly suspicious.
The Law Enforcement Elder demanded an account of his movements over the past two days.
Kneeling, he remained cold and silent.
【Damn fox. Trying to frame me even as it dies.】
【I spent five days here making Master a Detoxification Pill. How do I prove it?】
【My seal weakens at the full moon. What if my true form appears?】
【I don’t want to leave her.】
【I don’t want her seeing me as a serpent demon.】
【Better to fight my way out and be branded a traitor than have Master despise me.】
I glared at his clenched fists.
Inner demon, indeed. These were his thoughts.
After five years, I would have grown attached even to a dog. He was obedient, considerate, and devoted to me.
Besides, betraying the sect would damage my reputation too.
I had to stop the idiot.
I approached slowly and told the elder quietly:
“Mặc Thanh was with me for those five days.”
“Weren’t you in seclusion?”
He frowned, plainly unconvinced.
“When I fought the fox demon last time, I was poisoned. I needed someone’s help to remove it, so…”
Lowering my eyes, I let my cheeks flush, unwilling to explain.
He understood immediately.
The disciples’ gossip-hungry eyes flickered between us.
Mặc Thanh, however, believed it.
“Master, you’re still poisoned. Leave the demon hunt to the elders!”
He scooped me up, rushed into the cave residence, and slammed the door.
3
“Let me remove the poison.”
Sitting cross-legged, violet light gathered in his hands. He struck my back with his palm.
I landed facedown on the stone bed, nearly coughing blood from the pain.
“Oh, I made a Detoxification Pill. Try one.”
He hurriedly produced a small jade bottle.
【Extracting spinal marrow hurts so much. Five days of work, and I barely made one.】
My feelings tangled painfully.
Mystic Serpent spinal marrow was a sacred antidote.
Extracting it alive was like being sliced apart.
No wonder he looked so gloomy and pale, like a wildflower unwatered for ten days.
“Why won’t you take it? Don’t you trust my alchemy?”
He sounded hurt. A mist gathered over his beautiful eyes.