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Chapter 12

The sun was already down and the moon above was already bright, it was already midnight but Lian Ren was just sitting on a bamboo chair beside Shao Ling's bed, leaning on the back of the chair while crossing his hands as he stared at Shao Ling who was in a deep sleep. It was seven hours since they have arrived at the Yun Sect and when Shao Ling was checked by the doctor but Lian Ren can't seem to sleep.

He can't just sleep with Shao Ling near his presence, much more is that there is only one tiny bed in his small pavilion that could only fit one person, and the fact that Lian Ren was releasing his spiritual qi in seven hours straight just to give Shao Ling cold. Good thing that his Shizun's Azure Lotus Pavilion doesn't have that much visitors and there's no servants inside because Shao Ling prefers to be alone rather than be served by people. The advantages of Shao Ling's Pavilion gave Lian Ren an opportunity to let out his demonic qi just so he could provide Shao Ling coldness for a long time.

Lian Ren stared at Shao Ling's peaceful face. When his Shizun close his eyes, his features became serene and he always looks defenseless when he sleeps, holding onto the fabric of his robes as if he was trying to hide his hold body and shrinking himself but when Shao Ling opens his eyes, he always looks strict, the person who seemed unbothered on most of the things and situations.

Lian Ren pressed his lips as he subconsciously lowered his hand, carefully touching Shao Ling's long thick eyelashes and gently combing it upwards using his index finger. Back on his past life, he always touch Shao Ling's lashes when he sleeps, because somehow, it's softness of his lashes makes him calm and he felt amused by it, like a child obsessed by a single toy. Maybe it was because of the fever, but Shao Ling doesn't seem to wake up from Lian Ren's touches. Back then, Shao Ling immediately wakes up and tried to escape on Lian Ren's grasp when Lian Ren tries to touch him, eventually helplessly trapped by Lian Ren's arms in the end.

Feeling very amused, Lian Ren's index finger slid down on the tip of Shao Ling's nose, purposely tapping his nose that made Shao Ling frown a little bit then sniffled softly but he still eventually fell back into a deep sleep. Without realizing it Lian Ren was already smiling like an idiot, as if he was very pleased on what he was doing. Well he really is, he likes making his Shizun annoyed all the time. Even back when he was the Frost Demon.

Lian Ren said to himself as he stood up, opening up his palm and letting his blue spiritual qi flowed out as it danced around, slowly molding itself into three small blue ice fairies that were radiating a glow.

Lian Ren simply ordered. The three ice fairies nodded and made a small clinging sound then their transparent wings fluttered as they flew on Shal Ling's direction, spinning on his head and a blue shimmer falling down the scalps of his hair, giving him a comfortable cozy feeling.

Lian Ren glanced at Shao Ling once more before stepping out of the house, heading straight to the Azure Lotus Pavilion's backyard. With soundless footsteps, Lian Ren arrived at the backyard. The small cold lotus pond that was radiating a white glow, a sign that it was filled with spiritual qi greeted his sight while the branches of the plum blossom tree that was planted on the entrance of the Pavilion reaching through the backyard, it's leaves slowly falling through the pond like a beautiful dancing swan.

His taste never change. Lian Ren closed his eyes and heaved a heavy breath to appreciate the beauty of the Azure Lotus Pavilion. The servants and the diciples of the Yun Sect as well as the others can only see the massive plum blossom three that was over a hundred years old frim the entrance, but they can't see the magical pond and the falling leaves of the plum blossom tree from the backyard. Lian Ren's lips unconsciously curved into a smile at the thought of him who was only able to see the backyard of Shao Ling's Pavilion.

Founding a good place to cultivate after making a restriction barrier, Lian Ren sat down on top of the big rock near the magical small pond then crossed his legs and straightened his body as he bended on his both hands on his chest, slowly releasing the Demonic qi inside his body. The restriction barrier will limit the range of his demonic qi only to the backyard so that the Yun Sect won't be alarmed in case they sensed Demonic qi that was spreading throughout the Sect. And also Lian Ren must keep it a secret to everyone, especially to Shao Ling that he can use demonic qi.

As Lian Ren released the Demonic qi on his chest, blue spiritual qi that was more darker and vibrant flowed out of his body, trying to spread out all over the place but was only bounced back by the restriction barrier. Lian Ren tightened his bended hands and opened his palms slowly, gradually controlling the demonic qi that flowed out of his body as it soared upwards, separating into two as it spinned on each other like two twisted ropes slowly tightening and expanding upwards.

It's really true.... The years of my cultivation didn't disappeared and it didn't increased even just a little. Lian Ren was astonished from the miracle that happened to him. He was worried because he might still need to cultivate hard once again but there is really no need after all. All that is left is his physical stamina because that is the only thing that disappeared as well as his spiritual qi.

Lian Ren lowered his gaze at his chest with a slight frown. It was so lively when it went inside me.... But now it's quiet? How come it doesn't react at all when i released my demonic qi? Lian Ren pondered for a while as he shifted his gaze on the glowing small pond in a daze. What a strange manual book.... If it didn't reacted on my demonic qi as of now, then could it be that it's cultivating on its own inside?

Lian Ren pursed his lips in confusion as he rested his right hand on his chin while he was lost on his own thoughts. In his past life, he often tried different demonic arts that is quite difficult and complicated to learn, much more that its process was cruel and complex to the point that it was hard to master.

However, that was not the case for him. He was able to master the demonic arts that he learned, upgraded it's original version and even made it compatible to his rare ice attribute which was very difficult to do, and that was where cultivators from the upper and lower cultivation called him Frost Demon. But he didn't encounter a demonic art that can cultivate by itself so it must be difficult for him to know how he will use it and how he will make it compatible to his attribute.

Lian Ren, who was lost deep in his own thoughts, stood up and brushed away the dusts on the hem of his robe,

Lian Ren paused and immediately waved his hand to remove the restraining barrier while the remains of the demonic qi floating around the backyard of the Pavilion immediately came rushing back to his chest. Lian Ren walked back to the entrance of the Azure Lotus Pavilion and pushed the gate open. Xin Mei, who was holding a food tray with her both hands and a lantern hanged on her elbow appeared before him with a gentle smile on her face.

Lian Ren stepped to the side of the gate and paved way for her and Xin Mei went inside the Pavilion, entering the house with light footsteps so that Shao Ling won't wake up.

Xin Mei put the food tray on the small wooden table beside the window and shifted her gaze at Shao Ling's direction.

I thought so too. Lian Ren replied internally as he stood beside Xin Mei while staring at Shao Ling's direction. Xin Mei asked in curiosity as she stared at the spinning and dancing ice faries above Shao Ling's head,

Lian Ren answered,

Xin Mei said with a smile.

Lian Ren didn't replied but he gave her a smile in response. Of course, he will participate to the upcoming Rising Star Cultivation Battle because it would be a high opportunity for him to rise up to the ranks and meet the elders of the Yun Sect from the upper cultivation.

Elder cultivators doesn't usually stay at their Mountains or Sects but stay at the floating palace to serve beside the Old Palace Master. Therefore, they would be like officials under the emperor, giving laws and edict to the empire while Lian Ren and the others are the one who work. However their position is not that valuable because without the worker, the officials won't be able to make orders and they will be powerless.

Xin Mei spoke, She grabbed the lantern that was hanging on her shoulder and stepped out of the house then spoke as she waved goodbye,

She's just scared to wake Shizun up.... Lian Ren watched her close the gate in a daze and finally glance at the food tray before walking on Shao Ling's bed to call him.

Seeing that Shao Ling is not responding to him, Lian Ren's brows knitted into a frown. Is it because of the ice fairies or maybe the effect of the cold? He's sleeping soundly.... Realizing that Shao Ling will not wake up, Lian Ren sat on the small wooden table first and ate the meat stew. It didn't take him a while to eat because he immediately gobbled down the food like a hungry wolf and the meat stew was already finished. All that was left on the food tray was the hot wonton soup.

Lian Ren walked back to Shao Ling's bed to lightly jab him and called him,

Left with no choice, Lian Ren leaned his body closer on Shao Ling's direction and carefully grabbed his waist to pull him up, But the hem of Lian Ren's robe came in touch with Shao Ling's hand and Shao Ling tought that it was a blanket, immediately grabbing it and pulling it closer to his direction to cover himself up but instead, Lian Ren fell down on top of him with his face buried on Shao Ling's neck and his right hand on top of Shao Ling's head.

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