Ch8 - The word affection is both medicine and poison

Ye Zhi was in a daze. He absentmindedly stared at Li Suqing with confused but charming eyes.

Li Suqing smiled helplessly. When he was about to turn away, Ye Zhi suddenly grabbed a corner of his robe.

“Hmm, what’s wrong?” Li Suqing blinked, then saw Ye Zhi stand up and asked worriedly, “You…are you okay?”

“I’m okay.” Li Suqing patted Ye Zhi’s hands gently, reassuring him as he did in the past.

“Now you know that I am the true master of Qijue sect, do you…do you still want to be with me, Ye er?” Even if Ye Zhi didn’t mention this matter, Li Suqing wanted to clarify it.

“I’m also one of the Qijue’s sect disciples. What about it?” Ye Zhi revealed a doubtful look. Indeed, when he first learned Li Suqing was the true master of Qijue sect, he was surprised, but so what?

Instead, he should be the one asking…

“But isn’t the sect rule…” Ye Zhi thought about Qijue sect’s rule, all disciples must sever emotions and six desires, even the sect master wasn’t an exception. If anything, it should be even harsher.

Li Suqing couldn’t help the smile appear on his lips, “I am the true sect master. Do you think those rules can trouble me?” Countless people had died under Ye Zhi’s hand, but he still had such an honest character. He couldn’t tell if Ye Zhi was suitable to be an assassin or not?

“Cough cough,” Li Suqing suddenly coughed violently. A stream of sweet, fishy taste rushed up and splashed directly into his palm.

That blood was not the usual bright red but many shades darker. At first glance, it looked like poisonous blood.

Ye Zhi hadn’t had time to be surprised when Li Suqing’s body suddenly collapsed. If he didn’t react fast and caught him in time, Li Suqing would have fallen directly to the ground.

“Sigh, I have lived here in seclusion for more than 10 years, hiding my name to nurse my body. Yet, just this little use of internal force already reduced me to this state.” Li Suqing forced a smile. His ill health wasn’t a cover to fool others’ eyes; his body was really weakened, which was why Ye Zhi couldn’t detect any internal strength in him.

Although Li Suqing didn’t lose all his skills, he became a waste who would suffer a backlash from using a little internal force. If it wasn’t for that, how could he allow that puppet to control Qijue sect so easily?

But the situation just now was really urgent, he was forced to resort to using internal force.

“You…do you plan on going back to Qijue sect?” Ye Zhi understood the meaning behind Li Suqing’s words. Life in this small village was simple and quiet, why would he need martial arts? It had been 10 years, yet Li Suqing still wanted to restore his martial arts. It meant he intended to return to Qijue sect and regain his status.

“More than a decade has passed, even if I am the true master of Qijue sect, it doesn’t really matter to me anymore.” Li Suqing smiled faintly. Not to mention, with his current condition, there was no chance to survive the struggles in Jianghu.

However, Li Suqing was still once a top master, yet now was reduced to this weak and sickly appearance. Who wouldn’t want to regain their original strength if they were in his shoes?

“What? Are you afraid I would punish you?” Li Suqing joked.

After all, according to the sect rule, Ye Zhi did deserve to be punished.

Ye Zhi was startled. He didn’t expect Li Suqing to bring this up, “I….” If Li Suqing really wanted to punish him…

“Stupid.” Li Suqing lightly knocked on Ye Zhi’s forehead, “If I punish you, won’t I need to punish myself too?”

He coughed hard a few times. Finally, Ye Zhi, who was holding his arms tightly, had to let go, “Go. If you want to expose my identity, you can do so. I’m not going to kill you.”

Li Suqing spoke without emotions, completely different from his usual gentle self. The Li Suqing now was impassive and indifferent, as though this was his true nature, and he only let it show now.

And yet, Li Suqing couldn’t help mocking himself in his heart. He finally understood why the Qijue sect’s founder established such an incomprehensible rule.

This affection he had, was it medicine or poison? He really couldn’t tell. But for him now, it was already a poison he couldn’t stop himself from drinking.

Knowing it would only bring him a death without a burial mound, he was still willing to take it.

The moment Li Suqing turned away, a bitter smile appeared on his lips, but Ye Zhi couldn’t see it.

At the beginning, Li Suqing only saved Ye Zhi because it was a matter of convenience. After all, he had been a doctor for more than 10 years. Even if it was someone else from Jianghu, he would still choose to save that person.

But, right from the start, maybe he shouldn’t have done so, regardless of whether Ye Zhi was a disciple of Qijue sect or not.

“Suqing! I already said I would not leave you!” Ye Zhi screamed after Li Suqing’s silhouette.

His tone was so resolute it made Li Suqing’s step halted.

“Even if you punish me according to the sect rule, I will never leave you.”

Maybe it was just like what Yan Wan thought. Perhaps because Ye Zhi had never had a taste of affection, Li Suqing’s care and gentleness got him caught in its trap.

Knowing it was poison, he was still willing to drink it.

In this regard, he and Li Suqing were exactly the same.

The reason Li Suqing doubted Ye Zhi’s suitability to be an assassin was because this person was too honest, even terribly obstinate sometimes.

However, looking at it from another angle, Ye Zhi was also most suited to be an assassin. Because once he set his mind on something, his decision would not change.

And now, he has set his mind on being with Li Suqing. Originally, he was afraid the sect master would cause harm to this person, but now the threat was gone, why would he still need to leave?

Only because Li Suqing was the true master of Qijue’s sect?

But if that was the case, he was also a disciple of Qijue sect. No matter what identity Li Suqing had, it did not matter to him.

“Alright,” Li Suqing turned around, facing Ye Zhi.

The usual smile was on his face, his attitude towards Ye Zhi remained unchanged, “Ye er, if you want to be with me, you have better be prepared.”

“I know,” Ye Zhi nodded.”

“Good. Then, according to the rule, I should punish you.” Li Suqing spoke.

“You can punish me however you want,” Ye Zhi answered out of reflex.

Finished speaking, he shook his head and asked anxiously, “Are you going back to Qijue sect?”

“Going back is the story for another day. Right now, I need to punish you first,” Li Suqing chuckled softly, “Since you’re willing to be punished, go lie down on the couch and take off your clothes obediently.”

“….” Ye Zhi.

And what does that have anything to do with punishment?

END

Translator note:

In case anyone wonders, Yes, it ended.

….

…

…

On to the next project (~‾▿‾)~

Thank you for reading and for your support!! ♡(ӦｖӦ｡)