Chapter 823: Cure

Words such as these are the kind that either thrill or disgust the recipient depending on whether they like you or not. But whichever the case, they certainly are not the kind to be casually tossed about without the right relationship in place. Piaomiao could not tell if Zhao Changhe genuinely meant what he was saying or if this was just the influence of his inner demon talking.

If it was the latter, it would not be fair to lose her temper. After all, she had nearly beaten him to death when she herself had fallen to her inner demons, cracking his bones and leaving him battered, and yet he had not uttered a single complaint. Now, here he was, having fallen into the influence of his inner demons as well, and he merely threw out some teasing words...

And to her immense frustration, she found that she did not exactly feel disgusted.

Annoyed, Piaomiao tossed Zhao Changhe roughly onto the bed in the guest courtyard, grabbed a rope, and firmly tied him up. “I’m just being cautious. Don’t move.”

Zhao Changhe, who was unable to resist anyway, allowed himself to be bound, finding the whole situation slightly amusing. If he really intended to do something, how could an ordinary rope possibly restrict him?

Only after thoroughly being tied up did Zhao Changhe finally sigh, “Let alone now when I’m badly injured, even when I’m in my peak condition, I’m not your match. What exactly are you afraid of?”

Piaomiao: “...”

Truthfully, she herself was not quite sure what she was afraid of. After some thought, she sneered coldly, “Who was it earlier who talked about teaching me a lesson once things were safe? Look who’s being taught a lesson now.”

Zhao Changhe laughed helplessly, “Fine, you claim you’re good at teaching lessons, I’d like to see you do your worst.”

Seeing him simply lying there waiting to be taught, Piaomiao ground her teeth. Abruptly, she walked to the head of the bed, stood behind him, pointed her finger to seal his outward divine sense, and clapped her hands, pleased. “Didn’t you say that it’s impossible for you not to look? Well, can’t see now, can you? Let that frustrate you.”

“This is your grand lesson?” Zhao Changhe fell silent.

Piaomiao stood there for a few breaths, yet she suddenly felt a sensation of still being stared at. And indeed, the gaze seemed even more brazen and unrestrained, scanning her up and down.

How is this even possible? Does he have eyes on top of his head?

Fuming, Piaomiao punched him squarely on the head and scolded, “Stop looking! If you keep staring, I’ll...”

“Gouge out my eyes?”

“I’ll go outside and slaughter all those monks!”

“Don’t...” Zhao Changhe sighed softly. “When you instinctively fought back earlier, you still held back, which means your innate kindness is still there. If you truly harm the innocent, once you regain your senses, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”

Piaomiao opened her mouth to retort, then stopped.

Zhao Changhe’s expectations were indeed misguided. A corrupted being was a corrupted being. Having fallen to their inner demons, they were utterly beyond the influence of goodness; otherwise, they would not be called demons. Yet, the initial monstrous fury from her corruption had already been greatly alleviated by brutally thrashing Papiyas earlier, leaving her far more rational than before. And thus, the reason she had held back was simply a rational awareness: if she killed those monks, they could not help Zhao Changhe with his inner demon anymore.

Whether she needed Zhao Changhe’s assistance against Ye Wuming or had some other unknown motive, it all inevitably revolved around Zhao Changhe himself, but this was something she absolutely could not admit aloud. If she said it, Zhao Changhe would surely seize the opportunity to tease her even further, given how his unleashed desires already had him shamelessly flirting at every turn.

Sure enough, Zhao Changhe’s next sentence followed, “Well then, what about your lesson?”

Piaomiao clenched her fist until cracks could be heard.

“By the way, why exactly did you bring me into this guest courtyard?” Zhao Changhe continued, “The monks mentioned that they’re suppressing my inner demon, and once I fulfill my desires, it can be resolved. Are you suggesting you’re here to help me fulfill them?”

What exactly was it that had triggered Zhao Changhe’s inner demon this time?

It had been a desire deliberately provoked by Papiyas in the guise of Piaomiao herself.

According to the monks’ theory, it could all be resolved if Zhao Changhe truly had his way with Piaomiao. Was she actually considering this?

Piaomiao sneered and said, “You wish! Since they’ve already suppressed your inner demon, I can try other methods to eliminate it entirely.”

“What methods?”

“Relax your mind and let me take a look.”

Zhao Changhe closed his eyes, silently granting permission.

Piaomiao placed a finger gently on Zhao Changhe’s brow, her soul plunging into his spiritual platform.

Unlike Zhao Changhe’s wives, who had repeatedly experienced his spiritual sea through dual cultivation, this was Piaomiao’s first time witnessing it. Within a boundless starry sky lay a figure whose head rested atop the sun and moon, his body leisurely stretched across the Milky Way. Stars spread endlessly around him in reverent accompaniment, the vivid forms of the Four Idols clearly defined. Below stretched infinite mountains and rivers, and there, subtly, Piaomiao herself existed, seamlessly integrated into this majestic scene.

Piaomiao stared dumbly for a long while, having never imagined anyone could encapsulate such profound meaning within themselves, with that meaning even including herself.

She was not even truly his... yet he resonated with her through the very essence of the mountains and rivers, harmonizing with her in tandem.

After staying silent for a moment, Piaomiao drifted softly to the side of Zhao Changhe’s soul. She could clearly perceive that even his soul was flushed faintly pink, trembling slightly with barely contained desire. Still, it was enveloped and restrained by a golden Buddhist aura, which subdued his turbulent condition.

Ironically, this golden scripture wrapping around him looked strikingly similar to physical bindings, similarly restraining his soul from recklessly moving, leaving him with eyes wide open, staring steadily at her.

She could vividly sense that, without these golden scriptures’ suppression, Zhao Changhe would undoubtedly lose all reason and frantically lunge at her in wild desire. Yet right now, his gaze retained relative clarity; it was just faintly clouded. This was a clear testament to the effectiveness of the methods of the Buddhists.

After prolonged observation, Piaomiao said, “What are you staring at?”

Zhao Changhe calmly remarked, “This is your original appearance, yet it feels unfamiliar. It doesn’t have Yangyang’s fierce and cute vibe. I just felt like I should look a bit longer and deepen my impression of it.”

“Are you out of your mind?”

“Well, my inner demon is still strong, so yes, quite so.” Zhao Changhe chuckled softly. “Truthfully, even now, you’re not quite how you appeared in the ancient era. Back then, you were distant and ethereal, like a goddess reflected indistinctly on water. But now, your fierce expression makes you look formidable and utterly unapproachable.”

“All you remember is that scene of me with water!” Piaomiao blurted out instinctively, instantly regretting it.

However, Zhao Changhe did not seize the chance to tease her about her bathing scene as she had anticipated. Instead, he said softly, “Actually, your current appearance is also quite captivating.”

“Do you even realize what you’re saying?”

“I do. These are words that my usual sense of propriety would never allow me to utter casually. But whether I utter them or not, they’re true all the same.”

Piaomiao could not find words for how it felt to be constantly flirted with like this, let alone how absurd it was that this absolute madman was confessing to a corrupted demon.

When I was gentle and kind-hearted, you threatened me coldly. Now that I’ve become corrupted, you’re confessing? Do you enjoy being abused?

But Zhao Changhe continued thoughtfully, “Sometimes I think being in this semi-corrupted state isn’t entirely bad. At least we can be less hypocritical. Right now, I dare to openly express thoughts I’d usually hide even from myself.”

Finally, Piaomiao could not suppress her curiosity any longer and asked, “So you’re attracted even to a twisted, monstrous demon? Is your only criterion that the other party is female?”

“Do you misunderstand yourself somehow? Perhaps you looked twisted at the start, but not anymore. With Yangyang’s face, you’re fierce but cute; in your true form, you’re like a dangerously alluring woman filled with a vicious and menacing aura... When you meet Vermillion Bird someday, you can ask her about this. I definitely have a thing for this type.”

Piaomiao exploded in fury, manifesting a whip from thin air and viciously striking downward. “You deceitful liar! You claim to have a thing for this? You speak of teaching me lessons while treating Yangyang so tenderly. Isn’t it obvious who you prefer? I detest smooth-talking frauds like you the most!”

Zhao Changhe groaned in pain, yet unexpectedly laughed, “You... You’re actually... jealous.”

Enraged to the point her hair practically began smoking, Piaomiao lashed out again, “Don’t think just because I can’t kill you, I have no way of teaching you a lesson! Can’t I beat you up instead?”

Zhao Changhe’s soul curled up in pain, unable to utter another word.

Piaomiao raised the whip again but found herself unable to deliver the third strike.

Memories flooded back of the journey in which he carried her, fleeing desperately, turning repeatedly to shield her with his own body, taking blow after blow upon himself without a sound.

A man like that, whose iron will did not falter even when carving out his own flesh to heal wounds, should not be curled up pitifully like this.

Perhaps not killing him was truly not just about needing him to defeat Ye Wuming... Or perhaps she genuinely could not bear to do so.

And perhaps the impulse to kill him was not merely born of humiliation from being thoroughly seen. Could it then truly be jealousy? In some stories of humans, jealousy had indeed driven people to kill their lovers. Given her current corrupted state with her heightened aggression, could she truly be capable of such a thing?

Piaomiao herself was not sure.

“Both you and Papiyas think my hopes for you are misguided expectations... but I never thought they were,” Zhao Changhe murmured softly. “Your corruption is driven by hatred dominating your emotions, extending your malice onto others. You might have become evil, indeed. But you’re still rational. You’re neither an incoherent lunatic nor Papiyas’s puppet.”

Piaomiao responded haughtily, “That’s only natural. With the strength of my soul and spirit, how could I descend into madness? And how could a mere Papiyas dream of dominating my thoughts?”

Zhao Changhe continued slowly, “If you’re still rational, then why assume someone capable of hatred is incapable of love? I even believe that your hateful self might be more open to love than the detached, desireless Piaomiao of the ancient era.”

In other words, he was essentially saying she was now easier to win over.

Piaomiao found it inconceivable that someone could dare think like this. Yet upon consideration, she found no logical flaw in his reasoning.

She dared not continue the conversation, fearful of how chaotic her thoughts might become.

Thus, Piaomiao, who had claimed to enter his spiritual platform to search for a solution, fled desperately from Zhao Changhe’s spiritual sea. Returning to Cui Yuanyang’s body, she realized Cui Yuanyang had awakened and was staring at her with wide eyes.

Piaomiao was immediately flustered. “What are you staring at? Aren’t you afraid I’ll devour you right now?”

Cui Yuanyang gazed at her steadily for a moment, then smiled radiantly, “The way you are now, even if you devoured me, I wouldn’t mind.”

“Why not?”

“Because then I’d just stay by Big Brother Zhao’s side in a different form.”

“Are you two both insane?! Like husband, like wife!” Piaomiao snapped angrily, her chest heaving. “Enough nonsense! Take back control of your body.”

Cui Yuanyang asked curiously, “Why?”

“When Papiyas invoked Zhao Changhe’s desire, although it originated from me, he used your image. If you two just do your spousal duties yourselves, it should resolve everything!”

Cui Yuanyang’s eyes widened in disbelief, “That’s the brilliant solution a great expert of the third layer of the Profound Control Realm came up with? Hey, hey, wait! Don’t just fall asleep!”

Before Cui Yuanyang could even finish speaking, she realized she had regained control of her own body. Piaomiao had voluntarily slipped into slumber.

Scratching her head, Cui Yuanyang noticed that apart from having a worse temper, the corrupted Piaomiao was gradually becoming more and more like her normal self.

Perhaps Zhao Changhe’s judgment was indeed correct. Piaomiao’s cultivation was incredibly profound, far exceeding that of Papiyas. The inner demon awakened by Papiyas could never truly override her personality. It merely intensified and exaggerated her latent hatred. Once she vented sufficiently, it faded considerably, losing its grip over her entirely. But by the same token, the deeper her hatred was stirred, the more likely emotions of love could arise. After all, emotions were intertwined.

In fact, after that previous incident in the dream, even the normal Piaomiao had stopped deceiving herself. Ironically, it seemed the corrupted Piaomiao was the one still trying to maintain the charade. Cui Yuanyang was almost certain this big sister of hers had feelings for Zhao Changhe, though perhaps not deeply enough yet. If the emotions were deep enough, she would not retreat into sleep to hide—instead, she would face those emotions herself.

Cui Yuanyang shrugged off further speculation. Now that feelings were involved, it was only a matter of time before they deepened. Right now, she was more concerned about Zhao Changhe’s condition. What kind of heartless demoness ignored treating his injuries and instead focused solely on tormenting him?

Sniffing softly, Cui Yuanyang sat beside him on the bed, gently loosening Zhao Changhe’s bindings. She pulled out some medicinal ointment from her ring and carefully applied it to his wounds. “You always end up injured. Didn’t we agree that you should take better care of yourself?”

Seeing Cui Yuanyang awake, Zhao Changhe was delighted. “You’re awake?”

“Mm... Big Sister Piaomiao’s demonic qi became overwhelming when she got corrupted, so I couldn’t handle it and I passed out.”

“I know, I saw it earlier myself... This condition of yours leaves me helpless, too. We’ll still have to find a way to separate you two eventually.” Zhao Changhe sighed softly. “How long have you been awake?”

“For quite a while. Long enough to overhear your confession to Big Sister Piaomiao.” Cui Yuanyang teased with a grin. “Her corruption has gotten a lot weaker now. Maybe love really is the cure for hatred?”

Caught red-handed in what was essentially cheating, Zhao Changhe felt extremely embarrassed. “My inner demon influenced me. Normally, I’d never say such things. But when facing her, I couldn’t restrain myself, and I kept blurting out nonsense... If not for the monks helping me suppress it, I probably would’ve done something truly shameful.”

“Actually, I think it’s a good thing... much better than you killing her” said Cui Yuanyang with a giggle. “Even if we can’t separate in the future, at least sharing a body won’t be so awkward. Did you know that long before you even met Big Sister Piaomiao, she was already fascinated by you? Ever since you entered the Abyss of the Frost Chi, I caught her staring in fascination at your image several times.”

Zhao Changhe was stunned. “Uh... Really?”

“Perhaps it’s because she shares many of my memories, so she naturally feels close to you. Also, the things she embodies match perfectly with your nature. She’s instinctively drawn to you. For a god, that alone might not be love, but once emotions develop, it could only be toward you.” Cui Yuanyang winked mischievously. “So even after your inner demon is gone, you can still speak like that. She actually likes hearing it.”

“If she likes it so much, why’d she whip me...?”

“Hehe... One day you’ll have plenty of chances to whip her back. Whip her as much as you please.”

“Little rabbit, you’ve really gotten a lot more naughty. Did she go back to sleep again? You’re so bold now...”

“Yes, she left me to be your cure, to soothe your inner demon...” Cui Yuanyang leaned forward, pressing her lips gently against his. “I doubt it’ll work completely, but we can at least try... You’re clearly pent-up, so you deserve some release...”

Zhao Changhe, indeed, could no longer suppress himself. With Piaomiao, restraint had been necessary, but with his own wife, there was no hesitation. He immediately embraced her, and they started rolling passionately together.

It turned out that intimacy with his wife indeed alleviated his lustful impulses, but it could not fully resolve his inner demon.

After all, it was Piaomiao who had awakened his desires. According to the ancient monks, the woman he needed to possess to overcome his inner demon was Piaomiao herself, not his loving wife Cui Yuanyang. Even though they wore the exact same face, knowing deep down that she was not Piaomiao meant his inner demon still lingered.

Cui Yuanyang wrapped her arms around Zhao Changhe’s neck, weathering his passionate storm for some time. Noticing his eyes still glowed with a faint crimson hue, she softly bit her lip, a mischievous idea forming in her mind.

An inner demon existed solely in the heart, independent of reality. Could it be enough, then, just to make him believe that he had claimed Piaomiao?

Zhao Changhe suddenly realized that the gentle, accommodating Yangyang beneath him had abruptly changed expression, her face turning fierce with anger as she pushed desperately against his shoulders. “Zhao Changhe! Just what do you think you’re doing?!”

Startled, Zhao Changhe almost lost control immediately.

Did Piaomiao just fucking appear halfway through?! What the hell am I supposed to do now?!