With Shi Jingzhi following closely by his side, Yin Ci felt much more at ease.

If the truth had been revealed when he was in utter despair and seeking death, it would have undoubtedly led him astray. When he first pulled Shi Jingzhi down from "heaven" to the "mortal world", it started with just a hint of curiosity. Who would have thought that once this person experienced human emotions, he would in turn pull him out of hell.

Twenty-four years later, they finally reunited in the mortal world.

Yin Ci embraced a strange sense of calm as he explained the general situation to Hua Jingchun. Shi Jingzhi listened attentively beside them, his chest still filled with pent-up frustration—

Half an hour ago, in the guest room of Luoshen Tower.

Shi Jingzhi looked down at Yin Ci on the bed. Yin Ci had regained his senses, his complexion still slightly pale, but his eyes were incredibly gentle. Shi Jingzhi pressed his hand against the other person's soft hair, his heart gradually becoming restless.

From a hunter to a descendant of the Su family, and then to a mysterious and immortal figure, he had stripped away this person's layers of masks and saw Yin Ci's true appearance that even Yin Ci himself was unaware of.

This was the best person in the world, and this person was his. Only he knew this person's true name.

Just a moment ago, he was still anxious and insecure, but in this instant, it seemed as if he had gained everything. Joy burned through his chest like a raging fire, and Shi Jingzhi's mind became hazy.

With too many emotions to express, he urgently needed an outlet to release them.

Shi Jingzhi couldn't help but kiss the corner of Yin Ci's eye, mumbling the name that had been buried for three hundred years. The beast of desire no longer tore and roared in his heart, but instead used its fluffy tail tip to tease and sweep, stirring up a numbness and emptiness that drove him crazy.

Yin Ci understood Shi Jingzhi's emotions and immediately decided to add fuel to the fire. He cupped Shi Jingzhi's nuzzling head and returned a firm, deep kiss. Shi Jingzhi had never experienced such provocation before, and he instantly started thinking about how to devour this person.

He even caught a glimpse of a flame.

It was an illusion, Shi Jingzhi thought solemnly. Perhaps his desire had become so unrestrained that his heart's fire was burning out.

While Sect Leader Shi was lost in his wild thoughts, his inner garment was quickly laid to rest by Yin Ci's hands. Unwilling to be outdone, his claws had just pressed against the other person's belt when a sharp cry of "fire" mixed with the sound of gongs crashed into their ears.

Shi Jingzhi: "..."

He strongly suspected that he was a lost monk from Jianchen Temple, otherwise why would the heavens watch over him every time he tried to break a precept. It was truly a case of having a wooden fish in front and a gong behind, as if afraid that their atmosphere would improve.

Sect Leader Shi sat stiffly on the bed, with joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness flashing across his face. Perhaps it was because Shi Jingzhi's dazed appearance was too obvious, or perhaps it was because he was in a great mood after escaping the abyss. Accompanied by the firelight, Yin Ci actually covered his eyes and burst into laughter.

After laughing enough, he flipped over and pressed down on Shi Jingzhi, who resembled a cooked crab: "There's no need to be so thin-skinned. Let them burn outside, today you and I—"

"Sect Leader!" Yan Qing's shout came from outside the door, "Sect Leader, open the door quickly! Ah Si is heavily injured!"

The glimmer of hope had just flashed through Shi Jingzhi's eyes when it was scattered by Yan Qing's yell. He lay on the bed like a dead fish for a moment, using almost all of his self-control in this lifetime, before finally putting on Yin Ci's inner garment.

Yin Ci was about to put on his inner garment when he reached out and grasped empty air: "..."

However, seeing the person's face filled with a sense of having nothing to live for, and remembering that this person's inner garment was torn by him, the guilty Yin Ci maintained a solemn silence.

Shi Jingzhi hastily put on his clothes, his mouth rapidly mumbling the "Dustless Words". However, his desire was too strong this time, and the "Dustless Words" couldn't stop it. Shi Jingzhi subconsciously raised his hand, his fingers about to reach for his teeth.

Yin Ci swiftly caught that hand with a smack: "Enough, this is ultimately someone else's territory, we can't let our guard down. Things don't happen more than three times. Next time, I'll arrange a bridal chamber for you."

As these words entered his ears, the madness in Shi Jingzhi's eyes didn't diminish but instead intensified. Fortunately, Sect Leader Shi's self-control was much better than before. In the end, he didn't bite himself and let out a long sigh: "Zizhu, why do I feel like you're making more and more promises?"

So many that he was about to burst from the overflowing hope.

This name caused Yin Ci to remain silent for a long time. He finally raised his eyes: "Your Highness, whether it's proposing or getting married, it can't be done by one person alone."

Shi Jingzhi didn't respond immediately. He picked up the disaster-blocking talisman from the torn inner garment and placed it close to his chest.

Then he turned his back to Yin Ci and walked towards the door. When he spoke again, he still had his back to Yin Ci, his voice carrying a barely noticeable tremble: "Mm, compared to me alone 'living a long life of a hundred years, without worries or fears', I prefer this more."

"I know."

As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of flapping wings also came from the window. The sparrow outside the window chirped sharply and urgently, joining forces with Yan Qing, who was knocking on the door. The two had no choice but to hastily end their exchange of glances and both became busy.

It didn't take long for the master and disciple to understand the situation.

Seeing that Wu Huai had been reduced to just a head, Sect Leader Shi's frantic desire had also turned into a belly full of frustration. Now, listening to Yin Ci's calm voice, he even felt a bit sourly disappointed.

What, was he the only one enduring with great fortitude?

However, despite the disappointment, the current situation still needed to be dealt with. Sect Leader Shi pinched his palm.

After hearing Yin Ci's concise explanation, Hua Jingchun seemed a bit hesitant and said that she needed to carefully consider it. Su Si and Yan Qing saw the people from Red Hook leave and their faces relaxed a bit. Only one person in the room became increasingly nervous, trembling so much that the chair legs clattered against the ground.

Shi Jingzhi pulled the gag out of Xu Jingming's mouth and happily watched as the person dry heaved.

"You... you want to kill me." Xu Jingming still had the taste of the gag in his mouth and had long lost his imposing manner from the Ghost Tomb. "You deliberately sold Red Hook a favor, letting them instigate the various sects to hold a martial arts assembly! Just to hinder Qu Duanyun and seize the Shi Rou! You know I heard everything, you definitely won't let me go—ouch!"

Shi Jingzhi was merciless and directly gave his half-brother a smack on the head. Xu Jingming, who had been pampered and spoiled, instantly shed a few tears from the impact.

"You're not a member of the Immortal Gathering, so why would I kill you? We've already caused such a big commotion at Red Hook, even those with long ears would have heard about it. If I killed you, who knows how many troubles would arise out of nowhere."

"How do you know I'm not a member of the Immortal Gathering?"

Shi Jingzhi almost looked at him with pity for a while: "The Immortal Gathering doesn't like the emperor's eyes and ears, and they don't accept fools. You happen to fulfill both criteria."

Xu Jingming instantly became furious, but then he thought that this predicament might be a prelude set up by Qu Duanyun, and he couldn't muster the energy to curse at Shi Jingzhi—even if this elder brother was a calamity to the country, not every shit pot could be dumped on him.

However, Shi Jingzhi seemed to see through this person's thoughts: "You've been framed by Qu Duanyun like this, so you might as well watch him suffer. That person wanted you to die in Red Hook, so I'll tell the world that you're here, and let him and the officials take you back to Yi City together... By then, you'll have to stay obediently by the Emperor's side, and the National Teacher won't dare to make a move on you."

"Qu Duanyun is indeed from the Immortal Gathering, but I never said he was involved in this matter. How did you know?"

"Have you ever thought about why that person specifically drugged you and threw you into the cellar to be burned together?"

Shi Jingzhi lowered his body expressionlessly.

"Since they wanted to frame Red Hook anyway, they could have just killed you from the start and thrown your corpse here, which would have avoided any complications. The fact that the person didn't kill you personally means either they have a connection with you or killing you 'doesn't fit their habits'... The only one I can think of that fits the bill is Qu Duanyun."

Shi Jingzhi had paid special attention to Qu Duanyun, finding him to be a very interesting person. He was not a good person, but he was not hypocritical either. He could give chicken soup to a maid with one hand and send the maid to Xu Jingming with the other. His style was more like having his own set of moral logic rather than being sanctimonious.

As Prince Rong, Xu Jingming had a noble status. Although he did not value the lives of commoners, according to the laws of Dayun and the rules of Taiheng, Xu Jingming's crimes did not warrant death.

However, at this point, he could not be sure. He had very little contact with Qu Duanyun, so now he could only observe Xu Jingming's reaction—

Sure enough, Xu Jingming's gaze drifted away and he shrank back.

Xu Jingming had seen Wu Huai's techniques, overheard the conversation between Yin Ci and Hua Jingchun, and knew that this matter could not be separated from the National Teacher's faction. Qu Duanyun's appearance at this time could not be a coincidence.

...What was even more hateful was that Shi Jingzhi had hit the nail on the head. Why not make a killing move in advance? If the mastermind was Shi Jingzhi, he would have probably dismembered him long ago.

The only one he could think of who could do such a thing was Qu Duanyun. Qu Duanyun, who was born into the Qu family and grew up in Taiheng.

Xu Jingming's eyes were a little red, and he gritted his teeth for a while: "What a hypocrite, not even willing to dirty his own hands."

Shi Jingzhi did not pick up on this topic. He just waved his hand and told Yan Qing to send Xu Jingming back to his room and act as a guard.

Watching Yan Qing obediently leave, and his own bedmate becoming Master Bai, Su Si was instantly unhappy. He struggled to sit up and said angrily, "You've arranged the news, and Red Hook's allies are in hand, so why let that guy go back? Kill him and throw him near Yi City, and the old Emperor won't be able to blame Red Hook. He might even punish that Qu Duanyun."

"I still have questions for Qu Duanyun, so he needs to wait patiently. As for Xu Jingming, I have my own use for him." Shi Jingzhi said absent-mindedly.

With outsiders gone, he would occasionally steal glances at Yin Ci, and that sour sense of loss spread again.

Yin Ci looked at Shi Jingzhi for a while, then suddenly turned his back to Su Si and grabbed the sect leader's hand. The latter was puzzled, but also honestly let him hold it—

Only to see Yin Ci bring the hand to his lips and gently bite Shi Jingzhi's index finger knuckle. Not long ago, Shi Jingzhi had almost bitten the same spot to suppress his desire.

Unlike Shi Jingzhi who had no restraint, Yin Ci's force was just right, and the warm tongue tip lightly swept over the knuckle. Sect Leader Shi gasped, instantly understanding. His eyes lit up, and the bit of loss from before vanished into thin air.

He wasn't the only one who had endured to the point of steel.

Shi Jingzhi was in a great mood. He lowered his head and whispered to Yin Ci, "Let's go, Zizhu. It's almost dawn, why don't we go for a couple of drinks."

One day later, at the National Teacher's Manor.

Jiang Youyue stared at the Word Cloth, his brows showing not a single wrinkle, his mood excellent.

"Unable to compete with Taiheng, so they chose Red Hook as the knife. Not only did they not fall into despair, they even knew to use the martial arts assembly to buy time, not bad." He stroked his beard and sighed. "This generation's Desire Children is indeed very promising."

After many generations of National Teachers, a glimmer of hope had finally arrived. There was only one small flaw - Qu Duanyun had become increasingly disobedient recently and needed to be properly dealt with. Xu Jingming, the Prince Rong, had not been eliminated, so they needed to find out the situation clearly, lest he ruin things at a critical moment.

Once this storm passed, the hundred-year plan would finally succeed.