The Light of the Righteous Path 18

The sea surface churned with thick white mist, layer upon layer, as if foretelling the extraordinariness of this night. One large fish after another circled and thrashed around the "ground." Lin Qi lay there weak all over, while the Merfolk Tribe surrounded him, singing. Their voices were enchanting and alluring, but the lyrics were indistinct. With little hope, he asked the System whether it could understand.

The System replied calmly, "Of course."

Lin Qi was overjoyed. "What are they singing?"

System: "Roughly, it means—Oh Sea God, although this year's bride is a bit ugly, the aura of cloud-glow on his body is very abundant. Please make do with him and kindly grant us a few more children."

Lin Qi: "......" It would've been better not to understand.

As the singing spread, the mist churned faster and faster. Lin Qi didn't know if it was his imagination, but he felt himself rising, his line of sight getting higher and higher.

Soon, he realized it wasn't an illusion. The merfolk singing around him gradually slid down into the sea, while the "ground" he lay on became increasingly elevated.

A distant, low rumble like thunder reached his ears. The "ground" beneath Lin Qi suddenly rose sharply. All the merfolk fell into the sea like dumplings, snuggling up with those big black-eyed fish and gazing devoutly at the red figure under the moonlight.

Only then did Lin Qi realize that the "ground" he lay on felt exactly like the big fish that had carried him here—it was an enormous fish capable of bearing an entire city.

The bright moonlight shone on his face. Lin Qi felt uneasy and whispered, "System, I really need to go to the bathroom."

System: "......This isn't needing to go to the bathroom. You're about to give birth."

Lin Qi: "!!!" It's over... it's over.

The heat in his body seemed to possess a strange power, sweeping from his face to his entire body. Lin Qi was so hot he was on the verge of crying. His body went limp, unable to muster any strength—but that was probably for the best. If he could move right now, who knew what he might do on top of a fish.

Lin Qi: "System, I can't take it, it's too hot, I'm about to be cooked."

System: "......" It had never heard a Moderator describe their feelings like this before. Ruthlessly, it said, "I'm activating the shield. Handle it yourself."

Lin Qi: "......"

In times of hardship, true feelings were revealed—even the System had abandoned him. Lin Qi cried out to heaven and earth, but neither answered. The mist he inhaled burned like fire in his lungs. He didn't even have the strength to open his mouth. Tears welled up uncontrollably in his eyes. His lips trembled slightly. He wanted to call "Du Chengying," but though he used all his strength to utter the name, it fell silently into the sea—he couldn't even hear it himself.

The merfolk held hands, waiting anxiously.

The Merfolk Tribe could not reproduce; each generation of newborn merfolk depended on the Sea God's blessing. The bride offered to the Sea God had to be the most beautiful merfolk with the most melodious voice, dressed in a wedding garment woven from the clouds of the sky, carried into the night sky by the Ancestor Fish.

But that wretched cultivator had snatched away their Luoxia without a word. So many of their people had wept while secretly gathering the sunset glow—some even perished without entering reincarnation, turning into fish. To have it stolen like this left them unwilling to accept it.

Fortunately... fortunately, that villain had not used the Luoxia for himself.

The moon, like a silver plate, slowly descended. In the merfolk's black eyes shone anticipation as they waited for the Sea God's arrival.

"Why do I feel so cold?" Yue Ding muttered, clutching Yue Lan.

Yue Lan felt cold too, his teeth almost chattering, but at such a sacred moment of offering to the Sea God, he felt embarrassed to say it aloud. Lowering his head, he said, "I feel cold too. The water feels like it's freezing."

Merfolk sensed water differently—seawater should feel warm to them, like a mother's embrace.

More and more merfolk began to feel the cold. They couldn't stop trembling. The shivering spread through their clasped hands. Even those who had once been merfolk but had turned into large fish let out faint cries.

What frightened them even more was that the Ancestor Fish was trembling as well.

The seawater rippled outward. Yue Ding's teeth chattered audibly as he stammered, "W-what's going on?"

Lin Qi, lying on the big fish, didn't feel cold at all. He was so hot he felt like he was smoking. Tears streamed down his face, his consciousness hazy. His lips opened and closed as he unconsciously called the only name he could rely on.

At that moment, a cool breath brushed across his cheek. A warm, large hand supported his shoulder, lifting him from the slick, wet fish. Lin Qi still couldn't open his eyes, but he smelled it—Du Chengying's scent, a reassuring one. Relieved, he kept his eyes closed, grabbed blindly at his clothes, and said in fear, "Du Chengying, I... I'm going to give birth..."

Du Chengying glanced down at the frozen merfolk and said calmly, "You won't."

The Water Qilin bared its teeth at the big fish, which immediately sank into the sea.

The merfolk were frozen, yet their consciousness remained clear. They watched helplessly as their Ancestor Fish sank. Du Chengying, holding the delirious Lin Qi, descended gracefully onto the icy surface of the sea.

Fear appeared in the merfolk's dark eyes.

Only now did they realize that the powerful cultivator had never shown them his true strength. A deathly chill gripped their throats.

Without a word, Du Chengying turned and left with Lin Qi. The black Water Qilin followed behind, turning back to grin at the merfolk trapped in the ice.

After cooling down briefly, Lin Qi soon felt like he was burning again. He rubbed restlessly against Du Chengying's chest. Du Chengying comforted him softly, "Endure it a little longer."

The Water Qilin exhaled another breath of Qi of the Yellow Springs, and Lin Qi's expression finally eased.

Du Chengying's entire body was stiff, still trembling even when his feet touched solid ground. The fear of losing Lin Qi again tormented him so much he felt his soul leaving his body. His legs went weak, and he dropped to one knee. The fiery red wedding robe fell to the ground.

Lin Qi slowly opened his eyes. His eyelashes were stuck together, and he could only vaguely see Du Chengying's face, not his expression. He weakly lifted his hand, struggling to reassure him, "I'm fine."

Plop.

A warm drop fell onto his cheek.

Lin Qi stared in shock and fully opened his eyes. Du Chengying's expression could only be described as utterly desolate. The tear from his left eye seemed unconscious. Though he held Lin Qi, his hands trembled, his soul seemingly lost somewhere far away.

Summoning all his strength, Lin Qi bumped his forehead against Du Chengying's chest. The motion finally made Du Chengying lower his head. That small movement made Lin Qi's body heat surge again, tears welling in his eyes. "Du Chengying... look at me..."

Du Chengying stared at him blankly, finally raising his hand to press gently against Lin Qi's burning cheek. He murmured, "Senior Brother... you're back."

Lin Qi had no strength left to explain or comfort him. Tugging weakly at his collar, he said, "Lower your head."

Their lips met, hot and tight. Lin Qi immediately felt the heat double, but strength returned slightly to his limbs. He raised his arms, hooked them around Du Chengying's shoulders, and kissed him fiercely.

Moonlight like white silk illuminated the fiery red wedding robe, making it glow like colorful clouds. Their lips parted and sucked, growing wetter. They pressed closer and closer together. Their fear dissolved in the increasingly intense kiss. Lin Qi felt immensely strong. He suddenly pushed Du Chengying down, straddled him, grabbed his collar, and stared straight at him. Looking at Du Chengying's damaged lips under the moonlight, he swallowed lightly. "Du Chengying, let's get married."

Du Chengying was completely stunned. Lin Qi in red looked like blooming peach blossoms, his dark eyes shimmering with moisture, his face brimming with vitality and spirit—like a slightly fierce little beast, eyeing its prey hungrily, ready to pounce and take a bite out of him at any moment.

Entranced, Du Chengying raised his hand to gently touch Lin Qi's face. The moment he felt the burning heat of his cheek, he snapped back to his senses, immediately sitting up and pulling Lin Qi into his arms. "Lin Qi, you've been cursed."

"Cursed?" Lin Qi's mind was highly excited. He yanked hard at Du Chengying's collar, saying agitatedly, "I don't care about any curse—I want to marry you!"

Du Chengying lifted him, glanced at the Water Qilin beside them—its tail covering its eyes while secretly peeking—and the Water Qilin obediently turned around, standing like a mountain to block the sea wind.

Carrying the agitated Lin Qi, Du Chengying entered a crude thatched hut. The wooden bed was still half-finished. After placing him down, Lin Qi grabbed onto his belt and refused to let go. Du Chengying patiently said, "Lin Qi, endure it. When the moonlight fades, the curse will be lifted."

"Du Chengying..." Lin Qi's face fell. "Do you not like me anymore?" He looked on the verge of tears.

Du Chengying bent slightly, his tall figure enveloping Lin Qi. His eyes were deep. "If we consummate tonight, I'm afraid you'll regret it after the curse is lifted and hate me for taking advantage of you."

"I won't. I've already chosen you." Lin Qi said firmly.

He answered quickly, without hesitation, leaving Du Chengying no room for doubt.

Du Chengying stared at him for a while, finding nothing but complete trust and certainty in Lin Qi's eyes.

When their lips met again, his large hand moved to the fiery red sash at Lin Qi's waist. The belt Lin Qi couldn't undo fell away instantly in Du Chengying's hands. The body wrapped in cloud-like fabric was revealed. The stark contrast of red and white made it impossible for Du Chengying to look away.

His senior brother... was so alluring.

On the crude wooden bed, their inexperienced bodies intertwined. The young man's fair skin flushed pink with unbearable heat. His long arms draped over the arched back, rubbing urgently, making inviting sounds. His seduction was clumsy and pure. He strained to hook his toes around the person above him, wanting them closer.

"Don't rush, Senior Brother..." Sweat rolled down Du Chengying's forehead. His hands trembled slightly as he lowered his head to kiss Lin Qi's smooth skin, leaving marks of varying depth.

"Mmm..." Lin Qi arched slightly, his soft moan tinged with a hint of tears, as if he couldn't endure the unfamiliar pleasure buried deep within him. Even though he was eager, he restrained himself, fingers gripping Du Chengying's arms tightly. The hard muscles made him feel strangely soft—like melted sugar syrup poured over Du Chengying, sweet and burning.

Moonlight filtered through the cracks of the thatched hut, falling bit by bit onto Lin Qi, playing a game of desire upon his body alongside the red marks.

Everything happened so unexpectedly. Even in his fantasies, Du Chengying had never dared to treat his senior brother so recklessly.

His senior brother—upright, gentle, always carrying a trace of distance in his warm smile—was never within reach, always somewhere farther away. Yet now, that person was in his arms, responding fervently to his touch and kisses.

Sweat trickled down their entwined necks, glistening faintly. Lin Qi bit Du Chengying's earlobe, drawing blood, murmuring hazily, "Junior Brother... take me."