Chapter 7: An Insatiable Abyss

Chapter 7: Insatiable Desires

There is a common saying that no matter how delicious a food may be, one will eventually tire of it if forced to eat it every single day.

Yu Xian once thought this was just a pretentious boast—a load of nonsense. Damn it, a full man never understands the hunger of the starving; if he had a goddess in his arms, he would never tire of it for the rest of his life.

But now, he could only say: he was tired of it.

It was like a favorite toy: cherished when first bought, but soon abandoned in a corner to gather dust, forgotten for a long time. Pure desire, stripped of the nourishment of love, arrives with fierce intensity and departs just as silently.

Moreover, Yulan had entered a period of grueling cultivation in hopes of securing her status. Though she remained obedient and even tried to compensate him, her energy was ultimately limited. Once a large portion was diverted to her practice, she could no longer rack her brains every day to provide him with the novelty and temptation she once had.

This was not a good sign. As his only designated cultivation partner at this stage, Yulan’s state directly determined the quality of their dual cultivation. Yu Xian began to look for a solution, proactively reducing his daily contact with her under the guise of focusing on his own cultivation to preserve a sense of freshness between them.

However, human desire is like a boulder rolling down a high mountain; once it begins, it cannot be stopped. Yu Xian had found physical satisfaction, but his threshold for mental desire had been raised. Once it could not be satisfied, he began to look elsewhere rather than practicing self-restraint. Because his relationship with Yulan was unequal, when the cost of a person’s mistake is zero, their betrayal becomes a matter of course.

It was only when Yu Xian reached out to Chen Yi, catching the glint of tears in her eyes, that he suddenly woke up. He had almost become a puppet of his own desires!

He was unwilling to be driven by them. And so, after being appointed as a protector of the Prince’s estate, Yu Xian stepped out into the bustling, chaotic world outside, seeking things that could stir joy and emotion within him.

...

Changning County was blessed with superior geography, where numerous waterways converged—the most famous being the Cang River. A tributary flowed through Changning City itself, known as the Changning River.

A black-awning boat glided across the Changning River. At the stern, a boatman wearing a bamboo hat poled the craft. Beneath the awning sat a scholar in green robes and a beautiful, icy-looking maid. It was Yu Xian and Chen Yi.

Yu Xian leaned back against the boat window with an air of ease. Seeing the vast river and the rippling water, he felt his body and mind cleansed, and he couldn't help but sigh, "Long trapped in a cage, I have finally returned to nature. Coming out for a stroll is truly good for the body and soul. My previous troubles have simply drifted away with the wind."

"Boatman, please slow down. I’d like to fish."

"Right away, sir!" the boatman shouted, slowing his movements and letting the current drift the small boat along.

On the bow deck, Yu Xian brought out a chair and sat down. He cast his line, watching the float bob with the current, and his heart slowly grew still.

"Would you like to join?" Yu Xian offered a rod to Chen Yi.

Chen Yi took it silently, her eyes fixed on the water, not daring to look at him.

"I’m sorry. I thought I would have you at an intimate moment, not take you so roughly." Yu Xian’s gaze drifted to the mist over the distant water, his voice as ethereal and fleeting as the fog itself. "If you have any requests, feel free to ask. Consider it a small compensation for my rudeness."

Chen Yi’s heart tightened. She shook her head expressionlessly and said, "Since I entered your courtyard, I have been yours. You were merely taking what belongs to you. You owe me nothing."

She had long been prepared for this, ever since the Prince sent her to approach Yu Xian. Furthermore, Yu Xian was handsome, powerful, and witty; serving him, rather than the bloated or elderly officials her sisters had to attend to, was a stroke of luck. What she couldn’t accept was that after the first time, he had never sought her out again—even though his needs were so great. Chen Yi gritted her teeth in secret, fuming. Was she really inferior to Yulan?

"You must ask for something. Consider it a way to satisfy my hypocritical conscience," Yu Xian smiled faintly, with a hint of self-mockery. "And I advise you to seize this opportunity, for my conscience is often lost, and I never know when it might appear again."

Hearing this, a struggle was evident in Chen Yi’s eyes. For her, this was an opportunity, but perhaps also a test. After a long while, her eyes hardened with resolve, and she said to Yu Xian with extreme seriousness: "I want to cultivate—to practice just like Yulan!"

Only by becoming a legendary immortal cultivator could she hope to gain the freedom she craved.

Yu Xian was stunned, then asked with surprise, "I thought you would beg me to save your brother."

"I..." Yu Xian’s words flashed through her mind like lightning. Her face turned pale, and her eyes filled with despair. He had found out!

Just as she was about to explain, Yu Xian waved his hand, seemingly casual, cutting her off. "But this is fine, too. Otherwise, I might have struggled with whether or not to go back on my word; after all, I am quite comfortable in the Prince’s estate. When we return, you may practice the 'Everlasting Arts' with Yulan, but I will not give you much help. You must rely on yourself."

Chen Yi bit her lip and nodded silently. "I understand."

"Since you’ve accepted my compensation, you can’t keep a cold face toward me anymore. Come, give me a smile."

Yu Xian pulled her onto his lap and wrapped his arms around her shoulders, his hands wandering restlessly. Although experiments had proven that dual cultivation with someone who wasn’t his partner wouldn't grant him cultivation points, it could still bring him pleasure. Now that his interest in Yulan had waned, combined with his increased cultivation and the secret recipes from Physician Huang, he was no longer the empty-handed, "hollow" young master he once was. Adding Chen Yi to his life would be effortless.

Chen Yi could feel the warmth of his hand through her clothes, and her face flushed red. She protested softly, "No, not here."

"Good girl, come closer. I want to touch your heart."

With one hand still occupied, Yu Xian flicked his fishing rod. A large, bright red carp leaped from the water. "Got you!"

"Boatman, do you have a stove? I want to have grilled fish."

"Yes, sir!" The observant boatman, seeing the guest busy with his lady and unable to handle the fish, immediately came over to serve them. He unhooked the carp, tossed it into a basket tied to the side of the boat, and asked, "Sir, my grilling skills aren't bad. Would you like me to grill it for you right now?"

"It seems I am in for a treat today. I look forward to tasting your craft," Yu Xian replied, petting the girl who sat in his lap as cautiously as a kitten.

It seemed his luck had been exhausted on the first catch. For the next half-hour, he only caught a few small, unrecognizable river fish, and he lost interest. By then, the boatman had finished grilling the carp. He and Chen Yi shared the fish; the taste was quite good, mostly because it was fresh, with a faint, sweet flavor to the meat.

Satisfied, they returned.