Chapter 23: Little Radish’s World Collapses

Qi Jiangyuan kissed him again, rough and fierce, his tongue slipping wetly between Can He’s lips, sending tingles down his spine.

Forced to match the rhythm Qi Jiangyuan set, Can He responded instinctively, but the longer the kiss went on, the harder it was to keep up with his breathing.

Damn it.

When Qi Jiangyuan finally pulled away, a silvery thread still clung between their lips. Can He gasped for breath, his whole body limp. If Qi Jiangyuan hadn’t been holding his waist, he might’ve slid straight to the floor.

“You… why are you like this?” Can He’s voice trembled. His eyes were red at the corners, lips swollen from the friction, looking thoroughly bullied.

Qi Jiangyuan brushed his thumb across the corner of Can He’s mouth, his gaze as deep and unfathomable as an ancient well. “Like what?”

Can He was at a loss for words. He thought of those romance books he’d secretly read in the Library Pavilion—kisses were always gentle, like dragonflies skimming the water¹.

None of them had anyone biting and devouring like Qi Jiangyuan, as if he wanted to swallow him whole.

The man’s hand was still locked around his waist—not tight, but firm enough to keep him from moving. Only now did Can He realize the danger he was in. He remembered what happened last time in the Wujian Prison’s bedchamber—Qi Jiangyuan had kissed him like this, and then—

“Wait!” Can He’s scalp tingled, his voice rising in panic. “It’s still a mess outside! We can’t be doing this here… we still have things to take care of!”

He tried to wriggle out of Qi Jiangyuan’s arms, only to find himself pinned in place. Qi Jiangyuan’s grip even tightened a little.

“Xie Suoyan will handle it,” Qi Jiangyuan said.

Once he and Can He ascended, Xie Suoyan would naturally take over managing the Ghost Realm. This was the perfect opportunity to let him gain some experience.

Can He blinked. “But… I don’t know how to handle Demon Realm affairs either. I just took office. Shouldn’t I be learning? At least reading some of the reports…”

“Learn here,” Qi Jiangyuan cut him off, already loosening Can He’s belt with one hand. “I’ll teach you.”

Little Radish froze completely.

He felt that cold hand slowly sliding up his spine, each inch sending shivers through his body.

This was absolutely not about learning how to handle official duties!

“Wait, wait!” Can He practically shouted. “I need a bath!”

He wasn’t mentally prepared for this at all.

Qi Jiangyuan paused.

Seizing the moment, Little Radish blurted out, “I still have blood on me, and I’m all sweaty. How can I not bathe? Besides, I haven’t even tried the bath in my new palace yet… I want to take a bath.”

He looked up at Qi Jiangyuan with those eyes of his—a move that always worked. Qi Jiangyuan could never resist when he acted cute.

Sure enough, Qi Jiangyuan was silent for a moment, then let go. “Alright.”

The new palace’s bath was much larger than Can He had imagined. The water was a milky white, with a thin mist drifting over the surface, carrying a strange, soothing fragrance. Smooth white jade lined the edges of the pool, and candlelight flickered all around.

Can He slipped off his outer robe and cautiously dipped a foot in. The temperature was perfect—warm and just right.

He let out a breath of relief and was about to step in when he realized Qi Jiangyuan had followed him in.

“You’re bathing too?” Can He asked.

Qi Jiangyuan had already shed his clothes, revealing his pale chest. He didn’t answer, simply stepped into the pool, the water rising to his waist.

His waist was powerful, though his skin was deathly pale… Not that it was surprising—most people looked like that after dying. Still, it was no wonder Can He had doubted whether he was truly sick at first.

Can He snuck a glance between his legs.

It was still hanging down, but the size and shape made his ears burn. He quickly looked away.

Biting his lip, he hesitated for a moment, then slowly stepped in.

The warm water wrapped around his body—it really did feel nice. Can He leaned against the edge, trying to keep as much distance from Qi Jiangyuan as possible.

But Qi Jiangyuan soon drifted over, wrapping his arms around Can He from behind, resting his chin on his shoulder.

“Didn’t you say… you’d cure me?”

As that thought sank in, Can He suddenly realized… he would probably have to dual cultivate with Qi Jiangyuan regularly from now on, all the way until they became immortals together…

And maybe even after that, it wouldn’t stop.

They’d already confessed their feelings. This was bound to happen eventually. So Can He stopped resisting and whispered, “It really hurt last time.”

He wasn’t lying. No matter how beautifully books described it, last time, even just rubbing on the outside had hurt so much he cried—and he was still walking funny even now.

“It won’t this time,” Qi Jiangyuan murmured against his ear. “I’ll be gentle.”

Can He was half-convinced, half-doubtful.

But with Qi Jiangyuan holding him like this, where could he possibly run?

When the kiss fell, Can He closed his eyes.

This time, it really was much gentler. Qi Jiangyuan softly took his lips, sucking little by little, as if savoring some rare delicacy.

Can He’s tense body gradually relaxed, sinking into it, even beginning to respond clumsily.

But the tenderness didn’t last long.

Just as he let his guard down a little, Qi Jiangyuan suddenly pried open his teeth, nearly stealing all his breath. Can He felt dizzy as the kiss deepened, tongues tangling back and forth.

The intensity nearly drove him mad. The bathwater rippled faintly, masking the wet, sultry sounds. Dizzy from the kiss, Can He could only passively endure, soft whimpers escaping his throat.

By the time he came back to his senses, Qi Jiangyuan was already carrying him out of the bath.

“I haven’t finished washing…” Little Radish struggled weakly in his arms.

Qi Jiangyuan wrapped him in his wide robe, spread his legs, and cradled him like a child, heading straight for the bed deep within the sleeping quarters.

When Can He was laid down on the soft bedding, his mind was still blank.

A leg slid between his, and Can He saw Qi Jiangyuan peeling away his clothes.

His pale skin was gradually exposed to the cool air. Flushed with shame, Can He curled up, but Qi Jiangyuan pinned his wrists down.

“Baby, don’t hide.”

The nickname startled Can He so much he froze. His limbs went limp, unable to resist, and he was on the verge of tears.

Qi Jiangyuan suddenly paused, reaching under the pillow and pulling out a book.

When Can He saw what it was, he went completely rigid.

It was that book—“The Harmonious Union of Heaven and Earth: Spring Shadows Behind the Embroidered Curtain²”!

He was certain that after Qi Jiangyuan had discovered it that day, he’d secretly returned it to the Library Pavilion. He hadn’t brought it here.

Damn it, it had to be Xie Suoyan’s doing!

He wanted to storm out and confront Xie Suoyan right then and there, but unfortunately, Can He was currently naked and pinned to the bed—he wasn’t going anywhere.

Qi Jiangyuan had already flipped the book open.

Can He caught a glimpse of those blush-inducing illustrations and quickly shut his eyes.

Qi Jiangyuan held the book up to him. “Pick one.”

Can He was forced to open his eyes. “What?”

“I don’t want to!”

“Be good. Pick one.”

Little Radish glanced quickly over the shameful positions. “How am I supposed to choose…?”

Qi Jiangyuan said, “Pick the one you think feels best.”

Can He: ………

Unbelievable!

His face was so hot it could boil an egg. Flustered, he pointed at one that looked like it didn’t require much effort and didn’t involve lifting his legs too high.

But he was wrong.

Only when Qi Jiangyuan picked him up did Can He realize just how deceptive that illustration had been. He was seated on Qi Jiangyuan’s thigh, legs spread and bent to an impossible angle. The man behind him bit at his shoulder, licking away the fine sheen of sweat.

His skin was flushed from Qi Jiangyuan’s touch, hands cupping him and pressing him down.

Their bodies were so close there wasn’t even a sliver of space between them. Can He’s spine tingled, his legs weak, teetering on the edge of collapse.

Qi Jiangyuan drove in deep and hard.

“Ah… slower…”

Can He sobbed out a plea, but Qi Jiangyuan only leaned down to kiss him, swallowing all his whimpers.

Can He felt like he was dying, vision swaying with every thrust. But Qi Jiangyuan gripped his chin, forcing him to look at the book.

“Look closely,” the man whispered against his ear, biting his earlobe. “Which one are we doing next?”

Tears streamed down Can He’s face. He tried to focus, to see the images and text on the page, but everything was blurry.

Qi Jiangyuan leaned down to lick away his tears, but his movements didn’t slow in the slightest.

So full.

A distance he’d never experienced before.

His body trembled involuntarily. Can He felt like he was being worked over again and again, squeezed until he was practically ginseng juice…

A sensual curve rose from his lower belly, and Qi Jiangyuan guided his hand to press against it. “Good boy.”

…

Who knew how many positions from the book they tried. Can He lay limp on the bed, not even able to lift a finger.

Poor Little Radish’s face was still streaked with tears. He sniffled, voice hoarse. “I feel like I’m a useless ginseng now.”

Qi Jiangyuan said nothing, just gently stroked his sweat-drenched back.

At that moment, the boy really did look like a stewed… radish. The white radish had turned into a carrot—his fair skin tinged pink, damp and soft, so delicate that even the lightest touch would leave a mark.

Can He rested for a while, thinking he could finally sleep, when he felt Qi Jiangyuan’s lips land once more—this time on the Red String tied around his ankle.

“More?” Can He asked through tears. “I can’t take it anymore…”

Qi Jiangyuan simply kissed his way up along Can He’s calf.

Can He’s legs were still draped over Qi Jiangyuan’s waist, so weak and numb he could barely feel them. He could only glare at that Red String, fuming with frustration.

He’d already become a Demon King, and yet that Red String still showed no sign of loosening.

Can He couldn’t sense any trace of cultivation energy on it, nor did he have the faintest idea how to undo it.

But then he thought, well, it’s a Red String of fate now anyway. Since it’s already tied… maybe one day he’d return the favor and tie one on Qi Jiangyuan too.

Now where would be a good place to tie it…

That thought made him feel a little more balanced inside.

He kicked Qi Jiangyuan—though it was more of a gentle nudge, his ankle just brushing against the other’s waist.

Can He had something more important on his mind. “I want to ask you something.”

Qi Jiangyuan’s eyes still shimmered with desire. “Mm?”

Can He looked at him seriously and asked, “Tell me, am I a radish or a ginseng?”

Lying on the bed, Qi Jiangyuan naturally humored him without hesitation. “Ginseng.”

“Really?” Can He narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “But more than one person’s said I’m a radish. That ghost in the Ghost Realm said it first, then people from the Yuehua Sect said it too, even the Demon Race thinks so, and then…”

His voice trailed off as he noticed the subtle shift in Qi Jiangyuan’s expression.

Qi Jiangyuan leaned down and kissed him. “Didn’t I say? You are whatever you believe you are. It doesn’t really matter.”

Whether radish or ginseng, he was still the most formidable Can He in all the world.

Can He huffed. “I know, but we can’t just lie to ourselves with our eyes wide open… Radishes and ginseng are pretty different. Ginseng can cure all kinds of illnesses.”

At this point, Qi Jiangyuan paused and asked, “Do you want the truth or a comforting lie?”

Can He froze.

There’s actually a truth and a lie to this?!

He studied Qi Jiangyuan’s face carefully, his voice softening. “You promised you’d never lie to me again.”

Qi Jiangyuan let out a quiet laugh, pulled him into his arms, pressed his lips to Can He’s forehead, and whispered:

“Baby, you’re actually just a plain white radish. You can’t cure anything.”

Author’s Note:

Oh my radish heavens!!!

Serious science note: Radishes do have some medicinal value.

Translator’s Notes