Sure enough, Su Ran's expression darkened instantly. He shot a venomous glare at Ji Chun, who was listening quietly. Their eyes met, and Ji Chun turned his face away, visibly uncomfortable.
Mu Miefeng, as Su Ran's physician, knew he had to address the issue, even if it angered his patient. "Well," he began cautiously, "engaging in sexual intercourse with a man while the drug is taking effect can prevent the loss of internal strength." He paused, his tone awkward, and chose not to elaborate further. The second half of the explanation—that conceiving a child under such circumstances would restore the lost internal strength upon the child's birth, but at the cost of the parent's life—felt too grim to voice aloud. The thought sent a chill down Mu Miefeng's spine. If the Reincarnation Pill truly was the creation of the Valley of the God's disciples, their methods were nothing short of sinister.
Seeing Su Ran's icy expression, Mu Miefeng quickly changed the subject. "I've devised a method to neutralize the Reincarnation Pill's effects. However, it will take at least a month to gather the necessary herbs and prepare the antidote."
Su Ran's fingers tightened on the table, his knuckles turning white. His voice was cold and sharp. "A month?"
Mu Miefeng hurried to explain further. "In the meantime, my Shidi and I have developed some elixirs that can suppress the pill's effects. These will prevent further loss of internal strength until the antidote is ready."
Su Ran's glare softened slightly, though his expression remained stern. He seemed to consider asking something else but hesitated, ultimately staying silent. Over the past few days, he had noticed subtle changes in his body. His beard had begun to thin, and if not for the fake hair he had added, his appearance would have looked absurd.
Xue Yao, observing Su Ran closely, noticed the fake beard immediately. He stifled a laugh but quickly remembered a pressing matter. "Sect Leader Su," he said, "heroes from all walks of life are gathering in Jeju. It's only a matter of time before someone recognizes you. If they do..."
Su Ran cut him off with a sneer. "Do you think I fear such vermin?"
"No, no," Xue Yao replied quickly. "But if they recognize you, they might use it as an excuse to shift blame onto you. That could cause unnecessary trouble, and right now, you need to focus on recuperating."
Xue Yao's words struck a chord. Even if Su Ran's internal strength had stabilized, it hadn't returned to its former level. In his current state, he couldn't even subdue a monk, let alone face the combined forces of the so-called righteous sects. And he was determined to obtain the Di Mang.
Su Ran narrowed his eyes, weighing his options. For now, he had no choice but to endure. Once he rid himself of the Reincarnation Pill's effects, he would lead the Demonic Cult to crush the martial world's so-called heroes.
"Therefore," Xue Yao continued cautiously, "I suggest you adopt a new identity while we're here." He quickly slipped behind his Shixiong, aware of the risks. If the righteous factions discovered the Demonic Cult leader was in their midst, it would spell disaster—not just for Su Ran, but for the Valley of the God's as well.
Su Ran shot him a cold look. "I understand the situation."
"Sect Leader Su, here's the elixir to suppress the drug's effects," Mu Miefeng said, placing a small bottle on the table. Su Ran picked it up, stood, and left without another word.
Ji Chun watched him go, his brow furrowed. He couldn't help but recall the incident in the mountains when the drug had taken effect. The memory felt like a distant, absurd dream—one he wished he could forget. In the end, he couldn't shake the guilt.
That afternoon, Su Ran shaved off his beard in his room. Staring at his reflection, he felt a wave of discomfort. Without the beard, his features were strikingly clear. His skin was pale, his eyebrows thick and slightly furrowed, giving him a chivalrous yet intense appearance. His narrow eyes seemed deeper, his nose straight, and his lips slightly pursed. His jawline was sharp, and his overall look exuded an air of dangerous charm.
Dressed in a white robe with a bright red belt cinched at his waist, Su Ran looked almost ethereal. The menacing aura that usually surrounded him had faded, leaving only his cold, piercing eyes to unsettle those who met his gaze.
Su Ran hated this version of himself. As a young man, his sect brothers had often teased him about his handsome, almost delicate features, saying he could easily charm women. He despised such comments—they made him feel weak. Once he grew a beard, he never shaved it, and the teasing stopped. Now, standing bare-faced, he felt exposed.
A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. Su Ran opened it to find an inn servant standing outside, head bowed.
"Shangguan Gongzi," the servant said timidly, "a guest named Hua is here to see you."
Could it be Elder Hua? He should be managing affairs at the sect, not here. What is he doing in Jeju?
"Very well, I'll take my leave now," the waiter said with a nod, turning to go. As he walked away, he caught a glimpse of Su Ran, who was still standing in the doorway. The servant froze, stunned. Was this... the same man from a few days ago? He couldn't help but glance back, stealing another look. It was indeed him! The difference after shaving his beard was astonishing. He looked... handsome, almost ethereal. The waiter sighed inwardly. Su Ran resembled a god descended from the heavens. True, he was a bit harsh, but wasn't that how immortals were—aloof and untouchable?
"What are you staring at?!" Su Ran snapped, noticing the servant's lingering gaze. His voice was icy. "Are you looking for death?"
"No, no! I'm leaving right away!" The waiter scrambled away, his heart racing. Handsome as he was, Su Ran's temper was as fierce as ever.
Su Ran touched his smooth chin, his expression darkening. He closed the door with a sharp click and made his way downstairs.
As he descended, he noticed three figures seated near the staircase, chatting over tea. Ji Chun sat with Xue Yao and Mu Miefeng, listening as they shared tales from the martial world.
The moment Su Ran stepped into the inn's main hall, the room fell silent. His striking appearance instantly drew everyone's attention. Even Ji Chun, who rarely paid heed to others' looks, found himself unable to look away.
Su Ran strode to the center of the hall, his face cold. With a sharp slap, he brought his hand down on a table, shattering it with a loud bang. The guests, mostly ordinary townsfolk, froze in fear. No one dared to speak, their heads bowed low. These were turbulent times, and no one wanted to provoke trouble.
Ji Chun, now certain the man was Su Ran, couldn't help but glance at him again. Without his beard, Su Ran looked nothing like the ruthless, cold-blooded cult leader of legend.
Su Ran's gaze swept the room, landing on Ji Chun. The monk's strange, lingering stare made him uncomfortable. He suddenly felt self-conscious, remembering his clean-shaven face and the way everyone had been looking at him.
"Have you seen enough?" Su Ran asked coldly, his chin lifted in defiance.
"Uh..." Ji Chun's face flushed with embarrassment. He quickly averted his eyes, unsure where to look. As a monk, he felt deeply ashamed for being so distracted by a man's appearance.
"Lewd monk," Su Ran muttered under his breath, rolling his eyes. He turned on his heel and strode away, his steps hurried, as if fleeing the scene.
Ji Chun, who had heard the comment clearly, felt his face burn. He lowered his eyes, silently chanting Amitabha to calm his racing heart. Yet, the strange fluttering in his chest refused to settle.
Xue Yao and Mu Miefeng exchanged puzzled glances. Ji Chun, usually so composed and reserved, was visibly flustered by Su Ran's words. What had just happened?
"My benefactors, I shall retire to my room," Ji Chun said, clasping his hands together and bowing. He hurried upstairs, his steps quick and purposeful. He needed to copy scriptures to clear his mind and suppress the strange emotions stirring within him.
Back in his room, Ji Chun sat on the bed, eyes closed in meditation. Yet, Su Ran's image kept intruding—his tall, imposing figure, his cold, mysterious aura, and that unforgettable face. The furrowed brows, the arrogant smirk, the calculating gaze...
What was wrong with him? Ji Chun's eyes snapped open, his brow furrowed. The room felt too quiet, too empty. He rose, found paper, ink, and a brush, and began copying scriptures. As he wrote, the familiar rhythm of the characters slowly soothed his restless heart.
Meanwhile, Su Ran left the inn with a dignified air, though his mind was anything but calm. He touched his face, still baffled by the reactions he'd received. Why had everyone stared at him like that? It was infuriating! He was the infamous leader of the Demonic Cult, not some spectacle!
And that monk... Why had Ji Chun looked at him that way? Could it be that his suspicions were correct? Did Ji Chun actually... like him? Otherwise, why had the monk taken such care of him in the mountains? And that incident...
Su Ran's expression darkened at the memory. He quickened his pace, turning down two streets before arriving at a dead-end alley. There, a dozen men dressed as martial artists stood in formation, their right arms bearing the emblem of a black eagle. They were his loyal cult members.