Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 103: Within the Plan

Punishment.

Bai Shuangying wasn’t very familiar with the concept. Normally, he didn’t “punish” anyone. If something angered him, he’d just erase it outright.

Now, the dignified Lord Bai stood up and grabbed Fang Xiu under the arms, lifting his human off the bed. Fang Xiu was by no means short, but Bai Shuangying’s terrifying strength left his feet dangling in midair.

Fang Xiu: “…”

He had only ever seen this pose in “lift the child” games. Was this some new kind of humiliating punishment?

Combined with Bai Shuangying’s uncharacteristically serious expression, Fang Xiu started to feel a little uneasy.

Think about something else. Think about the real issue. He tried to redirect his attention.

Bai Shuangying’s seal was loosening, and Fang Xiu could guess why.

It was, overall, a side effect of his life plan. But to explain it clearly would mean revealing his ultimate goal and he wasn’t ready for that.

Bai Shuangying wasn’t someone who could be reasoned with in conventional terms. Fang Xiu had worked toward his plan for more than a decade. If he got flustered now and told everything to this seductive ghost, he might as well rename himself King Zhou of Shang*.

*He’s often used as an example for someone who let their desires and temptation overrides their reason and would lose sight of their goals. In legends, he offended the Goddess Nuwa who then sent the fox demon Daji to seduce King Zhou, eventually leading to his downfall and the Shang dynasty.

Maybe at the very end, when everything was settled, he’d tell the ghost he liked.

But for now, he just wanted to make sure that the impact of the loosening seal remained controllable, that it wouldn’t bring disaster to the mortal realm.

Good, he had sorted out his thoughts… so why was he still being held in midair?

Bai Shuangying kept holding him up, eyes scanning him from the top of his head to his toes, and then back again with the thoroughness of a wall repainting job.

During the inspection, he looked like he was in deep thought. It was very much like a kid told they can only pick one toy in the store, weighing the decision like an emperor choosing a where to dispatch his troops.

Fang Xiu didn’t know what to say. He felt like a walking menu.

After five more minutes, he couldn’t hold back. “I don’t have any hidden price list on me.”

Bai Shuangying gave a soft hum, then flipped him over and studied his back.

Fang Xiu: “……”

He lowered his head and locked eyes with the confused little black dog circling below, head tilted as if it wanted to be lifted too.

The good news: after being flipped back and forth like a pancake, Bai Shuangying finally set him down.

The bad news: Bai Shuangying sat back on the bed and placed Fang Xiu on his lap. With an arm still wrapped around his waist, Fang Xiu didn’t even have time to catch his breath before a cold hand slid under his shirt and touched his chest.

As the icy palm moved across his chest, Fang Xiu instinctively shivered twice.

“I’ve thought of a punishment,” Bai Shuangying announced. “From now, you’ll give me one incense stick’s worth of ‘getting-to-know-you time’.”

Fang Xiu blinked. “What does that mean?”

Bai Shuangying made an outrageous demand. “You answer what I ask, do what I do. If you really don’t want to answer, you can say so, but you can’t lie.”

“You’re really greedy.” Fang Xiu twitched a smile.

It was clearly an unreasonable request, like wishing for three more wishes. He could’ve easily refused it.

And yet, he was curious.

What went on inside this strange evil spirit’s mind—one sealed so thoroughly by the Underworld?

“All right, ask away.”

He lightly pressed his hand over Bai Shuangying’s, still resting against his chest.

Bai Shuangying lowered his eyes, hand sliding up toward his collarbone, fingers lightly pinching the bones beneath.

“What food do you like?” he asked in a soft voice.

Fang Xiu: “?” Was this a freebie?

“My dad’s fermented bean curd pork ribs. My grandma’s sesame sugar pastries. I don’t like fatty meat or Sichuan peppercorns.”

“What’s your favorite color?” Bai Shuangying asked again.

Fang Xiu: “…Red.”

“What kind of humans do you like?”

“Good-looking, smart, and emotionally intelligent. Two out of three is fine.”

Bai Shuangying paused for two seconds, murmuring something unintelligible in his throat.

His palm, warmed by Fang Xiu’s body heat, felt like it was melting into his skin. Fingers brushed his throat, nearly lifting the hem of his red shirt entirely.

After gently caressing his neck, that ghostly hand moved back toward his chest, fingers teasing a particular spot, tugging here and there.

Fang Xiu’s face flushed. He tried to steady his breath.

He couldn’t tell if Bai Shuangying was touching him out of curiosity, flirtation, or affectionate petting like with an animal.

Trying to leave Bai Shuangying’s lap proved futile. The ghost held him firmly in place.

…This “dare” was pushing its limits.

“What kind of touch do you like?” Bai Shuangying continued seriously.

Fang Xiu swallowed down a tiny moan. “Depends on who’s doing it… Why are you asking?”

After a beat, Bai Shuangying rephrased kindly. “How do you want me to touch you?”

When he said this, he still had his hand on Fang Xiu.

Fang Xiu: “…Whatever, as long as it’s gentle.”

Bai Shuangying’s questions suddenly turned from a crappy blind date to remarkable direction. Fang Xiu suddenly felt he should not be curious about the ideas his ghost had.

What’s worse, Bai Shuangying earnestly took note and actually softened his touch, making it harder to endure. His ghostly hand slid down to Fang Xiu’s waist.

Then, with dissatisfaction, the ghost muttered, “None of this counts?”

Fang Xiu gave him a deadpan stare. “…”

Whatever Bai Shuangying was calculating, Fang Xiu’s brain was just screaming “forget it, forget it”.

Then, as Bai Shuangying’s hand neared his mouth, Fang Xiu gave a small bite to one knuckle.

“I don’t understand why the Underworld had to seal you.” Breathless, Fang Xiu said, “With a personality like yours… negotiating would’ve worked better than suppression.”

For someone this strong but this straightforward, coaxing would always work better than brute force.

“Suppression” should be a last resort. Coming in too aggressively would only provoke backlash. Even if you succeeded, you’d create a vengeful enemy.

Bai Shuangying froze briefly, then said resentfully, “The Underworld never even talked to me!”

Fang Xiu replied gently, “If you went around destroying things first, that’s not surprising. Ever heard of Journey to the W—”

“I didn’t storm the Underworld. I didn’t destroy the human world either.” His tone grew cold, though his hand kept stroking Fang Xiu. “I was just on my own territory. It was the humans who provoked me…”

Halfway through, he caught himself. “Hey, we agreed I’d be the one asking questions.”

Fang Xiu looked innocent. “I didn’t ask you anything. We’re just chatting.”

Bai Shuangying thought for a moment. Indeed, not a single question mark had come from Fang Xiu. His brows pinched together, and his hand slowed down.

Fang Xiu chuckled, sat up, and kissed the crease between Bai Shuangying’s brows.

Just then, Bai Shuangying suddenly dropped the next question:

“If you successfully pass all eight sacrificial rituals, what do you want to wish for?”

A simple, direct question.

Fang Xiu didn’t answer right away. Instead, he gently ran his hand through Bai Shuangying’s long black hair.

“I haven’t decided yet,” he said slowly.

Bai Shuangying’s fingers trailed down Fang Xiu’s back, feeling the firm, gentle rise of his spine.

This human was meticulous and ambitious. With five rituals cleared, he hadn’t even considered his final wish… Not for himself, and not for anything from the Underworld.

But if it was just survival he wanted, Fang Xiu had gone too far. He had plenty of ways to keep a low profile and stay safe.

Yet this man even knew the truth about the loosening of the Disaster Relief Tower’s seal. Clearly, he had ties to the Underworld.

And a living human could only connect with the Underworld in two ways: becoming a wandering soul under contract… or entering the sacrificial game as a living sacrifice.

Just before the incense time ended, Bai Shuangying spoke again.

“You already knew about the sacrificial ritual while you were alive?”

“Yes.”

“You wanted to use it to gain other benefits?”

“Yes.” Fang Xiu smiled.

“But if it’s benefits you want, why not just make a wish?”

Bai Shuangying was puzzled. “If even a wish can’t solve it, then the Underworld is powerless. What could you possibly do?”

“Actually, the dare time is up.”

Fang Xiu leaned forward. His red shirt was wrinkled, exposing large patches of pale skin, flushed and beaded with sweat.

“But I like you, so I’ll give you one more answer.”

“Wishes have to be made kneeling. Negotiations can be done sitting.” He leaned closer, his black eyes glimmering. “What can’t be gained through a wish might still be gotten through negotiation. It depends how far you push the other side.”

Well then, Bai Shuangying thought.

He still didn’t understand what this human wanted. But from the first moment in the ritual to now, everything had gone exactly according to Fang Xiu’s “life plan” without a single misstep.

Even millennia ago, that scheming old Zhuang Guiqu never faced the underworld with such poise.

Bai Shuangying gently pinched the fragile body before him. Humans were so easy to break; he could crush him into dust.

Truth be told, even after playing through doomsday in the Yellow Millet ritual, he hadn’t felt satisfied. His human was far more interesting. So easily destroyed, yet able to swallow endless mysteries.

Still…

Fang Xiu wasn’t even thirty, yet he already lived like a monster. No matter how gifted he was, his heart must be close to the limit.

Just then, a chorus of cracking explosions rang out in his ears.

All the chains in the room shuddered and snapped apart. Fang Xiu’s eyes widened in rare shock as he looked up.

4,096 chains had broken.

This time, Bai Shuangying didn’t bother celebrating. His pale eyes lit up as he looked straight at Fang Xiu.

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