Investing in the Reborn Empress, She Actually Calls Me ‘Husband’

Chapter 19: Murong Xiao’s Past and Li Mo’s First Body Training

Murong Xiao had grown up under his grandfather’s care since childhood. He wasn’t always considered a genius.

From an early age, his body bore scale-like patterns, leading to frequent bullying by other children. Whenever he returned from the private school, beaten and covered in dust, his grandfather would chide him for being too kind and weak, unable to defend himself.

But only Murong Xiao knew the truth.

When struck, what terrified him wasn’t his inability to fight back. It was the voice deep inside that echoed:

“Hungry.”

That’s why he never retaliated. He feared seeing blood, knowing it might unleash an uncontrollable hunger within him.

As years passed, the craving faded, but he maintained a vegetarian diet. Murong Xiao believed he was no different from others.

Until today, when he entered the second level of the Divine Blade Cave.

“You’re a Jiao, a great demon by nature, yet you don’t consume blood?”

“Stop suppressing your true self.”

“Embrace your true nature, and you’ll never be bullied again…”

His long-repressed nature had never truly disappeared. It was like a growing pile of dry hay, once ignited, it would become an uncontrollable blaze.

Just as Murong Xiao’s consciousness began to fade and scales nearly covered his face—

Suddenly, someone pried open his mouth and shoved something inside. Round and smooth, it slid down his throat before he could taste it.

Miraculously, his mind instantly cleared.

Murong Xiao blinked in confusion, seeing a handsome young man with a sunny smile standing before him. He held a porcelain bottle emitting a fragrance that refreshed the senses. Murong Xiao recognized him as a fellow disciple from the initiation ceremony.

“You’re finally okay,” Li Mo sighed in relief. That was close. On this sparsely populated level, he would have been the first target if Murong Xiao had lost control.

“Thank you,” Murong Xiao said softly, realizing Li Mo had saved him with what must have been a valuable medicinal pill.

“Thank you, Brother Li. I was careless and let murderous intent overtake me.”

“Is that really all it was?”

“Hm?”

Murong Xiao’s expression stiffened, and he looked up.

The other’s smiling eyes seemed to see through him entirely.

“I read in an ancient text that those with half-demon bodies are often affected by their bloodline. The stronger the bloodline, the deeper the influence. Without control, their demon nature resurfaces… Your bloodline must be that of a Jiao “dragon”… I even saw horns growing on your head…” [1]

Before Li Mo could finish, Murong Xiao’s expression shifted several times before settling into a look of grim determination, as if he had made up his mind.

He slowly walked forward, step by step.

Li Mo took a cautious step back, suddenly alert.

Was Murong Xiao thinking something drastic, like killing him to silence him?

Just as that thought crossed his mind.

Thud—

Murong Xiao knelt down with such force that the stone cracked beneath him.

“I beg you, please don’t tell anyone.”

Li Mo: “…”

Li Mo was taken aback. The Heavenly Fate Eye had assessed Murong Xiao as kind, and now Li Mo truly understood the depth of that kindness.

He almost suspected that if he leaned in and whispered to Murong Xiao: “You don’t want others to know you’re half-demon, right…”

Murong Xiao might just agree to any request he made next.

“Doesn’t Elder Han He know about your half-demon body too?” Withdrawing the mischievous thought, Li Mo asked, still puzzled.

Murong Xiao replied bitterly: “You know how people call me the Qilin child… This is actually a lie my grandfather made up.” [1]

After Murong Xiao’s explanation, Li Mo finally understood the reason.

The Jiao was a beast of calamity.

Once it appeared, it would bring a storm of blood and carnage.

Years ago, Murong Xiao’s father brought back a woman, who would become Murong Xiao’s mother.

They married not long after.

However, it wasn’t until she was pregnant, that the Murong family’s old patriarch discovered his son was quite bold, even more so than Xu Xian.

Many things came to light at that time.

But Murong Xiao was eventually born safely.

The old patriarch knew the half-demon body couldn’t be hidden, so he didn’t try to conceal it, but instead had people spread rumors in the city.

Over time, everyone in Ziyang Mansion came to believe that Murong Xiao carried a trace of qilin bloodline.

A Qilin is an auspicious beast.

Gradually, Murong Xiao came to be called the Qilin Child.

“…….”

Li Mo was shocked after hearing this.

Your whole family is quite bold.

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep this secret. But eventually, it might be exposed.”

Murong Xiao remained silent for a long time, before sighing deeply.

Of course he knew that.

Even if he survived today, what about tomorrow?

As a martial artist, he couldn’t remain hidden forever.

Suddenly, his eyes brightened. “What pill did you give me earlier?”

“A Mind Clearing Pill,” Li Mo replied, handing him the bottle.

Examining one, Murong Xiao’s expression darkened. It was indeed a Mind Clearing Pill, but spirit-engraved! Such pills were priceless treasures, rarely traded even by alchemists.

“I should go; I need to continue training,” Li Mo said, waving casually.

“Brother Li, your pills!”

“Keep them. A man’s knees are worth gold; consider it your reward. I’ll check that ancient text again for your bloodline problem.”

Murong Xiao knelt there, dazed. Raised in luxury, this was the first time he felt his imagination limited by poverty. An entire bottle of spirit-engraved pills! Their worth was incalculable.

He wanted to chase after Li Mo to express more gratitude but stopped short. He realized Li Mo was headed somewhere he couldn’t follow.

“Brother Li, Li Mo!” Murong Xiao’s voice echoed. “That’s the third level!”

For someone at his level, even the thought of entering the third level of the Divine Blade Cave was terrifying.

“I can’t let anything happen to him after he just saved me!” Murong Xiao scrambled to his feet, sprinting towards the exit to seek help.

Meanwhile, Li Mo remained unaware of Murong Xiao’s panic. As he walked deeper, he dismissed a system message about an unclaimed investment return.

Entering the third level, Li Mo’s attention focused on the weapons embedded in the cave walls. Each had been wielded by an Inner Realm expert, their histories almost palpable. The murderous aura they emitted was overwhelming.

“This should be far enough,” Li Mo thought, finding a smooth stone to sit on. “Going deeper would be dangerous, even with my Extreme Slaughtering Martial Body.”

He took out a gourd and drank deeply. The ice-cold spirit wine felt like a cool spring in his mouth but ignited a fire in his belly, heating every inch of his body.

“Let’s begin!” Li Mo exhaled, chewing Mind Clearing Pill as he began to circulate his energy. As his technique activated, the sharp, murderous aura from the surroundings washed over him.

…

T/N: [1] A Qilin is a mythical creature in Chinese folklore, often described as a chimera with the body of a deer, the scales of a fish, the hooves of an ox, and sometimes the head of a dragon. It is considered a symbol of good fortune, prosperity, and wise leadership. The Qilin is known for its gentleness despite its fearsome appearance and is said to appear only during the reign of a benevolent ruler or the birth of a sage.

[2] The Jiao (蛟) in Chinese mythology is often described as a creature similar to a dragon but associated with water. It’s sometimes translated as “flood dragon” or “horned dragon,” but it’s distinct from the typical Chinese dragon (龙 / lóng).