Several days later.
Sunlight pierced through the darkness before dawn and began to pour over the world.
In a valley at the edge of the Sorrowful Wind Mountain Range, East Lecher Chen Yindao, West Vulgar Yu Baguang, South Salacious Shi Bao, and North Licentious Fan Chunyao had all woken early. One by one, they sat on cold mountain stones, gazing up at the pale, fish-belly dawn sky, their eyes silent, their hearts like dead ashes.
Ever since that unforgettable experience at the Soul-Devouring Great Depression, every single night, the Four Great Lechers of the Central Continent along with Wang Xiao'er would lose control and engage in five-way brawls.
Each time, the Four Great Lechers lost all their sanity. By the time they came to, they would discover they had done things that made them wish they were dead.
The method Zhao Lianyun had employed, though somewhat eased by Wang Xiao'er's accidental intervention, still had its lingering effects.
"This is a curse! The cruelest curse in the world!"
"That fairy from Spirit Affinity Hall — she looked so pure and delicate. How cruel. So ruthlessly cruel!"
"I don't believe it. I refuse to believe it. Maybe these past few days have all been my dream? A nightmare always ends eventually, right?"
"I, a full-grown man, have actually done such shameful things! I've failed Heaven and Earth, failed my parents, failed myself!"
Though the Four Great Lechers wore masks of deathly silence on the surface, each one was screaming inside — overwhelmed with grief, rage, regret, and agony.
At that moment, Wang Xiao'er walked out of the Gu hut.
He had just woken up, rubbing his eyes as he looked at the four men outside. With concern, he said: "Brothers, why are you all up so early again? And sitting outside bare-chested — be careful you don't catch a cold."
The Four Great Lechers' bodies shuddered violently.
They all turned to look at Wang Xiao'er, their expressions deeply conflicted.
On one hand, they feared Wang Xiao'er. Because of Zhao Lianyun's earlier methods, if not for him, they would have already wasted away and died. They were now thoroughly convinced of his identity as an Immortal — only an Immortal could undo another Immortal's techniques!
On the other hand, they resented Wang Xiao'er. Ever since they had saved him, nothing good had come their way. Not only did their trip to the Sorrowful Wind Mountain Range yield nothing, but they had also suffered the greatest humiliation of their lives!
After a long silence, the eldest, Chen Yindao, finally spoke with a dry voice: "Little Brother Xiao'er, you're awake."
"Yeah. Last night's... activities were so intense, I slept like a log." Wang Xiao'er smiled innocently. "Also, lately I've been feeling more and more what pleasure tastes like. Everything you brothers said before — it all makes so much sense."
The Four Great Lechers shuddered once more.
The four exchanged quick glances, each detecting the same terror in the others' eyes.
"Could it be that this Immortal has always been into this sort of thing?!"
"What exactly did we bring back?!"
"Maybe he really can completely break the curse on us. But he deliberately hasn't done so. That's worth thinking about."
"Is he truly amnesiac, or is it an act? If I enjoyed the company of men... and as an Immortal at that, maybe I'd want to play around in the mortal world too..."
The more they thought, the more terrified they became.
They wanted to get as far from Wang Xiao'er as possible, but they couldn't.
Every time the curse flared up, they needed Wang Xiao'er to neutralize it. If the four of them left, they wouldn't survive a single night.
So they had to keep Wang Xiao'er happy, so he would continue to resolve their lethal predicament.
"What kind of life is this?!" Chen Yindao wanted to cry, but could only force a smile and say: "Xiao'er, this is nothing. Share blessings and share hardships — we're all brothers!"
After speaking, Chen Yindao shot a glare at the other three.
The other three suppressed the disgust rising in their hearts and spoke up in agreement.
"Exactly! This is brotherhood!"
"No wonder there's a saying that brotherhood runs deep."
"We felt a connection when we met. As your elder brothers, naturally we should look after you."
Wang Xiao'er broke into a wide grin, nodding repeatedly: "Meeting you brothers really is my good fortune."
"No — this is absolutely the greatest misfortune of my life!" the four roared silently.
Wang Xiao'er spoke again: "Let's continue tonight!"
"Don't remind me, you bastard!!" the four cried inwardly with bleeding hearts.
During the day, while Wang Xiao'er wasn't looking, the four huddled together to scheme once more.
"We can't go on like this!"
"Life like this is unbearable."
"Tell me — is Wang Xiao'er truly amnesiac, or is he faking?"
"We need to test it. Tonight, we'll capture a few mortal women and bring them here. No matter what, we have to show Wang Xiao'er that we're normal. If he really has lost his memory, we'll guide him back. If he's pretending, we'll make sure he can't keep up the act!"
The Four Great Lechers were all on the verge of hysteria — this life was driving them insane.
The plan was risky, but even if it angered the Immortal Wang Xiao'er, even if it meant death, this gamble was worth it!
That night, the Four Great Lechers captured over a dozen mortal women.
The women were all stuffed into the Gu hut.
Wang Xiao'er grew a bit excited: "Brothers, you've worked hard — you've brought so many spectators again."
"Little Brother, today your big brother is going to teach you some real things." Chen Yindao patted Wang Xiao'er's shoulder, his expression solemn and serious.
"Okay! I'll study hard and feel it with all my heart!" Wang Xiao'er clenched his fist, his gaze bright with enthusiasm.
However, reality was cruel.
When the activity reached its critical moment, the Four Great Lechers each discovered — they couldn't get it up!
"Quick — get hard for me!"
"No — why? Why is this happening?"
"I... I actually feel nothing for women. Sob, sob, sob..."
"Why is it that the more I look at men, the more excited I get, the more appealing they seem?"