After Dongfang Bubai left, Yang Lianting had nothing left to do so he cleaned up the remaining tableware. In the kitchen a plump cook and the steward surnamed Zheng were busying themselves, when they noticed Yang Lianting coming in. They immediately reached out to take the empty plates and bowls from his hands with slight fear, not wanting to appear negligent in their duties.
“Brother Yang, how can we bother you to personally help us with this kind of rough work, you’re truly too diligent.” Steward Zheng had worked on Blackwood Cliff for more than ten years and naturally was a self-aware and clever person. He knew that, while Yang Lianting was currently only a personal guard of the Cult Master, he had been the first in many years to enter the eyes of the Cult Master. Yang Lianting had a bright future ahead of him. He also treated people with gentle curtesy, even to servants subordinate to himself, and never used his connection to the Cult Master to intimidate others. Compared to the villains who went against the sky once they gained power, he seemed completely different. Naturally, the servants who attended to the Cult Master had a good impression of Yang Lianting.
“It’s just a small matter, there’s no need to bother you. I can just take care of it myself.” Putting down the plates and bowls, Yang Lianting thought of Dongfang Bubai, who had gone to the rear courtyard, and fearing that he would drink a lot of alcohol again could not help but pause. Sighing in his heart, he rolled up his sleeves and prepared to make a simple soup for him once he returned. Based on his two lifetimes’ worth of trust, he knew that Dongfang would return. Yang Lianting would neither doubt nor distrust him. He heated the water, cut the chicken into the boiling water as a soup base, and then slowly simmered the chicken soup over the hearth for two hours.[5] After a while, the greasy fat atop the chicken meat had melted and the meat itself was left tender and delicious. Without any greasy taste and soft texture, it was most suitable to eat in the evening. Drinking a bowl of hearty chicken soup would warm the stomach on such a cold night. The plump female cook and Steward Zheng curiously watched Yang Lianting busy himself in the kitchen, they did not know he was preparing the soup for the Cult Master and only thought he was hungry. They could not help but laugh.
“It is said that a gentleman should stay far from the kitchen. Brother Yang, you don’t seem to care about this taboo at all.”
“In the future, the girl you’ll marry will enjoy the blessings.” Smiling brightly, the plump cook patted his shoulder and asked, “Brother Yang, is there a girl that caught your eye? If she lives here on Blackwood Cliff, you could ask the Cult Master and he might arrange the marriage for you.”
“Brother Yang is appreciated by the Cult Master, I’m afraid each and every girl atop Blackwood Cliff would marry him.”
Yang Lianting shook his head and chuckled, while listening to Steward Zheng and the cook speculate about his marriage. He then gently said, “For a long time now, there’s been someone in my heart. So, I can’t accept another.”
“Is that true, Brother Yang?”
“Come on, tell us!”
“Which girl is so lucky that you’d be this stubborn?”
Yang Lianting refused to answer and just laughed. If he said that the person in his heart was the Cult Master, he feared that these two would be scared to death and rush forward to cover his mouth. If he spoke the truth, they would scold him for spouting nonsense and offending his superior.
The person in his heart truly was Dongfang Bubai.
Just now, the cook mentioned that anyone who married him would be fortunate. In his previous life, Dongfang had given him everything he wanted, given him all he could ever want, but not once did he receive the slightest bit of fortune in return. The true heart and sincere love Dongfang had given him, he had returned with endless torment, indifference, and constraint.
Fortunately, he still had a lifetime.
In this life, he had the chance to make amends.
Yang Lianting watched over the chicken soup simmering on the hearth, while caught in his own thoughts. He silently thought that after Dongfang Bubai came back he would talk to him about the Seven Ladies. In this life, he would not muddle-headedly go down the cliff and look for those courtesans for pleasure, would not secretly keep any concubines, would definitely not break his heart again.
Dongfang would not have to kill the Seven Ladies. It was fine to let them leave Blackwood Cliff and make fitting arrangements as compensation. The two of them would simply live together in peace and quiet. He would no longer pursue that false fame and power, while Dongfang would not needlessly kill. Wouldn’t that be great?
Seeing Yang Lianting deep in thought, the female cook could not help but heartily laugh and tease him, “Brother Yang, you’re so lost in thought… you must be thinking of your sweetheart!”
“Yes.” Yang Lianting did not deny the truth.
“Tell us, who’s the lucky girl? What’s she like, how does she look? Her appearance and character must be worthy of you.” The plump cook was an enthusiastic woman and could not help but curiously ask a few more questions.
Yang Lianting smiled. Thinking of Dongfang Bubai his eyes softened, he slowly nodded and patiently said, “He is great.”
“So great, I think… that I don’t deserve him.”
“Brother Yang, you aren’t fancying a young lady from some prestigious family, are you?” The cook looked a little surprised, but after mulling over it for a moment she raised her hand and lightly patted Yang Lianting on the shoulder. “No need to worry, you’re appreciated by the Cult Master himself and you’ve got a bright future ahead of you. After you’ve risen in the ranks of our Holy Cult, which family’s daughter can’t you marry?”
“It’s fine, I believe that lovers will finally become a family!”
How great, the lovers finally becoming a family.[6]
Yang Lianting thanked her for her auspicious words, but his mind wandered. He could not avoid thinking about the banquet held in the rear courtyard. What was Dongfang doing right now? Drinking alcohol, listening to music, or watching a dance? He worried that the dishes prepared by the Seven Ladies would not be appetizing or suitable for his condition. Dongfang was a picky eater, he had a sensitive stomach, and he had to eat warm meals to counter the cold yin of his neigong[7] method. If he ate the wrong food and drank too much alcohol, his martial arts might backfire and he would feel ill.
Yang Lianting’s thoughts were in disarray, yet time did not seem to pass. Each and every moment he forbearingly waited for Dongfang Bubai’s return, felt like endless torment.
Until the chicken soup had completely simmered.
Yang Lianting was about to add the finishing touches when he heard the sudden bang of a door closing from the main yard. Did Dongfang return? Immediately, he forgot about the soup and ran over to open the doors to Dongfang Bubai’s chambers.
He could hear Dongfang suppressing his voice, as if he spoke through clenched teeth, as if he endured great pain.
“Don’t… don’t come in…”
“Lian di, leave… please leave…”
Yang Lianting felt instantly tense, he knew Dongfang Bubai well, so how could he not notice the change in his regular tone? This person always had a thin face, even when he suffered from a martial arts backlash[8] and felt unbearable agony, he would not make a sound. What had happened to him that made him unable to keep his bearings to the point that he could not even maintain a steady tone?
Without even thinking, he forcefully pushed the doors open. Once he entered the dim room, he saw Dongfang Bubai dressed in a loose red robe that left his body half covered and half bare. Currently his pale and clear face was flushed deep red, while his forehead was covered in sweat as if he had a fever. His eyes were half closed and his brows furrowed.
This look. In an instant, he realized that something was off.
“Dongfang?”
Noticing that Yang Lianting had entered the room, Dongfang Bubai instantly felt ashamed and embarrassed. Turning his face away, he forced himself to steady his breathing and calm down. Not daring to meet his eyes, he coldly ordered him to leave. But once he opened his mouth, his voice quavered uncontrollably.
Yang Lianting took a step forward, held his hand tightly, and raised his other hand to touch his forehead. They stood so close together that Dongfang Bubai could smell the scent of Yang Lianting’s body. Instantly, the effect of the drug flowing through his body intensified. Feeling his body weakly soften, he habitually leaned against Yang Lianting.
Listening to Dongfang Bubai’s rapid and chaotic breathing, how could Yang Lianting not realize what had happened to him.
“You were drugged?”
Dongfang Bubai closed his eyes and nodded, “Lian di, please leave first… leave…”
“If I leave, what about you?” Yang Lianting had lived for two lifetimes and knew that no ordinary drug could affect Dongfang Bubai like this. Clearly, its effect couldn’t be dissipated with his internal energy.
Probably, the drug could only be detoxified through that matter. In his past life, he hadn’t been with Dongfang merely once or twice, he had driven a lightweight chariot on a familiar road.[9]
Looking at Dongfang Bubai’s current confused and obsessed expression, his mouth felt dry and his throat sore. Yang Lianting could barely restrain himself. He held Dongfang’s hand tightly wanting to help him alleviate the pain, but as soon as he closed the distance between them Dongfang Bubai pushed him away.
His eyes bloodshot red, the look within pained and ashamed. Dongfang silently endured and turned his face away from Yang Lianting.
“Leave, or I’ll make you leave!”
No doubt, his body and mind longed for Yang Lianting, yet once he thought of his body’s physical defect his heart instantly cooled. Dongfang felt chilled to the bone at the mere thought of Yang Lianting’s shock and disgust upon seeing his mutilation.
I can’t, I can’t bear the thought.
Therefore, he would rather bear the pain, would rather order Yang Lianting to leave. Dongfang Bubai had always been proud and matchless. When had he ever revealed such an embarrassed and wretched appearance in front of others?
Yang Lianting noticed his expression and movement, nearly instantly he understood his concern and fear. The impulse faded and his heart softened, I want to cherish him. Right now, he couldn’t tell Dongfang Bubai that he knew every secret of his body and that he didn’t care at all. Taking a deep breath, he suppressed his worry. Yang Lianting reached out and hugged Dongfang Bubai, lowered his head and pressed a deep kiss on his forehead.
“Dongfang, if you can’t hold on, call me.” The man’s throat moved slightly, he then gazed into his eyes and slowly reassured, “You must believe me.”
Dongfang Bubai did not hear the deeper meaning hidden in his words, he only felt uncomfortable and was trying his hardest to hold back. He was even more worried that Yang Lianting saw his body’s defect, so he told him to leave through gritted teeth.
Only after Yang Lianting nodded, let go and exited the room did he finally relax a little and curled up his whole body on the bed.
Endure until it passes.
Even if the two of us can’t enjoy ourselves, I can forcibly endure until it passes with my willpower alone. Forcibly endure the misery of ten thousand ants gnawing on my heart until the drug’s effect passes.
During this period of time, Dongfang Bubai suffered torturous torment[10] within his chambers, while Yang Lianting waited outside the residence for a day and a night.
The inner chamber was awfully silent.
The silence nearly made him forget the misery Dongfang Bubai was enduring.
Tonight, the night seemed especially long.
Time passed, Dongfang Bubai’s garments were drenched in sweat, but his whole body started feeling better. The effect of the potent drug gradually dissipated. He struggled to get up, wanting to drink a mouthful of cool water. As soon as he heard the slight actions from within, Yang Lianting rushed into the room.
He had stayed outside all night and was covered in a layer of frost and dew, it took only a glance to see how cold he felt. Out of habit, he poured a cup of hot water and handed it to Dongfang. He then helped him up and lifted a hand to touch his forehead to see if he still had a fever.
Dongfang Bubai silently watched Yang Lianting’s series of actions. Glancing at the beads of dew dripping from his forehead and feeling the coldness of his skin, for a moment, the emotions in his heart surged and overwhelmed him.
“Did the effect of the drug dissipate?”
“Do you want me to call Ping Yizhi for an examination?”
“You must feel uncomfortable. I’ll order the servants to boil some hot water for a bath, alright?”
Yang Lianting was about to stand up and leave, when he was called back by Dongfang Bubai.