When Dongfang Bubai returned, Tong Baixiong stood still with a complex expression. He furrowed his eyebrows and was about to speak, yet Yang Lianting noticed his arrival and hurriedly said to Tong Baixiong, “Elder Tong, it’s so late already, it’s better if you head back first.”
“Greeting to the Cult Master.” Tong Baixiong first reverently saluted Dongfang Bubai and turned to leave. Reaching the doors he glanced back and met Yang Lianting’s line of sight. “Brother Yang, I hope you remember today’s promise.”
Tong Baixiong cupped his fist and left the bedchamber.
Yang Lianting stared at his back momentarily lost in thought.
Dongfang Bubai noticed the look in his eyes and thought that Tong Baixiong had said something unpleasant. Feeling nervous and worried, he hastily stepped forward and stated, “Lian di, did Tong Baixiong say something you didn’t want to hear? Lian di, please don’t take it to heart!”
“But if he really offended you, I–”
Dongfang Bubai’s frown deepened and killing intent surged.
Yang Lianting suddenly laughed out loud yet after he glanced at the person who nervously stood before him, he sighed deeply. Aching heart softening, he slowly shook his head, “He didn’t.”
“Elder Tong, he–” Recalling the short discussion he had with Tong Baixiong a moment ago, Yang Lianting lightly pursed his lips and said, word for word, “He is loyal, loyal until death.”
“I’m more than happy that he is your subordinate.”
Before Dongfang Bubai could continue speaking about Tong Baixiong, Yang Lianting raised his head to meet his gaze.
“Dongfang,” he whispered softly.
Dongfang Bubai froze.
“Take off your clothes, let me see.”
Dongfang Bubai instantly guessed Yang Lianting’s meaning, he pursed his lips, lowered his eyes slightly, and glanced at him. “Tong Baixiong told you?”
After a long pause, Dongfang Bubai suddenly smiled.
“Lian di, it’s not serious. I’m alright.”
“It doesn’t hurt.”
His voice was low and hoarse, his tone calm and suppressed, even his expression looked serene. Staring into Yang Lianting’s black eyes, he slowly shook his head, and insisted in an obstinate tone, “I’m alright, really.”
“If you don’t take them off yourself, I’ll do it for you.”
Yang Lianting looked at him and determinedly lifted the quilt to get out of bed. He took a deep breath, stared straight into his eyes, and spoke in a low and deep voice. “Dongfang, you worry about me, so why can’t I worry about you?”
In an instant, Dongfang Bubai feared that one careless action would open Yang Lianting’s wound. He hastily agreed with him, “Don’t, don’t move!”
“I’ll… I’ll take them off.”
Pursing his lips Dongfang Bubai looked at Yang Lianting and softly repeated, “I’ll take them off, don’t move.”
Originally Yang Lianting wanted Dongfang Bubai to take off his clothes so he could see his injuries, but glancing at Dongfang Bubai’s red earlobes, at his stiff and helpless expression under the candlelight, he instantly felt his body heat up. Yang Lianting coughed to clear his muddled thoughts.
At night Dongfang Bubai was dressed very casually. He wore a single white inner garment and his black hair was not tied up but loosely draped over his slender shoulders. He seemed a little embarrassed and stood still. After a long silence, he made up his mind and slowly reached out to untie the fine cloth sash wrapped around his waist.
He moved very slowly.
The candlelight flickered.
The warm yellow light shone on his thin body. Pale skin and hair as black as raven feathers, the strands of hair scattered over his bare skin creating a mesmerizing contrast. Dongfang Bubai looked as beautiful as a painting.
Yang Lianting’s eyes deepened, he swallowed dryly and took a deep breath. He was about to speak, when his line of sight fell upon the countless bloody wounds covering his exposed skin.
Instantly, his gaze froze.
The ambiguity, the unspeakable thoughts from a moment ago all vanished, leaving only unparalleled distress and painful heart ache. Compared to the wounds on his own body that were treated by Ping Yizhi, Dongfang Bubai’s body was covered in horizontal and vertical slash and stab wounds, the many wounds seemed to have been completely disregarded by this person. He hadn’t sought proper treatment and only hastily smeared some medicine on his body. The fresh blood that had flowed out of his several injuries, coagulated into clots and then solidified into dark red scabs. His originally flawless skin looked shocking to the eyes.
Instantly, Yang Lianting’s eyes reddened.
“Come here!”
He sat up and gently pulled Dongfang Bubai towards himself. His voice sounded fierce and powerful, but his actions were gentle beyond words. His hands trembled as he tenderly touched every wound on Dongfang Bubai’s body.
Throat dry and chest sore.
“Why didn’t you let Ping Yizhi examine you?”
“Are you deliberately trying to cause me heartache?”
“Dongfang, how could you–”
Unable to continue speaking, he tightly held him in his arms and carefully avoided the wounds on his body. Gritting his teeth, gasping for air, his throat felt hoarse and eyes sour. Desperately, he wanted to hack himself into pieces, hack every single enemy that had harmed Dongfang Bubai into a thousand pieces.
Yang Lianting let go of Dongfang Bubai.
Under the warm candlelight he cautiously kissed his wounds, carefully kissed one wound after another.
Initially Dongfang Bubai intended to escape and struggled to avoid his touch. No one had ever done this to him. Unused to the overwhelming tenderness, he felt flustered and embarrassed. He tried to avoid his lips, but after a moment he felt Yang Lianting’s deep heartache and sincere love. Dongfang Bubai pursed his lips and his tense body softened.
“Lian di, I’m alright.”
Dongfang Bubai looked at Yang Lianting and softly told him, “I’ve suffered worse injuries before.”
“I’m used to it, it doesn’t hurt.”
Yang Lianting exhaled heavily and replied, “Tong Baixiong explained what happed after I fell unconscious that day.” Lightly patting the position next to him on the bed, he moved inward so Dongfang Bubai could lie beside him. Lying on the bed together, he reached out his hands and carefully hugged him. “I knew that you might get injured but now that I see the result with my own eyes, I can’t stand the sight.” He met Dongfang Bubai’s line of sight, then told him in a low voice, “Once I fell into Zuo Lengchan’s hands, I realized that all your principles and all your power would cease to exist. I realized that no matter what Zuo Lengchan demanded of you, you would comply.”
“So, I hurt myself to force you.”
“I didn’t want to see you being threatened and losing all. So, I bet on–”
“Dongfang, do you blame me?”
“I’ve killed a lot and committed evil again.” Dongfang Bubai smiled thinly. “We met that monk merely a few days ago. I never thought I’d break my precept so quickly after his warning.”
“But I don’t regret it.”
Lying at each other’s side, Dongfang Bubai quietly looked at Yang Lianting’s profile with his black and clear eyes. He shook his head slightly and said, “If you didn’t force me with death, I’d have abolished my martial arts and been killed by Zuo Lengchan by now.” Dongfang Bubai paused, “I caught Xiang Wentian.”
“After I interrogated him in the dungeon, he told me that you two had an agreement. If I didn’t want to abolish my martial arts for you, he’d ally with Zuo Lengchan and act as though he were handing you over to me. He agreed to give you the cure, as long as you take advantage of my unpreparedness and deal me a fatal blow.”
“If I comply with the conditions and abolish my martial arts, you’d merely have to humiliate me in front of everyone, trample on my dignity and cause me so much sorrow that I wouldn’t even want to live, then he’d give you a way out and keep you alive.”
“You did neither.”
Dongfang Bubai reached out his hands, closely hugged Yang Lianting, and placed his head in the nook of his neck.
“Lian di, Tong Baixiong keeps telling me that you’re greedy for life and afraid of death, but I know that you aren’t.”
Yang Lianting smiled.
“If I really did such a thing, what would you do?”
Hearing him speak, Dongfang Bubai shook his head and said, “You wouldn’t.”
“You would never hurt me.”
“I believe you.”
Dongfang Bubai remained silent for a moment and pursed his lips, he then brightly smiled at him and stated, “Even if you truly hurt me or betray me, I wouldn’t blame you. Lian di, if one day only one of us may live, I’ll do everything in my power to keep you alive. Not to mention stabbing me in the back, even if you want to hack me into a thousand pieces, I’d be willing.”
“Nonsense.” Yang Lianting raised his hand to tenderly stroke his hair and replied confidently, “There’ll never be such a day.”
“Dongfang, you captured Xiang Wentian, right?” Suddenly a thought crossed his mind, and he raised an eyebrow “What about Ren Yingying?”
“Ren Yingying wasn’t with him.” The moment he mentioned these two people Dongfang Bubai’s expression changed, a cruel and fierce light glinted in his eyes, and he calmly said, “I caught Zuo Lengchan and was about to interrogate him for the antidote, when Xiang Wentian suddenly rushed out of nowhere and threw a hidden weapon to end Zuo Lengchan before he could answer.” Once he spoke, Dongfang Bubai’s brows creased deeply. Gazing at Yang Lianting, he slowly stated, “Neither Zuo Lengchan nor Xiang Wentian had the antidote.”
“Lian di, don’t worry–”
Dongfang Bubai’s voice sounded soft yet firm. Lowering his eyelids, he resolutely promised him, “Lian di, you will not die.”
“Ping Yizhi stated he knows a method to save your life, he’ll compound a cure to–”
The light in Dongfang Bubai’s eyes flickered as he spoke, he lowered his voice and grew silent. Despite obviously wanting to speak, anxiousness and apprehension prevented him from saying any more. Dongfang Bubai’s wet eyes were as serene as a water surface. In the blink of an eye the ripples in his red eyes vanished without a trace.
Like a fleeting illusion.
He breathed out gently and tightly held Yang Lianting’s hand and repeated either for himself or for Yang Lianting.
“Ping Yizhi knows a method.”
“Lian di, don’t worry, you’ll definitely get better.”
Yang Lianting only thought that Dongfang Bubai’s emotions seemed slightly off, so he gently held the trembling hands of the one beside him, lowered his head and lightly kissed his forehead. Before he could say something to comfort him, Dongfang Bubai opened his mouth to deliberately change the subject.
“Lian di, you once told me that Yingying schemed for so long in advance, that she harbored a deep grudge against me.” Brows creased, Dongfang Bubai quietly questioned him “Did you know that Yingying hated me since long ago and intended to usurp my cult master’s position?”
“That’s right.” Yang Lianting was stunned still, then nodded simply. “A long time ago, I overheard a conversation between Ren Yingying and one of her subordinates about saving Ren Woxing and killing you.”
Dongfang Bubai frowned deeply yet Yang Lianting coughed lightly, avoiding his line of sight. Naturally, he was unwilling to ever mention the events of his past life to Dongfang Bubai. Even if he did, all of it would just be illogical nonsense. Reincarnation, gods and ghosts, the mere thought was too illogical too appalling for him. Before he continued to rack his brain on how to explain, Dongfang Bubai pursed his lips wanting to speak.
“I cared for Yingying for so many years, but she dared to harm you like this.”
“I ordered the congregation to capture her on sight. If she dares to resist, she must be killed immediately.”
Hearing him speak, Yang Lianting sighed in relief and agreed “That girl is sinister and cunning. Letting her live means cursing ourselves, it’s best to kill her to avoid unnecessary worries.” He then lowered his head and tenderly kissed Dongfang Bubai.
Despite the painful stab wound on his abdomen, despite pain and tiredness, possibly due to the recent events that occurred one after another, Yang Lianting did not want to separate. He slightly opened his eyes and stared at Dongfang Bubai’s fluttering lashes and the dark shadows under his eyes. Yang Lianting’s gaze held deep fondness and fascination, tenderness and passion.
From the corners of his lips to his cheeks, from his eyebrows to his eyelids. He kissed his flushed face cun by cun, with gentle intimacy. The warm and moist touch of entangled lips and teeth, let them deepen the kiss and ignite heat. Gradually, their breaths turned short and unstable. Yang Lianting did not feel completely satisfied and wanted to go deeper, but Dongfang Bubai retained a trace of clarity and pushed him aside. His pale face was flushed deep red and the corners of his hazy eyes were wet, after a pause, Dongfang Bubai stabilized his breath and turned his face away.
Yang Lianting glanced at his abdomen that was about to ooze blood again and the light in his eyes dimmed.
“It’s only been a few days since we married.”
“We can’t even do what couples usually do.”
“Dongfang, did Ping Yizhi tell you when my injury heals?”