When the first light of dawn shone into the inner chamber, Yang Lianting woke up. Dongfang Bubai was still asleep, the cold and indifferent alienation that faced others had faded and his features looked peaceful. His long and narrow phoenix eyes were slightly closed and half of his face lay on his chest. Even in his sleep, his hands were tightly wrapped around him as if he feared he would leave him, nervously and childishly holding onto his body.
Yang Lianting raised his hand and lightly caressed Dongfang Bubai’s disheveled hair that was scattered behind his back, then lowered his head to kiss Dongfang Bubai’s forehead. He merely moved a little, but Dongfang Bubai woke up at once.
In an instant he sat up and knit his eyebrows, his first reaction was to grab Yang Lianting’s hand and ask him, “Lian di, do you feel uncomfortable?”
The fatigue in his hazy eyes had yet to fade, but he anxiously stared at him from up close with a pair of beautiful eyes that fully reflected his figure.
Yang Lianting sighed in his heart, he turned his hand and held onto Dongfang Bubai’s hand in return. He shook his head lightly “There’s no discomfort, I’m feeling much better.”
“It’s you that I’m worried about, your hands are too skinny.” Yang Lianting frowned as he glanced at the shoulder blades that were clearly visible beneath Dongfang Bubai’s inner clothes. He felt his heart ache.
Recently, Dongfang Bubai had diligently and tirelessly taken care of him. He disliked the presence of too many people so each time the two of them interacted he dismissed nearly all the maids and guards. Initially Yang Lianting had taken care of Dongfang Bubai’s basic necessities of life, now that he was injured the two had reversed.
“It been nearly a month.” Yang Lianting pulled apart his own inner clothes and took a look, “The wounds all healed, I could’ve gotten out of bed long ago. The cooks only prepare those things you dislike, recently you’ve eaten less and less.” Yang Lianting reached out and squeezed Dongfang Bubai’s face, “Tormenting yourself like this for me… don’t tell me your heart aches for me, but my heart can’t ache for you?”
“If outsiders knew, they’d point and say your husband abuses you.” Yang Lianting shook his head and lightly smiled, his voice deep and low, the final sound deliberately drawn out. In the early morning, he sounded tender and ambiguous.
Dongfang Bubai directly stared at Yang Lianting for a while, their eyes not moving a cun. In the end, he could not avoid being defeated and turned his face away, “This Seat is unharmed–”
“Yes, yes.” Yang Lianting lowered his head to quickly press a kiss on Dongfang Bubai’s lips, then lifted their blanket and got out of bed. “Cult Master, are you hungry? This Subordinate will prepare the Cult Master’s meal this morning. How about a boiled white fungus and lotus seed soup, with a julienned potato salad and stir-fried bamboo shoots for breakfast?”
“No, your body–” In a flash, the crease between Dongfang’s eyebrows deepened and he vehemently shook his head. “Stay in bed. I’ll tell the servants to cook.”
“I’m feeling much better.” Yang Lianting stretched his body, “Didn’t Ping Yizhi say that the wounds scabbed and I’ll recover completely in a few days? Besides, after lying in bed for so long I’m about to suffocate. Moving around occasionally is good for me. Don’t worry, nothing’ll happen.”
Seeing that Dongfang Bubai had more to say, Yang Lianting bowed down and knelt on one knee beside the bed, took hold of Dongfang Bubai’s feet to gently help put on his shoes and socks, then said in a low voice, “Be good, my dear Cult Master.”
“As your personal guard, it’s my duty to wait upon you.”
Pausing briefly, Yang Lianting chuckled lightly and lowered his head to kiss Dongfang Bubai’s white lustrous instep. Feeling the person on the bed suddenly shudder and shrink back because of his kisses, he looked up at his bright red face then proudly and happily laughed out loud. “As your husband, I ought to take care of you, my family’s wife, even more.”
Dongfang Bubai loudly got out of bed and stood before him, his body stiff and cheeks bright red. He stared at Yang Lianting, “What nonsense are you saying–”
Halfway through Dongfang Bubai paused and pursed his lips, his thoughts indiscernible. Dongfang Bubai glanced at him again and lowered his wet eyes before he softly said, “Lian di, I wronged you.”
“Wronged me?” Yang Lianting laughed out loud and reached out his hands to pull the one who stood before him into his arms. He softly patted Dongfang Bubai’s back as if to pacify him, “The whole world laughs at me, Yang Lianting, for being a kept man, but not one of them knows how glad I am.”
“If I were a woman–” Dongfang Bubai lightly murmured, as if he were talking to himself, “If I were a woman we could be an ordinary couple of husband and wife–”
“You are the Invincible East.” Yang Lianting lifted his chin, the color of his pupils was as profound as a lake and as lustrous as the sea. The corners of his lips curved into a smile, “Dongfang even if you are a man, we can still be an ordinary married couple in this world.”
“My, Yang Lianting’s greatest fortune in this life is precisely being able to possess you.” Yang Lianting lowered his head and helped Dongfang Bubai get dressed and comb his silky hair, his actions careful and caring. He then opened his mouth to continue “Now, I… I still don’t deserve you.”
“However, I’ll work hard.” Yang Lianting stroked Dongfang Bubai’s fine black hair, “The Invincible East’s man mustn’t fall short of him.”
“Lian di, what’re you saying? I never thought–” Hearing him speak, Dongfang Bubai felt anxious in an instant. He took a step forward, intending to explain but Yang Lianting preempted him.
“I was abducted during that Wulin General Assembly, which reminds me–” Yang Lianting’s pupils looked quiet and peaceful, as he tenderly gazed at him. “Dongfang, you’re the Jianghu's no. one martial artist, the Master of the Holy Cult. Of course, I must come up with a method to match you.”
“Lian di–” Dongfang Bubai shook his head without thinking, “In my heart you’re the most outstanding, there’s no one else who could ever match you. No need to undervalue yourself, I–”
“Alright, alright.” Yang Lianting smiled, “I definitely won’t become a martial arts expert even if I practice, but I’ll work hard in other methods.”
Standing still and looking at Yang Lianting, Dongfang Bubai confirmed that he was serious. He faintly furrowed his eyebrows and narrowed his eyes, still feeling worried. Only after he stayed silent for a long time did he finally nod, “No matter what you do or say, I’ll support you. Just, your health has yet to recover fully, don’t pressure yourself too much.”
Seeing how much he worried about him, Yang Lianting's heart felt at ease. He lowered his head and tenderly kissed Dongfang’s soft lips, wanting to be as close and mutually dependent as their lips and teeth. Time passed, once the breathing of the one caught in his embrace turned chaotic and his cheeks blushed red, did he reluctantly release him.
Quietly the two of them ate breakfast together.
Then, Yang Liang stood before a copper mirror and loosened his sash to open his robes. Looking at his chest and abdomen, he noticed that the stab wound had scabbed and nearly healed. Yang Lianting leaned forward, wanting to examine the faint marks of Zuo Lengchan’s poison. He had still been in horrid pain for some days when he had just awoken, but after Ping Yizhi administered his acupuncture needles daily the poison’s spread was controlled and its effects had not recurred until now. Looking at the mirror, the marks were still visible but they had faded compared to their previous black and purple color.
Yang Lianting clicked his tongue in surprise, then called over Dongfang Bubai hurriedly to come over and take a look. He said, “Ping Yizhi really is a divine doctor. Even though he is eccentric and old, his method of treating the disease to save the patient[1] is excellent.”
Dongfang Bubai’s slender eyelashes hung down as light as a feather, he seemed to tremble from head to foot as he slowly stretched out his hand to carefully stroke the scabbed stab wound and the poison’s thin dark lines over and over again. Happy to the extreme, as if he were freed of the massive boulder weighing on his heart. He nodded, “It’s already been a long time since you were in pain. If you recuperate for a while, you’ll definitely get better and better.”
Dongfang Bubai softly hugged Yang Lianting as if talking to himself, as if making a vow, “You’ll certainly be safe and sound, get better and better.”
Yang Lianting creased his eyebrows. Looking at Dongfang Bubai, for an instant he felt that his mood seemed strange. Before he could open his mouth to ask him about it, Ping Yizhi walked in while holding his medicine kit. He appeared as eerie and unfriendly as ever. Entering the chamber, he turned a blind eye to the intimacy between Dongfang Bubai and Yang Lianting, bowed to the Cult Master in greeting, then walked forward and took a look at Yang Lianting. Speaking in an unpleasant ear-piercing voice, he said, “Guard Yang, it’s time to apply the needles.”
“Divine Doctor, Zuo Lengchan stated before that this poison was specially made to restrain you and that no one in this world can cure it except his antidote.” Yang Lianting deeply bowed to Ping Yizhi. “Thanks to your incredible medical expertise[2] my life could be saved.”
Hearing him speak, Ping Yizhi cruelly smiled. For a moment, his scrawny face that had appeared like a skull, now looked truly horrifying after exposing such a smile. Only after he applied his needles did he coldly snort and use a rough voice to ridicule him, “Beneath the heavens, the poisons change ten thousand times but the original aim is unchanged.[3] It’s utterly ridiculous for that idiot Zuo Lengchan to think he can give me a hard time!”
“I nearly cured your poison.” Ping Yizhi packed his medicine kit and stood up to leave. “If I administer my needles for another half a month, the remaining poison will be eliminated.” After he said what he wanted to say, he turned to look at Dongfang Bubai and reverently lowered his head, “Cult Master, this Subordinate shall take his leave at once.”
After Ping Yizhi had left, Yang Lianting was about to talk to Dongfang Bubai when his line of sight fell on Dongfang Bubai’s expression that looked unexpectedly complex for an instant. He looked overjoyed yet fears still lingered in his heart.[4]
After calamity, renewed life.[5]
Yang Lianting merely thought that he was overjoyed because Ping Yizhi had fortunately been able to cure his poison and that he feared the recurrence of this kind of matter. Yang Lianting could not help but feel heartache, he took a step forward and held Dongfang Bubai’s hand, softly squeezed it and soothingly asked, “Dongfang, what’s wrong? Ping Yizhi said I’m unharmed, don’t worry, alright?”
Listening to him speak, for an instant Dongfang Bubai’s eyes flickered brightly yet the glint disappeared as fast as it appeared, as if the light in his black eyes had been an illusion. He tenderly smiled at Yang Lianting, in his clear and crystalline wet eyes the reflection of waves in sunlight gleamed. His soft smile brimming with love and dependence that arose from deep within his heart. Dongfang Bubai reached out and held Yang Lianting in his arms, he laid his head on his shoulder and softly snuggled against the nook of his neck.
Over the past month, the stack of memorials had piled up like a mountain. Now that Yang Lianting had nearly recovered, there was no need for Dongfang Bubai to closely keep him company. Naturally, he urged him to handle the cult affairs.
Dongfang Bubai was unwilling, he never had the patience to deal with those tedious matters. Furrowing his brows, he wanted to refuse but a thought crossed his mind and the refusal was left unspoken. Pursing his lips, he hesitated for a long time before he finally nodded in agreement.
Dongfang Bubai went to the Hall of Refined Kindness, while Yang Lianting, who had been left alone in the chamber, lifted an eyebrow and thought of a good place.
The dungeon.
Xiang Wentian was still detained within. Blackwood Cliff’s dungeon was dark and eerie, damp and dilapidated, it definitely was no good place. Dongfang Bubai always acted decisively and viciously. If anyone dared to betray him, even if he did not give the order, his subordinates knew what to do.
Yang Lianting lightly laughed as he stared at Xiang Wentian, who was tortured beyond human shape. Xiang Wentian had been among those who had killed him and Dongfang Bubai a lifetime ago. If he had not colluded with Ren Yingying, had coordinated inner and outer offensives,[6] how could they have come and gone as if the layers upon layers of guard patrols atop Blackwood Cliff had not existed?
Ren Woxing is dead and Xiang Wentian is imprisoned.
Ren Yingying–
Yang Lianting lightly exhaled then glanced at Xiang Wentian and turned around to quietly leave the dungeon. He consistently sought revenge for the smallest grievance, had a small belly and chicken’s gut,[7] and did not let anyone off who offended him. Now that Xiang Wentian was reduced to a prisoner and lost his status, he wouldn’t hastily end his life, he would wait for Ren Yingying to be caught and then end them together. Even though he had not received a report on Ren Yingying yet, the congregation covered all land beneath the heavens and Ren Yingying was only a weak woman. Let alone… estimating the time that Linghu Chong was still a mere youth.[8]
Once Ren Yingying and Xiang Wentian were killed, the past life’s gratitude and grievances would entirely vanish like smoke in thin air. Walking out of the dungeon, the bright sun in the blue sky was dazzling. Yang Lianting slightly squinted his eyes, little by little his lips curved into a smile.
Looking at the sun, Dongfang Bubai should still be busy with the cult’s stack of memorials. Yang Lianting was shut indoors for a month and naturally unwilling to head back so soon. He found a quiet spot in the grass without anyone around to lazily lay down. Resting his head on his arms, he gazed at the blue sky high above his head. The heart in his chest felt serene and peaceful.
“Say, why does the Cult Master like a man?”
A slightly immature voice sounded from nearby and abruptly disturbed Yang Lianting’s daydream. He slowly opened his eyes and was about to speak up, when he heard this youth discuss him and Dongfang Bubai. He raised his brows in surprise and strayed silent, not making a sound.
“Why like a man, ah–” The one whom the voice belonged to seemed to be a little vexed, he crouched on the grass and held a twig to gesture randomly while muttering to himself.
“I secretly took a peek at Lady Shishi before. She’s so good-looking, she looks better than a fairy! Steward Liu said that this matter mustn’t be talked about among the cultists. Oh, a figure like the Cult Master acts in ways that are incomprehensible to outsiders.”
From Yang Lianting’s perspective, this kid who liked to talk to himself looked like a teen, immature and inexperienced. Listening to him speak without any subtlety nor shrewdness, Yang Lianting could not help but find it interesting and did not disrupt him.
“I heard the other guards mention that the Cult Master likes handsome men, Mom used to say that I look good too–” Talking to himself while standing upright like a tree,[9] the youth scratched the back of his head, “I saw the Cult Master from afar during the last liturgy. His robe was entirely red, expression cold and lofty, and his impressive appearance… If the Cult Master likes men, I look good too, maybe one day he’ll like me?”
Yang Lianting could not help smiling happily when he heard him speak. The youth looked fourteen or fifteen years old and he wore the handymen’s rough brown uniform.
Unexpectedly, he’s my love rival!
“The man who’s liked by the Cult Master… I think he's very fortunate.”
“Kid.” Yang Lianting stood up, patted off the dirt on his body and asked him, “Do you know who the Cult Master adores?” The youth was scared stiff by the man who appeared out of nowhere. He sprung up and shiveringly pointed at Yang Lianting, his face flushed bright red and he could not speak for a while because his unmentionable secret had been overheard.
“You, you, you! Where’d you come from!”
Yang Lianting chuckled.
Looking at the half-grown kid standing in front of him, he felt complex beyond words, felt a faint familiarity in his heart. This kid looked silly and simple-minded but after listening to him talk to himself, he could tell that his heart was wholly devoted to Dongfang Bubai.
My past self–
I’ve been just like this, right?
Looking up to Dongfang Bubai from afar, revering him as an immortal-like figure, risking his life to get close to him, wanting to receive even the tiniest bit of preferential treatment. In his past life, he too had been careful and considerate towards Dongfang to win his favor, had longed for Dongfang’s loving treatment.
But I’ve been too weak and cowardly.
Faced with his own desire for power, faced with the possible infamy and insults upon exposure, he had turned all his fears into sharp blades stabbing into Dongfang’s body, blade upon blade.
Seeing him suffering in pain, seeing him dispiritedly fall into despair, he had gone mad and his heart had harbored evil intent. He had severed the bond of affection tying them together, pursued imaginary authority, and led a life of debauchery numbing his own heart, while Dongfang Bubai slowly withered in that hidden courtyard house he had built to imprison him.
“You– No matter what you overheard, don’t talk nonsense!” The youth noticed Yang Lianting’s absent-mindedness, thinking of his own blasphemous remark against the Cult Master his face instantly paled in fear. He glared at the man, but his bluffing look could barely pass as fierce.
Yang Lianting was about to reply when he saw a familiar red figure fly over. His look softened. Dongfang Bubai’s brows were knit and anxiousness could still be seen in his hazy eyes, yet once he saw Yang Lianting he sighed in relief and quickly took a few steps forward to grip his hand.
“Why’re you here?”
“I just came over and didn’t see you–” Dongfang Bubai softly pursed his lips, “I thought something happened to you–”
Yang Lianting held Dongfang Bubai’s hand and squeezed it lightly as if to appease him, “It’s suffocating to stay indoors the entire day, so I went out for a stroll. Did you take care of the cult affairs? I’m sure you’re hungry, is there anything you’d want to eat? I’ll go to the small kitchen and make it for you.”
Dongfang Bubai nodded his head, but before he could speak the half-grown kid, who had stood at the side and watched them intimately talk to each other, could not keep his face from paling and tremblingly fell to his knees.
“Cult, Cult, Cult Master–”
“Greetings to the Cult Master, this Subordinate–”
From beginning to end, Dongfang Bubai had not noticed that there was another person beside them. Turning toward the voice’s direction, he threw him an indifferent glance. In an instant he resumed the cold and detached look of the Holy Cult’s Master. He sounded a light hmm in response and was about to withdraw his line of sight when Yang Lianting laughed out loud and entwined their ten fingers.
One black and one red, two figures side by side.
Yang Lianting glanced at the person beside him and then told the small handyman to rise.
“Just now, weren’t you very curious about the man Dongfang likes? Kid, take a good look. I, ah. I and your Cult Master already sincerely love each other, not only in this lifetime but also in our future lifetime and our future, future lifetime.”